《The Godsfall Chronicles》 Book 1 Prologue The blazing sun was like a greedy tyrant, wantonly unleashing its deadly heat upon the wastelands and wicking away what little moisture it had left. The endless sands stretched out into the horizon, so vast as to engender despair as it swallowed up all other colors with its own drab yellowness. Waves of hot air swept through the arid wastelands, kicking up sandstorms that occasionally blotted out the sun itself. The entire world was in a state of desolate chaos, and it seemed as though the skies and the ground were of the same dull color. The ground was filled with bits and scraps of rubble that clumped together to form small mountains. There were tens of thousands of these things, and they looked like steel dinosaurs that had been buried within the sand with only their backs visible. The passage of countless years had slowly eaten away at them, causing patches of rust to have appeared everywhere. This place was filled with scar-ridden buildings that had been utterly decimated, leaving only their skeletal frames behind, forever a silent testament to their former glory. Thousands of years ago, this place was a city. Thousands of years later, it had been reduced to ruins. Fifty years ago, this place had become a scavenger camp. Who still remembered its former extravagance, its glittering opulence, its dazzling prosperity? Who still remembered that this place was once filled with countless high-rises and towering skyscrapers? Who remembered the atomic hovercraft that had shuttled through this place, the aerial motherships that had flown in intricate matrices? Who remembered that this endless desert wasteland was once a vast ocean that was known as the Atlantic Ocean? Who remembered the beautiful, artificial islands that had once glittered like pearls? Who remembered the many underwater cities that were scattered throughout the seabed like the stars in the skies? And who remembered that this place once had a name? An ancient, true name that had been buried long ago by the tides of time, a name that had been completely forgotten¡­ New York! Previous Chapter Next Chapte Book 1 - The Wastelands - Chapter 1 The Young Scavenger The setting sun was the color of blood as it shone down upon the wasteland. The scavenging hour had arrived. Cloudhawk woke up to throbbing spasms of pain in his stomach. This familiar sensation had accompanied him his entire life and filled many of his memories. The scavengers referred to it as ¡®hunger¡¯, and it supposedly was a perpetual curse which the Creator had pronounced upon all living beings. If he once again failed to find any sustenance, he wouldn¡¯t survive the night. As for what he would do tomorrow? This was a question which Cloudhawk had never even considered. Tomorrow¡­ for scavengers, ¡®tomorrow¡¯ was an extravagant word they couldn¡¯t afford to worry about. Cloudhawk laboriously crawled out of the burrow he had hidden himself within. When his feet once more stood atop the scorching ground of the ruins, he was suddenly struck by a strong dizzying spell. The ancient ruins around him were filled with crumbling fences and dilapidated walls, as well as scraps of corpses that had fallen down from the other worlds. The once-dazzling buildings that had been erected here had been reduced to worthless piles of rubble, buried and forgotten by both the sands of the wasteland and the sands of time. The gaunt youth was such a tiny figure, dwarfed by the howling sandstorms that ruled this place. The wind blew through his tousled black hair, covering up his slender, youthful features. His withered frame was covered with a few scraps of dirty cloth, and his rough, callused skin was filled with wounds both new and old. His eyes, however, were clear and alert. This was the only thing which separated him from the other, ordinary scavengers. Cloudhawk was only fourteen or fifteen years old. Scavenger life was very simple. Spend roughly twenty hours each day hidden within a hole or a burrow, avoiding the sweltering heat and the blistering cold. Only during the scant hours of dawn and dusk would you be able to climb out of your hole and search for food within the ruins. Day after day, year after year, this cycle repeated itself. This type of life seemed rather dull, but the scavengers viewed the dullness as an incredible blessing¡­ because any disruption of this boring cycle almost always portended impending death. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but think about the old-timer. The old-timer was an unconventional scavenger who had withstood the vicissitudes of time. Not only did he know how to read the language of the Old Times, he also knew many things which scavengers weren¡¯t supposed to know. He loved to tell stories and delighted in collecting useless things, especially tools, paintings, and books from the Old Times. The only one who he could share these things with was Cloudhawk, and so the two of them became each other¡¯s only companion and friend. This morning, the sun had risen as it always did¡­ but this time, the old-timer didn¡¯t crawl out of his hole. Still, the old-timer was a lucky man. At least he had Cloudhawk around to bury him. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to think about what would happen to him if he himself fell over. He didn¡¯t have much meat left on his bones, but starving scavengers generally weren¡¯t picky about their food. The crazy meat merchants would probably chop his body apart into eight pieces, smoke his flesh to cure it, then hang it up on their rusting steel hooks. They¡¯d save part of the meat for themselves, trading off the rest for some mildly contaminated drinking water. These were the wastelands. For the sake of survival, many would be willing to eat anything, do anything. Sometimes, Cloudhawk envied the others. However, the old-timer had told him long ago that if mankind discarded its final scraps of decency and morality, the entire human race would truly be doomed. He was so hungry he could barely walk. Cloudhawk dragged his skinny frame through the ruins, looking like a strand of straw that was being tossed about by the wind. He felt as though he could collapse at any moment. The scavengers had long ago scoured the ruins clean. To find food was no easy task. Would he fail in this task yet again? Would this be his last time seeing the setting sun as well? Cloudhawk sat down lifelessly. The setting sun was making its way down past the horizon, painting the ruins with its blood-red glow. He saw a goshawk soaring through the skies, weaving its way through the clouds, and he couldn¡¯t help but reveal a hint of jealousy in his gaze. When he had given himself the name ¡®Cloudhawk¡¯, it was because he wanted to be like one of the hawks that flew through the clouds, free and unfettered¡­ but in the end, it was all nothing more than a crazy dream. Right? Things weren¡¯t over yet. He couldn¡¯t give up. He wouldn¡¯t give up! Right at this moment, he suddenly picked up the sound of hurried footsteps ringing off in the distance. Cloudhawk leapt to his feet like a startled animal, unsheathing a shard of metal that he had ground sharp long ago as he vigilantly stared off into the distance. This was a chaotic, crazed era. Every single day, there would be starving scavengers who attempted to murder their own kind, and their victims were often skinny children like Cloudhawk. And indeed, the sounds of the footsteps grew nearer and nearer until finally, three raggedly dressed scavengers suddenly appeared within his line of vision, charging towards him at high speed. Cloudhawk¡¯s face turned pale as he took two steps back. He was now so weak that a strong wind could knock him down. Three scavengers were attacking him at the same time? There was no way he was going to be able to get out of this alive! Wait. Wait! Something was wrong! Although the three had savage-looking faces, they didn¡¯t have the murderous look of predators nearing their targets. Instead, they looked like terrified prey that were filled with horror and despair. They weren¡¯t attacking. They were fleeing for their lives! Just as Cloudhawk began to have a bad feeling about this, a large group of black creatures suddenly appeared directly behind the fleeing scavengers, charging straight towards them. There had to be at least ten of the things. They were roughly the sizes of wild dogs, and their eyes were a terrifying, rabid red color. Cloudhawk stood there for a stunned instant, his mind overwhelmed by all of this. Only a single thought was able to make its way past the cacophonous din in his mind, an instinct that came from his very soul¡­ RUN! The threat of death was something which brought everyone¡¯s full potential. Somehow, his utterly emaciated body managed to squeeze out another burst of energy. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste any time trying to figure out exactly what was behind him, nor did he want to. He already knew the only thing that mattered ¨C those mutabeasts, those savage mutabeasts, were utterly terrifying predators. Within the ruins, and in fact within the entirety of the wastelands, the scavengers were at the very bottom of the food chain. How could they possibly fight back against such terrifying mutabeasts? The first to fall was a woman. She had been the slowest of the three. ¡°Save me!¡± ¡°Save me!!!¡± ¡°SAVE ME!!!¡± One of the creatures sank its sharp fangs into her neck, then gave it a vicious tug. Blood spewed out like a geyser, blanketing the area with a crimson hue. A second monster. A third. The black shapes competed to get at her, and bloody chunks of meat were ripped off of every part of the woman¡¯s body. In the blink of an eye, her stomach was torn open and her intestines and internal organs were all dragged out of her. It was bloody, cruel, and terrifying! For a brief moment, screams of utter terror and agony could be heard, reaching out like specters of death towards the other three. Some of the mutabeasts were too slow to get a share of the meat, and so they continued to pursue the remaining scavengers. They were simply too fast. Just three seconds later, yet another scavenger was caught by them. ¡°AHH!¡± ¡°NO!¡± The sounds of bones splintering and flesh being torn apart¡­ these sounds caused Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body to turn cold! As the terrified Cloudhawk rounded a corner, a scene that brought him utter despair greeted him. Rubble had completely sealed off the path in front of him. This was a dead end that he could not go past! What should he do? What should he do? The third agonized scream rang out as the final scavenger was brought down. Three of the mutabeasts leapt straight past the final scavenger¡¯s corpse, moving like streaks of black lightning as they sprinted towards the helpless, emaciated youth. Danger! Danger! Danger! Cloudhawk could sense that death was approaching. If he hesitated for even a moment, he would never be able to recover from it. Turning back meant death. His only choice was to give this last attempt his all! Ignoring what was coming for him, he charged straight towards the rubble and dove into a deep but incredibly narrow opening. There was no way an adult would¡¯ve been able to make it into this opening. Even Cloudhawk¡¯s emaciated form was just barely able to squeeze in¡­ and moments later, he heard a rustling sound as one of the mutabeasts tried to burrow in after him, unwilling to give up the chase! The mutabeast was so close that Cloudhawk could already smell its foul stench. Cloudhawk continued to climb through the opening, only to find that he had already reached the end. There was nowhere else to go at all, and the beast behind him was already growling as it prepared to launch its attack. Everything hung on a thread. This was the critical moment, the moment when life or death would be decided. Although he was filled with despair, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate as he turned, metal shard in hand. The dark form was pouncing straight towards him, its blood-red eyes gleaming brutally in the darkness. Its fangs were as sharp as knives, and it was about to plunge them into the morsel of a prey that stood before it, then tear that morsel to shreds. Cloudhawk let out a low, bestial roar as he stabbed wildly¡­ and his metal shard just so happened to plunge directly into the creature¡¯s eyes. The creature let out an agonized howl as it slammed straight into Cloudhawk. Its sharp claws left several bloody gouges across Cloudhawk¡¯s body, but Cloudhawk managed to press its head down. The opening within the rubble really was quite narrow, giving the creature no way to extricate itself from Cloudhawk¡¯s grip. ¡°DIE! DIE!¡± Cloudhawk had become even more savage than the beast as he used his metal shard to furiously stab more than ten times at the creature¡¯s head. An enormous amount of foul-smelling blood filled the surrounding area, coating his face, his hands, and his clothes. Two of the other beasts were circling the opening, but they weren¡¯t able to squeeze in. Upon hearing the miserable howls of the one which had gone in, they immediately turned and left this place. As for Cloudhawk, he was all but immobilized. He panted furiously, his oxygen-deprived brain turning dizzy for a time. Right now, he truly didn¡¯t even have enough energy to move so much as a pinky. After that final frenzied spurt of energy, his body was once more swept up by waves of exhaustion and weakness. He had ignored his body¡¯s exhaustion, and it was now demanding that he repay tenfold what he had just squeezed out of it. For the first time, he was able to get a close look at the creature in front of him. This was a creature with sleek, oily black fur, long and sharp claws, and terrifyingly red eyes. It almost looked like an enormous mutant rat. Still, that didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that there had to be over five kilograms of meat on the thing. This was food! Cloudhawk grew excited once more. He used his metal shard to tear open the creature¡¯s tough skin, then carved out a few gibbets of wonderfully fatty meat which he shoved into his mouth. It was sour, pungent, and crude¡­ but to humans who lived here in the wastelands, it was the most delicious of all delicacies. Cloudhawk normally survived on ants, beetles, and grass. It had been a long, long time since he had eaten meat. As the food slowly made its way down into his stomach, a warm feeling quickly spread throughout his entire body. The aches and pains in his body seemed to lessen, replaced by a sense of satisfaction that was too wonderful to be described in words. He ate until his wizened stomach was once more burgeoning. Only then did he finally come to a halt, a blissful look on his face. The mutabeasts outside had long since departed. Cloudhawk dragged the prey he had personally killed with him as he began to return to his burrow. He would be able feast on the five kilograms of meat for many days to come. But just as Cloudhawk pulled the corpse out of the opening, a voice that was as rough as a wild beast¡¯s suddenly rang out. ¡°Put the meat down!¡± Four or five adult scavengers were blocking his path. The leader looked quite sturdily built, and his face was filled with savage-looking scars, giving him a baleful, ominous look. These scavengers had noticed the commotion in this region quite some time ago, and so they had hidden themselves in the surrounding area, hoping to be able to scavenge a few bones from the dead. In the end, they ran into a child carrying the prey he had killed. The luxurious, fatty meat made their mouths water. The scar-faced man growled, ¡°Put. The meat. DOWN!¡± Cloudhawk looked at them silently, the look on his face akin to that of a lone wolf¡¯s, a look filled with danger. The two sides stared at each other across the ruins, like a pair of beasts weighing each other up. In truth, in this era the line between man and beast was a blurry one at best. Put it down? I nearly traded my life away to get this meat. You want me to put it down!? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste any time on words. Like an enraged young beast, he threw himself straight forwards and landed a punch directly on the scarred man¡¯s face. There was no question as to who would win this battle. In the end, Cloudhawk was nothing more than a half-grown child. How was he supposed to defeat multiple fully-grown adults? In a best-case scenario, the end result would be him suffering multiple beatings, then watch as the meat he had nearly died for be taken away from him. ¡­¡­ Night finally descended. Covered in wounds, the youth slunk back to his burrow like a beaten dog. He didn¡¯t feel any hatred or resentment towards the scavengers who had stolen his prey. As a child who had grown up in the scavenger camps, he had long ago grown accustomed to the rules of the wastelands. In the wastelands, there were no such things as ¡®principles¡¯. The only law was the law of the strong! The strong would have food, slaves, and women. The weak would be enslaved, abused, and robbed. This was how the wastelands were. In this world, in this age, in this place¡­ morality didn¡¯t matter. To be weak was a type of sin, in and of itself! The light of the moon flowed into his burrow, carrying with it a bone-chilling cold that mere blankets couldn¡¯t ward off. He was so cold that he curled up into a ball, but the wounds covering his body made it impossible for him to fall asleep. Instead, Cloudhawk chose to sit up. He picked up a metal box, blew off the layer of dust covering it, then lifted it up and stared at it as though he was staring at the most valuable of treasures. Slowly, gingerly, he withdrew the brightly-colored objects from within the box. He stared raptly at these pictures, his gaze distant and dreamy. These were pictures which the old-timer had laboriously collected over the course of many years. They were a testament to the fact that the Old Times truly had existed, but the passage of countless years had begun to cause the pictures to fade and become unrecognizable. Every time he stared at them, his young heart couldn¡¯t help but quicken its beat. Every time he stared at them, the pain, the hunger, and the injuries he had suffered would all recede slightly. Every time he stared at them¡­ no matter how much despair he felt or how dark the world seemed, he would feel as though he could still see a few flickers of light. The ancient, bygone era of the Old Times! What type of a magical, dream-like world had it been? Back then, people had been clean and handsome. The cities had been prosperous and flourishing. There was no danger, no terrifying mutabeasts, no brutally savage mutant humans, and no scavengers who struggled to stay alive in the desolate wastelands. Had that era truly come to an end? Did it perhaps still survive and persist in some unknown corner of this world? Cloudhawk¡¯s pitch-black eyes were blazing with eagerness. He truly wanted to wander the camps and wander the wastelands! It was as though a metal seal had long ago been fastened deep within his soul. This was a desire that had sprung up long ago, when he was very young. Back then, the old-timer had asked him: Why? The camps were dangerous, the ruins were dangerous, and the wastelands were even more dangerous. This path was a path of certain death! ¡°It is because I was born into this world! Since this world chose for me to come into it, I have the right to get a good look at it! ¡°Sooner or later, I will go out searching. I¡¯ll find that utopia, that heaven-like place. If I can so much as catch a glimpse of it, if I can so much as have the chance to press my lips against the ground beneath it¡­ even if I die the very next instant, I will regret nothing!¡± The old-timer had fallen silent. From that day forth, he had kept the child by his side, sharing his food with him and teaching him how to read. The child had spent many years straddling the line between life and death¡­ but not only had that desire not gone away, it had only grown increasingly intense! The old-timer had once said that some people were born to be free, much like the hawks. They might grow up in a chicken coop, but sooner or later they would spread their wings and soar into the skies. Would he truly have that chance? He wasn¡¯t even able to escape the ruins, much less wander into the endless, unfathomably more dangerous wastelands. The old-timer had often spoken of destiny. Everyone, he claimed, had their own destiny. No one would be able to escape that destiny, no matter how hard they tried. Is this my destiny? I won¡¯t believe it! The youth had eaten his fill of the torments of the wastelands, but he was still filled with an untamed spirit, and his eyes still shone with an indescribable, irrepressible flame. He slowly placed the metal box underneath his head, using it as his pillow. Only then did his exhausted body finally fall into a deep slumber. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 2 The Tartarus Mercenaries The calm silence of dawn was suddenly disrupted by the sound of an engine as a vehicle kicked up storms of sand as it traveled through the wastelands. Someone hit the brakes as soon as the vehicle entered the ruins, causing it to come to a screeching halt. The vehicle¡¯s rust-covered metal components creaked and moaned ominously, almost as though the entire thing was at the verge of falling apart. It almost sounded like the labored panting of a crouched beast, and the visible tubing of the vehicle shuddered before a plume of black smoke finally belched out of the tailpipe of the vehicle. The scavengers had never before seen something like this, a metal monstrosity that could move. Looks of amazement and astonishment were plainly visible on their faces. This car was built in an almost ridiculously crude manner. Its rusty frame had been cobbled together from seven or eight different types of vehicles, and the damn thing was brimming with spikes, making it look like an ornery metal porcupine. It had four ostentatiously large wheels that ground away at the earth like giant gear wheels, and the car bumpers had been replaced with savagely sharp blades. Clearly, they were not meant for ¡®protecting¡¯ the car, they were meant for ramming opponents. The entire thing looked both deadly and savage, and it seemed just as ferocious and unforgiving as the wastelands themselves. Six large monstrosities were chasing behind the thing at high speed, galloping forwards on their giant feet. They were split up into two groups of three that had been following the vehicle from both sides. These creatures looked similar to the ostriches of the Old Times, but their feet were wider and thicker, while their bodies were much firmer and more muscular. Not only could they move across the desert at breakneck speeds, they were able to carry extremely heavy loads of weight. In the wastelands, they were considered one of the most ideal types of mounts. The six monstrosities had six riders atop them, all dressed in strange outfits. Their haphazardly pieced-together outfits were composed of various bits of metal, wood, leather, bone, rocks, and other unknown materials. Most likely, they had collected as many things as they could, then fashioned a crude suit of ¡®armor¡¯ from them. As a result, every person had a different ¡®uniform¡¯, and one of them who had only one arm had actually grafted a metal gear onto himself as a prosthetic limb. Another person had grafted a jagged sawtooth blade onto himself. In short, all of them were brimming with the aura of the wastelands. One of the bigfoot bird riders vaulted off his mount, then respectfully opened the car door and greeted the fat man within. The fat man was dressed in a sleeveless leather jacket that was dripping with machine oil, and he was protected by a coarse, exoskeleton-like armor that looked like a giant spider which had crawled over him. His hands were covered with leather gloves and were pressed around the wide belt around his waist, close to a pair of black modified pistols. Even these ancient, improvised firearms emanated the coarse savagery of the wastelands. However, they were a direct testament to his strength and his power. Outlandish outfits, ostentatious appearances, bigfoot birds as mounts, and a savage-looking vehicle. All of these things loudly proclaimed the status of these men ¨C they were excavators! ¡°Fuck me, we finally found some scavs.¡± The fat man lit a coarse cigar. Two plumes of smoke came out of his nostrils, then he reached up and flipped open the protective lenses of his sunglasses, revealing a pair of beady eyes that were scanning the raggedly dressed and emaciated scavengers. ¡°Arrrright. Let ole Slyfox have a look at how many of you poor bastards are still alive.¡± In this chaotic era, fat men were as rare as unicorns! This man in particular was so fat that he had to be nearly 150 kilograms. He looked almost like an exalted king, and in fact he was as proud as any king ever was. When he looked at the scavengers, he didn¡¯t seem to be looking at other fellow human beings at all; rather, he was looking at cheap beasts of burden that were waiting to be slaughtered. The excavators, colloquially known as ¡®diggers¡¯, were considered one of the more important groups within the wastelands. They mainly spent their time burrowing through ancient rubble and retrieving tools and materials from the Old Times. They¡¯d conduct some basic repairs on what they found, then connect them together to form usable weapons and outfits. Eventually, they set up their own organization. These people often used food and water as a cheap way to convince the lowly scavengers to work for them. The scavengers would scour the ruins for usable materials on their behalf, and so the scavengers were quite familiar with the excavators. ¡°I¡¯m willing to work!¡± ¡°I only need half a strip of carrion each day!¡± ¡°I¡¯m stronger than them! Pick me!¡± The shabbily-dressed scavengers all clustered around them, fighting for the chance to be seen and chosen by the lord excavator. They pushed and jostled against one another, eventually beginning to fight amongst themselves. ¡°Silence. SILENCE, you dirty fucking scavs! I¡¯m not here to employ your sorry asses. All of you, shut the fuck up right now!¡± The fat man unholstered his pistol, aimed at the skies, then pulled the trigger. This coarse, heavily modified pistol let out a thunderous bang, stunning and deafening the scavengers. They immediately slunk backwards and shut their mouths, their gazes turned dull and despondent with a hint of fear and cowardice mixed within. The fat man, ¡®Slyfox¡¯, continued to shout at them. ¡°I have credible information that a group of sweepers are active nearby. It is very likely that they might hit this place at any moment. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Looks of utter terror instantly appeared in the numbed eyes of the scavengers. The sweepers. They were synonymous with terror. The sweepers were a group of mutant bandits who were incredibly bloodthirsty and who delighted in cannibalism. To the sweepers, the scavengers were like sheep for the slaughter. Whenever the sweepers swept through a place, they brought utter, calamitous annihilation to the local scavengers! ¡°If you end up being captured by the sweepers, you¡¯ll be captured and corralled like pigs. They¡¯ll rip the meat off your bones, then smoke it and store it away for later. They¡¯ll break your bones and make decorations out of them, and the pitiful amount of fat you have will be squeezed out of you and used as fuel for their oil lamps.¡± These cruel words were like a cold wind that blew past the scavengers, causing all of them to shudder. This was just how the sweepers were. They swept through everything in their path, sparing nothing and no one. Slyfox finally announced the reason he had come here today. ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to choose a few dozen strong scavengers to form a squad with us. We¡¯ll be responsible for providing you with weapons to help you fight back against the sweepers!¡± The scavengers all retreated by a few steps. Nobody dared to make a sound. The sweepers were legendary for their cruelty and savagery. How would mere scavengers dare to challenge them? ¡°Useless pieces of crap. You¡¯d rather wait for death than try and make a fight out of it?¡± When the fat man saw how the scavengers were completely unresponsive, he said in a loud voice, ¡°Who will be the first volunteer? After we beat the sweepers, I¡¯ll take him with me when we leave this place!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± A skinny youth with a bloody nose and a bruised face came running over, his face red as he panted from exertion. It was Cloudhawk! The wastelands riders who were mounted on the bigfoot birds all began to roar with laughter. A teenage child was clamoring to go and fight the sweepers? When Slyfox saw the child emerge, he glared at him and bellowed, ¡°Can you even lift up our fucking weapons? Just fuck off!¡± ¡°I want to go fight the sweepers!¡± A steely look was in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°If I can survive the fight, you need to fulfill your promise and take me away from this place!¡± The fat man had a strange look on his face. ¡°Do you really want to leave that much? Staying alive matters more than anything else!¡± Cloudhawk said, ¡°I want to be a digger. I don¡¯t want to be hungry anymore, and I don¡¯t want to be taken advantage of by anyone any longer.¡± The wastelands riders all roared with laughter once more. Such juvenile words could only come from the mouths of ignorant children! ¡°Staying alive in a crazy era like this one aint easy. Living with honor and dignity is even harder. D¡¯ya think you¡¯ll never go hungry again or never be taken advantage of again once you become a digger? What a joke!¡± The fat man had been planning on kicking the kid away, but when he saw that look in the kid¡¯s pitch-black eyes¡­ for some reason even he couldn¡¯t explain, he slapped himself on his own head and said, ¡°Fuck me. Fine. I¡¯ll give you one chance. If we wipe out the sweepers and you make it out alive, I¡¯ll give you a chance to join us, the Tartarus mercenaries.¡± ¡°You seriously letting him in?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a fucking scav!¡± ¡°Shut your fucking mouth. You aren¡¯t exactly a fucking noble either! I¡¯m the fucking boss here. What I say goes!¡± The fat man fired yet another round into the air. ¡°Even a brat like him has the balls to fight. What are the rest of you are afraid of? If you go fight the sweepers, I¡¯ll give you each two pieces of bread and a bottle of water. If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll let you have a taste of gunpowder!¡± For scavengers, the most irresistible type of temptation was food. In turn, the most terrifying fear was that of death. This new ¡®proposal¡¯ was far more effective than the previous one. The scavengers began to step forwards, and soon Slyfox was able to fully assemble his suicide squ-¡­ ahem, his lionheart squad! The fat man called out loudly, ¡°Send this batch over right away. The others can wait here. You there. Kid. Get in the car with me!¡± Cloudhawk was dragged into the front passenger seat. The engine revved to life with a bestial howl before he even had a chance to find his footing, and the momentum caused him to be pressed firmly against the seat. This ramshackle vehicle was cobbled together from seven or eight different vehicles and seemed ready to fall apart at a moment¡¯s notice, but once it started to move it moved at incredible speeds, instantly zipping off into the distance. The real problem was that the damn thing didn¡¯t have any seatbelts. The scavengers had no choice but to desperately cling on for dear life in order to not be sent flying. The six wastelands riders each brought a scavenger along with them. The bigfoot birds twisted their necks, then immediately began to gallop across the sands with their giant feet. As for the porcupine-like vehicle, it was now packed to the brim with scavengers. It clambered up and down the sand dunes, dangerously veering right and left as it just barely avoided the obstacles in its path. It was an exciting but incredibly bumpy ride, and it felt as though they were a small boat being tossed about in a storm at sea. Cloudhawk felt both nervous and excited. His entire body was trembling, whether it be due to the terrifying prospect of facing the savage sweepers or the chance of seeing the vast world outside the scavenger camp. Every single cell in his body was screaming in excitement. One thought in particular dominated his mind. Old-timer, are you seeing this? I just made it out of the camp! Shortly after the car charged out of the ruins, a group of wanderers could be seen moving through the sands up ahead. Not only did the fat man not move to avoid them, he actually accelerated straight towards them. ¡°Careful!¡± Cloudhawk cried out in shock, ¡°There are people there!¡± The monstrous vehicle barreled straight through, sending the first person flying while slicing his chest open. A large amount of blood splattered inside the vehicle like a crimson rain, sprinkling across Slyfox¡¯s clothes as well as Cloudhawk¡¯s face. A few pieces of mangled human flesh and gore covered the vehicle. ¡°Bahahahahaha!¡± The fat man let out a few crazed laughs, then turned on the automatic windshield wiper, letting the wiper sweep away the chunks of flesh and blood on the glass windshield. He then turned the vehicle, using it to crush yet another one of the nomads. Cloudhawk could hear, sense, and even feel the wheels of the car crush the man¡¯s body apart and splinter his very bones. A look of savage, wild glee was on the fat man¡¯s face. He took another puff of his cigar, then chased down a third person. This one was knocked flying and smashed to death! ¡°Awesome. Absolutely fucking awesome.¡± The mounted wastelands riders used their bigfoot birds to chase after the survivors, cutting down the defenseless wanderers like wheat. One of the riders sank his hook into the jaw of one of the wastelands nomads, then dragged the barbarian behind him like a piece of garbage, leaving behind a smear of blood and gore on the ground. Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body was as cold as ice, and he couldn¡¯t stop the shivering. A look of confusion and rage was on his young face as he glared at the fat man. ¡°W-why¡­ why are you doing this?!¡± Scavengers also killed others, but that was only when they were starving. It was an act of madness that they only carried out for the sake of survival! These excavators didn¡¯t lack for food. They were doing this for nothing more than pure amusement. Cloudhawk simply couldn¡¯t understand why they were acting like this! ¡°Hah! None of your fucking business.¡± The fat man spat loudly. ¡°And you don¡¯t know shit. These are roamers! Killing them is doing a service to the wastelands.¡± The four main ¡®organizations¡¯ in the wastelands were the scavengers (scavs), the excavators (diggers), the nomads (roamers), and the sweepers. Scavengers were at the bottom of the totem pole. Once a group of scavengers learned how to operate excavating machinery to search for weapons in the ruins or learned how to master other tools or trades, they would have a chance to set up their own society and become excavators themselves. Scavengers often drank highly contaminated water and ate mutated food. This sort of inhospitable environment caused many of them to slowly mutate, and the mutation was in both body and mind. The vast majority of these mutants would become as savage and cruel as animals, and they would leave the society of scavengers and become nomad wanderers who would roam the lands and prey upon whoever they found. Once enough nomads gathered together in one place, they would eventually become groups of sweepers who swept through entire regions of the wastelands. Whenever they passed through a region, the local scavengers and excavators alike would be risk of utter annihilation. How many scavenger, excavator, nomad, and sweeper organizations existed in the wastelands? Far too many. This ancient city alone was filled with many different scavenger camps, as well as countless excavators and sweepers. In the end, the twenty-plus scavengers were sent to the temporary excavator base. This was a strangely shaped building that was planted into the ground like an inverted pyramid. This building was quite enormous, and although it had clearly seen far better times, it was still quite obvious that in both pattern and style it was something the likes of which had never before appeared in any period of human history. This was something that had suddenly appeared upon this vast earth. A jerry-rigged truck was parked in the shadow of the inverted pyramid. It had a total of five wheels, with the sole frontal wheel being the smallest wheel. The two wheels in the middle were larger, while the two wheels in the back were almost half the size of a man. The truck itself was large and highly functional, with its sides covered by random steel chains and wire circles. It looked like a giant ugly lizard, but it seemed capable of bearing many things. The fat man leapt out of his vehicle and hollered, ¡°Mad Dog, hurry up and come say hello to the fresh meat!¡± The man nicknamed ¡®Mad Dog¡¯ was the fellow standing next to the truck. He was an awesomely muscled black man who was 1.9 meters tall, and his bald head and face were both covered with all sorts of scars, large and small. One of the scars looked as though it had been left by someone who had chopped his head in half, only for another person to somehow use a large number of needles and thread to stitch the pieces back together. Savage, ferocious, hideous. These three words were invented to describe him! Mad Dog was a man of some status, but his equipment looked quite simple and crude. He didn¡¯t have any firearms of his own. All he had was a pair of daggers that were tucked into sheaths around his waist. He was dressed in a set of leather armor that bristled with spikes which mostly served to protect his chest and abdomen. His muscular arms and his shoulders were completely bare, and they looked as chiseled as slabs of black marble. The black man coldly swept the scavengers with his gaze. Not saying a word, he turned and pulled open the chains to the truck, revealing the many items it held within it. ¡°Choose for yourselves!¡± The scavengers stared at the large pile of miscellaneous weapons in front of them. There were spears, machetes, hammers, axes¡­ although these were all rather clumsily-made ¡®cold weapons¡¯, for scavengers they were still incredibly rare and valuable. ¡°Pick a weapon that suits your hand. Whether or not you¡¯ll be able to survive will be up to them.¡± The fat man said to Mad Dog, ¡°Let them enjoy a last supper. They probably aren¡¯t gonna have another chance like this again!¡± The fat man clearly didn¡¯t give a shit about the feelings of his recruited scavengers, and so he said these words openly and loudly. Looks of terror appeared in the eyes of the scavengers. They had no idea what sort of cruelty and savagery they were in for. They had no choice but to begin to choose their own weapons. Machetes and axes carried a lot of power, but Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t strong enough to use them. In the end, he chose a shortsword that was less than three feet long. When Cloudhawk felt the cold metal of the sword cool his hands, he couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly more at ease. No matter what happened, he would accept it. Even if his chances of surviving were slim, he would still try his best to stay alive. Cloudhawk refused to be a lowly scavenger for the rest of his life. He didn¡¯t want to die alone and forgotten like the old-timer had. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 3 Mad Dog A faint, cloying smell emanated from the wax paper, assaulting his nostrils with its fragrance. It was an intoxicating feeling that would make a man feel as though he was dreaming. Two pieces of tough black bread, and a bottle of lightly contaminated water. The scavengers had never even seen such high-quality food before, and every single scavenger was lost in a state of incredible bliss. Cloudhawk¡¯s hands were shaking as he slowly unwrapped the waxy paper, looking almost like a devout pilgrim who was opening up a sacred object. Just like that, the two pieces of hard bread appeared before his eyes. Their fragrance grew even stronger than before, causing his mouth to almost immediately water. Bread. This was bread! He had seen pictures of this before in books. He never would¡¯ve imagined that such a legendary delicacy would appear in his very own hands. In the ruins, these two pieces of bread would be worth a man¡¯s life. No. They would be worth the lives of ten men! Cloudhawk carefully, gingerly broke off a small piece of bread, then put it into his mouth. He closed his eyes, carefully savoring the taste. He first allowed his saliva to slowly soften the tough bread, allowing its unique flavors to spread across the tip of his tongue. This felt so wonderful that it seemed almost unreal, and he felt completely intoxicated. It was as though this was all a dream. However, this wonderful dream was rudely and abruptly interrupted. A skinny but muscular figure was walking towards him, machete in hand. The man¡¯s face was covered with a hideous knife scar. Who was this? It was the man who had led the others in stealing Cloudhawk¡¯s meat just yesterday. He had come to take part in this activity as well! Cloudhawk picked up his shortsword, glaring at the scar-faced man with undisguised hostility in his eyes. He looked almost like an enraged young leopard. Yesterday, he had already eaten his fill and so there was no need for him to fight to the death. Today, things were different. If anyone dared to try and take his bread away from him, he¡¯d plunge his shortsword through that person¡¯s heart, even if it meant dying with him! ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your food!¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± The scar-faced man had a strange look in his eyes, which flickered with a chilling look. ¡°See that over there? There are only three diggers, but that truck is filled with bread and water. All of us are armed. Why don¡¯t we give it a shot?¡± There were only three excavators guarding the truck, and none of the three were armed with firearms. It was highly likely that the excavators had brought them here to send them to their deaths. Rather than sit here and wait to die, why not join forces and kill the three instead? Food, weapons, water¡­ these were the most important things the wastelands had to offer, and they would be able to obtain all three in one go! When the scavengers thought back to how utterly delicious the bread had been, their eyes couldn¡¯t help but turn bloodshot. A communal greed and desire to kill began to quickly rise within their breasts. Kill them all! Chop them into mincemeat! The scavengers all began to rise to their feet. The scar-faced man glared at the irresolute Cloudhawk. ¡°You comin¡¯ or not?¡± All men had desires, and the desire for food and for life were amongst the most powerful desires there were. In fact, Cloudhawk wanted to join them, but¡­ the experiences he had gone through while living in the ruins for so many years had made it impossible for him to trust the scar-faced man and the others. An underage, undersized youth¡­ even if they did manage to seize all the bread and water, would the scar-faced man and the others really share it with him? The answer was quite obvious. There was no way the scar-faced man would give him so much as a single roll of bread. Instead, all the scavengers would join together to wipe out the weaklings of their group¡­ because with each person they killed, each survivor would gain a correspondingly greater amount of resources. And¡­ would the scavengers even be able to succeed? This seemed like an idiotic question. Twenty against three? The answer was obvious. But, for some reason, Cloudhawk had a very bad feeling about what was going to happen! Cloudhawk snuck a glance at the black man. When he did, he couldn¡¯t help but feel his scalp grow numb. It was as though a bucket of icewater had just been poured over his head. The savage-looking black man was actually looking straight at the scavengers, as though he could hear what they were saying. Their gazes met in midair. Cloudhawk felt as though he had been struck by a thunderbolt. The pitifully limited vocabulary he possessed wasn¡¯t even close to being enough to describe the feeling those eyes had given him! That sharp, fierce glare contained an indescribable, awesome power within them. It didn¡¯t feel like the gaze of a man; rather, it felt like the gaze of a terrifying mutabeast. There was a naked warning in that gaze: All of you are nothing more than a group of pitifully weak prey. You aren¡¯t even worth worrying about! Cloudhawk could sense every muscle in his body turning taut with fear. It was as though he was a juvenile animal who had just been paralyzed with terror. Although he knew he had no chance of surviving, his subconscious desire was to fight back! ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Cloudhawk summoned every scrap of courage and strength he had to finally break their shared gaze, only to find that he had drenched himself in icy sweat. He whispered, ¡°You are all gonna die!¡± ¡°You useless piece of crap!¡± The scar-faced man spat hard, then said to the other scavengers, ¡°Let¡¯s kill those diggers, then come back and deal with this piece of trash.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The twenty-plus excavators began to move in unison, their eyes filled with silent grimness. Everyone who lived within the wastelands knew exactly what that grim look signified. The scavengers had transformed into a pack of wolves¡­ or, to be precise, they had become a pack of hungry wolves stalking their prey. Mad Dog was neither nervous nor impatient. He just continued to puff on his cigarette as though the pack of hungry human wolves in front of him didn¡¯t even exist. He did give a glance to the skinny youth who was silently squatting next to the wall, chewing on a piece of bread. That particular scav was a bit interesting. He was quite clever and sharp. The kid¡¯s gaze had been almost bestial, filled with a certain stubborn wildness. He had actually managed to trade stares with Mad Dog for quite some time without breaking down. Most importantly of all, the kid had a good nose for danger. Was that the reason why he had elected not to join the others in their suicidal actions? What an interesting kid! ¡°Whaddya doing?! You lookin¡¯ to die?!¡± ¡°You overestimate yourselves, you cockroaches. All of you need to back the fuck up!¡± By now, the other two mercenaries also noticed that the scavengers were beginning to move. They pulled out their weapons, menacing looks on their faces as they cursed angrily. The scavengers, however, didn¡¯t respond to them at all as they continued to draw closer and closer. ¡°Eheheh. C¡¯mon, guys. Why you gotta be like this?¡± Mad Dog let out a deep, hoarse chuckle that sounded like the hooting of an owl. When he smiled, the hideous scars across his face began to twist and turn like so many ugly centipedes. He casually tossed his cigarette to the ground, then used the tip of his boot to grind it into the mud. ¡°Y¡¯know, I was feeling pretty bored. Step aside, rookies.¡± ¡°Mad Dog, boss, don¡¯t¡­¡± The two mercenaries exchanged a glance with Mad Dog, then immediately shut their mouths. They silently stepped aside, looks of sympathy on their faces as they glanced at the foolish scavengers. Mad Dog began to grin savagely as he slowly pulled out his two gleaming machetes. The machetes were shaped somewhat like kukris, except the ¡®backs¡¯ of the machetes were flat while the blades were curved. The blades were extremely wide and very top-heavy and would require tremendous wrist strength to use properly. The shocking thing was, after Mad Dog pulled them out he then casually tossed them to the ground, balling up his fists as he walked towards the scavengers. Why did he throw his weapons away? Why was he able to face more than twenty men without looking the slightest bit nervous? Why was he walking straight towards a large group of armed scavengers by himself? The scavengers had lost all rationality by now. They had bloodthirsty looks on their faces, and they were brimming with the desire to do murder. None of what Mad Dog was doing made any sense, but all such considerations had long ago fled their minds. The scar-faced man let out a loud roar: ¡°Kill!¡± And just like that, the dozens of scavengers charged forwards like a pack of starving mongrels. The scar-faced man lifted his machete up high, charging at the forefront of his pack. On his right was a scavenger who wielded a metal rod, while to his left was a scavenger who held an axe. These were the three strongest and most agile scavengers in this group, which was why they led the vanguard in this charge! Split their heads open! Chop their arms off! Take everything which belonged to them! This was what the scar-faced man was thinking, and that was exactly what he was going to do. Except¡­ as soon as he lifted his machete up, his movements came to a sudden halt. Mad Dog reached out lightning-fast with his right hand, his five fingers closing over his opponent¡¯s wrist. Crack! The wrist was twisted in the opposite direction, twisted so hard that the bones could be seen poking out of the skin as blood poured out from the puncture wounds. Next, Mad Dog followed up with a sweeping kick from his right leg. This kick landed upon the scar-faced man¡¯s legs with the power of a steel whip, and the scar-faced man was suddenly ¡®shortened¡¯ as his legs suddenly bent to a terrifyingly unnatural degree. The bones within his legs had been cleanly snapped apart in multiple places. Finally, there came a punch! The scar-faced man¡¯s chest was completely caved in by this punch. Eight of his ribs were shattered into tiny pieces, and he was sent flying backwards like a sandbag, instantly knocking flat several of the scavengers who were behind him. Right at this moment, the metal rod came slamming down towards Mad Dog. Mad Dog made it look as easy as picking flowers; a grab, a pull, a toss. He first grabbed the metal rod, pulled it away from the man with force, and then sent it back to him in a furious blow by slamming the rod straight through the man¡¯s mouth. This forceful entry first shattered the man¡¯s teeth into tiny bits, and then¡­ crunch. A clear sound rang out as the metal rod exited through the back of the man¡¯s skull. An enormous hole had appeared in his head! ¡°Ahhhhh! Monster!¡± The axe-wielding scavenger was so terrified by this sight that he immediately turned tail and started to flee. But Mad Dog wasn¡¯t going to let him off. He leaped into the air, bounding nearly two meters high as he lifted his right leg past the man¡¯s head, then used it to deliver a crushing downwards blow towards the man¡¯s skull. CRUNCH. The cervical vertebrae was cleanly severed! As for the head itself, it was actually caved into the man¡¯s chest by the terrifying force of Mad Dog¡¯s strike. The inconceivable power of this strike actually drilled the scavenger¡¯s legs into the ground, almost like a nail being hammered into the earth. He stood there, unable to fall down¡­ and of course, he was deader than dead! ¡°Ahahah!¡± Mad Dog¡¯s savage face was filled with berserk delight and a look of absolute intoxication. It was as though he had already lost complete control of his mind. ¡°C¡¯mon, keep it up! I haven¡¯t had enough fun yet!¡± The two mercenaries groaned mentally when they saw this. The boss had entered one of his berserk states, which was incredibly dangerous. This was the reason why his nickname was ¡®Mad Dog¡¯! Neither of the two rookie mercenaries dared to move too close to him! The scar-faced man lay there on the ground, somehow still alive and struggling to draw breath. Mad Dog stepped directly onto his face, completely caving it in and causing the white brain matter to explode forth from his face, almost as though it was sick of being in the man¡¯s skull and impatient to move somewhere else. Mad Dog had crushed the man¡¯s skull as easily as if he was stepping on a chicken egg. This entire process had taken less than five seconds. Mad Dog, using utterly brutal and bloody methods, had instantly defeated and slain the three strongest scavengers. His attacks were so clean and measured that he had clearly perfected them over countless ¡®practice¡¯ sessions. His power was simply inhuman, and it was utterly bone-chilling! He was no man. He was an absolute devil! The scavengers were all terrified out of their wits, with the more cowardly ones peeing themselves on the spot. Cloudhawk stared wide-eyed at all of this. If he hadn¡¯t seen it all happen in person, there¡¯s no way he would¡¯ve believed that any man could be as strong as this! Mad Dog charged forwards towards the other scavengers, grabbing the machete out of the scar-faced man¡¯s lifeless hands. Just as he was about to begin massacring the rest¡­ Boom! A rumbling sound could be heard as the porcupine-shaped vehicle came flying through the sand-swept air, having flown off the edge of one of the sand dunes just outside. The fat man, cigar in mouth, was seated within the shaking vehicle. His left hand was controlling the steering wheel while his right hand was pulling his gun out of its holster. Both the vehicle and the fat man himself were in midair as the fat man acted. He drew his gun, then shot at Mad Dog without even aiming at all. A bullet tore through the air, moving dozens of meters in a split second. Clang! The machete in Mad Dog¡¯s hands was struck head-on and shattered into two pieces. Cloudhawk was stunned once again. The fat man didn¡¯t seem to possess any skills at all, but he actually was a terrifyingly skilled marksman. His inconceivable accuracy was just as inhuman as Mad Dog¡¯s strength had been! The vehicle sped straight into their temporary base. ¡°Mad Dog, what the actual fuck are you doing?¡± The fat man stared at the three obliterated corpses on the ground. ¡°Messing around and killing one or two of them is one thing, but are you planning to wipe out all of these fuckers?¡± ¡°I lost control for a second.¡± Mad Dog shook his head hard, seemingly back in control of himself again. ¡°They are still alive, right? No big deal.¡± The fat man knew of Mad Dog¡¯s problem. Whenever the guy killed someone, he often entered a berserk state. Thank goodness he had managed to come back just in the nick of time. ¡°Slyfox, what¡¯s the point of you even bringing these pieces of crap with you?¡± Mad Dog was now extremely irritable and impatient. ¡°Way I see it, all you are doing is wasting our time!¡± ¡°How are you supposed to catch any fish without bait? Alright, stop yapping.¡± The fat man patted Mad Dog on his shoulders. ¡°Our employers for this mission are quite extraordinary, and the mission rewards are quite incredible!¡± Mad Dog said nothing further. The fat man turned to glance at the remaining scavengers. ¡°Enough. Now that all of us are here¡­ listen up, you dirty scavs! I¡¯ll give you half an hour to prepare!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± A terrified-looking scavenger suddenly cried out. This was different from the jobs which the excavators usually had the scavengers do. These excavators were all freaks. If they followed these excavators, all of them would definitely die. Bang! No one even saw the fat man pull the trigger. The fat man had personally modified his gun, and the bullets were custom-manufactured as well. The enormous power of the slug actually caused the protesting scavenger¡¯s head to completely blow apart. Moments later, the protestor slumped to the ground, white brain matter oozing out from his shattered skull onto the ground. His entire body was twitching involuntarily. The other scavengers all felt a chill go through their spines. As for Cloudhawk, he continued to sit there next to the wall, watching as he slowly popped the final piece of bread into his mouth. He then finished off his final mouthful of water. The old-timer¡¯s words echoed in his mind. A man can become either a chess player or a chess piece. Chess players could choose how they wish to play. Chess pieces cannot. Every single person had the chance to become a chess player, but they had to be incredibly careful with each choice they made. Once they became chess pieces, their lives would no longer be under their own control. Anger, terror, resignation¡­ none of it would matter. Once you became a chess piece, if you overestimated yourself and still thought yourself to be a player who had the power to choose his own fate, the result would be that you would end up like the scar-faced man and the others. This was why Cloudhawk had already made up his mind on what he was going to do. He was going to be a good little chess piece¡­ and wait for the right moment to jump off this board and become a player once more. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 4 The Sweepers Nightfall. Night signified the cold. It also signified death. An enormous rat was skittering through the ruins, its pitch-black form merging into the darkness of the night as its beady little crimson eyes swept left and right. The area around it was rife with ditches of water. The water was a deep green color and thick with the aura of rot and contamination. The corpses of many unknown animals had long been steeped within that foul water. There was some type of algae-like growth which could be seen in spots throughout this area, emanating their dim, sickly fluorescent light. The light wasn¡¯t enough to illuminate anything; all it could do was make the dark night seem even more sinister and forboding. The giant rat vigilantly scanned its surroundings. Finally, it came to a halt in front of a giant tunnel. This was perhaps a transportation hub of the Old Times, or possibly an entranceway to an ancient, enormous building. It was also possible that it was a building from one of the invading worlds¡­ but by now, none of this mattered. The giant rat hesitated, unsure of whether or not it would go in. It could smell a strange, dangerous scent. Right at this moment, a large amount of torch light could be seen, followed by the sounds of many people moving together. The giant rat was so startled it instantly dove into that tunnel. A few seconds later, it emanated a chilling screech from deep within the tunnel. The giant rat¡¯s screeching sound continuously receded, almost as if it was being dragged deeper and deeper into the tunnel. Finally, the giant rat¡¯s miserable screeches were cut short, followed by ripping, gnashing, and chewing sounds. A few minutes later, the light from a torch shone over this place. Mad Dog stared at the enormous ruins before him, a frown on his face. ¡°You sure this is it?¡± The fat man pulled a match, using it to light the cigarette in his mouth. ¡°The layout here is extremely complicated. Supposedly, those bastards are pretty sly. It¡¯ll be dangerous if we try to force our way in, and we¡¯ll also set off the alarms. It¡¯ll be hard for us to wipe¡¯m all out.¡± Mad Dog frowned even more. ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°Why do you think I brought so many pawns?¡± The fat man stared at Mad Dog as though his question was offensively stupid, then tossed his half-smoked cigarette to the ground. ¡°Rookies, send in the bait!¡± Several of the mercenaries walked over to the quivering scavengers. ¡°Y¡¯all deaf? Slyfox told you to move it!¡± The scavengers were both cold and frightened. The yawning black tunnel before them seemed to be the entrance into Hell itself. By now, even the most foolish of them could tell that they were just here to serve as bait, bait to lure some people out. That was it! But¡­ did the scavengers have the choice to refuse? Only if they could move faster than a speeding bullet. Otherwise, none of them would be able to escape Slyfox¡¯s pistol! The scavengers had no choice but to be driven into the tunnel, raising their torches high as they slowly shuffled forwards. ¡°Be careful in there, rookies.¡± The fat man lit another cigarette, puffing slowly in a relaxed manner as he watched the torches advance through the tunnel. ¡°Take things slow. Let the pawns stay up ahead of you.¡± The tunnel was both cold and moist. It was filled with a strong stench of rot and decay, and it held many ancient algae-covered tools that lay abandoned. Many mosquitoes could be heard buzzing throughout the tunnel, and it was filled with the signs of dangerous creatures living within it. Cloudhawk was terrified out of his senses, but also quite puzzled. For some reason, he could vaguely sense that something was calling towards him from an unfathomably deep part of this dark tunnel. He had never sensed anything like this before. The feeling was both subtle and indescribably peculiar. What secrets were hidden within this place? And what were those powerful excavators planning on doing? Ancient items from the Old Times weren¡¯t the only things that littered the tunnels. The scavengers were also able to see many suspicious traces, such as tattered bits of cloth, animal carcasses, and congealed pools of blood. But the layout here was quite complicated; after walking for twenty or thirty minutes, no one was able to tell which direction was which. Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. A shrill sound rang out from some unknown place, sounding almost like nails scratching across a blackboard. The sound was ear-piercingly sharp, and it rang out continuously, sometimes loud and sometimes soft. There was no way to tell where it was coming from. Darkness was something capable of bringing out the most primordial of fears, and the fear of the unknown can multiply all other fears a hundredfold! The scavengers halted their advance, their bodies stiff with fear and their foreheads covered with sweat. They didn¡¯t know if they were to advance or to retreat. The darkness around them was filled with rustling sounds, causing their nerves to fray even more. In fact, they were almost at the breaking point already. ¡°AHHH!!¡± A scavenger suddenly let out a horrifying, blood-curling scream. Only then did the others turn and see something which they would never be able to forget. At some point in time, the area around them had become filled with bugs. The vast majority of the bugs looked like beetles, but there were also long, centipede-like creatures that were hanging from the walls, crawling on the ground, and even crawling up their bodies. The entire area was filled with the things. Cloudhawk frantically began to brush away at his clothes, his leg, his stomach, and his back. He had no idea when so many bugs had begun to crawl all over his body. He hadn¡¯t felt them biting at him at all, and some of them had already begun to burrow their way into his flesh. He frantically clutched at his torch, pushing the blazing flames against his own body. It was better to suffer heavy burns than to let these bugs eat their way into his body and kill him! Bugs! There were bugs everywhere! They were clustered so tightly and were so numerous, it was like an entire wave of bugs was before them! Even the boldest of men would be scared senseless upon seeing such a sight. By the time the scavengers at the outside perimeter noticed the bugs, it was already far too late. By the time they tore their clothes open, they found that their bodies had already been transformed into unrecognizable masses of blood and flesh, with many bulging lumps roaming about underneath their skin. ¡°NO!¡± ¡°AHHH!¡± Several scavengers let out horrified screams as they collapsed to the ground, and the surrounding bugs all immediately swarmed towards them. They burrowed in through every available orifice, and if they couldn¡¯t find any they would make their own using their teeth. ¡°RUN!¡± The scavengers were already at the point of completely breaking down. When this word rang out, it was like a spark going off in a room full of gunpowder, setting all of their fears alight. The blazing fear burnt away all their rationality and intellect, causing all of them to scream in horror as they began to flee in every direction. A few managed to escape the bug-infested region. Before any of them had the chance to so much as relax, the ones at the front stumbled into some sort of trap. Whoosh! A large bucket of powerful green acid was overturned above them, causing the acid to be poured over their faces and bodies. The powerful, corrosive acid instantly began to eat away at them, causing large clumps of acid-eaten flesh and hair to fall off their bodies as bloody blisters began to appear on their faces and their hands. ¡°AHHHHHHHH!¡± A scavenger let out a horrified scream, then turned and ran straight towards Cloudhawk. Right now, he looked just like a demon himself. He was clawing at his acid-eaten head out of blind instinct, with the result being that he himself scraped large chunks of flesh off his face, revealing a bloody skull. The flesh on his fingers had also withered away, leaving only the bones¡­ but oblivious to all of this, he continued to just scream like a madman. Cloudhawk stared at this horrifying, breathtaking sight. He was stunned and unable to give voice to his astonishment, and his fear was being overridden by an even more terrifying thought ¨C these were all carefully prepared traps, traps laid out by sentient, intelligent beings! A sharp spear suddenly stabbed through the darkness. The scavenger¡¯s chest was pierced through as easily as paper, and the terrifying strength behind the spear caused both it and the scavenger to be nailed firmly to the wall. A steel hook shot out as well, reaching out towards one of the fleeing scavengers and ripping off half of the flesh from his stomach. The scavenger didn¡¯t seem to notice a thing, continuing to scream madly as he fled as fast as he could. His blood and intestines gushed out for quite a few meters before he finally fell down to the ground, all traces of life having fled him. This was a slaughter. This was butchery! ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s all a trap. If we just¡­¡± The scavenger didn¡¯t even have a chance to finish his words before a long knife came chopping towards him through the darkness. The knife wasn¡¯t that sharp, but its wielder was so terrifyingly strong that the knife sliced all the way through the scavenger, from the right shoulder blade through to the lower flank. The man was ripped in half, and the blood from his bisected body instantly sprayed across the faces of those around him. His organs flopped out to the ground, and they were still pulsing. The scavenger didn¡¯t die right away, but all of his ¡®courage¡¯ disappeared. All he could do was let out an absolutely inhuman scream, filled with such despair and horror that it was like a mountain hammering away at the spirits of the survivors. Is that them? Have they finally come out? Cloudhawk saw strange creatures in front of him, the likes of which he had never seen before. The creatures were completely nude and unclothed, but their bodies were completely covered with cancerous growths that looked like the knots on a tree or tree roots. From head to foot, they were covered with those gnarly, wart-like growths. They also had large growths atop their heads which looked much like the most malignant of malignant tumors. They had two legs that looked almost like a rat¡¯s legs, with knees that inverted backwards instead of forwards. This gave the creatures superior running abilities and leaping abilities. As for weapons, they primarily wielded long knives, spears, and stone hammers. There was at least one thing which the excavators had told the truth about ¨C there really were sweepers here! In this day and age, human mutants could be seen everywhere. However, those mutations were generally uncontrollable, which meant that every single mutant looked different from the others. These sweepers, however, didn¡¯t just look the same, they also kept a modicum of intelligence. They definitely were an incredibly rare breed of mutants. One of the scavengers, gripped by despair, let out a desperate counter-attack. Slash! Alas, the scavenger¡¯s knife couldn¡¯t even cut through his opponent¡¯s skin, coming to a halt before those gnarly, root-like lumps of flesh. The sweeper, however, struck out with the heavy stone hammer in his hands, delivering a vicious blow to the scavenger¡¯s chest. The furious power of the blow pulverized the scavenger¡¯s flesh and bones, instantly reducing him to a flattened chunk of meat dressed in tattered human clothes. No way. Fighting head-on meant death. These creatures were far stronger than any humans! Even worse, the sweepers were beginning to increase in number. Their stone warhammers were like terrifying weapons of mass destruction, and each blow from a warhammer reduced one of the scavengers into a bag of pulverized meat! The scavengers had completely broken down. No matter where they ran, they would die. Faced with certain death, they all began to flee wildly, but they also knew that in the end they would end up as flattened hunks of flesh. The endless horror of it all, coupled with unrelenting despair, nibbled away at their minds and their sanity. The little bit of strength and sanity they had left was only enough for them to cry and howl in misery. Something like this¡­ if you never experienced them yourself, you would never be able to truly imagine what those howls sounded like. Anguished howls, intermixed with the sounds of bones being crunched and shattered. It formed a strange, almost musical cadence that echoed throughout the tunnels, a song that was composed from the devil himself, a song that no one who heard it would ever be able to forget. One warm body after another was broken down and destroyed. One life after another was callously snuffed out! Prior to this, Cloudhawk had never truly understood the concept of what ¡®Hell¡¯ meant. In this instant, all of his courage and his heroic aspirations vanished as he heard those hideous screams. The only thing he left was a gamblers desire to try the cards one final time as he followed the few surviving scavengers as they charged towards a passageway with fairly few sweepers. Crunch! The sound of yet another body being physically blown apart could be heard! One of the comrades who had been by his side just moments ago was suddenly felled by the hammer of a pursuing sweeper. Multiple sweepers immediately swarmed forwards, surrounding the fallen figure and smashing down with their heavy stone warhammers. The corpse was reduced to a state where it was in even worse shape than the refuse on the ground! The sight of blood spraying everywhere provided an incredible shot of adrenaline to Cloudhawk. He felt as though all of his energy had been focused into his legs, and only a single thought was in his mind ¨C Get the hell out of here! ¡°AHH!¡± Right at this moment, one of the scavengers who was running in front of him let out a miserable scream as he fell to the ground, the pincers of some strange beast having clamped around his feet. This beast¡¯s pincers appeared to contain a tremendous amount of force, as its clamping attack had crushed almost every bone in the scavenger¡¯s feet so badly that shattered bits of bone could be seen poking out of his skin! ¡°Help me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m begging you, save me!¡± Cloudhawk fled past him without even thinking about stopping, but the scavenger actually managed to grab him by the feet. Caught off-balance, Cloudhawk fell to the ground as well. The scavenger¡¯s face was covered with tears and snot. ¡°Help me!¡± Cloudhawk howled back, ¡°I can¡¯t save you! Let me go!¡± ¡°Then give me a clean death!¡± The scavenger¡¯s face was filled with despair. ¡°If those devils get their hands on me¡­ I¡¯d rather die now!¡± Cloudhawk hesitated. He had never killed anyone before! But right at this moment, he could see a dark figure beginning to move straight towards them. ¡°Give me a clean death!¡± The scavenger lay there on the ground, howling with all his might, ¡°I¡¯M BEGGING YOU!¡± Cloudhawk let out a guttural, bestial roar, then raised his short sword up high before plunging it the man¡¯s neck. Blood immediately spurted out, and the stench of the blood assaulted his nostrils. Cloudhawk wiped his face, not bothering to pull out his blood-stained short sword. He kicked his right leg free from the man¡¯s grip, then clambered to his feet and continued to furiously run towards the depths of the tunnels! This was his first time killing another human being! He couldn¡¯t forget the look of utter despair on the dying scavenger¡¯s face. It seemed to have indelibly impressed itself into his heart, into his very soul. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with shock and horror. He felt as though a volcano was rumbling deep within his soul, making him want to scream with rage and anguish. However, this wasn¡¯t the right time. The underground tunnels stretched out like the webs of a spider, and he had no idea how many dangerous creatures were living here. The dark figure behind him tossed down its stone hammer, smeared with red blood and white brain matter, then reached backwards to pull a javelin from its back. It threw the spear directly towards Cloudhawk! The javelin howled through the air. Sensing the impending danger, Cloudhawk almost instinctively leaned sideways, letting the sharp tip of the spear scrape right past his face. It was so close that it had actually severed a few strands of his hair! The sweeper was rather surprised. It never would¡¯ve expected for a young human to possess such an acute sense for danger! Cloudhawk knew that the specter of death had just brushed past him. He continued to furiously run forwards at full speed. Upon noticing that there was a turn in the tunnel right up ahead, he immediately dashed in without hesitating at all. Here there was a branch in the tunnels, with three different openings leading towards three different directions. Cloudhawk chose one at random, then charged into it and hid himself towards the back of the tunnel. There was a limit to how much strength he had, and he was already at the verge of collapsing. If he continue to flee, he would definitely be caught by the sweeper. His only chance was to entrust everything to luck and hope that the sweeper wouldn¡¯t choose the tunnel he had entered. The dark figure came to a halt in front of the three tunnels. It hesitated there for a few seconds, not making an immediate decision. This sweeper was an experienced hunter. The sweeper could sense that the footsteps had come to a halt, which meant that the human hadn¡¯t run far. He had to be still hiding nearby, and so the sweeper didn¡¯t run blindly into one of the tunnels. Instead, the sweeper intended to rely on his acute hearing to determine where the human was. Right now, Cloudhawk was hidden less than ten meters away from the sweeper. His heart was hammering so hard, he felt as though it was about to burst out from his chest. This time, he was completely finished. The sweeper wasn¡¯t going to leave. He was waiting, waiting for Cloudhawk to show himself. If Cloudhawk made the slightest of sounds, he would probably be immediately discovered and caught. What was he supposed to do? Cloudhawk clenched his fists, his palms full of sweat. But right at this moment, another powerful premonition of danger filled his mind. Cloudhawk could feel something coming, and he immediately turned to stare towards his left. His eyes narrowed from what he saw. The walls of the tunnels here were lit by the fluorescent moss¡­ and all of a sudden, without making any sound at all, an incredibly large black silhouette had suddenly appeared on them. This creature had eight slender legs, and its joints were all covered with needle-like strands of bristles that were as sharp as knives. It had twelve blood-red eyes, each of which gleamed with a brutal, savage light. This was a mutabeasts! An enormous mutabeast spider, one which was at least two meters long! The dangerous creature lay atop the ceilings. Clearly, it had already discovered Cloudhawk and was slowly crawling closer and closer towards him. Right at this moment, the sweeper heard something as well. The sweeper pulled out yet another javelin from behind its back, then began to stride towards Cloudhawk¡¯s direction. Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead was matted with sweat, and he found it impossible to tamp down his fear. Time to try something crazy! He shut his eyes, then howled as he jumped out of his hiding spot! Upon seeing that its prey was trying to flee, the enormous spider flexed its eight legs, then shot out at the same time as its prey jumped out. The spider was a powerful predator that moved far faster than Cloudhawk did; it was certain that it would be able to catch its prey mid-leap. Just as Cloudhawk leapt out from behind his hiding spot, the sweeper¡¯s arm flexed as it hurled its incredibly sharp javelin with enough power to penetrate clean through a man¡¯s body. Time seemed to slow down. The dangerous mutabeast inched ever closer in mid-air, as did that lethal javelin. Cloudhawk frantically tried to twist his body in midair, and the javelin sliced a deep wound through his chest as it flew past him. He had almost miraculously dodged that strike! Ssssssss! The enormous black spider struck out with its limbs. Just as it was about to latch onto Cloudhawk with them, the oncoming javelin hit it almost perfectly on its head, causing it to let out an agonized screech! The sweeper stared, somewhat stunned. It certainly hadn¡¯t expected something like this to happen! In that brief instant when the sweeper stood there dumbfounded, Cloudhawk fell to the ground then rolled to his feet, clutching his hands over the gaping wound across his chest as he furiously fled into another one of the tunnels. Just as the sweeper was about to chase after him, the injured and enraged mutabeasts spider clambered to its feet, then leapt straight towards the sweeper. ¡°GRAH!¡± The sweeper was knocked down but immediately drew a short knife and plunged it into the spider¡¯s soft abdomen. As for the giant spider, it used its sharp, venomous fangs to bite at the sweeper¡¯s neck and shoulders. The two deadly creatures began to furiously attack each other, and as for Cloudhawk? He had long since disappeared into the tunnels. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 5 The Mysterious Jewel Cloudhawk had just barely been able to escape, but he managed to find a quiet corner to hide behind and rest in. His chest was blazing with pain. When he pressed a hand against it, his hand came away smeared in sticky fluids. Although he couldn¡¯t tell how badly he had been injured, the wound was definitely a serious one. Wounds like this were extremely dangerous; even if he didn¡¯t die due to blood loss, the wound would probably become infected, resulting in him dying an agonizing death. Perhaps due to his physical weakness, or perhaps due to his severe loss of blood, Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was growing increasingly hazy. His eyelids began to droop downwards. He really wanted to close his eyes and rest for a while, but he knew that he absolutely could not do such a thing. This was a dangerous place, filled with countless dangerous creatures, and the stench of his blood would definitely attract those bloodthirsty beasts. For him to fall asleep right now meant that he would never wake up again. He was tired. He was in pain. He was beaten up. His willpower was almost used up. Death would be a form of escape, right. Cloudhawk forced that thought down. He hadn¡¯t even been able to leave the ruins, much less the wilderness. He hadn¡¯t fulfilled any of the promises he had made himself. How could he accept death in a place like this? The old-timer would laugh at him. He had to survive. He had to live! His desire to stay alive enkindled his spirit, like a stubborn flicker of flame that began to rise once more. His spirits roused, Cloudhawk removed his bloodstained clothes, then tore several strips of cloth and used it to tightly bandage his wounds. He had to find the exit as soon as possible. He had to leave this damnable place! The light from the fluorescent lichen in this place provided him with a vague idea of where to go. However, the underground tunnels were laid out in such a complicated way that Cloudhawk had long ago lost his sense of direction. He had no idea which way he should go. But right then, that strange, subtle sensation appeared once more. It was as though something was calling out towards his subconscious. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t certain as to whether this feeling was a real one or an illusory one, but by now he had no other options to take. He decided to entrust his destiny to this sixth sense and follow the complicated underground tunnels in a downwards descent. His physical condition was rapidly deteriorating, and this place was as complicated as any maze. Cloudhawk walked for several dozen minutes without being able to make it out of the tunnels, but that subconscious sensation was growing stronger and stronger. As he continued to move towards the direction the sensation was coming from, he actually saw an exit that glimmered with some faint light. He had made it! He had escaped! This had to be the escape. He had finally found it! Fuck those diggers. The only thing the matters is that I¡¯m getting out of this alive! Overjoyed, Cloudhawk quickened his footsteps. Just as he was about to walk out from the ¡®exit¡¯, he came to a sudden halt as a stunned look appeared on his face. No. NO! SHIT! This place was a five-way intersection. The so-called ¡®light¡¯? That was just torch light coming from the torches that hung in this place. The walls here were filled with neatly arrayed bone spears and various tools, as well as a large amount of wind-dried smoked meat that hung from giant hooks. What really terrified Cloudhawk¡­ was the fact that there had to be at least thirty or forty sweepers here! This was no exit. This was the sweeper base! Instead of finding the exit, Cloudhawk had stumbled upon the heart of the maze?! There were also four or five tied up scavengers who had been captured alive and brought to this place by the sweepers. Like animals for the slaughter, they were completely unable to move or flee. Their faces were deathly pale with despair and horror, but their mouths were completely gagged, preventing them from saying anything at all. Given the brutal disposition of the sweepers, it was guaranteed that the scavengers would have horrendous fates in store for them. There were actually both adult sweepers as well as young sweepers here. However, all of them looked fairly similar, and their bodies were all so tightly knotted with those strange growths of flesh that they looked like tree-men. These sweepers were able to multiply, despite their strange mutation, and they could even pass down their mutations to the next generation. This truly was quite rare in the wastelands. The sweepers were gathered together, kneeling in front of an upraised dais as they mumbled some arcane, unintelligible words. It was almost as if they were pious believers who were praying to a higher power. At the very top of the dais there was a pitch-black jewel that actually defied the laws of gravity and simply hovered there in the air. It was most likely this supernatural phenomenon which caused the foolish sweepers to feel a sense of veneration and dread towards it, which was why they prostrated themselves before it as if it were a divine relic. Cloudhawk was stunned as well. What on earth was this?! He had an inexplicable feeling that the strange, subtle sensations seemed to be coming from this mysterious jewel. It was the jewel which was emanating that strange song which had drawn Cloudhawk to this place, and when he actually saw it he was actually spellbound for a few moments. He was nothing more than a humble, low-born scavenger, after all. When had he ever seen such marvelous items? The sweepers completed their rituals of obeisance. Two of them pulled out a guillotine-like instrument as the others dragged the hog-tied captives over. They lifted up the guillotine¡¯s blade, then pressed the hands of a scavenger beneath it. ¡°No. NO!¡± The scavenger let out a scream¡­ and the heavy guillotine blade descended with a sickening crunch. The scavenger let out muffled, despairing howls as his two hands were completely severed. The other four scavengers were so terrified that their bodies turned so limp and they lost complete control of their bowels. The sweepers filled a vessel with the spurting blood, then poured it over one of the young children. The skin of these mutants seemed to have an absorptive property. After the blood was poured over the child, it was quickly absorbed into his body. The dozens of sweepers began to celebrate wildly, using the guillotine to chop the scavenger¡¯s arms into multiple sections, almost as if they were chopping vegetables. They then linked the meat up to metal poles, preparing to smoke the meat. Brutal. Berserk! These twisted creatures delighted in torturing other living beings! The crazed cries of the scavengers brought Cloudhawk back to reality. He frantically shook his head, quickly coming back to his senses. By now, he was so frightened that his body was once more covered with cold sweat. Cloudhawk really wanted to slap himself! How could he fall into a daze at a time like this? Was he tired of living? This place was filled with deadly sweepers. If he was captured by them, he would end up like those poor scavengers. They¡¯d first chop his hands and legs into multiple pieces, then torment him endlessly before letting him die. Better to run right away! Cloudhawk carefully rose to his feet and edged backwards. But right at this moment, the scavenger at the very end was released from his bonds. Just as they were about to force him forwards and severe his hands, he seemed to gain a burst of terror-born supernatural strength and speed. He somehow tore loose of the sweeper¡¯s grips, then dodged the nearby sweepers and fled from them¡­ straight towards Cloudhawk¡¯s tunnel. His struggles were useless. One of the sweepers sunk a flying hook into his leg, causing him to fall to the ground. Just as he was being dragged back, from the corner of his eyes he saw Cloudhawk tiptoeing backwards through the tunnels. Cloudhawk¡¯s heart clenched. He had a bad feeling about this. He frantically dove back into his original hiding position¡­ but it was too late. ¡°Save me!¡± ¡°Save me!¡± ¡°SAVE ME!!!!¡± As the scavenger was being dragged back, he clawed at the ground with his fingernails, leaving deep furrows in the earth. He was screaming so hysterically that he didn¡¯t even notice how his fingernails were splintering apart. He knew that there was no way he could be rescued¡­ but he wanted to stay alive! Like a drowning man he would clutch at any straw he could find, no matter how thin! Cloudhawk felt a chill course down his spine. Once again, he felt that sensation of incredible danger! The sweepers had ceased their celebrations. They all had puzzled looks on their faces, and several of them pulled out their spears as vigilant looks appeared in their eyes. Damn. He had been discovered! The scavenger who had been dragged back was killed by a single blow from a spear. As for the four or five spear-wielding sweepers, they began to slowly make their way towards Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk could sense danger enveloping him, making it hard for him to so much as breathe. He couldn¡¯t help but begin to tremble as he pulled his sharp metal shard from his waistband. Right now, this was the only weapon he had. Should he fight back? There was no way such a small piece of metal would pose a threat to these sweepers. Any of them would be able to kill him with ease! Should he flee? There was no way he could run faster than the sweepers. Last time, he had only escaped thanks to stupid luck. There was no way he would be so lucky yet again¡­ and he didn¡¯t even have the energy needed to run! Was he supposed to just wait here for death?! Death wasn¡¯t always terrifying. However, waiting for death to come while being completely unable to fight back was truly unbearable! Cloudhawk had no plans, no ideas for dealing with the situation before him. With each step the sweepers took, death drew closer and closer to him. The sweepers were all quite puzzled as well. They didn¡¯t hear any sounds at all. Was there really something hidden here? No matter what, they had to at least search the area! The sweepers drew closer and closer. Five meters. Four meters. Three meters¡­ Cloudhawk¡¯s heart was frozen with fear. He didn¡¯t even dare to breathe; all he could do was pray frantically. Don¡¯t come over here. Please, no matter what, don¡¯t come over here! But prayers like this were useless. The sweepers continued their advance. Cloudhawk tightly gripped his metal shard, his entire body taut. If he was going to die no matter what, he was going to make a go of it! The sweepers had extremely tough skins, right? Then he would stab them in the eyes! In two more steps, the sweepers would be in a position to see Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk was already prepared to attack¡­ but right at this moment, the sound of clear, ringing gunfire burst forth from another one of the tunnels. The sound of gunfire was exceptionally jarring, given how still this place had been. It was the fat man! That damnably sly fellow. He had used the scavengers as bait to help his group attract the attention of the sweepers. After the scavengers were all dead, they followed the tracks to locate the sweeper camp, then launched a surprise attack! Damn him! Damn him! That treacherous bastard! Because of him, dozens of scavengers had died miserable deaths. Because of him, Cloudhawk himself had very nearly died. However¡­ right now, Cloudhawk had to thank him! Two shots of gunfire rang out nearby as the fat man led his forces charging into the sweeper camp. How could the sweepers ignore them? They immediately all raised their weapons and began to move towards the attackers. As for the sweepers who were just about to discover Cloudhawk, they also joined their fellows in resisting these new invaders. Every single one of the dozens of sweepers had left, and the sounds of an extraordinarily fierce battle could be heard erupting from the other tunnel! Would that fat white man, the muscular black man, and their seven or eight mercenaries be able to defeat so many dangerous sweepers? Cloudhawk panted raggedly as he left his hiding spot, slightly dizzy from the lack of oxygen due to having held his breath for so long. Right now, there was only one thought in his mind ¨C run! Just as Cloudhawk was about to act on this thought, he suddenly hesitated. The jewel! The jewel seemed quite extraordinary. The sweepers had all gone off to fight the mercenaries. Why didn¡¯t he take the risk of stealing the jewel from them? When most people fled from the face of death, they would flee without any hesitation and without looking back. Cloudhawk¡¯s train of thought was undoubtedly quite unusual. However, he was born into a humble, lamentable life; he didn¡¯t want to give up any chance or any item which might change his destiny. He already had the vague feeling that this jewel possessed certain inexplicable properties! He was going to take the chance! Cloudhawk charged into the sweeper camp, stepping over the mangled corpses that littered the ground. There was no fluorescent lichen on the walls here; the walls had been completely covered with all sorts of strange paintings. One of the paintings was of a large group of hideous, vile-looking mutants who were surrounding a similarly hideous creature. Perhaps these tree-like mutants were members of this large group? As for the creature itself, it was extremely large. It was dressed in strange leather armor and looked almost like a general. He was leading and commanding the mutants in a war against their foes. Their foes were ordinary human beings who bore firearms, and the ordinary humans were being commanded by a tall, resplendent being. On one side was a creature that looked as vile and as hideous as a demon. On the other side was a lustrous, dazzling figure that looked like a divinity. On one side were the hideous, disgusting mutants. On the other side were the ordinary human beings! This clearly was a battle between darkness and light, a final battle between evil and good. There were too many paintings, and Cloudhawk was in no mood to look at them all. He frantically charged towards the dais. He was going to grab the jewel, then flee. He didn¡¯t care about anything else! At least, that was the plan. Just as Cloudhawk was about to ascend the dais, he once more had a sense of great danger impending. He came to an immediate, sudden halt¡­ and as he did, a javelin shot towards him at high speed. Swoosh! It just barely missed him, flying past his nose. If it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that Cloudhawk had come to a sudden halt, he probably would¡¯ve been pierced by this javelin! Although he had managed to dodge the specter of death, he still felt a sense of terror. He hadn¡¯t expected, nor had he noticed, that not all of the sweepers had left this place. This time, there really was no place for him to hide! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 6 Passing Over Cloudhawk could hear a low growl emanating from behind him. This caused his heart to sink even further. There was a scavenger below the dais, and his hideous, tumor-warped face was contorted into a mask of rage. The scavenger was gnashing its jagged black teeth as it glared viciously at him. There was actually a sweeper here! This sweeper was fairly small, roughly the same size as Cloudhawk. The vast majority of sweepers had gone off to fight the mercenaries, leaving only the smallest one behind. The junior sweeper picked up yet another javelin and was just about to throw it. Although the sweeper was young, he was able to throw javelins with enough speed and power to pierce a man¡¯s body. Cloudhawk furiously leapt down from the dais, throwing himself towards the sweeper and knocking him to the ground. Cloudhawk used the sharp metal shard in his right hand to furiously stab at the sweeper, but the sweeper¡¯s body was simply too tough. Cloudhawk¡¯s own hand was sliced open by the metal shard, but he wasn¡¯t able to pierce the sweeper¡¯s body. Although the young sweeper was inexperienced, his body was still far tougher than Cloudhawk¡¯s. A single kick from his two legs sent Cloudhawk into the air, and he landed on the ground over a meter away. Blood was leaking from Cloudhawk¡¯s nose and mouth, and the world before his eyes had just turned blurry. He randomly tossed out the metal shard as hard as he could. Crack! The sharp metal shard actually struck the young sweeper, but it wasn¡¯t able to cause much damage at all. The young sweeper rose to his feet, then used his javelin to stab at the human on the ground. Cloudhawk¡¯s animalistic instincts warned him of the impending danger. He almost immediately rolled away to dodge the attack, and the javelin split apart as it stabbed into the ground. Although this sweeper was very young, he was every bit as strong as a normal adult human. The sweeper let out a low growl, not having expected this scavenger to be so agile. He tossed away the shattered bits of javelin-wood in his hands, then turned and grabbed a long knife from one of the cabinets behind him. Cloudhawk picked up the broken half of the javelin. Just as the sweeper was turning towards him, he used virtually all of his energy to jump to his feet, then delivered a two-handed blow with the javelin as he drove it towards the sweeper¡¯s head. This strike used up almost all of Cloudhawk¡¯s energy. Crunch! The tip of the broken javelin was driven straight through the sweeper¡¯s left eye, going in by quite a few inches. A large amount of black blood and other viscous liquids spurted out from the injury. The sweeper let out an agonized, maddened cry as he wildly lashed out with the long knife in his hands. As Cloudhawk dodged backwards, his shoulder was cut by one of the chops, resulting in a section of his flesh being sheared off. Agonizing pain! Cloudhawk retreated back to the dais. The young sweeper wildly flailed about for a few moments, then finally fell to the ground, a look of agony and confusion in his remaining eye. Cloudhawk panted heavily, completely exhausted and feeble. He stared silently at the corpse of the young sweeper for quite a few moments. If the young sweeper hadn¡¯t suffered a mutation, he probably would¡¯ve been a human of the same age as Cloudhawk himself. He was a sentient being who would¡¯ve had parents, brothers, family¡­ A pained smile appeared on Cloudhawk¡¯s face as he turned, dragging his weary body up the steps of the dais. He stretched out his blood-soaked right hand, then clenched it around the levitating jewel. Boom! The entire world seemed to shake. A swirl of dust appeared above the dais, and both Cloudhawk and the strange jewel simultaneously vanished. It was as though they had evaporated into thin air, disappearing from the world! ¡­¡­ In the instant that Cloudhawk¡¯s hand closed around the jewel, a stream of blindingly bright light leaked out from between his fingers. It was as though he wasn¡¯t holding a stone in his hands; rather, he was holding a miniature sun. In the same instant, a strange type of energy surged through his hands and into the rest of his body, seeming to infiltrate every single one of his cells. The incredibly powerful surge of energy covered the entire area, causing space itself to twist and distort. Cloudhawk had never seen such a horrifying sight before. Everything before him was twisting and distorting. It was as though the world around him was a bucket of water, and someone was using a stick to kick up a whirlpool. The invisible energy furiously tore at every cell in his body, ripping every single one into a million little pieces. The entire world had disappeared. Cloudhawk had been brought into a new, strange world with no light, no dark, no matter, and no energy. It was a world filled with many rippling strings, some straight and some circular. Each time one of the strings was thrummed, a strange sound could be heard. It was like hundreds of millions of guitar strings being played at the same time, forming an entire world unto themselves, with Cloudhawk being part of it. Cloudhawk was able to maintain his clarity of thought, and stared in absolute terror at the bizarre world around him. He wasn¡¯t certain if he was alive or not. The countless strings began to join together, forming all sorts of strange, chaotic lines of light which then blended and twisted together to form images. Cloudhawk had been ¡®weightless¡¯ this entire time, but he suddenly sensed a powerful force drag him downwards. Bang! Cloudhawk landed against an extremely tough and coarse stone floor. Cloudhawk pressed his hands against the stone floor, wanting to throw up. Unfortunately, there was nothing in his stomach. His head was in a complete daze right now, and his ears were ringing. He couldn¡¯t even see clearly. All of his senses were in a state of complete chaos, and he wasn¡¯t even able to tell if the world before him was a real one or a fake one. He had never experienced anything like this before. Slowly, his senses began to stabilize. As it did, the first feeling he had was¡­ hot! Odd. Isn¡¯t it night time? Why is the area around me filled with blinding sunlight? It was so hot. Where was he? Cloudhawk¡¯s nose was filled with a sulfurous smell. As his vision grew clearer and clearer, the look of astonishment on his face grew greater and greater as well. What appeared before him was something which completely surpassed his wildest imaginings. This was a world where the black stone ground was filled with so many crevices, it looked as though countless termites had bored through it. This entire world was like a piece of glass that someone had viciously stomped down on but had been unable to completely destroy. The chasms in the world were unfathomably deep, but flickers of flames could be vaguely seen, as though the fires of hell might erupt from within the chasms at any moment. Far away in front of him was a series of egg-shaped mountain ranges, shrouded in a layer of gauze-like dust storms. The mountains seemed to have been sculpted by human hands in the past, and there had to be tens of thousands of those sculptures carved into the mountains. They were like chess pieces scattered across a board in a neat, orderly, and awe-inspiring manner. Where the hell was he? Was he dreaming? The air here was so hot that Cloudhawk could barely breathe. He immediately raised his head to stare towards the distant skies¡­ and what he saw caused his eyes to nearly pop out of their sockets. There were two dazzling, light-emitting entities in the skies; a large sun and a small sun. They hung in the skies at the same time, emanating blinding halos of light that baked this cracked, parched earth. Aside from the two suns, there was also an utterly enormous red gas giant that filled nearly half of the skies. Two enormous windstorms could be seen on the gas giant in the form of two giant yellow ¡®spots¡¯, and a slanted ring of yellow light could be seen circling around this gas giant. This truly was an absolutely stunning sight! How could his weak little heart possibly withstand such an incredible, unbelievable transformation in the world? ¡°AH!!!!¡± Cloudhawk felt as though the blood in his body was flowing backwards, and he couldn¡¯t help but let out an uncontrollable, shrill scream. The jewel in his hands once more lit up, and that strange surge of energy once more twisted the world around him. There was no way Cloudhawk could endure this transfer process a second time, and he immediately fell completely unconscious. The spatial ripples around him vanished, as did he himself. The world around him remained as deathly silent and forlorn as ever, as though no living creatures had ever appeared on its surface before. ¡­¡­ Slyfox and Mad Dog had completed their bloody battle. They had suffered a few wounds, but the mutants had been completely destroyed and almost every last one of them had been wiped out. ¡°Man, late-stage strength metas like you really are almost unstoppable in close combat.¡± The fat man roared with laughter, then lit a cigarette for Mad Dog. ¡°These were a rare breed of mutants; intelligent yet highly mutated, and with the ability to stably propagate future generations. Every single one of these corpses will earn us a ton of money. This deal will keep us fed for half a year!¡± Mad Dog took a deep puff of his cigarette. He was also quite happy with his performance in this battle. ¡°You always end up spending all of your money on women, you randy bastard. How long do you really think this money will last you? I¡¯m warning you upfront; you are NOT allowed to touch my share of the money!¡± ¡°The hell?! Man, you really don¡¯t know how to talk to others!¡± The reason why they had been so successful was all thanks to the fat man first releasing so much bait into the tunnels. It had allowed the two of them to home in on the mutant camp. If it hadn¡¯t been for that¡­ given how complicated the layout of the tunnels was, they probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to locate it that quickly. These mutants were smart ones, after all. ¡°Hey, boss!¡± A mercenary up ahead suddenly called out to them. ¡°One of the scavs is still alive!¡± A living scav? No way! An emaciated youth was lying there on the ground, his face as pale as a sheet of paper and devoid of all blood. The kid had completely passed out. ¡°Oho! The kid actually made it?¡± ¡°You gonna take¡¯m back with us, boss?¡± ¡°Fuck that. You gonna be the one responsible for feeding him if I do?¡± Clearly, none of the scavengers knew what Slyfox was like and how he acted. He didn¡¯t even view scavengers as being members of the same race as him; why would he ever fulfill his promises to them? He was, however, quite puzzled. ¡°The kid ran around here for hours but managed to avoid suffering any injuries at all. He really does have some bullshit luck.¡± ¡°Look at his chest.¡± An intrigued, clever look flashed through Mad Dog¡¯s eyes. ¡°Judging from the blood patterns, there should¡¯ve been a wound there. A deep one, at that.¡± The fat man hesitated for a moment. ¡°You tellin¡¯ me¡­¡± ¡°Give¡¯m a try and we¡¯ll know for sure.¡± Mad Dog pulled out a knife from his waistband. The knife flashed so incredibly quickly that it could barely be seen, and in the next instant it was already back in its sheath. A bloody wound had appeared on the boy¡¯s left arm, and fresh blood began to leak out of it. Roughly ten or so seconds later, the bloody wound slowly began to close as the flesh and skin started to stitch itself together at a visible pace. ¡°Fuck my eyes. He¡¯s a meta!¡± The fat man¡¯s face tightened while Mad Dog frowned. From the looks of things, the kid was actually a metahuman, but he only had first-stage regenerative abilities. It didn¡¯t make sense for him to have been able to heal such a deep wound on his chest. What the hell was going on? ¡°Take¡¯m back with us, rookies!¡± Although there was no time for a detailed examination and no way to figure out what his specific power was, his healing speed alone proved that he had first-stage regenerative abilities. Anyone with a superpower was considered a metahuman, and any metahuman was worth training. And so, the unconscious boy¡¯s fate was completely changed! ¡­¡­ Cloudhawk was dreaming. The contents of his dream were quite similar to that of the paintings he had seen. A group of hideous, evil, yet incredibly strong creatures were leading tens of thousands of mutants in a war against the human race. They were brutal, savage, and unspeakably cruel, and the human race suffered repeated losses against them, to the point where humanity was nearly wiped out. And yet¡­ right at this moment, those radiant, sacred beings suddenly appeared. They gifted mankind with all sorts of miraculous weapons, and in the end they joined forces with humanity to fight back against the tide, turning defeat into victory. The dream was a scattered one which came and went in fits and starts. The exact details were unclear, but the dream itself felt strangely real, almost as though he had personally taken part in it before. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 7 Metahuman It seemed to happen in an instant, but it also felt as though a thousand years had gone by. Cloudhawk slowly opened his eyes. He realized that he was lying out in the open, and he frantically sat up while scanning right and left. The area was littered with piles of debris and ruined buildings. They were in the ruins, and it was already day. Had it all been a dream? The injury on his chest was gone. The injury on his shoulder was gone. The place where the sweeper had kicked him and caused internal bleeding was completely pain-free. Even the wounds he had taken from the beating the scar-faced man had given him had completely disappeared. It couldn¡¯t have ALL been a dream, right? Cloudhawk could sense that his hands were clenched around something. When he lowered his gaze to take a look, his eyes narrowed. Wasn¡¯t this the jewel which he had taken from the sweeper camp? The jewel wasn¡¯t shining at all; in fact, it no longer emanated the slightest bit of light. However, its formerly smooth surface was now covered with many slender ¡®veins¡¯ of blood. It was as though his blood had been drained into it, with some left being on its surface. The jewel looked completely ordinary and unremarkable. Anyone who saw it would think it to be nothing more than an ordinary black rock. Aside from the many dark-red lines matting its surface, there really was nothing particularly special about it at all. ¡°Woke up?¡± The fat man walked over towards Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk hurriedly hid away the black stone, then looked somewhat nervously at the fat man. This man always had a merry look on his face, but he was actually an incredibly sinister person. The fat man, however, didn¡¯t seem to mind the look on his face. He actually tossed Cloudhawk a piece of bread. ¡°Eat something first.¡± Cloudhawk hesitated for a few moments, but he was so hungry that he accepted the bread and began to gnaw at it. The piece of bread was as tough as wood, but to Cloudhawk it was an absolute delicacy. The mercenaries were busy dragging the various mutant corpses into rainproof bags. As for the fat man, he just lit a cigarette as he sat down. ¡°Y¡¯know, at first I was just lying to ya. But I just changed my mind. I¡¯ll take you to our outpost.¡± Why did the fat man suddenly change his mind and become so nice? Cloudhawk had personally witnessed him send dozens of scavengers to their deaths, treating them as if they were just garbage! ¡°You might not know this, but you are now a metahuman.¡± The fat man didn¡¯t wait for Cloudhawk to answer the obvious question. ¡°And don¡¯t ask me what metas are. Fucked if I know. All I know is that we are a new breed of humans whose bodies have been improved in certain ways and are much more powerful than ordinary people. I¡¯m a meta, Mad Dog¡¯s a meta, and every other member of our mercenary company is a meta. Now, it seems you are a meta as well.¡± A surge of excitement began to enter Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. Did this mean he would become as powerful as this chubby white man and the muscular black man in the future? The fat man took a puff on his cigarettes, then continued, ¡°Buuuut¡­ don¡¯t have too many expectations. There are many different types of metas. There are strength metas, agility metas, control metas, perception metas, intelligence metas¡­ and as for you, you are nothing more than a healing meta.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand. ¡°A healing meta?¡± ¡°Mad Dog¡¯s a strength meta, which is why he can snap bones as easily as snappin¡¯ twigs. Strength metas are suited for becoming close-combat warriors. I¡¯m a control meta; I have absolutely perfect control over every single part of my body, allowing me to aim and move with absolute precision. That¡¯s why I can shoot your balls off from a hundred paces without even looking. I can control any tool or weapon with perfect precision.¡± ¡°Then what about me?¡± Cloudhawk was rather impatient. ¡°You?¡± The fat man snickered. ¡°All you do is heal a bit faster, but what the fuck good is that? If a bullet hits you in the head, you are as dead as anyone else. That¡¯s why healing metas are the most useless of all metas. I mean, I can¡¯t exactly use you to go block a mutabeasts attack for me, right?¡± The most useless type of metahuman? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointment. ¡°Heh!¡± The fat man gave him a hard pat. ¡°Cheer up. Less than one person in a hundred is a meta. You are already pretty lucky! Healing metas might not be useful, but at least you¡¯ll recover your energy much faster than ordinary people. That means you¡¯ll be useful as a laborer. Don¡¯t worry! Just follow me.¡± A thunderous booming sound suddenly rang out from the direction of the wastelands. This sound started off small but quickly grew much louder, almost as though it was travelling at such incredible speeds through the wastelands that it was generating sonic booms. ¡°Fuck! Finally!¡± The fat man flicked away his cigarette and rose to his feet, his hands resting against the pistols around his waist. He barked towards the others, ¡°Everyone, look lively!¡± The resting mercenaries all jumped to their feet, and Mad Dog drew out his two snowy blades as well. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand why the mercenaries were acting this way, but the thunderous booms coming from the wastelands were incredibly close by now. When he turned to squint towards their direction, his eyes suddenly widened. He saw something so completely inconceivable that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. A small black dot had appeared in the night skies. It seemed to have come from the distant heavens, and as it slowly cruised through the heavens it grew larger and larger. It was actually a large airship that was at least a hundred meters long! There were a couple of obvious patches in the airship¡¯s enormous gas sac, and spots of rust could be seen throughout its metallic frame. Evidence of makeshift repairs could be seen everywhere, and some parts of it were actually bulging outwards, as though they were about to break apart at any moment. Overall, however, this was an incredibly complete airship. Its exterior walls and copper tubing were all neatly arrayed, and the engines at the back were constantly emitting plenty of hot steam as four sets of propellers furiously rotated about, ensuring that the ship was able to advance at an even keel. On each side of the airship there were black cannons protruding from various openings, bringing a sense of awe and menace. In the eyes of Cloudhawk, this enormous thing was something out of the very legends. The airship slowly began to descend, finally coming to a halt in front of the mercenaries¡¯ campfire. As it did, a powerful wind blew past, sending rocks tumbling across the ground and half-extinguishing the campire. The wind was so strong that Cloudhawk could barely open his eyes. Clank! The rusty door to the airship swung open, and a black figure emerged from the wind and the sand. This man was tall and very muscular. He was dressed in a set of black leather clothes that completely covered his entire body, exposing nothing to the elements. He wore a black breathing mask that was shaped like a stork¡¯s beak, and the mask was connected to quite a few wires and tubes. The faint sound of heavy breathing could be heard coming from that mask, and white steam could be seen coming from the exhaust tubes. In truth, he looked like a monstrous humanoid with the face of a long-billed bird. A look of extreme wariness was on Mad Dog¡¯s face. The fat man looked the way he usually did, but his hands never strayed away from his two pistols as he sauntered towards the black-garbed man. ¡°We¡¯ve already found the targets you wanted. Where¡¯s the stuff we want?¡± The black-garbed man didn¡¯t even glance at the fat man. He just gestured with a hand, causing several men to emerge from the armored airship. These men were dressed in white hazmat suits, and they came rushing out with toolboxes at the ready as they moved towards the corpses on the ground. They pulled open the rainproof body bags, then glanced through the bodies. One of the white-garbed men nodded. ¡°They look fine!¡± The black-garbed man tossed a box to the fat man¡¯s feet. One of the rookie mercenaries went to pick up the box, then opened it up. There were multiple firearms neatly arrayed inside the box, as well as a large amount of gunpowder and several needles of various colors. The fat man let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Happy doin¡¯ business!¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± For the first time, the black-garbed man spoke. His gravelly voice sounded like that of a tightly controlled wild beast¡¯s, and when it came out from that breathing mask it sounded incredibly strange. ¡°Did any of you find anything unusual? For example, a strange rock.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s heart nearly came to a stop! The fat man frowned. ¡°This place is filled with rocks. Didn¡¯t see any special ones.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± The black-garbed man slowly raised his head. Even though his face was completely covered by that strange mask, all of the mercenaries could still sense an incredibly dangerous and sharp gaze sweep through them, causing all of them to take a few nervous steps back. Everyone instantly felt as though they had been pierced through by that gaze. As for the fat man, he was rather irritated. ¡°The hell is this all about?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± The black-garbed man withdrew his gaze, then said slowly, ¡°That stone is completely useless to you. If you are able to find it in the future, I¡¯ll pay you a hundred times the commission you earned today!¡± The mercenaries all sucked in deep breaths. What? A hundred times the commission? The commission for this mission was already equivalent to an entire year¡¯s worth of commissions. To multiply that figure a hundredfold¡­ fuck, what the hell type of rock was this?! By now, the corpses of the sweepers had been loaded into the airship. The four propellers once more began to rotate, kicking up another storm of wind and sand as the enormous airship began to slowly rise into the air. The copper tubes once more began to generate those booming sounds that sounded like the rattling coughs of someone suffering from lung disease before they finally began to spurt out large streams of air. The airship slowly began to speed up, then finally disappeared off into the horizon. The fat man lifted up the chest, a completely satisfied look on his face. He walked next to the wide-eyed and slack-jawed Cloudhawk, then gave him a hard slap on the shoulders. ¡°Crazy, right? That thing is a helluva high-class toy!¡± Cloudhawk tightly clenched the rock in his hand, trying to do his best to act normally. His voice, however, couldn¡¯t help but quaver a bit. ¡°W-who were they?¡± ¡°A bunch of mysterious bastards. Who knows? Some of the real rulers of the wastelands, that¡¯s for sure!¡± The fat man clearly didn¡¯t know much about them either. ¡°Doesn¡¯t really matter. Small fry like you will probably never have a chance to meet people like them. Hell, best if you don¡¯t. Those guys really do kill people without even batting an eyelid. To them, we¡¯re nothing more than ants!¡± Were they truly so strong that even these powerful mercenaries looked up to them in awe? Cloudhawk had no idea what sort of amazing treasure he had stumbled upon. The mysterious rock just lay there calmly within his hand, and when it pressed against his flesh he felt as though the rock was part of his body. The fat man called out in a loud voice, ¡°Form up, form up! We¡¯re going back!¡± The mercenaries all whooped in celebration as they boarded their patchwork vehicle. The crude, multi-wheeled behemoth let out a few angry rumbles, then began to charge through the uneven wastelands. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 8 Blackflag Outpos The setting sun was as red as blood, staining the ground with its crimson light. Sand was being kicked up throughout the desert wastelands. The patchwork vehicle was like a berserk animal that was charging straight towards the outpost. Moments before it collided with the gates, the driver furiously spun the wheel, causing the car to come to a loud, screeching halt in a horizontal ¡®parked¡¯ position. The wheels dug two deep gouges into the soft earth before the vehicle was finally stabilized, even though it shuddered and clanked as though it was about to burst with fire. A few pieces of unknown machinery actually broke off and fell to the ground. ¡°Ahaha!¡± The fat man let out a jubilant laugh, not worried about the vehicle at all as he snuffed out his cigarette on the dashboard. ¡°We¡¯re back!¡± After suffering through this unspeakably rocky ride, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but start to puke up a storm. Alas, there was no food in his stomach at all, and so all he was able to puke up was bile. As for the surrounding mercenaries, they all started to laugh and mock their latest rookie. ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°This kid is such a pussy. He¡¯s useless!¡± ¡°If you wanna go back and be a scav, there¡¯s still time!¡± Cloudhawk felt as though his intestines were falling apart. Who the hell could endure a car ride like that? These mercenaries drove like suicidal madmen. This was Cloudhawk¡¯s second time riding a car. For him to be able to endure it for as long as he had was already quite impressive. Cloudhawk lifted his head up and was about to start arguing with the mercenaries, but his words died on his lips as he stared numbly towards the front. This was a place which could actually be called a town. It was ringed with a layer of bristling steel wire fences, with many ruined tires, boulders, and sandbags stacked together to form a defensive ¡®wall¡¯, with a series of wooden watchtowers overlooking from behind. The watchtowers were roughly seven or eight meters tall, and each watchtower had numerous archer guards within them. ¡°Tartarus mercs. Open up!¡± The ¡®gate¡¯ was really just a heavily modified jumbo truck that was parked horizontally in front of an opening. Once the guards verified their identities the truck drove off to one side, allowing them to enter. The outpost was filled with many ragged, makeshift houses that were clustered in a haphazard fashion, the vast majority of which had people within them. At the very center, there was a tall building that seemed exceptionally eye-catching. So this was an excavator base? Cloudhawk¡¯s heart was filled with incredible eagerness and excitement. All his life, for as far back as he could remember, he had been a scavenger who had been trying to survive the ruins as best he could. Every day, he ate bugs and grass to stay alive while drinking highly contaminated rainwater. Becoming an excavator¡­ this was Cloudhawk¡¯s dream! The outpost was now before his very eyes. Was he about to discard his former life of dining on the wind and sleeping out in the open? Some of the guards walked over to greet them. ¡°Y¡¯all have been gone for several days. Must¡¯ve made a killing this time!¡± The outpost guards were dressed in bronze-colored leather armor, and they wore both wind goggles and breathing masks that covered half of their faces. Their gazes were focused on Cloudhawk, and one of them said in a rather malicious way, ¡°Hey, a fresh face? That¡¯s against regs!¡± Regs? In this era, there were no such things as regulations! These people were nothing more than watchdogs. Mad Dog and Slyfox didn¡¯t hold them in any regard, but there was no point in offending them on purpose. In addition, they really had made a killing on this mission. Slyfox magnanimously offered the guards half a pack of cigarettes. ¡°A killing? We risk our necks every day. You guys have it much better. This kid is a new recruit. Take it easy on us, arrright?¡± ¡°Slyfox, no need to be so polite. How could we make things hard for you? Hurry on in!¡± Mad Dog gave the rather dazed Cloudhawk a hard push, and he immediately scurried inside alongside the mercenaries. In an era of chaos, building up a homeland was no easy task. Everyone had to start from scratch, and everything you needed you¡¯d have to manufacture for yourself. Blackflag Outpost was fully equipped and outfitting, making it quite a rare sight in the wastelands. It had inns, bars, warehouses, parking lots¡­ it essentially had everything. As a central excavator hub, it also had all sorts of things for sale. Metal instruments, strange parts, leather and cloth¡­ all types of shops and stalls could be found here. If you were lucky enough and skilled enough, you¡¯d be able to cobble together a suit of armor from those various parts and components, or perhaps a pistol. In fact, you might even be able to assemble your own vehicle. This was an excavator base. A completely different world! ¡°Blackflag Outpost aint a charity operation. Every single person who lives here has to pay a price for it. Wanna enjoy the resources this place has to offer? Then use your life to fight for it!¡± The fat man summarized it thusly: ¡°This place is Heaven for the strong, but Hell for the weak.¡± After speaking, he reached down subconsciously to grab a cigarette, only to remember that he had already given away that half-pack. He let out a few curses towards the gate guards, then continued to speak to Cloudhawk. ¡°Remember. If you aint strong enough, then this place won¡¯t be much better than the wastelands. In fact, it could be worse!¡± Right at this moment, Cloudhawk noticed a number of skeletally thin women dressed in tattered rags who were standing by the roadside. Ignoring the piercing cold, they put on all sorts of alluring poses as they tried to seduce the men passing by, their faces filled with looks of entreaty. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°In this day and age, men trade their lives while women trade their flesh. That¡¯s how the world works!¡± Cloudhawk was slightly stunned. ¡°You¡¯ll see people like them everywhere. Give¡¯m a piece of bread and you can play with their bodies however you like. The tents, the back rooms, the alleyways, the intersections¡­ they really are everywhere.¡± Slyfox was an experienced old hand in this regard, and he put his knowledge on full display, not really caring about whether Cloudhawk understood or not. ¡°Problem is, the streetwalkers are no good. Most of them have some mutations, and if you screw¡¯m enough you¡¯ll catch something from¡¯m. The better ones are generally in the bars or are part of someone¡¯s private collection. Those¡¯ll be a bit more expensive.¡± Slyfox continued to impart his wisdom, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t listen to a single thing the fat man said. His attention was completely focused upon a woman who was sitting on the ground. She was so gaunt that she seemed to have no flesh on her bones at all; she really was nothing more than skin and bones. A festering sarcoma covered half of her face, and most of her hair had fallen out, revealing a large number of pus-filled pimples. In her arms, she held an infant wrapped in tattered rags. The foul stench of rot and decay emanated from the rags. Clearly, the infant had died many days ago. The look in the woman¡¯s eyes stirred something in Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. He had seen this look on far, far too many occasions, a look of despair, pain, and complete numbness, almost as if she had fallen into a hell of endless darkness, never to see a sliver of light again. Her ruined body was still struggling at death¡¯s door, but she herself was mentally dead. ¡°The fuck you looking at?¡± Slyfox irritably slapped Cloudhawk upside the head. ¡°I¡¯m warning you. From the looks of her, she¡¯s probably filled with all kinds of mutations. If you screw her, your dick will probably rot off inside!¡± Cloudhawk was dragged away by the mercenaries. As for the woman, she just sat there with her rotting baby in her arms, not moving at all. It was as though she herself was nothing more than a corpse waiting to rot away. As for the passing travelers, few of them spared her a glance. Most of them had long since grown accustomed to such sights. Cloudhawk began to grow confused. Weren¡¯t all excavators supposed to be able to dress in warm clothes, eat warm bread, and drink clean water? Why was this completely different from what he had imagined?! It was like a pail of icy water had been thrown over his excitement and anticipation. It was like a child eagerly unwrapping a present, only to find a pile of shit inside. The outpost had quite a few crude shop stalls. However, there was no money here; the system was purely operated on the basis of bartering, with food, bullets, and fuel being the most commonly used instruments of trade. Next to them was a small inn, not quite thirty square meters in size, which was filled with murky smoke. A young, lithe, and completely nude woman was standing atop a stage, writhing about undulously under the dim lighting. Her rear was so perky, quite a few of the men nearby wanted to step up and give it a hard squeeze. ¡°Slaaaaves! Slaves for sale!¡± Up ahead was a fierce-faced slave trader standing atop a dais, spittle flying from his mouth as he extolled his products¡­ three women and two men. ¡°They are absolutely clean, guaranteed. No sicknesses, no mutations. You can bring the women and keep them in your private collection. They have firm tits and perky asses. I guarantee they are worth the money! ¡°The men are strong and muscular. They¡¯ll be good workers. If you spend a bit of time and effort on them, they¡¯ll be strong gladiators as well. They might even win you some money in the gladiator pits. Don¡¯t miss out!¡± The three women and two men allowed others to touch and squeeze them as they pleased. They didn¡¯t have looks of despair or pain on their faces; instead, they smiled in a pandering fashion, hoping that they would find a good master who would treat them well. A wind blew through a nearby alleyway, bringing with it the stench of rotting corpses. Every day, one or two people would die within these side alleys and hidden corners. There was nothing strange about this. Smokes, wine, women¡­ lust, violence, corruption¡­ these were the main themes of this place, and the smell of decadence and moral decay filled every inch of it. Men traded their lives. Women traded their flesh. Heaven for the strong. Hell for the weak. Cloudhawk was beginning to understand what Slyfox had said to him. In the center of the outpost there was an erect stone stele, as well as a few rules that seemed to have been written with blood. The stone stele only described what the rules were, not what the punishments were¡­ but the burnt and blackened stakes next to them quietly explained it all! Every single stake had badly burnt corpses that were tied to them using steel chains. In the outpost, there was just one type of punishment ¨C execution by fire! ¡°See that?¡± Slyfox pointed as he spoke. ¡°That place up ahead is the private residence of the outpost commander. I¡¯m warning you right now ¨C stay the hell away from that place. They¡¯ll crush you as easily as a cockroach, and would care less!¡± The towering building Slyfox was pointing to could be seen from the outpost gates, as prominent as a crane within a flock of chickens. Electric lights could be seen illuminating the rooms within the building. Electricity¡­ this was an extremely precious and rare commodity. There were very few scavengers in the wastelands who were lucky enough to excavate a power generator of the Old Times or who had the skills to create one. Only a very, very elite few were able to make use of this precious resource. So this was the commander¡¯s residence? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but fantasize about what was inside. What sort of three-headed, six-armed freak could possibly be so powerful as to control and command an outpost like this? Be so mighty as to ensure that even fierce fellows like Slyfox and Mad Dog would have no choice but to comply, not daring to revolt? ¡°You came at just the right time.¡± Slyfox stared at the words on the stone stele, then sighed. ¡°A year ago, Blackflag Outpost was ten times as chaotic as it is now. You¡¯d see rape and murder out in the open, and both the slave traders and ¡®meat merchants¡¯ hunted and grabbed people with impunity. Ever since the new commander arrived, things have taken a turn for the better. She personally wrote all the words on this stone stele.¡± ¡°New commander? What happened to the old one?¡± ¡°Whaddya think?¡± Slyfox looked at Cloudhawk as if he were an idiot. ¡°Killed, of course! There¡¯s no such thing as a permanent commander. Every so often, an old commander will be killed, and the killer will become the new commander. Eventually, he¡¯ll be killed and replaced as well. People always follow the strong. If you think you are tough enough, you can go and challenge the commander as well!¡± Slyfox and Mad Dog were tough, but they were still nothing more than mercenaries. They relied on the outpost to provide them with the information and missions they needed to earn their commissions and feed themselves. They would never dare to disobey the commander or to try to take that position for themselves. As for Cloudhawk, he wouldn¡¯t even dare to imagine such a thing! A raucous commotion could be heard coming from up ahead. More than ten men who were dressed like outpost guards and who wore breathing masks were working together to drag an enormous corpse forwards. Amazingly enough, they were actually dragging a long, strange beast that was roughly half a meter thick. Its sticky skin was emanating a mucous-like fluid that instantly drenched the ground beneath it, causing a series of corrosive sizzling sounds that caused Cloudhawk¡¯s blood to run cold. Although the beast was only half a meter thick, it was roughly ten meters long. Not too far away from the soldiers was an area where the ground seemed to have been churned. There was also an opening in the ground which was roughly half a meter in diameter. The surrounding area was covered with that mucous-like fluid, and there were a number of corpses on the ground as well. Those corpses had all been heavily corroded to the point where they looked as though they were made of melting wax. ¡°Oh, fuck, another giant earthworm? For fuck¡¯s sake, that¡¯s the second one this month!¡± Cloudhawk had never seen such a terrifying creature before. ¡°W-what is that?!¡± Slyfox shook his head. ¡°When you have this many people gathered together in an outpost¡­ if I was a mutabeast, I¡¯d choose this place as my hunting grounds as well. Still, for a few to appear every so often is nothing. The real thing you have to worry about is mutabeasts waves. That¡¯s what ends up wrecking most outposts.¡± ¡°Hah. Relaaaax. Nothing to be scared of.¡± One of the veteran mercenaries patted Cloudhawk on the shoulders. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it, if you live long enough.¡± When the outpost soldiers dragged the terrifying corpse through the streets, the nearby passersby all parted ways without even glancing at them. Were they really able to get used to such things? Cloudhawk suddenly felt as though he was walking on thorns. Every single step he took made him feel extremely uncomfortable. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 9 The Mercenary Base The base of the Tartarus mercenaries was a stand-alone compound protected by stone walls and iron barbed wire. The grounds were littered with boulders, pillars, sandbags, wooden rakes, and other training equipment. Many different pieces of metallic parts and other miscellaneous items were also spread throughout the area. The compound had several large, ragged-looking buildings that were all connected to each other. There was a dormitory, a repair shop, and even a storage vault. Although they all looked quite ugly, nobody in the wastelands gave a damn about appearances. Just having these things was already incredibly impressive! Judging from their base, these mercenaries truly did have some standing here. That meant this should be a fairly safe place, right? Just as this thought entered Cloudhawk¡¯s mind, a savage and ferocious black figure suddenly roared and charged straight towards him. It moved with incredible speed! It was so fast that Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t even able to see the creature clearly. All Cloudhawk could tell was that it looked like an enormous beast. The creature knocked Cloudhawk to the ground, towering over him. The creature emanated a horrifying, nauseating stench, and it began to bite downwards towards Cloudhawk¡¯s neck with its long, savage teeth. ¡°WOOLA!¡± Mad Dog immediately let out an explosive shout. ¡°STOP THAT!¡± The crazy beast halted its assault, baring its teeth and growling before it took a few steps back. Its dark-red eyes, however, continued to stare at Cloudhawk unblinkingly. The creature remained in a crouched attacking position, as though it was unwilling to just let go of this delectable prey. ¡°Fuck me. Which sonufabitch let Woola out? Get the rope!¡± Mad Dog let out a loud shout, while Cloudhawk managed to calm down slightly as he clambered to his feet. This was a strange creature which looked like a big ape. It had to weigh at least sixty or seventy kilograms, and its head was three times larger than that of a normal human being¡¯s. It had a big nose and a big mouth that stretched all the way back to its ears, seeming to split its head in half when it snarled. Its mouth was filled with sharp, shark-like teeth; there had to be at least three or four rows of teeth! It could probably bite through metal armor without any problems at all. Flesh and bone was even less of an issue! The creature had a total of six thick and powerful arms. As for its speed? Cloudhawk had just borne witness to it personally; it most likely moved faster than the majority of creatures in the wastelands. Why would the mercenaries have such a strange beast in their headquarters? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve been raising Woola here in the compound. It has a very sharp nose, and whenever someone it doesn¡¯t recognize tries to barge in, it¡¯ll deal with the trespasser the same way it just dealt with you. It¡¯s been fed on man-meat ever since it was young. It¡¯d gnaw all the flesh off your bones in just a few minutes.¡± Mad Dog personally held the creature back and started to tie him up again. The creature shook its large head repeatedly in an unhappy manner, but even it was unable to resist Mad Dog¡¯s strange, frightening strength. ¡°Be a good boy, Woola. Later, I¡¯ll go to the black market and get you your favorite snack; a human leg!¡± The creature had eyes, a mouth, a nose, and even fingers. Although it was incredibly twisted-looking and ugly, Cloudhawk had the strange feeling that this creature¡­ was actually some sort of highly mutated human being! A strange look on his face, Cloudhawk asked, ¡°What the hell is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve probably guessed already. This here is a mutant. Its parents might¡¯ve been normal humans like us, but it underwent heavy mutations in its mother¡¯s womb. From what I heard, it chewed its way through its mother¡¯s guts and belly, then clawed its way out,¡± Mad Dog began to explain. ¡°It was captured shortly after it was born, and we¡¯ve raised it and trained it like a dog ever since. Critter¡¯s actually a perfect watchdog for our base!¡± Cloudhawk could hardly believe it. He didn¡¯t want to believe it. You could actually train a mutant the way you would a dog?! But it was true that this ¡®Woola¡¯ creature really could no longer be considered a human being either. Still, because it was once a human being, Woola was still more clever than ordinary animals. At the very least, it could understand the human language and human speech. And yet, it was even more savage and bloodthirsty than most animals. In short, it was an absolutely terrifying freak of nature! This entire time, Woola¡¯s gaze never left Cloudhawk''s face. Drops of saliva continuously dripped out of its mouth, causing Cloudhawk to shiver with fear. He could sense the animosity and hostility radiating from the freak¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hey, boss-men Mad Dog and Slyfox! Y¡¯all came back already?¡± The entire mercenary group had roughly twenty or thirty people, and most of them had arrived by now. The mercenary group was divided into a total of three squads, and two of the squad captains were Slyfox and Mad Dog. The third captain was a tall and skinny Asian. He had a pallid complexion, dark baggy eyes, and wore a pair of spectacles. On the surface, he looked quite calm and weak, and he was dressed in very proper-looking clothes that didn¡¯t seem all that remarkable. And yet¡­ in this day and age, to seemed completely ordinary and normal was, in and of itself, extremely abnormal. In fact, it could be said that he had a scholarly aura which was completely different from that of this era. ¡°Hey, Mantis!¡± Slyfox chortled as he walked over to the man. ¡°Man, I¡¯m happy to make it back in one piece and see you again.¡± Mantis adjusted his glasses, a frigid metallic light gleaming from them. His eyes weren¡¯t that large, but they were as cold as steel and seemed to contain no human emotions whatsoever. When Mantis turned to stare at Cloudhawk, the latter instantly felt a chill enter his heart and spread out through his limbs. He felt as though he could barely move or breathe. The gaze was like a sharp scalpel that had been placed against his throat. The slightest motion would result in his throat being cut. In this place, everyone who had a nickname was a figure of no small ability. Mantis might not necessarily be as powerful as Slyfox or Mad Dog, but Cloudhawk had the feeling that he was even more dangerous. It was like the difference between a cobra and a lion; the cobra might not be as strong as the lion, but a cobra hidden in the darkness could be even more dangerous than the lion. ¡°We picked up a scav on our way back.¡± Slyfox beamed at Mantis, his chubby face an amusing, complete contrast to Mantis¡¯ emotionless expression. Slyfox then added, ¡°He¡¯s a recovery-oriented meta. Not really worth a damn, but we¡¯re lacking in the logistics department so I let¡¯m in.¡± A recovery meta? Those were almost useless! The mercenaries turned their scornful gazes upon Cloudhawk, making him feel extremely uncomfortable and also irritated. What gave them the right to look down on him like that? Were recovery metas really as useless as they were claiming? Ever since he was born, Cloudhawk had always been a stubborn person who never liked to admit inferiority to others. He simply couldn¡¯t stand being looked down upon by these people. ¡°Enough, kid. You should be leaping for joy at having been recruited into Tartarus. We have a sterling reputation in this outpost¡­ but lemme make it clear to you right now, you aren¡¯t here to just loaf around and enjoy life! Starting today, you¡¯ll only be given two pieces of bread and one bottle of water each day. In exchange, you do whatever the hell we tell you to do. No whining and no foot-dragging. Can¡¯t handle it? Then fuck off. Tartarus ain''t charity! Got it?¡± Cloudhawk relaxed his clenched fists. ¡°Got it.¡± Slyfox had an excited look on his face as he said, ¡°We made out like bandits on this mission. We need to hold a celebration!¡± ¡°HAH!¡± ¡°Long live the boss!¡± These men were like beasts; they lived off of their weapons and the blood of others. No one ever knew what the morrow might bring, and so they had long since grown accustomed to enjoying today. Cloudhawk had no idea as to how mercenaries celebrated, but he was both hungry and thirsty. All he hoped for was some food to eat. The skies slowly began to darken. By now, the mercenaries had produced a large amount of food and cheap wine. The quality of life in the outpost really was thousands of times better than life in the ruins, at least in terms of food. The mercenaries had access to both meat and vegetables! The meat came from all kinds of mutabeasts, was served on platters, and had actually been cooked properly. Cloudhawk was able to smell their enticing aroma from far away. By now, Woola had been tied up. One of the mercenaries came over with a giant bowl filled with chopped up bits of raw, bloody meat. Woola immediately dug into the meat, devouring it with abandon. The mutant even chewed up and crunched the bones, swallowing everything. As for what type of creature the meat came from and what body parts were involved? Cloudhawk simply couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine the answer. Unfortunately, Woola continued to stare intently at Cloudhawk even as it continued to devour its food. Cloudhawk was terrified of moving closer to Woola, for fear of being pounced on and killed on the spot. Damn that beast! Woola sniffed the air a few times with its large black nose, then suddenly stopped eating as it raised its head and began to roar gutterally. Right at this moment, nearly twenty or so scantily-clad women came in from outside. Although all of them had coarse skin and sickly faces, they were indeed far better than the streetwalkers Cloudhawk had seen earlier. ¡°Boys!¡± Mad Dog lifted his glass up high. ¡°Have fun tonight!¡± The mercenaries let out lusty cries that almost sounded like the howling of wolves, then began to drag the women over in a rather brutish manner. To these women, being able to eat and drink was like manna falling from the heavens! As for Woola, the creature seemed to be very uncomfortable with so many strangers being present, and so it continued to roar and bark nonstop. This did not, however, put a damper in the moods of the mercenaries, and they quickly began to act with fearless licentiousness. Seeing that Woola was no longer staring at him, Cloudhawk immediately circled around the creature and went to grab some food for himself. ¡°Hey newbie! None of this is for you!¡± ¡°Fuggoff, yeah?¡± The Tartarus mercenaries didn¡¯t operate a charity; everyone was rewarded or punished in accordance with their deeds. Cloudhawk was not only a newbie, he was a newbie no one gave a shit about. This naturally meant he had no right to enjoy the food alongside them. ¡°Two pieces of bread and one bottle of water. That¡¯s all you get!¡± Slyfox gestured towards someone. ¡°Hey, you! What¡¯s your face? Yeah, get over here. Find a place for the newbie to stay. The base is full.¡± He wasn¡¯t even going to be allowed to live with the other mercenaries? Cloudhawk was issued a shortsword and a few candles, then led to a tattered room nearby and told to stay there. This small room was filled with dust and mold. Those tiny candles flickered and sputtered in the dark night wind, a clear reflection of the kid¡¯s own mood. He sat there in the ugly room, rather confused and rather uncomfortable. It was now rather frighteningly quiet outside. This room was roughly two hundred meters away from the mercenary base. If anything was to happen, would the mercenaries be able to make it in time? Would they even care to? Who knew! The only thing Cloudhawk knew for certain was that these mercenaries viewed him as an expendable newbie. Cloudhawk finished the remainder of his rock-hard bread, then drank all of his water. He checked to make sure the beam across his door was set, then picked up the shortsword the mercenaries had given him and placed it by the side of his bed. He then gently blew out the candles, plunging the entire room into darkness. Cloudhawk lay down upon his straw bed. The straw poked at his skin and was rather uncomfortable, but at least it was fairly warm. Was this how life would be for him in the future? Cloudhawk felt both nervous and lost. He had no plans, no goals anymore. He had no idea what he was going to do tomorrow, nor did he know what the future would be like. Cloudhawk shook his head furiously as he mentally consoled himself, ¡°What else do you want? You not only have bread and water every day, you even have a place to stay. What do you have to complain about?¡± Although things here weren¡¯t exactly as he had envisioned them to be, it was still much better than life as a scavenger¡­ right? No point in over-thinking things. Staying alive and living a good life was what mattered! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 10 The Night of Death Cloudhawk¡¯s sleep was not a restful one again. In his dreams, he once more returned to that tunnel which led to hell. The area around him was littered in body parts and severed limbs, and the blood-soaked bodies on the ground were all twitching. The massacred scavengers all began to rise to their feet. Some of them had acid-eaten faces that had been rendered unrecognizable, while others had their heads partially caved in from stone warhammer blows. Others had actually been bisected! All of them slowly began to gather together and swarm around Cloudhawk like angry, vengeful specters. No. NO! Cloudhawk frantically tried to flee, but his legs seemed to be glued in place. It was as though he was stuck to the thick, congealed blood on the ground. Right at this moment, a scavenger clutching a shortsword hobbled over in an extremely ungainly manner. His right leg had been cut off, while a terrifying, gaping wound was on his neck. The wound was so deep that his head was half falling off his neck, and his eyes were filled with viperous hate. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you save me!¡± The scavenger¡¯s voice was more dreadful than the wailing of all the wraiths of hell, and he lifted up his shortsword and delivered a hacking blow. Terrified, Cloudhawk leaned sideways to dodge¡­ and right in that moment, a spear suddenly flew over from somewhere and pierced through his chest! The second attacker was a mutant that looked fairly young. One of his eyes had been stabbed through, leaving only one good eye remaining on his smiling, savage, and terrifying face. Cloudhawk fell onto the ground, completely unable to move as blood surged out of him like a geyser, draining his strength away with it. The scavengers and the sweepers all disappeared. Moments later, a chubby white man and a muscular black man led a group of chatting and laughing mercenaries over. They didn¡¯t seem to even see the youth who was fighting for his life on the ground. Cloudhawk reached out towards them. ¡°Save me!¡± Their gazes were filled with disdain. ¡°Useless piece of crap.¡± A mercenary hawked and spat, a look of disdain on his face. It was as though he had stepped onto a pile of excrement and wanted to give vent to his annoyance. All of the mercenaries cursed as they moved to circle around Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk just lay there on the ground, powerless. His eyes slowly began to turn blank as he felt his body growing colder and colder. He wanted to reach out and grab something, anything, but his determination and his will were both slipping away from him. It was a terrifying feeling, a feeling of utter despair. His body became ice cold, then started to decay and emanate an aura of foulness. Countless bugs and worms began to bore through his corpse, which eventually became a feast for rats. But even when nothing was left of Cloudhawk besides a skeleton, his will and his mind remained intact. Endless despair and grief filled every single bone, surrounding his corpse as it sank deeper and deeper into an endless darkness¡­ Creak! Creaaak! Cloudhawk was suddenly able to make out a vague sound. It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and he was instantly jolted awake from that terrifying nightmare. His entire body was covered with cold sweat. He had died such a miserable, meaningless death. That feeling of utter despair, of slipping into that eternal darkness¡­ that sorrowful feeling of utter powerlessness¡­ even now, his heart was pounding. What a terrifying nightmare that had been! It was not yet dawn. The night was so dark, everything seemed to blur together. The entire outpost had been securely locked down, and everything was so stiflingly silent that he felt as though he could barely breathe. Creak. Creaaak! That sound rang out again. It was a tiny, almost unnoticeable sound that nonetheless stabbed against his psyche like a dagger. It was this very sound which had startled Cloudhawk awake, and at this moment goosebumps began to appear throughout his body once more. He could sense that danger was enveloping him! Something had appeared in the cracks of the bolted door, something which sparkled with cold metallic light within the darkness. It was the thin edge of a knife! The knife slowly, silently extended its way through the seams of the door, then slid upwards until it hit the wooden bolt. The knife stayed there for two brief seconds, then slowly began to rise upwards once more and lift the bolt up. Was it one of the mercenaries? No way! Why would one of them come at a time like this and use such a stealthy method to open the door? Cloudhawk¡¯s heart was pounding so hard, he felt as though it was about to burst out of his chest. He hastily gripped the shortsword lying next to the bed, his hand still slick with cold sweat from the nightmare. He hid the shortsword underneath him, then curled around it. He breathed deeply, forcing himself to relax. His muscles however remained taut, ready to spring into action at a moment¡¯s notice. This midnight intruder was clearly quite practiced in his movements. His knife easily lifted the wooden bolt up without causing much sound at all. He pushed the door open by just a crack, but did not immediately charge inside. This was an extremely experienced predator! Without a doubt, he was currently scanning the insides of the room to assess the situation. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to expose the fact that he was awake, and so he just lay there on the bed without moving, maintaining an even breathing pattern as though he was still asleep. After four or five moments of silence, a long blade reached through the crack and pushed the door open, letting in the moonlight from the outside. This midnight trespasser was fairly tall and muscular, and he had a head full of tousled hair. He held a knife in his left hand while he gripped a long machete in his right. The blade of the machete seemed to be covered with many dark-red splotches, and it radiated a faint but sickening stench of blood. The machete¡¯s edge was extremely sharp, and it flashed with a cold light that warned of impending danger and death. He¡¯s here to kill me! Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was in a state of chaos right now. He was filled with horror, fear, rage, but mostly confusion. Oh, fuck. Who is this guy? This is my first day in the outpost. Why did someone choose to attack me like this? Cloudhawk¡¯s keen sense for danger was screaming to him that this midnight trespasser was a dangerous man. If he tried to battle the man head-on, he¡¯d probably fail. He had to seize a chance to counter and kill the man. Five meters. Four meters. Three meters¡­ The midnight trespasser walked as silently as a cat, causing no sound at all as he slowly, steadily inched his way forwards. He slowly, steadily raised his right arm up high, then brought his machete downwards in a vicious chop that flashed through the darkness of the night. This entire time, he didn¡¯t display even the slightest hint of anger or hatred. It was as though he was chopping down at a wooden puppet rather than a human being. Whoosh! Cloudhawk instantly rolled sideways, letting the machete nearly nick his face as it hacked into his bed. If he had been just a second slower, it would¡¯ve been his head! Cloudhawk then launched himself off his bed with his two legs, bursting forth with all of his strength! Faced with Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden spring-assault, the man didn¡¯t hesitate for even a second. He decisively let go of his machete, then managed to dodge Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden attack with almost supernatural agility. In the exact same instant that he dodged, he sent the knife in his right hand towards Cloudhawk, flashing like a streak of cold light. He was simply much too fast! Not only was he an experienced hunter, he was also an experienced killer. His strength, his speed, his agility, his response time, his combat experience, his mental toughness¡­ all of these things had clearly been honed through long experience. How could a half-grown kid who grew up in the ruins on garbage possibly be a match for him? Cloudhawk knew from the minute he missed his attack that he was finished. That cold streak of light moved straight towards Cloudhawk¡¯s throat. There was no wasted motion, no flowery flourishes; it was a strike that was both fast and vicious, and also incredibly accurate. The knife was sharp enough to easily tear through skin and flesh alike, then saw through his arteries as easily as sawing through noodles. Cloudhawk felt as though everything was beginning to move in slow motion! Although he had faced death on numerous occasions in the past, each time he had been in a state of utter terror and panic. He had never faced death with such alertness and mental clarity as he was now. He could literally see death coming for him but was unable to do anything about it at all. He had finally been able to escape his status as a lowly scavenger and the ruins. He hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to grow strong, to gain freedom and independence, to take control over his own destiny. Was it going to be like the dream? Was he really going to die a meaningless and despair-filled death? No. He couldn¡¯t die! Not like this! Cloudhawk let out a bestial growl, a growl filled with untamed wildness and rage. A powerful desire to stay alive burst forth from his breast, and as it did it seemed to form a resonance with something else in his chest. Instantly, a surge of fiery strength and frenzied determination filled his entire body, almost as though some invisible power was lending Cloudhawk a hand. With it, Cloudhawk dodged the incoming knife with preternatural agility, suffering just a slight nick in the skin that left only the tiniest of marks. The trespasser was rendered speechless. How did his target, this kid, suddenly seem to transform into someone else entirely? However, he remained a calm, composed, and highly experienced hunter; he was able to compartmentalize his surprise and prevent it from affecting his movements. His knife didn¡¯t pause at all, and in his hands it seemed like a living thing as it curved backwards and snaked out a beautiful but deadly butterfly-strike that flashed in the dark night. It didn¡¯t matter how agile or nimble his prey was. In the end, it was nothing more than a weak little kid! These few brief exchanges had immediately let the trespasser know just how weak Cloudhawk was, and he held the kid in no regard at all. He decided to finish things with his next attack by just cutting the kid¡¯s throat, and his movements grew faster and faster. Just as the sharp knife was about to kiss the kid¡¯s throat¡­ whap! A clear sound rang out, and the dancing light of the knife suddenly vanished. A deceivingly delicate hand had reached out with lightning speed, then clamped itself around the trespasser¡¯s wrist with far more speed and power than it had a right to have. The trespasser felt as though his wrist had been caught in a metal vise. He was actually unable to shake free of that skinny little hand¡¯s grip. ¡°You want to kill me?¡± The kid¡¯s irises were completely bloodshot, making them look like the eyes of a demon. He looked completely possessed, and not a hint of anything which could be described as rational thought was apparent in his gaze! The trespasser suddenly began to feel a hint of fear. This was no weak youth. This was a berserk animal! ¡°You want to KILL ME!?¡± The first time the youth had said these words, it had been in the form of a question. This time, it came in the form of a furious, declarative shout. The youth¡¯s handsome face was already twisted into a mask of terrifying rage, and he suddenly tightened his grip. CRACK! The youth broke the visitor¡¯s wrist. The trespasser let out an agonized howl, but it only lasted for half a second. In the same instant that Cloudhawk broke the trespasser¡¯s wrist, he stabbed out with his shortsword at several times his previous speed and with ten times his previous savagery. The blade of the shortsword tore into the trespasser¡¯s skin then dug into his lungs. It felt as though a block of ice had penetrated the trespasser¡¯s body, causing it to instantly turn as cold as ice. Cloudhawk immediately pulled the shortsword out, and as he did so he tore through a beating, pulsating organ. When the sword came out, with it came the hunter¡¯s blood, vitality, and strength. Cloudhawk''s face was bathed in the trespasser¡¯s spurting blood, and the blood was both warm and foul-smelling. And yet, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t nauseated at all; in fact, he actually felt more excitement than anything else. A single wild, frenzied thought filled every corner of his mind. Kill him! Kill him! KILL HIM! The shortsword was of fairly low quality. As a result, on Cloudhawk¡¯s fifth stab it was no longer able to endure the violent force its master was applying to it, and it snapped off inside the target¡¯s body. As for the hilt, it fell straight to the ground. Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body felt so hot, it was like he was being burned alive. It was like the eruption of a volcano that had been slumbering for a million years. His mind was filled with nothing save the desire to kill and destroy. He was completely unable to suppress those feelings in his heart. He wanted to bellow, to howl, to ruin and destroy everything he could see! What is going on? What the hell is wrong with me? Cloudhawk knew that he was at the very brink of madness. With the last bit of clarity left to him, he tore off the strange stone and tossed it to one side. As soon as the stone left him, he immediately regained his normal faculties. There really was something wrong with that rock! By now, Cloudhawk had a rough idea as to what was going on. Within the rock, there seemed to reside an ancient mind or an ancient will, one which had most likely been left behind by its previous master. Through methods which Cloudhawk could not understand or even imagine, the stone¡¯s former master had imprinted his own will, mind, and possibly even energy inside of that stone. The reason he had done so was to ensure that, in certain special circumstances, the stone would have a major impact on Cloudhawk¡¯s life. This was what had happened during the previous night. That was what had happened just now as well. The seemingly ordinary rock once more returned to its ordinary, dull appearance. It seemed to possess no extraordinary attributes at all and looked as plain as plain could be. Cloudhawk picked the stone up, focusing on it several times but still gaining no idea as to how he was supposed to use it. Where exactly did it come from? What exactly was it? And what sort of a person had left that brutal, terrifying, and powerful will behind within the stone? This stone was definitely an extraordinary one. Perhaps, in the future, it would once more be of assistance to him. In the end, Cloudhawk decided to keep it in his possession but also decided that he couldn¡¯t let anyone learn about it at all. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 11 Training Dawn. Finally, the long-awaited mercenaries came looking for him. ¡°Motherfucker, what¡¯s he doing here? That¡¯s Skinner! I was just drinking with him the other week! Skinner¡¯s the owner of a butcher shop. Hm¡­ his store was probably running low again, so he came out last night to try and find a few piggies to butcher to replenish his stock.¡± Mad Dog eyed the corpse on the ground. Although they were old acquaintances, Mad Dog didn¡¯t show the slightest bit of grief or pity at all. It was as though he was looking at a dead rat that had invaded his property. ¡°Your luck sure is shit, kid. Who would¡¯ve thought something like this would happen to you on your first day? By my count, at least eighty little piggies like you have ended up dead by Skinner¡¯s hands.¡± The owner of a butcher shop? So this was one of those detestable meat merchants! Cloudhawk had thought them to only exist in the wastelands. Who would¡¯ve thought that they would exist in the outposts as well! ¡°Then again, I have to say¡­ the fucker might¡¯ve been useless, but not so useless as to end up like this!¡± Mad Dog glanced at Cloudhawk in a very puzzled manner. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead instead of him?¡± And what the fuck was that supposed to mean? Is he suggesting that I shouldn¡¯t be alive? Although Cloudhawk was enraged by Mad Dog¡¯s attitude, he didn¡¯t dare reveal the truth behind what happened the previous night, and so he just gave a rather vague explanation for what had happened. ¡°You pretended to be asleep, then suddenly shanked the fucker in the heart?¡± Mad Dog thought it through carefully, then decided that it was plausible. The corpse on the ground had probably just underestimated the kid too much. ¡°Next time, hang a bell on the door or set up a simple trap. Shit like this happens every night at Blackflag Outpost. You were lucky this time, but you might not be so lucky next time.¡± As soon as Mad Dog finished speaking, he turned and prepared to leave. ¡°Wait a sec!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand why all of this had happened. ¡°What should I do with the corpse?" ¡°Your spoils of war. You decide. You can either sell it to the black market or use it yourself. I recommend you nail the head outside your door. Skinner¡¯s head will probably scare a few people off, making it easier for you to fall asleep at night. As for the rest of his body¡­ well, y¡¯know, he spent most of his life skinning others and selling their meat. It¡¯s now his own turn to be skinned eaten by someone else.¡± The ugly, swarthy bastard spoke in a very matter-of-fact manner. Cloudhawk, however, revealed a look of revulsion upon hearing it. ¡°You really are a damn rookie!¡± Mad Dog spat disdainfully. ¡°Check out that horrified look on your face! You probably wouldn¡¯t even have the balls to taste human meat. Just send the corpse to Mantis or give it to Woola. They like this type of present! Enough of this crap. Next time some small-time shit like this happens, deal with it yourself instead of bothering me about it. Fuck me, what a waste of time.¡± Mad Dog continued to curse and insult Cloudhawk as he left the room. At the doorway, he suddenly turned his head and said, ¡°Come to the training area at noon. You have work to do!¡± Cloudhawk silently swore Mad Dog up and down at least ten times before calming down! Still¡­ he still had a job to carry out. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but shiver when he thought of how Woola slavered and drooled while staring at him, and so he decided it was best to send the corpse to Mantis instead. Of the three mercenary captains, Mantis seemed to be the only one who seemed normal. First, Cloudhawk stripped the corpse of its clothes and weapons. They might be of use in the future, after all. Cloudhawk then dragged the corpse out of his room. No one on the streets reacted to him dragging a corpse around; in fact, no one even glanced a second time at him. Faced with utter indifference, Cloudhawk was actually able to relax a little bit. Mantis resided within a large, stand-alone house which was virtually the largest building the mercenaries had. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel quite curious. It seemed as though Mantis never went out on missions. Why, then, did he hold such a high status amongst the mercenaries? When the puzzled Cloudhawk entered Mantis¡¯ residence, his eyes damn near popped out. When he saw what was happening before him, for a moment he felt certain that he had to have entered the wrong place. This was no residence¡­ it was a slaughterhouse! Five or six corpses lay sprawled in various locations. Some had their hands lopped off, some had missing legs, and some had their skulls split open. As for Mantis, he wore a pair of gloves on his hands and was busy carving open the chest and the abdomen of one of the corpses, using a pair of sharp surgical scalpels with precision. In just a few brief moments, he drew out a bloody organ from within the chest cavity. This sight made Cloudhawk¡¯s hair stand on end. No wonder this guy was named ¡®Mantis¡¯! He suppressed his nervousness and called out, ¡°C-C-Captain!¡± No response. Mantis continued to carefully inspect the organ in his hands. When he found the unusual mutations he was searching for, he used his scalpels to cut them off bit by bit, then stored them into a small glass jar. The surrounding area was actually filled with large jars, and the jars in turn were filled with many human organs held in preservative fluids. Others were filled with strange plant rooms, and there was also a single strange eyeball that was absolutely chilling to behold. What was Cloudhawk supposed to do? Neither leaving nor staying seemed appropriate, but he really didn¡¯t want to stay here for a second longer than necessary. ¡°A fresh one?¡± After finishing his work on the mutated parts, Mantis turned to give the new corpse a cold glance. He had yet to so much as look at Cloudhawk himself. ¡°Put it here,¡± he said, clearing away a table. Cloudhawk hurriedly lifted the corpse onto the table. ¡°Can I leave now?¡± Mantis ignored him as he briefly scanned the corpse. His experience in human anatomy told him right away that this was an agility metahuman. Agility metahumans had higher synaptic response times, giving them higher reaction speeds and greater agility than others. It also gave them a certain degree of physical strength. Humans like him would be able to move very quickly, respond very quickly, and unleash sudden bursts of power. Mantis himself was an extremely high-class agility metahuman. The corpse before him wasn¡¯t nearly as high-class, but there was no way an ordinary human being would¡¯ve been able to handle it. Mantis raised his head to glance at Cloudhawk, who was standing nearby like a block of wood. Mantis asked coldly, ¡°You killed him?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, I killed him¡­¡± Cloudhawk felt goosebumps when Mantis stared at him like this. He immediately repeated to Mantis the story he had told Mad Dog earlier. ¡°I guess I was lucky. That¡¯s why I made it out alive.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Mantis¡¯ cold gaze seemed to see straight through Cloudhawk. Of the three captains of Tartarus, Cloudhawk felt that Mantis was the most unfathomable of them all. Cloudhawk swallowed some saliva. ¡°Uh¡­ if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to leave.¡± But Mantis had another idea. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Mantis remained as taciturn as always, unwilling to say a single unnecessary word. He handed a scalpel over to Cloudhawk, then said, ¡°Dissect him.¡± Cloudhawk thought that he might be hearing things. He had grown up in the wastes and so didn¡¯t fear corpses, but to personally dissect one was still a bit too much. What the hell was wrong with Mantis? What was the point of dissecting so many corpses? As Cloudhawk hesitated, a cold, murderous intent began to radiate outwards from Mantis. Cloudhawk felt a powerful sense of danger, a sensation so strong as to make it hard for him to even breathe. This feeling was completely different from the feeling he had last night; the feeling Mantis gave him was that there was absolutely no chance he would be able to beat Mantis. Cloudhawk had the strange feeling that if he rejected this request, Mantis would be able to instantly slit his throat using that scalpel without even giving him a chance to say a single word. ¡°Alright!¡± Cloudhawk forced himself to pick up that scalpel and other instruments, such as tweezers. He cut into the corpse in accordance with Mantis¡¯ instructions. Mantis just stood there like a frozen statue, issuing clipped and succinct orders to tell Cloudhawk what to do. Cloudhawk actually began to understand how the human body was constructed. Most likely, Mantis was training him to be able to help out better in the future. A few hours later, Cloudhawk was finally permitted to leave, and he fled from Mantis¡¯ workroom as though his life depended on it. This morning had been an absolute nightmare! Fuck. That freak. That pervert! That skin-peeling, flesh-cutting¡­ urgh! Cloudhawk had a strong feeling of nausea. Several minutes passed before he was able to recover. Now¡­ he finally understood that none of the three captains were ¡®normal¡¯. Uh oh. He suddenly realized that he had almost forgotten the orders which Mad Dog had given him. Mad Dog was a brutally bad-tempered man. If Cloudhawk pissed him off, he¡¯d snap Cloudhawk¡¯s legs without even blinking. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t dare to ignore his orders, and so he immediately ran towards the training area. This was the place where the Tartarus mercenaries spent their time training, and as soon as Cloudhawk entered he heard Woola¡¯s frenzied baying. The ¡®mutt¡¯ had been tied to the entrance way, and his ugly, savage gaze was once more fixed upon Cloudhawk. Bloody spots could be seen surrounding his jaws, as though he had just enjoyed a ¡®feast¡¯ not too long ago. ¡°What the hell took you so long?¡± Mad Dog had a seriously pissed off look in his eyes, but he turned and snapped to the training mercenaries, ¡°Enough! Get over here. Your sparring partner has just arrived!¡± Sparring partner? What the hell did that mean? ¡°Listen up! This kid is a recovery meta, but he¡¯s a fairly crappy one. Don¡¯t hit him too hard and don¡¯t cripple him!¡± Mad Dog didn¡¯t give Cloudhawk any explanations at all as he pointed to one of the mercenaries. ¡°Cook, you go first!¡± The mercenary named Cook was a man that looked as muscular as a grizzly bear. He immediately walked out with an excited look on his face as he eyed Cloudhawk with a judging gaze. ¡°Boss, you guys are absolutely brilliant. You knew how bored we were hitting sandbags, so you found us a meat-bag to hit instead. Hitting someone who can dodge and scream is a helluva lot more fun!¡± Cloudhawk was starting to have a bad feeling about this. But before he could say anything, Mad Dog just said impatiently, ¡°Cut the fucking crap and start already!¡± Just as Cloudhawk was about to protest, Cook charged towards him while delivering an elbow strike that knocked Cloudhawk to the ground. Cloudhawk instantly felt dazed, and his body felt like a glass bottle that had just shattered into a thousand pieces. ¡°Oh, fuck me!¡± Mad Dog began to curse loudly as his ugly, scar-covered face twisted with rage. Spittle flew from his mouth as he howled, ¡°Can you BE any more fucking useless? Stand up!¡± ¡°Stand up! Stand up!¡± All the other mercenaries chanted these words towards him as well! Finally, Cloudhawk knew what being a ¡®meat-bag¡¯ meant, and he also finally realized the real reason behind Slyfox¡¯s decision to recruit him into their base. Once again, that despicable fatso had deceived him! Right at this moment, Cook delivered a furious kick right towards him. This time, Cloudhawk slanted his body sideways and managed to dodge. Mad Dog narrowed his eyes upon seeing this. Huh. That was odd. Since when did the kid¡¯s reaction time improve that much? Cloudhawk himself had also realized that after what had happened the previous night, his reaction speed and his strength both had seemed to improved. This was probably something caused by that stone, and it wasn¡¯t the right time to let others know about his improvement. When Cook attacked with a blow from his knee, Cloudhawk elected not to dodge and instead used his hands to block it. Bang! He was sent flying into the air as though he really was nothing more than a sand bag. Mad Dog spat on the ground, then shook his head disdainfully as he watched Cook beat down on Cloudhawk for ten full minutes. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t launch so much as a single counter-attack; instead, he just used his arms to protect his vital areas. The mercenaries were actually all quite surprised. The kid looked scrawny and weak, but his body was pretty tough. No matter how hard Cook hit him, he was still able to crawl back up. ¡°Cook, you move too slow and your blows aren¡¯t concentrated enough. You are a strength meta, but you hit like a little bitch! You really are fucking useless!¡± Mad Dog cursed him out, then snapped, ¡°Just fuck off. NEXT!¡± Cook couldn¡¯t help but mumble unhappily to himself. Although he wasn¡¯t as freakishly strong as Mad Dog, he was still able to easily snap an opponent¡¯s bones with a single punch. He didn¡¯t use his full strength because he wasn¡¯t supposed to break the newbie, right? Cloudhawk ended up being utterly and ruthlessly dominated for an entire afternoon. Hours passed before the mercenary training finally came to an end. Cloudhawk went forward, claiming his ration of bread for the day. When Slyfox saw Cloudhawk¡¯s black eyes and bruised face, he roared with laughter and patted Cloudhawk on the shoulders. ¡°Not bad, kid! You didn¡¯t disappoint me after all. Your body is pretty tough and can take a beating. Here, have an extra half-piece of bread. Keep up the good work tomorrow! Oh, right ¨C later tonight, I¡¯ll teach you how to repair our car and how to maintain our weapons. Feeding Woola is part of your job as well. In the future, you will be responsible for all of these tasks.¡± Cloudhawk was really starting to regret coming here. This fat bastard, Slyfox, really had chosen the perfect nickname for himself. He swindled others without even blinking or blushing! He had first chosen for Cloudhawk to serve as live bait; now, he was using Cloudhawk as a human punching bag. Was there no low to which this bastard wouldn¡¯t stoop? If Cloudhawk had known that life in the outpost would be like this, he would¡¯ve chosen to continue foraging for survival in the ruins instead. ¡°That look in your eyes suggests that you are quite unhappy.¡± Slyfox took a puff on his cigarette, then put on a worldly air as he said, ¡°Listen, young man. Learning how to take a punch is training, y¡¯know? All metas have to continuously improve and grow stronger. Strength metas need to train in strength, agility metas need to train their agility, control metas will train in control, and recovery metas like you have to train your recovery abilities, right? Me having them beat the piss out of you is my way of showing how much I care. This ¡®torture¡¯ you are going through is just training. Value this opportunity. When the time comes, I promise I¡¯ll take you out on a mission with us!¡± You still think I¡¯ll trust you in the future? Just fuck off and die already! Cloudhawk really wanted to punch the man in his fat face. Go out on missions? Fuck that! Cloudhawk had nearly died due to Slyfox¡¯s machinations on the last mission. Even if Slyfox really did take him out on a mission, there was no way it would be with anything even resembling good intentions! Cloudhawk just grabbed the bread, then turned and left without saying a word. Slyfox just grinned as he watched Coudhawk leave, continuing to puff on his cigarette. ¡°Kid¡¯s got a bit of an attitude after all. Ahahaha!¡± When night descended, Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body was drenched in machine oil as well as a claw-mark left behind by Woola. Finally, he made it back to his own residence. Only then did he realize that none of the blood had been washed off, and it had all congealed on the ground, filling the air in the room with a breathtaking stench. Cloudhawk was both tired and hungry. He was in no mood to do any cleaning, and so he just fell onto his bed and immediately passed out. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 12 Life in the Base There would always be differences between ¡®fantasy¡¯ and ¡®reality¡¯. Many people would often pursue their dreams with the utmost of vigor, only to find when they actually realized those dreams that they weren¡¯t everything they had been cracked up to be. This was because the best parts of those dreams all stemmed from the human imagination itself. Cloudhawk now truly understood the meaning behind that saying. Diggers were able to eat well, dress warmly, had places to stay, and didn¡¯t have to live in fear, right? That was what Cloudhawk once believed, but upon actually entering the outpost he realized that excavators didn¡¯t live easier lives than scavengers at all! Each day, when they opened their eyes, they would celebrate the fact that they had survived yet another night. No one had slit their throats while they were dreaming! They would then begin to carry out their weary tasks, with some of them being assigned to act as ¡®sparring partners¡¯, also known as human punching bags. They also had an endless supply of miscellaneous tasks to carry out. Cloudhawk had to serve as Mantis¡¯ helper, feed Woola, repair their tools, and engage in other types of hard labor as well. One could imagine how miserable life like this was! The mercenaries were all highly experienced experts, and under their tender ministrations Cloudhawk¡¯s face became perpetually bruised and swollen. Thankfully, his fairly strong recovery abilities meant that so long as the injuries weren¡¯t too serious, he¡¯d be able to recover from most of the wounds after a good night¡¯s rest. Alas, the next day the beatings would continue. As time went on, Cloudhawk discovered a secret about himself. His speed, agility, and control seemed to be improving every single day. Although the rate at which they were improving wasn¡¯t that fast, he really was growing stronger by the day. This fact alone was enough to surprise and delight Cloudhawk. This meant that the power he had absorbed wasn¡¯t just a recovery power. It meant that the abilities ignited within him had vastly exceeded his expectations¡­ and that he wouldn¡¯t just be a useless punching bag for the rest of his life! This transformation was most likely the result of that mysterious stone. Alas, no matter what Cloudhawk tried, the rock remained a completely inert rock that didn¡¯t respond to anything at all. Cloudhawk had no choice but to once more wear it around his neck, keeping it with him at all times in the hopes that he would find a way to actively use the stone in the future. Day by day, night by night, Cloudhawk gradually grew accustomed to this tough, toilsome life in Blackflag Outpost. And to be honest, being treated as a punching bag every day wasn¡¯t completely without benefits. Just as the fat Slyfox had said, as he repeatedly recovered from his injuries his recovery abilities began to improve dramatically as well. The more beatings his body took, the tougher it actually became. In addition, Cloudhawk became more and more familiar with the techniques and tricks the mercenaries used when attacking, and he could also sense that his own speed and reaction times were improving. During the last few sessions, he had been itching to give the mercenaries a good tussle. In the end, he had still chosen to hold back, unwilling to reveal his current abilities without a good reason. For now, he didn¡¯t want anyone to know about his secret. Neither Slyfox nor Mad Dog were reliable, after all! Being a sparring partner was just part of his life. The mercenaries were determined to squeeze every last drop of value out of him, and as the lowest ranking member of Tartarus it was his job to fetch water, carry dishes, sweep the ground, wash their clothes, empty the chamber pots, sharpen their weapons, carry heavy loads, perform maintenance on their vehicle¡­ he did everything. Mantis often had Cloudhawk come to him and be his assistant. At first, Cloudhawk found this job to be extremely uncomfortable. By now, he understood the human body like the back of his head, and was able to dissect a body and draw out its internal organs with his eyes closed. As for his relationship with Woola? At first, Woola would chase him around and attempt to bite him every time Woola saw him. Now, after feeding Woola for so long, the relationship between Cloudhawk and Woola slowly became more peaceful. Over the course of this month, Cloudhawk slowly became a real member of this organization. The other mercenaries were starting to actually like the kid. He was stubborn and pugnacious, and every day he did his job in a very sulky manner¡­ but he still did what he was supposed to do, and did it well. With him around, everyone in the mercenary company was able to relax much more than before. Where would they ever find another ¡®slave laborer¡¯ like this? Although Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t have much status in Tartarus and wasn¡¯t allowed to eat with the others, and although he still had to live outside in that small room, everyone¡¯s attitude towards him had noticeably improved. They no longer treated him with the same contempt as they had in the past. Every day, Cloudhawk endured beatings from the mercenaries, endured Woola chasing him around the yard and biting him, and endured all the dirty jobs which had been foisted upon him. He was someone who had grown up in the ruins. Life there had given him a tenacious, unyielding spirit. He was being treated in a way which no normal person could possibly endure, and he would bitch and moan about it every day¡­ but he was also able to grit his teeth and bear it. There was just one thing he couldn¡¯t endure any longer. Hunger! He was starving! Cloudhawk was beginning to realize that as his body was slowly getting stronger, his need for food was beginning to increase as well. As for that damnable, stingy Slyfox, he hadn¡¯t improved Cloudhawk¡¯s living conditions at all. Those two or three pieces of bread Cloudhawk was given each day was simply not enough to fill his stomach; all Cloudhawk could do was occasionally scarf down some of the scraps left behind by the other mercenaries. However, that was quite rare. What was much more common was Cloudhawk being ordered around by the three captains while on an empty stomach. This sort of life went on for a full month. One could imagine how sour Cloudhawk felt about it all! If it hadn¡¯t been for the ten-plus years of life in the ruins teaching him tenacity and patience, Cloudhawk would¡¯ve blown a gasket and left long ago! Cloudhawk knew that he couldn¡¯t leave yet. Although life in Blackflag Outpost was tough, at least it was comparatively regimented and secure! ¡­¡­ For once, he was fairly free this afternoon. Cloudhawk¡¯s only assignment was to clean Woola¡¯s kennel; in other words, to sweep away Woola¡¯s dung. While working, he pinched his nose in disgust as he said, ¡°Can you stop shitting in the kennel? That¡¯s so disgusting!¡± Woola had been relaxing off to one side, soaking in some sun. Upon hearing Cloudhawk dare to lecture him, Woola sat up and flexed all six limbs, then stared at Cloudhawk¡¯s behind with his red, ape-like eyes. Woola bared his teeth and let out a growl, as though he was about to charge forwards and give Cloudhawk a bite. ¡°Alright, alright! Just pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s butt clenched involuntarily. He really was afraid of this irascible creature, who had caused him no small amount of pain in recent days. Woola was actually a bit more powerful in combat than most of the mercenaries, and was probably second to only the three captains themselves. Although he wasn¡¯t that intelligent, he was easily enraged. He wasn¡¯t someone you wanted to piss off. ¡°You can shit where you like, m¡¯lord.¡± Woola let out a burp, then once more lay down to enjoy the sun. Just as Cloudhawk dumped the disgusting sack of dung into their garbage pile, he suddenly felt his head grow dizzy as his stomach clenched hard. That omnipresent sense of hunger suddenly began to make itself known once more, and Cloudhawk felt as though every single cell in his body was crying out for sustenance and drawing as much energy as it could from him. This was a simply indescribable form of torment. Although scavengers were very good at enduring hunger, Cloudhawk¡¯s body had slowly improved to the point where the hunger pains were now ten times worse than they had been before. Cloudhawk licked his parched lips, then raised his head to stare at the clouds in the skies. His mood became complicated once more. He had risked everything to escape being a scavenger. Was it all for the sake of carrying water for others and cleaning up their dung? Did these guys want for him to be their errand boy for the rest of his life? Was his only purpose in Tartarus to be a human punching bag? These were questions which Cloudhawk had asked himself repeatedly during this past month in Blackflag Outpost. He wanted to go out on missions like the other mercenaries, because those who went out on missions would be able to earn more food. However, all he could do was fantasize about it. In the eyes of Slyfox and the other mercenaries, he was nothing more than a useless recovery meta, right? Cloudhawk touched his dry, parched skin. Instead of just thinking about it, he should go ahead and do something about it. He decided it was time for him to go look for some food. There was no way he¡¯d find anything in the mercenary base, and so his only choice was to go try his luck elsewhere. For example, maybe he would be able to dig up a few tubers or find some bugs to eat. Although he wouldn¡¯t be able to fill himself up, he¡¯d at least be able to relieve the hunger. If he could catch a few rats, that¡¯d be even better. It had been quite some time since he had eaten any meat. Cloudhawk¡¯s idea wasn¡¯t a bad one. Unfortunately, it was almost guaranteed that he¡¯d fail. Blackflag Outpost had a total of twenty thousand people, and the vast majority of them were in a state that was as bad or worse than that of the scavengers. As a result, virtually everything that was edible in the outposts had long ago been devoured by others. The most likely end result was that he¡¯d exhaust himself looking for food, with the only reward being disappointment and even more hunger. Cloudhawk was wandering around in a rather confused fashion, so hungry that he very nearly passed out. Right at this moment, a notice board in front of an inn suddenly attracted his attention. It read: ¡°Recruiting temporary workers. For two hours of work, you can earn five strings of rat jerky!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s heart clenched hard as he stared at those crooked words. He could hardly believe what he was saying. Five strings of rat meat for just two hours of work? By comparison, the Tartarus mercenaries were giving him scraps fit for beggars! Cloudhawk was rather intrigued, but he was also nervous. His past experience was warning him that nothing in the world ever came cheap. Whenever you wanted something, you would need to pay a corresponding price. ¡°Hey kid! You over there! Yeah, you!¡± Right at this moment, a man with a splotchy red nose noticed Cloudhawk¡¯s interest in the sign. The man¡¯s eyes lit up and he rose to his feet and called out, ¡°C¡¯mere!¡± Cloudhawk hesitated for a moment, then walked over. ¡°My name is Rednose. Heard of me?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°No? Wonderful!¡± The chubby red-nosed man let out a happy laugh that sounded warm and friendly. ¡°You hungry, kid?¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Need a job?¡± Cloudhawk nodded again. ¡°Ahaha, then you came at just the right moment. The terms of the deal are pretty clear. You know how to read, right? Then I won¡¯t waste any time repeating the terms.¡± As Rednose spoke, he pulled out a sheaf of wrinkly paper and put it on the table. ¡°Just do a fingerprint here.¡± Cloudhawk was so hungry that his vision was going blurry. He couldn¡¯t clearly make out all the content on that paper, and before he had a chance to react the red-nosed man grabbed his hand and pressed it down upon the paper, leaving a fingerprint behind on it! ¡°You are now in my employ, starting now!¡± Rednose gestured to a black man standing nearby. ¡°Take¡¯m in!¡± Cloudhawk was completely confused. He had no idea as to what was going on, but the red-nosed proprietor seemed like a fairly nice guy. It was just two hours of work, right? How bad could it possibly be? Any job was worth five strips of rat meat! When he entered the innhouse, it was like entering a completely different world. All types of colored light were flashing before him, and hard rock music was blasting everywhere along with the screams of the crowd. Everywhere here was dancing wildly, and the air around them was filled with the scent of cheap cigarettes and even cheaper liquor. What attracted Cloudhawk¡¯s attention the most was the simple, ugly-looking platform located in the very center of the room. This was a raised platform that was made out of wood and surrounded by hemp rope. It looked like a dueling ring, and the wooden floorboards of the ring were stained in blood. Right at this moment, several half-naked women were furiously scrubbing away at that blood. Moments later, a seductive woman slowly began to walk towards the platform. Catcalls and whistles rang out from around her, and the entire area began to grow even more chaotic. The hard rock music, alcohol, smokes, women¡­ all of these things stimulated male hormones. Cloudhawk had never been to a place like this before. Everything around him seemed fresh and exciting. He had no idea what he was going to be facing next. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 13 The Bloody Ring By wastelands standards, the woman on the platform was absolutely a great beauty. Although her skin was rather coarse, she had a superb figure, and the cleavage she was revealing was enough to drive any man wild with fantasies. She wore very little, just enough to cover her most sensitive parts while occasionally revealing them, and her slender legs were just barely covered by ragged silk stockings. From top to bottom, she was one hell of a treat for the eyes. Her eyes were beguiling, while her movements were teasing and seductive. When she walked, she swayed her hips in a very exaggerated fashion, causing those who saw her to follow her with their gazes. With someone like her standing on the platform, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the center of the room. ¡°Sorry for keeping you all waiting for so long! The next duel for today is between Benson of the guard forces and the famous hunter Tram. Both of them are proud warriors of our base. Who will be the one to win? Let¡¯s watch and see!¡± After giving a brief introduction, the seductive woman hurriedly retreated from the stage as animalistic cries began to ring out from throughout the room. Two muscular men dressed in briefs who were surrounded by a retinue of others made their way out from the crowds. Each wore ragged caped cloaks, and neither of them was carrying any weapons or defensive items. They used neither boxing gloves nor boxing helmets. After moving to stand atop the dueling ring they simultaneously cast off their tattered capes, revealing their tough muscles and chiseled physiques. The two looked quite similar in size and shape, but one was white while the other was black. The two bowed slightly to each other, but both stared unblinkingly at the other as they entered combat stances. The dangerous auras emanating from the two of them spoke plain as to what type of people they were; not only were they highly experienced warriors who had experienced many battles, they were also both the type of person to take the other¡¯s life if the opportunity arose. Cloudhawk watched all of this, rather dazed. Right at this moment¡­ clang! A copper gong was suddenly struck, scaring Cloudhawk out of his wits. Right at that moment, those two muscular warriors let out bestial growls as they charged towards each other like a pair of stampeding rhinos. The black man was the first to deliver a heavy blow. Whoosh! The white man had feigned an opening to lure in that attack, only to ensure that it missed. The white man then delivered a crushing knee-strike to the black man¡¯s gut, and the black man instantly hunched over, curling up like a shrimp. The white man then delivered a right elbow to the black man¡¯s back. The two consecutive strikes caused such heavy internal injuries that blood instantly came flying out from the black man¡¯s mouth. One could imagine how heavy these two blows had been! One final elbow knocked the black man to the ground. ¡°YEAH!¡± The white man let out a furious howl as he lifted up his leg, then slammed it downwards. The black man hurriedly flipped backwards to dodge, and the tough wooden boards right in front of him were caved in by the force of that stomp. The white man didn¡¯t halt his attacks; after missing with his first stomp, he kicked straight out of the caved-in floorboards and struck the black man, knocking him into a corner of the ring with splinters all over his body. The white man pounced forwards, about to press the attack, but the fallen black man actually hooked his leg, catching the white man off-guard and knocking him to the ground. The black man hurriedly flipped up and rose to his feet, then pounced towards the white man like a leopard. He grabbed the white man, then rammed him into one of the dueling ring posts like a monk beating a gong. Boom! The entire ring shook, and a large amount of blood began to pour out of the white man¡¯s head. The black man seized the opportunity to kick the white man into the ropes, causing even the tough ropes to bend backwards. Just as the white man was about to bounce off the ropes, the black man delivered another vicious kick. Bang! Blood poured out of the white man¡¯s mouth, spraying the faces of those beneath him with a bloody mist. This seemed to energize and excite the crowd, making them scream even more excitedly as frenzied roars swept through the crowd! The screams of the crowd seemed to help the dizzied white man come to his bearings. He shook his head hard, then let out a guttural, inhuman scream from his blood-flecked lips. Turning, he used the ropes to slingshot him forwards like an arrow. As the black man charged towards him with yet another kick, the white man suddenly grabbed the black man¡¯s leg with both arms and then threw him down onto the ground¡­ then gave the leg a hard twist. CRACK! The black man let out an agonized scream as his leg was broken. The white man then reached out and grabbed the black man¡¯s head, then slammed the back of his head into the ground. Once, twice, thrice¡­ the black man¡¯s eyes rolled up as he lost consciousness, with blood pouring out of his every orifice. A tidal wave of screams swept across the room, and all of them were chanting the same thing! ¡°KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!¡± The wave of cries seemed to serve as a catalyst, spurring the white man onto even greater savagery. His punches flew out like raindrops in a storm, striking the black man on the face nonstop as though he was giving vent to some hidden rage. It was like the black man had killed his father or something! Blood splattered everywhere, bringing an exhilarating, sickening brutality to this fight. Just a few seconds later, the black man had already been beaten into an unrecognizable pulp! The white man lifted up the half-dead black man over his head, letting out a series of growls from his blood-covered mouth. He was like a victorious lion proclaiming dominance over his domain. ¡°TRAM! TRAM! TRAM!¡± The entire room exploded with cheers of celebration! The white man brought the black man¡¯s back down across his knee, hard. The terrifying sound of bones splintering could be heard as the black man¡¯s spine was broken. The white man then casually tossed the black man out of the dueling ring. Once again, everyone let out celebratory whoops of joy. As for those who had lost their bets on the black man, they began to let out curses. Some of them began to paw at the waitresses, dragging them off into nearby private rooms to give vent to their frustrations. ¡°That was truly an exciting battle!¡± An alluring voice rang out as that seductive woman dressed in silk stockings once more stepped into the ring. ¡°Next, we have a very special program for you. Let¡¯s welcome our latest newbie into the arena!¡± By now, Cloudhawk had a completely dazed look on his face. Oh, fuck¡­ was this his job? No wonder no one wanted this job. This was suicide! Cloudhawk immediately cried out, ¡°I quit! I¡¯m going home!¡± ¡°Quitting? Not your call!¡± The black bouncer by his side snickered, a detestable look on his face. ¡°Rules of the inn say that if you break your contract, you lose your hands.¡± He pulled out a machete, then leered at Cloudhawk menacingly. Several other burly bouncers walked over as well. This time, he was in serious trouble! Cloudhawk never imagined that something like this would happen. The black man who had been fighting in the dueling ring was now lying right next to Cloudhawk. His face had been completely destroyed, with his nose broken, his teeth shattered, his jaw dislocated, and his spine severed. Even if he survived, he¡¯d be nothing more than a useless cripple. He had been a very skilled combatant, but he had still ended up being beaten into such a state. How could a small guy like Cloudhawk possibly endure a punch from that big white man? ¡°NOOB! NOOB! NOOB!¡± Everyone around him was shouting with increasing excitement. The black bouncer grabbed Cloudhawk, then tossed him into the dueling ring. Cloudhawk landed on the blood-soaked wooden boards with a thudding sound, then frantically clambered to his feet. The lights above him were dazzling him, and the cries of the crowd were truly thunderous. ¡°SMASH HIM! SMASH HIM! SMASH HIM!¡± Fuck, the two of us are in completely different weight classes! It was like a giant gorilla battling a skinny monkey! Was there even a point to a battle like this? Of course there was! There was entertainment in watching a fight between two equally-matched opponents. There was also entertainment in watching a fight in which one opponent was overwhelming stronger than the other. Everyone wanted to hear the sound of bones crunching! They wanted to smell the blood, to bathe in it, to hear the weak newbie scream in agony. This was the point of entertainment! The woman clad in silk stockings watched as Cloudhawk was tossed into the arena, not an ounce of pity in her eyes. She was all smiles as she said, ¡°The time for our next performance has come! An even more exciting, even bloodier, and even more delightful feast for your eyes awaits you. Are you all ready?¡± ¡°SMASH HIM! SMASH HIM! SMASH HIM!¡± The arena was surrounded with frenzied, twisted, yet faceless faces. No hint of human decency or rationality could be seen in those eyes. They were like wolves who wanted to drink blood, wanted to slaughter, wanted to give vent to their own frustrations. Several machete-wielding bouncers were standing below the ring, glowering menacingly at Cloudhawk. If Cloudhawk dared to escape from the dueling platform, the end result would be that they would hack him to death with their machetes. Shit. I was tricked again! But it was too late for any regrets. Tram glanced at the small figure disdainfully. This kid was probably an entire generation younger than him. How could he possibly be interested in a fight against someone like this? And judging from the kid¡¯s youthful features and the look of terror in his eyes, he probably had never even experienced any actual combat before. The battle had yet to begin, but the kid was already at the point of collapse. For Tram to battle someone like this was actually rather embarrassing and disgraceful! Still, the man had to eat. Tram had to kill the kid, and would do so using the most brutal, the most sickening, and the most entertaining methods that he could. This would be one of the most exciting performances the inn would hold today, and it was performances like this which the inn relied upon to draw in more customers! Tram wiped the blood from his face, but only succeeded in making himself look even more menacing. He chuckled. ¡°Hey kid. I¡¯m gonna break your bones, one by one. Enjoy the next few seconds of life!¡± Cloudhawk had been enduring all types of abuse during the past month. Although he felt rather scared, he felt even more rage at the unfairness of it all, and he glared right back at Tram and screamed, ¡°Go fuck your mother!¡± Instantly, everyone around him exploded with cheers. Hey, the newbie seemed to have a bit of a temper! This made him a bit different from the kids who were usually sent up to be killed. ¡°Place your bets, everyone! Place your bets on how long this newbie will be able to last. One minute, two minutes, or even three minutes!?¡± The red-nosed proprietor beamed merrily as he kicked off the betting. Each time he held one of these spectacles, he was able to rake in large amounts of cash. The inn patrons all began to place their bets, causing the scene to grow increasingly lively. ¡°Are you all ready?¡± The seductive woman dressed in silk stockings licked her lips in a tantalizing fashion, then announced, ¡°Let the performance begin!¡± Swaying her hips, she left the ring. Clang! The bronze gong was struck once more. Cloudhawk suddenly shot forwards like a leopard, landing a kick directly center on Tram¡¯s chest and sending him staggering backwards. This strike contained much more force than anyone would¡¯ve imagined, and even someone as tough as Tram found it hard to bear. A collective ¡®oh¡¯ rang out from the crowd. Tram never imagined that this would¡¯ve happened. His eyes bulged out with shock as he staggered backwards, nearly falling to the ground. He hurriedly propped himself up with one hand, only to realize that a fist was right in front of his face. The kid possessed astonishing speed and strength. He looked so weak that a strong wind could blow him away. How the hell was he this strong? The most surprising thing of all was, just a few moments ago the kid had a look of utter terror on his face, almost as though he was a helpless little kitten. Now, he seemed to have transformed into a leopard! Tram was able to avoid this strike, but was only able to do so in a very awkward fashion. Upon missing with his first punch, Cloudhawk leapt upwards and used his own head to headbutt Tram on the bridge of his nose. Cloudhawk had spent every day of the past month being used as a punching bag by the mercenaries, but he had learned a few things as well. He had already learned some of the most basic fighting techniques, at least! Tram could feel his nose splintering, and tears couldn¡¯t help but begin to pour out of his eyes. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give him any chance to recover at all. Cloudhawk lifted up his right arm, then delivered a powerful punch to Tram¡¯s lower jaw. His skinny little arm contained an unbelievable amount of force, damn near breaking Tram¡¯s jaw entirely! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 14 The Crazy Innkeeper One thought went through Tram¡¯s mind. Fuck. I underestimated the kid. The kid looked skinny and weak, but he was very physically strong. He was quite possibly a strength-focused metahuman! Cloudhawk had no actual combat experience. This was his first time actually dueling another person in a real fight, but he felt as though everything was flowing together perfectly. He could sense how all of his muscle groups were moving together in concert, and that he had exquisitely perfect control over them. There were certain high-accuracy movements which he never would¡¯ve been able to carry out in the past, but now he was able to do so effortlessly. Incredible agility, perfect harmony, overwhelming speed and strength¡­ is this really my body?! Cloudhawk never imagined that he had become this strong. This month had been an absolutely transformative one for him. Crack! Crack! Cloudhawk leapt into the air, using one leg to kick the man in his side while the other leg kicked him in the chest at high speed. This was a beautiful double-kick, and it sent Tram stumbling backwards once again. Tram felt dizzy, and blood was spurting out of his numb nose. The consecutive barrage of attacks had all but completely disoriented him for a moment. Still¡­ that brief moment of blankness was quickly replaced by a sense of humiliation! A punk kid like this had actually beaten him this badly? Just when Cloudhawk thought that he had found his rhythm, Tram let out a grizzly roar and began to windmill wildly with his fists, with one lucky punch connecting with Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. Cloudhawk felt as though he had just been hit with a sledgehammer, and he was knocked flying into the air before landing several meters away. ¡°Graaaah¡­¡± Cloudhawk rolled on the ground, clutching his chest in agony. Only now did he finally realize that the mercenaries had all been taking it easy on him during training. Otherwise, given how strong they were, how could he have possibly survived their beatings for so long? Not good! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have a chance to climb to his feet before a large, callused hand suddenly latched onto his leg. He was dragged upside down into the air, swung in an arc, then sent flying straight towards one of the wooden ring posts. THUD! Cloudhawk slammed skull-first into the wooden ring post. Black spots appeared before his eyes, and he nearly passed out. A large amount of blood poured out of his scalp and into his eyes, causing the entire world to turn crimson. This had been an extremely heavy blow! Cloudhawk felt as though the entire world was spinning, and for a moment he had no idea where he was. The punch he had taken to the chest had been a heavy strike as well, rendering him barely able to breathe. Several of his ribs were probably broken; even for a recovery metahuman, such heavy wounds would be difficult ot bear. Clearly, Tram himself was a strength metahuman. Although he wasn¡¯t a very high-class one, he had undergone years of training, and his abilities had many years to ripen and mature. For all these reasons, he was more than twice as strong as Cloudhawk was! Tram no longer underestimated the kid; he now viewed Cloudhawk as a serious opponent. Laughing wildly, he glared at the kid as the latter rolled around the floor in agony. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? That all you got?¡± The spectators began to chant in unison again. ¡°STAND! STAND! STAND!¡± A few moments later, Cloudhawk finally managed to just barely struggle to his feet. He shook his head a few times, allowing his vision to clear up once more. He once more regained his focus, and he locked his gaze upon the man in front of him. Both of them had faces covered with blood, and they glowered at each other like vicious beasts that had run into each other within a narrow passageway in the wastelands. The cries of the spectators were growing louder and louder. Not only was this kid a much better fighter than they had imagined, he was much sturdier as well. After taking two incredibly heavy blows, he was still able to climb up to his feet. This alone was quite impressive! Even Tram was slightly startled by this. Still, the startlement didn¡¯t have any impact on his movements at all. This time, he launched the first attack and delivered a frontal punch! Cloudhawk¡¯s hands rose in a defensive position, but a strange smile flashed at the corners of Tram¡¯s lips. His attack had been a feint. Just as Cloudhawk prepared his defensive stance, Tram suddenly cancelled his punch and stepped forwards, ramming his shoulder into Cloudhawk and knocking him off-balance. Tram¡¯s movements were incredibly fast. Next, he used his right arm to sweep Cloudhawk¡¯s legs. Cloudhawk had already been knocked off-balance; now, he was sent flying into the air. Tram then used his left hand to grab Cloudhawk by the back, straightening him upside-down and then driving him downwards towards the ground in a head-first fashion. If Cloudhawk really did smash into the ground, his spine would definitely be completely shattered. Not good! A sense of tremendous danger filled Cloudhawk¡¯s mind, and a tendril of flaming heat suddenly burst out of Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. His irises began to turn red as an enormous amount of power erupted from his body. He actually managed to break free of Tram¡¯s grip, then used his elbow to deliver a vicious blow to Tram¡¯s face, forcing Tram to jerk backwards and making it impossible for Tram to immediately act against him. Cloudhawk seized this moment to do a somersault in midair, using both legs to kick-off Tram¡¯s chest. Tram fell to the ground, but not before he was able to send Cloudhawk flying as well. The two ended up being knocked to the ground at the same time by each other. However, Cloudhawk clearly suffered a heavier fall; all of his bones felt as though they were dislocated, and he very nearly fainted from the pain. The inn was a cacophony of noise. This was simply a dazzling display for them! They were all able to see what a close call that had been. If the little devil had been just a half-second too slow, he probably would¡¯ve died. By now, everyone could tell that although the kid wasn¡¯t very experienced, he had superb combat awareness and was able to respond in an almost instinctive manner. Tram¡¯s face was beginning to puff up like a balloon. Thankfully for him, he was an extremely healthy and strong man; a few small injuries like this wouldn¡¯t have much of an impact on him. As for Cloudhawk, his decent constitution and tough physique meant that he hadn¡¯t been irrecoverably injured either. The two rose to their feet at the same time, then charged towards each other once again. Bam! Cloudhawk landed a kick on Tram. Crack! Tram landed a punch on Cloudhawk! The two were of completely different sizes, but both their faces were covered in blood as they furiously battled against each other. Cloudhawk was a bit lacking in technique and experience, and so just a few blows later his right arm was trapped once more. Tram gave his right arm a hard tug¡­ and with a crunching sound, Cloudhawk¡¯s right arm was dislocated! This time, the pain Cloudhawk felt was truly, heart-piercingly agonizing. The sensation was so intense, Cloudhawk was instantly covered in cold sweat¡­ and yet, instead of sapping him of his will and resolve, it actually stimulated the innate stubbornness inside of him. Ignoring the danger of his right arm being permanently maimed, he delivered a truly vicious knee-strike to Tram¡¯s groin! This time, his strike was right on the money, and Tram let out a miserable howl that was utterly inhuman. Cloudhawk seized this opportunity to rake two of his fingers over Tram¡¯s eyes! Yet again, this strike caught Tram off-guard and he was unable to defend against it. Cloudhawk then gave him one more kick, sending him stumbling backwards towards the edges of the dueling ring. Tram was temporarily blinded, unable to open his eyes. All he could do was to windmill his arms about blindly, hoping to be able to buy himself some extra time. Who would¡¯ve thought that Cloudhawk would scamper forwards and trip his legs? Tram lost his balance and fell backwards, and his tough body ended up falling outside of the dueling ring. The inn was completely silent for a few seconds¡­ and then the cheers of the spectator burst forth once more! ¡°NOOB! NOOB! NOOB!¡± This hadn¡¯t exactly been exhilarating, as they had been hoping to see blood and brains flying everywhere. That hadn¡¯t happened. And yet, this had truly been an unexpected surprise and pleasure. The half-grown kid, the one they had thought would be killed, had ended up winning! Although luck had played a part in it, all the slightly more experienced spectators could tell that this kid wasn¡¯t an ordinary one! Cloudhawk panted raggedly. He never thought that he would actually be able to beat that dangerous fellow. His face was as swollen as a pig¡¯s face, but it was covered with a look of gratification and joy. He had no idea that he had become this powerful! Bruised, battered, and swollen-faced, Cloudhawk walked towards the red-nosed man. ¡°Where¡¯s my meat?¡± ¡°MEAT?!¡± The red-nosed innkeeper no longer had that friendly, amiable look on his face. His voice was now both shrill and cutting. ¡°You wrecked my performance, and you want to ask for payment? Just fuck off!¡± ¡°I earned it!¡± Cloudhawk could feel a ball of fire blazing in his chest. This was no longer a matter of meat; he felt completely insulted, and a desire for blood was filling his thoughts. ¡°How dare you refuse!¡± ¡°A stupid, arrogant kid like you wants to threaten and berate ME?¡± Rednose was enraged. ¡°Waste the fucker!¡± The black bouncer immediately lifted up his machete and hacked downwards towards Cloudhawk. In this day and age, ¡®trust¡¯ and ¡®honor¡¯ were jokes. However, Cloudhawk never would¡¯ve imagined that this man would have reached such a level of depravity! The man had first lied to him to try and get him killed in a duel. Now, not only was he reneging on the payment he owed Cloudhawk, he was trying to kill him! The black bouncer¡¯s strike was fast and furious. Cloudhawk did his best to avoid it, but the blade still scraped past his back and left a huge, gaping wound there. Fiery pain filled every inch of his body, and blood spurted out of the wound and matted his clothes. ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are?¡± The red-nosed innkeeper¡¯s gaze was filled with malice. ¡°A punk-ass kid like you wants to try and take something away from me? You¡¯ll be missing your two hands when you leave!¡± The spectators in the inn began to whoop with excitement, as though a new, unexpected performance had just started. ¡°Great idea!¡± ¡°Chop his hands off!¡± ¡°Waste him!¡± The black bouncer strode forwards, machete in hand. Everyone called out excitedly as they began to circle around the two of them. Seeing the situation, Cloudhawk had only a single thought in his mind ¨C Flee! Fuck the rat jerky! Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body was slippery with blood. He turned, pushed aside a burly man, then made a beeline towards the exit. However, right at this moment, one of the other patrons stuck out a leg and intentionally tripped him. Thud! Cloudhawk instantly lost his balance and smashed into a wooden table, breaking it into tiny pieces. As he fell, he tore the wound on his back even wider. The agonizing pain was about to cause him to pass out. ¡°Ahahah!¡± ¡°Waste him! Waste him!¡± The entire inn was filled with those mocking, malicious calls. The spectators only cared about further fanning the flames, and not a single person stepped forward to intervene or have the matter be brought to an end. Their faces were all distorted with savagery. This was a savage era, and the hearts of men were even more savage! The black bouncer lifted his machete up high, then chopped downwards once more. Cloudhawk¡¯s injuries were so heavy that he couldn¡¯t even rise to his feet. He never would¡¯ve imagined that he would die in a place like this, and die in such a pathetic fashion. But just as he was about to close his eyes and wait for death¡­ Clang! A metallic clanging sound rang out with explosive power. It was another blade that clashed against the former, causing sparks to fly everywhere! The bloody scene which everyone had been eagerly anticipating failed to materialize. A snow-white machete suddenly appeared out of nowhere, stopping the black bouncer¡¯s machete in its tracks. What completely flabbergasted everyone was that this machete had easily and single-handed stopped the heavy, two-handed hacking blow from the black bouncer. The machete which saved Cloudhawk¡¯s life was roughly two feet long and shaped like a dog¡¯s leg. It had a straight back but a curved blade, and was heavy at the back but narrow at the front. It gleamed with a cold, almost snowy light¡­ and Cloudhawk recognized it. Wasn¡¯t this Mad Dog¡¯s machete? The black bouncer¡¯s hand had turned numb, and a large notch had appeared on the edge of his blade. Before the bouncer even had a chance to assess the situation, his opponent struck out with his other hand and sent a dazzling streak of cold light flashing downwards. The black bouncer felt his arm suddenly become lighter as his hand suddenly fell to the ground, still clutching that machete. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The bouncer clutched his severed arm, screaming miserably as blood continued to spurt out of it nonstop, almost like a faucet that had been permanently turned ¡®on¡¯. Mad Dog lifted his leg up, then delivered a kick. The bouncer¡¯s chest was completely caved in as all of his ribs shattered apart. He flew backwards into the cabinets behind him as though he had been shot out of a cannon, causing all types of wine bottles to fall down to the ground and making the inn reek even more heavily of alcohol. This had all happened in just the blink of an eye. Everyone was dazed for a few seconds¡­ and then they began to scream with even more excitement. ¡°Mad Dog?! What the hell!¡± Rednose revealed a look of rage and terror. He obviously recognized the hideous black man standing in front of him. ¡°I done nothing to you! Why are you going crazy on me?¡± ¡°Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh¡­¡± The scar on Mad Dog¡¯s hideously ugly face was twisting and contorting like a centipede as he grinned, and his voice was both deep and hoarse. ¡°Bullyin¡¯ a member of the Tartarus mercenaries? Are you that fuckin'' tired of livin¡¯?¡± ¡°Tartarus?¡± An ugly look appeared on Rednose¡¯s face. ¡°Are you talking about the kid? Shit, I didn¡¯t know he belonged to you guys! This is all over five strings of rat jerky, right? Take it! I¡¯ll give it to¡¯m, alright?¡± ¡°TOO LATE!¡± The machete flashed once again. This time, it landed on the bodyguard in front of the innkeeper, and it cut straight through the man¡¯s shoulder and all the way down to his waist, tearing through flesh and bone alike. It was a terrifyingly wet sound, and the man was virtually split in half by this blow. Mad Dog¡¯s strength was utterly terrifying! It didn¡¯t even look like he was hacking a man in half; it was as though he was just cutting through a piece of melted butter! Blood sprayed everywhere as the man¡¯s organs burst out, drenching Mad Dog in blood. The thick, nauseating scent of blood seemed to intoxicate him, causing his face to become increasingly savage and terrifying. In fact, he looked almost maddened and intoxicated. ¡°Move, move! All of you, g-¡± Rednose didn¡¯t manage to finish the final word, because an unbelievably fast streak of cold light swept right through his neck, cutting open his skin, chopping through his flesh, slicing open his veins, and splitting apart his bones with a ripping sound. There was nothing and no one who was able to stop this from happening. The cold machete cut through him as easily as tofu! The entire world seemed to spin before Rednose¡¯s bulging eyes. There was a look of surprise in those eyes, as though he didn¡¯t understand why his field of vision had just completely changed. Only when his gaze fell upon his own headless corpse did a look of endless horror and amazement appear in his eyes. The disco lights in the inn continued to spin about, and the hard rock music continued to blare. As for the blood spurting out of that headless corpse, it was like a newly popped bottle of champagne that helped everyone present celebrate this special event. ¡°Mad Dog¡¯s gone mad!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± The bouncers in the inn all knew Mad Dog¡¯s reputation. Once the man went mad, the only way to stop him was to kill him. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t stop until he wiped everyone out! These bouncers were, by nature, exceedingly vile men; this was true for almost everyone capable of rising to positions of importance in Blackflag Outpost. None of them were fools! Machetes, staves, daggers¡­ all sorts of weapons were drawn out as everyone charged straight towards Mad Dog! The disco ball spun even faster, and the heavy rock music seemed to pound even louder. This party was about to go completely out of control! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 15 A Bloody Party Pandemonium. Utter pandemonium! The disco ball continued to whirl merrily as Mad Dog moved through the inn like a crazed dancer, his every motion filled with speed, agility, and madness! Clang! His machete chopped straight through an iron rod, then cleaved off the head that was directly behind it as easily as chopping apart a watermelon. Even as a warrior inside the inn lifted up his weapon to strike at Mad Dog, Mad Dog used his twin machetes to deliver seven or eight hacking blows against his body. He was like a whirling dervish, his twin machetes dancing like butcher blades that were carving off chunks of meat for a customer. In the twinkling of an eye, that man was chopped into unrecognizable shapes. His blood spurted everywhere, bathing everyone around him in that sticky stench. The heavy rock music seemed to blare louder and louder, urging Mad Dog on. Wreck everything! Break everything! Smash everything! KILL EVERYONE! Mad Dog was like an insane artist, and his every motion, his every chop, and his every kill was like a beautiful crescendo of violence in all of its terrible beauty. Every single person brought down by his chops lost at least one limb! However, no matter how strong Mad Dog was, he was still just one person whereas the inn had over ten bouncers. Even some of the guests ended up getting drawn into this ridiculous, meaningless fight. A slender, agile form that was shaped rather like a hyena pounced towards Mad Dog from behind, delivering a dagger-strike to the back of Mad Dog¡¯s neck. Mad Dog had already entered his berserk state, where he only attacked and never defended at all. As a result, he was instantly thrust into a perilous situation. ¡°AHHH!¡± Cloudhawk managed to squeeze out a bit more strength out of his body, surprising even himself. He lifted a bar stool up, then roared angrily as he charged forwards to smash it against the ambusher¡¯s head. CRACK! Splinters flew everywhere! As for Cloudhawk, he barreled into the man and knocked him down the ground, and the two rolled over a few times in on the blood-matted floor. The dagger-wielding man was also a savage fellow. Blood was pouring out of his dazed head, but he still had the presence of mind to deliver a back-handed stab with his dagger. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to dodge, but he was able to twist his body slightly, ensuring that the dagger didn¡¯t strike any of his vital organs. At this moment, he realized that all that time he had spent dissecting corpses alongside Mantis hadn¡¯t been a waste after all. At a time like this, it was helping him stay alive. A stabbing pain followed as the dagger pierced into his body, but Cloudhawk ignored it as he picked a long wooden spike from the ground, then almost instantly shoved it deep into his opponent¡¯s eye socket. The man almost instantly stopped moving without even letting out a scream. A savage, bestial expression was on Cloudhawk¡¯s face. No one else dared to even draw near him. As for Mad Dog, by now he had hacked over ten people to death in succession, bathing the entire inn in blood. All of the tables had been destroyed, reducing the insides of the inn into rubble. Only now did the spectators begin to feel fear, and they all began to flee en masse. After having luxuriated in slaughter, Mad Dog had worked the insanity and the bloodlust out of his system. He seemed back to his normal self, and he glanced sideways at the blood-covered Cloudhawk. ¡°Hah! Not dead yet?¡± Cloudhawk had a dislocated elbow, several broken ribs, a long machete-wound across his back, and a dagger in his chest. Even for a recovery metahuman, wounds like this were incredibly dangerous! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t respond, he just wrenched the dagger out of his chest. ¡°Ahaha! Not bad, kid. Pretty tough!¡± Mad Dog inserted his two machetes back into their sheaths. ¡°No time to waste. Hurry up and grab what you want. We need to leave this place immediately.¡± Almost everyone in the inn had been killed, with the few survivors having fled long ago. Mad Dog wasn¡¯t sure how heavy the consequences would be for this, but since he already killed so many he figured he might as well grab their things. Besides, things probably wouldn¡¯t get too out of hand. Mad Dog swept the entire inn clean of everything of value, while Cloudhawk scoured it for food. When he pulled open a drawer, he discovered a glittering silver object. It looked like a fairly exquisite silver revolver! This innkeeper actually had a revolver? What a dangerous fellow he was! If Rednose had pulled out the gun and used it, the results of the wild melee would¡¯ve been completely different. More importantly¡­ this thing had to be worth at least twenty or thirty strips of rat jerky, right?! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to find any bullets. Who knew where Rednose had hidden them? Still, it didn¡¯t matter. He tucked the gun into his clothes and continued to scour the place for other valuables. When the two blood-splattered mercenaries left the inn, the people outside instantly flooded inside to grab whatever was remaining. The devastated inn was once more thrust into pandemonium, with new fights breaking out as some of the looters began to fight each other. As a result, a number of new corpses were created as well. In the end, someone set the inn alight. The flames reached towards the skies, flickering brightly and signifying an end to this performance! By the time Cloudhawk reached the mercenary base, he had lost so much blood that he was in a rather dazed state. Mad Dog dragged him over to Mantis¡¯ workshop, tossed him onto a table, then paid him no further attention. Mantis frowned slightly when he saw Cloudhawk¡¯s wounds. He quickly reset the dislocated bones, then poured some medicinal fluids from a glass bottle that held certain mutated plants within them. He first smeared the fluids over the various wounds, then cut apart Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes, picked up a sewing needle, and began to stitch the wounds together in a very practiced manner. These wounds were very serious. Any ordinary person would¡¯ve died, no questions asked. Even recovery metahumans would be in danger, especially if the wounds became infected. Fortunately, Cloudhawk was in luck. Mantis was one of the top physicians within Blackflag Outpost, and the medicinal fluids he had extracted from the mutated plants were used to help fight back against any possible infections. As for whether Cloudhawk would survive or not, that was up to his own fortitude. The others were gathered at the training grounds of the mercenary base. When Slyfox understood what had happened, he was so furious he was about to explode. ¡°Blackflag Outpost is no longer the same place it was a year ago. Why the fuck did you have to cause such a huge shitstorm? Did you even think about the amount of trouble we are gonna be in?¡± Mad Dog¡¯s body was still caked in blood and gore, but he had a disdainful look on his face. He replied in an uncaring voice, ¡°How big a shitstorm can it be? I just killed a few assholes, that¡¯s all.¡± Right at this moment, Mantis walked over towards them as well. Mad Dog asked casually, ¡°Hey, the kid dead yet?¡± ¡°I hope he does!¡± Slyfox didn¡¯t even wait for Mantis to respond before saying angrily, ¡°I told the kid not to run around. Now he¡¯s done gone and kicked over the hornet¡¯s nest. He really is a natural born troublemaker!¡± Right at this moment, the domineering sound of a revving motorcycle could be heard directly outside their gates. ¡°Here already? That was fast.¡± Slyfox gestured with his hands and all of the mercenaries picked up their weapons. Moments later, the gates were forcibly kicked open from the outside, and a gigantic figure rushed in alongside ten-plus soldiers. If you didn¡¯t already know what the concept of ¡®badass¡¯ was, you would as soon as you saw this guy, no dictionary needed. He was two meters tall, incredibly muscular, and dressed in a tattered tank top that put his chiseled, rock-hard muscles on full display. His tousled golden hair and beard covered his world-weary features, making him look like a proud lion who was facing a great storm with no fear. He stood there in front of the mercenaries, his two hands pressed behind his back. His waist was ramrod stiff, and his back was as straight as a spear. This was a simple military posture, but it commanded an aura of absolute dominance! This giant of a man was every bit as impressive as the captains of the Tartarus mercenaries, and the ten-plus figures behind him were all highly-trained soldiers. Most likely, they were just as tough and skilled as the mercenaries themselves. They were amongst the most elite soldiers of Blackflag Ougpost. Slyfox forced a smile onto his pudgy face. ¡°Grizzly, long time no see! Man, you are lookin¡¯ more and more badass every time I see you. What brings you over to my neck of the woods?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try that shit on me!¡± The muscular man nicknamed ¡®Grizzly¡¯ let out a cold snort. His voice echoed like thunder as he said in a very solemn manner, ¡°You know why I¡¯m here. Hurry up and hand him over!¡± ¡°Heeeeey, relax buddy! We just killed a few people, right? The Tartarus company has contributed quite a bit to the outpost over the past few years. No point in getting into a war over a small problem like this, right?¡± Slyfox beamed merrily as he walked over. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t happen again, arrright?¡± ¡°Next time?¡± Grizzly¡¯s hard face only sank even more. ¡°If word of this spreads to her ears and pisses her off¡­ do you think there will be a ¡®next time¡¯?¡± A nervous look flashed past Slyfox¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted to ask you to help me out here. Yer in charge of the entire outpost¡¯s security. C¡¯mon, the two of us have fought together and bled together. If you can¡¯t even help a brother out at a time like this¡­ well, let¡¯s just say that I really would have misjudged you.¡± ¡°This is the last time. I swear, this is the last fucking time!¡± Grizzly¡¯s face was dark with rage. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll let Mad Dog off, but you need to hand over the kid that caused all this shit. I¡¯ll take his head back and be able to say that I¡¯ve handled this matter.¡± ¡°See, you sayin¡¯ shit like that just pisses me off.¡± Mad Dog was rather irritated now. ¡°That fucker Rednose was bullying our people. I just so happened to see it myself when I was drinking in his inn. The kid might be a bit pissy sometimes, but he¡¯s not the type of guy to cause trouble for no reason.¡± Grizzly said flatly, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Someone has to answer for this disaster.¡± Slyfox was rather unhappy as well. ¡°Yer makin¡¯ things tough for me, y¡¯know?¡± Grizzly glared back at him. ¡°You do understand that if I wasn¡¯t trying to give the Tartarus company some face, I wouldn¡¯t even be standing here chatting with you about this, right? The outpost has its own rules. Someone has to die for what happened today, and that¡¯s that!¡± No trace of amusement could be seen in Slyfox¡¯s eyes. His right hand seemed to ¡®unconsciously¡¯ drift down to one of the pistols on his waist, and his voice actually took on a rare timbre of power and authority. ¡°If yer thinkin¡¯ that you can take one o¡¯ mine away from me, go ahead give it a try!¡± Grizzly¡¯s face turned as hard as steel, and popping sounds could be heard coming from his ten fingers. As for the soldiers around him, they all tightened their grips around their weapons. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s do it!¡± Mad Dog actually drew the machetes from his waist, both his weapons and his body still covered in blood and gore. ¡°First person to back down is a pussy!¡± The mercenaries all gathered together as well. As for Mantis, he stood there without moving but a hint of cold light was flashing between his fingers. The situation was incredibly tense, and both sides were at the verge of drawing weapons against each other. Grizzly knew that there was no way he could deal with all three Tartarus captains by himself, nor could a single squad of elite outpost soldiers deal with the entire Tartarus mercenary company. However¡­ if the Tartarus company truly did choose to go to war against one of the elite outpost squads, it would never again be able to shelter here within the outpost. Grizzly¡¯s voice became even deeper. ¡°Do you really have to protect that rookie?¡± ¡°He might be a useless rookie, but he¡¯s a Tartarus rookie. Nobody, and I mean nobody, has the right to touch a member of Tartarus!¡± Slyfox¡¯s hands remained pressed against his pistols. Given his speed and control, he would be able to almost instantly draw and fire his guns, taking down at least three or four of the opponents in an instant. He had a relaxed look on his face, seeming to be not the slightest bit worried about the consequences. Slyfox knew exactly what type of a person Grizzly was, which was why he felt certain that the man probably wouldn¡¯t attack. ¡°Better not regret it later.¡± Grizzly turned. ¡°Withdraw!¡± The warriors of the elite squad all sheathed their weapons, then immediately departed from the Tartarus headquarters. A short while later, the sputtering sound of the motorcycle could once more be heard before it disappeared off into the distance. Mad Dog spat towards the location where Grizzly had been standing. ¡°Fucking poser. He¡¯s nothing more than a dog on that bitch¡¯s leash. Dickless dickwad!¡± ¡°Y¡¯know, pissing off Grizzly for the sake of that rookie is the dumbest motherfucking decision I¡¯ve made in my entire life.¡± Slyfox really was starting to regret it now. ¡°Man, what the hell is going on today? How could all of this shit have gone down?¡± Mad Dog¡¯s expression suddenly turned somber for once. ¡°I suspect that the newbie is actually a multi-meta.¡± Slyfox¡¯s face tightened slightly upon hearing this. ¡°Seriously?¡± The vast majority of metahumans only had a single type of metapower. If they wanted access to other metapowers, they¡¯d generally have to inject themselves with certain genomic treatments. However, those genomic treatments were incredibly rare, and the success rate was usually quite low. Still, a tiny number of people were born with multiple types of metapowers. They didn¡¯t need to inject themselves with any gene therapies; all they had to do was to unleash their latent potential and they would be able to develop in multiple areas. Although these ¡®multi-metas¡¯ were incredibly rare, they did exist. The third captain, Mantis, was himself a multiclass metahuman. ¡°Aside from enhanced healing abilities, the kid seems to have some sort of agility metapower as well.¡± Mad Dog briefly narrated what he had seen earlier. Given the speed and reaction times which Cloudhawk had displayed in battle, it seemed likely that he had activated some sort of agility metapower. ¡°That means he¡¯s not completely useless. We can spend a bit of actual effort on training the kid.¡± Dual-class metahumans were quite rare as well! Slyfox rubbed his jaw, mumbling to himself. For the first time, he felt that perhaps pissing Grizzly off wasn¡¯t a completely meaningless decision. Actually, Mad Dog¡¯s judgement had been off. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t just improved in agility and healing speed; he was definitely a strength metahuman as well. The only thing he was lacking was training and exercise, and the fact that he had been starving for most of his life hadn¡¯t helped. This was why Mad Dog hadn¡¯t noticed his surprising strength. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 16 Legacy Cloudhawk lay there in Mantis¡¯ workshop, completely wrapped up in bandages. Mad Dog, Slyfox, and the other mercenaries were watching to one side as Mantis did his job, and Slyfox was already beginning to frown. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Mantis replied, ¡°He lost too much blood. He needs a blood transfusion.¡± The ruins didn¡¯t have access to blood transfusion technology, but Mantis was the most talented physician in both the Tartarus company as well as the entire Blackflag Outpost. He not only had the ability to test blood phenotypes, he had even developed his own blood transfusion apparatus. Despite that, given the sanitary conditions in Blackflag Outpost, actually using that equipment posed an enormous risk to everyone involved. Slyfox didn¡¯t give a damn. ¡°Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and give him the blood he needs! I don¡¯t care what you have to do; you need to save his life and bring him back to us. If he dies, that¡¯ll mean I pissed off Grizzly for absolutely nothing. That would be an abso-fucking-lutely stupid travesty!¡± Mad Dog just said, ¡°It¡¯s just blood, right? Use mine!¡± ¡°You can use mine as well!¡± ¡°Shit, I got plenty of blood. Take as much as you need!¡± ¡°No way we can let the kid die like this.¡± ¡°Yeah, life would be much more boring without¡¯m.¡± More than ten of the mercenaries spoke up to offer their blood. Cloudhawk had only joined the Tartarus company recently, but during this past month his tenacious personality and his hard-working habits had caused everyone to take a liking to him. He was a bit weak, but they had already acknowledged him as a member of the group. If Cloudhawk was still awake, he would probably be so shocked that he wouldn¡¯t be able to shut his mouth. Normally, the mercenaries treated him like absolute dirt¡­ and yet, today they were all fighting for the chance to help save him by offering their own blood. As for Mantis, his features remained as blank and emotionless as ever. Without saying a single word, he ran a few blood phenotype tests, then selected the mercenaries who fit his criteria. He withdrew some blood from every single one of them, then used it to fill his blood transfusion bag and began to transfer it into Cloudhawk¡¯s body. In the end, their greatest fears were realized. Although Cloudhawk¡¯s condition was temporarily stabilized after the infusion of blood, it once again worsened at around midnight. His entire body was beet-red, and his skin was so hot it was as though he was being burnt by coals. His mind was a blur, and he repeatedly slurred random words. There was nothing Mantis could do. The medical conditions and equipment were simply too poor. Whenever an injured party suffered a severe infection like this, he would have a less than ten percent chance of surviving. Things were in the hands of the gods, now. All they could do was hope that the kid¡¯s destiny was not to die here! ¡­¡­ Cloudhawk found himself in a foggy, hazy state. He felt incredibly hot, so hot that he could barely breathe. It was as though he was sleeping inside a giant burning cauldron. When Cloudhawk tried to trace the heat to its source, he ended up discovering that it was all coming from that stone which was hanging around his neck. The stone seemed to have been linked up with his body in a strange manner, connecting with his bones and his flesh to become a part of him. It was unleashing some sort of strange energy that was capable of impacting Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body. In his dazed state, Cloudhawk was actually able to make out the voice of the stone more clearly than ever before. It sounded like the furious waves of the ocean, like the sky, like the earth, like something hidden within the depths of the sea, like the lightless dark of the night, like a behemoth so vast that it could silently swallow a hundred enormous whales without causing any stir. This was a sea! A sea of willpower, a sea of mental strength, a sea of energy! Was he able to better commune with the stone when he was in his current, trance-like state? Not only could Cloudhawk sense the ebbs and flows of that sea of mental energy inside the stone, he could even hear a hoarse voice whispering to him from a hidden location at the very bottom of the sea. ¡°Truth springs forth from the mind. Your thoughts shall determine all, and what you shall imagine is what you shall see!¡± Although the voice was soft, it was filled with an astonishing presence and was as stately as the voice of a king. ¡°Awaken, heir to my legacy!¡± Cloudhawk felt as though someone had just poured a bucket of icewater over his face. He suddenly woke up from his stupor, only to realize that he hadn¡¯t actually returned to the real world. He was located within a very strange region, with his two feet standing on a pitch-black sea that was as smooth and clear as a mirror. This wasn¡¯t the real world. This was a dream-world created by that will within the stone! ¡°W-who is talking?!¡± Cloudhawk frantically scanned his surroundings. He knew that this was a dream, but he found himself unable to escape it. He had never experienced something as strange as this before, and it was completely outside the bounds of what he could understand. The endless black mist in front of him began to condense together and form into a tall, savage-looking figure. The figure didn¡¯t seem to be human, but Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to see what it looked like. He could only see a pair of red, ape-like eyes glowing within that dark silhouette, as well as a jewel that was glowing in front of the figure¡¯s chest. Was that jewel the one Cloudhawk had found the other day? Was it originally an adornment upon that suit of unique, peculiar armor? As for the mysterious fellow standing before Cloudhawk, he had to be the jewel¡¯s previous master. He must¡¯ve been able to store his will and his mind into the jewel through some unknown method, and the reason why Cloudhawk had nearly gone mad with berserk rage was due to this man¡¯s influence. As for the strange dream Cloudhawk had fallen into after suffering such heavy injuries, they were also caused by this man. Cloudhawk stared at the man through the blurry mist that separated the two of them. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± A majestic yet hoarse voice once more rang out from that black silhouette. ¡°A failure who has been forgotten. Who I am no longer matters. What matters is for you to know who you are.¡± ¡°Who I am? I¡¯m me!¡± Cloudhawk was rather confused now. What was this guy talking about? He shouted out rather nervously, ¡°Fuck, man, what¡¯s going on here? Why are you in my dreams?¡± ¡°No need to be afraid. I won¡¯t harm you. In fact, I died long ago. What remains is nothing more than a part of my will which I left inside this stone. Only when certain criteria are fulfilled and when a person with certain potential emerges shall this stone be activated. For now, you can neither see nor sense my entire will, just a fragment which I set up long ago.¡± The speaker was saying such confused, baffling things that Cloudhawk understood none of it at all. ¡°It has been many years. I have stubbornly remained here, all for the sake of awaiting your arrival. Ever since you picked up that jewel, you have assumed a destiny that you cannot shake off.¡± The black silhouette looked at Cloudhawk, then said slowly, ¡°The world has been bewildered by lies and deceptions. Since the cycle has begun anew, I hope that you shall continue the path which I started but was unable to finish. Bring an end to all these things.¡± Cloudhawk really had no idea what the man was talking about, but he felt an inexplicable sense of irritation and rejection towards it. ¡°What sort of gibberish are you babbling about? I don¡¯t understand a word that you are saying. Let me out!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient, young man. I don¡¯t have much time left.¡± A hint of aged sorrow appeared within the black silhouette¡¯s voice. ¡°I can sense what you are thinking. Do you wish to leave the wastelands?¡± Cloudhawk suddenly trembled. ¡°Can you help me?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help you leave, not directly¡­ but I can give you what you need more than anything else right now.¡± ¡°What?¡± The black silhouette said slowly, ¡°I can give to you what little power I have left!¡± Cloudhawk instantly felt excited. Power. Wasn¡¯t this exactly what he needed more than anything else right now? He was still far, far too weak, which was why everyone continued to bully him. If he was as strong as Slyfox or Mad Dog, he would be able to do whatever he wanted in Blackflag Outpost! This mysterious figure had to be at least as powerful as Mad Dog, right? The black sea beneath his feet suddenly began to stir, and Cloudhawk had the feeling that he was about to be dragged within the waves. A large amount of an ice-cold substance flowed into his body, causing him to feel a sensation of agonizing pain. ¡°Unfortunately, at present you are still far too weak. I can only bestow a part of my psionic energy unto you for now.¡± The black silhouette¡¯s voice began to fade in and out as it grew more and more indistinct. ¡°Please keep the stone safe. It is the key to both space and time, and is the most important talisman of my race¡­¡± Cloudhawk was like a drowning man at sea. The sense of breathlessness and pressure was absolutely stifling, and he could neither open his mouth nor cry out for rescue. That icy feeling filled every inch of his body, pouring in from every single direction and into every single pore. Cloudhawk frantically tried to reach out and grab something, but was unable to find anything to grip. His consciousness instantly began to fade once again. Right at this moment, he suddenly felt a hand reach down and grab him, bringing him up from the surface of the water. ¡°AHHH!¡± Cloudhawk let out a scream as he woke up. It was noon. Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body was covered with bandages that had strange medicinal smells to them, and every single wound on his body had been neatly stitched shut. Fiery pain radiated through his entire body, as though his skin had been torn open and he had been placed atop a cooking rack. The various strange medicinal pastes that had been smeared across his body made his wounds burn, almost as though they contained salt or spices within them. Cloudhawk¡¯s right elbow was hanging in front of his chest. Right now, he was so weak that he felt as though he had just been chased by a wild beast for ten kilometers nonstop. However, for some reason his mind was incredibly clear and alert, and the surrounding world itself seemed to be more in focus than it had been in the past. He could even hear the mercenaries outside laughing and chatting with each other. This had to be the mercenary base. Cloudhawk thought back to what had just happened, especially the conversation he had with that strange man in his dreams. Was it nothing more than an odd nightmare? Cloudhawk shook his head. Ignoring the pain, he got off the bed, walked towards the door, then pushed it open with his one good arm. The twenty mercenaries that were just about to start eating all came to a sudden halt, their gazes focusing upon Cloudhawk. For a moment, things were completely silent. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous; were these guys planning on picking a fight with him for having caused them trouble? But in the next instant¡­ everyone exploded with roars of laughter and cheers! ¡°HAH! Woke up, kiddo?¡± ¡°You really do heal pretty damn fast.¡± ¡°Man, you got the shit beat out of you, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How could you let a dumb fuck like Rednose kick you around like that? You really are good for nothing, you know?¡± Usually, the mercenaries loved to mock Cloudhawk and laugh at him. However, after his sudden display of power in the inn and his near brush with death, they started to have more positive feelings about this kid that they once loved to hate. Whap! A fat, meaty hand clapped Cloudhawk on his shoulders. Cloudhawk leapt up like a startled hair, nearly screaming from the pain. You did that on purpose, you motherfucker! The clap had landed directly on one of his stitched-up wounds. Slyfox completely ignored the glowering, twisted look on Cloudhawk¡¯s face as he delivered yet another heavy clap with his meaty hand. ¡°You¡¯ve certainly been making a name for yourself, ya sonufabitch. Not only did you go out and cause trouble, you got the shit beat out of you. You¡¯ve dishonored the entire damn Tartarus company, y¡¯know?¡± ¡°That HURTS!¡± Cold sweat appeared on Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead. He really wanted to plant a punch right into that fat face, but he also knew that was something best reserved for his dreams. ¡°It won¡¯t happen next time, alright?¡± ¡°Next time? Kill them all, next time. Learn to wipe your own ass and solve your own problems. Got it?¡± After Slyfox finished lecturing him, he tossed a metal plate onto the table in front of them with a clattering sound. ¡°In the future, you¡¯ll eat with us, train with us, and go out on missions with us.¡± The plate held a chunk of blackened mutabeast jerky, and a few pieces of something that looked like potatoes but which had been all but burnt to a crisp. Slyfox gave the awestruck Cloudhawk a hard glare. ¡°What, food¡¯s not to yer likin¡¯?¡± ¡°N-Not at all!¡± Cloudhawk sat down without even thinking, then began to chew at the food. Although he had no idea what type of mutabeast this meat came from, it tasted far better than any type of meat he had ever eaten before. Before this, he had only been given two pieces of bread each day. Now, he was able to enjoy wine and meat alongside the other mercenaries, and would enjoy three set meals each day! It was like a poor beggar suddenly coming into an enormous inheritance. This blissful sense of manna falling from the heavens instantly filled Cloudhawk with content and joy. Cloudhawk never would¡¯ve imagined that rather than castigate him for having caused troubles in the inn, the other mercenaries would actually view them as having formally joined their ranks. His long month of humiliation and labor¡­ had he finally overcome it all? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 17 Beast Wave A few days later, Cloudhawk was able to get his stitches removed. In another four or five days, he would probably be completely recovered. These days spent convalescing were some of the most comfortable days in his life. Not only did Cloudhawk not need to serve as a human punching bag, he was allowed to lay back and relax each day while enjoying three meals of meat. In just a few short days, he had grown considerably more muscular. It was getting to the point where Cloudhawk was actually hoping that his wounds would heal a bit more slowly. After waking up from his heavy injuries, he improved quite a bit in every single area. The thing was, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel as though he had improved dramatically in any particular area. Perhaps that dream really was nothing more than a dream. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t really pay it too much heed, and he cast that memory to the back of his mind. By the fifth day, Cloudhawk was more or less recovered. Mantis immediately called Cloudhawk over and ordered Cloudhawk to assist him. The tables in Mantis¡¯ workshop were filled with preservative jars that were marked with all kinds of script, as well as many test tubes that were filled with all sorts of strange liquid experiments. The workshop had all sorts of crude, ungainly tools within it as well, but by now Cloudhawk was used to all of them. Cloudhawk dragged a freshly arrived corpse over and placed it on the dissection table. This was the corpse of a young woman who had probably died recently. Judging from her emaciated frame, she had most likely died of starvation. Similar corpses could be seen everywhere. ¡°Mantis, what are you going to analyze today?¡± Cloudhawk picked up his pincers and his scalpel, preparing to go to work. ¡°Heart? Lungs? Liver? Something else?¡± Although he hadn¡¯t completely healed, he had recovered enough to do some work. Mantis withdrew his blood-covered hands from the chest of a dissected corpse. If Cloudhawk was a new arrival, he probably wouldn¡¯t be used to this sight, but over the course of the past month he himself had carried out multiple such dissections, and so he didn¡¯t feel as though anything was off. The Tartarus mercenary company had three captains, and Mantis was the most inscrutable of the three. He seemed extremely cultured and knowledgeable, and was able to extract strange liquids from random mutated plants which he would mix together into restorative poultices and healing solutions. The reason why Cloudhawk had been able to recover from his injuries so quickly was completely thanks to Mantis, and so Cloudhawk admired the man very much. Cloudhawk had never seen Mantis in combat before. However, Mantis¡¯ skills as a physician alone ensured that he would never go hungry in this era. ¡°Hang it up high.¡± Cloudhawk was slightly startled upon hearing Mantis¡¯ instructions. Was the strange fellow planning some sort of odd experiment yet again? Still, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste time asking questions. He immediately tied a rope around the corpse¡¯s waist, then lifted it into the air. Mantis calmly pulled out a silver revolver, then tossed it onto the table. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but gawk at that revolver. Cloudhawk had taken it from Rednose¡¯s inn, but later on Cloudhawk had passed out from blood loss. By the time he had woken up, the revolver had disappeared. He had felt certain that Mad Dog had confiscated it, as guns were quite valuable; for a rookie like Cloudhawk to possess one really was a waste. ¡°Shit, isn¡¯t that my gun? So you were the one who took it!¡± Cloudhawk had been given all sorts of grunt work in the mercenary base, and part of his job had been to help maintain their firearms. As a result, he was quite familiar with how firearms worked. Mantis then fished out an orange-colored bullet and placed it on the table. The hell? Cloudhawk was starting to feel rather stunned. Mantis adjusted his glasses, which flashed with a cold light as he did so, making it impossible for Cloudhawk to see the look in Mantis¡¯ eyes. Mantis reached out and pointed one finger at the hanging corpse, then said in his customarily cold voice, ¡°Shoot it as fast as you can.¡± ¡°Is that really a good idea?¡± Cloudhawk naturally wasn¡¯t worried about being disrespectful to the dead; that would be just laughable. His concern was that shooting a corpse was a waste of bullets! ¡°Just do it!¡± Cloudhawk had no idea as to what Mantis was scheming, but there was nothing he could do. The stone-faced man never changed his mind and did what he said. Plus¡­ Cloudhawk had wanted to experience firing a gun for quite some time now. Cloudhawk picked up the gun, unlatched the cylinder, loaded the bullet, then spun the cylinder back into its proper locked position. Cloudhawk had no experience in gunnery, but for some reason it all felt very natural to him. Just as he was about to raise the gun and then pull the trigger¡­ Snick! A streak of cold light suddenly flashed through the air and sliced past his face. Clink! It was a slender, icy-cold surgical scalpel. The scalpel plunged into the corpse¡¯s forehead with perfect precision. Even if you used to most accurate of rulers to measure it, you would find that the scalpel was exactly dead center in the corpse¡¯s forehead, without being even slightly to the left or to the right. In addition, the scalpel blade had sunk completely into the forehead. Cloudhawk felt as though he had lost control over his jaw muscles as his mouth swung open. He stared, wide-eyed, at the incomprehensible sight in front of him. ¡°You spent a total of four seconds in drawing the gun, loading the bullet, and then firing. I would¡¯ve been able to cut your throat in a third of a second.¡± This was the first time Cloudhawk had seen Mantis launching an ¡®attack¡¯. He never would¡¯ve imagined that Mantis was as incredible as this! ¡°Remember. The more complicated, high-tech, and high-level a weapon is, the more dangerous it is to its own wielder. If you end up relying too heavily on those high-tech weapons, death will be quick to arrive for you. The best weapons are the ones that appear everywhere. They are easy to deploy and easy to use. For a truly talented assassin, even grass and twigs can be used to take another¡¯s life.¡± They had known each other for a full month, but Mantis had always been very taciturn, seemingly treasuring his words as if they were gold. He had never said so many things at once, and Cloudhawk felt as though he was getting to know the man all over again. He was a superlatively talented physician, a strange scientist who liked to dissect corpses and organs in search of mutations. He was also an incredible apothecary who was able to extract fluids from various mutated plants and use them to create medicinal salves¡­ but it seemed as though all of these things were just his secondary professions! Slyfox was a gunner, Mad Dog was a warrior, while Mantis was an assassin. Perhaps Mantis¡¯ evolutionary metapowers weren¡¯t as high-class as those of Slyfox or Mad Dog, but assassins didn¡¯t necessarily need to be the strongest individuals around; they were, however, the most dangerous! Cloudhawk would rather piss off a madman like Mad Dog or a crafty bastard like Slyfox than a viper like Mantis! Cloudhawk unconsciously mimicked the scalpel-tossing motion. ¡°What type of training do I need to do if I want to reach your level?¡± ¡°Your task for today is completed. Leave.¡± Mantis began to put away his tools without even looking at Cloudhawk. ¡°And take your gun!¡± Cloudhawk had been feeling rather irritated, but upon hearing the last few words he nearly leapt for joy. Mantis might seem like an icy fellow, but he was actually quite warm-hearted. Not only had he kept Cloudhawk¡¯s weapon safe for quite a few days and then returned it to him, he had also taught Cloudhawk a lesson. In the wastelands, firearms and bullets were used as a common currency for barter. You would always be able to use them to trade for food. Afraid that Mantis might change his mind, Cloudhawk immediately grabbed his gun and left. As for Mantis, he continued to focus on dissecting and handling his corpses. From start to finish, his facial expressions had not changed a single time. Upon returning to his room, Cloudhawk pulled out his gun and excitedly rubbed his hands across its surface repeatedly, almost as if he was stroking the hands of a lover. He had never felt as excited as he currently did. Cloudhawk knew very well that bullets were actually even more valuable than firearms. The reason why the majority of the mercenaries did not use firearms was because bullets were too expensive. A pound of mutabeast meat could only buy you ten or so pistol bullets. Aside from elite marksmen like Slyfox, using guns was a completely impractical and un-economical decision for most mercenaries. But despite all that, this was still the first valuable possession which Cloudhawk had ever had. Cloudhawk lay there in his bed, his gun by his side. Even though it only held a single bullet, he felt a sense of safety and security with it nearby. Everything was turning for the better. Cloudhawk let out a long, contented sigh. Just as he was about to blow out the candle and go to sleep, he suddenly heard several loud, clear sounds echo in the skies above the outpost. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! The sounds completely shattered the stillness of the night. Cloudhawk had never heard this noise before. It sounded almost like a large gong being struck, with each sound both loud and long-lasting. The sudden clanging noises brought a sense of unease to all who heard them. Cloudhawk had no idea what was going on. However, he had been living here in the outpost for more than a month; he was no longer the clueless and rash kid he once was. He carefully pushed open his door to stare at what was happening outside, rather than foolishly charging outside in a blind panic. Blackflag Outpost was a bedlam of commotion. Many men holding torches were running around, and countless cries and startled shouts filled the air. Cloudhawk was able to vaguely make out one particularly horrified, high-pitched scream. ¡°A beast wave! A beast wave is upon us!¡± Cloudhawk had been in the outpost for more than a month; he knew exactly what a beast wave represented. A cold chill instantly filled his entire body, and an uncontrollable terror quickly rooted itself in his heart. This was terrible! BANG! His wooden door was suddenly kicked in, and three outpost soldiers charged in and grabbed him unceremoniously. ¡°What the hell are you guys doing?!¡± ¡°A beast wave is attacking. All men are required to take part in the defense. Those who shirk from battle will die!¡± The entire outpost was in a state of chaos. The outpost guards were running around everywhere, grabbing everyone they could. All of the men were corralled like a herd of ducks, then split up into numerous temporary squads. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t even given a chance to explain, nor would any explanations have mattered. The Tartarus mercenary company was an important part of the outpost¡¯s combat forces; they would undoubtedly be sent to a place even more dangerous than this place. And so, Cloudhawk just allowed himself to be conscripted into a squad of roughly two hundred people. A series of clanking sounds rang out as a guard dressed in a full set of steel armor walked over towards them. He was dressed in at least two or three layers of leather armor underneath the steel, and he wore a half-mask that served as a breathing apparatus. The other guards all stood by his side, with this young elite guard who was dressed in a perfect set of armor clearly being their leader. ¡°I¡¯m Lain, the captain of this squad and a member of the elite guards of Blackflag Outpost. I¡¯ll be responsible for commanding your group in defending against the attack.¡± Captain Lain spoke with great difficulty, as though every single word was extremely taxing for him to say. It was almost as though someone had thrown a lever into his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak. There was an extremely deep scar on the side of his neck; most likely, the wound that had caused that scar had impacted his vocal chords. ¡°Right now, a large number of mutabeasts are launching an attack against our outpost! All of you, pick up your weapons and protect our home. Fight them to the bitter end!¡± Captain Lain¡¯s hoarse voice rang out like the cry of an owl in the night, causing the listeners to shiver with fear. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 18 Wolf Pack The fire pots had all been set alight, and Blackflag Outpost was thoroughly illuminated by lamps and torches. Terror swept through the entire outpost like a tempest, spreading from person to person like a plague. The sounds of sobbing and screaming could be heard everywhere as the terrifying beast wave drew closer and closer. Beast waves! They were the most terrifying natural disasters which existed in the wastelands! This was a unique type of battle for survival which only wastelanders would ever encounter, a battle launched by large numbers of hungry mutabeasts against the outposts where many humans were gathered. Cloudhawk had just arrived here a month ago, and so he had naturally never experienced one of these beast waves personally. And yet, he had heard some stories regarding beast waves from the older mercenaries. Supposedly, the vast majority of human outposts in the wastelands ended up being destroyed by beast wave outbreaks. Each beast wave portended a calamitous baptism by blood. Even if the attacked outpost was strong enough to resist the beast wave, it would still suffer heavy losses and rivers of blood would form. Was Blackflag Outpost going to suffer this same fate as well? An atmosphere of terror and despair pervaded the outpost. Even Cloudhawk felt rather nervous. He had never experienced a calamity like this before, and he had no idea as to what he would be facing. Just as everyone¡¯s hearts were in a state of disarray, a series of frenzied growls could be heard rumbling outside in the wilderness. It sounded like a rumbling landslide, like waves crashing against the shore! The terrifying sounds represented pure bloodlust, madness, and brutality all joined together and then unleash in a single tidal wave of noise. The spiritual pressure they brought alone was enough to shake even the deepest parts of one¡¯s soul. What sort of terrifying creatures could possibly make such hideous sounds? Cloudhawk stared from his position in the walls, and he was able to vaguely make out something. A large number of short, stooped black figures were advancing at high speeds under the moonlight. They had pairs of dark green eyes that blazed like abyssal fire, and they brought a completely different aura to the biting cold of the night! What in the world were these things?! Just as Cloudhawk was wondering this question to himself, one of the bow-wielding outpost archers who was standing with bow drawn in one of the archery parapets let out a terrified shout. ¡°Oh, shit. ROTWOLVES!!¡± ¡°Fuck, fuck! I can¡¯t even count the number of rotwolves!¡± Every single outpost soldier was a carefully selected elite warrior. They were reliable in both personal power as well as mental fortitude, but when faced with such a terrifying sight even people as strong as them couldn¡¯t help but quaver when they spoke, revealing the horror that they felt. As for the squads of irregulars? They were even more terrified. ¡°The wastelands are filled with those rotwolves.¡± ¡°Oh my God¡­ we are all doomed.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way we can beat that many rotwolves. Everyone, run for your lives!¡± The motley crew of irregulars captained by Lain almost immediately began to break down. Rotwolves were enormous mutant wolves that roamed the wastelands, and they were named that way because their flesh was so putrid and poisonous that there was no way to consume. Most normal mutabeasts weighed around eighty kilograms, but rotwolves didn¡¯t seem to have an upper weight limit. There had even been sightings of enormous rotwolves that weighed five or six hundred kilograms! These particular mutabeasts were not only brutal, they were also extremely crafty. Every ordinary rotwolf would be a match for two or three ordinary outpost guards in power, but tonight at least seven or eight hundred rotwolves had already appeared. Things were looking very grim. No one knew how many more rotwolves were lying in wait. Even if there really were just eight hundred, it would be a calamity for the outpost! Captain Lain had clearly never expected for the situation to be this grim either. His face paled slightly, and his sword-wielding hand was starting to tremble, but he still spoke out in his hoarse voice to calm his men. ¡°Just a few hundred wolves, while we have several thousand warriors. The hell are you all afraid of? Man up!¡± But who could possibly maintain their calm in a situation like this? Although the outpost held thousands of warriors and was protected by a defensive perimeter, who could guarantee that front-line soldiers like them would be able to survive? More and more soldiers started to move to flee. ¡°Archers!¡± Captain Lain was able to tell that the situation was about to spiral out of patrol. He immediately lifted his sword high into the air, and the six archers behind him immediately drew their bows. The archers on the watchtowers all turned towards him as well. ¡°Kill them!¡± Cloudhawk could clearly hear the bowstrings twanging. The first wave of arrows weren¡¯t aimed at the beasts outside; they were actually aimed at the fleeing warriors within the outpost. Twang! Twang! Twang! Several fleeing soldiers let out miserable cries as they fell to the ground. As for the archers, they once more nocked their bows and aimed the cruel arrowheads towards the others. ¡°That¡¯s what happens to deserters!¡± Captain Lain¡¯s hoarse voice rang out in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°If Blackflag Outpost is destroyed, do you really think you¡¯ll be able to find another place to live? Hell, without Blackflag Outpost, will any of you even be able to survive these wastelands? Pick up your damn weapons. We live or die with the outpost!¡± Faced with those taut bowstrings, everyone had no choice but to acquiesce silently. As for Cloudhawk, he felt a degree of respect for Captain Lain. He truly was a valiant and charismatic warrior, and his words were spot on ¨C once Blackflag Outpost fell, would they ever be able to find another place like it? He might not love this place, but this wasn¡¯t the time to leave it! He¡¯d rather die than end up a wastelands scavenger once more! Cloudhawk tightened his grip around his shortsword. He had decided to defend the outpost to the bitter end. Captain Lain¡¯s methods proved to be quite effective in quelling the chaotic situation. He split up the regular soldiers and inserted them throughout his troops, as he knew exactly how unreliable his irregulars were. Not only could his regular soldiers help to smooth out the average level of strength in each section, they would also be able to serve as his supervisory sergeants once battle began. The wolf pack was moving closer and closer to the outpost. The night was filled with their long, drawn-out howls. Even the earth was shaking slightly as the crazed, bloodthirsty wolves advanced like a foul wind, and it was as though a dark haze had appeared around the hearts of the men who saw them. ¡°They are about to attack!¡± ¡°Shoot them!¡± ¡°Shoot them down!¡± The wolves in the pack were actually quite dispersed. Several of the agility metahumans in the vanguard were the first ones to act. Cloudhawk immediately heard a few sparse gunshots blasting out in the night air, accompanied with the whistling howls of arrows being shot out. Quite a few agonized howls emerged from the wolf pack. Apparently, a number of the rotwolves had been hit. However, attacks on this level simply were ineffective in serving as a deterrent. In fact, when the beasts smelled the blood and pain emanating from their fellows, they seemed to be spurred into an even greater frenzy. The howls of the wolf pack only grew increasingly fierce. The battle was about to erupt! Captain Lain commanded his soldiers, ¡°Fire in volleys and don¡¯t stop! Rotwolves don¡¯t have wings. Keep them outside our perimeter!¡± Cloudhawk was extremely tense. It was just a group of wild animals, right? Nothing bad would happen. Nothing bad would happen! The outpost had sturdy defenses and had countless experts defending it. It also had¡­ Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t even able to finish his self-comforting thought before a terrified, despairing voice rang out right next to him! ¡°LOOK! The skies!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that in the skies?!¡± The moonlight was being blotted out by what looked like stormclouds. When Cloudhawk unconsciously lifted up his head to stare into the skies, his irises immediately shrank. No¡­ those were no stormclouds. Those were teeming masses of flying creatures who were moving at incredible speeds! Cloudhawk was only able to see countless pairs of red eyes flashing in the night sky. Judging from their silhouettes, he could just barely tell that they seemed to be enormous bat-like creatures. Just as the wave of rotwolves hit the outside perimeter, the strange winged creatures dove down from the skies like a tidal wave which could not be defended against. They struck down like thunderbolts upon the outpost guards, and they also struck like thunderbolts against the outpost morale. ¡°Danger! Lie down!¡± It was unclear as to who called these words out, and it didn¡¯t really matter; anyone who encountered a situation like this would almost instinctively lie down. Cloudhawk felt as though a gale blew past his head, and the entire world seemed to be filled with the sound of flapping wings. ¡°Aaaah!¡± One of the soldiers on the watchtower was knocked into the air. Even as he was falling to the ground, around twenty black shadows flashed past his body and clawed at him with incomprehensible speed, with each tearing away a section of his body. His body seemed to be as flimsy as wet tissue; in the five short seconds of his fall, over twenty strips of flesh were torn off his body as bits of blood and gore flew everywhere. He screamed in misery as his blood and flesh flew everywhere¡­ and then he slammed to the ground with a thud. The person landed ahead of Cloudhawk. When Cloudhawk was able to see what he now looked like, he felt a sense of frozen terror within the depths of his very soul. Almost all of the man¡¯s flesh was gone, and his ribs were all clearly visible. The organs had been ripped out of his stomach, and his face had been torn asunder as well. He was completely unrecognizable. Possibly because this had happened so quickly, the poor bastard was somehow still alive despite having been absolutely maimed and disfigured. A gurgling sound could be heard from his throat, and his hands and legs were trembling as though he was trying to climb to his feet. A few seconds ago, he was a hale and hearty man. Who could believe that this would happen to him in just a few seconds? What a calamity! The strange, giant bats were circling in the air above the outpost. Each wing was over 1.5 metres long, and they had hawk-like claws and sharp beaks that were as dangerous as razors. The outpost was filled with miserable screams as many people suffered injuries in a twinkling. This was a type of bloodthirsty animal that loved to eat carrion! They often followed the scent of the rotwolf pack. These two different types of mutabeasts, however, would not engage in direct combat with each other. Rather, they would generally reach a tacit agreement to jointly attack certain targets. Just as Cloudhawk rose to his feet and took two steps forwards, a giant bat dove downwards towards him at high speed, raking at him with those sharp claws. Sensing the impending danger, Cloudhawk once more fell to the ground, and the giant bat scraped right above him. It was raining blood in the area around him, with a few chunks of meat and skin landing every so often. The warriors on the watchtower who were responsible for shooting down the wolves were almost instantly ripped to shreds and broken apart, with all of them dying to the sudden attacks from the giant bats. They were finished! Cloudhawk¡¯s heart sunk into despair. With the mutated bats launching aerial raids and disrupting their back lines, there was no way the outpost could mobilize their archers and gunners to attack the wolves from afar. As for the hundreds of powerful rotwolves, once they charged into the outpost they would deliver an absolutely destructive blow to the defenders! What were they to do? What were they to do?! Cloudhawk stared at the silhouettes dancing through the chaos. Finally, he understood how weak any individual person was in a war. Not even Slyfox or Mad Dog would be able to do anything at a time like this, to say nothing of him! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 19 The Alpha Wolf Several of the wolves in the wastelands raised their heads to let out long howls. This was a signal, a signal to launch the full attack! The swarming masses of rotwolves suddenly began to accelerate, as though physical inhibitors inside their bodies had suddenly been unlocked or as though they were a group of chained beasts who had suddenly slipped out of their shackles. The ferocious black wave of wolves began to launch a true assault on the outpost. The area around the outpost was littered with boulders and ruined tires which were stacked together to form a rampart. In the wastelands, a defensive perimeter like this was considered quite strong. An attack from a few dozen rotwolves would be completely unable to do anything to this outpost, but the problem was that they were facing over eight hundred rotwolves and an unknown number of giant bats which were circling around them! The outpost defenses were breached in multiple areas almost instantaneously, and many rotwolves poured into the gaps. The entire world seemed to be filled with the sounds of combat, slaughter, screams, and frenzied wolf-howls. In order to avoid the giant bats, Cloudhawk was forced to scurry forwards in a crawling position. He could already hear the sounds coming from outside the ramparts in front of him, as a number of rotwolves leapt upon the bodies of their peers to try and clamber up. Soon, they would be able to make it inside. To just lay here would result in certain death! Cloudhawk rose to his feet, wanting to flee backwards¡­ but he didn¡¯t even make it ten meters before three rotwolves agilely leapt past the ramparts. Their oily green eyes swept across the men before them, almost like proud lions surveying little white hares that were trembling before them. They bared their saliva-covered fangs, then let out low growls from their throats. Only now did the rest of the terrified soldiers rise to their feet and begin to flee. But it was too late! The rotwolves leapt into the air, pouncing forwards and knocking down quite a few people. Their sharp claws were five centimeters long and were as tough as steel nails; each swipe of their claws was enough to tear a man open from chest to spleen. ¡°DIE!¡± A particularly valiant guard lifted up his iron warhammer, them smashed it downwards towards the rotwolf¡¯s head. This blow was heavy enough to leave a large crater in any boulder, and even the rotwolf hunched over from the force of this blow. However, what no one would¡¯ve expected was that its brain matter didn¡¯t splatter out. Clearly, this creature¡¯s skull bone was even tougher than stone! The vicious rotwolf retaliated with a swipe of its claws, and half of the guard¡¯s face disappeared. The guard didn¡¯t even have time to scream. The rotwolf leapt onto him, knocking him flat and then ripping out his vocal cords and his carotid artery at the same time. This strike tore out half of his throat! The outpost guard¡¯s body twitched a few times, then never moved again. The rotwolf was in no rush to feed. It raised its gore-covered snout, then turned its ghostly, oily-green gaze towards the others. It was already in search for its next target. Its flickering gaze was filled with wild savagery, and it completely broke the morale of the conscripted irregulars. These beasts were clearly quite different from the wolves of the Old Times. In speed, strength, savagery, and cleverness, they surpassed the beasts of the Old Times many times over. Just as everyone was about to retreat, a single person charged forwards. Captain Lain drew out his longsword as he raced forwards. He delivered a vicious kick to the rotwolf¡¯s side and knocked the heavy beast flying into the air, then chopped his longsword down against the midair wolf¡¯s neck. Not even inspecting the wound, Captain Lain then leapt onto the rotwolf¡¯s corpse, used it to launch himself even higher into the air, then stabbed downwards as his sword flashed with cold light. The stab just so happened to pierce all the way into a second rotwolf¡¯s eye socket! ¡°AWOOOO!¡± The final rotwolf howled furiously as it charged towards Captain Lain. Captain Lain relinquished his stuck longsword, as there wasn¡¯t enough time to tug it free. He suddenly fell to his knees and bent all the way backwards, just barely dodging the rotwolf¡¯s flying pounce. Riiiiip! A sharp knife suddenly flew out from Captain Lain¡¯s metallic wristguard. The knife easily cut into the rotwolf¡¯s soft underbelly. The momentum of the rotwolf¡¯s leap carried it forwards resulting in an enormous gaping wound being ripped open. A deluge of blood and foul-smelling organs fell out of the rotwolf¡¯s body, dousing Captain Lain in gore. Only now did the others calm down. As for Captain Lain, he rose to his feet, panting just a little bit. He stepped onto the second rotwolf¡¯s head, then forcibly tugged out his longsword. His entire body was covered with that reeking blood, and he looked like a soldier who had just escaped from the depths of hell. He bellowed hoarsely with his damaged vocal cords, ¡°All of you, fight! Anyone who takes a single step back dies!¡± The captain had just slain three rotwolves as easily as chopping through vegetables. His dazzling display of skill and valor managed to rally his men and strengthen their morale, which had truly been at the brink of collapse just now. However, more and more rotwolves began to fly over the walls and press the attack, and every so often the giant bats circling above their heads would swoop down to rip off an ear or tear out an eyeball, or perhaps just rip an entire face off. This battle was an extremely disadvantageous one for Blackflag Outpost. Even Captain Lain ended up receiving a claw-strike as he dispatched one rotwolf after another. If it hadn¡¯t been for his layers of armor, he would¡¯ve been disemboweled by that attack. Some of the outpost guards tried to use their bows to shoot down those infuriating giant bats, but they simply weren¡¯t able to see clearly enough in the night to make out their targets. The bats themselves were pitch-black in color and moved incredibly fast. Not even the finest sharpshooters were able to shoot down more than just a few of them. The outpost¡¯s casualties were growing heavier and heavier. These mutabeasts were even more powerful and vigorous than Cloudhawk had imagined them to be, while not every person was as strong or as skilled as Captain Lain. Ten or so people were sometimes able to use long pikes to stab bloody wounds into a rotwolf, but the berserk rotwolf would still be able to tear half of them to pieces before dying. ¡°You are not permitted to retreat!¡± ¡°All of you, keep fighting!¡± Captain Lain was on the verge of hysteria by now. As for the outpost guards, they supervised the battle with cold detachment, hacking or shooting to death any who dared retreat. Most of the outpost guards were focused on shooting their bows and firing their guns towards the more distant enemies while commanding the irregulars like shepherds with a flock of sheep. The irregulars were meant to stand up in front and fight the ferocious rotwolves in bloody melee, serving as human shields that used their own blood, flesh, and lives to demand an equal amount from their opponents! This was how war in the wastelands worked. War in the wastelands was like a merciless meat grinder that ground away at the bodies and lives of both sides! Suddenly, a booming sound rang out as a tremendous blow knocked down the nearby ¡®walls¡¯. An awesomely enormous rotwolf charged in through the gap, and it was roughly twice as large and four times as muscular as the other rotwolves. It had to weigh around four hundred kilograms , and was almost as tall as an ordinary human being. Its oily green eyes emanated a breathtakingly savage light, and its entire body was covered with long thick fur. It radiated an aura of dominance and power that made it look like a king, and six or seven smaller rotwolves dashed in by its side. Like wolves let into the sheep pen, they began to launch a massacre against the surrounding soldiers. ¡°Oh, FUCK. That¡¯s an alpha rotwolf!¡± Captain Lain called out loudly, ¡°Give me my gun!¡± Captain Lain accepted a double-barreled shotgun from another guard, loaded the pellets with lightning speed, then aimed it directly at the alpha wolf. BANG! The alpha rotwolf was even more alert and nimble than Lain had expected. It had leapt sideways as soon as Lain had aimed the shotgun, and the pellets scraped by its body and ended up hitting a rotwolf behind it. The alpha wolf was thoroughly enraged by this near-miss, and it let out a howl as it charged straight towards Captain Lain. Captain Lain, however, wasn¡¯t unnerved in the slightest; he quickly reloaded for a second shot, then fired again! This time, the alpha rotwolf twisted its head sideways, allowing the pellets to hit it on its back and create a bloody mist. Wounds of this nature were absolutely nothing to something as hearty and muscular as this alpha rotwolf. By now, it was less than ten meters away from Captain Lain, and all the humans it had encountered in its path had been bulldozed away like refuse. The alpha rotwolf was extremely intelligent. It knew who posed the greatest threat to it, and its goal right now was to eliminate that threat as soon as possible. Its incredibly muscular body suddenly flew into the air as it leapt forwards, its massive wolven claws landing on a fallen human and almost instantly caving the man¡¯s chest in. Blood instantly spurted out of the fallen man¡¯s every orifice as the alpha rotwolf then leapt high into the air as it went straight for Captain Lain, who was only six meters away by now. Even Captain Lain¡¯s face tightened as he assessed the situation before him. He immediately tossed away the shotgun, then pulled out the longsword he had planted into the ground. By now, the alpha rotwolf was right in front of him. If he let himself be knocked down, he would be finished! Captain Lain hurriedly retreated, then stabbed forward with all of his strength. The alpha rotwolf used its massive claws to slap at the blade of the sword, which instantly split apart. The snapped blade of the sword went flying off into the distance, eventually stabbing into the body of the poor bastard the alpha rotwolf had just stepped on earlier. As for Captain Lain¡¯s right hand, it could no longer really be considered a hand. His fingers were all badly mangled from the force of that collision! The alpha rotwolf was simply unimaginably strong; a single blow from its paw had actually warped all of the fingers on Lain¡¯s right hand! Captain Lain, however, was an old soldier who had experienced many battles. Even though he had suffered a heavy injury and was in intense pain, he didn¡¯t lose his fighting spirit. In the same instant that his sword was shattered, he used his left hand to pull out a dagger. As the alpha rotwolf leapt towards him, he delivered a vicious straight stab with that knife and managed to stab the alpha rotwolf right in its left eyeball! He then gave the knife a slight twist, resulting in a large amount of blood and eye-jelly pouring out of the wound. ¡°AWOOOOO!¡± The alpha rotwolf let out an agonized howl! This sight gave a tremendous boost to the morale of the other soldiers, and they all let out excited roars in response. However, no one foresaw what was about to happen next. The alpha rotwolf suddenly spat out a green, mist-like substance from its body! The rotwolf was simply too close. There was no chance for Captain Lain to dodge whatsoever. The thick green mist instantly covered Captain Lain¡¯s entire body, and he immediately let out an absolutely inhuman scream. His hands, his face, his exposed flesh¡­ all of it seemed to have been scalded by boiling water. Every inch of his skin instantly turned beet-red¡­ and then the flesh began to fall off of his body as though someone was tearing at his skin using a cheese grinder. His eyes were instantly blinded by that fiery mist, and when he accidentally inhaled that powerful corrosive substance into his body, it spread throughout his mouth, nostrils, and lungs. It was almost as though someone had poured boiling water into his throat! Bloody bubbles were popping out of his mouth. Even his tongue was rotting away! Just a few moments later, his entire respiratory system had been completely destroyed, as had his vocal cords. He was now no longer able to even scream. He was a valiant, steely warrior, but no miracle would suffice to address an attack like this. The alpha rotwolf opened its mouth wide, then gripped Captain Lain¡¯s head in its jaws. Captain Lain¡¯s four limbs were still frantically struggling when¡­ CRUNCH! The rotwolf bit through his head as if it was just a rotten tomato. His head transformed into a large glob of blood and gore. One of the elite warriors of the outpost, a famous expert of Blackflag, had died a miserable death in the hands of this alpha wolf. This time, it wasn¡¯t just the irregulars who were panicking. Even the outpost guards were broken! The alpha rotwolf still had that dagger plunged into its left eye, but it remained as savage and brutal as ever. It turned and then spat out that deadly green mist once more, this time with some brain matter and gore mixed into it. Quite a few people were within range of its attack, and agonized screams once more began to echo throughout the area. One rotwolf after another began to charge out past it, leaping towards the humans. By now, none of the people present had any will to fight at all. Their sole source of support, Captain Lain, had perished. This meant that the battle here was destined to become a completely lopsided one, an absolute hell for the humans. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 20 A Near Escape After Captain Lain was killed, his corpse was tossed by the alpha rotwolf to one side like garbage. Several of the other rotwolves charged forward to fight over the body, eventually tearing it into quite a few pieces. It was a truly unimaginable sight. Just a short while ago, he was a hale and hearty warrior. Now, he had become nothing more than bits of blood, bone, and gore that had been scattered across the ground. One could imagine how heavy a mental blow this was to Cloudhawk. More and more rotwolves were pouring in, and they were uniformly superb in every way; they were strong, they were fast, they were vicious, and they were clever. They were true killers! Soon, the entire defensive line had been breached in so many locations that it didn¡¯t even look like a military formation at all. ¡°Stop running. You won¡¯t be able to escape!¡± Cloudhawk could sense that everything was spiraling completely out of control. He called out frantically, ¡°Fight them to the bitter end, otherwise all of us are gonna die!¡± The humans still held an advantage in numbers. If they could band together, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily be defeated! Running was of no use; how could two legs possibly run faster than four? Cloudhawk had already noticed that the sly, vicious rotwolves delighted in chasing down lone stragglers and individuals who were fleeing; pouncing strikes from behind seemed to have a high chance of success. Alas, nobody paid Cloudhawk any heed; they all continued to flee in terror, becoming nothing more than prey for the rotwolves. By now, Cloudhawk could no longer see any hope at all. Gritting his teeth, he rose upwards and was about to charge towards one of the rotwolves. But right at this moment, a shrill screech rang out! A giant bat was dive-bombing towards Cloudhawk, and its eagle-like claws ripped straight towards Cloudhawk¡¯s face. If this strike landed, the claws would definitely tear through it as if it was parchment. Alert to the danger, Cloudhawk immediately halted and began to back peddle, but the giant bat relentlessly pursued after him. Its two claws landed on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulders, tearing through his skin and latching onto his flesh. The giant bat then began to flap its wings, hard; if it was able to once more fly into the skies, the terrifying power from its claws would at the very least rip two massive chunks of flesh from Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Cloudhawk let out a furious roar as he hacked the bat¡¯s left wing off with his sword, then slammed it to the ground. He held his shortsword in a reverse double-grip as he repeatedly stabbed downwards towards the bat¡¯s head. A large amount of foul blood came pouring out, and the bat quickly stopped moving after a few initial struggles. The one-eyed alpha rotwolf turned its attention towards Cloudhawk, its attention instantly focused onto the unremarkable, half-grown boy. It bared its sharp fangs, blood and saliva slowly dripping out of its maw. Within the past minute, it had used those fangs to crunch and destroy at least six or seven heads. Now, it had located the eighth! The alpha rotwolf flew into the air, moving with an explosive amount of speed that was completely at odds with its huge form. But just as the alpha rotwolf rose into the air to deliver its furious strike, Cloudhawk¡¯s alert senses warned him of the impending danger. This thing had destroyed even Captain Lain! How could Cloudhawk possibly defeat such a savage beast? The alpha rotwolf¡¯s mouth was already beginning to froth with its highly corrosive acid spit. However, it now had much less compared to the last two times it had used the spit. The alpha rotwolf was probably running low on its acid spit, or perhaps it felt like there was no need to use too much against such a weak target. It moved with incredible speed, kicking up a huge cloud of dirt behind it as it launched itself like an arrow at Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk tossed his shortsword straight towards the alpha rotwolf while he threw himself sideways, but of course the toss was completely useless. Cloudhawk could sense a fiery pain coming from his back as the massive bulk of the creature flew over him. Most likely, a few drops of saliva had dripped onto his back, but it felt as though he had been dipped in strong acid. And this had been just a few drops! No wonder Captain Lain had almost instantly been crippled by a full-on blast of the creature¡¯s spit! The alpha rotwolf turned with preternatural grace and speed, then once more leapt for Cloudhawk. The creature was too close! No matter how Cloudhawk dodged, there was no way he could possibly avoid this strike. Cloudhawk knew very well that he would die as soon as he was knocked down; there would be no recovering from that at all. His head would be torn off and crunched like a melon, his body would be ripped into shreds, and his intestines would be dragged out. He would be transformed into a pile of gore and bloody mush! I can¡¯t die here! Cloudhawk thought back to the nightmare he had his first night in the outpost. He hadn¡¯t become powerful yet, hadn¡¯t escaped the wastelands yet, hadn¡¯t realized his dreams yet. How could he possibly accept such a meaningless, pathetic death? All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. A surge of insane courage suddenly flooded into Cloudhawk, and he reacted almost by instinct. If he was going to die, no matter what, then he was going to die fighting. His legs came to a sudden halt, the momentum of his earlier movements continuing to propel him forwards and causing his feet to ¡®skid¡¯ through the muddy ground. While fighting to maintain his balance, Cloudhawk pulled out that silver revolver from by his side with his right hand. During the past month with the Tartarus mercenaries, Cloudhawk had often helped the mercenaries maintain their firearms. He had never, however, had the chance to use one himself. This was his very first time using a pistol¡­ and yet, it felt so very familiar. Cloudhawk felt as though his mind had reached out through his body and extended into the gun itself. He could clearly sense every tiny part and every molded line with perfect clarity, almost as though the revolver was part of his own body. It was like his eyes, his arms, or his legs; he was able to control it with absolute mastery. Cloudhawk could clearly sense that his body was transforming. Every single pore in his body was tightening and contracting, and every single muscle group was moving in concert to prepare for this upcoming shot. This was what it felt like to be a control metahuman. Control metahumans were able to perfectly control their bodies as well as any weapons they were wielding. These types of metahumans often preferred to use complicated technological weapons, such as various types of firearms. Thus far, the most powerful control metahuman which Cloudhawk had ever met was Slyfox. He was able to use those two modified pistols to hit bull¡¯s-eyes from a hundred meters away without even aiming. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t as formidable as Slyfox¡­ but given how close the target was and how large it was, he felt certain he should be able to hit it! He had only one bullet. Everything rested on this shot! Cloudhawk could clearly sense that when he raised his revolver and aimed it at the alpha rotwolf, the alpha rotwolf¡¯s body trembled slightly as it immediately began to adjust itself to avoid the shot. As expected, this incredibly dangerous mutabeast possessed a keen sense of danger. However, Cloudhawk felt as though he could predict what the alpha rotwolf¡¯s response would be, and he immediately made some minute adjustments with the tip of his revolver to compensate. The giant rotwolf could sense the invisible specter of death hanging over its head, causing it to feel fear for the first time. And yet, this feeling of fear further fueled the creature¡¯s savage aggression, and it let out an enraged howl as it leapt forwards. Either it would die, or its prey would die! This was a moment of life and death, but Cloudhawk actually became incredibly calm and focused. His fingers were steady as they gently closed around the trigger, and he could sense everything with perfect clarity, from the barrel of the gun to its handle, then to the fingers gripping the gun and the rest of his body. He pulled the trigger of the gun, causing the hammer to fall down at high speeds and slam into the gunpowder behind the bullet. The gunpowder was successfully set alight, and the bullet¡¯s shell casing instantly expanded explosively, pushing the bullet out of the barrel at tremendous speeds! CRACK! A single bullet flew out like flames from the barrel of the gun! The bullet tore a path through the air¡­ then hit the alpha rotwolf in its one remaining eye with incomprehensible accuracy. In slow-motion, the bullet shattered through its cornea, bored through its vitreous, severed its optic nerves, and then smashed straight into the creature¡¯s brain, reducing the brain-matter inside its skull to a pile of mush. Cloudhawk¡¯s skidding legs finally came to a halt, while the massive body of the alpha rotwolf came crashing to the ground in front of him. Its body was still twitching as what little consciousness it had left tried to will it to its feet, as though it wanted to leap up once more and tear Cloudhawk to shreds. Alas, there was no way it could ever rise again. This took time to describe, but in reality it happened in an instant! Cloudhawk stared in disbelief at the hill-sized corpse in front of him. He could hardly believe that he had actually slain this monster with his revolver. But before he even had a chance to savor the feeling of snatching life from the jaws of death, a feeling of incredible exhaustion overwhelmed him and caused him to slump downwards. It was as though he had poured all of his energy into that shot, and now he had nothing left. With the alpha rotwolf dead, the other rotwolves began to let out mournful howls, and their frenzied morale seemed to take a sudden hit. However, this was nothing more than a temporary lull. Given how brutal these mutabeasts were, they wouldn¡¯t retreat even if their alpha perished. Instead, all of those oily green gazes turned to focus on the murderer who had just slain their alpha. Those dozens of ferocious glares were like dozens of swords that stabbed into Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have the chance to catch his breath before the wolves began to move in unison. Dozens of the incredibly muscular rotwolves all began to charge towards a single target: Him! This was an incredible sight to behold. Cloudhawk was completely defenseless and had no weapons left, but even if he was both armed and as powerful as Mad Dog he still wouldn¡¯t be able to deal with dozens of rotwolves at the same time. Cloudhawk began to run. He wanted to pick up his shortsword and fight back, because he didn¡¯t want to give up¡­ but as soon as he started to run, a muscular rotwolf slammed into his back with the power of a sledgehammer, knocking him to the ground and sending him rolling through the mud. The rotwolf used its paws to keep him pressed down to the ground, then began to deliver a lethal bite to Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. Cloudhawk really had reached the end of the line! He frantically tried to struggle, but was completely unable to overcome this beast¡¯s raw physical strength. He could smell his own death from the rotwolf¡¯s open maw, and could already sense the rotwolf¡¯s sharp teeth tearing through his skin. But right at this desperate moment, Cloudhawk suddenly heard a familiar roar ring out right next to him. A black silhouette had shot out at lightning speed, then barreled straight into the rotwolf and sent it flying. The black silhouette and the rotwolf began to tear and bite at each other on the ground, and in the end the black silhouette managed to tear the rotwolf¡¯s throat out. It was simply too fast for the rotwolves! It then transformed into a streak of black lightning as it threw itself towards yet another one of the rotwolves which was about to pounce upon Cloudhawk. ¡°WOOLA?!¡± This creature had always spent its time chasing after Cloudhawk and biting him in the posterior for amusement. Woola gorged itself on human meat and had an absolutely violent temper¡­ and yet, for the first time Cloudhawk felt as though it was absolutely adorable. It had to have been Slyfox or Mad Dog who had sent Woola over! Woola¡¯s senses were incredibly acute, allowing it to locate the missing Cloudhawk through scent alone. It really did appear right on time; if it had been just a second too slow, the only thing it would¡¯ve found was Cloudhawk¡¯s corpse. Although Woola was nothing more than a watchdog which the mercenaries had raised, it was even stronger in battle than Captain Lain. Its six legs gave it explosive speed when running, letting it move even faster than mutated panthers. As for its shark-like teeth, they were like death razors that could tear through even iron sheets with ease. In a short while, it had killed four of the rotwolves! Woola instantly drew the attention of many of the rotwolves, who realized that this savage beast was a danger and immediately began to surround and assault it. Although Woola was very powerful, there was no way it could possibly defeat so many of those savage rotwolves. Cloudhawk picked up his fallen shortsword, then screamed at the surrounding men, ¡°What the fuck are you guys staring at? Get over here and help!¡± But none of the men moved to intervene. None of them wanted to interfere in a fight between animals. Woola was currently fighting at least five wolves at the same time, with many other wolves circling and prowling around him, biding their time. Woola¡¯s skin had already been bit open in four or five places, and blood was flowing across its body. The situation was extremely dire. Screw it. Time to go all out! Cloudhawk disliked Woola. In fact, the two had never gotten along well at all, and the creature had bullied him nonstop in the mercenary base. And yet, Cloudhawk¡¯s way of thinking was quite simple; Woola had only fallen into such dire straits because it had come to rescue him. If Cloudhawk abandoned Woola and fled, not only would the other mercenaries scorn him, even Cloudhawk would look down upon himself! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 21 One Wave After Another Cloudhawk lifted his shortsword up high, then charged straight into the fray! The people around him couldn¡¯t help but feel flabbergasted; was the kid mad? Not even outpost guards would necessarily be able to beat rotwolves in one-on-one combat. This kid was fourteen or fifteen years old, whereas there were ten rotwolves circling around Woola. For him to charge into the mix was tantamount to suicide! Although the kid had been lucky enough to shoot and kill the alpha rotwolf, he didn¡¯t seem to be an especially skilled combatant. Two of the rotwolves noticed the human youth charging towards them, and they immediately leapt towards the arrogant, presumptuous creature. This kid is dead! This was what everyone in the surrounding area was thinking. Cloudhawk suddenly accelerated, shooting forwards like an arrow from a bow as he stabbed forwards with a double-handed blow. His shortsword stabbed straight into a rotwolf¡¯s flank, and he then raised his leg and kicked the rotwolf away from him. As the second rotwolf leapt towards him, Cloudhawk delivered a punch right to the rotwolf¡¯s head. His scrawny frame unleashed an entirely disproportionate amount of force as his punch actually smashed the rotwolf into the ground. The rotwolf let out a few low yips as it immediately crawled to its feet, then slunk backwards. All of its hair was standing up straight, as though it had seen something that was utterly terrifying to it. Both of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were blood-red, and his veins were bulging out from his body. He seemed to have transformed into a completely difference person, and no one could believe that the amount of speed, strength, and viciousness he had just put on display belonged to a youth. It was happening again! That strange thing was happening again! The stone hanging around Cloudhawk¡¯s neck had once more turned scorchingly hot as the same thing which had happened all those nights ago began to occur once more. He seemed to have turned into a volcano, filled with fury, savagery, and violence. All sorts of destructive thoughts were flooding through his mind as the will within the strange stone was once more unleashed! Cloudhawk could sense that things were different this time. He was actually able to stay fairly calm, whereas on that night he had nearly gone completely insane! The wolf pack seemed to sense something, and all of them began to hesitate and retreat. Woola seized this opportunity to regroup by Cloudhawk¡¯s side. Although his body was covered in wounds, he continued to roar savagely as he glared at the rotwolves. A half-grown youth and a highly mutated human¡­ together, they had actually overawed and frightened a group of rotwolves! But this wasn¡¯t to last. The reason why the rotwolves were hesitating was because they could sense that Cloudhawk¡¯s aura had changed. However, based on what they could see this human still didn¡¯t pose much of a threat to them. As more rotwolves leapt over the ramparts and replenished their ranks, the group instantly regained their morale. ¡°There¡¯s just too many of them. We can¡¯t beat them!¡± Cloudhawk could sense that the surge of power which the stone had given him was receding like the waters of the tide and disappearing at high speed. He immediately said to Woola, ¡°Run!¡± Woola just growled in response; it was unclear if he even understood what Cloudhawk was saying. Cloudhawk knew that given his current speed, it would be very difficult for him to outrun the rotwolves. The rotwolves had hesitated for a few seconds, but now they once more charged straight towards him¡­ but right at this moment, the sound of an engine revving could be heard directly behind him. Multiple riders appeared within his field of vision, and in front of them was a wastelander-retrofitted motorcycle. As for the others, they were riding on giant lizards or bigfoot birds, and they all wielded heavy hacking machetes. They charged over at high speeds, slamming into the line of attacking rotwolves and knocking several of them flying. A lucky survivor cried out in surprise and delight, ¡°An elite squad!¡± This was a squad of the most elite and best-trained guards in the entire outpost, with every single member being a top-tier expert. The deceased Captain Lain had been a member of this elite squad, and the man known as ¡®Grizzly¡¯ was one of the squad captains. The leader of the mounted riders, however, was not Grizzly. Instead, it was a short-haired, energetic youth whose name was ¡®Wulf¡¯. He was the second captain of the elite squad, and definitely one of the most skilled experts in the outpost. ¡°What the hell happened here?!¡± Wulf scanned the surrounding area. The first thing which drew his attention was the corpse of the alpha rotwolf on the ground. Next, he stared at Cloudhawk with a rather strange look in his eyes, followed by a glance at Woola. Clearly, he recognized Woola. ¡°You belong to Tartarus? Did you kill this alpha wolf? And where the hell is that idiot Lain?!¡± Cloudhawk had yet to recover from his state of shock. He nodded almost instinctively and said, ¡°He¡¯s spread across the ground. I¡¯m not sure which chunk belongs to him!¡± These were completely innocent words, but to the elite squad it sounded rather mocking. The Tartarus mercenaries were all quite formidable, and they had often tussled and competed against the elite squad. Lain was Wulf¡¯s subordinate, but had been slain. This young mercenary, however, had survived. How could Wulf possibly smile upon hearing this news? He let out a snort, a cold look on his face! Right at this moment, a rotwolf began to slink towards them, hoping to launch a sneak attack. Wulf threw his knife out, sending it piercing through the rotwolf and pinning it to the ground. He then hopped off the wastelands motorcycle in a rather crude way, then swooped past the corpse of the rotwolf like an eagle, using his feet to help him tug out the knife. Then, a wind of flashing, electric blades began to blow through the rotwolf, cutting through every part of it as easily as cutting vegetables. What an impressive weapon and skill! Was this the power of one of the elite captains? The other elite squads joined the fray as well. One particularly strong man grabbed a rotwolf by its jaws, using his raw power to resist the rotwolf¡¯s biting power, then forcibly tore the rotwolf apart from the mouth with his bare hands. He then casually tossed the rotwolf¡¯s corpse to one side like garbage. The ordinary members of the elite squads were all as strong as Lain had been! The rotwolf pack had first lost its alpha, then had been driven back repeatedly by the elite squad¡¯s attacks. Only ten or so were remaining, and they turned and fled with their tails behind their legs. ¡°All clear!¡± Elite Captain Wulf was in no mood to piece together and collect Lain¡¯s corpse. ¡°Let¡¯s go reinforce the other areas!¡± The elite squad departed. Cloudhawk¡¯s life had been saved. He stared at the devastated battlefield, then let out a long breath. The price they had paid for victory here had been an enormous one. Suddenly, Cloudhawk noticed that Woola was sniffing around one of the corpses and pawing at it. ¡°Woola, what are you doing?!¡± Woola quickly found the object it was looking for. It returned, holding a blood and gore-splattered shotgun in its mouth which it delivered to Cloudhawk. The shotgun had been badly corroded, but it was probably still serviceable. Cloudhawk was delighted by this discovery and began to search the area as well, only to discover a number of shotgun shells in one of the pouches worn by an outpost guard. Perfect! He never would¡¯ve imagined that he would win such a great prize from this melee. A few dozen lucky survivors stood nearby, rather odd looks in their eyes. They stared unblinkingly at the shotgun in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands, unable to disguise their greed and envy. ¡°And what the hell do you think you are looking at?!¡± Cloudhawk slung the shotgun over his back, then pulled out his revolver and waved it a few times, a savage expression on his face. ¡°Y¡¯all better pretend you saw nothing! If you say a word, I¡¯ll waste your sorry asses with my bullets!¡± Woola very obligingly let out a growl of support as well. After having spent so much time with the mercenaries, Cloudhawk had unconsciously begun to pick up their manner of talking. In this era, talking reason was absolutely meaningless. The most effective method was to issue naked threats. By now, no one dared to underestimate the skinny little kid. The way he had shot and killed the alpha rotwolf with a single bullet had stunned everyone present. Without question, all of these people viewed this young kid, seemingly thirteen or fourteen years old, as an extremely powerful expert. They wouldn¡¯t be so foolish as to try and steal something from someone so powerful. That would be suicide! And of course, Woola was a legendarily ferocious creature that everyone in Blackflag Outpost knew about! Cloudhawk had been bullied by others all his life. Back in the ruins, the scar-faced man had bullied him; here in the outpost, both the mercenaries and the red-nosed innkeeper had bullied him. Now, when he saw the looks of fear in the eyes of those around him, he felt a strange feeling in his heart. Holy shit. Bullying others is really fun! Blackflag Outpost¡¯s walls had been breached in six or seven places, and roughly three or four hundred rotwolves had charged inside. The battle persisted for two more hours, and more than half of the rotwolves were injured or killed before they were finally beaten back. As for the giant bats, they left after eating their fill at this ¡®feast¡¯. The outpost had suffered extremely heavy losses due to this beast wave. It suffered more than 1500 casualties, the vast majority of whom were active, able-bodied fighters. More than a hundred of the outpost guards had been wiped out as well. Clearly, the overall power of Blackflag Outpost had suffered quite a bit. Nobody dared to relax or to stop being vigilant. Who knew if the crafty rotwolves might decide to launch a sudden second attack? As a result, that very night they cleared the battlefield and began to repair the breached ramparts. This battle truly had not been worth it. Rotwolf corpses were worth almost nothing, aside from the fur which could be used to make warm clothes. All their other parts were completely useless! Rotwolf meat was completely inedible; not only was it highly sour and reeked of decay, it was also poisonous. Blackflag Outpost had paid an enormous price to win this battle, but there were no spoils to be shared at all. Cloudhawk huffed and puffed as he ran over to the Tartarus mercenaries. Slyfox took a long, hard puff on his cigarette, blew out a cloud of smoke, then let loose a verbal barrage. ¡°Fuck, where the fuck were you hiding? I thought you were dead, son! Oho, and it looks like you picked up a little something as well.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s shotgun had attracted the attention of the mercenaries. Only a few of these weapons existed in the outpost. Without a doubt, the kid had picked it up somewhere on the battlefield. Judging from the wounds over his body, the kid had unquestionably been in a bloody battle of his own. The Tartarus company had lost two people as well. They were one of the most elite squads of Blackflag Outpost, and so the loss of ¡®just¡¯ two people would have a significant impact on the outpost on a whole. Mad Dog and Slyfox were both drenched in blood; clearly, the two had been in an extremely vicious battle as well. But now, the dust had finally settled. It was over. Cloudhawk stared towards the pearly-white clouds in the eastern skies. ¡°Has the beast wave ended?¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost dawn.¡± Slyfox seemed to be in a rather foul mood. He had lost several subordinates, after all. ¡°Rotwolves never fight in broad daylight. We¡¯ve endured this wave, at least.¡± Wonderful! The rosy light of the rising sun slowly began to appear, bringing peace and calm back to the world. Everyone had battled for an entire night, and they were all completely exhausted. But just as they were all preparing to retire for some rest, something completely unexpected happened. Yet another black mass appeared off in the distance as a large group of unknown creatures began to move towards the direction of Blackflag Outpost. ¡°Hey. HEY! Are you sure about what you said?¡± Cloudhawk called out hurriedly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the rotwolves wouldn¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°No way.¡± A completely befuddled look was on Slyfox¡¯s face. There was no way his past experiences could¡¯ve misled him. Rotwolves never launched large-scale attacks during the day! One of the mercenaries used a pair of binoculars to stare off into the distance. Moments later, he called out loudly, ¡°Those aren¡¯t rotwolves!¡± Not rotwolves? What were they then?! Slowly, the silhouettes of the creatures became clearer as they moved in from the desert wastelands. It really didn¡¯t look like a beast wave! Judging from their speed and the amount of sand they kicked up, they seemed like¡­ a motorcade? One that was advancing at high speeds. ¡°Oh my God.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a sweeper battalion!¡± Someone began to scream in shock, and the faces of Slyfox, Mad Dog, and the other mercenaries instantly tightened. ¡°FUCK! Were those motherfuckers waiting this entire time for the right moment?¡± Mad Dog immediately rose to his feet. ¡°Blackflag Outpost was weakened by last night¡¯s beast wave. Now these fuckers are attacking, right on cue. These fuckers really are smart, I have to give them that!¡± Cloudhawk had no idea what was about to happen. However, judging from the faces of the outpost guards and the mercenaries, the situation was even grimmer than when they faced a beast wave last night. In fact¡­ it seemed as though this would become a true life-and-death battle. What was going on? One wave of problems after another¡­ when would it end?! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 22 The Sweeper Battalion The morning sun slowly rose higher and higher, unleashing its scalding heat upon the world. The light of the sun spread across the desert wastelands, kissing the faces of the Blackflag Outpost warriors and bathing them in fiery, blood-like light. Even when the light of the sun grew so bright that the outpost guards could barely see, they still continued to squint and stare as the battalion moved closer and closer to them. They were the true predators of the deserts, the locusts of the wastelands, the most terrifying and notorious beings these barren lands had to offer! Sweepers delighted in roving about the wastes and attacking caravans and units, but usually they never dared to launch direct attacks against bases as large as Blackflag Outpost. Blackflag Outpost had a population of more than ten thousand, after all, and it had thousands of able-bodied men. Without a doubt, it was a tough bone to chew for any sweeper unit. But things were different right now. The disastrous beast wave had just come to an end, resulting in multiple breaches of the barricades and heavy casualties to the outpost defenders, all of whom were exhausted. This was as weak as Blackflag Outpost had ever been. If a sweeper battalion was determined to destroy Blackflag Outpost, this really was the most perfect opportunity. Even figures like Mad Dog and Slyfox had heavy looks on their faces. A sweeper battalion was every bit as dangerous as a beast wave, but there was a difference. Beast waves might be savage, but in the end they were nothing more than a pack of foolish animals. Sweeper battalions, however, were formed by human mutants. Mutants weren¡¯t necessarily stupid. Some of them were quite intelligent, and the smart ones would often be given leadership roles. They would help forge armor, craft weapons, tame beasts, drive vehicles, or even operate firearms. Sweeper battalions had their own military tactics. They understood the principles of reinforcement and they could analyze for weaknesses. Dealing with them was completely different from dealing with beast waves! ¡°Listen up, rookies. Don¡¯t do a single damn thing without orders.¡± Slyfox slowly began to load bullets into his pistols. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a large sweeper battalion operating in this area. There¡¯s somethin¡¯ seriously fishy going on here.¡± In this age, ultraviolet radiation was so heavy it could virtually cause blindness. Cloudhawk forced himself to keep his eyes open as he stared at the impending battalion. He couldn¡¯t tell how many people were in it, but he could tell that this was indeed a large force. Cloudhawk suddenly trembled. He could somehow hear a strange sound ringing out from far away. He wouldn¡¯t be able to describe this sound to anyone; it wasn¡¯t something he heard with his ears. Rather, he was ¡®hearing¡¯ it with some other type of extrasensory perception. It was as though an invisible guitar string was in the air in front of him, and when the wind blew it plucked the string, creating a thrumming sound. What in the world was that sound? Why did it seem so familiar? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but think of the similar, strange feeling he had experienced in that underground passageway. He had followed that strange sensation until in the end he had found the strange stone he now wore around his neck. Did these sweepers have equipment similar to his stone? That was impossible, right? Mad Dog saw Cloudhawk¡¯s face turn pale, and he squeezed a grin onto his hideously scarred face as he spun his snow-white machetes in the air. ¡°If you are afraid, kid, you can hide behind me. Rookies like you aren¡¯t equipped to deal with foes like them.¡± ¡°Fuck that! When have I ever been afraid!¡± Cloudhawk had fought by Mad Dog¡¯s side in that inn, and so he was able to say this without any reservations. However, a solemn look then appeared on his face. ¡°But I have the feeling that we shouldn¡¯t be in a hurry. Let¡¯s not be the first to act.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t try to explain the strange feeling he had. If he did, the mercenaries would probably just think that he was going mad. However, Cloudhawk really could feel some sort of energy blowing towards them like dandelions on the wind. The strange energy had already surrounded the area around their base, and he had a very bad feeling that something was about to happen to them. This type of feeling, a sensation of mortal danger, was almost never wrong! Slyfox also had the feeling that being in the vanguard was a bad decision. He immediately ordered the mercenaries to withdraw slightly. The outpost guards and the elite squads could form the front lines; there was no need for the Tartarus mercenaries to fight with them over that ¡®honor¡¯. The dozens of Tartarus mercenaries fell back by a few dozen meters. Right at this moment, a powerful tempest suddenly arose, sweeping up all the pebbles and sands on the streets. It was like a small sandstorm had suddenly attacked the outpost, causing all of outpost guards who had been readying themselves for combat to be caught offguard. ¡°Goddamnit!¡± ¡°Why is there wind?!¡± ¡°Not good. I¡¯ve got no vision!¡± Although the weather in the wastelands was always bad, the timing of this minor sandstorm was a bit too suspicious. Everyone¡¯s field of vision was completely blocked off, making it impossible for them to see what maneuvers their enemies were carrying out. As for the sweeper battalion, it picked up the pace. The ground began to tremble, while the stones on the streets began to rattle like drops of oil and water in the frying pan. Everyone could sense that the danger was drawing closer and closer. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Careful, careful!¡± The multiple ferocious and heavily modified trucks slammed into the city barricades like giant battering rams! Thud. Thud. THUD! The enormous heavy trucks rammed into the barricades, causing earth-shaking explosion sounds. The stacked sand bags and heavy boulders were sent tumbling downwards by the force of the great collisions. Quite a few of the trucks rammed straight through the barricades, bowling over and crushing quite a few of the sand-blinded guardsmen who were caught offguard. Every single vehicle was bristling with sharp spikes. When they drove past the guards, they were like meat grinders that kicked up a storm of bloody rain. The outpost guards began to howl miserably as they fell to the ground, with some being impaled onto the spikes of the vehicles. ¡°Damn them.¡± Captain Grizzly of the elite squad roared furiously, ¡°Retreat!¡± But alas, the sandstorm made it so that his voice simply could not carry. Right at this moment, a number of these crude vehicles slammed into each other, causing the deaths of at least twenty warriors. The vehicles then reverse a few meters before slamming into the walls anew, causing the nearly complete destruction of the outside perimeter of the outpost. The wind turned inwards, bringing with it the sound of hoofsteps which rang out like raindrops in a storm. Ten or so scale-covered, twin-horned mutabeasts which were shaped almost like bulls were being driven into the outpost. Every single one of these mutabeasts was covered with ugly plates of iron armor. The iron plates not only provided them with protection, they even had razors and spikes fixed onto them. The eyes of the mutated bulls were covered by swathes of black cloth, preventing them from seeing where they were going, while their tails had been set alight. The blazing fire behind them caused them to completely lose control, and they charged straight into the masses of guards within the outpost. The outpost guards were sent flying, one after the other, with some being gored to death and others being trampled to death. These wild beasts were simply overwhelmingly strong, and they also had those iron plates for protection. There was no way that any of the ordinary base guards could stop them at all. Within just a few short minutes, the bodies of the mutant bulls were stained with blood and gore, with the outpost defenses in a state of complete chaos. ¡°Kill those things!¡± Ten or so outpost guards howled angrily as they charged forwards in unison towards one of the wild bulls. The wild bull first knocked two of them flying, gored a third, then lifted its hooves up and trampled down a fourth while the sharp spikes on its body tore into the chest of a fifth. As for the attacks of the guards, they didn¡¯t seem to have much of an impact at all. In the end, Captain Grizzly had to personally intervene. He severed the bull¡¯s neck with one chop from his saber, and only then was the maddened beast¡¯s rampage brought to an end. That wild rush from the ten or so mutant bulls wasn¡¯t enough to actually defeat the outpost, but they did have a major impact on the outpost¡¯s defenses. By now, the sandstorm had already come to a halt. The sweepers had been given more than enough time to penetrate the outpost, and so all the soldiers were forced to fall back to their second line of defense. When Slyfox saw the haggard state of the defenders, the fat on his face jiggled a bit as he laughed. ¡°Fuck me, good thing we withdrew. Otherwise, those fuckers would¡¯ve gored us in our asses as well.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to revel in their misfortunes!¡± Cloudhawk was truly rendered speechless by this damn fatso. ¡°We¡¯re in really bad shape right now!¡± There were even more sweepers than they had originally predicted, with more than ten of those retrofitted heavy trucks. They even had two giant supply trucks behind the attack trucks, as well as several dozen wastelands motorocycles, several dozen giant riding lizards, and many bigfoot birds. How many sweepers were there? There had to be at least three or four hundred¡­ and this was a conservative estimate! Cloudhawk knew that combat power had nothing to do with raw numbers. These sweepers were all brutal, ferocious mutants who had joined together to wreak havoc upon the world en masse. Compared to ordinary sweepers, they had better weapons, were more powerful, and were far more fearsome opponents! It was incredibly rare for a battalion of more than three or four hundred sweepers to appear within a few hundred kilometers of this reach. A battalion like this was completely capable of laying siege to an outpost with a population of around ten thousand¡­ and they had appeared at just the right moment, when the strength and morale of the outpost had yet to recover. Now, they had been able to breach the outer perimeter of Blackflag Outpost without even needing to fight. The two sides were roughly three hundred meters away from each other. One strange, bizarre-looking mutant after another came into view. More than eighty percent of these sweepers were highly mutated mutants, with twenty percent being moderately mutated mutants. There were around ten or so mutants who were particularly striking. They had ugly faces and were of differing sizes, but all of them were at least three meters tall and about four times as bulky as an ordinary human being. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t believe that mutants like this could exist if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he was seeing them with his own eyes! These creatures didn¡¯t look like humans at all; they were nothing more than vertically-walking behemoths! But if you thought that the only advantage these behemoths held was their great size, you would be completely wrong. Their chests, arms, and thighs were completely covered in steel plates, and their weapons were giant warhammers that weighed more than two hundred kilograms. These weren¡¯t human beings at all; they were walking, steel-clad mobile fortresses! In the wastelands these giant mutants were generally referred to as ¡®maneaters¡¯. Maneaters possessed incomprehensible amounts of strength, and when they used those enormous warhammers they could cave in even armored vehicles with their blows. A single ordinary maneater would be able to effortlessly dominate a squad of over ten outpost guards¡­ but the ten-plus maneaters here were all armed to the teeth! They would definitely pose an enormous threat to Blackflag Outpost! Clank! Clank! Right at this moment, yet another large group of highly mutated sweepers appeared, and they lined up neatly behind the maneaters. These sweepers weren¡¯t as terrifyingly large as the maneaters, but they were still twice as bulky and muscular as ordinary men and roughly two meters tall. They were fully outfitted with self-manufactured sets of metal armor and helmets, and they held steel shields with their left arms and heavy war-axes with their right. These creatures were known as sweeper ¡®thugs¡¯ and they served as the medium infantry for sweeper battalions! Only one in every ten sweepers was chosen to become a thug, and thus they were all particularly fierce figures. They were dressed in heavy metal helmets and thick metal cuirasses, making them look almost like giant metal cans. As for their heavy war-axes, those things were able to lop off limbs as easily as one might pluck a flower. The rest of the sweepers weren¡¯t outfitted in such an orderly fashion, but they were still quite well-equipped for a wastelands army. Some had sabers, some had warhammers, some rode giant lizards, and some drove vehicles. Thirty or so comparatively short mutants were particularly eye-catching. These mutants had only been moderately mutated, and it was possible to tell that they were once human. Most of them were equipped with longbows, firearms, and other long-distance weapons. Cloudhawk felt as though he had seen a ghost. How the hell was it possible for sweepers to be equipped with firearms?! They had heavy shock troopers, medium infantry, riders, archers, formations, combat tactics, and complete sets of weapons and gear. In the wastelands, this was essentially a proper army! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 23 Crushed Four hundred fully equipped sweepers was a force capable of roaming through the wastelands with impunity, easily capable of crushing any foolish opponent who dared to stand before them. Blackflag Outpost¡¯s situation was far more dire than it had been just a night ago when it had faced a beast wave. In comparison, the outpost warriors were individually inferior to the mutant sweepers in every single aspect, and they were exhausted besides. Many of the outpost warriors were wounded as well. How were they supposed to win this fight? But what Cloudhawk feared wasn¡¯t the sweepers. In the entire outpost, he was the only person who knew for a fact that the earlier sandstorm did not arise by coincidence. It was created by someone or something using a unique weapon. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t imagine, wouldn¡¯t dare imagine, what type of object would possess such incredible, supernatural power. Humans always felt fear in the face of the inexplicable and the unknown, and Cloudhawk was no exception. He felt certain that the sweepers definitely had an unfathomably powerful backer standing behind them. The two sides faced off against each other from a distance of one or two hundred meters. The sweepers didn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry to attack. A figure completely wrapped in a ragged, tattered cloak suddenly emerged from one of the sweeper vehicles. A large hood covered his entire head, making it impossible to see what it looked like. However, when compared to the bloodthirsty, violent, and restless mutants this man seemed almost strangely still, so still that his chest didn¡¯t seem to rise and fall as he breathed. If he just stood there without walking, everyone would¡¯ve taken him to be a cloak-clad statue! Cloudhawk noticed something quite interesting. Even the savage and terrifyingly strong maneaters nudged backwards as this mysterious man walked past them, voluntarily clearing the way for him. It was as though they were afraid they would get in his way. These giant creatures had long ago lost virtually all of their reason and intellect. Despite that, they could still tell the strong from the weak and tell who was a worthy, powerful leader. Above all else, they knew exactly what sort of a price they would pay if they tried to rebel against their leader. Their minds had already been imprinted with memories of what punishments awaited rebels¡­ and the imprinting had been done in the most simple, direct, and brutal way possible. This was why they almost instinctively shied away from the man! The battle had come to a sudden halt, as though everything had fallen into a quagmire. Things were incredibly tense, and everyone was on tenterhooks. The outpost warriors were very careful not to even breathe too loudly, for fear that the slightest of stimuli would disrupt this fragile, delicate balance. The cloaked figure slowly advanced towards the front, step by step. As he did, Cloudhawk stared unblinkingly at this man, trying to figure out what made him so different. And yet, no matter how hard he tried Cloudhawk was still unable to discern any of those strange ripples emanating from the man. It wasn¡¯t him! This was an army of sweepers that was outfitted with metal armor, heavy machinery, machetes and war-axes, bows and firearms, and even vehicles. They literally were armed to the teeth. There was no way an army like this would¡¯ve just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Why was it that they had never heard of such an organization in the past? The two captains of the elite outpost guards were all extremely puzzled. Why hadn¡¯t the sweepers pressed the attack after they had breached the outer perimeter? They were just standing there, giving the beleaguered defenders time to catch their breaths. Why did they do this? Did they feel overwhelmingly confident in their superiority? Were they waiting for something? Or were they worried about something? The bows were all nocked. The guns were all loaded. It didn¡¯t matter what the sweepers were planning; the outpost warriors had once more reformed a strong defensive perimeter. However, they all knew that the outpost held no advantages at all in this battle. If they truly did begin to fight, the majority of the humans would be wiped out at the very least, even if they won. In a worst-case scenario, the entire outpost would be baptized in blood! Morale was so heavy that everyone found it hard to even breathe. As for the cloaked, statue-like figure, he moved slightly, raising his head and revealing the paper-white face beneath the hood. His skin looked as lifeless as an alabaster statue¡¯s, but his eyes were as black as the endless depths of the night. When he ¡®blinked¡¯, his eyelids didn¡¯t actually move; rather, some sort of dark-red nictitating membrane rapidly closed over his eyeballs. It was extremely bizarre to behold. The mysterious man extended his hand and pointed at the outpost. ¡°This outpost belongs to us now.¡± His words were very calm and casual, as though he had come to a fairly simple decision. It was like he was proclaiming that he was going to eat a piece of bread, or perhaps pluck a flower from the roadside. His voice was shrill and dark, carrying a strange, mutated, sinister cadence to it. The outpost defenders all had rather ugly looks on their faces when they heard his proclamation. The mysterious man continued: ¡°Surrender!¡± A strange look appeared on Cloudhawk¡¯s face as well. Weren¡¯t sweepers supposed to be nothing more than thuggish butchers who swept across the wastelands like locusts? Why did this sweeper desire to take over this outpost? This was too weird! But of course, there was no way anyone would accede to this request. Those enormous maneaters would be able to eat an entire human being with each meal. They wouldn¡¯t even spare the bones. Not even the greatest of fools would volunteer to become food for sweepers! Faced with this obvious provocation, a skinny youth rose to his feet and stepped forwards. It was the second captain of the elite squad, the man known as Wulf. His eyes were spitting fire as he said, ¡°You want it? Come and take it, if you have any balls!¡± The other outpost guards supported him with a chorus of jeers and curses. They weren¡¯t actually angered by the fellow¡¯s arrogant demeanor. Rather, this was the only method they had to bolster the cratering morale of their fellow warriors. ¡°Then I guess there¡¯s nothing else for it.¡± The cloaked figure gently raised his hand, his every movement seeming extremely casual. It was like he was waving and saying good morning to a neighbor¡­ but before making the final decision, he swept a glance at the surrounding area, almost as though he was waiting for something. The mysterious man scanned the area, then hesitated for a few seconds as though something he was waiting for had yet to show itself. A look of disappointment flickered through his eyes, and his voice echoed clearly in the ears of every man present like ice, filled with a cold promise of death. ¡°Fine then. We¡¯ll just wipe you all out!¡± Such a casual statement. Such a direct statement. It didn¡¯t even sound like he viewed this as a particularly onerous task; he said these words as though he was telling someone to drink a cup of water. It was a simple order, but one which was completely uncontestable. Perhaps to this mysterious sweeper, these outpost warriors were nothing more than bugs which he could crush with a wave of his hands! ¡°RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!¡± The sweepers had been waiting impatiently for just this command! The ten-plus maneaters began to advance at a jog, while the hundred-plus thugs immediately followed right behind them. The crude, ugly, yet extremely thick armor they wore emitted clanking, grating sounds. They were like one of those ancient, rusting trains from the Old Times. With each step they took, they caused the ground in front of them to tremble. They were both tenacious and strong, and any men who stood in front of them were destined to be smashed to bits of blood and gore. The warriors of Blackflag Outpost had shocked and horrified looks on their faces. The battle had started, just like that? They had thought the face-off would last a bit longer, giving them enough time to replenish their arrows and their ammunition. Who would¡¯ve thought that the damnable sweeper battalion would launch an immediate attack without even brooking the slightest delay? Grizzly roared loudly, ¡°Archers and gunners, fire!¡± The warriors of the outpost began to fire their guns and shoot with their bows, but their formation was so chaotic that there was no way for them to concentrate their firepower. The ten-plus enormous maneaters lifted up their arms, using their bracers to protect their eyes. The thick steel cuirasses covering their body was more than enough to protect their vitals, making it impossible for these ordinary arrows and bullets to deal any lethal wounds to them. ¡°Careful! They are coming!¡± The enormous freaks barreled straight into the defenders with absolutely astonishing momentum. Each of the maneaters wielded enormous greathammers that weighed several hundred kilograms, but whirled them with such ease it was as though they were playing with wooden sticks. They raised those ponderous warhammers up high, then sent them smashing downwards towards the humans with enough power to pulverize a herd of bulls. CRUNCH! Two men were struck head-on, and their bodies disintegrated as if they were made out of glass, sending blood and gore everywhere! When a few of the strikes missed and slammed into the ground, they seemed to cause the earth itself to quaver. Some of the more distant men felt their legs wobble along with the earth, while entire groups of nearby defenders were actually knocked to the ground by the overwhelmingly powerful shockwaves generated by the strikes. The still-standing outpost warriors tried to stab the maneaters with their spears, but even when they were able to strike through the chinks in the armor they were unable to pierce through that tough maneater skin. With every swipe from a maneater warhammer, multiple humans were blasted off into the distance like tennis balls. One, two, three, four¡­ the enormous monstrosities continued their berserk advance, their thick steel armor rendering them impervious to almost all attacks. Their whirling warhammers smashed every single human they came in contact with into a pile of pulped meat. Next to every single massive maneater was an entire group of axe-wielding thugs, who ringed the maneaters with walls of iron shields. Although these thugs didn¡¯t have the astonishing size and power of the maneaters, they were still some of the most elite warriors the sweepers had to offer. All of them were nearly two meters tall and were twice as muscular as ordinary humans. With their left hands they held iron shields that seemed capable of stopping any attacks, and with their right hands they wielded war-axes that chopped through human bodies like vegetables. Behind the thugs were the groups of bow and gun-wielding moderately mutated sweepers. These mutants didn¡¯t have the close combat power of the first two, but they were much more intelligent and so were responsible for using firearms to kill from a distance as well as screening their allies. They were responsible for killing particularly dangerous targets with their firearms. Sweeper bows were custom-designed and specially made. Every single shot carried enormous amounts of power, and they were terrifyingly accurate. They were able to completely pierce through a man¡¯s skull, virtually guaranteeing that almost no one hit by them would survive. As for the lizard riders, the bikers, and the other riders, they wielded sickles and other long weapons and were responsible for keeping the flanks secure. This was an extremely powerful and extremely well-organized formation. A sweeper battalion like this was unquestionably powerful, and would guarantee that they would overwhelmingly dominate almost any opponent. These outpost warriors stood no chance at all! The outpost warriors let out screams as they died, and their screams intermingled with the sounds of their bones being shattered and their bodies being crushed, as well as the twanging of bowstrings and the cracks of firearms. These sounds all mixed together, coming together to form a strange, horrifying melody which none of the people present would ever be able to forget. This was a sea of terror that could drown the hearts of even the stoutest warriors, causing their courage to crumble and disappear. By now, Cloudhawk had seen death and misery up close on many occasions. He could tell that the difference in power between the two sides was simply enormous; even if all of the outpost warriors fought to the bitter end, it still wouldn¡¯t be enough. For them, resistance was completely futile and meaningless. The sweepers continued to attack without mercy, crushing all hope and bringing despair in their wake. These two forces were on completely different levels of skill and power, and this battle was ten times more calamitous than the previous one against the beast wave had been! As for the cloaked, mysterious man, he just watched silently as the slaughter proceeded in front of him. It was like he was watching a piece of performance art after a fine meal, and he didn¡¯t seem inclined to take part in this battle at all. Cloudhawk had the strange feeling that this fellow was more dangerous than ten maneaters combined. Even experts like Mad Dog and Slyfox were far from being a match for someone like him. The only reason this mysterious man wasn¡¯t taking part in the battle was simply because there was no need. How was this battle going to end? What should Blackflag Outpost¡¯s response be? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know the answers to this question, but he was once more reminded that this was the sad lot of the weak. Faced with this nightmare, there wasn¡¯t a single thing he could do. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 24 Entering the Fray Charge! Smash! Charge again! Smash again! The maneaters swept their giant warhammers through the ranks of the defenders, causing absolute carnage. Each swing launched a wave of blood and gore, sending unrecognizably mangled bits of bone and flesh across the battlefield. The sweeper thugs held their iron shields high, maintaining that steel shieldwall as their great war-axes hacked down one warrior after another like scythes through wheat. As for the sweeper cavalry on the two sides, they moved to circle behind the outpost defenders and attack from the two wings, pressuring them on their sides. The sweeper archers and gunners sent out continuous, long-distance volleys to maintain control over the battlefield. The number of sweepers was fairly low, but they were completely crushing the outpost warriors on the battlefield. Compared to these powerful mutants, the human guards had no advantages at all in this fight. Cloudhawk lifted up his weapon, preparing to charge out to the aid of the beleaguered soldiers around him. As the saying goes, no eggs survive when the nest is destroyed. The outpost warriors were suffering horrendous casualties. Even if they managed to survive in the end, what good would a ruined outpost be to them? ¡°Don¡¯t be so impatient, kid.¡± Slyfox slapped a meaty hand on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulders, holding him back. The stone-faced Mad Dog spoke out in agreement: ¡°Luck isn¡¯t the only reason why Blackflag Outpost has been around for so long. The outpost has plenty of expert fighters, and the dozens of elite guards haven¡¯t made their move yet either. Why the hell are you rushing to your death?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t really understand what these two mercenary captains were thinking. The sweepers were smashing through their allies like rotting wood, and the outpost had suffered hundreds of casualties in just a few short minutes. Were they seriously supposed to hold back at a time like this? One of the sweeper thugs lopped off the head of a guard with his war-axe. Just as he turned to seek out a new target, an incredibly muscular figure came charging straight towards him at incredible speeds. The muscular figure didn¡¯t move to disguise his intent and wasted no time at all. He charged over, cocked his arm, clenched his fist, then delivered a punch! The sweeper thug was a veteran of over a hundred battles, and he immediately lifted up his metal shield to block. The shield was made out of pure metal; not even an ordinary bullet would necessarily be able to pierce through it. There was no way it would be pierced through by a punch, right? CLANG! It was like a giant warhammer had slammed into his shield, with a large indent appearing at the point of impact! The sweeper thug was sent stumbling backwards as though he had been struck by a thunderbolt. One step, two steps, three steps¡­ he staggered backwards by three steps before regaining his footing. The sweeper thug let out a furious roar, his iron boots digging into the ground as he used them to ¡®nail¡¯ himself into the ground. He then struck out with the great war-axe in his right hand, sending it sweeping forwards in a heavy counter-attack. The muscular man in front of the sweeper thug delivered another punch! Sparks danced across the blade of the war-axe as it began to crack apart, then flew out of the sweeper thug¡¯s hand! Even the thug¡¯s fingers had been broken from this collision. Finally, the sweeper revealed a look of utter terror. A third punch came straight for him! It was as fast as a ghost and had the power of a thunderbolt! The sweeper thug was actually knocked into the air, his metal chest-plate caved in and his ribs completely snapped. Even his heart had been heavily damaged by the power of this blow. This was no mere ¡®punch¡¯, it was like being slammed into by a freight train! ¡°Oho!¡± The mysterious man turned to glance at the newcomer with some degree of interest. This tall, muscular man was none other than one of the captains of Blackflag Outpost¡¯s elite guards¡­ Grizzly! Grizzly wore a pair of heavy steel boxing gloves over his hands. In terms of raw power, he was probably every bit the equal of Mad Dog. After finishing off the sweeper thug with three quick blows, he turned and chose a tall, hulking maneater as his next target. The maneater could sense Grizzly¡¯s animosity and the danger he posed. The maneater pulled his great warhammer from a heap of mangled flesh, then swept it towards Grizzly with such power that it generated a stinging wind, sending chunks of blood and gore splattering over Grizzly¡¯s body. This was a furious attack with an insane amount of power behind it, but Grizzly did not retreat. He stepped forward, welcoming the rain of blood. As he sidestepped the heavy blow, he delivered a sudden punch to the maneater¡¯s kneecap, shattering it into tiny bits. Next, he used one leg to step onto the warhammer, pressing it even further into the ground and preventing the maneater from lifting it back up, then used his other leg to deliver a powerful kick to the maneater¡¯s thick, muscled arm. CRACK! The maneater¡¯s right arm was instantly broken by the power of this kick. Grizzly flexed his legs, leaping high into the air as he delivered a punch to the maneater¡¯s jaw. Not even the maneater¡¯s helmet was able to stop Grizzly¡¯s furious, ferocious power. Even the maneater¡¯s lower teeth were shattered as its enormous form fell backwards, stunned. The maneater let out an enraged, agonized howl as it sought to rise once more, but a foot came crashing down upon its chest and sent it right back down again. Arm cocked. Fist clenched. Punch! Grizzly¡¯s right hand completely smashed the maneater¡¯s ugly face apart. This hammer-like blow was so heavy that the maneater¡¯s face was reduced to a pile of completely unrecognizable mush. Finally, one of the terrifying monstrosities had been destroyed. As expected, the elite captains possessed incredible power! His display of explosive strength and supernatural agility instantly boosted the flagging morale of the outpost defenders. Grizzly was panting slightly. This sort of blitzkrieg offense was overwhelmingly powerful yet hard to sustain, and even an expert like him found it quite taxing. A soft chuckle rang out from beneath the mysterious figure¡¯s hood, as though he didn¡¯t care at all about the death of his subordinates. He gently waved his hands in a commanding gesture, causing a number of archers to point their bows towards Grizzly. A wave of steel-tipped arrows shot out with incredible force, but right at this moment a black blur suddenly flashed past, using his blade to strike down all of the arrows with incomprehensible speed. This was the other captain of the elite squad, Wulf! The two elite captains stood back-to-back. Grizzly lifted his blood-stained boxing gloves up high, while Wulf lifted up his snow-bright saber. ¡°Careful.¡± ¡°You too!¡± There was no need for men like them to waste words. The two had battled side by side for countless years and had long ago reached a tacit understanding. Neither felt any hesitation at all in letting each other provide cover from behind. As dozens of sweeper thugs and a number of maneaters surrounded them, the other elite guards quickly came to reinforce them as well, causing both sides to be bogged into a miserable fight. Grizzly was battling furiously for his life. He let out a furious roar, ¡°Tartarus, are you guys gonna just sit and watch? Are you seriously gonna wait until all of us are dead?¡± The sinister-faced fat man¡¯s beady little eyes rolled with crafty amusement. To be honest, he was indeed considering just this. If the elite squad was wiped out, Tartarus¡¯ status in the outpost would instantly skyrocket. This was a good thing, not a bad thing! Both the sweepers and the elite guards were formidable foes. This battle wouldn¡¯t come to an end that quickly! ¡°Hey. Hey! HEY! Why the hell aren¡¯t you helping? This is crazy!¡± Cloudhawk was filled with utter contempt towards the fat man. ¡°The outpost is at the verge of being wiped out, and the only thing in your mind is how to profit from it?¡± Slyfox gave Cloudhawk a hard look. ¡°Stop fuckin¡¯ jabberin¡¯ and just stand clear!¡± ¡°If you guys won¡¯t go, I will!¡± A resolute look was on Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°We¡¯ll all die anyways. I¡¯d rather die fighting!¡± ¡°You talk too much, you punk-ass kid!¡± But when Slyfox remembered how Tartarus did seem to owe Grizzly a favor, he turned to cast a glance at the still-unmoving leader of the sweeper battalion. He felt a tinge of regret in his heart. The real reason why he hadn¡¯t been willing to get involved was primarily because he still didn¡¯t know enough about this foe. Although Slyfox didn¡¯t have Cloudhawk¡¯s animal-like instincts, he did have analytical skills. In truth, judging from the actual numbers of sweepers involved, this wasn¡¯t necessarily a battle which Blackflag Outpost could not win. The greatest unknown variable was that cloaked figure in the back. Slyfox wanted to wait for the cloaked figure to act first so that he would be able to analyze the man¡¯s abilities, but the dirty, mysterious man still didn¡¯t seem the slightest bit inclined to join the fight. It was true that Slyfox couldn¡¯t just keep standing by on the sidelines, and so he gestured with his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s join the fight!¡± Were they finally going to enter the fray? Cloudhawk immediately hoisted his shotgun, preparing to join the fight. ¡°Stay back for now, rookies.¡± Mad Dog¡¯s entire body was rippling with built-up energy, and the ugly scars on his face were beginning to twist and turn. The veins on his muscles began to writhe like worms as he flexed his muscles, and he looked as tense as a fully drawn bowstring. ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± His feet left a small crater in the earth as he shot out like a cannon ball. A howling wind blew past the other mercenaries as Mad Dog all but disappeared from in front of them. Mad Dog was incredibly fast! He wasn¡¯t an agility metahuman, but when he unleashed all of his formidable physical might and focused it on speed, he was every bit as fast as any agility metahuman. Two of the sweeper thugs sought to impede the rapidly-approaching Mad Dog, but he didn¡¯t even slow down. In fact, he bellowed as he actually accelerated towards them! His furious posture and his snarling face were such that anyone who saw him would feel certain that even if a mountain was standing in his path, he would still be able to ram it aside. The sweeper thugs had never encountered such a crazy human, but they were only startled for a brief instant before they lifted their war-axes high, then sent them chopping down towards Mad Dog. CRACK! CRACK! Slyfox didn¡¯t even aim his pistols at all; he seemed to have simply swung his arms forward carelessly. Two plumes of smoke burst out of the barrel of his pistols, and those two sweeper thugs immediately fell backwards. While running past those two sweepers, Mad Dog grabbed the war-axes from their now-unsteady hands as he leapt into the air. His feet landed on their heads, crushing their necks as he used them to propel himself over six meters into the air. Those two great war-axes flashed with a dazzling cold light in his hands as he soared straight towards a maneater and chopped down at him. This was an extremely risky aerial vault, because not even the most powerful of men could dodge well in midair. The sweepers here were all veterans of many battles; there was naturally no way they would ignore such a perfect opportunity! Two of the sweepers hurriedly drew their bows, preparing to shoot the midair Mad Dog with their steel-tipped bows. But right at this moment, two more pistol cracks could be heard! Two bullets passed through the grouped sweepers and humans with inhuman accuracy, then instantly exploded into the heads of those two archers. They didn¡¯t even have a chance to react or fully draw their bows before they fell to the ground, dead. From start to finish, Mad Dog had ignored everyone and everything save his target. He roared more furiously than any wild animal, and his roar was far more terrifying. CLANK! His two thick war-axes descended as he himself did, slamming straight into the maneater¡¯s head. The war-axes, the maneater helmet, the maneater¡¯s head¡­ all three instantly exploded into tiny pieces! The incredibly massive form of the maneater was actually knocked into the air by the force of this flow. It ¡®somersaulted¡¯ through the air, spraying blood and brain matter everywhere before it finally slammed into the ground with the force of a mountain. Mad Dog had a rictus of a crazed grin on his face. The dual-strike he had used to slay the maneater had been so heavy that the skin between his thumb and his forefinger had split apart, but he felt no sense of pain at all. He pulled his snow-white machetes from their sheaths by his waist, then cut through the shields, war-axes, armors, and helmets of multiple nearby thugs as though he was chopping through rotten wood, reducing their flesh and their bones to piles of sliced meat. Such incredible power! Both the two captains of the elite guards as well as these two captains of the Tartarus mercenaries were simply stunning. So long as such powerful humans were on their side, the outpost might just stand a chance at survival! But Cloudhawk could sense a bone-chilling aura sweep across the region. Although he wasn¡¯t the target of this murderous intent, it was so chilling and so violent that he felt as though he had previously been standing beneath the blazing sun but had now been thrust into an icy pit. He felt as though every single cell in his body had been frozen¡­ and this murderous intent was coming from the cloaked figure, the one who had yet to make any moves at all. Cloudhawk called out in warning, ¡°Careful, Slyfox! That guy is about to attack!¡± Slyfox was slightly startled, ¡°Oh, is he now?¡± The mysterious figure produced a pair of long, straight knives from his sleeves, then whispered a few words that sounded like the hissing of a viper. His dark eyes were as black as the endless depths of the sea, but waves of a murderous intent could be seen within them. He didn¡¯t ¡®run¡¯ forward, he ¡®shot¡¯ out like a bullet from a gun, an arrow from a bow, a javelin from its thrower. The way he moved seemed to violate the laws of physics! A moment ago, he had been completely still. Now, he was somehow in full motion! There had been no process of acceleration, but he was now moving at a terrifying, incomprehensible speed. His graceful movements seemed to suggest that he was able to ignore the effects of gravity itself, and the ragged cape fluttering in the wind behind him seemed almost like a demon stretching out its black, infernal wings. He was attacking! Finally, he was attacking! Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 25 The Experts of the Wastelands As soon as the mysterious man began to move, Slyfox moved as well. Even if Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t issued a warning, Slyfox wouldn¡¯t have relaxed his vigil. He knew exactly who the most dangerous person on this battlefield was and exactly who he needed to keep an eye on. His twin customized pistols spun in beautiful intersecting arcs in front of him as spurts of flame erupted from the barrels. He had shot four times in an instant! Slyfox was a truly accomplished control metahuman, and his gunnery skills were top-notch in Blackflag Outpost. He could instantly lock onto and shoot even a falcon flying at top speed, and was able to shoot a sparrow from thirty meters away as easily as shooting an elephant. Even though the mysterious man was faster than anyone Slyfox had ever met, could he move faster than a bullet? Slyfox was highly experienced and a true master marksman. These four shots completely sealed off the space around the mysterious man, ensuring that no matter where he dodged he would still be struck by at least two bullets. There was no way he would be able to escape unscathed! In addition, Slyfox had just used some of his own custom-made, hand-crafted specialty bullets. These bullets were so powerful that so long as they landed on any part of their target, their target would definitely be crippled and slain. The mysterious man¡¯s eyes were pitch-black, like a mirroring pool of darkness. These eyes saw and recorded all of Slyfox¡¯s movements, up to the point when he pulled the trigger. Impressive! This gunner hidden within the outpost was definitely the most formidable marksman the mysterious man had ever met, and both his timing as well as his aim were impeccable. The mysterious man had virtually no avenues of escape at all. However, the emphasis was on the word ¡®virtually¡¯. This wasn¡¯t an absolute statement! The mysterious man¡¯s powerful ocular abilities allowed him to notice all four of Slyfox¡¯s shots, and he instantaneously was able to predict the trajectory of the bullets. He could tell that it was impossible to dodge all of them; at most, he would be able to dodge two. But two was enough! The mysterious man dodged to one side, avoiding two of the shots. At the same time, his two arms streaked through the air like meteors through the night sky, bringing the blades of his knives in front of the other two bullets. Sparks flew everywhere as an ear-piercing screech could be heard. The knives had actually split the two bullets into four pieces. The cut was so perfect that if you used a scale or a ruler to measure the four halves, you would find that in size and shape the four bullet-halves were absolutely identical. For the first time, a look of astonishment appeared on Slyfox¡¯s face. ¡°No way. That¡¯s impossible.¡± How could you use a knife to cut bullets in midair? It required perfect accuracy and control, instantaneous reflexes, and better vision than an eagle¡¯s. This was simply unbelievable! Only someone who had multiple high-level metapowers over agility, control, and more would be able to accomplish such a task. Less than one in a million wastelanders would have the required powers, and they would be considered truly supreme combatants. As for Blackflag Outpost, it held no such figures! Who the hell was this guy?! Cloudhawk clenched his shotgun in his hands. Several times now, he had planned to fire the weapon, but in the end he gave up the notion. He knew his own limitations and knew that he was far from being a match for Slyfox. If not even Slyfox could kill this man, how could he possibly succeed? In addition, shotgun pellets were sprayed over a very wide area. If he was to fire from such a great distance, he might even hit some of his allies. Calm. He had to stay calm! This was what Cloudhawk told himself repeatedly. He couldn¡¯t waste any opportunities. If he wasn¡¯t certain of success, he shouldn¡¯t attack at all. Otherwise, he would draw that terrifying man¡¯s attention and his life would be snuffed out like a candle. The mysterious man¡¯s dark gaze, as fathomless as the depths of the sea, was now locked onto Slyfox. The other experts didn¡¯t pose a threat to him, but this exceptional marksman did. The mysterious man knew who his real enemy in this fight would be. He had to first get rid of this troublesome marksman! The mysterious man didn¡¯t halt at all, continuing his headlong charge. Three members of the elite guards were in his path, and so he ended up disposing of them along the way. The three guards didn¡¯t even have a chance to see how he attacked; they just saw the light of his knives pierce through their bodies. As they collapsed into pools of their own blood, the last thing they saw was his cloaked figure disappearing past them, not hesitating in the slightest. ¡°Damn him!¡± The second captain of the elite guards, Wulf, was enraged! Wulf was an agility metahuman, which meant that in speed at least he wasn¡¯t significantly inferior to the mysterious man. If the members of the outpost had to choose one person who was close to being able to keep up with the mysterious man, they would definitely choose Wulf! Wulf tossed away his saber and pulled out a pair of short knives. Short weapons were more agile and carried more punching power, and they also held advantages in fast-paced battles. In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged four or five blows! Knife-light flickered repeatedly as these two incredibly fast experts clashed against each other in close combat. Almost as soon as Wulf engaged the man in combat, Wulf realized that he had made a mistake! First of all, the man¡¯s metapowers were clearly higher-level than Wulf¡¯s own; although the man was using a pair of long knives, he was able to wield them with just as much speed and agility as Wulf wielded his short knives. Even worse, the mysterious man¡¯s attacks were so accurate, it was as though he had measured them to a millimeter in advance. With each strike, the mysterious man was able to attack Wulf at a weak spot, using a small amount of force to blunt Wulf¡¯s strength, then unleash counter-attacks of incredible power. Although Wulf was a very experienced combatant, he still had the occasional flaw in his attacks. The mysterious man attacked as though his moves had all been calculated countless times in advance by a computer; not only did he display no weaknesses, his attacks were precise to the extreme. After just a few exchanged blows, Wulf was cast into a position of great weakness. Wulf wanted to retreat, but it was far too late. A long knife came howling through the air towards him! The mysterious man¡¯s knife sheared through half of Wulf¡¯s head. The blood didn¡¯t even have a chance to spurt out before the man turned and once more continued his charge towards Slyfox. This entire time, he had shown no hesitation and made no wasted movements at all. It was as though he hadn¡¯t been fighting one of the outpost¡¯s supreme fighters; rather, he had merely been disposing of a nameless pawn. The difference in skill between the two was extremely apparent! Grizzly let out an enraged howl. ¡°WULF!¡± Slyfox didn¡¯t let this affect his mental state. He suddenly reached out and grabbed an outpost warrior, then spun the warrior to stand in front of him. ¡°W-what are you¡­¡± The outpost warrior had yet to catch his bearings when a pair of ice-cold gun barrels pressed against his back. A crafty look flashed through the mysterious man¡¯s pitch-black eyes, and he immediately moved to dodge. CRACK! CRACK! A pair of gunshots rang out as a pair of bullets blasted through the body of that unfortunate outpost warrior, missing the mysterious man by just a hair. Slyfox let out a frustrated curse. The man was able to lock onto his movements, then dodge in the same instant that Slyfox pulled the triggers on his pistols. As a result, Slyfox had decided to block the man¡¯s line of vision and shoot at him through a human shield. Who would¡¯ve thought that the man would still be able to dodge it with incredible accuracy and an almost preternatural sixth sense! The mysterious man had perfect control over his own body, and he made no wasted movements at all, nor did he make any errors in judgement. He also had that absolutely stifling level of speed, and a keen sense of danger that was almost animalistic in its accuracy. He truly was an expert the likes of which were rarely seen in the wastelands. The two were now extremely close to each other. Slyfox could almost see the specter of death reaching out for him! The mysterious figure was clearly determined to kill Slyfox no matter what the cost. Mad Dog was in the front lines, tied down by a host of thugs. The other mercenaries weren¡¯t even close to being a match for the mysterious man; in fact, they weren¡¯t even strong enough to slow him down. What to do? A cold light suddenly flickered through Slyfox¡¯s narrowed eyes. His normal, beaming countenance had completely disappeared. It was as though he had transformed into a completely different person, a person who was incredibly cold and calm. This was a mindset that had been formed through countless life-and-death battles. The more dangerous the situation was, the calmer he had to be. His fat body suddenly began to move with an agility and grace which belied his size. His two customized pistols began to bark and spit out flames repeatedly as multiple bullets began to howl past the outpost warriors and towards the mysterious man. One bullet actually went straight through an outpost warrior¡¯s neck, then continued onwards while spraying forth a bloody mist. So what if he accidentally killed a few people on his own side? Hell, so what if he killed a few of them on purpose? Slyfox was not the kind, benevolent type to begin with. He knew exactly how difficult it would be to hit this man, and so he was willing to pay any price and do anything necessary to increase the odds. By comparison, sacrificing a few of the outpost guards was absolutely nothing. He didn¡¯t have much time left; every single shot, every single opportunity, was incomparably priceless. But it was all useless! The mysterious man¡¯s night-black eyes remained as calm as a tranquil pool of ink, and his gaze didn¡¯t change in the slightest. His movements fluctuated as randomly and unpredictably as a viper¡¯s, avoiding the large majority of Slyfox¡¯s bullets while using his knives to block the bullets he couldn¡¯t dodge. He advanced incredibly quickly, and everyone who got in his way (by accident or by design) would be met with his flashing knife. All those who barred his path were sliced apart with ease. He was about to reach Slyfox! Slyfox only had a single bullet left in each of his pistols, and the enemy was so close and so fast that Slyfox only had enough time for one shot anyhow. If he missed this next shot¡­ well, one could imagine what would happen to a gunner when attacked in close combat by a knife-fighter like the mysterious man. Slyfox stared unblinkingly at his opponent. All others in the surrounding area seemed to completely vanish as Slyfox concentrated every iota of his energy and attention on his foe. Slyfox watched his movements, his breathing, his every minor motion. After having taken all factors and possible responses into consideration¡­ Crack! A tongue of flame flicked out from the barrel of his right pistol. A sharp light flashed through the mysterious man¡¯s eyes. Not only had this gunner perfectly calculated his movements and all potential variables, the gunner had even taken into account his reaction speed and the speed at which his hands were able to move. This shot had virtually sealed his fate. What a truly formidable gunner! The mysterious man suddenly struck out his knife, moving 30% faster than he had in the past. Clang! A few sparks appeared in midair as the bullet was once more chopped apart. Slyfox¡¯s face turned completely ashen. ¡°Damn.¡± The mysterious man didn¡¯t pause for even a second. He was like a hungry wolf who had spotted his prey, and he sent one of his death-bringing knives straight towards his enemy¡¯s throat at incredible speeds. The knife moved closer and closer to Slyfox, a harbinger of doom which quickly grew in size and took up more and more of his field of vision. At last, a look of fear was in Slyfox¡¯s eyes, and his face was as pale as a corpse. Slyfox looked just like a man should when faced with his own imminent and inescapable doom. Without question, this knife was going to take his life! This was what the mysterious man believed, and he put all of his effort into this strike. As soon as that sharp knife landed, the chubby neck would be split open and the fat head would go flying like a dandelion in the wind. Swish! The knife flashed with cold light as it swept past Slyfox¡¯s neck, spots of smeared blood on its blade! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 26 Life and Death in the Balance The knife merely nicked Slyfox in the neck; it didn¡¯t actually sever his head from the rest of his body. This was because, right at the critical moment, the mysterious man¡¯s acute hearing picked up an incredibly soft, whistling sound. He was completely unprepared for the two cold knives that whistled through the air as they shot straight towards him. This was a pair of long, slender, and sharp scalpels. One of the scalpels shot towards the man¡¯s chest, while the other one was aimed directly at his forehead. There were absolutely no flaws in the speed, timing, or execution of this attack. The most terrifying thing of all was that it seemed as though the two scalpels had appeared out of nowhere! Even someone as incredibly perceptive as the mysterious man was completely unable to tell who it was who had launched this attack at him. If the mysterious man had stubbornly persisted with his attempt to decapitate the gunner, there would have been no way for him to escape these two strikes. It might¡¯ve been possible for him to make slight adjustments to ensure that the scalpels didn¡¯t hit him in any critical areas, but when he saw the glistening, slick blue light covering the blade he immediately abandoned this notion. This was an absolutely deadly attack¡­ and from start to finish, the man still had no clue as to who had launched this attack. The mysterious man had held thirty percent of his power in reserve in this battle, which was the right choice to make. That way, if something unexpected happened, he would have enough power left to keep himself safe. However, the lethal strike he had aimed at the gunner was with all the speed and power he could muster. In other words, the mysterious man himself was in an extremely vulnerable situation for a short instant. Although the moment was brief¡­ an old, experienced, and deadly assassin would always be ready for the perfect moment to strike. And how could such a deadly assassin possibly forego using poison for such a critical strike? Both scalpels had been smeared with powerful nerve-numbing agents. Even if they didn¡¯t strike any fatal points, the slightest nick from them would be enough to ensure that he would instantly lose the majority of his combat strength. This was far too dangerous. He simply couldn¡¯t afford to take the risk! And so the mysterious man suddenly halted his advance, his long knives nicking Slyfox on the neck as they swung back to block the scalpels. The mysterious man¡¯s sea-dark eyes once more began to turn¡­ but he still had no idea where the assassin was hiding. Swoosh! Swoosh! Another pair of sharp scalpels came flying towards him. This time, however, even Cloudhawk saw a figure moving at high speed in launching the attack, to say nothing of the mysterious man. When Cloudhawk saw who it was, his eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. No wonder he hadn¡¯t seen Mantis this entire time! Cloudhawk had thought that Mantis was not taking part in the fight. So as it turned out, Mantis had been concealing himself amongst the other mercenaries! When he had been concealing himself, not even Cloudhawk had the slightest inkling that he was present; in fact, Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t even noticed that they numbered one more person than usual. And¡­ the entire reason why Mantis had hidden himself in the area around Slyfox in a shadow-like manner was precisely so that he could deal with a situation like this! As Mantis threw out two more flying scalpels at high speed and the mysterious man began to pull back, Mantis suddenly somersaulted to the other side with incredible speed. A dark blue dagger gleamed with cold light as it pierced towards the mysterious man! It was a fast, steady, and merciless attack! The speed which Mantis had just displayed was every bit as fast as the already-deceased Wulf had possessed. He was in full control of the tempo of this fight, and this strike was pitch-perfect as well. Not even a heartbeat had passed since the mysterious man had knocked the second pair of scalpels aside, but now a deadly, envenomed blue dagger was right before his very eyes. This new assailant was incredibly dangerous! The mysterious man had been battling for quite some time, but for the first time he felt as though he was being stalked by a viper. If this dagger nicked him even slightly, it would unquestionably deliver a mortal, death-dealing blow to the mysterious man. The mysterious man sent the edge of his long knife scraping against the dagger, causing a line of sparks to erupt in midair, then spun the other way as he delivered a whirling slash towards Mantis. However, Mantis didn¡¯t hesitate at all as he leapt backwards with incredible speed and agility, borrowing from the momentum of the clash. An assassin¡¯s paramount rule was to succeed in killing the target with one attack. If you failed, your goal would be to immediately retreat safely. This was a fundamental rule of being an assassin! The mysterious man¡¯s attack missed, but before he had a chance to recover, a cold, sinister, murderous look flashed through Slyfox¡¯s eyes. In truth, this entire thing had been a plot! The gunner had intentionally let the mysterious man draw close, allowing the assassin to launch a series of deadly strikes. Now that the mysterious man¡¯s offensive rhythm had been completely disrupted, flaws in his movements had been revealed. It actually wasn¡¯t the assassin¡¯s responsibility to actually kill this man. Slyfox had been waiting for the perfect moment this entire time¡­ and now, he still had one bullet left. Given the situation and given how close they were, how could he possibly miss? The process might sound complicated, but it happened incredibly fast. Mantis had thrown out four scalpels, catching the mysterious man completely off-guard and disrupting his rhythm, then launched a deadly strike that forced the man to reveal a fatal flaw in his defenses. This entire process had taken less than two seconds! This was more than enough time for Slyfox to fire the perfect shot. Crack! The final bullet burst forth with a tendril of flame from the barrel of the revolver. The mysterious man had to admit that these people were tough. Very tough. They could definitely be described as some of the top experts of the wastelands. However¡­ it wasn¡¯t enough. The man¡¯s body suddenly seemed to expand in size, almost as though all of his muscles instantly became many times larger than before. He instantly unleashed 120% of his full power! As soon as Slyfox had fired his gun, the mysterious man leapt into the air, used one long knife to block the bullet, then once more stabbed out with the other one towards Slyfox, sending that cold blade directly towards his heart! Everyone was stunned by this. Not only was he able to block the attack, he was even able to counter-attack in midair? Slyfox was out of bullets. Mantis wasn¡¯t in a position to stop the attack. A hint of a mocking smile appeared on the mysterious man¡¯s face as his cold knife inched closer and closer towards Slyfox¡¯s chest. He was about to finally kill this dangerous gunner, once and for all¡­ but right at this moment, something happened which caught him completely off-guard. A skinny, unprepossessing little figure suddenly popped up from behind Slyfox¡¯s back. The kid was clutching a shotgun in his hands, and the black barrel was pointed straight at the mysterious man. Slyfox let out a fierce shout. ¡°SHOOT HIM!¡± When the mysterious man¡¯s attention had been focused on the two experts before him, the ordinary-looking Cloudhawk had seized the opportunity to hide himself directly behind Slyfox. Cloudhawk knew that if he wanted a chance to shoot and kill this man, the position he had just chosen was the perfect position to be in. And now¡­ his opportunity had come! The mysterious man¡¯s body was in the middle of the air. No warrior, no matter how powerful, would be able to find any leverage to dodge while in midair. In addition, the two were extremely close to each other! The mysterious man¡¯s knife was about to kiss Slyfox¡¯s clothes, which meant that he had all but sent himself directly into the waiting barrel of the shotgun. Cloudhawk pulled the trigger. CRACK! Countless steel pellets blasted forth. A dispersed shotgun blast was difficult to dodge in any situation, much less in midair. The mysterious man¡¯s black cloak was completely torn to shreds as he himself was knocked three or four meters backwards from the force of the blow. He tumbled to the ground, rolling a few times before he came to a halt face-down as streams of blood began to flow from his body. They had finished him! Everyone revealed looks of excitement and exhilaration! ¡°Not bad, kid!¡± ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°Beautiful!¡± The mercenaries all called out in celebration, and even Woola let out a few congratulatory howls. As for the sweepers, strange looks appeared on their faces. They had never imagined that anyone would be able to defeat their boss! In truth, less than a minute had passed since the cloaked figure had first started his charge towards Slyfox. This had all happened so quickly that there was no way ordinary people could even respond. As for the mercenaries, there was obviously no way that they could¡¯ve planned this out in advance. This had all happened purely out of a silent, instinctive rapport. If Mantis had been just a heartbeat slower, Slyfox would¡¯ve been hacked to death. If Slyfox hadn¡¯t left one final bullet for the very end or had hesitated for just a half-second after Mantis launched his attack, then his shot wouldn¡¯t have been able to force the man to jump into the air to dodge. And if Cloudhawk had been just slightly slower in firing his shotgun, all of that previous effort would have gone to waste. Thankfully, all of them had worked together with smooth, perfect coordination. In the end, they had finally dealt with that dangerous enemy. Cloudhawk was panting furiously, his frayed nerves finally calming down. He could hardly believe what had just happened. Had the shot which killed the sweeper leader really come from his hands? This feeling of life and death being separated by a thread¡­ this feeling was fucking awesome! But Slyfox and Mantis were completely composed. ¡°Mad Dog once praised your combat instincts as being excellent!¡± For once, Slyfox said a few words of praise towards Cloudhawk. ¡°Seems like he was tellin¡¯ the truth. I¡¯m just happy you didn¡¯t waste all of the hard work I put into training you.¡± Hard work training me? You sonufabitch! Cloudhawk was this close to cursing at the man. Still¡­ now that the leader had been slain, the rest of the sweepers were nothing to worry about. The mercenaries and the elite guards were still ready to fight, and they held an overwhelming advantage in numbers. How could they possibly lose to freaks like this? ¡°Not bad at all.¡± Just as everyone was celebrating, a casual, cold voice suddenly rang out from the ground. Countless astonished gazes were instantly attracted to the mysterious man¡¯s ¡®corpse¡¯¡­ which was slowly, unhurriedly rising to its feet. ¡°But in the end, you didn¡¯t quite get the job done.¡± The six remaining maneaters and dozens of thugs had already charged forwards, coming to a halt directly in front of their leader. As for the outpost forces, they withdrew as well. Both sides once more stared at each other from a short distance. This was absolutely bizarre. Cloudhawk had definitely hit the man head-on! The man hadn¡¯t been wearing steel armor or other defensive equipment; otherwise, there was no way he could¡¯ve moved with such speed and agility. How, then? How had he survived? Did he have an immortal body? The mysterious man rose to his feet, his tattered cloak just barely hanging from his body. His face had previously been as pale as paper, but now a great deal of serpentine scales had appeared on its surface. Given that his strange eyes were completely pitch-black, he truly looked like an ominous creature. The mysterious man tossed aside his tattered cloak, fully revealing his entire upper body. Although he wasn¡¯t as muscular as Mad Dog, his muscles were extremely toned and even, and they seemed to possess explosive, panther-like power. His skin, however, was almost abnormally pale¡­ and his pale skin was completely covered with those slender scales that looked like the scales of a snake. The shotgun pellets had blasted a large wound into his chest, and dozens of those steel pellets had clearly bored deep into his body. And yet¡­ although the wound was frightening to behold, it was actually nothing more than a superficial flesh wound. The muscles around the pellets flexed slightly, and one bloodstained pellet after another began to pop out and fall to the ground. Cloudhawk finally realized that this mutant¡¯s scales served as a form of protection for him. He also had an extremely high-level control metapower, and so had nearly perfect control over his power. As a result, as soon as the pellets blasted through his scales, he had immediately tightened the muscles locally around each pellet, ensuring that none of them were able to strike into his heart or his other important organs. Cloudhawk had hit him with a perfect shot, but it was meaningless. A wound like this was no wound at all. The outpost defenders had rather unpleasant looks on their faces. How many strange powers did this mysterious fellow have? The mysterious man¡¯s gaze remained as calm and settled as ever. ¡°It would be a waste to kill you. I suggest you abandon Blackflag Outpost and work for me instead. The entire wasteland belongs to us¡­ and together, we can accomplish something grand!¡± By now, everyone could tell that he still had yet to use his full power, even now! There were still more than 150 sweepers; their main combat power had been preserved. The outpost, however, had suffered horrendous casualties and didn¡¯t have much combat power left. The situation right now looked extremely grim. Fire another shot? Cloudhawk knew his own limits. They had managed to catch the man off-guard once; there was no way the man would let it happen again! But right at this moment, a voice which Cloudhawk had never heard before suddenly rang out from afar. ¡°You want to poach guards from Blackflag Outpost? What makes you think I would agree to that?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 27 The Bloodsoaked Queen The elite guards looked as though a heavy burden had been lifted off their shoulders, while Slyfox and Mad Dog revealed looks of extremely wariness. Had she finally come out? If so¡­ then it was time for this battle to come to an end. The mysterious man¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. He didn¡¯t seem surprised, only cautious. He let out a chuckle, then said, ¡°You really are quite composed, to be able to wait so long before coming out.¡± Cloudhawk had no idea why everyone had such strange looks on their faces. Just as he was puzzling over this question¡­ a figure suddenly, slowly emerged from the heart of the outpost. This figure wore a savage, demonic mask. Perfectly straight black hair cascaded across her back like a waterfall, and her voice sounded sinister and hoarse, almost as though it was several different voices merged together, making it difficult for others to discern her gender from her voice alone. However, judging from her silhouette she was definitely a woman, and one with a stupendous figure at that. Even though she was dressed in a long, loose cloak, everyone could still vaguely make out the form-fitting leather clothes she wore beneath the cloak. No one knew what type of leather it was, but it surely was no ordinary leather. The leather clothes covered virtually every part of her entire body, including her firm and rounded rear, her long slim legs, and her pert and ample bosom. It could be said that her form-fitting leather clothes put her perfect physique and feminine curves on full display. This woman was not carrying any weapons, wielding neither sword, knife, axe, nor staff. Nor did she wield long-ranged weaponry such as guns or bows. However¡­ she wore a pair of extremely exquisite gloves on her hands that looked like they were formed from dark-gold silk. The gloves were studded with something that looked like gemstones. In addition, she also wore on her neck a snow-white cross that looked like a decorative necklace. Although no one could see what she looked like or how old she was, an aura of iciness, arrogance, and skill radiated out from her in waves. When she entered the ranks of the defenders, not a single person dared to stand close to her, not even Slyfox and the other elites. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Shut it, kid! Don¡¯t ask questions right now.¡± Slyfox gave him a hard glare. ¡°Just be a good boy, sit back, and watch the show!¡± The sweeper leader began to chuckle. ¡°The commander of Blackflag Outpost, the Bloodsoaked Queen¡­ your reputation precedes you.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen? The commander of the outpost? Cloudhawk finally remembered that the outpost had a leader! He had been told about her the first day he had arrived, but this leader was so mysterious and low-key that in the past month and a half Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t even heard any stories about her, to say nothing of meeting her. This made no sense though. What took her so long? Why did she wait for the outpost to be beaten into such a bad condition before she made her appearance? The mysterious, powerful leader of the sweeper battalion licked his lips, his tongue long and slender. He couldn¡¯t hide the look of frenzied lust in his eyes, and he was unable to maintain his earlier demeanor of calm. He was like a hunter who, after experiencing countless tribulations, had finally found his prey¡­ or perhaps he was a treasure seeker who had finally found a great treasury after sailing through oceans and climbing through mountains. Excitement, exhilaration, nervousness, and other emotions filled his breast, causing his body to start to tremble. ¡°Once I kill you, I¡¯ll take control over this outpost.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s face was covered with that terrifying mask, preventing anyone from seeing the emotions on her face. Her two eyes, however, gleamed behind the mask with a look that was as sharp as a sword and even more piercing to the gaze than the rays of the rising sun. ¡°No need to put on pretenses in front of me.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s hoarse voice sounded like the shattering of glass, but a hint of rage could be heard within that sinister coldness. The rage didn¡¯t seem like a blazing inferno; rather, it was like smoldering coals that had long ago merged into her soul and become a part of her. ¡°I know who you are, and I know why you have come here. I also know who it is that stands behind you. So¡­ let¡¯s cut the crap. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Come at me.¡± The mysterious man¡¯s face stiffened momentarily, but then that look of wild excitement once more appeared in his eyes. ¡°Good. Good! Then I¡¯ll see for myself how powerful people who have come from that place are!¡± The mysterious man, however, was not in a rush to attack. Instead, he gestured with his hand. The largest, most muscular maneater acknowledged his order, then burst forth like a beast that had just been released from its shackles! The maneater ran forward, his heavy footsteps pounding into the earth. The maneater¡¯s great warhammer was covered with the crimson gore of the countless outpost guards he had slain, and he delivered a huge smashing blow straight at the Queen. THRUM! The earth itself shook, and a storm of dust arose! From afar, Cloudhawk could see the warhammer miss and strike into the earth instead. Somehow, that brutal and savage attack had completely missed its target. Why? How? Had the maneater gone blind? Obviously not! The Queen leisurely strode forward, moving past the heavy warhammer. Her movements seemed slow, but in reality she was incredibly fast. The maneater didn¡¯t even have a chance to raise the warhammer a second time before she was standing right in front of him. She gently placed her right hand against the heavy cuirass covering the maneater¡¯s thick chest, and she gave him a loving stroke as though she was petting a cat. A vibration suddenly manifested! Cloudhawk was completely shocked by what he was seeing. He clearly could sense a strange thrumming sensation, almost like a guitar string being plucked, appear before him once more. He instantly turned to stare at the source of the sensation¡­ only to find that it was actually coming from the Queen¡¯s black gloves! Cloudhawk could sense the vibrations growing stronger and stronger. Some sort of energy was building up rapidly! Before he even had a chance to figure out what was going on, the maneater suddenly let out a miserable scream! His eyes, his nose, his mouth, his ears¡­ even the crevices of his helmet were suddenly emitting fiery plumes of heat. A heartbeat later, the maneater¡¯s massive body was suddenly swallowed up by an absolutely beautiful flame which appeared out of nowhere. The terrifyingly high temperatures caused even his armor to glow red! The maneater¡¯s body was charred into black crisp in just a few short moments, causing a nauseating stench of burnt meat to waft outwards from it. Thud! The flame disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. By the time the maneater collapsed, its entire body had been charred. Its armor was still glowing red and had begun to melt into the ground, causing a series of hissing, crackling sounds to be heard. What was this? Some sort of supernatural power? Everyone watched with tongue-tied expressions on their faces. It was as though they had seen a tiger attack a mouse, only for the mouse to suddenly turn and swallow the tiger whole. Despite the high temperature in the area around her, the Bloodsoaked Queen was in immaculate condition; not even a single hair on her head had been signed. From start to finish, she hadn¡¯t so much as even glanced at the maneater. Her eyes behind her mask were even colder than ice as she swept her gaze across the other sweepers, seeming to stab at them with her eyes. Looks of terror appeared on the faces of the sweepers, and they all took several steps back. The mysterious man visibly trembled as a look of slight fear appeared on his face. The eager look in his eyes, however, had not diminished in the slightest. He tossed away one of the long knives he had been holding, only to assume a two-handed grip with the other. ¡°So you really did come from that place. Is this the power you brought from there to the wastelands¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s voice was as hoarse and cold as ever. ¡°You aren¡¯t worthy of knowing the answer to that question. My patience has its limits. Make your move.¡± The mysterious man knew that the difference in power between the two of them was enormous. He would only have one chance. Just one! And he only had it because the Bloodsoaked Queen had chosen to give it to him, most likely because she held him in complete contempt. Even though he clearly knew how terrifying she was, he still wanted to give her a try¡­ because he wanted to test out that inconceivable power in person! He suddenly moved, his accumulated power sending him forward like an arrow out of a bow. He was moving much faster than he had previously, and even his long knife seemed to quiver with anticipation, as though it could sense its master¡¯s determination and killing intent. He wasn¡¯t tall, nor was he very muscular, but when he charged forwards he was like an enormous behemoth that carried an irresistible, inexhaustible amount of power. This aura alone would be enough to terrify any of the powerful experts present, making it hard for them to even think about trying to take this strike head-on. Ten more meters! The mysterious man¡¯s face became increasingly berserk. It was as though the entire world had vanished, with only the masked woman remaining. He seemed to have focused all of his thoughts, all of his energy onto this unmoving, statue-like woman. His every single blood cell was bellowing with rage, as though countless beasts were rampaging through his veins, screaming out for release! Five meters. Four meters. Three meters. Two meters! When his speed reached its utmost limit, he suddenly flexed his legs. Every single cell in his body was quivering, and every single muscle was contracting. He gathered all of the strength and power he had in his body, including his legs, his calves, his thighs, his chest, his arms, and his wrist¡­ then focused it all on the tip of his knife as he sent it chopping downwards. This was no longer a human being delivering a blow. This was a flying knife that had a human attached to it! The man was an extremely high-class control metahuman. In order to make his knife faster, sharper, and more powerful, he had caused every single cell in his body to surpass their normal limitations, forcing every single muscle to release every single scrap of power they had while holding nothing back. This was no ordinary strike. Absolutely everything had been poured into it; his strength, his momentum, his mental focus, his willpower¡­ it had all been infused into this chop! The man had no other thoughts in his mind. He was like a dancer who had been enraptured by his own dance, losing himself within it as he drew out his mind and his very soul, then merged them into this strike. Nobody could stop his knife. Even steel would be sheared through like mud! The man could almost smell the intoxicating scent of the woman¡¯s blood spurting out from her body and splashing over him, bathing him with its warmth like the rays of the sun. The Queen finally made her move¡­ and the man¡¯s flashing, dazzling knife suddenly stopped in midair. The knife would¡¯ve been able to shear through steel like butter, but it was actually blocked by a single, graceful hand. Or, to be precise, the five long fingers on that hand had latched onto the knife. The parts of the knife that were in contact with those gloves instantly began to glow red with heat, and even a few wafts of white smoke could be seen arising from it. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 28 Breathtaking Power The Bloodsoaked Queen had a cavalier attitude about her, as though she had done nothing more than catch a butterfly that was flying within her flower garden. It seemed like such a casual action, but it instantly froze the long knife despite the shocking amount of power that had been poured into it. All momentum had been lost. All of the murderous intent within it had been dispelled. The mental energy, willpower, strength, and soul that had been poured into that knife were of no avail; it seemed like it was trapped in a steel vise, with no way to withdraw it at all. The snow-bright blade quickly began to turn red from heat, like a piece of iron in a furnace. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s grip tightened, and the red-hot knife began to break apart. A spiderweb of cracks had appeared on its surface, as though the knife was a fragile piece of glass that was on the verge of shattering. ¡°You-¡± The mysterious man¡¯s deep, hooded gaze was now filled with shock and awe. He was only able to get this single word out, because in the next instant a seal suddenly lit up on the Queen¡¯s gloves as she unleashed an even greater amount of force through her palms. The knife exploded! A terrifying, beautiful ball of fire erupted between the two as the energy-filled knife blew up like a bomb that had been ignited. Countless metal shards sprayed in every direction. The mysterious man was blasted away by the force of the explosion, with his face, chest, and arms all punctured by the flying metal shards while the blazing flames caused his entire body to be covered with horrendous burns. By the time he crashed down on the ground, he looked like a hole-riddled rag doll that had been in a fire. Cloudhawk furiously rubbed at his eyes. What the hell had just happened? All he had seen was the mysterious man charge towards the Queen. Moments later, there had been a sudden explosion! This had all happened far too quickly, and so he hadn¡¯t been able to make out all the details¡­ but when the Bloodsoaked Queen had made her move, Cloudhawk had sensed a ripple of power emerge. Such incredible power! The mysterious leader of the sweeper battalion was already a top-notch expert of the wastelands, but in the face of the Bloodsoaked Queen he was absolutely nothing at all. He had just suffered a disastrous defeat! The mysterious man himself hadn¡¯t imagined that the difference in power between them would be so great. There was simply no way to bridge the chasm between the two of them. Moments later, a tendril of fear suddenly snaked its way out from the depths of his soul, then spread like wildfire throughout his mind. He only had one thought left ¨C flee! He had been a fool. A complete fool! This woman was someone from that legendary place; even his master was slightly wary of her. How could a mere wastelander like himself possibly contend against her? When Cloudhawk noticed that the man was about to flee, he immediately called out, ¡°Hey, commander! He¡¯s gonna run for it!¡± ¡°Shut your fucking mouth! Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡± Slyfox immediately clamped his hands around Cloudhawk¡¯s mouth as beads of sweat appeared on his pudgy face. The power which the Bloodsoaked Queen had just displayed caused him to feel a sense of terror as well. ¡°Don¡¯t ya know how the Bloodsoaked Queen got her nickname? D¡¯ya really think yer in a position to be givin¡¯ her orders?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen had only been in the outpost for roughly a year, and for the vast majority of that time she was absent or hidden. And yet, her fame and prestige resoundingly eclipsed that of any captain. The Tartarus mercenaries were forced to humble themselves, while the members of the elite squad had all chosen to serve her and die for her! Why? Because of the overwhelming, crushing amount of power she possessed¡­ as well as her absolutely cruel and dominating nature! Anyone who had lived in Blackflag Outpost for more than a year would never be able to forget that horrifying battle from roughly a year ago. The Queen was in no mood to pay any attention to trash like Cloudhawk, but she also completely ignored the terrified, fleeing sweeper leader. She silently unclipped the cross from her necklace, then gently lifted it up with her two hands. Moments later, she did something which caused everyone to feel completely astonished. She went down to one knee. She clasped the cross tightly in her hands, and she began to pray softly in an extremely sincere, devout voice. ¡°O almighty gods of radiant light, I pray to thee with all my soul, with all my life, with all my heart. Please bestow your power upon thy child¡­¡± This prayer was filled with such sincerity and piety, but when it came out in that hoarse, sinister voice it truly sounded strange to the extreme. The cross suddenly began to glow, and with each passing second it grew brighter and brighter! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen rose to her feet once more, then lifted the glowing cross high into the air. She looked almost like a holy paladin lifting up a blade which cast out demons¡­ and when she brought the ¡®sword¡¯ down, the light completely disappeared into her palms, transforming into a blade-like arc of light that shot out dozens of meters, carving out a deep gouge in the earth as it shot off after the fleeing man. The light washed over him, and it cut through him as though he was just a piece of paper. His body was cut in half from his right shoulder to his left flank. Momentum carried the two halves of his body forward by three meters, with the flesh around his terrifying wounds having turned completely black, as though charred by fire. This was perhaps the reason why he didn¡¯t immediately die, and he struggled to claw forwards with his one remaining arm. A pair of boots appeared in front of him. He lifted up his head, only to see that woman once more¡­ but the fear actually began to slowly vanish from his eyes. Now that he knew he was going to die, that look of wild fervor began to fill his gaze once more. ¡°I¡¯m impressed, demonhunter!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen asked coldly, ¡°Where is he?¡± The dying, bisected man began to roar with laughter, but his laughter sounded like the bleating of a dying mountain goat. The Bloodsoaked Queen narrowed her eyes. She remained as cold and distant as ever, but her words were filled with menace. ¡°Where. Is. He.¡± ¡°Are you afraid?¡± The dying man didn¡¯t seem to understand the situation he was in. He roared in a hoarse and brash voice, ¡°I¡¯ll never tell you. Keep living in fear and pain. You will never be able to get your revenge. You-¡± But his voice suddenly cut off as a booted foot crushed his head into pulp. The Queen turned towards the outpost warriors, her cloak fluttering in the air behind her. She seemed to move in a leisurely manner, but she actually moved with incredible speed. Moments later she vanished from everyone¡¯s field of vision, leaving behind only three words. ¡°Kill them all.¡± The outpost warriors immediately let out excited roars and howls. This was the might of their commander, the commander of Blackflag Outpost ¨C she was invincible, unfathomable, and unbelievable! This was the second time the Queen had fought ever since she had taken over the outpost, and her power was absolutely stunning! Even creatures as foolish as the sweepers realized that with this powerful female guarding Blackflag Outpost, there was no chance at all for them to take this place over! ¡°FOR BLACKFLAG OUTPOST!¡± ¡°KILL THEM ALL!¡± Grizzly led the warriors of Blackflag Outpost in an inexorable, unstoppable charge. Yet another frenzied and bloody battle erupted, but this time it was the sweepers who were driven to despair and cornered like animals. The two sides fought bitterly, as though possessed by bloodlust and driven mad by rage, but there was no doubt as to what the end result would be. Cloudhawk, however, was focused on the Queen¡¯s disappearing silhouette. There was no way she had won as easily as it had seemed! Cloudhawk had noticed that after she had used that final dazzling attack, it seemed as though something inside her body had been completely wrung dry, almost like a reservoir that had lost all of its water. Although she looked as cold and powerful as before, she had already reached her limits. He could sense that the ripples emanating from within her body had dropped down to an incredibly weak level. Cloudhawk felt certain that if another powerful foe appeared, the Queen would have no chance to fight back at all. She was clearly very powerful; clearly, she could¡¯ve slain the sweeper leader with ease using a much less taxing attack. Why, then, had she taken on such a huge risk in expending all of her energy to kill him in such a manner? There was only one possible answer for this. She was putting on a false front, a show. Cloudhawk suspected that this attack against the outpost wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. The sweepers had probably been employed or driven to launch this attack, and it was likely that the person hiding behind them was the one who had created that sandstorm at the very beginning. This battle most likely had nothing to do with the sweepers or Blackflag Outpost at all. Instead, it was a test, a little skirmish between two freaks who both possessed supernatural powers. Still, what mattered was that this brutal battle was about to come to an end, thanks to the defeat of the sweeper leader. The surviving sweepers finally began to flee, abandoning their vehicles, their mounts, their weapons, and their equipment. All of those things were being claimed by Blackflag Outpost as spoils of war, and the outpost guards and mercenaries were all excitedly surrounding and claiming various piles of items as their own. ¡°Everyone else is charging forwards to get their share of the spoils.¡± Slyfox stared at Cloudhawk as though he was an idiot. ¡°But you don¡¯t seem interested at all. Do you have shit for brains?¡± ¡°The only thing I want right now is a good, long sleep.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s adrenaline rush had ended with the battle, and a wave of exhaustion had just come crashing down on him. How could he possibly have any energy or interest in running forward to pick up some spoils? Besides, he really didn¡¯t believe that these savage men would let a kid like him get anything nice! Slyfox saw that Cloudhawk was indeed covered with wounds, and so he just waved his hands in an extremely impatient manner. ¡°Fine, fine. Hurry up and fuck off already. Go to Mantis¡¯ workshop and get those wounds treated. I aint got any time to worry about your sorry ass.¡± Cloudhawk nodded, then immediately departed from this noisy, boisterous scene of looting. The rugged streets of Blackflag Outpost were quite silent. Mice and other animals were rustling through the weeds, occasionally popping their heads out. They were drawn by the stench of blood in the air. Right now, this place truly did look like a lifeless, barren wasteland. Cloudhawk was extremely tired in body, mind, and soul. The beast wave and the sweeper battalion had been incredibly dangerous, and he was once more reminded that staying alive in the wastelands was no easy feat. There was no such thing as a truly safe harbor in the wastelands, not even in the outposts. They walked a thin line between life and death, and the outposts themselves were fragile things. Cloudhawk was starting to want to leave¡­ and what he had seen today was reinforcing those budding thoughts. On one side, there was a hidden, unknown figure capable of controlling and creating sandstorms. On the other side, there was a Bloodsoaked Queen who wielded an inconceivable amount of power. What feud existed between the two? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know, and he didn¡¯t want to know. However, he knew that if two figures like them began to fight with Blackflag Outpost being their battlefield, this place would never be safe to live in. Today was just the beginning. Who knew what the future would bring? But if he left the outpost, where would he go? The wastelands were so vast and endless as to engender a sense of despair, and they were so cruel that they could devour anyone¡¯s innocent dreams or ideals. Was there truly no such thing as a safe place to live in this vast world? Just as Cloudhawk¡¯s tired mind was throwing out these random thoughts, he was suddenly able sense those faint ripples once more. They seemed very similar to the ripples he had sensed from the Queen. Cloudhawk frantically looked right and left, but was unable to see anyone at all. No one was here. Was this a hallucination caused by excessive blood loss? Cloudhawk continued to carefully scrutinize the area. Finally, his gaze turned towards a small, unremarkable alleyway. Those strange ripples were coming from that direction. No way. That place was absolutely foul and filled with refuse and excrement. Who in the world would go there? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t certain what these ripples were, but felt certain that it wasn¡¯t just a hallucination. He decided to go over there and take a look¡­ but when he did, he was badly startled by what he saw in front of him. There was a human silhouette within the alleyway. The person was seated on the ground, half-slumped against the wall. The person¡¯s mask was turned directly towards Cloudhawk, and the deep eyes hidden beneath the mask seemed to be staring death at him. This was the terrifying woman he had seen just a short while ago¡­ the Bloodsoaked Queen! Cloudhawk¡¯s first instinct was to run. This freak of a woman had been able to crush maneaters as easily as ants. To her, someone like Cloudhawk would be even less than an ant. But just as he took his first step to run, he suddenly halted. The Queen¡¯s arms were resting on the ground, seemingly powerless, and a thin trickle of blood was actually streaming out from the edges of that savage mask. She remained slumped against the wall, not moving or making even the slightest of sounds. Drip. Drip. Drops of crimson blood landed on her clothes, staining them with a large, bloody patch. Was the Queen dead? No way! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 29 The Queen’s True Visage Cloudhawk stared at her for another long moment, then carefully crept forwards to take a closer look. The Bloodsoaked Queen simply lay there, seeming completely lifeless. Blood continued to trickle out from underneath her mask, and she looked no different from a corpse. Just a few moments ago, she had invincibly swept through all opposition! How was it that she had inexplicably perished just a few moments later? Cloudhawk stared at the Queen, his face filled with confusion. The savage mask was completely inscrutable, and nothing but darkness could be seen underneath the eye-sockets of the mask. He couldn¡¯t see her eyes at all, but he still felt as though he was being stared at. He couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze slowly turned downwards, only to notice that her chest was slowly rising and falling by just the tiniest of amounts. The Queen was still breathing. That meant she wasn¡¯t dead yet! What had happened? Had she suffered a serious injury which caused her to pass out on the spot? Cloudhawk felt certain that his guess was spot on. The Queen probably had already been injured; she had forced herself to put on a strong front when she dealt with the sweeper leader, and the reason she immediately left in such a hurry was because she knew that she was on the verge of passing out. And yet, before she managed to return to her own residence she passed out in this alleyway. All of this was simply inconceivable! The almighty, invincible commander of Blackflag Outpost, the Bloodsoaked Queen, was lying here in the alleyway, completely helpless. Even someone as weak as Cloudhawk could do anything he pleased to her. If others discovered her or if word of her presence here spread, it would probably cause an enormous commotion. The spoils didn¡¯t take too long to divvy up. Some people were already beginning to return to their homes in the outpost. The Bloodsoaked Queen was in a very dangerous position. There were assuredly many who were dissatisfied with her reign, and wastelanders were vicious and sly; there was no way they would give up such a golden opportunity. What was he to do? Should he simply ignore her and leave her to her fate? Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze paused for a few moments on her gloves and her cross. The minute vibrations emanating from them caused his heart to tremble as well. By now, it was all but confirmed that the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s power came from those gloves and that cross. She was able to use that strange energy in her body to activate these unique items, giving birth to incredibly destructive forces. Cloudhawk reached up, clutching his stone necklace in his hands. This stone of his was definitely an extraordinary item, but he hadn¡¯t been able to find the proper way to use it. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡­ was there some sort of a connection between the Queen¡¯s special equipment and his stone? If he could learn her abilities, would he gain access to supernatural abilities like her? This prospect was incredibly enticing to him. The stone really hadn¡¯t done much during the past month. He was in desperate need of someone sufficiently knowledgeable who could teach him about it. No, no way. This is crazy dangerous. Her nickname is the Bloodsoaked Queen! That name alone proves that she¡¯s not exactly a nice person. Even Slyfox was extremely wary of her! Given how powerful this woman was, it was entirely possible that she would recover within minutes. If Cloudhawk decided to be a busybody¡­ he could almost imagine what would happen. Perhaps it was best to leave. There was nothing more important than staying alive. She¡¯s neither family nor friend. None of my damn business if she lives or dies. Even if he did save the Queen, she wouldn¡¯t necessarily show him any gratitude¡­ and even if she was grateful, she wouldn¡¯t necessarily teach him her techniques. And even if she DID teach him her techniques, they might not be useful in activating that special stone! The risks here were enormous. The more Cloudhawk thought about it, the more he felt it wasn¡¯t worth it. It was better to not get involved and to leave immediately. He had made up his mind, and he was going to leave immediately. If the Queen suddenly woke up and saw him lurking around here, she would probably wipe him out without a second thought. To her, it would probably be as easy as crushing a bug! But just as Cloudhawk turned to leave, he was suddenly arrested in his tracks. Wait a second! Cloudhawk suddenly thought back to those strange words the mysterious man had said. The Bloodsoaked Queen seemed to have a unique background. She wasn¡¯t from Blackflag Outpost; in fact, she wasn¡¯t even a wastelander. Then¡­ where did she come from? Was there actually something beyond the wastelands? If there was¡­ what type of a world was it? Had that dreamy world of the Old Times truly been completely destroyed? Ever since his earliest days, Cloudhawk¡¯s greatest dream was to leave the wastelands. Blackflag Outpost was nothing more than a temporary residence for him. Cloudhawk felt certain that he would leave this place, sooner or later, and embark on a journey through the wastes. If he continued to just remain here as a mercenary, he would be trapped in the wastelands for all his life. In the end he would die a meaningless death and turn into yet another wastelands corpse, as he had in that dream. Saving this woman carried inherent risks; there was no question about that at all. But¡­ there was no way he would have a second opportunity at this. Was he really going to give up his one and only chance? Cloudhawk felt as though his head was exploding. Countless conflicting thoughts were clashing in his head, smashing together like meteors and creating countless sparks. In the end, one desire blazed hotter and hotter, becoming so powerful that it completely overwhelmed all of his other worries. ¡°Fuck it. If I die, I die!¡± Cloudhawk grabbed a piece of tattered cloth, covered the Queen with it, then lifted her onto his back. This woman was terrifyingly powerful, capable of stopping blades with her bare hands. But right now, she was so weak that she didn¡¯t seem to have so much as a single bone in her body. She was like a soft, elastic ball of cotton¡­ and this was doubly true for her ample, perky bosom which pressed against him. Although Cloudhawk¡¯s young age meant that he didn¡¯t really understand much about the affairs between men and women, he knew that no wastelander woman could ever be like her. Thunk. Cloudhawk used his leg to kick open the battered door to his wooden residence, then piggy-back carried the Queen in, his forehead matted with sweat. He first put her down on his bed, then ran outside to scan the area. After verifying that no one had trailed him back or had noticed him, he carefully crept back inside and shut the door. Cloudhawk sat there in front of his bed, his mind a complete blank. He was still uneasy, and he didn¡¯t know if he had made the correct decision or not. The Bloodsoaked Queen was someone who cut down men like grass. Last year, she had killed the previous commander as soon as she arrived at Blackflag Outpost, then used absolutely bloody methods to wipe out any who dared oppose her rule. She had then established iron order upon the outpost, and no one who dared to violate her rules would be spared! She was like a chunk of cold iron, a cold-blooded tyrant. However, Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t experienced any of that himself, and so he didn¡¯t really truly ¡®know¡¯ what she was like. But if Slyfox knew what he had just done, Slyfox would¡¯ve been so furious that he unquestionably would¡¯ve executed Cloudhawk with a single shot. Did the kid really think that the Queen would be grateful to him just because he had saved her? When she woke up¡­ in order to preserve her image of invincibility and her rule, the very first thing she would do would be to get rid of this busybody kid. Honestly, he was probably the only person in the entire outpost who would make such a stupid decision. And it really was a stupid decision! Even Cloudhawk knew it, but he felt he had no choice. The allure of the outside world was simply too great for him. He desperately wanted to learn more about what lay outside the wastes. Can I become as strong as the Queen? Will my dreams end up as just that; empty dreams that will never be realized? Is there really a ¡®heaven¡¯ that exists outside the wastelands, or is there nothing more than an even greater wasteland? Cloudhawk felt extremely nervous and restless. Not only was he worried about how the Queen would react, he was worried about if his dream would vanish like a popped bubble. He wasn¡¯t satisfied with living an ant¡¯s life, with simply surviving one day at a time. He wanted to live, to truly live. He wouldn¡¯t give up any chance of that! Deep breaths, buddy. Deep breaths. Cloudhawk forced himself to calm down, then wiped his face and stood up. What sort of a face lay under that savage mask? An equally savage, hideous, and violent one? Did she look like a monster, with glaring fangs and a savage mien? But in this era and in this place, not even the most hideous, monstrous, and disgusting of faces would cause Cloudhawk to feel even a hint of surprise. Cloudhawk took a deep breath, summoning all his courage and tamping down the fear in his heart. He then reached out to lift the mask up, wanting to satisfy his curiosity¡­ and he was thunderstruck by what he saw. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes bulged out, and his entire face froze. He stared blankly at the face in front of him. Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that a face like this was hidden behind that terrifying, savage mask. Willowy eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, cherry-red lips¡­ this was the epitome of classical beauty. The woman had a high nose, and a head of long and smooth night-black hair. She was tall and slender but had curves in all the right places. She truly had every single trait of Asian standards of beauty, and when you factored in her absolutely alabaster-white skin¡­ she truly was flawless and without blemish. The demonic Bloodsoaked Queen, who the members of Blackflag Outpost venerated like a god, had the youthful face of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl. Her eyes were tightly shut, her long eyelashes were fluttering slightly, and she was wincing slightly as though she was in pain. Even the most hard-hearted of men would feel a desire to protect and cherish her. This maiden was several years older than Cloudhawk, but Cloudhawk had never seen anyone as beautiful as her. She couldn¡¯t even be spoken of in the same breath as the ugly, coarse humans of the wastelands. She truly was like an angel that had fallen from the heavens. No one would ever conflate the merciless, murderous Bloodsoaked Queen with this statuesque, jade-like beauty. This world really was a crazy place! Cloudhawk grabbed a towel, then used it to help clean her bloodstained face. He moved with the utmost of caution and care, as though he was cleansing a priceless work of art. The Queen¡¯s beautiful crimson lips trembled a few times, and a wince of pain once more appeared on her surpassingly beautiful features. Cloudhawk hurriedly went to find some water, bringing it to the Queen¡¯s lips. The Queen gulped down water in large mouthfuls before the anguished look on her face slowly relaxed, but she still did not wake up. Cloudhawk removed the gloves from her hands. As he did so, he sensed a strange type of power tremble through them. These gloves clearly were no ordinary gloves; otherwise, how could they possibly have allowed her to block that world-shattering knife-strike with them? With the gloves gone, a bloody scar was now visible within the Queen¡¯s right hand. Her fair, tender skin had been cut open. It seemed as though using her hand to block that strike hadn¡¯t been as simple as it had appeared. Cloudhawk ran over to Mantis¡¯ workshop, grabbed some medicine, bandages, and tools, then ran back and helped bind the Queen¡¯s wounds in a simple manner. But her wounds definitely weren¡¯t limited to the external ones he could see. She had definitely suffered heavier injuries than he had imagined, and she had been unconscious for much longer than he had expected. Thankfully, he had brought her back. Otherwise, she definitely would¡¯ve been discovered in that alleyway by someone else. There was a limit to what Cloudhawk could do. Right now, her life was in her own hands. As Cloudhawk sat down to relax, he couldn¡¯t help but turn to look at the Queen¡¯s chest. It was virtually impossible for wastelander women to have such a voluptuous figure, simply because there wasn¡¯t enough food for most of them. However, the young Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t really interested in her chest, nor did he have any evil designs on her. What really attracted his attention was that white cross. Now that was a truly powerful item. The Queen had used it to chop the sweeper leader in half! Cloudhawk reached out towards it, wanting to take a closer look at it¡­ but right at that moment, the Queen¡¯s tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. Oh, shit. Cloudhawk was caught completely off-guard. His hand was right over the Queen¡¯s chest, and it was far too late for him to draw back. Fast. Incomprehensibly fast! The Queen¡¯s slender, jade-like right hand struck out with lightning speed, latching onto Cloudhawk¡¯s wrist and trapping it with the power of a steel vise, then gave it a sharp tug. Ow ow ow OW! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have a chance to cry out before his head was sent smashing straight into the headboard. An icy aura instantly filled the entire room as though a blizzard had suddenly descended upon it as waves of undisguised, murderous rage seemed to crash down upon Cloudhawk! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 30 The Children of the Gods The Bloodsoaked Queen hadn¡¯t completely lost all consciousness. Even though she had been nearly insensate, she had still been able to maintain a strand of conscious thought. She had felt as though she had fallen into an endless black hole of darkness, pain, and exhaustion. She was like someone who was drowning into a bottomless pool of water; no matter how she struggled, there was nothing she could do. This sense of despair had been dragging her further and further downwards, and that stifling sensation caused her will to suffer. To fall into that endless slumber would be a form of escape. Why did she have to live while weighed down by so many burdens? But as soon as this thought appeared, a thought that was a thousand times more powerful instantly arose and overwhelmed it: No. I cannot die! My mission is not yet complete. I cannot fall before I have done what I sought out to do! I must find him and kill him, not just for revenge, not just to cleanse my clan¡¯s reputation, but because it is my responsibility as a child of the gods¡­ and my mission as a demonhunter! If I have to die, I¡¯ll die a glorious death in battle, not a shameful death in a place like this! ¡°Almighty gods, please give your devout follower the strength to uphold my convictions!¡± It seemed as though the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s resolute, pious prayer had been effective. Energy poured into her exhausted, enervated frame, allowing her to regain partial consciousness. Alas, her mind was still fogged and she wasn¡¯t able to move in the slightest. She could only sense that she was now in a completely foreign environment. Someone was walking back and forth in the area around her. The person actually used a moist cloth to wipe away at her face. This caused the Queen to feel both rage and terror. These were the gods-forsaken wastelands. If she ended up falling under the control of these ugly, vile, and brutish wastelanders while she was too weak to fight back¡­ she didn¡¯t even dare imagine what was going to happen to her! The Bloodsoaked Queen was unable to control any part of her body; she couldn¡¯t do so much as twitch her fingers. Gradually, her mind once more began to sink into that dazed fugue state, but the fiery pain in her throat caused her to feel extremely miserable. Water. She needed water¡­ A while later, she felt something cool and refreshing being poured into her mouth. She instinctively gulped at the water, feeling that fiery sensation in her throat slowly subside. Her body now felt much more comfortable than before, and as a result she once more fell into a deep slumber. By the time she woke up once more, she had already regained part of her strength. When she suddenly opened her clear, jewel-bright eyes, the first thing she saw was a dilapidated ceiling that had cracks in it, allowing her to clearly see the light of the stars spilling in from outside. It was night time? She had actually been passed out for nearly an entire day! But before she had a chance to think on what this meant, she suddenly saw a dirty hand begin to furtively stretch out towards her chest. This caused every slumbering cell within the Queen¡¯s body to awaken and burst with furious power. She leapt to her feet with the agility of a female panther, then grabbed that offending, impudent hand with thunderbolt speed and pulled it backwards, hard. As for her other hand, she used it to press down on the bastard¡¯s head. The Queen poured all of her power into that right hand of hers¡­ but the head did not instantly explode into countless pieces. Which was odd. Only now did the Queen realize, to her astonishment, that her right hand was now wrapped in dirty, crude bandages which smelled faintly of medicine. Her gloves had already been removed. Cloudhawk could immediately and clearly sense those strange ripples emanating from the Queen¡¯s body. There was no mistaking it; it was this power which allowed her to use her strange equipment! If I hadn¡¯t removed her gloves to treat her wounds, my fucking head would¡¯ve been burnt to a cinder by now. This woman really was a nasty character! ¡°Calm down, calm down! I¡¯m just an ordinary mercenary of Blackflag Outpost.¡± Cloudhawk was in so much pain that large beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. ¡°I saw you had passed out, so I brought you back to treat your wounds. I didn¡¯t do anything else, honest!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± The Queen was still gripped by shock and rage; clearly, she didn¡¯t believe him. Her voice, however, was extremely pleasant to the ear; it sounded like the tinkling of fine jade or the singing of a bird. It carried an alluring, magnetic quality to it. Although her voice was quite cold, it also contained undisguisable hints of her youthfulness. The demonic mask definitely contained some sort of voice-altering mechanism. The Bloodsoaked Queen could sense that her body was still very weak. She wasn¡¯t sure how long she would be able to maintain her current state, and so she immediately began to study her surroundings. She was in a small, crude, and dilapidated wooden room that was so small there was almost no place to stand. There was a battered wooden desk that had a damaged clay basin atop it, and a bloody towel which was soaking inside the basin. The surrounding area was strewn with ripped ribbons, and there was also a half-filled bottle of an unknown liquid that emanated a strange medicinal fragrance. As for the person in her hands, he was a half-grown boy of fifteen years of age. He wasn¡¯t very tall, but he was extremely thin. His black hair was tousled and his entire body was covered with filth as well as wounds. Some of the wounds were old, some were new. He looked the same as any of the other wastelanders she had seen, but there was an alert, honest look in his eyes that made him seem like a decent person. ¡°Who else saw me?¡± The Queen could sense her body growing weaker and weaker, and she couldn¡¯t help but slightly loosen her grip over Cloudhawk. In the wastelands, only the law of survival of the fittest applied. If anyone else saw how weak and powerless she was right now, things would turn grim for her. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°N-no one! Everyone was busy divvying up the spoils from the sweepers. I found you in an alleyway and secretly brought you back. Nobody else saw you besides me.¡± Cloudhawk knew exactly what the Queen was worried about. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell a soul. No one will know that you¡¯ve been injured.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, but not out of anger; rather, she was just too tired and too weak, so weak that she no longer had the strength to keep him pressed down. Her vise-like grip loosened around his elbow, and Cloudhawk immediately scurried several steps backwards. The Bloodsoaked Queen hurriedly tore off the bandages and put on her powerful gloves, but from start to finish her wary gaze had yet to leave Cloudhawk. She first moved to the doorway, scanning the outside area and making sure that there was no one else hidden nearby. She then inspected herself. Her clothes seemed to be in good shape, and there was no sign that anything inappropriate had happened. Had the kid been telling the truth? Cloudhawk shrugged helplessly. ¡°Now can you trust me?¡± ¡°Why were you following me?!¡± The Queen¡¯s voice was still filled with cold hostility. There was no way someone would¡¯ve found her ¡®by coincidence¡¯ immediately after she passed out. ¡°What are you scheming? Who are you!¡± Cloudhawk hesitated for a moment, but when he saw that murderous look in her eyes he hurriedly explained, ¡°I d-d-didn¡¯t! You got it all wrong. Your gloves and your cross were emanating a strange sound that I could hear from far away. I followed them and was able to find you.¡± The Queen¡¯s face turned dark. ¡°Lying to me will result in a very painful death.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, I swear! I can hear sounds coming from the gloves and the cross.¡± Cloudhawk could sense that she really was at the very verge of killing him. A sudden thought crossed his panicked mind, and he immediately called out, ¡°I know that there was someone else outside the outpost who also had powers like yours, and I was able to hear him coming as well!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen paused, startled. This didn¡¯t seem plausible at all. She had never heard of anything like this before! Her face slowly turned calmer, but her wariness didn¡¯t lessen one bit as she allowed Cloudhawk to continue to speak. ¡°That person didn¡¯t show himself, but I know that he was the one who summoned the sandstorm. I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? I¡¯m really not lying to you!¡± ¡°Then tell me, what sort of sound can you hear?¡± ¡°It sounds like guitar strings being plucked. It has a very unique rhythm to it.¡± Cloudhawk closed his eyes, carefully attuning himself to those sounds. ¡°Each piece of equipment has a different sound, a very strange song.¡± ¡°How could a heathen wastelander abandoned by the gods possibly hear the song of my sacred relics? Not even legendary demonhunters have such an ability! Are you truly a wastelander?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen stared intently at him, searching for a weakness or a hint of deception in his young face. In truth, her desire to kill him had not lessened in the slightest. If she saw the slightest hint of artifice, she would immediately attack without any hesitation or remorse. Cloudhawk nodded dumbly, a look of complete sincerity in his eyes. He didn¡¯t look like he was lying or holding anything back at all. However, he suddenly seemed to think of something as a look of dazzling excitement appeared in his eyes. He asked in a rather urgent manner, ¡°You called me a ¡®heathen wastelander¡¯. That means there¡¯s more to this world than just the wastelands. Are there places outside the wastelands?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen said coldly, ¡°That is none of your concern!¡± ¡°No. I must know. Please tell me, where did you come from?¡± Cloudhawk was so excited that he actually forgot his fear of her. ¡°What is that place like?¡± Does this kid not realize the situation he is in? The Bloodsoaked Queen truly was very fragile and weak right now, but if she wanted to get rid of this kid she would be able to do it with ease. However, when the kid stared at her she could see the hope and desire in his gaze. The emotions and dreams he held in his heart seemed to be pure and completely free of any doubt whatsoever, and his eyes were filled with the same resolute faith as that of the true believers when they bowed towards Sumeru, the mountain of the gods. A foul, despicable heathen who had been abandoned by the gods shouldn¡¯t be able to have a gaze like this¡­ and yet, he was most surely destined to live and die within the wastelands! ¡°I come from a land which is blessed by the light of the gods. The gods have created countless miracles in our world, and the land they have blessed is both fertile and bountiful, allowing those who live off that land to want for nothing. The gods bestowed us with intelligence and wisdom, letting all live peaceful lives of joy and leisure. There is no pain there, no sickness, no murder¡­¡± That¡¯s it. That¡¯s the place. That¡¯s the place I¡¯ve been dreaming of, ever since I was young! The place which Cloudhawk had fantasized about for so long really did exist! Cloudhawk felt dazed, but he also felt a ball of fire burning brightly within his chest. It was like he was a lost wanderer who had suddenly found his bearings again, as though a world of darkness had suddenly been cleft apart by a flicker of light. ¡°Can I go there?¡± ¡°Hah! In your dreams!¡± The Queen¡¯s response was like a bucket of ice water being poured over him, dousing his excitement. She glanced at the kid in front of her with a look of utter contempt. ¡°This place is a thousand miles away from Elysium. What makes you think you are strong enough to even get there? Putting that aside, what makes you think a lowly heathen like yourself would ever be permitted to bathe in the glory of the gods?¡± But her words had no effect. Cloudhawk had already decided that no matter how hard the journey was or how far he had to travel, he would still go to that distant place. ¡°What of you?¡± Cloudhawk hesitated a short moment, then asked her the question. ¡°You are from that place. Why did you abandon it to come to the¡­¡± Cloudhawk could tell that the Queen was an extremely proud person. She was looking at Cloudhawk as though he was a rat she had just fished out of a sewer! If she hated the wastelands this much, if her world really was so perfect and pure, then what had driven her to abandon this ¡®land of the faithful¡¯ which she was so proud of? What had driven her to come here, to the dangerous, filthy, and barbaric wastelands, and stay here for over a year? Why had she chosen to live her life in this rat-infested outpost? But Cloudhawk fell silent before he could finish his question. A bone-piercing chill had just filled the small room, and he felt certain that the actual temperature had just dropped by several degrees. He sensed an all-consuming hatred radiating from the Queen, an uncontrollable desire to kill that was mixed in with unspeakable grief. If Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t personally experienced this feeling, he never would¡¯ve believed that this beautiful woman, as perfect as a work of art, was capable of radiating an aura that was every bit as baleful and murderous as the most savage of wasteland beasts! The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s eyes had been completely filled with cold hatred. She ground her teeth, then said something which Cloudhawk did not comprehend whatsoever: ¡°I am hunting a demon!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 31 A Dangerous Woman She had left those fertile lands which had been blessed by the gods, travelling alone. This was the reason why. She was only sixteen years of age, but she had discarded her noble birth and her glorious future. This was the reason why. She had entered the gods-forsaken wastelands, spending more than a year of her life in this place. This was the reason why. The Bloodsoaked Queen knew that her mission was a deadly one, but as a pious warrior, an exalted demonhunter, and a child of the glorious gods, she had long ago lost all her fear of death! ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Cloudhawk had no idea what she was saying. He scratched his head. ¡°What¡¯s a ¡®demon¡¯?¡± But as soon as he spoke, he regretted it. The Queen turned a disdainful, appalled look towards him, as though she was staring at a mosquito that knew about nothing save buzzing in an irritating fashion. This feeling was quite an unpleasant one. The Queen let out a cold snort. Wastelanders were ignorant and foolish beyond belief. They were faithless and had no sense of honor whatsoever. They knew not of the grace of the gods, nor did they know of the vileness of the demons. The Queen felt that she was committing a great sin just speaking with such a heathen; it was as though conversing with him was a form of blasphemy against the divine spirits. But then, a feeling of exhaustion and powerlessness once more swept over her. She wasn¡¯t sure how much longer she would be able to remain standing; there was no way she could waste any more time here. Right now, she had to immediately leave this place. She turned her gaze towards the young wastelander, slight hesitation in her eyes. Mixed emotions flashed through her gaze before it finally turned as hard and cold as steel. Oh, fuck. She still wants to silence me?! Cloudhawk hurriedly took a few steps back. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen said coldly, ¡°I cannot let anyone find out about my injuries. Once this information is leaked, it is possible that the entire Blackflag Outpost will be butchered almost immediately. I have to get rid of any chance of this happening¡­ but fear not. You die in the service of the gods, and so I will pray for your soul and ensure that in your next life, you shall be born as one of the blessed citizens of the sacred elysian lands.¡± ¡°Are you serious? This is so completely unfair.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen ignored his protestations, taking a single step forwards. Cloudhawk could clearly sense a type of ripple emerge from the Queen¡¯s gloves and enter the air around him. When the ripples spread out, they clashed with the various material particles in the air, causing every single air particle to vibrate at a different frequency than before. That thrumming sound once more filled his ears. A flame appeared out of nowhere within the Queen¡¯s hands. Cloudhawk was now thoroughly stunned. What type of power was this?! Still, this didn¡¯t seem to be the right time to find out. Cloudhawk called out frantically, ¡°I saved your life! Are people from the elysian lands all as ungrateful and treacherous as you? Is this how the ¡®gods¡¯ you speak of teach you to treat people who helped you out?¡± ¡°Thus sayeth the gods: The blood of the wastelands is most foul, and there is no need to show wastelanders any mercy at all!¡± The Queen¡¯s movements began to speed up. ¡°And I cannot take any risks!¡± Her face was turning pale once more, and a few beads of sweat could be seen atop her fair, snow-white skin. She was doing her best to suppress the agony which was wracking her body. As the ripples emanating from her gloves began to increase in power, the air around her began to vibrate more intensely than before, resulting in a heat wave emanating from around her. The runes on the Queen¡¯s gloves were already lit up. She was ready to strike¡­ but Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to just sit there and wait for death. As the Queen reached out at frightening speeds to grab him, he suddenly shouted loudly, ¡°Slyfox! Save me!¡± Eh?! The Queen hesitated slightly. Slyfox was a famous member of Blackflag Outpost, legendary for his craftiness and his schemes. Was he nearby? The Queen was momentarily distracted by this possibility, and Cloudhawk seized the moment to pounce straight towards her like a leopard. Damn. What a sly fellow! The Bloodsoaked Queen immediately reached out towards him once more. Her gloves held enough power to burn a maneater into charcoal; if she so much as brushed this wastelander kid with it, he would instantly be burnt into a crisp. Cloudhawk hurriedly dodged sideways, the gloves just barely missing his shoulders. The Queen was every bit as skilled as Mad Dog, and she was possibly even stronger; otherwise, how could she have been able to receive that thunderous blow from the sweeper leader with her bare hand? However, she was so weak right now that her movements were far slower than normal. Bang! As Cloudhawk dodged her attacked, he punched her right in her perfect face. Hard. As someone who had grown up in the wastelands, he had never heard of the concept of ¡®chivalry¡¯. Who gave a fuck that she was a ¡®peerless beauty¡¯? The only thing Cloudhawk knew and cared about was that she was trying to kill him. If he didn¡¯t fight as hard as he could, he¡¯d definitely be the one to die¡­ and so he really did hit her with everything he had, smacking her so hard that she saw stars. ¡°You bastard!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen was filled with a towering rage. She had never imagined that this wastelander brat would be so alert and so audacious. She was a demonhunter, a warrior of the gods¡­ and she had just been smacked in the face by an underage, half-grown wastelander boy. What an utter humiliation! ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you try to backstab people who helped you out!¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t expected to actually land his attack, and his unexpected success was a huge morale boost to him. If this woman was gonna go after him, then he was going to knock her on her ass before she had a chance to recover her full strength. After knocking her out, he¡¯d tie her up and try to figure out what to do with her. Cloudhawk was not the spineless, cowardly type. How could a coward possibly spend all his time dreaming about leaving the wastelands and entering an unknown world? He aimed his second punch straight at the Queen¡¯s tall, graceful nose! The Bloodsoaked Queen dodged his attack, seeming to move slowly but somehow managing to just barely avoid his punch as she reached out with her right hand and latched onto Cloudhawk¡¯s wrist. The Queen had undergone formal combat training; even in the bad shape she was currently in, she had more than enough oomph left to deal with a half-trained brat like this! Crap! Cloudhawk was so terrified that he felt as though his soul was about to leave his body. The Bloodsoaked Queen might have almost no power left, but what she did have was enough to finish him off! Cloudhawk could clearly sense a ripple or a vibration emanate from her gloves, undulating in a serpentine fashion as it spread across his entire body. This power was capable of affecting every single tiny particle in his body, causing them to vibrate at a frequency which would generate tremendously high temperatures and heat. What type of attack was this? How was this attack formed? Cloudhawk had no idea, nor did he care to find out at a time like this. He only had one thought in his mind: Oh, fuck. I¡¯m gonna be charcoaled. But just as Cloudhawk felt absolutely certain that his doom was nigh, he suddenly felt a resonant response coming from the stone around his neck. It sucked in all of the strange energy the Bloodsoaked Queen was pouring into his body via her glove, almost like a sponge sucking in water. What¡¯s going on? Why is my energy disappearing as soon as it is going into the kid¡¯s body? The Bloodsoaked Queen had never encountered something like this before, and for a moment she was caught completely off-guard¡­ and a heartbeat later, an ice-cold object was pressed straight against her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t move an inch.¡± Cloudhawk was holding a crude, ungainly shotgun in his hands. Although large beads of sweat had accumulated on his brows, his gaze was completely focused on the Bloodsoaked Queen. ¡°I¡¯m feeling really trigger-happy right now.¡± The Queen¡¯s gaze flickered a few times, then she said in a very calm voice, ¡°Then go ahead and pull it.¡± Cloudhawk suddenly felt a sharp object pressing against his own chest. He glanced downwards¡­ and his eyes bulged out. The Queen had somehow pulled out a short dart without him even realizing it. If she pushed it forward by so much as half an inch, it would go straight into his heart. Cloudhawk forced out a smile. ¡°That little thing? It might or might not be able to kill me¡­ but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll survive a shotgun blast to the face.¡± The Queen said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m betting that your gun isn¡¯t loaded!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s shotgun really wasn¡¯t loaded. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s guess was spot-on, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let any of it show on his face or in his eyes. Instead, he applied a bit more pressure to the trigger, as though he truly was ready to fire at any moment. The Bloodsoaked Queen had wanted to trick Cloudhawk into revealing something, but the wastelander kid was much stronger mentally than she had imagined. Although she felt that it was likely that this shotgun had no pellets in it, given the situation she didn¡¯t dare to act rashly either. The Queen wasn¡¯t afraid of dying. What she feared was dying without meaning! Cloudhawk was feeling nervous as well. He knew very well that he was putting on a false front right now. The Queen might be very weak, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t believe that he¡¯d be able to beat her in a fight. A dying tiger was still a tiger; even in its death-throes, it wouldn¡¯t be beaten by a mosquito, much less a half-grown one! What should he do? Cloudhawk had no idea as to how he should break this stalemate! But just as the tension was building to a crescendo, peals of laughter suddenly rang out from afar. The mercenaries had come back. Cloudhawk could hear Slyfox guffawing merrily, and some of the mercenaries were actually calling out to him: ¡°Brat! Brat! Get out here!¡± ¡°Come take a look at what we brought ya!¡± This time, it was the Queen who turned pale. Slyfox really had arrived! He was an extraordinarily talented, sly, and vicious man. Given the shape the Queen was in, there was no way she could fight him right now, much less the many other mercenaries Slyfox had brought with him. If she was discovered¡­ she didn¡¯t even want to imagine what would happen. Damn. What was she to do? Was she really about to perish by the hands of these filthy wastelander heathens? Cloudhawk could see the blood draining from the Queen¡¯s beautiful face, and he could also hear the footsteps of the mercenaries drawing closer and closer. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He knew exactly what type of person that fat bastard was; Slyfox was completely unscrupulous, vicious, and a notorious lecher. Who knew what would happen if the Queen fell into his hands? ¡°Hey!¡± Cloudhawk put down the shotgun. ¡°Hide!¡± The Queen was slightly startled. She had been planning to kill him¡­ but he still wanted to help her? Cloudhawk stared at her. ¡°I can¡¯t let you die yet! Hurry up and hide. If Slyfox sees you, you¡¯ll be screwed. He¡¯s a total pervert!¡± Slyfox¡¯s lecherous nature wasn¡¯t exactly a secret; virtually everyone in the base knew it. But the problem was, Cloudhawk¡¯s tiny room had nothing more than a shabby bed and a rickety table, and those things took up virtually all of his space. There was nowhere to hide someone! ¡°Onto the bed!¡± By now, the mercenary footsteps were coming from just a few meters away. Cloudhawk had no time to consider anything else; he suddenly pushed the Queen onto his bed, covered her with his grungy blankets, then lay down on the bed as well. The bed was a tiny one, and so the two were forced to squeeze together to fit on it. How could she possibly be ¡®hidden¡¯ on the bed? They¡¯d have to be blind not to notice her! But the Queen had no time to react, because the door to the room had just been kicked open. A heartbeat later, Slyfox swaggered straight inside. Cloudhawk hurriedly squeezed closer towards her. The Bloodsoaked Queen was actually a bit taller than him, and her figure was both slender and curvaceous, her form both soft and firm. Cloudhawk had the clear feeling that he was lying next to a female leopard that was capable of exploding with tremendous power at any moment. This was the first time for him to be in such close contact with a woman. Cloudhawk felt nervous, but he also felt some other strange feelings rippling through his heart. This was a completely new sensation for him, but he was in no mood to savor it. The woman was simply too dangerous! She suddenly snaked her arm out around him, pressing herself tightly against him from behind. It looked as though she was embracing him under the covers, a very intimate and loving gesture. This was the first time for the half-grown Cloudhawk to experience the feeling of a young, lithe, and beautiful woman pressing against him¡­ but he had no time to enjoy it, because the Queen had just pressed something cold, slick, and sharp directly against his throat. If he so much as moved the wrong way, something very, very bad was going to happen to him. This crazy bitch still doesn¡¯t trust me?! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 32 Purposeful Poisoning ¡°Fuck, kid, why haven¡¯t you lit the lamps?¡± Slyfox boomed loudly as he squeezed his fat figure into the small room. Cloudhawk could sense the softness of the Queen¡¯s body, the warmth of her breath against his neck¡­ and the hardness of the sharp weapon her long, slender hands were pressing against his neck from beneath the grungy covers. Shocked? Horrified? Tense? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to describe his current state of mind. It was an inexplicable, indescribable type of sensation, and even he didn¡¯t know what he was feeling right now. Slyfox let out a rather irritated snort. ¡°Are you dead? Say something! And why are you still on the bed? Get your ass up!¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare to show that anything was off, much less leave the bed. He said in an intentionally feeble voice, ¡°I need to rest. Stop bothering me!¡± ¡°Fuck that! You just got nicked a few times. Since when have you been such a wimp? Don¡¯t you want your share of the spoils?¡± Slyfox walked over, tossing a large silver coat of fur over towards Cloudhawk. It was actually a very complete wolf pelt! Judging from the size of the thing, it had to have been skinned from the alpha rotwolf. ¡°Check it out. This is a really great piece of fur; its both warm and tough. You can even make it into a suit of top-notch leather armor. Man, you really should be thanking your lucky stars. Oh yeah, you can keep the shotgun too. Consider that part of your spoils.¡± ¡°What the hell? These things belonged to me to begin with!¡± Cloudhawk had been the one to kill the alpha rotwolf, and he had found the shotgun on the field of battle. The fat bastard was acting like he was giving Cloudhawk some nice gifts when in reality he was just giving Cloudhawk things that were rightfully his to begin with! ¡°Don¡¯t be a brat. Do you think you would¡¯ve gotten anything at all if I hadn¡¯t fought over them for you? Hey, I¡¯m talking to you! Why the fuck are you still lying¡­¡± Slyfox¡¯s words suddenly trailed off as he noticed what was happening on the bed. Although the room was very dim and he couldn¡¯t make out many details, he could still tell that someone was lying next to Cloudhawk, most likely a woman. Judging from her posture, she was cuddling the little bastard. A perplexed yet amused look suddenly appeared on Slyfox¡¯s face. ¡°Ohoho! So you¡¯ve finally learned to have some fun, eh? Hidin¡¯ a woman in your room¡­ lemme take a look at her.¡± They¡¯d been discovered! The Queen tensed even further, pressing the dart slightly harder against Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. Cloudhawk felt as though the dart was about to stab straight through his skin. He immediately began to sweat heavily as he called out, ¡°Who I¡¯m sleeping with is none of your business! I-I¡­ I¡¯m naked. Get the fuck outta here!¡± ¡°HAH! No wonder you are in such a pissy mood. I get pissed too when someone interrupts me mid-shag. We¡¯re all men. I get it, I get it! But y¡¯know, that woman of yours seems to have a really nice body. How does she look? Is she a slut? Lemme take a look. Hell, I¡¯ll teach you a few moves on the spot. I¡¯m a grandmaster in this area, y¡¯know.¡± The Queen began to tremble, her rage and her frustration having reached a boiling point. As for Cloudhawk, he felt so frightened that his soul was at the verge of fleeing from his body. This fat fucking bastard was about to get him killed. He hurriedly shouted, ¡°Fatass, are you trying to steal my woman from me?¡± ¡°WHAT!? You no-good sonufa¡­ do you have any idea how many women I got? Why the fuck would I try to take yours, you brat?¡± Slyfox seemed to have been truly affronted by this suggestion, and he instantly started to curse at Cloudhawk. ¡°I was plannin¡¯ to invite you to the banquet we¡¯re holdin¡¯, but since yer busy dealin¡¯ with this woman I¡¯ll leave you to it. Let¡¯s get the hell outta here, guys.¡± Still grumbling and cursing, Slyfox left the room. The mercenaries outside all began to let out mocking shouts. ¡°So the kid found a woman for himself?¡± ¡°My mind is completely blown!¡± Quite a few of them craned to stare inwards with depraved looks in their eyes, curious as to what type of woman this half-grown brat could possibly find. ¡°Stop staring. He¡¯s probably a virgin. How the hell is he gonna stay hard with all y¡¯all staring at him?¡± Slyfox let out a loud guffaw. ¡°Plenty of women in the world!¡± The mercenaries roared with laughter as they left. With the mercenaries gone, Cloudhawk let out a relieved sigh. Moments later, he tensed up again. He immediately said to the woman behind him, ¡°Don¡¯t get mad at me. I just wanted to get them outta here as soon as I could. I¡¯m sorry if I offended you.¡± The Queen¡¯s hand suddenly slumped down powerlessly. She made no response at all! Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but use his elbow to nudge her slightly. ¡°They left already!¡± The Queen slowly began to curl into a fetal position, still not saying a single word. Something was wrong! Cloudhawk turned to look at her. Only now did Cloudhawk realize that her face was ashen, and that her lips were blue. A few strands of her black hair had been plastered to her face by sweat, and her entire body was trembling slightly. It looked as though she was gripped by tremendous pain. ¡°Is the injury acting up again?¡± Cloudhawk hurriedly lit a lamp, only to see that her teeth were tightly clenched. She clearly wasn¡¯t in the mood to worry about the rather disrespectful words he had said earlier. Cloudhawk looked at her closely. ¡°Where were you hurt?¡± Cloudhawk swept the Queen¡¯s lithesome form with his gaze. He noticed that there were a number of holes in the front of her clothes, and he immediately pulled them open, revealing a number of wounds across her taut, firm belly. The wounds weren¡¯t that deep, but they looked badly infected. The once-white skin around the wounds had already turned dark and purple. What was going on here? CRACK! The Queen delivered a stinging slap to his face. She glared at him, forcing words out of her gritted teeth. ¡°Take your filthy paws off of me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve clearly been poisoned, and quite heavily. If this goes untreated, all of your internal organs will rot.¡± Cloudhawk finally understood why the Bloodsoaked Queen was so weak. A resigned yet curious look appeared in his eyes. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t look like you were bitten by an animal. What happened?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen growled out, ¡°None of your business. Fuck off!¡± ¡°Why are you such a pain to work with!¡± Cloudhawk was starting to grow pissed off as well. ¡°I saved you. TWICE. Not only are you being an ingrate, you are acting like an asshole. Oh, right¡­ you also tried to kill me! For fuck¡¯s sake, if it wasn¡¯t because you know of the world beyond the wastelands, do you really think I¡¯d be working so fucking hard to save you?¡± The Queen trembled with rage. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Just shut up! You won¡¯t be able to hang on for much longer. If you don¡¯t get treatment, you¡¯ll die.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I swear to you, if you die in my place, I¡¯ll have no choice but to strip you naked, eviscerate you, then stuff you like a doll. Given how pretty you are, you¡¯ll make a lovely souvenir. We¡¯ll stick you right in front of the outpost for everyone to see.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dare? Why the hell wouldn¡¯t I?¡± The Queen was noticeably growing weaker and weaker, and so Cloudhawk was becoming more and more daring. No matter what, he wouldn¡¯t let this woman die here. He wanted, needed, to learn a way out of the wastelands. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, then please work with me, alright?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen let out a few rattling coughs, a few flecks of blood flying out of her mouth. Oh, shit. This is bad. She¡¯s not gonna actually die here, is she? The Queen shut her eyes. After taking a few deep breaths, she opened her eyes again. No emotions could be seen in her gaze, and she now looked as calm and collected as ever. She said in a cold, calm voice, ¡°Three days ago, I was hunting after the demon. I found the place he was hiding, but accidentally revealed myself and ended up being attacked by his minions. I wiped them all out, but I paid a price¡­ and I was also struck by a poison dart.¡± As she spoke, she handed over the short dart she had been clenching this entire time. ¡°This was the thing you were using to threaten me earlier, right?¡± Cloudhawk accepted the poison dart. It was slick, barbed, and extremely sharp; clearly, this was a high-quality weapon. It was also smeared with something that was dark-green in color, and a few flakes of dried blood could be seen on its surface. No ordinary wastelander would ever have access to such a weapon. ¡°Fuck. That was close!¡± The Queen really was a vicious schemer. If she had so much as nicked him, he probably would be a goner by now! ¡°With so many of his minions killed, the demon naturally found out that I was here and hunting for him. However, he doesn¡¯t know much about me, nor does he know if there are other demonhunters working by my side. Given how slippery and crafty demons are, he won¡¯t reveal himself unless absolutely necessary. That¡¯s why he¡¯s chosen to watch from the shadows while sending out others to test me.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s voice turned deep and dark. ¡°The ¡®sweeper leader¡¯ you saw earlier today was one of his minions. Their real target wasn¡¯t the outpost; it was me.¡± Although he had guessed at this long ago, he still felt shocked upon hearing his suspicions confirmed. ¡°No wonder. You clearly were able to defeat him with ease, but you insisted on killing him in the most dramatic fashion possible.¡± Cloudhawk suddenly understood everything. ¡°You were putting on a false front! It was so obvious, even I could tell. Do you really think you fooled him?¡± The Queen stuttered slightly. She had felt certain that she had put on a flawless performance, revealing no weaknesses at all. How was it that the kid was able to see through everything? But she had most likely indeed been able to deceive her foe. Otherwise, there was no way things would¡¯ve ended that easily! ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me what a ¡®demon¡¯ is.¡± ¡°Demons are cruel, savage, vicious, venomous creatures. They are the source of all sin, the cause of all calamities, and they are the enemies of mankind. As a demonhunter blessed by the grace of the gods, my principal responsibility is to hunt down demons. Honorless, faithless heathens like you could never understand.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen slowly closed her eyes as she continued to speak. ¡°I have no idea how strong that demon was. I don¡¯t even know if the play I put on today was able to fool him. You¡¯ve saved me twice, so I¡¯ll give you fair warning ¨C leave this place immediately!¡± Cloudhawk was stunned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Blackflag Outpost is currently the most dangerous place in the wastelands. Its very existence is balanced on a steel wire, and the slightest wind could blow it off. The demon holds tremendous power in these wastelands. For him, destroying Blackflag Outpost is a very easy task. It might happen tomorrow. It might happen right now.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen opened her dark, jewel-like eyes again, a steady look in her gaze. ¡°If you leave right now, you might be able to escape. Flee, as fast as you can.¡± Cloudhawk still had no idea what a ¡®demon¡¯ was. Still, there was no reason for this female demonhunter to lie to him. The fact remained that she had been heavily injured by the minions of this ¡®demon¡¯, and she hadn¡¯t even been able to face it in person. This meant that there was an enormous gap in power between this young demonhunter and the ¡®demon¡¯ she spoke of. Blackflag Outpost might truly be in danger! Cloudhawk swallowed, hard. ¡°Fuck. I can feel a chill going down my spine. But¡­ why haven¡¯t you fled yourself? Given how badly hurt you are, there¡¯s no way you can win!¡± ¡°Flee?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen forced herself to sit up, leaning against the headboard of the bed. She was extremely weak, but she still possessed an aura of forlorn beauty. Her eyes were filled with ardent faith and firm resolution, as well a look of absolute disdain for the ignorant child before her. ¡°How can a wastelander ant possibly understand the faith and resolve of a demonhunter?¡± ¡°Alright, alright! I get it already. I¡¯m an ant, a bug. You are a noble demonhunter, a royal queen. Everyone gets it already. Do you really have to repeat this crap over and over?¡± Cloudhawk was getting rather impatient. ¡°No matter what, the first thing we have to do is to treat your wounds. There¡¯s a guy outside named ¡®Mantis¡¯. You should¡¯ve heard of him before, right? He loves to spend his time studying venomous insects and various poisons. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be able to help treat you. How about I call him over and have him treat you in secret?¡± ¡°Unacceptable!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen replied coldly, ¡°No one in the wastelands can be trusted. You can¡¯t let anyone see me in the state I¡¯m in!¡± This woman is crazy stubborn. What the hell am I supposed to do? Judging from the condition she was in, the poison shouldn¡¯t be too dangerous; otherwise, there was no way she could¡¯ve lasted for so long. Poisons meant to be pre-applied to weapons were generally formulated to be long-lasting rather than potent. There were some types of poison that could almost instantly kill a person, but they were only potent for very brief periods of time. When a battle suddenly erupted, there was often no time to properly apply poison to your weapons. Cloudhawk played with the dart for a few moments when suddenly, something clicked. ¡°I have an idea!¡± ¡°What is your id-¡­¡± Halfway through her words, the Queen fell silent. Her eyes bulged out as something completely unexpected happened. Cloudhawk suddenly stabbed himself in the arm with the poison dart, leaving behind a bloody wound on it. The Queen stared at him, completely dumbfounded. ¡°W-what are you¡­¡± ¡°Just wait here!¡± Cloudhawk was in such pain that sweat was pouring down his head, but he still squeezed out a smile. He seemed quite proud of this ¡®genius¡¯ idea of his. ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly and I¡¯ll save you!¡± As soon as he finished talking, he pushed the door open and left. ¡°Help! HELP! I¡¯ve been poisoned! Where¡¯s Mantis? WHERE¡¯S MANTIS?! I need him to save me!¡± The Queen just stared blankly as he charged out, not sure if she should laugh or cry. What the hell was wrong with the kid? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 33 Treatmen What gave Cloudhawk the courage to do such a thing? Sheer, absolute ignorance! As Cloudhawk saw it, if the Queen was able to survive multiple days without dying, the poison couldn¡¯t be all that powerful, right? He was a recovery metahuman. How could he possibly lose to a woman in this area? But soon, Cloudhawk realized that he was wrong. Completely, breathtakingly wrong! Less than five minutes after the poison dart nicked his skin, he realized that he had completely lost all feeling in his entire arm. Large patches of skin had already begun to turn purplish-black. Cloudhawk was scared out of his wits, and he frantically half-ran, half-stumbled straight towards Mantis¡¯ workshop! Mantis was in the middle of inspecting a new specimen. He adjusted his spectacles, cold light reflecting off the glass. ¡°How exactly did you end up being poisoned by a twin-headed viper?¡± Cloudhawk pretended to be completely confused as he vigorously shook his head. ¡°I must¡¯ve been ambushed by one of the sweepers during that fight. I didn¡¯t notice anything at first, but now my entire arm is numb!¡± Mantis gave him a deep, long glance. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?!¡± The look was making Cloudhawk¡¯s hair stand on end. ¡°Are you gonna save me or not?¡± Without saying another word, Mantis went to work. He began to mix together a number of strange medicinal fluids, producing two little jars of fluid which he handed over to Cloudhawk. ¡°The first should be smeared over the wound itself, ensuring that it doesn¡¯t fester. The second should be taken orally to flush the poison from your body. You¡¯ll recover in one day.¡± ...... The Queen¡¯s face was ashen, and she lay curled on the bed. Her crow-black hair was plastered to her face by her sweat, and her brows were knitted in pain. This dominating woman, who had been able to slay a three-meter tall maneater with a single slap, was now completely powerless. In fact, she looked rather sad and pitiable. When Cloudhawk pushed open the door and ran inside, she didn¡¯t react at all. Had she passed out again? Even if she hadn¡¯t, she was clearly in bad shape! You can¡¯t die. Even if you do die, you can¡¯t die here. I haven¡¯t asked you any of the questions I want to ask yet! Cloudhawk began to clumsily strip off her outer garments. Just as his hands touched her skin, her eyelashes fluttered slightly. A freezing look was in her eyes as she glared at him. She was using her gaze to warn him that he was making a dangerous, dangerous decision. When Cloudhawk saw the look in her eyes, he felt his heart clench in fear. Even though she was extremely weak, her glare still contained a mesmerizing, terrifying quality to it. She was an powerless yet peerless beauty. She was also an indomitable, fearless warrior. These two things should¡¯ve been completely contradictory, but they had somehow been joined together in her. What type of faith could produce someone like her? ¡°I thought you passed out.¡± Cloudhawk awkwardly pulled his hands back, then showed off the two bottles he was holding. ¡°I have the antidote here. Since you haven¡¯t passed out, you can go ahead and treat yourself.¡± This woman was not only powerful, she also had a terrible temper. Cloudhawk was terrified that she might slap him into mincemeat, and so he didn¡¯t dare to touch her. Instead, he obediently handed over the two bottles to her. The Queen felt both numb and powerless. She no longer had the strength to move at all. She tried to rise, only to discover that she was unable to do so. After numerous attempts, she finally gave up. Cloudhawk was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The Queen gave Cloudhawk a weighing look. Although he was a contemptible wastelander, he looked rather handsome and there didn¡¯t seem to be any ulterior motives visible in his eyes. ¡°You do it.¡± She had been born into a noble clan, was a proud hunter of demons, and had an innate sense of superiority over the wastelanders. As a result, she spoke in a very imperious manner, almost as though she was ordering a servant to do something. Didn¡¯t really matter though. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t mind her attitude. He blinked a few times, then mumbled softly, ¡°I can help you if you want, but if I accidentally see something I shouldn¡¯t see or touch something I shouldn¡¯t touch¡­ I¡¯m worried that you¡¯ll gouge my eyes out or chop my hands off. I reaaaally don¡¯t want to do this.¡± His concerns weren¡¯t completely unfounded. Given the Queen¡¯s personality, she was entirely capable of doing such things. The Queen gave him a hard glare. If looks could kill, Cloudhawk would¡¯ve died a hundred times over. ¡°Hmph. I¡¯m not as fussy as you think. I won¡¯t do anything to you as long as you don¡¯t try anything funny.¡± ¡°Fine, then.¡± Cloudhawk walked over rather reluctantly. He first helped her strip off her outer garments, revealing the tight, form-fitting black clothes underneath. This was a suit of armor that had been created from some sort of incredibly durable leather. The workmanship was exquisite and meticulous; there was no way something like this could¡¯ve been made in the wastelands. ¡°I, uh, have to take off this thing as well.¡± ¡°Shut up and do it!¡± The Queen¡¯s words were tough and disdainful, but her face was turning slightly flushed. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see anything further. This actually made Cloudhawk feel even more uneasy; she wouldn¡¯t kill him afterwards to silence him, would she? Still, there was nothing else he could do. Cloudhawk carefully unfastened her leather armor, but it was impossible for him to avoid all contact with her when he did this. Thanks to his control metapowers, Cloudhawk could clearly sense that her entire body would turn tense whenever he touched her. Clearly, this woman wasn¡¯t as open-minded about being touched by a man as she had claimed. Most of the leather armor had been removed, leaving behind a black undergarment that covered her upper chest. The rest of her body was now completely bare. Cloudhawk had never touched a woman before today, much less seen such a flawless form. Every inch of her body seemed to have been perfectly sculpted and molded. As for the black chest bindings, they were extremely tight but unable to completely disguise her curves. ¡°Watch your eyes!¡± The Queen¡¯s own eyes remained shut as she issued this warning. Cloudhawk quickly came back to his senses and hurriedly began to treat her wounds. Her injuries were even more severe than he had imagined; her side-belly had almost turned completely black by now. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t even imagine what sort of method she had used to contain the damage to this region, preventing it from spreading even further. Cloudhawk had learned a few things from Mantis, and as a result his movements were very clean and quick. He first used a scalpel to cut off the festering flesh around the wounds, letting the clotted blood flow out. He then poured some of the medicinal fluids over her wounds. The Queen furrowed her brows in pain, perhaps because the fluid stung, but didn¡¯t say a thing. She really was a tough woman. Cloudhawk himself was about to jump up and down from the pain he felt when smearing the medicine over her wounds. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to recover from these wounds in just one or two days.¡± Cloudhawk bandaged her wounds with cloth, then placed the remainder of the medicine to one side. ¡°Thankfully, I¡¯m a recovery metahuman and as such can heal quickly. I didn¡¯t need to use too much medicine for myself. All the rest is for you to use.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen had felt utterly humiliated by this entire process, but she had been out of options. She tightly clenched her fists. Thankfully, the kid hadn¡¯t tried to cop a feel in the process; otherwise, she really would¡¯ve chopped him until he turned into mincemeat. As for the medicine, it really did seem to be effective; her pain was already beginning to subside, and she immediately felt a sense of relief. ¡°I know Mantis¡¯ workshop like the back of my hand, and I memorized all the ingredients he used to create the antidote. If this isn¡¯t enough, I¡¯ll go back and steal some more for you.¡± Cloudhawk helped the Queen put on her garments once more. ¡°In short, don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll recover from this.¡± The Queen glanced at him rather unhappily. ¡°Stop chattering!¡± Man, she really is tough to deal with. Cloudhawk shook his head, then turned to leave. The Bloodsoaked Queen instantly felt puzzled. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Cloudhawk said helplessly, ¡°Your Royal Highness, if I wanted to do something bad to you I wouldn¡¯t have wasted all this time helping you. Can you cut it with all your suspicions? Just rest up. I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± ¡°YOU!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. How dare this wastelander act like this towards her? This was preposterously unacceptable! Roughly fifteen minutes later, Cloudhawk returned with a large pile of items in his arms. He had a few bottles of clean water, a few chunks of meat jerky, some medicine for puncture wounds, some freshly washed and cleaned bandages, and various other instruments needed to treat injuries. Cloudhawk picked up one of the chunks of jerky, chewing and swallowing while mumbling from the corner of his mouth, ¡°You were hurt pretty badly. I figured you¡¯d need some time to recover, so I grabbed some things we¡¯ll need.¡± Cloudhawk finished off the chunk of meat in just a few moments¡­ and right at this moment, a gurgling sound could be heard. The sound was very soft, but it was extremely noticeable given how silent the room was. The sound had come from the Queen¡¯s belly. She had been lying there like a jade statue, her eyes closed as she rested¡­ but now, her beautiful face almost instantly turned beet-red. The redness stretched all the way down her neck and up her ears, making her look rather adorable. Awkward. Really, really awkward. She had actually embarrassed herself in front of this heathen bastard. Oh gods, I want to find a hole to hide in. Cloudhawk continued to chew on his food as he mumbled, ¡°You hungry too, eh?¡± She let out a hard snort, not saying a word. No shit! Are you trying to piss me off on purpose? If he knew she was hungry, why couldn¡¯t he just hand her some food? Was he waiting for her to ask? The Queen was a very prideful person; she would rather starve to death than lower her head and ask a heathen wastelander for food! ¡°Wait a sec.¡± Cloudhawk poured some water into a bowl, then tore off a few strips of jerky and placed it into the bowl along with some bread. Moments later, he went to his doorway and lit a chunk of wood on fire, holding the bowl over it to warm it up. Only then did he bring the ¡®soup¡¯ back to the Queen. ¡°Your body is pretty weak right now. This will help you get better faster.¡± The Queen stared blankly at the warm bread-jerky soup, a few mixed emotions flickering through her clear, limpid eyes. ¡°I know you are used to better treatment, but this is the best food I have on me. In fact, I actually saved it up over the past few days as a special treat for myself. Just bear with it for now, alright? Need me to feed you?¡± ¡°No need.¡± The Queen had a rather complex look on her face as she took the crude, battered bowl into her hands. She took a small sip in a very delicate manner, allowing small chunks of rat jerky and hard bread to flow into her stomach along with the hot water. It really didn¡¯t taste that good, but she could feel some strength returning to her. Cloudhawk turned away as she ate, busying himself with other tasks. But right at this moment, a whisper-soft voice came from right behind him. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Cloudhawk was stunned. Was he hearing things? He turned around, a ¡®confused¡¯ look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s that? You say something?¡± ¡°Are you deaf? Fuck off!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s glare was so sharp, he felt as though it could chop him up into three parts. ¡°D-don¡¯t get mad. I just never imagined that a savage woman like you would ever say ¡®thank you¡¯ to anyone. I wasn¡¯t trying to make fun of you, honest!¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but let out two chortles. By now, he was certain that she was no longer as guarded against him as she had been. ¡°The ¡®Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯¡­ that sounds like a nickname. You should have a real name, right? Can you tell me?¡± The Queen finished the rest of the ¡®soup¡¯. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m tired too, actually, but there¡¯s only one bed. I guess we¡¯ll just have to squeeze together.¡± Cloudhawk had meant it as a joke, and the results were entirely predictable; the Queen¡¯s eyes glared murder at him. He hurriedly said, ¡°But you know, it¡¯s too tight a fit. I¡¯ll sleep on the ground.¡± That¡¯s more like it! The Queen said not a word of thanks as she lay back down on the bed. She didn¡¯t even answer any of my questions! Ah, forget it. No rush. Cloudhawk blew out the lamp, made himself a bed of straw, then covered himself with the wolf pelt which Slyfox had brought him. ¡°My name is Cloudhawk.¡± The Queen still didn¡¯t respond. Man, she sure is unfriendly. I guess she really doesn¡¯t like wastelanders. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t say anything further. To be honest, none of this really mattered. The wolf pelt stank terribly, but it was also very warm. It had been two days and two nights since he had last rested, and he quickly drifted off into the sweet land of slumber. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 34 The Outside World What were the wastelands like? They were filled with rot, filth, violence, barbarianism, and corruption! As for the wastelands, they served as the claws of the demons. They were born with sin in their blood, and were both hideous and revolting. This was why they had been banned from the Elysiums. The Bloodsoaked Queen was an incredibly devout and pious believer. She would never view wastelanders as humans, and it was not forbidden for elysians to show wastelanders any pity or mercy. They would be profaning the almighty gods if they did. But¡­ this Cloudhawk seemed to be different. Over the course of the next two days, the Bloodsoaked Queen gradually discovered that this wastelander youth didn¡¯t have too many bad habits. After poisoning himself with the dart in order to save her, he gave her the majority of what little food he had each day. He attentively helped her treat her injuries. When faced with her arrogance and her powerlessness, he didn¡¯t put on a show of being reluctantly tolerant of her either. He truly was an extremely rare breed of wastelander. By now, the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s attitude towards him had improved immensely. She was now strong enough to kill him with ease if she so chose. Should she? Should she get rid of the kid? Ah, forget it. The kid had unique sensory abilities; he might be able to help serve as an early-alert system for her. If she let him stay alive, he might be of use to her in her mission. Fighting against that demon was more important than anything else. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s desire to kill him gradually faded, allowing Cloudhawk to finally relax. Although she seemed cruel and savage, she was actually a very pure and sensitive person. She covered herself with a hard spiked shell of ice, but that was all for the sake of protecting herself in these cannibalistic wastelands. If she didn¡¯t force herself to be as tough as the wastelanders, how could she possibly hold them down? In addition, the Bloodsoaked Queen was a woman of many mysteries! She had come to the wastelands from a faraway land, all for the sake of hunting down one of those so-called ¡®demons¡¯. This couldn¡¯t be simply due to her calling as a demonhunter, right? The hatred she had accidentally revealed the last time he had talked to her about it was proof that this was a mission of revenge. The Bloodsoaked Queen was here as an avenger¡­ but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare ask her too much about herself. When Cloudhawk look at this tough, pious warrior woman, he felt as though he could see the glory, the sincerity, the steadfastness, and the virtuousness of the elysians. They were worlds apart from the brutish, twisted, brutal, and berserk wastelanders. This only made Cloudhawk long to visit the elysian lands even more. But of course, the Bloodsoaked Queen wasn¡¯t exactly easy to befriend. She was filled with a sense of superiority which Cloudhawk did not understand, and she seemed to feel as though living for a few days with a wastelander like Cloudhawk was the greatest stain and blot on her honor which she had ever experienced. It was as though the noble daughter of an empress had somehow been forced to live in a beggar¡¯s shack and share his food for days on end¡­ and the fact that the beggar had saved her life was the worst part of it! If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that she wanted to recover as quickly as possible in order to fight her mortal foe, there was no way she would¡¯ve accepted such humiliation! But the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s wariness continued to slowly lessen by the day, while Cloudhawk slowly grew more and more daring. Nagging, whining, pleading¡­ he used every option at his disposal to try and find out more about the outside world. He really was like a mosquito that buzzed around her all day long. How could the Bloodsoaked Queen not find him irritating? Still, compared to the other wastelanders the kid had his own good traits, such as his stubbornness and his tenacity. Although he was laughably foolish and ignorant, he really was an exceptional person for a wastelander. She had never before encountered any wastelander who dreamed of leaving the wastelands. As a result, every so often she would answer one of his questions. Based on the scant bits of information she provided, Cloudhawk slowly began to gain a brand new understanding of the outside world. Roughly 95% of the world was covered by the wastelands¡­ but there really were blessed lands. Only, they were all very, very far away, with the nearest one still being around 2000 kilometers away. The vast majority of wastelands vehicles rarely travelled more than 150 kilometers in any direction. You¡¯d run out of supplies and run out of fuel, and there would be no information about the area you were in. You¡¯d be swarmed by beasts, robbed by men, choked by sand, or perhaps fall into one of those terrifying regions where space and time were both twisted. There were countless unknown variables in any long-distance journey, and thus not even the most experienced of demonhunters would dare claim that they could definitely traverse the vast wastelands by themselves. A weak wastelander who spent all his days dreaming about leaving the wastelands was nothing more than a fool! The Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t even try to disguise her disdain for him, often throwing a few mocking words his way as she pointed out how foolish and unrealistic his dreams were. Even assuming this weak wastelander youth really was somehow able to survive his trip into elysian lands, did he really think they would let him in? Him, a lowborn heathen? But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let himself be discouraged by her words. In fact, he only grew even more excited. The elysian lands might be very far away, but they weren¡¯t unreachable. Having a goal to work for was better than just wandering about, completely lost! Even though he knew his chances were slim, he¡¯d still go fight for them. As for whether or not the elysians would accept him into Elysium? He didn¡¯t care about that at all. The kid¡¯s hopeless! The Bloodsoaked Queen eventually got bored of mocking him. What was the relationship between the ¡®gods¡¯ and the ¡®demons¡¯? Between the ¡®wastelands¡¯ and the ¡®elysian lands¡¯? Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t have a clear answer to this question, but he was slowly beginning to understand. The elysian lands were paradise, blessed with prosperity and filled with piety and faith. The gods had bestowed endless fertility onto the elysian lands, gracing them with countless crops which permitted all the elysians to eat to their hearts¡¯ content. The gods had blessed the elysian lands with special livestock that grew very rapidly, allowing all elysians to be able to drink the most delicious of cow¡¯s milk. As for the elysian children, the gods had blessed them with inconceivable power and wisdom. The gods had brought order and peace, casting all calamities, illnesses, and pains away from their elysians. They even bestowed mighty artifacts and special powers upon their demonhunters, then established vast cities and marvelous temples through which they wrought the most inconceivable of miracles. Every single person living in elysian lands was filled with nothing but the most absolute of respect towards the gods. As for the demons? As their names suggested, they were freaks and abominations that were completely antithetical to the gods. They were incredibly brutal and savage, filled with naked ambition and diabolical cunning. On numerous occasions, they had very nearly caused the destruction of the human race. It was only thanks to the guidance and the assistance of the gods that humanity had defeated the demons. Thanks to the many Elysiums which the gods had established, tens of millions of humans were able to live in peace and prosperity. The rest of the world, however, was consumed by the wastes. The wastelands had previously been dominated by the demons, and the ancestors of the wastelanders had supposedly been the servants of the demons. This was why wastelanders were usually hideous and brutal, and why they were not accepted into elysian lands! But that chaotic era of war had ended long ago, with the demons having all but vanished without a trace. The gods had unified the world, making it orderly and peaceful. Still, there were still a few demons hiding in the various corners of the world who foolishly sought to cause trouble, fomenting one vile scheme after another. The league of demonhunters had been established to put an end to their wicked sins. Demonhunters were the most elite warriors of the entire human race. They were all sincere, devout warriors of the gods who had been bestowed with special powers¡­ and as the title implied, their divine mission was to hunt demons. Each time the Bloodsoaked Queen mentioned the demonhunters, a look of indisguisable pride appeared within her eyes. She had been born into an entire clan of demonhunters, and she was the youngest and most talented demonhunter of her generation! Her father, her grandfather, her uncles¡­ all of them were glorious demonhunters! ¡­¡­ Cloudhawk shook the bottle of medicine, then shrugged his shoulders helplessly. ¡°We¡¯re out of medicine again. I¡¯ll have to steal a bit more from Mantis¡¯ workshop.¡± By now, the Bloodsoaked Queen had recovered approximately thirty to forty percent of her power. She no longer needed to fear anyone in the outpost¡­ but of course, she wasn¡¯t anywhere near strong enough to hunt demons yet. The Bloodsoaked Queen had yet to personally battle against any demon. When demonhunters went hunting, they generally moved in packs. The Bloodsoaked Queen had travelled all by herself to this place, so deep within the wastelands. Although she was undoubtedly brave, she was also undoubtedly rash. As for her injuries, they would take at least two weeks to heal! Her hope was that the enemy would give her at least that period of time to recover. The Bloodsoaked Queen rose to her feet, preparing to leave. ¡°Where are you going? You are still injured. You can¡¯t leave yet!¡± Cloudhawk hurriedly moved to stop her. He still didn¡¯t have the answers to his questions yet; if he let this opportunity slip away, he would probably never have another opportunity again. ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to continue hiding in this shabby room any further.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen had already made up her mind. ¡°I admit that you were of assistance to me. The warriors of the gods do not forget those who provided them succor! I can agree to any one request of yours, so long as it isn¡¯t an excessive one. Speak!¡± Cloudhawk was instantly stunned. The Bloodsoaked Queen was promising to help him out with a request? What incredible luck! If Cloudhawk so chose, he would consign any person in the outpost to death; who could possibly be a match for this freak in front of him? But of course, Cloudhawk would never waste an opportunity like this on something so pointless. ¡°I want to leave the wastelands!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen was quite displeased. She had already told him numerous times that this was impossible, and yet the kid continued to persist. Cloudhawk frowned, a frustrated look on his face. He thought the question over, then came to a decision. ¡°Then I want to learn demonhunter techniques. Can you teach them to me?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why would you want to learn that?¡± ¡°I just do!¡± Cloudhawk said firmly, ¡°Maybe I can become a demonhunter as well!¡± The Queen couldn¡¯t help but let out a laugh. They had spent several days living together, but this was the first time Cloudhawk had witnessed her smiling, and it truly stunned him. It was as though an iceberg that had remained frozen for ten millennia had suddenly thawed and melted, revealing the dazzling, lively, and beautiful soul hidden underneath it. For a moment, he was dazed by it. ¡°You obstinate, daydreaming fool!¡± The Queen¡¯s face quickly hardened once more. She said in her customary, cold voice, ¡°I can teach you, yes¡­ but I have to warn you right now that if you don¡¯t have the necessary talent or the blessings of the gods, these techniques will be completely useless to you, even if by some miracle you actually manage to master them.¡± Cloudhawk revealed a look of absolute ecstasy. He really hadn¡¯t expected her to agree¡­ but she really had! ¡°I don¡¯t care! I just want the chance to learn it!¡± ¡°If you truly are going to be so stubborn as to try and learn demonhunter techniques, then I¡¯ll teach you. However, I¡¯ll only teach you for a day.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen put her silver mask back on her face, and her voice became hoarse and grating once more. ¡°Come find me when you are ready.¡± After speaking, she departed from the room. Cloudhawk just stood there dumbly, staring as her willowy form departed. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 35 The Conviction of the Weak Nightfall. Training had concluded for the day, and the mercenaries had split off into small groups in search of entertainment. Cloudhawk, however, was stealthily creeping towards Mantis¡¯ workshop. He wanted to seize advantage of this period of time, when there was no one around, to rifle through Mantis¡¯ stash and pilfer a few jars of medicine. He remembered how Mantis had mixed the various restoratives and medicinal fluids, and he was sure he could do the same. Freaking Mantis. He keeps on ordering me around all the time. He can just consider this stuff my salary! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a saint who had come to save the masses, nor was he a gentleman who followed a code of chivalry. Blackflag Outpost was about to face a powerful enemy! This was what Cloudhawk was really concerned about. The stronger the Queen was, the safer the outpost would be¡­ and the safer the outpost would be, the safer Cloudhawk would be. Besides, befriending the Queen was a form of investment that might pay off in the future. He might be able to learn a few things from her. All done! Cloudhawk smugly cradled the two jars of medicine and prepared to leave. Right as he turned, he suddenly saw a tall, skinny figure standing directly behind him. The man stood there like a wraith, making no sound at all and covered in the darkness of dusky night. He had a silent, sinister aura about him, but no expressions could be seen on his face. His spectacles, however, gleamed with cold light. Cloudhawk nearly jumped into the air with fright. ¡°Are you a freaking ghost?!¡± When had this guy appeared? Why hadn¡¯t Cloudhawk noticed anything at all? Mantis turned his gaze to the jars of medicine Cloudhawk was holding. Cloudhawk had been caught red-handed, and there was no place for him to hide. All he could do was come up with a frantic, far-fetched excuse: ¡°I feel like I¡¯m still not completely healed yet, so I thought I¡¯d grab a bit more medicine. Don¡¯t be so stingy, alright?¡± Mantis¡¯ face remained blank and impassive, like an ever-frozen piece of ice. There was no way to tell whether he was angry or not. Swoosh! Mantis took a single step forwards, and as he did an ice-cold scalpel suddenly flew out from between his fingers. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes widened. Holy shit. It¡¯s just some medicine! Are you seriously gonna kill me over it? Mantis stalked forwards, as agile and as silent as a cat, his movements ghostly and unfathomable. The icy scalpel kissed Cloudhawk¡¯s ears as it flew past his head¡­ and then Mantis walked straight past Cloudhawk, not even glancing at the boy as he returned to his usual work station. Mantis put on his gloves, picked up his tools, lit a lamp, then began to carry out his normal work with his usual unflappability. Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes were completely matted with cold sweat. For those few seconds, he felt as though he had been facing a viper, as though he had attracted the attention of a death god. After he recovered from his fear, a surge of anger filled him. ¡°What the hell, man? Are you trying to scare me to death?¡± All three of the captains were bastards. Slyfox was insidiously vicious, Mad Dog was brutal and violent, while Mantis was completely unfathomable. However, Mantis¡¯ next words caused Cloudhawk¡¯s rage to completely vanish. Cloudhawk stood there, a stupefied look on his face. Mantis¡¯ voice was calm and cool, as though he was discussing nothing more than the most minor of matters, but his words were like a bolt of thunder. ¡°Her world is not meant for you. We were born into the darkness of the wastes, and to the darkness and the wastes we shall forever belong.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Mantis split open the corpse before him with precision using his scalpel, then said in his customarily emotionless voice, ¡°Just remember what I said. You can leave now.¡± The stunned Cloudhawk stood there for five full seconds. Mantis didn¡¯t turn to look at Cloudhawk, nor did he say anything further; he seemed completely absorbed in his research. By now, Cloudhawk was fairly familiar with Mantis¡¯ temperament. The man valued his words like gold, but he never spoke nonsense. Did this mysterious, secretive man know something? Cloudhawk wanted to ask, but in the end he swallowed his words. If Mantis didn¡¯t want to talk, there was no way Cloudhawk could pry any words out of him. Besides, this really didn¡¯t matter right now. The most important thing for the moment was to go find the Queen. He had no time to waste here, and so he immediately hugged the jars of medicine to him as he fled from Mantis¡¯ workshop. ¡­¡­ There was a large apartment compound at the very center of Blackflag Outpost. Not only was this structure large, it was also extremely sturdy; in the wastelands, it could absolutely be considered a luxurious mansion. Cloudhawk wanted to learn more about the world outside the wastelands, as well as the skills and techniques from that world. He grew more and more excited just thinking about it. He rubbed the stone hanging around his neck. Perhaps if he became a demonhunter, he would learn how to unleash the true power of this stone. This was why he insisted on learning demonhunter techniques from the Bloodsoaked Queen. Although he didn¡¯t know where the stone came from, he felt certain that it was extraordinary. But just as Cloudhawk was about to enter the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s private residence¡­ swish! A feathered arrow suddenly flew past Cloudhawk¡¯s nose and plunged into the boulder right next to him. A quarter of the arrow had been buried into the stone, and the feather was quivering. If it had been just a few centimeters to the right, it would¡¯ve blown a hole straight through Cloudhawk¡¯s head. ¡°This place is off limits for you. Fuck off!¡± An enormous man walked over, a number of elite guards by his side. Cloudhawk had seen this man before and recognized him; he was the (now only) captain of the elite guards, Grizzly! He was an elite expert who was on par with the three captains of the Tartarus mercenaries. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t be able to beat any of the elite guards, much less Grizzly himself. ¡°Why are you stopping me?¡± Cloudhawk stared straight at Grizzly, neither obsequious nor overbearing in his manner. ¡°The Bloodsoaked Queen has summoned me!¡± ¡°HAH!¡± ¡°Go piss in a pool and take a good look at yourself.¡± ¡°Do you really think the Queen would summon a brat like you?¡± The elite guards began to mock and jeer at him. ¡°So a rookie of the Tartarus mercenaries has come to my turf to cause trouble, eh?¡± Grizzly walked towards Cloudhawk, and it was like a mountain moving towards him. He stared at the brat before him, his bestial, hungry eyes glowing with anger. ¡°Not even Slyfox would dare to cause trouble here. You need to fuck off before I start to get seriously pissed.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t frightened by Grizzly¡¯s intimidating words at all. He glared right back at the mountain-sized man. ¡°You little shit.¡± Grizzly was infuriated by this. Just as he was about to strike, a hoarse voice suddenly rang out from inside the residence. ¡°Let him in!¡± The voice sounded like the hissing of a hundred serpents, and it was absolutely hair-raising. Grizzly came to a halt, a dazed look on his face. ¡°My Queen¡­¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s hoarse voice rang out a second time. ¡°Do you have any objections?¡± ¡°N-none at all!¡± Grizzly hurriedly stepped backwards in a respectful manner. He was a legendary warrior of Blackflag Outpost, the first captain of the elite guards¡­ yet he didn¡¯t even dare to breathe too loudly in the Queen¡¯s presence! Cloudhawk truly had to admire the Queen for this. There was no way someone like Grizzly could be easily tamed. Take Slyfox or Mad Dog as examples; although they feared the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s power, there was no way they would truly be willing to whole-heartedly submit to her! Grizzly watched as Cloudhawk sauntered straight into the Queen¡¯s private residence, a flicker of jealousy deep within his eyes. He had followed the Queen for nearly a year, but had never had a chance to enter her private residence. How had this piece of refuse which the Tartarus mercenaries had picked up from who-knows-where managed to worm his way into the Queen¡¯s good graces? How? HOW?! Several of the elite guards began to let out unhappy mutters. ¡°The Queen went missing for a few days. What¡¯s going on with her?¡± ¡°Not even our boss Grizzly has been permitted to enter her private residence. Why the hell was the kid allowed inside?¡± Grizzly barked, ¡°Shut it!¡± The guards exchanged a few glances, all of them falling silent. Why was the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s rule over Blackflag Outpost such a stable one? Her overwhelming power was one reason, but another very important reason was that she had the unswerving support of the elite guards. Grizzly was the leader of the elite guards. Why was it that he was so loyal to the Queen? This might be a mystery to others, but everyone in the elite guards knew the true reason. Alas, the Bloodsoaked Queen was cruel and proud; she viewed all wastelanders as ants for the crushing or wheat for the scything. She never viewed them as equals! All of the brothers of the elite guards felt bad for Grizzly; they felt it wasn¡¯t worth it. A complex look was in Grizzly¡¯s eyes. When the Bloodsoaked Queen had first come to Blackflag Outpost, Grizzly had, completely by accident and happenstance, managed to see her true face. It could be said that he was the very first person in the entire outpost to see her true visage. Although he had only caught a glimpse, her beauty was something out of this world and nothing which the wastelands could produce¡­ and it was burned into his mind like a searing hot iron. Grizzly had no idea where the Bloodsoaked Queen came from. He didn¡¯t know what she had experienced or what her goal was. He knew nothing about her at all¡­ and none of that mattered. Ever since he had seen her true face, Grizzly had felt as though he had found a pure, sacred oasis within the dark brutality of the world. This wasn¡¯t just the love and adoration which the weak felt towards the strong; it was a type of faith, a type of conviction which every single person had. Grizzly believed that he had discovered the most beautiful thing in the world. She was the most flawless of jewels, the flame of faith which lit the darkness around him. From that day forth, he decided to completely dedicate everything he had to protecting her. He might be a crude, despicable man who wasn¡¯t worthy of holding this divine treasure in his hands, but he absolutely would not allow anything or anyone else to violate it. Not even the slightest stain was acceptable! ¡°That kid¡­¡± Grizzy¡¯s large, iron-hard fists couldn¡¯t help but clench. He felt nauseous, as though he had just been forced to swallow a few dozen maggots! That dirty, low-down scavenger¡­ how the hell had he found himself in the Queen¡¯s favor? Why the hell was he being allowed into the Queen¡¯s residence? ¡°Grizzly, what say I grab a few of our brothers and¡­¡± One of the elite guards scanned the area, then carefully made a chopping gesture with his hand. Grizzly hesitated a moment. ¡°Be careful of the Tartarus mercenary. Slyfox is extremely protective of his people.¡± The elite guard chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. We¡¯ll kill him nice and clean. No one will suspect us at all.¡± Grizzly couldn¡¯t help but think of Wulf. If Wulf hadn¡¯t died, the elite squad wouldn¡¯t need to fear the Tartarus mercenaries at all. He had already lost his most loyal friend; there was no way he could allow the most sacred being in his world to be befouled and besmirched by a rat. She was the final thing keeping him alive in the dark world of the wastelands! That poor bastard, Cloudhawk, would have never imagined in his wildest dreams that Grizzly was so completely infatuated with the Bloodsoaked Queen¡­ and he definitely would¡¯ve never imagined that he had completely and thoroughly offended the entire elite guard squad of Blackflag Outpost because of this visit. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you so soon.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s raven-black hair spilled across her shoulders as she walked towards him. She wasn¡¯t dressed in her usual cape or leather armor, just a long robe. Her snowy white neck was long and graceful, making her look like a proud, noble swan. The slight hint of cleavage she was showing was enough to drive almost any man mad with lust, and her long, slender pale legs were just barely visible. Her legs were like the most perfect work of art, and they added to her cold, regal dignity and beauty. The only unpleasant thing about her was that hideous demon¡¯s mask. Cloudhawk was still too young and ignorant to be dazzled by her beauty, and his attention was drawn to something else. The bathroom had an entire tub of clean water that seemed to have been used, as it was slowly disappearing into the pipes. ¡°Were you taking a bath, just now?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were so round they threatened to pop out of his head. ¡°You used an entire tub¡¯s worth of clean water, just to take a bath?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 36 Accounts Settled Water was the most precious commodity in the wastelands. Six years ago, this outpost was nothing more than a lifeless sea of sand. A group of excavators came to this place to dig through the ruins, only to find a large amount of underground water. Ever since then, Blackflag Outpost quickly began to grow in population before ultimately reaching its current size. Water had created Blackflag Outpost. In the wastelands, those who controlled the water controlled the land. The amount of water the Queen used to bathe in daily was enough to keep Cloudhawk alive for nearly a month. Such wasteful extravagance! But what really caused Cloudhawk¡¯s heart to clench was the fact that this clean, pure water was used just for bathing¡­ because after the Queen finished her bath, she let it all go down the drain! To Cloudhawk, it wasn¡¯t water going down the pipes, it was blood, it was life itself! Cloudhawk suddenly said something with the utmost of sincerity. ¡°Your Majesty, would you be willing to give me all of your used bathwater?¡± These words were meant sincerely and without any intention to offend at all. However, in the ears of the Bloodsoaked Queen these words were insulting or perhaps mocking. Her gaze turned ice-cold. ¡°Say that one more time.¡± Cloudhawk had no idea how he had just enraged this fierce woman yet again, but he hurriedly changed the topic. He pulled out two jars of liquid from his pockets. ¡°I brought you your medicine. There should be more than enough to treat your wounds here.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s gaze softened. She accepted them without a word of thanks, then turned and said coldly, ¡°Follow me!¡± The Queen¡¯s residence was simply enormous. It had a kitchen, a dining room, a bedroom, a bath, a washroom, and more. One floor was just a single giant room that was completely empty, with no objects within it save a prayer mat. This was where the Queen spent much of her time training, meditating, and praying every day. ¡°Watch carefully.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen walked to the center of the giant training room, then slowly closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then her entire body went into motion as she began to perform a set of extremely strange movements. The entire set of movements contained a total of thirty-six different stances that were linked together as fluidly as water. The movements seemed very simple, but in reality contained many profound mysteries to them. The Queen moved extremely slowly. It took her a total of twenty minutes before she finally finished displaying the entire set of movements. ¡°Is that it?¡± Cloudhawk had been watching intently this entire time. Although he had a very strange feeling when watching, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact cause of it. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s the only thing you are gonna teach me. Are you messing with me?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen let out a cold snort. ¡°Try them out for yourself before you say anything!¡± Cloudhawk muttered disdainfully, ¡°What¡¯s so hard about them?¡± Guided by the Bloodsoaked Queen, he began to train in those movements as well. The strange thing was, as he performed the fourth movement he began to feel extremely tired. By the time he finished the fifth movement, his forehead was already covered in sweat. Every single inch of his body was aching by the sixth movement, as though his arms and legs were weighed down with thousand-pound weights. Finally, by the seventh movement, Cloudhawk could no longer hold back. ¡°Ow, ow, OW! That freaking hurts!¡± Cloudhawk felt as though every single muscle in his body was being ripped apart, with all the energy having been drained out of his cells. He felt such agonizing pain that he just plopped down onto the ground, moaning as he writhed in pain. The feeling was simply indescribable! Those movements looked very ordinary, and the Bloodsoaked Queen had managed to complete all of them without even working up a sweat. Cloudhawk, however, was in such pain by the seventh exhausting movement that he could no longer take it. Cloudhawk moaned and groaned for quite a few minutes before slowly starting to recover. He felt certain that he had been tricked, and he glared at the Queen accusingly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you demonhunters spend all your time practicing those movements! Are you all masochists?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen said placidly, ¡°This is a basic training exercise meant to temper the body. Only by training in it for extended periods of time can you unlock the potential within your body. It will stimulate every aspect of your body, accelerating your growth in every way as it helps you become more powerful through giving you metapower enhancements. This is nothing more than a basic training exercise for demonhunters.¡± Just a basic training exercise? The Bloodsoaked Queen seemed to know exactly what Cloudhawk was thinking. ¡°Although this is a basic technique, if you can fully complete all thirty-six movements and then gain some practical combat experience, you won¡¯t be weaker than any other person in this entire outpost.¡± Was this technique really that incredible? In the wastelands, metapowers were generally only activated over the course of multiple life-and-death situations. Cloudhawk had never thought that it would be possible to use a systemized training regime to increase his own strength and metapowers. It seemed as though demonhunters truly did have a few tricks up their sleeves. No wonder they were so strong! Right now, Cloudhawk would rather die than try out the complete set of exercises a second time. Still, he was able to separate those thirty-six movements and train in them separately, which was less taxing. He went through all thirty-six movements, slowly but firmly engraving all of them deep into his mind. By now, he had fully memorized all of them. At the very least, he would have gained access to a technique which would help him grow stronger. ¡°Wait a second!¡± Cloudhawk was no fool. He wasn¡¯t going to let her off the hook that easily! After having spent a considerable period of time silently memorizing the techniques, he suddenly seemed to wake up. He turned to the Queen and said in a loud, ¡®righteous¡¯ voice, ¡°I might be a kid, but I¡¯m not an idiot. Don¡¯t even think you can fool me that easily. You know full well that this isn¡¯t what I want to learn! I want to learn real techniques that will let me have the same special powers as you!¡± This set of training exercises could only be used to train, temper, and strengthen the body. What Cloudhawk really wanted to learn was how to use the same unfathomable, supernatural powers as the demonhunters had access to. Did the Bloodsoaked Queen really think she¡¯d be able to fob him off with a set of basic training movements? Screw that! ¡°Hmph. You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen said coldly, ¡°You haven¡¯t been blessed by the gods, and your mind has not been awoken to its psychic potential. Most importantly of all, you don¡¯t even have a divine relic. Do you really think that learning our techniques will give you access to our power? How laughable!¡± ¡°I insist on learning them!¡± Cloudhawk shook his head stubbornly. ¡°And what the heck are ¡®divine relics¡¯?¡± What were divine relics? In truth, these ¡®divine relics¡¯ were magical artifacts which the gods had bestowed upon mankind. The principal qualification needed to become a demonhunter was the ability to control and wield divine relics. There were many different relics with many different attributes. Some held sway over fire, wind, ice, earth, and other elemental powers. The vast majority of demonhunters could only become psychically resonant with one type of relic¡­ and the relics were at the core of the true power which they were able to wield. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s gloves and the cross hanging around her neck were both heaven-sent relics which the gods had bestowed upon their demonhunters. It was thanks to these mighty artifacts that the Bloodsoaked Queen possessed such inconceivable, supernatural power! But of course, having access to relics alone did not a demonhunter make. Demonhunters not only needed powerful relics, they also needed powerful reservoirs of psychic energy. Psychic energy, in and of itself, possessed no offensive power. However, once it was perfectly joined together with an attuned type of divine relic, it could create supernatural effects of unbelievable power. The more psychic energy a demonhunter possessed, the more power the demonhunter would be able to unleash from his or her relics. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s sacred crossblade of light was a divine relic. It normally hung around her neck in the form of an ordinary-looking cross, but when she filled it with her attuned psychic energy its true form as a sacred crossblade would be awakened, resulting in it transforming into a sword of light that could cut through all things! If the sacred crossblade of light fell into wastelander hands or into the hands of a demonhunter who had a different type of psychic energy, it would be of no use at all despite its tremendous power. Demonhunters were partially honored for their power, and partially because they were so incredibly few in number. Even in the blessed lands loved by the gods, very few people had the talent needed to become a demonhunter. As for the wastelands and its foul heathens who had been forsaken by the gods? They were born with tainted, corrupt blood in their veins. How could a place like this possibly give birth to someone with the talent needed to become a demonhunter? Thunk! The Bloodsoaked Queen tossed a pitch-black staff to the ground. This staff was made of an unknown material. It looked very slick, but didn¡¯t reflect any light at all. It was roughly three feet long, and it was topped with a tri-edged screw-blade that was incredibly sharp. This was a weapon that could be used to stab or to hack, and in both situations it would create huge, gaping wounds. The ¡®hilt¡¯ of this tri-bladed staff was round, metallic, and covered in squiggly lines that helped ensure the wielder was able to maintain a solid grip around it. At the very base of the staff was a mysterious rune that looked like the runes on the Queen¡¯s gloves and cross. A faint ripple of power emanated from the staff. Although the aura was very weak, there was no mistaking it at all. Completely surprised, Cloudhawk picked the staff up. ¡°So this is a relic as well?¡± Is this kid really able to hear a so-called ¡®song¡¯ from divine relics? A puzzled look appeared on the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s face. Still, she didn¡¯t spend too much time on this question as she began to give a fairly simple explanation. ¡°Rookie demonhunters are unable to take control over powerful relics, and so the Temple has created a number of low-grade weapons and armaments for them to use. This weapon is known as an ¡®exorcist rod¡¯. Although it isn¡¯t really a relic, it has the same properties as relics.¡± ¡°Are you giving this to me?¡± Cloudhawk felt shocked by this sudden display of favor. He lifted up the metal staff and gave it a few experimental twirls, then used his knuckles to rap it. Even if it was nothing more than an ordinary weapon, it was still quite a sturdy and powerful one; there was no way it would be as easily hacked through as an ordinary iron sword. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since low-grade relics like this were of any use to me.¡± No trace of emotion could be heard from the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s hoarse voice. ¡°Consider it my gift to you. Now, our accounts are settled. From this day forth, neither of us owe each other anything. You can leave now. Never come here again.¡± Damn, she¡¯s pretty heartless. Was it really necessary for her to draw such a clear line between the two of them? Wastelanders were human beings, same as her. Why were their lives supposedly worthless? Cloudhawk heaved a sigh. After having lived with each other for several days, he had thought that the Queen was beginning to view him a bit differently. Apparently, she felt just as disdainful towards him as she had from the start. Cloudhawk silently put away the exorcist rod, then said a single word solemnly: ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me.¡± The Queen turned and left the room, her hoarse and raspy voice ringing out behind her. ¡°Sooner or later, Blackflag Outpost is going to be embroiled into a huge battle. If you want to stay alive, you need to leave this place immediately. This is my final warning to you. From this day forth, it¡¯ll be as though we¡¯ve never met. You¡¯re on your own.¡± Cloudhawk slowly left the Queen¡¯s private residence. He stood in front of the entrance for a few moments, a blank look on his face and a rather uncomfortable feeling in his heart. The Bloodsoaked Queen was very young, but possessed incredible power. Even in the elysian lands, she had to be an incredible figure, right? Cloudhawk was nothing more than a scavenger who had struggled for most of his life to stay alive in the ruins. The gulf between the two was as vast as the empyrean moat which separated the heavens from the earth. There was no way to bridge that gap. For them to have met each other was nothing more than a complete accident, a twist of fate. Now, the lines of their destiny were about to untangle as they continued on their separate paths. In the end, it was guaranteed that they would never meet again. Cloudhawk shook his head vigorously. What the hell was he even thinking about? This was nothing more than a brief, chance meeting. Cloudhawk had helped the Queen survive the most dangerous period of her life, and the Queen had repaid him by giving him what he desired most. Now, their accounts were settled. Neither owed the other. This was an excellent ending¡­ right? The light of the moon bathed the quiet outpost in its glow. In truth, the outpost was almost terrifyingly silent tonight. Exorcist rod in hand, Cloudhawk began the trip back to the mercenary outpost. Halfway there, his heart rate suddenly began to speed up as a feeling of incredible unease began to fill his entire body, making him feel as though he had suddenly been dunked into a pool of cold water. He had a premonition of intense danger! ¡°Who is it?!¡± Cloudhawk barked towards the dark alleyway up ahead of him, ¡°Stop hiding! Come out!¡± These words seemed to part the darkness as a black silhouette suddenly charged out, hurtling a knife straight towards Cloudhawk. This strike had been aimed with perfect timing and from the perfect angle. The knife seemed to be filled with all the power and skill the knife thrower could muster, with no wasted motion and no flowery flourishes. Without question, this came from a seasoned warrior, a veteran of a hundred battles. An expert combatant was after his life! Cloudhawk instinctively lashed out with his exorcist rod, knocking the knife aside. As the tri-blade staff clanged against the knife, the knife was split in half while just the slightest of scratches appeared on the tri-blade. Although Cloudhawk had an absolute advantage in terms of weaponry, the difference in strength between the two was noticeable. His wrist blazed with pain, and the staff nearly flew out of his grasp. Cloudhawk hurriedly scampered backwards a few steps. Before he even had a chance to catch his footing, the black-garbed man came charging towards him with a second strike. The second knife cut out in a powerful yet beautiful arc, filled with highly focused power. The trajectory of the strike ensured that there was nowhere for Cloudhawk to dodge at all. Fortunately, Cloudhawk¡¯s reaction time was fast enough that he was able to block this second attack as well. Clang! Sparks erupted in midair, briefly lighting up the darkness of the night. Cloudhawk was finally knocked off-balance and sent tumbling to the ground from the power of this blow. He was sent rolling backwards on the ground in a clumsy fashion. The black-garbed man seemed hell-bent on his death, sending out yet another knife-strike slicing through the dark night towards Cloudhawk with meteoric speed. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 37 Exorcist Staff Cloudhawk had spent more than a full month ¡®training¡¯ every day with the mercenaries. Although he wasn¡¯t exactly strong, he wasn¡¯t a weakling either. Despite that, just two knife-strikes had knocked him completely off his game. That meant this bastard had to be roughly on par with some of the top-ranked members of the Tartarus mercenaries! The knife gleamed as it came howling towards him like a meteor. There was nowhere to run and no way to block. It seemed as though all hope was lost! Cloudhawk could feel the threat of death breathing down his neck, and his heart was filled with a mixture of shock, anger, and confusion. The rage in his chest and the madness deep inside his bones once more broke free from their shackles, as they had so long ago when he had killed that mutated hound. The adrenaline rush swept through every single part of his body, infiltrating every single cell and infusing him with strength! He slapped the ground with his left hand, righting himself and somersaulting to his feet. He then swung his right arm, lashing out with the staff. The tri-bladed staff swept out like a tornado, smashing directly into the knife and once more kicking up a storm of sparks. The black-garbed man was shocked. The kid had to be moving nearly twice as fast as he was before! And that wasn¡¯t the greatest transformation; the greatest transformation was in Cloudhawk¡¯s demeanor. Moments ago, Cloudhawk was like a gentle sheep that was about to be slaughtered. Now, he seemed to have transformed into a savage and infuriated wolf. Cloudhawk let out a furious roar¡­ then actually charged towards his enemy! He delivered five high-speed stabbing blows with his staff. There was no technique, no artifice, no subterfuge to these strikes; this was pure speed and viciousness! Every single strike seemed to howl through the air as Cloudhawk unleashed his latent, berserk side. It was as though he was going to kill this enemy no matter what, even if it cost him his own life! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of metal on metal rang out as sparks continued to fly everywhere. The two exchanged multiple blows within a short period of time¡­ and this time, it was Cloudhawk who was dominating the fight! The black-garbed man was forced onto the defensive, and he frantically blocked as he tried to deal with the shock he was feeling. What the hell? The kid¡¯s as mad as friggin¡¯ Mad Dog. He¡¯s gone totally berserk! However, this wasn¡¯t exactly the case. Whenever Mad Dog tasted blood, he would go into a completely berserk state where he had no control over himself at all. In contrast, Cloudhawk was able to maintain a modicum of clarity despite his berserk state. For example, he noticed that despite having launched a furious barrage of attacks his opponent was still able to defend as steady as a rock. Cloudhawk knew that this wasn¡¯t a fight to prolong, and so he suppressed the berserk emotions coursing through him and immediately turned to flee. Cloudhawk had always relied on two things to keep himself alive ¨C his preternaturally sharp bestial instincts, and power born from rage. The first was something he had been born with, while the latter was an ability that had been enhanced by the stone around his neck. However, it was evident that neither of these two things were going to be enough for him to deal with this foe in front of him. I need to get the hell out of here, as fast as I can! If I can make it back to the mercenary base, there¡¯ll be nothing he can do to me! This was what Cloudhawk was counting on, but just moments after he started to flee, two more figures suddenly appeared out of nowhere and barred his path, their swords shooting towards him like a pair of thunderbolts descending from the night skies. He had seen no trace of them earlier, and he didn¡¯t see where they came from; they were like gusts of wind that had just blown in from a world beyond. The timing and aim of these two swords were both immaculately perfect. They struck like a pincer, giving him nowhere to run and nowhere to hide! Cloudhawk frantically struck out with his tri-bladed staff, but was only able to block one of the two swords. Just as the staff clanked against the first sword, the second sword came piercing towards his throat. Cloudhawk frantically tried to dodge, but the sword still sliced a bloody wound in his shoulder as it flew past him. Cloudhawk delivered a furious backhanded blow with his staff, but his opponent leapt away quite agilely. The two swordsmen were flanking Cloudhawk from the front while the saber-wielder was chasing after him from behind. His path forwards was blocked, while the path backwards was also sealed. Cloudhawk was now like an animal trapped in a cage. His bloodshot gaze swept across the three, and he then let out a bestial growl: ¡°I don¡¯t know any of you. Why do you want to kill me!¡± There was no response! Cloudhawk was now surrounded by all three assassins. They immediately moved to attack, not hesitating or pausing in the slightest or wasting a single breath on conversation. They moved in perfect harmony with precision and speed. They were true warriors, true elites, true assassins. In terms of speed, timing, strength, and everything else, they worked together with perfect cohesion. By now, Cloudhawk could tell that there was nowhere for him to flee. He was surrounded by what felt like a ¡®web¡¯ of cold, metallic light. No matter where he moved or where he dodged, he would still be trapped within the web of attacks. The web of metallic death quickly began to shrink around him. In just another moment, his body would be torn asunder. Damn, damn, damn! Cloudhawk was boiling with rage and resentment. Why the hell were these people attacking him? None of this made no sense! Was he about to die without even knowing who was behind it or why? No matter what, he refused to accept that this would be how his destiny ended! ¡°FUCK OFF!¡± If he couldn¡¯t tell where the attacks were coming from, he wouldn¡¯t even look at them. His mind was completely blank as he swept out with his staff¡­ but as he did so, he could suddenly sense a strange sort of dormant energy in his body flow out into the staff. The runes on the exorcist rod instantly lit up. The tri-blades on the top of the staff suddenly began to spin so quickly that they seemed to transform into a cylindrical shape. This high speed, high friction movement caused sparks to appear that could be seen with the naked eye. As the exorcist rod swept outwards, it suddenly let out an indescribable shriek as it tore through the air. This wasn¡¯t a staff-strike. This was the summoning of a windstorm! The three warriors had never seen anything like this before. Despite their talent and experience, they were all stunned¡­ and in that brief instant, the exorcist rod slammed towards them, shattering the two swords and the saber as if they were made out of fragile glass and reducing them into tiny fragments. Even Cloudhawk was amazed to discover how powerful this strike from his exorcist rod was. It was actually beyond his ability to control. Right now, it wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk swinging the staff; it was the staff flying out with Cloudhawk attached to it! After completing the circular swing, the staff smashed directly into the ground. BOOM! The psychic energy burst out from the exorcist rod, striking out like a thunderbolt! The psychic storm kicked up by this explosion caused the metal fragments of the destroyed weapons to fly into the air, while the three attackers were blasted several meters backwards. Terrified, they scuttled backwards hurriedly before finally clambering to their feet. ¡°Let¡¯s get the hell outta here!¡± The three warriors were absolutely terrified, and they immediately moved to flee. They couldn¡¯t be blamed for their fear; Cloudhawk himself was about to piss his pants! What the hell had just happened? How was it that the power of the exorcist rod had suddenly been unleashed? The Bloodsoaked Queen had told him that demonhunters needed to be able to wield psychic energy, which required natural talent, painstaking training, and the blessings of the gods. Cloudhawk was a wastelander who had lived in the wastelands his entire life. Even if he did have the natural talent, he had never had a chance to train in it. The blessings of the gods? He didn¡¯t even know what the gods were! Could it be¡­? Cloudhawk suddenly thought back to the brief coma he had been in after that fight in the inn house. He had experienced a strange dream where he had met a strange man who spoke of giving Cloudhawk some power. When Cloudhawk had woken up he didn¡¯t really notice anything strange, and so he had believed it to be naught more than a dream. Could the dream have been real? Cloudhawk lifted up the exorcist rod, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could clearly sense the ripples emanating from inside the staff. Suddenly, it felt as though a guitar string had just been plucked within his mind, causing an indescribably marvelous sound to cry out. The tri-blades on the staff once more began to rotate at high speeds. Cloudhawk struck at a nearby rock with the staff. A tremendous surge of resonant power instantly swept out from the staff, and the rock was instantly shattered into countless pieces. Badass. This is freaking badass! Even Mad Dog would find it hard to resist such a heavy strike! Although Cloudhawk was fairly weak in many aspects, if he could use relics he would have a chance to be catapulted to the general level of the Bloodsoaked Queen. Cloudhawk was incredibly excited. How could he not be? He had been indescribably weak, but he now realized that he was capable of tremendous power. Naturally, his first instinct was to test it out even further. But just as he was about to strike a third time, he felt his vision grow dark. Pain flooded his mind, causing him to nearly lose his balance. It seemed as though these attacks would exhaust his psionic energy. There was no way to use those abilities nonstop! Can¡¯t stay here. Those three were so confident in being able to kill me, they didn¡¯t bring any bows or guns. If they come back fully armed, I¡¯m going to be completely screwed. Even though Cloudhawk now possessed tremendous destructive power, he was still very weak in many aspects. Sure, he might be able to beat back Mad Dog in a head-on clash, but if the two were in a real battle Mad Dog would never give him a chance to do that. Hell, Mad Dog would probably chop me into mincemeat before I even had a chance to strike! The wastelands remained a dangerous place. He couldn¡¯t be too brash. This bit of power he had just gained was far from being enough! Still, Cloudhawk remembered how the Bloodsoaked Queen had said that exorcist staffs were merely the lowest-level relics, relics that were mass-produced. Only newly trained rookie demonhunters would use these relics¡­ which meant that this tri-bladed staff really wasn¡¯t all that powerful, at least by the standards of the elysian lands. In other words¡­ if he could find more powerful relics, he¡¯d be able to unleash even more powerful attacks! Cloudhawk smiled at the thought, then put away the staff and quickly disappeared into the darkness of the night. ¡­¡­ The night was only growing darker. The cold light of the moon shone down from the skies, casting its pristine light upon the endless desolation of the wastelands. Cloudhawk was squatting within his own room, his hands clasped together and his face red with excitement. Even the veins on his body were popping out! He looked like he was suffering from some sort of strange, incurable disease, or as though he was trying to do something incredibly difficult with nothing to show for it. ¡°AAAAAH!¡± Cloudhawk let out a frustrated cry, then fell to the ground like a deflated balloon. He panted loudly, a look of frustration and defeat on his face. A stone lay quietly within his hands, not having changed one bit this entire time. Why wasn¡¯t the blasted thing doing anything!? Cloudhawk was clearly capable of using divine relics, but no matter how hard he tried or how hard he focused on the stone, he was unable to have any effect on it at all. The stone was still nothing more than a stone; it didn¡¯t seem to have any special effects at all! Cloudhawk felt incredibly, incredibly disappointed! Still, he felt certain that this stone contained some sort of inconceivable power within it. To this very day, he could clearly remember what had happened to him when he had found this stone within that dark underground passageway. He had been teleported straight into a completely foreign land. The memories of that experience had been engraved into his very bones! In that instant, Cloudhawk felt as though he had gained a brief glimpse into the true nature of all things. It seemed as though all things were in reality nothing more than a collection of strings. When these strings thrummed at different frequencies they resulted in different types of matter being formed, resulting in the world around them. Actually, come to think of it, the ¡®divine relics¡¯ really didn¡¯t seem to be that strange or mysterious. Cloudhawk could sense that these relics were capable of changing the frequency at which those ¡®strings¡¯ vibrated, causing matter to change and transform on a fundamental level. This was why they were able to unleash inconceivable amounts of power out of seemingly nowhere! This was also the reason why Cloudhawk continued to hear a ¡®song¡¯ from them. Cloudhawk had grown up alongside the old-timer. Ever since he was young, he had heard the old-timer speak of the things which had existed during the Old Times. In Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes, those things were full of mysteries and marvels. Perhaps divine relics were just products of an even higher-level technology? If he had mentioned this to the Bloodsoaked Queen, she would almost certainly have executed him for his blasphemous claim. To a pious devotee like her, divine relics were the products of the miracles which the almighty gods had bestowed upon their faithful. How could they be compared to artificial items created by mortal hands? Cloudhawk himself didn¡¯t really believe in or care about these so-called ¡®gods¡¯. If they truly were all-powerful and benevolent, why wouldn¡¯t they save all of mankind? Why wouldn¡¯t they save the wastelands? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 38 Mission Cloudhawk was brooding over the recent ambush. Those ambushers had been amongst the most skilled warriors the outpost had to offer, and enemies in the shadows were always harder to deal with than enemies you could see. If he was constantly harassed and stalked by these powerful assassins, he¡¯d never be able to rest easily. And so, the very next morning he immediately reported this matter to the other mercenaries. Mad Dog was slightly intrigued. ¡°Who the fuck would want to ambush you?¡± Cloudhawk had no idea either. ¡°All I know is that those three were really skilled. There has to be something strange going on.¡± ¡°Oho, is that so?¡± Mad Dog scratched his ears, then said in an intentionally puzzled voice, ¡°All three of them were really powerful ¡®experts¡¯, but they still couldn¡¯t kill you, eh? Poor bastards¡­ I wonder how the hell those fuckers even managed to stay alive for so long.¡± All the mercenaries roared with laughter when they heard this. Cloudhawk hurriedly revealed the slash-wound on his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding, you guys! Look, I got stabbed here! I almost died!¡± Even if the kid really had been attacked by someone, the mercenaries refused to believe that those people were ¡®experts¡¯; if three of them couldn¡¯t even kill a single rookie like Cloudhawk, how skilled could the possibly be? ¡°Arrright already. It was just an ambush. No big deal. Shit, who hasn¡¯t been ambushed? And why the hell were you running around outside anyhow? I told you not to! It¡¯s your own damn fault.¡± Mad Dog waved his hand impatiently, interrupting Cloudhawk. He then said in a loud voice, ¡°Listen up, everyone. All of you need to stay here and not go running around. Something big is about to go down.¡± Right at this moment, the sound of Woola¡¯s barks could suddenly be heard as Slyfox pulled Woola into the courtyard with a large steel chain around his neck. ¡°Gather around, everyone!¡± Woola walked towards Cloudhawk, letting out a few wild barks as a savage, threatening look appeared on his face. Most likely, he was quite irritated by Cloudhawk not having gone over to clean his kennel out over the past few days. After having lived here for so long, Cloudhawk no longer feared this strange freak as much as he had when he had first arrived, and so he pretended not to see anything. ¡°I¡¯ve got good news, everyone.¡± The fat man¡¯s voice boomed out, his face ruddy with excitement. ¡°The big guy just sent us a new mission, and the rewards will be enough to keep us fed for three years. Make your preparations, because we¡¯re headin¡¯ out immediately.¡± The ¡®big guy¡¯? Was this the figure Cloudhawk had seen last time, the black-clothed man who wore that strange breathing mask? Cloudhawk had a very uncomfortable feeling about this. That fellow had offered a bountiful reward for the stone Cloudhawk had found; was it possible that he knew some of the stone¡¯s secrets? If he managed to discover that Cloudhawk was the one holding the stone, Cloudhawk would probably end up dead. Slyfox began to issue orders to the various mercenaries. Mantis and two of the mercs would stay behind to stand guard over their home while all the rest would take part in this mission¡­ including their newest rookie, Cloudhawk. In other words, a total of twenty-seven figures would mobilize for this assignment. This was essentially all the power they had to spare. Slyfox was both a cautious yet cunning fellow. For him to go out on such a limb and devote so many resources to this mission was most likely due to the fact that the offer really was too good to refuse¡­ but that also meant that the danger they would face was similarly enormous. The mercenaries quickly began to make their preparations. As for Slyfox, he beamed merrily as he walked straight towards Cloudhawk. ¡°You are pretty lucky, kid; your first mission will be an incredibly profitable one. I¡¯ll tell you straight up ¨C once we finish this mission, we¡¯ll have all the wine and meat we want to eat, and all the big-breasted, big-butted women we want to enjoy. You¡¯ll be thanking me for days on end!¡± Like hell. Cloudhawk had learned from his previous mistakes; he¡¯d rather be locked up with a starving wolf for 48 hours than to believe a word this fat man said. Hell, he¡¯d rather believe the wolf wouldn¡¯t eat him! The more the fatty swore he was telling the truth, the more nervous Cloudhawk felt. ¡°¡­Can I stay back here with Mantis and guard our home instead?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Slyfox knew exactly what Cloudhawk was worried about, an extremely unhappy look appeared on his chubby face. ¡°Kid, this aint gonna be like last time, alright? Ask anyone, I never fuck over my own people. You don¡¯t got shit to worry about, unnerstand? Fuckin¡¯ hell, yer young and useless. Listen up ¨C you don¡¯t have any say in the matter. You are going!¡± Slyfox forced a ragged cloth into Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. ¡°Read this intelligence report carefully and stop wasting time. Forty minutes from now, we¡¯re heading out. If anyone wastes so much as a single minute, I¡¯m breakin¡¯ their fuckin¡¯ legs!¡± Cloudhawk stared at the tattered piece of cloth in his hands, reading the contents within it twice. Mission: To hunt down and kill a mutated rat king. Mission description: The employer has located a lair of mutated rats located not too far from the western sides of Blackflag Outpost. These mutated dire rats are roughly the size of wolf-dogs but are incredibly fast and possess powerful offensive attacks. We conservatively estimate that the entire lair has between one to two hundred rats, but our estimates may be in error. These particular dire rats have undergone all sorts of strange mutations, and they possess certain powers which other dire rats do not have. The dire rat king in particular is an extremely valuable and unique specimen. Your mission is to find the dire rat king. Conditions permitting, capture it alive ¨C your payment shall be increased by an additional 50% if you can do so. If you cannot capture it alive, do your best to preserve the body as much as possible and keep it undamaged. Rats were always tenacious creatures; no matter what types of natural disasters occurred, they would still be able to quickly adapt, survive, and flourish. As a result, there were now many different types of rats in the world. However, based on the mutated rats which Cloudhawk had seen in the past, they weren¡¯t exactly very powerful. As for the mission report, it similarly didn¡¯t seem to suggest that this would be a particularly difficult mission. And yet, Cloudhawk knew that there was no way things could be as simple as this. Their employer hadn¡¯t described the various abilities these mutated rats possessed, but the promised rewards testified as to how deadly this mission would be. And in truth, Cloudhawk was completely stunned by the value of this contract. Hard currency was rarely used in the wastelands, with barter in gunpowder, firearms, weapons, medicines, and food being the most common forms of trade. Aside from these common items, there was something else that was quite expensive and beloved by many. Certain special materials could be extracted from mutated animals and plants, then mixed together according to an extremely complicated alchemical formula to form a type of medicine that was known as an ¡®enhancement mutagen¡¯. Enhancement mutagens had an extremely simple effect ¨C they stimulated and accelerated the body into developing metapowers or strengthening existing ones, allowing the user to become even more powerful¡­ and that was exactly what would be awarded to them if they completed this mission. Enhancement mutagens, as well as many other valuable items. This was a staggeringly valuable fortune! Missions like this truly were rare. Not only would it bring them enormous wealth, it could also allow the company as a whole to grow much stronger. Cloudhawk was a newbie; if he didn¡¯t take part in this mission, he wouldn¡¯t be given any part of the spoils or receive any of the rewards. Maybe Slyfox told the truth for once. Maybe he really is doing this out of the kindness of his heart. There would be a certain degree of danger, of course. The wastelands had been forsaken by the gods, and so manna would never descend from the heavens. The organization which had issued this mission was one of the major powers of the wastelands, and every single mission they issued had most certainly been judged carefully before the relevant rewards were assigned. The promised payout really was directly correlated to the danger of the mission. Cloudhawk¡¯s dream was to leave the wastelands, but actually delving through the wastes was no easy feat! More than anything else, he needed to grow more powerful and acquire more armor and armaments. How could he possibly ignore such a tempting, lucrative opportunity? Cloudhawk immediately felt much more relaxed about this mission. Mad Dog began to issue equipment to the rest of the Tartarus mercenaries. Nothing in the wastelands was ever handed out for free; if you wanted equipment, you had to pay a fee for it. The equipment pool for the mercenary company was considered shared property, and so each person had to earn ¡®credit¡¯ in order to take equipment out of the pool. Credit was earned in a very simple way; you donated equipment or items you didn¡¯t need to the pool, and you would earn credit for it. You would also earn credit for going out on missions alongside the rest of the company. Cloudhawk had two guns but no bullets. Three points of credit were needed for a single shotgun shell, while just one point of credit was needed for an ordinary 9 mm bullet. Generally speaking, a single strip of rat jerky also cost a single point of credit. Cloudhawk was brand new to Tartarus, and hadn¡¯t been out on any missions during the past month; how could he possibly afford any of this expensive equipment? Mad Dog waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Fuck it, I¡¯ll give it to you on loan. You can pay me back after this mission is done. I¡¯ll just charge you a tiny bit of interest, just 50%!¡± 50% was ¡®just a tiny bit¡¯ of interest?! ¡°You are a freaking robber!¡± ¡°The fuck you talking about, kid?¡± Mad Dog cursed loudly, ¡°I don¡¯t even know if you¡¯ll survive this mission. This isn¡¯t robbery, this is a high-risk loan, got it? I¡¯m taking on the risk of getting nothing back at all. If you don¡¯t want to take my offer, you can go fuck yourself.¡± There was nothing he could do. Cloudhawk had to just hold his nose and accept the offer. A short while later, ten pistol bullets and four shotgun shells fell into his pouch. Blackflag Outpost¡¯s gunpowder was all hand-crafted, and as a result the quality wasn¡¯t all that high, and the quantity was fairly low as well. Still, at least it was safe to use¡­ usually. ¡°Right. Your leather armor is already finished.¡± Mad Dog tossed a suit of wolf-skin leather armor to Cloudhawk. This suit of armor had been crafted from the alpha rotwolf Cloudhawk had slain, and it was fairly sturdy and had good defensive properties. ¡°The cost of producing this armor was around twenty points of credit. Need any close combat weapons?¡± ¡°I already have what I need.¡± A poor broke bastard like Cloudhawk would avoid using firearms whenever possible; as a result, cold weapons would always be what he primarily relied upon. The mercenaries held quite a few cold weapons in their armory, including sabers, sword, hammers, and axes. Cloudhawk already had his exorcist rod, and so he needed no other types of equipment. ¡°Where the hell did you even find that thing, kid?¡± Mad Dog glanced sideways at the staff on Cloudhawk¡¯s back. His experienced eye revealed to him that this tri-edged screw-bladed staff was an extremely sharp weapon that could be used to stab or to slash. If it pierced into an opponent¡¯s body, even if the opponent didn¡¯t die right away he would still find it difficult to stem the bloodloss from such a jagged wound. It truly was a fine close combat weapon. ¡°Here¡¯s a skinning knife. Take it.¡± Mad Dog tossed Cloudhawk a short dagger then instructed, ¡°We¡¯re about to head out. You¡¯ll be responsible for keeping Woola on his leash. For this mission, you are in charge of Woola.¡± The Tartarus company had always used Woola as their guard dog, but this mission was rather special; given how alert Woola¡¯s nose was, his tracking abilities would most likely come in handy. Thus, they brought him along as well. The reason they assigned a rookie like Cloudhawk to be in charge of Woola was partially because the two of them had become fairly close over the past month. It was also because they knew that Cloudhawk had very little actual combat experience and was fairly weak. Woola was a bloodthirsty savage, but at least he was also a powerful combatant. Assigning Woola to Cloudhawk was a way for them to help the newbie out. Woola let out a few barking growls as he ran over on all six legs. He seemed to be quite displeased by the fact that he would be under Cloudhawk¡¯s control. Woola¡¯s strength was simply incredible; even though Cloudhawk was now much stronger than when he had first arrived, he was still essentially being pulled forwards by Woola rather than vice versa. ¡°Car¡¯s here!¡± ¡°Prepare to head out!¡± The mercenaries were all fully outfitted with armor, masks, cloaks, and other strange weapons and types of equipment. This squad truly did represent the uniqueness of the wastelands and its character. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 39 Heading Ou The wastelands were vast beyond end. It was nearly impossible to travel through them on foot, making reliable forms of transportation incredibly important. The quality of the transportation network in the wastelands was uniformly poor. Although large excavator outposts often had tamed beasts that could be used for transport or shoddily-assembled vehicles, there was a limit to how many vehicles or beasts they could acquire. In the end, only a tiny fraction of the people ever had a chance to use them. Given how innately ferocious most mutabeasts were, there were very few which could be tamed and trained to serve as mounts. It also took an extremely long period of time to find and capture young beasts, then raise them into full adulthood. This entire process was very expensive and had a high chance of failure, making every single mutabeasts mount an incredibly valuable possession. As for the wastelander vehicles, they were assembled from a wide variety of random parts, most of which had been dug up from below the ground. Other parts were taken from captured vehicles that had been won on the field battles. Some of the crudest parts needed could even be self-manufactured! In general, it was quite a feat to be able to get these things to even move. However, you could forget about producing a vehicle that could truly conquer the rugged terrain and inhospitable environs of the wastelands. Mutabeast mounts needed food and water, while wastelander vehicles needed gasoline. Due to these various constraints, most wastelanders were confined to a very small area around the outposts. Only blood-drinking madmen like the mercenaries of the Tartarus company would dare venture farther afield and into more dangerous areas. The Tartarus mercenaries were amongst the oldest organizations of Blackflag Outpost, and they had built up a collection of transports over the years. This time, Slyfox mobilized five wastelands vehicles. Four were off-road vehicles while the fifth was a freight truck. It had been quite some time since Blackflag Outpost had seen a caravan like this set out! The bumpers on the Tartarus vehicles had all been torn off and replaced by sharp spikes, while the car doors, roofs, and tires were all studded with spikes as well. These four ridiculously barbaric-looking vehicles looked like enormous steel hedgehogs as their gear-like tires tore through the ground, which was why the mercenaries often referred to them as their ¡®iron hedgehogs¡¯. As for their freight trucks, they were enormous in size. Each freight truck had eight tires, and they had two enormous slabs of steel fastened to the front of the car, with each slab of steel angled at 30 degrees. Behind the truck was an ugly cage-like carriage. On the whole, it looked like some sort of skeletal creepy-crawly creature. And so, the Tartarus mercenaries had given it a friendly nickname ¨C the ¡®iron lizard¡¯. The Tartarus mercenaries often used these vehicles. In order to avoid mishaps and vehicular damage, they spent quite some time adjusting them and reinforcing them as necessary. Although the vehicles remained exceptionally ugly and had no aesthetics to them at all, from a functional standpoint they were more or less decently equipped to deal with the harshness of the wastelands. In addition to the vehicles, there were eight bigfoot birds that were letting out strange cries as eight fully equipped mercenaries rode atop them. Cooke was going to be the leader for the mounted mercenaries on this mission. Cooke was fairly strong even amongst the mercenaries, and he was more than qualified to be the captain of the mounted division. His weapon of choice was a long billhook that was seven feet long! This weapon had the best attributes of both scythes and spears, and it could be used in a mounted charge and also be used to slash and hack. It was the perfect weapon for a cavalryman. They had a main force, auxiliary forces, scouts, rearguards, training, and tactics. This mercenary company would be considered an elite outfit anywhere in the entire wastelands¡­ and every single member of the company was exceptionally talented and very experienced. They were extremely powerful in combat and more than able to deal with the vast majority of dangers. However¡­ what was the most dangerous thing in the wastelands? The schemes of other men! Terrifying natural disasters, brutal beast waves¡­ in the end, nothing held a candle compared to the dark hearts of other men. Humans are by nature communal animals who need to live amongst others of their race, and so it is necessary to always be wary of the danger which other people could pose. Countless real life examples had proven that sometimes, humans could be even more savage than any beast and even more dreadful than any natural disaster. This was an era of chaos. It was almost impossible to find a group of brothers and friends that you could truly rely on. The mercenaries might be crude, rough, lawless, and brutal, but at least they were very unified and loyal to each other. This was something which Cloudhawk had slowly come to realize during the past month he had been with them. The reason why the Tartarus mercenaries had been able to survive for so long was most likely due to their unity, something which was incredibly rare in a place like the wastelands. ¡°Come back soon!¡± The other warriors of the outpost all waved farewell to the mercenaries. Even Grizzly and the members of the elite squad were there to send them off. Every so often, their gazes would flicker as they glanced at Cloudhawk, strange looks in their eyes. The gates to the outpost swung open. The mercenaries were officially heading out! Cloudhawk, Woola, and the eight bigfoot bird riders were all arranged to ride aboard the iron lizard. Bigfoot birds were excellent mounts, but they only had so many of them. If they were forced to run a hundred kilometers alongside the vehicles, they¡¯d probably be exhausted by the time they were actually needed in battle. The five vehicles rumbled out in a straight line. Two iron hedgehogs led the way while two brought up the rear, with the iron lizard being at the very middle as this squad of elite mercenaries drove deeper into the rolling yellow sands of the desert wastelands. The wastelands were so vast as to engender despair upon those who tried to traverse it, and countless ruins and skeletons were hidden beneath its sands. It had been roughly a month and a half since the last time Cloudhawk had traversed these sands, but this time his emotions were completely different. The Tartarus mercenaries looked like a long, sinuous yellow dragon that slowly wound its way out of Blackflag Outpost¡¯s territory and made its way deeper into the seared desert wastelands. None of them noticed that right at this moment, a group of men outfitted in strange equipment were hidden furtively nearby the outpost. It seemed as though they were keeping a close watch on what was happening inside the outpost. The leader of this group was a muscular man whose seemed to brim with strength and vitality. His skin was raven-black and gleamed with a slick oil that made him look almost metallic. He was completely bald, but two crude-looking bull horns could be seen atop his head. As for his weapon, it was an enormous greatsword that was the height of a normal human being. This weapon had to weigh at least a hundred pounds. Only a man of enormous strength would be capable of wielding such a thing¡­ and clearly, this man was one. Just as clearly, he was a mutant. But despite his crude appearance and his brutal demeanor, he had a pair of cold, viper-like eyes that were filled with deathly calm as he stared unblinkingly at that settlement in the sands - Blackflag Outpost. Right at this moment, a comparatively slimmer mutant came running towards him. This person¡¯s entire body was covered with grayish-white feathers. He had a sharp mouth and bird-like feet, and wings were growing out of his back that suggested he was perhaps capable of flight. This second person let out a soft growl: ¡°Number two, things are gonna work out better this time, right? This demonhunter is pretty tough. Number four died in her hands.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, number three. I¡¯ve already looked carefully into this matter. She came to the wastelands by herself, and there is no chance that any other demonhunters will appear here. Do you really think this woman is strong enough to fight against our master, all by herself?¡± The horned man¡¯s eyes flickered with murderous hatred. ¡°This woman killed a number of our friends. Let¡¯s make her death a slow one.¡± The winged mutant let out an owl-like hoot of laughter. She had dared to journey deep into the wastelands by herself? She dared to try and hunt down their master by herself? What a foolish woman! ¡­¡­ The endless sands of the wasteland danced in the air, rising upwards towards the skies and the setting sun as a wild wind blew through the wastelands. It was dusk now. The wastelands were at sea level, and the blazing red sun was slowly sinking downwards past the horizon. A squad of vehicles suddenly emerged from the horizon in front of the sun, looking almost like a mirage generated by the foul, twisted air. The land in front of the convoy was already looking quite different from the lands they had left. All sorts of completely random buildings and ruins were intermingled together in layered rings, and all sorts of ancient refuse and garbage could be seen everywhere. A number of enormous, ancient metal buildings looked as though they had been planted into the sea of sand. They looked almost like giant shipwrecked ships that had sunken halfway into the sea. Slyfox was in the leading, fastest vehicle. He turned his head and hollered backwards, ¡°Everyone, slow down a bit. We¡¯ve entered the mission area. The geography here is pretty weird, and there¡¯re a lot of ruins here. Be careful, all of you!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± the mercenaries all simultaneously barked out energetically. Woola noticed that Cloudhawk had actually started to doze off a bit. He opened his massive maw, then gave Cloudhawk a hard bite on the thigh. Cloudhawk was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and he very nearly fell off the ugly iron lizard. ¡°Woola, what the hell!¡± But Woola only barked right into his face. Mad Dog was using a tattered piece of cloth to polish his snow-bright machetes, a crude cigarette was hanging from his lips. He mumbled indistinctly, ¡°Ruins like this are the perfect place for mutabeasts to hide¡­ and there might be sweeper units hiding here as well. Starting now, you need to keep your eyes peeled.¡± Cooke offered a lit cigarette to Cloudhawk. ¡°Want a smoke?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± Cooke smirked. ¡°You don¡¯t smoke? You flippin¡¯ pansy.¡± Cloudhawk was too proud to take an insult like that lying down. He angrily grabbed the cigarette, then took a very deep puff. The crude ingredients Blackflag Outpost used to produce cigarettes instantly assaulted his lungs, making him feel like a ball of fire had just flown into his throat and was burning him from inside. Cloudhawk coughed so loud, he nearly passed out for lack of air. ¡°HAH!¡± ¡°Rookie¡¯s completely useless.¡± ¡°Drink some water and calm down.¡± One of the kinder mercenaries tossed a canteen of water to Cloudhawk, who lifted it to his mouth and gulped it down without even thinking. Alas, it seemed as though the canteen was filled with acid, not water. Cloudhawk¡¯s face instantly turned beet-red and he immediately spewed all of the liquid out. Motherfucker. That was moonshine! The mercenaries slapped their legs as they roared with laughter. Ever since this kid had joined their ranks, he had provided them with endless amusement. During this past month, they had teased him rather unmercifully whenever they had nothing better to do. Right at this moment, a voice rang out from the leading vehicle. It was one of the mercenaries calling out: ¡°Careful, careful! There¡¯s something up ahead!¡± The mercenaries instantly went on full alert, and Cloudhawk hurriedly pulled out his staff. A group of animals had suddenly appeared to the front and left of their convoy. There were roughly twenty of the creatures, and they were roughly the size of wolf-dogs. They had red eyes, their fur looked as tough as steel, and they were running at incredible speed as they moved straight towards the convoy. ¡°Dire rats!¡± The words came unbidden from Cloudhawk¡¯s lips. These creatures were, without a question, the dire rats that had been described in the mission description. These things really were astonishingly large. Although they still looked like rats, they were nearly as large as ordinary rotwolves. Cloudhawk had never seen such enormous rats before. So they had finally found their targets! Two of the mercenaries drew their shortbows, then let fly two arrows. Two of the dire rats let out miserable screeches as they collapsed to the floor. When the other dire rats saw this, they seemed to understand that they were in danger and all of them turned to flee towards another direction. ¡°Hah!¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t running anywhere!¡± Two of the vehicles accelerated after them. One of the enormous mutant rats was struck head-on and crushed beneath an enormous tire, its innards bursting out of its body. The mercenaries continued to accelerate, managing to crush a few more of the dire rats. The feeling of flesh being crushed beneath their vehicles was absolutely intoxicating to them. ¡°Chase¡¯m down!¡± ¡°Crush¡¯m all!¡± Two of the iron hedgehogs were already far ahead of the rest of the convoy, and they managed to crush and kill seven or eight of the dire rats. No matter how fierce and savage the dire rats were, they were still made of flesh and blood; how could they possibly resist being crushed by these metal monsters? Maybe this mission wouldn¡¯t be as tough as they thought! But just as Cloudhawk was thinking this, he suddenly heard a startled cry from up ahead. ¡°Watch out!¡± One of the iron hedgehogs suddenly lost its balance, kicking up an enormous storm of sand as it flew into the air, flipped over, then came crashing to the ground. Fortunately, the mercenaries seated atop the iron hedgehog were all very nimble. As soon as the vehicle had lost its balance, they immediately fled and so avoided being crushed underneath. What the hell had happened? Why had a perfectly fine vehicle suddenly flipped over? The other four vehicles came to a halt. Cloudhawk pulled out a cloth and used it to cover his face, protecting it from the blowing sands. Black tri-bladed staff in hand, he disembarked and followed the other mercenaries over to find out what was going on. ¡°Slyfox, Mad Dog, look here. This¡­¡± Cloudhawk squeezed in to take a closer look. The overturned iron hedgehog was planted firmly into the ground, its two front tires apparently smeared with some sort of green liquid that was incredibly corrosive. The tires had been almost completely melted, and even the metal parts had suffered severe damage. This vehicle had more or less been completely wrecked. ¡°Acid! One of those mutant rats probably had acid blood inside it. The mission report didn¡¯t say anything about acid rats!¡± Slyfox began to frown as he scanned the surroundings. ¡°Screw it. The geography here is very complicated, and we won¡¯t be able to use this car any further. Let¡¯s find a safe place to spend the night. We¡¯ll finish mapping this place out tomorrow.¡± The mercenaries couldn¡¯t help but all mutter at the bad luck of it all. As for Cloudhawk, he was simply amazed. These mutant rats were incredible; their blood was apparently so acidic that it could corrode even metal. If any of it fell on him, his flesh and bones would probably all rot away. Hell, even a single drop of that acid would be enough to ruin him! Cooke walked past Cloudhawk and patted him on the shoulders. ¡°All sorts of weird critters in the world these days. Let¡¯s go!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 40 A Trap The blue skies were clear and devoid of all clouds, but sand continued to descend upon the world like snow. The golden rays of the fiery sun filled the wastelands with light, causing the grit to crackle and pop under the heat. The brutal heat baked the ground so much that cracks could be seen everywhere. The searing heat of the sun was many times more intense than it had been during the Old Times. The vast majority of the creatures who had lived in the Old Times would be unable to survive such temperatures, but those weaker creatures had long ago been transformed into dusty, dry bones. The only creatures who could survive were those who had already adapted to this new, brutal environment. Mad Dog let out a bestial howl as he swung his two machetes. Two of the giant rats next to him were instantly chopped in half, and a large amount of foul, corrupted blood sprayed out of their bodies. Right after he had dealt with these two, another one suddenly charged towards him. Mad Dog dodged sideways, avoiding the giant rat¡¯s furious charge. Cloudhawk seized the moment to nimbly charge forwards, giving the giant rat no time to flee as he thrust his tri-bladed staff into its head. ¡°Careful!¡± ¡°Another acid rat!¡± Cooke led the bigfoot cavalry in a hasty retreat from the front lines, a large group of giant rats chasing behind them. One of the rats looked somewhat smaller, but it was rounder and its skin looked an oily green color. Anyone who took a closer look at the rats would be able to notice that it looked rather different. Acid rats were a type of special mutated rat. They contained numerous acid sacs inside their body, and they normally would slowly build up and store powerful acid within those sacs. When they needed to fight, they would be able to spit acid up to several meters at their targets. The worst thing was that not only did they have acid sacs in their bodies, their skin was covered with large amounts of acid as well. Any ordinary weapon used to stab one of them would be instantly corroded and rendered useless, and the acidic blood spraying from the wound would also be enough to cause enormous harm to anyone splashed by it. One of their iron hedgehogs had been ruined yesterday by one of these creatures! Pff. Pff. Two globes of acid came flying towards them! Cloudhawk and Mad Dog hurriedly dodged, and the two giant rats they had slain just moments ago were hit head-on by the acid. Their tough fur and flesh quickly began to steam and hiss as it melted into a puddle of bile, leaving only the bones behind¡­ but a few moments later, even the bones started to melt. Mad Dog howled, ¡°Kill it, quick!¡± Cloudhawk switched the tri-blade staff from his right hand to his left hand, then pulled out his revolver. Just as the acid rat was about to attack a second time, Cloudhawk shot it straight in the mouth. This was a lethal strike. The creature instantly slumped to the ground, its entire body starting to dissolve as the acid began to pool around it and corrode a hole into the ground. Now that the acid rat was dead, Mad Dog had nothing else to worry about. His machetes rose and fell as though he was chopping vegetables, and he instantly chopped four of those enormous rats into mincemeat. Woola came bounding over as well to help out, and soon the giant rats were finally and completely disposed of. Cloudhawk wiped the blood off of his tri-bladed staff. As he was doing so, Cooke came riding over on his bigfoot bird. ¡°Slyfox found a cave for us. We¡¯ve already swept the perimeter clean. We can go hide there for now.¡± Mad Dog and Cloudhawk followed Cooke towards the cave. It had been a vicious battle, and a number of them had been injured. The mercenary company looked a bit bedraggled. Mad Dog¡¯s irascible temper had been thoroughly aroused. He crushed a large rock to pieces beneath his boot, then began to curse loudly. ¡°The mission report was complete bullshit. They estimated around two hundred rats, but there has to be at least five hundred of the little fuckers!¡± Not only were these giant rats tough to deal with, there were several times as many of them as had been reported. Right now, they couldn¡¯t even be sure as to exactly how many of the creatures existed. Rather tired, Cloudhawk slumped against the entrance to the cave as he inspected his revolver. He had used up a total of three bullets. He reloaded the revolver, then re-holstered it by his waist. This location offered them a good vantage point, allowing them to clearly see everything in the area off to a distance of ten kilometers. From here, the ruins in this place looked like giant centipedes that squiggled in the ground, forming a large number of squat ¡®mountain¡¯ ridges. From here, he could see a large number of strange buildings and destroyed statues. One squat mountain was particularly eye-catching; it looked almost as though it had been sliced through by an enormous shearing knife, leaving behind a smooth, slick surface on top. However, right on top of it there was a sharp pyramid that was roughly ten or so meters long that ¡®grew¡¯ out of the mountain in a strange manner. The metallic pyramid had been severely corroded. In both material and form, it looked very different from the other buildings of the Old Times. It looked more like it had been created in another world and planted here. ¡°Weird, right?¡± The bear-sized Cooke walked over to Cloudhawk. ¡°This place is a classic example of dimensionally overlapping. Supposedly, long ago our world suddenly began to suffer from dimensional overlapping for some strange reason. The clash of dimensions resulted in the destruction of the old civilization and changed our world. All sorts of strange things were brought into our world. That thing over there? It¡¯s a good example of something from another world. That¡¯s why it looks so bizarre.¡± ¡°How do you even know these things?¡± Cloudhawk looked skeptically at the man. ¡°You are just making this stuff up.¡± ¡°Bah! Two years ago, when I was out on a mission, I encountered a bunch of weirdoes who called themselves ¡®seekers¡¯. They were the ones who told me all this. Hell, I don¡¯t know if any of it is true either!¡± Cooke lit a cigarette as he sat down, then offered one to Cloudhawk as well. ¡°World¡¯s gone to shit. Doesn¡¯t really matter, I suppose. Cig?¡± Cloudhawk now had a little more experience than before. This time, he took a much smaller puff on the cigarette but he still ended up coughing a few times. ¡°Seekers? What are seekers?¡± ¡°No clue. Bunch of crazy dudes that spend all their searching for the ¡®truth¡¯ and the ¡®answer¡¯. All they want is to bring back the civilization and the technology that was lost to us ages ago. Still, they seem to be pretty influential in the wastelands.¡± Cooke shook his head, then tossed another canteen over to Cloudhawk. ¡°You¡¯ll find all sorts of weirdoes in the wastelands. Nothing to be surprised over.¡± ¡°True. Nothing to be surprised over.¡± Cloudhawk took a sniff, first verifying that it was water before he took a large gulp from the canteen. A cool, refreshing feeling permeated his body. ¡°Come to think of it, you didn¡¯t do half-bad just now. I didn¡¯t expect that you could fight, kid.¡± Cloudhawk responded rather irritably, ¡°You guys spent a month beating the shit out of me every day. Is it really that surprising that I learned a few tricks?¡± Cooke began to roar with laughter. ¡°Not bad, kid. You hid it from everyone. Let¡¯s spar a bit once we get back home.¡± Cloudhawk snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll knock your teeth out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty ballsy claim. I¡¯ll remember it!¡± ¡°Everyone, gather around!¡± Slyfox summoned everyone to him, then proclaimed: ¡°This mission is more complicated than we expected. We have no idea how many rats there are, but judging from the current situation there has to be at least five hundred of the little bastards. This place is too big; there¡¯s no way for us to scout out the entire place.¡± The mercenaries began to mutter and curse. Mad Dog said irritably, ¡°Then have you come up with an idea? You can¡¯t seriously expect us to fight against this many giant rats.¡± Slyfox was the first captain of the Tartarus mercenaries, and he was also their principal mastermind. Generally speaking, it was his job to find solutions to any thorny problems they encountered. ¡°A very stupid idea.¡± ¡°A stupid idea?¡± ¡°There are twenty-five of us. So long as we can avoid fighting more than forty of those giant rats at once, and so long as we can avoid making any major mistakes, we won¡¯t suffer any casualties in battle.¡± Slyfox hesitated a few seconds, then continued. ¡°I¡¯ve already scanned the local area. There¡¯s a couple of flat-topped mountains in the area around us with very few places for the rats to hide. We still have plenty of water, and we can eat most of the ordinary giant rats. In my opinion, we can fight and win a war of attrition against them.¡± ¡°Starting now, we aren¡¯t going to go any deeper into this place; the only thing we¡¯re gonna do is hunt down small packs of those giant rats. If we encounter large swarms of them, we¡¯ll figure out a way to split¡¯m up and then trap them in batches. We¡¯ll slowly wipe¡¯m all out in a safe, stable manner as we advance¡­ and in the end, we¡¯ll find that rat king!¡± So the plan was for them to slowly wipe out the rats through attrition? After they killed a few hundred of the critters, they would then come up with a way to kill the rat king? This really was a pretty stupid idea. But, it also was a potentially effective one. Cloudhawk let out a yawn. It looked like they were going to be busy. The Tartarus mercenaries were elite wastelander warriors. Each of them had their own unique skills, giving them tremendous power and flexibility as a group. Slyfox made a few special arrangements, then ordered the entire company to begin to move. Woola was given a very important task. They were going to depend on his sense of smell to find the various rat packs, while the mercenaries would then bait the ones they found into traps and wipe them out in batches. By the end of the day, they had slain over a hundred of the giant rats. The total value of that much rat meat alone was quite significant. As for the mercenaries, they had suffered no casualties at all. This was an absolutely dazzling achievement! They continued with the program the next day. However, Cloudhawk noticed that the number of giant rats in the area had noticeably lessened. By nightfall, they had only killed around fifty of the giant rats... and by the third day, there were virtually no giant rats to be found anywhere. The mercenaries were all rather puzzled. Still, they didn¡¯t spend too much time pondering this. Most likely, these giant rats were territorial in nature. After they wiped out all the giant rats in one area, the giant rats in the other areas wouldn¡¯t immediately come pouring in, resulting in an empty region for a period of time. This actually wasn¡¯t that uncommon in the wastelands. Since they had already wiped out the giant rats in this area, the mercenaries decided that they would begin to slowly wipe out the rats in the surrounding areas as well. ¡°Woola!¡± Cloudhawk had Woola on the leash. Woola was running up ahead while the twenty-plus mercenaries were moving through the exposed parts of the wastelands. Woola spent more than an hour running forwards before he suddenly came to a halt in front of a valley, then began to bray and bark towards it. ¡°There¡¯s a small group of giant rats up ahead.¡± Cloudhawk wore a pair of protective goggles and had swathed his face in cloth. His shotgun was on his back, his staff was in his right hand, and he was dressed in leather armor; he rather looked like a proper mercenary right now. ¡°There are roughly twenty to thirty of them.¡± Mad Dog didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go in and wipe¡¯m out!¡± Cloudhawk gave the gorge another glance. It looked very dark and narrow. For some reason, he had a bad feeling about this place. ¡°Something feels off.¡± Mad Dog didn¡¯t understand what Cloudhawk was saying. ¡°Woola¡¯s sense of smell is never wrong!¡± ¡°The four of you, wait here. Report back immediately if something happens.¡± Slyfox also trusted Woola¡¯s judgment, but his cautious nature led him to leave behind four mercenaries to stand guard. ¡°We¡¯ll go in and deal with them as quickly as we can.¡± Twenty or thirty giant rats were nothing to this group of crack mercenaries. This gorge was extremely dark, narrow, and deep. As Cloudhawk followed the mercenaries in, the bad feeling in his heart only grew stronger and stronger. He had the nagging feeling that something was wrong, but was unable to put his finger on it. Finally, they reached the deepest depths of the gorge. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Mad Dog stared at the empty gorge, his hideous black face twisting into a scowl. ¡°Did Woola really fuck up?¡± The region was completely empty. The ground was covered in rubble, and there was nowhere else to go. Not a single giant rat was to be seen everywhere. This made no sense! Cloudhawk suddenly saw something in front of him. He immediately charged forwards, using his staff to bash aside a few rocks. When he saw what lay hidden underneath the rocks, his face instantly turned white. The other mercenaries crowded around to take a look. When they saw it, strange looks appeared on their faces as well¡­ because a large pile of rat hair and rat dung could be seen beneath the rocks. Woola¡¯s nose had been functioning perfectly. These things had been left buried no more than a few hours ago at most. Even Slyfox and Mad Dog stared jaws agape at this strange sight. Cooke, however, didn¡¯t seem to understand the gravity of the situation. The burly mercenary actually began to roar with laughter: ¡°Are you shitting me? Don¡¯t tell me that these giant rats set a trap for us, that they schemed to trick us into this place? Ahahaha¡­¡± But just a heartbeat later, he stopped laughing¡­ because he realized that no one else was laughing with him. He felt quite awkward! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t amused in the slightest. Instead, he felt a cold chill go down his spine. Although he had experienced countless terrors during the past two months, this time was different. A strange, terrifying thought was floating through his mind¡­ Did these damn rats really set up a trap¡­ and succeed in tricking humans into falling for it?! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 41 In the Face of Death Chapter 41 In the Face of Death Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts were slowly being consumed by this terrifying possibility. Had the giant rats been spying on the mercenaries during the past few days? Had they first gotten a handle on how the mercenaries were behaving, then set a special trap to wipe them all out in one go? Impossible. He had to be imagining things. This idea was shocking, ridiculous, impossible, and unbelievable. But when Cloudhawk took another glance at the rat hair, then at the local geography, he couldn¡¯t help but turn even paler. The only way the little bastards could¡¯ve set up a trap like this was if they were almost as intelligent as human beings! Giant rats were amongst the lowest type of mutabeasts in existence. In both the Old Times and in the modern era, they were at the very bottom of the food chain. Cloudhawk refused to believe that rats could come up with a scheme like this. This entire world has gone mad! The unsteady look on Slyfox¡¯s face suggested that he had the same thoughts as Cloudhawk, even though neither voiced them. Still, Slyfox was a very experienced man who had encountered many dangerous events in his life. He didn¡¯t hesitate in the slightest as he immediately called out, ¡°Withdraw!¡± Everyone came back to their senses. Right at this moment, a series of noises could be heard from the entrance to the valley. A pair of gunshots could be heard, followed by miserable screams. The mercenaries stationed outside were in trouble! Mad Dog immediately ordered, ¡°Cooke, Woola, go take a look!¡± Woola was the fastest member of the mercenary squad, his six legs allowing him to bound forward with the speed of a cyclone. Right behind him were eight wastelander cavalrymen riding their bigfoot birds, with the other mercenaries frantically running towards the entrance to the gorge. That uneasy feeling in Cloudhawk¡¯s mind grew stronger and stronger. Something really bad was going to happen! Just a few minutes later, Woola came bounding backwards. His body was covered with wounds, and only six of the eight mercenary cavalry came back, with Cooke supporting an injured one. The injured cavalryman¡¯s chest was torn apart with bite marks, and it looked as though they had chewed their way into his innards. The most deadly wound was the one on his neck, where it looked as though his carotid artery had been severed. ¡°I need a medic!¡± Several mercenaries frantically ran over, wanting to help, but the man¡¯s injuries were catastrophic. There was no way to stop the bleeding, and blood continued to spew out of him. He struggled to open his eyes, then reached out with a mangled hand to weakly clasp a nearby mercenary. He summoned all of the energy he had to say: ¡°We¡¯re completely surrounded outside. I¡¯m not gonna make it. Leave me and¡­ get the hell¡­ out of¡­¡± Right at this moment, a tidal wave of strange squeaks suddenly rang out from outside. These were the sounds the giant rats made¡­ and it seemed as though there were countless rats right outside! The mercenaries all felt as though they had been doused in cold water as the final strand of hope they had felt was extinguished! ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± The furious Mad Dog charged straight towards Cooke, grabbing him roughly. ¡°Where are the others? What happened to the others?!¡± Cooke just shook his head, a bitter look on his face. Just as Mad Dog was about to launch into an enraged tirade, the worst case scenario happened. A large number of giant rats began to flood into the gorge, surging towards them like a tide. Some were burrowing under the ground while some were crawling on the walls. There had to be at least five or six hundred of the critters at a minimum! Damn. This is almost as bad as a beast wave! Although the mercenaries were quite powerful, how could they possibly deal with such a large-scale attack by so many giant rats? The mercenaries began to withdraw, not even thinking about stopping to fight. Slyfox moved to grab the heavily injured cavalryman, only to discover that he had already passed away just a short while ago. The countless giant rats around them continued to surge closer and closer towards them. ¡°Screw it, withdraw!¡± ¡°Withdraw!¡± ¡°Withdraw!¡± The twenty-plus mercenaries all began to frantically retreat. While withdrawing, Cloudhawk stared wide-eyed as the dead mercenary on the ground was dragged like a ragdoll into an entire pack of savage giant rats. It was like he had been dragged into the hands of a horde of murderous children, and just a few seconds later the corpse had been completely torn apart. Cloudhawk had spent roughly a month and a half at Blackflag Outpost. By now, he knew and was very familiar with every single mercenary in the Tartarus mercenary company. They loved to tease and torment him¡­ and now, one of them had just died in front of Cloudhawk, with his body torn into shreds. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel miserable. Although he still really didn¡¯t like Blackflag Outpost, he had to admit that he truly had become a member of the mercenary company. One of his comrades had just died in front of him, and there hadn¡¯t been a thing he could do about it. This induced a sensation of rage and grief as he powerlessly tightened his grasp around the black tri-bladed staff! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were completely bloodshot by now. Right at this moment, one of the dog-sized giant rats pounced straight towards him, its mutated claws and fangs as sharp as knives. These creatures were incredibly deadly; if he allowed himself to be knocked down, he would be doomed. Cloudhawk lashed out with his staff, and the blood-splattered giant rat came crashing down to the ground. Alas, the creature was incredibly tough and tenacious. Although it had been heavily injured, it didn¡¯t retreat; instead, it moved to attack in an even more berserk fashion. Right at this moment, two more giant rats appeared next to Cloudhawk. They were as agile as panthers and as savage as wolves, launching a pincer attack on Cloudhawk. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Cloudhawk brandished his tri-blade staff, managing to just barely beat back two of the rats. The third one managed to make it past his defenses, leaping onto Cloudhawk and pouncing onto him, using its hooked claws to dig an enormous tear on the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s leather armor. Cloudhawk spun his tri-blade staff backwards, using it to stab towards his own back! Several bloody wounds appeared on the giant rat¡¯s body, but it continued to obstinately maintain its grip on Cloudhawk. It even attempted to climb upwards and tear at Cloudhawk¡¯s neck! Right at this critical moment, the six-armed Woola came charging over. Woola grabbed the giant rat, threw it to the ground, then delivered a crushing bite to the giant rat¡¯s head. ¡°Let¡¯s run, Woola!¡± Cloudhawk stabbed to death a giant rat which sought to ambush Woola. The creature¡¯s foul, pungent blood spurted onto his face, but he didn¡¯t even have any time to wipe it off. They were completely surrounded by giant rats, all of which were leaping towards them. Crack! Crack! Crack! Three cracks rang out as Slyfox turned to fire off three shots in their direction. Three of the giant rats toppled to the ground. Cloudhawk and Woola hurriedly took advantage of the opening to follow after the rest of the mercenaries. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, rookies! Don¡¯t panic! All of you, stay close to me!¡± Slyfox fired repeated long-distance shots, killing several of the deadly acid rats which were hidden amongst the many other giant rats. ¡°Cooke¡¯s up ahead searching for a place for us to hide!¡± Mad Dog was like a windmill meat grinder, swinging his snow-white machetes in every direction as he hacked open a path for the others. It didn¡¯t matter how ferocious the giants rat were or how many of them attacked; all of them were hacked into mincemeat by Mad Dog¡¯s deadly dance of machetes. Several of the wastelander cavalry on the bigfoot birds led the vanguard in their breakout attempt. Cooke led them through various twists and turns, somehow actually managing to discover a cave. ¡°There¡¯s a cave up ahead!¡± ¡°Quick, into the cave!¡± The mercenaries fought their way all the way to the cave entrance. The cave was large enough for the mercenaries to hide themselves in. If they barricaded themselves inside and just defended the entrance, their chances for survival would be exponentially higher! Just as the mercenaries were about to go into the cave, five particularly muscular giant rats came flying out from inside the cave. The vermin had actually set up a small ambush for them! However, there weren¡¯t enough of the rats to actually pose a danger to the mercenaries. ¡°GRAAAH!¡± Mad Dog was like a maddened beast as he hacked all of the nearby giant rats into tiny pieces. Just as Mad Dog chopped the final giant rat apart, one final rat came bounding towards them from within the darkness. Without even pausing to think, Mad Dog moved to chop this rat apart as well. Slyfox¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at the giant rat from afar. He let out a loud roar, ¡°Blast rat! Dodge it!¡± This giant rat was smaller than most giant rats, but its fur was completely red. Under ordinary lighting, it would¡¯ve stood out quite easily. Much like the acid rats, blast rats were a special type of mutant rats. They weren¡¯t large, but their bodies contained an enormous amount of explosive materials inside. If it suddenly exploded, not only would Mad Dog and the surrounding mercenaries be caught in the blast, even the very cave itself would be collapsed. Without the protection of the cave, the mercenaries would be doomed! They¡¯d be swamped and torn to bits by this endless wave of giant rats! Doomed. We¡¯re doomed. It¡¯s too late! But right at this critical moment, an incredibly agile black shadow shot forwards, using its mouth to bite down on the blast rat. The black shadow¡¯s six arms propelled it outwards at incredible speeds as it instantly charge outside of the cave. Cloudhawk shouted loudly, ¡°Danger! Get back here!¡± Woola shook his powerful head, sending the blast rat flying into the air¡­ but it suddenly detonated just a second later. The rat had flown less than two meters away before exploding, and it was like a grenade had detonated. An enormous ball of light and fire burst out with terrible power, blasting a crater into the ground. As for Woola, he was blown backwards by the force of the collision and knocked sprawling to the ground. His six arms twitched spasmodically, but he was unable to clamber back to his feet. Clearly, this wound was an extremely heavy one! ¡°Woola!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes instantly reddened. Cooke hurriedly moved forwards to grab him and stop him from moving. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash!¡± Unexpectedly, Cloudhawk was so strong that Cooke wasn¡¯t able to grab a hold of him. Cloudhawk ran forwards in a near-hysterical manner, his steel staff knocking aside five giant rats that were about to attack Woola. Several of the giant rats had torn multiple gaping wounds in his body. By now, the ten-plus nearby giant rats had already completely focused their attention upon him and Woola. Slyfox raised his guns up high. The sound of gunfire rang out unabated, causing one giant rat after another to fall down. Alas, more of the giant rats quickly charged forwards to surround Cloudhawk once more. The sound of gunfire and bowstrings twanging could be heard. Thanks to the screening fire provided by the mercenaries, Cloudhawk finally managed to drag Woola back into the cave, his own body now covered with wounds. Slyfox roared angrily towards Cloudhawk, ¡°Are you mad? That was suicidal!¡± Cloudhawk turned to glare right back at Slyfox, his eyes still crimson. ¡°I had to save Woola!¡± Even Slyfox was stunned by what he saw in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. However, he quickly recovered. ¡°Mad Dog, block them at the entranceway. Everyone else, help out!¡± Everyone frantically ran over to inspect Woola and see if they could treat his wounds¡­ and their faces quickly turned grim. Woola¡¯s injuries were absolutely grievous! Woola¡¯s head had suffered the brunt of the explosion, and half of his face was missing. One of his eyes was gone, as were two of his legs. They could even see his open, exposed skull! Woola was furiously panting for breath, but it was clear that he was at the verge of death. The mercenaries had raised Woola since he was young. He was a human, but was so highly mutated that there was no difference between him and a wild animal. They normally treated him as nothing more than a guard dog, but in their hearts Woola was an inseparable member of the Tartarus mercenaries. Woola was an ugly, savage, bloodthirsty cannibal¡­ but when the mercenaries were in danger, he had ignored his own safety and charged out to protect them. He had traded away his own life to give them a chance to live. He was nothing more than a wild animal, but he was far better than many ¡®humans¡¯ of this day and age! Cloudhawk wanted to help Woola, but had no idea as to what he could do. ¡°Hang on, Woola! Where¡¯s the medicine? I need medicine! We need to treat Woola!¡± But the only response was silence. The mercenaries sighed silently. As for Woola, he opened his remaining eye and let out a low, mournful gurgle. Right at this moment, Slyfox walked over to Cloudhawk, then pulled out a dagger and tossed it to him. Cloudhawk stared at Slyfox in disbelief, then glanced at Woola. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Woola¡¯s in a lot of pain right now.¡± Slyfox¡¯s own pudgy face was also covered in grief. ¡°He viewed you as a friend¡­ which is why we¡¯re gonna let you send¡¯m on the final leg of his journey.¡± Send him on his final journey? Cloudhawk dumbly accepted the dagger, then turned to look at the horrifically wounded Woola. Woola stared at Cloudhawk with his one good eye, a look of grief and agony in his gaze. ¡°Woola wants to keep livin¡¯, but he can¡¯t live much longer. There¡¯s no place in the wastelands that can treat injuries like this¡­ and even if he did by some miracle manage to survive, the only thing waiting for him would be a life as a cripple. You know exactly what that sort of life would be!¡± A heavy look on his face, Slyfox explained to Cloudhawk, ¡°As a man, ya gotta make sure you live up to the trust your battle-brothers place in you. This is Woola¡¯s final wish, and a chance for us to relieve¡¯m of his pain.¡± Woola was beyond rescue. Cloudhawk knew this¡­ he just couldn¡¯t accept it. The powerful vital energy which made this mutant so strong was now a curse that was trapping him in a cage of agony, preventing him from dying. The one and only thing they could do for him was to relieve him of his pain. But¡­ Woola saved my life! How can I kill him? Slyfox said heavily, ¡°You grew up in the wastelands. By now, you should¡¯ve learned to look death straight in the face. This is something every wastelander has to learn and experience. It is a crazy world we live in. Stayin¡¯ alive aint always a good thing, and dying can be a form of release. D¡¯ya unnerstand what I¡¯m sayin¡¯? Don¡¯t waste any more time. Woola¡¯s in a lotta pain right now!¡± Cloudhawk was silent for a few seconds as he waged a mental war against himself, then slowly lifted the dagger up. He murmured softly, ¡°Farewell, Woola. Make sure you aren¡¯t reborn into the wastelands in your next life.¡± As the dagger descended, Woola opened his remaining eye one final time. The only look in his eyes was that of gratitude. Chapter 42 A Man’s Choice Chapter 42 A Mans Choice By now, Mad Dog had already hacked countless giant rats to pieces at the entrance of the cave. He was so soaked in gore that he looked as though he had been dragged out of a lake of blood, with bits and pieces of flesh plastering his entire body. It was impossible to tell how much of it was his and how much of it belonged to the giant rats. These terrifying mutabeasts were individually much weaker than the rotwolves, but they were actually even more savage and suicidally bloodthirsty. Slyfox patted Cloudhawk on the shoulders, then called out to the nearby mercenaries, ¡°Help out!¡± No matter how powerful he was, Mad Dog was close to spent. The giant rat blood was both poisonous and bacteria-laden, and Mad Dog¡¯s entire body was covered with both wounds and rat blood. He was already in very bad shape. Once he fell, the rest of the mercenaries would be in trouble! Cloudhawk picked up his shotgun, then followed the other mercenaries as they charged towards the cave entrance. He seemed to let his fury explode alongside the shells of the shotgun, firing blasts that instantly knocked down multiple attacking giant rats. Suddenly, there was a shift within the ranks of the rat swarm. Multiple green-furred acid rats and red-furred blast rats began to stealthily advance. Once these dangerous and highly mutated rats reached the entrance of the cave, they would inflect grievous injuries upon the mercenaries. These creatures were the bane of all close-combat fighters. No matter what, they couldn¡¯t let them get closer to Mad Dog! Slyfox didn¡¯t waste a single bullet. Each shot came out with perfect accuracy and struck one of the special mutant rats dead-center, ensuring that they were disposed of safely and outside the ¡®critical zone¡¯. The battle around the entrance grew increasingly frenzied, with blood and gore splashing everywhere. Rat corpses were piling up into miniature hills, and there was a literal river of foul blood flowing out! They had to have killed at least sixty or seventy of those giant rats. This was an absolute slaughterhouse, an unprecedentedly calamitous wastelands battle! The mercenaries had suffered extremely heavy casualties, and their total combat power was slowly falling. Slyfox didn¡¯t have many bullets left either. The worst part was, more and more giant rats continued to replenish the ranks of the fallen. From start to finish, their numbers had not diminished in the slightest! The swarm of giant rats was like an endless sea of chattering darkness. The mercenaries did their best to fend them off and stay alive, but were like a tiny boat that was constantly at risk of being capsized by the stormy waves of the sea. Slyfox¡¯s twin customized pistols continued to spit furious death, but this was of almost no deterrence to the fearless dire rats and the vermin continued to swarm forwards. By now, Slyfox only had a single ammo clip left, while Mad Dog had suffered more than fifteen wounds. Even though he was an incredibly powerful metahuman, he was at the brink of collapse. As for Cloudhawk, he had long ago thrown away his shotgun. He held his tri-bladed staff in a double-handed grip and used it to continue the fight. By now, eighty or ninety dire rats had perished. The mercenary ranks were beginning to shrink as their casualties mounted as well. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A bloody hole was torn into one of the vanguard mercenaries by the fangs of a giant rat. Slyfox hurriedly shot dead the offending rat, but even more giant rats swarmed the injured mercenary before the others had a chance to pull him out. He collapsed as his legs were torn to pieces, leaving behind virtually nothing besides his leg-bones. The mercenary did his best to clamber into the cave on his hands, but the giant rats dragged him backwards, his fingers leaving bloody marks on the cave floor. In the end, he disappeared into that endless sea of darkness. ¡°DAMNIT!¡± The enraged mercenaries redoubled their efforts against the rats. The battle had already devolved into a war of attrition, a bloody fight where either side would win only a pyrrhic victory at best. It was clear, however, that the rats were present in such great numbers that they would be able to crush the mercenaries in the end. If this continued, it would only be a matter of time before the humans faced their doom. However¡­ right at this moment, something completely unexpected happened. A shrill squeak rang out from within the rat swarm. The squeak was loud and incredibly sharp, boring straight into the ears of every single person and carrying with it an aura of majesty and dignity. It was as though the swarm had received orders from its king, as all of the rats instantly halted their attacks and retreated a few dozen paces. The rat swarm suddenly parted, and a giant rat that looked very different from the rest emerged from within. Its fur was completely white and slick, almost silken. It was able to both crawl around on all fours as well as walk upright on its hind legs. It was triple the size of an ordinary giant rat, almost on par with an ordinary human. A certain distance separated the two sides. The giant silver rat stood up straight on its high legs, then swept the humans with its beady black gaze. Every single human present could sense what that gaze held: intelligence, cruelty, remorselessness, and cold hate. Animals shouldn¡¯t have gazes like that¡­ and they shouldn¡¯t look like that either! Judging from its head, its eyes, its nose, its ears, its mouth, and its knife-sharp claws, it looked just like an ordinary rat¡­ but its gaze, demeanor, and posture marked it as human! The rat king! This had to be the rat king! Even the most fearless of mercenaries who had often ventured into the wastelands, when faced with this strange creature, felt a sense of terror slowly seep deep into their very bones. The rat king stared at the stunned, exhausted, and heavily wounded mercenaries¡­ then its sharp mouth slowly hooked upwards, almost in a mocking smile. Was it a smile? Perhaps it was. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t. Perhaps the rat king didn¡¯t really know what this expression signified, and perhaps it was just an automatic reflex on its part¡­ but the effect was striking and bizarre. None of the humans present would ever be able to forget this sight. They felt stunned, shocked, horrified¡­ and most of all, they felt disbelief! By now Cloudhawk had seen many terrifying sights, but none of them could hold a candle to what he saw in front of him right now. Finally, the mercenaries understood why they were in such terrible shape. This mutant rat king their employer was interested in¡­ it clearly was an intelligent ratling! Although they had already thought of this possibility once they had been trapped and ambushed, for it to actually become real before their very eyes was something else entirely. Both rookies like Cloudhawk and experienced figures like Mad Dog and Slyfox all stared in disbelief at the rat king. Hell, who would accept this? This world really had gone mad. Otherwise, how could even rats have evolved to gain human-like intelligence? Slyfox was filled with bitter regret. If he had known what a freak this rat king was, he never would¡¯ve dared to accept this mission no matter how bold or greedy he was. This completely overturned his worldview and surpassed his imagination! The rat king had been commanding its army to attack, but had suffered extremely heavy casualties due to these humans being much stronger than expected. Although the rats had more than enough numbers to drown these humans under their weight, they would probably be forced to pay a calamitous price in doing so. As a result¡­ the rat king wanted to use a different method to deal with these humans. The rat king stared at the mercenaries in that callous, weighing manner, almost as though it was looking at a flopping fish on the chopping block. The mercenaries couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of fear and dread. CRACK! Suddenly, without any warning, Slyfox fired his pistol! The dire rats were under the control of the rat king. So long as he was able to kill the rat king, the dire rats would have lost their commander and would fall into a state of chaos. At that time, the mercenaries would have a chance to escape. This was what Slyfox was thinking¡­ but as soon as he fired his pistol, the rat king dodged aside with shadowy grace. A different dire rat perished instead, its head exploding into tiny pieces. The other dire rats seemed to be enraged by this and immediately began to grow restless, as though they were about to once more initiate their swarming attacks. The rat king, however, charged forwards and tore apart two of the more disobedient rats while continuously squeaking warnings at the others. Only then did the restless swarm once more grow calm. The rat king¡¯s shrill squeaks seemed to carry more than ten different types of sounds and tones. This virtually fulfilled all the prerequisites necessary for something to be classified as a language! Speaking and writing; these were the seeds of any civilization! In other words¡­ if given enough time and numbers, these creatures might propagate into a new and intelligent race. The very thought of such a thing brought shivers down the spines of the men present! The rat king was extremely cautious. It had spent a very long period of time inspecting the mercenaries, and by now knew just how powerful each mercenary was. There was no way Slyfox would be able to hit it¡­ and if even Slyfox was unable to hit it, the other mercenaries could forget about even trying. Cloudhawk stared at the endless masses of dire rats, his heart filled with utter despair. They had no chance at all! Mad Dog was heavily wounded and exhausted, while Slyfox was almost out of bullets. Under the guidance of the rat king, the rat swarm could simply choose to keep them surrounded and starve them out. After two or three days without access to food or water, the mercenaries would collapse without the rats needing to lift a claw! The rat king suddenly ordered the giant rats to split apart. The hundreds of dire rats continued to keep the cave entrance surrounded, but they left a wide empty space at the very center. The mercenaries looked at each other. What was this all about? Was the rat trying to lure them out and then surround them? They weren¡¯t fools! But right at this moment, the rat king suddenly crouched downwards and scuttled forwards, all four limbs on the ground. It looked almost like a cat as it stared warily at the humans. Slyfox wanted to fire upon it on multiple occasions, but every time his fingers so much as twitched the rat king would move slightly in response. He simply didn¡¯t feel any confidence in being able to hit the rat king! ¡°The freak has come out on its own!¡± Cloudhawk immediately said, ¡°This is a good opportunity. Lets charge out and kill it!¡± Yeah, not gonna be that easy to kill the rat king, kid. Everyone knew that it was obviously a trap! Slyfox shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash. Let¡¯s see what it wants to do!¡± After moving closer to the humans, the rat king suddenly stood up on its two hind legs¡­ and then it did something which completely flummoxed all of the humans. It raised an arm¡­ extended a finger¡­ and then pointed it at one of the mercenaries. The rat king let out a few ear-piercing screeches that were filled with mockery and disdain! Was it¡­ was it challenging the mercenaries to one-on-one duels? The mercenary the rat king was pointing at was Cooke. Cooke was still in fairly decent shape right now; he wasn¡¯t nearly as injured or as exhausted as Mad Dog. He was also incredibly burly and muscular, and so he was quite prominent amongst the mercenary ranks. ¡°Fucking rat.¡± After being dazed for a brief moment, Cooke began to curse as though he had just suffered the greatest of insults. ¡°Fuck! You wanna solo? Let¡¯s solo, you little fucker! Do you think I¡¯m actually scared of you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take the risk!¡± Slyfox immediately moved to stop Cooke. ¡°We aint got any idea as to how tough it is!¡± Cooke gave Slyfox a hard look, the meaning in his eyes clear. ¡°Boss, this is our only shot.¡± Slyfox still refused to agree. ¡°Nuh-uh. Too risky!¡± Cooke argued, ¡°We only have a chance to kill it if we fight it in close combat. All of the rats here are under its command. If we can kill it, we¡¯ll have a shot at survival!¡± His words made sense. The mercenaries had no chance at breaking out by force. Their only shot was to kill this rat king¡­ but this ¡®duel¡¯ entailed an enormous amount of risk! Was Cooke really a match for the rat king? Mad Dog was sitting off to one side, panting raggedly. ¡°Even if you kill it, you won¡¯t be coming back either. You know that, right?¡± They were completely surrounded by giant rats, and the duel would take place within their ranks. Even if Cooke really did kill the rat king, the other giant rats would immediately descend into a state of chaos and swarm him. There would be virtually no chance for him to escape. ¡°Hah! No shit.¡± Cooke let out a fearless laugh, a relaxed, sincere look in his eyes. There was no hesitation or fear in his gaze at all. ¡°Slyfox¡­ Mad Dog¡­ If the two of you hadn¡¯t rescued me from those slave traders all those years ago, I probably would¡¯ve ended up dead and buried under some rock in the wastelands by now. Thanks for taking such good care of me for so long. We¡¯re all men, so I¡¯m not gonna get all emo on you with some fancy-arsed speech. Hell, I¡¯d blush if I did. Just lemme go and don¡¯t try to stop me!¡± The mercenaries all fell silent, while Mad Dog and Slyfox exchanged a glance. Finally, Slyfox let out a long sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not your job to die for us. You can¡¯t go!¡± Cloudhawk shot to his feet in opposition. ¡°Chances are that none of us are going to survive. Let¡¯s just fight together and die together!¡± ¡°Listen up, newbie. We haven¡¯t known each other for all that long, but I can tell that you¡¯re a pretty decent kid. Problem is, you¡¯re still too young¡­ but I¡¯m sure that if you survive this rite of passage, you¡¯ll eventually grow up to become a real man!¡± Cooke¡¯s enormous, tall, and muscular figure made the skinny Cloudhawk look even smaller in comparison. He clapped Cloudhawk on the shoulders, then let out a loud laugh. The burly wastelander picked up a pair of axes, his armor so caked in blood that it looked as though it had been dyed a new color. He strode forwards firmly and without hesitation. He didn¡¯t look like he was walking forwards to his death; he looked as though he was walking out onto the most important stage of his life. ¡°When that happens? You¡¯ll understand the choice I¡¯m making today.¡± Chapter 43 Rage Chapter 43 Rage Right now, the mercenaries had almost no chance of surviving this. The sole, slim chance they had lay in killing the rat king¡­ but Cooke faced suicidal levels of danger in choosing to confront it. Even if he really did kill the rat king, the rat swarm would launch an immediate attack. They wouldn¡¯t have any chance to save him. But¡­ there were no other choices to be made. This was the only shot they had. Cooke strode forwards, an axe in each hand. These battleaxes were custom-made mercenary weapons. Each axe was roughly two feet long and extremely heavy. Each axe-blade was shaped like a half-moon, and both axes were stained with black blood that continued to slowly drip down towards the ground. Just as Cooke reached the center, the rat king issued an order to the dire rats, having them surround Cooke while giving him enough free space. In this way, they would be able to prevent the other mercenaries from launching sneak attacks or ambushes mid-battle. The damn creature did at least honor its word. It had offered a duel, and a duel this would be. It didn¡¯t simply wish to trick the mercenaries into coming out, then murdering them. What was truly amazing, however, was the fact that the dire rats were nothing more than ordinary mutated rats. Somehow, the rat king had managed to train these dumb creatures into an army that it could command at will. This was no easy or ordinary feat! The rat king landed on the ground on all fours, adopting a vigilant battle-posture. Its sleek, silver-white fur served as a form of natural leather armor. Its four paws were unable to hold weapons or manipulate firearms, but the four claws on each paw served as exceptional weapons. It rubbed eight of those claws together as it let out an ear-piercing screech. Cooke stared at the rat king. The rat king stared right back at Cooke. The rat king¡¯s black eyes were unfathomably deep, but a look of hatred could be seen to slowly appear within it. The rat king had been born in a wastelands laboratory. That bloody, cruel place had been filled with hundreds of mutabeasts, and the rat king had been the cleverest specimen there. Thus, at a very young age it had learned quite a few things from the humans who had operated that laboratory. Although it was unable to actually produce human sounds, it was able to partially understand human speech. It understood humans, and it hated humans. Every single human was worthy of death! Waves of a murderous aura began to spread out from the rat king. Cooke was the first to move. He instantly let out a lion-like roar, causing the surrounding dire rats to twitch in surprise, then shot out with incomprehensible speed like a battering ram towards the rat king. His aura and his power was such that a person standing in front of him would feel as though a mountain was smashing towards him! He was one of the oldest members of the Tartarus mercenaries. There was a significant difference in power between Cooke and the company captains, but he was definitely an elite amongst elites when compared to the ordinary mercenaries. He was a classic example of a strength metahuman, but the tremendous amount of power his muscles could release allowed him to move and fight in close combat with nearly as much speed as an agility metahuman. His two axes were filled with explosive power as they furiously chopped out in two beautiful arcs towards the rat king! If this blow landed against the rat king, it wouldn¡¯t matter how tough the rat king¡¯s fur was; not even iron armor could withstand such a strike. The rat king would definitely be cleaved in twain. Unfortunately, he was too slow! The rat king¡¯s hind legs flexed, sending it dodging three feet back and perfectly avoiding the axe-chops. Cooke, however, seemed to have anticipated this. Just as the axe in his left hand descended and missed the rat king, he suddenly leapt three meters into the air off his right leg, then hacked down with his other axe with the speed of a thunderbolt! The first chop was vertical while the second was horizontal. The two strikes were perfectly linked together and part of one smooth motion. In both speed and power, this double-strike was simply supreme. Boom! The ground itself seemed to shake! The thick and heavy axes carved out deep gouges into the earth, while the rat king retreated by another few feet. It was simply far too fast, and Cooke¡¯s furious strikes all completely missed it. Before the rat king had a chance to find its footing, Cooke once more hurtled towards him while kicking up a storm of sand. Cooke¡¯s twin axes danced in the air like a pair of vipers, spinning like a pair of deadly windmills as he repeatedly struck out against the rat king. Ever since Cooke had entered this ¡®arena¡¯, he had discarded all hope of surviving. He was determined to die, and so he completely focused on attacking while holding nothing back. This sort of suicidal, kamikaze attack would cause even fighters who were significantly stronger than him to be discomfited. Duels between experts could be decided in a single instant. If one side was nervous and afraid of dying while the other had already accepted death, there would obviously be a significant difference in morale which would have an impact on how well each performed! The rat king¡¯s pitch-black eyes suddenly gleamed with savage light as it came to a sudden halt, lifting up its paws to block. Clang! Clang! The windmill attacks suddenly came to an end as the two axes came crashing down against the eight sharp claws of the rat king. The terrifying power of the blows kicked up a cloud of dust. The man and the rat stood there, the rat king having elected to use this type of strike to defend against the enemy¡¯s attacks. Both sides began to exert as much strength as they could, and for a time they were evenly matched. The mercenaries were all shocked to see this. They could tell from this brief moment of combat that the rat king was vastly faster than Cooke, and a close match for him in raw strength as well. The difference in ability between the two was quite apparent. The rat king wasn¡¯t just the ¡®political¡¯ leader of these giant rats, it was also the most powerful member of the race! Cooke roared angrily as he once again chopped out with his axe against the rat king¡¯s head, but he hit nothing but shadows. The rat king, after dodging his attack, struck out with a set of claws and tore a bone-deep wound into Cooke¡¯s chest. Cooke endured the pain, turning to deliver a counter-attack when the rat king once more shot straight past him. The creature was simply too fast! Cooke fell down to one knee, an enormous wound having been torn into his upper thighs. He continued to howl angrily as he brandished his hatchet, while the rat king landed on the ground and then immediately leaping towards Cooke once more. This time, Cooke let out a blood-curdling scream. Three of his fingers had been cut off, and they went flying away along with the axe they had been gripping. The axe flew more than ten meters away before it crashed to the ground. Not good! Cloudhawk¡¯s heart clenched. Cooke continued to press the attack with his right hand, while the rat king didn¡¯t let up in the slightest. With the next strike, it tore open Cooke¡¯s chest. Cooke no longer had the strength to lift up the axe, and it slipped out of his grasp and thudded down to the ground. He had lost. He had completely lost. He had never imagined that the difference in power between them would be as great as this! The rat king still didn¡¯t pause in the slightest, continuously dashing past him and raking bloody wounds in Cooke with its claws each time. In just ten or so seconds, Cooke¡¯s entire body was covered with bloody wounds. The rat king did not, however, aim any attacks at Cooke¡¯s vital points. It wasn¡¯t intending to kill Cooke. It was torturing him instead, causing Cooke to let out one agonized and enraged howl after another. This sight thoroughly enraged all of the mercenaries, and their eyes spat hatred towards the rat king. In a duel, it was normal for the victor to live and the loser to die; this was true in both the wastelands and in the outposts. But¡­ the rat king¡¯s true purpose clearly wasn¡¯t to challenge the humans. The real reason it had chosen to fight a duel against a human was to instigate and enrage the other humans and thus cause them to voluntarily charge out of the cave and be entrapped by the endless waves of rats. Damn this creature. It actually understood psychology and manipulation! ¡°Graaaah! Damn you!¡± Cooke was covered in dozens of giant, bloody wounds. His body had been converted into a mishmash of blood and gore, almost as though a butcher had gone to work on him with a cleaver. He could also tell what the rat king¡¯s intentions were, and he howled in rage and grief, ¡°Go ahead and kill me, you sackless sonufabitch! Kill me if you have any balls!¡± How could Cloudhawk accept this? How could he possibly withstand this type of torment? How could he ever be able to endure this type of humiliation? A wild animal was tormenting and torturing one of his brothers, right in front of him. Was he supposed to just sit there and watch without actually doing anything, to just stick his head in the sand and pretend that nothing was wrong? And in truth, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the only one enraged. Mad Dog had an even worse temper, and it exploded when Mad Dog saw what was going on. ¡°Attack them! Wipe these motherfuckers out!¡± ¡°Boss! Boss! Don¡¯t go!¡± Five mercenaries had to work together to hold Mad Dog back. Tears shone in their eyes as they called out, ¡°It¡¯s a trick! Don¡¯t fall for the bastard¡¯s trick!¡± Mad Dog bellowed, ¡°I don¡¯t give a flying fuck if it¡¯s a trick or not! Let go of me!¡± Cloudhawk shared the same rage and grief the other mercenaries felt! This was a grim, callous, and preposterous era they were living in. In times like this, trust and faith were more valuable than anything else. To the mercenaries, the Tartarus company was their home, and every single brother was a treasured family member! A rat actually dared to torture one of their family members to death? Nobody would be able to endure such a sight¡­ but right now, Cooke was in more agony than anyone else. ¡°Don¡¯t come out! Don¡¯t come out!¡± Cooke had been tormented to the point where he looked inhuman. He knelt there on the ground, looking like a butchered corpse, and blood mixed with tears on his face as he called out with agony, ¡°Let me die! Let me die! LET ME DIE!¡± Cooke wasn¡¯t just suffering mere physical agony; the humiliation and mental agony he was suffering was far greater than the fleshly pain. He wasn¡¯t afraid of death; if he was afraid of death, he never would¡¯ve walked out to accept the duel. But he never imagined that his resolve would be used as a tool to manipulate his brothers. At a time like this, to a valiant, tough-as-nails man like him, death was a form of release! He was a proud, intrepid wastelands warrior¡­ but at the end of his life, he was now kneeling on the ground, screaming for death. His overconfidence, his resolve, his wish to protect his fellows¡­ they had all transformed into endless torment and humiliation. Crack! The utterly heartbroken Slyfox fired a shot, but the rat king seemed to have seen this coming. It immediately dragged Cooke into the rat swarm, and the countless rats immediately covered Cooke, making it impossible for the mercenaries to see him. The only thing left was Cooke¡¯s unending, miserable screams. The screams were filled with resentment, shame, rage, and grief. Every single scream stabbed into Cloudhawk¡¯s heart like a dagger. Cloudhawk¡¯s hands slowly curled into fists as he stared at the brutal scene before him. He could no longer hold back the furious rage that was building inside his breast. As the mercenaries were all focused on holding Mad Dog back, Cloudhawk immediately rose up and charged outside. ¡°HEY! What are you doing?!¡± Slyfox was stunned. ¡°Stop him, quick!¡± Cloudhawk had never been as furious as he was right now. He leapt forward with the speed and grace of a panther, giving the two nearby mercenaries no chance to catch up at all as he charged out of the cave. As soon as he did so, the rat swarm surged forwards to welcome him. ¡°FUCK OFF!¡± Cloudhawk let out an enraged bellow. The murderous aura emanating from him caused even the dire rats to pause momentarily. In this moment, they felt as though it wasn¡¯t a human in front of them; rather, it was an utterly enraged wastelands beast! ¡°I¡¯ll fight you! I want to fight you!¡± Cloudhawk lifted his tri-bladed staff up high, then pointed it directly at the rat king. ¡°I know you can understand me. Come and fight me, if you dare!¡± Rage, grief, shame, hate! Although the rat king didn¡¯t have the vocabulary necessary to express these things, he could keenly sense the presence of these emotions. It had spent more than ten years being tormented and experimented on by humans, and it had seen its parents and siblings die in front of it. It understood these feelings quite well. It let out a shrill screech, and the rat swarm slowly began to retreat. In truth, it could tell at a glance how strong or how weak the humans were. It could tell that Mad Dog was just as strong as it. Even though Mad Dog had already suffered heavy injuries, the cautious rat king wouldn¡¯t dare to challenge him to a battle. Cloudhawk, however, was clearly an underage and undersized youth; there was no need for the rat king to worry about him. Cloudhawk held his black tri-bladed staff up high as he charged forwards, moving faster and faster as he sprinted towards the rat king so quickly he looked as though he was flying. Right now, Cloudhawk only had a single thought in his mind: Kill it! Kill it! Kill it! Whether for Woola¡¯s sake or for Cooke¡¯s sake, or for the sake of the others¡­ Cloudhawk had to kill it! Chapter 44 Betrayed Chapter 44 Betrayed Cloudhawk was a rookie who was taking part in a mission for the very first time. He was completely inexperienced, and he had never before battled against dangerous creatures like these. In front of him was a freak which even the experienced mercenaries had never seen before, and which was far crueler and more sadistic than any ordinary beasts. Not only was Cloudhawk not terrified¡­ he actually went out to challenge the thing! The kid has gone absolutely stark raving mad! True, during the past two days Cloudhawk¡¯s performance in battle was far superior to what the mercenaries had predicted, but he still ranked at the very bottom in terms of ability. If even Cooke had been completely unable to fight back against this freak, how did the kid think he would stand a chance at all? This sort of behavior was absolutely suicidal! ¡°Slyfox, what the fuck are you afraid of?¡± Mad Dog actually knocked down two of the people in front of him. ¡°Even the newest rookie has more balls than you, you spineless pussy! If we die, we die. Mad Dog aint no bitch!¡± Slyfox stared at Cloudhawk as the kid charged out, then let out a long sigh. ¡°Fine, then. Let¡¯s charge together!¡± ¡°We were waiting for you to say that!¡± ¡°Rookies! Follow my lead!¡± The other mercenaries had been burning with the desire to do just that. Men, by their very nature, are filled with stubbornness and defiance. They weren¡¯t going to be able to escape today¡­ so if they had to die, they were going to die with a bang! To die while hiding in a mountain cave like turtles hiding in their shells was far too fucking pathetic! As soon as the mercenaries began to move, the rats began to move in unison as well. The two sides instantly became locked in yet another bloody battle! Cloudhawk focused all of his attention towards the opponent in front of him. When the rat king noticed how the mercenaries were attempting to surround it, it felt as though there was no need to waste time; it would first kill this small human, then wipe out the others! It leapt off the ground with its four paws, sending it straight forwards in a straight line charge. Even though Cloudhawk¡¯s reactive instincts were better than Cooke¡¯s, the rat king was simply far too fast! There was no way Cloudhawk could dodge¡­ and so he didn¡¯t. Instead, he barreled straight towards the rat king! When the rat king was ten meters away from him, Cloudhawk¡¯s black tri-bladed staff began to vibrate slightly. When the rat king was five meters away, it once more leapt off the ground towards Cloudhawk. It launched eight incredibly sharp claw-strikes straight at the puny human¡¯s critical organs. Its claws were like eight lethally sharp knives stabbing straight at Cloudhawk! Here it comes¡­ here it comes! Victory or defeat would be determined by this strike! Ignoring everything else, Cloudhawk struck out with his exorcist staff! The tri-blades had already begun to spin frantically, reaching an incredible rotational velocity in an extremely short period of time. Cloudhawk had poured all of his energy and his very being into this strike. Sparks appeared from the dancing exorcist staff as it exploded with tempestuous might, generating streams of energy which caused the dirt and pebbles in the surrounding area to fly into the air. ¡°GO DIE!!!¡± Cloudhawk bellowed, pouring all of his rage and hatred into this strike. The rat king¡¯s eight claws, ¡®impervious¡¯ to normal weapons, were instantly shattered by the terrifying destructive force of Cloudhawk¡¯s strike. The shockwave generated by the clash was simply incredible, with the exorcist staff releasing its full, pent-up, tornado-like power onto the body of the rat king. The rat king let out a miserable squeak as it was sent flying ten meters away. Its body actually fell apart into two pieces in midair. Blood splattered the ground as its two halves finally fell down. The rats were all stunned. Even the mercenaries stared, stupefied. The weakest-looking human had actually just unleashed a strike of incredible power. There was no way an ordinary person could possibly possess such strength. This power, this savagery¡­ it defied all science and all common sense! The rat king didn¡¯t instantly die. The upper half of its body was struggling in agony, seeming to want to reconnect with the other half. It wanted to stay alive. It didn¡¯t want to die! But its body had been completely torn apart, and its innards had been completely splattered. Even though the rat king didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on, it knew that it wasn¡¯t going to survive this. The rat king turned its increasingly-blurry gaze towards the youth. The youth had unleashed all of his rage and hatred in that strike. Now, he simply stood there while panting and gulping. So the brat succeeded. He gained revenge for his friend. But what about me? What about my vengeance? I haven¡¯t even found that damn madman! I haven¡¯t torn him apart, haven¡¯t ripped him from limb to limb! These humans¡­ they might view me as being ¡®evil¡¯, but in my eyes these arrogant and ignorant humans are the true definition of evil! Why did you capture us? Torture us? Why did you barge into my territory? Why did you kill my children? You even skinned our dead and ate our flesh. You tore our bones out of our bodies! Why? Why?! WHY!!! The dying thought of this intelligent animal was that it suddenly envied its fellows. It truly wished that it was like them, incapable of rational thought or planning. If they were hungry, they ate. They survived on instinct alone. The rat king didn¡¯t want to die. It really didn¡¯t want to die! The rat king let out one final terrified, agonized squeak¡­ then everything went dark. Now that the rat king had been slain, the dire rats instantly lost their cohesiveness. No longer under any control, the hundreds of dire rats entered a state of chaos. Some turned to flee, some ran back and forth, and a few continued to press the attack against the mercenaries. Cloudhawk felt completely exhausted after having used his tri-blade staff to slay the rat king. His head was woozy and his ears were deafened. He was barely even able to stay standing¡­ and this was the moment that seven or eight dire rats surrounded and attacked him. Cloudhawk was completely out of energy. He was able to feebly swing his staff a few times before the dire rats knocked him down with ease. Right at this moment, a machete flew past him and plunged deep into the body of a dire rat. Mad Dog¡¯s muscular body was covered in blood. He had charged next to Cloudhawk, and with but a single chop he knocked that dire rat flying. He then pulled his machete back and growled, ¡°Got any fight left?¡± Cloudhawk struggled to nod. ¡°Good. We¡¯re gonna carve a path outta here!¡± With the rat king¡¯s death, the rat swarms had lost their cohesiveness. The majority of the dire rats began to leave in various directions. Although a few hundred continued to surround and assault the mercenaries, they were now under much less pressure than during the previous battle. Despite that¡­ it was still a brutal fight. The mercenaries were completely spent, and all of them were covered in wounds. They had to battle for over ten more minutes before the dire rats finally and fully retreated. Six more mercenaries had died during that last battle, leaving just twelve of them alive. This mission had caused the Tartarus mercenaries to suffer catastrophic losses. They had lost half of their combat power¡­ but thankfully, the other half had made it out alive. Otherwise, the Tartarus mercenaries would¡¯ve been a mercenary company in the hells of Tartarus. Mad Dog turned to stare at Cloudhawk as if the latter was a freak. ¡°How the hell did you do that earlier?¡± Cloudhawk knew that there was no way he would be able to hide this any longer. He briefly told the mercenaries part of the story regarding the Bloodsoaked Queen and the exorcist staff. All of the mercenaries were stunned by what they heard. None of them had imagined that Cloudhawk was someone who was capable of supernatural abilities like the Bloodsoaked Queen! ¡°I knew letting you join us was the right choice.¡± Slyfox felt both envy and jealousy. The kid could very well end up becoming stronger than both him and Mad Dog! ¡°The company¡¯s taken a heavy hit. It¡¯s gonna be real hard for us to recover from this¡­ but if you can reach the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s level of power, we can just go and conquer a different wastelands¡¯ outpost. In the future, we¡¯re gonna be the bosses! Fuck begging for scraps.¡± Conquer an outpost? Cloudhawk had never even considered this as an option. His dream had always been to leave the wastelands! As for becoming as powerful as the Bloodsoaked Queen? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think that was very likely. Exorcist staffs were the lowest-level relics a demonhunter could use, while the Bloodsoaked Queen was most likely a high-level demonhunter! Cooke was dead. Woola was dead. They had lost far, far too many people. There was no need to bury the corpses of the dead, because no matter how deep they buried them the corpses would still be unearthed by wild animals. This was simply how things were in the wastelands. They were wastelanders; they lived in the wastelands and died in the wastelands, and when they died they would naturally return to the wastelands in this fashion. The survivors briefly mourned for the dead. Then, they departed. The twelve surviving mercenaries had all suffered heavy wounds, and the injuries were beginning to take a toll. Even worse, many of the wounds would probably become infected. It could be said that the situation was quite dire. There was no way they could stay here; they had to leave as soon as possible. Slyfox and Mad Dog led the mercenaries out of the gorge¡­ and when they walked out, their gazes froze. A tattered, wastelands-style airship was hovering in the air above the ruins up ahead. No one knew when the airship had arrived, but every single mercenary recognized it¡­ and Cloudhawk had seen it once as well. This airship belonged to the rich employer who had employed them multiple times in the past. These were the ones who had issued the mission to kill the rat king! A look of fury flashed past Mad Dog¡¯s face. ¡°These sons-of-bitches. They completely fucked us. I should tear a few of their fucking heads off!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± A strange look was on Slyfox¡¯s face. He thought quickly, then said, ¡°Don¡¯t let them notice us. We need to leave immediately!¡± ¡°Leave?¡± One of the mercenaries shouted angrily, ¡°We got killed out there on this mission. We gonna walk away without even taking our pay?¡± Slyfox whispered in response, ¡°That¡¯s the problem. The intelligence report was completely off. I¡¯ve looked at it from every perspective, and the only answer is that they were TRYING to get us killed.¡± Mad Dog was shocked and enraged. ¡°Are you saying they sold us out?¡± ¡°Yeah. They sold us out!¡± Slyfox was clearly beginning to panic. ¡°We need to go right now. Otherwise, we aint gonna make it!¡± The mercenaries slowly began to realize the gravity of their situation. When they had first received the mission, they had all been puzzled by many of its irregularities. Right at this moment, they heard a low, bestial growl ring out: ¡°It seems you aren¡¯t as stupid as I thought you were.¡± Cloudhawk was badly startled, and the other mercenaries all turned pale as well. A dark human silhouette stepped out onto the sands. This was a tall, muscular man who was dressed in black leathers. Not an inch of his skin was exposed to the elements. He wore a black breathing apparatus that looked like a long-billed bird¡¯s face, and the apparatus was connected to all sorts of wires and tubes. Rough, ragged breathing could be heard from behind the mask, and a few streaks of white mist belched out of the mouth-opening. It made him look like a freak who had the face of a bird. It was him! This outfit was too distinctive. Nobody who saw this man would ever be able to forget him. The mercenaries couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps back. A grim look was on Slyfox¡¯s face as he asked, ¡°Why?¡± The man dressed in black leathers cast a cold glance at them, his features hidden by that bird-beaked breathing apparatus. ¡°I liked working with you as well, actually. You are pretty strong for wastelanders¡­ which makes it all the more unfortunate that my master intends to annihilate Blackflag Outpost. You serve as an obstacle, and so I¡¯ll have to trouble you to die for me.¡± Blackflag Outpost! He belonged to the same organization as the leader of the sweepers who had just attacked the outpost! In other words, he was a servant of the demon. His target was the demonhunter¡­ the Bloodsoaked Queen! Chapter 45 Wipeou Chapter 45 Wipeout The rat king, despite its power, hadn¡¯t been able to wipe the mercenaries out. This was outside of the black-garbed man¡¯s expectations. The mercenaries truly were more powerful than he had expected. Still, it didn¡¯t matter. Things were still manageable. How much of a threat could these battered, injured, and broken-down mercenaries pose? The mission had been a scheme from the very start. It was a scheme aimed against the Blackflag Outpost and against the Bloodsoaked Queen. They had already begun to prepare for a full assault against the outpost! The elite guards of Blackflag Outpost had already suffered heavy losses. The Tartarus mercenaries had been backstabbed and half-destroyed. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s injuries had yet to be healed. The situation was far grimmer than anyone in the outpost knew. Blackflag Outpost was facing the end days. Right at this moment, a few dozen figures appeared in the area around them. These warriors were all dressed in classic wastelander ¡®outfits¡¯. They wore rough helmets made from a mishmash of leather and metal, and their faces were half-covered by protective visors which helped block out the sand. They were primarily armed with firearms and longbows. This was a superbly outfitted wastelander squad, and they had all come from the airship. That meant they were the man in black¡¯s subordinates. The man in black said in a very sincere and gentle manner, ¡°How would you prefer to die?¡± ¡°Cut the bullshit!¡± Slyfox lifted his pistol up and fired off a shot at the man in black! The powerful recoil from the shot caused Slyfox to stagger a few steps back, but a thumb-sized hole appeared in the man¡¯s chest. ¡°You can die first!¡± The shot had hit! Was the man dead? The mercenaries could hardly believe it. The shot had been at point-blank range, and Slyfox had used one of his most powerful bullets. The shot had struck the man in his vitals and left a huge exit wound. By all rights, no human should be able to survive a shot like that. All of these factors combined should¡¯ve meant that there would be no questions about the results¡­ but they were in the wastelands. In the damnable wastelands, nothing was impossible. Nothing was absolute. Common sense was often in short supply here; otherwise, how could a freak like the rat king have arisen? The man in black didn¡¯t fall. He didn¡¯t scream. He didn¡¯t shake in pain. He didn¡¯t seem to even notice that he had been shot¡­ and not a single drop of blood emerged from his wounds. He just stood there, continuing to stare at the mercenaries. A strange chill crawled up the spines of the mercenaries. It was like Slyfox had shot an immobile block of wood that felt no pain at all. ¡°Are you surprised?¡± That hoarse voice rang out from behind the man¡¯s strange breathing apparatus. He slowly pulled the black glove off his left hand, revealing something that did not look like a human hand at all. Several black tentacles squirmed out of his ¡®arm¡¯, flexing and tensing like whips. At the end of each tentacle was a sharp, knife-like bone. This was no normal human. This was a freak, a monster! Mad Dog drew his machete and charged straight forwards. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you are still so cocky after I chop your ass into pieces!¡± The man in black swept out with his left arm, the five tentacles coiling around each other as their bone-blades launched attacks from different directions. Mad Dog frantically had to hack right and left in order to defend. Slash! A wound appeared on Mad Dog¡¯s right shoulder. Slash! Another wound appeared on his upper thigh. Slash! Mad Dog was nearly disemboweled! ¡°Stop fighting and run like hell!¡± Slyfox bellowed as he hurriedly fired off two more shots at the man in black. One bullet struck the man in the chest, while the other hit the man in the head. The second shot shattered half of the man¡¯s mask, piercing through his skull and sending him staggering backwards. The man in black pressed a hand to his head, letting out a low growl. Clearly, this freak was only vulnerable in the head¡­ but even a perfect head-shot hadn¡¯t been enough to immediately kill him. The wastelander warriors were beginning to close in on them. If this fight continued, they would quickly end up surrounded. All of their foes were armed with long-distance weapons. If the mercenaries let themselves be surrounded and shot at from afar, there was no question that they would all die. Cloudhawk and the mercenaries hurriedly ran over to support the badly-injured Mad Dog, then frantically began to flee. By now, the man in black had managed to once more rise to his feet, a bullet in the palm of his hand. The wound in his head was slowly healing, and his flesh and blood were visibly regrowing across his face. No wonder this freak wasn¡¯t afraid of bullets! He was a terrifyingly strong recovery metahuman. You had to kill him instantly; otherwise, his wounds would recuperate within an extremely short period of time. The sweeper leader who had led the previous assault against Blackflag Outpost had been a control metahuman who was freakishly strong¡­ but today, they encountered an even greater freak. How many subordinates like them did this ¡®demon¡¯ have? Cloudhawk had no idea! What about the Bloodsoaked Queen? Would she be able to survive this fight? Still, this wasn¡¯t the time to be worrying about the Bloodsoaked Queen. If the Tartarus mercenaries were fully staffed and in top physical condition, they might be able to give this freak a good fight. Now, however, they had no chance at all¡­ and the man in black had a few dozen fully armed warriors coming to reinforce him! Cloudhawk ran up ahead while helping to hold Mad Dog up. Slyfox was in the middle, while three of the mercenaries served as the rearguard. The mercenaries frantically ran up a slope, unable to see what was on the other side. It seemed like there was an extremely sharp cliff up ahead, but there was nowhere for them to run. As the man in black chased after them, he suddenly slung out his right tentacle-hand out towards them. It tore through the skies like a blurred shadow, reaching towards the mercenaries. The sharp attack came with incredible speed, forcing two of the mercenaries to come to a halt, pull out their weapons, then turn around and defend. However, they were each only able to block two or three attacks before the tentacles managed to pierce past their defenses, leaving giant gaping wounds in their neck as the bone-blades severed their windpipes and arteries. The two mercenaries collapsed on the hilly terrain, unable to let out as much as a final scream. They pressed their hands to their necks, unable to staunch the spurting blood. After struggling for a few moments, they stopped moving. The man in black didn¡¯t move that quickly, but given the shape the mercenaries were in, it was going to be virtually impossible for them to shake him. ¡°That¡¯s a cliff up ahead!¡± Mad Dog howled angrily, shaking off the supporting hands of Cloudhawk and the other mercenary next to him. He was completely covered in wounds, and the one to his chest was especially deep. His innards were visible to the naked eye. ¡°Run! All of you, run! I¡¯ll stop them!¡± Mad Dog knew that his wounds were too heavy. He chose to die in combat, fighting to his last breath! ¡°We¡¯ll help out!¡± Three of the surviving mercenaries came to a halt, looks of determination on their faces as they said to Slyfox, ¡°Slyfox, Boss, run!¡± The man in black was simply too strong, and he had numerous reinforcements. It was impossible for all of them to escape; if they tried, they¡¯d simply die one by one! What they had to do was sacrifice a few to buy the others some extra time. The strongest close combat mercenary was Mad Dog, but he was in such a sorry shape that there was no way he could stop the man in black all by himself. The three who had chosen to join him in his final stand were all some of the most talented mercenaries in the Tartarus company; if they all worked together, they should be able to survive for a minute or two. Everyone knew that there was no chance of victory here. In choosing to stay, they had chosen death. ¡°I fucked up everything else in my life, but the best decision I ever made was to become friends with you, fatass. During the past twenty years, we built up this company and tore through the wastelands. We drank, we killed, we fucked women¡­ I enjoyed the hell out of it all!¡± Mad Dog stared at the wastelanders closing in on them, but a look of peace was on his ugly, savage, blood-soaked black face. Ignoring his wounds, he lifted up his machetes and charged towards the enemies: ¡°This life was worth it! I¡¯ll meet you in the next!¡± ¡°Being part of the Tartarus company has been the greatest honor of our lives!¡± The other three mercenaries followed right behind Mad Dog. ¡°Mad Dog! Let¡¯s die together and party together in the afterlife!¡± They weren¡¯t as legendarily strong as Mad Dog, nor were they as skilled and talented as Slyfox. However, they had loved being able to be led by a pair of such illustrious wastelanders. They had fought together, they had adventured together¡­ and today, they would die together. What was there to regret? If they could choose to redo their lives, they would still choose to join! The enemy wastelanders began to fire upon them from afar. The man in black struck out with his five bladed tentacle-fingers, attacking all four of them at once. However, this naturally reduced the pressure on each of them individually. Mad Dog was able to dodge several lethal strikes in a row. Screened by the others, he charged forwards and delivered a furious blow with his machete. CLANG! The man in black used his right arm to block the strike. Mad Dog was more than twice as strong as Cooke. The tremendous power behind his blow completely destroyed the enemy¡¯s right glove¡­ but the right hand was different from the left hand. The right hand was humanoid in nature, but it was extremely thick and covered with what looked like an outer layer of bones. The bones were nearly as tough as steel¡­ but when faced with Mad Dog¡¯s machete-strike, the bones began to crack and shatter. This was a testament to how mighty Mad Dog was! The man in black was strong as well. After blocking Mad Dog¡¯s strike with his right arm, he seized the moment to deliver three consecutive strikes from his left arm with his tentacles. Mad Dog¡¯s chest, abdomen, and back were all stabbed. The mercenaries howled with rage, ¡°MAD DOG!¡± Blood was pouring from Mad Dog¡¯s lips. He summoned one final burst of energy, delivering a machete-blow to the man in black¡¯s head and plunging it halfway inside. Mad Dog was completely, thoroughly spent. If he was at his normal level of strength, he probably would have severed the man¡¯s head. No amount of regenerative power would¡¯ve allowed the man in black to recover from that! But¡­ in the wastelands, there were no ¡®ifs¡¯. Mad Dog had already done everything he could. Four shots rang out from afar, and all three of the mercenaries were hit. By now, their bodies had been reduced to a parody of blood and gore, but they continued to fight with complete fearlessness, plunging their knives and swords into the body of the man in black. For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. The four mercenaries had battled to the very end, until the very moment that life left their bodies! When Cloudhawk turned to look back, all he saw was Mad Dog¡¯s corpse be torn apart into multiple pieces by those bone-blades. Blood and gore splattered the yellow earth, and the other three mercenaries had fallen into that pool of blood, never to rise again. ¡°Mad Dog, I¡¯m coming too! Wait for me!¡± Slyfox knew what had happened. He knew that his friend of twenty years had just reached the end of the line. Twenty years. Twenty years of friendship! They had been together for so long, had faced the brutal wastelands together. In this age of darkness, truly trustworthy friends were as rare as unicorns¡­ but their friendship had lasted for twenty years! No grief or pain was visible on Slyfox¡¯s face. Grief and pain were emotions for weaker, lesser beings. The wastelands had no room for the weak. It was the destiny of every mercenary to die; Mad Dog had simply died a bit earlier than they had planned. What waited for them on the other side of this hill? Sand dunes? A cliff? Life? Death? The mercenaries would never have the chance to find out. The man in black and his wastelanders were in hot pursuit, and their bullets and arrows filled the air around the remaining mercenaries. The hill in front of them was a hundred meters away, but there wasn¡¯t enough time. Time was a commodity, and they had used it all up. Slyfox shouted at Cloudhawk, ¡°Kid, run like hell and don¡¯t turn back. Just jump down!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Escape! That¡¯s an order! And stay alive, that¡¯s another order!¡± Slyfox gradually began to slow down as he continued to shout at Cloudhawk. ¡°You need t¡¯become stronger an¡¯ tougher than anyone else. Find the fuckers behind this and then take revenge for us, got it? GO!¡± Slyfox came to a halt, as did the final surviving mercenaries. They had already decided to fight to the death. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was completely blank as he continued his headlong rush. He heard the sound of gunfire from behind him, as well as the angry howls of the mercenaries as they charged into certain death. These sounds flayed his soul like knives, the most horrifying curses he had ever heard. Run! Live! Vengeance! Ignoring all else, Cloudhawk clambered up the hill, a sense of despair and wooziness in his mind. There really was a cliff at the end of the hill, and it was massive. It was like a gaping chasm that was hundreds of meters deep and at a perfect ninety degree angle. There was nothing which could slow his descent, and at the bottom was rubble. Had there been no hope at all from the very beginning? They had fought and struggled¡­ but in the end, they had already reached the end of the line. Cloudhawk crouched by himself at the edge of the cliff, like a wounded animal that had been driven into a corner. He turned his head, only to see that all of the mercenaries had fallen. Slyfox was slumped over a boulder. He had taken at least ten shots, and his eyes were open and staring fixedly at Cloudhawk. No life was in those eyes. Cloudhawk never would¡¯ve imagined that Slyfox would¡¯ve given the only chance at survival to him, a rookie who had joined them just two months ago. He never would¡¯ve imagined that this fat and selfish man and his brutal mercenary comrades would sacrifice their own lives for the sake of giving him a chance. Cloudhawk rose to his feet, raising his head towards the skies and letting out a primal scream. Wind howled past him, kicking up a storm of yellow sand. He was a tiny speck in the wilderness, an inconsequential pinprick¡­ and yet his voice travelled very, very far, and it was filled with stunning power! It was a primal cry of resistance, of stubbornness, of rage! He was cursing both the skies and the earth. Most of all, he cursed the wastelands! He was nothing more than an ant, but an ant who dared scream into the face of the uncaring heavens. He was small and weak, not worthy of concern or fear, but even at the very end he refused to bow his head in the face of destiny. Cloudhawk jumped into the air¡­ and tumbled straight down the cliff. By the time the dozens of wastelander warriors arrived at the edges of the cliff, they saw nothing more than a few mutated black crows. The youth had long ago disappeared. Had he fallen to his death? The cliff was hundreds of meters high; anybody who fell from such great heights would die! The only way Cloudhawk could¡¯ve survived was if he grew wings like an actual hawk and soared into the skies. Otherwise, no amount of miracles could¡¯ve kept him alive! Chapter 46 Another World Chapter 46 Another World Cloudhawk plunged down the tall cliff, certain that he was going to die. There was no grasping at straws, no praying for some strange miracle. His body was completely relaxed, and his mind was completely free and at ease. He truly was like a hawk who was about to die, but was going to enjoy one final dive before doing so. This was a feeling of freedom, a moment in which his soul was completely empty and at peace. However¡­ just as Cloudhawk was at peace, the stone in front of his chest suddenly began to activate, releasing incredible amounts of heat and a large amount of invisible yet powerful energy which swept across the area, causing space to twist and distort as though it was water that was being brought to a boil. It was happening! It was happening again! Cloudhawk seemed to have suddenly understood something, and he began to flail about madly like a drowning man who didn¡¯t know how to swim. The space around him began to completely twist into a whirlpool that looked much like the vortex which would form if someone stirred a pool of water. A heartbeat later¡­ the entire world seemed to split apart. Cloudhawk suddenly felt as though he was seeing straight through to the very essence of all things. There was no light, no darkness, no matter, no energy. There were only those countless vibrating strings. Some were straight while others were looped, but all of them were vibrating and oscillating like the strings of a guitar, producing a strange melody as they did so. These things were the underpinnings of the very essence of all things. These countless vibrating strings came together to form matter. All types of matter were, on a fundamental level, the same. The only difference was the rate at which they vibrated, which caused them to manifest in different ways and which eventually produced the many different types of matter which made up this multi-varied world. It all happened so incredibly quickly. Space rippled around Cloudhawk, and he then disappeared while falling from midair. By the time the world reassembled itself, Cloudhawk had come crashing down into a pile of rubble. The fall wasn¡¯t a light one, nor was it too heavy. All that could be said was that at least he didn¡¯t splatter apart upon contact with the ground. There was no way he had just fallen a few hundred meters. Still, Cloudhawk felt woozy and weak, almost as though his body was about to fall apart. He had to summon all of the remaining energy in his body just to crawl to his feet. Where was he? The skies were dark and gloomy, filled with rolling dark clouds. When the sunlight shone down through them it painted a scene of dreary and desolate beauty. The light looked like dark yellow dragons roving through the skies. The air in this place was filled with quite a bit of dust, giving it a dreamlike quality. Where was the cliff? There was no cliff! It wasn¡¯t just the skies which were as dark as dusk. The world for a thousand kilometers around him consisted of nothing more than strewn boulders and rolling plains. There were no hills to speak of, much less cliffs. However, an ancient yet beautiful ruins was standing there silently within the empty lands. These ruins appeared to be far more ancient than any of the wastelands ruins which Cloudhawk had seen in the past, and it was completely stylistically different from those ruins as well. The vast majority of the buildings looked like erect stone pillars, while the others looked like perfectly formed geometrical shapes. There were pyramids, there were cubes, there were spheres, there were octahedrons, and more. Although they had been baptized by wind and dust for countless years, the vast majority of them continued to stand tall. Every single building was covered with decorative script that linked together in complex, abstruse diagrams that seemed to follow a certain cadence or rhythm. These things definitely didn¡¯t come from any age or era on Earth. The area around them was littered with many bones from gigantic monsters, and judging from the size of the bones these behemoths had to have been at least a hundred meters long. Cloudhawk found all of this incredibly hard to believe. There was no way this was the world he lived in! Although he had no clue what was going on, it seemed likely that in the moment when his life hung in the balance, he had managed to somehow accidentally activate that strange stone. He had awakened it, causing it to release its energies and teleport Cloudhawk to this place. Something like this had already happened once. Cloudhawk had experienced something similar a year or so ago, when he had been forced into those tunnels. He still clearly remembered how he had been teleported to a place which had two suns¡­ but the strange thing was, this time he had been sent to a completely different place. Were the locations the stone sent him to chosen at random? Then where was he now? Cloudhawk felt joy at having survived in the face of certain death, but he was also filled with confusion and fear of the unknown. What if he was the only person in this entire world? Would he be trapped here forever? What was he to do? Cloudhawk thought back to the mercenaries and the miserable deaths they had died. They had all died for him! Now that the man in black had killed the mercenaries, his next target would definitely be the Bloodsoaked Queen. Cloudhawk had to take revenge for Tartarus! He had to go back and warn the Queen! And he had to kill that detestable ¡®demon¡¯! Cloudhawk clenched the stone around his neck and shouted, ¡°Send me back! You hear me? Send me back now!¡± The stone had once more fallen silent. No matter how Cloudhawk shook it, it didn¡¯t react at all. Cloudhawk had no choice but to put it aside for now. At least he had managed to survive; so long as he was alive, he¡¯d find a way to get back. He forced himself to calm down, then began to search within the ruins. The ruins were enormous in size and scale; just the ordinary stone pillars were over a hundred meters tall. Cloudhawk was like an ant in comparison, slowly winding his way through the strewn stones. Far off in the distance, there was an incredibly vast rectangular stone stele that had a statue on each side. The statues weren¡¯t of humans; they were of some sort of strange creature which he had never seen before. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t interested in statues, nor was he interested in the buildings. He was, however, intrigued when he discovered an opening within the rectangular stone stele. He was wind-beaten and completely parched; he couldn¡¯t just keep on wasting his remaining energy just running around randomly. He decided to first go inside the building and rest for a time. The passageway into the building was extremely large, and its walls were lined with clear, intricate paintings. Although Cloudhawk didn¡¯t recognize the strange script, he could more or less understand that the images were depicting the people of this world undergoing some sort of religious ritual. Cloudhawk was in no mood to examine things more closely, however, because he discovered to his amazement that the insides of the building were lit. The light seemed to come from the walls, the pillars, the ceiling, and even the floor itself. The strange material which this building was made of seemed to have absorbed light from the outside world and then released it from the inside. So long as there was light outside, the insides of the building would never fall dark. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand by what principles this worked, nor did he care to. Suddenly, Cloudhawk froze. He could vaguely sense a strange ripple in the air, a ripple which he was extremely familiar with. It had to be a divine relic generating this ripple. Cloudhawk nervously called out, ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± But the only response was his voice echoing within the empty building. Cloudhawk pulled out his exorcist staff, slowly and casually advancing towards the source of the ripples. After moving past multiple pillars, he finally found the source. It was actually a man dressed in voluminous robes who was kneeling on the ground, his back facing Cloudhawk. There was no way to see his face from behind, but Cloudhawk could tell that an extremely thick layer of dust was covering this man¡¯s body, so thick that it seemed as though the man had become part of the building itself. Cloudhawk slowly turned his gaze higher. The black-robed man was facing what looked like an absolutely enormous idol. Due to the overall dimness of the lighting, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to tell what the idol looked like exactly. Cloudhawk walked over, using his tri-bladed exorcist staff to poke the kneeling man. As soon as Cloudhawk did this, the robes completely fell collapsed in an explosion of dust, revealing corroded bones underneath. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but start to cough. Ah, shit. It was someone who had died so long ago that even most of his bones had disintegrated. Cloudhawk picked up the black robes and gave them a good shake, causing a large amount of bone dust to come flying out from it. Apparently, this was actually some sort of hooded cloak. ¡°Wait, this is a relic!¡± The hooded cloak had endured the passage of a thousand winters without being destroyed. Cloudhawk had no idea what the thing was made out of, but it felt completely weightless in his hands. Although it looked rather grimy and ugly, it felt extremely glossy and sleek to the touch. However, what truly intrigued Cloudhawk was the fact that it was emanating the ripples of a divine relic. Cloudhawk revealed a look of excitement. He then turned, reaching out and flipping through the shards of bone on the ground. He had spent over a year studying dissection and anatomy alongside Mantis, and so he was very familiar with the human skeletal structure. Clearly, these bones did not belong to humans. However, that didn¡¯t really matter; what mattered was the fact that Cloudhawk found yet another object amongst the bones which emanated relic ripples. This object looked like a gourd. It was palm-sized and fiery-red, but covered in dark golden runes. Judging from the strength of the ripples, this was probably a relic of quite some power. It was at least on par with the sacred crossblade of light which the Bloodsoaked Queen used, and it was possibly even stronger. ¡°So this is a demonhunter¡¯s skeleton?¡± Cloudhawk stared at the bones littering the ground, puzzled. This place clearly was not any part of the world which Cloudhawk came from. Why, then, did it also have demonhunters? And the corpse had been kneeling towards this idol. Were these the so-called ¡®gods¡¯? Cloudhawk wiped the two divine relics clean, then gave them a close look. He discovered to his great surprise that the hooded cloak and the gourd both had a strange insignia on them. He pulled out his relic to compare them to the one on his exorcist staff, only to discover that the insignias were virtually identical? But before he had a chance to thoroughly think through the implications of this, a deep hiss could be heard coming from outside the hall. Cloudhawk¡¯s entire body tensed up as a sense of tremendous danger filled his mind. By the time Cloudhawk turned to look towards the direction from which the sound came, an enormous shadow could be seen slowly crawling forward past the stone columns. What the hell is this?! A giant snake? But this is huge! The creature¡¯s torso alone was four or five times thicker than Cloudhawk, and its body was indescribably long. It coiled its body around one of the stone columns, its ashen-white scales glittering with cold, metallic light. Hisses could be heard from the other direction as well. Cloudhawk discovered, to his horror, that there wasn¡¯t just one of these creatures inside. Every single pillar had these creatures slowly coiling their way downwards. Each creature was indescribably vast, and Cloudhawk had been completely surrounded. One of the giant, ashen-white creatures descended to the ground from the pillar closest to Cloudhawk. It slowly extended its head, and when Cloudhawk was able to see it clearly he felt his scalp go numb. It had the body of a giant serpent, but the head was that of a lion¡¯s and its eyes glowed with cold green light. Suddenly, the beast charged straights towards Cloudhawk, moving as fast as a streak of lightning. Cloudhawk had never seen a terrifying monster like this before. Most likely, even if the entire Tartarus company came back to life, the only result would be them being wiped out a second time¡­ and there were dozens of the things! But just as the monster opened its great maw and bit down, the strange stone around Cloudhawk¡¯s neck suddenly woke up once more, releasing a stream of light that caused him to disappear just as the jaws closed around him. Cloudhawk was back in the wastelands once more. What was going on, exactly!? Cloudhawk stared in silent shock as the strange stone slowly dimmed once more. This time, it seemed to have fallen into an even deeper state of slumber. The hooded cloak and small gourd in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands was proof that it hadn¡¯t all been just a dream. He really had visited an unimaginably strange world, then returned with divine relics that did not belong to the wastelands. Cloudhawk was vaguely beginning to understand the nature of the abilities of this strange stone. Why did it have this sort of abilities? How were all of these worlds connected? These were mysteries for Cloudhawk to work through later. Right now, the most pressing thing at hand was for him to immediately return to Blackflag Outpost. It was possible that the battle had already begun and that the Bloodsoaked Queen was in grave danger! Cloudhawk scanned the area around him. He was lucky enough to recognize it as a place they had crossed earlier, and he was able to find the vehicles which the Tartarus mercenaries had parked out in the wastelands. He pulled out a canteen of water, gulping it down and enjoying the sensation of its cool moisture flooding his body. Cloudhawk then clambered onto the ¡®iron lizard¡¯, then revved up the engine. He had done plenty of maintenance work on the vehicles during the past few weeks. Although he hadn¡¯t actually driven them, he knew how they worked. As for the actual driving? He¡¯d learn it on the go. The ¡®iron lizard¡¯ slowly began to work its way across the wastelands, accelerating to greater and greater speeds. This was his first time driving, and Cloudhawk was every bit as crazy a driver as the mercenaries had been. Right now, Cloudhawk had only one thing in his mind¡­ he was going to get back as soon as he could, then run some of those bastards over! Chapter 47 The Fallen Outpos Chapter 47 The Fallen Outpost The setting sun continued to bake the wastelands with its scorching, parching, and blazing light. The gates to Blackflag Outpost were tightly shut. Men hefted weapons in their hands, arranged in tight ranks as they waited patiently. Thousands of bloodshot eyes scanned the wilderness. It had been two days and two nights since any of them had slept. Facing them was an army of more than a thousand sweepers arrayed in a dense formation. Where did these sweepers come from? What did these sweepers want? No one knew! Two days ago, the mutants had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They surrounded the outpost but didn¡¯t attack it, just staring at it from afar. The warriors of Blackflag Outpost were kept in a constant state of tense nervousness. They didn¡¯t dare to fall asleep, and their nerves were shot. They were close to the point of mental collapse. The sweepers were led by two commanders. The first was a beak-faced youth who had wings and could fly in the air. The second was a muscular man with two curved ox-like horns and whose skin seemed to be made out of some sort of black metal. The winged youth looked rather impatient as he irritably scraped his twin scimitars against each other. ¡°Why is our big brother taking so much time to deal with a few miserable mercenaries? Blackflag Outpost is no big deal anyhow. The two of us are more than enough to wipe it out. Let¡¯s just start.¡± ¡°Did you forget how our little brother died?¡± The horned man was seated on a rock, and he spoke in a deep and patient voice that was completely different from his brutish appearance: ¡°Wait a bit longer. Don¡¯t get impatient.¡± The winged man couldn¡¯t fathom what his brother was worried about. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t think that bitch is stronger than our master?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t rule out that there may be traps. The master must be vigilant ¨C he protects from the shadows, doesn¡¯t fight from the front.¡± The horned fellow swung his eyes toward his companion. ¡°In the grand scheme our lives don¡¯t mean shit. Our job is to make sure not even the smallest danger threatens the master.¡± The winged man was silent, he knew second brother was right. There were forces at play in the wasteland they paled in comparison to. The wasteland needed a master. Just then a cry broke the relative silence. A ragged wasteland airship was coming their way, kicking up a torrent of wind and sand.It was a hundred meters tall and split the twilight horizon as it made its way toward Blackflag Outpost. Was he finally back? Could they start the slaughter?! Excitement gleamed dangerously in the winged man¡¯s eyes. His horned companion unfurled from atop the rock and stood. All of a sudden a fierce wind was kicked up all around them. Billowing clouds of sand arose as though they¡¯d been stirred up by giant, invisible hands. The clouds swirled around and around until they become a tornado. The outpost¡¯s defenders were stunned as they witnessed the supernatural disaster form before their eyes. ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°The hell is this?!¡± As though on queue the tornado tore forward, throwing everything in its path high into the sand-choked air. The sound of it was like a hundred thousand rattlesnakes beating their tails. The cries of elite soldiers hollered out to the others. ¡°Hit the deck!¡± Half a moment later the tornado struck the make-shift parapets and tore it to shreds. Ten soldiers where flung into the sky like detritus, even their screams were lost to the deadly sands. Nearby buildings of weaker construction were reduced to rubble by the tugging winds alone. As the summoned storm pierced the Outpost¡¯s defenses, it rapidly started to decay. Far from being a cause to celebrate, however, it spat out plumes of sand in all directions and blinded the defenders. As their world was cast into a choking fog, chaos erupted among the Outpost warriors. A crazed fanaticism burned in the horned man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Master blesses us with cover. Tear this place apart!¡± The winged commander let loose a howl of excitement. His wings beat furiously, thrusting him into the air and leaving whirling dust devils in his wake. He shot like a bullet into the sky, to the chorus of bloodthirsty cries from the sweepers below. Together they advanced through the wind and sand toward Blackflag Outpost¡¯s crumbling walls. At last, the battle had begun! ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± ¡°Everyone, get ready for a fight!¡± Warriors shuffled through the unnatural darkness, rushing to try and maintain some sort of defensive formation. One wastelander clambered over the wall and met the defenders with a swing of its heavy axe. It cut through a warrior¡¯s head with a sickening crunch before being wrenched free and turned on another. Bloodcurdling howls echoed through the sandy darkness. The two sides clashed. There were three times as many sweepers this time as there were in the last assault, while Blackflag Outpost¡¯s defenses had taken a big hit. What remained of their elite squad used their survivability and organization to rally the defenders and prepare for the desperate fight. A shadow stretched over them. Peering through the stinging sands the outpost¡¯s fighters could make out an oval shape lumbering through the skies above them. It was the black-clad man¡¯s airship. That was about as far as their thoughts went before they were interrupted by a series of cracks. ¡°Ahh! Aarrgghh! Agghh!!¡± A hail of bullets descended on them, ripping through the defenders and turning them into howling fountains of blood. What flesh and blood creature could survive a tempest of hot lead? It was spat from a rare treasure of the wastelands, a minigun bolted to the frame of the airship. Already it was clear which side held the advantage. Disaster had befallen the Outpost warriors. Wherever the enemy airship passed it left piles of corpses and rivers of blood in its wake. Sweepers broke through the walls in droves to swarm over the hellscape and look for victims. Men, women, children ¨C it didn¡¯t matter, if it breathed it was torn apart. Could this even be called a battle? It was genocide! Blackflag Outpost had fallen. This bastion of society in the wasteland was no more. The Bloodsoaked Queen walked through the slaughter, swaying slightly with every step. All of these people were dead because of her. Although she was a child of the gods, a noble demonhunter who spurned these heathens, witnessing their heartless massacre wasn¡¯t something she could simply put out of mind. They were lives of ignorance and evil ¨C but they were lives nonetheless! No question remained as to who would win this conflict. The overwhelming numbers and advantages of the sweepers proved too much for the Outpost. Even if she were stronger, the Bloodsoaked Queen couldn¡¯t turn this foul situation round. Blackflag Outpost was destined to be wiped into obscurity. Its denizens were either consigned to rot as corpses, or fled in whatever direction their legs would take them. All the while there were screams, blood, murder, brutality ¨C how could anyone not be scarred by this nightmare?! A group of four or five sweepers came across the Bloodsoaked Queen. They immediately brandished their axes and, with a guttural battle cry, flung themselves at her. In one fluid movement the Queen kicked her foot, lifting an iron sword that¡¯d been half hurried in the dirt. She caught it in midair, and before the mob could even draw close they were met by streaks of cold light. Precise, deadly, vicious. One after the other the sweepers fell to the ground, spurting blood from their open throats. Demonhunters were the mightiest warriors of the elysian lands. Even if absent their godly relics, no typical enemy could stand against them. Out of the wind-borne sands a cluster of bone-tipped tentacles shot forth. They whipped and cut through the air like a meat grinder, fast and cruel. Erratic and deadly, the sudden attack was practically impossible to defend against. Clang, crack, bang! The crude iron sword in the Queen¡¯s grip seemed to take on a life of its own. Like a viper it lashed out at the tentacles, blocking each one. None managed to slip passed her cover. A shrill cry rang out from overhead. What little light remained glinted off of a pair machetes, carving a deadly path her way. They were aimed to meet at the snow-white flesh of her neck, ready to sever her head from her body. The Bloodsoaked Queen reeled backward just in time. She could only see the light of the machetes as it flit by, shaving several hairs in its passage. A moment later a figure appeared behind her bearing the offending weapons. Fast as lightning, the shadow struck again. She swung the sword around and held it backwards in her grip. Clang! The iron sword knocked the machetes away! Next the earth shook beneath her feet, followed by a thunderous roar and the sound of splintering stone. From the corner of her eye she saw a massive figure, pitch black, burst through a structure on her left. The wall didn¡¯t appear to slow this monster down in the least, and it bore down on the Queen like a bloodthirsty rhinoceros. Again she swung her sword around to meet this new threat. What followed was the grating sound of steel breaking apart. The Bloodsoaked Queen staggered backwards with the ruins of a sword in hand. The sheer force of the impact had practically turned her weapon to dust. Whoever this foe was, they had strength to surpass both Grizzly and Mad Dog. ¡°Protecting yourself from a combined attack with nothing but a crude sword.¡± The unsettling man in black emerged from the sandstorm. On his left was the bull-horned monster that had nearly flattened her. On his right was a younger warrior with a pair of wings. They glared hungrily at the powerful Queen for a time before the black-clad aberration spoke again in its low, gravelly voice. ¡°¡¯Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯ is a well-earned moniker.¡± As he spoke figures began to close in on them, silhouettes barely visible through the sand. They revealed themselves to be twenty elite sweepers, with bows drawn and arrows knocked. All deadlier weapons than the splinters of the Queen¡¯s ruined sword. Her face hidden behind the demonic mask, none of the Queen¡¯s assailants knew what she was thinking. Almost flippantly she cast the hilt of her ruined weapon aside. Her bare hands were quickly filled with balls of roiling flame. These three mutants were not your typical foe! The one in black, she knew, could regenerate quickly. Only a single, definitive attack could put him down, otherwise he was practically impossible to kill. The bull-horned man-beast was strength-focused, and a single blow from him would either cripple or outright kill her. The winged youth was possessed of supernatural agility, with great speed and keen reaction time. Against him, life or death could be decided in the blink of an eye. Against the three of them even the demonhunter was outmatched. She needed to use relics! The Bloodsoaked Queen, mighty as she was, had her limits. Battling against these three mutants, how could she protect herself from this host of assassins that had surrounded her? What¡¯s more, she hadn¡¯t fully recovered from her wounds and quickly dispatching of her three most irritating assailants would be no easy task. The black man¡¯s voice slithered out, cold as the grave. ¡°Kill her!¡± The twang of bows loosing their payload filled the air. The Queen threw herself behind a collapsed wall, causing the deadly bolts to bury themselves in her cover. With a gleeful cry the winged mutant shot into the air, only to descend upon her like a meteor. The man in black and the horned warrior raced after her on the ground. They converged on her in an instant. Ten sweepers were right on their heels. She could be twice as strong and still the Queen was outnumbered. Not only did she have to dodge arrows fired from the darkness, she also had to protect herself from the three mutants and a contingent of sweepers. Thud! The Queen felt something strike her shoulder and a spray of blood spat forth. She¡¯d been struck by a sniper, injured! With perfect timing the winged man attacked with his machetes. The cunning monster in black lashed out with its whip-like tentacles. The twin-horned man charged ahead regardless of obstacle, flailing his inky-black fists. Wrath, indignation and cold-blooded homicidal intent sprang up in the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s eyes. She clenched her right fist and her glove burst into flame. She lashed out, and like a belching flame from a dragon¡¯s maw a plume of fire erupted outward. For all his girth and muscle, the bull-horned mutant was blasted several meters away like a ragdoll. Chapter 48 Knock sEm Flying The Bloodsoaked Queen had two divine relics. One was the ¡®Burning Angel¡¯, while the other was the sacred crossblade of light. Both were relics from her clan, with the Burning Angel being the glove she wore on her hand. Legends claimed that if the demonhunter was powerful enough, a touch from the burning angels could set anything ablaze. Wood, stone, even iron ¨C a caress was enough to make it belch fire. Flammable or not, the power of the relic consumed all. Though the Bloodsoaked Queen was not as powerful as the legends described, she could incinerate any flesh and blood obstacle within her reach. No amount of luck could protect her victim once she laid hands on them. However, when her strike landed it didn¡¯t feel like hitting flesh. It felt like metal. The horned man was wreathed in flame but they did not reach any vital part of him. The mutant rolled around in the sand for a moment to quench the fires, and it was revealed the only result was a scorched mark on his chest. Certainly nothing to threaten his life. The man in black hissed a mocking laugh. ¡°Second brother has the strongest defenses. Even for a young demonhunter you are weak. Did you honestly believe you were strong enough to face our master? So na?ve!¡± ¡°What I didn¡¯t expect,¡± the Queen said through her mask, ¡°was that your ¡®master¡¯ would be so fond of raising stupid mutts.¡± None of them were offended or enraged by her insult ¨C for they agreed. Each of them were proud to be loyal servants of the master, vicious dogs in his service. They would tear the throats out of whoever he told them to without ever questioning who or why. ¡°Are you demonhunters any different? Dogs as well, with gods who hold your tether. We¡¯re no different, you and I!¡± ¡°You refuse to accept reality, and harass us because of your dogmatic assumptions. What gives you the right to be so self-righteous? Do you think you understand the wastelands at all? What right do you have to pass judgment on us?¡± The black-clad mutant waved his hand. The sweepers raised their weapons, ready to put her down for good. The Bloodsoaked Queen bolted from her hiding place like a bat out of hell. The thud of bullets and crossbow bolts followed her, buried in the sand inches from her heels. She was shadowed by the winged mutant who descended from on high. He held his machetes reversed in his grip but cut with such speed and ferocity it seemed there were dozens of strikes raining down. The Queen thrust out her hands, fingers curled in like a tiger¡¯s claw. With staggering accuracy she caught the winged man¡¯s blurred machetes out of the air and poured the power coalesced in her palms right through them. They immediately began to glow with white hot heat. With a yelp the winged man¡¯s hands went slack and he was blasted away. The black-garbed man and his horned companion charged in for another attempt. The man in black attacked first, lashing out with five viper-like tentacles. With startling accuracy they splayed out toward specific targets; her face, throat, chest and other vital parts. They hissed through the air like arrows from a hundred archers, seeking her heart with a shrill whistling cadence. The horned man¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t flashy or even terribly skilled. He relied on overwhelming strength, and so intense was the punch that its effects were felt even before they landed. Punch after punch, propelled by pure force mighty enough to level mountains. The Bloodsoaked Queen was knocked back, and the assault slowed her escape. It was only a little, but enough. One of the bullets found its mark and buried itself in her thigh. She lost her balance. The Bloodsoaked Queen bit back her pain. She focused more energy into her hands, gripping tight to the machetes wrenched from the winged man. They glowed red, and when she threw them they became disks of molten steel. Both of them erupted in midair and set searing shrapnel flying out in every direction. The pained whines and howls of sweepers answered. The Queen stumbled, rolled, and shot back to her feet. The wound in her leg was deep and bright fresh blood oozed freely from it, but she didn¡¯t have time to examine the injury now. The five tentacles of the black-garbed monster were on her, and the horned behemoth was bearing down on her position. She managed to dodge the tentacles, but in doing so left herself open to the horned beast¡¯s fists. As his blow landed she was thrown through the ruined buildings of the outpost like a marionette with its strings severed. He was monstrous, a single successful hit nearly broke her in half. ¡°Kill her!¡± The sweepers raised their weapons, training them on the Queen. Gnarled fingers applied pressure to hair triggers when suddenly shouts rang up that caught their attention. A group of outpost warriors who had rallied together were charging at the twisted beasts. Caught unprepared, they were quickly cut down. The Bloodsoaked Queen took this opportunity to flee. She struggled to move as quickly as she could, despite her grievous wounds. ¡°We can¡¯t defend the outpost!¡± ¡°Queen, we must retreat!¡± Grizzly put his fist through one of the sweeper¡¯s heads like it was an overripe melon. He was covered in blood, some his but mostly others, as he hurried to the Queen¡¯s side. When he saw that she had not suffered any life threatening wounds he breathed a sigh of relief. However her injuries were anything but slight, and that filled him with an indescribably fury. These fucking bastards! They dared harm my Queen?! Grizzly had managed to assemble ten elite fighters and twenty to thirty conscripts. They weren¡¯t a strong unit by any means, but they would serve in an emergency. At the very least they could pin down a sizeable group of sweepers. The Bloodsoaked Queen knew that now was not the time to tarry and fight war. With Cloudhawk¡¯s help she¡¯d recovered from her wounds, but not completely. She was only capable of commanding a little more than sixty percent of her full strength. Besides being less than at her peak she¡¯d also suffered wounds to her shoulder and leg. The punch that horned bastard had landed also caused considerable internal damage. Keeping up the fight was ill-advised. Grizzly screamed at her with all the force of his namesake. ¡°Go!¡± Sinister, snake-like laughter hissed through the air. ¡°You think you can get away?¡± The winged youth skimmed low over the ground and snapped up a long knife from the ground. A group of soldiers moved to stop him but were viciously cut down. The man in black and the horned titan moved in for the kill. Despite the efforts of the soldiers, sweepers were closing in on all sides. Warriors started dropping like flies. Their circle of defiance was quickly shrinking. Grizzly punched one of the wastelanders so hard his chest caved. He swung around to face his next foe, and found himself face to face with an enormous specimen. He was pitch black, and two enormous horns rose from its skull. ¡°Get the fuck outta my way!¡± Grizzly didn¡¯t give a damn who his enemy was. He snapped a jab with his iron-clad hand aimed for the horned mutant¡¯s chest. His foe didn¡¯t dodge or block. The punch connected and the horned man staggered back several steps. A small rivulet of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but otherwise the beast was unfazed. What? Grizzly looked at the mutant, dumbfounded. He was one of the strongest fighters in the outpost, matched only by Tartarus¡¯ captain, Mad Dog. The horned man didn¡¯t seem to care though. He didn¡¯t block or move, hejust took the punch like it was nothing. The titan wiped the blood from his mouth. He glared at Grizzly with dark, murderous eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got some strength. But not enough!¡± He punctuated his words with a full-armed punch. Grizzly paid his words no mind. When he saw the fist he answered by throwing one of his own. They met mid-air with such force that it sounded like thunder. It was followed by the sound of splintering bone and Grizzly¡¯s earsplitting cries. He crumbled to the ground, cradling what remained of his hand. The iron glove was dented and inside his fingers were a mangled mess. His arm had become an amorphous ruin of bone flecks and tenderized meat. Jagged bits of bone jutted out in several places. ¡°Grizzly!¡± The gasps came from members of the elite squad. They rushed forward to drag their wounded leader out of danger. Grizzly was no less a powerhouse than the captains of Tartarus company. None of them expected he would be so badly maimed going fist for fist. His whole right arm had been practically destroyed. Even if he survived, Grizzly would be forever crippled! At least he could take heart in the fact that the horned man was also bleeding. Except, this copper-skinned, iron-boned monstrosity had just scraped his knuckles. The Bloodsoaked Queen looked upon Grizzly as he wailed and cradled what was left of his hand. She looked on as one after the other, her elite soldiers were cut down like weeds. Each death fanned the flames of rage in her eyes. Was she not a prideful person? She had come from faraway lands to hunt and kill demons, but she hadn¡¯t even managed to catch a glimpse of her prey. Now here she was, with men she found base and filthy dying to protect her! She reached up to curl her fingers around the cross hanging from her neck. Using her holy sword to eliminate a few mutants shouldn¡¯t be too much to expect. She knew, however, that summoning the blade would overtax her abilities. It meant she wouldn¡¯t have any strength left over to protect herself against whatever foes may follow ¨C not to mention the bastard still hidden somewhere in the shadows! The circle of protection was shrinking. She saw her warriors dying by the moment and knew now was not the time for indecision. She gripped the necklace tight and prepared to yank it free. The man in black spotted this minute detail. ¡°Careful. She¡¯s getting desperate¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence. A scene completely outside of their expectations emerged, heralded by a roar that shook the heavens! A vehicle came barreling through the fog of sand like a hellish lizard scrambling across the dunes. Destructive as a bulldozer, it ripped a path straight toward Blackflag Outpost, knocking countless sweepers or grinding them beneath its wheels. And it was headed right for the freak in black. ¡°Get fucked!¡± Cloudhawk roared within the driver¡¯s seat, his crimson eyes fixed on his target. With utter disregard for everything he stomped hard on the accelerator. Before the freak could react it was plowed down and caught in the tread of several tires. No small number of sweepers were also reduced to roadkill as the iron lizard ripped through their ranks. Cloudhawk lost control. The iron lizard pitched hard to its side and ripped itself apart against the unforgiving ground. This didn¡¯t stop its forward motion, however, and several pieces went barreling toward the horned mutant, standing stunned not far away. ¡°Arrrgghh!!¡± The bull-like beast roared a challenge and flung his arms up defensively. But he was no match for several tons of twisted metal. He was caught in the tide of detritus that only came to a stop when it pulverized itself against a cluster of buildings. It wasn¡¯t clear whether the mutant survived. Wide eyed and slack jawed, the winged man and the remaining sweepers gaped at what they¡¯d just witnessed. What in the hell?! A bloody hand clawed out of the cabin. A young man in dingy ash-black fur armor clambered from the wreckage. He¡¯d lived, but the gash in his head and the blood that covered him said he didn¡¯t escape without a price. Cloudhawk shook his head to try and clear away his blurred vision. The first thing he saw was something pinned beneath the wheels of the iron lizard. It was the masked man. ¡°Goddamn- you still aren¡¯t dead? You still aren¡¯t dead?!¡± He wasn¡¯t dead, but he wasn¡¯t far off, either. His lower body had been badly mangled by the vehicle¡¯s tires. His incredible healing was the only thing that kept him breathing. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s you!¡± The man in black pushed his body up with his right arm and glared at the child. He couldn¡¯t believe this mercenary punk had survived! Cloudhawk stared back with eyes painted the color of blood. He pulled his exorcist rod free and began to drag himself forward. Step by step he lurched toward the man in black. He stared at the young man as he came closer, inch by agonizing inch. And as he did a sensation filled him, one that made the hairs on his neck stand on end. He had faced some of the fiercest creatures of the wasteland, but he¡¯d never felt it until now. Fear.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 49 The Last Frenzy Chapter 49 The Last Frenzy Cloudhawk¡¯s dramatic entrance had stunned everyone. This heedless, crazy action in a critical moment dealt with two of the enemy leaders. This kid was as crazy as he was lucky. The man in black was pinned and couldn¡¯t move. The mask that concealed his face had broken away, revealing a hideously ugly visage beneath. He had all the humanoid features; eyes, a nose, a mouth. But all along his jaw and the ridge of his cheekbone there grew spindly threads of flesh. They were like miniature tentacles that spread from his face. They slithered across his countenance like they had a mind of their own. The last leader standing, the winged youth, screamed and launched into the air. He dove for them, sword first. Cloudhawk felt the danger, but he knew his foe was too fast for him to defend against. With singular focus he poured his will into the exorcist staff. Its tri-bladed head began to spin, gaining momentum with each step until it was kicking up sand! Everyone ¨C the man in black, the winged man, and the Bloodsoaked Queen ¨C they all stared in wonderment. ¡°He¡¯s a demonhunter?!¡± The two mutants were stunned. He was a kid, but he was a kid with an exorcist staff and that made everything different. Could Blackflag Outpost have another demonhunter? The winged mutant¡¯s blade hung in the air for half a breath as he hesitated. In that moment a dark figure leapt from the ruins nearby, and almost unseen threw something toward him. Two scalpels, dripping with poison, whistled through the air. One was angled toward the jugular notch, and the other for his chest. Mantis! The assassin was a master at taking advantage of opportunities. The winged attacker was forced to break off his assault on Cloudhawk and turn his sword toward protecting himself. He succeeded in knocking the deadly scalpels away. The power of the exorcist staff continued to gather to its peak. Tempestuous winds were kicked up all around Cloudhawk and his demon slaying weapon! A ferocious and hateful look was smeared across the tentacle horror¡¯s face. He whipped his left hand and cast his bone-tipped feelers toward Cloudhawk. However, he¡¯d been gravely injured, causing both his power and speed to suffer. Mantis reacted with another pair of flying knives that connected with two of the tentacles, knocking them away and helping Cloudhawk evade the danger. Cloudhawk lifted his staff high. With eyes red as the pits of hell he brought the spinning blades down as hard as he could upon the man in black. The mutant tried to protect himself with his right arm but the spinning blade would not be deterred. It ground against the limb, tearing through flesh and bone with the sound of half a dozen saws. The freak¡¯s arm was making a serviceable yet painful stand, stopping the exorcist staff from hitting anything vital. ¡°Are you angry?¡± The monster hissed in his gravelly tone. ¡°Do you feel the hatred?¡± By now the man in black¡¯s other wounds had healed. Two slithering bone-tipped tentacles reeled back and struck at Cloudhawk like a pair of cobras. ¡°You don¡¯t have what it takes to kill me! Die!¡± Scenes flashed through Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. The satisfied look in Woola¡¯s dull, dead eyes. Cooke¡¯s unreconciled sadness and anger. Mad Dog¡¯s silhouette as he welcomed death, and Slyfox¡¯s earnest look moments before his demise. Those eyes, that hatred, that figure, all of these things crystalized in a single moment in his mind. Cloudhawk felt something surge within him, like a dam had burst. The sound of his exorcist staff drilling through his foe¡¯s arm increased, and the black man watched in agonizing terror as it tore his limb to ground flesh. ¡°Let¡¯s see who dies first!¡± His exorcist staff became an all-conquering Excalibur. He thrust his staff through the arm, into the freak¡¯s throat and deeper still into the earth beneath. The whirling blade made quick work of the mutant¡¯s neck and its hideous head rolled into the distance. A rapidly expanding pool of black blood soaked the ground. Suddenly Cloudhawk was stabbed by a pain that radiated from his back. Two of the man in black¡¯s bone spurs dug themselves in. Thankfully they were weak, and the quality of his wolf pelt was good. The wounds were not too bad. The winged man¡¯s eyes went wide with rage. ¡°Big brother!¡± Sweepers who¡¯d witnessed the scene were struck dumb with amazement. In fact, so was the Bloodsoaked Queen! She felt like the notions she¡¯d built herself on for the last decade were wrong. How could a heretic from the wastes be capable of wielding a demonhunter¡¯s weapon, and so capably at that? His attack had been vicious and destructive. Not only did he summon the power of the relic, but his will surpassed any novice demonhunter she¡¯d ever known. He was almost as good as a full-fledged member of the order. Training a demonhunter in the elysian lands required significant time, resources and energy. No one had ever heard of a recruit mastering the craft in a matter of days ¨C much less someone with his power and psychic strength. This was absolutely impossible! The winged man¡¯s roars brought her and the sweepers back to the present. ¡°Kill them!¡± Mantis swept in and grabbed Cloudhawk, who was almost too weak to walk. Like a specter, he glided to her side. ¡°I know a way. Follow or die.¡± There was no time to be stunned. Several elite soldiers, the badly wounded Grizzly, and the Queen where all who remained. They stumbled after Mantis, looking for escape. The winged mutant gave up the chase. His first concern was his mangled brother. As he knelt down beside him, the winged man could see the tentacles on his neck and face twitching erratically. His mangled collarbones had sprouted many new tentacles as well. The winged mutant let out a sigh of relief. The black-robed freak had almost perfect healing powers and was a metahuman with an extremely complex internal structure. As a result, even though he had suffered a mortal wound that he wouldn''t be able to recover from quickly, his cells and his organs would still remain active and lively for a period of time. The winged man scooped up his head and brought it to its body. He held it close to the hacked remnants of his neck. The tentacles reaching from it were like worms with a scent for a feast. They slithered over each other and tugged the head tight while sickly flesh began to re-stitch itself. Tendons, vessels, and muscle regenerated before their very eyes. Cloudhawk had almost killed him. Almost. The crumbling protests of rock thundered around them as a boulder was thrust aside. The horned brother came stomping out from the ruins, looking worse than his wounds truly felt. His fuming gaze swept the area. ¡°Where¡¯d they go?¡± ¡°This is unbelievable!¡± The winged man had to keep helping his elder brother recover. He shouted over his shoulder at the horned man. ¡°They couldn¡¯t have fled far, get after them!¡± The bull-like mutant gathered a group of thirty of forty sweepers and gave chase. Blackflag Outpost was lost to the enemy. Everywhere one turned there were citizens fighting for their lives. There were more defenders than sweepers, but one on one they were no match. This was before considering the sweeper¡¯s airship and its heavy guns. No one knew how many were mowed down, but the trickles of blood had become rivers. ¡°Enemies are everywhere, inside the walls and all around them,¡± said the crestfallen Grizzly. ¡°How do we get out?¡± Mantis acted like he heard nothing and continued to pick his way ahead without hesitation. As they continued suddenly they found the sand beneath them get kicked up by a buffeting wind. The sweeper airship was above them. Grizzly looked up with dispirited surprise. ¡°Not good!¡± A spitfire crackle filled the air as its minigun burst to life. The area around them exploded into debris as bullets went flying. A few of the slower fighters fell to the ground screaming, shooting geysers of blood from their wounds. The airship had them pinned down! Cloudhawk was so drained he was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other. Grizzly and the Bloodsoaked Queen were seriously injured. It made them slow and vulnerable. The enemy vessel descended to ten meters overhead and continued to spray the area with bullet fire. Escape was impossible. Mantis continued at a full run, suddenly changing directions toward an excavation pit. These pits were where diggers did their name sake, searching for relics and other treasures. Most of the outpost¡¯s goods ¨C be they vehicles, weapons or tools ¨C came from pits like this. Many of them were dotted around the territory. This was shut down years ago when nothing of value was discovered. That¡¯s where Mantis was going. Some of these dig sites were honeycombs of secret passages that ran deep and far underground. They seemed to stretch on everywhere and pop up at various places through the outpost. Even Grizzly, after years of leading the elite squad, had no idea these were here. The dwindling group filed into the tunnels, Sweepers nipping at their heels. Outside the horned mutant ripped off a corroded iron plate from some junk nearby and hurled it like a frisbee into the tunnel after them. ¡°Agh!¡± The sheet of metal buried itself into one of the soldiers. It¡¯d cut halfway through his waist before getting lodged. ¡°Shit! They¡¯re still after us!¡± The survivors scowled. None of them wanted to accept that their enemies had caught up to them so fast. They fired a salvo of gunfire through the tunnel and several more defenders were killed. Mantis and the Queen immediately took over. Grizzly was a fraction too slow and a bullet tore through his ankle. His towering body crashed into the ground with a thud. ¡°Grizzly!¡± Cloudhawk cried. The Bloodsoaked Queen grabbed the big man and dragged him into cover. Grizzly, soaked with sweat, gaped at her in astonishment. He was here, right next to her. In the year he¡¯d served with her he¡¯d never been this close. The sweepers were closing in. ¡°I can walk on my own!¡± Cloudhawk pushed at Mantis as he felt his strength returning. ¡°Go help Grizzly!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not needed.¡± Grizzly swung his eyes to Cloudhawk and fixed him with a solemn gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll keep ¡®em off you. Protect the Queen, and get the fuck outta here.¡± Grizzly¡¯s right arm was in splinters, as was his ankle. He knew that he¡¯d only slow them down. Mantis knew it too. He didn¡¯t hesitate. The last Tartarus captain pulled Cloudhawk up and they fled down the tunnel. And although the Queen felt her chest tighten, she knew the truth when she saw it. What she never knew was how he felt. For a year Grizzly served as her loyal attendant. He was giving his life so they could run ¨C trading it for the briefest chance she and the others could live. It weighed heavy on her. The Queen couldn¡¯t remember when she started pitying these barbarians. She¡¯d grown up in the blessed country where they warned her constantly that the wastelands were full of evil. The people of god and the wretches of the wastelands were split by an impassable line. She was taught never to show the faithless mercy or sympathy. Her experience in these blighted lands taught her that these unfortunate souls weren¡¯t much different from the people where she came from. Everyone was made from the same flesh and blood. Everyone loved, everyone loathed. The cold fingers of dread closed around her heart: Was she questioning her faith? No¡­ no the word of the gods surpassed all else! She looked back over her shoulder. Grizzly had himself half-propped up, leaning on his good leg and looking back at her. For the briefest instant their eyes met and he felt like he was bathed in holy light. The look in her eyes set his soul ablaze. This is enough, he thought. He was content to die for what he believed in. Could many in these cursed lands say the same? Click! A spout of fire danced from his lighter as Grizzly lit a cigarette. He seemed unperturbed as the shadow of an enormous horned monstrosity crept over him. Grizzly sucked in a breath, making the tobacco crackle. He looked at the mutant with a calm and determined gaze, like a man standing vigil before the dawn. ¡°I¡¯m not lettin¡¯ you through.¡± The horned man curled his fist making his knuckles pop ominously. His dark eyes were thick with disdain. ¡°Just you?¡± ¡°Yeah. Just me.¡± He plucked the cigarette from his lips and flicked it away. Keeping his eyes locked on the mutant he tore open his shirt to reveal a vest of homemade explosives. Half an inch of fuse sizzled as he grinned victoriously at his killer. ¡°You¡¯re goin¡¯ down with me!¡± The horned man¡¯s pupils contracted to tiny dots. He screamed at those behind him. ¡°Retreat!¡± The sweepers scrambled over one another to try and flee. Grizzly erupted into peels of crazy laughter, full of pride and rage and madness. Tears had gathered at the corner of his eyes. He¡¯d always been a man who kept his emotions tightly bound. He never wished for much, and kept his head out of fantasies. The Queen never knew because he didn¡¯t want his filth to tarnish such a heavenly beauty. I wish I could stay with you, doing your bidding. I wish I could protect you and be your servant. An unworthy man was able to find salvation by dying for his faith. What is there to regret? Thank you, my Queen! ¡°Wulf, I¡¯ll see ya in a minute!¡± Grizzly let loose with his final roar of defiance before the vest detonated. The explosion tore through the tunnel¡¯s supports and collapsed a huge section. Sweepers that were too slow to escape were crushed beneath a mountain of rubble. Chapter 50 - Dreams The only one who knew about Grizzly¡¯s suicide vest was Grizzly himself. No one expected him to blow himself up to stop their pursuers. Cloudhawk, Mantis, and the Bloodsoaked Queen were far enough away to escape the blast radius. The horned mutant and many of his sweepers were not so lucky. The explosion caused the whole area to collapse in on itself. Detritus poured into the ruined tunnels like a deluge. Those who were too slow were buried alive. The horned man was caught in the collapsed ruin and couldn¡¯t wriggle himself free. Buried beneath tons of garbage the mutant was stuck, despite his supernatural strength. The more he struggled the smaller his coffin became. His physique kept him from being crushed, but it did not free him from the ticking clock of depleting oxygen. Strong as the mutant was he still relied on air like any living creature, and it was becoming thinner by the moment. Minutes marched by. Breathing became more difficult. The horned man struggled against the dimness that had begun to creep into his vision, all the while incredulous that he should be caught this way. He was getting weaker. Was this how he would die? His oxygen-deprived mind summoned memories from the past. He was a child, an orphan who knew nothing about who his parents were much less what they were like. Ever since he could remember the horned man was a large and imposing mutant, different even among others of his kind. He¡¯d held on to his intellect and humanity in addition to his superhuman physique. The horned youth¡¯s intelligence didn¡¯t change how normal humans treated him. Given the derogatory name Longhorn, , he was hunted wherever he went and the specter of being caught and killed always hung over him. More times than he could count he had to humiliate himself to survive. He¡¯d lost track of the times he was nearly killed, and each time he made himself harder. The mutant child grew up, grew strong. Eventually he was able to stand on his own, and even attracted a small group of dimwitted stragglers. It was his first sweeper colony, and he turned against any scavengers or excavators they came across. Yet no matter how strong he became or how many sweepers he gathered around him, Longhorn was not content. The imbeciles he commanded couldn¡¯t hold a conversation, much less provide companionship. For a long time he was convinced he would live out his days as a pariah, a lone wolf licking his wounds day in and day out. This world, this time, this place ¨C it was full of hostilities, enemies at every turn. Even the wasteland rejected him, for he was a mutant! Until one day. A man clad in mystical armor appeared before him. Right away he recognized the stranger as one of them ¨C the root of all evil here in the world. It was their race that destroyed the planet, who men far and wide feared with every fiber of their being. But Longhorn had been alone all this time, adrift in a sea of self-pity and hopelessness¡­ and suddenly, safe harbor seemed to appear before him. ¡°I can see the confusion and defiance in your eyes. You are one of only a few I¡¯ve come across with the talent I need, with the ability to do great things. Come with me and your days of wretchedness will be behind you.¡± ¡°I will rule these wastelands. Together we will create a kingdom, a place for people like you and I. We will be a haven for those that fate was conspired against ¨C succor for those who have known cruelty and despair. This will be my dynasty.¡± The mutant gladly accepted this charge. Ever since that day Longhorn was the most eager to give himself in service to his king. In his name he fought, spreading his influence far and wide. Whatever his master¡¯s bidding, he obeyed. Over time their coterie expanded and more like him joined their cause. Though they came from different walks of life they all shared something. A dream. They were chasing the most precious thing left in the wasteland, a dream of something better. It was what separated man from beast. An animal was content so long as it had food enough to fill its belly, a safe place to sleep and a pack of its own. Animals didn¡¯t worry about what the future held, ignorant of the impulses that kept them going. Longhorn had lived like an animal for years, and his master had given him the choice to regain his dignity. Master was sure to succeed. He was different than all the others, destined for greatness. Longhorn had dedicated himself to his savior¡¯s lofty ambitions, giving his strength and his life to see it become a reality. He¡¯d helped to create a Promised Land where people like him could thrive, under a leader who valued them. If this was his time to die, he had no regrets. But he was not yet resigned! Still, his iron will would not protect him from suffocation. He was getting dizzy, his mind muddled. He only held on because he could not accept death. Then, suddenly, a flicker of light shone throne the darkness. Scrrratch, clack! The rubble was moved aside. A hand extended down toward him. ¡°Second brother, you still breathing? Hurry up and get out of there!¡± Longhorn raised his head to see his winged brother, Vulturepeering back. The young mutant helped pull him from the ruins. When he was finally extricated Longhorn still couldn¡¯t tell how long he¡¯d been buried. The battle for Blackflag Outpost was over, and the sprawling human encampment was now nothing more than a crumbling mausoleum. Most of its citizens lay dead or dying, and the rest had fled into the unforgiving wastes. Their afflicted brother, Stranger Black , sat nearby. His neck was a mess of tendrils slithering over one another as flesh knit itself back in place. His vocal cords had not regenerated yet, so he sat in silence. He didn¡¯t need to speak. All three of them shared the same disbelief that the Bloodsoaked Queen had eluded them. ¡°How could the outpost have another demonhunter¡­¡± Vulture was clearly puzzled by Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°He isn¡¯t strong yet. I wonder why they would dispatch him here? It doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± Longhorn and Stranger Black were just as mystified. Exorcist staffs were standard equipment in the blessed lands for novice demonhunters. Cloudhawk¡¯s skills were lacking, but his explosive power had taken them by surprise. Stranger Black had suffered terribly because it was so unexpected. No matter what, the Bloodsoaked Queen had to be slaughtered! She¡¯d already managed to uncover their master¡¯s identity and his whereabouts. If she survived the wastelands and was allowed to get word back to the elysian lands they could expect an influx of demonhunters. For now, the situation was too uncertain for their king to show himself. Chasing down these despicable humans and tearing out their hearts was left to these three mutants. Longhorn took deep, panting gasps. ¡°Send people out in all directions. No matter where they run or what hole they hide in, we will hunt them down, even if we have to dig through every inch of the wilderness! Elder brother can put out a bounty calling every hunter, mercenary and assassin in the area. We¡¯ll turn the whole damn wastelands against them!¡± His orders were quickly spread among the sweepers. They quickly skittered out of the Outpost and out into the deadly wastes. *** Night finally arrived. Mantis, Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen scrambled out of a hole they¡¯d dug for themselves. They were only a few kilometers away from the ruins of Blackflag Outpost, still within dangerous territory. They couldn¡¯t stay long.They had to keep pressing into the endless wasteland. Cloudhawk was on the verge of collapse, and the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s name was more literal than figurative as she struggled with the wound in her leg. Travel was slow going, and so they¡¯d found temporary shelter in a valley. No food, no water, and no medicine. The survivors had nothing with which to face the harsh wilds. Cloudhawk and the Queen were gravely wounded, and death was just as likely to claim them before their pursuers caught up. Mantis left to find supplies. Cloudhawk and the Queen remained behind to rest. The wasteland became frigid at night, a cold that sunk deep into one¡¯s bones. Of course a fire was out of the question. The beasts of the wilds didn¡¯t fear fire, on the contrary it gave away their position. The mutants were surely keeping their eyes trained for a campfire, too. By now there had to be sweepers everywhere looking for them. Anything that pointed to their location was asking for death. Cloudhawk looked over his wounds. While they weren¡¯t to be ignored, at least they weren¡¯t deathly serious. With his healing capabilities he figured he¡¯d be fine in a few days. His eyes wandered over to the Queen, and for some reason he couldn¡¯t help but voice criticism. ¡°This all happened because you completely overestimated yourself! Why the hell did you run out here by yourself to try and kill a demon!We haven¡¯t even seen the damn thing¡¯s shadow, but a few of its lackies almost beat the shit out of you!¡± He¡¯d struck a nerve. She stared back at him in anger, and with a small measure of shame. ¡°I¡¯ve spent the last year searching. I only just recently discovered where he¡¯s hiding. He reacted too fast, I didn¡¯t have time to call for help from my people.¡± ¡°Slyfox, Mad Dog, Grizzly and a whole lot of other people are dead because of you!¡± His anger boiled over as he asked, ¡°You really don¡¯t feel guilty for any of that? Why are our lives any less important than yours, huh? What makes you think you¡¯re any better than us! What?!¡± Cloudhawk was furious. Thousands of innocent citizens had been massacred. Mad Dog, Slyfox, Woola and countless others hadn¡¯t been able to get away, but they were. The demon might have wielded the sickle, but the Queen¡¯s pride was what brought him here in the first place! She opened her mouth as though to respond, but instead a mouthful of blood sputtered forth. Her internal injuries were bad. ¡°Whatever, we¡¯ll clear this up later. Our goal is the same, no point in helping the enemy by fighting each other.¡± When he saw how sorry of a state she was in, Cloudhawk¡¯s anger dissipated. ¡°You¡¯ve been shot, if we don¡¯t get the pellet out it could be dangerous. Let me help you.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen had suffered from this disaster, too. She was no longer able to maintain her aura of indifferent arrogance. In fact, she didn¡¯t even have the strength to rebut Cloudhawk¡¯s arguments. She nodded. He helped her remove her outer garments. The shot to her shoulder had been blocked by her sturdy armor. Thanks to its protection and her sturdy constitution the bullet only lodged in her skin and hadn¡¯t done any damage to the bones beneath. It didn¡¯t look like it would limit the use of her arm. As for her leg, the bullet had missed anything vital. The wound was a nasty one, but the Queen used her impressive body control to constrict blood vessels to the area. She wasn¡¯t in any danger of bleeding out. Cloudhawk used a dagger to dig the bullet from her shoulder, then sutured the wound with a needle he carried with him. Not once did the Queen register any pain on her face. It was like she didn¡¯t feel anything at all. Neither bullet wound was as bad as it looked. The real worry was her internal injuries, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an answer for those. For a few moments there was silence, and then the Queen spoke up. ¡°How were you able to use the power of the staff?¡± ¡°Hell if I know,¡± he muttered dismissively. ¡°What? Is it supposed to be hard? Just you fancy-ass Elysians can use relics, not us wastelanders, is that it?¡± Clearly, Cloudhawk was currently feeling quite a bit of resentment towards the gods and their followers. The Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she took a few calming breaths. ¡°If you¡¯re able to use the exorcist rod, it means you have the potential to become a demonhunter. It means you¡¯ve been blessed by the gods, and that makes you different from other people in the wastelands. If we live, there¡¯s a chance you could be allowed into the elysian lands¡­¡± Really? The realm of the gods would take him in? Fleeing this wretched place had always been Cloudhawk¡¯s dream. Memories of his fallen comrades filled him with a sense of duty, though ¨C the first thing he had to do was kill the one responsible! Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching. They were coming from all around. A host of silhouettes separated from the inky darkness. Weapons glinted in their hands. Cloudhawk¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Fuck! Someone¡¯s here, we gotta hide!¡± 1. The author doesn¡¯t specify this is his name. Up to this point he is only referred to as ¡®brother¡¯ in conversation, and described as ¡®Bull-Horned Brute¡¯. I¡¯ve chosen to give him the name Longhorn to facilitate the translation. Aside from being close enough in approximation to his name in the translation, it is also a common type of cow in the United States where this story purportedly takes place. Texas longhorn cattle are a common site in their namesake, and longhorn bison used to roam the wilds before going extinct. It seemed a fitting moniker. 2. Again, not his given name. ¡®Two-Winged Youth¡¯ doesn¡¯t play. Cherub is closest but he¡¯s hardly angelic, and Icarus is too loaded with history. Vulture seemed most appropriate considering his negative appeal. 3. ¡®Black Robed Freak¡¯ in Chinese.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 51 Fugitives Chapter 51 Fugitives It was a reconnaissance team, scouts ¨C maybe twenty or thirty of them. A pair of three-meter-tall maneaters trundled among them, and a third were rangers. Several were mounted on enormous lizards that slithered over the sands of the wastes. These beasts were a class above the mutated ostriches Tartarus mercenaries had used. They made effective war mounts that could fight back. They were fierce, had skin thick as armor and had incredible endurance. Their riders had longbows slung across their backs. They were mobile, and good at close range or at a distance. Hunters. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t felt them coming. With Mantis gone, chances that the two of them could fight their way out were slim. Their enemies were about a hundred meters away and closing. ¡°Goddamnit! They have rotwolves!¡± He spotted the closest of them, a wolf rider. Bristling with coarse, black hair the wolf had its muzzle pressed to the ground as it searched for them. Hiding wasn¡¯t going to do them any good. ¡°Go¡­ we gotta go!¡± The two of them scrambled out of their hiding place as quietly as they could then tumbled over the far side of a sand dune. They slid down to its base. ¡°Awooo! Awoooo!¡± Rotwolves were sensitive to all kinds of movement. It raced to the spot Cloudhawk and the Queen had just fled, picking up their scent. ¡°We got ¡®em!¡± The wolf rider beamed a hideous grin, he saw the bloodstains on the ground. It had to have come from a wound. He swung his arms to get the others¡¯ attention. ¡°A few of you get ahead and cut them off. Give the signal for the others to come.¡± Lizard riders bounded off to either flank and made their way around the sand dune. Thanks to their webbed feet they dashed across the sand like the wind. There was no question they could overtake their prey. One of the sweepers pulled an arrow from its quiver and doused it in fuel. Lighting it ablaze he fired it into the night sky. Instantly the burning red light split the darkness, visible for kilometers in every direction. When it reached the apex of its trajectory, it exploded. A signal? Cloudhawk cursed inwardly. When the others sweepers saw the signal they¡¯d come running. ¡°That damn wolf will be able to follow us anywhere. We can¡¯t shake it.¡± Cloudhawk said to the Queen. ¡°You gotta use your cross to kill it!¡± She was speechless at how stupid his suggestion was. Yes, the holy light could be used at a distance, but using it once drained her of almost all her energy. It was supposed to be used as a last resort. Turning it on a single sweeper and his dog was like smashing a fly with a war hammer. By now the lizards had overtaken them. They were scrambling up a sand dune up ahead. The wolf rider was guiding the others by scent. They were just too damn fast! When he saw that the Queen was unwilling to use her powers he skidded to a halt. Under the Queen¡¯s curious and incredulous gaze he picked up a sharp rock and began to weigh it in his hands. What the hell was this moron doing? The Queen thought. They looked back and saw the wolf slinking over the dune, like a shadow flitting through the moonlight. It was coming closer, merely a few dozen meters. The beast¡¯s keen green eyes peered through the night for its victims. Close enough! Cloudhawk kept his eyes trained on the rotwolf. He suddenly launched himself forward running one step, then another, and another, and another. The wolf spotted him but was stunned that its prey would choose to charge. The other sweepers spilling over the dune also saw the young man coming. They pulled their longbows free and began knocking poison arrows. Danger! All of Cloudhawk¡¯s hair stood on end. A handful of archers took aim, perhaps only ten meters from their target. These were practiced killers, hitting their prey from this close was not difficult. Yet Cloudhawk made no effort to dodge. With precise control over every muscle in his body, his legs dug into the sand and sent him skidding. Everything worked in concert to send power up through his calves, thighs, waist, shoulder, arm, and finally his wrist. Woosh! What speed! The stone he threw streaked through the air and crashed right into the rotwolf¡¯s snout. It yelped in pain and surprise from a crushed nose and bucked the rider off its back. Direct hit! Mantis once told him not to rely on complicated weapons. Any killer worth his salt could end a target with whatever was at hand. Only someone with those skills could call themselves a real master of the wastes. Cloudhawk learned to throw after seeing what Mantis could do with a scalpel. Cloudhawk had incredible control, speed, strength and perception. He drew on those to pelt the rotwolf¡¯s nose through the darkness¡­ but there was no time to celebrate. The twang of bowstrings warbled and a hail of arrows followed, many of them aimed right at Cloudhawk. He hunkered down and held up his alpha-wolf pelt. Thud, thud, thud! The arrows pummeled him, but couldn¡¯t fully pierce his coat. All they managed were several nicks and scratches. Some, though, were aimed at his head where he had no protection. He was having trouble tracking the black arrows through the darkness but he felt the danger they presented. There were too many for him to dodge or deflect. Then, in this critical moment the Bloodsoaked Queen appeared, dagger in hand. Ting, ting, clang! She knocked the remaining arrows away before pulling Cloudhawk after her in retreat. Cloudhawk managed to shout his thanks as they ran. He¡¯d succeeded in taking the rotwolf¡¯s nose out of the equation, but it didn¡¯t improve their situation much. Sweepers continued to close in on all sides. They were in danger of being surrounded. In a matter of minutes their escape would be completely cut off. Once the three mutants got here they would be in even deeper shit. They didn¡¯t get far. A pair of lizards reared up on their hind legs right in front of them, their riders brandishing weapons. They swung thick, barbaric falchions over their heads, and they sliced deadly arcs through the air as their lizard mounts propelled them forward. The blades were right in their faces. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s body wrenched to the side. As though flung from a catapult her slender and dexterous body flitted through the air, slipping passed the sweepers¡¯ blades so she could open their throats with her dagger. She landed a foot on the head of the lizard mount, then pushed herself off again. She spun like a lethal top, a dervish of steel that severed the arteries in another rider¡¯s throat. By now, Cloudhawk had seen a few experts at work, such as Mad Dog, Slyfox, Grizzly and others. But he never saw anything close to the Queen¡¯s graceful, flexible, and lethal abilities. The riders were dead ¨C but their lizards were still breathing. Without their riders they were furious and even more brutal. Weighty bodies crashed back to ground and they hissed at her, revealing a maw filled with razor-like teeth. The Bloodsoaked Queen, still in mid-air, shrunk into a defensive posture. She waited for her prey to attack, ready to bury her dagger in its eye. Then, something happened that no one expected. Neither lizard tried to bite her. Instead, barbed tongues shot out at her fast as a whip, with enough force to shatter stone. More importantly their tongues were peppered with poison-secreting glands. One scrape from those spikes and the consequences were too gruesome to contemplate. The Queen had no leverage to move herself out of harm¡¯s way, she could only avoid one of them. Cloudhawk rushed at her brandishing a metal pipe. He brought it crashing down on the head of one of the mutant creatures, cracking its skull and drawing blood. The blow rattled it and altered the trajectory of the beast¡¯s tongue. The Queen fell back to the ground safely, only to spring up in a cloud of sand. She charged at the other lizard like a gust of wind. Scores of brutal gashes appeared on the lizard¡¯s vulnerable underbelly from throat to abdomen. ¡°Leave the other one alive!¡± Sweepers kept pouring in from all sides. Capable as the Bloodsoaked Queen was, she was just one person and was quickly nearing her limit. Beyond that, her wounds were serious.All this movement was going to be the end of her! The hunters¡¯ numbers swelled. How could they hope to outrun them on just two legs? This wasn¡¯t a siege, they were running them down until they were too weak. Cloudhawk swung himself on top of the other lizard and wrapped its reins around his fist. It immediately started to swing and buck in protest. His eyes filled with that blood-red hue as he expertly smacked the creature on the head with his pipe again. ¡°Chill! The fuck! Out!¡± The threat of death from this crazy human caused the lizard to tremble in fear. It was suddenly much more compliant. He reached out a hand toward the Queen. ¡°What the hell are you staring at? Let¡¯s go!¡± She couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d tamed this creature with nothing but his voice. This guy was chock full of surprises and powers she didn¡¯t know he had. The Queen didn¡¯t hesitate to leap up onto the lizard¡¯s back. She steadied herself by wrapping her arms around Cloudhawk¡¯s waist. ¡°Get me out of here!¡± With the reigns in one hand Cloudhawk whipped the lizard¡¯s hide with his pipe. Thick as its hide was Cloudhawk was no weakling. The triangular pipe hit hard enough to break skin and the lizard let out a piteous hiss of pain. It bolted, running wildly through the darkness. ¡°Faster!¡± ¡°Faster!¡± Cloudhawk saw his pursuers gaining. He beat his pipe against the lizard again and again, urging it on. Desperate to escape the pain the lizard kicked its webbed feet faster. It raced over slopes and dunes, slowly increasing the distance between them and the sweepers. They were coming up on a conical pit. The lizard was preparing to scale it when Cloudhawk noticed its sandy depths. Something was moving and sand had begun to tumble down the sides. This was not reassuring. Cloudhawk shook as he broke out in a cold sweat. This wasn¡¯t a normal valley ¨C it was a gateway to hell! ¡°Stop, stop!¡± Cloudhawk pulled hard on the reins and beat his mount with the pipe at the same time. The lizard, confused, took it as a sign to speed up. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, we gotta bail!¡± He released his hold on the reigns and almost immediately the two of them were pitched off. The lizard continued its headlong rush until it hit the bottom and the whole thing seemed to come alive. An enormous creature burst forth, frightening the lizard. It tried to scramble in another direction, but it was already too late. The monstrous thing was long, and weighed hundreds of pounds. It lurched through the air, bloody maw agape. In a single snap, half the mutant lizard¡¯s body was ripped away. The Bloodsoaked Queen stared dumbstruck at the creature. ¡°What the hell is that thing?!¡± Dozens of hideous legs wriggled on either side like a giant, fat centipede. A marked difference was this thing was covered in leathery flesh, though it kept the same segmented shape. It was at least twenty meters long and was as big around as five burly men tied together. A carapace covered it from the top of its head all the way down its back. Its sides were covered in tumor-like poison glands, and although it had no eyes, ears or nose it had a savage bite that put a shark to shame. Chapter 52 - The Edge of Life and Death The sands shook, the world pitched. In the dim light of dawn the monstrous thing was revealed. More than a hundred scythe-like legs wriggled, the ones sprouting from its upper half scarlet red and keen as daggers. They were so tightly packed they chattered against each other like a host of blades. It was a show of dominance. The monster also let off a fetid stench of putrescence. It was an agent of death, so terrifying as to petrify even the most elite soldiers. Cloudhawk was a model of his upbringing, a denizen of the wastes. Aggression steamed from his bones, and he was by no means a coward¡­ but before this hellspawn he stood absolutely stupefied. Those sweepers who were giving chase witnessed it too, watching as the creature burst from its secret nest like a majestic emperor of its territory. It reared up the first third of its body and released from its gaping maw a screech rife with pure fury. The sound was more terrible than any thunder. Worse than the sound of an erupting volcano, more deafening than a flood! It rolled across the vast wasteland and into the heavens, telling all who dared enter its territory that here, it was master! Cloudhawk jolted back to his senses. ¡°Run!¡± The sweepers¡¯ mounts panicked when they came face to face with the monster. Their riders fought to keep them under control while the one in the lead thrust his crude axe in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t let them get away! Kill these two rats!¡± The other sweepers growled like a pack of cornered wolves. Although this monster¡¯s appearance had startled them, they were not going to give up the chase ¨C an act that seemed crazy. But one mustn¡¯t forget¡­ this was the wastelands! As the sands blew in on gusting winds it brought with it the sounds of bowstrings twanging. Dart after poisonous dart was fired, filling the air with terrifying whistles. The fugitives urged their mounts forward and raced headlong into the sand pit. Cloudhawk was struck by two of the arrows. They didn¡¯t completely pierce his mystical cloak but they bit into him anyway. Two cuts like knife stabs ached and though he didn¡¯t stop to look, he knew there would be blood. The desert monster made its move. It sped across the sand as smooth as any vessel, propelled across the granular sea by its constantly wriggling host of legs. Plumes of sand were kicked up behind it as it made a mad dash forward. The reeking smell of rot mingled with rolling clouds of sand. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes, mouth and nose were choked shut. He couldn¡¯t see or hear anything ¨C helpless as a drowning man, struggling aimlessly. The monster slithered up behind him. A hundred blood red, knife-like appendages reached out to impale Cloudhawk. Shafts of light were reaching them from the eastern horizon. As the beast opened its maw to devour its prey the light disappeared into its cavernous mouth. Countless needle-like teeth lined the cavity, like a living meat grinder. Hell, with skin of copper and bones of iron you¡¯d still be ripped apart, and Cloudhawk had none of those things. He teetered on the razor edge of destruction. The Bloodsoaked Queen appeared, cloak flapping, kicking up sand in her wake. She snatched Cloudhawk, leapt off of the ground and landed right on the monster¡¯s head. It replied by swinging itself back and forth and raising itself higher. But no matter what the monster did the Queen was fixed to it like a magnet to the carapace that formed its skullcap. Agile as a sparrow she slid down its back to the midpoint of its body. Cloudhawk was in shock. He felt like he¡¯d been snatched from the jaws of death, literally. He¡¯d been so close to dying it felt like his soul had fled his body! He¡¯d never experienced such a terrifying sensation before. It was only thanks to the Queen¡¯s fantastic skills that he survived. If he¡¯d have had ten lives the beast would have devoured them all. When he looked at her, though, she was not reveling in their escape. Blood dripped continuously from the bottom of her mask. All of this motion and strain was only making her worse. ¡°Are you alright?¡± With her mask on he couldn¡¯t tell by her face. Her response was a cold and dismissive grunt, but it couldn¡¯t hide her weakness. ¡°Worry about yourself. Don¡¯t count on me to save your ass every time.¡± Cloudhawk felt extremely unhappy when his well-intentioned question was repaid with contempt. There was nothing he could do about it. Ten of him couldn¡¯t equal one wounded Bloodsoaked Queen. It would be hard enough for her to break encirclement alone, twice as hard if she had to drag Cloudhawk with her. Cloudhawk hung to the borders where the monster¡¯s chitinous armor connected. There he was flung from one side to another like some nightmarish rollercoaster. He managed to shout, ¡°If you see a chance to make it, you forget about me!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t waiting for your permission,¡± she snapped back. He knew she¡¯d say something like that, he understood her personality by now. But it was still a blow to his ego. This apathetic, grumpy woman, he lamented to himself. She still thinks I¡¯m a piece of shit! Cloudhawk opened his mouth to say something, but his words were cut off when a bolt from a sniper¡¯s bow buried itself in the Queen¡¯s chest. She gasped as it pierced her and she threatened to collapse. ¡°Queen!¡± Cloudhawk grabbed her, and covered her in his cloak. Arrows fell like a lethal hail while the monster - enraged - flung itself at the sweepers. It reeled left and right at the same time, trying to rid itself of the pests latched to its back. Its multitude of razor sharp arms chewed the earth in front of it. Any sweeper or mount unlucky enough to be caught in its path was cut down like weeds! They were chopped up, disemboweled. It only served to enrage the sweepers. Two maneaters laden with heavy armor flung themselves forward like crazed bulls, enormous war hammers crashing down on the beast¡¯s head. The blow was powerful enough to send the mutant creature staggering. Meanwhile other sweepers surrounded it, and started to stab at it with spears and swords. Squelch! Squirt! Each wound the monster suffered opened poison glands, and they spurted with corrosive toxins. The splashing filth blinded many sweepers, and yet the mob did not retreat. Dozens more of them charged forward, some of the sweepers even trying to climb onto the creature¡¯s back. Cloudhawk held tightly to the Queen while waving his staff with lethal intent. He put it through the neck of one sweeper that got too close, leaving behind a gaping fountain of blood. It was dead before it hit the ground. He swung around and bludgeoned another sweeper, striking it so hard on the helmet that sparks flew and it was knocked away. The mutant centipede heaved its girth in any direction it could, trying to break free from the trap it found itself in. But the sweepers were like maggots, and clung to it no matter where the monster tried to run. It lashed out at everything that came close, but it couldn¡¯t hold out forever. Cloudhawk had lost count of his injuries. He was too weak to use his exorcist rod. All he could do was cling desperately to the monster¡¯s carapace and be flung around. If he lost his grip and hit the sand, the sweepers would be on him in a minute. He was promised a brutal death, a seemingly inevitable reward for his frantic attempts to live. In its mad haze the monster didn¡¯t realize the number of sweepers was only increasing. If this continued, no matter how strong it was it would soon also be slain! The Bloodsoaked Queen feebly extended a hand, letting it fall upon the monster¡¯s body. From her fingers a scorching flame sprang out. The outer part of the creature resisted the lapping fires, but the heat was boiling it alive on the inside. It screeched in pain and raced forward with wild abandon. The maneaters were knocked aside and the monster plunged into the sea of waiting sweepers. The Queen never ceased infusing the monster with her burning power. Like a beast gone mad with pain, the mutant insect rampaged through the press of enemies. Thanks to the overwhelming power of this monster Cloudhawk and the Queen were freed from the encirclement. It was ignorant of how far it had run, focused only on the pain the burning angels had caused charring its innards. As its life force quickly began to drain away, it heaved a forlorn cry and fell limp on the sand. At last neither Cloudhawk nor the Queen could stem off the wave of exhaustion that consumed them. Due to her armor the arrow lodged in the Queen¡¯s chest was blessedly shallow . They figured the arrow tips were poisoned, but they weren¡¯t sure which toxins they¡¯d used. Cloudhawk could only resort to emergency measures, so he pulled the Queen¡¯s armor to the side and helped her pull out the arrow. Her wound began to bleed freely. The Queen never resisted. She likely didn¡¯t have the strength to. Dawn had arrived but the sun had yet to bath the wasteland in its callous light. Cloudhawk made his way to the peak of a dune and looked out to where the yellow-brown horizon met the equally repellent sky. The cloud of opaque brown grew thicker, faster. The closer it got the darker things became until they were nearly plunged into night once again. Cloudhawk had grown up in the wastelands, so of course he knew what this was. He threw one of the Queen¡¯s arms over his shoulder. ¡°Mother fucker, we got a beast of a sandstorm headed our way. We have to find a place to hide otherwise we¡¯re gonna get blown away!¡± This was a real sandstorm, one birthed by nature. The area these storms covered was massive, and they were powerful. Gusts so intense they¡¯d throw whole cars into the air were not uncommon. It was one of the most devastating natural disasters they could face! The Queen¡¯s mouth lolled open. ¡°Leave me.¡± He gaped at her. ¡°What did you say?¡± For the first time this mighty woman looked like she was ready to succumb to defeat. ¡°I won¡¯t survive the sandstorm. You have to go alone.¡± She wasn¡¯t being dramatic. Be it physically or mentally, she had long ago passed her limits. Her wounds, the pain ¨C none of that hurt her as badly as knowing she¡¯d failed her mission. She¡¯d ignored all the opposition and violated demonhunter rules to come out here herself and hunt her prey. In the end she¡¯d never even glimpsed the demon¡¯s face. Now she faced a miserable, choking death. It was hopeless! All was lost! Even at her best the Queen was no match for the demon, much less his control over the wastelands. Now, with her task doomed to failure, it looked like her sins would be carried with her to the grave. ¡°What sort of bullshit are you spouting?¡± Cloudhawk refused to acknowledge her pleas and lifted the Queen onto his shoulder. She wasn¡¯t heavy, but he had the wind and sand to fight against as he stumbled onward, and he was drained. Ten minutes later the full brunt of the sandstorm swallowed them up. Stone-laden winds buffeted him like a storm of blades. Beyond the danger of being cut apart or crushed by a rock, the winds could also send them flying into the wastes. Cloudhawk found a mound somewhat sheltered by a boulder. He huddled close and use his cloak to cover the Queen from the elements. It didn¡¯t stop airborne stones from pelting them constantly. The storm was here, and they had no choice but to wait it out! In the back of her mind the Queen rued the idea that she and some young wastelander would die side by side. With effort she opened her eyes and dragged them along his dirty face. Suddenly she didn¡¯t find him so repugnant. She saw the anxiety on his face, the fear, but what was important was in his eyes ¨C a calm that said he would accept death, because he did all he could. This tenacity in the face of hard times, this unyielding persistence in the face of suffering, this defiance when the whole world seemed to be against you ¨C all of this was only something the wastelands could teach! If we survive this tribulation and he becomes a demonhunter, he¡¯ll definitely surpass me! But almighty gods, why would you cause such a man to be born into a life within these blighted lands? 1. I believe in typical people the thickness between the dermis and the lungs is an inch and a half on average. Not a lot of room to play with. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 53 - A New Relic Like a roaring yellow earth dragon the cloud came roiling over them. Dense and thick, the choking sands spread over a vast area. Like ten thousand trampling elephants the thunderous sound swallowed up the wasteland, as spectacular as it was formidable. Gusts of wind were like knives and each grain of sand stabbed like a blade. Day became night, and for two hours the wrath of nature held sway. The sandstorm had passed relatively quickly but sunlight couldn¡¯t permeate the dust-muddled air. So shrouded and chaotic was the scene that one couldn¡¯t see ten meters in front of their nose. Stranger Black, Vulture and Longhorn had just arrived at the scene of the chase. Their sweepers had scattered to avoid the sandstorm and were busily trying to gather back together and resume their search. ¡°Did they really slip away again?¡± Vulture beat his large wings, enough to keep him suspended in the air. ¡°They¡¯re badly injured, have no water or food and they ran headfirst into a goddamn sandstorm. Barring some miracle they have to be dead.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re alive, we hunt them down. If they¡¯re dead, we get their corpses.¡± Stranger Black was able to speak again, though clearly his newly formed nerves were still adapting. He spoke and moved sluggishly. ¡°The sandstorm probably erased any trail so we¡¯ll have to expand the search area. Letting them get away again is not an option.¡± ** Cloudhawk clawed his way out from the sand-filled rubble, gasping for breath. He hacked violently to try and expel the sand from his lungs while pulling the Queen out of hiding. ¡°Wake up ¨C let¡¯s go, wake up!¡± He pulled off her mask and gave her back a few sharp slaps, to which the Queen answered by coughing up a mouthful of half-congealed blood. Her pretty face was caked in grime and streaked with blood, framed by hair that had lost its glossy shine to a film of dirt. Her wretched state inspired pity. The Queen¡¯s eyelashes quavered for a moment as she struggled to open her eyes. Grave as her injuries were, the demonhunter¡¯s eyes were as bright as starlight glinting off a lake surface. Like invaluable gemstones they had an enigmatic, almost mystical attraction. She looked all around them curiously. ¡°I¡¯m still alive?¡± ¡°Fuck, of course you¡¯re still alive!¡± Cloudhawk beamed happily. ¡°All throughout my shit life I¡¯ve been able to scrape my way out of hopeless situations like this!¡± She pursed her parched lips and said lifelessly, ¡°I guess I should thank you.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let it get to his head. He may have saved their lives for the time being, but they weren¡¯t out of the woods yet. He had been under assault from the wilds to the outpost to now. Wounds peppered him from head to toe. His healing prowess stitched the wounds but did not eliminate the risk of infection. He just hoped his body would be able to hold out. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t had an opportunity to close his eyes for two whole days and nights. Even his natural affinity for healing required energy and he hadn¡¯t had so much as a scrap of food or a drop of water. He was exhausted, drained, hungry and thirsty ¨C and the Queen was worse off. How could they get to safety under these conditions? Cloudhawk croaked through his dry throat at the Queen. ¡°Can you move?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen stretched and twisted, trying her beleaguered muscles, but couldn¡¯t get herself to stand. Her outward wounds weren¡¯t terrible ¨C relatively shallow punctures in her chest, shoulder and thigh. She was certainly strong enough to handle those. What threatened her life were the internal injuries, damage to her organs from the blow Longhorn had given her. If she¡¯d been almost anyone else the punch would have powdered her bones. The fact she was still breathing was nothing short of extraordinary. ¡°Nothing we can do about it, then. Rest, try and feel better.¡± He scanned the horizon. ¡°After the sandstorm I figure it¡¯ll be a little while before they find us again. I¡¯ll look around nearby and see if I can find us some water.¡± Both of them were on the cusp of dehydration. With no water or liquid alternative, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t go far even if he were twice as strong. Finding something to drink in the wastelands was difficult on the best of days, and especially difficult after a sandstorm. Cloudhawk knew their chances were slim to none, but he had to try. What option did he have? If he didn¡¯t find some water they would die! Feebly he stumbled into the wastes. Now that the sandstorm had passed the temperature was steadily rising, and the wasteland became a sauna. It was quickly sapping what little fluid Cloudhawk had left in him. His vision had begun to grow dim, and the dunes beneath his feet seemed to undulate. Legs shook like blades of grass in the breeze, threatening to give out at any moment. Everywhere he looked he saw rocks and sand. Not even a single sad weed could be found. Things were bad. Things were really bad. Just as Cloudhawk was beginning to give in to his despair, he caught a glimpse of something. His eyes went wide as he realized what was right in front of him. It was the body of the mutant centipede, the one the Bloodsoaked Queen had burned to death. The meat of the creature was toxic, and poison flowed through its meat like blood. It was inedible to humans, but that didn¡¯t mean it was inedible to everything. A group of strange creatures had appeared around the body, each one roughly fifteen to twenty kilograms. The fur that covered it was the same as its surroundings making them hard to spot from a distance. Sharp claws and teeth glinted in the harsh light of day, and they used them to carve out scraps that weren¡¯t dipped in poison. Meat eating scourge hares! Mutant rabbits! These creatures ate meat, but they preferred insects. They were timid by nature and didn¡¯t often go after things bigger than themselves. Scourge hares were fast, faster even than rotwolves, so chasing them down was no easy task. Cloudhawk was in no condition to be chasing rabbits around the desert. He doubted he could even run if he had to. What to do! Perhaps he could throw a rock and kill one? It was the best plan he could come up with, but the rabbits were vigilant. There wasn¡¯t any cover to hide himself while he snuck up to them so Cloudhawk likely couldn¡¯t get closer than thirty or forty meters. Too far to be confident of hitting one of the rabbits, much less killing one before they got away. But it was his only shot! For him and the Queen, the difference between living and dying could be his success right now. Cloudhawk only had his exorcist rod as a weapon. He¡¯d used his revolver on the rat king, but in the ensuing struggle had lost it somewhere. But wait! He had another relic! When he passed through that mysterious, unknown realm Cloudhawk had pilfered two artifacts from the remains he found. Up till now he hadn¡¯t tried to use them and didn¡¯t know what they did. Only, whatever these relics were they were of a much higher caliber than his exorcist rod. He had enough willpower left to try one, he figured. But which? His cloak hadn¡¯t shown any special qualities so far, though it was tough and protective. Neither arrow nor sword had been able to pierce it, yet. In fact it¡¯d already saved his life. He decided to give it a shot and pour what power he had remaining into the cloak. He shut his eyes and opened his mind, seeking resonance with the relic. Immediately he sensed that the cloak was of much higher quality than the exorcist rod. Using the novice weapon once or twice was doable, but this time communicating with the relic took several times the effort. Eventually he achieved that resonance, and it began to quiver and vibrate. Much to Cloudhawk¡¯s surprise he suddenly felt much lighter, like resistance from air and gravity were gone. All of a sudden he felt like he could bound ten meters in a single stride. As the seconds ticked by the inky black cloak dulled. Rather, it was more accurate to say it vanished. He wrapped the cloak around himself and peered down at his body, only to find he could look right through where his ass should be to the sand below. This relic made him lighter, removed obstructions, bent light around him and made him faster. Cloudhawk wanted to smack himself in his own stupid face! If only he¡¯d known he wouldn¡¯t be so far up shit creek! He experimented for a few moments, unhurried, before discovering the vibration of the cloak wither and die. It appeared the effects lasted only for a dozen seconds or so, meaning he had to pay close attention to timing. He flung the hood over his head and wrapped himself in his cloak, and all of a sudden he was gone. Cloudhawk moved quickly but made no sound. He was hardly adept at sneaking, so from time to time a length of his leg or a portion of face was revealed. It was more than strange to have disembodied limbs and features appear out of nowhere only to vanish again a second later. He inched toward the scourge hares as quickly as he could. Several minutes later. The scent of blood slithered into the Queen¡¯s nostrils. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Cloudhawk holding up two fat rabbits in his hands. The hares had large puncture marks in their throats, continuously leaking blood. ¡°We¡¯re shit outta luck for water, but the blood will keep us from being thirsty. At least it might help us recover some strength.¡± The Queen¡¯s brow wrinkled, apparently displeased with the prospect. This fur-eating, blood-drinking diet was no different from the fiends of the wasteland. She was a noble demonhunter! But there was hardly a smorgasbord to choose from so she was left with the pungent, salty rabbit blood to sate her thirst. He was right, at least it¡¯d help her regain her strength. Cloudhawk took up the knife and began to flay their meal. The Queen began to take tentative sips of blood. She already was beginning to feel better. ¡°These wounds on the rabbits look like they were from an exorcist rod. How were you fast enough to get in close enough for a strike?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate me,¡± Cloudhawk said haughtily. He paused as though thinking of something, then wiped his bloody hands on his clothes and dug something out from within his cloak. It was a gourd; an exquisite specimen about the size of his palm. He handed it to her. ¡°Right, take a look and see if you can tell me how to use this.¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± She knew it the moment she saw it, its shape and texture was nothing like what they¡¯d find in the wastelands. When she saw a familiar rune etched on the bottom of the gourd she audibly gasped. ¡°How do you have this relic?¡± ¡°I found it,¡± he said, honestly. ¡°Impossible!¡± She didn¡¯t believe him for a moment. ¡°This isn¡¯t some low-level trinket, these sorts of relics have to be registered in the holy city. Anywhere, in any city or territory, if a demonhunter¡¯s relic goes missing it¡¯s a big deal. The city would certainly dispatch a team to investigate where it went and recover it. And you just find it lying around?!¡± ¡°Yup.¡± His response was flippant and irritated. ¡°So how the fuck do I use it?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen took a moment to get her emotions under control. Clearly Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t interested in sharing more details. She turned the relic over in her hands a few times, examining every inch closely. Her attention fell on an inscription, god script carved into its surface. ¡°This relic is called the ¡®Phoenix Furnace.¡¯ From the inscription we can assume it has to do with fire.¡± Cloudhawk was overtly curious. It was one of the relics he¡¯d come across in the other world, but did that mean these two worlds shared a similar system of writing? It wasn¡¯t a coincidence, it couldn¡¯t be that simple. He didn¡¯t worry about it now. ¡°Can you use it?¡± The Queen¡¯s will was particularly attuned to fire relics. When she cradled the small gourd in her hand Cloudhawk could feel ripples of power radiating from them. He knew it to be a sign that the relic was awakening. An inferno sputtered to life from within. The fire itself was strange, rising maybe three or four meters. The fires didn¡¯t melt the gourd, and instead coalesced together into the image of a large-winged phoenix. The mystical bird of fire circled around her. The Bloodsoaked Queen waved her hand, and at her command the phoenix lunged as though it understood. With breakneck speed it raced toward a boulder and smashed into it. Flames devoured both rock and bird. ¡°By the almighty gods above¡­¡± ¡°This is an absolutely perfect relic!¡± The Queen was so excited that she nearly prostrated herself in worship before the relic. An artifact like this was as excellent as any godly heirloom, and it had somehow fallen into Cloudhawk¡¯s dirty clutches! That same scummy wastelander stared at the molten boulder in awe. He could sense that the Queen had summoned only a small portion of what the gourd could do, and even that was highly destructive. If she poured all her will into it she would be unthinkably strong. ¡°Well shit, you seem able to use it. Keep it.¡± ¡°You¡­ what did you¡­¡± She stared at him with eyes like he was some freak. ¡°Do you have any idea how much this relic is worth?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how much it¡¯s worth, if I can¡¯t use it then it¡¯s garbage.¡± He waggled the exorcist rod and went on. ¡°Tit for tat, you gave me something and I¡¯m returning the kindness. I¡¯ll get more use out of the staff than this gourd.¡± The Queen was speechless. She could get a hundred exorcist staffs for this relic and it still wouldn¡¯t be enough. He didn¡¯t care what it was worth. On the one hand he had no concept of what a relic went for in some market, and he couldn¡¯t use it even if he did. Right now the two of them were sailors in the same proverbial busted rowboat. The stronger the Queen was the safer he would be. Besides, there was another important reason. Cloudhawk had the nagging feeling that once he could control the mysterious stone in his possession, he¡¯d be able to strafe between worlds at will. He could use that power to search for these discarded artifacts by the resonance they produced. Obviously he couldn¡¯t do that if he was dead, so the first order of business was to make sure he kept breathing. Anything else was not important and could be given up. 1. Gross as this is for many westerners, in the East it isn¡¯t uncommon to eat congealed blood. Human placenta, for example, is used in Chinese medicine. For hot pot they love congealed (duck?) blood the size of sticks of butter. Purportedly it¡¯s very good for your health, but every time I ate it I felt distinctly un-good. 2. Gourds feature heavily in Chinese mythos, representing longevity, prosperity and luck. , and the song which my students used to irritate me to no end. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 54 - Supported in Life and Death The wastelands were a barren, scorching hellscape. Like a sea of fire this blighted plane devoured every ounce of water from the humans who traversed it. In order to avoid being burnt to a crisp or dying of dehydration, the two fugitives were forced to stop in a shaded crevice to wait out the hottest part of the day. The skin of the scourge rabbits was left out to cure on a scorching rock. Its meat, chopped into small squares, were roasted as well. Rabbit was a delectable wasteland treat, rich in fats and oils. It was also a rare find. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t eat much for two reasons. First, there was no water to wash it down and overeating would make him all the more thirsty. Second, he wasn¡¯t sure when their next opportunity to come across a meal would be. The beasts of the wasteland were many, but only a few of them were safe to eat. It was smarter to save some of the rabbit just in case. ¡°If we wander around blindly we¡¯re gonna die.¡± Cloudhawk looked out over the rolling expanse of desert. His eyes betrayed his thoughts ¨C he was at a loss, he didn¡¯t know where to go. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the elysian lands.¡± Vengeance for Slyfox and Mad Dog would have to wait. Now wasn¡¯t the time. The power of the black hand behind the curtain was too great. At least a thousand sweepers answered his beck and call, with three mighty lieutenants to guide them. Of course this was just what they knew about it, how many soldiers there really were in service of this demon was still unknown. They didn¡¯t even know what the demon himself was capable of. They were one badly wounded Bloodsoaked Queen, and a weak Cloudhawk. The fact they were still alive was in itself a miracle. If they didn¡¯t find water soon that could change, and it was increasingly unlikely they¡¯d last through the night. How could they even begin to talk about how to fight back? Hunting down demons was now a hopeless task. But would making their way to the elysian lands bring them hope? Leagues of wasteland stretched far and wide, covering every inch of this territory. Making their way across would take as much luck as nerve, and no one knew what they might encounter in the unknown kilometers between here and there. If they were destined to die in the wastelands the Bloodsoaked Queen preferred to go down fighting. It was the nature and pride of the demonhunter. ¡°Ah, I just don¡¯t get it.¡± Cloudhawk could see the resolute light in the Queen¡¯s eye, her determination even in the face of death. ¡°Why the hell are you so pissed at this demon? Why would you give up the safety and comfort of the elysian lands to go on a suicide mission you refuse to let go of. What did he do to you?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen was young, intelligent, beautiful and skilled. She was perfect and filled with such potential. He just didn¡¯t get why she¡¯d give all that up, a bright future, for a weird obsession with this monster of the wasteland? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but voice his confusion. Typically the Queen¡¯s haughty nature would prevent her from explaining anything to this faithless, dishonorable heathen. But Cloudhawk was surprised to hear her voice, heavy with sorrow and pain. ¡°He killed my father.¡± She was weak, her body shook. In this moment the iron-like fa?ade of the female warrior cracked. Her eyes were red, and in their depths he could see a seething hatred. The one who took her father had to pay! She bore the disgrace of her father¡¯s death. It had to be her who exacted revenge. This was the thought that consumed her when she, only sixteen, had secretly left the elysian lands. For an entire year she had hunted for closure. The Queen was an exceptionally talented demonhunter, but young. She was too self-confident and arrogant, and her hatred of the demon had blinded her. She never even stopped to consider what sort of foe she faced. Cloudhawk really didn¡¯t understand her but he couldn¡¯t be blamed, for he had no concept of what a father was. He heaved a sigh ¨C everyone lived their own stories, their own views, their own motives. Who was he to tell someone that their path was wrong? Neither of them spoke for a long time. For two days and two nights Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t so much as closed his eyes. His nerves were frayed, leaving him anxious. He¡¯d cut his way out from the wastelands and into the outpost, only to slaughter his way out of the outpost and back into the wastelands. At no time did he have a chance to rest. Even the most steadfast will had its limits and Cloudhawk was reaching his. Fighting his exhaustion was like trying to run against floodwaters. His eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand kilograms. Eventually they won and his eyes slipped closed. When he woke back up he couldn¡¯t tell how much time had passed. Burning thirst had been what stirred him. His eyes popped open and his first instinct was to grip his exorcist rod and glare all around. The sky had dimmed toward evening ¨C he hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d slept that long. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was clear but his throat was dry as a bone. He was dehydrated, he knew, and that was dangerous. The Bloodsoaked Queen huddled nearby with her long raven hair flowing free. Her eyes were closed, also asleep, but her face was painted with an unnatural blush. It sounded like every breath was a struggle. When he saw how she looked Cloudhawk scrambled forward and pressed his hand to her forehead. Her burning skin radiated heat right through his palm. This was bad! Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t thought the dozen or so wounds he suffered would end up so trivial, while the Queen¡¯s few external injuries would become infected. He figured one of the arrows that hit her had to have been poisoned. ¡°Hey, hey! Wake up!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t die!¡± Cloudhawk felt his frayed nerves tremble. The two of them were a team, and by now the sweepers saw him as a demonhunter as well. If she died they wouldn¡¯t show him any mercy. With the mighty Queen at his side he had a chance. If she didn¡¯t make it, a novice like Cloudhawk had no hope of escape. The Queen¡¯s cracked lips worked, unconsciously muttering a single word. ¡°Water¡­¡± Water? I¡¯m dying of thirst too! Where am I supposed to find water? Cloudhawk ran his hand through sand-streaked hair anxiously. They¡¯d run out of rabbit blood a long time ago, so what was he supposed to do? Suddenly a calm came over him. He pulled out the knife the Bloodsoaked Queen kept in her boot and pressed the tip against his wrist. He dragged it down his skin, opening up a hole. Blood began to spill forth. This was the only way! The Queen was unconscious. Like an infant she gulped at whatever her mouth clung to. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth and it was enough to bring her back from her stupor. Her eyes snapped open and she stared at what was happening. Cloudhawk tried to reassure her with a less than comforting grin. ¡°You¡¯re finally up.¡± She was still weak but her eyes trembled with feeling. This wastelander was using his own life blood to save her? If he¡¯d tried it at any time before this would have thrown her into a rage. She was a noble demonhunter! How dare his ignoble blood be used to continue her life! The rage did not come. Perhaps it was because she was weak, but perhaps it was because of other, deeper reasons. ¡°We have to go. We have to find water tonight or we¡¯ll die.¡± Cloudhawk had fashioned the rabbit skin into a crude backpack and put their surplus meat inside. Next he dug a hole and buried any trace that they¡¯d used this place for shelter. They had to keep hidden. The Queen¡¯s fever was scorching, so much that it had started to affect her consciousness. She couldn¡¯t fight, much less summon power from relics. She could hardly walk. It was the weakest she¡¯d ever been. ¡°You¡¯re too slow in your condition,¡± Cloudhawk muttered. He removed the rabbit skin bag and wrapped it around the Queen¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Hold this, I¡¯ll carry you on my back!¡± Odious as the choice was the Queen was no fool. There was no other option. Cloudhawk pulled her onto his bony back and the two of them set off into the dusky desert. Their dim footprints stretched out behind them. Light from the setting sun painted the dunes in color. The Queen¡¯s long hair took on a burnished bronze hue. Even in her half-conscious state she could sense that her time was fleeting, but her heart was calm. She never thought¡­ never imagined¡­ the one helping her through the end would be this wastelander youth she had always looked down upon. Eventually the sun dipped below the horizon and stars emerged. The broiling desert quickly dipped in temperature. Cloudhawk panted like an old ox and yet he tenaciously pushed on, one foot in front of the other, by will alone. He was dizzy, his eyes refused to focus, but he kept on beyond the point any reasonable person could hold on. And never once did they come across a single living thing, much less water. Whoosh! The sound pierced his ears. Cloudhawk saw the shaft of an arrow race past his face, hissing through the air in its passage. It buried itself in the sand before his feet and quivered. Cloudhawk blanched as he swung his head toward the arrow¡¯s origin, where he found five figures picking their way through the dim light toward them. Two lizard riders were at the front and the three others were archers, all in pursuit. The arrow had come from one of them. Cloudhawk felt his heart sink. These five were a vanguard. Scores more dotted the desert on the other side of a nearby dune. All of them wore armor and hefted dangerous looking weapons. Cloudhawk was sure the sandstorm would have wiped away their scent and any trace of their movement, they couldn¡¯t have caught up with them so fast. Now it looked like he¡¯d been too optimistic. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± The three archers had arrows knocked and bows draw, but did not yet fire. A handful of wasteland riders trampled by and cut them off with a semi-circular formation. Cloudhawk carefully leaned down and let the Queen off of his back and hefted the exorcist rod. They weren¡¯t getting away this time, but now that they were caught he was going to make sure someone paid for it. Yet though he¡¯d been surrounded Cloudhawk¡¯s enemies didn¡¯t rush in and attack. Two figures separated from the pack. One of them was a big man, thick and muscular. His face was covered in bushy, ashen whiskers. He looked like an old, grizzled veteran dressed in typical wastelander attire. Of note was his steel armor which looked like it was well made. Although he looked like an old, arthritic lion, he seethed with the aura of someone who wasn¡¯t to be fucked with. The second fellow was brawny, and not too old. Half of his face had been burned by acid or fire leaving hideous scars behind. His hair was sparse and patchy, and grape-like tumors grew in patches from his throat down his chest. They had to be some kind of mild mutation. Aside from a few deformed soldiers, Cloudhawk noted that most of this group looked like normal humans. They weren¡¯t sweepers, but then who were they? Cloudhawk barked a challenge. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± ¡°Who we are isn¡¯t important!¡± The brawny man answered with a hideous, savage grin. He lifted his hand and waved it at the two of them. ¡°Go, take ¡®em down!¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 55 - Fiends of the Deser ¡°Hold!¡± The call wasn¡¯t loud, but deep and commanding. Like a lion¡¯s roar it was stately and powerful, and promised that those who dared disobey would feel teeth on their throat. Everyone lowered their weapons, forced to capitulate. The burly, ugly man¡¯s expression revealed his displeasure. He glared at the tall bearded man who stopped them. ¡°Goddamnit, Leonine, what are you doin¡¯?¡± Apparently the lion-esque leader of this tribe had a name to match his appearance ¨C Leonine. He grinned and it called to mind the image of a lion baring its fangs. Earning a nickname like that in the wastelands was no easy feat. Although they listened to the older man this team seemed loosely organized, probably several groups patched together. If despite that they jumped when Leonine spoke, it said a lot about this complicated person. Leonine pierced Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen with his eyes. They were small, seemingly weak, but the grizzled warrior could see the signs of battle writ in wounds all over Cloudhawk¡¯s body. It told him that these children had seen vicious fighting. For someone to suffer that many wounds and still make it out alive meant they were real wastelanders. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing wandering around out here?¡± ¡°We¡¯re from Blackflag Outpost.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if these men were friends or foes, but he gave them a straight answer anyway. ¡°We were attacked by sweepers and managed to get away. We got separated from the others and now we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Blackflag Outpost? I¡¯ve heard of it, they say it was a big settlement. I¡¯m surprised to hear a group of sweepers could break through.¡± Curiosity was thick in Leonine¡¯s rumbling voice. The others tightened their grips on their weapons for they knew his next command was probably going to decide whether these kids lived or died. After a few moments of thought Leonine continued. ¡°We¡¯re headed toward the Greenland Outpost. The road¡¯s dangerous, and we can always use another arm to swing a weapon. If you¡¯ve got nowhere else to go you can follow us ¨C but just follow, you stay behind the group.¡± Leonine¡¯s decision was unexpected. Cloudhawk was desperate to live, and death seemed inevitable unless they followed these people. What choice did he have? Whatever kind of place this Greenland Outpost was wasn¡¯t important. All he heard was ¡®outpost,¡¯ and the two of them needed a safe haven where they could nurse their wounds. Leonine nodded. ¡°Then you¡¯re coming with us.¡± The bearded warrior turned and made to leave. His companions relaxed their weapons. No one gave the two any more trouble, because going against Leonine¡¯s decision would make him seem weak ¨C and that would have consequences. Cloudhawk blurted out. ¡°Can you give us water?¡± ¡°Are you fuckin¡¯ deaf? He said you can follow, that¡¯s it!¡± The brutish man barked. ¡°You think we¡¯re a goddamn charity?!¡± A dagger made a raspy thud as it buried itself in the sand. The weapon was from the Elysium fields, brought here by the Bloodsoaked Queen. It wasn¡¯t a relic, but one could tell at a glance it was made from a special metal. It was keen and straight, and even decent wasteland weapons couldn¡¯t compare with it. When the Queen opened her mouth she spoke with a quiet tenacity, concealing her weakness. ¡°Take this dagger in trade!¡± The brute snatched the dagger from the ground and turned it over in his hands in appreciation. Water was precious out here in the wastelands, but her dagger was more than a worthy exchange. Cloudhawk added his own impatient voice. ¡°Well?Are you gonna take it or not?!¡± ¡°A shitty broken dagger isn¡¯t enough.¡± The brute drew his eyes over the Queen¡¯s body. Her face was covered by the hideous demon mask but it couldn¡¯t hide her full chest, round backside and long slender legs. She was still getting a lot of unsavory attention, and the evil look in the brute¡¯s eyes left no question as to his intent. ¡°It¡¯s your lucky day, woman. My boys and I have suffered a bit of a dry spell ourselves. You show us a good time, and we¡¯ll give you water!¡± How could the Bloodsoaked Queen ignore such an insult? If she¡¯d even been able to walk unaided this reckless idiot would be a carcass left to rot in the desert sun. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on the Queen now, hungry and violent. None of them made an effort to hide their wild, lascivious desires. Out in these wicked badlands a woman of her caliber was like a sheep among wolves. It didn¡¯t require much imagination to know what would happen to her. Cloudhawk moved forward to block them, but two burly men grabbed him tight. The brute and a dozen other men surrounded the Queen and she stumbled backward to try and avoid them. Reaching out with her will to summon her relic¡¯s power only earned her a tearing pain in her skull. She couldn¡¯t pair with its resonance, she was too weak. One of the men lunged at her ravenously. She managed to sidestep his assault. Her right leg whipped out and caught the man between his. He let out a piteous whine and collapsed to the ground, rolling in agony. When the other men saw their friend¡¯s plight they broke out in raucous laughter. A few of them saw it as their chance to cause trouble. A beastial yell erupted from behind the Queen and suddenly her hands were caught in a vice-like grip. Struggled as she might she couldn¡¯t get free, her only response was to yell. ¡°If you dare try anything I¡¯ll make you regret being born!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a wild place, girlie!¡± ¡°What the fuck are you wearin¡¯ woman?¡± ¡°This bitch is feisty! I¡¯m gonna like this one!¡± ¡°What the fuck are you in such a hurry for, huh? I haven¡¯t had my turn yet!¡± He kicked the man who was still curled up on the ground and prepared to take off his pants. ¡°Get in line boys, I¡¯m first.¡± The brute thought of something then and turned his head to the two men holding Cloudhawk back. ¡°Bring that punk over here. I¡¯m gonna make him watch me take his woman!¡± As the rowdy group prepared for their fun, Leonine watched with an indifferent expression. Out here in the wastes women were tools, a way for men to vent. Now that the girl was here she had to understand that. If she wasn¡¯t strong enough to protect herself then she would be used as they liked. It was true for the men, too. If they weren¡¯t strong enough to protect their women then they had to deal with losing them. These were the rules out here in this wretched place. Without power you had to resign yourself to your fate! A bloody red hue crept into Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. Suddenly he felt a deluge of energy burst through his exhausted body, like an erupting volcano. He wrenched himself free from his captors. ¡°You¡¯re fuckin DEAD!¡± His voice was wild, ferocious, murderous. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him. Cloudhawk snatched up his inconspicuous staff and charged through a group of men like a rabid rhinoceros. The brute, who was fumbling with his pants, felt a crazed and lethal sensation wash over him. His face curled into a savage scowl. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for this shit, Leonine. This fuck brought it on himself!¡± The brute hefted a long heavy knife. If Leonine was their leader then this man was certainly their number two. Any man who could order a dozen degenerates like these around wasn¡¯t your typical wastelander. He wasn¡¯t as strong as Mad Dog, say, but he would definitely have been comparable to the strongest fighters of the Tartarus mercenaries! The brute¡¯s short sword was thick and sturdy but he wielded it like it weighed nothing, bringing it down in a chopping motion toward Cloudhawk with pinpoint accuracy. He wielded it masterfully. Cloudhawk¡¯s will suddenly burst out! The exorcist rod started to spin rapidly. Before the other men could react Cloudhawk brought the staff down on up in a crushing strike. Like glass the brute¡¯s sword shattered into a million pieces while Cloudhawk¡¯s staff didn¡¯t seem to slow at all. It collided with the brute¡¯s chest, hitting him so hard that blood and flesh exploded everywhere like he¡¯d pummeled a rotten tomato. The brute never made a sound. He was flung back three or four meters then bent backward, nearly broken in half. He fell to the ground at a grotesque angle, and only the bones of his spine and a few strips of flesh kept the two halves of his body connected. His eyes were wide as saucers and blood sputtered from his mouth in a torrent. Any air that had been in his lungs was replaced with thick, fresh blood. For a few seconds his arms twitched before he stopped moving entirely. Cloudhawk was caked in gore. He didn¡¯t even look at what was left of the brute as, like a crazed demon, he howled at the others. ¡°Get your hands off her!¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Monster! He¡¯s a fuckin¡¯ monster!¡± The brawny man holding the Queen was scared stiff. Half a moment later his wits returned enough for him to let her go and go tearing off into the distance. Cloudhawk pulled the weakened Queen behind him. He pointed his exorcist rod at the slack-jawed miscreants, his face a deranged mask. ¡°Anyone else want to try their fuckin luck?!¡± It was a bluff, he¡¯d only had enough energy to use the staff once. There was no way he¡¯d be able to protect himself or the Queen from the rest of these outlaws. But his terrifying display had scared them completely. They¡¯d seen him break the brute nearly in half with a stick, and they were absolutely terrified they might be next. The brute¡¯s subordinates kept about ten meters between them and the demon kid. No one dared step forward to challenge him. Cloudhawk¡¯s lithe frame was reflected in the Queen¡¯s shimmering eyes. Like a feral beast he¡¯d put himself, small as he was, between her and a group of vile and vicious men. He was young, and weak, but he threw himself at the others and risked his life to protect me. Again¡­ I owe him again. Leonine appeared once more with several men in tow. Cloudhawk watched him come nervously. He hadn¡¯t fought the old man but he knew he was on par with the likes of Mad Dog. If it came to a battle he was sure to lose. ¡°Alright, put away your weapons.¡± An eerie calm was in Leonine¡¯s voice. He spoke unhurriedly. ¡°Number two wasn¡¯t worth shit. He started a fight he couldn¡¯t finish, even death won¡¯t clear his shame. From today onward you¡¯re gonna take his place as my number two.¡± That was all the attention Leonine was going to pay toward the brute¡¯s death. Now Cloudhawk was his victim¡¯s replacement? ¡°You got fifteen minutes to prep.¡± Leonine plucked a canteen from his person and threw it toward Cloudhawk. ¡°After fifteen minutes we¡¯re movin¡¯.¡± Cloudhawk caught the canteen and shook it. Inside water sloshed around enticingly. It was full, much to his delight. Full of life-saving nectar! He pulled open the bung and handed it to the Queen. He didn¡¯t do it out of some altruistic moral sense. Cloudhawk knew he wasn¡¯t strong enough, he needed the Queen at her best to keep him safe. These wasteland savages were vicious and cruel, but they were good at adapting to circumstances. Cloudhawk¡¯s bloody showing had made a deep impression, to say the least. They were like different people now, and respectfully addressed Cloudhawk as ¡®Second Brother.¡¯ The Bloodsoaked Queen gulped down half the canteen¡¯s contents. She felt like a sunbaked desert after a blessed rain. From head to toe, from inside out, it was like she could feel every cell of her body being nourished. Like being reborn. Cloudhawk drank what was left. He really was parched and didn¡¯t leave a single drop of water left. As he drank it down he felt the water infusing him with vigor. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he felt this good. Fifteen minutes later¡­ Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen found themselves part of this band of wasteland outlaws, headed for a place called the Greenland Outpost.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 56 - Land of Ruins Cloudhawk and the Queen rode atop a giant lizard, the light of the dawn casting their shadow long across the dunes. Here the monotony of the wastelands was broken when the desert gave way to a cluster of ruined structures. Metal husks rusted beneath the beating sun. High walls crumbled away like the flesh of ancient, long-dead beasts. What remained of the city stretched out across the horizon as a concrete and steel jungle, far as the eye could see. Baked by the sun, beaten by the winds and sand, the magnificence of dilapidation was lain bare before them. The group wandered for a few dozen meters until they found a crack in the wall and slipped into the wasted metropolis. Even after years of erosion, even now when the weeds had reclaimed this place, the towering wreckage was a testament to the splendor of the old world. As the humans picked their way through the ruins they were dwarfed by its scale. Cloudhawk and the others were insects by comparison. More than just broken skyscrapers peppered the landscape as well. Statues, temples, and palaces dotted their paths. Great peaks, collapsed burrows, and all manner of debris were interposed throughout. Strange sites with stranger histories. Who knew what this place used to be like in its heyday? What sorts of experiences waited along its streets and in its buildings? All of it was lost to the inevitable march of time. The ruins would probably protect them from the winds and sand. Shrubs and low foliage could be seen all around, traces of life everywhere they looked. The city had become a collapsed labyrinth that Cloudhawk and the others could get lost in forever. Even experienced wasteland rangers would have a hard time finding their way out. It wasn¡¯t Leonine¡¯s first trip to the Greenland Outpost. He was experienced enough to avoid detours and misleading roads. He also knew when to skirt dangerous lairs where fell beasts lay in waiting. As they made their way through the ruins nothing made passage difficult. About an hour later¡­ A strange howl echoed through the cluttered, dilapidated streets all around them. No one could distinguish what it was or where it was coming from. That is, until an arachnid-like monster skittered from the ruins. It leapt from the darkness, whipping its four limbs with incredible speed, and landed before one of the soldiers. The human victim brandished his weapon for protection and was quick enough to thrust it at the beast. But the monster was faster than anyone could have imagined. It allowed the weapon to plunge into it as the creature opened its black maw and buried its fangs in the warrior¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Kill it!¡± A handful of the men attacked, stabbing it repeatedly. But even after a dozen or so strikes the beast still lashed about. Eventually it stopped moving when a war hammer smashed its brains to bits. Cloudhawk had a chance to look at it more closely. It only had four limbs, a head, eyes, ears, and a nose¡­ familiar features except for the greyish-black flesh. Its legs and arms were twisted grotesquely. ¡°Did this thing used to be human?¡± Leonine pulled out a saber. The weapon was roughly five feet long, large and unadorned, with a blade just as long as the hilt. It was perfectly straight, and about as wide as one¡¯s palm. Though it was nicked and etched by blood the saber still managed to twinkle with a cold and lethal light. The grizzled veteran was sinister enough, but with the saber in hand he looked like he could cut down a whole host of enemies. ¡°Leonine, what the hell are you doing!?!¡± Leonine had just thrown himself into the crowd like a shooting star. His saber streaked through the air with all the force of a raging river, right for the wide-eyed warrior that¡¯d been bit. The unfortunate man¡¯s head soared high and hit the ground several meters away. Meanwhile, his body collapsed in a spray of blood. He was dead before he knew what had happened. The others gaped at Leonine. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a mutant, it was a walking corpse.¡± Leonine stood tall with the dagger tight in his grip. Not a spot of blood was on it. ¡°If ya get bit by one of em, you turn in less than a day. You join the ranks of the walkin¡¯ dead. He had to be dealt with.¡± It was the first time Cloudhawk had ever heard anything like this. Leonine continued. ¡°Zombies like this move in packs. We gotta leave, now.¡± As though on cue, the wailing rasp of zombies called out from all around. Like nightmarish insects the dead started to close in on them, skittering over walls and out through cracks in the ruins. They crawled and groped, with hungry scarlet red eyes. Dozens of them were closing in already and there were more coming. Cloudhawk¡¯s face fell. ¡°There are so many of them!¡± Leonine hefted his dagger. ¡°Y¡¯all come with me. Careful you don¡¯t get bit, and try not to get any of their blood on ya.¡± Indeed these corpses weren¡¯t mutants. They were monsters, human flesh turned to beasts through some evil poison. A zombie¡¯s poison was in their saliva and secondarily in their blood. One bite and their disease was passed on. Anyone unlucky enough to feel their teeth was as good as dead. If any of their blood got in an open wound the chances were also good the disease would be passed on. There was no medicine. No cure. That¡¯s what made these monsters so terrifying! Cloudhawk was willing to fight against all sorts of creatures, things that lived only in nightmares and the darkness of the wastes. But he sure as shit wasn¡¯t interested in tangling with the dead. Leonine led the way, racing ahead. His dagger flashed and two rotting beasts barring their way were cut in half. Still more poured in from all around ¨C they clearly did not know fear and were willing to die en masse during their attack. ¡°Shit! One got me ¨C it bit me!¡± One of the warriors let loose with a crisp shout of pain. One of the zombie had bitten off half his hand. The sound of his cries were heavy with pain and horror, filling the others with fear much worse than the sight of his injury. ¡°You fuckin¡¯ animals, I¡¯ll wreck ya!¡± The warrior threw himself at the zombies hysterically only to get pulled down by a host of them. He screamed in bloody agony as their blackened claws disemboweled him and pulled his intestines free of quivering, shredded flesh. Zombies fell on his body like he was a rare delicacy. The scene made the other humans shudder with a bone-deep terror. Cloudhawk was suddenly blocked by three of the beasts. He didn¡¯t know which one to attack, they were too fast and focusing on one would leave himself open to getting bit by the other two. If one of them took a chunk out of him, that was it. The three corpses didn¡¯t give him any time to think. Cloudhawk was frozen in a panic and so the Queen made the first move. She seized his exorcist rod, whipping it around with practiced movements. One, two, three ¨C the monsters¡¯ heads exploded in no particular order, spraying brain matter all around. The Bloodsoaked Queen was far more skilled than Cloudhawk. With the slightest influence of her will she summoned the strength of the staff, so little in fact that no one could tell she¡¯d galvanized the relic at all. It was just enough to crush these zombies¡¯ skulls and nothing more. She used only as much energy as was needed, as opposed to Cloudhawk who always struck with his full power. Leonine¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°There¡¯s more of ¡®em comin¡¯! Don¡¯t let ¡®em surround you or you¡¯re dead!¡± Cloudhawk then noticed that as they fought the undead were only increasing. Sooner or later they would be overrun. How many of these fucking things were there out in these ruins!? The Bloodsoaked Queen flipped around and lashed out at anything nearby. She dealt with the zombies while Cloudhawk steered the giant lizard, following the others as they fought to break free of the slavering horde. All the while Leonine led the escape, his long saber cutting this way and that. A dozen corpses were cut down, left in pieces on the sand. They continued to fight and run wildly. The undead gave chase. Scores more humanoid beasts joined them until there were more than a hundred zombies chomping at their heels, skittering like spiders all around. No matter what they did the monsters stuck to them like foot maggots . So far six of Leonine¡¯s crew were gone and that number was only going to keep rising if the living dead kept on them. Just as the unpleasant thought was crossing his mind, the ground began to quake. A disk-shaped titan erupted from the earth in a shower of sand and debris. This new monster was the very image of a crab, only several dozens of times larger. Six gnashing pincers clacked and swiped, and it was covered in a shell so thick even bullets would be useless! Two unfortunate men were too slow in getting away. The crab-monster¡¯s pincers unceremoniously snipped them in half. Cloudhawk gaped at what was happening before him. They couldn¡¯t catch a fucking break! Before them was a giant mutant nightmare, and behind them was a whole mob of shambling corpses. What were they supposed to do? Yet Leonine wasn¡¯t alarmed with the appearance of this newest threat. He pointed in another direction and shouted at them. ¡°This way!¡± They followed him down a fork in the road. But the zombies had caught up. The crab lurched forward as the wave of zombies closed in. It Used one of its pincers it smashed a group of them against the ground and used another to pick them apart. Severed limbs were conveyed to the crab¡¯s maw and disappeared down its horrifying gullet. The other zombies hesitated when they saw the fate of the first wave. These giant crabs were a zombie¡¯s natural enemy. They survived by feeding off these poisoned corpses. Though the dead didn¡¯t have a mind of their own, they were still creatures of instinct. When they came face to face with their natural enemy their immediate reaction was to flee, for their teeth couldn¡¯t crack the monster¡¯s armor-like shell while its pincers felled them with ease. Fighting it served no purpose other than giving the monster a free meal. The giant crab¡¯s timely arrival had saved them. Leonine¡¯s party kept moving forward for fear the living dead would find a way to reach them. ¡°Listen up. There¡¯s a canyon ahead, and the oasis region of Greenland Outpost is on the other side.¡± When he spoke there was no note of relaxation in his voice, like the journey was nearly over. Just the opposite ¨C his voice and countenance grew more severe. ¡°No matter what you see, don¡¯t touch. You¡¯re dead if you do!¡± Cloudhawk was puzzled by Leonine¡¯s warning. Oasis? What oasis? He wasn¡¯t curious for long. By the time he and the others reached the lip of the canyon a jaw-dropping scene spread out before him. The basin was an expansive area of rolling hills that separated the valley into different areas. Every dip and crevice was covered in a blanket of green. Plants of all sorts covered everything and grew with abandon, and in the very center was a glittering lake. It was an oasis, huge and awe-inspiring. Never in his wildest dreams would Cloudhawk have imagined a place like this existed in the wastelands. Whole forests of trees spread out below him, carpeted with grass and weeds that flourished while surrounded by desert. It created a natural barrier, a maze of green that kept out wasteland fiends and roving monsters ¨C protecting the oasis camp from the terrors that plagued other outposts. It was an emerald paradise in the middle of the desert! 1. For the love of God don¡¯t google this. I did and I regret it. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 57 - The Desert Oasis Walking into the oasis was like entering an entirely different world. Cloudhawk could not believe there could be so much green in one place. He was shocked by how tall the trees were and how many colors of flower were all around. The whole area was rife with natural vigor and simply standing before it filled him with excitement. The fanciest words Cloudhawk knew couldn¡¯t describe what he was looking at. The oasis was a wonderland that left an impression on his very soul. The Bloodsoaked Queen also concealed surprise as she gazed upon the lush green landscape. For such a beautiful place to exist in the harsh and perilous wasteland was just as astonishing to her as it was to Cloudhawk. Anyone witnessing this for the first time was stunned by the view. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this is a wasteland oasis. You underestimate it and you¡¯re underestimating the wasteland!¡± Leonine warned. ¡°I¡¯m tellin¡¯ ya, this place takes more life than anywhere else. It was blood, not water, that fed this place and made it grow so large.¡± Leonine pointed ahead to a tree laden with fruit. They were fist-sized and thickly dotted the tree, red as fresh blood. Both sight and scent were delectable. Leonine fished a scrap of dried meat from his pack and threw it toward the base of the foliage. Suddenly a writhing mass of vines whipped out and caught the meat mid-air. The vines wrapped it up and squirmed like hungry serpents, issuing a sound like sloppy chewing sound. The others stared in shock and horror. The tree was carnivorous! Leonine waved his hand, a sign for them to go on. As they traipsed through the jungle Cloudhawk encounter one unbelievable sight after another. He learned that any flowering plant had the potential to kill him and the briefest moment of inattention could spell disaster. Leonine was richly endowed with experience and pointed out the predators hiding in the brush. His keen eyes caught mantises trying to blend in with the deadly flora. Every encounter was heart-pounding, but they were in no danger with him at the helm. ¡°I thought we found a paradise. Instead this place is more dangerous than the wasteland.¡± Cloudhawk muttered to the Queen while he watched his feet, carefully picking their way along the path. ¡°Without Leonine¡¯s experience we¡¯d be dead before we knew it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find it suspicious?¡± Her voice was made deep and coarse by her mask. Her physical condition had continued to improve over time. ¡°Judging by his degree of knowledge he¡¯s most likely a mercenary for the Greenland Outpost. He seems to come and go often ¨C but for what purpose?¡± When she said it Cloudhawk realized she was right. It was strange. If Leonine was a mercenary most of the others in his party clearly weren¡¯t. At least two thirds were scoundrels picked out of the desert, so why was he bringing them back? Was it really just for protection? Often smaller groups were safer out in the wastelands. If he was a merchant or digger he¡¯d be out to make a profit. Merchants sometimes wandered the wastes selling cigarettes and wine, ammunition, machinery¡­ these items were widely sought and could fetch a good price. But Leonine¡¯s crew wasn¡¯t carting anything. It certainly was suspicious. Wastelanders were sinners by nature. Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen had to be on guard! The Queen was recovering well. She still couldn¡¯t move around too much but she¡¯d kicked the fever. Now she had enough strength to resonate with a relic if needed, so even Leonine wouldn¡¯t be a threat. Throughout their journey she¡¯d made it a point to avoid fighting. Instead she¡¯d focused on regaining strength and hid her power in case she¡¯d need to use it. Just then one of the fighters exclaimed as he looked at another companion. ¡°Eh? When the hell did you get so skinny?¡± The other looked at him, baffled. ¡°The hell are you on about? Whadda ya mean ¡®skinny¡¯?¡± Cloudhawk sized the man up and indeed he spotted the problem. He¡¯d been a bulky fellow before, even a little fat. Now the fighter looked like that sheen of blubber was entirely gone and his face was pale to boot. His appearance was more than strange. What was going on? He had to be sick! But what kind of sickness worked so fast? The fighter realized something wasn¡¯t right. He tenderly lifted up his shirt and suddenly everyone¡¯s face drained of color. His abdomen, waist and back were covered in bulging critters that pulsed as they took in blood and fat. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s gross as shit!¡± The others sucked in breaths of surprise and disgust. They instinctively backed away from the man. The poor fighter began to panic. When did he get covered by these things? He never felt them. Desperate to get free he began to slap and wipe at where the creatures were attached to him. They were leeches, albeit monstrous ones mutated by the wasteland. They hid themselves on leaves and twigs, in muddy ground and gravel. When they weren¡¯t feeding they were thin and brown like twigs, making them difficult to spot. When something got close enough the parasites latched on and began to gorge. They didn¡¯t only drink blood but ate fat beneath the skin as well. Once that was gone the leeches began to consume muscle, continuously releasing a numbing agent to make sure the host wasn¡¯t aware. By the time the victim was weak or started having dizzy spells they were already on death¡¯s doorstep. ¡°Not your hands!¡± Leonine cried. ¡°Ya gotta burn ¡®em off!¡± Everyone else was checking themselves and each other for the nasty hitchhikers. Cloudhawk found several, and though he didn¡¯t know how long they¡¯d been feeding on him they were already round and fat. He was covered in a cold sweat of fear, but thankfully there weren¡¯t many. It could have been much worse. So far there wasn¡¯t much Cloudhawk liked about this devil jungle. They quickly fled the leech breeding ground and came upon a place where the sound of trickling water tickled their ears. They found a brook whose sound was pleasing as a jade wind chime. It wasn¡¯t a large stream, but in the parched and baked wasteland where they came from it was deluge worth more than any treasure. ¡°Stay away from the water.¡± Leonine spoke in a manner that left no debate. ¡°We go around!¡± Enticing as the brook was, Leonine had shown them he knew the dangers of the oasis eight or nine times by now. If he said not to go near it, the others weren¡¯t going to question him. They started to trek around the banks. All of a sudden a strange animal call sounded from the trees nearby. Leonine, his face stiffening, lifted his hand. ¡°Stop!¡± Everyone froze, still as the trees that closed in around them. What new terror was in store? As Cloudhawk carefully looked around he found a creature lying on its stomach amidst the foliage. Its skin was a magnificent bluish-green and was covered in a slick fluid that made it glisten. Its cheeks puffed out as an air pouch bulged from its throat. Elaborate patterns were etched on the skin of its dorsum and its underbelly was a plain white. Altogether this new monster was about the size of a wild dog and was the source of that strange cry. In the old days it was called a frog. This creature had since been mutated, like everything else. In addition to its size, its moist skin was also covered in scales like armor. One of the fighters reacted by firing a bolt at it from his crossbow. Thud. The arrow tumbled into the forest. The front half dug harmlessly into the ground while the back clattered into the brush, and it was then they noticed that a corrosive fluid was eating away at it. Too fast for them to see, the giant frog had used its tongue to knock the bolt out of midair. ¡°You fucking jackass! Who told you to shoot?!¡± Leonine had to fight the urge to cut the moron apart with his knife. A frog¡¯s dynamic vision was highly attuned and they could pick out targets mid-flight no matter how fast they were moving. However staying still made the frogs effectively blind, and if one was lucky they could avoid detection. Now that this idiot attacked the frog it could guess where they were. Rrribbit! Rrrrrrribit, ribbit! The sounds came from all around them like a tide. As many as six or seven frogs appeared, until now perfectly camouflaged in the jungle around them. If they were still and quiet there was practically no way to pick them out of the surroundings. ¡°Move!¡± Leonine cleaved one of the frogs with his saber and made to retreat. These monsters could leap tremendous distances and used their tongues to attack prey. Not only were their muscular tongues as dangerous and speedy as bullets, they were also coated with a powerful toxin. One hit and its victim went numb and lost consciousness. Luckily the frogs weren¡¯t interested in humans as meals. So long as offenders left their territory they weren¡¯t known for chasing over distances. Leonine lost three more warriors in the course of their escape, and they were forced to find another way around. ¡°Eh? What¡¯s that?¡± Not long after fleeing the threat of death by frog, the diminishing group came across a grove of trees. Blanketing their roots were red and purple fungi growing from the decayed remains of¡­ something. The largest of them was about as tall as a man, its cap wide as an umbrella. Its particular shade sparkled like a gemstone, beautiful to behold. What in the world was this growth? Even Leonine had never seen anything like it before. The oasis was a never-ending parade of strange and fantastical things so coming across something new wasn¡¯t uncommon. What Leonine did know was that these kinds of plants usually grew on the corpses of dead mutant creatures and humans. Fresh and delectable as they looked, did these also feed off of flesh? Whether they did or not wasn¡¯t important. The fewer mysterious and unknown things they came across, the better. They didn¡¯t have a choice. Leonine would have to lead them along another detour. The others didn¡¯t offer a different opinion. Only a fool would look at the bones strewn along the floor and think they were safe to cross. Who would go out looking for trouble? Finding a longer way was better than dying, certainly! The thirty-some who remained tread along the outer ring of the grove and around. Suddenly, a mighty gust swept through and spores from the mushroom forest were rustled up. Like a cloud they spread over a wide area, some on the travelers¡¯ clothes or skin. A few were inhaled deep into unwitting lungs. Bad. This was bad. Everyone¡¯s face changed when they realized it. They didn¡¯t know what these spores were, but they knew anything from the mushrooms touching them had to be bad. 1. I went walking through wilds of Shangri-la once with a group of people and my wife. We stopped to take some pictures and I wandered through a bush. When I got out on the other side I noticed something squirming on my calf and realized it was a leech. I¡¯d never felt it grab me but it was quickly getting fat. I had to really pull to get it off while my wife was hysterical. When we got back to the van the driver just said to slap em a few times and they fall off, or failing that take a lighter to their tail. You might be surprised to learn that leeches are used even today in modern hospitals as an effective way to draw out stagnant blood. 2. See. 3. In China they describe a frog¡¯s sound like ¡®gua¡¯, which I think is more accurate really.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 58 - The Fatal Fores Cloudhawk was one of the unfortunate ones to breath in the spores. The initial reaction was a pungent and burning sensation that ran all along his throat and into his lungs. It felt like breathing in burning coal dust. It only lasted four or five seconds and then things began to change. Sensations Cloudhawk didn¡¯t expect emerged. A sense of elation welled up in him, a joy that went beyond anything reasonable. It started in his brain and spread out to every part of his body until he felt like he was floating among the clouds. He no longer felt the pain from his wounds, or even remembered they were there. These spores stopped pain? Cloudhawk began to notice other changes. His heart began to beat faster and images flitted out of the corners of his eyes. His head felt heavy and muddled like he was in a dream world which only increased this enigmatic happy mood he found himself in. These spores had to be some sort of neurotoxin, a natural hallucinogenic. Victims felt joyous and filled with contentment, but also hallucinated and were numbed to the outside world. However it was also intensely addictive. The moment Cloudhawk breathed it in he couldn¡¯t stop, he wanted more. Like a drunk man he swayed unsteadily, fighting a bone-deep itch and a stuffy ringing in his head. He had to have more, he needed to keep this high going. What to do? Why, the cadaver-strewn cluster of mushrooms had plenty more spores! Enticing as the thought was, Cloudhawk recognized the danger. He sharply bit his tongue in an attempt to clear his head. He covered his mouth and nose with a cloth used to keep out wind and sand. The Bloodsoaked Queen had also started to sway and her eyes were glassy. Cloudhawk lurched toward her and covered the mouth hole of her mask with his hand. He loudly called to her. ¡°Don¡¯t breathe it. Don¡¯t breathe! The spores are poisonous!¡± She was a willful and tenacious woman, and when Cloudhawk called to her she quickly recovered her senses. Angry and ashamed, she growled at him through her mask. ¡°Touch me again and I¡¯ll cut your hand off.¡± Clearly the Queen wasn¡¯t being negatively affected by the dust anymore. Cloudhawk sighed in relief and removed his hand. Seemingly the effects of the neurotoxin were quickly expelled, but just as quick were the withdrawal symptoms. Cloudhawk felt like there were a hundred ants crawling along his bones, a sensation that was maddening. Luckily he and the Queen had only inhaled a small amount. A few of their companions were not so fortunate and were subjected to a much larger dose. The resulting hallucinations broke their minds. ¡°Ah! Ah! Aaaaaahhhhhh!!¡± A few of them were red from head to toe like they¡¯d been boiled, their mouths working like fish out of water. There were not enough spores in the air to feed their addiction so desperate eyes fixed on the mushroom cluster. Cloudhawk shouted. ¡°Quick, grab ¡®em!¡± His words fell on deaf ears. Most of the fighters had taken in the spores and were battling its effects themselves. How could they stop these three crazed addicts when they could hardly handle it themselves? Cloudhawk could only watch as these three poor bastards stumbled into the mushroom forest. They barked and howled, pulled off their clothes, and dug dirty nails into their skin to reach itches they¡¯ll never scratch. Pop! Sllluuurp. They ripped off strips of their own skin and cast them to the ground with wet slaps. Insane, they ran from invisible foes and inflicted terrible wounds on themselves in their all-consuming hysteria. In a blink they were fonts of blood. They wandered through the mushroom forest nourishing the earth with their vital fluid, sowing the earth with their own flesh like attentive farmers in their fields. The gruesome, gory display continued for ten minutes until ¨C no longer able to hold up their mangled bodies ¨C the men collapsed in the center of the mushroom patch. More flesh and blood were scattered over the field than was left on their bones. Cloudhawk tried not to think about what he¡¯d just witnessed. Fuck, that¡¯s how these evil mushrooms have grown so well. It also explains all these twisted bones! Watching these killers wander to their own death, turn themselves into fertilizer¡­ if I didn¡¯t see it with my own eyes I¡¯d hardly believe it. Eventually the others snapped out of it, and when they saw the grisly fate that had befallen their companions everyone was eager to leave. They fled as quick as they could, but were exhausted from the trying journey and were still suffering the after-effects of the mushroom spores. They found what they hoped was a relatively safe place to rest and recover. ¡°Hey Leonine, how much farther to the Greenland Outpost?¡± Cloudhawk was throwing bits of rabbit jerky into his mouth and chewed on them to regain some strength. ¡°Can we get there today?¡± He asked. ¡°It aint far,¡± he replied. ¡°But it aint a question of gettin¡¯ there ¨C it¡¯s about gettin¡¯ there ¡®fore night falls.¡± Leonine swept his eyes around their dimming surroundings with visible concern. ¡°If we get caught here over night, not half this crew will see the next sunrise!¡± Hunters preferred to stalk their prey in the dark. The wasteland was vast and sparsely populated by both beasts and foliage. This, of course, came with its own risks. The situation they found themselves in here within the oasis was different, for though it was small it had a hundred times the number of fiends hidden inside. During the day predators stayed in their lairs, but when the cloak of night descended the forest was a thousand times more dangerous. Cloudhawk was dispirited but also curious. ¡°Leonine, I can tell you know the oasis well. You¡¯ve gotta be from the Greenland Outpost, am I right?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°So why are you headed there?¡± Before being brought to this damn oasis Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have even thought to ask the question. After all the dangers he and the Queen had been subjected to he couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. Leonine¡¯s response, that he wasn¡¯t from the oasis, took him by surprise. If that were true then what was the whole point of this escapade? Traveling through the oasis, the ruins, and the wasteland was nothing but a parade of personal risk. Leonine lifted his head and stared at Cloudhawk. ¡°My business is my own, you don¡¯t need to understand. Just like I¡¯m not askin¡¯ you any questions about what y¡¯all are up to.¡± Cloudhawk furrowed his brows at the answer. There was something off about this old man! He believed that there was always a reason for everything someone did. There had to be some purpose for Leonine to risk his life again and again in the oasis, even if that reason was he was looking to die. But if he wasn¡¯t going to fess up, what could Cloudhawk do about it? Besides, the wasteland was covered in sweepers that would kill him without a second thought. Any situation was better than where he had been. Leonine used his saber to help push him to his feet. ¡°We¡¯re movin¡¯.¡± As the oasis got darker some of the soldiers fashioned makeshift torches, and the group used the light of these fires to grope along. As the light of day slipped away they could see less and less of their surroundings, while the creatures that hunted through the night could move through it like fish to water. The Queen trudged along beside them until suddenly she came to a stop. She called out with a harsh whisper. ¡°I hear something!¡± Cloudhawk stopped and focused, holding his breath so he could pay closer attention. From the depths of the trees he could indeed hear something, like the wings of insects. As the buzz grew louder he could tell there were a bunch of them, and they were getting closer. Cloudhawk carefully listened for the precise location of the sound. Then, drawing his exorcist rod, he swung around and struck! His weapon connected with a hard shell and something hit the ground. It was like a locust from the old days, only huge and writhing frantically on the ground. It was about the size of a pigeon from the history books but with a hideous head and eight long, black talons. Most frightening was its scorpion-like tail, which he knew at a glance was filled with poison. ¡°Scorpion Locusts.¡± Leonine could hear the sound closing in around them, too. ¡°Douse those torches, we gotta get outta here!¡± The makeshift torches were hastily thrown to the ground and put out. Leonine wasted no time taking the lead and guiding them away. As they wandered through the darkness Cloudhawk could see and hear all manner of hideous bugs flitting around. Suddenly the forest was full of them, no less than a hundred pairs of wings buzzing by their ears, and aggressive. Once they spotted the humans they gave chase. ¡°Ah!¡± One of the locusts rushed at a fighter and latched onto his face with its sharp claws. Blood poured as the black talons dug into flesh. Although several of its companions were coming to join the fray, the scorpion locust whipped its hideous tail and jabbed it right in its victim¡¯s cheek. In a matter of seconds he swelled up like a balloon. The fighter couldn¡¯t scream, couldn¡¯t flee, he just collapsed to the ground foaming white froth at the mouth. Ten more swarmed him. He managed to struggle, but only for a few short moments before he became dinner for these carnivorous insects. Cloudhawk stared in horror. Its poison was that potent? He screwed his focus to its limit, determined not to let any of these monstrosities get close. Luckily he was still close to the Queen so if any of them got past his stick she could deal with them. If not for her Cloudhawk was sure he wouldn¡¯t survive the night even if he had ten lives. Another pained cry rang out. Their crew lost another one. Leonine hadn¡¯t planned on running into creatures like this, either. They were coming in from every direction. The most frightening thing about this threat was that one tiny scratch was enough to seal one¡¯s fate. There was no choice. They had to do whatever they could to survive! Leonine took off and the others followed him into a host of cobwebs. The locusts gave chase but were predictably caught by the sticky tendrils that thickly covered the trees. Struggled as they might they couldn¡¯t break free. The humans didn¡¯t have a chance to catch their breath. Scores of enormous spiders leapt from their nests in the trees. Each one was a meter or two long, too numerous to count. The oasis had gone from a cloud of insects to a maze of spiders and spider webs. Quicker than they thought possible, the spiders¡¯ prey were wrapped up like mummies and left to dangle in the wind, hanging like ghastly fruit from the trees. Thud! One of the spiders spat a glob of sticky spider web, striking one of the fleeing humans. He was immediately stuck, but more terrifying was the quality of the spider silk. It was coated in some sort of corrosive fluid, and the skin it touched first turned red then a necrotic black, sizzling all the while. Spiders chittered closer, more than the travelers could believe. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help it, he shouted through the night. ¡°Leonine, what kind of fucking hell did you lead us into!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shortcut!¡± He didn¡¯t mention that it was a shortcut he hadn¡¯t wanted to take, but if they hadn¡¯t taken this risk they surely would have died. More of the locusts were fighting through the webs and the spiders went after them. Natural enemies, the two sides continued to take each other out. ¡°The outpost is straight ahead!¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 59 - Selling the Goods Cloudhawk peered through dusk, through the dark press of trees. Nests for these hideous spiders graced the crown of nearly every tree and the victims they didn¡¯t eat hung from branches and cracks in the bark. They were used as fleshy sacks for their young to grow in. Like gloomy and gruesome fruit they swayed in a stuffy breeze. The trees were their homes but also hunting grounds. Thick ropes of acidic webbing stretched across them creating a network the spiders used to get around and communicate. Through their network of webs they could race from one tree to another and never had to touch the ground. Besides being everywhere, the webbing was exceedingly sticky and tough as steel. Getting caught by one wasn¡¯t an option, because even a knife couldn¡¯t cut you free. But every tree was home to at least one spider nest. There were too many of them! The spiders used their webs as the main means of attack. They skittered along the tendrils to quickly descend upon unwitting victims from overhead. Corrosive spidersilk spit coated their prey, then they moved in to seal the kill with a poisoned bite. Cloudhawk continued to move forward with the rest of their team. But rustling sounds were coming from the trees around them. Shhrrr! Shhrr! Three or four of the spiders traveled amongst the trees along their network of spider webs. The thick trees sometimes hid them, and sometimes their beady eyes appeared glinting in the darkness. Every time they reappeared the spiders were a little closer. ¡°Kill ¡®em!¡± Fighters began to fire arrows into the forest. In front of them, one of the spiders took a shaft to the head but didn¡¯t die. Instead it pounced at the humans with a hiss and its eight legs outstretched. Leonine heaved his saber, carving a deadly arc through the air. By the time it finished its trek the spider was on the ground in two pieces, jerking erratically. Purplish-red blood, thick with poison, flowed out of its mangled body like sludge. The rest of the spiders charged at them from the left and right. Globs of corrosive spit flew at the star-crossed travelers and they dodged best they could. One of the beefier fighters swung his war hammer and knocked a spider to the ground, to which Cloudhawk answered by jabbing the sharp end of his staff into its brain repeatedly. The mutated insect screeched and struggled to flee while its wounds hemorrhaged violet filth. Wounds like these were difficult to recover from, even for creatures that healed quickly. Even if Cloudhawk¡¯s vicious strikes didn¡¯t kill the thing, it was at least out of the fight. Several more spiders took its place, more were coming with every passing moment. It didn¡¯t take a genius to know the spiders outnumbered the humans, a fact Cloudhawk was intimately aware of. If they got surrounded the chances of getting out alive were slim to none. ¡°With me!¡± Leonine cut away some webbing and cleared a path out over the corpses of several spiders. ¡°This way!¡± Before them spread an area carpeted in spotlessly bright eggs. Each one was roughly the size of a fist and as Cloudhawk stomped through them the fluid that burst out was sticky as glue. It caught his feet while a gut-wrenching stench permeated the air. This had to be the spider spawning ground, where their eggs were gathered and hatched. Crunching beneath their feet were some new eggs and some long-split shells. The spots between, earth and shrubs, and all along the trees was a writhing mass of brown. Everything was covered in palm-sized spiders. ¡°Mother fucker! It¡¯s all spiders!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s legs, head, and back were covered in spiders large as his hands. Young though they were, it didn¡¯t make them any less fierce. They charged at the intruders without fear, ready to kill. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°It bit me!¡± ¡°Ah fuck me! This is a spider nest!¡± As the crew stumbled through the egg fields it took no more than fifty meters for them to be covered with spiders from head to toe. Cloudhawk thought he had to have a dozen spider bites along his arms and neck. Blessedly, young spiders had weaker poison and their hunting skills had not yet developed. Though the sites of the bites had swollen sizably they wouldn¡¯t be life threatening. They waded into a sea of spiders; in front, behind and on either side. Twenty to thirty more fully matured spiders were catching up. Desperate, hopeless, these were the only way to describe how they felt - but pure survival instinct urged them on. Eventually, just as the large spiders were catching up, they left the nest and into what was beyond. Cloudhawk plucked a particularly hateful spider from his neck and smashed it against the ground. It sprang back up and tried to run, but Cloudhawk brought his foot down on it and smashed the bug into paste. The young demonhunter was in a pitiful state. His neck and face were swollen, his hands were inflated to twice their normal size. The rest of the crew certainly wasn¡¯t much better, except for the Bloodsoaked Queen who looked completely free of bites. The trees above rustled as suddenly a large spider emerged. Rays of silk fired at them like arrows, trying to pin them down as they fled but falling short. Acid sizzled against the ground releasing caustic white smoke. These goddamn things are still chasing us?! These unpleasant surprises continued to waylay them. The spiders didn¡¯t let up, spitting corrosive silk at them from up to twenty or thirty meters away. Each shot was like it was fired from a gun, so the humans couldn¡¯t slow even a little. They ran headfirst as fast as they could through the oasis. Spiders kept on them, until¡­ Bang-bang! Two cracks rang out from the darkness around trees, like a pair of muffled gunshots. The arachnids in pursuit hit the ground, dead. Cloudhawk fought through his surprise ¨C judging from the sound the shots had to have come from far away. Was there anyone who could make a shot like that, from so far and through a forest? ¡°Snipers from the Greenland Outpost!¡± ¡°We made it!¡± Another salvo rang out. Each crack of a gun being fired meant another spider was dead. Cloudhawk noted that more than being far, each shot was deadly. They entered the head and shot straight through the whole monster leaving a large hole behind. Finally they broke off and disappeared into the brush. A short distance later Leonine was shouting out his identity to the marksmen. Several men appeared. They sprang up from nowhere, covered in leaves and their faces smeared with camouflage to make them blend in expertly. More appeared from behind rocks and dropped from the trees above, equipped to tackle the forest and bearing sizeable guns. In skill they were no less impressive than Blackflag Outpost¡¯s elite squad, yet hundreds of times better equipped. There were only a handful of places in what was left of the world with the power to raise a force like this. Greenland Outpost had power. ¡°Not a bad harvest this time, Leonine.¡± One of the jungle rangers, who appeared to be the leader, looked over those who had survived the forest. ¡°Alright, let ¡®em in.¡± Clouhdawk didn¡¯t understand. ¡®Not a bad harvest¡¯? What did he mean! Leonine had come across the wastes with nothing but them, twenty-odd foreigners. Two of the jungle soldiers flanked their group with weapons half raised. They spoke harshly. ¡°What the fuck are you dopes gaping about? In!¡± For the first time Cloudhawk saw the large walls, choked with vines. The wall itself was the remnant from some ancient architecture, tall and thick like some kind of fortification. It kept most of the oasis terrors at bay. When the Outpost spread out before him, Cloudhawk was absolutely floored by what he saw. The center of the outpost was an ancient metropolis, its grace lost to time but still useful. Most of the buildings were still standing, though badly rusted, and were covered in moss and vines. In the gloomy evening the buildings cut out dark shapes against the sky, dense and somehow otherworldly. Through the darkness they could faintly see people bustling along the streets. This outpost was built on the ruins of a bygone city. They used its foundations as their own to make a new settlement. In terms of scale it was huge, at a minimum several times the size of Blackflag Outpost. Eighty percent of the place was arranged around the city where most of the population lived. A fifty or sixty meter tall building, with a four or five thousand square meter base, towered over the smaller structures like a titan. Lights flickered inside, and it was a tower large enough that the whole Blackflag Outpost could fit inside. It was called Greenland Fort and was situated in the center of the settlement with several other structures scattered around. A conservative estimate revealed there were perhaps forty to fifty thousand residents altogether. ¡°Hurry up, mutants!¡± They were lead to a dig site in full operation, where a dozen or so burly mutants were combing through the remains. Occasionally they picked out some ancient tool or useful material. Mutants lived in the Greenland Outpost? Most deformities made them quick to anger. Keeping them here was like living with ticking time bombs. The Bloodsoaked Queen gave Cloudhawk a sharp slap. She had a strange look in her eye as she extended a finger. He followed where she was pointing to spy then stopped like he¡¯d been struck by lightning. His eyes went wide as saucers, and a cold sweat sprang up all over his body. A large, wasteland-style airship was moored to one side of Greenbelt Fort. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s fourth time seeing this vehicle. The first time was after his first mission with the mercenaries, when they finished their task. The second was when these benefactors betrayed his former colleagues. Third was when Blackflag Outpost was overrun. The black-clad freak¡¯s airship was here, before his eyes, and yet none of the Outpost¡¯s people seemed bothered by it. What did this mean? Did they brazenly walk into a trap? Did they slip the noose around their own necks? Whatever else, if the airship was here then it meant there were sweepers nearby as well. But more importantly, they couldn¡¯t ignore the possibility that their three mutant lieutenants could be around the next corner! Cloudhawk spoke to her in a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous here. We have to slip out fast as we can.¡± As Cloudhawk was preparing to lead the Queen away a crowd of outpost soldiers rushed their way. Populated with humans and mutants, they quickly surrounded the group. ¡°Tie ¡®em up!¡± The twenty newcomers did not resist, even as iron shackles were fixed to their wrists. ¡°¡±This is a quality crop,¡± Leonine said to the leader. ¡°Among the best survivors from out in the wasteland. The price ¨C¡° The guard leader cut him off with a grunt. His manner was gruff and abusive. ¡°You don¡¯t set the price. Bring ¡®em inside first!¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Leonine, you fuck, are you selling me?!¡± The wastelanders shouted in anger and disbelief. Suddenly Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen understood why the grizzled old man would take such risks while apparently empty handed. His goods were with him all along ¨C it was them! This piece of shit was a slave trader! Bang! One of the guards brought his fist down on a particularly vocal wastelander. ¡°Don¡¯t get outta line! Starting now you all are the property of Greenland Outpost. Slaves. If you start trouble I¡¯ll personally waste your ass.¡± Guns from the outpost guards were trained on the twenty freshly sold captives. They were livid, horrified. After surviving the devil forest they were all exhausted, and couldn¡¯t fight back even if they wanted to. These soldiers were well trained and even better equipped, leaving them no hope for escape! ¡°Take ¡®em away, lock ¡®em all up!¡± With their shackles affixed the slaves were forced to waddle like ducks after their captors. Cloudhawk and the Queen surveyed their situation with tightly knit brows. This outpost was much larger than the one they¡¯d come from, so it was safe to assume skillful fighters were as common as clouds. If they tried to get away with no plan they weren¡¯t going to get anywhere. Yet if they didn¡¯t try to flee they would be slaves in a place that had some connection to the demon. Staying here was clearly very dangerous. Run? Even if they could get away from their jailors where would they go? They hadn¡¯t forgotten the terrors of the oasis all around them!Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 60 - Exposed Greenland Outpost was able to sustain a population of fifty thousand because, unlike the rest of the wastelands, they had food and water aplenty. They also had acres of unexcavated archeological sites which were rife with tools and materials.In other words, the only thing this place needed the most was people to dig those things up. There were kilometers of dig sites waiting to be plundered, and fields of fertile soil which needed to be cultivated. Considering its surroundings, the outpost needed many soldiers to help keep the oasis¡¯ less friendly critters at bay. Workers were needed to forge and maintain equipment, and pretty girls were needed as entertainment for the affluent denizens of the Outpost who wanted for nothing. Laborers, soldiers, and women were the goods Greenland Outpost sought. And where there was a need, there was a market and merchants to meet demand. Greenland Outpost had a cadre of slavers, with Leonine being one of their most notable. He scoured the wastes and attracted the unfortunate with promises of surplus and comfort in Greenland Outpost. Those who survived the journey were sold as slaves, put in shackles, and thrown in cages where they were ¡®domesticated¡¯ through torture. It wasn¡¯t the first time Leonine had sold a batch of humans in this way. He alone had brought a hundred and fifty high-quality chattels to work in the outpost. Most became soldiers or laborers, but he¡¯d brought a few valuable women as well. Leaders from the outpost were pleased with his product. As the prisoners yelled and spat, levying curses on him and all he touched, Leonine was unmoved. He watched with cold, unfeeling indifference. His goods would be escorted by armed guards to the slave vault, one of the most highly policed area of the settlement. Guards were posted everywhere inside and out, and they were locked behind massive iron doors. Once slaves entered the prison, any chance of escape was gone. Slaves were forced to bear inhuman treatment, molded little by little until they were broken and gave in to their fate. They were worked to death digging wells and then fed to beasts while the women were reduced to toys. All of them were consigned to a terrible fate, and eventually they would die. Leonine felt guilt for none of this. There was no place for it in the wastes. The outpost guard leader spoke as they walked toward the slave camp. ¡°As always, we take forty percent, you keep sixty. For the time being just wait for the word.¡± This fuckin vampire. He was making a killing without any risk, but Leonine had no option but to accept the guard leader¡¯s shakedown. If he didn¡¯t the guard leader would either fudge the reports or undersell his goods and Leonine would suffer because of it. He had to swallow his pride and take it. Leonine used some water to scrub himself clean, changed his clothes, then went home. He made his way to a squat stone building, one of the remaining structures from the old city, and gently rapped on the door. ¡°Who is it!¡± An anxious voice called out from inside. It sounded like a young boy. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The door opened only a crack and a small head peeked out. A boy no older than ten looked up at Leonine, and though young he was very vigilant. He clasped a revolver in his hand. When he saw who it was the boy¡¯s eyes lit up. He threw his arms open and gave Leonine a hug. Suddenly Leonine¡¯s loaded, wrinkled scowl disappeared and he smiled. He wrapped one of his arms around the child in a hug of his own. When he spoke he did so with a gentle and fatherly tone. ¡°Look at this guy with the gun I gave him. You plannin¡¯ to use it on me?¡± The child vehemently shook his head. ¡°You said that I was a man. I have to protect my mom and my sister!¡± ¡°Yeah, good boy.¡± Leonine picked him up and walked into the shabby dwelling. Inside, a modest-looking middle aged woman was perched on the side of a bed. She was looking after a small girl, maybe five or six. The little one had a head of tousled flaxen hair that made her look like an adorable little imp, only she was all skin and bone. A large growth had taken over the left side of her neck ¨C some kind of malignant tumor. This woman, the boy, and the sick child were a family. Yes, a family. This frail clan was everything Leonine had in the world! Although they were staying here, they weren¡¯t citizens of the outpost. It cost a significant amount of money to house them here, and just getting water and grains for his young ones was a great expense, especially since they couldn¡¯t work. Sometimes it was so much of a weight Leonine found it hard to breathe. One disaster after another had plagued the slaver. Half a year ago his daughter had started to show signs of illness. The growth had started to show, bulging out of the left side of her neck. Day by day she seemed to get weaker, frailer. Leonine did everything he could think of to try and save her and brought her to doctors in the outpost who were equipped with high technology from the old days. However, enlisting their help came at a staggering cost. Leonine had to earn more, and risks would be necessary. Slave trading was a way to increase his income so he could save enough for his daughter¡¯s treatment. It was an arduous situation, definitely, and he wasn¡¯t sure how long his little girl would last. Leonine put the boy down. He made his way over to the bed and took the woman¡¯s hand in his. ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting worse.¡± She was a common looking woman, time and stress had made her haggard. ¡°She doesn¡¯t eat a thing and she sleeps all day. She¡¯ll wake up maybe once and complain that she wants to see her daddy.¡± She couldn¡¯t keep the knot in her throat from creeping into her voice. With all the talking, the afflicted little girl¡¯s eyes fluttered open. They were brown and beautiful, and clear as pure crystal. In this putrid wasteland, it was hard to find eyes like these. The little girl struggled to extend her stick-thin hand and put it in Leonine¡¯s calloused own. There was joy in her sparkling eyes as she looked at him, like she¡¯d forgotten all the pain wracking her little body. She called to him, her voice as thin and frail as the beating wings of a mosquito. ¡°Don¡¯t go daddy¡­ okay?¡± ¡°Stop your nonsense and get some rest.¡± He kissed her tiny hand. ¡°I¡¯ve almost got enough money. We¡¯re gonna get you the best doctors and it¡¯s gonna be just like before.¡± ¡°Brother and Mommy are always being bullied by bad men. You have to stay, Daddy.¡± Tears had begun to gather in her eyes, twinkling in the dim light. ¡°I don¡¯t feel bad. Honest. I don¡¯t.¡± Leonine¡¯s eyes were red. She was eight years old, but she knew she didn¡¯t have much time left. The little girl didn¡¯t want her father to be in danger when her mother and brother needed him here. Leonine shut his eyes against the painful thought. He couldn¡¯t give up, he couldn¡¯t. Even though he knew there was so little hope. The middle-aged woman wiped the edges of her eyes and spoke to Leonine. ¡°You must be tired after all that travelling. Let me fix you some food, we¡¯ll eat together tonight.¡± No matter how dark the world had become, no matter how cruel the wasteland, no matter how hard just living was, whenever he finished a task and laid his tired bones down at home surrounded by family, Leonine was happy. He was willing to do anything to protect this. They weren¡¯t together long before¡­ ¡°Hey, is Leonine home?¡± A guard barged in. ¡°Your batch has been looked over. Please go to the Fort to collect your earnings.¡± Leonine didn¡¯t delay. He headed toward the fort at once. Greenland Fort dominated the outpost from its center, the ivory tower from which its leadership rules. The building occupied about five thousand square feet of land and was forty or fifty meters high. It was big enough that ten thousand people could live in it, and those that did were the best of the outpost. Denizens of the fort had cleaner water, better healthcare, and safer accommodations. Leonine¡¯s dream was to one day move his family into the tower. The highest floor was reserved for the outpost leader. Over a hundred and fifty hand-picked bodyguards were permanently stationed there, who also acted as caretakers of the more than two hundred women he kept for his personal use. Anyone else without official business wasn¡¯t permitted to enter. Leonine followed the guard, who led him right to the boss¡¯ lobby. The boss was entertaining someone, and so Leonine stood silently to one side and waited his turn. While he did, the slaver took furtive glances at the people the boss was meeting with. They were three strange men. One of them was dressed entirely in black and a tubed mask covered his face. Another also wore black but it was the natural hue of his coal-black skin, and a pair of bulls horns grew from his skull. The final one was younger, and his back hoisted a pair of wings. Greenland Outpost¡¯s boss was known for being fierce by nature ¨C they called him Hydra. However, as he spoke with the three mutants he was clearly being deferential. If he didn¡¯t know better, Leonine would have said there was some fear there as well. The black-clad one spoke in a voice cold as death. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Hydra, this place would be nothing if not for the master¡¯s help. Without his support you wouldn¡¯t be the boss. Now suddenly you¡¯re wearing big boy pants and want to stand on your own?¡± Hydra was actually wearing a suit of armor with a sword strapped to his waist, and one dead eye was covered by an eye patch. His face was craggy and fierce, far from attractive. He was a burly man, tall and muscular, but the look in his single eye was deep as a well. He scowled somewhat as he spoke with the man in black but spoke in respectful tones. ¡°Like you said, everything I have is all thanks to our master. I wouldn¡¯t dare to betray him. Only, for you three to request two thousand men¡­ you are asking a great deal for this outpost, and you¡¯ll forgive me if I¡¯m not eager to agree.¡± ¡°Hydra, you clearly have no idea what¡¯s good for you!¡± The winged youth ripped a falchion from its sheath. He thrust it toward the outpost leader, fast as lightning. ¡°If you won¡¯t follow orders then what the fuck are you good for?! Might as well kill you and install someone else!¡± The bull-horned man caught his companion¡¯s sword with his bare hand. The keen metal rang against his fingers like it was striking steel or stone, and left no wound. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty, Third Brother.¡± Hydra¡¯s hand rested on the pommel of his weapon. ¡°You have to at least tell me why you need so many people.¡± The one in black answered, his voice light and aloof. ¡°We¡¯re chasing a pair of demonhunters.¡± ¡°Demonhunters?¡± ¡°In short, we lost them in a sandstorm. We need more men to help pick up the trail.¡± He paused for a moment then went on. ¡°Also, I¡¯m prepared to offer a reward to the outpost¡¯s mercenaries. If anyone finds these two and delivers them to us, they¡¯ll be richly compensated.¡± A strange look came over Hydra¡¯s face. ¡°How will we know them? Don¡¯t misunderstand, I ask because I might take part in the search personally.¡± ¡°One male, one female. The female¡¯s age is unknown ¨C perhaps around twenty. She prefers a mask, wears gloves, and has a cross pendant she wears around her neck. The boy is fifteen or sixteen with black hair and eyes. He is thin and carries a strange staff with him, rather prism shaped¡­¡± As the man in black gave his description a voice called out from below. ¡°Them?!¡± The three mutant commanders and the outpost leader were strong and skilled individuals. Of course they heard the words, and when they turned their heads to find its source they spied a tall man with a large beard looking back at them. Hydra narrowed his eyes. ¡°Leonine? Did you just say something? Don¡¯t tell me you have an idea where these demonhunters might be?¡± ¡°Oh, I know where they are. Hell, I can bring ¡®em right to ya!¡± But he suddenly had a thought, and stepped forward to face the man in black. ¡°But you gotta keep your word!¡± The three men looked quietly at each other for a moment. Eventually the man in black spoke. ¡°You have my word¡­ so long as you deliver.¡± Leonine blurted it right out. ¡°I already brought ¡®em here. They¡¯re in the outpost, locked up in the slave vault!¡± They fell silent again and the mutants looked at each other in obvious surprise. Could it be they wouldn¡¯t have to wear out the soles of their shoes scouring the Wastelands? Did their prey come in from heat only to land feet-first in the fire? Hydra glanced at Leonine, a dark look flashing through his eyes, then immediately spoke out as well. ¡°I¡¯ll bring them to you!¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 61 - The Dungeons The slave vault was one of the cruelest places in all of the Wastelands. Day and night cries of pain and despair rang through its chambers, day and night slaves died at the hands of their torturers. Blood and bones from the slaves that died here carpeted every inch. Dark, sinful, and cruel. They¡¯d been brought to hell. The dungeons were set up in the building¡¯s repurposed sewer system. Dingy hallways extended in all directions like a maze, however the outpost denizens had only occupied the more complete sections. From time to time mutated creatures wandered in to attack and eat slaves they caught. Cloudhawk was ushered into the dungeons in shackles. One of the guards had taken his exorcist rod. The Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t bear any visible weapons so none were taken. Several guards forced them forward at gunpoint. When they entered the dim, moist dungeon they could see that five or six hundred slaves were currently locked up here. Gore-caked implements of torture were splayed around, waiting to be used. From somewhere nearby there was a constant series of wails echoing through the dark. New slaves were brought in and placed in complete darkness. For weeks or months they underwent the domestication process where through demented torture their will was broken. That¡¯s how they made these wild wastelanders compliant. ¡°Hurry up!¡± One of the guards used the butt of his gun to bash one of the slower moving slaves. The dungeon was rife with slave cages. What remained of Leonine¡¯s crop was split up to prevent any revolt and consigned to cells while they waited for domestication to begin. Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen were being escorted into a deeper section of the dungeon, with only a handful of other wastelanders with them. Cloudhawk looked around, trying to get a grasp on the situation. He counted four guards behind them with guns trained on their backs, and another five or six prison guards nearby. No more than ten captors all together. None of them knew how skilled the guards were, but if they were average fighters they were too much for Cloudhawk. The Queen was a different story. But like him, the Queen was in shackles. With her movement inhibited he had to assume it would affect her skills. She¡¯d have to kill the four with guns as quickly as possible and that was difficult while injured and restrained. Under these conditions it seemed that even the mighty Queen was helpless. What should they do? Cloudhawk wriggled his wrists but was unable to free them from the shackles. As he looked around it was clear the dungeons were well-guarded ¨C after all, slight as it was the slaves could still have a chance at escape. Their chance lay in the relics hidden on the Queen¡¯s person. If she could get free, they might be able to fight back. Both of them were quietly mulling over the same concern. The demon¡¯s lackeys were close, they knew, and if the Queen managed to get free of the dungeon the chaos would reveal their presence here. Wasn¡¯t that the same as advertising their location? Sweepers under the command of the black-clad freak need only surround them and their daring escape would be undone. But if they didn¡¯t do anything, would they be forsaken to these dungeons as slaves? A voice cut through their dark thoughts from behind. ¡°Halt.¡± The guards stopped and turned around to see who called. They faced the newcomer with respectful countenance. ¡°Captain,¡± they hailed, ¡°what are your orders?¡± The man who approached was the same one from outside who¡¯d had them shackled. His dark eyes hovered over the Queen¡¯s full figure and round buttocks for a moment, and several of the guards figured they knew his intent. ¡°You, - you there. Come here.¡± Cloudhawk knew nothing good was to come of this. The Queen separated from the group. Through her tattered cloak her voluptuous and tight figure could still be picked out. Her face was still hidden behind the mask but her body alone was enough to awaken the brutish nature of these guards. ¡°I wanna see this alone¡­ leave her with me.¡± ¡°Yes, captain!¡± One of the guards saw that Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t moving and kicked him hard with the heel of his boot. ¡°What the fuck are you staring at? Move!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think Leonine would bring back such quality merchandise.¡± The captain slowly approached the Queen. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you look like.¡± A murderous glare slowly crept into the Queen¡¯s gaze. Cloudhawk knew the moment he saw it that keeping a low profile was no longer an option. With the Queen¡¯s temper what it was, things were about to get violent. One of the guards moved in to push him again when suddenly Cloudhawk flung himself forward. He slammed into the guard and managed to seize his exorcist rod. The captain looked up and saw the situation. His face darkened. ¡°Fighting back, you brat? Get him!¡± ¡°Queen!¡± Cloudhawk whipped his staff toward her. She spun around and held out her hands. The steel staff whistled through the air at high speed and smashed into her shackles. In a shower of sparks and a deafening screech it tore through the cuffs like a cutting tool. The Queen flung the shackles from her wrist and chopped her hand toward the captain. Greenland Outpost¡¯s guard captain was an able warrior, no less capable than the commanders of the Blackflag Outpost¡¯s elite guard. However the Queen¡¯s attack was fast, sudden, and unexpected. In an instant he knew that this woman was a top-class fighter and it was too late to dodge her blow. The captain lifted his arm to deflect her attack. Pulling a dagger from his cuff with his left hand, he thrust it at her abdomen. The outpost leader was fast ¨C but the Queen was faster. Her chop became a grab and she caught his arm in a vice-like grip. ¡°Ahhggg!¡± He howled, an inhuman sound filled with pain. In an instant his entire arm burned black like spent coal. The Queen whipped her slender leg and connected with the captain¡¯s chest with enough force to snap half a dozen bones. His right shoulder split and his arm was torn out of his socket, and even still he was flung back so hard he smashed into the far wall. This was not a wound he¡¯d survive. She flung herself around and used the captain¡¯s blackened arm as a bludgeon, smashing it into a guard¡¯s face before anyone could react. While the rest of them fumbled to raise their guns she was on two more in a flash. Her gloved hands pressed against the skin of their faces. Whoosh! Fire belched from their every orifice. When the Queen let them go they fell to the ground, and everything above their necks had become. The charred holes that used to be their eyes, nose and mouth were now hideous craters. To say the remaining two were terrified of this woman was an understatement. They stumbled backward in retreat while trying to aim their guns. Cloudhawk lunged forward and planted his staff in a guard¡¯s chest, but was half a moment too late pulling it out to attack the second one. Bang! The last guard got the shot off, but their rifles were crude and single-shot. The Bloodsoaked Queen artfully dodged the bullet, and the guard fumbled with the rifle¡¯s bolt to clear the barrel. When the second shot was ready he lifted his head, but his target was gone. Crack! The Queen had slipped behind the guard, wrapped her hands around his neck and wrenched the muscles. His spine snapped like a twig. The body collapsed and, panting, she made her way to Cloudhawk to help with his shackles. Once free her hoarse voice croaked at him. ¡°Go.¡± This was one hell of a tough lady! She¡¯d managed to put down a handful of crack guards without much effort, and wounded to boot. They¡¯d dealt with the guards, but gunfire had alerted everyone around. Soon they¡¯d be surrounded by dozens of prison guards, more than the two of them could handle. Cloudhawk dropped to the ground and started to search the corpses. He grabbed a handgun from the waist of the captain and one of the guards¡¯ rifles, as well as a store of bullets. The wastelanders who¡¯d been brought back here with them grabbed up the other weapons. ¡°We¡¯re not gonna escape like this,¡± Cloudhawk said to the others. ¡°You free the others. If we can get a force together we might be able to fight our way out.¡± They were much too frightened by the Queen¡¯s deadly display to respond. The woman was as terrifying as the demon mask she wore! Too stunned to think much beyond doing what they were told, the men left to get others. They managed to open a few of the cells and free a dozen or so slaves before a group of prison guards appeared. ¡°Everyone run, scatter! Free as many as you can!¡± Cloudhawk knew he and the Queen couldn¡¯t hide, so their best bet was to cause chaos. If they could free the slaves it might give them the cover they needed to get out. ¡°Queen! Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk fired at a prison guard blocking their path and blew him away, opening a path toward the exit. As they ran they smashed opened locks to the cells to free more of the slaves, and generate more chaos. There were too many for the guards to suppress, and they were quickly overwhelmed. The two of them reached the exit, but as they were about to burst outside they were met with a thunderous sound. A huge number of figures, armed to the teeth, were charging their way. The Queen knew them instantly. ¡°Sweeper troops!¡± A mob of troops in armor wielding broad headed axes poured in, followed by the arrival of a winged man from above. His descent kicked up a cloud of dust. Through the dim light and grime, the mutant¡¯s keen eyes picked out the two figures preparing to flee. ¡°It really is them!¡± Incredulous laughter bubbled up in his throat. ¡°Brothers, we¡¯ve found the two rats!¡± How did they get here so fast?! The Bloodsoaked Queen and Cloudhawk both felt their hearts seize in their chest. They were surrounded, with the three mutant leaders and the outpost¡¯s best fighters closing in. The two of them definitely couldn¡¯t fight their way out, and with so many enemies they could lock down the dungeons by spreading out like a dragnet. ¡°Hide!¡± Cloudhawk and the Queen ran down the first path they saw. The three mutants closed in on where they used to be with a dozen or so crossbow-wielding subordinates in tow. It took them only a couple of minutes to find what direction they¡¯d fled in. The slithery cold voice of Stranger Black hissed in their ears. ¡°They¡¯re here, they couldn¡¯t have run far!¡± The mutants brought teams with them and began to comb through the dungeons. However none of them noticed something different in the air, like a portion was missing. Cloudhawk and the Queen were pressed together, face to face. He¡¯d thrown his relic cloak over them and channeled his psychic energy through it to hide them temporarily. The mutants couldn¡¯t see anything and so passed right by, completely unaware their prey was inches away. ¡°The main halls have to be full of enemies by now. We can¡¯t go this way, we have to think of something else.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s invisibility cloud slowly regained substance. Surprising as Cloudhawk¡¯s latest toy was, the Queen didn¡¯t have time to question him. They had to find a way out! 1. Coal and coke are the main means by which people start fires in China, and is arguably the main reason for their pollution issues. Coke looks like burnt wood, very light, and is the fuel of choice for outdoor barbeques and water boilers. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 62 - Hydras Scheme At least three hundred sweepers had flooded the outpost¡¯s dungeons, along with an uncountable number of guards. Although the sewers were large, interconnected, and rife with unexplored areas, they had enough people to sweep the whole thing and search every corner. There was nowhere to run. Luckily, Cloudhawk had the foresight to release the slaves. The dungeon was in chaos, and the lights had been broken plunging it into darkness. Huge sections of it were blanketed in impenetrable shadow. Shots could be heard coming from every direction, mingling with shouts and sounds of combat. The chaos wasn¡¯t going to last long, but it gave Cloudhawk and the Queen a sliver of hope for escape. Bang! Cloudhawk fired at a guard a dozen meters away, ending his life. Other guards who¡¯d been with him spun around, just in time to see a demonic visage lunge at them from the darkness. The Bloodsoaked Queen flitted among them with a dagger she¡¯d pilfered, spinning gracefully like a dancer ¨C a butterfly riding the breeze through a forest. She swept through the pack of guards so quickly they couldn¡¯t even tell where her blade was going, and where she passed fountains of blood splattered droplets against the walls. The two of them continued on, eventually coming upon an intersection. Suddenly the sound of approaching footsteps emerged, about twelve pairs from what they could tell. Cloudhawk pulled the Queen into a corner, covered both of them in the cloak and poured his psychic energy into it. They vanished. Moments later a group of guards and another group of sweepers met in the center of the junction. They quickly spied the four dead guards and knew their prey had to be close. They shouted commands for those nearby to be vigilant, then soon afterward split up to search the halls. Cloudhawk allowed the power of the cloak to dissipate. ¡°My focus is fading. The more I use the cloak the more tiring it is, so we have to find a way out of here soon. If we don¡¯t we¡¯re gonna die. The problem now is which direction do we choose?¡± The dungeon was a complicated place. How where they supposed to know where to go? They didn¡¯t have any sort of map. ¡°We¡¯re just going to have to take our chances.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen picked a route at random and strode forward. What was Cloudhawk going to do, did he have a better suggestion? Whether or not this way was the way out wasn¡¯t as important as staying on the move. If they were caught they were finished, so their lives were entrusted to lady luck! The hallway was narrow, more like a large pipe. It was only large enough for two people to walk through side by side. Cloudhawk frowned, for he knew that if a group of enemies came this way it was too tight for them to hide beneath the cloak. As though his thoughts had summoned them the sound of footsteps echoed their way, five or six this time. The pack of guards rounded a corner and the two groups came face to face. ¡°Here they are!¡± ¡°Kill ¡®em!¡± Cloudhawk answered by blowing a hole in one of them with his gun. Two of the guards crouched and lifted their weapons, while three more from behind shot from a standing position. The two groups stood about twenty meters apart, too far for the Queen to cover no matter how fast she was, and the pipe was too narrow for them to dodge five gunners. Bang-bang-bang! The guards fired a salvo at them. These makeshift guns weren¡¯t the best quality, but at only twenty meters away they were lethal. Bearing a pair of daggers the Queen whipped her blades through the air, summoning a host of sparks. By virtue of her incredible speed and accuracy she cut the bullets right out of the air. So she had this ability as well?! Their faces fell as the guards hurried to prepare another volley. Meanwhile the gourd hanging from the Queen¡¯s waist shone with rays of light, and spouted flame. The fire gathered into the image of a phoenix, then crashed into the group of five guards setting their clothes ablaze. The smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the pipe. Five guards rolled and whined as the fires consumed them. Cloudhawk loaded them with a few final shots then followed the Queen down the route. Eventually the pipe opened out into a cavernous room, but it made things more complicated. There was no longer even a single beam of light, and the darkness was so complete one could stretch out their arm and not see their hand in front of their face. But it meant they were out of the dungeon. Groping through the darkness was better than waiting for death in the dungeons. The two waited at the edge of the abyss for two seconds, and just when they were preparing to step ahead an earth-shaking roar assailed them! Cloudhawk felt an oppressive, savage intent wash over him. He turned and saw a bearded man of fifty or sixty years leveling a huge weapon their way. He was charging at them like a crazed rhinoceros. Leonine! That asshole! Cloudhawk fired his gun without even thinking, but Leonine had decades of experience. The moment Cloudhawk lifted his weapon the old slaver changed direction, and the bullet buried itself harmlessly in a wall. Cursing, the young wastelander flung the broken down rifle to the ground and pulled the handgun from his waist. By the time he brought it up to fire Leonine was in front of him, his saber glinting as it traced an arc through the darkness. Clang! Two small blades blocked the slaver¡¯s dagger. The three weapons collided, eliciting a deafening screech. The Queen¡¯s daggers shattered under the strain ¨C Leonine was as strong as he was cunning. There was enough momentum behind the strike to keep it cutting through and the Bloodsoaked Queen stumbled backward half a step to avoid him. She shook, and a trail of blood crept from the corner of her mouth. The shock of their collision must have caused some internal injuries. With a feral roar Leonine launched into another attack, bringing his two-handed war machete down over his head with enough strength to split her in two. ¡°This old mutt is asking for death!¡± Cloudhawk fired his handgun several times in quick succession. Leonine stopped dead in his tracks and used his sword to block the shots aimed at his head. The rest found their mark in his chest. Thud, thud, thud! He staggered back a few steps, only the bullets didn¡¯t kill him. The crafty slaver wore a thick coat and hardened leather underneath which preventing the bullets from doing much damage. Leonine prepared for a counterattack when, from the darkness of the cavern, a figure stepped forth. The stranger was tall and burly, clad head to toe in full armor with a sword at his waist. His ugly face was twisted in a sneer that warped scars around the patch covering his right eye. He was covered in an aura of menace like a viper, and slowly emerged from the darkness to stand before the fugitives. When Leonine saw who it was he blurted out. ¡°Hydra, these are the demonhunters!¡± ¡°Demonhunters?¡± Hydra reached for his weapon and slowly pulled it forth. He glared at the two with his one good eye and chuckled darkly. ¡°Since when were demonhunters such trash? And still you can¡¯t put ¡®em down¡­ you¡¯re a real disappointment, old man.¡± Leonine glowered at the newcomer, while Cloudhawk¡¯s face was a thunderhead. Leonine was no less powerful than the late Mad Dog, and the cyclops spoke to him like he was worth nothing. It could only mean he was stronger than the slaver. With the Queen injured, was she strong enough to handle this character? Whether she could or not, her eyes were filled with anger and defiance. Being a demonhunter was a source of pride, and this heathen dared to insult her illustrious order. She reached up and yanked the cross from around her neck. Right away the cyclops saw her fighting spirit and leveled his shimmering blue blade her way. His weapon was long and thin, and masterfully fashioned. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere for you to go.You aren¡¯t escaping. But, if you defeat me I will help you.¡± What the hell was this guy saying? ¡°However,¡± he went on, ¡°if you can¡¯t even beat me, you¡¯ll die right here!¡± He said nothing further, charging at them with blinding fury. His wrist flashed and in a blink he peppered them with eight or nine thrusts. Cloudhawk had never seen someone wield a sword so fast! The Queen was just as quick, dodging his attacks as they came. All but the last, when suddenly her wounds began to take their toll. They slowed her by just enough that the cyclops¡¯ sword reached her, and pierced her shoulder. A trickle of fresh blood stained her clothes. Hydra¡¯s cackles rang off the walls. He attacked again, like nine steel vipers hungry for blood. This series of attacks was more dangerous than the last, the Queen seemed to be surrounded by his onslaught. Yet she appeared calm like a placid lake surface, her heart and body as one. All of a sudden a bouquet of white light erupted from her hand, forming into a blazing cross of holy light. ¡°This is¡­¡± The pupil of Hydra¡¯s one good eye contracted and he lashed out reflexively. His treasured sword met the holy cross mid swing, and broke into a thousand pieces. Hydra felt like he¡¯d been run over by a raging bull and was flung a good five or six meters away. The Bloodsoaked Queen held her mighty weapon aloft, and it painted the area in dazzling holy light. All the energies of her sword crackled as it coalesced. If she released it upon her enemy Hydra would be cleaved in half. He called out to her, tripping over his own tongue. ¡°Y-y-you win! I¡¯ll get you out of here!¡± Cloudhawk called out from one side. ¡°Queen, don¡¯t trust him!¡± Hydra tried to explain himself. ¡°We have the same goal, I can help you.¡± Hydra hadn¡¯t planned to the kill the two of them, for the simple fact that they were worth more alive. They were demonhunters, and killing demons was their duty. The one Hydra wanted to see brought down wasn¡¯t two children, but the wicked demon itself and his lackeys. It was the only way Hydra could become the true ruler of the Greenland Outpost, and now that he¡¯d witnessed the true power of a demonhunter he thought he had a chance. If he succeeded then Hydra would have all he desired. If they failed the blame would lie at the demonhunter¡¯s feet. Bit by bit the light of the Queen¡¯s holy sword faded. Though she did not show it, it was not her intention to let it go. She was too weak, too wounded to cut his head free. Hydra pointed down one of the pathways. ¡°This is the only way out of the dungeon.¡± ¡°Hydra, what are you doing?¡± Leonine couldn¡¯t understand what the outpost leader was doing. Hydra slowly turned, fixing the slaver with a deathly glare. ¡°I¡¯m doing whatever the fuck I want to do, and I can¡¯t afford to have someone behind me waiting to put a knife in my back! Time to die!¡± His voice was cold, and cruel. All color drained from Leonine¡¯s face.Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 63 - Escaping the Dungeon Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t be bothered to guess at Hydra¡¯s motives. After using the sword of holy light, the Bloodsoaked Queen had no more energy to spare for fighting. They couldn¡¯t exactly rely on Cloudhawk alone to cut a path to back from where they had just fled, right? There were no better options. They had to take this risk. Cloudhawk helped the Queen along as the two of them disappeared into the darkness of the ruined sewers. Hydra paid them no mind. His attention was fixed on Leonine. The slaver turned and sprinted down another pipe. He hadn¡¯t been in the Greenland Outpost long, so he didn¡¯t know much about Hydra. However, he had to assume that if the cyclops led the outpost he would be a problem to face in combat. Wastelanders only respected strength. He wouldn¡¯t rule this place if he wasn¡¯t the strongest and most skilled. Hydra had shown what he was capable of in his bout against the demonhunter. Leonine was definitely no match for him! Flee! Find the demon¡¯s lieutenants! They could definitely handle Hydra! Hydra grinned a dark, sadistic grin, like a cat watching a mouse struggle moments before death. Leonine tore down the narrow pipe, but footsteps rang off the metal hall like a hurricane from behind. Hydra caught up faster than Leonine could have believed. Despair filled him. In a matter of moments Hydra had gone from stationary to fifty or sixty kilometers an hour. Even in these twisting narrow quarters he wasn¡¯t slowed down at all. He charged, like a raging bull, right for the despairing slaver. Turn! Leonine suddenly flung himself through an opening on his left. Hydra was going too fast, maybe he wouldn¡¯t be able to turn in time. But as Leonine pushed himself as fast as he could go, Hydra¡¯s silhouette appeared in the opening. His steel boots clanged against the ancient pipes as he ran along the wall at a ninety-degree angle to the floor for four or five paces. Every pounding step left fissures and fractures in their wake. He launched himself through the air, drawing his sword. The tell-tale sound of steel on leather filled the air as Hydra¡¯s blade reached for Leonine. The slaver lifted his hefty saber to block the blow and sparks lit up the darkness. He didn¡¯t wait around to keep up the fight, changing directions again after deflecting Hydra¡¯s deadly attack. Now he was running blindly through a pathway completely void of light. His enemy was strong, but if he couldn¡¯t see his target he couldn¡¯t use that strength. ¡°Heh heh heh¡­ you¡¯re a sly one. Good reaction times.¡± Hydra reached up and pulled off the patch hiding his right eye. The orb wasn¡¯t useless, but mutated ¨C the pupil was slit like a snake¡¯s or lizard¡¯s and glowed with red light. ¡°But it¡¯s nothing more than someone struggling on his deathbed.¡± His eye wasn¡¯t just mutated, he¡¯d also cultivated its abilities. The eye was sensitive to light and couldn¡¯t be relied on during the day, so he hid it behind the patch. In the darkness, however, the eye sensed heat. Even in darkness Leonine was too weak, too slow. How could he get away? A smear of fresh red blood splattered down the hall. Leonine yelled and fell to the ground, clutching a deep wound. Hydra¡¯s slice cut through two layers of protective clothing and left a nasty gash behind. The snake-eyed hunter didn¡¯t pause and lashed out again like lightning. His lithe blade was like the poisoned fang of a cobra. Leonine¡¯s mind went blank as death loomed over him. Only one thought screamed through his brain ¨C what happens to them if I die? ¡°W-wait! Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Leonine knelt upon the ground in defeat. Was this rugged and majestic veteran groveling on his knees? Hydra hadn¡¯t taken Leonine for the sort! When Leonine didn¡¯t feel the kiss of Hydra¡¯s blade he spoke again. ¡°I got no interest in fightin¡¯ ya. My daughter¡¯s sick¡­ real sick. I had to do this! If you promise to look after my girl then my life is yours. I¡¯ll be your dog, anything you ask. Killin¡¯ me ain¡¯t gonna earn you nothin¡¯!¡± Leonine¡¯s daughter? The slaver¡¯s plea touched him, albeit only a little. Leonine was new to the outpost but it was clear he was useful, a man of skill. Hydra had heard tell of the slaver¡¯s story before. Reputedly, it was his family that brought him to the Greenland Outpost in the first place. He¡¯d been skeptical of the story, for who cared about kin like that in this day and age? Leonine, as strong and dignified as he looked, prostrated himself before Hydra and pressed his head to the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you ask, just save my girl! I¡¯m beggin¡¯ ya, I can¡¯t die now!¡± How interesting¡­ Hydra slowly returned his sword to its scabbard. His Greenland Outpost was strong, stronger than the Blackflag Outpost had been. Yet though it was much stronger in total, Greenland Outpost only had roughly ten people with skills comparable to Leonine. Blackflag Outpost, though small, had five or so. Wastelanders who lived long enough to get this skilled were prideful and difficult to control. Leonine was particularly able and yet he had a clear soft spot. He was precisely the kind of person Hydra could use. ¡°Very well, I accept your life.¡± His right eye shimmered with a dangerous red light, like the eye of a demon. He sized up the slaver kneeling before him. ¡°If you betray me in any way I¡¯ll make you regret having ever lived. You know who I am, and here in the outpost no one can protect you from me.¡± Leonine didn¡¯t have to imagine how much influence Hydra held. He was afraid of the demon¡¯s henchmen, but here in the outpost if there was someone Hydra wanted dead, there was no stopping him. Leonine put the fate of himself and his family in Hydra¡¯s hands ¨C no different than selling his soul. It was the only way to keep breathing. *** Cloudhawk helped the Bloodsoaked Queen along as they followed the path laid out by Hydra. It was so dark they couldn¡¯t see an inch in front of their noses. With what little energy was left to her the Queen summoned a miniscule phoenix that followed them. The fiery bird¡¯s luminescence lit their path and allowed them to examine their situation. The Queen¡¯s condition had been improving but the battle for their life had weakened her once again. Her willpower was like steel ¨C were she anyone else the tribulations she¡¯d suffered would have put her in the ground ¨C however she was still finding it difficult to push on. Fighting was out of the question. Suddenly the sounds of screams ran through the pitch-black cavern. Anxiety was clear in Cloudhawk¡¯s voice. ¡°You go first!¡± The road to freedom was like wandering through a dark mist. Burning motes of red were interspersed within it and closing in. Cloudhawk swung his staff at one, striking it and sending whatever the creature was smashing into a wall. He saw it clearly then, a winged thing about half a meter long with sharp talons and scarlet eyes. Mutant bats! When the tide of mutant beasts had attacked the Blackflag Outpost he¡¯d seen what a swarm of these monsters could do. He hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d encounter them here, beneath the Greenland Outpost. That horrid night was still fresh in his mind, when the fiends of the wastelands came looking for blood. These creatures were smaller but there were dozens of them. More than Cloudhawk could handle on his own. He heard the Queen¡¯s rasping voice in front of him. ¡°I see an exit!¡± Two hundred meters away a shaft of moonlight pierced the darkness. Cloudhawk felt a surge of vitality, Hydra had told them the truth after all. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯ll hold them off!¡± He gripped the exorcist rod tight in his right hand, waving it to fend off bats that got too close. He pointing the handgun in his left hand and, firing randomly into the darkness, managed to hit several of the bats. They kept coming but the smell of blood sent the other bats into a frenzy. In a blink the mutants fell upon their own and tore them to shreds like a pack of starving devils. They were unthinkably ferocious, bloodthirsty! It was appalling to behold. It didn¡¯t take long for Cloudhawk to run out of bullets, and though he managed to kill a few, more bats were coming all the time. Their numbers continued to swell. Several got passed him and headed right for the Queen, for she was bleeding and the scent fomented their ravenous hunger. She sent the phoenix of fire at one and set it alight, but there were four or five more closing in. Cloudhawk called the power of his cloak and suddenly air and gravity ceased to restrain him. He leapt forward at full speed like a blast of wind, lashing out with his staff upon reaching the Queen and knocking away two more bats. He didn¡¯t stop to deal with the rest and instead dragged her toward the exit. Finally, they¡¯d escaped! It was night and the bats poured out of the cavern like a lethal cloud, circling overhead ominously. Their sudden and violent appearance startled Greenland personnel and several shots could be heard as they fired into the flock. Meanwhile Cloudhawk continued to draw on the cloak¡¯s power, making them faster. He frantically searched for somewhere safe where they could hide. ¡°I found them!¡± An errant sweeper team combing the area had picked them out. There were more than ten of them armed with axes and crossbows. Like a swarm of bees they descended on the two demonhunters. Cloudhawk glowered at them and the situation they faced. ¡°Mother fucker! These twisted pieces of shit are everywhere!¡± Experienced killers with close and long ranged weapons encircled them leaving Cloudhawk no way to escape or fight back. Their only option was to find cover. The sweepers were dark shapes in the moonlight, deadly shadows that surrounded their prey and started closing in. However they were so fixated on their victims that they missed the unassuming figure behind them. Like the specter of death it soundlessly approached, the glint of a dagger in hand. Without so much as a whisper the silhouette buried its dagger in a sweeper¡¯s spine. The hunter crumpled to the ground, having lost all ability to move. Before he could scream a calloused hand clamped his mouth shut and cold steel opened his throat. Ruthless, swift, and efficient. The figure carefully slid the corpse onto the ground. A second and then a third were silenced by the dagger-wielding shadow ¨C dead without a sound. Whoever the murderous shadow was they appeared and vanished through the night, each corpse left behind slain by a different method. Eventually the sweepers knew something was wrong when they heard fewer footsteps. The ones in front looked behind and saw five of their brethren dead, throats cut and bubbling blood. They stared in horrified shock. There were only corpses and no killers. Who was the culprit? Five of their companions were dead without warning and in a matter of seconds! One of the sweepers stumbled backwards a few steps. ¡°Look out!¡± The sting of a dagger severed his spine and no more words were spoken. ¡°Over here!¡± Sweepers spotted the assassin and almost by instinct fired their weapons. The killer used the body of their dead comrade as a meat shield to absorb the bullets and arrows, leaving this mysterious shadow unscathed. A pair of daggers whistled through the night. ¡°Ahh!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Two shouts. Two more sweepers collapsed. What was left of the sweeper team raced forward, equal parts surprised, afraid and enraged. But by the time they got to the corpse the assassin had used for cover, they were gone. Sssshhhht! Another fell clutching an open throat. And another, with a dagger in its neck. Fear descended on the sweepers, filling them with terror. Their assailant was death incarnate come to take them in the night. Scared witless they ran to look for help. Cloudhawk was hiding behind a boulder. He saw the whole scene unfold. A silhouette emerged from the darkness, not large or particularly imposing, to stand before him. He was Asian, dressed in ragged clothing and pale of face. His expression was a mask of indifference, though the scent of death hung over him like a cloud. Moonlight glinted off his dagger. Cloudhawk looked back, eyes wide with shock. ¡°Mantis, is that you? What are you doing here?!¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 64 - Rebuilding the Team There were few in the Wastelands who could kill this way ¨C ruthlessly efficient and completely silent. Mantis was one of them. Only, Mantis had disappeared after they escaped from Blackflag Outpost. After days of being hunted by sweepers and deadly sandstorms, how could he show up here? Mantis had tailed the sweepers, even managed to infiltrate their airship. It brought him to Greenland Outpost. This revelation confounded Cloudhawk. Mantis followed the sweepers and snuck on their ship without being detected at all? The size of the brass balls on this guy was unthinkable. How stealthy was he? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare think about what else he was capable of. ¡°Come with me.¡± Sweepers were everywhere and oasis guards were in the hundreds as they combed the area. Hydra had let Cloudhawk and the Queen go, but his subordinates didn¡¯t know that. If they were caught the consequences would be bad. Luckily Mantis was a master assassin. Assassins weren¡¯t just adept at killing, they had to be experts of stealth as well, and the night was Mantis¡¯ playground. As they crept through the darkness Mantis picked off the weaker hunters, ending their lives and leaving no trace. One by one he ambushed their pursuers and ushered their spirits to the afterlife. The small crew escaped through the opening provided. Greenland Outpost was large and boasted over fifty thousand souls. Finding three people in that press of humanity was like trying to find a needle in an ocean. Mantis led them to a basement below one of the common residences in the outpost, without the owner knowing a thing. Cloudhawk helped the Queen to a corner and settled her against the wall. She wasn¡¯t doing well, her condition was less than optimistic. Cloudhawk turned to Mantis. ¡°Help take a look at her.¡± Mantis obliged, stretching out his hand but the Queen glared back at him. Her right hand shot out with lethal intent and pale fire undulated around the burning angels. Cloudhawk hurriedly made to put her at ease. ¡°Hold on, Mantis is a doctor. He can check your injuries!¡± Mantis paid her no mind. He grabbed her wrist and after a moment spoke in his typical detached tone. ¡°She has less than a day.¡± Cloudhawk gaped at him. ¡°Mantis, c¡¯mon stop screwin¡¯ around. You just touched her wrist, how do you even know where she¡¯s hurt?¡± Mantis had diagnosed the condition of her internal organs by feeling her pulse . His knowledge came from an ancient and exquisite source, far superior to what anyone found in the ruins these days. How could a yokel like Cloudhawk possibly understand? The Bloodsoaked Queen had more than a few external wounds, but they were not of much concern and would heal on their own in a few days. Her internal injuries were far more serious. After days of running and fighting, the strain of the demands she¡¯d put on herself had deteriorated her condition. It was miraculous she still lived. Switch her with any normal person ¨C even someone like Grizzly ¨C and she¡¯d have been dead already. Despite his impatience Cloudhawk knew Mantis wasn¡¯t one to play around. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Aren¡¯t you a doctor?! Think of something!¡± ¡°I am a doctor,¡± Mantis affirmed patiently, ¡°I am not a god.¡± Without tools or medicine there was nothing he could do. Was he supposed to use magic? Cloudhawk fidgeted restlessly, wracking his brain. ¡°Can¡¯t we think of anything?¡± ¡°Enough, begging won¡¯t serve anything.¡± The Queen¡¯s time was short, but she was calm ¨C the demonhunter did not fear death. She closed her eyes as she spoke. ¡°You have the potential to be a demonhunter, you aren¡¯t like this wastelander.¡± Mantis pushed his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose. ¡°Everyone has their own path. Hunting demons doesn¡¯t suit him.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen opened her eyes again and looked at Mantis with a glint of curiosity and surprise in her eyes. ¡°Who are you?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. Cloudhawk had always been interested in Mantis¡¯ story. He had been a part of the Tartarus mercenaries, and yet different. He was a mercenary leader like Mad Dog and Slyfox but no one dared give him orders. There¡¯d been some sort of unspoken understanding he wasn¡¯t aware of. Mantis also never directly participated in missions. He always remained behind and did logistics work. Cloudhawk was a hundred percent sure Mantis had always known the Queen¡¯s identity. This fact alone meant Mantis wasn¡¯t your typical wastelander. Yet Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care about any of that, the Queen¡¯s critical condition was most important. Despite her shitty temperament, she was the strongest fighter Cloudhawk knew. At peak condition the demon¡¯s three lieutenants together couldn¡¯t stand against her. What was he going to do if she died? Those fucking freaks would hunt him to the ends of the earth! Mantis asked, ¡°How did you escape the dungeons?¡± He answered honestly. ¡°We ran into someone named Hydra. He helped us escape.¡± ¡°Hydra?¡± ¡°You know him?¡± Mantis didn¡¯t answer. He turned and made as though to leave. Cloudhawk shot to his feet. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Mantis didn¡¯t stop. His soft voice hung in the air as he vanished out into the streets. ¡°Stay here.¡± By now the hundreds or sweepers and outpost guards had put down the dungeon rebellion. Yet even with all of these soldiers, no matter how rigorously they searched, the two escapees had vanished like smoke on the breeze. The demon¡¯s servants were understandably furious. Were these two able to hide in the sky? Disappear into the ground? They slipped through their clutches every time! Greenland Outpost was sealed off, and the surround forests were deadly to put it mildly. Beyond that the wastelands stretched far into the horizon. Escape would not be easy for this pair of troublemakers, and slipping out of the dungeon didn¡¯t mean fleeing the outpost. The three mutants ordered the gates closed and simultaneously dispatched scores of guards to canvas the area. Every house was searched, every ruin picked through, every stone overturned as they hunted for leads. With every passing minute the search team was getting closer to where they hid. Cloudhawk felt anxiety welling up within him. It was only a matter of time before they came to this basement. How were they going to escape? Suddenly the door to the basement was pulled open. An outpost guard pushed his way in bearing a rifle. Cloudhawk sprang to his feet like a leopard and threw up his fists, ready for a fight. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Mantis? What are you doing dressed like that?¡± ¡°Shut up and change. We have to go.¡± Mantis had brought two more disguises for them, also outpost guard attire. They included two sets of worn-out armor, veils and rifles. Once they changed clothes they were practically indistinguishable from real personnel. Mantis led the other two from the basement. They swaggered through the outpost trying to blend in among the sweepers and guards that were searching for them. Hundreds of sweepers went from house to house searching for them while they pushed past headed the other direction. Cloudhawk felt like his heart was going to burst through his chest. Mantis, by contrast, walked around as though he¡¯d done this a hundred times. Be it posture or attitude he was the spitting image of any outpost guard. The three demon lieutenants were leading their teams from the inside of the city to its far reaches, for they didn¡¯t think their targets would be heading deeper into the outpost. What they saw when they entered the Greenland Fort was nothing short of stunning. It looked like the outpost was preparing for war. Everyone was affected, however they were used to the turmoil and seemed numb to it. The first floor of the fort was a market where they sold alcohol, tobacco, various materials and components, weapons, food, and medicine. You could find almost anything here, including whatever they might need to help the Queen. But that¡¯s not where they went ¨C where in the world was Mantis taking them? The small group picked their way through the fort until they reached the top level. The entire floor was rife with guards. It was obvious by the way they held themselves that these fighters were the elite, far superior to the rabble they encountered outside. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know Mantis better, he might be afraid the assassin was getting ready to sell them out. Mantis fed a pair of bodyguards a line about his identity and purpose. They seemed content with this information and led them through the hallways. Eventually they stopped in front of an office. Cloudhawk had never seen a room this large before in his life. It was even larger than the Queen¡¯s former chambers and decorated with tidy furnishings. There was a lengthy couch where a middle-aged woman sat with her small son. On a nearby table there was a collection of four or five brightly colored fruits ¨C a luxury among luxuries in the wasteland. There were also two people dressed in doctor¡¯s attire working busily. Then as they looked on, a burly figure appeared amongst the small crowd. Cloudhawk and the Queen exchanged a frightened glance. Cloudhawk gripped his staff tightly and grit his teeth. ¡°Leonine? Fuckin¡¯ you again!¡± Leonine didn¡¯t respond right away. He looked at the woman on the couch and spoke to her first. ¡°Go and take a look.¡± She knew how to act in delicate company and left the small gathering. Once she¡¯d gone the slaver returned his attention to Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen. ¡°Starting now, we¡¯re a team. I¡¯m here to help you do whatever needs to be done.¡± Cloudhawk snorted like he¡¯d heard a funny joke. ¡°You? Help us? What a goddamn joke!¡± ¡°He is serious.¡± Hydra appeared from outside. ¡°Leonine is under my command. He works for me. From now on he¡¯ll be part of your group.¡± Cloudhawk stared at Hydra incredulously. Hydra went on unperturbed. ¡°Listen, those bastard mutants are scouring the outpost looking for you. They¡¯re ordering my people around as they please and fuckin¡¯ up my territory ¨C exploiting me and my resources like they own the goddamn place. I am the leader of this outpost, and I¡¯m not going to put up with this bullshit. We may not have the same goals, but we have the same enemy. I need you, and you need me. Am I wrong?¡± Cloudhawk was forced to agree. Without question, Leonine¡¯s addition to their team added real combat power. Hydra had taken charge of Leonine¡¯s wife and children. They lived in the fort, but more like hostages than guests. Leonine wouldn¡¯t dare betray Hydra, for it would mean putting his family in danger. No one could have anticipated the twists and turns that brought them to this place. A new team had been assembled. For days Cloudhawk had fled from one place to another with the Bloodsoaked Queen, and goddamn was he tired of it! Now he had Hydra¡¯s help, along with Leonine and Mantis by his side. He finally felt like he could take a breath! 1. This is a standard method of pattern differentiation and diagnosis in Chinese medicine. There are six pulse locations that tell the practitioner the condition of a patient¡¯s organs. . When checking pulse we make a determination based on; location (cun, guan, chi), strength (strong, normal, weak), depth (superficial, normal, deep), speed (fast, slow, normal), rhythm (regular, irregular, regularly irregular, irregularly irregular), length (long, short, stunted), and several miscellaneous manifestations like sluggishness, scattered sensation, etc. Someone who is on the cusp of death for a condition like the Queen¡¯s would likely have a very weak or almost impalpable pulse that feels ¡®empty¡¯ like there¡¯s no blood, deep, slow, and likely irregular as the heart fails. In the final moments before death the pulse will suddenly become superficial and rapid, which in TCM we call the last light of the setting sun ¨C the body gives a final burst of energy and then gives in. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 65 - Temporary Accomodations In the barren, hostile wastelands the presence of an oasis attracted a lot of attention, no matter how out of the way it was. Scavengers, sweepers, excavators¡­ everyone fought for territory and water. They didn¡¯t only have to battle their environment, but each other as well. Back in the day the oasis was a place of chaos. There was no set leadership, not until Hydra emerged as a force strong enough to exert his influence. He didn¡¯t have a lot of clout in the beginning, not until the mysterious stranger arrived. He agreed to act as a benefactor, and to accept Hydra as an autonomous hireling. The stranger would help him conquer the oasis, and in exchange half of its spoils and products would be shared. Hydra had found it difficult to protect himself in the harsh environment of the oasis.What would it serve him to compete against this mysterious stranger? He¡¯d been so without hope at the time he hardly thought about the deal before accepting. The wasteland visitor proved to be powerful. He gave Hydra advanced weapons and support from many experienced mutant fighters. In a snap Hydra¡¯s influence expanded throughout the oasis and Greenland Outpost was born. Hydra emerged as its ruler. And what of his promise? Every month the mysterious guest would appear in the outpost, and every month he would leave with half of their food and purified water. Hydra was a puppet, lording over the outpost in name alone in service to this dark figure. Sometimes it was painfully clear the stranger had a louder voice in the oasis than he did. This enigmatic wastelander was undoubtedly the ¡®demon¡¯. Hydra had been cultivated to lead at his whim, guiding the Greenland Outpost as an important fount of power and resources. Hydra wasn¡¯t interested in any bullshit ideals ¨C he was only ever interested in wealth, power, and women. After years of enduring the humiliation of servitude, he was finding it difficult to suffer any more of it. Everything here ¨C the women, the weapons, the food, water ¨C everything is mine! Who the fuck does that guy think he is? What right does he have to order me around? I am master of this outpost, and only I can rule it! These agreements are pointless games. In the Wastelands, power was the only voice that mattered. For years Hydra cultivated his supremacy and he was ready to stretch his wings. The seed of revolt had grown within him. It was time for all of them to fuck off! Greenland Outpost didn¡¯t need anyone, and anyone who dared encroach on his territory was dead! Even if he¡¯d never met the demonhunters Hydra was planning to make his move within the next six months. When Cloudhawk and this Bloodsoaked Queen were hunted down Hydra was sure they could be useful to his plans. That was why he¡¯d let them go. Of course, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any of this inside information. There was only one thing he was sure of, and it was that these two men were bad news. Hydra was ruthless and unprincipled, a person who killed without conscience and wantonly traded in human lives. His hands were covered in blood, and to him the lives of others meant nothing. Leonine wasn¡¯t much better. He¡¯d tricked scores of innocent people into coming to the outpost and sold them into a life of unthinkable torment. He turned people into commodities and playthings. Yet in these wretched wastelands, how could one determine where was good and where was bad? If one took the traditional view then Mad Dog, Slyfox and Hydra were all scoundrels. Not one of them was worth pity or mercy. However, Mad Dog and Slyfox had saved Cloudhawk¡¯s life more than once. To him that made the two slain mercenaries good men. The measure of a person in the Wastelands wasn¡¯t their morality or their public image. Whether they were good or bad was determined in the hearts of those they met. A man was good to those who he did good to ¨C he was a villain to those he hurt. For now Cloudhawk needed Hydra¡¯s protection, and the Bloodsoaked Queen needed his medicines. Mantis had acquired the medicine they needed to treat the Queen at Cloudhawk¡¯s demand. Still he made sure to emphasize his earlier warning. ¡°Her injuries are more than what typical medicine can heal in a short time. I need a dose of panacea.¡± Hydra scowled. Panacea was a very special type of restorative medicine. They had to be purchased through special channels at great expense, and not for no reason. Panaceas were created through the use of superb techniques and high technology, distilling reagents extracted from mutated plants and animals to create a serum. This ancient scientific technology was all but gone from the world now, making panacea as precious as it was rare. The thought of what it would cost was a painful one, but Hydra knew it paled in comparison to what he would earn if they helped him take control of the outpost. A syringe nestled safely within a box was handed over. The liquid within was completely clear, like water. What precisely was in the panacea was unclear, only that it was some substance taken from mutated biology. Injecting it into a patient stirred their own restorative abilities. Almost right away healing increased seven or eight times its normal rate. The Bloodsoaked Queen already surpassed the capabilities of a normal person, and with the help of this injection her life was no longer in danger. After a few days she would be mostly healed, especially with the help of such a masterful wasteland healer like Mantis. He used natural remedies extracted from mutated plants to help recover faster. Hydra watched the Queen undergo treatment. ¡°When are more demonhunters coming?¡± He¡¯d never been to the elysian lands, but the demonhunters wouldn¡¯t send just one of their number to stalk a fiend. Demons were typically extremely powerful, and often surrounded themselves with mighty followers. It required a team of hunters and a well-thought strategy to succeed. ¡°There are no other demonhunters.¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Hydra¡¯s face twisted into a scowl. How phenomenally stupid did this girl have to be to make a decision like this? She came by herself to the wastelands, hoping to kill a demon? How was this different from suicide? She could be twice as strong and it would still be moronic to think she could face the demon and all his power throughout the wastelands by herself! Cloudhawk stood and answered for her. ¡°When the Queen is fully healed those three mutants the demon sent after us won¡¯t be a problem. What more help do we need?¡± Hydra couldn¡¯t dispute this. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s combat prowess was impressive. Hydra himself was about as strong as one of the demons¡¯ lieutenants and he hadn¡¯t been able to withstand her attacks. It spoke volumes as to how strong she really was. An entire squad of demonhunters would have better chances, true, but it was important to remember that they didn''t view the wastelanders as fellow humans. After they annihilated the sweepers, they could easily level the entire Greenland Outpost as well. It wasn''t as though something like this had never happened before! If there was only one, so be it. As for Cloudhawk? Hydra didn¡¯t take him into consideration at all. Hydra retorted. ¡°To avoid unnecessary trouble you¡¯ll stay here for a few days. I¡¯ll arrange something for you.¡± ¡°Sir¡­ hey boss.¡± One of the men dressed as a doctor hastily approached. ¡°The girl¡¯s condition is too severe. We don¡¯t have any way to save her!¡± Leonine heard the diagnosis and shouted at the man angrily. ¡°What?! Say it again!¡± These men were the best doctors the outpost could provide. If they said they couldn¡¯t save his daughter, it was practically a death sentence. However, Mantis had just finished treating the Bloodsoaked Queen. ¡°Allow me to try.¡± He saw a little girl lying in her bed, skin thin as paper outlining the bones beneath. A large fleshy growth was affixed to the left side of her neck ¨C a tumor that was threatening the poor child¡¯s life. Only¡­ the dangers of cutting it out were just as lethal, and the difficulty of such a procedure was beyond the scope of the outpost¡¯s doctors. ¡°A minor matter.¡± Mantis uttered the diagnosis after taking a glance in her mouth. He turned around and slapped one of the physicians upside the head before washing his hands and the instruments with a disinfectant. ¡°You can assist me.¡± The doctors were immediately and visibly embarrassed. Mantis didn¡¯t care about how they felt, he was already working. First he cleaned the flesh around the tumor with the same solution, then began to cut. Cloudhawk, looking on, couldn¡¯t help but admire Mantis. Not only was he an assassin that frightened enemies to the bone, he was also a stupendous surgeon. It was like his eyes could see through flesh and knew implicitly where healthy and diseased tissue lay. Every incision was precise to the tenth of a millimeter ¨C as exact as a machine. He never made a mistake. Soon every trace of cancer or mutated skin was removed. He applied the antiseptic solution to her wound then cleaned his hands as though he¡¯d done some trivial thing. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine as long as it doesn¡¯t get infected.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Leonine, his voice shaking, fell to his knees before Mantis. ¡°Thank you!¡± Hydra was secretly shocked by what he had just seen. Mantis was clearly a master pharmacologist and had created the antiseptic solution using only mutated ingredients from plants and animals. In addition, Mantis was an excellent surgeon. Every slice from his scalpel was meticulous, perfect to the millimeter. He had to be a very high level agility metahuman. Mantis¡¯ frontal combat abilities were likely less developed than Leonine¡¯s, but when he entered under the cover of night he could kill three Leonines. Assassins weren¡¯t always the strongest, but they were undoubtedly among the most dangerous. Cloudhawk was arranged a room nearby where he went to rest. It was a room about twenty meters squared with few in the way of luxuries. However it was clean and tidy with a bed and sheets. It was the nicest treatment he¡¯d ever been shown. He found a place to hang up his cloak and took off his tattered wolf fur. Wounds peppered his emaciated and unimpressive body, twenty or thirty of them. There wasn¡¯t a part of him that hadn¡¯t somehow gotten injured. Some were still leaking reddish-purple blood. It was hard to imagine how a waif like him could have endured so much punishment! He¡¯d been fleeing for days, a fugitive fighting for his life. When did he have time to worry about how he felt? Now all of a sudden it was hard for him to calm down as the pain and exhaustion washed over him. It was almost unbearable and it took all his will to stumble over to the bed. He climbed up, and fainted. Fatigue¡­ such absolute fatigue! And pain, gut-wrenching pain. Cloudhawk felt like a whole mountain was crushing him. A thousand saws cut him apart and a hundred drills tore into his bones. He hardly wished to live. This torture persisted for a while until it eventually eased, only to be replaced with the feeling of being burned alive. Drills and saws turned into a hundred thousand flickering fires dancing along his flesh. Every muscle, every fiber felt seared. What the hell was going on! Cloudhawk¡¯s body began to undergo a series of positive changes. Although it was agony, every cell in his body felt invigorated, more alive.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 66 - Uncovered As dawn broke over the outpost, behind the hazy air, stars twinkled in the pale blue sky like a cloak of muslin. Shafts of sunlight fought through airborne sand and painted the landscape red like it was drenched in blood. Hunters from the Greenland Outpost searched all night for their prey, to no avail. The light of day played over the outraged faces of the mutant lieutenants ¨C could demonhunters sprout wings and fly away? Stranger Black and Longhorn watched the sun rise in contemplative silence, both acutely aware that something didn¡¯t seem right. ¡°First Brother, Second Bother, look here. What is this?¡± Vulture landed nearby, kicking up a cloud of sand and leaving long troughs where his feet met the ground. In his hands he held the broken remains of a rapier, thin and exceedingly sharp. Longhorn took it from him and scrutinized the broken weapon for a moment. ¡°Is this Hydra¡¯s sword? A clean break¡­ no one in the outpost has the ability to do this. Where did you find it?¡± ¡°In the dungeons!¡± Vulture replied. ¡°The dungeons?¡± Stranger Black was silent for a time, then his cold and raspy laughter emerged. ¡°Hydra¡­ oh Hydra. When this was over we¡¯d planned to remove you. It seems you were one step ahead of us.¡± Longhorn flicked his wrist with enough force to warp the fracture blade. ¡°The Bloodsoaked Queen had to have fought Hydra. He returns unscathed and she vanishes into the night. This explains it.¡± Vulture¡¯s face bore a savage, hateful sneer. ¡°I knew there was something off about that little shit, we should have killed him yesterday! We¡¯ve searched everywhere except the fort, Hydra must be hiding the demonhunters there. We¡¯ll kill our way in and cut off that snake¡¯s head like we were planning to anyway.¡± Hydra¡¯s wild ambitions were not a secret to any of them. How would their master be blind to his betrayal? Hydra had always been a puppet through which their master rules Greenland Outpost. Now, this marionette wanted to take advantage of the chaos and become a real boy? It wouldn¡¯t be as easy as he thought¡­ but he¡¯d been lucky. The appearance of the demonhunter in the Wastelands and her continuous assault on the master¡¯s power forced their benefactor to be vigilant, careful in case the holy city had its eyes set on him. Were it not for this troublesome woman the master would have come himself long ago to deal with Hydra¡¯s betrayal. Now was as good a time as any! He dared collude with these fugitives and betray them? ¡°Calm yourself, Third Brother. Hydra is no threat, but he has ruled here for eight years. Greenland Outpost has near ten thousand soldiers who follow his commands and we aren¡¯t ready for a war with this place. It would be unwise to rashly foment conflict.¡± Stranger Black stared at the towering building through his gas mask. ¡°Now that we know who the hunter¡¯s friends are, we¡¯ll report to the master. He will devise a plan to remove these thorns from our side.¡± ¡°First Brother is right,¡± Longhorn said with a nod. ¡°We make our move when the time is right. You should amend your impatient nature, Third Brother. We do important work for the master. Even the slightest carelessness could spell doom.¡± Vulture answered with a chuckle. ¡°Not an issue with the help of you two. I am the master¡¯s knife. Anyone who dares oppose my brothers or the grand plan will find my talons buried in their heart, even if the fight grinds me to dust.¡± Stranger Black and Longhorn silently shook their heads. No one questioned Vulture¡¯s loyalty, but his bloodthirsty and impulsive nature was more suited to a soldier, not a leader. Sadly Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Brother were no longer with them. Three of them had been discovered and slain by the demonhunter early on, while Fourth Brother died during the assault on Blackflag Outpost. Ah, if all seven brothers were still here, what would they have to fear from Hydra ¨C even with ten thousand fighters behind him? Their greatest enemy was the Bloodsoaked Queen. They had underestimated this demonhunter, assumed her foolish and self-righteous solo crusade would be easy to put down. Because of her involvement they had suffered, and much of the master¡¯s plan had been thrown into chaos. They could add Hydra¡¯s early retirement to the list of things she¡¯d spoiled as well. But now maybe they could fix everything all at once! ** More than comfortable, Cloudhawk had never had a deeper night¡¯s sleep. On the one hand he¡¯d been so exhausted that when he closed his eyes he was like the dead, and on the other he was secure in the knowledge that this was Hydra¡¯s territory. As ruler of the outpost no one would dare sneak in and try to kill him in his sleep! Simply put, when sleep overtook him he forgot the evils of the world, the chaos and turmoil. He forgot everything, forgot himself. He didn¡¯t awaken until noon the next day. Cloudhawk fought off a strange sensation as he shook the grogginess from his head. He best described it as though he¡¯d taken off armor he¡¯d been wearing for years. He felt light and relaxed beyond words, but also like someone had dunked his head in ice water. All of the confusion and uncertainties were gone, and his mind was clearer than ever before. His hearing was more acute, his vision was sharper. From inside out he felt remolded. His wounds itched as they healed at an accelerated rate. Scabs covering scrapes and cuts from days ago were already falling off. His deeper wounds had already knit themselves back together. Cloudhawk knew he had excellent regenerative abilities, but nothing to this extent. Maybe these struggles had awakened his potential, spurred his abilities? What else could explain what in the world was happening to him? Cloudhawk clambered out of bed and practiced the thirty-six postures taught to him by the Bloodsoaked Queen. They felt more fluid this time, less intense. Though he started to tire at the eighth movement he could still fight through it. Eleven, twelve, thirteen¡­ fourteen¡­ fifteen! Every muscle in his body twisted in pain. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and was forced to stop, but without question he had developed somehow after a good night¡¯s sleep. The speed with which he was maturing was nothing short of astonishing. The Bloodsoaked Queen had once said that if Cloudhawk could get through all thirty postures even the likes of Mad Dog and Grizzly couldn¡¯t stand against him. So far he¡¯d only managed fifteen, but he figured he was already a match for one of the elite soldiers or the best mercenary troops. If anyone knew this, it would blow their minds. Wastelanders were constantly battling hardships, urging their potential to reveal itself. Even the likes of Hydra rose through the ranks this way. However, this was usually a slow and painstaking process. Without some special technique it would be impossible to make such dramatic improvements. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the time to carefully examine every change he felt, for a stabbing pang in his stomach reminded him of how hungry he was. He reckoned he could eat a whole cow. A few minutes later¡­ Cloudhawk was seated before a dining room table, stuffing fruit and barbecued meat into his mouth. The fort¡¯s servant women kept bringing in plates, whispering to each other and eyeing the young man in shock. Watching him eat was like witnessing a wild beast gorging itself on a kill. This skinny guy had one hell of an appetite! Up to this point he¡¯d eaten two bowls of meat and vegetable stew, three rolls of bread, six portions of barbecued meat and eight bunches of berries. It was enough to satisfy three grown and burly men, and if he kept eating the women suspected the boy¡¯s stomach would explode. Yet Hydra had let everyone know that he and the others with him were honored guests of the fort. Anything they wanted ¨C including the women themselves ¨C was to be offered until they were satisfied. Still, they suspected the kid might eat every scrap of food in the place. ¡°This is goddamn delicious! These guys sure know how to live.¡± Cloudhawk took another gulp of soup but still felt like there was room to spare. Greenland Fort was lacking in spices but they had more than enough food and water from the surrounding oasis. Because of this they had a veritable smorgasbord of food to offer; from mutant bird meat to lizard skillets; from common scourge hare jerky to wild boar. Then there were the plethora of fruits and vegetables seen nowhere else in the Wastelands. ¡°You got anything else?¡± Cloudhawk was like the ghost of a starved traveler reincarnated. Even Cloudhawk could tell he was digesting this stuff at ten times what was normal. Whatever he put in his mouth hardly had time to pass through his stomach before it was absorbed and turned to energy. The sustenance of it spread through every cell in his body. ¡°Yes, right away¡­¡± The housemaids brought in a dish of fruit, and a large copper basin. When the basin¡¯s lid was removed it filled the room with a mouth-watering aroma. As the steam cleared Cloudhawk was met with a sight he¡¯d never before experienced. It had a large head, a long scale-encased body and its open mouth was full of razor-sharp teeth. Cloudhawk gaped at it. ¡°What in holy hell is this? Where are its legs¡­ it¡¯s a python!¡± One of the maidservant¡¯s answered in demure inflection. ¡°Sir, this isn¡¯t a snake. It¡¯s a fish, fish don¡¯t have legs.¡± What the fuck was a fish? Water was a rarity in the Wastelands, much less any sort of creature living in it. So when something this big that supposedly lived in water appeared before him, Cloudhawk had a hard time wrapping his head around it. This was a carnivorous species caught from the lakes peppered throughout the oasis. Ferocious as it looked, its meat was absolutely delicious. Even without condiments and boiled in clear soup it was nothing short of divine. Cloudhawk had never seen anything like it, but he was a child of the Wastelands. His only concern was whether or not his food was poisonous. He¡¯d slurp down ants, beetles, and worms with relish, so who was he to turn down cooked delicacies? He dipped a wooden spoon in the soup and took a sip of that first. His eyes lit up. ¡°Goddamn, this is incredible! I¡¯ve never eaten something this good before.¡± The maids secretly chuckled among themselves. ¡°We¡¯re just pleased you like it.¡± He sighed emotively. ¡°You got fruit, meat, this weird snake¡­ I want to stay here forever.¡± ¡°Sir, this is called a fish.¡± ¡°Tch, leave him be!¡± ¡°These aren¡¯t the only riches in Greenland Outpost.¡± One of the maids sashayed suggestively closer to him. She leaned down enough for the young lad to get a good eyeful of her chest. ¡°If sir has had his fill we¡¯d be happy to¡­ look after you. I think I know something you¡¯ll like even better.¡± These maids had been hand-picked and trained by Hydra. They were some of the most attractive women the wastelands had to offer. The scrawny kid wasn¡¯t much to look at, but for him to be treated so well by the barbarous Hydra meant that there had to be more to him than meets the eye. They saw him as an opportunity ¨C if he liked them, maybe they¡¯d get lucky and Hydra would present them as a gift. But Cloudhawk was transfixed by the delicious fish-thing they¡¯d given him and hardly noticed her. ¡°Yeah, right, fine,¡± he muttered absently. Their faces lit up. Hydra had several hundred women he called his own. He was the kind of man who took pleasure in hurting others, and all of the girls were frightened of what he was capable of. This could be their chance of being liberated from that brute! ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± The shout was cold, full of rage and indignation. The women turned their heads and gasped when they saw the ferocious demon mask stomping their way. They shuffled backward and dropped their eyes. Cloudhawk blinked, stunned. Damn, the Queen recovered fast! But why was she so mad¡­Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 67 - Tested The Bloodsoaked Queen looked like she was recovering well. The way she was stomping forward made her look like she could stride right through an iron wall. The women trembled in fear and surprise, for the aura that poured from this woman was more intense and threatening than Hydra¡¯s. Cloudhawk quickly spoke up. ¡°You got here just in time! You gotta try this.¡± The Queen glared through her mask at Hydra¡¯s maidservants. ¡°Get out, now!¡± The women immediately left, feeling as though they had just been pardoned from death. ¡°Yes, of course. Right away!¡± Cloudhawk watched the exchange in confused surprise, and not a little displeasure. ¡°Hey! What are you doing, what¡¯s with the attitude? They didn¡¯t do anything to offend you, why¡¯d you snap at ¡®em?¡± Share glared daggers at him. ¡°Have some dignity. If you want to go to the holy lands, become a citizen of the city ¨C if you want to be a demonhunter then you mustn¡¯t consort with these sordid wasteland women.¡± ¡°Who the hell wants to live in the wastelands? Who wants to be someone¡¯s slave? Do you think anyone here has a choice?¡± Cloudhawk hated to see the Queen treat his fellow wastelanders with such disdain. Her sense of superiority didn¡¯t come from anything other than being lucky enough to be born somewhere else. He had come to know the Queen, and through their trials they were closer so he was frank with her. ¡°We don¡¯t get to decide where we¡¯re born ¨C not like your high-and-mighty gods. Lemme tell you, if you¡¯d been born in the wastelands you¡¯d be no better than the rest of us!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Cloudhawk could say what he pleased, all except any word against her god. Blasphemy was a sure way to incite her rage. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is life dealt us different hands. Maybe what Mantis said was true. Even if I get to where you came from I¡¯ll never be like you.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong with this woman. He knew nothing he said was going to change her mind ¨C it was like beating his head against a wall ¨C so he wasn¡¯t going to fuss. ¡°There¡¯s all this good food in front of us, I¡¯m not gonna busy my mouth fighting with you!¡± This child, the Queen fumed. His manners are getting worse by the day! She wanted to beat him so badly her teeth itched! However, after a moment¡¯s thought she had to admit that her reaction had been a tad overblown. He was a wastelander, after all. Why was she so upset? Without another word she pulled the mask from her face. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but steal a peek. No matter how many times he saw it, the Queen¡¯s face was a blessing to the eyes. Beauty like hers just didn¡¯t exist in the Wastelands. Thankfully the maids had left, otherwise seeing her might shame them into never again showing their faces. ¡°Is the food serviceable?¡± The Queen partook in a spoonful of fish soup, only to spit it out. She sniffed disparagingly. Her voice took on that familiar, petulant scornfulness. ¡°The wasteland is the wasteland. Even the lowest caste of commoners from the elysian lands eat food ten times better than this.¡± Cloudhawk kept his thoughts to himself. Eat it or don¡¯t. Why sneer at what we got? ¡°For some, will is in short supply ¨C they cave at the slightest temptation and abandon their dreams. These people will never achieve greatness, and will never succeed.¡± Who the hell is she preaching to? Cloudhawk kept eating. The Queen felt both awkward and angry. He wasn¡¯t actually being enticed away by the joys of this place, was he? She didn¡¯t know when, but the Queen had started to look at Cloudhawk differently. He wasn¡¯t like the others ¨C he might have what it takes to walk the path of the demonhunter¡­ or at least be useful. But wastelanders were wastelanders. You couldn¡¯t convince a dog to stop eating shit, and slinging mud at a wall wasn¡¯t going to make it stronger. Neither of them said anything more, they just busied themselves eating. Cloudhawk ate until he could hardly walk, and the Queen had her fill as well. As they were picking at the last bits they heard footsteps approaching. From the sound they could tell one was large and walked with a purposeful stride. The second set sounded like steel boots, but the tone it made ringing against the ground made them sound homemade. Clearly, it was Leonine and Hydra. The Bloodsoaked Queen slipped her mask back over her face. ¡°The two of you come out for a moment, we need to make a plan.¡± Hydra noted that the Queen was recovering faster than he¡¯d anticipated and it put him more at ease. With someone as strong as her to help him, victory was all but certain. In the Great Hall. Mantis was already seated within when they arrived. Hydra faced the four of them and shared what he knew. ¡°Those fucking mutants were always suspicious of me, and now that you¡¯ve ¡®gone missing¡¯ they¡¯re on my ass like stink on shit. We¡¯re out of time, we have to act before they do ¨C let me introduce you to some people.¡± He clapped his hands. Cloudhawk watched as eight people walked into the hall. They were all roughly the same in build and bearing. Though he couldn¡¯t sense anything right away, Cloudhawk could tell these men were first-class wasteland warriors. All of them were at least comparable to Leonine. ¡°These eight warriors are the best of the best here in Greenland Outpost. They¡¯re my handpicked bodyguards, and they¡¯ll be splitting up into two groups to help you fight. Once the mutants are dealt with, we¡¯ll have a shot at the man who commands them.¡± Hydra waved his hands as he spoke. ¡°Snaketooth, Artemis ¨C introduce yourselves.¡± One of the men with long straight hair stepped forward. His eyes were wide and slender, sharply outlined, with a keen gaze. He had a somber air about him. ¡°I am Snaketooth, and I¡¯m responsible for the three others in Team One.¡± ¡°And I am Artemis , leader of the remaining three on Team Two.¡± This one was actually a woman, somewhat more petite than the others. She had clean, short-cut hair and was clad in leather armor that constrained her chest, whereupon the tattoo of a red rose was visible. Her thin waist splayed out into a large buttocks, and she held herself with an alluring posture. All in all she was an attractive wastelander woman. ¡°Such a shame the demonhunter is a woman¡­ I was planning on seeing what a hunter was like in the sack.¡± Her voice was lilting and seductive, like the purr of a feral cat. The Bloodsoaked Queen stared at her with frigid eyes. Her harsh voice croaked through the mask. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind burning the tongue out of that filthy mouth.¡± For emphasis she slowly raised her hands, then rested the burning angels against the wooden table. An intangible energy hidden from the eye surged through the furniture and in an instant it was a charred ruin. It clattered to the ground. Everyone gaped at her, utterly shocked. None of the wastelanders could understand what they¡¯d just witnessed. Even the coquettish and bold Artemis broke into a cold sweat. If a single touch from that woman didn¡¯t kill her it¡¯d at least leave her permanently crippled. The Queen, in contrast, was completely casual. She¡¯d made sure her prestige was apparent to everyone gathered. After a brief moment Hydra gathered everyone¡¯s attention with a cough. ¡°So everyone¡¯s met. Now it¡¯s time for the plan ¨C are there any doubts before we begin?¡± ¡°I have one.¡± The man with long hair, parted in the middle and falling to his shoulders, cast his eyes toward Cloudhawk. ¡°It¡¯s an important mission, why is this mangy rat scampering along?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes landed on Cloudhawk. He was only a kid, maybe fifteen years old without any vigor to speak of. What¡¯s more because of his malnourished upbringing he was little more than a stick. How could someone like that positively impact a mission this important? Cloudhawk rose to his feet. ¡°Who the fuck are you callin¡¯ a mangy rat?!¡± He hoped the Queen and Mantis would speak up, get his back. Neither of them said a word. Shit, they still think I¡¯m just getting in the way? The long-haired one named Snaketooth was Hydra¡¯s true brother. He was only saying what Hydra thought ¨C the kid was too weak. He was useless. Hydra only kept him around because he saw how close he was to the demonhunter. ¡°Fine. If you¡¯re not convinced that¡¯s exactly what you are I¡¯ll give you a chance to prove me wrong. Panther.¡± Snaketooth peered down his nose at Cloudhawk before glancing to a man by his side. A man with coal black skin stepped forward. ¡°If you can go ten rounds with Panther I¡¯ll take back what I said. You can come on the mission.¡± In reality, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t thrilled to be participating in such a dangerous mission. But anger swelled up in him, stoked by the snide looks from all sides and the fact they still saw him as garbage. No one actually expected him to accept, but then¡­ ¡°Good! I¡¯ll give it a shot!¡± This kid is a fucking moron! He sure had a high opinion of himself despite clearly being nothing better than average. The crew Hydra had put together were his best men. Compared to the fighters of Blackflag Outpost they were no less impressive than Mad Dog, Slyfox, Grizzly, Mantis or Wulf. This was the level they stood among, how was Cloudhawk going to be any sort of match for one of them? Cloudhawk sometimes was perhaps a little too courageous and didn¡¯t think through consequences. Yet the Queen and Mantis didn¡¯t try to stop him. He could stand to be knocked down a peg or two. Cloudhawk and Panther separated from the others and the young man pulled the exorcist rod from his waist. Panther was a compact black man about five feet and a handful of inches ¨C roughly the same height as the fifteen year old he planned to pummel. Black clothing covered almost everything, including his face. For weapons he produced twothat¡¯d been tucked into his waist. These weapons were about two feet long and impressively sharp ¨C deadly, in fact. One could guess Panther¡¯s fighting style based on the tools he¡¯d chosen. Leonine¡¯s weapon was a two handed saber, designed for a heavy and powerful strike. Strong, but it demanded a lot of energy to wield and dramatic sweeping movements. Panther¡¯s weapons were compact three-pronged daggers, which alluded to his style being more focused on speed and agility. For Cloudhawk, he was more trouble than a heavy hitter. He didn¡¯t think too much about it. He dropped into a battle stance and called out a challenge. ¡°Bring it on!¡± Panther looked back with scorn in his eyes. He rushed forward fast as a whip. Faster than Cloudhawk could blink the small man appeared to his left jabbing at him with his sai in a reverse grip. It all happened too fast. This guy had to be just as fast as Blackflag Outpost¡¯s elite commander Wulf had been! Mantis lifted his hand, ready to release one of his flying knives. Anyone could tell, even without thinking, that Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t cope with attacks this fast. But then the unthinkable happened, and Cloudhawk brought his bladed exorcist rod around in a counter attack from below. Panther could drive his sai into Cloudhawk¡¯s neck, but the kid¡¯s attack was just as fast and just as vicious. If he went through the attack the momentum would cause him to fall right on the staff where it would impale his belly. The end result would be a life for a life. No choice. Panther redirected his weapons, bringing them down on the exorcist rod. As the two struggled against each other their weapons elicited ear-piercing screeches. One sai kept Cloudhawk¡¯s staff out of the way, while Panther whipped his second dagger around right for the center of his opponent¡¯s chest. ¡°Fuck ¨C off!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were red. A dreadful power welled up within him, infusing him with strength. He wrenched his staff free from Panther¡¯s firm control. Panther staggered backward. The attack aimed for Cloudhawk¡¯s chest only managed to leave behind a shallow gash. Meanwhile the kid¡¯s sudden rush of strength had thrown him off balance, too, and he stumbled away a few paces. Contrary to what everyone thought, this kid¡¯s reaction time, speed and strength were pretty good! Panther was angry, ashamed at being shown up by this brat. He was ready to attack again when, before he could take a step, Cloudhawk wrapped himself in his cloak¡­ ¡­and vanished. 1. Her name is Àö ¨C beautiful ¨C but she¡¯s also a badass. Grecian goddess of the hunt seemed fitting Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 68 - Operation Fiendslayer Cloudhawk had silently vanished like a drop of dew before the morning sun. Something so supernatural as disappearing into thin air wasn¡¯t something typical humans were capable of ¨C did this mean this kid was also a demonhunter? Hydra, Snaketooth and Artemis were absolutely shocked. Were their eyes deceiving them? Leonine had witnessed Cloudhawk kill a man with a single blow when they first met. The scoundrel had been no weakling, but was nonetheless broken in half. He¡¯d known there was something special, but he figured it was the staff he used and thought nothing more about it. Now he thought this had to be the legendary power of the demonhunters he was seeing. This unremarkable kid was wielding the power of that holy order. It was almost unbelievable. The scene had also startled Mantis and the Bloodsoaked Queen, though they were surprised for different reasons. Both of them had spent more time with Cloudhawk and knew what he was capable of. He was average, another face in the crowd, nowhere near the skills of an outpost¡¯s elite fighter. And yet, though there was a clear difference in abilities between him and Panther, the kid was holding his own. At least he had a chance to hit back. His speed and strength, all of his abilities had substantially increased seemingly without foundation. How could he have changed so much literally overnight? Before they could puzzle out an answer a scream pierced the air. Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist rod appeared from the ether, aimed at Panther¡¯s abdomen. The fighter caught it by clamping his sais crossways over the shaft. Amidst the screech of steel the staff¡¯s keen tip pierced his leather armor. A moment later and it would have pierced flesh. Whoosh! Cloudhawk wrenched his staff back and juked left. He brought the staff crashing down from overhead. Panther deflected them again. Their weapons met amidst a loud clang, and the power that vibrated through the blow made Hydra¡¯s hand-picked operative ill at ease. Like a ghost Cloudhawk disappeared only to emerge somewhere else with a deadly attack. His cloak made him invisible but also imbued the boy with a burst of speed that put him and Panther on even footing. His attacks kept coming, as indomitable as the tide. Their weapons might five or six more times punctuated with grating squeals. Little by little Panther fought off the disadvantage. He couldn¡¯t see his target so his response was to shut his eyes. Without the distraction of vision he used the eddies of wind and the whistling sound of movement to determine where the attacks where coming from and defend against them. Cloudhawk¡¯s invisibility was troublesome, but it would take much more than that to beat someone as experienced as Panther. Cloudhawk¡¯s onslaught achieved nothing and his opponent¡¯s defense was only getting more impenetrable. He couldn¡¯t hold on much longer. Once the relic¡¯s power gave in he¡¯d lose the one advantage he had. Time to go all out! Cloudhawk sprang up and planted his feet on a nearby wall. He coiled in like a spring, then shot forward off the wall as quick as an arrow. With all the momentum behind him he swept his exorcist rod down toward the nape of Panther¡¯s neck. Panther sensed the incoming attack. A sneer touched the corner of his lips. His right arm swung around bringing his whole body with him, sai quick as lightning as it moved to knock the sneak attack aside. His left hand responded half a second later by bringing his weapon up toward where he determined Cloudhawk¡¯s chest would be, like a viper moving in for the kill. The kid was finished! He had strange tricks to help him, but in the end he lacked experience. Who could expect that in this instant, as Cloudhawk let loose a bestial roar, a surge of unnatural power would explode from the exorcist rod. The three-edged head of the weapon began to rotate at an incredible speed, meeting Panther¡¯s block with such intensity it nearly ripped the weapon from his grip. What the hell?! That wasn¡¯t a staff, Panther thought. It was more like an electric saw. He was forced to bring his other sai up early and used both to catch the staff in between. The friction as they collided lit up the hall with sparks. Spectators almost had to cover their ears from the sound. Lucky for Panther, his sais were of good quality. Despite the severity of the blow they didn¡¯t break, but as more power flowed through Cloudhawk¡¯s staff Panther had to struggle harder to keep from being skewered. Threads of bloody veins increased through Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. His muscles bulged as power flooded his body, catapulting his fortitude to a whole new level. All the latent force of the staff reached its peak, and suddenly a concussive shock burst forth from it. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Both sais shattered! Panther let go of the cutting shards, and when the shock wave hit it threw him high into the air. However the man was an expert killer, and as he was flung aloft he executed a series of masterful backflips. Mid rotation he pulled a dagger from his waist and by the time he landed back on the ground, he curled ready to launch into another attack. ¡°Enough!¡± Hydra¡¯s shout brought their battle to an end. Cloudhawk reappeared, drenched in sweat and chest heaving. His psychic energy was depleted. The webbing between Panther¡¯s thumb and forefingerwas split and leaking fresh blood. His clothes were ripped and cut, and the force of the impact had caused some mild internal injuries. Yet he was still ready to keep fighting. Cloudhawk had appeared to have the upper hand, but if they¡¯d continued the fight it was uncertain if the kid would have come out on top. But the fight had been finished before his exhaustion could play a role, and now Snaketooth had nothing to say. Artemis looked at Cloudhawk with bright and curious eyes, like a rotwolf with a scourge hare in its sights. ¡°This little brother looks like he¡¯s got no teeth, but for a young¡¯un you¡¯ve got some spunk. I like talented men like you, it makes me wonder what other¡­ talents¡­ you might have.¡± Nothing was said, but Artemis felt a distinctly murderous intent settle on her. It was the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s frigid gaze. As strong as Artemis was, she could feel their pressure weighing on her. Even without lifting a finger she knew she was no match for the young woman. Was this delicious boy toy her lover, she wondered? Such a pity! Hydra dismissed the exchange with a wave of his hand. ¡°Everyone take a seat.¡± Cloudhawk returned the exorcist rod to its makeshift sheath on his waist and, fixing Snaketooth with a hateful stare, sat beside the Bloodsoaked Queen. Hydra went on like the entire surprising exchange had never happened. ¡°Our ultimate aim is to draw out and kill the demon pulling the strings. But before we can, we have to go through his lieutenants.¡± ¡°Ugh, you men are so boring. They¡¯ve got a few hundred scrubs, are they really that much of a threat?¡± Her voice dripped with ridicule. ¡°We organize the thousands of troops we have here in the Outpost, surround them, and that¡¯s the end of it!¡± A chill flit across Hydra¡¯s eyes. ¡°Artemis, you know I don¡¯t like questions or interruptions. I especially hate having subordinates second-guess my orders. The next person who does, I¡¯ll cut out their tongue, chop off their limbs, and throw them in the leech pit.¡± Artemis shrugged noncommittally but didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°They didn¡¯t bring many with them but you can bet your ass they have informants all over the outpost. If we try a large-scale operation they¡¯ll see it coming a mile away and get out before we have a chance to move.¡± He paused for a moment before going on. ¡°The most we¡¯ll use are a few hundred trusted soldiers. That¡¯s how we avoid scaring our prey off.¡± Hydra¡¯s worries were well founded, for although he was ruler of the outpost there were definitely agents of the demon lurking everywhere. If they made this a big ordeal the spies would alert the demon¡¯s lieutenants and they¡¯d miss their opportunity. If they slipped away and got back to their master, fighting them would be much harder. Snaketooth spoke up. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Their hearts are set on killing the demonhunter. That means we got bait.¡± Hydra looked pointedly at the Queen and Cloudhawk. ¡°We trick ¡®em into a place where they¡¯ll be surrounded and get rid of their people in a single stroke.¡± No one offered an opinion. Amidst the silent consent Hydra snapped his fingers. Maidservants entered in an orderly line like a school of fish. The one in the lead held an enormous bottle of liquor and all the rest bore dishes of various sizes. Delicate wine glasses were presented. Hydra took up the large bottle himself, pulled the cork, and filled the glasses. Maidservants then took them and distributed the alcohol among the others. ¡°Drink with me! When our work is done you can rest assured I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± They all lifted their glasses and emptied their contents in one gulp. Cloudhawk thought he could taste the fruit and vegetables they used to make the beverage, filling his mouth with savory sweetness. It was actually quite pleasant, much better than the stuff the mercenaries made in Blackflag Outpost. They rested for what remained of the day, tomorrow the operation would begin. Everyone went their separate ways to prepare. Leonine returned to his wife and children, where his son was cutting fruit and his wife was looking after their daughter. The little girl¡¯s eyes were open and bright. She was awake. Leonine didn¡¯t even stop to put down what was in his hands and moved to her side. ¡°How do you feel? Does it hurt?¡± She sleepily blinked her eyes and stared up at her father. ¡°No daddy, it doesn¡¯t hurt. I had some fruit, it was so good.¡± His son happily bound over beside them. ¡°I like it here, it¡¯s clean and they have a lot of good food. When you left no one came to bully mommy.¡± ¡°If ya like it here, then here¡¯s where we stay.¡± Leonine¡¯s face split into a delighted smile. ¡°I got one more thing I gotta do then we can stay long as we like.¡± His wife¡¯s gentle and concerned face turned his way. ¡°Is the mission with Hydra dangerous?¡± Leonine shook his head and squeezed her hand reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, now. I¡¯m makin¡¯ it back no matter what. Our family¡¯s finally safe.I¡¯m not lookin¡¯ to get myself killed.¡± She nodded. ¡°I trust you!¡± ¡°I¡¯mma go get some good food. Little one¡¯s just gettin¡¯ better, we need to strengthen her up.¡± Leonine opened the door to step out, but the way was blocked by a dark figure. They were small, like a child before Leonine. It was the one who¡¯d fought Cloudhawk, Panther. Leonine scowled down at him. ¡°What are you doin¡¯ here?¡± ¡°You really have a nice family, it¡¯s something to envy.¡± Panther¡¯s eyes were dragged across the room as he made the enigmatic comment. ¡°Hydra said we¡¯re starting the mission tomorrow, so no one¡¯s allowed to leave. It¡¯s to make sure we don¡¯t accidentally lose the element of surprise.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just getting¡¯ some food.¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Hmph, whatever.¡± The two men walked together toward the storeroom. When he stepped inside Leonine saw someone else and stopped dead in his tracks. Panther paused too, right behind him. *** At the same time, outside Cloudhawk¡¯s room nearby, a full-figured form crept along the corridor. She was a provocative and alluring wastelander woman, and the look on her face evoked the feeling of a hungry wolf. She was one who had enjoyed the gratification of many men, but never such a fresh and tender prey. Artemis¡¯ mouth watered. Only, as Artemis prepared to pull open the door to Cloudhawk¡¯s room, every hair on her body stood on end like a frightened cat. She lunged to the side just in time to avoid a fiery bird screaming down the corridor. It crashed into the ground where she¡¯d been standing half a moment before and burst into flame. The intense heat reddened the woman¡¯s face. Fuck! Fuck! Artemis yelped and skittered away down the hall. Cloudhawk poked his head out of the room. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­? Shit, fire!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± The Queen¡¯s artificially croaky voice wafted toward him from down the passageway. ¡°An irritating fly was buzzing around. It¡¯s gone now.¡± Cloudhawk blinked at the bricks in front of his door, burned black and cracked from the heat. She sure had an interesting way to deal with flies! The Bloodsoaked Queen turned and walked back from where she came from. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Wait a second.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling¡­¡± He fixed her with a serious look. ¡°I don¡¯t think things are gonna go so well tomorrow. Somethin¡¯ really doesn¡¯t seem right. You be careful.¡± The Queen stopped, and then continued down the hall. ¡°Drivel. Worry about yourself.¡± 1. Referred to as ¡®the tiger¡¯s mouth,¡¯ something I¡¯ve never heard of. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 69 - An Uncertain Feeling Forlorn cries rattled in Hydra¡¯s room for more than an hour. Then, there was silence. Hydra had given vent to all of his appetites, with several women sporting wounds as souvenirs. They lay gasping on the floor, not an inch of them unscathed. Even their wrists were brutally broken. The more excited Hydra became, the more violent were his delights. For him joy and anger were interchangeable, so all those near him feared him like a wild animal. He was also a clever man. He resolved his darker proclivities on slaves and those who disobeyed, and lured those with any skill to obey him. This allowed him to enjoy stable rule, and for eight years scores without number were tormented to death while the elite were in his grasp. ¡°Get them the fuck outta here¡­¡± Hydra put on his clothes and replaced his eyepatch, summoning people to remove the women like sexual detritus. Women he had plenty of, and these were broken now. He didn¡¯t care whether they were cut up and fed to the beasts or sprinkled on the fields like manure, because that was all they were worth to him anymore. He wandered over to the window and basked in the morning sun, peering out over his territory and intoxicated with joy. This plentiful oasis, this fertile earth, this perfect pearl in the Wastelands was difficult to match. He was ruler here, a king in his kingdom, with its more than fifty thousand residents his subjects ¨C or rather, his livestock and slaves. If he wanted he could kill any one or all of them.He could have any woman for any reason or none. Who would dare oppose? He was like a god in this place, and it was a sensation more enticing than anything. He craved it like a drug, drunk on power. The only thing, like a bone stuck in one¡¯s throat, was that hiding piece of shit. Once a month on the dot he showed up to take half of what was rightfully his. It was robbery, extortion. It was an insult! It was an insult Hydra was forced to swallow¡­ but everything would be settled today. He didn¡¯t know many spies and loyalists those mutants had here, but he had to expect they knew he was acting suspicious. In the battle ahead defeating them wasn¡¯t enough, he had to exterminate them, like a cancer, or fighting was pointless. To do this he planned to fabricate the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s escape. This would give him the cover to assemble his best men, while the mutants would be forced to come. They were too invested in getting the demonhunter to stay away. That is when Hydra would spring his trap and so long as the sweepers were lured into the right place none of them would survive. Their lieutenants would be disposed of. The shadow man would have to show himself. With the whole outpost behind him and the might of the demonhunter it didn¡¯t matter how strong this bastard was. It didn¡¯t matter what influence he wielded. At least his domain had the strength to fight back! Sitting around was to await one¡¯s own death. Why not act first, give it all or nothing? Someone entered the room. Judging by the sound of their footsteps his gait and speed was surprisingly consistent, almost supernatural. He didn¡¯t have to look to know who it was, only those closest to him were allowed in here. It was his brother, Snaketooth. Hydra swept his eyes out over the outpost. ¡°How are the preparations?¡± His response was grim and firm. ¡°Relax, brother. The bait¡¯s been set, and we have fifteen snipers nearby that¡¯ll keep the situation in our control. No one¡¯s going to slip through.¡± The outpost¡¯s snipers were its ace in the hole. They had been cultivated to be masters of their craft, crack marksmen. Fifteen of these men hidden in the nearby ruins would be like angels of death. Snaketooth went on. ¡°The eight of us are leaving to join the demonhunter." Hydra suddenly turned and looked Snaketooth in the eye. ¡°Listen, no matter what happens, you¡¯ll always be my little brother. If there¡¯s anyone in this world I care about, it¡¯s you. These years you¡¯ve been my mighty right arm, and my greatest weakness. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you, do you hear me?¡± Snaketooth frowned at him. ¡°I¡¯m a soldier, brother. I¡¯m willing to die for the cause.¡± ¡°No doubt, you¡¯re a damn good soldier. But more importantly you¡¯re my brother, so don¡¯t do anything stupid. You get your ass right back and report the moment the mission¡¯s done.¡± Hydra¡¯s tone left no room for argument. ¡°All of this place ¨C all the food and drink and women ¨C you¡¯re the only one I¡¯m willing to share it with. Whatever I got, you got.¡± Snaketooth bowed low. ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± Hydra waved his hand. ¡°Go, be careful.¡± As merciless as Hydra was everyone had something they cared about. He¡¯d grown up with Snaketooth as scavengers, living a life no different than Cloudhawk¡¯s had been until they were ten. They supported each other through countless sufferings and now Snaketooth was his right-hand man. As Snaketooth took his seven companions and set out, Hydra put out the word that the demonhunter had been spotted and had escaped the oasis.He was dispatching eight of his best to hunt them down. The minutes ticked by, one by one. Now the bait had been laid, would it be enough to entice their prey? Hydra sat in a chair and shut his eyes, drumming his fingers rhythmically against the armrests as though he were waiting for something. And then he stopped. A sound reached his ears, the din of doors being thrown open. The demon¡¯s lieutenants stormed in. ¡°Hydra!¡± The winged one came to ground before him. With the scrape of steel on leather he pulled forth a machete and put it against Hydra¡¯s neck. He roared in unbridled anger. ¡°You filthy dickweasel! Why didn¡¯t you tell us the moment you knew where they were?!¡± ¡°Now don¡¯t be angry, gentlemen,¡± his eyes opened and he regarded the three of them with the utmost respect. ¡°I only just found out. The moment I heard I sent out eight people to get them. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re going to get them.¡± ¡°These two demonhunters are important to the master. We can¡¯t let them escape no matter the cost. But we don¡¯t have enough people.¡± Longhorn leveled an order directly to the outpost leader. ¡°I need you to send out more men ¨C and you will go personally.¡± This is what Hydra was waiting for. He shrunk as though he could not resist. ¡°Of course, of course!¡± ¡°Quickly!¡± Vulture was clearly impatient. ¡°This is the last time.The LAST fucking time! If these rats get away again because you were dragging ass I¡¯ll make you pay! Do you hear me?¡± Stranger Black interjected. ¡°Alright. Brothers, we can¡¯t waste time here either. We have a lead, we have to follow it.¡± He watched the mutants leave, sneering laughter at them once they¡¯d gone. Leonine then approached, clad in armor, and addressed him respectfully. ¡°We¡¯ve got four hundred handpicked men ready to go.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Hydra and Leonine left for where the soldiers waited. They were arrayed in clean formation wearing good leather and breathing masks. Each one was equipped with a modified rifle or powerful crossbow in addition to broadswords or machetes strapped to their backs. Like statues they stood without moving a muscle, indomitable like a proper army. ¡°These fighters are the most elite in all the outpost.¡± Hydra walked ahead with Leonine at his side. As the outpost¡¯s leader marched before the formation his eyes were filled with pride and arrogance. ¡°I¡¯ve been preparing for this moment for years.¡± There weren¡¯t many, but his people were heavily equipped and they fought like devils. They were no less destructive than the sweepers themselves. Most importantly these fighters were handpicked by Hydra. They were loyal, and answered only to him. He only had one command ¨C follow him even into the depths of hell. The fiends those mutants brought with them didn¡¯t number over three hundred. Even in a straight fight it wasn¡¯t sure they¡¯d win, much less when they didn¡¯t know they were about to get stabbed in the back. His enemy had nowhere to go! ¡°Move out!¡± Not long after the sweepers had left, Hydra gathered his people and crossed the valley into the treacherous oasis. When they reached the wilderness-devoured ruins it was like a maze that stretched out before them. It was a labyrinth of death, one that¡¯d taken many lives. And it was their best shot! Hydra had a chance to kill his overlords in one fell strike. And yet he felt a sense of disquiet. Strange¡­ why would he feel so anxious? He thought for a moment and realized that it¡¯d all been too easy. So easy it was starting to seem dangerous!Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 70 - Sudden Changes Ten years in the Wastelands had tempered Hydra. He had risen from being a useless scavenger to becoming an outpost ruler, but it was a long road. To make it this far he¡¯d needed more than brute strength and luck. He had relied on his ambition, intelligence and keen awareness of the dangers around every corner. On the cusp of entering the ruins Hydra hesitated. His intuition was warning him. Danger lived in every corner of these dilapidated ruins. It came from deadly plants and animals, but now there was something else. It would be wise to wait for a moment and see what may be lying in wait. ¡°Brother!¡± Snaketooth made his way to Hydra and spoke anxiously with him. ¡°What are you waiting for? Leonine and our troops have almost surrounded the sweepers, they¡¯re completely absorbed with finding the demonhunters. Now is the best time to launch our sneak attack, if we wait any longer it¡¯s going to cost us.¡± Now was not the time for indecision. If Hydra was too slow to act the demonhunters and his most trusted men would be left on their own. They were capable fighters, but not capable enough to fend off nearly three hundred savage sweepers. The bow was drawn, the arrow knocked ¨C it was too late to call it off now. Once the fight started it would serve nothing for Hydra to hide. Being overly cautious was more risky than charging ahead with everything they had. He had the advantage in numbers, and his men were among the best ¨C he didn¡¯t see how they could lose! ¡°Listen up!¡± Hydra cast aside his distracting thoughts, hopping up onto a boulder and addressing his warriors. ¡°This fight is integral to the survival of our outpost. If we win, our home will finally belong to us. We will drown in food, water, and women. But if we lose we die together, to the last man, do you hear me? Losing is not an option!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Several shouts of agreement rose from the crowd. ¡°Onward!¡± Hydra lead Snaketooth, Leonine, and his crack troops into the ruins, following a safe path laid out by his brother that would lead them to the rear of the sweeper company. With every step closer to their target the thirst for blood increased. They could hardly be called human. They were more like a wolf pack with the scent of blood in their noses, hunting down their prey. Hydra pushed everything else to the back of his mind. His every thought was consumed with destroying the sweepers, and the mutant bastards that led them! Then a scene he hadn¡¯t expected was unveiled before his eyes! They came around a bend in the ruins leading to the ambush site, but instead of seeing what they expected they were met with the image of three hundred sweepers aiming guns their way. They looked to have been waiting. Hydra felt his heart seize. ¡°Snaketooth, what¡¯s going on?¡± There was no answer. Crack! A sense of impending danger flooded Hydra¡¯s body as a sniper¡¯s bullet whistled through the air from hundreds of meters away. Though he¡¯d known something was off and his reactions were fast he still couldn¡¯t avoid it entirely. He dodged to one side and the shot tore through his armor to embed itself in his abdomen. A sniper! Hydra¡¯s face was painted with absolute shock, and deep in his eyes was incredulous disbelief. The sweepers didn¡¯t have snipers, they could only have come from the outpost. The fifteen snipers had been chosen by his own brother who he trusted explicitly. Then it was obvious. It must mean¡­ As Hydra dodged the assassin¡¯s bullet Snaketooth pulled an envenomed blue dagger from its sheath. Like a bolt of lightning he lashed out, his dagger ¨C toxic as his namesake ¨C aimed at Hydra¡¯s chest. ¡°Snaketooth! You treacherous fuck!¡± Anyone in the outpost could have betrayed him and Hydra would not have been surprised. Anyone except Snaketooth, his own brother. How many times had they shared tragedy? Helped themselves through life and death situations? How many times had they escaped calamity together? Why? Why?! Hydra¡¯s first reaction wasn¡¯t despair, but pain. He couldn¡¯t believe it, or maybe he refused to believe it. The proof was before him; Snaketooth¡¯s surprise attack was bearing down, his murderous intent revealed. There was no question about it, as his brother¡¯s deadly weapon affirmed. A single nick from the envenomed dagger and he wasn¡¯t leaving here alive. ¡°Snaketooth! Why?¡± With a mad roar he ripped his saber free and knocked aside Snaketooth¡¯s attack. As he hesitated to counterattack another stifling sense of jeopardy washed over him. A terrible breeze came up from behind that made him shudder. Hydra felt the shadow falling over him before he saw it. Leonine¡¯s two-handed sword came from behind, with all of the slaver¡¯s force behind it. The attack came from the side, chopping toward his waist in attempts to cut Hydra in half. First the sniper, then Snaketooth in front and Leonine from behind. One sneak attack after the other, all in order to cut him down! But Hydra was no simple man. He fended off Snaketooth¡¯s deadly onslaught and was still able to swing his sword around to ward off Leonine¡¯s strike. But in his haste he couldn¡¯t get a tight grip on his weapon and the shock of the slaver¡¯s blow tore the skin of his hands. He was hit so hard that he was knocked backward and hit the ground with bone-jarring force. Already Hydra was sorely wounded. Everything happened in the space of a breath. Hydra¡¯s crack troops were cast into turmoil, shocked by the sudden coup. Even these elite warriors were at a complete loss. ¡°You two¡­¡± Leonine had betrayed him as well? Bastard! When?! Hydra¡¯s leverage over Leonine only worked because he knew the slaver had a weakness, a soft spot he could exploit. He thought he had Leonine well in hand, how could he even think of betrayal? Did he not care what happened to his wife and children?! ¡°Surprised? You were so sure you could manipulate people through their weaknesses, but you never imagined someone would use the same method on you.¡± Snaketooth¡¯s sinister features broke into a smirk when he looked at Leonine. ¡°It looks like your slave trader trusts me more in the end. After all once you¡¯re gone, I will rule the Greenland Outpost and I will treat its people better than you ever did.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you betrayed me? So you could lead?¡± Hydra, always so fierce and brutal, was like a child who¡¯s last toy had been thrown away. He still couldn¡¯t fathom if any of this was real. Why would his brother do this? Why would he? ¡°Think of it like this: Greenland Outpost is a jewel in the Wastelands, and any jewel comes at a price.¡± Fiery passion burned in Snaketooth¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°I swore my allegiance to the master years ago. I love you, brother¡­ I really do. But your greed and ambition impede the master¡¯s plan. The only option left is to bring you the death you deserve!¡± His brother had been bought by that fucking demon coward! When did he steal my family from me!? ¡°What the fuck are you assholes gaping at?¡± Hydra roared. ¡°Kill them! Kill all of them!¡± Yet none of his warriors hurried to Hydra¡¯s aid. Suddenly plumes of sand were kicked up from the ground, and amidst a tumultuous wind an enormous black silhouette emerged from behind one of the ruined buildings. It was an airship, black as night. As it came around and pointed its broadside toward them the sound of its heavy guns whirring filled the air. It spat fire and bullets like an apocalyptic monsoon that swept over the tight-knight formation of warriors. In the blink of an eye dozens fell to the ground, screaming as hot led ripped through them. The rest fled for cover and started to fire wildly. ¡°Kill them!¡± Three hundred sweepers opened fire. Greenland Outpost¡¯s greatest warriors were mowed down ruthlessly. Crack! Snipers began to fire again. Hydra pitched and rolled to avoid their bullets, but traded one danger for another. From his left and right Snaketooth and Leonine caught him in a pincer attack. Leonine brought his sword down toward Hydra¡¯s skull which Hydra knocked away one-handed. But the dual daggers of a treacherous snake were coming his way. Hydra was forced to stagger backward. Leonine came at him again with his enormous sword. Clang! The outpost leader was knocked several meters away. Individually Snaketooth and Hydra were quite strong, and the two of them together were almost more than Hydra could handle. What¡¯s more, snipers had him in their sights. All of the outpost¡¯s snipers were control metahumans, masterful sharpshooters, so Hydra knew it was only a matter of time before one of them got him. ¡°So this is how you plan to kill me?¡± Hydra pulled the patch off of his head. His demon-like gleaming red eye fixed the two men with a glare. ¡°You¡¯re digging your own graves!¡± Leonine scowled, brows knit tight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Snaketooth knew his brother. ¡°His right eye has night vision and can track bullets. But it doesn¡¯t do well in the light.¡± Hydra¡¯s eye was not dissimilar to a snake¡¯s or lizard¡¯s. He could pick his prey out of pitch darkness and follow the fastest objects. These were Hydra¡¯s greatest capabilities and he could rely on them to help him dodge the hail of bullets and track attacks so they would do the least damage possible. Crack! Bang! Two more sniper shots, but Hydra nimbly dodged them both. He raised his sword then came at them like a force of evil. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± Snaketooth pulled something out of his pocket and threw it. Leonine had just enough time to cover his face before whatever it was exploded in mid-air. A dazzling light like fireworks lit the area, so bright that it felt like a dagger in Hydra¡¯s snake eye. He let out a shrill scream. This was their chance! Snaketooth, seizing the moment, rushed forward with his daggers aimed for his brother. Although Hydra was blinded he dodged out of instinct. One of the daggers missed his throat, but the other left a jagged wound along his chest. Instantaneously Hydra felt his body start to numb. He knew his brother was a master of poisons ¨C his despicable toxins were in his blood. ¡°Snaketooth!¡± He screamed all of his rage and sorrow. Hysterical he shouted, ¡°You fucking disappointment! Die!¡± Too fast! A steak of cold light ¨C Hydra threw his sword and Snaketooth was too slow to get out of the way. It buried itself in the traitor¡¯s chest, bursting out from his back and pinning him to the ground. Crack! Another sniper bullet tore into Hydra¡¯s abdomen and burst out the other side ¨C through and through. Hydra could feel the cold hand of death groping for him, closer by the moment. His plan was a complete failure. Without even thinking he turned and ran. Leonine rushed to Snaketooth¡¯s side to help him up, but the moment he saw the man¡¯s wounds he knew he was beyond saving. Fuck! Leonine¡¯s face darkened. He dropped Snaketooth and gave chase. Snaketooth¡¯s eyes stared blankly at the ground while blood pooled beneath him. He hadn¡¯t expected he¡¯d be the one to lose. A bone-deep cold started from his limbs and crawled deeper in, and his mind grew hazy. All of a sudden it was like he was a boy again, hiding in a hole in the ground with his brother trying to escape the cold. Ten years as a scavenger. Ten years of hardships and tragedy which the two of them faced together. Misery, darkness, misfortune, cruelty¡­ these plagues covered every corner of the Wastelands. They suffered all manner of torture and humiliation as they built their lives, promising to change everything. The two brothers were tenacious, clinging to life and making themselves stronger. Over time they earned a reputation, earned status. They wielded power. The elder brother had always been the stronger of the two. He was more driven and energetic, but also more cruel. As his power grew he lost more and more of his humanity and his mind became twisted. He never sensed him and his brother drifting apart. Their nature had always been different. After Hydra lived through their hardships he was determined to revisit the torment on the wilds ten times over ¨C a hundred times! He tortured slaves and did unthinkable things. He was a man mad with vengeance. Snaketooth wanted revenge, too. But what he wanted was to wipe out the things that made life hard, not add to them. The mysterious stranger saw that in him, that was why he approached Snaketooth in secret five years ago. He adored the master¡¯s strength and wisdom, subscribed to his ideals. In all the wastelands there was only one person who could change everything, and that was the master! This putrid world they¡¯d inherited needed someone like the master to save it. That¡¯s why Snaketooth was determined to do whatever he was asked. He had no interest in leading the Outpost, a fact his poor brother would never understand. As death claimed Snaketooth he did not regret his actions. Only his failure.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 71 - Crisis Chapter 71 - Crisis The sun burned high in the sky, hot enough to roast a man. At the hottest point of the day nine people were picking their way through the ruins, like a line of ants scrambling over the piles of stone and twisted metal. Cloudhawk still felt like something wasn¡¯t right. It was strange, he felt uncomfortable from the very start like something bad was just around the corner. Originally their group had sported eleven people. They were Cloudhawk, the Queen, and Mantis of course. In addition there were those from the Outpost; Snaketooth, Artemis and the teams they commanded. At this moment Mantis had vanished somewhere in the wilds as was his fashion and Snaketooth had yet to return after leaving to guide Hydra. ¡°They¡¯re so goddamn slow! Can they just fuckin'' take the bait already?¡± Artemis impatiently swung her right arm, smashing the melon hammer she bore against a wall and breaking it into rubble. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but shoot her a glance. Typically women were lower on the social ladder in the Wastelands, they had naturally weaker constitutions and were less inclined to bravery. But nothing was absolute, and there were exceptions in all cases ¨C Artemis was that outlier. All of Hydra¡¯s elite soldiers were special, but this woman was unique above them all. She was attractive in face and figure, but more than that her equipment made her all the more striking. Attached to the bracer of her left arm was a three pointed shield, and in her right a metallic melon hammer she wielded with ease. The shield was large and thick and peppered with metal spikes. Its pointed base was as sharp as any blade. The hammer¡¯s business end was round and larger than Cloudhawk¡¯s head. It was streaked with red and didn¡¯t seem to have ever been washed. He wondered how many bones it¡¯d broken, how many skulls it¡¯d crushed. For all their weight and dramatic appearance they hung off Artemis¡¯ petite form. They looked particularly out of place. She felt Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes on her and knocked her iron mallet against the shield, eliciting a clang like dull thunder. ¡°Hey little brother ¨C my toys ain¡¯t bad, right? Wanna play with ¡®em?¡± Her bright eyes sized him up, like a hungry wolf eyeing a delicious little rabbit. Cloudhawk felt a trickle of sweat drip down his spine. ¡°Nah!¡± That hammer had to be a hundred pounds or more, too much for your typical person to handle. Heavy was an understatement, and her shield probably wasn¡¯t much lighter. There was no way he¡¯d been able to use them effectively in a fight. Meanwhile Artemis wielded the hammer like a bamboo stick. Despite the weight of it and her shield, after walking fifty kilometers she didn¡¯t seem at all winded. This woman was a monster, but when he thought about it she was typical at the same time. Among the Bloodsoaked Queen and the seven other elite fighters she was one of their leaders. That meant she was at least twice as strong as any of her subordinates. As for her, the kid was only proving more and more amusing. She was about to continue their banter when suddenly the sound of a heavy gun firing in the distance interrupted her. Everyone¡¯s face stiffened ¨C had the fight already started? But there were no sweepers to be seen! The Outpost didn¡¯t have a chain gun, the only group they knew who did were the sweepers. The deadly weapon was affixed to their airship. But why would the airship be using it? Had their plans already been ruined? Snaketooth was still nowhere to be found. ¡°God fuckin¡¯ damnit, why is there fighting?!¡± Artemis seemed to have trouble deciding what to do next. She turned to the others. ¡°Should we go see?¡± No one gave an opinion. Cloudhawk suddenly felt an unsettling sensation, like needles digging into his flesh. Overcome with a sense of danger he ducked and instinctively looked toward the ruins. A flash of light ¨C like sunlight on glass or a mirror ¨C glinted back at him. ¡°Down!¡± Snipers were hiding in the ruins with their sights set on Cloudhawk and the Bloodsoaked Queen. Half a second later they were firing. Only one of the snipers was on Cloudhawk, the others were focused on the demonhunter. It was clear who their main target was. Whoosh! Crack! The Queen had been warned, she could hear the bullets tearing through the air. Although she couldn¡¯t see them she was skilled enough to track them by sound. She instinctively dodged out of danger. Bullets sped past the spot she¡¯d just occupied, missing her and instead burrowing into one of the fighters¡¯ heads. It struck with so much force it blew the top of his skull off. Bits of bone and brain burst in all directions like gruesome fireworks. Hot blood splattered over Artemis¡¯ face. She gaped at the body of her comrade as they slumped to the ground. What the fuck was going on?! The snipers were Outpost soldiers, there to assist the operation. So why were they turning their guns on them? Now wasn¡¯t the time to wonder, though. Who knew how many more snipers were hiding nearby! The crack of gunfire rang out again. Artemis instinctively lifted her shield to cover her head. She shuffled backward to try and find cover in the ruins as a bullet smashed into her shield. It hit with such force she felt her arm vibrate and go numb. ¡°What the actual fuck!¡± Artemis¡¯ screeching voice called to the others. ¡°Take cover!¡± Outpost sniper rifles were specialized weapons of death, manufactured to fire a bullet at near supersonic speed. The soldiers who traveled with them were her outstanding fighters, but were no match for the likes of the Bloodsoaked Queen. They couldn¡¯t track the bullets, much less dodge them. If these snipers had them in their sights, the threat to their life was critical. Everyone scattered, all but Panther whose face adopted a stony expression. He pulled out his daggers and lunged at one of his companions, stabbing him twice in the chest then opening his throat. ¡°You¡­¡± The one Panther attacked was not inferior to the small man, but he hadn¡¯t expected the treachery. He¡¯d been too busy trying to avoid the snipers to keep an eye on his back leaving Panther an opening. Panther wasn¡¯t alone, either. Two more from Snaketooth¡¯s team lashed out at their brethren. The last member of Artemis¡¯ team was killed before they could fight back. Even stunned the wasteland woman knew what had befallen them. ¡°Snaketooth betrayed us, that rancid piece of dog shit!¡± It all happened so fast they barely had time to think. But the proof was there; all three of Snaketooth¡¯s team were attacking them, and the snipers had been arranged by Hydra¡¯s brother. No question, Snaketooth sold them out. The only ones left were Artemis, Cloudhawk, the Queen and Mantis ¨C wherever he was. Panther and the other three were enemies. The Bloodsoaked Queen was still recovering from the surprise attack, but she was still more than a match for them. There were at least ten deadly snipers in the ruins nearby, however. Even the Queen had to take care, for if she got tangled up that would be all the chance they needed to riddle her with bullets. Cloudhawk had managed to avoid a shot and rolled behind a dilapidated wall for cover. But no sooner had he ducked behind it did he feel a gust of wind on his head. One of the traitors was standing over him with a battleax aimed right for his scalp. He was done for! Cloudhawk lifted his exorcist staff to block the strike but he could tell immediately that this fighter was a strength metahuman, and a dominant one at that. He couldn¡¯t defend himself with his strength alone. The grating sound of metal on metal rang out. Just as Cloudhawk was to be chopped in half a petite and agile figure dashed in front of him like a leopardess. Her shadow fell over him, shield held high, and as the ax struck her with thunderous force Cloudhawk could see the stone path beneath her feet shatter. One could imagine how much force was behind the strike. ¡°Burn in hell!¡± Thick veins bulged as Artemis thrust back, her pretty face twisting into a fierce sneer as she jumped straight at her attacker. She used her shield to knock his ax away and brought her melon hammer around in a sweeping arc. The ax-wielding betrayer, eyes wide, leapt out of the way and her hammer struck ground instead of bone. It crashed into rock with an explosive sound and turned stone to dust. The impact shook Cloudhawk and muddled his head. Holy shit! Was she even human?! Her strength was nothing short of spectacular! Cloudhawk had run into many impressive people lately, and of all of them the only one who surpassed her pure power was the two-horned mutant. Even the Bloodsoaked Queen couldn¡¯t meet her blow for blow. Artemis¡¯ weapon was cumbersome and unwieldy, making her attacks slow. Strong as each attack was, that was also her weakness. The Bloodsoaked Queen was still the snipers¡¯ main target, and their guns were trained on her. Yet she raced across the ruins like a phantom, dodging each shot as they came, switching directions on a dime. Using sound alone she avoided them and remained unscathed. Panther, his daggers bared, suddenly leapt at her. She knocked his weapons away easily then whipped her powerful leg, once then twice. Each kick struck Panther¡¯s wrists and sent his daggers flying. A third kick caught him right in the center of his chest and the small man was hammered into the air. She snatched one of Panther¡¯s daggers before it reached the ground and reeled back to bury it in him. Another soldier made his move. He pulled out a handgun, swung his arm toward her and fired. Judging by his finesse and precision he was as skilled a shot as Slyfox! A marksman like him was lethal. Until now the Queen had been too fast for him to take his shot, but he saw his opportunity. It was now or never. If she killed Panther he was next. The Bloodsoaked Queen was forced to change targets. She rotated the dagger and blocked two bullets aimed at her. She was so fast it seemed nothing could touch her, her skills were simply fantastical. ¡°What?!¡± Just like Slyfox had once done to a sweeper¡¯s bullet, the Queen knocked away a shot she couldn¡¯t avoid with nothing but a dagger. Her lightning speed was complimented by exact precision. The shooter could hardly believe his eyes. However, there was more than one enemy the Queen had to worry about. A host of guns were leveled at her. While she was defending herself from the close-range gunfire the snipers nearby were taking aim. Even the Bloodsoaked Queen couldn¡¯t protect herself from all directions. Then the unexpected happened. Sweepers began to appear all around them. There weren¡¯t many ¨C maybe a couple dozen ¨C but they were skilled and savage. A winged mutant led the charge. Things had gone from bad to worse! The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s heart sank. Suddenly she was caught between the frying pan and the fire. Now it seemed in addition to the snipers they had to survive the mutant lieutenants and their army! A short distance away Cloudhawk spotted a narrow slit among the ruins. It was somewhere the snipers couldn¡¯t get them. He turned and shouted toward the Queen. ¡°Don¡¯t fight them! Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± The Queen dashed toward him in retreat. Artemis followed using her shield for cover. Their group fled toward the fissure. Hidden in the ruins a sniper¡¯s muzzle moved. He peered through his sights, following Artemis as she desperately ran for safety. He had a good angle on her, from the side where her shield didn¡¯t reach. The woman¡¯s head was right in his line of sight. Cloudhawk was clearly the weakest of them, but he had a keen sense. He seemed to intrinsically know when a muzzle was pointed at him. Hitting him was harder than the sharpshooters would have thought. The Queen¡¯s capabilities were too high for them to overcome, and since she could hear the bullets coming it was too difficult to hit her so long as she was alert. That just left Artemis. There was no way she could escape this shot. The sniper waited until he lined the shot just right, and pulled the trigger. The muzzle of his rifle belched fire and a bullet whistled through the air. Chapter 72 - The Desert Titan Chapter 72 - The Desert Titan Just as the gun fired, the soft blue light of a digger glinted. It slipped into the base of the sniper¡¯s skull, severing his spine from his brain stem. The strike was perfectly clean, and in an instant his body¡¯s systems shut down; his heart, breathing, digestion ¨C everything that kept him alive was turned off like flipping a switch. An angel from heaven couldn¡¯t save him. The bullet¡¯s trajectory was off as a result of the blow. The bullet cut through her hair before burying itself bloodlessly in the ground. The boiling heat of its passage scorched Artemis¡¯ cheek, contrasting with the cold sweat that suddenly covered her. She yelped in surprise. Cloudhawk watched from the safety of cover, and when he saw the bullet kick up dust an idea hit him. ¡°Sand! Use the sand for cover!¡± Right! Why didn¡¯t she think of that? After her brush with death Artemis¡¯ mind snapped back to the present. She raised her melon hammer high, and like a furious tempest the sound of her weapon striking the ground rumbled through the air. The ground shook from the tremendous force, causing debris from the ruins around them to collapse and belch plumes of dirt into the air. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but be pleased. The sweepers brought by Longhorn and Stranger Black caught up to Panther and the three others then made to follow the survivors. A few snipers also rose from nests hidden in the ruins to try and find better vantage points. Through the clouds of dust the Bloodsoaked Queen could see a few sweepers approaching, leading the pack of hunters. She glared with eyes cold as death. Time and again she ¨C a noble demonhunter ¨C had been foiled by these filthy freaks. Her pride had been injured. Despite the obvious dangers, a need welled up in her to charge into the fray and deal with the three lieutenants then and there. But Cloudhawk was by her side and shouted through the haze of anger. ¡°Gotta look at the big picture. Let¡¯s go!¡± Her fist tightened into a white-knuckle grip. She thought about her mission, her final goal, and grit her teeth against the rage inside her. The three of them ran. Bang! One of the snipers toppled from the ruins, stopped by a bullet to the chest. The shot had come from a few hundred meters away. Clearly Mantis had skill with a gun, too. He was no less accomplished than these outpost snipers. Bang! Crack! Each shot punctuated the death of another sniper. Mantis hadn¡¯t come to their aid right away, not before finding where each one of the snipers had been hiding. Now was the time to clear out these dangerous stalkers. If not now Cloudhawk and the others would be unable to escape. Mantis couldn¡¯t avoid detection, not after taking out three of them. The rest of the snipers dropped into cover. One of them was caught in the open in the center of the ruins and flung himself to the ground, half-buried in the sand. He covered the rest of himself in a tan cloak to blend in with the surroundings. He peered through goggles protecting his eyes and searched through his sights for Mantis. Bang! Just as the sniper was ready to pull the trigger a crisp snap rang in his ears. A bullet shattered the glass of his scope, tore through his goggles and left eye, and exploded from the back of his skull leaving a jagged tunnel through his brain. The bullet was flattened by the impact and ripped out chunks of brain matter in its passage. Just half a second late! That was all, and in the end that half a second had been what killed him. In a battle of snipers time determined the victor. Mantis had taken out four snipers, but he knew there were at least three more lurking in the ruins. He couldn¡¯t stay put. The assassin turned and dropped to the sandy floor below, only to disappear once again into the rubble. Now that they had seen what became of their comrades the other snipers carefully picked through the area, sticking to cover. A rash decision, a quick movement, could be the only thing between them and doom. Cloudhawk and the two women slipped into the crevice without further incident, finally escaping the deadly outpost snipers. However that didn¡¯t necessarily mean their situation was any better. There were still the demon¡¯s lieutenants, three elite outpost assassins and at least a dozen crack sweeper warriors on their tail. These forces far outstripped what the Queen could handle. If they caught up there was no chance she and the others would survive. Even weighed down by her bulky equipment, Artemis kept up with Cloudhawk just fine. ¡°What in the name of a rotwolf¡¯s hairy asshole is going on? Did Hydra sell us out?¡± Hydra couldn¡¯t have given them up to the demon! Whatever the case they were facing a disastrous situation. Whatever led to this, Hydra¡¯s company was likely mulch after facing the sweeper¡¯s chain gun. That could only mean there would be even more sweepers coming any moment, and Hydra¡¯s support wasn¡¯t something they could count on. ¡°Watch your heads!¡± Vulture had picked them out from the air and was firing at them with a gun in each hand. Artemis lifted her shield for cover, while the Queen and Cloudhawk ducked and weaved. Luckily he was not an expert marksman, otherwise with his speed and high vantage the three of them would be done for. ¡°This fuckin¡¯ bird brain is tryin¡¯ to slow us down. We can¡¯t let him!¡± Cloudhawk knew what the mutant was up planning. ¡°Queen, maybe one of the fire birds can deal with him!¡± Their only choice was to rely on their relics. The phoenix gourd Cloudhawk had given her had proved to be a powerful tool. The Bloodsoaked Queen reached out with her psychic power, filling the relic with it. A wave of energy pulsed out around her and a column of fire belched toward the sky. Fire roared and roiled, billowing out until it gathered into the shape of a fiery bird slightly over two meters long. Its crisp cries resonated through the area, calling for blood like it had an intelligence of its own before charging at the winged mutant. ¡°What is this?!¡± Vulture gawked, dropping his guns and pulling his swords free of their sheaths. He flung his dual machetes, cutting a fine arc through the sky like a pair of cyclones aiming for the phoenix. When they struck the bird it was cut clean in half. Pa! Vulture¡¯s machetes came back at him like boomerangs and he snatched them out of the air. They were so hot he almost had to let them go, giving credence to the amount of energy that had been contained in the phoenix. But what shocked him most was that the two halves of the bird melded seamlessly back together and kept coming, like nothing had happened! What normal soldier could destroy an immortal bird summoned by a demonhunter? Vulture was forced to break off his attack. The phoenix circled the area, chasing off Vulture before dissolving into a cylinder of fire and crashing back to earth. ¡°Move!¡± Stranger Black sprang out of the way but two of the sweepers were too slow. The phoenix struck the ground between them, releasing a blast of fire and energy so intense it swallowed up everything in a three meter radius. The sweepers were enveloped in flame and rolled on the ground, screaming in agony. A short time later they were blackened husks. Stranger Black¡¯s voice betrayed his fright. ¡°So she¡¯s recovered to this point?¡± Longhorn shouted. ¡°Third brother ¨C don¡¯t risk it!¡± Although Vulture was livid with anger, he didn¡¯t dare rush in again after seeing what the demonhunter was capable of. But it didn¡¯t matter, they had nowhere to run! Cloudhawk knew it too. The Bloodsoaked Queen was strong, but even she had her limits. The enemy was too numerous and had many capable fighters. The Queen couldn¡¯t take them alone, and though she also had Cloudhawk and Artemis at her side they weren¡¯t enough to make up the difference. ¡°Wait!¡± Artemis suddenly shouted at them. ¡°We can¡¯t go on, the area ahead is uncharted territory. Any further and we¡¯re asking to die!¡± The Greenland Outpost continuously sent out scouts into the surrounding areas to map their surroundings, but there were some places no one ventured. These sections of the ruins were home to terrible mutant beasts which made them too dangerous to chart. Artemis was a longtime citizen of the outpost and knew the ruins well. What lay ahead of them was one of those dangerous sectors and if they went rushing in they were sure to meet trouble. The Queen¡¯s coarse voice rasped at them. ¡°There¡¯s no other way.¡± Artemis looked left and right, they were blocked in on all sides by rubble. Towering piles of rusted metal like mountains stretched overhead, at least a hundred to a hundred fifty feet tall. All other routes of escape were sealed off. They didn¡¯t have any choice ¨C the only way was forward! Artemis was no coward. They were out of options, it was time to bite the bullet. The three of them fled into the unknown territory. It was a maze of ruins constructed out of rock and metal, random piles strewn haphazardly every which way. All they could do was push on, practically blind, with no idea of what lay ahead. They hadn¡¯t taken but a few steps into the ruins when Cloudhawk felt a wave of apprehension wash over him. ¡°Wait a second!¡± Both women stopped and looked at him questioningly. He pointed in front of them, at a pile of stones riddled with stalagmites. At first glance it didn¡¯t look out of the ordinary, but after close inspection they were surprised to find that it was a cluster of large monsters. Half of their bodies were buried with only their backs showing above ground. They seemed as yet unaware of their presence. Well shit. Mutant monsters barred the way in front of them and sweepers were coming to kill them from behind. No detours to the left or right. What were they going to do? ¡°I have an idea! You two hide.¡± Cloudhawk instructed the Queen and Artemis to find a place and stay low while he rushed toward the monsters. By the time he came within thirty feet, four or five of them began to stir. The monsters looked like enormous iguanas but were eight to ten meters long. Each of them had eight thick and stubby legs and a sizeable head, split by a crocodile-like maw full of razor sharp teeth. Their whole bodies were the color of sand and stone and natural spikes grew from their backs like armor. And there were a bunch of them! Cloudhawk skidded to a halt and didn¡¯t even think about it before turning tail and running in the opposite direction. Three or four of them immediately gave chase. Before two minutes had passed he ran headlong into the army of sweepers and their lieutenants, who reared back in surprise at what was coming their way. Cloudhawk, proud of his timing, immediately wrapped himself in his relic cloak and disappearing from view. His plan was simple; lead the monsters to the sweepers and have them fight it out. He figured the creatures would do a lot of their work for them. However things did not end up so simple. Moments after the two sides met a truly enormous lizard titan appeared from the wilds. This one was a full 80 feet long and each step caused the earth to tremble. As a result the crumbling buildings around them gave way, and toppled into one another like dominoes. Hidden by his cloak Cloudhawk could avoid the lizards and sweepers. But now he was caught in an earthquake where buildings dozens of feet high were crashing down all around him. Like ancient warriors felled in battle they came rumbling to the earth spewing crushing rubble everywhere. Holy shit! The way back was suddenly blocked by debris. In this crucial moment the Queen¡¯s absence was distinct and possibly fatal. Luckily, the sweepers and lizards had begun to fight each other. For now, they didn¡¯t know he was there. Chapter 73 - Decisive Battle in the Wilds Chapter 73 - Decisive Battle in the Wilds Towering ruins were brought down by the unbridled rampage of the giant lizard, like building blocks knocked away by an angry toddler. The area was plunged into chaos, punctuated by the crash of buildings that sounded like erupting volcanoes. In a tsunami of debris the remains of the ruins covered everything. Cloudhawk whipped his head around but couldn''t tell up from down. Nearby, another building several stories high came crashing down like an avalanche overhead. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Cloudhawk ran like his life depended on it. Blocks of concrete weighing hundreds of pounds smashed the ground on either side as he fled. Everything shook and the sound of crumbling stone was deafening. Every passing second was an eternity while Cloudhawk feared the next block could flatten him into a meat patty. But Cloudhawk was lucky. Before the bulk of the building collapsed he found cover, though a rolling boulder caught him in the back and sent him sprawling. It struck with such force he saw stars and it felt like he¡¯d broken several bones. He lay there, pinned beneath it. Meanwhile the lizards were gone. The young scavenger was filled with pride and determination ¨C at least the danger had been rewarded. The titanic lizard awakened by Cloudhawk¡¯s ploy lumbered closer. The sweepers fled, hoping to avoid destruction themselves. Thankfully the invisibility offered by Cloudhawk¡¯s relic cloak was far-reaching, concealing both his heat and any sense of his presence. Without him in the monster¡¯s sights, the sweepers became his scapegoats. You fuckin¡¯ freaks, Cloudhawk cursed to himself, let¡¯s see how nasty your deaths are! Stranger Black stared at the iguana-like monstrosities. ¡°It¡¯s a wasteland wyrm!¡± The full name of these creatures was ¡®eight-legged tyrant lizards¡¯, but the people of the wastelands usually just called them wasteland wyrms. Wasteland wyrms were some of the most ferocious creatures in all the wastelands, living and feeding off what remained of the old world. Their hide was thick and unyielding like rock, and they were strong enough to uproot mountains. Through brute force alone they tunneled their way through the ruins and ripped apart anything in their path. They accounted for the honeycomb of tunnels that were often found through the remnants of cities. These thick-skinned behemoths were more than difficult to contend with. With so many together they were nothing short of terrifyingly deadly ¨C even the savage sweepers were powerless. One of the relatively smaller wyrms was fastest and led the charge. It was over twenty feet long, and though it looked like a lizard it was covered in bulging muscle. Spikes ran along the length of its spine like sword blades, waggling as four pairs of thick and powerful legs quickly conveyed it across the terrain. Its head was lizard like, its maw as terrifying as a crocodile¡¯s, and its worm-shaped body swayed like a cumbersome machine as it gave chase. So far it had to be moving at over thirty miles per hour and rising. Longhorn stepped forward to face it. Although he faced a creature several times his size Longhorn wasn¡¯t fazed in the least. He charged ahead, each step leaving deep trenches as powerful legs propelled him forward. Like a goliath from the ancient tales he bore down on the beast, indomitable and defiant, terrifying anything that dared bar his path. No fancy tricks, no flashy moves ¨C Longhorn plowed into the wyrm head-on! The two disproportionately-sized but equally resolute foes crashed into one another so hard their surroundings exploded into dust and shards of rock. Neither was knocked aside, and they struggled mightily while not giving ground. ¡°Aaaarrggghhh!!¡± The wasteland wyrm roared and swiped at Longhorn with its claws. He blocked with his left arm and the force kicked up more debris. The monster responded by spreading its toothy mouth wide and lunging for a bite. Longhorn, in turn, punched it in the face! Crrrack! A dozen of the wyrm¡¯s teeth splintered and the impact knocked it several paces away! Longhorn didn¡¯t let up, rushing forward to re-engage. His fists were like cannonballs ¨C two punches, three ¨C each blow landing with unparalleled force. Every punch was like a blast of lightning, cracking open the beast¡¯s skull and drawing blood. Cloudhawk, watching nearby, was absolutely stunned! Not only did the mutant hit with the terrifying force, he seemed to be made out of reinforced iron! His punches were like strikes from Artemis¡¯ hammer. He could hardly be considered human! He was a monster! Even one of the wyrm¡¯s larger brethren couldn¡¯t survive an onslaught like this. In the midst of the brutal thrashing it tried to turn and flee but Longhorn grabbed it by the tail. The monster had to be seven or eight tons, but no matter how much its legs churned it couldn¡¯t wrench itself free from his grip. By now a second wyrm had caught up. Longhorn was suddenly faced with two of them. ¡°Huh!¡± Muscles all over Longhorn¡¯s body bulged and a burst of stupefying energy filled him. Dragging the monster by the tail he whipped it around in a circle and threw it right into its companion. The two collided and crashed into the ground in a tangled heap. Forget Cloudhawk, even the sweepers gaped at the scene, all color drained from their faces! Panther and the others inwardly rejoiced that they were on the same side. Judging by the display they¡¯d just witnessed one punch from this man would turn them into paste. Who among them could stand against power like that? Longhorn¡¯s chest heaved as he fought for breath. A fight like this was exhausting, and he feared spending too much energy here. After all, there was a dangerous demonhunter still to face. But the wasteland wyrms did not flee. The larger of the two monsters fought back to its feet and slowly approached, much to Longhorn¡¯s dismay. He was capable of handling several smaller wyrms if he had to, but this one was at least twice as large as the first. Even so, one on one he might¡¯ve been fine¡­ but against two? Kill him¡­ kill him! If these things can kill even one of the demon¡¯s henchmen that¡¯d be fantastic! It¡¯d take a lot of the pressure off the Queen and really improve our chances. Yet the heavens did not hear Cloudhawk¡¯s desperate pleas. Just as his heart was filling with dark expectation, an equally dark figure appeared on the horizon. The sweeper¡¯s airship drifted into view moments before the whir of a chain gun filled the air. Bullets rained down on the wyrms and they exploded into chunks of blood and flesh. Even stony flesh could not withstand the airship¡¯s weapons. They could be made of steel and the chain gun would still rip them apart. What hope did mere skin have? The remaining monsters were peppered with a few of the bullets and fled into the ruins to hide. One of them was headed right for Cloudhawk while he was still laying prone on the ground. One well-placed step and he¡¯d been crushed flat. Time to go! Stranger Black was watching the creature run. Out of the corner of his eye he spied the boulder that pinned Cloudhawk move, and saw the young man clambering with some difficulty toward the safety of the ruins. He was so infuriated he saw red ¨C this was the little shit that¡¯d almost killed him at Blackflag Outpost. How could Stranger Black deny the rage and resentment in his heart? ¡°Stop! Come with me, kill this irritating whelp!¡± Vulture sprang into the air and began circling the area to hunt Cloudhawk down while the others bore down on where they saw him last. Cloudhawk hid in a dead-end, trying to hide from the birdman¡¯s keen eyes. He was too weak ¨C if they found him he was a dead man! A dozen sweepers spread out and were headed his way. Nearby the airship had descended and dropped a rope, conveying several more sweepers to the ground to help with the search. More and more enemies flooded the area and soon he would be found. Cloudhawk¡¯s demise seemed certain, and soon after him the others would be caught as well. How far could his invisibility cloak get him? Several sweepers came upon Cloudhawk¡¯s hiding place and spotted him. They hurriedly reached for their weapons, crying out for the others and attacking ¡°Sons of bitches!¡± Cloudhawk had no choice but to brandish his exorcist staff and charge ahead. He swung at one of them and met their hefty sword with a loud clang. Cloudhawk was stronger than ever but he was facing a group of hardened sweeper warriors. He wasn¡¯t going to get the upper hand here. Another sweeper came in from the side brandishing an iron cudgel. Cloudhawk lunged to the side just in time, the displaced air from the attack whipped his clothes. Two more sweepers nearby saw him and leveled their crossbows his way. Powerful arrows were ready to skewer him, but before they could a nimble figure leapt from the ruins nearby. The shadow skittered by so fast it seemed to defy gravity, surprising the two archers. A flash of metal and throats opened like fountains of blood. Had the Bloodsoaked Queen come to save him? But that would be stupid! Coming here was like putting the noose around her own neck! The airship saw the Queen and started to bring around its broadside. The chilling, tell-tale sound of its chain gun started to whir and moments later the area was carpeted with gunfire. Strong as the Queen was she couldn¡¯t ignore the hail of lead and ducked back into the ruins to use them to cover her escape. The Queen knew she couldn¡¯t save Cloudhawk. However she was the demon¡¯s main target, and her reappearance would get the attention of her hunters. If she could lead most of them away Cloudhawk would have a chance, but it would ultimately be up to him. ¡°Second Brother, Third Brother, take the troops and get after the demonhunter!¡± Stranger Black shouted out his commands, but he himself looked in Cloudhawk¡¯s direction. ¡°I¡¯ll join you after I wring the life out of this brat.¡± The sweeper army split into two groups. Longhorn and Vulture gathered the three outpost assassins, ten sweepers and the airship to chase down the Queen. Stranger Black and the rest of the sweepers closed in on Cloudhawk¡¯s position. ¡°Form up, surround the area! No matter what I¡¯m not letting them get away this time!¡± More sweepers were arriving after mopping up what was left of Hydra¡¯s resistance and spread out across the sector. All paths leading away were sealed off. Though uncharted the area wasn¡¯t large, and the sweepers had both air support and superior numbers. Cloudhawk and the others were caught in a deathtrap! There was nowhere to go! No matter who won or lost, the long hunt across the wastelands ended here! Cloudhawk understood this. There was no escaping this time, so he wasted no time thinking about it. It was time to fight these damn sweepers to the end! Chapter 74 - Rock and a Hard Place Chapter 74 - Rock and a Hard Place Cloudhawk was surrounded by seasoned sweepers, elite denizens of the wilds. They were burly, strong, and adroit with their weapons ¨C Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t break through. He juked in one direction to try and get by but one of the sweepers swung his ax at him. Cloudhawk sidestepped the swipe and leapt up, bringing his exorcist staff down in a vicious chop. Bang! The metal staff cracked the sweepers on top of its head. A trickle of blood marked a path down the mutant¡¯s hideous face, but his armor was too thick to kill him outright. Try as he might, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t strong enough to get past his foe¡¯s protection. The best he managed was to make the sweeper dizzy. Cloudhawk attacked again, at another sweeper charging his way. His staff struck the attacker in the chest but was stopped by an iron chest plate. The staff¡¯s sharp point only managed to leave a gash along the armor, causing no real damage. Goddamnit! What am I supposed to do? Vital areas were protected from his blows, and neither Cloudhawk¡¯s strength nor his weapons were good enough to get past their defenses. Grinning hideously, a sweeper heaved his enormous ax. With nowhere to hide Cloudhawk was forced to meet the attack head on, and the powerful strike crashed into his staff like a thunderbolt. The sweeper¡¯s twisted companions seized the opportunity and rushed in all at once. Cloudhawk could only barely stave off one or two of them, what was to do against four or five? Would he be forced to use the exorcist staff? But using the relic on these minions was draining, he¡¯d have nothing left for the black-clad freak! As Cloudhawk hesitated another figure joined them from a nearby corner. Nimble as a bird she leapt six feet into the air, despite her cumbersome equipment, and brought her melon hammer down on one of the sweepers¡¯ faces. The faceplate and half his head caved in, reduced to a mess of mangled flesh and broken bone. Artemis! Cloudhawk heaved a sigh of relief. Artemis¡¯ weapons and abilities were especially good against these heavily fortified enemies. She knocked their counterattacks away with her shield while her hammer destroyed another sweeper¡¯s kneecap. She hit it with such force that bone practically disintegrated, forcing the sweepers to collapse onto its one good leg. Her melon hammer never stopped, rebounding off his knee and around in a deadly circle before landing right on its head. The helmet protecting his skull crumpled like a piece of paper, the bone below shattered like glass. Another sweeper tried their luck. Artemis swung around and bashed the mutant with her shield, knocking him back. She wobbled for a moment but her right leg planted and kept her stable. Pivoting her hips she whipped her hammer back around and rammed it into the sweeper¡¯s chest. A dent too deep to be healthy was left behind. In fact, the mutant¡¯s lungs and heart were completely destroyed. Blood leaked from every orifice, but he died too fast to notice. Cloudhawk scrambled over to the corpse and picked up the crossbow by its side. Whoosh! Thud! One of the sweepers nearby had their crossbow ready for a flank attack when an arrow lodged itself in his eye socket. He screamed and collapsed to the floor before he could fire his weapon. Meanwhile Artemis was fighting off the last of them. The first swing of her hammer broke the sweeper¡¯s weapon to splinters, and the second lifted him into the air. The third strike knocked him down and buried him in the dirt, virtually every bone in his body shattered. It was a miserable way to go. No wonder she was one of the outpost¡¯s best fighters! In all of Greenland maybe only Hydra could stand against her. Panther and the others were strong, but they still didn¡¯t quite match up to Artemis¡¯ abilities. Broken corpses littered the ground. When they were breathing they were the elite, sweepers who were among the strongest, fastest and most skilled of their number.But faced with Artemis¡¯ hail of blows, they were as defenseless as children. She rested her gore-caked melon hammer on her shoulder and sashayed toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Looks like I just saved your ass. How do you plan to pay me back, hm?¡± Cloudhawk was in no mood for banter. ¡°It¡¯s too early to say you¡¯ve saved shit.¡± Artemis followed the young man¡¯s gaze to a ruined building thirty feet high. There at the top was a dark silhouette ¨C a man wrapped in a black robe and a beak-like breathing apparatus. He was as mysterious as he was unsettling. It was him! Artemis¡¯ face hardened. The freak in black was the leader of the sweeper forces, she knew. Though he wasn¡¯t the strongest of the demon¡¯s lieutenants, he was the first to answer the monster¡¯s call. Not only was he cruel, but smart ¨C he wasn¡¯t one to underestimate. Cloudhawk looked at him to, quivering with hatred. This was the man who destroyed the whole Tartarus Mercenary Company! How many lives did this creature have? Back at the Blackflag Outpost Cloudhawk had personally cut his head from his body, yet there he stood like a living nightmare. Stranger Black wordlessly picked off a glove and his five bone-speckled tentacles writhed free. They twisted together until his left arm resembled a disgusting saw-tooth blade. It was nauseating and frightening to behold. What aberrant construction put this freak together? Beyond his unimaginable regenerative abilities he could also change the shape of his body. ¡°Show me what you can do.¡± It was Artemis who spoke, and as she did her leg whipped out at a nearby rock. It went rocketing toward Stranger Black like a soccer ball. She kicked it so hard the rock screamed through the air like a shooting star, right for Stranger Black. He waved his left arm, casual as swatting a fly, and the rock was cleaved clean in two. The break was so perfect not a single flake of stone was missing. His bone blade cut through rock like a hot knife through butter! No flesh or bone could stop its keen edge. ¡°You are reasonably strong.¡± Stranger Black did not rush to attack. He stared at her from behind the darkness of his hood, like a viper sizing up its prey. ¡°I should tell you that Hydra is finished. You are only fighting to follow in his footsteps.¡± Artemis¡¯ gaped at him. ¡°What did you say?! Hydra is dead?¡± Stranger Black did not respond, but the fact that he was here and Hydra was nowhere to be found lent credence to his claim. The mutant went on. ¡°You are a decent warrior. Our conflict is not with you ¨C I am giving you a chance to live.¡± Cloudhawk searched desperately for a way to escape. All the while Stranger Black¡¯s hissing voice slithered like cobras through the air. ¡°Kill the child. Join us, and you will live a better life than that traitor gave you.¡± Uncertainty was writ plain on Artemis¡¯ face. She hesitated. Cloudhawk had no chance against the man in black. If he had to face Artemis as well, what else could he expect but a gruesome death? He called out to her. ¡°Don¡¯t believe him. He is no good man, he¡¯ll throw you away the moment he doesn¡¯t need you anymore!¡± Stranger Black¡¯s icy cold voice replied. ¡°The choice is yours. Live, or die.¡± Cloudhawk watched her with wide eyes. After a moment of quiet thinking she turned. As she did ¨C her eyes filled with murderous intent ¨C she lifted her hammer high. Fast, deadly, without mercy. Even before the hammer reached him, Cloudhawk could feel its crushing momentum like a bolt of lightning. Son of a bitch! She changed sides faster than she changes clothes! Cloudhawk flung himself to the side, narrowly escaping her hammer. A hole was left where he¡¯d been standing, and he¡¯d be a puddle in it if he¡¯d been half a second later. She didn¡¯t stop when her hammer missed. Her next move was to thrust at him with her shield, whose triangular base had been grinding down sharp as a blade. Although she wasn¡¯t very fast, Artemis wasn¡¯t slow either. Her attack was aimed to be swift and malicious and gave Cloudhawk no chance to dodge. He could only throw all his strength behind smashing his staff against the shield and redirecting it. It still caught him, though, and left an ugly wound. Cloudhawk staggered backward several feet. Artemis wasn¡¯t giving him any leniency, it was clear from her ferocious attacks that she¡¯d decided killing him was the right decision. ¡°You disloyal piece of shit!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too thrilled to be killing you, either.¡± Artemis planted the base of her shield in the dirt then used her foot to help kick the melon hammer out of the pit it¡¯d dug. She heaved it back up onto her shoulder. She looked Cloudhawk over one more time and sighed. ¡°But the two of us can¡¯t take him. One death is better than two, right? You know you¡¯ve gotta go, so be a good boy and lemme land a hit. Don¡¯t be scared, it¡¯ll be quick ¨C no pain.¡± Cloudhawk answered with a string of curses. This bold bitch! He thought about the Queen, thought about her raging temper and ¨C for better or worse ¨C her unyielding stubbornness. If she was here instead of Artemis, she never would have betrayed him like this. ¡°Cussin¡¯ me out isn¡¯t gonna do you any good. If you want something to blame, blame the wastelands.¡± It was the last breath she was going to waste on him. Her powerful legs launched her forward, leading with her shield. If he was hit full on the spikes all along its surface would turn Cloudhawk into a sieve. Meanwhile Artemis¡¯ hammer was waiting for an opening. If he tried to block her shield that hammer would come crashing down and he¡¯d be a pile of shattered bones before he knew it. He was out of choices, he had to use his cloak. Cloudhawk disappeared. Artemis scowled, scanning all around. She cried out to him. ¡°Come on little brother, don¡¯t hide. There¡¯s nowhere to run!¡± Stranger Black looked on from his vantage. When he saw Cloudhawk vanish he suddenly understood how they¡¯d fled the dungeon under everyone¡¯s noses. But invisible didn¡¯t mean disappeared. A skilled killer knew to watch the ground for signs, or listen to the changes in the wind to find them out. And Artemis had seen this before. When Cloudhawk went invisible he was almost as fast as Panther. He was an agility metahuman and Artemis couldn¡¯t match the small man for speed or reaction time, so to evade Cloudhawk¡¯s sneak attacks she swung her hammer indiscriminately all around. ¡°Hmph!¡± Stranger Black spotted Cloudhawk¡¯s footsteps some distance away. The boy was trying to run? He sprang from the top of the building, bounding across the ruins and blocking Cloudhawk¡¯s path. He hacked toward the boy with his sword-like left arm. His bone blade could cut through steal, the child didn¡¯t stand a chance. Faced with the freak¡¯s tyrannical assault Cloudhawk was locked down. He couldn¡¯t dodge and nothing he put between him and that sword would stop it from carving him up. Clang! His bone blade and the exorcist staff collided! Cloudhawk felt the tremendous flood of power through the impact and his staff was knocked away. His whole body lifted into the air. The freak in black kept coming, swinging his bone sword to cut Cloudhawk in half. From the other side Artemis¡¯ hammer was coming down toward him. He could hear it whistling through the air. Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils contracted to tiny black points as the realization of his doom dawned on him. He was caught on two sides ¨C it was over! His death was certain! Where was the Queen to save him? Chapter 75 - We Die Together Chapter 75 - We Die Together The Queen was not coming. She was too busy trying to save her own life. She was being pursued by two of the demon¡¯s lieutenants, three outpost assassins, most of their sweeper army and their deadly airship. There could be two of her and she¡¯d still be too weak to face them all. Her situation was no better than Cloudhawk¡¯s, and each passing second was a march toward death. She just had to slow down for one moment, her luck had to give just once, and she¡¯d be struck down. Cloudhawk¡¯s only option was to shut his eyes and wait for death. But then the unthinkable happened. The moment before Artemis¡¯ hammer reached Cloudhawk¡¯s face her hand jerked, stretching out just a little farther. He felt it graze his cheek before sweeping by. Then, with a sound like a blast of thunder, her hammer bashed Stranger Black in the center of his chest. Boom!! Cloudhawk could hear his bones break and his organs tear. The mutant¡¯s back bulged outward as everything was pushed out of place. He flailed through the air over thirty feet, whipping around like a broken kite before ultimately smashing through the side of a building. It had all happened so suddenly. Artemis attacks were meant to kill him, without question. She¡¯d held nothing back. Who¡¯d have thought that she¡¯d spare him in the last instant? How could anyone suspect she¡¯d turn her hammer against the demon¡¯s henchman? What the hell was going through this woman¡¯s head? As though she read his mind she gave him a flippant answer. ¡°I changed my mind!¡± What kind of fuckin¡¯ reason was this?! This woman was unstable! But it was her fickle choice that took the mutant by surprise and left him no chance to dodge. It was the only way she would have gotten close enough to hit him, much less lay him out with a hit that good. Artemis had seemed careless, until the very moment when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity revealed itself. ¡°This ugly rodent nutsack aint worth shit!¡± Artemis was well pleased with herself. ¡°I can¡¯t fuckin¡¯ stand people who think they¡¯re so clever ¨C tryin¡¯ to screw with my head.¡± Hmph, you¡¯re so full of shit. If your hammer had turned me to pulp you¡¯d be singin¡¯ a different tune. Cloudhawk had no illusions, this woman¡¯s loyalties changed with the wind. She wasn¡¯t someone he could trust. His head was a mess, he tried to put his thoughts together. Now that Artemis had sent the man in black flying she¡¯d burned whatever bridge he¡¯d been pretending to offer. Although Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t figure out what was going through her mind, right now she was the only one he could rely on. She slung her mallet back onto her shoulder and blinked at him. ¡°Well, what the fuck are you gapin¡¯ at? Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Go?¡± Cloudhawk heaved a small sigh, if only their enemy was so easy to defeat. ¡°You don¡¯t know shit about these guys!¡± She tilted her head and looked questioningly at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Before he could answer the sound of clattering rubble reached their ears. Realization dawned on her face as she stiffly turned her head around toward the source of the noise. At first she saw the rubble stirring, then slowly a figure rose from within. His chest was concave, internal organs were completely ruined, but somehow it did not stop Stranger Black from rising back to his feet. The freak had lost his mask, and his unsettling tentacled face was revealed to the light. A pair of sinister eyes, burning with hatred, was fixed on the two of them. If looks could kill they would be dead several times over. ¡°This is¡­¡± Artemis was at a complete loss. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing, for no one had ever survived a direct blow from her hammer. She hadn¡¯t even thought it possible. What the hell was this guy? He had to be immortal! Cloudhawk was also in awe of the mutant¡¯s abilities, but he had come to expect it. He¡¯d lived after having his whole fuckin¡¯ head cut off, so a few broken ribs and a torn up organ or two wasn¡¯t going to kill him. Unfortunately the asshole would recover. He could hardly be called human anymore! Stranger Black did not fear blade nor bullet. As destructive as Artemis¡¯ hammer was it was effectively useless against the black-clad man, unless she turned his brain to mush. It was part of what made him so terrifying. Stranger Black fixed his eyes on her. ¡°You disappoint me.¡± Artemis didn¡¯t know what to do. Cloudhawk¡¯s shout woke her from her daze. ¡°Stop wasting time! The longer you wait the more time he has to heal. We¡¯ve gotta kill him as fast as possible!¡± Artemis hammer had shattered bone and pulverized flesh, forcing Stranger Black to rely on his supernatural healing abilities to keep him mobile. Although he wasn¡¯t dead her blow did affect his agility and combat. They had to take this opportunity to put him down for good, because if he was allowed to recover they were both doomed! Stranger Black rose from the dust, leaping clear of the ruins. He took the initiative and attacked first, his target ¨C Artemis! When they were ten or fifteen feet apart he swung back his left arm, hacking the sword-like appendage at her. Logically speaking he was too far to hit her, but the freak¡¯s limb actually shot out, extending toward her like a whip. Not only did it catch her unprepared, it also made his attack faster. A deafening screech filled the air! Artemis lifted her shield just in time. Stranger Black¡¯s bladed arm left a deep fissure in the metal. Her shield was made of steel, so one could imagine how deadly Stranger Black¡¯s attacks were. She hadn¡¯t recovered before the freak reached out with his right hand. This one was humanoid shaped but was powerful and covered in bone-like armor. He couldn¡¯t change this one into anything but it was strong enough to crush someone¡¯s throat. Boom! Artemis was punched a dozen feet away. She felt like she¡¯d been run over by a rhinoceros, every inch of her hurt. When the warrior looked at her shield her frown deepened. Now, in addition to the gash was a hand-shaped dent. He had as much force in one punch as the horned guy! He was a walking horror! Stranger Black advanced on her, ready to finish her off when suddenly he froze. Likely some of the damage he¡¯d suffered was slowing him down. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste a moment, and launched a sneak attack at the freak¡¯s back. His exorcist staff vibrated as power surged through it, and knocked the mutant off balance. Cloudhawk struck with such ferocity he ruined another area of bone and muscle, adding to the monster¡¯s wounds. Seeing his attack land filled Artemis with hope. ¡°He¡¯s pretty hurt! Let¡¯s kill this piece of shit together!¡± Artemis unceremoniously threw her shield away and grabbed her hammer with both hands. She brought it down toward his head with every ounce of strength in her while Cloudhawk plunged his staff toward the mutant¡¯s gut. Stranger Black tried to defend himself. His bone sword cut at the exorcist staff and knocked it away with a loud clang. Surprisingly, whatever the staff was made of somehow stopped the sword from cleaving it in half. He blocked Artemis¡¯ hammer with the bare hand of his bone arm. The impact shattered the outer carapace, and a crack traveled through his appendage to the bones in his body. He hacked and coughed, fresh blood pouring from his mouth. They could see bits of bone and organ mixed in it. Strong as he was Artemis¡¯ sudden betrayal had wounded him severely. He needed time to recover, but he found himself surrounded with attacks from all sides. He started to recognize the serious danger he was in. Cloudhawk noticed him slowing down. Now was their chance to kill him for good! Stranger Black let loose with a bestial roar, filled with fury and hatred like a cornered animal. ¡°You think you two can kill me?!¡± Cloudhawk felt the resistance against his staff disappear as the freak¡¯s sword-arm suddenly changed. It unraveled, separating again into five bony tentacles and lashing out at each of them at the same time. Not good! This trick again! The mutant¡¯s arm was versatile. In addition to becoming an impossibly sharp blade it could also change into five barbed tentacles. The former was deadly in close combat, but the latter adaptable. Mad Dog hadn¡¯t been able to protect himself from them. Artemis was much stronger than Mad Dog had been, but she wasn¡¯t as agile. These tentacles were a dire threat. ¡°Get back!¡± Cloudhawk shouted. Artemis recognized the danger too. She reeled backwards and lifted her hammer to protect her vital parts. She managed to block one, but the two others caught her; one in the right shoulder, and the other in her left leg deep enough to reveal bone. She screamed in agony. Her right hand couldn¡¯t hold the hammer anymore and let go, sending her weapon tumbling away. Without the support of her left leg she lost balance, and Artemis hit the ground. It was all over! She was too wounded to keep fighting. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn!¡± Stranger Black¡¯s voice was as shrill and angry as an evil spirit, and his two remaining tentacles lashed out at Cloudhawk. The young fugitive¡¯s mind was blank, stuck on the knowledge that if he dodged or blocked these attacks any chance of defeating the man in black was gone. Fight! Don¡¯t stop!! His eyes were invaded by a blood-red hue, turning everything into a sanguine hell-scape. Every ounce of his body was saturated with power and focused into the exorcist staff. His simple demonhunter weapon vibrated as unparalleled levels of energy permeated it. Mad Dog! Slyfox! Here¡¯s your revenge ¨C vindication or death! For any other creature trading one lethal blow for another might give them pause, but this was not so for Stranger Black. Even the most well-placed blow was no threat, and so he reached for Cloudhawk with the tendrils of his left arm and brought his mangled right around to block the staff. Thud! Squelch! It was the sound of rending flesh. Artemis watched with wide-eyed horror as the mutant¡¯s barbed limbs buried themselves deep in Cloudhawk¡¯s body. She could foresee the young man¡¯s death. Yet in the same instant, spurred by mortal peril, Cloudhawk felt the stone around his neck pulse with an intense psychic energy. It rose from somewhere deep within him and poured into the exorcist staff. Here it comes again! Stranger Black sensed the spike in power. He¡¯d experienced this once before, but this time the torrents of energy ran even deeper. ¡°Then we die together!¡± In the midst of his heedless lunge Cloudhawk¡¯s staff began to whir like a controlled tempest. The mutant¡¯s doughty right arm was there to meet it, but didn¡¯t impede its power in the least. It ripped through the limb and right for Stranger Black¡¯s face. His eyes widened. ¡°Master, I -¡° He never had a chance to finish the thought before his head was obliterated. The power that surged through Cloudhawk pushed his staff straight through the mutant¡¯s arm, and reduced his brain to pulp. Like a cyclone, the energy churned all his blood and brain and bone into an indiscernible mass and spat it fifty feet into the ruins. Unidentified bits of what remained were spread all over like a gruesome abstract painting. This went on for a full five seconds. Walls in the distant ruins collapsed under the strain. Cloudhawk felt drained, of energy as well as life. The world began to darken as his head fell backward. The wounds in his chest and abdomen were frightful, so bad that his guts were exposed to the air. Cloudhawk had impressive regenerative abilities but these were wounds the man in black would need time to recover from. These injuries could kill him! Artemis sat there, stunned at their mutual destruction. How could there be so much strength and willpower in his adolescent form? In the face of overwhelming odds and certain death he threw himself at his foe and took the freak down with him! Chapter 76 - The Final Confrontation Chapter 76 - The Final Confrontation The sweepers were closing in. Longhorn, Vulture, Panther and his fellow conspirators, and twenty sweeper troops¡­ all of them were closing the distance between them and the Bloodsoaked Queen. She was outnumbered and outclassed, and what¡¯s more the black terror that was their airship hung overhead like an ominous cloud. In addition to its heavy firepower there were scores more sweepers ready to join the fight. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time. Kill her!¡± She was in firing range of the chain gun and a doughty mutant swung it around to aim her way. Peering down the old-style sights he fixed the weapon on the nimble figure below and pulled the trigger. Its barrel started to spin and suddenly a storm of bullets came raining down. Crumbling buildings were blown apart. The Queen couldn¡¯t escape. It would only be a matter of time before she was cut down by the torrent of hot lead. The mutant gunner howled in excitement. It was a rare joy and opportunity for a wastelander to slaughter a demonhunter! The bullets didn¡¯t stop, in fact they seemed to increase. She couldn¡¯t see anywhere she could escape them. Crack! The shot was almost inaudible, drowned out by the screaming chain gun. Suddenly the airship gunner¡¯s head exploded as a sniper bullet ripped through it with pinpoint accuracy. Just as the Queen was about to be peppered with bullets the airship¡¯s heavy gun went silent. ¡°What the hell - ?¡± Longhorn barely uttered the words before one of the outpost traitors in front of him let out a pained scream. A bullet burst from his back and buried itself in the dirt with a thud. In place of his heart was a gaping cavity. He was dead before he hit the ground. ¡°Sniper!¡± Longhorn¡¯s urgent shout rang across the ruins. ¡°Where is he? Find him!¡± Snipers were the most dangerous hunters of the Wastelands, but none of the marksmen Snaketooth gathered had joined them here. Somehow they¡¯d been killed. That meant there was only one person this could be ¨C Mantis! He¡¯d slain over a dozen snipers single-handedly, which in itself was a glorious feat. Now this grim and deadly assassin was lurking nearby and with his presence the Queen was snatched from the jaws of death. The Queen skidded to a halt and lifted her head. The airship was getting closer, people were struggling to remove the gunners corpse and take his place. Soon the chain gun would come alive again and she¡¯d find herself in the same mortal danger. She had no choice.She had to go all out! She grabbed the phoenix gourd tight in her hand. It spat a roaring flame that spread out like a huge fiery lotus, belching light and heat from its center. Even those who¡¯d never witnessed such a thing immediately knew its power. As the Queen screamed toward the fires, a phoenix of tremendous scale was slowly forming. The bird she summoned this time was larger and stronger than ever before, wreathed in power and a regal aura. Longhorn knew what she was going to do. ¡°She¡¯s attacking the airship! Stop her!¡± Vulture sprang into action, launching into the air. But he was too late. The outpost marksman clambered up to the top of one of the ruins. A gun in each hand he leveled them both at the Queen. She was absorbed with using the relic, and wouldn¡¯t see his shots coming. But before he could fire ¨C crack! A shot came from the side, drilling through one temple and tumbling out from the other [1]. He didn¡¯t even react.His brain ceased to function before he knew what had happened. But the shot came with a cost, for Mantis had just revealed his location to the others. Seven or eight of the sweepers rushed his way, trying to surround him. Now that he was found he couldn¡¯t offer any further support. The Bloodsoaked Queen was on her own. Vulture shot at her and arrived just as the thunderous cries of a bird shook the earth. Stricken faces were lit by holy fire as the phoenix flung open its wings. Its fifteen foot wingspan pushed it into the air. The living fire was larger than ever before, and more real. It was covered in flaming plumage that lent to its awe-inspiring image. Stately and prideful it towered over the area like an immortal. The phoenix started by belching an orb of fire, keeping Vulture at bay. Then it rose into the air amidst the sounds of crackling flame and waves of blistering heat. The air around it was warped from the intensity, like the fires of Armageddon. Its cries promised death and ruin to the world. By now another mutant had taken up the chain gun just in time to feel the suffocating heat bear down on him. Then¡­ everything was consumed by fire. He cried out in terror and tried to escape, but it was too late. It was an endless deluge of fire, first charring him black then consuming the ash left behind. The heat was so intense even the chain gun barrels turned red, showing signs of melting. A short time later all the bullets and gunpowder started to explode. BOOM -- !! From the vantage of those below they witnessed the giant bird tear through the sky, leaving a wake of flame behind its brilliant tail. Like a fiery comet it seared across the horizon and ultimately erupted once it hit the center of the airship. In a moment all the hodge-podge of materials that made it up were ruined. Acrid black smoke traced its arc through the sky as the vehicle smashed into the ground in a second explosion. Smoldering debris pelted the area. The Bloodsoaked Queen had destroyed their airship in a single attack! Power like that should have been impossible from a mere human! Was this the legendary power of the demonhunters? Her greatest threat had been dealt with, and only two of the demon¡¯s three henchmen were nearby. Two of the outpost¡¯s traitors had been dealt with.An insurmountable fear filled the hearts of the sweepers. It was the perfect time to fight back. Her agile form was on the move. The Queen¡¯s powerful legs catapulted her off a nearby boulder and sent her tumbling like a cannonball toward her foes at an oblique angle. Her target was Panther. For better or worse Panther was one of the outpost¡¯s apex warriors. When he saw her coming he hurriedly swiped at her with his daggers. To the average person he was almost too fast to follow, but to the Queen he was ordinary at best. She whirled around his dagger effortlessly and lightly placed her hand to his chest. ¡°AAAGGGHHH- !!¡± A bloodcurdling scream bubbled up in his throat and was quickly snuffed out. The power of the burning angels set his heart on fire and the flames could be seen flickering from his eyes and throat. In his final moments Panther¡¯s body exploded and coated the area with burnt innards. Of the eight mightiest soldiers in the Greenland Outpost, Artemis was the only one who remained. As Longhorn and Vulture watched, their faces turned to frightened scowls. It was unfathomable that the demonhunter could come back from what should have been her assured destruction. She must have used most of her energy, but the damage to their sweeper forces was astronomical. Now, with their brother absent, the difficult task of defeating this hateful woman fell to the two of them. Standing amidst the remains of Panther, the Bloodsoaked Queen felt a wave of exhaustion sweep through her. She¡¯d depleted her energy, and she knew that if the remaining sweepers surrounded her she might not be able to kill her way free. She had to take care of their leaders. ¡°Almighty God, grace me with your blessing.¡± Uttering a quiet prayer the Queen grasped the cross around her neck. A white light, holy and pure, emerged to create a luminous sword. She gathered all the power she had left. Vulture screeched apprehensively. ¡°Go! Stop her!¡± The sweepers were hesitant. The Queen rose like a wraith from the ruins, her feet never touching the ground as she swept right by them. In a blink she hovered above Longhorn with both hands held high, saintly blade aloft. Blood red eyes stared back at her and Longhorn bellowed a challenge like a wild animal. Muscles bulging, he tore a three-ton boulder from the ground nearby and flung it at her. The light of her holy sword flared. The boulder was cleaved perfectly in half. Signs of internal injury were beginning to show from the Queen, but her attacks were sturdy. She summoned the might of her holy sword of light with indomitable force. No living thing could stand unscathed before it ¨C not even Longhorn¡¯s metal flesh and iron bones. In this decisive moment a shadow appeared in the sky near her. Vulture launched an attack, waving his dual machetes, heedless of the dangers. He didn¡¯t fear the holy light or the sword it came from. In fact it was his target. Even if in the end he was cut in two, he was going to open this demonhunter¡¯s throat! Longhorn screamed from below, ¡°Third brother! No!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen swung her blade around to meet the young lieutenant. When his machetes met her sword they shattered like glass, but her arms didn¡¯t not stop. She whirled around, the light of her sword carving out a brilliant circle in the sky that swept right through Vulture¡¯s waist and wings. The demon¡¯s soldier slowly split in two. He wasn¡¯t afraid, only angry and resolute. His swords were destroyed but he still had his talons. Vicious and stubborn he groped for her arms, desperately fighting even though he only had half a body. Vulture was born a mutant. He had no name, no parents he knew of, no companions. He had nothing until the master came and liberated him. Until then he¡¯d been shackled, kept as a caged pet in some outpost. The leader of the camp treated him like a humanoid bird and raised him as a monster. If he hadn¡¯t met the master or his brothers, he¡¯d have had no reason to live. He would never had known what freedom or dignity was. He would have spent all the rest of his life in darkness, treated like a monster. ¡°Second brother! Kill her! Kill her!¡± He clung to the Bloodsoaked Queen with the remains of his body, both of them crashing into the ground. Longhorn came running at them and lashed out. His punch landed on Vulture, its force ripping through him and into the Queen. Die you hateful demonhunter! Die, you self-righteous zealot! And fuck you, fate! The Queen coughed a mouthful of blood as she was knocked into the air. With what power remained to her she focused it into her right arm and swung her sword. The weapon dissolved into a cutting wave of holy light that swept through Longhorn like a burning glaive. Longhorn¡¯s face was painted with a complex and bitter expression. ¡­ they had lost! 1. The author describes it using an acupuncture point ¨C Tai Yang, or Utmost Yang ¨C but as it¡¯s in the center of the temple I used the more recognizable anatomical description instead. Tai Yang is a point used for certain kinds of headache and excess conditions in the head ¨C although one might expect it to be often used it rarely is, because the patients find it too sensitive. Chapter 77 - I Want Your Life Chapter 77 - I Want Your Life Leonine chased and fought Hydra through the oasis. Hydra had been shot twice by snipers and had tasted his brother¡¯s poisoned knife. He was weak, too weak to fight. But he kept running. Leonine kept chasing. They kept it up for over an hour. Leonine hacked at Hydra with his sword, fierce and angry. Hydra juked to the side and met the hysterical attack with his dagger. The two weapons collided and neither budged. Hydra was in a sorry state. Half of his body was soaked in fresh blood, and the loss had turned him pale and weak. His breath was quick, haggard ¨C he was in no condition to defend himself. He was only still standing because he was ten times stronger than a normal man. The outpost leader was more ferocious than ever, and he glared at Leonine through his glowing red eye. Face twisted, he growled at him through gritted teeth. ¡°You think you can kill me, you piece of garbage?¡± Leonine heaved his strength into his sword, slowly pressing it closer to Hydra¡¯s throat and worsening his wounds. He growled back. ¡°Your plan is ruined, Hydra. The Outpost is finished. You are finished!¡± ¡°The outpost is mine! No one can take it from me. No one!¡± He was so filled with rage his whole body shook. The veins in his head and neck stood out red and throbbing like earthworms. He summoned a burst of strength and pushed Leonine away. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Leonine stumbled back and caught himself by burying his sword in the ground. He was shocked Hydra still had the strength to fight back! The outpost leader¡¯s wounds were beyond severe, and after an hour of racing through the oasis they¡¯d only gotten worse. He¡¯d lost a lot of blood. But Leonine underestimated Hydra, he had to be stronger than ten men. He wasn¡¯t going to fully recover from his injuries, but they weren¡¯t fatal yet. Snaketooth¡¯s poison was already starting to run its course so he was regaining some measure of strength. Leonine grit his teeth and heaved his saber. It kicked up a cloud of soil as it was wrenched free of the earth that pummeled Hydra. He used it as cover to rush forward and hack at Hydra¡¯s head. Too slow! Hydra saw every grain of sand, every spot of soil and where it would land. Behind them he saw the nuances of Leonine¡¯s every movement and their weakest points. He took half a step to the side, enough to have the slaver¡¯s blade sweep harmlessly past his face. Meanwhile his dagger darted out and struck his broadsword in just the right spot. The metal rattled as Leonine¡¯s weapon was knocked aside. An opening in his form revealed itself to Hydra¡¯s snake-like eye. Leonine was a battle-hardened veteran and used the rebound force of his sword striking a tree to bring it back around for another wild slice. Leaves and shrubs rustled in its passage. Hydra¡¯s daggers rotated, flipping backward in his grip. He deflected the blow while dashing forward, his daggers grinding against the sword and sending sparks flying everywhere as he advanced. Hydra ducked, the slaver¡¯s sword passing by inches overhead. He spun his daggers, completing a full rotation while springing back up. He gripped the hilts, bringing the daggers swift and fierce down against Leonine¡¯s chest. They cut through two thick layers of armor and embedded themselves in Leonine¡¯s body. The slaver¡¯s broadsword hit the ground with a thud. Leonine¡¯s eyes were wide as saucers.He couldn¡¯t believe what he saw. He clung to Hydra¡¯s wrists, too late to stop him from digging the daggers in deeper, inch by inch. ¡°Do you feel¡­ despair? Terror? Rage?¡± Hydra was soaked in sweat, a twisted and insane grin on his face. ¡°This isn¡¯t enough. Not nearly enough!¡± Hydra yanked his daggers free, and as Leonine stumbled forward he swept around behind. One dagger severed both of his Achilles¡¯ tendons and sent Leonine to his knees. ¡°It¡¯s my custom to cut traitors apart, piece by piece. But I don¡¯t want to kill you today. Do you know why?¡± Hydra¡¯s chest heaved like a mad bull, he could hardly stand straight. In the midst of his madness he was never more like a demon. ¡°Because that would be letting you off too easily. I want you to learn ¨C what real pain is. What real despair is.¡± ¡°No¡­ no!¡± Leonine understood. He watched Hydra¡¯s hideous grinning face disappear into the jungles. His right leg was already useless and when he tried to pull himself by his sword the slaver collapsed back to the ground. ¡°Hydra, you motherfucker, get back here! Fight me!¡± He wailed into the trees, a scream full of fury and anguish that echoed through the oasis like the cry of an impotent beast. He pulled himself step by agonizing step toward the outpost. If he could choose, he would¡¯ve chosen to die with Hydra. He would¡¯ve chosen to end his own life rather than risk theirs. But now¡­ now, there was nothing he could do! With the image of Hydra¡¯s psychotic face in his eyes, Leonine struggled for fifteen minutes before exhaustion overcame him. There was rustling from the undergrowth. Glossy green eyes stared at him. These were dangerous wilds, where mutant leopards hunted. They had jutting fangs sharp as swords like saber-toothed tigers, and now they were circling a wounded prey waiting for the moment to pounce. Suddenly a dagger whistled through the air and planted itself into one of the creatures¡¯ eyes. The other leopards roared in anger and threw themselves toward where the sneak attack had come from. When they plowed through the jungle they were met with an enormous melon-shaped hammer which smashed one of them into pulp. Suddenly their foe was too dangerous to bother with and the creatures bounded off into the distance. The last four people he¡¯d ever imagined seeing appeared before him. Cloudhawk had fallen unconscious and was slung over Mantis¡¯ back. He had several obvious wounds on him that had already been sutured closed. Artemis staggered on a wounded left leg and carried her hammer in her left hand to favor an injured right shoulder. Both had only been bandaged. As for the Queen, she had broken one of her arms and several ribs. Although she could walk she was completely spent. Mantis was in the best condition.However, towards the end he had to face over a dozen sweepers in close combat, which wasn¡¯t his forte; in fact, he wasn¡¯t even as capable as Leonine in this regard. Four or five patches of his body were clearly covered in blood. They actually survived? This had to mean they¡¯d beaten the sweepers! Leonine couldn¡¯t understand how the mutants could have lost. Their appearance drained the last little bit of hope out of him. It meant they hadn¡¯t taken the outpost, that Hydra could return to his territory safely as the one and true ruler. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Artemis gave him a queer look. ¡°Where¡¯s Hydra!¡± Leonine hurriedly cried out, ¡°Take me back to the outpost. Bring me back there!¡± The outpost¡¯s forces had suffered a huge blow by this struggle for power. Most of their best men and elite troops were dead. When its leader returned his first order of business was not to see to his wounds. Instead he pulled out three people and tortured them with every method he knew. In the end one large and two small savagely brutalized corpses were nailed to the outer wall, flaunting his handy work. When they got back to the outpost and Leonine saw the scene, he let loose an unhuman wail. The slaver shoved off Artemis and flung himself at the base of the walls, holding out his ten mutilated fingers pleadingly like a beaten vagrant. He threw his head against the ground again and again until blood was flowing freely. This stoic, powerful man completely lost his mind. Everything important to him, all of his hopes, his reason for living ¨C they were pinned to that wall. Artemis shook her head when she understood what had happened. ¡°Poor bastard.¡± Suddenly a group of soldiers rushed out from the outpost and tried to drag him inside. He fought them off with the last of his strength and staggered back toward the others like a man grasping at his final straw. ¡°Help me kill him. Help me kill Hydra! HELP ME KILL THAT BASTARD!¡± Half a dozen soldiers pulled him away. He flailed against them and his mangled fingers clawed trenches in the ground.He clawed until there was little more than bone, screaming for help as they disappeared from sight. His voice rang through the air, insane and savage. ¡°Help me kill Hydra!¡± Mantis watched all this happen with his customarily impassive face.Artemis, however, had a mocking smile on her face. ¡°He really is an absolute dumbfuck.¡± The Queen was most conflicted. She raised her head and looked at the grizzly result of Hydra¡¯s anger. Her eyes watered as she looked at these bodies, tortured so badly they didn¡¯t even look human. ¡°Gods,¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Please forgive me!¡± Hydra had injected himself with a syringe of panacea. His wounds were slowly healing. The outpost leader had been preparing to fight those sweeper bastards to the death so when the four people appeared before his eyes he could hardly believe it. ¡°Ah-hahaha!¡± He bounded over to them grinning broadly. ¡°Never woulda thought. I never woulda thought you¡¯d make it when it all went tits up. I can¡¯t tell you how happy it makes me to know you killed those three assholes. Without them the demon¡¯s power throughout the wastelands takes a big hit. We¡¯re gonna kill that bastard!¡± Hydra felt like he was walking with the blessings of the gods themselves. He survived betrayal from the one person he trusted most, then he took care of the slaver that tried to hunt him down. Then in this precarious moment he finds that the demonhunter ¨C a gift from the elysian lands ¨C had dealt with the sweepers. Indeed the outpost had suffered for it, but any cost was worth killing those three lapdogs. ¡°I imagine the bastard will hear the news soon. He¡¯ll definitely show up now, he has to. We¡¯ve gotta prepare.¡± Hydra clapped his hands and a group of handmaidens gingerly scampered in. ¡°Look after your wounds.Feel free to take whatever you need. Starting now we have to be battle ready.¡± This demonhunter was something else! With her by his side he couldn¡¯t lose! Her cold voice rasped through the air. ¡°I need two syringes of panacea.¡± He winced slightly when he heard her. ¡°Why two?¡± Her eyes looked toward Cloudhawk who was still unconscious, Hydra knew what she meant, but the kid was hardly worth his salt. Even if he lived to the final fight he wasn¡¯t any use. So his voice turned distant as he answered, ¡°He¡¯s too badly hurt. He¡¯s lost so much blood even panacea won¡¯t save him. We¡¯ve only got two of the precious stuff left and it¡¯d be better to save ¡®em for when they¡¯re needed most, right?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen tepidly responded, ¡°Fine. Then I want something else from you.¡± Hydra had planned to give a little push back, but when he saw her abandon the request he relaxed. It looked like this kid wasn¡¯t all that important to her after all. ¡°Anything for the mighty demon slayer! Say the word.¡± Her hoarse and sinister voice crackled from the mask: ¡°I want your life.¡± Before he could react she was in front of him with her hand on his chest. Frightened, he tried to shove her away but it was too late. He was filled with a wave of heat that swept through every inch of him like a burning train car of coal. ¡°Aaaahhhh!¡± Hydra was turned into a statue of solid black carbon. The last thought running through his mind before it all burned away was why she¡¯d want to kill him. Chapter 78 - Another Endowmen Chapter 78 - Another Endowment The maids screamed and scattered in all directions. Artemis stared dumbly at the blackened remains of what had been Hydra, whose limbs were frozen in a defensive posture. Tendrils of white smoke slithered from his wide open eye sockets and distended mouth. She couldn¡¯t believe this was the way the tyrant of the outpost was fated to die. Mantis frowned at the Queen. ¡°Why?¡± Her breathing was slightly rapid as she responded. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what it feels like to lose someone close. What he did disgusted me.¡± ¡°So you killed him for that?¡± Artemis wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d heard correctly. Outside she¡¯d mocked the slaver, then moments later she watched the Queen burn Hydra to a crisp. The contrast was a slap to the face. ¡°Do you have any idea how important he was? Now that he¡¯s dead there¡¯ll be anarchy in the outpost. Who¡¯s going to organize the forces when the enemy comes?¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t think too deeply on it. Hydra had some skill, but one more or less of him wasn¡¯t going to make any sort of difference. He¡¯d lost his worth when she saw his hateful acts. So she killed him. ¡°The outpost has a new leader.¡± ¡°A new leader? The only people with the prestige and abilities to lead were Hydra and Snaketooth, and both of them are dead. Who the hell will lead?¡± ¡°You.¡± In one sentence the Queen shut Artemis up. She gaped at the demonhunter in disbelief. Artemis was probably one of the top three strongest in the outpost, but being a woman put her at a disadvantage. Only a woman with the overwhelming power of someone like the Queen would be able to overawe and tame a group of unruly wastelanders. However, the situation right now was rather special. Hydra was dead, as was his brother and most of their best fighters. The ones that remained hadn¡¯t been trusted by the brothers or were too weak. It seemed like maybe there really was a possibility for Artemis to assume leadership. Artemis was at a loss.Everything was so sudden. She voiced her doubts. ¡°Won¡¯t there be a problem if a woman leads? I¡¯m not sure of my chances.Let¡¯s forget about it!¡± The Queen didn¡¯t bother to argue with her. Artemis didn¡¯t seem to quite realize the reality of the situation ¨C she was going to do it, whether because she wanted to or because she had to. Artemis had quite the reputation here, and with the demonhunter¡¯s backing anyone who challenged her would die. Why was she hesitating? It was decided ¨C no more discussion needed. The Queen required the power of the outpost to help her against the demon. He surely would come, but she didn¡¯t know when. For now they had to get everything ready. Mantis found three more panacea syringes in what used to be Hydra¡¯s living quarters and gave one each to the Queen and Cloudhawk. Her wounds weren¡¯t too serious and would be gone in a matter of days. For the boy, it was up to luck. Both his injuries were life threatening, and in fact he was only still alive because of his recovery abilities. Panacea was a powerful regenerative agent, and Cloudhawk¡¯s own capabilities were decent. The two effects together would compound and give him the best shot, so maybe there was hope. Whether or not he made it would be decided by fate. ** Cloudhawk felt like he was falling through a dark abyss. He tumbled for what felt like an eternity, never reaching the bottom. Was this what death felt like? He felt his mind grow hazy, become more muddled by the second. He knew that when he lost consciousness he would never wake up again. I can¡¯t die! Not here, not now! There¡¯s still so much I want to do! He hadn¡¯t taken revenge on the one who ordered his friends¡¯ death. Mad Dog and Slyfox¡¯s killer still roamed free. He hadn¡¯t achieved his dream of leaving the wastelands, either. How could he die now? He was filled with defiance, an anger that burned away the confusion that threatened to consume his mind. When his eyes shot open Cloudhawk found himself lying in pitch darkness. Eventually the haze cleared from his eyes and he looked out over a vast dark sea. Splash! He tumbled into the water. Suddenly, an endless pressure closed in on him from all sides. It was so intense he was afraid he¡¯d be crushed into pulp, both suffocating and excruciatingly painful. Cloudhawk struggled, trying not to drown. Suddenly a powerful consciousness appeared from the recesses of his mind. ¡°Please focus your will!¡± Cloudhawk felt like something wasn¡¯t right. For some reason this place seemed familiar, like he¡¯d been here before in a dream. He recalled meeting someone here, a mysterious stranger who claimed to be the previous owner of the stone Cloudhawk wore around his neck. Of course he couldn¡¯t forget it. Ever since then he¡¯d been able to recognize and call on the resonance of relics. He¡¯d been a typical scavenger who somehow was able to survive until now because of this power. Without that strange experience he¡¯d have been ignored by the Queen ¨C he¡¯d likely be dead. The profound and mysterious consciousness continued to speak through his mind. ¡°Please focus your will!¡± He didn¡¯t understand what the voice was trying to say. All he could focus on was the intense pain, both from the crushing waters and the suffocating pressure. Together they threatened to shatter his psyche. ¡°Please focus your will!¡± For the third time the voice pleaded with him. He couldn¡¯t grasp what it meant when faced with this situation, so he did the only thing he could. He relaxed his whole body and calmed his mind. A sense of ease came over him. The pressure and sensation of drowning melted away. Cloudhawk then felt the waters infiltrating his body; through his eye sockets, his ears and every pore in his body. Things began to change, sensation running through his body that were familiar ¨C just like last time. But there was something different. Before the mysterious figure had injected him with the power directly, while this time Cloudhawk¡¯s body drank it in of its own accord. Judging by the scope of his absorption it was a far greater volume now. This was some kind of power transfer! Cloudhawk could feel it empowering his psychic energy, making it surge! The mysterious stranger locked his consciousness in the stone and Cloudhawk was able to resonate with it. Because of this he was able to inherit the stranger¡¯s power ¨C only, there was far too much of it. It felt vast as an ocean, endlessly stretching in every direction. It proved that when he was alive this stranger had to have been even stronger than the Bloodsoaked Queen! Someone this strong had to have been a famous figure. What was his background? Cloudhawk could sense that whoever he was considered himself a failure and wanted Cloudhawk to finish what he started. But Cloudhawk found the thought curious. If someone as strong as this mysterious man had failed, what made him think a kid like Cloudhawk could succeed? It was all too convoluted, too strange, too mysterious. Cloudhawk pushed these distracting thoughts from his mind. His body was consumed with a sudden tearing pain which he knew meant he¡¯d reached his limit. The vast sea disappeared. His consciousness returned. The first thing he felt when he opened his eyes was intense pain. It was an anguish that wracked his whole body, and just below it a maddening itch that wouldn¡¯t go away. Cloudhawk pulled up his clothes to survey the damage and found his wounds were stitched. He could tell by the sutures Mantis had done it. They¡¯d won. Fuckin¡¯ a! The pain and itching both came from his healing injuries. Pain was obvious, since there wasn¡¯t much in the Wastelands that acted like an anesthetic. If you got hurt out here you gritted your teeth and bore it. As for the itching, it was a reaction from the panacea. It increased healing by more than a factor of ten ¨C a wound that would likely take ten days to heal was fully recovered in one. The intense itch was from skin, muscle and bone knitting back together at break-neck speed. Altogether it was worse than agonizing. Panacea wasn¡¯t perfect and was intended to be used with antipruritics and nutrient supplements. These days, however, supplies were limited. Such impressive medicines were gone, so having the panacea alone was the best they could do. There were two primary side effects. The first was the itching, which could get so bad it drove some sufferers insane. In the old days anti-itch medications were a requirements because most normal people couldn¡¯t stand it. The second was the strain it put on the victim¡¯s body. Panacea itself didn¡¯t have any regenerative benefits; in fact, it was just a powerful steroid hormone. Agents within it stirred the latent potential of every cell to instigate recovery. Using too much of it was like trying to squeeze the last bit of water from a dry sponge. The victim drew too much from their own body and it ultimately reduced life expectancy. To prevent this it used to be paired with nutrient supplements. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know any of this. He was focused on the intense hunger and the sound of his angry bowels, probably due to the strain put on his body¡¯s healing factor. He struggled mightily to get out of bed, then hunted down one of the maidservants and told her to prepare a large table of food. Whatever they had, everything the outpost could offer. He thought he deserved a big meal, to help him recover quickly. Chapter 79 - Power Spike Chapter 79 - Power Spike Cloudhawk engorged himself on food and drink, using the nutrients to help his wounds recover faster. At the current rate he figured he¡¯d be back to normal in three days. While the panacea certainly helped, his rapid recovery was mostly due to his own regenerative abilities. In the midst of his meal Cloudhawk could hear boots approaching. A lithe and beautiful woman appeared, short of hair and stature but very well proportioned. She wore no armor and her chest was concealed by nothing more than a tube top that left her enticing abdomen bare to the eye. The ample protrusions in front caught many eyes, as did her leather-wrapped rump. Her pants were skin tight and outlined every curve of her powerful legs ¨C not long, not short, but well sculpted. Artemis wasn¡¯t as beautiful of face as the Bloodsoaked Queen, but the demonhunter had been born in the elysian lands. Her family was respected and affluent, and she had been given the best growing up. Artemis, on the other hand, was a wild woman from a wild place. She was a wastelander, through and through. The two ladies had led very different lives, and from the eyes of a wastelander Artemis was a rare and incredible specimen. ¡°Well, well¡­ I didn¡¯t think little brother was going to make it ¨C or that he could eat like this. No wonder I have an eye for you, eh?¡± She wrapped him in a hug. One might expect a hug from a beautiful woman to be a pleasant experience, but she snatched him up with all the force of a grizzly bear. Far from appreciative, Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his skull and his neck nearly snapped. He slapped her arms, entreating mercy. ¡°Let go. Lemme go!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry ¨C I got excited. You alright?¡± Her words were apologetic but her face told a different story. She released Cloudhawk and pressed a hand to his cheek. ¡°I want to tell you some good news. From now on I¡¯m the leader of this outpost!¡± The news surprised him. ¡°What about Hydra?¡± She rolled her eyes at his stupid question. If Hydra was alive, how could she lead? Speaking of Hydra, she was reminded of something the Bloodsoaked Queen had ordered. ¡°Are you full? Come with me, we¡¯re taking a visit to the dungeon. We¡¯ve got to let someone out.¡± As they traversed the fort ¨C and in fact the whole outpost ¨C Cloudhawk could hear the sounds of battle. Everything seemed chaotic, and neither the Queen nor Mantis were anywhere to be found. Presumably they were out dealing with those rebelling against Hydra¡¯s replacement. Artemis wobbled unsteadily as they walked the streets, favoring her bandaged leg and shoulder. She couldn¡¯t help clean up the rioters in her condition. Instead they made their way to the dungeons and stopped in front of one of the cages therein. When Cloudhawk saw who it was he was both perplexed and curious. They gradually gave way to astonishment. ¡°This is Leonine? What the hell happened?¡± The last time he¡¯d seen him the slaver was a bearded, stalwart veteran, deadly as a lion. The man before him now was completely different. His eyes were sunken and dull, his hair had all gone white. He sat there like a husk, with no spirit to speak of. He seemed to have aged forty years overnight, and the man in the cage looked like a walking corpse waiting to rot away. That tenacious, stout warrior had completely disappeared. The person he was now was all-but a lifeless corpse. Artemis approached him and unlocked his shackles. ¡°Sorry, I guess I forgot you were in here. I¡¯m sure you already heard that the demonhunter killed Hydra. So, you¡¯re free ¨C off you go!¡± Leonine¡¯s legs were mostly useless.Hydra had severed his tendons, turning him into a cripple. But even if he was completely healthy, all reason for him to live had been taken away. That made him no different from a complete cripple. He lifted his withered face and stared at the two of them as though through a haze. A hoarse voice croaked through his mouth. ¡°My wife? My children?¡± Thirty minutes later¡­ Three grave mounds had appeared in front of the outpost. They¡¯d been made with dirt and stone, humble resting places no one would recognize. But they were the product of Leonine¡¯s own hands, and the effort turned his already mangled appendages into bloody messes. He didn¡¯t seem to feel pain ¨C or feel anything at all. His face never changed all throughout the process. Three unrecognizable bodies were interred within. Cloudhawk remembered a passage about funerals from the ancient books. He found three candles and placed one before each body. Their tiny flames flickered valiantly in defiance of death. Their tiny rebellion was touching. Leonine knelt before the graves, staring dumbly at the lights. The candlelight fought off the encroaching darkness, like a border between life and death. In their dim light Leonine thought he could see familiar figures, hear familiar voices. ¡°Daddy, you said that I¡¯m a man. I have to protect my mom and my sister!¡± ¡°Brother and mommy are always being bullied by bad men. You have to stay, daddy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel bad. Honest I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what happens¡­ I believe in you!¡± Leonine¡¯s face twisted into strange expressions, somewhere between wanting to cry and laugh. He muttered to himself, face covered in tears, unable to separate the real from the imagined. He¡¯d lost his mind. ¡°Look at that poor bastard. He¡¯s gone nuts.¡± She could hardly look at him, and though she made no effort to keep her voice low Leonine didn¡¯t seem to hear. ¡°He helped make me leader. We should help.¡± Cloudhawk knew what she meant. He thrust out with the sharp end of his exorcist staff and pushed it through the back of Leonine¡¯s neck. The drill point slipped out from the base of his throat on the other side and his steaming blood spilled out over the graves. Their spray extinguished the three tiny candles. A few minutes later a fourth grave had been dug. It was situated in front of the other three, like a staunch protector against the wind and rain. Leonine would protect them in death as he tried to do in life. Cloudhawk and Artemis had left, leaving the graves alone with no markings or tombstones. No one would remember them or the torture they¡¯d suffered. Leonine had been the definition of a wastelander.Countless graves marking countless stories like his were strewn across the blasted lands. The world was like a callous and indifferent bystander, watching the tragedy that was life and humanity play out its sad stories. Artemis hobbled back toward the fort and asked, ¡°Do you think people need faith?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Cloudhawk answered her with a serious expression. He looked at her. ¡°Everyone has faith. I do, the Queen does, even the sweepers. It was the same for Leonine and Hydra. It¡¯s how we know we¡¯re alive, you can¡¯t survive without it.¡± ¡°So what do you believe in?¡± She asked. ¡°Can you tell me?¡± Cloudhawk had nothing to hide. ¡°I have faith I¡¯ll leave the wastelands. I want to see the rest of the world, find a place where there isn¡¯t any killing or pain. I want to find a paradise somewhere without schemes.¡± Artemis clicked her tongue. ¡°Is there such a place? Quit fuckin¡¯ dreaming! I never had my head in the clouds, is that living? People like you are just senseless, you need to get over yourself.¡± Cloudhawk was in a sour mood. He didn¡¯t bother with her anymore. Three days of recovery passed. By now Cloudhawk¡¯s wounds were mostly healed and he could get around without any pain or impediment. The young scavenger thought about his near-death experience, the power he¡¯d found within the stone that was funneled into him. Unless he was mistaken, he should be stronger than ever now. He began by practicing the postures of the demonhunters that the Queen had taught him. He¡¯d managed to get to number twelve before having to stop. This confirmed his guess that the stone hadn¡¯t improved him physically, only mentally. The next question was how much had his psychic energy developed? Cloudhawk covered himself in his invisibility cloak and channeled his psychic energy through it. Almost immediately he resonated with it, summoning its powers. A vibration thrummed and spread out through the area, causing the light to warp. Then he disappeared. It was different! Completely different! Using the cloak now didn¡¯t feel draining to him at all, even after maintaining it for more than ten seconds. He also sensed immediately that he was faster and more buoyant. Extrapolating by what he¡¯d experienced, Cloudhawk figured he¡¯d been using twenty percent of what the cloak could do before. Now maybe it was closer to forty percent. Whereas before the longest he could stay hidden was twelve seconds, now he could maintain the relic for several minutes. Judging from how the Queen used relics ¨C especially the phoenix gourd ¨C one could understand how a relic worked. Specifically, they relied on the power of the bearer. The more psychic energy the Queen poured into the gourd, the more powerful was the phoenix she summoned. When she was weakened the phoenix was correspondingly weaker. That was the relationship between demonhunters and their relics. In the hands of the legendary demonhunters even the simplest relics could summon earth-shaking power. Give a rookie demonhunter the mightiest relic in the world and he wouldn¡¯t be able to use it. He¡¯d be better off with an exorcist staff. Cloudhawk could see that his psychic powers had improved considerably. Chapter 80 - Salamander Chapter 80 - Salamander Greenland Outpost always had unstable elements within its walls. Hydra wanted to stand on his own, but certainly there were those who had different ideas. Independence meant conflict, and conflict meant combat. Combat lead to death. Unless one had a vested interest one wouldn¡¯t be eager to fight and possibly lose one¡¯s life. And so, even if Hydra were still alive it was unlikely it would have maintained the same level of stability it had before. Unrest flourished without the former leader¡¯s iron-fisted hold and the threat of a cruel end. Artemis was powerful, at least more powerful than most. But since she was a woman it was hard for others to recognize her authority. The demon would strike back soon. He had to, after what happened to his lieutenants. Stabilizing the situation and preparing for his arrival was a priority. In the last several days the Bloodsoaked Queen had only come to visit Cloudhawk once. The rest of her time was spent purging the outpost of dissidents. She ruthlessly eliminated opposition to Artemis¡¯ reign while generously showering followers with food and water. She tempered brutality with mercy to pacify the masses and bring the situation under control step by step. The Queen was young, and she still found herself vulnerable to rash and reckless decisions. She proved it by running into the wastelands to hunt a demon on her own, as well as killing Hydra. However, one could not deny her effectiveness. Blackflag Outpost had been in turmoil when she arrived, but through her bloody methods it was reorganized. She brought rules, built a foundation, and in less than a year the chaos had largely subsided. Greenland Outpost was ten times more complicated than Blackflag Outpost had been. Nonetheless, the Queen¡¯s oppressive strength was an important deterrent.As they shared Hydra¡¯s stores of personal wealth the condition of the general populace improved. Gradually, most of the outpost¡¯s denizens came to accept the new status quo. Her specific methods were unclear to Cloudhawk. As he recovered he spent most of his time with the outpost¡¯s new leader. Although Artemis was subject to changing moods, she was a denizen of the wastelands and knew their plight. Speaking with her felt more relatable, less stuffy than when the young man tried to talk to the Queen. Artemis, on the other hand, felt Cloudhawk was unique. At first she¡¯d thought he was a demonhunter, or perhaps an apprentice. She¡¯d wanted to bed him and add another special notch to her proverbial belt. But over time she found that he was just a special sort of wastelander. There were things about him that were completely unlike any other wastelander she¡¯d ever met. He was pure and na?ve. Those were not words one usually used to describe the wretches of the wilds. Cloudhawk was a miracle in a place where evil reigned. For him to live so long in the face of cruelty and indifference, and especially for him to keep the views he held, surpassed whatever thrills of the flesh she¡¯d entertained. Today, Artemis picked up her fifty-pound hammer and called a dozen soldiers together. ¡°Y¡¯all are coming with me. I¡¯m gonna lead you into the fight.¡± Her proclamation took Cloudhawk by surprise. It was quite sudden. ¡°The fight? Who are we fighting?¡± ¡°I just got some news,¡± Artemis said, a cloud of anger crossing her face. ¡°There¡¯s someone in the outpost called Salamander ¨C the asshole always hated me and now he¡¯s gathered a few people he¡¯s planning to take out of here. We¡¯ve gotta deal with ¡®em, otherwise others will think it¡¯s ok to just up and leave.¡± ¡°A handful of people isn¡¯t going to make a difference. Plus, you aren¡¯t healed yet, and the Queen said you shouldn¡¯t leave the fort.¡± Cloudhawk eyed the men she¡¯d gathered suspiciously. Clearly this hadn¡¯t been the Queen¡¯s idea, it was Artemis playing out a personal grudge. ¡°Anyway, do you think we have enough soldiers? How strong is Salamander?¡± Anyone in the wastelands with a title had earned it somehow. ¡°Salamander didn¡¯t follow the rules even when Hydra was alive, so Hydra didn¡¯t pay him much mind. He isn¡¯t weak, but not strong enough to be any sort of threat. He¡¯s only got a handful of people who listen to him.¡± Artemis rested her hammer on the floor. It struck hard enough to crack stone. ¡°I¡¯m no cripple. I¡¯m more than healed enough to deal with this irritating shit.¡± This woman was as rash as she was unreliable. He couldn¡¯t help but continue to challenge her. ¡°We should at least tell the Queen. Or if not have Mantis come with us.¡± ¡°They¡¯re busy, when will they have time? I¡¯ve always had enemies, and this guy¡¯s pissed me off before. I won¡¯t sit by and watch him swagger out with my people.¡± Anger had crept into her voice. ¡°So are you fuckin¡¯ comin¡¯ or not?!¡± The decision was already made, Cloudhawk could only agree. Anyway, he wanted to try out his new powers and see what he could do. ¡°I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you. Wait till we deal with this asshole and big sister will treat you right!¡± She beamed at him. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get our stuff.¡± Salamander had taken his people out into the oasis and was camped in the ruins. Although he was considered an elite member of the outpost Artemis never saw him as anything but an asshole. Now she was the leader and had access to the best equipment in camp. What did she have to fear? Cloudhawk picked out a revolver from the armory, one with a nasty punch just in case. A few minutes later he was following Artemis and her group into the oasis. He was wary, for although Salamander wasn¡¯t as capable as Artemis he¡¯d gotten the better of her before. They couldn¡¯t be careless. Artemis didn¡¯t rush in recklessly. She sent scouts ahead to see what they were walking in to. The oasis ruins weren¡¯t far from the outpost. All along the path it was bestrewn with grotesque statues in various states of disrepair and the twisted remains of structures. The style of these ruins was different from other sectors, like they were deposited from somewhere else. They seemed much older, plucked from several thousand years ago by some mysterious power and dropped into the middle of a jungle. These sorts of bizarre scenes weren¡¯t a rare sight in the wastelands. No one knew where they¡¯d come from, but they weren¡¯t anything special to those who lived in these blasted lands. ¡°Boss, I found ¡®em!¡± One of the outpost scouts came trotting over to her. ¡°They¡¯re in the center of the statue garden, getting ready. I counted ten or twelve, with three or four outfitted for long-range combat.¡± ¡°As expected.¡± A grin spread across Artemis¡¯ face. Her soldiers were skilled and well equipped, and with the advantage of a sneak attack their chances were better than good. She waved to the left and right. ¡°With me!¡± Statues and pillars spread across the area, which in turn were blanketed in moss and crawling vines. There had to be hundreds of them, set up in a strange sort of formation. It was a good spot to avoid the oasis monsters and fight back if they chose to attack, making it an ideal place for those trying to leave. Only Cloudhawk felt something was off. It was already afternoon. Anyone who¡¯d want to defect would have to take time into consideration. Why would they have stopped here? But Artemis was thirsty for revenge and there was no dragging her back. Instead he stayed back toward the rear of their group, so that if things went sour he could run. ¡°Kill ¡®em!¡± Impatience got the better of her and Artemis screamed the order. ¡°Salamander, you¡¯re a dead man!¡± The sound of twanging bow strings and igniting gunpowder echoed through the area. Several of the men in the center of the statues fell. Artemis led their charge, swinging her mighty hammer. She caught one of Salamander¡¯s men and sent him flying. The momentum swung her around then flung her into the air. She completed a full circle before heaving her hammer down toward one man in the center of the crowd. ¡°Artemis, you actually came!¡± Salamander was a towering white man wearing a helmet, goggles and a breathing mask. He was covered in armor, with gloved hands and leather boots rising to calf height. There wasn¡¯t an inch of him revealed to the sun which lent him a mysterious air. When he saw Artemis he was not surprised, and in fact met her with a taunting sneer. Like an eel he slithered out of harm¡¯s way and Artemis¡¯ hammer buried itself bloodlessly into the ground. She didn¡¯t lift her hammer back up and instead used it to support herself as she flung her right leg at him. It streaked down from overhead like a battleax, but Salamander capably dodged again. But no sooner did her two legs hit the ground than she sprang up and kicked again. One of the statues in her way exploded into fragments. The flurry of attacks was making it difficult for Salamander to keep out of reach. Although the two of them were considered peers, Salamander¡¯s abilities were primarily regenerative in nature. He was comparatively weaker in attack and speed and no matter how good a healer he was it wouldn¡¯t help him against her. He couldn¡¯t recover if he turned into a fleshy puddle. As he watched the scene Cloudhawk recognized how far apart in skill they were. He didn¡¯t have to be involved, Artemis had the fight well in hand. Artemis flipped her head back, flinging her hair from a wild and feral expression. She looked like a vengeful panther. ¡°You¡¯ve almost killed me a couple of times, you think I¡¯m just gonna let your worthless ass go?¡± ¡°As always, you¡¯re all muscle and no brains. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been able to teach you lesson after lesson.¡± From outside it looked like Salamander was in a difficult spot, but he was perfectly calm. He seemed unaware, or perhaps unconcerned, with his hopeless situation. ¡°If I wanted to leave without you knowing you¡¯d have never heard a thing. You only knew because I wanted you to.¡± Artemis¡¯ thin brows scrunched together. What was this guy saying? Cloudhawk had already been fighting the nagging feeling that something was wrong, when suddenly an acute sense of danger washed over him. From behind he heard the sound of heavy footsteps followed by a gust of air and pressure. Cloudhawk reflexively threw himself to the side just fast enough to avoid the spiked iron cudgel that whipped by and smashed into the ground. The stone floor he¡¯d been standing on was turned to powder. Shards of rock like bullets scattered in every direction. Cloudhawk¡¯s cheek burned.Some of the shrapnel must have hit him. He turned to see the one who¡¯d attacked. The man was a giant standing at nearly ten feet tall and covered in plate armor. All of it had to weigh a hundred pounds, not including the vicious fifty pound cudgel he wielded like a meat grinder. ¡°Sweepers!¡± One, two, three¡­ monstrous maneaters appeared from behind the statues where they¡¯d been hiding. The demon¡¯s slain henchmen hadn¡¯t brought this many with them to the outpost, and these sweepers were better outfitted than any Cloudhawk had seen before. Where the hell did they come from?! Could it mean¡­ Salamander fired a few darts at Artemis, forcing her to knock them away. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t notice the bulb-like protrusions covering them.When she smacked them with her hammer they exploded into clouds of multicolored smoke. She sucked in a noxious breath and immediately her head felt muddled, while her limbs lost all strength. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ll never beat me!¡± Artemis fumbled with her hammer like a drunk woman. She stumbled several paces before she lost control and toppled to the floor. Mother fucker! Trapped again. And she¡¯d gotten Cloudhawk tied up in this. Artemis was humiliated and enraged. Chapter 81 - Rescue Chapter 81 - Rescue The maneater swung its spiked weapon, smashing the nearby statues apart as though they were made of tofu. They exploded into shrapnel. Cloudhawk had dodged the attack but the resulting force of the blow struck him like a blast of thunder and knocked him to the ground. ¡°Aaaaaooogghhh!¡± It didn¡¯t give Cloudhawk a chance to run. The beast roared and lifted its cudgel for another strike. Lying helpless on the floor the boy whipped his revolver from his waist and let off a shot. What happened next shocked him ¨C as big as the maneater was he moved with supernatural agility. He pulled the cudgel down in front of his face, deflecting the bullet aimed for his eye. The sparks that leapt off his iron cudgel seemed to mock Cloudhawk. Son of a bitch! This goddamn freak is too good! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bother with his exorcist staff. Even if he landed a blow he doubted it¡¯d be more than a tickle against this thing. But if he stayed within range of its cudgel he was sure to be smashed to bits. His enemy was way more than he could handle. The maneater lifted its cudgel again. Cloudhawk tried to slither to the right like a desperate snake. Everywhere he scrambled the thunderous sounds of impact followed half a step behind. He was showered by rubble as stones were blasted apart. Each time his monkey-like prey skittered out of reach the maneater only became more enraged. His twisted maw emanated roars that would make mountains tremble. He swung his cudgel ever faster as he chased down Cloudhawk. The cudgel was headed right for the boy¡¯s skull and there was no way he could dodge. Boom-! The spiked club struck ground, forcing the stone statues nearby to tremble and crack. But when the maneater lifted his weapon he found nothing in the pit he¡¯d made. The mushy heap of blood and flesh he expected wasn¡¯t there. A perplexed growl rumbled from his throat. His pitifully limited brain couldn¡¯t comprehend what happened to the human! By now the other maneaters had appeared from their hiding places and were attacking the outpost soldiers. One of them charged into the group club first like a rhinoceros, which the humans responded to by blindly firing their weapons at him. But neither bow nor gun could pierce the monstrous mutant¡¯s armor. More than a couple of the outpost soldiers were crack shots ¨C able to place a bullet right in their eyes ¨C but their targets were just as capable. In the midst of their charge they used their weapons to protect their vital parts. The maneater barreled through the hail of gunfire and into the group of hapless humans. The enormous iron club and the behemoth who wielded it bore down on them. Bang! A mangled body hurdled through the air and smacked into one of the half-collapsed statues. The corpse fell to the ground like a broken doll, leaving a crater where the statue used to be. ¡°Run!¡± The soldier hardly had time to scream the word before a cudgel came crashing down on the back of his skull. Bits of bone went flying in all directions like broken glass but the cudgel kept going. The soldier was smashed flat. Armor, weapons, clothes and flesh were crushed into an indiscernible mess. Every one of these creatures were terrifyingly strong! There was nothing these outpost soldiers could do against them! After falling prey to her foe¡¯s poison Artemis lay in a heap on the ground, numb. Though she couldn¡¯t move her body her mind was sharp.She could see and understand everything that was happening around her. Her pretty face was twisted with anger and regret ¨C she had underestimated Salamander, and now it meant her death and the deaths of all those she brought with her. ¡°Salamander, you soft-dick shit sock! Now you¡¯re the sweepers¡¯ bitch, eh? You fuckin¡¯ traitor!¡± ¡°Me? A traitor? You don¡¯t see the irony in that, coming from you?¡± Salamander¡¯s hoarse voice was heavy with disdain. ¡°It was fine that you were one of Hydra¡¯s flunkies, but to throw in with a demonhunter? You¡¯ve brought the outpost to the edge of war ¨C you¡¯re the damn traitor! The hunter sees us wastelanders as pawns, tools she can use up and throw away. Do you actually think she gives a shit about any of us?¡± There wasn¡¯t anything she could say to that. Salamander was one of the oldest veterans of the outpost. He¡¯d lived there for a decade before Hydra came and took power, but the former leader had never elevated him to a position of power. Hydra simply didn¡¯t trust the man. Salamander, face full of rage, hissed at her. ¡°I lived half my life in the outpost. I watched as it was built, as it grew prosperous and populated. I love this place more than anyone, and I would never betray my home! On the contrary, everything I do is to save the outpost from disaster. You and your people come along and want to use it as a tool. Your greed and ambition have tainted this jewel of the wastelands!¡± Artemis gritted her teeth. ¡°What are you gonna do?¡± ¡°The outpost needs a real leader. Someone from the wastelands who can bring real peace.¡± His voice grew cold. ¡°As for the demonhunter? That self-righteous bitch? I¡¯m going to kill her!¡± Artemis erupted in derisive laughter. ¡°You think the demon gives a fuck about you? That asshole is gonna turn the outpost into nothing more than his personal farm. Why do you think Hydra was fighting for independence? You¡¯re such a dumb-ass. Hahahaha!¡± Salamander¡¯s eyes grew dark and spiteful, and he drew himself up like a man slighted. He kicked her brutally, so hard she spat blood. ¡°Shut your fucking mouth, you stupid bitch! Better a farm than in the hands of some demonhunter!¡± In less than five minutes the field of statues was caked in gore. Not a single warrior from the outpost survived. Ten maneaters trundled by, their footsteps making the ground quiver. Salamander didn¡¯t trust them ¨C maneater was just what they called these fifteen-foot tall mutants who were the elite of the sweeper forces. These ten in particular were the cream of the crop. If they turned on him Salamander would only be able to tangle with one of them. One of them made for Artemis, who still lay prostrate on the ground. ¡°No, this one might still be useful.¡± Salamander¡¯s voice was strange and monstrous as it scratched through his mask. ¡°It isn¡¯t safe here, let¡¯s go.¡± The maneater snorted at him in irritation. Cloudhawk hid behind one of the statues, watching everything unfold. If Salamander wanted to kill Artemis right now there wasn¡¯t anything Cloudhawk could do. He couldn¡¯t save her, not with these monsters at his beck and call. He¡¯d only succeed in getting himself killed. Salamander took Artemis and left. Cloudhawk heaved a sigh. Should he return and tell the Bloodsoaked Queen? He was afraid there wasn¡¯t enough time, and who knew if he¡¯d be able to find them again if he left. The worst of it was that sweepers had reappeared in the oasis. This was a bad omen. Artemis was a jackass, but she was the leader of Greenland Outpost! This was the worst time for her to get kidnapped, he had to get her back! Cloudhawk mulled over the choices in his mind. A direct attack was out of the question; that would be simple suicide, as the chances of success were practically zero. But he had to make a decision, and so he did and began to follow Salamander. The masked man was none the wiser, continuing to lead the maneaters through the oasis for two hours. The sky had begun to darken, and after a little while longer night fell. Salamander figured that soldiers from the outpost wouldn¡¯t follow even once they found out. The oasis at night was too dangerous.Even the maneaters didn¡¯t want to risk it. ¡°Take a break, fifteen minutes!¡± Salamander dropped Artemis against a nearby tree and ordered a few of the maneaters to keep an eye on her. She was still incapable of moving her body. Meanwhile Salamander was pondering how to get close enough to a nearby brook for some water without getting snatched up by man-eating trees. Suddenly¡­ A growl arose from within the underbrush, followed quickly by several bear-like figures closing in from all sides. Salamander had been a denizen of the outpost for over twenty years so he knew the best routes through the oasis. This sector should not be hunting grounds for dire bears. Why had they appeared outside of their normal territory? Altogether, there were four or five dire bears. They were very different from the species they¡¯d evolved from in the old days. They still had the recognizable characteristics of bears but were twice as big, had hide thick as armor and were strong enough to tear a man in two. Several of the maneaters answered the dire bears with challenging growls of their own. Oasis creatures were known for their foul temperament. Even though they knew their enemy was dangerous, they would never show any weakness¡­ and so the dire bears roared back, with a few charging straight at the maneaters. Suddenly, the two groups of enormous beasts were locked in combat. This was, of course, Cloudhawk¡¯s handiwork. He¡¯d led the bears here, then hid with the help of his relic cloak, leaving the bears with no other target than his foes. Now that the maneaters were completely focused on the dire bears, he stealthily crept up behind where Artemis lay. He gently nudge her shoulder and whispered in her ear. ¡°Hey. You alright?¡± ¡°The fuck? You aren¡¯t dead?!¡± Cloudhawk flung her over his shoulder. Invisibility was pointless now so he stopped channeling the relic¡¯s power and ran for the outpost. Salamander hadn¡¯t been caught up in the battle with the dire bears and so he immediately saw that Artemis had been taken away. His face became a scowl. ¡°Son of a bitch! Someone¡¯s taken her. We have to go after them!¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been running for more than five minutes before he heard footsteps fast approaching. Artemis glowered over his shoulder. ¡°You can¡¯t outrun Salamander. Forget about me and get out of here!¡± Salamander threw out his hand and four or five darts were whipped toward them. They were envenomed and accurate, Cloudhawk knew, and if any of them hit they¡¯d be finished. He used his senses to dodge as many as he could, but one of them was aimed straight at Artemis.Cloudhawk gritted his teeth and spun around, using himself as a shield. Artemis gaped at him. ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± He wasn¡¯t, of course. The dart found its target but couldn¡¯t pierce his masterwork relic cloak! It struck hard enough to leave a wound, but couldn¡¯t deliver its venom. Cloudhawk and Salamander were faster than the lumbering maneaters. Some of them were still fighting the dire bears, and those that had come with their human leader fell behind after a few minutes. As he¡¯d demonstrated, Salamander was not only fast but also adept at throwing darts. So long as he was alive they weren¡¯t getting away. With no other options, Cloudhawk skidded to a halt and put Artemis down. He turned, brandished his exorcist staff, and glared threateningly at Salamander. ¡°Heh. Take a good look at yourself, kid. You haven¡¯t even grown any facial hair and you want to fight me?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s response was to propel himself forwards on his two legs¡­ and then, all of a sudden, he disappeared. Salamander stared at the empty air in disbelief. A moment later an evil wind gusted his way, but by the time he reacted to protect himself it was too late. The tri-bladed end of a metal staff was buried in his chest. Evidently, Cloudhawk¡¯s skills and speed were far greater than he had imagined. Chapter 82 - Conflic Chapter 82 - Conflict Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist staff was constructed so that its sharpened end was a vicious three-edged point. The wounds it caused were large and difficult to heal. Salamander was caught off guard, resulting in the staff drilling four inches into his body [1]. Once it had buried itself in deep Cloudhawk twisted his wrist, tearing open the wound even further. A typical person would not survive trauma like this. Even if it missed critical organs the victim would bleed out and die. Cloudhawk heaved, trying to shove the staff in deeper and open the wound wider. Salamander¡¯s left hand gripped the shaft of the weapon while his right hand flung poison darts toward the left side of Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. The young scavenger jerked his staff free and dodged out of the way. Fresh blood spilled over the ground. ¡°So this is¡­ the power of a demonhunter!¡± Raspy breaths hissed through Salamander¡¯s mask. He pressed his hands to the wound to try and stem the bleeding, all the while staring dementedly at his foe. He could hardly believe this young punk had the talent of a demonhunter. Cloudhawk lamented that he hadn¡¯t killed him with his opening strike, but he figured the masked man had to be half-dead at least. Not only was the wound deep, but it was ragged and grave. He soon discovered he was wrong. The ugly wound bled for ten seconds before the flow stopped. By the time Salamander withdrew his hands from the area it had almost completely closed up. What incredible healing ability! His talents weren¡¯t in strength, agility, constitution or control. Instead, he had a level of regenerative ability that was rarely seen. While it wasn¡¯t to the level of that undead nightmare, the freak in black, Cloudhawk had never seen a normal human with this level of healing talent. It was at least several times superior to Cloudhawk¡¯s! Clang! He knocked away the darts that were aimed his way. Salamander rushed ahead in their wake, throwing more darts with his left hand while his right gripped a glowing green dagger. The dart exploded in a hissing cloud of smoke right in front of Cloudhawk¡¯s face, mere moments before a deadly shadow fell over him. Salamander¡¯s fighting style was insidious and relied on poison. Artemis had discovered that the hard way, but Cloudhawk was prepared after seeing what had become of her. The moment the cloud of poison spread he disappeared once more. It gave him cover to retreat. Salamander lunged into the spreading mist of poison. His mask protected him from its ill effects so he could move through the toxic area freely. His target was gone, and he had no way to know where he¡¯d vanished to. Worse, the power of the relic cloak made it so that Cloudhawk was too fast for Salamander to keep up. However, so long as Salamander remained in the embrace of his poison, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t reach him either. The booming footsteps of maneaters shook the area as they neared. The veteran wastelander felt like victory was in his grasp. This young demonhunter¡¯s invisibility was troublesome but not insurmountable. Salamander slowly lifted his left hand, aimed a deadly dart toward where Artemis lay helpless, and let fly. No! Cloudhawk scowled. This old fucker was crafty! He¡¯d remained invisible, looking for an opening to launch his next attack on the man. He hadn¡¯t expected Salamander would turn on Artemis, who was unable to defend herself. He was forced to reveal himself. Cloudhawk was far away from the dart, he couldn¡¯t get to it in time to deflect the hateful thing. His hand went to his waist, gripped the handle of his revolver, and pulled it free. With all his psychic energy focused on the dart it seemed to slow in mid-air. Bang! His bullet knocked the dart off its trajectory. Dread crept into Salamander¡¯s heart. He witnessed the dart being shot out of the air, which meant his foe had superior control and reaction skills. The only other people with those talents in the outpost were their elite marksmen. In addition to this the kid could vanish which only made him more deadly. Hiding in the poison mist was no longer safe. Without hesitation Salamander jumped, followed by the second crack of the pistol. Had he been half a second later Cloudhawk¡¯s shot would have hit him but instead it missed. He landed back on the ground but in his rush he couldn¡¯t get his legs stable under him. Taking advantage of the moment Cloudhawk charged toward him whipping his exorcist staff around. With no way to dodge Salamander pulled out a dart and lifted his left arm to block the strike. Clang! The force of the blow made Salamander¡¯s arm go numb. In the instant the staff was knocked away he brought his sickly green dagger around to cut into Cloudhawk¡¯s flesh. But he didn¡¯t feel the expected rending of skin. Instead, his dagger rasped harmlessly against the kid¡¯s cloak. Whatever it was made of, his dagger couldn¡¯t punch through! It was thin enough that he lacerated the skin, but the poison couldn¡¯t be delivered. Cloudhawk called on the power of his exorcist staff! His psychic energy was mightier than it ever had been and calling the power of the staff no longer required him to focus so intensely. His staff came alive in an instant, unleashing unparalleled impact and tearing force so overwhelming it broke Salamander¡¯s dart to splinters. It continued to press down until the staff was stopped by the veteran¡¯s left arm. Salamander screamed in agony as his arm was smashed clean off! Cloudhawk followed up immediately after with another lunge at his enemy¡¯s chest. The exorcist staff struck him so hard that Salamander¡¯s armor was demolished. Vibrations from the impact shuddered through him and broke every one of his ribs and scrambled his organs. He was thrown fifteen feet away, hit the ground and rolled away like a discarded ragdoll. He was covered in blood, his flesh a mangled ruin. Even Salamander¡¯s impressive healing abilities couldn¡¯t save him anymore. At best it would force him to linger on in pain until death finally took him. Cloudhawk approached, ready to deliver the killing blow. ¡°Why are you so intent on destroying our paradise?¡± Salamander¡¯s helmet and mask had been ruined, revealing a head of white hair and a gaunt, wrinkled face. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips in thick rivulets. With what strength remained he hacked out his words. ¡°Devils¡­ you¡¯re all¡­ just devils!¡± Cloudhawk looked down at the old, broken man beneath him. Another aged face swam up at him through his memories. It was a humble face; ordinary, undistinguished and old. He¡¯d kept Cloudhawk by his side ever since he was a child, teaching him to read, how to live. Cloudhawk was already forgetting what he looked like, just his snow-white hair and wrinkled face. He thought the old man always looked like one who¡¯d suffered the world¡¯s ills yet still mourned the state of humanity. He was always staring out into the wastelands with eyes full of longing. In the end he¡¯d died, never escaping the life of a scavenger. In this instant Cloudhawk saw the two old men as one. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to use his staff. Inwardly his heart clenched. What have I done? With eyes full of hate Salamander glared at him. ¡°You demonhunters are all hypocrites! May the wastelands curse you, may you all languish in suffering ¨C may you rot in hell for eternity!¡± He groped for his dagger with a quivering arm, lifting it from the ground. He used it to open his own throat. ¡°Get your head out of your ass!¡± Artemis was screaming at him from behind. ¡°The sweepers are coming. We¡¯ve gotta go!¡± Her pleas reached deaf ears. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel any sense of victory or accomplishment after cutting down this old man. On the contrary his heart sank. He just stared at the bloody corpse for a few moments, then sank to his knees and closed its dim, glaring eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Go in peace,¡± he whispered. Two maneaters burst into view. Cloudhawk¡¯s head snapped up and he glared at the beasts with blood-red eyes. He vanished, only to appear a moment later bearing his exorcist staff high. With the force of a hurricane he plowed the staff right into a maneater¡¯s chest. Boom-! The pure force of his rage caved the beast¡¯s armor. Even the maneater¡¯s sturdy body couldn¡¯t stop the impact from scrambling its organs. ¡°Fucking DIE!¡± Cloudhawk leapt into the air, summoning another tempest of power which he brought crashing down on the maneater¡¯s head. Its helmet cracked and fell away in pieces while the bone below was split. Its brains were splattered everywhere. He turned, once more summoning the might of his psychic power. Holding his staff with a white-knuckle grip, he brought it around to meet the second maneater¡¯s cudgel! Like two tornadoes meeting, the area was buffeted with the force of their collision. Dirt and stone choked the air. Both the hulking monstrosity and Cloudhawk were knocked back a single pace. The young human quickly regained his footing, though, and with eyes the color of murder he charged again. Incensed with an insanity to match the maneater he thrust his staff forward like an arrow. It planted itself in the sweeper¡¯s chest more effective than a drill and chewed through its armor, its leathery flesh, and exploded from its back through a hole the size of a soup bowl. The maneater crumbled to the ground with a wail. Cloudhawk stood amidst the carnage, gasping for breath. He was soaked with blood from head to toe. Artemis stared with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. The kid had slain two maneaters by himself ¨C it was simply inconceivable. That meant he was almost as strong as she was! When did this kid become so tough? To Cloudhawk, the scope of his improvement was clear. In the past, he would have only been able to use his staff twice in a short period of time. From the start of this fight to its bloody end he¡¯d used it four times. Each strike was stronger than before, and he could use it twice as much. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s berserker rage had exhausted the agitation and sadness in his heart. He hurried over to Artemis, lifted her onto his back and set off as fast as he could for the outpost. The maneaters were strong but not that fast. Escaping the rest of them was not difficult. After they returned, Mantis looked over the new outpost leader. He quickly diagnosed the poison Salamander had used and concocted an antidote. Once he injected it into her she quickly began to recover. When the Queen heard the news she hurried back to the fort. She was furious. Their little excursion had almost been fatal. ¡°Did I not make it perfectly clear that you weren¡¯t to go off on a whim?! What were you thinking? Were you thinking at all?¡± Artemis was in no mood, and in the face of the Queen¡¯s rebuke she shouted back. ¡°That¡¯s enough! I¡¯m not gonna sit here while you order me around. Who the fuck do you think I am? Your goddamn toy?!¡± The Queen¡¯s fist was coiled tight, ready to strike. A boiling heat flooded the area. Artemis felt it but was undeterred. ¡°What? Are you gonna kill me? Go on, show us how little our lives mean to you!¡± Cloudhawk stepped between the two women. ¡°Alright that¡¯s enough. It wasn¡¯t pointless, we managed to find sweepers hiding near the outpost. That was important.¡± ¡°Hmph, what are you worried about?¡± Artemis cast Cloudhawk a withering glare. ¡°Our self-righteous demonhunter won¡¯t kill me. I¡¯m still useful. Aren¡¯t I?¡± How prideful was the Bloodsoaked Queen? This wastelander¡¯s insubordination was a naked insult. With every passing moment the threat of murder burned brighter in her eyes. From the start these two women had not liked each other, and now their conflict was coming to a head. Eventually, Cloudhawk managed to diffuse the situation once more¡­ but the bad blood was there, and it was only getting worse. 1. Depending on the location and one¡¯s BMI, typical chest wall thickness is about two inches. Chapter 83 - Relief Chapter 83 - Relief Night fell, revealing the twinkling stars strewn across the dark sky. They shone from positions they¡¯d held from time immemorial, like the eyes of the gods silently serving vigil over the toils of mortality. A petite figure sat atop Greenland Fort, the wind tossing her short hair. Though she¡¯d lived all her life in the wastelands her skin was smooth and free from blemishes. She suffered no tumors, and her features were normal and healthy. There was only the impetuous expression spread across her face to detract from her beauty. She was like a lioness of the wilds; untamed, beautiful and ferocious. A fifteen year old boy was with her and the two drank beneath the starlight. The young man was thin as a rake, with a head of tousled black hair, but lithe and shrewd. His eyes were especially unique ¨C clear and bright. ¡°I know that demonhunter doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m shit.¡± Artemis threw back her bottle and fiercely gulped down its contents. ¡°What about you, huh? You think I¡¯m some filthy peasant?¡± ¡°The fuck are you blabbering? If you¡¯re filthy, what the hell am I?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Two months ago I was a worthless scav. I¡¯ve never viewed anyone as being ¡®lowly¡¯, and I¡¯ve never thought of her kind as ¡®noble¡¯. We¡¯re all just people. How does where we¡¯re born make us better or worse than anyone else?¡± Artemis couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re so stupid it¡¯s cute.¡± ¡°I admit the Queen¡¯s got a shit temper, but overall she¡¯s not too bad. She¡¯s not completely unreasonable.¡± Cloudhawk had come to see the wasteland woman beside him as a friend. He wasn¡¯t sure what the Queen thought of him, but he saw her as a friend too. He hoped the two of them could get over their differences. ¡°Anyway, you did kick up the shit. Recklessly chasing after Salamander nearly got our asses killed. So what if the Queen chewed you out a little? Why get all pissy about it?¡± She scowled and persisted. ¡°So you also think it¡¯s my fault!¡± Cloudhawk gently tried to persuade her. ¡°The outpost is about to find itself in a nasty fight, and the Queen is the strongest fighter we got. You¡¯re the leader of this place. Now¡¯s not the time to pick fights with allies.¡± ¡°That goddamn woman¡¯s always throwing her weight around. It pisses me off, but that¡¯s not what really makes me angry.¡± Artemis paused to take a few swigs from her bottle, then wiped her mouth with her forearm. She swung her eyes toward the young man, her vision already blurry from drink. ¡°Salamander was a lousy dog fucker, but he had a point. Demonhunters aren¡¯t worth shit!¡± She pushed herself up onto unsteady legs and looked out over the outpost. ¡°She just wants to use this place as a weapon against the sweepers, yeah? Willing to sacrifice all of us on the altar of her ¡®mission.¡¯ In that way Hydra was fuckin¡¯ right, at least he an¡¯ his brother cared about this place, because they needed it for their power. But the demonhunter? Nah. She doesn¡¯t give a shit if these people live or die. The future of this place doesn¡¯t even cross her mind. To her were just pawns ¨C useful only to get what she wants!¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but break into her diatribe. ¡°I think you¡¯ve got her wrong.¡± ¡°Whaddid I saw that wasn¡¯t true, hm?¡± She turned around and looked at him. ¡°You tell me then. What happens after she spanks the shit outta the demon. What then? What¡¯s the outpost gonna do? Has she thought about our fate? Aren¡¯t we wastelanders worthy of determinin¡¯ our own destinies?!¡± Cloudhawk opened his mouth but no words came out. He still saw the loathing in Salamander¡¯s eyes, heard his curses ringing in his ears. They still nagged at him. When he spoke again his voice was low. ¡°There¡¯s a lot in life we have no control over. The Queen, the sweepers, Salamander, you, me¡­ there¡¯s no difference. It¡¯s all a matter of perspective. If the Queen is trying to use the outpost to kill the demon, why can¡¯t the outpost use her to fight for its freedom? No more brutal rule from Hydra, no more life under sweeper control. From now on all your food and water belongs to you ¨C isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± Artemis was rendered speechless. She hadn¡¯t thought about it that way. ¡°You¡¯re the leader now, so you have to take on a leader¡¯s responsibilities. You gotta take a longer view. You work for no one, fight for no one. Greenland Outpost only belongs to the wasteland. War might be cruel, but it might also be a rebirth for this place. Hydra was a puppet of the demon. If that monster could create one Hydra, what was to stop him from creating a second? A third? Why did the Greenland Outpost have to be somebody¡¯s tool? Why couldn¡¯t it own its own fate? Cloudhawk grabbed the bottle from Artemis and took a hefty gulp. The burning warmth slipped down his gullet and into his belly, making his eyes water. When he looked back up at the stars his own eyes were a little hazy. ¡°Down here under the stars it doesn¡¯t matter whether we agree with our lives or not. It doesn¡¯t matter if we¡¯re obedient or stubborn ¨C we¡¯re all just dust. It doesn¡¯t matter who you are, how strong you are¡­ no one can take control of the future. We only got the present, and the only thing we can control is ourselves.¡± A laugh bubbled up in Artemis¡¯ throat. ¡°Now you¡¯re speakin¡¯ in fuckin¡¯ riddles.¡± Cloudhawk scratched his head. ¡°It¡¯s something an old man told me once.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that old man now?¡± ¡°Dead. I buried him.¡± She shrugged at the revelation. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°I think the Queen has her own reasons, her own troubles. You shouldn¡¯t make ¡®em worse. If Greenland Outpost survives this fight it¡¯ll be better off than ever.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, the demonhunter isn¡¯t our enemy. We gotta fight for ourselves ¨C fight for our freedom!¡± She sounded like she¡¯d made up her mind. ¡°When it¡¯s all over, how ¡®bout you stay here with me? Whadda ya say?¡± Cloudhawk was stunned by the sudden offer. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You got a good head, better than mine, and got the power of a demonhunter. In time you¡¯re gonna be even stronger than Hydra.¡± Her eyes brightened with every word. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me you were looking for a peaceful place? You an¡¯ me, together we can make one!¡± Her words stirred him. Nestled in the midst of the oasis, plenty of food and water¡­ sure, the oasis was dangerous, but it was nothing they couldn¡¯t overcome. Cloudhawk was only around fifteen and Artemis was in her early twenties. Both of them were young. In twenty or thirty years, maybe they could build their own paradise. Artemis looked at Cloudhawk as he considered the matter. ¡°Whadda ya think? We can switch places ¨C you lead and I can be your right hand, how¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking!¡± He hardly finished the sentence before he was suddenly being dragged through the air. With one hand Artemis lifted him up and pressed her soft lips to his. With a wild and heated passion she tasted him. Cloudhawk was too stunned to react, not that he could have pushed her off anyway. He¡¯d never felt a sensation like this before. He heard the sound of blood rushing in his ears and the thud of his heart against his chest. His muddled brain was alive with sounds. There was a certain stirring¡­ Then all of a sudden Artemis let him go, licking her lips and grinning at him from ear to ear. She waggled her fist at him in a sign of dominance. ¡°That¡¯s my mark, you belong to me now. That damn Queen can go to hell. Hahahaha!¡± She stumbled backwards and forth in a fit of mad laughter. Cloudhawk could feel the idea worming its way into his heart. Maybe staying here wasn¡¯t so bad. After their exchange Artemis was in much higher spirits, even going so far as to start humming some unknown tune. Swaying her alluring hips, she left. However, neither of them noticed the solitary figure nearby. The crisp, cold moonlight made her appear all the more lonesome. The Bloodsoaked Queen removed her mask and let the light of the moon play over her beautiful features ¨C outlining her conflicted expression. A shadow of pain flit across her eyes. She didn¡¯t know how to shed the tightness she felt in her chest. It was a difficult feeling to bear. She didn¡¯t know when it¡¯d begun, but the Queen had started to view the wastelands differently. She¡¯d begun to question the values she¡¯d held for years. She didn¡¯t know when, but at some point she¡¯d come to care about that young wastelander. These thoughts were a mistake. A lot of what she¡¯d done lately was a mistake. She¡¯d violated so many tenets of her order, but she couldn¡¯t rebel against her own heart and will. Ever since coming to the wastelands, something had been eating at her pious heart. The Bloodsoaked Queen had never had friends. Even though she and Cloudhawk had staved off death together several times, there was an invisible barrier separating them. She wanted to lead Cloudhawk down the road of the demonhunters, partially because she wanted to bring them closer. But now he was growing closer to that repugnant wastelander every day ¨C and further from her. For reasons she couldn¡¯t understand, the thought filled her with anger and jealousy. Almighty gods! Your loyal follower is lost. Every passing moment I¡¯m filled with guilt. If you can hear me, please rinse me of my sins, lead me down the righteous path. Help me finish this¡­ The Queen sat in prayer, trying to clear her mind of confusion and doubt. She held the metallic demon mask in her hands ¨C an inheritance from her father. She¡¯d already given so much to hunt this demon, to avenge her father¡¯s death! There was no going back. For retribution, for atonement, for shame, for glory ¨C she was prepared to exact vengeance at any price, even her life. Help me finish this! She replaced her mask, and in that moment any sign of confusion or fragility was gone. It was replaced with determination to face whatever hell stood before her! Greenland Outpost went on like nothing happened. No one seemed to pay any more mind to the skirmish between Artemis and the Queen. The outpost¡¯s new leader seemed to accept her new post and took over the business of leading. She started by calling on all the remaining troops of the outpost and set patrols. They were ordered to sleep in their armor with weapons at the ready, for battle could break out at any moment. The outpost¡¯s walls were reinforced with four times the normal garrison. Hydra¡¯s personal warehouse was opened and all weapons dispersed to equip everyone, even the common man. When the time came, every able person would fight. Meanwhile the Queen mopped up the last of the resistance. Soon, it was made crystal clear that there was only one ruler of Greenland Outpost. Artemis, the Bloodsoaked Queen, Cloudhawk and Mantis sat with severe countenance within the fort. Artemis slapped her hand against the table and shouted angrily. ¡°Not one of our scouting parties have returned!¡± The scouts they¡¯d chosen for the mission were the best of what remained to the outpost. They knew the oasis inside and out.It was impossible for whole teams to completely succumb to the wilds. Given the experience Artemis and Cloudhawk had with the sweepers and the unsettling silence, they could be almost certain the outpost was surrounded by enemy forces. Sacrificing scouts wasn¡¯t necessary. The gates were closed, and no one was allowed to enter! Greenland Outpost had come upon a moment that would decide its fate. They would live or they would die. From this moment on, they were prepared for the worst! Chapter 84 - Night Raid Chapter 84 - Night Raid Greenland Outpost mobilized every soldier they could, including those who weren¡¯t part of the outpost at all. A massive conscription campaign put a weapon in the hands of anyone who could fight. Stone was one of those wastelanders-turned-soldier. He was in his early twenties, and like many denizens of the wastelands he didn¡¯t have a proper name. Stone picked something he saw often as his moniker, and it turned out to be an apt description. As he grew Stone became as tenacious and unyielding as his namesake, eventually reaching his potential as a doughty soldier. During his enlistment Stone was able to best two professional soldiers by himself, so they made him part of the wall¡¯s defense. From that moment on he was a true warrior. ¡°You new?¡± A craggy and unpleasant voice assailed him. Stone saw an older man resting beneath a crenel, two massive black broadswords for weapons. One was in his hands and he ground its edge against a whetstone. Better than average leather armor protected his body and head. The armor seemed to have been personally customized and reinforced. Most discomforting, however, was the man¡¯s hideous face. Half of it was caved in like he¡¯d taken a hammer to the cheek. How was he still alive? Stone nodded but didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Man as young and healthy as you¡­ why¡¯d you join up?¡± The veteran put his sword to the side and fished a rough hand-rolled cigarette from his waist. He put it in his mouth, lit it, and took a long drag. ¡°Seems t¡¯me life as a bandit¡¯d be better. No one tellin¡¯ you what t¡¯do, go where you please... you¡¯d probably earn more, but most importantly you¡¯d pick yer own targets. Come across somethin¡¯ stronger¡¯n you, just run.¡± Stone was taken aback by the strange man. ¡°You don¡¯t like being a soldier?¡± ¡°Soldiers are always facin¡¯ the unknown. Even if you know yer gonna die, if the cap¡¯n says fight, you fight. Followin¡¯ orders, that¡¯s the life of a soldier.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to me a bandit¡¯s life is much better. They don¡¯t even have a steady place to lay their head.¡± Stone objected to the grizzled warrior¡¯s opinion. ¡°The new leader said it, anyone who joined up has a place in the fort. All I¡¯m looking for is a safe place to sleep.¡± ¡°Hrmph. The fort, eh? Gotta be breathin¡¯ to earn that blessin¡¯.¡± This time it was another soldier who spoke, a large and burly man with not a thread of hair on his smooth head. His weapon was an iron spear resting on his shoulder. ¡°Maybe if it was Hydra leadin¡¯ us we¡¯d have a shot, but this woman? She was just one of his flunkeys. You even know who we¡¯re fightin, kid? Sweepers!¡± Stone continued to challenge them. ¡°The new leader might not be as strong as the old boss was, but she¡¯s got that banshee helping her. They already turned the place around. They say anyone who refuse to accept the new leader, the banshee shows up and snuffs out their life. If I were you I¡¯d be careful what I say.¡± The bald man clearly paid the warning no mind. ¡°A¡¯ight now that¡¯s enough, we¡¯re here so no use yappin¡¯. We¡¯re all brothers now. We need to be smart in these dark times.¡± The veteran plucked the cigarette butt from his mouth and flicked over the side of the wall. His patchwork leather armor creaked as he rose and clapped a hand on Stone¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You an¡¯ Baldy got night watch, I¡¯ll bring the others ¡®round for patrol. Holler if you see anything. Baldy, you look after the new blood.¡± ¡°Will do, captain!¡± Night fell quickly. The oasis was enveloped in an unsettling silence. Stone and Baldy sat across from one another, lit by the flames of a campfire between them that dispelled the chilly night air. They took turns talking and feeding the fire. Baldy fished out a large biscuit and broke it in half. He handed a piece to Stone. ¡°Night shift is long and tough. If you don¡¯t eat you won¡¯t keep up your focus.¡± The biscuit was a jerky-like pulp made from smashed roots and stems, all coarse and bitter fiber that was no fun to chew. But at least it filled their bellies, and out in the wastelands anything that eased the hunger was appreciated. Who¡¯d complain over taste? ¡°Thanks.¡± Even this small piece of biscuit was worth a lot out here ¨C more than a few people would kill for it. Your typical new recruit was not well-off and often went days without a meal. With longing in his face, Stone spoke to his comrade: ¡°The new boss has started to hand out all the food that was hoarded in the fort. Folks are getting more and more for themselves and their lives are improving. We¡¯ve gotta beat these sweepers, not pay tribute ¨C life will improve even more.¡± Baldy, on the other hand, had never liked the new boss. What did that distant future have to do with anything, anyway? Stone stuck a piece of the hard biscuit in his mouth, chewed it to soften it up with his spit then gulped it down. A gust of wind blew particles of sand at them. ¡°Pa, sand?¡± Stone scowled at the wind. The oasis was protected by ruins that kept the desert at bay, so where did this grit come from? Strange though it was, he paid it little mind as he continued his discussion with the older warrior. ¡°How long have you been doing this?¡± ¡°Three years, maybe four. I forget.¡± The sound of sand whipping against the walls increased, filling their ears with rasping noise. Baldy sighed. ¡°A guy like me with no real talent to speak of, almost forty¡­ this is about the best I can hope for.¡± Stone chuckled. ¡°Come on, out in the wastelands making it to forty is an accomplishment. I hope I make it to your age. I¡¯d be happy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re young, you got potential.¡± Baldy shook his head, full of envy. ¡°If you make it to my age you¡¯ll at least earn a name for yourself here. You¡¯ll be somebody.¡± But Stone didn¡¯t seem interested in such a fate. ¡°Was Panther somebody? Snaketooth? They¡¯re dead, even Hydra¡­ ah, doesn¡¯t matter how strong they were, they were still insignificant to the wastelands. Me, I just don¡¯t want to starve to death. I just want to sleep somewhere safe and enjoy a woman from time to time. I¡¯d be content to do that for forty years.¡± The kid¡¯s demands were a tall order. Wasn¡¯t that the dream of every wastelander? Baldy was getting ready to ridicule him a little when he noticed the sand getting thicker. The grit was starting to affect his vision and the sound of it blowing against the walls made it difficult to hear. The sand was startling to sprinkle like sheets of rain, covering both of them in a thin layer of it. Their campfire was sputtering, barely keeping itself alight. ¡°What the fuck is all this?¡± Baldy had never experienced something like this. He picked up his weapon and rose to his feet then stuck his head out of the crenel to take a look. ¡°Where¡¯s all this goddamn sand coming fr- ahh!¡± A shrill scream broke the night silence! Stone was fiddling with the fire when suddenly he felt a warm spray skitter across his cheek like a spider. One moment he was listening to Baldy talk and the next his new companion was on the floor, limbs twitching. His eyes stared into the distance and his lips twitched, trying desperately to form words, but nothing but unintelligible syllables sputtered out. A hand ax jutted from between his eyes, half buried in his skull and deep enough to sever a third of his brain. ¡°Sneak attaaaack!¡± His scream changed the night from dead silence into chaos. He picked up his weapon and leapt to his feet with no hesitation, moments before the huge silhouette of a sweeper bore down on him. Its deadly hatchet was aimed right for Stone¡¯s head. Clang! Stone held a sheet iron shield between him and the attack, whose impact shook and numbed his left arm. Without thinking he shoved the knife in his right hand deep into the sweeper¡¯s chest. It cut into the mutant¡¯s heart and caused blood to spew everywhere like a fountain. Stone wiped his face clean and ripped his dagger from the body. Whoosh-whoosh! Two sharp and ice cold crossbow bolts punctured his flimsy armor and jutted out from his chest. Eyes wide, Stone turned around and the charging figure of another sweeper filled his vision. He saw the glint of its ax aimed for his throat. Stone¡¯s whole world spun. The young man¡¯s head thudded to the ground and rolled off the wall. His headless body followed. Thousands of sweepers were clambering over the parapets, slaughtering soldiers as they swept past. The sweepers were of all sorts; from heavily armored wasteland rangers to emaciated things that scrambled on four limbs, seemed to defy gravity as they clawed at their victims with deadly talons. Some of them even had wings, and though they couldn¡¯t fly they used the twisted appendages to glide on the evil wind into the outpost. ¡°The sweepers are breaking through! Stop them!¡± The scarred veteran came rushing to the fore with a hundred warriors and suddenly the sounds of bowstrings, guns and clashing metal filled the air. No one expected the sweepers to climb over the walls in complete silence under cover of night. Most important had been this strange sandstorm that¡¯d given them cover. Without it, this many sweepers would definitely have been discovered long ago. The old veteran was certainly capable. He split several sweepers in half as they came before him, shouting orders as he charged forth. ¡°Keep ¡®em out!¡± Suddenly, a tornado appeared before them. The veteran captain came to a dead halt. A tornado, here? He peered at the dervish that shouldn¡¯t have existed and suddenly saw a figure hidden within. He couldn¡¯t make out any details, but there was definitely a human figure inside the whipping winds. The stranger seemed to float above the ground and was clad in otherworldly armor. Two red eyes crackled like hellish lightning through the darkness. ¡°Die!¡± The veteran charged ahead, lifting a broadsword with both hands. The dark figure responded by flicking a finger, as though he was simply shooing away an irritating pest. In the midst of his headlong rush the veteran was unceremoniously blown apart. The grizzled captain became a cloud of dust on the wind, vanishing with the breeze like he¡¯d never even existed. Chapter 85 - Unstoppable Chapter 85 - Unstoppable An intense feeling of danger woke Cloudhawk from his sleep. Something wasn¡¯t right. The discomfort was more intense than ever. It felt as though even his spirit trembled, like an instinctual fear of some ultimate predator. Cloudhawk felt like he could be swallowed up by the terror any moment. Tonight was the night! He snatched up his exorcist staff and leapt out of bed. In the same instant a thick energy hung over the whole outpost ¨C like the seeds of a dandelion were blanketing the whole world, or musical strings invisible to the eye. From somewhere nearby the pulses of a powerful psyche rippled around him, each wave different. The demon! He was here! Cloudhawk was certain because it wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d sensed this presence. He felt it in the distance when the Blackflag Outpost had been attacked, just before the tornado of sand toppled its walls. He was back now, and close. Cloudhawk could even sense his precise location. This meant the demon wasn¡¯t watching from afar ¨C had he final lost patience? Was he taking matters into his own hands? Cloudhawk pulled open a window and was immediately blasted in the face by a gust of sandy wind. He winced against its intrusion, which confirmed his suspicions. The demon had to be in the camp. A dust storm like this came from the wastelands, they didn¡¯t just appear here spontaneously. The demon had to have used some strange power to create it. The abilities of demons and demonhunters were very similar. Both used relics of power to create supernatural phenomena. Cloudhawk had no way of knowing what this relic was, but he could speculate about how it was used. Cloudhawk had traversed dimensions twice, and each time he could sense the essence of whatever reality he visited. Everything ¨C from the water, wood, metal, stone ¨C everything had a certain ¡®vibration.¡¯ Because this resonance was unique their manifestation in the physical world was different. The resonance organized atoms and molecules into specific shapes that appeared to them as water, wood, metal and so forth. Thus a power that could affect resonance could alter that thing¡¯s fundamental properties. Earth could become iron, gold could change to water. Anything could be realized by manipulating this power. Of course normal humans could not observe or access this power, and only through the miraculous effects of relics were able to manipulate resonance. So this sand wasn¡¯t natural, it didn¡¯t come from the wastelands. The demon spread it through the air with his power, changing the constitution of the wind and reorganizing atoms [1] to create sand. Hence, seemingly from nowhere, the sandstorm arose. The level of power it required was nothing short of fantastic, and though Cloudhawk had never encountered the demon he could tell by his handiwork that he had to be even stronger than the Bloodsoaked Queen! ¡°Has the coward finally showed its face?¡± After Cloudhawk tracked down the Queen and let her know her eyes were filled with a terrifying cold. Her hands were curled into fists and suddenly it felt like the air was boiling. She¡¯s been hunting this beast for a year; a whole year of waiting, of enmity, finally culminating in this moment. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him!¡± ¡°Slow down!¡± Cloudhawk blocked her path and tried to calm her down. ¡°You can¡¯t just rush out, I can tell he¡¯s no weakling. Just throwing yourself at him is too dangerous. We have to come up with a plan.¡± The Queen stared at him through her hideous mask. ¡°What is there to think about? None of you can help me in this task. Don¡¯t get in my way!¡± Artemis agreed, she felt it was time to act. ¡°If we don¡¯t act now the outpost could be destroyed.¡± Blackflag Outpost¡¯s bane and the murderer of Mad Dog and Slyfox had been difficult to flush from hiding. Cloudhawk also wanted him to pay for his crimes, but was a handful of humans enough? Mantis, who until now had remained silent, added his quiet voice to the discussion. ¡°He¡¯s only one person, and no matter how strong everyone has their limits. We can keep sending people at him until he¡¯s exhausted.¡± Artemis reacted by stomping forward in a rage, grabbing him and lifting him off his feet. ¡°Are you suggesting we just sacrifice the outpost¡¯s people!?¡± The assassin hung in her grip. His expression never changed, and delivered his words in detached and frigid tones. ¡°That¡¯s how we survive. Otherwise, nothing will stop him. Better them than you ¨C is that not so?¡± Artemis fell silent. Everyone was quiet. Mantis¡¯ method was to throw lives at the demon. Logically it was the most effective course of action ¨C force the demon to waste his psychic energy on lowly soldiers and once his abilities were exhausted the Queen could mop up. It was a reasonable strategy. ¡°The sweepers didn¡¯t have much time to prepare. Unless my guess is wrong, there shouldn¡¯t be too many of them.¡± Mantis continued in his deathly cold voice, ¡°Otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have hidden in the oasis for so long, trying to keep us in the dark. The outpost has an advantage in numbers. This is now a battle of attrition.¡± Artemis considered his words and found that Mantis had a point. Although she didn¡¯t agree with throwing lives at the demon, she also didn¡¯t want them all to be destroyed by a single encounter with the fiend. She answered, ¡°We¡¯re gonna throw everyone we have at them!¡± A piercing whistle arose from everywhere, alarms that announced sweepers were breaching the walls. Their locations meant the enemy wasn¡¯t coming from one location but many, creeping through the sand and darkness to attack from all around. It was a tactic used to confound the defenders so that they could not know how many there were, or which direction the main force was attacking from. Cloudhawk called out without any further thought, ¡°The demon is to the east.¡± Artemis nodded. ¡°Alright, then we ignore the other alarms. Concentrate our forces to the east, I¡¯ll lead them myself to deal with this so-called demon!¡± Greenland Outpost¡¯s regular troops numbered in the thousands, and if they conscripted everyone who could fight that number rose to almost ten thousand strong. Given enough time to prepare, no force in the wasteland could stop a legion like that no matter how strong this demon was. But no sooner had Artemis made her decision than one of the outpost soldiers stumble into the room. ¡°Shit¡¯s gone off the rails, boss! The east flank¡¯s getting crushed, we can¡¯t stop ¡®em!¡± Artemis¡¯ face darkened. ¡°What are you saying? Where¡¯s the enemy?¡± The soldier stuttered through his report. ¡°I-if they keep this p-pace up, they¡¯ll b-be at the fort a-any minute.¡± Her face fell. Artemis knew this mob of sweepers would be strong, but she didn¡¯t expect them to be this overwhelming. She made a quick change to their strategy. ¡°Shut the fort¡¯s gates and call back the rest of the soldiers. We make our stand here!¡± The night was doomed to chaos. Biting winds whipped through the outpost, and sand blotted out the sky like waves crashing on the settlement. Light from the moon and stars disappeared and all outpost¡¯s braziers were extinguished. Everything was plunged into a darkness so complete no one could see their hands in front of their faces. But soldiers could see the inky shadows of the sweepers, darker than the night, moving their way. ¡°Fire! Now, fire!¡± As the soldiers prepared a volley the sand-saturated wind was gathered together by some inexplicable power. All of a sudden the sand turned to spears and the wind cut sharp as blades, racing through the darkness. The soldiers had no way to know where they were coming from. Whoosh! One of the sand-spears tore through a defender¡¯s chest. Squelch! An intangible cutting wind opened another¡¯s throat. The soldier tried to scream but only managed to spray blood all around. One by one the doomed fighters fell to the ground, dead. The din of hundreds of footsteps closed in ¨C the returning soldiers, who met the enemy and their leader head on while on their way to the fort. The quality of the air changed. The countless granules floating in the wind became like flecks of iron gathered together by an invisible magnet. They coalesced into an enormous figure that began to take on a humanoid shape. A head, eyes, arms, legs, a body¡­ A giant of sand eighty feet tall appeared in less than twenty seconds. It was composed of yellow grit, covered by a cracked shell that covered it from head to toe. Sand issued from the fissures and spread out all around like a fine mist. It was so large that the humans who stood before it were like insects! Who among the soldiers had ever seen something as terrifying and fantastical as this? Though it was like facing a nightmare the defenders instinctively fired at it, to no avail. Arrows and bullets tore chunks out of the creature, but the sand was simply swallowed back up and the holes patched closed. It didn¡¯t matter how much firepower they leveled at the titan, it made no difference. The sand colossus¡¯ eyes glowed scarlet red. Ever so slowly it raised its right hand then brought it down with earth-shuddering force. Spikes of sand jutted up from the ground and impaled dozens of the defenders, killing them instantly. It was horrifying to behold! It was like the power of a god! How could any normal person defeat such a creature? The outpost soldiers threw down their weapons and fled in all directions. The colossus paid them no mind as it trundled toward the fort¡¯s entrance. Each footfall made the ground shake, and when it arrived the creature threw wide its arm and wrapped the fort in a crushing embrace. A terrifying scene emerged. A strange power issued from within the sand titan that permeated the stones of the fort. The sturdy granite dissolved into sand and fell away. Everywhere the monster touched it was like the stone was being weathered by time and the elements, only instantly. Huge sections of wall crumbled apart and exploded into particles of sand once they hit the ground. The humans looked on in shock and terror. The fort was Greenland Outpost¡¯s oldest and staunchest structure. It had persisted for thousands of years, firm against the trials of time and weather. It had become a symbol of safety and the haven so many desperately dreamed of. Caught in the grip of this monster, through some power no man or woman could fathom, they were forced to watch as bit by bit it eroded to nothing. Bit by bit their dream was being destroyed. 1. The author originally wrote molecules, but he¡¯s wrong. The molecular structure of sand is mainly composed of silicon dioxide. While you can get two molecules of oxygen from air, you can¡¯t magic silicon ¨C its own element ¨C out of nothing. I¡¯m no chemist but I imagine to do that you have to change the atomic composition of another molecule and restructure it into silicon by stealing electrons and reorganizing them. So I changed it to atoms. Chapter 86 - The Fearsome Colossus Chapter 86 - The Fearsome Colossus The air of the outpost was thick as mud, choked with sand. When the news that the sweepers were closing in on the fort got to Artemis, she called together the several hundred warriors within. They immediately made for the warehouse where everyone rushed to prepare for the fight. Greenland Fort was an ancient building that had been reinforced over time. Its tall, sturdy walls gave its denizens a sense of safety as well as ample space for many to live. As a result it had become the symbol of Greenland Outpost. However, not everyone lived in the fort. Housing within became a reward for the outpost¡¯s elite, so in addition to being the safest place in the compound it was also were the strongest congregated. ¡°Quickly, quickly! Get everything that can be used!¡± Artemis opened the warehouse to anyone who could carry a weapon. The outpost¡¯s best equipment was stored within, but in this moment of crisis she didn¡¯t mind offering up items she¡¯d typically be loath to part with. Everything was on offer, so long as it could be used to protect them from the demon; bows, guns, rockets, anything. Cloudhawk spotted a ballista and started to push it out of the warehouse. This old style defensive artillery weapon was taken from the wilds, snapped up when an Antiquarian passed through. Seekers were the next class up from excavators ¨C explorers who not only dug up useful tools from the past but also researched their functions and knew their secrets. Hydra had also gotten his panacea injections from the Seekers. When Hydra bought the ballista it was nonfunctional. It took the better part of a year to fix it but was ultimately too heavy to put to use. It was a defensive tool used to ward off invasions, and Hydra¡¯s rule had been a stable one for the most part. Thus it sat in storage, gathering dust. At this moment the sounds of combat surrounded them. Had the sweepers killed their way to the fort so quickly? ¡°You all come here and push. Artemis, let¡¯s take a look!¡± Cloudhawk waved a group of soldiers over to take his place behind the ballista then ran with Artemis toward the sounds of fighting. They first ran into a group of a dozen terrifying fort residents fleeing the other direction. Artemis easily snatched one as they passed and was pressing him for information when suddenly the whole fort began to tremble like they were caught in an earthquake. All of a sudden Cloudhawk was struck with surprise so potent he was rendered senseless. ¡°I can feel a power ¨C a huge power coming this way. We can¡¯t keep going forward!¡± Artemis looked at him in confusion. ¡°What are you talking about? What power?¡± The building continued to shake, more intense with each passing moment. Sand shuddered off the walls as tremendous cracks appeared. They spider-webbed across the sturdy stone, joining into even larger fissures that stretched deeper into the forts hallways. Once the cracks reached the sides of the wall huge chunks began to fall away. The way forward was reduced to rubble. After it collapsed an enormous figure beyond belief was revealed to them. Cloudhawk stared in absolute shock as before his eyes rose a monster eighty feet tall. Son of a bitch, what the fuck is that?! Is this the demon? The colossal sand beast was enormous! By comparison it was like a grown man standing over an ant. Not only was it massive, it was also incomparably strong. It obliterated anything in its path like an eroding gale, be it flesh or fortress. Greenland Fort was hardly an obstacle! The wastelands were not lacking for massive creatures dozens of feet tall, but in contrast to this thing humans had ways to deal with those titans. The wasteland beasts were flesh and blood ¨C living things that needed air and a beating heart. They could be injured, they could be killed. But this thing before them? He didn¡¯t even know what it was! The monster was far outside the scope of human understanding. Like the mythical demons of old this thing was immortal and stronger than anything ever seen. ¡°Use the molotovs!¡± Guns and melee weapons weren¡¯t the only things stored in the fort. Molotov cocktails were also among its goodies. When Hydra took over the Greenland Outpost he had a wealth of oil and other explosive materials which he used to create throwable weapons. The outpost was a difficult place to assault and the fort itself was a fortress. Molotovs were concocted to make taking it even harder. But now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on these facts! Several soldiers that had followed them lit the molotovs and flung them toward the monster. They sizzled through the air like comets, ultimately exploding into blinding balls of fire as they struck the sand colossus. Strong though the creature was it was also slow, and as a result six or seven bottles of burning liquid were smashed against it. Its chest was a lake of fire but it didn¡¯t seem to concern the sand giant in the least. It had no flesh to worry over, so the fiery bottles were nothing to fear. ¡°It isn¡¯t helping.¡± Cloudhawk shouted to the others. ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s going to attack!¡± Boom--£¡ A group of soldiers who were too slow to get out of the way were struck by the colossus¡¯ massive hand as it raked by. All of the water within them was soaked up in the blink of an eye, after which their desiccated bodies were flung backwards. When they struck floors and walls their corpses shattered into chunks. Those who¡¯d managed to evade the attack gaped at the horror. No normal person could fight this thing! No bullet, arrow or blade could cause the colossus the slightest harm. Slow though it was every attack from the monster was catastrophic, leaving its victims dead or irrevocably harmed. Besides that the power it released turned everything it encountered into lifeless sand. Artemis was thoroughly dumbstruck by the scene. ¡°What in the name of the demon¡¯s puckered asshole is this?!¡± Fire was useless, as were guns and blades. How were they even supposed to fight this creature? In that moment the sand colossus noticed their presence. It slowly stepped back and lifted its enormous right arm, whereupon sand all over its body began to ripple like chorded muscle. Hundreds of millions of grains of sand gathered together to form a fist the size of a car, and compressed so tight it was solid as stone. ¡°Run!¡± The sand colossus¡¯ truck-like fist plowed into the fort. In the midst of his desperate escape Cloudhawk felt everything behind him shake with bone-jarring force, followed by a deafening crash that hurt his eardrums. Its fury was conveyed all through the stone walls, which instantly cracked and fell apart like shattered glass. Artemis and Cloudhawk, covered in dust and debris, survived the attack. But they didn¡¯t dare catch their breath. The sand colossus was throwing a second fist their way and once again it pummeled the fort like a wrecking ball. A dozen soldiers were smashed flat before they could escape. The outpost¡¯s leader saw that they couldn¡¯t escape. Unwilling to give in she heaved her massive hammer and swung it at the monster¡¯s fist as it bore down on them. Steel and stone collided, the force of their meeting causing the stone beneath Artemis¡¯ feet to break apart. Every bone in her body popped as blood leaked from her nose and mouth ¨C and yet she¡¯d managed to hold the blow back Even Artemis¡¯ impressive strength was only barely enough to keep them from being crushed. Yet to their shock and terror her mighty hammer was showing signs of erosion. Metal turned to sand and fell away, little by little eating at the only thing between them and the monster¡¯s fist. As Artemis began to feel it give, suddenly a nimble figure darted into view. She exploded onto the scene from within the fort, soaring through the air and slamming into the creature¡¯s wrist. The Bloodsoaked Queen wielded a long sword which she buried in the monster¡¯s appendage. Her feet stuck to it like dual magnets as she whipped around and around its arm leaving blazing sword light in her wake that seared against the beast¡¯s sandy exterior like the threads of a screw. Crack! The sand colossus¡¯ entire arm broke off, instantly dissolving into a torrent of sand that spread everywhere. [1] In reaction to the Queen severing its right arm, the sand colossus swiped at her with its left. However, to the eyes of the demonhunter this creature was laughably slow. The Queen shuffled a few steps to the side, leapt up, then landed on its left arm as it came her way. Step by step she sprang up the appendage like her shoes were made of spring. She was in front of the colossus¡¯ face before it could react. ¡°Aaaaaooorrggghhh!¡± A spray of sandy arrows issued from the creature¡¯s maw. A curtain of light from her sword separated her from the arrows. They dissolved harmlessly back into sand before causing her any harm. Left with an opening the Queen counterattacked by thrusting her longsword into the monster¡¯s throat. All four feet of steel were buried in the sand with only the hilt left jutting out. She held the grip with both hands and dragged her blade around its throat in a full circle. A cold light shimmered in its wake. As they watched the sand colossus¡¯ enormous head peeled off of its body, ultimately exploding into a cloud of sand as it crashed into the ground. Artemis stared with shocked and hopeful eyes. ¡°Is it dead?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were pinned to the beast¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s still going!¡± This creature was not created through conventional means, so conventional logic did not apply. Its body was a creation, so losing its head was akin to losing a finger. It was perhaps irritating, but not fatal. Just as Cloudhawk figured, the loss of its head had almost no affect. Once it crumbled into sand the grains were immediately swallowed back into its body. The humans looked on as a head-shaped structure began to emerge anew from its neck. But the damage had to have weakened it! Cloudhawk shut his eyes and searched the sensations around him. He could feel waves of power faintly emanating from the center of the colossus¡¯ body. Unless he was mistaken, that¡¯s where its power came from. ¡°Get that ballista over here!¡± 1.hmph Chapter 87 - Vanquished Chapter 87 - Vanquished The Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t let up her attack. She swept through like a deadly wind, never in one place for more than a moment. Cutting blades of sand continuously shot at her, and though the demonhunter¡¯s reactions had slowed she was able to dodge out of the path of danger and keep herself safe. The Queen ran her left hand along the blade of her weapon. In its passage the burning angels sizzled, saturating the metal with energy and causing it to glow red hot. The air around it warped from the heat. Blazing light hung in the air where the blade passed. It whipped around, following the movement of her body. Her blade plunged into the sand colossus¡¯ shoulder and she whipped around in a spiral. In no more time than it took to gasp, the beast¡¯s thick arm was severed from its body and crashed onto the ground. The wound that was left behind was a scalding red and the sand had fused together. This attack had finally done some damage. The sand colossus couldn¡¯t recover its limb as quickly from a melted gash, giving the humans a little bit of breathing room. By now the Queen¡¯s sword had cooled and the damage to it became apparent. The metal was coarse and blackened from the burning angels. Her relic could infuse a blade with more lethal properties but clearly came at a cost. She couldn¡¯t keep up the fight! She leapt through the air like a sparrow in elegant freefall. From a hundred feet or so high the fall wouldn¡¯t kill her, but if she hit the ground without any sort of support she could be gravely wounded. She continued to somersault through the air. Moments before the hard ground came up to meet her, the Queen planted her sword into the wall of the fort to break her fall. It curtailed her momentum and she landed safely within the fort. Meanwhile the hundreds of soldiers who had arrived to help defend gaped at her dramatic and agile display. The demonhunters certainly earned their reputations! Even without a weapon she was a whole other class from Hydra. The Queen really was a one-of-a-kind warrior! Grains of sand continued to gather, the colossus¡¯ arm began to repair itself. The Bloodsoaked Queen watched with knitted brows. Fighting this giant thing was draining her psychic energy. She¡¯d approached the monster with the intent to use only a moderate amount of her abilities, so that she could face her real enemy with the bulk of her strength. But so far it seemed her efforts were in vain. Her chest rose and fell with gentle gasps ¨C combat at this level was exhausting. If this kept up she wouldn¡¯t have enough energy to spare for the demon. Her powers were running out. Behind her a dozen of soldiers were pushing the fort¡¯s ballista into place. Under Artemis¡¯ direction it was placed behind a gap in the fort¡¯s walls. Cloudhawk was among the soldiers. He called out to the Queen when he spotted her. ¡°The monster¡¯s being powered by a relic, your attacks aren¡¯t doing anything. We have to find its weak point!¡± Meanwhile Artemis was loading the ballista with a seven-foot long spear made entirely from iron. ¡°Wind it up!¡± She ordered. A soldier answered her in a desperate voice. ¡°Boss, the winch is broken!¡± The ballista¡¯s spring was reinforced wasteland wyrm tendon, no ordinary man could stretch it alone. The winch was designed to do the work for them, but whether from disuse or mishandling they discovered this integral piece wasn¡¯t functioning. ¡°This fuckin¡¯ piece of junk. Move!¡± Artemis shoved the two people in front of her to the side and gripped the tendon with her own two hands. The coarse material of the wyrm tendons tore the skin on her hands, but with the veins of her forehead bulging she kept struggling. Inch by inch, she pulled the string in place. The Queen failed to see how the ballista could do anything. ¡°How is that shoddy thing going to help?¡± Cloudhawk aimed the cross-shaped ballista, staring down the shaft of the black bolt toward the sand colossus. ¡°I can feel the relic. It¡¯s hidden in the monster¡¯s chest ¨C that¡¯s how we kill it. Help me!¡± The consolidated granules that made up the colossus¡¯ body made for an effective defense. If he wanted to strike true he needed the Queen¡¯s help. She thought for a moment, then shouted back. ¡°Alright!¡± By now the sand colossus¡¯ arm and head had reformed. Silently it lifted its giant fist, gathering even more of its strength in preparation for a fatal blow. Nearby soldiers quailed at the knowledge that this beast was planning to tear down the fort with its bare hands! Just as the colossus was reeling back for the blow, a column of fire belched from a fissure in the fort¡¯s walls. The flames danced through the air like it had a life of its own, until eventually it coalesced into the form of ten-foot long phoenix. The sand colossus had some measure of intelligence, or at least was being controlled by someone who did. When the phoenix appeared it held back its assault. The phoenix screeched at it, a loud and resounding cry of challenge! It¡¯s mighty and grandiose appearance awed and frightened every eye. The bird spread its fiery wings wide and streaked across the air like an asteroid. In preparation for the impact the sand colossus began to gather sand toward its chest, thickening it and sharply improving its defense. Under the Queen¡¯s control the phoenix began to corkscrew through the air as it charged at the colossus, ultimately ramming into the beast like a flaming drill. Despite its enormous size the torrent of fire forced the beast back, overwhelmed by the energy brought to bear against it by the phoenix. A pit was carved out through its thick chest. Cloudhawk grit his teeth, narrowed his eyes and made some last-minute adjustments to his aim. He strained against the heavy war machine until the black barbed head of the arrow was right where he wanted it. Hitting the creature anywhere but this one small target was useless ¨C worse than a needle in a haystack, he had to hit a relic in a sandstorm. He needed perfect control, precision and calculation! And this was his first time using a ballista! The phoenix was releasing more and more of its energy as it drilled deeper into the monster¡¯s chest. It was almost completely buried in it now from head to tail. Instead of detonating as before this time it just kept trying to push itself deeper through the creature, fighting for every inch. Unfortunately it simply wasn¡¯t strong enough, and although the scorched cavity it made was deep it didn¡¯t reach the monster¡¯s core. Sand from all around rasped as it began to fill in the hole. Cloudhawk knew this was his only chance ¨C if he missed his target all of the Queen¡¯s efforts were wasted. But he couldn¡¯t see where to aim! Cloudhawk had impressive control, but manipulating a ballista with such precision was no easy thing. He didn¡¯t know the weapon¡¯s speed, range, damage, or his enemy¡¯s reaction speed. What hope did he have of confidently hitting his mark from hundreds of feet away? ¡°Do it!¡± His eyes weren¡¯t helping, so Cloudhawk shut them, locking out distractions. Without the chaos of vision he could feel every hissing grain of sand within the colossus. They danced to the flows of energy that pulsed around them. It formed a sort of tide, a force field that created the monster¡¯s figure. The sand was simply attracted into the shape desired, so attacking the shell of the monster was useless ¨C like swiping at the fragments of metal gathered by a magnet. Although you might temporarily clear away the shards, the magnetic field remained. It would only gather them up again. So the goal had to be to destroy the magnet! Once he shut his eyes Cloudhawk could feel the fount of the colossus¡¯ energy more clearly. It contributed energy to the monster like a torch contributed light, spreading it all throughout the colossus¡¯ body. Just like a torch, the light was brightest at the source. This was it. This is the place! Cloudhawk screwed all of his concentration together and focused on that single point. That single flickering point of torchlight got brighter and brighter. And then he fired. The bowstring let loose! The seven-foot long spear cut through the air with a harsh whistle. Straight and true the bolt buried itself into the hole carved out by the phoenix with a thud. The sand colossus stopped, frozen still. The humans stared at it with baited breath. Eventually cracks began to appear along its sandy surface, and like a nightmare lost to the sands of time it began to crumble apart. Grains of sand were swept away on the wind and vanished altogether. They did it! The monster was defeated! A raucous cheer went up among the outpost defenders. The monster was completely destroyed! ¡°Cloudhawk, we got the mother fucker!¡± Artemis shouted at him, full of joy and relief. ¡°One hell of a shot! How the hell did you do it?¡± Cloudhawk could no longer feel the suffocating energy of the monster. The beast was no more, and tumbled away before them. But if he listened closely, the young wastelander could still hear something in the piles of sand. His eyes grew hard. ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate yet!¡± Artemis and the other soldiers stopped their jubilations and followed Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes to the sand piles. At first all they could see was the sand shuffle and slowly dissolve¡­ ¡­and then a dark figure appeared before their eyes. The figure held the ballista arrow between two fingers. They pinched, and like a bolt cutter his fingers sliced through the several-inch thick metal like butter. The bolt clattered to the ground in two pieces. The shadowy figure slowly raised its head, completely unscathed. He paid no mind to Artemis, Cloudhawk or the others, and immediately brought his attention to the Bloodsoaked Queen. When he spoke his voice was strange and unsettling. ¡°You¡¯re weak, even compared to your father.¡± Chapter 88 - Disastrous Defea Chapter 88 - Disastrous Defeat When did he come to the wastelands? Why did he come to this rotten place? What was his real name? How old was he? These were all mysteries no one knew the answers to. All they knew was that he held sway over an army of sweepers, and that he was one of the most powerful beings in all the wastelands. Everywhere he went sandstorms followed, so the people had come to call him Caliph of the Sands. Since ancient times demons had been synonymous with chaos, war, turmoil and death. A thousand years ago they were locked in conflict with the gods and were defeated. However, although they were never able to recover, the forces of evil were never completely eradicated. They waited in the darkest corners of the earth, and where they emerged strife and disaster followed. One of those legendary creatures stood before them now. It seemed so surreal. The demon¡¯s voice was strange, and though they saw where he stood it was difficult to tell precisely where his voice was coming from. It echoed over itself like it was being folded over and over, as though calling at them from the depths of a quiet valley. It sounded as though it were coming from every direction at once. He was a little over six feet tall with a typical humanoid silhouette; a body, head and four limbs. Only the surface of his body was savage, hideous and pitch black. Coarse threads of crimson were etched along his skin that seemed to glow and pulse like blood vessels. It was a grotesque and uncomfortable sight to behold. The beast¡¯s face was covered in a red mask ¨C or, could it be called a mask? It wasn¡¯t placed on his face but seemed to have grown naturally over it. Except for the eyes there were no holes or cracks in its smooth surface and the beast¡¯s silvery hair framed it, lending a strange contrast. A cloak covered most of his body. Probably his most striking feature was a pair of scarlet eyes, for when they fixed upon you it felt like they pierced through your soul. When Cloudhawk looked at him he didn¡¯t feel like he was looking at a demon. It didn¡¯t feel like this was a living thing at all, but a doorway to the old times from whence issued a frigid breeze ¨C like a portal to the depths of hell. That sinister and desolate sensation made all the humans shiver. No wonder the living feared these creatures so completely. Looking on it was like peering into one¡¯s own nightmares. The demon didn¡¯t bear any visible relics, but Cloudhawk could feel the resonance of them radiating from him. They appeared to be coming from his body, something that was starkly different from the demonhunters. Perhaps demons were capable of empowering themselves in such a way that they didn¡¯t need relics to wield supernatural power? Anyway, that didn¡¯t matter right now. Now that the demon appeared before them it didn¡¯t take someone with keen senses like Cloudhawk to know what they faced. Even Artemis, dull as her special senses were, could see how evident the monster¡¯s strength was. Hostility poured from the Bloodsoaked Queen. Countless days and nights have passed as she searched for him, and in the process she¡¯d suffered many tribulations and hardships. Yet despite setbacks her determination had never wavered, instead growing day by day. She couldn¡¯t remember how many times she fantasized about the moment she would find him. She¡¯d imagined cutting him down with her holy sword again and again, and now here he was in front of her. He was stronger than she¡¯d imagined but it was no excuse to back down. She was a demonhunter! To her kind there was no greater glory than to sacrifice oneself to destroy evil! When she left the elysian lands she never expected to return alive. Victory or defeat, battling this tyrant of the wastelands was her fate. Hummmmmm! The Queen¡¯s hands shook, and a sword of holy splendor emerged! ¡°Ah, a sacred crossblade of light. It brings back memories.¡± An expression of nostalgia crossed the demon¡¯s eyes. He gazed upon the wrathful Queen, himself perfectly calm. ¡°I can feel your hatred. But you are too weak, young demonhunter. Your father couldn¡¯t defeat me, what do you expect to accomplish?¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see her expression behind the mask, but he could sense the surge of murderous intent that came from the Bloodsoaked Queen. It was stronger than he¡¯d ever felt before, vast and boundless like a storm, potent as a thunderbolt. The Queen made her move. A resplendent light burst forth from her hands, and her holy sword audibly tore through the air. As she chopped her weapon in a vicious attack toward the demon, its roaring passage left a trench in the ground as it passed. Everything within thirty feet was swallowed up in blinding light. The force ejected by the sword was like a furious rolling wave that threatened to obliterate anything in its path. Young as she was, the Queen was a high-class demonhunter. There were few creatures alive that could withstand this attack. However, the demon was calm in the face of her lightning-fast onslaught. He raised his right hand, where hundreds of thousands of sand granules had begun to gather into the shape of a dull gold sword. The weapon¡¯s metal-like surface was covered in strange archaic symbols, and a cutting wind surrounded it. Clang! The two swords met. In that moment there was an intense release of energy that burst out all around them. Their clash persisted for three seconds before the Queen¡¯s sword was knocked into the sky and detonated. It fractured into countless twinkling lights like a sea of stars, or fireflies floating in the breeze. Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened. Although he¡¯d always known there was a significant power difference between the Queen and the Demon, it was worse than he¡¯d thought. The Demon knocked her attack away like it was some insignificant task. His red eyes swept over the remaining human forces quick as lightning and spoke to them in a calm and even cadence. ¡°You have a choice. Submit, or be destroyed.¡± Before his words could disappear on the wind the Queen was soaring through the air, wielding her dazzling sword anew. She swung it at her foe with unbelievable speed and power. He stepped nimbly to the side like a specter and her dazzling sword of holy light struck nothing but air. The Queen swung her blade around and pummeled him with four or five more strikes that were almost too quick to follow, but the demon saw her every movement perfectly clear. Dual swords of sand and light met again and again, and each time they erupted in flares of pure energy and deafening blasts. The spectators looked on in slack-jawed shock. Was this what it was like when the world''s supreme powers battled each other? The wars of the wastelands were child¡¯s play by comparison! Swinging her holy sword with unbridled rage the Bloodsoaked Queen poured every ounce of strength she had into the attacks. Once again her sword was blocked, and as the blasts of energy cast the monster¡¯s sand about they bit into the soldiers¡¯ faces like windswept daggers. The Queen was already fighting with everything she had, but the demon deflected her blitz with just his hand, easy and proficient. ¡°If you¡¯d trained for another five years, perhaps humanity would have a great young demonhunter. Alas, you are left wanting!¡± No matter how hard she swung at him the Queen¡¯s sword couldn¡¯t break his defense. This creature¡¯s grainy sword was as impenetrable as an iron curtain. It easily blocked and parried the Queen¡¯s rage-filled assault. When the monster spoke, his voice did not contain any enmity or anger. Instead, it almost sounded like pity. His tone did more than make the onlookers uneasy. The Bloodsoaked Queen was a demonhunter! What was a demonhunter? As the name implied, they were masters at eradicating these evil creatures. Could this unholy monster feel pity for one determined to kill him? Not only had the Queen been hunting him for a year all across the wastelands, she¡¯d also killed all seven of his disciples! In her ears his disparaging temperament was an affront! A latent power burst from within her and her sword gleamed ever brighter. It was a blaze of daylight that threatened to cleave the night in twain. Cracks began to appear upon the demon¡¯s weapon. The Queen¡¯s sword might cut through his at any moment! Just then, the vein-like channels along the demon¡¯s left arm flared with ominous light. Sand began to gather. As his sword threatened to give way he thrust his palm toward the Queen, and a dozen dagger-like shards were whipped together into a deadly tornado heading her way. It struck with enough force to blow her backwards while the cutting sands dug into her flesh, leaving a bloody fog in its path. Thud! By the time she hit the floor the Queen was a bloody mess. She didn¡¯t even have strength to stand. The pure white cross necklace lay three feet from her, but all energy was gone from it. Inch by inch she groped for it, crawling piteously along the ground. The demon heaved a sigh. He¡¯d spent more energy today than he¡¯d anticipated. However, the Queen was now spent. She could no longer fight. She was so young and full of potential, but coming out here on her own was foolish. How was this any different from suicide? The others watched in horror and alarm. Cloudhawk especially couldn¡¯t imagine seeing the Queen so thoroughly beaten. In all the time they spent together no one had been able to stand in her way! The demon brought his eyes around to the others once again. ¡°What is your decision?¡± ¡°We surrender!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± One by one the doughty outpost warriors dropped their weapons. Seeing the strength of their foe, Artemis had also lost any taste for conflict. She spoke almost before she could think. ¡°I surrender. This wasn¡¯t my decision ¨C it was all the demonhunter¡¯s plan! Isn¡¯t that right, Cloudhawk¡­?¡± There was no way the Bloodsoaked Queen could win. Other than surrender, what other option did they have? Artemis turned to look for Cloudhawk¡¯s answer, but was surprised to find he wasn¡¯t there. What was going on? He was just by her side, how could he just disappear? Suddenly, something snatched up the bloodied Bloodsoaked Queen from the ground and ran with her. She was spirited away fast as the wind, and in a blink she¡¯d been carried dozens of feet away. ¡°Another demonhunter? No¡­ no that¡¯s not right. This one is too weak.¡± The demon muttered to himself in bewilderment. What wastelander had the capability to use relics? As Cloudhawk fled the demon paid him little mind. There was no rush to follow, for with the monster¡¯s capabilities he could catch up without effort. Chapter 89 - The Showdown Chapter 89 - The Showdown The demon was too strong for the Bloodsoaked Queen. Cloudhawk¡¯s best option was to create as much distance between them as they could. He considered submitting before making his decision, though. He thought maybe he could beg for his life ¨C he was no hero, no powerful warrior. He was just a scavenger who wanted to live. But then a series of faces marched across his memory; Slyfox, Mad Dog, Woola, Cooke, and all the rest of the Tartarus mercenaries. Mad Dog had given his life so they would have a chance. Slyfox made Cloudhawk promise to avenge them moments before his death. But now the one who was responsible stood before him ¨C could Cloudhawk gain that vengeance? The answer was clear: No, he could not! Ten Cloudhawks, a hundred Cloudhawks together wouldn¡¯t be enough to defeat this demon. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to bend his knees and ask for mercy. He couldn¡¯t watch the demon murder the Bloodsoaked Queen before his eyes. Artemis wouldn¡¯t understand his thinking. It was what made him different from every other wastelander ¨C he couldn¡¯t ignore what was in his heart. He¡¯d rather risk his life to save the Queen than sell his soul. He would have his revenge. The Queen couldn¡¯t die! Cloudhawk poured all of his psychic energy into the invisibility cloak, which in turn boosted his speed so that he could try and flee the demon¡¯s grasp. Only, as Cloudhawk ran he could feel a sinister gale whip around him. Suddenly a dark figure blocked his path. The young man paled as he rushed headlong towards the monster¡¯s groping hand. The demon was too fast. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t get out of the way. Cloudhawk could feel the power pulsing from the creature before him. It washed over the boy and permeated every corner of his body, threatening to change every fiber of his being into grains of sand. This power was several orders of magnitude stronger than the Queen¡¯s, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t resist. Yet just as he was about to succumb something the demon did not expect occurred ¨C a strange vacuum force was revealed within the wastelander¡¯s body. ¡°Hm?¡± Confusion flit across the demon¡¯s eyes as he explored what seemed like a black hole drawing in his power from within the child. It began to turn just as he was on the verge of transforming the child into a pillar of silt and drank deeply of the demon¡¯s power, even drawing from the demon¡¯s body himself. A demon¡¯s eyes could see through clothing, so those hideous red orbs picked out the stone against Cloudhawk¡¯s chest through his armor. The once-ordinary stone was now bursting with blinding light as it neutralized enough power to kill Cloudhawk ten times over. Cloudhawk himself was drenched in a cold sweat. It wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened, though. He¡¯d felt the specter of death when he saved the Bloodsoaked Queen. In the darkness of his shack she¡¯d nearly burnt him to a cinder with her burning angels. The stone had saved his life that night. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to sit there like an idiot and think of the past. Holding the Queen over his back with one hand he thrust his staff at the demon¡¯s chest with the other. The demon was of course more than capable of deflecting the boy¡¯s feeble attack¡­ and yet, he seemed frozen in place, dumbfounded. Bang! Cloudhawk put all his strength into the thrust, driving it into the demon¡¯s chest. In that instant his exorcist staff belched its power and sent the monster flying backward dozens of feet. However, despite the ragged appearance of the cloak that protected the demon, Cloudhawk¡¯s attack didn¡¯t seem to displace even a single thread. That hit would have put any normal wastelander out of commission, but it didn¡¯t even wrinkle the demon¡¯s clothes. Unbelievable. Yet more surprising was that this child, with only minimal ability, was able to knock the demon back even when the mighty Bloodsoaked Queen couldn¡¯t land a single blow. The scene was nothing short of bewildering. While the onlookers were shocked, Cloudhawk himself knew he had no hope to defeat the demon. After creating some space between him and the monster he fled without thinking. ¡°How interesting¡­¡± The demon slowly got back to his feet. There was a sinister glimmer in his scarlet eyes, but no one could fathom what was going through his mind. Ever so slightly he turned up his right hand to which the nearby piles of sand began to react. They gathered together to form a long half-moon shaped khopesh sword. Though made of sand it was sturdy enough to cut a slab of metal the size of a man in two. The hellspawn brought his arm back, ready to throw the weapon when suddenly a bullet the length of a finger came tearing his way. Crack! The bullet struck the demon in the center of his chest. It didn¡¯t hit him with the same force as Cloudhawk¡¯s staff, so he only staggered backward a couple of paces. However, it was fast, sharp and compact, and fired from an upgraded sniper rifle that made it even deadlier. Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist staff hadn¡¯t done any damage, but this sniper bullet managed to insert two-thirds of itself into the monster ¨C or, more accurately, into the shell-like armor that covered him. A cold and lethal light crept into the demon¡¯s eyes, but before he could react the second bullet was already on its way. ¡°Do you think these piddling human trinkets can harm me?¡± The demon reached out, and with his dark red nails plucked the bullet from the air. He stared toward where the attack had come from. His supernatural vision cut through the ruins to fix on a tall and slim figure who bore a lengthy rifle. After the second shot he was up and running. With as much concern as one might remove a mosquito the demon pinched the bullet buried in his chest and pulled it free. It left behind a small indentation, but otherwise there was no indication it¡¯d done any damage. The wind began to violently blow. The demon rose into the air amidst the gusting winds, preparing to chase after the sniper. However he paused as he floated by Artemis. Without looking at her, he spoke. ¡°You are the outpost¡¯s new leader?¡± Artemis was overwhelmed by the menacing, ice-cold demeanor of the monster as he drew near. She could feel droplets of nervous sweat trace lines down her cheeks. Any thought of confronting the demon was gone from her mind, and in fact all she could manage was a meek response. ¡°I¡­ I am.¡± ¡°You shall have a chance to live.¡± His words were cold as the grave. ¡°The other two have not yet escaped. Find them, bring them to me. Whether you live or die depends on the success of this mission.¡± Artemis¡¯ eyebrows knit tight as she scowled. She was more than happy to kill the demonhunter, but Cloudhawk¡­ her hesitation was evident. At last the demon turned his head and looked at her. As its evil gaze fixed upon her, the hesitation fled from her heart like smoke in a tempest. She went from a fierce leopardess to a frightened kitten. All uncertainty and resistance vanished: ¡°I will!¡± She waved her hands at the soldiers gathered nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s go, find them!¡± The demon said nothing more, rising into the air to pursue the figure that had fled into the darkness. After taking two shots at the demon Mantis made for the relative safety of the night. As he fled he felt a strong breeze rise up from behind. He couldn¡¯t see what was coming from behind him, but Mantis knew the speed and power of his foe. He¡¯d captured the attention of this monster. There was little chance of escape. Mantis stopped and slowly turned around. His expression never changed, even as he saw the savage figure and his murderous red eyes approach. He looked back, perfectly calm. The demon stopped a few feet away. For several seconds he looked the assassin up and down searchingly. They simply stared at each other this way for a time while a strange sense hung in the air. At last the demon spoke, breaking the silence. ¡°It really is you.¡± Mantis pushed his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Discontent was thick in the demon¡¯s voice. ¡°You¡¯ve known for quite some time, I imagine?¡± He was silent for a moment. ¡°So then... what are you planning to do?¡± *** Cloudhawk ran with wild abandon towards the outpost¡¯s exit. When he got there he saw it was thick with figures barring the path. He skidded to a halt and it was then he heard the footsteps catching up from behind. Artemis, hammer raised, was almost on them. Cloudhawk stared at the predatory wasteland woman, glaring at her with a dark expression. ¡°Artemis, do you have to kill us?¡± She looked fiercely back at him. ¡°You fuckin'' liar! You said you wanted to stay, that you¡¯d help me lead this place! You broke that promise when you decided to save the demonhunter¡¯s life.¡± Cloudhawk was speechless. He couldn¡¯t remember agreeing to anything. He said he¡¯d think about it! ¡°This is different. What¡¯s between me and the demon is personal. I can¡¯t just surrender.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°It has nothing to do with you. Let me go!¡± He ventured a step toward the exit, but the warriors that had surrounded them raised their weapons. Artemis heaved her hammer high and rushed toward him. ¡°The demon told me to bring you back. If you escape he¡¯s gonna kill me! I can¡¯t hold back this time, watch out!¡± Cloudhawk leapt back and Artemis¡¯ hammer slammed into a nearby wall. The stone collapsed under the force. Half a second later she was back on the attack and swept her massive hammer toward him. He staggered to the side to avoid her. ¡°Then come with us!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was grim. She wasn¡¯t playing. ¡°The demon had this place now. You¡¯d be nothing but a puppet, don¡¯t you understand? Is it better to live here under his rule than to come with us? We can find somewhere safe and start again!¡± Chapter 90 - Fleeing the Outpos Chapter 90 - Fleeing the Outpost Artemis was strong, there was no denying that. Cloudhawk had no interest in fighting her. What¡¯s more, every second they delayed the danger grew. Once the demon caught up with them there was no chance of escape. He hadn¡¯t spent a lot of time with this woman, but compared to the Bloodsoaked Queen they shared similar outlooks and values. They¡¯d spoken about many things he could never discuss with the Queen, shared ideas she wouldn¡¯t understand. Their chats had brought him and Artemis closer, and at least Cloudhawk had no desire for it to come to this. In all the world Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have many friends, he considered Artemis one of them. He continued to try and talk her down. ¡°This world is big, I refuse to believe Greenland Outpost is the only place for us. I know that together we have the ability to find somewhere better. Why would you agree to be on that fucker¡¯s leash? Artemis, we can¡¯t waste time ¨C come with us, quickly!¡± The outpost soldiers that¡¯d come with her brandished their weapons, ready to join the fight. ¡°Hold your ground! This kid is mine!¡± She wasn¡¯t going to take this from him. She allowed her hammer to slip from her shoulder and thud onto the ground as she glared his way. ¡°You¡¯ve been here so long and you and I haven¡¯t wrangled yet. You and me, one on one!¡± ¡°Does it have to be this way?¡± ¡°Cut the shit! Today one of us is dying!¡± Artemis face was a mask of rage as she heaved up her hammer and charged at Cloudhawk. She bore down on him with deadly ferocity and every attack was intended to kill. If he was half a step late his bones would be crushed to powder. He didn¡¯t want it to be a fight to the death, but Artemis¡¯ attacks held nothing back. He couldn¡¯t just sit by and wait for death. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ever fuckin¡¯ listen!¡± Anger swelled up in Cloudhawk as well. He thought Artemis might be different, but in the end she was willing to kill him to save her own life and keep leadership of the outpost. ¡°Fine. If you wanna fight, then I¡¯ll give you a fuckin¡¯ fight!¡± Artemis¡¯ hammer came crashing down, like a meteorite from the heavens. If it hit Cloudhawk there would be nothing recognizable left. As power surged through his exorcist staff he brought it up to meet her hammer, and in the moment they collided that power was released to buffer her blow. Clang! He was knocked back fifteen feet and a nasty pain radiated from his wrist. He thought using the staff was more than suitable, but he was wrong. However there were only a few in the outpost ¨C maybe even the wastelands ¨C who could face down one of Artemis¡¯ attacks and live. This wasn¡¯t how he was gonna die! Cloudhawk¡¯s improvements were evident, but he wasn¡¯t going to survive this situation against Artemis on his own. Beyond her there were also scores of outpost soldiers closing in, and sooner rather than later that demon would return. If he didn¡¯t find a way to get out now his chances of escaping were practically zero. Thus with a plan to escape in mind Cloudhawk channeled his psyche through his cloak. Like a leaf floating on the breeze he dashed through the throng of outpost soldiers. Under orders from Artemis to hold their attacks, they weren¡¯t sure what do. ¡°Fuck!¡± Cloudhawk swung his staff and it whistled through the air so fast it left ripples in its wake. A handful of warriors were caught off guard and were smacked to the ground. With the Queen on his shoulder Cloudhawk leapt over them toward freedom. ¡°He¡¯s getting away!¡± The soldiers were ready to give chase. ¡°Get him!¡± ¡°Hold your fucking ground!¡± She stalked toward the pile of soldiers like a lioness. ¡°I said he¡¯s mine, and if any of you pieces of shit try to join in I¡¯ll crush your fuckin¡¯ brain pan!¡± Artemis was a well-known name in the outpost. Her temper was famous, and they knew that once she was angry it didn¡¯t matter if you were friend or kin, you stayed out of her way. The soldiers all exchanged quiet, nervous glances but none of them dared disobey. If she wanted to smash every one of them into pulp she would, and she¡¯d do it easily. Cloudhawk¡¯s strength was surprising, but he wasn¡¯t a match for Artemis. She could easily deal with him herself! The outpost warriors were left alone, dumbfounded and unsure what to do while Artemis and Cloudhawk disappeared. With the help of his cloak Cloudhawk was fast, but he was also carrying someone and that affected his speed. Artemis wasn¡¯t a speed-focused metahuman, but her powerful legs helped her bound over terrain with impressive momentum. Soon she caught up. Goddamnit! Is this woman really dead-set on fighting? Cloudhawk stopped and spun around again, furious. Artemis was bearing down on him with her hammer raised while she threw something at him in her left hand. He thought it was some sort of weapon and made to dodge, but she¡¯d thrown it slowly. As it came his way he saw that it wasn¡¯t a weapon, it was a syringe. ¡°Panacea?¡± Cloudhawk caught it instinctively. It was the last injection from Hydra¡¯s stash they hadn¡¯t used. ¡°Artemis, this ¨C¡° She stared at him with hard eyes. ¡°What the fuck is your dopey ass standing around for? Run!¡± Suddenly he understood her intention. She¡¯d been acting, there were too many soldiers around for her to simply let him go. If she¡¯d tried the soldiers definitely wouldn¡¯t have let it happen. Artemis was helping him escape. Only she was a shit actress! Yes, she couldn¡¯t fake it so her attacks had to be real. Each attack would have turned his guts to soup, but they had to in order to keep her heart¡¯s desire secret. No one suspected anything, so when she went racing after him no one thought twice. Cloudhawk heaved a sigh of relief then promptly injected the Queen with the panacea. ¡°Next time give me some sorta hint, would ya? I coulda been hurt!¡± ¡°You dipshit,¡± she spat. ¡°You belong to me, you think I¡¯m gonna kill what¡¯s mine?¡± Who would have thought that would be her answer! If Cloudhawk had been even a little bit slower, a little bit weaker, he¡¯d have been straight up murdered. She hadn¡¯t held back one bit! The Bloodsoaked Queen started to recover immediately after the injection, but their foe had done a number on her. He didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be up for a fight any time soon. But even if she could, what would that accomplish? After such a brutal beating would she be ready for a second round? Cloudhawk blurted out. ¡°Artemis, why are you helping me?¡± ¡°I told you ¨C you belong to me. If I don¡¯t help you, then who?¡± As they ran for safety she rolled her eyes at his silly questions. ¡°Of course there¡¯s another reason. The demon doesn¡¯t know how that freak in black died, but once he figures it out you think he¡¯ll go easy on me? I¡¯m no idiot! I have to get the fuck outta here too!¡± Truth be told that was probably the main reason! Cloudhawk thought back to their fight with the black-clad mutant. Artemis¡¯ surprise attack was what slowed the freak down, and without her intervention Cloudhawk absolutely would have been killed. The mutant was one of the demon¡¯s seven henchmen, first among them. His status probably didn¡¯t indicate ability but instead likely meant he was the first one the demon recruited. He had probably been the demon¡¯s longest serving subordinate. Once the demon found out his most important disciple had been killed by Artemis she could forget about breathing. Right now even the demonhunter was up shit creek without a paddle, canoe or nose plugs. Greenland Outpost had no hope of being free. Unlike Salamander, Artemis hadn¡¯t spent most of her life in the outpost, but it was where she¡¯d spent her most formative years. She was unwilling to leave, but there was no other choice. At least she still had Cloudhawk, that cute little morsel. When she thought about adventures with Cloudhawk she thought it wasn¡¯t such a bad life. As for the demonhunter that couldn¡¯t seem to do anything right, now that they saved her life they could tell her to fuck off! Of course Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know Artemis¡¯ plans. The injection continued to work its way through the Queen¡¯s battered body, helping her heal. He knew she¡¯d recovered consciousness already but until now she was mute as a log. He didn¡¯t even need to think about it to know what was up. This time she¡¯d suffered quite the blow. Ever since coming to the wasteland the Bloodsoaked Queen had been practically invincible. The only people to get the drop on her had to use dirty tricks, traps or full-on sieges. Even back in the elysian lands she¡¯d been the most talented among her peers! A demonhunter at eleven, an elite demonhunter at fourteen. She was a singular talent the likes of which had never been seen, truly amazing. One after the other she broke every demonhunter record in the elysian lands. She was the only hunter with a chance to become a Master before thirty years old. This was her history, and today she was pummeled into the dirt. A failure. Her failure was so straightforward, so brutal. So absolute! She¡¯d given up her honor and her future to waste a year scouring the wastelands. In the end it was all a cruel joke. She couldn¡¯t even accomplish dying with the demon. The Queen was too young, she¡¯d never even participated in a proper demon hunt. Without that experience she didn¡¯t know what to expect, or how strong a demon was. If she were a little more sensible she¡¯d remember that these monsters used to war with the gods themselves. They¡¯d lost, but they were a race that could stand toe to toe against the most powerful being in the universe. Was that not enough to explain her problems? Cloudhawk tried to comfort her. ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad, it wasn¡¯t a complete loss. At least now we know how strong that fucker is. We¡¯ll find somewhere to hide, train for a few years then try again!¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen shut her eyes, drained of all strength. Before them stretched the oasis, barring the way to freedom. Cloudhawk sighed at the sight, but no sooner did he allow himself to relax than all of his nerves went taught. His whole body shook, for he felt the waves of a relic¡¯s power permeating the air. ¡°Watch out above!¡± He barely had time to shout before the cloud darkened from a hail of countless sandy arrows. They fell from the heavens like a plague of locusts, a deadly rain. And they were caught in the middle. How strong was this monster? The scale of this attack was staggering! Chapter 91 - A Bitter Victory Chapter 91 - A Bitter Victory As the arrows came at them from above, Cloudhawk and Artemis scattered. Cloudhawk carried the Bloodsoaked Queen into a copse of nearby trees, but not before a few of the arrows found him. They were as effective as any real arrow, but luckily he had his cloak to protect him from the bulk of the damage. By the time they were safe he was bruised from head to toe. Son of a bitch! He¡¯s right on our asses! Brandishing his staff the young wastelander glared into the forest. There a dark figure emerged, surrounded by a mist-like haze of sand. A strange, echoing voice hissed at him. ¡°Do you think you can run?¡± The demon! The motherfucker was back. The Queen¡¯s body was still recovering but she gripped her cross tight in her hand. Holy light radiated from it anew. Although she was already beaten bloody and subsequently wracked with pain from the panacea, she was still determined to die in combat. After their first encounter she saw how inadequate she was before him, she was no fool. She didn¡¯t expect to win ¨C but perhaps she could help Cloudhawk escape! Everything, all of this had come about because of her. Getting him involved was an accident. He¡¯s a good man with a lot of potential, maybe even more than me. Perhaps he can do what I¡¯ve failed to accomplish. He has to get to safety, even if it kills me! The demons eyes were unblinking, like deep and ancient wells. He seemed capable of peering into one¡¯s heart. A strange chuckle issued from him like the quiet call of an owl, and as he extended his right hand the sand that surrounding him reshaped into an awl-pike suspended in midair. The beast slowly extended his hand and the pike fired off like an arrow. The air warped in protest from its rapid passage. The demon¡¯s target was not the demonhunter, or the new outpost leader that had betrayed him. It was the one between them, Cloudhawk. While they watched the pike none of them noticed the sandy tentacles creeping along the ground that held Cloudhawk fast. His legs and half of his body were quickly wrapped up, preventing him from dodging. He could do nothing but watch his doom approach. Shit! The Queen watched with wide-eyed dismay, for he knew it was already too late for her to protect him. The danger that pike presented would be fatal to her, much more so for the untrained Cloudhawk. In this critical moment a lithe figure swept in front of the young man. Artemis swung her mighty hammer, knocking the sand pike from the air. But the indomitable power of the attack also broke her weapon into metal splinters and sent her flying like a kite with broken strings. Flesh and blood splattered over the peaceful green of the oasis. Suddenly Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes turned a bloody red! He broke free of the sandy tentacles like an enraged fiend. With a speed and strength he¡¯d never displayed before the young wastelander charged forward. The exorcist staff awakened! Its three-edged point spun like a tornado, followed by a fiery light that swallowed the whole area. The exorcist staff was not a fire-element relic, but the intense friction it caused released heat. It was so extreme that the oxygen in the air caught fire. Cloudhawk had channeled all of his psychic power, all of his strength, all of his anger into his staff for this attack. B-o-o-m! Trees shook as concussive force ripped through the area, with buffeting winds tearing off chunks of bark and countless leaves. The demon did not dodge, did not flinch. He just stood with his open palm raised, the tip of Cloudhawk¡¯s smoking stave resting inert against its center. ¡°Respectable.¡± The demon¡¯s understated praise was punctuated with a gentle push of his hand. Cloudhawk was launched away as though from a cannon and crashed into a tree. The exorcist staff was flung to the side like so much detritus. When the demon looked down into his palm he noted cracks had formed around the point of impact and purple blood had begun to leak free. Less than two seconds later the bleeding stopped. The Bloodsoaked Queen raced into the bushes where she found Cloudhawk convulsing on the ground. He was covered in wounds, but his glaring red eyes burned with murderous intent. The will remained but he hadn¡¯t the power to lift himself up off the ground. Several of his ribs were broken. The damage wasn¡¯t from the demon ¨C the creature throwing him away could not be considered an assault. He¡¯d done it to himself from overexertion. Berserker rage like this was rarely seen, he was like a wild dying animal. ¡°Let go of me! I¡¯m gonna kill him!¡± This isn¡¯t your fight, the Queen said to herself. It isn¡¯t your war! This battle is for demonhunters! She held him tight, tears mixed with blood streaming from beneath her mask. This is my fault, it¡¯s all my fault. My fault! The demon¡¯s unblinking, unfeeling eyes watched everything. His hands began to accumulate power once again, but this time it was the Bloodsoaked Queen ¨C blazing cross in hand ¨C who stood to meet him. She fixed her enemy with an unyielding gaze. That pious holy warrior had returned. Her sights never left the visage of her arch-enemy. ¡°You can have my life, but you must let him go!¡± He answered her with a curious expression writ on his face. ¡°A demonhunter giving her life for a lowly wastelander? If your gods knew this they would be disappointed!¡± She made no attempt to argue. She growled each word through gritted teeth. ¡°Let. Him. Go.¡± The demon¡¯s voice was cold as the depths of the grave. ¡°In reality our world is a fair one. Bad decisions come with consequences. His death is not on my hands. Your stupidity, arrogance and pride is what killed him.¡± The Queen had no hope her request would be granted. The brutality of demons was well known, what mercy could she escape for those they deemed a threat? No, if she wanted to protect Cloudhawk the only way to do it was to fight with all she was worth. Perhaps she might harm him enough to dissuade the monster. She had to try, no matter the cost. The Queen¡¯s holy sword blazed ever brighter. With her left hand resting on its pommel she channeled the power of her burning angels through it, turning its pure white light a fiery orange. The heat was so intense the grass around her withered and shriveled up. ¡°Very good. This is the proper posture for battle. Asking for mercy is a display of the weak.¡± The demon reconstructed his sandy blade, held it tight in his grip. ¡°As a reward I shall tell you something. Whether you believe me or not ¨C I was not the one who killed your father.¡± ¡°Do you think I would trust anything a demon says?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You are young, the world is not as simple as you think. Unfortunately you won¡¯t have an opportunity to learn this for yourself.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen drew on all of her power, all of her potential, and swung her burning blade toward the demon in a vicious chop. A roiling plume of fire and smoke followed in its wake that lit the dark forest. He lifted his sand-sword before him to block the attack. Strong as he was, confronted with the brunt of the Queen¡¯s potent faith he was forced back. The lapping flames started to burn and crack his sword of sand ¨C but he could see cracks forming in hers as well. The sound of something snapping filled the air! Both the demon¡¯s sandy blade and the Queen¡¯s burning holy sword shattered! The demon reeled, his body peppered with wounds. They leaked a viscous purple fluid that did not stop. This time the Queen¡¯s attack had wounded him. But it was not enough! Still not enough! A few superficial cuts meant nothing to this nightmare. The Bloodsoaked Queen fought for breath as the cross slipped from her fingers and fell gently into the grass. Despite being covered in her blood it still gleamed with blinding light. The demon slowly lifted his arms whereupon wicked spikes protruded all over his body. ¡°Are you prepared?¡± She forced herself to quit panting and stood tall like the image of the goddesses of old. Even though she was covered in blood and faced an impossible situation, she stared at her conqueror with adamant courage. Cloudhawk fought back onto his feet. ¡°Stop!¡± The demon paid him no mind. He pressed forward with a hand and the spikes were cast forth. Sharp as daggers they pierced the Queen, some even running her through and bursting out the other side. Cloudhawk watched with wide, stupefied eyes as the strongest warrior he¡¯d ever know collapsed to the floor. It was like watching his whole world crumble. From Mad Dog and Slyfox to Artemis and the Queen, everyone he¡¯d ever known was gone. As the demon recovered he looked upon Cloudhawk, peculiar fluctuations rippled through its pupils. ¡°Are you¡­ angry? Do you feel hate? Indignation? Humiliation? Let those emotions free, let me see the depths of your potential!¡± [1] Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have his staff, it was lost somewhere in the grass. Instead he rushed over toward the glimmering cross and snatched it from the ground. A relic this powerful was outside of Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities to command, but he didn¡¯t think about it. His mind was caught in a white-hot rage where nothing existed except going forward even in the face of death. It didn¡¯t matter how strong or how fierce he was, this demon had to die! In the midst of his blinding rage the stone resting against his chest once more began to resonate. A psychic pulse a hundred times stronger than Cloudhawk¡¯s own poured into the cross and vibrated with it. When the holy sword reappeared it was so bright it was like the sun appeared in the middle of the dark forest. Everything was bathed in light. The light was a column of dazzling power that pierced the heavens. Even the soldiers far away in the outpost could see it splitting the night sky. A fervent light sparked in the demon¡¯s dead eyes. ¡°Good¡­ very good!¡± Cloudhawk swung the sword. The demon reacted by lifting his hand, and the sand around him reconstituted into four or five walls. When the light came crashing down it split them like paper before finally devouring the demon himself. The power struck the beast head on, pushing back thirty feet until ¨C with a shrill and terrible scream ¨C the beam drilled through him. ¡°Die!¡± Cloudhawk heaved the sword high then brought it crashing down again. The demon was cut into two halves, with the light of the holy sword disappearing the moment it split him. Cloudhawk slumped to the ground, supporting himself on hands and knees as he gulped breaths. He was dead. Finally, dead! At last that fucking demon was gone! Only, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to accept what it had cost. 1. This is similar to the exchange between Cloudhawk and Stranger Black, perhaps indicating how much the demon builds a cult of personality. Or it could just be the author likes this method of taunting. Chapter 92 - A Cunning Game Chapter 92 - A Cunning Game The column of light split the night then disappeared, all in less than three seconds. The severed halves of the demon lay in a pool of blood. All of it happened so fast¡­ it was inconceivable that this invulnerable enemy could be laid low by the weak and insignificant Cloudhawk. Despite her terrible injuries and the blinding pain, the Bloodsoaked Queen was still conscious. She couldn¡¯t believe what had occurred before her very eyes. The beast was so powerful, and yet Cloudhawk had killed him. How had the young wastelander done it? Yet that wasn¡¯t what confused her most. How was she even still alive, much less alert? It made no sense that she should survive after being impaled by the demon¡¯s spikes! As she examined the damage the Queen discovered something odd. While the demon¡¯s attacks had run her through they had also completely avoided any major organs. Stranger still, it didn¡¯t sever any important arteries or even bone. They had slipped through her body with perfect precision. What was going on? Did the demon spare her life? Had he done it just to infuriate Cloudhawk? She found it difficult to accept, but what other alternative was there? It couldn¡¯t have been a coincidence, could it? Why would the demon do this, why wouldn¡¯t he kill her? She was a demonhunter ¨C they were mortal enemies! Was his aim to humiliate her? That didn¡¯t make any sense! Demons didn¡¯t trouble themselves with such nonsense. What¡¯s more the demon had recognized her potential. Why would he risk letting a future master demonhunter live? If she survived to become a full-fledged hunter, even if she didn¡¯t come for him she would put down other fiends like him. His actions just didn¡¯t fit the essence of who he was! The Bloodsoaked Queen painfully pulled herself back onto her feet. Though these wounds would have been fatal to a normal person, she would recover. Moreover the effect of the panacea was still working through her body, so she didn¡¯t need to take any special measures except to pull the spikes out. Dozens of finger-sized wounds oozed blood, but after a minute they stopped. Her flesh was slowly knitting itself back together before her eyes thanks to the panacea. Despite the number and severity of the injuries, with the help of the injection they would be gone in ten days to half a month. She¡¯d be back to fighting condition. Panacea was a medicine that drew on a person¡¯s potential, essentially overdrafting the body¡¯s own function. The Queen had used three of them over a very short period which could make the rebound effects worse. There was a risk it could cause long term damage that would be difficult to recover from. Now that her mission was done she would need to rest for at least a couple months. She stood on unsteady feet and looked at Cloudhawk. ¡°How were you able to summon that kind of power?¡± The Queen¡¯s cross sword was an heirloom relic. Not only did one need a particular level of talent, even her father would have found it difficult to command the holy sword like Cloudhawk just did. How many secrets did this kid have hiding up his sleeves? When he saw the Queen standing, Cloudhawk¡¯s face lit up. ¡°You¡¯re alive?¡± She looked back at him, speechless. ¡°Artemis... where¡¯s Artemis?!¡± He remembered how she threw herself in front of him, but when he found her Cloudhawk discovered that she hadn¡¯t been as lucky as the Queen. In deflecting the blow her hammer had detonated, spewing hot metal in all directions. Many of them tore through her own body. He kneeled beside her and saw that her chest was a bloody ruin. Several of her organs had been critically damaged. Artemis didn¡¯t have any healing capabilities, and she¡¯d given the last panacea injection to the Queen. They didn¡¯t have anything to help her, no method to bring her back. She saw the concern and anxiety on his face and smiled through the mask of blood. ¡°You idiot, you should see your face.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is nothin¡¯.¡± Cloudhawk wrapped Artemis in his arms and pulled her close. ¡°We¡¯ll go back to the outpost and find Mantis. He¡¯ll fix you right up, you just hold on!¡± Artemis¡¯ pretty face was decimated and covered in blood. She coughed and tried to speak with him through a rigid windpipe. ¡°N-¡­. No. Don¡¯t waste your effort. I¡¯m not gonna make it.¡± ¡°We killed the demon!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were red and puffy. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were gonna lead the outpost with me? I agree, you live and we¡¯ll be here together to make it our own. We¡¯ll turn it into a real paradise, okay?¡± ¡°You know I thought about it, the outpost isn¡¯t what you¡¯re lookin¡¯ for. I can¡¯t be selfish and force you to stay here.¡± Artemis scowled against the bitter words. ¡°Motherfucker, I think¡­ I think I really fell for you. Such a¡­ such a shame¡­¡± She lifted a shaking hand and placed it upon his cheek. As her strength failed her and her hand dropped she left five stark red streaks against his skin. It fell limp to the ground as Artemis serenely shut her eyes, a small smile on her face. Cloudhawk stared dumbly at the body cooling in his embrace. His mind was blank, but it felt like something had been taken from deep inside his soul. It was a pain unlike anything he¡¯d felt before. Artemis was dead, another in a line of people who had given their lives for him. From Slyfox to Mad Dog to Artemis, as he grew the weight of their sacrifice was crushing him. Every step was wrought with pain and helplessness, with nowhere for him to escape. All he could do was shoulder this suffocating burden and honor them by spending his days getting stronger. Was this the price of growing up? The price of seeking something better? With her hands pressed against the wounds in her stomach, the Queen walked on shaking legs to Cloudhawk and the corpse he held. The look in her eyes was equal part guilty and uncomfortable. ¡°Are you¡­ are you alright?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t respond. He lifted Artemis body and walked into the trees. ¡°Cloudhawk¡­¡± She called after him. He acted like he didn¡¯t hear, focusing on putting one step in front of the other back toward Greenland Outpost. The Queen tried to follow but her wounds slowed her down. In the end she just watched him disappear into the darkness. He hates me! She felt a pressure on her chest that made it difficult to breathe. She was filled with a harsh and bitter sensation, for she knew that while the demon was the culprit, she had provoked him. Her ignorance and arrogance led to the destruction of Blackflag Outpost. Her folly and obsession was the doom of the Tartarus mercenaries. Her actions in the Greenland Outpost forced Cloudhawk to watch Artemis die before his eyes. In the end the demon was slain. Ironically it was the worthless wastelander, the boy she¡¯d looked down on this whole time, who had killed her enemy. What did she do? She hadn¡¯t harmed a hair on him ¨C she hadn¡¯t done a single thing right since coming to the wastelands! The Bloodsoaked Queen sadly learned that every decision she¡¯d made had been the wrong one. Ever since fleeing the Blackflag Outpost, suffering the slings and arrows of fate, her pride and self-esteem had been eaten away. All that was left was introspection and regret. She stumbled over to where the demon¡¯s body lay and her eyes swept over the blackened pieces. She found several things, namely a book with a pale yellow metal cover and a roll of parchment made from some animal skin. The book had to be the demon¡¯s relic. She picked up the book and unrolled the parchment to see its contents. Scrawling handwriting covered its surface, and when she read them the Queen¡¯s face changed. Her hands curled into fists as for ten minutes she stood in contemplative silence. Then, using the tree trunks for support, she limped off. What she did not witness was that after she left, what remained of the demon began to change. The bloody sheen dried away until the pieces were like rock. They dissolved into fragments of sand and blew away on the breeze leaving nothing behind. Just then, standing atop the partly ruined Greenland Fort¡­ Two figures stood side by side. One was a tall thin man with a pallid face, messy hair and glasses. Physically he seemed very ordinary, but his personality was that of a learned figure ¨C cold and distant ¨C very atypical for the wastelands. Beside him was a strange and savage figure, easily over six feet tall with burning red eyes. Their vision, far better than any normal human, watched Cloudhawk slowly approach from the Oasis. Mantis spoke in his typical drab tones. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°My sand doppelganger has less than half the strength I possess, yet I didn¡¯t expect him to defeat it. Extraordinary, really.¡± The demon¡¯s deep, echoing voice was filled with curiosity. ¡°The boy has potential. It is no wonder he is the chosen one.¡± ¡°You did not kill the demonhunter,¡± Mantis remarked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I find her interesting, there is much about her that is special ¨C different from the others of the elysian lands. She might serve as a malleable pawn, and if played properly she could be quite useful.¡± He didn¡¯t appear to mind the question. ¡°In saving her life we may be pleasantly surprised. It will certainly make things more amusing. Of course, in your eyes, ancient one, this flourish is hardly noteworthy. You know, you are easily both the maddest and wisest man I¡¯ve met. We should play this game together.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t confuse me with your kind. We aren¡¯t the same, and neither is our purpose. If necessary we will be enemies.¡± Mantis¡¯ cold voice held nothing back. ¡°He was able to sense your energy. If you don¡¯t leave you¡¯ll be discovered.¡± A glint flashed in the demon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Just think about my offer.¡± Chapter 93 - The Queens Gifts The sun¡¯s gleaming light faded as the day waned, becoming a golden disc peaking over the horizon. Its luminescence dimmed as it fought through the haze of sand and grit in the air. As sunset kissed the outpost its dying rays played over the remains of Greenland Fort. In the golden red hue it looked especially noble. On one side of the ruins¡­ The late hour stretched the shadows of tombstones long against the ground. A young man in tattered clothing bent over an unmarked grave and placed a flower at its base. Cloudhawk¡¯s face and body were scabbed over, and his ribs that were broken in the fight against the demon were set. Although his condition was not a pleasant one he would be fully recovered in three to five days. Or, at least recovered enough that it wouldn¡¯t affect moving around. But Artemis was dead. There was no changing that fact. Cloudhawk stood before the grave for a long time in silence, unsure of what to do next. Greenland Fort was finally free ¨C there was no one to enslave them, no puppet at its helm. At last Greenland Outpost belonged to its people. Only, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t intend to stay. With Artemis¡¯ death Cloudhawk had no friends here. More importantly, though, he found that Greenland Outpost wasn¡¯t where he wanted to be. It was a flower blooming in a desert of evil, but the hearts of its people were twisted. Killing was the way of life, and even though Hydra was dead another Hydra would surely take his place. The sweeper leader was dead, but inevitably they would install someone else to guide their massacres. The wastelands weren¡¯t going to change in a day, it probably wasn¡¯t going to change at all. Peace and safety wasn¡¯t part of the fate of this cursed land. Cloudhawk had made up his mind. He had to leave the wastelands, to follow the dream that had been carved on his spirit since he was a child. The sound of footsteps approached from behind. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to turn his head to know who it was. She walked with both hands on a walking stick to support her weight. Her mask was missing leaving her beautiful features exposed to the world; clear eyes, high nose bridge, small mouth, and elegant black hair that fell to her shoulders in a silken waterfall. Her shimmering tresses flitted with the breeze lending her a luxurious air. Who could imagine that this seventeen-year-old girl, who looked barely able to withstand a stiff breeze, turned into the infamous Bloodsoaked Queen when she put that demon mask on. Her skin was smooth and pristine as jade . Maybe it was because she was weak, or from a lack of blood , but she was certainly more pale than normal. The wrinkle in her brow spoke of nagging pain and melancholy. The effects of the panacea injection were still working through her body, but her wounds were serious and thus recovery was even more difficult to endure. Even so she hardly showed it on her face. Step by unstable step, she slowly approached where Cloudhawk was standing. When she came nearer Cloudhawk finally turned his head. She looked back at him, tranquil and bathed in dying light like she¡¯d just stepped out of a painting. She seemed completely out of place among the gritty, crumbling ruins. She¡¯d replaced her clothing with the crude and simple garb of the wasteland. Bandages covered her in a dozen places and outlined her curves. He wasn¡¯t sure whether or not it was because the mask was missing, but that arrogant and domineering air didn¡¯t seem to follow her around anymore. Cloudhawk turned back toward the unmarked grave. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Without the mask her voice was clear and melodious. ¡°Can¡¯t I come pay my respects?¡± ¡°You should be recovering.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what to say to her. She seemed different now, like the battle with the demon had affected her deeply. Or maybe something else changed, she seemed more restrained and introverted now after surviving that catastrophic battle. The young demonhunter had experienced much, perhaps she¡¯d grown up. The young woman looked at the mound, at Cloudhawk quietly standing over it. They stood close, but it felt like they were a thousand miles away from each other. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said in a quiet voice. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think those words would ever come out of the Queen¡¯s mouth. She really had changed ¨C but was her apology a good thing or a bad thing? ¡°Ah, there¡¯s nothing to apologize for.¡± He sighed and looked off into the dimming horizon. ¡°A lot of what happened comes down to fate. The demon¡¯s dead. You¡¯ve avenged your father, and I¡¯ve avenged Artemis, Slyfox and the others. Yes, everything that¡¯s happened was because of you¡­ but it¡¯s done.¡± The Bloodsoaked Queen was quiet for a few moments before she spoke again. ¡°Are you preparing to leave the outpost?¡± ¡°Yeah. Once I¡¯m healed.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not bad here, but in the end it¡¯s not where I should be. I¡¯ve put it off too long with all this, it¡¯s time to hit the road.¡± ¡°I have some things I want to give you.¡± It was then he noticed the mask and several other items resting in her hands. She gave them all to him. ¡°Please take them. They¡¯ll help you.¡± She¡¯s giving me gifts? Isn¡¯t this her mask? He didn¡¯t know what use the mask served, but he knew it was something the Queen kept on her at all times so it had to be important. It seemed to be made out of some special material as well, for despite all the many battles she faced in the wastelands there wasn¡¯t a scratch on it. Besides the mask she¡¯d also given him a book with a pale yellow metal cover and a strange token. Cloudhawk looked at the book first. Its style seemed ancient, and its cover was engraved with the scene of a vast desert. The closer he looked the more it seemed like the scene was actually moving, like it was alive. It pulsed with powerful resonance. A relic, and judging by the energy it released it was no less powerful than the Queen¡¯s cross ¨C maybe even stronger. The token had indecipherable script and symbols etched on the sides. He figured it was one of her personal items. ¡°I¡¯m sure you feel it. That book is called the Gospel of Sand. I took it from the demon¡¯s corpse.¡± ¡°Demons use relics?¡± ¡°Demons were once the greatest enemies of the gods. Their powers used to be very similar. The relics that demonhunters employ were gifts from the gods, and in the same vein demons created relics of their own. However the way they use them is unique, employing different methods to seal them in their bodies. When we slayed the demon one of its relics was all that remained.¡± Cloudhawk furrowed his brow. ¡°Only one? Where are the rest?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she answered. ¡°Although it¡¯s just a piece it is a very famous and important relic. Taking it proves you¡¯ve bested a demon.¡± She then pointed to the token. ¡°As for that, it¡¯s the token that identifies me as a demonhunter. It will allow you to travel through the territory of Skycloud without trouble, and it¡¯s also my recommendation for you to meet the Governor.¡± Cloudhawk was at a loss. ¡°Why would I want to meet him?¡± ¡°The Governor of Skycloud is my uncle,¡± she said. ¡°If you bring my token and that relic to him, it¡¯ll prove you¡¯ve killed a demon. I¡¯m sure that with my uncle¡¯s prestige and influence, and the fact you¡¯ve killed a demon, you could live the rest of your life in the elysian lands and want for nothing. You said you were looking for a pure land without pain or conflict, right? That¡¯s where you¡¯ll find it.¡± Cloudhawk looked at the three items he held in his hands. He felt moved and grateful for her treasures. The Bloodsoaked Queen had made many errors, but to swallow her pride and say these things to Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t have been easy. ¡°What about this?¡± ¡°That mask was made for me by my father. Don¡¯t mistake it for a normal item, it¡¯s also a relic.¡± She gently ran her hand along the hideous scowling demon mask, and in an instant it became a white smiling face. In the space of a blink it was like an entirely different item. ¡°This is my personal gift to you. For a friend. Sometimes you rush things, and whether in battle or with people this mask will help you avoid trouble. Take it.¡± It certainly was a special relic. Cloudhawk had sensed that the Queen carried another relic, but it was unique somehow. The resonance from it was weak, too faint for Cloudhawk to pick it out before. This must have been what he was feeling! Most surprising of all was how different the Queen was now. The prideful woman he¡¯d known was gone, and overnight she was someone else. He was speechless. He just stared at her. She looked away. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± He reached his hand out, as though to touch her and make sure she was real. ¡°Are you really the Bloodsoaked Queen? Are you a copy or something?¡± Slap! Cloudhawk felt the sting in his hand and he yanked it back. She hadn¡¯t struck him lightly and the back of his hand was already getting red and swollen. The embarrassment gave rise to irritation. ¡°Why the hell did you hit me?!¡± She brandished her walking stick, suddenly very much like the old Queen. ¡°We may be friends but don¡¯t think for a minute about getting physical with me! This time it was a warning, next time I¡¯ll snap your arm.¡± ¡°Friend?!¡± Cloudhawk snapped back. ¡°Is this how you treat your friends?!¡± She sniffed at him, spun on her heels and left. However she wasn¡¯t nearly as rigid or stuffy, and the faintest trace of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bear her any grudges. In the year that she¡¯d spent in the wastelands, meeting this kid was the one good thing that had happened to her. Fraternizing with wastelanders was a serious violation of the demonhunter code, but she¡¯d broken so many of their rules already. What was one more? Before, having such thoughts would have terrified her, but after a year in the wastes had her time here corrupted her will and soul? The Bloodsoaked Queen remained true to her faith, that went without question. Only, she wasn¡¯t sure how to deal with her own heart. Cloudhawk sighed and rubbed his hand. At least he was sure of one thing ¨C she was still the Bloodsoaked Queen. He turned back and looked down at the unmarked grave. ¡°Artemis, rest easy. I¡¯ll see you again someday.¡± 1. Jade can come in a milky white color, another Chinese standard of beauty every woman desperately seeks to attain. My persona theory is that cases of anemia are high in China in part because anemic women are very pale and thus more highly sought after. For comparison the rate of anemia in the US is ~10%, and ~20% in China. 2. See he knows what I¡¯m talking about Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 94 - Determined to Depar Chapter 94 - Determined to Depart Concealed in the silent night, several large men gathered in a bar conspiring with each other. One of them was relatively smaller than the others, but made up for it with a particularly cruel face. There was a flash of metal, a thud, and suddenly a nasty looking dagger was lodged in the table between them. ¡°Brothers! It¡¯s a fine opportunity!¡± His malicious, wolf-like eyes swept over the others. ¡°Hydra is dead and so is that woman. There isn¡¯t anyone left to lead, so chaos is soon to follow. It¡¯s finally our time!¡± Excitement gleamed in the other men¡¯s faces. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, for with Hydra and his henchmen dead who was left to oppose them? One of the men seemed less than convinced. ¡°Ratscratch, boss, aren¡¯t you forgetting the demonhunters? They killed a damn demon!¡± ¡°Demonhunters? Pah!¡± Disdain dripped from Ratscratch¡¯s response. ¡°Demonhunters won¡¯t be here much longer. Now that the Caliph of the Sands is gone I suspect they¡¯ll be leaving the outpost sooner rather than later.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. The demonhunters wouldn¡¯t chose to live here, after all. Ratscratch¡¯s beady eyes glinted with an ominous light. ¡°But there¡¯s no time to waste. We gotta take control of the fort as quick as possible. I got eyes in the fort that tell me the demonhunters are wounded, so now¡¯s our best chance to sneak in and put ¡®em down.¡± The others stared at him, shocked. Attack the demonhunters? He was crazy! Demonhunters were immeasurably stronger than Hydra had been. It was suicide! Another one of Ratscratch¡¯s subordinates chimed in. ¡°We¡¯ve all seen what the demonhunter can do. If she¡¯s still got even a tenth of that power left she can easily handle all of us. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± ¡°Fuckwit! Why would we attack head on? Poison, ambush, traps¡­ we already gathered some toxic spores and made a powder. All we gotta do is to find a way to sneak into where they live and slip it in their water. Poison doesn¡¯t give a shit how strong you are.¡± Ratscratch¡¯s face twisted into a nasty expression. ¡°We got hundreds of brothers and the fort¡¯s in ruins. They don¡¯t got enough people to keep it locked down. All we gotta do is kill two people, and the whole outpost is ours! Relax, it¡¯s under control. Once our people do their job we¡¯re on the move.¡± The others were uncertain, even fearful, but it was hard to conceal their greed. When Ratscratch¡¯s eyes swept over them they were filled with awe. Ratscratch was a well-known figure in the outpost. Now that Hydra, Artemis and Salamander were gone there was almost no one to stand in his way. As for the demonhunter and ¨C what, her apprentice? They were outsiders, they didn¡¯t have any clout here. What did it matter if they were strong? Sometimes in the wastelands it was better to know how to fight dirty than be strong. ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°We¡¯re gonna beat the shit out of ¡®em!¡± ¡°I¡¯m with you, boss!¡± Like gamblers they were all in. If they could take the fort it didn¡¯t even matter if they couldn¡¯t hold the whole outpost. If the territory split they would at the very least be the major influence. Women, food, drinkable water ¨C who would be there to stop them from carving it up for themselves? Ratscratch nodded his head in satisfaction and picked up his glass. ¡°Relax, brothers. Win or lose we do this together!¡± The simple cups clinched together in a toast, sending alcohol splashing. Now that the decision was made Ratscratch began his preparations. None of his ambitious men were going to back away from an opportunity like this. Besides Ratscratch was getting on in years, he didn¡¯t want to throw away this precious moment. It was probably his last chance to turn things in his favor. If there was one thing the wastelands didn¡¯t lack it was scoundrels. Ratscratch wasn¡¯t the only one with spies keeping an eye on Greenland leadership. If he wanted to take it for himself he had to be faster than them. The earlier he moved, the better. ¡°Number two, get fifty men together and set ¡®em up to ambush the fort. Number Three, fifty men with crossbows to give ¡®em cover. The rest of you are under my command, once we get the signal we¡¯re on the move.¡± ¡°You got it!¡± Everything rested on this operation! After deploying his lieutenants Ratscratch started making arrangements. He was practically buzzing with fervor and excitement, like he was in his twenties again. He was already fantasizing about life as leader of the outpost! But then an intense sense of disquiet filled him. Ratscratch was near the bottom of the barrel when it came to the outpost¡¯s elite, but he was a veteran of the wilderness. This experience had developed the instinct of a wild animal, a nose for danger! He didn¡¯t know where the danger was coming from but a sound from somewhere tipped him off. He flung himself to the side. But it was too late! A bullet shattered a nearby window and half a moment later a hole appeared in the back of Ratscratch¡¯s head. It drilled through his right eye, leaving a ragged tunnel as it exploded out and buried itself in the wall behind him. Ratscratch hit the ground rigid as a board. Just a moment ago he had been filled with spirit and gusto. One second later he was dead, the victim of a shooting. ¡°Sniper!¡± Ratscratch¡¯s men were all old hats around the outpost, so when their leader was shot down they didn¡¯t panic, or get enraged or afraid. The first thing they did was hit the deck to protect themselves from becoming the next victim. Six hundred feet away from the bar, nestled in a pile of inconspicuous rubble, the sniper pulled back the rifle¡¯s bolt which kicked out the spent casing. The shooter slowly readjusted his aim. The rifle was a special wastelands rifle, every component of it handmade and crude. Its bullets were high caliber. It lacked a scope and the shooter was guided only by the iron sights fixed to the end of the barrel. A gun like this definitely required a skilled marksman to use properly for it lacked anything to help with aim or control, much less hit a target hundreds of feet away. One bullet, one target down. The shooter didn¡¯t rush to leave. The sights moved toward the front door. One of Ratscratch¡¯s men slowly rose to his feet and cautiously opened the door, preparing to make a run for it. But the sniper was fast as a bolt of lightning, and the moment the door opened just a crack he pulled the trigger. The sharp report of the rifle rang out once more. This bullet ripped through the wall and into the common room where it buried itself in the man standing by the door. As it ripped through his waist the man toppled to the ground and began to scream. He clearly wasn¡¯t going to make it. The rat pack only had three rodents left. Now they knew where the sniper was. When the second shot fired they leapt out of the window, abandoning cover and racing toward where the sniper was hiding. It didn¡¯t take them long to reach the spot where he¡¯d been hiding, where they found a blanket he must have been using to remain in cover. A shadow caught their eye from the ruins. ¡°Get him!¡± The three men lifted their weapons and gave chase. They spread out, looking for any trace of the sniper. One of them suddenly felt a hand clamp down on his mouth, and then the cold kiss of steel as a dagger opened his throat. The other two sensed something was wrong and whipped around toward their dead comrade. Their compatriot had collapsed, eyes wide and mouth gasping for breath like a fish out of water. Only his attacker had vanished back into the shadows. The last two men standing immediately stood back to back and stared with wide-eyed fear and surprise at the darkness. Whoosh! A black figure swept by. In his passage a dagger whipped out and planted itself in one¡¯s throat. The unfortunate soul clutched his neck and hit the ground. When the shadowy assassin¡¯s feet hit the ground he swung around and lunged at the final thug with a staff that had a three-edged spike at the end. ¡°Die!¡± Ratscratch¡¯s last henchmen was as shocked as he was infuriated. He heaved his weapon and flung himself forward. Their weapons met in the darkness three or four times with neither taking the upper hand. Then, just as the warrior was preparing to go on the offensive he heard the assassin¡¯s weapon whir. His weapon was ripped apart like it was made of paper! The last thing he felt was a vicious energy tear through his chest. That was how Ratscratch¡¯s fledgling rebellion was ended. Cloudhawk wiped the blood clean from the tip of his exorcist spear, then turned to look at the person behind him. ¡°What do you think?¡± A tall, thin figure was half hidden in the shadows. He seemed almost like a part of the darkness, and if he remained still it would be almost impossible to know he was there. Mantis slowly emerged, surveyed the corpses, then offered his evaluation. ¡°Very average.¡± Cloudhawk shrugged. Over the last several days Cloudhawk¡¯s injuries had recovered well. He¡¯d wanted to learn a few new skills before setting out again, so he took the Queen and Mantis as his teachers. From one he learned the basics of close-quarters combat, and from the latter the skills of the assassins and surgeons. The situation in Greenland Outpost was growing more unstable by the day. Several groups had started to instigate the turmoil for their own gain. Mantis used his skills to locate these troublemakers then arranged for Cloudhawk to deal with them as a means of training. Although he wasn¡¯t even half the assassin Mantis was, his skills at murder had improved impressively over the last few days. Cloudhawk swung his arms, loosening the muscles. ¡°Seems like the outpost has been mostly cleared of thugs, and my wounds are about healed. I think it¡¯s about time I got out of here.¡± Mantis looked at Cloudhawk, who was wearing the Queen¡¯s mask. ¡°Are you sure you want to go to the elysian lands?¡± He nodded. ¡°Definitely.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t the flawless place you think it is.¡± Mantis¡¯ voice was flat as ever. ¡°I suggest you remain in the wastelands, but some lessons require that we experience them first hand in order to learn them more deeply.¡± ¡°This fuckin¡¯ guy, always so cryptic. Can you talk straight for once?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get where Mantis was coming from. Now that he¡¯d made up his mind to go no one was gonna stand in his way. Greenland Outpost was left to Mantis, because weird as he was the assassin was at least reliable. So long as he was in charge things wouldn¡¯t fall apart. Chapter 95 - Traversing the Wilds Chapter 95 - Traversing the Wilds Cloudhawk slowly practiced the postures taught to him by the Bloodsoaked Queen in Greenland Fort¡¯s training room. He was now able to reach the fifteenth stance of this exercise used to condition a demonhunter¡¯s body ¨C an improvement over his performance prior to his injuries. It showed that Cloudhawk was getting stronger. The better he got the slower and more purposeful the stances became, taking several hours for only three repetitions. He was absolutely exhausted by the end. He stopped, covered in sweat and breathing heavily. Seven days had passed since the battle with the demon and his wounds were no longer a concern. In fact there was hardly any indication he¡¯d been wounded at all. The time for him to leave Greenland Outpost and leave for the elysian lands was near. The young wastelander hefted a metal bound yellow tome in his hands. He looked at the cover whereupon the scene of a vast desert seemed to undulate beneath his gaze. The demon¡¯s relic; the Gospel of Sand. The Bloodsoaked Queen had given him this relic as a trophy to symbolize his victory over a demon. With it, and the identifying token given to him by the Queen, he would be granted passage through the territory of Skycloud and favor from her family. At the very least he would be accepted into the elysian lands, and maybe even given the honor of becoming a demonhunter. Then at last he could leave the wastelands behind. Only Cloudhawk didn¡¯t see the Gospel of Sand as a mere trophy! If this was one of the demon¡¯s greatest relics it must mean a fair amount of his power came from it. To Cloudhawk it meant the thing had to be very useful. The restrictions and classifications demonhunters put on relics meant nothing to him. He could use whatever relic he wished, from the Queen¡¯s holy cross of light to the invisibility cloak and the exorcist staff. The book he held in his hands should be no different. Ripples of power wafted from the book as it resonated with his psychic energy. A faint and inexplicable power suddenly permeated the air. Cloudhawk was still weak and using the Gospel of Sand was a difficult task. However he persisted, and eventually the tome began to respond. It started to shake ¨C so imperceptibly that no human sense or scientific method could detect it, but with such resonance that it reacted to the fundamental threads that constituted matter. It was too difficult! It felt like it weighed a thousand pounds! Dripping with sweat Cloudhawk fought on, pouring ever more psychic energy into the effort until at last the Gospel awoke. The frequency of those threads changed, thrummed in a different pattern, and thus matter began to change. At last the Gospel of Sand revealed its power. A gust of wind rustled through the training room. Fine granules of dust danced in the breeze. Eventually sand covered most of the spacious training room like a self-contained sandstorm, dancing in time with Cloudhawk¡¯s will. However his stamina was quickly drained and the weightlessness was stripped from the room. The dust and grit fell back to earth to cover the training hall¡¯s floor with a thin film of sand. Is this how the demon controlled the sandstorms? Cloudhawk could barely summon a breeze! The demon¡¯s storms had swallowed up the outpost while Cloudhawk¡¯s hardly filled a room. Still, it answered his question; the book was definitely useful. Only, he was still too weak to call its full potential. Cloudhawk suspected that if he managed to become as strong as the demon he could also summon a titan of sand. He¡¯d be able to defend himself capably against anyone, probably even a whole army! It certainly earned its reputation as a famed relic! It was one hell of a tool! Cloudhawk was putting the book away when the sound of footsteps caught his attention. He looked up to find the Bloodsoaked Queen in the doorway. Her wounds were not entirely healed but she no longer needed the cane to help her walk. She still looked weak and haggard, but had already recovered a third of her fighting ability. She could go one on one with anyone in the outpost in a fair fight and win. When she saw the sand-covered floor and the book in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands, she gaze at him in surprise. ¡°You used the Gospel of Sand?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the answer kind of obvious?¡± She found it hard to believe. ¡°The Gospel of Sand is very powerful, but also a very unique type of relic. There are only a very few people with the ability to use it, and if you did it means you have a special talent. How is it you seem to have so many gifts?¡± Cloudhawk was largely ignorant of the science and history of relics. He knew nothing about special talents or whether he had any, to him every relic he encountered was the same. He hadn¡¯t thought they came in classes or categories. ¡°Well anyway you showed up right on time,¡± Cloudhawk said as he made his way over to her. ¡°I was just gonna go find you to say goodbye. It¡¯s time for me to leave the outpost.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± She was actually pleased that he was heading out. The more anxious he was to go the more it showed how eager he was to reach the elysian lands. She¡¯d long suspected that Cloudhawk had a talent that surpassed even her own. If he could make it to Skycloud and undergo training from her family the title of youngest demonhunter would surely pass to him. Her home would grow stronger and thus would be better able to fight back any attempts by the hellspawn to invade. A fervent light clearly danced in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. ¡°I wanna to see if the elysian lands and Skycloud are as nice as you say.¡± She answered without hesitation and filled with certainty. ¡°The wastelands and the realm blessed by the light are like two different worlds. I know you¡¯ll love it there.¡± Cloudhawk certainly hoped so. And speaking of hope he grew curious. ¡°The demon¡¯s dead, are you still sticking around?¡± ¡°A year ago I went against the wishes of my family and violated the laws of the demonhunters to come here in secret. If I go back it¡¯ll be a while before I can leave again.¡± Her expression grew stern as she dropped her eyes. ¡°I learned something new about my father¡¯s death. I need to try and learn more so I may stay for a while longer.¡± Her quest still wasn¡¯t finished? Curiosity continued to dig at him. ¡°Do you need help?¡± She politely turned down his offer. ¡°No, I can handle it.¡± The Queen didn¡¯t want to drag Cloudhawk into any more danger than she already had. Besides his abilities were unstable, and only manifested themselves in extreme circumstances. It was a dangerous gamble to rely on. Without his sudden bursts of power he was more of a liability, so it was a wiser choice to get him to the elysian lands as fast as possible. She fixed him with a serious look. ¡°I hope when next we meet in the elysian lands you¡¯ve become a strong and honorable demonhunter!¡± Demonhunter? Pfft! Cloudhawk inwardly rolled his eyes. Were demonhunters honorable? Not that he¡¯s seen. Anyway he didn¡¯t have any beef with demons until the Queen came around, why would he want to go traipsing around looking for trouble? He saw what a demon could do and as far as he was concerned that was about all he was interested in learning. Although demons certainly gave him a rotten impression so long as they didn¡¯t screw with him, he wasn¡¯t going to screw with them. And if they did he¡¯d get as far away as possible. The only way he¡¯d want to tangle with something so dangerous ever again was if he had no other choice. ¡°No matter where we turn up in the future,¡± Cloudhawk said, looking back at her, ¡°we¡¯re always going to be friends. Right?¡± A faint smile suddenly spread across the Queen¡¯s pallid face, filling it with a poignant yet stunning beauty. They each had their own road to walk, and neither of them could stop until they reached the end. They were the same that way. As for what was to come, who could say what the future held? Mantis had prepared a care package for Cloudhawk. With him he carried: a map of the wastelands, a custom 13mm sniper rifle [1], a nine millimeter handgun, around twenty throwing daggers, a knife from the elysian lands, two canteens, and another set of leather boots, gloves and a vest all made from dire bear skin that would be difficult for a bullet to pierce. Then of course there was the exorcist staff, the Gospel of Sand, the invisibility cloak, and the demon mask ¨C Cloudhawk¡¯s collection of relics. As for tools? The outpost didn¡¯t have any vehicles to speak of since it was surrounded by forests and ruins, they didn¡¯t make much sense. However the Queen hand-picked a wasteland lizard he could use as a mount, and fitted it with travel bags containing water, field rations, medicine and other supplies. Ten experienced and reliable elite soldiers were selected to travel with him, to help him avoid the dangers that surrounded the outpost for a few hundred miles. Beyond that the outpost maps were ambiguous and of little help. From there on he was on his own. Everything was in order. As Cloudhawk climbed atop his mount and set off for the wastes he never once looked back. He resolutely headed out from the comfort zone he¡¯d built and into the unknown. Mantis stood atop one of the ruins and watched the young man disappear into the horizon. There was a fierce gust of wind and suddenly another figure appeared by his side ¨C a ferocious and familiar figure. ¡°It seems you were right.¡± The Caliph¡¯s voice was a rasping echo through the desolate ruins. His red eyes were fixed on the shrinking black dot that was Cloudhawk. ¡°He certainly is an interesting kid.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let the path he¡¯s chosen be too easy,¡± Mantis replied emotionlessly. The Caliph of the Sands answered with a deep, haggard laugh. ¡°I¡¯ve been ready. But if he can¡¯t prevail and should meet with misfortune, ancient one, then your plans¡­¡± ¡°He won¡¯t die that easily.¡± Mantis quietly turned away. ¡°It¡¯s time to prepare the next step.¡± The Caliph watched the human walked away, staring at him with a strange expression in his burning red eyes. Had the man finally decided to join his cause? Their goals were different ¨C even opposed ¨C but it appeared the beginning of their journey followed the same road. So why not cooperate? 1. I¡¯m the opposite of a gun guy, but I think that¡¯s a .50 caliber rifle, so huge. Chapter 96 - A Mistake? Chapter 96 - A Mistake? The wastelands¡¯ sands swirled on hot winds. Heat caused the air to warp, twisting the line of wasteland riders that appeared on the horizon. A young boy of about fifteen years led them, looking especially small and frail atop his lizard mount. A black and grey cloak protecting him from the sun, and a large rifle was slung over one shoulder. A gun of that caliber was a symbol of status out here in the wastelands. The unobtrusive youth was followed by ten burly men, each one of them clearly a practiced warrior. Their leader was a strange looking man with an apish jutting lower jaw and a pair of arms twice the size of any normal man. His hands were thicker than kneecaps. For a weapon he had a metal bow slung over his shoulder with an earth wyrm bowstring. It was clearly one powerful tool. They garnered attention everywhere they went. Cloudhawk could hardly believe that only three months ago he was a worm, crawling over the ruins of the wastelands for scraps. Now he rode at the head of a small band of capable fighters and went where he pleased. All he had to worry about was the occasional beast. Your typical bandits or sweeper party were nothing for him to fear anymore. There hadn¡¯t been many setbacks to bar their path over the last couple hundred miles. Cloudhawk¡¯s confidence soared. If they kept up this pace he¡¯d reach the elysian lands in about ten days. The others who rode the lizards beside him were elites from the outposts. The strange-looking one was named Depp, a brawny man in his thirties. Though his mutation made him appear ferocious he was actually pragmatic and composed ¨C a fighter no less capable than the likes of Panther or Salamander. One of the outpost warriors spoke up. ¡°Up ahead is rotwolf territory.¡± A small group of ruins appeared on the horizon, partially buried by the desert and peppered with weeds. It was home to a pack of twenty or thirty rotwolves. Their alpha leapt onto a crumbling wall and challenged them by bearing its saliva-dripping fangs. The coarse hair on its body was raised in warning ¨C typical posture for defending one¡¯s territory. If the riders wanted to keep going they would have to fight their way through. Cloudhawk unraveled his map and looked it over. ¡°The map says there¡¯s an outpost nearby. If we deal with the wolves we¡¯ll be doing them a favor. We can skin ¡®em and sell their hides for food while we¡¯re at it.¡± The soldiers were here to follow his lead, so they did what he commanded. They obeyed because their friends and relatives were back home. Even if that weren¡¯t the case, though, they were promised a rich reward for getting the kid to the specific spot. After delivering him and getting back they were even told they¡¯d have a place in the Fort. It was a temping offer they couldn¡¯t refuse. Whoosh! Depp¡¯s meaty arm pulled back his massive bowstring, knocking an arrow the size of a man without much effort, and let fly. The arrow whizzed though the air and buried itself in the alpha wolf¡¯s brain. The beast hit the ground with a thud and twitched for a little while, struggling against the inevitable. The rest of the pack let loose a series of howls then twenty to thirty of them came charging their way. Whoosh! Whoosh! Depp fired two more arrows in quick succession. Two more rotwolves died. The guy was able to hit a target from over three hundred feet away as well as any sniper, all thanks to his earth wyrm tendon longbow. The materials it used were similar to the outpost¡¯s ballista which gave it incredible stopping power. Between the impressive weapon and Depp¡¯s incredible strength, the rotwolves didn¡¯t even have a chance to dodge before getting pinned to the ground. Cloudhawk hefted his rifle and aimed down the old-style sights at one of the beasts. As he pulled the trigger he could feel every component of the gun move until at last the bullet was spat out in a crack of gas and fire. He hit his target flawlessly from several hundred feet away. The rest of the pack came running their way. The outpost warriors fished out their weapons and began to fight back. The wolf pack wasn¡¯t a particularly large one and they were all experienced wastelanders, so the creatures were killed before they could even reach melee range. Cloudhawk urged his lizard mount forward and entered the ruins, followed by Depp and a few others. They drew their daggers and set about relieving the corpses of their valuable hide. Humans had no use for the poison glands on rotwolf corpses, but wasteland lizards found them appetizing so the eleven mounts they¡¯d brought with them happily ate their fill. ¡°We got two rotwolf cubs!¡± One of the soldiers lifted his arms with a rotwolf in each hand. They curled like kittens as they hung from the scruff of their necks. Their fur was pitch black and they were still too young to even open their eyes ¨C young enough that there was a chance they could be domesticated. They could fetch a good price in the outpost. Once the lizard were sated Cloudhawk led Depp and the others to the nearest outpost. Outpost was hardly the right word for it, since it couldn¡¯t even begin to compare with Greenland Outpost. It didn¡¯t even match up to Blackflag, no more than a third the size of the first encampment Cloudhawk experienced. It was obviously weaker as a result. It was the first settlement Cloudhawk approached since leaving the oasis, where he¡¯d hoped so replenish some of their dwindling water supplies. However as they approached the entrance of the outpost the young man was unpleasantly surprised by the scene. Bleakfire Outpost looked like it¡¯d barely survived some recent disaster. Its walls served that function in little more than name only, and the defenders who peered from their craggy tops were armed with only bows and arrows. A few residents were busy trying to scrub bloodstains off the stones. Though it was clear the battle had past some time ago, the smell of carnage still hung in the air. Things only got worse when Cloudhawk and the rest of his group rode in to Bleakfire Outpost. There were at least a thousand corpse that had yet to be disposed of piled up in a mountain of broken bones and rotten flesh. The unfortunate souls had become a feast for an uncountable number of insects that buzzed around. The whole display was sickening. Most of them were human. A few were mutants. So many corpses rotting in the wasteland sun would quickly produce an ungodly stench. There was the danger they could spread disease, and if they weren¡¯t dealt with the threat could destroy the whole outpost population. ¡°I¡¯m the leader of Bleakfire Outpost.¡± An old man with a staff looked at him warily through a leathery face. ¡°You are¡­¡± Cloudhawk answered. ¡°I come from Greenland Outpost. We came hoping to spend the night, but¡­ strange, were you attacked by sweepers?¡± ¡°Greenland Outpost?¡± Something that might have been recognition flashed through the old man¡¯s eyes. The soldiers around them also reacted, and they fixed the newcomers with wide-eyed stares. Bleakfire Outpost¡¯s leader passed is staff from one hand to the other and reengaged them with a low, strange voice. ¡°We hear the Caliph of the Sands was killed in Greenland Outpost.¡± Caliph of the Sands? Ah, he¡¯d almost forgotten ¨C that had been the demon¡¯s name. After being attacked by sweepers the denizens of this outpost had to hate them with every fiber of their beings. The demon was the sweeper¡¯s greatest leader, so hearing word of his death likely came as great news to them! Cloudhawk replied without giving it much thought. ¡°That¡¯s right, the demon was dealt with just outside Greenland Outpost.¡± ¡°Fuckin¡¯ bastards!¡± One of Bleakfire Outpost¡¯s soldiers shouted at them, his eyes red with anger. ¡°Why the hell did they kill the Caliph? Did they have any idea how important he was to the wastelands? Now that he¡¯s dead everything¡¯s gone to shit!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°I hope Greenland Outpost fuckin¡¯ burns!¡± ¡°Nah, they all deserve to be hacked to pieces!¡± The destitute people of the outpost began to gather around. Cloudhawk and his companions watched the crowd gather with concern on their faces. The hostility of these strangers definitely took them off guard ¨C completely the opposite of what was expected! The Bleakfire Outpost leader heaved a defeated sigh. ¡°If the Caliph was murdered it could only have been at the hands of a demonhunter. Everyone put your weapons away!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let their unwelcoming attitude trouble him. ¡°The demon was brutal and wicked. He was the leader of tens of thousands of sweepers ¨C how is his death a bad thing?¡± ¡°Young man, you see things too simply.¡± The old man gave another lengthy sigh. ¡°Whether or not the Caliph is alive or dead, the sweepers remain. If he were still alive, the sweepers would get what they needed from places like Greenland. They would have no need to turn on smaller outpost like ours. With the Caliph dead these fiends have no leader, and the tributes once offered to appease the sweepers go unpaid. They are an army without a territory, and there are tens of thousands of them that are out of control. In the ends the ones who suffer are smaller tribes like ours!¡± His words made Cloudhawk think. Could it be that the demon¡¯s existence was a benefit to the wastelands instead of a bane? Did that creature somehow keep things stable? Sweepers were a reality of the wastelands, one they could never completely erase. Under the demon¡¯s influence they were organized, restrained. They used the threat of their ferocity to coerce places like Greenland into paying tribute, ultimately removing the need to attack easier targets like Bleakfire. With the sudden removal of their leader the sweepers were dealt a serious blow, and the once mighty army splintered and spread out into the wastelands again. Over the last few days many outposts had suffered just like this one. ¡°My son died at the hands of the sweepers! If the Caliph were alive he¡¯d have kept these damn monsters in check, and my son would still be alive!¡± The larger man with puffy red eyes shouted at them, full of enmity. ¡°If I ever see that goddamn demonhunter I¡¯ll fuckin¡¯ kill him, even if he tears my body into pieces!¡± ¡°No doubt!¡± ¡°They killed my brother, too!¡± ¡°And my friend!¡± ¡°Fuckin¡¯ demonhunters, they¡¯re all goddamn lowlifes!¡± Cloudhawk looked over the angry, twisted faces and a shudder went through him. It all seemed so absurd! Demons were a curse, the root of all conflict in this world. But there was order in chaos! The demon had been an important element in the wasteland that kept the outposts safe. Without him the might of the sweepers was unchecked, and for places like this that fact was a catastrophe. Thousands, even tens of thousands of wastelanders would suffer! And the one who created all of this suffering was none other than Cloudhawk. But he didn¡¯t know it would happen, of course he hadn¡¯t hoped for it. As he looked on that mountain of corpses, their faces twisted in pain and despair, he imagined they were looking at him in hatred. A cold sweat trickle down his back. They couldn¡¯t stay here. Cloudhawk had to leave as fast as possible! Chapter 97 - Heedless Ruin Chapter 97 - Heedless Ruin Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t believe it. He couldn¡¯t believe that he¡¯d somehow become an enemy of the wasteland ¨C a sinner in the eyes of the innocent. His actions had brought untold unrest and suffering to a people who were already awash in trauma. This mountain of corpses¡­ created by my hand? Cloudhawk stared at the carnage in the midst of Bleakfire Outpost with wide eyes. The scene dug its accusing fangs deep into his soul. He never pretended to be a good man ¨C there was no such thing as a good man in the wastelands. However he hoped to never have to see what unfolded before him now. These rivers of blood, these twisted faces, these broken and entangled bodies, these stinking corpses which would become a nightmare of pestilence all were seared into the depths of his heart. Cloudhawk knew these images would haunt him in the darkness of the night when things were quietest. But even if he had to do it again, it would difficult to change the result. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if his actions were right or wrong, good or bad. He was just a normal kid, he couldn¡¯t see the big picture. Nor was he one to give up his life for this poisoned world, all he pursued was his own dream. Maybe it was just like what the old man said. We could rail against the fact, but in the end everyone under the stars was nothing more than a speck of dust. It didn¡¯t matter how hard you tried, the only thing you had control over was yourself. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Bleakfire Outpost¡¯s leader saw the discomfort in Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°Night¡¯s falling, now that you¡¯re here you might as well stay the night. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re in poor shape, as you can see. We have nothing in the way of entertainment.¡± ¡°No need!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to stay here a moment longer. ¡°Depp, let¡¯s go.¡± Depp figured Cloudhawk might be a demonhunter, but he was also familiar with the kid¡¯s abilities. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to defeat the Caliph of the Sands. He figured it was the Bloodsoaked Queen who¡¯d defeated the demon. ¡°It¡¯ll be dark soon. If we leave now we¡¯re spending the night in the wastelands.¡± ¡°So let¡¯s not waste time talkin¡¯ shit. Move it!¡± Cloudhawk payed no mind to Depp¡¯s helpful suggestion, he would rather spend the night out there than sleep under the accusing eyes of these corpses. Every second he spent here felt like torture, a sensation no one else would understand. Just then a piercing sound rang out through the dusk! It was the outpost¡¯s alarm! ¡°The sweepers are back!¡± Bleakfire¡¯s leader was preparing to press Cloudhawk about his strange behavior when the alarms rose. Shocked by their suddenness and what they meant, he and his soldiers blanched. They ran toward the alarm, Cloudhawk in tow, and when they got to the site they saw a host of several hundred figures dotting the horizon. Sweepers. They were back, and their numbers seemed endless. The Bleakfire Outpost¡¯s soldiers, numbering near a thousand, nervously fingered their weapons. They couldn¡¯t understand why the sweepers would be back so soon after their last raid. What could they benefit from hitting them again? Bleakfire¡¯s infrastructure was in tatters, and any supplies they¡¯d had were pillaged two days ago. Attacking the outpost again didn¡¯t seem to be worth the cost. Were they just here to murder the hapless people? All of a sudden the atmosphere within the outpost was grave. In its fragile state the outpost would be totally wiped out if they were attacked again. Thousands would be displaced, most would lose their lives. From the looks of them the sweepers numbers around four hundred, not a lot but all were vicious fighters. There were various kinds of them, but all were at least six feet tall, covered in muscle and thirsty for blood. There were also a dozen or so monsters ten feet tall ¨C maneaters. They were among the strongest of the sweeper forces, more than a match for any outpost guard. This mixture of crack sweeper soldiers had to be a remnant from the Caliph¡¯s army! The demon and his lieutenants were dead, leaving the sweepers with no one strong enough to unite them. The mutant killers fractured into smaller groups, unable to threaten the bigger outposts like Greenland but more than menacing enough to raid the smaller settlements. This was why the poor souls of Bleakfire Outpost hated the demonhunters so much! Greenland Outpost was rich in supplies and could ingle-handedly supply the sweepers with most of their needs. Now that they could no longer rely on Greenland as a source of sustenance, the thousands of sweepers were forced to split up and spread across the wastelands to take what they needed. ¡°Must you force us to perish with you?!¡± Bleakfire¡¯s leader stand before his people, shouting bitterly at the host of sweepers. ¡°Very well! If we¡¯re to die then we¡¯ll take as many of you fiends as we can with us!¡± Most sweepers had lost all ability to reason. They were little more than beasts who relied on instinct. However, in each group there were a handful that had some measure of intelligence left who served as leaders. This group was no different. Several individuals stepped out from the crowd, men who could almost pass for normal humans. The one in the center stood out furthest, likely their chieftan. His face was covered, hiding any detail, but his skin was covered in mutated tissue that made him look like a man in the throes of late stage skin disease. ¡°We¡¯re not here for you today. We want the demonhunter.¡± The faces of the outpost¡¯s people sank. Demonhunter? Where was there a demonhunter in their ruined home? ¡°There¡¯s no use pretending, we already know.¡± The sweeper leader glared at them, his growling voice angry and threatening. ¡°The demonhunter who killed our master left Greenland Outpost two days ago with ten men. He¡¯d there among you. If you continue to hide him we¡¯ll be forced to slaughter every last one of you!¡± Greenland Outpost? Demonhunter? Ten outpost soldiers¡­ ! The outpost leader¡¯s face first betrayed confusion, then surprise, and at last anger. His face darkened as suddenly he turned to his people. ¡°Grab the travelers from Greenland Outpost!¡± Cloudhawk had mounted his lizard the moment he felt things were going south, and was leading his men from the outpost. But he was a few second too late, and the outpost soldiers were already closing in. ¡°That¡¯s them!¡± ¡°These are the fucking Greenland bastards!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a demonhunter with them. Don¡¯t let them go!¡± All of Bleakfire¡¯s people glared at them with eyes that burned with hatred! As much as they despised the sweepers, these unfortunates hated the demonhunters even more! These bastards looked down on the wastelands from their holy palaces, seeing the people as little more than weeds. They¡¯d destroyed the balance in the name of their precious honor. They deserved to be forever cursed by the wastelands and its people! If looks could kill, Cloudhawk would have been murdered a thousand times. Incensed with rage, a handful of Bleakfire soldiers charged at them with wild abandon. The sound of twanging bowstrings thrummed all around them followed by soldiers flailing weapons. ¡°Ah!¡± One of Greenland¡¯s soldiers hit the ground with an arrow in them, screaming. He was beset by the soldiers in an instant and disappeared beneath their blows. The unfortunate soldiers was literally torn apart. The Bleakfire leader snatched a gun from one of his subordinates and leveled it at Cloudhawk. He pulled the trigger and a powerful flat-headed slug came tearing through the air. Even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t dodge it, and he felt the bullet strike him. A bullet this size would blow a fist-sized hole in a normal man, but it first had to encounter Cloudhawk¡¯s cloak and then the bear-hide armor beneath. It left a dent but little more, for the dire bear armor was incredibly tenacious. It was sturdy enough to stop bullets, but even so this shot was a mean one. To Cloudhawk it felt like someone struck him with a sledgehammer. It was almost enough to knock him off his mount. Meanwhile another Greenland soldier fell. He was quickly surrounded by the mob and viciously murdered! By now more of Bleakfire¡¯s soldiers had blocked their escape and there was nowhere for Cloudhawk and his people to go. As anger fueled him the young warrior channeled his psychic energy through the Gospel of Sand tucked away in his coat. Immediately the sandy ground rose up to create a wall. Out here in the desert, the demon¡¯s Gospel had many uses. Cloudhawk thrust out his palm and the towering wall reacted by rushing forward. Although he wasn¡¯t strong enough to kill his foes with the relic, he could at least block off his attackers and prevent them from shooting his people. ¡°Cut your way through!¡± Depp pulled back his bow and impaled two people with a single shot. ¡°Kill ¡®em!¡± The seven remaining Greenland outpost fighters brandished their weapons while all together their lizard mounts heaved powerful legs. Several of the mob blocking their path were knocked aside, and a lizard tore into one with its bloody maw. Riders swung their weapons as they passed to cut down anyone who got too close, and before long there was a dozen corpses in their wake. Bleakfire¡¯s leader was mad with rage. ¡°Kill them! Kill them!!¡± Depp reached back and pulled out a special-purpose iron arrow. He pulled back on the string and let loose. His shot tore through the sandy cover toward its target. After the battle the day before yesterday, Bleakfire¡¯s leader was exhausted and slow. By the time he saw his death coming it was too late to get out of the way. Depp¡¯s special arrow was incredibly powerful. First it struck the leader¡¯s gun and smashed it into shards of metal. Once it buried itself in his chest the outpost leader stumbled backward. He stared at the iron shaft jutting from his body in shock as blood trickled from his mouth. Finally, with his face twisted in an expression of defiance, he collapsed to the ground. Bleakfire¡¯s leader was ended by the arrow. The outpost was flung into turmoil, which gave the Greenland party the opportunity it needed to escape. Cloudhawk was free, but his heart was conflicted. He hadn¡¯t killed any of Bleakfire¡¯s people personally, but to them he was worse than the demon. He was especially saddened by the fate of their leader. He could tell that the man was a rare specimen, intelligent and kind. Under different circumstances Cloudhawk would have been pleased to meet him. Now he was dead. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been the one to kill him, but he was the reason the old man was dead. How was this any different than if Cloudhawk had done it himself? It wasn¡¯t that Cloudhawk cared what others thought. No, he felt like a pawn, like fate was playing with him. The feeling stuck with him as he and the eight remaining Greenland warriors raced off into the wastelands. They had to get away from this place as quickly as possible! But would getting to safety be so easy? Chapter 98 - Enemy of the Wastelands Chapter 98 - Enemy of the Wastelands There was nothing for a hundred miles north of Bleakfire Outpost that could hide them, nowhere for Cloudhawk and the others to hunker down while their pursuers swept by. As the party from Greenland fled, they were set upon quickly by a hail of arrows. One of the Greenland soldiers shouted. ¡°The sweepers are catching up!¡± Aside from lizard mounts, sweepers also had a host of vehicles they also used to hunt down prey. Each one was strange and unique, patched together from various parts dug up from the wastelands. There were a couple of dune buggies that were a hodge-podge of mismatched metal, motorcycles with two or more wheels, and a few other kinds Cloudhawk had never seen before. Altogether there were about fifty on their tail, and though that wasn¡¯t many they were all top fighters ¨C especially the three ringleaders. One was tall and thin and raced after them atop a fabricated motorcycle with six wheels. Affixed to the front was a bull skull with its two vicious horns pointed forward. Judging by his equipment this one was a marksman. The second was a fat man, strong, who swung a flail overhead while he sat astride a wasteland lizard. His whole body was encased in steel armor as was his mount, and the wind whistled around them as he swung his weapon. It was a stick with a six foot chain attached, which ended with a nasty looking spiked ball. He wielded it with such ease Cloudhawk shuddered to think of the damage it would do to flesh and bone if it hit him. The main leader of the group was covered in weeping sores and dead skin. The creature was certainly an odd sight, both for his weapon and his mode of transportation. He held a scythe the size of a man, with a serrated blade stretching out from a staff and curving into a vicious point. Instead of riding his transport, he had it strapped to his back. It was a heavy and cumbersome device which whined like a jet engine. Four wheels were strapped to his feet like shoes and thus the thrust from his rocket pack sent him shooting forward. Black smoke belched from exhaust pipes, leaving a clear trail in his wake. All the sweeper needed to do was keep his balance and he was able to ski atop the sands like water. This oddly equipped handful of sweepers were a perfect representation of a typical wasteland-style elite squad. Cloudhawk looked back and watched them gain on him. ¡°Deal with ¡®em!¡± Depp replied quickly, knocking an arrow and drawing back his wasteland wyrm bow. In less than a second he picked out a target, aimed, and with a twang his bowstring went slack. The scythe-wielder saw it coming and wrenched his hips to the side, which spun his wheeled feet off trajectory and carved an erratic trench in the sand. The arrow swept by and missed him, but shot through the tire of a buggy just behind. The raggedy vehicle immediately lost control, pitched to its side then hit the ground. Like a boulder splashing into a lake huge plumes of sand were flung into the air while parts of the vehicle shot off in all directions. The sweepers nearby darted out of the way to avoid being crushed but never slowed down their pursuit. In response the sweeper on the motorcycle levels his crossbow and fired off a few bolts. His weapon was a type rarely seen in the wastelands, a crossbow that was relatively weaker than others but capable of firing off several shots in close succession. It was especially suited for situations just like this. A couple of the Greenland fighters¡¯ mounts were hit with arrows the sweeper had smeared with numbing poison. They were already slowing down. ¡°Catch up! Kill them! Vengeance for the master!¡± The scythe-bearer snarled hideously, his companions whooped and roared like a back of wild wolves. The sound of it made the humans shudder. Cloudhawk pulled the rifle from his shoulder in preparation. The .50 caliber gun was a handmade product of Greenland Outpost, outwardly crude but packing an incredible punch. He tightened his legs against the lizard¡¯s flanks, released the reigns and aimed his gun. ¡°You die first.¡± Crack! The sound of the rifle was just as striking as its power. It took him a second and a half to find his target, but the bullet his gun spat out was faster than any arrow. Still the sweeper chief was an enemy of uncommon skill, and just as Cloudhawk was pulling the trigger he moved. His wheels carved an arc through the sand, but didn¡¯t take him far enough to miss the bullet. Cloudhawk¡¯s shot struck him in the back and ripped open a ravine through his skin. The young wastelander yanked back the bolt to clear the bullet cartridge and clear the gun¡¯s chamber just as his mount was racing toward a boulder. With no concern for what Cloudhawk was doing the lizard leapt up to avoid the obstacle, forcing his rider to nearly get pitched off. Luckily he was able to catch himself and retake the reigns. The chief pressed ahead until he was by Cloudhawk¡¯s side. He raised his scythe high then brought it down with a deadly whistle ¨C enough strength to disembowel the human if not chop him in half! Cloudhawk threw himself forward and the scythe swept by overhead, shaving off a fair bit of hair. His foe swiftly and deftly brought the scythe around and prepared for another swing. He was at least as capable as Mad Dog had been. Releasing his gun, Cloudhawk reached for his exorcist staff instead to block the attack. The scythe was both knocked away and their impact took a chunk out of his weapon¡¯s shaft. Seeing this the chief changed tack, and buried the head of his scythe in the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mount. The wasteland lizard screamed in pain and bolted forward faster while the sweeper was pulled along. He yanked backward and tore open the beast¡¯s back, driving it into a pained frenzy and making it impossible to control. The chief came in for a second attack, but did not bother with Cloudhawk or his exorcist staff. Instead his scythe was aimed toward the lizard¡¯s rear left leg. The beast suddenly lost balance as its limb was cut from beneath it and hit the ground, sending up a cloud of sand. Cloudhawk was thrown from its back and into the air. If he hit the ground going this fast he would break his neck, or at least a few ribs. The other sweeper leader fired off a few more bolts. None of them expected the young demonhunter to vanish in midair, but that¡¯s what he did. As he tumbled haphazardly through the sky Cloudhawk focused his psychic energy into his cloak, and through its power he floated along like a feather. Nimble as a bird he shot forward thirty or so feet, enough time to get his body under control before hitting the ground. Sand was kicked up and he hit hard enough to roll two complete circles. His rifle was flung to the side, but luckily Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been hurt. The scythe-wielding sweeper¡¯s ugly face was twisted into a hateful snarl as he lashed out with incredible speed. Cloudhawk brought his staff up between him and the deadly blade. However, the chief cleverly heaved himself forward and brought his arms up, so that while the exorcist staff didn¡¯t budge the scythe¡¯s blade was brought down behind it. It swept down with such force that not even Cloudhawk¡¯s dire bear armor could stop it from digging into his skin. The pain cut his to core. As the crude metal bit into him Cloudhawk¡¯s face turn ferocious. Rage awakened the power within him and focused it into his staff, which he used to knock the sweeper leader back a few feet. The wound in his shoulder was not a shallow one. Fresh blood stained his cloak. In this moment the sweeper with the flail charged into the group. He whipped the spiked ball around on its long chain toward one of the Greenland soldiers. Luckily the fighter saw it coming and dodge with just enough space to avoid it, but his lizard mount was not as lucky. The iron ball crunched the side of the lizard¡¯s skull. Immediately the beast¡¯s brains were splattered and the warrior was thrown to the ground. He was slow to get up. Thud! The flail swung around and connected with skull again, this time sending pieces of the Greenland warrior all around. His body collapsed while blood spewed like a fountain from his ruined head, right in front of Cloudhawk. The rattling chain didn¡¯t stop. This time it was headed toward Cloudhawk, while at the same time the chief¡¯s scythe was slicing at him crosswise. The wastelander found himself in a precarious position, forced to contend with two moderately strong sweepers. There didn¡¯t seem to be any hope for survival. Although he was still invisible beneath the cloak his enemies knew precisely where he¡¯d fallen. ¡°Depp!¡± Cloudhawk yelped the name then jumped up onto Depp¡¯s lizard as it passed. With his right hand he slipped the exorcist staff back onto the loop on his waist, while with his left he whipped out his revolver. Meanwhile the crossbow sweeper didn¡¯t give him time to shoot before firing off a bolt first. Depp answered by whipping out an arrow lightning fast and shooting back. Both arrows met midair. Cloudhawk glared through the sights of his revolver, focusing everything on the crossbow sweeper in the middle of the crosshairs. He pulled the trigger, and the full-metal jacket conveyed the bullet through the front of the motorcycle and into the sweeper¡¯s chest where it left a massive hole. ¡°No!¡± The cries came from the other two leaders as they watched their brother die. The scythe wielder hacked his weapon and unceremoniously split one of the Greenland soldiers at the waist. The other leader¡¯s flail caught a soldier in the back. Two more of Cloudhawk¡¯s crew were dead. Cloudhawks allies were growing fewer by the second. It was all going wrong. He looked desperately around until he spotted a spot of rugged terrain, and told Depp to head for it. It was clever ¨C he and his people were mounted on beasts while the sweepers were using vehicles. They would have a hard time managing the uneven land with their machines. Cloudhawk stretched out his gun and fired again, this time at the lizard mount beneath the burly flail sweeper. Crack! The lizard hit the sand, flinging his rider off. ¡°Don¡¯t fight ¡®em,¡± Cloudhawk ordered. ¡°Let¡¯s get outta here!¡± The sweepers could only watch at that hateful demonhunter and his friends fled out of reach. The chief¡¯s hideous face grew ever more outraged and repulsive. ¡°You can¡¯t run! You¡¯re an enemy of the wastelands, everyone from sweepers to scavengers have their eyes out for you. Every mercenary, bandit and hunter knows who you are! Wherever you go we¡¯ll be right behind you! You¡¯re dead!¡± The sweeper¡¯s words were like an icy grip on Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. Had the whole wasteland been turned against him? He was a pariah, a criminal who would be hunted down and slaughtered at the first opportunity. It all seemed so bizarre. Even if killing the demon had caused so much trouble, how could word have spread so far so quickly? If what the sweeper said was true, Cloudhawk¡¯s journey had suddenly become a lot more difficult. Chapter 99 - Stealing Wheels Chapter 99 - Stealing Wheels Cloudhawk and his companions slipped away from a gang of mercenaries. It was the fifth time since leaving Greenland Outpost that they¡¯d gotten in a skirmish. The ten soldiers he¡¯d brought with him were now down to three ¨C seven had died, and the supplies they carried with them were gone as well. By now Cloudhawk completely believed the sweeper chief¡¯s parting words. Dark days were ahead, as he was now the most wanted man all throughout the wastelands. The Caliph of the Sands was dead, but his influence still made Cloudhawk¡¯s life hell. The demon¡¯s carefully organized army fell apart because the sweepers were incapable of choosing a new leader for themselves. Lesser chieftains refused to obey just anyone and none were strong enough to lead the sweepers as a whole. Collapse of the structure was inevitable. However their loyalty to their demon master never faded, and once word spread that Cloudhawk had been responsible for his death he was immediately labeled as enemy number one. And that wasn¡¯t the worst of it. The most terrible result of his actions was the effects it caused throughout the wastelands, the chaos. Harrowed denizens of every small and medium-sized outpost hated Cloudhawk down to their bones. All manner of rewards were offered to the person who could kill the young demonhunter. It didn¡¯t matter whether he was crossing the wilds or passing a settlement. Bounty hunters, mercenaries, sweepers, bandit crews ¨C everyone was looking for him. They also knew his location, everywhere within a hundred miles was crawling with enemies. Cloudhawk¡¯s troubles were many. He just didn¡¯t get it. What the hell was wrong with this world!? Hadn¡¯t the Bloodsoaked Queen taught him that demons were the most vile, cruel, sinister creatures in the wastelands? Weren¡¯t they the root of all the wars and disasters humanity had faced? Didn¡¯t she tell him it was the demons that had brought about the end of days? How could killing one suddenly turn him into the villain?! Dusk settled over the area as the beating wasteland sun descended. Cloudhawk, Depp and the other two remaining Greenland warriors found a place to hide out in the wilds. All four of them were as filthy and beaten as vagabonds. It¡¯d been days already without any opportunity to rest, awaiting death around every corner. ¡°We¡¯re out of water.¡± One of the soldiers tipped over a canteen and shook it. Not a single drop came out. ¡°At this rate even if the hunters don¡¯t get us dehydration will. We need to find a settlement and get supplies.¡± ¡°Where, though?¡± One of the other soldiers shot back. ¡°Fuckin moron. Every outpost, mercenary company and outlaw group for miles knows who we are. They know what we look like and what we¡¯re carrying, anywhere we go we¡¯ll be walking into their net.¡± His companion shot back in irritation. ¡°It¡¯s better than dying from thirst!¡± Meanwhile Depp was quietly maintaining his bow. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded on all sides by a hostile wasteland. The pressure¡¯s only gonna get worse.¡± Cloudhawk saw how their situation had destroyed the morale of his compatriots and he felt sorry for them. ¡°Staying with me is too dangerous, you should leave. It¡¯s the only way to keep you from getting wrapped up in this.¡± The two soldiers were moved and surprised by his words. They had been tasked with escorting Cloudhawk five hundred miles or so. By now they were about that far, so they could technically call their mission over and head home. If they dumped the kid now their chances of survival went way up. ¡°No.¡± Depp, who had been silent until now, spoke up. The way he said it left no room for doubt. ¡°We aren¡¯t done with our mission.¡± Not done? Was this guy a moron?! Who would even know? They were within a few dozen miles of where they were supposed to go anyway, what difference did it make? Depp held his bow in his hands and fixed the others with a steely gaze. ¡°Our mission is not over. And if anyone decides they want to disagree with that my bow will have something to say.¡± Depp was the best bowman in Greenland Outpost. Not a man among them would survive if he turned his bow on them. The two standing soldiers slowly sat back down. Cloudhawk looked over the odd mutant. He couldn¡¯t help but feel appreciation. Depp was no weakling, and given a few years he would be a force to be reckoned with. Now after all they suffered, to stick to such an arduous task was not an easy thing. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stop himself from asking, ¡°It¡¯s just a mission. Is it really that important to you?¡± Depp placed the arrows he¡¯d been sharpening back in his quiver. When he answered he did so in a soft voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Cloudhawk was going to push him further, but it was then he noticed a sizeable group on the horizon. They were combing the wastelands and heading their way in a group of five or six vehicles. A host of ugly sweepers were among them. It was that bastard¡¯s crew again! It was the same group they¡¯d faced at Bleakfire Outpost, only larger. Their chief must have taken or recruited more sweepers and vehicles from the surrounding areas. They even had a pack of tamed wolves ¨C eight or nine of them. That¡¯s how Cloudhawk was being tracked. ¡°This motherfucker doesn¡¯t know when to quit!¡± Cloudhawk was sick and fuckin¡¯ tired of these sweeper assholes! One of the Greenland soldiers had to make himself heard. ¡°They must have already caught our scent. It¡¯s not safe here, I need to go!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t get away, not on two legs.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were fixed on the cars among the group of sweepers. There was a glint in his eye, and then he said something that surprised the others. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯m gonna go steal a car.¡± Steal a car? Was he fuckin¡¯ joking? He planned to get away with one of their vehicles, right under the noses of a few hundred sweepers. How was his plan any different from suicide? But in reality they were in a nasty spot, and a sufficiently fast car was the only way they were going to escape these sweepers and everyone else out for blood. ¡°Relax, I got it under control.¡± Cloudhawk affixed the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s mask to his face and pulled up his hood. He croaked at them through the mask as he slid down from the high ground. ¡°Please wait for me here.¡± This stretch of wasteland was peppered with boulders. Cloudhawk used them as cover, slowly inching closer to the sweeper group. He didn¡¯t have his staff or his gun, this time forsaking both of them for a simple dagger. It was the knife the Queen had given him, the one she said was made back where she¡¯d come from. It was fine craftsmanship, better than any of the crude weapons found in the wastelands. Cloudhawk first determined the direction of the wind so he could find which side was leeward. Pressing himself against the northern side of a boulder he tried to get a better look at his target. He could tell right away that the several-hundred strong sweeper contingent was overconfident. They certainly weren¡¯t expecting a sneak attack, and due to their speed moving forward their formation was weak and haphazard. What caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention was the large vehicle situated in the rear of the group, a wasteland cargo truck covered in reinforced steel. Despite the fact that it was somewhat separated from the rest of their crew, there were still four or five sweepers hanging around. They were getting closer. Cloudhawk was hidden from their wolves¡¯ keen noses so long as the wind kept steady in the opposite direction. Once they were close enough he lifted his hand and a small sandstorm arose. Between the darkening sky and Cloudhawk¡¯s sandstorm the sweepers were finding it difficult to see. They were none the wiser as the wastelander slipped from cover, turned invisible and began to creep through their ranks. Like an angel of death he slowly snuck up on the very last sweeper in the crew. His target had no time to react. In a flash his neck opened and Cloudhawk dragged his writhing body behind a nearby rock to die. The Cloudhawk who stalked the sands now was completely different from the scavenger that crawled over it before. His time under Mantis¡¯ tutelage was short, but he put the foundational skills he¡¯d learned to good use. Taking advantage of the choking sands Cloudhawk quickly dispatched five of his enemies ¨C foes that would have taken a few chunks out of him had this been a fair fight. There was no time to disguise himself as one of them, so instead he pulled open the truck door and jumped in directly. Before the driver knew what was happening Cloudhawk silenced him with a thrown dagger that landed right in his voice box. ¡°All good!¡± As he took up position in the driver¡¯s seat Cloudhawk was surprised at how smoothly it¡¯d gone. His foot hit the pedal and suddenly the trundling vehicle shot off like a bat out of hell. Several sweepers were caught under its wheels and crushed to death. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s this car going?¡± The sweeper chief was hollering abuses when suddenly the truck turned. He saw the driver, a young boy ¨C it was him! ¡°Grab him!¡± The scythe-bearer and his men were stunned by the sight, for none of them could believe someone could sneak in right under their noses and steal a car. As Cloudhawk whipped through the host of sweepers he swung the wheel back and forth, slithering through them like a serpent. Sweepers and boulders alike were crushed by the truck¡¯s reinforced body, nothing could stop it from tearing off into the distance. ¡°With me, follow him!¡± When the sweepers snapped back to their senses they gave chase, almost on instinct. By then the truck was already several hundred feet away, though, and in a car whereas most of the sweepers were on foot. By the time the chief¡¯ orders were relayed and people started to react, Cloudhawk was already too far. The cheeky wastelander pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor, kicking up a plume of sand as he broke free from the sweepers. The distance between them was already stretching by the time they started to chase him. He picked up the remaining three Greenland warriors and headed west toward the setting sun like the rippling orange orb of fire was their destination. Chapter 100 - The Brutal Wastelands Chapter 100 - The Brutal Wastelands Cloudhawk and his companions slipped away from a gang of mercenaries. It was the fifth time since leaving Greenland Outpost that they¡¯d gotten in a skirmish. The ten soldiers he¡¯d brought with him were now down to three ¨C seven had died, and the supplies they carried with them were gone as well. By now Cloudhawk completely believed the sweeper chief¡¯s parting words. Dark days were ahead, as he was now the most wanted man all throughout the wastelands. The Caliph of the Sands was dead, but his influence still made Cloudhawk¡¯s life hell. The demon¡¯s carefully organized army fell apart because the sweepers were incapable of choosing a new leader for themselves. Lesser chieftains refused to obey just anyone and none were strong enough to lead the sweepers as a whole. Collapse of the structure was inevitable. However their loyalty to their demon master never faded, and once word spread that Cloudhawk had been responsible for his death he was immediately labeled as enemy number one. And that wasn¡¯t the worst of it. The most terrible result of his actions was the effects it caused throughout the wastelands, the chaos. Harrowed denizens of every small and medium-sized outpost hated Cloudhawk down to their bones. All manner of rewards were offered to the person who could kill the young demonhunter. It didn¡¯t matter whether he was crossing the wilds or passing a settlement. Bounty hunters, mercenaries, sweepers, bandit crews ¨C everyone was looking for him. They also knew his location, everywhere within a hundred miles was crawling with enemies. Cloudhawk¡¯s troubles were many. He just didn¡¯t get it. What the hell was wrong with this world!? Hadn¡¯t the Bloodsoaked Queen taught him that demons were the most vile, cruel, sinister creatures in the wastelands? Weren¡¯t they the root of all the wars and disasters humanity had faced? Didn¡¯t she tell him it was the demons that had brought about the end of days? How could killing one suddenly turn him into the villain?! Dusk settled over the area as the beating wasteland sun descended. Cloudhawk, Depp and the other two remaining Greenland warriors found a place to hide out in the wilds. All four of them were as filthy and beaten as vagabonds. It¡¯d been days already without any opportunity to rest, awaiting death around every corner. ¡°We¡¯re out of water.¡± One of the soldiers tipped over a canteen and shook it. Not a single drop came out. ¡°At this rate even if the hunters don¡¯t get us dehydration will. We need to find a settlement and get supplies.¡± ¡°Where, though?¡± One of the other soldiers shot back. ¡°Fuckin moron. Every outpost, mercenary company and outlaw group for miles knows who we are. They know what we look like and what we¡¯re carrying, anywhere we go we¡¯ll be walking into their net.¡± His companion shot back in irritation. ¡°It¡¯s better than dying from thirst!¡± Meanwhile Depp was quietly maintaining his bow. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded on all sides by a hostile wasteland. The pressure¡¯s only gonna get worse.¡± Cloudhawk saw how their situation had destroyed the morale of his compatriots and he felt sorry for them. ¡°Staying with me is too dangerous, you should leave. It¡¯s the only way to keep you from getting wrapped up in this.¡± The two soldiers were moved and surprised by his words. They had been tasked with escorting Cloudhawk five hundred miles or so. By now they were about that far, so they could technically call their mission over and head home. If they dumped the kid now their chances of survival went way up. ¡°No.¡± Depp, who had been silent until now, spoke up. The way he said it left no room for doubt. ¡°We aren¡¯t done with our mission.¡± Not done? Was this guy a moron?! Who would even know? They were within a few dozen miles of where they were supposed to go anyway, what difference did it make? Depp held his bow in his hands and fixed the others with a steely gaze. ¡°Our mission is not over. And if anyone decides they want to disagree with that my bow will have something to say.¡± Depp was the best bowman in Greenland Outpost. Not a man among them would survive if he turned his bow on them. The two standing soldiers slowly sat back down. Cloudhawk looked over the odd mutant. He couldn¡¯t help but feel appreciation. Depp was no weakling, and given a few years he would be a force to be reckoned with. Now after all they suffered, to stick to such an arduous task was not an easy thing. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stop himself from asking, ¡°It¡¯s just a mission. Is it really that important to you?¡± Depp placed the arrows he¡¯d been sharpening back in his quiver. When he answered he did so in a soft voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Cloudhawk was going to push him further, but it was then he noticed a sizeable group on the horizon. They were combing the wastelands and heading their way in a group of five or six vehicles. A host of ugly sweepers were among them. It was that bastard¡¯s crew again! It was the same group they¡¯d faced at Bleakfire Outpost, only larger. Their chief must have taken or recruited more sweepers and vehicles from the surrounding areas. They even had a pack of tamed wolves ¨C eight or nine of them. That¡¯s how Cloudhawk was being tracked. ¡°This motherfucker doesn¡¯t know when to quit!¡± Cloudhawk was sick and fuckin¡¯ tired of these sweeper assholes! One of the Greenland soldiers had to make himself heard. ¡°They must have already caught our scent. It¡¯s not safe here, I need to go!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t get away, not on two legs.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were fixed on the cars among the group of sweepers. There was a glint in his eye, and then he said something that surprised the others. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯m gonna go steal a car.¡± Steal a car? Was he fuckin¡¯ joking? He planned to get away with one of their vehicles, right under the noses of a few hundred sweepers. How was his plan any different from suicide? But in reality they were in a nasty spot, and a sufficiently fast car was the only way they were going to escape these sweepers and everyone else out for blood. ¡°Relax, I got it under control.¡± Cloudhawk affixed the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s mask to his face and pulled up his hood. He croaked at them through the mask as he slid down from the high ground. ¡°Please wait for me here.¡± This stretch of wasteland was peppered with boulders. Cloudhawk used them as cover, slowly inching closer to the sweeper group. He didn¡¯t have his staff or his gun, this time forsaking both of them for a simple dagger. It was the knife the Queen had given him, the one she said was made back where she¡¯d come from. It was fine craftsmanship, better than any of the crude weapons found in the wastelands. Cloudhawk first determined the direction of the wind so he could find which side was leeward. Pressing himself against the northern side of a boulder he tried to get a better look at his target. He could tell right away that the several-hundred strong sweeper contingent was overconfident. They certainly weren¡¯t expecting a sneak attack, and due to their speed moving forward their formation was weak and haphazard. What caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention was the large vehicle situated in the rear of the group, a wasteland cargo truck covered in reinforced steel. Despite the fact that it was somewhat separated from the rest of their crew, there were still four or five sweepers hanging around. They were getting closer. Cloudhawk was hidden from their wolves¡¯ keen noses so long as the wind kept steady in the opposite direction. Once they were close enough he lifted his hand and a small sandstorm arose. Between the darkening sky and Cloudhawk¡¯s sandstorm the sweepers were finding it difficult to see. They were none the wiser as the wastelander slipped from cover, turned invisible and began to creep through their ranks. Like an angel of death he slowly snuck up on the very last sweeper in the crew. His target had no time to react. In a flash his neck opened and Cloudhawk dragged his writhing body behind a nearby rock to die. The Cloudhawk who stalked the sands now was completely different from the scavenger that crawled over it before. His time under Mantis¡¯ tutelage was short, but he put the foundational skills he¡¯d learned to good use. Taking advantage of the choking sands Cloudhawk quickly dispatched five of his enemies ¨C foes that would have taken a few chunks out of him had this been a fair fight. There was no time to disguise himself as one of them, so instead he pulled open the truck door and jumped in directly. Before the driver knew what was happening Cloudhawk silenced him with a thrown dagger that landed right in his voice box. ¡°All good!¡± As he took up position in the driver¡¯s seat Cloudhawk was surprised at how smoothly it¡¯d gone. His foot hit the pedal and suddenly the trundling vehicle shot off like a bat out of hell. Several sweepers were caught under its wheels and crushed to death. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s this car going?¡± The sweeper chief was hollering abuses when suddenly the truck turned. He saw the driver, a young boy ¨C it was him! ¡°Grab him!¡± The scythe-bearer and his men were stunned by the sight, for none of them could believe someone could sneak in right under their noses and steal a car. As Cloudhawk whipped through the host of sweepers he swung the wheel back and forth, slithering through them like a serpent. Sweepers and boulders alike were crushed by the truck¡¯s reinforced body, nothing could stop it from tearing off into the distance. ¡°With me, follow him!¡± When the sweepers snapped back to their senses they gave chase, almost on instinct. By then the truck was already several hundred feet away, though, and in a car whereas most of the sweepers were on foot. By the time the chief¡¯ orders were relayed and people started to react, Cloudhawk was already too far. The cheeky wastelander pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor, kicking up a plume of sand as he broke free from the sweepers. The distance between them was already stretching by the time they started to chase him. He picked up the remaining three Greenland warriors and headed west toward the setting sun like the rippling orange orb of fire was their destination. Chapter 100:The Brutal Wastelands The blood-red light of the setting sun painted the roiling sea of sand. Out in the wastelands even dusk was swelteringly hot. The sound of old engines rumbling was an analog of the anxiety and restlessness within the hearts of modern man. It was a world of blood and fire, cruelty and madness around every corner. In this moment that madness was a group of more than ten vehicles tearing across the sands, in a deadly game of chase. Wasteland vehicles were cobbled together from whatever excavators could find. It didn¡¯t matter whether it was the right part, whether it was attractive, or whether it was convenient. All that mattered was that the machine ran. The truck Cloudhawk pilfered had a chassis of crude metal, and its body was composed of light but sturdy bones from unidentified wastelands behemoths welded together with slabs of steel. It looked like some nightmare creature made of bones slithering over the dunes. Its cab was a mess of circuitry and pipes and there was no windshield to speak of. Stinging sand was constantly pelting Cloudhawk¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t know what any of the instruments meant on the dashboard in front of him. All he knew ¨C all he needed to know ¨C was how to turn the damn thing on and keep it moving! One of the soldiers with him shouted over the din of the engine. ¡°They¡¯re catching up!¡± The truck didn¡¯t have a rear view mirror so Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what was going on behind them. But he did have ears, and the sound of screaming engines were getting closer. Frantically he began to pull on levers and twist knobs interspersed through the mess of wires, hoping something would help. Bang-bang-bang! The truck shook violently and smoke began to belch out of the exhaust pipes. The wheels kicked into high gear, kicking up a winding cloud of yellow sand behind them. The whooping yells of the sweepers chased them from behind. Regardless of their boost in speed the other cars were closing the distance. Figures popped out of the cars bearing spears and hooks, every one of them glaring at the truck with demented and twisted features. They looked like madmen, ready to give their lives for glory. But they weren¡¯t insane. It was the wastelands that were insane. It was a whole crazy world they lived in! One of the buggies, refitted to be spiked like a hedgehog, pulled up behind them. The driver flipped a lever and bolts fired out of his car that buried themselves in Cloudhawk¡¯s bone truck like nails. Chains attached to the bolts tightened and the metal of both vehicles groaned in protest. Suddenly the truck jerked and its speed cut. The inertia almost sent Cloudhawk hurdling through the missing windshield but he grabbed whatever he could, managing to steady himself before being flung from the vehicle. The barbed bolts from the spiked buggy were deeply imbedded in Cloudhawk¡¯s truck and were slowing them down. ¡°Kill! KILL!¡± A sweeper popped out from within the hedgehog¡¯s cab with a large javelin in hand. He heaved it at the bone truck. Instead of a metal head the javelin was affixed with a wrapped bottle, filled with rat¡¯s blood, oil and other combustible materials. Boom! A ball of fire swallowed the rear of the truck. Cloudhawk could feel it shake and start to break apart. At least one of their tires were blown! The sweepers pulled out a second javelin and reeled back for another toss. Cloudhawk grit his teeth and yanked the wheel, sending them peeling off in another direction. The sudden force flipped the hedgehog off balance and flung it to the side still connected by chains. It shattered like a house of building blocks, sending debris in all directions. The sweeper who had a javelin leveled at them had half of his body decimated, crushed by the impact. A series of beautiful, eye-stabbing explosions followed as his and all the rest of theri javelins detonated. Cloudhawk fought to get the truck back under control. The remains of the hedgehog buggy rolled along behind him, on fire and flinging burning slag every which way. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to catch his breath, for just then two agile lizards and their riders pulled up on either side. One of them chucked a bottle into the cab. Roooar! Everything was engulfed in fire! Luckily the invisibility cloak Cloudhawk wore wasn¡¯t flammable, otherwise the fires would have turned him medium-rare. Unfortunately the Greenland survivors weren¡¯t as lucky. One of them found himself in the middle of a lake of fire and, screaming, flung himself out of the truck to escape the flames. He tumbled through the air like a burning moth, hit the sand and began to roll. The sweeper vehicles coming up from behind ruthlessly ran him over half a dozen times. The lizards themselves were equipped with small flamethrowers that constantly emitted fire, which their rider used to light the bombs. Their riders pulled out a second set of fire grenades from their pockets and prepared to light them. Roaring in anger Cloudhawk gripped the steering wheel with his burned hands and pull it to the side. His hefty truck slammed into the lizard on his left, knocking both beast and rider over and crushing them beneath the truck¡¯s wheels. It was difficult to tell from the smear of red behind them which parts were human and which were beast. Boom! The sweeper¡¯s bomb lit all the explosive material he¡¯d kept in his pockets, turning his corpse into a pillar of flame. Sand kicked up from the explosion rattled against the left side of the bone truck and the blast set almost half of it on fire. Another firebomb struck them from the right side, causing even more damage. Depp knocked his bow and fired out an arrow that pierced the fire-thrower in the chest. Like a puppet with its strings cut the lifeless body of the sweeper was knocked off the lizard. It hit the ground some distance away with a sickening crunch. ¡°Kill them! For the master!¡± The sweepers were incensed, caught in an insane bloodthirst that was hard to imagine. They continued to chase after the flaming bone truck, getting close enough to fire off more chain bolts. Like a brutal version of tug-of-war the two sides heaved against one another. Depp kicked open the truck¡¯s ruined door and leaned out, firing his bow toward the cars behind. His arrow hit a tire and the car careened out of control. It flipped on its side and rolled into another car. The chains that affixed them to the truck dragged the cars along behind, but while it destroyed those vehicles its drag allowed the rest to get closer. The flail-wielding sweeper chief came bounding up beside them on his lizard. When Depp spotted him he let loose with another arrow, but it was not aimed at the portly killer. Instead the arrow ripped through his lizard mount¡¯s head. The chief was skilled, and as his steed was cut down from beneath him he lunged forward. He grabbed the truck and scrambled on top in a fluid motion. In less than a second, flail waving, he charged at the driver¡¯s seat with a deafening roar. Thud! The chief¡¯s spiked ball and chain whistled over Cloudhawk¡¯s head, barely scraping his scalp before getting buried in the mismatched instrument panel in front of him. Immediately sparks filled the cab. ¡°You drive!¡± Cloudhawk dragged the remaining Greenland warrior into the driver¡¯s seat. He grabbed the flail¡¯s chain and as the chief yanked it back he pulled Cloudhawk onto the truck¡¯s top with it. The young warrior released the chain in midair, pulled his revolver from his waist and fired. The sweeper wasn¡¯t slow, but at close range the shots still struck his chest. But his armor was hefty, and the small caliber bullets didn¡¯t pack enough punch to cause damage. Grinning hideously the sweeper brought his flail back around. Cloudhawk met it with his exorcist staff. The two of them fought as the truck rumbled along below them. Though the sweeper chief¡¯s flail was a nasty weapon, he couldn¡¯t get good momentum with the ground below him in constant motion. Cloudhawk juked and dodged, finally getting a clear shot off into the sweeper¡¯s helmet. The impact forced the chief backward, and that¡¯s when Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist staff jabbed forward. Armor and flesh split as the staff¡¯s sharp end found its target! A power like being struck with a sledgehammer flung the chief from the top of the truck. Not a moment later bullets and arrows started whizzing by Cloudhawk¡¯s head. He couldn¡¯t linger out here in the open, but as he was preparing to swing back into the car two explosive javelin¡¯s struck. One of them hit the fuel tank. B-O-O-M! Cloudhawk felt weightless. The javelin had pierced the truck¡¯s fuel tank and ignited the gas inside. A massive blast rose from below them and the back half of the truck was pitched up several feet, sending debris everywhere. The sudden force of the explosion kicked the truck up as well as all the cars connected to it, flipping them all. They tumbled over the dunes like so many discarded toys, leaving explosions and twisted metal in their wake. Sand and smoke filled the air like a rain from hell. Peace settled after the chaotic scene. Survivors were unlikely in a catastrophic suicide attack like this, but Cloudhawk had been thrown from the wreckage. He immediately poured his energy into his cloak to try and break his fall, but even striking soft sand at this speed would be deadly. It all happened fast as a thunderclap. It felt like Cloudhawk was struck in the head. The whole world spun out of control as he was flung through the air. He was rotating so fast the centrifugal force felt like it was scrambling his innards. Then, just as he was about to hit the ground ¨C -Everything went black. It was like he cut through reality to enter a dream. Cloudhawk felt himself floated in the air, flying though he had no wings. Space around him felt thick like mud and lifted him up. As he floated along he could feel himself striking countless small things, things he could neither see nor touch. Eventually a burning sensation crept up all throughout his body, painful enough that it brought Cloudhawk back from the brief coma he¡¯d been in. With great effort he struggled onto his feet and surveyed the scene. Wreckage, stretching every which way; bits of lizard, car, human¡­ sand and blood, fire and iron, complete devastation! To Cloudhawk it felt like every bone in his body had shattered, however luckily the fact was he hadn¡¯t been badly wounded. That certainly wasn¡¯t the case for the bone and metal truck he¡¯d tried to steal, which could hardly be called slag at this point. He didn¡¯t know whether Depp or the other Greenland soldier were still alive. But the fight wasn¡¯t over! Sweepers kept coming. The one leading them was blurry through the sand and smoke, but his weapon was unmistakable. The scythe¡¯s blade glimmered from the fires of the wreckage, like the eyes of death peering through the darkness. It marched his way promising a bloody end. Chapter 101 - Mercy Gets You Killed Chapter 101 - Mercy Gets You Killed Cloudhawk tried to shake the fuzziness from his head and eyes. The only way he was going to escape was if he dealt with this scythe-wielding fucker. The other sweepers would arrive soon, and once he was surrounded it would be difficult to break free. He had to put an end to his enemy quickly! The sweeper chieftain fixed him with a burning, hateful gaze. This child was more troublesome than he looked, fighting tenaciously even under these conditions. In addition to his supernatural strength and skill, he also seemed to possess supernatural luck. Even without the abilities of a demonhunter the kid was a threat. In twenty or so years of honing he could probably be one of the strongest humans in the wastelands. It made the sweeper hate him even more. He was a child of the wastes, with tremendous potential, who decided to throw in his lot with those damn demonhunters. Because of him the Caliph¡¯s dream of unifying this barren landscape was crushed. Now they were forsaken to an eternity of chaos and strife. Thinking about the consequences deepened the chieftain¡¯s seething anger. Without the Caliph to lead them the sweepers were nothing, synonymous with hideousness and evil ¨C delegated to the lowest caste of society. Ruined. Everything was ruined. All because of the demonhunters! The sweeper leader harnessed all of that resentment and turned it into power. Like a howling banshee he raced through the sandstorm with his scythe at the ready, prepared to cut all the wastelands in two. Cloudhawk lifted his exorcist staff to defend himself. He was met with a harsh blow. The charge was so intense it knocked him back several feet and left tranches in his wake. A sharp pain ran along his arms before they went numb from the impact. His fingers felt like they were nearly broken off. He wasn¡¯t given an opportunity to catch his breath. The silver light of the scythe blade carved an arc through the air! In both speed and strength, Cloudhawk¡¯s foe was his superior! With his normal abilities Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t last three rounds, so his chances for victory were slim. He had to focus his power into the exorcist staff and use it to protect himself from the deadly scythe as it sought to remove his head from his body. In the moment their two weapons connected he released the gathered psychic energy in a forceful blast that not only neutralized his enemy¡¯s powerful strike, but also cracked his scythe staff and knocked him back several steps. Cloudhawk was preparing to follow through but the chieftain was too quick. He followed the momentum of the riposte to bring his scythe around the side, switching hands behind his back and bringing the weapon back around crosswise in a vicious swipe. Cloudhawk was forced to move from attack to defense. The scythe¡¯s blade hooked onto Cloudhawk¡¯s staff. Suddenly the young man¡¯s hands were empty. He watched as the exorcist staff was flung away. Cloudhawk scowled, he was left with no way to protect himself. The sweeper leader didn¡¯t let up leaving Cloudhawk no space to find a way out. His knuckles were white as they gripped the scythe tight, bringing it down on the boy in a definitive slice. Cloudhawk had nowhere to go! They were too close for Cloudhawk¡¯s invisibility cloak to help him. He threw up his hands with throwing daggers held crosswise to catch the scythe and managed to deflect the blow. He staggered backward again, but this time he let the throwing daggers fly. Clang-clang! Two crisp ringing sounds hung in the air. The sweeper deftly whipped his scythe around to knock the hidden weapons away before coming in for another attack. The only weapon Cloudhawk had left was the dagger from the elysian lands, the one the Bloodsoaked Queen had given him. Holding it tight in both hands he held it overhead where it met the scythe. It hit him like a thunderbolt, so strong he was brought down on one knee. His legs were half buried in the sand and every joint in his body started to pop. Rage poured from the sweeper as he screamed into Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°Die!¡± Cloudhawk was clearly no match for his foe. The pressure of the scythe kept growing and every passing second that blade came closer. He growled back at him through gritted teeth. ¡°Was that demon really so important to you? Do you really think he gave a shit about the wastelands? He was a demon. A demon!¡± ¡°What does a moron like you know?¡± The loathing in the sweeper¡¯s face made his hideous appearance even more terrifying. The Caliph¡¯s death was a disaster, he would gladly exchange his life for the master¡¯s just like any number of his followers. ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for your life, young demonhunter. You¡¯ll pay for what you did to the master!¡± ¡°Sorry, I not in the mood for dying!¡± Red was creeping into Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes, and with it a strength that steadily rose to counter the sweeper¡¯s. As his scythe was slowly pushed back the chieftain stared in shock, unable to comprehend how this small human had so much strength within him. But he pushed his surprise from his mind and heaved back. The razor-sharp edge of the scythe inched closer to Cloudhawk¡¯s scalp. Then, in this critical moment, the sweeper¡¯s body shook and went rigid. An arrow made of sand shot out of Cloudhawk. The sweeper chieftain was too close to dodge and could only watch the sneak attack tear through his weeping flesh and rip out through his back. ¡°This¡­ is¡­ the master¡¯s power¡­¡± He stumbled backward, staring wide-eyed at the hole in his chest. Spurts of fresh blood gushed out and splattered on the sands below. Even as strong as he was the sweeper couldn¡¯t fight after such a serious wound. Cloudhawk lunged forward and grabbed his enemy¡¯s weapon, fighting for control. He planted a foot in his foe¡¯s wound, flinging him away. Blood erupted from the mutant¡¯s mouth as he struck the ground. He stared up at the sky, staring into the middle distance in shock. This human, a mere child, had taken his life ¨C and with the master¡¯s own power? ¡°Why¡­? Why must it be like this?¡± He coughed, thick blood bubbling up from his lungs. Before he closed his eyes the last image he saw was Cloudhawk standing over him, scythe in hand. He¡¯d lost, but it didn¡¯t matter. They¡¯d lost their leader, their pillar. Death was nothing to fear. Thud! The wicked blade of the scythe did not separate the sweeper¡¯s head from his body, as anticipated. When the chieftain opened his eyes he saw his weapon buries in the sand half a foot away. He watched the flapping cloak of that masked youth retreating into the sandstorm. Disbelief was writ plain on the sweeper¡¯s face. Why didn¡¯t he kill me? He managed to grab his weapon and use it to help him stand. His wound might not be fatal, but it certainly left him unable to fight. Cloudhawk could have separated his head from his body and ended his troubles ¨C but he didn¡¯t. He simply couldn¡¯t understand why he didn¡¯t. Cloudhawk recovered his exorcist staff and returned to the site of the crash. There he found the two remaining Greenland soldiers. One had been crushed by the wreckage, and the other ¨C Depp, the mutant ¨C was unconscious. His wounds were bad, but there were still signs of life. He managed to find one of the wasteland lizards roaming the area and brought it under control. Cloudhawk draped Depp over the back then climbed up himself. He urged the beast away from the carnage. About ten minutes later the rest of the sweeper contingent caught up to their leader. Several of the more intelligent warriors helped their wounded chieftain stand. ¡°Boss! Are you alright? Where¡¯s the demonhunter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not gonna die, don¡¯t bother with me. He didn¡¯t get far, go after him!¡± He waved them off and shoved off the one helping him stand. The hatred in him hadn¡¯t eased at all despite Cloudhawk sparing his life. ¡°We have to kill him!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Hundreds of sweepers picked up the trail. However it wasn¡¯t easy. Most of the sweepers were on foot, especially now that their vehicles were destroyed. In less than an hour the sands and wind wiped away his trail. He¡¯d escaped. By then night had fallen. Cloudhawk found a relatively safe place to rest. He hadn¡¯t had a drop of water for what felt like ages, and after that fight he was both parched and starved. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill him?¡± A deep, weak voice caught his attention from behind. Depp had woken up, or perhaps he hadn¡¯t been fully unconscious. ¡°Why should I? He couldn¡¯t fight back.¡± ¡°You know they aren¡¯t going to let up.¡± Depp slowly managed to sit up. His dull expression and sharp eyes were an odd contrast. ¡°Mercy doesn¡¯t mean shit to them. They¡¯ll just keep coming.¡± It wasn¡¯t mercy, nor was it pity. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t entirely sure why he spared the sweeper, he just felt like it was the right thing to do. He was just following what he thought was right. Thinking back on it he figured his moment of compassion had something to do with respect. Where did that respect come from? He couldn¡¯t say! ¡°They can¡¯t catch up to us for now.¡± He was exhausted, and it was showing. He¡¯d summoned the Gospel of Sand¡¯s power at that final moment, but it had drained what little energy he had. ¡°You stay here, I¡¯m gonna see if I can find us some food and water.¡± A strange look crossed Depp¡¯s face. With one week hand he gripped his bow, and with the other he removed the last iron arrow from his quiver. Slowly he knocked the arrow, pulled the string, and pointed it at Cloudhawk¡¯s back. The young wastelander was unsuspecting, he didn¡¯t feel the need to guard himself against the dim-looking bowman. After all, Depp had been nothing but helpful and obedient. When the other Greenland soldiers were talking about leaving he forced them to stay displaying a tenacity the others couldn¡¯t muster. So never in his wildest dreams did Cloudhawk think Deep was aiming an arrow at him. However, even though he never suspected Depp he had not lost his keen danger sense. As the wasteland wyrm tendon bow was pulled taught that unsettling itch made Cloudhawk turn his head. Too late! The iron arrow shot out like a devilish serpent, faster than he could believe. In his weakened and sluggish state he couldn¡¯t dodge the unforeseen attack. When the arrow hit his chest he flew back like he¡¯d been yanked by a dragline. All Cloudhawk heard was a sharp whistle and a thud before he was knocked through the air a dozen feet. He hit the ground hard. There was no leather armor that could stop this arrow. Not even his cloak, which could stop bullets, could protect him. ¡°You¡¯re view of the wasteland is na?ve. Just like your view of people.¡± Depp slowly rose. His dim and honest expression was gone, replaced with the cunning hunger of a feral wolf. ¡°Out here, mercy gets you killed.¡± Chapter 102 - The Marshes Chapter 102 - The Marshes How could a place like the wastelands ¨C a poisoned cesspool of villainy ¨C produce a sincerely honest man? The answer was it couldn¡¯t. Growing up among the scavengers Cloudhawk saw the savagery and violence of humanity. He knew that humans were no different from beasts when conditions were right. Humans were capable of anything if it meant saving their own lives. But truth be told, he was inexperienced in how cunning and malevolent a man¡¯s heart could be. After the Queen¡¯s painstakingly thorough selection process he thought he could trust Depp ¨C that the taciturn, somewhat slow man wouldn¡¯t scheme against him. He thought that Depp would keep to his promises until his mission was done. Cloudhawk really didn¡¯t understand the world yet. The wastelands were still a mystery, as were the people he surrounded himself with. Depp was right, that¡¯s how he got the drop on him. The Greenland traitor slung his bow back over his shoulder and pulled out a short hunting knife. Meanwhile Cloudhawk lay upon the ground, writhing in pain. Depp¡¯s iron arrow was powerful enough to shoot right through a boulder, but it didn¡¯t do that to Cloudhawk. It did managed to bury itself in his chest, however, likely only thanks to his spectacular cloak. The typical blades and bullets of the wasteland couldn¡¯t penetrate it, but that didn¡¯t mean it couldn¡¯t cause damage. The arrow likely pushed the cloak into his skin, through flesh to shatter bones and ultimately implant itself and the cloak in his organs. Depp moved in toward Cloudhawk, confident his prey was finished. He paused to pick up his exorcist staff which had been discarded to one side. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s main weapon, now out of reach. He had no way to fight back. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wondering why?¡± Though Depp felt Cloudhawk was finished he still walked warily around the young man. He would wait until the kid died or lost consciousness, talking while the seconds ticked by. ¡°Actually at first I did plan to complete the mission, bring you safely to the destination. The commission was sizeable, the task attractive. But the more we traveled the more I came to realize your head was more valuable detached from your body than on it. Tens¡­ hundreds of times more valuable. If that¡¯s the case, I asked myself, why should I give my life for Greenland Outpost? Really it¡¯s all thanks to your skill and your luck that we escaped the sweepers. But now we don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± It¡¯s always been this way! Always about self-interest! With the mask concealing his face Depp couldn¡¯t see Cloudhawk¡¯s expression, but he could see the weakness creeping into his eyes. Eventually he continued with a bitter laugh. ¡°All of your flashy toys belong to me now. I¡¯ll cut off your head and trade it for a fortune, then I¡¯ll be sittin¡¯ pretty. Enough to set me up for a good long time. What would be the use of going back to Greenland then?¡± Inconceivable. After the sweepers, after that bloody battle, in the end Cloudhawk was felled by his own people. He couldn¡¯t move, curled like a steamed shrimp as blood leaked from the bottom of his mask. Slowly his chest stopped moving altogether. Depp¡¯s face twisted into a cold, callous grin. It was time, even if the kid wasn¡¯t dead he couldn¡¯t fight back. He flipped the hunting dagger around in his grip and held it reversed. Step by step he closed in on Cloudhawk¡¯s inert body and the boy didn¡¯t react at all. Still, despite the arrow and despite his stillness, Depp was cautious. He¡¯d been with Cloudhawk long enough that he understood the boy¡¯s strength. That strength came from his tools. Alone the kid wasn¡¯t much, only once he awakened his relics did he become a threat. At best he was comparable to some of Greenland Outpost¡¯s elite soldiers. With his relics, though, he was on the same level as someone like Snaketooth or Artemis. In his fight with the sweepers Cloudhawk had used up everything in him. He hadn¡¯t the strength to summon his relics anymore. Without them what did Depp have to fear from the runt? Besides, he was injured. Even if he suddenly sprang back to his feet and tried to fight he couldn¡¯t stand up to the hunter. ¡°Time to die¡­¡± Depp leaned over and pulled Cloudhawk around, bringing his knife down toward the kid¡¯s throat. But at that moment something felt off. He couldn¡¯t see clearly through the dark holes of the mask¡¯s eyes, but he could feel the sharp eyes, like the glare of a hawk. Suddenly his whole body shook and a single thought gripped him. This is wrong! He¡¯s pretending¡­ he isn¡¯t dead! He reacted quickly he jerking his hand back and stumbling away. Cloudhawk sprang up fast as a bowstring and pulled Depp¡¯s iron arrow from his chest. With the last of his strength he tried to plant it in the man¡¯s eye socket. Depp wasn¡¯t some extraordinary creature, no special man. He reacted on instinct when Cloudhawk lunged at him and swiped his dagger toward the boy¡¯s chest. He wasn¡¯t a skilled hand-to-hand fighter, but being strong enough to pull back an earth wyrm tendon he could do some significant damage. His dagger reached its target before Cloudhawk¡¯s arrow did. Chink! Depp felt it clear, the dagger tearing through the bear hide armor and catching on the cloak. But instead of being buried in flesh it struck something hard ¨C it wasn¡¯t armor, it was something much harder than any iron protection. What the hell was it? Cloudhawk pressed the arrow through the soft flesh of Depp¡¯s eye and deep into his ocular cavity. As the arrow head carved a path through bone blood spurt out like a gruesome fountain. He followed up with a kick in the center of Depp¡¯s chest that sent the mutant reeling a dozen feet. Five or six rolls later Depp was prone on the ground. Cloudhawk finally paused for a moment, clutching his chest and wheezing. When he pulled his hand away a metal-bound book was in his hands. It was the Gospel of Sand that had saved him from Depp¡¯s arrow, and the swipe from his dagger. Cloudhawk kept the demon¡¯s relic hidden inside his armor and luckily for him that was the precise spot Depp¡¯s traitorous arrow had landed. It was a mighty treasure, taken from the corpse of a demon! There was no way a shit like Depp was going to pierce it! The book spread the impact of Depp¡¯s arrow over a wider area, diffusing its power and rendering it useless. Indeed Cloudhawk¡¯s armor had been split like butter, but there wasn¡¯t a mark on his skin. The kid¡¯s body might have been exhausted but his mind was still sharp, so he grabbed the shaft of the arrow once it hit him and held it fast. He stumbled around like the shot had done him in, but it was all a ruse. It¡¯d been necessary, since even unarmed Depp was still a threat. Depp pitched and writhed in pain, but he wasn¡¯t in danger of dying. But under present circumstances he was in no condition to complete his gambit. His body twitched and jerked, as his powerful arms groped blindly out around him. Gibberish poured from his mouth as he tried to form words, but nothing intelligible would come. The arrow had damaged his brain [1]. His flailing was just a reflex response. Cloudhawk looked at the man who¡¯d ridden with him for so many days, the one who¡¯d protected him on the road. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh in regret. He picked up Depp¡¯s knife and slipped it into the man¡¯s heart, putting him out of his misery. Exhausted, Cloudhawk¡¯s chest heaved as he fought for breath. When he pulled off his mask his face was covered in sweat and blood flowed from his nose. The arrow hadn¡¯t ended his life, but it sure as fuck almost did. He figured his ribs were broken, judging by the sting. He could move but the pain brought tears to his eyes. He was spent, both mentally and physically, so much he couldn¡¯t even keep walking¡­ but he had no choice! He was surrounded by enemies. Even Depp eventually gave in to temptation, so there was no question bandits and mercenaries would continue to pursue him with even more fervor. If he stayed here, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare imagine what evils would catch up. Struggling against the pain Cloudhawk managed to pull himself back up on the wasteland lizard. Every step the beast took sent an electric pain through his torso, but he managed to stay on as they rode away. He continued for most of the night, eventually coming up on a valley by the time morning started peeking over the horizon. So far none of his hunters had closed the distance. The valley was complex, with peeks and dips that stretched out before him at random. The ground was muddy especially near the center. It was a marsh that was covered in a low-lying fog that smelled of rot. Murky water sat in stagnant puddles as far as he could see, some of them gathering into sizeable lakes. Cloudhawk pulled out his map but was only able to discover that this place was unknown to the people of Greenland Outpost. He seemed to have stumbled on an altogether unfamiliar place, one undoubtedly filled with hidden dangers. But it was also a place where he could hide. It quickly became apparent that his lizard mount was only going to slow him down here. They were accustomed to dry places with a lot of sand, and the muck that swallowed its feet halfway up made the beast cumbersome and uncomfortable. It anxiously and awkwardly picked its way along, getting slower the deeper into the marshes they traveled. ¡°Graaawwgh!¡± The lizard belched a growl in protest and stopped moving. There was nothing for it, Cloudhawk was forced to abandon his mount and proceed on foot. He trundled off into the bogs, toward a foggy horizon that stretched beyond where he could see. It was a curse, for he was thirsty and surrounded by water but none he could drink. Even his lizard didn¡¯t dare drink the water, and it was as thirsty as he was. It had to be toxic. He didn¡¯t dare risk it! He had to find a settlement, or at least somewhere with drinkable water. If he didn¡¯t he wasn¡¯t going to last the night. The fact that he was persona non grata everywhere he went made things a lot more difficult. As though summoned by his hopes he heard a sound coming up from behind him. It was a large group bearing torches, not normal sweepers by the look of them but mercenaries judging by their formation. Not only sweepers were out to kill him. He couldn¡¯t catch a fuckin¡¯ break! They had to have caught his trail already. Running wasn¡¯t an option, he had to think of something else. 1. Speech is located in the frontal lobe of the brain, but that sits slightly above the eye socket. If he jabbed the arrow straight back he¡¯d hit the midbrain and medulla, which would instantly stop all vital functions. He¡¯d have to angle the arrow slightly upwards and wait a minute you crazy assholes better now use this information to murder anyone! Chapter 103 - Dead End Chapter 103 - Dead End The sun rose over the wasteland, its harsh light dispelling the shadows that clung to the marsh¡¯s valleys. Yet the grey haze never burned away. The marshlands were deathly still and silent as the grave. From time to time bubbles broke the stagnant surface and belched fetid gas into the air. The colorless landscape was like a black and white photo, a sketch of some dead expanse rife with secrets. A hundred or so men dressed as soldiers were lit by the pale sun, each equipped with protective masks to protect them from the toxic fumes. They stood around a pit, cautiously looking in. A large beast called the trench its final resting place. The wasteland lizard¡¯s corpse had been attacked by something. Its belly was torn open and what innards had not been eaten were strewn around. The acidic waters had already begun to dissolve the beast¡¯s corpse, and in twenty four hours it would be no more than a skeleton. The formation of this caustic landscape was simple. First, the valley¡¯s natural shape prevented the wasteland¡¯s sandy winds from encroaching. The low-lying terrain made it easier for water to collect. Second, it was being fed by some abundant underground water source, but one that had been contaminated by some ancient pollutant. Whatever it was made the water acidic enough to dissolve flesh. Third, that fetid water was continuously being pumped to the surface where it made the dead earth an uninhabitable marsh. The excess fluid was quickly evaporated by the beating sun, but the pollutants remained until year after year this noxious expanse was created. It was dangerous, a land of poison and decay. Although the mercenaries were experienced, that experience was earned in the sandy deserts. None of them had ever experienced a place such as this and didn¡¯t know what to expect. They were taking a risk, venturing into the unknown. ¡°Judging by the tracks the kid couldn¡¯t have gotten far.¡± The mercenaries knew little, but they did know this was not the typical habitat for a wasteland lizard. Someone had to have impelled the creature to enter, and a skilled bounty hunter could read the signs, well enough to know that Cloudhawk had passed by not long ago. ¡°Seen enough or what?¡± One of the mercenaries, a man with a shotgun, muttered in irritation. ¡°This kid¡¯s life is worth a fortune, but there¡¯s a buncha critters out here who¡¯d like to take a bite out of him too. If his corpse falls in this water and we¡¯re left with nothin¡¯ but bone, we lose out on our payday.¡± Everyone shared his worry. There was no time to lose, they had to follow Cloudhawk¡¯s trail. As experienced hunters they could tell where the boy was headed by the direction of his footprints, and could even tell he was injured. He was thirsty, hungry, and wounded. Easy pickings once they found him. Yet the revelations did not please the bounty hunters. In his weakened state and wandering these dangerous marches, the kid was in dire straits. He could be snatched up and eaten by some monster, fall into an acid pit or slip into the bottomless marshes. They could lose his corpse for any number of reasons and thus the bounty. As the mercenaries continued on, growing ever more anxious, suddenly they were surprised by a thin figure in their path. He was clad in a tattered grey cloak that fluttered against his frail frame. A black staff was strapped to his waist, and in his hands he clutched a crude rifle. The kid stood in the middle of the marsh, who knew where he was heading. ¡°We found him!¡± Who thought it¡¯d be so easy? The mercenaries beamed with joy. Cloudhawk¡¯s face was covered in that white mask, a false face with a strange and ferocious smile. It was especially unsettling in this morbid backdrop. The kid was quick. He saw them at the same time they spotted him, and he pointed his rifle their way. The mercenary veterans scattered ¨C seasoned killers like them would not be so easily defeated. Cloudhawk¡¯s shot hit nothing but air. He gave up the fight and struggled deeper into the bog. The area was covered in murky green water that bubbled suspiciously, making it look as though it were alive. Any unfortunate creature that wandered into the bog was quickly swallowed up and dragged to the depths. Cloudhawk managed to stay above it by picking his way along driftwood and other detritus, dancing along the surface to increase the distance between him and the mercenaries. Their meal ticket was escaping! The mercenaries didn¡¯t have time to examine their surroundings, not with their target fleeing. They ran after him as quickly as they could. Cloudhawk looked like he was deftly bounding over the bog, but in truth it was not so easy. One of the mercenaries stomped onto a plank of wood which quickly disintegrated beneath his feet. It¡¯d probably been there too long and made fragile by the caustic waters, and thus the mercenary slipped into the muck. ¡°Ah-ah-ah-ahhhh!¡± His shrill cries were dulled by the heavy air. In a matter of moments his face had started to melt and he no longer looked human. He lifted a hand above the bog and the flesh bubbled sickeningly, sloughing off in sizzling chunks. The other mercenaries could only put a bullet in their comrade and end his suffering. Cloudhawk had already bound across the bog, headed for a cluster of grey reeds to hide in. When he slipped from view the company¡¯s marksmen began to fire wildly at his position. Cloudhawk could hear the bullets coming. The tell-tale danger sense flooded him with adrenaline. But even knowing the danger the shooters were too skilled, the time it took to draw their guns and fire was less than two seconds. The hail of bullets blocked anywhere Cloudhawk could run. All he could do was try to keep the bullets from hitting key areas. In the end he was struck twice. One slipped past his cloak, through his bearskin armor and left a bloody hole in his back. Thankfully the sturdy leather armor took most of the punch out of it, so the wound wasn¡¯t too serious. The second one hit him in the thigh and forced Cloudhawk off balance. He immediately crawled into the relative safety of the reeds. The kid¡¯s got nowhere to run! The mercenaries closed in, but an ominous sense filled them. Moments later the marsh erupted, countless bubbles frothed up to the bog¡¯s surface and popped, releasing a cloud of toxic gas into the air. Whether it was the sound of gunfire or something else, the mercenaries had captured the attention of the marsh¡¯s denizens. Bang! The marsh began to pitch and roil. An enormous tentacle slithered out of the waters, covered in slimy purplish-black flesh. It was over thirty feet long, covered in barbs, and interspersed with something that looked like mouths. The flat area split open to reveal rows of hideous teeth that gnashed hungrily. ¡°What the fuck is THAT?!¡± Nightmare beasts were not something they were prepared for! Taking advantage of their sudden misfortune, Cloudhawk managed to completely hide himself in the reeds. He pulled out a piece of cloth and bound his leg to stop the bleeding, then lifted his rifle. Ever so slowly he aimed through the reeds, getting a bead on his target. Crack! One shot tore through two of the mercenaries. It finished its trek in the chest of a third. The bog monster was dragging them into the murky depths moments after they hit the floor. Now suddenly the mercenaries knew what Cloudhawk was up to. The kid wasn¡¯t running, he¡¯d been waiting here for them. It was an ambush. He knew he couldn¡¯t run so he picked a place to make a stand ¨C a place where he could use the bog monsters and terrain to fight back! Those tentacle creatures were exceedingly dangerous ¨C the whole marsh was deadly! But although this place was a threat, how could Cloudhawk hope to take on a hundred mercenaries with only his gun? These bounty hunters earned their living wandering the wastelands, they¡¯d encountered all manner of beasts. The monstrous tentacles were fierce, but not so much that they deterred these veterans. They lifted their guns and fired, reducing one of the tentacles to ground meat. Chunks flew off in all directions. Another one of the mercenaries rushed forward with a machete and hacked at another one, a tentacle about as thick as a man¡¯s waist, chopping it in half. ¡°Move up! Don¡¯t bother with these damn things!¡± The mercenary leaders kept their eyes on the prize. The tentacles killed several of their men, but killing them didn¡¯t earn anything. Cloudhawk was still sniping at them from the reeds, and he was more dangerous. A handful of more capable mercenaries were the first to act. They dashed in erratic patterns to confound Cloudhawk¡¯s aim, hopping along planks and stones to get closer. Before long they were on the other side. ¡°Die!¡± The one with the shotgun blasted a round of pellets into the bush Cloudhawk had slipped into. Bits of plant matter were blasted in all directions. Another one swiped at the reeds like he was harvesting them, cutting the foliage away. Cloudhawk was gone. The hunters¡¯ eyes went first to the pool of blood where Cloudhawk had bound his wounds. They knew right away he¡¯d fled, and the blood from his leg hadn¡¯t completely stopped. He¡¯d have a hard time moving, there was no way he was going to give them the slip. Mercenaries continued to pick their way across the acidic bog. They¡¯d suffered significant losses, but most of their crew was still breathing. Besides it didn¡¯t matter, it wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk had the strength to fight back. Even if he were at full strength they were more than he could handle. ¡°Get after him!¡± The hunters continued to follow the trail. Things were not going well for Cloudhawk, but he kept moving forward. His superhuman will and tenacious desire to live was astonishing to his pursuers. Not shocked enough to give up the chase, though. How long would his perseverance sustain him when he was losing so much blood? How long would his desire to live keep him from the inevitable? This kid was only marching toward a dead end! Chapter 104 - Seekers Chapter 104 - Seekers Shouts and cries echoed through the mist-covered marshland. There were countless terrors that hid in this deadly place. What concerned Cloudhawk the most, though, were the sounds of footsteps getting closer. He had to move faster, but his wounded leg made that difficult. If it¡¯d been Mantis in this situation, things would be different. He was out of his depth. Still, in the three months since he left the ruins as a scavenger he¡¯d become a hardened wastelander. A warrior. It was a quick transformation to be proud of, but still limited. He wasn¡¯t an expert like Mantis, nor a mighty fighter like Hydra. What could he do now? Cloudhawk had bandaged his wounded leg, but while it stopped most of the bleeding it still continued to leak fresh blood. Droplets of bright crimson were left behind, leading right to him. To skilled hunters they were as clear as signposts but he had no time to try and hide them. To summarize his failure, Cloudhawk had underestimated his foes. He had refused to give in when his lizard proved useless, but his condition had been quickly deteriorating. When he found the spot where the tentacles haunted it was a good plan. Where he failed was in understanding just how good his enemies were at survival. The tentacles hadn¡¯t stopped them, instead it was Cloudhawk that had been hurt. There were still several dozen mercenaries left. What could he do? Getting out of the marsh didn¡¯t seem possible. So what was he supposed to do? Die nursing his grudges? No! That was unacceptable! Reeds that lined the path in front of him sudden parted, and a dark figure darted out from within. The stranger had a machete aimed for his heart and Cloudhawk responded by lifting his staff in defense. The force of the impact knocked his staff away. ¡°You think you can make a clean escape after killing so many of our brothers?¡± The mercenary idly slapped the flat of his machete against the palm of his hand. He looked at Cloudhawk with cruel eyes, like a hunter watching his prey struggle. But he never dropped his guard, for he could smell the danger coming off his target. He was like a wild animal, and an animal was most dangerous when wounded and cornered. Cloudhawk threw himself toward the reeds and rolled into cover. He was gone. A disdainful grin split the mercenary¡¯s face. A flash of his blade and a large swath of foliage was cut away. But even though his chop cut away the kid¡¯s hiding place, the hunter was surprised to find that he was gone. He leaned over, looking for any trace. Whoosh! Whoosh! Two streaks of cold light flit by. Two throwing daggers hit the mercenary; one in the chest and the other in his neck. He stared in shock and horror as Cloudhawk reappeared, unable to understand what had happened. Indeed the young man had managed to recover a little of his mental energy but used it up again by employing the invisibility cloak. He snatched the dead mercenary¡¯s canteen of water and poured its contents down his dry throat. It was clean and refreshing, and he drank down half of it before he finished. He continued to fish around in the corpse¡¯s pockets, look for anything he could use like bandages or astringents. Before he could, though, things got noisy. Guns started to peek out of the reeds and aim his way. The mercenaries stepped into the open, their faces twisted and angry. The kid had killed many of their companions, good men, but now he was surrounded. He¡¯d run out of chances. One of the mercenaries called out to him. ¡°He¡¯s got special powers. We should start by cutting off his arms and legs!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± None of them had met a demonhunter. None of them knew what unique abilities they possessed! If they cut off his limbs, though, it didn¡¯t matter what skills he had. He wouldn¡¯t be able to do shit. Cloudhawk¡¯s hands curled into fists, a murderous glint swept across his eyes. If this was it he was gonna take a few of them with him. The mercenaries could feel it too, they sensed how dangerous he was. The kid looked scrawny, but the threatening sense that wafted from him was akin to a feral wasteland beast. But so what? If they filled his limbs full of bullets they¡¯d be useless, and it didn¡¯t matter how much willpower he had. Guns moved to aim at his arms and legs while Cloudhawk¡¯s tightly gripped hands shook. Death was staring him in the face. ¡°Hold your fire!¡± A voice shouted at them from the mist. The voice was gruff and unpleasant, like the growl of some beast whose vocal cords had been wounded. A group of shadows split from the mist, armed to the teeth ¨C something rarely seen in the sparse wastelands. Most belongings, whether defensive or offensive, were cobbled together on one¡¯s own through their adventures. As such equipment differed in a thousand ways from person to person. But these men, their equipment all looked of the same type. Each of them wore breathing masks that covered their faces and waterproof clothing. As opposed to many in the wastelands they looked slick. Each of them had the same weapon, too ¨C a strange gun without a magazine. They were connected by tubes to an apparatus on their backs. The one in front wore a large grey cloak. From the shadows of the hood was revealed half a man¡¯s face. It looked as though he¡¯d been burned, something had left him covered in heinous scars. His slightly raised lips made him look feral. The leader of the mercenary company was a large bald man. He fixed the newcomers with a cold glare. ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are?¡± ¡°Who we are doesn¡¯t concern you. This one belongs to us.¡± The mysterious stranger swept his eyes toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Now you all fuck off!¡± The mercenaries had suffered and labored for this, going through significant danger to capture Cloudhawk alive. Now this guy just shows up, and with a word expects them to leave? Ballsy! A company half their size wouldn¡¯t put up with bullshit like this, much less wasteland veterans like themselves. Did these scrubs think they were pushovers? Those were fighting words! But the mercenary leader¡¯s face was calm. The others in his company slowly lifted their weapons but didn¡¯t fire. The mysterious group of men reacted first. Their guns came alive, but they didn¡¯t fire bullets. Instead they exploded with bolts of what looked like lightning ¨C lethal streams of electricity that could fry a bull! A dozen mercenaries hit the ground, wracked by convulsions. The others fell back, for though electric weapons were deadly they had limited range. After a brief moment of surprise the bald mercenary leader regained his composure. ¡°You¡¯re ¨C¡° The mysterious stranger cut him off by removing his hooded cloak and dropping it to the side, revealing his burned features. His strong and robust frame stood out against the mist. He remained at the head of his cryptic contingent, unmoving, only every pore on his body started to writhe. Coarse black hair slithered out from every inch of him, even his face underwent the astonishing change. Where half a moment before he¡¯d been a normal man, now his canines extended into sharp fangs. In the space of a horrified gasp the man became some sort of human-wolf hybrid. It wasn¡¯t only the mercenaries who gaped in surprised alarm, Cloudhawk also looked on wide-eyed and uncomprehending. What the hell was this guy?! Some sort of mutant? Impossible! They couldn¡¯t control their mutations, unlike this guy who seemed able to switch at will. This was completely outside of the realm of anything they thought possible. But there was no time to think! The wolfman leapt forward faster than anyone could have expected. The mercenaries had their weapons raised but the creature was on them before they could pull the trigger. In a single swipe of his sharp talons the first mercenary¡¯s weapon and armor were shredded. His chest was split apart by a series of deep gouges. The second victim was set upon before he could blink. With an inhuman fury the beast man burst his head like an overripe watermelon. He was too fast. Everywhere he went fountains of blood followed, and though he looked like a beast he clearly retained the intelligence of a man. The bald man charged at the beast with ax in hand. He was no weakling, probably comparable in level to Panther or Salamander. However he only managed three or four quick exchanges with the beast man before his weapon was knocked away. The creature grabbed the mercenary leader by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Inch by inch his sharp claws dug into the man¡¯s soft flesh as he taunted him through his half man, half beast face. ¡°This is all you¡¯ve got, and you think you can best me?¡± The bald man was consumed by fear, having never encountered anyone ¨C or anything ¨C as strong as this creature. He fought to speak through his quickly closing windpipe. ¡°Let me¡­ go. I¡¯ll¡­ leave!¡± ¡°I gave you a chance. You chose to ignore it.¡± With as much effort as though he were flicking away an insect he threw the mercenary aside. He flailed through the air for thirty feet then landed on his head. The sound was sickening, like every bone in his body broke at once. His head was a bloody, soggy mess as he lay in a heap on the floor, unconscious or dead. Gradually the thick black hairs on the wolfman withered and disappeared. Once again his burned face became human, and he covered himself in that grey cloak. Glimmering eyes slowly slid sideways to where Cloudhawk watched, still as a board and eyes wide. ¡°Will you come, or do I have to bring you myself?¡± Cloudhawk veritably shook in terror. ¡°I-I can walk.¡± If this guy wasn¡¯t stronger than Hydra they were at least close. Beyond that his mutation was incredibly strange and unique. Cloudhawk knew what he was capable of, and the only one he knew who was capable of defeating this monster was the Bloodsoaked Queen. He couldn¡¯t oppose the wolfman, so rather than inciting him Cloudhawk figured he¡¯d behave. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°This valley belongs to us. We knew the moment you and the others crossed into our territory. Relax, we aren¡¯t interested in the bounty on your head. We¡¯re only interested in you.¡± He spoke as they began to make their way through the marsh. ¡°You can call me Hyena. As for who we are? The people of the wasteland like to call us Seekers.¡± They were Seekers? Cloudhawk was dumbfounded. The first time he¡¯d heard of them was from Cooke, back when he was with the Tartarus mercenaries. He¡¯d learned that the Seekers were one of the most mysterious powers in the wastelands. They controlled technology and knowledge typical people didn¡¯t even know existed. The panacea from Greenland Fort were treasures purchased from Seekers. What kind of lives did these mysterious people lead? Chapter 105 - Blackwater Base Chapter 105 - Blackwater Base The Seekers group brought the unconscious mercenary leader with them as they left. As dutifully as he promised, Cloudhawk followed. He had no intention of causing trouble, especially since he was surrounded by several men with lightning-spitting weapons. Any wrong move could result in receiving a few hundred volts, not to mention the unfathomable Hyena was always nearby. The one Seeker he knew was as strong as Hydra, so far as Cloudhawk could tell, maybe a little weaker. The likes of Snaketooth or Artemis, however, wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against him. Before long several peculiar looking vehicles appeared. They were a strange combination of beast and machine, wooden sleds led by a contingent of something like deer? It was well suited for the marshy terrain, certainly. The pack animals were wrapped in copper pipe, some of which dug into their bodies, which made them look like some nightmarish amalgamation of flesh and metal. The wooden sled they dragged had some capability to move on its own as well, making it even faster. Hyena gave Cloudhawk a light shove. ¡°Get on!¡± Cloudhawk dutifully clambered up on the odd vehicle. When everyone was aboard Hyena somehow turned the grotesque contraption on and the machine-creatures started to move. They were sailing along the marsh in short order. Cloudhawk could tell that the sled itself could move, which as well as being pulled made it exceedingly fast. The valley marsh was much larger than he¡¯d anticipated. The further in they went the denser and quieter it became. It was no wonder no one had found the Seekers, even after so many years. Typical wastelanders didn¡¯t have the means or interest to travel so deeply into this dangerous territory. As they continued ruined buildings appeared more regularly, peaking up through the bog. It was hard to judge scale or number since most of the wreckage was scattered and half buried. They swept past like towering sentinels, and before them rose a single peak. They were headed toward the grotto at its base. The grotto was a dark and serene hideaway which narrowed into a hall. Its walls were smooth and the floor was paved with smooth and even stone, clearly not natural features. Despite what had to be years of use there were no cracks or blemishes to catch their toes. Hyena led Cloudhawk down the passage and deeper into the mountain. The young wastelander noted that the hall was sloped downward and the deeper they went the further underground they were going. He couldn¡¯t imagine this being possible with current technology, so this place had to be a holdover from the ancient days. The large, metallic polygonal door that arose to block their path confirmed his suspicions. The door had been cleaned up, but corrosion was still visible along its surface. It spoke to the many years this door must have seen march by. Letters etched on its surface read ¡®Blackwater Base.¡¯ Blackwater Base? That¡¯s a strange name¡­ A cluster of sentries with guns guarded the door. Compared to those at Greenland Outpost they were orders of magnitude better equipped. Cloudhawk lifted his head and above the door he spotted a small alcove. The barrel of a minigun, black as pitch, was pointed their way. Anyone who dared try to fight their way past the door would be shot to ribbons before they could get close. Several of the sentries approached. ¡°Hyena, boss, back so soon?¡± Hyena didn¡¯t pay them any mind. ¡°Open the door!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The guard captain fished out a complicated-looking seven-section key and inserted it into the door. Once one section was properly inserted and turned the rest of the key could be pushed in like a seven-digit passcode. Cloudhawk heard the squeal and grind of gears before the heavy door parted. Cloudhawk had never seen mechanisms so exquisite before, and the shock only increased as he walked in to view the scene beyond. It was magnificent. Though they were clearly underground the base was far from gloomy, for it was peppered with strange trees that released light. Several electric lamps supplemented them. Everywhere he looked machinery whirred. Pipes snaked along the walls and released pure water clear as crystal. This place had to have a state of the art water purification system that allowed them to turn the poison bog water into something drinkable. If nothing else that made Blackwater Base a unique jewel in the wastelands. As they made their way through the base Cloudhawk noted that there weren¡¯t many people. Eyeballing it he figured there couldn¡¯t be more than ten thousand residents. The biggest difference he recognized was how they dressed; Seekers wore more refined clothes like people of the ancient days, whereas excavators were clad in simple and primitive clothing. Hyena was not in the mood to stroll about. He led Cloudhawk quickly through the common area to arrive at a heavily guarded cave entrance. ¡°This is ¨C¡° Cloudhawk gaped at what appeared before him. It wasn¡¯t humans guarding the cave. They were beasts. Each guard was reptilian in appearance, but very different than one might expect. They stood back on two legs, slightly hunched over, and their beady black eyes carefully scanned their surroundings. From time to time a black forked tongue would slither out of their mouths to taste the air. Their equipment was humanoid; leather armor and bows in their man-like hands. Vigilantly they guarded the cave. These things weren¡¯t the least bit human. They were creatures, head to toe! Hyena saw Cloudhawk¡¯s stunned expression and offered a languid explanation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the lizard guards are loyal. They¡¯ll only attack if you give them a reason to.¡± Cloudhawk had completely forgotten about his pain. He stared at one of the creatures in curiosity for a long time. ¡°Why does it look kind of human? I¡¯ve never seen a lizard that can use bows!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been mutated.¡± Hyena¡¯s face never changed as he patiently explained. ¡°And that¡¯s all you need to know. They were created by the Academician.¡± Cloudhawk fought with the word. ¡°Aca... de... mician?¡± ¡°A title taken from the ancient books. It means someone who is wise, learned.¡± Hyena punctuated the explanation with a note of assurance. ¡°The Academician is the wisest person in Blackwater Base. We¡¯re headed for the laboratory, you¡¯ll meet soon.¡± Cloudhawk hobbled after Hyena as they made their way into the heavily guarded area. As he looked around the young man noted that he¡¯d never seen a cleaner or more organized place in all his life. The floors and walls looked painstakingly cared for, even polished. They were so spotless he could almost see his reflection. Cloudhawk had lived his life in the presence of filth; filthy places and filthy people. Here, amongst this immaculate environment he was clearly uncomfortable. The next thing he noticed were several dozen steel cages housing various creatures. Wolves, panthers, lizards, giant rats, and some creatures Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t identify. These ferocious beasts hunched in their cages listlessly, hardly even opening their eyes as they passed. Hyena explained that they were experimental subjects. Cloudhawk was puzzled. How was this Academician guy able to capture and experiment on these creatures for so many years? They passed through an iron door and were met with the squeals of pained animals. He saw a giant rat, its body painted with blood, strapped to a platform. Infusion tubes impaled it; all sorts of medicinal fluids ¨C green, blue, red ¨C were being pumped into its body. It was apparently a painful process, for the rat screeched and writhed. The pores along its body tore and blood leaked freely from them like it¡¯d been flayed. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t keep his curiosity inside. ¡°Why are they tormenting this mutated rat?¡± To Hyena this was clearly a standard scene. ¡°These subjects hold a very high value. Through special procedures the Academician has a high probability of instigating mutations. We then harvest valuable medicinal materials from them. Some even develop intelligence.¡± In all the wastelands only the Academician was able to perform such shocking and incredible feats. As Hyena explained he did not notice the strange look that came over Cloudhawk¡¯s face. The young man suddenly remembered something he¡¯d encountered before ¨C the rat king. He remembered it clearly, for it was one of those rare mutations that turned a beast intelligent. Or was it? Could the rat king have escaped from here? Released from here? Cloudhawk watched the rat scream and struggle upon the operating table in quiet thought. This whole laboratory was unimaginably strange. There were perhaps a hundred Seekers performing experiments on these monsters. He spied a specimen containment room were thousands of wasteland beasts were held. Another room was where they left the failed experiments. Perhaps a hundred corpses were piled up awaiting disposal. Cloudhawk was completely taken aback. This was like nothing he could have imagined. Hyena led them to a room framed in glass, wherein a tall and thin person was standing. When they were perhaps a dozen feet away he was able to see that the person was a youngish woman. She was clad in clean white clothes ¨C a rarity in the wastelands, for sure ¨C as well as gloves and a mask. Her attention was concentrated on one of her experiment subjects. Although he couldn¡¯t see her face, her figure was alluring and her bearing refined. Her backside was especially pleasing to the eye, round and plump, and leading into a pair of shapely long legs. She was built to catch a man¡¯s attention. Was this the Academician? Definitely not what Cloudhawk had imagined. Was the most prestigious person in Blackwater Base her? A woman? He didn¡¯t know how capable this place was compared to Greenland Outpost, but if he was going by Hyena no typical person could demand obedience from a creature like him. How could a woman like her who was still young in years command them? The only thing he could think of was that she had to have skills comparable to the Bloodsoaked Queen. Sensing their arrival the woman stopped her work and slowly raised her head. She fixed them with two shimmering eyes that were like deep twin pools. In addition to her round backside and long legs, she also had a plump chest. She looked at them through a pair of safety goggles framed by silvery hair rarely seen in the wastelands. It only increased her mature and dignified appearance. ¡°This is the Academician¡¯s assistant, Manjusaka [1]. Most just call her Hellflower.¡± Hyena quietly introduced her before respectfully stepping forward. ¡°The demonhunter our Academician wished to meet has arrived.¡± 1. Red spider lily. They are considered ominous plants in Asia, used in funerals, guiding souls through the underworld to reincarnation. So we can expect this lady to be cray-cray. Chapter 106 - The Academician Chapter 106 - The Academician In all his life Cloudhawk had had two women he counted as friends. The Bloodsoaked Queen was the first. She was about his age, strong, tenacious, persistent and devout. Physically she could be called a peerless beauty, and even out in the elysian lands she was special. It was hard to speak of her without sounding overly keen. Still she had been hard to get along with. They were closer by the end, but there was always a distance between them. Artemis was the second, a model wastelander in her twenties with all the bad habits that came with her upbringing. She was as loose as she was zealous, straight talking and stubborn. In a lot of ways she was inferior to the Queen, but she had been closest to Cloudhawk. Hellflower did not possess the feral flavor of the wastelands, nor the delicate and flawless mark of the elysian lands. Hers was a unique style, like someone from those bygone days. That was a little abstract. To be more specific she reminded Cloudhawk of the pictures he¡¯d seen when he was a scavenger. He and the old man would gather them and pore over the images from that long-past era. Hellflower looked like she¡¯d strode right out of one and into this lab. Her bearing, from the way she stood to her mannerisms and gestures, all spoke of poise and intellect. She was altogether different from both the wastes and the elysian lands. Like looking out over a winding river, Hellflower¡¯s beauty was inexplicable ¨C unattainable. She looked back at Cloudhawk and sized him up while he looked at her, and in her eyes he could see doubt. She said nothing, but the slight contempt in her eyes made her opinions clear. Consider the reputation of the Caliph of the Sands, what that beast had been. Asking her to believe this scrawny wastelander had killed a demon was like telling her an ant could eat five elephants in a single bite. Hyena respectfully conveyed Cloudhawk into the room. ¡°We¡¯re running low on samples for the Promethean Project. I¡¯d like you to set aside some time to collect more.¡± She picked off her gloves while she conveyed her orders to Hyena. She made her way over to Cloudhawk and stood before him. Her lithe figure was roughly 1.75 meters tall, half a head taller than Cloudhawk. She looked down her nose at him. ¡°You¡¯re a demonhunter?¡± Cloudhawk looked at her carefully. She had a mature and attractive face framed by that peculiar silver hair that was fastidiously kept. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t suspect she was strong physically, however her presence was nonetheless heavy-handed. Cloudhawk answered her in his typical straightforward fashion. ¡°Nope.¡± This took Hyena by surprise. ¡°How could that be?!¡± The shapeshifter fixed Cloudhawk with a searching look. He saw a young man around fifteen or sixteen, scrawny from years of malnutrition. His rough wastelander features were revealed since his mask was removed, and a mop of long and messy hair sat atop his head. His face was crusted with either mud or dried blood, but in contrast his eyes were sharp and clear. The dark grey cloak he wore was so dirty it might as well have been a blanket of filth. The trousers he wore were so tattered they could barely count as clothing. Almost every inch of skin that was exposed was wounded. The belt that held his pants up housed a handful of throwing daggers and a revolver, and strapped on his back was a crudely made wastelander¡¯s rifle. Demonhunters didn¡¯t use firearms. Everyone knew that. The mystical tools they used were often far superior, and besides the guns and bullets of the wastelander were recovered from the ruins of ancient days. People of the elysian lands felt such things were evil and viewed as taboo. Demonhunters as well as typical folk were forbidden from touching them. Any member of the holy order seen traipsing about with one was in danger of being severely punished. Hyena had never seen a demonhunter, but if they were all like this hobbling mess of a kid the elysian lands was no place to fear. ¡°So we¡¯ve made an error?¡± ¡°Yup. I¡¯m not a demonhunter, and I have something important I need to do. So if that¡¯s it I¡¯d appreciate it if you let me go.¡± Hyena¡¯s melted features twisted into an awkward and irritated glower. ¡°Ms Hellflower, this ¨C ¡° The Academician¡¯s assistant glanced at the exorcist staff strapped to the young man¡¯s waist. Her lips slowly curled into a grin. With a quiet glance to Hyena the Seeker seemed to understand and dropped into a combat posture. He fixed the kid with hard, merciless eyes. As the sense of danger washed over him Cloudhawk balked in surprise. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°The Academician was expecting a demonhunter as his distinguished guest. If that¡¯s not you¡­¡± Her lilting voice was easy as though she were speaking with a friend over a cup of tea. She made her way over toward a sink and dipped in her slender fingers as she continued. ¡°I do happen to be short a test subject for this compound.¡± This hateful woman! As Hyena came swooping down on him his body rapidly changed. Once again that coarse black hair slithered from his pores and he became half man, half dog amidst the sound of popping joints. He groped for the boy with claws several inches long at incredible speed. How fast was this mutt! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to grab his staff or draw a gun. He only had time to dodge to the side, whereupon he vanished from view. Hellflower, though her back was turned as she washed her hands, seemed to know something happened. Her lips spread in a small smile. Hyena was stunned at the suddenness of his disappearance, but only for a moment before finding his target again. He dropped on all fours then launched into the air like a spring. His right hand reached out and snatched something from seemingly empty air. ¡°Let go!¡± Cloudhawk involuntarily shimmered back into view. His throat was caught in Hyena¡¯s iron grip and he knew the shapeshifter could crush his larynx with the slightest effort. How did the guy do it? Until now no one had been able to pick him out of invisibility so easily. Hellflower turned back around to regard Cloudhawk. ¡°Hyena¡¯s nose is keener than a bloodhound. He could find you from the scent of your wounds.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. Smell, then? The invisibility cloak could mask sight and sound, but moving caused blood to drip from his wounds. For a creature like Hyena that was easy to track. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make you let go!¡± It was getting harder to breathe, his vision was becoming hazy. In his anger the exorcist staff still kept on his waist awakened. It released a blast of energy toward Hyena¡¯s head. It struck him and the Pathfander shoved the young wastelander away. Cloudhawk stumbled backward a few steps then caught his feet but not before aggravating his injured leg. He collapsed onto his backside, pale faced and gulping air. ¡°If you aren¡¯t a demonhunter, why do you have a demonhunter¡¯s relics?¡± Hellflower looked at him with eyes that seemed to know all. ¡°Your weapon is an exorcist staff, standard armaments for the elysian lands. If you didn¡¯t have the talents of a demonhunter you wouldn¡¯t be able to use it ¨C how do you explain that?¡± Cloudhawk just scowled at her. He actually didn¡¯t know how to explain it. ¡°He has to be a demonhunter, without a doubt.¡± Hyena slowly returned to human form. ¡°Only he is pitifully weak. I¡¯ve never fought the Caliph of the Sands, but I suspect he was much stronger than me. If he really did fight the demon there was no way he would survive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one explanation. There are other demonhunters out in the wastelands. In fact half a year ago I learned there was a particularly talented one who came from the elysian lands who was searching for the Caliph. If he is truly dead, my suspicion is that demonhunter was the one who did it.¡± Her voice was gentle and calm. It was as though the violent encounter hadn¡¯t happened at all. ¡°This boy, however¡­¡± ¡°The both of you are woefully disrespectful.¡± Suddenly a quavering and hoarse voice interjected. Its owner was an elderly man in white who hobbled along with the help of a cane. He approached, flanked by two robust lizard guardians. ¡°He is our guest. Why are you making things difficult for our young friend?¡± Immediately Hyena¡¯s face dropped its fierce expression and he bowed low at the waist. Hellflower, in contrast, never changed the indifferent look on her face. However with the appearance of this old man she promptly shut her mouth, visibly restraining herself. The wrinkled and unassuming old man was perhaps only about 1.5 meters tall, even Cloudhawk was a head taller. The geezer could have easily been a hundred as seventy or eighty. He was so emaciated he looked like skin stretched over bone, and he tottered along as though he might topple over any moment. He kept his balance with the help of his cane. Sparse white hair sprouted around his head but a bald spot had claimed most of the territory. Rheumy eyes peered at them from behind thick glasses. His already frail form stopped visibly, like he had one foot in the grave. Was this half-dead geezer the Academician? The leader of the Seekers? In all his experiences through the wastelands Cloudhawk knew that a leader had to be strong. This old man looked like he¡¯d be bested by a strong breeze, yet the likes of Hyena and Hellflower worked diligently for him. It was certainly unexpected. ¡°You¡¯re the Academician?¡± ¡°Actually, I have a name.¡± The skinny fossil chortled at him and pushed his glasses up on his nose with knotted fingers. ¡°You can call me Roste.¡± Cloudhawk got the sense that though this Academician Roste was the leader of the Seekers, he was exceedingly gentle. He had the bearing of someone who had experienced much in his life. ¡°And the reason you brought me here¡­¡± ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be in such a rush.¡± Roste stopped to relieve himself of a few feeble coughs. He didn¡¯t appear to be in the best of health. ¡°I know you¡¯re in a hurry to get something done, but as far as I can tell the whole wasteland is out to kill you. If you leave here now you¡¯ll only be trudging toward your death. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t say he was wrong. ¡°Blackwater Base is very safe, you can hide here for a while. Now that the Caliph is dead no one would dare to trouble us here.¡± The Academician looked Cloudhawk over. ¡°You may discover that you¡¯ll learn a lot if you stay among us. Of course there are also some things we will need your help with. I hope we can assist one another.¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment. The old man Roste made a good point. Continuing his journey now with no friends and potentially thousands of enemies would be difficult, to say the least. What would be the harm in staying here for a little while, out of sight? At the very least these Seekers were very interested in him, though Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing. At any rate if they really wanted to keep him here it was too late for Cloudhawk to resist. It made more sense to keep calm and capitulate. ¡°Hyena is my most loyal agent, and Hellflower is my most competent assistant. If you should need anything you can bring it to them.¡± His words were interrupted by another series of coughs. The effort made him weak. The old man waved to those around him. ¡°You lot tend to his wounds.¡± Chapter 107 - The Deal Chapter 107 - The Deal Academician Roste watched Cloudhawk as he left. His turbid but astute gaze was infected with a fanatic light, like a fire was lit in their depths. It lasted only a moment, however, and then it was gone like nothing had happened. He coughed and leaned on his cane for support. His bodyguards escorted him into the laboratory. The old man¡¯s lab looked like a devious slaughterhouse. It was covered in blood and bits of flesh, which a small coterie of workers were busily trying to scrub clean. The air was thick with the cloying scent of gore, and tied to a table was a beefy bald man. A man approached, full of deference. ¡°Shall I start?¡± Roste coughed at him then answered. ¡°Begin.¡± The man was the same bald-headed mercenary leader that had chased Cloudhawk through the bog. After the beating from Hyena he had not died, and instead was brought into the base¡¯s laboratory. By now he was awake and stared at the nightmarish surroundings with wide eyes. He looked half mad with fear, unsure what fate awaited him. A pipe had been inserted through his abdomen and into his stomach. Some inexplicable substance was being pumped through it and it made the bald man feel like his insides were on fire. He didn¡¯t know what these assholes were filling him with, but he knew it couldn¡¯t be anything good. Several more Seekers surrounded him and jabbed more transfusion tubes into various parts of his body. Liters of unknown substances were pumped into him that made the unfortunate mercenary twitch and jerk. To him it was like they were pumping him full of fire, or acid, or a hundred cutting knives. A pain he could not put into words wracked every inch of his body. The cruelest punishment he could imagine paled in comparison to this torture. He wanted to scream but no sound would come out. He wanted to struggle but he couldn¡¯t move a muscle. Every pore was tearing, every muscle ripped apart, every bone breaking. His eyes were flooded with blood as the capillaries couldn¡¯t take the pressure and burst. Blood leaked from his pores and in a matter of seconds he was covered in it. As the inhumane torment continued his bones popped audibly, again and again, as though he were being remolded from the inside out. If he was given a choice, he would have gladly asked for death! ¡°This process may cause you some pain.¡± Roste watched the poor man suffer, his face an expressionless mask. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, take it easy. We are building you a new life, and when you are borne again with the power I bestow upon you it will all be worth it.¡± The Academician and his fellow surgeons ignored the plight of the subject and focused solely on the data. The evidence suggested their chance of success was roughly thirty percent. This bald headed mercenary was a doughty patient. He was a good test subject for their important work. Roste absent-mindedly fiddled with a string of bones around his neck. The ornament was a string of finger bones fashioned into a necklace. Gruesome though it was, the bones didn¡¯t appear special in any way. ** Hellflower walked ahead. She moved with graceful poise and her white lab coat outlined her ripe figure, especially her backside. Each swing of her hips was like a metronome, and the men watched her sway with apt attention. She was a contradiction; both modern and classical, modest and enchanting. She was as dizzying as she was a fascinating distraction. Cloudhawk was no longer the young and na?ve child he had been. The allure of the opposite sex had dimly begun to intrude on his thinking, so he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes from stealing peeks. However, as appealing as she was to look at he was more curious in the Seekers and their influence throughout the wastelands. ¡°What makes you all different from other wastelanders? Why are you called Seekers?¡± A distasteful expression crossed Hellflower¡¯s face. ¡°We are the ones who carry the flame of the old days. Every true Seeker is loyal to our mission, to scour the ruins for the truths and secrets left behind by the ancient civilizations. Most wastelanders are savages, subsisting on whatever they can get their hands on. Meanwhile we have spent years researching medicines, weapons and tools that were once thought to be lost forever, all in order to change the dire fate of the wastelands. If not for us the world outside would be ten times more barbaric than it is.¡± Carry the flame of the old days. Scour the ruins for truths and secrets. This was the purpose of the Seekers? This is what made them different? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°But the world is already like this. What¡¯s the point of digging up some long-dead society¡¯s garbage?¡± ¡°Every day the world is more deformed, more twisted. The wastelands are becoming more deadly, not less. The elysian lands, meanwhile, are a place of deceit and hypocrisy. Our goal is to learn everything we can about how this all came to be. What was the world like before everything collapsed? Where did the gods and demons come from? Clearly humanity became lost down the wrong path. That is why Seekers are needed, to guide humanity back down the road we were meant to travel. Isn¡¯t that what we¡¯re meant to do?¡± Hellflower¡¯s ideal was a simple one. She wanted to see the world as it had been. Cloudhawk was intrigued. ¡°Interesting. I knew an old man once. He liked to collect things from the old world. He even taught me how to read their language.¡± He mentioned it offhand, thinking little of it. But Hellflower stopped dead in her tracks. Cloudhawk nearly collided with her shapely rump. Her face changed little, but the light in her eyes glimmered with doubt. ¡°You can read?¡± Was that somehow special? Wastelander writing and the language of the old days were two different things. Over the several hundred years since civilization¡¯s collapse wastelanders created their own scripts, which differed through all the various regions. Usually it was close enough that one could get their point across. Cloudhawk had been born with an innate curiosity and thirst of knowledge, though, and since the life of a scavenger was often spent bored in dark holes he learned the ancient words. ¡°Come with me.¡± Hellflower turned and lead him down another hallway. A few moments later she pulled open a door to a large apartment; it had a living room, a bedroom, bathroom, and several supplementary rooms like studies. All in all it was a very all-encompassing setup. The living room alone was quite large and many tables had been pushed together within it. They were covered with medicine vials, specimen jars, test tubes and so forth. Cloudhawk¡¯s keen senses picked out the odd scents wafting through the air, among them strange pharmaceuticals and unidentified materials. One thing he could pick out was the musty scent of books intermingled with a delicate fragrance that matched the one coming from Hellflower. This was her room? Hellflower didn¡¯t say anything at first. She brought Cloudhawk through the apartment and into her study where she picked a decrepit tome from a bookshelf. Only when she opened it did Cloudhawk see that it wasn¡¯t a book, but rather a collection of papers glued together into a large volume. ¡°Do you understand what¡¯s written here?¡± ¡°There are a lot I haven¡¯t seen, but I think I can understand the general meaning.¡± He began to translate a paragraph. Jerky, difficult and sometimes inconsistent, he was still able to get the gist. Hellflower was truly taken aback by the finding. Yet she was still suspicious. ¡°And you¡¯re telling me that the man who taught you this was an old scavenger?¡± Cloudhawk never had any reason to suspect the old man was anything other than he appeared. ¡°How could he be anything else? We lived together for seven or eight years.¡± Her face tightened as though she were carefully considering something. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right. That means the old man¡­ is he still where you came from?¡± ¡°He died a long time ago.¡± ¡°Dead? What a pity!¡± Her face fell with regret. As Cloudhawk watched her his own suspicions began to emerge. Were there really so few people who could understand ancient writing? If these Seekers, who knew so much, didn¡¯t understand it then how could the old man read the words? Hellflower continued to press him before Cloudhawk could ask his own questions. ¡°Tell me about yourself. Your history.¡± There wasn¡¯t a lot Cloudhawk thought to hide, so he gave her a brief explanation of what had happened to him. The first fifteen years of his life were uneventful, and he spent most of his time picking through the ruins and hiding in holes. They were long years marked with thirst and hunger, struggling on the border of life and death. The last few months were more eventful than all those previous years combined. Hellflower was stunned that this unimpressive child could have experienced so much. She was also interested to discover that he had been traveling for the elysian lands when they picked him up. When his tale ended her erudite eyes flickered. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡± ¡°A deal?¡± He replied inquisitively. ¡°You are not prepared to make your way to the elysian lands.¡± She spoke to him slowly to make sure he understood. ¡°On the one hand you¡¯re too weak, and on the other you don¡¯t understand the language they speak. What sort of life do you think you could lead under these conditions, if you even make it there?¡± Cloudhawk furrowed his brows. ¡°So what are you saying?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. I¡¯ll teach you the language of the elysian lands and you teach me the ancient scripts. I¡¯ll also use the resources we have here to make you stronger, improving both your abilities and body, so long as you agree to work with me and follow my every command. Whatever I tell you to do you will perform unconditionally without complaint.¡± Cloudhawk was unprepared for her offer. She understood what they spoke in the elysian lands? And she was promising to make him stronger? Ignoring the former, the resources commanded by the Seekers could certainly benefit him greatly. After all, whatever medicines and materials were found in the wastelands were produced by them. With their support Cloudhawk could reap considerable benefits. And yet there was something about this woman Cloudhawk didn¡¯t trust. In fact he trusted few people anymore, especially someone as intelligent and puzzling as her. ¡°How do I know you aren¡¯t trying to trick me?¡± Hellflower¡¯s plump lips spread into a smile. ¡°The Academician is very interested in the abilities of the demonhunters. He will certainly want to experiment on you. During this process no one would dare harm you, myself included. You don¡¯t need to worry about your health.¡± She left out the fact that during this process he wouldn¡¯t be permitted to leave, either. Cloudhawk had no reason to trust her. However, it was also true that right now there were no better options. Cloudhawk was also interested to learn what he could from the Seekers. If he spent some time here and learned their knowledge perhaps it could serve him well in the future. She didn¡¯t wait for his reply. Her keen and insightful mind could see his decision on his face. She spoke softly to him. ¡°I¡¯ll set up a cot here in the study. For now you¡¯ll live with me, and your primary job will be translating data.¡± Chapter 108 - Examinations Chapter 108 - Examinations Hyena often had dreams. This time he was in a dark forest, surrounded by fog and ruined buildings coated in damp moss. The trees were twisted and ferocious, like terrifying demons that groped at him from the darkness. The sky was vast and felt heavy as an iron curtain, settled over the stretching nightmarish landscape. He was lost. The darkness was stirring, and an unsettling rustle came from the trees. Something was coming. Hyena was wracked by an unexplainable fear that made him shiver, like he knew something terrifying was about to happen. Just as he was preparing to flee the mists parted, and an ethereal grey figure crept into view. It was a wolf. This was no ordinary creature of the forest. Its shoulders were wider than its hips and the muscles of its upper body were vastly stronger than its lower half. He could tell the beast could both walk on all fours and also upright like a man. As he looked the wolf fixed him with glowing green eyes that were replete with some dark magic. They were calling him closer. ¡°Have you already forgotten who you are?¡± As the creature spoke in human words Hyena¡¯s hair stood on end. His panic was interspersed with an inexplicable wrath and with a roar he flung himself at the beast, ready to tear it apart with his bare hands. Only, when he reached the wolf it vanished. A lake of limpid water appeared next, without any ripple or wave, clear as a mirror. Slowly he approached the shore, and when he saw his reflection in the waters his pupils shrunk to black dots. A green eyed wolf was staring back at him. ¡°No!¡± Hyena snapped out of the nightmare with half his body drenched in sweat. Dark hairs had begun to slither from his pores, but vanished once he was awake. With heart pounding he pushed himself out of bed and approached a mirror. When his familiar ugly face greeted him his ragged breathing slowly calmed. Bang! Hyena put his fist through the mirror, sending blood-smeared glass scattering every which way. Each one reflected a part of his twisted features. With pained expression he dropped to the ground with his head in his hands, pressing in on his scalp with all his might. A bestial growl issued from his throat. ** It was breakfast time. Hyena sat in a rather luxurious dining room. He was the greatest warrior the Seekers had, so he was treated with amenities a normal wastelander couldn¡¯t imagine even in their wildest dreams. There was bread, milk, fruit ¨C things a typical person wouldn¡¯t dare imagine. Several attractive servants addressed him respectfully. ¡°Please help yourself sir.¡± With a scowl on his twisted face Hyena sniffed the air. He plucked up a piece of bread, took a small bite, then quickly spat it back out. Enraged he flipped the table over, sending the delectable meal rolling across the floor. ¡°This bullshit is fit for people to eat?!¡± Rivulets of fresh goat¡¯s milk were marking a trail along the ground. This treasured luxury of the wasteland was cast away like garbage and the stink of raw meat hung in the air. Several of the maids hurried to clean up the mess. They were at a loss, over the last half year their master¡¯s temperament had become more and more strange. Before he had been vigorous and lively. Every night he would take three women to bed. Now, though, he barely touched any of them. Where before he could eat as much as four or five men, now he barely picked at anything they brought him. The problem wasn¡¯t with his appetite. When he stared at them now there was a hunger in his eyes, but not a hunger for pleasure. It was a hunger for their flesh! Hyena stomped from his residence and, snatching up two large chunks of raw meat, made his way toward the Academician¡¯s sample collection room. There were many subjects gathered for Roste¡¯s experiments, from giant rats to lizards and even wolves. His intention was to do what he always did in the past and feed the beasts to keep them strong. Instead, he found himself in front of the wolf¡¯s cage staring at the mutated creatures. The wolves kept here were the offspring of experiment subjects. Their original stock were normal wasteland wolves, but the Academician¡¯s medicines had increased their mutation rate. Each evolution was faster and more dramatic than the last. Now they were stronger, smarter, and more cunning. Every one of them had undergone incredible strengthening. Even the weakest of them would be a wolf pack alpha if released back into the world. A handful of them were even displaying signs of higher intelligence. Academician Roste was a genius ¨C but he was also a madman. The wolves had gathered round, jostling for position to grab the fresh meat. The largest one, by contrast, was seated calmly nearby. Her fur was a silvery white, majestic and awe-inspiring. Without any anger or feral madness she calmly watched the man standing outside of the cage. She and Hyena stared at each other for a long time. It sent a shiver up Hyena¡¯s spine. They called this mother wolf Subject Zero. She was their most successful trial yet, coming from a strong and stable pedigree. As such Roste didn¡¯t experiment on her and instead used her for breeding. Her offspring had the same doughty breeding, thus giving the Academician no shortage of good experimental material. The truth was that Hyena wasn¡¯t entirely human. The strongest of this majestic creature¡¯s offspring, their blood and essence flowed through his veins. The old matriarch caught his familiar scent. Her sharp, calm eyes settled on him. A steady gaze that filled him with dread. He felt like he was losing his sense of identity. Hyena had lost all interest in women, the same with breads and fruit and alcohol. He felt more of a kinship with these beasts now, like a connection that grew out of his very bones. He dropped his head and stared at the bloody slabs of meat in his hands. The stench of it filled his nose and made his mouth water. He fought the desire to lick it, to just taste the fresh blood and uncooked meat. He gulped down a mouthful of spit. In the end his human will won over and he managed to fight down the call of the beast within. Moments later a researcher stepped into the room. ¡°Hyena, sir. The Academician has called for you.¡± Hyena cast a final look toward the mother wolf, then threw the meat into the wolf cage. When he arrived at the laboratory there were three people already waiting. One was the shapely and attractive Hellflower. Another was the unassuming, balding old Academician who feebly held himself up with a walking staff. The final person was a lascivious man, thin as a rail. At a glance one could tell he was a vulgar man, he couldn¡¯t keep his eyes off the swell of Hellflower¡¯s chest and the curve of her backside. He was director of the laboratory, both a Seeker and a scientist. Although he certainly had a name taken from the older days, most of the Seekers preferred to call him by his nickname; Chimp. At one time Hyena had drooled over Hellflower himself. He had to fight the urge to tear his pants off and mount her like a beast, ravaging that peach-shaped tail for his pleasure. Now, though, his tastes had changed. It didn¡¯t matter how attractive a woman was, he was no longer excited by the view. To him they might as well be beautiful monkeys. He simply wasn¡¯t interested. Academician Roste coughed feebly before peeling open his dim eyes and fixing them on Hyena. ¡°You seem a little off today. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Academician.¡± His feelings toward the old scholar were complicated. On the one hand he¡¯d brought Hyena back from the brink of death, yet on the other his current troubles were a result of the Academician¡¯s work. Whatever the case he held the man in highest esteem, he barely dared to look him in the eye. Hyena addressed the old scientist with the utmost respect. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Academician Roste stared at Hyena for a moment, his turbid eyes seemingly able to pierce all the world¡¯s obfuscations. He spoke again through a series of coughs. ¡°You are my greatest work, and the only one whose memory I did not erase with pharmaceuticals. If there are any problems we can solve them together. I am your creator, but more than that I am like your father.¡± ¡°Hyena, I really do envy you!¡± The expression on Director Chimp¡¯s face matched his words. ¡°You were a first-class soldier once, and thanks to the Academician¡¯s efforts you have been turned into one of the greatest warriors of the wastelands. Even Greenland Outpost¡¯s leader, Hydra, has nothing on you. If only I had the kind of power you possess.¡± Hellflower answered with a pretty laugh. ¡°At best, the process only offers a fifty percent chance of success. Without the appropriate willpower or constitution, do you think you¡¯d survive?¡± Her biting words angered Chimp, and though it was just banter he couldn¡¯t endure her disdain. His response was deliberately ambiguous and thick with contempt. ¡°My constitution? Find us a bed and you can see for yourself, you¡¯ll learn what a real man is!¡± ¡°Stop wasting time.¡± Roste¡¯s words quavered soft as gossamer. He really did seem like he would keel over at any moment. ¡°Bring the young man in. We must begin the examination.¡± The young man entered shortly after, clad in his cloak and his features hidden behind a white mask. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t entirely sure what situation he found himself in. He looked around at his surroundings in confusion, while his right hand never left that shaft of his exorcist staff. He let off the air of one who was on edge, vigilant for any danger. When he saw the Academician, Hellflower and the others he approached without hesitation. ¡°Why did you call me here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, my young friend.¡± The Academician greeted him with an amicable smile. ¡°We¡¯ve asked you here because we¡¯re interested in testing your unique abilities. Please relax, you¡¯re in no danger.¡± Cloudhawk glanced at Hellflower, then walked into the test chamber. Several Seekers got the tests underway. The first in the series of examinations was designed to analyze his skills as a demonhunter. By asking him to awaken his relics they tested his abilities and used the data to extrapolate his strength. They determined that his psychic energies surpassed those of a typical novice, yet was still slightly inferior to a full-fledged demonhunter. Weaker than they expected! Even master demonhunters were of little concern for the Caliph of the Sands. By comparison Cloudhawk was hardly worthy as cannon fodder before the demon. However, his skills as a demonhunter were worth noting. Anyway where else were they going to find a proper demonhunter out here? Next they tested his physical abilities. Wastelanders didn¡¯t possess the holy inheritance of the gods, nor the elysians¡¯ methods of cultivation. Typical denizens of the wastes were forced to awaken their potential through hardships, facing death in order to make themselves stronger. There were gene activating medicines but they were few and far between out here. Mutagens also varied by effect depending on the individual, and like panacea they drew on the latent potential of the subject to overdraft what their bodies were capable of. Using them to improve one¡¯s physical characteristics wasn¡¯t always a wise decision. No such substances were detected during Cloudhawk¡¯s physical test. Everyone¡¯s constitution was different, and as such so was their developmental process. Some people were strong enough to easily lift a thousand pounds; some were so agile they had supernatural reaction times and movement speed; still others could recover from injuries faster than normal; some were abnormally intelligent. No two persons were alike. However Cloudhawk was especially unique. They discovered that his mutations were not particularly rapid, but they were systemic. He was stronger, faster, and smarter than any normal person, in addition to increased regenerative capabilities. Whether it was his muscle or neural connections, he was better than average across the board! Unbelievable! It was hard to accept! It was only more astonishing after he answered a series of questions about his personal history. His increased capabilities had only manifested in the last three months. At this rate of speed his improvement would be spectacular in a decade or two! Academician Roste was so excited his veiny hands were clenched into fists. This boy wasn¡¯t strong now, but his potential was incredible! The elderly scientist spoke softly with Chimp. ¡°Go make the preparations. Use Subject Zero.¡± Chimp¡¯s expression betrayed his surprise. Subject Zero? Hyena reacted as well, the knuckles of his scarred hands whitening as he curled them into fists. Chapter 109 - The Dark Atom Chapter 109 - The Dark Atom The final test measured Cloudhawk¡¯s endurance and willpower. The methodology was simple, such as having him lift something that was just heavy enough that it nearly exceeded his abilities and see how long he could hold it, or enduring increasing amounts of painful stimulation. Once again the results surprised the researchers. If normal subjects were given a measure of one for their stamina and willpower, Cloudhawk was a three or more. The young man was a model wastelander, at least in terms of mannerisms. He was fanatical, tenacious down to his bones, and even when brought to the brink of death his will was unbending. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, was becoming more and more infuriated by the process. These tests were going on for fuckin¡¯ forever! What the hell were they doing?! Roste, leaning heavily on his cane, led his three subordinates into the testing chamber. By now he regarded Cloudhawk with entirely different eyes, like the treasure hunter who¡¯d found his buried riches. He drew on his several decades of preparation, careful not to reveal his deep excitement at their findings. He carefully sized Cloudhawk up as they entered. ¡°Tell me, are you interested in becoming the strongest organism in the wastelands?¡± Cloudhawk found the old scholar¡¯s question baffling. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be?¡± He flippantly replied. Academician Roste idly fingered his bone necklace and sighed emotively. ¡°Indeed, who doesn¡¯t want to be stronger? Our biology is so fragile ¨C we humans are so easily broken. The smallest injury or illness could take away the ones we love. Only the strong can protect that which means the most to them.¡± Why did everything this old man said sound so mysterious? Hellflower suddenly chimed in. ¡°As I recall, the Conclave of the Dark Atom should be smuggling in a shipment of materials from the elysian lands this afternoon. None of our other subjects would be able to handle the steroids, we can use them on Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Roste answered without hesitation. He winced as another set of hacking coughs overcame him. When he caught his breath he opened his eyes once again, turning them toward Hyena. ¡°Gather some people and head out to meet the Dark Atom party. Offer double the price they ask, and have Wolfblade bring more materials from the elysian lands.¡± ¡°What the fuck are y¡¯all planning?¡± Cloudhawk was becoming less comfortable with his situation by the minute. ¡°I¡¯m getting pretty damn tired of being kept in the dark!¡± Cloudhawk was not one to believe that gifts were magically showered on people from on high. The Academician had taken him in, given him fine food and drink, and now was preparing to use precious materials smuggled from the elysian lands to make him stronger. None of this was cheap. This sent the old man into another fit of hacking coughs. His chest heaved and he fought for breath. This time it was so bad he was having difficulty staying on his feet. ¡°Don¡¯t be so ungrateful!¡± Chimp¡¯s creepy face was twisted in a look of indignation as he glared at Cloudhawk, supporting Roste at the same time. ¡°The Academician thinks highly of you, he wants to help! To have this sort of patronage would be a dream come true for many in the wastelands!¡± Roste eventually caught his breath and waved his hand, entreating Chimp to silence. He regarded Cloudhawk with that calm, erudite expression and those rheumy wise eyes. ¡°Young man, you can see what condition I¡¯m in.¡± Indeed the old man could hardly stand and swayed like a blade of grass in the wind. He constantly seemed on the verge of toppling over. His hair was a thin mop of spindly white and his face carved deep with crisscrossing wrinkles. His skin was dry and stretched over his emaciated frame. All in all he looked more corpse than man. He went on. ¡°I am over eighty years old, closer to dying than anything else. At this age riches, honor, titles, influence¡­ none of that matters. But I am left with regrets, and a desire to leave this world with something I¡¯ve created ¨C a powerful being as my final mark.¡± Cloudhawk half-believed the old man¡¯s diatribe. ¡°You have the power of a demonhunter, and tremendous potential as well. Better still you are young and thus my greatest seedling. It serves nothing to hold back.¡± He spoke to the young wastelander, full of earnestness. He fought through another series of coughs. ¡°I give you power so that you can make this land better. You are the final extension of my dream, the last goal to reach so I can die in peace. A success for the good of us all.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel moved. Staying alive this long in the wastelands was no easy feat. After that speech he chose to wait and see what would occur. He gave voice to another small doubt. ¡°What is the Dark Atom Conclave you were talking about?¡± Hellflower answered in place of the Academician. ¡°They are a group of Seekers established on the fringes of the elysian lands, hiding from the ire of its denizens. Their current leader is Wolfblade, a wild and ambitious man. They smuggle things from within their territory to us, and we trade for things of our own. They earn a lot from us to use in their fight against the holy cities, and so make several trips to Blackwater Base to trade.¡± Seekers lurked in the elysian lands as well? That was unexpected! Of all the denizens of the wastelands it was the Seekers the people of the elysian lands hated most bitterly. Not only were they godless heathens, but they toyed with the unholy relics of the past while denying the supremacy of godly men. They even refused to accept the divine histories as truth, making Seekers enemies that were to be killed on sight. Was it even possible that this group, as incompatible to the elysian lands as fire and water, could survive in such hostile territory? How did they do it? Cloudhawk was always a victim to his curiosity. He directed his words towards Hyena, the one who would encounter the Dark Atom. ¡°Can I go with you?¡± Hyena had been lost in absent thought when the young boy¡¯s question piqued his attention. His eyebrows shot up, and he looked at Roste for the old scientist¡¯s determination. The Academician nodded consent. The location for their meeting was only at the gate of Blackwater Base and there was nowhere for Cloudhawk to flee. They still needed the young man¡¯s cooperation, his request was not unreasonable. The Academician saw no harm in allowing him to satisfy his curiosity. ¡°I¡¯m a little tired. We¡¯ll finish here for now.¡± Roste was old and as such his vigor was waning. They¡¯d spent quite a long while in the process of these tests and though he was eager to continue his body would not capitulate. They were forced to postpone their efforts. Cloudhawk followed Hyena out of the testing chamber. Chimp was the last to exit. He shut the door, extracted a set of keys from his coat, and locked it behind them. Chimp was the laboratory¡¯s director and also the Academician¡¯s student. He wasn¡¯t as capable a fighter as Hyena, nor as astute as Hellflower, but he was unfailingly loyal to the Academician. He was rewarded by being responsible for all the confidential and important matters of the lab. He held all the keys. A sweet breeze flit past. Hellflower appeared by their side. Chimp brazenly salivated over her proud chest and firm buttocks. He hardly even blinked. Hellflower suddenly stopped and, intentionally or unintentionally, stretched her back forcing her rump higher. ¡°Enjoying the view?¡± This woman was always so calm and dignified, so her sudden teasing words immediately dug into Chimp¡¯s lewd mind. His blood pumped faster, his body unconsciously reacting to her implications. He answered her with an obscene grin. ¡°A fine view is one thing, but I wonder if you know how to use your gifts.¡± ¡°Is your whole head clogged up with sperm? I really don¡¯t understand why the Academician would pick a man like you to run his laboratory.¡± Her blunt abuse was not tainted with anger. In fact it was almost teasing. She continued with a sigh. ¡°But I have nothing to do and boredom is a terrible affliction. I want a drink.¡± Chimp¡¯s eyes lit up like a cat who¡¯d caught the scent of fish. ¡°What would you like? I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Hellflower cast a fleeting glance toward the director¡¯s keyring. ¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t ask you to spend any money on me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, not an issue!¡± ¡°Alright¡­ tonight then.¡± It was unlikely that this woman would suddenly be interested in satiating her loneliness. Yet Chimp couldn¡¯t help but be excited by the scenarios playing through his mind, making his body¡¯s physical reactions more acute. That woman was far more dangerous than she looked, otherwise he¡¯d have taught her a lesson a long time ago. *** The unique sounds of the base¡¯s hydraulic systems ¨C the winches and gears ¨C whined as they worked to pull open its massive front door. Near a hundred people stepped through the portal, all clad in protective biohazard gear. They bore all manner of weapons, brandished for anyone to see. As Cloudhawk stepped through the door with Hyena and out into the swamp he saw something emerge from the fog. It looked like an airship, and it crept through the marsh toward them. It looked a full one third larger than the one commanded by the Caliph¡¯s lieutenants. Six or seven motley looking flying machines followed as an entourage. Were these the Seekers from the elysian lands? They even had an airship ¨C they had to be a force to be reckoned with! Hyena kept his eyes on Cloudhawk¡¯s back. His fists slowly raised, fingernails growing longer centimeter by centimeter. However when even the slightest rotten thought intruded his mind Cloudhawk seemed to sense it. His head swung around, eyes sharp, and fixed his vision on Hyena. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Hyena was surprised at the kid¡¯s keen situational awareness. By now the dark thoughts had passed. ¡°Out of my way!¡± Cloudhawk frowned suspiciously. He had definitely felt something¡­ or was it an illusion? He trusted his intuition without a shadow of a doubt. It wasn¡¯t a mistake, he¡¯d felt the danger, so his eyes followed the scarred man. Still he didn¡¯t spot anything untoward. They¡¯d left the base with twenty or so items in tow, odd things that were a little like crates and a little like cages. The outsides were tightly wrapped in cloth but the sounds of creatures could clearly be heard from within. The Dark Atom¡¯ airship slowly touched down and a tall man with a sharp, hawk-like nose stepped out. His sharp and beady eyes swept over the Blackwater contingent before eventually settling on Hyena. He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Hyena my friend. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re still breathing.¡± ¡°Cut the shit, Buzzard!¡± Hyena clearly wasn¡¯t interested in playing nice with this fellow. Among these illustrious Dark Atom Seekers this one wasn¡¯t anyone to bother with. ¡°The Academician said to give you twenty this time. Next time it¡¯s double.¡± Buzzard glanced at the crates, pleasantly surprised by the news. ¡°The Academician is as generous as he is prosperous, I see! I offer thanks on behalf of Wolfblade.¡± Their exchange was cut short when one of the crates tipped over. An angry snarl issued from inside followed by the sounds of struggle. Whatever beast was within was fighting to get free. Several Blackwater soldiers rushed over with their weapons belching lightning. It resulting in one side of the crate bursting open, and a scaled monstrosity leaping out from within. As bolts of electricity struck it sparks went flying, completely ineffective. ¡°Aaaarrgghhh!¡± The green-scaled beast grabbed one of the soldiers and unceremoniously ripped him in half. He then lunged at another and crushed his head with a single punch. Hyena reacted immediately. Black hair sprouted over his body and his two powerful legs sent him charging toward the beast. The scaled monster sensed Hyena coming and it only seemed to enrage it further. There was a deep, seething hatred in its feral eyes. The two humanoid beasts clashed, punch for punch. Hyena was clearly stronger. The green-scaled monster was knocked backward a few steps but was unharmed from Hyena¡¯s blow. Its strength and endurance were impressive, to say the least. Even before the creature could regain its balance Buzzard swept in like a ghost. In terms of speed he was at least thirty percent faster than Hyena. Already at a disadvantage against Hyena, the green-scaled monster was suddenly faced with another just as strong. The surprise attack forced it to the ground. Hyena and Buzzard pinned the creature down, one on its left and the other on its right. Eventually the scales receded back into the creature¡¯s skin, revealing a bull-like bald man beneath. As he watched the scene Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Wasn¡¯t this the mercenary captain, the one who¡¯d tried to kill him in the marshes? He remembered that Hyena had knocked his out and dragged him back to camp, that was about ten days ago. What had happened to him since then? How did he get so strong? Why was he suddenly part of the base¡¯s trade goods? The bald-headed man never lost consciousness. He screamed and roared in impotent hatred until one of Blackwater¡¯s soldiers gave him an injection. He almost immediately sunk into a coma. Thus neutralized he was returned to the crate. ¡°This new one isn¡¯t stable yet. His memories haven¡¯t been completely erased,¡± Hyena explained to Buzzard. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to the base and change it out for another one.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Buzzard eyed the bald man¡¯s crate. He chuckled through a dark grin. ¡°We¡¯ve been getting into more scraps than ever. Fighters with his kind of gusto are few and far between, I think Wolfblade will like this one. We¡¯ll teach it how to behave. Send the Academician our thanks.¡± The members of Dark Atom quickly gathered the crates and brought them onto their airship. Meanwhile Blackwater soldiers collected the rare elysian materials traded in exchange. With their transaction completed, the Dark Atom packed up and prepared to leave. They didn¡¯t leave any trace of their presence behind. Buzzard bade Hyena farewell and then their airship lifted off. Cloudhawk followed Hyena and the others as they returned to base, only this time his curiosity was replaced with something more like concern. Chapter 110 - Stealing Secrets Chapter 110 - Stealing Secrets Cloudhawk closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of the cool and refreshing water flowing over his body. From his head to his neck to his chest, all down his body every pore relaxed as the magnificent sensation washed through him. His mind began to wander, and the situation of Blackwater Base intruded on his relaxing moment. This place was a legacy of the past ¨C a refuge of the old days. Fifty years ago the base was discovered by the Seekers. Luckily they were able to get the water filtration system up and running, and from that point on the base was a functional sanctuary. By now most of the living quarters, laboratories, testing areas, manufacturing centers, logistics zones and the central control area were operational. Altogether there were about eight thousand people living here ¨C not many in the grand scheme, but they commanded incredible influence and power. Here they were able to manufacture panacea, advanced weaponry, and special materials which they traded for essential goods. They were rich, more affluent even than Greenland Outpost. The water slowed to a trickle and eventually stopped. Not even a drop was wasted. More than once Cloudhawk nearly died of thirst out in the wasteland. He cherished water as one of the world¡¯s greatest treasures. He couldn¡¯t help the guilt that crept up within him at wasting all of this water to wash. Although the base certainly wasn¡¯t lacking for water, he didn¡¯t want to use any more than he already was. After ten days under Blackwater Base¡¯s state-of-the-art care, there wasn¡¯t a scratch left on Cloudhawk. He was comfortable and safe for the first time in a while. Every day he would study the elysian language with Hellflower and the amount of information he retained was surprising to her. He already had most of the foundational vocabulary committed to memory. And yet, though safe and comfortable, Cloudhawk was ill at ease. He wanted to know what Academician Roste¡¯s plans were. What was he up to? Today¡¯s tests had seemed without rhyme or reason. It was especially suspicious that they were willing to spend so much just to get resources for Cloudhawk¡¯s improvement. Where there was smoke there was fire, and the young wastelander wasn¡¯t convinced with the excuse Roste had given him. After seeing what had become of that bald mercenary his sense of unease had only grown. Only ten days ago that baldie had been a normal guy! How had he suddenly become a monster? There was no mutation he knew of that worked so fast. Cloudhawk knew there had to be more than they were telling him. However he didn¡¯t know what it was, where it was coming from, or who was behind it. ¡°Are you interested in becoming the strongest organism in the wastelands?¡± Roste¡¯s strange offer echoed through Cloudhawk¡¯s mind, and for some reason it caused a chill to crawl up his spine. ¡°Strongest organism¡± ¡­ it was a strange and specific phrase. He hadn¡¯t paid the detail much thought at first, but now it seemed uncomfortably telling. But he still didn¡¯t look too deeply into it, for as the thought crossed his mind suddenly the door opened. Hellflower swept into the apartments smelling of booze, clearly she¡¯d had a few. Her typically dignified and poised face was painted with splotches of red. Her first order of business was to put down the items in her hands on her work desk; a folder and a set of keys. Part of Cloudhawk¡¯s training with Mantis had been to develop a habit of paying close attention. Most of the details from today¡¯s meeting with the Academician and his subordinates were still fresh in his memory ¨C and unless he was mistaken, those keys used to be under the care of that thin and creepy laboratory director. Why did Hellflower have them now? Somehow her face was even redder than when she entered and her eyes were blurry. However she was clearly fighting to keep her head clear as she spoke to him. ¡°This data¡¯s very important, it needs to be translated right away and finished by tonight. I¡¯m gonna make a copy and you start translating.¡± Cloudhawk took one look at her and knew this was no trivial matter. He remembered their agreement; she would teach him elysian and getting him whatever resources she could, and he would perform whatever duties she required. But he noticed that Hellflower was out of sorts. He couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Since coming into the room and sitting down she¡¯d started burning up. Even from a few feet away Cloudhawk could feel the heat radiating off of her. The first few buttons of her blouse had been undone, and the attractive plunge of her bust was clearly visible. Any man would be hard pressed to keep his head when that was his field of view, especially someone like Chimp. Evidently the laboratory¡¯s director was caught in a honey pot, but Hellflower had paid a price herself. ¡°That repugnant monkey used a very strong dose.¡± Hellflower tenderly rubbed her temples. ¡°But that¡¯s not important. Get to work.¡± Chimp had spiked her drink with a powerful hallucinogenic or perhaps some sort of aphrodisiac. Any lesser woman would have been entirely at his mercy, but Hellflower had been prepared. She¡¯d taken something to inhibit neurotransmitters, thus reducing the withdrawal effects of his drugs and negating the unsavory results of his aphrodisiacs. She¡¯d only managed to escape his filthy plans because of these precautions. She clamped her legs shut and took a deep breath. A drop of sweat trickled down her uncannily smooth face, down the line of her chin and ultimately dripped into the valley of pale skin below before vanishing in that crevice. Sweat was pouring off of her now and made her clothes cling to her every curve. Her white clothes were nearly transparent ¨C a fact that did not escape Cloudhawk¡¯s notice. He stared at her, dumbfounded. The scientist¡¯s face was beguiling and yet serious. She tried to pull herself together by pushing her glasses up on her nose and arranging the data in the folder. Delicate fingers snatched up a pen and she started to transcribe its contents. Even drugged her hands were dexterous and scrawled across the page like flowing water. She certainly had supernatural levels of willpower to actually keep her mind on her work. Cloudhawk looked over the data, covered in a mess of formulas that seemed haphazardly scribbled across the page. All of the figures made his head spin. However he did see that they were annotated with the ancient script, words he recognized. The parchment and ink were fresh so Cloudhawk figured the data had to be only a few years old. This told him that there had to be someone else in the base who could understand the ancient text. Based on Hellflower¡¯s status among the Seekers, if she still wasn¡¯t being taught how to read it this meant the only person who could understand the writing had to be the Academician. Hellflower must have planned to use her charms to pilfer the keys from the Academician¡¯s most trusted student, Chimp. That must mean she stole this data ¨C she was brazen, that was for certain. She would dare to steal from the Academician! ¡°Start translating!¡± As she transcribed the information she hid large chunks of the formulas, and restructured the paragraphs in such a way that they made little sense. For Cloudhawk he was given a veritable mess of words and figures to sift through and couldn¡¯t puzzle out its meaning. All he could do was focus on one sentence at a time, translating what he was given line by line. [1]. This woman was incredibly cautious! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to piece together everything, but there were several words that kept cropping up; transformation, organism, strengthen, gene¡­ Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts sudden went back to the bald-headed man and how he could have suddenly changed so much. What method turned him from a normal man into that green-scaled monster? And Hyena! His abilities certainly didn¡¯t come from any normal mutation. Was he also a result of whatever process was hidden in these notes? The gall of this woman to actually steal something like this. Was she trying to pilfer his research for herself? Cloudhawk worked quickly. By the time morning came he had translated almost all of the Academician¡¯s work. Hellflower took it when he was done and locked it in a safe in the wall of her bedroom. Then she collapsed. Cloudhawk unconsciously reached out and grabbed her. As she rested against him she felt as soft and full as a cotton doll. Sweat beaded on the bridge of her nose and her warm breath trickled from plump red lips to wash against his ear. For some inexplicable reason he felt his heart rate increase. Hellflower was anxious. She was helpless, the neurotransmitter inhibitor had run its course. Right now, even the slightest of sparks would be enough to set off an explosion. She had only the faintest bit of will left to support her against the base urges the drugs inspired in her. Luckily this kid looked like an idiot. He wasn¡¯t going to take advantage of her in this state. She kept her breathing even and spoke softly to the young man. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can move. Help me with something.¡± When he didn¡¯t respond she struggled to press the files into Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. ¡°In Academician Roste¡¯s first secret lab, on the bottom of the right wall, there is a safe. Help me return this to it. It¡¯s already getting light, you don¡¯t have much time. Half an hour at the most ¨C you can¡¯t delay.¡± Was this necessary? Cloudhawk was not the sort to stir up trouble. Although he wasn¡¯t sure what was in these papers he could tell by Hellflower¡¯s nervous expression that this was a matter of life and death. ¡°Here are the keys you¡¯ll need to open the laboratory.¡± She pressed the keys into his hands. ¡°Chimp should be at the bar, still asleep from the anesthetic I slipped him. If you can, try to sneak the keys back to him without him noticing.¡± ¡°What makes you think I can do this?¡± He looked at the stack of papers and then at the keys. He was at a loss. ¡°How can you be sure I won¡¯t turn you in?¡± She laughed bitterly at him. ¡°Then so be it. But if you help me I¡¯ll owe you one. I¡¯ll help when you need it most¡± ¡°Alright!¡± That was enough. What Cloudhawk needed more than anything right now were friends. He nodded resolutely. ¡°You rest.¡± She answered with an appreciative smile. She wanted to stand, but she couldn¡¯t move her limbs. Cloudhawk had to carry her to the bed and lay her down. He gathered up his invisibility cloak, donned his mask, and left the apartment. ¡°He really is a simple guy.¡± She was surprised by how pliable the young man was. He was as pure as a sheet of unused paper. If he had wanted to do anything at all to Hellflower she would have been completely at his mercy. She hoped it would all go smoothly! In the three years she¡¯d spent in the base she had desperately wanted to get her hands on this data. She knew she could no longer delay, that it was a gamble to make her move now, but with those formulas solved there was no longer anything here that interested her. There was nothing to keep her here. 1. Pfft, good luck getting a decent translation without context! Chapter 111 - The Monster in the Lab Chapter 111 - The Monster in the Lab Academician Roste¡¯s laboratories and test rooms were sealed behind an iron door only Roste and his director could open. It was among the more secure areas in the whole of the wastelands, adding a patrol or soldiers opening and the closing the door constantly would only detract from that. As such, besides scientists who remained in the labs full time, there was no need for internal security. Cloudhawk slipped past the heavy iron door without any trouble with the help of his invisibility cloak. From there the rest was easy. He followed Hellflower¡¯s directions to the specified lab, located Chimp¡¯s safe and slipped the data back inside using his keys. Hellflower had taken a great risk to steal this information. It had to be valuable. And yet, few precautions seemed to be taken to keep it safe. Wasn¡¯t that careless? In fact, in all of Blackwater Base only the Academician could understand the ancient texts. Besides him only Hellflower knew where his notes were kept, and the key to it was held tight by the lab¡¯s director under normal circumstances. Both its contents and location were quite safe, for even if others knew where and what these notes were, who could understand them? Why should Roste risk revealing its importance by posting a guard? What¡¯s more, Academician Roste was a man rich in self-confidence. As far as he was concerned there was no one alive who could crack his research! The scientists in this base could study half a century and still have no hope of grasping what he knew. Roste was a singular talent, unique throughout the wasteland. He¡¯d spent his life researching these old technologies, so in the unlikely event someone got their hands on his notes and understood them, it was exceedingly unlikely they could do anything with the information. Cloudhawk made sure the safe was securely closed. The safe¡¯s door fit flush against the wall, it was only visible if you knew where to look. He¡¯d had to push aside two bookcases which further hid its location. She sure as hell owes me one. What sort of favor can she offer? Cloudhawk was careful to replace everything precisely as it was before he arrived out of habit. It was unlikely anyone would notice, but he¡¯d become more cautious lately. He didn¡¯t want to leave any opportunity for trouble. He left and carefully locked the lab door behind him. The whole process was done without leaving a trace. Cloudhawk was proud of himself. His first clandestine mission and he nailed it. Sneaking around would have earned him a decent living ¨C it was a shame he hadn¡¯t picked the life of a thief. At any rate, once he got to the elysian lands he would be fine. Between the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s recommendation and his trophy from the body of the demon he would live a life of luxury, no doubt about it. His pilfering skills would go unused. Such were the lofty thoughts that swam through Cloudhawk¡¯s head. He had the key to a good life, but the question was whether he¡¯d live to enjoy it. Currently he was locked in Blackwater Base, a heavily fortified modern fortress with one way out, guarded by a heavy minigun and surrounded by a deadly bog. Escape didn¡¯t seem possible. He was too weak to fight his way out, too. The problem was enough to give him a headache. Such horseshit! Whatever the case, right now the most important thing was to protect himself. In the same vein he realized that an opportunity like the one he found himself in was rare. Since he already had access to the secure laboratories, why not take this chance to have a look around? So little was known about the Seekers, they were more mystery than anything else. Perhaps there was some intelligence he could uncover that could give him a measure of control over his situation. He stood among their most secret areas. There were scores of research papers, medicinal concoctions, weapons schematics and whatever else. None of that interested him, though. He couldn¡¯t understand any of it if it bit him in the ass. Ignoring all of the documents he wandered on, in search of something he could recognize as helpful. He snuck down the hallways, careful to avoid the areas where work was being done until he ultimately reached a room completely different from the others. When he pulled the door open Cloudhawk was met with a shocking sight. Rows upon rows of tanks with metal shells were scattered around, arranged around pipes that continuously dripped some unknown fluid. Although the containers were iron many were covered with rust. The whole room smelled strange, chemical. Cloudhawk approached one to get a better look. It was about twice his size and had a viewing port. He pressed his face to the glass and inside he saw it was filled with a green liquid. Small bubbles rose through it toward the surface. He wiped the glass to try and see more clearly. ¡°Ah!¡± A face suddenly appeared through the fluid of the tank. It was a man, naked as the day he was born, suspended in the tank. He was completely submerged in the strange fluid and his long hair floated through it like kelp. His eyes snapped open and looked straight out through the glass toward the masked stranger. Cloudhawk was so frightened he threw himself back and fell hard on his backside. He scrambled away until his back was pressed against a corner. What the ever loving fuck was that?! A living specimen? Or something else? Cloudhawk took a few moments to settle his breathing. The tanks were definitely closed tight and whatever was inside couldn¡¯t get out. Standing up he peeked into several more tanks to see that they were also filled, but not with people. They were mutated monsters, captured in dozens of tanks situated around the room. He knocked on the glass. No response. Next he kicked a tank¡¯s metal casing, still nothing. Cloudhawk worked up a mouthful of saliva and spit. This fuckin crazy old man, what the fuck is going on? Is he growing these freaky things? Cloudhawk continued to curse the Academician but knew he shouldn¡¯t stay. He slipped out of the room as silently as he¡¯d entered. He wandered past a few more doors before coming across a room full of cages. Hundreds of mutated creatures were locked up inside, and each one languished in their prisons. Suffering. He walked past them but none so much as lifted their head to acknowledge his presence. They were big and strong, but it was clear they¡¯d been bred for generations in captivity. These mad scientists were injecting them with drugs to stimulate mental development and increase the rate of their mutations. Survivors of lethal and crippling experimentation, these monsters endured unthinkable torment every day. No wonder they seemed so lifeless. As he passed the dire rat cages Cloudhawk suddenly stopped. There were about ten of them in the cage, and they all had the same appearance and bearing. It was one he recognized, exactly the same as the rat king he¡¯d encountered months ago. The one he saw in the experiment room when he first arrive was in the process of transformation, so these had to be the finished product. Cloudhawk was sure of it. Those rats that nearly put an end to the Tartarus mercenaries had come from here! Weren¡¯t these the rat king¡¯s brothers and sisters? He remembered the strength of that creature and shuddered in fear. Ten of them fighting together was a terrifying thought. The royal rats sensed that someone was standing nearby. They opened their eyes and glared at him with beady, cold orbs. Their gaze made him shiver, filled with calm and loathing. It was a look he was only accustomed to seeing from humans. Cloudhawk felt his hair standing on end. Super rats were unsettling enough, but there were cages upon cages stretching through the room, each one with ten or more different sorts of monsters. Every one of them had been brutally mutated and even given intellect! If one day these creatures escaped it would be a catastrophe. Hundreds of them, so strong the thought of them running free was horrifying. One day these freaks would be free to terrorize the wastelands and that nightmare would be realized. Mad experiments had made them impossibly strong and cruelly gave them intelligence. A disaster waiting to happen! Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock when he heard a sound coming from down the aisle. Splat! It sounded like a slab of meat striking the wall. Based on the blood-curdling wails, it sounded like one of the mutated beast. Strange, would any of these creatures have the will to fight? Cloudhawk slowly picked his way down the lane to have a look. When he reached the dim area near the far wall he saw the outline of a burly figure kicking a hundred pound panther against the wall. The strength of it was hard to believe as it tore the massive predator apart. Such terrifying strength! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what these panthers were capable of, but they had to far surpass the likes of any dire rat. Despite that whatever monster this was shattered its bones with its powerful kicks. The panther lay on the ground like a pile of refuse. The lumbering figure, seemingly incapable of holding itself back, lunged down and clamped its mouth on the panther¡¯s throat. As the skin tore the mysterious beast drank deeply of the hot, fresh blood. Its victim struggled feebly but to no avail, in half a minute the panther was drained dry. Still the dark figure was unsatisfied. It ripped open its flesh and tore at the organs within, stuffing the bloody meat into its mouth with relish. It ate quickly, as hungry as a dozen starving refugees. Whoever it was ate these creatures alive. Who the hell could they be? After sizing it up Cloudhawk figured the silhouette was roughly the size of Hyena. Could this be him? He¡¯d spent some time with the Seeker and though the man had the strength of a wild animal he was usually calm and collected. He didn¡¯t think Hyena could have such a vicious, bloodthirsty streak. Beasts were beasts. It didn¡¯t matter how they hid or pretended, a monster couldn¡¯t change its nature! Even if you cloaked it in a human¡¯s skin. The man-shaped beast stopped its gruesome meal suddenly. It seemed to have caught a scent, and a dangerous growl issued from its throat. Its powerful legs shot out and the beast bound like an arrow toward its target. The snooper was nowhere to be found. Looking left and right the monster searched with a puzzled expression. Blood dripped from its maw onto his bare chest. Half his body was unclothed and drenched in fresh blood. Razor sharp teeth peeked from behind its lips as it gave a wolf-like snarl, and glowing jasper eyes hungrily glared all around. Cloudhawk slipped out of the lab, shuddering and gasping for breath. His stealthy excursion was draining, especially consider the danger he¡¯d just desperately escaped. It was dangerous, but revealing! That blood-drinking horror was almost certainly Hyena. He was the only one who could kick the life out of such a powerful wasteland beast in one blow. It was perfectly normal to find beasts in the wastes that ate its prey alive, Cloudhawk had witnessed it plenty of times before. But the expression he saw on the monster¡¯s face was different. Down here in Blackwater Base they weren''t starving, so he had to want to eat raw flesh. It was like he¡¯d lost control, and for a moment gave in to the beast. Odd did not begin to describe it. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t eager to be Hyena¡¯s next meal. There was still much for him to do. Although the Academician hadn¡¯t spelled it out, and although Hellflower hadn¡¯t revealed anything to him, Cloudhawk was beginning to guess what they were planning to do to him. He had to find the key, something that would make it all clear. Eventually a smile crept onto Cloudhawk¡¯s face. He plucked the string of keys from his pocket and chuckled dryly. They belonged to the Academician¡¯s right-hand man, the lab¡¯s director had to know plenty. He was faced with an opportunity, and that creepy bastard deserved a little bad luck. Chapter 112 - Dead Men Tell No Tales Chapter 112 - Dead Men Tell No Tales Blackwater Base was constructed underground. Day or night the time crept by with everyone living their same routines. The only real difference were the lights, with two thirds being extinguished during night hours and turned back on when it was day outside. In about ten minutes the rest of the base¡¯s lights were scheduled to turn back on. Chimp stumbled along the road back to his apartments, fighting through the fog that swallowed his brain. He still hadn¡¯t realized the keys were missing from his waist. Instead the fraught and irritated expression on his face was from other matters. The object of his desperate desire was not easily obtained, he found. He thought the time to finally unwrap that devil woman had come, where he could have his way with her without a struggle. To ensure success he¡¯d even spiked her drink. Any normal woman, no matter how chaste, would have been begging for it after just a sip. The effects should have lasted a full day and night. But on the contrary the more she drank the more willful that damn woman became! He was the one who ended up overdoing it. She was a difficult one to deal with! It was no wonder why the Academician once said her talents were comparable to his! Of course, Hellflower was young and her knowledge came nowhere near that of the Academician. What¡¯s more, he was specialized in a single field while Hellflower¡¯s thirst for knowledge wasn¡¯t focused. Her interests were wide, so although she had come to be one of Roste¡¯s most outstanding assistants she would never rise to his level. Chimp¡¯s throat was dry, his tongue swollen, and his eyes muddled. He winced against the urgent fullness in his bladder and looked hurriedly around for a vacant corner. Upon finding one the director opened his trousers and prepared to relieve himself. Huh!? As Chimp brought his hands around his belt he finally noticed that something was missing. The sudden realization cleared some of the mist from his brain and painted his face with pale understanding. He fished around for the keys when suddenly his desperate search was interrupted. A mighty gust of wind whistled from behind! Chimp was in a rare moment of distraction, not to mention recovering from his night of drinking. He reacted too slowly to Cloudhawk, who dropped from overhead with his white ghost mask and tattered cloak. A fierce and forceful karate chop to the neck knocked Chimp down and dazed him. Cloudhawk, peering left and right to make sure no one was around, flung the scientist over his shoulder and fled. An indeterminable amount of time later¡­ Chimp groggily awakened to find himself in an unfamiliar place with his wrists tied behind his back and his ankles strapped together. A black cloth covered his eyes while his mouth was stuffed with fabric to keep him quiet. He couldn¡¯t see, and no matter how he struggled he couldn¡¯t move either. ¡°Hmph! Hmm-nngh-mmph! Phhmph!¡± He tried to shout through his gag to no avail. He was Academician Roste¡¯s lab director! One of the top five most important people in the whole damn base! He was only passable as a fighter, but nonetheless was one of Roste¡¯s most important scientists. Blackwater Base didn¡¯t consider physical strength among the most respected traits, otherwise the Academician wouldn¡¯t be leader. As a result Chimp wasn¡¯t strong but that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t important. Usually when he left the labs he walked around with an escort, but his mind had been clogged with images of what he planned to do with Hellflower¡¯s body. A security detail would only have gotten in his way, but he didn¡¯t think leaving them behind would have led to this! Who the hell would dare? Who was the asshole stupid enough to kidnap him!? He continued to struggle but got nowhere. The fear inside him was growing by the moment. Suddenly someone snatched the cloth from his mouth. ¡°Who! Who the fuck ¨C obviously you must be fuckin'' blind, otherwise you¡¯d know who the hell you¡¯re dealing with!¡± Now that he once again had the ability to speak he recovered some of his courage. He spoke like a man chastising his subordinates. ¡°How dare you kidnap me! Do you know you just signed your own death warrant?¡± Someone gave him a nasty punch in the ear. Suddenly Chimp¡¯s new-found courage was gone. ¡°You-¡­ you hit me?! I-I¡¯m Academician Roste¡¯s lab director!¡± The more frightened and angry he became the more comically the lab director wriggled around. He was like a funny little worm flopping around in his chair. ¡°If anything happens to me, you can bet your ass you won¡¯t leave this base alive!¡± Another mean-spirited slap hit him across the side of his head. The smack was so hard it stunned him for a moment. His assailant knew who he was, and that realization frightened him all the more deeply. Chimp lost control of his full bladder and its contents soaked his crotch then slithered down his legs. A foul smell followed. He pleaded with his kidnapper, choked with sobs and his blindfold blotched with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me ¨C don¡¯t kill me! What do you want! I¡¯ll help however I can!¡± The voice that answered was raspy and unsettling, like it came from the throat of a demon. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you some questions. You¡¯re going to answer.¡± This was an entirely unfamiliar voice to the director. Did an outsider somehow sneak into the base? It seemed most likely, since there was no one in Blackwater he could think of who would be brazen enough to kidnap him. After all, who didn¡¯t know that he was Roste¡¯s student and confidant? Yet besides being an important person, lustful, and all around gross, he didn¡¯t have anything worth being kidnapped over. The voice returned, low and threatening. ¡°What experiments are being performed in Academician Roste¡¯s laboratories?¡± His assailant¡¯s question only confirmed Chimp¡¯s suspicion that this was an outsider. Otherwise how could he not know? Eager to keep breathing he answered. ¡°Biological experiments. B-b-biological recombination experiments. The Academician has f-found a way to c-combine different organisms.¡± His inquisitor was silent for a few seconds, then continued. ¡°Combine? How?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fifty percent chance of success on average, but even if successful eighty percent of our subjects lose their humanity. They lose all racial identity so we use drugs to wipe their memories.¡± ¡°What about Hyena?¡± ¡°Hyena is an exception. He hasn¡¯t shown any signs of losing his humanity, so the Academician let him keep his memories and free will.¡± ¡°Is there a chance he could lose control?¡± ¡°This¡­ this I don¡¯t know. He is the only test subject who has managed to stay cognizant. He¡¯s still considered a test subject but is our most stable product to date.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t continue his questioning. Chimp got nervous. ¡°Killing me isn¡¯t going to help you at all. Just say it, anything, I¡¯ll tell you everything I know. I¡¯m begging you please don¡¯t take my life!¡± What a fuckin¡¯ worthless ass! How did this spineless shit-stain manage to live so long in the wastelands? Cloudhawk already confirmed everything he wanted to know. He didn¡¯t need to keep up his questioning. So Academician Roste wanted to use him as a test subject, eh? He wanted to use Cloudhawk¡¯s body and turn him into some puppet supersoldier! One with the strength of a wasteland beast and the power of a demonhunter. Just think of what kind of price a weapon like that would fetch! This old fart never had any good intentions! Cloudhawk unceremoniously knocked Chimp out again, cut the ropes that tied his hands and feet, then returned his keys to his waist. His task completed, Cloudhawk quickly fled the area. At last the kid understood why Roste saw him as so important. Somehow the old coot was using ancient scientific methods to transfer mutant animal powers into human bodies, thereby turning them into incredibly strong fighters. Like Hyena. Before the procedure he was probably about as strong as the Tartarus mercenaries captains ¨C nowhere near what he was now. Two years ago Blackwater Base was attacked. At the time Hyena was a normal man, a leader of one of the base¡¯s defense teams. During the attack one of the enemy flamethrowers caught him full in the face, nearly killing him right then. He was done, and even if by some miracle he lived he would be an invalid. Academician Roste felt that losing such a good soldier was a terrible waste. He decided to combine him with the essence of a mutated wolf, resulting in an unexpected and unprecedented success. After half a month, his body neither rejecting the mutagens nor collapsing from the stress, he began to change. More importantly he kept his mind and as such Roste promoted him to one of his most important subordinates. Hyena, it could be said, was Academician Roste¡¯s single greatest stride in these experiments. Only now the Academician wasn¡¯t satisfied with just creating the likes of Hyena. He desired progress, to push the limits by attempting his methods on a demonhunter. Just think, a warrior with the build and strength of the most ferocious wasteland animals, and simultaneously in possession of superhuman demonhunter abilities. That would be ¨C in a word ¨C perfection! Of course to Cloudhawk this was unacceptable. Setting aside the high mortality rate, the vast majority of the successes lost their minds. They became beasts. Even in the extremely unlikely event he came out like Hyena he wouldn¡¯t even be considered human anymore. The essence of who he was would be something else ¨C a monster. How could they know what problems would arise in the future? Cloudhawk did desire strength and power, but a transformation like this¡­! He was starting to put the pieces together, but Cloudhawk knew that he was being closely watched. If he made his move now the only thing he¡¯d accomplish is to tip off his captors that he knew what was up [1]. He had to pick the right moment or getting out in one piece would be difficult. It was just like Mantis would always say; an excellent soldier or assassin had patience and superb timing. The right time to act was when things were under your control. For now, his best bet was to continue pretending he was on board. It was unlikely the old man was going to risk his ultimate experiment. Cloudhawk pondered his situation as he walked back toward the residences. The only person who could help him was Hellflower. How she could help him he was yet to figure out, but he knew he would need her. He was too weak to escape on his own. Academician Roste was a crafty old fox with a few dozen intelligent mutated warriors at his beck and call. Not to mention Hyena who was devoted as any zealot. On top of that Blackwater Base was ten times ¨C a hundred times better equipped than anywhere else in the wastelands. And once he escaped? What then? There was still a marsh between him and freedom. Luckily he had options for Hellflower as well. The translation he¡¯d helped her with was kept in the safe in her apartments. He could use that knowledge to threaten her if needed. So far it was his one hope to flee this evil place. When he was a few hundred feet away from his destination, lost in thought about his circumstances and what to do with Hellflower, he was met with something unexpected. Suddenly he felt a tightness grip his heart, an omen of danger he had come to know intimately. Before he could react an enormous iron net fell on him. He was captured! Eight poison-tipped darts shot at him from several directions. His face fell ¨C someone was trying to kill him! Was it Roste? Hellflower? Hyena? Or had Chimp somehow found out who¡¯d kidnapped him? 1. ¡®Hit the grass and surprise the serpent.¡¯ Chinese is cool Chapter 113 - The Weapons Master Chapter 113 - The Weapons Master Aside from being heavy and tenacious, when the iron net fell over Cloudhawk it was immediately flooded with electricity. If he were a normal wastelander the shock would have either killed or paralyzed him. It felt like a hundred million ants were slithering through his skin, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t lose his senses. Luckily the cloak he wore deflected or absorbed most of the electricity. The young man was continuously surprised by the otherworldly relic, which in addition to being a very useful relic was also great for defense. So who on earth was trying to poison him? Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was racing, several possibilities coming to mind. Academician Roste was unlikely to make a move against him, and Chimp didn¡¯t have enough time to plan an ambush. The only other people with the means and motive were either Hellflower or Hyena; he had dirt on the former, and he¡¯d stumbled on Hyena¡¯s dark little secret not long ago. So they were trying to kill him to keep him quiet? Of course the reason wasn¡¯t important right this moment. His assailants knew what they was doing. The iron net was meant to pin down and incapacitate their prey, breaking down his defenses. Each one of them carried guns as well, though they fired darts instead of bullets. They were a better choice since darts didn¡¯t make much noise, allowing them to kill Cloudhawk without alerting anyone nearby. When the deed was done they could flee and no one would be the wiser. When they found the body, nothing could be traced back to them. A flood of anger raced through Cloudhawk. He¡¯d faced death many times, even going toe to toe with a demon and coming out alive. Was he going to allow these contemptible shits [1] to kill him? Fat chance. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes became blood red. A burst of energy his assailants were not prepared for exploded forth. The iron net could not be broken by hand, but when the spinning edge of the exorcist staff struck it the metal threads were split like a sword through tendrils of hair. A gaping hole was carved open. Another dart was shot his way and struck his mask. It belched sparks and made him dizzy, but what weapon was capable of shooting through the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s relic mask? Impossible! It wasn¡¯t a very powerful relic, but even a point blank shot to the face wasn¡¯t going to break it! It was the darts from behind that hit their mark. They lodged in his dire bear armor and managed to deal some impact damage, but the upas poison [2] smeared on it was useless. The two layers of protection saved his life. While Cloudhawk¡¯s would-be assassins stared in shock he effortlessly rolled out of their trap. In response a dozen or so masked men attacked from all directions. Their ambush had failed so there was no choice but to attack head on. They charged at him, brandishing electrically charged batons. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to experience it himself to know their weapons were dangerous. If it came to a straight up fight things weren¡¯t going to break in his favor. So what could he do? Run! As he got back up onto his feet Cloudhawk pulled out his revolver and fired a few shots randomly toward his attackers. It forced them back, giving him enough space to leap into the air. At the top of his jump, the young wastelander vanished into thin air. Now was his chance to flee, while they couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± One of the masked men yelled the order and they pulled out their lethal weaponry. They were already exposed, stealth was now unnecessary in the face of killing their target quickly. Several of them pointed their guns at where Cloudhawk had been and sprayed the area with bullets. Typical wastelander weapons were single-shot, the rarer ones were maybe semi-automatic. These weapons were clearly superior and flooded the alleyway with hot lead. Cloudhawk desperately flung himself around a bend, allowing his invisibility to fade. He was so scared that he was drenched in sweat. The footsteps were getting closer, so he spun around with hands outstretched. Gritting his teeth Cloudhawk pressed ahead with both arms as though he were trying to shove a thousand-pound boulder. The air was suddenly choked with sand. Like a flailing serpent the sand writhed toward his pursuers and swallowed them up. It caused them no harm, but they were made blind by the sandstorm. Cloudhawk turned back and ran from them. ¡°Where the hell did this sandstorm come from?!¡± ¡°Never mind! After him!¡± The unsuspected weather only slowed them down a little. They were practiced assassins, obviously, and though Cloudhawk could probably handle two or three of them there were ten on his tail. If they caught up and surrounded him he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. He had to keep running. He was unfamiliar with the base¡¯s layout so he bolted down streets at random. It was only a matter of time before he came across a dead end. He stopped in front of a tall wall with his face twisted in panic. The others were close and would be on him any moment, he couldn¡¯t go back the way he¡¯d come. Had this all been for nothing? Even before one considered skill Cloudhawk was severely outmatched in regards to equipment. They didn¡¯t even have to get close and they could turn him into a bloody honeycomb with their advanced rifles. They must have known he was caught because Cloudhawk could hear their footsteps slowing. He saw a dozen dark gun barrels pointing his way. ¡°Kill him!¡± Cloudhawk felt like he was staring death in the face. Just then a figure agile as a mountain lion leapt from behind them. Hellflower soared through the air with a gun in each hand. They roared as she fired, four or five shots, each one ripping through the skulls of the assassins. His attackers were taken completely by surprise. Struck dumb with the sudden change in circumstance they spun around to defend themselves. The newcomer tread along the smooth stone of the wall as easily as though she were running along the ground, and her hands moved with the speed of a phantom. Bang, bang, bang, bang! She continued to pull the trigger as fire belched from the end of her guns. The weapons themselves were unique, shooting so fast it was hard to believe, and not a single bullet was wasted. One after the other they drilled deadly holes between the assassins¡¯ eyebrows. It was absolute perfection, to the millimeter. Her gunplay was more than skillful, it was an art form. ¡°Hellflower!¡± She languidly returned the guns to holsters on her waist while landing on the ground. From her appearance, to running along the wall and landing in front of him, the whole process had taken seconds. Her targets were dead before she reached the ground ¨C a hurricane that even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t follow. If you¡¯d have asked Cloudhawk, Hellflower was the last person he expected to save him. He¡¯d always known she was a dangerous woman but not this way. In the end Hellflower revealed herself to be a peerless wasteland gunslinger. Until now the best shooter Cloudhawk had seen was Slyfox, but compared to what he just witnessed the mercenary wasn¡¯t even in her class. Hellflower¡¯s gun control and aim were bordering on flawless. What Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know was that Hellflower was a famed weapons master. It didn¡¯t matter what gun or tool she wielded, Hellflower could learn it almost immediately. She was a warrior no less lethal than Hyena, though the beast could easily tear her apart in close range. So long as she kept her distance, though, Hellflower could kill ten Hyenas before they got close. Cloudhawk felt like his heart was going to burst out his chest. Suddenly he was very thankful he hadn¡¯t mistreated the scientist in any way. If he had Cloudhawk was sure he would have very quickly ended up with a few dozen bullets in his brain. Hellflower didn¡¯t even pay the host of corpses any mind. Swaggering over toward Cloudhawk she addressed him in even tones. ¡°Did you do what you were supposed to?¡± Cloudhawk quickly nodded his head. ¡°Yeah no worries. The papers and keys are back where they¡¯re supposed to be.¡± Hellflower sighed in relief. At last she turned her head around and looked over the bodies, puzzled as she muttered at him. ¡°Where did these men come from? Why did they want to kill you?¡± Academician Roste didn¡¯t have any reason to want him dead. Chimp didn¡¯t have the time or opportunity. Hellflower just took herself off the suspect list, leaving only¡­ ¡°Hyena!¡± Cloudhawk blurted out. ¡°I learned his secret!¡± Before Hellflower could open her mouth to learn more the streets were cast into a noisy din. Ten or so base security guards came rushing their way. When they came upon the scene they were shocked and confused for these sorts of violent encounters were rare, especially when they resulted in so many bodies. The crowd parted, and a thin figure hobbled toward them with the help of a cane, flanked by two lizard mutants. Academician Roste surveyed the crime scene, then spared a glance for Cloudhawk and Hellflower. His wise and peaceful face was replaced with an iron hard and dangerous look. Though the scholar was hardly more than skin and bones, the authoritative air he let off made it difficult to look him in the eye. It was an air cultivated from years of practiced command. ¡°Who is responsible for this!?¡± Hellflower approached some of the bodies and looked them over, eventually straightening up and answering her superior. ¡°These are all strangers. The only people with the ability to hire this many assassins are you, Chimp, myself¡­ and one other.¡± Academician Roste¡¯s voice became cold as ice. ¡°Get some men and bring Hyena to me!¡± Hellflower bowed slightly at the waist. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Several dozen crack soldiers equipped with high-tech guns left with her to arrest Hyena. Roste hobbled over to Cloudhawk and looked him over with concern written on his face. ¡°My young friend, my subordinates are sorely lacking in discipline. What is going on?¡± Cloudhawk was preparing to share his experience in the laboratories when suddenly he thought better of it. He was so close to sharing everything that he broke out in a cold sweat. He¡¯d almost done a very foolish thing!If he told him what he saw he¡¯d be confessing to breaking into the labs! How would he explain how he got there? Eventually he would implicate Hellflower. The Academician¡¯s sharp eyes seemed to catch his hesitation. ¡°What is it you aren¡¯t telling me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I was going out to stretch my legs when they attacked me for no reason. I haven¡¯t given Hyena any reason to seek revenge, I have no idea why he wants me dead!¡± Cloudhawk was nervous. Things were bad, for once Hyena was brought here the Academician would ask what this was all about. The story was bound to get out. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Roste knew that Cloudhawk was hiding something, the young man was not a skilled enough liar to deceive him. However, he didn¡¯t press for any more answers. Instead he slowly turned around and spoke to the bodyguards following him. ¡°The two of you go help Hellflower fetch Hyena. I¡¯ll handle this matter myself.¡± The lizard men, merely intensely mutated creatures, could not speak but were nonetheless as intelligent as young teenagers. They had no trouble understanding the order and executing it. Whoosh! In a blink they were gone. Academician Roste turned back to Cloudhawk. ¡°Come with me.¡± Cloudhawk watched as the old man hobbled down the street with the aid of his staff. The young man¡¯s fingers itched, fighting the urge to pull out his gun. The scholar¡¯s talents lay in his intellect. He was capable of building an army of beasts loyal to his every whim. But his body was weak, and he was alone. Cloudhawk could kill him right now if he wanted. But, for reasons he didn¡¯t understand, each time he thought about drawing his gun a voice in his head held him back. Something was telling him it was a stupid and fatal plan. 1. ¡®Bridge jumping clowns.¡¯ Wtf Chinese? Also, hilariously, it also means Insane Clown Posse. 2. According to Wikipedia it was used commonly for poison darts. It¡¯s a type of mulberry, and is used very often in Chinese medicine for a variety of uses, depending on what part of the tree you¡¯re using. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the same species of mulberry, though. Chapter 114 - Hyenas Capture ¡°It¡¯s no good, boss. Hellflower has us surrounded!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Hyena growled like a feral animal but he didn¡¯t lose his cool. There was a string of gunfire from outside, followed by screams and the sounds of struggle. Something hit two of his men so hard they burst through the door. They lay on the ground, still and covered in blood. Hellflower strut into the room with her safety goggles and white lab coat. An ammo pouch hung from her waist and she held a pair of pitch black handguns, lookeing as valiant as she did beautiful. She¡¯d arrived at the base three years ago, no one knew from where. In fact they knew practically nothing about her. In all that time she had served as a scientist and researcher. There had been few occasions where she¡¯d needed to fight. As such most ignored or disregarded her. Most of the base¡¯s soldiers had never had an opportunity to see what she could do. Now the ground before her was littered with corpses, their heads blown apart from gunshots right between their eyebrows. On average Hellflower was able to kill five targets a second, headshots all. It was a display that made those who witnessed it shudder. Now at last the soldiers knew that this sexy and dignified researcher was also a first-rate killer. Clack Clack! Her empty clips hit the ground. Hellflower slapped the butts of her guns against her waist and pressed fresh magazines into place. Hyena and the dozen or so men that remained walked out of the room. The two faced each other across a stretch of about fifty meters. When Hyena stepped out to see his people dead all around his anger was restrained. Not diminished, just hidden deep in the pits of his feral eyes. His steady gaze made anyone caught in it tremble. ¡°Mr. Hyena, our venerable Academician always held you in such high regard. Your actions have hurt him deeply.¡± Hellflower¡¯s guns were loaded and bullets sat ready in their chambers. She regarded Hyena with a perfectly calm demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m here at the Academician¡¯s request. Will you come willingly, or will I have to smack you around a little first?¡± ¡°So he sends his mad bitch to kill me?¡± Hyena knew the assassination plot had failed. He could no longer remain in Blackwater Base. His eyes began to change, and the muscles all over his body bulged unnaturally. Black hairs slithered out to cover him from head to toe and when he spoke again it was through a throat that was no longer human. ¡°We¡¯ll see who dies!¡± Hyena was strong and fast. If they let him leave here alive he was only going to cause problems. Hellflower didn¡¯t want to give him any opportunity and so her modified pistols immediately started spraying. In an instant everywhere he could go was blocked off by gunfire. However Hyena was no less of a threat than the sweeper lieutenants who had attacked Blackflag Outpost. If his enemy were any average marksman ¨C the likes of Slyfox, for example ¨C then even a few well-placed bullets were not insurmountable. Unfortunately for him, Hellflower was no typical marksman. This woman was many grades better than Slyfox had been and Hyena was not going to be able to dodge her shots. Thus he had no intention of dodging. His hands shot out, and before they even knew what was happening two of Hyena¡¯s henchmen were dragged before him like meat shields. They were instantly peppered with Hellflower¡¯s spray of bullets. Hyena¡¯s men were the elite of Blackwater Base, and as such were thickly muscled. Hellflower¡¯s guns were modified to sacrifice stopping power for rate of fire, so they didn¡¯t pack enough of a punch to blow through the beefy men¡¯s bodies. Suddenly the calm fled from her face. Hyena was fast. The two of them were equally skilled, but Hellflower wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in close quarters combat against Hyena. Shoving his human shields before him Hyena covered half the ground between him and Hellflower quickly. By now the others were reacting, turning their weapons on the wolf man. ¡°Fuck off!¡± His meat shields were a badly mutilated mess by now. He flung one of them at Hellflower and the other toward the men who¡¯d come with her. She rolled to the side, avoiding the body. However the other group was struck full on by the dead weight flung at them by Hyena. They all hit the ground in a heap of broken bones and snapped tendons. He certainly wasn¡¯t welcome in the base anymore! If Hyena was determined to take his enemies down with him he had a chance to kill Hellflower. Only, he had no intention of dying. He leapt over the tangle of bodies, tearing out the throats of any soldier who got too close with his razor sharp claws. Skin split in his grip like it was made of tofu. Their carotid arteries were instantly severed, but before they could start spewing blood Hyena bound past them. He was several dozen feet away and free before the fountains of blood began. Two green figures who had been lying in wait suddenly made their move. Hyena knew the moment he saw them, they were the Academician¡¯s bodyguards. Though they¡¯d once been mere beasts the monsters were now incredibly strong. Appearing suddenly they caught Hyena unprepared, blocking his path and dealing him several wounds. One of the base¡¯s snipers lifted his gun and aimed for Hyena. His finger applied pressure to the trigger, but a slender hand reached out and stopped him. Hellflower slowly lowered the barrel of his gun as she addressed those soldiers still standing. ¡°What¡¯s the rush,¡± she said calmly. ¡°There are three of them, how can you be sure who you¡¯ll hit?¡± ¡°But, they-¡° ¡°No chit-chat. Sweep his room. Leave Hyena to me.¡± Though she said she would take care of Hyena, Hellflower casually walked his way without any hurry. Her guns were lowered with no intention to use them. The soldiers, however, would not dare disobey her orders, so pretending as though they didn¡¯t see her strolling away they entered Hyena¡¯s apartments. Inside they fought the rest of the wolf man¡¯s henchmen and shot them dead. Hellflower muttered to herself. The skill of the Academician¡¯s bodyguards were impressive and not a little surprising. However, remarkable as they were the things were little more than especially clever beasts on steroids. They were no match for a seasoned warrior like Hyena. One of the lizard men slammed into Hyena and forced him up against a wall. They struck with such force that they left a crumbling indentation in the sturdy stone. The other lizard snapped at Hyena¡¯s throat like a viper, which the wolf man dodged. He managed to juke around behind one and grabbed it by its tail. He swung it around, flinging it into the wall and causing another cascade of fractured stone to shower over them. He followed by grabbing the second and heaving it into the first, making the dent deeper. Hyena fought like he¡¯d lost his mind, slamming his fist into his enemy again and again. Each strike spread the cracks along the wall farther. Both lizard men were reduced to pulp, smeared across the stones. Bang-bang-bang-bang! With a clear shot Hellflower planted bullets in his shoulders and legs. Hyena, unable to dodge, collapsed to the ground with an impotent roar. A self-satisfied grin on her face, Hellflower slipped her guns into her holsters and absently waved at the wolf man. ¡°Tie him up.¡± Eve after being shot four time Hyena would be quick to recover. He was set upon by the base¡¯s soldiers quickly and had his limbs bound. Hyena was carried to the labs and brought before the Academician. Hellflower reported what had happened. ¡°Academician, Hyena¡¯s been captured. He resisted quite forcefully, and in the struggle I¡¯m afraid your bodyguards¡­¡± Roste, Chimp and Cloudhawk were all within the laboratory. When Roste saw the sorry state Hyena was in he broke into a fit of coughs. His withered chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath. It wasn¡¯t clear whether it was Hyena¡¯s betrayal or the death of his guards that set him off. ¡°Hyena, you ungrateful wretch!¡± Chimp glared at him with two black eyes. Portions of both sides of his face were swollen with patches of blue and purple. He looked in bad shape, but right now no one was paying any mind. Before the Academician could get a word in he was verbally abusing the traitor. ¡°You dare betray the Academician, betray Blackwater Base?! We should never have saved you!¡± ¡°Saved me?¡± Hyena slowly lifted his head, revealing his ugly and savage face. ¡°You think you saved Hyena? No! You only kept Hyena in pain and prolonged his death! For a year Hyena died, little by little, piece by piece. His thinking and behavior twisted ¨C now I am monster in human skin. Every day is torture, a struggle! This is what you call saving?!¡± Cough, cough! ¡°I¡­ see.¡± Academician Roste¡¯s coughing subsided. He looked over the bloodied, manic face of Hyena while his every wrinkle was writ with disappointment. ¡°I thought you would be special. I never expected¡­ ugh!¡± Cloudhawk felt a creeping uneasiness. ¡°This traitor has caused many losses,¡± Chimp said to the Academician. ¡°We can¡¯t let him go unpunished!¡± ¡°Enough! Enough¡­¡± Roste looked exhausted. He waved his hand in exhaustion as though wiping away the matter. ¡°Send him below. Heal his wounds, then wipe his memories.¡± When he heard the verdict Hyena¡¯s face twisted into a mask of rage and despair. He roared at them, ¡°Kill me! Kill me!¡± The brainwashing process involved infusing Hyena¡¯s body with drugs that did irreversible damage to his brain and synapses. He would lose all emotion but retain his combat abilities. He would become a puppet soldier like the ones he often sold. Puppet soldiers had a very limited capacity for independent thought. They were weapons and little else, incapable of performing any order more complex than murder. Sending Hyena down to get brainwashed was a great loss for Blackwater Base. With his strength and capabilities he had been one of their most effective agents, but once the process was done he would just be another tool. Hyena screamed in anguish as he was dragged away. Cloudhawk could hardly believe it. The Academician didn¡¯t even ask him any questions, meaning that his excursion into the secret labs would remain unknown. His task had been entirely successful. ¡°Academician, what is going on¡­¡± Hellflower still seemed at a loss. ¡°Why would Hyena want to kill Cloudhawk?¡± Roste cast a glance toward the young wastelander before answering. ¡°Our young guest has been hurt. Chimp, if you would see to his treatment?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Cloudhawk only shot Hellflower a glance before leaving with the lab director. ¡°Hyena was unable to resist the beast in his heart. His mind was separated from his body and now he sees himself as a creature and not a man. He may have looked human, spoke like one, but he was no longer anything like us. He now has more in common with the animals locked away in our lab. If it had not been for Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival speeding up our process, he might have been able to resist for a while longer.¡± Academician Roste stopped to hack and cough, continuing after a moment. ¡°As you know we used Subject Zero in our experiment. Physiologically speaking she is tied to Hyena, she is like a mother. This, along with outside catalysts have affected him fundamentally. It awakened the creature within him. This is why he tried to kill Cloudhawk.¡± Hellflower suddenly understood. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we would lose Hyena.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We will try again.¡± Roste no longer seemed troubled by the loss. ¡°He was responsible for administration of the base¡¯s soldiers. Now that he is no longer capable the men will need a leader. I must request you take on that responsibility for the time being.¡± A light glimmered in her eyes, but beyond that she betrayed nothing on her face. She respectfully bowed before him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Academician, I¡¯ll take care of it. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Academician Roste slowly turned around, leaning heavily on his cane.His face was pale and sickly, but the weakness of his body never took away from the keen bite in his eyes. He fixed Hellflower with his stare, like a pair of scalpels that cut down to her soul. Hellflower froze, meeting his gaze with a puzzled expression. ¡°Is there something else you¡¯d like me to see to, Academician?¡± ¡°Do not disappoint me.¡± He held her frozen for a moment longer and then the strength drained from his gaze. Once more he seemed to the frail old man. ¡°You may go.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Roste shut his eyes and quietly listened to Hellflower¡¯s receding footsteps. Her gait was perfectly even, in speed and rhythm, all the way until she was out of earshot. When Hellflower was free from the labs she picked the glasses from her head and wiped her brow. Beads of cold sweat had accumulated on her forehead. Strange¡­ how could this feeble old man be so imposing? 1. ¡®Ugh¡¯ in Chinese was ¡®ai¡¯ is a character used in several ways, sometimes pain, sometimes surprise. Here it¡¯s disappointment and regret. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 115 - Secret Room, Secret Intrigues Chapter 115 - Secret Room, Secret Intrigues The world was divided up into two parts, completely different from one another. The first, the elysian lands. The other, the wastelands. The wastelands were a cruel place, barren and blood soaked, where the denizens used whatever tools they could scavenge from the old world to survive. The ancient and modern lived side by side without order, without law, and without civilization. In contrast the elysian lands were refined and beautiful. Fertile tracts spread far and wide, replete with flora and fauna. Their tools and weapons were filled with magic that technology could not explain, and humans lived in peace and harmony. They were almost like the two halves had come from entirely different realities. Everything that lived in the wastelands was twisted by thousands of years within the harsh environment. People desperately sought to realize their potential, molding themselves in order to become stronger. The elysians, bathed in divine favor, had faith that they never would need to worry about staying clothed and fed. Under the guidance of their gods and with the artifacts provided to them, they each were possessed of superhuman abilities. No one from the elysian lands could explain where their powers were derived from. They were considered miracles, inexplicable but for the glory of the gods. Blackwater Base¡¯s Academician Roste was perhaps the first great talent of the wastelands. He was able to uncover some of life¡¯s mysteries. With the use of medicines and outside catalysts he could create something new from the old, galvanize mutations, and even fuse two different living things together. He was even able to combine beast and man so that the soldier kept the intellect of humanity and the strength of an animal. In the eyes of the ordinary man, it was like a miracle. He was performing the impossible. However Cloudhawk could not understand or accept giving up himself in the pursuit of power. If he was no longer himself, it didn¡¯t matter how mighty he became¡­ he had to get free of this place! Cloudhawk sneaked a peak into Hellflower¡¯s study. Since coming back she¡¯d spent all her time pouring over the data she¡¯d pilfered. If he was going to get free he couldn¡¯t do it himself. The only way it was going to work was if he could convince Hellflower to help him. The problem was, why should she? Could he threaten her? If word got out that she stole from the Academician it could land her in serious trouble. He¡¯d been giving the idea serious thought yesterday, but after seeing what she was capable of he was having second thoughts. If he rushed to action he would be the one in trouble, or even dead. Knock-knock-knock! A young man knocked on the open door. He was clad in long robes with his face hidden beneath a deep cowl that concealed his features. Very mysterious. Cloudhawk was in a sour mood and had no patience. ¡°You¡¯re in the wrong place!¡± ¡°Is this not Lady Hellflower¡¯s home?¡± The young man presented Cloudhawk with a typed letter. ¡°She requested a report on the most recent findings of our research. Please be sure to give this to her.¡± Cloudhawk took the paper with some interest. He looked it over front and back and saw that it was covered in complicated data ¨C intelligence about the base and the most recent information gleaned from subject dissections. There were also some strange mechanical schematics. Things like this were very rare in the wastelands, but relatively mundane in Blackwater Base. They had wasteland scientists, ancient research technology, experimental biological material and state of the art research equipment. What was a typed sheet of paper compared to all of that? Cloudhawk pushed open the door to Hellflower¡¯s room. She was leaning over her desk, absorbed in the scores of paper spread out before her. Mountains of reference material were scattered around her feet. His arrival didn¡¯t even register with her as she peered through threads of silver hair, fully engrossed in whatever she was scribbling. From time to time her brows would knit in contemplation and then relax as an answer came to her. Every expression was intense and appealing. Of all the women Cloudhawk had met, the Bloodsoaked Queen was undoubtedly the most beautiful. However, she didn¡¯t have the mature carriage of Hellflower. The Queen was too young, too na?ve. She didn¡¯t have the unconscious grace of the older woman, while Hellflower was also absent the underlying scorn that always played in the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hey, someone brought you something. Do you wanna see it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy, please don¡¯t bother me!¡± To Hellflower being interrupted in her research was like being bothered in the throes of passion. She lifted her head to glare at him, but upon seeing what was in his hands her expression softened. She muttered, ¡°He¡¯s in such a rush¡­ wait. Come here.¡± Hellflower looked it over then used her pen to circle something on the report. It was a time and place ¨C it looked like a general store. She thought careful for a moment as though she was measuring something. Sudden Cloudhawk came to understand. He thought this was a report, but it was actually a secret message! This woman was shady as hell, all full of secrets! Hellflower rolled the paper up then set it on fire. As the flames lit her face she spoke to Cloudhawk. ¡°Come with me. I¡¯m taking you to meet someone.¡± Her cryptic actions were making him nervous. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Nervous? Don¡¯t imagine I don¡¯t know exactly what¡¯s going through your mind. If you want to get out of here, come with me. Otherwise you can figure it out on your own.¡± As she spoke Hellflower slipped her belt and holsters onto her waist then left. Cloudhawk was not one to be timid so he followed, and anyway if she¡¯d wanted him dead she could do it whenever she wanted. The two of them took a long circuit around the base before eventually arriving at a general store. It was a somewhat inhospitable looking place. Hellflower rapped on the door in a specific rhythmic pattern and a few seconds later someone opened the door a crack. An affable looking man saw who it was and opened the door the rest of the way. He greeted them with a smile. ¡°Ah! Lady Hellflower! Are you here to pick up some research materials? Please come in, come in!¡± She answered with a small smile and a nod of her end. They followed him into the shop. The interior looked like any other store. There were guns and other weapon components, a hodge-podge of machinery, all haphazardly scattered around. Besides the boss there were also his assistants. The friendly old caretaker led them toward the back where an inconspicuous rack of odds and ends occupied the wall. He gave the shelves a good shove which forced it and the wall back a few inches. Another push and it revealed a hidden door. It had its own hidden sanctuary! Cloudhawk followed Hellflower into a large room with no lights but well-lit with candles. A dozen or so chairs were scattered around, each one occupied by an elder. And each of them were accompanied by a small entourage of well-armed fighters. On the highest set chair was a particularly ancient man flanked on either side by two very large warriors. One was covered in thick armor and a shield, and the other bore a pair of iron war hammers. Cloudhawk could tell at a glance that those two were the strongest of all the warriors here ¨C not to the same level as Hyena, but certainly first-rate wastelanders. Cloudhawk inadvertently rested his hand on the shaft of his exorcist staff and scanned his surroundings out of habit. The secret room had three exits that spread out in three different directions. The area felt safe from prying eyes. As they made their way in the handful of old men sounded as though they were squabbling about something, but when they saw Cloudhawk and Hellflower come in they closed their mouths and stood respectfully. Hellflower addressed them as she approached. ¡°With things up in the air it¡¯s dangerous for all of you to gather. It¡¯s unnecessarily risky. If the Academician were to find out the losses would be tremendous.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve taken every precaution. How could he find out?¡± One of the white-haired gentlemen rose to his feet. ¡°Has Lady Hellflower forgotten her promise? It was with our assistance that you were installed in such a high position within Blackwater Base. Now that you are in the Academician¡¯s inner circle have you gone back on your word?¡± She replied with a dismissive laugh. ¡°How could I renege on my promises?¡± ¡°Very good then. Iron Bear, Black Jackal, set a place of honor for Lady Hellflower.¡± The armored one called Iron Bear and the other called Black Jackal went to fetch a chair which they set beside the eldest gentleman. Although Hellflower was less than pleased she did not let it show. As natural and graceful as ever she took her seat, folded her legs daintily, then went on. ¡°Speak quickly, tell me what you¡¯re in such a hurry to say. This gathering is too dangerous and I advise you all to be careful.¡± The oldest man drew his eyes over Cloudhawk with his ghost mask and tattered cloak who was yet to say a word. Cautiously he inquired, ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s one of mine.¡± He furrowed his bushy white brows but said nothing. He knew that Hellflower was a smart and cautious woman. He stood before the others and went on with their business. ¡°I suspect everyone¡¯s already heard the news. A lot happened yesterday. First, we can confirm that the Academician has shut Hyena away. At least for the time being he will not cause us any problems. We have Lady Hellflower to thank for this!¡± Cheers of praise spread through the gathering. As the old man went on his voice grew more excited. ¡°What¡¯s more, Hyena has lost his title as leader of Blackwater Base¡¯s troops. That responsibility has now been passed to our honored Hellflower! This means that she can deploy whoever she pleases to guard the laboratories.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Another of the elder men couldn¡¯t help but jump to his feet in excitement. ¡°The Academician has lost his bodyguards and his strongest soldier. Now that Lady Hellflower can dismiss the guards at will we should use this chance to finally overthrow that old dictator!¡± Cloudhawk looked on, speechless. ¡°What are you so surprised about?¡± Hellflower said to him. ¡°Did you think Blackwater Base was united? There¡¯s no denying that we¡¯ve grown fat under the Academician¡¯s leadership, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯d a dangerous lunatic ¨C an absolute tyrant. All of the base¡¯s riches have been funneled into his research, starving all the rest of the scientists. He¡¯s made quite a few enemies because of this.¡± Chapter 116 - Rostes Snare Roste, both genius and madman. But whichever he was, the Academician was certainly paranoid. These twelve old men were influential and important. They hated Roste with a passion, were jealous of his resources. It was this shared displeasure that made them create a group determined to see him brought low. Punishments under his rule were harsh and doled out often to the point where most of the Academician¡¯s opponents were executed in the early days after he came to power. These old scientists were wise enough to hide their mutiny behind false smiles, while secretly meeting to plot his ouster. They existed to this day because they were cautious. However, recent events had made Roste vulnerable. At last they had an opportunity to remove him from power. Hellflower was not a revolutionary, though she was their chosen agent. She hadn¡¯t grown up in the base like the rest of them. Rather she was a well-renowned wandering scholar and weapons master of the wastelands. Her intellect was known among the Seekers, as was her strength among the excavator crews. Ultimately it was her wanderlust and thirst for knowledge that these old rebels used to convince her to join their cause. Hellflower was a superior talent on her own, but with the help of this secret coterie she quickly gained the eye of Academician Roste. Before long she was one of his most treasured assistants, and her help greatly benefited the mad scientist¡¯s research. With Cloudhawk¡¯s help she¡¯d obtained the most important notes from the Academician¡¯s work. With it in hand there was nothing left in Blackwater Base to hold her interest. Like the young wastelander she was also looking for her chance to get out from under Roste¡¯s thumb. She could do this by helping these subversives in their quest. Once Roste was overthrown new leadership could take root. Now this white-haired elder¡­ he¡¯d go down in one hit. Once Academician Roste was out of the way it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to deal with the ancient scholar. It was the most logical way to take control of Blackwater Base. Hellflower had spent years with various Seeker groups, and over the years she¡¯d come to find that it was the best way to gain knowledge. Eventually she struck upon the idea of taking a base for herself, where she could establish her own laboratory. But overthrowing the Academician wasn¡¯t so easy. Roste¡¯s rule of Blackwater Base spanned decades. His power was deeply entrenched, and he enjoyed great popularity among most of the base¡¯s populace. Destroying him would require careful planning. And yet these old fogeys were impatient! The big changes they cheered had occurred only yesterday, and already they were eager to act! They were wrinkled old men. Were they anxious to get underway because they were afraid they would die before seeing Roste overthrown? That was fine with her! It would be a simple thing. Let them handle Roste, then with a little help she could guide the rage of his supporters down on their liver-spotted heads. In a single stroke she could deal with the madman and these petty rebels ¨C two birds with one stone. Cloudhawk, on the other hand, didn¡¯t need to ask to know this woman¡¯s hunger and ambition. She wouldn¡¯t balk at any method in pursuit of her goals. Good¡­ this was good. The more turmoil the more opportunity! Another one of the aging scientists rose and added his voice. ¡°This is a chance delivered to us from on high. Most striking is the sudden schism between Roste and Hyena. But why? What could be the reason for his complete shift in loyalty? We must know the details of how it came to pass.¡± Hellflower sat among them perfectly calm, revealing nothing on her face. When she spoke she did so in even, almost languid tones. ¡°For that you must thank our young friend Cloudhawk. Without his sudden arrival this break would have taken much longer to develop.¡± Most of the intelligent men present had already guessed who the young man was. He had to be the demonhunter Roste so desperately had been searching for. But how did Hyena and Roste¡¯s issues involve the young man? Hellflower lifted a cup of tea and took a dainty sip. ¡°Cloudhawk, you explain.¡± He obliged, giving them an abridged version of events. ¡°It¡¯s like this. I was able to break through his mask and see the real him. I ran before he could see me, but he knew me by scent. Hyena tried to kill me to keep me silent, but luckily mistress Hellflower showed up in the nick of time and saved my life.¡± Now they understood. So that¡¯s how it happened¡­ ¡°Wait a moment!¡± When she heard his tale Hellflower¡¯s face suddenly changed without warning. She shot to her feet, forgotten tea cup shattering against the floor as she fixed him with hard eyes. ¡°You¡¯re saying you witnessed Hyena in his beast form, before daylight? Are you sure it wasn¡¯t day? Are you sure you aren¡¯t misremembering!?¡± ¡°No doubt!¡± How the hell do you not know? Wasn¡¯t I there at your request? ¡°Impossible! That can¡¯t be!¡± She stared at Cloudhawk¡¯s face, at his expression of certainty. Standing before the others a dire and serious expression painted her pretty features. ¡°Hyena was an important person here but he was no scientist. He was just a soldier. Even I couldn¡¯t get into the labs without someone opening the door for me first. How could Hyena be in the labs before the doors were open at start of day?¡± The old men gathered around also considered this with confused expressions. Indeed it shouldn¡¯t have been possible. ¡°There is no logical explanation¡­¡± Hellflower ruminated to herself, brows knit tight. ¡°Hyena might turn into a creature but he thinks like a man. Why would he eat the creatures here in the base? He had to know their mutations¡­ he had to know the risks!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes fixed on Cloudhawk. It didn¡¯t make sense. There were only two possibilities; one, Cloudhawk was lying, or two ¨C that wasn¡¯t Hyena he saw in the labs. When she spoke again Hellflower¡¯s voice was pointed and earnest. ¡°Are you absolutely sure it was Hyena you saw, not someone else?¡± ¡°Well¡­ now that you say it¡­¡± Suddenly Cloudhawk looked troubled. ¡°It was dark, I sort of guessed based on his size and shape. I can¡¯t tell you for certain if it was Hyena.¡± Hellflower shut her eyes for a moment and sucked in a sharp breath. When they opened again there was something in them Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t seen before. Panic. She ripped the guns from their holsters and hurriedly shouted to the others. ¡°It¡¯s a trap! Run!¡± Bang-bang-bang! All three doorways burst open at once. Followed by a gentle cough. A withered and emaciated figure hobbled into the center of the gathering with the help of his cane. It was the Academician. Everyone¡¯s face turned deathly pale. He was as fragile a sight as ever. Spindly white hair peppered his balding head, sprouting out from skin that seemed completely devoid of moisture. His wet and cloudy eyes peered through thick glasses perched on his oversized nose, through a pale and solemn face. Although it seemed a stiff breeze would knock him over, the old scholar nonetheless filled the room with a dangerous aura. A dozen or so soldiers stood beside him like statues. These warriors were very different from typical bodyguards. None of them wore armor and their chests were left bare, revealing layers of corded muscle that looked like they were sculpted from iron. They saw all, and yet their eyes were unsettlingly empty ¨C like the eyes of ghosts peering emotionlessly from the abyss. Academician Roste kept himself on his feet with his right hand holding tight to his staff. His left pressed against his mouth as he shook with coughs. His rheumy eyes didn¡¯t pay any of the elder scientists any mind. They swept over Cloudhawk for a moment before finally stopping on Hellflower. The old sage shook his head. ¡°Did you think you could help this rabble remove me? Hellflower¡­ here I thought you were an intelligent woman!¡± Hellflower¡¯s guns were held tight in her hands. ¡°I thought the only thing in your mind was the research. You¡¯re craftier than I expected. I underestimated you.¡± Ten mutated soldiers were a terrifying force to reckon with! However the old man had made a fatal mistake, and that was coming here himself. Strong as his body guards were, there were but ten of them. The other creaky scientists had twenty fighters between them. If they rushed at him, even if they couldn¡¯t defeat all of his guards the old man was certainly dead. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Grab the Academician!¡± The eldest was first to react and shouted the order. Twenty protectors surged forward. They were the handpicked chosen of the revolutionaries, uncommonly strong ¨C especially Iron Bear and Black Jackal. Both of them were first class warriors, and even fighting alone they would make the transformed body guards pay. Bang-bang-bang-bang! The crowded meeting room rang with the sound of gunfire. Academician Roste¡¯s contingent also made their move. Their skin suddenly became thick with scales or fur and then they turned on their prey like hungry phantoms. All of a sudden a violent skirmish broke out. The sound of bones breaking, pained screams and angry roars reverberated off the walls. Together the mutants charged and in a blink killed one third of the revolutionaries. Meanwhile they only lost two of theirs. These beasts¡­ they were killing machines! A combination of human intellect and unbreakable animal ferocity. If their arms were cut off they attacked with their feet. If their legs were broken they gnawed with fangs. Bullets seemed useless against their tough hide. So long as they drew breath Roste¡¯s monsters kept fighting. With ice-cold indifference they killed anything in their path, so ruthlessly efficient that it was hard to believe. The best way to put them down was to sever their spines or pierce their brains, otherwise they would never stop. There was no winning a fight like this! They had to capture Roste alive. Iron Bear and Black Jackal worked together. The former snatched up his smaller companion and flung him through the air. Black Jackal traced a perfect arc over their attackers¡¯ heads and outside their encirclement. He planted his knees on the ceiling and thrust off to add momentum. Like a comet he was crashing down right toward Roste. One of the body guards tried to bar his path, but Black Jackal knocked him away with the hammer in his left hand. With an open path, he brought his other hammer around for a killing blow, one that would shatter the old man¡¯s skull. All the while Academician Roste stood perfectly still, as though he did not even have the strength to defend himself. Was this the final moment! Were they going to succeed? Everyone was sure of it. Academician Roste¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold light, and suddenly his frail and sickly exterior melted away. That keen, wise light shone in his hard gaze and his eyes turned bloody red. A stifling murderous aura surged forth from his wrinkled body. Cloudhawk knew it right away. He foresaw the conclusion, his heart sank ¨C they were done for!Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 117 - The Strongest Mutan Chapter 117 - The Strongest Mutant Academician Roste went from slow to blinding fast in the space of a blink. He planted his staff in the ground beside him, easily sidestepped the hammer blow, then shoved his attacker¡¯s wrist away with his twig-like palm. The old man¡¯s movements were as easy as though he were brushing away a branch. Snap! Black Jackal¡¯s wrist bent back at an unnatural angle. Sharps of jagged bone split his skin and poked out from within. The burly warrior screamed in pain and surprise. Reacting instinctively to the pain he attacked with his other hand. Roste effortlessly caught Black Jackal¡¯s fist in his hand and crushed it as easily as though they were a handful of leaves, leaving nothing but a bloody mangled mass. This eighty year old invalid was handling the seasoned warrior like he was a child! His defenses were almost thoughtless, like swatting a fly. In the decades he¡¯d spent here as their leader no one accused Roste of being a powerhouse, much less a font of vitality that would shame a man one third his age. He fought as well as though he were at his peak, when all laws of nature dictated that at his age he should hardly be able to walk. A series of pops and cracks issued from the old man¡¯s robes. It was the sound of his bones dislocating and restructuring! Everyone looked on in utter shock! As though suddenly filled with air Roste¡¯s body started to swell. His eyes adopted a deep black-green hue that shimmered with strange colors. Withered dry skin regained the elasticity and vigor of youth, and all the while he was getting larger. Five feet¡­ five and a half¡­ six feet... At last he completely transformed from a frail emaciated dwarf to a muscled behemoth! Any trace of the damage eighty years had lain on him was gone! His skin had taken on a pale blue tint and muscles rippled tight beneath. All his hair fell away leaving him bald but with a skull thick as a helmet. This definitely wasn¡¯t any sort of ability metahumans or mutants were capable of. The most telling sign was that this new form was perfectly normal looking; his body was symmetrical, every muscle like it was masterfully carved from stone, aesthetically and mechanically perfect from head to toe. It was like he was designed from a human blueprint. ¡°You worms¡­ you wish to kill me?¡± Roste grabbed Black Jackal in his hands then began to squeeze. Like kneading dough he crushed the poor warrior in his enormous fists until his bones were splintered. Black Jackal¡¯s neck was crushed and bent, his hands and feet smooshed together until ultimately he was turned into a butchered orb of leaking meat. ¡°Did you think that I was only researching how to transform soldiers after all these years?¡± His incredible strength, his grotesque and terrifying methods, sent a chill through everyone¡¯s spine. Hellflower immediately threw up her hands and fired off half a dozen shots at the freak, but he didn¡¯t even try to dodge. Once the bullets hit, Roste¡¯s grey-blue skin instantly hardened until he was practically made of iron. The bullets even made a metallic ringing noise as they ricocheted off of him. ¡°This body is perfect, allowing me to adapt to any environment or condition. In the cold I will grow a fur coat to protect myself; underwater I will develop gills; when I need to jump my bones and joints will change accordingly; if I need to run, the muscles and structure of my leg will change as needed. And in the event of serious threat I can even grow a protective exoskeleton.¡± In one hand Roste gripped the crushed remains of Black Jackal. Nothing remained of the frail old man they¡¯d known and the sound that came from his throat was like the growl of a hundred angry animals. In fact Roste was now a complicated amalgamation of genetic material ¨C no longer a human in the true sense of the word. ¡°What can any of you do to stand against me?!¡± Horrifyingly, although Black Jackal had been broken into the shape of a fleshy ball Roste was careful not to kill him. Piteous whines issued from the orb of mangled flesh. Roste heaved the meat sphere, the muscles of his arms bulging, flinging it with enough force that it was as destructive as a boulder shot from a trebuchet [1]. Black Jackal¡¯s tortured body came at a soldier fast as a runaway car, there was no way for the warrior to avoid him. They collided with such force that every bone and joint in both men shattered, then they smashed into a third. In an instant all three were snuffed out. The ancient white haired scientist looked on in soundless horror at the three massacred fighters as their remains barreled toward him. He was the fourth victim, and when ultimately they hit the wall it was impossible to tell the parts of one from another. This mad Academician seemed to be even stronger than the Caliph¡¯s dual-horned lieutenant! As the chaos ensued around him Cloudhawk saw his predicament clearly. It wasn¡¯t Hyena he¡¯d seen in the labs¡­ ¡­ it had been Roste! The Academician had long known of this little pocket of resistance. He also knew that Hellflower was their chosen agent, only she had also proved to be a very effective assistant. For that reason he chose not to reveal that he knew. However, she¡¯d crossed the line when she tried to steal all of his painstaking efforts for her own. It had sent Roste into a rage and convinced him that now was the time to deal with these irritating malcontents. To that end Roste purposefully arranged it so that Hellflower would inherit Hyena¡¯s position as captain of the guard. He knew that he would have to appear completely vulnerable in order to galvanize these old men into meeting. Once they were all together he could catch them all at once. Working with this mob of degenerates had been Hellflower¡¯s first error. Her second had been to underestimate his schemes. Of course her most fatal miscalculation was that she did not expect the old man to be so strong. This level of tyrannical capability was simply outside the scope of what she thought possible. Roste was a freak, a monster through and through, a humanoid weapon of pure might and power! Yet she fought on, unwilling to resign herself to death. However, her piddling handguns were no threat to what Roste had become. He was an abomination that could quickly adapt to any situation, even his skin could harden the instant her bullets hit him and knock them away. Academician Roste¡¯s twisted face bore a mocking sneer. ¡°Mine is a perfect body. Perfect power. I have become the pinnacle of all that lives in the wastelands, and once I consume the essence of the demonhunter I will be the strongest being in the entire world!¡± Many kinds of metahumans roamed the wastes. From enhanced power to blinding agility, fortitude to intelligence ¨C all sorts were a common sight. However, there was one sort of wasteland denizen that was rare to encounter, those that were actually able to reconstruct their bodies. The freak in black Cloudhawk had once contended against had abilities somewhat like that. It had been a surprise when he learned the freak could turn his left arm into barbed tentacles or a bone sword. Roste was naturally gifted with considerable reconstruction abilities. All these years experimenting on soldiers was so that he could forge his body¡¯s own talents. Through his natural gifts and rare intellect it was his goal to turn his own body into the perfect being; one that combined all the best traits of the wasteland¡¯s myriad beasts, who could survive in all the world¡¯s harshest environments. Be it sweltering heat, bitter cold, intense pressures, or forceful blows, nothing was beyond his ability to adapt to and overcome! And the shapeshifting soldiers? They were just experimental byproducts! Roste needed materials for his research and the best place to get them was the Dark Atom. Their trade arrangement was where he got what he needed, for the process of research was costly. For decades Academician Roste¡¯s body was a perfect specimen. He was sure he was the greatest force in the wastelands and so didn¡¯t bother with the creatures therein. He¡¯d turned his sights to the elysian lands and the demonhunters who resided there. Just one final step! If he could transplant the abilities of a demonhunter into himself he would succeed in combining the best of the wastelands and the elysian lands. The ultimate, elusive marriage of science and magic! If he could do this Roste would become the most powerful creature in all the world! This was why his desire to capture a demonhunter had been all-consuming. Before Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival his plan had been to work with Dark Atom, and through them capture a demonhunter alive from the elysian lands. However, such a brazen ask was risky, likely turning the ire of the elysians on Blackwater Base. Then, like a gift from heaven a demonhunter wandered into his territory from the wastelands. His greatest desire was delivered right to his doorstep. This had to be fate! How could Roste not be ecstatic with this turn of events? ¡°Are you out of ideas?¡± Roste pulled out a sword four feet long. ¡°Then I suppose it¡¯s my turn!¡± Hellflower¡¯s clips were empty and Roste was completely unscathed. Cloudhawk pulled the rifle off his back and threw it at her. ¡°Use this!¡± Roste¡¯s legs suddenly began to change. His knees popped and twisted, bending backward like a kangaroo¡¯s to help him jump farther. He began to bound forward at incredible speed, easily cutting apart anyone who came too close. The heavily armored Iron Bear leapt into his path, shield raised. Of all the base¡¯s fighters he had the sturdiest defense, especially with his shield. It was a thick slab, plain and flat, but made from a strong metal alloy. Few things in the wasteland could even scratch it. Roste¡¯s sword came hacking down. As easily as a hot knife through butter, Roste¡¯s sword cleaved Iron Bear¡¯s shield in half. It didn¡¯t stop, cutting the mighty warrior down the center of his body from his head down to his legs. As he began to split apart Roste swiped his weapon crosswise at the waist, removing his legs. The mountain of a man, who moments before had seemed like a moving fortress, tumbled to the ground with his shield in six pieces. But his sword! There was something going on there! Hellflower could see it. Roste was enormously powerful, but certainly not strong enough to cleave someone like Iron Bear so cleanly in half. His weapon was particularly narrow, and its edge was outlined in a faint black line. It was that strip of black that was responsible for the sword¡¯s unparalleled keenness. This was no ordinary sword ¨C it was a high-frequency particle blade! Hellflower had only ever heard of them. Supposedly somewhere else in the wastelands someone had dug one up. It was a masterpiece of the old days that vibrated on a molecular level and could cut almost anything. A weapon like this was sharper than anything they could imagine, and could even cut iron apart as easily as paper. Roste was a terror, and with this weapon in his hands who could stand against him? Even before Hellflower could fire her gun he was bearing down on her ¨C too fast to defend herself! Just as the Academician was preparing to cut her in two, Cloudhawk ¨C invisible and sped up through the power of his cloak ¨C swept in between them. He held his exorcist staff up in the path of the particle blade. Surprisingly, even the ancient technological wonder couldn¡¯t split this minor relic from the elysian lands. However the screech that issued from their clash was deafening and cracks appeared along the exorcist staff¡¯s surface. ¡°Now! Do it now!¡± Hellflower fired the rifle right into Roste¡¯s chest. The impact shoved him back several feet, but his adaptive body curled back on his legs like coiled springs. In the midst of being knocked back he was preparing to launch back at them! ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Cloudhawk, benefiting from the speed granted by his cloak, grabbed Hellflower and yanked her out of Roste¡¯s path. Moments later Roste¡¯s powerful legs shot him forward like a rocket and he slammed into the wall at full force. Half of it collapsed, leaving an enormous hole. Roste clambered out of the dusty hole with his sword in hand, grinning darkly. ¡°You are no match. Submit, make this easier on yourself. Do not fret giving your power to me, you will not be entirely destroyed. Your will and tenacity will live on within me. Stand with me, stand at the peak of biological perfection!¡± Cloudhawk could not deny that in terms of skill Roste was no less capable than the Bloodsoaked Queen. The Queen, aside from her extraordinary skill, derived her powers from the might of relics. In contrast Roste¡¯s abilities came from him alone. His body was an unnatural freakish thing that could adapt to anything. He feared neither fire, ice, water, knife or bullet. Perfection was not an exaggeration. ¡°You think you¡¯re the most perfect thing in the wastelands, eh? Stop your bullshit!¡± Cloudhawk spied the spot in Roste¡¯s chest where Hellflower had shot him. Although it hadn¡¯t injured him or left a hole, he could tell the muscle tissue was damaged. ¡°You aint shit compared to someone else I¡¯ve come across!¡± 1. The superior siege engine. Chapter 118 - Mad Torture Chapter 118 - Mad Torture Cloudhawk was naturally referring to the Caliph of the Sands. When he fought the demon, before the end he was barely able to make a dent in that monster¡¯s skin. The demon had even been able to catch bullets out of midair. Roste was strong, but he was at most comparable to the Bloodsoaked Queen. His body was changeable but at best he was like a combination of the demon¡¯s fallen lieutenants. Compared to the demon? He was nothing. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Veins bulged out against his pale blue flesh. This body was his pride, his masterpiece, the tool he¡¯d spent his life cultivating to perfection. Cloudhawk¡¯s scorn was an affront he couldn¡¯t tolerate. The wound to his chest healed quickly. After a few moments only the slightest mark remained. Hellflower was preparing to take another shot when Roste once more began to change. His body shifted from burly and muscled to slithery and streamline, built for explosive speed and power. When he moved toward them again he was wholly one third faster than he was before. Cloudhawk swung his staff to try and dissuade the Academician, but missed and swung through a vague afterimage. With realization spreading across his face Cloudhawk was too late in turning and felt a fierce blow to the back of his neck. Everything began to spin and he hit the ground with a dull thud. Hellflower¡¯s finger was on the trigger when Roste¡¯s particle sword sheered it in two. Quick as a flash he swung again and the weapon master¡¯s hands were severed above the wrist. Before she could even feel the pain Roste shoved his masterwork blade into her body. Struggling to get back up, Cloudhawk turned his head in time to see Hellflower collapse in a pool of blood and lose consciousness. With his work done the Academician snatched up his cane once again as his body shrunk. Little by little he withered until the five foot bag of bones he recognized returned. He put back on his glasses and the strange finger-bone necklace. ¡°Take them away!¡± Another blow. Cloudhawk¡¯s world went dark. Two mutant body guards lifted him up and they left the secret chamber. Roste was exhausted, drenched in sweat. For all the power inside him it seemed his old body could hardly bear the strain. As his boney fingers played over his necklace, the light in his eyes hardened. ¡°I will succeed. I must. All that remains is the power of the demonhunters and then I will be the most perfect specimen in all the world!¡± Roste pulled his cane out of the ground and led what remained of his transformed bodyguards away from the slaughter. Almost as an afterthought he ordered someone to come and clean up the mess of blood and bone left in his wake. *** When Cloudhawk came to he found himself laying in a lab, hands and feet bound to a table. A strap kept his neck fixed so he could barely turn his head. His cloak, mask, staff, the gospel of sands, and even his bear armor was gone. Things were very, very bad. They¡¯d captured him alive. He lay flat on the operating table in only thin clothing. When he got his bearings he began to hear whispering all around. People were coming and going, a fact that was making him both anxious and angry. He began to struggle. ¡°He¡¯s awake!¡± ¡°Give him another dose of tranquilizers!¡± ¡°No need.¡± This was a curt and familiar voice. Chimp walked within Cloudhawk¡¯s line of sight and looked coldly down at him. ¡°We must gauge his reaction as we administer the serum. Keep him awake.¡± The gathered scientists nodded. Cloudhawk had the distinct sensation that he was a sheep in a slaughterhouse. ¡°What are you gonna do? Let me go!¡± Chimp¡¯s laughter was mocking and sinister. ¡°We wanted to keep you in the dark. We¡¯d have less to worry about and it would have saved you some suffering. Things being what they are now, however, we have no other choice.¡± One of his assistants arrived carrying a flask full of strange green liquid. Something that looked like red plant matter floated within it. ¡°This is an herb from the elysian lands, Antirrhinum ignis. It is phenomenally expensive so none of us are able to enjoy its particular functions. I hope you appreciate it.¡± Struggle as he might Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t fight them. The scientists forced his mouth open and shoved a tube down his throat into his stomach. The strange concoction was poured in. What awful way of taking medicine was this? It was like gulping down a powerful acid! Immediately Cloudhawk felt as though every organ in his body was on fire. The burning quickly spread until he could feel every blood vessel searing, every muscle ache. He couldn¡¯t bite back his agonizing screams. ¡°You bastard! You better kill me or I¡¯m gonna fuckin¡¯ tear you apart!¡± ¡°Tsk tsk. You still have the energy to threaten me?¡± The lab director went on in enigmatic tones. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t waste it struggling pointlessly, you can¡¯t escape. You know, this medicine is a precious component, smuggled out of the elysian lands at great expense. It will greatly improve your physique. No typical wastelander would ever be able to enjoy its benefits.¡± If Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes could spit fire this wretched pervert would be burnt to ash. If he¡¯d known this was his fate he would have killed Chimp when he had the chance! Chimp checked the time. Cloudhawk had suffered for hours now and he still wasn¡¯t exhausted. This strange brew simultaneously increased his strength but cut off stamina. For Cloudhawk this was a painful combination that extended his torment considerably. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± When they felt he¡¯d absorbed enough of the concoction the doctors produced a series of syringes. Sharp jabs to his veins and their contents were pushed inside. The young wastelander didn¡¯t know what they were giving him now but before long he felt muddled and dizzy. His whole body was weak. Two transformed soldiers walked in and removed his constraints. Cloudhawk regained freedom of motion but could do nothing with it. He felt like his bones had been pulled out, or like he was trying to swim through mud. His captors dropped him in a prison, locked behind iron bars. Scientists came in and out with bottles of colorful liquid they hung from the walls. Their contents were dripped through a series of transfusion tubes that joined into a single one inserted in Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. Every ounce of this hateful serum that entered his veins felt like fire raging throughout his body. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. We¡¯ll pick it up again tomorrow.¡± They closed the door and shut him in behind three sturdy locks. Cloudhawk lay in his cell, unable to summon an ounce of strength. He tried just to lift his hands but they wouldn¡¯t obey his will. He didn¡¯t know what that bastard Chimp had given him, but not only did it burn like a motherfucker, it also felt like thousands of ants gnawing his bones and crawling under his skin. He could feel that somehow this process was strengthening his bones, though the pain was more than a normal man could stand. Cloudhawk managed to drag himself to the door of his cage and peered out where four guards stood as silent sentries. They were still as statues and stared at everything with a stoic indifference. They didn¡¯t take a chance with him, even behind thick iron bars. Were these damn guards really necessary? They¡¯d taken all of his equip, but even if they¡¯d left it with him he couldn¡¯t bust out of this prison much less escape from his four steely-eyed guards. Furious, he screamed in vain several times, raging at his helplessness. He didn¡¯t even have the strength to bash his head against the wall and try to kill himself. The second day. Scientists brought him back into the labs where he was pumped full of all manner of drugs. One such substance was something they called elysian balm. Wherever they smeared it his body drank it up, followed by the agonizing sensation of his pores being torn open. He passed out when he began sweating blood. Before he lost consciousness Chimp explained that this famed medicine came from the cities of the elysians. They called it transfusion balm. It was said transfusion balm was part of the foundational training of a demonhunter. Although the process ruptured countless capillaries and caused serious hemorrhage, it also cleared out any toxins or impurities from within the body. The recipient¡¯s bones and muscles were highly strengthened by it. Day three. They put him in a pool filled with a frigid, milky white substance. The moment it touched him it froze, and within the space of a few minutes Cloudhawk was sealed in a block of pale white ice with only his face open to the air. That cold that seeped down to the depths of his body was another special kind of torture. Day four¡­ day five¡­ day six¡­ every day the evil scientists employed some new hell to torment Cloudhawk with. They were the most painful and frightening days of his whole life. A living nightmare. At the end of the sixth day he was thrown back in his cage. He was left in the dark, where it was moist and silent. Four guards had since become eight and now they kept him shackled hand and foot. He sat up and took stock of everything. Over the last few days he could have sworn he¡¯d grown a few niches at least. He ran his hand over his abdomen and the muscles felt firm and well defined. No longer the waif he was before, his clothes seemed several sizes too small all of a sudden. The benefits of these medicines were evident. The Academician didn¡¯t officially begin the power transfusion right way. When Cloudhawk arrived he was too weak. He was Roste¡¯s most important subject and so he had to be strengthened before the real process could begin. That was the focus of this week of torture. More than his physical abilities Cloudhawk¡¯s sense of sight and smell had also improved in addition to strength and constitution. Under any other circumstances he would be thrilled, but as it was he felt more like they were fattening a pig for slaughter. Was that evil old fuck going to have his way? Damnit! He strained against his shackles, making them creak. Bulging muscles caused his clothes to burst a few seams. They¡¯d taken everything from him, everything except the stone that hung around his neck. His captors were a cruel lot, they hadn¡¯t even given him a change of clothes throughout the week so the rock didn¡¯t even catch their eye. Cloudhawk slipped the rock over his head and held it in his hand. He was out of options, his only hope was this unreliable stone. Transport me out of here! I beg you, get me out of this place! Since he found the stone it had only awakened twice, and then only passively as a reaction to circumstance. Cloudhawk knew that Roste was cunning and cautious, and would leave him no chance to get free. He was nothing more than a lab rat caught in the madman¡¯s clutches with no recourse but to face his suffering day in and day out. If he hoped to survive it would be through this unassuming stone clutched tightly in his hand. If he could learn to use its power of teleportation he could escape from this fucking place! Chapter 119 - Excitation Chapter 119 - Excitation Academician Roste lit a candle, its frail light spreading out through the dark room. He removed the finger bone necklace from his neck and carefully rubbed each one. Clearly this odd choice in jewelry and the dozen or so bones that made it were special to him. Raped by bandits¡­ wife slain¡­ brother, eaten alive by mutants¡­ a son starved to death and a daughter killed by illness. His teacher taken by old age. From ignorant youth to haggard old man, Roste had lived a harsh life that no one could know. Everyone who was important to him had died, and each time he took a single finger bone to remember them. Eventually he gathered enough to make his necklace, which he wore every day. Those he¡¯d loved and lost were always with him, their tales a part of his own. Why were humans made to be so frail? So weak? The slightest injury or illness could take them. Disaster both natural and man-made could snuff their lives out in a blink. As he ruminated on these bitter thoughts Roste stroked the bones one by one. He did not know whether it was his hazy vision or a trick of the candlelight, but he could almost see the smiling faces of those he¡¯d lost behind the veil between life and death. It¡¯d been years but every detail stood out vividly in his mind¡¯s eye as though they were right in front of him. Happiness, sadness, sweetness, despair, pain, confusion, hesitation¡­ these complicated and intense emotions lived within the mementos. They traveled with Roste through every day of his struggles. I will succeed! I will create the mightiest creature in the world, one that does not grow old, or sick, or die. My creation will be invincible! It doesn¡¯t matter if no one understands. I don¡¯t need anyone to understand, because the road to greatness is a lonely one. One day they¡¯ll know. My work is for the good of humanity, my research will reverse our sorry destiny and save this broken world! I will wipe away history and create a new future! Roste did not fear death for there was nothing left in this world he cared about. He would sacrifice anything and anyone in pursuit of his dream. Answering to no one, he alone would transform the future of the planet and create something new! He had already learned all the secrets of the wastelands, it was time to turn his attention on the elysian lands. Once these two disparate realities were combined a new golden age would arise. ¡°Do you see? My work is almost complete! I ask that you be with me.¡± He doubled over, coughing into a clenched fist. The deep crevices carved through his face grew deeper as he winced against the strain. When he could breathe again he slipped the bones back around his neck. Footsteps were approaching from behind, and from them he could tell the disposition of who they belonged to. This gait was rapid and unrestrained, meaning it was someone familiar with him. Someone with good news. Chimp appeared with a smile on his face. ¡°That kid¡¯s tolerance is much better than we figured. He¡¯s already gone through one round of drugs and the process is advancing quickly. He¡¯s strong, we can likely begin the next phase.¡± Roste had been prepared for this for quite some time. He produced a box and handed it to Chimp. ¡°Go.¡± The director reverently took the box and held it tight in his hands. Suddenly something came to mind. ¡°Academician, what are we going to do with Hellflower and Hyena?¡± Roste knew the desires that lived in Chimp¡¯s black heart. ¡°We wipe their minds. I leave you to deal with that.¡± A twisted grin split Chimp¡¯s face. One of the labs was already prepared for just that purpose. Once the drugs broke their will the two of them would be as compliant as all the rest of their mutated soldiers. Hyena mattered little to him, but he¡¯d coveted Hellflower¡¯s supple flesh for a long time. Before long she would serve him in whatever way he wanted. Just thinking about it made him salivate. ¡°But our work is first and foremost. Do not ruin everything we¡¯ve strived towards.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Academician. I will personally supervise Cloudhawk¡¯s process. I swear there will not be any problems.¡± Academician Roste¡¯s frail body shuffled away. Chimp bowed to his boss¡¯ retreating form. His respect and loyalty was absolute. He was different from Hyena and Hellflower who joined the cause later, he was one of the first to follow Roste. Although he was a lascivious and timid man, he believed in the Academician with every fiber of his being. It was more than just that Roste was his teacher, after so many years he knew that the old man¡¯s heart was true. He wasn¡¯t evil or ambitious for ambition¡¯s sake. Chimp fully believed in their mission to transform the wastelands and humanity¡¯s destiny. There were many in this base, even around the Academician himself, who had no choice but to serve the scholar¡¯s will. However Chimp was certain in his belief that one day Roste would be hailed as a savior. His name would be forever remembered in the beautiful future they envisaged. And that bitch Hellflower¡­ she actually dared to try and steal the great man¡¯s research? Laughable! Academician Roste¡¯s accomplishments were the result of decades of careful study. He was the only one in all the world capable of completing this research. Trying to pilfer his important work for selfish gain was an unforgivable sin! Hmph, she¡¯ll have to wait. Right now the Academician¡¯s work is more important than anything else. When their work with Cloudhawk was finished he would make that woman understand what desperation was. He would teach her the meaning of pain. Let Roste have his fun and then when her will has been broken the traitors would be punished. At last he could vent his hatred. Chimp brought several scientists with him to Cloudhawk¡¯s cage. When they arrived they found him crouched inside with his hands tightly held together. He was saying something, too quietly to hear. Perhaps he was speaking with his god, though it was not the typical posture or style. He¡¯d been kept in a confused state of mind for several days. ¡°He hasn¡¯t lost his mind has he¡­¡± Cloudhawk was desperately trying to awaken the stone, but all through the night no matter how hard he tried or what he did there was no reaction from it. He was so filled with rage and resentment that when he heard Chimp coming he would have torn him apart with his teeth if he weren¡¯t shackled down. ¡°He still has his faculties? Good, that¡¯s good.¡± Chimp gestured with his hands and the guards opened Cloudhawk¡¯s cage. They forced him to the ground long enough for the scientist to inject him with a sedative and once again Cloudhawk was rendered helpless. ¡°Take him,¡± Chimp ordered. Was it all beginning again? Was today another day of torment? The drugs made him feel like his muscles were replaced with mud. His mind was clear but his body wouldn¡¯t cooperate. The first thing he noticed was that they did not bring him to the lab they used normally. This room was different, narrow, and filled with crude wasteland equipment. Transparent vats filled with colorful liquids lined the walls. An empty tank rested in the middle. ¡°Today we begin the first phase of transformation.¡± Chimp did not waste time with talking. At his command two of the guards produced daggers and cut away Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes. They forced a breathing mask over his face, foisted him into the tank then sealed the lid. All the while Cloudhawk was acutely aware of everything that was happening. He was forced to watch with no way to protect himself or fight back. Chimp flipped a switch and the vats surrounding them began to drain their fluid into the sealed capsule. In about ten minutes Cloudhawk was entirely submerged. ¡°Injecting the Academician¡¯s supercells. Begin the culture stage.¡± Chimp personally opened a nearby refrigerator and retrieved a syringe from inside. Without wasting any time he pressed the needle into a tube¡¯s injection orifice and slowly pushed out its contents. Meanwhile Cloudhawk floated in the brew, breathing with the help of the mask. It felt like he was being aggressively stabbed by a hundred thousand tiny needles. Every inch of skin, every cell felt like it was being cut up. ¡°Beginning Phase One cultivation.¡± Chimp ordered the eight guards to remain and look after him, adding, ¡°Arrange for a hundred of our best men to be posted all throughout the area. Absolutely nothing can go wrong, or I¡¯ll make sure every single one of you pays for it. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s fist was still tightly clenched. Within his palm the rock remained. He wasn¡¯t going to let that stone go easily, not until his final breath. Despite constant failure he still tried everything he could to awaken it to no avail. There was no reaction at all. Then he began to feel like things were growing dim, like something was separating him from the world outside. The pain, the itching, the hot and cold all remained while all of his senses were cut off. Suddenly he was in an infinitely dark hell of torment. No light, no hope, no future. Just endless anguish. He could feel something invading his body, a hundred million tiny pinpricks that stabbed at every piece of skin, muscle and bone. Was this the beginning of the transformation? Cloudhawk¡¯s anger and fear were gone. His mind went blank like he finally lost all power of thought. Perhaps he¡¯d given up, there was no way to fight back. Was this his fate? To die here, after so much, halfway on his road to the elysian lands? It was so ridiculous he would laugh if he had the strength to! In the end even Cloudhawk had his limits. After days of agony his will was broken, brought to brink by a week of torture and finally pushed over the edge in the darkness of this tank. He couldn¡¯t see any way out. Little by little his body relaxed. Little by little he abandoned this meaningless struggle. Only, as that numb stillness took over his mind Cloudhawk could feel something coming from the stone. A pulse, followed by a pale light that radiated from within his tightly clenched fist. A strange and unexplainable power filled the space around him. The stone¡­ the stone was awakening! All of a sudden he was filled with a joy that threatened to drive him mad. He¡¯d managed to use the stone only rarely since obtaining it and never when he called. This was the exception, the one time it awakened at his request. The difference between this odd stone and normal relics lay in the fact that using it was far more rigorous. Only when he entered a perfect state of stillness, where everything else melted away, was his will able to resonate with it. This was a very large and important discovery! It was the first time his desperate groping revealed any truth about the stone. The light from the stone grew more intense and the fluid around him began to vibrate. It roiled like it was boiling, followed by an intense rattling noise. All at once the glass tank that held him shattered sending shards of glass and caustic fluid in every direction. ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± Two bewildered scientists rushed in and gaped at the mess that greeted them. They hurriedly rummaged through the debris only to be more shocked by what they found. Nothing! Cloudhawk was gone! Chapter 120 - The Bird Egg Chapter 120 - The Bird Egg Cloudhawk gradually regained consciousness and opened his eyes to find himself lying face down in the dirt. The call of a bird chirped in his ears and he could feel something hairy moving around over him. One of them stretched out its tongue and licked him. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Cloudhawk jerked and scrambled to sit up. Eyes wide, his sudden movements caused a flock of bird-like creatures to scatter. Though frightened the creatures didn¡¯t flee far. They gathered a dozen or so feet away and continued to watch this stranger who had tumbled from the sky. What fresh hell did he find himself in? It wasn¡¯t the desert, there were no ruins¡­ it was some sort of forest. Cloudhawk was stupefied by the view. Creatures were everywhere, thousands of them. Cloudhawk had never seen so many animals gathered in one place. He sat among them naked as the day he was born and covered in sticky fluid. A pungent medicinal scent wafted off of him, probably what attracted these creatures. They weren¡¯t large. The smallest ones looked something like squirrels and were roughly half the size of his palm. The biggest looked like meerkats and had to only weigh a couple of pounds. There were birds too, owl-like ones that watched him from the trees and could turn their heads two hundred degrees. Those were a little larger than his fist. Big or small every one of them was adorable and interacted peacefully with each other. It was a shocking reversal from where he¡¯d come from since the wasteland was filled with vicious things that would sooner kill you than look at you. Cloudhawk stood and noticed the ground was littered with nutshells and fruit husks. The forest had to be rich with food, no wonder there were so many critters. Perhaps that was also why they were so docile. At least for the moment he didn¡¯t feel like they were a threat. ¡°The hell are you doin¡¯? Go! Fuck off!¡± Once they saw that Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t violent several smaller animals tried climbing on his back. He swatted at the fuzzy things to keep them at bay. ¡°You annoying little shits! Keep fuckin¡¯ with me! See if I don¡¯t have you for dinner!¡± You could take the boy out of the wasteland but never the wasteland out of the boy. He was as crass and grouchy as ever, and the woodland creatures had never encountered a beast so ornery. The offending critters bounded away a few feet then sat back on their hind legs to stare at him. This place was weird! The forest was lush and crowded with plant life, some of which were heavy with delectable smelling fruit. One tree in particular caught his eye, an ancient of the forest with creatures climbing in and out of holes in its trunk. It must serve as a home for many of the animals. Looking around Cloudhawk saw it wasn¡¯t just one. Many enormous trees were evenly spaced among the area, every one of them at least a hundred a fifty feet tall. Ten people couldn¡¯t surround one with their arms stretched around it. The distance between them was very small but it was the canopy he thought was most intriguing. Each tree¡¯s crown was perfectly round and hung over him in a near-perfect half sphere. The ground was covered in grass and foliage, but as Cloudhawk spread his eyes toward the horizon he could see hundreds of these trees. They looked almost like giant mushrooms. Each one the same shape, the same size, and evenly spaced¡­ What natural forest had such neat arrangements? Animals crawled in and out of holes that, to Cloudhawk, looked a lot like old windows set in the tree trunks. He imagined this place could have been a village sometime long ago where intelligent creatures lived. For some unknown reason society had disappeared and animals moved in. Over time the place became a forest. Cloudhawk¡¯s skin still burned and itched, residual damage from whatever those drugs were they¡¯d kept him in. He absently scratched but paid the sensation little mind. Instead Cloudhawk set about picking a couple enormous leaves off the trees to fashion himself a makeshift skirt. He had to cover his dangly bits before the critters mistook them for berries. Thankfully the denizens of the tree village proved harmless. There were plentiful nuts and fruits for them to enjoy so Cloudhawk felt as though he could relax around them. But he was still vigilant, for just because he didn¡¯t sense danger right away didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t danger right around the corner! Each time the stone had transported Cloudhawk it¡¯d brought him somewhere different. The one thing they all had in common was that they were places that harbored intelligent life, or used to. But for reasons he could never tell they all seemed abandoned for thousands of years and left behind ruins that made him imagine what life must have been like. Where culture gave up control, the wilds crept back in to lay claim. It was strange, Cloudhawk noted, he didn¡¯t see any meat-eating animals but there had to be didn¡¯t there? How else did the ecology keep in balance? After wandering for a little while Cluoudhawk came upon several strange bones scattered along the ground with tufts of fur. It seemed to verify the wastelander¡¯s assumption, something out here was the natural enemy of the peaceful forest critters. Whatever the case he had to find somewhere safe to hide out. Until the sedatives wore off, out here unarmed and defenseless he made an easy meal for any sort of predator. Could he go back? Unacceptable! He refused to get caught up and become the Academician¡¯s lab rat again! ¡°Move! C¡¯mon, out of the way!¡± A flood of animals had poured out of the trees to look at this bizarre newcomer. They craned their necks from windows, hung from tree branches and skittered around his feet like a tide. Everywhere he looked were bobbing heads, no open path. Clearly they did not fear man, and if he¡¯d wanted Cloudhawk could pluck one up off the ground without resistance. He felt like if he weren¡¯t careful he¡¯d crush a bunch just trying to walk around. Just then a faint pulse caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. It was a pulse he¡¯d come to be familiar with, the energy of a relic. Could one be nearby? When he transferred before he¡¯d found two, so coming across another here wouldn¡¯t be such a strange thing. Naked and alone, maybe this relic could help him out of the situation! Without giving it any further thought he tried to track down the source of the resonance. It lead him to a tree unlike the others, twice the size with a doorway large enough for him to pass through. He crossed the threshold without hesitation. It was more spacious than he thought on the inside, and several thousand small animals had made it their home. Fruits and nuts were gathered up in piles like a hidden storehouse¡­ wait, were the animals working together to store food? The resonance was coming from one of the food stacks. He started to dig without regard for the painstaking work of the forest critters, popping a berry or nut into his mouth from time to time. They were juicy and sweet. These animals were lucky to be living here, Cloudhawk thought. Digging through the stockpile was an exhausting process, but about halfway through he spotted the source of the pulses. Yet, he looked at it confounded. This was a relic? This bird egg? The egg was gold, about the size of his fist, and radiated a faint light. Tenderly he used both hands to lift it from the pile, sure that the resonance was coming from it. From what he could tell it appeared to be made of gold and there were strange lines etched on its surface, likely decorative. What he didn¡¯t understand was what natural living thing produced eggs like this? He was definitely at a loss, but regardless of his confusion this discovery was a good one for him. Suddenly Cloudhawk sensed something was off. His noisy surroundings were suddenly a lot quieter. When Cloudhawk lifted his head to look around, cradling the egg in his hands, he noticed that it¡¯d become dark. The forest creatures were no longer dashing here and there, but remained stone still exactly where they stood. ¡°What¡¯s this? They¡®re asleep?¡± No, they weren¡¯t asleep. As the light faded from the sky their eyes changed, as did their bodies. They started getting bigger, taller, and stronger. Tiny claws became keen daggers and fangs peaked from their lips. ¡°Holy shit! What the hell?!¡± Cloudhawk gaped at the dark figures gathered around him, and they stared back with fierce glowing red eyes. They were special, these forests creatures. In the daylight they were peaceful and friendly, but when night fell they entered a murderous frenzy! Hungry screeches and angry chitters rose all around him. All of a sudden the happy friendly critters had become flesh-eating monsters! Without warning they began viciously attacking each other! A large number of the berserk creatures set their eyes on Cloudhawk. ¡°Son of a¡­¡± He was surrounded and they came at him like an army of ants. They were about to overrun him when the stone against his chest shimmered with light and ¨C poof! Cloudhawk was gone. Bang! Cloudhawk hit the floor of the laboratory. With his head spinning he stumbled back onto his feet. What the fuck was going on with those things? It didn¡¯t matter, now wasn¡¯t the time! Cloudhawk despaired to find that he was back in Blackwater Base, right back in the labs he¡¯d tried to escape. Luckily it wasn¡¯t the tank room, it was somewhere different. The mystical stone was silent. Something told him it was going to be a while, half a month maybe, before he¡¯d be able to use it again. As Cloudhawk was wracking his brain for a plan he heard noises coming from the hall. Guards on patrol, he figured. They heard sounds coming from inside and had come to investigate, weapons raised. ¡°What is this?¡± Two large tree leaves had been discarded on the floor. Broad foliage like this didn¡¯t come from anything in Blackwater Base, they knew. Hell, there wasn¡¯t anything like that all through the marshes, or even Greenland Outpost. So how did they end up here? Very much out of the ordinary. The two guards were carefully examining the leaves when suddenly a figure shot out at them. It grabbed them by their heads and knocked them together, hard. Crack! Both of their skulls were dented from the impact. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure whether they were alive or dead. It was about then Cloudhawk discovered he was significantly stronger than he had been. His power had noticeably improved after days of torture. He pulled the two bodies into a corner and took one¡¯s uniform and weapon. He had to find a way out of here, only he knew the lab was heavily guarded. There were bound to be several of the Academician¡¯s transformed warriors as well. He wasn¡¯t going to fight his way out. He was under no illusions that his chances of escape were slim, but even if it was one in a million he had to try. He took a breath, calming himself for he knew the more he gave in to the fear the more irrational he would get. He had to plan his next move carefully and do whatever he could do increase his chances of survival. Cloudhawk grabbed one of his captive guards and shook him awake. ¡°Where are they keeping Hellflower? Speak!¡± The guard stuttered and tried to speak though his brain was rattled. ¡°S-she¡¯s being kept in Sector Two.¡± Cloudhawk chopped the guard¡¯s neck with his hand, knocking him out. Hellflower wasn¡¯t far. He slipped out of the room disguised as one of the guards and picked his way down the hall toward where she was being kept. Although Cloudhawk knew freeing her was likely hopeless, if he could find a way to save her there might be hope for him. Chapter 121 - An Accord Chapter 121 - An Accord Cloudhawk vanished! His sudden disappearance had thrown the labs into chaos. Academician Roste had no idea how it¡¯d happened, but he could guess. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t really escaped ¨C rather, he hadn¡¯t run. He had to have used some mystical technique to vanish, something science had no way to explain. He put the blame on the abilities of the demonhunters. When he received the news, Roste immediately locked down the laboratories. He didn¡¯t vent his anger at Chimp; that was the way of weak men. He needed his director to lead the search. Roste didn¡¯t believe people could just disappear so Cloudhawk had to be hiding somewhere. If they had to tear this place apart to find him they would! Under the Academician¡¯s orders, Chimp started to canvas the area. No closet, box or corner was ignored. The day past with countless people combing over the lab with a fine-toothed comb, twice. Not a single trace of the wastelander was found. Chimp was beyond furious as he led two scientists with him to a cage. ¡°Bring me the whip!¡± A strikingly beautiful woman was locked away inside the prison. Her hands, which had been chopped off, looked recently reattached and the wounds to her body had healed well. Her wrists were bound by two heavy locks and her ankles were tied to her waist with chains. She was left with no way to move. Hellflower¡¯s talents lay in her weapons mastery. Physically there was nothing she could do, so they felt no need to keep her sedated. There was no way she could free herself from her restraints. Her hair was tousled and messy. Her pretty face was pale and bloodless, making her seem alluringly delicate. When Chimp stepped into the cage he immediately laid into her with the whip. Her unblemished skin split beneath the lash. His blows rained upon her chest as well, tearing gashes in her clothes and damaging her supple flesh within. But Hellflower was a tenacious woman. She gritted her teeth and didn¡¯t give him the joy of even a single grunt. Chimp was spent after only a few lashes and stood before her panting heavily. Slowly she raised her head to look at him, her face pale and sweaty, and split in a derisive sneer. ¡°Let me guess. Judging by how upset our dear director is, I suspect something¡¯s gone wrong with Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°What do you know about Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities? Tell me everything!¡± Her eyes were full of scorn and contempt. It was like she didn¡¯t even regard him as human, he was like a moving pile of shit. She almost giggled. ¡°It looks like my hypothesis was correct!¡± ¡°You dare laugh at me?!¡± He drew his dark and indecent eyes over Hellflower¡¯s curves. With a wave he summoned the scientists forward. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be laughing for long.¡± They approached with a box and retrieved from within it a large syringe. A pale yellow fluid sloshed inside. When she saw what it was Hellflower¡¯s mocking smile vanished. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± Chimp felt back in control when he saw the smile flee from her face. He chuckled darkly and replied in an enigmatic voice. ¡°The mechanism of this drug destroys the synapses in the brain, causing permanent damage. Any memories, emotions and untrained skills will be lost, and you will lose the ability to make any independent judgments. You will serve between my legs as a slave, a bitch anyone can ride. I have to say I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Hellflower knew this was the Academician¡¯s ¡®brainwashing¡¯ drug. The damage it caused was irreversible, and once injected she would became whatever sort of slave Chimp wanted her to be. She would much rather choose death! ¡°Are you ready to talk?¡± Chimp stank with confidence and pride. No one could resist his questioning, especially not someone as self-centered and faithless as Hellflower. ¡°What are Cloudhawk¡¯s powers!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She had spent the most time with the young demonhunter. Chimp was certain she was his answer. As her words hung in the air his face darkened, more depraved. He approached her step by step, then reached out a hand and stroked her face. ¡°You won¡¯t talk? That¡¯s fine, we can take our time.¡± Hellflower clenched her fists. ¡°I really don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Turning you into my sex puppet would really satisfy my craving. It¡¯ll be such a shame not to see this expression on your face anymore. Now may be my last opportunity to try the real you, before I take it away. ¡°You ¨C get your hands off me!¡± Chimp grabbed her collar and tore, revealing what was beneath. The angry bleeding welt where he¡¯d struck her with his whip only made him more excited. Chimp fumbled with her pants, filling Hellflower with rage and embarrassment. She cursed and struggled but even so her clothes were tugged down, revealing her firm buttocks. She couldn¡¯t fight him, she was only making the pervert more excited. He couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer, he needed to feel all the pleasures her body had to offer. Moral chastity wasn¡¯t a privilege wasteland women enjoyed, but she could think of nothing worse than becoming a sex slave for this pig and his equally perverse friends. It was a hell she couldn¡¯t endure. She would rather die, if given a choice. But she wasn¡¯t given a choice. The other two scientists stood nearby, watching expectantly. Hellflower was the most enticing beauty in the whole base, no straight man would give up his chance to have his way with her. After Chimp has his fun perhaps he would let them have a go. It would be a rare delight. No sooner had the thought crossed their minds than the two men screeched and hit the ground, wracked with convulsions. Both of them frothed at the mouth and their head stood straight on end as every fiber in their body felt like it was set on fire. Chimp had his pants halfway down his legs when he saw what was happening. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± A guard approached, the electric gun in his hand still crackling with sparks as he pointed it toward the lab director. Chimp was shocked at first, then in a rage began to shout at him. ¡°Which unit are you with! You actually dare ¨C¡° The threats died in his throat when he saw the guard¡¯s face clearly. His eyes got so wide they threatened to roll right out of his head and he stumbled back until the bars of the cage wouldn¡¯t let him flee any farther. A cold grin spread across Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°Surprise, motherfucker.¡± Chimp answered with a high-pitched wail and tried to run. ¡°You absolute dick, you think you can run?¡± Cloudhawk took a large stride forward and buried his knee in the director¡¯s stomach. The lustful man curled up like a broiled shrimp whimpering as though his organs had been pureed. Cloudhawk gave him a sharp smack for good measure. ¡°I said I was gonna whoop your ass, didn¡¯t I? Fuck, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get lucky so soon, but here you are. Die you sack of shit!¡± Chimp blubbered through a face full of tears. ¡°No-no-no! No, please! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Cloudhawk was unfazed, however, and raised his hands. Hellflower stopped him. ¡°Cloudhawk, hold on.¡± He turned his head to look at her. She was in a tough spot, haggard and messy with most of her clothes ruined but still beautiful. Her unfortunate situation could easily arouse a man¡¯s darker desires. ¡°You don¡¯t think we should spare him, do you?¡± Cloudhawk was surprised by her mercy, but he was resolute. ¡°If I could kill him ten times it wouldn¡¯t pay back what he¡¯s done to me over the last week. He dies today.¡± How could Hellflower not want this disgusting man dead? ¡°He can still be useful.¡± She saw Cloudhawk looking back at her with a dumb expression. ¡°So have you had enough of an eye full? Help get me out of these shackles!¡± Cloudhawk gave Chimp a sharp kick to the ribs. ¡°Keys!¡± Hellflower had nearly lost hope, but suddenly Cloudhawk had appeared just in time. The young man was Roste¡¯s most cherished treasure, whose worth was far beyond her own. She knew Roste had to have stationed any number of guards to watch the boy, including many of his transformed freaks. Clever and calculating as the Academician was, how could Cloudhawk have gotten free? Something didn¡¯t seem right! But however it happened, Cloudhawk had risked himself to save her. Hellflower was grateful. ¡°Did anyone see you?¡± ¡°The lab¡¯s in chaos and I¡¯m dressed as a guard, people are running all over and not paying any attention. For now no one knows where I am.¡± When her shackles were removed Hellflower tenderly rubbed her wrists. She searched the unconscious scientists and found a gun and some ammo. Cloudhawk might not have been discovered yet, but they couldn¡¯t take this situation lightly. It wouldn¡¯t be long before someone discovered there was a problem and once the old man came for them things would go from bad to worse. Cloudhawk¡¯s daring rescue wasn¡¯t entirely altruistic. ¡°You got a plan? We¡¯ve gotta get outta here!¡± By now she had recovered her typical poise. ¡°The two of us aren¡¯t strong enough ourselves. We need some help if we want a shot of getting out of here alive.¡± Cloudhawk immediately thought of someone. He grabbed a fistful of Chimp¡¯s clothes and dragged him back to his feet. He gave him another punch to the face before snarling the question at him. ¡°Where¡¯s Hyena?¡± Chimp hesitated, unwilling to answer. But when Cloudhawk lifted his fist for another punch he knew he wasn¡¯t going to get away with silence. Quivering, he answered. ¡°Don¡¯t- don¡¯t hit me. H-he¡¯s here, next door!¡± ¡°Hellflower, do you really want to keep him alive?¡± ¡°He may be a piece of shit, but he¡¯s been here a long time. He has people who listen to him, and maybe they¡¯ll listen to us. We can use them to fight the Academician. Maybe, with Hyena¡¯s help, we can actually fight back!¡± She¡¯d nearly been raped by this weasel, but her gaze was calm and steady like nothing had happened. Her mind was already making plans and countermoves. This level of poise was almost unnatural. She was the most mature and composed woman Cloudhawk had ever met both physically and emotionally. She returned the brainwashing syringe to its box and handed it to Cloudhawk. ¡°Take this. Let¡¯s go!¡± With the box in one hand and Chimp in the other, Cloudhawk followed Hellflower down the hall. Although her clothes were in tatters she was no less threatening. She kicked open the door to the next room and charged in. With her hair flailing she looked like a Valkyrie. Bang-bang-bang! She fired several rapid shots, too fast for anyone to strike back. The guards were dead before they hit the ground. In the center of the room, submerged in a glass tank floated Hyena. He was unmoving but still awake. Hellflower raised her hand and fired a couple rounds into the rank, shattering it. Glass and fluid poured free, and a figure coated in bristling black fur leapt out right after. Half man and half beast, Hyena swept past. Neither Hellflower nor Cloudhawk could react before he had them both by the neck. He lifted them off the ground and squeezed as he fixed them with murderous green eyes. ¡°You two actually came back here to let me go? What makes you think I won¡¯t kill you!¡± Hellflower didn¡¯t seem scared of him or the threat of having the life choked out of her. She fought out her response through her half-crushed windpipe. ¡°If you kill us you¡¯re giving up your shot to get out of here. You¡¯ll end up just like the others, a puppet soldier!¡± Hyena¡¯s fierce visage twisted into a snarl. He loosened his hands. Cloudhawk gasped for breath, acutely aware of how dangerous this guy was. Hellflower explained the situation. ¡°The Academician is stronger than either of us could imagine. Fighting alone we don¡¯t stand a chance, but maybe together we can put that old man down. I know you aren¡¯t my biggest fan, and I don¡¯t much like you either, but we need to put that aside and come to an accord.¡± Chimp became flustered. ¡°You¡¯re doomed! You can¡¯t fight the Academician, you¡¯ve got to give up this foolish idea.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s animosity toward Chimp was particularly keen. ¡°Who the fuck asked you to open your whore mouth? Shut the fuck up!¡± Hellflower stood in front of Chimp. ¡°I know you¡¯ve got a lot of people here who listen to you, and I believe you¡¯re an intelligent man. You need to make a choice; you help us, or you die.¡± Chimp gave her a pained look. ¡°Why are you so dead set on fighting the Academician?¡± Her response was delivered in even tones. ¡°Everyone should be allowed to make a decision based on what they believe. I cannot pledge allegiance to that mad man. I suggest you think carefully before answering.¡± Hyena picked Chimp up in his bone-crushing hands. ¡°But don¡¯t. Waste. My. Time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me. Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Chimp¡¯s face was red and he sputtered in abject fear. Hyena¡¯s twisted half-beast face so close to his scared away any courage he had. ¡°Alright, I promise I¡¯ll do whatever you want. I¡¯ll call all my people together in the lab. Cloudhawk¡¯s equipment is there, too. I¡¯ll take you!¡± He really was a rotten bastard! Hyena unceremoniously threw Chimp to the ground with a look of utter disgust. Chapter 122 - Not A Traitor Chapter 122 - Not A Traitor Chimp¡¯s cowardice and perversion were secret to no one. It was these fatal weaknesses that Hellflower and Hyena were able to exploit. Indeed Academician Roste held a high and unshakable position in Blackwater Base, but his subordinates ¨C Chimp, Hellflower, Hyena ¨C also had influence. If the three of them stood together in opposition to Roste they stood a decent chance. The conflict between Hellflower, Cloudhawk, Hyena, and the Academician was intractable. Either he would die or they would, and so no effort was spared or method ignored. If Chimp dared to disobey, things would turn out very poorly for him. He knew this intimately. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± The director stumbled along as they shoved him onward. He whined submissively, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, please don¡¯t kill me!¡± As Cloudhawk watched the cowardly man he could not see him as the least bit reliable. Was there anyone who would listen to this wretch? But this was their best option, their only option. Perhaps they could use him to gain control over a few fighters and improve their chances of taking the labs, then ultimately the whole base. Hellflower and Hyena had lost their voice when Roste took them. For Chimp things were different. He was perverted, obscene, and afraid of death, but he had also been with the Academician for several decades. He had clout, especially among those who worked in the labs since he handled most of its business. If they could incite a rebellion from within using Chimp¡¯s influence and his people, they might have a way out. Every leader from Blackwater¡¯s opposition faction had been killed by Roste¡¯s ploy. Only Hellflower remained to call for their aid, but all that remained were a few hundred insurgents. That wasn¡¯t enough to take over the base and truly change things, but it was enough for them to fight their way to freedom. ¡°You know what you need to say. Don¡¯t make me teach you.¡± Hellflower pressed a gun to the back of Chimp¡¯s head and shoved him into a small lab. ¡°Don¡¯t hold on to the delusion that you can outrun my bullets. Do your job and I¡¯ll forget about what you tried to do to me. If you don¡¯t, even Roste won¡¯t save you from what I¡¯ll do.¡± His whole body trembled but he managed to nod emphatically. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s my shit!¡± Cloudhawk stomped forward and snarled in Chimp¡¯s face. ¡°Where the fuck did you put it?¡± In the face of the young man¡¯s seething hatred the older man shrank back. He knew that Cloudhawk ¨C more than Hyena or even Hellflower ¨C was looking for any excuse to kill him. After all, his torture had been looked over and orchestrated by the lab director. More than once Cloudhawk fantasized about what he¡¯d do to him. The kid was young and impulsive, and if it weren¡¯t for Hellflower¡¯s intervention Chimp would already be dead. Cloudhawk found his staff, cloak, book, mask and demonhunter token in a nearby box. Everything was there! Every item was important and he was thankful they hadn¡¯t tossed anything out. He flung the invisibility cloak over his shoulders, the mask over his face, and fixed the staff to his waist. Finally he felt like he could take a breath, at last he could protect himself. Chimp placed an emergency call to his subordinates. Over fifty fighters directly under Chimp¡¯s control were summoned. In addition there were some fifty scientists who came as well. The fighters were decent, and their leaders were first-rate, about as skilled as the two men Roste had killed ¨C Black Jackal and Iron Bear. Cloudhawk was admittedly confused. How could this cowardly shit have underlings this skilled? What were they thinking? Out in the wastelands strength equaled respect, yet they were willingly allowing themselves to be bossed around by this man? When they had all gathered, Chimp¡¯s people stared in wide-eyed surprise. How could they not? They were face to face with Hellflower, Hyena and Cloudhawk! They knew Hellflower and Hyena were traitors and had presumably been locked away. They knew Cloudhawk had fled the labs right under their noses, but¡­ here they all were! Hellflower poked him in the back with the muzzle of her weapon. He started to shake. Without any verbal command he stepped forward to speak. His guards looked at him with dumbfounded expressions. The atmosphere was tense, heavy, as they waited for him to explain. Chimp pushed his cracked glasses higher on his nose. He was clearly conflicted and uneasy with the situation, anxious eyes scanning the crowd. And then he sighed. ¡°Everyone, you have eyes for yourself, you can see the situation. I have a very important announcement to make. But before I do, I will ask you right out ¨C are you willing to fight with me?¡± His men exchanged uncertain glances. ¡°We¡¯re just awaiting orders!¡± ¡°Good, very good.¡± Standing amongst the crowd many thoughts flit through Chimp¡¯s mind. The Academician¡¯s image seemed to hover just behind his eyes. Despite how precarious the situation seemed, his face was resolute. ¡°Twenty years ago I was a Seeker scientist, like many of you.We were betrayed from within, and a death squad from the elysian lands came. They wiped us out. Thousands of us were killed, it was genocide. By some stroke of luck I survived and became a refugee. Then, the Academician found me out in the wastes and brought me to Blackwater Base.¡± Hellflower and Hyena watched nearby. Their faces hardened with every word. Where was he going with this? Hellflower¡¯s finger tightened on the trigger and her gun inched forward. Chimp trembled again but his voice remained steady. ¡°Everyone, I¡¯ve been here for a long time. I¡¯ve watched as everything has changed. Every day the Academician has become more dictatorial. He doesn¡¯t allow anyone to breathe a word of opposition. By whatever brutal methods he pleases Roste will go at any time of day or night to capture innocents and use them for his sordid experiments. All resources are directed to this research, all other options rejected. You¡¯ll note that after years the population of this base has not increased and in fact has been reduced. Many of our most excellent scientists are gone since we¡¯ve gotten in bed with the Dark Atom, and that¡¯s a slippery slope.¡± This was more like it. Hyena and Hellflower were less on edge. But then, trembling even more acutely, his voice suddenly raised an octave. ¡°But I still believe the Academician is right! I trust in his vision, in his greatness! Not everyone will understand what he is doing, but all he does is in the best interest of humanity! Although he has never formally accepted me, for years I have looked up to that man as the greatest teacher that has ever lived!¡± ¡°Chimp! Do you want to die?!¡± ¡°Hahahaha! Want to die? Yes, I do! Are you afraid of death?¡± The lab director spun around and glared at them through bloodshot eyes. His face was full of anger and reprimand. ¡°Hellflower, you have always worked toward your own selfish ends, and in spite of the consequences you conspired to steal the result of the Academician¡¯s decades of hard work! Hyena, you once begged the Academician to save your life, but now you betray him? Ever since he elevated you to your position he never once mistreated you and yet this is how you repay him. Do you think you¡¯re worthy of his brilliance?!¡± Cloudhawk was stunned into silence. Hellflower and Hyena were no better off. Chimp¡¯s reversal was so entirely unexpected they weren¡¯t sure how to react. ¡°I can¡¯t fight like you, Hyena! I¡¯m not as talented as you, Hellflower! Neither of you have ever looked at me with anything other than contempt, like garbage! But do you know what? I find you repulsive, too. I could murder, I could rape, I could perform all evil deeds under the sun and live in shameless depravity. But there is one thing I will never do. I am not a traitor!¡± Bang! A bullet tore a hole in Chimp¡¯s chest. ¡°Tell the Academician¡­ that Chimp never betrayed him!¡± Chimp swayed unsteadily and looked down at the gushing hole in his chest. All of his strength left him all at once but he kept on his feet. The anxious, weak man seemed to summon all the strength of his lifetime to let loose a final scream. ¡°Brothers, avenge me!!¡± Hyena, roaring like a feral beast, lunged forward and nearly twisted Chimp¡¯s head from his body. The frail man¡¯s neck spun around like a lump of fresh dough a hundred and eighty degrees until he was looking straight back behind him. When he hit the ground Chimp¡¯s eyes were wide. He knew these were his last moments, a realization that made him deeply afraid. But he didn¡¯t regret what he did. His last hope¡­ his last wish¡­ his last desire was that his bones might adorn the Academician¡¯s neck. ¡°Chimp, boss!¡± ¡°Kill them! Avenge Chimp!¡± The director¡¯s men were loyal and seeing him die instead of betraying his leader set their blood to boiling. Dozens of guns were leveled at the murderers and fired. In an instant the whole room was a deafening cacophony of gunfire, a deadly tempest of bullets. The three offenders dove for cover. Hyena was almost mad with anger while Hellflower was at a loss. Never in their wildest dreams did they think Chimp would get one up on them like this. Cloudhawk looked at Chimp, laying on the ground and unable to breathe. He was just as angry and surprised as the others, but also puzzled. Why did the world have to be this way? Not long ago Hyena and Hellflower respected the Academician, now they were at odds. Meanwhile Chimp, that worthless man desperately afraid of death, chose to die rather than give up on the man he adored. Great treason is like loyalty. Great loyalty is like treachery. Great falsehoods are like truth. Why did the world make people so inscrutable? Why where their hearts beyond comprehension? Dozens of soldiers emptied their clips wildly at Cloudhawk¡¯s hiding spot. Everything in the lab had been nearly blown apart. If any of them so much as stuck their head out they would immediately be sporting several new holes. There could be twice as many of them and they would still have no way to fight their way out! Academician Roste would be here soon and the three of them together couldn¡¯t face him, much less with the addition of fifty well-armed guards. Hiding here wasn¡¯t an option. Hyena¡¯s talons anxiously clawed at the ground leaving ragged gashes in the metal. He was like a cornered animal, desperate and furious. He would rather die than be captured alive again, as a soldier he couldn¡¯t suffer the indignity of being someone¡¯s puppet. ¡°Kill our way out! If we die, we die together!¡± But Cloudhawk called him back. ¡°No! Don¡¯t give up, we haven¡¯t lost yet. There¡¯s still something we can do.¡± Hellflower turned skeptical eyes his way. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not certain, and very dangerous. But if it works we can kill the Academician!¡± ¡°Well now¡¯s the time! If you¡¯ve got an idea then get to it!¡± ¡°Alright, first we need to get out of here and still be breathing.¡± Cloudhawk pulled out the Gospel of the Sands. He went on. ¡°Remember to work together!¡± The gunfire was beginning to wane as many of the soldiers reloaded their weapons. Cloudhawk focused his psychic energy into the Gospel and all of a sudden the room was engulfed in a sand storm. The fain grains not only impeded vision but got in their eyes and forced them shut. ¡°Now¡¯s the time!¡± Hellflower¡¯s powerful legs launched her into the air. She soared out of cover with a gun in each hand and though she also couldn¡¯t see she knew where every target stood. She pulled the triggers in rapid succession, each bullet dropping one of their attackers. Hyena bounded out from behind cover on all fours and charged into the crowd. As easily as a wolf among sheep he flung aside three soldiers effortlessly. Another he mangled into ribbons of flesh. Suddenly blind and under attack, Chimp¡¯s people lost their composure. They couldn¡¯t keep up their barrage. ¡°Don¡¯t get caught up in the fight! Run!¡± Cloudhawk grabbed Hellflower and dragged her behind him out of the room. Hyena leapt through the throng tearing through opponents with his razor-like claws until a path was clear and he, too, fled. Three minutes later. Academician Roste arrived at the lab, followed by a contingent of mutant soldiers. What he found was a gory mess of a dozen or more corpses and the rest of the soldiers in disarray. ¡°Academician. Boss Chimp, sir. He¡­¡± Roste saw his director¡¯s broken body among the dead. He hardly seemed to register the fact. Cutting off the soldier, the old scholar pressed him for information. ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°They fled. I think toward the animal containment section.¡± Academician Roste left without another word, beckoning for the flock of mutant soldiers to follow. Chapter 123 - Liberating the Beasts Chapter 123 - Liberating the Beasts A hundred years ago there was once a wise and knowledgeable Seeker. In the ancient ruins he uncovered an ancient piece of biotechnology, only, most of its secrets had been lost to bygone ages. For years he diligently studied, decades of hard work resulting in numerous advances and discoveries. In the twilight of his life he took on a young and brilliant student to pass on everything he had learned. That young man¡¯s name was Roste. Roste inherited that old scholar¡¯s legacy. Decades past like days as he dedicated himself to this singular field of study. He compared ancient knowledge with the crude modern practices, ultimately creating ¡®Roste¡¯s Alteration Procedure.¡¯ At first his experiments were performed exclusively on wasteland animals. By promoting and accelerating beneficial mutations he made the creatures smarter and stronger. Eventually he succeeded in cultivating beasts with the capacity for critical thought. He called the evolved creatures a new class, Sagax Brutumilia. However in Roste¡¯s eyes the beasts were never more than creatures. They were ¡®other¡¯ and thus he spared them no part of his heart. Besides, endowing these monsters with strength and intelligence would one day put them at odds with his own species. So he stopped his research, but used the basis of what he learned from creating these animals for something new. This was the origin of Roste¡¯s quest to transform humanity. He wanted to take the benefits of Sagax Brutumilia¡¯s abilities and transplant them into a human body. This mad endeavor sounded absurd, but after countless attempts he finally succeeded in creating half-beast soldiers! These transmuted warriors were able to retain the intelligence and memory of a human while attaining the survivability and combat prowess of a wild animal. In theory, they possessed the same capabilities to learn as humans and the raw physical prowess of their animal forbearers. In essence his research was complete, ready for mass production and dissemination. Only, his beast warriors had one critical defect. Through testing Roste discovered that the subjects were predisposed to contracting strange diseases. He called it Racial Cognitive Disassociation Syndrome. As the name implies, sufferers of this affliction retained the memory and cognitive abilities of humans but also the base nature and emotionality of animals. Due to how these two overlapped and conflicted, sufferers ended up rejecting their humanity despite their human bodies. The mind deteriorated until victims were something that wasn¡¯t human and not beast. Roste was never able to completely solve the problem. The best he was able to do was develop his brainwashing serum. It didn¡¯t cure the syndrome, but instead destroyed the portion of the brain responsible for emotion. After administration of the serum subjects lost their capacity for emotion as well as most of their memory. In essence, they became pliable puppets. Production of these half-beast warriors began and many were produced, eventually reaching the point where they could develop a dozen or so a month. Due to their strength, abilities, and capacity for following orders the soldiers became a hot selling commodity. An organization like the Dark Atom was more than willing to pay top dollar and this made Blackwater Base very rich in a matter of a few short years. Many of the instruments, firearms and weapons were given to them by the Dark Atom as a means of payment. It was irrefutable! Academician Roste was a mad genius. How could any normal Seeker, surrounded by this barren backwater, create so many inconceivable inventions? In fact, Roste¡¯s most successful accomplishments weren¡¯t his beast soldiers or the transformed humans. It was his medicines, all sorts of incredible pharmaceuticals which were unavailable to anyone. Most incredible of all, for decades he turned those medicines and methods on himself. He performed experiments in secret, spending most of his energy in developing his own adaptability mutation. Roste extracted the mutagen factors from many other creatures, strengthened them, then introduced them into his own body to produce a nearly perfect specimen. It was the only result he was truly satisfied with. Now the might of the wastelands was within him and there was nothing left for him to take from it. He turned his sights on the inscrutable elysian lands and the mystical demonhunter who came from them. Like most scientists, Roste was an atheist. He did not believe the power of the demonhunters came from any mystical god. For years he yearned to capture one so he could determine precisely what it was that made them special. Once he learned their secrets he could take it for his own. Thus he would become the first creature in history to combine the best of the wastelands and elysian lands, a perfect human specimen! The strongest, the most resilient! Cloudhawk was the manifestation of all his desires, especially since Roste knew at a glance that the boy had grown up in the wastes. It proved that their gifts did not come from some god! The news that Cloudhawk had fled to the cage room spread. Soldiers converged on the location. However they were too late. Cloudhawk had used the key taken from Chimp¡¯s body to open the doors, and slipped in with Hellflower and Hyena. The few soldiers already inside could not contend against the two first-rate fighters and were dealt with in under half a minute. The animal containment sector was one of the most important locations in Roste¡¯s laboratory! It was separated into two floors by a steel-framed set of stairs. The lower area was arranged in a grid pattern with eight passageways making escape easy. Twenty-some cages were arranged throughout with roughly half housing mutated beasts of all sorts. All told there were about a hundred creatures kept here. Sagax Brutumilia was a fitting name. Not only were they more intelligent but their bodies had undergone changes as well. These mutations enhanced their primitive capabilities to make them more agile, more ferocious, and more efficient. After Cloudhawk and the others broke in and dealt with the guards they were met with absolute silence. Unless they were looking right at them it was hard to believe there were so many creatures here because none made a sound. They all sat in their cages in quiet self-restraint. Cloudhawk approached the closest one and peered through the bars. Inside were perhaps a dozen lizards muzzled and chained to the ground. They looked back at him through an apathetic and resigned fog. Cloudhawk knew right away that they were the result of constant failures and painstaking breeding. Each one of them held high research value, and of course they were dangerous. Hellflower was no fool. On the contrary she was smart as a whip. She guessed his plan the moment he led them here. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. You can¡¯t be thinking of letting these animals out¡­ Do you think they¡¯ll help you?¡± ¡°I know someone in there can understand what I¡¯m saying.¡± Cloudhawk paid Hellflower no mind, there wasn¡¯t any time. He spoke to the animals instead. ¡°If you want to live, if you want your freedom, then here¡¯s your one opportunity. If we work together we can all get out of here!¡± Several of the creatures were roused from their lethargy when they heard Cloudhawk speak. Several knowing pairs of eyes stared his way. ¡°I¡¯m like you, a victim of their experiments. We have the same enemy and the same goals.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a fool, he knew that his plan was dangerous. But he couldn¡¯t think of anything better, they had to take the risk. ¡°I¡¯m going to let you go and give you back your freedom. In return I want you to help me fight Roste and the evil scientists who did this to you!¡± Hellflower moved forward as though to stop him, but Hyena¡¯s growling words stopped her. ¡°Let me do it!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time for any nonsense so without hesitation he fished out Chimp¡¯s key and unlocked one of the cage doors. Resolutely he strode in and unlocked the shackles, the only thing keeping the creatures from eating him alive. Hiss! Hiss! Aaoooghh! Several burly desert lizards charged. Their mutations made them more like miniature dinosaurs, capable of standing up on powerful hind legs. Not only were they much larger than a normal wasteland lizard, they were also smarter. They headed right for Cloudhawk. ¡°Watch out!¡± Hellflower was ready to shoot but Hyena held her arm. Hyena fixed his sharp eyes on Cloudhawk. The thought of using these creatures had never crossed his mind, nor did he suspect Cloudhawk would think of it. All that was left was to see if the kid¡¯s luck would hold out. In fact even Cloudhawk saw it as a gamble. But his confidence came from experience. Back with the Tartarus Mercenaries was when Cloudhawk had encountered the rat king. It was nearly as smart as any human. These creatures were no different, and after being locked up with the scientists for so long he bet they understood human speech. They had to know what he was saying. If they had even a shred of logic they had to know this was their only chance to get out. If they let it pass or killed him they would spend all the rest of their lives chained up in these cages oppressed by these hateful scientists. He faced the oncoming lizards with a calm exterior, not even flinching from their roars. The first one to reach him spread open it¡¯s maw to take a bite! But then the largest of the herd lunged forward to knock it away. This one was the alpha, and the smartest. It communicated with the others through a series of growls and hisses which caused them to calm down. It paid off! It paid off! Cloudhawk had been nervous, especially when the sharp teeth of the lizard were coming for his face. Thankfully he was saved by their leader otherwise Cloudhawk doubted he would be able to fight off even just one. No one would have been able to save him. ¡°Quick, open all the cages!¡± Cloudhawk spun around and threw the key to the others. ¡°Fast as you can!¡± With every minute precious they flung open the cages, one by one. The distribution of intelligence was different and uneven and each time they were nearly attacked only to have the ones who understood step in to protect them. A particularly sturdy cage had its doors flung open. A pack of wolves came screaming out, a flurry of tooth and claw. Their alpha padded out and stopped by Hyena¡¯s side. She was a female, but if she stood on her back legs she was easily ten feet tall. Her body was covered in a sleek white coat that made her look exceedingly majestic and noble. This one was the most highly evolved of all the creatures here. Physically she was very different from normal wolves, highly agile and capable of explosive force. When she came upon Hyena she stopped as though she recognized him and licked his hand ¨C an elder showing an affection to their brood. Hyena¡¯s heart was in turmoil. He was a patchwork creature, part man and part beast. The blood of these wild animals pumped through his veins. He had the thoughts and memories of a man but he no longer shared their emotions. To his eyes the lives of the wolves was more pleasing. It filled him with a sense of identity. Hyena knew this was that condition Roste would talk about, ¡®Racial Cognitive Disassociation Syndrome¡¯, the most serious side-effect of his transformation. It was an unsolvable challenge that Hyena knew meant he would never really belong with humans ever again. Chapter 124 - Last Stand Chapter 124 - Last Stand Amidst the flood of a hundred or more ferocious wasteland beasts, the three humans were left untouched. It was a miracle. Cloudhawk was drenched in sweat, he heaved a sigh as finally he was able to let the fear go. Siding with a pack of wild animals was probably the craziest idea he¡¯d ever had. Roste¡¯s arrogance lead him to believe he had created a new species. He¡¯d even given them a name. These mutated victims looked much the same as their wild counterparts, but in fact they were orders of magnitude more capable. They were changed, but not so exaggerated that they were unrecognizable. The difference lay in evolution versus forced transformation. Both led to improvement, but whereas evolution was always a positive influence, forced transformations were often unpredictable. The biggest disparities after these mutations were in intelligence, strength and agility. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to open all the cages before he started hearing footsteps coming their way. They were approaching from several angles amidst shouts and harsh commands. Judging by the sound there was a large group closing in. Cloudhawk looked to his left and right. ¡°They¡¯re finally here?¡± Hellflower raised her guns and Hyena began to slowly shift into his beast form. The beasts around them could sense the danger bearing down and bristled threateningly. The fight was about to begin! Bang! Several of the doors to the containment area were kicked open and several hundred fighters poured in. They had crossbows, stun rods and electric nets that they brandished as they flooded both floors. In no time they had the area surrounded but it was clear they were frightened by the scenario they discovered. ¡°Kill them! Kill them all!¡± When he recognized how dire their situation was, one of the scientists shouted out the order. The soldiers raised their guns, loading bullets and winding back arrows as they prepared to fight. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to give any orders or warnings for the beasts that had been locked up here were all smart enough to know what was coming. ¡°Squeak squeak!¡± Several of the rats chittered and suddenly they were off, almost too fast to follow. In a blink they scurried from the first level up to the second. Moments after the scientist gave the order they were already in the crowd of humans, biting and clawing at crucial areas. A series of pained cries preceded several of the warriors falling from the walkways. The rest of the beasts howled and joined the fray. The scientists shouted hysterically as they bore down on the humans. ¡°Hurry! Kill them, kill them!¡± An enormous eagle with golden feathers dove at them. It didn¡¯t look much different than the ones found in the wastelands except for its coloring and the fact it was twice the size. Each feather was a gleaming bronze which was especially bright at the edges of its wings. They were light, hard and sharp like dozens of blades strung together. As it swept by those feather easily cut open the fragile throats of the humans. It swept through the room like a bolt of blood-tinged golden lightning. In mere moments it¡¯d killed more people than they could count. It grabbed a man in each of its taloned claws by the head. One was a scientist who screeched piteously as they wheeled high overhead. The bones of their skulls were crushed as easily as eggshells before they were unceremoniously flung away. Fast and agile the bird of prey carved a path through the warriors unscathed despite their guns and numbers. Wolves, lions, and leopards urged their powerful bodies forward as the fight unfolded. The soldiers had always known these animals were here, but until now they hadn¡¯t need to worry what they were capable of! These creatures were as different from their wasteland counterparts as clouds and mud. Typical beasts reacted to instinct, but these were not typical animals. They knew to avoid gunfire, seek cover, and cooperate during attacks. They even employed trickery and misdirection. Although they were smart the creatures weren¡¯t taught how to fight and relied on their feral instincts. Those instincts were powerful and even without training they fought like veteran warriors. It was knowledge that lived deep in their bones, muscle memory evolution couldn¡¯t breed out of them. The soldiers outnumbered them, but none could compare to the sheer ferocity of these animals. It was a massacre even before they started shooting. Cloudhawk was surprised at how effective the animals were at killing. More than once he saw a soldier¡¯s head casually ripped off like they were made of paper. These creatures could fight as well and as hard as the likes of Slyfox or Mad Dog, some even better. It was almost more than he could believe. However, a few minutes after the fighting began, more figures began pushing their way in from the corridors. They leapt over barriers and scaled walls with ease, bounding up to the second floor as agile as the animals themselves. One of them crouched on the iron bars of a handrail and launched itself into the air, leaving behind a dent where powerful legs had kicked off. Fast as a missile it caught the golden eagle mid-flight. Two powerful arms held tight and ripped. The eagle replied with a screech as its wings were savaged. However, the creature was not your typical bird. It kicked at its attacker, tearing away chunks of flesh with its talons, but this new foe didn¡¯t seem to feel any pain. They grabbed the eagle by its leg, and between the momentum of their fall and the bird¡¯s injured wing the majestic creature was brought down to earth. Another enemy leapt at it on all fours. Sharp teeth clamped around the eagle¡¯s throat. Its head was bitten clean off. Fresh blood splattered over the area. Aaaooogghh! Hovering over their kill the soldiers didn¡¯t see the flash of silver bearing down on them. With a bone-shuddering roar the silver wolf matriarch charged, hurling her burly body into them like a runaway truck. Mighty claws swiped at each of them leaving nasty, jagged wounds behind. These mutant warriors were tough but even their transformed flesh couldn¡¯t protect them. Thick bones couldn¡¯t bear the attacks and splintered. Still they struggled to fight back. The matriarch belched a fog of acid over them. Roste¡¯s transformed soldiers did not feel pain or fear. As they fought through the fog there wasn¡¯t an inch of them that hadn¡¯t started to melt.Skin, fat and muscle fell off in sizzling chunks even as the warriors continued to run ahead. They scampered toward the wolf like a pair of mad, peeled rabbits. Incredible! What powerful acid! Cloudhawk had seen the outstanding damage rotwolves could cause with this attack, but even that was hardly worth mentioning compared to the matriarch. In moments her prey¡¯s armor, skin and sinews melted into an unrecognizable mass they certainly weren¡¯t going to survive. The two mutated fighters were handily defeated. Subject Zero was a force to be reckoned with. Hellflower¡¯s hands were a blur. She was beautiful and deadly like a flower from hell, and any soldier within her line of sight was shot down. She hardly even glanced at her targets before they were slain, killing more than even the vicious animals could match. Amidst the carnage of the base¡¯s guards, a frail and thin figure slowly picked its way down the corridor. Seven pitch black mutated soldiers followed. As Academician Roste looked upon the ruin that was his lab his expression changed little. He offered a wheezing cough, then unhurriedly picked off his glasses and necklace and slipped them into his pocket. When he spoke he did so naturally, entirely unperturbed by what was happening around him. ¡°I underestimated you lot.¡± Cloudhawk was on high alert. Had this monster finally showed his face? The soldiers hadn¡¯t known what they were walking in to and suffered for it, but Cloudhawk and Hellflower especially knew what Roste was capable of. Neither were foolish enough to consider his presence lightly. And then there were the dozens of creatures that hated him down to their very core! Could he even grasp that? Slowly the Academician began to change. His body swelled and color drained from his skin leaving him with a pale blue hue. Meaty hands lifted his staff and pulled, revealing a hidden blade attached to the handle. The blade was no wider than the width of two fingers, thin and narrow, and exceedingly common in appearance. In fact it was a high-frequency ion blade, one that could cut iron as easily as a stick of butter. Hellflower took the first shot. Roste moved like the wind, jerking his enormous body from side to side so easily the bullets danced right by. Hellflower¡¯s accuracy was legendary, but even so close and in the narrow confines of the corridor she could not hit her mark. He was too fast, her attacks were hardly worth his consideration. Three of his animal victims charged, thirsty for revenge. Roste raised his weapon and swept by, fluid as a specter. All three animals were cut in half mid-leap, discovering firsthand how deadly his weapon was. Their flesh and bone meant nothing to something that could split sheets of iron. One of the wasteland lizard saw the result of coming in close and instead spat at Roste. A plume of fire consumed the corridor in scorching heat that would cook a normal human in moments. Yet as the fires engulfed the Academician his body¡¯s surface was covered in a heat-deflecting shell. The intense heat caused him no damage. A flash of steel. The lizard¡¯s head hit the ground with a thud and rolled away. His movements were as deft and easy as though he were cutting a stick of wood. He buried his sword in the body of a rat that had tried to move in for a sneak attack when it did not dodge. Even impaled by the humming blade the rat lurched forward, desperately clawing at the Academician. Its whole body began to smolder and turned red. It exploded, flooding the hallway with blood and concussive force. Self-destruction? Cloudhawk had seen this before. One of these had killed his friend Woola. These detonating lab rats were much more dangerous. The explosion had blown Roste¡¯s clothes to shreds but he was left without any major injuries. Parts of his body exposed to the blast were covered in a ribbed heat resistant crust. He hadn¡¯t been hurt by it, but the force of the explosion had thrown him into the air. Hyena raced forward. Strong legs launched him into the air, and when he reached the Academician¡¯s side he swung himself around and whipped his leg at the scientist. Roste was smacked out of the area and hit the ground so he left a small crater. To Hyena it didn¡¯t feel like he¡¯d kicked a body, but rather a sturdy lump of rubber. Any force from the momentum of his kick was diffused. Roste¡¯s body could adapt to any outside stimulus immediately, rendering all attacks useless. Guns, knives, fire, explosions ¨C even critically powerful attacks were shrugged off like they were nothing. Then, to add insult to injury, the freak had freakish regenerative abilities as well! Roste slowly gathered himself up from the ground. His massive, stately, blue-tinged body towered over them like a giant. Every muscle in his body, even his facial features, were finely chiseled so that he looked less like a man and more like a carving of the ancient gods. ¡°I told you it is no use. My body is perfect.¡± Chapter 125 - Hysteria Chapter 125 - Hysteria This nightmare of a man possessed terrifying strength, speed, power, regeneration, adaptability¡­ if he stood still and let them attack they still couldn¡¯t do him any harm. In addition he bore a sword that could cut bone like tofu. Like the grim reaper, a god of death, he was invincible. ¡°No, not perfect!¡± Cloudhawk railed against Roste¡¯s domineering aura, shouting his defiance. ¡°I don¡¯t think he can keep it up!¡± Hellflower and Hyena were enlightened and inspired by the boy¡¯s words. Yes! He had to be right, there were limits to any power. The energy in Roste¡¯s cells couldn¡¯t be limitless, so if they kept up their attack he would continue to weaken until eventually he burnt out. Roste hacked at the sturdy scales of a lizardman attacker and brutally split him from skull to coccyx. The Academician was covered in the blood of the mutant beasts but never once did his blackish-green eyes change their dull expression. ¡°Everyone has their limits. I am no exception. But do you think you few are capable of forcing me to reach it? Do not overestimate your power.¡± Roste cleaved apart two more beasts as he spoke. Each action seemed at ease, almost lazy. There was no indication that he was tiring out. The creatures he killed were the fruits of his labor, built through his own efforts and yet he cut them down without the slightest hesitation. The lives he took were worth less to him than rotten wood. In his ambitious heart there was only progress and the tools needed to achieve it, leaving no space for the respect for life. Under his heartless assault the animals were pushed back step by step. Today either he died or everyone else did. There was no third option! Two transformed soldiers attempted a sneak attack against the rebels from both flanks. Hellflower, ever vigilant, lifted her guns and unloaded several shots into both of them. There was a bullet for each aimed at their skulls which punched right through the sturdy bone. Mutant soldiers were sturdy, but their bodies were not impenetrable. However as she was busy dealing with them Roste made his move. No one barred his path and so he was on them in a blink. Hellflower didn¡¯t even have time to stagger backwards but Cloudhawk stepped up in her defense. The exorcist staff whirred in his hands and as his cloak flapped in the artificial breeze Cloudhawk disappeared. ¡°Kill! Kill!¡± Hyena refused to be pushed back. Steeped in the throes of bloodlust he charged ahead, without regard for his own safety. His words were almost indistinguishable, not human but the roar of an alpha wolf commanding its pack. All the mighty beasts around, faced with the threat of death, summoned every ounce of ferocity bred into their bones. Without fear or hesitation they charged at the Academician. Though they were creatures of the wilds, they had emotions. They felt rage! They yearned for life and freedom! Many were bred in captivity and from a young life suffered pain that made them beg for death. Unthinkably agonizing experiments and terrible drugs stimulated brain development, imbuing them with the capacity for memory and critical thought. With it came emotion, and underneath it all that unyielding feral spirit which made them refuse to be cowed. Days of torment turned into months, turned into years. They were forced to watch as their own brethren were drained of blood and marrow. It did not escape notice that their numbers were constantly dwindling. The only thing these tortured, mutated creatures could hold on to was hatred. It was a loathing that brewed in their hearts for years. Roste was the culprit! It was all because of him! Countless nights of random killing, of being eaten alive were fresh in their memory. He consumed them to fuel his own need and hunger. Roste was the root of their fear and the focus of their enmity. At last they could act on that all-consuming anger, to kill the hateful demon who¡¯d imprisoned them! The Academician faced Hyena, the frenzied shapeshifter leading his brethren in their desperate charge. A taunting light glimmered in his hateful eyes. This pitiful man, he thought. The beast had consumed what remained of his humanity. Keeping him alive was a danger to the wastelands. It is time to eliminate this failed experiment. Hyena was as strong as Greenland Outpost¡¯s former leader, Hydra. Roste had capabilities on the same level as the Bloodsoaked Queen. At her peak the Bloodsoaked Queen could destroy the likes of Hydra without breaking a sweat, he was nowhere near her level. It was the same between Roste and Hyena. The shapeshifter was fast, but his maker was faster! The Academician¡¯s cane sword split the dim light of the lab like a comet, light glinted off the steel like a flash of lightning. Without any fancy moves, without any wasted motions, he thrust forward. Simplicity in its purest form, but leaving Hyena no way to dodge or block. Looking upon him it was like Hyena was giving his heart away. Roste¡¯s sword was poised to run him through as though he were made of paper when Cloudhawk appeared from the ether. In that crucial moment the young warrior materialized between them with his exorcist staff held high. A burst of energy pulsed forth as staff met sword and amidst the sparks Roste¡¯s deadly sword was knocked off course. However, it was not far enough to miss Hyena completely. The shapeshifter suffered a nasty gash but it did not slow him down in the least. He unleashed all of his stored up energy through his fist into Roste¡¯s chest. As expected the Academician¡¯s flesh hardened into a thick shell just before impact. But this time Hyena¡¯s blow left a mark. Cloudhawk followed on his heels with the exorcist staff. A tempest of energy blasted outward. Roste could retaliate but Cloudhawk was too precious, he was loathe to harm the young demonhunter. In turn, Cloudhawk was emboldened with this knowledge. If he were anyone else then fighting up close in this way would be a death sentence. He would have been stomped into paste right away. ¡°Now! Before it¡¯s too late.¡± Cloudhawk hollered. ¡°Attack!¡± A dozen animal experiments dashed forward. Poisonous lizardmen spat acid at the Academician, wolfmen belched caustic fumes, and giant rats skittered forward ready to sacrifice their explosive bodies. All of them charged, ready to face death without blinking. Hellflower raised a large caliber rifle and leveled it at her target. Bang! She hit Roste right in the head, the bullet striking so hard that he lost his balance and fell to the ground. The animals set on him, trying to rip him apart. His cane sword whined and shuddered like a weapon from the depths of hell. It was as though he was paralyzed, and yet he fired up from the ground so quickly the creatures on top of him were blown backward. Anything in the path of Roste¡¯s high-frequency sword was severed and several of their animal allies were sliced to ribbons. A fog of blood surrounded the Academician several feet in diameter and the walls were painted with the remains of his victims. Roste himself was showing signs of damage. Even if he were made from steel inside and out, after such quick and ferocious attacks he couldn¡¯t have escaped without injury. Hellflower¡¯s shot to the head had ripped off a section of scalp revealing fractured bone beneath. Severe injuries marked his back, torso and arms. Only, it was no use! Roste¡¯s fractured skull knitted itself up in seconds, so fast they could see his flesh grow over the patch before their very eyes. The other injuries healed just as quickly and it made the defenders¡¯ hair stand on end. There was no way they could beat him, not like this. Even with fresh animal attackers coming in waves, even with all of them fighting with every fiber of their being, they still couldn¡¯t cause him any permanent damage! However Roste seemed to fear the present danger. Most especially the threat came from Hellflower and her gun. It packed an incredible punch, and as unlikely as it was to penetrate his skin it was better to be safe. She had to be dealt with quickly. She aimed and fired again, this time pointing the barrel toward his eye socket. Roste flung himself to the side, fast enough to protect his eye but not fast enough to stop the passing bullet from tearing off the skin from one side of his face. Without expression he slowly bent his knees, coiling like a spring. He gathered up pressure then released it all at once to shoot out like a cannon ball. He broke through the crowds of vicious beasts while at the same time a pair of meaty wings slithered out of his back. After a moment he stabilized and traced an arc through the air. ¡°Motherfucker! He can fly!¡± Cloudhawk stared in disbelief when the wings appeared from Roste¡¯s back. Compared to the eagle before, they were weak, the freakish mutation didn¡¯t allow for effortless soaring. But they were good enough to allow him to glide, and high above the animals he avoided their sharp claws and jagged teeth while he headed for Hellflower. He came down toward her with his cane sword held tight in both hands. She turned white as a sheet. Hellflower wanted to run but she was caught in his sights, it was too late. Clang! The grating sound of metal on metal made her teeth grind. Cloudhawk, again! He was channeling his psychic energy through the staff, and once again used it to deflect Roste¡¯s sword. However even his relic weapon was only able to protect them from so many blows. What¡¯s more the Academician¡¯s strength was overpowering. Although Cloudhawk had grown stronger through the last torturous week, it felt like having a mountain dropped on top of him. The force of the impact nearly forced him to his knees. His joints popped audibly from the strain and he could tell his right elbow and shoulder had been dislocated. Hellflower stared wide-eyed at the edge of Roste¡¯s blade, stopped inches before her nose. A single bead of sweat rolled off her forehead. Without even thinking she pulled the trigger and her gun fired point blank into their foe¡¯s chest. The Academician was blasted backward but spread his wings in mid-air to regain balance. Ka-cha! She instinctually pulled back the rifle bolt and cleared its chamber, the empty casing rang as it hit the ground. Bang! She fired again and this time her shot tore through one of his bat-like wings. Academician Roste hit the ground like a kite with its string cut. Hyena was on top of him in an instant, claws bared. Roste was faster, though, and met Hyena with a kick from his powerful leg. The shapeshifter was knocked back while Roste lunged at him once again with his sword. This time Cloudhawk was too far to help, even if he engaged his invisibility cloak. Hyena had to face his creator on his own. It was a close call, but a figure even larger than Hyena came tearing through. The wolf matriarch was faster than the other creatures and covered dozens of feet like a bolt of silver lightning. Its mighty clawed forelimbs struck Roste square on his shoulders and the inertia flung the Academician back more than thirty feet. The other mutant wolves caught up and began to gnaw at the evil man¡¯s arms and legs. Hovering over him the matriarch opened her maw wide and coated him in caustic fog. It poured over Roste¡¯s head and face, and being at least ten times stronger than that of a typical rotwolf even steel would melt under a direct gust. Roste was weakened through the course of the fight, his abilities had begun to wane. Even so he wrenched an arm free from the tearing jaws of the wolves and jabbed his cane sword into the matriarch¡¯s body. The wound was harsh, deep, severing her spine. Hyena screamed, a wail full of rage and anguish. ¡°No!¡± Piteous whines arose from the others in their pack but the matriarch never stopped. For five full seconds she released her noxious cloud over the Academician, turning even the ground into a bubbling pit. Roste screamed at her in mad fury. He hacked at her waist until it was cut apart. With his left arm he struck her jaw and shattered her teeth. The upper part of her body was knocked several feet into the air while organs spilled from her wounds and over the ground. What remained of the matriarch lay in a bloody heap several feet away. She pawed at the air for a moment longer. Then her vibrant green eyes went dark. Chapter 126 - The Fall of a Genius Chapter 126 - The Fall of a Genius A melancholy he could not restrain flooded Hyena as he witnessed the wolf matriarch die saving him. The anger and pain that arose came from deep within his soul. Roste stumbled back onto his feet with some effort, reeling from the acidic fog. His head and most of his chest was a rotted mess and his eyes had melted leaving him blind. With bloodshot eyes filled with rage Hyena charged again. Roste could not see but his hearing was fine, so when he heard the shapeshifter coming he swung wildly with his weapon. Meanwhile Hyena had lost his mind to fury and his only interest was in tearing this man limb from limb. He didn¡¯t even attempt to dodge. In this crucial moment Hellflower lifted her rifle and fired. The bullet caught Roste in the shoulder and stopped his swinging. Hyena struck him first with his right leg. The kick brought Roste up into the air and smashed him against the nearby corridor wall, then quickly followed by a flurry of blows to his head. Each blow had enough force behind it to collapse a normal man¡¯s chest, Roste was like a punching back that threatened to burst at the seams. Bones all over his body were broken and even the iron wall he was up against was dented. These injuries were enough to kill a man ten times over! ¡°You foolish thing.¡± Roste still refused to die. The sound that came from his crushed vocal chords hardly sounded human. The Academician grabbed Hyena¡¯s right hand mid punch and squeezed. Amidst the sickening cracks and pops his former experiment released a shrill wail. His hand was destroyed but he still had his left, and the keen claws jutting from it were thrust into Roste¡¯s left thorax. They slipped through the bubbling flesh and into the freak¡¯s heart. Roste did not react except to plant a kick in Hyena¡¯s chest. Their ally was hurled several dozen feet away before he hit the ground. He struggled to rise but ultimately couldn¡¯t. Aimed for another shot Hellflower pulled the trigger, but blanched when she discovered she had no bullets left. She threw it aside and reached for her last weapon. Roste was already locked on her position. He heaved the sword toward her, its keen edge whistling as it split the air. Cloudhawk was close enough this time to awaken the power of his relic and block Roste¡¯s onslaught. The two weapons met once again, and this time both broke from the impact. Roste¡¯s cane sword snapped right in the middle and ceased its high-frequency effects. The top half snapped backward and flipped just past Roste¡¯s eyes. Hellflower had her gun draw and ready. Roste jumped up and caught the spinning half of his broken sword with a kick that sent it racing toward Cloudhawk. It passed him by and shot into Hellflower¡¯s stomach as she prepared to fire. The jagged, bloodstained metal tore right through her then became lodged in the wall behind where it quivered. She slumped on her metal peg as a pool of blood quickly grew around her. The flesh of Roste¡¯s face was halfway healed but it somehow only made him look more terrible. He reached out and grabbed Cloudhawk by the throat, lifting him off the ground. ¡°I trust you now understand what¡¯s good for you.¡± Cloudhawk felt like a helpless little bird. No matter how hard he struggled he could not break free. The jagged claws that Roste¡¯s fingernails had become dug into the flesh of his neck. He was suffocating, the pressure had cut off all air to his brain. He needed only squeeze the slightest bit and Cloudhawk¡¯s neck would snap. Hyena lay in a heap, too wounded to stand, while Hellflower was pinned to the wall. None of the mutated animals could do anything to harm Roste. After all of this horror and carnage would it be the Academician who won in the end? No! It wasn¡¯t over! Cloudhawk took advantage of this rare chance, so close to their enemy, to do something no one expected. He wrapped his hand around a syringe he¡¯d kept hidden, lifted it high, then jabbed it into Academician Roste¡¯s neck. The flesh of his neck was still recovering and so couldn¡¯t harden against the needle. It slipped right in and Cloudhawk squeezed the plunger with his thumb, forcing whatever liquid was inside into Roste¡¯s body. ¡°What did you do!¡± Roste plucked the syringe from his neck. He was blind and could not smell, but he feared what Cloudhawk had done. He knew, he just couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°What have you done!¡± ¡°Your body is powerful, Master Academician. I can¡¯t do anything about that¡­¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s neck was red around Roste¡¯s tightening fingers, but he grinned nonetheless. ¡°I was just curious how you would react to a dose of your own brainwashing drugs.¡± ¡°The brainwashing¡­ ? No¡­ no, no, no!¡± Blood leaked from the corners of Hellflower¡¯s mouth. She had given up hope when this sudden reversal of fortunes revealed itself. The brainwashing drugs! The same ones Chimp had planned to use on her. The adaptability of Roste¡¯s body protected him from her bullet, how could such a flimsy needle pierce his skin? It was timing, for Cloudhawk knew that while Roste¡¯s mangled flesh was recovering he was vulnerable. Vulnerable enough for a tiny needle. Roste screamed, so loud and so ferocious it threatened to deafen them. He spun around and burst through the crowds of animals, fleeing the containment area with Cloudhawk held half-dead in his grip. The Academician hurried to his own labs where he frantically began rummaging through his things. Several medicines were quickly imbibed or injected but nothing would help. Roste had invented the serum, he knew better than anyone that his fate was sealed. Its actions were quick. In a few minutes the damage to his brain and synapses would be wide-spread and irreversible. After all of his painstaking work Roste could take a bullet to the brain and survive. But there was nothing even his perfect body could do against the permanent damage from his medicines. He could already sense his focus waning. It was becoming harder to think, like he was being dragged into a dark hole. It was too late! Numbness crept through him. With great gulping breaths he slumped to the ground in the middle of his laboratory. Roste stared at Cloudhawk with newly regenerated eyes as he struggled to crawl away. Never¡­ never in a hundred thousand years did he imagine this boy would get the better of him. His body continued to heal, even as his mind was being destroyed. The Academician knew his time was short and in his final moments a calm overtook him. With a soft and gentle voice he called out to Cloudhawk. ¡°Do not struggle. If I wanted to kill you, you¡¯d have been dead long ago.¡± At the close of this conflict Cloudhawk felt a broad sorrow. There was no anger or animosity within Roste, as though a sudden epiphany had drained all resistance from him. He stared at Cloudhawk with serene green eyes. Roste was not a capriciously cruel man. Although his hands were coated in the blood of countless victims, there was a reason, a motive behind everything. Would killing Cloudhawk reverse his fate? Such was life! Cloudhawk gasped for breath and replied in hoarse tones. ¡°You brought this on yourself!¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Roste managed a self-deprecating expression. ¡°You know¡­ when I first saw you, you reminded me of myself at your age. We¡¯re a lot alike, you and I.¡± ¡°Oh fuck off! I¡¯m nothing like you!¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t reached my age yet, it¡¯s too early to say what you¡¯ll become.¡± He punctuated the thought with a bitter laugh. He was quickly losing control of his body, he already couldn¡¯t move his legs. ¡°I¡¯ve nearly reached my end, an old man in his final moments. I¡¯d like to entrust a few important things to you.¡± It was almost laughable. Cloudhawk thought the old man really had lost his mind. Cloudhawk had been very anxious to tear the old man into pieces, helping him didn¡¯t seem likely. ¡°First, after I am dead please destroy all of my notes. You must not let these materials fall into Hellflower¡¯s hands. You don¡¯t understand¡­ Hellflower, she¡­ she is even more dangerous than I! Her hunger for knowledge and her ambition is ten times greater than mine ever was.¡± ¡°Second, all of the intelligent animals we keep here must be destroyed, by whatever means necessary. Letting them go is opening a Pandora¡¯s box of tragedy. In a thousand years, history will look upon us as sinners and monsters. Do you understand?¡± Cloudhawk replied with a contemptuous snort. Even in his final moments this old man was a dramatic blowhard. ¡°Finally, though I have reached my end the cause I fought for shall continue. I don¡¯t want it to end this way, I must ask you ¨C¡° Cloudhawk sensed something funny. ¡°What the hell are you on about?¡± Suddenly Roste¡¯s neck stretched to horrific proportions. Like a viper he whipped his head toward Cloudhawk and bit him in the throat. The young man yelped and scrambled back, feeling like he¡¯d been bitten by a poisonous snake. As Roste¡¯s neck retracted back to normal Cloudhawk thrashed and screamed in pain upon the ground. The bite had infected him with something, some sort of toxin that ran throughout his body. Whatever this freak had done to him, it couldn¡¯t have been good. With his final treachery complete Roste¡¯s body shriveled up. His long years came creeping back and he was once more the withered old man Cloudhawk had first met. Only, not entirely. His skin remained that strange blue hue, and his eyes blackish-green. The twisted man slumped, appearing to have aged two hundred years. The rattling sound from his throat was haggard and uncomfortable to listen to. ¡°Here is some¡­ advice. When I¡­ am dead¡­ Leave. The quicker¡­ the better!¡± It was done. A new beginning was on the horizon. Such was the world, an endless cycle, a spark passed on. Trembling hands pulled the finger bone necklace from his pocket, and Roste held it tenderly. Fingers like dead branches stroked each one as his memories brought him back. He thought about his old teacher, and regretted never taking a student of his own. In all the vast wasteland he had never found anyone worthy of inheriting his knowledge. *** Ten minutes later. Hellflower came stumbling by with a hand pressed against the wound in her abdomen. Cloudhawk twitched and jerked in pain upon the ground. Broken flasks and caustic potions were flung all around. Roste sat placidly on the floor with his necklace in his hands, but all focus had left his eyes and he sat muttering nonsense to himself. He¡¯d lost his mind. Hellflower stood in the doorway, looking at Cloudhawk as he thrashed and Roste as he muttered incoherently. Brainwashing wasn¡¯t accomplished in a single dose of the medicine, the shot Roste had been given was just the first step. There were several more processes required, and considering the particular abilities of Roste¡¯s body the medicine affected him differently than others. It was not surprising it had driven him crazy. ¡°How are you doing?¡± ¡°Motherfucker! He bit me! I think I¡¯m poisoned!¡± Hellflower paused and looked around. With all the drugs strewn around it was likely at least some were biotoxins. It would make sense for him to punish Cloudhawk in his final moments. However, it didn¡¯t look like Cloudhawk was in danger of dying. Roste remained kneeling on the ground fondling his finger bone necklace. He continued to mutter to himself, words no one but he could understand. Hellflower didn¡¯t even want to bother with him. She pressed the muzzle of her gun against the back of the old man¡¯s head. Bang! Roste¡¯s head exploded, spilling brain matter all over the ground as his eighty-year-old body collapsed. As his necklace hit the ground the cord broke and sent bleached bone scattering in every direction, stained by the blood of the Academician. Cloudhawk gaped at her. ¡°You killed him, just like that?¡± ¡°Roste lived his life walking down the wrong path. If we want to save humanity, his way is not the right one.¡± Hellflower unceremoniously threw her gun aside. ¡°He was obsessed his whole life, this was a liberation.¡± Cloudhawk fell silent. The world had one less madman in it. One less monster. One less genius. Chapter 127 - Pandoras Box The news of Roste¡¯s death spread like a stone thrown in a placid lake. Blackwater Base was flung into chaos overnight. Although they were factions opposed to Roste they had remained secret for a reason, and not just because of his cruel methods. The Academician enjoyed stellar prestige in the base, he was their foundation. No other faction could come close to the influence he wielded, and so they waited and bided their time. When the news that Academician Roste had been slain in a fight with Hellflower and Hyena, opposition arose almost immediately. The call went up for anyone loyal to Roste to gather and vigorously oppose his murderers. ¡°Hellflower and Hyena are traitors!¡± ¡°They killed Academician Roste and took over his laboratory!¡± ¡°What do you say, should we fight our way in? Should we avenge the Academician?¡± ¡°Absolutely, we can¡¯t let Blackwater Base fall into the hands of these ambitious snakes!¡± Before long hundreds of armed fighters were marching on the labs. They hoisted their weapons, firing their guns into the air and shouting. ¡°Kill the traitors! Kill, kill, kill!¡± Many of these rabble rousers were supporters of the Academician, but more still were only seeking to profit off the chaos. Roste was dead and neither Hellflower nor Hyena would escape the matter unscathed. If they could be dealt with as well there would be nothing to stop those hungry for power from reaching out to take it. Blackwater Base was hidden in the swamp and protected by strong fortifications. It had a water purification system that would be the envy of the wastelands if anyone knew they had it. Whoever controlled this place would instantly be elevated to one of the mightiest positions in the wastes, it was a worthy question to wonder how many were tempted by the thought. Hyena was strong, but to put it bluntly he was a well-developed attack dog and little more. The Seekers were different from other groups as they respected scientists above warriors. Hellflower was intelligent and capable, but a woman. Even among Seekers women were largely considered without influence. A woman¡¯s place was on a man¡¯s crotch, what business was it of hers to vie for power? Besides that she was an outsider and didn¡¯t have any standing to lead. No, instead whoever was the first to take power would use her for their own pleasure, for many wanted to enjoy the woman they called ¡®first of the wildflowers.¡¯ The mob clamored for blood, preparing to siege the labs. Before they could, however, the sound of angry growls rose up from all around them. Suddenly they were filled with fear as they searched for the source of the noises. What was it? How could there be wild animals here in the base? When the mob recovered their wits they saw shadows all around, just moments before a hail of bullets and arrows descended upon them. ¡°It¡¯s a sneak attack!¡± They stopped screaming and took up a defensive posture, but before they could gather up beasts assailed them from several directions. Brutal eyes were set in ferocious faces, which snarled and howled as they descended upon the mob. ¡°Shit! Mutated animals!¡± ¡°Everyone, kill them quickly!¡± ¡°The lab animals have gotten free!¡± How could these men hope to stave off over a hundred wild beasts? In the space of a few moments a good number of the rioters were slain. The rest were forced to throw down their arms and surrender. A large contingent of wasteland fighters followed behind the creatures with their guns and crossbows pointed at the mob. One of them separated from the rest, dragging the leader of Roste¡¯s followers along with him. He fired a few rounds into the air then spoke to everyone through a loudspeaker, ¡°We are the Opposition, and currently our highest ranking leader is Hellflower. Roste was a narrow-minded, power-hungry despot who over the years has done much to harm our base. He has been removed by the efforts of Lady Hellflower, at the behest of the people¡¯s wishes, for this is a benefit to all of us. Starting today Hellflower is our new leader, and anyone who disagrees is welcome to stand up and say so!¡± The head of the mob whimpered in the man¡¯s grip. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± His captor apparently did not hear. Pointing his gun at the piteous rioter he pulled the trigger until the clip was empty. The gun¡¯s kickback rattled against his hand again and again, then abruptly stopped. Once he was finished the man on the ground was riddle with smoking holes. These were the soldiers who opposed Roste, over a hundred strong. They were joined with the hundred or so creatures the Academician had tortured and prodded. Together they were a strange and formidable band. How could anyone stand against them? ¡°Take them all away!¡± The Opposition leader¡¯s people tied up the rioters and took them away to await sentencing. Scenes like this had cropped up several times now, but none had lasted very long or managed to achieve much. Hellflower had been a member of the Opposition for a long time already. She didn¡¯t share their mindset precisely, but it wasn¡¯t long ago that nearly their entire leadership had been wiped out during their ill-fated secret meeting. Who knew how Hellflower truly felt? Roste¡¯s efforts had saved her the work of having to deal with those old fogeys and paved the way to make her leader. Ultimately it was thanks to him that she was now master of this base. That group that dispersed the crowd was not the only power the Opposition had. The organization¡¯s reach and influence was large and each one of those old scientists Roste had killed had a reputation and followers. With so much support Hellflower was able to muster a team of three hundred warriors under her command. But that was still not enough. Hyena and Hellflower came to some agreement, though no one knew what it was. He gathered his former supporters and convinced them to join with Hellflower as well as organizing the animals to do their bidding. In the end, with their power consolidated, those who chose to rebel were viewed as only a small and irritating part of the new climate of Blackwater Base. When all was said and done it was Hellflower who gained the most. After stabilizing the situation, the first thing she did was break into Roste¡¯s secret lab, despite her serious injuries. She ravenously searched for every scrap of notes and data left behind and took them for her own. Cloudhawk saw how she managed the situation and found her both capable and moderate. It eased his heart and he felt that Blackwater Base was in good hands. However, there was a ghost of concern when he saw how covetous she was on Roste¡¯s work. The Academician¡¯s research was vast and far-reaching, from various medicines to biological mutations. This included his ultimate work he spent his life on. Although Hellflower had pilfered and translated the key parts of his research it still wasn¡¯t enough for her to grasp the bulk of Roste¡¯s technique. She needed to study all of the Academician¡¯s notes to acquire what secrets he¡¯d uncovered. ¡°Hey Hellflower. I¡¯m tellin¡¯ you, this stuff just doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± Without any particular reason Roste¡¯s final words whispered in Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°I really don¡¯t think keepin¡¯ it will bring anything good. Better to just burn all this shit up.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re on about this, too?¡± She chuckled at him, a laugh that was charming. She was as ever a beauty that was inexplicable and just out of reach, always leaving people guessing. ¡°I assume Roste said something to you before he died?¡± Cloudhawk was insistent. ¡°All I¡¯m sayin¡¯ is this stuff was created by taking countless lives and spilling a lot of blood. None of this is any good!¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. In fact in my eyes knowledge is neither good nor evil. Since this research has taken so many lives, don¡¯t we have even more responsibility to protect it? Otherwise won¡¯t all those sacrifices be in vain? One day there will be someone else like Roste, then another.¡± Cloudhawk was silent as he thought on her words. They weren¡¯t entirely without merit. ¡°In this world every eventuality will have its time, it¡¯s inevitable.¡± Hellflower pushed her goggles higher on the bridge of her nose. This simple motion made her seem erudite and beautiful all at once. ¡°Mankind¡¯s knowledge is the fuel that feeds the fires of civilization. It is our responsibility to pass on what we learn so that there is always progress. The destitution of today is because that lineage was broken. We lost our history and all the knowledge that came before us. I refuse to cast away the knowledge we¡¯ve worked so hard to scrape together. It¡¯s work that must continue.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t much interested in Roste¡¯s warning before, and after Hellflower¡¯s lofty words he paid them even less mind. ¡°Alright, enough about that. We have someone to send off, Hyena¡¯s ready to leave.¡± ¡°Hyena¡¯s leaving? Why?¡± ¡°The beasts he commands have harmed people since they were released. You know they¡¯re wild animals, even if they¡¯re smarter than normal. They can¡¯t constrain their wild nature forever, and the people of the base won¡¯t tolerate them staying. I can¡¯t put them back in cages, so the only option is to let them leave.¡± She said it calmly, but Cloudhawk suspected her intentions. Hyena was popular in the base and the animals he commanded were a staggering force. If he remained at Blackwater Base he would enjoy a high position. However, the wolf matriarch¡¯s death showed him that he was no longer a man. He could not control his wild brethren, and sooner or later their feral nature would lead to disaster. He made the decision to lead the intelligent animals into the wilds once he helped Hellflower take control. ¡°Is it safe for him to just go like this?¡± ¡°There are conditions, of course.¡± She shrugged and spoke nonchalantly. ¡°They wanted the notes related to Roste¡¯s mutation process. I¡¯d already studied it, so I let them have what they wanted.¡± This was unsettling news for Cloudhawk. She gave them this precious and dangerous material so readily? Cloudhawk finally understood the difference between Roste and Hellflower. The Academician was responsible for incredible things, but he never released his findings into the world, not even to Hellflower or Chimp. It wasn¡¯t that he was covetous of what he learned, but rather that he knew knowledge could be dangerous. He did not want to pass on that power to those who did not understand its implications. For Hellflower things were different. She believed the farther knowledge spread the more meaningful it became. She felt that wider dissemination was integral. But giving this away to Hyena¡­ somehow this felt wrong. A hundred figures hovered around the gates to Blackwater Base. Hyena stood in the center of the crowd, his body half man and half beast. Among the beasts he did not seem the slightest bit out of sorts. Be it bearing or countenance he was just the same as the mutated beastmen around him. Hellflower strode forward, her silvery hair dancing in the breeze. Her mouth was arched in a crescent smirk. ¡°Where are you going to go? Is there some way I can help?¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but no.¡± Hyena had no kind feelings toward this woman. He knew her gentle smile was just a mask. Her heart could be as black and malicious as Roste¡¯s, and if he had any other choice Hyena would rather have nothing to do with the likes of her. ¡°All of the wasteland is our home. I¡¯m ready to lead my people out to create our own history.¡± Hellflower nodded. ¡°Then go with my blessing.¡± Hyena nodded, then turned and lead his people out of the gates. Hellflower watched them go with that smile still on her face. ¡°Interesting¡­ very interesting. They were never completed, but maybe if they were there¡¯d be another race. A fourth race along with the gods, demons, and humans¡­ the werebeasts!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face turned into a slight scowl. Hellflower always knew the possible consequences. He thought again about Roste¡¯s second request; find a way to destroy all of his sordid creations. All of a sudden Cloudhawk felt like he was releasing a danger onto the world, but how could he accomplish Roste¡¯s task on his own? He posed no threat to this new race. But he saw it clear. This species of intelligent beast-human hybrids was a danger to the wastelands. They would grow and multiply, spreading out until some years later a new society, with its own history and goals, would emerge. The scene today at the gates of Blackwater Base would one day find its way into the annals of history. Its consequences, however, were hard to determine. At least as far as Roste had been concerned, this was a mistake that would lead to terrible suffering. Hyena galloped off on all fours. He and his people disappeared into the marshes. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d run into Hyena again one day. If they did in some distant time, he wasn¡¯t sure whether they would meet as friends or foes. But for now, this wasn¡¯t important. He remembered something the old man once said. Here beneath the stars men were naught but dust. However much they tried, a man could only control his own life. In this twisted era no one cared for what was right or wrong. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back.¡± Hellflower lightly clapped her hand on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. She kept it there as the two walked back inside.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 128 - The Caliphs Warning Several days had passed since the big conflict. Hellflower appeared in Roste¡¯s laboratory ¨C though now, of course, they were called Hellflower¡¯s laboratory. She was clad in short leather shorts and a jacket that clung tight to her figure and put her curves on full display, especially the proud swell of her chest. A gunslinger¡¯s belt was slung around her waist where her tailor-made guns and several lines of bullets were housed. It was perched on the pert apex of her long, shapely legs. Over it all was a snow-white lab coat that combined her wild wastelander appearance with that of a studious erudite. On her, the dual natures did not conflict. After many setbacks, she ultimately succeeded. Roste¡¯s secrets were within her grasp. Hellflower had begun wandering the wastelands when she was a teenager. Throughout her travels she had visited more than ten Seeker crews, sometimes staying only a few months, the longest for a few years. Her goal was always to learn everything she could. Her time in Blackwater Base was the longest and also the most dangerous. She¡¯d almost lost her life, but the risks were worth it. She¡¯d gained more here than she ever expected, it would take years of meditating on the knowledge to truly understand it all. ¡°Exalted leader.¡± A scientist respectfully intruded. ¡°Cloudhawk¡¯s blood sample has been collected.¡± She lifted her head from the piles of data before her. Cloudhawk was a very interesting young man to her, not only because he¡¯d saved her on several occasions but more because there was a lot about him that piqued her interest. Lately he¡¯d seen a great deal of trouble. He claimed to have been bitten by Roste as the old man lost his mind which infected him with something. However, none of their checks or scans revealed the presence of any toxins. Moreover there were no symptoms in days, but to be on the safe side she¡¯d had some of his blood drawn to see if they could find anything. She stretched out her long, delicate fingers and took the vial of blood from her assistant. She moved as though to do something, but paused. Something flashed behind her beautiful eyes. ¡°How is his recovery coming along? Has there been anything noteworthy?¡± The scientist found it difficult to stare at his leader¡¯s bright eyes directly. He was jealous of that vulgar boy and the care he got from this beautiful woman. He truthfully reported what he knew. ¡°None of his injuries were serious, they¡¯re mostly healed by now. He certainly eats and drinks a lot, only¡­ he¡¯s always asking to leave.¡± ¡°Asking to leave? Why?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m uncertain. He¡¯s become more irritable lately as though his displeased with this place. He is preparing his things now in preparation to go.¡± The revelation clearly bothered her. What was going through this kid¡¯s brain? The whole base belonged to her now, and Cloudhawk was one of her most cherished people. As long as she was here what could he be lacking? She simply couldn¡¯t understand, were the elysian lands really so appealing? No matter what, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t leave. Hellflower needed his help to translate the Roste¡¯s notes and he still had more to learn about elysian language and culture. That should be enough to pacify his wanderlust, at least for a while. They¡¯ll take it a day at a time. In the end she hoped he might choose to remain here and help her. He was young but full of potential, and the only person in the wasteland she could rely on. She would be much more at ease if he stayed. When she thought about it Hellflower remembered that she was already past thirty. In all those years no one had made her feel comfortable. She¡¯d only known Cloudhawk for a short time, though, so where did this assuredness come from? ¡°Exalted leader, someone is asking to see you.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± She was busy analyzing Cloudhawk¡¯s blood sample and didn¡¯t look up, everything else had been put to the side. Her first inclination was to dismiss whoever it was. ¡°Someone from outside, a stranger. He¡¯s very tall¡­ much taller than a normal man. Maybe a representative from the sweepers.¡± The guard could tell from her body language that Hellflower was uninterested. He bowed and said, ¡°If your Excellency is busy, I can tell them you aren¡¯t interested in visitors right now.¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Hellflower stopped what she was doing, shut her eyes and thought for a moment. ¡°Let them in.¡± Several minutes later¡­ The sounds of heavy and determined footsteps came from the hallway. Each step was like a battering ram, every thud rattling deep into the depths of her heart. The sound made her body shake ever so slightly and the air grew oppressively heavy. She could feel the pressure no her chest and she thought she could smell the scent of carnage in the air. Even before she could see his likeness, Hellflower knew this man was more powerful than anything she¡¯d encountered before. The visitor entered, revealing his strange physique. His whole body was wrapped up tight as though hiding some unpresentable reality beneath. From beneath the shadows of his cowl were a pair of blood red eyes that glowed like embers. They pierced her like bloody daggers. Hellflower felt as though the tip of an ice-cold blade was running along her spine, and her hand went instinctively to the handle of her gun. However she quickly caught herself and forced her hand to relax. Drawing her weapon or leaving it holstered, the end result would be the same. Making a show would only reveal her fear to this stranger. It was better to remain calm and collected. She turned to address her subordinates. ¡°Leave us, and do not let anyone in without my explicit instruction.¡± Her guards left the room. She and the mysterious stranger were the only ones remaining. ¡°How did you get here?¡± She stared at the man in front of her. ¡°The word is you¡¯re dead. What¡¯s the meaning of this? I¡¯ve told you I will no longer work for you!¡± ¡°Heheheh¡­¡± The slithering laughter was uncomfortable on the ears, like the croaking of a frog. He removed his hood to reveal his face, or rather something like a mask where his face should be. His head was covered in white hair, and he stared at her with burning red orbs that served as eyes. ¡°You killed Roste? Such a pity.¡± The Caliph of the Sands! The apex power of the wastelands! He belonged to the world¡¯s most mysterious race, those who were blamed for the destruction and turmoil that tore society apart. He was a demon. After the war with the gods there were few of his kind left in the world. Those that remained hid on distant islands or in the depths below mountains. Those who forsook hermitage and chose to live in the wastelands or near the elysian lands were particularly scarce. The Caliph of the Sands was one of the more famous. Terror hung over demons like a fog and infected any human that came close. It was the sort of terror sheep had when the wolf crept into their midst, or the worm when the shadow of a bird passed overhead. Without reason or embellishment that fear seeped into the core of one¡¯s soul. It was said that the fall of civilization was directly connected to demons. Their arrival brought the slaughter of billions and caused mankind¡¯s collapse. Those places destroyed by demons became the wastelands, a barren hellscape where hardly anything grew. If not for the arrival of the gods, demons would have conquered the whole world. The flood of trepidation Hellflower felt upon facing the demon almost paralyzed her. Sweat had begun to collect on her brow. She did not know why this danger had visited upon her now. Were there really those so stupid to believe Cloudhawk could defeat the likes of the Caliph? Hellflower hadn¡¯t believed it from the first moment she heard the news. She was intimately familiar with the Caliph¡¯s terrible power, as well as his cunning and acumen. He was older than anyone knew, and for a young demonhunter and her pet to kill him¡­ it was absolutely laughable. The Caliph¡¯s strange and sinister voice slithered through the room. ¡°If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead. Do not fear. I am here so that we might work together.¡± Hellflower was no typical wastelander. She clenched her fists and responded coldly. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll cooperate with you?¡± ¡°Because you have no choice.¡± His illusory voice sounded like it came out of a nightmare. It was both infinitely far and right in front of her. ¡°First I will offer a warning: the self-destruct sequence Roste arranged for when establishing this place has begun. The destruction of Blackwater Base is inevitable, and if you choose to remain here you choose to die.¡± Hellflower did not believe him. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anything like that. Your alarmist nonsense will not persuade me.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate Roste. His methods of ensuring Blackwater¡¯s destruction were numerous, and the most guaranteed is assured with the help of outside forces.¡± ¡°Outside forces... you must mean the elysians!¡± ¡°Your powers of comprehension continue to impress.¡± The praise was odd coming from his rasping voice. ¡°Unless I misjudged, the elysians have likely already heard the news. To them, the Seekers are mortal enemies, a bleak sin to be wiped out. This is especially true given the shocking experiments performed here, wouldn¡¯t you say? This army of elysians is sure to contain a number of demonhunters, so do not presume this place can survive. Blackwater Base¡¯s fate is sealed.¡± Hellflower felt her heart sink into her stomach. Roste¡­ ah, Roste! Again I underestimated you, you shrewd fox! In all the wasteland, Seekers were the most intolerable to the people of the elysian lands. This was clear in their doctrines, wherein none of their citizens were permitted to use vehicles, guns or any of the artifacts of the past. In the eyes of the faithful these tools invited the destruction of man and had become synonymous with filth. In contrast, Seekers craved the secrets of the past and explored the ruins for their treasures. That made every Seeker a blasphemer. The war between elysians and Seekers had gone on for years with the denizens of the holy lands destroying much of the Seekers¡¯ influence. Each time they rooted out any and all traces of their organization and eradicated them with extreme prejudice. Especially the abominations created here, in Blackwater Base. Their creation was the result of demonic technology and if they were burned a hundred times they would never be cleansed. What came of the elysians¡¯ rage was frightening to behold. When it was time for cleaning they dispatched more than just elite warriors. When someone truly needed to die they sent their season demonhunters, warriors whose primary occupation was to destroy the root of human suffering. How strong were demonhunters? A handful of them were as formidable as an army! If a contingent of them were dispatched no power in the wasteland could withstand their ire. A cold sweat broke out all over Hellflower¡¯s body. If not for the Caliph¡¯s warning she would have never known they were coming. If they arrived at the marsh before she could leave it wouldn¡¯t matter if she were a once-in-a-generation master, there would be no escape. ¡°You called me a traitor. Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Mistakes might be forgiven for those with talent. Besides, there¡¯s something I need you to do for me. Not just now, but in the future as well.¡± Hellflower didn¡¯t even need to think about it. ¡°You¡¯re talking about Cloudhawk.¡± It was not hard to guess. Cloudhawk possessed the Gospel of the Sands, one of the Caliph¡¯s most treasured relics. There were only two possibilities in which he could have come across it; either he¡¯d really killed the Caliph, or the demon had given it to him. Evidently it was the latter. She knowingly went on. ¡°He¡¯s important to you, otherwise why go through all the effort.¡± ¡°He¡¯s an investment.¡± A glimmer of mirth twinkled in the beast¡¯s hellish eyes. Hellflower was an interesting human, one of the reasons why he was loathe to kill her. In addition she was in a position to help. She could not remain here and needed a way to escape with the data, find somewhere safe to uncover its secrets, all while avoiding a gruesome death at the hands of the elysians. The Caliph was the only one who could make it happen.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 129 - Trespasser Chapter 129 - Trespasser Cloudhawk was practicing the demonhunter training exercises. He found his body had improved again by no small measure. Now he was able to perform twenty movements easily. Though it was a far cry from what the Bloodsoaked Queen could do, his improvement was still impressive. He still remained in Blackwater Base, studying with Hellflower. There was much to learn, otherwise he would have already left to continue his journey. Cloudhawk hated the struggle and intrigue of the wastelands. He despised fleeing from place to place, fighting for his life. Getting out of this hell hole was his greatest wish. His friendship with Hellflower was more about mutual benefit than anything else and there was nothing she could offer that would keep him here. Sooner or later, Cloudhawk would leave. Without a doubt! A guard approached and made his report. ¡°Master Cloudhawk. Our leader wishes to speak with you.¡± Cloudhawk made his way to Hellflower¡¯s laboratory. She was crouched over a series of strange instruments, too absorbed to notice him enter. She was beautiful as ever; her firm breasts and pert backside outlined in her lab gear, and her silvery hair hung loose at her shoulders. The others in the room stole furtive glances as often as they could. These days no one challenged her authority. She was more intelligent and a physically capable person in the base, without question. She never raised her head, keeping her eyes fixed on the equipment before her. However, words slipped from her attractive mouth when she heard Cloudhawk¡¯s footsteps. ¡°I heard you¡¯re getting ready to leave?¡± Cloudhawk was direct in his response. ¡°My time here was an accident, I¡¯ve already stayed too long. I¡¯m planning to leave in a couple days.¡± He already had the Caliph¡¯s book as proof, and the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s token for passage. A life of ease and plenty awaited him in the elysian lands. There Cloudhawk would live as a hero, a life which he imagined to be far better than anything out here in the wastelands. The young wastelander was not an ambitious sort, all his life his only desire was to find somewhere peaceful where he could live out his days in comfort and quiet. ¡°It¡¯s your decision where you¡¯d like to go, I respect your choice. But you should see this first.¡± At last Hellflower straightened and approached Cloudhawk. She handed him a piece of paper. ¡°The analysis of your blood.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense to me, just tell me what you found.¡± Roste¡¯s final bite had nagged at Cloudhawk ever since it happened. Only, everything had seemed normal, and over time his worries eased. In the off chance that something was wrong he¡¯d entrusted Hellflower with checking his blood. Once he left, he figured it would be difficult to find someone who could help examine him even in the elysian lands. Hellflower paused in thought. This bumpkin could read but that was about all, she couldn¡¯t expect him to understand the results. She pushed her glasses higher along the bridge of her nose with slender fingers. ¡°Long story short there¡¯s an unknown microorganism we discovered in your blood. We¡¯ve come to call it Trespasser.¡± The news and ominous name gave him gooseflesh. ¡°It¡¯s in my blood? That can¡¯t be right!¡± ¡°If you think I¡¯m just trying to scare you come and have a look for yourself.¡± She led him to the lab table and situated Cloudhawk before the strange instruments she had been staring through. ¡°This device was created out of materials we found in the wasteland, crude but capable of magnifying the contents of blood.¡± ¡°Why do you have three samples?¡± He asked. ¡°Stupid, for contrast of course!¡± She pointed to the various slides as she explained. ¡°On the left is normal blood. In the center is a specimen from Roste. The one to the right is yours. We are able to find the differences by analyzing the three samples against each other.¡± Cloudhawk leaned over the left device and peered through its lens. Inside he saw a field of red, thickly dotted with round specs that were difficult to differentiate. Those had to be what made up human blood? The sample in the center device was completely different. There were red dots, only these weren¡¯t smooth plates like the last sample. Roste¡¯s blood contained red spikey material of various shapes with tendrils of dark green reaching out from them. The space between the mutated blood cells were thick with strange green organisms ¨C so many in fact that the blood was tinged green. Roste¡¯s blood was absolutely monstrous! The last sample he looked at was his own, and when he looked through the lens his face fell. In all it looked much more like the normal blood, but for the bright green dots around the edges. There weren¡¯t many and they wandered freely through the serum. A small number had attached to the red blood cells. The green microorganisms were few but lively. Even as he watched they were reproducing, slowly permeating through his blood serum. ¡°Yeah, I see it. The green things are Trespasser?¡± Cloudhawk lifted his head to look at Hellflower, worry on his face. ¡°But what the fuck is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. About all we can guess is that it¡¯s some sort of peculiar form of life.¡± She looked at Cloudhawk with an earnest expression. ¡°When we examined Roste¡¯s body we found that it was completely infested with Trespasser, present in every cell. We suspect this was what gave the Academician his high-grade adaptability.¡± Cloudhawk pressed her further. ¡°The ones in Roste¡¯s blood were different. They were darker.¡± ¡°Trespasser reproduces quickly, and once it reaches a certain concentration we can be sure it will begin to infiltrate the rest of your body. What we learned from Academician Roste¡¯s body was that this organism will fundamentally alter your biology eventually, but how it will manifest we have no idea.¡± A chill shuddered through Cloudhawk. ¡°How long do I have?!¡± ¡°Around ten, twenty years. You might start seeing changes in a year and a half ¨C we really can¡¯t say for certain.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch, what the hell?¡± Cloudhawk angrily grabbed fistfuls of his ratty hair. He knew the Academician was up to no good. ¡°Is there a cure?¡± ¡°Roste didn¡¯t leave any notes about it, I can¡¯t think of any way to reverse the infection.¡± She spoke to the young man with a teasing smile. ¡°But look at it this way, I think you really got a bargain. Ten to one you become a super shapeshifter, inheriting a lifetime of the Academician¡¯s work. How can this be a bad thing? You¡¯ll have abilities wastelanders could only dream of!¡± Even though his transformation hadn¡¯t been complete, Roste already could fight about as well as the Bloodsoaked Queen. Given another twenty years to perfect his body Roste would have broken the expected lifespan of a human ¨C he would have become a super-lifeform. None of that interested Cloudhawk. He wanted to train and become stronger like the demonhunters, not deliberately turn himself into a monster! What would power mean if he wasn¡¯t even human anymore? Cloudhawk was at a loss. Hellflower was one of the best minds around, and even she didn¡¯t know what to do. Did that mean there was no hope to reverse the process? Although there wasn¡¯t any evidence, was there a chance this could affect his memory, will or personality? Cloudhawk was somber and uncertain but Hellflower found his trepidation amusing. Cloudhawk had been willing to stand up to Roste, but this situation frightened him. To many including Hellflower, his situation was not pitiable. The Academician¡¯s abilities had been clear to everyone. Who wasn¡¯t twisted by the wastelands? Capability was the way to power! Hellflower considered the situation for a moment. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do here, but I know of someplace that might be able to help. If you go there maybe they have a way to help you.¡± ¡°Tell me, where?¡± ¡°The Dark Atom, out in the elysian lands!¡± It was a name he¡¯d heard several times already. Hellflower explained further. ¡°The Dark Atom is the most complete and influential Seeker organization in the entire wasteland. They¡¯re as full of talented people as the sky is full of clouds. If you can get to them, I think they¡¯ll be able to help you.¡± ¡°So where can I find the Dark Atom?¡± ¡°I have no idea.¡± She chuckled at her own disappointing response. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s been trying to wipe them out for over a decade with no success [1]. They¡¯re crafty. Wherever their base is, it¡¯s almost impossible to find and no one knows for sure. I think your only bet is to search for them yourself when you get there.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was made up. ¡°I¡¯ll set out as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Come with me first.¡± She pulled him into an adjacent room. ¡°Since we aren¡¯t sure of your body¡¯s condition, I want to give you a thorough examination.¡± The room she¡¯d brought him to was not large. Uniforms hung from pegs on the walls, revealing it as a locker room for lab workers. Hellflower slipped her lab coat off her shoulder and hung it on a hanger, revealing her form-fitting, short-cut clothing beneath. With a snap she pulled her gloves off and threw them aside then interlaced her fingers. A series of cracks and pops issued from her knuckles. ¡°Take off your clothes." ¡°I need to take off my clothes for the examination?¡± ¡°Stupid question. How can we do a full body check if you have your clothes on?¡± Hellflower¡¯s deft fingers quickly had him out of his clothes. His rough, dark skin was revealed to her, but different than before. His complexion had become a healthy bronze, and he¡¯d gone from emaciated to pleasantly muscular. Often the fact was hidden beneath his clothes, which made him look thin and unassuming. Without them he looked like a cheetah, corded muscles taught and ready to pounce. ¡°These, too.¡± Hellflower pointed a dainty finger at his underwear. 1. Skycloud is the city led by the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s uncle, as explained in Chapter 93 Chapter 130 - Profound Education Chapter 130 - Profound Education Cloudhawk felt slightly uncomfortable. But he was a wastelander, since when did they care about this sort of thing? He was hardly a moral model, and this was just in order to do his physical. What was there to squirm about? Without saying anything else, he removed his last remaining scrap of clothing. Hellflower didn¡¯t begin right away. She took a few moments to look over Cloudhawk¡¯s naked body, a teasing light in her eyes as they hovered over his crotch. ¡°Well, you¡¯re¡­ manlier than I expected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Hellflower. I¡¯m getting irritated!¡± He didn¡¯t mind the lack of privacy, but her gaze was stripping him of his dignity! ¡°Hurry up, for fuck¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, what¡¯s your hurry? We¡¯re just getting started!¡± Hellflower¡¯s hands were like works of art. Although she wielded guns with the skill of a master, they were not calloused or rough. Her touch was as gentle as water, to the point where Cloudhawk had to wonder if she bathed her hands in some medicinal fluid to keep them so soft. Hands like hers just weren¡¯t found in the wastelands. Her soft, cold hands rested on his face. They stood close, almost touching, and he could smell the scent wafting from her. The heat of Hellflower¡¯s body caused Cloudhawk¡¯s pulse to race. ¡°Heart rate has increased by thirty-two percent.¡± Her hands gently ran through Cloudhawk¡¯s hair, across his face, down his neck. Her touch explored every inch, even the curve of his ears. Her voice was both casual and impish. ¡°You¡¯re nervous.¡± To Cloudhawk it felt like there was a fire in his chest. It was a sensation he found difficult to control, but he grit his teeth to fight through it. ¡°Hey, what kind of physical is this? I feel like you¡¯re screwin¡¯ with me!¡± Hellflower masterfully combined coquetry with dignity. Outwardly she teased him with a seductive air, but her actions were diligent and earnest, her words serious. ¡°There are very few in the wastelands more capable in control meta-abilities than I am. With a touch I can determine material by texture and the state of internal structures. I can feel your muscles, blood, organs, even bone through your skin. If there are any abnormalities or mutated growths, my hands will find them.¡± So that¡¯s how it was. Cloudhawk had almost forgotten that she was an expert marksman and a rare wasteland weapons master. It didn¡¯t matter how precise or complicated the tool, after only a few moments in her hands she knew how to wield it intrinsically. It was that ability that made her such a force to be reckoned with. ¡°Hmph, you hardly seem willing. I¡¯ve never given anyone else this sort of treatment, you know!¡± Her grumpy and flirtatious mannerisms made his bones turn to jelly. Goosebumps sprang up along his flesh. Hellflower was a complicated, inscrutable woman, who knew what she actually felt in her heart? She was both thorough and careful in her inspection, her fingers tracing every inch of him from his head to his chest to his back. Eventually her gentle touch reached his groin, to which Cloudhawk replied with a voice a little too loud. ¡°No reason to check there, I¡¯m sure there aren¡¯t any problems!¡± But she paid him no mind and stretched out her hand. Her agile fingers explored in such a way that Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t restrain a physiological response. Hellflower¡¯s brows danced flirtatiously as, whether purposefully or simply to be mischievous, her touch lingered for a full two minutes. Her next question was offered almost absently. ¡°You¡¯ve never been with a woman?¡± The question took Cloudhawk off guard and he wasn¡¯t sure how to answer. However, Hellflower knew simply by looking at his reaction. He really was a pure young man. The wastelander wasn¡¯t strong, but nor was he weak. In any normal outpost Cloudhawk would be considered one of their elite fighters. In these times when women were weak and vulnerable they often attached themselves to strong men for protection, yet Cloudhawk was unsullied. It was a little difficult for her to believe. Her curiosity was clear in her voice as she continued to question him. ¡°You aren¡¯t one of those fools who¡¯s saving themselves for someone, are you?¡± ¡°Stuff it, how about you pay attention to what you¡¯re doing?¡± In the fifteen years prior to recent events Cloudhawk¡¯s life had been a series of painful struggles ¨C simultaneously tedious and uninteresting. As a scavenger picking through the ruins his only goal day in and day out had been to find enough food to eat. He hadn¡¯t had the time or opportunity to think about the opposite sex, so an appetite for women just wasn¡¯t part of his life. In fact, he hardly thought about it at all. That was until recently. After several months with the Bloodsoaked Queen, faced with her beauty every day, the hazy idea of attraction played in the back of his mind. However the concept of ¡®attraction¡¯ and ¡®romantic love¡¯ were foreign. As for the sort Hellflower was talking about, they were even rarer than a creature like Roste. More and more Hellflower found the young man fascinating. Eventually her examination was completed, much to Cloudhawk¡¯s relief. After a moment of quiet thought Hellflower gave her determination. ¡°There are no traces of mutation that I was able to feel. All of your internal structures, vessels, and bones were all normal. However¡­ the toughness and activity of your surface muscles are several times stronger than average. It¡¯s also too pretty for what one would expect from a wastelander.¡± ¡°Chimp had me in one of those tanks with the medicine for several hours. Could that be what¡¯s caused the change?¡± ¡°Relax, it won¡¯t have any adverse effects. You¡¯ll find that having thicker skin won¡¯t be a detriment.¡± [1] ¡°Somehow the way you explain it doesn¡¯t make me feel better¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, I didn¡¯t mean anything other than what I said. We only have a couple days left, anyway.¡± Her eyes lingered over him for a few moments before she went on. ¡°I have one more thing to teach you, something that you¡¯ll find very helpful in the future.¡± Hellflower was a mysterious woman, but she was precise with her words and mature in bearing. Whatever she had to teach him indeed had to be important. ¡°Alright!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even question what she meant before agreeing. When night fell Hellflower found him, bringing with her several bottles of liquor. She said they were vintage bottles, treasures of the base that he couldn¡¯t find anywhere else. ¡°You should be congratulated, there aren¡¯t many wastelanders lucky enough to leave this place.¡± She lifted one of the bottles and clinked it against the one held by Cloudhawk. ¡°But you need to mentally prepare yourself.¡± Cloudhawk thought the liquor was sweet and pleasing. Hellflower wasn¡¯t exaggerating, this had to be a rare and special brew. ¡°I can tell there¡¯s more to what you¡¯re saying. Just come out with it, there¡¯s no point being secretive.¡± Hellflower watched him drink but did not sip from her own bottle. ¡°The people of Abrha, all of the elysian lands in fact, look down on wastelanders. They¡¯ll treat you with prejudice and discrimination. Leaving the wastelands is one thing, but escaping the wastelands is something else entirely. Have you thought about that?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Cloudhawk answered her with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ve met a demonhunter, part of the upper class of Skycloud. The Governor is her family, so with her recommendation there won¡¯t be any issues.¡± ¡°Oh? I hope that¡¯s true!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s nothing to talk about. What did you want to teach me? Why don¡¯t we just get started-" Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t even finished his sentence when suddenly his vision doubled and his mind grew hazy. The alcohol couldn¡¯t be that strong, he thought, not enough for him to get so drunk so quickly. As he struggled to understand, his body heat soared and his panting breaths were like breathing fire. ¡°You still don¡¯t understand?¡± Hellflower draped her arms around him. She pressed her hot lips first against the flesh of his neck, then against his mouth as she hugged tightly to him. ¡°We¡¯ve already started!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was a flurry of confusion, like he¡¯d suddenly lost the ability to think straight. Reason had collapsed in the face of instinct, he reacted to what his body wanted. A pair of guards who happened to be walking by heard the creaking of the metal bed inside the room and the moans of a woman. They made their rounds, but when they returned on their second patrol the sounds were still there. *** The second day. Last night was like a dream. The details were fuzzy and hard to remember. Cloudhawk could remember a warm and tender body, pale white flesh¡­ Groggily he awoke to find himself in Hellflower¡¯s bedroom, more specifically in her bed. His first instinct was to spring out but then she noticed the woman beside him, her silver hair disheveled and enticing. She was half-covered by the sheet like a perfect image from an ancient painting. She had been fast asleep, but upon feeling Cloudhawk stir her eyes fluttered open. She languidly pushed herself up and yawned, then put her lithe figure on display as she stretched. ¡°Awake?¡± Her long legs swung over the bed and she stood. She grabbed some clothing and haphazardly flung it over herself. When she turned back and saw Cloudhawk¡¯s slack-jawed expression a sweet smile spread across her face. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. You¡¯re cute and you needed it, so it happened. Consider it payback for saving me.¡± ¡°You put something in the liquor?¡± Finally he understood. ¡°Why? You didn¡¯t even ask me!¡± ¡°Heh, someone as thick as you is going to have a hard time making it in this world.¡± She chuckled. ¡°This was a lesson to teach you that our bodies and emotions are both a weakness and a weapon. The more importance you attach to it the more it chains you. It¡¯ll be used against you, stop you from growing up.On the other hand if you learn to use it, they will become your tools. It¡¯s an important lesson for your maturity, and you need the practice. Please keep this in mind in your future life.¡± ¡°You forced yourself on me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it so hard, kid. Your future is going to be a tough one. I just wanted to leave you with a nice memory. When you think about it, in the most profound way, I wanted to be part of your coming-of-age.¡± She walked over to him and placed a gentle kiss on Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead. ¡°You were much more tender than I expected. I enjoyed myself last night.¡± To Hellflower, last night was little more than a pleasant distraction. But to Cloudhawk it was an unforgettable experience. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand why Hellflower did what she did, but last night opened a door. What they did would have a deep influence on him. If her intention was to educate him or leave an impression, she certainly succeeded. For the next two days the two of them spent most of their time together. The beautiful and mature woman was an ideal partner, one who filled Cloudhawk with many conflicting emotions. At first their relationship was just about mutual benefit. There was no emotion there, and even ¡®friendship¡¯ wasn¡¯t right. It would never have occurred to him that their relationship would end this way, that they would be connected so physically. ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯ll meet again.¡± She waved at him, clearly reluctant for them to part. ¡°When we do I hope to meet a stronger and more grown man!¡± 1. This may be in reference to the phrase Á³Æ¤ºñ, ¡®thick face skin¡¯, which means being shameless or having an over-inflated ego. Chapter 131 - The Skycloud Army Chapter 131 - The Skycloud Army Hellflower watched as Cloudhawk disappeared out into the wastelands. She stared absently at the horizon for a time with a sense of loss nagging at her. Teaching Cloudhawk as she had wasn¡¯t about emotion or desire, but now that they were apart she couldn¡¯t help but feel something was absent. ¡°You went beyond what was needed.¡± The Caliph of the Sands¡¯ raspy, unsettling voice whispered in her ear. He¡¯d appeared behind her unnoticed, his own bloody red eyes following her gaze to where Cloudhawk had been. In fact, a demon¡¯s eyes were far superior to that of a human, and they penetrated the dense fog and thick trees that hid the young wastelander from her. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to take him to bed.¡± Her face scrunched in annoyance and she slapped herself on the forehead. ¡°Yeah. What the hell was I thinking? I feel like I¡¯m starting to miss the kid. Maybe we should go bring¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Skycloud¡¯s forces will be here in two days,¡± the Caliph abruptly changed the subject. ¡°You have a day to prepare.¡± Hellflower furrowed her brows. Skycloud¡¯s soldiers were fast, too fast for her to transfer everything from the base. She¡¯d only have time to escape with the most critical notes and data. Other than that she had to concentrate on fleeing with the base¡¯s most talented scientists. Blackwater Base¡¯s leader paid close attention to the evacuation plans. When she released the information there were actually three separate routes, and each one was a decoy. Hellflower herself didn¡¯t intend to follow any of the plans she publicly announced, instead she would use the base¡¯s secret passage only a very few people knew about. Together with twenty or thirty scientists and about a hundred elite soldiers, they would escape in secret. The moment Hellflower announced the escape, Blackwater Base exploded into shocked action. She had been leader only a few days, and already they had to abandon their homes? Unthinkable! When they burst into the labs after news broke they were dismayed to find it practically cleaned out. All of the most valuable data and medicines were gone, even the scientists themselves. It was like everything vanished into nothing, leaving no trace. Chaos enveloped Blackwater Base and people quickly broke into two main camps. One group was already in a rush to go. After all, the danger had to be great enough to scare off their leader. They had to get out of danger! But the others had called the base home for close to forty years. It was home, a place they had affection for. Most importantly, their defenses were among the best in the wastelands. How could anyone break through?No, now was the time to fill the power vacuum. It was pandemonium. *** A day later. Out of the swamp and back into the deserts. The sound of marching descended as though from the clouds. The sound rumbled down from heaven, rattling from the shackles of space and time. With it came rays of holy light that spread across the desolate land, cleansing vast tracts. When the hunters of the wastes lifted their eyes to the horizon against the glare, they were met with a scene they never would have expected in their lifetime. A small host of ships appeared in the sky. Each one was a vision of holy purity encased in hundreds of intricate engravings. Every detail etched into it was rich in meaning, scenes and phrases that created a mural stretching from mast to hull. Spotless, all of them. One could pick an inch at random and find the masterpiece of what had to be the effort of a whole school of artisans. Among a blinding holy light four enormous ships were suspended in the air. Their lofty crowns were ringed in clouds and they looked like carved jade. A melodious accompaniment of bells sprinkled over the land, mingling among reverent prayer. Like a contingent of angels they appeared from the heavens ¨C god¡¯s army, here to cleanse the wicked from the earth. This refined, this beautiful, this precise, this outlandish, this magical, this noble¡­ it was so out of place among the blasted landscaped of the barren desert as to be almost comical. All of a sudden it was as though heaven and hell had collided. Shock was the only acceptable response. A miracle! They were witnessing a miracle! Who else in the wasteland had ever seen something so spectacular? Especially surprised were the scavengers, who had no idea a place like the elysian lands existed. How could they not immediately fall in worship to jade ships wafting through the heavens as languid as clouds? How could they not be in awe of the chorus of heavenly sounds that heralded their arrival? The sheer spectacle made them want to fall to their knees. Hanging in the air, no part of the ships actually moved. They appeared to simply float in and an air of nobility and authority that seemed to say the laws of man meant nothing. Science and its rules ceased to apply before the face of god. All of mankind¡¯s achievements were laughable by comparison. From a distance their pace seemed slow but in truth the ships raced across the sky. Marching determinedly overhead their target was clear, a murky swamp surrounded by desert. They began their descent. ¡°Warriors of the Gods, take up your weapons! For honor we fight, and blasphemers must be eradicated!¡± The holy light projected from the ships flooded the landscape and from each a single brilliant beam shot down. Like four jade suns exploding on the earth¡¯s surface a light so brilliant one could not look directly at it choked the sky. Moments later a ferocious wind roared out in all directions, bringing with it dust and debris, and the stench of the marsh. When the light and winds eventually died the ships were safely stationed on the ground. About five hundred soldiers milled around each one. Their weapons and armor glimmered like polished jade, more priceless treasures than implements of war. Each piece of equipment was constructed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Soldiers from Skycloud, an army of the best holy warriors in service of the gods. Equipment was precisely the same among all the soldiers. It included an exquisite, handcrafted longbow that was tailor-made to match the size of its bearer. Both ends culminated in razor-sharp edges like scimitars which glimmered like they were made from glass or jade. It was absolutely unique. It was easy to see the intention was to seamlessly join close combat with ranged attacks, to which they succeeded. The bows could just as easily pierce a man from yards away as skewer him face to face. In the midst of each of the five hundred-man battalion was a towering standard-bearer, who in contrast to the others was encased in resplendent and ornate armor. They carried no sword and were more spartanly equipped than the typical soldier. All they wore was the masterwork leather protection and a pure white cloak. The soldiers knelt upon the ground, and from them fifteen hooded men arose. Capes dancing in the wind they approached the head of the troops. More than their capes, an air of sublimity hung over them that was in stark contrast to their bleak surroundings. It was a unit of demonhunters. Few in numbers, but tremendously effective, each one a warrior in possession of mysterious powers. The man at the forefront was a middle-aged man, perhaps in his forties. Despite no longer being a young man his skin was still fair and smooth and nobility poured from him. In a variation from the younger demnohunters accompanying him, he did not have an exorcist staff or bow. It meant he was above those low-tier tools, a leader. A subordinate softly intruded. ¡°Lord Augustus Cloude, the blasphemers have revealed themselves.¡± A line of figures emerged from Blackwater Base having spotted the attackers approaching. They were armed with cannons and other artillery, creating a fortified defensive line. The demonhunter commander, Augustus Cloude, nodded. ¡°Cleanse them.¡± The other soldiers arose from their prayers as the order was given. With firm resolve and indomitable demeanor they marched forth toward Blackwater Base. A formation like this was foreign to wastelanders. One after the other battalions fell into line, and the sight quickly sapped the fighting spirit of Blackwater¡¯s warriors. However what wastelanders lacked they made up for in the will to fight back, even though their enemies were a force two thousand strong. To have a chance they had to find some way to route the army. ¡°Attack! Fire!¡± Blackwater Base¡¯s defenders let loose with a loud volley, include two heavy machineguns. Only, as the hail of gunfire struck the rapidly approaching soldiers they did nothing. The holy light that hung over them protected the soldiers as well. Even sprayed with hundreds of rounds none of them suffered so much as a scratch. Bullets were ricocheted away from the holy aura as though it were made from steel. Altogether the Skycloud soldiers lifted their bows. Line upon line knocked pure white arrows and pointed them forty-five degrees skyward. Tang! The arrows were let loose and filled the air as dense as a jungle canopy. ¡°Are they crazy?¡± ¡°Can they even shoot this far?¡± The soldiers of Blackwater Base were completely confounded by this. They were hundreds of feet away and an average bow could only shoot a couple hundred. Even the best wasteland bow lost its lethality when the target was further than four hundred feet away and the Blackwater defensive line was at least twice that distance. How could their arrows even reach them? Skycloud bows were complicated and exquisite weapons that looked as though they were made from precious stone. It was power in pursuit of art, both beautiful and deadly. Their arrows were peculiar as well. They were plated in a holy brilliance like the blessed arrows of legend. Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! The arrows shot by at incredible speed, descending on the defenders like a biblical plague! A strange scene then emerged as arrows fell like as hail and fast as bullets. Strangely they did not slow from the moment they were shot from the bow, and instead flew faster. Under the holy light neither gravity nor environment impeded them, making the arrows deadly over a much larger range. At their highest point the arrows were like a sky full of twinkling stars. The tell-tale whistle of them carving through air emerged as they hung, still for but a moment. Then the arrows came crashing down like a meteor shower, streaks of white light cast from heaven. A chorus of wails arose from Blackwater¡¯s fighters for these brilliant arrows each hit their mark. Most terrifying was that they were semi-autonomous ¨C even in midair they could slightly change trajectory toward their target. Although the bow-bearers had appeared to fire at random, in fact their accuracy was very high. ¡°Ah!¡± One of the defenders¡¯ leaders fled for a few paces, but to no avail. Half a dozen arrows pierced him from several directions. The arrows did more damage than they might expect, piercing through iron shields and armor like they weren¡¯t there. In a single volley the Blackwater soldiers were routed and fled every which way, more a mob than an army. Skycloud¡¯s forces had summoned a rain of death! The result was overwhelming, the disparity between the adversaries was too great. Chapter 132 - Demonhunters Chapter 132 - Demonhunters Skycloud¡¯s four battalions marched indomitably forward in square formation, moving with impressive speed while also firing arrows toward their foes. Wave after wave of glimmering arrows peppered the battlefield, a torrent of deadly fire. Each movement was precise, showing that the holy warriors had practiced this thousands of times. Two thousand warriors drew their bows and fired in perfect unison so that their arrows peppered the distant enemy all at once. Faced with this terrifying assault the wastelanders broke ranks and scattered. Over the course of a few minutes the swamp became a miserable tract of corpses, bleeding into the fetid waters. Everywhere one looked was struggle and pain. Countless shafts of holy light traced the path of Skycloud arrows as they buried themselves in the flesh of Blackwater¡¯s defenders. Resplendent though they looked, each one was a wastelander¡¯s ticket to hell. They could not run, only die. All the while the two armies drew closer and closer, but Blackwater¡¯s soldiers had long since ceased to fight back. Waves of arrows had collapsed their organization as well as their morale. Those that remained were only concerned with fleeing to save their lives with no thought to fighting off the invaders. Augustus Cloude¡¯s face split into a contemptuous smirk. He motioned to his left and right with a wave, then spoke in an almost flippant tone. ¡°Kill them!¡± Skycloud¡¯s soldiers stopped, shifting from their long-range formation to a charge configuration. Even their bows underwent a miraculous change as bowstrings retracted of their own volition. The curved, carved jade bows bend at an angle and their sharp ends jutted out another half a foot. In seconds the bows transformed into six foot long melee weapons with blades on each end. The soldiers held them from the middle. In fact these weapons had four unique forms. The first was the long-ranged bow, and second was the double-ended glaive. In addition it could also be detached at the center to be dual wielded, or affixed side by side as a double-headed broadsword. These were works of art, masterfully crafted weapons of destruction. They were perfect for any situation; long ranged, glaives for charging, powerful two-handers. It put the holy warriors¡¯ skill and ingenuity on display. Skycloud¡¯s army began their charge! Two thousand soldiers arranged themselves in charge formation and as they raced ahead either side swept around to the defenders¡¯ flanks. The two battalions in the center went straight in and started the slaughter. More than their training, it was clear Skycloud¡¯s soldiers were of a much higher quality than Blackwater¡¯s, even before one considered equipment. How could a band of wasteland rabble hope to stand against them? One of the Skycloud officers brandished his glaive and broke through the enemy ranks. Holding his weapon in its center he spun like a deadly steel dervish, leaving blood and severed limbs in his path. He was a tempest and where he passed there were shouts of pain and misery. The rest of his battalion followed in his wake, easily destroying the wastelanders¡¯ weapons and armor. Death¡¯s own scythe would struggle to claim as many lives. All told the battle lasted an hour. By the end the marsh was a graveyard, and the wastelanders¡¯ weapons were discarded where they died like tomb markers.To the warriors of the elysian lands these crude tools were filthy and inferior. One of the Skycloud officers trotted over to Augustus Cloude. ¡°Milord, the blasphemers have been destroyed. We¡¯ve suffered no losses.¡± Augustus Cloude stood on the slope of a hill and surveyed the field. Behind him fourteen demonhunters clad in pure white stood in a line. None of them had reacted as the battle raged, for they were the champions of god, the greatest warriors of the elysian lands. In war they were deployed to handle particularly stubborn foes, thus their lack of participation showed just how easily Blackwater¡¯s defenders were defeated. Augustus Cloude fiddled with the cuff of his right arm. ¡°Have you found the entrance?¡± Respectfully, the officer replied, ¡°We have sir, but the gates have been shut. Our men are searching for a way through.¡± Blackwater Base¡¯s defenses were designed around hydraulic systems. Forcing the doors would not be easy. Augustus Cloude swept his eyes across the scene once more then signaled with his hand. The officer interpreted the motion and relayed the order. ¡°Everyone stand your ground!¡± Like robots Skycloud¡¯s soldiers froze, not moving a muscle. Meanwhile Augustus Cloude made his way to the thick door that barred their passage. He merely had to place his hand upon the sturdy iron, and all of a sudden cracks began to appear from where he touched. Chunks weighing several tons split and fell away, creating an opening large enough for them to enter single file. The tunnel stretched all the way through the door, which was several feet thick, to the other side. ¡°Luna Cirrus, Raith Umbra. With me.¡± From the fourteen demonhunters, the two youngest stepped forth. From the looks of it Augustus Cloude was going to use this as a training opportunity. Part of the base¡¯s defenses included a defensive post with a turret, manned by a single soldier. Once the door was breached he began flooding the hall with fire from the chain gun, and no normal person could withstand the pain it put out. It was a choke point, and in theory one man could hold the gate against a whole slew of attackers. Augustus Cloude came prepared, however. While the turret was too much for the junior demonhunters, he could hold out against it for a time. Before the turret gunner had time to react, Augustus Cloude let a small black metal orb slip from his sleeve. It was a relic, and as it floated into the air an invisible force field sprang to life. Bullets thick as carrots were met with a repulsive force that held them fast like they were caught in glue. Each bullet struck with hundreds of pounds of force, only to instantly stop. But while their forward momentum was cut off, they began to turn red and smolder from an intense heat. In a brow-raising display, the bullets were arrested in mid-air to create a curtain of red-hot lead. They were so hot that they began to melt, but not a single one got close to the demonhunters. How could this be? The turret gunner gaped in shock, for he had never seen a living creature able to survive his heavy weapon. Nor had he ever seen a power strange as this that could stop bullets. The female demonhunter, Luna, shut her eyes. She reached out with her will and used it to scan the area like a radar. After a moment she pointed toward a direction, and that was when her male counterpart reacted. Raith lifted a primitive-looking bow that was vastly different from the sort normal soldiers used. It was an unassuming weapon, but for the runes etched along its pitch-black length. Without knocking an arrow he pointed the bow and pulled back the string. But an imposing gathering of energy coalesced before the weapon and an arrow appeared from the air. His fingers relaxed. Twang! The arrow effortlessly penetrated the turret gunner¡¯s cover and lodged itself in his gun, culminating in a loud thud followed by an explosion. Shrapnel tore through his body, even blowing his eyes from his skull. Augustus Cloude didn¡¯t waste any time. Just as he had from the outside, the master demonhunter approached the inner door and placed his hand upon it, reducing it to rubble. The other demonhunters entered once the coast was clear. Fifteen figures in white lead the way into Blackwater Base. Skycloud¡¯s soldiers were close on their heels. They exploded through the base, leaving behind a desolate vision of blood and mangled flesh. Those from the elysian lands gave the wastlanders no quarter. The old, the young, and the sick were cut down without hesitation for anyone with the blood of the wilds in their veins was the spawn of evil. Killing them was no sin, on the contrary it was an act of faith and honor. Blackwater Base knew they were coming, the most important materials were already gone. Their leader had also vanished, leaving no trace or body. Augustus Cloude scowled. He ordered a hundred survivors spared, but this was worse than a death sentence for them. They were beaten, abused and tortured until they gave him the information he wanted. Before very long an officer returned to Augustus and reported the situation. ¡°The base¡¯s leader fled a day ago, taking the evil technology with them. Our interrogations revealed three separate escape routes, but we aren¡¯t sure which they took. We also learned that this base had produced a batch of those intelligent monsters but released them into the wild several days ago. No one knows where they went.¡± ¡°Hmph. Even for blasphemers I would not have expected they would do something so despicable.¡± The young female demonhunter spat the words with disdain. ¡°We can¡¯t let those wicked experiments reproduce, or for that evil research to get out.¡± Augustus Cloude nodded then spoke to the officer who gave him the report. ¡°Any other information?¡± ¡°A few of them, well¡­¡± ¡°Out with it!¡± ¡°Yes sir. A few of those we interrogated claimed that a demonhunter had appeared in the camp. He helped the base¡¯s current leader revolt and take over, he stayed for about twenty days. They claimed he left a few days ago.¡± Astonishment appeared on the faces of the younger demonhunters. Their order had nothing but the most devout warriors, how could something like this be true? Was he some sort of turncoat? That would be a crisis for the entire demonhunter community! ¡°Our primary concern must be that research and those monsters they created. As for the demonhunter, from their description he is not very skilled ¨C a novice at best.¡± Augustus Cloude absently played with a ring on his hand as he spoke to the two demonhunters beside him. ¡°Luna, Raith. I leave him to you. Can you handle it?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Both of the junior demonhunters perked up. The one called Luna confirmed, ¡°We will certainly complete the mission!¡± ¡°Take a hundred soldiers with you.¡± Augustus Cloude nodded as though the matter was settled. ¡°This is your first mission in the wastelands on your own. Convey yourselves well, don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Raith¡¯s brows knit as he spoke. ¡°Milord, the two of us should be more than enough for some piddling renegade. You should keep the men for chasing down blasphemers, we can do this without support. ¡°These evil lands are more dangerous than you think, and what¡¯s more we know neither the identity nor true strength of this stranger. We must ensure that you remain safe throughout the assignment.¡± Clearly he had made up his mind. ¡°Very well, you have your orders. You have seven days, bring that turncoat back here dead or alive.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± With their task made clear the two young demonhunters selected a hundred men and left in search of the traitor Cloudhawk. Chapter 133 - The Lighthouse Chapter 133 - The Lighthouse The sky darkened as dusk approached. In the center of the small outpost was a lighthouse, whose inviting light guided travelers to safe harbor. A sole traveler appeared on the horizon, neither tall nor strong but alone against the wastelands. That fact alone made him a man not to be underestimated. The rifle slung over his shoulder was a symbol of status. The lizard he rode upon signified means. Equipped in this way one would be the focus of attention anywhere. Women felt safe around such a man and were willing to give up much for his company. The guards of Lighthouse Point where delighted when they saw him and scurried to open the gates. ¡°He¡¯s back! He really came back!¡± ¡°Quick, quick! Open the gate!¡± The masked man claimed to be a bounty hunter, who had come earlier in the day to replenish his food and water. Unfortunately the situation at Lighthouse Point was poor and they had little they could trade. Instead the leader struck a deal. He told the hunter of a creature nearby threatening the outpost. If he were to kill it the leader would be happy to generously compensate him. Reappearing from the wastes the first thing they noted was the head hanging from his saddle. It was enormous, with two jutting tusks and looked like something between a lion and a leopard. The one head had to weigh at least several dozen pounds. Judging by the skull alone one shuddered to think what it used to be attached to. Beyond being incredibly ferocious, the beast had also been cunning. It was a surprise to find that this hunter could so easily do away with it, he had to be a real talent of the wastelands! ¡°Hahaha! Good lad, a real benefactor of Lighthouse Point! Come in, come in.¡± A burly man in his forties or fifties came close, hobbling on an injured right leg. A pair of copper teeth twinkled in his wide grin. This was the outpost¡¯s leader, and he went by the name Coppertooth. Cloudhawk greeted him with a small nod. The wastelands were a forgetful place. After a while in Blackwater Base it seemed like everything had blown over. Mercenaries and bounty hunters had moved on to other prey, his wanted status old news. The rhythm of the wasteland was quick, twenty days was like an eternity. Even the most affluent mercenary groups couldn¡¯t afford to go most of a month without income. They took a great risk sweeping the deserts for Cloudhawk. Especially once he¡¯d disappeared, rumors began to circulate that the young demonhunter had been eaten by some wild critter. With not even so much as a corpse to recover, his pursuers lost interest. The changes his body had undergone were another thing. He was still thin, but taller than before ¨C a little over five and a half feet. The former scavenger was more muscular, too, and the weapon that had previously marked him as a demonhunter were replaced by weapons from Hellflower and Blackwater Base. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s mask was able to change at will. Everywhere he went he wore a different face. The invisibility cloak to any untrained eye looked like any other ratty piece of clothing. After such a profound transformation he could strut across the outpost and no one would know who he was. Four days and five nights had passed since Cloudhawk left Blackwater Base and things had gone smoothly. The only danger he¡¯d encountered was a sandstorm a few days ago that cost him some food and water. That was what brought him to Lighthouse Point. Coppertooth prepared a feast for Cloudhawk in thanks, consisting mostly of mutant animal meat. The meat was tough and stale, but it was not hard to see that it was a rare treat here in Lighthouse Point. ¡°Thank you, brother. Our resources are limited, so we can only show you our thanks in this way.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t mind. He removed his mask which earned shocked looks from the people around. They¡¯d thought he was just thin, but in fact he was quite young. Cloudhawk addressed Coppertooth. ¡°What about the things I asked for?¡± The hunting job he¡¯d done for them was not out of the goodness of his heart, His price had been simple, enough jerky and water to last ten days. It didn¡¯t sound like a lot, and in fact, since his ordeal in Blackwater, Cloudhawk¡¯s appetite had only grown. He could eat as much as five large men and he didn¡¯t know why. He figured it had something to do with the Trespasser virus inside him, maybe in multiplying it was consuming a lot of his energy. It caused him no small amount of concern. He didn¡¯t know what changes his body was going through. He had to find the Dark Atom quickly and the cure he hoped they had. Coppertooth¡¯s smile fled from his face, replaced with an awkward unease. Cloudhawk was clearly irritated by what he knew was coming. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Uh, brother. You asked for more than I thought.¡± His sheepish grin was sincere. ¡°We don¡¯t have ten days of jerky meat.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s frown deepened. Not even ten days of jerky? Lighthouse Point was unique in that it was a very small outpost. There were fewer than two thousand people living here, which was much smaller than most other settlements. The elderly, women, and children made up about half of that number. Old, women, children. They were synonyms for weakness out here, and the weak depended on the strong to survive. If there were too many they became a burden and for this reason most other settlements tried to keep those numbers low. Women and children had some value, but the old and infirm were often cast out before the needs of survival. The consequence of Lighthouse Point¡¯s unique population was that they were small, weak, and always lacking for resources. Their main diet consisted of whatever roots they could dig up and insects they could catch. Meat was a rare delicacy, especially the sort they could store for a long time to turn into jerky. It was one of their most important stockpiles. If Cloudhawk¡¯s appetite matched that of a normal man, ten days of jerky would have been a stretch but not an impossible order. However eating as much as he did his needs were several times that of anyone else. What he asked for was too much for them to absorb. They could curtail their soldiers¡¯ rations, but they already only had a few scraps of meat each. If the leader ordered them to give it up, they¡¯d surely be angry and too weak to defend the outpost if something were to go wrong. Cloudhawk was honestly surprised. He knew the settlement was small ¨C two thousand was a pittance ¨C but they couldn¡¯t even manage such a small amount of food? However he saw the earnest apology in Coppertooth¡¯s face, and it wasn¡¯t hard to believe a place like this would struggle. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you.We really are pretty hard up here, but if you¡¯d like we can try to get some more food from elsewhere.¡± The uncomfortable sound of grinding copper arose as Coppertooth grit his teeth. He slapped the table. ¡°Asha! Why haven¡¯t you brought him his liquor yet?!¡± A young girl of around thirteen or fourteen hurried over with a large bottle in her arms. She shot Cloudhawk a timid glance. Asha was rail thin and was covered in a worn but surprisingly clean gown. She had a head of wavy flaxen hair, and though her skin was dark and rough her body was soft, healthy. Elegant and pretty, for a wastelander. Coppertooth introduced her. ¡°Asha is the most beautiful girl in Lighthouse Point. About a year ago she fled from a slaver, moving from place to place until she found her way here.¡± She poured his glass and curtsied, enough to show the lines of her immature figure beneath her collar. She furtively lifted her head and stole a glance at Cloudhawk. Beneath his scruffy black hair was an angular and handsome face, and his lithe body was laden with equipment that was never far from his person. There was a light of awe in her eyes. Coppertooth also cast a telling gaze toward Cloudhawk. ¡°She lives a hard life here selling wine, hardly makes enough to eat. Perhaps she should go with you.¡± Cloudhawk lifted his glass and sniffed its contents in silence. It was a habit he¡¯d developed ¨C nowhere in the wastelands was it safe to let your guard down. If there was something in the wine his keen scent would pick it out. He knew what Coppertooth was getting at. There was hope in the young girl¡¯s eyes. Her life had been a series of hard breaks without a day of respite. If she could attach herself to a strong man, so long as her body retained its allure she could have a better life. Cloudhawk was no longer ignorant to the appeals of women. Asha was attractive for a wastelander, and Cloudhawk was a young man. He wasn¡¯t opposed to the idea of being accompanied by a pretty girl, but he also knew that out in the wastes he couldn¡¯t even guarantee his own safety. Bringing along someone who was hardly strong enough to carry a wine bottle seemed like asking for trouble. ¡°Three days jerky, and plenty of sleep.¡± Cloudhawk took a sip of liquor and changed the topic. ¡°How far from here is the holy city?¡± ¡°Holy city? Ten days, unless you run into trouble. You aren¡¯t planning to go there, are you?¡± Coppertooth¡¯s expression changed visibly when they started talking about the elysian lands. His surprise only became more apparent when Cloudhawk nodded his head. ¡°There are a lot of wastelanders who want to enter the holy city, but it never works out. I think it¡¯d be best if you gave up on the idea.¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot about the place.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I lived there twenty years ago.¡± This took Cloudhawk by surprise. He looked Coppertooth up and down, a man with rough skin and crude clothing. Not to mention those false teeth. There wasn¡¯t an inch of him that looked like an elysian. ¡°Then why did you come back here?¡± Coppertooth proceeded to share his life¡¯s story with Cloudhawk. Twenty years ago, as a soldier in Skycloud¡¯s army, he participated in a raid against a group of blasphemers. He took pity on several infants they encountered during the attack and secretly took them away. In the end he was found out, and in the elysian lands his actions were a grave affront to god. Coppertooth lifted the right leg of his trousers. Beneath, instead of flesh there was metal. His leg was replaced with an artificial limb. ¡°I betrayed their warrior¡¯s code, so they took my right leg. I was exiled into the wastelands and told never to return.¡± Cloudhawk frowned as he examined the result of Coppertooth¡¯s charity. ¡°Because you saved a couple kids?¡± Taking someone¡¯s leg for sparing the life of children seemed way out of line. What sin had they committed, why did they have to die? ¡°I bet you regret it.¡± Cloudhawk picked up a chunk of meat and took a bite. ¡°To go from the paradise of the holy city to this fuckin¡¯ shit show¡­ I bet most people wouldn¡¯t be able to accept it.¡± ¡°Hey brother, that¡¯s not true at all. At first I had trouble, but now I¡¯m living fine.¡± Coppertooth lifted his glass and drained it. ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned the holy city is no paradise, and not everywhere in the wastelands is hell.¡± Cloudhawk almost gasped. ¡°What are you saying?¡± Coppertooth heaved a sigh, like it was a topic he wasn¡¯t thrilled to rehash. ¡°Brother, you¡¯ve worked hard. You have to be tired. Let Asha take you up to your room where you can get some rest.¡± Coppertooth shot Asha a glance. Her face turned red and she shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Make sure our brother¡¯s satisfied, yeah?¡± Chapter 134 - Sudden Crisis Chapter 134 - Sudden Crisis Cloudhawk left the small tavern and took a walk around the outpost. Its namesake landmark towered over the rest of the buildings from the settlement¡¯s center. Cloudhawk had seen it from far away. It was what drew him here. When he went inside he found a stall had been placed at the lighthouse¡¯s base, and several withered old pilgrims shuffled around it. They bowed with hands pressed together and muttered prayers. Curious, Cloudhawk muttered his question aloud. ¡°What are they doing?¡± Asha had followed Cloudhawk from the tavern and still held the large bottle in her arms. She answered him respectfully, ¡°Master Coppertooth believes that everyone should carry faith in their heart. Life is difficult here, but faith can bring us joy. This monument is from the holy city and it was brought here so that we may pray. It represents our faith and respect in the gods.¡± Coppertooth may have looked crude and uncouth, but he really was a good man. Perhaps this is what made this place different from all the other settlements. Lighthouse Point was a feeble place, but its citizens longed for the purity of the elysian lands. Of course they knew that none of them would ever get there, but that knowledge didn¡¯t hamper their admiration and worship of the ideal the elysian lands stood for. Cloudhawk spoke over his shoulder to the young girl. ¡°Do you believe in the gods?¡± ¡°I do!¡± She nodded and continued in her tiny voice. ¡°Master Coppertooth told us that if the gods hadn¡¯t come, demons would have destroyed all of humanity. The gods saved our world and established the holy cities. Master Coppertooth is a good man, it¡¯s a shame I¡¯ll never meet any more elysians.¡± Her regret earned a sigh from Cloudhawk. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the best. Not all elysians are like Coppertooth. As far as I can tell they hardly consider wastelanders to be human. It¡¯s probably better if you don¡¯t meet any more of them.¡± But Asha emphatically shook her head. ¡°Master Coppertooth said the ire of the elysians only comes down upon blasphemers. We may be lowly wastelanders, but so long as we keep the gods in our hearts, pray day by day and generation to generation, one day our faith will cleanse us of our sins. When that time comes the people of the holy city will appear and take us in.¡± What inherent sin did wastelanders have? Cloudhawk harbored no love for this barren land, but he didn¡¯t think that its people were born evil, or twisted, or filthy. If a child from the holy city grew up in the wastelands their noble heritage wouldn¡¯t change anything. They would be the same as everyone else! But Asha¡¯s self-loathing was deeply ingrained. That was the saddest thing about most wastelanders. With an exile living here perhaps Lighthouse Point was on the margins of the wastelands. It didn¡¯t seem like they had to deal with waves of monsters or roving sweeper gangs. There weren''t many people here who would be strong enough to fight back if they did, since most were old and infirm. Instead of signs of fighting there were more traces of elysian influence. This filled Cloudhawk with hope. He had to be close to his goal. The northern part of the settlement was a cluster of ancient ruins. Perhaps a hundred collapsed towers interspersed with a ruined fleet of ships create a sprawling junkyard that Lighthouse Point¡¯s denizens crawled through for supplies. Most of the outpost¡¯s materials came from there, it was how they made their living. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t enthralled with the camp, not like he would have been before. Months in the wilds had stripped him of his na?vete and he knew that danger lurked around nearly every unfamiliar corner. It¡¯d become habit for him to look around wherever he intended to lay his head for the night. Where were the good hiding places, where could he lose pursuers, if things suddenly changed where were the escape routes¡­ these were important things to know. Eventually they made it to his room and Asha pushed open the door. Coppertooth¡¯s hospitality was on display, for the room was clean and had its own water supply. He could take a three minute shower, which was a rare luxury in the wastelands. Enticing as that was, though, Cloudhawk was exhausted. He was getting ready to settle in when he heard the rustling of clothing from behind. When he turned he saw that Asha had slipped out of her crude gown. She was turned away, the burnished flesh of her back visible in the dim light. Asha was thin and she¡¯d only just begun to grow into her body, immature like a fruit still on the branch. The red in her cheeks showed this was her first time, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. Her gown was down around her ankles, and her fingers hooked into the edges of her underwear. ¡°I¡¯m leaving tomorrow. I don¡¯t want to waste my energy here.¡± She immediately slumped to the ground, flustered and earnest. ¡°Please accept me, sir. I¡¯m clean, I don¡¯t have any tumors. I¡¯ll listen to whatever you say.¡± Cloudhawk had no intentions of taking on responsibility for a young girl. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m only staying here for the night, then I¡¯m leaving forever. My life is miserable, spent out in the wastelands drifting from one place to the other. I don¡¯t have the ability or energy to look after someone else. Go back to Coppertooth and tell him that I appreciate his generosity, but I don¡¯t need anything else.¡± The expression on Asha¡¯s face was one of disappointment as she pulled her gown back on. With a respectful bow she left the bottle of liquor behind and shut the door behind her as she left. A few minutes later Copperooth was surprised when Asha reappeared. He knew she¡¯d been refused. Such a pity, he thought. The man was young but already possessed surprising ability. If he could be convinced to stay Lighthouse Point would be much safer. That was Coppertooth¡¯s hope when he sent Asha with him. The girl knew it too, she was interested the moment she saw him. Whether for the outpost or just for herself, she¡¯d hoped he would be interested in return. Coppertooth treated Asha like a daughter. What sort of parent wanted to see their child taken away? Sadly, after losing his leg he wasn¡¯t the warrior he used to be. He was getting older, and he couldn¡¯t take care of this precious young girl anymore. If he could take this opportunity to put her in Cloudhawk¡¯s care then it was for the best, even if she was just his servant. Just so long as she was safe and had a full belly he would be content. More than that, if Cloudhawk stayed maybe he¡¯d be leader one day. He was young. Lighthouse Point would survive for a long time under his guidance. Asha hung her head, speaking in her small and timid voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t good enough.¡± Coppertooth patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t take it hard, girl. Go rest.¡± She wiped the moisture from the corner of her eyes and dutifully took her leave. He watched her tiny figure retreat and inwardly sighed. If she¡¯d had the fortune to be born in Skycloud, in a few years she¡¯d likely marry a noble. She would become an honored Lady. At worst she would find a wealthy merchant for herself who would give her a good life. Unfortunately, she had been born in the wastelands, and from the moment she was born Asha was fated to experience all the evils of the world. The fate of women out here was a dark one, and Asha was even refused the life of a serving girl. Was this her destiny? How could it be so unfair! This Cloudhawk kid didn¡¯t seem so bad, at least he was responsible. People like him were hard to find. He was a good young man. *** The night was dark, impenetrable but for the beam from the lighthouse. Below it the outpost was still and silent. Cloudhawk was jolted awake, his heart beating like a drum in his chest. An electric shock tore through him as though someone had jabbed a needle into a nerve. Even before his eyes opened his body was on the move. A flash of metal and his revolver was in hand, pointed at a shadowy corner. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes had grown keener over time. Once the fog of sleep was lifted he could see everything with the help of the moonlight filtering through the window. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Strange. Outside then? Cloudhawk got to his feet, approached the door and slowly turned the lock. There were no sounds coming from the hall, nothing moved. He checked out the window to the ground before, even the roof but there was nothing to see. What was going on? That sense of danger never left. Every hair on his body stood on end. He felt ice cold. The only time he¡¯d had a reaction this intense was when the danger was life-threatening, like the eyes of a vicious predator were trained on him. He didn¡¯t know where it was coming from, but the danger ¨C and the bloodthirsty intent it bore ¨C was close and getting closer. Shit! I can¡¯t stay here! Wherever this danger was, Cloudhawk could at least tell it was closing in on Lighthouse Point. It was coming for him. Defenses here were weak and couldn¡¯t protect him, if he stayed he was putting everyone in the outpost in danger. It was time to go! Cloudhawk decided to flee immediately. Forget the jerky and water, escape was paramount. He slung his rifle over his shoulder then dropped from the window soundlessly to the ground below. As he was inching toward the stable to get his mount, he heard a strange sound. Chapter 135 - Slaughter Chapter 135 - Slaughter Wind whipped through the dark night like daggers. Two young and noble-looking demonhunters stood out in the desolate wastes. They stared at the sweeping light shining from the lighthouse ahead. Luna was around five and a half feet tall, with flaxen hair and pale skin. Her face was pretty and a pair of crystal blue eyes stood out in the darkness like precious gemstones. She held an exorcist staff comfortably in her hand, heroic in bearing despite being a woman. Raith was a little taller, almost six feet. He was tall, well-muscled, but agile despite his size. Short brown hair sat atop his head above a masculine and daring face. The demonhunter was charming, both in appearance and bearing, only perhaps a little overconfident. He gave the impression of always being ready to leap into conflict. Two days was all it¡¯d taken for them to get here. It showed their quality and efficiency. The lighthouse¡¯s beam reflected in the depths of Luna¡¯s eyes. ¡°Should we launch a surprise attack?¡± ¡°We are demonhunters, and there are a hundred soldiers with us. Why waste time and effort on a sneak attack against some piddling traitor?¡± Raith¡¯s handsome features might as well have been chiseled from stone. His words dripped with arrogance. ¡°Besides, this is a sizeable settlement, we can¡¯t be sure where he¡¯s hiding. Kicking the bushes might shake the snake from its lair.¡± He had a point. Fifty soldiers would surround the outpost and lay in wait, while the rest of them would kill their way in. Eventually the traitor would be forced to reveal himself, but no matter where he fled an ambush would be waiting. Once his location was discovered the two of them would make sure the mission was complete. Skycloud¡¯s one hundred soldiers separated into two units. The first group of fifty spread out, five men to a team, and established ten points of ambush nearby. Lighthouse Point was quickly surrounded. Those who were left marched toward the gate, led by the demonhunters. No need to pretend, no need to skulk. The pride of the elysians and the self-confidence of the demonhunters shunned such practice. Denizens of Lighthouse Point had never witnessed such a scene. As the resplendent soldiers of the holy lands strode through the gates its defenders simply looked on in astonishment. They didn¡¯t even call out a challenge or raise an alarm. ¡°What are ¨C ah!¡± Screams erupted! An arrow sprouted from the defenders chest and he toppled from the walls. Raith had lifted his bow, drawn the string and released. A thunderous power struck the barricade and blew it apart. Shards of wood and metal exploded out in every direction, impaling several guards who had come to see what was happening. The exorcist bow, like the exorcist staff, was one of the lower level relics in a demonhunter¡¯s arsenal. Both were standard equipment for inexperienced members of the order. Obviously the exorcist staff favored close combat while the bow was more suitable to dexterous and control-focused warriors. One could tell the demonhunters¡¯ respective styles by the weapons they bore. Luna¡¯s staff showed that she preferred getting in close, meanwhile Raith¡¯s bow revealed a penchant for long-distance engagements. A relic¡¯s power depended on two things. First was the inherent quality of the relic itself, and second was the skill of the demonhunter who wielded it. Judging by Raith¡¯s display in breaking down the gate, he could use a relic as effectively as Cloudhawk. The citizens of Lighthouse Point didn¡¯t expect their small and poverty-stricken home to be attacked. More shocking was that these invaders weren¡¯t from the wastelands. They weren¡¯t beasts or some raider gang. With glimmering suits of armor and magnificent weapons they couldn¡¯t be. Every soldier bore spotless equipment. Each piece was like a work of art. Striding over the remains of the barricade Raith surveyed the outpost with a cold grin. ¡°Luna, gather up all these filthy barbarians.¡± The fifty soldiers they brought with them began to search the outpost, grabbing everyone they could find and hearding them together like livestock. Before long over a thousand hapless denizens were assembled in the center of the outpost. Fifty Skycloud soldiers drew bowstrings. Glimmering arrows shimmered with faint light. Meanwhile the wastelanders were completely ignorant of what was happening. There were certainly more of them than there were invaders, but none were soldiers. With no fighting experience they were completely overwhelmed by the ferocity and speed of this attack. They could do nothing but huddle together pitifully. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Coppertooth huddled out from the throng. He threw himself to the ground before the two who were dressed as demonhunters. ¡°I was a captain of the Skycloud army, second division, and I offer my respects to the visiting demonhunters. I beg you to see that although these people live in the wastelands they live in the light of our gods. They are not blasphemers!¡± Coppertooth¡¯s reaction surprised them. Asha huddled near the back of the crowd, her eyes red and swollen. These men in their fancy armors were holy warriors? She and the others did not know what was happening. Their piety had to have moved the elysians to come and deliver them. Otherwise, why would these good and noble warriors come to this wretched place? What other purpose would they have in their inconsequential outpost? ¡°We welcome you, lords of the holy city.¡± ¡°Welcome, warriors of god!¡± One by one everyone dropped to their knees in submissive deference. An old man whose hair had all gone white openly wept. ¡°Merciful god has not forgotten us!¡± Raith¡¯s eyes turned a bitter cold. With a wave five glowing bows released their arrows. Every one of them hit the old man, striking him so hard that he was flung up into the air and nailed to a distant wall. The old man¡¯s mouth trembled as blood leaked into his snow white beard. He struggled for a few seconds before going limp, all the while confused and unsure of what was going on. Why? Why did they do that! Why would holy warriors slay the faithful in cold blood? Coppertooth¡¯s face went ashen grey. Asha stared in disbelief. Everyone¡¯s faces changed when they realized what happened. ¡°They killed him! The soldiers from the holy city just¡­ killed him!¡± A handful rose to try and flee, but they couldn¡¯t outrun arrows. The lethal and perfectly accurate arrows cut them down. In a blink dozens more were dead. ¡°Lowly worms, your rotten faith only sullies our mighty gods!¡± Raith took up an exorcist staff, and devoid of expression, approached their holy tablet. With a single swing he reduced it to dust. That which represented the faith and hope of the town, destroyed. Cold, heartless, he spoke again, ¡°Who gave you heathens permission to pray in their names?¡± The crowd huddled in shocked silence, as though struck by lightning. Already in awe of the demonhunter¡¯s frightening power, his cruelty made them speechless. Everything they thought they knew of their faith was a lie. They couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. Raith placed his bow aside and addressed the frightened masses with savage tones. ¡°I already know you are harboring a traitor to my people. Where is he? Speak quickly!¡± ¡°Impossible! There¡¯s no way!¡± Coppertooth sputtered, trying to force the words out as quickly as possible. ¡°How could we have a traitor here?¡± Raith dismissed him with a wave. ¡°Kill them.¡± The soldiers drew their bows. Another round of screams rang through the outpost. A dozen more bodies littered the ground, pouring blood into the dirt. Like the worms they were said to be, everyone lay prone on the ground. They shivered uncontrollably for the Skycloud soldiers seemed to kill at random. Anyone could be the next victim. Asha¡¯s wide eyes stared at the nearly one hundred fellow residents who now lay dead. Unarmed men, women, the old, the young. Before this moment they had admired these soldiers, had yearned to become a part of their world. But now? This domineering young tyrant had destroyed the emblem of their faith, as small and pathetic as it had been. A demonhunter, who they had worshipped as an agent of the gods, treated them with only cruelty and contempt. Asha wept bitter tears. Wastelanders were born into sin, but was there no path to redemption for them? Why were these noble men and women refusing to even give them a chance? Why would the representatives of the holy lands slaughter innocents? Raith did not look at them as humans. They were like beasts that needed to be exterminated. However many he killed would not be enough, and no matter how cruel he would not feel guilt. In fact it filled him with pride, for to him he was cleansing the world of their filth. ¡°I will count down from five. If no one answers I will kill more of you until I get what I want. Five. Four. Three. Two!¡± ¡°I know!¡± It was to be expected that someone would break when the threat of death was so clear. Coppertooth¡¯s face was crestfallen. He didn¡¯t know whether there really was a turncoat, but he knew how zealous the people of the elysian lands were. They couldn¡¯t admit it, they couldn¡¯t! If they did, they would all be killed. If this traitor was never found perhaps a few of them could be spared. If, on the other hand, this traitor was found, or if they admitted to hiding them ¨C intentionally or not ¨C them and everything they¡¯d built would be destroyed. But it was too late for him to stop it. ¡°Someone came from the wastelands today that might be who you¡¯re looking for. Coppertooth greeted him himself, and I saw Asha lead him away into the camp. He¡¯s in the lodge! That¡¯s all I know, I beg you not to kill me.¡± Raith¡¯s lips twisted into the model image of a sneer. Luna took several soldiers with her to search the lodge. Several minutes later she returned empty handed. ¡°It¡¯s him, but he¡¯s already gone.¡± ¡°Escaped?¡± Raith¡¯s grim scowl made the man with loose lips turn pale. He staggered backward a few feet before throwing himself to the ground. ¡°T-this has nothing to do with me! I told you everything you asked!¡± ¡°Yes! Indeed you did¡­ but I never said I would spare you.¡± An arrow struck the citizen in the center of his head and pinned him to the dirt. A pool of blood quickly pooled around him. None of the slaughter registered on the female demonhunter¡¯s face, for she could see nothing wrong with her compatriot¡¯s methods. She was focused on spreading her senses wide, her hearing as accurate as sonar within several hundred feet. She was instantly familiar with every nook and cranny of the space around them. The traitor knew they were there but none of the ambush teams had raised the alarm. He had to still be hiding somewhere nearby. Good news for the demonhunters since Luna¡¯s perception was exceptional. She would find him before long. Raith, however, had never been a patient man. He wanted this mission completed as soon as possible. Rather than slowly making his prey uncomfortable, he would do something drastic to force him out of hiding. Rage was always the best tactic. The traitor would have to show his face. Raith would make sure of it. Chapter 136 - Fighting Back Chapter 136 - Fighting Back Cloudhawk had hoped he could leave the outpost before his enemies caught up with him. He didn¡¯t want to get them caught up in his troubles. Unfortunately, danger came with the night. He could feel it gathering to strike. Although he couldn¡¯t be sure, his premonition told him foes were lying in wait for him to show himself. It was all so strange. These were not typical wastelanders. He was at a loss, and before he could puzzle out what all of this meant Cloudhawk heard the sound of a door opening from behind. A group of people surged in from the outpost, but what really caught his attention was the tell-tale sound that came with them. A relic? Demonhunters! But why would demonhunters appear here? Were they the ones here to kill him? He didn¡¯t dare underestimate them. The only demonhunter he¡¯d met was the Bloodsoaked Queen, so he didn¡¯t know how capable others of her order might be. If they were as strong as the Queen ¨C no, if they were half as strong as the Queen, Cloudhawk was in serious trouble! With the situation unclear he couldn¡¯t just break past them. Nimble as a monkey he pulled himself up onto the roof and found a hidden spot to watch from. No sooner had he hid himself than he witnessed the demonhunter and a dozen soldiers begin rounding people up. The Lighthouse Point¡¯s citizens were herded toward the center of the town, too far for him to see what was happening. But he could hear the screams. It¡¯d started. Cloudhawk covered himself in his cloak and vanished, reappearing several dozen feet away. He was silent as a ghost, slipping through the night with the dexterity of a cat. He slipped an armor-piercing round into the chamber of his gun and peered through the sights until he found the two demonhunters. These soldiers were outfitted in superior equipment, far better than anything a wastelander could manage. Along with the demonhunters, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess where they¡¯d come from. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t remember offending any elysians, though. Perhaps something had happened to the Bloodsoaked Queen? Unlikely. She had a background of strength and experience, nothing would happen to her. Whatever motivated these elysians Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know, but he could see over a hundred dead civilians through the scope of his gun. It didn¡¯t matter what their aim was, the wanton murder of innocents wasn¡¯t something Cloudhawk was willing to accept. He was still trying to decide what to do when they singled Coppertooth out from the crowd. ¡°We¡¯ve done nothing to sully the name of the gods here!¡± Panic had set in when Coppertooth saw who¡¯d come for them. Their lives were forfeit the moment the demonhunters arrived, but he tried one last gambit. ¡°We¡¯ve lived our lives in reverence of the holy lands and its people. We have never dared disrespect your righteous doctrines. Never! I was once a soldier in the Skycloud army, I made a mistake and was exiled but I have always remained loyal. Always!¡± ¡°A soldier of Skycloud?¡± Raith approached Coppertooth and trampled on his left leg. The sound of snapping bone and Coppertooth¡¯s screams mingled in the heavy air. Raith¡¯s face was a hideous mask of ruthless loathing. ¡°You filthy worm. You dare call yourself a Skycloud soldier?¡± He pulled Coppertooth up from the ground, then slammed his fist into the crippled veteran¡¯s face. Coppertooth hit the ground hard. Half of his face had caved in from the blow and several teeth tumbled from his mouth. He sputtered through a mouthful of blood and his limbs twitched erratically. Raith¡¯s punch had broken his neck. He would never stand again. ¡°No. No!¡± Asha scrambled out from the huddled crowd. Tears cut streaks through the dirt on her face as she ran toward Coppertooth. He saw her and gurgled through his ruined mouth. ¡°Go back. Stop!¡± Two soldiers grabbed Asha before she could get far. One slapped her hard across the face. What frail child could withstand a strike from a trained soldier? She crumbled to the ground unconscious. The sound that came from Coppertooth was something between a roar and a wail. Raith pinned Coppertooth¡¯s head to the ground with a foot, while fifty wastelanders were chosen from the crowd. They were shoved into a line ¨C old men, women, children ¨C trembling as grim soldiers towered behind. Calloused hands gripped their glaives tight and brought them high, waiting for the order. ¡°Coward! I know you¡¯re hiding somewhere!¡± Raith dragged his eyes around the camp. ¡°If you have any shred of honor, then show your face!¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate. Raith waved his hand, and in an instant fifty innocent lives were snuffed out. Luna didn¡¯t even bat an eye at Raith¡¯s murderous rampage. Her eyes were closed as she searched for any sign of the traitor they¡¯d come to kill. Her companion¡¯s actions were bait to lure out their prey, to anger him so that he would act rashly. The moment he did she would know where he was hiding. ¡°Are you watching? These innocents die because of you! Coward! How long will you let this go on?¡± Raith raised his hand again and snapped his fingers. Cloudhawk struggled to quell the rage burning inside of him. The Bloodsoaked Queen was one of the harshest people Cloudhawk had ever known, but compared with what he witnessed she was a saint. To her the lives of wastelanders were a trifle, but she at least loathed killing indiscriminately. These monsters killed for the sake of killing. They do this to get to me, eh? He knew their ploy, but Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t sit by and watch. He wasn¡¯t from the elysian lands. He didn¡¯t believe in their bullshit code of honor or pretend respect. He only felt the wrath and indignation that came from a wastelanders¡¯ heart, from hearing people like him scream and die. Fifty more people were lined up and forced to their knees. They swayed and cried and begged forgiveness. Raith turned a blind eye to their tears and blood. He would kill them one batch after another, their lives held no value. If their pitiful deaths drew out his prey then he was killing two birds with one stone. ¡°Kill them.¡± Fifty soldiers raised their weapons. Cloudhawk could hesitate no longer. He glared through the cross-shaped aiming reticle at the female demonhunter. Disgusting as her male companion was, she was more dangerous. All this time the relic she¡¯d been channeling resonated threateningly. It was probably some sort of probing relic, or something that empowered her perception, Cloudhawk guessed. In other words, she was the eyes and ears. If she got a lock on him, escape would be almost impossible. He was in an inferior position, both in numbers and in strength. In a position like this, he had to make the first shot count. His gun was special. Blackwater Base had had only one and it was picked out for him by Hellflower. In addition to firing conventional ammo it was also capable of accommodating special rounds. The armor-piercing bullet nestled in the chamber could punch through a sheet of iron several inches thick. No fleshy human body stood a chance. Even Roste¡¯s freakish skin wouldn¡¯t have been able to withstand a shot! Raith raised his hand to give the order, then Cloudhawk pulled the trigger. The moment his finger moved, the female demonhunter¡¯s eyes popped open. She slid to the right. Bang! The bullet exploded from Cloudhawk¡¯s gun and half a breath later struck one of the Skycloud soldiers. His jade-like armor shattered into a thousand pieces and he hit the ground screaming. The bullet kept going, piercing through a second man before ultimately lodging itself in a third. Fuck! Missed! Even the Bloodsoaked Queen would have found it hard to dodge this attack if she wasn¡¯t looking out for it. The woman¡¯s demonhunter skills alone didn¡¯t account for her ability to dodge the shot. She had to have a high level of perception to do that. Her abilities were similar to Cloudhawk¡¯s. The sense of danger leveled her way had tipped her off with enough time to get out of the way. Killing her at a distance was a challenge. Luna¡¯s azure blue eyes fixed on the shadow in the distance. ¡°Raith, to the north!¡± Raith lifted his bow and stretched back the string. An arrow appeared out of thin air when he released, which soared toward the shadow almost a thousand feet away. Running along the hotel roof Cloudhawk could feel the power closing in. He threw himself to the side, suddenly changing directions. The place where his foot had just left exploded into splinters. ¡°Where are you running!¡± Raith¡¯s face bore a vicious scowl. Without another word he leapt onto the roof of a nearby six foot building. His talent was agility. He jumped across the rooftops so quickly that half the distance between himself and his prey was covered almost instantly. As he soared through the air Raith drew his bow again and released an arrow no less deadly than Cloudhawk¡¯s gun. If it hit the consequences were unbearable to contemplate. Thud! The arrow was stopped by a shield of sand, but the impact also blew the shield apart. The air became choked with yellow dust that impeded the demonhunter¡¯s vision. Raith waved his hands in front of his face to try and dispel the cloud. When it was gone, so too was his target. Escape was going to be difficult. Cloudhawk knew the soldiers were waiting to ambush him nearby. Although they couldn¡¯t compare to demonhunters, Skycloud soldiers were nonetheless capable fighters. Their weapons were as deadly as sniper rifles. When the soldiers saw him they burst into action, but before they got far Cloudhawk threw a round object in their midst. The explosion that followed shook the whole area. The blast wasn¡¯t lethal, but the sound and light incapacitated his attackers ¨C another toy Cloudhawk had brought from Blackwater Base. Luna and Raith gave chase, followed by a contingent of soldiers. However, by the time they got to where the blast had been, Cloudhawk was gone without a trace. Neither demonhunter had anticipated he¡¯d be this cunning. He¡¯d slipped passed both Raith and the soldiers left in ambush. Raith¡¯s expression was both savage and infuriated. The turncoat had escape from right under their noses, killing two Skycloud soldiers and wounding several others. It stung worse than a slap to the face. ¡°He¡¯s injured.¡± Luna dug her fingers into a patch of blood soaked soil, then brought them up to her nose to take a sniff. ¡°The traitor won¡¯t get far.¡± Chapter 137 - Lifedrinker Arrow Chapter 137 - Lifedrinker Arrow Sunlight crept over the desert, dispelling the darkness. Wind cleaved the night¡¯s cloud cover, allowing shafts of blood-red light to peak through. The moment day broke temperatures began to rise. The heat sent creatures of the night scurrying for their nests and in only a few minutes hot air warped the horizon. It was hard to see anything more than a few hundred feet away. Cloudhawk struggled over the dunes while the wind whipped around him. He clutched his gun and leaned against the biting gusts, trudging at an even pace. What he experienced at Blackwater Base had made him strong. Now, he recovered faster than his energy was spent. So long as he had energy to spare, he could keep moving. He made sure to keep a safe distance between him and his enemies. Whenever they were poised to catch up he would lose them in the ruins. They continued like this, over and over again for six hours, never clashing but never losing track of each other. Cloudhawk knew where he had the advantage, and he knew how to make use of it. His enemies were many, but that made them slow and unwieldy. The trail of blood they¡¯d found? Cloudhawk had planted it on purpose. For one thing, he had to get them away from Lighthouse Point. Otherwise, they would have continued killing those poor people. It also gave them the mistaken impression that he was hurt. The aim was to make them feel overconfident. It was the same reason he didn¡¯t use his relic cloak to escape. The young demonhunters aimed to exhaust their wounded prey by keeping up the chase. However, they were starting to question their decision as they struggled back and forth to gain ground without catching sight of him. He still hadn¡¯t collapsed. On the contrary, his pursuers began to tire while Cloudhawk just kept going. Luna, who had been using her senses to track him this whole time, was quickly becoming exhausted. Both of the demonhunters were far stronger than Cloudhawk, and the soldiers they brought were each about his equivalent. It was a sharp disparity in strength, but out in the wastelands it wasn¡¯t always strength that won fights. Experience, patience, and luck were one¡¯s weapons. Often times the weaker beasts of the wastes could take on a foe vastly stronger and win handily. Eventually Cloudhawk¡¯s intentions became clear to the elysians: pretend to be weak and force them into exhaustion! Like many wasteland creatures he was pretending to be weak so as to confound his pursuers. At the last moment he would turn and attack, taking them by surprise. Much like a pack of wolves Cloudhawk would take a bite out of their forces, slowly chipping away at their strength. Then when they were exhausted he would strike ¨C expending the least and maximizing the damage he could cause. The wastelands were a cruel and effective teacher. Cloudhawk was a talented student. Over time the Skycloud soldiers slowed to a crawl while he hadn¡¯t weakened at all. Luna turned her head and looked at the soldiers. Stragglers were falling farther behind, stretching their group out. She could tell at a glance they were tired, not at their best. Their prey was more cunning than she¡¯d given him credit for, more tenacious than predicted. Their soldiers wouldn¡¯t be able to keep this up for very much longer. Stragglers were left behind to try and catch up, while the demonhunters pressed ahead. However, this spread them thin. Was this not the traitor¡¯s intention? ¡°I think we¡¯ve been tricked. The turncoat isn¡¯t injured at all!¡± Raith had come around to the realization as well. Though he was dripping with sweat his eyes were as hard and as cold as ice. He regularly scanned the horizon. ¡°He¡¯s clearly skilled at traveling through the ruins. But if he thinks that will be enough to save him, he¡¯s gravely underestimated us.¡± He reached to his waist where an elaborate arrow had been strung through his belt and pulled it free. It was unclear what the arrow was made from, it was about the length of a hand and arcane runes had been carved all along its surface. The marks of a relic. Luna looked at him with the light of surprise in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re going to use the Lifedrinker?¡± The Lifedrinker arrow. Raith¡¯s heirloom relic! He¡¯d only acquired it recently, and as such he wasn¡¯t very proficient in its use. Employing it cost him a lot in energy and psychic power, making it unsuitable for most situations. Now appeared to be the time. The arrow emitted a crisp and melodious sound, then like an extendable baton its ends snapped out to make the arrow three feet long. The runes on its surface glowed mysteriously and shrouded it in a cocoon of light ¨C an indication that the relic had been awakened. ¡°Our group is too slow getting through these ruins. If we continue, when will this chase end?¡± He slowly lifted the arrow in his hands. ¡°It is a disgrace to use the Lifedrinker on this turncoat, but we are beset by dangers all throughout these blighted lands. Our enemy is cunning. It is worthy to use this arrow to ensure the safety of our holy warriors, and to end this farce quickly!¡± Once the arrow was loosed, the turncoat would surely die. The result was indisputable! Luna produced a small bottle, within which was Cloudhawk¡¯s blood they¡¯d gathered from the dirt back at Lighthouse Point. A single drop was extracted, then spilled onto the Lifedrinker arrow¡¯s triangular head. The moment the blood touched its smooth surface, it vanished. Archaic runes shimmered hungrily in response and turned red. The arrow had its target. Raith and Luna exchanged a wordless glance. She nodded and stepped back. The young demonhunter placed his foot atop a nearby rock and adopted a bowman¡¯s stance. He drew back the bowstring with a deep sigh. Energy gathered quickly around him, causing the dirt and gravel below his feet to tremble, even the rock beneath his feet began to crack under the strain. Inch by inch the exorcist bow, bearing the Lifedrinker arrow, was drawn back toward its limit. Nearby the Skycloud soldiers looked on with envy and admiration. The young demonhunter¡¯s bow was a relic that did not need any arrows. By itself the bow could lay an enemy low, but with the arrow together these two relics could do truly frightening things. Young though he was, Raith commanded such impressive power. He was an outstanding talent among the younger generation of demonhunters. Slowly he drew back the bow, face red and veins stark and throbbing on his forehead. He wasn¡¯t pulling on a mere string, instead it felt like he was trying to hold back a thousand pound weight. It took five seconds just to draw it half way. His Lifedrinker arrow was becoming brighter. The force field around him was becoming more intense. At last he reached his limit. With his heart filled full of bloodlust and rancor, he released it all with a single shouted command. ¡°Go!¡± The Lifedrinker arrow vanished in a streak of red light. Silent as death, faster than the eye could follow. Raith swayed and nearly fell over, but Luna had been ready. She stepped forward and made sure he kept his feet. She looked even more excited than he did, for witnessing the use of his heirloom was a special thing. ¡°You did it!¡± When she caught him Raith¡¯s heart began to flutter. It made him proud and filled with manly vigor that he was able to manage the act of using the arrow in front of her. The two of them had known each other for ten years. Chosen as children, they had trained together, grown and improved together. Both were young, barely twenty, and trusted one another implicitly. Luna was a year younger than Raith. She looked up to him like an older brother, while he had long ago developed feelings for her. All of his bluster, all of his bravado, all of his great effort was just so that she would see him. Filled with pride and self-confidence, Raith was sure the turncoat had been slain. ¡°The rest of you wait here for our orders. Captains, come with us.¡± Ten soldiers separated from the crowd and made to follow. These captains were much stronger than the typical holy warrior. Leaving the burden of the others behind this smaller group could move faster. With Luna and Raith in the lead, they left in search of their prey¡¯s body. *** As the Lifedrinker arrow was released a flood of foreboding swallowed up Cloudhawk. It was a terrible sensation, like something tore open his throat and pierced his spine. He couldn¡¯t imagine what sort of thing would make him feel this way. Then the ripples of a relic¡¯s power reached him. His face fell when he knew what was coming. Without looking back he threw himself to the side. An arrow, moving faster than he could fathom, screamed past. It was frightening enough that he could hardly follow it with his eyes, more terrifying still the arrow didn¡¯t make any noise at all. Not even the sound of rustling wind as it swept by. Cloudhawk had survived solely because of his danger sense and the sound of the relic¡¯s resonance. Anyone else would have died on the spot. Missing by mere inches the arrow raced by, only to spin in midair a few dozen feet away and head back toward him. Left with no recourse, Cloudhawk hit the ground hard enough to make his vision blurry. Whatever relic this was, it sure was difficult to deal with! Once it locked on to a target it would adjust trajectory until it struck. If the first pass missed it came around for a second, then a third, and a fourth. It would only stop once he was dead. When had Cloudhawk ever encountered a weapon like this? It was too strange, too wily! The second pass missed. It was coming by for a third, still moving fast as lightning! Cloudhawk pulled himself forward with his hands, but with every movement the arrow followed like the specter of death hungry for his soul. His eyes went wide as it headed right for him, but he flopped behind a low-lying wall just in time. A fraction of a second later the sound of splintering rock assailed his ears as the whole wall crumbled. The Lifedrinker arrow pierced his cover, searching for his rapidly beating heart. Rrrrip! His armor split like it was made of paper, and it was the Gospel of Sand beneath that saved his life. It ricocheted off and rocketed into the sky. He¡¯d hoped the wall would protect him but it might as well have not been there. The arrow soared high overhead before turning back one hundred and eighty degrees and beginning its descent. It was coming right for the top of Cloudhawk¡¯s skull. Too deadly, too frightening! Nothing seemed to slow it down! He was so frightened that his whole body was drenched in a cold sweat. He wrenched the iron dagger from his waist and, with a scream, swung it wildly at the arrow. He put all his power behind it for if he failed to stop it, the arrow would take his life! Clang! Snap! Half the dagger¡¯s blade lodged itself in the sand. Cloudhawk was left with only the hilt. But the Lifedrinker arrow was knocked aside. It continued a few feet into the distance before turning around and picking up speed once more. He was left stunned, at a loss. What the fuck was this goddamn thing?! How was it so hard to escape? There was no other avenue of escape left to him. He activated his cloak. Perhaps if he disappeared, the arrow couldn¡¯t follow... but if it could, he was out of luck. Chapter 138 - Fatal Hi Chapter 138 - Fatal Hit One second. Two seconds. Three seconds! Cloudhawk anxiously searched himself with his hands but found no wounds. The Lifedrinker arrow hovered in the air less than a foot away from his chest, frozen in air. Its razor-sharp tip was pointed directly at his eye. The sanguine runes etched on its surface flickered then dimmed. As he watched, the possessed arrow turned and flew into the distance. The Lifedrinker arrow deftly maneuvered through the ruins. It avoided obstacles, retracing its route back to where it¡¯d come from. Eventually it found its way back to Raith. He snatched it from the air. With his chest puffed out the young demonhunter proudly proclaimed. ¡°Moon, don¡¯t worry. The traitor has already been dealt with.¡± Yet she peered at the arrow with doubt. ¡°So quickly?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this relic! This is one of Skycloud¡¯s greatest hunting relics!¡± Were anyone other than Luna to question him, Raith would have flown into an imperious rage. He might have even killed the offender. Yet before her there wasn¡¯t even a hint of anger. On the contrary, he patiently explained the relic¡¯s power. ¡°This relic was created by a master demonhunter a hundred years ago. Shot from his hand, this arrow would hunt its target relentlessly for five days and five nights. Once his target was more than three miles away, but in the end the arrow still took the life it intended.¡± The others blanched at the story. It hunted its target for five whole days? Killed it from three miles away? How could such a deadly tool exist in this world? Only the gods could have created such a righteous and powerful thing. ¡°This relic has three special qualities. First, it¡¯s able to locate its target and attack with extreme precision. Second, it¡¯s silent so as to take its target¡¯s life before they even know what¡¯s happening. And third, if somehow its first attack misses it will just keep coming. Either the relic¡¯s holy powers are used up, or its target dies. Those are the only outcomes.¡± He flicked his wrist and the arrow contracted, back to the small rod it once was. He slipped it back into his belt. ¡°It had enough power to return to me, so that means the job is done. If you need confirmation you can use your perception to try and find him yourself.¡± Until a life was taken, the arrow would not come back. That was what made the relic arrow so special. Raith did not possess the skill or power of a master demonhunter, but the ten minutes he could manage was more than sufficient. Actually only a couple of minutes had passed since he fired the Lifedrinker arrow and it was back already. Their target had to be dead, Raith was confident of this. Luna nodded then focused her psychic energy into the torque necklace around her throat. The tracking relic hummed to life. Just like her companion promised she could not find any sign of their prey. In all likelihood he was dead. ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± He wanted to maintain a level of modesty before the girl he admired, but it was difficult for him to hide the arrogance behind his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry, before some monster makes a meal of our prize.¡± The twelve hunters from Skycloud picked up the pace toward Cloudhawk¡¯s last known location. Before long the terrain became a complex maze of buildings, thousands of them in various states of disrepair that towered like ancient sentinels. In the center was an enormous ship that had crashed to earth. It was phenomenally large, and half was buried in the rubble with parts strewn all around. So this was their prey¡¯s chosen cemetery? Luna shut her eyes and channeled her focus once again into her relic necklace. It shimmered in response to her call. Waves of invisible resonance reached out like a radar in all directions and in an instant she knew the terrain as well as if she¡¯d walked the whole thing herself. ¡°There¡¯s nothing dangerous nearby.¡± Strange. No corpse, either? Both demonhunters were young and talented, outstanding members of their class. Luna¡¯s expertise was investigation and probing, while Raith was a gifted hunter and assassin. Together they were a frightening pair, made all the more formidable with ten Skycloud captains at their back. It was probably better for the traitor that he was already dead before they found him. ¡°He has to be nearby.¡± Raith looked around the dilapidated surroundings. ¡°This place is a mess. Spread out and search!¡± Cloudhawk hid in a fissure along the mothership¡¯s hull. Once the girl¡¯s probe swept by, he cautiously allowed the power of his cloak to fade. He perched amidst the ruins, so well matched that he might as well have been a chameleon. With slow, deliberate movements he pulled his rifle off his shoulder and loaded an armor-piercing round. This guy is way too overconfident. Egotistical prick. He wasn¡¯t downplaying how dangerous the Lifedrinker arrow was, but every relic had a weakness. Cloudhawk¡¯s invisibility cloak masked everything; his sound, body heat, and aura just vanished. Any indication he was alive had vanished as well. Without any means to find its target, the arrow assumed its mission was complete. Luna¡¯s tracking was troublesome, too. It didn¡¯t seem to tire her out too much but was very effective. All this time it was through her that they were able to pinpoint his location. However, with some effort and time Cloudhawk was able to find her weakness as well. She couldn¡¯t sustain the pulses for long. They came in waves, roughly three minutes apart. Once Cloudhawk saw the pattern he started to take advantage. When the pulses were due to come he hid beneath the power of the cloak. Her powers seemed to act similarly to the Lifedrinker arrow, so once he was safely erased by the cloak her tracker relic was rendered effectively useless. He knew their tricks, and because of his cloak these demonhunters were lulled into a false sense of security. Now was the time to strike back. Cloudhawk tentatively crept out from his hiding spot and inched forward, using the ruins as cover until he found a good spot. A choke point where both demonhunters would have to cross. He was ready, but who was his target this time? The girl¡¯s relic could pin him down, and she had a strong awareness of danger. If Cloudhawk chose her she would be able to feel it, so he wasn¡¯t absolutely sure his sneak attack would land. The boy was quick, nimble, and well trained. After using the arrow he would be physically and mentally drained. He was at his weakest¡­ making him the right call. Both of the young demonhunters had made a fatal mistake. They shouldn¡¯t have left their entourage behind. They were scattered around the complicated terrain and couldn¡¯t quickly reorganize if something happened. It gave Cloudhawk all the time and opportunity he needed. He saw them coming, still vigilant. They thought Cloudhawk was dead, but this sort of place was the perfect hunting ground for other beasts of the wasteland. They were on high alert for any danger that might be lurking around the corner. Three hundred feet. Two hundred and fifty feet. Cloudhawk slowly exhaled, then held his breath. He controlled every pore, controlling his body to the point where he was practically stone. Below, the demonhunters picked their way through the ruins slowly, carefully examining everything they came across. Meanwhile Cloudhawk¡¯s focus was running short. Deal with one, then face the other, that was the plan. He had to save as much energy as possible for that fight, or an escape if he failed. Closer. Closer. Demonhunters had to be more than just excellent warriors. They were relentlessly trained to be killers. Even against two relatively young and inexperienced members, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare underestimate what they could do. Every ounce of concentration, every bit of power had to be put into these critical seconds. A hundred and fifty feet¡­ A hundred thirty¡­ Cloudhawk remained still. He had one chance. He had to wait for the perfect moment. Something must have seemed off, for both demonhunters stopped suddenly. They held tight to their weapons and scanned their surroundings. They somehow felt the danger. Suddenly a series of shrieking barks echoed off the crumbling walls as six or seven mutated rats slithered through the cracks. Their beady red eyes glared at the two intruders, ready to tear them apart with their dagger-like claws. That was what they sensed, the monsters! Luna brandished her exorcist staff which hummed with power, then launched at their attackers. She moved with incredible speed. Before the rats could get close a blast of power knocked them into the air and ripped their hairy bodies apart. A rain of blood and gore showered the area. The moment the rats appeared Raith felt a frigid sensation bubble up from deep inside. It caught him off guard for it was the first time he¡¯d felt something like that. By sheer coincidence he turned his head, and a hundred feet away he could clearly see a figure rising from the ruins. Time slowed, he saw every grain of sand as it fell off the figure¡¯s shoulders. His gun was the same color as the grit around them, except for the dark maw of the barrel. A magnificent bloom of fire reached for him from that darkness. No! He went cold, all over his body and deep into his soul. He could even feel the friction of the thick bullet as it ripped through the air, the sound of it leaving the barrel, the promise of death in its wake. Raith tried to get out of the way, but the sneak attack was too sudden, his murderer too close. He couldn¡¯t escape. He watched in excruciating detail as the bullet entered his chest. It slipped through his cloak before collapsing his leather armor. Although it was of the best quality, there was nothing his armor could do to stop the bullet. Skin split, muscles tore, bone shattered. A spray of blood followed as the bullet exited his back. ¡°RAITH!!¡± It all happened in the blink of an eye. Pieces of mutant rat still fell around them. A wail, filled with inconsolable anguish, spilled from Luna¡¯s mouth as she watched the bullet pass through him. She reached out and grabbed him, almost immediately drenched in something hot and slick. The wound in Raith¡¯s chest was the size of a fist, gushing like a fountain of blood. Cloudhawk reloaded the rifle with his left hand. His window was mere seconds as he aimed for another shot toward the fallen demonhunter. He was not the target, however. Cloudhawk was hoping to hit the girl behind him. Cloudhawk was fast but his luck was limited. Luna sensed the bullet coming and leapt into the air to avoid it, but so far things were still under his control. He flung the rifle to the side. It was too slow for his needs. He reached back and pulled two revolvers from his waist, then fired a series of shots at the surviving demonhunter. Each bullet exited with a spat of fire and traced a blazing line through the air. Each one was aimed at Luna, who would find it difficult to dodge while in midair. In this fatal moment Raith summoned the last of his strength to throw himself at Luna. He shoved her out of the way, but not before two of the bullets struck her, though neither hits were effective. Cloudhawk¡¯s revolvers weren¡¯t strong enough to get through her armor. Raith took the rest of the shots. One hit him in the side of his face and blew off his ear. Another hit him in the throat and tore out a huge chunk of flesh. Failure! Cloudhawk scowled and made to flee. Chapter 139 - Lunaes Madness Thanks to her danger sense, which was as keen as Cloudhawk¡¯s own, the girl demonhunter had avoided his hail of gunfire. Emptying what was left of his clip, he slipped back into the ruins and vanished before she could recover. It was all over in five or six seconds. Their brief skirmish was over faster than a flash of lightning. The demonhunters were more capable than I¡¯d expected. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to deal with them in one go like he¡¯d hoped, but it didn¡¯t matter. He got the one he wanted. Claudia lay on the floor, her flaxen hair splayed around her. Her pale skin was smeared with blood and dirt, and an aching pain radiated from her shoulder and lower abdomen. If it weren¡¯t for whatever secret materials they used to make her exceptional armor, the two shots would have taken her out of the fight as well. Her first instinct was not to go after their assailant but instead to check on Raith. She collapsed at his side and held him close. When she saw the state of him something snapped in her. ¡°Raith¡­ Raith, are you alright? Come on now, don¡¯t scare me like this.¡± His handsome face no longer bore that self-assured expression he was famous for. Dim eyes stared sightlessly at the sky, empty. Blood continued to leak from his nose and the corners of his mouth. Even her screams seemed separate, somehow disjointed. All the energy drained out of her. The shot to the neck was the one to actually take his life, but he had been a dead man walking once the armor-piercing round hit its mark. That bullet had destroyed his lungs, shattering several ribs and his sternum along the way. No first aid or emergency medicine would save him. Now the haughty young demonhunter lay in the dirt, and the only part of him that moved were his legs. They twitched as death loomed near. Raith¡¯s mind was in chaos, like sinking in a bottomless black hole. He dimly felt a few hot drops strike his face, nourishment for his worn-out soul. His eyes regained focus and the tear-streaked face of a young woman came into view. Claudia. Is she crying for me? A stifling sadness filled him. Ever since they were small he¡¯d tried so hard to be gallant, strong and manly for her. Subconsciously, his brutal massacre of the wastelanders had been to show her his boldness and skill. He just wanted her to see him differently. But what did it accomplish? For all his pride and conceit, now he lay amid the ruins like garbage. He wanted so much for her to be his. He would protect her, love her ¨C but the chance had passed. He mustered the life that was slipping from him, forcing words through his shattered lungs and lips. ¡°Please¡­ when you report to Lord Cloude ¡­ tell him the failure was mine. Let me shoulder the¡­ shame, and responsibility. Claudia¡­ you¡¯re still young¡­ so talented. You can¡¯t¡­ let this failure tarnish your potential. Don¡¯t go after him. Give up the mission. Go back! Please¡­ go back! Claudia shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t speak. I¡¯m bringing you back to Skycloud!¡± But that was not true. It was already too late. Raith looked up at her, filled with sadness and despair. My very first mission, and it ends with me dead at a traitor¡¯s hand, out in the wastes. His shame would disgrace his whole family. How could he ever face that? In her heart, Claudia also knew that Raith was certain to die. Had she only known their first incursion into the wastelands would end so bitterly! The boy she¡¯d spent her whole life with, who¡¯d grown up with her, lay in her arms struggling for his final breath. And there was nothing she could do, only watch as his labored breathing grew shallower. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you¡­ I¡­¡± Whatever he wanted to say, he would never have the chance to tell her. His pupils contracted and a deluge of blood poured from his mouth, thick with bits of bone and organ. His chest quivered like a broken bellows and then went still. The last signs of life slipped away. His eyes went wide. Unbelieving. Reluctant. Claudia hugged his bloody body to her own and cried. She threw her head back and gave voice to her pain. The two young demonhunters had been too brazen. If they¡¯d kept their guards with them they might have caught Cloudhawk after his attack. Of course¡­ when one descended into irrational thought, they continued to make mistakes. When the soldiers heard the gunshots, they came running towards Claudia¡¯s direction. If she waited just three minutes for them to arrive, the eleven of them working together could easily overwhelm the traitor. But the rage that burned in her beautiful eyes demanded blood. The tracking relic against her chest glimmered and released a resonant pulse. This fucking scumbag can¡¯t be far. He was hiding in the ruins! Waiting for a chance to strike again. Claudia snatched up her exorcist rod and gave chase. Cloudhawk had reloaded his revolvers, and as he broke out of hiding he started firing. His wrists bucked from the recoil as he sprayed the narrow passage with bullets. The girl was just as strong as her fallen companion, but he was adept at fighting from a distance. She was most dangerous up close. She¡¯s quick! Claudia eluded the bullets as deftly as a dancer, without even slowing her approach. For those bullets she couldn¡¯t avoid she knocked them away with her staff without a second thought. Incredible! Yet another person able to knock away bullets! The last time he saw someone with that level of skill was back at Blackflag Outpost. This girl had to be about as skilled as that sweeper leader. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk¡¯s marksmanship wasn¡¯t spectacular, still inferior to the likes of Slyfox. He wasn¡¯t going to kill her with his guns. It was like trying to face off against Hellflower! She was getting closer. If she got within striking distance Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how he would protect himself.She was a demonhunter, the real thing. Claudia wasn¡¯t on the same level as the Bloodsoaked Queen, but one on one there were only a few people in the wastelands who could stand against her. Cloudhawk¡¯s own exorcist rod was gone. What did he have that could protect him from hers? Claudia¡¯s azure eyes were red from hatred. She glared at Cloudhawk with such burning rage that it seemed a miracle he wasn¡¯t burnt to a crisp right away. ¡°I find your mood curious. Is it blood-boiling anger? Soul-tearing hatred? Or are you so anxious to share your friend¡¯s shame?¡± Facing the furious woman Cloudhawk was not stunned. His face was hidden behind the mask, so all she heard was his modulated, demon-like voic. Every word, every sentence, only caused her to become more incensed. ¡°Now that I know you can actually feel something¡­ where was your anger and hatred when those innocent wastelanders were murdered? You who pretend to be so noble¡­ in my eyes you¡¯re nothing but selfish, despicable, laughable hypocrites. Are these the great demonhunters of the elysian lands? The righteous warriors of the gods? You don¡¯t even compare to the worms of the wastelands!¡± ¡°Shut your fucking mouth!¡± Sure enough, she charged. Her cloak began to rustle from some inexplicable wind. Her staff began to whir and thrum with power that made the sand beneath their feet whip into the air. A tempest of agitated energy surrounded her, causing such friction that heat poured out in waves. Son of a bitch¡­! She is strong! Cloudhawk hurriedly tried to escape. Claudia lifted her staff and it seemed to split the air. Her anger, as vast and vicious as a waterfall, empowered her attack. A terrifying aura swallowed Cloudhawk, turning the air to paste and making it hard to move. None of the pressure was life threatening, but her skills were beyond everything he anticipated. Her anger and disgrace was fueling her, making her at least three times stronger than normal. A scorching, hate-filled air surrounded them. It made their surroundings warp from the intensity. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t escape, only rely on his cloak. He disappeared from her view, with the increased speed helping him move. The power of Claudia¡¯s exorcist rod came in a torrent, powerful enough to destroy two rows of ancient buildings. It didn¡¯t matter if it was old steel or thick stone, everything was turned to dust. Cloudhawk barely avoided destruction, staggering out of the way just in time. He slipped into the relative safety of the ruins and unless he let his invisibility drop, she had no idea where he was. ¡°Coward! Come out!¡± Claudia knew he had to be using relics, and high-grade ones at that. That¡¯s how he deceived Raith¡¯s Lifedrinker arrow as well as my own attempts to locate him. ¡°All you can do is hide and attack from the shadows? You call yourself a warrior?! Stand and fight like a man!¡± ¡°Honorable demonhunter, you are in no position to pretend to know what fairness is.¡± Cloudhawk was moving so quickly that his voice came at her from several angles, like an echo. Gunshots followed from all around but none had any effect on her. She didn¡¯t even try to avoid them this time and just knocked them away with her staff. ¡°If your idea of ¡®fair¡¯ is the brutal slaughter of the true faithful¡­ if you call ¡®fair¡¯ the wholesale slaughter of unarmed citizens¡­ if your ¡®fairness¡¯ is the wanton slaughter of the old, of women, of children¡­ if ¡®fairness¡¯ in your world is the slaughter of a hundred innocent people just to find me, then I am happy to be a cunning, despicable, impudent scoundrel!¡± He said too much. It served its purpose in making her angry, but it also helped her find where he was hiding. Once she knew where he was, she swung her exorcist rod in his direction. He was knocked back by the blast, the instability causing his invisibility to drop. He stood with both feet on the ground, but two large trenches extended from them. The girl had a few tricks up her sleeve. When Cloudhawk saw the absolute rage on her face, he knew that a battle was inevitable. He wasn¡¯t particularly level-headed himself, and the situation had slipped out of his control. But no one else was like him, with the help of his mysterious stone and the depths of power it afforded him. Mantis had taught him once that composure was a soldier¡¯s greatest weapon. When one¡¯s emotions got the better of them, the cadence of a battle was given to the enemy. Claudia wasn¡¯t ignorant to this fact. She was well trained as a demonhunter. Alas humans were emotional creatures, and sometimes human nature was difficult to contain. Everything she learned was pushed out of her mind in the face of pure loathing. She wasn¡¯t thinking about tactics, all she wanted was to see this masked prick pulverized! I¡¯m going to kill him. I¡¯M GOING TO KILL HIM!Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 140 - Pyrrhic Victory Chapter 140 - Pyrrhic Victory In the face of such an intense onslaught, Cloudhawk had no choice but to disengage and hide in the ancient ruins that served as their battleground. Crumbling buildings towered over them like a forest of petrified bamboo. He didn¡¯t know why it was here, or what they were used for in those old days. But there were so many that the scope was staggering, randomly scattered all around. The one demonhunter was trouble enough. If he¡¯d stuck around to get surrounded by the Skycloud soldiers, Cloudhawk would be done for. Choosing to flee into this complicated mess of buildings was for nothing more than to buy some time. Behind him, the sound of her exorcist staff blasting through the ruins never ceased. After nimbly dodging his bullets, Luna raced after him, cleaving whatever obstacles crossed her path. Like a crafty rat Cloudhawk slithered between the buildings. He changed directions at random to try and throw her off. Her answer was to blast the stone buildings to dust with her staff. Enraged, spewing curses, Luna kept on the trail of this slippery bastard. She was fast as a cheetah, but every time she caught up to him Cloudhawk would dart to the side and pull ahead. She did not slow down to follow, though. She charged headlong into the building before her and began to run along the wall as easily as though she were walking on firm ground. Agile as a monkey she skittered up the building then kicked off. Bang! She landed on sturdy feet, cracks gathering where she landed. Less than a second later she jumped off again. From above Cloudhawk looked like a frightened rabbit darting off in random directions. He himself didn¡¯t know where he was going, just that he had to keep moving. Where the demonhunter had been a cheetah, now she was a swallow hovering overhead. She deftly bound from building to building even faster than he could run. Cloudhawk had hoped the cluster of buildings would keep her at bay. The girl ended up being more skilled than he thought. Jumping along the buildings was certainly more tiring, but she was markedly faster than her prey. Cloudhawk could feel the noose tightening around his neck with each passing moment. ¡°Die!¡± Luna¡¯s exorcist staff lashed out again. She left Cloudhawk no option but to rely on his cloak again. He vanished, dodged, then reappeared. She came again, he dodged. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have time to catch his breath. They danced around each other at a staggering pace. Each time Cloudhawk was in danger of being overcome, he used his cloak to slip away. It went on this way for five minutes. All of a sudden Luna felt an intense dizziness assail her. She had to slow or risk falling over. Her feet hit the ground with a heavy thud but were stable, despite the fact that every muscle in her body was screaming in pain. She¡¯d begun to claw her way out of the madness that had gripped her. Covered in sweat, gasping for breath, she saw the masked traitor stop as well. They stood a hundred and fifty feet apart, just staring at one another. Luna could feel the mirth coming off the masked man, even though she couldn¡¯t see his face. ¡°Evidently your master never taught you to use energy sparingly in a fight.¡± She was spent. Cloudhawk could see it. The demonhunter was stronger than he was, but not devastatingly so like the Bloodsoaked Queen. Killing him wouldn¡¯t be easy for her. Exploiting her anger, forcing her to chase him and use her staff, improved his odds. Seven or eight times. That¡¯s how many strikes she tried with her staff. Before their encounter she¡¯d been hunting him with the help of her relic necklace. That had also cost her psychic energy. Now not only was she spent mentally, but physically as well. Cloudhawk¡¯s simple tactic was a success. The idiot had wasted her advantage. As the old saying went, every dog had its day. Now¡­ it was time for the hunted to become the hunter. ¡°You¡­¡± Luna knew she¡¯d been tricked, but it was too late. They were surrounded by a maze of ruined buildings. No aid would come soon. Cloudhawk reached out his left hand and pointed a revolver at her while he clutched a knife in his right. He attacked. Luna tried to activate her staff, but this only earned her a tearing pain in her skull. It was too late. The bullets were coming at her. ¡°Fuck!¡± She sidestepped what she could, her wrath still alive in her heart and filling her with the energy to continue. But she only had strength enough to run. Behind her, that contemptible man shouted taunts. ¡°Didn¡¯t the honorable demonhunter say she wanted a face to face fight? Does this mean running away is also the style of holy warriors like yourselves? You elysians. So virtuous.¡± Shame and fury filled her. His words struck her so acutely that she stopped long enough for one of his bullets to catch her in the thigh. Her legs weren¡¯t armored, so the bullet dug in deep. In this era, there was no one to teach wastelanders how to be gentle with the fairer sex.Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate at all, moving in to finish what he started. His dagger was aimed for the flesh of her throat. Luna was inexperienced in life or death struggles, but she was trained by the formidable demonhunters. She was weak and angry, but she still was not a helpless lamb before the butcher¡¯s knife. Just as Cloudhawk¡¯s dagger was poised to tear open her throat, Luna flung herself forward. The razor edge of his dagger slipped over her head, taking a large patch of hair with it. Luna tumbled forward, planted her hands on the ground and pushed off. Spinning beautifully overhead, both staff and body came crashing toward Cloudhawk. Even without the added danger of psychic energy, the exorcist staff was sharp and lethal. Cloudhawk thought she was spent, and was surprised to discover that she still had energy to fight back. He lifted his left hand, using the revolver to deflect her blow. The gun was knocked away so hard its barrel was irreparably bent. Luna gathered herself for a second attack, but when her right leg hit the ground the bullet wound was torn wider. The pain caused her to lose her balance. Cloudhawk, seizing the opportunity, whipped a kick at her. The demonhunter was knocked a dozen feet away. Lesson learned. Cloudhawk approached her more cautiously this time. ¡°You really don¡¯t fuck around.¡± Demonhunters were known for their abilities, especially in close quarters. The injury to her leg wasn¡¯t severe, so she managed to quickly get back on her feet. It did, however, prevent her from being able to outrun her assailant. More troubling was the fact that Cloudhawk still had the energy to use his relics, if needed. Luna saw her plight clearly. If she didn¡¯t run, the traitor could get behind her using his speed and invisibility for a blind attack. That could be deadly. The other soldiers had to be close. If she could stall for a minute or two, they would surround the area and he would be trapped. That was her best chance at turning the tables. ¡°Before I kill you, I want to ask you something.¡± Cloudhawk had to satisfy his curiosity before finishing it. ¡°Why do you want me dead?¡± Luna was guarded. She answered with a voice full of venom and loathing. ¡°You¡¯re a traitor. Do we need any other reason?¡± Behind the mask Cloudhawk scowled. Did she think he was a demonhunter, too? What a disastrous misunderstanding! But it didn¡¯t matter. Either she died, or he did. He had no intention of dying today, so it would have to be her. Cloudhawk grew up in the wastelands. He was a wastelander, through and through. Aggression and viciousness was in his bones. Yes, he was far kinder than most of his kin, but towards those who wanted to kill him he held no pity at all. It didn¡¯t matter that she was pretty or anything else. He lunged forward, flinging a dagger at her with his left hand with lightning speed! Clang! Her exorcist staff knocked it away. Cloudhawk spun the dagger in his right hand so he held it in a reverse grip. Several vicious swipes followed, aimed at crucial targets. Luna danced out of harm¡¯s way, protecting herself with her staff. Sparks flew with each collision. They clashed four or five times in the space of just a few seconds. Their weapons rang out in protest at they met again and again in midair. Her technique was better than his, allowing her to even go so far as to gain the upper hand. She knocked Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks aside, then brought her staff down toward his skull. Yet much to her surprise the traitor flung his hand out, causing an arrow made from sand to appear. The mystical attack easily split her armor and buried itself in her chest. She gasped in shock and fell to the floor. Luna looked down at the shaft of the arrow jutting from her chest. Her face betrayed her shock. She couldn¡¯t believe it. She simply couldn¡¯t believe it! The bastard had other relics! He was just a defector. How could he be so well equipped? And with relics of much higher quality than the likes of her exorcist staff! Luna¡¯s tracking torque and Raith¡¯s Lifedrinker arrow were both family heirlooms, true treasures that had been passed down from accomplished demonhunters. Yet this traitor had at least two relics that rivaled theirs?! Cloudhawk felt exhaustion creeping up on him. This battle had been long and taxing, there wasn¡¯t much left of his already minimal psychic energy. Suddenly he heard the sounds of footsteps coming from several directions. The owner of one set shouted. ¡°Mistress Luna!¡± Luna and Cloudhawk¡¯s faces changed, but in very different ways. She cried out. ¡°Here!¡± Cloudhawk rushed at the injured demonhunter. They¡¯d heard her, but he still had a few moments before they arrived. It was his last chance. She would stop at nothing to kill him. How could he allow her to live? If she were allowed to return to the elysian lands, who knew what sort of danger she would cause? Luna faced Cloudhawk directly as he came her way. She knew he was going to kill her, but the wound to her chest was too severe. If she tried to fight back, it would only make it worse. Running wasn¡¯t an option either, and she could no longer compete with his speed. What choice was there? She watched the masked man get closer. So this was how she died¡­ A bitter unwillingness filled her heart. She was a demonhunter! She wore that mantle with pride. She also bore hatred for this despicable traitor, a hatred that refused to abate. How could she allow herself to be killed by this scum? The light of his dagger came closer, inch by inch! Luna gripped her weapon tightly in her hands. He would die, even if it meant they died together! She would not die in disgrace! With this determination flooding through her all fear was dispelled. Giving up was not an option. She mustered energy that she did not have, fought through the tearing pain in her skull, driven by the will to survive¡­ ¡­And a surge of power answered her. Her exorcist staff stirred one last time, power warping the air around it. It would never have occurred to Cloudhawk that, on her deathbed, this girl could tap into her latent potential [1]. He had already fully extended himself into this attack to back away. All he could do was try to shift his body and direct the blow toward the Gospel of Sand hidden beneath his clothes. Bang! Cloudhawk was knocked several feet away. Luna¡¯s face was a twisted mix of hatred and pain. The counterattack had cost her dearly, making her injuries worse and causing them to bleed profusely. She¡¯d drawn more than her body could muster and she could feel her consciousness begin to slip as she collapsed to the ground. It was unclear whether she was alive or dead. Cloudhawk coughed up several mouthfuls of blood and struggled to get back on his feet. The Gospel of Sand had managed to block much of the staff¡¯s power, but it was still a potent weapon. He could feel several ribs had been broken, and there was some damage to his organs. It made it difficult to move. Just then, several soldiers appeared, approaching from different directions. Cloudhawk had to rely on his cloak¡¯s power to hide him as he fled. ¡°Mistress!¡± Seven of the soldiers she¡¯d brought with her appeared and gathered round. Four of them surrounded Luna on four sides, bows drawn and alert for danger. The remaining three fished medicine from their emergency packs and set about trying to save her life. Luna¡¯s injuries were severe, but for now they were not yet fatal. Two demonhunters were sent on a mission; one was dead, the other wounded. No one could have imagined this was how it would end. One of the soldiers lifted her up onto his shoulders when Luna¡¯s eyes suddenly fluttered open. ¡°He¡¯s hurt bad,¡± she managed to croak out. ¡°Call the others, get them here to track him down. He has to be killed!¡± With her bitter command delivered, she slumped into unconsciousness. Elsewhere, Cloudhawk pulled off his mask. He stooped over and coughed, spitting blood all over the ground. He hadn¡¯t expected to fall on such hard times, or to be so badly injured in their skirmish. If the Skycloud soldiers caught up chances were he¡¯d be a dead man, so he had to get as far away from here as possible. 1. GAAAHHH!! You do this shit all the time! How can you not expect it from someone else?! Sorry¡­ sorry. I¡¯m ok. Chapter 141 - The Elysian Spiri Chapter 141 - The Elysian Spirit Over ninety angry and well-armed soldiers converged on the ruins. They were quite a sight, with their jade-like armor glimmering in the harsh wasteland sun. Standing dutifully in their rows, they looked like statues someone had inexplicably placed in the middle of nowhere. Two figures lay before them; one dead, Raith, the other severely wounded and unconscious, Luna. Minutes. It had only been a few minutes, but this was the result. Powerful emotions surged within the Skycloud soldiers. Not fear, but rage and disbelief. Demonhunters were the elite, blessed by the gods, the pride and glory of the holy city! Two young demonhunters with limitless potential had been laid low by a single turncoat of mediocre strength. The shame was not the demonhunters¡¯ alone. This failure besmirched the illustrious name of these soldiers as well. ¡°Senior Captain Bolte. What are our orders?¡± ¡°Team One, you¡¯ll be responsible for getting Masters Raith and Luna back to Skycloud. The rest of you will continue on with me to complete the mission.¡± The highest ranking officer currently was a man in his thirties. He was outfitted much the same as the others, with the exception of a delicate silver mask that covered his face. His steady gaze swept over the others. ¡°We¡¯re going to find him, and we¡¯re going to kill him. No matter the cost.¡± Captain Bolte¡¯s orders were resolute, crisp, and straightforward. Determination burned in the eyes of his subordinates. This was no longer about accomplishing some task, this was about honor, and to a soldier honor was more important than life itself. The soldiers¡¯ weapons changed. Their bow shape disappeared as crests straightened and the ends extended into sharp points to create a double-headed staff. Soldiers held them in the middle or slung obliquely across their backs. Captain Bolte gave the order. ¡°March!¡± All at once they moved into the ruins at a quick pace. *** Cloudhawk knew Skycloud¡¯s soldiers weren¡¯t going to let him escape so easily. They had one-track minds, and his blood was the only thing they¡¯d accept as payment for their shame. Hoping they would let things be was like hoping the sun would suddenly rise in the west. So Cloudhawk covered his wounded chest and staggered forward, all the while nursing his grievances. Why the fuck are they doing this?! I¡¯ve never gone looking for trouble, why does it always seem to find me? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t remember offending anyone he shouldn¡¯t have, nor could he think of any reason why he¡¯d be the target of a pair of demonhunters and a hundred soldiers! That skilled girl was taken back alive, where they would return her to Skycloud. Who knew what back alley they¡¯d one day cross paths in? There was no way he was going to catch her and finish the job before they took her away. Any soldier he came across would be itching to chop him into minced meat. No, if he managed to escape this shitty situation alive then he would consider himself fortunate. He knew they were closing in on him like a pack of wolves, he could feel the sense of danger rising. He¡¯d never fought them, but he could tell by their discipline and execution that Skycloud¡¯s soldiers were a considerable force. Each one of them could be compared to a highly skilled wastelander. Not to mention their excellent equipment! Their armor looked like it was made from sheets of snow-white jade, so incredibly fine it made him furious. Every plate was etched with beautiful and intricate designs, like works of art. They were so beautiful and delicate, in fact, that at a glance one wondered how effective they were at protection. The answer was very much effective. Harder than steel and lighter by half, cushioned against impact, resistant to high temperatures and acid, non-conductive against electricity and more. Their weapons were exquisite. In addition to firing shots with more punch than a crossbow bolt, these things could transform into bladed weapons that cut iron like paper. Whatever situation the soldiers were in, they would have the tools to do battle. Cloudhawk had heard once that elysian soldiers shunned the use of guns and bullets, and now it seemed clear why. With weapons like theirs, wastelander equipment seemed unworthy of notice. Physically, their combat prowess was no less impressive than the demonhunters, and in fact for conventional search and destroy missions like this they were more experienced. Raith and Luna were young, after all. They hadn¡¯t yet been hardened by trials of real-world combat. By contrast, these soldiers were true veterans, many even having spent time cleansing the wastelands before. Using blood from the traitor¡¯s wounds, the soldiers were able to get a general sense of where he was headed, whereupon they began to carefully comb through the area. Normally, Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t find it too difficult to evade notice, but he was wounded and exhausted from the earlier battle. Any speed advantage he had was gone. As for fighting? Any one of his hunters could instantly become a sniper and pick him off from several hundred feet away. Cloudhawk had no guns, and his psychic energy was almost entirely drained. What was he supposed to do? Fling his weakened body around with a few knives and hope for the best? He might as well smash his own skull in. It would be a less painful death. They were closing in¡­ but he wasn¡¯t overly concerned. With the help of his cloak he became invisible, he just had to be careful not to touch anything or leave any trace of his passage. For the moment, he evaded capture. Cloudhawk found a hole in the ground to hide away in. It was a situation he found disturbingly familiar. He thought back to when he was fifteen and collecting scraps, not so long ago. It felt like he was that helpless kid again, cowering in a hole, hiding from the dangerous creatures of the wastelands. The danger that hunted him now was far more threatening, but he wasn¡¯t the scavenger boy from before either. He covered himself in dirt, regulated his breathing and tried to slow his heart rate. He relaxed every muscle in his body like a creature preparing to hibernate, perfectly silent, perfectly dormant. This level of control over body systems, muscles, even pores, was something only an accomplished control metahuman could pull off. Cloudhawk had improved so much since his escape from Blackflag Outpost, it was like night and day. Twenty hours passed. The soldiers hunting Cloudhawk were tired. All of that anger and nothing to vent it on made them more and more agitated. They spread out their search to cover a larger area, growing bolder, but no trace of the traitor could be found. It was dark, still several hours before dawn. Cloudhawk felt now was his best opportunity to flee. A patch of dirt stirred and a figure wriggled free into the darkness. He felt like the dead clambering from the grave, heavy and uncoordinated.His joints creaked and popped, and over the next few minutes his nerves, muscles, breathing and heart rate slowly returned to normal. He breathed a mouthful of fetid air. His wounds had already begun to heal and his mental energy was recovered. His nerves and muscles returned to working order. The first sensation to wash over him was a burning thirst, for it¡¯d been two whole days without a sip of water. The thirst didn¡¯t bother him, but the soldiers had been busily searching for more than a day without rest. They were certainly worse off. Cloudhawk shook himself, causing his cloak to flutter and dust to fall in clouds. He slipped from his hiding place to the rocks below and without stopping disappeared into the night like a bat. A few moments later, two Skycloud soldiers drew near. Both looked dejected and short of temper. The shorter one muttered from behind his companion. ¡°We¡¯ve searched this area a dozen times, the traitor has to be miles away by now. There¡¯s no way he¡¯s going to show up here, and you know I¡¯m right.¡± The taller one grunted. ¡°Twenty hours and we¡¯ve seen neither hide nor hair of¡¯m. He probably has escaped. We¡¯ve been with the army for a year and then THIS is our first mission? Ugh.¡± ¡°This damn traitor is an embarrassment to all of us!¡± The smaller one was visibly angry by this point. ¡°I fought for a posting to this wasteland mission. This was my chance to really prove myself. My girl¡¯s mother was going to have no choice but to let me marry her daughter.¡± The taller one cast a glance toward his short and scrawny compatriot. ¡°She¡¯s the prettiest girl in our whole town. What made you think she had any interest in you, anyway? I¡¯m taller and better-looking than you are. She¡¯d be much more interested in me!¡± Cloudhawk hung overhead with a large rock clutched in his hands. He blended in perfectly, almost impossible to notice even as the two soldiers walked and chatted directly below. His body went taught, and he slowly pulled the dagger from his belt, with the soldiers were none the wiser. The shorter one held his glaive in front of him, hands tight on the shaft. The other one held his bow ready, alert. They¡¯d passed this area several times but they were still cautious. They might have been muttering to one another, but their attention was still on the mission. The small one passed by below. Cloudhawk could have reached out and slit his throat, but he didn¡¯t. While the shorter one would be dealt with, Cloudhawk would be exposed to the bigger one behind. His enemies were strong, and he couldn¡¯t risk it. The short one chuckled tauntingly as they meandered by. ¡°You keep your distance from my girl, you pervert! I swear on my honor as a soldier that I¡¯m going to marry that woman and make her happy!¡± The tall one passed below. Cloudhawk burst into action, dropping down on him while clamping his mouth shut with his left hand. The dagger in his right slipped through the soldier¡¯s plate armor and dug into his heart, forcing his body to instantly go rigid. Instantly all of his vitality ceased, leaving him no energy to struggle. He couldn¡¯t even warn his friend. The shorter one was expecting a retort from his friend, and when one never came he grew suspicious. When he turned he was met with a face full of coarse yellow sand that tightened around his throat like a ribbon. He was pulled to the ground completely caught off guard. But he was quick to react. The short soldier used his wide blade to cut himself free when from outside the screen of sand two flashes of cold light appeared. A pair of thrown daggers were headed his way. Skycloud armor was more than capable of protecting him, but he instinctively waved his weapon to knock them away regardless. While he was busy protecting himself from the sneak attack a dark figure descended on him like an eagle. Cloudhawk descended through the pervasive sands like a specter. His knee connected with the only part not protected by a helmet, the soldier¡¯s jaw. For the short man the world suddenly started to spin as he spun through the air. Ruins overturned in his vision until he hit the ground with a bone-crunching thud. Cloudhawk was right behind him and stepped on the soldier¡¯s right hand with his left foot before he could lift it in defense. With his right foot Cloudhawk stomped on his elbow. Skycloud armor protected them from blunt force impact, but only up to a point. Crack! The soldier¡¯s right arm folded at an unnatural angle. Before he could even think to scream the traitor¡¯s knife was at his throat. He was too fast! So quick and brutal! His right arm was useless, all he could do was stare at the masked stranger crouched over him. Now he could see how this turncoat could have defeated the two demonhunters. He was a terrifying opponent! In this moment the soldier didn¡¯t feel fear. His mind immediately conjured the memory of a bashful face, a beautiful figure¡­ the girl he would never have. ¡°If you want to survive this experience you¡¯re going to behave. I ask the questions, you answer.¡± To emphasize the gravity of the situation, Cloudhawk pressed the dagger harder against the soldier¡¯s neck. The knife had already begun to slice through the top layers of his rough skin. ¡°Where are you from, and what is your purpose in the wastelands? Why are you trying to kill me?¡± The soldier was young, maybe eighteen. A new recruit, no doubt. His face was drenched in sweat, most likely from the pain of having his arm broken. Even so, he glared at his assailant without fear. There was only loathing, scorn, and provocation. Cloudhawk responded to the soldier¡¯s hostility with a scowl of his own, and his words came out as a growl: ¡°I was listening to what you said. I can spare your life, let you go back to the woman you love. All you have to do is answer my questions. I am not one to lie, I swear to you.¡± ¡°You think you can threaten me?! Not a chance! You insult me.¡± The young soldier looked over at his friend, whose blank eyes stared unblinking at the dirt. The sight seemed to enrage him further. ¡°My blood, my flesh, my life itself, has always been devoted to the gods. I would rather die in defense of their holy name than live with the shame of being a traitor. You, who cavorts with blasphemers¡­ I don¡¯t expect a defector like you to understand.¡± Like a mad mongrel the young soldier jerked upward into Cloudhawk¡¯s dagger. With his left hand, he dragged the weapon across his own throat. Cloudhawk was taken by surprise and could do nothing but watch. The short man clambered to his feet with blood pouring from his throat. He fumbled through his pocket for a bead, and with the strength left to him threw it high overhead. A second later the sky was split by a dazzling beam of light. Almighty gods¡­ Please bless her¡­ Bring her a life of happiness! The young soldier¡¯s eyes blazed with the light of zealous faith. He turned his gaze to the heavens, toward the dazzling light that was brief but brilliant, just like his short life. He did not surrender. He maintained his faith. He would die with a clear conscience, just the sort of man she would have wanted. Cloudhawk watched him collapse to the ground, then stared at the bloodstained dagger in his hand. It surprised him that a common soldier would so desperately deny surrender. The man hadn¡¯t hesitated to give up his own life for what he saw as honor. Was this what the holy city was? Was this the grace that blanketed the elysians? Cloudhawk was once again shocked at what he learned about these believers. Every time he thought he understood them, they showed him something new. Chapter 142 - Leaving Forever Chapter 142 - Leaving Forever Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get all of the answers he sought, but the soldier indirectly revealed something important. He was considered a traitor for living among blasphemers. He understood being labeled a traitor. These visitors from the holy city assumed he was a demonhunter. ¡®Blasphemers¡¯ must mean the Seekers who dabbled in old technology, something they thought to be sinful. Excavating and using these tainted things was, to them, an unforgivable slight. The ¡®blasphemers¡¯ Cloudhawk was supposedly in league with had to be the Seekers from Blackwater Base. Was that their target? Had they already been there? Was Hellflower alright?! Cloudhawk had played a tiny part in something much bigger, and still they¡¯d sent two demonhunters and a hundred soldiers to track him down. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to imagine what had befallen the base, nor was now the time. The young soldier, with his dying moments, had given him away to the others. His compatriots would be here soon. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cloudhawk looked to the two dead soldiers in silence for a moment then began to strip them of their equipment. Luckily, the smaller guard had been roughly Cloudhawk¡¯s size, although he was stockier so his armor didn¡¯t fit perfectly when Cloudhawk slipped it on. Strangely, after Cloudhawk put on the last piece the armor began to reform itself with a series of clicks and snaps. Afterwards it fit snuggly around his person, almost as if it¡¯d been tailor-made for him! As he was moving the bodies to hide them, a slip of paper fell out of one of their clothes. Cloudhawk picked it up and gingerly unfolded it. Drawn in luminous paint was the image of a girl. She was dainty, delicate and beautiful, with flowers all over her body. The painting released a pleasing scent, and though it was only a picture it was as detailed as though she were right there before him. On the left side something was scribbled: For my love. It was a present, one the young soldier would never send. Cloudhawk felt conflicted with its discovery. When the girl discovered that her lover was dead she would certainly be sad. She would be yet another person who would hate Cloudhawk for the rest of her life. It brought a bitter smirk to Cloudhawk¡¯s face. Something else for me to bear, another person¡¯s hatred to add to the others that only seemed to grow with time. But what could he do? He was just a minor figure, one who only wanted to live. That was all he wanted! But there was no such thing as a minor figure in this world, not really. Strong or weak was only measured by comparison. To lovers, family and friends, even the smallest person was a giant. When such a giant fell, all the world they held on their shoulders fell with them. Cloudhawk pocketed the picture, then dealt with the bodies. Shortly after the sounds of footsteps preceded the arrival of two soldiers who had seen the flare. They spotted Cloudhawk¡¯s bloodstained armor before noting his face. It was too dark to tell anything else besides. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s the traitor?!¡± ¡°Right here!¡± When they got close enough, he buried a pair of daggers in their throats. Their deaths were quick and uneventful, and suddenly there were two more corpses to hide. He looked over their twitching bodies blankly. Since when had his heart become so numb? He remembered the grief he¡¯d felt the first time he killed another human. Now it felt so natural¡­ He was disgusted with the change he saw in himself. Only, they were changes that ensured he stayed alive. Perhaps everyone who survived out here turned into something despicable. Several minutes later, Captain Bolte arrived at where the flare had gone up. The first thing he saw was the corpses, neatly lined up on the ground, nine of them in all. All of them were his soldiers. Anger flooded him, made him tremble. ¡°What is this?! Can someone explain to me how these soldiers were all killed so easily!?¡± One of his subordinates approached and gave the report. ¡°They all seem to have been caught by sneak attacks. I¡¯m almost certain the traitor is disguised as one of us and attacks our people while their guard is down. It¡¯s the only way he could have killed so many.¡± Captain Bolte¡¯s hands were curled into white-knuckled fists. The turncoat had been hit by Mistress Luna¡¯s exorcist staff, that they knew. He¡¯d never heard of anyone being able to take such a blow and keep fighting so vigorously. This scum wasn¡¯t strong, but he was an adept scoundrel ¨C there wasn¡¯t an ounce of honor in him, no line he wouldn¡¯t cross. His main tactic was to attack from the shadows, and Bolte¡¯s men were dying because they were unprepared. ¡°If he is dressed like us, we can¡¯t know if he¡¯s still here or not. Should we keep searching?¡± Captain Bolte shut his eyes in frustration. Skycloud¡¯s soldiers were not pushovers. Their target shouldn¡¯t be able to completely escape detection or injury, even relying on underhanded tactics. There had to be something special about him. He had to be more more than just a simple renegade, and he also couldn¡¯t have been as injured as they thought. Bolte¡¯s people were tired. If they continued the search under these conditions it would only lead to more dead. ¡°Return to the outpost!¡± ¡°Huh? Why?!¡± Captan Bolte¡¯s eyes popped open. He gave the impression of a desperate gambler, going for broke. ¡°Do you remember what Master Raith did to draw him out? The traitor is obviously fond of those despicable worms. If we go back and exterminate them maybe we can flush him out of hiding!¡± Cloudhawk was lurking nearby. When he heard the man¡¯s plan, his face fell. This was bad. He didn¡¯t have any particular affection toward Lighthouse Point, but he was tired of all the death. Killing. It was the choice of the weak and pitiful. It was the most final means of dealing with a problem, and the most lamentable. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even think, he simply vanished into the night. He wasn¡¯t going to give his life to save Lighthouse Point, but to the best of his ability he was going to save as many as he could from pointless tragedy. He reached the outpost before the soldiers did, and when he got there the scene shocked him. The small, quiet community had changed beyond recognition. The central lighthouse was in ruins, homes were ablaze. Everything was in chaos and blanketed in a haze of acrid smoke. ¡°Y-You¡­ what are you doing back here!?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t we suffered enough!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s wounds had not entirely healed, and his hasty return left him both tired and weak. When the citizens of the outpost saw him they were angry, frightened. They stared with wide eyes as he passed. ¡°What happened here?¡± Cloudhawk propped himself up with the help of the sturdy Skycloud weapon he¡¯d stolen. He tried to speak with some authority. ¡°Where is Coppertooth!¡± ¡°Coppertooth? He deceived us!¡± ¡°The elysians are nothing but brutal demons!¡± ¡°Convincing us to worship those animals¡­ he deserved a far worse death than he got!¡± It was then Cloudhawk lifted his head and was dismayed to see the corpse dangling from the lighthouse¡¯s ruins. It was none other than the honest, kind, cunning Skycloud veteran. He¡¯d been terribly injured by the soldiers, but since then something even more terrible had happened. There wasn¡¯t an inch of him left untouched, and his body was covered in burn marks. He hung from the lighthouse by his neck, swinging sorrowfully in the breeze. No one knew his real name. They only knew what he¡¯d been called: Coppertooth. He¡¯d been their leader, the one who had brought them faith and safety. In the end it was his own people who brutalized him, tortured him, and hung him from the building that was meant to signify their undying faith. ¡°You aren¡¯t welcome here!¡± ¡°Get the fuck out of here! Leave, as fast as you can!¡± A group of young agitators had gathered round. Anger had clouded their minds and they brandished crude weapons with the intent to use them on Cloudhawk. ¡°All of you, calm the hell down!¡± All manner of bitter emotions raged within Cloudhawk, especially once he saw what had become of Coppertooth. He hated them for what they had done, but he forced the words out through gritted teeth. ¡°It¡¯s done! Your hatred isn¡¯t going to change anything, and right now those soldiers are coming back to finish the job. If you want to live, get the hell out of this place!¡± Thud-thud! Two arrows sprouted from Cloudhawk¡¯s body. The arrows might have done him in if not for the armor he¡¯d pilfered. The sneak attack was like a call to arms, and all of a sudden the crowds were charging at him with their crude weapons. He was cast from the town, pummeled by the angry masses the whole way, their faces twisted with despair and anger. They¡¯d beaten him black and blue, even through the armor. In that moment, something in his heart died. Out in the desert he turned back to stare at the burning remains of Lighthouse Point. Orange flames and belching black clouds rose over it, a haunting image. The heat made the air twist around it like something evil had taken hold. He wiped the blood from his face and stared with fists shaking at his side. Then he turned and prepared to leave. ¡°S-sir¡­ sir!¡± He turned back to see a bit of rock being pushed aside from the outpost¡¯s walls. A small figure slipped out of the hiding place, small and frail and covered in filth. A girl. ¡°Asha?¡± ¡°Coppertooth is dead. Everyone went crazy, so I hid in the tunnels. I¡¯ve been too scared to go out all day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll take you away from here.¡± The two of them trudged into the distance, eventually disappearing across the horizon. That night, Cloudhawk and Asha camped on the top of a tall set of ruins. Looking back toward Lighthouse Point, they could still see the smoke and fire even from this distance. Sometimes, when the wind turned, they thought they could hear screams. The stench of blood was unmistakable. Cloudhawk tenderly rested his hand on the girl¡¯s head. ¡°Do you hate me?¡± But Asha looked at him and shook her head. ¡°I hate this world.¡± Could Cloudhawk say he never felt the same? But now, his time in this world was coming to an end! They were close to the elysian lands now. Asha looked at him in curiosity. ¡°Where will we go now?¡± ¡°Somewhere far, far away.¡± He looked back at her. ¡°We¡¯re going to leave this place.We¡¯re going to leave it and never, ever come back.¡± Epilogue: Failure Epilogue: Failure Lighthouse Point had been reduced to rubble. Skycloud soldiers, their resplendent armor covered in gore and their weapons dripping blood, stalked the smoldering carnage. The sick smell of blood and rot filled the air. The soil was all stained red. The massacre continued for a long time. When it was finished, there were nearly a thousand corpses lying in pools of blood. It was like a vision of the cruelty hell promised. Although more than a thousand wastelanders were dead, the slaughter didn¡¯t produce the expected result. The holy warriors had suspected there was little chance it would work, but they still performed the task with extreme prejudice. It didn¡¯t matter that the cost was innumerable innocent lives. Captain Bolte stared at the heinous scene. There was no pity in his eyes. He simply shook his head and muttered. ¡°We¡¯ve failed. Let¡¯s go.¡± The representatives of the gods left, leaving only flame and slaughter in their wake. The fires continued for hours, and then there was only ash. Around midnight a sandstorm swept through. Wild winds brought an ocean of grit, enough to blot out the sky for most of the night. By the time the sun rose the next morning, most of Lighthouse Point was gone. The corpses of its unfortunate residents disappeared beneath the dunes and only the crumbling spire of its central lighthouse remained ¨C the only indication that something that been there at all. No one would know what happened to the doomed outpost. In this age, where balance had been shattered, power determined who led. Power determined who lived and who died. There were no rules, no obligations, for those only existed among classes of equal rank. When the scales of power tipped, there were no more rules to govern the masses. There were only sheep and lions. The sheep bleated for fair treatment, and the lions ignored them. Those born in the realm of the gods were the chosen, a cut above the rest. Wastelanders were heathens fated to suffer. Killing them was no different than eradicating insects. It was how they were taught. Even from a young age the idea was reinforced, so deeply ingrained it was impossible to separate from their identity. *** A thousand miles away an intense battle raged. Bodies of wasteland monsters rose like mountains, together with the mangled bodies of holy soldiers. A horde of snarling beasts gathered nearby, more than a thousand. ¡°Gods above! What sort of demons have these blasphemers released upon the world!¡± The Skycloud general¡¯s armor was broken in multiple spots. He stared at the host of enemies with hard eyes. He¡¯d never seen so many creatures together, all different sorts, fighting together. They seemed to be controlled by several figures who stood in the center of the crowd, staring back at the hundreds of bloodied soldiers. In addition to their ferocity and power, these monstrous wasteland beasts were also no less clever than humans. One of his commanders stumbled over, clearly having taken a beating himself. ¡°General, it¡¯s no use. The more of these creatures we kill, the more come to their aid. If we continue they¡¯ll wipe us out. We should return home with this information!¡±[/ref] The Skycloud general looked over what remained of his troops, only about half of what they¡¯d come with. He weighed his options for a few moments. Then, gritting his teeth against the bitter realization, he gave the order. ¡°Withdraw!¡± Skycloud¡¯s forces began to retreat. When the wasteland creatures saw them falling back the earth shook with their triumphant roars. Like a victory cry. It made the humans¡¯ hairs stand on end. *** Hyena¡¯s body slowly reverted to its human form. He watched the warriors go through narrowed eyes. They¡¯d been discovered, the holy lands would know all about them soon enough. This time the elysians hadn¡¯t been prepared for his people¡¯s attack, but next time would be different. Their luck wouldn¡¯t last. Hyena bellowed a roar, a sign for them to fall back. The horde retreated like the tide. They couldn¡¯t remain here, Hyena realized. If his people were to survive they had to find somewhere safe that could accommodate them. Now that they were discovered these self-righteous killers and their almighty gods would not suffer their existence on this earth. But where? They had no home. The roving horde stopped when night fell over the wastelands. Anxious and hungry the creatures collapsed upon the ground to rest. Amidst a chorus of whines and growls they weakly licked their wounds. Hyena pondered their troubles, searching for any solution. His meditations were interrupted by a warning growl. Had the enemy returned? Where they being chased? He sprang up, almost immediately in his beastly form once again. Charging toward the growls, he gathered a group of his intelligent shape-shifting kin. Wendigo, they called themselves. [1]When they saw what was causing the commotion, they were understandably surprised. The intruder had come alone. They hovered three feet above the ground, suspended in midair as though they were somehow separate from reality. A pair of burning red eyes peered at them from a pitch-black, hideous silhouette darker than the night that hugged it. Its gaze felt capable of piercing to the depths of one¡¯s soul. The beasts surrounded it, growling threateningly though none dared draw near. Though they did not have the intelligence of the Wendigo, instinct told them this was a monster they should fear. Hyena faced the outsider with a dignified and guarded expression. Baring his fangs, saliva dripping from his maw, he spoke in a low growl, ¡°You are the one the humans call the ¡®demon¡¯?¡± ¡°Who I am is not important.¡± The Caliph of the Sand¡¯s body swayed ever so slightly. Hyena felt a gust of wind and suddenly the demon was standing before him. Even with his highly evolved senses he was unable to follow the Caliph¡¯s movements. He staggered back a few steps, a gripping fear filling his chest. Hyena knew there was nothing he could do if the demon wanted him dead. The Caliph appeared to have recently survived a great battle. Strange cracks ran along his body, but none seemed serious. ¡°Roste was a genius, the likes of which only comes about less than once in a hundred years. Even I must praise his accomplishments.¡± The Caliph¡¯s voice echoed around them, raspy like flesh on gravel. It was both gruesome and terrifying, like a chill that settled in the darkest parts of one¡¯s heart. ¡°You and your people are exposed out here. If you do not find shelter, you will die. I can show you the way, help you to survive, even flourish.¡± Hyena was not so easily charmed. ¡°How does that benefit you? What¡¯s your goal?¡± ¡°Do not worry. I bear no malice. We live in a cruel and lifeless world; I simply like to see some more vitality brought to it. You and your people have great potential. You make me¡­ optimistic.¡± Were the demons not merely as the legends described? Only concerned with war and calamity? If this were true, Hyena¡¯s race was a grand investment. ¡°Go!¡± The Caliph of the Sands granted Hyena the knowledge of where he could go to save his people. Then, he slowly lifted into the night sky leaving only his slithering voice hanging in the air. ¡°Seek your liberation. Prosper!¡± ¡°I leave you with a final piece of advice. You might want to consider choosing a new name for yourself.¡± *** That night felt particularly long, especially for the soldiers marching away from their failure. Skycloud¡¯s forces trudged back toward their home, fatigued and downtrodden. They had planned to join with another contingent, but as the dawn rose over their planned meeting place they were met with an unexpected scene. Several ships lay in pieces like enormous jade statues, surrounded by the signs of battle. Soldiers¡¯ bodies lay all around, together with the corpses of countless sweepers. Desolation, as far as they could see. Something terrible had happened here. But what? This battalion had been sent to hunt down any trace of the evil research that created those intelligent monsters. These had to be the men Lord Augustus Cloude was commanding personally, so how could this be? The Skycloud general pushed through the crowd, and that was when he found the first demonhunter¡¯s body, followed by the second, then the third. He found it hard to imagine that their best warriors could have fallen into a trap. They wouldn¡¯t have suffered such a terrible defeat, even against several times their number of sweepers ¨C and even then, never such a crushing loss as this. ¡°Lord Augustus!¡± The general scrambled over a nearby hillside toward a body on the other side. This body was located at the center of a massive crater, with the hill behind him looking as though it had been sheared off by a massive sword that was hundreds of feet long. It only added the shock and confusion about what occurred here. The Skycloud commander swayed unsteadily, on the verge of collapse. Lord Augustus was a demonhunter who was famous for his skill, yet here he lay. It was unthinkable. Lord Augustus was not yet dead, but every breath was a mighty struggle. ¡°Go back. Go back! Leave this place!¡± The general¡¯s mind was blank. He couldn¡¯t even fathom what happened here. He only knew the fear that seized his heart was making it difficult to breathe. The carnage that stretched before him would affect the holy city for decades to come. They had never suffered such a calamitous loss, even without accounting for the loss of their master demonhunter. This would surely cause great change in Skycloud, but what sort of change? Something was going to happen. Something big was going to happen! A shudder ran through the general¡¯s body. He didn¡¯t know what sort of impact this would make, nor did he know what sort of impact it would cause back home. It was beyond estimation, but whatever the case they had to get back as quickly as possible. *** At last the dawn came. Light dispelled the shadows that had claimed the vast landscape. Two figures tread over the dunes, their shadows spread out far behind them over the vast and featureless desert. Thirsty, starving, they stumbled forward with a weak but determined gait, like a pair of insignificant insects. They fought for every step, each one more likely than not to see them collapse. Yes, they looked insignificant. But still they forged ahead in defiance, firm against the unforgiving wastelands. 1. A name I¡¯ve given them for ease of reference. HDW called them ¡®orcs¡¯, but they have a very specific look here. I chose wendigo due to their bestial, humanoid appearance and proclivity to eat humans. They¡¯re also local folklore for North America where this story is reputed to take place. Book 2, Prologue - The Borderlands Prologue - The Borderlands Year 1016 of the Epoch of the Gods, E.G. The dry seasons of summer. Nightfall. The expanse of desert wasn¡¯t entirely desolate. Withered, yellowed brush sprouted from the arid soil, sparse in some places and thick in others. Dead patches were interspersed here and there, like scabs or bald spots. By their very existence the shrubs proved their tenacity while simultaneously underlining the desolate landscape. When the wind blew it rustled the plants like waves, stretching for hundreds of miles. Chirps and cries of unseen beasts were carried over by the breeze. Out in the distance the light from a fire flickered like a solitary candle in the fading light. It came from the relic of what must have been an ancient sports stadium whose one half sprouted from the side of a mountain. It had since been converted into a settlement. The settlement relied on the brazier and its fire for illumination. From time to time people would walk down the roads with pumpkin-like fruit that radiated light. Half-collapsed buildings lined the walk with finer ones cropping up every once in a while. Engraved signs hung overhead marking them as the church, the market and so on. Pedestrians jostled for space, each one focused on wherever they were going. There were beggars in tattered rags, wild men covered in tattoos from head to toe, scowling criminals, and merchants in tawdry outfits all together without conflict. A common sight here. The interior of the local bar stank with the smell of booze and perspiration. Unsavory fellows shouted boisterously and drank too much while compulsive gamblers bet away their livelihoods. Travelers occupied some of the tables, keeping a low key while they drank. A woman entered. She had bronze hair and warm brown eyes. A voluptuous chest and full bottom delineated her curvaceous figure, further outlined by tight-fitting leather garments. Covering it all was a simple traveler¡¯s cloak. Even strides brought her directly to the bar where she sat and rapped her knuckles on the nicked length of wood. She called out in a loud voice. ¡°A glass of your most expensive liquor. Best you got, and strong!¡± A few wolf whistles answered her from several of the more salacious bar patrons. The eye of every man were on her, following the lines of her attractive frame. Her looks and temperament were certainly a cut above average, rarely seen in a place like this. She was all on her own, which invariably planted less than wholesome thoughts in the minds of a few spectators. A man with a face full of knife scars sauntered over to her. He pulled a bag from his waist which clinked with the tell-tale sound of cash. ¡°How much for a good time, beautiful?¡± ¡°Oh I don¡¯t want your money!¡± The mysterious woman pulled out a black staff and placed it on the bar with a crisp bang. ¡°You just need to have the balls to follow me home.¡± The man¡¯s face froze when he saw the simple weapon. One end of it was sharpened into a tri-edged point. An Exorcist staff. She was a demonhunter! Scarface backed off, gentle as a kitten. The rest of the bar went silent. The dim light had hidden it before, but now the patrons could see the markings on her clothes, designs of the order ¨C a wandering demonhunter. Most demonhunters came from a civilian background without impressive family lineage. They rarely held military or sectarian office outside of their holy duties. As such they were only loosely regulated, following only the general code of the order and holy city. Typically they had the freedom to go where they pleased, protecting the peace, dealing with unsavory types or eliminating monsters. Sometimes they were called Monster Hunters. But a demonhunter was a demonhunter, by any name. No one here was stupid enough to piss the woman off. A glass of fine liquor was pushed in front of her. The short-haired beauty lifted it to her nose and sniffed, then without so much as a look she threw her head back and drank it all down. The comfortable burn worked its way down her throat and into the pit of her stomach, then spread all through her body. A tinge of red immediately stained her tan cheeks. ¡°Good stuff, very nice! More than I expected from a shithole like this.¡± Her boisterous voice called out again. ¡°Another!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯ll have to pay first.¡± A man¡¯s deep voice delivered the ruling. The woman lifted her eyes to see a stalwart gentleman with dark and oily skin, like he was cast from dark copper. He sported a meticulous buzz cut, and three long scars traced lines long-ways over his left eye that made him look all the more masculine. A heavy leather cloak hung off his shoulder and the pommel of a bejeweled sword glinted from his waist. Sunken eyes were cold and challenging. He was an average-looking fellow, but something about his certainly left an impression. His interruption displeased the woman. ¡°Are you insinuating I won¡¯t pay my debts?¡± The bar owner answered with a small smile. ¡°Five Skycloud silvers. Thank you.¡± She stared at him, mouth agape. Five silvers was blackmail ¨C he was blackmailing a demonhunter! She wouldn¡¯t stand for this lawlessness. Angry, she slapped the polished bar top. ¡°Five silvers? Why don¡¯t you just rob me?! I don¡¯t have that kind of money, just my exorcist staff. You can try to take it from me, if you got the stones.¡± ¡°This establishment doesn¡¯t work on credit.¡± The owner dropped his eyes toward her staff. ¡°I¡¯ll take the relic as collateral.¡± When she saw him reach out to take it the woman¡¯s face changed. Did this backwoods dipshit not understand who she was? He clearly didn¡¯t value his life if he was going to try and take her weapon! Despite her shock she reached out fast as lightning, ready to knock his hand away. However, in a move no one expected, the owner turned his hand over and flicked at hers with a single finger. The woman cried out in alarm as she was knocked several paces back. Her right hand had completely lost all feeling like she¡¯d been hit with a jolt of electricity. She watched helplessly as the man in black leather took her staff and threw it unceremoniously behind the bar. He turned around to shoot her a glance. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this safe until you have the money to buy it back.¡± The woman¡¯s face was both gloomy and uncertain. No more than three people in the bar saw their whole exchange, it was so quick. It hadn¡¯t been a real fight, but their brief clash proved definitively that she was no match for him. He was just a hillbilly bar owner. How could he be so unfathomably strong? ¡°Five silver coins, that¡¯s all? I¡¯ll bring them tomorrow, then!¡± A demonhunter welching on her debt and losing her exorcist staff. It certainly wasn¡¯t good for one¡¯s reputation. Yet all she could do was grit her teeth. She wasn¡¯t going to stay here, so crestfallen she exited the bar. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± ¡°Didja see that? Shit she¡¯s probably been a demonhunter no more¡¯n a few hours!¡± ¡°And she couldn¡¯t even pay five silver. Poor as dirt, too!¡± A newly arrived patron eyed the boss curiously and couldn¡¯t help but ask a question: ¡°Big brother, what¡¯s this bar owner¡¯s background? I¡¯ve never seen a demonhunter outplayed!¡± ¡°I only know he goes by Adder. He came about six months ago.¡± The one who answered was a drunk patron who looked around with hazy eyes and belched between sentences. ¡°And background? Who knows! There¡¯re all kinds of badasses hidden in the Sandbar. People like him showin¡¯ up ain¡¯t rare. Now stop askin¡¯ stupid questions and drink.¡± The bar returned to its boisterous default filled with cheers, drinking games and lively gambling. The night continued like nothing had happened. Because it was nothing special. This wasn¡¯t the wasteland, nor was it the holy city. It was between the two, the borderlands. The Sandbar was the only settlement between these two opposing worlds. Powerful travelers from both surreptitiously passed through or made their homes here. It was too close to the elysian lands for wasteland powers to try and take power, and since it didn¡¯t really belong to the holy city they didn¡¯t actively manage it. Over time it had become a den of snakes¡­ like Adder. Book 2, Chapter 1 - The Trade Caravan Chapter 1 - The Trade Caravan Scalding winds burned the brush along the wastelands borderlands a withered yellow. During the dry season there wasn¡¯t a drop of water to be found for tens of kilometers around. A caravan of vehicles were passing through, most of them animal-driven carts. They were all roughly the same size, pulled not by ugly wasteland beasts but single-horned snow white horses. Banners flapped in the harsh winds, sporting thorny blooms on a field of green with a crimson bottom. Thirty caravan guards followed, clad in armor that bore the same thorny insignia and adjustable weapons from the elysian lands. Standard equipment around the holy city. An old man with a head full of white hair reaching to his shoulders led the procession. The years had carved deep trenches on his face, but despite his age he was full of strength and vitality. A silken, well-tailored robe hung on his body and was embroidered with the same bethorned image. In his right hand he had a string of precious stones like a bracelet that he absently rolled between his fingers. The gems were worn but still glimmered in the light. It was all the same: The family emblem, the carts, and the weapons. Their haul consisted of various ores, leathers, and medicines that spoke to who these strangers were. Bloomnettle Company, an unassuming trade collective from Skycloud. Old Thistle was its founder. Citizens of Skycloud were naturally prideful, especially when compared with the poisoned wastelands. That blasted landscape was a place of carnage, rife with the derelict and the filthy. Skycloud¡¯s ban on traveling through the evil place only compounded their innate distaste. Old Thistle was a citizen of the holy city, one with a head for business. He knew that the wastelands was rife with ores and leathers no man laid claim to. Gathering them up and bringing them back to the elysian lands was surely a profitable venture, he thought. Out here in the margins people didn¡¯t have the same distaste for the wastelands, regulations weren¡¯t so strict. Old Thistle established the Bloomnettle Company out here on the border, where they could exist in the space between wasteland and elysian territory. Out here they could perform their due diligence in regards to the holy city without violating their stringent laws while also avoiding having to deal with the more savage elements of the wastelands. However, it also had an effect on their status among the people. Old Thistle was in his seventies and knew the time for his retirement was fast approaching. He needed to become a legitimate business man. ¡°Eh?¡± He stopped fiddling with the bracelet suddenly. He looked all around and when he failed to find the face he was looking for, he called out to the guard captain. ¡°Where¡¯d Squall go?¡± The guard captain called back. ¡°I think he said he was gonna scout ahead.¡± ¡°This kid¡¯s always screwin¡¯ around!¡± The old man¡¯s face bore an annoyed yet affectionate expression. He¡¯d never had a child of his own but Squall was one of the orphans that had come under his care. Adopted or no he was a very talented young man. Old Thistle himself had spent half his life as a merchant, despised by the Skycloud¡¯s. The task of bringing honor to his family name fell on this kid. ¡°It¡¯s different out here, not like the holy city¡­ The situation has been getting more dangerous. One person running around on their own is liable to get into trouble, take a few people and go find him.¡± The guard captain responded with a wry smirk. ¡°You still don¡¯t get it, Chief. Young master Squall went through the demonhunter selection process already. He isn¡¯t one of them yet, but he¡¯s already got more skill than all the rest of us. You still think he needs us to protect him?¡± This made the old man¡¯s wrinkled face stretch into a prideful smile. Demonhunter, what an honorable title. A man like him, who¡¯d lived out here in the space between poverty and affluence, looked up to their kind with great respect. Now one of his own was found to have their talents and may one day call himself one of them. He could die in peace with that knowledge. ¡°Squall might be skilled, but he isn¡¯t experienced. Go take a look.¡± Suddenly a voice called out from ahead. ¡°Father! Come quickly!¡± A young man around seventeen or eighteen was toward the group. He looked both clever and capable, with average features. His unnaturally gray hair was on the long side so he had it tied back behind his head in a ponytail. His bronzed skin had the marks of long years out in the open air, lending to his hale demeanor. He was pointing at a boulder not far away. There were two people huddled behind it, one male and one female. The girl was about thirteen and wore very simple clothing. Her hair was tousled, her face was dirty; altogether she looked in a bad way but her eyes were bright and watchful. Timid, frightened, she watched the strangers approach. Her companion wore a mask that hid his face and made it hard to tell his age, but his body was thin and small. Based just on that he gave the impression of also being young. He was laid out on the rock like he was unconscious. She held a knife out in front of her and waved it with jerky, panicked motions. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± The young boy who found them gave her a searching look. He could tell that underneath the grit she was quite pretty. He was unavoidably curious. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid little miss, we aren¡¯t bad people. That soldier you¡¯re with looks hurt.¡± Soldier was a fair assumption, since the unconscious man was clad in Skycloud armor. It was standard equipment for those in service to the holy city, but its materials and craftsmanship was too complex for any outside armorer to copy. Trying to copy or steal a suit of Skycloud armor was a dire violation of their laws and would at the very least lead to banishment. Squall, Old Thorn and the guards all assumed he had to be a soldier, but what was he doing all the way out here? His masterful protection was caked in dirt and smeared with filth, enough for at least twenty-something days out in the wilds. He had to have come from the wastelands. The girl didn¡¯t look or dress like she was from the elysian lands, either. Old Thistle and the guard captain carefully looked over the one dressed as a soldier. Even unconscious he was holding tight to one of the unique elysian weapons issued by their military. It had seen some heavy use, judging by the nicks and dents. Had he been out here on a mission and gotten hurt? He¡¯d gotten this far, almost back home before passing out. Old Thistle cast a sidelong glance at the guard captain. ¡°Have the doctor come take a look.¡± Squall tried to approach the girl but, startled, she started waving her dagger at him. When it got close enough he reached out and plucked the weapon out of her hands between his fingers. He followed with a series of showy flourishes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. We won¡¯t hurt you.¡± She was drawn away from her unconscious friend. She looked back at them pale as a sheet and trembling, so pure and innocent. The Bloomnettle Company¡¯s physician showed up a few moments later, a tall and slender woman who held herself with a rigid posture. She started by removing the mysterious soldier¡¯s mask. Everyone was surprised to discover that the face beneath it was even younger than Squall¡¯s. He had to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. So young. How on earth was he a soldier? The doctor looked him over for a little while and eventually turned back to the others. ¡°I can¡¯t see any serious issues, just long term dehydration. He passed out because of it. That said I find him to be very suspicious, I don¡¯t think we should get involved in whatever¡¯s going on here.¡± ¡°Well now that we¡¯ve stepped in it we might as well make certain. Maybe it¡¯ll earn us some good karma.¡± The bracelet clattered as he rolled the beads between his fingers one by one. He indicated to the others around him with a wave of his hand. ¡°Put him on one of the carts.¡± As for the girl, her terrified eyes watched as the strangers lifted her friend and took him away. She was certainly frightened, but she followed all the same. It seemed that the old man among them seemed friendly. It was a common sight. The wastelands and elysian territories were different worlds. To the people of the holy land, wastelanders were synonymous with filth and sin. Even the merchants weren¡¯t happy to have to deal with them. Well, but for one exception. Young Squall didn¡¯t seem to have any qualms. He didn¡¯t waste much time trying to get close to the strange young girl. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She was exceptionally guarded. She stared at him with her wide eyes, too frightened to speak. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be nervous.¡± Squall was close enough that he could see her cracked and blistered lips ¨C the signs of severe dehydration. He pulled his canteen off his waist and offered it to her. ¡°Are you thirsty? Have some water.¡± Her fear toward people of the holy city ran deep, but she was after all just a young girl. The burning thirst in her throat was almost more than she could take. She couldn¡¯t withstand the temptation of the water he offered, so she snatched the canteen and drank deeply of its contents. His lips turned in a friendly smile. ¡°Now can you tell me your name?¡± The girl didn¡¯t dare drink more than she already had before responding. She paused for a few moments, weighing the options. ¡°Asha.¡± Squall nodded. ¡°Good name. Who gave it to you?¡± His question opened an old wound. A carefree, kind, devout face swam in her memories ¨C her foster father. It was quickly followed by the mass of bruises and the melted flesh that he became at the hands of a crazed mob. Squall recognized the pain that flit across her face. He quickly changed the subject. ¡°Is that soldier your friend? What¡¯s his name?¡± Asha was young, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. When she heard him misidentify her friend as a soldier she was careful not to break the illusion. Her answer was clipped and simple. ¡°His name is Cloudhawk. He¡¯s a good man!¡± Several members of the caravan heard her impassioned answer. Cloudhawk? That was a strange name¡­ a wastelander¡¯s name. ¡°Squall! Come here!¡± Old Thistle wasn¡¯t pleased with how close his young charge was getting to the wastelander girl. After all, he was destined to be a demonhunter. No honorable member of their order could be allowed to carry on with the likes of her. Squall shrugged helplessly, but dutifully trotted over to his father. Old Thistle, Squall, the guard captain and the doctor huddled together and spoke in hushed tones. The doctor clearly didn¡¯t like the idea of keeping them around. ¡°We gave them water and the boy isn¡¯t hurt. We have no idea who he is, but if he isn¡¯t who he appears to be he¡¯s going to cause us trouble.¡± Old Thistle nodded in agreement. ¡°What do the two of you think?¡± The guard captain was next to air his opinion. ¡°Far as I see it the fewer things we need to deal with, the better. Besides our food and water is limited. More people means less for us, and if for some reason our schedule gets delayed that deficit is gonna cost us.¡± ¡°Be that as it may we¡¯ve already picked them up. We can¡¯t just throw ¡®em back out in the desert.¡± Squall chimed in. ¡°We¡¯re two days¡¯ journey from the Sandbar. I think we should bring them along, wait for the guy to wake up so we can figure out who he is. If he¡¯s a soldier we¡¯ve done a good deed for the holy city, and if he¡¯s a deserter or traitor then we¡¯ve bagged a criminal. Even if we saved someone who didn¡¯t deserve it, worst case scenario we lose ¡®em at the Sandbar.¡± The small council exchanged thoughtful glances. He had a point. They might as well stick to the plan! The caravan continued along their way. However, only a few minutes had passed when the rolling sound of thunder reached their ears. No, not thunder. It was the sound of several hundred hooves beating the ground. It was loud as a hurricane and the caravaners craned their necks toward the noise with wide eyes. They knew what that sound meant. One of them shouted. ¡°Shit. The Highwaymen!¡± Book 2, Chapter 2 - Bold Bandits Chapter 2 - Bold Bandits The borderlands were not as cruel or unforgiving as the deserts, but nor was it the verdant lands of the holy people. The land was still desolate, the mountains arid and the water unclean. The lawless expanse still saw its fair share of bandits and outlaws from the elysian lands, who gathered together to create raider crews. A merchant company like Bloomnettle was not big enough to be a threat and not small enough to be wasted effort ¨C just the sort of target these raiders liked. The Highwaymen were the latest raider clan to appear on the scene. Composed mostly of criminals fleeing from Skycloud persecution, in the last year they¡¯d accumulated a wealth of thieves, robbers and other wanted men. There were even a few wastelanders who joined their crew. Today they numbered almost a thousand, using the borderlands as their hunting ground. They even established their own headquarters the size of a small settlement called Wayside. It was a way for them to show off how successful they¡¯d been. Old Thistle and his mercenary caravan could deal with a small group of thieves. With thirty or so guards they could even defend themselves against a small raiding party. But against the Highwaymen? They didn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°Guards! Guards!¡± Bloomnettles protectors brandished their weapons and formed a protective ring around the carts. Large silver crossbows were pointed toward the sound of hooves. Their weapons were the product of Skycloud ingenuity. In accordance with the style of the holy city, the silver body was beautifully crafted. Perhaps its largest difference from conventional crossbows was the drum affixed to the back portion. Like the rest of it, the cylinder was also etched with eye-catching patterns. It was a quill, a high-pressure repository for arrows affixed to the weapon itself. It was attached to a lever so that pulling it rapidly expelled air through vents and reset the bowstring, making it capable of firing very quickly. One high-pressure quiver could house fifty crossbow bolts. The bolts themselves were about as thick as a finger and could travel more than a hundred and fifty meters. Commonplace though they were in the elysian lands, they were much more powerful than the ancient weapons dredged up in the wastelands. Only god-given technology could make something like this a reality. The guard captain pulled a palm-sized cylinder from his waist. He pressed a button and schtick! A long blade shot out. It was another oft-seen tool of the elysians, a retractable sword. Its blade was so well polished it might as well have been a mirror, tough as steel, and sharp as a razor. Godly technology infused its make and material. The secrets of its construction were closely guarded, so the blades were mostly carried by high-ranking individuals. Bloomnettle Company was fairly well equipped, but how could thirty guards protect them from such a large crew of bold bandits? Crimson red banners flapped in the cloud of dust bearing down on them. The flagpoles themselves had the stripped skulls of horned beasts affixed to them, adding to the air of savagery. At last two hundred burly men appeared. They wore heavy plate armor that protected the most crucial areas, and muscular arms waved their weapons threateningly overhead. Tattoos and red totems were common, showing their allegiance to a religion of carnage. These were the Highwaymen, plague of the borderlands! The captain of their small defense thrust his sword high. ¡°Fire,¡± he shouted. ¡°Fire!¡± The other guards began to unload their crossbows. Sturdy bolts whistled through the air, finger-thick projectiles that shot out of the crossbows faster than a machine gun. However, the bandits were not foolish enough to attack directly. They spread to either flank, surrounding the caravan. Most of the bolts hit nothing but empty space. ¡°Damnit!¡± The guard captain¡¯s face went ashen. Old Thistle remained dignified, if solemn. It looked like today they were going to get robbed. The band¡¯s leader was an ugly behemoth with red-tinted goggles. He rode on a massive ox-like creature who was so dark it looked like it was made from black iron. In his hand he held an enormous broadsword falchion. In a booming, growling voice he yelled. ¡°Money! Goods! Women! Weapons! Give ¡®em up, and we won¡¯t have to kill you!¡± ¡°Woo! Woo! Woo!¡± ¡°Goods. Women. Weapons!¡± Cries went up from the other bandits. These men were ferocious outlaws, a typical merchant caravan couldn¡¯t stand a chance. Old Thistle knew that with the guards he had there was no way a fight would go their way. He stepped forward and in a voice of appeasement replied. ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m just a creaky old man trying to make a living. If you would let us pass I¡¯d happily leave you half of our goods.¡± ¡°Phah!¡± The man shouted back. ¡°You sorry old shit, don¡¯t you know who we are? You want to try and fucking HAGGLE with us? Men! Kill ¡®em all!¡± The towering bull he rode started pawing the ground, all of his men prepared to charge. They came down on the caravaners like a hurricane, as fierce and reckless as their name implied and without fear of consequences. Old Thistle and his people had become their target and they weren¡¯t getting away. Just as the horde of bandits was about to reach them, the captain of the guards stepped out and yelled through gritted teeth. ¡°Are the Highwaymen nothing more than cowardly bullies? Fight me one on one, if you got the stones!¡± Suddenly everything stopped. One by one the outlaws began to laugh. ¡°You want a duel? Cute!¡± The band leader sneered hideously. ¡°Hatchet! You¡¯re up!¡± ¡°You got it, vice-chief!¡± a large black man yelled. He lunged forward bearing a hefty battleax in each hand, bearing down on the guard captain who watched him come in calm defiance. Hatchet struck the flat heads of his weapon together, producing a shower of sparks. ¡°Bring it, you piece of shit! Three swipes, that¡¯s all I¡¯ll need. Bring it!¡± Old Thistle eyed the large, over-confident man. He then shot a nervous glance at his guard captain. ¡°You don¡¯t need to fight him. We can¡¯t believe anything these outlaws say. Even if you win it isn¡¯t going to stop them.¡± But the guard shook his head. ¡°This is just to give me a shot. While we¡¯re fighting I¡¯ll find some way to get close to the guy with shitty eyewear. If I can grab him, hold him hostage, we might have a chance of getting out of here.¡± The two men met in the middle of the field. In his right hand the captain of the guard had a silver shield. In his right he held the Skycloud-made retractable sword. He crouched forward and held his shield before him, while his right hand brought the sword on top. The length of the blade peaked over his defenses. Step by step he carefully shifted closer to Hatchet. A standard fighter¡¯s posture, both defensive and prepared to strike. Hatchet was also clumsy by contrast, but he chuckled mirthfully at the display. Suddenly he snapped his axes up and sprinted forward. He was fast ¨C they were separated by at least twenty meters but Hatchet covered that distance in a blink. Clang! His first axe struck the guard¡¯s shield. It was also Skycloud-made, constructed to absorb sharp impact blows like this. However, the staggering strength behind it knocked him back. He promptly counterattacked, stabbing at the brute with his longsword. It was met by Hatchet¡¯s second axe. The sword flew out of his grip. Staggering back again this time the guard was finding it hard to regain balance. His foe saw his opening and charged in. The guard blanched, ducking instinctively behind his shield, but instead of hacking down at him the large man threw his axe from his grip. ¡°No!¡± Squall stared in shock and horror as he watched. The thrown axe arced high, artfully slipped passed the guard captain¡¯s shield then buried itself in his neck. Half the axe head disappeared in the gallant man¡¯s throat and he hit the ground without a sound. ¡°Woo-woo-woo-woo!¡± The surroundings bandits cried out with excited and bloodthirsty roars. Hatchet swaggered over to the corpse and wrenched his bloodstained axe free. Then, he hacked again to sever the guard¡¯s head from his body. With his left foot he steadied the skull, then used his right foot to boot it away. The guard captain¡¯s head fell with a thud into the middle of the caravaners. Immediately morale drained from the remaining guards. Just one of these bandits was this skilled? However, if they thought about it this made sense. The Highwaymen had been around a while, they had to be strong if they were to continue living in the borderlands. They were hard men from the wastelands trying to infiltrate the borderlands, or hardened criminals from the holy lands. None of them were your typical scoundrels. ¡°Fuck, that was the best you got and you actually had the balls to call for a duel?¡± The goggled man guffawed through a vile grin. ¡°Anyone else wanna give it a shot? We got some time to kill!¡± The guard captain had been a part of Bloomnettle Company for a long time. He¡¯d watched Squall grow up, and now Squall had watched him die before his eyes. The future demonhunter felt a rage well up inside him, so he wrenched a weapon from one of the soldiers¡¯ grip and ¨C his face twisted in anger ¨C tried to walk forward. But Old Thistle held him back. Squall cried out in fury. ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill him! I have to avenge him!¡± To this the old man sighed. ¡°You¡¯re no match for him. Stay put!¡± The young man really was talented. Even the guard captain couldn¡¯t beat him in a fight, but they¡¯d just watched one of their best warriors die in three attacks. He¡¯d been an experienced and shrewd person, so what could a greenhorn like Squall accomplish? ¡°Let me.¡± The voice came from behind the guards, deep and hoarse. The sound of it was both strange and discomforting. A man covered in the resplendent armor of the Skycloud army stepped down from one of the carts. The mask was back over his face and he held the dual-bladed staff at the ready. Under the curious and uncertain gaze of the guards he stepped forward. Asha had been hiding in one of the pack horses. When she saw Cloudhawk, her face immediately lit up. He wasn¡¯t tall or strong, but to her he was the symbol of reliability. Now that he was awake, Cloudhawk would surely have a way to deal with these raiders! The Highwaymen were equally surprised to see an Skycloud soldier step out from the crowd. However, the more he staggered their way the less imposing he seemed, like he was still young and weak. The bandits were not impressed. A single soldier? What was there to be afraid of? Hatchet smirked and swung his axes. ¡°Do you know why I came all the way out here? I was chased from my home for my crimes, they hunted me. I killed five of them then, I¡¯m gonna add one more soldier to the list today.¡± Cloudhawk lifted his head. His calm eyes sparkled behind the mask. When their eyes met Hatchet inexplicably felt a shudder thrill through him. Something didn¡¯t feel right, the gaze made him uncomfortable. His eyes were calm, like the surface of a perfectly still lake. But beneath the surface was a dark and dangerous undercurrent. There was murder in there, through and through. That wasn¡¯t the look of a normal man, but the eyes of someone who¡¯d tread the line between life and death many times. Even the guard captain hadn¡¯t given him pause. But this one¡­ this one scared him. He wasn¡¯t going to be such a pushover. ¡°How is he gonna beat this guy?¡± Squall said anxiously. ¡°Even a proper soldier would have trouble, and he¡¯s weak. What makes him think he has a chance?¡± The brutish bandit sneered at the detestable merchants, who he saw as hardly worth the air they breathed. The guard captain had been about as capable as a soldier and he¡¯d lasted three moves. Unless he was much stronger than the captain had been this guy didn¡¯t stand a chance. The real question; was he as strong as he seemed, or was he just another scrub? Book 2, Chapter 3 - The Young Demonhunter Chapter 3 - The Young Demonhunter Cloudhawk held the double-eged blade before him, ready for a fight. The standard Skycloud weapon had four transformations; bow, broadsword, dual-headed glaive, and a pair of short swords. It could be used both up close and at a distance, could change seamlessly and easily from one form to another, and its construction was nothing short of incredible. It was evidence of how great the gifts of the gods were to their chosen. Hatchet, his stare hard and solemn, looked Cloudhawk up and down. The black depths of his pupils were stark against the white of his eyes. It was the same for his white teeth which gleamed as his black lips pulled back in a sneer. To onlookers he was like a leopard, carefully judging from which direction to pounce on his prey. ¡°You ready to die?¡± ¡°You still spoutin¡¯ that shit?¡± Cloudhawk flatly replied. ¡°Come.¡± Hatchet attacked first. Each bounding step sent him tearing forward like the bottoms of his feet were made from springs. After three or four steps he hit his top speed, sending clouds of dust up behind him. Like a raging bull he charged toward Cloudhawk without flourish, determined to tear him apart. Cloudhawk instinctively jerked away to avoid him. However, much to everyone¡¯s surprise Hatchet didn¡¯t attack at the end of his onslaught. When Cloudhawk moved the large bandit stopped, reacquired his target then launched into the air. The mere inertia from his charge threw him a full meter into the air where he began to spin. The axes in his hands glinted dangerously and carved a three hundred and sixty degree circle. His trajectory brought him down toward Cloudhawk at a forty-five degree angle. The young defender still hadn¡¯t found his footing. Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils contracted, he gripped his weapon tight. When the raider¡¯s axes landed, the ensuing blast of air blew his hair back. The impact struck so hard the skin between his thumbs and forefingers split open. His legs couldn¡¯t support that much force, buckled, and forced him to one knee. The Bloomnettle guards watched in suffocating horror. The man with red goggles and his cronies shouted praise. ¡°Good! Get ¡®im!¡± Hatchet¡¯s grin spread wider as he jumped up, then planted his feet on Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. Thankfully the armor protected him, but still Cloudhawk fired off like a bullet. Flailing through the air he managed to shove one end of his glaive into the ground. After carving a trench several meters long he was finally able to regain some control. Then another gust of wind swept by. Cloudhawk had only just pulled his weapon out of the ground when Hatchet was in his face again. He could feel the whistling air displaced by the pair of axes, he wasn¡¯t ready. When the attack fell it snapped his glaive down the middle. Cloudhawk was left with two short swords. Clang-clang! Hatchet spun like a tornado, a dervish of steel. His axes collided with each of the young soldier¡¯s swords. The large bandit was too strong ¨C much stronger than Cloudhawk ¨C and so his swords were knocked easily from his hands. Hatchet planted another kick in the center of his tiny challenger¡¯s chest. It was impossible for Cloudhawk to keep his balance as once again he was booted away. He landed with a sickening crunch four or five meters away. The bandits cackled while the members of Bloomnettle Company glowered. At best the soldier was as good in a fight as Squall, what made him believe he could stand toe to toe against this titan? ¡°I thought you had some oomph in ya,¡± Hatchet said as the concern in his faces melted away. ¡°Shit, you ended up just being another spineless fuck. Hahaha!¡± Cloudhawk staggered back onto his feet while holding his chest. His mask had the strange effect, however, of making it seem like the two blows hadn¡¯t affected him at all. Hatchet leered at him. ¡°This ax here¡­ this is the one that¡¯s gonna take your life.¡± Cloudhawk stood in the crater where he¡¯d fallen, unmoving. ¡°Give it a shot.¡± His flippant response infuriated Hatchet. Did the kid not understand that his weapons were gone? What made him so arrogant? He grinned then lunged at Cloudhawk like a hungry wolf. His death was certain. The caravaners knew nothing about this stranger in their midst, yet still they were sad for his inevitable demise. But who could have expected that in this moment Cloudhawk would spread open his hands as though to invite his end, only for the earth itself to respond. A burst of intangible power surged forth from the young man that made the ground buck. Gravel rose from beneath his feet like someone had turned off gravity where it just hung in the air. Needless to say the scene stunned every witness. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± The smiles on the bandits¡¯ faces froze stiff like masks. Their gleeful facades shattered, replaced by shock and alarm as a single word took over all the space in their brains ¨C demonhunter! Hatchet was not immune to the surprise. In that brief interval¡­ Three arrows emerged, constructed from the grit that choked the air. In a v-shaped formation they shot forth, striking their target moments later. All three passed through Hatchet¡¯s body, carving out large and terrible wounds and sprinkling the earth with his blood. The red-goggled bandit screamed in anger. ¡°Hatchet!¡± Hatchet impotently slammed his fist into the ground. He didn¡¯t understand how it could end like this ¨C his loss was too much to face! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t finished. A plume of sand appeared above his head where it gathered into a compact tornado. With a wave of the hand the tornado hurdled at the raiders and exploded into a blinding sandstorm. Terror took hold and the bandits tried to flee. Their hulking mounts crashed into one another in their hurry to escape. The sandstorm came quickly then was gone just as fast. It left chaos in its wake, and though no one died they had been routed. A hoarse voice rasped above the din. ¡°Fuck off!¡± The bandit leader was conflicted. His henchmen looked to him for guidance, for they did not wish to act rashly either and were waiting for him to make the right decision. In the end his face sank. A decision had been reached, one he could hardly stomach but was still unavoidable. ¡°We didn¡¯t expect a bunch of mongrels to be traveling with a demonhunter. The Highwaymen did not mean to offend, we apologize.¡± The bandits turned away from the caravan back toward the expansive landscape. Their ringleader waved them off with a flourish. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The raiders left them without any further molestation. Bandits weren¡¯t known for their smarts, but they were familiar with demonhunters. No one knew how strong the masked man actually was, but they suspected several hundred bandits would be enough to do him in. The question was, how would they deal with the aftermath of their decision to rob and murder a member of that holy order? Borderlands or not, the influence of the holy city was far-reaching. If word spread that bandits had killed a demonhunter, the whole area would be flooded with his companions out looking for blood. The Highwaymen might as well say their farewells. For the promise of some piddling cargo, the reward wasn¡¯t worth their lives. The Highwayman¡¯s vice chief had simply weighed the pros and cons, it wasn¡¯t a difficult decision. Retreating was the right call. Once the raiders were far enough away Cloudhawk started to sway. He fell to the ground once again. ¡°Doctor. Doctor! Come quick!¡± Bloomnettle¡¯s people didn¡¯t dare give Cloudhawk the cold shoulder now, practically falling over themselves to help get him back on a cart. The doctor arrived quickly and when she looked him over discovered that his chest piece had been cracked. Luckily, Skycloud armor was extraordinary at both absorbing and diffusing impact force, otherwise Cloudhawk¡¯s ribs would have been broken into pieces. When they removed his armor they discovered the yellow brass-bound book hidden in the folds of his clothes. Surprise followed as they witnessed its beautifully carved surface undulating as though it were a real vision of the desert. None of them knew what it was, or in fact had seen anything like it, but it didn¡¯t take experience to realize it had to be one of the mighty demonhunter¡¯s relics. And what a strange relic it was. They were from the holy city, why hadn¡¯t they had ever heard of something like this? Cloudhawk¡¯s condition was not serious. He had been weak from the start, but his impressive armor was enough to stop Hatchet¡¯s attacks from causing much damage. His loss of consciousness this time was in part because of his weakened constitution, and the effort of galvanizing the Gospel of the Sand¡¯s power. The combined strain was too much and he passed out. But he recovered his faculties quickly. ¡°I had no idea¡­ an honorable demonhunter.¡± Old Thistle¡¯s opinion of Cloudhawk had suddenly changed dramatically. He was now far more respectful and humble. ¡°Why are you clothed like a soldier?¡± A demonhunter¡¯s prestige was lofty. A typical soldier didn¡¯t command half the respect of their kind. Of course Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t tell him the truth. His mind churned, looking for an answer as he considered the situation. They were dressed as elysians, he noted. Meanwhile Cloudhawk ¨C certainly no demonhunter ¨C was clad in armor taken from the bodies of soldiers he¡¯d slain. He couldn¡¯t let them know, and he had to be careful what he said lest they grow suspicious. After all, it¡¯d been ten days since the battle out in the wastelands. Those soldiers and demonhunters must have gotten back to the holy city by now. If he was careless in his words with them they might discover his secret. For now he maintained a grim and stoic posture, unwilling to speak a single word. His response was to pull forth a small token and hold it up for all to see. Several of those gathered recognized it. ¡°A mark of the High Order!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s token was held by the highest ranks of the demonhunters. There were only a very few number in all of Skycloud who held one of those. They were closely held badges of rank, a sign of their privilege and rank. He would only be holding it if he was a trusted officer of the holy order. As for whether one could kill a demonhunter and steal it? Laughable. Besides the fact that killing a master demonhunter was a herculean task, the patterns etched on its surface would disappear the moment its owner died. Killing a demonhunter for their token would achieve nothing. When he saw their reaction Cloudhawk knew they were convinced. ¡°This has been entrusted to me by an honorable demonhunter. My mission is to make my way to Skycloud, where I am to meet with the castellan. I am hoping you might be able to help me achieve that goal.¡± Old Thistle, Squall and the doctor all immediately knelt before him. Seeing a mark of the high order was an extraordinary thing. If this had something to do with the demon kin it was more grave than they could even begin to imagine. And what were demons? Children of the holy city as young as three knew the answer ¨C they were the mortal enemies of all who lived in the territory of the gods. They were the only creatures in all the world capable of standing up against the mighty deities. The Order of the Demonhunters was first established to battle against these fiends, and had existed for over a thousand years to serve that purpose. The people of Bloomnettle Company were commoners. What experience did they have in such matters? Book 2, Chapter 4 - Family Chapter 4 - Family In the holy city, the demonhunters were a group of honor and prestige. Their organization dated back at least a couple thousand years. Back during the fall of civilization all the world had fallen to catastrophe. Demons infiltrated the lands of men and massacred the humans with their mysterious powers. In a very short period of time the entire species was almost completely wiped out. Then their arch-rivals arrived, just in time. The gods appeared, saving humanity from the fires of extinction at the last minute. Yet the pitiful humans could not seek protection beneath the wings of their benefactors forever. In order for humans to survive the gods chose the most talented men and women, bestowing upon them great powers. From then on they were known collectively as demonhunters. After more than a thousand years the gods returned to the ether, and the demons absconded into the deepest pits of the world. Humanity persisted, recuperated. Over time the demonhunters perfected their craft and became the greatest protectors of the holy lands. For this reason demonhunters were revered, worshipped as the representatives of the gods themselves. After all, they were capable of performing miracles and other supernatural feats. However, the people of Bloomnettle Company were deluding themselves. Cloudhawk could command powers like the demonhunters, yes, but he was not one of them. He was different from those noble persons. Cloudhawk did not hold them ¨C nor even their illustrious gods ¨C in such high esteem. Instead he found them all suspect. Of course Old Thistle and the others didn¡¯t know his secret thoughts. If they did the shock might well kill them. Letting them believe he was a demonhunter was convenient, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t foolish enough to deprive himself of the advantage. The token in his possession would make any elysian commoner fall over themselves to do whatever he asked. According to this token he wasn¡¯t just a demonhunter. His business had something to do with the most elite of the order, deserving of the utmost respect and critically important. If not then he would not bear the token. Old Thistle was a merchant, and he knew business well enough to know this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He was old, but the young man in his care was in the prime of his life. If he could befriend a demonhunter ¨C hell, maybe even gain notice from a master demonhunter ¨C then Squall¡¯s future road would be much smoother. ¡°Please, how may we be of service?¡± ¡°None of this is necessary. Everyone stand up.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what all this kneeling was about. More than once he¡¯d contradicted and argued with the token¡¯s owner. How would they react if she showed up before them herself? Suddenly he started to feel his injuries. He held his chest and coughed. ¡°I need to get to the holy territories. Skycloud. If you really want to help¡­ then I need a map and some supplies.¡± Old Thistle looked him over. ¡°It¡¯s a long journey all the way to Skycloud, and the noble demonhunter is weak. As far as I see it, you should remain with our company for a time. It just so happens that our cargo is bound for your destination, the way is much easier if you ride there on one of our carts. He was right, it was the best scenario. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know where Skycloud was. He wouldn¡¯t even know it if he found it. Their rules, customs, or even how to enter the holy domain¡­ he didn¡¯t know any of it. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t ask them any of this. It would be suspicious if an illustrious demonhunter didn¡¯t even know what Skycloud looked like. His new companions were eager to help and there was no reason to turn them down. Meanwhile Old Thistle was running through the arithmetic in his head. This kid was probably a master demonhunter¡¯s apprentice who agreed to go with him on an important mission into the wastelands. Perhaps they discovered something about the demon kin, something so important the master demonhunter continued on and ordered the young man to bring his token back and give a report. It would explain why this young man had such a precious item in his possession. Of course it was only a guess, he had no way to verify whether or not it was correct. If it did involve the demons then whatever information the young man had was certainly confidential. Trying to satisfy his curiosity would only lead to problems, Old Thistle was old enough to know the limits. As though thinking of something, the old merchant turned to Asha huddled nearby. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°¡­ A wastelander, but she¡¯s helped me in many ways,¡± Cloudhawk hurriedly replied. ¡°I¡¯m bringing her with me to the holy territories.¡± ¡°Ah? How is this proper?¡± It was the doctor who blurted out the question before Old Thistle could voice his opinion. ¡°She¡¯s a wastelander, we have no authority to do this. Bringing an outsider into the holy territories goes against Skycloud¡¯s rules! We would be charged with tarnishing the holy domain. We¡¯d be killed!¡± Cloudhawk scowled. Was is that serious? It was worse than he thought! If his ruse was discovered these merchants would be implicated. He began to go over his options, how could he enter Skycloud without potentially getting other people in trouble? ¡°How about this.¡± Old Thistle saw the concern on Cloudhawk¡¯s face. He wasn¡¯t one to make trouble, but he offered an alternative anyway. ¡°We have no right to bring her into the holy territories, but we can arrange for her to settle somewhere safe in the borderlands. For a wastelander this is the best that could be hoped for.¡± ¡°Where?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°The Sandbar is the most stable settlement in the area. It¡¯s got to be at least ten times better than wherever she came from. Most importantly there aren¡¯t any restrictions against wastelanders. She¡¯ll be safe there.¡± Cloudhawk did not like the idea. It had been a struggle to get Asha out of the deserts. He couldn¡¯t just leave her out here on the margin, with no way to defend herself. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you know, young master, wastelanders are given no respect in Skycloud. The Sandbar isn¡¯t as safe as the holy territories but does benefit from its influence. It isn¡¯t anywhere as lawless as the other settlements out there. I have friends there who could look after her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to the holy territories!¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t made a decision, but Asha took a stride forward and made one herself. This frail and delicate young beauty looked at them with firm resolution. Many nights on their journey here she¡¯d awakened from terrible nightmares and every time she thought about the elysian lands her whole body broke out in a cold sweat. She was haunted by the demons in her dreams, terrible images she would never be able to let go. Cloudhawk looked at her and she looked back. Inwardly he sighed. The trauma she¡¯d experienced ran deep, she would likely never see an elysian but through a lens of hatred and fear. No benefit would come from crossing over into the holy territories, not as far as she was concerned. He had no choice but to shut his eyes and respond in gentle agreement. ¡°So be it.¡± At least everyone would get what they wanted. Old Thistle cast a glance to the young man by his side. ¡°Squall will be responsible for anything you need, honorable demonhunter. Please do not hesitate to trouble him for the slightest request. And you, child, take this opportunity to seek advice from our guest.¡± It was easy to guess the old man¡¯s relationship to his young charge. Demonhunters were an arrogant group, while borderland merchants were low on the social scale. Even the richest businessmen couldn¡¯t buy their favor. However, since they were in a position to help each other, it was a rare opportunity for his charge to learn from a real warrior. He couldn¡¯t let it pass them by. The merchant company continued on its way. Cloudhawk, Asha and Squall traveled in an emptied horse-drawn cart. In looking his young host over, Cloudhawk spied a strange tattoo on his chest. ¡°Heh, weird right? Truth is it surprised me, too. Old Thistle says I had it when he adopted me, something having to do with my family. That¡¯s about all I know.¡± Squall sat cross-legged in the middle of the cart. ¡°We haven¡¯t been properly introduced. My name is Squall Rover! I¡¯m older than you, but you can just call me Squall.¡± [1] Squall did not give them the same rigid, intractable impression most elysians let off. On the contrary he was lighthearted, playful, and easy going. Compared to his respectful but cunning caretaker, Cloudhawk liked Squall quite a bit more. He pressed for more information. ¡°You were adopted?¡± ¡°Yup, I¡¯m an orphan. My home was destroyed by demon kin. I was still small, I can¡¯t really remember anything about the place or my family. Old Thistle found me before I starved and saved me. Over the last fifteen years he¡¯s taught me to read and write, even helped me get selected by the demonhunters. He¡¯s just the same as a real father.¡± There were demons even in the elysian lands? Cloudhawk really wanted to ask that question but he felt it would risk his cover. You¡¯re a demonhunter but you don¡¯t even know where demons live? Cloudhawk decided to speak as little as possible to keep his identity from being revealed. After all, he who spoke often erred much. Squall, conversely, was quite the chatterbox. His eyes gleamed as he went on. ¡°Hey, brother, you know honestly I envy you. You get to meet the governor face to face. You know he¡¯s an idol of mine, I¡¯d give five years of my life to say two sentences to him.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Do I need a reason?¡± He didn¡¯t understand why Cloudhawk would ask such a question. ¡°Master Arcturus Cloude¡¯s name rings across the heavens. There isn¡¯t a person all through Skycloud City who doesn¡¯t know his name!¡± That¡¯s his name? Arcturus Cloude? Squall had called him ¡®Master¡¯. That could only mean one thing, the governor was also a demonhunter. About the only thing Cloudhawk knew about master demonhunters were that they could face a demon one on one. He¡¯d learned the strength of a demonhunter while out in the wilds. Like the strength of a thousand men! ¡°Besides that, the Cloude clan has always led the demonhunters of Skycloud! They have a thousand year history, and the legends say they stood with the gods against the demons in the great war!¡± Full of adoration, Squall went on. ¡°From their inception to this day, they¡¯ve never been beaten. Master Arcturus, Master Baldur, and Master Sterling are three brothers of the Cloude clan who represent their exceptional family ¨C and all of Skycloud! One is the Governor, one was the former Knight-Commander of the Order of Demonhunters, and one was the Grand Marshal of the demonhunter army brigades. Such a pity¡­¡± ¡°What pity?¡± ¡°The only brother left is Master Arcturus. Master Sterling abdicated his position many years ago due to injury. He hasn¡¯t been seen or heard from in a long time. And Master Baldur¡­ a year and a half ago he entered a nest of demon kin and was killed. They tried to keep it quiet but word got out. What, you didn¡¯t know this?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± Cloudhawk closed his eyes and leaned back, the picture of casual indifference. ¡°Master Baldur had a daughter, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± Squall was so full of excitement he slapped the floor and rose to his feet. ¡°Master Baldur was killed but his daughter is something else! The most incredible talent in a hundred years. No one¡¯s seen her face but they say she¡¯s a beauty that could topple cities and is absolutely brilliant. She¡¯s widely considered to be the next successor to lead the demonhunters.¡± 1. In Chinese they call him ¡®Little Wind¡¯, which sounds like a euphemism for a fart. The ¡®little¡¯ is common in Chinese and is used in reference to people who are younger than you that you have a good relationship with. Book 2, Chapter 5 - A Surprising Action Chapter 5 - A Surprising Action The former Knight-Commander of the Order of Demonhunters, who was Governor Arcturus¡¯ younger brother, had only one daughter. If Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t use this information to guess the rest, he would have to have his brain checked. He fiddled with the token, passing it between his hands. A face so beautiful it could almost be called superhuman appeared before his eyes. Now he understood how important her gift was. She¡¯d given it to him like it was no big deal. Cloudhawk¡¯s immature face slipped into a solemn expression. He didn¡¯t know how many wastelands there were or how many holy cities throughout the elysian lands, but Skycloud was the closest one for hundreds of kilometers around. It sat at the heart of the elysian lands, one of its most prosperous and bustling cities. It was thick with people and was the business, authoritative, and ideological capital of the realm. The illustrious family that ran it had a background and ability that was hard to fathom. Between a Knight-Commander and a Grand Marshall, they commanded the full might of the demonhunters in Skycloud. The daughter of this mighty master demonhunter was possessed of stunning beauty and a marvelous bloodline. What¡¯s more she was the most talented member of the family to emerge in hundreds of years. Since birth she¡¯d carried the hopes and expectations of a brilliant future on her shoulders. If she¡¯d remained on her set path, she would very likely have taken the governor¡¯s place when she was old enough. Why would she go against the wishes of her family? Why would she betray the laws of her order? Why would she take such a risk and venture into the wastelands alone? Whatever, it doesn¡¯t serve anything to think about it. Nothing to do with me. All I want is some money, safety, and a nice place to call home. All this battle between good and evil shit can sort itself out without involving me! In this era, moral integrity was a luxury. The rise and fall of the times? Saving the world and helping others? Fuck all that noise. Heroes can go do all of that shit. If the world was counting on him, it was in for some disappointment. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan was simple; sneak into the holy territories, meet the governor, get some money and maybe a small official position after showing his proof of conquest, then live out his days in comfort. Right, maybe hire a few pretty handmaids. That sounded good to him. Night fell on the third day of their journey. The single-horned horses that pulled the cart began to slow, and the gentle sway of the cart eased. When Squall climbed on he saw that Cloudhawk and Asha were already asleep. One could tell their experiences by how the two slept. Cloudhawk was curled up in a corner so he couldn¡¯t be attacked from behind. If something were to happen he could respond immediately. Asha slept like the dead, face up without a care in the world. Squall reached out his arm. Cloudhawk was up in a flash and his left hand had Squall by the wrist before the guy knew what was happening. His right hand whipped around with a dagger already in his grip, the tip pointed at Squall¡¯s throat. It happened in less time than it took to blink. No thinking, no hesitation, just instinct. ¡°Hold on!¡± Squall cried out in alarm. ¡°Man, you¡¯re way too vigilant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you? How come I didn¡¯t hear you coming?¡± He peered through the dark and saw that it was Squall. With his brows knit he retracted the dagger. ¡°I thought someone was up to no good. Pay attention next time, sneak up on me in the middle of the night and I don¡¯t know what¡¯ll happen.¡± Squall had never seen anyone with reaction times like Cloudhawk¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t a skill you could train, it was a custom from living for a long time in dangerous situations. He slept so lightly that the wind moving a blade of grass awakened his defensive reaction. Squall and Cloudhawk had roughly the same amount of training, but Cloudhawk had far more experience. If they ever really had to fight, Squall would be no match for him. Besides, Cloudhawk had the power of the demonhunters! Their talking had awakened Asha. She rubbed her eyes and stared blankly at the pair. ¡°Have we arrived?¡± She was pure hearted. She¡¯d lived through the trauma and terror of being enslaved and had watched as her adopted father was viciously murdered, however she was still just a young girl. She didn¡¯t know anything about fighting. The first glimmer of dawn¡¯s light peaked over the horizon. A moist and chilly wind rolled over the barren landscape, a cold breeze to dispel the fog of sleep. It was refreshing. Cloudhawk removed his armor, setting it and his weapon aside. The Sandbar wasn¡¯t really part of the holy territories but it was still likely he¡¯d come across elysians. The armor was too conspicuous and his cover too flimsy. He was going to have to give up the fancy equipment to avoid other problems. An elysian elixir from the doctor enhanced his natural healing abilities, so Cloudhawk¡¯s wounds were basically healed. At least they weren¡¯t going to stop him from getting around. The Sandbar was brilliantly lit, but not by electric lights. Anything having to do with the bygone era, including electric lights, gas, guns¡­ all of that was very difficult to find here. The followers of the gods believed that ancient man was the architect of his own destruction by relying on these evil tools. Their proof was the fact that mankind¡¯s knowledge grew out of control in the latter days of its reign. Ultimately, the world ended because of it. Endless hunger was what lead to mankind¡¯s downfall. When desire grew out of control there was no more progress. There were only two paths remaining; left or right. Both led to the depths of hell. The faithful were steadfast in this belief. As such, anywhere where elysians could be found was absent of these old technologies. The Sandbar might have been out here in the borderlands, but it saw many merchant caravans from the holy territories, as well as demonhunters passing through on missions. So they obeyed this strict elysian policy. The settlement¡¯s scale was enormous, built within a semi-circular structure left over from the ancient days. There was no giant gate or guarded entry because out here the denizens didn¡¯t need to worry about roving bands of mutated monsters. There was no threat of destruction by sweeper raids. As such defenses were lax. This was a special place, whether you were coming from the holy territories or the wastelands. Rampant tyranny from elysian justice wasn¡¯t a threat to wastelanders here. Likewise, elysians weren¡¯t as constrained by the demands of Skycloud law and lived out here without a master. In fact the Sandbar didn¡¯t even have a leader. Talented men and women were hidden throughout the sanctuary and their presence alone maintained a lasting peace. No one dared to upend the balance, so things have kept stable. Cloudhawk followed the caravan into the settlement. This place was obviously very different from other settlements of the wastelands. Its construction was similarly crude, but from time to time Cloudhawk spied merchants like Old Thistle milling around, or soldiers from the holy lands about their various missions. Sprinkled among the crumbling buildings were also a few elegant skyscrapers. Elysian-style masterpieces, Cloudhawk assumed. Old Thistle suddenly stopped thumbing the beads of the bracelet he always carried. ¡°Stop! Everyone stop where you are!¡± ¡°Who are you? Do you have your papers? Present them immediately!¡± A group of ten or so elysian soldiers blocked their path. Their armor was that familiar chiseled jade that glinted in the torchlight. Long bows were in their hands as they hurriedly marched their way. Old Thistle was puzzled by their appearance. He¡¯d never been stopped before, but something did seem different about the Sandbar this time. But suspicious or not, Old Thistle didn¡¯t dare ignore the soldiers¡¯ demands. He ordered his people to produce several pieces of proof concerning their identities and purpose. A few of the soldiers poured over their documents while the others searched the carts, weapons in hand. Every cart was carefully searched, even going so far as to open and remove their cargo to check for contraband. ¡°You two, your identification?¡± The guard captain used his bow to point toward Cloudhawk and Asha. A few of the other soldiers began to gather closer. They looked different from the other members of the caravan, so they weren¡¯t merchants. ¡°Who are you! Speak up!¡± The portly guard captain stood tall and threatening before them. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t react, but Asha shuffled backward a few steps. Seeing her reaction the guard captain¡¯s eyes glinted malevolently. ¡°You¡¯re acting suspicious. Arrest them!¡± Old Thistle hadn¡¯t seen this coming. The Sandbar wasn¡¯t part of elysian territory, they weren¡¯t supposed to have troops stationed here much less checking people at the entrance. If they were going around arresting anyone they thought were suspicious there wouldn¡¯t be anyone left in the settlement. ¡°Come now, don¡¯t be hasty.¡± Old Thistle thumbed the beads in his left hand while amicably pleading with them. ¡°There¡¯s nothing suspicious about my new recruits. I can vouch for them.¡± ¡°New recruits? The Skycloud army has suffered a defeat out in the wastes. Lord Augustus Glory was injured and still hasn¡¯t awakened. Only three of the demonhunters that went with them still live, and Skycloud is in chaos! Damn merchants¡­ the only thing you care about is money.Pagh! You actually have the balls to bring on new recruits at a time like this? Careful that you don¡¯t end up wiped out! Do you hear me?!¡± The anger in his voice was fevered and out of control. ¡°Now get out of the way!¡± The soldiers lifted their weapons and pointed them at Old Thistle. Bowstrings were pulled back, ready to fire. Old Thistle could feel the murderous intent of these men. Even a man with his turbulent past shuddered at the scene, yet still he faced them as calmly as he could muster. He didn¡¯t know what to do, he couldn¡¯t offend this man but he couldn¡¯t rashly reveal the identity of his stowaways either. ¡°Move aside.¡± Cloudhawk spoke from behind in a low voice. Old Thistle let loose a shaky sigh. Leaving this sort of thing to the honorable demonhunter was best. He was afraid he might speak out of turn or say something improper. After all the business of the demonhunters ¨C especially one with a master¡¯s token ¨C was more important than he had any right to insert himself in. When Asha saw the Skycloud soldiers she was so frightened her legs were like jelly. She could hardly stand. It was a fear she could not control, like a volcano erupting in the depths of her heart. In an instant it overcame her fragile will and she was struggling against the urge to run. However, despite being young Asha knew the way of these men. If she tried to run now she wouldn¡¯t get three paces before they killed her with their bows. Cloudhawk reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. The sound of his voice was strange through the mask. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± Just hearing his assurances eased her terror, but it was followed quickly by a bitter pain. She tightly pursed her lips while tears glistened in her eyes. It took all she had not to let them fall. Such a sad and delicate thing, even the most hard-hearted man couldn¡¯t bear to harm her. But not the fat man. He just looked at them with hard, soulless eyes. ¡°Arrest them, then question them under torture.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, glaring through the mask. The commotion had already gathered a group of spectators who stared and pointed at the scene. They looked like locals. Good. Maybe now was the time to send a message. Asha was so scared of elysians and soldiers especially. This was a new place and she was an outsider. He couldn¡¯t guarantee she wouldn¡¯t be bullied or molested. Cloudhawk decided something had to be done, not just to help Asha shed her fear but also to make sure she wasn¡¯t taken advantage of. Two of the soldiers closed in. As they reached forward to tie them up, the unexpected happened. Cloudhawk¡¯s fist plowed into the first guard¡¯s face, His nose folded as the bone broke. Clutching his face, the unfortunate man wailed and fell backwards. Cloudhawk immediately moved on to the second. His foot shot out and caught the man square in his crotch, which elicited a shrill squeal. Both men hit the ground crying at the same time. The young outsider¡¯s flurry of attacks stunned everyone, not just the fat guard captain. Old Thistle, Squall and all the onlookers stared in open astonishment. It was a scene that was absolutely unthinkable. This guy was crazy! He was beating on Skycloud soldiers, in public no less! Didn¡¯t he know they would burn him at the stake for this? The guard captain and the rest of his cronies gaped for a moment, hardly able to comprehend what they were seeing. When it dawned on him that it was real, the fat man snapped back to reality and shouted. ¡°Kill them!¡± But the cry caught in his throat. Sand around Cloudhawk had stirred, coiling up his arm and coalescing into a brawny limb of gravel. Coarse fingers closed around the captain¡¯s throat and lifted him clear off the ground. ¡°Demonhunter!¡± The rest of the guards stared in dumb amazement. Book 2, Chapter 6 - The Bar Owner Chapter 6 - The Bar Owner It was incredible that this young man, with his ragged clothing and strange mask, was one of the renowned demonhunters! When it was clear Cloudhawk had powers the guards were not cowed. In fact they dropped into combat posture, ready to fight. ¡°Bastard! Release our captain!¡± ¡°We are devoted soldiers of the gods! You¡¯re a demonhunter, you have no reason to attack us!¡± This was the quality of the holy territories¡¯ warriors. In their eyes, faith and obligation were of the highest moral status. They weren¡¯t going to grovel simply because Cloudhawk showed his teeth, even if it was a mistake that would cost them their lives. Everything came down to their responsibility. Cloudhawk¡¯s willpower was not strong and he could not summon the power of the Gospel of Sand for long. The sandy arm holding up the fat captain crumbled away to dust and he hit the ground gasping. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t wait for the captain to regain his voice. He fished the token from his clothes and held it high for everyone to see. ¡°A token of the high order!¡± Everyone¡¯s countenance changed, the captain among them. ¡°I am on a secret mission. Do you realize that my identity has been compromised because of your stupidity?!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s loud call was full of pretention and harsh rebuke. His mask made his voice sound all the more terrifying. ¡°Can you afford to take responsibility for ruining the assignment?!¡± The fat man¡¯s face went white as a sheet. He fell to his knees, as did the others who did not realize the severity of their offense. They were just average soldiers, and though they¡¯d seen demonhunters they¡¯d never really interacted with one. Now the one before them bore the token of their most elite and they were responsible for revealing his status to everyone ¨C putting a mission in danger. One might imagine how terrible the realization was for them. ¡°Your humble servant is at fault! The sin is mine!¡± The fat man¡¯s moon-like face was dripping with sweat. He even went so far as to throw himself to the ground in a submissive bow. ¡°Your servant is blind, a senseless mistake! I humbly beg for mercy!¡± The others, seeing their captain acknowledge the mistake, had to follow suit. They, too, bowed and scraped pathetically. Cloudhawk pointed at the girl beside him. ¡°She is an important part of this task. You have frightened her, a fact that may have caused irreparable damage to my mission. Apologize and we¡¯ll consider the matter settled.¡± ¡°S-sir¡­¡± The fat captain and his people looked at one another in uncertainty. Both in bearing and appearance it was clear this girl was no elysian. Asking them to apologize to a denizen of the borderlands, perhaps even from the wastelands, was that not going too far? Cloudhawk was clearly displeased he had to speak further. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem reluctant? Should I apologize to her instead?¡± ¡°N-no sir, we wouldn¡¯t dare trouble you!¡± Under threat of retaliation from this frail young man, the guard captain turned to Asha and bowed respectfully. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, I hope you can forgive me.¡± The ten or so other soldiers followed his lead, kneeling or bowing before her. ¡°Please forgive us!¡± Witnessing these mighty soldiers kneeling before her, bowing and begging for absolution, Asha could no longer hold her tears back. She knew it was Cloudhawk¡¯s doing, to help ease the pain and fear inside her. Old Thistle and the others were absolutely stunned at Cloudhawk¡¯s actions. The old man didn¡¯t know what Asha¡¯s relationship with the young demonhunter was, that he would actually humiliate Skycloud soldiers for her. What a badass! Squall looked at Cloudhawk in adoration. We¡¯ve been together for two days and I would never have guessed he had this side to him! I¡¯m glad he¡¯s a friend of mine! Cloudhawk decided to quit while he was ahead. He didn¡¯t want to push these men further than he already had. After all, he¡¯d come to learn how much pride these elysians had. If he brought them any lower their ego might make them too angry to control. ¡°Very well, then the matter ends here. I won¡¯t hold it against you. Rise.¡± The captain and his men rose from the ground as though relieved of a heavy burden. Suddenly the pudgy man¡¯s attitude was completely different, and due to the embarrassment of the situation he vigorously shook Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. ¡°If you need any help, noble sir, your humble servant will do whatever is required!¡± ¡°For now we need nothing. Get out of the way.¡± ¡°But sir ¨C¡° ¡°Clear off!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± With a bitter expression the captain lifted his hand. The other guards parted to let the caravan through. Cloudhawk led the Bloomnettle Company and Asha past a hundred pairs of eyes and into the Sandbar, swaggering through the gate like he owned the place. Old Thistle had gone from anxious, to surprised, to excited. His merchant caravan was only average in reputation here in the borderlands, but now, with a high ranking demonhunter leading them into town, their name would be on everyone¡¯s lips. Bandits and their competition wouldn¡¯t dare mess with them now! No one understood why Cloudhawk had done what he did, but it was nonetheless to the benefit of the caravan. Could Old Thistle be displeased with a situation like this? He could stride through the Sandbar with his head held high! Squall trotted over to Asha and Cloudhawk. He started with a few comforting words for Asha then spoke to his new best friend. ¡°Man, that was something else. You were an absolute badass! No one¡¯s ever dared stand up to Skycloud soldiers before, much less make them apologize. You¡¯re my idol. I¡¯d be proud if I could be half as awesome as you in the future.¡± ¡°This is nothing.¡± Cloudhawk slowly shook his head. ¡°Where are we headed?¡± Squall reassured him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Thistle¡¯s gonna bring you to meet a strange character. One of the most capable people in the settlement. If he agrees to look after Asha, no one in the Sandbar would ever even think of messing with her!¡± Squall really was an easy-going sort that didn¡¯t take things seriously, but Cloudhawk could tell he¡¯d taken a liking to Asha. He believed the guy¡¯s assurances. After arranging for the caravan¡¯s carts, Old Thistle led Asha, Cloudhawk and Squall into Sandbar Outpost¡¯s largest drinking establishment. Although it was still early the tavern already had a fair number of patrons, most of them transients resting before they went on their way. When they saw Cloudhawk enter they started muttering among themselves. Presumably a few had witnessed his display outside. The furniture was all steel plating and riveted metal, thick and unyielding. Space-wise the bar was large, with two floors that included a boxing ring and gambling tables. People of all sorts occupied seats both in the common room and private chambers. ¡°Adder. It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Old Thistle called out to a large, burly man clad in a black leather trench coat. His skin was dark like coal and a three-pronged scar traced an angry line down his left eye. He was average looking, but something about him really left an impression. ¡°Well, well. If it isn¡¯t Old Thistle. Judging from that shit-eating grin on your face, I¡¯m guessing you had a good haul?¡± Adder lifted his head to acknowledge his friend, but his eyes quickly fell upon Cloudhawk. When those eyes fixed on him, Cloudhawk¡¯s easy gait froze. Adder¡¯s gaze felt as deadly as his namesake, and it tickled at his highly-tuned danger-sense. Ever since crossing into the borderlands there were no more than three people he¡¯d met who made him feel this way. This man was extremely dangerous! Who was he? Certainly no simple bar owner. Adder withdraw his gaze. Inwardly he praised the young man¡¯s keen perception. He couldn¡¯t read him, either. Old Thistle, meanwhile, didn¡¯t catch these small details. The wrinkles spreading across his face drew together as he frowned dramatically. ¡°What? No, nothing like the success you enjoy, Boss Adder! I manage to make ends meet, that¡¯s all. But I won¡¯t keep you in suspense, the reason I¡¯ve come by is to ask for your help.¡± Adder casually returned to cleaning glasses with a dingy towel. ¡°Out with it then.¡± Squall took the initiative, bringing Asha closer. Old Thistle pointed toward her. ¡°I was hoping you could look after this girl, help set her up here in the Sandbar. At least help make sure she doesn¡¯t get bothered by the locals. I figured for someone like you it wouldn¡¯t require much more effort than lifting a finger.¡± As he spoke the old man placed a bag of coins on the bar top. The heavy sound of coins clinking together left no question as to its contents. ¡°I know the rules of business, I was hoping Boss Adder could show this humble old man some face and help out.¡± ¡°I like money, but I don¡¯t need any.¡± Adder reached out his calloused hand and pushed the bag back toward Old Thistle. ¡°The bar needs a server, the job¡¯s hers if she wants it. This is a trifling favor, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary to charge you anything for it. But there is something you might be able to help me with.¡± On the surface, Adder was just your typical bar owner. However, in truth he was a man of great influence. Give him enough money and there was little he couldn¡¯t accomplish. He wasn¡¯t lying when he said he had a fondness for money, and was not one for letting a good deal pass him by. What did he want now? Old Thistle cautiously ventured to ask. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Not you.¡± Adder placed the dried beer glass back on the shelf. When he looked back his eyes once again fixed on Cloudhawk. ¡°This young fellow over here.¡± What? Cloudhawk?! Old Thistle couldn¡¯t promise anything. He looked searching toward the young demonhunter. Cloudhawk replied, ¡°Old Thistle, can this man be trusted?¡± ¡°Adder is very well respected in the Sandbar. He always keeps his promises-¡± He cut the old man off. ¡°Alright, go on then. What do you want me to do?¡± Adder looked pleased with his decision. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t speak here. Come with me.¡± Cloudhawk followed him into his office. Adder¡¯s personal room was large and filled with dazzling treasures. From magnificent works of Skycloud craftsmanship like blades and armor, to restricted contraband like machine guns. There must have been hundreds of pieces to his collection. Was this guy a hoarder? Almost every item in here was a priceless treasure. More importantly he kept it all here, brazen as that was, without fear that someone will steal them. It gave Cloudhawk some idea of his abilities if he was this confident! Adder lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. It was his only visible motion, and yet a delicate golden kettle in the middle of the room responded. A fine sand-like substance poured from the spout. It was extreme agile, flowing around like gravity didn¡¯t apply. Fine powder floated through the air in all directions until it hung across the ceiling like golden clouds. Whatever it was shone with a gentle yet bright light that immediately lit up Adder¡¯s vault. The strangest part was that the light hung over everything like a fog until it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. Cloudhawk stared in awe at the luminescent clouds. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°¡­ a typical magic lamp. The most common means of light in the elysian lands. Much more useful than the electric lights of the wasteland.¡± Adder¡¯s deep eyes glinted with a mischievous light. He looked at Cloudhawk and chuckled. ¡°I was right. You are no elysian, and your demonhunter guise is a lie. As for that token you hold, you didn¡¯t get that through any legitimate means.¡± Cloudhawk felt like he was suddenly drenched with ice water. A bone-deep chill hung over his whole body. Cloudhawk knew that he¡¯d been caught, consequences would be serious. His relics and the token he held were priceless and this Adder guy had a thirst for trinkets. Things had suddenly gotten very dangerous. Book 2, Chapter 7 - Bar Chapter 7 - Bar Cloudhawk was furious with himself. Why was his stupid mouth getting him in so much trouble? It was too late. His identity was blown, no time for regrets. Cloudhawk did not immediately confirm nor deny the bar owner¡¯s accusation. Instead he fixed Adder with a composed stare. Rather, more accurately he looked at the ring on the man¡¯s finger. ¡°That¡¯s a relic, yes? How interesting that a demonhunter would be out here pretending to be a simple barkeep, with a personal treasure trove no less. If you aren¡¯t careful the news might get out, there could be trouble. Or maybe I¡¯m wrong, maybe you aren¡¯t a demonhunter. In that case I wonder how the Skycloud soldiers would react to the news that someone outside of the order was hoarding relics. I¡¯m guessing not well.¡± Adder narrowed his eyes. They glinted with a murderous light. All of a sudden Cloudhawk felt a gripping cold overcome him. It started at his legs, then his waist, his arms, all the way up to his throat. Like a poison was working its way through his blood stream. But it wasn¡¯t, it was an illusion born from Adder¡¯s savage glare. What a terrifying sensation! Cloudhawk had never experienced such intense pressure before, it made every hair on his body stand on end. He was frozen in place, he couldn¡¯t move even if Adder lunged at him. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even approach the level of power this strange man had. Adder couldn¡¯t read the man before him. He wasn¡¯t a weakling, for most people cowered the moment his eyes fixed on them. He was a wastelander, but was also able to use relics. A wastelander, but in possession of a demonhunter token. Strange to say the least. Interesting. Very interesting. ¡°I mean to say that identity isn¡¯t important.¡± Cloudhawk was having trouble controlling his voice. In a rare moment of fragility his voice quavered, however his mask concealed both the look on his face and the fear in his voice. Thankfully it made him inscrutable and hid Cloudhawk¡¯s true discomfort. ¡°Now out with it, what do you want from me?¡± ¡°Smart man. I like clever lads like you, keeps me from having to make a mess.¡± Adder opened a box nestled in the corner of his vault and lifted a stack portrait from within. ¡°It¡¯s simple. There are a few rebels hiding out here in the Sandbar. They have a secret stronghold where they¡¯re plotting to steal sensitive information from Skycloud City. Your job is to find a way to flush them out.¡± ¡°This is something you could bring to demonhunters or even soldiers. Why ask me?¡± ¡°Because they have something I want.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± Adder was suddenly reluctant to say too much. ¡°A map that has no use to you, so stop asking questions. I don¡¯t want to reveal myself so I can¡¯t do this personally, so do this for me and I¡¯ll take that young woman under my protection. She¡¯ll work here as a barmaid and so long as I¡¯m alive no one will dare bother her.¡± Cloudhawk leafed through the portraits. The first was an old man with a goatee. The second was a one-armed swordsman with a large black sword on his back. The third was a hideous mass of muscle with guns at his side. ¡­¡­ Cloudhawk could tell by their equipment and the way they looked that these men weren¡¯t push-overs. He was expected to deal with them on his own, which sounded more like a suicide mission. Adder hadn¡¯t actually mistaken him for a high-level demonhunter, had he?¡± ¡°The old man is coming to my bar tonight to meet someone. He¡¯ll have the information I want. Follow the target to their hideout and make your move, but do it quick and proper. I don¡¯t want any suspicion coming my way.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll need help.¡± ¡°I told you, I can¡¯t reveal myself. I can¡¯t take the risk of sending any of my people either. But there is one person I can recommend.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure why Adder was so careful to keep to the shadows. He ran a watertight and meticulous operation, though. Just one person? No way that was enough! Cloudhawk was much weaker than Adder must have been expecting, he couldn¡¯t take on eight people on his own! [1] ¡°Alright.¡± He thought about it for a moment then nodded his head. More talk wasn¡¯t going to convince Adder to help him with more people. ¡°I¡¯ll get what you¡¯re after. You better keep your word.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never gone back on a deal.¡± Adder absent-mindedly fiddled with the green bone ring on his finger. Old Thistle waited for them out in the common room of the bar, brows knit tight. He rolled the beaded bracelet through his fingers faster and faster. He had no idea what Adder wanted from the noble demonhunter but he wasn¡¯t going to offend either of them by involving himself. If either one took a disliking to the other, he wasn¡¯t sure what he would do. Asha was also struggling against her anxiety. She was afraid the bar keep would demand something outrageous. If he did she didn¡¯t want to stay here. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother Cloudhawk is no ordinary man.¡± Squall arrogantly flipped the small ponytail dangling from his head. He spoke to Asha with an air of assurance. ¡°He¡¯s an exalted demonhunter, after all, and he holds a token. Nothing¡¯s going to happen.¡± Just as he spoke the words, Adder and Cloudhawk returned. Old Thistle stopped fidgeting with the bracelet as the young demonhunter approached. Though vague, he gave enough of a description that Old Thistle understood. Rebels, even if it hadn¡¯t fallen in their lap it was something for a demonhunter to handle. It didn¡¯t seem like an unreasonable request. Cloudhawk quickly left Adder¡¯s bar to begin his preparations. ** Sandbar Outpost¡¯s narrow streets were cramped with stalls and shoppers. Many were travelers who moved through the streets like an artery, with merchants on the sides hawking cheap wares of dubious origin. People were coming and going in a tight press of humanity, trying their luck and looking for good deals. A young woman, maybe eighteen or nineteen, was pushing through the crowd. She had shoulder-length, chestnut-colored hair and a lithe and graceful body. Her skin was white, her features unexceptional, and tight leather outlined the swells and dips that made up her figure. Covetous eyes followed the swing of her hips as she walked by. She¡¯d walked to and fro a couple times already, unperturbed by the hungry eyes that followed her. Nothing about her marked her as a merchant. Her clothes were simple and she carried no visible weapons. In her hands were dried rations which she looked at with gloomy countenance. What was she doing, pacing back and forth all by herself? The people who saw her could only guess. At last someone couldn¡¯t hold back their curiosity. A man slunk over toward her, surrounded by a cloud of sour stink. The repugnant man grinned her way. ¡°What¡¯s a pretty girl like you doing here all on your lonesome, eh? You look like you could use some company.¡± She wasn¡¯t upset. On the contrary, she lit up with excitement. ¡°You want to fuck me?¡± Her response took the man by surprise. He stared at her, speechless. She pressed him encouragingly, ¡°If you want to fuck me you need to be more forward. You need more courage in order to make your approach work, otherwise you might as well just chop your dick off. You know what I¡¯m saying?¡± ¡°I¡­ are you serious?¡± It was evident this was not the reaction he was expecting. Looking at the eagerness in her eyes he couldn¡¯t help but suspect that somehow the way of the world had changed and he somehow hadn¡¯t noticed. All of a sudden even someone like him was attractive to the opposite sex. ¡°You up for it or not?¡± She was getting impatient. ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time!¡± It was all the incentive he needed, and with a nasty grin the man reached out to grab her ass. But just as he was about to make contact with her pert backside he distinctly saw a harsh glint in the woman¡¯s eyes. Her leg shot out and struck him in the chest like a bolt of lightning. He was not a weakling but still couldn¡¯t escape her blow. With a wailing cry he was knocked backward and hit the ground nearby with bone-crunching force. What just happened? Struggling to raise his head the man looked at the promiscuous woman. She was looking back with a mischievous grin and it was then he knew things weren¡¯t going to go his way. The kick had proved she was more than he could handle. Explaining himself didn¡¯t even cross his mind. The man tried to scramble to his feet and escape. ¡°So you disrespect me like that and just expect to run away?¡± The woman soared into the air like she weighed nothing at all. Her legs, like a pair of scissors, clamped around the man¡¯s neck and twisted. Before he could even scream the man was flung to the ground followed by a flurry of punches and kicks. ¡°Disrespecting a demonhunter is a capital crime. But you didn¡¯t do any harm and I¡¯m a kind person, so I¡¯m willing to show you mercy. Now give me your money!¡± She gave the smelly man a cursory search and found a limpid coin purse. She fished a dozen or so copper coins from within and scowled. ¡°This is all you got and you expect to pick up a woman? Fuck off you broke-ass bitch.¡± She gave him another vicious stomp for good measure. The unlucky man fell unconscious with spittle dripping from the corner of his mouth. The demonhunter threw the coins into her own coin purse and immediately her worried expression returned. At this rate how was she ever going to get five silver coins? Five silver was a pittance to a demonhunter, they made more than that on even the most basic missions. But for a civilian, or someone who¡¯d only just earned their title like Barb [2], it was no small amount. Plus without her exorcist staff, which was stolen by that weird barkeep, she couldn¡¯t do any missions to buy it back! It was a dilemma. Five silver pieces was a considerable sum. She was strong enough that she could steal or borrow five silver, but her pride as a demonhunter prevented it. Losing her exorcist staff was no glorious circumstance she wanted to advertise, so she decided to earn her money in a righteous and perfectly justifiable way. Onlookers pointed at her and whispered among themselves. She was running a sting operation, so far today she¡¯d caught three scumbags and made them pay for their crude requests. Barb didn¡¯t care, her actions were appropriate! If these perverts weren¡¯t screwed in the head they wouldn¡¯t be propositioning her! But making money this way was slow going. Most of the day was gone and she¡¯d only managed to get about half of what she needed, she didn¡¯t know if she¡¯d be able to get her weapon back by tonight. The reality troubled her. Then she heard footsteps approaching from behind her. Were all men simply beasts who could only think with one head at a time? Barb was overjoyed, was the pervert back for another go? She pretended as though she didn¡¯t hear him getting closer. Then he reached out¡­ ¡°Deviant! The nerve!¡± Without even turning to look she whipped around with a vicious roundhouse kick. But her long legs hit nothing. When she spun around she saw nothing but empty space. That wasn¡¯t right. She was sure she heard footsteps. Then in an inexplicable scene a figure appeared out of nowhere, gradually appearing before her eyes from the ether. Before she could react a familiar three-edged staff was held before her. ¡°Y-you¡­ you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Try not to lose your staff anymore.¡± Barb noticed that the exorcist staff pointed at her was none other than her own. She fought through her surprise to quickly snatch it back. But she was confused, hadn¡¯t it been in the bar? How was this masked stranger able to take it from the mysterious owner? ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The masked man flashed a demonhunter token in front of her. ¡°I have a mission I need your help with. Do you have the time?¡± ¡°A token of the high order!¡± In her surprise Barb stumbled backward. ¡°Please give me your instruction, senior! I¡¯ve only been a demonhunter for a month, but I¡¯ll do anything in my power to assist you!¡± Cloudhawk paused. A greenhorn. But even a novice demonhunter was still a demonhunter. Adder¡¯s recommendation was a good one. 1. This is the first reference to a specific number of people. I assume the stack of portraits held more than three though it was not implied. 2. In Chinese her name is ¡®purple water caltrop¡¯ ¨C and that fits her personality very well. A water caltrop ¨C or devil nut ¨C is pretty inhospitable looking. As thorny as her personality. The inside is edible, a seed that is pretty popular. I wonder if the alludes to our new demonhunter having a more appealing and agreeable personality under her uninviting shell.Keeping in line with our goal to make these names ¡®real¡¯, we¡¯ve gone with ¡®Barb¡¯, an abbreviation of the real name ¡®Barbara¡¯ but also a reference to a spike/thorn. Book 2, Chapter 8 - Elite Task Force Chapter 8 - Elite Task Force At the gate of Sandbar Outpost. A small temporary military outpost. The fat guard captain was busily applying a poultice to one of his soldiers. The poor man¡¯s nose had been broken from a punch so vicious it almost caved his face in. What made it bitterer was that they simply had to accept it. Luckily the punishment wasn¡¯t serious, and with the help of Skycloud medicine his subordinate¡¯s nose would be healed in a couple of days. ¡°Captain, when are we going to be finished out here,¡± the soldier grumbled. ¡°It was so hard for us to get a chance to dispatch, but we haven¡¯t gotten anything done except to piss off someone important. It¡¯s only gonna get worse.¡± Their captain was just as gloomy. Every Skycloud regiment was eager to prove themselves, but they were still in peace time. How were they supposed to earn achievements where there were no enemies? The captain was a naturally slow-witted fellow who was also a step behind others, and compounded with his humble background there wasn¡¯t much of a chance for him to get anywhere in life. It was an injustice to these poor guys that they were assigned to his leadership. ¡°It¡¯s been a year since I¡¯ve been back and I have no idea what Jade is up to. Back in the village, I was third place in the military draft competition, now here I am. I can¡¯t even show my face back home if I could go back.¡± ¡°Will you shut your damn mouth? I was first in my whole town!¡± ¡°Ah! Easy Captain, not so hard!¡± The captain huffed in irritation, glowering in displeasure. And could he be blamed? Most of his soldiers were villagers before they were soldiers, the pride of their small homesteads. None of them figured they would end up as scrubs after joining the illustrious Skycloud military. For him it¡¯d been a full three years since he¡¯d been home, and every time he wrote to his mother it was hard to find things to brag about. If his mom knew what her fine boy had really become he didn¡¯t want to think of how disappointed she¡¯d be. He wasn¡¯t going home, not without some honor to show for it. That was the truth of life as a soldier. But when? When would he be able to lift his head in pride? ¡°C-c-c-captain!¡± A lanky soldier practically fell over himself as he raced toward him. He was simultaneously trying to stop his helmet from falling off his head and keep his panic under control. ¡°The demonhunter from this morning is back!¡± The captain went white as a sheet. What was he doing back here? Was he not satisfied with the beating he¡¯d already given them? Had he come back to teach them another lesson?! His dull wits were still mulling over the dark possibilities when he saw the short masked tyrant saunter into view. His hoarse and unsettling voice went right to the point. ¡°Fatty, I figured you¡¯d be looking for a way to make up for your mistake, am I right? Here¡¯s your chance. I¡¯ve come across a group of rebels here in the Sandbar, and the stakes are high. It¡¯ll be dangerous, are you up for the mission?¡± ¡°Wh-¡­ what?¡± The fat man¡¯s jowls jiggled. His soldiers were stunned ¨C the blessing was as sudden as it was unexpected! They¡¯d been soldiers for years and they¡¯d barely been able to go out on patrol much less act in an important mission with a demonhunter! Now suddenly they were being asked to clear out a nest of agitators. A pleasant surprise indeed! This was more than an honor. This was a chance to make their mark! Years of meritless labor had led them to this opportunity. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t expected such a positive response and was still uncertain about their attitude. So he added offhand, ¡°This matter isn¡¯t very important to me, but I need to keep my identity a secret. For my secret mission. What that means is if we succeed you¡¯ll get all of the praise and reward. So, have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Your devoted servant would walk through hell for you!¡± The fat captain was full of admiration for the great demonhunter. Over the last ten years there hadn¡¯t been any major conflicts for Skycloud City to get involved in, leaving nothing for him to do. Just getting a posting here at the Sandbar had been a lot to ask. They¡¯d been desperate to arrest people from the moment they got here ¨C not just for the sake of it, but because a single spy would be a great accomplishment. But in the days since they¡¯d arrived, no matter how hard they looked, they weren¡¯t able to find a single one. Then out of the blue this demonhunter appears. Not only does he forgive them their transgressions, but offers to lead them through a mission and let them have all the praise! What was the definition of ¡®open-minded¡¯? This was ¡®open-minded¡¯! What did it mean to turn the other cheek and repay wickedness with kindness? This was the perfect example! The guard captain couldn¡¯t express the breadth of his excitement. ¡°Your servants will listen to whatever instructions you give, we eagerly await your orders!¡± The light in the fat man¡¯s eyes stirred a cold disgust within Cloudhawk. Out in the wastelands he¡¯d met men with zealotry like this. Clearly this fat soldier was just the same. But regardless, they were useful. ¡°We move out tonight. You lot start preparing.¡± Cloudhawk delivered his assignment then left. The fatty had to have some skill if they let him be a captain, even if Cloudhawk could whoop his ass without the help of his relics. The dozen or so others weren¡¯t necessarily pushovers either, and with them Cloudhawk had things more under control. The guard captain showed Cloudhawk out, and when he was gone, spun around to address his men. ¡°Brothers! Did you see that?! Our chance to do something noteworthy is finally here! The honorable demonhunter has given us this opportunity, and we¡¯re going to get it done right! Let¡¯s get ready!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± When Cloudhawk returned to the bar he breathed a long sigh of relief. He now had Barb the demonhunter, a fat guard captain and ten soldiers. Things were looking better. In reality, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t keen on this sort of thing, but he had no choice if he wanted to win a good life for Asha. It was the only way to get what he wanted from Adder. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t see himself as a particularly responsible guy, and he couldn¡¯t really say why he was so dead-set on doing it. For some reason he saw Asha like a little sister, maybe it was guilt because of what happened to Coppertooth. He couldn¡¯t say for sure. He never really thought about these things. He just did what he thought he had to. Old Thistle came looking for him with Squall in tow. The old man wasted no time with pleasantries and asked if Cloudhawk would take his young charge along. After all, he assured him, Squall had some ability and he was sure to be of some help. He saw it as training and an opportunity for him to associate with soldiers and demonhunters. If he could do some work then all the better. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t turn him down. It was pretty clear Squall had a soft spot for Asha, too. Cloudhawk saw it clear as day. More than that, the guy seemed to know how to take care of himself, at least as much as Cloudhawk and probably stronger than most of the soldiers. The more the merrier, it just made his job easier. Using his fabricated identity and the impressive clout of a demonhunter token, Cloudhawk had managed to cobble together a pretty good group of fighters. He had a novice demonhunter in Barb, Squall who was on the path to being one himself, a portly guard captain and the thirteen men under his command. Sixteen all together. *** Twilight was fast approaching. Cloudhawk was attired in simple camouflage. He gave a gentle tap to his mask and it changed to a brownish grinning fa?ade. Even then he went farther, completely change his appearance. Using a small knife he cut his unkempt hair short and had Squall get him a leather outfit. In the end he looked completely different than he had when he¡¯d arrived at the Sandbar just this morning. These days it wasn¡¯t uncommon to see masked men traveling the roads. Cloudhawk¡¯s skinny figure also made him easy to disregard, especially below his tattered cloak haphazardly flung over his shoulders. With a new mask, new hair, and new clothes no one was going to recognize him. Gradually the members of his team gathered at the designated spot. The fat captain and his men were the first ones there. To these men the mission was of critical importance, so they didn¡¯t dare show up late. Their preparations had been meticulous, and in addition to their standard equipment they each had crossbows slung over their shoulders. They hadn¡¯t been waiting more than fifteen minutes before a pretty woman joined them. She was dressed simply, but the weapon she carried made her status unmistakable ¨C another demonhunter! When Barb saw the fat captain and the others she was visibly surprised. ¡°You lot are his Eminence¡¯s men?¡± His Eminence? Oh! She must mean the masked demonhunter. If she was referring to him with such respect he had to be someone special. On top of his team, they had a second demonhunter to join them. This really was a once in a lifetime event! ¡°Yes yes yes! We¡¯re his Eminence¡¯s loyal soldiers!¡± Cloudhawk arrived a few moments later with Squall at his side. When she saw him Barb greeted Cloudhawk with an excited smile. ¡°Hello, your Eminence!¡± The guard captain awkwardly bowed. ¡°Everything is prepared! We await your orders!¡± Squall wasn¡¯t dressed much different than usual. His hair was tied up in a ponytail behind his head and he wore his armor with the Bloomnettle coat of arms emblazoned on it. He carried a pair of two-foot short swords as his weapons. When he saw how Cloudhawk had managed to gather together another demonhunter and the soldiers from earlier his admiration for the young master soared. He desperately hoped one day he could be like him. ¡°Alright, everyone¡¯s here.¡± Cloudhawk cleared his throat, trying to assume the air of a leader. ¡°Tonight there is a pair of rebels meeting in Adder¡¯s bar. These are their portraits. Take a minute to familiarize yourselves.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t approach them while in the bar. If we rush to action we¡¯ll alert the others of our plan, so first we have to follow the snakes to their nest. Then we clear ¡®em out, does everyone understand?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any predilection for leadership, nor could he think up any clever strategy. Luckily that didn¡¯t seem to be required, after all if the scrolls were anything to go by there were only seven targets ¨C eight including the one they were meeting tonight. He had twice the number of people. Even if they were capable fighters there wasn¡¯t anything for him to be concerned about. ¡°Squall, you¡¯re responsible for putting eyes on our target. We¡¯ll hang back about half a block. If anything unexpected happens we¡¯ll move in for backup.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Everyone¡¯s fighting spirit was up, confident in their impending success. Barb had only just become a demonhunter, and her low upbringing meant she wasn¡¯t going to easily achieve rank. Even after joining she had yet to complete a single mission. At last she¡¯d been tapped to participate in a real task, and she was determined to show her thanks to her senior member by performing outstandingly. Squall hadn¡¯t even been accepted into the order yet, and although he wasn¡¯t a very serious sort he had high aspirations. After all, he had a tremendous respect for Master Arcturus. If he wanted to follow in the great man¡¯s footsteps this was a good way to sharpen his skills. As for the guard captain? This was an even rarer opportunity to find! He joined the Skycloud army six years ago and the highest he¡¯d climbed was squad captain. Like most holy warriors he held his faith close, but he had always been troubled that he was never given a shot. Finally, he was on a mission with two demonhunters ¨C one of them with a token of the high order ¨C and a young prospective demonhunter with a bright future. Him and his brothers together. Both emotionally and for his own pride, he was happy. At last, a mission that didn¡¯t make him feel like he¡¯d joined the army for no reason. Something for my mother to be proud of! Of everyone there, the captain¡¯s fighting spirit was the strongest. Book 2, Chapter 9 - Conspirators Chapter 9 - Conspirators The sky had not yet darkened to night but Adder¡¯s bar was already busy. There were borderland merchants, adventurers, heathens, believers of all sorts and more eating and drinking together. The air was choked with the smell of booze and tobacco. A dancer twisted and swayed at one end of the common room while large men pummeled each other in the boxing ring on the other side. The whole bar was a sea of testosterone with yelling, cheering and cursing that shook the ceiling timbers. It was certainly a rowdy place, but there were clear limits to the debauchery that was allowed. An older man entered the bar. He was tall and lean, and a spindly goatee sprouted from his chin. His clothes were simple but surprisingly well kept. He looked like an old scholar, presentable beneath the large hat perched atop his head and covered the majority of his face. ¡°Sir, we have your reservation ready.¡± A server approached to offer assistance. He was young and his long hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. A pair of bright eyes shone with youthful vitality. The old man nodded, though his eyes never ceased scanning his surroundings. They stopped for just a moment when he spied Adder behind the bar. The bar owner raised his head at the same moment, and for a brief second their gaze met. Then they each looked away as though they¡¯d seen nothing. The young server brought the man to a private room by a window before pouring him a glass of silvery wine followed by plates of food. This sort of fare was a delicacy here, but the man with the goatee seemed disinterested. ¡°I will not disturb you during dinner, sir.¡± The old man picked the hat off his head and placed it upon the chair beside him, allowing his flowing white hair to fall freely. He didn¡¯t look exceptionally old but the blade of time had carved marks in his face. The valleys were vestiges of bitter times and his eyes were sharp and unwelcoming. Inside there was anger, pain, expectation, as well as morbid insanity mixed with restlessness. Even his presence was uncomfortable. Calm as the surface of a lake, but in a caldera that could erupt at any moment. About an hour later a tall man with a hooked, beak-like nose entered the bar. He looked around with beady eyes then slipped the server a scrap of paper with a number on it. The young man, without saying a word, led the newcomer to the indicated room. While they traversed the common area, the bird-like man seemed to move both slow and fast. If one were to look closely his every step seemed calculated and precise. Especially as he threaded his way through the crowd he never touched a stool or one of the other patrons. Slippery as a phantom he quickly flit by, leaving no trace of his passage. Without a question, this was a man of skill. The young man stopped before a door and pushed it open. When the bald man with his aquiline nose appeared before the goateed stranger his eyes glimmered with anticipation. He rose to his feet and addressed his guest with great respect. ¡°Boss Buzzard!¡± The one called Buzzard sized up the other one. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, old friend. You¡¯ve aged quickly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the curse of humans that we should grow old. It¡¯s nothing to fear. What we should loathe is growing old but accomplishing nothing.¡± He punctuated the thought with a bitter sniff then waved the young man away. ¡°Leave us.¡± The server glanced at the middle-aged man with the hooked nose, back at the man with the goatee, then bowed to each. He left and closed the door behind him, leaving the two men alone. Buzzard sighed once they had the room to themselves. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t keep this up. You aren¡¯t in the best health, come back with me. Over the last twenty-odd years you¡¯ve contributed much. Enough. You don¡¯t need to spend all the rest of your time and energy here, you need a life of your own.¡± ¡°Life? My life had already been ruined.¡± The man with the goatee shook his head. ¡°The only desire I have left is to see Skycloud City in flames. If I can one day feel the warmth of those fires on my face then any price will be worth it. A few decades in exile would mean nothing if that was my reward.¡± Suddenly Buzzard lifted a hand, entreating silence. He rose and pushed open the door, his eyes darting left and right. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, just the ponytailed server walking down the hall. He sighed. ¡°Relax, Buzzard. No one will eavesdrop on us here.¡± The older man stood as well. He understood the need for caution. ¡°The owner of this place is more than he seems. Without his help I wouldn¡¯t be here to collect this intelligence.¡± ¡°The bar owner? Can he be trusted?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, but I think so. He doesn¡¯t stand with Skycloud, they would kill him ten times over if they knew the things he¡¯d done or the treasures he hides. It¡¯s the same for helping me with this.¡± ¡°I trust your judgment.¡± Buzzard nodded. ¡°Do you have it?¡± The older man produced a black bound book from his clothes and handed it to his companion. ¡°Everything is in here; troop counts and locations, and the names of all their captains. There are more than one thousand five hundred middle- to low-ranking officers on that list, as well as their backgrounds.¡± ¡°Hard to get one¡¯s hands on, certainly!¡± Buzzard took the notebook from him as though handling a priceless treasure then began to leaf through its contents. ¡°With this we can formulate a plan for infiltrating Skycloud. You¡¯ve done us a great service.¡± The older man¡¯s response was forlorn. ¡°It cost years and the lives of thirty companions to get this information. It was their noble sacrifice that built this foundation. I hope it serves its purpose, that wretched place must be razed to the ground.¡± Buzzard looked through a few more pages. Although he was only scanning the entries he could tell it was both true and accurate. It must have taken years of struggle and dedication for the old man to get all this together, unfathomable sacrifice. His mission had not been an easy one. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn. Come back with me!¡± ¡°Everyone has their own battles to fight, and I¡¯m not backing down from the front lines ¡®till this one is finished. So long as I¡¯m needed, I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯m sure you understand.¡± The old man was steadfast. ¡°But since you¡¯re here I do have a few young soldiers to recommend. A few good lads I¡¯ve dug up and kept close over the years. With the right training they¡¯ll be of excellent use to us.¡± Buzzard sighed once again. He knew the old man¡¯s temperament. He wasn¡¯t going to come, but his recommendations were welcomed. Buzzard trusted his friend¡¯s judgment, and anyone he offered would be reliable. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± The old man fished a pocket watch out of his clothes and took a glance. ¡°Come with me.¡± The young man with the ponytail was wandering aimlessly around the bar, bored stiff, when suddenly he spied the man with the goatee and his companion quickly leave. After a brief tremor he dropped what he was holding and hurried after them. The old man had planned this down to the minute. It was the busiest time for the streets of Sandbar Outpost, and the crowds were fierce. When he and the middle-aged man joined the fray they instantly vanished. The young server tried to keep up but stopped when he reached a crossroads. Several streets and alleyways slithered before him like a spider web. He had no idea which one his targets had taken. *** Several minutes later, in an abandoned warehouse. Dust and the stink of mold permeated the air. The light of a candle struggled against the breeze. Its frail light flickered against the darkness, and like the old man it just hoped to fill the world with a little light and warmth before it burnt out. ¡°These are the young men I was talking with you about.¡± There were six people standing before the man with the goatee. The youngest of them was about twenty, and the oldest no more than forty. ¡°I¡¯ve hid them here. They¡¯ve helped me gather the information we have for the last decade or so. The product of constantly looking for talent. Every one of them has followed me through the fire and they all have unique skills. Whether you train them as spies or frontline fighters they will be your most trustworthy soldiers. I can guarantee that with my life.¡± Buzzard nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to pass your personal recommendation on to Wolfblade.¡± [1] ¡°Wait! If we leave what about you?¡± One of the men with a large black sword on his back spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m with you. Wherever you go I¡¯m going as well.¡± ¡°And me!¡± ¡°Same!¡± Buzzard was moved by their loyalty. Most members of an independent Dark Atom cell dreamed of joining the main group. That was especially true for borderland spies like them. It was a promise that they could move somewhere without worry for food or clothing, where they would be taken care of. Who wanted to live like this? Like rats in a sewer? Yet these men were willing to give up that opportunity to stay with the old man who led them. ¡°Death will come for us all one day, but faith is indestructible.¡± The old man answered them with a pleasant smile. He picked up the dying candles and used them to light others, spreading the light farther. ¡°So long as we pass on the flame of our convictions, one day it will be a wildfire. What regrets would I have in death? Do not forget our goal!¡± The six men looked at one another. Buzzard interjected, curious at their reaction. ¡°You have other goals?¡± The old man nodded matter-of-factly. ¡°There¡¯s an inconspicuous chink in Skycloud City¡¯s proverbial armor. Give me a little time, so long as that opening remains we can use it to administer a poison that would kill tens of thousands of city residents. It will be a catastrophe the likes of which the holy city would not recover from.¡± As the plan slipped from the old man¡¯s lips his face turned monstrous and eerie. Buzzard had never seen hatred at this level. This man¡¯s solitary purpose in life was to see the downfall of the holy city. But it was an interesting plan, and he opened his mouth to inquire further when ¨C Ding, ding! The sound of a small bell softly flitted through the air. Clear and melodious, it stabbed at their ears like a poison dart. ¡°Shit!¡± One of the men by the door scowled. ¡°Someone¡¯s trying to sneak up on us. I think we¡¯ve been made.¡± An enormous black man hoisted an equally massive gun from his back. He began pulling bullets the size of thumbs from the bandolier around his chest and began feeding them into the firing chamber. Click! Click! He stepped forward, aimed at the door, and fired. BANG! A shocking boom tore through the area, the warehouse door was blown to pieces. With a cry of shock and pain the bullet hit someone on the other side and sent them flying. At the caliber this large man was using it didn¡¯t matter that the bullet first passed through the door. Whoever he hit was dead. ¡°Fuck!¡± The old man shouted. ¡°Buzzard, get out of here now!¡± ¡°But you-¡° ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time!¡± He shook his head, cutting the other man off. ¡°Think about what that notebook is worth. You need to get it to Wolfblade, no matter what. Otherwise all our effort is wasted! Now shut up and go!¡± But even before his words could sink in the intruders were reacting. Suddenly the whole building roared like a hurricane had descended upon them. [2] The windows rattled and the wooden walls clacked as suddenly a hail of arrows fell. ¡°Find cover!¡± Buzzard kicked over a table and hid behind it, just in time to see the deadly heads of seven or eight bolts poke through the wood. The others scrambled for protection, but one of the younger men was too slow and a crossbow bolt caught him in the eye. He was alive long enough to scream and then crumbled to the floor lifeless. 1. The name should be familiar. It¡¯s the name of the Dark Atom¡¯s leader. 2. For those who have never experienced a hurricane, here¡¯s what they sound like. Headphone users beware. Missing is the deep groaning rumble that underlies this. Almost everyone describes a hurricane passing over their house like being run over by a train. Book 2, Chapter 10 - Sneak Attack Chapter 10 - Sneak Attack Ten minutes earlier Squall had indeed lost his target, but in defiance of his name did not pick a path at random. He found an out of the way corner and whistled a call, gathering the others. Cloudhawk, Barb, the fat captain and his men converged on his position. They pressed him for information and their faces grew serious when he told them the situation. Had they already been spotted? ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve been made or you¡¯d be dead already. It¡¯s not uncommon for men like this to take extra precautions to stay hidden. He probably had this set up ahead of time, a safe route just in case.¡± The captain wasn¡¯t a smart man, but he did have the benefit of six years serving as a soldier. He¡¯d heard a lot and experienced much. Here his perspective got right to the truth of the matter. ¡°It¡¯s a habit of experienced insurgents, one they use whether they¡¯re being followed or not just in case. He¡¯s alert and that¡¯s going to make things more difficult. We can definitely be sure we¡¯re on the trail of a true spy.¡± The captain¡¯s soldiers were only made more excited by the revelation. ¡°We wanted a chance to prove ourselves, right?¡± ¡°Great. This is so great!¡± ¡°Is there something wrong with your heads? We¡¯ve lost them!¡± Barb was losing her patience. ¡°What are we going to do now? Go from house to house? That¡¯ll take forever, and they¡¯re sure to know we¡¯re coming. Our targets will be gone before we even get a whiff.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve still got things under control. I sprinkled the carpet in the bar with a fluorescent powder.¡± Squall regarded the despairing group with a grin. He pulled a small rod from his back and gave it a quick shake. Inside the rod was an unknown liquid which, when disturbed, began to emit a faint light. ¡°The powder is odorless and difficult to detect. But under the right light it becomes clear as day¡­ there! Can you see it?¡± Squall swung the rod a few inches over the ground, making a few passes until two pairs of footsteps appeared. They glowed with a faint green color. Cloudhawk was ecstatic. Squall was more useful than he¡¯d given him credit for. Barb was also impressed. ¡°You¡¯ve got some tricks up your sleeves, guy!¡± The demonhunter¡¯s praise filled him with pride, but he didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, Squall went on trying to keep his words modest. ¡°Just a little mischief is all.¡± The soldier with the broken nose blurted out. ¡°So what are we waiting for?! Let¡¯s get after them!¡± ¡°Shut your face! Our leader hasn¡¯t given the order, what are you in such a fuckin¡¯ rush about?!¡± The fat captain brought his fist down on the soldier¡¯s helmet. He couldn¡¯t say he wasn¡¯t anxious, too, but he wasn¡¯t going to presume anything with three other people above his station calling the shots. He turned respectfully to the masked demonhunter. ¡°Sir, as you can tell we ¨C¡° Cloudhawk ignored him, and instead turned to his young assistant. ¡°Squall, can you describe the man our target met in the bar?¡± Squall¡¯s face scrunched tight as he searched his brain for details. ¡°I remember the old man called him ¡®Buzzard.¡¯¡± ¡°Buzzard?¡± Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. ¡°Middle-aged man, kind of tall, sharp nose and a bald head?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve met him?¡± Squall exclaimed. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t expected it to be him. His eyebrows drew tight together and after a moment of thought he answered. ¡°I saw him once on one of my missions through the wastelands. He¡¯s a trusted member of the Dark Atom, led by a man named Wolfblade. He¡¯s dangerous.¡± [1] The captain and his men visibly gaped at the master demonhunter. One of Wolfblade¡¯s trusted men? This was staggering news! The Dark Atom was a group of heretics who¡¯d been operating in the elysian lands for years ¨C a constant thorn in Skycloud City¡¯s side. They were a group of crazed heathens who left destruction and a trail of corpses wherever they went. Everyone in the holy lands saw them as the enemy to their way of life. Dark Atom was a well-organized group, they performed their jobs carefully and kept everything under wraps. No one had yet found their main hideout. Their leader, Wolfblade, was a madman wild with ambition whose main goal was the destruction of Skycloud City. The guard captain originally thought these men they were tracking were your garden variety schemers, but in reality they¡¯d stumbled on a Dark Atom¡¯s plot! Barb looked at Cloudhawk with wide eyes full of admiration. ¡°You¡¯re amazing! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve gone fist-to-fist with members of the Dark Atom!¡± This one had quite the imagination. When had Cloudhawk said anything about fighting them? But it was true he¡¯d had some experience with them. And the man who¡¯d represented the Dark Atom, who¡¯d come to buy the twisted fruits of the Academician¡¯s labors, was none other than this hook-nosed bald man. The world was a small place, Cloudhawk was discovering. The chances of running into the guy again here¡­ The realization meant this was more difficult than he¡¯d expected. Cloudhawk had seen what Buzzard could do, he wasn¡¯t any less capable in a fight than Hyena. Meaning, the man was downright lethal. Could they capture him with only the few people he¡¯d brought? But whether or not they could wasn¡¯t the most pressing question. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any reason to make an enemy out of the Dark Atom. Trespasser, the disease gifted to him by the Academician¡¯s final treachery, still swam through his blood. Who knew what sort of mutation it was causing. Only the Dark Atom had the power to help him, picking a fight with them was like digging his own grave. Barb was itching for a fight. ¡°Predecessor, give the order. I¡¯m ready to lead the charge!¡± Inwardly Cloudhawk sighed. He¡¯d found this information out too late. Once the arrow left the bow you couldn¡¯t take it back. ¡°We can¡¯t run in half-cocked, safety is important. Let¡¯s find where they¡¯re holed up at first.¡± Sixteen people followed the faint green trail to a distant corner of the outpost. It ended at a derelict warehouse that was otherwise uninteresting. The Sandbar was full of borderland merchants and out of convenience many of them would construct warehouses for their goods. Often they were only used a couple times then abandoned. Such was the case for this building, which was largely unassuming and out of the way. Of course that is what made it the perfect place for plotting. It looked like they¡¯d found the right place. ¡°You, get ready to break in the door.¡± The guard captain began giving orders in a low voice, pointing first to one of his men. ¡°The traitors are definitely in there so everyone be ready. Once the door¡¯s open we start the attack. Kill every last one of them, no quarter!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The soldiers spread out, using the cover of night and piles of detritus to hide their approach. Once the building was surrounded they hunkered down and waited for the signal. One of them then stood up and made his way toward the front door. The guard captain gestured and the soldier charged, ready to burst through. Then all of a sudden a loud bang could be heard from inside, loud enough to burst their eardrums. In the next instant the warehouse¡¯s sturdy door exploded outward in a shower of splinters. The Skycloud soldier went from a full sprint to an unplanned flight as suddenly he was careening backward, blasted away from the warehouse like he¡¯d been struck by a raging bull. Four or five meters distant he hit the ground with an unsettling thud. ¡°Motherfucker!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve seen us!¡± Several of the soldiers moved in to drag their comrade out of the crossfire. His armor had been blasted to bits and shards of it littered the ground. The unfortunate man rolled around in pain. If not for the superior quality of Skycloud armor he would have been blasted to pieces. However just because it didn¡¯t blow a watermelon-sized hole in him didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t a life-threatening wound. He was out of the fight at the very least, which meant they were a man down already. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot. Barb stared in shock. ¡°What is going on!?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve got some fuckin¡¯ mean guns, that¡¯s what!¡± Cloudhawk had grown up in the wastelands. He knew what sort of damage these weapons could do, so he called out to the others. ¡°Don¡¯t get close!¡± ¡°Son of a bitch! They¡¯ve got illegal weapons! You lot are fuckin¡¯ dead! You hear me! Hammy¡¯s comin¡¯ for ya!¡± The portly captain saw his men as brothers, and seeing one of them laid out and fighting for his life threw him into a rage. ¡°Fire arrows!¡± The guards didn¡¯t have the long-ranged bows used by Skycloud soldiers, and had instead brought with them medium-ranged crossbows. They were not unlike the ones used by Bloomnettle¡¯s caravan guards, with a crossbow body and a high-pressure quiver. Every drum held a dozen or so bolts and each one had the stopping power of a rifle bullet. Military issue crossbows were stronger than the civilian variety as well, and though not quite as powerful as longbows they were more suitable for urban combat like this. A dozen crossbows rose up. Suddenly a hail of crossbow bolts started tearing through the air. The combined attack descended on the warehouse like a hurricane. The six-inch bolts were practically unstoppable within a six-meter range and punched through the building¡¯s wooden walls like butter. [2] The tips of the bolts were also coated with a paralytic toxin, so even if they just scratched their targets it was enough to take them out of the fight. Drums were quickly emptied. It only took the guards three seconds to switch them out for a full one. Removing the need to hand crank new bolts made these crossbows vastly superior to the normal kind. [3] In close quarters they were deadly, and any enemy turned pale when they knew what they were up against. The soldiers were busy reloading when four or five objects were thrown at them through holes in the walls. ¡°Move!¡± All around the warehouse a series of explosions shook the earth. The detonations didn¡¯t hurt Cloudhawk or his people but it did create a screen of smoke thick enough to impede their vision. The sounds of gunfire rang out from the haze and from time to time there was the light of a fire. They were fighting back. ¡°Stop them! Not a single one gets out of there alive!¡± As the fat captain screamed the order a figure ran out through the smoke like a tiger leaping from its lair. He swiped with the massive black sword in his hands. The weapon carved a bloody swath through the air. A guard¡¯s head hit the ground nearby and rolled away. ¡°Tough one here!¡± The captain raised his crossbow and fired off five bolts in an instant, but the killer disappeared into the fog. But the captain wasn¡¯t a greenhorn either, two of his shots connected ¨C one in the shoulder and the other in the rebel¡¯s chest. The bolts were strong, but the man¡¯s constitution was stronger. The bolts only managed to cause minor flesh wounds. The smoke began to swirl again. This time an enormous man with skin black as coal lifted an equally enormous gun. The captain flung himself to the side just before the deafening blast of the man¡¯s gun rang out. Another soldier was thrown backward. Quickly following the man with the black sword reappeared. His wounds leaked blood and the paralytics had begun to work their way through his veins, but it hadn¡¯t taken him down yet. He charged at the guard captain like a crazed rhinoceros. 1. If you recall Buzzard was the antagonistic man who met Hyena outside of Blackwater Base when the DN was buying mutants back in chapter 109. 2. It might be strange to see inch and meter used together here. The Chinese have something they call a cun, commonly called a ¡®Chinese inch¡¯, which is in common use. Cun measurements are used a lot in anatomy especially so it¡¯s something I use constantly in acupuncture practice. A cun is measured in several ways: The width of your thumb; the space between the interphalangeal creases of your middle finger; fore and middle finger pressed together is 1.5 cun; your four fingers pressed together are 3 cun; the distance from the middle interphalangeal joint of your first finger to its tip is 2 cun. So these crossbow bolts are five or six cun ¨C now you can do the measurements yourself! 3. Right, so these are automatic crossbows fired by compressed air. Literally the only difference between this and a gun is gunpowder. Is it gunpowder that the elysians find so taboo? What about fireworks? How do they demolish buildings, by blowing really hard? Book 2, Chapter 11 - Midnight Conflic Chapter 11 - Midnight Conflict These guys were tough! Fine, you¡¯ll get to see just how tough Uncle Fatty is! The portly guard captain angrily threw his crossbow to the side, then pushing his powerful legs against the ground, he launched forward. Pulling the short blades from sheaths on either side of his belt he took three steps forward and struck them together. With a loud clang they fused into a dual-headed glaive and he brought it down on the rebel swordsman with gale force. Clang! Neither budged and they pressed against the other¡¯s weapon with all their might. The ear-piercing sound of metal grinding on metal followed them, sparks flew. Despite his size the fat captain was quick. The two men pushed one another away then started the deadly close-quarters dance. Their weapons whipped back and forth, striking and parrying. Neither seemed to have the upper hand. ¡°Everyone get in there! Stop them, don¡¯t let a single one get away! It¡¯s time to fight for the glory of the gods!¡± The other soldiers heeded his call, casting aside their bows and raising their swords. They attacked heedless of the danger to themselves and ready to die for honor. The large man pumped the shotgun¡¯s fore stock, ejecting a red-hot casing from the chamber and replacing it with another. One of the soldiers came at him with weapon raised and he pointed the black maw of its barrel in his direction. The eruption of fire was blinding, the force of the shot blasting him away. Though their armor was as hard as steel, even Skycloud City¡¯s protection was no match. Sizzling shards of metal flew every which way. Ka-chick! Another spent casing cleared the chamber, the whole encounter had lasted only a second. He was on to his next target ¨C the guard captain. The captain heard the shot, then saw the man turn his way. He tried to move but the swipe of a black broadsword cut off his escape. The two of them were matched but the distraction lost him his edge and the captain found himself on his back foot, left with nowhere to go. The rest of his brothers were busy with their own battles. No one was there to help him. ¡°Time to die, Skycloud dog!¡± The black man didn¡¯t say it, not with words, but it was what he meant as he screamed and pulled the trigger of his shotgun. He was close enough that it didn¡¯t matter where he aimed or what armor they wore, no one could survive. He was certain this bastard soldier from Skycloud City was dead and the thought filled him with an indescribable sense of joy. All of this was no accident. From the man with the goatee, to the swordsman, to the shotgunner himself, they all hated what these soldiers represented down to their bones. All of them were either criminals, expelled for their lack of faith, or shunned for trying to forge a life in those lands of plenty. Whatever the reason they all found themselves living the life of a traitor. Skycloud¡¯s influence was vast. Ending a single life did nothing to change that. However, taking a zealot¡¯s life was always a pleasure. It was more addicting than the strongest drug. BANG! A deadly cloud of iron pellets spread from the barrel of the shotgun. But the large man was surprised and infuriated as a hand shot out, grabbed the barrel, and shoved it toward the sky. It belonged to a wiry figure more bone than muscle. He wore a brown grinning mask with only his strange eyes visible from beneath. What?! How did this happen? The smoke was thick but he would have seen someone coming. The thought barely had time to cross the big man¡¯s mind before Cloudhawk started his vicious assault. His left hand swung around leaving a cold gleam of steal in its wake, ready to plant a deadly kiss with the edge of his Skycloud dagger. Thrice the dagger passed and never once did Cloudhawk let the barrel of the shotgun go. One stab to the heart. One to the lungs. One to the throat. His attack was as fluid as a swiftly flowing river and at once the large man lost his strength and released his weapon. Cloudhawk snatched it from him and used the butt like a staff, ramming it into his opponent¡¯s chest. The gun broke apart from the force as its former owner crumpled to the floor. Even the most talented surgeon in the best hospital couldn¡¯t save him. ¡°No!¡± The man with the large sword saw what had become of his companion. The marksman had been more than an acquaintance, but there was nothing he could do for him. He was struggling to keep his own hide intact. Just as the fat captain¡¯s attack was coming faster, Squall appeared from the fog with his two swords swinging. The rebel swordsman was only just managing against one, and the addition of another threatened to exhaust him. Suddenly, from the fog another figure emerged like a ghost from beyond the veil, appearing and disappearing through the darkness. The dark silhouette was so fast and seemed to move erratically. Two guards approached to block their path when a cold light answered. Stiletto blades, fast as lightning. Both soldiers instantly hit the ground. Their efforts didn¡¯t slow down the agile shadow in the least. In a blink it fell upon Squall and the captain and before they could even shift their attention two more daggers where aimed their way. Neither the guard captain nor Squall were a match for this stranger in terms of speed. They both saw the sneak attack coming but their bodies didn¡¯t respond quickly enough. Squall¡¯s face went pale. The captain could only stare in impotent shock. No! I¡¯m done for! This had to be the one Cloudhawk was talking about, Wolfblade¡¯s lieutenant ¨C Buzzard. Only a fighter of such skill could be this fast, this deadly. All Squall could think of was how much of a pity it was to die here before having the chance to meet his idol, Master Arcturus. The captain¡¯s regrets cut even deeper. Shit. I finally got a shot, a role in something bigger than myself, then this guy shows up. Lady Luck really had it out for him. Both men were coming to terms with their inevitable demise when Barb came to their rescue. She dashed out from the fog while her exorcist staff howled. Even before she came within striking distance of Buzzard the force of her relic kicked up a storm of dust. The raging winds created a dervish. She was indeed a demonhunter. Her talents and combat prowess were something to be respected! Even without practical experience, a demonhunter¡¯s training was rigorous and their effect on a battlefield could not be ignored. She¡¯d been lurking on the edges of the fight, looking for her opportunity. Her target had been the big one with the shotgun until she saw her superior take him out with three cuts. She found his nimble and ruthless style chilling - certainly worthy of her respect. Then she saw Buzzard moving like a specter through the darkness. Head on, two of her still wouldn¡¯t be enough to stop him. But if she attacked him when he wasn¡¯t expecting it, even a wasteland adept like him couldn¡¯t withstand the force of an exorcist staff! If it lands this guy¡¯s done, or at least badly hurt. Barb, you¡¯ve got this! Maybe I¡¯ll earn a commendation from the senior ¨C maybe he¡¯ll even make me his apprentice! Barb already held Cloudhawk in very high regard. He wasn¡¯t a master demonhunter, but certainly her senior, and a guy like him held a lot of sway over someone wet behind the ears like her. If she could go on a few missions with someone like him the benefits to her would be huge. This was just the opportunity she¡¯d been looking for. How could she know Cloudhawk was just a pretender? If they fought she would discover that he wasn¡¯t much better than she was. His only advantages were surviving a host of deadly situations and the relics he¡¯d gathered. Buzzard switched focus to Barb, forced to break off his attack on the other two. He leapt up and spun around, allowing the deadly weapons to fly from his grip. She froze. If she threw caution to the wind and flung herself at Buzzard she would have to deal with daggers aimed for her throat and heart. Barb lacked experienced in life or death moments like this, lacked the mad boldness of wastelander attacks. She switched from offensive to defensive and protected herself from the daggers. Whoosh! She just managed to sidestep the two daggers when a third buried itself in her right arm. She could feel it drill into bone and the pain not only forced her to drop her staff, but knocked her off balance. She hit the ground. Buzzard¡¯s feet barely touched the ground before he was launched back into the air. With a flick of his wrists two more spikes were in his grip, ready to taste blood. Violet was the most vulnerable, so she was his target. ¡°No! The lady demonhunter is in danger!¡± They saw the threat to her life, but no one could help her. Violet tried to get up, tried to move, but Buzzard had her locked down. He threw his spikes. Her wide eyes reflected their cold light as they came her way. Six months¡­ it¡¯d only been six months since she¡¯d earned the right to call herself a demonhunter. She¡¯d never completed a mission, and as luck would have it her first target would be this seemingly invincible man. He was more than experienced, more than vicious. The spikes he threw were meant to kill, not maim, and he followed their trajectory. Both hands stretched out like a bird of prey, ready to snap her neck if the spikes should fail. Finished! She could feel it, his determination to see her dead. The unabating murderous intent made her cold from head to toe, a sensation she¡¯d never felt before. At this crucial moment the night seemed to peel away. A frail figure appeared from the ether between Barb and Buzzard, standing tall like an immutable mountain. Both the demonhunter and the rebel were shocked by his sudden appearance. In the instant his invisibility ceased Cloudhawk lifted a crossbow. Another demonhunter?! Buzzard hadn¡¯t expected two, and especially hadn¡¯t expected one to appear from nothing. He couldn¡¯t stop his attack. Now suddenly the spikes¡¯ target was Cloudhawk instead of the girl, as were his claw-like hands. The dual onslaught would slay any novice who dared stand in his way. ¡°Eminence, watch out!¡± The ground responded, so quickly she could hardly yelp her surprise. Dirt and gravel rose to form a shield that, although it looked frail, stopped Buzzard¡¯s spikes in their tracks. The rebel lieutenant was next, swiping like a fearsome tiger. The force of his strike caused an explosion of gravel and a deafening crack. The shield was thoroughly destroyed. However, the surprise of Cloudhawk¡¯s involvement had slowed him down. Buzzard didn¡¯t have his next move planned. The crossbow was leveled, glinting iron pointed his way. When the trigger slipped back seven or eight bolts were spat out in the blink of an eye like a deadly rain. Buzzard was quick, and were he far enough away this weapon would not have caused him a second thought. But he was close ¨C face to face. He wrenched around to avoid the first few but the remainder found their mark. They tore through his chest amidst sprays of hot, red blood. ¡°Got him!¡± Barb was not one to keep her thoughts to herself. He was definitely worthy of his status as a mighty demonhunter! His plan was flawless, nothing short of beautiful. It was impressive but filled her with a sense of inadequacy. Even disregarding his mystical invisibility, the calm with which he faced the danger was outside her ability to fathom. Book 2, Chapter 12 - A Soldiers Duty Barb was no weakling, but she was new to her role as a demonhunter. A newly minted grunt. However, this second one who could appear and disappear at a whim, as well as force the sand to do his bidding. At the very least it meant he had a couple relics to draw on. For a novice demonhunter, an exorcist rod was considered a treasure. The masked man had several, so conventional thinking suggested he was no typical demonhunter. Thinking back on his encounters with the order, Buzzard noted that often a novice demonhunter accompanied a more senior member. After a few missions where the novice could gain the training and experience necessary, they then could strike out on their own. It was in essence a student-teacher relationship. Was this masked man the senior demonhunter? Buzzard could feel the power of his opponent. He was weaker than he might have thought, but clearly had a wider breadth of experience. A novice used their power wildly without thought for conservation, whereas someone with more experience knew to use their limited strength at the best possible moment. The masked man had that knowledge. News had passed through the base that an influential demonhunter had recently arrived. His first order of business had reputedly been to harass a contingent of soldiers. Was this the same man? That wasn¡¯t important right now. Buzzard was injured and he needed to get away. Cloudhawk was close enough to get a good look at the hook-nosed man¡¯s appearance. Sure enough it was Buzzard, the man from the Dark Atom. He had no choice, a moment¡¯s hesitation could spell disaster in a fight like this. Although he had no desire to fight with the rebel organization, he couldn¡¯t hold back or show mercy. He pulled the trigger and allowed the crossbow to spit an unending stream of deadly bolts. One after the other the compact arrows were set and fired. Buzzard dodged as best he could but took two more in the thigh. Seven bolts bristled from his body. They were powerful enough that at this range they could punch right through a person, but Buzzard had sturdy leather beneath his outer clothes. Add to that his sturdy physique from years of physical training and the arrows stopped when they got caught in his tough muscle. None penetrated deep enough to injure his organs. They weren¡¯t fatal but that didn¡¯t mean the bolts were ineffective. The paralytic toxins they used were already working through his system, he could feel a creeping numbness take hold. From nearby a scream caught his ear. It was the man with the large sword he¡¯d come to save. He had been hit, too, and the poison had taken its toll. His mind moved slowly and his reaction time dulled, like he was trying to move through a thick sludge. How could he protect himself from the captain and Squall if he could barely move? Thud! He fell to the ground. Squall buried his two short swords in the man¡¯s chest. The captain followed up by beheading him with his glaive. His head rolled away, staring into the void with glassy eyes. Buzzard saw this and backed away, looking for a means of escape while Squall and the captain turned toward him. Barb had also risen back to her feet, exorcist rod in hand. With Cloudhawk, that made four to one, he was surrounded on all sides. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hurry to continue the fight. His voice was cold as he spoke through the mask. ¡°Buzzard. Surrender, it¡¯s pointless to keep fighting.¡± Cloudhawk held no ill will toward the Dark Atom, he didn¡¯t want to offend potential allies if he didn¡¯t have to. If Buzzard surrendered perhaps he could find a way to let him go without anyone knowing. It was better than burning the bridge entirely. ¡°Boss Buzzard! Run!¡± A figure sporting numerous wounds broke through a circle of soldiers. His abdomen was torn open and his guts had begun to spill out, but he fought on with a furious madness. He threw open his cloak to reveal a vest that was covered in sections of pipe. Such were the men recommended by the old man. They were wounded, dying, and surrounded by the enemy. But the cruelty of fire knew no morals, and they would die together with their enemies if it came to that. The guard captain and Squall stared in shock. It gave Buzzard just enough leeway to leap up and over the weakest one of his opponents, Squall. ¡°Skycloud dogs! Tonight we die together!¡± The man covered in explosives grinned in satisfaction once Buzzard got free. At least his death would mean a brother of the Dark Atom would live on. It was a worthy death. He gripped the detonator in his hand, thumb hovering over the button as a fervent madness took over his face. He ran at Cloudhawk. Fifteen meters! Ten! The fat captain didn¡¯t know how to stop him. A standard explosive with a fuse was easy enough ¨C just extinguish it. But the suicide vest this one wore just needed a half second for him to push the button. All he needed was to get close enough. A black staff whistled through the air. With a sickening thud and a pathetic gurgle, the tri-edged point of the staff slipped through the man¡¯s throat. Barb roared at him. ¡°You piece of shit, you think you can take out the senior? You¡¯re dying all by yourself, douchebag!¡± Cloudhawk grabbed her and yanked her backward. ¡°Move!¡± As his consciousness began to slip away the suicide bomber used the last of his strength to press the button. The resulting explosion was deafening. The Sandbar shook and fragile mud houses blocks away shook apart. The center of the detonation was absolute catastrophe. The bomber was more than just a mindless criminal! Many were blown back or knocked to the ground, even Cloudhawk toppled over in a blind daze. He had been closest to the blast radius so the impact had rattled his brain and he was slow to recover. The bomber¡¯s suicide run nearly knocked their leader out. The guard captain gathered some men and raced to where Cloudhawk lay. No one gave consideration that there may be someone else in the warehouse ¨C the man with the goatee. His eyes were red. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. Dead. All dead. They had been his faithful men, loyal and full of potential. Not a one of them had been spared by these murderous scum. It was like a knife to his heart. The soldiers were still recovering from the sudden and violent actions of the suicide bomber. Buzzard managed to knock two aside, slipping passed them and back inside for the old rebel. He¡¯d grown weak. The poison was in full effect. ¡°It¡¯s no good. We¡¯ve got to go!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t both escape. I¡¯ll stay behind and fend them off, you need to escape!¡± ¡°No, you get out of here and I¡¯ll keep them off your back!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time for this!¡± The old man glared at Buzzard through red, puffy eyes. ¡°Do not forget your mission. You need to bring that intelligence back to our leader. Go quickly! Otherwise the boys¡¯ deaths were for nothing!¡± Buzzard stared back for a few moments, fighting with the decision. He grit his teeth against the bitter knowledge that nothing he said was going to change what happened here. He did the only thing expected from a man and made him a promise. ¡°We will win. So long as I breathe and there¡¯s blood in my veins I will kill every last one of these bastards. I promise you¡¯ll get vengeance.¡± The old man answered with a sad smile. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I won¡¯t see your grand work for myself. Take care of yourself.¡± Buzzard¡¯s powerful legs were back in motion, sending him into the protective embrace of the night. ¡°Goddamnit! That bastard got away!¡± ¡°There¡¯s still one in here! Get him, see what he knows!¡± The man with the goatee stood calmly in the face of the encroaching soldiers. Determination burned in his eyes as he pulled out a weapon from his belt with his right hand. It was a gun, something like a handgun but its barrel about the width of a child¡¯s arm. BANG! The head of one of the soldiers exploded like an overripe watermelon. The old man¡¯s gun had blown it to splinters. The unfortunate soldiers¡¯ companions stopped and stared in shocked horror. They thought he was an old weak man, not some deadly marksman. They wouldn¡¯t have run at him directly if they¡¯d known. As they reassessed the situation the old man was on the move, for he knew his death was at hand. It gave him the courage to do what he had to. The old man stepped over the corpse of his first victim, lifting his gun again. This time it was pointed at Cloudhawk who had just staggered back onto his feet. He still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock of the blast much less gotten his bearing in the haze the explosion left behind. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see him, but the moment the barrel was leveled his way the familiar itch of danger filled his mind. Not good! Too late to get out of the way! The old man was an accomplished marksman. He took all his rage, sadness and regret and focused it through the barrel of his gun as he pulled the trigger. The bullet tore out of the barrel, right for Cloudhawk. Time seemed to hang on this instant when suddenly a portly but agile figure flung itself in front of the young wastelander. Bang! The guard captain¡¯s glaive shattered, followed by the chest piece of his armor. Blood erupted from his wound and filled his mouth as he hit the ground. Why did he do it? The captain couldn¡¯t say. He just¡­ reacted. Even as the bullet ripped his insides apart there was no fear. In fact he felt pride, this was a death fit for a soldier. He gave his life fighting the hated Dark Atom. What¡¯s more, he traded his own humble existence so that an honorable demonhunter could continue the good work. It was the greatest moment in all his years on this world. Death wasn¡¯t anything to be afraid of. To die for faith was to die with no regrets. His men raced over to where he lay, trying to put pressure on the gaping wound in his chest to stem the flow of flood. Nothing they did could stop the red tide as it bubbled from him, sprinkling their faces. Hot tears mingled with the blood of their leader. ¡°Captain!¡± Cloudhawk simply stood there in shocked dismay. The guard captain took a bullet for him. The old man¡¯s hand cannon could only fire two rounds before needing to reload. Both were spent, so he could not defend himself when a soldier came and smashed his weapon against his skull. The old man was knocked senseless. Cloudhawk kneeled down by the captain who was fighting for his final breaths. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± The fat man struggled to keep his eyes open, gasping as his lungs filled with blood. But his pudgy face split in a smile. ¡°I¡¯m a soldier.¡± That¡¯s what a soldier was, a defender. Protecting whatever he could was his duty. ¡°A group like the Dark Atom will never give up. They¡¯re always planning some way to destroy the holy city, to kill as many people as they can.¡± The captain grabbed Cloudhawk¡¯s arm with his blood-soaked hand. ¡°I¡¯m done, but sir¡­ your shoulders carry the heavy burden. You have to stop them. Protect our people. Protect our land¡­¡± As Cloudhawk stared at the soldier, tenacious even in his final moments, his heart was heavy. These soldiers didn¡¯t know they were just tools. From the start they were so grateful to him, he couldn¡¯t take their faith or trust. ¡°Knives, do me a favor,¡± the captain said to the soldier with the broken nose. He took his hand and fixed him with a solemn stare, like it was the most important thing in the world. ¡°When I die, send my body back home¡­ bring me back to my mother. Remember to tell her I died bravely. I wasn¡¯t an embarrassment¡­¡± Knives rubbed the tears from his eyes. ¡°Captain¡­ I¡¯ll remember.¡± ¡°I think she¡¯ll be proud of me.¡± He smiled, a smile full of self-satisfaction. ¡°Thank you, sir¡­ for giving me the chance¡­ to go home with honor. If there¡¯s a next life¡­ I¡¯ll make sure to pay¡­ you back.¡± The guard captain¡¯s eyes slipped shut.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 2, Chapter 13 - Arrangements Made Chapter 13 - Arrangements Made The biggest difference between the elysian lands and the wastelands wasn¡¯t the landscape. It was the people ¨C the fact that anyone born in one place or the other was fundamentally raised differently, right down to their bones. Wastelanders were forced to consider survival above everything else, no matter the means, and they did that by succumbing to materialistic instinct. Conversely, elysians were born into a life of plenty where they could follow pursuits of faith and honor. Honor wasn¡¯t a concept Cloudhawk had fully come to understand yet. Therefore he didn¡¯t understand why he would choose to die out here, without compromise, and be returned to his family. He didn¡¯t know how these men could indiscriminately slaughter thousands of innocent wastelanders, but selflessly sacrifice their own life for a companion. They lived under the grace of the gods, without want for food or clothing, their minds filled with firm conviction and faith. The elysians were always ready for any chance to show their honor and worth. Family, love, friends ¨C even life. When placed before the altar of glory and faith they were easily sacrificed. It was the root of the elysians¡¯ strength, this conviction, and it protected them from the evils of the world. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers just like this protected the holy lands, impregnable and unshakable. How could an organization like the Dark Atom hope to win? He just couldn¡¯t understand and could only stand there, stunned. The captain¡¯s soldiers carried him away. The others spread out to search the area. ¡°Sir! There were eight Dark Atom agents. One escape, one survived, and six more were killed.¡± They had lost five soldiers and three more were critically wounded. Six managed to escape the skirmish in decent shape. Three of that group began looking through the corpses for any important information, and the remaining three set about rummaging through the warehouse. ¡°We found a small hidden room while looking through the warehouse. There are fifteen canisters of what we think are poison gas.¡± Cloudhawk led Barb and Squall into the warehouse. Inside they found a dozen or so glass containers in a secret room, just as the soldiers said. A nasty green liquid sloshed inside, bubbling constantly like it was just looking for an excuse to blow. ¡°I think I read about something like this in a book. They called it green nightmare, it¡¯s a toxic chemical. Supposedly it¡¯s made from refined parts of wasteland animals and evaporates at room temperature into a toxic cloud. It¡¯s really nasty stuff, if these canisters broke it¡¯d probably kill everyone in the Sandbar!¡± Barb was surprised to find such dangerous materials here. She patted her full chest to restrain her beating heart. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s no joke. If the rebels had used this we would all be dead!¡± Soldiers within ear shot heard this and felt a chill run up their spines. The spies were more dangerous than they¡¯d thought! No one rushed to handle the canisters for fear a single slip up could kill them all. Only Squall kept groping around. He spotted an inconspicuous dark case nearby. ¡°Hey, look at this!¡± He¡¯d opened the case and pulled out a sheet of parchment. ¡°This looks like Skycloud City, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The others gathered round. It was indeed a blueprint of Skycloud, and with an impressive amount of detail. ¡°All this poison and a picture of Skycloud¡­ what were they planning?¡± ¡°Whatever it was, it was nothing good.¡± ¡°Give it to me, I need to look it over.¡± Cloudhawk took it from Squall. Was this the information Adder was looking for? No, not likely. He¡¯d told Cloudhawk he was looking for a map. He ordered them to keep looking. ¡°Spread out, we¡¯re looking for a map. Give it to me if you find anything.¡± The soldiers continued to sift through the warehouse¡¯s contents. Three minutes later one of them called out, ¡°Sir, I think I found it!¡± Cloudhawk went to the soldier who called out and took the map from him. This one had been found on the body of the man with the goatee. It was old, and judging by the texture it was made from high-grade mutant animal leather. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. On one side was a mountain range, and on the other was a mess of letters and symbols that made little sense. Strange. It was a map, but there wasn¡¯t any sort of label or identifying marks. Barb crept over and ¨C curiosity getting the better of her ¨C snuck a peak. She wrinkled her nose in thought then looked at Cloudhawk. ¡°What¡¯s this weird thing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking this with me. It involves my mission, so make sure you keep the information under wraps. We need to make sure no one finds it, do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Somehow the ragged map was involved with the demonhunter¡¯s mission? They didn¡¯t understand how exactly but they were too lazy to puzzle it out. Cloudhawk took it and the blueprints for himself. The mission was done, and although there was still cleanup to do everyone had been wounded to some degree during the skirmish. The rest could be handled by their superiors. When Cloudhawk returned to the bar he found Old Thistle and Asha, anxiously waiting. Old Thistle stopped fiddling with his bracelet when Cloudhawk approached and he heaved a sigh. ¡°I heard¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Squall was a great help, his actions will go a long way. I¡¯m sure Skycloud City will reward him for his efforts.¡± Old Thistle let out a long breath. In the end it¡¯d been more fear than danger, he¡¯d made the right call. Adder approached the bar with a drink in his hand. ¡°I was right about you. I¡¯m surprised you got it done so quickly.¡± ¡°You said simple and you were right.¡± Cloudhawk turned to him and placed the map on the bar top. Sarcasm dripped from his answer, as well as no small amount of irritation. ¡°Here¡¯s what you wanted, I hope you weren¡¯t bullshitting me.¡± ¡°You worked hard, have a drink.¡± Adder didn¡¯t display an ounce of guilt. He pushed the glass in front of Cloudhawk in return for the map. As he looked it over, his pupils contracted and his brows pressed together while he muttered almost to himself. ¡°Hm¡­ encrypted. The guy was careful, it¡¯ll take time to break his code.¡± His reaction proved to Cloudhawk this was the map he was looking for. Where did this guy come from? What did he want the map for? Adder lightly clapped his hands and a pair of servants brought Asha over to him. He ruffled her hair affectionately. ¡°Alright little one, starting today you can consider me your adopted father. As long as you¡¯re here in the Sandbar I won¡¯t let anyone bother you. What do you say?¡± Asha¡¯s eyes flashed toward Cloudhawk for a moment before she answered. ¡°Alright, yes!¡± Adder was a mysterious man. His name smacked of wastelander style, but he wasn¡¯t from there. Did he come from Skycloud? That didn¡¯t seem likely, if he was, everything he was doing didn¡¯t make much sense. So maybe he was a true citizen of the borderlands. But really where he came from didn¡¯t matter, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care. Just so long as he kept his promise to look after Asha. She was just a simple girl, Adder had no reason to cause trouble by going back on his word. At last Cloudhawk could put down one of the worries he carried in his heart. He took Asha outside so they could speak alone and asked her straight. ¡°Are you sure you want to stay here? You still have time to change your mind.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve already decided that I want to stay here. Boss Adder looks like a reliable man.¡± Asha looked back at him, her eyes filled with appreciation. ¡°Thank you. Without your help I wouldn¡¯t have made it here.¡± ¡°I have to take some responsibility for Coppertooth¡¯s death. In a way it was my fault. I owed you.¡± But she shook her head. ¡°You can¡¯t be blamed for what happened to Coppertooth. That was our life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now.¡± Cloudhawk looked up at the dark sky, stars reflected in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving soon. I wish a long and peaceful life for you.¡± Asha nodded. Suddenly she felt a great sadness¡­ but she knew her place. Her fate was here in Sandbar Outpost. Cloudhawk left her and made his way toward a hotel. Along the way he heard the sound of rhythmic footsteps on pavement ¨C a contingent of soldiers were approaching, clad in Skycloud armor, about fifty of them. He paused when he saw them but kept his composure. They had to have heard the news. Their destination was the temporary military station. Cloudhawk watched from outside as the captain¡¯s right-hand man, Knives, and several of the guards led a withered old man to meet them. He knew what fate was in store for the rebel. Skycloud¡¯s soldiers would use every method they knew to torture him until he drew his final breath. An unavoidable pang crept into Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. Dark Atom or Skycloud City, who was to say which was good or bad? Could either be called innocent? Cloudhawk knew so little of the world, but he¡¯d already come to some understanding about its nature. The cruel reality was that to get to the top you built a path with the bodies of the dead, using their blood as mortar. It was true for a single man or a whole organization. None of that interested Cloudhawk. He didn¡¯t want to reach the top, he only wanted somewhere safe and quiet to live the rest of his life. The cries that came out of the guard station were like poison spikes to Cloudhawk¡¯s ears. He pressed his hands to the side of his head to try and block it out and fled to his lodgings like a defeated soldier. With heaving breaths he stood before a mirror and slowly pulled off his mask. An immature and handsome face looked back at him. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t yet reached sixteen but he looked older than his years. He¡¯d lived in an unforgiving environment that forced him to grow up, but more than that the last half a year had changed him. He¡¯d accepted Adder¡¯s mission because he felt indebted to Coppertooth and wanted to find somewhere safe for Asha. Finally that due was paid, but it was paid in blood. To Cloudhawk it felt like a hand from the darkness was pushing him forward and no matter how he struggled he couldn¡¯t escape its grip. All he could do was keep his eyes open. Was this fate? Bang! Cloudhawk was disgusted by the face in the mirror. He put his fist through it and the handsome features shattered into a million glittering pieces. Blood was left behind, smeared across the center, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel a thing. He took one look at the hotel bed and instead chose to curl up in a corner. A comfortable bed didn¡¯t make him feel safe. The corner, with walls at his back, was a much sweeter place to lay his head. Book 2, Chapter 14 - Moving On Chapter 14 - Moving On Cloudhawk didn¡¯t leave his room. Meanwhile the military started their investigation. The guard captain¡¯s men were explicitly warned not to put Cloudhawk in their report. He was erased. Squall was given the honor of being the one to discover the spies and Barb was said to be the one who led their team. The captain and his people were the ones who executed the operation. Cloudhawk was also cautious. Since he¡¯d never been to Skycloud or met Governor Arcturus he couldn¡¯t reveal his identity, otherwise he was just creating more problems for himself. Certainly breaking up a spy ring was a meritorious act, but compared to what he¡¯d already accomplished it wasn¡¯t worthy of mentioning. He decided to wait for a little while before setting out again. A clamor from outside woke him up. Someone was screaming up and down the streets of the Sandbar: ¡°Burn him! Burn the blasphemer!¡± Cloudhawk went in search of the source of the ruckus along with several others. A group of soldiers were escorting an elderly man with a goatee, whose ragged clothes barely left him his dignity. They paraded him around the outpost before stopping in the center of town where a stake rose from the ground. Was this to be his execution? There wasn¡¯t any fuel around the stake for a pyre. A crowd of all sorts began to gather. They pointed at the condemned, excited because a spectacle like this was rare in the Sandbar. There was a peculiar figure among the others who was clad in a long black cloak. He was tall and imposing, making him easy to pick out from the masses. Physically he didn¡¯t look much different from anyone else, but there was something about his bearing that made the people around him unconsciously keep their distance. Adder. He¡¯d come to join in the merriment? ¡°Hey guy, you finally show your face.¡± Squall spotted Cloudhawk and trotted over. ¡°This isn¡¯t something you wanted to miss, eh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Squall sighed. ¡°He¡¯s one tough old man. They questioned him for thirty hours and he never said a word. They¡¯re afraid his body isn¡¯t going to last much longer so they decided to execute him publicly.¡± Cloudhawk looked back toward the old man and saw the marks of torture all over his withered body. All of his fingernails had been pulled off and his hands had been badly mutilated. Wounds covered him from head to toe and blood had turned his grey robes brown. They got nothing, so they were just going to kill him? This was a dangerous criminal, shouldn¡¯t they bring him before a judge? Did they really just execute people here? It seemed extraordinary but he didn¡¯t ask about it. A man in a red cloak stepped forward carrying a book in his hands. With solemn countenance he looked down upon the old man who could barely stand. Before the eager crowds he announced the man¡¯s crimes, revealing him as a member of the Dark Atom terror organization. He was accused of spying for them here in the Sandbar for years and supplying them with weapons, while also planning terrorist attacks against the people. As the man in red pronounced his judgement the old man¡¯s face never changed. From beginning to end he smirked, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. Even facing imminent death he had no fear. The holy man stood before the rebel and shouted over the din with a thunderous voice. ¡°Do you repent your sins!?¡± ¡°What sins have I committed?¡± He remained calm as the specter of death descended upon him. Closing his eyes, the old man responded in an ice-cold voice. ¡°I¡¯ve committed no sin!¡± The man in red¡¯s voice was equally callous. ¡°You gathered prohibited goods, cavorted with the Dark Atom, performed evil research and yet you claim not to have blasphemed against the will of the gods?!¡± The rebel coughed though the effort clearly pained him. His bloodstained goatee quivered. ¡°I studied science. I search for the truth! Is science heresy? Is truth a sin against your gods?¡± ¡°The accused is unrepentant!¡± The man in red¡¯s voice was thick with condescension. ¡°The gods have taught us that it is our desire that is the source of ruin! Desire and greed are the shackles that chain us to a past of calamity. There is no path forward, and to either side lies an eternity of damnation. A faithless heretic like you has no thought but to your own interests and care not for the peace of the world. You tread a path of self-destruction, and as a representative of the gods it is my duty to purge this dangerous element from our midst!¡± ¡°Purify him!¡± ¡°Purify him!¡± The crowd raised its bloodthirsty voice, calling for a spectacle. ¡°Magnificent gods above, hear our prayers¡­¡± The evangelist opened the large volume in his hands, and in a low and solemn voice began to read. The prose were lengthy and verbose, and then he reached the end: ¡°May the holy fires, birthed from the vaulted halls of heaven, descend to cleanse the soul of the unbelievers!¡± The man with the goatee suddenly began to struggle. His face twisted in agony and desperation while the onlookers stared in speechless awe. The old man erupted into a column of white fire. The flames were not inflicted upon him from without but burned from inside. Soon the sickening smell of burning flesh permeated the square. ¡°Why do you fear science? Why do you fear truth?!¡± ¡°What makes you think you¡¯re so righteous and noble?!¡± ¡°There are no gods here! It¡¯s a lie, it¡¯s all a hoax! We have no gods, but that does not mean we have no faith!¡± ¡°I will wait in the fires of hell for you and your gods. I will watch from the blaze as your magnificent churches and opulent palaces collapse. My curses will be in every lick of flame, haunting you until the end of days!¡± The old man¡¯s hysterical denunciations rang in everyone¡¯s ears and it made their hair stand on end. But no matter the strength of his will, his body could not resist the hungering flames. When the holy retribution ceased there was nothing left that resembled a man. All that remained was a pile of ash, like there was never anyone there at all. ¡°May every soul who walks the wrong path be delivered unto salvation.¡± The evangelist looked into the sky with an expression of despair for the sins of mankind. He spoke solemnly to the others. ¡°Humanity faced destruction thousands of years ago. Without the gods there would be no inch of sanctified land for us to enjoy. Without the gods our pitiful species would have collapsed under the weight of evil. Without the gods, we would be the slaves of demons. All of our power, our cities, our land, our faith, our glory, our food, and our water ¨C all of it has been bestowed upon us by the grace of gods! But more than that, they have shown us the proper way.¡± The man in red continued to expound upon the glory of the gods. ¡°The gods are great because they demand nothing of you. They do not interfere with your lives. They are great, they are light, they are righteousness and they are purity!¡± His voice was loud and crystal clear, ringing through the air with dauntless conviction. ¡°Please, steel your faith! When a believer draws their final breath their souls are conveyed to the holy mountain where they will forever bask in the holy splendor of our benefactors. But blasphemers can expect nothing except purification by holy fire!¡± A great and inscrutable power swept through the crowd, making them shiver. Many fell to their knees in devotion. Their faces were awash with piety and hysteria. The agnostics even gave obeisance to the faith for fear of consequence. Once the evangelist finished the execution, a flock of guards surrounded him and he left. The crowds, however, remained to pray and offer thanks unto the gods. Cloudhawk watched the man leave. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Squall was surprised. ¡°You don¡¯t know? They are from the Crimson Church.¡± The Crimson Church was a church in the borderlands who believed in the gods of the elysian lands. In their zealous devotion they erected temples to the glory of the holy pantheon. In order to support religious doctrine in these heathen lands, the elysians supported their existence. So long as one didn¡¯t offend certain basic principles, any organization could claim to be affiliated. There were churches that worshipped many gods, and those that worshipped only a few. There were many different sorts of faithful so most of the holy organizations had different doctrines. Many of the faithful worshipped in accordance with their professions and station in life. For instance, the Church of the Artisan worshiped the Smith, god of craftsmen. Members of that church were architects, carpenters or jewelry makers. The Smith was the most creative of the gods, and it was said that the equipment of the holy warriors ¨C from their resplendent armor to their godly weapons ¨C were manufactured through methods taught to them by the Smith. Thus it was typical that their churches were filled with people of a similar trade. One church worshipped many gods, and a god could be worshipped by many churches. That was standard practice. The Crimson Church was a new organization here in the borderlands. Their bishop was called the Crimson One, thus the name of their organization. The gods they served were gods of punishment and absolution, so they often advocated for the purification of blasphemers as they were found. They were active in the borderlands spreading the gospel of their faith and delivering punishment unto heretics. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t understand the methods these elysians chose. What were the gods, really? Cloudhawk had never met one. Hell, he figured ninety-nine percent of elysians hadn¡¯t, either. Most of what people knew about the gods was essentially guesses. The mysterious race of supreme beings were more legend than anything, none had been seen in years. However, Cloudhawk had met the creatures they¡¯d fought against, the demons. He¡¯d even killed one. So as far as Cloudhawk was concerned, these gods and demons were just a stronger species. What right did they have to demand such faith from humans? ¡°The Crimson One established the Crimson Church about ten years ago and they¡¯re already become one of the most influential churches in the holy lands.¡± Squall pressed his hands together before him in reverence. ¡°They summon ¡®Castigation¡¯ from heaven that causes unbelievers spontaneously burn. Thinking about it makes my skin crawl.¡± ¡°Castigation.¡¯¡± Cloudhawk sneered behind his mask. These guys were making a fool of the public by making a simple thing sound much more mysterious than it was. Just before the old man burned, Cloudhawk felt a flutter. It was a vibration typical people couldn¡¯t feel or hear, because Cloudhawk was possibly the only person with the skill ¨C it was a relic! The thing they called Castigation, that holy fire? It didn¡¯t come from any god. It was someone secretly attacking the old man. It was nothing more than a lie to the people to make them seem like they had a god¡¯s ear! As he pondered this Cloudhawk lifted his head and looked across the crowd. Adder was looking back at him and their eyes met from several meters away ¨C colliding like two swords and spewing sparks. The mysterious man nodded and shot him an intriguing smile, then disappeared into the flowing press of people. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to meddle in things that weren¡¯t his business. The Dark Atom probably knew who he was by now so it wasn¡¯t wise to linger much longer in the Sandbar. The longer he stuck around the more likely Dark Atom assassins would come looking for revenge. He didn¡¯t want to imagine how an encounter like that would go. Adder was cunning and wise in not getting involved directly. More than bringing the ire of the holy city down on his head, he had to know the Dark Atom would make anyone who was part of this business pay. Things had become dangerous. He couldn¡¯t stay here. It was time to go. He had to move on! Book 2, Chapter 15 - Departure Chapter 15 - Departure Bloomnettle Company was gathered and ready to be on their way. Old Thistle had finished everything he¡¯d set out to do in Sandbar Outpost. Now it was time to set off for Skycloud City. Members of the merchant company busily transferred goods to the cart while Cloudhawk watched from one side, face hidden behind his mask. He¡¯d been stuck here for some time. Finally, it was time to go. ¡°Hey man, were you really planning to leave without saying a word?¡± Squall hurried over to Cloudhawk. ¡°Come with me, someone wants to see you. I think you¡¯ll appreciate it.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Stop wasting time with questions. You¡¯ll see when we get there!¡± Squall was a playful sort, not too serious, but there was something strange about his expression. Cloudhawk noted it before following him toward a small barracks. Squall entered first and shouted a greeting. A moment later several soldiers appeared carrying a sedan chair. It was a simple and crude thing with no covering, just a seat that could be lifted up. Seated on it was a familiar chubby figure. He wasn¡¯t a noble looking sort despite his royal treatment, and his wounds were so serious he could hardly move. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°You¡¯re not dead?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The guard captain was covered in medicated bandages and stared at Cloudhawk with his beady eyes. He looked just as puzzled and shook his head saying, ¡°I don¡¯t get it either.¡± When he jumped in front of Cloudhawk the rebel¡¯s bullet first shot through his weapon, then his breastplate. Presumably that bled off a lot of the impact, and in addition Skycloud armor was designed to diffuse impact force. In the end, although the wound was ugly, it wasn¡¯t as bad as they thought. After he¡¯d lost consciousness they brought him to a military doctor who went to work. Thankfully he was saved. It was not easy, surviving after such a nasty blow. But the results could hardly have been better. They killed six rebels and captured one, found the materials for a chemical attack, foiled a catastrophic assault on Skycloud and eradicated a dangerous terrorist cell. When the guard captain went back to the holy lands he was facing a promotion to some mid-range officer position, and his men were going with him. And all of it was thanks to the mysterious demonhunter. The fat man was determined to find him and offer thanks one more time before he disappeared into the sunset. The fat man¡¯s death had weighed heavily on Cloudhawk, but seeing him alive let him let go of that burden. He¡¯d used them for his own ends but they were rewarded for it. That made them even. The guard captain continued. ¡°Your humble servant¡¯s name is Hammont Seacrest, but the honorable demonhunter can just call me ¡®Hammy¡¯. It¡¯s my dream to be a general one day, and you had the grace to push me in that direction. If any time in the future you should need this simple man¡¯s services just say the word. Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s to walk across a mountain of fire or a field of blades, I¡¯ll do my duty.¡± Hammy said it with a strength of conviction that was unmistakable. He wasn¡¯t being polite, this was a sacred soldier¡¯s pledge. Cloudhawk responded with a silent nod. He wished him a speedy recovery then bid Chunk and his men farewell. The soldiers grinned wryly at the demonhunter¡¯s aloof nature. Squall strode beside Cloudhawk with his hands tucked in his pockets. He muttered enigmatically at the ground as they headed back. ¡°He isn¡¯t the sharpest blade in the armory, but the captain¡¯s a good guy. Why didn¡¯t you accept his pledge?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t answer. The captain was a simple sort, but his trust and worship of Cloudhawk was built on his respect for demonhunters. If he discovered what he thought he knew was a lie ¨C that the demonhunter was actually a wastelander with the blood of several soldiers and a real demonhunter on his hands ¨C what would he think then? Hammy¡¯s appreciation was for a demonhunter. That wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk. How could he accept it when it was all a lie from the beginning? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to live the rest of his life behind a mask, eventually he wanted to take the thing off and let his real face free. If the day came when they met again eye to eye who could say if they would be friends? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want these men to know the real him, they didn¡¯t need to dust the way, they didn¡¯t need to make him any promises. Let them keep their illusion of the benevolent demonhunter. ¡°Sir! Wait for me!¡± They hadn¡¯t gotten far from the barracks before Cloudhawk heard the voice from far away. By the time the last word got out, though, its owner was only a few meters away. The short-haired woman was moving fast. She¡¯d changed her clothes and now wore fresh demonhunter armor with an elysian bow strung across her back and a short sword strapped to her waist. Her coin purse clinked loudly with every stride. By the time she reached him her pale face was excited and flushed. After relinquishing all the praise for the mission he lead, Barb and the others were richly rewarded in his stead. Her fancy new equipment was newly purchased, now she looked like an honest to goodness demonhunter. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say you were leaving?¡± She asked between puffing breaths. ¡°You weren¡¯t even going to tell me! That¡¯s going too far, sir.¡± The new demonhunter had benefited quite a lot from Cloudhawk and his mission. Her appreciation was evident. Barb was different from Hammy because she was more than thankful, she worshipped what she thought was a superior of her order. Cloudhawk looked at the bold young woman, and for reasons unknown she reminded him of someone. Someone he remembered fondly, but who sadly he¡¯d had to bury in the center of Greenland Outpost with his own hands. One more grave amidst countless thousands in the wastelands. Yeah¡­ she was a lot like Artemis. But she was still constrained by the laws of her order. She didn¡¯t have the wildness or surliness of his dead friend, but she had a quicker wit. Unfortunately they came from different worlds so a friendship was out of the question. A woman¡¯s eyes were often described as twinkling like the stars. Barb¡¯s burned like a supernova. ¡°Sir, I want to come with you!¡± Cloudhawk shot her a sideways glance, his eyes as calm and unscrutable as an ancient well. His response was cold and distant. ¡°And do what?¡± ¡°I want to follow in your footsteps, be your disciple!¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Dismissing her out of hand she grew desperate and irritated. She pressed her hands together pleadingly. ¡°I have some money now. I can pay my own way, even pay for you to teach me! Please take me on missions with you, I¡¯m not strong but I promise I won¡¯t hold you back! Please!¡± Cloudhawk was already getting impatient. ¡°I said no, that means no!¡± Barb¡¯s eyes dimmed, like frosted glass at the break of dawn. It made sense, it certainly wasn¡¯t hard for a man like him to find willing disciples. She was just a greenhorn of low birth, not especially skilled, with no background to draw on. What right did she have to ask him to take her on as a student? ¡°Everyone has their own road to follow, you shouldn¡¯t try to imitate someone else. You¡¯ve got talent, you just need to reach your potential. I¡¯m confident one day you¡¯ll make a fierce demonhunter.¡± His words shook her to her core. Barb lifted her head to look at the taciturn senior demonhunter. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know why he said it, he didn¡¯t even really understand what he was spouting. He shook his head, waved farewell and began to leave. ¡°Thank you, sir. I will become a demonhunter, as fierce as you say!¡± She held out a clenched fist toward Cloudhawk¡¯s retreating form. ¡°Could you tell me your real name? Maybe we¡¯ll meet again.¡± ¡°If fate decides we should meet again, that¡¯ll be the time for you to learn my name.¡± Barb was unsatisfied with the answer, but didn¡¯t press it further. She saw Cloudhawk as a dignified and shrewd superior. If he didn¡¯t want to share his name there had to be a reason. She knew that demonhunters were often sent on secret missions and knew how they were expected to perform, so she thought she understood Cloudhawk¡¯s choices. Squall walked along beside Cloudhawk, and he found the whole thing funny. No one else had seen his real face. He thought he knew the situation clear as day. This guy wasn¡¯t a senior demonhunter, he was at least three years younger than Squall. Just an immature kid, yet he was able to put on a show that convinced the merchant¡¯s son. What was his life like before now? What was it about him that gave people this feeling? Squall broke the silence. ¡°Are you going to say goodbye to Asha?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯ll just make her more upset. She¡¯s got a job and Adder¡¯s protection, no one would dare bother her. My wish for her is a long and quiet life here.¡± He met her out in the wastelands and they traveled together for almost a month. He saw her like a little sister, the only person he was surrounded with who knew his face. Who knew who he was. He really did wish her a good life. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d ever see her again. Fate was like a surging river and all living things were just things caught in its current. Sometimes fate¡¯s waters smashed two unrelated things together and then tore them apart, thrusting each into a new and unknown world. The depths of the river was vast and inscrutable, no one knew what was around the next bend. Sometimes when two people floating on the waters split, they separated forever. Bloomnettle Company was almost ready to depart. Single-horned horses strained against carts laden with goods. Cloudhawk saw in the gently rocking cart with his eyes closed, pondering matters. Perhaps he didn¡¯t consider that fate was sometimes like a petulant child, pulling him along an unpredictable path. At the gates of Sandbar Outpost. A frail and pretty girl stood by the exit, watching the carts rumble into the distance through teary eyes. Her tiny hands were folded in front of her in perhaps the last time she would ever pray. ¡°Gods. If you¡¯re really out there, if you really are kind, if you can really hear me¡­ please take care of Cloudhawk. Keep him safe.¡± Book 2, Chapter 16 - Skycloud, the Holy City Chapter 16 - Skycloud, the Holy City Cloudhawk traveled with the Bloomnettle Merchant Company North for a few days, and then they reached their destination. ¡°Everyone off, get ready for inspection. We¡¯re about to pass into the elysian lands.¡± The caravan guard sounded exhausted. It was to be expected after so long on the road. However, along with exhaustion there was relief in his voice. Cloudhawk felt the cart slow then pulled open the door and joined the others outside. He still wore his mask but had changed into more presentable clothing. At least he didn¡¯t look like a beggar anymore. No sooner had Cloudhawk¡¯s feet touched the grassy ground than his eyes were struck by the scene before him. They were passing through an enormous canyon with towering mountains on either side. They rose so high it was like their peaks were piercing heaven, tall enough that their peaks were obscured by clouds. The canyon itself was dim since no direct light could reach them. Cloudhwk had never seen majestic mountains like this in all his life, but that wasn¡¯t what gripped him. His eyes were pasted to the fifty-meter-tall wall before them that blocked their path. The thick wall was different from the ancient mountains to either side, glowing with a dark gold metallic light like it was made from the precious stuff. It was absolutely huge! The people he saw walking along the ramparts looked as small as ants. This was the great wall of the elysian lands, one mountain pass among many bestrewn throughout the area that connected the lofty mountains together. It sprawled across the land culminating in a giant circle and acting as the border of the elysian lands. Everything inside was the realm of the gods. Wastelanders had never crossed over, no measure of force could breach the impregnable walls. To the people of the elysian lands their great wall was their greatest defense against the evils of the outside world. Every pass was guarded by a thousand soldiers. Bloomnettle Company, as borderland merchants, had special permission to come and go as needed. However, each time they passed the walls they had to allow their goods to be checked. The soldiers had strict orders not to let any elysian goods leave their borders, or allow any banned substances from outside get in ¨C including any suspicious persons. Their insurmountable walls and strict inspection protocols ensured the elysian lands stayed safe. There was no question they would find Cloudhawk. He leaned on his disguise as a demonhunter. He made sure to find a reason to show off his token and his ability to use relics. As far as these soldiers knew there had never been a wastelander who had the power of a demonhunter, much less carried a token of the high order. So no one gave him any trouble and instead treated him with the utmost respect. Getting here sure as hell wasn¡¯t easy! Without the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s token he wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to take a single step inside. Now he finally understood why the Queen had laughed at his determination to get here. He passed inspection and traversed the mighty wall, finally emerging out onto the other side. When he did, suddenly it felt like he¡¯d crossed over into another world. Everywhere he looked the ground was carpeted in green grass and pockets of wildflowers. The mountainsides were thick with trees. Everything was so vibrant, so alive. Two worlds, separated by one wall. All the life in the world seemed to be concentrated here. The vast terrain he¡¯d come from was barren and toxic, while before him stretched rolling green hills and a climate perfectly suited for comfort. He wouldn¡¯t have believed it except here it was in front of him. There was no natural explanation that could account for such a dramatic change. Every seedling was blessed here, fated to grow tall and bear fruit, whereas if it were unlucky enough to exist outside the walls would die before night fell on the first day. They were only separated by a hundred meters or so. Only a hundred meters made all the difference. It was like a line of judgment, a wall where life and death were determined, the border between heaven and hell. The walls encircled an area of hundreds of thousands of meters where some supernatural power beyond the scope of human comprehension brought the blasted landscape back from desecration. It stood in defiance of the wastelands on all sides and refused to be swallowed by its filth. No matter who you were the stark difference would shake you to the core. What could be responsible for this but for a miracle hand crafted by the gods themselves? But Cloudhawk was surprised too early. Once Bloomnettle Company passed through the valley they were met with a fleet of massive ships. The exquisite vehicles were simple yet refined. Each one was a hundred meters long and made of artfully carved wood. What really stunned Cloudhawk, though, was how the ships moved. They didn¡¯t float on water. No, instead some inexplicable power lifted them up off the ground where they were suspended in midair. They were all linked together and people passed from one to the other using slides and suspension bridges, creating a floating, bustling town. What was this place?! The shock Cloudhawk felt couldn¡¯t be expressed in words. And yet to the elysians this was nothing to get excited about. In fact no one seemed to pay it much attention. Old Thistle hailed a hovering barge nearby. It floated down and opened its hull whereupon the merchants hustled aboard without a word. Cloudhawk figured this had to be a transportation hub of some kind. These artfully crafted, absolutely gigantic flying ships were a form of mass transit. Cloudhawk was the farthest thing from a man of culture, but he got the basics. But how could a wooden boat fly? He couldn¡¯t see any engines or devices that could explain it, much less a source of energy. What was making them rise off the ground? After asking roundabout questions he discovered that the boats didn¡¯t need any sort of energy at all. Whether they were in the air for ten years or a hundred, it didn¡¯t cost them a drop of energy. If the elysians had this sort of technology, why didn¡¯t they just take over the wastelands? Eventually, Cloudhawk learned that the boats had to abide by stringent restrictions. The moment the ships, or in fact ninety percent of the elysians¡¯ tools, left the holy lands they lost their mystical abilities. The boat they soared on now was such a tool. So long as it remained within the elysian borders it could go where it pleased without the need for any sort of energy, gas, wind or manpower. Some mystical and unfathomable power kept it aloft. Yet if it tried to float over the walls, it wouldn¡¯t get a meter into the wastelands before crashing into the earth. Even to this day no one knew why, they just chalked it up to the mysterious and incomprehensible will of the gods. Just like how the wastelands were a place of jagged mountains and turbid water, the elysian lands were the polar opposite ¨C a mysterious and picturesque land of plenty. The elysian lands were a place that had clearly been blessed by the grace of the gods. It was a land filled with miracles. Be it the endless flora and fauna, or the limitless energy, everything was beyond comprehension. It could only be explained through the lens of godly intervention. Cloudhawk sat upon the boat as it soared through the heavens toward Skycloud City. The boat was quite fast and he was told they would reach their destination in two days or so. He spent the time looking out over the sprawling horizon, constantly barraged by visions of harmonious and verdant landscapes. Sparkling rivers traced paths like silvery arteries to deliver life-giving water to every corner of the domain. It was intoxicating to behold. He was so enthralled he hardly noticed the passage of time. On dawn of the third day one of the crew shouted out to the passengers. ¡°Everyone out! We¡¯ll be arriving in Skycloud City in twenty minutes!¡± [1] The clouds were painted gold by the rising sun, and when they parted a city was revealed that was more magnificent than anyone could imagine. Cloudhawk raced to the deck where he stared in awe at what appeared before him. It was a belt of jewels suspended in the clouds. Not real jewels, of course, it was actually a river that snaked across the clouds and tumbled from the sky. From deep in the clouds water bubbled upwards in columns of silver springs. They gathered together into a waterfall which fell to the lakes beneath. From a distance all one could see was the waterfall, tumbling from endless cloud-born springs. Upon getting closer the raw power of it could be felt, like a hundred thousand water dragons roaring toward the earth. The source of the lakes below was this celestial waterfall, and the lake then split into rivers and tributaries to feed the entire basin. This was the source of all the land¡¯s vitality. This was the heart of the holy domain. A heavenly river! A heavenly waterfall! It was the most incredible miracle in all the elysian lands! Cloudhawk was frozen solid, robbed of both his ability to move and think. His eyes played over the undulating surface of the lake, like a picture from some fairy paradise. Countless rainbows traced paths all around and there, on the banks, a city emerged. It was a shimmering city of holy light with scores of ships coming and going, thousands of magnificent boats criss-crossing. It seemed so full of life and exuberance. From overhead Cloudhawk could see every street, every building, every paving stone perfectly and meticulously placed. It was like a dream. Cloudhawk felt hot tears in his eyes. Ten years. More than ten years! All that time he fought and struggled through the wastelands, every day a nightmare, of fear and hopelessness. In his dreams he¡¯d longed for a place like this¡­ just like this. Were his dreams coming true? Skycloud City. This was it, the most vibrant destination in all the Skycloud Domain. [2] A paradise adrift in a sea of purulent wasteland. ¡°Hey, you alright?¡± Squall saw that Cloudhawk was shivering. He gave him a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Get ready, the ship will be descending soon. We¡¯ll bring you to the Governor¡¯s mansion. Soon you¡¯ll get to meet the man and complete your mission.¡± Cloudhawk was almost desperate to see every part of Skycloud City, but he couldn¡¯t forget himself. Restraining his wildly beating heart he followed Squall from the deck. The ship began to slow and coast toward the ground until eventually docking in its designated area. The hull opened up and the merchants disembarked in an orderly fashion, flooding out into the holy city. 1. For some reason this reminded me of train travel through China. Some people love it, I did not. The two cheapest ways to get around are sleeper buses and sleeper trains. Sleeper buses¡­ well, suffice to say avoid them unless you wish to be intimately acquainted with the urine of a dozen or so other people. Maybe I¡¯ll have a reason to share that story one day. Sleeper trains are boring as shit ¨C nothing to do but stare out the window and smell everyone¡¯s feet. For hours. Conductors show up twenty minutes or so before arriving at your destination and tell you to get moving, and if you¡¯re too slow they¡¯ll just go to the next stop and make you pay for the return trip. If it isn¡¯t clear I¡¯m not a fan of the ¡®travel¡¯ part of traveling. 2. He makes the distinction here between city and domain. Skycloud is also the name of this whole area in addition to the city. Book 2, Chapter 17 - Entering Skycloud City Chapter 17 - Entering Skycloud City Cloudhawk rode into Skycloud City inside a merchant¡¯s cart. Setting the stupendous and seemingly commonplace miracles aside, Skycloud was still an incredible city. The buildings came in many styles. The ones with steepled roofs were homes, but there were also ovals and rectangular buildings strewn without. The most common colors were white for holiness, silver for purity and golden accents to represent divine glory. When the sun shone on the glimmering architecture it was like walking the streets of heaven. They picked their way through the city until the cart reached a crossroads. There, stretching all along the block, was an arcade that had to be ten thousand meters long. It was so wide that eight horses could ride abreast through it, and on either side was a procession of beautiful sculptures. They were tall and dignified and full of majesty ¨C images of the gods as imagined by master craftsmen. All throughout the city there were idols, altars, fountains, markets, and doves to populate them. Every corner had a unique style, and every building, paving stone, mural and statue had unique flavor. Cloudhawk could exhaust every word he knew and still couldn¡¯t describe one one-thousandth of the holy splendor that showered him. Squall sighed deeply. ¡°It¡¯s always so chaotic out there. It¡¯s good to be home.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but respond. ¡°Have you ever been to one of the other domains?¡± ¡°Other domains? Never even heard of them!¡± Squall shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing but wastelands for thousands of kilometers in all directions outside of Skycloud. How could normal folk like us cross that kind of distance? I just want to be a demonhunter like you someday, then maybe I¡¯ll have the chance to see other places. Really though, Skycloud¡¯s great in and of itself, I doubt there¡¯s any place better.¡± Truth be told, Cloudhawk was pleased with what he saw as well. He could tell by the people walking the street that they were different from the outside. From their clothes to their bearing the people were elegant and noble, and their eyes were full of spirituality. Yes, spirituality. Cloudhawk believed that a person¡¯s eyes were a window into the truth of their soul. In the eyes of a wastelander you could see blood and madness, but in these people he saw tranquility and peace. They were eyes he¡¯d only ever seen in old pictures from the ancient times. The people here were similar. Maybe this was the place he¡¯d been looking for all along. Cloudhawk trundled along the road surrounded by the vitality of the city. It wasn¡¯t just that the streets were busy, he could see all manner of family crests, shops, and artisans prospering on every corner. It was clear green spaces were also an integral part of the city¡¯s designs. There was everything from small potted plants to towering trees that filled the streets with life. There was a sense of harmony in every building, tranquility in every street. From the color to the style to the materials, everything was in balance. A single, unified work of art that needed nothing added nor taken from it. Simply exquisite. The flora around the city was also unique. Cloudhawk saw a tree slender as a mushroom a hundred meters tall whose canopy tickled the clouds. Its surface was etched with lines which pulsed like veins, full of a glowing fluid. It was veritably gushing with vitality. The plants were chiefly for decoration and lent a vibrancy and beauty to every corner. However, they also played an important role in the city. During the day they gathered both light and warmth so that at night their peaks glowed like street lights. They turned Skycloud City into a golden paradise when darkness fell. In addition, some of the plants discharged water into the air to regulate humidity. A few of them with big leaves and thick branches bore fruit. They grew amidst the flowers, glittering and juicy, coming in any number of colors, so numerous it could feed an army. All of them were edible. Sweet, tasty, and practically endless. All could be picked today and by tomorrow they would return. As such they were a principle part of the peoples¡¯ diet. A waterfall tumbling from the heavens, a beautiful holy city, inexhaustible food¡­ Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how many incredible surprises this place had in store, but what he saw already was more than he could fathom. He¡¯d spent so long fantasizing about a promised land. Now that he was here he realized how inferior his dreams really were. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes suddenly went wide as before him was revealed the center of Skycloud City. Therein rose a soaring temple that was so large it took up a tenth of the total area of the city. It was pure white and whatever it was made with had the texture of polished jade ¨C a colossal white-jade pyramid. The space around it was empty, a large public square lined with smaller churches and magnificent buildings of all sorts. Scores of devout surrounded the structure, kneeling in prayer. And the pyramid itself? The whole thing floated a hundred meters above the ground. That¡¯s right! It flew! This grand and magnificent structure, silently dangling overhead, cast a light over the whole city. It served to deepen the feeling that all were in the presence of the divine. No wonder the citizens revered the gods, they were gifted this magnificent city to display their glory. Even the least pious would shake and fall to their knees in awe. ¡°Eh?¡± Cluodhawk hadn¡¯t made a sound, afraid that he would give away his ignorance and surprise. However what he saw next forced him to voice his shock. People¡­ or, something. They surrounded the floating temple awash in halos of golden light. Held aloft by iron wings, they flew back and forth above them. To the citizens of Skycloud City this was no unfamiliar sight. They were the seraphs; defenders of the temple sanctuary, keepers of the peace, and guarantors of safety. They were also the holy city¡¯s greatest artisans and technicians. After establishing the holy city, the gods left these treasured servants behind to maintain their creation. They did not age or grow weak, and were eternally loyal. So long as the holy lands existed they would watch over the city. Cloudhawk felt them even from far away. The seraphs ¨C they were relics. He could hear the resonance from the bodies of the automatons, there had to be some special power directing them. However this did not in any way make them less capable city guardians. ¡°Ahead is the temple square. No vehicles are allowed to enter. The governor¡¯s castle is beneath the sanctuary, we can only bring you this far.¡± Old Thistle and Squall brought Cloudhawk to the entrance of the temple square where he climbed out from the cart. He peered up at the pyramid-shaped sanctuary and it made him speechless. It was beautiful. He didn¡¯t care what reward he was given, if he could live her as an ordinary citizen Cloudhawk would praise his lucky stars. ¡°Thank you. This is fine.¡± Cloudhawk said his goodbyes to the old man and his ward. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about me or what I was doing. When things are settled I¡¯ll make sure to find you.¡± He had to be careful, he was no elysian. Just the fact that a wastelander was here in the city was a big deal and he didn¡¯t want to involve Bloomnettle Company in any possible consequences. It was important he disassociate with them as much as possible to make sure they didn¡¯t get into trouble. Squall took Cloudhawk¡¯s hand and shook it vigorously. He was clearly envious. ¡°You¡¯re going to meet Lord Arcturus, whose name rings across the elysian lands! I have to say I¡¯m jealous!¡± It was no secret Squall saw the demonhunter governor as an idol. He wasn¡¯t alone, probably eight out of ten young men in the city worshipped the man as well. The prestige and station he held in the city was evident. Cloudhawk said so long to the other members of the merchant company and went on his way. The governor¡¯s castle was not difficult to find, sitting right below the temple just like Old Thistle told him. Cloudhawk had to admit he was surprised and a little curious. If the city¡¯s governor lived in the castle below the temple, who lived inside the floating pyramid? If the governor was relegated to the shadow of the sanctuary was there someone more important than him? ¡°Halt!¡± Cloudhawk yelped in surprise, and amidst the sound of clattering armor a squad of soldiers marched his way. He was quickly surrounded. ¡°The temple square is sacrosanct land. You tarnish its glory, dressed as you are. Masks are also prohibited, take it off!¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t expected he would be challenged. He looked down at his clothes and though it was a little sullied he was at least fully covered. In fact, Cloudhawk could count on one hand how often he¡¯d had a clean pair of clothes to change in to. As for the mask he hadn¡¯t been aware there were rules against them. Judging by the look of these soldiers they were itching to teach him a lesson. Under the circumstances Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have many choices. He had to rely on his secret weapon, the token of the high order. He fished it out of his clothing and called out to them in the most authoritative voice he could manage. ¡°This is a token of the high order. I demand to see Governor Arcturus, I have important demonhunter business to report. Who dares impede my mission?!¡± Without the token, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t have entered the Skycloud Domain, but with it he was ushered across the wall like royalty. It had to be some sort of all-access key. One could only imagine the clout its true owner possessed. Only, this time things were different. After flashing the token, the soldiers were unmoved. Their leader shouted back. ¡°Even demonhunters must show respect here. Flaunting your token here is an affront to the glory of the gods. Take it off!¡± Cloudhawk was struck dumb. The token wasn¡¯t going to help him here? As the soldiers were preparing to pounce on him a cold and solemn growl arose. ¡°Have you forgotten where you are? What is this ruckus?!¡± A young man in non-standard white armor walked over to them. There were at least a hundred soldiers in his wake, different from the kind Cloudhawk had encountered before. They were even better equipped, they had to be Skycloud¡¯s elite! The young man looked like he was in his early twenties, maybe a hundred and eighty centimeters. He had big eyes with thick eyebrows and handsome rugged features, a dignified bearing, and looked regal in his fancy armor. His stony visage carried with it an arrogance that seemed to cut everyone he looked upon down at the knees. For a young man to command so many elite soldiers, he definitely wasn¡¯t just an ordinary man! ¡°Milord Frost de Winter, this man is making a scene. I was about to arrest him for interrogation.¡± ¡°A scene?¡± The one called Frost de Winter scowled. He stared at Cloudhawk with a glare like jagged icicles. ¡°It¡¯s been years since anyone¡¯s dared cause trouble in this holy place. Your impertinence is extraordinary.¡± ¡°I want to meet the governor! That¡¯s all I ask, then I can explain everything!¡± Frost¡¯s response was frigid as an icy stream. ¡°The High Priest has summoned him to the Temple on official business, he is not in the estate. In any event, who do you think you are, that you have the right to meet him?¡± The first soldier to accost him repeated his command. ¡°Remove your mask!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s heart began to thud. Frost then noticed the token clutched in Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. Suddenly the chill of a thousand blizzards melted from his face. ¡°Where did you get this token?¡± Cloudhawk realized then that he didn¡¯t actually know the real name of the token¡¯s owner, but he was clever. He didn¡¯t answer the question directly, instead choosing another strategy. ¡°Since you are Lord Arcturus¡¯s disciple you must already know who this token belongs to. What¡¯s the point in wasting time asking?¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s face darkened once again. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure whether he imagine it or not, but he thought he felt the temperature drop several degrees. The ground even seemed to develop a film of ice. He also didn¡¯t know if it was due to his attitude or something else: ¡°Where is she?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate this time. ¡°There are some things that aren¡¯t appropriate to say here. I must see the governor.¡± The soldiers around them were unsure what to do. Where they supposed to grab this troublemaker? ¡°Stand down.¡± Frost de Winter lifted his hand, waving the soldiers back. He fixed Cloudhawk with a penetrating stare and a light he couldn¡¯t place flickered behind his eyes. ¡°You. Come with me.¡± Book 2, Chapter 18 - Hostilities Chapter 18 - Hostilities The tea was good. Purple-gold leaves floated in the hot water. Cultivated here in Skycloud, each harvest was quite limited. This was from the governor¡¯s own supply, among the top ten percent in quality. Normal citizens didn¡¯t usually have the opportunity to taste it. Whatever strange properties the tea had it was incredibly refreshing. However tired one was feeling, a few sips would be completely rejuvenating. The snacks were also quite fine. They were some sort of pastry that were a pleasant honey gold in color, made from wine-pickled fruits and locally cultivated vanilla bean and wrapped in the highest quality grains. Each one looked like gem-encrusted gold nuggets placed on a jade platter, so beautiful it was almost a shame to eat them. Frost de Winter sat beside the tea and refreshments table while a team of servants stood nearby. They were so still they could be mistaken for statues. Aside from the servants there was only Frost de Winter in the waiting room. Before he could be allowed to enter the governor¡¯s mansion, Cloudhawk was forced to scrub himself clean. From head to toe and behind the ears, designated serving women helped him wash. His hair was trimmed and the ragged traveling clothes were replaced with fine silken garb. Only once he was presentable was he brought to the hall. Never in his whole life had Cloudhawk been this clean. It actually made him uncomfortable and his skin crawled like he was covered in lice. Especially unnerving was this silk robe they made him wear. It was like he wasn¡¯t wearing anything at all. As he entered, he walked across a delicate rug. It was probably made from the neck feathers of some rare bird and every step he took from the door to where Frost de Winter waited was like trampling on what a normal citizen¡¯s monthly salary. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t really grasp the worth of all of this. Coming from the wastelands he was like a gutter rat who suddenly found himself in a golden palace. Everything was so different, he felt completely out of place. ¡°Sit.¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s face might as well have been carved from a block of ice. He was infinitely cold and implacable and didn¡¯t raise his head even as Cloudhawk approached. The soldier just busied himself with looking over the mask, token and book Cloudhawk had brought with him. The seat was soft and comfortable. When he sunk into the cushion Cloudhawk felt like he never wanted to stand up again. The level of comfort and relaxation was foreign to him so he perched on the seat with rigid posture. He looked ridiculous. Of course the seat was bound in the neck leather of some rare creature. Its worth wasn¡¯t even worth trying to measure, suffice it to say no normal person could afford it. With no thought to propriety, Cloudhawk picked up one of the delicate cups and brought it to his lips. The purple-gold liquid steamed with an attractive scent and he drank it down in one gulp. Instantly, his pores opened. It was only his first time trying tea, but he liked it. Frost de Winter carefully put the demonhunter token on the table between them. ¡°You know the real identity of the one this token belongs to.¡± Cloudhawk poured himself another glass of tea without reservation. ¡°Master Baldur¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°Her Excellency Selene Cloude is indeed Master Baldur¡¯s daughter. She also is the most outstanding demonhunter Skycloud City has seen in a hundred years.¡±He picked up the mask. ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken this is Master Baldur¡¯s ¡®Mask of a Thousand Faces¡¯. She would only give this to someone she trusted completely. But if I know anything about Lady Selene, it was that she had nothing but contempt for even the most talented people of Skycloud City. How could a beautiful, proud, talented woman like her have any interest in someone like you?¡± So that was her real name, Selene Cloude? It certainly sounded highborn! The mask¡¯s name was also fitting, seeing as it could be changed at a whim. It was excellent for keeping one¡¯s identity hidden. As for Frost de Winter¡¯s question, so full of contempt, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pay it much attention. He¡¯d never been much for caring about what people said. Anyway, he was right. She was remarkable, becoming a high-ranking demonhunter at only fourteen. The mere thought of someone like her being friends with a wastelander like him was surprising enough to make peoples¡¯ eyes roll out of their skulls. ¡°I can explain this to the governor.¡± He took another sip of tea. ¡°When will he be coming back?¡± Frost de Winter returned the mask to the table. ¡°Probably not anytime soon. He is in conference with the High Priest. Selene was like a sister to me, and I am the governor¡¯s only disciple. Telling me is the same as telling him.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Whenever the governor is not here I have the agency to act in some limited authority.¡± He spoke earnestly. ¡°Please tell me what¡¯s happened. It¡¯s been a year and a half since Selene snuck out of the holy city, an act which violated the laws of Skycloud and the demonhunter order. She¡¯s caused quite a controversy, and though her family will try to redeem her honor, she faces the threat of having her status as a demonhunter stripped. We need to know her whereabouts so that we can help her.¡± ¡°The Queen-¡­ Lady Selene had gone off into the wastelands. Her goal was to kill a demon known as the Caliph of the Sands, who she said was responsible for the death of Master Baldur.¡± Frost de Winter listened in silence as Cloudhawk shared his tale. He listened carefully to every detail, hardly breathing, deconstructing each word and mulling over it. Cloudhawk spoke for nearly half an hour, omitting the more inconvenient details and focusing on the more important facts ¨C especially the fight with the demon. Cloudhawk¡¯s story eventually came to an end. Frost de Winter stared at him with his brows furrowed. From beginning to end he¡¯d had no questions or reactions, just sitting there like an ice sculpture. He was probably organizing it all in his mind. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t concerned, he¡¯d been preparing what he would say ever since he left Greenland Outpost. He¡¯d had months to deliberate and fine-tune his answers so there were no gaps in logic or careless omissions. At last Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help himself. His hand stretched out and grabbed one of the delectable-looking pastries and popped it into his mouth. His senses exploded with flavor, fragrance and tender texture. He¡¯d never had anything like this before, but it was so delicious he would swallow his tongue for the residual taste if he could. Frost de Winter rhythmically tapped his finger on the table. After careful thought, he asked a single question. ¡°You killed the demon?¡± ¡°No, not me. Us. Selene and I. We almost died and only managed thanks to luck. The thing was too strong even for Lady Selene. Really, it¡¯s a fluke we¡¯re still breathing.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t foolish enough to claim he¡¯d killed the demon on his own. He had been the one to cleave the beast in half with one blow, but he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to tell anyone he had that kind of power. Even just claiming that an amateur like him had a hand in killing a demon seemed absurd when the monster¡¯s six lieutenants had been ten times his match. ¡°What is your purpose for coming here?¡± ¡°Lady Selene thought I had served the demonhunters well, that I had the potential to become one myself. So she sent me here. She gave me proof to show the governor so he could help me build a life here.¡± His requests weren¡¯t outlandish. He¡¯d killed a demon, it was a great accomplishment. Nothing else mattered, he just wanted to live here. Have a small house, drink tea like this, eat pastries like these. Be safe, that was all he really wanted. Frost de Winter proceeded to pick up the Gospel of the Sands and look it over. He was still young and his insights were limited, but the governor¡¯s disciple knew of the more famous demon artifacts. The Gospel of the Sands was an important one, only a powerful demon would be able to command its power. If it had come into this young man¡¯s possession it meant what he said was likely true. The demon was dead. Furthermore, the Mask of a Thousand Faces was one of Selene¡¯s most cherished possessions. After all, it was the last thing her late father had given her. The token was also one of a high-ranking demonhunter¡¯s most important means of identification ¨C and the marks were still there. Selene was still alive and well so Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t have taken the token by illicit means. His evidence was all there, the story was ironclad. What he was saying had to be true. ¡°I have one more question.¡± Frost de Winter put the book down and proceeded tactfully. ¡°If Selene got her revenge, where is she now? Is there anyone besides you who can corroborate your story?¡± In that time Cloudhawk had already stuffed three of the pastries in his face. He wasn¡¯t one to take advantage of others, but this stuff was incredible. He didn¡¯t hear anything unusual in Frost de Winter¡¯s question. ¡°She said she found a new lead and wanted to stay in the wastelands for a while longer to check it out. This whole thing was so big I didn¡¯t think it was smart to tell anyone, otherwise it would get attention. How else was I gonna get into Skycloud Domain without causing a stir?¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What did she learn?¡± Cloudhawk answered with a shake of his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°Well, it seems like your luck really is something extraordinary.¡± The soldier¡¯s brows scrunched then relaxed then contracted again as he muttered. He said it not to agree with Cloudhawk, but rather like he was trying to convince himself. When he lifted his head his eyes bore a strange look. Then he said it again as though for emphasis. ¡°Yes, very lucky.¡± It was then Cloudhawk sensed something wasn¡¯t right. He pulled back his hand which had reached out for the forth treat. ¡°Do you have any more doubts? If not I¡¯d like for you to arrange a meeting between me and the governor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that isn¡¯t going to happen.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face froze. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Men! Grab this spy!¡± Elite guards surrounded him faster than Cloudhawk could think, each one brandishing their weapons. Their weapons were different from typical soldiers as well. Sheathed they looked similar, but the blade structure was strange. They were clearly unique. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t seen this coming. ¡°What are you doing?! You¡¯re making a mistake, I killed a demon! How could I be a spy?!¡± ¡°You think your clumsy tricks can fool me?¡± Frost de Winter glared at him down his nose as he arose from his chair. ¡°A miscreant like you doesn¡¯t even have the qualification to carry Lady Selene¡¯s luggage. You dare claim to have stood against a demon and won? Preposterous!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s anger got the better of him. ¡°The evidence is right there, and I have her token! What reason do you have to doubt me?!¡± ¡°Evidence? Token?¡± Frost de Winter looked down at the table. ¡°I believe Lady Selene must have been captured by the demon. She has not been killed and instead the monster sent you with her token as ¡®proof.¡¯ This evidence you claim is a ruse, all to install you here within Skycloud City as a spy.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was twisted in shock and fury. ¡°Every single word I¡¯ve said is true. Slander, you lie!¡± Frost de Winter chuckled coldly. ¡°Then let me ask you, how could a weakling like you help Lady Selene? How were you able to traverse thousands of kilometers across the wastelands? Very well ¨C if you claim to have this ability, then I will give you a chance to prove yourself. Defend yourself against just three of my attacks and I¡¯ll believe you. I¡¯ll bring you to the governor myself. If you can¡¯t, then it¡¯s confirmation that everything you said is fiction and you are a spy. You will not be allowed to waste the governor¡¯s time with your poisonous lies!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand. What happened? Why had it come to this? This was not how any of this was supposed to go! Frost de Winter was Lord Arcturus¡¯s hand chosen disciple and a man of reputation in the holy city. Why was he so determined to frame Cloudhawk? He could sense their hostility, the situation was very bad. ¡°Are you afraid you¡¯ll be found out? You dare not even accept my challenge and you somehow have the gall to claim you can slay demons?!¡± Cloudhawk grit his teeth. ¡°Fine! Bring it on!!¡± Book 2, Chapter 19 - Frozen Dirge Chapter 19 - Frozen Dirge Eight of the bodyguards stepped back in perfect precision and synchronicity. After retreating several paces they rested the ends of their glaives on the ground and stood at attention with their hands on the handles. Sharp eyes peered from heavy armor that sparkled white and gold in the light. They were like eight statues, arranged in a circle to mark the edges of an arena. Frost de Winter snatched the items from the table. Cloudhawk¡¯s mask, the token, and the gospel of the sands where safely in his grip. Frost de Winter returned his equipment to him ¨C not out of respect for the young man, but simply because he didn¡¯t take him seriously. The kid didn¡¯t stand a chance. Cloudhawk could tell that this young man, as arrogant as a lone pine on a snowy mountaintop, was also a capable demonhunter. From the moment he met him Frost de Winter was covered in a pervasive, brutal aura that came from an internal strength. Just being around him made Cloudhawk¡¯s skin tingle like it was being stabbed by a chill wind. How was he a match for these soldiers, much less Arcturus Cloude¡¯s personal disciple? Frost de Winter¡¯s chiseled body towered over him, like an icy mountain stabbing the sky. His delicate, jade-like armor was immaculate and without a scratch. A white cloak tumbled from his shoulders like a frozen waterfall. His weapon was a near-translucent spear that seemed as though it¡¯d been carved from thousand-year-old ice and wrapped in a silvery material. The blade sparkled and reflected the light around it like a flawless mirror. A pale blue gemstone was inserted in the body of the blade that added to the dignified beauty of the tool, injecting it with a sense of soul. The melody of a relic¡¯s resonance wafted from it. A link to a world of ice and snow. He stood one hundred and eighty-five centimeters tall. His skin was white as the tundra, his features resolute, and his face was handsome like it¡¯d been masterfully chiseled from stone. His white clothing, silver weapon, the jade headband that held back his hair, his overbearingly arrogant and daring posture¡­ as much as he made Cloudhawk uncomfortable, he had to admit Frost de Winter was the most gallant man he¡¯d ever seen. From his noble countenance to his chilling aura, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t find a single flaw. With his reputation, might and bearing he was undoubtedly the dream lover of many Skycloud women. Why was such an outstanding man so stubborn and unreasonable? Rather than chalk it up to a character flaw, Cloudhawk felt like there had to be some reason. He was an insightful and sensitive young man, so he knew there was more beneath the disciple¡¯s prideful exterior. There were more sinister intentions at play. In this magnificent place, faced against the towering and heroic man, a single frail form seemed like nothing. Like putting a piece of polished jade beside a common rock, Cloudhawk might as well have been a street urchin. Their contrast was as sharp as their confrontational feelings. Frost de Winter¡¯s eyes burned with thinly contained loathing. He stared down with regal bearing at the wastelander, almost unable to stop himself from gagging in disgust at the mere sight of him. His words cut through the air, frigid as a winter storm. ¡°You wastelander scum, you think you can stand against three of my attacks? Killing you will be as easy as a wave of the hand.¡± Cloudhawk had enough sense to know he was in a bad spot, but in the face of the young soldier¡¯s aggression he just sighed. ¡°Winning and losing, that¡¯s something else. All I can do is try. More than being unreasonable, you¡¯re just a bully. You get off on pushing around people weaker than you. And yet you walk around like some self-righteous asshole. But that¡¯s all you are. An asshole.¡± Even against impossible odds, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to admit defeat. He was under no illusions that he was this man¡¯s equal, but he wasn¡¯t afraid to provoke him. He¡¯d fought through the wastelands, escaping one near-death experience after another, struggling through constant tests and frustrations. He was a stubborn kid, and sometimes it was better to die than to yield. The silver spear shout out at him like a wild dragon. Cloudhawk first felt the power emanating from the pale blue gem set in the voulge¡¯s blade. It flooded the area with a surge of cold that caused the temperature to plummet five or six degrees and chilled Cloudhawk to the bone. The cold was so intense it swept through a person¡¯s soul. Frozen Dirge! That was the name of this magnificent weapon. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know the full strength of it, but before his opponent¡¯s attack even formed the audience hall was covered in a layer of hoarfrost. Snowflakes whipped through the air. What an incredible thing! It was no less powerful than the Bloodsoaked Queen¡¯s sacred crossblade! Frost de Winter¡¯s skills were nearly on par with Selene¡¯s as well, in fact he might have even been better at handling the power of the relic. No wonder, then, that he should be chosen as Lord Arcturus¡¯s disciple. With talent like his he had to be head and shoulders more capable than anyone, with the exception of the Bloodsoaked Queen. This man was a true high-grade demonhunter! Cloudhawk¡¯s face was dark and solemn. He already knew Frost de Winter was no weakling but this was more than that. The likes of Claudia Lunae and Raith Umbra ¨C novice demonhunters only ¨C were difficult enough for him to contend against. How was he supposed to stand against a master and his legendary relic? Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t understand how this could have happened. Hadn¡¯t Selene told him everything would be alright? All he had to do was bring the governor the token and the book. That should have been enough to win him a comfortable life in the holy city. So¡­ what the fuck?! He didn¡¯t have time to puzzle out all this nonsense. Frost de Winter was coming at him with the full force of his abilities. He threw the spear at Cloudhawk and it came down on him like a meteor. Frost de Winter was confident in his superiority and so forsook any efforts to feel out his opponent. His opening attack was to throw Frozen Dirge for a quick end to this farce. The spear was almost on him, bringing with it a brutal wind and stinging flecks of ice. They sliced at him like tiny frozen blades and he struggled to keep his eyes open. Cloudhawk was forced to stumble backwards. From the moment Frost de Winter launched his attack, Cloudhawk knew he was in dire straits. Frost de Winter had said three strikes, but clearly he never intended for the fight to get that far. This was his first and there was no holding back, he was planning to kill Cloudhawk with the opening blow. The young wastelander held out the Gospel of the Sands, putting anything he could between him and the lethal spear. All of his psychic will poured through the demon artifact. A sandstorm was whipped into existence. Countless flecks of sand danced on the wind and amassed to form a bronze-gold shield. This was Cloudhawk¡¯s strongest line of defense. As Frozen Dirge drew near, its mere presence froze the sandy shield, then pierced it through as easily as a sheet of paper. There was no question, no suspense. The shield was useless. The instant Frozen Dirge passed through it the shield shattered, falling to the ground as lumps of crushed ice. Pouring all of his psychic power into a shield like this would stop a rifle bullet, but it might as well have been made of silk the way Frost de Winter¡¯s spear passed through it. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Frozen Dirge kept coming and like the shield Cloudhawk felt a frigid, bone-deep cold fall over him as it got close. He couldn¡¯t go anywhere, but standing in place was only going to get him skewered. With no other options he shrunk behind the gospel of the sands for cover. Clang! The spear¡¯s mirror-like blade sunk into the book¡¯s metallic cover. A gust of cold white light burst forth, visible to the naked eye. At first Cloudhawk thought the force of the blow would knock him back, but the result was different than he expected. When the spear struck the book indeed there was a blast of force, but it was no typical kinetic energy. It was pure cold, like being caught in a sub-zero ice storm that flooded into his every pore. As the power enveloped him the gospel of the sands began to freeze solid and his hands along with it. The cold crept up through his body, from his palms, to his wrist, then up his arms. Not good! I¡¯m gonna freeze! It was the first time Cloudhawk had faced an attack like this. He wanted to turn and run, but his legs refused to budge. They¡¯d already been frozen to the ground. With no way to fight back he stared in horror as inch by inch, ice covered his body. It spread up to his face, covered his mask, and up over his ears. Finally the unnatural frost covered every hair on his head leaving nothing free. Light glittered along every facet of his frozen prison. ¡°One attack and you couldn¡¯t handle it. So weak, and yet you claim to have slain a demon?¡± It was the last thing Cloudhawk heard before he lost consciousness. The cold claimed not only his body, but his mind and will as well. As completely as though he were in shock, all systems shut down. He was a living statue. The blast of cold not only covered Cloudhawk but the five or six meters behind him as well. The fine carpet was covered in frost, all the way back to one of the columns holding up the ceiling. The ice glittered like crystal. Frost de Winter gripped the shaft of Frozen Dirge and pulled it free. He swung it around and reattached it to the holster on his back, never taking his eyes off of Cloudhawk. A mocking sneer split his lips as he dismissively waved his left hand. ¡°Put him in solitary confinement to await death. Put five times the guards on him, and never let him out of your sight.¡± ¡°Yes, Master Frost!¡± ¡°Wait. Take the rug, table, chair, and anything else he touched and burn it. I don¡¯t want the governor to see any of it when he gets back.¡± Frost de Winter patted his snow-white cloak like a man afraid of being infected after being forced to walk through a cesspool. He felt so inundated with filth he might vomit. The only thing he wanted was to go take a shower. He could soak dozens of times and it might not be enough, he feared. However, he choked back the discomfort long enough to continue giving orders. ¡°Send someone to the Temple to tell the governor. Have him come back as soon as he can.¡± The guards left to perform their tasks. Frost de Winter left to take a shower. Book 2, Chapter 20 - Arcturus Cloude Above the governor¡¯s mansion. Four gryphons appeared. The back half of their bodies were like lions, covered in golden-brown fur. The front half was like an eagle, bristling with golden feathers. Its two massive wings were a silvery white, the same color as the center of the creature¡¯s chest. Dangling below were four powerful limbs. Sharp eyes were capable of spotting the smallest target from ten thousand meters away. They had the frightening strength of apex predators. Standing atop the beasts¡¯ broad shoulders were towering men covered from head to toe in full plate armor. In their left hands they held the gryphons¡¯ reins, and in their right were spears stretching two meters high. These majestic gryphon knights were but drivers. Aside from the men the gryphons also hauled a gem-encrusted carriage carved from jade. It looked like it weighed a ton, and yet the carriage floated through the air effortlessly. The beasts and their chariot descended to the governor¡¯s mansion. A welcoming contingent of ten soldiers fell respectfully to one knee as the chariot made landfall. A middle-aged man in his forties stepped into view. Although he was getting on in years his skin was still fair, every movement was heavy with noble bearing and authority. It was none other than the man who had failed so spectacularly in the wastelands, Augustus Cloude. He¡¯d been badly injured, and was returned here to the holy sanctuary where he was given treatment. By now he had almost entirely recovered but for the dark light in his eyes. The stain of his failure was one he would never be rid of. Once Augustus stepped out of the carriage, he then moved respectfully to one side. After him another man then exited. He was in his late fifties and the raven black hair he¡¯d had in his youth now had sprinkles of grey, especially his temples where streaks of white appeared like the first frost of winter. His age had begun to show on his head but the man¡¯s face was as young as someone half his age. The occasional line wrinkled at the edge of his eyes, badges of time gone by. This was a man who¡¯d lived through a turbulent past, whose life could be called legend. His many deeds could be compiled into volumes, grand tales that were oft shared by the denizens of Skycloud. Every soul within this divine territory knew him: He was the greatest demonhunter throughout all of Skycloud Domain, and the city¡¯s governor ¨C Master Arcturus Cloude! Frost de Winter had washed repeatedly, desperate to the get the foul residue of the wastelander off his body. Now he stood waiting patiently in the gardens, white armor gleaming and silver voulge at hand ¨C gallant as ever. He had all the qualities of a stellar disciple; loyalty, youth, courage, vigor, ambition, and talent. He had an unparalleled drive and whatever he put himself to, Lord Arcturus was satisfied. He was more than a disciple, he was the governor¡¯s right-hand man. But of course, he was not perfect. If Frost de Winter had one failing, it was that he was young. Lord Arcturus was still in his prime. There was time enough still to make Frost de Winter better. The young demonhunter always unconsciously restrained his natural arrogance when he stood before the governor. Like a peacock who flaunted before all the average birds, he dared not reveal his pride before a phoenix. Or like how the presence of the moon dimmed the brilliance of the stars but could not compare to the mighty sun. Arcturus Cloude was an example no demonhunter could hope to reach ¨C a mountain no man could conquer. In fact, it was chance that brought Frost de Winter before Lord Arcturus. Ten years prior, on a wintery night, an extremely talented waif captured Lord Arcturus¡¯s notice. The childless man was moved by what he saw, and after testing the child took him under his wing. The lucky child was named after the night he was discovered ¨C Frost de Winter. The orphan adored his master. To him, Lord Arcturus was invincible. Be it his manner, work, cultivation or ambition, all of it affected Frost de Winter deeply. Lord Arcturus wasn¡¯t just looked up to, he was the wisest, strongest and most clever man of his generation ¨C innately superior to all, who stood with all the majesty and commanding presence of a mountain before Frost de Winter. What he felt was adoration. As a result, Frost de Winter was extremely diligent in all his duties, almost to a fault. He wasn¡¯t just in search of power, he wanted to be everything that his teacher was ¨C not to surpass him, but to perhaps come close to his glory. ¡°Master, allow me to explain what happened.¡± The governor, clad in his plain robes, listened patiently as his disciple shared the tale. He looked at him with eyes that were not too large, filled with a vast and erudite depth. The lines that gathered at the corners of his eyes were signs of his long years of service. He held himself with the quiet confidence of a learned man. Anyone who did not know him might mistake the governor for a kindly old teacher, for he hardly looked like one might expect the great demonhunter and governor to appear. ¡°This is certainly unexpected.¡± Frost de Winter could not read his teacher¡¯s opinion on his inscrutable face, and could not help but inject his own. ¡°I figured she might be able to escape that creature¡¯s clutches, but it seems they actually managed to kill him. Now it¡¯s hard to determine how deep they¡¯ve gotten. Things could have taken a turn for the worse for us.¡± But the governor remained calm. ¡°Tell me your thought process.¡± ¡°Selene hasn¡¯t come back yet. If she really has learned the truth, it¡¯s going to shake Skycloud to its core.¡± Frost de Winter heaved a sigh, taking a moment to settle his thoughts. ¡°This matter is very serious. I underestimated Selene. All of this is due to my lapse in judgment, it is my fault.¡± ¡°You are at fault, but not in the way you think. No one can know everything. Even the sages make mistakes from time to time. So long as you subject your ideas to careful scrutiny and rational consideration, there is no need to regret your errors.¡± The governor spoke softly, as gently as a schoolteacher educating a perplexed student. Frost de Winter, faced with this man¡¯s wise and noble character, felt like a humble devotee kneeling before his god. ¡°You must remember, do not believe for a moment that you can control everything. There will always be things that you cannot predict, like luck. No one is omniscient or omnipotent. The sages are called wise men, not because they planned for every conceivable eventuality, but because they make the most reasonable and appropriate decisions for the time. The most correct decision for the time, and the most suitable response when that time has passed. All that remains must be left up to fate ¨C we can only do what is within our power to achieve. Failures should not become regrets, we should accept them calmly.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The young student carefully absorbed his teacher¡¯s every word. ¡°So where have I made my mistake?¡± ¡°How much do you think Selene knows?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°This is your weakness. You are too arrogant. It is reflected in the way you deal with problems, always making yourself the center. This is a bad habit, so you must learn to change your point of view. Otherwise, you will fall to confusion. You fear Selene has learned everything, but is that really the case? If she had, she would not have sent her friend here, to his death. Nor would she have sent this news.¡± He gave Frost de Winter a reproachful look, then sighed. ¡°Also, how have you chosen to deal with Selene¡¯s friend?¡± ¡°I have him subdued and locked in prison.¡± ¡°Why did you choose to do this?¡± ¡°So that he would not reveal what we want to keep secret. I went no further because I did not want to presume. I waited for you to come back in order to deal with the matter.¡± The governor sighed once again. ¡°And how did you anticipate I would deal with this when I came back?¡± ¡°This young man might know something he shouldn¡¯t. The longer he lives the more likely he¡¯ll let it slip. The best way to make sure he keeps silent¡­ is to kill him!¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± The governor continued to deftly instruct his young apprentice. ¡°Since you understand that every moment he lives makes things more dangerous for us, you clearly have grasped the hidden danger he poses. You also know what I will do, so¡­ why have you not done it yourself? Why wait for me to return? The world changes every moment in incremental ways.¡± ¡°Well, after all, this ¨C ¡° ¡°Frost de Winter, you adhere too rigidly to formalities. The rules help us to deal with matters, but if they one day stand in your way you must have the courage and resolve to break them. If you cannot cultivate this boldness in yourself, you will never become a man of valor.¡± The wizened warrior¡¯s penetrating gaze fixed Frost de Winter as he spoke every syllable. ¡°No matter what the situation, you must learn to assess the matter at hand adequately. Reason and judgment are not predicated on rules!¡± Frost de Winter hung his head. ¡°I understand. I will go deal with him now.¡± Governor Arcturus gave him a warm smile and nodded his head. His was an intelligent young disciple, he was just too young. But it didn¡¯t matter. Sooner or later, unpolished jade became priceless in the hands of a master jeweler. Book 2, Chapter 21 - Phasing Chapter 21 - Phasing Cloudhawk lost consciousness after the blow from Frozen Dirge. Frost de Winter was stronger than he could fathom, and his relic weapon only made him more terrifying. The spear was flung at him faster than a bullet from a gun, and he was frozen in its power before he could react. His organs and consciousness didn¡¯t stop but they might as well have. Frozen Dirge had put him in a sort of hibernation. A man could live for twenty-four hours in this state. Unless he found a way out or if Frost de Winter released him, after twenty-four hours he would die. But how could he get free? There was no way for Cloudhawk to resist once he was already locked in ice. All of his faculties, even thought, were frozen solid. He could wield the might of the heavens and still be stuck. And even if by some miracle he escaped, so what? He wasn¡¯t getting out of Skycloud¡¯s richly guarded prison. Yet Cloudhawk was far from a normal man. The moment he started to freeze his body began to unconsciously react. His skin tightened and his internal organs were stimulated, all as a means to stave off complete shock. The result was that the slightest bit of vitality sparked within him. Four or five hours after he was locked away, elements in his blood began to stir. A sluggish pulse began to pump through him, his heart struggling to manage twenty beats a minute [1]. His body reacted to the environment more like a cold-blooded animal. For a normal person it would be worse if shock did not completely set in. With the body¡¯s processes and metabolism slowly churning they would quickly spiral into disarray and death would come within seconds. [2] But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t dead yet. He was coming back to life. Cold! So goddamn cold! Those were his first thoughts as his brain reawakened. The cold seeped down into his soul, he couldn¡¯t feel anything but the biting freeze. He couldn¡¯t hear, see, or even breathe ¨C there was only the cold like a bottomless black pit he couldn¡¯t crawl out from. His mind filled with despair and terror. Awakening from within the block of ice was an incredible display of survivability and adaptation, but it wasn¡¯t a happy occasion. Sure, Cloudhawk was awake, but he still didn¡¯t have a way to get out from inside the icy prison. His limbs were stiff and without sensation, the ice was as solid as iron. Frost de Winter, this absolute fuck! When I get free I¡¯ll make sure to tear your corpse apart and piss on the pieces! Cloudhawk was too upset to give up. He hadn¡¯t walked thousands of miles and worked this hard to get into Skycloud Domain, only to see the inside of an elysian dungeon. He¡¯d only seen a fraction of the city before that rat-faced prick framed him. He trusted Selene. She wouldn¡¯t have done anything to harm him. His heart started to beat faster and the blood rushed through his veins. But the more he came back to life the more suffocating his situation became. Calling to any of his relics was difficult beyond measure. His only hope was the stone around his neck. His predicament was strikingly similar to the one he¡¯d found himself in when locked in a tank under Blackwater Base. If the stone listened to him maybe he could phase out of here like last time. He shut his eyes and tried to think back to when the stone had answered him. Empty¡­ Empty¡­ completely empty your mind. With every passing moment the cold became more intense, a rebound reaction from the hot blood struggling to warm him up. But he pushed it out of his mind and tried to focus. He eventually slipped into a complete state of emptiness. The world around him disappeared. Only his consciousness remained. Cloudhawk listened to the strange stone¡¯s melody. Its abstract song grew louder until in the end its resonance became countless threads of light. They shivered like the strings of a harp and coalesced at a single point. A door¡­ they made a strange, shimmering door. The door opened. A flood of light from inside swallowed up the darkness that consumed him. The guards posted outside, wfrom where they were standing, could see a light shining from the human ice sculpture where the chest would be. Like a star it glinted beneath the layers of frost, bringing with it an old and vigorous power. As for Cloudhawk, he found himself somewhere strange and new. All around him was a vast and turbulent sea, and from within it an ancient consciousness stirred. He knew everything he saw around him was an illusion, it was all coming from the stone. The sea wasn¡¯t a sea at all, but the psychic force of its previous owner that he¡¯d somehow sealed within the mysterious item. Only Cloudhawk could resonate with it, only he was able to make this psychic will his own ¨C an inheritance left behind by the enigmatic former master. Now, once again, it roused from its slumber. Cloudhawk was pleased to be here again and knelt amidst the undulating waters. As he concentrated his will again the sea became a whirlpool, spewing violent power from its vortex. Cloudhawk knew what was coming, the pain that it would bring. But he also knew that it meant he would awaken stronger than before. He had been confronted with just how feeble and pathetic he was, so he welcomed the pain no matter how excruciating. It could crash down on him like a sea of knives and he would accept it gladly. As the surging tides continued, it began to show signs of evaporation. The young wastelander focused as much as he could, persisting against the agony. He could feel that this time he was absorbing much more than either of the two times before. When he finally reached his limit Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic powers felt more expansive than ever. He felt as though he could finally master the stone. All he had to do was bring the full might of his mind to bear and the artifact would respond. Quickly! Quickly! Just as he was about to lose control the stone erupted with a pulse of radiation invisible to the eye. Rays of power didn¡¯t shoot out but instead permeated through time and space, infusing this pocket of reality with its will. The prison cell was transformed into a font of potency. Then, with a flash of light, cracks began to appear all across the icy sculpture. However the prisoner inside had vanished without a trace. In an instant, Cloudhawk was transported to a strange reality without sound or light or life. There was nothing except threads of vibration. Some were linear and others were closed loops but every one of them hummed. Like strings from an instrument each of them had a unique melody, incessantly plucked by an invisible hand. They were all around him, hundreds upon millions of threads reaching into the infinite distance. However, as he watched they gathered together like a tapestry and the world was rebuilt. What happened? I didn¡¯t phase out of here! More than once Cloudhawk had experienced the power of the stone, he was expecting it to work the same way this time. Only, that wasn¡¯t what happened. He was stuck here in a place between reality and illusion, somewhere both real and false. The physical world was still there all around him, but somehow he had become dislodged from it. Perhaps his current situation could be explained with a strained metaphor. If he could stride from one dimension to another then he was stuck here between steps. One foot was planted in the reality he¡¯d come from, and the other was stuck in the one he¡¯d wished to go to. Now he was caught in the between place, separate from the material plane but not from space-time. Or maybe it could be put another way. He was caught in the middle of a doorway. He felt weightless while a repulsive force thrust him away from the block of ice. He simply floated away like a balloon. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± Cloudhawk floated in the aether, impotently flailing his arms. One hand struck a wall, but to his surprise he felt nothing. In fact he never touched the wall at all, his hand just slipped right through it. Shortly afterward another resisting force knocked him back. Cloudhawk looked down at his hand then back at the wall. He saw it with his own eyes, his fingers had passed right through but he never felt a thing. They passed through without any sort of reaction at all, not even leaving a mark on the wall. Like it never happened. Was he unable to touch anything? Next, Cloudhawk looked down at his chest where the stone was gently humming. All around him was a field of mysterious power that was quickly draining his psychic energy. He thought for a moment and then his situation became clear. The stone was like a relic, one that allowed him to pass between dimensions. Only, phasing was an unreliable and random process, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the power to move freely from one to the other. However, after drawing more power from the psychic sea he¡¯d become stronger ¨C strong enough to call on the stone¡¯s abilities. But summoning the power of the stone didn¡¯t mean he could slip from one reality to another at will. Strictly speaking, he was in a between space where he could see everything around him but couldn¡¯t interact with the world. That was how he was able to get out of the icy block. And now that he was free from it he could escape this prison. Cloudhawk tried to move forward, but in this weightless state suspended in air he couldn¡¯t budge. As the seconds ticked by and his psychic powers diminished he grew more and more anxious. If he didn¡¯t think of something soon he wasn¡¯t going anywhere. Right! The cloak! Cloudhawk channeled some of his will into the cloak. Its special properties made moving easier so that even here he could move around with a little effort. The two relics together synergized well. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t waste any time. Like a swimmer he desperately swung his arms and legs, heading for the wall. His head reached what should have been an impenetrable obstacle, but within the sphere of power created by the stone it felt more like pressing against the edge of a balloon. ¡°Shit, goddamnit!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s head passed through the wall then stopped. The rest of his body was stuck on the other side. He flailed and kicked and wriggled in all sorts of ways that made him look utterly ridiculous. But no matter how he tried he was being stopped. He discovered that the obstacle was the layer of metal coating the other side of the wall. Now he was understanding the boundaries. Using the power of the stone Cloudhawk could dislodge himself from his dimension. It made him effectively a ghost. However, everything that existed in real space left its mark here in the between place, and the more mass it had the more dense it was here. The more powerful the energy within it was, the more repulsive it became. Floating through the air took no effort at all, but trying to slip through a wall was much more difficult. This went doubly so for metal prisons. Metal was, after all, much more dense than air or stone. He struggled and struggled, using all the strength he had until eventually he managed to slip passed the barrier. ¡°Da-¡­ damn! That was tiring!¡± His whole body hurt after that ordeal like he was being suffocated. He¡¯d used a lot of his psychic energy, to the point where he knew he only had a few more seconds left. Once he was out of the prison he saw that the whole area was crawling with guards. Luckily, he swam right passed them and no one seemed to notice. Great, but not something he had time to gloat over. He had to go! Cloudhawk floundered like a man about to drown, his limbs flailing comically in exaggerated motions. He darted up toward the ceiling then bounced off like a soap bubble. However with another few moments of struggle he bungled through. Great! Ah! He felt a deep sense of relief. It felt pretty great when walls couldn¡¯t stop you! Quite a helpful ability to those in the business of theft and murder, he had to admit. He could move around this heavily fortified place like he didn¡¯t exist. There wasn¡¯t a prison in all the world that could lock him up! 1. Sixty is normal. 2. Shock and hypothermia, which presumably Cloudhawk is suffering from, are different but present similarly. Shock is the rapid drop of blood pressure which leads to cell and organ death within a few hours. Hypothermia is defined at a body temperature below 96 degrees, sever hypothermia below 90 where fatality is almost 100% without severe intervention. Hypothermia causes heart dysrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats leading to heart attacks and/or clots) and renal (kidney) failure within a few hours. Book 2, Chapter 22 - The Manhun Chapter 22 - The Manhunt On the road, near Skycloud¡¯s prison. Two young boys tussled in a street corner, each with a sugar sculpture in hand. Suddenly there was a flash, and a masked man fell out of thin air right in front of them. No warning, no way for them to prepare ¨C a moment ago there was only empty space and now there was this stranger. ¡°Ah! Ghost!¡± The two boys screeched and turned to run. After returning to reality Cloudhawk doubled over and gasped voraciously for air. His muscles screamed and threatened to give out, and fighting exhaustion he reached out with bolds hands and grabbed the kids before they could get away. ¡°Shut up!¡± Both the little boys were only about five years old, they¡¯d never met anyone as dangerous and aggressive as Cloudhawk. What¡¯s more the way his voice made him sound was like something out of a nightmare. ¡°If either of you tell anyone you saw me I¡¯ll squish your heads until they pop!¡± He let them go after delivering the threat, but not before snatching the sugary treats out of their hands. The kids couldn¡¯t believe it ¨C not only was this guy gonna kill them but he stole their candy too! Looking forlornly at their empty hands, they threw themselves on the ground and began to wail. A couple came over to see what the ruckus was about. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°We saw a monster!¡± ¡°Monster? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Really, we did! A candy-stealing monster!¡± The men and woman exchanged a questioning look. What sort of monster was this? The candy stealing monster brazenly walked down the street a little ways up the road with his mask perched on the top of his head. He munched on the brittle sugar sculptures while deftly avoiding passersby. Man, he thought, this place sure it different. These candies are delicious! But what now? His recent troubles had been a blessing in disguise. His psychic energies had improved by leaps and bounds, at least several times stronger than ever before. By now he had to be more capable than someone like the two apprentice demonhunters he had first fought. He¡¯d also learned out of necessity what his stone could do. Being able to phase through things was going to come in handy, both in a fight and sneaking around. But Frost de Winter wasn¡¯t going to let the matter drop once he discovered Cloudhawk had escaped. It didn¡¯t matter that the young wastelander had been empowered by the stone, he still wasn¡¯t Frost de Winter¡¯s equal. He had to think of a way to put some distance between them. But what he really wanted to know was whether the governor¡¯s disciple was working alone, or on his master¡¯s behalf. Lord Arcturus was Selene¡¯s uncle. It didn¡¯t make any sense for him to distrust his own niece. Cloudhawk thought it might be a good idea to go back to the manor. Maybe he could find a way to meet the governor face to face. However, no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Cloudhawk¡¯s old instincts took over. He¡¯d spent long years in the wastelands and didn¡¯t trust strangers easily. [1]. Since he didn¡¯t know anything about Starlight¡¯s stance or attitude, he decided not to put himself in potential danger. Frost de Winter was strong enough, if Starlight caught him Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think even phasing through walls would save him. After all, the governor was a master demonhunter! Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of clattering armor reached his ears, moving quickly. A man in white with a silver spear was coming his way with several dozen soldiers. Cloudhawk immediately flung himself around a corner. He didn¡¯t see his face but Cloudhawk knew that sound ¨C it was Frozen Dirge. The one who led the group had to be Frost de Winter. They were headed for the prison, oozing with the threat of murder. Heading over to execute me? Fuck I was in more danger than I thought! If he¡¯d been even a few minutes later he¡¯d be a dead man. When they found out he was missing the soldiers would definitely seal the streets and start looking for him. The city was going to get very dangerous for him very quickly. Slipping the mask back on his face he tapped it gently. A foolish grinning face in white appeared and his voice took on a comical warble. The clothes he wore were the ones they¡¯d given him at the mansion. It was definitely something the soldiers would be on the look-out for, so the first place he looked for was a place to find a new outfit. He found one quickly and helped himself to a simple overcoat without any trouble. It helped him look more the part of a typical citizen, out for a stroll. Now that was settled, where should he go? He didn¡¯t know, he needed help. But the only person he knew in the city that he could trust was Squall . That wasn¡¯t an appealing option, though. It would almost certainly mean disaster for the Bloomnettle Merchant Company if he involved them. Cloudhawk was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. *** Those locked in up Skycloud¡¯s jails were all offenders who¡¯d dared ignore the laws of the holy city. Even in a place of unified faith and ideology like the elysian lands not everyone was good or devout. There were always those who violated the law, those who stole or fought or sometimes killed. It was an inevitable flaw of humanity, and even though faith could weaken the urges they wouldn¡¯t always be wiped clean. In this section of the prison most of the incarcerated were marked for death. As such the security was higher and the guards more numerous. In all the history of the prison they had never had a single prisoner escape. Unfortunately, however, today it seemed that sterling reputation would be broken. Seeing as this was no small matter, Frost de Winter immediately sent for his master. Lord Arcturus stood before the cell. Inside a block of ice in the shape of a thin man stood, radiating cold vapor. However, the previously flawless exterior was now covered in cracks and the features of the one it used to hold were unclear. What was clear was the man-shaped cavity inside. Cracked, but not broken, the statue remained. The cell itself was undamaged. No signs of struggle were evident. This cell didn¡¯t have a drain much less a window. How could someone simply vanish from what was essentially a stone cube? Arcturus stepped into the cell with an attendant in tow. It was Augustus. He stood outside while the governor took a closer look. He had to admit, it¡¯d been a very long time since he¡¯d seen Arcturus at a loss. His deep, wise eyes were fixed on the statue with great interest as though he was appreciating a piece of art. Frost de Winter stood to one side, hanging his head in shame. ¡°I didn¡¯t think he could escape.¡± Lord Arcturus¡¯s response was gentle as ever. The low volume didn¡¯t sacrifice any of his majesty. In fact, at the levels of prestige he held he didn¡¯t need to try to be dignified. It had seeped into every fiber of his being, every movement he made. His royal bearing was difficult to describe but easily felt. ¡°Interesting,¡± he murmured, ¡°Very interesting.¡± Puzzlement evident in his voice, Frost de Winter went on, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a method like this. How did he do it?¡± Lord Arcturus Cloude slowly extended a finger. At once the ice sculpture skipped liquification, became a cloud of chilly vapor then vanished on the stagnant breeze. ¡°Only phasing relics can do this, as far as I¡¯m aware. Only, such rare and powerful relics haven¡¯t been seen since the end of the god wars. Even if that were the case, a young man like him should not be capable of employing its powers. There are secrets we are not aware of at work, secrets we must come to understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll gather my men and hunt him down!¡± Frost de Winter promised. ¡°Hunt him down? How will you do that? You rush ahead blindly in pursuit of what you can¡¯t grasp. We must lure him out, something large that is sure to get his attention. Only, if it comes to involve the sanctuary this matter will be difficult to explain.¡± Lord Arcturus spoke to his disciple. ¡°Whatever the plight you must never abandon the light of reason. This young man still does not know the true reason for our actions. Even if he should escape, insignificant people such as him can do us no harm. But if he should be moved to seek answers as a result of your pursuits, then he could threaten everything we¡¯ve built.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Quietly establish a cordon around the nearest streets. It couldn¡¯t have been more than half an hour since he¡¯s escaped. A penniless outsider who knows nothing of our city won¡¯t be able to find transport, so I suspect he¡¯ll be contained to a five thousand meter area. He is in unfamiliar territory so he will be reticent to assume risk. Prepare a small squad of demonhunters and pick up his scent. When we know his next target we can be there to meet him.¡± He paused, then continued after a moment. ¡°He went to the mansion you say. Go and bring me everything he¡¯s touched.¡± ¡°Huh?¡¯ ¡°What?¡± ¡°I felt that the things he came in contact with were sullied. I had them disposed of.¡± Frost felt Lord Arcturus¡¯s eyes swing toward him and instantly every hair stood on end. The governor had no reproachful words for him, but his look alone caused the disciple to break out in a cold sweat. All of a sudden he remembered something then hurriedly spoke. ¡°Right, the clothes he was wearing when he arrived should still be there.¡± Cloudhawk had been forcibly made to wash and change his clothes once he was brought to the governor¡¯s mansion. The outfit he¡¯d been wearing for a week or so hadn¡¯t been destroyed yet. Augustus Cloude left to retrieve them. He was back in a few short minutes. Arcturus looked them over when they were delivered. ¡°This will be enough.¡± The expression on Frost de Winter¡¯s face said he did not understand. ¡°It¡¯s just a set of clothes¡­¡± ¡°You must learn to be observant and to see things from different angles.¡± Lord Arcturus lifted the clothes higher to illustrate. ¡°Look closely. Marks on the clothing reveal that he¡¯d worn them for roughly five days. This would also be the last time he washed and changed. Working backwards with this time frame in mind it isn¡¯t difficult to ascertain that he came from Sandbar Outpost, in the borderlands; a two-days journey from the mountain pass and another two traveling by airship.¡± Frost de Winter drew himself up, ready for action. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go immediately to question the crews of all the ships that¡¯ve come to Skycloud in the last day.¡± ¡°Your proposal will accomplish nothing. Listen until I have finished.¡± Lord Arcturus then pinched the fabric between his fingers. ¡°This material was made in Skycloud Domain, exceedingly cheap but both practical and durable. Most importantly, it is designed to keep out sand. Judging by the pattern it was made in bulk. If we look at a combination of the workmanship, material and style, we learn that only someone who often traverses the borderlands would order something this cheap and convenient.¡± Lord Arcturus spotted a stain he couldn¡¯t rub out and took a closer look, whereupon he found small traces of an herb. ¡°The stains and the presence of these herbs suggest a connection to merchants, specifically those who trade in herbs and minerals. What you should be looking for is a small group of merchants arriving today from Sandbar Outpost with a cargo of minerals and herbs. Augustus, accompany Frost de Winter.¡± Augustus responded with a slight bow. Lord Arcturus had given them a target using nothing more than a set of clothing. He¡¯d shrunk their scope of focus into something far more manageable. Frost could not admire his master any more than he did in that moment. 1. Yeah right. Book 2, Chapter 23 - The Ambush Chapter 23 - The Ambush ¡°Governor, sir!¡± Lord Arcturus had just finished explaining his findings when one of the guards came rushing in. ¡°You have an urgent summons from the Temple. They ask that you answer immediately.¡± He answered with a nod. ¡°I leave this matter to the two of you.¡± ¡°Your disciple obeys.¡± ¡°Your subordinate obeys.¡± The young man wouldn¡¯t get far, not so long as Lord Arcturus was governor. With his skills and knowledge every move the escapee made would be followed, every action monitored. However, it would be strange for the governor to handle such a seemingly small matter himself. It would draw a lot of unnecessary attention. Skycloud Domain was not under the control of the governor alone. He had many old adversaries throughout the territory, and the Temple always hung over his head. He had to be careful of what he did, and what¡¯s more the Temple¡¯s summons meant important matters were at hand. Lord Arcturus didn¡¯t have the focus to spare on this piddling young wastelander. Augustus was no simple man himself. He was prudent, cautious, and a loyal follower of Lord Arcturus for over a decade. Frost de Winter was also resolute and intelligent, talented, capable. The two of them were Lord Arcturus¡¯s most trusted men and together there was very little they couldn¡¯t accomplish. Their target this time was a young convict ¨C nothing outside of their capabilities. Lord Arcturus¡¯s body slowly grew translucent, then faded from view. He disappeared leaving nothing but a swirl of dust where he¡¯d stood. Augustus bowed as his master left them, then arose once he was gone. ¡°So what is your plan, my dear nephew?¡± Frost de Winter thought for a moment. ¡°A few hundred men is more than enough to deal with one person. However, he is crafty and has unique powers. I¡¯ll need a demonhunter who is adept at tracking. I would like to ask for your help, Uncle Augustus, if possible.¡± ¡°This¡­ is not a problem.¡± In his last excursion into the wastelands Augustus had lost many demonhunters. It was a tragedy, not just for him but for the whole of Skycloud domain. Until now they still had not recovered so there weren¡¯t many demonhunters left. However, there were enough to spare to catch a single escapee. A few minutes later¡­ Three hundred disguised soldiers had gathered. They were not in the standard armor they were accustomed to, forsaking them for civilian clothing. Augustus approached Frost de Winter with six demonhunters in tow. Each of them were experienced trackers. Frost de Winter nodded in satisfaction, this should be more than enough for the task at hand. At this time a young woman appeared in the doorway. She was pale and haggard, and her eyes were unsettlingly empty. She walked with the help of her exorcist staff and a beautiful torque embraced her frail neck. She hobbled their way like a walking corpse. ¡°Claudia, you haven¡¯t yet recovered. What are you doing here?¡± Augustus wrinkled his eyebrows as he looked sternly at the wounded woman. ¡°We don¡¯t need you for this mission.¡± ¡°Master Augustus.¡± Her face had no expression like it was nothing more than a mask. ¡°My wounds are healed. I can help, I request you allow me to participate.¡± Augustus was about to speak when he was interrupted by Frost de Winter¡¯s cold and dismissive voice. ¡°Leave, I don¡¯t need half-dazed garbage like you endangering my mission.¡± Claudia¡¯s pale face flushed red. She clenched her fist and fought back the urge to argue. Augustus intervened. ¡°You aren¡¯t at your best. Go back and rest.¡± Claudia hung her head, grinding her teeth. Disappointment was clear on her stiff face as she turned and left. Frost de Winter heard what happened to Claudia. She failed her very first mission and hadn¡¯t been able to recover from the shame. Her incompetence earned nothing but his disdain so he paid her no mind and spoke instead to the others. ¡°Starting today your mission is to spread out through the main areas of the city and keep your eyes open for our suspect. The person you are looking for is about one hundred and eighty-seven meters tall, thin, with a grey cloak. He may be wearing a mask. We assume he has trained to the equivalent of a novice demonhunter. If you see someone who matches this description detain them immediately, and if they attempt to escape or resist you are authorized to kill them.¡± Claudia was walking toward the door but she hadn¡¯t yet left. Frost de Winter¡¯s description tickled at something in her mind. Her dim eyes suddenly lit up and a vibrant fire burned behind them like a pair of furnaces. Was it¡­ was it even possible? How could he be in Skycloud Domain?! Claudia wanted to question Frost de Winter and get more information, but the governor¡¯s disciple was as cold as a glacier. To him she was less than nothing. She remained nearby as he dispatched his people, then held tight to her torque. Gritting her teeth, Claudia made her determination. If you won¡¯t have me on your mission then I¡¯ll do it myself! I¡¯ll wash my hands of this disgrace once and for all! *** Cloudhawk had only escaped from prison not thirty minutes ago. Completely unfamiliar with the city he decided to make his way back to the foliage-strewn parks near the temple square. It was quiet there and suitable for hiding. He felt haunted by the situation he found himself in. His hunters had to already be drawing the net closed. His condition had gone from bad to worse, but he needed to keep his wits about him. He couldn¡¯t go rushing to Bloomnettle Company, they didn¡¯t have any way to help him anyway. Besides, Cloudhawk was poison, and anyone he touched would be in danger just for associating with him. The best decision was to keep his distance as much as possible, hopefully that would be enough to keep them out of harm¡¯s way. As for whether or not the recent circumstances would affect his merchant friends, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t say. He hadn¡¯t broken any laws that he knew of. He¡¯d only did what Selene instructed, even showing her token. Their reactions didn¡¯t make any sense. Cloudhawk¡¯s stomach loudly complained that he was hungry. The elysian lands were not so backwards as the wastelands and used hard currency, casted by methods taught to them by the gods. They had bronze, silver and gold coins. Standard conversion was one hundred bronze to one silver, and one hundred silver to one gold. All the lands under the auspices of the gods was available to its people to use, and so long as you had the money anything could be bought. This was not the case for Cloudhawk. He had no shelter or coin and had begun contemplating whether he should steal some to purchase food. Just then two dark figures appeared among the trees. Cloudhawk was instantly on alert ¨C they were following him! Between the coat and the new face on his mask they wouldn¡¯t be able to easily recognize him. If they had they wouldn¡¯t be leisurely headed his way, there would be scores of burly men trying to take him down. Cloudhawk vanished right in front of them. The two men gasped and looked at each other in shock, then raced ahead to where he¡¯d been. When they got there they saw nothing. ¡°Looking for me?¡± As the two men were beginning to doubt their eyes a cold voice reached their ears. Their eyes went wide as a hand came up on either side of them and smashed their heads together. They collided like a pair of melons to the sound of a sickening crunch. Cloudhawk¡¯s strength couldn¡¯t be underestimated! Without a helmet the two soldiers had nothing to protect their skulls. The bones fractured easily, leaving them with nasty concussions at the very least. It would take them the better part of a week to recover. It would be a mistake to consider Skycloud¡¯s guards to be this weak, however. He¡¯d managed to use his cloak to catch them by surprise, giving them no chance to fight back. Cloudhawk stooped over them and began to sift through their pockets. Perhaps they had something he could use, like money or a way for him to fake his identity. But just as he stretched out his hand to start looking a flood of anxiety overcame him. Danger. Something wasn¡¯t right. Six more men appeared out of the blue with swords in their hands. Six white blades came at him like coordinated lightning strikes. As they lunged at him Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes picked out one in particular, a demonhunter. He could hear the resonance of a relic in use ¨C this demonhunter had a way to conceal their entire group from view which was how they appeared so suddenly. No wonder he¡¯d heard nothing, nor felt their murderous intention. Fuck! I didn¡¯t notice them in time! They¡¯d probably spotted him a while ago but they didn¡¯t move in right away because he¡¯d changed his appearance. The demonhunter had probably sent the two soldiers out as decoys to see how he¡¯d react. He couldn¡¯t run or disappear, but instead he chose to deal with what he thought were just two guards ¨C falling right into their trap. The angry whistle of six swords chopping his way filled the air making his every nerve go tense. A moment ago he was alone, now he was in the center of a deadly storm ¨C too quick for him to react. Cloudhawk¡¯s hearing seemed to bypass his brain and move right to his limbs. The moment the sound of those tearing blades arose he was on the move without a second thought, retreating backwards. The swordsmen closed in, the light from their quivering swords creating a rapidly closing net. No matter where he tried to go, Cloudhawk had half a dozen fatal blows waiting for him. Boom! The area around Cloudhawk exploded. Explosion wasn¡¯t the right word. A cloud of yellow sand sprang up suddenly all over like the earth had spat it out. In the course of his escape from prison Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic powers had improved, which in turn made him more dangerous with the gospel of the sands. Each bit of gravel was like a biting thorn and in the midst of the cloud were deadly sand arrows as well. Faced with the sudden and unexpected counter attack the soldiers were forced back. They were able to protect themselves by using their swords to deflect the more dangerous arrows, and the captain of the strike team was even quick enough to thrust his sword into the center of the cloud of dust. Cloudhawk dodged to the side but the man¡¯s sword sliced a hole in his clothing revealing a golden book cover underneath. Cloudhawk, with his left hand covered in a layer of sand, grabbed the blade as it swung by. With his right hand he grabbed the swordsman¡¯s wrist. Before he could break it and take the sword the strike force leader let go and wrenched his hand free. He pulled out a dagger and stabbed at his target. He gave up his sword and answered with a dagger. His reaction times were incredibly fast ¨C no doubt an accomplished holy warrior. Cloudhawk¡¯s left hand held the blade and his wrist swung around to grab the hilt. His opponent was too close, so when he lunged in and attacked with his dagger Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to respond. With both hands on the sword he pressed them together, the combined stress bending the sword blade. Snap! Shards of metal were launched outward and buried themselves in his enemy¡¯s face. A normal person would stop fighting the moment they suffered an injury like this. But this soldier, his face already slick with blood from the wound, never stopped. He never even blinked and kept the dagger aimed at Cloudhawk¡¯s throat. This level of steadfast determination could only be tempered from years of experience and training. Never give up a chance to put down one¡¯s enemy. Disregard your own safety for the mission, do not fear death. He came at him with the knife like it was the purpose of his whole being. This fucker was one tough son of a bitch! At the same time the demonhunter was behind him, slowly drawing back the string of his bow. The other five swordsmen were closing in to follow their captain¡¯s lead. Yes, Cloudhawk was stronger than he ever was ¨C but he was in worse danger than ever before. Book 2, Chapter 24 - Around Every Corner Chapter 24 - Around Every Corner The invisibility cloak reacted once more. Cloudhawk vanished from view. He couldn¡¯t completely avoid his enemy¡¯s attack, but by hiding from view perhaps he could force the attack off target. The soldier¡¯s dagger was aimed for his throat but missed and struck his shoulder instead. Cloudhawk had grown tough, so when the dagger dug into his flesh he reacted by kicking the soldier square in the chest. The man¡¯s sternum shattered and he was thrown away. Cloudhawk deftly eluded the other attacks aimed his way. Most of these men were too weak to be a problem. If he fought without concern for safety he could likely take out most of them without much trouble. But it wasn¡¯t worth it, he didn¡¯t want to die with these assholes. So¡­ he looked for a way to escape. The vibrations of a relic hummed louder. He didn¡¯t need to see it to know the demonhunter¡¯s relic bow was ready to fire. Cloudhawk could tell from the demonhunter¡¯s aura that he was stronger than the one he¡¯d fought and killed before. This guy¡¯s bow could blow apart a steel plate with a single shot. Free from the captain, Cloudhawk grabbed another one of the soldiers and yanked him in front as a meat shield. Tang! The exorcist staff loosed its arrow. Cloudhawk watched as a hole opened up in the man before him, like he was the target of a massive rifle shot. There was nothing like watching your own attack tearing a friend apart, but the demonhunter still kept fighting. The man he shot didn¡¯t scream or protest ¨C he understood. These fucks are crazy! I¡¯m so tired of fighting these zealots! Cloudhawk held up a shield of sand. The blood and bits of flesh blown out of the soldier splattered on it with such force that the shield fell apart. He was tossed into the air but wrenched around, using the momentum to run along an adjacent wall. With his bearing regained he used the cloak to vanish from view and escape. The demonhunter lowered his bow. His face was downcast, angry. The ambush looked complicated but it happened in a matter of seconds, only enough time for him to fire one shot. Their target was quick, agile, and his psychic energy was stronger by comparison. That¡¯s how he was able to escape. The demonhunter galvanized the power of his relic but found no trace of the culprit. His invisibility relic shielded his presence and made him quick. Following him would be a tall order. Cloudhawk got a clean escape, but it brought him no joy. These lackeys had caught his scent and found him fast. He worried next time things could turn out much worse. Now that they spotted him they were going to call more to the area, and although Cloudhawk had gotten stronger they were going to get him sooner or later if he got trapped here. Run! He had to find a way to run far from here! Cloudhawk¡¯s mind raced for a solution. If he ran where would he go? It was a life or death question and he didn¡¯t have any time to think of a good answer. The guards here were not to be trifled with and the demonhunters were unpredictable. If this were the wastelands he might have had a chance to get away, but this was Skycloud Domain. Who knew how many soldiers and demonhunters were after him. Frost de Winter was the governor¡¯s disciple, so gathering a bunch of demonhunters who could track him wasn¡¯t unthinkable. The last one was able to hide a whole group and get close without him even knowing. That alone was a problem. Demonhunters had all sorts of strange abilities, different from any of the ones he fought before. He didn¡¯t like having to contend against them. Right! Didn¡¯t he find a map in the Sandbar? He hadn¡¯t shown it to anyone when he went to the governor¡¯s mansion. He¡¯d spent some time on the way into the city studying the map and found that it had a very complete architectural record. It even described the area under the Skycloud which was a series of interlinking pipelines. If he remembered right they should lead him out of the city. Skycloud City was covered in an energy field that kept out those of unknown origin. No one could leave without proper authorization, either. If Cloudhawk wanted to get out of here the city pipes were the way to go. Suddenly he remembered the toxic weapons the Dark Atom had prepared. Hadn¡¯t they been planning to use them in these secret tunnels and attack Skycloud? It was more than likely. If they were going to use the tunnels to attack the city why couldn¡¯t he use them to escape? He was planning to find a safe spot to study the map when all of a sudden he was splashed in the face with some unidentified liquid. He was invisible but still corporeal, so when the liquid hit him it traced out his body from head to toe. It was followed by an intense burning that made him yelp in pain and surprise. Son of a bitch! What the hell?! Cloudhawk stopped. A delicate and attractive figure blocked his path with a spinning exorcist staff in her hand. A pair of burning eyes alive with hatred stared at him, and with a voice thick with loathing she hissed. ¡°It is you!¡± There were enemies around every corner! He couldn¡¯t catch a goddamn break! Cloudhawk recognize Claudia right away. He knew what they had was a blood feud that would only end in someone¡¯s death. She was the one responsible for wiping out Lighthouse Point. He had answered by killing a bunch of them ¨C her compatriot and a dozen or so soldiers. But a failure like she suffered, for a citizen of the elysian lands who honored glory above all else, was a fate worse than death. There wasn¡¯t time to think about it. His body had started to go numb and the liquid she¡¯d thrown on him smoked and stained him with color. His cloak turned anything it touched invisible so any normal fluid would have vanished as well. However, the stuff Claudia used evaporated fast and the steam that rose off him wasn¡¯t affected by the cloak. A colorful cloak of smoke hung over him that left no question as to where he stood. His cloak was useless now. Worse still, whatever this shit was she¡¯d infused with some kind of numbing agent. Cloudhawk felt like he was turning into wood. ¡°The potion will paralyze you, it¡¯s strong enough to knock a bull out for three full days.¡± Claudia¡¯s ice cold eyes never left Cloudhawk¡¯s steaming outline. ¡°Do you have any last words?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m going to die sooner or later. But not today.¡± Claudia grit her teeth. ¡°Is that right?¡± ¡°Frankly, you aren¡¯t any match for me.¡± Claudia was already angry and his words threw her into a fit of rage. She rushed at him with her exorcist staff. Cloudhawk threw the Gospel of the Sands at her. However, it dissolved in midair, into a clump of yellowish sand. The grains grew in number until they became a wall of gravel that blocked her path. Bang! She struck the wall with her staff hard enough to break it apart, but much of the sand fell onto her. They clung to her like a magnet, getting thicker by the moment. No matter how she raged, the layer of sand only got thicker, but still she struggled forward like a lioness. Each step came slower than the last yet she got close enough to swing her staff at Cloudhawk¡¯s head. Just as it was coming down to split him in two the sands held her fast. She¡¯d become a sand sculpture. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t moved an inch since the start. Claudia¡¯s exorcist staff was frozen five centimeters from the top of his head. With a wave of his hand, streaks of glimmering sand coalesced in Cloudhawk¡¯s palm. They gathered into the shape of a book. She couldn¡¯t see it but sweat had started to accumulate on Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead. He smirked at her. ¡±You aren¡¯t strong enough to kill me.¡± Claudia was sealed up tight, as immobile as a snowman. But her burning eyes were open and she watched with immeasurable hatred as Cloudhawk walked over, picked up her staff, then swing it around like he was getting ready to use it. Why? Why does it have to be this way? Why does he have to be so strong? Cloudhawk could see the despair in her eyes as he slowly pushed the exorcist staff into her body, inch by inch. Blood permeated the gripping sands and as the pain wracked her body Claudia¡¯s pupils contracted. ¡°Remember this pain, remember this humiliation. Remember your failure.¡± Cloudhawk relinquished his grip on the staff and stepped away. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you this time, but if you still want vengeance feel free to come find me.¡± Several minutes later¡­ People appeared all around. The soldiers discovered Claudia locked up in her prison of sand. They were stunned by the bizarre scene. All together they chiseled away at the sand until she was free. Cloudhawk had pierced an artery, but luckily the pressure of the sand had prevented her from bleeding out. Once they could get to it the soldiers used medicines to stop the hemorrhage and save her life. The fires in Claudia¡¯s eyes had turned to dying embers. In sparing her life had Cloudhawk shown her mercy? Was it meant as an insult? Was he mocking her? Her loss in the wastelands could be almost forgiven since her enemy was cunning and sinister. But this time, this loss¡­ she was beaten. Cloudhawk not only won, he had destroyed her confidence. *** Claudia¡¯s insidious toxins hadn¡¯t fully paralyzed Cloudhawk, and he knew why. His blood burned as factors inside dissolved the poison working through him. It was ¡®Trespasser¡¯, the final gift of the Academician from his time in Blackwater Base. Somehow it was able to determine if something was harmful and devour it. Put another way, the more infected Cloudhawk became with Trespasser the less poison was an issue for him. Was he now effectively immune? He didn¡¯t know whether it was something to celebrate or fear. He didn¡¯t kill Claudia not because he was softhearted ¨C he wasn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t kill her because he clung onto hope. He didn¡¯t know what was going on so he still held on to the hope that he might live here someday. Killing a few soldiers while defending himself might be pardonable, but killing another demonhunter¡­ there probably wasn¡¯t any coming back from that. Trespasser was busily cleansing his body of the toxin, but its speed was limited. He was finding it difficult to move so he had to find someplace to hide, and fast, otherwise the next group of enemies he ran into would mean his end. What was close where he could get out of sight? He went and fought with the question over and over again in his mind until it struck him and he slap his forehead. Moron! The most dangerous place is the safest, hide where no one will expect. They could tear Skycloud down to its foundation and never find me there. Book 2, Chapter 25 - Survival Chapter 25 - Survival ¡°Everyone come quickly. The masters have returned!¡± Skycloud dwellings were typically prismatic, tower-like structures, and the Bloomnettle Company¡¯s home was no exception. It had a silver columnar body that arose to a golden peak, ten floors in total, and surrounded with a small courtyard. It was rather remote but that just made it more comfortable and quiet. Squall strode into the courtyard with a smile on his face. It didn¡¯t matter how exhausted he felt, coming home always filled him with a sense of pride and contentment. This simple and unassuming abode was the product of many years of hard labor. Aside from the company members there were also the administrative staff; over a hundred men, women and children. Women and the elderly where the majority. Most of them were relatives and family members who had lived her for many years, living with each other in peace and harmony. Old Thistle, Squall , the doctor and twenty-some caravan guards filed into the courtyard, laden with fatigue from their long journey. They were greeted with excited shouts. People jumped for joy when they saw their friends and family return. ¡°Auntie Lotus!¡± A pair of young girls with tufts of hair poking from the top of their heads [1] tottered over to the doctor¡¯s open arms. Their ruddy cheeks [2] were so full of vitality and excitement, nothing short of adorable. Doctor Lotus lifted them up, one in each arm. Her voice was tender and affectionate as she greeted them. ¡°Ah, you work so hard, Squall has gotten dark from the sun.¡± An elderly woman amiably fawned over the young man before turning her attention to Old Thistle. ¡°Did everything go well?¡± ¡°We were caught out in the borderlands by a band of brigands, and there was some conflict with Dark Atom conspirators in the Sandbar. All these years with the old man I never thought we¡¯d see so much action.¡± Before Old Thistle could even open his mouth Squall was animatedly describing the whole thing. Then his face grew solemn. ¡°But¡­ Uncle will not be coming home.¡± ¡®Uncle¡¯ was Bloomnettle¡¯s guard captain. The other people of Bloomnettle Company began to notice that the man who was never more than a few inches from Old Thistle¡¯s side was nowhere to be found. Everyone knew what this meant. Misfortune had found the loyal old man, and he would not return to them. For merchants who traversed the lawless borderlands this was not uncommon. For a time they stood in silence, grieving for their loss. For everyone here was family, even if they were not related by blood. ¡°Do not be saddened.¡± Old Thistle thumbed the beads of his bracelet. ¡°He¡¯d been doing this job for many years and understood that these risks were a fact of life.¡± He had lost an old friend, and though his heart ached there were others to consider. He tried to comfort them. ¡°This time we¡¯ve managed to bring back much more than usual. Uncle¡¯s sacrifice is tragic, but he did it so that our lives might be better. May the gods above welcome his soul and bring him solace. Lotus, make sure his wife and children receive compensation. Keep an eye on his family from now on and make sure they grow up to honor his name.¡± The doctor solemnly nodded her head. Those who returned were the fortunate ones. The Highwaymen had a reputation for their bloodlust and barbarity. Merchant caravans unfortunate enough to cross their path were destroyed, their women and valuables taken without exception. Were it not for the appearance of the mysterious demonhunter, Old Thistle¡¯s Bloomnettle Merchant Company would have been erased. Without his intervention, the guard captain¡¯s corpse would have been joined by Old Thistle, Squall, and all the rest of the caravan. They would all be rotting under the borderland¡¯s sun. All except the doctor, who would have been captured and used by the bandits as they pleased, a terrible life where she¡¯d wish for death. Old Thitle waved his hand, motioning for everyone to disperse. ¡°We cannot forsake our laws. Everyone go get ready.¡± After each successful return the members of the caravan were expected to bathe, make obeisance to the gods, then hold a banquet in celebration to thank the gods for their protection. Night fell over the magnificent city. The canopies of the city¡¯s curious trees glowed to lend warmth and light. They towered aloft, bathing large swaths of the city in luminescence like magnificent umbrellas. Skycloud was a portrait of peace and serenity, a paradise on earth. Even the greatest evil of the world would feel their cold hearts thaw at the sight. People lit their lanterns. Sand-like particles of light floated from the tea-pot shaped curios, and the sands floated around the air making beautiful patterns. Some were majestic horses, sprawling trees, some of which moved and others that remained static. Each one was a masterful work of art that lit up the area around it. At the apex of every civilian dwelling was an altar dedicated to the gods, and within it were lanterns and other tools of worship bestowed upon them by the sanctuary. After bathing and changing his clothes Old Thistle lit every lantern himself, and from them arose the magnificent and sacred images of the gods. As merchants, Bloomnettle Company¡¯s altar was a simple thing, but much care went into its use and maintenance. Every plant was meticulously cared for. By now it was six o¡¯clock in the evening and the sun¡¯s rays had disappeared from the sky. [3] The solemn toll of the bells from the sanctuary filled the air with its melodious sound. It had a transcendent quality that carried across the city without losing intensity or volume. It rolled across Skycloud, cleansing every heart of impurity, dispelling every evil thought. It was Skycloud¡¯s evening bell. The day was done, the time for evening prayer had arrived. Old Thistle and Squall had changed into traditional clothing for sacrifices. The doctor had changed into a spotless white robe that made her look all the more pure and beautiful. The three of them stood in front while the rest of the company stood dutifully behind. The twenty or so other travelers had also bathed and changed. Their faces serene and pious they stood before the altar and prayed. As a merchant, Old Thistle was perhaps shrewd and covetous, but he was like all the rest of Skycloud¡¯s citizens, he was a devout believer. He believed that everything he owned was thanks to the grace of the gods. They escaped from certain death, met demonhunters, worked in service for the army and made many connections that would help Squall become successful in the future. How could these not be gifts from on high? ¡°Thank you, great gods, for our shelter.¡± ¡°May your light shine upon us for all time.¡± ¡°May we bask in your grace and glory.¡± Old Thistle, Lotus and Squall bowed low before the altar. The others prostrated themselves respectfully. Squall was a little different from his devoted foster father. He found this whole process rather boring. He didn¡¯t believe the righteous and mighty gods listened to the prayers of ordinary men. Squall wanted to be a demonhunter, not in order to serve the gods, but because he respected the job. Of course, boring as it was, he still had to pretend. The prayers continued for two whole hours. Old Thistle was getting on in years and after such a long time stretched on the ground he needed Squall and the doctor¡¯s help to rise back up. However, he was doing well. The old merchant felt like they had been blessed. He never felt more assured in his faith. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯re all tired of waiting. Now it¡¯s time for our dinner!¡± The young children leapt about and cheered for joy. Their banquet was a plentiful one, another tradition the company enjoyed. Every safe return was celebrated with hearty dishes and flowing wine. It was the most joyous day of every month, like a holiday. This was especially true for the most gluttonous of children who could savor more food than they could fit in their bellies. In these holy lands fruits and grains grew swiftly, and livestock reproduced with alarming speed. So long as they remained devoted to the gods no one went to sleep with an empty stomach. After all, Skycloud was the capital of this land of plenty, nowhere else could match its affluence. After the ceremony, Squall went right back to his uninhibited and unabashed persona. He jumped up onto a stool and held a cup of pale gold ale over his head. ¡°Tonight we drink!¡± ¡°Young master Squall, there won¡¯t be many more days you¡¯ll be able to drink like this with us!¡± ¡°Yeah, master Squall will be a demonhunter soon. How will His Excellency have time to drink with lowly people like us after that, eh?¡± ¡°Bah! What kind of nonsense is this?¡± He pounded his mug against the table top [4]. ¡°No matter what I become in the future, you all are family. How could I avoid the people I love? You people, cursing my names. You should be punished!¡± Raucous laughter filled the dining hall. Old Thistle smiled but he spoke seriously to his young charge. ¡°Remember your behavior and your faith, Squall. You are to be a demonhunter, you cannot be so frivolous. Come down!¡± Squall impishly shrugged at the old man. This exchange was not just flippant talk. It wasn¡¯t easy for Bloomnettle Company to get where it was today. In the ten years since Squall had been with Old Thistle, the¡¯d gone from a small outfit with no home to living in Skycloud City. It was all thanks to the old man¡¯s ceaseless efforts that at last they had a life to take pride in. Squall was also filled with a sense of pride. He was liked here. They weren¡¯t notable people in the elysian lands, but these were his people. This was his family. Squall idolized Lord Arcturus, and deeply desired to be a demonhunter so that he could protect those around him. He worked hard so that one day he could achieve that dream. Over a hundred people were busily eating food and loudly celebrating when ¨C Thud! The front door was shoved open. The sound of clanking armor filled the air. A hundred soldiers surged in with their weapons held ready and before anyone knew what was going on, they were surrounded. Their armor glinted in the dim light, cold and uninviting. The area was suddenly enveloped with a menacing air. Like ice water poured on burning charcoal, suddenly the whole courtyard felt cold. A group of people dressed as demonhunters entered. A young man and one in his middle years led them. The younger one was especially gallant looking with his white armor and silver spear. The other man was clad in a white demonhunter cloak and held himself with a lofty and learned bearing. Both were illustrious figures in Skycloud City and instantly recognizable. The younger one was Lord Arcturus¡¯s disciple, Frost de Winter, while the older gentleman was Lord Arcturus¡¯s younger brother and his right-hand assistant, Augustus. Obviously, the two were the governor¡¯s close subordinates, with a contingent of demonhunters in tow. If any one of them were to show up alone it would be a stunning happenstance for these simple merchants. How could they ever even imagine entertaining so many illustrious people all at the same time? They stared dumbly at the scene, unsure of what to make of it. ¡°Most honorable gentlemen.¡± Old Thistle got the sense that their visit did not bode well. Trembling, he rose to his feet and made his way over to them all bows and respectful addresses. ¡°What brings you venerable sirs to this humble man¡¯s home?¡± With a cold smirk on his face Frost de Winter swung his spear to point at the old man. Its silvery light streaked prettily through the air. ¡°You traitors have been found colluding with the agents of a demon. You dare stand before me and feign ignorance? We have already learned everything. I recommend that you cooperate. Speak! Where is the demon¡¯s spy hiding?!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Old Thistle was a man of great poise, but the accusation shook him to the core. ¡°We¡¯re a simple merchant company, how could we ever cavort with demons? We are devout followers of the gods. What you say is impossible! Honorable sirs, you must have made a mistake.¡± ¡°You still dare to conceal him? Open your eyes and look, is this item not yours?¡± Frost de Winter threw a robe onto the ground before them. It was the clothing they had lent to Cloudhawk. Frost de Winter¡¯s voice was cold as the grave. ¡°You are responsible for bringing a demon spy into the city. Do you still deny it?¡± Fear stole the color from their faces. They looked at one another, sharing the same silent question. Him? It didn¡¯t make any sense. How could he be a spy? But the truth of it didn¡¯t matter in the moment. Whether he was or not, they could not admit culpability. If they did, it would spell their end. Squall, inexperienced and unable to restrain himself, shot to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s a mistake! You¡¯re wrong, how could he be a spy? He saved our lives and even exposed Dark Atom agents in Sandbar Outpost. He¡¯s a demonhunter, there¡¯s no way he would work for demons! He came to Skycloud in order to meet Lord Arcturus. I¡¯m sure the governor couldn¡¯t accept seeing a good man slandered!¡± Augustus¡¯s eyebrows slowly knit together. Frost de Winter¡¯s pupils shrunk to tiny black points and his eyes filled with the promise of murder. His voice sounded like it bubbled up from the depths of hell itself. ¡°It appears you know quite a lot.¡± They were done for! Old Thistle was a man of rich experience. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but he knew one thing instantly from the look on Frost de Winter¡¯s face. It made his heart go cold. 1. This is the premo hair style for young girls in China. They look like onion sprouts. 2. Also a staple of small children, especially those who live in rural environments. It¡¯s taken as a sign of vivacity and youthfulness. Actually it¡¯s a physical reaction to something in their lifestyle but I can¡¯t for the life of me remember what my instructors told me. 3. China uses a universal time zone for the entire country and doesn¡¯t account for daylight savings. That means they¡¯ll have sunset at midnight during the summers. Just an interesting factoid 4. A form of cheers in China, like clinking your glasses togethe Book 2, Chapter 26 - Shattered Faith Chapter 26 - Shattered Faith In the heat of the moment Squall let his mouth lead the way. It was too late to take it back now. Old Thistle didn¡¯t know why this was happening. He didn¡¯t want to know the story and how it involved them. All he knew was that Frost de Winter was one of the most capable men in all of Skycloud, and was Lord Arcturus¡¯s disciple. The governor had to know that he was here, and what he was going to do. That meant that everything Frost de Winter did was a reflection of the will of the governor. If Frost de Winter felt that the young man was a demon spy, that meant Lord Arcturus shared his idea. As this realization dawned on him, a cold sweat broke out on Old Thistle¡¯s forehead. It didn¡¯t matter what the truth was. Who would dare contradict Lord Arcturus¡¯s decree? His people were responsible for bringing an enemy agent into the city, and whether or not they did it consciously didn¡¯t matter. There were going to be consequences. Banishment. Death. At the very least his family would be cast from Skycloud. Old Thistle was an old man so he didn¡¯t mind shouldering the ramifications, but he did fear for Squall. If this matter ruined the young man¡¯s prospects to become a demonhunter, what effect would that have? He would rather die than to have to watch the future splendor of his adopted son cast into the mud. ¡°No! No, this is all a mistake! We didn¡¯t know anything!¡± Old Thistle stepped forward, putting himself between him and the boy. ¡°Master Frost de Winter, I am a moral businessman. Squall is just a boy. If there is any fault it lies with me, you cannot unjustly punish a faithful servant!¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s face turned deathly cold. ¡°Unjustly punish?¡± The accusation hung in the air between the two men when suddenly a carved blade flashed. As it traveled its intricately carved surface refracted the light and traced a beautiful arc, somehow whipping around Frost de Winter¡¯s neck and straight for Old Thistle. The old man¡¯s head was flung into the air where it tumbled end over end. Shocked and stricken, his family watched as it struck the ground with an empty thud. That sickle blade was thin, sharp and blindingly fast. It happened so quickly the blood didn¡¯t start to flow from Old Thistle¡¯s neck until his head hit the floor. It spurted into the air like a grotesque fountain. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Horrified cries rang out from Bloomnettle Company. Squall scrambled over to his dad¡¯s body and gathered it into his arms. A few feet away the old man¡¯s head stared blankly into the sky. His mouth opened and closed, working desperately to speak but no sound would come. ¡°No!¡­ NO!¡± Squall wailed at the sky, clutching his dead father. Augustus stood nearby, unblinking. The sickle blade returned to his pale and slender hand like it had a mind of its own. The weapon, exquisite and thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, spun in his palm. ¡°Why act so quickly, Uncle Augustus?¡± Frost de Winter was clearly dissatisfied. ¡°I hadn¡¯t even had the chance to question him.¡± ¡°Your method of questioning is too slow.¡± The man¡¯s face, fair and rich in dignity, maintained a cool expression. He spoke without hurry. ¡°They have admitted to consorting with the spy. That is enough. Putting them all to death isn¡¯t even sufficient punishment. But the spy is hiding somewhere and we don¡¯t have time to waste on traitors.¡± There was a murderous fire in the hearts of these men. Cloudhawk¡¯s capture and escape was revealed by Augustus¡¯ words. So far several soldiers and one demonhunter had been injured. One soldier was dead. The matter was still under wraps, but it was impossible to hide flames behind paper. Eventually news would get out if the situation wasn¡¯t contained, and if Lord Arcturus¡¯ enemies catch wind ¨C or if word got to the sanctuary ¨C other powers would become involved. Things would become far more complicated. It was just as Lord Arcturus said. Rules existed for the sake of convenience, but when they got in the way of real work they needed to be broken. That was what Augustus was doing. These were critical times that demanded critical measures and they couldn¡¯t afford the luxury of doing things the ¡®right¡¯ way. Augustus lifted his left hand and the spinning blade rose into the air as though on cue. Its shrill sound was like the voice of death. He looked out over the crowd. ¡°Our patience and time are limited. Tell us everything you know, or pray for mercy from chakram.¡± A demonhunter, killing the faithful without a word? This was Skycloud City! Even sinners had the right to judgment under the law before being convicted! Under what authority was Augustus allowed to cut down a pious believer? In the face of this heartless act, Frost de Winter just frowned and let it be. He understood the gravity of what they faced. There wasn¡¯t going to be any public trial. All of these people knew too much. They all had to die. Killing a few earlier meant nothing. ¡°You animals!¡± Squall sprang to his feet and ran at them. It was unthinkable that his father would die at the hands of an esteemed demonhunter. It was undeniable that Old Thistle was a businessman, one who curried favor and had a lust for wealth. But for decades he was a devoted follower of the gods. He prayed every night, observed every tradition and was never consciously wicked. Why? Why! Squall was especially hurt by the fact that these men were the trusted agents of Lord Arcturus! The man he respected the most, idolized above all others. Was all of this his will? In a blink, Squall had the person he loved the most stolen from him. In that instant, whatever faith he had shattered. His eyes were red and wild from fury and though he knew it would mean his death he ran at the men responsible. Lotus shouted after him. ¡°Squall!¡± Bullshit! This whole world, it¡¯s all bullshit! Kill me, just kill me! Augustus flicked his left wrist and in response his wisp-thin crescent blade shot out once again, its cold silver light marking out its path. Augustus was outstanding even among the great demonhunters: he was known as the Moonlight Crescent that could overcome all defenses, while his Celestial Sphere was a weapon a hundred crossbows could not pierce. Be it offense or defense, no other demonhunter came close. How could Squall stand a chance? Venting his pain and anger through a bestial scream, Squall rushed forward. When the blade came his way he threw himself to the ground and the deadly weapon swept by. It missed. Augustus was a man of ability; for him, killing Squall required no effort. Without any hurry he flicked a finger and his weapon responded by whipping around in midair. Two more heads were severed as easily as plucking the tops off dandelions. Augustus¡¯s bloody methods were meant to inspire the others to comply. ¡°The rest of you still have nothing to say?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk! We¡¯ll all tell you!¡± The caravan guards dropped to their knees. One of them flung himself bodily to the ground cravenly. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Maintaining his dignified scowl Frost de Winter looked on. He disdained killing those without the means to defend themselves. Augustus¡¯ unmitigated murder wasn¡¯t something he agreed with, but he couldn¡¯t argue with his results. Augustus called his chakram back. ¡°Where did he go, what did he do? What did he tell you? Tell me everything and don¡¯t leave out a single word.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say a thing!¡± Frost de Winter turned his eyes toward Squall who was picking himself up from the ground. Beneath his lacerated clothes where the blade passed he could see strange tattoos. The sight made Frost de Winter¡¯s pupils contract, as the situation suddenly changed. Squall hefted an automatic crossbow. A hail of steel-tipped bolts screamed through the air. Was he actually lifting his hand against a demonhunter? He was signing his own death warrant! Augustus was still recovering from the wounds he¡¯d earned out in the wastes, but even injured a crossbow posed no danger to him. He fished out another relic, this time an exquisitely fashioned metal sphere. It hovered over his hand for a moment before flooding the area around him with an invisible power. The instant Squall¡¯s crossbow bolts crossed the border they stopped dead, frozen. Augustus stood before his young attacker, with the sphere of defense in his left hand and the chakram blade suspended above his right. Both relics hummed with intense power. Skycloud¡¯s illustrious demonhunter bore family relics that were just as storied. The likes of Selene and Frost de Winter were demonhunters of unparalleled talent, however in the face of this man ¨C twelve years in service of the order ¨C it was unclear whether either of them were a challenge to him. A dozen crossbow bolts hung in the air before Augustus, jutting out around him like the spines of a hedgehog. A flash erupted from the orb in his left hand and the steel bolts were blasted outward with hurricane force. They pierced trees, walls, the floor ¨C everything, and with unthinkable force. More than a few of them became buried in the unfortunate merchants. These sons of bitches! Why is this happening?! Were these really what demonhunters were like? Was this the ¡®glorious¡¯ order he¡¯d yearned to join? Squall was overcome. Cruel reality shattered his dreams, in the unkindest way possible. Augustus¡¯s chakram blade didn¡¯t rest either, and whipped out with incomprehensible speed. Squall couldn¡¯t get out of the way this time. Yet just as his life was about to be carved out, a beautiful silver spear inlaid with a pale blue stone flashed before his eyes. It, too, was too fast to follow. With the majesty of a dragon it swept forth, the perfect representation of speed and power! Clang! The mirror-like blade of the spear and the petal-thin crescent blade collided. Their point of contact was a fraction of a centimeter for how thin the crescent blade was, too small a target for any normal man to deflect. One could imagine the level of skill the spearman would have to possess to accomplish such a feat. The crescent blade was knocked away, covered in frost after just a moment of contact. Augustus scowled. ¡°Nephew, what is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°They have agreed to confess. Leave a few alive to testify. This young man in particular seems to have associated the most with the spy. We don¡¯t even know the culprit¡¯s name. We need to gather more information.¡± Frost de Winter stood before his elder and spared him no words of respect. He served only one man, and that was his teacher: Lord Arcturus. As for Augustus, his master thought highly of him but that was all. ¡°I imagine Uncle Augustus wouldn¡¯t refuse this order.¡± The demonhunter didn¡¯t know what had gotten into Frost de Winter, but he respected the younger man¡¯s talent. Blocking his relic proved it; were it not for the glory of Selene¡¯s abilities, Frost de Winter¡¯s light would shine all across the holy lands. ¡°Very well. He lives.¡± ¡°All of you, come with me!¡± Squall tried to resist until an officer came and knocked him out with a vicious chop to the neck. The rest of Bloomnettle Company cried and shouted as they were rounded up. Four people had died in the raid, including Old Thistle. Once everyone was gone a group of soldiers set about cleaning the aftermath. Every trace of blood was removed and in the end It was like the raid had never happened. Two days later. Skycloud¡¯s government disseminated a bulletin, indicating that Bloomnettle Merchant Company had violated city laws by trading in illegal goods. Word spread that the whole outfit had been taken into custody. Book 2, Chapter 27 - Prison Chapter 27 - Prison Skycloud¡¯s prison was home to eight hundred criminals; murders, blasphemers and other perpetrators of violent crimes were the majority. This malignant place, where the sun never shined and all the evil of Skycloud lived, was the shadow to the glimmering light of the elysian lands. Normal citizens of Skycloud could not even imagine that beneath their precious, prosperous city was a place of blood and torture. ¡°You¡¯re new.¡± There were twenty criminals locked up in this particular cage, some only for six months and others for over forty years. Their sins were numerous, but what they all shared was no hope for a future. At best they could hope for exile to the wilds, but for most death was the only escape for a life of imprisonment. Harsh conditions and cruel torture had twisted their minds. Bullying newcomers was tradition down here. The moment someone was locked in this pit all concept of human rights, basic respect, and freedom was stripped from them. Ninety percent were men and the few unfortunate women who were brought down here couldn¡¯t count on their own cell. Single cells were reserved for particularly dangerous criminals, so most women were thrown into cages with all the rest where their fates could be guessed at. Most didn¡¯t live longer than a month. Rape wasn¡¯t just a danger for women, either. Some men were subjected to the same torture. For instance, this young newcomer was only fifteen or sixteen years old. He was a little thin but delicate of feature and smooth of skin. He was shackled like everyone else but his eyes had a strange light to them, not the look of a prisoner. ¡°Why¡¯d they throw you in here, eh?¡± ¡°What was it? Murder? Rape? Theft? Heresy?¡± When they went to sleep last night none of the prisoners had seen the kid, then when they opened their eyes this morning he was there. What did someone so young do to get themselves thrown in a place like this? A tender morsel like this was a rare treat down here! A pair of fat and muscled men trundled over to the quiet young man squatting by the wall, chains in tow. The newcomer stared calmly at the hay covering the floor as though he were waiting for a flower to sprout. The two men¡¯s faces were twisted in vulgar sneers that revealed their dark intentions. ¡°What are you, deaf? Didn¡¯t you hear me ask you a fuckin¡¯ question?!¡± One of the large men barked. Resigned, the young man rose to his feet. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Newcomers gotta learn the rules down here so you do what I tell you. Don¡¯t waste my time with bullshit, you hear me?¡± One of the men jabbed his meaty finger at the kid¡¯s chest. ¡°You fight back, you¡¯ll regret it all the way to your next life, got it?¡± The other one eyed the kid up and down. ¡°Take off your pants. Let me see what kind of ass you¡¯re workin¡¯ with.¡± The kid¡¯s response was matter-of-fact and polite. ¡°I really wouldn¡¯t piss me off.¡± ¡°You lookin¡¯ to die, you fuckwad?!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll kick the shit outta you, kid!¡± The two men lifted their shackled wrists and swung them down to hit the kid with the sturdy iron bracelets. Suddenly, the meek kid became a different person. His shackles popped open of their own accord and he buried his fists in each man¡¯s gut. Both of them sputtered as they lost their breath and fell to their knees. They doubled over and squirmed like fat worms, faces red as pork liver. The young guy was too fast to follow. He struck each of his would-be attackers with the edge of his hand and knocked them out cold. The rest of the men in the cell, who¡¯d been ready to follow the big men in their pleasure, looked at the scene in total shock. How did he open his shackles?! It was unthinkable, too fast for anyone to see how he did it. Cloudhawk rolled his wrists for a few moments then snapped the restraints back into place. He swept his gaze over to the others and greeted their surprise with a cold laugh. ¡°Anyone else wanna check out my ass? Stand up and make yourself known.¡± A palpable air of violence filled the cage to dissuade any takers. The men here were hardened convicts. Many had taken lives. But not a single one of them dared even look at the young man. Just his presence made their hair stand on end, the promise of blood that surrounded him was different from other violent men. It was the temperament of someone who¡¯d stared death in the face countless times. Any normal thug went weak at the knees just looking at him. The men sat quiet on their best behavior, so Cloudhawk returned to his spot by the wall. This was his plan: the most dangerous spot he could think of was actually the safest. That asshole Frost de Winter could think until his skull cracked and blood leaked from his ears, but he¡¯d never think to come back to the place Cloudhawk had run from. His men could scour the whole city, but they¡¯d never come looking here! Hiding in the prisons was just a temporary plan. Personally, he didn¡¯t want conflict with the people of Skycloud. On the one hand, it¡¯s a fight he would lose, and on the other he still hoped this was a matter that could be reversed. He¡¯d sacrificed so much to get here, fought so damned hard. If the elysian lands were closed to him he didn¡¯t know where else he could go. Go back to the wastelands? He¡¯d dreamed for years of any chance to get away from that damn place! Cloudhawk mulled over the conundrum, his back pressed against the cold stone of the prison wall. At least in the wastelands, I wouldn¡¯t have faced a problem like this. Out there he killed who he needed, fought who he liked, and went where he pleased. Tough as the environment was, sinister as the people were, at least he wasn¡¯t afraid like he was now. The thought swam up at him but was just as quickly snuffed out. The wastelands were the wastelands. How could they compare to this place? No, he¡¯d wait here and behave himself. Maybe all of this was that asshole Frost de Winter playing a trick. At worst, he¡¯ll wait until Selene Cloude returned. Cloudhawk was sure she wouldn¡¯t treat him wrong. She had no reason to. Once she got back, everything would be straightened out! Cloudhawk was at a loss, but he also had no choices. Silence returned to the stuffy prison. Guards constantly patrolled outside but not one of them realized there was an extra body locked inside. However, as Cloudhawk sat there with his eyes closed, meditating on his situation, a sense of danger washed over him. An old man with a head of white hair tottered over to him. He was as frail as withered grass but Cloudhawk could feel a hidden threat lingering just below the surface. Cloudhawk started by quietly observing the stranger. He had to be the boss because everywhere he went the others looked at him with fear. The sense of danger had to be more than just his imagination. ¡°You¡¯re a demonhunter.¡± It was the first thing he said. The frail old man hunkered down beside Cloudhawk and spoke softly so that no one else could hear. ¡°Last night I know how you got in. Only a demonhunter has power like that.¡± ¡°What about it.¡± Cloudhawk glared at the old man with a hint of violence. His head was a mess of grey and white hair and his face was lined with scars. The largest was an angry line that carved a path across his left eye and left his cornea a cloudy white. It made him look savage and hideous. He introduced himself. ¡°My name is Majjhima. You could say I¡¯m a heretic. And what I want isn¡¯t important ¨C what¡¯s important is that you look like someone who needs help. Help I can give.¡± [1] It was the first time Cloudhawk had ever heard someone introduce themselves as a heretic. He found the whole situation interesting. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about what I¡¯m doing, but you want to help. Why?¡± Majjhima chuckled dryly. ¡°You might be a demonhunter, but you aren¡¯t a dutiful one. If you were you wouldn¡¯t be skulking around down here. I¡¯ve been living in this city for thirty years, I know it well. I¡¯ve been down here a long time, but I know people back up top, so I figured maybe I¡¯ve got something you need.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°I don¡¯t imagine you¡¯re willing to help out of the goodness of your heart.¡± Majjhima¡¯s voice got even softer. ¡°I¡¯ve got my own ends, like everyone else. I just want to get out of here.¡± There wasn¡¯t anything Cloudhawk could say in protest to that idea. He looked the man over, saw the signs of torture writ all over his body. Some of his wounds were old and others new, proving that he¡¯d been down here for a very long time. But whether or not he could really help wasn¡¯t clear. Cloudhawk had never shared what he experienced in the wastelands with anyone except Frost de Winter. When he had, the asshole governor¡¯s disciple responded by trying to kill him. There was more to his ordeal than there seemed, and Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to forget about this hard-learned lesson after one day. But the cat was out of the proverbial bag. Cloudhawk thought for a minute. He didn¡¯t have much in the way of hope, but he did need help. Maybe telling him would give him a different perspective. Cloudhawk was getting ready to share the tale from start to finish when the sound of footsteps reached his ears. The door to his cage was opened and a woman, covered from head to toe in bruises, was thrown inside. Her hands and feet were bound. The guards never even looked toward Cloudhawk who stayed curled up in the corner. Once the new prisoner was delivered they shut the heavy iron door behind them and left. This cage was full of men, and the guards knew what putting a woman in here would mean. They were complicit in whatever happened. It was a kind of torture. After a few days in here and the more tight-lipped might be convinced to talk. The outlaws¡¯ eyes immediately snapped to the newcomer where they were pleasantly surprised to find that she was both voluptuous and attractive. What did these outlaws do to deserve such a treat? Their dark eyes glittered with malevolent intent. After all, those who were interested in men were in the minority. Most preferred the embrace of a woman. Terrified, the woman curled into a ball. She felt their eyes wander over her and horror gripped her. ¡°What are you doing?! Get away from me!¡± Cloudhawk froze. He knew this voice. As the men were getting ready to pounce on their prey, Cloudhawk¡¯s shackles popped open. He unfurled and bound to his feet, jumping off the wall and into their midst like a cheetah. Whipping his legs around he viciously knocked two men into a distant corner. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything to you!¡± The convicts stared at Cloudhawk with wide eyes, full of fear and hate. Cloudhawk paid them no mind and instead helped the woman up. ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± It was Bloomnettle¡¯s doctor, Lotus. Besides Old Thistle and Squallj, she was the only other person to have seen Cloudhawk¡¯s true face. When she saw him looking down on her she was just as bewildered. 1. This character is namedÉîÖеÀ, ¡®deep middle path¡¯, then described himself as a heretic. The Buddhist term for middle seemed fitting. Book 2, Chapter 28 - A Crazy Decision Chapter 28 - A Crazy Decision What was Bloomnettle¡¯s doctor doing in a place like this? What happened to Squall and Old Thistle? ¡°What is going on?¡± Cloudhawk helped her up from the ground, and that¡¯s when he saw the burning hatred in her eyes. She shoved him away and spat her words at him in fury. ¡°It¡¯s you! You¡¯re the reason for what happened! Old Thistle was killed by Augustus and the young master was taken away by Frost de Winter with all the others. Over a hundred people in Bloomnettle Company and now they¡¯re gone. All gone!¡± The doctor broke down into tears. Cloudhawk sat on the floor like he¡¯d been struck by lightning. How was this possible? He¡¯d been careful not to do anything to implicate Bloomnettle Company, he never mentioned a thing about them. No one else in Skycloud saw him and he hadn¡¯t let anything about his identity slip. How could they have found out about Old Thistle and his people? But even so, how did they factor into any of this? He¡¯d tricked them with his demonhunter powers and used Selene¡¯s token to buy passage. The merchants were just normal, innocent people! The surrounding convicts started to gather round, itching to try their luck against this irritating young man who¡¯d stolen their prize. ¡°What the fuck are you assholes looking at?¡± Cloudhawk was already on the cusp of flying into a rage, and when he saw a few of the convicts slithering up close he immediately kicked a few back. ¡°Put your hands on your heads and squat, all of you. If anyone moves, I¡¯ll rip out every bone through his ass!¡± Cloudhawk was a product of the wastelands and had lived with mercenaries. As such, sometimes his words were a little crass. The others looked at Majjhima, who answered their unspoken question with a nod. They were forced to swallow the bitter pill of capitulation and did as Cloudhawk instructed. Lotus continued, ¡°Are you a spy for the demons!?¡± ¡°Horseshit!¡± Cloudhawk was furious at the accusation. ¡°Frost de Winter is spreading lies! How could I possibly be working for demons? What makes you think I could be a spy?!¡± The sincerity in his voice eased her shock and anger. Cloudhawk was somewhat responsible for what happened, but he didn¡¯t deserve her hatred. If they hadn¡¯t run into him on the road the Highwayman would have destroyed the Bloomnettle Company before they even got back to Skycloud. She could see from his expression that he had no idea what had happened. She looked into his eyes. ¡°But why are you in prison?¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s inability to capture Cloudhawk enraged him, and he vented that frustrated on innocent people. If he was already captured why did the governor¡¯s disciple bother to harm them? ¡°I¡¯ll explain it to you.¡± Cloudhawk brought her to a distant corner so as not to attract the attention of any guards. ¡°But first tell me what happened? Tell me everything!¡± Lotus heaved a sigh then shared her story, describing everything in detail. He listened as she told him about Frost de Winter and his guards, how they showed up during dinner to round them up. She told him about how they killed arbitrarily, including the cruel death of Old Thistle. He heard all of it, up to where Squall and the others were taken away. Anger welled up inside him like a lake of fire. For reasons he didn¡¯t understand, Cloudhawk was being framed by Frost de Winter. They were even trying to kill him! His escape from prison had somehow prompted them to go after the Bloomnettle Company and led to their destruction. Conspiracy, tyranny, murder¡­ how was this place any different from the wastelands? Old Thistle, Squall and the family they guided were good people who didn¡¯t deserve this. Right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood¡­ where was the border between these two supposedly different worlds? A crushing weight of sadness and rage hung over Cloudhawk. He thought this place would be paradise, but it was nothing more than a rotten corpse in a fancy coat. In the course of this single day, Cloudhawk had gone from shock, to anticipation, to anger, and ultimately despair. This was the world he¡¯d struggled so desperately to get to? Laughable! It was all a sick joke! Frost de Winter, Augustus and the other demonhunters had been dispatched to hunt down one small insignificant man. Cloudhawk knew at least one thing ¨C Governor Arcturus had to know all about it. Deploying so much manpower would require his approval. Either Selene lied to him about everything¡­ or maybe even the Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t know what was going on here. The truth of things wasn¡¯t important just this minute. Cloudhawk¡¯s rose-tinted glasses had come off and he learned that this seemingly faithful land of the gods was actually a den of snakes. It was nothing was like he thought it would be. ¡°The elysian lands have always been this way, it¡¯s nothing to be surprised about. The faithful use piety as a means for the ones in power to control their subjects and nothing more.¡± Majjhima saw the look on Cloudhawk¡¯s face, and although he didn¡¯t know what the young man was thinking he understood his heart. He¡¯d experienced all of this himself. ¡°Look around you. There are thieves, murderers, ruffians¡­ but most of them are ideological criminals. What does that mean? Anyone who questions the gods, breaks one of their precious lamps, or shows irreverence in the temple square is labeled a blasphemer and thrown in here. It would be ridiculous if it wasn¡¯t so sad. If the gods were so great, why resort to these methods to control thought? Why is there no room to question the way things are?¡± Everyone sat in the gloomy darkness, crestfallen. Anyone who dared act against what the gods supposedly wanted was courting death. But Majjhima seemed unwilling to give in. ¡°Help me get out of here and I will do whatever you need me to do.¡± Cloudhawk paid the old man¡¯s pleas no mind. He kept his attention on Lotus. ¡°What about Squall? What¡¯s happened to him?¡± ¡°The rest of the Bloomnettle Company is locked up on the floor above. Me and any of the guards who went on the expedition to the borderlands were thrown in this dungeon. Since Squall had the most contact with you they took him for more intensive questioning. He was taken away by Frost de Winter. I heard they¡¯re going to parade him through the streets and burn him in the public square as a blasphemer in two days.¡± Burning heretics wasn¡¯t Frost de Winter¡¯s goal. It didn¡¯t make any sense to put on such a show for a single merchant¡¯s son. No, this spectacle was intended to bring Cloudhawk out of hiding. All the people of Bloomnettle had been captured, over a hundred of them. A hundred people, old and young among them, whose future was uncertain. Lotus gripped Cloudhawk¡¯s arm. ¡°You need to find a way to save them.¡± Cloudhawk frowned. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to, but how could he? How was he supposed to save anyone? His eyes turned toward the withered old man beside him. ¡°You said you¡¯d help, right? Here¡¯s your chance.¡± Majjhima had been locked in this hell for thirty years. Death was going to come for him sooner rather than later, so he couldn¡¯t refuse no matter what danger Cloudhawk thrust him into. Cloudhawk shared all he¡¯d experienced with his co-conspirators, in even more detail than he¡¯d given Frost de Winter. He needed their counsel and he couldn¡¯t afford to leave anything out during this crucial time. Lotus was flabbergasted by his tale. Suddenly everything made sense; why he had a wastelander¡¯s name, why he appeared in the borderlands, the relics and demonhunter token. Who could imagine Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a demonhunter, and yet killed a demon with his own hands! With her hands balled in fists, Lotus spoke up. ¡°There hasn¡¯t been any news of a slaying. Your story would be huge news for the people, so why would Frost de Winter want to cover it up ¨C much less kill you!¡± That was exactly the question they needed to answer. It¡¯d been over ten years since a demon had been put down. Wasn¡¯t this a time when humanity needed heroes and role-models? Killing a demon was an astronomical deed for someone like Cloudhawk, enough to lift him to the ranks of nobility. Wasn¡¯t Governor Arcturus lauded as a fair leader, justly meting out punishments and rewards? Why then would he want to silence Cloudhawk rather than honor his service? ¡°The answer to that question lies with the demon. They must fear that something on the creature¡¯s body would fall into your hands ¨C something that would threaten their positions, or even their lives.¡± Majjhima mulled over the question quietly. ¡°Hmph. Arcturus Cloude¡¯s hands are as dirty as the rest of them, he¡¯s in collusion with those devils. Trying to shut you up is proof.¡± Skycloud¡¯s preeminent demonhunter, in bed with demons? If news like that got out it would shake the world to its very core! How could a glorified and legendary slayer of demons be in league with their sworn enemy? Lotus, thrust suddenly into this situation, could hardly believe what she was hearing. And yet, if this were not true what would Governor Arcturus have to fear? What else could inspire him to bring the whole might of Skycloud against a single outsider? ¡°While making my way here I came across this map.¡± Cloudhawk carefully pulled the city map from his pocket and handed it to Majjhima. ¡°Can you read it?¡± Lotus looked at the paper in surprise. Didn¡¯t they search everyone before throwing them in prison? How could they have missed a map? He wasn¡¯t captured and brought here, he had to be hiding in this place¡­ ¡°This looks like¡­¡± When his eyes fell on Cloudhawk¡¯s map Majjhima¡¯s face lit up. It outlined the whole infrastructure below Skycloud City. ¡°Unbelievable. Where did you get this? The whole pipeline route in perfect detail. The gods themselves built Skycloud and everything in it is perfectly precise. Even the city leaders don¡¯t understand it completely. Whoever put this together was no ordinary person.¡± Was it really that miraculous? It was, after all, in the possession of that ordinary-seeming goateed man. Cloudhawk remembered him clearly. How could a simple agent of the Dark Atom make this map, or who gave it to him? Someone important, who knew the city even better than its leaders. Then for someone like this to meet the goateed man, a representative of Dark Atom, in the Sandbar¡­ it was all so strange. Cloudhawk pointed to the markings, indicating a path. ¡°A place this complicated to get around would make a good hideout. Most importantly, it¡¯s a way to get out of the city while avoiding guards. Even if things go wrong and we have to run, this is how we do it.¡± Majjhima was almost shaking with excitement. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± Cloudhawk fixed him with a sharp, resolute stare. ¡°I think it¡¯s time I met with Frost de Winter and Arcturus Cloude. I¡¯m going to free Squall and the others from Bloomnettle, and along the way cause a little pain for those two assholes!¡± Majjhima and Lotus looked at him like he¡¯d lost his mind. Was he a moron? Did he understand what he just said?! Book 2, Chapter 29 - Home Invasion Chapter 29 - Home Invasion Obviously, this slipped out of his mouth before passing through his addled brain. Frost de Winter was one of the top five most outstanding people in Skycloud City and he was still young. Now that Cloudhawk was in his sights, the wastelander¡¯s capture was preordained. He didn¡¯t fear anything Cloudhawk could do to him, only that the coward would escape before he could be killed. Be it strength, experience or influence the two young men were leagues apart. As such the chances of dealing with Frost de Winter were monumental ¨C even the thought was absurd. So what made this kid think he had any right to hoot and holler at Arcturus Cloude? He was asking to die. ¡°Listen to what I have to say,¡± Majjhima began in low tones. Even a sinner with his experiences had to bow their head in awe of the governor. ¡°Arcturus Cloude is one of the most illustrious people in all of Skycloud Domain. He didn¡¯t get to where he is today with luck and family ties. Everything he¡¯s done is the stuff of legends, and if you had even the slightest inkling of what he is capable of you wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to challenge him. Just drop the idea right now.¡± Just the title of master demonhunter was enough to make common demonhunters drop to their knees in awe. Master demonhunter wasn¡¯t just an honorary title. It meant the bearer was one of the strongest people alive, capable of facing demons on their own. The might behind someone like that could only be guessed. What¡¯s more, Arcturus Cloude wasn¡¯t all brawn and no brains. His wisdom, foresight, depth of consideration and keen insights were of rare quality. Simply put, Skycloud City would not be the grand and prosperous city it was today without years of his leadership. He was a man who occupied the jade throne of the governor with deft control. A man who had the blessing of both the Temple and the people. Didn¡¯t it make sense? If a scrub like the young wastelander could challenge their governor, Skycloud¡¯s current status would be nothing short of a miracle. They couldn¡¯t expect any better future built on a fraud. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Is he really that awesome?¡± ¡°I promise you he is.¡± Majjhima was deadly serious, for Cloudhawk¡¯s idiocy could squander his one chance to escape. ¡°The governor hasn¡¯t dealt with this situation personally yet. If you run into him, I promise you won¡¯t survive to tell anyone about it.¡± Lotus looked sick with worry. Even without the governor¡¯s direct involvement, how was someone with such limited strength and influence as Cloudhawk going to save a hundred of her people? They were putting a huge task on his shoulders. The prisons were heavily guarded and they didn¡¯t have any near the manpower to storm it. Trying to free Squall out from under the noses of these powerful men seemed impossible. Cloudhawk was tired of arguing over it. ¡°What are our chances of escaping using these tunnels?¡± ¡°If you can get these people out and into the tunnels, they¡¯re complicated enough that we have a good chance of shaking any pursuers.¡± Majjhima pored over the map for a few moments committing the escape route to memory, especially the places where it opened to the surface. His eyes burned with anticipation as they scoured the paper. ¡°There¡¯s an entrance close to the dungeons. That¡¯s where we can make our escape. What do you think? Let¡¯s give it a shot!¡± Lotus certainly didn¡¯t agree with the idea of Cloudhawk facing the governor, but the thought of Squall being executed in public forced her to speak. ¡°What about young master Squall?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have the time.¡± Majjhima pressed Cloudhawk again. ¡°Frost de Winter is obviously trying to bait you. Governor Arcturus or others will be waiting, and the minute you show your face you¡¯re dead. Think it through.¡± The task was hugely difficult. How could Cloudhawk not understand the implications? Cloudhawk had only known Squall for a few days. No matter the reason it didn¡¯t make much sense to risk his life for someone he barely knew. Leaving him wasn¡¯t the wrong decision, but Cloudhawk¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t in agreement. He¡¯d worked so hard to get here, but in the end the holy lands wouldn¡¯t have him. This deception stoked the rage and despair within him until it was a raging pyre. He couldn¡¯t tolerate the thought of slinking out of here with his tail between his legs like a beaten dog. He couldn¡¯t stay here, but this wasn¡¯t how he was going to leave. Cloudhawk was determined that something had to be done. At the very least these arrogant fucks had to know how much they¡¯d pissed him off. He would make them remember his presence here ¨C so Squall had to be freed. What¡¯s more, he¡¯d do it and leave the governor with a slap in the face! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t answer, but the light in his eyes spoke volumes. Majjhima scowled, wanting to say something more, but bit back his objections. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± He thought on their predicament for a moment. The biggest problem was time and the fact that Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know the city. He made up his mind. ¡°I need men.¡± This wasn¡¯t difficult. Majjhima had been locked up for a long time, but he still had significant clout among his people. All he had to do was drop Majjhima¡¯s name and secret cipher and he wouldn¡¯t have any trouble getting help. ¡°Most of these people are the lowest rung of Skycloud society, the homeless. They have channels they use to trade contraband and a well-informed network of informants. If you want them to do something for you, it¡¯s as easy as paying their price.¡± Majjhima gave Cloudhawk all the details of where to find them and how to get in contact. It was very useful information. Cloudhawk instructed Majjhima to look after Lotus, then filled his stone with psychic power. The stone responded immediately, creating a translucent field of energy. Cloudhawk floated up into the air, his grey cloak flapping, and then suddenly he was gone. Cloudhawk¡¯s head collided with the roof of the cell. It was like the walls of an enormous balloon pushing back at him. It offered stiff resistance, but Cloudhawk still managed to force his way through and escape the prison. Lotus and the others gaped at what they¡¯d just witnessed. Demonhunters were capable of all sorts of strange feats, but a display like this was rare. To escape from total enclosure¡­ there wasn¡¯t any demonhunter they knew of with that sort of ability. This guy was definitely different. *** Cloudhawk made his way back to the temple square, eluding the guards while his mind raced. He didn¡¯t have much time to get things in place, so he had to take advantage of every second. The foes he squared off against now were different from any time before. He¡¯d faced all kinds of dangers in the past, but they¡¯d mostly been sweepers or wild creatures of the wastelands. In those cases all he needed to do was face them head on. This time it was a battle of wits and courage, his enemies were a prominent disciple and one of the greatest demonhunters to have ever lived. He had a hundred people to save, and one of them was under the watchful eye of those two bastards. It was completely different from the pitched battles he¡¯d fought before. He wasn¡¯t even in the same class as his enemies this time, and a single mistake could spell his doom. His first order of business was to get Squall out of prison before his execution, but he didn¡¯t know where the guy was being held. Beyond that, Squall was definitely being closely guarded so going in the front door didn¡¯t seem like a good plan. He needed to find another way, and the first step was finding some funds. Coins were the stuff you needed out here. Those glittering metal things bought you whatever you needed, and without them getting anything done was difficult. But how was he supposed to get his hands on some? He didn¡¯t have any marketable skills except fighting, but he was quite confident in his ability to steal. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t burdened by moral imperatives. He did what he had to do according to his own terms. Besides, pocketing some riches from these affluent folks wasn''t such a terrible sin. With that thought in mind, he made his way to the biggest house he could find. The place was similar in scale to the governor¡¯s mansion, just maybe not as opulent. It was a combination of several large towers with flags on their spires displaying the image of an eagle. Their wings were outstretched in an imposing and impressive manner. Cloudhawk had no idea who this house belonged to, but he knew at a glance they weren¡¯t hurting for wealth. Whatever he grabbed from inside was sure to pay for everything he needed. That¡¯s the place! His phasing abilities were used once again. Cloudhawk barely got his head through the wall before he was struck dumb by the scene. The entire place was crawling with well-armed guards. From the floors to the rafters, yard to the dinner room, they were practically coming out of the woodwork. There were even more men than there were in the prisons, and each one could clearly hold their own. They looked more capable than your average Skycloud soldier. Cloudhawk nearly swallowed his tongue. Wherever he was, judging by the guards this had to be one serious family! The phasing stone demanded a lot of psychic power so he didn¡¯t have the energy to find somewhere else to loot. He wasn¡¯t thrilled with his pick but he¡¯d just have to toughen up and bear it. He¡¯d made up his mind to steal something so the bigger the haul the better. Cloudhawk stole into the home under the cover of his invisibility cloak. The place, besides crawling with guards, also had several patrols wandering from room to room. He could even feel the resonance of relics coming from them. Demonhunters! And more than one! Demonhunters as patrols? Who the hell had that kind of clout! Cloudhawk could tell that some of them were good trackers, too. He¡¯d have to give them a wide berth and that meant the main tower was off limits. After watching the patrols for a little while he decided on the right tower as his target, where security didn¡¯t seem as tight. Maybe there was something there he could sneak off with. Book 2, Chapter 30 - The Dreadful Woman Chapter 30 - The Dreadful Woman Even just the minor tower was big enough to give someone pause. Fifteen meters of sturdy white stone, this tower didn¡¯t have any fancy carvings or artsy construction. Compared to the rest of the house it was simplistic, in an austere military style. The front door was a slab of iron flanked by gold-plated statues of wild beasts in action. Each one had to weigh thousands of kilos, intimidating enough to refuse visitors from hundreds of kilometers away. The thick and heavy door was a significant impediment to Cloudhawk¡¯s phasing abilities. When he tried to push through it was like being knocked away by thick rubber. But where the door was proving intractable, Cloudhawk chose to try the wall of a nearby corner, which proved much more inviting. Cloudhawk walked up the carpeted stone steps and into a bedroom. The first thing to greet him was a faint fragrance, and the light of several elegant lamps illuminating the room. A jade bed with a pink gauze canopy along with a silver dresser marked this as a woman¡¯s room. In the center was a large screen that blocked his view of the rest of the chamber. The folding screen was ingeniously placed to separate the room down the middle. Its panels were painted with vaulted mountains, precipitous seas and a ferocious beast. The scene had a deep romantic charm, but looking at it filled Cloudhawk with an inexplicable sense of oppression. Cloudhawk looked around the several hundred-meter large room and saw that it was stuffed full of all manner of things. There were complete suits of armor, a model of a delicate and beautiful rare sword, beast heads mounted on the walls, and beautiful tapestries. Power and beauty, carnage and grace, blood and art ¨C both came together expertly here. One could not help but wonder what sort of person stayed in this room. His heart thudded audibly in his chest. Everything he looked at seemed incredibly valuable, he was definitely in the right place. However, even though Cloudhawk had no experience with this level of luxury, he did still have his basic faculties. The splendor of it all didn¡¯t steal his focus so he didn¡¯t just grab the first thing he found. Besides, none of it would be easy to carry out. He pulled open the cabinets and began searching through them one by one until he came upon a small box. Inside was some exquisite jewelry along with a heavy pouch. He pulled it open and dumbed its contents into his hand; a shower of red, blue, green and yellow gemstones tumbled forth. All different colors and sizes, but each one of the highest grade. They glimmered with an entrancing light, any idiot could tell they would fetch a fortune. Excellent! Whoever lives here has money to burn! Cloudhawk, with his heart racing, made to leave. He had to admit, thievery felt pretty good. Cloudhawk let the gems topple back into their bag. There had to be almost twenty of them! Not bad! That should be more than enough. He tucked the bag away and got ready to make his exit. But just then a wave of danger tickled at the back of his mind. A cold wind brushed the back of his neck and the temperature in the room plummeted. The warm and humid room became bone dry and cold as the grave. Threatening growls tickled his ears as his sense of peril grew. Not good! When he realized something was gone Cloudhawk whipped his head around, just as the door burst open as though from a gust of wind. A young woman who looked fresh from practice, clad in warriors gear, stalked inside. Her figure was tall and well proportioned, with hair like spun gold and eyes of the same color. A rare sight, certainly, like captured fire. Her skin was uniquely pale, like she was carved from alabaster and yet smooth as silk. She was a beautiful contradiction, equal parts stunning and confusing. Graceful, powerful, noble, wild, aggressive. She obviously saw him and every step made the whole room seem to tremble. She wasn¡¯t a young woman, she was a beast! ¡°Alright!¡± Her sweet-founding voice was at the same time sharp and ferocious. ¡°So a petty thief thought they could steal into my bedroom, hm?¡± The terrifying woman seemed to hardly move when suddenly she was standing right in front of Cloudhawk. Her golden hair flit on the breeze as though agitated by its owner¡¯s dour mood. Bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down Cloudhawk¡¯s face. His mind was blank. There had only ever been a few people who froze him solid just with their presence; Mantis had been one, while Frost de Winter was the other. This woman was more imposing than either one of them! She gripped the hilt of a sword sheathed at her waist and pulled it out an inch. What sort of weapon was this? It looked like a sword, but it filled the room with the force of a crushing waterfall. Cloudhawk knew that whatever it was, this was no ordinary weapon. But it didn¡¯t really matter what was in that scabbard; what really mattered was the person. Cloudhawk was convinced that even if she just wielded a sword of charcoal, she¡¯d still be able to use it to cut a thief in half. Time to go! Her brows furrowed tight, her sword was halfway out of its scabbard when suddenly the thief vanished into thin air. Did this scoundrel somehow have demonhunter abilities? Her reaction was to immediately shut her eyes and reach out with her other senses, but there wasn¡¯t a single sound. It seemed he got away. Did he really? Impossible! She was blocking the exit and she would have known if he slipped past her. Although she found it hard to believe she had to accept the scum had escaped her grasp. For all her knowledge and experience she¡¯d never heard of anything like this. Very odd. She would have to tell her father. Maybe he knew something. *** Cloudhawk stumbled away from the building and didn¡¯t stop for a second as he made his escape. Although they didn¡¯t actually clash, Clouidhawk could tell the twenty-something-year-old woman was a talent of the same caliber as Selene or Frost de Winter. Yet another tough character. He seemed to have a knack for finding them. Cloudhawk had a nagging premonition that things were only going to get more complicated but there was nothing for it. What was he going to do, return the goods and prostrate himself, beg for forgiveness? Not fucking likely! He could tell just by the way she walked in the room that an apology wasn¡¯t going to pacify her ferocious heart. He couldn¡¯t stay here, what did it matter if he pissed off one more person before he left? His only concern had to be getting out of here as quickly as possible. Cloudhawk made his way to an unassuming pub where he dropped Majjhima¡¯s code name. At the mention of it the tavern owner¡¯s face changed suddenly and he brought Cloudhawk to the largest of their private rooms. In less than an hour it filled up with twenty other people. ¡°You¡¯re Majjhima¡¯s man? He¡¯s been missing for a long time, how is he?!¡± ¡°The Wasteland Club has been a total mess without a leader.¡± Cloudhawk was surprised by the old man¡¯s clout. After years in prison his name still drew a crowd. However something bothered him about what they said. What was a ¡®Wasteland Club¡¯? From the outside this bar looked ordinary, but in fact it was home to a wasteland appreciation club. In effect the members of the club hated life in Skycloud City. The freedom of the wastelands ¨C a place without constraints ¨C was something they found enticing. ¡°There are actually people who like the wastelands?¡± Cloudhawk thought he must have heard wrong. He had to speak up. ¡°Do you even understand what it¡¯s like out there?!¡± Generally, members of the club were natives to Skycloud, people whose family history in the city stretched back generations. They were spoiled layabouts with nothing better to do than rebel, so they decried Skycloud¡¯s strict rules. They longed for the vast expanse of the wastelands where they could do what they pleased, kill who they liked, and curse the name of the gods all day long. ¡°Who are you that you think you can belittle our beliefs?¡± ¡°Even at its worst, the wasteland is ten times better than this place!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you weren¡¯t one of Majjhima¡¯s people we¡¯d break your damn legs!¡± ¡°Yeah! The wastelands are a place of freedom. Dangerous, sure, and evil, but at least we¡¯d have true liberty! Dying for a goal like that is a worthy way to go.¡± Everyone glared at him. When they spoke about the wastelands their eyes burned with passion and enchantment. Cloudhawk almost wanted to slap the stupid out of every one of them ¨C did they think the wastelands were really free? No water, no food, mutants, sweepers¡­ despair every place you looked! But he swallowed his words because he knew in the end he wasn¡¯t any different from them. He¡¯d come all the way here because of a fantasy. And what was there to greet him? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to waste his time disabusing them of theirs. ¡°I don¡¯t care about what you believe. Majjhima said if I gave you money you could help me.¡± He pulled out one of the gemstones and put it on the table before them. Every eye lit up when they saw it. All this adoration about the wastelands was bullshit ¨C just poor men dissatisfied with real life. No one could ignore the allure of money. ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you what you can buy with a gem like this. You in?¡± ¡°Since you came with Majjhima¡¯s blessing, we trust you. What do you need us to do?¡± The one who seemed to be the leader spoke first, but he added more. ¡°But let me tell you now, we aren¡¯t killing anyone!¡± ¡°I need you to use your back channels to buy some things for me. Then I need you to spread out around the temple square and feed me news about what¡¯s happening ¨C especially anything concerning the governor¡¯s mansion. In addition, there are some special instructions¡­¡± He pulled out another gem and put it between them before going on. The rest of the precious stones in their tiny bag clattered audibly and shimmered in the light. ¡°For the next few days I need you to be ready to do whatever I ask. If you do this whole bag belongs to you. You have my word.¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely, no problems!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the boss, we go where you tell us!¡± Cloudhawk was convinced that there was no risk in revealing his plans to these men. A single gem could set someone up comfortably for a decade, it was a hard offer to pass up. With the promise of wealth they agreed to help without qualms. After taking the two gems as pre-payment they left the bar walking on air. Book 2, Chapter 31 - Hatred Book 2, Chapter 31 - Hatred Within the mansion of Skycloud¡¯s commander, a terrible scream rang out through the halls. It was like the rage-filled scream of a lion that made far away windows rattle in protest. In the four-hundred-square-meter hall, a contingent of a hundred guards were arrayed in columns. They knelt with their heads bowed while a dazzling woman with golden hair stood among them. She did not wear armor, only the simple underclothes of a warrior, and a gem-encrusted sword was strapped to her waist. She was surrounded by the conflicting essence of grace and barbarity. Before them was an elderly man, his face twisted in anger. A rosewood table lay in pieces, smashed to bits beneath his feet. He hovered over the others like a feral beast. ¡°They¡¯ll even steal from a commander¡¯s home? Who would dare be so bold?!¡± This stately, lion-like man was Skye Polaris. He had seventy years under his belt, but was still built like a bear and shivered with rage. His eyes were especially daunting, dual copper furnaces that burned as they swept over the house guards. They were so intense it was like a single glance could burn them all down to ash. With long silver-white hair and a curly beard, the elderly man gave precisely no impression of weakness. Every wrinkle oozed intimidation. This was the man responsible for all of Skycloud¡¯s armed forces, leader of its military. And the most explosive temper in all of Skycloud Domain. The Skycloud military system was organized as follows; ten men made up a squad, fifty men were a platoon, two hundred made a company, and a thousand or more was a corps. Generals commanded corps, senior generals directed ten thousand men or more, and above them all was the Commander-In-Chief. Even Governor Arcturus had to show respect to Skye Polaris, for who did not know that just the slightest implied disrespect could throw the veteran into a frenzy. Now he learned that a thief had snuck into his home ¨C while he was inside ¨C and managed to escape with stolen goods. Swaggered in and out, like he owned the place. How could anyone suffer such disgrace?! ¡°Dawn, how could this happen?¡± After the commander gave vent to his anger, it immediately started to melt away. He returned to his seat, mulling over the strange circumstances. ¡°There are few in the city who could beat you, not to mention escaping right from under your nose.¡± The commander had a high opinion of his daughter. She was a particularly privileged girl, kissed by splendor from the moment she was born ¨C a phoenix touched by the sun. Skilled with both pen and blade, brave and intelligent, she was considered the future of military command. There were only a few who could stand shoulder to shoulder with her throughout Skycloud. Besides that devil woman Baldur Cloude spawned, Selene, who else would have the gall to claim they were Dawn¡¯s equal? Even Starlight¡¯s disciple who he was oh-so proud of was inferior, or so the commander firmly believed. With so few lacking the qualification to even stand before her, how could someone face his daughter and escape unscathed? ¡°The thief had strange powers.¡± Dawn stood before her grandfather with one hand on the pommel of her sword. Her temper was an inheritance from him, a staple of their family. She was a well-known mad woman among the citizens of the city, one who never accepted being taken advantage of. How, then, could she stand back and accept this tone? ¡°I was about to behead him when the guy up and vanished.¡± ¡°How could he just disappear?! He had to have a concealment relic!¡± ¡°Grandfather, you insult me!¡± She stared back at him with wide anger in her eyes, puffed up with incredulity. ¡°If it was just a concealment relic, do you think I wouldn¡¯t be able to see through it? Dis-a-ppeared! Completely gone, like a snowflake under the sun.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The commander-in-chief ran his fingers through his beard, staring down his nose at her with a regal expression. ¡°I have memorized every high grade demonhunter in the order and I¡¯ve never heard of anyone with this power. Strange indeed. This matter won¡¯t stop here, it involves the prestige of our army. Dispatch people to search for the culprit even if it means we tear this city apart. Get this thief, no matter what!¡± Dawn immediately volunteered herself. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡± Her grandfather nodded consent. ¡°Very well, you handle it. The Polaris family has never been insulted without consequence. We won¡¯t allow a thief to get the better of us. Take five hundred men with you, and don¡¯t worry about anything else. You have my support.¡± Five hundred men just to catch one thief! If word of this got out it would do more than raise eyebrows, but this was the way the Polaris family did things. Not even the Cloude family would dare provoke them. *** Lord Arcturus returned from the sanctuary. Frost de Winter explained everything that happened once they were face to face. He spoke with downcast eyes and a guilty countenance. ¡°Your disciple is useless. I¡¯ve been unable to capture Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°You must learn something from this experience, an important lesson ¨C never underestimate your opponent.¡± Governor Arcturus spoke with his student calmly and without reproach. He sipped at his tea like there was nothing to be concerned over. ¡°When someone is thrust into a hopeless situation they will grasp at any straws that promise to save them. It is a natural reaction. He is unfamiliar with the city and can¡¯t tell one street from the other, and what¡¯s more he has hunters around every corner. It would make sense for him to seek out help from the Bloomnettle merchants that brought him here, but he did not. He must have known contact would implicate them, and what would happen if they were discovered. Using Bloomnettle to try and flush him out of hiding was the proper decision, however¡­¡± Frost de Winter was confident it would work. He arranged for two hundred men to escort Squall for his execution, but only ten visible to manufacture a false sense of security. Fifteen demonhunters and others remained close, dressed in civilian clothes and hiding among the crowds. Cloudhawk just needed to show himself, then where could he run? This was Skycloud City! Sodliers were deployed, defenses were strong. If he rushed in, the power of the heavens would smack him down! Frost de Winter was sure this method was the best way to draw Cloudhawk out. Even if this didn¡¯t force him to attempt a rescue it would anger him enough to make a mistake. So why was his master still unsatisfied? ¡°Despite it being a decent plan it is entirely predicated on Cloudhawk revealing himself.¡± Lord Arcturus raised his head from his tea and fixed his student with an erudite gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t understand your target. You can¡¯t be sure Cloudhawk will reveal himself, there are too many variables. If he doesn¡¯t then your well-laid plans are useless.¡± This is precisely what Frost de Winter worried about. Would Cloudhawk risk himself for Squall¡¯s safety? Lord Arcturus slowly replaced his tea cup onto the table and released a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve told you that you could do everything perfectly and still not have a situation one hundred percent under your control. There are many methods to get Cloudhawk out of hiding, but it must be one he can¡¯t afford to ignore. For instance, we can leak the news that Selene has returned and Cloudhawk has been absolved of all wrongdoing. He would certainly reveal himself then, if just to see if it were true.¡± Frost de Winter was visibly struck by the thought. Selene would have been much better bait than Squall! He knew the kid for only a few days, not long enough that he¡¯d risk revealing himself. But it was different with Selene. She was the one person Cloudhawk was desperate to see, so he would take all manner of risks if he thought she were here. He¡¯d have to react! But the news was out. It was too late to take it all back. ¡°A clever trap isn¡¯t always subtle. Sometimes your target will be willing to jump in with both feet if they can¡¯t avoid it. Based on the nature of a man¡¯s heart you can discover where they are weak, what they desire, then you will be victorious in all of your endeavors.¡± Lord Arcturus¡¯s lips turned in a gentle smile. ¡°Things are what they are. Proceed as you¡¯ve planned, and if he shows himself I will help you from the sidelines.¡± ¡°As you command, master!¡± Lord Arcturus¡¯s help guaranteed there would be no risk. If Cloudhawk showed himself he would fall into their clutches. The governor¡¯s mansion had a secret prison, and inside Squall knelt in chains. Six guards surrounded him, unmoving. When Frost de Winter walked in he gave them a salute and bade them clear the room. ¡°We¡¯ll be leaving for your execution soon.¡± Frost de Winter stood before the young man, and spoke in a cold and detached voice. But his eyes were full of meaning. ¡°Before we put you to death we¡¯re going to march you down every street. We¡¯ll test your friend¡¯s loyalty.¡± Squall struggled futilely against his restraints and stared daggers at his captor. ¡°If you were a real man you¡¯d just kill me and be done with it. What self-respecting demonhunter would stoop to nasty tricks like this? What right do you have to be the governor¡¯s disciple ¨C you¡¯re nothing but a disgrace!¡± ¡°Heh heh¡­ so sure and adorable.¡± Frost de Winter grabbed Squall by his collar and lifted him up. The light in his eyes was like an icy blaze, both turbulent and heartless. ¡°Do you really believe demonhunters are this just order committed to the glory of the gods? Let me tell you, the demonhunters do far more than your little mind could handle. And as for my master? I might as well tell you the truth. To maintain the security and prosperity of our holy domain he would do anything. In the eyes of the elite there is only the pursuit of power. Emotion, morality, honor ¨C even faith. Bullshit, all of it. Do you understand? You couldn¡¯t even begin to grasp it.¡± Squall¡¯s hands curled into fists. ¡°You know, I hate wasting time.¡± He released Squall and patted his clothing as though trying to free himself from the young man¡¯s filth. ¡°Every second of every minute is precious, and they should be spent only in that which is worth investment. That which will net a return. A man¡¯s goal in life is to rise ever higher; more authority, more strength, more prestige. You peasants who muddle about and waste you lives, to me you¡¯re nothing but contemptible worms.¡± ¡°You have two more days to live, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure you witness Cloudhawk die before then. After all he¡¯s the one who brought tragedy down on your family, isn¡¯t he? Don¡¯t look at me like that, I know you hate me. But hate has no use, it isn¡¯t going to change anything. You¡¯re weak beyond contemplation, and the weak must learn to accept their fate.¡± Squall grit his teeth and watched Frost de Winter saunter from the room. That contemptible bastard. If his goal had been to get him mad then he succeeded. Squall was so enraged he wanted to peel that snake¡¯s skin from his bones and drink his blood! ¡°AAAHHH!¡± Squall screamed and struggled as hard as he could against his chains. If he lived through this he swore he would pay any price to become stronger. He would sacrifice whatever it took for vengeance. From the moment he watched his father die the carefree and kind-hearted Squall was gone. What was left was a man full of hatred and rage. Book 2, Chapter 32 - Burning Down the House The prison was dark, moist, still, and silent. From time to time the quiet would be broken by a pained scream that would trail off to be lost in the shadows. This prison of the forgotten suffocated under a blanket of hopelessness. Lotus sat in a corner, nursing the unease that made her heart race. Despite Cloudhawk¡¯s threats and Majjhima¡¯s protection, she could feel the hungry eyes of the inmates as they trailed over her body. She knew these men couldn¡¯t control their urges forever, and when they broke Majjhima wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them. Two days and one night had passed since Cloudhawk left. What was happening? What was he doing? Tomorrow was the day master Squall was scheduled to be killed. Was there still enough time to change his fate? This was no average danger, no typical threat. The slightest misstep could end in a young man¡¯s death. The fact that Cloudhawk was so willing to risk his life for Squall¡¯s surprised Lotus, for she knew that even the bravest men would think twice when faced with a situation like this. The sounds of footsteps rang against the moist stones. It immediately put her on edge. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, it¡¯s me!¡± Cloudhawk slipped a key into the door and pulled it open. He threw a ring of several more into the cage which rattled with a metallic clatter. ¡°These are the keys for the whole dungeon.¡± Majjhima snatched them up. ¡°How did you get these?¡± ¡°Now¡¯s not the time.¡± Cloudhawk kept his voice low. ¡°There are patrols all over this place, we need to get out of here while we have the time.¡± Cloudhawk followed the same protocol he¡¯d used in Blackwater Base to sneak around the labs. Only, in the wastelands he¡¯d been avoiding men in animal skin. These were beasts hiding in the flesh of men. Majjhima didn¡¯t press him further. He knew the danger they were in. He passed the keys out to a few people near him and sent them to open the other cages. Soon the halls were filled with convicts. Next he went to the solitary confinement rooms, where particularly depraved people were locked away; like a man who killed twenty soldiers in one rampage; or a thief who¡¯d tried to infiltrate the sanctuary. These are not simple men, but Majjhima was a crafty one. Freeing them himself meant they¡¯d owe him. When the crowd got to the nearby guard room they found a dozen or so unconscious. Some were slumped over a table and others were piled in a hallway. Cloudhawk¡¯s handiwork, they speculated. He must have taken advantage of a shift change to spike their food and drink with narcotics. Only, how he managed to get passed the outside guards, all through the upper levels, then down her to do all this¡­ the criminals couldn¡¯t begin to understand. He was like a ghost! They ambushed and overcame a patrol, then proceeded to release more prisoners. Eventually there were several hundred of them, a considerable and frighteningly motivated force. A thin man called out. ¡°What are we gonna do with these guards?¡± ¡°I say we kill every one of these sons of bitches.¡± A fat and hideous looking man seethed with hatred. ¡°Chop them into paste and smear them on the fuckin¡¯ walls!¡± ¡°Everyone, hey. If we provoke Skycloud it isn¡¯t going to end well for us. Listen to your boss¡¯ instructions.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes swung toward the frail man who stood in the middle of the group. They were hardened criminals but they knew they had Cloudhawk to thank for their escape. If they wanted to get out alive they had to listen to this resourceful demonhunter with whom they shared a common goal. If they didn¡¯t, even if they got out of the dungeon they wouldn¡¯t get far. ¡°We need their weapons and armor. Strip ¡®em, then throw them in the cages.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes swept across the faces of Skycloud¡¯s fiercest criminals. There were a number with considerable strength, ten or so that even made Cloudhawk uncomfortable. They were stronger than him but kept their abilities hidden. He saved them from this hell and so they were willing to do as he said. ¡°Fighting our way out is a sure-fire way to get us all killed, so no one act stupid.¡± A one-armed man spoke up. ¡°If sir is letting us out I assume it¡¯s because you have a plan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± With his mask in place no one could tell Cloudhawk¡¯s age. ¡°The next guard shift isn¡¯t until after morning, so you all are safe until then. Before they come and find out what¡¯s happened I¡¯m going to set the governor¡¯s mansion on fire. Everyone will be distracted, and that¡¯s when you make a break for it. At that point whether you make it out is up to you.¡± Hiss! It was the sound of dozens sucking in surprised breaths. Countless pairs of wide eyes stared at him like he was a freak. This guy was insane, he didn¡¯t fear death. Set fire to the governor¡¯s mansion? He dared spit in Lord Arcturus¡¯s face! There were a few in the ground who could beat the shit out of Cloudhawk if they wanted, but the thought of pissing off the governor terrified them. ¡°No more talk!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care what they thought. He slowly started to vanish. ¡°If I¡¯m lucky enough to survive we¡¯ll meet again!¡± Outside the sun was beginning to blanket the land in its warm glow. Frost de Winter¡¯s procession was gathered and ready. The sense of urgency grew in Cloudhawk as he left the prison and made his way toward Starlight¡¯s manor. When he got near he gave a soft whistle and a group of the wastelander club members gathered round, slipping out of nearby hiding places. They¡¯d been arranged here by Cloudhawk, who instructed that they hunker down through the night and wait for his arrival. ¡°Boss, a carriage left the mansion about ten minutes ago. The governor isn¡¯t home.¡± ¡°You all did good work.¡± Cloudhawk produced one of the gems and threw it their way. Immediately their faces lit up. ¡°Make sure the others follow my instructions and they¡¯ll be rewarded the same.¡± ¡°Thanks boss, thank you!¡± The men were ecstatic that making money was this easy. This mysterious stranger was pleasantly liberal with his funds. After Cloudhawk dispatched his spies he activated his phase stone and snuck into the mansion. The manor complex was surrounded by a particularly thick and sturdy wall which cost Cloudhawk a considerable amount of energy. Ultimately he got through, where he was greeted with a host of guards wandering the halls ¨C demonhunters among them. If Cloudhawk tipped them off he was as good as dead. Luckily his invisibility cloak was an excellent relic, one that the demonhunters couldn¡¯t easily pick out. Cloudhawk made his way through without a fuss, working toward the manor¡¯s center spire where he found himself in a study. Bookcases twice as tall as he was stretched overhead stuffed with scrolls, inscribed wooden manuscripts and thick tomes. This had to be the old scholar¡¯s personal reading room. Cloudhawk picked a book at random from one of the shelves. This one appeared to be a tax record of the city. Cloudhawk¡¯s mouth curled into a sinister grin. Cause me trouble, will you, began the nasty thought. Make me leave¡­ well if I can¡¯t whoop your ass I¡¯ll drive you fuckin¡¯ crazy! Cloudhawk poured the fuel he prepared over the bookcases and set them alight. Without wasting a second he rushed into the next room and repeated the process. By the time guards smelled the smoke the study was already engulfed in flames. They stared in horror for they knew the fires were consuming critical paperwork and documents. The consequences of this fire were unbearable to contemplate. The blaze was growing. Everything here was combustible, perfect fuel for the flames. It was already too late for the guards to try and keep it contained. At the same time several more fires were raging through other rooms and before long the manor was engulfed in turmoil. Even an idiot could tell this was arson! But arson? Was this a revolt?! Men were quickly gathered to hunt down the culprit. Any one of them was strong enough to cut Cloudhawk down if he was captured, but that was the rub. Between his invisibility and phasing abilities he was gone before anyone could catch a whiff of him. By the time the guards caught up with Lord Arcturus he had settled in and was preparing to watch Squall¡¯s final march. Augustus stood respectfully by his side with a small smile on his lips. In order to make this farce legal they¡¯d drawn up several charges, each one seemingly legitimate and backed up with evidence, and each one resulting in a judgement of death by execution. On the outside the whole thing seemed just. ¡°Sir, bad news!¡± ¡°The manor¡¯s on fire!¡± Augustus¡¯ lordly smirk vanished in an instant, replaced with thinly contained rage. ¡°How could the manor have caught fire? Who would be so bold?! We should return at once, governor. There are many importants things in the manor that should be saved.¡± ¡°Do you not find it convenient that there should be a fire just this moment?¡± Lord Arcturus¡¯s eyes peered thoughtfully into the distance and then lit up. ¡°So this is how you intend to draw me back? Such a childish ploy.¡± Augustus began to understand what was happening. ¡°Cloudhawk is the arsonist?¡± ¡°If not him, then who? We don¡¯t know his true abilities but it is clear he is no weakling. He is at least skilled at lurking about. If he can enter the mansion unseen then there is nowhere in Skycloud aside from the sanctuary that he cannot slip into. It is likely he used this ability to hide somewhere we wouldn¡¯t think to search.¡± ¡°So what should we do? I¡¯ll return to the mansion and grab him.¡± ¡°No, no need to bother. He¡¯ll come to us.¡± Lord Arcturus looked ahead like his eyes could pierce any obstacle, like he could see all. ¡°Take the griffin carriage back to the mansion. I¡¯ll remain here and see what he has in store.¡± Augustus finally understood. Wasn¡¯t this a trick to lure the tiger from the mountain? Lord Arcturus was answering the young man¡¯s tricks with a plot of his own. Augustus would make a show of returning to the mansion in the carriage, and when Cloudhawk thought his gambit had succeeded he¡¯ll make his next move. Then his fate would be decided. He was clever, but Cloudhawk was no more than a petulant brat before the wisdom of Lord Arcturus. His efforts were almost laughable. So long as the governor was here, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t stand a chance. Book 2, Chapter 33 - The Rescue Chapter 33 - The Rescue The streets around the center of Skycloud City were choked with people. Whenever news spread that a blasphemer or turncoat had been captured it inevitably drew a large crowd. They all wanted to watch the punishment unfold. Only, this time there seemed to be more young women among the spectators than usual. The fresh-faced girls whispered to each other. Their sometimes blushing faces, sometimes wide adoring eyes, made the men around them envious. He was coming! He was here! Giddy cries rang out from the girls. A majestic Pegasus floated overhead, pure white from head to hoof but for the slender golden horn in the center of its head. The brilliance of it eclipsed all the rest of the light around the square. Only the most magnificent of people would appear on the back of such a spectacular animal. [1] A young knight sat upon its back, clad in armor white as snow and bearing a silver spear. His face was a chiseled representation of fortitude, glimmering eyes framed by razor sharp eyebrows. He was righteousness given flesh and his every glance set the girls¡¯ hearts aflutter. It was Lord Arcturus¡¯s chief disciple, Frost de Winter, Inquisitor General of the Order of Demonhunters. His reputation, strength, and position were unmatched. This spectacle of a man was the dream of every girl and woman in Skycloud City. Unfortunately for them, no matter how hot their desires burned, none could thaw Frost de Winter¡¯s cold persona. In the eyes of the great demonhunter women were synonymous with trouble ¨C and he hated trouble. This time the procession consisted of only ten soldiers. In the center of them was a disheveled and wild looking young man who was shackled at the wrists. Heavy chains rattled against the ground, dripping from cuffs around his ankles. The accused was eighteen or so and of moderate build, neither tall nor short, and handsome with an easy-going face. His hair had grown down to his shoulders and jutted out at odd directions. The jaunty and unfettered air he used to have was gone now. It was replaced with a loathing that ate at his bones. Frost de Winter approached the dais that had been erected before the crowd and began to read out Squall¡¯s sins. Smuggling contraband, human trafficking, blasphemy, and conspiring with enemy agents. Frost de Winter and Augustus had fabricated these claims and every accusation bore a heavy penalty. The least was banishment from the holy lands. Taken together Squall was instantly seen as a monster whose name dripped with the stains of sin. Even before they began presenting evidence the crowd were outraged. ¡°Burn the heretic!¡± ¡°Burn the non-believer!¡± Loud cries were shouted at him from all around. Everywhere he looked, Squall was met with twisted angry faces. It filled him with pain and sadness. His father had been a pious and prudent man all his life whose greatest desire had been to see his son succeed. Reality was cruel, and instead now he would die with his name in tatters ¨C loathed by everyone. Overnight his life was thoroughly destroyed and now they paraded him toward the pyre while his countryman spat vitriolic hatred. If the gods were real, how could they stand by and watch this happen? If the gods were real, how could they permit these dark acts to go on? The guards started to move and the crowds on either side pressed in closer. In a city of several million people it was inevitable that there were sinners, but the majority were devout followers of the gods. Even if they weren¡¯t truly passionate, their fear kept them faithful. They kept their sentiments a secret, for otherwise it was the same as inviting death. Smart heretics stayed silent, so only a few were caught every year. They were the public enemy. Hidden dangers to their perfect society! Such wickedness could be chopped into a thousand pieces and their deaths would still not be cruel enough! Eventually their curses were not enough and some in the crowd decided to take action. First it was a few copper coins viciously flung at Squall¡¯s head, then nuts and other detritus. Projectiles came at him from all sides and even the guards who led him got some of the punishment inadvertently. Squall wanted to scream, he wanted to fight back. But he was powerless. He saw it in the monstrous faces of the crowd. Anything he did was hopeless, no amount of struggle would save him. Whatever he said would be ignored, no one would believe a word. All of these people were living in a beautiful dream, and if it continued maybe they could live out their days in blissful ignorance. But if they woke up they would be faced with the cruelty of the world, and they would end up no better than Old Thistle. The blind were better off. Hard glares from the guards escorting Squall had no effect, the mob only grew more agitated. Meanwhile Frost de Winter watched as the young man waded through the sea of curses. His eyes swept the crowd and he spoke to one of his subordinates. ¡°Does anyone seem suspicious?¡± ¡°No one stands out,¡± one of the soldiers accompanying him replied. ¡°Should we go out and search the crowd?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Frost de Winter shook his head. ¡°Keep our men hidden, but remain vigilant. If they see someone thin and wearing a mask they should grab them immediately. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes sir! I¡¯ll relay your orders.¡± The rest of the soldiers hidden among the rabble continued to wait. Meanwhile curses and rubbish continued to be flung at Squall. About a hundred meters away Lord Arcturus watched it all unfold with calm demeanor. Frost de Winter¡¯s plan wasn¡¯t perfect but it should be more than Cloudhawk could overcome. Freeing Squall from under their noses was practically impossible. Faced with a suicide mission, would the young wastelander still try to save his friend? Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would abandon the thought. To try was like a moth trying to capture the flames. However just as the thought crossed Lord Arcturus¡¯s mind, his keen eyes spotted a figure trying to sneak among the spectators. Thin, masked, covered in a black cloak, the mysterious person was craning their neck to look for something. If Lord Arcturus could spot him from so far how could Frost de Winter miss him? He shouted: ¡°Grab him!¡± In a flash demonhunters hidden among the crowd surrounded the masked man. Frost de Winter leapt off his horse, striding on the shoulders of several citizens to quickly approach. He dropped down and pressed through agile as a sparrow. The masked man had no time to escape. Starlight¡¯s disciple was almost too fast to follow as his silver spear was flung forward. Even before the spear struck its target a blast of white energy engulfed the masked stranger, covering him in frost. With a cry he hit the ground. When they heard the sound nearby spectators yelped and backed away. The press of humanity was stifling here. As everyone struggled to get away they began to trample one another. Frightened screams of the citizenry fell on deaf ears as Frost de Winter forced his way forward. He snatched up the frozen, half dead man and tore the mask from his face. But when he saw what lay beneath his expression twisted. It was shame, and anger! This man wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk! He was a decoy! It was obvious. Here, now, with these clothes and such a similar build. Frost de Winter could figure it out even if he was using his ass for a brain. This was part of Cloudhawk¡¯s scheme. As the yells of the crowd increased and their shoves grew more intense, another cloaked and masked man appeared. A second, then a third, fourth, fifth¡­ twenty of them! Frost de Winter, the demonhunters and all the rest of the soldiers looked around in confusion. All of a sudden there were twenty targets, any one of them who could be the young man they were after. But there was no way to tell who the real Cloudhawk was. ¡°Grab them all!¡± The demonhunters spread out through the crowd and fell upon the masked imposters. Those soldiers escorting Squall also had their attention split between suspicious persons who¡¯d gotten too close. Frost de Winter¡¯s order was to grab any suspects, but now suddenly everyone seemed suspicious. Soldiers knew the ones they grabbed probably weren¡¯t who they were after, but they couldn¡¯t take that chance. What if Cloudhawk was one of them? A nefarious wind blew across the square, and with it came choking eddies of sand that covered several dozen meters around Squall. There was nothing harmful about the sandstorm, but it did restrict vision. The guards around Squall could hardly open their eyes. ¡°Pay it no mind, this is just a trick to give them cover!¡± Frost de Winter knew it as one of Cloudhawk¡¯s tricks the second he saw the golden sands. He called out to his people. ¡°Form up around the criminal! This fiend can become invisible, don¡¯t give him any opportunity to exploit it!¡± Ten or so soldiers fell back and surrounded Squall. They kept their backs to him while brandishing their weapons toward the crowd. Although Cloudhawk had planned several distractions and could cloak his presence, he still only had one target. So long as their prisoner was locked down he would not succeed. But none of them anticipated the sudden and inexplicable sense that gripped their chest ¨C or where it came from. Frost de Winter looked over his shoulder toward Squall and discovered what the problem was. He¡¯d arranged ten soldiers to stick to the prisoner. There were eleven. In all the confusion those soldiers hadn¡¯t notice the difference. Bang, crack! Cloudhawk burst into action and immediately several of the soldiers were flung away. He grabbed Squall and tried to pull him into the crowd where they hoped to disappear. When Frost de Winter saw his soldiers outplayed his indignation turned to a seething rage ¨C this wastelander was treating him like a fool! Cloudhawk had already puzzled out Frost de Winter¡¯s plans. The paltry group protecting Squall had to be backed up by more plainclothes soldiers and demonhunters. He had no way to tell who the soldiers were, but he picked out the demonhunters easily enough by the resonance of their relics. Knowing this, he picked a direction where the demonhunters were light and in a matter of seconds plunged into the mob. As it was, Frost de Winter couldn¡¯t stop him, for if he lashed out the danger to the citizens was high. He had no love for these commoners, but as Lord Arcturus¡¯s disciple he had to keep up appearances. It wouldn¡¯t do if he killed innocents in full view of everyone while pursuing Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk lifted his hand. Clouds of sand answered, and suddenly Frost de Winter couldn¡¯t tell which direction was which. Watching it all unfold from afar, Lord Arcturus simply sighed and shook his head. He stretched out a hand from his wide sleeve with a needle ¨C thin as a strand of hair ¨C captured between his first and middle finger. Arcing bolts of electricity slithered through the air around him. About two seconds later all that electrical power gathered at the tip of the needle. With all the concern of a man sipping his afternoon tea, Lord Arcturus flicked his fingers. Woosh! The needle rocketed forth faster than the speed of sound, with nothing but a subtle gust hardly within the ability of an ear to pick up. It crossed two or three hundred meters in the blink of an eye, more accurate than a sniper¡¯s bullet. It slipped through the cloud of sand and buried itself in Cloudhawk¡¯s kneecap. The needle was precisely forceful enough to slip entirely into his leg so that no part of it showed, but not so strong as to pierce through the other side. Cloudhawk lost his balance. No, not just his balance. It wasn¡¯t that simple. It was like he lost all control of his body, and he hit the ground with a thud. Son of a bitch! What the fuck is this?! The needle was not only piercing, but uncannily accurate like its trajectory had been perfectly calculated. Most importantly the needle itself was brimming with energy, and once the needle hit him Cloudhawk was wracked with spasms. They were so intense he lost all muscle control. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± Squall reached for him, but the moment they touched Squall was struck with an intense pain. The electric power that flowed through Cloudhawk jumped into his body as well. Frost de Winter used these few seconds to close the distance and surrounded the pair with a contingent of his soldiers. 1. The word he uses to describe the Pegasus here is ¡®bao ma¡¯ or treasure horse ¨C which is also what they call BMWs. In China the car you drive is the indication of status, with large black BMWs being the standard of ¡®I¡¯m important¡¯. If this was intentional phrasing on the part of HDW then it¡¯s pretty damn clever. Book 2, Chapter 34 - Under Arres Chapter 34 - Under Arrest Cloudhawk had lost all ability to move. Frost de Winter didn¡¯t need to guess to know his master had helped. ¡°That fuckin¡¯ dog Arcturus Cloude finally got his hands dirty.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s anger had reached the boiling point. His eyes began to simmer with red light as, unexpectedly, he fought off the numbing power of Starlight¡¯s attack. Rising to his feet, every hair of his body stood on end, though it wasn¡¯t clear whether it was from sheer anger or the electricity coursing through him. A ferocious and murderous aura poured from him, like a devil¡¯s soldier clawing his way from the pits of hell. ¡°You scum, in league with demons ¨C you think you¡¯re worthy to govern Skycloud City? Are the people so blind? Are the gods so blind!?¡± Suddenly everything went quiet. Everyone seemed to forget their fear and stared with wide-eyed shock. Was he accusing Lord Arcturus of working with demons? It was an astounding accusation, one that shook the mind of anyone who heard him say it. Frost de Winter¡¯s cool and unshakable exclamations woke the crowd from their stupor. ¡°This man is a demon¡¯s spy, brought into our city by Squall. Do not let his poisonous words confuse you ¨C get him!¡± That¡¯s right! The young man¡¯s allegations were so outrageous that the crowds were stunned stiff. They didn¡¯t even think about it, but indeed the very thought was ridiculous! What sort of man was Lord Arcturus? The very backbone of Skycloud Domain. If he were cavorting with demons how could Skycloud enjoy the safety and prosperity it had today? What traitor could be considered a good and truthful person? How could anything they say be believed? He was a sinner, one who disrespected their illustrious leader to his face. The citizens repented for even entertaining the idea. Cloudhawk said nothing further, for three more imperceptible needles came flying his direction. Soundless and faster than bullets they penetrated the sandstorm. One buried itself in his left kneecap, and the other two in each scapula. Even though his nerves were like steel Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t withstand the onslaught. Lord Arcturus was indeed a master demonhunter, and he proved it by single-handedly incapacitating Cloudhawk from hundreds of meters away. What¡¯s more no one knew who or how. It was as though Cloudhawk simply collapsed under his own weight. Frost de Winter waved his hand toward the wastelander. ¡°Take them!¡± Squall was immediately surrounded by a group of soldiers. His heart beat furiously in his chest, angry and incredulous but entirely helpless. ¡°Why did you come here? Did you think you could save me?! You jackass!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. Get over here!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s will wasn¡¯t spent. He spat the words at Squall through gritted teeth but the young man didn¡¯t know what he meant. However as the guards closed in around him, Cloudhawk held tight to his strange rock and it surged with power. As the light from it washed over him Cloudhawk felt the force of the electricity weaken considerably. He groped for Squall like a lion lunging for its prey. Through the stone a strange and enigmatic energy spread outward. This time it enveloped not only Cloudhawk, but Squall as well ¨C at the cost of several times the effort for Cloudhawk! Summoning the stone¡¯s power was demanding for Cloudhawk under normal conditions, much less extending it to another. As such he didn¡¯t have the psychic will to spare to use his cloak. The soldiers rushed in to grab them, but their hands passed right through. These weren¡¯t men anymore, they were illusions, and they weren¡¯t going to get their hands on specters. It was the strangest thing the soldiers had ever experienced, and they watched speechless as the pair soundlessly started to sink into the ground. The soldiers piled on but hit nothing but solid ground. Bizarre! How could this happen? ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Frost grabbed the soldiers and flung them to the side, only to find that they were piled on empty space. He roared at them. ¡°What is going on here?! Where did they run!¡± ¡°Lord Frost de Winter, sir. They, well they sunk into the ground. He was able to pass right through it!¡± Frost¡¯s face turned dark as a blizzard. What sort of power allowed a person to simply slip through the earth? He stomped on the spot where Cloudhawk disappeared as hard as he could but it did not give. Once he was sure it was solid his furrowed brows shot up, and he pointed to a couple demonhunters nearby. ¡°You there, dig this area up!¡± ¡°But sir, this-¡° ¡°If I tell you to dig, you dig!¡± ¡°We obey!¡± A group of demonhunters brandished their exorcist staffs. They were capable members of the order so when they struck the ground with their weapons it began to give way. When the earth buckled they found a hole below. At last Frost understood why Cloudhawk had chosen this spot to make his move. Just below their feet was one of the tunnels that honeycombed below the city. Cloudhawk had to know that trying to escape with Squall was impossible ¨C unless he had a special escape plan. Cloudhawk¡¯s verbal abuse of the governor was a ploy for gaining precious moments, winning enough time for him to use his stone. Despite Lord Arcturus¡¯s quick response in subduing him, Cloudhawk was still able to flee with his friend. Burning the mansion, confounding his ambushers, slipping in among the guards, and then eventually escaping. The whole thing was well thought out, logical, purposeful. The wastelander was young and green, but they had to acknowledge that he had guts. The resourceful young man was much more capable than he looked. ¡°Get after him!¡± Once the tunnels were revealed Frost hefted his spear and jumped in. The demonhunters followed close at his heels. After phasing into the tunnels, Cloudhawk and Squall hung on to each other and stumbled a little way through the dark. Eventually they fell, exhausted. Squall was caught in his chains and couldn¡¯t move very well, while Cloudhawk was mentally drained. His arms and legs might just as well have been made out of scrap. As wondrous as the stone¡¯s powers were ¨C in fact, precisely because of that ¨C it demanded a high price in psychic energy. The excess when carrying another person wasn¡¯t as simple as simply doubling the effect, it was orders of magnitude more difficult. Squall helped lift Cloudhawk back onto his feet. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head, stumbled forward, then collapsed again. Lord Arcturus¡¯s needles were buried deep in his knees and not even the ends jutted out. With these needles in him he wasn¡¯t going anywhere, so he shoved Squall away: ¡°I can¡¯t. Get out of here as fast as you can!¡± Squall shook his head fervently. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± He frowned the moment he said it. His hands and feet were bound in thick iron, how would he even be able to get him up on his shoulders? ¡°I¡¯m Frost de Winter¡¯s target, if you try to help me you¡¯ll get caught up in his bloodlust. Then we¡¯ll just end up dying together.¡± Cloudhawk was covered in sweat, clearly in pain. The wounds Arcturus caused were serious and excruciating. ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t have any friends¡­ except maybe for you. That¡¯s why I had to save you.¡± ¡°Why did you do this? Why risk your life!¡± Squall¡¯s hands were clenched into fists, his eyes were red. ¡°None of this is your fault, so why? Just so I owe you again?¡± Cloudhawk could barely hold himself together. He was dripping sweat and wincing against the pain. He fought through it to try and speak. ¡°I guess the fact is my life doesn¡¯t hold much promise. But it¡¯s different for you. You need to keep living because you have a reason. Revenge ¨C for me, for Old Thistle. Remember how your father died. Is that how you want to go out?¡± Images of his poor father floated up through Squall¡¯s mind. His hands tightened further. ¡°As for the other members of Bloomnettle Company, don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ve already escaped by now.¡± Cloudhawk was trying to talk through gasping breaths. He lifted his head, peering through tousled hair with calm expression. He shared a mournful smile with his friend. ¡°The elysian lands were the dream I chased for longer than I can remember. Now there¡¯s nothing for me¡­ I don¡¯t know where to go, back to the wastelands? Somewhere else? I¡¯m tired¡­ I just need a fucking break. Get the hell out of here!¡± Squall looked into Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes and saw his hopelessness turn into conviction. He didn¡¯t say a word. Squall turned around and hobbled into the darkness. Cloudhawk watched him go and felt relief. Two minutes later Frost strode up to the immobile Cloudhawk. He knocked the young man unconscious with a single blow, then waved to the demonhunters on either side of him. ¡°Get him and let¡¯s get out of here.¡± One of them, a tracker, ventured to ask. ¡°The other one¡¯s run off. Should we go after him?¡± Frost de Winter peered into the inky blackness before them. ¡°That one¡¯s just a small fish. He isn¡¯t worth our effort. Come!¡± The demonhunters hesitated, but they had no reason to question their master. This talented young master had other ideas, and although Squall was in the wind the others paid him no more mind. Cloudhawk, on the other hand, had been difficult to handle. He¡¯d run away repeatedly, but finally he was back in their grasp. ¡°Stop where you are!¡± Frost had just stepped out from the tunnels when a melodious, regal voice called out to him. The woman¡¯s voice was pleasing to the ear, if imperious and self-assured ¨C sharp was a masterwork blade. One didn¡¯t even need to look at her to know who the voice belonged to. Frost¡¯s path was blocked. The young woman¡¯s skin was an alabaster white, almost unnatural, with hair the color of spun gold. Sunlight played around her like a halo, seeming to embrace her almost like a goddess. ¡°Dawn. What¡¯s all this commotion!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Dawn didn¡¯t even feign respect for Frost de Winter. Both of them were the pinnacle of their generation¡¯s talent, and as such were often at odds. Their conflict was more than just a passing matter, and her barbed words weren¡¯t a rare thing. ¡°Leave that one to me. Be on your way!¡± ¡°Under whose orders? Yours?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, mine!¡± Every syllable dripped with aggression! Book 2, Chapter 35 - Two Talents Contend Chapter 35 - Two Talents Contend Frost de Winter wanted to avoid a scene and had thus tried to avoid areas with a lot of people. They¡¯d left the tunnels at a distant location and tried to slip away through an alley. Despite his efforts, however, their way was blocked by this thorny barrier. Dawn¡¯s fame and power was in no way inferior to Frost de Winter¡¯s, and in addition she was Skycloud City¡¯s youngest templar. The templars were a sect of holy warriors under the direct command of the Temple. Its members included demonhunters as well as normal soldiers, with the prerequisite being that they were among the best of their class. A templar¡¯s background, service record and capabilities had to be stellar in order to earn a position, which meant that each templar was a brilliant dignitary in their own right. Dawn was strong, but her accolades were thin. Originally, she did not hold the qualifications necessary to join the temple. However, her father was a direct heir of the Polaris family, while her mother was an oracle of the Temple, one of their high priests. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Dawn was born under the blessings of the gods. Noble and flawless, her rare golden tresses were seen as proof. The things she experienced while growing up all pointed to her status as a child favored by heaven. She was Skycloud City¡¯s most comprehensive talent; a talented demonhunter, a unique intellect, a gifted artist with pen or paintbrush, she could master whatever craft she put her mind to in no time at all. She made history when she joined the temple before her eighteenth birthday. This year marked her nineteenth and she already held herself with ecclesiastic regency. However, the unbridled defiance of heaven and earth that was her family¡¯s character remained alive and well, evident in her bearing. She was a dignified she-devil who was known for her brazen and erratic actions. Her lauded background alone ensured no one challenged her. Of course, that was only true for the common man. Frost did not fear her, and Cloudhawk was too important. Nothing could be allowed to stand in his way. When she saw that he did not immediately comply, Dawn lost her patience. ¡°Hmph. You must be deaf. Or are you so eager to pick a fight? I¡¯ll say it again ¨C hand him over!¡± She clapped her hands together regally as she made the demand. The alley began to ring with the sound of clattering armor. In a blink a hundred soldiers appeared from all around with glimmering weapons in hand, hostile eyes fixed on Frost. These were the loyal house guards of the Polaris family and it didn¡¯t matter who they fought. They followed their masters¡¯ orders. ¡°Are you challenging me?¡± ¡°So what if I am? Stand up for yourself if you got the balls!¡± [1] The peerless beauty spoke in a surly tone which was in direct opposition to her appearance. She interlaced her fingers and pushed, a series of pops followed. Her hand then went to the sword at her waist and started to pull it free. ¡°It¡¯s been a little while since we¡¯ve danced. I¡¯m anxious to see if you¡¯ve gotten any better!¡± The moment her sword cleared its sheath the alley was flooded with a terrifying aura. Dust and gravel shivered from an invisible force. Its blade was the width of three fingers and refracted light like the surface of a lake. Metal rang against leather with a resonance that seemed to fill the world. Her weapon was anything but average. Like Frost her blade was a famed relic ¨C Terrangelica! And like Frozen Dirge it was capable of terrible things. Frost de Winter was a proud man, and he wasn¡¯t going to stand for this mouthy bitch¡¯s disrespect. Her threats would be met with a frigid answer, for as he planted Frozen Dirge¡¯s blade into the ground, an area several meters in diameter was immediately covered in ice. He spoke back to her in mocking tones. ¡°Terrangelica is a treasure of the Polaris family. It¡¯s tarnished in the hands of a reprobate like you.¡± She threw back barbs of her own. ¡°Frozen Dirge is also an impressive weapon. Such a shame that it should pass to the equivalent of a stuffed shirt. I weep for its spoiled reputation.¡± Dawn¡¯s temperament was molten fire to her core, but she was not reckless or stupid. She would not let his pompous words infuriate her, and now was not the time to waste bickering. Soon this dogs master would arrive, at which point she could forget about taking the thief. A quick battle to force his hand! She shoved the blade of her sword into the earth. Dawn poured her power into it, sending a wave of incorporeal force through the ground. It blasted out in all directions, kicking up clouds of dust with it. The two clashed with the speed and ferocity of clashing lightning bolts. Frost keenly felt the attack closing in and jumped up to avoid it. Moments later a series of spikes shot up right below where his feet had been. He managed to avoid the first two, but the second and third reached higher toward him. This attack came entirely from underground and so where practically untraceable. Were it not for Frost¡¯s exceptional speed and perception he would have been impaled by the first one. He was slowing down. Another spike was rising up toward him. Dawn wasn¡¯t showing him any quarter, her opening attack was lethal. The jagged spikes reached up for the vulnerable place between Frost¡¯s legs, but he would not idly let it come. He swung Frozen Dirge in a pendulous arc that chopped into the spike, instantly freezing it. He used the momentum to launch himself toward Dawn. A deadly arc of silver came down from overhead. As Frost closed the distance the light from his spear bloomed like a silver lotus. Fast ¨C too fast. Before she knew it a dozen blinding thrusts were aimed her way, and though he was still too far for the weapon to connect this was not so for the energy released with each strike. White gusts of power blasted at her, so cold that it froze the water particles into deadly icicles. Woosh-woosh-woosh-woosh-woosh! Trailing beautiful white tails like comets, each strike came crashing down on Dawn in a frigid and deadly rain. Her reaction to the awesome display was a dismissive snort. She wrapped both of her hands around Terrangelica¡¯s pommel, but did not pull it free. She instead thrust it deeper, another foot into the ground until two thirds of it was hidden. Galvanized by some unseen power, the soil and rock sprang up to form a wall. In half a breath the hail of icicles slammed into the rock wall. They pierced her defenses, but none could pass through, and remained glittering against the dirt like inlaid gemstones. Brutal residual cold covered the rock wall in ice almost immediately. Frost crashed into it. Crack-crrrACK! The whole thing shattered like a pane of glass and crumbled away. The barrier gave out and Frost¡¯s momentum pushed through unimpeded. Like a silver dragon reaching out from the sea, Frozen Dirge stabbed at Dawn. He knew the abilities of every notable weapon in Skycloud City. While Terrangelica was powerful, its weakness lay in slow reaction time. To defeat Dawn one only needed to know the trick to handling it. That trick was speed! His execution was perfect; Frost de Winter broke through her barrier then followed up with a quick and decisive strike. With only a few meters between them Dawn could be twice as powerful and still couldn¡¯t rely on Terrangelica to save her. He¡¯d robbed her of her advantage. Victory was assured. Just as Frozen Dirge¡¯s edge was about to run her through, however, Frost de Winter was taken by surprise. Ting! No more than ten centimeters from Dawn¡¯s body, his spear struck a clear glass-like shell strong enough to knock the blow aside. After the collision, lines spider webbed from the point of impact, forming intricate patterns like some occult diagram. Amidst the sound of cracking the lines split and bright light poured forth, revealing the once invisible shell that protected the templar. Frozen Dirge was impotently knocked aside. His victory was stolen. Frost de Winter, high up in the air, snatched his spear back and then landed back onto the ground. He stumbled backward a few steps and stared at his opponent with surprise in his cold eyes. Dawn¡¯s hands were still on the hilt of her sword. It was then he saw the light radiating from a jade mirror tucked into her clothing. Her invisible defense had come from it, repelling Frost de Winter¡¯s determined strike. ¡°The aegis mirror.¡± Frost de Winter recognized the Temple relic the moment he saw it. Dawn¡¯s skill and reputation were such that of course she¡¯d be given treasures from her family and the Temple both. Terrangelica was from her family, but the mirror came from her templar masters. ¡°You underestimate me. I know my vulnerabilities far better than you.¡± Terrangelica was counted among one of the greatest weapons in Skycloud, alleged to be capable of summoning earthquakes and raising mountains. A master of its power could wipe out a battalion on their own. In exchange for such power its attacks were slow, ponderous, which was what Frost de Winter had hoped to use to his advantage. But how could Dawn not know this herself? If she dared to fight with him in such close quarters then of course she had a plan. She was instigating him to attack. But he was not her target. Frost de Winter reacted the moment the thought crossed his mind, flinging an icicle at Cloudhawk. Bringing him back to Lord Arcturus alive was more valuable, but he was given no choice. Either he came back with them or he died. ¡°Too late!¡± Dawn¡¯s pretty face split into a sly grin. Terrangelica was already prepared, she was one step ahead. A pulse of energy reached out, knocking Cloudhawk away from Frost¡¯s men and into a crowd of her own. They quickly surrounded him, shields raised in a defensive posture. Dawn and Frost de Winter were well matched. It was not clear who would win, nor would that be determined now. Lord Arcturus was on his way and would arrive soon, so this exchange had to come to a close. She ignored her rival and raced for Cloudhawk. The templar pulled Terrangelica from the ground and quickly joined her soldiers, her golden hair splaying out behind her in her haste. She stood before them, facing Frost de Winter and the others with her sword held before her. She smiled as the light played over her mystical weapon. ¡°The challenge is done, now it¡¯s time for the melee. Are you sure you still want to fight?¡± ¡°Dawn!¡± Frost de Winter grit his teeth and fought the urge to charge. Over fifty crossbows were pointed right at him, and behind them all that damn woman. He¡¯d brought only a few men with him into the tunnels, they were outnumbered. ¡°I¡¯m taking him with me. You and I will finish this later.¡± She knew the longer they stayed the more likely things would turn bad. Her soldiers moved in to block Frost as Dawn and the others fled with Cloudhawk in custody. 1. More directly it translates to ¡®come and bite me then¡¯. When I looked it up on the internet someone said the correct response is ¡®I don¡¯t eat shit.¡¯ Lol Book 2, Chapter 36 - Forcibly Remanded Chapter 36 - Forcibly Remanded Dawn frantically dragged Cloudhawk back to the commander¡¯s mansion. When she got there she heaved a sigh of excited relief. It felt good to give it to that ice cube, Frost de Winter. ¡°You¡¯ve brought him back fast. Damn right you¡¯re my granddaughter. Ha ha ha ha!¡± Skye Polaris charged at them like a grizzly bear, with the valorous posture only a general could command. He peered regally down at the unconscious form of Cloudhawk and his face hardened. This idiot thief who dared to steal from him was going to be taught a painful lesson. ¡°Wait¡­ this one¡¯s different.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care where he came from. He chose to mess with my family, he has to die.¡± Skye Polaris was getting on in years, but his explosive fury was no less potent. It was so powerful it imprinted on the soul of his family, intractable and eternal. ¡°Let me finish first, will you?!¡± Dawn barked the sentence at her grandfather. It caused him to freeze but resentfully grow quiet. She went on to explain to him in detail everything she¡¯d heard and seen and his face gradually swapped anger for surprise. A lot had happened in the city and he was just now hearing about it. ¡°Get someone, call Mr. Ink!¡± An oddly dressed man appeared in the mansion¡¯s main hall. He didn¡¯t look very old, maybe thirty or forty years old. A mask covered half of his face and he was dressed in all dark grey tones. As he walked toward them not a single sound arose like he was hardly more than a spirit. Mr. Ink approached Cloudhawk and gave the unconscious man a cursory glance. He reached out a hand and gently slapped his kneecap, retracting with it a hair-thin needle caught between his fingers. Mr. Ink then brought the needle close and inspected it for a few moment. ¡°These are Arcturus Cloude¡¯s lightning needles. He¡¯s the only one who can do this.¡± The old man already knew that answer. He pressed for more personal concerns. ¡°How is he? Crippled?¡± Mr. Ink examined Cloudhawk more closely and then answered. ¡°With wounds like this the chances are significant. However, it appears Lord Arcturus was not deliberately trying to butcher him. Also this young man has a unique constitution ¨C certainly not typical. His wounds are serious but nothing out of the scope of a little treatment. I suspect he can be repaired with minimal permanent impact.¡± ¡°Fine, then I leave him to you.¡± While Mr. Ink plucked out the remaining needles, Skye Polaris scratched his beard and looked at Cloudhawk. Interest glimmered in his eyes, there was something special about this one if Lord Arcturus got personally involved. ¡°This one¡¯s got balls. He broke into the Polaris family home to steal, then turned right around and burned down the governor¡¯s mansion.¡± Dawn thought she was the most lawless and reckless person in the city. Compared to this one she was a master of etiquette. ¡°Unique at least. It would be a shame to waste him. Leave him with me to play with for a while, what do you think?¡± ¡°Play, what the hell is he a toy?¡± He fiddled with his beard and shot her a sidelong glance. ¡°If we want soldiers we have soldiers, horses we got horses. But the one thing that¡¯s hard to come by is people of real talent. The Cloude family has all of them. You¡¯re right that killing him outright would be a shame. He¡¯s rough, but he makes a good sculpting block. Actually¡­¡± Just then a sound arose from outside. One of the soldiers burst and immediately went to his knee before the commander. ¡°Sir, Governor Arcturus is here!¡± Dawn¡¯s pretty face revealed surprise. ¡°This fast? How?!¡± Her grandfather rose to his feet with a grunt, lumbering like a great big bear but with the stately command of a dragon. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with him, bring the kid below. Let me greet our friend from the Cloude family.¡± A few minutes later Arcturus Cloude strode into the room. He was flanked on either side by Augustus and Frost de Winter. Augustus¡¯s expression was dark and intractable, while Frost de Winter was seething with fury. The governor led them, clad in a simple grey robe and with the same professorial calm as always. His salt-and-pepper hair was meticulously groomed without a strand out of place, and he looked at them with soft but penetrating eyes ¨C as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. The commander and the governor, two men in stark contrast, faced each other from across the room. Skycloud¡¯s chief military commander wore his emotions out in the open, and most who caught his eyes immediately started trembling at the knees. He wasn¡¯t a man, beneath the skin he was a wild beast. Up close it felt like he could bite them at any moment. The governor stood as light and lazy as the clouds. Everything about him showed perfect self-control and constraint. To anyone that didn¡¯t know him the governor was the image of an amiable scholar. Bathed in the imperiousness that flowed from Skye Polaris, Augustus and Frost de Winter both felt they were pierced by needles. In fact walking toward him was like fighting a current, it sapped the energy from you and the sense of danger was stifling. If the two other men were described as boulders suffering the surge of a river, then Arcturus Cloude was like a net. All the force of the commander¡¯s presence washed through him like he wasn¡¯t there. The net didn¡¯t budge, especially when it was closing in. ¡°Haha, governor! It¡¯s been quite a while!¡± Skye Polaris bellowed at them as he lumbered forward, his face wide and inviting like he was greeting old friends. ¡°I heard your mansion burned down! Ahh, terrible thing. News of it is all over the city. All those tax records ¨C what a mess. They didn¡¯t all go up in flames, did they?¡± ¡°Be at ease, commander. There was some slight damage but nothing worth mentioning. We always keep backups of important documents so the matter isn¡¯t serious.¡± Lord Arcturus smiled graciously and nodded his head. He certainly looked as unconcerned as he sounded, treating it more like someone had broken one of his cups. He went on. ¡°Actually I¡¯d heard someone broke into your home a few days ago and stole some things. Young Miss Dawn suffered no insignificant loss. Has the culprit been found?¡± ¡°Hah hah, ah! Our governor surely is well informed. Just a petty thief, eh? If we wanted we could snap him up without a problem, but what concern is it of a commander?¡± ¡°On the contrary you shouldn¡¯t take this lightly. Stealing into the home of an official puts sensitive government documents at risk. An intruder in the home of our highest military officer puts our whole domain at risk. As governor, I¡¯m duty bound to see to this matter personally.¡± ¡°Relax. I¡¯ll make sure I find this thief.¡± That wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Any scapegoat could be conjured up. ¡°Actually I¡¯ve already managed to trace the contraband. It was found with a group of seditious renegades, though under the direction of a mastermind. I also heard that there was some trouble at the prison, that all of the prisoners escaped through the city¡¯s tunnel system. More than a few of them were decreed public enemies by The temple. I have reason to believe that the one who stole from you is the same person who instigated these terrorist acts.¡± Skye Polaris¡¯s face darkened. ¡°That is a matter I promise the Temple takes very seriously.¡± His tones were even, never fast nor slow. Sincerity seemed to coat every word. ¡°I look forward to the commander¡¯s help in apprehending this criminal. We must be vigilant. We wouldn¡¯t want to learn of mistakes ¨C for instance, harboring criminals. That would certainly draw the ire of the Temple and they would demand an explanation.¡± The last few words stripped the jovial mask from Skye Polaris¡¯s face. The old fox was clever as he ever was. It¡¯d taken him no time to learn of the break in, even tracing it. He even brought it to the Temple. It wasn¡¯t a serious problem, not yet. He had to wait and see what the governor chose to do with this information. Theft from the home of the commander was a real threat to national security. What¡¯s more, evidence of that break in was found in the hands of an illegal organization. It was enough to fuel suspicion that important military documents had been leaked. The same person was also responsible for the jail break. It was perfect fuel for whatever Arcturus Cloude¡¯s aim was. ¡°The governor speaks and the commander listens, what else can we expect? But there is something else, I hoped I might ask for some help.¡± ¡°Speak your mind, commander.¡± Skye Polaris danced around it. His tone became thoughtful. ¡°I did come across a young man, one I thought could be turned into someone useful. I wondered what could he have done to earn such hate from the governor? Kid¡¯s barely an adult, not a day in Skycloud City. A man of your stature, I¡¯m surprised you took such a personal interest at all. I figured he must know something he isn¡¯t supposed to. Just¡­ something that makes me curious.¡± Frost de Winter could no longer restrain himself and stepped forward. ¡°Cloudhawk is an agent of a demon. Shielding him is an affront to the gods!¡± ¡°A demon agent? That¡¯s quite the accusation! If you say he is, I guess I¡¯d have to ask for proof. Do you have any? Proof? Has he been afforded any trial? Maybe ¡®I am a demon spy¡¯ is carved on his forehead? I must¡¯ve missed it. It seems to me he¡¯s condemned on your word alone ¨C you say he¡¯s a spy and that gives you the right to make him disappear. Is that right?¡± Frost de Winter took another half a step forward as his anger boiled over. ¡°You-!¡± Lord Arcturus cut him off with a wave, then turned his eyes on the commander. ¡°Are you sure you want to protect him?¡± ¡°Your family has always been rich in talent. Three masters in one generation, leaders of their field and knitted into the city¡¯s landscape, even the Temple. And at your side is more than just Augustus. You have Selene, Zephyr, Frost de Winter, and more. Your family has control of eighty percent of the domain¡¯s demonhunters and more hidden agents than I can count. My family only has Dawn to put forth. Good seeds are hard to come by, do you think I¡¯d let one go? I¡¯ve already thought about it ¨C he should be sent to Hell Valley. The gods will decide his fate. If he dies then so be it, but if he lives then he belongs to the Polaris family!¡± Beyond expectations Lord Arcturus did not seem to take long to consider. ¡°Very well. Seeing as the commander is adamant, I¡¯d be happy to oblige. We¡¯ll be going.¡± Frost de Winter couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Master, but-¡° ¡°Come.¡± Frost de Winter couldn¡¯t grasp what had come over his master. He had the upper hand! No one was a match for Lord Arcturus in this sort of verbal contest, so why did he give in? Book 2, Chapter 37 - The Price to Pay Chapter 37 - The Price to Pay ¡°Come out.¡± When Dawn approached, there was surprise in her platinum eyes. She¡¯d expected at least a heated exchange, maybe even the promise of a long-standing conflict between their families. Instead it all was resolved in a few words. Lord Arcturus seemed cool and refined, but in reality he was a difficult character. Dawn followed her own rules and paid little care to authority. But even though there were many in the city without clout and prestige, the one she never dared cross was Arcturus Cloude. She could hardly believe their exchange, it seemed uncharacteristic of the governor. Could Lord Arcturus have other plans? Skye Polaris said something the young woman didn¡¯t understand. ¡°You¡¯re too young to understand Arcturus Cloude. His decision shows he thinks things can still turn his way. It¡¯s fine, go check on the kid.¡± Cloudhawk gradually awoke from the coma, and the first thing he saw was the ornate ceiling. Gold dust had been used to draw out beautiful pieces of art, canonical scenes that were skillfully and beautifully made. Where was he? Cloudhawk wanted to get up but the wounds Arcturus had caused were not gone. He felt like a thousand ants were crawling over him, biting his skin. Three people were standing by the foot of the bed talking. He recognized Dawn at a glance ¨C but hadn¡¯t he been captured by Frost de Winter? Why would he suddenly be here? Mr. Ink cast a sidelong glance toward where Cloudhawk lay, then spoke to the older master. ¡°My medicine has already begun to have an effect. It looks like he¡¯s awakened.¡± Skye Polaris clearly had deep respect for the man who addressed him. ¡°Thank you for your efforts.¡± Mr. Ink clasped his hands respectfully before his chest, then retreated a few steps. The elderly man didn¡¯t immediately speak. It was Dawn who approached Cloudhawk first, giving him a chance to see her more clearly. She was about a hundred and seventy centimeters tall and shunned armor for a simple white warrior¡¯s robe. Her platinum blonde hair hung loose and orderly around her shoulders. She was so white. Unnaturally white, but not sickly. A beautiful woman¡¯s skin was oft described as alike to creamy white jade, but she seemed carved from it. Not only was she abnormally white, but there were no visible pores either and her skin shone with a gentle glow. This beautiful woman, standing there unmoving, was like a noble and tempestuous goddess. Her arms were folded in front of her chest as she glared daggers at Cloudhawk. ¡°You¡¯re in my hands now, little thief. If you have anything to say for yourself, say it now!¡± Cloudhawk still hadn¡¯t regained his bearings. ¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss, Dawn.¡± Skye Polaris¡¯s towering form appeared beside her. As he approached, Cloudhawk felt his aura wash over him, like he was being crushed beneath the weight of a mountain. He was making an effort to be friendly, but his fierce features made that difficult. ¡°You nearly died. Luckily, Dawn brought you here and we saved your life. You¡¯re in the home of Skycloud¡¯s commander-in-chief. I believe you¡¯ve been here before.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what a ¡®commander-in-chief¡¯ was and his face showed no change in expression. ¡°Oh,¡± was his response. Then he closed his eyes and laid back. ¡°Are you going to kill me?¡± ¡°Kill you? That would be far too simple! I could kill you with one finger, but if I was going to do that why would I risk offending that old fox, Arcturus?¡± Skye Polaris paid no mind to Cloudhawk¡¯s lack of respect. ¡°Alright, tell me what is going on. Why cause all this trouble for the governor?¡± Saving him from the hands of Arcturus Cloude was no small thing, but Cloudhawk had to wonder what his motives were. He had no way to tell what the old man really wanted, but by now he had no reason to hide what happened out in the wastelands. So, he told him. ¡°So that¡¯s what all this is about¡­¡± Now he understood. The old commander heaved a breath. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t give any more thought to Selene. This matter is much more complicated than you know.¡± ¡°How has she not died yet!¡± At the mere mention of Selene¡¯s name Dawn¡¯s whole body went rigid. Like a snake coming face to face with a mongoose, or a spider freezing under the shadow of a bird. Her hands clenched tight into fists. ¡°She ran from this city because she was afraid to face me. She never gave me a chance to break our stalemate when I got back from the sanctuary, but I am the greatest talent in the whole domain!¡± Clearly there was something going on between Dawn and Selene, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give a shit. ¡°Lord Arcturus really is working with demons, isn¡¯t he.¡± ¡°As I said, it¡¯s complicated and way above your pay grade. The answer wouldn¡¯t mean anything to you.¡± Skye Polaris knew something, but he wasn¡¯t going to say it. Still, his reaction was interesting. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not the sort to beat around the bush. Let¡¯s get to the point. You stole from my family and the fact that you¡¯re still breathing goes against my usual temperament. Saving you might also have put us at odds with the governor ¨C I hope you understand how serious this is.¡± ¡°Well I¡¯ve lived a pretty shit life,¡± Cloudhawk replied. How was he supposed to repay him? ¡°If you want it, just go ahead and take it.¡± ¡°Gladly! But it isn¡¯t your life I¡¯m after.¡± The grizzled man chuckled. ¡°You seem like a gifted kid, that¡¯s why I kept you from Arcturus. From now on you¡¯re a soldier. I¡¯m going to send you to Skycloud¡¯s best training outfit to get you polished, then when you get back you¡¯ll serve our family to pay back what you stole.¡± Any pretense of friendship was gone. Skye Polaris definitely seemed like someone with influence and had a breadth of talented people at his command. Why save him? Cloudhawk had some real skill but it was limited. He felt like finding someone more capable than him here in the city was as easy as plucking someone out of a crowd. The old man had called him a soldier. Did that mean they were going to put him in the army? Any way you looked at him Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the army type, nor was he one of the faithful. So how was he supposed to make a good soldier? ¡°I¡¯m a wastelander, I don¡¯t believe in your gods.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you aren¡¯t joining the conventional troops. Instead, you¡¯re going to be a hand in the shadows. There are regulars and irregulars, those who live in the radiance of the gods and others who have never seen the light. In this world justice needs to be protected, but there are some evils that are necessary.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Put it this way. There are some less glorious missions a normal soldier can¡¯t do, and a member of the family can¡¯t be involved in. That¡¯s where people like you come in. Any family or organization has a group that do what others can¡¯t. Sometimes special situations require special tactics.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t afraid I¡¯ll escape?¡± ¡°Feel free! Only, there¡¯s a slow acting poison I had Mr. Ink inject you with while you were unconscious. It¡¯ll stay in your system for five years or so, and every six months you¡¯re going to feel a reaction. Without the antidote, it will kill you. You¡¯re going to pay me back one way or another. Either you work or the poison will make sure you pay another way.¡± Dawn was clearly displeased with his punishment. ¡°Why rely on such sleazy methods? It¡¯s disgraceful!¡± Skye Polaris disagreed. ¡°This is us handling the matter once and for all. Five years is practically nothing!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not strong enough,¡± Cloudhawk responded. ¡°You are just unpolished, that¡¯s all. It doesn¡¯t matter. With the right materials you can cast a fine sword.¡± He went on. ¡°This training is the perfect furnace. You could throw the most useless piece of trash inside, and so long as they live they come out able to hold their own.¡± He¡¯d had this planned all along! Refusing the old man¡¯s ¡®generous¡¯ offer was the same as accepting death by poison. Anyway, could he carve a place out for himself in the elysian lands any longer? If he left Skycloud, where would he go? He thought he was going to die, and once he stopped breathing all his problems would be over. But he didn¡¯t and there was no reason to go out looking for it. ¡°I have one condition.¡± This idiot had the gall to make demands? He¡¯d be dead if it weren¡¯t for the old man! Skye Polaris was clearly annoyed, but he still asked. ¡°What is it? We¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°The Bloomnettle Company is innocent. Leave them alone.¡± This took Skye Polaris by surprise. He¡¯d expected the kid to demand something that would benefit him, but instead he used his last bit of leeway for others. The grizzled soldier scowled as he thought it over. It wasn¡¯t an easy request, but after a few moments he answered. ¡°I can think up ways to pardon everyone except that one called Squall. But they won¡¯t be able to stay here in the city. They¡¯ll have to live the rest of their lives out in the villages.¡± That was enough. Cloudhawk knew there was nothing but darkness in Squall¡¯s future. He was publicly convicted of crimes against the domain and was saved by a suspected demon spy. Nothing was going to clean those stains off his name. The rest of his family knew nothing about it and could be forgiven. Cloudhawk would never forget the image of Squall disappearing into the darkness of the tunnels. The guy¡¯s world had been turned upside down overnight, but there wasn¡¯t anything Cloudhawk could do to help him. His quick and quiet acceptance pleased Skye Polaris. Young men like him were increasingly harder to find. The city was full of soldiers, but they were inflexible. After studying Cloudhawk¡¯s actions over the last few days he knew the kid was the sort that would do whatever it takes to reach his goal. This sort of diamond in the rough was exactly what Skycloud¡¯s army was lacking! ¡°Dawn, take him to go get ready. Tonight we¡¯re bringing him to meet someone.¡± ¡°Who? Where?¡± ¡°The governor¡¯s mansion. We have an appointment with Arcturus Cloude!¡± Cloudhawk froze solid. Was this old man insane? Arcturus Cloude wanted to kill him and they were going to march him right through that bastard¡¯s front door. Nevertheless, Skye Polaris seemed unconcerned. He knew the governor wouldn¡¯t do anything untoward. Dawn didn¡¯t care one iota what Cloudhawk thought. Once he¡¯d recovered some, Dawn dragged him toward the family carriage. They left directly for the governor¡¯s mansion. Skye Polaris explained that this wasn¡¯t his idea, but that they were coming at Arcturus Cloude¡¯s invitation. He wanted to meet this young wastelander face to face. Book 2, Chapter 38 - Entertaining Guests Chapter 38 - Entertaining Guests The carriage was a fine one, cast in copper plating. The animals that hauled it were fine animals, elk with pure white fur. The company was fine company, a woman of stunning beauty. Dawn had exchanged her warrior robes for a formal party gown. Beautifully sculpted legs appeared from within the folds from time to time. Her curly platinum hair had been painstakingly plaited and arranged atop her head. From head to toe, from inside out, the young woman exuded the air of a princess¡­ that is, except for the sword she held close to her chest. Even attending a banquet, Dawn wouldn¡¯t be without a sword by her side. The long and wide blade was embraced by a gem-encrusted sheath to match her regal appearance and she held it close. The pressure squeezed her full bosom, resulting in an eye-catching display. Cloudhawk sat across from her, rigid and uncomfortable. His fear was only in part because they were on their way to meet Arcturus Cloude. The rest of it came from the hard glare Dawn had been giving him ever since they left the commander¡¯s mansion. Her glittering jewel-like eyes seemed to pierce right through him. At last she spoke. ¡°Let me ask you a question.¡± When the tension broke, Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Dawn sat up straight, forcing her chest to jut forward. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m attractive?¡± It was not a question he expected from a woman like her. ¡°You¡¯re pretty.¡± Her eyebrows shot up in indignation. ¡°What kind of answer is that?!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand this lady. What did she mean? Did he give the wrong answer somehow? Maybe she didn¡¯t like compliments, she was mostly crazy after all. ¡°¡¯Pretty¡¯ is the only word you have to describe someone who looks like me?¡± She spoke to him with accusatory and demeaning tones. ¡°¡¯A beauty to overthrow mountains¡¯, or ¡®as gorgeous as the faeries of legend.¡¯ Maybe ¡®a face that would shame the sun¡¯, or even just ¡®unparalleled beauty¡¯ would do! That¡¯s how I expect you to answer the next time. Otherwise, you can expect me to beat the shit out of you.¡± Cloudhawk just scowled. He¡¯d known more than a few shameless people, but no one like her. If he had thought it wouldn¡¯t end in his immediate death, he¡¯d reach out and smack her in her big mouth. ¡°Alright, now that we have that out of the way I have another question.¡± Her displeasure with his first answer was only half-hearted. She went on. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m more attractive than Selene?¡± What kind of fucking question was this?! How was he supposed to answer? Before he could make up his mind Dawn¡¯s hand went to the hilt of her sword. A dangerous light burned in her eyes. ¡°I advise you to think very carefully about your answer, otherwise¡­¡± What was the point of asking if she was just going to threaten him? Was she actually mentally unstable? Physically, Selene and Dawn were about the same. If he were forced to choose one, Cloudhawk still had a preference for Selene. After all, the two had spent a significant amount of time together out in the wastelands. Beyond her outward beauty, Selene also had an inner charm he¡¯d uncovered. Of course, right now Cloudhawk was afraid this she-devil would stab him with her sword if he gave the wrong answer. ¡°You are, slightly.¡± Slightly?! This was not what she wanted to hear! ¡°And between the two of us, which one has more ability?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t answer that question, I¡¯ve never seen you fight.¡± Dawn realized he was right. When she fought with Frost de Winter, Cloudhawk was already unconscious. Anyway, how could anyone tell someone¡¯s skills in such a short skirmish? Regardless, Dawn was certain she was better than Selene Cloude. She was hiding out in the wastelands because she was too scared to answer her challenge! ¡°Not bad. At least you¡¯re honest!¡± She peered down her nose at him. ¡°If you make it out of Hell Valley you can be my manservant. That¡¯ll annoy that snobby harlot to no end. What do you think?¡± She knew that Cloudhawk¡¯s relationship with Selene was more than just a passing acquaintance. Stealing him away would be a good way to piss the bitch off. Cloudhawk was just confused. What sort of grudge was going on between these two women? He could almost hear Dawn grind her teeth any time Selene was mentioned. He guessed that she must have been insulted by Selene somehow. Winners didn¡¯t bother with the ones they beat, only losers held on to resentment. Especially arrogant people like her. ¡°Nah.¡± ¡°What was that? Say it again!¡± Dawn¡¯s good mood soured in an instant. ¡°Do you think that old man back at the house is a softie? Heaven knows what sorts of suicide missions he¡¯d send you on. As my manservant, not only would you have the pleasure of seeing an incomparable beauty every day, you get to live in the lap of luxury like me. It¡¯d be better than pointlessly risking your life every day.¡± ¡°I said no. No means no!¡± Cloudhawk would have none of it. A manservant? Slave would be more like it! Putting aside the fact that she looked down on him like an insect, arrogant people like her were precisely the kind that Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stand. Dawn couldn¡¯t believe this insufferable bumpkin would refuse her. ¡°There are very few people in Skycloud City who would dare refuse me. Do you understand the consequences of turning me down?¡± Cloudhawk had always been a feisty one, and neither was he the sort to fold easy. With things as they were he stood steadfast by his opinion. ¡°It doesn¡¯t take any skill to push people around all day. What gives you the right to make anyone serve you?¡± Dawn¡¯s mouth nearly fell open. Just the fact that this lowly wastelander cretin is sharing a carriage with me is a gift from the gods. On top of that I¡¯m ready to make him my sidekick ¨C people would line up for the chance! And he says no! I simply can¡¯t believe that me ¨C a lady of House Polaris, the youngest templar in Skycloud history ¨C isn¡¯t enough for a redneck like you. Well, just you wait and see! Their carriage arrived at the governor¡¯s mansion. The sky was already dark as they stepped out. The mansion was lit up by a host of light. Above in the night sky one could see the faint outlines of winged seraphs, flying to and fro like busy worker bees. These puppets left behind by the gods had no capacity for thought aside from maintaining the city. Any time a building was damaged they showed up and set to work repairing it. The fire damage to the governor¡¯s home was extensive. It caused more than a little irritation to its occupants. However, it wasn¡¯t irreparable. The seraphs worked diligently and the parts they finished looked good as new. Damage to the items inside was also nothing to be concerned about since Lord Arcturus was a fastidious man. There were backup copies of every important document held off site, so the impact of losing the originals was minimal. The mansion¡¯s main gates were open and an inviting red carpet led the way inside. House guards stood on either side like statues. At the entrance a portly middle-aged man with squinty eyes and a kind smile was waiting to greet the guests as they arrived. ¡°Welcome, mistress Polaris. Please, come in.¡± ¡°Thank you, uncle Clay.¡± The amiable man was manager of the governor¡¯s mansion, Clay Cloude. He was an important man in the mansion who typically preferred to handle things out of the spotlight. He was always seen with a welcoming smile like his face just wasn¡¯t capable of expressing anger. In truth, even the likes of Skye Polaris feared him a little. Simply put, it was never safe to scorn a member of the Cloude family. [1] Dawn gave Cloudhawk brief introductions of the people they passed while she led him into the banquet hall. To him it felt like a dream, just yesterday he was running through the halls setting things on fire. Frost de Winter and Arcturus Cloude had almost killed him. Now he was waltzing in through the front door. It didn¡¯t matter who you were, that was a hard shift to get one¡¯s head around. The mansion¡¯s banquet hall was huge, it took a total of one hundred and forty lanterns to illuminate the whole thing. Each of the mystical light sources produced a different image, but the largest was in the center. It released a sea of glimmering sand that roiled overhead like clouds. People took their seats in accordance to status, perched on beautiful chairs carved from purple heart wood. All manner of delicacies had been arranged on the table and attendants stood patiently beside each guest. Meanwhile, a group of musicians entertained the crowd as beautiful women danced. All of it just made Cloudhawk more uncomfortable. Shit, we¡¯re just here to eat some food. What¡¯s with all this nonsense? Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes landed on a grey-headed man at the head of the table. Despite his simple attire and a lack of any sort of aura, Cloudhawk knew right away he was Skycloud¡¯s governor. Lord Arcturus regarded everything with a perfectly even gaze, like the mirror surface of an ancient well. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of anger in them, in fact he looked as though he was enjoying himself. Smile never once faltering, the mansion¡¯s overseer led Dawn and Cloudhawk to their seats. They had places arranged on the left side of the banquet table near the front. ¡°Please,¡± he said, indicating the chairs. ¡°It seems everyone has arrived.¡± If Cloudhawk was half a moron he¡¯d still recognize how strange this whole situation was. He¡¯d gone from a public enemy to a guest in his accuser¡¯s home. Ten other people had been invited to attend, including the one face Cloudhawk was entirely sick of seeing, Frost de Winter. Also present was Old Thistle¡¯s killer, Augustus, who he loathed though they¡¯d never personally met. There were no ordinary folks here. Cloudhawk could feel the pressure bearing down on him from all sides. If Lord Arcturus decided to stop this farce, there wasn¡¯t anything Dawn was going to do to stop him. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. If I wanted you dead you¡¯d have stopped breathing already.¡± Lord Arcturus stood with a smile on his face and a drink in his hand. ¡°Cloudhawk, is that right? I¡¯m surprised at your age. Today we¡¯ll share this cup and put aside our quarrels.¡± Once he stood everyone else also rose to their feet. Frost de Winter never took his cruel eyes off Cloudhawk. The banquet officially commenced and they set about eating without any concern, just like any other feast. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t sense an ounce of threat, not from Lord Arcturus at least. Is he really gonna leave me alone? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t inclined to believe it. It went on for an hour. Although all the food was spectacular, Cloudhawk¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t in it. Suspicious, he hardly ate anything by the time their dinner started to wind down. Lord Arcturus addressed him. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Let¡¯s take a walk in the garden, what do you think? We can discuss this matter between us.¡± When she heard the suggestion, Dawn wanted to rise in protest. Governor Arcturus passed his eyes over her in the briefest of glances, but it was enough to steal the protests from her throat. Cloudhawk, on the other hand, had a litany of questions he wanted answers to. Lord Arcturus was strong enough that he could kill who he wanted without the need for dancing around. Now that the invitation was given, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to disgrace himself by being timid. ¡°Good.¡± The two rose and left the banquet hall together. 1. ¡®The petite cloud family had no fuel-efficient lanterns.¡¯ So according to some guy on the internet to describe someone as a non-efficient lantern harkens back to the days before electricity. Lanterns that used oil were exclusive of families that had enough money to waste oil on lights. In a round-about, then, describing someone this way denotes them as a person of means and ability. Chinese is f¡¯in weird, yo. (Xiao Lai is now on twitter and instagram! Follow him @xiaolaiwxw for insights into translating and Chinese medicine theory.) Book 2, Chapter 39 - Currying Favor Chapter 39 - Currying Favor The governor¡¯s mansion. The gardens. Lord Arcturus stood across from the young man. He was born to a desolate place, lowly and uneducated, and looked at everything like a dullard. However, facing the man who could kill him ¨C in fact, who had tried to kill him not long before ¨C Cloudhawk stood without pride or pretense. Calm, unmoved. He was certainly quite a special child. ¡°Truth be told, I¡¯m impressed. Your actions yesterday were something to behold.¡± Lord Arcturus spread his hands, voice even, elegant as ever. There was no fluctuation in the way he spoke. ¡°I know the kind of woman Selene is. Her pride runs to the bone, deeper than even Frost de Winter¡¯s. She also has a good eye for talent. Those she trusts must be special in some way.¡± ¡°So you decide to kill me, to keep me quiet,¡± Cloudhawk tepidly replied. ¡°That¡¯s right. Killing people like you is, without question, the correct decision.¡± He said it without an ounce of anger, just matter-of-fact. ¡°This matter with Selene has far reaching implications. I made this choice in order to maintain peace and stability in Skycloud City. A normal citizen can never understand the weight of responsibility that lies on a governor¡¯s shoulders. We must have a view of the whole landscape. Decisions are made based on the big picture ¨C even if they are sometimes contrary to our own desires. Is this not so?¡± Cloudhawk frowned. ¡°Big picture? What big picture?¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t understand? Selene raced off to the wastelands to hunt her demon. She went alone, without aid or backup. Does this not seem odd?¡± In truth, it was a question that Cloudhawk had puzzled over before. Selene Cloude¡¯s family was powerful, with command of a great many demonhunters. Surely they could have spared a few? Why did they simply sit calmly by as she went out on a suicide mission? Against someone like the Caliph of the Sands, ten or twenty more demonhunters wouldn¡¯t have been overkill. Admittedly he was curious. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story, one that involves the reputation of our family we are not eager to disclose. However, things being as they are, I might as well share it with you.¡± When he began his tale, for the first time this inscrutable man¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of disquiet. ¡°My younger brother, Baldur, was always an exceptionally talented man. He held the post of Knight-Commander for the Order of Demonhunters and led the entire force. Here in Skycloud, he was a giant among men, with brilliant prospects that stretched far into the future. Then he had a daughter whose talent was just as vast, only later¡­ he was led astray.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand. Baldur Cloude was a renowned master demonhunter, what could he have done? ¡°You heard correctly. Baldur was privately in contact with demonkin. More than once he was implicated in plots to have the citizens of our city killed. The Temple had concrete evidence of this, but when they tried to bring him in for a trial Baldur caught wind. He fled, another indication that he¡¯d thrown his lot in with demons.¡± Cloudhawk was surprised by the revelation. A demonhunter caught colluding with demons, and fleeing when he was discovered? If this were true the news would have spread all over Skycloud. ¡°What happened afterwards to my brother remains a mystery. Perhaps he knew too much and the demons saw him as a threat. Or maybe there was some other dispute with his new masters. All we know is that in the end he fought them and lost. This is how this all began.¡± Laughable, Cloudhawk thought. Lord Arcturus story was too clumsy. Was he trying to paint Selene¡¯s father as a traitor, now? The governor continued. ¡°Baldur was my brother and the pride of our family. More than that, he was a celebrated master demonhunter. If word of his betrayal got out the consequences could be ruinous. So, in order to preserve order, we doctored a story that he was lured into a trap and murdered.¡± Cloudhawk found it all rather hard to believe. Lord Arcturus saw it in his face. ¡°Think back to the time you spent with Selene. Recall the details.¡± The wastelander knit his brows. He remembered that every time her father was mentioned there was a thirst for vengeance, but also shame. If a demonhunter really did die hunting his prey, there was no cause for humiliation. It would be their highest honor. Why, then, was she so torn up with grief? Why would she violate the laws of Skycloud and her order, give up her bright future and seek vengeance? At the time Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care, it was none of his business. But thinking back on it now, this had to be the reason. This sort of thing created chaos. The normal folk could be shielded from it, but Selene had to have known. Yet she didn¡¯t believe it, nor could she bear the disgrace. That was why she decided to leave for the wasteland, so that she could learn the truth and put down her father¡¯s killer. Once she knew the truth she¡¯d reveal it to the whole domain. The problem was this evidence they had tying Baldur to the demons. It left no room for doubt, and there was no way for her to clear her father¡¯s name. She couldn¡¯t be allowed to come back with anything that contradicted it, or it would only make matters worse! The government of Skycloud kept the news of Selene¡¯s violation from the public. As far as they knew she¡¯d been locked away in training or had been sent away somewhere on a mission. Cloudhawk¡¯s return was exactly the sort of news they didn¡¯t want. What he knew was precisely what they feared. Killing him to keep that information from getting out was the only option! It made sense, but something still didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°I can see that you¡¯re smart and talented. What you lack is training, guidance.¡± Lord Arcturus spoke earnestly. ¡°Would you be amenable to working for me, as one of my assistants? I can offer you whatever Skye Polaris has proposed and more. I swear to help you cultivate your potential and become one of Skycloud¡¯s most celebrated demonhunters.¡± The offer struck Cloudhawk deeply. How could it not? This calm and intelligent man was widely accepted as the greatest demonhunter in all the holy lands. He was solely responsible for molding Frost de Winter into the powerhouse he was at such a young age. Cloudhawk was human. He yearned for power and capability the same as anyone else. But faces flashed across his memory then. Squall. Selene Cloude. Old Thistle and the others. This man who gave off such a sense of geniality and trustworthiness¡­ could he really be believed? As a child of the wastelands, Cloudhawk had never experienced intrigue like this. But he knew human nature, how ugly and pessimistic they could be. He¡¯d seen enough of that to leave an impression. Appearances. He wouldn¡¯t fall for it this time. [1] The terrible things that happened to Squall were not performed by Lord Arcturus, but he was still responsible. Killing innocent, devout people without a blink ¨C Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t do that. ¡°I¡¯m tired of this whole mess. All I want is to be a normal guy, living a normal life. I appreciate the governor¡¯s kindness, but I have an agreement with General Polaris. I¡¯ll work for a little while and buy my freedom.¡± Lord Arcturus nodded his head, but he sighed and the edges of his eyes crinkled slightly. ¡°It is never a good thing for youth to seek leisure. For some, destiny demands a difficult road. You can avoid it for a time, but you cannot run from fate. However I respect your decision, but know that the offer remains if one day you should change your mind. My door will always be open to you.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s countenance visibly changed. His words were moving. Governor Arcturuswas a man above all others, respected and revered by the people and protector of the city. This man - rich in power and prestige, of title and right - regarded Cloudhawk with patience and an open mind. The young wastelander was struck by it. However, he knew that manipulative power of the governor, and Cloudhawk rightfully feared him. This fear was different from any other he had ever felt. The difference between them wasn¡¯t just in physical ability. The difference there could be seen at a glance. The gulf of intelligence between them was vague and unknown, but Cloudhawk felt like he was staring out into an unfathomably vast ocean as he stood across from this man. On the surface was tranquility, but who knew how deadly the currents beneath really were, or what dangers hid in the water. If Cloudhawk agreed to Arcturus¡¯ offer, who knew how long it would be before he was totally brainwashed. He figured it would be only a short time before he was completely loyal to the man. Something seemed to occur to Lord Arcturus then. ¡°As for the matter with Selene, I¡¯ve been very forthcoming. I hope I can trust you to remain discrete. After all, this is in order to protect the security of our city¡¯s people. Sometimes sacrifices are necessary, but in return the majority gets to live in peace and well-being. It¡¯s as crucial as it is unavoidable.¡± Cloudhawk was certainly not interested in causing any more problems for himself. ¡°I won¡¯t tell a soul.¡± Dawn tracked Cloudhawk down and gathered him up to go. She asked for information as they walked back out toward the carriage. ¡°What did that old fox say to you?¡± Cloudhawk only shared Arcturus¡¯s offer to come work for the governor¡¯s mansion. Her lily-white face darkened into a scowl. ¡°That¡¯s one no-good snake! Don¡¯t forget that you owe the Polaris family for what you stole. You¡¯re not going anywhere till you pay off your debt!¡± Lord Arcturus stood alone among the finely cultivated plants of his garden. The soft sounds of footsteps approached. Frost de Winter stopped by his master¡¯s side and in humble tones ask him. ¡°Master, your student has a question.¡± ¡°You want to know why I¡¯m letting him go, and why I tried to bring him into the fold.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even if he is under Skye Polaris¡¯s protection, I have ways to deal with Cloudhawk, but he¡¯s not worth antagonizing the general¡¯s family over. As for my offer? Remember that sometimes the most effective way to deal with an entrenched enemy is to make them your friend.¡± Frost did not like the answer. Friend? How was such a base and unworthy person even to be considered? Lord Arcturus sensed the dissatisfaction in his disciple¡¯s posture. ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times not to look down on anyone, or to underestimate their potential. Cloudhawk has as much aptitude as anyone else in this city. He just had the misfortune of being born where no one would teach him. From today forward, you are forbidden from seeking him out to cause trouble.¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s brows furrowed tight. His response was quiet. ¡°I obey.¡± 1. omg thank you Book 2, Chapter 40 - Strange Little Bird Chapter 40 - Strange Little Bird Cloudhawk looked into exactly what Hell Valley was about. Put simply, it was a secret training location. Reputedly, it was a dangerous place where every year the best families and organizations sent their brightest young members. Some were family heirs with great potential, others were particularly talented members of an organization¡¯s lower ranks. There was only one thing that was certain. Everyone who was sent to Hell Valley was more than just capable, they were ready to die. The rate of deaths during the cultivation process was staggeringly high, but anyone who survived emerged as a finely honed tool for whoever sent them. The hope that Cloudhawk would survive to become a powerful soldier was the reason Skye Polaris saved him. A decision like that for a man like Skye Polaris wasn¡¯t made off the cuff. Advantages and disadvantages were weighed, and in the end he chose to make the investment. Cloudhawk figured the training camp would be dangerous, but to what degree took him by surprise. Skye Polaris wasn¡¯t doing Cloudhawk any favors, for if he died out there it wouldn¡¯t make any difference. If he lived the General was sure to find some way to keep Cloudhawk under his thumb. But he had no choice. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t about to change sides and join Arcturus Cloude. If he tried to run from the Polaris family he was burning bridges with no way to make amends ¨C no one in Skycloud would take him in. Skye Polaris was leader of all the armed forces, so Cloudhawk had no reason to suspect there wasn¡¯t any method the commander would use to get what he wanted. As for this poison they injected him with? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t too worried. Over the last couple days he felt the trespasser virus activate inside his body. Whatever this stuff was, he felt confident it could halt the poison¡¯s spread. He didn¡¯t know whether it could neutralize the toxin entirely, but at least Skye Polaris wasn¡¯t going to use this trickery to control Cloudhawk so easily. Escape wasn¡¯t going to happen anyway. Where would he go? At first, his goal was driven by the goal of escaping from the wastelands. He¡¯d been desperate for somewhere without murder or cruelty, only to discover that his assumptions of the elysian lands was a pipe dream [1]. Whenever there were people the environment was the same. The only way he was going to escape it was to live a life of seclusion, otherwise it was bound to follow him like a curse. There was no way to escape. The realization filled him with depression and he sat sleeplessly up in his bed. For some reason an item in his pocket caught his focus and he reached in. When he pulled his hand out the golden egg from his last phase adventure was nestled inside. He¡¯d almost forgotten about it. Cloudhawk remembered when he found the bored egg in that strange land. Carrying it all this time it was easy to overlook ¨C small and inert, but somehow he knew that it had a connection to relics. Cloudhawk believed that demonhunter relics had to be created by some mysterious practice he knew nothing about. It was something maybe only gods and demons really understood, destined to remain a mystery to humans. Each relic he¡¯d encountered had a special cadence and sound which Cloudhawk could use to determine where they were and how they were different. There were all sorts, it didn¡¯t seem like relics had any shape requirements. Cloudhawk could feel a similar resonance coming from the egg so he figured it had to be some sort of relic. Only it was much different from any other relic he¡¯d encountered. He¡¯d been carrying it around for two months already and still had no idea what it did. Maybe, he thought, it was time to give it a try. Cloudhawk settled cross-legged on the floor and cradled the egg in his palms. He focused his psychic energy to hum in tune with it but no matter how he tried the egg drank up his energy like a sponge. It swallowed everything Cloudhawk directed at it but offered no response. He was getting no feedback at all. Still the same? He¡¯d tried before over the last two months with similar results. Every time, his efforts were met with silence, the egg just drank his psychic energy and kept it trapped inside. This fist-sized egg acted like a bottomless vessel. Cloudhawk was skeptical. Sure it didn¡¯t respond to his attempts to use it but he tried nonetheless. For several minutes he persisted, pouring all of his focus into it until Cloudhawk had to stop. He slumped, dizzy from the effort and at his limit. The egg still did nothing. What the hell was the point of this egg? Cloudhawk was so frustrated he wanted to chuck it at the wall. Just then, he felt the stone hanging from his neck awaken. A surge of energy spread out from within like a sea of clouds, ten times stronger than anything Cloudhawk could produce. Cloudhawk sat in stunned silence. He knew there was more to the stone than he realized and it only revealed this power under certain circumstances. He wasn¡¯t sure what had awakened it this time. The strange script etched all over the egg began to glow. It was finally reacting! Now Cloudhawk understood that the problem wasn¡¯t the egg, but his psychic energy had been too weak. He didn¡¯t have enough to reach the needed threshold, but after several attempts and with the stone¡¯s help that appeared to have changed. At last it was working! Cloudhawk could feel the psychic energy from within the stone gushing out like a raging river. At the same time the tumultuous sea of energy began to evaporate. As the egg was bathed in this power the etching glowed brighter, it became hot to the touch, until at last Cloudhawk was forced to drop it. The dark bronze-colored eggshell became a brilliant gold, then shimmering white. In the end it radiated illumination like a lightbulb. This didn¡¯t continue for long, maybe three or four minutes. Then the crisp sound of cracking arose and fissures appeared in the egg¡¯s surface, spreading quickly. Cloudhawk had even tried breaking the egg open once. He¡¯d shot at it, hacked at it with an ax, and nothing left a mark. Seeing the cracks on it now shocked him, but he quickly found his surprise had only started. Something inside started to move. Something in there was alive. Cloudhawk rubbed his eyes and stared like he was staring at an apparition. It was a creature, something he¡¯d never seen the likes of before. It was about one third the size of his palm and naked from head to toe. From the moment it hatched from the egg Cloudhawk felt a resonance he¡¯d never experienced before. Different from all the other relics he¡¯d encountered, this creature had a rich emotional air. It filled Cloudhawk with a sense of affection. The first thing this bald, ugly, tiny little thing did after it was born was begin to peck at the egg shells scattered over the floor. The pieces of it, harder than iron, still glowed with a faint light like they¡¯d come fresh out of a furnace. The heat had made them brittle, so now each time the strange little bird pecked at a piece the eggshell broke apart and it gobbled them down. The bird was slow and meticulous as it ate every single piece of the shell. Five minute later there was nothing left. All the while Cloudhawk sat silently by, watching. Surprised, he stared as while the bird ate its shell glimmering golden feathers sprouted all over its body. Immediately the ugly thing was clothed in gorgeous plumage. A pretty little mystery bird. It tried its wings for a moment before eventually taking off into the air. Its maiden voyage was clumsy but it flitted before Cloudhawk¡¯s face leaving streaks of golden light. Then there was a loud bang like a bullet fired from a gun, and when he turned to look Cloudhawk saw the bird had crashed into a column. The thing was fast! He looked closer and saw that a chunk had been taken out of the pillar and the goofy little bird¡¯s head was lodged in the hole. Its little legs churned and struggled as it tried to get free, eventually managing to yank its head out after considerable effort. From that point on it flew with more caution, taking a few circuits of the room and getting the hang of its new wings. It settled on his shoulder. The bird bobbed its head, looking at Cloudhawk first with one eye then the other. He was taken aback because he¡¯d seen what happens if that bird didn¡¯t stick its landing. It hit the column like a bullet, imagine what it would do to his shoulder. If it could punch most of the way through stone and come out alright the bird¡¯s body had to be like steel. This little guy had the potential to cause some damage. Once again that strange flood of energy emerged and Cloudhawk knew that bird bore no hostility toward him. In fact the bird seemed to depend on him, like a puppy would its master. Something caused Cloudhawk to subconsciously feel at ease. As he looked down at the small bird on his shoulder the light from it dimmed and Cloudhawk could get a better look at it. It was a tiny thing, which was to be expected since it¡¯d just been born, about one third the size of a fist. Besides that it was a very strange little thing, unlike any other bird Cloudhawk had ever seen. Firstly, it had mammalian eyes that were bright and filled with intelligence. Its skull was perfectly round, sort of like an owl but with a wide duck-like beak. It was a little on the puffy side but its wings were short which made it a mystery how it was even able to fly. With its wings folded back it looked like a little dust bunny on stilts, really rather cute. It was a bird that actually hatched from a relic! It must consider Cloudhawk his master because he¡¯d been filtering his psychic energy through it. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know anything about this little creature, but that didn¡¯t stop him from speculating. The relics he¡¯d seen so far didn¡¯t have a standard shape; books, swords, stones, jewelry, cloth ¨C why not an animal? Cloudhawk thought that maybe this bird was a special sort of relic. Like the difference between a knife and a trained beast. A guy with a sword could kill, so could an animal. Knives were tools of war and creatures could be trained to fight too, only they were living weapons. This little bird had come from a relic egg, so it had to be some sort of special relic itself. Just, one that was alive and intelligent. 1. Apparently the origin of this phrase is fanciful dreams that would happen to people who smoke opium pipes. The more you know¡­ Book 2, Chapter 41 - What is Heard and Seen Chapter 41 - What is Heard and Seen The strange little bird, still in its infancy, was clearly still trying to get a handle on this thing called life. It flew around on unstable wings and would still sometimes smack into walls. Its round and clumsy body made the cute little thing look rather stupid, but after about an hour it learned how to get around. Interestingly, Cloudhawk and the bird shared some sort of spiritual link. It was difficult to describe, like sound but nothing that you could hear. It was communication on a higher level, where they didn¡¯t need to speak to be understood. They didn¡¯t even need to see each other, Cloudhawk could feel the joy and simple consciousness of the bird as clearly as though it was his own. It felt wonderful. Cloudhawk wondered if it worked the other way around. He tried a command: return. The little bird immediately rolled its pudgy body around and flew back to his palm. It stared at him with those strange eyes set in a cute owl-like face and blinked curiously. The wide duck bill that spread across its face just made the bird all the more endearingly goofy looking. Yet despite how it looked the bird was not stupid. Cloudhawk felt its distinct emotions and critical thought through their connection. Besides it was only minutes old, but it already responded to Cloudhawk¡¯s commands. He reached out with his free hand and patted the tiny bird¡¯s head. It was warm and soft, and pleasant to touch. The bird liked it too, enjoying the attention. Cloudhawk already felt himself taking a liking to the little thing, even if he didn¡¯t know what to do with it. At least having it around, he wouldn¡¯t feel so lonely. When his thoughts turned to this his face fell. The world was a big place, vast and full of people, and the only company he had was this little bird. It was like a joke. His new companion seemed to sense Cloudhawk¡¯s dour mood. It beat its tiny wings, lifted off his hand and flew a few circuits over his head before landing on his shoulder. With its soft feathery head it nuzzled Cloudhawk¡¯s neck, perhaps trying to comfort him. It was certainly a novel experience. He felt happy and grateful for the affection. The bird¡¯s empathic abilities were not what Cloudhawk expected, but they were obvious. It¡¯d hatched from that strange egg after absorbing a demonhunter¡¯s psychic will, so it certainly wasn¡¯t going to be a normal critter. Suddenly it took off again and began to dart about, chirping to try and express something. Cloudhawk hesitated for he understood what it wanted. Power. It wanted ¡®power¡¯, but what did it mean? A thought suddenly crossed his mind. Cloudhawk reached out with his psychic energies as though he were trying to call on a relic, and the bird answered. It absorbed the power Cloudhawk conveyed and what followed took him by surprise. The bird reacted. A whole world of new sights and sounds sprang up in Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. These weren¡¯t his experiences, these were what the bird was seeing and hearing. Somehow it was able to connect with his mind and insert auditory and visual signals directly into his brains. It was like having a separate pair of eyes and ears. It was a strange experience he¡¯d never felt before, something he couldn¡¯t put into words. Just like he¡¯d figured, the little bird was exactly like a special relic! Like any other relic, of which there were all sorts, they couldn¡¯t produce power from nothing. Only once a demonhunter lent it his psychic energy could they awaken and produce a resonance. The bird¡¯s own special powers were also only available once Cloudhawk fed it his power. With his help the bird was able to use its extraordinary abilities. Incredible! Really amazing! It was a novel and enlightening experience, having access to two consciousnesses. However, after a few minutes he began to feel dizzy and nauseous. The human mind was only able to handle so much input and the flood of information he was getting made it all hard to keep straight. Cloudhawk sat on the floor, shut his eyes and covered his ears. He tried to shut out as much as he could so that all that was left came from the bird. He started to feel better. Then he realized that how the bird experienced the world was different from him. The bird¡¯s vision was brighter, clearer. It could pick out details even in the darkest corner of the room, and it was even more sensitive to shifts in color. There were shades Cloudhawk never knew existed that the bird saw all around that made everything look so vibrant. Its hearing was just as sharp. Cloudhawk could hear a lot of things that were too soft for him normally. Obviously the bird¡¯s hearing was much more sensitive. The intensity of it was staggering. The bird could pick out every crack in the wall and gusts of wind down the alleyways outside. Even if you somehow empowered a man¡¯s senses he wouldn¡¯t experience the world like this. It filled him with excitement. They were more than just linked empathically, his new friend made an excellent scout. The tiny thing could get to places he couldn¡¯t, sharing whatever it saw and heard. The implications were obvious, this relic was going to come in very useful. The bird continued to fly around and Cloudhawk saw himself from all angles. It was weird to see himself like that, like someone else would see him. He wasn¡¯t satisfied with just the room anymore. He wanted to know just how strong this bird¡¯s abilities were. It soared out of the window and into the night, and just like Cloudhawk suspected the bird¡¯s senses were exceptional. Even in the darkness every detail was visible and everything stood out in stark colors to make it easily identifiable. It wasn¡¯t long until Cloudhawk found how far before their connection waned. Around a hundred meters away the things Cloudhawk saw became very unclear ¨C likely the limit of his current strength. Obviously the bird couldn¡¯t get too far away if Cloudhawk wanted to use its powers. Alright, that was enough testing. Cloudhawk was almost ready to call the bird back when he heard voices from Dawn¡¯s room. She was talking to someone. ¡°So irritating! That old fogey Skye has no ambition! It¡¯s just a broken dagger and he won¡¯t allow me to keep it. Outrageous!¡± ¡°Miss, you shouldn¡¯t blame the general. The dagger you saw was dug up from the ruins of the old world. It¡¯s contraband! These sorts of thing are evil and the sanctuary has forbidden anyone from carrying them. What¡¯s more, you¡¯re a templar!¡± ¡°Bah! The Sanctuary¡­ what good is it being part of the Sanctuary, anyway? I only joined to pressure that skank Selene and turn the public toward me. You think I had any interest in being a templar?¡± ¡°Hush! Keep it down, you shouldn¡¯t let anyone hear you say that!¡± ¡°I want that damn dagger!¡± The Polaris family¡¯s pride and joy was throwing a temper tantrum. Cloudhawk found it quite amusing. He had the little bird fly over for a closer look, and when it arrived the scene it revealed made Cloudhawk freeze. In the large room two young girls of fourteen or fifteen were kneading Dawn¡¯s shoulders. The beautiful templar sat in a bath filled with steaming water without a stitch of clothing. Her arms were thrown over the sides of the tub to keep her up while she enjoyed the massage. Most of her body was beneath the glass-like waters while what remained above was slick from moisture and smooth as silk. Her long platinum hair was loose and clung to the front of her body, concealing her firm breasts [1]. From time to time the water would shove strands of hair away to reveal a peak of what lay beneath. The young woman of noble blood appeared less brutal now, more like a little girl who didn¡¯t get any candy. She hunkered in the tub with a petulant expression. Her long legs like ivory chopsticks swirled the water and her feet kicked little splashes at the edge. Ripples pushed the rose petals that sat on the water¡¯s surface around like boats caught in rough water, blocking the private view below. Her maidservants patiently rubbed her shoulders while trying to ease her fiery temper. Even in his wildest dreams Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have imagined a scene like this. Dawn was no normal woman, however. As though sensing something her eyes snapped right toward him. Cloudhawk froze, for an instant feeling like he was there in the room staring at her face to face. ¡°What a pretty little bird! Grab it, quick!¡± The covetous young woman stared at the bird excitedly as her alluring body rose from the water. Little did she know this was more revealing than she thought. However Cloudhawk had no time to admire the view, Dawn was a keen one and if she got her hands on the bird it would end poorly. The bird tried to flee. Dawn¡¯s face immediately froze nervously as her prize made to escape. She snatched up a fruit pit discarded on a nearby plate, lifted her snow-white arm, and threw it hard. It struck the bird in midair, and with a pained squeak it tumbled to the ground. ¡°What are you two idiots staring at?¡± Dawn had covered herself with a towel. ¡°Go get it and bring it here!¡± Cloudhawk was stunned. The sounds and images stopped. Had this crazy woman knocked it out? Her strength was incredible. She threw a fruit bit as fast as a bullet, but Cloudhawk also knew the bird was stronger than it looked. The blow couldn¡¯t have killed it. As Cloudhawk was preparing to run out and look for his companion a streak of golden light dashed through the window. ¡°You¡¯re alright!¡± Cloudhawk could feel that the tiny bird was in pain. He cupped it in his hands and saw that the bird¡¯s left wing had been injured. The poor thing pressed its beak into the wing, but it didn¡¯t look like it was anything serious. Cloudhawk sighed in relief. It wasn¡¯t because the bird was seriously hurt that he lost the connection. If the bird was like a relic, then its powers should presumably work like a relic¡¯s powers. Cloudhawk had enough experience with them to know that how much energy was poured in was what determined the strength they produced. A few minutes of scouting used up quite a lot of his psychic energy. So the limits were three or four minutes within a hundred meter radius. Strict limitations, but Cloudhawk figured it was just for the time being. The stronger he got, the farther his friend could go and the longer their link could persist. As he looked over the bird and helped soothe its wing a problem occurred to Cloudhawk. Dawn was definitely going to keep an eye out for this little thing. If he didn¡¯t find a way to keep it hidden she was going to find and take it. He looked around for somewhere to stash it when suddenly he heard Dawn outside. Bang! His door flew open. 1. ¡®Double mountains¡¯ in Chinese. Hah! (Xiao Lai is now on twitter and instagram! Follow him @xiaolaiwxw for insights into translating and Chinese medicine theory.) Book 2, Chapter 42 - In Deep Chapter 42 - In Deep The Polaris family¡¯s young mistress burst through the door without so much as a knock. Her long eye-catching legs brought her inside wearing nothing but a loose-fitting night robe with nothing beneath. Her platinum hair was still wet as it hung loose around her shoulder. She stood imperiously over him like she was nailed to the ground. Cloudhawk was still a young man but not without experience, so his feelings toward women weren¡¯t as vague as they used to be. This was especially true after what he¡¯d seen moments ago while she was bathing. With Dawn standing like this in front of him now, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help his heart from beating faster. Her eyes immediately darted toward his hands, where he hadn¡¯t had time to hide the little bird away. She was pleasantly surprised. ¡°I saw that bird first, give it here!¡± ¡°I raised it! I¡¯m not about to just give it away.¡± Dawn¡¯s eyebrows slowly lifted. Was she just supposed to believe him? She didn¡¯t see his name written on it anywhere! Cloudhawk answered her with a sad and bitter expression. ¡°Anyway it¡¯s hurt. What kind of asshole would do that?¡± Dawn froze. She had thrown that pit rather hard. The little bird curled up in Cloudhawk¡¯s palm and didn¡¯t move, like it was on death¡¯s door. Its pitiful appearance made her frown in concern. She¡¯d never seen a bird like this before so she¡¯d gotten excited, she didn¡¯t mean to kill it. Cloudhawk was well aware the sort of bully this she-devil Dawn was. Here in the elysian lands the truly religious were gentle and forgiving. But the militaristic Polaris family was violent by nature, Dawn especially. She was rich both in ability and background, which resulted in her pushing others around because there were no consequences. This was especially true for Cloudhawk, a low-class wastelander. This kind of person was dealt with through force. Nothing good would come from that. However, Cloudhawk was willing to protect his new companion from her, no matter what. He understood its powers already and knew they would make a great team. Being able to scout through the bird¡¯s eyes would keep him out of all kinds of danger. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s been seriously hurt. What happened? This is an adorable little thing. Who would be so heartless?¡± Suddenly she was all full of tenderness and concern as she reached out. ¡°Let me see.¡± Cloudhawk pulled away and fixed her with a suspicious look. ¡°You really don¡¯t know who hurt it?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think it was me, do you? Where¡¯s your proof?!¡± She was a bold one ¨C a supposed believer in the gods and one of the sanctuary¡¯s holy warriors, but capable of lying to his face without batting an eye. ¡°I love small animals, how could I hurt one? Look at it, the poor thing is in terrible shape. You should give him to me and stop wasting time.¡± Cloudhawk was stunned at how full of shit an elysian could be. She was probably planning to stuff the bird and keep it as a trophy when it died. Dawn¡¯s compulsion for hoarding was well known throughout the city. Weapons, armor, jewels, plants, animals ¨C so long as it was novel or expensive she wanted it for her collection. The addiction had earned her a number of enemies, too, since she wasn¡¯t above robbing the object of her desire. Taken together with her domineering nature it was no wonder she wasn¡¯t very popular. ¡°No!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Dawn¡¯s face slowly coiled together in fury. Her lust for the bird had already gripped her, she was determined to take it from him. ¡°It¡¯s just a bird. Don¡¯t forget that you owe me. Either you pay me with it or I kick your ass ¡®till our score is settled, every day until you leave for Hell Valley!¡± It was a harsh threat. A bag of jewels was a drop in the bucket to Dawn and her family, but she was incensed and would not go easy on him. The peculiar, cuddly little bird had caught her fancy. Trading it to forgive his debt seemed like a kindness to her. When he refused her Dawn¡¯s first instinct was to raise her fist in a blatant show of force. ¡°You better think about the consequences!¡± Fucking hell, this woman is impossible! Of course Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t without fault. He¡¯d stolen from them, after all. Skye Polaris wanted him to pay back the affront with his life, his daughter wanted a bird. Cloudhawk knew she was not a patient woman. If he kept it up she was just going to take the bird from him. He certainly wasn¡¯t going to be able to fight her off, and besides this was her home. All she had to do was raise her voice and he would be minced meat. What could he do? ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you say,¡± Cloudhawk replied matter-of-factly, ¡°I can¡¯t give the bird to you.¡± Dawn was not known for her patience and this conversation had already gone on too long. She was warring with her temper, both hands clenched into fists, and the threat of her brutality was almost palpable in the air. ¡°You don¡¯t think I can take it from you? You sure look highly on yourself!¡± Cloudhawk saw her getting ready to lunge at him but he didn¡¯t want to suffer. He tried to persuade her. ¡°I can pay you back in another way. For example, I can help you get that dagger you want.¡± She slowly let her hammer-like fists fall to her sides. Anger was replaced with curiosity. ¡°How did you know about the dagger?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. What¡¯s important is that I can get it, and I can bring it to you.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of her, no matter how fierce. He spoke to her without deference or irritation. ¡°I can¡¯t fight you off and you could beat me to a pulp, but you¡¯ll never force me to do something I don¡¯t want to do. I¡¯m a wastelander, you know that. I¡¯ve lived through all sorts of shit.¡± What he was really saying was that he didn¡¯t fear a beating. You could ruin my body, but you¡¯re never gonna break my will. Dawn wavered, for in that moment she saw the quality of this young man. He was an average fighter maybe, but one hell of a thief. A thief that could break into the general¡¯s mansion and set fire to the governor¡¯s compound. Outside of the Sanctuary, there was no place in Skycloud that could keep him out. Frankly, Cloudhawk could hardly beat a fart in a straight fight. He¡¯d only managed to deal with a few novice demonhunters. Anyone from the Order worth their salt would be able to put him down easily, she figured. But he was the best damn sneak in town, and even a high-class demonhunter wouldn¡¯t be able to pick him out. Dawn suddenly knew how Cloudhawk could be useful. Damn, she¡¯d almost lost sight of what made this guy special! But wouldn¡¯t she be losing face by letting him have his way? The likes of Frost de Winter, Selene, even most senior Skycloud officials hardly caught her eye. There were even fewer who could get the better of her. Was this wastelander actually one of them? Her face was uncertain for a time and then eventually her fists relaxed. She rearranged her clothes, then when she spoke again it was a deathly seriousness. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re such a weakling that whooping you won¡¯t give me any sense of accomplishment. It¡¯s just a bird, it isn¡¯t worth anything.¡± She said it as rude as she could manage, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care. Dawn hesitated for a moment then asked, ¡°Could you really help me get that dagger?¡± The corners of his lips curled into a grin. Strength didn¡¯t mean shit; the slightest benefit and she was ready to bargain. ¡°All you need to do is tell me where it is. I¡¯ll go tonight and have it in your hands before morning.¡± His confidence thrilled her, but still she hesitated. ¡°Even just possessing contraband is asking for trouble. Stealing one¡­¡± Cloudhawk shrugged. ¡°If you don¡¯t say anything then I won¡¯t. Who¡¯ll know where it went besides you and me?¡± ¡°This¡­ let me think.¡± Truth be told she was thrilled. She knew Cloudhawk¡¯s worth, with a master thief like him by her side she could have anything she wanted. There were countless things scattered throughout the city she was desperate to get her hands on, and he was the key to satisfying that lust. The problem was that all this was illegal. For her this was treason. After all she was an elysian, a high-grade demonhunter and a warrior of the Sanctuary. With so much on her shoulders this was a serious decision for her to make. Cloudhawk was quietly scheming as well. Dawn was a respected and influential person in Skycloud. She wasn¡¯t the strongest, but at least she was among the strongest fighters in the city. More than that she came from a background tightly involved in the military. If he could make her think he was a help and kept her close, Cloudhawk was sure he could use their relationship to his advantage. Really though he was just tired of her shit. If he wanted to gain the upper hand and get her to shut her goddamn mouth, the best way to do it was to keep her distracted. ¡°What, you don¡¯t have the guts?¡± She saw the taunting light in this wasteland bastard¡¯s eyes and it made her furious. Dawn had never been one to follow the rules, only she couldn¡¯t do this otherwise she would have already done it herself. If this guy was so eager to help then let him try, she thought. ¡°Alright, bring back the dagger and consider your debt paid.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± Dawn told him where the dagger was being kept, then after gathering his things Cloudhawk went after it. Contraband was kept in a place they called the vault. Items were gathered up there until it reached capacity then the contents were destroyed. Aside from being heavily guarded and fortified, the only people who got into the vault came bearing signed documents from either the governor or the Sanctuary. Dawn wasn¡¯t sure Cloudhawk was actually capable of pulling this off. He was back in thirty minutes. Clang! He threw a simple silver dagger at her feet. She stared at it with eyes so wide they threatened to roll out of her head. She snatched it up as though it were a precious treasure, and there was even a rosy hue that sprang up on her snow-white cheeks. It wasn¡¯t clear whether it was because she was nervous or excited. ¡°This is the ancient relic they dug up? Why does it look so simple?¡± ¡°Give it here.¡± He grabbed it out of her hands while fishing a few coins out of his pocket. He chucked the three coins into the air and whipped the dagger around. Six distinct clinks hit the ground ¨C all three coins had been sheered clean in half. Dawn stared in disbelief. ¡°Is it really that sharp?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen a relic like this once before. I think it¡¯s called a high-frequency particle blade. It¡¯s a rare and ancient weapon.¡± He handed it back to her. ¡°You¡¯re lucky.¡± She was beaming with pleasure. ¡°This is quite the treasure!¡± As she fawned over it Cloudhawk felt relief. Dawn looked about nineteen, a few years older than him, but she was nowhere near as mature. She was obstinate and unruly ¨C in short, a child. What was complicated about dealing with a girl whose life was so easy? She was simple to deal with; give her a toy and she¡¯s happy. Cloudhawk was pleased with his handling of Dawn. If he¡¯d tried this on the pious and stubborn Selene, or someone arrogant and self-centered like Frost de Winter, it wouldn¡¯t have worked. He probably wouldn¡¯t have found a way to keep them happy. He saw this as the beginning. Man¡¯s desire had no limits; no one was satisfied with one, or two, or even three. Once Dawn saw what Cloudhawk was capable of, and knew that she could request his skills at any time, she would be less likely to insult and abuse him. She had tasted the sweetness of Cloudhawk¡¯s sins, but what she didn¡¯t realize was she¡¯d just bought into his ploy. The more illicit goods she yearned for the deeper in she would be until there was no way out. (Xiao Lai is now on twitter and instagram! Follow him @xiaolaiwxw for insights into translating and Chinese medicine theory.) Book 2, Chapter 43 - Food For Oddball Chapter 43 - Food For Oddball Cloudhawk was a godless heathen from the wastelands, without morality or respect for laws. He lived by his own code ¨C don¡¯t kill if you don¡¯t have to, and don¡¯t take someone else¡¯s food. In his eyes he didn¡¯t live an evil life, and taking a dagger that was slated for destruction was no big deal. Certainly nothing to feel guilty about. Not so for Dawn. She was a bit of a rebel, but regardless she¡¯d grown up under the rigorous demands of religion. Sure she¡¯d bullied people now and again, but never anything that crossed the line into egregious sin. At worst she¡¯d gotten disapproving looks, but because of her family background there was nothing anyone could do. This was different. This was taboo. She liked the dagger, that was undeniable, but it was a relic of the ancient past dug up from the ruins. Collecting things like this was expressly forbidden and if word got out it would cause a scandal for their family. For this reason even holding it made her nervous, but once she took a couple swipes she was convinced. It was the first time something like this was added to her collection. The excitement was delicious. So she followed Cloudhawk¡¯s example, cutting a few coins in half to test it for herself. The more she saw what the dagger could do the happier she became. ¡°This thing definitely isn¡¯t a relic, how can I cut metal like it was mud?¡± Currency in the elysian lands were called gold, silver and copper. Although they resembled those materials in texture and color, in fact they were made from a special material given to them by the gods. No typical artisan could work with it and the coins were exceptionally resilient. Typical steel weapons ¨C even if honed to a fine edge ¨C couldn¡¯t mar the surface. ¡°Look at the blade.¡± Cloudhawk pointed out the almost imperceptible black line along the edge. ¡°I don¡¯t understand it well myself, I¡¯ve only seen one other like it in the wasteland. The secret is that black line. They say it¡¯s only a few atoms thick that vibrate very quickly. When it comes in contact with normal materials it slices right through them, that¡¯s how it does it.¡± With nothing beneath her thin robes the curve of Dawn¡¯s breasts could be glimpsed from time to time. She wasn¡¯t a particularly voluptuous woman, but she wasn¡¯t thin either. Her body was covered in finely toned muscle and though her breasts weren¡¯t large, they were well proportioned for her figure. They were close enough that Dawn could feel the heat from Cloudhawk. They were very different, but she didn¡¯t find him detestable much to her curiosity. This young man was a filthy wasteland heathen, just coming near her was reason enough to break several of his bones! The young guy had a peculiar, innate temperament. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t respect her because of her background, nor did he fear her because of her strength or attitude. It seemed that in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes humans weren¡¯t separated by class. It didn¡¯t matter if you were a noble denizen of the elysian lands or a scavenger eking out a miserable existence in the wasteland. Underneath all that everyone was the same. Low birth wasn¡¯t something to pity. It was no reason to feel inferior. The assertion made Cloudhawk special. When she looked at him Dawn saw that he was young, but much more was written on his face. She saw a turbulent past, his wild nature, and loneliness. A lone wolf who crossed many leagues of inhospitable desert. He was a man with a story. He didn¡¯t look special, not outstanding in any way, or even very handsome. Compared with Frost de Winter he couldn¡¯t match either, either in appearance or temperament. But he had delicate good looks, pleasing enough to the eye. It was about then Cloudhawk noticed Dawn staring at him and returned her gaze. He was a plain sort, in not so many words, but if there was one thing that made the wastelander stand out it was his dark eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t understand much of anything.¡± [1] When their eyes met Dawn suddenly felt nervous, she wasn¡¯t used to standing so close to other people. She pushed the dagger into its special sheath and backed off a few steps. ¡°How could the wastelands have such curious things? You¡¯re from there, is it fun?¡± For a second Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to respond. He frowned and dropped his eyes a little, looking off into space. He said before giving his answer. ¡°It¡¯s not someplace you ever want to visit.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Too dangerous.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that bitch live fine out there?¡± Her irritation with him was renewed. ¡°Why can she go and I can¡¯t? What does she have that I don¡¯t?!¡± There was clearly a lot of bad blood between these two women. Dawn, a woman who grew up in the lap of luxury, a halo over her head and a silver spoon in her mouth, only understood the wasteland based on stories and rumors from other people. She never experienced it for herself, so how could she understand? Selene Cloude had also been cut down several times in their journeys, and even now he couldn¡¯t know whether she was alive or dead. Dawn was older than Selene, but it was clear to everyone she was much more impulsive. This clueless, dangerous, blindly arrogant woman wouldn¡¯t last a day in the wastes without her family¡¯s help. ¡°I brought you the dagger you wanted,¡± Cloudhawk said, looking at her. ¡°My debt has been paid.¡± ¡°I keep my promises, no one has ever said otherwise. However¡­¡± She lifted the sheathed dagger and, with a harsh light in her eyes, drew it illustratively across her throat. ¡°You and I are the only people who know about what happened today. If a third hears about it, you can bet I¡¯ll¡­¡± Threats like these didn¡¯t frighten Cloudhawk, so he didn¡¯t give it much thought. He¡¯d got what he wanted, to keep his strange little pet safe. And his collusion with Dawn had been established. That was important. Cloudhawk knew that out here no man could stand alone. Commander Polaris saved Cloudhawk just so he could use him, and there wasn¡¯t anywhere else Cloudhawk could go. That narrow-minded shitkicker Frost de Winter had a hard-on for making his life hell, and Cloudhawk had no other friends in the city. Dawn was the only one he could turn to. She still hadn¡¯t left his room, in fact she still stood there with her eyes fixed on the tiny bird in his hands. A strange expression crossed her face. ¡°Eh? It¡¯s better already?¡± Indeed the tiny bird¡¯s recovery was impressive. It¡¯d been only a little while but it was back to normal already. It gave its wings a tentative flap then flitted up onto Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. With its fuzzy little head it nuzzled his neck, which only served to fuel Dawn¡¯s jealousy. Such a smart little thing, she thought. What a pity¡­ Cloudhawk kept his eyes on her warily. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± ¡°I go where I want and leave when I feel like it. What¡¯s it to you? Don¡¯t forget your place, I¡¯m the master of this house and you¡¯re a servant who depends on me for a living.¡± Her brows shot up as she made it clear in no uncertain terms what their respective roles were. She punctuated this by walking closer to the bird and looking it over. ¡°Strange, it seems sort of listless.¡± Cloudhawk also noticed that something didn¡¯t seem right. In confirmation a single sensation was shared through their link: Hungry. Cloudhawk frowned at it. ¡°You hungry?¡± Dawn, unable to keep her mouth shut for any period of time, replied. ¡°Well if it¡¯s hungry then feed it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what it eats,¡± he said with some exasperation. She looked at him like he was an idiot. ¡°You¡¯re a terrible owner, you don¡¯t even know how to feed your pet. This is cruelty, you know that?¡± The thing had only just been born! Cloudhawk had never had to look after an animal before, how was he supposed to know what to feed it? Mammals drank milk from their mothers, but birds like this probably ate worms or insects or something. Dawn saw his confusion and flicked her wrist at him. ¡°Come with me!¡± She led him to the mansion¡¯s food storage, wherein were stored all sorts of fruits, vegetables, meats and more. There was enough here to feed a thousand people. Crystal-like pillars were interspersed around the room that pumped it full of frigid air. This had to be some sort of cooling equipment they used to keep food fresh. Like an inexhaustible ball of steam one of the magic lamps illuminated the room. The refrigeration equipment was also constant and so long as it was here in the elysian lands it had plenty of energy to work. Just another perk of this place. ¡°We have everything here. Seafood, poultry, meat, vegetables, fruit¡­ take a look.¡± Cloudhawk put the small bird in front of a pile of food, but nothing caught its attention. This took him by surprise and caused some embarrassment. Did it not eat normal food? He stood looking at it, puzzled, when suddenly through their connection he felt the little animal perk up. It flew over to one of the nearby crystal pillars and proceeded to peck at it with its beak. ¡°What¡¯s it trying to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Rattle, rattle. The energy crystal cracked and a small portion fell off. The bird flew down to where it landed and gobbled it up. Cloudhawk felt its satisfaction. Both he and Dawn stood to the side with surprised expressions as the bird ate another six or seven pieces until its little belly protruded. How weird that this is what it would eat! Oddball, he thought. That seems like a fitting name. [2] Dawn pointed at it. ¡°What kind of freak are you raising here?¡± Cloudhawk had to wonder what sort of thing this bird was too. A little hesitant, he still shared how the bird was hatched with Dawn. When she heard her face drew together in a frown as though she were thinking deeply, but she¡¯d never heard of anything like this. Lost in thought she didn¡¯t notice that her robe had come a little loose. Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze just happened to wander and catch a good eyeful of what was beneath. It was cold in here, didn¡¯t she feel it? Suddenly she slapped her forehead. ¡°I need you to steal something else.¡± 1.Parallels? 2. In the interest of full disclosure the writer doesn¡¯t give the bird a name and this sentence is entirely mine. In fact there are several characters who are never given proper names, or even nicknames. For instance the demon¡¯s lieutenants were called ¡®the freak in black¡¯ (Stranger Black), ¡®big guy with horns¡¯ (Longhorn), and ¡®young man with wings¡¯ (Vulture). They follow the pithy naming conventions in Chinese of three syllables, but that doesn¡¯t work in English. It¡¯s the same for the bird, which the writer calls ¡®little strange bird,¡¯ but I have chosen to call Oddball because it¡¯s weird and round. (Xiao Lai is now on twitter and instagram! Follow him @xiaolaiwxw for insights into translating and Chinese medicine theory.) Book 2, Chapter 44 - Divine Creatures Chapter 44 - Divine Creatures When Cloudhawk came back he was laden with several thick tomes. Each one looked very old, bound in black leather and engraved with gold filigree. Exquisite and fine, they were absolutely high-value items. ¡°Oh, back already?!¡± Dawn exclaimed when she saw him staggering toward her. It wasn¡¯t long ago that she sneered down her nose at him, but now she had a deep respect for his abilities. You couldn¡¯t throw a rock in the holy city without striking three fighters, but master thieves were few and far between. These books had been housed in the library of the Church of Everbright, under the watchful eye of a lauded bishop. Dawn had always wanted to look through them but was never given the chance since the bishop¡¯s influence was greater than hers. The Church of Everbright was a mighty organization that even the commander couldn¡¯t manipulate. She¡¯d been denied every request to look through these volumes, but now they were hers. It was nearly dawn. ¡°This time from a church¡¯s collection.¡± This was his second trip in one night, using his phasing stone to slip away with stolen goods. Each time it was draining, he felt exhausted. ¡°What did you need these for?¡± ¡°This fine lady is helping you learn about your bird! Come with me!¡± The two sat together and began to peruse the books. Cloudhawk flipped one open and found that it was an illustrated record of relics. There had to be three hundred or more detailed pictures of relics and a description of what they did. There had to be a couple thousand between all these tomes combined. Every notable item throughout Skycloud Domain was recorded here, even a few demon relics. Cloudhawk¡¯s exhaustion melted away. Suddenly he understood just how valuable these were. If he could learn what all these relics did, where they were, and who held them he would be an absolute nightmare for the city¡¯s demonhunters. He finally figured out what Dawn was thinking, too. If Oddball was a relic there had to be some record of it somewhere in these books. They sat side by side and started leafing through pages. Dawn had ordered Cloudhawk to steal these books so they could learn about the bird, yes, but also because she wanted to see all of these entries herself. Her greedy nature was on full display. One thousand two hundred relics were recorded here. Eight or nine hundred of them were held by known persons while the three or so others were still lost. Some of those were gone because they¡¯d been misplaced, but others were in the care of secret guardians that weren¡¯t even written in the books. ¡°Skycloud Domain has this many relics? It¡¯s¡­ quite eye-opening!¡± Dawn pored over the contents, even coming across the entry for Terrangelica. However, she came to the end of the first book without any more information about the little bird. Cloudhawk came across an interesting article in his tome. The Gospel of the Sands, it read. A relic from the war between gods and demons a thousand years ago. This demonic tool is possessed of great and mysterious power and is oft in the hands of demonic elders and high-stationed commanders. It was once used to summon a sandstorm a thousand li in diameter that swallowed an entire army. It has also been said to have summoned more than a hundred sand beasts. At its most potent the relic can summon a sand mirror image of the bearer. Below was more specific information about the gospel. For instance its last known location, the dates it was witnessed, who had it, what battles it was used in and so on. For Cloudhawk it was almost surreal. He knew it was pretty good the times he¡¯d used it, but from what he was reading here the Gospel of the Sands was pretty incredible. The relic¡¯s strength was beyond his imagination. What especially caught his notice was the bit about a sand avatar that possessed some of the power of the person¡­ Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t fight back the creeping terror that welled up inside him. What if the demon he fought wasn¡¯t actually the demon? What if the Caliph of the Sands wasn¡¯t really dead? Cloudhawk quickly turned the pages. Near the end of the book was a section on legendary relics. Relics were divided into categories, weak and strong. There were simple relics, high-grade relics, epic relics, and the most powerful called legendary relics. Simple relics were weaker, like Moonspirit¡¯s tracker torque or Traceless Shadow¡¯s arrow. Epic relics were powerful tools that only high ranking demonhunters could command. Examples were Selene¡¯s Crossblade of Light, Frost de Winter¡¯s Frozen Dirge and Dawn¡¯s Terrangelica. Legendary relics were something else entirely and the prerequisites to use them were even more daunting. They were far more powerful than even their epic counterparts, while also being more complex and involved. Each one had a rich backstory and were almost exclusively in the hands of master demonhunters. Legendary relics were so strong that usually it required more than one person to activate them. They were analogues to the incredible power of gods and demons. From ancient times to this day there were only very few of them, and even fewer that were recorded here. Like a flash fire they raged during the great war, then vanished just as quickly from the world of man. What was written here were some of the greatest secrets ever written! Dawn¡¯s attention was drawn to his book as well, and as though of one mind they looked in shock through the pages. ¡®Mace of Belial.¡¯ A legendary demon relic witnessed at the outset of the War. Bearer, unknown. Appearance, unknown. Whereabouts, unknown. Reputed to be capable of opening a portal to Hell, resurrect the dead as mindless servants, and command them as an undead army. ¡®Blade of Oblivion.¡¯ A legendary demon relic that appeared during the middle period of the War. Said to be the weapon of the demons¡¯ commander. Pointing it at the sky made the heavens fall, piercing the ground caused the earth to collapse. Gods and demons alike could not stand against its power. It was destroyed in battle by the king of the gods, and what remains of it has been lost. ¡°The Demon King¡¯s Cuirass.¡¯ Its true name is unknown. Specific powers, unknown. Appearance, unknown. Only the ruler of the demon horde may wear it. It is said to be capable of destroying space and time. It was destroyed during the War through the combined effort of the gods, and thus defeated the Demon King. *** The relics listed here were fabulous and terrible. All of them were the tools of the demons, and that made sense for they were incredible items that commanded world-rending power. The gods were mysterious and did not want to reveal their secret powers, so they were not gathered here. Dawn was more and more stunned from one relic to the next. Only Cloudhawk¡¯s gospel was recorded here, an epic-level relic. His invisibility cloak and the phasing stone were nowhere to be found. Perhaps that would be expected. The cloak had come from a strange and alien place, and the stone was the key to other dimensions. If those two relics didn¡¯t appear here it meant they weren¡¯t of this world. So where did they come from? Dawn recognized this as well. She knew Cloudhawk had two distinct abilities; the first was disappearing like a ghost, and the second was being able to pass through almost any barrier. That¡¯s how he was able to be a thief no demonhunter could rival. How odd that those relics wouldn¡¯t be here. They¡¯d gone through the books once already and there were all sorts of relics with all sorts of spectacular powers. One of them could be embedded in the body, and another that could fuse to it. Strange and incredible things. ¡°I found it!¡± In fact there were two that seemed to fit. One referenced the city¡¯s seraphs, who served as protectors and maintainers. All they did was work tirelessly. They were different from Oddball in that they didn¡¯t have free will or felt emotion. They also didn¡¯t need to eat. They didn¡¯t seem to be what they were looking for. The second were mythical protectors of the Sanctuary: the Manticor. Dawn had seen a guardian once. She thought it was just another sort of animal that grew and reproduced normally. However here it showed that these creatures were anything but normal. They were created, artificially made servants ¨C relics that they called divine beasts. ¡°Here it says divine beasts can be thought of as growing relics. They develop through all the stages, from infancy to adulthood and as they grow older they become more intelligent. Look here, they need energy but far more than normal food can offer. You should remember that you can¡¯t let the bird go hungry otherwise the consequences could be serious. It could degrade.¡± ¡°Anything with a lot of energy would work?¡± ¡°Special-made Temple beast feed is best. It¡¯d help it grow quicker.¡± She continued to squint at the paper. These creatures and relics were remarkably similar, only some special process gave divine beasts a simulacrum of life. The one who hatched them became master, and only they were able to command them and their abilities. No one else would get a reaction. Ugh! How unfortunate! Dawn had to ultimately give up her covetous thoughts. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I have been so lucky? It looks like the bird belongs to you through the will of the gods. A heavenly gift, make sure you treat it well.¡± She then gathered up the books and put them away in her library. Cloudhawk gaped at her. ¡°Now that we found what we wanted why are you keeping the books?¡± ¡°Hmph, now that they¡¯re here they belong to me!¡± She spoke like she had all the right in the world to demand them. ¡°I worked so hard to find the answer for you. I deserve something for my trouble.¡± All of this hadn¡¯t been a guise, had it? A ploy just to have him fetch something else she lusted after? Perhaps. After all they didn¡¯t learn much and now the books were safely tucked away with her other toys. Dawn patted his shoulder and smirked. ¡°Oh, stop it with the ugly faces. You know what these books are worth. How could we just give them back? Relax, I get our relationship. From now on you get me what I want, and I do the rest. Split the take thirty-seventy, what do you say? I need money to buy new relics and you need cash to feed your pet. You can¡¯t just let it eat anything, and feed is expensive. In fact I¡¯m the only person who can help you get it. I¡¯m the only person who¡¯ll help you!¡± Over the last few days Cloudhawk had built up an image of elysians in his mind ¨C obstinate, inflexible, and righteous. This woman proved him wrong. The next day. News of a theft at the Church of Everbright began to spread. The bishop even ordered a special task force to sift through every corner of the building, re-cataloguing every book, but to no avail. The circumstances of their disappearance was too bizarre, for there was no sign of forced entry or any indications of foul play. And so word of a mysterious thief began to spread throughout the city. Cloudhawk and Dawn began their sordid partnership. He stole the goods and she got rid of them. In just a matter of days the city was busy with a slew of unsolvable thievery cases. For instance, an army general¡¯s precious sword up and vanished like it grew legs. A few legendary gemstones from a local merchant princess were suddenly gone. Special mystical ointments and medicines had disappeared from family vaults. The crimes were numerous but spread out, and the victims were different every time. Cloudhawk made things more confusing by planting false evidence and misleading clues to keep investigators off the scent. Cloudhawk went out every night and brought his ill-gotten goods back to Dawn. She then concocted different ways to fence them, and in the process they both made a pretty penny. (Xiao Lai is now on twitter and instagram! Follow him @xiaolaiwxw for insights into translating and Chinese medicine theory.) Book 2, Chapter 45 - Home of the Demonhunters A precious gem was sold, exchanged for a clinking pouch of a few hundred gold coins. The sound they made was elating. The Polaris family was among the top five most influential households in Skycloud Domain, yet compared to their peers they were poor. In addition to Dawn¡¯s spendthrift nature, it was the first time she¡¯d ever had access to so much money. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ve gone a little too far these last couple of days.¡± Cloudhawk tried to drop the hint, seeing that the young templar had become giddy from their success. ¡°Enough is enough, if we keep this up there¡¯s gonna be trouble.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± She snorted at him. ¡°You think I need your warnings? Don¡¯t forget your place!¡± She fished out some of the coins after her harsh response and shoved them into Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. When she saw the surprised look on her face she added imperiously, ¡°So long as you keep loyal to your master, you will be generously rewarded. This is for bird food.¡± Yet Cloudhawk scowled. Who would want you as a master, he thought bitterly. However he bit his lip once he considered how much taking care of Oddball was going to cost. Dawn¡¯s brows began to rise. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± Cloudhawk looked down at the coins. It was better than nothing, and gold coins had prime purchasing power in the city. He only had a vague understanding of how money worked but he remembered what happened to Barb in the Sandbar. Five silver coins earned her one drink. He also knew one trip for the Bloomnettle Company earned them forty or fifty silvers. One gold coin would buy him fifty glasses of booze, and would have saved Old Thistle the danger of two trips. There were enough coins in his hands to set a common man up with enough food and drink for the rest of their life. And it was only a tenth of what Dawn pocketed! No wonder she was so thrilled. Even born into a powerful family this was a princely sum. He saw it in her eyes, Cloudhawk had become Dawn¡¯s cash cow. Still he had to admire her on some level, boldly walking around with ill-gotten riches in her pocket. Once again his vision of the elysians was turned upside down. If she¡¯d been born in the wastelands she would have done very well for herself. No wonder Dawn and Selene were at odds, too. Selene was firm in her religious zealotry, aloof, and cold of temperament. She absolutely would have despised stealing like this, even if it meant starving to death. Yet Dawn walked around unburdened. To her the ones they were stealing from were the uber-rich. The losses meant nothing to them but loomed large in her eyes. She was basically robbing the rich to pay the poor. Cloudhawk put the coins away. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°With all the money you¡¯ve saved shouldn¡¯t it be obvious?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Buy your generous and beautiful hostess a drink.¡± Cloudhawk had spent enough time with Dawn to know she didn¡¯t give a shit about anyone but herself. She didn¡¯t even know the meaning of the word respect, especially in the words she chose. Cloudhawk was a stranger in a strange land and she supposedly considered herself hostess. Still she hadn¡¯t said anything nasty, it was just the way she was. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring you somewhere nice!¡± Dawn hailed the family carriage and they left for a secluded sector of the city. They came to a street lined with colonnades, each one a thousand meters tall and lined into the distance. The road was wide enough that four or five carriages could pass through side by side. The edges were lined with finely decorated shops, yet strangely there weren¡¯t many people. A sign hung on the entablature, clear as day ¨C Home of the Demonhunters. This stretch of street was designed for members of the order specifically, and they were the only ones allowed in. That meant ninety percent of the city¡¯s inhabitants were forbidden. No one gave Cloudhawk any trouble since he was there with Dawn. She explained their surroundings as they walked further in. ¡°This area belongs to the Order of Demonhunters. It¡¯s where most of them live, eat, drink, and play. There are stores where they can purchase supplies, buy relics, and so on. Everything a demonhunter could want is here. It¡¯s also where they come to sell off anything they picked up on a mission. All sorts of things are thrown together, but if you¡¯re lucky you might come across a treasure or two.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time Cloudhawk had heard about the demonhunter order. It was the largest collection of demonhunters in the elysian lands, apparently. It was a semi-official collective with a loose organizational structure. Barb was a member. The majority were common demonhunters like her, along with a few of nobler standing who preferred their freedom. Accept a few missions from the order, collect the commission, and avoid any administrative constraints. Dawn¡¯s purpose in coming here was obvious ¨C spend! There was no better place for a demonhunter to get rid of the coin burning holes in their pocket. An equipment shop came into view, complete with a smoldering forge that gave it a rough-and-tumble atmosphere. The walls were lined with triangular steel weapons instantly recognized as exorcist staffs. Their size and make were not completely consistent and they could be bought or custom-made to fit a specific need. Exorcist staffs ranged from one or two gold to a dozen or so. Higher cost meant better quality. Besides staffs the store also had demonhunter armor, combat boots, and so forth. Cloudhawk saw how impressive this stuff was while out in the wastelands. Demonhunter leather was lightweight and thin so that it didn¡¯t get in the way of fighting, but also firm. Typical guns couldn¡¯t penetrate it. Like the staffs there were also a wide range of prices ¨C basically, you got what you paid for. The sprawling market had more stores than he could count. One of them was in the shape of an oversized treehouse and it served as a pharmacy. It had all sorts of precious and expensive medicines on offer, some which aided in healing and others that improved combat prowess. Another place looked like it¡¯d been carved out of moonstone. The lamps inside filled the area around it with fantastical glowing images. It was a bar. The most eye-catching was the main building which was a miniature white castle. Travel-weary demonhunters came and went with regularity. This was the ¡®Home of the Demonhunters,¡¯ headquarters of the order and the heart of the eponymous street. Cloudhawk had never seen so many demonhunters in one place. Each one of them seethed with ability. He figured everyone here had to be people of significant talent, and what¡¯s more they all seemed to be avoiding the woman he was with. When they recognized Dawn they either went out of their way to give her room or simply turned around. Not a single one was in a hurry to come and talk. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess how popular she was around these parts. ¡°Is that the young mistress of the Polaris household?¡± They¡¯d almost reached the end of the street before someone was brave enough to approach them. He was a young man of obvious talent. If Frost de Winter was described as cold then this guy was lava. If Frost was a glacier, then he was the sun. They were completely opposite. The guy was a mass of muscle, chiseled and all hard angles, big but not heavy. He had a head of red hair and a face that couldn¡¯t be described as handsome, certainly in contrast to Frost de Winter¡¯s gallant look. However, from head to toe, from the inside out, he was bursting with masculine charm. Intense, but not overbearing. He had a pleasant aura that made you feel safe, so he probably wasn¡¯t far behind Frost de Winter in competing for girls¡¯ hearts. Dawn saw him coming and twisted her pretty mouth into a smirk. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Blaze!¡± [1] Cloudhawk had never heard of this guy Blaze before. However he could tell just by Dawn¡¯s reaction that he was strong and came from a respected background. ¡°You¡¯re probably still not convinced I¡¯m better after the last time I spanked you, huh?¡± As she spoke she tapped the hilt of the sword she held against the ground. ¡°Wanna go another round?¡± She said it loud enough that it caught a few ears. Demonhunters started to gather round. It was also good for some drama when a pair of big names met here. This she-devil put the fear of the gods into everyone when they saw her. It didn¡¯t matter how pretty she was, she didn¡¯t have any fans. Blaze was the opposite, and despite being young was also one of the order¡¯s vice-commanders. He spent a lot of his time managing things here, so he had a good reputation and close contacts. If these two were going to spar then the onlookers were certainly hoping Blaze would teach Dawn a lesson. Blaze answered with a bitter grin. ¡°Mistress Dawn hasn¡¯t changed one bit. Unfortunately, today isn¡¯t a good day for a rematch.¡± She sniffed. ¡°If you¡¯re scared, just say so. There¡¯s no shame in losing to me! Everyone knows the order¡¯s gone downhill without Master Baldur¡¯s leadership. Not one of you is worth your salt!¡± Her crass words angered the demonhunters who¡¯d stopped to watch. Cloudhawk stood to one side and could only manage a wry smirk. [2] Dawn definitely had a barbed tongue. She seemed only too anxious to piss off everyone she came across. Blaze¡¯s amicable face wrinkled into a scowl when she said it, but to Cloudhawk¡¯s surprise he didn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°Don¡¯t you get bored with fighting all the time? Today is the order¡¯s treasure drawing. I wanted to make sure the Polaris family¡¯s representative didn¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Well that¡¯s a happy coincidence, I guess I can cut you some slack.¡± She always had to get in a slap to the face. Her dismissive answer was insulting and thick with contempt, but Blaze didn¡¯t seem bothered. His gregarious personality didn¡¯t match his fiery appearance. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve see your friend before,¡± he said, looking Cloudhawk over. ¡°He new?¡± Cloudhawk had slipped his mask on when they left the commander¡¯s mansion so Blaze couldn¡¯t see his face. He could see the bird on his shoulder, though, and gave it a curious stare. He got a good feeling from this guy, but as he was about to introduce himself Dawn cut in. ¡°Take a good look, this is my loyal manservant. If any of you dare bother him I won¡¯t stop punching until you¡¯re looking for your teeth!¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Blaze did as she asked and peered closer at Cloudhawk. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re with Miss Polaris then you¡¯re welcome to join the festivities.¡± Dawn shot Cloudhawk a sideways glance as if to say, ¡°What about that? Big sis can take care of you, eh? No one will bother you so long as they know you belong to me!¡± Cloudhawk felt a dozen pairs of angry eyes settle on him, and suddenly he was very happy he¡¯d chosen to wear his mask. If he hadn¡¯t, the next time he went out he¡¯d probably wind up dead. 1. His name is ¡®Burning Yang¡¯ ¨C yang is a complicated character, the same one used in ¡®yin-yang.¡¯ It¡¯s a very on-the-nose choice for this guy because it¡¯s indicative of everything the writer just described him as; masculine, positive, forward in personality, powerful, bright, fiery. Alternatively yin is feminine, weak, dark, low, slow, introspective. Be careful not to conflate them with good and bad, though, because that is not how they¡¯re defined. Instead they¡¯re meant as reflections of one another, two sides of a coin irrespective of moral assumptions. Anyway, rant over. 2. I see this a lot. Typically if you see the term ¡®wry smirk¡¯ it evokes a sense of dry or mocking humor, maybe even self-effacing. Here, though, it seems clearly meant to display annoyance for her actions from Cloudhawk. (Xiao Lai is now on twitter and instagram! Follow him @xiaolaiwxw for insights into translating and Chinese medicine theory.) Book 2, Chapter 46 - The Collection Convention Bad company¡­ the worst! Cloudhawk had to draw the line in the relationship between him and this crazy woman somewhere. His plight in this city was already a difficult and awkward one without her making it worse. Frost and most of the Cloude family already had it out for him, especially after he¡¯d tried to burn down the governor¡¯s mansion. Lord Arcturus might have chosen to let it go, but it wasn¡¯t so easy for the others. The longer he spent with Dawn the more enemies he made, soon there wouldn¡¯t be anywhere in the city he could go safely. You have your family and the sanctuary to back you up. I got nobody! Dawn was simply incapable of restraining herself. Holding Terrangelica tight in her arms she strode into the bar with head held high. The Fiend and Huntsman pub was the only establishment that catered exclusively to demonhunters. Seeing as these hunters were highly respected in the city, their chosen watering hole could not expected to be humble. Cloudhawk got the strange sensation he was walking into a jungle as he stepped inside Everything was covered in shrubs and foliage. Fruits as large as pumpkins hung from tree branches and glowed with gentle light. No insects buzzed and the whole place was comfortable and clean. There weren¡¯t many tables or chairs, but everything was exquisitely decorated and fastidiously cared for. Even the servers were newly minted demonhunters of the order. In other words, no one here was your typical citizen. The Fiend and Huntsman was built specifically for one group of people. An imposter like Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t be allowed in normally, but his relationship with Dawn bought him entrance. Blaze was a vice-commander of the order and one of this area¡¯s administrators and was as magnanimous and accommodating as a man should be. Dawn¡¯s biting words hadn¡¯t gotten his blood up, instead he led them over to one of the trees and up the ladder to a platform built in its canopy. It was actually a beautifully decorated private space where you could see the whole bar below. Blaze offered them a seat. ¡°The collection convention will start soon. I hope Lady Polaris comes away with a few things she likes.¡± Dawn showed him no gratitude. ¡°So chatty. You¡¯re like a cursed rock, how am I supposed to feel lucky with you around?¡± Blaze forced a resentful smile. But before he left he gave Cloudhawk one last curious look. Dawn settled into a large chair, her long pale legs folded beneath her. As she plucked fruit from a wooden bowl before her, she stared down at a platform in the middle of the pub. ¡°What are you mute? Don¡¯t you want to ask what the collection convention is?¡± Cloudhawk absently scratched Oddball¡¯s fluffy head. ¡°I don¡¯t need to since you¡¯re going to tell me anyway.¡± Dawn Polaris couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut if you paid her. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been around her long but he was beginning to figure her out. She wasn¡¯t going to waste an opportunity to flap her lips at him. ¡°The Order of Demonhunters often go out to old battlegrounds of the war between gods and demons. They often come back with old treasures that were left behind, including a fair number of relics. Once they get enough they hold what they call a collection convention. It¡¯s an auction they hold every month or two. Cloudhawk paused. ¡°A relic auction?¡± Of course Cloudhawk knew how much relics could be worth. There were all kinds with various abilities and their strength was determined by the demonhunter who used them. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t create relics. That was a process only known by the gods. As a result relic weapons were tokens of their divine authority. Cloudhawk remembered the Bloodsoaked Queen ¨C Selene Cloude ¨C telling him once that all the relics in the elysian lands were registered. Every relic, the family it belonged to, and the demonhunter who held it was written down. When one went missing it was a big deal and the city sent out investigators to learn what happened. Claudia, Raith, and other demonhunters like them from noble families had special heirloom relics. Barb and other common demonhunters didn¡¯t have the luxury of having relics handed down to them. Thus, since these relics were held by only a small subset of people, they were usually both rare and expensive. For the last few days Cloudhawk had been stealing typical riches, he¡¯d never had the gall to pilfer a relic. In his heart he knew that a rich family would eventually forget the loss of jewels and money, but a relic was something else. For a pub to start selling them, then, was unexpected to say the least. She unfurled her legs and went on, continuing to fling fruit into her mouth. ¡°Now don¡¯t misunderstand, relics aren¡¯t so easy to get your hands on. It¡¯s all a gamble.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ugh, give me a break. Does your brain work at all?¡± She pointed to her temple and waggled her finger in a circle. ¡°These are dug up from ancient battlefields so most of the relics are either broken or just pieces. They¡¯re useless.¡± Cloudhawk raised his eyebrows at her. ¡°Useless.¡± ¡°Well, most of the time. From time to time they¡¯re put a decent item up for auction but only maybe ten in a year. Compared to the several hundred or a thousand other items they try to pawn off your chances are pretty low as you can imagine. Most of my assets I¡¯ve poured into this sort of thing and I haven¡¯t bought a winner yet.¡± ¡°And people actually come here to buy this stuff.¡± ¡°Of course, some of it is worth good money. Pick up enough dog shit to gather all the pieces of something good, and you can bring it to the sanctuary. For a tack of coins they might be able to re-forge it for you. A working relic¡¯s value can¡¯t be measured in cash.¡± So troublesome? Cloudhawk was quickly losing interest. It was definitely easier to try and understand the phasing ability of the stone around his neck. He could just use it to travel to other strange worlds and find relics laying around there. Anyway, he only had a few coins clinking around in his pocket. He looked around and saw a hundred or so demonhunters crowding the tables, most of them from affluent backgrounds. The few gold he had was more than enough for a normal guy, but here they amounted to little of anything. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, sorry you¡¯ve been waiting!¡± Blaze appeared on the stage in the center of the pub. ¡°Thank you all for coming to participate in the Order of Demonhunters¡¯ collection convention. This time we have more treasures than ever before. In the interest of fairness and honesty we must remind you that none of these items have gone through an appraisal process ¨C their quality cannot be promised. You, ladies and gentlemen, will have to have a sharp eye and a little bit of luck. And luck is what I wish to each of you!¡± Dawn planted her feet back on the floor. The plate of fruit was ignored as she leaned in, attentive and serious. Attendants from the Order carried in a case and opened pulled the first item out from it. It was a simple-looking bronze sword and yet every eye went wide. It hadn¡¯t been authenticated but at least it looked pretty. Its appearance alone would earn it a few bids. ¡°The base price for this one is fifty gold. Bid increases have to be a minimum of five gold.¡± Dawn bleated out her bid almost before he could finish. ¡°Fifty-five!¡± When they saw who cried out the boisterous pub grew quiet. Who wasn¡¯t aware of Dawn¡¯s confrontational reputation? Her offer caused anyone else who might have been interested to reconsider. It looked like her crappy attitude did have its benefits. But while she could cow lower class demonhunters, she couldn¡¯t intimidate everyone. A fat man hobbled to his feet. ¡°Sixty-five!¡± Another middle-aged man from an important family was next. ¡°Seventy!¡± And then an elderly man. ¡°Seventy-five!¡± ¡°One hundred!¡± Dawn refused to be outplayed. Anyoen could see this bronze sword was no mere trinket. If its surface were made complete perhaps it could be useful. Who knows, it could even be a relic. If that were the case then a thousand gold coins was a good price. That¡¯s why it tripled to one hundred and fifty gold coins in only a few seconds. Sweat and begun to pop up on Dawn¡¯s forehead. She¡¯d only brought a few hundred gold with her and there were many more items to see. If she saw something else she liked she might no longer be competitive. ¡°One hundred fifty-five!¡± She gritted her teeth and growled the words. ¡°One hundred sixty!¡± The old man calmly outbid her. He was her last opponent, everyone else had fallen silent already. Cloudhawk could almost see steam coming out of her eyes. She recognized the old man, it was the dean of the Order of Demonhunters. He was a highly respected elder of the city, how was she supposed to compete? Cloudhawk held his tongue and just let his eyes slip closed. He was listening carefully to something. There was the faintest sound reverberating from the bronze sword, but to Cloudhawk it sounded frayed and incoherent. It meant the damage to it was much more than its appearance would lead one to believe. Being largely destroyed there was very little hope it getting it repaired. ¡°That thing is useless,¡± Cloudhawk muttered to Dawn. She was drenched in sweat. ¡°You¡¯re gonna get robbed.¡± Dawn paused. ¡°You say it¡¯s useless and I¡¯m just supposed to believe you? What are you, a relic expert? Only an appraiser would know for sure and it takes them a couple hours to figure it out. You haven¡¯t even touched it, what makes you think you know anything? I can tell that this is one of their most complete relics.¡± ¡°I can do better than an appraiser.¡± He looked back at her full of confidence. ¡°Listen to me, I¡¯m not wrong.¡± ¡°Yeah, and what if your intuition is bad? What then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take on the cost of any bad item or poor bid you get. You can take the relic cloak off my back as compensation.¡± He tapped it with a finger. ¡°Now this is a high-grade relic.¡± ¡°A good relic? And you¡¯d be willing to part with it?¡± Her eyes veritably twinkled. ¡°But if I¡¯m right then we split today¡¯s down the middle.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a deal!¡± However Dawn didn¡¯t stop bidding. She¡¯d decided to listen to Cloudhawk, but that didn¡¯t stop her from pumping up the price a little higher. To her this was ammunition again her opponents; get them to spend all their money on trash and swoop in when the nice items showed up. By now the sword was two hundred and eighty gold coins. Aurura saw that old man¡¯s face start to turn. Indeed, a good relic was worth a thousand gold, but it all a gamble. Not every relic that looked in good shape actually was. You just improved your chances by betting on several pieces. It came down to risk, and if the old man paid out too much it wouldn¡¯t be worth any reward he harvested. She saw it on his face and stopped. At last the hammer fell. The old man walked away with his shiny trinket for two hundred and eighty five gold coins. Dawn cast a thorny glance toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Now it¡¯s up to you!¡± Book 2, Chapter 47 - Shield, Stone, Sword The Fiend and Huntsman grew ever more boisterous with each item they put on display. The Order¡¯s deluge of strange items kept coming; most were weapons like knives and short swords, or bits of broken armor. From time to time more novel items came up for auction. To an outsider it had to look like a junk trade show! Noble men shouted until their faces were red over heaps of garbage. As prices climbed each shout increased the bid by enough to make a commoner sick with envy. Dawn asked her advisor: ¡°What about this one, should I bid?¡± ¡°No bid!¡± ¡°This one? It looks pretty good!¡± ¡°Not bad? Is there something wrong with your eyes? Garbage, through and through. You¡¯d buy it just to throw it away.¡± ¡°Shit. This one, then. It¡¯s in excellent condition, we should bid before someone snatches it from us!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Cloudhawk paid her trinkets no mind, his attention was on an item the attendants just pulled out. At once he knew this one was different, its resonance was more complete. The relic was still in rough shape but there was at least a chance it could be fixed. ¡°This one can be repaired but you didn¡¯t bring enough cash. Let someone else have it, we¡¯ll keep an eye out for something better. And stop glaring at me, you said you¡¯d listen!¡± ¡°This is no good, that¡¯s no good. You irritate the hell out of me!¡± He pulled at her platinum hair with both hands. There were more quality goods during this convention than she¡¯d ever seen before. If she were by herself Dawn would have already snatched up several, but Cloudhawk¡¯s resolute denial forced her to just sit and stare. One relic after another was offered. One after another they were sold. Cloudhawk could see why the order held this collection convention, it had to be hugely profitable. Besides the one item that seemed halfway decent, everything else was useless scrap or mostly ruined. But even so they were going for a third or a half of the standard market price for relics. Parts of relics were bought for a tenth of the price. It was easy to see how much profit the Order of Demonhunters was walking away with. The demonhunters here weren¡¯t stupid. They knew maybe one piece in ten was worth anything, but still they happily participated. There were relics out there worth more than a y amount of money they spent. A one in ten chance wasn¡¯t so bad when one considered the potential reward. The auction had reached its halfway point. By this point they¡¯d already paraded nearly twenty relics or relic pieces before the audience. Dawn had bid on several of them, but only in order to inflate their price. That¡¯s not to say she wasn¡¯t eager to grab a few of them, however Cloudhawk¡¯s insistence always won out. But for a girl like her how could she not feel suffocated by it? Usually she was the one pushing other people around, what was going on here? Cloudhawk was driving her absolutely insane! With each passing minute she was growing more uncomfortable, more likely to explode. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care. He just shut his eyes almost like he was meditating. Already furious, his seemingly flippant attitude was almost enough to convince Dawn he needed a beating. She was rolling up her sleeves when suddenly Cloudhawk perked up in surprise. A steady, calm vibration filled the air, a resonance totally different from any of the other items. It was intact. ¡°Got one,¡± he said, ¡°it doesn¡¯t how much this one costs, buy it.¡± Dawn managed to clamp down on her boiling anger. Hmph. I¡¯ll spare you for the moment. Let¡¯s see whether or not you¡¯re full of shit. A pair of handlers brought out an enormous case and placed it on the stage. When they saw what was inside, the auctioneers fell quiet. It was a thick blue shield you could strap to your arm. The type of thing it was wasn¡¯t important. The first thing they noticed was that its surface was riddled with scars and cracks from combat. Some spots were especially bad, like the top left corner that was missing a chunk. The demonhunters all shook their heads, disinterested. The relic looked mostly complete but in bad shape. The damage was severe and widespread, so how could it still possibly work as a relic? They would rather bad a relic that was broken into several clean pieces than this battered eyesore. On the one hand repairing it was expensive, assuming it could be repaired at all. Dawn had been anxious to spend her cash, but her face fell when she saw what it was. She was starting to suspect this weasel wastelander was screwing with her. Was this piece of trash really worth anything? ¡°Starting price is twenty gold coins. Minimum bid increase is two gold.¡± You got what you paid for, and this rugged shield didn¡¯t look like much. With an unattractive starting bid as well. Most weren¡¯t interested and only a few bidders with more money than they knew what to do with made an offer. Twenty gold was more money than a commoner could dream of, but to many of the wealthy here it was nothing. If it was broken then it was broken, it was a collector¡¯s piece at worse. Perhaps it¡¯d make for good decoration. ¡°This relic is more intact than anything else they¡¯ve shown. I¡¯m not playing with you!¡± They¡¯d agreed to listen to Cloudhawk¡¯s suggestions. She would buy what he told her to buy, and ignore what he told her to ignore ¨C that was the deal. For Dawn it seemed like she¡¯d already missed the opportunity to get her hands on a few good deals, only for him to order her to buy this lump of scrap. It rankled her to no end! When was the last time this beautiful and powerful lady of a noble family was ordered around? But she remembered his promise, and took a pointed look at the cloak he¡¯d sworn to give her if he was wrong. She swallowed her doubts, for the time being. ¡°Thirty!¡± She spat the words distastefully. A few voices answered as the bidding went on. It was a battered shield but there were still a few who were interested. However, in the end the price didn¡¯t get too high and soon it became too much for casual interest.Dawn won it for the final sum of forty six gold coins. The other auctioneers muttered quietly among themselves. Dawn didn¡¯t need to hear to know what they were talking about. She was not a well-liked member of the Skycloud community, so when she paid a premium for a broken shield they were more than happy to gloat over it. Lady Polaris seemed to have more money than sense. Her grandfather would probably be furious when he saw what she was wasting money on. ¡°Look!¡± Dawn said, clenching her fists. ¡°They¡¯re all laughing at me! It¡¯s your fault!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡± Cloudhawk remained calm. ¡°Pretty soon you¡¯ll be thanking me.¡± The collection convention continued with excited buyers jostling for treasures. There were a couple pieces they went for several hundred gold coins each. Cloudhawk identified some that were good, others that were bad, a few that could be fixed, but none that were worth the price. He told her to save her money. Eventually another item caught his attention. The other items on display had all been shields or weapons, things whose use were evident at a glance. In contrast, though, this relic was about the size of a fist and looked like a yellow stone. Its surface was coarse an etched with strange markings, but otherwise no different from any other rock. What was it? What did it do? Was it part of a relic, or a relic itself? No one was sure. Cloudhawk did not hesitate and looked at the pretty woman with him. ¡°This one¡¯s good. Buy it, no matter what.¡± The bidding started, base price thirty gold coins. Before long it¡¯d risen to sixty ¨C more than double what it started at. Clearly there was some interest, but interest had its limits. No one could tell from the look of it if the stone was a relic or a piece of one. No one could tell from the look of it what it did. When Dawn bid ninety gold coins for it no one opposed her. Cloudhawk was pleased, for he was convinced just these two items were already a good haul. However, just as he was getting ready to call it quits he sensed another one in the last batch of the auction. This one was an ancient black and gold sword. It was roughly three feet long, relatively short and only two fingers in width. The blade was pitch black and didn¡¯t reflect any light, but it did radiate with a faint purple glow. Like the bronze sword from the start of the auction it looked in good condition. However, where the bronze sword¡¯s powers had collapsed internally the black and gold sword was whole. It was a fully functioning relic. Dawn gave Cloudhawk a questioning look. He nodded. Instantly her eyes lit up, finally a proper treasure. But if it was good enough to catch Dawn¡¯s eye, she wasn¡¯t going to be the only one. However, its look and aura were unsettling. More than a few of the demonhunters in the audience suspected this had to be a demon relic. Demon relics and god relics were roughly the same, only demonic relics were aimed more towards the power of death, darkness and decay. There weren¡¯t many in the city who could use them. The bidding started. Shouts and counterbids flew back and forth. In the end Dawn Polaris won her third piece for a final price tag of two hundred and ninety gold coins. She only got it for this much because the old man from before had spent all his money on previous items, otherwise it was obvious he¡¯d have kept bidding. By the end of the collection convention they¡¯d come away with one shield, one rock, and one sword. Three relics they now called their own. Book 2, Chapter 48 - Are You Human? Attendants brought Dawn her three items sealed in glass cases. One of them amicably approached her. ¡°My Lady, will you need our authentication services? The Order¡¯s appraisers are very reliable.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Cloudhawk cut them off. ¡°We¡¯ll have them authenticated ourselves.¡± Dawn Polaris was not happy with his choice. Hey, she said to herself, remember who the boss is here! Who said you could make decision? Skycloud city was a martial place, and the demonhunters were a martial sort. The street they called the Home of the Demomhunters had many rooms for rent, stocked with various tools. Cloudhawk thought they would be fin places to test these relics out. He had Dawn purchase them a two-hundred square meter space with some practice dummies for a gold coin. They weren¡¯t looking for an appraiser. Why get a training room? Unaware of her skepticism Cloudhawk looked pointedly at the box. ¡°Alright let¡¯s see.¡± Her pretty face scrunched up like he was speaking a foreign language. ¡°What are you doing standing there like an idiot? After spending so much money don¡¯t you want to know what they do?¡± She gaped at him like he was an alien. ¡°Know what? You don¡¯t mean this relics!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a dumbass question.¡± Her mind was veritably blown, so much she didn¡¯t respond to his insult. Suddenly she was convinced he was crazy. What auctioned relic could just be picked up and used? He was the dumbass! Cloudhawk paid her shock no mind, opened the first case and pulled out the large shield. The battle-scarred item was fifty centimeters tall [1], black all over and made purely out of metal. However when he picked it up it was surprisingly light. On the inside of the shield he saw runes that were typical for many relics. He used what he¡¯d learned to read out the name: ¡°Concussion shield.¡± ¡°What a waste of time! You backwoods wastelander yokel, what do you know about relics?¡± Dawn glowered at the mangled shield then offered a sneer full of malicious promise. ¡°You think you can just pick up a strange relic willy-nilly and use it? I don¡¯t know whether you¡¯re na?ve or just stupid. If you can make that thing work than you can be my boss!¡± ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m not interested in being the boss of someone who¡¯d just cut the legs out from under me.¡± Cloudhawk turned around and looked at her. ¡°I only want you to treat me like an equal!¡± Dawn Polaris met his dark eyes straight on. His wasn¡¯t a normal stare. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were full of self-confidence and calm. He was unique, but she wasn¡¯t sure what it was about him that made her feel that way. The inside of the buckler was fitting with a sort of sleeve. Slipping one¡¯s left arm inside fixed the shield in place. Cloudhawk first shrugged his arm to get used to its weight. His eyes swept around the training area and eventually landed on a training dummy nearby. These demons were specially made for demonhunters to help them practice their skills. They were made from wood but only the highest quality, hardy enough to take several blows from an exorcist staff. That fact was enough to prove how tough they were. Let¡¯s get this started. Cloudhawk started to run under Dawn¡¯s incredulous gaze. As his speed picked up he held the buckler in front of him. His eyes were closed, all of his focus on the shield searching for its resonance ¨C and then something unexpected happened. The buckler began to shimmer with white light. Cloudhawk slammed right into the dummy, and when his shield met the wood it released a burst of light in visible ripples. All the space around it warped as all of a sudden the roar of wind filled the training room. Bang! Dawn¡¯s ears rang as a peel of thunder erupted. Struck full on by the force of impact the training dummy was blasted away. It hit the wall then clattered to the floor covered in cracks. The dent it left in the wall proved what sort of force was behind Cloudhawk¡¯s charge. In a real fight it didn¡¯t matter whether he was facing a man or a bull, its guts would be splashed all over the floor after a hit like that. Believe it or not, this shoddy- looking beat up buckler was fully functional. Dawn Polaris stared at him with her mouth hanging open, wide enough to fit an apple. ¡°Well that was satisfying!¡± Cloudhawk trotted over, pulled off the shield then handed it to her. ¡°Want to give it a go?¡± She swallowed and looked over at the damaged wall. From the display she could tell this relic was the type that could manipulate both air and wind ¨C precisely the kind of relics Dawn was skilled with. In fact the mirror she used to protect herself used what was called ¡®wind-type protection.¡¯ It thickened the air into an invisible shell to ward of attacks. Although it was technically armor the concussion shield could also attack. So, surprisingly, it was a fine relic! Without saying another word she pulled the shield onto her arm. Dawn didn¡¯t copy Cloudhawk¡¯s wild charge, opting instead to walk over and stand in front of one of the dummies. She reached out with her psychic energy then swung the shield. The burst of power this time was several times more powerful than the last. Cloudhawk was too close and was almost thrown to the floor, white the dummy exploded into splinters. Bits of wood covered the room. Dawn was nearly wild with joy. ¡°This is incredible!¡± Cloudhawk had a talent for relics. He could pick one up and use it faster than any other demonhunter. But for strength, he only had about one fifth the power of this woman. If Dawn became proficient with this shield what sort of terrible force could she produce? The differences in their skills were obvious! The next time Dawn looked at Cloudhawk the disdain was gone from her eyes. Instead there was respect, genuine respect.[2] She¡¯d never felt that for a peer before, especially someone so much younger than her. How did he do that? From the outside this relic looked useless, but Cloudhawk looked past its surface. Dawn paid a sum that she wouldn¡¯t have believed even in her wildest dreams. This wasn¡¯t just good fortune, this was like a gift from heaven! What about its scarred surface? That wasn¡¯t a problem, a few hundred gold coins would convince the sanctuary¡¯s craftsmen to fix it right up. Since its core was still intact repairing it to like-new would not be difficult. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going!¡± Cloudhawk picked up the small lump of stone next. Dawn Polaris gathered in close. She didn¡¯t mind being so near to him now, her glittering eyes were focused on the relic instead. She peered closely at it for a moment. ¡°This rock is a relic? It doesn¡¯t look like it at all!¡± ¡°¡¯Titan Rock¡¯? Interesting!¡± Cloudhawk saw the name scrawled on it but didn¡¯t do much more investigating. He sought out its resonance with his psychic power and when they mingled he instantly felt weighed down. Unconsciously chucked it away and when it hit the ground it did so with a deafening bang. The fist-sized rock had grown to the size of a wash basin by the time it landed. Shimmering runes slithered across its surface and it quivered back and forth like an angry animal. It continued to grow larger before their eyes, up to the size of an ox. Both Cloudhawk and Dawn looked at it in shock. Was this relic meant to be thrown at their enemies and smashed beneath it? What a let down¡­ Crack-crack-crack! The rock had stopped expanding, but was still transforming. As cracked spread all over its surface what came next surprised them even more. It actually stood up, in the shape of a man a hundred and eighty meters tall. A soldier made completely out of stone, with a pair of glowing red eyes. Its arms with thick and threatening. One boulder-sized fist shot out and a dummy went flying. A leg thick as a stone column kicked, and a dummy mad from stone was crushed to dust. Dawn watched with wide and ecstatic eyes. The relic summoned a weapon ¨C a stone soldier with astonishing strength, capable of following commands. If Cloudhawk could summon a golem this strong what was she capable of? This was another high-grade relic! What thrilled her the most was this ¡®titan rock¡¯ was earth focused. Dawn¡¯s talents allowed her to use two sorts of relics; wind, and earth. The aegis mirror manipulated the power of the wind and Terrangelica manipulated earth. Cloudhawk had managed to help her find two relics perfectly matched to her talents. It was almost like they were custom made for her! Her enthusiasm and joy was easy to imagine and she had to stop herself from kissing Cloudhawk. But in the midst of her exhilaration another thought crossed her mind. When it did her joy turned to shock, then amazement, then an inexplicable cold. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you¡­¡± She backed away from him. Her eyes fixed on Cloudhawk with a threatening glare. This she-devil, who feared nothing and no one within Skycloud City, was rendered speechless. Cloudhawk gave her a weird look. ¡°What?¡± Dawn Polaris swallowed hard. ¡°Are you human? How many talents do you actually have?!¡± 1. The math here struggled to match up with the description of the shield. It¡¯s referred to as ¡®a gigantic arm shield.¡¯ I¡¯m assuming arm shield probably refers more to a buckler ¨C a smallish shield that¡¯s slipped onto the arm or held and used to deflect or parry. Bucklers can go up to 45 centimeters, typically. So I guess ¡®gigantic¡¯ means five centimeters larger than normal. 2. Technically the word he uses twice is ¡®worship¡¯, but that¡¯s not right ¨C it goes completely counter to her nature. Book 2, Chapter 49 - Limits Everything Dawn knew about the world was shattered. The shock it caused her was intense. Not because she had a weak mental constitution, but because what Cloudhawk showed was incomprehensible. She¡¯d never heard of someone being able to sense a relic¡¯s power without even touching it. If everyone had access to such an ability, the Order of Demonhunters wouldn¡¯t make any money. It was also unheard of that someone could use so many different kinds of relics ¨C Cloudhawk¡¯s talents seemed to be without limitation. He was able to call on the power of any relic he touched. It didn¡¯t matter that he was low born. It didn¡¯t matter that he was not strong. These two facts were enough that no one in Skycloud City would be right in overlooking him. These skills made him special. He was as notable as any other talent in the city. Once Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic energy was spent, the golem broke apart of its own accord, like snow on a sunny day. After only a few seconds the stone was back to being fist sized and, like it knew who its master was ¨C returned to Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡± Cloudhawk turned a blind eye to Dawn¡¯s shock. He tossed the rock to her. She caught it in both hands and let the rock settle in her palms. As she looked it over thrill overtook her shock, and Dawn¡¯s powerful psychic power poured out. Once again the rock quickly began to transform. Boom! This transformation was several times faster than when Cloudhawk had tried. Where it landed a sizeable dent was left in the floor. Beyond changing fast it also immediately swelled to the size of a baby elephant before taking on humanoid characteristics. Once it was finished a two hundred and forty centimeter tall man of stone occupied the center of the room. He towered over them imposingly. If Cloudhawk¡¯s summoned golem was a chimp, than this was a mountain gorilla! He also found it interesting that this golem was far thicker, like it was covered in a suit of stone armor. It also carried a two-meter long war hammer in its gravely grip. Incredible! It made its own weapons, too! Dawn called out in surprise and delight as she controlled with golem through their connection. It lumbered forward, raised its massive arms and brought the hammer down on a wooden dummy. The whole training area shook intensely from the impact. The floor cracked, and the dummy was smashed to splinters. It was spectacular to behold. Dawn Polaris ordered the golem to walk around as she practiced her control. Cloudhawk could see that the depth of her abilities was impressive, since she was able to maintain it for so long without any loss in the golem¡¯s strength. ¡°Let¡¯s test the third one together!¡± Cloudhawk reached into the final box and pulled out the black gold sword. It looked thin and light, very old, and made entirely from one piece of metal. There weren¡¯t any visible places were pieces were joined, and in fact it was heavier than it looked. The name was inscribed on its side: ¡®Quiet Carnage!¡¯ Shit, what sort of name is that? The name alone proved it was a demonic relic! There wasn¡¯t much different between demonic and godly relics, other than the fact that demonic relics were bleaker and more ferocious. Neither of them knew what to expect from it. As Dawn had the stone golem wander around Cloudhawk grinned. He searched for the resonance of the blade, joined with it, and the relic began to vibrate. Of course this vibration was imperceptible to others. As Dawn watched all she saw was Cloudhawk¡¯s arm spring up, blade in hand, and cut through the air. A half-moon slash of dark energy was flung out whose sharpness could be felt even from far away. The golem went stiff. Then, without any foreshadowing, its large head rolled off its shoulders. Its neck, where the attack passed through, was shaved to a mirror sheen and the only sound was the golem¡¯s head striking the ground. Absolutely no sound had come from the sword or the energy it spat forth. Even when it split rock, nothing. From beginning to end only deathly stillness prevailed, so it seemed the weapon had a sound dampening ability. Every attack was brutal but absolutely silent, just as its name implied. It wasn¡¯t a large sword ¨C three feet or so ¨C making it convenient to carry around. It fit Cloudhawk¡¯s fighting style particularly well. It wasn¡¯t anything to fawn over, but the relic was far better than something like an exorcist staff. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t lacking in relics except none were for direct combat. Quiet carnage suited his needs just fine. Not too strong, but stronger than a staff. Faster too. And of course, totally silent. Cloudhawk put the sword back down. ¡°And there you go, test complete.¡± Perhaps for the first time in her life Dawn felt a deep admiration. The Home of the Demonhunters typically only had ten halfway decent relics pass through their auction in a year, but this time they¡¯d gotten three. It was an unprecedented haul, made all the more surprising by the fact that Cloudhawk¡¯s accuracy was spot on for each one. If this unnaturally gifted guy kept visiting the auction they would have to go out of business. Their agreement was to split the goods fifty-fifty, but that wasn¡¯t going to be easy with three relics. Dawn wanted the concussion shield and the titan rock, but she also knew it was Cloudhawk who¡¯d earned them. She couldn¡¯t really justify blindly profited at his expense. It was almost incredible that this overbearing, bullying lady of the Polaris family was thinking about someone else. Today was certainly a day of firsts. Cloudhawk saw the look on her face and graciously waved his hand. ¡°Take ¡®em. Pay me the difference in coin.¡± Dawn was elated. She blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t like to take advantage of people.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s annoyance began to show. ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll take two.¡± ¡°Hmph! Fat chance!¡± Suddenly she had a change of heart. ¡°I don¡¯t like to take advantage of others. But you, I have no problem.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the same covetous feelings towards relics as others. Strictly speaking he¡¯d just stumbled on most of the ones he owned; the phase stone, the invisibility cloak, the Gospel of the Sands, and the sword he might have sort of paid for (but it wasn¡¯t much different). With the stone¡¯s phasing powers and his natural ability to hear relics, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think he would ever have to worry about finding more. That was how he could be so generous. Now Dawn owed him even more and that, to him, was worth a few relics. Besides, the two she took weren¡¯t very helpful to him. The concussive shield was strong and its function fair, but its style was better suited to someone who saw more wide-scale combat. The titan stone was an excellent piece, but Cloudhawk already had the Gospel of the Sands. He¡¯d seen the demon use it to summon a similar golem, so the two relics overlapped. The Gospel was clearly much more powerful than the titan stone, so why bother having two of the same thing? After some thought it was clear what he needed was cash and Dawn¡¯s help. Getting feed for Oddball from the Temple, for instance. Dawn slipped the buckler onto her back and the stone in her pocket. ¡°Your mistress is in a fine mood. I¡¯m going to treat you to a drink. Come!¡± With all the bearing of a fantasy heroine Dawn strode into a separate room of the pub. She regally flung herself onto a couch, loudly ordered a dozen jugs of warrior¡¯s wine, then selected a few things from the food menu. ¡°Take what you like, it¡¯s on me!¡± Dawn really was in a good mood. The young guy was also starting to look less and less like a degenerate to her. Cloudhawk ate in such a way that it looks slow but in reality was in large volume. He stuffed his mouth and carefully chewed every bite so it didn¡¯t look like he was half starved. As she watched Dawn realized that the guy didn¡¯t care much about the taste. He was just interested in any sustenance he could get. A harsh life in the wastelands had taught Cloudhawk to appreciate every bite of food he got. It went double for every mouthful of water. Dawn Polaris watched him with interest. ¡°You aren¡¯t a big guy, how can you eat so much? One of your plates is enough to feed me for three days. If I ate like you my stomach would explode!¡± ¡°One plate means I don¡¯t have to eat for three days. I don¡¯t think you could say the same.¡± There were many reasons he ate so much, but that was indeed one of them. ¡°No one normal wanders out of the wastelands!¡± She sighed then continued her questioning. ¡°So what¡¯s your story?¡± ¡°Nothing to tell.¡± ¡°Boring. Turning down a pretty woman is rude, you know. Especially someone as smart and attractive as me!¡± ¡°Not a shred of modesty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth!¡± Dawn slapped the table and snatched a jug of alcohol. ¡°Do you have any idea how hard it is to share a drink with a beautiful woman? Come on, drink me under the table if you think you can.¡± Cloudhawk gave her a glance over his plate of food. ¡°Why would I want to do that?¡± ¡°Here I am, a beautiful woman with booze in hand, and you¡¯re asking a stupid question like this.¡± Dawn stuck out her well-endowed chest. ¡°If you can out-drink me you can do whatever you want with me. Up to you! What do you say, a rare opportunity eh?¡± If you put aside Dawn¡¯s¡­ unique personality, and judged her only from the outside, then she was the second prettiest girl Cloudhawk had ever met ¨C besides Selene. She also had a very different presence than the otherworldly, exceptionally refined beauty of the Bloodsoaked Queen. If Dawn didn¡¯t move and didn¡¯t speak she would be like a statue of a goddess, pure and noble. Looks like that always aroused a man¡¯s lust for conquest, even before saying something so provocative. Cloudhawk gave her deliberately advertised chest a good long look. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°I keep my word!¡± She said the words with a crafty tone and opened up two jugs. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m waiting. See what you got!¡± What Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know was that Dawn Polaris¡¯ capacity for alcohol was famous in Skycloud City. Even General Polaris couldn¡¯t drink his granddaughter under the table, so one could imagine her tolerance. She could drink against ten hardy men without a problem, so this whole deal with Cloudhawk was merely a setup. ¡°It¡¯s not strong, drink the whole thing down. Really quench your thirst.¡± She snatched one of the jugs, threw her head back and gulped it dry. Almost right away her porcelain white cheeks were tinged a rosy pink. It took away some of the pure and noble air and replaced it with coquettish undertones. This was no normal loquor either, it was a brew only demonhunters could handle called ¡®warrior.¡¯ As the name implied it took a warrior to stomach it, the stuff was too much for normal folks. One glass was enough to knock out an everyday citizen of Skycloud City. She knocked back a whole jug no problem. Dawn wiped her mouth with her arm then pushed a jug toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re up! Drink slow now, don¡¯t rush.¡± What, was he supposed to be afraid of a woman?! The instant the stuff touched his lips Cloudhawk¡¯s face changed. This wasn¡¯t alcohol, it was straight fire. It was lava! He almost spit it all over Dawn¡¯s face. She slapped the table and cackled. ¡°What do you think? Strong, yeah?¡± He winced and forced himself to swallow it. When the jug was empty he felt the fire spread out from his belly to every inch of him. His eyes were winced and watery, face red, and sweat had started to seep from his pores. Already a fuzzy feeling had started to invade his brain and he felt like he could fall over any second. He¡¯d been duped! Dawn¡¯s face was barely pink, which proved she had a high tolerance. She was inhuman, what normal person could out-drink her? ¡°We¡¯re not done yet. Keep it up, another!¡± Dawn wanted to Cloudhawk make a fool of himself, so she was determined to drink until he couldn¡¯t stand. Cloudhawk, as a man who didn¡¯t like losing, tried to keep up. ¡°That¡¯s two. Again!¡± By the third jug Dawn had started to turn red and the booze had started to affect her thinking. Cloudhawk refused to give in and tossed back his third jug as well. Still up? He was holding on by sheer perseverance alone! Dawn was convinced he was seconds away from passing out. She didn¡¯t give him any chance to breathe, shoving another jug in front of him. Victory was near at hand, who could say how much either of them had drunk by now. Cloudhawk could hardly hold himself straight, and although he¡¯d passed him limit a while ago he kept drinking. Honestly, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t much of a drinker. As a Tartarus mercenary all of his brothers could handle more than he. Drinking like this wasn¡¯t just about the amount but about one¡¯s constitution as well. He knew it right when he saw her take that first drink, Dawn could wipe him out even without relics. Her strength and physique helped protect her against the ill effects of alcohol. Besides, she clearly had a talent for drinking beyond a normal person. In reality one jug was Cloudhawk¡¯s limit, but somehow he managed to put down three in a short period of time and he was only slowly starting to get drunk. He recognized what it had to be ¨C his blood. Once the alcohol content of his blood rose above a certain level, elements in his blood quickly worked to dissolve it. Was it the trespasser virus? Evidently the more he drank the more was being removed from his bloodstream. It kept him in a fuzzy haze but he never got to the point of passing out. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. Again!¡± The jugs strewn across the table steadily emptied. Cloudhawk remained on the cusp, while Dawn just drank more and more. And with every jug the redness of her face intensified. Her eyes began to blur. It was her first time getting this far, meanwhile the guy just ¨C kept ¨C drinking! How was he still ok? Impossible. He had to be on death¡¯s door. One more drink ¨C one more drink and he¡¯d fall of that damn stool! Her face was pale and stricken. Someone like her with all her pride and talent couldn¡¯t accept a loss, even though she was almost at her limit. ¡°AGAIN!¡± She hissed. Another jug was emptied. Cloudhawk swayed like a slight breeze would do him in, but he stayed up. The scene before Dawn¡¯s eyes started to bleed together and she couldn¡¯t keep her thoughts together. She was done! She put down the seventh jug, wobbled on the couch, then hit the table with a thud. Never would she have imagined she could lose to Cloudhawk. She¡¯d dug this hole her own damn self. Book 2, Chapter 50 - A Dubious Crisis Cloudhawk stumbled over and tried to rouse Dawn, but she was out cold. She had all the agility of a sack of mud, like all her bones had been removed. With one arm under her neck and the other under her legs, Cloudhawk lifted her up and laid her on the sofa. Heat radiated from her face and her warm breath tickled his neck. Cloudhawk had a good vantage of her ample chest as it rose and fell, soaked from sweat and booze. Every inch of her tempted a man to sin, especially the corner of her lips which glistened. Once the booze robbed her of her vicious streak se looked charming, almost adorable. ¡°I¡¯m nnnnot drunk. Le¡¯ss keep goin¡¯. Boooottums up!¡± Dawn Polaris managed to slur out in more sentence and then went quiet. Cloudhawk fumbled back to his chair and sat, looking over the table that lay in disarray. He fought through the sloshy feeling in his head and grabbed for the cigarettes provided by the pub. After several attempts he finally managed to light one, stuck it in his mouth, and took a drag. He didn¡¯t have much experience with smoking but these tasted different. The aromatic flavor of elysian tobacco penetrated through his lungs. Even this is different here, he mused. [1] The trespasser virus in his blood continued to dissolve the excess alcohol, but it wasn¡¯t very aggressive. Cloudhawk was in much better shape than Dawn, so he wasn¡¯t in much of a hurry to get moving. He finished his cigarette and polished off another jug of warrior wine, this time sipping. Being drunk was pretty awesome. He felt like he was floating and emotions were more intense. All the feelings he kept bottled up came bubbling out through the power of booze and tobacco. He clenched his fists and an almost overwhelming urge to smash the table came over him, to scream and curse and let it all out. But in the end he held back. All the obsession he felt to flee the wastelands came back to him, then the joy of his first steps through the elysian lands and the confusion and despair that followed. All the passion that had roared through him for months surged through his brain. They crashed like terrible waves that threatened to drag him under, but eventually subsided. Everyone had an idea of what paradise meant for them, but the world was always changing. Reality went on, destroying lives and dreams without a care. In the end when everything that could burn was gone, all that remained was clarity. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t there, but he felt like he was beginning to understand. Drink the wine you had today, enjoy the meat that was on your plate. That was enough. Especially in times like now somewhere between drunk and sober. Real troubles melted from the mind, lost in the haze. Even persistent pain melted away in the face of contentment. The elysian lands weren¡¯t what Cloudhawk had expected, but he could still settle down here. First thing was living. Living was more important than anything. He knew the situation he was in. He understood that to Aethos Polaris he was nothing but a chess piece, and a chess piece was only worth as much as its purpose. He could be found lacking or just cast aside, and if that happened he would quickly be gobbled up by this frantic city. Out here he didn¡¯t have any backing. With treasures like the gospel of the sands, and people like Frost de Winter and the Cloude family after him, he was a target. He was left with no way to protect himself or fight back. As he pondered his fate Dawn Polaris sunk deeper into inebriated slumber. Cloudhawk looked at her curled up on the couch. Asleep she really was something to behold. Her bright white skin was vibrant and soft like you could draw water right out from her. In truth, though, years of training had honed her body to perfection. She was as taut and resilient as a jaguar. Cloudhawk reached out and ran a finger along her smooth cheek, ruddy from alcohol. It gave her a strange sort of charm he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. She seemed to feel it and her eyebrows furrowed slightly only to relax again after a moment. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t some kid anymore, wet behind the ears. With the booze taking his inhibitions and a beautiful woman defenseless before him it was impossible not to have reactions one would expect of a man. However Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t drunk to the point he¡¯d lost all sense, and he was interested in living a little while longer. And so, he pretended like he¡¯d never heard Dawn¡¯s earlier, salacious comments. It was time to bring her home. Cloudhawk carried her, her shield and her weapon back to the commander¡¯s mansion where he deposited her safely in her bed. He then returned to his own room and fell into a deep sleep. Dawn slept like the dead until late into the night when the heat caused her to stir. She pitched and roll until she couldn¡¯t take it and started to tug at her clothes to get them off. She gave up halfway through and passed out again sprawled over her bed. [2] The next day¡­ ¡°Aaaahhh!¡± [3] A piercing scream erupted from Dawn Polaris¡¯ room. She¡¯d come to and discovered herself mostly naked and the sheets all tangled. Piles of her clothing lay on the floor in tatters. The signs pointed to a scenario that frightened her out of her wits. What happened? What happened! Why does my head hurt so much?! Memories of the night before came crashing down on her like a tidal wave. Her desperate attempts to get Cloudhawk drunk stood out in her throbbing head. Did he actually¡­ ? She slowly turned her head, looking at the clothes thrown about, then down at her milky white legs. Suddenly she was filled with shock and anger as a single thought took over. SHIT! Kill me now! She snatched up Terrangelica from nearby and ripped it from its sheath. Light reflected of the blade¡¯s smooth surface and into Dawn¡¯s eyes, red with unbridled fury. Cloudhawk was still asleep in his room. He still wasn¡¯t accustomed to sleeping in a bed, but he¡¯d passed out the second his head touched the pillow. When suddenly he felt the murderous intent sweep by him he awakened, startled. What was going on? He rolled out of bed just as the door to his room was kicked in. Dawn Polaris stormed in, disheveled and furious. Her hair stuck out in all directions and flailed in the breeze caused by the door flying open. Her eyes, red as a rabbit¡¯s, glared as she clutched her sword tight. When she saw Cloudhawk she took a swipe at him without saying a word. ¡°Holy shit! You¡¯re insane!¡± He wasn¡¯t very wrong. Dawn¡¯s mind was twisted over what she imagined had happened the night before. However, luckily she was too emotional to use her weapon¡¯s powers. The blade whistled as it came down toward his head. This woman was the definition of volatile! Just last night she was all laughs and happy conversation, now she was trying to kill him! She was still unbalanced and hungover, enough for Cloudhawk to get out of the way. His poor bed caught the blow, though, and was cleaved near in half. ¡°I¡¯ll hack you apart, you shameless rapist!¡± As she was preparing for another strike Cloudhawk groped for quiet carnage. The instant his hand found the grip it came alive with energy and a cold light arose. Its keen power glimmered as he pulled it up, protecting himself from Dawn¡¯s wild onslaught. When the two weapons collided not a sound was heard. Cloudhawk had enough presence of mind to use his relic¡¯s power, but Dawn did not. Without the power of hers word the two were evenly matched and the collision knocked both of them back several meters. Cloudhawk understood what was happening. ¡°Are you fuckin¡¯ crazy? I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± She shouted back at him. ¡°Rapist! You take advantage of a woman and you don¡¯t have the balls to admit it?!¡± ¡°Look, relax for a moment!¡± Cloudhawk was stilled dressed. Luckily he¡¯d been smart enough to fight off last night¡¯s temptation otherwise she¡¯d really chop him into minced meat. ¡°Let me just ask you one question. Have you really checked?¡± She froze. When she woke up she saw her clothes thrown all over the place and half her body exposed, and that was enough to throw her into a fit. She¡¯d grabbed her weapon and charged after the supposed culprit, but had never stopped to make sure she was right. Cloudhawk sighed. ¡°Go next door, make sure, then come back and ¡®hack me apart¡¯ alright?¡± She glared at him with his indignant expression but squeezed her legs together. She didn¡¯t feel anything different. Some of her anger subsided but she still fixed him with a deathly stare. ¡°Don¡¯t. You. Move.¡± A few minutes later¡­ When Dawn came back from next door her sword was back in its sheath. Her awkward expression said it all, but she gave him an apologetic look and muttered a question with her head hung low. ¡°You really didn¡¯t do anything? It hardly makes sense, a beautiful woman like me in that state¡­ you¡¯re no man!¡± She was going to find a reason to complain no matter what. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s turn to be angry. ¡°After all the help I¡¯ve given you the past few days this is how you treat me? Wake me up with a sword aimed at my fucking head? If I was any slower I¡¯d have been murdered for nothing! Shit, I need to get as far away from you as quick as possible for my own safety!¡± She scratched her nest of platinum hair sheepishly. After a few awkward moments she spoke. ¡°I was just scared. Chastity is very important for templars.¡± YOU were scared?! Bah! Cloudhawk just glowered at her. Dawn saw that he was really angry this time and it made her apprehensive. Maybe for the first time ever she tried to face up to her error. ¡°I was confused because of the alcohol, it¡¯s an understandable mistake right? My reputation with the Temple was threatened. I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t answer. She started to feel flustered but she didn¡¯t know why. This guy was just another servant, and she a dignified lady of the Polaris family. What reason did she have to feel timid? Anyway what happened was just because she¡¯d been scared. She wouldn¡¯t have really killed him if he hadn¡¯t moved, she wasn¡¯t an idiot. Killing him would have been bad for everyone. Typically Dawn would have been dismissive of the whole matter. If she made a mistake than she made a mistake, and if he¡¯d died than he surely deserved it. This time she was really worried Cloudhawk might decide to cut off all contact with her. She¡¯d actually started to take a fondness to him after these last few days. After years of terrorizing Skycloud¡¯s populace, he was the closest thing she¡¯d ever had to a friend. Cloudhawk stared at this prideful noble woman looking at him anxiously. He thought he could almost see tears at their corners. With her hair in a mess and her clothes ruffled she could almost be confused for endearing. In the end he curtly waved his hand. ¡°This is the last time.¡± ¡°Ok ok ok! It won¡¯t happen again, last time.¡± She hopped in place like a little kid. One of her servants then entered the room. ¡°Lady.¡± Dawn was in the middle of trying to think of some way to pay back her misconduct when they were interrupted. ¡°What is it,¡± she said impatiently. ¡°The general has an urgent matter he needs to speak with you about.¡± Suddenly her face fell. Any time her grandfather called her it was for something unpleasant. Especially at a time like this. She had no choice but to say goodbye to Cloudhawk, get her hair and clothes in order, pick up Terrangelica and head out. The serving girl snuck a quick glance at Cloudhawk. A strange look was in her eyes. More than a few people had witnessed Dawn tearing through the mansion half-dressed and ready to cut Cloudhawk in half. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the story spread, especially with how high-profile Dawn Polaris was. The Lady Polaris was a noble lady, from an illustrious family, and the youngest ever templar. Was she sleeping with a wild vagabond boy in off the streets? Scandalous! What¡¯s more, maybe he¡¯d scorned her after they slept together and that¡¯s why she went after him with the sword! That¡¯s mostly the story that got out to the public, and the citizens had plenty of opinions about it. It created such a ruckus that word eventually got to the Temple and she was forced to subject herself to evaluation. People only stopped the gossip when word got out it was proven she was still pure. 1. Cigarette smoking in China is a massive industry. The town I lived in had several big cigarette factories, and you always knew them by the strangely sweet smell they emitted. Cigs in China are also phenomenally strong, going up to 15mg tar yield as opposed to Marlboros which are like 6. Not long ago smoking was encouraged to fight hunger and was even considered therapeutic for the throat. In lieu of giving workers raises one factory I heard about gave their workers free cigarette rations instead. Lung cancer and other respiratory diseases are a huge problem in that part of the world. 2. We know where this is going¡­ 3. Yup. Book 2, Chapter 51 - A Mission At the peak of his tower, Skye Polaris drew his hulking fire up and stood regally by a window. His beard and hair shivered like a lion¡¯s mane in the light cross breeze and the whole of Skycloud City was reflected in his eyes. The scenery lent this enormous, violent man an air of solemn intensity. Like a lion surveying his territory. The reputation of the Polaris family was illustrious, but beneath the glow was a pressure no typical person could understand. He was growing older and the years passed quickly. He felt himself getting weaker and tried to cover it with his outrageous ferocity. It was just a ruse, meant only to conceal the fact that he was losing his strength. Skye¡¯s talented son had died some time before, leaving the family without a clear successor. From the outside the holy territories looked like a paradise, but beneath that things were far more complicated. Strife among families was not uncommon. The worry weighed on his mind that one day, when he died, whether his family would be able to remain here in this beautiful city of miracles. Dawn was a fine representative; inheritor of their family¡¯s lauded bloodline as well as from the sanctuary. She was even more talented than her father had been. All she needed was time, but could he remain long enough to give it to her? There was a dull ache in his chest. It was from an old wound earned on a demon hunting expedition thirty years ago. Dawn was somewhat of an enigma. After earning her rites with the sanctuary and returning home, no more than a few days would go by before she got herself into trouble. With Selene gone Dawn had no nemesis to pursue. She¡¯d grown bold, arrogant, domineering and unscrupulous. Yet, shockingly, he hadn¡¯t seen her for some time. Nor had there been any news of her causing trouble out in the city. For a girl like Dawn, this was abnormal. ¡°What did you call me for, old man? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m busy?¡± Her biting voice reached him even before she stepped into the room. This was her style. The general turned around and regarded her for a moment in silence. He smelled the booze on her ¨C most likely she¡¯d gone out drinking the night before. He frowned and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been awfully quiet for the last few days. What are you scheming?¡± ¡°Oh stop with all this nonsense, grandpa!¡± Inwardly her heart started to beat faster. Had he found out what she and Cloudhawk were up to? She kept her emotions from her face and rolled her eyes at Skye, feigning irritation. ¡°I¡¯ve been dealing with Cloudhawk lately. Ask him if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± The crags in the old man¡¯s face deepened as he scowled. ¡°What have the two of you been doing?¡± ¡°Training, obviously!¡± She answered. He wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°What sort of training?¡± Dawn Polaris proudly patted her full chest. ¡°Grandfather, think about who your granddaughter is. I¡¯m as intelligent as I am beautiful. There¡¯s no man in the world I cannot tame! Cloudhawk is a wastelander, a scoundrel, and in the end he¡¯ll serve under my boot like a docile mongrel.¡± She was somehow inexplicably nervous as she said the words. Cloudhawk had suffered her slings and arrows ever since he came into the house, especially this morning. She wasn¡¯t sure how to deal with him anymore. How could her grandfather not know Dawn¡¯s character? He knew it was only a matter of time before she overreached and upset their new soldier. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to tell you how high the fatality rate is at the Hell¡¯s Valley training camp. It¡¯s been so difficult for our family to find someone we could polish. I thought that perhaps Cloudhawk could do with some training before we send him? If he dies out there it¡¯d just be a waste.¡± She had a point. Skye couldn¡¯t see a reason to deny the request. ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s rare you do anything for the family, this is a good impulse for you.¡± If this girl was finally beginning to understand her duties to the family than good! If she kept fooling around and making trouble with the local nobles eventually the sanctuary would get tired of her antics. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve had some time to learn more about him, what are your feelings?¡± Dawn thought about being honest but changed her mind. If she shared the wastelander¡¯s true potential it would raise her grandfather¡¯s estimation of him. That would mean more work for him to do, and less time to spend with her. ¡°I wanted to talk to you about just that.¡± She offered her false assessment mercilessly. ¡°Really, grandpa, you¡¯re losing it. This kid is weak and a total blockhead. As far as I can tell, if we sent him to Hell¡¯s Valley now he¡¯d be as good as dead.¡± Skye¡¯s anger bubbled to the surface. ¡°Do you have a better idea then?!¡± Dawn reached out and grabbed her grandfather¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m short a bodyguard. He can fill the position.¡± Her sudden tenderness took him by surprise and almost made Skye break out in a cold sweat. The old general shook his head. ¡°No, absolutely not. Out of the question. Snatching him from Arcturus¡¯ clutches cost us, and we now owe him the equivalent of a whole troop of soldiers. Doing all that just for a simple bodyguard is a total waste. If you need a bodyguard, our home is full of them. All you need to do is tell me your preferred height and weight.¡± ¡°¡±I couldn¡¯t stand having morons like them around me!¡± Dawn rejected the idea outright. ¡°What is the guy dies out there during training? Isn¡¯t that an even bigger waste? Leave him to me, I have my own training methods that I think are just as good as the training facility¡¯s.¡± Skye Polaris tugged at his white beard. He wasn¡¯t fooled by this girl, not when he knew what the kid had done. He¡¯d had his demonhunter powers awaken while alone in a desolate place, crossed the wastelands to get here, and saved someone from under Frost de Winter¡¯s nose. All of that proved that Cloudhawk was anything but ordinary. Considering how deadly the wastelands were Skye had no doubt he¡¯d survive Hell¡¯s Valley. If he hadn¡¯t been so confident, he wouldn¡¯t have made the investment. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You can do what you like in the interim but there is no negotiating this matter.¡± The old man had made up his mind. ¡°The training facility has opened and I¡¯ve already submitted his name. It¡¯s settled, we¡¯re not changing it now. He¡¯s going.¡± Dawn pressed her lips tight together. Irritation was clear on her face. Stupid old man, she thought, this old bastard! Skye continued with sincerity in his voice. ¡°Our family is in a unique period right now. I¡¯m doing what I can to cultivate more warriors in part to make your life easier in the future. There¡¯s another reason I called you here, though. Since you don¡¯t seem to be busy I have a mission for you, a relaxing way to pass the time. ¡°What mission?¡± ¡°Do you remember the several hundred convicts that escaped through the tunnels under Skycloud City? I¡¯ve sent people out to hunt those piles of garbage down, but they¡¯ve come back empty handed. They were even attacked a few times and a few of our men were killed. The news is starting to make a lot of noise throughout the city, and they¡¯re a serious danger waiting to happen. This needs to be solved as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Something this simple and they still don¡¯t have it under control? What were those louts you sent even doing?¡± ¡°Take some people and head in there yourself. Gather these convicts and bring them back to prison. Those that resist, get rid of them.¡± ¡°You smelly old fart! I ask you for someone and you deny me, but you sure are quick to ask for my help.¡± Her words were sharp but Dawn wasn¡¯t one to pass up a good time. With her sword leaned against her shoulder she casually continued. ¡°Alright, nothing but a school of mud fish that need to be rounded up. Leave it to me.¡± Skye added more in a commanding voice. ¡°A few of them are dangerous, don¡¯t treat this lightly. Also, Frost de Winter from the governor¡¯s mansion and the Court¡¯s representative, Atlas, are preparing men for the same task. Aren¡¯t you always eager to compete against them? Now is your opportunity to show them that our family is the real power in this city!¡± Frost de Winter was well known. Atlas was also no ordinary man. Atlas belonged to what they called the Court ¨C their full name was the Court of Shadows. They were Skycloud City¡¯s largest official special forces unit. Very secretive and mysterious. There weren¡¯t many of them but every member was formidable. All of them were demonhunters as well. Atlas had become leader of the unit at a young age and there was a lot more to him than that. He kept a very low profile, to the point where he was more urban legend than reality. Dawn Polaris hadn¡¯t seen him for years. A Skycloud City demonhunter commander, Frost de Winter. An operative from the Court of Shadows, Atlas. A Templar from the sanctuary, Dawn Polaris. What was it about a bunch of escaped convicts that justified a response like this? Dawn was clever, she recognized that this was exactly what her grandfather said it was ¨C a contest between three young stars. ¡°Excellent! You can wait for new of my success.¡± This time her adversaries were worthy, a fact that spurred her fighting will. However, just as she was getting ready to leave and select men for the job, an important question occurred to her. Whatever happened in the prisons, Cloudhawk definitely had had a hand in it. If she went down there and exterminated them would it make him unhappy? She wasn¡¯t accustomed to taking other people¡¯s peoples into consideration. As far as she was concerned there were only two types of people in the city, especially when it came to her contemporaries; The first type was known as ¡®garbage¡¯. They comprised the largest group. Dawn had a long-standing reputation as an insufferable she-devil, and she used to beat anyone with an ounce of talent in the name of seeking out a challenge. As a result the sons and daughters of the noble families came to fear her ferociousness. They actively tried to avoid her at all costs, and Dawn looked down on anyone who ran away from a challenge. The second were competitors, people like Selene and Zephyr from the Cloude family, or Frost de Winter. Various churches, the sanctuary and other families had rising stars as well. Dawn challenged them to feats of might whenever she could, and with the exception of Selene she beat every one. They all competed against each other, and every one of the group was as proud as the other. No one was willing to accept defeat, and so there was no way for any of them to be friends. As for Selene and Zephyr, neither were in the city to compete with her. Now there was Cloudhawk, and she found him to be unique. At first Dawn didn¡¯t see him as any better than a common thief, but after spending time with him for a while she found there was more than meets the eye. He wasn¡¯t just a thief, he was a master burglar with skills she had to appreciate. More importantly, he was different from everyone else, like a solitary hawk. Lonely yet proud, neither conceited or servile, and never once cared about Dawn¡¯s status. The feeling she had for him was different from anyone else she¡¯d met. She should ask his opinion. Dawn planned to seek him out but thought twice about it. Waltzing back into his room would be awkward and embarrassing. Instead she hailed a servant. ¡°Tell Cloudhawk to come see me right away!¡± Book 2, Chapter 52 - Atlas Dawn Polaris sat before Cloudhawk. The tattered shield she¡¯d recently won at auction was on her back and her treasured sword was slung over a shoulder. She¡¯d changed into her warrior attire and rested easily with her heels planted on a table between them. Her shapely legs were partially contained in high leather combat boots that revealed a hint of porcelain flesh. She stretched those long legs and took a sip of tea without a hint of awkwardness, having selectively forgotten the embarrassing events of last night and this morning. She gave Cloudhawk the rundown of Skye¡¯s latest mission. ¡°Wipe ¡®em out?¡± The news surprised him, but he had to admit it wasn¡¯t unexpected. It would have been unusual for Skycloud to complete ignore hundreds of convicts hiding below the city. ¡°Yup, but I heard you had something to do with it so I wanted to come and ask you what you thought.¡± Dawn retracted her long legs and folded hem beneath her for a more comfortable posture. ¡°But don¡¯t misinterpret this as giving them a back door. These wicked men have to be dealt with or the city¡¯s safety can¡¯t be guaranteed. What¡¯s more, it isn¡¯t just me participating, I¡¯m just one part. That¡¯s going to make things more complicated.¡± Actually Cloudhawk was quite pleased. Dawn put her cards on the table but she¡¯d been straightforward with him. As far as he was concerned this showed that she was starting to look at him more as a friend than a servant. She wouldn¡¯t have had the same consideration for anyone else. Cloudhawk frowned, his brows wrinkled as he mulled the problem over. ¡°I don¡¯t care about the others, but there¡¯s a group of a hundred or so from a merchant family that don¡¯t deserve it. They were called Bloomnettle Company. Innocent bystanders, pious, who were caught up in the crossfire. If anyone else got hurt because of me¡­ they have to be spared. The others are on their own, but those people ¨C I have to find a way to get them out of here.¡± ¡°Showing humanity is the mark of a real man.¡± This was something Dawn admired about him. Cloudhawk clearly had the ability to flee before, but had risked his life in order to make sure others got away safely. Even knowing it was a trap Cloudhawk did all he could to free Squall. Besides, all the noise he made was definitely Lady Polaris¡¯ style. ¡°Miss, everyone¡¯s been gathered!¡± After the servant gave the report Dawn drained her tea cup and bound to her feet. She moved gracefully like none of last night¡¯s antics were weighing her down. She jabbed a finger at Cloudhawk and spoke in a tone that left no room for argument. ¡°You¡¯re coming.¡± But it wasn¡¯t a command, she was helping. In essence, this mission was a test. Dawn would never allow herself to fail, whatever the challenge. However, she also owed Cloudhawk and she hated the idea of owing anyone anything. Two birds with one stone, she thought. As to whether it would make things more difficult, she wasn¡¯t worried. ¡®Too much to handle¡¯ was a foreign concept to her. Two hundred soldiers had been assembled. She was given an intelligence briefing and a map, then Dawn led them toward the tunnels in high spirits. Skycloud¡¯s tunnel system predated the city itself. At the time the area here was still in flux. Demons still roamed the land so these tunnels had been designed for the citizens to take refuge in. Once the warred had passed the tunnels remained as a way for the people of Skycloud to escape if some tragedy came their way. Because it had to be big enough for everyone to hide in the tunnel system was absolutely enormous. It twisted and curved underground like a labyrinth. Maps of the system were also secret and tightly controlled, only a few people had been allowed to see one. It was good Dawn had one, otherwise the chances of them getting lost and dying down there were very high. In times of peace the tunnels were sealed. No one was allowed in. Dealing with the convicts wasn¡¯t all that hard, in reality. Seal of the exits and without any food or water they were sure to perish in six months or less. Without maps ¨C all of which were controlled by the highest levels of Skycloud government ¨C they weren¡¯t going to escape. Going in to wipe them out was more an exercise than having any sort of real significance. It¡¯d been years since the tunnels had seen occupants. It was dark and fetid, a foul scene that made Dawn scowl in distaste. But she wasn¡¯t so spoiled as to detest getting her hands dirty, nor was she a clean-freak like Frost de Winter. She was used to it after a minute. ¡°Everyone, stay on your toes. If you find the convicts, make sure you spare anyone who surrenders. Kill those who resist!¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Skycloud¡¯s soldiers were equipped in standard gear with the addition of crossbows and poison-tipped bolts. A sort of spotlight was affixed to their weapons and they used them to search through the darkness of the tunnels. They hadn¡¯t gone more than a few steps when suddenly a small group of convicts scuttled past. Soldiers pounced on them, a few were grabbed before they knew what was happening. More people escaped from Skycloud¡¯s prisons than Cloudhawk had thought because it had two levels. The upper level were typical jails where normal offenders were kept, while the level below were proper dungeons that housed more dangerous felons. When the dungeons emptied naturally the prisoners upstairs were freed as well, so with so many people in the tunnels they had spread out to all corners. Of course the men Dawn picked for her team were elite soldiers of Skycloud¡¯s army. They followed even the faintest traces to another twenty or thirty convicts. Most were captured alive, a few desperate and reckless men tried to struggle but ultimately were killed. Some were put down by Dawn Polaris herself. She was no doubt a product of her illustrious family. Dawn cut down the convicts as though culling weeds. She was ruthless, efficient, and her strikes were all decisive. None of her work was sloppy. As Cloudhawk watched her slay these men he knew her attack against him in the morning was half-hearted. ¡°Ugh, so boring! This doesn¡¯t even feel like a fight!¡± Dawn rested Terrangelica¡¯s blade against her shoulder and looked down the route ahead. Deviously hidden traps, painstakingly placed along their path, peppered the way. Dawn saw them but paid no mind, deliberately stepping into danger. Snap! A rope trap tangled around Dawn¡¯s foot, but all of a sudden it was like she weighed a thousand pounds. It failed it lift her even an inch off the ground and just snapped, but a hail of spikes shot out from the walls as the second part of the trap fired. Dawn ¨C calmly as though she were taking a stroll through a park ¨C slipped through unscathed and unconcerned. Hardly worth a second thought. That level of ability was demoralizing, no wonder she was bored. Cloudhawk thought so, too. However, he just so happened to spy something on the wall as he turned his head. It was a symbol, one he recognized. Majjhima left it here and it was more than likely Bloomnettle¡¯s people were with him. A clue. Cloudhawk stepped forward to take a closer look. Only, as he approached, Oddball, perched dutifully on his shoulder, must have seen something. Through their connection Cloudhawk felt a clear warning. He didn¡¯t know what Oddball had seen but he was immediately on alert. In the next instant it felt like he¡¯d slipped into an icy chasm and he was covered in a biting cold from head to foot. Danger! Years of near-death experiences in the wasteland honed Cloudhawk¡¯s instincts. He reacted almost without thinking. Quiet Carnage hummed as Cloudhawk ripped it from its sheath. The black gold sword was only half raised when a dagger reached out for him from the shadows. It came at him faster than anything he¡¯d ever seen, even the Bloodsoaked Queen didn¡¯t have speed like this. If not for Oddball¡¯s keen eyes Cloudhawk would have been done for. Blade and dagger met. Not a sound was heard. Cloudhawk felt the force of the impact sweep through him and it almost made him drop the sword. Meanwhile his opponent was unfazed. The blade-bladed dagger wasn¡¯t still for a fraction of a second, lashing out at him again like a deadly viper. Straight for him, irresistible ¨C Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have time to recover from the first strike before the dagger came right for his throat. Fast. Too fast! His instincts took over again and he threw himself backwards with everything he had. He managed to avoid a fatal blow but the knife still caught him in the shoulder. This hidden attacker had appeared too suddenly for him to react ¨C even the likes of Dawn hadn¡¯t known he was there. By the time he made himself known it was too late. Cloudhawk winced in pain but panicked when he felt the wound go numb. He quickly began to lose sensation in his arm. Poison, and potent! A roar went up as Dawn charged forward, Terrangelica reaching into the darkness. Before the mysterious assailant could finish Cloudhawk off a swipe from her sword forced the two men apart. ¡°Atlas! You¡¯re really asking for it!¡± Dawn squinted her eyes and peered into the dark. There was nothing, and then slowly a figure appeared like a shadow. A man only a few centimeters taller than Cloudhawk was revealed. He was somewhere in his twenties, and black as the tunnels that surrounded them; black hair, black eyes, black mask, black clothes, black dagger, black boots. He was like the night had come alive. Somehow he seemed familiar to Cloudhawk. There was a thinly contained wildness in his eyes, like a feral wolf. The way he moved was like a viper waiting in the tall grass, or a scorpion biding time in the crevice of a rock. He oozed the grim, deadly ferocity of the wastelands. The sensation was wholly familiar to Cloudhawk. But he¡¯d never met this man before. In fact, there were only a few people living who knew who he was. He was strong, but exceedingly low-key and absolutely terrifying. Only a handful of the common people knew him for his existence was a close-kept secret of the city¡¯s elite. The Court of Shadows¡¯ second in command ¨C Atlas. I don¡¯t have any problem with this guy. Why¡¯d he try to kill me? Cloudhawk had no idea! Dawn¡¯s white face grew even paler. ¡°Give me the antidote!¡± ¡°It¡¯s no use. My target always dies ¨C there is no antidote for a sting from Deathstalker [1].¡± Atlas looked at her with a blank and indifferent gaze. The relic weapon in his hand, the dagger he called Deathstalker ¨C glowed with a faint wine hue. It certainly looked like the lethal stinger of its namesake. ¡°His fate is sealed. He will die down here.¡± ¡°Atlas, I thought you were worth a damn. Shameless!¡± Dawn was mad with fury. ¡°Come at me if you have the sack, why attack a novice?!¡± ¡°He killed my younger brother. He had to die.¡± Atlas¡¯ eyes slithered back over to Cloudhawk and there was nothing in them but an infinite cold. Not a hint of emotion lived in those soulless orbs. He returned his dagger to its sheath and turned away, ready to slip back into the shadows. 1. The name of this creepy emo punk¡¯s weapon is ¡®hell scorpion.¡¯ The Deathstalker scorpion is a real thing and abso-fucking-lutely terrifying. A sting can cause convulsions, coma, and death. Here¡¯s a picture so you can suffer as I did. Sweet dreams, there definitely isn¡¯t one in your bed sheets right now. Book 2, Chapter 53 - Grudge Held Chapter 53 - Grudge Held Dawn rushed at him, Terrangelica bared and carving a trio of slices through the air, one after the other. Atlas felt the impossibly sharp attacks bearing down and spun around, responding with six swipes of his own. His speed and skill were on full display as each reposte and counterattack was perfectly executed. This was no typical short sword either, but stings from the deadly relic blade Deathstalker! This special and lethal weapon had two special properties; the first was that it siphoned power from its victim, and the second was its toxic bite. When Deathstalker¡¯s blade met flesh it responded by releasing a fog. It looked like smoke, as though from a fire, but in fact it was venom. The potency of it depended on the strength of Deathstalker¡¯s bearer but more than that, it could also melt right through armor. There weren¡¯t many defenses that could ward it off. Just the thought made one¡¯s hair stand on end. Deathstalker might not have been the strongest relic but it was certainly among the most lethal. Tailor-made for assassins. Its strength-siphoning abilities were also unique. A normal two-foot short sword wasn¡¯t going to stop a hammer or axe in direct combat, but Deathstalker was not normal. After contact it stole power from the attacker and pushed it into the short sword itself. Ordinarily if the two rivals clashed weapon to weapon their matched strength would knock both away. However, Deathstalker absorbed the force that would typically knock Atlas back and redirect it. While his opponent would be knocked back he could push forward, sealing his victim¡¯s fate with the weapon¡¯s venom. Atlas¡¯ offensive was fierce and immediate, bold, unconstrained, and insidious. But after a few exchanges Dawn saw a weakness in his posture. She exploited it, hacking her sword at him. Atlas brought Deathstalker around to block and at the same time, the blade seethed with a dark energy. Clang! The deep purple hue surrounding Deathstalker scattered with the impact, but Dawn was knocked back while Atlas didn¡¯t move. He catalyzed his relic again and the unsettling hue returned, coiling around the blade like a hellish flame. It carved a black wedge through the air. Fierce, cunning, ruthless, unflinching. Atlas portrayed all the qualities of a master assassin. Despite Dawn¡¯s family and reputation he attacked her without clemency. She was still trying to regain her footing when he bore down on her, yet the Polaris family¡¯s pride kept a level head. With a chilly snort she thrust the tip of Terrangelica into the ground. Boom! The sound of explosion ripped through the tunnels! Moments after striking the ground shockwaves erupted from the sword, like the epicenter of an earthquake. Just as the razor-sharp edge of Deathstalker was about to pierce Dawn¡¯s porcelain skin the force knocked Atlas back. ¡°Die!¡± She quickly determined where Atlas was going to land and summoned Terrangelica¡¯s powers accordingly. In just the spot where he was destined to fall a spike of jagged rock jutted forth. But who would expect that Atlas would suddenly stop in mid-air, as completely as though he was suddenly dropped in water. Instead of hitting the ground as gravity demanded he planted his two feet on the tunnel¡¯s walls. Atlas stood there perfectly parallel to the ground. Dawn wasn¡¯t going to let this bastard outplay her so easily. Terrangelica¡¯s mighty powers manifested once again and surged toward her opponent. This energy was completely invisible, yet Atlas seemed to know it was coming. Continuing to violate the laws of physics he leapt off the wall and somersaulted onto the ceiling. His feet tread along the top of the tunnel as surely as if he were standing with the rest of them. He swung at Dawn with Deathstalker in his right hand, and with his left scattered a handful of five or six pitch black darts. Each one fluttered through the air like butterflies. One could be forgiven for thinking they had a mind of their own, for they whipped around to attack Dawn at all sorts of odd angles. She had no choice but to rely on the protection of her aegis mirror. The air congealed into an impenetrable, invisible wall all around her. Atlas¡¯ darts struck it and were stopped in their tracks. Dawn Polaris was gathering herself for a counterattack, but Atlas had lost any interest in continuing the fight. Like a spider her skittered away along the roof and disappeared into the shadows. He¡¯d escaped the range of any attack she could muster, and besides his advantage was speed. Much as she grit her teeth she had to accept that he¡¯d gotten away. Atlas was what people feared when they thought of assassins and sneak attacks. Few within Skycloud City would survive his deadly attention. Their brief encounter proved that Dawn wasn¡¯t the assassin¡¯s target. Atlas was a remarkable combatant who knew his strengths and weaknesses, so he knew a protracted battle against Dawn would not turn out in his favor. ¡°Piece of shit, piece of shit! I¡¯ll kill you, do you hear me?!¡± Like a furious lioness Dawn roared into the darkness while soldiers winced from the sudden noise. None were eager to give chase. ¡°Garbage. You¡¯re all useless trash, do you know that?¡± With her opponent gone Dawn turned her fury on the soldiers. If they weren¡¯t so useless Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have been assassinated by Atlas. If they weren¡¯t completely brainless he wouldn¡¯t have gotten away! She was confused and unsure of what to do next. If she knew this was going to happen she wouldn¡¯t have brought Cloudhawk here¡­ This bullshit mission ¨C to hell with it! Dawn, who had never accepted a defeat in her life, was ready to give up on their task. Although she knew there was almost no hope for Cloudhawk she had to at least try. Maybe if she brought him back in time maybe Mr. Ink could do something. She could hardly believe she was so upset over the life of some petty thief. She fought against the bitter aftertaste of this revelation as she looked around for Cloudhawk, in order to save his life. However as she approached his prostrate form one of his eyes popped open, then the other. He took a few sly glances to the left and right. ¡°Is he gone?¡± Oddball nodded its fluffy little head. ¡°Holy shit, that germy asshole almost did me in. You really saved my ass this time.¡± Cloudhawk sat up like he was getting up from a nap. Where were the signs of venom? Dawn¡¯s emotions ran the gamut from shock to relief and then doubt. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead?!¡± Cloudhawk stared at her. ¡°Are you that eager to see me in a coffin?¡± She rubbed her jaw and looked him over. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone surviving Atlas¡¯ venom.¡± Cloudhawk paid her to mind. Beneath the tear of his shirt a knife wound could be seen that was neither very deep nor very long. Deathstalker¡¯s venom was so potent that all it needed was to draw blood to deliver a lethal dose. So for Atlas it didn¡¯t matter how deep his strike went ¨C that wasn¡¯t important once he nicked his target. Once the venom spread through his victim it would finish the job for him. Cloudhawk acknowledge that the scorpion-like weirdo had a weapon just as odd as he was. The potency of the toxin was directly correlated to the amount of energy channeled through the relic. If the assassin¡¯s initial attack had landed Cloudhawk could have had half a dozen lives and still would be no more. Where he was lucky was in blocking that first strike. Atlas first blow knocked away Cloudhawk¡¯s defenses. It succeeded in sapping his strength but the interval between attacks was too quick for him to summon the same strength as his first blow. As a result the potency of the sword¡¯s toxin was reduced. Ultimately it saved Cloudhawk¡¯s life. Atlas was no one to sniff at. That was for sure. Cloudhawk¡¯s danger sense was almost instinctual, but Atlas was practically right on top of him and he¡¯d felt nothing. Deathstalker was practically in his face by the time he was made aware of the attack. That could only mean he had some sort of relic concealing his presence, something like Cloudhawk¡¯s own invisibility cloak. Add to that Atlas¡¯ exceptional skills as an assassin, who didn¡¯t reveal his lethal intent until the very last moment. Cloudhawk was happily taken aback by Oddball¡¯s reaction in particular. The strange little bird had spotted Atlas before he did, which could only mean it was able to see the invisible. He was able to spot the assassin as he was getting close and warn his master. Cloudhawk¡¯s new pet wasn¡¯t just a great scout. He was also an excellent early warning system! With Oddball by his side he could use the bird to scout out dangerous areas and reveal anything that might be lying in wait. How many more surprises did this little guy have? Cloudhawk scratched Oddball¡¯s head in appreciation. Dawn wasn¡¯t all that pleased with being ignored. ¡°The smallest bit of Deathstalker¡¯s venom can kill a master demonhunter. How did you survive?¡± She could see the area around the wound had turned black, but it hadn¡¯t spread far. In fact, even as she watched the rotten borders were slowly receding. Foul, black blood oozed from the wound. Was he a control metahuman? Could a control metahuman of sufficient skill expel venom in their blood? Supposedly high-grade control metahumans were able to exercise perfect control over their muscles and blood vessels to purge out venom. Only, venom from a relic defied that sort of control ¨C after all, no control metahuman, no matter how strong, could control every cell. Cloudhawk blinked as he thought of how to lie. ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± [1] For the first time he was starting to think maybe Roste¡¯s parting gift wasn¡¯t such a curse. Dawn¡¯s eyebrows went vertical. Was he immune to poison? That would mean the poison Mr. Ink injected him with was also useless. She was smart enough to guess the gist of it; the poison General Polaris had given him was slow-acting. Since it wasn¡¯t as intense as Deathstalker¡¯s it didn¡¯t awaken his body¡¯s defense, but once it ¡®woke up¡¯ his immune system wasn¡¯t just going to stand by. He hadn¡¯t cared about that poison business from the very beginning. Now that the danger had passed Cloudhawk calmed down and grew solemn. ¡°Why did he want to kill me? Who is his younger brother, why don¡¯t I remember anything like that?¡± ¡°Atlas¡¯ family has close ties to the Court of Shadows, the Umbras. I remember he had a younger brother named Raith. He wasn¡¯t worth much.¡± Raith? Raith Umbra? The one with that weird arrow that almost killed him? Cloudhawk slapped his forehead. When fate was against you, a single fart could start a shit storm. That guy having a brother was bad enough, but his big brother had to be a world-class assassin. He would rather have Frost de Winter, Dawn Polaris or Blaze as his arch nemeses than even cross Atlas¡¯ mind. He was like the specter of death, hiding in every shadow. Who knew the next time he¡¯d leap out of some dark corner and take his life? It made him furious! Raith¡¯s death was his own damn fault. Cloudhawk would have had it any other way. In the end he just wasn¡¯t strong enough! Cloudhawk made himself a promise. He would wait¡­ wait until he was strong enough, then Frost and Atlas would learn the cost of pissing him off! 1. Smooth. Book 2, Chapter 54 - Oddballs Abilities ¡°The Umbra family isn¡¯t very notable in Skycloud, but they possess very uncommon abilities. You killed one of theirs, I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll ever forgive you.¡± She frowned once she learned what happened. ¡°You saw what Atlas can do. The Umbras are not a family to be trifled with.¡± Raith was small potatoes ¨C a demonhunter, but a weak one. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think dealing with him would cause so much trouble down the line. First he got caught by Claudia, out for revenge. Now he had Atlas to deal with because of what happened to his brother. His whole family, in fact. Definitely not pleasant news. ¡°I have a solution!¡± With a mischievous look on her face she saddled up to Cloudhawk, patting her amble chest. ¡°Swear allegiance to me and I¡¯ll make you my personal guard. You¡¯ll be with me every day, that way we can keep you safe!¡± ¡°The lady¡¯s got jokes.¡± Distrust was clear on Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°I almost died and you were two feet away.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop someone like Atlas, who could creep out of the shadows at any moment and disappear just as quick. And how could Cloudhawk agree to be anyone¡¯s loyal servant? It was unthinkable! Most importantly the Polaris family was preparing to send him off to that training camp. He would rather take his chances out there than be this girl¡¯s lapdog. ¡°What do you mean? I didn¡¯t see him at first but I fought him off right away. If I wasn¡¯t right there nothing would have stopped him from finishing the job. Would you still be standing in front of me complaining then?¡± She sniffed in irritation. ¡°Atlas has to show me some respect anyway. If you were my man he wouldn¡¯t dare carelessly attack you again. I¡¯m the only person in the city who can protect you. I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s offering to.¡± As he listened to her righteous promises, her self-sacrificing oath of protection, and the implications between her words, Cloudhawk felt touched deep within his heart. The words came rising up through his throat and he carefully enunciated each syllable. ¡°Not. A. Chance.¡± Dawn Polaris was hopping mad. ¡°Do you have any idea how many people adore me in this city?! You have no idea what you¡¯re throwing away. You¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life!¡± ¡°If you told me there were a bunch of people who adored Selene I might believe you. You, though¡­¡± He shot her a glance. ¡°I dunno if you could ever find so many masochists in one place.¡± ¡°You want me to beat the shit out of you!¡± Dawn was literally stomping around in fury when she raised her blade against him. All of a sudden Cloudhawk vanished into thin air. Dawn froze, thought for a moment, then deflated like an angry balloon: No one compares to me, except maybe Selene ¨C that bitch. She did always have fans, ever since she was little. Is it true no one likes me? No¡­ they¡¯re just blind! ¡°Hey, come out. I¡¯m not gonna cut your head off.¡± ¡°I found a clue and I¡¯m going after my merchant friends. This is too important for me to be screwing around with you. We¡¯ll meet up later.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice reached her from down the tunnel. Her temper seethed just below the surface, but she managed to keep it squashed. He had indeed found a clue, one that told him the Bloomnettle company survivors were likely with Majjhima. Under these circumstances it wasn¡¯t smart to bring Dawn along since Majjhima and Squall were both considered felons ¨C the kind they were supposed to kill on sight. Things were getting better between Dawn and Cloudhawk, and he didn¡¯t want to put her in a tough spot. It made more sense for him to go searching on his own. At least that¡¯s how she saw it, and the thought satisfied her. This guy had a terrible attitude, but at least he was thinking about her. Her guess was more or less the right one. Cloudhawk¡¯s aim was to save the merchant family, and to also warn Majjhima of what was coming. That was the best he could do, though. Whether or not they escaped from their hunters would be up to them and the whims of fate. After all Majjhima was no friend, warning him about what dangers lurked in the tunnels was more than what could be expected. Anyway Dawn¡¯s group was too conspicuous. If Atlas decided he wanted to cause more problems or if they ran into Frost de Winter in their search, that would put Cloudhawk in a pretty uncomfortable position. Going it alone was smarter. He made a smaller target, harder to pin down. Cloudhawk had only gone a short ways into the tunnel before he was engulfed in pitch blackness. He couldn¡¯t see his hand in front of his face. Troublesome. He¡¯d forgotten to bring some sort of light with him. He slowly came to a stop. It¡¯d been so long since anyone was down here that it felt claustrophobic. The air was stuffy and the ground slick with sludge. Finding Majjhima like this was not going to be easy. But as Cloudhawk mulled over the problem his little bird companion perked up. Oddball fluttered off of his shoulder, and then the unexpected happened. Oddball¡¯s golden feathers began to glow and suddenly he was a huge firefly. It wasn¡¯t enough light to fill the tunnel but it was enough for Cloudhawk to see where he was going. He beamed at his little friend. ¡°Interesting. You¡¯re your own little torch, huh.¡± What else did this little creature have to do to prove its pricelessness? It could read his thoughts, scout, warn him of danger and light the way ¨C the best pet he could ask for. What deadly relic weapon could hold a torch to this little guy? Literally. Cloudhawk was determined to do his best and make sure this weird little fluffball grew well. He didn¡¯t have any friends who really knew him, and a companion like this really helped dispel the loneliness he sometimes felt. However the light wasn¡¯t inexhaustible. After about fifteen seconds Oddball¡¯s light began to dim. The growing creature was already low on energy and so it asked Cloudhawk to lend him some power. Without hesitation he reached out with his psychic energy, the same way he did when Oddball was just an egg. The two started to resonate and Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic energy slowly drained while Oddball recovered. The light returned, a little stronger than before. Divine creatures were basically special relics and Cloudhawk could communicate with Oddball the same way he did with his cloak or book. His psychic energy activated Oddball¡¯s powers in the same way, but where it differed from typical relics was that it grew and developed its own abilities. The two were closely tied. Cloudhawk had to get stronger if Oddball was to grow up, and he was determined to get stronger soon. As Oddball grew up it was sure to do ever more amazing things! While Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic energy flowed the little bird tittered happily and flapped around. Thankfully it didn¡¯t require much energy, so they could keep this up for several hours before it got tiring. But time waiting for no man. He had to find Majjhima. He had to find Squall! Majjhima had left clues along the tunnels, but a group of a hundred survivors had also left signs of their passage. Cloudhawk picked them out and eventually gathered enough to know their direction. As he picked his way through the tunnels he was also careful to erase any clues he found. He had to do whatever he could to throw Atlas and Frost off the scent. As he was closing in on his targets a whistling sound rose through the darkness. A soldier¡¯s arrow was headed straight for him! Cloudhawk scowled. Did he run into another group of hunters? He whipped to the side just in time for the arrow to zip past and lodge itself in the wall. Half of it was buried in the stone while the other half quivered. He didn¡¯t even have time to steady himself before a second and then a third arrow followed. They came one right on the heels of the other, out from the darkness of the tunnels. Cloudhawk threw himself around, wildly dodging the attacks and eventually caught sight of where they came from. Those weren¡¯t soldiers. About six or seven people had come upon him, none of them weaklings. They had to be some of the convicts who¡¯d escaped from prison. They¡¯d probably robbed the bows from soldiers, or took them from their corpses. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± He hissed. ¡°I¡¯m Cloudhawk, I¡¯m the one who got you out of prison. I¡¯m not after you.¡± His answer was another volley of arrows. These guys weren¡¯t deaf, just determined to make sure Cloudhawk was dead. Down here there weren¡¯t any supplies; no food, no water, nothing except what they could take. These men were criminals ¨C counting on them to appreciate what he did in the prisons was like counting on a cow to climb trees. Splash! Without warning a spray of blood painted the tunnel walls. One of the convicts gaped as somehow, without a sound, his throat opened up. He fell to the ground and twitched as the life drained out of him. What the fuck?! How was there no sound at all? The rest of them had only a moment to ponder the question before a dark blade started hunting them through the shadows. A ruthless hack buried it through a convict¡¯s back and into his heart, ending him instantly. Cloudhawk wrenched it free and a fountain of blood followed, but still there was no sound. Nothing as it ripped through cloth and skin, nothing as it slipped back out. The others only noticed when they heard the patter of blood and the thud of their companion hitting the ground. ¡°Come out! Show yourself!¡± The surviving convicts were shaken. They waved their weapons through the air to ward off the darkness but the monster in the shadows gave them no room to breathe. The black blade moved again, more lives were lost. Soon only one remained. A ghost! There are ghost down here! Noiselessly his companions had died one after the other, all in a matter of seconds. Whatever terrifying weapon that was passed right by the others and they didn¡¯t hear it, not even as it was buried in their bodies. The last one only managed a few steps before the shadow came for him. Cold steel pressed against his throat as suddenly and soundlessly the blade was in front of him. He went stiff as a board. ¡°Where is Majjhima?¡± ¡°They¡¯re ahead, under attack. I¡¯ve answered your question, spare-¡° The convict crumbled to the ground, eyes wide and gaping into the darkness of the tunnels. Cloudhawk gently waved Quiet Carnage through the air. It was frighteningly sharp, he thought to himself. He barely felt it as he killed the convicts. Those men were doomed the moment they decided to attack him.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 2, Chapter 55 - Deterrence Chapter 55 - Deterrence Profound stillness. Stifling gloom. This was a small section of the tunnels, about three hundred square meters housing a couple hundred people. Lamps were set in distant corners but they didn¡¯t do much to dispel the darkness. Like all the other tools of Skycloud, so long as they were in the city they could be used indefinitely. A few boxes were scattered around with essentials like food and water, but there weren¡¯t many and they were quickly emptying. A man thin as withered weeds, with hair to his shoulders, sat cross-legged on the floor. He was covered in grime from head to foot and I gathered in the craggy lines of his face. A scar ran down his face and over one of his eyes that gave him an even more savage appearance. His back, shoulder and chest were covered in wounds. Lily hovered over him doing what she could. ¡°We don¡¯t have any medicine, I can¡¯t do much.¡± Majjhima¡¯s voice remained low and steady. ¡°This old man¡¯s got tough bones, none of this is worth worrying over.¡± This group had survived down here the last few days thanks to Majjhima¡¯s contacts, who he had deliver much-needed supplies. But their good luck couldn¡¯t last forever. Skycloud¡¯s hounds were closing in and the ways were sealed. For all of Majjhima¡¯s clout and contacts it proved not so easy to slip out of the military¡¯s noose. His organization was four hundred members strong before supplies grew too strained. A group wanted to take it all for themselves and fighting broke out. By the end over a hundred people had died. Their corpses were littered among the tunnels, and were already beginning to smell. It was ironic. Majjhima brought them all here, hid them from attackers in the tunnels, drew on his network to give them supplies only for greed to trump it all. Was their small pile of food and water really worth it? Those jackasses were too dense to realize that Skycloud¡¯s blockades would lighten up eventually. If they wanted to live their best bet was to rely on the resources Majjhima could provide. If something happened to him any hope of getting stuff from the outside died with him. No. In fact everyone knew it well. And they figured it was better to nab what he had before someone else did it. At least they could live longer than the other guy. And after that, what then? Fuck it! Every man for himself, live moment by moment. Of the two hundred or so people who still listened to him, a hundred were from Bloomnettle company. They never breathed a word of revolt, and he honored his promise to look after them. ¡°Boss, bad news! They¡¯re coming again!¡± A dozen shapes starting moving in through the darkness of the tunnels. The one who led them was a whip-thin man clad all in black, his limbs no thicker than a bamboo branch. His hair was a disheveled mop atop his head like wing on a skeleton. Everything about him oozed malice and made one¡¯s skin crawl. This one was unique. Raputin was put in jail after raping and murdering a dozen young women. His violent and ruthless style could handle ten soldiers at a time. Today he had a pair of swords, patchwork weapons made from disassembled military weaponry. All at once a palpable fear spread through Majjhima¡¯s followers. This skeletal man¡¯s weapons had tasted a lot of blood, much of which they witnessed firsthand. A tenth of the bodies that were rotting in the darkness where put there by him. Fear of him was, in no small part, the reason so many went to his side. Majjhima stood up and walked over toward the man, staring at him eye to eye. ¡°Escaping¡¯s going to be hard enough without us trading bodies.¡± ¡°Cut the shit, I gave you a chance. You keep half your stuff¡­¡± The skinny man¡¯s snake-like eyes slithered through the crowd until he found what he was looking for. ¡°¡­ and we get them.¡± Lilly¡¯s face twitched. Twelve young women shivered while the rest of Bloomnettle company shuffled with fear. The men Rasputin took with him eyed them like hungry wolves. All of them were violent offenders ¨C strong, violent and evil. ¡°We¡¯re locked down here and we don¡¯t know when or if we¡¯ll ever get out. I¡¯d like to enjoy a woman¡¯s unique¡­ flavor before I die.¡± Dripping with foul intent Rasputin¡¯s eyes raked over the girls. They lingered a little longer on the doctor, Lily. That full chest, tight ass, and pretty cheeks. He felt it like a fire in his stomach awakening a beast inside him. A dark red tongue darted as he licked his lips. ¡°Anyone who wants to join my side, I promise you get a piece.¡± Majjhima scowled. It was plain as day Rasputin was deluding them, but times like these brought out the worst in people. Their most small and petty selves emerged, and he knew some were ready to accept it. ¡°Half of what we have, but no one goes with you.¡± Majjhima stood firm, all coolness and restraint. ¡°Cloudhawk made me responsible for them. You saw what he could do, what do you think he¡¯ll do to you if you mess with his people?¡± ¡°What, come after me? Hahaha!¡± There was a tinge of madness in his laugh. ¡°Skycloud had people closing in as we speak. Who knows if we¡¯ll even make it to tomorrow? Do you think I care if I upset that little shit? Hell if he could really do what he said, how¡¯d he get caught in the first place? I¡¯m dying down her anyway, let him kill me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Someone in the crowd stepped forward and looked at the young girls. ¡°They don¡¯t contribute but they eat all our food and drink the water. For what? Cloudhawk¡¯s already been captured, probably. He¡¯s not coming down here!¡± Someone joined them, then another. Then another. ¡°When food and water is so scarce you have to trade what you can. You either fight or you pay with your body. Otherwise what are you doing to earn your keep? Keep the women and kill the kids and old people, that¡¯s what I say. It¡¯s only fair!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Why should we share with them?¡± The Bloomnettle company was a big group, and most of them weren¡¯t fighters. Majjhima didn¡¯t stop anyone and just let them go and the pressure broke. He watched twenty or thirty people betray him. Even the people who were loyal to him tried to convince Majjhima that they were just a burden. That even if Cloudhawk did come down here it was unlikely he¡¯d even find them. He had enough on his plate already without having to handle the garbage, too. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be stuck in your ways then I¡¯m going to have to take them myself.¡± Rasputin had just taken a fourth of his people and dealt a staggering blow to their morale. Now was the right time to take what he wanted. ¡°You see that one there? Big tits, nice ass, pale skin¡­ fine Skycloud goods right there. I heard she was a doctor, too. You fellas want some of that?¡± Lily felt a dozen rotten stares crawl over her as she pressed herself back against the wall, covered in sweat. In the city doctors were respected. Lily wasn¡¯t gorgeous but she was pretty and full figured. She had a lot of feminine charm and to these men, who¡¯d been locked up in the dark for years, found it difficult to control themselves. ¡°Kill them!¡± Rasputin knew he¡¯d aroused their dark appetite. ¡°Whoever brings me the old man¡¯s head gets first dibs on her!¡± The men around them became to hoot and whistle. And just as they were ready to pounce a cold light flashed from the tunnels. A simple-looking black-gold sword lashed out from the shadows. Like slicing tofu, cut through Rasputin¡¯s left shoulder and out through his right abdomen. Impossibly sharp and completely soundless. Then the blade turned and was swiped from his left abdomen and punching through his right shoulder. And once more across his right arm, tearing through rib and lung and heart, and exiting through the left arm. So fast, in a blink the three attacks swept through him. All without a noise. The others came to their senses as they watched Rasputin fall down in neat chunks. Someone knocked him over like an angry child through building blocks. Blood seeped out in gallons, spreading out along the floor in a gruesome bloom. A man stood above the pile of meat, wearing a mask and a grey cloak and a sword as silent as death in his hand. He stood still as the sanguine petals grew beneath his feet. Finally his eyes rose to sweet over the others, and in a voice like the rasp of the grave asked them a question. ¡°Bad things happen to those who are ungrateful. Someone want to prove me wrong?¡± When Lily saw who it was tears fell down her cheeks like a waterfall. All the people of Bloomnettle began to cry. Only one man cut Rasputin apart like he was nothing, It filled them with confidence. No one had seen Cloudhawk arrive. They didn¡¯t even see what he did. Many people still had no idea, to them Rasputin just fell to pieces. In fact several men were fixated on their goal and lunged forward before they noticed. He lazily stretched out his hand and, amidst the sound of rasping gravel, an arrow of sand shot out. It fired through all three of them. They screamed and died. The crowd start to share uncomfortable looks. People began to try and back away. Rasputin was no weakling, and in a straight fight it wasn¡¯t sure Cloudhawk could take him. But with the help of the chaos and his invisibility cloak he was able to get in close for a surprise attack. With the addition of Quiet Carnage¡¯s powers he cut the man to pieces before he knew what happened. Cloudhawk knew some of the angry men out there were dangerous murderers who could fight as well as Rasputin. Majjhima¡¯s people were weak even with Cloudhawk on their side, and if they chose now to charge things would get back in a hurry. But the opposite happened. His sudden arrival and ruthless style made him mysterious, and all residents of Skycloud had a sense of fear and worship for demonhunters. Terror kept them locked in place. One of them scrambled to their feet. ¡°This was all Rasputin¡¯s idea, none of us wanted to do it! Spare us!¡± He drew his eyes back and forth over the crowd, letting the moment linger. ¡°Do not let me see you. Ever again. Now - fuck off.¡± Granted forgiveness, they turned and fled into the dark tunnels. Cloudhawk knew they weren¡¯t going anywhere. Dawn Polaris was not far behind and they were headed right for her. They had more of a chance against Cloudhawk and soon that she-devil was going to prove it to them. But by then it¡¯d be too late. Leading them into her hands was like handing her victory. There were a lot of people who fled from the prisons, but the crux of them were here. If she snatched them up that was most of the more dangerous criminals right there, leaving little for Atlas and Frost to squabble over and more than enough for her to prove she was the winner. Book 2, Chapter 56 - Another Encounter Chapter 56 - Another Encounter Majjhima was looking after a hundred and eighty people, himself included. Cloudhawk noted the lamps and crates of supplies, and from them deduced that Majjhima had to be using his outside connections to remain stocked. Smart, otherwise they would have starved down here already. Majjhima and his people were shocked and happy to see Cloudhawk among them once again, however they didn¡¯t know how he managed it. How did he find them down here in the darkness? Was there anything he couldn¡¯t do? As he walked over to the crowd his grey cloak fluttered behind him. Dim light played off the contours of his mask, making Cloudhawk look even more mysterious. The bloody sword was still in hand and the memory of what it¡¯d just done made the survivors uncomfortable. Majjhima had kept in contact with his people above ground and supplies weren¡¯t the other things he gathered. He heard all the news; a theft at the commander¡¯s compound, fire at the governor¡¯s mansion, and Squall¡¯s rescue from under everyone¡¯s noses. Every action was a challenge to the authority of Skycloud that made his heart race. And yet it was strange. Cloudhawk accomplished his mission, didn¡¯t he? What was he doing down here? After everything he¡¯d done, the fact that he was still breathing should have been enough. How many lives did he think he had? However ruthless and headstrong some of these men were none of them dared do anything but bow and scrape before Cloudhawk. Their savior paid them no mind. ¡°Where is Squall? I don¡¯t see him.¡± Everyone was quiet. ¡°It¡¯s been one thing after another down here, I don¡¯t know where he went. The tunnel system is complicated and intersects with a number of natural caves, if he got lost then I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Cloudhawk was silent for a few moments. He mulled over the sort of person Squall was, and his ultimate wish of becoming a demonhunter. After seeing the cruelty and hypocrisy of the world it had to have dealt him a serious blow. Was he still the same boy who worshipped Arcturus Cloude? Now some of Skycloud¡¯s most adept warriors were hunting through the tunnels. Would Squall stay safe? There wasn¡¯t anything Cloudhawk could do about it now, so Squall¡¯s fate had to be left in his own hands. He hoped his friend made it. ¡°What¡¯s your plan? Escape the city?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lot more confusing down here than we thought. Even with a map it takes time to figure out where you are. Besides, as serious criminals does it make any difference if we leave the city? There isn¡¯t a city throughout the domain that¡¯d take us.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re thinking¡­¡± ¡°¡­ of staying down here.¡± Majjhima shot Cloudhawk a mischievous smile. ¡°The upper tunnels are being tightly monitored by those who hunt us, but deeper in the system there are caves and tunnels from the old days. We can stay down there for a while, maybe even make a life for ourselves.¡± There were serious forces down here looking for them, and Cloudhawk figured most of the escapees weren¡¯t going to make it. Majjhima¡¯s group still had a few dangerous criminals, and that would be a problem for the city. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care ¨C Skycloud¡¯s security wasn¡¯t his concern. Majjhima looked at Cloudhawk with a strange expression and was silent for a long time. Eventually he made a decision. ¡°I¡¯d like to talk with you in private, if you have the time.¡± The two men stepped away from the others so they could talk alone. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you. I¡¯m an agent with the Dark Atom.¡± Cloudhawk had expected Majjhima to ask for something else, not reveal his allegiance. Everyone in and around Skycloud domain knew about the fiendish organization, but they were more active out in the wastes and borderlands. It was rare for their agents to infiltrate the elysian lands, much less their capital city. There was more to Majjhima than what met the eye. It was unexpected, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t much care. He could tell from Majjhima¡¯s behavior and mannerisms that he wasn¡¯t a typical city dweller, but he was also different from the other criminals. His ¡®wasteland appreciation club¡¯ was bullshit, just a way for him to gather people who might be receptive to his cause. Building a black market network from there was beyond the abilities of a simple criminal. Majjhima gauged Cloudhawk¡¯s reaction. His lack thereof proved that the young man didn¡¯t have the same repulsion most Skycloud citizens shared for the insurgency. He felt safe enough to continue. ¡°I¡¯ve been living undercover in the city for years and I¡¯ve managed to build a good foundation. We started from the grassroots and now we have people in the chamber of commerce, some mid-level military personnel as well. Thanks to the jailbreak I¡¯m sure I can recruit several of these outlaws as well.¡± Cloudhawk gave him a skeptical look. ¡°Why are you telling me this? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll expose you?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. I already know you aren¡¯t a real demonhunter. You¡¯re just like us.¡± Majjhima¡¯s voice dropped even lower and he stepped close. ¡°We¡¯re gathering all our resources. We¡¯ve built enough to make a real underground power here!¡± In the eyes of the elysians, the Dark Atom was a terrorist organization. They¡¯d already managed more than a few attacks throughout the domain that have led to many deaths. As expected the more damage done, the more the people came to hate the Dark Atom. Cloudhawk looked over at the others milling around out of earshot. ¡°These people aren¡¯t idealists, and they aren¡¯t weaklings either. Are you sure you can control them?¡± ¡°Heh, down here there isn¡¯t any food or water ¨C no supplies to keep them alive whatsoever. Without me how else are they gonna get what they need? So long as all the resources come through me I don¡¯t have to worry about keeping them in line. Over time they¡¯ll assimilate and become part of the organization.¡± The old snake surely looked to have everything under control. ¡°But if we really want to make a difference we need a leader with the right qualifications, to make the right calls.¡± Cloudhawk guessed where this was going. Majjhima didn¡¯t keep him in suspense. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d stay down here with us to lead our group. No one doubts your skills. I¡¯ve got a few hundred people topside, and with the ones we got down here we¡¯ll be almost a thousand strong. That¡¯d make you leader of the biggest insurgency group in the city and it¡¯ll only get bigger.¡± This guy wanted Cloudhawk to be the ringleader of their little circus! It was a solid plan. Majjhima didn¡¯t know how strong Cloudhawk really was, but he sure wasn¡¯t weak. More important was that he was the one responsible for saving all of them from life in prison, then right afterwards spitting in the governor¡¯s face. It was that kind of drive and courage they needed. Relying on him was the right call. Leader of a thousand tunnel-dwelling terrorists¡­ If you¡¯d have asked Cloudhawk if one day he¡¯d have the opportunity he would have laughed. However, he had no interest or experience in leading anyone, much less a faction dedicated to the destruction of Skycloud. He didn¡¯t have to think much before giving his answer. ¡°I¡¯m not the right fit. You need to find someone else.¡± Majjhima wasn¡¯t going to give up that easily. ¡°Think on it.¡± But there wasn¡¯t much to consider. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a stake in the war between the Dark Atom and Skycloud, and he still had Skye Polaris¡¯ poison to worry about, even though Trespasser had probably constrained it. Both personally and practically Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t do what Majjhima was asking. He didn¡¯t want constraints. A thousand people sounded like power, but it was really the loss of freedom. ¡°Here¡¯s a keepsake from the Atom.¡± Majjhima was disappointed but he didn¡¯t keep pushing. He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Cloudhawk. ¡°You might not be interested for now, but I¡¯m confident there¡¯s nothing more suitable for you. If you change your mind or run into someone else from the group, show them this and they¡¯ll help.¡± Cloudhawk had lost his rose-tinted view of the city, but it was still where he hoped to live a comfortable life. He wasn¡¯t interested in getting embroiled in whatever spat existed between the elysians and the Seekers. But he took the token. Maybe it would come in handy one day. ¡°Lily, gather everyone up. We¡¯ve got to move.¡± Cloudhawk could only be responsible for the members of Bloomnettle company. Majjhima and the others were considered enemies of the people and if they were caught everyone would be killed. The only thing left he could do for them was point out where Dawn Polaris wasn¡¯t going to be. Majjhima waiting until their resources were packed up, told Cloudhawk they would meet again some da, then lead his people deeper into the tunnels. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk was playing with the token when suddenly he stopped, frozen like he was struck by a bolt of lightning. Lily looked his way. ¡°What is it?¡± He didn¡¯t answer, instead closing his eyes and reaching out with his psychic energy. It linked with Oddball who was some distance away, and through their resonance Cloudhawk could see through the bird¡¯s eyes. Its vision was so acute that even in pitch darkness he could see clearly. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to appreciate it, because what he saw spelled trouble. Real big trouble. A large group was coming their way. It wasn¡¯t Dawn, either. The one who led them was a handsome man in snow-white armor and a silver spear in his hand. He was surrounded in an ice-cold, gallant air that was hard to forget. Frost de Winter! This asshole again! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes popped open. ¡°Pick up the pace, we have to go as fast as we can!¡± Lily didn¡¯t know what was happening, but she could tell from his face that it wasn¡¯t good. They were a group of largely women and children, even if they ran as fast as they could how could they escape Frost de Winter¡¯s elite soldiers? Book 2, Chapter 57 - Another Exchange Chapter 57 - Another Exchange Frost de Winter was an admitted germophobe. A place as foul and filthy as this tunnel was exactly the thing he hated most and it made him feel soiled from head to toe. However, self-control and perseverance kept him moving through the darkness, hunting his prey. His party was somewhat smaller than Dawn¡¯s, but Frost had brought five demonhunters with him. As a high inquisitor of the demonhunters he had the right to demand a small contingent on any mission he pleased. So, although in numbers his group was inferior, they made up for it in combat power. One of his subordinates ¨C a demonhunter specialized in tracking ¨C called out. ¡°There are traces that show a large group has been living in the area. Up ahead.¡± Frost¡¯s voice was cold as ice. ¡°After them!¡± His people were some of the best warriors in Skycloud. The fugitives had no hope. Five minutes later they were flooding through a narrow tunnel. The passages down here were anything but uniform, and this one was among them ore cramped. Only four people could pass through side by side, so a hundred had to file through in several lines. They came across another group trying to do the same, made up mostly of children and the elderly. They seemed to be a sizeable group. ¡°Kill them all!¡± Frost gave the order but his men hesitated. Their orders were to capture convicts and to only use lethal force if they resisted. These folk were just normal citizens, wasn¡¯t wiping them out going too far? Anyway, if they didn¡¯t bring anyone back how could they claim credit and get rewarded? ¡°These animals are a scourge upon Skycloud City. Bringing them back is inviting evil into our midst. They¡¯re nothing but a waste of space, better to kill them. And merit means nothing to me, now obey!¡± ¡°As you command!¡± The soldiers rushed forward in three columns with their weapons raised. Leveling their crossbows, they pulled the triggers. The sound of twanging strings and the release of compressed air filled the tunnel, followed by a hail of crossbow bolts. A storm of deadly steel came raining down on the defenseless exiles. Cloudhawk was in the middle of the group, trying to keep them moving and paying close attention to the situation. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Frost would immediately choose the most violent path. The screams proved him wrong, and after the first volley half a dozen people were laying on the floor riddled with arrows. The shots kept coming, but a wall of coarse yellow sand rose up to plug the passage behind them. Dozens of crossbow bolts could be heard as they thud against the wall of sand. It sounded like rain on a lake surface. ¡°Lily, get everyone out of here!¡± Cloudhawk pushed forward with his left hand, causing the sand wall of explode into a wave of gravel. It surged through the narrow passage and forced the soldiers¡¯ eyes shut. The grit coalesced into sandy arrows that charged down the tunnel. Frost de Winter grunted. He couldn¡¯t see, but the pitch of the arrows was enough. With superb precision he swung his silver spear through the air and knocked away every one that got close. His control and strength were flawless, leaving him in no danger from Cloudhawk¡¯s attack. Frost¡¯s eyes locked on a figure, half-seen through the sand. His lips turned in a mocking sneer. ¡°You again.¡± A deep resentment ran between the two men. Frost de Winter never saw Cloudhawk as anything but a filthy wretch, and Cloudhawk¡¯s hatred for Arcturus¡¯ disciple ran bone deep. Down here in the dark scourge met nemesis. ¡°These people are innocent, they weren¡¯t supposed to get caught up in this. They¡¯ve been pardoned, so what gives you the right to exterminate them? They¡¯re citizens of this city, just like you. What you¡¯re doing is contemptable!¡± ¡°These rats might have lived a fine life, but you¡¯re the one who got them involved. You¡¯re the monster here, not me ¨C their fate was sealed when they met you. I agree, Cloudhawk. They shouldn¡¯t have to die for your sins.¡± Cloudhawk already saw through his opponent, he knew there was no point in arguing. He could have perfect logic but nothing he said would make any difference. There was no changing this man, so Cloudhawk steered clear of the topic and tried a different tactic. ¡°Fine. Well, Frost, meeting you down here was my shit luck. But now that we¡¯re here, you¡¯ve got another chance!¡± Frost¡¯s face darkened like a blizzard as he listened. He growled out his response. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°First the prison, then the tunnels,¡± Cloudhawk said through a laugh. ¡°Twice I¡¯ve embarrassed you and proved you don¡¯t have what it takes to capture me. I feel bad I keep making you look stupid, and I have a big heart. I figure I¡¯ll give you one more shot.¡± Frost de Winter¡¯s pride was legendary. With how sharp Cloudhawk¡¯s words were, it was shocking they didn¡¯t immediately throw Frost into a rage. His escape from prison, freeing the convicts, and snatching Squall in plain daylight were one stinging blow to his ego after another. When he thought of what people must have been saying, the derisive laughter behind his back, Frost¡¯s anger flared. He would rip this hateful rodent limb from limb. Cloudhawk lifted his sword and pointed it at him. ¡°You and me. You got the balls?¡± Everyone else paused in surprise. A challenge, one on one against Lord de Winter? This guy had to be crazy, how was he any sort of match for Frost? Against the unscrupulous high inquisitor, how was this any different than suicide? However what Cloudhawk expected did not occur. Frost de Winter did not lose his temper, only looked at him with those infinitely cold eyes. ¡°You think you can get in my head with a pitiful strategy like this? I¡¯m not sure if I overestimate you or you underestimate me. Keep firing, kill this fool!¡± Cloudhawk was frozen. That was his one ploy, thought up in a moment of desperation. He wanted to make Frost furious and buy the others time to flee. Then, somehow he would stay alive until Dawn showed up. Once she got between them the crisis would pass. However it looked like Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t thought it through. Frost de Winter was an arrogant shit, but he wasn¡¯t an idiot. The soldiers raised their crossbows and continued to fire. Several more Bloomnettle members were murdered. As rage welled up from Cloudhawk¡¯s heart another sand storm arose. He decided his best shot was blocking their advance. The tunnels here were narrow, and even with so many soldiers there were no more than ten he had to contend with at once. Cloudhawk had enough power to fill this tiny space with choking sand. ¡°The sandstorm again!¡± The soldiers hunkered down to protect themselves and could see nothing. Meanwhile Frost de Winter wildly swung his spear, trying to catch Cloudhawk somewhere in the storm. But he was gone, the scoundrel had already used his powers to vanish. ¡°Push on, keep firing!¡± The first line pointed their crossbows where they thought was forward. If they couldn¡¯t kill Cloudhawk, at least they could take out more of the fugitives. But as their fingers began to squeeze the triggers a black-gold sword emerged from the sand on their left. It¡¯s sharp bite cleaved right through the crossbow and pierced the compressed air tank, causing it to explode into splinters. Strangest of all it never made a sound. Between that and the sandy environment, the second soldier was completely unaware when the sword lashed out again and destroyed his crossbow. It was the same scene for the third and fourth soldier, all the way down the line. They sat in a half-crouch with empty hands while the sword flashed above them, disarming the second row just as quickly. Cloudhawk¡¯s brazen actions were unthinkable. He was attacking the soldiers head to head! Yet why not? His invsibility cloak was a relic of near mythic powers, and paired perfectly well with the deadly silence of Quiet Carnage. Quiet Carnage cut through whatever it touched and didn¡¯t make a sound, including human flesh. Channeling his psychic power through the sword effectively muted everything he did and made his sneaking that much more effective. He could be standing right in front of them and they wouldn¡¯t know. He was also too fast for them to follow. Yet, the attacks all were aimed at their weapons and not the soldiers themselves. Two magnificent swipes of his sword and eight crossbows were destroyed. Thanks to the narrow opening, by the time the next row of soldiers took their place the exiles had fled around a corner. His gambit did not come without cost, though. For now the others were safe, but that make Cloudhawk the lone target. The two lines of soldiers exchanged crossbows for melee weapons, and the demonhunters among them were even faster. A pair of exorcist staffs whistle through the air toward Cloudhawk from two different directions. It was going to be difficult for him to fight these two demonhunters alone. He pushed off the balls of his feet and sprang backwards. Half a moment later the staffs slammed against the floor, right where he¡¯d been standing. Each one shattered the stone floor and kicked up jagged shards. Suddenly, a shout called out from behind. ¡°Hmph!¡± Frost de Winter leapt out from behind the line. He ran along the wall faster than Cloudhawk could follow. He felt Snowsong¡¯s power crashing towards him like an ice dragon with its fangs bared. Cloudhawk had not forgotten what happened the first time he fought Frost. He¡¯d been holding out before, but this time there was a brutality mixed in with the overwhelming force of his strike. He couldn¡¯t even compared it to before. Although Cloudhawk had gotten a little stronger since then, if he thought he could deflect this strike he was deluding himself. But getting out of the way was not an option. Even before the spear reached its target, the flood of power washed over him. In half a blink Cloudhawk was covered in frost, making his joints stiff. If the spear hit him he would be frozen just like last time, then all it would take was a stiff kick to break him into pieces. You wanna kill me? It won¡¯t be so easy, asshole! Embroiled in the thick of the fight, Cloudhawk wrapped a hand around the phase stone. Immediately its powerful field engulfed him and the ground bellow became as soft as water. He sunk into the earth right before Frost de Winter¡¯s eyes. The high inquisitor scowled but his reaction was quick. With a brutal swipe he struck Snowsong against the ground and released a blast of frigid energy. Clang! The ground shook and freezing cold swallowed up the whole area. Teeth chattered as the soldiers all started to shiver. Jagged icicles arose all around where Frost de Winter had struck. The other demonhunters all paled when they saw it, for Frost usually kept his powers in check. Now they witnessed what him and his spear were capable of and it was obvious why there were only three others who could stand in the young man¡¯s way. Yet, even more surprising was how Cloudhawk had slipped away. How did he do it? They saw it clear, he just sank into the earth just before the killing blow landed. Did he have some sort of special earth-type relic that allowed him to move through the ground? Frost de Winter pulled his spear out of the ground. The scowl on his face was colder and more bitter than ever. That rat wasn¡¯t much of a fighter ¨C ten of him couldn¡¯t beat Frost in a straight battle. But he had plenty of ways to run and hide. Book 2, Chapter 58 - Mission Complete Chapter 58 - Mission Complete As Cloudhawk floundered beneath the tunnel tendrils of steam surrounded him. The cold made him shiver terribly. Frost de Winter¡¯s attacks were too overwhelming. He didn¡¯t even need to strike his target, for the burst of frigid energy snowsong spewed was enough to give a normal person frostbite. Thankfully Cloudhawk¡¯s body was more resilient, but it still felt like every cell in his body was numb. He could hardly move. The wave of cold was incredible. Well, it wasn¡¯t quite accurate to call it a wave of cold. Snowsong didn¡¯t expel physical cold, but an energy field that reduced the temperature in an area. Anything caught in the field naturally froze from the sudden drop, not from anything Frost¡¯s relic produced. Whatever was unfortunate enough to be in the field felt the effect both externally and internally. Clothes made no difference no matter how thick, and in only seconds the victim¡¯s muscles lost all strength and their organs stopped working. Snowsong was deadly long before it struck its target. Even with the mystical stone Cloudhawk was still in dire straits. There were limits to its area of effect. The phase stone made everything permeable, but only to a certain extend. In his experience the denser and thicker the environment, the more difficult it was for Cloudhawk to pass through it. Outside energy followed the same principles. When Frost¡¯s attack landed its energy field spread scattered, at least relieving him of that threat. Still, even using the stone to avoid a direct hit from the spear, he wasn¡¯t out of danger yet. Cloudhawk was strong enough to deal with a typical demonhunter maybe, but it was still too early to have any hope of surviving a fight against Frost. He felt his blood burn through his veins and a cold sweat sprouted from his pores. The cold that had invaded him was starting to get pushed out. Slowly he felt his normal dexterity return after about twenty seconds. We¡¯re not finished. This bastard has repeatedly tried to put me in the dirt. I can¡¯t take him on yet, but that won¡¯t stop me from fuckin¡¯ with him! Cloudhawk picked a spot then used his stone to climb back up the levels. He used his invisibility cloak to make sure he stayed hidden. Frost de Winter and the demonhunters were talking. They were discussing their options. Cloudhawk¡¯s phasing abilities made him particularly hard to kill, so it was a waste of time to try and pin him down. It was better to continue the hunt for fugitives in order to complete their mission, and perhaps lure Cloudhawk out of hiding at the same time. Hiding near the back of Frost¡¯s group he quietly seethed at their plan. There was nothing this black hearted bastard wouldn¡¯t do. He stepped forward. Suddenly another figure appeared among the soldiers. The two soldiers furthest back weren¡¯t paying much attention when suddenly their heads were smashed ruthlessly together. They crumbled, unconscious. Other nearby soldiers gasped in surprise but before they could react Cloudhawk whipped his legs around in a series of powerful kicks. Two more soldiers went flying through the air and into their compatriots. He charged forward like a bull, making quick work of another three or four soldiers. The narrow confines of the tunnels erased their numbers advantage, and with Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden and ferocious attack chaos quickly followed. One the demonhunters cried out. ¡°Grab him! Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± But Frost de Winter and the demonhunters were at the head of the column. When they realized an attack was coming from the rear there was nothing they could do. Meanwhile Cloudhawk grabbed one of the soldiers and flung him over the crowd like a sack of potatoes. He crashed into the center of the column and knocked another group of fighters to the ground. But soldiers were also starting to react, pouncing at him from all sides. Soon he was surrounded. Cloudhawk¡¯s appearance was so sudden the soldiers didn¡¯t have time to draw their weapons. They piled on him with punches and kicks, calling for the others to come. More and more people piled together until a dozen bodies were crushed together with more added every second. It was like they were trying to crush him to death. The turmoil caused Frost to lose his temper. ¡°Morons! You¡¯re all worthless, get out of the way!¡± The soldiers, a mass of flailing arms and legs, eventually managed to untangle themselves. In the center of the dogpile they discovered that Cloudhawk was gone, leaving only several of their own mostly suffocated. As they gasped for breath Cloudhawk stepped through the right wall of the tunnel, beat the lights out of a few more soldiers, then slipped through the left wall. Only a few of Frost¡¯s men had been seriously injured, but Cloudhawk¡¯s rapid sneak attacks had turned his crew into a mess of confusion. He had no option but to spread his demonhunters out; three in the middle, and one on each end of the column. Anywhere Cloudhawk chose to strike he¡¯d have to deal with at least one of them. By now the convicts were long gone. Frost de Winter had no way of knowing where they¡¯d gone. With his attention on Cloudhawk there was no way forward. In fact Frost¡¯s defensive posture came too late. As useful as the phasing stone was it demanded a lot of energy. Cloudhawk stood in a tunnel a short distance away, one hand on the wall and the other on his hip, taking deep gulps of air. Sweat was dropping off of him. No good¡­ I¡¯m still not strong enough! These guerilla tactics couldn¡¯t continue, but as Cloudhawk tried to decide on his next move a sensation tickled his mind. It was Oddball, trying to communicate from nearby. His face immediately lit up. On time after all. He found the right spot and wrapped his hand around the phase stone. Using the last of his strength he pushed his psychic energy through the stone, and slipped through the wall. No sooner did he pass to the other side than his legs gave way, and he collapsed onto someone. They both tumbled to the ground. A sweet smell filled Cloudhawk¡¯s nostrils. His left hand rested on something both soft and supple. His heart nearly stopped when he looked down and saw the beautiful pale face of the woman he was lying on. ¡°Having fun groping my ass?¡± Cloudhawk was mortified to discover that his arm was wrapped around Dawn¡¯s waist, and his hand just so happened to grab the most convenient spot to try and steady himself. That would explain the soft and supple feeling. He awkwardly retracted his hand and opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly his world began to spin. He hit the wall with bone-jarring force. ¡°Alright, you perv!¡± Dawn stood over him, glaring daggers. ¡°You think you can take advantage of a lady like me? I may be a heavenly beauty but I¡¯m no floozy! You¡¯re getting off easy if I don¡¯t castrate you!¡± Bullshit! Where did all your strength disappear to? You fell on purpose, you¡¯re looking for an excuse to beat me up! Dawn and her team had captured more than a hundred prisoners, most of them Rasputin¡¯s men. The members of Bloomnettle Company had also joined them. Oddball fluttered over from down the tunnel, coming to rest on his master¡¯s shoulder. It was all thanks to this little guy. Oddball¡¯s pricelessness was more obvious every minute. While leading Lily and the others to safety Cloudhawk had Oddball keep an eye on their path. The news that Frost was coming gave him enough time to find a narrow hallway, robbing Frost¡¯s advantage. If it weren¡¯t for those precious minutes they would have been sitting ducks. While he was preparing to fend Frost¡¯s men off, he then sent Oddball out to look for Dawn. Dawn Polaris¡¯ punctual arrival was also thanks to the bird, since he led her this way. Oddball was more than helpful, it was smart enough to do all sorts of complicated tasks. Cloudhawk¡¯s companion was definitely going to be a huge help in the days and fights to come. The sound of marching footsteps rang through the tunnel. The sound brought a broad grin to Dawn¡¯s face. She drew Terrangelica and thrust it into the ground. Planting her feet, with both hands on the relic¡¯s pommel, she filled the area with a vigorous regality. Frost de Winter and his men appeared down the corridor, coming their way. When he saw who was waiting for them he had to rethink his approach. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d meet again so soon.¡± She stood still as a statue, but did not use her powers. ¡°Our last contest wasn¡¯t very satisfying. You wanna go again?¡± Frost was no fool. If they were above ground he¡¯d be happy to injure her pride, but down here Terrangelica was more dangerous than ever. So much as a vibration could bring the whole tunnel down on his head. Frost and his men were outplayed. ¡°You can¡¯t protect him forever.¡± ¡°Maybe I can.¡± The look Frost leveled at Cloudhawk was so full of malice it was almost cutting. He then turned his eyes back to Dawn, who stared back without a care. The slightest bit of power crackled through his hand into snowsong. Terrangelica began to shiver. Frost felt a wave of stifling power sweep through him, ready to explode at any moment. The ground shook slightly below his feet and a crack loudly started to grow through the ceiling overhead. ¡°Withdraw!¡± Frost swallowed his rage and wounded pride. They retreated back the way they¡¯d come. Dawn muttered something about cowards before pulling Terrangelica from the ground, slipping it back into its sheath. She strode over to Cloudhawk, grabbed a fist full of clothing, and yanked him to his feet. She brushed the dust off his shoulder then wrapped her arm around him in an affectionate headlock. ¡°Not bad!¡± She said through her chuckles. ¡°Not bad, I knew I picked the right guy. With this many convicts I¡¯m definitely in the lead. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re rewarded.¡± Thirty seconds ago this she-devil smashed him into a wall and threatened to cut his balls off. Now she was all friendship and sunshine. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the only one who looked at her like she was insane. Dawn definitely earned her ¡®moody¡¯ reputation. ¡°¡±Alright, let¡¯s call it a day. Time to go home!¡± Overall the mission was completed without a hitch. Lily and the others were safe, and Frost de Winter was sufficiently embarrassed. Any way you look at it they did good. Dawn also grabbed a bunch of convicts, enough to win this little contest and satiate her bloodlust. Whether or not Majjhima and his people would survive down here would be up to luck. Cloudhawk hoped they could keep out of Atlas¡¯ or Frost¡¯s crosshairs. Book 2, Chapter 59 - Returning the Favor Chapter 59 - Returning the Favor Skycloud¡¯s tunnel system was as dark, silent, and gloomy as ever. A mouse scurried along, vigilantly scanning its surroundings for danger. It skittered through the dark, unknowingly growing closer to the figure hunched in the shadows. It was unmoving, silent, giving the rat no indication it was there. Then ¨C at just the precise moment ¨C it struck. The rat squeaked in terror. A young man held the rodent tightly but didn¡¯t give it much chance to struggle. HE clamped his teeth into the rat¡¯s back, into its meat and through its spine. Hot, fresh blood filled his mouth. ¡°Hooaagghh!¡± The young man didn¡¯t have a wastelander¡¯s ability to eat anything. Before he could even swallow the foul scent and flavor made him vomit. Only after days of starvation the only thing that came up was stomach acid. In his mind the situation was clear. He had to persist if he wanted to survive. Dying down here wasn¡¯t an option, not if he wanted revenge. To do what he had to do. Suppressing his disgust he took another bite, and this time he swallowed. Suddenly a light. Somewhere behind him. How was there light down here? The young man¡¯s head snapped around and the light revealed his features. Long and tangled hair jutted out in all directions, framing a dirty face that might be handsome underneath the grime. Bloodshot eyes glared through the bright light and his mouth was smeared with a mix of blood, vomit and fur. He looked as feral as he did repulsive. Chains clinked, connected to shackles on his hands and feet. Wounds covered his body. His deep, hoarse voice croaked through a parched throat. ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± The one who held the light was a young man, dressed all in black ¨C black boots, black pants, black gloves, black hood. Even his face was covered in a black mask that hid his features, leaving nothing but black eyes looking out. Even holding the light the stranger was like an eerie living shadow. [1] Atlas didn¡¯t reply. He just looked the young man over, then bent over and placed the light to one side. Reaching behind him the assassin pulled a black dagger soundlessly from its sheath. Its dark blade reflected no light but oozed malice. Squall¡¯s whole body went stiff. He guessed this person had to have been sent by Skycloud to kill him. He tried to scamper backward, to run. Then Atlas lunged at him. Crack-clang! His attacker was so fast Squall didn¡¯t even see what he¡¯d done. Suddenly his hands and feet felt lighter, and then his shackles clattered to the floor. Finally an almost forgotten sense of freedom returned. Atlas then flicked his left wrist and flung something toward him. Squall wrenched his body to the side just in time for something to whiz by. A clank, then he turned to see an iron pipe lodged in the wall. Squall knew what Atlas had thrown at him when he saw it. An exorcist staff, the sort used by demonhunters. He didn¡¯t understand the man in black¡¯s intentions. When he looked questioningly at him he saw Atlas standing silently on the border of the light. The light rippled over him, as though the shadows were fighting to steal him back. His black dagger was clear as ever, though, and promised blood. ¡°Pull it out.¡± Atlas didn¡¯t seem accustomed to much talking. His words were curt, his voice hoarse, making it hard to tell his age. But Squall got it. He was giving him a chance to fight back. If he wanted a fight, then he got one! As he pulled the staff from the wall Squall felt his heart surge with the will to survive and a thirst for vengeance. He attacked first, rushing at Atlas like the wind. Despite several days of starvation in the darkness, he still had impressive speed and strength. He had some skill, at least more than your average soldier. However even after half a dozen swipes from the staff Atlas was unscathed. He flit through the shadows like a feather, hardly real at all. Squall didn¡¯t even catch a scrap of clothing. Atlas half-heartedly waved Deathstalker. An unbearable pain jolted through Squall¡¯s shoulder. The assassin¡¯s black blade was buried in his skin. He stopped and stared at the wound, but just for an instant. With a roar he knocked the small sword away and took another swing at Atlas¡¯ throat. The attack was easily deflected and followed by a swiping cut across Squall¡¯s chest. The former merchant and one-time demonhunter hopeful fought through the injuries to keep up his assault. A third cut caught him in the leg. They went back and forth seven or eight times. Fighting with all his strength Squall never even got close to his assailant. Every exchange ended with Atlas giving him another wound for his trouble. However, none of them were life-threatening. The gulf in abilities was evident, so why didn¡¯t Atlas just kill him? Was he going to torture the boy to death? Squall wasn¡¯t an idiot, he knew he didn¡¯t stand a chance. But he wasn¡¯t going to go die like a coward. Atlas lazily kicked off the ground, sweeping his leg around in an arc. Squall¡¯s exorcist staff clattered as it was knocked down the tunnel. He fought for breath, gasping a lungful of fetid air. The wounds were painful and he staggered under their weight, hardly able to stand. But he stood his ground, fueled by anger alone. He roared at the man in black like a dying beast. Atlas stood across from him, unmoving. From the start of their exchange up to now he hadn¡¯t moved from that spot. It was painfully obvious how handily he dealt with Squall. Black eyes wandered over the feral young man without a glint of emotion in their depths, but not cold. Absolute indifference, without pity or malice ¡°Is that all you can handle?¡± As he broke the silence Deathstalker fully awakened. A caustic purple haze hung around the blade¡¯s edge like an eldritch flame. In the bleak tunnels it looked like Death¡¯s own weapon come to claim him. Although Squall didn¡¯t know what was the power of Deathstalker, he immediately recognized it as a relic, and a strong one. This man was a demonhunter? All through their fight not only had he been holding back his skill, he hadn¡¯t even used a fraction of his abilities. Hopelessness washed over Squall, there was no escaping this killer. ¡°If you¡¯re so weak¡­¡± Atlas brandished his sword and slowly stepped closer. ¡°¡­ then you are of no use alive. I¡¯ll send you on your way.¡± Trepidation seized him as Squall watched, helpless. He knew there was nothing he could do. Was this his fate, to die down here at this demonhunter¡¯s hands? Denial filled his mouth with bitter flavor. His life couldn¡¯t end so uselessly in these tunnels. He snatched up the exorcist staff. Atlas maintained the same languid speed as he hacked toward him. But speed was relative. To Atlas he was hardly showing any effort, but to Squall he seemed fast as lightning. He hardly had time to lift the staff before the deadly attack came crashing down. An unspeakable sense of peril filled his mind. He knew nothing on Deathstalker, but he knew every relic was remarkable. One hit was all it would take. This was it, his moment of life or death. With another roar Squall clearly felt a mysterious power well up inside him. It roared through his body like a vibration strangely in tune with his weapon. Then the exorcist staff began to spin. It screamed like a cyclone and friction birthed a shower of sparks. The power of a relic! He¡¯d awakened the staff¡¯s power! Potential as a demonhunter had been found in Squall, but he had never undergone any proper training. Nor had he ever actually used a relic, yet he had summoned the staff¡¯s power. There were few in the city who could do so without training. But none of that crossed Squall¡¯s mind. Death loomed close, he didn¡¯t have time to stand in wonder. He heaved his weapon with all his strength toward atlas. Staff and sword met and- Deathstalker stopped. Squall¡¯s exorcist staff was knocked right out of his hands. The metallic clang of their meeting hung in the claustrophobic chamber. Huge cracks appeared as once again the exorcist staff hit the wall. The psychic energy Squall had filled it with was released all at once into the stone. He just stood there, stunned, for he thought for sure the attack was strong enough. But to Atlas it was not even worth a second thought. The dark blade with its slithering purple flame inched toward his throat. This is it! My life ends here! All hopes were dashed to pieces as he waited for death, but the pain he expected never came. Atlas¡¯ sword had stopped less than a centimeter from his neck. Why? The purple fires slowly faded away, along with its lethal aura. Atlas unceremoniously returned the relic to its sheath. ¡°Pick up your weapon.¡± Squall didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. Your weapon. Pick it up.¡± Atlas kept staring at him with those lifeless eyes. ¡°Three days, I¡¯ll teach you. How much you learn is up to you.¡± Squall couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Although he¡¯d never learned the man¡¯s name, his skill alone proved he was no typical demonhunter. Without a doubt he had to be a master, but this sort of mission wouldn¡¯t give the likes of him or someone like Frost any accolades. Why offer to teach him? What was the logic? He was a criminal! ¡°Don¡¯t ask. Don¡¯t think. Don¡¯t thank. Just follow orders.¡± Atlas¡¯ voice was soft as a shadow¡¯s caress. ¡°I owed a favor. This is payback.¡± Who would dare trust someone like this? But that didn¡¯t matter, he¡¯d spared Squall¡¯s life. He¡¯d even offered to teach him. By all rights this was beyond anything he could expect! Squall knew that after all of this he would never be a demonhunter. That path was closed to him. But his strange new master, maybe he could give him the training he needed. ¡°What are you going to teach me?¡± ¡°Time is limited. I¡¯m going to teach you to survive.¡± Squall¡¯s heart thundered in his chest and he clenched his hands into fists. Survival was exactly what he wanted to learn. 1. My dark brotherhood assassin in nightingale armor was precisely this cool. Book 2, Chapter 60 - The Plan Chapter 60 - The Plan The first thing Frost de Winter did when he returned to the mansion was shower several times. He then sprayed himself with cologne to mask any hint of the smell he¡¯d recently escaped. However, the discomfort in his heart couldn¡¯t be washed away. How was a wasteland rat like Cloudhawk able to repeatedly show him up? Even that crazy woman Dawn Polaris was on his side, now. What was her grandfather thinking! However when Frost thought about it he was heartened that Cloudhawk would only be in the city for another few days. Soon the training at Hell¡¯s Valley would begin and he would be sent away. It gave him some solace. Two hours later, in a local pub. Frost de Winter had exchanged his armor for the typical wide-sleeved robes worn by nobility in Skycloud city. The snow-white cloth was almost magic, turning from a dashing young military genius into an erudite scholar. However, the shrewdness in his eyes could not be concealed. None of the food or drink on his table was touched. As always Frost¡¯s self-restraint was of the highest caliber. He never drank, never smoked, never enjoyed a woman¡¯s touch, did not covet money, and had never been seen enjoying himself. Frost de Winter was always the picture of high-born discipline, driven by the desire to be the best. To achieve that he made sure to make the most out of every second to become win strength, title and influence. All this was due to his excellent teacher. Frost¡¯s highest aspirations were to be like him. The only way to do that was to put in much more effort than the common man. He was talented, but he wasn¡¯t even among the top ten in the city when it came to natural ability. However he was in the top three for skill, and he firmly believed he was the best all-around warrior of the youngest generation. Selene? Zephyr? One was an insurmountable talent who was dumb as rocks, and the other had disappeared into seclusion with their father years ago. Frost considered neither his equal. Blaze? Atlas? One was slick with no ambition, and the other was too narrow-minded to make anything of himself! That left Dawn Polaris. She merely relied on her family and talents to push people around. Her precious family would collapse around her sooner or later, and her talents will dry up. When she joins the ranks of the base common folk what right would she have to even challenge him? Frost de Winter sat there, cold and aloof. He did not come from a mighty family, nor was he of exceptional talent. However, he did have the benefit of a peerless teacher and unyielding drive. Everything in his life was aimed at a single purpose, so he was convinced no one would be able to stand in his way. He was fated to become the greatest man of his generation. ¡°Why is he taking so long?¡± Frost¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, he hated wasting time. It was like throwing away a precious resource. The tardiness of his companion was beginning to irritate him. Besides, this place was full of degenerates. The stench of corruption and decadence clung to him. This table, this chair, this carpet¡­ who knew how many filthy plebians had touched them? It didn¡¯t matter how often you washed them the stench remained. Surrounded by drunken revelers and flirtatious harlots, Frost¡¯s skin began to crawl. How was the world filled with such short-sighted ignorance? There was so much to do, yet these fools wiled away their days in pursuit of transient pleasures. If Frost had a torch he would hesitate to burn this whole place down. But he didn¡¯t. He was forced to wait and suffer. ¡°Apologies, nephew. You¡¯ve been waiting.¡± At last a mustached man bathed in a lordly presence pushed open the door to the private room. He was none other than the governor¡¯s assistant, Augustus Cloude. ¡°No need to stand on ceremony, uncle.¡± Frost de Winter rose and pressed his hands together in greeting. He quickly pushed the conversation along. ¡°How are things going? Well, I suspect?¡± Augusts¡¯ expression stated otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s proving difficult. The place they¡¯re sending Cloudhawk is unique. Any assassins you send won¡¯t be able to sneak in.¡± A stern displeasure crossed Frost¡¯s face. ¡°Then we deal with him on the road. We do it ourselves!¡± Augustus shook his head, rejecting his nephew¡¯s plan. ¡°Too impulsive. Skye Polaris will certainly be sending a retinue with Cloudhawk, meaning we¡¯ll have to kill the commander¡¯s men to achieve our goal. You can imagine, I¡¯m sure, how the old man would react to such news. The wastelander¡¯s life isn¡¯t worth pitting two of Skycloud¡¯s strongest families against one another. I cannot assent to this plan ¨C much less the governor.¡± Frost de Winter frowned. ¡°What sort of place is Hell Valley?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it myself. The various families send representatives every year to participate in training. Its high mortality rate is well known, but not their methods.¡± Augustus fiddled with his mustache as he spoke. ¡°Unerringly, those that emerge are the elite. Best of the best. They don¡¯t bother joining the army or any demonhunter group. They are recruited into special units, or secret family organizations like the Court of Shadows. Elusive, mysterious, and beyond my jurisdiction to pry into. ¡° Frost de Winter¡¯s scowl carved lines in his handsome face. ¡°Is there nothing we can do?¡± ¡°The families don¡¯t just send anyone, only their most talented take the risk. There is no guarantee Cloudhawk survives.¡± Augustus tried to persuade his hot-blooded counterpart. ¡°This is a sensitive time. There are always methods, but if something should happen to the wastelander Skye will surely blame you. This is why Lord Arcturus has ordered that you keep your distance. The commander is not a man you wish to provoke, our Lord is working in your best interest.¡± Frost de Winter had already dismissed his uncle¡¯s warnings. So long as Cloudhawk lived he was a problem. He shut his eyes and thought for a time, then spoke. ¡°You say Hell Valley boasts a high death toll. Cloudhawk might not live through the training.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°If he dies during the process then no one can say I had a hand in it, yes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s... indeed!¡± ¡°Then we have our opportunity. We cannot dispatch men to the camp but we can send trainees. We have them enroll and they deal with Cloudhawk from the inside. Nothing can be traced back to us, and Skye will have no reason to suspect our involvement.¡± Augustus couldn¡¯t hide his wry grin. ¡°My good nephew, you are not one to be ignorant of the situation. Why do you want to kill this man so badly?¡± ¡°The wastelander scoundrel has insulted me, defiled our city, and tarnished our lord¡¯s reputation. This I can stomach. But something tells me if he is allowed to live Cloudhawk will become a serious threat to the master. I¡¯m not prepared to ignore my premonition.¡± Frost de Winter fixed his uncle with an unflinching stare. ¡°Are you willing to help me, uncle?¡± ¡°Alright. This once.¡± Augustus Cloude was Lord Arcturus¡¯ man, executing whatever the master demanded. For many years he¡¯d lurked in the background, manipulating things to make sure the governor¡¯s bidding was done. Never once had he violated Arcuturus¡¯ orders. This time, however, he worried that the governor¡¯s methods were too lax. Killing Cloudhawk was not going too far. Not in order to protect the family¡¯s reputation or his lord¡¯s dignity. Augustus Cloude brought Frost to a special prison beneath the sanctuary. It was only a tenth the size of a typical prison, and only housed a dozen or so inmates. However, these criminals were not your run-of-the-mill convicts. Each of them were demonhunters who had committed atrocities and the dungeons they occupied was built specifically to house them. Augustus opened up one of the cages, and inside was a large man dripping with chains. A sick air hung over the thirty-something year old man and he was covered in scars from head to feet. Even just the look of his was rabid. Frost cast a glance toward his uncle. ¡°This is the man you recommend? He doesn¡¯t look like much.¡± ¡°This is the one they call the Butcher.¡± Augustus smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate him, his bloodlust is well known. He was once sent out to find a blasphemer hiding in a village. When he couldn¡¯t discover who it was he slaughtered every man, woman and child. It was so bad that they locked him up down here to make sure word never got out.¡± Frost still wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°IS he strong?¡± ¡°More than sufficient to deal with Cloudhawk,¡± he answered. The governor¡¯s disciple frowned in thought. ¡°Be that as it may, we should have a contingency in place.¡± Augustus blinked in surprise. His nephew definitely wasn¡¯t sparing any effort this time. He reminded him of Lord Arcturus when he was young. If Frost de Winter could learn to control his moods he would grow to become quite a man. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Augustus led him to the deepest cage. ¡°This one is truly insane. He once hid by the sanctuary until an oracle passed by and kill them. He¡¯s slated for execution, but if you think he¡¯s useful I can levy the family¡¯s influence.¡± Frost nodded and called out. ¡°Lift your head, let¡¯s take a look at you.¡± The killer slowly raised his head, revealing the face of a man that did not look at all like the monster Augustus claimed him to be. His skin was fair and his features noble. Blonde haired, blue eyed, his had an impressive build. Far from frightful, he seemed almost as bashful as a young boy. ¡°Interesting.¡± Frost de Winter looked him over, then approached and unlocked his shackles. The blond haired youth fell to the ground, rubbing his raw wrists and ankles appreciatively. Frost looked down his nose at him. ¡°You should die a hundred times for what you did.¡± The man hung his head and a raspy chuckle followed. Frost frowned. ¡°What are you laughing about?¡± As the last syllable left his throat the blonde man¡¯s head snapped up. That bashful look was gone and in its place was a bestial insanity. In a flash he lunged at Frost with his sharp fingernails. Bang! Frost de Winter used his spear to knock the rush aside, simultaneously filling the cage with a bone-chilling cold. Right away the blonde man¡¯s body was covered in a layer of frost. With an animal-like scream he skittered backward, but Frost pressed the attack. A dozen strikes followed, one after the other, forcing the man to roll to safety. He cowered in a corner gasping in fear. ¡°There aren¡¯t many who can avoid my spear. Not bad.¡± Frost wasn¡¯t angry from the man¡¯s surprise attack. He walked over to where he huddled in the corner. ¡°I¡¯m prepared to give you a chance to live.¡± This one was definitely stronger than Cloudhawk. The wastelander hadn¡¯t been able to avoid his strike. What¡¯s more this madman didn¡¯t even have a relic or weapon. The power he displayed was physical only, but there was clearly more to him than that. Frost¡¯s plan was coming together; use the Cloude family¡¯s influence to enroll these two in the same training program as Cloudhawk. From there they could get the job done. Book 2, Chapter 61 - Dawns Generous Gifts Skye Polaris read through the report three times, then boomed with laughter like an enormous copper bell. ¡°Good! You¡¯ve done good. The Court and the governor were handily defeated ¨C you brought honor to our house. Beautiful!¡± Dawn Polaris achieved excellent results in the tunnels below the city, killing over a hundred escaped convicts and capturing a hundred more. Most impressively, the ones she did capture were violent offenders from the dungeon ¨C the most dangerous of the lot. This impetuous, moody niece of his had done very well. Skye had noticed some maturity in her over the last few days. She hadn¡¯t been going around stirring up trouble, and she did what she was told conscientiously. It was a welcome, if entirely unexpected change. ¡°What would you like as a reward?¡± Skye quickly added, ¡°Not Cloudhawk. Don¡¯t even suggest it.¡± Dawn glared at him. ¡°Who cares about your reward?¡± Skye watched as she turned to leave. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°The Temple!¡± ¡°What are you headed there for?¡± He shouted after her, confused. ¡°Make sure Cloudhawk is ready to go! He¡¯s being sent off in only a few days, don¡¯t procrastinate!¡± Dawn Polaris frowned but did not reply. ** Several dozen people stood at the transit station, laden with goods. Cloudhawk looked over the Bloomnettle survivors. ¡°Even with the general¡¯s pardon, Skycloud city can no longer accept you. Go and find somewhere else in the domain to settle down. Live out your days in peace. Don¡¯t say anything that¡¯ll get you in trouble. You all are elysians so you know this better than I do. I don¡¯t think you need any more nonsense from me.¡± There were eighty or so Bloomnettle survivors left. They were fortunate after such a disaster! But Lily and the others wore downcast expressions. Were they once more fated to wander without a home? It seemed to be the best choice! ¡°Hey, getting out of that hellhole alive was lucky. Why the long faces? Better days are on the horizon, right?¡± He saw their anxious and confused expressions. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Lily was worried about the future. Everything happened so fast at the headquarters and they¡¯d been thrown in prison with only the clothes on their backs. Now their home was shut and all their goods removed. Making sure such a large group stayed healthy and together was not going to be easy! Lily was a physician, but her skills weren¡¯t exceptional. Other cities couldn¡¯t offer as much as Skycloud city, either. How was she supposed to take care of everyone? How was she supposed to make sure the children grew up well? With a childhood like this none of them would get good jobs like being soldiers or demonhunters. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve thought about all of this.¡± Cloudhawk handed over a heavy bag. ¡°Take it! It¡¯s the money I¡¯ve saved up, I can¡¯t spend it here anywhere. Use it to make sure you and the others live happily.¡± She took it from him, and judging by the weight she figured there were about a hundred coins. When she pulled on the drawstring and looked inside her eyes immediately went wide. She was right about the number, but what she hadn¡¯t guessed was that the pile was all gold. A hundred gold coins! How many years would Bloomnettle Company have had to save to accumulate this much? Cloudhawk just handed it over, without so much as a blink! Cloudhawk gave her a questioning look. ¡°What is it? Not enough?¡± ¡°Oh it¡¯s enough. More than enough.¡± Lily hurriedly pulled the bag closed. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you.¡± ¡°¡¯Thanks¡¯ works, and let that be the end of it. Forget everything that¡¯s happened and anything having to do with me. Just live your lives.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care about what he was giving up. To normal folk a hundred gold coins was a fortune, but for him it meant little. Dawn still owed him. He didn¡¯t want to see these people ever again. In fact it would have been better if he¡¯d never met them at all. It seemed like tragedy followed him wherever he went. These sorts of common, good-hearted people were helpless once they became victims. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care what would become of them in the future ¨Cwhether they¡¯d make it or not. He just didn¡¯t want them to suffer because of him. ¡°That¡¯s all I can do. The ship¡¯s coming, time to say goodbye.¡± Cloudhawk waved and, saying all that needed to be said, quickly left them on the platform. He walked away unhurriedly and never looked back. Lily and the others watched him go with conflicted hearts. If they hadn¡¯t met this wanderer all the core members of the company would have died out in the borderlands. However after meeting him their leaders were gone, and their livelihood destroyed. But then he risked his life for them, and if he hadn¡¯t they would all have faced a bleak and uncertain future. Exile from the elysian lands, if they were lucky. Cloudhawk¡¯s relaxed posture was misleading. He¡¯d risked everything for them. They were banished from Skycloud city, but at least they¡¯d been absolved of their crimes and had a chance for a normal life. A quiet and ordinary life somewhere was more than enough. What would stay with them forever ¨C what they lost and could not recover ¨C was their faith. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to do all that he¡¯d done, and in fact he wasn¡¯t sure why he did. He wasn¡¯t a very charitable man. Over the last half a year he¡¯d killed many, and never hesitated. What wastelander¡¯s hands weren¡¯t stained with blood? There was no thought given to ¡®right¡¯ or ¡®wrong¡¯ in Cloudhawk¡¯s green. There wasn¡¯t such a thing as good or evil. Either he wanted to do it, or he didn¡¯t ¨C that was how he made his decisions. After sending Lily and the others to the platform his responsibilities were done. The matter, as far as he was concerned, was settled. Cloudhawk whistled on his way back to the mansion. When he arrived he found that Dawn was not there. Bored, he decided to pass the time practicing. Of the thirty-six postures Selene Cloude had taught him, Cloudhawk could now do twenty-seven or twenty-eight in a row. It showed that he had been improving. As he went through the motions he didn¡¯t feel tired necessarily, but progressively hotter. By the end he was drenched in sweat. Time passed quickly and before he knew it night had fallen. A voice interrupted his training. ¡°Idiot, this isn¡¯t the sort of practice you should do without guidance!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to look to know Dawn had returned. ¡°I guess Selene never told you that straight training like this can damage the body?¡± Cloudhawk slowly stopped and turned to face her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°This is a body forging method for demonhunters, but if you overdo it you can strain or damage your muscles and tendons. You¡¯re supposed to supplement your practicing with medicinal herbs. Otherwise if you aren¡¯t careful you could hurt yourself, even cause permanent damage.¡± Dawn stood in front of him with her arms crossed and a critical expression on her face. ¡°I can see that Selene really didn¡¯t have your safety in mind. She was trying to make you a cripple. You really shouldn¡¯t have anything more to do with that vicious woman.¡± How deep does the nastiness go between these two? What a clumsy attempt to drive a wedge between us. Dawn¡¯s warnings were really only half genuine. Improper practice was responsible for a lot of injuries, but saying it would cripple him was a baseless exaggeration. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t believe Selene would try to hurt him this way. There weren¡¯t any sorts of medicine he could use out in the wastelands, but he recovered from wounds quickly. So far his development had been well-balanced and there wasn¡¯t any danger. Dawn beckoned him with a wave of his hand. ¡°Come to my room. I have something I want to give you.¡± She¡¯d made a trip to the sanctuary and brought back some things for her new friend. Among them were a thousand or so jade-like pellets which she explained was feed for divine beasts. Were it not for her mother¡¯s connections they never would have gotten their hands on it. Cloudhawk picked one up and put it beside Oddball. The strange little bird immediately perked up and gobbled it down. From the wave of happiness that coursed through their psychic connection Cloudhawk knew it was just what his companion needed. ¡°This batch of feed cost two thousands gold coins,¡± Dawn revealed. ¡°I also prepared some medicines for you. Some are for healing, some are to make you stronger, and some are to improve your psychic power. All told they were also two thousand gold coins. Since I owe you let¡¯s call it three thousand you need to repay, alright?¡± Dawn Polaris laid out a bunch of jade bottles containing special elysian elixirs. There were three; Body-Quenching Elixir, Soul-Purifying Elixir, and Sacred-Healing Elixir. . The Body-Quenching formula was used to temper one¡¯s physical abilities. Soul-Purifying Elixir bolstered physic energy. As the name implied the last one, Sacred-Healing Elixir, was a high-grade healing potion that restored both physical damage and exhaustion. These were special formulas made by the sanctuary that even wealthy citizens couldn¡¯t buy. In addition there were several more liniments and balms, none of which looks typical. Cloudhawk opened his mouth to protest. ¡°How are they so expensive? You decided all this on your own, I never said I wanted any of it.¡± ¡°You ungrateful brat, you want to get whooped?!¡± She smacked him so hard with her fist it almost made Cloudhawk puke blood. She growled at him menacingly. ¡°Let me tell you, this is the insider price. Medicine like this is only used for those with noble blood, it¡¯s wasted on a wastelander scoundrel like you. Anyone else could beg to spend the money and still be denied! If it wasn¡¯t for my mother you wouldn¡¯t have gotten any of this. Do you have any idea what I had to sacrifice? She thought about just what she¡¯d had to promise in order to get Cloudhawk all of this. Her mother had made her swear to a year of seclusion in the Temple. She would spend twelve long months training, cultivating, and giving obeisance to the gods. She might as well have asked for Dawn to take her own life. A year without booze, meat or fun of any kind! It was the same as dying. Then for him to be so ungrateful! Of course she¡¯d be furious. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, you play too rough. Luckily my bones are tough.¡± Cloudhawk gently rubbed his aching chest where she¡¯d struck him. He didn¡¯t like owing anyone anything. ¡°Are we going to the Order of Demonhunters any time soon? Do you want me to go grab any treasures? I¡¯ve gotta get rid of this debt while I¡¯m still in the city.¡± ¡°Whatever, they don¡¯t have auctions every day. Anyway, with your eye going every once in a while is good enough. If we kept screwing with their system the Order would quickly start to hate you. Stealing wasn¡¯t a long-term plan, either.¡± ¡°What can I do then?¡± ¡°Pay with your body?¡± Cloudhawk looked her up and down. ¡°You sure?¡± Dawn¡¯s face immediately turned red. ¡°What the hell are you thinking? Who¡¯d want your body that way? I¡¯m saying you be my servant. A thousand gold a year, what do you say? Pretty good, just to follow me around and have fun don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°No way!¡± ¡°You little moth-¡­ fine, owe me then. So long as you owe me I know you aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡± Dawn shook her head. ¡°Ah right, you¡¯ll be leaving in a few days. So don¡¯t die before you pay me back!¡± Outwardly she was obstinate and coarse, but Cloudhawk knew inside she was a sensitive woman. ¡°I promise,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s still early.¡± To him Dawn looked a little uneasy. She waved her small hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, time for a drink!¡± Cloudhawk blinked at her. ¡°You¡¯re still in the mood for a drink?¡± ¡°Just drink,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in competing with a freak like you again. You coming or not?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The two left the mansion together. 1. What he describes is likely meant to be very similar to Taiji or Qigong. While I was doing Taiji in the beginning, although the movements are slow it can be very tiring. It¡¯s about control and stamina. Over time as your muscles get stronger you can do more postures ¨C depending on the style one ¡®round¡¯ of Taiji is a hundred and eight postures, but the longest is over two hundred. While it gets physically less intensive that doesn¡¯t stop you from sweating like crazy, which is true for Qigong standing meditation as well. The Chinese believe that these exercises activates and circulates qi throughout the body, which causes you to sweat. From a traditional medicine theory perspective ¡®wei¡¯ qi, or defensive qi, controls the action of the pores so manipulating it can cause sweating. 2. At the risk of making traditional Chinese medicine sound like a Hogwarts class, a lot of their medicinal formulae have similarly dramatic names. ¡®Decoction of the Blue-Green Dragon¡¯, ¡®Three Immortals¡¯, ¡®Mysterious Decoction¡¯ etc. Not all or even most, really, but they¡¯re fun when you see them. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 2, Chapter 62 - Enemies and Departures Chapter 62 - Enemies and Departures Since Cloudhawk was to be gone for a time, he prepared himself back in the mansion. He¡¯d taken two of the Body-Quenching elixirs already, and he had to say Dawn¡¯s gifts were helpful. Elysian medicines didn¡¯t have the immediate effect that Seeker drugs had, but they were far gentler on his system. Seekers used ancient scientific methods to create pharmaceuticals, which saw results moments after injection. The panacea injection was an example, which improved self-healing by a factor of ten almost immediately. However, in the end these drugs often pushed the body beyond its natural limits, squeezing every cell for every ounce of potential for a temporary boost. As such these drugs were very good for the short term, but were possibly harmful over longer periods. Cloudhawk knew this, so he hadn¡¯t wanted to risk his health by taking drugs that forced improvement. On the other hand, the elixirs Dawn had brought her were different. They were refined through special processes here in the elysian lands. The contents of the bottles were small, but they were the potent extracts of rare materials. Their ingredients improved strength, agility and regeneration. Most importantly, these elixirs were stable and had no side effects. [1] After training for a little while Cloudhawk was surprised to find that he was progressing quickly. In only a matter of days since beginning the herbal regimen he was able to comfortably perform thirty postures of the demonhunter exercises. This proved that he was getting better. For most elysians his incredible improvement would be hard to believe, so to prevent Dawn¡¯s shock and probing curiosity Cloudhawk kept it a secret. At her current rate of progression Cloudhawk was achieving in a couple days what took her a month of training. Dawn Polaris was no typical person, either! Her talent was maybe only surpassed by Selene Cloude¡¯s. There was a lot about Cloudhawk that was unique. He could hear relics, for instance, and he improved at a faster rate than most. If the patriarch of the Polaris family found out he¡¯d surely cancel Cloudhawk¡¯s training in Hell Valley. Skye was looking for people to make his family and soldiers stronger ¨C he wanted to forge people to make them the tip of the spear. However with Cloudhawk¡¯s current abilities he would be wasted in the vanguard. Skye would want to make him a pillar of their family¡¯s strength. Of course from Cloudhawk¡¯s perspective there was no benefit to being a servant of the Polaris family. He¡¯d always valued his freedom, and as powerful as the Polaris family was it also seemed to attract trouble. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t like trouble, so he didn¡¯t want to be tied somewhere where it could easily find him. He¡¯d much rather spend his time away training. At last the day came for him to go. Cloudhawk packed up the feed for Oddball and his elixirs in a travel sack, slung it over his shoulder, and got ready to set out. ¡°It won¡¯t do for you to carry your sword in hand all the time. I had something made for you.¡± Dawn Polaris had tracked Cloudhawk down and threw something at him. Cloudhawk caught it ¨C a sheath, made from the same materials as his black-gold sword quiet carnage. When he slipped the sword in he was pleasantly surprised at how well it fit. He wasn¡¯t sure how Dawn had gotten the dimensions of his sword so precise. She smirked at him. ¡°It¡¯s made from elysian tungsten steel [2]. It cost fifty gold to make. Remember to add that to what you owe.¡± It seemed like his debt was increasing every day, and he knew it was only going to grow. Oddball¡¯s food was finite and Cloudhawk would need more medicine for his training. Since Dawn was the only one with the means to get these things for him he had to rely on her favor. It was going to be a long road to get out from under what he owed ¨C but that is exactly what Dawn wanted. Dawn thought for a moment. ¡°Work hard when you get there. When I have time I¡¯ll try to find a way to come and visit.¡± Skye ordered a contingent to accompany Cloudhawk, ensuring he was safely on his way to Hell¡¯s Valley. Mr. Ink led the party. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get the Polaris family physician, but he knew he was no weakling. He had to be something special for Skye Polaris to reign his temper in around him. Mr. Ink¡¯s presence had to be a way to insure nothing happened to Cloudhawk on his way to Hell¡¯s Valley. Skye had also explained the do¡¯s and don¡¯ts of Hel¡¯s Valley before Cloudhawk left. ¡°The environment out there is harsh, but it¡¯s the perfect place to make you stronger. If you survive you¡¯re sure to improve quickly. You¡¯ll learn a lot there that you can¡¯t learn in the elysian lands, so make sure you pay attention.¡± The ship was preparing to depart. With his final orders delivered Skye Polaris got ready to leave. But as he turned to go the sound of a griffon carriage coming from the city reached their ears. All eyes turned to the extravagant convoy as it approached, toward the flags flapping on each one; a crescent moon on a field of blue. It was the crest of one of Skycloud city¡¯s influential families. Skye¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°The Lunae family. Is that upstart Garuda Lunae sending people to Hell¡¯s Valley as well?¡± The contingent of carriages from the Lunae family pulled up near Skye Polaris. From within trundled forth a man who was precisely the shape of a meatball but the size of a man. He waddled toward the Polaris patriarch with an amicable look on his face. Easily over three hundred pounds, the rotund individual was clad in immaculate gold silk robes. A slanted mustache sat over plump lips and though he was a respectable fifty years of age, the portly gentlemen seemed comical and harmless. ¡°General, of course it¡¯d be you. Such a coincidence.¡± Garuda Lunae only managed a few steps before his face turned red and he started puffing. The happy smile never fled from his face, though. ¡°This humble man pays his respects.¡± ¡°You¡¯re full of it.¡± Skye huffed as he eyed the Lunae assembly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you merchants? What¡¯s all this, sending men to sacrifice their lives in Hell¡¯s Valley?¡± ¡°So serious, General. So grave. We are but merchants and cultivating elite fighters is of little use for us.¡± Garuda¡¯s face was suddenly comically melancholy. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what affliction has come over my third daughter, but she insists on being allowed to undertake training at Hell¡¯s Valley.¡± Skye looked back at him with surprise on his face. ¡°She must know the dangers. Children of the aristocracy are especially sheltered, and yet she persists. You¡¯ve raised a good girl, have her come out. Let me have a look.¡± Garuda beamed and waved toward the carriages. ¡°Claudia, get out here and introduce yourself to the commander.¡± A golden haired young woman stepped out, so thin she almost seemed to float. Her pretty face was worn to the point of almost being called haggard, like a stiff breeze could knock her down. Her face retained a wooden expression as she made her way over to where Skye stood. Once before him she offered a stiff bow. ¡°I¡¯ve met the commander.¡± Dawn¡¯s voice broke into the conversation. ¡°Hm? Cloudhawk, why are you hiding behind me?¡± Claudia Lunae¡¯s eyes swept Dawn¡¯s way, just in time to see Cloudhawk slink out from behind her. All of a sudden her expression and mannerism changed, and her eyes were dual furnaces of rage. ¡°You!¡± Skye looked over, puzzled. Dawn looked at him, confused. Garuda looked at them both, surprised. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but once again bemoan how small the world seemed. Why was he constantly running in to people who wanted him dead? He couldn¡¯t side so he simply stood there in full view. He pulled his shoulders back and answered. ¡°Damn right it¡¯s me!¡± ¡°Die!¡± Claudia lifted her hand and from within her palm arose a flower-like relic. From it shot several dozen darts, all headed right for where Cloudhawk stood. Shocked, her father screamed like a stuck pig. ¡°Stay your hand!¡± ¡°Tempest flower?¡± Dawn¡¯s slender brows lifted, but her sword as on the move. Standing in front of Cloudhawk she stabbed the sword¡¯s blade into the ground, which summoned a wall of soil to rise. The hail of darts were stopped before they got close. That¡¯s a damn good she-devil! Indeed, even the likes of Frost de Winter were embarrassed when they tried to face her. Who was this girl, who thought she could harm Dawn¡¯s servant in front of her? Someone in the city was actually more arrogant than she was. Dawn wasn¡¯t about to let that go easily! ¡°Have you gone insane, girl?!¡± Garuda hurled his lumpy body between them. ¡°I didn¡¯t spend a fortune to buy you that relic so you could use it on the General¡¯s people! Stand down!¡± All three of them were untouchable! Skye Polaris went without saying, he was commander of Skycloud¡¯s armed forces. His position may not have been as illustrious as the governor¡¯s, but he wielded no less power. Dawn Polaris had the backing of her family and the Temple, as well as the likes of Mr. Ink who they didn¡¯t wish to offend. As for the young man, Garuda didn¡¯t know him but he sure wasn¡¯t worth attacking the Polaris family for. Skye chuckled dryly. ¡°The Lunae family is impressive. Your tracker necklace is nothing special but the tempest flower is quite the relic. You¡¯re definitely willing to spend money on your girl.¡± Garuda flopped onto his knees. ¡°This humble man¡¯s daughter has acted improperly. We beg the commander for forgiveness!¡± When she saw her father on his knees Claudia Lunae began to sway. She suddenly realized how dangerous a predicament her rash actions had put them in. Skye paid Garuda no mind. ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡± Cloudhawk shrugged then went over their contentious history. The General frowned and ran his fingers through his beard. ¡°This child was a friend to the Umbra boy, and in the end you had to kill him? He was no one important and you had no choice. You can¡¯t be blamed, I¡¯ll help straighten it out Dawn sighed. ¡°Anyone else this would be easy, especially some talentless trash. But that one had a brother we don¡¯t want to upset.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Who else? Atlas!¡± ¡°Son of a bitch, him?¡± The news did not sit well with Skye. Atlas was second in command of the Court of Shadows, Skycloud¡¯s most infamous special operations organization. They got their orders directly from the Temple. Not even the Cloude family could keep them in check, much less the Polaris family. Atlas was not an easy bastard to deal with. ¡°How do you want to deal with this girl?¡± Skye Polaris looked Claudia over. Atlas was a problem, but this one was not. Garuda begged for mercy but the commander acted like he could not hear. He spoke directly to Cloudhawk. ¡°Your decision.¡± Claudia Lunae stood still as stone and just as silent, biting her lip. ¡°This is a personal matter, so I can¡¯t ask the General to get involved. But if she still decides she wants to come after me, I¡¯m not going to show any mercy.¡± ¡°Good. A man of integrity, decided as it should be. Let the kids work out their own problems. Let the adults deal with family matters and stay out of the way.¡± Skye stared at Cloudhawk, who¡¯d proven to be quite the troublemaker. ¡°The threat of Atlas¡¯ knife at your back is a good thing, too. It means you¡¯ll have to get strong quick.¡± What other choice did Cloudhawk have? He¡¯d just have to accept that fate hated his guts! Mr. Ink quietly interjected. ¡°Everyone, the ship is preparing to depart.¡± 1. This is the standard argument for Chinese herbal medicine versus western pharmaceuticals. Proponents of traditional medicine feel that herbal medicine is milder in action, but more complete in their efficacy while having much milder side effects. Here is an interesting article from the WHO that described the state of herbal medicine, and gives an example of how herbs have been distilled into more potent pharmaceuticals. 2. Did you know they use tungsten steel for rocket nozzles? Cool! Book 2, Chapter 63 - Reconnaissance Chapter 63 - Reconnaissance Enveloped in a shell of glimmering energy, the airship began to ascend. Cloudhawk sat in his cabin looking out of the window as the ground fell away. Once more the artful layout and ordered streets were revealed from a bird¡¯s eye view, only to slowly vanish into the horizon. From here he could see the miraculous falls reappear from the clouds like a jade column. Hundreds of ships came and went, grandiose as they soared through the sky. Yet as the spectacular scenery was revealed Cloudhawk did not have the same sense of splendor he¡¯d experienced when he first arrived. He¡¯d thought this would be the place where he might settle down. After defeating the demon and with the demonhunter token he could buy himself a life where he didn¡¯t need to worry about food or clothing. When he got here he thought that finally he might live a happy life. Who¡¯d have thought that in less than a month he would leave Skycloud domain¡¯s most prosperous and bustling city for the unknown. He couldn¡¯t say there was any regret or unwillingness. But there wasn¡¯t comfort or freedom, either. Cloudhawk was strangely calm. When Skycloud city disappeared he drew his eyes away from the window and lain down in his cabin. With his arms as his pillow he shut his eyes and mulled over what he¡¯d just learned. By some strange act of circumstance Claudia Lunae was also on her way to Hell Valley, but he was not troubled. For better or worse he was tied to the Polaris family, and the Claudia¡¯s dare not provoke the commander. Besides, Cloudhawk was not the same man Claudia met in the wastelands. Her skills had improved, but within limits. Meanwhile both physically and mentally Cloudhawk had seen tremendous gains. While Claudia had the blessing of a wealthy house to buy her relics, she had neither the strength nor experience to threaten Cloudhawk any longer. It¡¯s best for you if you stop screwing with me. If not I¡¯ll make sure you meet Raith again, face to face! Cloudhawk¡¯s bitter thoughts were not idle promises. He knew soft hearts did not solve these kinds of problems. He spared her once, he wouldn¡¯t do it again. As for her family, he wasn¡¯t sure. He¡¯d learned all he needed to know about the Lunaes. They were a merchant family with ties to all manner of industries from clothing to dining, luxury goods to public transport, even weapons and armor. They were the largest and most influential merchant family in the entire domain. The Lunae family organization was massive. After three generations of stable development it was now being led by Garuda Lunae. He didn¡¯t seem to be an exceptional man, but his skills were at least sufficient to maintain what his predecessors had built. Over the last several years their organization had kept their status as the most affluent merchant family. Thus Garuda Lunae was crowned with the title of the richest man in Skycloud. Cosnidering such information one would assume the Lunaes were an influential power in Skycloud. However, the truth was quite the opposite. The tradition of the elysian lands lay in respect for the gods. Those who were pious and brought glory unto the names of their benefactors were awarded the greatest power. Merchants, who worked for their own gain, were not given much respect or status. Businessmen respected nothing but profit. They cultivated a prospector¡¯s instincts. To the zealous citizens of Skycloud working as a merchant was difficult to admit. Despite their vast wealth, the Lunae family did not have the rights to maintain a standing force or participate in powerful circles in any meaningful way. All this considered, it was very difficult for the Lunaes to find demonhunters willing to swear fealty to their family. They were a proud breed and being the lapdogs of businessmen was not something their pride could suffer. To combat this the family spared no expense in raising talent from within, hoping that they might generation demonhunters of their own. Unfortunately for them, their bloodline seemed lacking, and at least so far their endeavors had not been rewarded. That was not to say they hadn¡¯t succeeded in raising a few demonhunters, but all were roughly comparable in skill to Claudia Lunae ¨C that is to say, not terribly skilled. Not good enough to raise their family¡¯s reputation. So it was that the Lunae family was rich in property but not much else. Garuda was extremely deferential to the Cloude and Polaris clans because they saw his family much like they viewed him; a fat sow exposed to the wolves. So long as they avoided offending their betters they might avoid a grim fate. Garuda bowed and scraped before Skye for this reason. Even if his family had more money than anyone else in the city all the General had to do was summon his forces. If the Lunae family survived such an encounter it would only be after serving up several pounds of flesh. Every the pragmatist, the Lunae family patriarch served those in power and changed with the winds of fortune. How could he dare risk upsetting Skye and his brood? He rebuked his child to ingratiate them with the Polaris clan, but then again the friend Claudia had lost was Raith Umbra ¨C a member of the family who had established the Court of Shadows. How would the Umbras react if Garuda forced his daughter to apologize to the one who killed one of their own? The richest sow was in a bad way. Being so wealthy wasn¡¯t as good as it seemed on the surface. To Cloudhawk things didn¡¯t seem so bad. That was why he didn¡¯t ask Skye Polaris to deal with Claudia. Nor did he attack Claudia in return or demand an apology. Since any sincere apology was impossible, why bother? The two families now shared one airship, but had no interaction. They each acted like the other didn¡¯t exist. Oddball merrily flew around the cabin after gobbling down another pellet. This fuzzy bird-beast was Cloudhawk closest companion. Best friends could split, deepest trust could be shattered ¨C it was the nature of humanity and could never be predicted. But Cloudhawk was certain that no matter what, no matter what happened, Oddball would never betray him. Oddball hatched from Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic energy. From the moment it popped out of that egg they were bound together. ¡°Ugh, so boring.¡± Cloudhawk scratched Oddball¡¯s fluffy, who¡¯d settled on his finger. ¡°Why don¡¯t¡¯ you go and take a look at the scenery for me, eh?¡± Oddball flapped its wings and fluttered away without hesitation. Cloudhawk made himself comfortable, folding his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. His connection with the little bird opened wide. It was a good way for him to practice and allow Oddball some exercise. Two birds with one stone. The bird¡¯s disproportionate wings beat madly, keeping its pudgy body in the air. While it looked like trying to keep itself airborne was strenuous, in fact Oddball darted about as deftly as a dragonfly. It soared down the aisles of the ship, peeking curiously through fist-sized vents set in the walls, peeping into other cabins. It¡¯s plump round body was just large enough to slip in and out without trouble. Cloudhawk peered through Oddball¡¯s eyes and saw what it saw. A man, clad in ash-grey robes with half his faced covered in a mask. He was sitting cross-legged in the middle of his cabin. Wasn¡¯t that Mr. Ink? Cloudhawk had to admit he was curious about this cryptic man. Without any visible support Mr. Ink floated three feet above the ground, surrounded by several black spheres that circled him in eclectic orbits. Whatever their speed or trajectory none of the spheres ever collided. What mystical power was this? It looked so arcane! In Skycloud city, those with powers such as this were rare. Atlas and his Deathstalker weapon were surely sinister, but this felt¡­ evil. The power that surrounded Mr Ink. Stank of death, decay, and bloodlust. Just a hint of it made Cloudhawk deeply uncomfortable, like the man was himself a decomposing corpse. The gods were represented by that which was good and light, their artifacts were not like this. Whatever Mr. Ink was using had to have come from someplace darker. It had to a demon artifact. Mr. Ink frowned suddenly. He¡¯d felt something. The orbs spinning around him stopped. Not wanting any danger to befall Oddball, Cloudhawk quickly ordered his little friend to escape and come back. Who this guy was or what his powers were didn¡¯t matter to Cloudhawk. He could tell at a glance Mr. Ink was someone to toy with and nothing good would come of being caught spying. Oddball slipped out from the vent, spiraling askew threw the air in its haste to leave. Eventually it regained equilibrium and fluttered elsewhere. The deep pockets of the Lunae family were made clear when it was revealed that all cabins ¨C but for those reserved by the Polaris family ¨C were booked by the merchants. Of course they were the next target for Cloudhawk¡¯s snooping. He ordered Oddball to head to their section of the ship. The Lunaes looked like they were sending in army rather than escort a single girl. There were dozens of defenders tasked with escorting Claudia, none of whom paid Oddball any mind. The bird took their disregard for granted and fluttered over to Garuda Lunae¡¯s room. The three-hundred pound man sat alone in his room, but if anyone who knew him were to see the patriarch now they would be shocked. His ingratiating, frivolous demeanor was gone. Now he sat with the stately and solemn expression befitting a man of station. Cloudhawk was shocked. Was this the same man he¡¯d met outside? He seemed completely different. Garuda Lunae lifted a cup of tea and took a couple sips. Seated below was his daughter. Claudia. He looked at her and sighed. ¡°I know what¡¯s happened to you, Claudia. I know all about the circumstances between you and Cloudhawk. Do you know why I arranged for you to meet?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Cloudhawk comes from the lowest upbringing, but according to my information he¡¯s very talented ¨C maybe as talented as Selene Cloude used to be. He set fire to the governor¡¯s home, stole from the general, freed a dungeon full of convicts and attacked a congregation preparing to execute a blasphemer. All of that, and he still walks around without a care. Do you still think he¡¯s just a typical wastelander?¡± ¡°Your daughter doesn¡¯t understand what her father is trying to say.¡± ¡°Arcturus Cloude is the sort of man that only comes along once in several generations. General Polaris is a living legend. Both have forgiven Cloudhawk and extended an olive branch. He may have chosen the Polaris family but that did not stop Arcturus from trying to recruit him to their family. What¡¯s more, he has close ties to Selene Cloude and Dawn Polaris. He isn¡¯t someone we can afford to insult.¡± Cloudhawk, listening furtively from his cabin, was surprised by what he heard. How did Garuda know so much? The banquet Arcturus had thrown to settle their dispute was no secret, but what they spoke about in the garden together was private. Getting this information needed more than just listening for idle gossip. Obviously his helpless and comical persona was a disguise. There was a lot more to this fatty than he let on. ¡°But ¨C¡° ¡°No buts. You are no match for him, and even if you were I forbid any more trouble. Just the opposite, I need you to get close to Cloudhawk. Make contact. If possible, you can even try to forge a deeper connection.¡± ¡°I could never!¡± Claudia Lunae shot to her feet, anger twisting her face. Her father answered with stern insistence. ¡°You must. You know what our family faces, are you willing to put your personal grudge before your kin? What happened in the wastelands was brought about by Raith¡¯s zeal. Death doesn¡¯t even erase what he¡¯s done!¡± Claudia¡¯s face went from pale to pink. She threw open the door and stormed out. Garuda remained seated and watched her go. He sighed. No one understood what she was going through more than him. Stubborn as Claudia was, however, she knew what was at stake. His warnings would stop her doing anything rash, but it was a lot to ask for her to forget her humiliation. She would just have to suffer. What else could be done? This was her family! Book 2, Chapter 64 - Deadwood Fores Chapter 64 - Deadwood Forest Cloudhawk had seen everything. Claudia Lunae¡¯s inspiration for joining Hell Valley¡¯s grueling training was Cloudhawk, but was it not her family¡¯s idea? Her father looked like the sort to suck up to whoever held the reigns, but it should have been obvious that the patriarch of Skycloud¡¯s richest merchant family wasn¡¯t what he seemed. Garuda¡¯s feigned stupidity was about self-preservation. He knew that the wealthier his family became the more danger they were in. It was imperative that they raised strong members to keep their empire safe. Hell Valley was a frightening place, but it was the only way to get strong quickly. Through Skycloud in general Claudia Lunae¡¯s skills were hardly worth mentioning. Among the family, however, she was exceptional. Garuda was willing to bet that if his daughter survived she could earn a spot in the Court of Shadows, or some other lauded organization. The more they spread their influence the stronger the Lunaes would be. As Oddball flew around gathering intel, Cloudhawk noticed that the little bird¡¯s abilities had greatly improved. IF not for the little critter he wouldn¡¯t have learned about Mr. Ink¡¯s strange powers or the Claudia¡¯s secrets. As he laid there in his room, Cloudhawk used Oddball¡¯s abilities to know what was happening all across the ship. He could rest while Oddball got some exercise, the best of both worlds. Right now Claudia Lunae was sulking in her cabin. Her father sipped tea and did not move from his chair. Without much to see Cloudhawk quickly grew bored and had Oddball go out to the ship¡¯s deck. Its tiny bird legs latched onto the railing and it looked out over the beautiful horizon, relaying everything back to its master. It was beautiful, after all the little guy¡¯s vision was much sharper than any human¡¯s. Even a thousand meters in the sky Oddball could see rabbits running through the grass below.It was able to keenly discern colors where a human would only see an expanse of green. To Oddball that green had a dozen shades and it could spot every change. If it focused, the bird could even see changes in heat. And that was still not the limit of what it could do! Oddball could see through camouflage, too. Atlas was one of the greatest members of the Court of Shadows, and even with an invisibility relic he couldn¡¯t stay hidden from Oddball¡¯s sight. Was there anyone in Skycloud who could hide? When Oddball hatched Cloudhawk got a natural sentry and scout. Getting information would be much easier from now on. He didn¡¯t have to worry about someone like Atlas sneaking up on him, either. ¡°The ship is docking. Will all passengers please come up to the deck and prepare to disembark.¡± Cloudhawk eager grabbed his satchel when the call came from the other side of his door. After two days he figured they¡¯d be at his destination, however he discovered that was not the case. Following the Polaris escort out to the deck it was not Hell Valley that stretched out before him. They had reached the platform of the domain¡¯s eastern mountain pass. This was as far as normal airships could take them. While within the domain these ships could continue back and forth without limit, needing no energy or fuel. But if they crossed the border by even so much as a few centimeters they lost all power and would crash into the walls. Cloudhawk¡¯s escort gathered their exit permits. He looked around with surprise. ¡°The training camp is out in the wastelands?¡± Mr. Ink answered with a gentle chuckle. ¡°Not the wastelands, but not much different. It¡¯s in the borderlands.¡± When he heard borderlands Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but think of the Sandbar. His thoughts turned to Asha, the fat guard captain Hammont Seacrest, the mysterious bar owner Adder, and the young and inexperienced demonhunter Barb. He wondered how they were. ¡°Why the borderlands? The training is run by elysians, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Normally. Different training camps have their own training programs, some of which are contrary to the morals of the elysian lands. Naturally those training camps can¡¯t be permitted within the domain. I¡¯m not familiar with anything more specific than that, but you¡¯ll learn all about it once you get there.¡± Cloudhawk found it laughable. ¡°I really was deceiving myself.¡± Mr. Ink heard Cloudhawk¡¯s wry sentiment and smirked, but said nothing. The Lunae family¡¯s entourage was ready in short order with several dozen milling about the deck. Very much as one would expect new money to act they went everywhere with pomp and circumstance, trailing crowds of people as though they feared not everyone would know they are Skycloud¡¯s richest family. When Garuda reappeared he¡¯d once more donned that charmingly na?ve fa?ade. He fawned and flattered excessively. ¡°Master Ink, young master Cloudhawk. We¡¯ve brought quite a large entourage and it would cause us no trouble, perhaps you¡¯d like to travel together?¡± Mr. Ink gave the fat merchant a passing glance. ¡°This is fine.¡± This delighted Garuda. His expansive rump rolled from side to side as he waddled away, only to return a few minutes later with a carriage for them to use. Together the families and their escorts departed. Cloudhawk pulled aside the curtain and looked around. Ah, are they really sending us to a training camp? All these troops and flags it looks like we¡¯re going to war. The Lunae family¡¯s troops were all self-trained and recruited. To typical organizations they looked marginally better than a mob. IF they ever were forced to face a standard Skycloud contingent they would collapse at the first blow. The magnificent gates that barred passage through the mountains opened before them. The carriages and soldiers made their way through. They left the domain¡¯s picturesque scenery behind for the vast desolation of the borderlands. Cloudhawk felt the transition deep inside him. Out here it was barren, but to him it really wasn¡¯t all that bad. Cloudhawk was like a lone wolf, and the Skycloud domain was like a beautiful gilded cage. It was orderly but constraining ¨C food was plentiful but everywhere you turned were barriers. Outside the massive walls was a world of freedom and cruelty, where the weak were consumed by the strong. But there was nothing to stop you, no one to tell you no. Anything you wanted to do you could do, so long as you had the strength to pull it off. So which was better? A beautiful prison with food aplenty? Or a blood soaked land of freedom? The answer wasn¡¯t readily available to Cloudhawk. He liked safety and comfort, but he also liked being able to do what he pleased. He was no philosopher or poet, so Cloudhawk was about to explore the metaphysical dilemmas this posed. He tended to judge things by simple criteria; his heart knew the way. The days when he felt the elysian lands were good there he would stay. When he grew tired of its rigidity he might hang out in the borderlands. Of course, it would be best if there were some place where he could be free and satiated. Maybe one day. Weeds were churned to mulch beneath the wagons¡¯ rolling wheels. About half a day later the elysian caravan arrived. A vast and wilted forest stretched out before them over uneven terrain. Even specially trained mounts wouldn¡¯t make it through, so they had no choice but to continue on foot. Cloudhawk looked out over the forest. A mist hung over the rugged land that made it hard to see much of anything. He shut his eyes, and the napping bird on his shoulder popped its beady eyes open.As their vision combined Oddball¡¯s eyes pierced the mists to reveal the rolling forests ahead. The borderlands forest was mostly dead. For every dozen rotten husks was a half dead tree barely hanging on. Somehow they¡¯d managed to live for who knows how long, resisting rot and insects. The rest had petrified, like pillars of stone jutting from the earth at odd angles. Looking further one saw a fog-shrouded valley, faintly visible in the distance. That had to be their destination, Hell Valley. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Cloudhawk opened his eyes and brought his vision back to his immediate surroundings. Ahead he saw a single path leading into the forest. A campsite had been set up with a stone stele marking their location: ¡°Hell Valley Training Camp.¡± Even the carved letters seemed to stink with carnage like death oozed from the rock itself. Here at last. This has to be our destination. The deadwood forest was densely packed with its eponymous petrified trees and cloaked in mist. Without a guide they would easily get lost trying to navigate through it. A few burly men were waiting for them when they arrived and Garuda hastily greeted them when they were within earshot. He immediately produced a few sacks of coins and offered them to the smirking men, in the hopes of buying protection for their young trainees. Garuda had never been in contact with the trainers, but he knew what sort of people they were. They looked like simple folk, but pull one out and bring them to the elysian lands and they would soon be begging for favors. ¡°Keep your money, big fella.¡± The leader¡¯s voice was cold and contemptuous. ¡°Try to bribe anyone here again and your trainees will be knocked out.¡± Garuda¡¯s face froze. He retracted the money with an apologetic smile. Cloudhawk and Claudia started the check-in process. ¡°This is the one the Polaris family recommended? He looks like a useless runt!¡± ¡°Alright, leave ¡®em here. No one else is allowed any further, they belong to us now. Come with me!¡± One of the big men pointed a club at Cloudhawk. ¡°I appreciate you taking the trouble.¡± Mr. Ink offered the men a curt nod then turned his eyes to Cloudhawk. His voice was soft. ¡°From here on out you do whatever they tell you, do you understand? If you¡¯re lucky you¡¯ll be back in three years.¡± ¡°What?! Three years!¡± ¡°The fuck are you standing around for? Move!¡± One of the men roughly shoved Cloudhawk. He had nowhere to go but forward. Cloudhawk stole a glance at the big guy. He was a hundred and eighty meters tall, give or take, and looked dangerous. His club in particular caught his eye. It looked like wood but he suspected it wasn¡¯t. It was some sort of composite ¨C but not from the elysian lands. Were they wasteland weapons? He didn¡¯t spend too long thinking about it. Before long they were at the outpost in the center of Deadwood Forest. Book 2, Chapter 65 - The Small Black Room Chapter 65 - The Small Black Room Deadwood Outpost was a hastily constructed camp of wood cabins made from the surrounding foliage. About a hundred soldiers were garrisoned here, picked from the ranks of the elysian armed forces. What was particular to this group was that none of them were younger than forty. Soldiers at their peak ¨C in a few years they¡¯d begin to steadily decline. But the first thing Cloudhawk noticed wasn¡¯t their age. All of them were surrounded in a dangerous, barbaric air. They could subdue wild animals with a hard stare. Cloudhawk figured these men had been carefully chosen for this post and were more than simple soldiers. They were special forces. These were veterans, with years of battlefield experience that made them far tougher than active duty men back in Skycloud. It would follow then, that this wasn¡¯t just a training camp but also a veteran garrison. If a force tried to invade from the wastelands this training camp would become a deadly fighting division. How strong were these guys? Judging by their aura all of them were about as strong as Mad Dog and Slyfox had been. In other words the average fighter here was a Mad Dog, and captains were probably even stronger. Strong as they might be, though, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t concerned. Back in the day he¡¯d been a useless scav, but he could probably take four or five of them now without breaking a sweat. If he wanted to run there wasn¡¯t anything they could do to stop him. The one that did give him a healthy fear, though, was the guy who led them into camp. Behind his brown eyes was a tyrannical cruelty not unlike the others, but he had a more commanding bearing. His demeanor couldn¡¯t be cultivated by an ordinary grunt. He must have been one hell of a soldier! This ragged camp had a hundred discharged soldiers and more than a couple retired veterans, and they hadn¡¯t even reached Hell Valley yet. It certainly said something for the strength of this training camp! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t like what he saw, there was something unsettling about these guys. The way they looked at him and Claudia he could feel their ill intent. Meanwhile his own eyes looked all around looking for an angle. Cloudhawk thought he might try to get in good with the big guy leading them, but the man¡¯s cold face made it clear he was in no mood to talk. They reached a squat wooden building. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± The man pulled open the door. ¡°From now on this is your home. You don¡¯t speak, you don¡¯t kick up a fuss, you don¡¯t cause trouble. You eat when he tell you to eat and drink when we tell you to drink. If you don¡¯t have a specific task don¡¯t go wandering around. Understand?¡± Shit. I thought this was supposed to be a training camp, not prison! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t say what he was thinking, but he did ask a question. ¡°What if I need to take a shit?¡± ¡°What, you shit that much? You got ground all around.¡± ¡°Screw that!¡± ¡°Fuck, aren¡¯t you a mouthy one? Keeping flappin¡¯ your fuckin lips and I¡¯ll plug your asshole with my club. See how much you shit then!¡± Strict was an understatement, Cloudhawk thought. A breath of dissatisfaction and this freak was willing to shove stuff up his butt. [1] Apparantly the threat of sexual assault wasn¡¯t enough for the large man, because he swung his club at Cloudhawk for punctuation. It came down on him in an instant, whistling the same way a sharp instrument might although it was thick and smooth. Cloudhawk stood there with nowhere to dodge. Thunk! The club caught him upside the skull and knocked Cloudhawk silly. His world spun wildly and he threatened to pass out like the blow had cracked his head open. The big man picked him up by a handful of clothes. Suddenly a cold sweat broke out all over Cloudhawk. Was this bastard gonna follow through with his threat?! In desperation to escape Cloudhawk scrambled into the small dark room. The door shut tight behind him. What the fuck, it was a reasonable question wasn¡¯t it? Cloudhawk rubbed his thankfully unmolested backside and sighed with relief. You can go fuck yourself with that damn club. Goddamn, this place is full of freaks! Cloudhawk interspersed his grumblings with sharp curses. Since making his Skycloud debut, this was his first time being embarrassed like this, but he still didn¡¯t dare fight back. He waved at Oddball who was anxiously flying around and chirping to show he was ok. Well, as ok as he could be after taking a club to the skull. It took a full ten seconds for his head to clear. When he regained his bearings Cloudhawk touched his head but was surprised to find no wound. There wasn¡¯t even a bump. Somehow the blow had skipped skin and bone and knocked him right in the brain ¨C instant concussion. Even if he hadn¡¯t been caught off guard Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d have been able to escape a hit like that. Hell Valley was rife with hidden talents. He¡¯d better behave himself, otherwise who knows what sick fetish that freak would subject him to. There were two others in the dim room with him. He hadn¡¯t noticed since he¡¯d nearly had his head knocked off, but he saw them now. Both were in beautiful costumes with bags slung over their bags and exorcist staffs on their waists. He didn¡¯t need to ask to know they¡¯d also come to train at Hell Valley. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t say anything to them. He just walked over to a corner rubbing his aching head and hunkered down. Then the sound of footsteps approaching returned. The door was pulled open and a blonde woman entered. She was tall and rather thin, and when she saw the small cabin she couldn¡¯t hide a frown. When her sapphire blue eyes landed on Cloudhawk they instantly turned hard. As the saying goes, it never rains but it pours. Claudia Lunae had joined them. Of course the two of them had come together and registered at the same time, so it was no surprise they would be put in the same room. Cloudhawk shut his eyes and pretended like he hadn¡¯t seen her. Claudia made her way to the furthest corner and sat on the floor, hugging her knees. Her eyes never left Cloudhawk. Four people, four corners, not a single sound. It stayed that way until night fell. The outpost¡¯s soldiers hadn¡¯t given a reason, just forbade them from talking or making any sort of noise. They couldn¡¯t even go outside. Any eating, drinking or bodily needs they were left up to their own devices. Thankfully at night the room was pitch black and they couldn¡¯t even see their hands in front of their faces. The recruits had all brought backs with some sort of container so they could handle their business. They were only given one meal a day, but when the soldiers delivered it the trainee¡¯s faces went green. Was this even considered food? The bowls didn¡¯t contain nutritious fare from Skycloud, that was for sure. Instead it was a mass of foul smelling roots, mashed into a sort of paste and peppered with ants and other insects. To drink they were given a thick red fluid that smelled coppery, likely a mix of blood from different animals. They didn¡¯t need to eat it to make their stomachs churn. Just the smell made them nauseas. While three of them glowered unhappily at their food they heard slurping from another corner. They followed the sound and in the dim morning light they could see Cloudhawk stuffing the black rhizomes into his mouth, chewing heartily. He gulped the whole thing down, bugs and all, stopping just short of licking the bowl clean. By the end the only thing looking back at him from the bottom of his bowl was his reflection. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate to throw his head back and gulp down the blood-infused brew, either. He finished it off and chucked the empty glass to one side then shut his eyes and went back to sitting quietly. What a disgusting, barbarous heathen! How could he eat this? It would just as likely kill him as fill him up! As Claudia Lunae silently cursed the wastelander the other two trainees were doing much the same. They were all elysians, how could they suffer this treatment? They glared at Cloudhawk with haughty expressions, and were it not for the no-talking rule they would have told him exactly how much of a disgrace he was. An hour later one of the soldiers returned to collect the bowls. Claudia and the other two hadn¡¯t touched theirs. Cloudhawk, on the other hand, had eat and drunk his fill. When he noticed that the others hadn¡¯t he knew why not. Inwardly he had a choice curse of his own to aim their way: Idiots! It wasn¡¯t hard to see the purpose of this. The elysians were spoiled young men and women of talent. This training was meant to make them tough, sharpen them, and the first step was to make sure they understood they didn¡¯t have the perks of elysian life anymore. They might have been used to a life of luxury, but they were human and humans needed to eat. They knew they were going to be here a while as well. So if that was the case Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to waste his time. He fumbled around in his bag for a moment and pulled out a small bottle. It was some of the medicine he¡¯d brought with him. They¡¯d taken all the food and drink when he signed in, but they¡¯d left him these. He tipped the bottle and an azure blue pill tumbled out. He chucked it into his mouth. This one was the purifying spirit pill. [2]. This stuff was meant to help improve his psychic abilities. Up to now he¡¯d been focused on strengthening his body, so it was the first time he¡¯d taken this medicine. Since they were going to have him locked in this room doing nothing, now was as good a time as any. It didn¡¯t take long for the pill¡¯s effects to emerge, but they weren¡¯t physical. Instead he felt it in his mind, like a thousand tiny needles were boring into his skull. The pain was intense. Cloudhawk empties his mind and tried to meditate and that¡¯s when he felt a haze settle over his consciousness. It felt like slowly spinning in a dark sea, or being lost in a newborn nebula. As he did he felt like drips of fluid were falling into a small river below. That river was Cloudhawk¡¯s psyche. Whatever psychic abilities he had now was an inheritance from the phase stone¡¯s previous owner. He had been gifted only the smallest amount from that vast and endless ocean but it was enough to give Cloudhawk the power he¡¯d needed. Now he discovered that he didn¡¯t need to rely on the stone, he could train to make himself stronger from within. The greatest discovery was that improvement came quickly ¨C at least as fast as any other talent from Skycloud. With his natural skills and help from the phase stone, who¡¯s to say his psychic power couldn¡¯t one day surpass the stone¡¯s former master? 1. Apparently they use ¡®chrysanthemum flower¡¯ as a euphemism for anus. The more you learn. 2. They were described as elixirs before, which are supposed to be liquid. Guess it¡¯s been retconned to pills now Book 2, Chapter 66 - The Scarred Instructor Chapter 66 - The Scarred Instructor The residents of the small dark room had encountered a serious problem. Here at the outpost they were only given a single meal, and that meal consisted of foul roots and squirming insects. In lieu of water they were given cups of blood. Refuse to eat? Then you starved. One might be able to hold out for a day but they were only human. How long could they go without food? Claudia and the other two from Skycloud watched Cloudhawk scarf the food down with relish, like it was some rare delicacy. It made them doubt their assumption that the fare was as disgusting as it appeared. It was precisely as disgusting as it looked, but under circumstances like these they had to fool themselves into thinking otherwise. Claudia danced around the prospect for half an hour, though she knew time was limited. In another thirty minutes a soldier was going to come and take their food away. Gritting her teeth, Claudia picked out a root that didn¡¯t look too awful from the mess in her bowl. They were all awful of course, but this was at least looked relatively edible ¨C even if it did remind her of petrified feces. If it were the consistent shape would speak to the owner¡¯s good digestive health. Alright, enough. It¡¯s only psychological, don¡¯t mind how it looks. Claudia rolled it between her fingers and felt the gritty soil stuck to it. It must have been recently dug out of the ground. But it didn¡¯t matter ¨C harden up and deal with it! But then she had second thoughts. She didn¡¯t know where this had come from. She pulled a knife from her rucksack and shaved off the root bark. [1] It helped dispel the illusion that it looked like shit, but the more she peeled the more it started to smell like it. Still she held back her disgust and took a bite. Right away her face twisted into a pained expression. ¡°Yugghh---huuoooghh!!¡± The other two couldn¡¯t take it and followed her lead. Could people actually eat this stuff?! It was like death to their taste buds, every sniff was lethal! It didn¡¯t matter how strong your will was, this stuff was stronger. It was absurd ¨C ridiculous! How was that uncouth swine able to eat it like a delicacy? Impossible! Cloudhawk had finished his portion long ago. He was seated quietly with his eyes closed. He didn¡¯t care what the others thought. Years in the wastelands had taught him that the more scarce food became the more you had to conserve energy. Dispel the idea of any unnecessary movement. Try to make your body¡¯s systems go dormant to spend less precious strength. The proof was how he reacted. Despite Cloudhawk¡¯s famous appetite he never grew too hungry. The outpost¡¯s food left much to be desired in flavor, but it certainly had enough nutrition to keep them going. Claudia Lunae and the other two trainees huddled in their corners, cradling growling stomachs. They were demonhunters, and demonhunters got hungry faster than normal people. They were stronger, and so their bodies had to expend more energy to keep them going.Typically they offset that by eating a lot of nutrient-rich foods, but after two days they were half-starved. Claudia was just managing to fight back her nausea. She stretched out a hand to give it another shot when the door to their cabin burst open. A group of soldiers filed in and snatched up the bowls, whether or not the trainees were done with them. Day three. Claudia managed to keep down her first bowl of food. She¡¯d thrown up twice but she was so hungry. Day four. She ate up every bite of the filthy stuff. This time she didn¡¯t vomit. Day five. They¡¯d gotten used to the food, but they hadn¡¯t even really started their training yet. This was just a taste of what hell was like. To Cloudhawk the days of scanty food and scarce water was like being back in the wastelands. It was much worse for the spoiled elysians. But it was endurable. Claudia and the others weren¡¯t handling it as well as Cloudhawk but he was able to tolerate much more than the typical person. Five days and nights in total darkness, starved and tormented, had put them on edge. The worst was that they weren¡¯t allowed to move around, much less speak. It was a cruel sort of punishment. They were told over and over by trainers and family to respect all the rules, but after five days their will began to break. Impatience got the better of them and they figured a few quiet words would cause no harm. A little conversation will help make this whole thing easier. It wasn¡¯t a big deal, what harm would one sentence do? ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± The one to break the silence was one of the other Skycloud trainees. After so long without using it his voice had become hoarse. ¡°I saw a bunch of cabins. They can¡¯t be listening at all hours. If we just sit here in silence I¡¯m going to go mad.¡± ¡°Yeah, hey what¡¯s your name? I¡¯m the third son of Southsky City¡¯s general, my name¡¯s¡­¡± The two young noble children carried on their quiet conversation. Claudia also found the silence almost unbearable, but as she sat there and looked at Cloudhawk sitting silent and cross-legged across the room she also kept her mouth shut. She wasn¡¯t going to get shown up by that bastard. If this idiot can hold out then why can¡¯t I? If he doesn¡¯t open his mouth then neither will I! She hated Cloudhawk with a passion and saw him as her nemesis. She couldn¡¯t abide looking weaker than him. Meanwhile the other two were looking at Cloudhawk and Claudia. A pretty girl like her attracted attention anywhere she went, especially considering her family. They figured it would be a good idea to get close to her. But she wasn¡¯t talking. It would be improper to just boldly approach. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you speak?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s night, if we keep it down they won¡¯t be able to hear us.¡± They tried to get Cloudhawk¡¯s attention but after several attempts Cloudhawk acted like he didn¡¯t hear. This upset the two trainees. The small cabin was only maybe twenty meters across, so they stood up and walked over to him. Cloudhawk was already disliked since he was clearly so different from them. It had to be said that while the others were starving he gulped down that awful food without a problem. He made them look like fools while they vomited their guts out and he just scarfed it all down. How could they not be upset? ¡°We¡¯re talking to you. You dead?¡± They tried several times to get his attention but no matter what they did Cloudhawk never moved. They were people to him, they were a pair of dancing monkeys chirping away. He didn¡¯t want to waste any time with monkeys. ¡°Shit, you don¡¯t care about showing disrespect eh? I¡¯m the son of Southsky¡¯s general!¡± One of the youths shot to his feet, upset by Cloudhawk¡¯s perceived insult. He kicked Cloudhawk over. Cloudhawk picked himself up, expressionless. He didn¡¯t say anything, didn¡¯t strike back, because he knew he wouldn¡¯t like the consequences of acting out. His indifferent attitude only made the two young men angrier. It was a performance, put on for Claudia Lunae. After days in here embarrassing themselves they wanted to take back some pride. It all rose up in them like a tide. One of them, seeing red, threw a fist at Cloudhawk¡¯s face. Claudia gloated with a cold sneer. These two were from small-town influential families. They were young, with exaggerated opinions of themselves. They were all put together for a reason and the actions they took now were going to cost everyone involved. This was the best outcome for her. Cloudhawk would definitely be wrapped up in it! Claudiae knew that Cloudhawk was as cunning as he was impulsive. If he was able to keep himself in check it would be a surprise. All he had to do was lift a hand and the punishment he earned would be music to her ears. If he didn¡¯t she would get to watch as these two morons beat the hell out of him. What could make her happier? After almost a week of darkness and silence, finally some entertainment! But just as the guy¡¯s fist arrived it didn¡¯t hit Cloudhawk as expected. Instead he swung right through his head like he was flailing at air. ¡°What the hell?¡± The other one gave it a try. The result was the same, with his fists passing right through Cloudhawk¡¯s head. Was this guy some sort of apparition? He had to have some sort of special relic that was confusing them! The two young men stared wide eyed and Cloudhawk just smirked back. Their blood ran cold. ¡°You¡­. You got guts. I¡¯ll remember.¡± Neither dared come at him again. It didn¡¯t matter where he came from, if Cloudhawk could use a power like that he was no ordinary guy. He wasn¡¯t someone they should screw around with, it would only end up bad for them. Cloudhawk shut his eyes and sat back down without saying a word. The two morons thought they were clever, but Oddball had been keeping an eye out. Every day there were at least three soldiers standing watch over their cabin, working in shifts. Their strange auras were tough even for Cloudhawk to recognize, so he wasn¡¯t sure when they were nearby. But he knew the nonsense these guys had been up to was being recorded. They knew. The sixth day. The seventh day. As time passed one could imagine it wasn¡¯t just a handful who broke the rules. Bang bang bang! ¡°Gather up!¡± On the eighth day a gong rang, loud enough to wake everyone. Trainees filed out of their cabins to find several large men standing in the center of the camp near an iron pylon. A scarred man with an eyepatch and black clothing stood in front. He faced a group of seventy or eighty young, fresh-faced recruits all around their early twenties with bags on their backs. After seven days and nights they all looked famished, barely able to stand. As Cloudhawk walked out into the crowd he felt hostile eyes on him. His brows drew together. He knew Claudia hated him, but after her father¡¯s pleas her violent tendencies had all but gone. This murderous feeling¡­ it was hard to understand. Cloudhawk was sure there was no one he knew here besides Claudia. Why would anyone want to wish him harm? He started to look around for the owner of those eyes when¡­ Clank, clank, clank. The sound of heavy footsteps. Five veteran soldiers surrounding a single man walked by. He was easily two meters tall and brawny as a lion. His reddish black face was marked with half a dozen scars that reached from one side of his face to the other. They had clearly been stitched. It made his already unpleasant face harder to look at, like they¡¯d used different kinds of skin to past it all back together. He walked in an imposing manner and every step made the ground shake. He looked like nothing could stop him ¨C he¡¯d walk right through a mountain and cleave it in half if it dared standi n his way. ¡°Hello, everyone. I am one of your training instructors. The men with me are my assistants. And that¡¯s it for my self-introduction.¡± The scarred instructor spoke very fast ¨C quick as lightning and sharp as a blade. His voice boomed through the camp. ¡°If I pick you out, step forward.¡± He started to point at people, ultimately selecting twenty-some from the crowd. Among them were two from Cloudhawk¡¯s cabin. As they stood before the instructor¡¯s cold glare they didn¡¯t dare move a muscle. The fear about all twenty of them was almost palpable. All of them had something in common; they¡¯d all somehow broken the rules while locked in the cabins. Up till now they thought they¡¯d been lucky. But at last they realized their folly ¨C they were being watched twenty-four hours a day. ¡°Do you know why I singled you lot out? Breaking the rules in and of itself isn¡¯t bad ¨C we like rule-breakers in Hell Valley! But if you¡¯re going to break the rules, you either need to have the power to change the rules, or be smart enough not to get caught! That¡¯s where you failed.¡± The instructor grinned and his scarred face twisted up like a devil¡¯s. It made their skin crawl. ¡°So now you¡¯ve got to pay the price, that¡¯s all there is to it. If any of you disagree then step up! I¡¯ll give you a shot.¡± The twenty offenders looked around at one another. None of them dared raise their voice. As strong as his assistants were, no one wanted to test the instructor¡¯s strength. They¡¯d been caught and he picked them out without fail. There was nothing to be gained by arguing, that would only make their punishment worse. ¡°Alright. Well if you aren¡¯t willing to take your shot, then don¡¯t blame me for what¡¯s coming.¡± The scarred instructor¡¯s sinister grin made everyone shiver. 1. Often in Chinese traditional medicine the root bark is the most efficacious. Keep that in mind if you¡¯re ever stuck alone in the wilderness and are forced to stuff strange plant matter into your face. Book 2, Chapter 67 - Dire Disciplinarian Chapter 67 - Dire Disciplinarian Five stony-faced assistant instructors stepped forward with long whips in their hands. It was easy to guess they would soon be used. Meanwhile, the scarred instructor stood before the group with his hands behind his back, straight as a javelin. His loud and imposing voice boomed forth. ¡°Twenty lashes! Spare no effort!¡± Cloudhawk had personally experienced what sort of effort these assistants were capable of. While they didn¡¯t possess the skills of a demonhunter, they were more than strong enough to handle the young trainees. If they used their full force, he was convinced they could whip a boulder to pieces! Crack! One! Piercing screams rose up from among the offending students. It wasn¡¯t that they were weak, but the bite of the whips was too intense. In addition to whatever tough substance they were made out of, the whips actually spat sparks as they tore through the air. One pass of the whip could easily split a wild boar¡¯s hide and rend the flesh beneath. How truer was it for these young trainees? One lash was almost more than they could bear, but as the blood began to flow and the pain spread through their whole body a second lash came. By the third, one of the female trainees had fainted. Most of the others only lasted to five. The strongest managed to suffer through seven or eight passes but eventually they also collapsed. The assistants didn¡¯t stop once the trainees lost consciousness. They kept going until all twenty lashes were delivered. The others watching swallowed back their fear and alarm. Twenty one lacerated bodies lay on the ground, some wounds deep enough to reveal bone. It would be many few days before they could recover from this punishment, and were it not for the immediate treatment they were given these wounds would have left many crippled. The assistant instructors had done their best to nearly beat these young men and women to death! The two that had come from Cloudhawk¡¯s cabin were out cold and hardly recognizable. They were so badly beaten it looked like they¡¯d been attacked by a pack of wild dogs. It was hard to look at them. Finally, the scarred instructor nodded. ¡°Take them away! They¡¯ve all been eliminated!¡± The remaining trainees blanched and Cloudhawk fought back the urge to curse. Shit! We just started and they¡¯re already kicking people out. Why even bother beating them to within an inch of their lives? Not everyone can handle punishment like that, it¡¯ll ruin them! ¡°You pity them, don¡¯t you? That¡¯s wrong ¨C you should envy them. You are the ones who deserve pity!¡± The scarred man smiled a black smile and his voice came down like a hammer. ¡°Once you enter Hell¡¯s Valley there¡¯s no going back. Either you meet the criteria and walk out, or you leave on your backs. At least they still live, but only because they weren¡¯t formally admitted. Many of you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡± The faces were a mix of stern, enraged, and frightened. Hell¡¯s Valley was true to its reputation, for here they weren¡¯t seen as people. Didn¡¯t the instructor know that some of these trainees came from illustrious Skycloud nobility? ¡°The welcoming ceremony is finished. Now you really have entered hell. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard some things about us before you¡¯ve come, but I¡¯m here to tell you whatever you¡¯ve been told is just the beginning. Believe me ¨C you¡¯ll learn all about what it¡¯s really like here very soon.¡± As he spoke, the scarred instructor walked back and forth before the group of trainees. He stopped, and as he stood looking back at them he sunk a few inches into the earth like he was some enormous colossus. ¡°I don¡¯t care where you¡¯ve come from, whether you¡¯re from the military, a noble house, or a demonhunter. The moment you arrived you all became one thing ¨C garbage. Filth. Worms! Understand? Repeat it!¡± Those from noble families were already offended by his lack of respect, but after this speech most were unhappy. The noblesse were especially enraged. No one opened their mouth. The instructor wasn¡¯t upset, in fact he smiled. He was afraid he might have scared them into submission too early, but he was pleased to find that he¡¯d been too merciful. That was good, otherwise it would have been boring. ¡°No one here is willing to recognize their worthlessness? Good! Very good! I appreciate that.¡± He went back to pacing the line, a vicious grin on his hideous face. ¡°If that¡¯s the case I¡¯m going to give you all a chance to prove your backbone.¡± Cloudhawk then felt a wave of power emanating from the man, an oppressive force not the slightest bit inferior to someone like Frost de Winter. His rich and barbaric aura made their skin crawl and their heart race. He was like a demon who¡¯d crawled out of the pits of hell. Everyone watched him, expressionless. No one said a word. He continued with a ferocious howl. ¡°If any of you can beat me, I¡¯ll give everyone one of you a free pass. An exemption from the Hell¡¯s Valley entrance exam. I¡¯ll give thirty seconds for a challenger to step up, then after that everyone gets ten lashes!¡± There was an entrance exam, too? What the hell! They still weren¡¯t formally in the training yet? Ten lashes was unacceptable. They¡¯d all seen what happened to the last group. Ten lashes might not almost kill them but it would definitely make them pass out and leave awful wounds. ¡°Twenty seconds! What? You¡¯re all cowards, eh? No one has the balls to take a shot?¡± Everyone glared. They hadn¡¯t even started training and they were supposed to accept a beating? No one liked the idea, but they weren¡¯t fooled either. The instructor¡¯s offer was a trap, any idiot wouldn¡¯t willingly fall in. ¡°Ten seconds!¡± Cloudhawk sighed softly. It looked like there was no avoiding it, he was gonna take a beating no matter what. It was better than being torn apart, as anyone who tried to fight the instructor would be. But he underestimated the arrogance and self-confidence of the elysians, and overestimated their common sense. ¡°Five seconds!¡± ¡°Instructor!¡± A gallant young man shouted at him. ¡°I challenge you!¡± When he heard it the scars on the instructor¡¯s face twisted horrendously into a hungry grin. His smile was more unsettling than any curse. A young man in his twenties with broad shoulders and a muscular body made himself known. He wore standard demonhunter clothing with leather armor over the top. When Claudia saw who made the challenge her eyes filled with astonishment. She knew this guy, he was also from a distinguished Skycloud city family. He wasn¡¯t as strong as the stars of their generation ¨C like Frost or Dawn ¨C but he could hold his own for ten rounds or so against them. That wasn¡¯t easy, and it was probably what gave him the confidence to accept the instructor¡¯s challenge. The scarred tyrant was just a soldier, but he didn¡¯t show an ounce of fear when facing a demonhunter. He extended his hand and motioned the challenger forward. The youth raised his left hand, a sword cradled in his calm. A cyan light glimmered around it and winds gusted through the camp. A crisp and clear ringing sound hung in the air for a long time. Nice sword! Everyone shared the same thought. Demonhunter power burst forth and cyan light radiated from the weapon¡¯s tip. He wasn¡¯t going to take any chances with this scarred sadist. While the ringing sound continued suddenly the sword split in two. As the blades crossed a gust of cutting wind fired out toward the instructor. A bladestorm ranged attack! The guy had some skill! His attack¡¯s dual whirlwinds looks simple enough, but underlying them was a mysterious force. At this distance at the very least it would cut off any route of escape. Whether the instructor tried to go left, right or overhead he was right in its path. And while the instructor was getting boxed in, the trainee was preparing his thirst strike. He¡¯d been prepared, for if the instructor dodged his first two bladestorms, the third would surely do him in! With a grim chuckle, the instructor reacted. He raised his right hand and punched. His hand was covered in an elysian tungsten steel gauntlet but he still punched at supersonic speed. The friction of the steel piercing the air released sparks. Bang! It sounded like a thick pain of glass shattering. The scarred man¡¯s fist plunged into the heart of a bladestorm and blew it to pieces. The cyan power burst out every which way and dissipated. The young man¡¯s face paled. ¡°Impossible ¨C t-that¡¯s impossible! How could a normal human body resist my attack?!¡± The young man was not a lowly demonhunter novice. He¡¯d spent two years in military service before arriving at Hell¡¯s Valley. He was sure his relic¡¯s bladestorms could carve apart steel ¨C and yet the scarred instructor had simply punched it apart? It was so absurd he couldn¡¯t believe it! The tungsten gauntlet had clean cuts all the way through and fresh blood leaked from the fissures. The youth had drawn blood but it meant nothing to the scarred man. ¡°Is that all you got?¡± Shame brought on a wave of anger and the younger man attacked again. The cyan light from his sword rose suddenly to a blazing glare, and he launched himself forward fast as the wind. Meanwhile his sword was quick as a viper and lashed out in a thickly packed series of blows. A rain of steel came crashing down on the instructor. As Cloudhawk watched his pupils constricted. This guy was faster and stronger than he was. He had to ask himself, if it were him on the other side of this attack, could he endure? The scarred instructor moved quick and agile, like a specter. He saw through each strike, avoiding them while retreating a couple meters. With a sharp look in his eye the young man raised his weapon, poised to continue. At last eh whipped his sword around and an enormous bladestorm erupted from the sword. This close, this fast, and this strong, the young man was sure this time he had him. The scarred man stood still, unmoving, while dust was kicked up around him. Then he disappeared, leaving only a faint afterimage where he¡¯d been. Cloudhawk gaped in disbelief. He knew the instructor didn¡¯t really vanish, he was just so fast that it seemed that way. Woosh! The bladestorm surged over one of the wooden cabins. The wooden structure was carved right down the middle as easily as cutting through a sheet of paper, a petal, or a leaf. It slowly started to separate and fall to either side. The young man was not a weakling. He couldn¡¯t match up to someone like Frost de Winter, but he had to be within the top three of the trainees here. And he was of noble birth, to boot. What happened next no one saw clearly. It happened too fast. Before he could retract his arm a thick hand reached out and held it fast. It twisted, then as easily as snapping a dead branch his arm folded backward more than ninety degrees. Bone snapped and tore through flesh to reveal the jagged break. The young man screamed, unable to hold his sword. It flew out of his grip and got lodged in a boulder some distance away. It cut through rock as easy as custard, proving just how sharp it really was. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The instructor¡¯s spiteful laughter rang through the camp. ¡°That is all you got! You aren¡¯t even as strong as one of my assistants. You had no hope of besting me!¡± Book 2, Chapter 68 - Everyone, Strip! Chapter 68 - Everyone, Strip! The instructor didn¡¯t use a relic. With only his physical speed and strength, he handily crushed a capable demonhunter. This young trainee was no fresh-cheeked novice. It was a shocking display for everyone who watched. Demonhunters were proud of their abilities, and yet they¡¯d just watched one get absolutely wrecked by a mere soldier. Still, the youth was worthy of his demonhunter title. Even though one of his arms was now useless he tried to fight on with the other. With a roar he slammed his fist toward the man¡¯s hideously scarred face. Crack! The trainee screamed again. His fist struck bone sturdy as iron, and the damage he did to his own fist was worse than he did to the instructor¡¯s face. Their tyrannicaltrainer only chuckled darkly, then kicked the younger man¡¯s knee so hard it folded backward. Snap! His victim was forced to his one good knee. He¡¯d won, but that didn¡¯t stop the scarred man from continuing. With an open-handed slap he dislocated the demonhunter¡¯s jaw and sent him flying. He toppled head over heels among a cloud of spit and broken teeth. After hitting the ground he writhed in place like a pitiful dying insect. What happened to the proud demeanor of the demonhunters? The scarred instructor slowly walked over to the young man. He placed his boot on his skull and looked over the crowd with savage eyes. ¡°Is this what I can expect from the mighty demonhunters? Rubbish! Garbage!¡± Anywhere one went within the elysian lands, demonhunters were treated with the utmost respect. They were warriors in service to the gods, defenders of the holy lands. Strong and noble, a demonhunter¡¯s mystical powers were the stuff of legend to the average citizen and commanded their awe. The ugly instructor was a soldier through and through, yet still he embarrassed the demonhunter before all of them. This wasn¡¯t just an insult to their order, it showed disdain for the gods themselves! Did he really come from the elysian lands? How could the realm of the gods produce someone so ruthless, arrogant, and cruel? All manner of sinful things lived in this beast¡¯s heart. Yet despite their rage and hatred, everyone felt powerless before the scarred instructor. With the young demonhunter writhing beneath his boot, he looked at them and asked if anyone else wanted to take their shot. Cloudhawk stayed quiet, but inside he was sizing up the truth of where he found himself. The guards here were elite veterans, hand-picked from the best. One of them fought like ten men. These training assistants were highly capable soldiers who¡¯d been discharged from service. They were as strong as Dawn without using her weapons ¨C apex warriors. The instructor himself was even harder to judge. Judging by the scarred man¡¯s strength, speed and agility, he had to have gone through countless body modifying methods. The scarred man fought as hard as Dawn did at full strength, and he hardly seemed to be trying. Most importantly, these men came from decades-long military careers where they must have been elite special operations or unit commanders. Their skills had been honed in a hundred battles, leaving corpses piled high in their wake. In a life-or-death fight Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure even the likes of Frost de Winter or Dawn Polaris would survive. Something also told him that the instructors¡¯ true strength didn¡¯t lie in their mere combat prowess. These incredible warriors and talents were completely unknown. Mere instructors at a training camp? Inside information was a rich commodity in the elysian lands. Cloudhawk found it hard to believe there could be so many skilled people here and no one would know. ¡°You demonhunters are nothing more than monkeys to me, showing off your asses like you¡¯re worth something. You think because you can play with trinkets that no one is a challenge?¡± The scarred instructor belittled them while pulling a cigarette from his pocket. He lit it and scanned the crowd with cold eyes. His voice was a sinister growl. ¡°You all better fuckin¡¯ listen real close. Relics are weapons, and weapons are an extension of power ¨C but they aren¡¯t everything. There are people all over the world that can tear demonhunters apart with nothing but their bare hands. There are too many examples of people who can kill you relic-wielding shits with nothing but smarts and planning! Worms like you rely on tools and neglect your own bodies. You are as frail as paper; you can¡¯t run faster than anyone else, you aren¡¯t as agile as anyone else, you don¡¯t react faster than anyone else ¨C but you sure as fuck will die like everyone else.¡± ¡°What is Hell¡¯s Valley? Let me enlighten you. It¡¯s a garbage dump where trash like you is pulverized. I chose to come here because it means I get to crush worthless fucks like you for shit and giggles. Hahaha!¡± To illustrate his point the instructors stomped on the one good knee of the young man beneath him. It elicited another series of sickening crunches to which the mangled demonhunter howled. With a piteous whine he rolled half-conscious on the ground, and the instructor kicked him away like a fleshy sack. ¡°Eliminated! Get his ass out of here!¡± A pair of assistants walked over and dragged him away. None of the guy¡¯s wounds were life-threatening, but they would be very difficult to recover from. He would need the Temple¡¯s healing supplies, otherwise the damage would be permanent. The instructor threw his half-smoked cigarette into the dirt and trampled it below his boot. All the while his dark glare swept the crowd, looking for another victim to brutalize. ¡°Filth! Scum! Worms! Who else wants to make a stand?¡± Everyone was silent as the threat of the instructor¡¯s savagery hung over them. They were all skilled enough to be demonhunters. They did not fear death nor challenge, but senseless humiliation was unacceptable. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve all come to accept what you are. I¡¯ll remind you that out here there is no such thing as pride, status, or title. Out here my word is like the word of the gods ¨C you listen or you pay the price.¡± His words were mocking and downright blasphemous. If the Temple heard him say these words, he would be burned at the stake, but he didn¡¯t care in the slightest. He waved impatiently. ¡°Let¡¯s get the admission test under way!¡± They must have been out here for ages. These soldiers were barbarians from head to toe. Cloudhawk was anxious about what this admission test would be, but he steeled his resolve. Whatever it was, the exam wasn¡¯t going to be a walk in the park. The instructor looked them over once more. ¡°The goal is simple: weed out the garbage. By the end we¡¯ve usually eliminated fifty percent.¡± Fifty percent? That would be around thirty of them! They haven¡¯t even started and half were about to be kicked out. Most frightening was what the instructor had just said; once you join the training, don¡¯t expect to walk out in one piece. He could only imagine what would happen to those who got eliminated. Serious injury or death, both seemed just as likely. Their cruel leader continued. ¡°Clothes off, let¡¯s go.¡± Many hesitated. It wasn¡¯t just men here, a full third were young women. They were from noble families, surely his demands were going too far. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. I don¡¯t give a shit about your dignity or where you come from. It doesn¡¯t matter who your daddy is, how rich you are, how glorious your name. Out here, all that means fuck-all!¡± His words were icy daggers. Hell¡¯s Valley turned people into weapons. It wasn¡¯t a goddamn day camp. Nothing disgusted him more than these newbies and their melodrama. ¡°You got three choices. One, take me on in a fight. If you win then you get a pass. Of course if you lose, I snap your arm and throw you out. Two, do what I say and take off your clothes. Three, my assistants will help you take your clothes off!¡± The women looked frantically around with red eyes. These weren¡¯t trainers, they were torturers! Claudia was, of course, deeply insulted by the order. Was she really expected to remove her clothes in front of all these trainees, the scarred instructor, and a hundred or so soldiers? To elysian women who held chastity as among the greatest morals, this was unthinkable. No one wanted to remove their clothes, but if they didn¡¯t¡­ what would this scarred animal do? He said the test would weed out fifty percent of them, so Claudia didn¡¯t believe he¡¯d be willing to throw everyone out. How would the training camp continue without trainees? Their faces were masks but they shared the same thought. No one moved. Good, this is how it should be. Hope rose in Claudia¡¯s heart. The scarred instructor took their refusal as a challenge. Slowly his lips curled into a hideous smirk. Sometimes when a lion¡¯s sovereignty was challenged, a little blood was needed to reassert dominance. It was time to show them where the power really lay here. They would learn how to act. ¡°Twenty lashes for each of them. Do it!¡± Everyone knew just how cruel these whips were, they¡¯d seen it with their own eyes. If twenty lashes didn¡¯t kill them it would leave them crippled. Then they would all be eliminated. Was the instructor really willing to get rid of everyone, the assistants thought? He was insane! Cloudhawk also scowled with anxiety. Even as strong as his body was and even with improved healing, twenty lashes would take some time to come back from. If they beat him that badly, how would he participate in the training? The scarred man didn¡¯t care about his fellows¡¯ hesitation. ¡°What are you fucks gaping about? Do I need to whip them all myself?!¡± Book 2, Chapter 69 - The Entrance Exam Chapter 69 - The Entrance Exam The instructor¡¯s assistant''s looked at each other uncomfortably. It wasn¡¯t that they sympathized with the students. Asking them to remove their clothes was a simple thing. If they wrung their hands over such a trivial thing, that was their own problem ¨C all over their so-called dignity? Out in the field, when real battle called, it wasn¡¯t just skin that would be revealed. Bone, muscle, organs and all might be revealed. Compared to that, what¡¯s a little nudity? The reason they hesitated was because the scarred instructor wasn¡¯t the only instructor in the valley. If this madman eliminated every trainee, what would they say to the instructors waiting within? ¡°Instructor Cutter [1], that¡¯s enough for today.¡± One of the assistance stepped forward and offered protest. They were all grizzled veterans, they didn¡¯t need to keep their reservations a secret. He cut right to the chase. ¡°If you eliminate everyone, the instructors down in the valley won¡¯t be pleased. There¡¯s no rush, we can take our time.¡± Instructor Cutter frowned. ¡°You make a good point. So what¡¯s your suggested punishment?¡± The assistant was ready with an answer. ¡°If their modesty is so important, let them have it. They keep their skivvies for the price of five lashes. If they refuse to remove anything they get the full twenty, no quarter given.¡± ¡°Very well!¡± The scarred man clapped his hands for punctuation. ¡°You hear that? Today¡¯s your lucky day! If I had my way you all would be out on your bleeding asses! Now, let¡¯s get going!¡± ¡°Instructor, I have a question!¡± Claudia heard a familiar voice rise from the crowd and it filled her with a sense of foreboding. The instructor, his face full of irritation, searched the crowd until he found the frail frame the voice had come from. Cloudhawk felt like a mountain had descended upon him, so intense he had to keep his knees from shaking. But he was different from the others, he¡¯d seen the terrible things the world was capable of and stood firm. The young guy¡¯s steadfast demeanor surprised Cutter. It was a surprise to find someone with some stones among this pile of garbage. ¡°You¡¯ve got a mouth, shithead. Use it!¡± [2] ¡°So if we take everything off we don¡¯t get beat, right?¡± ¡°Obviously, you dimwit!¡± Skiiner watched in surprise as this young man, in full view of his companions, stepped forward without reservation. Steady hands stripped off one piece of clothing after another until he stood there naked as the day he was born. Cloudhawk! Such a bastard¡­ This shameless pig deserves to be hacked into a thousand pieces! Confronted with this scene the others squirmed with discomfort and disgust ¨C especially the women, Claudia among them. It was like hot needles in their eyes. How could they be someone so bold and immodest?! Cutter looked him over. The guy looked like a twig with his clothes on, but once they were removed he saw the corded muscles beneath. He was chiseled and compact like a panther ready to pounce. From the look of him it was clear this greenhorn had some strength and speed. But Cutter wasn¡¯t impressed with his build. Instead, he respected the kid¡¯s indifference to everyone¡¯s stares. His face wasn¡¯t even red. A great man didn¡¯t sweat the little things and had thick skin. Not bad, not bad at all. The first among the trainees to strip did so with perfect calm. As he stood there naked before the elysians, they couldn¡¯t understand his behavior. But, he in turn didn¡¯t understand their reticence. After all, everyone came into the world without a stitch. Clothes were like the swords they carried, picked up later in life. Did ¡®dignity¡¯ mean being shackled to these things you hung on your body? Out in the wastelands, wandering around naked didn¡¯t even earn a second glance. It wasn¡¯t that Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any pride. On the contrary, he probably had more than most. What he¡¯d learned was that dignity and honor didn¡¯t come from anything out there ¨C it came from inside. It was the constraints we set for ourselves, the lines in the sand we refused to cross. That line was different for everyone; the beggar gave no thought to saving face while anything less than a luxurious meal for a millionaire was seen as an affront. If you thought about it that way, human beings really were rather peculiar creatures who obsessed over the most pointless of things. Taking his clothes off was about ideology. If he were allowed to run around naked all the time he might be called a philosopher. ¡°You sure move fast, kid.¡± Cutter gave Cloudhawk another weighing glance. ¡°I¡¯ll remember you, I hope you make it through. Pick up your shit and stand to one side.¡± The others looked at each other in speechless despair. But in the end they had no choice. Clothes started coming off. Sixty of the trainees, Claudia included, chose to leave their undergarments on to preserve their modesty. The men wore underwear whereas the women also had a strip of cloth across their breasts to keep them hidden. The instructor was true to his word and ordered the assistants to deliver five lashes. A few of the weaker ones couldn¡¯t handle it and were taken away, unconscious. Needless to say, they would not be joining them in Hell¡¯s Valley. Surprisingly, another trainee took the immodest path as the process continued. ¡°Wait, wait! I¡¯ll take ¡®em off.¡± People were beginning to realize the cost of pride. Obviously the entrance requirements were high and the chances of elimination were great. They would need to be strong, and five lashes would sap them of that essential energy. A strip of clothing might cost them their spot, and that would bring them even greater shame. They would be throwing away their chance to let their talent stand out. All their clothes came off. Someone else followed the example. Five or six more chose to remove all their clothing including two young women. Embarrassment was a small sacrifice it they could avoid elimination. The remaining fifty-some stuck to their ideals, refusing to cross their line in the sand. Weakly, dripping blood, they shuffled over to the other after paying for it. ¡°There are a couple of you that get what we do here, but not enough. Now you gotta hand over everything you own.¡± Cutter pointed to the clothes and bags the trainees desperately clung to. ¡°I mean everything. Clothes, relics, medicine ¨C hand it all over. None of those are allowed where you¡¯re going. They¡¯ll be returned to you when the test is done. If we find out you¡¯ve hidden anything from us we¡¯ll have you flogged and thrown out!¡± No one was happy with this order either. The demands were becoming harsher and more unreasonable as time went on. A demonhunter¡¯s relics were a large part of their fighting prowess, not to mention signs of status and honor. Under no circumstances would they ever give up their relics, so the instructor¡¯s demands were the equivalent of stripping them of any sense of security. But there were no exceptions. Everything had to be given up! ¡°The test is simple.¡± The scarred madman pointed through the mist-cloaked forest, to the barely visible valley beyond. ¡°You have to get to Hell¡¯s Valley as fast as possible. First half to get there stays, everyone else is eliminated. I suggest you give up your shit quick, an early start makes passing more likely. Offer still stands though ¨C you can beat me in a fight and pass, or follow my orders. My patience is limited so don¡¯t fuck around.¡± After seeing what Cutter was capable ¨C and happy ¨C to do, who would be stupid enough to challenge him? Assistants passed among the crowd with boxes, gathering up the trainees¡¯ personal items. Although they were clearly reluctant everyone complied, they had to. Who knew what the punishment for refusing was. Cloudhawk piled everything he owned into the box and locked it shut. An assistant then looked him over to make sure he wasn¡¯t carrying anything else. Everyone was then given coarse linen robes, the sort prisoners might wear, as protection from the elements. These affluent and respected demonhunters had never experienced treatment like this before, but they kept their ashen faces even. None of them were interested in catching Cutter¡¯s attention. All they could do was exactly what they were told. ¡°Open the Valley! Welcome to Hell, ladies and gentlemen!¡± The gate leading to the valley slowly opened and a vast dead forest greeted them. The assistance pushed the trainees onward like a herd of geese. Cloudhawk felt dozens of angry eyes following him as they stepped out into the forest. He must have offended these uptight nobles, so sticking around wasn¡¯t in his best interest. He picked up the pace and quickly headed off toward the distant valley. He raced into the forest and leapt high off the ground. The branch he landed on bowed under his weight a full five meters and in the same motion he bent his knees to gather momentum. When the built up pressure snapped back and the branch whipped back into place, it sent him soaring through the air like a bullet. He started by putting some distance between himself and the others. Those who had not been punished ran after him in fine condition. The others, nursing wounds and dripping blood, were already struggling and couldn¡¯t keep up. Their pride and honor was going to cost them. Once Cloudhawk was satisfied with his lead he began to slow down. After a moment a pudgy yellow bird joined him, promptly spatting a stone from its mouth. Cloudhawk slipped it over his neck. Through their connection Cloudhawk conspired with Oddball while turning over his things. He palmed the phase stone and gave it to the bird, who took it and flew off ahead. Both the bird and stone were still safe and in hand. Something like this rock wasn¡¯t going to gain any attention. As for the Gospel of the Sands, the Mask of a Thousand Faces, his invisibility cloak and so forth, they were great treasures but they weren¡¯t priceless. The phasing stone couldn¡¯t be allowed out of his sight. Now that it was back around his neck he felt far less troubled. No matter what was in store, with the stone and its phasing abilities Cloudhawk had a serious advantage. He knew one way or another this advantage was gonna be especially important, at least in making sure no one could threaten him. Cloudhawk was sure no one was catching up, but he didn¡¯t want to waste any time. As he made his way through the forest the mist began to clear. A scene he wasn¡¯t prepared for revealed itself, one that filled Cloudhawk with dread. This test wasn¡¯t anywhere near as easy as the instructor let them believe. 1. Up to now he has been referred to as ¡®knife-scarred instructor¡¯. The soldier now calls him ¡®Blade Instructor¡¯ ¨C Cutter seemed apt. 2. In probably my most favorite line ever the instructor says ¡®you have an ass, so fart!¡¯ Book 2, Chapter 70 - Waylaid Chapter 70 - Waylaid It was a tree. An absolutely enormous tree practically the size of a small mountain. It would take several dozen people to wrap their arms all around it. It¡¯d been dead for many years already, but it¡¯s dried out husk of a trunk towered overhead. The wind and elements had turned it to stone and all that was left were spindly finger-like branches without a single leaf on them, reaching into the sky. It looked like the withered hair of a demon and it made the surroundings all the more sinister. But it wasn¡¯t the tree¡¯s peculiar size or dramatic state that grabbed his attention. What gave Cloudhawk pause was what hung from it, things that did not naturally appear there. A dozen desiccated corpses swayed in the breeze like fruit that rotted on the vine, impaled by the thorn-like barren branches. It was a strange and gruesome scene. [1] Some were skeletons already, dead for more than three years. [2] Others were weathered mummies with dried and twisted expressions. Those hadn¡¯t been dead long. The dead weren¡¯t strange, but seeing them here ¨C like this ¨C that was alarming. Cloudhawk cautiously picked his way closer. The tattered robes on the corpses were the same sort he wore. Were these trainees like him, whose luck had run out? What killed them? It wouldn¡¯t make sense to be some animal, for there weren¡¯t any signs they were eaten and no animal he knew hung their dinner up like this. The tree itself just looked weird, but in fact was itself dead. He didn¡¯t think there was any way it could do this to the trainees itself. He was suddenly struck by the impression that this was not someplace he should linger. As he was turning to leave his keen senses perked up, but too late. His left leg broke an imperceptible thin silk threat that traversed the path. A trap?! A palpable sense of danger enveloped him as suddenly spines shot out from crevices in the tree¡¯s trunk. They shot out almost faster than he could follow, and were certainly coated in poison. Cloudhawk was fairly sure he could survive most poisons, but whatever this was certainly wouldn¡¯t feel comfortable if he got a dose. Unarmed, Cloudhawk had no way to protect himself, and it was all too fast for him to react. He tried to dodge but the thorns came raining down like hail. Thankfully he was able to avoid most, but a handful still managed to find their mark. However the Cloudhawk of today was far different from the Cloudhawk of old. When the spines struck he immediately tightened the muscles in the area, stopping them from penetrating any farther than skin level. The toxins in the barbs diffused through the skin almost immediately, but it also awakened the trespasser virus. The two microscopic substances started to do battle. Skin around the point of contact turned black. At first it looked like a reaction from the poison, but in fact it was the opposite. The discoloration came from trespasser, which forced the toxins to the surface and away from Cloudhawk¡¯s veins. He knew this was a sign that his organs and brain were protected. He was still getting his bearings when several small human-shaped figures poured out from the trees. The first thing he heard were strange, bestial hisses coming from their throats. Then he saw that their bodies were caked in some grey substance. It outlined their ribcages and made them look like shambling skeletons. Each one hefted wooden spears with chipped bone heads as they battled for who would be the first to skewer Cloudhawk. Wastelanders? There were actually wastelanders living here! He had to give it to that scar-faced fuck. He thought when they said go quick they were just talking about some mutated animals, maybe a dangerous plant or two. But this? An intelligent race of people laying traps through the forest? And the instructor hadn¡¯t even hinted at it. Sending a group of people without knowledge, without experience, into unknown territory where an enemy lay in wait¡­ well, one could imagine what the results would be. The pygmies weren¡¯t typical wastelanders ¨C they were more like sweepers, mutated humans from the wastelands. However this race seemed to have developed a stable mutation for their bodies, making them all look similar as opposed to the wide array of mutations he was used to seeing. Out in the wastes the mutations were as varied as the people who had them, making his old haunt a constant freak show. Deadwood pygmies were about a meter and a half tall for adult males. Small, certainly, but they made up for it in agility. They moved through the gnarled forests quick as the wind. They were also smart, that was obvious from their trap. But in this case their trap made them overconfident. They assumed that their poison-tipped barbs had robbed their prey of the strength to fight back. Like madmen they fell on Cloudhawk one after the other, eager to be the first to injure the elysian. Little did they know that their poisons had no effect on this human. He was hardly affected at all. ¡°Go!¡± Cloudhawk shrugged his shoulder and Oddball took off. It rose overhead to survey the landscape and see how bad the situation was. If he found there were a lot of these mutants, or his competitors were closing in, he would have a chance to prepare. ¡°Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!¡± One of the deadwood natives brandished his spear and charged at Cloudhawk. Were his opponent human perhaps Cloudhawk would have shown mercy. Unfortunately for the pygmy, however, he had a deep distaste for their kind. The sweeper stabbed, but his spear hit nothing. He stared, stunned, when suddenly the weapon was yanked out of his hand. He didn¡¯t even see how Cloudhawk did it. ¡°Here, take it back!¡± Cloudhawk returned the pygmy¡¯s spear, right through his chest. It slid through him, out from his back and into the second pygmy coming up behind. The second unfortunate mutant was pinned to one of the petrified trees. Cloudhawk juked away from another attack, this time punching his attacker square in the face. The crisp sound of shattered bone answered as the mutant¡¯s cheekbone broke into half a dozen pieces. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even pause, whipping around to plant a kick on another pygmy¡¯s chest. He struck with such force that it turned shattered bone to shrapnel, churning organs into minced meat. The sweeper was flung away in a shower of vomit and blood like a gruesome firecracker. How could this guy keep fighting after being poisoned?! They weren¡¯t alone. Cloudhawk shared their surprise. Ever since coming to the elysian lands he¡¯d been getting stronger by the day. He¡¯d practiced the demonhunter body forging exercises up to thirty postures but had yet to really fight and see his progress. Of course his time in Skycloud was spent with anomalies like Dawn and Frost de Winter. He could get through all thirty six postures and still not stand a chance against them. But now that Cloudhawk was letting loose with his full strength he was shocked to find that he had to be at least as strong as Mad Dog used to be ¨C maybe even stronger! Cloudhawk was different from Mad Dog, though. The Tartarus Mercenary¡¯s captain was all about force, while Cloudhawk had that in addition to speed, quick reaction time, regeneration, and control. All balanced. Half a year had passed since he was that worthless scav, and if he went back as he was now he would have been a match for any Tartarus elite. But the disadvantage of speed was that he didn¡¯t have the experience to be proficient in his new body. He might be as strong as Mad Dog, but the warrior had twenty-some years of life in the harsh wilderness that tempered his abilities. He¡¯d known exactly how to use his strength to produce more than a hundred percent. Meanwhile Cloudhawk was lucky to effectively use eighty percent of his potential. Be that as it may, everyday sweepers were no match for Cloudhawk anymore. If these mutants were here it had to mean they had a camp nearby. He couldn¡¯t afford to let any of them escape and alert the others. He¡¯d soon find this place crawling with enemies, and that would cause all sorts of trouble. He snapped up a discarded spear and went on the attack. In a flash several pygmy sweepers were knocked flying. They screamed and hollered in fear but it was too late to flee. They all perished under the bite of their own weapon. Cloudhawk whipped around, looking or his next target like a wild animal. One of the indigenous warriors unlike the others stepped out from the trees. He wore thin leather armor, and held a gun in each hand. As he leapt out, still in midair, he started to fire. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes contracted to black pinpricks, the bullets¡¯ trajectory reflected within. He could see a tail where the bullets split the air, from the instant they left the gun to where they passed now. Incredible¡­ Cloudhawk never dreamed he¡¯d be able to see so precisely! He¡¯d never experienced anything like this before. Beyond being able to see where the bullets had come from, if he were a little faster and a little more precise he would block them with just his weapon. He didn¡¯t dare try it now. Instead he dodged them by moving erratically, but the pygmy proved to be a crack shot. He was able to calculate where Cloudhawk would be even when he dodged, closing off any route he could take. He couldn¡¯t get away. Yet Cloudhawk¡¯s mind worked faster. He guessed where his opponent would fire to counter him and knew that he would be peppered if he did what was expected. So he did the opposite. Cloudhawk leaned all the way back as far as he could go. He could feel the friction of the bullets as they passed just over his chest and upper body. His hands planted on the ground and gave him the thrust he needed to flip over. In a blink he was five or six meters away by another tree. His feet hit the trunk and he immediately hunched. Using the leverage from the tree he pushed off with his knees then fired off like an arrow toward the marksman. His dodge-turned-counterattack was seamless and displayed a level of skill the pygmy hadn¡¯t thought the elysian possessed. But the pygmy was no pushover either, and immediately responded with another volley of gunfire. Cloudhawk wrenched himself to the side, avoiding all but one. Yet just as with the spines Cloudhawk toughened up the point of impact, stopping the bullet skin deep. Finally, the pygmy felt fear. He realized that this one wasn¡¯t just strong, but rather possessed the full gamut of abilities. But it was too late. The bladed spear swiped at the native vertically, cleaving him clean in two. Cloudhawk stood over the littered corpses with no expression, still as a statue. He then gritted his teeth against the pain and dug the bloodstained bullet from his chest, throwing it aside. The surface wound wasn¡¯t anything he had to worry about, it wasn¡¯t going to slow him down. He looked over the dead pygmies and noted that their mutation was unique. There were poison glands in their mouths and along their arms. That meant that their bite and scratch was toxic. Natural toxins¡­ no wonder it was part of their traps. Cloudhawk looked around to make sure nothing else lived. He saw none, but his eyes did fix on a location. He became even more tightly wound, like the fight had only just started. ¡°Stop hiding!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was harsh and cold. ¡°I know you¡¯re there. Come out!¡± 1. For extra haunting effect, listen to this song while you read. 2.Here¡¯s a cool article that describes how long skeletonization takes if you die in Arizona! Book 2, Chapter 71 - The Butcher Chapter 71 - The Butcher Oddball had been keeping an eye overhead while Cloudhawk dealt with the sweepers. It turns out it was a good decision. With Oddball¡¯s help he was able to pick out the people hiding among the trees, waiting for their chance. He never would have spotted them otherwise, and after the fight he would have been left open to a sneak attack he might not have walked away from. Clap¡­ clap¡­ clap. That was the first thing he heard. ¡°You¡¯re better than I thought.¡± Two figures stepped out from hiding, one burly and the other thin. As they appeared from the mists Cloudhawk saw them clearly; the stronger one was a hideously ugly man covered in scars, while the thinner one was his complete opposite with blonde hair and handsome features. It was the handsome one who spoke. They wore the same coarse robes he wore, marking them as trainees. They didn¡¯t have any injuries either, meaning they had also chosen to remove all their clothes back at camp. These were the sort Cloudhawk had to respect. The pair looked at the corpses scattered beneath their feet and realized their assumptions were quite mistaken. Even without relics this guy fought harder than your average punk. He had to be about middle of the pack, compared to the other trainees. Cloudhawk looked at them through narrowed eyes though he was careful to keep his features even. ¡°Let me guess. You two stink like someone¡¯s mongrels. I¡¯m gonna guess Frost de Winter hired you to take care of me.¡± The ugly one snarled like a beast as anger welled up in his eyes. Cloudhawk¡¯s words were like gas on a bonfire. He could feel the bloodlust pouring off of him. ¡°You¡¯re mouthy, even when facing death. I¡¯ll make sure to snap every bone in your scrawny body before I put you in the dirt.¡± His blonde companion took a different tack. He bore an apologetic smile, like he¡¯d been caught doing something improper. Although his voice was a little hoarse, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant to listen to. In fact it was almost magnetic. ¡°How did you know? We¡¯ve never met before, is it written on our foreheads or something?¡± His words were easy and earnest, without a hint of malice. But Cloudhawk sensed that he was far more dangerous than the scarred thug. ¡°You think it was hard to guess? Nah. I felt it back at the camp, that someone was out to get me. But we¡¯ve never met, you had no reason to want me dead, you had to be working for someone I¡¯ve pissed off. If it were Atlas he¡¯d do it himself, probably. Master Arcturus wouldn¡¯t have gone through all this trouble. That leaves Frost de Winter, the only one left with the means and motive.¡±The bullet wound on Cloudhawk¡¯s chest had stopped bleeding and there was already new skin stitching the hole closed. He gently stretched through the healing process to get himself back in top shape as fast as possible. The sound of popping joints followed. ¡°Only Frost underestimates me. Mongrels like you can¡¯t finish the job.¡± ¡°Self-confidence is a good thing.¡± The blonde haired man sagely nodded his head, completely unconcerned. He seemed more like a curious bystander. ¡°You¡¯re right ¨C he does look down on you. But you shouldn¡¯t make the same mistake with us. This fellow here is called the Butcher. He has an eight year service record as a demonhunter. Fifty-nine missions under his belt, none failed. As for me ¨C¡° ¡°Why are we wasting our fucking breath?!¡± The scarred man had grown impatient. Butcher didn¡¯t care about any of this shit. Yeah maybe the kid was stronger than they expected, but he still wasn¡¯t worth his salt. His voice came in a barely contained growl. ¡°I kill every one of these lowlife wasteland fucks I come across. I would wring the life from your body even if I never met Frost de Winter! You keep your hands to yourself. I¡¯m gonna kill this piece of shit all by myself.¡± Perhaps afraid the blonde man would steal his fun, the Butcher raced into action. Cloudhawk felt the big man¡¯s imposing vigor lock onto him. ¡®The Butcher¡¯ wasn¡¯t a pleasant nickname. Out in the wastelands it might have given him pause, but for the highbrow elysians the name meant only very bad things. A name like that was a stain he earned for misdeeds. He was a capable demonhunter, sure ¨C but it looks like that¡¯s what got him into trouble. The Butcher¡¯s zeal manifested in him becoming a wanton slayer of the wild and blasphemous. He brutalized anyone he got his hands on, to the point where even elysians were terrified of him. He took pains to murder those who considered unworthy in the most cruel means possible, whether they were old, young, women or children. There wasn¡¯t a single example of someone who got away from his bloodlust. But what really pinned this moniker to him was the Butcher¡¯s last mission. He was tasked with chasing down a blasphemer hiding in an elysian village, and ended up slaughtering everyone there. The blood of the villagers flowed in rivers ¨C a hundred souls snuffed out. His¡­ fervor earned the wrath of Skycloud¡¯s elite. That¡¯s why Augustus Cloude recommended him. The Butcher¡¯s loathing for wastelanders and blasphemers had transcended all reason. He wasn¡¯t lying, even without Frost¡¯s orders he would have happily killed Cloudhawk simply for daring to draw breath. And he would have relished in making it as painful as possible. Murder! Such a strong thirst for death! Cloudhawk had faced many strong opponents, but none that made him tremble like the Butcher. When the demonhunter came at him Cloudhawk felt like he was facing a tidal wave of carnage, a torrential flood of rage that threatened to sweep everything away. It seemed overpowering. An aura like this was an aberration from birth, tempered by killing thousands with one¡¯s own hands. Just as when two armies met, morale played an important role. When morale was broken the army was crushed as though under a landslide. If morale was high it was not uncommon for a handful of soldiers to send a force of hundred fleeing for their lives. It was just as important for two soldiers facing off in combat. Someone like the Butcher could defeat his opponent before ever throwing a punch, easily besting someone stronger than him. As the Butcher charged at Cloudhawk like a mad rhino not only did the wastelander fail to flinch, but the tyrannical cruelty that lay long dormant within him stirred. Veins in his eyes engorged tracing angry red lines through his vision, bringing with it a surge of power. Although the savagery he oozed could not compare to the Butchers, he was no less inspired to cause pain. Boom! Two fists met, one large and one small. Two blasts of momentum met, and two pairs of feet dug deep into the ground. The resulting impact blasted back the mist in a ten meter diameter. Wind whipped past the blonde haired man, fierce as a tempest. It surprised him, shook him even. Was this what the guy was capable of? The Butcher¡¯s strength did not come as a shock, he¡¯d heard the name and knew the demonhunter¡¯s combat style relied on pure force. But Cloudhawk was a waif, how was he able to summon that sort of might? He thought they might have underestimated the wastelander, but after that display it was clear the kid was a worthy opponent. Cloudhawk could feel all the blood within him shiver through his organs. [1] His whole arm was paralyzed from pain. Although the berserker strength had nearly doubled his power he couldn¡¯t take advantage of it. The men Frost had sent obviously had their own fortes. The big guy was difficult enough for Cloudhawk to deal with, but the one Cloudhawk worried most about was the blonde haired man who was yet to join the fight. He caught the man out of the corner of his eye and saw that he hadn¡¯t moved yet. Like he wasn¡¯t intending to fight at all. The Butcher was an eight year veteran demonhunter who was hardened through his time on the field. His combat experience ran much deeper than any of the kids back at the training camp. Half a second of distraction was all the time he needed to capitalize on Cloudhawk¡¯s flaw. The Butcher whipped a leg through the air so fast it made the wind whistle. Cloudhawk brought his arms up to protect himself and the impact sent him flying. He crashed through a tree thick as a mixing bowl. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate one he regained his footing. He kicked the shattered top half of the tree he¡¯d flown throw, sending its thousand-pound bulk at the Butcher pointy-end first. A hideous grin spread across the large man¡¯s face. His dark calloused fist reached out and met the trunk in midair. Inch by the petrified tree trunk exploded into splinters as the wave of energy surged through it. Stabbing bits of wound were thrown in all directions. Inwardly the blonde haired man had no choice but to admit his admiration. Both these men were demonhunters, but even without relics they were putting on one hell of a show. It was a rare site to see such impressive physical displays. The Butcher began to laugh hysterically. He was as strong as Mad Dog had been, and when he released all inhibitions he fought like an insane beast. Reason was pushed to the rear and replaced with pure power and instinct. As bloodlust consumed him he was less man and more weapon. As the Butcher prepared for another attack he found that Cloudhawk was nowhere to be seen among the shower of splinters. He squinted into the mist just in time to see a faint figure disappearing past the horizon. ¡°You can¡¯t run!¡± The Butcher gave chase. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan was simple; one-on-one he didn¡¯t fear anybody, but two on one weren¡¯t odds he liked. The blonde one was definitely waiting for his chance while Cloudhawk was busy with the Butcher, but he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to let that happen. So he ran. The blonde man hesitated, and before he could follow the forest was suddenly filled with the screams of pygmy sweepers. A host of guns, spears and bone blades were leveled his way. The sound of their fight had been loud ¨C too loud for the natives to miss. The blonde man rubbed his head like the irritating circumstances were giving him a headache. Although the sweepers surrounding him were closing in, he wasn¡¯t nervous. He just seemed annoyed. 1. ¡®Qi and blood racing through him¡¯ is the exact line, but I chose to remove the mention of qi since it isn¡¯t a western concept. Suffice it to say that qi here is meant as a surge of energy, like an electric shock. Book 2, Chapter 72 - Days Pas Chapter 72 - Days Past Blasts rang out through the deadwood forest as the desperate chase continued for half an hour. The Butcher found that Cloudhawk was quick, maybe even quicker than him. Luckily the forest¡¯s dangers forced Cloudhawk to watch his speed, otherwise the Butcher might have lost him. It¡¯d been a long time since he faced a wastelander like this. At last, a challenging opponent ¨C something interesting. His eyes burned with ferocity and a thirst for murder, but in his mind dim memories of days past fought their way to the surface. They were things he much rather would forget, but as was so often the case the things we seek to forget are the hardest to let go of. Twenty years ago. Twenty long years ago¡­ It didn¡¯t matter where he went or what he did, the memory followed him. It crawled through the dark recesses of his mind like a cockroach that refused to die, appearing when he least expected. A needle in the shadows, stabbing him when his guard was down. It always set upon him in the same way as a nightmare, bringing with it an unbearable pain that made his blood race. Twenty years ago the Butcher was a child of nine. He lived in a small city out in the Borderlands, born to a simple family of peddlers. They weren¡¯t affluent by any means, but they made enough to enjoy a comfortable living and provide him with an education. When the night fell that changed his life, it came with a few dozen wasteland raiders who¡¯d managed to sneak their way into the town. They attacked the merchant company his family was a part of. The Butcher could never forget the sound his father made while they hacked him to pieces. He could never forget the miserable death that came to his mother and sister, but only after they were repeatedly raped. He could never forget his brother, stuffing him in a box and hiding it with his body as the wastelanders stabbed him over and over. His own brother¡¯s hot, thick blood poured into the box and stained his clothes red. His family was gone. His life was over. Day after day the nightmares came, stripping away everything that made him human. He lived, but everything that he was became twisted. The Butcher became the most ardent believer of the faith, but faith alone wasn¡¯t enough. If he was going to keep on living he needed something else to dull the ache in his soul. He found the only thing that brought him relief was the cries of heathens, and the screams of wastelanders. The only medicine was their blood. Once he joined the demonhunters he doggedly applied for any mission that came up. An excuse to torture any wastelander he could get his hands on. It was the last mission that earned him his new name. That was when his former comrades-in-arms started looking at him like a monster. But he didn¡¯t care, it was worth it. His only purpose in this life was to exterminate scum. What did it matter what they called him? The Butcher hated the ones that passed judgment on him! He did nothing wrong, and the great gods above would stand by him if they knew. It was their fault ¨C the unambitious, the weak, the scared ¨C it was their fault there were still these filthy wretches scrambling through the dirt. There was nothing more important than cleansing the world of these obscene beasts. A few sacrifices for ultimate peace was a small price to pay! He had almost resigned himself to dying bitter and unsatisfied down in that dungeon when Frost de Winter let him free. He¡¯d heard of the governor¡¯s disciple before, of course, but he was surprised by what he found. Despite the demonhunter¡¯s n oble exterior the Butcher sensed the same deep-seated hatred for the unclean that he harbored. The Butcher wasn¡¯t interested in Frost¡¯s motives. He was just willing to do the work. Besides his target was a wastelander, someone who instead of sneaking into Skycloud and facing punishment, was living happily in the commander¡¯s own home! How could this happen? It was an affront to the gods! Had the city fallen so far from grace? For his dedication he lost his name and reputation, but someone like Cloudhawk ¨C who had evil pumping through his very veins ¨C was taken in with open arms! How? The thought filled him with another surge of anger. He pushed himself to run faster, an ability which allowed himself to greatly increase his speed at the expense of precious energy. It was something he taught himself from his time out in the field, and one he usually only used in life or death situations. He didn¡¯t care about that now. Cloudhawk led the Butcher through the forest for half an hour, constantly ducking down one path and weaving through another. His circuitous route was intentional, he was relying on his quick recovery rate to wear the big man down. But it didn¡¯t look like the guy was going to be that easy to shake. He had enough spare energy for a burst of speed at least. Fuck, he really is a psycho. Like a rabid dog that¡¯ll never let go. He fought like someone with an ax to grind. This sort of motivation came from bone-deep hatred, like Cloudhawk had personally raped and killed his whole family! This was no good, he didn¡¯t have time to deal with this psycho. This was a test, after all, and this fuckwit wasn¡¯t make things any easier. He wasn¡¯t going to be part of the fifty percent that got kicked out. Cloudhawk figured his best bet was to use the advantage of surprise. The Butcher was strong, but where he didn¡¯t have any relics Cloudhawk still had the phase stone. With its power he completely negated his enemy¡¯s overwhelming strength. Temporarily invincibility followed by a decisive counterattack could solve his problem. While Cloudhawk planned his next move, Oddball shot his master a warning. There was a mass of natives ahead mobilizing for an ambush. They were waiting for Cloudhawk and the others to run right into their trap. ¡°Excellent! That¡¯ll help me save some effort.¡± Cloudhawk went right for them. He channeled his psychic energy through the stone and it released a field of power that detached him from reality. He didn¡¯t have his invisibility cloak, but that didn¡¯t stop him from hiding. His body slipped from view, into a particularly thick tree. Less than three seconds later¡­ The Butcher charged through the mist and any branches that blocked his path. Cloudhawk had slipped away, and he had no idea he was hiding in a tree not far from where he stood. He pushed on, only to lose all trace of Cloudhawk ten seconds later. He was beginning to suspect something was amiss when he tread on a silk-thin thread. A net made from tough vines fell from overhead and suddenly he was caught. Pygmy sweepers in their bone-like war paint surrounded him. ¡°Wasteland mutants!¡± The Butcher roared at them like a wild animal. The vine net was strong enough to confound a dire bear, but not enough to hold him. He heaved his great muscles and the vines parted, but before he could free himself the sweepers started throwing spears and firing weapons. Sprays of blood spat out from new wounds on his body. Poison seeped quickly into his bloodstream. He could feel his muscles stiffening, like he was turning to stone. The sweeper poison was powerful, a normal person would likely die on the spot. Even the Butcher was losing control of his body. All of his focus had been on Cloudhawk, so he hadn¡¯t been paying attention to his surrounds. At any other time he wouldn¡¯t have fallen for such a primitive trap. ¡°Aggghhh!!¡± His screams shook the earth and his eyes were bloody seas of red. Any semblance of reason scattered as madness overtook him. Although he was covered in blood he still surged rushed like a tempest, obliterating a sweeper¡¯s head with a single punch. He grabbed a second one and ripped him in two with his bare hands. Bang! Bang! The natives¡¯ guns fired another volley, tearing open more wounds, but their prey was abnormally tenacious. He wasn¡¯t going down unless they got him in a key pot. The Butcher was a raging bull, charging this way and that. Everywhere he passed he was followed by a shower of blood and gore. None of the sweepers¡¯ corpses were left intact. The price he paid for his dogged determination was more than twenty wounds. Poison barbs jutted from his neck to his legs, turning his skin a hideous purplish-black. ¡°You dirty, rotten wastelander!!¡± He took deep, rasping breaths and frothed at the mouth. As he came back to his senses he realized he¡¯d played right into Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. He couldn¡¯t fight the wastelander now, not like this. That bastard had to be waiting somewhere nearby, biding his time until he couldn¡¯t fight back. That worthless coward! He burned with rage, but inside he was filled with sorrow. There were still so many of these evil beasts that needed to be cleansed! Was this as far as he would go? But fine, dying in battle was a worthy death. It was better than being executed by those corrupt fucks back in Skycloud! ¡°I know you¡¯re here! Come out!¡± Cloudhawk was nearby, hiding behind a tree. He¡¯d watch the scene play out, and by now his wounds were healed. The Butcher didn¡¯t stand a chance. But as Cloudhawk was getting ready to finish it¡­ A tall, thin figure emerged. He had blonde hair and a handsome face, with an almost bashful expression. He had all the gracious bearing of a noble prince. Only, he was surrounded with the stench of death. Gore caked his body from head to toe, and the murderous intent that gushed from him put the Butcher to shame. Clearly he¡¯d just come from some gruesome exchange. But it was strange. As terrible as that fight had to have been the blonde man was completely unscathed. Why, then, was he covered in so much blood? It was like he¡¯d swam through a sea of corpses to get here. Almost like he¡¯d covered himself in blood on purpose. When the Butcher saw him step from the trees his eyes filled with hope. ¡°Help me¡­¡± Book 2, Chapter 73 - A Dark Personality Chapter 73 - A Dark Personality The gallant young man turned his glimmering eyes onto the Butcher. An easy-going smile touched his bright face. Everything about his face ¨C from his eyebrows to his eyes to his mouth ¨C was friendly and inviting. He was the very picture of a friendly boy next door. But it didn¡¯t blend at all with the dried blood and stringy meat that clung to the rest of him. ¡°What are you doing?! Hurry up!¡± The Butcher didn¡¯t know how strong his companion really was, but he had to have some skill if Frost de Winter chose him for this mission. Cloudhawk had to be close, the situation was dangerous, but the guy was simply taking his time like there wasn¡¯t a care in the world. ¡°I do want to help you, honestly.¡± The young man offered a sheepish smile and bashfully scratched his head. With a helpless sigh he said, ¡°But he wouldn¡¯t agree. You¡¯re exactly the kind of person he hates, and I¡¯ve worked so very hard to keep him from killing you up to now. I really hope you understand.¡± His partner¡¯s confounding words sent the Butcher in a rage. ¡°What ¡®he¡¯?! What the fuck are you on about!¡± ¡°He¡­¡± The first thing to change were the young man¡¯s eyes. Their sentimental warmth vanished and a scarlet light rose behind his pupils like a ghostly fire had been lit deep within. Next was his expression, the contours of his face, his mouth ¨C everything changed almost immediately. The man was the same man, the face was the same face, but the soft lines all grew hard. Friendly eyes became ferocious. All at once he went it was as though a bloodthirsty demon had woken up inside the angelic boy and changed him completely. His pleasant voice had changed, too, and now was grating to the ear ¨C coarse and savage. ¡°He is me.¡± So fast! The Butcher¡¯s two-hundred pound body was flung into the air by a kick he hardly saw. He still wasn¡¯t sure what was happening when a bone spear pierced right through his chest, pinning him to a tree. He gaped, absolutely at a loss at the changing circumstance. This was unthinkable, how could this person change so suddenly, so dramatically? Why would he attack his companion without any rhyme or reason? Had he forgotten Frost de Winter¡¯s orders? ¡°Ah! Free at last!¡± He looked down at his blood-soaked hands and a sinister chuckle rolled from his throat. He stretched and took several deep breaths, as though he¡¯d been locked in a box for days and only just let out. He stopped over to pick up a dagger and began to play with it, tossing it from hand to hand. He slowly walked toward the Butcher. ¡°You know, every time I see someone like you, so eager to lick the gods¡¯ boot heels, I can¡¯t help but feel¡­ inspired. Artistic expression just fills me up, threatening to burst free. It¡¯s a compulsion to create.¡± The Butcher had no idea what he was talking about. He grabbed the spear jutting from his chest and winced and he tried to pull it free. ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck what sort of freak you are! You just signed your fuckin¡¯ death warrant! Frost de Winter will see you hanged!¡± The blonde man didn¡¯t answer. He stepped in close and with his dagger deftly cut a path along the Butcher¡¯s face. He carved a circle ¨C not deep, not large, but just right. The dagger split the bigger man¡¯s flesh and traced a path until a patch of it fell away. An ear-piercing scream of pain served as musical backdrop. ¡°Let me introduce myself. My name is Naberius [1] and I am an artist. Carving is my specialty.¡± The Butcher continued to scream and struggle. Naberius¡¯ dagger continued its gruesome tour of the Butcher¡¯s body. Like a skilled artisan he continued his work, absorbed in the process, inch by bloody inch. As flesh and muscle fell away his twisted expression was almost intoxicated. Before long the ground was covered in blood and meat. The process was surprisingly quick, though the pieces were small. Still there was no crueler punishment. In a testament to the madman¡¯s skill he kept his victim conscious all along so he could feel every bite of the dagger. Agonizing torment ensued and he would not permit for the release of death. Not yet. He would keep his plaything alive so long as he was ¡®inspired¡¯, for as long as three days and three nights. Even when they were nothing but bone and organ his toys still lived. An artist needed an audience, after all. Who better to appreciate his work than the source material? Naberius liked to show his victims his masterful work with a mirror when he finished. The more they wailed, the shriller their cries, the more satisfied he became. The Butcher earned his name, certainly. But this one¡­ he was a true demon. As he neared the two-hundredth pass of his knife Naberius shuddered, as though a shock had run through him. His dagger deviated ever so slightly, nicking an artery. Furious, he shouted at the wind. ¡°Gabriel! [2] What are you doing? I haven¡¯t completed my masterpiece ¨C ¡®The Angel of Bone¡¯. Don¡¯t even think of interrupting my work!¡± Gabriel¡¯s will was inside him, battling for control. Naberius could play for days, so what recourse did Gabriel have? They didn¡¯t have time for this, they were only still breathing because they were supposed to go to Hell¡¯s Valley. If they were eliminated and returned home with their mission incomplete, the result would be their execution. Two minds struggled over control of their shared body. Cloudhawk watched the exchange from behind a tree. He witnessed everything, from the Butcher¡¯s nightmarish mutilation to the struggles of the blonde haired man. Inwardly he cursed Frost de Winter for being a freak, but the ones he sent after him were just as insane. The ugly one was mad for slaughter, rather straightforward. The handsome one was a multi-personality psychopath. Typically he seemed gentle, even shy, but deep inside lurked a pitiless and foul spirit. It was more than just twisted thoughts, too, for when one or the other came out their abilities were different. The dark one was much, much stronger than the normal man. By himself the golden haired youth was no weakling, and paired with the power of the darkness he was a fearsome foe. His perception and psychic power was also formidable, without a doubt. If he had any relics Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. He was a true monster. After Naberius¡¯ petulant outburst he chose in the end to compromise. After all his dagger had slipped, the piece was ruined. Even if he finished ¡®The angel of Bone¡¯ it would be flawed. To a master sculptor this was an insurmountable error. ¡°Well, if we don¡¯t have time to play then we¡¯ll deal with that irritating gnat first!¡± Naberius turned suddenly, right toward where Cloudhawk was hiding. The dagger deftly spun in his palm before he threw it. It passed through whatever foliage was in its way on a straight path to the spot between Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. Cloudhawk flung himself out of the way as fast as he could. But as he fought to escape the dagger he tried to keep an eye on Naberius in the distance. Only, the psychopath vanished suddenly. He was fast ¨C but Cloudhawk could still catch glimpses of him as he approached. A fierce wind blew at him, followed by a murderous intent. Golden hair whipped through the air, framing a savage face, and unexpectedly close. His eyes were wide and round, his mouth twisted into a sadistic grin. Every muscle in his face was contorted in uncomfortable ways, making his handsome features hideous and dismaying like a nightmare. The dagger was four or five meters away still. Naberius had started to move the moment after throwing the weapon, and arrived before it. As the dagger closed in he lashed out at the wastelander. Cloudhawk, reeling as he tried to avoid the dagger, couldn¡¯t get out of the madman¡¯s way. He swiped with his right hand, fingers splayed. Fingernails jutted out like a cats sharp enough to rend flesh while all the muscles and veins in his hands and arm abruptly swelled, knotted with power. Unfortunately Cloudhawk¡¯s intuition was once more proven right. The blonde man was much more dangerous than he appeared from the outside, much more dangerous than the Butcher. He wasn¡¯t as strong as the large man had been, but he was much, much faster. This fight wasn¡¯t an arm-wrestling match. The strongest one didn¡¯t always win. Moreover the freak was fast and powerful. His explosiveness was shocking. Cloudhawk tried desperately to get out of the way but the man¡¯s talons caught him in the chest. His robes were ripped open and five trenches were carved in his flesh. Naberius¡¯ claws weren¡¯t just sharp but also surprisingly fierce. His left hand reached out for a second pass while his right whipped around to catch the dagger in midair. Meanwhile, faced with a different enemy, Cloudhawk switched up his tactics. Against the Butcher he¡¯d stretched out the fight, doing what he could to waste the big man¡¯s energy and frustrate him. Then it was just a matter of finding the right time to strike. Naberius was too fast for him to run and if he tried he¡¯d just be exposing his back to the enemy. Before he knew it his back would be shredded. There was a serious difference in their speed, but that didn¡¯t mean Cloudhawk was without options. Naberius was fast, but he wasn¡¯t faster than a bullet, and Cloudhawk had just learned he was able to see bullets mid-flight. Naberius¡¯ attacks were clear as day. He wasn¡¯t as fast as his opponent, so all he could do was try to reduce any wasted movement and keep his movements as compact as possible. He had to choose his strikes, attacking only when he had the upper hand. A decisive blow to turn the tables, that¡¯s how he would offset his enemy¡¯s speed. Naberius¡¯ left hand swept by with a gust of wind. Bloody gashes appeared on Cloudhawk¡¯s throat, but not as bad as the deep fissure that appeared on the tree trunk just beside him. Two quick attacks, and by now the dagger he¡¯d thrown had arrived. He snatched it from the air. With a flick of the wrist he spun it around toward his victim¡¯s throat like a propeller. Cloudhawk ducked, causing the dagger to dig into a tree and carve out another five-centimeter deep incision. The freak reacted by bringing his right knee up to try and catch Cloudhawk as he dipped down. The knee came at Cloudhawk like a sledge hammer. A direct hit would shatter bone. He netted the fingers of both hands together and fended it off. He used the momentum of the blow to kick off the ground and it sent him three meters straight up. Agile as a monkey he clambered up the tree into its spindly canopy. But no sooner had he landed then a gust of wind arose at his back. Naberius¡¯ mad laughter cackled in his ear. ¡°Hehehehe! You¡¯re too slow!¡± The glint of a dagger came tearing down. Cloudhawk swung his hand around and slapped Naberius¡¯ wrist away. Fast as he was his attacks were sloppy. The dagger was in his right hand but was knocked to the left marking out a half-circle away from Cloudhawk. The wastelander continued to protect his vital areas with only his hands so that even separated by only ten centimeters, his opponent¡¯s blows couldn¡¯t find their mark. With the dagger deflected, the claws came back. The two men battled in the branches of the petrified tree.Cloudhawk juked and dodged but Naberius still moved with far more grace and surety. Like a ghost he came at him from every angle while bits of tree clattered to the ground below. The tree¡¯s withered crown was clipped and snapped like a man tired of his hairstyle. The two fighting on its head were like the scissors of an untrained barber. Before long the tree had a very nontraditional hair style, and the ground below was littered with broken branches. Naberius cackled all the while. ¡°Hehehehe! You have a strong will to survive this long!¡± Cloudhawk focused only on defense. He was so far successful in protecting his vital areas but Naberius¡¯ attacks were too fierce, too precise. He couldn¡¯t avoid them all, eight or nine spots had been wounded and were seeping blood. Thankfully his regenerative abilities meant the damage wasn¡¯t serious, but he didn¡¯t dare discount their cumulative effect. Naberius was all about torment, and something told him that the freak was still just playing with him. 1. I went with the name of a marquess of hell, a demon who teaches art and cunning and speaks in a hoarse voice. 2. An angelic name this time, in the story he is called ¡®Gold White¡¯. His very Aryan features are typical of archangels and Gabriel is said to have a white-gold aura. Book 2, Chapter 74 - Unpredictable Happenstances Chapter 74 - Unpredictable Happenstances The abnormal fiend that was Naberius had a host of glaring flaws; vanity, conceit, madness. By now he was convinced that he had the upper hand, that the rhythm was under his control. He was a cat playing with a mouse. So why was Cloudhawk so calm? His tricks were exhausted, his death was near! This unsettled Naberius. It was like sleeping with a beautiful woman, only for her to lie motionlessly beneath you ¨C responsive as a corpse. It killed the mood. ¡°The look in your eyes is getting under my skin.¡± Naberius was sure Cloudhawk had no way to fight back. When they dropped once more to the ground Cloudhawk pressed himself against a tree to avoid another attack. He thrust his dagger right toward the wastelander¡¯s left eye. The madman¡¯s precision was uncanny, and his quick movements were sure to pop the young man¡¯s eye right out of his skull. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take one!¡± As the dagger¡¯s tip came his way Cloudhawk¡¯s heart was filled with a cold mirth. You fuckin¡¯ dope, you want my eye? He caught the blonde man¡¯s wrist in his hands, stopping the dagger mere centimeters from his face. Cloudhawk¡¯s back was against the tree, pinned as they struggled for the weapon. Naberius chortled at the young man¡¯s foolishness. The claws of his left hand reached out, this time to dig into his abdomen. This close and with his hands occupied, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stop him. He could almost feel it ¨C the soft skin parting, tough muscle giving way to warm wriggling guts. He would grab them and pull them out for his plaything to see. The time had come. Naberius threw all his focus and strength into the attack, convinced Cloudhawk could not resist. He completely missed the stone around his neck come to life, or the pale light and power that surrounded him. Naberius felt all resistance vanish. The dagger in his right hand jerked forward into his victim¡¯s face at the same time his left hand plummeted into his abdomen. With a thud his dagger stuck in the tree¡¯s tough bark. His five sharp claws struck something hard. No... no this isn¡¯t right! He saw them go through but there was no tearing. Naberius was an expert in body control, and a self-proclaimed master sculptor of the human body. He knew what it felt like it muscle tore and skin gave way. He knew what it felt like this a dagger and with his bare hands. This felt like nothing but air. Cloudhawk took a short step to the left, and smiled. ¡°My turn.¡± With a grunt his right leg came across like a hammer, sending Naberius off his feet. He broke through two trees before coming to a stop. That wasn¡¯t going to kill him, but it sure as hell hurt. He was confident Naberius wasn¡¯t going to be nearly as fleet-footed after a kick like that. Sure enough, although the blonde man¡¯s body was tough the blow was not easy to recover from. Naberius felt that several of his ribs had been broken and his lungs had taken some damage. He couldn¡¯t move as deftly as before. Cloudhawk leapt into the air, as flexible as a chimp, spinning like an expert diver. As he came plummeting down he stuck out his right foot for a crushing ax kick. This wasn¡¯t a normal kick ¨C it was as lethal as a large man swinging a war hammer. If it landed it could very well split him in half. Naberius pushed off the ground and shot back up to his feet, light as a feather. He dodged Cloudhawk¡¯s kick by the skin of his teeth, causing the wastelander¡¯s heel to strike the dirt. He then swept his leg around, kicking up a cloud of dirt and rock into his enemy¡¯s face. ¡°You bastard!¡± The two men punched at one another at the same time. The force of each blasted away the particles of dirt. Naberius staggered backwards. His gifts lay in speed while Cloudhawk was more well-rounded. He was fast and strong, leaving no weaknesses to take advantage of. Without his speed to help him Naberius had to rely on strength alone, and he couldn¡¯t go toe-to-toe with Cloudhawk. The bones of his left arm ached. The punch damaged something in his shoulder. Naberius refused to admit defeat. Regardless of his injury he lashed out fast as he could, but his dagger once again passed harmlessly through Cloudhawk. Again? How was this happening! Cloudhawk sidestepped and delivered a punch. Ordinarily Naberius could easily have dodged but his injuries stopped him cold. He just stared as the young man¡¯s fist caught him in the stomach. As he doubled over another dropkick buried him in the dirt. ¡°You have a relic¡­ how?!¡± The man¡¯s twisted face was a mask of rage and disbelief. He struggled and spat mouthfuls of blood into the soil. His left arm, chest, kidney and spleen were injured. Sturdy as he was this guy had nearly put him out of commission after only a few blows. ¡°The instructor never said foul play was forbidden in Hell¡¯s Valley. All he said was make sure you don¡¯t get caught.¡± Cloudhawk was calm and frank with the man who¡¯d just tried to kill him. He¡¯d had no advantage against the freak and it was only thanks to the phase stone that he hadn¡¯t been gutted. Without it he would have been forced to only stay on defense and hope for the right moment. But with the phase stone he wasn¡¯t afraid. Although the stone¡¯s power wasn¡¯t invincible it required more power than Naberius possessed. Through its unique abilities Cloudhawk was able to land a surprise blow and negate his enemy¡¯s superior speed. Naberius hadn¡¯t considered this his foe would have a hidden hand yet to play. Unprepared, he was taken completely by surprise and it cost him. What¡¯s more he¡¯d never heard of a relic with power like this, that turned people into ghosts. Now his only option was to try and flee, for the condition of hi injuries would only get worse and running away would become impossible. Cloudhawk knew what the blonde man was thinking. ¡°Weren¡¯t you being pretty cocky?Why are you running now?¡± Naberius didn¡¯t answer. He jumped up and made a run for it through the forest. Cloudhawk gave chase. As they dodged trees Naberius¡¯ face softened. The sharp angles and twisted muscles gave way to the more familiar gentleness from before. The almost bashful Gabriel returned. ¡°Hey, hey! You¡¯re going to leave me to deal with your mess?!¡± Gabriel was not pleased, but the body belonged to him now. Cloudhawk was gaining so Gabriel put all his energy into trying to stay ahead. Although they shared the same body, Gabriel didn¡¯t have the same control as his darker counterpart. He could only managed about eighty percent of his potential speed, and with the state of his body as it was he was even slower. He didn¡¯t have any advantage of speed over Cloudhawk anymore. Gabriel shouted at him over his shoulder as he ran. ¡°Hold on, I don¡¯t want to kill you. I just let Naberius out to deal with the Butcher. I¡¯m sorry about what happened after! That was all Naberius, it has nothing to do with me!¡± This is his apology? If it weren¡¯t for my tricks, I¡¯d already be dead. Cloudhawk would cut him into pieces, then apologize when he was dead. He¡¯d be interested to know if Gabriel would accept his apology then. Gabriel bemoaned his fate. He was told it was a ¡®nothing mission¡¯, but obviously Frost de Winter had misjudged. It wasn¡¯t that he¡¯d underestimated Cloudhawk, but rather that no one knew what to expect in Hell¡¯s Valley. Without relics both he and the Butcher were fighting with one hand tied behind their backs! Cloudhawk was not the softhearted sort. These two were sent to kill him and he had no reason to show them any mercy. He was determined to kill Gabriel, if for no other reason than to spare himself more trouble later! Cloudhawk kept up pace but after several minute he still wasn¡¯t getting close enough. He grit his teeth and thought for a moment, then snatched up a sharp rock as he ran past. Whoosh! It struck his prey¡¯s calf. Gabriel was surprised and alarmed by Cloudhawk¡¯s tricks. He hit the ground with a grunt and his pursuer took the opportunity to close in. He came down on him with a first like a falling star, a punch that if it landed would split his skull open. If Gabriel¡¯s head was made of steel it still wouldn¡¯t save him. But with Cloudhawk¡¯s fist just two meters away- Oddball squawked from nearby. Cloudhawk hesitated for just a moment, for just then a slender figure leapt out. The stranger bound off a tree trunk to his left, then whipped a kick at him. Cloudhawk spun around and brought his arms up to block. The force of it knocked him four or five meters away, toward another tree. He grabbed a branch and used it to flip himself up onto his feet. Eyes narrowed, he glared at the new attacker. Claudia glared back [1].She then cast a glance toward the man on the ground. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Gabriel was relieved and overjoyed at his savior. He scrambled to his feet. ¡°Thank you!¡± She returned her gaze, filled with righteous anger, onto Cloudhawk. ¡°Dogs can¡¯t help but eat shit, huh. Here you are trying to kill more innocent people!¡± Cloudhawk felt like a child who¡¯d had his candy taken away and then framed for stealing it in the first place. It was a nauseating feeling. Motherfucker! It was absolutely baffling that this defeated assassin would get to live on. How did she always show up at the least convenient time? Wasn¡¯t she afraid he would kill her? Wait¡­ something wasn¡¯t right. Suddenly it all felt off. He couldn¡¯t defeat Claudia, not here. She was a close-ranged fighter with capable speed and strength. As a demonhunter she had sub-par psychic energy, however. Cloudhawk had managed to easily beat her back at Skycloud because he had his relics to help him. Without their tools, purely hand-to-hand, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he would take her. Claudia was marked from the lashes she decided to take as punishment for her dignity. Fresh blood traced paths down her arm and dripped from her fingertips. The back of her robes were dark from the bloodstains. Those whips were serious business so she had to be suffering, which also meant her fighting capabilities had to be affected too. It was a gratifying thought for Cloudhawk. As Gabriel rose from the ground he fixed his eyes on Cloudhawk. Things just kept getting better, didn¡¯t they. 1. Oh my god I hate her so much you guys. Book 2, Chapter 75 - Dust-Up Chapter 75 - Dust-Up The enemy of one¡¯s enemy was one¡¯s friend. Cloudhawk was fighting alone, but thankfully he had the phase stone to lend him some confidence. These two joining forces at the critical moment was going to be a difficult situation for him to deal with. Still with the stone¡¯s energy field surrounding him he was effectively separate from the physical world. The only attack he would have to fear were those that could overcome the limits of the stone¡¯s power, anything less would be ineffective and he could completely avoid. The problem was that just as others couldn¡¯t harm him, he couldn¡¯t harm anyone either while he was incorporeal. He would have to drop the stone¡¯s power before trying to fight back, and against a single target he could choose the right moment.Just as with Naberius, it was a matter of dodging then counter-attacking. But when his foes started to multiply things got more complicated. Activating the stone took time. Constantly galvanizing and dropping it created more opportunity for mistakes. If they could keep up a continuous assault, or had some special attack, or some special way to overcome his defense, winning this encounter was going to be very difficult for Cloudhawk. ¡°Remember who I am.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was racing, looking for any way to turn the situation his way. But on the surface he remained calm. When he turned his eyes on Claudia a scornful sneer was writ on his face. ¡°Twice you tried to kill me with your sneak attacks and have failed both times. Now here you are again. Are you some sort of sadist? Hey, you don¡¯t love me or something do you?¡± The accusation made her furious. She wouldn¡¯t consider it even if he were the last living person on earth! Cloudhawk smacked his forehead like he was assailed by some irritating fact. ¡°It¡¯s just such a shame you grew up ugly. I mean you know it. Your face looks like a pancake, you¡¯ve got no chest and your ass is a funny shape. A woman like you holds no interest for me ¨C just not my type. Not even out of pity, really, so you should just put the thought out of your mind.¡± In fact, while Claudia wasn¡¯t as beautiful as someone like Selene or Dawn, she was still one of the prettier girls in Skycloud. Her figure didn¡¯t have the same enticing fire of Hellflower, but the bits that should be big were big, and the bits that should be small were small. All in all, very standard. Gabriel understood what Cloudhawk was trying to do. He was a cunning little shit. What he was saying was a load of nonsense, but it was driving the girl crazy. The angrier she got the harder it would be for her to keep her head in a fight, and that lost them their advantage. Claudia didn¡¯t rush to action. Gabriel also didn¡¯t act rashly. They were in a stalemate. Cloudhawk¡¯s verbal attacks became more boldfaced and more brazen, drawing on the many uncouth things he learned from his time in the wastelands with mercenaries. Naturally, they grew increasingly filthy. How could a self-proclaimed noble soul from the elysian lands accept such black-hearted obscenity? Cloudhawk was nothing more than a scoundrel ¨C and that¡¯s exactly what gave him the edge over any elysian. He didn¡¯t care about face, so the stream of expletives and foulness just kept coming. That¡¯s how he was able to strip before two hundred people without a second thought. What elysian could do the same? Claudia¡¯s face turned several shades of red, and her knuckles cracked as she held her fists by her side. It was like a sea of lava roiled just beneath her skin, threatening to burst out at any moment. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan seemed to be working. But Claudia shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again Cloudhawk was surprised to see her eyes were perfect blue pools of tranquility. In fact there was no emotion in them at all, or in her voice when she spoke. ¡°You¡¯re falling back on old tricks. Don¡¯t you get tired of yourself?¡± What is this? All this wasted breath, and no reaction? Cloudhawk had her pegged as a hothead, but her reaction today was exactly the opposite. Out in the wastelands, Claudia didn¡¯t lose to Cloudhawk - she lost to herself. Back then she had a clear combat advantage over him, but had let emotion take control. She gave up her power and let him lead her by the nose. She took her mission¡¯s failure as a lesson. She was an emotional person, but she could learn how to separate her mood from behavior. She effectively had two faces. There was benefit in success, but lessons in failure. What happened to her out in the wastelands wasn¡¯t all bad. This was why enemies and foes were so important! Enemies were the whip pushing you to forward. Adversaries were the mirror with which one constantly looked at the truth of themselves. [1] The person who was able to avoid purely hating their opponents, who could see past their enmity to the worth of their foes, that person was destined for greatness. ¡°Good¡­ very good. You¡¯ve grown up.¡± Cloudhawk let his loathsome persona fall away. The fierceness in his eyes gave way to calm and he spoke softly. ¡°But you¡¯re still determined to fight me?¡± Claudia¡¯s voice sounded like it was born on a frozen mountain wind, cold and imperious. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to see villains win. I can¡¯t stand by while another demonhunter loses their life to contemptible tricks. Any elysian would make the same choice I made, because every elysian carries a righteous heart. A wastelander like you would never understand, so you use any method to get what you want. Any method to gain power. Without faith how far can you really go?¡± Gabriel¡¯s face twitched. His heart started beating quicker. It was happening again. Once his heartrate reached a certain threshold, Naberius would come out again. Claudia¡¯s sanctimonious sermon was provoking him. ¡°You¡¯re willing to make a decision without all the details? You smug assholes are willing to go out and slaughter freely, and saddest of all you still think you¡¯re hands are clean. Put yourselves up on that glowing pedestal. If that¡¯s the sort of things the gods teach your people then if they topple today it wouldn¡¯t be soon enough.¡± Cloudhawk bent down. He wasn¡¯t going to waste time arguing religion. If they were going to fight they might as well get it over with. ¡°Alright. If this is the way it¡¯s gotta be then I¡¯ll take on both of you.¡± Claudia was furious. This bastard dared malign the gods?! The only reason humans still existed was because of the gods¡¯ protection. This heathen deserved to be burned at the stake! Cloudhawk resigned himself to murder. He paid Claudia no mind in the past because he didn¡¯t see much of value. Now it appeared there was more potential than he thought. She was trouble, precisely the sort of trouble Cloudhawk was tired of dealing with. If he killed her here, the Claudia family couldn¡¯t trace it back to him. But Gabriel was a dangerous aberration he also had to deal with. Cloudhawk had fought hard to win an advantage over him and that was only dealing with his physical abilities. The psychopath definitely had strong psychic abilities, too. Killing him any other time when relics were involved might be impossible. It was like a bone stuck in the back of his throat. There was no more holding back, he had to clean this mess up. As murderous intent flooded from Cloudhawk, Claudia¡¯s pale face blanched even further. She even stepped back unconsciously. The wastelander was cunning and wicked, even crazy. From his resolute aura she knew he wasn¡¯t going to stop until one of them was dead. Claudia spoke to the man beside her in a low voice. ¡°This one¡¯s not an easy fight. If we work together ¨C¡° Before she could finish the thought a bone-deep chill ran up her spine. Her face fell, and when Claudia turned the affable blonde man was gone and she was face to face with madness. He¡¯d changed completely in the blink of an eye, and with the glare of a bloodthirsty hunter he swiped at her with deadly sharp claws. Naberius¡¯ dagger-like claws could rip through a mutant animal¡¯s fur, much less the milky flesh of Claudia¡¯s throat. But just as it seemed her head would be lopped off she proved her worth as a melee-focused demonhunter. Her body immediately tensed and she leapt out of the way. When she landed several meters back she felt her neck burning. She brought her hand up, and when she looked down at it, it was covered in blood. Her quick feet saved her from having an artery cut, but the wounds were deep. ¡°You¡­¡± She only got a single world out before Naberius was on her again. His wounds were serious, but his speed was still not to be underestimated. Claudia was faced with the seething murderous rage of this psychopath, who suddenly wanted to tear into several pieces. She had no idea what was going on, was this some sort of trick Cloudhawk had arranged? Only, when she showed up she clearly saw that she¡¯d caught him by surprise. Naberius charged at her, laughing maniacally. ¡°Killing ten thousand of zealots like you can¡¯t slate my thirst! Gods, the Temple, faith ¨C it¡¯s all bullshit! You think any of that highbrow nonsense gives a shit about the common man?! I¡¯m going to kill you, unless the gods see fit to save you!¡± Claudia didn¡¯t know how to put what she was feeling into words. Anger? That didn¡¯t come close to describe it. Beyond that there was humiliation and despair. How could this happen! He is a demonhunter! Cloudhawk was delighted. Gabriel¡­ or Naberius or whatever this freak called himself¡­seemed to have a story of his own. ¡°All day evoking the names of the gods. Who do you think you are?!¡± Naberius¡¯ ferocity grew. ¡°This world is mad! Everyone is mad!¡± Claudia fought off his offensive but not without cost. Several bloody wounds peppered her body. All the while Naberius continued his insane shrieking. ¡°I¡¯ll cut off every piece of meat on your body, just like I did to that goddamn oracle!¡± He killed an oracle? It was like a bomb went off in her brain. Her thoughts went blank. Oracles were ecclesiastical members of the sanctuary, different from a church. There were many churches, mostly religious institutions for the common folk. Only the bishops of those organizations could claim to commune with the gods. Oracles, on the other hand, were legitimate conduits with direct access to speaking with the gods. Although oracles had no other abilities besides this, they were infallible members of elysian society. All of the art, equipment, food and drink they enjoyed were gifted to them from the gods. Every year they were blessed with more relics or technology from on high in order to maintain the prosperity of the realm. The oracles served as a bridge between the people and their deities. He killed an oracle? That is beyond insane! Could it be that this demonhunter has completely renounced his dedication to the light? Has he given himself over completely to the darkness? Damn¡­ what have I done? 1. This is a badass world view. I still hate her but you gotta respect. Book 2, Chapter 76 - Twists and Turn Chapter 76 - Twists and Turn The cooperation Cloudhawk was afraid of didn¡¯t happen. Instead what he witnessed was something he hadn¡¯t expected. Naberius completely ignored his mission¡¯s target upon reawakening and focused entirely on Claudia. Although the Claudia family¡¯s demonhunter was adept at close-quarters combat, she had neither the experience nor speed advantage in this fight. In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged a flurry of blows that left her with several bloody wounds. One of them was especially deep, and she had to keep her abdomen tight for fear her guts might start to leak through. Naberius wasn¡¯t any better off. His fight with Cloudhawk left him with several broken ribs, an injured kidney and a punctured lung. A normal man would have succumbed to the damage already, and his flurry of attacks was making his condition worse by the second. How interesting. It didn¡¯t seem like Cloudhawk would even need to lift a hand. If they kept it up the two would helpfully take each other out. Claudia pushed herself forward with an angry roar, her hands lashing out like a dragon leaping from the sea. Her blows brought gusts of wind as they surged toward Naberius but only struck his afterimage. The psychopath appeared behind her and raked his claws down her back, leaving deep fissures that spurt blood. She spun around to counterattack and managed to catch him in the shoulder with her fist. The two were knocked away from each other. Blood leaked from the corner of Naberius¡¯ mouth. His internal injuries were dire. Claudia was covered in blood that stained her robe copper. Her outer injuries were severe. Clutching his chest, Naberius growled. ¡°Cloudhawk, I don¡¯t see the need for us to break each other. You hate the gods just like we do, hate the hypocrisy they stand for. We¡¯re the same.¡± Cloudhawk stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, watching the drama unfold. ¡°You flatter me, but I have great respect for the gods. Don¡¯t drag me into this mess.¡± ¡°You know the oracle I killed was just a low-ranking one, but still an oracle.¡± Naberius was an insane mess. His golden hair was caked with dirt and blood, and his handsome face was covered in filth. Anger twisted the cherubic features into a hideous mask making him look like a wild animal. ¡°I never took Frost de Winter¡¯s mission to heart, my situation is different from the Butcher¡¯s. He was hoping the Cloude family could clear his name, but I know I¡¯m never going back to Skycloud!¡± Naberius¡¯ best chance was to have Cloudhawk as an ally! Joining forces to kill the demonhunter was a much better option that trying to defeat the wastelander in their condition. Claudia was stunned by what she was hearing from Naberius. This monstrous man, who had killed an oracle with his own hands, had been dispatched by Frost de Winter? The Butcher he¡¯d mentioned was also someone Claudia had heard of, the one who eradicated an entire village for one heretic. But Frost was a prodigy with an impeccable reputation. Why would he do something like this? How could he not realize that his actions violate Skycloud law? That it was a betrayal of the gods themselves? Why would he do such a thing? If this was Frost¡¯s true nature then what did that say about the Cloudes, the Polaris family, and everyone else in the city? Claudia was lost in confusion. In fact, it was more like panic. ¡°Alright.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were pits of sinister darkness. With a smirk on his face he leaned against a tree trunk. ¡°I believe you. You did try to kill me, but if you help rid me of this obnoxious woman then all is forgiven. When it¡¯s done you don¡¯t bother me, and I don¡¯t bother you.¡± That was it? He wasn¡¯t going to fight? What was he thinking? He was content to sit there and watch the other two beat each other to death like they were gladiators. Naberius was definitely crazy, but he wasn¡¯t stupid. Claudia wasn¡¯t a pushover. He was sure he could handle her but it would take a serious toll. If Cloudhawk decided to go back on his promise Naberius wouldn¡¯t be able to defend himself, or even flee. Cloudhawk just leaned against his tree and stared, his dark eyes like pits fixed on the two of them. Naberius couldn¡¯t read the wastelander¡¯s intentions and so didn¡¯t rush to meet his end of the bargain. The three young trainees kept their distance and stared warily at one another. All three of them saw this situation differently. Cloudhawk was still weighing his options, Naberius was trying to guess Cloudhawk¡¯s motives, and Claudia was struggling with the new information she¡¯d learned. Demonhunters were supposed to be the most righteous of holy warriors, she thought, willing to sacrifice everything for honor. She had been convinced that all demonhunters were pure and faultless. Aberrations like the Butcher were rare exceptions. When she learned that Frost de Winter had ordered these evil men here she was beset by fear and confusion. So the Skycloud code could be broken? So someone like Frost de Winter was simply allowed to disrespect, if not openly defy the gods? No! It was impossible! This had to be only one side of the story, she refused to believe it! Claudia was born into a wealthy noble family, she¡¯d grown up never knowing scarcity. When she was found to have the abilities of a demonhunter she began training, surrounded by people like her who were bathed in faith and taught to praise the glory of the gods. Everyone she knew in her life was firm in their piety, so she believed it had to be so throughout the entire domain. Everyone loved one another, brothers and sisters before the eyes of their gods. They were all noble, good-hearted people and that is why she could never understand the dog-eat-dog nature of the wastelands. Demonhunters were the bedrock of that faith. She was convinced of their inviolable honor, for they represented the bravery, loyalty, faith, and strength of the elysian lands. For the first time in her life this was brought into question. She was faced with the dirt just beneath the sterling face of the demonhunters. Her faith was shaken, and her honor under attack. It filled her with uncontrollable fury. She would rather believe all of this was a trick orchestrated by Cloudhawk. He was the one who brought this psychopath here. ¡°Die!¡± She put Naberius out of mind and launched herself at Cloudhawk instead. Her fists came at him like missiles catching him by surprise. He hadn¡¯t anticipated she¡¯d come after him with no warning, so much that he had to shake himself from his astonishment to quickly dodge. Boom! The tree he was leaning on exploded into splinters. Holy fuck! What the fuck is going on?! Claudia whipped a kick at Cloudhawk, forcing him to scurry back half a dozen meters. A hurricane of punches came his way, forcing Cloudhawk to fight back. Now it was Naberius¡¯ turn to watch the scene unfold. What a fortuitous change in fortunes! Now the fanatic turned her fervor on the wastelander, but Cloudhawk had managed to beat Naberius. He knew the girl was no match for the man. Her leg swept by with a powerful gust. But instead of striking her target she watched as her foot slipped right through his temple like Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t even there. He stood there unscathed, then reached out with grabbed her leg in both hands and flung her aside. This was his chance! Naberius made up his mind. In his condition he wasn¡¯t going to get away from Cloudhawk. His only bet was to deal with the girl. His ferocious expression promised death as he launched forward. Claudia was helpless as she tumbled through the air. But as Naberius was getting ready to strike the final blow¡­ Rustling came from the trees and several figures emerged. Upon seeing this both Cloudhawk and Naberius would hardly believe it. More people?! It was a goddamn fairground! This did not bode well for either of them ¨C demonhunters like Naberius were not the norm. Most would side with Claudia. Not good. Got to kill her quickly! He didn¡¯t slow down one iota. The psycho¡¯s intent was to shatter every bone in her chest and ruin all the organs inside. He would revel in crushing her heart and watching the rain of meat of blood, in feeling it flow over his body. ¡°Two men against one woman? There¡¯s no honor in that.¡± With the words a bone arrow shot from the mist, with both incomparable speed and flawless precision. Naberius could not dodge it and finish Claudia off, so he stopped just short of the fatal blow. He spun and kicked Claudia away while snatching the arrow from the air with both hands. However the incredible force of the arrow shoved him several meters back. When Naberius hit the ground he saw a new bloody hole in his clothing. Several figures stepped out from the forest. They all wore trainee¡¯s robes. One of them was a sturdy man of around twenty-five, with buzz-cut hair and sharp gallant features. He carried a bone bow obviously taken from the natives. No one of ordinary strength would have the brawn to a wield weapon like this, so he had to be strong. He was also clearly the leader of this small group. Naberius¡¯ face darkened. Claudia stared at them blankly. Cloudhawk chuckled. ¡°You showed up just in time, but for what? Heroes saving the fair maiden?¡± ¡°My name is Drake Thane. You¡¯d do well to remember.¡± The valiant young man stepped forward. "Because I¡¯m going to personally break every bone in your body. I¡¯m very good at it, so I advise you not to resist, it¡¯ll hurt less.¡± Drake Thane? Of the Thane family! The Thanes were a lauded military family from Skycloud, though not as celebrated as the Polaris. They¡¯d produced many generals over the years but few demonhunters, and those that did arise tended to die quickly. Their lack of a long-lasting demonhunter in the family kept them in the middle tier of Skycloud elite. Drake Thane wasn¡¯t a demonhunter, either. But he was a young commander. This meant all his skills came from his physical abilities alone, and the one who benefited most from this test was him. Unlike demonhunters who lost their relics, his strengths weren¡¯t curtailed by the test¡¯s rules. He was also smart, much smarter than the average meat-head. He typically only acted when it played to his advantages. His goal out here was to find his opponents and break their legs, so they would not make it to Hell¡¯s Valley. With their relics demonhunters had all the power of heaven at their command. But out here? Out here, he was king. Book 2, Chapter 77 - Bold Provocations Chapter 77 - Bold Provocations Drake Thane was not a demonhunter, but a normal soldier. Like the scarred instructor he relied on pure strength and speed to best his enemies. Demonhunters spent a lot of their effort on strengthen their mind and spirit so that they could make the most of their relics. They were not lousy fighters by any means, but they typically were not up to the same level as a specialized warrior like this man. In this world the different between a wise man and a fool was simple; a wise man played to his strengths and avoided shortfalls. He held on to his advantage until the best possible moment, because while an advantage could give you the upper hand it could also just as easily slip away. Opportunity was about timing and motivation, and if you hesitated that opportunity fell into the opponent¡¯s hands. Drake was wise. He recognized this moment as an unparalleled opportunity. He recognized his advantage. Once the demonhunters had their relics returned and recovered from the beating, Drake would go back to being in the middle of the pack ¨C if not near the bottom. He didn¡¯t know what was waiting for them in Hell¡¯s Valley, but he did know it would involve vicious competition. If he dealt with the strong out here while he had the upper hand it reduced the danger he would face in the future. It made sense, now was the time to strike. This test was meant to weed out fifty percent of them, wasn¡¯t it? But while the implication was to outpace the others, that wasn¡¯t Drake¡¯s goal. No, he was going to remove half of his competition himself. All of them were obstacles in his path. The fewer there were of them, the more resources the valley had for him. That was Drake¡¯s thinking, and so that¡¯s what he set out to do. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He¡¯d already put down more than ten other trainees by this point. The sounds of fighting had brought him over here, but he was surprised to find three demonhunters going at it. Each of them looked the worse for wear, and Drake had three handy little helpers to make sure things went his way. He and his fellows stepped out from the mist. Cloudhawk, Naberius and Claudia stopped their fighting. Three enemies suddenly found themselves on the same team against the newcomers. Claudia was especially confused. She hadn¡¯t expected to run into him, and then he saved her life. Only, now it seemed like he was going to kill her anyway. When had the world become so unraveled? ¡°You dare face a demonhunter as a loyal soldier of Skycloud? Do you not fear punishment?¡± To a typical soldier her words might have held some weight, but Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure whether she was being na?ve or just plain stupid trying it on Drake. This guy obviously wasn¡¯t a typical soldier, he was a noble just like her and successful at a young age. Whatever respect she expected wasn¡¯t going to come from him. ¡°We believe in the gods and are loyal to Skycloud. A soldier is duty-bound to complete their mission, and our mission is to complete this training. What we need to do is make sure we walk out of this training.¡± Drake spoke quickly and with determination, sharp as a knife through butter. He seemed altogether unshakable. ¡°Saving your life was my duty as a soldier. But to complete my mission I¡¯m going to have to stop all of you right here.¡± Quite the contradiction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± The words tumbled out of his mouth as gently as iron pellets. ¡°I¡¯m just going to break your legs. I don¡¯t want to kill you. If you¡¯re lucky maybe you can still claw yourselves there.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to claw something alright!¡± No sooner had Drake made his threats than Naberius flung himself at the soldier. His mad laughter echoed through the forest, but no one could see where he¡¯d vanished to. Drake stood with his feet planted and his arms folded across his chest, squinting into the mist like a tower stuck in the marsh. Wind or rain, he wasn¡¯t budging. Hehehehe! Drake¡¯s robes were ripped open at the chest. Naberius swept by like a specter, groping at Drake with his claws. But it didn¡¯t feel like he was tearing at a body at all. Naberius might as well have been trying to dig his nails through stone. Claws that could rip through a mutant beast¡¯s hide only left shallow gashes on Drake¡¯s chest. The instant Drake felt the strike he lashed out with a fist, fast as lightning. He wasn¡¯t one iota slower than Naberius at peak condition, and he was orders of magnitude stronger. There was a stuffy hmph, and Naberius was flung away with all the grace of a discarded sandbag. He hit the ground, bounced up, his the ground again, and stopped only when he smashed through a tree. The golden haired youth¡¯s body elicited a series of nauseating pops and snaps. In one punch Drake had done as much damage as Cloudhawk had in a flurry of attacks. Drake dropped his head and looked at the wounds on his chest. A few droplets oozed from them but quickly stopped, and a few moments later they healed completely. A few faint scars were all that remained. ¡°That tickled,¡± he muttered. Inwardly Cloudhawk felt his heart skip a beat. The guy¡¯s skin was hard as steel. He could stand there and let someone hack at him with a sword and they would barely leave a mark. Beyond that, his recovery speed was even faster than Cloudhawk¡¯s, and judging by that one punch he was strong as hell too. Against someone like him they might have stood a chance if they had relics. But even three on one, with nothing in hand, how were they supposed to fight back? It was like a rabbit trying to fight a pangolin. The fuzzy moron wasn¡¯t getting through that carapace. A few more seconds passed and even the scars were gone from Drake¡¯s chest. ¡°Demonhunters like you command the powers of ice, fire, wind and earth. I could be twice and strong and still couldn¡¯t stand against you. But out here, without your godly powers and relics, what can you do against true soldiers like us? The instructor was right, you¡¯ve become too reliant on the gifts of the gods. You¡¯ve lost sight of your own strength.¡± Drake had always felt like he was under the thumb of demonhunters, but today he was finally able to breathe. ¡°Every inch of our bodies has been tempered by pain and struggle you couldn¡¯t even imagine. Any soldier can defeat a demonhunter in a straight fight, they just need to realize their potential. We could be the backbone of Skycloud¡¯s defense, just as well as any of you!¡± ¡°Cut the nonsense! If you think you have the skill, then wait until we get our relics back!¡± Claudia was at a loss, she didn¡¯t know how to fight back against Drake as things were now. But she wasn¡¯t about to agree to his bullshit. ¡°Any one person, no matter how strong, has their limits, but the power of the gods is endless. You all have made your bodies strong, but what about someone like Master Arcturus?!¡± Drake¡¯s face screwed up in anger and darkened. His voice came in a dangerous growl. ¡°There¡¯s only one Arcturus in Skycloud. Become him, and I¡¯ll have nothing to say. But today, right here and right now, I can teach you all a lesson. Too much talk already ¨C all three of you come at me. We¡¯re wasting time, and there are others out there who need learning.¡± Naberius had gotten back onto his feet, albeit shakily. Claudia glared at him from across the misty clearing. Moments ago the three of them had been willing to kill each other, but now that a common enemy appeared they were forced to work together. But how? Each one wanted the other dead, how were they supposed to fight shoulder to shoulder in good faith? How were they supposed to join forces even though they would have to? Drake promised to only break their legs in order to stop them from participating in the training, but what other dangers lurked out here in deadwood forest? What was waiting for them, ready to strike when they were at their weakest? If their legs were broken, how could they run, or defend themselves? Things had definitely turned dire! Drake Thane seemed easily capable of beating Cloudhawk and the other two by himself, not to mention he had three friends waiting in the wings. Like him, they were also soldiers who¡¯d been hardened by service. Even if they weren¡¯t as strong as Drake, they were still definitely stronger than a group of demonhunters without their relics. It was like fighting a tiger with its claws cut off and its teeth pulled. ¡°If you aren¡¯t going to get it started, then I guess it falls to me.¡± Drake punched his fists together causing his knuckles to pop. He twisted at the waist left and then right and the stretching made his muscles seem to swell. In all his body was like a copper statue, quenched and hardened. The onlookers were convinced that if it was between his skin and a steel blade, the blade was what would break. No time. They have to be dealt with quickly. A voice called out to him from the crowd. ¡°Hold on!¡± Drake narrowed his eyes at the speaker. He¡¯d taken special note of him before, the least wounded of the bunch. He was the first one to remove his clothes back at camp, too. Someone like him was hard to ignore. Cloudhawk looked over Drake¡¯s perfectly formed body. ¡°If you¡¯re so confident why not make a bet?¡± Drake chuckled at the suggestion. The guy was just trying to waste time, but he humored him. ¡°What sort of bet were you thinking?¡± Cloudhawk leaned over and snatched up a bit of broken wood from the ground. He picked off twigs from its surface and swung it around. The branch was no thicker than his finger. ¡°I bet I can whoop your ass with this here stick.¡± Naberius gaped. Claudia stared dumbly. Drake and his three companions stood there staring at him. In their wildest dreams they wouldn¡¯t have thought that would be Cloudhawk¡¯s offer. Had he hit his head somewhere? They couldn¡¯t decide on the best way to mock him. ¡°Haa-hahahaha!¡± ¡°Drake, did I hear that right? This kid thinks he¡¯s gonna break you with a stick?¡± ¡°His brain¡¯s rattled. A sword can¡¯t even pierce Drake¡¯s skin. And he¡¯s hiding behind a bit of wood!¡± But Drake¡¯s face turned dark and angry. ¡°Are you trying to insult me?¡± Book 2, Chapter 78 - Twigs For Swords Chapter 78 - Twigs For Swords Drake¡¯s body wasn¡¯t only the result of hard training and high potential. The Thanes were second only to the Polaris family in military circles, with any number of lauded soldiers and officers as numerous as the clouds. In contrast to Skye¡¯s brood, however, the Thanes did not have demonhunting in their blood. They relied on their own strength to get ahead. What they did have was a secret method for body strengthening, past down from generation to generation. It was a system far more rigorous than the one used by demonhunters ¨C more effective but also tremendously difficult. It involved more than a dozen secret family medicines, and back-breaking training that subjected the student to extreme torment. In this way they made themselves strong, from bone to organs, from skin to tendons. It was this body refinement that made the Thanes such a powerhouse. They were a second-tier family in Skycloud, yet thanks to sheer might they far surpassed the Lunaes in influence. Their younger generation, to a man, dominated the battlefields with their incredible skills. No rain of arrows nor hail of bullets gave them pause. So who gave a shit about a stick? Forget the fact that this kid was a nobody, if a Cloude or Polaris threatened to beat him with a stick it was downright laughable! Cloudhawk gingerly swung his feeble weapon through the air. Whoosh! Whoosh! The thin branch whistled as it cut the air. He pointed it at Drake Thane tauntingly. ¡°What? Scared? Truth is all that muscular nonsense might as well be paper to my eyes. I don¡¯t need a fancy sword, a branch will work just fine.¡± Anger tinged Drake¡¯s laughter. ¡°A branch, eh? You¡¯ve got a big mouth! And if you can¡¯t back it up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, aint I? If I lose you do what you want. A sitting duck.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Drake gripped the jagged hole in his clothes and ripped the cloth apart, revealing the upper half of his body. If one looked closely they might see that he didn¡¯t have a single visible pore. Every corded muscle was perfectly smooth, glossy as bronze or marble. His physique was etched as perfectly as though he¡¯d been sculpted, all hard lines, like a statue come to life. ¡°Show me what you got.¡± Drake wasn¡¯t interest in wasting time, but everyone had their pride. And when his pride was so thoroughly insulted, he couldn¡¯t help but let his anger show. This guy was an irritating little shit, but letting him take a swipe with his little stick would only waste a few seconds. When he failed he could go about grinding all his bones to dust! ¡°What is he thinking?!¡± A magnetic and attractive voice rose from beside Claudia that drew her eye. She saw the blonde haired young man standing near her, back to the way he had been before. The frightening madness that had consumed him was gone. The bashful charm was back. Presumably Naberius could only come out for a short time when emotions ran high. Once things calmed down, Gabriel replaced him. Claudia was alert and wary. How could she not be? Not a minute ago his face had been filled with murderous rage. He¡¯d tried his damnedest to rip her throat open with his bare hands! Now, all of a sudden it was like nothing happened. He was standing beside her naturally, like they were old friends. A guy like him, who changed his mood as fast as turning a page, was someone she definitely had to keep an eye on. This bastard turncoat hadn¡¯t only betrayed her when she was trying to help, he¡¯d turned his back on the gods themselves. In more ways than one he was far worse than Cloudhawk. She was determined to keep her eyes open, if a chance presented itself she would break this psychopath in half. But now wasn¡¯t the time. Claudia pretended she hadn¡¯t heard him. She wasn¡¯t sure what in the world Cloudhawk was thinking, either. Somehow his psychic energy had advanced by leaps and bounds, but physically the two were about equal. Even with a powerful attack relic it wasn¡¯t guaranteed he could break Drake¡¯s defense. And a stick? That was flat-out nonsense. Claudia was familiar with Cloudhawk¡¯s cunning nature. It made him different from the standard mold. He liked to get under his opponent¡¯s skin, even in the middle of a fight, and manipulate them to his purposes. Was this part of the strategy he was using now? Accepting this farce of a challenge proved that Drake had taken the bait. Was the plan to distract him and try to run? No, that couldn¡¯t be it. Drake was no fool. He would notice right away if Cloudhawk tried. What¡¯s more, at a glance from their leader the other soldiers had begun to circle them. They had Cloudhawk surrounded, so even if he got past one the others were there to stop him. There was no running. Drake Thane roared at him with a voice that could crack boulders. ¡°What are you waiting for?!¡± Cloudhawk took a deep breath. In truth, he didn¡¯t know. But he had to try something. The vibrations of power from the phase stone grew stronger. A field of power rose up, filling him up and enveloping him on all sides. It separated him from the fabric of reality. Although everyone could still see him, Cloudhawk had stepped halfway between this dimension and the next. Although he didn¡¯t phase somewhere else entirely, he had become dislodged from the material plane. Like this he was safe, so long as an attack didn¡¯t overpower the stone¡¯s abilities. Anything less would pass harmlessly through him. It was time to start. Cloudhawk held the stick high like a sword and flew forward. And fly was right. He floated up off of the ground like nothing was holding him, while his coarse clothes fluttered. Gravity no longer existed for him. As gentle as a leaf on the wind, with his stick pointed straight ahead, Cloudhawk floated toward Drake. Without anything to stop him, Cloudhawk passed effortlessly through space toward his target. Drake and his cronies looked on, shocked. What was this? An attack this light would hardly tickle! But these men were experienced warriors, and they recognized when something wasn¡¯t right. It was an exceptionally strange scene to witness this guy rise like he did, with his clothes and his hair floating like gravity meant nothing. Such a slow and easy strike was something even a child could avoid. He came at them like he was arriving from far away, from another world. Strange, certainly, but hardly dangerous. With a grunt, Drake stood stoic and steadfast as Cloudhawk approached. The branch reached his chest. Then, the unexpected happened. Cloudhawk¡¯s branch slipped into Drake¡¯s body like he was made of air. They stared in shock, like looking at a ghost! It was more than abnormal, for beyond feeling anything it also left no wound. No blood was spilled. Claudia¡¯s face froze. An illusion? A phantom? Gabriel knew better. It had to be a relic that let him pass through things like this. That was the only way for Cloudhawk to pass through something so easily, while leaving no trace. But what was he thinking? When Drake saw the branch slip through his body, he broke out in a cold sweat. It was short-lived, however, and disappeared when he saw there was no pain. He recovered fast and realized that it was all a trick. The bastard dared try to deceive him! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were calm as a lake surface. It was the first time he was doing something like this. Whether or not he would succeed hinged on this moment! The phase stone¡¯s power was suddenly interrupted. Cloudhawk was all at once returned to the material world, as was the branch he held. The branch that was still mostly inside Drake¡¯s chest¡­ that¡¯s right! This was Cloudhawk¡¯s innovative strategy! A mere branch couldn¡¯t penetrate Drake¡¯s defenses, not even if it was Master Arcturus who wielded it. The branch was just too brittle. He¡¯d have to stab it at Drake ten times the speed of sound to have a chance. Only, was there anyone in the world who could move that fast? Just the friction of it all would burn him to cinders. But what did set Cloudhawk apart was the phase stone! Under the stone¡¯s power he placed the branch where he wanted. Though Drake and the branch occupied the same location, they did not yet share the same place. The two were in separate dimensions and did not interact. But when he let the stone¡¯s field dissipate, suddenly the two were forced together. The branch reconnected to the material plane planted firmly in Drake¡¯s chest. This interdimensional attack was the only way to undermine the warrior¡¯s defenses. Of course, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t some planewalking master. He¡¯d come up with it on the fly, and it was the only choice he had. If it didn¡¯t work, he and the others would be unlikely to escape. Cloudhawk felt the branch fighting against the field. He sensed a fierce resistance that made him pause. It wasn¡¯t unlike the resistance he felt when he tried to pass through solid objects. The denser and more energy-rich the object he tried to penetrate, the higher it resisted. The force on the branch was increasing dramatically. Not good! Crackling came from the dead branch fixed in his grip. It shattered into more than ten pieces with splinters firing off like bullets. The bits that were inside Drake were violently forced out, much to Cloudhawk¡¯s shock and surprise. Was this right? Had he gambled and lost? Drake screamed in agonized pain and hit the ground, clutching his chest. The branch had indeed shattered but more than half a dozen pieces were still lodged in the soldier¡¯s body. The skin, muscle, bone and organs of his body all had different strengths. The stick hadn¡¯t damaged his skin or caused any issue to his muscle or bone, because the resistance force of his body spat the big chunks out. But the body¡¯s internal tissues were complicated. The splinters of petrified wood inside of him spread everywhere. Some were in his lungs, and some were in his blood vessels pumping through his heart. The results were unmistakably awful. Blood poured from Drake¡¯s mouth and nose. This level of internal damage was unprecedented for him, more than he could bear. A single hit had laid him out. Cloudhawk actually did it. If he¡¯d been using Quiet Carnage, or if his psychic energy were strong enough to combat the resistance, the stick would have been kept intact and ran Drake through. It would have killed him on the spot! His first attempt was quite significant. Not only had he defeated Drake, Cloudhawk had discovered a whole new way to fight. From now on the strongest defenses were meaningless before Cloudhawk and his phase stone! Book 2, Chapter 79 - Emergent Misfortune Chapter 79 - Emergent Misfortune ¡°Drake! Drake! What¡¯s the matter?!¡± His three followers hurried over, and when they stooped over they saw something wriggling under his flesh. It was like there were countless worms wriggling inside him. He vomited out a mouthful of blood mingled with wood splinters, which seemed to make him feel better. Drake no longer seemed in danger of dying from the bizarre attack. ¡°That bastard! We can¡¯t let him get away with this!¡± Anger flared among Drake¡¯s underlings. Tragically, Cloudhawk found himself the focus of their rage. He cursed his luck. It was a bet, wasn¡¯t it? Was he going to lose even though he won the wager? Although Drake was the strongest of the group, Cloudhawk was still afraid. If he got up and tried to fight there was no guarantee they might escape. As for the other three, Cloudhawk had some tricks up his sleeves but it likely wasn¡¯t enough to give him a serious edge. Claudia, Gabriel and him could take one each. At least one-on-one they might be able to hold out for a while. But would the other two play along? Cloudhawk wracked his brain, looking for some silver-tongued strategy to convince them to help. He turned to give it a shot - but they weren¡¯t there. He spied two figures racing off into the trees like a pair of frightened rabbits. All of the wrath of these men was centered on Cloudhawk. What more perfect opportunity would there be to run? Gabriel he might have figured, but Claudia, too? She wised up quick! Of course the situation was hardly something he could balk at. Neither Gabriel nor Claudia would look back at this moment and feel guilty. There was nothing to feel bad about ¨C it wasn¡¯t like any of them were friends. As far as they were concerned the others couldn¡¯t die quick enough. If the roles were reversed, Cloudhawk would have torn off into the forest faster than either of them. It was too late to say anything. Once the three men surrounded him the first punch came quickly. Cloudhawk threw his arms up crosswise before him, flexing as hard as he could to protect himself. The blow knocked him back several meters and his legs carved a pair of deep trenches in the ground. Before Cloudhawk could even pull his legs out the second soldier whipped a kick at his face. The ground exploded into a cloud of grit and soil. Cloudhawk was hurled into the air. As he floated helplessly, the third soldier appeared overhead with the heel of his foot aimed at his skull. At the same time the other two were catching up and launching follow-up attacks. It was a perfectly executed pincer attack, orchestrated from the start. ¡°You fucks aren¡¯t going to get me that easy!¡± Power flowed through the phase stone, instantly ripping Cloudhawk from the material plane. All three men converged on him at the same instant, but slipped right through his incorporeal body. Instantly they were a tangle of limbs as the first guy crashed into the third one¡¯s shoulder, the second one punched the third guy in the chest, and the third one rammed into his companion with a shoulder smash. They hit each other so hard they were all flung away, like a human grenade. Meanwhile Cloudhawk calmly floated back down to earth, hovering a few centimeters above the ground like some sort of specter. He didn¡¯t look any different from before, but his hair and clothes floating around him like he was under water. ¡°What now, huh?¡± Cloudhawk was becoming more proficient with the stone each passing day. It was good for more than just burglary, as he was discovering. It gave him an incredible edge in a fight. ¡°You assholes can¡¯t even touch me, you think you stand a chance? I suggest you get the fuck outta here before you make me mad.¡± ¡°He has a relic!¡± Three angry faces glared at him. No wonder Cloudhawk was able to harm their leader. Drake was conflicted. He¡¯d underestimated this no-name prick, underestimated demonhunter tactics in general. With his mysterious relic Cloudhawk had punched through his iron-like body as though it was nothing. Drake was struck by the grating realization that he could be ten times stronger than he was today, and the guy would still have won that bet. That was no normal attack. It was like no style he¡¯d ever seen before, but it was definitely more than Drake could handle. How could he be this strong? Does no amount of hard work and training overcome a demonhunter¡¯s natural abilities? Gods, we are all your devout soldiers. Why do they deserve all your blessings? What makes them so special?! He felt wronged, angry, envious. He was both defeated and unwilling to admit defeat. It surged through him like a torrent of fire, stoking his fury ever higher. Once Cloudhawk saw that his three attackers were not rushing back in, he knew his display had worked. He allowed himself to take a breath. ¡°Wolfe, Jaga, Tigris ¨C stand down. Leave him to me.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face froze. No! Drake stood up and jumped in one fluid movement. A crater was left behind. When he came crashing back down the earth rattled and a shockwave burst out. His glare was so sharp Cloudhawk could almost feel its bite. ¡°You didn¡¯t really succeed. That means I win this bet.¡± Fuck you, that¡¯s some bullshit right there. It¡¯s at least a tie¡­ Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have a chance to open his mouth. Drake¡¯s meaty fists came at him like a stampede, one after the other in a series of blows he could hardly see. At least punches a second, and each one caused the air to hiss in protest. Fast! Strong! In a blink there were several dozen fists pummeling him, and each one had the force of twenty tons behind it. To Cloudhawk it would feel like being smacked with an elephant, if it weren¡¯t for the stone. It was not a problem to him, except that Drake wasn¡¯t slowing down. Quite the opposite, in fact, as he quickly ramped up to twenty punches a second. They came so fast they actually started to compress the air, and as it thickened friction began to heat it all up. Temperature rose sharply, like a bomb moments from detonation. Ten punches. Fifty punches. A hundred ¨C two hundred! Eventually licks of fire were actually dancing through the air, whipping among the turbulence like red-hot knives! Drake was no demonhunter. What he was doing was purely a result of his speed, strength and ferocity. He had to be using martial skills Cloudhawk had no concept of to allow himself to move so fast and punch so hard. By the time the flurry of punches had reached a hundred, each one had more pure force behind it than Cloudhawk cold fathom. This spectacular scene was a result. A master demonhunter not specialized in close-quarters combat would fear for his life before this onslaught! Cloudhawk¡¯s face fell as Drake¡¯s attack reached its climax. At last it accumulated enough energy to affect him, and it felt like a bubble burst. The kickback knocked him a few meters away. More bad news. His body was rematerializing. Drake kept it up. Every second he was pummeling Cloudhawk¡¯s intangible body with a dozen strikes at different places. The force of each fist reached up to three hundred meters away. Cloudhawk could see their trajectory but couldn¡¯t get out of the way. He curled his fist and put all the strength he had behind it, sending right into Drake¡¯s face. Just in that moment¡­ Cloudhawk¡¯s chest and abdomen were pulverized by half a dozen punches. Both men rocketed away from one another. Drake¡¯s skills were beyond comprehension. His three soldier companions ¨C Wolfe, Jaga and Tigris ¨C stared with mouths agape. Cloudhawk hit the ground hard, but controlled his roll and regained his footing. He paused, teetering in one knee, face pale. Drake was much stronger than he thought. He¡¯d managed to power through Cloudhawk¡¯s defense, something he¡¯d never seen happen before. His punch wasn¡¯t something to sniff at, though. Drake¡¯s lower jaw was crooked from the hit. Unlike Cloudhawk he didn¡¯t hit the ground after being knocked back. He deftly spun through the air and landed with his feet firmly beneath him like he was nailed in place. Calloused hands gripped his face, and with an audible pop Drake reset his dislocated jaw. Cloudhawk¡¯s punch would have knocked a black bear¡¯s head clean off, but all he managed to do to Drake was swell up his cheek. Even that quickly vanished as capillaries drained the flood away. He looked totally unfazed, never taking those dark eyes off Cloudhawk. No relic was perfect, and no defense insurmountable. The success of his attacks had proved that. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you got your hands on that relic, but it isn¡¯t anywhere good enough to save you!¡± Drake had recovered his confidence. But when he spoke blood still leaked from his mouth. His internal injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed yet. ¡°Now that you know I am better than your toy, what else you got to protect you?¡± ¡°Heh, don¡¯t think you¡¯re such top shit. That was an impressive display, but I know what it cost you. As far as I can tell you still got a bunch of splinters stuck in you. Sure as shit can¡¯t be feeling good. Someone like you that relies on explosive force, how much longer do you think you can keep it up?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry about that. I have enough in me to break you apart a hundred times before I go down.¡± ¡°Then fuckin¡¯ put up and prove it!¡± Drake¡¯s determination was exceptional. He was willing to keep throwing punches at a shadow, whereas any normal person would give up after four or five. He just kept at it like a rabid dog. Fine. We¡¯ll see who¡¯s crazier. Cloudhawk had never been afraid of going all out! He picked up a dagger from the ground. There was enough psychic energy left in him to use the stone a few more times, enough for one more fight with this stubborn asshole. Cloudhawk knew the dagger wasn¡¯t going to do much, but he also knew that everyone had a weakness. His eyes glanced pointedly at the spot between Drake¡¯s legs. He was sure the guy noticed. Drake was just as determined. He dropped into a combat posture. He didn¡¯t know this demonhunter, but if he had a relic like that he had to be special. If he could beat a demonhunter like this, it would be a monument to his efforts along the warrior¡¯s path. It would prove that even a demonhunter with fortune on his side could be beaten. ¡°Bring it!¡± Cloudhawk brought his dagger up, crouched and ready. From across the clearing Drake screamed at the top of his lungs. It¡¯d been so long since he¡¯d had a battle like this! Thanks to his family connection he was already a lieutenant in the army, but they still considered him too young to command troops. On the few occasions they did take him out on missions, it was to fight heathens and mutated beasts. Under these conditions, when would he have an opportunity for an epic fight? Drake braced himself to charge, when suddenly the sounds of running footsteps rustled through the deadwood forest. Both of them looked toward the sound, and neither could believe what they saw. Claudia and Gabriel had returned. For Cloudhawk it was a stunning turn of events. Why would they ran back this way for no reason? Did they suddenly have a change of heart? Did their sense of morality suddenly berate them for dumping him unceremoniously to the wolves? Unlikely. Both of them were only took anxious to see Cloudhawk dead. ¡°This kid is mine,¡± Drake growled. ¡°The rest of you, go after them. Quickly!¡± Tigris, Jaga and Wolfe charged off into the trees without a second thought. In the same instant, Drake rushed at Cloudhawk like a raging bull. And just as it seemed like all-out war was about to break out- ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Claudia shouted desperately at them. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded by mutants! Stay here if you want to die, otherwise run!¡± Cloudhawk froze. Surrounded? By the mutants? How?! But she was proved right. The sound of shrieks and hollers rang through the forest, and as the mist dissipated countless black figures appeared before them. The black sentinels stood just outside of view, unmoving. Then, arrows. Everything was arrows. Poison-tipped arrows! Drake was aghast at the scene. There was no more room for disbelief. ¡°The arrows are poisonous! Find cover!¡± Book 2, Chapter 80 - Breaking Ou Chapter 80 - Breaking Out The rain of arrows fell all around them. These arrows were thrown, and so they posed no threat of puncturing anything important. They hardly had enough force to break skin, and against a constitution like Drake Thane it was laughable. He could stand in the middle of the field and at worst he might get a pinprick. But these weren¡¯t normal arrows! One of the soldiers was overconfident and didn¡¯t run when he was told. One or two arrows wouldn¡¯t kill him. An arrow caught him in the back, digging the cone-shaped black arrowhead into his flesh. The head was actually a mutant fang, filled with poison. So the instant it struck the soldier, toxins were injected into his bloodstream. In an instant poison pumped throughout his whole body. Poison tooth arrows! Weapons unique to the Blight-tooth sweeper clan. The poison was strong and quick, but short acting. Because of this they didn¡¯t use it in traps like others, but for direct attacks. The arrows were only made just now before the assault when the poisons were strongest. Still the soldier was sturdy ¨C perhaps not to the point where he could deflect steel with his muscles, but certainly tough enough that a few arrows weren¡¯t a concern. His false self-confidence cost him, for as the poison touched his skin it immediately took effect. The potent substance could rot through iron plate, so one could imagine what it did to flesh. The soldier screamed and hit the ground. Instantly the skin around the wound had ulcerated and giant pustules bubbled onto the surface. [1] They burst, spewing fetid black blood in all directions. The first arrow was followed by a second, then a third, and a forth. More and more of these evil toothed shafts were buried in his body until the screaming soldier was a half-rotten corpse. Drake was horrified by what the natives¡¯ weapons were capable of. A wound like that wasn¡¯t something you survived. There was no way of telling how many of them were out there, but judging by the sheer number of arrows there had be at least a few hundred. Seven people wasn¡¯t enough, they had to get out of here. ¡°Tigris, Wolfe. Run!¡± Drake shouted for his companions, compelling them to give up their counter-attack against Cloudhawk. All six remaining trainees looked for a way to break out of the encirclement. While they were thirsty for each other¡¯s blood only moments before, the current circumstances turned them into unwitting allies. After all, to elysians all wastelanders and mutants were mortal enemies. At least for the moment, they had to put aside their shared enmity. The hail of poison arrows ceased. The ground was covered in traces of corrosion and whisps of grey smoke rose like a mist. The arrows didn¡¯t just kill whatever they touched. They desecrated an area, turning it into a toxic deathtrap! Enemies began to appear in abundance. They were fast, firing arrows as they raced through the forest. Between the mist and the poison fog, the trainees couldn¡¯t tell where their attackers were coming from nor how many there were. All they could see were more arrows coming at them. One was headed right for Claudia¡¯s chest. With a scowl Cloudhawk reacted, throwing his arm in front of her. The arrow struck him and instantly delivered its poison. Right away the flesh turned black and putrid. Smoke rose from the wound like it was burning. Claudia could hardly believe what she saw. Why¡­ why did he save her? He poisoned himself! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t seem to care much about the damage. His reasons for saving Claudia were simple ¨C she was a hateful woman but she knew how to fight. With enemies all around, they were facing extermination. [2] Cloudhawk understood that. ¡°Cover your nose and mouth. We have to get out of here as fast as possible.¡± No one was idle, but while they could hear where the attacks were coming from, dodging them was something else entirely. The arrows came in numbers they couldn¡¯t fathom, and these were from bows so they were a threat beyond just the poison. They were fast as bullets, and far more lethal. It was the sheer number that was the greatest threat! Completely avoiding them was almost impossible. The arrows that missed their targets were still a threat. Toxic fog poured out of the teeth, so potent that a normal person would be killed by a single lung full. Claudia and the others were stronger, but even so two or three breaths was all it would take for it to claim them, too. Only Cloudhawk was different. Claudia covered her face with the coarse training robe. It gave temporary relief, but it couldn¡¯t protect her from everything. Her eyes were especially vulnerable, and the fog was like pouring hot water into her sockets. The pain was so intense she could hardly keep her eyes open. How could she fight when she couldn¡¯t see? Drake¡¯s mind raced as he assessed their situation. He could tell where the enemies were thickest by the density of arrows coming from that direction, so he used that information to plan their escape. ¡°They¡¯re coming in from that side! Quick!¡± Another one of his followers started to follow, but let out a piercing scream and fell as an arrow caught him in the thigh. [3] It took no time at all for the poison to rot all the flesh around it, causing bits of skin to putrefy and melt off. Suddenly unable to keep up, he fell behind the rest of the group. ¡°Tigris!¡± Drake reached out for him. Another barrage of arrows whistled from the forest and his face fell. He had no way to fend them off, and the instant the velocity of the arrows changed all the poison inside was released. Once that happened they would be in the middle of a toxic cloud, and besides several of those arrows would find his legs as well. Drake had no choice but to abandon his man. In this moment a figure emerged from the mist. When Drake saw him, his face slackened in surprise. It looked like one of those lizards they used in the wasteland, but different. Wasteland lizards ran on all fours and were relatively slow, whereas whatever this was ran on two. Its forelegs were stubby, but tipped with razor-sharp claws two or three meters long. Their haunches rose about one meter and they had to weigh thirty or forty pounds. Light, but very fast. These were called stalkers. They had long heads with a nose and mouth that pointed slightly upwards. They lengthy jaws had twenty six to twenty eight serrated teeth, leaving no doubt that they were predatory. ¡°Drake, run!¡± Tigris struggled back onto his feet ¨C a herculean effort since the poison had already eaten his leg down to the bone. It had spread and splashed over more of him and large parts of his body had already started to turn black. The stink of decay hung over him, there was no saving this man. He knew it, and so with the last moments of his life Tigris decided to try and give the others more time. He proved himself a soldier in that moment. Wounded and hopeless, his bravery was unparalleled. He punched off one of the riders that got close, and then stuffed his hands in the stalker mount¡¯s mouth and ripped the top of its head off. Other riders closed in, firing their bows. Tigris¡¯ screams rang through the forest as he was peppered with several more arrows. Drake watched the whole thing. Raged filled him with such intensity it seemed his red eyes might burst. But Cloudhawk pulled him along, delivering a sharp slap to his face. ¡°Your friend died so you could get away. What the fuck are you still gaping at? Run!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s slap snapped him out of it. Acting recklessly now would get him killed. As they fled one of the natives stepped out from the group. This one was bigger than the rest, about the size of an average human man. He looked young, and in the elysian-forged armor that covered him from head to toe he looked almost regal. ¡°You twisted wastelander freak! I hope you fuckin¡¯ suffer before you die!¡± Half a dozen arrows jutted from Tigris skin. Their poison had already begun dissolving his organs, but he kept his eyes fixed on the enemy. This one had to be their leader, he figured, and so without a second thought he flung his failing body at him. The chief wore a helmet that hid his features, but anyone could feel the taunting sneer on his face. With incredible speed he knocked and pulled back a bow twice the size of his companions, firing an arrow too fast to track. This one was a normal arrow that shot through Tigris and became lodged in a distant tree. He went rigid. The stalker mount lurched forward and snapped its jaws around the soldier. As Tigris struggle to take his final breaths, the leader pranced his mount around with the soldier caught in its mouth. He slung the bow over his back and drew forth a wide-bladed hatchet. Then, before the elysians and all his men, he cut Tigris'' head from its body. The men who¡¯d followed Drake weren¡¯t family, but they were soldiers like him. Young, talented men ¨C comrades in arms. The connection that bound them went deeper than blood. They were also Drake¡¯s closest friends, normal men like him. Competing against demonhunters was difficult, but they relished the opportunity. For this reason they¡¯d joined forces, only for him to witness two of them die in this cursed forest. He felt their deaths sharply. There was nothing he could do. Eyes red, voice angry, he growled at the others. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk cast a glance toward the sweeper in elysian armor. It was strange, he thought¡­ He¡¯d encountered a few of the sweepers already, and besides their traps they weren¡¯t much of a threat. They were an irritation more than anything, easily put down. A mob without tactics. This group was different. They planned their attack. Their tactics weren¡¯t to the same level as an army, but it was far superior to any of the groups he¡¯d seen so far. Cloudhawk had to wonder where this guy came from. 1. Life pro tip: Do not google image search either of those terms. Or do, if you want to really be able to picture the action. But I warned you. 2. The Chinese uses a phrase ¨C ¡®the upended nest has no unbroken eggs¡¯ 3. I used to be an adventurer like you¡­ Book 2, Chapter 81 - Blight-tooth Clan Chapter 81 - Blight-tooth Clan The stalker beasts and their riders could reach a top speed of a hundred and fifty kilometers an hour through the forest. The stalkers were compact beasts full of taught muscle and explosive power. Their lithe and agile bodies easily whipped around any obstacle in their path to easily chase down prey. ¡°Kill them! For the Clan!¡± The lead rider hefted his blood soaked hatchet and screamed a battle cry. The dozen riders who accompanied him answered. They were all attired in custom cavalry gear that bound their legs to the stalker mounts. Effectively this turned two into one; the rider fought and fired arrows while the beast served as their legs. The small native knocked their bows and aimed for the fleeing trainees. Poison-tipped arrows were let loose. Wherever they struck ¨C trees or ground ¨C the arrows instantly gushed with toxic smoke, threatening the trainees even without finding their target. Ahead there was another group laying in wait, and soon the elysians would find themselves caught. With death closing in on either side these humans would have nowhere to run. The leader of the riders felt anticipation seep from every pore. Excitement for slaughter filled him and he almost couldn¡¯t stand to wait to cut these bastards into pieces. It¡¯d been ten years since the Blight-tooth Clan¡¯s ancestral lands were invades. They were forced from the valley where they¡¯d lived for generations, an affront that festered in the hearts of every clan warrior. But it went beyond clearing them from their homes. The sweepers of the Blight-tooth Clan reproduced quickly, and by age six or seven they were already prepared to fight. The speed worked against them, though, for the despicable human used them for their own ends. Natives of the forest were culled routinely to keep their numbers low. A death squad from the valley was dispatched whenever they were deemed too numerous. They were caught in a giant cage. Blight-tooth Clan used to be a mighty force, but had since been reduced to a shadow of their former selves. They were prisoners of Deadwood Forest. Yet, the most heinous insult was that these proud warriors were now reduced to tools. They were used to hone young elysian warriors, while any mighty warriors they raised were abducted and turned into slaves for the benefit of hardening future human killers. Day in and day out, it was an unending battle for survival. Among members of the clan, hatred for elysians was imprinted on their very bones. Gorefang was the title they gave to their leader, and the young one leading the charge was the current generation¡¯s chief. He was twenty this year. Among the clan, fifty was considered ancient, so at twenty their Gorefang had already reached middle-age. His father had been Gorefang as well. Back when they lived in the valley, Blight-tooth Clan was different from the other sweepers. They lived very differently from humans, but were no less intelligent. They planted crops and bred animals to subsist on and sought no dispute with the world outside of their territory. Since they had enough, they rarely raided others. However, even though they avoided conflict, war came to them. Old Gorefang was captured when the humans came, and tortured to death at the hands of one of their commanders. His successor still remembered the day his father bravely gave his life for his clan. What had they become? No future, no hope ¨C nothing. Their sole purpose now was to make their enemies stronger. Their effort, blood and lives were given just to strengthen elysian murderers. Sacrificial lambs on the altar of human superiority. Gorefang hopelessly resigned himself to the knowledge that this would be their fate, forever. Then, six months ago he saw a chance to change things. A power from the wastelands reached out to him, and with its help he brought his fractured people back together. They were given these mounts and weapons as gifts to rebuild the glory they¡¯d lost. In six months¡¯ time they were on their way. Because it had happened all so fast, the soldiers of Hell¡¯s Valley didn¡¯t know how strong the Blight-tooth had become. They were blessed by the help from the wastelands, but Gorefang knew it was not without cost. He also knew how powerful they were, the influence that they held. Ambitious, aggressive, eventually they would come when the time was right to conspire against the humans of Hell¡¯s Valley and crush them. Easier said than done. Hell¡¯s Valley wasn¡¯t just a training camp. That was just part of it. Hell¡¯s Valley served as a valuable forward operations base for Skycloud domain, and the veterans stationed there constituted stronger combatants than Skycloud¡¯s own army. Having such a force stationed somewhere easy to hold and hard to attack made for more than just a good training area. It was established mostly for mutual defense, establishing a force of shock units that could be deployed at a moment¡¯s notice. They could either be turned against an enemy¡¯s rear to cut them off, or used as a spear to strike right at an invader¡¯s heart. As an advance guard their responsibility wasn¡¯t to participate in battle, but rather to recognize threats before they happened. Any group that seemed poised to create a problem was swiftly dealt with. The soldiers of Hell¡¯s Valley were a special task force with their eyes on the wastelands, and very little happened out there without them knowing about it. If a group from the wastelands wanted to attack the elysian lands, their first act would have to be amputating the garrison at Hell¡¯s Valley. Towards that end, the Blight-tooth Clan made a valuable ally. Gorefang was smart, he knew what his clan was worth. Attacking the elysians was no easy thing, and his people would serve as little more than cannon fodder. Gorefang wasn¡¯t about to let his people die for another¡¯s cause, or allow the humans to wipe them out. His hope was to lead his people out, to regain their freedom. So it was that he continued to accept the gifts of the outsiders, while at the same time planning their escape. He¡¯d planned to wait before making his move, but it seemed too late now. The valley¡¯s student selection process had begun, and now that they were back in the forest the valley¡¯s attention would come their way once more. The Blight-tooth Clan¡¯s power would soon be exposed, and Chief Gorefang could no longer tolerate his people being victimized. He made a decision. It was time to fight for their freedom! From ahead came the sounds of battle. When Gorefang rode toward the din he was stunned to come upon a very different scene. The warriors he¡¯d deployed to the front had failed. The elysians weren¡¯t dead. Instead, he found the ground littered with his men¡¯s corpses, and a handful of others in elysian armor. Older men ¨C veterans from Hell¡¯s Valley. ¡°Bastards! We¡¯ve been discovered!¡± When he saw the dead veterans Gorefang¡¯s ugly features twisted in rage. They didn¡¯t typically send soldiers out to monitor the students, as most of these new trainees were stronger than the average soldier. Even if they did come and watch, they wouldn¡¯t intervene. Normally the veterans would dispatch their assistants for that job. Veterans in Deadwood Forest could only mean one thing; they¡¯d been exposed. Hell¡¯s Valley had dispatched a response, a fact that did not bode well for his people. ¡°Blackfang, gather all the clan warriors. We¡¯re killing our way out of here!¡± ¡°Yes, chief!¡± Blackfang was the chief¡¯s right hand and second in command. He put a bone horn to his lips and delivered a blast that howled through the forest. Scares of warriors spread all around gathered at the horn¡¯s call. In a matter of minutes, eight hundred men were ready to head Gorefang¡¯s orders. Blight-tooth Clan¡¯s leader looked over the sea of people, his people. He saw the fiery light of determination in their eyes. ¡°The elysian dogs have kept us in this forest for decades. They¡¯ve killed our fathers, our mothers, our lovers, our children! They use our blood to strengthen their warriors, and spent our lives to buy their future. We¡¯ve suffered this for so long. It¡¯s time to make this suffering end!¡± ¡°Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!¡± The writhing crowd screamed in response, thrusting bone weapons into the air. From the resounding cries for blood, it was clear how much these people had had to endure. Any that had survived the routine purges up to now bore an unwavering hatred for their tormentors. Gorefang went on. ¡°Our home is destroyed, but we still find shelter under the protection of our ancestors. We may be forced to give our lives, but we will no longer give it for them. We will give our lives for freedom!¡± Another round of cries erupted. ¡°Raise your weapons, use them to cut a path out of this prison. Many of us will die, but we will live on in the hearts of those who make it. Our clan will grow and prosper, until one day we return to our home and take back everything that was stolen from us!¡± ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!¡± Blight-tooth warriors did not fear death. Years of brutal oppression under the elysians had done nothing to quench their savage spirit. Today they would teach them that letting the Blight-tooth survive was a mistake ¨C one that they would pay dearly for! Book 2, Chapter 82 - Wolfblades Scheme The bone horn¡¯s call reverberated through the forest. It was the sound of these warriors determined to give their lives. A bald, hook-nosed man¡¯s eyes popped open when he heard it. With a grin he turned toward the person behind him. ¡°Well boss, it looks like everything¡¯s going according to your plan. Gorefang is doing just what we wanted him to do. A stroke of genius, manipulating them into choosing now to try and break free, while also letting the valley know about it. In one stroke we¡¯ve built the opportunity we need to bring this whole place down. It¡¯s time to move on with the scheme.¡± ¡°As I¡¯ve told you many times, Buzzard, all great achievements start with careful planning. More importantly, you must guard against your own arrogance. It¡¯s just the beginning, they haven¡¯t even launched the attack yet.¡± The man¡¯s hoarse voice was shrewd and stately. In his heavy tone he added, ¡°I haven¡¯t yet spoken. What¡¯s your hurry?¡± The bald, beak-nosed man nodded respectfully. ¡°Of course, boss.¡± Had Cloudhawk been there, he would have been surprised to recognize the bald man. It was Buzzard, the high-ranking agent of the Dark Atom he had encountered twice already; once at Blackwater Base and once at the Sandbar. Their meetings had been brief encounters only, but the man left Cloudhawk with a deep impression. He and the group he was with were hiding in the northern reaches of Hell¡¯s Valley. Five wasteland airships were hovering overhead, awaiting orders. Each one was over a hundred meters long, equipped with over a dozen gatling guns and cannons. ¡®Destructive¡¯ did not begin to describe them. They were outfitted with a long metal rod, from which was emitting a mirror-like screen. This ancient, high-tech technology was an effective camouflage which, when looking toward the ships from Hell¡¯s Valley, made them completely invisible. Meanwhile, Buzzard and the others could see everything going on before them. Besides the five ships, there were also several hundred Dark Atom agents ready for action. The crowd was gathered around a small man, thin, only about a hundred and sixty-five centimeters tall. He was clad in a silver outfit of unknown material that looked alive, or like some kind of fluid. It moved constantly all over him. Layers of cloth hid everything, even his eyes, like mummies of old. On his back were three different styles of swords and each one resonated with unique energy. Just mentioning this bandaged stranger¡¯s name would cause a stir in the borderlands. He was the leader of the Dark Atom ¨C Wolfblade! The very same! This man was well known in the elysian lands as the leader of a massive heretical organization. The Dark Atom held incredible sway over the area around Skycloud domain, and their power was only surpassed by their obscurity. Countless men were willing to die for their cause, and talented warriors were in no short supply. Much to the despair of their enemies, the Dark Atom had spies everywhere ¨C a fact that made it nearly impossible to eradicate them. Now Wolfblade had shown himself personally. His goal was the destruction of Hell¡¯s Valley. Buzzard was one of a dozen or so other high ranking members joining their leader on the mission. His presence, along with the others, demonstrated just how crucial this attack was. However, he wasn¡¯t the most eye-catching figure. Besides Wolfblade himself, the most striking person was the one who stood beside Dark Atom¡¯s leader. He was a man two meters tall, hidden beneath a black robe. Everything about him whispered death, especially the seething red light burning in his dark hood. Those sanguine points had to be the man¡¯s eyes. Unsettling was the fact that there was no emotion in them ¨C no joy, or hatred, or sadness. In a word, soulless. He stood behind Wolfblade, still as a statue, silent as a shadow. Though covered, Dark Atom¡¯s leader lifted his eyes and looked around. His gaze seemed capable of penetrating everything, seeing all that happened within the valley below. Right now, he was waiting for the perfect opportunity. The show was about to begin. For years the elysians had oppressed free citizens of the wastelands. But all that was about to change. *** At the same time, elsewhere. Cloudhawk and the others had escaped, and where taking cover in a cave. The four others looked sickly, with their faces taking on a pale mauve hue. They¡¯d been poisoned, not but by the poison-tipped arrows directly, but by the potent toxic fumes they¡¯d released. The mist had been so prevalent that it was impossible to avoid inhaling them entirely. As a result, it had begun to eat away at the mucus lining of their nose and throats, even damaging their lungs.What¡¯s more, the fumes were like a mist and clung to their bodies and clothing. Sores and blisters had sprung up over their bodies, some of which were nearly deep enough to penetrate inside the body. By the time Claudia found shelter in the cave, she was already finding it difficult to breathe. Her beautiful blonde tresses were stripped of color and left grey and withered. Her skin burned like a blazing oil slick. Of the whole group, only Cloudhawk and Drake seemed to be in decent shape. Drake¡¯s constitution is what kept his healthy, but even he was struggling a little for breath. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, walked into the cave with no adverse signs. It was like neither the poison arrows nor the toxic fumes had any effect on him at all. While he got his bearing, a pudgy little bird fluttered into the cave and took up post on his shoulder. Cloudhawk gave the critter an affectionate scratch on its head, then turned toward the others. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got good news and bad news. What do you want to hear first?¡± The four others looked uncertainly at one another. All of this going on, and this asshole was cracking wise? Gabriel ran his hands through his hair, pulling out thick tufts in the process. He responded with a bitter scowl. If he had his relics Gabriel was sure he¡¯d be the strongest person here, but here he was. The injuries he¡¯d sustained made him weak and the poison¡¯s effects more potent. ¡°I fail to see how there can be any good news for us.¡± ¡°We¡¯re pretty lucky, actually. Those sweepers had set up an ambush to cut us off, but they ran into a group of soldiers from the valley. Their fight opened up a route for us to escape, but several of the veterans were killed because of it.¡± ¡°This is your so-called good news? I don¡¯t see how any of that is good.¡± Claudia was still fighting with her prejudice for Cloudhawk. They¡¯d been forced to suffer this together, but she still loathed the man. After all, all that pent-up rancor wasn¡¯t going to go away overnight. So she couldn¡¯t help but share a few sharp words with him. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re saying that the death of a few elysian veterans is good news. Is that it?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t about to get in an argument with this idiot. Her reaction always seemed to be a little behind other people, so he paid her no mind and spoke to the others. ¡°This means this mission they sent us on has gone outside of their control. It¡¯s the only reason they would have sent soldiers from the valley.¡± The others paused to take in the information. He seemed to have it right, the entrance exam was supposed to be hard, not fatal. Against a few hundred natives, with poison and beasts to ride, it was a suicide mission. If you threw someone like Frost de Winter in here with no protection or relics he probably wouldn¡¯t make it out. For the sixty-some trainees it was certain death. The proper training hadn¡¯t even started yet, how could they just throw everyone into a death trap? The only logical answer was things had changed, and the trainers had no idea. Evidence of that was the group of soldiers, and their deaths meant things were out of control. The deadwood forest was supposed to be under the valley¡¯s control, so they couldn¡¯t just turn a blind eye to what was going on. The scarred instructor and his assistants had to be out there helping to get things in order, too. If that was the case, it shouldn¡¯t take long for things to cool down. That was the good news. Of course this was predicated on them being able to hold out long enough to get rescued. Drake scowled. ¡°So what¡¯s the bad news?¡± Before Cloudhawk could answer the question, a sound caught their attention from outside the cave. A pair of stalker beasts skittered into view, squat and agile, their eyes glinting red light. Fang-filled jaws snapped, ready to tear apart anything they clamped onto. ¡°Shit, they¡¯re in!¡± Claudia tried to stand but her strength was gone. She couldn¡¯t fight back. The stalker riders spotted the five human huddled in the darkness and raised their bone spears. They heaved their weapons, and it was in that moment two figures were on the move. Drake was faster, he appeared in front of one of the beasts and put his fist through its skull. He wrapped his right hand around the rider¡¯s head and squeezed. The sweeper¡¯s ugly face was crushed into pulp. Cloudhawk leapt over Drake¡¯s head and caught the second rider with a whirlwind kick. Mount and rider went flying while Cloudhawk snatched up his discarded bone spear. He stabbed it at the writhing creature. A wave of poison arrows came pouring in from the mouth of the cave! Drake¡¯s face fell and he felt an icy grip wrap around his heart. He grabbed the corpse of the rider he¡¯d killed and held all two hundred pounds of it in front of him as though it were light as a feather. ¡°Out of the way!¡± Drake put the corpse between him and the onslaught. Most of the arrows lodged in his meat shield, which caused it to start quickly melting away like a wax sculpture left in the sun. His hands had also been splashed by the poison and had started to burn, but he¡¯d managed to defend them from the enemies outside. Thud! Drake threw the melted carcass at the sweepers blocking the entrance. At the same time he launched upward and kicked at the spot of wall above his head. The impact resulted in a web of cracks appearing through the stone. Bang! Crack! Two more thunderous sounds as Drake punched the walls on either side of him. Slabs of stone were falling all around, and two particularly large blocks sealed the entrance. Drake stumbled backward, clutching his chest and fighting for air. He¡¯d reached his limit, after all the damage Cloudhawk had caused was still there, in addition to the poison. They could hear the sweepers outside already beginning to clear away the rubble. They weren¡¯t going to be able to survive in this tight corner for long. Cloudhawk smirked sheepishly in the face of their dire predicament. ¡°The bad news is there are a few hundred sweepers outside.¡± Gabriel, Claudia and Wolfe gaped. A few hundred? Were they destined to die in this hole? 1. This reminds me of the time I nearly died from chloramine vapors. While studying in China, our university would on very rare occasions clean the toilets. Because of how infrequent these cleanings were, it allowed for quite a lot of buildup of urine deposits in the pipes. Their solution was to pour bleach to clear it out. Urine contains ammonia, of course, and if you weren¡¯t aware the combination of ammonia and bleach create a phenomenally toxic gas called chloramine. I was intimately acquainted with the effects of it while leaning over a sink to wash my hands. I was blasted in the face by an invisible gas that has been forbidden for use by the Geneva convention, and for good reason. I only got a mouthful, but for nearly an hour I couldn¡¯t breath and my eyes burned like they were on fire. So I feel you, trainees. That shit sucks. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 2, Chapter 83 - Trapped in the Cave Chapter 83 - Trapped in the Cave The cave was filled with the stench of rot. Outside, Deadwood Forest¡¯s sweepers were clawing their way inside. At the rate they were moving, it would only be a matter of minutes before they were through. Drake sat cross-legged on the floor with a pained expression on his resolute face. Beads of oily sweat ran down his bronze skin like he¡¯d just been plucked from a steam room. Each drop hissed when it touched the floor and filled the air with a raw odor. The sweat pouring off of him was a greyish-black, no normal sweat at all. He was exhausted, but the soldier regulated his breathing and tried to obstruct some of his bloodflow. The intention was to direct the poison out to capillaries close to his skin, then excrete it through the pores. It was a complicated process that demanded a tremendous level of bodily control, as well as knowledge of proper technique. Yet despite his impressive skill, the situation was not getting any better. Drake¡¯s internal and external injuries were serious. Both of his hands had suffered from the poison and were badly dissolved. The skin had turned from a rich bronze into something between black and purple and it was spreading. His muscles had gone stiff, making it hard to move. A lesser man would have been dead by now. If Drake didn¡¯t find treatment soon, that was the fate that waited for him. He was angry and impatient, and punch at the ground with his rotten fist. Drake growled through gritted teeth. ¡°I haven¡¯t even made general yet and left my mark. Now I¡¯m going to die here at the hands of these ugly assholes!¡± Seeing the anger from Drake made Claudia feel a little better, as though the freaks outside weren¡¯t going to kill her just as quickly as they were going to kill him. She barked back at him in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Well look at that ¨C using the rules to attack demonhunters at their weakest, only to have the tables turned. Thank goodness you broke the others¡¯ legs, it¡¯s not like we¡¯d be able to band together in a situation like this. Right? No, you deserve this.¡± Drake¡¯s face fell. It was Wolfe who came to his friend¡¯s aid. ¡°What gives you the right to push him around?! This is Hell¡¯s Valley, no one had any idea this was going to happen. What¡¯s wrong with using our advantage, this is a competition isn¡¯t it? We aren¡¯t even in Skycloud, we don¡¯t have to follow Skycloud¡¯s rules out here!¡± ¡°The rules are stamped on every elysian, there are no borders where they suddenly stop applying! If you just do what you please when you leave the domain, what makes you any different from a wastelander?!¡± Although he was an outstanding member of military family, Drake¡¯s lack of talent made him jealous of demonhunters. He had indeed taken advantage of the demonhunters with one hand tied behind their backs. Was this a moral thing to do? Was this what a proper man would do? What a soldier would do? This sort of victory was no victory at all. Claudia felt nothing but contempt. Drake was not one for debate, he wasn¡¯t going to shout her down. Claudia was a temperamental one, and treated them all like they owed her a fortune. But Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t hold his piece. ¡°Can we cut this shit out? We might all die here, and if we¡¯re reborn as siblings I don¡¯t need this sort of baggage.¡± ¡°Hmph, scum like you is certainly going straight to hell. My soul has a place reserved in heaven. We aren¡¯t traveling the same road.¡± Claudia¡¯s pale face was red from anger. The fury in her eyes made them sparkle in the darkness. ¡°You killed my friend, that¡¯s an offence you¡¯ll never be forgiven for. My only regret not killing you with my own hands.¡± Claudia Lunae was caught between sinners and twisted wasteland abominations. She had to choose one, and no one could blame her for choosing the former. For now she would work with them, at least until they got free. Wasn¡¯t that the only reason this scoundrel was playing nice? Drake and his cronies were worthy of her disdain, and Gabriel was a despicable fugitive and sinner. But Cloudhawk¡­ Cloudhawk was her nemesis. She was never going to forgive the vile heathen! Wasn¡¯t it his fault that she was here, from the wounds he caused her? Would she be in this situation otherwise? Cloudhawk was the undeniable source of all her misfortune. Disaster had been following her ever since she went to the wastelands. She was generous and forgiving by nature, but she would not relent in her hatred for Cloudhawk. It wasn¡¯t even worth considering. Gabriel was in the worst shape, and yet had the coolest head. He¡¯d expected to die ever since his actions in Skycloud. Dying out here instead was an improvement, as far as he was concerned. Gabriel looked around at the dark cave and inwardly sighed. It was just a pity, a death that could be avoided if he¡¯d had his relics. He was stronger than Claudia, stronger than Cloudhawk. None of this would have happened if they¡¯d just have let him keep his relics. A loud blast came from the cave entrance. The violent blow caused the obstruction to be knocked away. Had they finally breached? Two members of the Blight-tooth Clan strode in and found the five humans waiting. They immediately began to bark in a language Cloudhawk could not recognize, but the hatred in their eyes was universal. He¡¯d seen that same look many times. To these natives, Cloudhawk and the others were nothing short of evil. They used to have a paradise, where all of their needs had been met. All of it had been taken away in a single night. The fighting robbed them of their parents, their loved ones and their children. Those that remained were driven into the forest, where they were hunted for over a decade. Like livestock they were penned in, with nothing to do but wait for death. Any struggle was stripped of value. How could the people of the Blight-tooth clan not hate these interlopers? Cloudhawk understood their animosity, but that was the world they lived in. Hate was like a forest fire ¨C it did nothing but destroy everything it came in contact with. Just like his hatred for Raithe Umbra. Like Claudia¡¯s hatred for Cloudhawk. Everyone had different values, different standpoints. Eventually rancor would consume the world. But understanding it was one thing, accepting it was another. The two clansmen did not immediately attack. That left an opening. Whoosh! Whoosh! Cloudhawk snatched up a pair of sharp stones and whipped them at the sweepers¡¯ heads. Their shrill whines rang out as the rocks viciously collided with their skulls. Drake picked up one of the larger slabs of stone and charged toward the entrance. ¡°Attack!¡± They¡¯d managed to get the first two, but their wails alerted the rest of their clansmen. Furious, the skeletal natives charged forward in a mad bloodlust. Bows were drawn. Arrows, fired! Poison arrows filled the cave. They hit the ground and walls, filling it with toxic smoke. The cave¡¯s cramped interior only required a few arrows before it was completely enveloped in poison. With no escape, their only option was to try and keep the entrance closed. Drake rushed forward, ignoring his injuries. Muscles bulged through torn skin as he heaved the one-ton boulder at the enemies outside. It made a sound like a roaring beast as it soared through the air. Claudia jumped behind it, running along the wall to pick up speed. By the time she reached the rock it had begun to slow, but with a swift kick she sent it rocketing forward at twice its original speed. Crack! Smash! The boulder exploded into several enormous pieces. Each one catapulted toward the Blight-tooth warriors with startling speed. The diminutive sweepers were dexterous. They dodged and rolled out of the way of the stones so that only two of their number were crushed by the debris. The survivors rolled deftly back onto their feet, pulled arrows from their backs and flung it at them. Claudia¡¯s feet had just touched the ground and already the arrow was right in front of her. She tried to dodge, but just as she was trying to whip around she felt all the strength melt from her body. Whatever strength and flexibility she typically had was spent. Oh no! Her eyes went wide with fear. Cloudhawk appeared from one side and shoved her out of the way, knocking the arrows away with a bone spear. Each one left a puff of black poison behind. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t see the one that punched through the haze and buried itself in his chest. The poison fang was completely buried in muscle and immediately delivered its toxic payload. Right away the skin around the arrow turned black as coal. Cloudhawk was shoved back and lost his footing. A pair of stalker beasts leapt over the pile of stones and were on them before they knew it. The riders leveled their spears, ready to pin Cloudhawk to the ground, But Claudia saw and jumped forward with a yell. She smashed her shoulder into one of the riders and sent him crashing to the ground. But the first one kept coming. He was almost on Cloudhawk when a shadow flashed by, taking half the sweeper¡¯s throat with it. Naberius. Cloudhawk wiped the blood that had leaked from the corner of his mouth, then pulled the arrow from his chest. He looked at Claudia and Naberius, and managed a wry smile. ¡°See? Don¡¯t we work well together? Let¡¯s try not to murder one another if we get out of this. What do you say?¡± Naberius tittered that unsettling, unhinged laugh. ¡°Sounds good to me!¡± But Claudia just gritted her teeth. She didn¡¯t know why she did what she did. All of a sudden she was treating Cloudhawk like a comrade-in-arms, but she knew when they got back to the elysian lands she¡¯d regret her actions. She looked at the festering wound in his chest and wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about it. ¡°Are you three enjoying your chat? Help me block the entrance!¡± Drake motioned Wolfe over and they took the lead. The five of them charged at the Blight-tooth Clan warriors. While they were all adept at close-quarters combat, the sweeper archers who¡¯d managed to get inside were not. They were swiftly dealt with. All eyes turned toward the entrance, and what they saw ripped their hearts in half. In the same instant they all lost hope because the forest outside was filled with foes. Countless warriors were closing in, more than they could fathom. At peak physical condition, these five trainees would be hard pressed to fight their way free. And now? ¡°All of this effort for five people?¡± Cloudhawk looked out over the army of sweepers. The first line held bone shield, leaving them no avenue to escape. The second line was arranged in a line, bows drawn and poison arrows knocked. All that was left to Cloudhawk was a single, desperate gamble. ¡°Go!¡± Oddball furiously beat its tiny wings and took off into the forest. Book 2, Chapter 84 - Defying Extermination Oddball disappeared into the mist. Blight-tooth warriors paid no attention to the tiny thing, the bird was not important. But they did not know how keen the bird¡¯s eyes were. Oddball¡¯s vision pierced the fog, sharing what it learned with Cloudhawk about their situation. The Blight-tooth¡¯s bone horn kept blasting its note. Before long, a thousand warriors had gathered ¨C their youngest and fiercest fighters. However, what was shocking was the fact that these natives were better equipped than outpost soldiers. There were over a hundred riders, tied to their vicious mounts. Every warrior was protected by leather armor, with long bows in their hands and a quiver of poison arrows on their backs. Countless close-combat fighters hefted their bone spear, swords and shields. Some even had firearms. While the pygmy sweepers were not strong of body, with this gear they could wipe out the veteran outpost if they caught the humans off guard. It was simply unheard of. This wasn¡¯t some native tribe ¨C they were an army! To Cloudhawk, these mutants were strange and twisted things. He did not know anything about their lives, what they inherited or how they grew. Did they have ¡®parents¡¯ the way humans knew them? Did they gather into ¡®tribes¡¯? They were so physically different that they surely had a much different pattern of community and maturity. That isn¡¯t to say there weren¡¯t more stable groups, but they were few and far between. Most didn¡¯t join forces and were easily destroyed in the harsh environment of the wastelands. A force like the Blight-tooth Clan was completely foreign to Cloudhawk. Looking through Oddball¡¯s eyes, seeing his enemies stretch out through the forests, he felt an icy cold in his heart. ¡°There are too many of them out there. We¡¯re completely surrounded. We won¡¯t last five minutes, even holed up in this cave for protection.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was stricken as he spoke to the others. ¡°I have an idea, but I¡¯m going to need everyone¡¯s help.¡± Claudia turned her eyes toward Cloudhawk and saw the nasty wound in his chest. It was already improving. He was the only one of their group who didn¡¯t seem to fear their enemy¡¯s poison. She¡¯d watched him survive what killed soldiers twice as strong as him. Strange¡­ this bastard seemed resistant to poison. Inwardly Claudia sneered at him. Surely it was because wastelanders spent so much time supping on spiders and cockroaches that they developed an immunity. His blood was probably even more toxic than the poison they were trying to use on him. ¡°We¡¯re going to die anyway,¡± Drake said. He was ready to take any risk. ¡°Whatever it is, let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Only way to kill a snake is to cut off its head. If we deal with their leader it¡¯ll be chaos, that¡¯s when we make a break for it. And even if that doesn¡¯t work, at least we killed that son of a bitch.¡± ¡°Well, even before we consider how strong the leader might be, the question is how we get to him¡­¡± But no sooner had Drake voiced the thought then understanding dawned on him. Cloudhawk was able to use his powers to slip through things. He needed the rest of them to provide cover, because he was the only one who could pull it off. He gave his support before Cloudhawk could respond. ¡°I understand! Let¡¯s do it!¡± Outside, the Blight-tooth Clan kept sending soldiers at the cave. Their last assault cost them eight or nine of their clansmen, a fact that only made them more furious. One of the soldiers who seemed to hold some authority shouted at the others. ¡°Form up! Attack!¡± The roar of a landslade came from the cave as Drake¡¯s stalwart body burst forth from the rubble. He had a bone sword in each hand, which he used to remove the heads of several clansmen before they even knew what was happening. ¡°They¡¯re trying to escape!¡± The sweeper commander screeched his warning and a few natives with bone shields shuffled over to block their path. Several dozen others leveled their poison arrows. ¡°Kill them!¡± A volley of arrows followed. Drake spun, whipping his bone swords around like a windmill. He moved so fast it seemed even a droplet of water couldn¡¯t pass through, much less the arrows shot his way. The poison fog they released still injured him, but Drake paid it no mind. He was a beast, berserk and out of control. The first shield-bearer he encountered was hacked into half a dozen pieces in an instant. Several more figures emerged from the cave, joining the fray. Drake shouted over his shoulder, covered from head to toe in blood. ¡°Three minutes! That¡¯s all you got!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Oddball had already helped Cloudhawk narrow down his target¡¯s location. He charged from the group, right toward the center of the sweepers. The ground darkened as arrows plot out the sky, intermingled with deadly gunfire. It was a terrifying display. Just what he was looking for. The leader had to be around there. Cloudhawk¡¯s feet dug into the ground and he exploded forward. Every step left a pit in its wake. When he reached peak speed Cloudhawk leapt once again into the air, galvanizing the power of the phase stone. Those below watched as he soared toward the wall of poison arrows and hot lead. Was he insane? It was suicide. The sweepers stared in shock. The humans were sure to die, but this one seemed in a particular rush. Such a courageous acceptance of death was not often seen. Yet, just as the sweepers were sure Cloudhawk was about to be riddled with arrows, what happened next shocked them even further. Every arrow and bullet slipped through the crazy human like he wasn¡¯t there. None left a mark nor drew blood, as though trying to pierce a spirit. A few of them that failed to kill Cloudhawk peppered their own front line and killed a number of tribesmen. What sorcery was this?! Momentum sent Cloudhawk soaring tens of meters over the bloodthirsty horde, toward their heart. Several sweepers charged at him when he came close, but their spears went right through him and into their companions rushing in from behind. A group of stalker beasts crashed into a mess of limbs as they tried to run him down, but Cloudhawk simply floated through them all. ¡°What sort of creature is he?!¡± This was like nothing the natives had ever seen before. Surprise caused them to temporarily break off their attacks, which Cloudhawk took advantage of to drop the stone¡¯s power. A disadvantage to the phase stone was how it cut his speed to almost nothing, so he had to drop its protective shell long enough to take a few more steps. When he got moving again the stone¡¯s power was reawakened. He was without the stone¡¯s protection for less than two seconds, but long enough for two arrows to find their mark. Both had struck him in the back. Cloudhawk¡¯s danger sense was keen, but it was better suited for smaller skirmishes. He was surrounded by enemies who wanted him dead, so it felt as though danger was coming from everywhere. His special perception didn¡¯t help him here. But it didn¡¯t matter. The effects of the poison didn¡¯t concern him much. Disregarding his wounds, Cloudhawk charged through the lines of enemies. Every inch brought him closer to his target, yet his psychic energy was waning. Unsure of whether he could keep the stone¡¯s power active he continued anyway. Hesitation meant certain death. The press of sweepers grew thicker the closer Cloudhawk came. Behind them all, the man he intended to kill. Gorefang was confident in his men. Hell Valley couldn¡¯t have gathered their forces yet and the thousand-strong clan was poised to break right through the borderlands¡¯ defenses. Once they were out of this cursed forest, he and his people would at last be free. He¡¯d waited so long for this moment. Blight-tooth Clan¡¯s vigor and reproductive abilities were never in doubt. Freed from their shackles, Gorefang knew they would multiply and spread all across the wastelands. He had been preparing for this the day he inherited the Gorefang title from his father, and here it was. Blackfang scurried to his side. ¡°We have a thousand warriors gathered already, the soldiers of Hell Valley must already have the news. We can¡¯t stay here, now¡¯s our chance.¡± Gorefang¡¯s lieutenant was interrupted by the sound of combat from behind. He scowled. ¡°What¡¯s going on there? What¡¯s all this noise?¡± Blackfang answered. ¡°We have those elysians surrounded in a cave. They are fighting back.¡± Anger flashed across Gorefang¡¯s face. His soldiers couldn¡¯t even handle a few trainees? Was there really such a glaring difference between wasteland warriors and elysian soldiers? But besides the anger there was a deeply unsettling sensation creeping into his chest. He looked around and spotted a round yellow bird circling overhead. Nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. ¡°Blackfang.¡± ¡°Your orders, chief?¡± ¡°The fight to break through the borderland¡¯s defenses will be a fierce one. If something happens to me, you are the next Gorefang. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Gorefang, this-¡° ¡°Enough. You must make sure our clan wins their freedom!¡± Blackfang clenched his fists, took a step back, and bowed respectfully. He struck his chest twice with his right hand in a sign of respect. Yet as he raised his head to speak, his voice caught in his throat. The tribe''s second in command gaped like he was staring at a ghost. ¡°Careful!¡± Gorefang was confused for he sensed no danger, but when he turned his head he saw a figure descend on him, covered in wounds. The human passed straight through one of his bodyguards on a singular mission ¨C right for Gorefang. A bone spear was slowly coming his way. ¡°You come seeking death!¡± Gorefang couldn¡¯t fathom how the human had gotten so close, but now wasn¡¯t the time to ask. This idiot had signed his death warrant and Gorefang ¨C as leader and mightiest warrior of the Blight-tooth ¨C was here to serve it. His foe¡¯s comically slow attack was beneath contempt. Gorefang withdrew his longsword and hacked it at the elysian, so fast the wind whistled in protest. It ripped through his neck at subsonic speed. The human could be made of solid iron and the strike would cut him down. Eh? As the blade slipped through Cloudhawk¡¯s neck, Gorefang knew something was off. It was the way it felt. As he stood there in shock the bone spear entered his chest. He immediately tensed the muscles of his chest for protection, although he was sure the ponderous attack was no threat. But he was wrong again. The spear met no resistance and slipped right in, through and through. A cold sweat broke out over his body, but Gorefang quickly found there was no pain. No blood. Was this some sort of illusion? Gorefang knew that there were humans called demonhunters who possessed special powers. They were often found in Hell Valley, and they were known for their mysterious tricks. An illusion! Yes, just a mirage! Gorefang sighed in relief, but an instant later his whole body seized. All of the skin, muscle, and bone around the spear split apart. Including his heart. Gorefang¡¯s pupils constricted into tiny black dots, set in an expression of disbelief. The spear was real¡­! It was there, stuck in his chest. It wasn¡¯t a piercing attack, not in the typical sense. Piercing attacks could be defended. It was an assault from a different slice of reality ¨C a dimensional fissure where two things tried to occupy the same space. In the end reality¡¯s dominance was absolute, and no defense could stand before it. Gorefang¡¯s death was assured. Book 2, Chapter 85 - The Three Giants of Hell Valley Gorefang held the shaft of the spear with both hands, eyes wide as saucers. He still could not believe what had occurred. A single human managed to slip past a thousand soldiers and attack him single-handedly. How had this happened? Even disregarding the stupendous sneak attack, what sort of devil power was this? Gorefang saw himself as the strongest Blight-tooth warrior in a hundred years. A normal man couldn¡¯t even get close enough to make an attempt on his life. Then suddenly, this bizarre attack claims his life. His eyes became swollen and red as blood congealed within them. His mouth opened and shut, yet no sound came forth. He wanted to scream, but all that he could managed was a pathetic gurgle and a few drops of blood. The human¡¯s attack went straight through his heart, and scattered all the strength within him. Cloudhawk could see the mutant¡¯s desperation and pain written on his face. It was a distress that went beyond imminent death. Living this long, Gorefang must have experienced things a normal person couldn¡¯t fathom, suffered things no living person should have to suffer. Death wasn¡¯t something to fear for people like him. To them the greatest terror was dying before your mission was done. Cloudhawk knew what was going through Gorefang¡¯s mind in his last moments, but there was no guilt. He ended the sweeper¡¯s life without hesitation, and without mercy. This method was the right one, it was the world they lived in. Who could take responsibility for everyone? Who was able to deliver all sufferers from torment? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t out to save the world, he was just an insect. An insect¡¯s only interest was self-preservation! Blackfang roared and threw himself at his chieftain¡¯s assassin. Cloudhawk heaved his arms. He lifted Gorefang off the floor, pinned to his spear, then threw the sweeper at his subordinate. Their reactions were too slow. Cloudhawk leapt onto the stalker beast Gorefang vacated and grabbed the reigns. His eyes were red, and with an infinitely cold command he tried to dominate the beast beneath him with force of will alone. ¡°Go!¡± This human¡¯s voice boomed like thunder in the beast¡¯s ear, with a note of command it could not deny. The pressure to obey was overwhelming, for the creature had met a life form clearly its superior. The urge to do what it was told felt like it was coming from deep within its soul. Cloudhawk ripped a longsword from a sheath strapped to the beast and gave it a sharp smack on its haunches. With a reptilian hiss, the stalker beast took off. Two sweepers tried to block his path But Cloudhawk cut them down without much effort. His eyes were a deep sanguine red, like pools of blood. Cloudhawk did not look imposing, but the sheer enormity of his aura forced the natives out of his way. He vanished into the mist while Blackfang was still struggling with his chieftain. He placed Gorefang¡¯s limp body on the ground and looked him over, questioning how to get the spear free. He wasn¡¯t sure how without causing more damage than was already done. Inside he knew it was too late.¡± ¡°Now¡­ you are¡­ Gorefang.¡± Their dying leader had a few breath left, which he forced from a mouth filled with blood. He grabbed his lieutenant¡¯s clothes and stared him deep in his eyes. ¡°Bring our people¡­. To freedom¡­ Freedom!¡± It was the final words of their leader before darkness claimed him. The last thought to cross his mind ¨C I¡¯m dead¡­. What will the clan do? Blight-tooth warriors huddled around, amazed and frightened, furious and hopeless. Gorefang¡¯s reputation among his tribesmen was beyond repute. He had lead them through the darkest parts of their history, keeping the fire of hope alive in their hearts. He was a giant among the Blight-tooth, a hero! Their fallen Gorefang was a man like no other, never to be replaced. Blackfang removed a pair of sharpened teeth from the honoured leader¡¯s mouth. The tribe was called Blight-tooth because of the poison sacks in their hands and mouths. Both claw and bite was highly toxic. They believed this ability was a gift from their ancestors to keep them save, so their teeth were the most important part of a tribesmen¡¯s remains. ¡°Find that piece of shit!¡± Blackfang swore to himself that he would bury his leader¡¯s fangs in that bastard¡¯s chest. ¡°Kill him!¡± Cloudhawk was already several hundred meters away. Blackfang¡¯s furious cries roused the others from their shocked stupor. Their most respected, most adored leader had fallen, the one they turned to for leadership and guidance. With him their world had collapsed. Could they let his murderer simply get away? The Blight-tooth warriors gathered up to exact vengeance! Anger and despair tore through the horde. Their hatred for humans had never burned so hot. The Gorefang was dead. Chaos was already starting to reveal itself. As structure collapsed among the enemy, the pressure on Drake and the others relaxed. He and the remaining humans fell back into the mouth of the cave to mount a defense. While the turmoil was obvious, none of them knew what had happened to the instigator. Claudia was out of breath and lightheaded. He did it, she thought. That guy actually did it. Cloudhawk succeeded, just as they¡¯d planned. He¡¯d slipped past a thousand angry sweepers and struck a fatal blow at their heart. If word of this ever got back to the elysian lands, Cloudhawk would be famous. But there was a nagging regret in the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. He¡¯d stirred up the hornet¡¯s nest, but what would be the consequences? He darted wildly through the forest atop the stalker beast while a swarm of enraged sweepers gave chase. Every second there were dozens of arrows flung his way, and he used the longsword to knock away any that got too close. But he couldn¡¯t continue this way for long. With a terrible screech the stalker beast collapsed beneath him, and Cloudhawk went flying. He was more than capable of protecting himself. His mount, however, was not so lucky. It took seven or eight of the arrows to eventually take the beast down, which proved how sturdy they were. As it began to fall Cloudhawk added insult to injury by kicking off its back. This sent him several meters into the air. A group of pygmy warriors gathered up ahead. Cloudhawk hit the ground in a controlled roll, slipping by two of the warriors and cutting their legs out from under them. He jumped back into the air as a pair of riders caught up. He landed on top of one and caved his face in with a savage punch. There were too many. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t kill them all. The second rider threw its weapon to the side and pulled out a gun. At this distance Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare risk the damage it could do, so he called on the power of stone to avoid it. A wave of dizziness washed over him, nearly knocking him off his feet. Uh oh, what now? The rider was leveling a second shot. Cloudhawk lunged forward and whipped a kick at his face. It connected, knocking the eyes from their sockets and causing blood to pour from its ears. Its crushed face was left with a grotesque, twisted smirk. Cloudhawk gasped for breath. He was spent, not just mentally but physically as well. Come on, he was the hero! He wasn¡¯t supposed to die like this! With the phase stone¡¯s power, Cloudhawk could easily have gotten himself to safety. He chose the far more difficult and thankless task of killing the sweeper leader. Why decide to do something so reckless? He chastised himself for it, and decided that he sure didn¡¯t seem much like the hero type. If he survived, he decided to try for less heroics in the future. There was no escape. He could see the faint silhouettes of riders tearing through the twisting fog. He¡¯d only survived this long thanks to the phase stone, but even it had its limits. He was too weak to call on it anymore. But maybe there was one more thing he could do! Escape to another world! He was certainly no master of that ability. Since getting the stone it¡¯d only happened a couple times, but it had always been in desperate situations just like this. It was his last shot, so he made the decision to try. As the warriors closed in on him, he wrapped his hands around the stone hanging from his neck. The phase stone felt the call. An intense energy poured out from it, coalescing into a field of light that spread out in all directions. It started to swirl around him like churned cream. The bullets and arrows that were flung its way were wither knocked aside or incinerated. They left nothing but rippled. There was still hope. Life or death hung on this single moment! Cloudhawk cleared his mind, focusing all of his attention on this process. Then, just at the key moment Blackfang emerged from the mists. He threw a spear at the orb of light, backed by all the despair and rage he held inside. It punched a hole, collapsing the field of energy and any phasing power with it. The spear was stuck in the ground. A slight breeze past that caused it to crumble into dust. Blackfang snarled at the others. ¡°Turn this asshole into a pile of rotten meat.¡± A swarm of sweepers descended on Cloudhawk. He helplessly watched them come. As it seemed he would be trampled, something the wasteland never expected came to his aid. From within the forest a hail of arrows descended that immediately pinned the encroaching warriors to the ground. The sweepers were so thoroughly shot through that blood leaked from them like a sieve. A group of figures gradually appeared from the mist. Five or six hundred soldiers, dressed in elysian armor, appeared before him. The front lines held their crossbows at the ready. In the lead were three individuals in the uniform of Hell''s Valley instructors, along with a dozen or so assistants. The bulk of the valley¡¯s might had arrived. This was¡­ Hell¡¯s Army! Blackfang grit his teeth. He wasn¡¯t ready to give up. ¡°Never mind them! Fire your arrows!¡± The twang of bowstrings followed. The sweepers were hysterical with fear and anger, and despite the elysian soldiers they refused to let Cloudhawk go. However, their determination was not rewarded. It was unacceptable for a cadet to die under the nose of these instructors. As Cloudhawk looked on, stupefied, one of the three instructors stepped forth. She was a woman, with a cyan-colored whip clenched in one hand. In stark contrast to normal whips, this one was not ¡®made¡¯ of anything, but forged from captured wind. Agile as a python it slithered around Cloudhawk¡¯s waist and dragged him to safety. They¡¯d fired first, but the woman¡¯s whip still saved Cloudhawk from certain death. Fast as the arrows were, they only served to prove how much faster she was! A demonhunter? Cloudhawk stared in open shock at her. Her age was hard to place, for while she looked to be in her twenties or thirties, her temperament was almost sage-like. She had an appeal different from the likes of Hellflower ¨C like a cool breeze, preternatural and refreshing. Altogether inscrutable. She was dressed in scholarly clothing that enveloped her in an elegance and mysteriousness. There were men on either side; one was the hideously scarred Instructor Cutter, and the other was hidden in a shell of metal like he was locked in a tin can. The Giants of Hell Valley had arrived. Finally a look of despair came upon Blackfang¡¯s face. How did the valley¡¯s forces assemble so quickly? It was only possible if they¡¯d known it was coming. Book 2, Chapter 86 - The Dark Atom Invasion The Blight-tooth warriors knocked their bows and drew back strings, ready to fire another wave of arrows. However, even before they could pull the strings ready, the ethereal woman across the clearing was responding. With ease and grace she waved the whip clutched in her hand, which released a burst of cyan energy through the forest. I swept horizontal to the ground and out toward her enemies, like a blade of wind. A fifty-meter cone splayed out like a fan before her. Everything from natives and beasts, to trees and even stone were split in two as the light swept by. All of it seemed as substantial as bean curd before a sharp knife. All of it was neatly cleaved in half. Cloudhawk watched as a terrifying cold crept up his spine. Subconsciously he touched his waist, thankfully discovering that it all still seemed in once piece. Even his clothes were unscathed. He stared at the unfathomable demonhunter with deep respect. Her relic was not only fierce and quick, it could be gentle as well in a moment¡¯s notice. What uncanny power! Instructor Cutter took a drag on the cigarette lazily smoldering between his lips. He pulled out his sword, a massive thing that was crimson red from hilt to tip and had to weigh at least several hundred pounds. Its blade edge looked incomparably sharp while the back was a line of jagged spikes. The hilt was in the shape of a coiling python. Waves of threatening power poured from the instructor as he brandished his weapon and squinted at Cloudhawk. ¡°You. You¡¯re not dead.¡± This earned a deep sigh from the wastelander. ¡°No, more or less though.¡± Cutter snorted. ¡°If you can¡¯t even survive this test, what right do you have to enter Hell¡¯s Valley? Get behind us and see how it¡¯s done.¡± The valley¡¯s head instructors varied wildly in demeanor. Cutter was a typical warrior. Although his sword was something to behold, it wasn¡¯t a relic. The other two were undoubtedly demonhunters. The layers of metal armor the other one wore was his relic. How was Cloudhawk so sure? He could feel the resonance coming from it. Even before the female instructor made her move, the armored man had called on his power. It all gathered around his fortress-like figure, causing glowing lines to appear throughout the metal. They joined to create elaborate glimmering patterns, ultimately revealing an archaic design. The entire suit of armor blazed with light and heat, like iron in a casting oven. Boom! In sharp contrast to the lumbering suit of metal, the armored instructor exploded forward with incomparable speed. Like a ball of light he charged through the forest, leveling everything in his path. One of the natives had the wherewithal to try and block, but erupted into a dozen mangled pieces when the instructor hit him. Anything in the streaking light¡¯s path ¨C whether it was wood or stone or flesh - was smashed to pieces as easily as rotted furniture. In its wake was a trough four or five meters deep. The instructor was a man-shaped meat grinder. Cloudhawk had met several skilled fighters in his life; Selene, Dawn, Atlas, Frost¡­ Each of them had their own unique strengths and fighting styles. With the exception of the Caliph of the Sands or Lord Arcturus, Cloudhawk had never seen an attack that shook him so deeply. The armored instructor¡¯s methods were wild and brutal, bulldozing through his enemies under the protection of his impenetrable armor. His indomitable passage turned all enemies into meat paste. An attack like that obliterated the enemy¡¯s body and morale. Cutter heaved his domineering weapon. ¡°Leave some for me!¡± His words hung in the air as Instructor Cutter leapt forward. Charging into the fray, deep indentations were left where his feet feel. His sword crashed into the enemy forces like a tsunami, whirled like a tornado, kicking up a tempest of blood and flesh. As far as speed and strength, he was the most tyrannical fighter Cloudhawk had ever witnessed. The soldiers of Hell¡¯s Valley discharged their crossbows, then switched them out for close-range weapons. In that space of time Cutter had already cut eight or nine of their enemies to pieces. A dozen of the assistants rushed in to join the fight. A hundred more elite veterans followed behind. Blight-tooth Clan had erupted into chaos, forsaking their freedom to exact revenge on Cloudhawk. While they had an advantage in numbers, their fighting strength could not match up to the valley¡¯s warriors. How could they stand against an assault like this? Every one of those soldiers was a veteran of a hundred battles, and the assistants were the cream of that crop. Meanwhile, Blight-tooth¡¯s soldiers hardly outnumbers them two to one. It didn¡¯t even give the humans pause. Their opening charge forced the sweepers five hundred meters back and killed a fourth of them. The second push gained another three hundred meters, leaving more than half the natives¡¯ forces dead. By the third assault there was almost nothing left. Cloudhawk had been impressed by Skycloud¡¯s normal army forces. Seeing the veterans at work, he final understood just how inferior the wastelands were at waging war. These veterans were nothing short of terrifying, and could easily sweep through any outpost in the wastelands without concern. As Blackfang watched the enemy route his forces, the last light of hope died in his chest. With deep regret he wondered why he¡¯d ignored Gorefang¡¯s orders. Why chase after this lone assassin with all his men? If they¡¯d let him go, maybe they might have stood a chance. The forces of Hell¡¯s Valley couldn¡¯t stray too far from their home. Now, though¡­ it was all too late. Blackfang shrieked at his warriors in their strange tongue. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand their language, but he didn¡¯t need to in order to understand it was a call for retreat. The difference was too great. How could the natives survive against most of the valley¡¯s power? Only a handful of stalker riders managed to survive. Blackfang led a few dozen warriors into the forest, toward the borderlands. If the valley¡¯s soldiers were all here, it meant their defenses at the forest¡¯s edge were weak. There was a chance what remained of his clan could slip through, out into the safety of the wastelands. But the bloodcurdling scream that followed dashed their hopes, as the scarred instructor came charging at them with sword raised high. He was even faster than the mounts they rode, and so quickly caught up to the fleeing natives. With a single sweep of his sword he cleaved a rider and his mount in half. ¡°We were going to leave a few of you alive so you could recover your clan, survive out here in the forest. Now that you¡¯ve chosen annihilation, I¡¯ll make sure you get what you deserve.¡± From the first word to the last ¨C no more than a few seconds ¨C eight more sweepers were slain. Each one was cut down without a struggle. Blackfang understood the language of his oppressors. Survive? Recover? What a joke! Could that sort of life be called surviving? What purpose would recovering serve? In the eyes of the elysians, his people were treated worse than livestock! From the beginning Blight-tooth Clan kept to itself and lives in harmony with their surroundings. They had no interest in ever leaving the forest, but the elysians gave them no chance at a quiet life of freedom. They came and destroyed the paradise they¡¯d built for themselves. It was them who invaded their land. Them who imprisoned and enslaved his people. Over a decade of living in squalor, a fate worse than death. Was this the benevolence of the elysians? Even as he bemoaned their fate, Blackfang watched the valley¡¯s soldiers closing in. Only a handful of his people were still breathing. But ahead¡­ ahead there was light. The world beyond Deadwood Forest ¨C a place even the devils who chased him wouldn¡¯t dare follow. Blackfang knew he wasn¡¯t strong enough to stand against the sword-wielding instructor. Much less break free from the elysians once he was surrounded. There it was, the road of freedom stretching out before his eyes¡­ but it may as well have been as untouchable as the sky. ¡°Blackfang!¡± He turned his head toward the sound, a group of his clansmen. If they were still alive it meant they had to be what remained of his most elite warriors. He could see in their eyes that they knew what fate had in store. There was no fear in them, just faith and determination. Blackfang said nothing. He read the meaning in their eyes. The remaining riders stopped suddenly by pulling hard on their mounts¡¯ reigns. They turned, facing the soldiers coming hot on their heels. With weapons raised high, they shouted at their foes at the top of their lungs. ¡°Blight-tooth forever! Freedom forever!¡± Wild shouts rang out at the riders charged into the overwhelming enemy forces. They were quickly buried beneath the tide of steel and iron. Hot tears burned paths down Blackfang¡¯s face. It was the last opportunity, gifted to him by the last of his people. The chance at freedom. The hazy light of the wastelands inched closer. A shadow swept up beside him, too fast for Blackfang to react. A ruthless slice caught him at the waist and cut him all the way through. Like a butterfly without its wings he tumbled through the air until the ground came up to meet him. Still he didn¡¯t stop. Without a mount he would run, without legs he could crawl. Inch by inch he clawed his way out of the forest. He felt the scorching hot sun on his back, and with fumbling hands drew out the fangs he¡¯d taken from his chief. Blackfang thrust them into the dirt, then rolled himself over. He took deep, greedy breaths ¨C his first breaths of free air ¨C and stared at the endless expanse of blue sky above. Fifteen years he¡¯d lived, each one in darkness, never leaving the gloomy canopy of Deadwood Forest. He never imagined the sky would look so beautiful. And then he died. *** As Cloudhawk walked through the corpse-strewn paths of the forest he came across the upper half of Blight-tooth clan¡¯s last leader. The last vestiges of this intelligent sweeper colony had been wiped out. They¡¯d been the victims from the beginning, fighting against cruel captivity. All they wanted was freedom, but time and fate conspired to keep them from it. Fighting against destiny in today¡¯s day and age was an act of self-absorbed defiance that could only end one way. These pitiful natives were no threat to the elysians, so why did they have to be obliterated? Was it merely the will of their gods? Just because they said that elysians and wastelanders could not coexist? What sort of god would demand such a thing? Cloudhawk felt pity for these resentful souls. He felt not even a shadow of respect for the gods who did this to them. This was how it was, this is how it is, and this is how it will be. Whatever miracles they provided, whatever nourishment they produced, however many faithful they delude, however strong they may be¡­ Cloudhawk¡¯s hatred for these beings and his doubt for their motives ran deep. Down in his soul he knew the gods were not here to save the world. They gathered up the ones they thought were worthy and created this pocket of plenty, this so-called ¡®domain¡¯. Wasn¡¯t it just another sort of captivity? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know the whole story, but he was convinced that only humanity had the capacity to save itself. And the only way to do that was through strength. Instructor Cutter shouted out his orders. ¡°Send out teams to sweep the forest. Don¡¯t let a single little minnow slip the net.¡± No sooner did he make the call than a loud explosion erupted from the distant valley. Faces immediately darkened. What was happening? More explosions followed on the heels of the first, several in a row like bombs being dropped. The distinct pop of firearms followed. Dark Atom¡¯s assault on Hell¡¯s Valley had begun. Book 2, Chapter 87 - The War for Hells Valley Five wasteland airships tore through the clouds, revealing their grim outlines to the forest valley below. With the valley¡¯s mysterious veil pierced it stretched out below the airships, laid bare before their payload. ¡®Hell¡¯ was a poor name for this valley, for it was rife with underground rivers that nourished its foliage. Great trees bursting with life lives there, a sight rarely seen in the blasted landscape outside the elysian borders. Several buildings in the elysian style rose from the valley¡¯s canopy, rising majestically toward the skies. Grasping towers stood vigil over the main compound, a grand construction peppered with elaborate sculptures. A semi-transparent shell hung over it, protecting the building from outside damage. A small docking port hovered a hundred meters above, whereupon ten or so warships were stationed. A dangling spire at the center was the source of the compound¡¯s protective aura. Most airships constructed in the elysian lands didn¡¯t function outside of the domain¡¯s borders. There were those warships that were specially blessed to allow them to work in the wastelands, however their energy was not limitless like the others. The tower at the center of the docks was a source of such energy, and through it the ships were able to maintain flight. This was, of course, a treasure bestowed upon them from the gods. No human was capable of creating such a wondrous thing. Wolfblade, wrapped in his large cloak and hidden beneath the layers of bandages, was a mysterious and unsettling character. Strange as he appeared, no one here dared question his orders or act in opposition. This operation was the Dark Atom¡¯s first direct assault on the elysian lands, and Wolfblade was here to see to it personally. He was the one who¡¯d put the plan in motion, and he would see it through. It was the only way to ensure success. ¡°The valley¡¯s forces should return in about ten minutes. We have five minutes to get through their defenses. Commence the attack.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The Dark Atom¡¯s five ships quickly reached the valley. Once over the compound it immediately began unloading scores of disc-shaped objects from their holds. They fell like rain to the buildings below and stuck to the shield of light protecting them. Each metallic disc had a flashing light attached which pulsed with increasing frequency until at last- Boom! All at once, the Dark Atom¡¯s enormous shaped charges detonated. Fractures instantly raced across the translucent shell as thousands of pounds of explosive force assailed it. An unending series of bombings followed, with the crackling roar of machine guns spitting a tempest of bullets. The fractures increased. Then, one of the ships released a concussive burst of blue light from a pulse cannon. The valley¡¯s defenses could take no more and were destroyed. It¡¯d taken less than ten seconds from start to finish ¨C a fine display of Wolfblade¡¯s tactical abilities. Skycloud domain¡¯s advanced outpost was overcome without any wasted effort, as though Wolfblade knew their defensive capabilities like the back of his hand. Hell¡¯s Valley and its garrison was blindsided by the sudden, dreadful assault. When the alarms began to sound, the docks ¨C and in fact the whole valley ¨C descended into turmoil. One of the docked ships on standby reacted first and managed to disembark. The jade-like ships of the elysians were gorgeous, standing in sharp contrast to the motley assortment of scrap that constituted wasteland airships. A spindle rose from the top of the warship around which coiled tens of thousands of sapphire bolts. Like a host of electric eels they slithered to the spindle¡¯s tip, then exploded out in a burst of electrical energy. Boom! A hole appeared in the center of one of the enemy airships, molten edges dripping slag metal. Elysian warships were powerful weapons of war, but the sneak attack had taken them by surprise. They were without command and caught unprepared. While it managed to get a shot off, this lone vessel quickly became the focus of the Dark Atom¡¯s remaining airships, which pummeled it with cannon fire. Its once beautiful exterior crumbled and burned. ¡°Now!¡± At Wolfblade¡¯s command, the stranger in black leapt out of the airship. He tumbled from over three hundred meters in the air without rope or harness. Even the valley¡¯s instructors, strong as they were, would have faced fatal injury falling from such a height. Yet the black-robed stranger did not hesitate. He fell faster and faster, nearly breaking the sound barrier, closing in on the beleaguered elysian warship. ¡°Stop him!¡± There weren¡¯t many left in the outpost, but those had stayed behind were seasoned warriors. The black-robed man¡¯s descent took only moment, but still the soldiers moved to react and intercept. They fired crossbows at the encroaching invader, bolts that were not only thicker than normal but also complex in their construction. A crystal set in the center of each shift shone with brilliant light, and they exploded fantastically when they hit their target. The shadowy visitor ignored these terrifying explosive bolts. A series of blasts engulfed him, but he kept on perfect indifference. His large frame pierced the clouds of acrid smoke and crashed into the ship¡¯s highest point fist first. Its mask cracked loudly, shattering into a storm of splinters from top to bottom. In less time than it took to gasp, the cracks spread to the deck and then the hull. Finally, with an earth-shuddering blast, the elysian warship snapped in half and erupted in flame. It wasn¡¯t Skycloud¡¯s biggest warship, but it was still a mighty vessel several dozen meters long! Elysian equipment was known for its quality and durability, yet Wolfblade¡¯s henchmen cracked it apart with a single punch. Hundreds of Dark Atom invaders began the full assault. They jumped ship a couple hundred meters off the ground, but in contrast to the black-robed man from before, they each had gliders strapped to their backs. From below, it looked like a plague of bats descending on the valley. Wolfblade pulled the first of his three swords free from its sheath. This one was unique constructed, with three blades arranged around a hollow center. It was an exquisite piece, but different from the weapons of the elysians. Theirs were typically created from jade-like material that was beautiful to behold, etched with artistically crafted designs. Wolfblade¡¯s weapon was not a work of art, but highly functional. It was certainly no product of the elysian lands, but nor was it a weapon you could find in the wastelands. That last one possibility. It had to be a weapon of the ancients, found in the ruins of their long-dead civilization. Wolfblade pressed some level or switch, and the blades began to rotate. They spun so quickly it became impossible to differentiate one blade from the other, appearing only as a shimmering cylinder. A dazzling light radiated from the hollow center, bright as the wasteland sun. It stretched out fifteen meters toward the sky. With both hands on the hilt of the sword, Wolfblade heaved it down onto the floating tower. Like a knife through paper, the light cut it right down the center. With the tower destroyed, the docks were done for. They¡¯d only remained suspended over the valley thanks to the tower¡¯s mysterious energy. Robbed of this power, the docks ¨C and indeed all the airships attached it ¨C began to fail. Gravity regained its dominance and started to drag them toward the ground. Dark Atom¡¯s leader did not pause to enjoy the view. A glider with a pair of portable jets launched Wolfblade forward. He swung his magnificent blade again, this time carving out a one hundred meter fissure in the fortress below. With two swings of his sword Wolfblade had performed staggering feats! Most important to understand was the fact that Wolfblade was no demonhunter. All of the power at his command did not come from any relic. In other words, all of incredible accomplishments were due to the might of his weapons, the technology he carried. With them he could outperform any number of demonhunters. His assault was more than the elysians could fathom. How could a mere heathen command such incredible power? The column of destructive light in Wolfblade¡¯s hand dissipated and the blades stopped rotating. As is true with many powerful tools, it required tremendous energy to use and a long time to recharge. It was best used to destroy fortified positions, not protracted engagements. The Dark Atom had already achieved their goal. In destroying their ivory tower, the elysian dogs no longer had their warships to protect them. A second blow penetrated the valley¡¯s mighty defenses, giving them a way in. Wolfblade returned the sword to its sheath. He then drew the second. This one, like the first, was a product of ancient technology. It wasn¡¯t nearly as dramatic as the first, merely a high-frequency blade, but not to be underestimated. It vibrated at such a frequency that most average relics would be damaged or destroyed with a single blow. ¡°Advance. Seven minutes twenty seconds remaining.¡± ¡°Heheh, plenty of time.¡± Buzzard let a contingent of soldiers through the fissure Wolfblade created. They were fast, too fast for the defenders to repel. By the time veterans gathered at the breach there were several dozen infiltrators already inside. Wolfblade, the black-robed man and the others began to battle the valley¡¯s few guardians. Hell¡¯s Army was formidable, far superior to any rag-tag wasteland outfit. Yet despite the name, they were not a standard combat outfit, with only a thousand or soldiers ready to take up arms. Its three instructors had left with six hundred of those men, with the remainder being all that stood between the Dark Atom and control of the valley. ¡°Elysian dogs! Die!¡± One of the invaders was a large man, protected beneath a heavy iron vest. A cigar smoked behind his scruffy beard, and the minigun in his grip screamed as it mowed through the defenders. He laughed maniacally as he swept the gun back and forth. The fires that belched from its barrels shone off his bronze, sweat-drenched skin and made his burly frame shudder with each shot. Though he seemed out of his mind, this half-mad soldier was an expert in the field of control. Round after round was spat from the massive gun, and each one found its mark in a soldier¡¯s head. An elite marksman like him could single-handedly fight off a whole battalion if he had suitable cover. Not far away from him an old man faced another group of soldiers. They were closing in while he lazily pulled a vial of come chemical compound from his pockets. He flung it toward his foes with a slingshot. As the small flask hit the ground, it belched a ball of fire several meters into the air. An area ten meters in diameter was engulfed in flames, melting anyone unfortunate enough to be caught inside. In addition, the invaders were populated with several strong mutant soldiers. Halfway transformed between man and beast, they tore the elysians apart with tooth and claw. So it went, with countless corpses marking each little victory. The Dark Atom boasted many capable warriors, before even counting the likes of Wolfblade or his strange black-robed companion. There were all manner of fighters, all with different styles. However, the elysians did not sit idly and welcome death. After all, they were veteran warriors themselves. Each darted around the battlefield, quick as lightning, piercing through the mutants¡¯ armor with their crossbows. Their weapons fired dozens of bolts in seconds and could punch through armor that would stop a blade, accurate as any rifle. Intense combat followed. Suddenly, Wolfblade¡¯s voice rang out through the compound. ¡°The situation has changed! They¡¯ll be back earlier than expected, prepare to defend!¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 2, Chapter 88 - Fierce Confrontation By the time Cloudhawk and the rest of Hell¡¯s Army arrived at the valley, it was a scene of devastation. The docks above had lost their support and were strewn about in piles of burning wreckage. Pieces tumbled from overhead like a meteor shower, even entire ships. It was like Armageddon all over again. A thunderous explosion caused the ground to shake. The punishing assault from Dark Atom¡¯s five airships didn¡¯t stop. They continued to pummel the compound with cannon and gunfire of all sorts. Fires belched all around, vomiting smoke into bullet-filled air while the defenders tried desperately to hold their positions. From time to time the stark blue light of a pulse cannon appeared to erase the soldiers holed up in their bunkers. How did this happen? In mere minutes, Hell¡¯s Valley became a corpse-strewn warzone. Cloudhawk was shocked by what he saw. This new foe was incomparably strong, with highly skilled warriors, excellent equipment, and deadly weapons in spades. Even the formidable enemies gathered by the Caliph of the Sands could not compare. There was only one organization in the wasteland with the capability and gall to assault the elysian lands ¨C the Dark Atom. Cloudhawk was somewhat familiar with the infamous group. To the people of the elysian lands they were terrorists and heathens. However, despite those labels the Dark Atom did have its own system of belief. They followed their own rules. Since Skycloud domain had thus far failed to wipe them out, it proved that the Dark Atom was a tenacious and well-informed opposition group. Yet, up to now the most they¡¯d managed were a few terrorist attacks. How were they so brazen, to think they could openly assault an established elysian base? Cloudhawk stared at the scene, lost in thought, while the others burst into action. The woman instructor raced ahead at a full gallop but made no sound. Then, she leapt off the tips of her toes. Dust dervishes whirled in her wake as he soared into the air, yet strangely she did not fly so much as continue to walk. Her feet stepped on nothing as though it were solid ground, with cyan colored power rippling from where she tread. In a blink of an eye she crossed a thousand meters. He watched her flout the rules of physics like they were nothing! As he looked closer, though, he saw that the instructor¡¯s high-top boots were the secret. They resonated with the song of a relic, meaning they must be what was allowing her to run through empty air. When she reached the battle lines, a delicate bracelet on her wrist began to glow. The unassuming jewelry changed suddenly, stretching into a ten meter long cyan-hued whip. High above the din, the instructor reeled back her arm and sent the whip toward her foes, fast as an arrow. Her target was the madman with the minigun. The man was a terror, subduing a large section of the battlefield with sweeping gunfire that was frighteningly accurate. He could lock down a while area by himself, so the man had to be dealt with quickly. If not, a frontal attack would end in disaster. The large man was a prodigious Dark Atom fighter, no mere grunt. He heaved his gun around and directed the rain of bullets toward the woman. While normally one wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge while in mid-air, it was different for the demonhunter. Walking through air was as reliable as solid ground, thanks to her boots, so she juked and dodged the bullets that came her way. Of course she couldn¡¯t avoid them all, but those that struck her lodged in the sturdy armor beneath her robes. None managed to do anything beyond cause a bruise. The whip screamed through the air. At the last second, Wolfblade leapt between them. He hacked at her ethereal whip to keep it from striking his soldier. It worked, but as the instructor saw her blow deflected she flicked her wrist, and caused her relic weapon to wrap around Wolfblade¡¯s sword. This terrorist leader¡¯s particle blade was a frightening piece of technology. It would have sliced clean through a normal whip. The woman displayed her worth as one of the valley¡¯s instructors, battling for supremacy against the Dark Atom¡¯s leader. Where her whip and Wolfblade¡¯s sword touched, they crackled and screeched in protest. But the high-frequency sword could not cut through the mystical whip. Both of them pulled, muscles bulging, trying to force the weapon from the other¡¯s hand or draw them close. But they were equally matched, neither could make the other budge. Instructor Cutter jumped into the mix. His savage blade whistled through the air. Wolfblade slide to the side, putting his entangled blade between himself and Cutter. The swords met amidst a shower of sparks. In that instant the female instructor saw her opportunity, and pulled just enough to throw Wolfblade off balance. Cutter disengaged then moved in for a second strike in one fluid movement. With his enemy¡¯s guard broken, he lashed out with the ferocity of a tiger. His second attack was even stronger than the first. The first strike was a feint. This blow was his coup de grace! Yet just as it appeared Wolfblade¡¯s reign of terror might end, the mysterious black-robed stranger swept in and knocked the huge sword aside with his raised arm. How could Cutter¡¯s enormous weapon be so easily deflected? He¡¯d only managed to tear the man¡¯s robes, which revealed a glint of silver underneath. Not a scratch was left behind. Cutter pulled his sword back, cutting off his attack and dashing to the side. His tactical retreat was well-planned, for right behind him was a steel-encased figure charging forward like a moving castle. Energy coursing through the relic armor encasing him in a searing orb and made the armor glow red-hot. His hefty armor didn¡¯t impeded the instructor¡¯s speed in the least. He moved so quickly his steel-encased frame became a burning ball of light. Everything he passed was instantly burnt to cinders. His target was also obviously Wolfblade and his mysterious protector. Faster and fast he moved, coming down on them like a screaming freight train! While the female instructor kept Wolfblade¡¯s weapon tied up with her own, she raised the first finger of her left hand. A turquois ring glimmered against her skin, which summoned four identical blades made of wind. They were attached at the center like a bladed boomerang. She flicked her wrist, sending the ethereal weapon flying. In an instant it break the sound barrier, eliciting a sonic boom! When it started its trajectory, the boomerang was only about the size of her palm. However, the further it traveled the bigger it grew, until soon it was a full meter across. Soldiers in its path were slices in half at the waist, leaving a wake of spurting blood and jumbled innards. A swath of the battlefield was cut down. A streak of crimson red marked its passage. Meanwhile the armored instructor was bearing down on Wolfblade with indomitable momentum. Attack from both angles. A two-pronged assault! Cloudhawk was dazzled by the skill, it made his blood boil. Where it him on the receiving it he would be immediately overtaken. This was the capability of true demonhunters ¨C these were real warriors! The black-robed man threw open his arms and lunged forth to meet the armored instructor. It seemed insane, considering how frightening an impact with this armored bull would be. There had to be no more than a handful of people who would dare attempt it. What was the difference in standing between the armored instructor and embracing death? The demonhunter¡¯s powers were gathered up, focused to perfection as he rammed directly into the robed man¡¯s body. Let this bold defender first be smashed to pieces, he thought, then he would bury the Dark Atom¡¯s leader in the dirt! Like a meteor striking the earth, the two collided. The force of their impact blew a fan-shaped crater into the ground behind them and knocked anyone too close off their feet. The man in black did not, as expected, break into mangled pieces. Right at the moment of impact, he wrapped his arms around the armored instructor. A smoking trench was left behind as both men were thrown a dozen meters forward. The woman¡¯s bladed boomerang kept coming, arriving at almost the same moment. While it was more than capable of cutting Wolfblade clean in two, the bandaged leader made no attempt to move. From the sheath on his back, his third and final blade shot out of its own accord. It glimmered with a strange light, as though it possessed its own intelligence, and met the boomerang head on. The two weapons clashed. Both were knocked aside. Guided by the will of the demonhunter, her boomerang recalibrated its arc and swung back around for another pass. However, Wolfblade¡¯s living sword recognized the danger was still present and came to his defense once again. So far, no one had a clear advantage. After the collision with the armored instructor, the black-robed man¡¯s clothing had been reduced to cinders. He was revealed to the world, and in his natural state shocked not just the elysians, but Cloudhawk as well. There were creatures like this wandering the world? Unthinkable! The man¡¯s body was formed metal from head to toe. No natural process had created this thing, there wasn¡¯t a single stitch of flesh on him. His ¡®eyes¡¯ ¨C though no real eyes could be seen ¨C were merely dual points of red light. This was no living man. It was a metal golem! Was this freak created from ancient technology? What happened that turned this world into a smoldering wreck? Why did the demons come to tear apart the world of man? Was it not because the ancient were too greedy in their thirst for power? In their desire to shed the yolk of greater beings they pursued strength. Strength enough to determine their own destinies. In the end, the destructive they brought upon themselves was worse than servitude. The metal man placed his hand against the armored instructor¡¯s chest. Bang! A pulse of electric power burst from his palm. The impact cast his enemy away like a popped balloon. Metal screeched and clattered when he hit the ground several meters away. Thankfully his relic armor was very strong. It had to be for him to ram into people, shoulder first. The concussive pulse didn¡¯t hurt him any. Cutter leapt over him and came charging at the man. His huge sword glinted in the firelight as he hacked it; head, beck, shoulder, chest, leg. The instructor¡¯s attack screeched and left behind a number of scrapes. But not one real sign of damage. The metal man lazily lifted his hand, where blue light gathered in his palm. Cutter hastily pulled his sword before him to deflect what was coming. When the pulse struck it flung him away like a ragdoll. The woman¡¯s windblade boomerang returned to her, mission left undone. She and her target stepped back from one another. Wolfblade¡¯s bandaged arm was raised. In his right hand hummed the deadly particle blade, while the sword of electric light slithered protectively around him like a viper poised to strike at any moment. The metal man returned to his side like a loyal guardian. He was well protect by an exquisite entourage. Across from him, the woman stood in midair with the cyan whip in her left hand and the windblade boomerang hovering above the other. Instructor Cutter and the armored man flanked her on either side, clearly ready for another round. Both sides were too fast. There was no time for spectators, much less participants, to take a pause. Cloudhawk noticed that the bandages covering Wolfblade were a strange sort of old technology. Facing off against the demonhunter, it became a conflict that represented old-world technology against new-age faith. He knew well the power of relics, but he¡¯d also witnessed firsthand what high-tech was capable of. Other members of Dark Atom gathered round. Pretty soon several hundred soldiers were awaiting orders. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk cowered away. He was badly wounded, mentally drained, and physically weak. A fight like this was gonna be messy. It wasn¡¯t some outpost scuffle, both sides were powerful and well matched. If Cloudhawk had his way, both sides would wipe each other out. If either one or the other won, he¡¯d be stuck in the same shitty situation. Book 2, Chapter 89 - Conscripted Cannon Fodder What does the ebb and flow of the world have to do with me? The honor or disgrace of Skycloud domain is none of my business. To Cloudhawk there wasn¡¯t much difference between the Dark Atom and Skycloud. Neither of them were worth shit in his opinion, they¡¯d do the world a favor by destroying one another. Cloudhawk was looking for a rock to hide in when a gruff and familiar voice shouted at him. ¡°What the fuck are you doing over there hiding?!¡± Cloudhawk cursed under his breath as he looked up. It was none other than the surly assistant who threatened to make him intimately familiar with his club. Right now he was suited up like a soldier, encased from head to toe with elysian armor. He¡¯d traded his cudgel for a large ax and stood towering like an immovable wall. Cloudhawk¡¯s reaction was to clutch his chest and flop dramatically to one side. With eyes half-lidded he moaned to his abuser. ¡°I¡¯m all messed up. They shot me with a bunch of arrows and cut me with swords, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some organ damage. I think I¡¯m dying. I¡¯d just hold you all back. But even though I can¡¯t kill these dogs together with you, you have my emotional support.¡± ¡°You dipshit coward!¡± The training assistant yanked Cloudhawk back up onto his feet, like a bear effortlessly plucking up a chimp. ¡°It¡¯s all hands, scrub. If you¡¯re gonna die, you¡¯ll do it on the front lines. You¡¯re with my team.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s gonna work for me.¡± ¡°You take one more step away and I¡¯ll cut you down as a deserter!¡± He flung a vial of medicine and a crossbow at the scrawny wastelander. Cloudhawk bemoaned his rotten luck. How was any of this his goddamn problem? He wasn¡¯t a soldier or a demonhunter. Wasn¡¯t his relationship with the Dark Atom shitty enough as it was? If he killed more of them now, they¡¯d hunt him to the ends of the earth. But this guy wasn¡¯t screwin¡¯ around. Making a run for it didn¡¯t seem like a viable option. Even if the assistant didn¡¯t just cut his head off for being a deserter, he¡¯d probably be captured and brought back to Skycloud to face trial as a deserter and blasphemer. A trial would mean only one of two things for him. If he refused to admit guilt, they¡¯d burn him as a blasphemer. If he admitted wrongdoing, they¡¯d burn him as punishment. He was screwed either way. When fate chose to screw with you, even a fart would curse you with anal fissures. Cloudhawk was sure that no matter how bad the valley was, it couldn¡¯t be worse than living in the wastelands. Then came Butcher, and Gabriel, and Drake, and Claudia. Then the Blight-tooth clan. How much more shit could he step in? Above all else, staying alive was his priority. But it is what it is, he thought ¨C there was no time for self-pity. He bitterly pulled the cork from the vial of medicine and downed its contents. It was one of those refined brews from the elysian lands, quick and effective. It also served as a stimulant to keep warriors on their feet, so Cloudhawk suddenly felt the exhaustion drain from him and vitality return. Even his mental energies recovered a little. All at once Cloudhawk found himself in the uncomfortable position of being conscripted into a defense force. The battle lines had engaged, and both sides were locked in fierce combat. All the while the three giants of Hell¡¯s Valley were at war with Wolfblade. Spectacular and terrifying were the only words that could define their clash. In a flash it became a fierce test of skill and strength, where their stalemate could break at any moment. Cloudhawk hefted the weighty crossbow and trudged after his team to join the fight. This fight was going to be a nasty one ¨C an all-out confrontation. Instructor Cutter dragged his eyes over the devastated battlefield. Little by little his scarred face darkened into a scowl, making it all the more terrible to behold. ¡°These fuckin¡¯ rats, scurrying around in the shadows! Well now they skulk out into the open, they¡¯ve gotta be bored of livin¡¯!¡± Wolfblade had carefully planned this operation. It was simple, but simple had its benefits. Where he failed was in considering all angles. Of course, he couldn¡¯t know Cloudhawk would kill the Blight-tooth leader and send them into disarray. Without leadership, the huge disparity in strength between the natives and Hell¡¯s Army only grew worse. The elysians were able to quickly mop up and head back, far faster than Wolfblade anticipated. But that didn¡¯t matter. Nothing ever went exactly to plan. Wolfblade and his people had already managed to punch through the valley¡¯s defenses. They¡¯d also robbed them of their warships. Even with the three instructors on the battlefield, victory wasn¡¯t out of reach. ¡°Natessa Windham, Dumont Cenhelm, and Eckard Cutter.¡± [1] Wolfblade¡¯s scratchy, uncomfortable voice hissed from behind the bandages. Speaking with him was not like facing a man, but a mummy. ¡°The three ¡®giants¡¯ of this tiny outpost surpass my expectations. You know, I hear that your Master Arcturus is nearly invincible. I¡¯m curious to learn the truth of that for myself.¡± Natessa remained as cool and aloof as the clouds above. ¡°You aren¡¯t even worthy of speaking his name.¡± Where there is light, there was always shadow. There was no more insidious and powerful secret organization hiding in Skycloud domain than the Dark Atom. There were limits to that power, of course. From inception to present day the Dark Atom had existed for seventy years. In that time they went through many leaders. Their history and the past that brought them to this point was extraordinary, but they never had the might required to face the elysians directly. This was especially true once Arcturus Cloude took the reigns. Over the years, the worst the Dark Atom could manage were small-scale terrorist attacks. Attacks on infrastructure, hit squads and so forth. Attacking the root cause of their hatred was never an option. Be that as it may, the hearts of its members ever beat for the day they could overthrow Skycloud. Much to the consternation of the elysians, they were never able to completely eradicate these terrorists. Like weeds, you could cut them down and they would just sprout up somewhere else. Their structure was secretive and far reaching, and whatever methods the elysians used ¨C including undercover agents ¨C was foiled. They¡¯d never been able to strike a decisive blow at the heart of the organization. Wolfblade was Dark Atom¡¯s third leader. He¡¯d maintained control over its forces for over a decade already. No one had ever seen his true face, which led many to suspect that ¡®Wolfblade¡¯ was just a title. ¡®He¡¯ might, in fact, be ¡®they¡¯. A group sharing the same name. Still others thought that Wolfblade wasn¡¯t a real person at all, just a figurehead the organization propped up to keep their enemies guessing. For the first time, Wolfblade appeared in person on the battlefield. Although the leaders of Hell¡¯s Army had never seen Wolfblade, there was a fair amount of intelligence on his lieutenants. Most of them were here, along with the vast majority of the Dark Atom¡¯s forces. Who but Wolfblade could lead such a large force? For the first time, the Dark Atom¡¯s leader had shown what passed for his face. It was an important moment! If he was slain here, not only would the valley¡¯s failed defense be forgiven, they may even get commendations from the Temple. Who¡¯s to say the gods themselves wouldn¡¯t shower them with blessings? Who wouldn¡¯t want to pursue such glory? The female instructor, Natessa Windham, looked out across the battle. ¡°Remember, their target is the compound.¡± The armored instructor, Dumont Cenhelm, and the scarred masochist Eckard Cutter, felt their hearts beating wildly in their chest. They, too, looked out over the besieged outpost and saw the enormous cleft their enemies had caused. Their commander was right, the Dark Atom had taken an incredible risk in order to take this place. That meant they were ultimately after¡­ this was bad! All three of the instructors scowled menacingly. It was one of the most well-kept secrets of Hell¡¯s Valley, sealed here for safe keeping and stricken from any record. How did the Dark Atom know? But that didn¡¯t matter now, they were here and they couldn¡¯t be allowed to get their hands on it! Natessa called upon her psychic energies and let them spread. Her windblade boomerang sprang back into action, infused with even more power than before. The cyan-hued blades sprouting from it were thicker and sturdier. Spinning rapidly through the air, their keen edges were almost palpable from a distance ¨C in fact it was lethal up to five meters in diameter from the center. If it tore through an army battalion, the resulting carnage was unsettling to imagine. Nothing would be left but mangled bodies. ¡°Go!¡± Natessa urged her relic weapon toward Wolfblade. It spun wildly, changing direction and trajectory from one instant to the next. What¡¯s more, the blades split: one became two, two became four. Attacks came from all sides, never in a straight line, like four bloodthirsty swallows. They swirled around Wolfblade, penning him in with deadly cyclones. As they closed in, Wolfblade could already feel their cutting energy rip at his clothes. Without a hint of conern, he reached up to unbandage the strip of cloth covering his eyes. The left eye was revealed, no different from a normal person¡¯s but for the dangerous glint that shone within. All at once, the erratic movement of the spinning blades became perfectly clear to him. Wolfblade¡¯s eye couldn¡¯t see in the traditional sense. Instead, it gathered all manner of information like speed and trajectory, and conveyed it to his brain. It allowed him to instantly see through feints, and determine all the facts of an attack coming his way. Using split-second planning and all the data collected, he was able to formulate the perfect counter. The floating sword of electric light began to move. It cut an opening through the spinning boomerangs. Meanwhile the metal guardian also went on the offensive. He spread his arms and a shockwave erupted from each palm. When it clashed with the cyclones of wind energy, Natessa¡¯s whirling prison was weakened. Wolfblade jumped up, swinging his particle blade and catching out of the windblades in its center. The gathered psychic energy shattered like it was made from glass. The muscled man with the minigun Natessa had tried to kill stepped forward. ¡°Demonhunter bitch! Come see what grandpas¡¯ gun can do!¡± The man¡¯s multi-barreled weapon was handcrafted by the Dark Atom. It took over a year to complete, and each bullet was specially made with unique gunpowder and casings. They were about the size of a finger, and anywhere they hit was turned into a mutilated cavity. Natessa couldn¡¯t avoid them all, nor could she survive a direct hit. The large man¡¯s intention was to distract her from the attack on Wolfblade, but she would not play his game. She continued to manipulate her relic, aimed at the Dark Atom¡¯s leader. She stamped her foot, and the air below her erupted like a geyser, shooting her into the air and above the man¡¯s gunfire. ¡°Charge! Kill them all!¡± Cutter howled over the din. ¡°Cut your way into the compound, don¡¯t let them in!¡± Two of the instructors, their assistants, and a few hundred soldiers answered with a raucous cry and thunderous footsteps. 1. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if we were all given names that fit so perfectly with our future selves? Did Cutter¡¯s parents know he was gonna be a knife freak, or did they have to breed it into him? Should I call my first child Doctorperson Moneybags to seal their destiny? Book 2, Chapter 90 - The Cryptic Call Chapter 90 - The Cryptic Call Natessa kept the pressure on Wolfblade. Her cyan whip whistled through the air, so fast all one could see were after-images ¨C a hundred vicious vipers vying for the first bite. As the blows continued to rain down on him, Wolfblade deflected each one with his sword. Their stalemate continued. The special properties of wind were speed and translucency. She was a battle-hardened demonhunter, specialized in the wind element, stronger even than Dawn Polaris. Her mystical whip switched seamlessly from long to short, hard to soft, making every attack different. Her approach was different every time, indeterminable. Wolfblade, on the other hand, was a meticulous tactician more precise than a computer. He could ascertain the most perfect result from even the crudest data. His electric photon sword crackled around him like a protective snake, while the particle blade cut apart the very atoms in the air. The other two instructors charged toward the compound¡¯s breach, assistants in tow. Of course, the Dark Atom invaders weren¡¯t going to stand idly by. The large man with the minigun, who had moments before tried to shoot several dozen holes in Natessa, changed targets. Suddenly a stream of hundreds of thousands of bullets came tearing through the air, toward the encroaching elysian soldiers. The sight almost made Cloudhawk¡¯s head bulge out of his skull. Looking at the press of soldiers on either side, he cursed under his breath. There was nowhere to go. What a fuckin¡¯ joke! All the rest of these assholes had shields, or at the very least thick armor. Cloudhawk? He had a paper thin beggar¡¯s uniform. He looked like a fool charging in with nothing but a crossbow between him and a wall of bullets. He stuck out from the crowd like a sore thumb, without any sort of protection, the very definition of cannon fodder. They were sending him to his death! The flood of gunfire came pouring down, and in that moment Oddball stuck its fluffy head out of Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes. He knew that high-level control metahumans were capable of using all sorts of weapons, which was especially evident with long-range tools. Hellflower had been the best example of that he¡¯d seen, a real weapon master. The guy Cloudhawk was blindly charging at now was at least her equal, maybe even a little better. Even though his gun was spitting out bullets faster than he could spit out foul words, each was exactly placed. Not a single one was wasted. The veterans dropped their heads and raised their shields, but elysian steel couldn¡¯t protect every inch of them. Tenacious as their armor was, it couldn¡¯t survive more than three bullets. They started to drop like flies. Cloudhawk slowed down until he was at the back of the group. Sadly, the gunner was eager to share his deadly gifts evenly. Any target that stuck its head out had a bullet or six aimed their way. They were faster than shots from a handgun, so Cloudhawk¡¯s keen eyes couldn¡¯t tell exactly where they were going. He had to rely on his danger sense to guide him. His one blessing was the crowd of soldiers standing between him and the bullets. With such a large target, the gunner¡¯s fire wasn¡¯t especially concentrated. Cloudhawk was thankful for the fact, because otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have survived more than a few seconds. It sure was no picnic, though, because the Dark Atom was more than just the one crazy shooter. There were maybe twenty more marksmen of all sorts, each one a far sight more dangerous than any wasteland sniper. One of them was a grimy-looking old man with a slingshot-type weapon. He used it to fling several vials of green chemicals toward them. However, these veterans were not your typical grunts. They fired back with their crossbows and shot the vails out of the air. Then, the unexpected happened. As the vials burst their contents were released, bursting into flame as they came into contact with the air. Instead of the red and orange one might expect, whatever foul concoction this was burned with a ghastly green. The ethereal flames tumbled down from on high. A ball of fire caught one of the veterans in the face. Nerves that survived any number of grievous wounds shut down as his skin melted off the bone. He clutched at his ruined face and fell, screaming as the fires spread. Even when he was burned black they kept burning. Whatever was in this hellish stuff was a mystery, but all it had to do was touch skin and that was enough. No conventional methods put these fires out, and that terrified them. But the others soldiers kept their head and kept themselves hidden behind shield and armor. So long as the flames didn¡¯t touch skin they were fine, they extinguished quickly against inorganic material. Most of the soldiers only had their faces to worry about, but not Cloudhawk. He danced through the rain of fire like a half-wit. Dumont was the top of the suicidal spear and attracted most of the gunfire. The gunner pummeled him, but bullets that could punch through steel and iron didn¡¯t even leave a mark on the walking fortress. Nearby, one of the Dark Atom soldiers fired a cannon in their direction. Dumont took the blast head-on, and to everyone¡¯s amazement neither the cannon shot nor the explosion it caused even slowed him down. His armor was unyielding, none of their attacks even made him bat an eye. Instructor Cutter was right behind him like a shadow, mimicking his every move. Dumont soaked up the gunfire until they close enough for him to leap out from behind. He planted his legs on his fellow instructor and jumped, sword flashing. He came crashing down on the enemy like a tidal wave. A flash of silver. Two metal arms raised to ward off Cutter¡¯s blow. He stopped dead in his tracks with his sword caught between the golem¡¯s arms. The freak¡¯s hands stretched out, one toward Cutter and the other facing Dumont. Crackling blue light gathered in his palms while the two men took defensive postures. Boom-boom! Two bursts, one after the other. Both men staggered backward half a step. The metal golem was a mystery, no one knew how it was controlled. There didn¡¯t seem to be any angles in its construction, leaving no room for flame or water to slip through much less a sword. Fast, strong¡­ maybe even more than both the instructors together could handle. Cutter shouted another order to his troops. ¡°Leave this fucknut to us! Press the attack!¡± The Dark Atom invaders and Hell¡¯s Army clashed in all-out war. Cloudhawk pointed his heavy crossbow toward the enemy and pulled the trigger. A spray of bolts and the hiss of compressed air followed. Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo! One of them caught an unsuspecting Dark Atom agent. It was the first time Cloudhawk was using a weapon like this, but he was managing to control it well. It wasn¡¯t hard for him to figure out how it worked. Military-issue crossbows like these had just as much stopping power as firearms he was used to. They used compressed air to fire bolts at high speed and a precision quiver that fed bolts into the firing mechanism automatically. A standard quiver held fifty arrows, enough for a minute of continuous fire. Its wasteland equivalents were either hand loaded or semi-automatic, so they couldn¡¯t compare with even this sort of standard elysian equipment. What¡¯s more, they were quiet when fired unlike a gun and could accommodate different sorts of bolts. These bolts could be switched out for others more suitable to a particular enemy, making the crossbow a versatile choice. No wonder elysians looked down on wastelander firearms. Weapons like the big man¡¯s minigun were few and far between. The three commanders kept the enemy¡¯s strongest busy, meanwhile their assistants were each as capable as any Dark Atom elite. Man for man both sides were about matched, although the soldiers of Hell¡¯s Army were superior to the terrorist grunts. They had a clear advantage now that they were fighting face to face. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hurry to sing their praises. Suddenly, a shadow crept over him. He lifted his head and a bitter grin spread across his face. How could he forget? The lumbering black bodies of the Dark Atom¡¯s airships hung above them. Each one was laden with machine gun turrets and missile launchers. One of them even had a pulse cannon, technology modern man couldn¡¯t even begin to grasp. BOOM! A piercing column of blue light split the sky. A dozen or more elysian soldiers were splattered against the walls like gruesome paint. What wasn¡¯t instantly disintegrated smoldered on the ground in piles of slag. Cloudhawk had never witnessed such a weapon of mass destruction before. He recognized that it was similar to the shots from the golem¡¯s hands, but on a much larger scale. Maybe they were dug up from the same pit. Cloudhawk noted that since the start of the fight, it¡¯d only been used a couple times. This proved that it couldn¡¯t be fired continuously or often. Hopefully there was enough of a cooldown for him to get the fuck outta dodge. ¡°Alright, team one. We¡¯ll keep you covered while you get into the compound!¡± Several of the higher ranking soldiers had already gotten the doors open. Most of the several hundred soldiers in Hell¡¯s Army were busy with the Dark Atom, leaving only a few dozen left to deal with the compound¡¯s interior. Cloudhawk was one them. He wasn¡¯t eager to foil their nefarious plot, of course, he just figured most of the fighting was going on outside. Not to mention, those damn airships were just waiting to pick him off. It sure seemed like being inside the compound was the safer option. Then he stepped inside, and froze. He felt it like a cold knife running along his spine, something wasn¡¯t right. A faint sound from somewhere to the side, wriggling through space and time, from someplace unknown. It was calling him. The phase stone burned against his chest. What¡­ what was it? There were secrets hidden here, secrets that somehow involved Cloudhawk ¨C or more specifically, the stone that hung around his neck. If that was true, he had to find out what it was. No matter the risk. Book 2, Chapter 91 - An Explosive Trap Chapter 91 - An Explosive Trap Cloudhawk could feel that the battle was raging around him, white hot. The pulse of it beat faster. Even hidden in this building, he could feel the ground quiver beneath his feet as soldiers took each other¡¯s lives just a few feet away. Dust which had been dislodged from the quaking filtered through the light, and in this moment Cloudhawk rejoiced. The mightiest soldiers of both sides were busily killing each other outside, meaning it was ultimately safer in here. He lifted his head, and viewed the devastation of the compound from the light seeping from the fissure in its roof. The building wasn¡¯t large in scale yet was marked by the luxury of all things elysian. However, as a military installation it had a severe sort of grandeur. Dignified and unassailable. The doors and windows were framed in rhomboid engravings in white stone. Crystal, agate pebbles and morganite flecks were inlaid in the jadeite walls to create beautiful floral murals. Alcoves set between vaulted arches within the walls were home to a number of godly icons. This was an advance military outpost. Did they usually spend so much effort to make even their military bases this beautiful? Elysians were an impossibly stuffy breed. The towering ceiling had been cleaved open by Wolfblade¡¯s earlier assault. The hundred-meter long gash went beyond opening the roof and even managed to slice clean through several floors of the compound. Everything in the beam¡¯s path had been cut clean, whether it was thick columns or the smooth stone floor. The edges of the fissure radiated an intense heat that had yet to dissipate. Cloudhawk could imagine the sort of power such an attack would have, to be capable of cutting a building open like this. With such capabilities in hand, no wonder the Dark Atom thought they were worthy of attacking Hell¡¯s Valley. Cloudhawk followed the other soldiers as they ran down the hall. Magic lamps sparked to life in their passage until the wide passage was bathed in their gentle, beautiful glow¡­ but of course, that was now marred by the giant gash in the walls. The leader of their small team was the same fiend who forced Cloudhawk to join the campaign in the first place. He spoke to the others in a low voice. ¡°The item we need to protect is up ahead. Remember, this thing is extremely important. We cannot, under any circumstances, let the heathens get their hands on it.¡± One of the soldiers couldn¡¯t hold back their curiosity. ¡°What is it? Is it worth all this trouble the Dark Atom put themselves in?¡± The assistant shook his head. ¡°Only the three instructors know what it is, but I hear it¡¯s an ancient artifact from the time of the great war. Something cursed, put here for the time being for protection before it¡¯s destroyed. They didn¡¯t think it would bring the blasphemers knocking down our door.¡± Cloudhawk kept to the back of the group, but heard their exchange. So that was the reason the Dark Atom crept out from under their rock, it looked like Hell¡¯s Valley had something serious hidden here. He was sure it was the same thing he sensed when he first walked in. He wanted to know more, but even in top condition with all his relics he wouldn¡¯t be able to contend with all these soldiers. Enticing as this mysterious item was, it wasn¡¯t more important than trying to think up a way to survive this encounter. After all, whatever this thing might be worth, it wasn¡¯t worth more than his life. ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± The hall began to slant downward until it ultimately ended at an ancient bronze door. Whatever it was the Dark Atom was after was on the other side. It was strange, though. They¡¯d gotten here much earlier than Hell¡¯s Army, yet there were no signs the Dark Atom had reached this door. They hadn¡¯t encountered a single soul. It was a fact Cloudhawk found unsettling. Their team leader also seemed nervous. Everyone started looking around, on alert for a sneak attack. Perched on his shoulder, Oddball chirped softly drawing Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. His eyes caught something strange behind the legs of one of the statues set against the wall. It looked like a stone had been removed and something placed inside, then hastily covered again. Cloudhawk pointed. ¡°What is that?¡± One of the soldiers hustled over and pulled the stone away. What he revealed was a strange contraption, with a dozen or so multicolored test tubes strapped together. A complicated mess of circuits was wrapped around it in crude wasteland style. A tiny light blinked on its surface with a steady rhythm. A creeping dread came over Cloudhawk as he looked further down the hall. There were at least another dozen or so such devices hidden in the walls, surrounding them. The frightening prospect came clawing through his mind, these were ¨C ¡°Shit!¡± The instant Cloudhawk voiced the curse, those blinking lights sped up. Whatever was in those test tubes started to mix together and begun their chain reaction. Heat and light poured from them. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils contracted as ten simultaneous sparks flared to life. It wasn¡¯t an explosion, more like flood gates bursting. Waves of gum-like fire swallowed them up from every angle. The world descending into burning madness, like hell had come to claim them. There was nowhere to hide. It was a trap! Everyone hit the ground, pressing themselves to the cold stone while the fires roared above them. The masterful statues of the gods crumbled into rubble and came crashing down like the world was coming apart. A number of soldiers were crushed beneath the debris. Cloudhawk was blown back half a dozen meters and slammed into the door. He hit the ground, dazed. A deluge of fractured stone followed to bury him beneath their crushing weight, and then what happened afterward was lost. Everything went dark. A few minutes later¡­ Cloudhawk regained consciousness. His ashen face sputtered up from the rubble, blood leaking from his burst ear drums. He couldn¡¯t hear much of anything. His clothes were cinders and scorch marks were all over him, the flames had even burnt away most of his hair. That trap was like a nightmare! Cloudhawk blinked through his double vision at the ruin that was left. Everything was on fire and an acrid smoke turned the air to poison. The blow to his head made Cloudhawk dizzy, and he felt like throwing up. He hurt all over like he¡¯d been flayed, dipped in oil then deep fried. Yet, to everyone¡¯s great surprise, most of the soldiers were clambering their way out from beneath the rubble. Although they each sported a number of wounds, the soldiers stumbled to their feet with weapons in hand. They were still ready to fight and die, even after surviving a cataclysm of fire. Cloudhawk decided it was time to get up, and so tried to push off a chunk of rubble off of him. He discovered it was much heavier than expected and his legs were pinned. He was too weak to get out from under it. The team leader prowled the rubble wide-eyed with his ax in hand. His helmet had been blown away somewhere and blood dropped from several wounds in his skull. Figures could be faintly seen through the smog when suddenly there came a series of blasts. Bang, bang! The assistant jerked as eight or nine bullets slammed into him. One caught him in the head. The tough elysian armor deflected the other bullets. As for the bullet to his skull, it glanced off and left him with a nasty gash but nothing more. A tempered veteran like him had bones like iron. Ordinary weapons weren¡¯t going to put him down. The series of gunshots knocked him back several paces, and in the space between their attackers jumped in to finish them off. They whipped around the team leader, throwing iron hooks which caught on his armor. Round and round they went until thick chains held him fast. He flexed his muscles against the bindings and they snapped, sending shrapnel in all directions. The instructor assistant then held high his ax and charged at his foes. The first swipe split one¡¯s skull. A second cut most of the way through a second man¡¯s waist. Cloudhawk watched in shock and alarm. This guy had more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Cloudhawk suspected it when he¡¯d almost knocked him silly with the cudgel, but seeing him stand valiantly against the Dark Atom proved he was much stronger than Cloudhawk figured. He hoped it would be enough to keep the attackers off him. But another target presented itself in the midst of their struggle. The veteran was in a berserker rage, and he gave no thought before lashing out at his enemies. He heaved his battleaxe as easily as a dagger toward the next foe, but it was stopped by a mechanical arm. It was some sort of prosthetic, four times thicker than any normal limb and attached to the man at his shoulder. He engaged some mechanism and a shield popped out from the false limb. The screech of metal on metal rang through the hall. This was the first enemy they¡¯d faced who could stand against the team leader¡¯s ax. The arm was more complicated even than that, however, for as he deflected the veteran¡¯s ax a gun barrel jutted from his palm. The veteran hastily put his ax between himself and the stream of gunfire that followed. Still, four or five struck him in the chest, fracturing his armor and knocking him backwards. A particularly quick shadow raced through the smoke and fire. Keen eyes glinted in the harsh light, and through brief glimpses Cloudhawk could see a hook-shaped nose. He reached for the team leader with claw-like fingers, fast as a tempest, fierce as a thunderbolt. While the veteran was busy he swept past and opened his throat from ear to ear. A deluge of hot, dark blood poured forth. ¡°You¡­¡± He swayed on unsteady feet and tried to talk, but could only manage strained gurgles. Still he brandished his battleaxe as to keep up the fight, but the one with the mechanical arm followed up with another burst of gunfire. Every one of them hit him in the end, until one exploded through his eyeball and into his brain. This doughty warrior¡¯s war against the Dark Atom ended here. The others kept up the struggle, but the bomb had done considerable damage. Strong as they were, they couldn¡¯t stand against the tide of enemies. The battle had taken a turn toward disaster. Cloudhawk watched in helpless fear, when a stalwart figure emerged from the smoke. He had to be two meters tall and big enough to fit four Cloudhawks. One fist was bigger than his whole head. His dark skin was tough as leather, and bony protrusions jutted out along his arms and shoulders. Obviously this one was a mutant. The Dark Atom had quite a lot of formidable mutants like this one. Cloudhawk watched the man walk toward him with wide eyes. He raised the crossbow he¡¯d somehow managed to hold on to, ready to fire a volley on bolts into the freak¡¯s guts. He pulled the trigger and a stream of arrows belched at his foe. But the mutant didn¡¯t even give them a passing thought. He raised his enormous fist, ready to smash Cloudhawk into paste. Book 2, Chapter 92 - The Skull Cloudhawk had only started to recover, but already another life-threatening danger was coming his way. That couldn¡¯t be permitted. His eyes turned red and bloodshot, nearly bulging from his head. A power from deep inside him burst out and he shot to his feet. The several ton slab of rock that pinned him was flung at his attacker. At the same moment, Cloudhawk threw his crossbow aside and lunged at the large man with his bare fist. The hulking man roared like a beast, delivering a thunderous punch at the stone tumbling his way. It shattered it into pieces then met Cloudhawk¡¯s fist on the other side. When the two men collided, the shards of rock suspended in air were blasted away. The mutant¡¯s strength was nothing short of amazing. Punching through the stone slab hadn¡¯t slowed him down or weakened his punch in the least. Cloudhawk felt engulfed in a tide of concussive force that shook every bone in his body and made him numb. His body slammed against the door once again as he was thrown back. An ugly, twisted sneer tugged at the mutant¡¯s lips. It was a mocking sneer for the little man who thought he could stand toe to toe with him. His skinny arms and twig-like legs weren¡¯t worthy of his overconfidence. Cloudhawk clutched his shoulder, face pale. This guy was just a Dark Atom soldier, albeit one of their crack troops. Still, the difference in strength between them was too big. If he had his relics maybe Cloudhawk would have stood a chance. But wishing wouldn¡¯t make it so. His enemy¡¯s attacks were crushing ¨C clumsy and slow, but strong enough to punch a hole right through him. Typically Cloudhawk would use superior speed to take pot shots, but his legs were hurt when the hall collapsed. Anyway, a protracted battle wasn¡¯t going to work in his favor in this circumstance. Who knew how many more Dark Atom fighters were on their way? He and the elysians were on the back foot. They weren¡¯t going to hold out long. He had to think of a way to escape. If he didn¡¯t, he¡¯d been left to rot here. All escapes routes were blocked off by Wolfblade and his people, he had to think of something else. He wracked his mind for an answer but that disquieting call was whispering at him, making it hard to think. I was coming from behind him, on the other side of the thick bronze doors. It was in there somewhere, it had to be, and it could help him. Escape would mean getting his hands on¡­ whatever it was. There was no other choice. He had to just go for it. The burly mutant wasn¡¯t interested in giving Cloudhawk time to ponder the end of his days. He stooped over and wrapped his arms around a section of fallen column. He heaved, swinging it around in a semicircle and then releasing it right at him. He charged after the rubble with a roar, the ground cracking beneath the force of his stamping feet. Cloudhawk threw his hands in front of him for protection. Not that it would do anything ¨C the impact would liquefy the bones in his arms. The mutant¡¯s sheer force was beyond what any typical man could fathom. He wanted to smash Cloudhawk against the door with that column, an act which would certainly smash the scrawny man flat. Cloudhawk knew he couldn¡¯t protect himself, so he used the last of his mental energies and called on the phase stone. Its mystical field immediately covered him, and he was safe from the outside world. Time was crucial. The instant the stone¡¯s power awakened, Cloudhawk struggled against the door to try and push his way through. He was met with stiff resistance. It was a thick and intractable barrier, but Cloudhawk knew deep within that this was his last chance. Either he got through, or it was the end. So he grit his teeth, focused his psychic power and funneled it through the stone. Its field instantly strengthened and he managed to squeeze through. He popped out on the other side. BOOM! The door and its whole frame shook as something enormous slammed into it. Cloudhawk could hear the column exploding into pieces just where he¡¯d been lying. The freak¡¯s sheer power was never in doubt. He¡¯s squeaked through, surviving by the skin of his teeth. I¡¯ll remember you, ugly. One day you¡¯ll get what you deserve. Cloudhawk struggled back onto his feet. A little blob of yellow popped out of his clothes. ¡°Hey, lil guy. You doin¡¯ alright?¡± Oddball offered a chirp of reassurance and perched on his shoulder. It looked fine, just a little shaken. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t blame it, they were both almost killed after all. He didn¡¯t know how it was the pudgy little thing was so tough, though he was thankful for it. Those feathers looked frail, but they weren¡¯t even scorched from the explosions. His friend was a real survivor. No time to waste. I¡¯ve gotta keep going. Cloudhawk hobbled around to begin searching for the source of the call. Then, suddenly, everything disappeared. No more door, no building, nothing. He was in a pitch-dark place without substance, except that the ground was oddly uneven. There were enormous craters all around, some as wide as a hundred meters, like the whole place had been leveled by meteors. Great mountains had been blown apart and were strewn across the horizon. Among the ruin were the mangled remains of countless warships. The corpses carpeted everything, a sea of bodies. The ground was red, the mountains were red, the rivers were red. The sky was red. Everything was painted the color of blood, and the stench of death stuck in Cloudhawk¡¯s nostrils. It was almost more than he could stand. What¡­ what happened? It had to be some kind of illusion! What was all this on the other side of that bronze door? Cloudhawk stumbled through the vast, dead world. An angry sun burned in the sky, alongside a second and a third. All told there had to be thirteen burning orbs in total. No¡­ not suns, but figures that burned just as bright. Suddenly they were right before him, radiating with intense light that made it hard to look directly at them. ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡± It sounded like it was coming from right next to his ear, like a gentle thunder. The sound of it was full of majesty and coercion, impossible to deny, that shook him to the depths of his soul. Its tremendous will washed over him, so powerful that even the mightiest warrior would be overcome with despair. ¡°Kneel!¡± The command fell with the force of a mountain. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t breathe. The will of this being completely overcame his defenses and spoke directly to the depths of his mind. He could feel it working to steal the strength of his legs and force him to the ground. ¡°Kneel!¡± Another booming command ripped through his skull. He was exhausted, drained, and covered in sweat. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was empty and absent any resistance. But there was something deeper, a tenacity in the depths of his heart that arose in defiance and anger. He didn¡¯t know why, only that he would not kneel before this being. If he obeyed then he would truly be lost. He didn¡¯t want to lose! Fuck! Who the fuck are you? You think I¡¯m going to kneel because you tell me to? The beings of light stretched forth their hands at Cloudhawk, who refused to show obeisance. Within their palms the light gathered, an amalgamation of intense power. They held the orbs in their hands and repeated the command in a unified, world-shuddering voice. ¡°Kneel!¡± ¡°You can all fuck right off!¡± Thirteen beams of light fired toward him. An entire ocean would evaporate if set against such stupefying power. Cloudhawk covered his face reflexively. Seconds passed. Nothing. He slowly let his hands drop to find the illusion had disappeared. Oddball was anxiously flying circles overhead, probably thinking its master had lost his mind. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t entirely convinced he hadn¡¯t. What was that? Some sort of test? He put it aside for the time being and began to explore his surroundings. It was a secret chamber set deep inside the compound. Small, by comparison. Set in the center of the room was a pedestal made from some kind of glittering crystal. The thing set on it was black as coal, and only seemed blacker against the shimmering material. It looked like a skull, a human skull. Boney sockets were pointed his way, and inside danced a pair of scarlet flames. The illusion had to have come from this thing. Was some dead asshole¡¯s bones that powerful? A treasure indeed! Cloudhawk looked it over for a moment, reaching out with all his senses. Something still didn¡¯t feel quite right. There wasn¡¯t a resonance. No resonance meant this wasn¡¯t a relic. Cloudhawk was afraid it was some kind of trap. Whatever this was, people were dying outside to protect it, and the Dark Atom was killing to get their hands on it. After what he just experienced, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t in a rush to assume anything either. He was weighing his options. After all, he still wasn¡¯t even sure he wanted to grab this thing. Once he did things would get¡­ awkward. Snatching a treasure from the Dark Atom was like ripping food from a tiger¡¯s mouth. Wolfblade would hunt him to all corners of the earth. To add to that, stealing from crack elysian veterans had to be a sin punishable by death. Even Skye Polaris wouldn¡¯t be able to protect him. He¡¯d probably cut him down himself. Even if this thing was some unrivaled treasure, was Cloudhawk prepared to take it for himself? Throughout his musings the phase stone had been growing hotter. Something in the back of his mind was urging him over and over again to pick the skull up. He grit his teeth and made a decision: he didn¡¯t come down here for nothing. He wasn¡¯t scared¡­ just touch it, see what happens. All the while the skull stared at him from its pedestal. Cloudhawk picked his way around the crystal plinth, looking it over. When he got a better look at the skull he saw it was not quite what he thought. It was about twice the size of a typical human skull, although it was about the right shape. A mutant¡¯s skull, maybe? That didn¡¯t seem likely. It was ink black from top to bottom. Smooth, reflective, and he could even feel a little warmth coming from it. It almost looked like a piece of art. Could nature make something like this? The aura coming off of it so was strong, it made Cloudhawk¡¯s hair stand on end. He felt like he was circling an ancient enemy, a discomfort that was written into his genetic code. The fires in its empty sockets had a sort of power, too. Somehow he knew that they¡¯d been burning for hundreds of thousands of years. Inextinguishable. If this was someone¡¯s bones he didn¡¯t want to know what they were like when they were alive. On the other side of the door, Cloudhawk could hear that the fight was ending. No more hesitating. He picked up the skull. The moment he touched it the inert remains started to quiver. Scarlet flames belched from its seven orifices like the clawing fingers of an evil spirit. They slithered up his arms, bloodthirsty and desperate to devour him whole. Book 2, Chapter 93 - A Second Encounter Cloudhawk immediately wanted to throw the skull away. The fires were like viscous oil, climbing up his arms, filling him with trepidation. There were many times over the last few months that he¡¯d seen otherworldly things, but this was like really being face to face with a ghost! The fires continued to envelop him. But there was no heat. In fact it was the opposite. It wasn¡¯t like fire at all, but like shackles of ice slithering over his body. They were ghastly vipers, born from the depths of the earth and slowly sapping the life from him. He couldn¡¯t move, and the hair all over his body stood on end. When the scarlet flames had encased half his body, they might as well have been hard as cement. Just as Cloudhawk was beginning to fear he¡¯d been locked in forever, the slithering flames seemed to sense something. They all coalesced around his chest and upon touching the phase stone, were sucked inside. The plain-looking stone drew them in like a sponge, or more precisely, like an insatiable black hole. Not a single bit of the fire from the black skull remained, devoured by the phase stone until even the eternal fires of its eyes went dark. Cloudhawk¡¯s own eyes turned to the skull, where he watched a change overcome it. The glossy shine was gone from its jade-like surface. All of a sudden it was as though a thousand years passed in an instant. The skull became coarse, parts of it cracked. Fissures continued along the ancient bone until, with a clatter, it broke into several pieces and fell to the ground. Slowly, Cloudhawk regained his ability to move. He staggered back a few steps the instant his feet would let him. The sound of his heart pounding was deafening. Something felt different to him now, a sensation centered on his chest. He looked down to see what had been a plain stone, now gradually turning into a brilliant scarlet red. It was as smooth as luminescent as a gemstone now, and an enigmatic power radiated from inside it. Did something happen? Had the skull somehow broken his precious relic? He touched it and was rewarded with an intense shock. A sharp pain raced through his brain that caught him off guard, and then his vision went dark. Memories, shards of thoughts, all jumbled and chaotic flooded him in a wild procession. Scenes of war marched across his mind¡¯s eye; flashes of blood and death, all manner of conflicting sounds, thousands of colors all mashed together and impossible to differentiate. What human brain could cope with so much information? It threatening to rip him apart! If it didn¡¯t kill him, it would certainly drive him mad. Get out! Get the fuck out of my head! His response to the overwhelming sights and sounds was angry resistance. In his mind¡¯s eye a shower of meteors came crashing down into his sea of consciousness, stirring up tidal waves. When they sunk into the depths of that dark sea Cloudhawk thought there might be peace, but it was not the end. The falling stones glowed with an intense light. A field of energy hung over everything. The images conjured by his mind churned like an angry river. This¡­ it feels like the stone¡¯s powers are activating. The phasing power came from the stone and not from Cloudhawk, so he had no ability to stop it. His body twisted erratically like it was made of clay, then blinked out of existence. A familiar feeling washed over him. It was the feeling of passing into another dimension. Cloudhawk had begun to master the stone¡¯s abilities that allowed him to pass through matter. In essence, the principle was he was half in one dimension and half in another. He was still present, but dislodged. The stone¡¯s field of energy was the culprit. If an elastic cloth was used to represent the concept of time, then Cloudhawk¡¯s phasing ability was like placing a rock on that cloth. He was still obviously on one side of that cloth as it stretched, but at the same time was not in his own space. Or like two bridges, one above the other. No matter the flow of traffic above, those drivers were never going to appear on the road below. Although they could see each other, they were only ever projections of each other. Through the stone¡¯s ability to make full use of space, Cloudhawk was able to elude danger. But that was far from the stone¡¯s only power. In the hands of a real master, the phase stone could penetrate dimensions completely. Returning to the cloth metaphor, at Cloudhawk¡¯s current capabilities he could stretch the cloth but not pass it. If one with enough strength tried, though, they¡¯d slip right through. Right now, the ability to tread dimensions was beyond him. The few times it¡¯d succeeded was because he¡¯d resonated properly with the power stored in the stone. It was very difficult for him to do that at a whim. Now, after absorbing whatever was in that skull, the stone was coming alive again. How could it not take Cloudhawk by surprise? The power that overcame him sliced Cloudhawk into infinitesimally minute pieces, more than a man could fathom. He was then put together somewhere else, in another reality. This was not a pleasant experience. However, after a few experiences Cloudhawk had learned to deal with it. Now he was somewhere draped in darkness and silence. It was a world of ruin. It had been cleaved into loosely assembled blocks of earth floating around each other, some as large as Skycloud domain. They all floated in an unsettling and empty space but for the twin stars that it orbited. Beyond that, the vast expanse of nothingness and the stars that hid beyond. It was a dead world of dust and not much else. This couldn¡¯t be where he¡¯d come from. He¡¯d been to a few places now, and they¡¯d all seemed like typical worlds. But this place? He¡¯d never seen anything like it! But anyone with the barest minimum of an education knew this had to be space. He was on a chunk of rock, draped in stardust. The fractured remains of a planet floated all around him that had been torn apart by some nightmarish power. Now they slowly drifted apart through the eternal vacuum, as far into the horizon. His stone was active, luckily for Cloudhawk. Its field of power was the only thing keeping him from dying on the spot in this inhospitable environment. There was no air and it was freezing cold. His lungs would have been instantly sucked empty, his eardrums ruptured. A normal human wouldn¡¯t last five seconds. Cloudhawk might be able to last a few more, at best. So what was going on? Why would the stone bring him here? The slab Cloudhawk floated on now was about the size of Skycloud domain. As he looked out, he saw a several tattered excuses for shelters. They had to have been cobbled together after the calamity. None of this would have survived whatever happened to this world. As he turned his head up, Cloudhawk found fields of wreckage. One section of it looked suspiciously like the floating docks used by the elysians. The ruin of what looked a lot like a warship was nearby, and another easily a thousand meters long. According to Cloudhawk¡¯s experiences with them, they seemed exactly similar. This had to be a battleground. Cloudhawk¡¯s attention snapped back the stone, for in just that instant it released a column of fire. It roiled angrily for a moment before gathering together. Like a mold, it was forced into a human shape. However, no matter how much one squeezed fire was not solid. A true body could not be formed. As he suspected, his phase stone had some connection to the skull. The amalgamation of fire was human in shape, but even up close there were no discernable features. All he could make out where a pair of fiery orbs where its eyes should be, and the spectral representation of a gem embedded in its chest. To Cloudhawk he was somehow familiar. It was like looking at himself in some twisted mirror, but the reflection was anything but human. ¡°You? Didn¡¯t you say you were dead?¡± Who else could this be but the previous owner of the stone? Having him appear like this all of a sudden was very suspicious. ¡°Did that skull I found belong to you?¡± Cloudhawk gaped comically and exaggeratedly. But there was something weird about how he spoke¡­ ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I think I might have carelessly broke it into pieces.¡± It wasn¡¯t the words that was weird. It was the environment. There was no air here, and with no air there was no way to talk. The being couldn¡¯t hear him. And yet he seemed to. They floated across from one another, staring. Out here among the stars they hovered, one large and one small. Yet although they were close, the image was still hazy. They were talking at each other through across the veil of life and death. ¡°No need to find it strange. This is merely another fraction of my will I left behind.¡± ¡°Well, how many of those pieces are out there?¡± ¡°When I fell, I split my mind into three pieces. They were the dimension stone, my skull, and my most important relic. The stone bore the inheritance of my power, and my skull contained all of my knowledge. As for my relic, it has been sealed away with all the rest of my riches - my gift of wealth.¡± Power, knowledge, and wealth. Weren¡¯t those the very things every man sought? Their conversation was very strange, not least for the way the spirit¡¯s voice whispered directly into his mind. It was a little bit like how he communicated with Oddball, only¡­ more detailed. Oddball couldn¡¯t communicate like this. ¡°The stone is the key, without it the skull would turn to dust. Luckily, it was you who found my memories.¡± Dark Atom risked a lot in their war against Hell¡¯s Army. For all this trouble, they would rob something they couldn¡¯t even use. The power that the skull contained could only be accepted by a specific person. That person was Cloudhawk. It was an incredible coincidence. But, was it really? Cloudhawk looked incredulous. ¡°How did this happen?¡± ¡°There is much in this universe you cannot even begin to grasp, but this is enough: Everything that is possible exists, and all that exists is possible. Everything has an explanation. Knowledge dispels all mysteries.¡± The words whispered into the recesses of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°If you merge with my wisdom and my memories, you will inherit a deep comprehension of the world you live in. You will see that you are one small, insignificant speck of dust, on an enormous planet that is one of countless others.¡± Book 2, Chapter 94 - Sea of Memories Cloudhawk didn¡¯t really understanding what the fiery ghost was telling him, and truth be told he wasn¡¯t interested in knowing the details. He heard ¡®inheritance,¡¯ that was all he needed to understand. So there was more? How could he turn down the prospect? When the phase stone absorbed the power of the skull, all sorts of sights and sounds were foisted into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. Vague memories twisted in his subconscious, too much for him to absorb all at once. What he could grasp was that they were scenes of a war the stone¡¯s previous owner had participated in. One cut, severing a river. One step, trampling a city. One punch, leveling mountains. One roar, shaking the heavens. Now, in times of peace, none of that was apparent. Perhaps when he lived the ghost was some terrible overlord ¨C a creature no man could overcome. He must have turned the world upside down. This stranger might have even been stronger than Arcturus Cloude. No¡­ not ¡®might have¡¯. He definitely was. Cloudhawk ¨C a staunch opportunist [1]¨C was not going to ignore the opportunity the ghost was presenting to him. He could train bitterly for his whole life and never come close to that level of power. If he could take in everything this ghost had left behind, even the governor wouldn¡¯t be able to stand against him. Dawn Polaris would have to look at him with new eyes. Atlas, Frost, and all the others would have their day of reckoning! The fiery spirit trembled, and a host of embers floated out from him. In seconds the humanoid image was a dull outline of what it had been. But although the spirit was weakening, it could still see into Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. His words shattered the young man¡¯s daydreams. ¡°You will never be capable of acquiring all my wisdom. Just as you will never be able to wield all of my former power.¡± Power was the first inheritance Cloudhawk gained from this mysterious spirit, locked within the phase stone and released when he took it up. Time erodes all things, so the stone did not contain all of what the spirit once commanded. But if Cloudhawk got even half of it, that was more than enough. That was not to say he wasn¡¯t greatly disappointed when he realized the truth. The vast sea within the stone was what remained of the will of its former master, and taking in even some of it was very difficult. For now, it was a vain hope to think he could. He would have to one day be as strong as this man had been. He might as well have asked for the moon. ¡°Do not fret, my successor. This is not to your detriment. Never underestimate your potential.¡± The man of scarlet fire spoke directly into his mind. It sounded like the crackle of embers. ¡°My mission is to open a portal and guide you through it to your destiny, not make you in my image. You will be greater than I was ¨C you need to be greater than I was. If not, then everything that was sacrificed will be for nothing.¡± ¡°Is that even possible? What do you expect me to do¡­¡± ¡°It is possible. Everything is possible. If that day should come, then you will be capable of donning my armor and wielding my relics. Then the answers shall become clear to you.¡± What, you don¡¯t trust me yet? Fuck, a halfway decent answer would have been a comfort. Saying that was not advised, of course. He wouldn¡¯t want to make this deliberately mysterious spirit angry. Best not to say anything at all! Cloudhawk saw that as the spirit continued, its body kept fading away. What was left? He had to take whatever inheritance he could before the time passed. They couldn¡¯t continue flapping their lips for very much longer. Cloudhawk found himself growing nervous on the spirit¡¯s behalf. The stone¡¯s dead master sensed his thoughts. ¡°Do you still not understand? All of my memories have been gifted to you. They exist within your mind. The inheritance is already yours.¡± The words whispered through his brain, and then the sea of his mind turned over. Terrifying waves of memories crashed over him like tidal waves. He felt like a small boat, watching the wall of water rise. Strange and unfamiliar visions assailed him. The sheer volume of information was incalculable ¨C Cloudhawk could have lived for decades and it wouldn¡¯t come close to this being¡¯s lifetime. It was too much, he couldn¡¯t parse it all. To try would break his mind. Coudhawk couldn¡¯t hold back his curses. Had he made a mistake? The knowledge clung to him like a paste, things he couldn¡¯t begin to understand. Much of it was beyond his ability to translate. Overwhelming didn¡¯t begin to describe it, yet it was still only the first few thousand years of the spirit¡¯s life. All the rest of what was contained in the skull was lost. What remained was a motley array of fragments, carelessly jumbled together like a junk heap. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare even begin to organize it. ¡°Within you now are two oceans; one of power, one of knowledge. When ¨C and to what extent ¨C you call upon them will be determined by chance and fortune.¡± The spirit extended a fiery hand toward him. The hornets buzzing in Cloudhawk¡¯s skull finally quieted, allowing a few fully formed thoughts to float to the surface. This knowledge was about combat, and relics. What Cloudhawk needed most in this moment. Cloudhawk released a long, calming breath. That was how it was done? Everything else had been wasted time and effort¡­ This was a real treasure; the knowledge of proper training, and the means to manipulate and create relics. ¡°You can never surpass me with just this, eventually you will reach a limit.¡± It paused, then continued in a warning tone. ¡°Accumulating data is not enough. You must adapt, and initiate ¨C just as you have been in your pursuits for power. But reliance on combat and relics are for the common man. The common man is limited in what he can accomplish. Your destiny must be to go beyond.¡± ¡°Heaven and earth are the furnace, where you will be tempered into a relic. You have been richly endowed by fate with the ability to understand relics at a deeper level than anyone. Do not look lightly upon your gifts. Eventually, when you have awakened, you will understand the origins of everything.¡± ¡°And thus has my mission been accomplished.¡± The spirit had been reduced to a flicker, like a candle flame threatening to go out. It shrunk until it was only a ball then melted back into Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. It sunk into his will, his soul, where the fire¡¯s mark remained. A new flood of memories ensued. *** The large bronze doors blew open! Twenty or thirty elite Dark Atom fighters poured in, but Cloudhawk was not there. All they found where shards of bone strewn about a pedestal, the remains of a skull. Its weathered fragments looked like nothing special. ¡°Is this it?¡± One of the soldiers frowned in disappointment. ¡°It sure doesn¡¯t look like it.¡± Buzzard was just as puzzled, but now wasn¡¯t the time for second guesses. ¡°Is there anything else in here?¡± No, there wasn¡¯t. The pieces of skull had to be what they were looking for. Buzzard gathered all he could and stuffed them in a bag. With a wordless gesture, he and the others filed out. As they made their exit, the Dark Atom invaders scattered high explosives through the room then left one by one. They hated to leave Hell¡¯s Valley before the job was done, but both sides had already suffered greatly in the exchange. ¡°Boss, I got it!¡± The fighters around Wolfblade all beamed with delight. Their mission was complete, the object they¡¯d come for was in hand. Not only had they managed to invade and destroy the elysian base, but took their treasure for themselves as well. It was a vicious slap to the face to these zealots. It was time to call everyone back! The Dark Atom had more people, but a lengthy fight wasn¡¯t going to break in their favor. But even if they did win, it wasn¡¯t worth the cost. Their powerful weapons were the result of tremendous effort, digging them up and repairing them to working order. Their elite fighters were built from years of training. His lieutenants were hand-picked and carefully cultivated. These several hundred men and women were the heart of Wolfblade¡¯s organization, and every loss was costly. Veterans soldiers were a limited resource for Skycloud as well, but even if they were all wiped out they would fill this place with reinforcements before long. Besides, they¡¯d already brought too much attention to themselves with this mission. If they kept dragging this out, support was bound to come from the domain sooner or later. By then it¡¯d be too late. Instructor Cutter saw the signs. ¡°They¡¯re trying to retreat! Stop them!¡± Wolfblade held his hand high, all five fingers splayed out, then wrapped them quickly into a fist. It was the sign to fall back. The airships released the remainder of their ammunition in a violent and spectacular display. Suddenly Hell¡¯s Army was submerged in a sea of fire and shrapnel. ¡°Go!¡± Dark Atom¡¯s remaining soldiers used the bombardment as cover for their retreat. They got to an area of higher elevation, then put back the jet gliders they¡¯d used to infiltrate the base. As the airships continued to cover them, they descended low enough so that the soldiers could slip back onboard. Because Wolfblade started the assault by destroying the base¡¯s docks, elysian forces had no way to give chase. Buzzard grabbed a rope dangling from one of the airships, then fished out a controller and pressed a button. A string of bone-jarring eruptions followed. Below, huge parts of the compound collapsed, others were blew over a kilometer away. A nightmarish mushroom cloud roared over the building and toward the heavens. The compound¡¯s soldiers made as though to follow, but the world opened up before them before they could. A shockwave tore through the entire valley, leaving them stupefied. Anything left in that building after an explosion like that had to have been utterly destroyed. By the time the smoke cleared and the soldiers clawed their way from the rubble, the Dark Atom invaders were long gone. Eckard was itching to get after them, but Natessa held him back. On the one hand, their base was in no condition to continue the fight. On the other, their enemy had the advantage. Chasing after the enemy would only put them in an even weaker position. It was fine. They still had the foundations, they could rebuilt. The most pressing matter was how to explain this to Skycloud. 1. This one was interesting, and surprisingly hard to track down. The original term was ''borrowlist'', and as far as I¡¯ve been able to tell, this references something specific to Chinese history and thought. Borrowlism, or copinism, was a criticism expressed by a respected Chinese writer and thinker named Lu Xun. In the article of the same name he criticized China for copying or borrowing ideas wholesale from the West without thinking about how they applied to the Chinese reality. His suggestion was to combine things discovered from the outside world with the traditions and realities of Chinese life. Here the author, in a very erudite way, is describing Cloudhawk as an opportunist. He doesn¡¯t care where benefits come from, their origins, or their consequences. Book 2, Chapter 95 - Captain The valley was dotted with scars from its recent bombardment. Wisps of smoke rose from jagged craters, marks of those ancient weapons. The compound itself had been completely destroyed, and its docks had crashed onto the ground below. Ten elysian warships lay reduced to smoldering wrecks. Two to three hundred veterans of Hell¡¯s Army had been slain. Hell¡¯s Army had been devastated, but much to everyone¡¯s surprise the trainees had fared rather well. Ten had lost their lives, twenty were eliminated through testing, and the rest were officially trainees of Hell¡¯s Valley. Thankfully, the training camp itself was still operational. As the students looked out over the ravaged terrain, they could hardly believe all of this had been done in one attack. The Dark Atom came in, obliterated everything in their path, then left with fewer casualties than their enemies. Meanwhile, the soldiers of Hell¡¯s Valley were forced to watch helplessly as they swaggered off. They were left with nothing but their responsibility to this new crop of young folk. Weren¡¯t the elysian lands supposed to be undefeatable? Weren¡¯t they known for sweeping ruthlessly through the wastelands? Hadn¡¯t Hell¡¯s Valley been a base where the most accomplished veterans had been stationed? ¡°This has been a mark of shame for our domain. For all of us fighting men!¡± Drake clenched his fists tightly at his side. A furnace burned behind his hard eyes. ¡°The day will come when I will personally lead our armies to raze whatever slum the Dark Atom calls home! Only blood will pay for blood. An eye for an eye!¡± He was a young commander, green. While Drake might have had the fervor and the skill, he was still untested. All the missions he¡¯d been on before were against small groups of blasphemers and mutant beasts. For the first time, he looked out over a disastrous loss. He couldn¡¯t accept the dignity of his people to be so thoroughly trampled by wasteland scum. Claudia understood the rage this large man felt. Six months ago she felt much the same. This time? There was anger, surely, but there was no shame. Her mind was on the loss she suffered while on mission in the wastelands. Her loss had also been disastrous. So much blood staining the soul. The bones of so many loyal soldiers baking in the wasteland sun. So many souls of those poor, confused martyrs lost to the endless wastes. And what was Skycloud¡¯s response? Nothing. It was all swept under the rug, no vengeance was sought on behalf of the dead. What did Skycloud fear? They were supposed to be practically invincible. The people were supposed to be unrivaled in their faith. Cloudhawk! The name wormed its way through her injured heart. The only wastelander name she knew. The effect he¡¯d had on Claudia was all-encompassing. He was the one who took the life of her companion, Raithe, and the brave soldiers that had come with them. That wastelander had delivered a shattering blow to her faith, and then waltzed through Skycloud committing treason and acts of terrorism. And how did it end? With Cloudhawk safely stowed away in the Grand General¡¯s mansion. Somehow he became a charge of the Polaris family. The filthy wastelander had even become close friends with Dawn, a young woman of noble blood¡­ No, the greatest shame was to their pride. Their superiority complex was cut at the knees and dragged through the mud. Their anger was the anger you felt when you couldn¡¯t admit defeat. Claudia had once looked upon the boundless wastes with contempt, filled with the lofty pride of the demonhunters. Now she had seen the truth of what lurked out there. She saw the viciousness, the cunning, the power. Her former self had been like a frog at the bottom of a well, looking up at the brilliant light of Skycloud domain. [1] She was still a faithful servant of the gods, but she had learned not to underestimate the wastelands. So as she surveyed the tragedy its dark agents had wrought, she was not overwhelmed with anger or indignation. She¡¯d learned to face failure without letting it consume her. Anger alone would serve nothing. Only when you accept defeat could you reflect and study on what you learned could you grow beyond it. In this aspect, Claudia had far surpassed most of her peers. Why would a woman like her from such a wealthy family be here otherwise? The twenty or thirty-some remaining students gathered in a line and recovered their belongings. Gabriel, scratching his head through a mop of weed-like golden hair, looked around with a bashful expression. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter his thinking. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him this whole time. Did he die out there?¡± Drake frowned and looked around as well. It¡¯s true, where had Cloudhawk gone? He couldn¡¯t say he was terribly disappointed, but through their conflict he¡¯d developed a begrudging respect for Cloudhawk. He¡¯d nearly killed Drake in Deadwood Forest, but despite the grievous wound it had taught him a valuable lesson. Besides, penetrating a wall of over a thousand soldiers to kill a tribal leader was a feat even Drake had to admire. The natives had been wiped out. Did Cloudhawk succeed in his assassination? If he lived, had he chosen to try and run? Drake didn¡¯t know anything about Cloudhawk, but as a soldier he was a worthy opponent. ¡°If the invaders killed him, I¡¯m fine with that.¡± Claudia punctuated her words with a sniff and made no effort to conceal her hatred. ¡°Better I don¡¯t have to soil my hands with his unclean blood.¡± ¡°How could you say something so vile?¡± Drake¡¯s temper flared. ¡°You continue to show our soldiers disrespect!¡± ¡°A scoundrel like him is only ever thinking about himself, no matter what he does. He isn¡¯t worthy of being called a soldier.¡± Claudia¡¯s azure blue eyes were sharp as daggers. She used them to pin Drake in place. ¡°And a man like you, willing to turn your hand on people when they¡¯re weak ¨C don¡¯t talk to me about respect!¡± Women were unreasonable creatures, as obstinate as rocks [2]. In war, the best tactics were those that won the battle. If the army¡¯s leaders acted like she claimed to, all honest and forthright, then the light of the gods would have long been snuffed out. The two of them glared at each other on the verge of trading blows. Meanwhile, Gabriel kept out of it. A wounded provisions officer came by, nursing his arm and hobbling on a wounded leg. He was covered in blood from head to toe but paid no mind to his injuries. ¡°Hey, that one you¡¯re talking about. Black hair and eyes, right? Skinny but looks like he can take care of himself?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Gabriel looked his way, puzzled. ¡°You¡¯ve seen him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s pretty good, held his own. Killing the sweeper leader made the whole clan go crazy. If not for him, clearing out the natives would have cost us a lot more time and soldiers. We would have missed everything that happened here. Things would have been much worse, they might have even destroyed the whole valley. Hundreds of our bothers would be dead. He¡¯s responsible for the fact they¡¯re still breathing.¡± The veteran put a bloodstained cigarette between his lips and took a long drag. He was obviously quite appreciative of what Cloudhawk did. Claudia, Drake and Gabriel were all silent. It seemed like the native leader really had killed him. But if that were true they just couldn¡¯t understand why Cloudhawk would ignore his own safety for the three of them. Escaping on his own would have been the wiser choice. ¡°I was with the three instructors, we saw the whole thing. Man, quite the guy. He held out until we came, several hundred soldiers all on his own. Frankly speaking, it¡¯s been a real long time since I¡¯ve seen a fighter like that. It¡¯s a shame he¡¯s probably dead.¡± Dead? The news struck them different. Drake seemed sorry. Claudia, conflicted. Although Claudia was quick to spew vitriol toward Cloudhawk, she didn¡¯t¡¯ believe he was dead. Someone capable of doing the things he did wasn¡¯t going down so easily. Cloudhawk was her nemesis, yes ¨C but he was also the benchmark she measured herself against. If he died before she had a chance to become his superior, that would rankle her terribly. Gabriel asked, ¡°How did he die?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t completely clear. He was badly injured but joined us here at base. He and a group of others fought through the blasphemers and into the main compound. They fought, and then¡­ well, you saw what¡¯s left.¡± With a heavy sigh, the soldier pointed toward the remains of their base. Fires were still burning, great columns of flame that just wouldn¡¯t go out. Anyone caught inside had to be dead. ¡°We didn¡¯t see him or anyone else come back out.¡± The three trainees stared at the ruin, entranced by the fires. It was unthinkable. Wounded, exhausted, Cloudhawk still ignored clear and present danger to go running into the fight. The veteran cast Claudia a meaningful glance. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Hell¡¯s Army or Skycloud¡¯s own forces, people like us see noble pride as a cancer. If the Skycloud domain is a tree, then we are the roots. We never see the sun, and our lives are spent in the damp and dark. Down here you can¡¯t avoid the filth, but without us what do you think would happen to those like you ¨C that luxurious foliage, out in the sun? You can look down on our bloodstained hands and call us dirty, but you damn sure don¡¯t have the right to question our qualifications. As far as I¡¯m concerned, whoever that guy was, he was more of a soldier than all the rest of you put together.¡± He plucked the butt from his mouth and flicked it into the bloodstained dirt, then hobbled away. His words were about as wrong as anyone has ever been, in all the history of humanity. How could Claudia not know exactly what kind of person Cloudhawk was? Her face burned and a blush marked her pale cheeks. Even the deaf would have heard that soldier¡¯s hard words. He didn¡¯t leave anything unsaid, it was like smacking her on the nose and calling her a bad girl. But she knew Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t anything like these men. He was a wasteland scoundrel who¡¯d managed to sneak his way into the elysian lands. The blood of soldiers and demonhunters alike stained his hands. She had to fight the urge to scream this at the soldier and beat him to a pulp. She swallowed it back. No matter. He was dead, and if that was how their enmity would end then so be it. As much as Claudia would like to deny it, he¡¯d saved her life. Would she still be able to run a sword through his filthy heart? But¡­ if she didn¡¯t kill him, what about the companion he¡¯d killed? Dead was good¡­ dead was good. They all recovered their equipment. Drake¡¯s things were a set of tungsten steel armor and a large sword. Tungsten steel was the sturdiest material in the elysian lands. With Drake¡¯s natural defenses as strong as it was, the armor was a mighty addition. A demonhunter would have to fight hard just to get through them. Claudia took back her exorcist staff, the seeker¡¯s torque, and Tempest. Gabriel¡¯s relic, on the other hand, were rather unique. It was a black cord he kept wrapped around his hand. A relic of this sort was not common in the elysian lands ¨C it had to be something without much of a history or a story behind it. It was hard to guess what it might be used for. The trainees were brought to the base¡¯s clinic and made to soak in a medicinal bath. The near mystical concoctions of the elysians were very effective. In one day and one night their bodies would be entirely healed, and no trace of injury would remain. An ear-splitting ring of a bell arose from outside. Twenty eight young people clambered to their feet and arranged themselves into four rows. All three instructors were present. Cutter stepped forward, while Natessa and Dumont stood silently in place. The hideously scarred man swept his terrifying gaze over the trainees. And when he spoke his voice was contemptuous. ¡°Well. I¡¯ve gotta say, your performance during this test was a real fuckin¡¯ disappointment. Only one was barely satisfactory. Get out here!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward the one he commanded. He was neither tall nor short, nor was he particularly strong. He wore a new robe, but his short raven black hair was still a knotted mess. Simple demonhunter armor protected him, and a tattered grey cloak was draped over his shoulders. A black-steel sword was sheathed at his back. His face was hidden behind a grimacing demon mask. The students shared puzzled glances. Wasn¡¯t this the same guy who was the first to take off all his clothes? The shameless one. Instructor Cutter¡¯s next sentence that really put their teeth on edge. ¡°Starting today, the lot of you are a team. Meet your new team captain ¨C Cloudhawk!¡± The young man lifted the mask up onto the top of his head to reveal his coarse, wheat-colored features. He wasn¡¯t the most handsome guy, but his face was well put together and his features were delicate. His black eyes in particular were sharp and intelligent. He grinned cheekily at the others, his gaze stopping at the three familiar faces near the back. He gave them a wink, as though to say; Oh, so you all are still alive. 1. Ah, some Chinese idioms for once!We¡¯ll keep this one. 2. Really, guy? Book 2, Chapter 96 - More Progress Everyone looked at Cloudhawk like they were staring at a ghost. Meanwhile, the wastelander stood before everyone with a shit-eating grin, like he¡¯d just succeeded in some grand mischief. He¡¯d only survived the massive explosion because he wasn¡¯t in this world. Once the danger had passed, he clawed his way back to this reality. When he came back, the commanders quickly took him away to recover, hence why no one knew what had become of him. What a joke! You think it¡¯s that easy to kill me? Truth was, Cloudhawk was well pleased with the situation. Claudia, Drake and Gabriel stared in absolute amazement. The other students were just as surprised. They¡¯d watched the compound get blown to smithereens. Cloudhawk looked at them and had to acknowledge the satisfaction that tickled his bones. These arrogant jack-asses, from the instructors to the assistants and the students themselves ¨C they all looked at him like a scrub, cannon fodder at beast. And then came the reckoning, their nest was completely destroyed! However, these fellows seemed to be absolutely shameless. Even Cloudhawk was embarrassed by what had happened, but they all had blank faces, like nothing had happened. Claudia clenched her fists at her side. Of course. Of course he didn¡¯t die! She finally had come to accept that she had rid herself of this stain, but here he was. Far from dead, he seemed completely unscathed. Now he was their team captain. Did that mean they would be forced to listen to his orders? This bastard really was like a ghost who refused to leave her alone! Eckard Cutter had a good view of everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°This is a military training facility,¡± he said in his characteristically cold voice. ¡°And a military training facility follows military rules. Your captain is your superior officer, anyone who dares disobey his orders violates our rules. I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to explain what happens then. It never occurred to Cloudhawk that he might be foisted into the role of captain. There were some benefits that came with being part of a special elysian military unit. They had access to the best medicines, weapons, missions, and funds. Out here the opportunity to distinguish yourself was high, and that translated into better positions and material rewards back in Skycloud. Of course, captains received some of the best benefits. For instance, killing the native clan leader and ¡®fearlessly¡¯ attacking Dark Atom invaders added to the prestige of the Polaris family. Individually it didn¡¯t mean much, but it was certainly useful for the family he represented. Reputedly, all of these achievements were recorded and traded back in the city. Families could approach the Temple with their list of deeds and request things they might need. These could be relics, special medicines and so forth. As such, achievements were valued currency for elysian families. That old greybeard Skye probably already heard the news. Instructor Cutter looked back toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Say a word or two.¡± The three instructors knew Cloudhawk was unpopular. They could see some naysayers, and a few who really didn¡¯t like the idea of having him follow this guy around. This had to make Cloudhawk anxious. After all, the screening process had shown that he wasn¡¯t the strongest of this lot, even if he did have a special role. The instructors didn¡¯t seem to have any interest in helping solve Cloudhawk¡¯s image problem. If he couldn¡¯t solve a small issue like this, then he didn¡¯t deserve the position. Cloudhawk pulled the mask back over his face. He stepped out in front of the others, and spoke. ¡°Truth is, I don¡¯t want to be captain. Any of you who want the job, you¡¯re free to take it.¡± The instructors paused. What was he up to? Cloudhawk slowly pulled the black sword from the holster on his back. ¡°You get one chance. Beat me, and you¡¯re captain! Who¡¯s first?¡± Cloudhawk was using this opportunity to cement his authority. The quickest and most effective way to do that was prove one¡¯s strength, but it was risky. Not everyone could pull it off. If he wasn¡¯t careful, he could be shooting himself in the foot. Cloudhawk happened to be one of the youngest of the group, nor did he look particularly strong. His decision did not seem very well thought out. ¡°Me!¡± Three voices answered his challenge, the second it was issued. They were - of course - Drake, Claudia, and Gabriel. Claudia wasn¡¯t the least interested in being captain, she knew she couldn¡¯t hold on to it. Her motivation was strictly to stomp Cloudhawk¡¯s face in. She was desperate for any chance to do just that. Drake stuck the tip of his enormous sword in the dirt and stared at his new captain threateningly. His loss in Deadwood Forest hadn¡¯t convinced him of Cloudhawk¡¯s superiority. Now that he had his weapons and Cloudhawk had his relics, the truth would be known. He wanted to find out just how strong this no-name from Skycloud city really was. Whether he was worthy of calling himself a captain. As for Gabriel, it was neither personal nor did he want the captain¡¯s badge. He just wanted the challenge, a test of how deep Cloudhawk¡¯s talents ran. ¡°Alright!¡± Cloudhawk answered without hesitation. ¡°You three then. Step up!¡± Claudia, Drake and Gabriel stepped forward. The rest of the trainees moved back to give them space. Cloudhawk knew more or less the basics of Claudia¡¯s fighting style. Drake was a soldier, he didn¡¯t pose much of a threat. The only one he didn¡¯t have a bead on was Gabriel, so Cloudhawk decided on a course of action that brought a gasp from the others. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste any time. Three on one.¡± The three of them, together? The trainees weren¡¯t the only ones surprised. Dumont¡¯s expression was hidden beneath his layers of armor, but he did raise his head rom staring idly at the ground. Natessa looked over the young captain more carefully. Eckard smiled at the prospect. The kid had some goddamn balls. He respected that. Drake took the challenge as a slap to the face. What gave him the right to be so arrogant? It was an insult! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to give them any more of an advantage. ¡°Ten seconds. Make your move or accept me as captain.¡± Drake and Gabrial were still weighing the situation. After all, winning three against one was hardly something to brag about. All the trainees were young men and women of potential. Who among them didn¡¯t have some measure of pride, whatever their background? Claudia had no qualms, however. As energy rushed through the exorcist staff, she raised a crystalline flower-shaped relic in her left hand. Natessa watched her, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Tempest flower.¡± The flower-shaped relic rose from her palm to hover over Claudia¡¯s head, then began to bloom. Its complicated construction broke apart into a rain of petals, only each petal was a metallic dart that was thin as a cicada¡¯s wing. The scene was beautiful, but the magnificent display turned their contest into a dance of death. The metal petals thrummed with energy. Each one whipped toward Cloudhawk, fast as a bullet. A hundred shots, fired all at once! Even the likes of Drake was surprised by what he saw. Claudia¡¯s display went beyond his expectations. They were so close, and her attack was so sudden. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have a chance to use his phasing powers before they reached him. Even if he did, how long could his powers be sustained against the constant rain of attacks like that? The tempest flower was not your typical concealed weapon. Its danger lay in executing an immediately and powerful onslaught. A ferocious tide of blows, delivered in an instant. One of the demonhunters who possessed this relic before was capable of summoning so many petals that it blocked out the sun over an entire battlefield. With this relic alone he killed hundreds, maybe even a thousand enemies. Claudia was not that strong, but she could summon several hundred petals from the relic. And so long as she had the mental fortitude, the flower would continue its assault endlessly, until its target was nothing but chunks of meat. The Lunae family had famously deep pockets, but it must have cost a princely sum ¨C and many favors ¨C for Garuda to win this relic for his daughter. After all, relics like these weren¡¯t merely bought with coin. As Claudia released her psychic energy into the relic, she also rushed in with a burst of speed. The head of her exoricist staff was spinning madly. It roared like the heart of a tornado. She soared to the air while glimmering petal swirled around her. For an instant she looked like a goddess, descending from heaven to smite her foes. She towered over the ground in a cloud of menace, putting all her force behind the opening thrust of her staff. Fast enough. Fierce enough! Claudia drew on her every advantage. Few relics could match the sheer explosive power of the tempest flower, and few fighters could fend off Claudia¡¯s close-quarters blitz. Claudia¡¯s shredding tempest was far-reaching. The nearby spectators scrambled backwards, for her wild attack would likely injure three out of every four trainees standing nearby. Cloudhawk faced Claudia and her vicious first strike. He quickly pulled out a metal-bound tome and threw it at her. As his psychic energy reached out, the book exploded into countless grains of yellow sand. They gathered together, forming into dozens and dozens of slithering dragons. In the same moment, he was encased in a shell of grit. Petals like rain ¨C a deadly hurricane! And there it was! Claudia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. This was Cloudhawk¡¯s exceptional relic, potent and dangerous. It was this relic that had subdued her so easily back in Skycloud city. Faced with Claudia¡¯s own relic, Cloudhawk had to find a way to protect himself. Phasing wasn¡¯t going to help, so he had to fall back on the Gospel of Sand. But Claudia knew the strength of his relic, and knew that using it required tremendous mental strength. Cloudhawk shouldn¡¯t be strong enough to call on its powers in an instant like that. So how did he? Too late for second guesses! She would have to break through. Claudia¡¯s eyes burned with unyielding determination! Then the spectators were treated to an incredible scene. Claudia came down toward Cloudhawk, trailed by hundreds upon hundreds of glittering metal petals. Cloudhawk stood his ground, immovable as a mountain and surrounded in a gritty battle suit of sand. Flying petals met whipping sand, crashing into one another like warring storms and knocking each other in all directions. Over two hundred tiny battles took place all around him, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t move an inch. Claudia kept coming. Just as the two were about to collide, she stabbed her staff at Cloudhawk with a scream. He responded with a sweeping cut from Quiet Carnage. In the instant spear and sword met, all that which floated in the air around them was blasted away. Cloudhawk skid backwards a few paces, but Claudia was flung into the distance. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her staff clattered as it rolled away. The bones of her right hand were broken. As the hard ground met her, Claudia¡¯s heart sank like the last light of dying embers. More progress! He¡¯s much stronger than he was back in Skycloud city. Book 2, Chapter 97 - The True Power of a Warrior ¡°I win again.¡± Claudia got back onto her feet. She gripped her wrist, then snapped it back into place with a sharp hiss. Picking up her staff from nearby and stepped back into the crowd. The others eyed the no-nonsense noble for a few moments. The golden haired woman had been beaten back with a single blow. Still, everyone could tell that Claudia was absolutely not a weakling. Her psychic ability especially was impressive. Between the other two and her flower relic, Cloudhawk would be in real trouble. She chose not to. Instead, she decided to admit being beaten. Accepting defeat was a rare quality for others like her. Most would continue to throw themselves at the matter to save their pride. She gritted her teeth and choked it down, for she knew better than anyone would must have happened. She¡¯d used her tempest flower to add pressure on Cloudhawk, overpower his defenses. All the strength and momentum behind her exorcist staff was at a critical point. What happened next took her completely by surprise. Cloudhawk¡¯s riposte hit her staff at the precise spot her grip was weakest. He forsook attacking her directly for a much more skillful ¨C if unnecessary ¨C display. His sword cut twice in quick succession. The first one whipped right past the staff and into her, while the other knocked her weapon away. It all happened in a blink. The other spectators wouldn¡¯t have seen. Claudia knew she¡¯d lost before he said it. Not just lost, she¡¯d been thoroughly beaten. Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden improvement wasn¡¯t just physical or psychic. In a matter of one night he¡¯d somehow gained uncanny combat experience. His command of his relics, and his keen judgment was nothing short of excellent. In a duel, relative strength was a key factor in deciding victory and defeat ¨C but it wasn¡¯t everything. Who could say that the weakest of demonhunters could never beat a master? With the right combination of equipment, intelligence, skill and power one could cross any chasm. Her physical strength didn¡¯t come close to Cloudhawk¡¯s, nor did her relic manipulation. Although she hated to admit it, he was a far cleverer tactician as well. Technically, he displayed a mastery that would rival instructors of the demonhunter¡¯s college. Claudia quickly quit her claim for his title because she knew it would only end in more embarrassment. As for joining the other two? The mere concept was disgusting. She was a complex and prideful noble. What sort of a victory was won with numbers? Nothing she wanted to own. He¡¯s too strong¡­ so I¡¯m going to need to think of a way to get even stronger! Claudia refused to accept inferiority to anyone! Cloudhawk had easily put aside a worthy challenger. He hardly had time to gloat before a booming voice ripped through the crowd. ¡°Let me try!¡± Drake Thane tore forward, clad in a full set of titanium armor. He was different from a demonhunter. He was more practiced in speed, strength and other combat abilities. By the first word of his challenge he was already moving. By the second he¡¯d already reached Cloudhawk, sword raised. His weapon hacked down with the final syllable. A savage cut! The force of it kicked out a fan of dust. A semi-mystical ability like this came from pure force, no god-given blessing like a demonhunter. Two normal men standing it this blast¡¯s path would be more than defeated ¨C they would be smashed to pieces. That was Drake¡¯s strength. He didn¡¯t feel his strike land. An impact like being shot point blank with a handgun struck him in the chest. He looked down and saw a slice in his armor. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t match Drake for sheer speed, but he had an uncanny ability to predict where he¡¯d be. The wastelander easily sidestepped his attack, and delivered one of his own in one easy motion. He very much appreciated the heavy armor encasing him. Without it, Drake would likely already be injured. But how? Unbelievable! Drake stood there stunned, but only for a second. Heaving his man-sized sword, he whipped it toward Cloudhawk again with enough force to split a river. It picked up speed, and split into three searing blades of light. A rainbow of pain, certainly a force to be reckoned with. The other students gaped at what they were seeing. Under all that armor, how could he move fast as a specter? With a sword that large, how was he able to wield it like it weighed nothing? Eddies of sand beside him hardened into a shield. The first two blades of light broke through the shield while also knocking him back. The last one slipped through, going right for Cloud hawk¡¯s throat. Claudia¡¯s rain of blows hadn¡¯t overcome Cloudhawk¡¯s defense, but Drake did it in two. It was clear how much faster and stronger he was. There probably weren¡¯t many in the crowd who thought they could take him, even the melee-focused demonhunters. Drake wasn¡¯t concerned that Cloudhawk might use his phase powers. He understood it now. His was an irritating trick, but one that required time to summon. He didn¡¯t give Cloudhawk any time. Using it also cut the wastelander¡¯s speed. Drake wasn¡¯t about to fall for the same trick twice. I¡¯m ready this time, I¡¯m not giving you any chances. Do what you will. I¡¯ll cut right through you, no mess. What makes you think you have any chance against me? This attack was overwhelming, faster and stronger than Cloudhawk could manage. Between Drake¡¯s titanium armor and nigh-impervious constitution, he didn¡¯t fear reprisal from his new ¡®captain.¡¯ Trading a few dozen wounds for a few hundred seemed worth the risk to him. The wind rose, kicking up the sand. Focusing his psychic powers, Cloudhawk turned the shield Drake broke through into half a dozen snakes made from sand. They were large as boa constrictors and entangled Drake as he rushed in. They held tightest to his shoulder and right arm and eventually dragged him to a stop. ¡°Bastard! Let me go!¡± The soldier roared in protest and heaved his muscles. A few of the snakes crumbled, allowing him to wave his sword through the choking sands. Drake squared up and raised his sword in a posture that suggested he was ready to cut Cloudhawk in half. Only, as impressive as all that movement and shouting was, it gave Cloudhawk more than ample time to get out of the way. At the same time there was a dark flash from his right hand. Another fissure from a black strike appeared soundlessly on Drake¡¯s armor. Drake was furious. He¡¯d already been caught twice by this bastard¡¯s sword. As Cloudhawk made a retreat, Drake jumped into the air. Both hands wrapped tight around his sword¡¯s hilt and as he brought it down, the edge of it glowed red from friction heat. His sword was no relic, and Drake was no demonhunter. His weapon was a specially crafted sword from the elysian lands. Thanks to its unique construction, the sword was able to turn red hot in a fight. Nothing compared to what a demonhunter might do, but it was a terrible addition to Drake¡¯s already formidable person. The tungsten steel was a rare material in the elysian lands with a melting point twice as high as normal steel. The heat coming off his weapon was searing, but would not warp it. Cloudhawk dodged again, and the sword cut a charred trench in the ground next to him. The stone were melted and the gritty earth turned to glass. The blast of heat that swept by singed some of Cloudhawk¡¯s hair. Drake¡¯s sword certainly became more troubling, but it didn¡¯t add much to his attack. Strong as he was, a single hit would end pretty much whatever it touched. Whether the sword was burning hot or not didn¡¯t much matter aside from a scary appearance. It was the psychological pressure that was more effective. A cloud of sand whipped around them. Currents of it carried Cloudhawk away from danger. Inwardly Drake grunted disapproval. Blind my senses to try and retreat? Hmph! I won¡¯t give you the chance. See if you can get away from this! He whipped around like a top, remaining in place. Sand arrows coming at him from all directions were shattered in midair. The ground was quickly covered with sizzling red sand. It looked like a defensive maneuver, but in fact Drake was gathering energy. The muscle from his arms and legs were taught as bowstrings until he reached his limit. Then his power unleashed, surging through him inch by inch Boom--! Those watching were treated to a stunning scene. His spinning motion was creating a crater in the ground like it¡¯d be hit with a bomb. But where the ground went down, he rose up only to launch forward with imperceptible speed. Watching from the sidelines, Natessa¡¯s expression betrayed interest. ¡°This is¡­¡± Eckard nodded and finished her thought. ¡°Inner Fire, a martial skill that draws on all one¡¯s latent potential. There aren¡¯t many with the skill required to pull it off. The soldier gathers all his power then directs it from the inside out. He no longer needs to plant his feet and gain momentum from pushing off, because the power all comes from within. He looks calm from the outside, but inside his body is a storm of energy. He wields it well and freely. The Thane family representative knows his stuff.¡± Drake¡¯s attack was so fast he threatened to break the sound barrier. It was unthinkable to most, because someone moving that fast was subject to tremendous outside pressure. But Drake¡¯s body was hard as iron, so when he moved through the air fast as a bullet he wasn¡¯t worried. He spun toward Cloudhawk like an arrow, his body the shaft and his sword its tip. This was a high-level martial skill. Spearhead! Soldiers like him couldn¡¯t use psychic powers, so their abilities came from great physical feats. Their bodies were their main tool. ¡®Spearhead¡¯ was an ability used when two armies met on the field to break through their front lines. A demonhunter who could control all the elements were rare, but a martial artist like Drake bordered on mythical. Soldiers weren¡¯t called martial artists, because most didn¡¯t elevate it to an art. Only those that could summon their true inner power could be called martial artists, and they were often formidable army leaders. Skycloud city¡¯s greatest martial artist was none other than Grand General Skye himself. He was known as ¡®the human relic¡¯ for that reason. His fists could literally crack mountains. The only other organization with a higher concentration of martial artists was the Temple. Skycloud¡¯s preeminent organization had a special squad called templars. Few outsiders knew of this mysterious group, composed mostly of demonhunters. No one dared to underestimate what these guardians were capable of. Exclamations of surprise rose up from the crowd. Drake¡¯s unique martial skill shot out like thunder. It was a display far outside Cloudhawk¡¯s estimation. People watched as Drake slipped through the sandy air red-hot sword in the lead, spinning like a drill. Was this how Cloudhawk would be ended? Drake didn¡¯t expect to break his foe¡¯s defenses with the spearhead attack. However, the point of it was indomitable forward motion ¨C never backing down. How else could it be called spearhead? It was too late for Drake to hold back, even if he wanted to. He felt it clearly this time, a hit. His sword wasn¡¯t met with air, but Cloudhawk¡¯s body. The blade was about two hands wide, and its edge burned at a thousand degrees. It ran Cloudhawk through fast as a bullet. Even the most stubborn life would be snuffed out after a hit like that. Book 2, Chapter 98 - Playing With Fire There was no doubt about it. At the last, crucial moment, Drake broke past Cloudhawk¡¯s defenses. Few soldiers were able to use the Spearhead manuever effectively. Even someone like Eckard, were he in a similar position, couldn¡¯t use the maneuver as well as Drake had. He was the pride of Skycloud¡¯s new military generation for just that reason. None of the twenty-something trainees that followed him to Hell¡¯s Valley could stop Spearhead head-on. For Cloudhawk, caught with his defenses down, the sudden explosion of power from Drake was a disaster. Had their new captain bitten off more than he could chew? His ass hadn¡¯t even settled in his new seat before he started playing with fire too hot for him to handle. Dumont and Eckard made a move to intervene once they saw Drake using Spearhead, but were stopped by Natessa. They looked at her in doubt as Cloudhawk¡¯s body was split gruesomely in half. Each side of his body hit the ground with a heavy thud. Drake landed solidly on his feet. A maneuver like that was more than draining, to do it he had to squeeze every last drop of power from his muscle cells. Every ounce of potential from deep in his bones had to be summoned, which meant that the burden and potential for injury were high. As a result, even the mighty Drake took heaving breaths as he tried to recover. Was he¡­ really dead? He felt a sharp presence against his throat. He raised his hand to his neck guard to find it had been cut open. A serious gash split the skin of his neck, and fresh blood gushed from it. His hand came away soaked in crimson. His throat was cut? But when!? His eyes darted to the two halves of Cloudhawk still on the ground. It dissolved before him, blown away on the wind one yellow grain at a time. Sand. Where he might expect blood or organs, there was only molten grit. H-¡­how was it sand? He was made of sand! The panic was not Drake¡¯s alone. None of the trainees could understand what happened right in front of them. After such an incredible showing the soldier came back with his throat slit. He fell on his back with blood still spurting from the wound. The body at his feet wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk! Cloudhawk¡¯s true figure gradually faded into reality behind Drake. Blood dripped from the black-gold sword in his hand, gathering along its biting edge. ¡°I did it while you were attacking the fake.¡± The sandstorm he¡¯d conjured wasn¡¯t a ploy to help him retreat. It was to confound his attacker while he used the Gospel of Sand to create a mirror image of himself. His weapon was completely silent, and didn¡¯t even cause much vibration from impact, so in all the chaos Drake never even noticed. By the time he did, it was too late. The higher a relic¡¯s grade, the more its functions. Of course, lower-class relics had more limited uses. The exorcist staff, for instance, was used just for its brute force attacks. The Gospel of Sand had many more applications. It was, after all, one of the treasures of the demon Caliph. Its potential was limitless. Cloudhawk had to thank that strange spirit. Without his inheritance Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have been able to match Claudia¡¯s martial prowess. He certainly wouldn¡¯t have been able to use the Gospel like he had. Absorbing the knowledge trapped in his benefactor¡¯s skull, all of that experience in combat and using relics, vastly improved all of his abilities. Without it, could he afford to be so arrogant? Slicing a normal man¡¯s throat was lethal in all cases, but not necessarily for Drake. Severing his carotid arteries and esophagus, but leaving the spine intact, wouldn¡¯t kill him. [1] High levels of bodily control allowed him to quickly seal the wounds and begin the healing process, but it would take time [2]. The fight was done. One left. CLoudhawk resting his sword against his shoulder as he turned to face the final challenger. His eyes settled on the timid blonde-haired man. ¡°Gabriel? Still interested in a scuffle?¡± He asked with a smirk. Several dozen eyes turned to him. He bashfully scratched his head, clearly hesitating. ¡°Let me think¡­¡± As Cloudhawk watched he saw the change come over Gabriel¡¯s face. It twisted into a hideous snarl and a palpable sense of danger surged from him. More specifically, his sleeve. A ripple of power burst out almost right away. Was his hesitation a ploy? He was ready this whole time. ¡°Well, well¡­ look at you.¡± Cloudhawk was ready to rush in, when he was first met with a wave of almost imperceptible ripples. In his hurry, he carelessly touched a few. His chest, arm, thigh, even his cheek. Cuts opened up all over and blood started to trickle free. Not good! He tried to step back but there were more ripples behind him. Another series of cuts began to soak his back with blood. Caught by the strange attack, he could no nothing but stand still as a statue and hope he didn¡¯t touch anything else. Another surprise for the trainees. It was fair enough they didn¡¯t see Cloudhawk slit Drake¡¯s throat. He¡¯d used cloaking powers, after all. But what about this time? Gabriel stood just where he¡¯d always been, he hadn¡¯t even moved. Cloudhawk merely took a step forward and was sliced by some invisible ¨C and impossibly sharp ¨C weapon. Had the blonde man acted and they didn¡¯t notice? He had to be a wind-focused demonhunter. It was the same elemental proficiency displayed by the female instructor, Natessa. They were able to manipulate wind- and air-type relics, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean their attacks were invisible. Besides, Gabriel hadn¡¯t moved a muscle. He¡¯d somehow attacked without omen or sound. [3] What baffling talent for slaughter, terrifying and mysterious. ¡°So you figured it out? Extraordinary, so few are able to see through my attacks before they die. The truth is, I¡¯ve already started the fight!¡± He smirked apologetically and scratched at his disheveled hair. Only, the seemingly innocent act of lifting his hand this way cast out a wave of deadly energy. Cloudhawk whipped his sword before him to knock it aside, amidst a shower of sparks. He managed to block the most critical parts, but more slices appeared on his hands and legs. The previous two challengers had never even managed to draw blood, only for Gabriel to immediately start to cut him apart. The spectators were still dumb to what was happening. Claudia joined them in her confusion. She hated this psychopath as much as the other three, but she couldn¡¯t help but admit surprise. Out in Deadwood Forest he¡¯d been on the ropes, but now he showed a deep and mysterious power she hadn¡¯t even begun to suspect. Careless! Too careless! That was the thought racing through Cloudhawk¡¯s brain. He stood in place, unmoving. Constricted pupils fixed on Gabriel as he spoke. ¡°Wires?¡± ¡°You surprise me. You really do get it.¡± Gabriel almost sounded stunned when he said. His fingers stretched out from within the sleeve and one could just barely make out wires, thin as spider-silk. ¡°You¡¯re right. This is my relic, ¡®shadestring¡¯. While you were fighting Drake, I was arranging my net. At this point, I should warn you that they could slice right through tungsten steel. Soundless, invisible¡­ most never see them coming.¡± Claudia watched from the sidelines. She shut her eyes and focused on the tracking torque around her neck. It glimmered, and sent a wave of energy through the entire field. All at once her eyes popped open full of alarm. They were all over the place, hundreds of threads worming their way through the air, creating a deadly fabric. It was especially centered around Gabriel. Each one was filled with intense energy and was thinner than a hair. Too thin to see, much less reflect the light. He was right ¨C without some special skill, it would be all but impossible to notice them. If Drake had tried his ¡®Spearhead¡¯ move against Gabriel, he would have been slices into thirty neatly carved chunks of meat before ever getting close. Gabriel¡¯s psychic energy far outstripped Claudia¡¯s, even Cloudhawk¡¯s. He could stand shoulder to shoulder with senior demonhunters, and would be their equal even at his young age. You would never know by looking at him, but Gabriel had to have one of the strongest psychic abilities in the whole training camp. Even the most experienced demonhunters might struggle against him with a relic in his hand. Without question, Gabriel was the strongest contender of the three. He also had the advantage of the first move, having set up his ploy while Cloudhawk was busy with the others. Now he controlled the entire field, fatal threads lingering all around Cloudhawk like the fingers of death. ¡°We all appreciate art.¡± Gabriel¡¯s smile was bashful and modest. ¡°Naberius calls himself a sculptor, but I prefer weaving myself. You¡¯re definitely strong, but you have no hope of beating us in this situation. You should just give up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so sure you¡¯ll win?¡± ¡°Talents you have, but not in tracking. Even though you know my wires are all around, you have no way to tell exactly where. How can you fight what you can¡¯t see?¡± ¡°If I want to know where your strings are then I can. I don¡¯t need my eyes, I can hear them.¡± It wasn¡¯t a brag, if Oddball could see through any disguise then it had no problem seeing each of Gabriel¡¯s threads. However, his connection with the bird was still tenuous. Fighting with Oddball¡¯s help wasn¡¯t as effective as relying on his own talents. It must be remembered that shadestring was a relic. Cloudhawk could hear its resonance. There were at least eight threads surrounding him at the moment. He could feel them. Psychic energies thrummed through each one, which allowed Gabriel to control them without ever having to move. He lifted a hand. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I won¡¯t hold back.¡± The eight threads whipped toward Cloudhawk. He immediately summoned the phase stone¡¯s power as they swept by. The force with which they tore through him very nearly overcame the stone¡¯s phase field. They would¡¯ve carved him up on the spot, but instead they harmlessly passed through him. A boulder some short distance away suddenly crumbled into sixteen pieces. Their edges were cleaved to a mirror sheen. Grooves in the ground showed where the lines passed. They looked like they were carved by the wicked claws of a demon. Gabriel frowned. He wasn¡¯t bluffing. He really can sense them. But how? Shadestring was one of the most dangerous relics on record, due in no small part because its attacks were almost impossible to see. Without this advantage, its danger was greatly reduced. So be it, he thought. It didn¡¯t weaken Gabriel¡¯s faith. ¡°So you use your phasing at last, hm? An incredible power, but with strict limitations. That intangibility works against someone who¡¯s your equal, but my psychic ability is far beyond what you can handle. Eight threads? Fine. What about sixteen? Thirty two? Sixty four? What about a hundred? What do you think will happen when they reach a thousand?¡± Both of his hands shot out. He felt Gabriel¡¯s psychic power reach through all the threads around him. Gabriel had become a spider, and every thread was an extension of his murderous will. They were both the source of his deadly attacks, and the crux of his defense. Was Cloudhawk really out of his depth this time? If He¡¯d known what Gabriel could do he wouldn¡¯t have been so cocky! But regret wasn¡¯t going to win him anything. Now that he knew what Gabriel was capable of, he wasn¡¯t so sure this was a fight he could win. 1. The carotid arteries are the two arteries on either side of the neck, the main arteries supplying the brain with blood and oxygen. It¡¯s the one you see people checking when they put their fingers to someone¡¯s throat to look for a pulse. Without the blood supply from the carotids Drake would have six minutes before brain death. 2. Better be less than six minutes 3. Wind, as it relates to Chinese medicinal theory, is blamed for a lot of bad. It conveys illness into the body through your nose, mouth and pores. It can arise internally to wreak havoc. So it would make sense that Gabriel would be wind-type, considering his mental status. It makes one wonder if Natessa is a little off her rocker¡­ Book 2, Chapter 99 - Mortal Coils Gabriel twitched a finger, and the ground split open. Again, and stones crumbled. Cloudhawk juked between them to the best of his ability, treading the line between life and death with every step. His life literally hung by a thread. Gabriel, meanwhile, as calm as could be. His confidence was deserved, for threads hovered over every part of their battlefield. Attacks could come from any directions, and no matter where Cloudhawk went there were more to meet him. If the strings could slice through tungsten as Gabriel claimed, one shuddered to think what they could do to a human body. What could Cloudhawk do, besides rely on his phase stone? ¡°You think you can just hide?¡± Gabriel¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you handle this,¡± he warned. He very simply crossed two of his fingers. Cloudhawk sensed a hundred minute threads interweaving. They started to close in like a dragnet. Like a hawk in birdcage, he was caught. With a flick of his wrist Gabriel tightened the net. Stones caught in its path broke apart with frightening vigor. The rest of the camp watched from a safe distance. The edges could be seen because of the marks left on the ground. Ten meters away on all sides. A hundred tiny fissures started to extend toward him, everything was carved to pieces. Even though the others couldn¡¯t see what Gabriel was using for the attack, the unsettling realization that it was closing in on all sides was obvious. His seamless, inevitable assault on Cloudhawk¡¯s last defense seemed unavoidable. The net wasn¡¯t closing in very fast, but that just made the terror worse. If Cloudhawk wanted to risk forcing his way through, he would have to contend with at least ten of those threads. He was certain that would only serve to slice him to ribbons, even with the phase stone¡¯ power. Gabriel already had his second attack planned as well in the event Cloudhawk somehow managed to avoid the collapsing prison. Shadestring¡¯s wires crept closer, thin as silk and without reflection. Most frustrating was the precise control exercised by Gabriel. They moved only as necessary, shadowing their target. No matter how he moved, there seemed to be no way for Cloudhawk to avoid critical injury. ¡°You think you can tie me down with a strings? Watch me break ¡®em!¡± Cloudhawk threw his cloak around him, vanishing from view. He followed by shoving his black-gold sword into the net and pulling. The strings offered string resistance, but ultimately warped and began to snap until there was a wide enough opening for him to slip through. Gabriel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How?¡± Cloudhawk slowly reappeared. ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard to see that the strength and length of the threads depends on how much psychic energy is in them. Your focus changes from one to the other, and the ones you claim can cut tungsten are the strongest few. Far as I can tell, I can¡¯t get through those. But the others? The weaker ones? My sword is more than good enough.¡± Demonhunters with common perception couldn¡¯t pick out the threads because they were extensions of Gabriel¡¯s body. He moved them as easily as his own limbs. Meanwhile, relics like Claudia¡¯s torque could mark them, but there was a delay between pulses. There was a long enough interval that Gabriel could change the whole tapestry before the next pulse came. For Cloudhawk to be capable of knowing exactly where they were at all times was unthinkable. But he could do more than that. Aside from being able to read the whole pattern, he also knew which threads were weak and which were strong. Gabriel had anticipated that Cloudhawk might, by some miracle, find a way through the net. Thus he interspersed the strongest threads throughout it to avoid just such a thing. The result? Cloudhawk found the weakest point and neatly cut a hole. Gabriel¡¯s masterful plan was rendered worthless. Not even a high ranking demonhunter could do what he did! Stern concentration hardened Gabriel¡¯s face. He poured his focus through the woven threads and they began to move. The whole network of threads hummed with increased power. Avoiding his next offensive wasn¡¯t going to be as easy. Show me. Show me how long you can hold out! All ten fingers rose, galvanizing a hundred deadly wires! Gabriel¡¯s tapestry was invisible to the audience. They could only guess its intensity based on the rifts appearing along the ground. They watched as it descended on Cloudhawk like a strange, imperceptible gale. Cloudhawk would vanish and reappear, but everywhere he went stones and trees were being sliced apart. There was no doubt that this attack would be fatal if Cloudhawk could not find a way free. But it was completely silent and completely unseen! Cold sweat rolled down the back of all who watched. They couldn¡¯t help but imagine themselves in that position. What if they were the ones facing Gabriel¡¯s tyrannical assault? How long would they last? Within seconds they would be sliced to pieces! Cloudhawk, on the other hand, was managing to dodge everything that came at him. Meanwhile all this time he was gathering strength, preparing his counterattack. A mass of sand had appeared over his head. Granules whirled around each other for a handful of seconds like a gathering storm cloud, until it blotted out the sun. Wide-eyed, the trainees gasped. ¡°Go!¡± The entire mass gushed forward, formless but intense as a waterfall. That was his plan. Against anything of substance, Gabriel¡¯s threads were a deadly threat. But, against the formless they had no worth. The tidal wave of sand was mighty, it was obvious from the sound and momentum. If Cloudhawk put half his psychic power behind it, it would be like being trampled by a heard of bulls. Gabriel¡¯s relatively frail constitution would be flattened. Beautiful! The eyes of the other students lit up. What an incredible display! The wall of sand was reflected in Gabriel¡¯s vivid eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched upward in a smile, for he knew what it had to cost Cloudhawk. He gestured with his fingers, and the threads retreated. As deftly as though by the hands of a master weaver, they drilled into the ground, whipping back and forth. ¡°Rise!¡± His hands went up just as the tide of sand was upon him. The earth before him split, and a huge section of it was heaved up by a mesh of threads. It was just large enough to protect him as the sand came surging by. It crashed into his makeshift shield of rock and soil, and could not break through. Many of the granules disappeared one they struck the earthen shield, evaporated like water on hot metal. This caused Eckard to lift his brows in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Natessa offered an explanation. ¡°Shadestring is an ancient and powerful artifact. Killing isn¡¯t all it can do. A skilled user can manipulate objects by infusing the threads with sufficient psychic energy. Weaving the threads underground and then lifting it up was how Gabriel formed his wall. The net also radiates with power, enough to evaporate the unnatural sand summoned by Cloudhawk. That is what happens when the power of two relics meet.¡± ¡°That tricky, eh?¡± Eckard¡¯s face was grim. ¡°No way around it.¡± ¡°All things in reality live in a state of mutual support, and mutual destruction,¡± she explained. [1] ¡°Shadestring is indeed very tricky, but its defect is just as obvious. For instance, against fire- or wind- type powers it loses efficacy. [2] Against a demonhunter with superior power, his threads could be overcome through sheer force.¡± Eckard nodded. ¡°Cloudhawk doesn¡¯t have any relics of those types, and he doesn¡¯t have the psychic power Gabriel has. He took a gamble with that last attack and it cost him. All that squandered strength, it doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s gonna win this one.¡± For all the talking he did Dumont might have been a mute. He simply nodded his head in silent agreement. None of the instructors were expecting this sort of talent from their students. There was even a ghost of dread in Eckard¡¯s heart. Strong as he was, there wasn¡¯t anything he could do to protect himself from the blonde youth¡¯s undetectable attacks. If he wasn¡¯t careful, he might accidentally wander into a deathtrap and never know it. He¡¯d be sliced up before he could defend himself. How was Cloudhawk supposed to overcome this challenge? Any way one looked at it, he was caught in a losing battle. ¡°Cloudhawk isn¡¯t as simple as he seems.¡± Eckard said after a moment. ¡°He¡¯s got some good combat experience, some things even I don¡¯t fully get. That doesn¡¯t come from talent, it comes from countless days out in the battlefield. It¡¯s beaten into you by conflict. But he¡¯s so young. Skills like what I¡¯m seeing would be impossible even if he came out his momma¡¯s womb swinging his fists. Crazy¡­ Shame he¡¯s a demonhunter, he¡¯d make quite a martial artist.¡± ¡°Who says a demonhunter can¡¯t master their inner strength and became a martial artists?¡± Natessa challenged him in her soft voice. ¡°This battle is not over yet. Keep watching, there is more to see.¡± Cloudhawk was already grasping at straws. Was there really more up his sleeve? His wave of sand hadn¡¯t so much as scratched Gabriel. Meanwhile, Gabriel was making Cloudhawk dance like a puppet with his strings. What were his last attacks, but ways to find out what the wastelander¡¯s limits were? He knew now what Cloudhawk was capable of, his force, defense, every quality in addition to his relics. He¡¯d calculated it all and knew that Cloudhawk had to be exhausted mentally. Meanwhile, Gabriel had used only half of his limit. His prey couldn¡¯t keep up the fight for much longer. Alright. This has dragged on for long enough. Time to end it. Gabriel shoved his hands forward, causing the screen of dirt and rocks to explode forth. Deadly strings and rocks like shrapnel fired toward Cloudhawk. Yet, the instant he allowed his guard to drop Gabriel¡¯s eyes were blinded by a gust of sand. The air turned opaque as muddy waters. He couldn¡¯t see more than ten meters in any direction. There it was! Cloudhawk¡¯s wave of sand looked like his final hope to try and bury Gabriel. In truth, it was meant to make his opponent draw up his defenses. If your enemy couldn¡¯t see you, there were limitless ways one could attack! Cloudhawk hid himself in the tidal wave, buying enough time to scout and prepare. Passive was not his style. ¡°You¡¯re clever, but not clever enough to beat me.¡± 1. This refers to a tenet in five element theory. The theory posits that all things are made of a combination of wind, water, fire, earth, metal, and wood. Not the elements themselves, necessarily, but the properties of these elements. These elements reside in a delicate balance, where one simultaneously ¡®feeds¡¯ one element and ¡®drains¡¯ another. Here is a chart to explain. Complicated, I know. There¡¯s a reason traditional medicine doctors study for five years before they¡¯re allowed to pick up a needle. The two basic cycles are the ¡®sheng¡¯ or support cycle, and the ¡®ke¡¯ or restriction cycle. Support works like this; fire supports earth (like how the ground is more fertile after a forest fire), earth support metal (the compression and component-rich ground creates metal), metal supports water (I got nothing for this one), water supports wood and wood supports fire (obvious). On the other end is the restriction cycle, as follows; fire restricts metal (metal melts), metal restricts wood (metal cuts down trees), wood restricts earth (woodlands take over plains), earth restricts water (stops encroaching oceans, rivers), water restricts fire (obvious). Things in parenthesis are just how I remember the relationships. Long story short, now you know the theory behind what Natessa is talking about. 2. ¡®Fire restricts metal.¡¯ See? Cool, right? Book 2, Chapter 100 - Who Else? Gabriel twitched his fingers, and the motion was answered with a series of vibrations along the strings. Because the filaments were all tangled together, the vibrations spread into all of them. They grew stronger as they traveled until the air hummed like Gabriel had plucked a guitar string. But the keen resonance was like no stringed instrument anyone had ever heard. Nature¡¯s greatest weaver was the spider. To them, each strand of silk was like an extension of the self. Through even the slightest sensation along the string, they exerted absolute control over their domain. Gabriel could achieve the same result. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t hide anywhere in which his threads extended. ¡°I found you!¡± Gabriel clenched his hands, and the threads closed in. He was determined to finish this contest right here, right now. For the moment Cloudhawk remained in his phase state, but the flaw was obvious. He might be immune to harm, but neither could he harm anyone else. Moreover, once he was between dimensions moving around became more difficult. With another pass from Gabriel¡¯s threads and his psychic energy quickly waning, how much longer could Cloudhawk keep this up? Inwardly, Gabriel had to admire his opponent. The fact that Cloudhawk was in possession of so many relics at his young age didn¡¯t matter much. More striking was their varied types. Gabriel had never met anyone who could use so many different kinds of relics, it was frankly incredible. Given time, Cloudhawk would almost definitely grow to be stronger than Gabriel. But for now, he was still green. Good enough. Time to begin! His hands rose, revealing his next offensive. Another net, much thicker and stronger than the last, fell over the area. It was the same as before, only this time Cloudhawk was out of strength and Gabriel had more to pour into his threads. The mesh was finer and the filaments stronger, No blade was going to carve an opening this time. It was over! Gabriel clenched his fist. The net contracted, leaving its tell-tale marks along the ground. The indomitable crush of it sent a shiver through the crowd. Cloudhawk felt it coming; from the top of his head, from under his feet. North, south, east and west. His enemy¡¯s web was closing in all around. Dangerous did not begin to describe his predicament. A moment of carelessness and he would be a corpse. Meanwhile, Gabriel was speculating on how Cloudhawk would respond. Sitting around and waiting for death was definitely not Cloudhawk¡¯s style. But, with the net closing in and nowhere to go, he wasn¡¯t left with many options. Phasing was his only choice, but once the field surrounded him he was forced to slow way down. The net would be on him, hundreds of threads, the longest he could hope to persist was three seconds before his mental energy was totally drained. Would that be enough? Gabriel couldn¡¯t think of anything other way Cloudhawk could evade him. Cloudhawk did not pause. He threw up hi cloak, and vanished once again into thin air. As the net continue to draw in he raced to the border. With the phase stone activated, Cloudhawk attempted to slip through. They fought him, but he eventually managed to fight through the resistance. Invisibility again? Gabriel found that he couldn¡¯t even determine Cloudhawk¡¯s position through the string¡¯s vibrations anymore, but he did not remain idle. He gathered another large net of filaments and sent it through his string prison. It swept across the circular field, but upon reaching the other side ¨C Bastard! He already escaped? Cloudhawk was faster than he gave him credit for. By the time he realized his error, a black-gold sword was hacking toward his face. But¡­ Cloudhawk had to use the phase stone to escape his net, and that slowed him down. How did the wastelander appear in front of him so quickly? Like he wasn¡¯t slowed at all. What Gabriel did not know was that Cloudhawk¡¯s cloak was also an exceptional relic. It didn¡¯t just make him invisible, it also sharply increased his speed. It and the phase stone made a very effective pair, for it counteracted the stone¡¯s drawbacks. He slipped through Gabriel¡¯s net almost the instant he summoned it. Most of his threads were tied up in the net. What was left for him to use in his defense? Hastily pulling a few strings free, Gabriel whipped them into the sword¡¯s path. The force of their collision knocked him back several paces. For a moment the two struggled. CLoudhawk heaved his sword against the filaments and they started to give way. Quiet carnage¡¯s keen edge inched closer to Gabriel¡¯s face. He couldn¡¯t compete with Cloudhawk¡¯s strength. Gabriel¡¯s handsome face seemed destined to be horribly mamed. ¡°Naberius, it¡¯s your turn!¡± There were two people locked in the young man¡¯s body ¨C or, more accurately, two souls. Naberius was his darker side, and once he awakened his bloodthirst would not be abated. However, his malignant nature came with at least twice the speed and strength Gabriel possessed. With Cloudhawk weakened, how was he going to fend off the madman? He had to deal with him before Naberius woke up. A bestial growl rumbled deep in Cloudhawk¡¯s throat. Veins engorged throughout is eyes and in the depths of his pupils burned a crimson fire. All the white turned sanguine red, nightmarish to behold. Pop! Snap! Gabriel¡¯s string were breaking, though Quiet Carnage kept it silent. He only knew by the sharp vibrations as they were severed. Gabriel felt Naberius stirring within. The tides would turn when the sculptor came out, he knew it. He just had to hold on. The two men stared eye to eye and Gabriel could see the burning fires. A stifling intensity was crushing him, like he could stop breathing at any moment. Those fires were almost infectious, reflecting in Gabriel¡¯s wide emerald gaze. It was haunting. He felt a psychic power engulf him. To him it felt like his brain was splitting in his skull. Cloudhawk¡¯s sword bit into pale flesh. A spray of blood burst out! With a cry, Gabriel hit the ground and rolled several meters away. The cut stretched from his shoulder down to his abdomen, deep enough to cut into the cavities below. Writhing organs were visible to the naked eye. None were lethal, for Cloudhawk had held himself back. It was the only reason Gabriel was still alive. Gabriel took a long time to recover cognizance. He shook his head, extinguishing the crimson fires that lingered in his green eyes. Little by little he felt the dictatorial presence in his mind recede. Although his physical wounds were grave, the thing that terrified Gabriel the most was how Cloudhawk had gotten into his head. What had he done? With just a look, he almost totally shattered my mind! For just a moment Gabriel had completely lost himself in those fires. Like a helpless lamb to the slaughter. It happened in an instant, so quick even the instructors didn¡¯t notice. But in moments like that, on the razor¡¯s edge between life and death, everything could be decided in an instant. Beyond the fact that it happened at all, most incredible was that his power was not derived from any relic. It came from somewhere inside him. He¡¯d never heard of anyone doing something like that without a relic to focus their power. It was unnatural, yet Cloudhawk had somehow managed to do it. All of it was simply beyond the reality he knew. Gabriel looked up at whatever monster this was. Cloudhawk stood over him, catching his breath. He returned Quiet Carnage to the sheath on his back. Dozens of wounds criss-crossed his body, but the threads caused very narrow wounds. Even now they were stitching closed, and none of them were a serious threat. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± His admission was a great relief. Cloudhawk looked out over the crowd. In a voice thick with pride and anger he shouted. ¡°Who else?!¡± The others exchanged quiet glances. He could still fight? He went on as they shifted uncomfortably. ¡°If no one else wants to take a shot, then it¡¯s decided!¡± Shit, he isshameless. Cloudhawk could barely stand but he was still putting himself up on a pedestal! Yet after what they¡¯d just witnessed, no one dared look down on the crude young man. He didn¡¯t take Claudia, Drake and Gabriel on all at once, but he did still beat them in succession. Formidable opponents, each one. He was strong ¨C at least strong enough to be captain. ¡°You three!¡± Cloudhawk turned his eyes onto his defeated opponents. ¡°There¡¯s a price to pay for everything we do in this world. If you don¡¯t pay for your pride then anyone will feel like they can challenge their captain at any time. You¡¯ve failed, so now you¡¯re going to tell me how to punish you for it.¡± Gabriel responded the fastest. ¡°I accept your leadership. Anyone who wants to challenge you in the future will have to get through me first!¡± Drake heaved a sigh. ¡°From now on I¡¯ll listen to your every command or be subjected to punishment by military law.¡± Cloudhawk nodded his head in satisfaction. His eyes darted to the last challenger. Claudia felt a churning in her stomach like she¡¯d swallowed a fist full of flies. She knew if she let him open his mouth again the insult would be unbearable. She spoke up. ¡°A loss is a loss, I have nothing to say. I never had any interest in the position anyway.¡± That was an unacceptable attitude. She couldn¡¯t even suffer through a simple pledge of loyalty? But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care, he accepted it. There were others out there in the crowd, trainees with more talent and abilities he wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a match for. But now Drake and Gabriel were firmly in hand, convinced of his superiority. Claudia wasn¡¯t happy with the result, but she had lost in full view of everyone. She would have no choice but to listen to his orders. Victory had earned Cloudhawk three mighty henchmen. Whether there were others who disagreed with Cloudhawk¡¯s appointment, they wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to try their hand now. It wasn¡¯t just Cloudhawk to contend with anymore. Anyone who wanted the title for themselves would have to be good enough to get through those three before they even had a shot. ¡°Good. Very good. Now you¡¯ve got yourself some underlings!¡± Eckard nodded delightedly as he made his way to Cloudhawk. ¡°You¡¯ve proven yourself as captain. You all have a day to get your shit together, then the training starts! Dismissed!¡± Eckard turned away. Natessa gave him a slight nod, then the three instructors each went their separate ways. Book 2, Chapter 101 - The Barracks Two assistant instructors lead the students and two teams of veterans to the designated area. There, they began to explain the rules of Hell¡¯s Valley: ¡°One. Obey any order given to you by military staff.¡± ¡°Two. No fraternizing between the sexes, and no fraternizing within the sexes either.¡± ¡°Three. Do not contradict your superiors, adhere to military law.¡± ¡°All the rest is written here, I¡¯m not going to go over it. Make sure you familiarize yourselves.¡± One of the assistants impatiently threw a volume toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Remember, you¡¯re the captain here. They are following you, and that means they are your responsibility. Any praise or punishment falls on you, too.¡± That was some bullshit. Cloudhawk could barely handle himself, much less other people. How was he supposed to make sure the rules were followed? ¡°You all aren¡¯t here for a pleasant life experience, remember that.¡± The assistant seemed to think of something then returned his attention to Cloudhawk. ¡°Starting now, until the moment you leave, each of you are part of a special military unit. You will train with other teams and will join them on missions. You should give your team a name.¡± ¡°Tartarus. How¡¯s that?¡± Cloudhawk settled on it right away, a tribute to his days in the wastelands. ¡°Up to you. If you wanna call your team the Dogshits, then that¡¯s what we¡¯ll call you. Alright, this¡¯ll be where you lay your head for the time being.¡± A series of makeshift camps had been built among the ruins of Hell¡¯s Valley outpost. Looking out over, it the place had turned into a tent city. The other military officers had their tents arranged in a circle around Cloudhawk¡¯s Tartarus team, who were stationed in their own burlap barracks. The assistant didn¡¯t explain any further. He was impatient to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Someone called out from the crowd. Claudia stepped forward with a dissatisfied expression. ¡°We¡¯re sleeping in the same tent as the men?¡± About a fourth of their team were young women, she was voicing the concern of all of them. Were they supposed to all cram into the same tent, eating and sleeping together? ¡°Who told you to speak? Are you the captain? What makes you think you have the right to open your fuckin¡¯ mouth?¡± The assistant glared at her. ¡°Get out here. Two lashes!¡± Several soldiers stepped forward to grab her.Cloudhawk was just settling in to gloat when he felt his hands being wrenched behind his back. The two assistants pulled out their whips and quickly delivered two strikes each. Each one bit hard into their skin, more savage that being hacked at by a sword. Cloudhawk had escaped a beating several times already, only to suffer it now. ¡°What the fuck are you hitting me for?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re being punished for failing to keep your team disciplined.¡± The man¡¯s cold eyes turned to the others. ¡°Remember, we don¡¯t give a shit about what equipment you got between your legs. Bother me with this baby shit again, you¡¯ll be begging for only two lashes! Now, let¡¯s get the fuck outta here.¡± The trainees exchanged silent looks. The assistants and the soldiers filed out. With his hands in his pockets, Gabriel walked up to Cloudhawk and asked how he was. The wastelander hopped back up to his feet. It was only two lashes, after all. However, those two had beat the sense of accomplishment clean out of him. If he¡¯d known what being captain meant he wouldn¡¯t have accepted. Because of Claudia, Cloudhawk had to feel the sting of their whips. She didn¡¯t show any sign of regret when she looked his way, or anything resembling an apology. She just stared at him. Cloudhawk had to laugh. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°You need to ask? You, obviously!¡± Claudia was about to lunge at him, so Cloudhawk lifted his hands to stop her. ¡°Cut it out. You know you can¡¯t beat me, and it¡¯s against military rules. Next time it won¡¯t be two lashes, and you know it. Like it or not, we¡¯re roommates for a few years. Can¡¯t you show a little respect to your superior?¡± Claudia¡¯s hands were curled into white-knuckled fists, and her frown was digging deep grooves in her face. But she never said a word as she stormed toward the barracks. Cloudhawk muttered as she left. ¡°You know, you remind me of a friend. The Bloodsoaked Queen¡­ you don¡¯t compare to her on any level, of course. Except you might be even more stubborn. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever met anyone more hard-nosed than you.¡± ¡°Enough! What¡¯s so good about your friend, huh? Don¡¯t compare me to her!¡± Claudia pulled open the tent door and stomped inside. Gabriel sauntered over with a grin on his face. ¡°That one sure as hell wants to see you dead. You aren¡¯t even a little worried?¡± ¡°If she¡¯s gonna try and kill me, she¡¯ll try it to my face. I¡¯m not scared.¡± Cloudhawk spared a glance for the blonde haired man and his timid smirk. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s you I¡¯m worried about. I know what you can do, and what you¡¯re hiding.¡± Gabriel shrugged. ¡°Frost wanted you dead,¡± he said helplessly. ¡°I didn¡¯t like him much, but Naberius and I have taken a liking to you. Since I¡¯m not going back to Skycloud anyway, I¡¯ve chosen to abandon the mission. Truly.¡± The inside of the barracks was larger than it seemed from the outside. There were enough beds for a standard military platoon. Thirty people didn¡¯t fill it, so there was plenty of elbow room. With the extra space they chose to split the tent down the middle; men to the left, and women to the right. The central area where they were expected to wash had to be shared. On the one hand there wasn¡¯t much water, and on the other none of the bathrooms were private. At any rate, this was how Cloudhawk could look after the woman in his team, and they appreciated him for it. A few asked Claudia about how she knew Cloudhawk, and where he¡¯d come from. She kept a blank face and didn¡¯t answer. Everyone else continued to give Cloudhawk the cold shoulder. There was nothing for it. Most of the trainees came from noble stock or military families. A family as sprawling as the Lunaes had members who were governors, officers, or other high positions. Most here were in their earlier twenties, a few younger. To have so much talent at such young ages, they were definitely the future of Skycloud domain. As such, why would they submit to someone like Cloudhawk? He was low-born and nameless among the elite. Aside from Claudia, no one had ever heard of Cloudhawk before now. He was the youngest among them as well. For him to be made captain was completely out of the blue. [1] It would be strange if these haughty elysians chose to follow him. ¡°Hey Cloudhawk, aren¡¯t you going to do something?¡± Drake pulled off his heavy armor and shared a word with him. His voice was still hoarse, it appeared the wound Cloudhawk had dealt wasn¡¯t entirely healed yet. But Cloudhawk had to admit he didn¡¯t really understand. Do what? Drake leaned in and whispered. ¡°The people here are all nobles, or people with talent. Make them comrades in arms, brothers and sisters of the battlefield. Be their leader. If you do it well, it¡¯ll help you in the long run! After all, everyone here is going on to do great things when we leave this place. Don¡¯t waste the opportunity to create a network!¡± Drake was pretty straightforward, and his logic was solid. But Cloudhawk yawned and maintained his disinterested manner. He was unambitious, the sort to go with the flow. Maybe even write off as a hopeless cause. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any interest in writing a legend for himself, perform any great deeds. He certainly wasn¡¯t interested in being some sort of hero. A network didn¡¯t mean anything to him, that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t worry over offending anyone. But¡­ if Drake wanted him to say a few things, then he might as well. ¡°Alright, everyone listen up.¡± ¡°Since none of you could do better, they made me the captain of our team. You all can keep plotting ways to take me down. Anyone who wants to take a shot then you can. Hell, I encourage it. But if I give an order and you decide not to follow it, or if you try and fuck with me, I¡¯m not gonna let it slide. You hear what I¡¯m saying?¡± Drake was mortified. This was not what he had in mind. He was practically begging for people to challenge him, even threatening them. He had to think about what sort of people these trainees were. His threats were only going to piss them off. ¡°Enough bullshit. As your captain I¡¯m gonna deliver my first order, so listen up.¡± Cloudhawk pulled off his boots and leaned on his bed. He still wore his armor, and his sword rested loosely in his hand. ¡°From now on you keep your clothes on when you sleep. Your weapons never leave your side.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so uncomfortable!¡± A baby-faced woman with a ponytail whined at him. ¡°Who are you to tell us how to sleep?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± An effeminate, scrawny man joined in the complaints. He squawked in a painfully duck-like voice. ¡°You¡¯re micromanaging.¡± Everyone seemed puzzled by his decision. ¡°You want me to tell you why?¡± Cloudhawk huffed at them. ¡°Because I ¨C your captain ¨C hate sleeping. I especially hate sleeping in beds. And if I don¡¯t like it, then none of you get to. It¡¯s that simple. Anyone who disagrees is violating military law. Gabby here will be taking names so the assistants know who to whip in the morning. You there, the pansy. You saw what I can do. You want to try your luck?¡± ¡°Who are you calling a pansy!?¡± the pansy shrieked. Cloudhawk heard the hum of a relic before he saw drops of water begin to gather around the frail man. Each one was about the size of a fingernail, but there were twenty or thirty of them in all. Each one was infused with power and were sure to hit with the force of a bullet. Gabriel rolled his eyes. He didn¡¯t know what he was going to do about Cloudhawk and his attitude. ¡°Everyone listen up!¡± Drake couldn¡¯t listen to any more of this. He shot to his feet. ¡°Cloudhawk¡¯s point is we need to be ready, for anything, at any time. We have to be able to respond to any threat. I¡¯m a soldier, I used to be in charge of eight hundred men and I know how new recruits are treated. We¡¯ll be rounded up at a moment¡¯s notice, and by now you know how they treat stragglers here. Better safe than sorry.¡± The effeminate man was quiet, but the droplets of water continued to rotate around his body. ¡°Caspian Black. Show me a little respect.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The androgynous one called Caspian rolled his eyes. ¡°For you, no. But I¡¯ll show my respect for the Thane family.¡± He dismissively waved his hand. The water droplets splattered against the floor. Except they didn¡¯t. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the droplets bounced like rubber balls, half a meter off the ground. They hopped around for a little while before melting into a pool. The other trainees gave the pansy odd looks. What a strange power. He was obviously a water-type demonhunter. Cloudhawk barely spared him a glance, but inside his mind whirred. Shit¡­ fuckin¡¯ creepy sissy. Gabriel yawned theatrically. ¡°That¡¯s enough of that. Sleep, let¡¯s go.¡± Claudia had no respect for Cloudhawk or his orders, but followed them all the same. She obediently laid on the bed fully clothed and with her weapon nearby. She leaned back on the hard cot and stretched her legs out. Just as she was about to shut her eyes, a sweet voice whispered in her ear. ¡°Claudia¡­ who is this guy? You two seem to have a history.¡± The girl looked to be about sixteen years old, one of the youngest. She was the baby-faced one, thin, with a pair of pony tails on either side of her head. Her big eyes and innocent features made her look entirely harmless. Back in Skycloud, though, she went by the nickname ¡®Demon Kitten.¡¯ Beneath her adorable exterior was someone who would murder without blinking those big beautiful eyes. Claudia had no interest in getting any closer to her. She was already too close for comfort. ¡°He¡¯s no good. Best to leave him alone.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Felina slowly blinked her big eyes as she stared curiously at Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pay any mind to her or anyone else. He lay on his cot with his hands folded behind his head, one leg crossed over the other. Now he had Drake and Gabriel in his corner. Together, they would be able to handle anything short of a master demonhunter. As such no one was going to thoughtlessly make a move, they weren¡¯t going to win a fight. Stay out of trouble and leave it at that, this was the predominate thinking. Felina¡¯s lips pulled back into a sweet smile. ¡°He sure is an interesting guy.¡± Given his appearance, she assumed he was perhaps a few years older. In truth the two were about the same age. [2] 1. The Chinese is ¡®as though he had popped out of the rocks¡¯. I may be way off base, but I think this is in reference to a quasi-trope in China about supernatural beings emerging from innocuous objects. The Monkey King, for example, pops out of a ¡®stone egg.¡¯ A famous cartoon called gourd boy was born from ¨C you guessed it ¨C a gourd. 2. In Chinese, she referred to him as a ''little big brother'', a term of quasi-endearment for men who are slightly older than you.Since it doesn''t translate well into English, we just went with ''guy''. Book 2, Chapter 102 - Talen The next day, before the morning sun crept into the barracks tent¡­ A loud alarm bell sounded. Its harsh sound shattered the trainees¡¯ sleep. Years in the wastelands had taught Cloudhawk to be a light sleeper. Even the slightest change in light, temperature or sound was enough to wake him up. He was the first one of his team to climb out of bed. Oddball came to as well. It turned its puffy little head to the left and right a few times, keen eyes on a spot outside of the barracks tent. Cloudhawk¡¯s companion seemed to see something out of the ordinary, because it began tweeting furiously. What¡¯s up? A creeping sense of disquiet came over him. ¡°Get down!¡± The others were nursing aches and pains, earned from days of hard work and uncomfortable cots. The disorienting haze of sleep quickly fled at Cloudhawk¡¯s scream. Although they didn¡¯t kno what was going on, the sharp noise of something whistling through the air was obvious. Instincts kicked in and they hit the dirt. An arrow ripped through the burlap tent and into one of the beds. It drilled right through leaving a sizable hole behind. That was just the beginning. Moments later hundreds more arrows followed, fast as bullets and far more deadly. Beds were shot to splinters from arrows that lanced through their tent like lasers. Shards of wood exploded everywhere. ¡°Everyone out!¡± Cloudhawk led the others toward the exit, scrambling along the floor on all fours. Outside, their sleeping quarters were surrounded by several hundred soldiers with bows. No wonder they¡¯d been attacked by so many at once. It was a whole archer corps out here! If they hadn¡¯t been sleeping in their armor, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to respond as quickly. Without Cloudhawk¡¯s warning, many of his team would have awakened to arrows in their guts. Groggy and wounded, they wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. It would have been flat-out murder! Cloudhawk shot to his feet and called to his team. ¡°Form up!¡± The others arranged themselves into four lines. In a few short seconds Tartarus squad was at attention. The sun had yet to rise over the horizon, it had to be about four in the morning. The veteran soldiers were already standing in orderly rows with team captains at the fore. Tartarus squad¡¯s own assistant instructors were also standing nearby. In the middle of them all was a man-shaped fortress clad from head to toe in armor. One of the giants of Hell¡¯s Valley, Dumont. Dumont stared at the trainees, already in their lines. Narrows eyes peered doubtfully through the slit in his helmet, but he had to admit this new batch was especially vigilant. One of the assistants marched off at a brisk pace. His sonorous voice blasted through the camp. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army is assembled. Marching orders are fifty kilometers of cross-country training. Move out!¡± Fifty kilometers? Even through the rough terrain of the valley, it didn¡¯t sound so bad. A little challenging maybe, that¡¯s all. At the assistant¡¯s command the veteran teams fell into position, one after the other. Cloudhawk allowed himself to take a breath. ¡°You heard him. Fifty kilometers long-distance training, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Stop! Not yet.¡± The assistants walked over. They forced the members of Tartarus squad to shoulder weighty packs. Fifty kilometers stretched before them, just like the veterans, only their training would be different. ¡°Your job is to haul this weight across the valley, fifty kilometers. You got five hours ¨C miss the deadline and it¡¯s five lashes. The slowest half of your team to get there will get three lashes. Now move!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces fell. They weren¡¯t at all prepared for this. The sack on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulders was at least several hundred kilograms. Strong as he was, it was still not going to be easy to cross mountainous terrain with so much weight. One of the assistants unfurled his whip, ready to use it. There was nothing for it. Cloudhawk called to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Get moving!¡± The trainees of Tartarus squad grit their teeth and started off. Cloudhawk soon discovered that everyone¡¯s load was different. Drake, for example, had a pack at least twice as heavy as his. Gabriel¡¯s was slightly lighter. Somehow, although Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t guess how, the assistants knew what each trainee could handle and weighed them down with their upper limit. It made for more effective training, to be sure. Exhausting! And the paths through the valley did not make for an easy stroll. If it were only a short time, the excess weight they carried wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. However, fifty kilometers was anything but a short time. They couldn¡¯t lose half a step in their stride or they would feel it. Who could stand such an overwhelming test of their endurance?! But the fact that the trainees had made it this far proved their perseverance. The trek was grueling, but they all made it. The ones who fell behind got their three lashes, and without a moment¡¯s rest they were on to the next set of exercise. They were gathered up in the training yard and participated in an arduous regimen of physical and mental military training drills. Lunch was fifteen minutes long. Food was marginally better than what they had in the hole they were thrown in back in Deadwood Forest, but only slightly. It was still mainly herbs, roots and mutant insects ¨C hardly the normal fare for Skycloud¡¯s haughty elite. Yet, they had learned to accept it during their time in isolation. After such strenuous exercise they were desperate, for anything that¡¯d give them energy. They¡¯d almost eat bowls of shit at this point. The afternoon was taken up with combat training. It was led by Eckard and his assistants. Duels were arranged at random, or set between trainees and a veteran soldier or assistant. Losers got two lashes instead of dinner. They were only given ten minutes to shove a supper of sticks and bugs into their mouths. Most didn¡¯t get to finish. By the time night rolled around the trainees weren¡¯t just tired, they were dead on their feet, beaten black and blue. Some of them were also half-starved. The veteran squads they¡¯d trained with callously ate their meals and disbanded to recover from the day. Had their first day finally come to an end? Cloudhawk was preparing to bring the others to their newly constructed barracks tent when he was given news. Tartarus squad still had theory courses scheduled at night. Dumont was responsible for them during basic training. Eckard took charge during combat training. Theory courses were organized by Natessa. Before the trainees even knew what they were doing, a test paper was shoved into their hands. Eyes popped as they looked over the contents; relic maintenance, weapon theory, mutant beast identification, survival techniques, assassination, tactical simulations, troop management and so on. Dozens of questions they couldn¡¯t begin to answer, leaving them stricken. ¡°Shit, I¡¯m not a demonhunter. How am I supposed to understand anything about relics?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen more than a couple mutant creatures in my whole life. What do I know about any of this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lived my whole live in the domains. There¡¯s no way I know about the weapons which blasphemers use. They¡¯re forbidden! It¡¯s a violation of the law even trying to answer these questions!¡± Natessa sat calm and silent before them with her eyes closed. She was like a sculpture of some holy goddess. Two and a half hours later her eyes opened and said what they¡¯d all been waiting for. ¡°Hand in your papers!¡± The examinations were gathered, and her assistants got to work. The test was a total of a hundred points. Anyone who scored below ninety would be beaten. Sad news for the members of Tartarus squad, for although they could answer a few, no one was able to pass that margin. Ninety fuckin¡¯ points! What the hell were they thinking? A third of them were full-answer questions with no hints to the answers. Relying on multiple-choice wasn¡¯t an option, so getting a passing score was practically impossible. But everyone got what Instructor Windham was up to. Normal soldiers didn¡¯t get demonhunter techniques, but the demonhunters did. Demonhunters didn¡¯t know a lot about weapons training, but the soldiers did. Survival skills, tactics, formations¡­ there were probably a handful in the group who knew a thing or two. To pass the test they would need to get together and share their knowledge. The point of the test was for them to find out what they were missing and look to the others for answers. Together they would study, and together they might pass. The scores were quickly tallied. It really did feel like being judged before the gates of hell. ¡°Gabriel. Forty-three percent!¡± ¡°Caspian Black, forty-five percent!¡± ¡°Drake Battelle, fifty-one percent!¡± ¡°Felina Cole, fifty-four percent!¡± The class listened as names and scored were read out, hoping for someone with a high score for them to rely on. Perhaps the next test they might pass with some help. However, most of the trainees hovered somewhere in the forties. Hopes began to fade. If no one was coming out on top then where were they supposed to get help? ¡°Claudia Lunae, seventy-eight percent!¡± The students¡¯ eyes lit up. Seventy-eight percent wasn¡¯t nothing short of amazing. Not a passing score of course, but much better than everyone else. There was hope! The corners of Claudia¡¯s mouth curved up ever so slightly. She was a cherished daughter of the Lunae family, and she¡¯d had a thirst for knowledge ever since she was small. Luckily her father was a merchant with a far reach and deep pockets, so she was never lacking in reading material. If she hadn¡¯t spent her earlier years mulling over all sorts of unimportant factoids, she probably would have been a much better demonhunter. Cloudhawk¡¯s score hadn¡¯t been read out yet. Claudia could hardly wait to find out. After all, he¡¯d been born out in the wastelands. He hardly knew the alphabet, much less more complicated theoretical questions. It didn¡¯t matter how many fights he¡¯d won, book-learning definitely wasn¡¯t his strong suit. But how many points would he get? Ten? Maybe twenty? Hell, maybe just a fat zero! The thought of Cloudhawk having to come to her, tail tucked between his legs, begging for help, filled her heart with sadistic joy. That would be sweet revenge. She quietly promised herself that she wouldn¡¯t help me, no matter how he begged. ¡°Cloudhawk¡­¡± Her heart began to race. It was time. ¡°Cloudhawk¡­¡± Up to this point the assistant reading scores had been smooth and dispassionate. Now he seemed to be stuck on the guy¡¯s name. He squinted at the sheet a few times to make sure it was correct. Claudia had to chuckle to herself. His score had to be so terrible the assistant couldn¡¯t believe it. She wasn¡¯t alone. All the rest of Tartarus squad held their breath, waiting for the chance to turn their nose up at him. ¡°Cloudhawk¡­¡± He said the name a third time, then¡­ ¡°One hundred percent!¡± It struck them like an earthquake. And earthquake wrapped in an explosion. And not just the students, either. Natessa was floored by the revelation. How could someone ¨C anyone ¨C get full marks? With a gesture she called the assistant over and took the exam from his hands. She looked it over, top to bottom. Her face gradually changed from irritation, to disbelieve, and finally to amazement. He¡¯d actually written the answers. They were right! Solid tactical analyses, clear understanding of relic function¡­ some of his battle concepts were even quite novel. Natesssa had to admit, what he wrote was top quality. There was no way the assistants would conspire to give him the answers, especially not right in front of her face, but it was obvious even when she looked at the paper. It was all there, in his head. Natessa folded the paper and kept it with her. She would sit and examine it more closely when she had the chance. There were some ideas she wanted to explore in more detail. She continued. ¡°Not bad. The rest of you, take up position for your lashes.¡± The shock was nothing short of overwhelming for Claudia. No one knew Cloudhawk like she did. This wastelander¡­ how was it possible? Weren¡¯t his kind illiterate? She refused to accept that he was capable of testing better than her! As for the others, they started looking at Cloudhawk with new eyes. No more disdain or discomfort. Now they looked at him like more than human. He was a savior! Cloudhawk lazily stretched his back like it was nothing out of the ordinary. He then sat back and enjoyed watching the others receive their lashes. Really, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how he did it. It just flowed out of him, things he didn¡¯t even fully understand. The only explanation he could think of was the skull, and the knowledge he¡¯d inherited from it. The former master of the phase stone had been ancient, answering these elementary questions would have been the simplest thing in the world. Book 2, Chapter 103 - Call Me Boss Groans of pain were mirrored throughout the make-shift barracks. The kiss of a Hell¡¯s Valley whip was not pleasant. The trainees wore their leather armors as the instructor assistants delivered punishment, but it did them no good. Through some strange power, the whips left nasty wounds even through protection. For a number of unlucky souls, it¡¯d been their second beating of the day. Fortunately, the trainees had come to the valley well prepared, stocked with curatives to help with the lash wounds. So far, they¡¯d used them after each beating and it helped. But they couldn¡¯t keep up if they were going to get whipped two or three times a day. Like their last barracks, the trainees were separated by gender; boys on the left, and girls on the right. It was divided down the middle and curtains hit the beds, giving them some measure of privacy. One dignified and attractive figure grit her teeth and she slipped out of her leather armor. She then removed the clothing beneath to reveal her upper body. She had a slender waist, full breaths, and tight ivory colored skin. But the flesh of her back was horribly marred, whip wounds split fair skin and showed the red meat beneath. She wasn¡¯t special, everyone was nursing similar injuries. Claudia spoke softly. ¡°Bend over, I¡¯ll put on a liniment for you.¡± ¡°Thanks a lot.¡± The half-naked girl blushed and bent over the bed. Her round bosom was pressed against the coarse bedsheets. She was drenched in sweat from the pain. ¡°Ouch! Softer, please.Is this really appropriate? The guys can¡¯t see anything can they?¡± The young woman was in her early twenties, but had already grown into her mature charms. She had a gentle and quiet nature, but it concealed a complicated background. She had come to accept living here with the men, but this was different. She took pride in having never revealed her body to anyone else, but here she was forced to risk it. She struggle to accept the uncomfortable circumstance. Unfortunately, her innate healing was not very vigorous. If she only relied on medicine she drank, she wouldn¡¯t be in ideal shape for whatever was in store tomorrow. If it was anything like yesterday, she was afraid she might be eliminated. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Veronika.¡± Felina had taken up position on the other side of the curtain and stood vigil. She heard them talking behind her. ¡°If anyone tries to take a peek, I¡¯ll tear their eyes right out of their head.¡± Felina was an especially petite young woman who stood about a hundred and sixty centimeters tall, but was in fine physical shape. Her hair was black as pitch and pulled in a pair of ponytails. Her eyes were similarly dark, big and beautiful behind long lashes. Felina lifted a hand, delicate and fine. Then ¨C much like a cat ¨C her nails sprang out from her fingers to a ringing sound. A dangerous, confrontational air hung over her. The others around her shied away. Who would expect such a tiny thing to seem so malevolent? Felina¡¯s bodily control was impeccable. In addition, her family was known for their unique ability to precisely control bone and muscle. Her control was so absolute, in fact, that she could completely change her appearance as needed. She was a born shapeshifter, and these claws were her weapon of choice and changed at her command. No one was certain of the young woman¡¯s true strength, but what she could do with her nails proved she was no weakling. Hand to hand, she was probably a match for any high ranking military official. Beyond that, she was also a demonhunter. Really, no one here was easy to deal with, and she had to know what she was about ¨C otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be provoking people and asking for a challenge. Claudia opened a vial of medicine radiating a fluorescent light, then poured it over Veronika¡¯s back. The mysterious stuff was quickly absorbed through her skin, and lash wounds started to heal before their eyes. A short while later, it was as satin-smooth as the rest of her. As the acute pain ebbed, Veronika heaved a sigh. ¡°This medicine has to be expensive,¡± she said appreciatively. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The Lunae family has a little money to spare.¡± She carefully replaced her clothes, making sure nothing was revealed. Finally she could put his day behind her. Claudia, however, was still in low spirits. Veronika Bright was much like her namesake [1]. She was a smart girl, wise to the hearts of her peers, so she knew what was troubling Claudia. She was still ruminating over the test results. Veronika gently patted her shoulder. ¡°Captain Cloudhawk doesn¡¯t seem that bad. Why do you hate him so much?¡± Claudia was about to answer, but held herself back. Cloudhawk¡¯s real identity was¡­ sensitive information. Everyone was trying to find ways to curry favor with Cloudhawk, even the sissy that had tried to start a fight. If the truth of where he came from got out it would certainly turn the crowd against him. He would be made a pariah, and the others might even turn to her instead. But after a moment¡¯s thought, she kept her mouth closed. It wasn¡¯t how she wanted to beat him. Claudia wanted to show Cloudhawk that she was superior, fair and square, not undermine him with dirty tactics. Those were exactly the kinds of schemes she hated, the kind he would use. She wouldn¡¯t tarnish herself that way. No wonder Cloudhawk thought she and the Bloodsoaked Queen were so similar. Of course, Selene¡¯s lofty pride was as much a part of her as her own skin. It seeped deep into her bones. She was almost otherworldly, bravely moving forward no matter the circumstance. Claudia, on the other hand, was lacking in self-confidence ¨C maybe even a little self-abasing. She cared a lot about what others thought of her, which gave others a lot of power over her. Claudia was more ¡®real¡¯ in comparison, though. After all, how many Selene¡¯s could there be in the world? She ignored all the traditions of her order and abandoned a brilliant future to scour the wastelands on her own for answers. Where was she now? Was she alright? Would she come back? When Felina heard them stirring on the other side of the curtain and slipped in to join them. She looked at Veronika happily. ¡°Are you already feeling better?¡± She smiled and said nothing. The young member of the Cole family was a lively one, and seemed very pleasant. It¡¯d only been one day, but the girls of Tartarus squad had already formed their own unit. Claudia, Veronika and Felina were closest. In terms of combat strength, Felina was probably the strongest. She might even be good enough to challenge Cloudhawk. ¡°Absolutely miserable.¡± Felina¡¯s pretty face adopted a petulant frown. ¡°Those whips hurt! It looks like they plan to use them every day, too.¡± ¡°Nothing we can do about that. It seems like the valley¡¯s brutal reputation wasn¡¯t an exaggeration, and we¡¯re just getting started. But now that we¡¯re here, we have to take whatever they throw at us. I know the gods are with us.¡± Veronika paused for a moment, staring ahead at the young man playing with his goofy little bird. ¡°We might not be able to stop the beatings, but we can try to avoid as many as possible.¡± Cloudhawk whistled at Oddball as they played, from time to time rewarding him with a pellet of feed. Oddball nibbled away, and Cloudhawk was too absorbed in their idle play to worry about any encroaching danger. When he saw the curtains hiding one of the beds, it piqued his curiosity. A series of filthy thoughts crossed his mind unbidden. He and Oddball could share sight, no? Maybe he should sent his little friend over there, take a gander at the scenery. But when the tiny bird sensed its master¡¯s lewd intent it shuddered in disdain. It didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with Cloudhawk¡¯s conniving. Ach, this little guy¡¯s become more human every day. I can almost see the scorn in its eyes. Cloudhawk shook the ideas free. It was rather strange, just a year ago ideas like these wouldn¡¯t even have crossed his mind. On the one hand women hadn¡¯t interested him in the least, and on the other he didn¡¯t even know the joys a woman could provide. Now suddenly he was conspiring to sneak a peek. People really are changed by their experiences. Finally, one of his teammates couldn¡¯t wait any longer. ¡°That test this evening was hard as nails. How did you get full marks?¡± Drake¡¯s burly form lumbered into view. He was never one to beat about the bush, and went straight to the point. ¡°How¡¯d you do it? Some trick? You can¡¯t just sit back and watch us get beat.¡± Cloudhawk leaned back, using his hands as a pillow. ¡°What do you mean, trick? You think too much!¡± ¡°One of the questions on the test was about a martial arts move called ¡®Spearhead.¡¯ We were supposed to analyze it, and discuss how it was applied. I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m the only one here that can do that technique. But even I didn¡¯t get those answers correct. How is it a demonhunter like you was able to?¡± ¡°See, there¡¯s your problem,¡± Cloudhawk said. Hidden chambers in his mind had awakened, and memories poured to the forefront of his consciousness like a flood. Fragments of a former life swam up at him. ¡°¡¯Spearhead¡¯ is one of the most effective techniques for a martial artist ¨C especially a soldier. It¡¯s especially useful when two armies meet head to head, for breaking through front lines. But, it does have its limitations. There are some things to modify.¡± Drake¡¯s eyes got a little bigger. ¡°Can you elaborate?¡± ¡°You get the gist of it already, you just aren¡¯t using it right. That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t get full points on the question.¡±Cloudhawk sat up. ¡°At its most basic level, Spearhead is about gathering energy and letting it burst out. It¡¯s a direct attack, and you can¡¯t redirect it once you do it. That inability to redirect is the problem. You could throw yourself right into a shitty situation. But, with enough skill and control, Spearhead could be made more agile.¡± Drake was enthralled, but he wasn¡¯t the only one. Other trainees had started to gather around to learn. ¡®Spearhead¡¯ was a famous move in military circles, they¡¯d all seen it used. They all knew of it, but wasn¡¯t the point that it was explosive and immovable? It wasn¡¯t particularly nimble, but was still an apex skill for a soldier. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°All you do is spare some energy for a second or third burst, then your spearhead is broken into stages. You lose a little power, but you exchange it for flexibility and longer duration.¡± Drake was floored. ¡°How? I¡¯ve never heard anything like this before!¡± Pulling off something like that was no easy feat, but in his fragmented memories Cloudhawk knew there were soldiers in the ancient wars who could. Cloudhawk went on to explain the basic premise behind making a multi-stage spearhead technique a reality. Drake¡¯s admiration for the guy skyrocketed. There were very few people with the depth of martial knowledge he had. The power of martial arts originated from one¡¯s own body, drawing on their innate potential. Performing special techniques required almost superhuman physical fitness, and profound knowledge. Cloudhawk spoke with the experience of a grizzled old commander. The knowledge he offered was valuable beyond measure, but Cloudhawk held nothing back. How could the others not be shocked by what they were hearing? How could they not admire him for it? Making Cloudhawk captain was no mistake; he was more than strong, he was smart as hell too. Gabriel was next. He approached Cloudhawk and asked for some pointers on other techniques. The majority of what Cloudhawk inherited from the skull was knowledge about psychic energies and relics. Spearhead wasn¡¯t much of a mysterious secret, so it wasn¡¯t strange that he might have some knowledge. But when it came to relics and how they¡¯re used, he was a font of information. He went on and on, going into detail on the subject. The others were completely convinced, and set aside their prejudices. In a military setting like this, those with ability were respected. It didn¡¯t matter how noble their birth or whatever their previous station. How could they look down on him after they saw what he could do? As the lines of people looking for guidance continued to grow, Cloudhawk began to lose patience. They didn¡¯t have much time to rest, and if the others kept this up he wasn¡¯t going to get any sleep. He stood up and raised his hands. ¡°Look, if you want my help that¡¯s fine, but you have to promise you¡¯ll stop questioning me. Stop causing shit.¡± ¡°You got it, Captain.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t see it before, but we¡¯re convinced now.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Cloudhawk nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Call me boss. Lemme see how it sounds.¡± 1. Veronika means ¡®true image¡¯ and bright is obvious. In Chinese her name is Ã÷¾µ ¨C ¡®bright mirror¡¯ Book 2, Chapter 104 - Pledging Loyalty Chapter 104 - Pledging Loyalty The twenty-some trainees exchanged quiet looks. It wasn¡¯t clear who was first, but one by one they all rose from their beds and walked over to respectfully address Cloudhawk as ¡®boss.¡¯ Drake and Gabriel looked at each other in silence. This was an unexpected boon. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care about being captain, but he¡¯d somehow inadvertently rallied the whole squad behind him. It seemed increasingly more unlikely that his position would ever be challenged again. ¡°You there, pansy. Yeah, you.¡± Cloudhawk waggled a finger at Caspian. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear you. Speak up, yeah? Let me hear it again.¡± Caspian¡¯s face sunk but he had no choice. He chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Heh, you¡¯re such a rascal, boss. Yesterday was just a misunderstanding, allow me to apologize.¡± He fluttered his lashes at the squad captain. Cloudhawk almost lost his dinner. This guy was more feminine than the women in the team. He had to wonder how the world could produce someone so¡­ exotic. What Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know was that Caspian was Skycloud city¡¯s most famed purveyor of ¡®male comrades¡¯ [1]. He was a capable demonhunter, but his proclivities brought shame to his family. As punishment, perhaps to force a change, they sent him to Hell¡¯s Valley. ¡°Forget about it, water under the bridge.¡± ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± ¡°Now, young miss Claudia¡­¡± Cloudhawk searched the crowd until he found her. ¡°Seems everyone¡¯s in agreement, but I didn¡¯t hear anything from you.¡± Claudia stared at her, her face red with anger and words choked in her throat. Everyone¡¯s attention was on her, she was the last one to swear fealty. Claudia clenched her fists at her side. Offer an inch and he takes a mile! Veronika saw her expression and gave her a stern look. In the end she was forced to face reality. Claudia hung her head and muttered, defeated: ¡°¡­boss.¡± This was the difference between her and Selene. If it¡¯d been the Bloodsoaked Queen in her shoes, she never would have conceded, not unless she was wholly convinced she was wrong. She would have rather died. However, those who knew how to suffer temporary setbacks were assured a successful future. There were only a handful of people in the world like Selene, with brilliant futures that defied any obstacles. If one without adequate talent was only concerned with face, they would never come close to Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities, much less surpass them. Claudia was not useless, she had redeeming features. But, her voice was so soft. Her words were so insincere. She was only pretending to capitulate. Captain Cloudhawk was not pleased with her response. He was about to express his displeasure, when a sweet voice called for his attention. The charming sound was almost too much. ¡°Captain, sir. Teach us please!¡± Felina¡¯s sweet voice cooed in his ear. She slapped her hands onto his shoulders and began to knead his tired muscles. Such an adorable display would melt a heart made of iron. But that¡¯s not how Cloudhawk saw it. If she could get close like that without him noticing, the next time she might be sneaking up with a knife to his throat. Cute as she looked from the outside, there was something secret and powerful inside her. The members of Tartarus squad had fully accepted Cloudhawk as their leader. Without his order to keep prepared last night, this morning they probably would have been skewered by arrows. He was also the only one who passed Natessa¡¯s impossible test. As for his strength, he had to be near the top of their crew. Taking all of this information together, there was no one more qualified to lead their squad than Cloudhawk. ¡°Since y¡¯all are begging so nicely, I¡¯ll go ahead and explain everything from start to finish. But only once! So listen close.¡± Everyone beamed with excitement and gathered round Cloudhawk¡¯s bed. Notebooks and pencils appeared in their hands, ready to scribble down every word that came out of his mouth like dutiful students. Felina knelt behind him on the bed, massaging his shoulders. She leaned forward as she asked, ¡°There were so many questions on that test, Captain! How can you only explain it once! You must have an amazing memory¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s about right!¡± ¡°Ah, so talented!¡± The young woman¡¯s eyes were wide with adulation. Cloudhawk was not stingy with what he knew. He carefully explained every question from the test, mostly because a lot of it he didn¡¯t really understand himself. The memories of the stone¡¯s former master were not perfect, if he didn¡¯t quickly shared this shard of knowledge as it came then he would lose it again in a few days. Explaining everything to the others was a way to make sure he remembered it. Natessa¡¯s exam was comprehensive, including topics such as psychic energy, relics, martial arts, military tactics and beasts commonly found throughout the wastelands. It even covered things like wastelander guns and artillery. When it came to the weapons of the wastes, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need the stranger¡¯s inheritance to know the answers. He¡¯d lived it, he knew all about the different ways to die out there. He was even able to draw a few diagrams to show the others in more detail. Such knowledge was taboo for elysians. If anyone back in the domain every learned they were studying such things, the consequences would be serious. Out here in Hell¡¯s Valley, though, they didn¡¯t seem to be under the same restrictions. Know yourself, know your enemy, and you¡¯ll emerge victorious even after a hundred battles [2]. They had to understand the tools of their enemy, otherwise how were they supposed to fight back? Rules were dead things, but people were alive. It could happen that one day they were out in the wastelands, exhausted, injured, weaponless. A common soldier might shun picking up one of the wastelanders¡¯ weapons, but that wasn¡¯t the style of a member of Hell¡¯s Army. They did whatever was necessary. By the time Cloudhawk was done explaining, he understood the information better himself. He benefitted a lot from it himself. This was especially true for the bits about using relics, and mental training. It inspired him to come up with a few ideas of his own. There was nothing Claudia could say about it. If he could sit here and explain everything to them question after question, he couldn¡¯t have cheated. Only, how was there so much knowledge locked up in that scoundrel¡¯s head? ¡°Time for bed.¡± Cloudhawk yawned illustratively. ¡°We¡¯ll continue tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± The others bound back to their beds. ¡°Captain!¡± Up to now, Cloudhawk¡¯s indolent and blas¨¦ attitude hadn¡¯t won him any followers, but that had changed. He absently scratched Oddball¡¯s head and thought on it. He felt strange. Cloudhawk was a different person now. He¡¯d once had an unflinching drive, a goal that was constantly driving him forward. That was gone now¡­ perhaps not gone, but dim. He felt like a boat that had come untied, floating aimlessly. He went wherever the current took him. He was changing, in all aspects. Only, the core of a person was difficult to really change. He thought back on the things he¡¯d been through, on the ideas he once held, and laughed at their foolishness. Anywhere that humans lived there was war. There was no denying that the wastelands were a cruel place, bathed in blood, but weren¡¯t the elysian lands also built on the skeletons of thousands? He finally understood that freedom, peace, calm¡­ these didn¡¯t come from whatever environment you found yourself in. A new reality was beginning to appear before him, a new path. Power. It all came down to power. Cloudhawk was beginning to realize that the only way to find a solid footing in this world was to have the sort of power men feared. The strength to stand up against one¡¯s fate. Then he could break the chains, shed the curse. He could throw aside all the arbitrary rules and conspiracies. It was the only real way to win freedom. He didn¡¯t think too long on it. He fished out a vial of the mind-enhancing medicine and swallowed it down, then shut his eyes for a few moments of quiet. His mind turned to something the phase stone¡¯s former master said; real strength came when he no longer had to rely on relics. Discussing martial arts with the others had deepened his understanding of military training. But relying on physical strength alone wasn¡¯t enough. He had to strive to turn his body into a relic. Then he wouldn¡¯t need some external tool in order to call on his power! Cloudhawk saw psychic energy as a wave, and all thing were strings. The wave could adjust these strings¡¯ vibration, and the strings came together to form the world. This way, the wave was able to change reality. A string¡¯s frequency changed how it manifested, and psychic energy changed the frequency. The man who could see the patterns and pluck its strings could call fire and lightning from his fingertips. Cloudhawk¡¯s mysterious predecessor believed psychic energy was the root of true power. Relics were molds or amplifiers. They were tools that resonated with psychic energy to change a string¡¯s frequency. If someone was capable of really understanding how a relic works, maybe they could surpass the need to use them altogether. They could perform miracles out of thin air. That sounded pretty fuckin¡¯ awesome to Cloudhawk. And it seemed possible, too. During his fight with Gabriel, he¡¯d used his predecessor¡¯s power to attack his foe¡¯s mind directly. The effects were limited and short-lived, but it¡¯s what won him victory. Becoming a living relic¡­ that was the path to everything he wanted. The stone¡¯s owner hadn¡¯t even succeeded in that goal, but Cloudhawk had the talent to make it a reality. He¡¯d been born with the ability to hear the resonance, the key to ultimately crossing that threshold. Of course, it wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Cloudhawk tried, but so far there was only failure. He couldn¡¯t conjure flame out of thin air, or summon sand without the help of the Gospel of Sand. He didn¡¯t know what he was doing wrong, only that this ultimate power was not going to come easy. But he was determined to spend whatever time and effort it took to learn the secret. *** The next day. In the morning they continued their training. In the afternoon were more combat drills. At night, another exam. The schedule was the same, though the content was slightly different. For instance, instead of long-distance marching they were sent up a sheer cliff face. One-on-one spars were swapped for group fights against the veterans; the thirty Tartarus trainees against thirty hardened soldiers. Only the exam with Natessa stayed the same. A unique part of Tartarus squad¡¯s program was a medicated bath every third day, for one hour. It was miraculous stuff. No matter how bruised and beaten they were, no matter how many marks from the whip marked their backs, after an hour the injuries were gone by morning. Now that they were all formally part of the training camp, their instructors weren¡¯t so ready to weed out stragglers. That didn¡¯t mean their training was any less harsh, and in fact things only got harder with time. Everything they did had to be accurate to the second, which kept them moving like clockwork. It was nothing short of debilitating. Under Cloudhawk¡¯s leadership his whole team quickly matured. Cloudhawk himself displayed considerable skill in leading his people. Time after time they beat back hordes of wasteland beasts. Again and again they beat the Hell¡¯s Army veterans in their war games. Theory classes were a breeze. Two months passed quickly. One evening, a soldier rushed into their barracks. ¡°Tartarus squad, you¡¯ve got an urgent mission. Get ready to move out. Cloudhawk, follow me to the command center!¡± Everyone was excited by the news. Felina practically leapt out of bed. Two months of tedious and exhaustive training had nearly broken them. Sixty-some days and nights of it, now they actually had a real mission. They¡¯d been waiting for this moment! 1. A Chinese euphemism for homosexuality, but the meaning is pretty obvious so we¡¯ll leave it in. 2. A quote from Sun Zi¡¯s the Art of War. Book 2, Chapter 105 - The Mission Chapter 105 - The Mission The three giants of Hell¡¯s Valley and ten or so officers were waiting in the command center. Hell¡¯s Valley outpost had been repaired following the attack by the Dark Atom, but their shame was not so easily erased. Underneath it all, the shock of their devastation still simmered. It¡¯d been so sudden and unexpected. The Dark Atom was an insidious and prudent organization. Before this attack there was no precedent for a Dark Atom assault. Previous terrorist acts never put them in direct combat with elysian soldiers. They were carefully planned efforts of disruption, designed to inflate their presence or show off their capabilities. This last effort was different. Hell¡¯s Army was a shadow operation run by the elysians. A shadow organization was synonymous with secret, and that fit this place just fine. Ninety-nine percent of elysians didn¡¯t even know they existed. So for optics, there was no benefit for Dark Atom to take a bite out of Hell¡¯s Army. Still they brought out their big guns, even their mysterious leader Wolfblade. It seemed completely counter to the terrorist organization¡¯s typical methods. The Dark Atom was organized in what was described as kite-shaped. Leadership was the center of the kite, where its cells were the corners. Leaderships and the various divisions worked independently, and only worked in concert for bigger missions. Communication happened through envoys sent by leadership to the different cells. In this way, even if an entire division was wiped out, the elysian only snipped one corner of the kite. He only way to destroy an organization like this was to cut the string. The Dark Atom was built around a single point, meaning leadership was very important ¨C the one with all the secrets especially. He couldn¡¯t accept even the slightest risk. Communiques from leadership were protected by a confidential system that had yet to be cracked. Because of this, despite every effort by the elysians, the organization¡¯s leadership had never been revealed. Their talent for security was nothing short of genius, which has ensured they continued to this day. Wolfblade and other core members of the organization practically never got involved directly with operations. It ensured that whatever the result of those operations, the Dark Atom would continue. Why, then, would Wolfblade take such a risk this time? All for some treasure they didn¡¯t even know how to use? The artifact had been ruled out as a relic. But even if it was a legendary prize, it couldn¡¯t have been worth the risk. Was it an open declaration of war? Where did such confidence come from! The Dark Atom was like a centipede, or a scorpion. Skycloud domain was a giant. The scorpion could easily hide in dark places, striking at the giant from time to time with its tail. However, if this scorpion should ever crawl out into the light of day, it would learn how inferior it was to the giant. All the elysians needed was a target, and their massive foot would crush it into paste. The question had become a big headache for Natessa, Eckard and Dumont. ¡°We have a confidential communication from Skycloud domain!¡± A man dressed all in black walked into the command center. The message he bore most likely had to do with the Dark Atom and their recent attack. Natessa motioned him forward, and the man in black presented her with a rolled up parchment. ¡°Two matters.¡± Natessa unfurled the scroll and looked over its contents. Her brows slowly rose as she described what she saw. ¡°The first states that Skycloud¡¯s retaliatory efforts on the Dark Atom have already seen results. Master Arcturus has taken control of the matter personally, and dispatched his disciple Frost de Winter to investigate. In a single stroke ten Dark Atom strongholds were obliterated, while seven cells were eradicated. Over two hundred terrorists lost their lives, accounting for nearly half the Dark Atom¡¯s total forces. After returning from the wastelands he was appointed Major General of the Knights of Splendor. He was been given full authority to hunt down what remains of the Dark Atom, and can act without oversight from Skycloud leadership, reporting directly to Governor Arcturus.¡± The envy among those in the command center was almost palpable. What made Master Arcturus think so highly of that twenty-something disciple of his? What other excuse could there be except that the governor was grooming him as his successor? He was already a high ranking demonhunter, bearing the title of general. Now he¡¯d stepped in to take command of the Knights of Splendor, a core segment of Skycloud City¡¯s strength. Without a doubt, Frost was the most powerful man of his generation. No one could deny Frost¡¯s abilities. After all, his teacher was the illustrious Arcturus Cloude. A man like him would not bother to accept one without talent as his disciple. Frost also cultivated a sterling reputation, everyone knew of his strict self-control. He was poised to become the backbone of Skycloud¡¯s dominance in the future. Frost¡¯s talents were clear from the contents of the message. In a handful of words the report described a success over the Dark Atom greater than any they¡¯d seen in years. The terrorist organization¡¯s leadership still remained at large, but a grievous blow was delivered to their forces. For the time being, the Dark Atom would be too crippled to cause any more problems. ¡°Well, at least it¡¯s done. A shame I couldn¡¯t get revenge with my own hands.¡± Eckard wore his regret on his sleeves. While the soldiers in Hell¡¯s Valley didn¡¯t seem much affected by what had happened, the truth was their pride had been sorely injured. Now there was nowhere for them to vent their anger. ¡°The second bit?¡± ¡°In his briefing once Frost returned to Skycloud, he mentioned finding a clue while eradicating Dark Atom forces. He claims that through a decade of painstaking effort, the Dark Atom has infiltrated one of the cities along the domain¡¯s border. They are a dangerous cancer in our home, he says, and has asked for permission to root them out.¡± Natessa put the scroll aside and looked toward the others. ¡°Frost de Winter has been dispatched to the area, and has asked for Tartarus Squad by name to join him there.¡± ¡°Never good news. We¡¯re only called when shit like this starts to roll downhill. Fuckin¡¯ infuriating.¡± Eckard was visibly fuming. ¡°If it were us then so be it, but Tartarus Squad? They¡¯re still green. Everyone needs time to adjust, and they haven¡¯t even started mission training yet. Dispatching them for something like this is asking for trouble!¡± ¡°Complaining isn¡¯t going to solve anything, isn¡¯t this why Hell¡¯s Valley is here?¡± Natessa put the scroll away, keeping her face stoic. A thought suddenly crossed her mind. ¡°Call Tartarus Squad¡¯s captain, have him come here. This will be their first mission.¡± Eckard continued to grumble his misgivings, but this letter wasn¡¯t a request, it was an order. They had no option but to comply. A few minutes later, Cloudhawk strode into the command center. The other squad leaders had already left, leaving him alone with the three instructors. Once they explained the situation to him, Cloudhawk¡¯s face sunk into a dissatisfied glower. Alright, whatever, Frost wanted help from Hell¡¯s Valley. But calling for his squad specifically¡­ he didn¡¯t need to guess what that meant. Did Frost already know what had happened here? If that was the case, both he and Gabriel were in danger. Shit. This evil motherfucker just won¡¯t go away. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t understand why Frost insisted on continuing to give him a hard time. That asshole¡¯s temper was irreconcilable. Gabriel was looking down the barrel, too, for failing his assassination mission. Frost was now more powerful than ever before, even the instructors had to bow to his whim. Finding a way to get rid of a couple trainees wasn¡¯t going to be difficult for him in his position. Things were not looking good, but he couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. Natessa delivered the orders. ¡°Specific details as to how you will accomplish your mission will be delivered once you reach your target. Your main job is to make sure your squad stays safe. Remember, as a soldier your highest duty is to follow orders. Now head back to your squad and get them ready to depart.¡± Cloudhawk could feel a headache start gathering at his temples. Could he stay? Right now it seemed like the instructors didn¡¯t even have the authority to deny Frost¡¯s orders, much less Cloudhawk. Could he go? If he accepted the mission it was like sticking his head in the lion¡¯s mouth. He refused to do something so stupid. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hurry back to leave. He knew he had to do something, and quick. His mind churned over it until an idea shook loose ¨C he lifted his head and looked at the powerful woman who was their instructor. She didn¡¯t look young, but her skin was good and her figure well maintained. It made it hard to tell exactly how old she was. Her temperament was also unique, like a cool breeze, quiet and elegant. ¡°Is there something else?¡± He was just standing there, staring at her. She was clearly displeased. Whatever the situation she was his commanding officer. The young man was being disrespectful. Eckard slammed the table in front of him with a fist. ¡°What the fuck are you still standing there like a goddamn moron for? Are you deaf? How about I get your dumb ass moving with half a dozen lashes? Do what you¡¯re fuckin¡¯ told!¡± Cloudhawk made up his mind. He asked them straight. ¡°It¡¯s been a little while since the three of you have gotten stronger, right?¡± ¡°The fuck are you on about?¡± Eckard didn¡¯t follow the guy¡¯s line of questioning. ¡°Everyone plateaus at some point, and when you get to our level advancing is especially difficult. The hell does it matter if we haven¡¯t developed in a while?¡± ¡°Do you want to?¡± All three instructors paused, confused. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to offend,¡± Cloudhawk said. ¡°Actually I¡¯ve been watching you carefully, and I think all three of you could be stronger than you are now. I know there¡¯s this mission, but if you give me some time I think I can offer you some pointers. I think they could really help in this fight.¡± ¡°You half-wit piece of shit!¡± Eckard exploded in fury. ¡°Do you even hear the words coming out of your damn mouth?!¡± Cloudhawk paid him no mind. His eyes stayed fixed to the woman in the middle. Natessa looked back with discomfort. In their theory classes she¡¯d tried to switch up Cloudhawk¡¯s test several times, making it completely different from the others. She¡¯d included a number of questions about wind-based relics and psychic training, too. Even if Cloudhawk were an idiot, and he wasn¡¯t, it would still be easy for him to see what was going on. If Natessa wasn¡¯t the one doing this on purpose, then who would be? Cloudhawk obviously understood things Natessa did not, but she didn¡¯t dare lose face by asking him directly. The test paper was her way around it. They both knew the truth of it. But, why would Cloudhawk suddenly offer to teach them? The instructors were just what their name implied ¨C instructors. No one in the history of this training facility had ever presumed to teach them anything. He didn¡¯t even make an effort to hide it, direct and shameless. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, Frost and I are not on good terms. Calling for Tartarus Squad is definitely a way for him to get at me.¡± Cloudhawk watched Natessa frown. He tried to be as blunt as possible. ¡°You know what Frost is and what he can do. I¡¯m no match for him. Besides, he has the backing of the governor. I know this conflict will cost you, so I¡¯m willing to prove that I¡¯m worth the trouble.¡± So this was the truth of it. Eckard was clearly not convinced, was this his offer of trade? ¡°Let him try.¡± Natessa rose to her feet. She took a glance at the time, then back at him. ¡°You have an hour.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face lit up. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Book 2, Chapter 106 - Instructing the Instructors Chapter 106 - Instructing the Instructors So how was Cloudhawk going to prove it? The instructors were almost choked by the gall of this guy. Eckard, with his swagger and self-assurance, was especially annoyed. And yet, much to his surprise and anger, Natessa agreed! Of the three of them, she was the one most steeped in self-importance. Was she off her meds or something? Eckard was at a loss, but since she agreed to the guy¡¯s request fighting her on it wasn¡¯t going to do any good. Really, Cloudhawk made some good points. Frost was a man of great influence now, getting rid of a single trainee from Hell¡¯s Valley would be as simple as lifting a finger. Under normal circumstances, Hell¡¯s Valley could shrug off the commands. However, the scars from their loss to the Dark Atom were still fresh. It left them ashamed. The risks and costs of standing up against someone like Frost at this point were not worth it. They were practical people here in Hell¡¯s Valley. Those with value stuck around, those without were cut loose. It¡¯d always been that way. After all, these ¡®students¡¯ weren¡¯t really soldiers in their troop. They were trainees, here to learn and then to leave. If Cloudhawk wanted to seek asylum under the wing of Hell¡¯s Army, he was going to have to prove he was a worthy burden to bear. Eckard got it, but he didn¡¯t like it. He was especially rankled by the way the scrub held his head up high like he was worth a damn. The instructor itched to teach him a lesson. Ever since becoming captain, Cloudhawk had gradually lost his fear of them. Who knew where his overconfidence came from? Natessa and Dumont were senior demonhunters, while Eckard himself was a prime martial artist. And who the fuck was Cloudhawk? He wasn¡¯t some lauded demonhunter, neither was he a martial artist far as he could tell. And here he was, with the gall to think he could show the instructors a thing or two. Was there anyone with a more inflated ego? He was a dipshit, and his actions were a clear provocation. There were a lot of a talented people in the training camp, and behavior like this could not be encouraged. Eckard spoke up. ¡°I won¡¯t mince words. If you¡¯re wasting our fuckin time, I¡¯m gonna cut you into strips and eat you with a glass of wine.¡± Cloudhawk irreverently rolled his eyes. He focused on Natessa. Yeah¡­ she¡¯s definitely easier on the eyes. She could definitely be described as a bright light in the bleak landscape that was Hell¡¯s Valley. Not only strong, she was very pretty too, and slow to anger. Those sorts who always ran their mouths were usually not worth the wasted air, but Cloudhawk was different. His performance during the tests had her looking at him with new eyes. That¡¯s why she chose to give him a chance. ¡°I¡¯d like to use your boots for a second.¡± She offered no objection, removing her boots and handing them to Cloudhawk. He slipped them on, and after only a few steps he felt their power. Suddenly every movement was lithe and easy, quick and effortless. Eckard raised a brow. Natessa actually lent him her relic? Any elysian child knew that a demonhunter¡¯s relic wasn¡¯t just a weapon. It was their identity, their honor, their standing. They were gifts from the gods, not to be given away lightly. Even loaning them to someone was hard to accept. No matter where or under what circumstance, taking a relic from a demonhunter was a sign of disrespect. Outwardly Natessa looked as calm as a summer breeze, but Eckard knew her better. When she was angered she was like a thunderstorm, ten times more ferocious than he ever was. For a woman like her to willingly give up a relic ¨C and watch the other person put them on ¨C it was unthinkable. Was she under some kind of spell? Dumont remained as silent as a statue, but the light from his puzzled eyes glinted through the slit in his helmet. As a demonhunter, Dumont¡¯s concerns were different from Eckard¡¯s. He wondered what Cloudhawk was up to. The psychic energy of every demonhunter was unique, meaning the relics they could resonate with were different. Most demonhunters were only attuned to one kind of relic. One in every ten might be able to use two, and even fewer a third kind. Cloudhawk carried a few odd relics on his person. They weren¡¯t the typical kind either ¨C wind, water, fire, earth, light, dark or thunder. He wasn¡¯t able to pin down precisely what attributes they were, actually, but they definitely weren¡¯t wind. So what was he up to? They were a little tight at first, but after a few strides Natessa¡¯s windstepper boots resized to fit his feet. After testing them out for a moment he stopped, standing in place, and shut his eyes. Every relic had its own unique rhythm. Cloudhawk could feel it, like a song vibrating through his bones. He¡¯d always been able to differentiate the unique sounds of a relic, but not the secrets hidden in the rhythm. However, after inheriting the wisdom of his predecessor these secrets were unlocked. Things made more sense, he was beginning to understand. An inadequate example was to compare the resonance of relics to a sort of language. While he might have been able to hear the words before ¨C their cadence, how they were different - he could not grasp their meaning. The phase stone¡¯s fallen master taught Cloudhawk how to listen for their substance, and he was beginning to understand. It was a great help in guiding him to the true power of the relics he encountered. Something inside him was convinced that if he could go beyond understanding the language¡­ if he could learn to ¡®speak¡¯ it¡­ then like the gods and demons of old he could create relics of his own. Or, as his predecessor hoped, become like a relic himself. Focus. One problem at a time. He had to convince these three. Not just to make his time here easier, but to avoid that bastard Frost¡¯s schemes. He felt he understood the relic¡¯s nature now, and with a leap soared three meters into the air. At the peak of his trajectory, he poured his psychic energy into the boots and pushed. The boots bore down, glowing with light, then released a burst of teal energy. It was like stepping on a spring. With a whoosh he rocketed another eight or nine meters, fast and hard to control. He almost smashed into the ground, but luckily he managed to push off with his hands and flip back into the air. He ultimately landed nimbly on his feet. The three instructors stared in shock. He¡¯d channeled the boots! He had the ability to use wind-type relics! What was even harder to understand was that even if he did have the talent for wind relics, he¡¯d only just put those boots on. How could he have mastered them right away? Demonhunters needed time to become familiar with their tools, to break them in. That process could be as quick as a week or as long as six months, then they were confident enough to use a relic properly. Before that point their power was unstable. Cloudhawk, however, simply slipped the windstep boots onto his feet and could use them naturally. For his part, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know he was doing something so extraordinary. He stamped his feet illustratively and sighed with satisfaction. ¡°Nice boots. Just walking across the breeze, they deserve their reputation. With these you can rush right through the enemy like a gust of wind. Only¡­¡± Natessa saw him hesitate and pressed for more. ¡°Only what?¡± ¡°The windstep boots aren¡¯t just about windbursts to get you up in the air.¡± He looked down at the teal boots as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re also a nasty weapon!¡± Natessa was speechless. Like most demonhunters from aristocratic families, the windstep boots were a family heirloom. Never once had anyone in her family suggested these boots could be used offensively. It was natural for her to doubt Cloudhawk¡¯s assertion. He knew that merely saying so wasn¡¯t going to convince them, but he wasn¡¯t intending to deceive anyone. ¡°Well, talking about it isn¡¯t going to prove anything. You¡¯ll see when we try. Look closely.¡± Practice dummies were arrayed around the training areas. They were the same sort he¡¯d seen at the House of Demonhunters, designed to test relics. With a deep breath Cloudhawk focused his intention on his feet. The pair of boots began to radiated with a teal hue and air concentrated around them, rippling. Violent gusts centered on the relic, and under Cloudhawk¡¯s guidance started to coalesce. Bit by bit it started to form an orb of power. ¡°Watch!¡± Cloudhawk lifted a foot. The teal orb rose with it. He swung his leg, and the orb shot out. It struck the wooden dummy and abruptly released all its stored energy at once. The flood of power blew a chunk off the model, like a truck plowed through it. The impact sent it spiraling through the air where it hit the ground with a thud, ten meters away. ¡°What do you think? Now do you believe me?¡± Cloudhawk turned back to the instructors. ¡°Your boots are able to condense air, allowing you to walk on it but also throw it out like a bomb. I¡¯m sure Instructor Windham¡¯s combat effectively will double once she masters this.¡± Each of them openly gaped at the young man. Natessa was amazed to find that, with a minor adjustment, the boots she used to traipse across the sky could also be used as an attack relic. ¡°Here, let me give these back.¡± Cloudhawk removed the windstep boots and handed them back to Natessa. Over the last several days he¡¯d paid close attention to the instructors ¨C Natessa and Dumont particularly ¨C so he was well prepared. ¡°As for the specifics, I¡¯d be happy to explain them once the mission is complete.¡± So that was how he planned to deal with this problem, she realized. He was worth something now, he had to come back alive. What about Frost? It didn¡¯t matter! Hell¡¯s Valley was an independent organization, elysian rules didn¡¯t apply to them. At worst some of the families might kick up a fuss, but that wasn¡¯t worth losing sleep over. But Eckard had a bad feeling about this. Instructors weren¡¯t afraid of training a bunch of idiots. What troubled them most was finding a student with talent. There was a chance they could surpass their teachers. How could they have any peace then? The way things were looking with Cloudhawk, he¡¯d already reached that point and more. Nothing good was going to come of this! Book 2, Chapter 107 - Dawnbreaker Chapter 107 - Dawnbreaker The windstep boots had been in Natessa¡¯s possession for over five years. Every day she explored the relic, trying to learn how to use it the most efficient way possible, how best to utilize its powers. Ultimately, she discovered that despite her efforts there was still a lot she didn¡¯t know. ¡°This trick is called gale-shot. What do you think?¡± He handed the boots back to Instructor Windham with a cheeky grin. Natessa was not concerned with the disrespect Cloudhawk was showing his superiors. She was still struggling to believe what was in front of her. How was it possible that Cloudhawk could use her relic so masterfully, after only a few minutes? Her boots had been in the Windham family for three generations, and they had a record of former users proving that they¡¯d never fallen into outsider hands. She could be absolutely certain at least that in recent years no one had touched them, since they¡¯d been in her hands. Cloudhawk was young and likely had never heard of the boots before coming to the valley. Frankly, it made no sense. Cloudhawk spoke confidently in the face of their visible doubt. ¡°Y¡¯all don¡¯t know talent when you see it, huh.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s little display had been very enlightening. Although he didn¡¯t share the details of how he did it, Natessa was skilled enough that she was sure she could puzzle it out. But Cloudhawk succeeded in his task, he proved his worth. The guy¡¯s self-satisfaction was so rankling to Eckard he had to fight back to urge to chop him in half. People like him were cancer. If they allowed his attitude to fester and spread among the others, how could they assert any kind of authority? Eckard could bluster all he wanted, but it wouldn¡¯t help if his students did not fear or respect him. Next, Cloudhawk turned his attention to Instructor Cenhelm. He¡¯d been curious about the man ever since he came to Hell¡¯s Valley. What was he like underneath that plate armor? He¡¯d been here for months already and never once heard Dumont speak a single word. The man was a mystery. ¡°Instructor Cenhelm, would it be alright if I took a look at your armor?¡± Dumont towered before him over two meters tall, a veritable giant. From head to toe, every inch of him was covered in that perfectly fitted suit of armor. His whole face was obscured to where Cloudhawk even wondered if he could breathe under there. He couldn¡¯t see where the armor joined together, either, like a solid piece of metal. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how he could take it off. Well, he couldn¡¯t have been born in that suit. He certainly seemed like it, though. Would he do what Cloudhawk asked? ¡°Don¡¯t take it off! You can¡¯t!¡± Before Dumont could even react a look of shock and concern crossed Eckard¡¯s hideously scarred face. Natessa, upon hearing Cloudhawk¡¯s request, also frowned in disapproval. She took half a step back. Their reaction surprised Cloudhawk. What the hell did it matter to them if he took the armor off or not? Dumont never spoke a word. He pressed his hands together, and then inch by inch the armor began to separate. It started at the fingers, the metal casing split and receded into itself in layers. Soon his arms were revealed up to his shoulders, and the same was happening from his feet up to his waist. Eventually the entire suit folded up the whole two-plus meters to disappear into the helmet. That was the only piece of the armor that didn¡¯t vanish. Somehow, the whole suit was contained inside it. It would be difficult to find anyone who wouldn¡¯t be shocked by the scene. As incredible as the construction of the relic was, though, it was what Cloudhawk found beneath that nearly made his eyes roll out of his skull. Two hundred and thirty centimeters or so, that was how tall the suit was. Huge, sturdy, immovable as a boulder. No one had ever seen the instructor inside, but with a name like Dumont Cenhelm Cloudhawk expected a man built like a mountain. Tall as a tower and just as burly, that¡¯s what he thought. What was revealed was anything but what he anticipated. Dumont¡¯s actual height was closer to a hundred and sixty centimeters. He was thin and frail with a wrinkled face half hidden behind a white beard. He was slightly hunched, his cheeks were sunken, but his eyes were sharp and lively. The instructor¡¯s limbs were thin as bamboo reeds. Eckard scowled. ¡°Fuck.¡± The old man picked the oversized helmet off his head and gently placed it on the ground. Croaking laughter rattled from his throat, like a man freed from a prison after years of captivity. His look and the sound he made left Cloudhawk speechless. Was this the real Dumont Cenhelm? ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how smothering that armor is to wear every day. Why that face, Ecky, hm? We¡¯ve been through a lot, you and I, but we haven¡¯t had much opportunity to talk. The armor isn¡¯t terribly convenient for chatting. Now we can have a real conversation. Smile, will you?¡± When the wrinkled old man turned his eyes to Natessa, a dirty look flashed in their depths. ¡°Ah, Natessa. I¡¯ve always wanted to say you only seem to get more beautiful. But like me, you¡¯re getting on in years. Maybe it¡¯s time to find a good man, eh? Maybe I can introduce someone to you, I have a nephew who is a good lad. You should meet him.¡± He continued to babble incessantly at his fellow instructors, words coming out quick as a machine gun. Both Eckard and Natessa wore grimaces. It looked like both of them had suffered miserably at the hands of this grandpa. His voice was like a cloud of flies buzzing around in their heads, leaving them pained but powerless to stop it. All of a sudden, Cloudhawk got it. Instructor Cenhelm had been this creepy, chatty old man all along. From the beginning, locked in that enormous tin can, was an irritating talkaholic. What a sharp contrast! The severity of it made it that much harder to accept. He was still talking. Even Cloudhawk could tell the other instructors didn¡¯t have any interest in responding to his unstoppable diarrhea of the mouth, but Dumont didn¡¯t seem to care or notice. Eventually he seemed to remember why they were there, and his attention returned to Cloudhawk. ¡°I am the longest serving instructor in Hell¡¯s Valley. Ecky and Tessa have served for fifteen years, but I¡¯ve been here for over two decades. But in all that time I¡¯ve never met a young man like you, very interesting. Only, I¡¯ve never heard of you even from my time in the elysian lands. Where were you born? Who are your parents? Where is your family located? How big is it? Do you have dogs? A girlfriend? [1] Or maybe you¡¯re a virgin?¡± Cloudhawk stared in hopeless despair. Now he knew the repulsive truth. Hell, it was probably why his family got him this incredible relic and shipped him off to Hell¡¯s Valley in the first place. No better way to get rid of him, really. ¡°Wait wait wait, Instructor Cenhelm, we can talk later if we have a chance. Right now I don¡¯t have much time.¡± If he didn¡¯t interrupt Dumont Cenhelm, this old codger would never stop talking. ¡°Let me take a look at your relic first, alright?¡± ¡°Oh, my Dawnbreaker battle armor? Of course, of course!¡± Dumont leaned over and plucked the helmet off the ground, then handed it to Cloudhawk. ¡°But don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, this relic is considered complex amongst other high-level artifacts. It may look like armor from the outside, but it¡¯s actually a weapon. You¡¯ve seen what it can do. It¡¯s of the light type, and using it is very difficult. Your average demonhunter can¡¯t even get it to work. You might have been able to use Tessa¡¯s boots but I¡¯m confident this relic is too much for you. After all, this relic has been used by several masters over the years¡­¡± He went on for quite a while longer, introducing the history of his helmet. Every battle it was used it and anyone who ever held it was described in detail. If he had time, Cloudhawk was sure he would have gone on to give the life story of anyone who ever laid eyes on the thing. He needed only the slightest input to go on, and on, and on, and on. He could talk for three days and three nights and still have something to say. Cloudhawk listened as passively as possible, meanwhile placing the large helm on his head. Immediately his psychic energies resonated with the relic, which reacted by encasing his body with metal inch by inch. Face guard, neck guard, pauldrons, breastplate, all the way down to sollerets [2]. Cloudhawk felt like he was encased from head to toe in an iron coffin. To this, Dumont did not offer any surprise. ¡°My Dawnbreaker battle armor is special in that you don¡¯t need to be talented with light relics to use its protection. Anyone can channel psychic energy into it and summon the armor. But using it without the skill to manipulate light-type relics, it¡¯s really just an over-glorified tin can, not much use at all. So, that is to say ¨C¡° Cloudhawk stopped listening. The enormous armor covered him completely, but although it was much larger than his body it didn¡¯t feel loose. It formed to his body tight on the inside, and although his entire face was covered it didn¡¯t impede any of his senses. He could vaguely feel the breeze as it touched the cold steel of the armor. He heard everything going on around him with perfect clarity. Once he was completely encased the armor was as heavy as one might expect, but with the aid of his psychic energy Cloudhawk felt it become light. The armor didn¡¯t move through force of muscle, but through force of will. Armor like this, which moved through psychic energy, was tailor-made for demonhunters. It also meant that the user¡¯s psychic prowess influenced how quickly they moved. No wonder Dumont tore around like a freight train. Instructor Cenhelm¡¯s Dawnbreaker battle armor had quite a storied history, including a number of different names. Dawnbreaker, obviously, but also ¡®Mutemetal¡¯. It earned the name due to the fact that the wearer was effectively silenced once worn. It was almost as though this special characteristic was especially designed for for Dumont, otherwise he would have long ago talked to death anyone who got close. The suit¡¯s collision attack was out of the question, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need it to prove his mastery of the relic. His will and the relic matched frequencies. The armor began to glow. Dumont and his companions were flabbergasted. Glimmering patterns spread all over the metal until it burned like a soldering iron. The chatty old man finally shut his mouth, and Natessa was equally surprised. This young man had more talent than seemed possible. Could he do this with any relic? It was nothing short of miraculous! Cloudhawk poured all of his mental force into the armor, causing it to burn red hot. Of course, it did not come close to the degree Dumont could summon. From what Cloudhawk saw the instructor do, he could turn into a ball of light. Anything in his path was instantly burned to ash. This was the best he could do. Shutting his eyes, he immersed himself in the flows of power as they raced through the armor. Then, the unexpected ¨C the red glow vanished. ¡°His power is fading.¡± Eckard practically growled the words in triumph. ¡°This guy can¡¯t control a relic this complex.¡± ¡°No¡­ it didn¡¯t fade.¡± Emotion wavered in the old man¡¯s voice. ¡°Look at his right arm. He didn¡¯t lose control. In fact, quite the opposite. He is gathering the energy in a single point. It¡¯s a particular way to use the armor that my family knew hundreds of years ago. One of my ancestors could do it, but he died during the holy wars and his secrets died with him. No one¡¯s be able to do it ever since¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but explain the scene in detail. Eckard and Natessa got the idea. The red light did fade from most of the armor, but not all of it. It was more correct to say it migrated. The upper half of the armor went from red to brilliant yellow as it seemed to flow over his shoulder and into his right arm. By then it was white-hot. Natessa was surprised to recognize that it was as intense as anything Dumont could muster, once Cloudhawk gathered the energy in one place. But Dumont was a high ranking demonhunter! The two weren¡¯t even remotely comparable. Cloudhawk continued to gather the energy into his right fist. The white heat rose as high as his elbow but seemed unable to go any further. He was not finished. The rest of the armor looked normal now, glossy and dead as any metal. However, the light encasing his right forearm was blinding. It was so intense that reality warbled unsettlingly around it. ¡°Inconceivable,[3]¡± Dumont muttered to himself. ¡°Incredible, amazing! Fantastic!¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore. Boom! He slammed his fist into the ground! The ground three meters around his fist collapsed from the blow, leaving a sizable crater. Fissures stretched out from the point of impact another six or seven meters in all directions, and the whole building shook beneath their feet. 1. wtf? 2.http://www.thortrains.com/uniforms/fullarmor1a.jpg 3.I will never not repost this image when I see this word Book 2, Chapter 108 - Working It Ou What a relic! Cloudhawk was quite impressed. By the time the armor receded back into the helmet, his body was soaked in sweat. As he looked down at the crater by his feet, he could hardly believe it was him who made it. That sort of damage was on par with a high level demonhunter. Cloudhawk knew how inferior he was to veteran demonhunters, which is why the force he¡¯d produced was so shocking. And while he was certainly surprised by the result, the three instructors stared at him as though they¡¯d seen a ghost. The young man¡¯s psychic energies were definitely subordinate to Dumont¡¯s. The old man could make the whole suit gleam white-hot, supercharged by his flood of psychic energy. Though Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities were obvious inferior, through some special operation he was able to gather all the suit¡¯s energy to a single point. All his energy, condensed in such a way, was no less terrifying than what Dumont could generate. Maybe even a little stronger. Absolutely incredible, unthinkable! A blow like that could kill a veteran demonhunter in one punch! Collecting energy into his arm like that made it more efficient. A lot was wasted when Dumont diffused it across the whole suit and rammed into his foes. Piling it into a fist and ramming it into an opponent¡¯s chest was like a lethal shaped charge. Dumont was floored by the implications. Natessa possessed at least three relics. In comparison, Dumont had just the one. However, adding all of Natessa¡¯s tools together they still didn¡¯t add up to the Dawnbreaker battle armor. This would be particularly true once he mastered this new skill. The old chatterbox could hardly manage more than a stammer. Once the shock passed, a very self-satisfied expression was painted on Cloudhawk¡¯s face. This was exactly the reaction he was hoping for. ¡°Running around the battlefield like a comet works great in open war, but it isn¡¯t suitable for one-on-one combat against a strong opponent. It¡¯s too wasteful ¨C you could have twice the psychic reserves and still would tire much quicker than your enemy. If you made every attack more efficient, or otherwise made every attack more effective, you¡¯d be more of a threat.¡± Dumont stared wide-eyed at the crater in the ground between them. What an amazing display! More of a threat was right! The truth was, Cloudhawk had been a little disappointed when all he got from the skull were a few memories. After all, some long-dead codger¡¯s thoughts didn¡¯t translate to food in his belly, nor could he shove them into an enemy¡¯s throat. He was starting to understand how much he undervalued this predecessor¡¯s gift. Knowledge was power. Power was knowledge. For his own relics, the invisibility cloak was certainly high-level. The Gospel of the Sands was an epic-tier artifact. If nothing else, learning to fully utilize those two would vastly increase his combat ability. How powerful had the Gospel been in the demon¡¯s hands? Before, Cloudhawk could summon a small localized storm, maybe create a few sand arrows. That was hardly worth mentioning when compared to what the demon relic was capable of. Cloudhawk stood before the three of them with his arms crossed, tall as a mountain peak. Confidence dripped from him as he declared, ¡°So who else needs convincing?¡± ¡°Hey! What about me?!¡± Eckard finally let go of his pride. He had to accept that this guy was some sort of amazing freak of nature. It reminded him of Selene Cloude, who joined the demonhunters when she was eight and was a high-ranked hunter by the age of fourteen. There were always things in this world that defied understanding, that defied expectations and challenged everything you thought you knew. Oh. I almost forgot about him. This was a little more difficult for Cloudhawk. His talents involves relics and their use, so he didn¡¯t have a similarly shocking revelation for the martial artist. However, although he wasn¡¯t as practiced in martial arts, he was confident he had something to satisfy Eckard. Cloudhawk repeated the specific of Spearhead that he¡¯d shared earlier with Drake. He went over the tactical improvements, and skills to improve the efficacy of the attack. If Eckard could master these modifications it would benefit him quite a lot. This guy even knew the secrets of martial arts? He couldn¡¯t even do what he was describing! By now, Cloudhawk could see from their faces that his instructors were thoroughly convinced. Dumont stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Cloudhawk, and stood up on his tip-toes to grab the young man by the shoulders. ¡°I knew there was something different about you the moment I saw you, one in a million. You know, I happen to have a niece¡­ pretty as a piece of jade, looks like a goddess. You¡¯re single, she¡¯s single. It seems to be like you two are fated to meet¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Dumont!¡± Natessa couldn¡¯t suffer any more of his nonsense. She looked back at Cloudhawk, sizing him up. ¡°It¡¯s late. Return to your team and share the news. You¡¯re leaving in half an hour.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Cloudhawk extricated himself from Dumont and fled as fast as his feet could take him. ¡°Ah, I wasn¡¯t finished talking to him.¡± Dumont frowned unhappily as Cloudhawk escaped. The young man didn¡¯t even pretend to show the old man respect. He made a mental note to give him a few extra lashes the next time he had an opportunity. Eckard looked discouraged. He had a nagging premonition that this little bastard was anything but good tidings. Cloudhawk showed up and just wiped his ass with their supposed superiority. Hell, they were the ones showing him respect and making him captain of his own squad. Was the whole lot of them gonna show up their instructors just the way Cloudhawk did? ¡°What hole was that kid shit out of?¡± Eckard muttered. ¡°You know anything about him, Windham?¡± ¡°I checked,¡± Natessa replied. She was also deeply curious what the answer to that question was. ¡°He came at the recommendation of the Polaris family, but any other details have been hard to come by. Best I can figure he came from the borderlands, and immediately got into some dispute with the Cloude family when he got into the domain. Before that, nothing. No history. I¡¯ve asked around but haven¡¯t received any answers.¡± ¡°They definitely know what happened in the wastelands, but what happened recently was too sudden.¡± Dumont put away his obscene grin. ¡°Wolfblade¡¯s attack, then this mission¡­ strange, everything everywhere seems strange. I feel like something big is on the horizon, what do you think?¡± ¡°Whatever the case, there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. Let¡¯s deal with this mission first and go from there.¡± The three instructors looked at one another in silent agreement. *** Cloudhawk sauntered back to the barracks, whistling happily and carrying Oddball in one hand. His squad mates surrounded him even before he had a chance to walk inside. ¡°Ay-ya, captain! You were gone for so long we were afraid something happened to me. ¡°Fuck! Keep away from me, will ya?¡± Caspian rushed at him with hands extended to give him a backrub, but Cloudhawk scared him away with a kick. The one who bothered him most in this whole team wasn¡¯t Claudia, although she was a constant thorn. It was actually this handsy pansy. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care about sexual orientation, and Caspian¡¯s tastes were no secret. There were many homosexuals throughout the wastelands, nothing strange there. This salacious guy though, he wasn¡¯t right. He was good-looking and well put together, the only one on Tartarus Squad who could give Gabriel a run for his money when it came to looks. What gives? Cloudhawk had a theory about this. Frost was a handsome fella himself. He had so many fans they could circle the barracks a hundred time. He was also hugely paranoid and a true asshole. Gabriel and Caspian were also lookers. One was a psychopath with multiple personalities, and the other was an androgynous sex-fiend. The obvious conclusion was that handsome guys were all fucked in the head. ¡°Aw Captain, why are you always so mean to big brother Caspian?¡± Felina appeared at Cloudhawk¡¯s side unseen and unannounced. ¡°People care about you! We appreciate your help, without you many of us would have been kicked out already. If something happened to you, who would be our leader?¡± When the hell did this bitch get so close to me?! ¡®Demon Kitten¡¯ suited her just fine. He¡¯d been with the small gang for two months now. He didn¡¯t have any expectations, he¡¯d always been easy going and wasn¡¯t much interested in personal gain. He wasn¡¯t out for accolades or rewards. But he¡¯d saved the trainees from more than a few beatings, so he developed a solid reputation. As of yet, they didn¡¯t know that Cloudhawk had come to an agreement with the instructors. He was gonna be an even more important figure around camp before long. Drake¡¯s lumbering figure pushed through the crowd. ¡°So what¡¯s the word?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not real clear at the moment. Gather everyone up, we¡¯re heading out soon.¡± Everyone broke out into cheers. At last they could say goodbye to this painful training! ¡°Hey Gabby, come here a second.¡± Gabriel made his way over. The bashful expression on his face was the same as ever. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he squeaked. He explained the situation to him in brief. ¡°Frost will be there, he¡¯s leading the whole thing. He asked for Tartarus Squad specifically. My guess is he¡¯s looking to take a shot at us, you outta be careful.¡± Gabriel rubbed his nose. ¡°So that¡¯s the deal.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it,¡± Cloudhawk said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve taken some precautions, the instructors aren¡¯t just gonna watch us get picked off. Just be cautious and don¡¯t let Frost catch you slipping. We¡¯ll be fine. We are Hell¡¯s Valley special operatives, after all. Frost doesn¡¯t have the right to go after us publicly.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not worried. Naberius and I have wanted to see what Mr. Celebrity¡¯s made of for a long time.¡± Gabriel¡¯s fingers teased a few invisible threads within his sleeve. Tartarus Squad¡¯s thirty members prepared their things and gathered their medicines, preparing to strike out. The docks above the outpost had been prepared, and a forty-foot vessel was docked overhead awaiting their arrival. All told Hell¡¯s Valley was sending six hundred soldiers, Tartarus Squad was just a piece of that troop. The trainees were all in high spirits. It¡¯d been two months of brutal drills and beatings, without a single day of rest. This mission felt like a pleasant fieldtrip to them. The broad outline of the mission was made clear. Destroy a nest of traitors and blasphemers, that was it. They were holed up in the elysian territory. Help would be there when they needed it, but no one was coming for the heretics. Sweep and clear, simple as that. Book 2, Chapter 109 - Sweep and Clear The elysian flying ship set sail. Tartarus Squad was being briefed on what to expect. ¡°This is your first time setting out with Hell¡¯s Army on a mission. Because it was such short notice, details on the mission are still unclear. So, instead we¡¯re just going to go over what¡¯s expected of you as a military unit.¡± ¡°Number one, we don¡¯t exist. We don¡¯t have a designation and we don¡¯t have commissioned officers. We are unknown. No matter the circumstances you will not tell anyone about the existence of Hell¡¯s Army, not civilians and not military personnel.¡± ¡°Two. The mission is your reality, obeying orders is your duty. You will not question your commands or delay in carrying them out. Anyone who disobeys an ordered will be executed on the spot by their squad leader. If the captain gives instructors that violate mission orders, it is the squad¡¯s duty to deal with them.¡± ¡°Back in Hell¡¯s Valley you are trainees, and violating the rules means expulsion. But out here, you¡¯re soldiers on a special mission. Disobeying orders not only means you die, but you¡¯ll bring shame on your family that they¡¯ll never be able to live down. Remember your mission, and have faith that everything you do it for the glory and prosperity of the domain!¡± The harsh words from Instructor Cutter were not striking anymore, the students were used to the vicious man¡¯s ways. But they were a little puzzled. This was a simple mission, by all accounts, so why go through so much trouble? How dangerous could even the strongest enemies in Skycloud be? The airship was approaching the enormous wall that marked the border of the elysian lands. Hell¡¯s Army stood on the deck in two rows, with their three instructors in the up front. They noticed as the ship came into port that the docks were completely empty. There were no civilians, dockworkers, or commercial vessels in sight. Only warships. ¡°Hail, commander!¡± A robust figure joined them on the ship¡¯s deck. He was wrapped in a white and gold cloak, and in his hand was a spear that looked to be carved from crystal. As he stood before the others, he removed his hood to reveal the chiseled, handsome features beneath. A pair of eyes, as deep and as cold as pools of ice water, looked over the troops. Those harsh orbs shone like twin stars in a frigid winter sky and gave no hint that he wished to be approached. Caspian Black¡¯s eyes sparkled when he saw. He was ensorcelled by the look of the man. ¡°Oh¡­ are you seeing this? Frost de Winter¡­ so handsome and manly. My heart¡¯s racing!¡± The others members of Tartarus Squad unconsciously shuffled a few inches away from him. Everyone wanted to keep their distance. The three giants of Hell¡¯s Valley greeted Frost with a salute, followed closely by their soldiers. Armor rattled as they placed fists against their chests. Frost de Winter, demonhunter general and commander of the Knights of Splendor. He was the most outstanding leader of his generation, with more accolades than commanders twice his age. His prestige had only grown these last two months as he lead men from one victory to another over the Dark Atom. He smashed half the terrorist organization¡¯s forces with one blow, thereby retaliating for the near destruction of Hell¡¯s Valley. The people of the elysian lands sang his praises while its leadership showered him with honors. He was undeniably a rising star who¡¯d light had only just begun to gleam. Frost¡¯s face was twisted in dissatisfaction. ¡°What took so long?¡± Natessa responded in low and even tones. ¡°The orders did not specify a time.¡± Frost sniffed derisively. He was displeased but there was nothing to say. It was his first time coming face to face with this special task force, and as he looked out over their faces he noted their iron discipline. They were all around thirty or forty years of age, warriors who had clearly seen their fair share of fighting. At a glance Frost could tell their reputation was deserved. His eyes became ice-cold spears as they penetrated into the crowd, at the group of young trainees near the back. Their equipment was different from the veterans. Most wore demonhunter armor. The one who stood in front, the position held by a squad leader, had a dark grey cloak and a black sword on his back. A mask with a hideous demon¡¯s face obscured his face, but the sparkling eyes did not flinch when they met his. Their stares met like a pair of daggers, spitting sparks into the air. ¡°The mission location is a village called Teal Ridge. It¡¯s a remote hamlet at the base of the mountains, surrounded by difficult terrain. It has little contact with the rest of the domain and largely governs itself. As such their connection to the Divine is weak. According to our information there are fewer than a thousand residents here, and it has become a den for Dark Atom spies. From this town they organize and orchestrate attacks on our home. What makes this mission tricky is the location. If we let them know we¡¯re coming, the enemy agents will flee into the mountains. Caves are spread all throughout the region, so if our targets get away it¡¯ll be tens if not a hundred times more difficult to wipe them out.¡± Military forces inside the domain were closely monitored. If they mobilized a large force, it was very likely they would alert the enemy. What better way to gather up soldiers without notice than calling on a troop that did not exist? ¡°Dark Atom¡¯s stronghold in Teal Ridge is the result of a decade¡¯s hard work. We expect they¡¯ve completely integrated with the local population. Spies and traitors have spread all through village society and live like normal citizens. That is, until marching orders from from the wastelands. Meanwhile the rot continued to grow, and they poison the minds of our pure and innocent believers to bring more to their side. This cancer is a threat to the safety and security of our glorious domain. But if we are to eradicate every part of the weed that is the Dark Atom, it needs to be scorched down to the root. We must stop at no expense to complete our mission.¡± Of course, he need not say that if this mission was a success, Frost¡¯s status in the capital would skyrocket. ¡°This is a letter of authorization from the Governor, signed by the Grand General and approved by the Temple, appointing me commander of this special operation.¡± Frost paused for a moment to show the paper to the three instructors. When he spoke again his voice was like ice, frigid and emotionless. ¡°I will be taking direct control of your special task unit designated Tartarus.¡± His tone left no room for dissension. ¡°We regretfully report that we cannot conform to your orders.¡± Instructor Windham faced Frost¡¯s threatening demeanor with poise and calm. She did not back down in the least. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army is an independent organization,¡± she reminded him. ¡°We follow mission instructions and perform them as we see fit. We will not assent to having our leadership supplanted on the field. Tartarus Squad, as a part of Hell¡¯s Army, will only respond to orders from its commanding officers. We cannot acquiesce to demands to split our forces. We march together.¡± Frost¡¯s face turned dark as a winter storm. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ A! I know you¡¯re hot shit these days, Frost, but there are rules. You called us to execute this mission, then presume to take control and waltz off with one of our squads? Not gonna happen.¡± It was clear from Eckard¡¯s tone what he thought of this young upstart. ¡°If you insist on trying, we¡¯ll call the mission off.¡± The commanders of Hell¡¯s Army were resolute. They were independent, autonomous. What did it matter what the governor appointed Frost to? He had no authority over these soldiers, no elysian officer did, not even Grand General Polaris himself. So long as the giants of Hell¡¯s Valley held fast, no one was taking their warriors from them. Frost flashed his eyes toward Cloudhawk, then he understood. Hell¡¯s Valley was declaring that he was under their protection. How did that little mongrel manage that? None of the three instructors enjoyed much celebrity in the elysian lands, and after dealing with the Dark Atom he knew what sort of situation Hell¡¯s Valley was in. The instructors were lauded demonhunters, however. Sometimes, even someone like the Grand General couldn¡¯t expect respect from them. What¡¯s more, you didn¡¯t always win arguments with a clenched fist. The mission was at hand. Now wasn¡¯t the time for squabbles. ¡°Very well, if you three are that confident I¡¯ll keep my hands to myself. Here are the instructions for the mission, I insist that you read them carefully. Any deviation and I¡¯m afraid I will have to hold you three personally responsible.¡± Natessa took the others from him and opened it to take a look. Her brows immediately furrowed, but she kept her thoughts to herself and put the orders away. ¡°We appreciate your reminder, Commander Frost, but this is not the first time we¡¯ve performed a mission like this. Please make yourself comfortable, keep the mission secret, and wait for word of our success. We¡¯ll be finished in twenty four hours.¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯m meant to do.¡± Thinly veiled contempt flashed behind his eyes. ¡°I know all about your troops¡¯ style and reputation. I eagerly await the good news.¡± With his orders delivered, Frost left Hell¡¯s Army to its own devices. ¡°Our objectives have been set! Armor off, prepare to fight!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand what was happening. He looked around and saw all the soldiers removing their armor and keeping only their crossbows. They draped themselves with drums of compressed bolts, each one with a capacity of about eighty arrows. There were about six or seven drums per soldier, so roughly five hundred bolts altogether. If that was standard for the several hundred soldiers that came on the mission, that was a huge amount of firepower. These were experienced warriors, too. They were solid marksmen who knew how to use their crossbows. Unless they were facing elite opponents, their miss rate was very low. The village they were hitting had a thousand people, and they had enough arrows to skewer every person several times. In addition, the soldiers each had those versatile elysian weapons that could shift quickly between bow and blade. They were prepared to fight under any circumstance. The airship descended onto Teal Ridge village. Hell¡¯s Army¡¯s airship didn¡¯t have any flags or markings, and all the soldiers on board had removed their armor. Nothing proclaimed them as soldiers, a force that appeared from nowhere. Natessa stood at the fore, looking over the horizon toward the village that was pulling into view. Her long hair blew in the breeze, but her face was as smooth and unreadable as a lake surface. Dumont stood nearby, tall and silent as a statue. All the soldiers of Hell¡¯s Army splayed out behind them in total silence. Cloudhawk and the others found the whole thing strange. A creeping suspicion whispered in the back of their mind, that this mission wasn¡¯t as simple as they expected. ¡°Ten minutes to drop zone!¡± Eckard began shouting orders. ¡°Squads one and two, lock down the exits. Three and four, you got the streets. Five, six, seven ¨C spread through the city and take the districts, as well as the docks. Make sure no one gets away.¡± Cloudhawk called out, unable to hold back his curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s our mission?¡± ¡°Tartarus Squad has its own task. Take this intelligence briefing and go to area indicated. That¡¯s the Dark Atom stronghold, which you will attack directly. If you encounter any terrorists, do what you can to capture them alive. If you can¡¯t, make sure they¡¯re dead. Understood?¡± Cloudhawk nodded his head. ¡°Got it.¡± Natessa added her voice. ¡°This is your first mission. Once you¡¯ve finished the assault on where your targets are holed up, you wait for further orders. Do not participate in the rest of the battle, no matter what you see.¡± Cloudhawk wanted to ask why, but the question never got passed his lips. Eckard¡¯s warning not to question orders echoed in his ears. This was a mission, and it had to be executed exactly as instructed. A soldier didn¡¯t need to know why. ¡°Get ready!¡± Tartarus Squad was given their orders and the intelligence report. Thirty trainees got ready for their first mission. Eckard moved on to gather a group of a dozen or so officers. They also served as assistant instructors during training, strong and capable men. He gave them their own set of orders. ¡°You two go with Tartarus Squad and keep an eye on their situation. Make sure they don¡¯t fuck around or mess it up.¡± The two men snapped to attention. One of them asked what their orders were exactly. Eckard lit a cigarette and took a drag before answering, but when he spoke he said what they already knew. ¡°Sweep and clear.¡± Book 2, Chapter 110 - The Mission Begins Teal Ridge was a village situated in the south of the region, at the base of the sector¡¯s largest mountain. Beautiful vistas rose all around the remote village, where there lived a population of simple and honest folk. They tilled their land, tended their groves, and hunted the fields ¨C perfectly self-sufficient. For the last decade, they¡¯d had little contact with the outside world. The stringent doctrines of faith and decorum were lax here, a place of rarely found serenity. The village¡¯s buildings and layout were exactly like any other elysian settlement, featuring beautiful craftsmanship and a tendency toward aesthetics. Of course, it wasn¡¯t nearly as grand and complicated as the domain¡¯s capital city. The spire-like dwellings were five or six meters tall only, spread out among six districts. They were fan shaped, interspersed with pockets of green and separated by roads. The districts curved around so that the whole village was arranged in a circle, like a plate. In the very center of the village was its only church. The Church of Divine Brilliance was where Teal Ridge¡¯s faith was centered. It was a place of prayer, healing, and sermonizing. This was a notable church throughout Skycloud domain, which enjoyed considerable influence. Devotees prayed to the gods of Light and War, and in fact the Knights of Splendor were an offshoot of their order. A ten year old boy squealed with delight as he played with a pigeon outside the church doors. A man in whit clerical garb approached the child and smiled. ¡°Caelum, you naughty thing. Obviously your sister still has a lot to teach you.¡± ¡°Hey, I was looking for you! You said you wanted me to join the church, why didn¡¯t you keep your word?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush, now. You¡¯re still too young. We can talk about it once you¡¯re older.¡± The boy pulled a long face, displeased with the man¡¯s answer. The man in white gently shook his head. Caelum and his sister were the most talented children in Teal Ridge. His sister had shown an interest in the organization since she was fourteen and joined. Caelum was shaping up to be a fine boy himself, but having both brother and sister join at the same time was inappropriate. When the clergyman thought back to their circumstance he felt a pang of worry. It¡¯d been a month since they had any word from the Dark Atom. Word had come from the capital that their forces had been dealt a serious blow, but any specifics were hard to come by. The man in white was a member of the Dark Atom, overseeing the organizations actions within the domain. The village¡¯s Church of Divine Brilliance was their stronghold. Teal Ridge was an unassuming place few people paid any mind to, and the church especially made for fine cover. Working as a priest afforded him the prestige and cover he needed to perform his duties without fear, and had allowed him to operate in the village for a long time. Hundreds of new soldiers had been enlisted over the years and sent out to other towns. One day they would prove invaluable. ¡°Oh wow, look! It¡¯s an airship!¡± He heard someone exclaim in surprise. Teal Ridge didn¡¯t have docks, much less ships to moor there. If someone wanted to travel by ship they would need to first make their way to the nearest city, making even the most humble airships a rare sight here. Warships were completely different from their merchant or civilian counterparts. For starters they were quite a bit larger, and equipped with energy pylons they used for attack and defense. Once combat broke out, those pylons were used to create defensive shields or fire bolts of energy. Obviously, neither merchant vessels nor traveling ships had such things. As small as their village was, even merchant ships hardly every crossed their airspace. So what was a warship doing here? ¡°Caelum, go home.¡± He took the child by the arm and looked him in the eyes. ¡°Go home and do not go back out, do you understand? Don¡¯t ask questions, just go. Now!¡± He let go and the boy took off. Once the clergyman was sure the child would listen, he disappeared back into the church. Quickly he climbed the belfry, and began to chime the enormous bell within. The warship slowly descended through the chill mountain air toward Teal Ridge. When it got close enough, a burst of light shot out from it. Something struck the ground, a sort of cord. Soldiers bearing military-grade crossbows slid down the cord to the ground below and quickly took control of the area. When had this sleepy hamlet ever seen something like this? The peaceful town¡¯s serenity was instantly shattered. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this noise outside?¡± ¡°No time to explain. Gather your weapons and get ready to run!¡± The priests were all gathered together. The eldest among then was in his seventies, the youngest only fourteen. A young girl. The man in white rushed passed them to open up a secret chamber they had been using to conceal their weapons. The young girl watched the chaos with wide, worried eyes. ¡°What happened?¡± The clergyman pressed a gun into her hands. ¡°You have to come with us. Keep yourself safe!¡± ¡°U-uncle, what about you?¡± He shut the heavy door without giving her an answer. The others grabbed her and quickly set off down the secret passage. From the other side of the door, the clergymen heard their footsteps retreated and he sighed in relief, but also pain. Thoughts of his own wife and child flashed through his head. For eight years he¡¯d hidden here among the elysian people, built a family. Ties like those weren¡¯t cut at a moment¡¯s notice. This church held too many secrets, including files on their many members. If they were found, then all was lost. By now the warship was hovering just over the church. A great light filled the nave, enveloping everything. Then, thirty figures appeared before the door of the church. They were all in different garb, not like normal soldiers. Most of them wore very recognizable armor. Demonhunters! The clergyman heaved the door shut and locked them. His hands fumbled for the self-destruct controller, attacked to explosives set around the church. He pressed the button. The clergyman knew he would not escape, but at least he could cover the others while they made a run for it. At least he could destroy all the secrets hidden here. His wife and child were innocent and knew nothing of his actions. He felt sorry for them, for what he would have to put them through. All he could hope was that the elysians would let them live. *** Cloudhawk lead Tartarus Squad to the place indicated by the intelligence report. When they got there, him and his crew were met with the unexpected view of a church fa?ade. This was where the Dark Atom had been hiding. They¡¯d turned it into a secret hideout, a testament to what they were capable of. ¡°Move it! Move it!¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go!¡± His squad burst into action the moment they arrived. The church had become a den of spies, and once destroyed it was sure to cripple Dark Atom efforts throughout the domain. Tartarus Squad¡¯s trainees were all eager to prove themselves and charged impatiently forward. But Cloudhawk felt something wasn¡¯t right. He stared at the church as the premonition grew, then waved a hand at the others. ¡°Wait!¡± He slowly raised his hand. Oddball fluttered its wings and rose into the air. Its round little body slipped through one of the windows, and found that the inside of the church was empty except for a single man in white. The bird¡¯s keen eyes saw strange marks all over the inside; on the walls, the pillars, and the floor. Its sharp hearing picked out the sound of dripping water. A bomb, a Dark Atom explosive. The terrorist knew they¡¯d been found out and were going try and take his people out with him. ¡°This place is covered in explosives. The second we walk in they¡¯ll go off.¡± ¡°Captain, we haven¡¯t gone in yet. How do you know?¡± ¡°Cut the shit! No one move!¡± Cloudhawk pulled the Gospel of the Sands from his clothes, then gently threw forward. It dissolved in midair, becoming countless grains of yellow sand. The grit gathered together into a humanoid shape moments later. At first it was obviously not real, but little by little the details emerged, and the sand golem bore the spitting image of Cloudhawk. A sand clone? His squad mates looked on in wonder. He¡¯d used this power before in his fight against Drake, but it was the first time they were seeing it clear. What an amazing trick! His clone strode cautiously into the church and delivered a single sentence. ¡°You don¡¯t need to fight.¡± The clergymen looked calmly at the masked man as he stepped inside. He didn¡¯t say anything, there was nothing that needed saying. The two had different beliefs, even different values. What could be said to change that? Now that he was here, the clergyman didn¡¯t regret his path. Revolution required sacrifice, and it was the efforts of thousands before him that the fires of insurrection still burned to this day. The fires weren¡¯t strong enough yet, but one day it would grow to be an inferno, and a new world would rise from the ashes. ¡°Long live the Dark Atom!¡± The godly statues, painted ceiling, carved pillars, and polished floors all erupted at once. The hellish flames swallowed the man in white first, then surged like a stampede across where Cloudhawk stood. The explosion blasted the windows and sprayed shattered glass all around. Flames reached from the cavities like hands groping from the abyss of hell. The trainees outside were struck by a wall of heat. Everyone hit the floor, but the explosion still knocked the breath out of them and made their heads spin. A few of the weaker wounds sustained minor injuries. They stared at the smoldering wreckage, disbelief on their faces. How could they have packed so many explosives in that church? With ashen faces the trainees picked themselves up off the ground. The church and everything around it had become a lake of fire. The only thing that survived was a wisp of sand, which floated by on the wind and gathered in Cloudhawk¡¯s palm. It reformed into a metal-bound book with scenes of the desert on its cover. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing the captain stopped us.¡± Felina¡¯s heart was still racing. ¡°Otherwise there wouldn¡¯t have been anything left of us.¡± *** At roughly the same time, Frost de Winter was waiting with a fleet of airships nearby. He slowly opened his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s time. They¡¯ve likely begun. Let¡¯s see for ourselves.¡± An aid from the Cloude family stood by his side. ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t think we should. We were instructed to wait here for Hell¡¯s Army to clear the area, then go in. If we go in now we might reveal the army¡¯s existence.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not bringing all of our troops. Just a few men.¡± ¡°Sir-¡° ¡°I suspect Hell¡¯s Army isn¡¯t performing the mission as instructed. I must see matters for myself, isn¡¯t that what¡¯s expected of a commander?¡± As Frost slowly rose to his feet, a carpet of frost spread out beneath him. He looked out in the direction of Teal Ridge, and a smile crept into his lips. ¡°Call that new fellow.¡± The Cloude family servant had to obey. Book 2, Chapter 111 - A Massacre Chapter 111 - A Massacre Hell¡¯s Army was an organization with rich experience and a high rate of success in their missions. They blocked the streets of Teal Ridge in short order, followed by the walls and docks. Before long this village of fewer than ten thousand was completely under their control. It was an instantaneous shock to the sleepy village, followed by an explosion from the Church of Divine Brilliance that rattled every building. Fear gripped the hearts of the innocent citizens as they watched grizzled soldiers efficiently invade their home. Soldiers flooded the streets, spreading out through the allies and shouting in unison. ¡°Everyone has ten minutes to come out of their homes! Teal Ridge has come under emergency military control!¡± The invading force was fewer than a thousand men, but they were hardened warriors who had done this sort of thing many times before. Soon every street was in their control. All the village¡¯s denizens ¨C men, women, the old and young ¨C stumbled out of their homes and were instantly gathered. Of course, none of them understood what was happening. Faced with the fierce soldiers and the suddenness of it all, they put forth no effort to struggle or disobey their orders. Meekly they were penned together to await their fate. The ruins of their church smoldered on the horizon. Cloudhawk shut his eyes and felt a wave of murderous intent wash over him. The premonition only grew. Meanwhile the rest of Tartarus Squad combed through the debris. ¡°We haven¡¯t found any remains.¡± Felina picked her way out of the ruins and toward Cloudhawk. She hadn¡¯t picked up on the same thing he had and so was calmly delivering her report. ¡°It looks like the terrorists have escaped, this snake¡¯s nest is empty.¡± ¡°Hmph. That was an awfully quick reaction they had. They all got away in a hurry.¡± Drake¡¯s face was sullen and angry, clearly upset that they failed in their mission. ¡°Boss, we can¡¯t just let them escape.¡± Cloudhawk was only half listening. His looked down the myriad of streets and shrugged helplessly. ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡± ¡°You need to ask? Hunt them down and get rid of them!¡± The members of Tartarus Squad were all in agreement. Just the opportunity to join this mission was a rare opportunity, and their small troop was rife with talented people eager to show off their skills. More than a few of them had fought for the chance to join Hell¡¯s Valley. Some of the demonhunters were skilled trackers, meaning Tartarus Squad had the tools necessary to find those that had slipped from their grasp. ¡°Alright, well let¡¯s¡­¡° Cloudhawk went through a list of orders, but before they could be enacted the two assistant instructors sent to watch over them shut him down. ¡°The instructors made their commands clear. Your job is done, from now on you sit back and watch. Anyone who performs outside of these parameters will be dealt with by military tribunal.¡± Well, that was that. Only, it certainly seemed like an odd order, didn¡¯t it? The average member of Tartarus Squad was more worthy in a fight than your typical Hell¡¯s Army soldier. Most were demonhunters, meaning they had access to special abilities normal soldiers did not. Ignoring all of that made little sense from a tactical point of view. ¡°Do not question your superior officers.¡± One of the assistants reminded Cloudhawk of the rules in a low and dangerous voice. ¡°For you lot this mission is a field exercise, nothing more. So keep your eyes open and learn what you can, there are some things you can only pick up on the front lines.¡± The thirty-some trainees looked at one another speechlessly. For Cloudhawk¡¯s part, he didn¡¯t have the faintest idea what their officers¡¯ intentions were [1], but he felt that uncomfortable feeling grow. He was still pondering the logic when an enormous, black silhouette lumbered into view in the skies above. The warship blotted out the sun as it closed in on Teal Ridge. Slowly it descended, while the energy pylons sparked with power. Crackling bolts of energy slithered up the pylons like serpents, ultimately gathering into a blinding ball of light. Boom-boom-boom-boom! [2] All the pylons released their payload at once. The orbs were shot into the air were they erupted into blooms of light. Columns of energy lanced out from them, giant blades of energy that carved brutal swaths through the village below. Spire-shaped homes crumbled into dust, starting from their pointed roofs and falling in on themselves. They were erased in a moment, as though they were made of paper. And this was just the beginning. The warship had half a dozen pylons and each attack was as destructive as the last. One after the other these energy weapons obliterated the city, with beams of energy striking the ground with the force of a meteor shower. How could this unassuming hamlet endure an attack like this? Most of the village was obliterated in one volley. Fires burned through every district where moments ago people had been happily going about their day. Acrid smoke mingled with frightening explosions turns Teal Ridge into a hellscape. ¡°How were we supposed to evacuate so soon? Using a warship of this village is overkill!¡± Claudia¡¯s angry eyes snapped toward the closes assistant instructor. ¡°Who knows how many innocent people will be killed. You people are insane!¡± ¡°No, this is the signal to show us that the mission is in full swing.¡± The assistant fixed her with a cold, grim stare. ¡°Now your education really begins.¡± Education? What did he mean? As the choking smoke enveloped the streets, it brought the piercing screams of fear and pain. Unarmed villagers fled their way, but where was the enemy? Tartarus Squad members dropped into combat readiness, weapons raised and relics ready. Hell¡¯s Army soldiers burst through the smoke with crossbows raised, marching down the street in a tight line. They steadily followed in the haphazard footsteps of the villagers as they fled. The glinting bolts of their weapons were aimed steadily ahead, at the backs of the defenseless men and women they were meant to protect. ¡°Fire!¡± The soldiers were stoic as boulders, and followed the order without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Crossbow bolts were released in a torrent. They descended on the crowd like deadly locusts, a killing wind. Screams answered. Elysian crossbows were as deadly as any wastelander rifle, especially in the hands of these soldiers. It would give even an experienced demonhunter pause, lest they were studded with a hundred bolts. How much truer was it for an unarmed farmer? With unmitigated power the bolts punched through skin and sinew and bone, tearing apart organs in their passage. In a breath one third of the crowd was slain. The ground was covered in writhing bodies and corpses slowly sinking into pools of blood. The trainees couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing. Hell¡¯s Army was cutting down innocent villagers! Several of the members of Tartarus Squad couldn¡¯t hold themselves back, and jumped into the crowd of villagers. This forced the soldiers to hold their fire, and they shouted angrily at the greenhorns. ¡°What are you doing?! Don¡¯t get in our way, move!¡± ¡°You do this and call yourselves soldiers?! Isn¡¯t the point of a soldier to be to protect the people?¡± Drake had his sword clenched in a shaking fist. ¡°This is blasphemy, a sin! It¡¯s a massacre!¡± Claudia had her exorcist staff in hand, ready to charge at any moment. One of the assistants moved, quick as a whip, and slapped Claudia across her face. The force sent her toppling into a pile of rubble. ¡°The enemy has operated in this village for too long. The existence of this place is no longer worth the risk. We do this because we have to, for the security of the whole domain.¡± ¡°Military orders are incontestable. A soldier obeys and does not question. Hell¡¯s Army is here to complete a mission, and anyone who stands in our way with face the consequences!¡± Chaos ensued. How could they say that! Their existence didn¡¯t outweigh the risk? Where was the uncompromising glory of the elysian people? Where was their unbreakable honor? Their faith? The trainees looked around as though they were caught in a nightmare; furious, lost, and confused. Their minds were a sea of intense and conflicting emotions. Gabriel shrugged, as though he¡¯d known this was coming, but it was Cloudhawk was remained calmest in the sea of turmoil. He calmly raised his voice to make an observation. ¡°Wiping out this village is not going to end well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why Hell¡¯s Army does not exist. Frost¡¯s soldiers are fifty kilometers away. When we¡¯re finished it will look like the Dark Atom knew they were exposed and went on a rampage, killing everyone in the village. Our heroic young commander will then ride in with the cavalry once he gets the news. He will arrive with his righteous cavalry, and although too late to save the town, he will have erased the blasphemers. He¡¯ll then return triumphant to Skycloud City where they¡¯ll sing his praises and mourn their lost brethren. And their hatred for the Dark Atom will seep even deeper.¡± ¡°This is the reason for Hell¡¯s Army?¡± Cloudhawk finally understood what Skye Polaris had meant when he said ¡®a necessary evil.¡¯ ¡°This whole world is nothing but hypocrisy and lies.¡± The assistant was surprised at Cloudhawk¡¯s outward calm. All the others were stunned by the truth when they first learned it, but not him. He wasn¡¯t shocked or angry, he just saw it for what it was. But it was good news. If Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to make trouble, it would inspire the rest of his team to keep their cool. After all, he¡¯d earned himself considerable prestige among his peers over the last couple months. These greenhorns still followed his lead. Veronika helped pull Claudia up from the ruins she¡¯d fallen into. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. Elysian soldiers were supposed to be the most devout of believers. Wasn¡¯t their responsibility to protect these people? How could they massacre the innocent like this, here within the walls of their own domain? She couldn¡¯t¡­ she couldn¡¯t accept it. This couldn¡¯t be real. Skycloud City couldn¡¯t have ordered something like this. ¡°How is this any different than what demons do?!¡± ¡°Claudia, I¡¯ve tolerated your naive horseshit for too long. Enough is enough!¡± Cloudhawk drew himself up, calling on all the authority he¡¯d learned as their captain. ¡°Sometimes sacrifices are necessary for the long-term security of the domain. These sacrifices aren¡¯t just wastelander lives, but also elysians. Not just commoners, but every nameless soldier that renounces fame for duty. If you can¡¯t understand that, then you have no business being a soldier.¡± [3] 1. The Chinese is ¡®what sort of medicine is in the gourd¡¯ 2. I was asked once what the onomatopoeia for these sounds were in Chinese: ºäºäºä¨C hong hong hong! 3. This plays to an interested fact I witnessed while living in China. In short, the country and its people believe very deeply in the idea that ¡®the ends justify the means.¡¯ It¡¯s taught to them through stories of the communist revolution, xinhai revolution, and the warring states period. If your cause is just, then all manner of evils are permissible. Perhaps this lays in the Confuciusian tenet of ¡®sacrifice for the good of community.¡¯ One story that highlights this perfectly concerns the general Cao Cao. On the eve of a battle with a rival general he orders his granary officer to distribute half rations to his soldiers against the granary officer¡¯s wishes. His men were already hungry and on the verge of revolt. Meanwhile, Cao Cao has purchased a large store of grain, but has told no one. The next day, he orders his granary officer before everyone, accuses him of keeping grain for himself, then has him executed before the soldiers. Rations are restored and then some, morale soars, and they go on to win the fight. Now, Cao Cao is widely considered a pretty cruel guy, but is highly respected for his actions ¨C all done in service of his people. He was just one man, of course, but there are examples were twenty thousand were sacrificed toward some end, without their knowledge. How do you, as a Western reader, feel about this? How do you feel about Cloudhawk taking a similar view? Book 2, Chapter 112 - Acknowledged But Not Accepted When Cloudhawk opened his mouth, the others went silent. Who would expect him to spout these unkind words? Only Claudia knew that her captain¡¯s words were dripping with sarcasm. Has she not always believed that elysians were better than wastelanders? So long as the holy domain benefited, then wastelanders were nothing more than insects, to be indiscriminately crushed beneath her boot. Why, then, could the same logic not be applied from Cloudhawk¡¯s point of view? Were the lives of these innocents worth nothing to Hell¡¯s Army? In the cold light of logic, it just made sense to sacrifice one for the many. But it was anything but righteous, nothing any self-respecting elysian would accept [1]. Wiping out these villagers might save others, but have they given any thought to what they lost? The two assistants regarded Cloudhawk with some surprise. Did this young man really get it so quickly? He was definitely more than met the eye. ¡°You might look at us as monsters, but that¡¯s not how we see it,¡± one of the assistants explained. ¡°What we do a demon might do as well, but the difference is that demons will do anything to achieve their evil goals. We will do anything to protect what can be protected. We give our honor, our dignity, even our lives for that purpose!¡± ¡°This world is a place of darkness and light, of good and evil. Sometimes sins are necessary, and Master Arcturus created Hell¡¯s Army so that people like us could get our hands dirty when the need arose. In exchange, the countless people who live in Skycloud domain remain safe and happy. Now all of you have come to us, and so long as you¡¯re part of Hell¡¯s Army you have to accept reality. Evil will always be around. Sometimes it has to be.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the most important lesson you can learn in Hell¡¯s Valley.¡± Drake felt like everything he valued and all he knew of the world had been turned upside down. He thought back to when they first enrolled in this damn training program. One of the assistants had said; If Skycloud domain is a tree, then we are the roots. We never see the sun, our lives are spent in the damp and dark. Down here you can¡¯t avoid the filth, but without us what do you think would happen to those like you ¨C that luxurious foliage, out in the sun? All the fragrance of the flowers and the rich, ripe fruit¡­ but people only saw the beauty above. They did not know the cruelty that let such things grow. Was this truly how it was? A rumbling sound came from the East. Explosions! Hell¡¯s Army was being attacked. Cloudhawk could hear the tell-tale pop of gunfire. Here in the elysian lands, guns were forbidden, so those using them had to be none other than the Dark Atom. Sure enough, as the assistant instructors swung their eyes toward the sound, they saw their fellow soldiers shift from killing civilians to fleeing themselves. At least two hundred gun-toting terrorists were coming their way with advanced weaponry spraying the area with bullets. A bearded man, his body draped in a bandolier of grenades, rushed at them. ¡°Get outta here!¡± This man was a common soldier of the Church of Divine Brilliance, and a member of the Dark Atom. They¡¯d escaped through the secret tunnels, but when they learned that soldiers were slaughtering innocents they turned back. Most of them had built lives in Teal Ridge, abandoning their roots was easier said than done. They couldn¡¯t simply stand by and watch the villagers be mowed down! They couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to the fear and despair painted on so many familiar faces. ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off!¡± The bearded man ripped one of the grenades free, leaving the pin behind. Like a mad bull he rushed at the veterans of Hell¡¯s Army. Half a dozen bolts jutted from various parts of his body, but they didn¡¯t slow him down. ¡°Run¡­ run!¡± Boom! The terrorist charged into the line of soldiers and detonated. He was immediately swallowed up in a terrifying inferno, and the force blasted many of the soldiers away. He sacrificed his life to give the surviving villagers some breathing room, a chance to escape. After a moment of frozen fear they began to scatter, while more members of the Dark Atom poured in to block the Hell¡¯s Army soldiers. The assistants blanched as the scene revealed itself. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Claudia, Drake, Caspian, Veronika, Felina¡­ all of these noble-born trainees looked around at the carnage in horrified shock. Despite being greatly outmatched, the Dark Atom fighters were sacrificing their lives for the villagers. Terrorists were standing between innocent elysians and the crack troops of Hell¡¯s Valley, who were trying to murder them all. Who were the bad guys? Who was right? The whole world seemed backwards, or maybe the world had always been like this. As the truth of it hit him, the trainees felt utterly lost. Although the terrorists were no match for the elysian soldiers, they still fought on. Casualties were much higher on their side, but the valley¡¯s troops were still suffering injuries. The assistants looked back at the green Tartarus trainees with hesitation in their eyes. ¡°Support is needed everywhere.¡± Cloudhawk saw the shift in their faces. He stepped up. ¡°I can handle this section. Go.¡± The two men who were there to look after the trainees shared a wordless glance. Everything that needed to be said was already put out there. Now it was time to fight. ¡°Attack!¡± The assistants gathered a group of soldiers and charged into the fray. As they raced off, the trainees saw a young girl appear through the smoke. She had to be only about ten years old, but she cradled a gun as big as she was. Her face was a tear-streaked mess of dirt. A tiny yell rang from her throat as she fired at the soldiers. Claudia shouted at her. ¡°No!¡± One of the soldiers shot back at her with a crossbow. Her pretty white clothing immediately became a stark crimson as blood soaked through it. She stumbled to the ground like a butterfly with a broken wing. One of the arrows had struck her right between her delicate eyebrows. She stared straight ahead, eyes wide and glistening. Claudia couldn¡¯t bear it and crumpled to the floor. ¡°Why!¡± ¡°You think this is terrible? Things like this happen every day in the wastelands. Everywhere your people go, this is what they leave behind.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was hard and cold. Only when the assistants had left did his hands curl into angry fists. He lifted his right hand and wrapped it around his sword¡¯s handle. ¡°Now do you understand where I come from?¡± ¡°Ca¡­ captain!¡± Felina stared at everything happening around them, her face ashen. All of a sudden the demon kitten was as helpless as a housecat. Her eyes anxiously watched the valley¡¯s soldiers getting farther away. ¡°What do we do?¡± Everyone was more lost and confused than ever before in their sheltered lives. What they witnessed completely shattered everything they knew of the world. ¡°What I propose is in your best interest. Stay here.¡± Cloudhawk watched the soldiers disappear into the smoke. ¡°There¡¯s something I gotta do.¡± ¡°Sister! Sister!¡± A boy who couldn¡¯t have been older than ten crawled out from the rubble. His face was covered in blood and he sobbed hysterically. He tugged at the corpse splayed out in front of him, begging her to wake up. It was an image from the most sickening of nightmares. A group of soldiers saw him and leveled their crossbows at the boy. Cloudhawk pulled Quiet Carnage from its sheath. His grey cloak fluttered as suddenly he raced forward. The soldiers were close, but Cloudhawk was his own man ¨C no one was going to stand in his way. Cloudhawk got close, then ¨C Snap! Thud! He brought his hand down in a chop again the closest soldiers¡¯ throat. The veteran instantly hit the ground. With his right hand, he shoved the hilt of his sword into the next warrior¡¯s neck. The second soldier joined the first in a pile. The third soldier had enough time to spin around before Cloudhawk¡¯s blow found him, knocking him out cold. Cloudhawk leaned over and helped the little boy up. He was as frail as a baby bird. He then went over to help an old man who¡¯d taken a crossbow bolt in the leg. He looked over the survivors. ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Thank you. Thank you!¡± Their eyes burned from grateful tears. Members of Tartarus Squad watched idly as he knocked the soldiers out, saving the lives of those they were meant to kill. There were several in his team that could stop Cloudhawk, but at the moment they were incapable. What was this about? Hadn¡¯t their captain, just seconds ago, agreed with what the assistants were doing? So why was he saving the villagers all of a sudden? Was everything he said before just an act? Disobeying orders was a sin. Attacking soldiers was a sin. Rescuing heretics. A sin! Had Cloudhawk given any thought to the consequences? Of course he had! But he decided to do this anyway. As for all the rest of it, he didn¡¯t care. As Cloudhawk disappeared from view, leading the survivors to safety, Claudia stared blankly. Something came over her, an epiphany. Wasn¡¯t this exactly what he¡¯d done out in the wastelands, at Lighthouse Pointe? Just like he¡¯d shown no fear of her, Cloudhawk did not hesitate to fly in the face of military law. This was who he was, he hadn¡¯t changed at all. Some truths could be acknowledged, but never accepted. That was what made Cloudhawk who he was. He refused his destiny as a scavenger, and it gave him the courage to fight his way out of the wastelands. He repeatedly did what others couldn¡¯t fathom or understand, because defiance was built into his bones. Cloudhawk had a crowd of seventeen or eighteen survivors. A group this big trying to escape notice wasn¡¯t going to happen. Four valley soldiers ran at them from a nearby corner. When they saw who was helping the survivors they paused in surprised then raised their crossbows. ¡°Captain of Tartarus Squad, do you know what you¡¯re doing?! Put down those traitors immediately!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put you down!¡± Cloudhawk flung his hand and a wall of sand rose from the ground, just in time to protect his group from a volley of bolts. However, the soldiers would not be so easily foiled. A few of their attacks managed to slip passed his wall, and were headed right for Cloudhakw. He pressed his left hand forward and forced the wall of sand forward, while knocking away the bolts that got close with the sword in his right. He rushed at his attackers head-on. One of them screamed back. ¡°Are you crazy?! This is rebellion!¡± Cloudhawk replied with a bleak grin. ¡°I guess so.¡± The soldiers gaped at him. By then the wall of sand had descended upon them. If it surrounded them, they would be crushed to pulp as though caught in the grip of a giant. There was no going back ¨C if Cloudhawk did this, no excuse would save him from the consequences. ¡°Dodge!¡± The soldiers were skilled men, and as the torrent of sand came crashing down they all leapt into the air. They scattered through the ruins or shells of buildings, dropping their crossbows in favor of the elysian weapons strapped to their backs. Well shit, Cloudhawk thought. This isn¡¯t going to end well for me. 1. This calls to mind the Butcher. Did he not do this exact thing? Think about what the difference was and it might shed some light on how the elysian lands operate. Book 2, Chapter 113 - Walking This Path Until Darkness Falls It was like a dream. Up to today, Caelum had lived a peaceful childhood here in this small village, and then everything changed. He was too young to understand what was happening, his mind hadn¡¯t yet natured to that point. All he knew was that the streets he played through were sudden on fire. Terrifying and evil men were roaming the alleys with weapons, killing all the people he knew. His sister was one of their victims, he watched her die with his own eyes. To young Caelum, it was like watching his whole world collapse. When those soldiers pointed their crossbows at him, for the first time in his short life he felt fear. And hatred. Just when he was sure he would join his sister in death, a shadow fell over the evil soldiers. This new person wore a scary mask that hid his face. He wasn¡¯t as big or strong as the other men, but he moved like a ghost. Before he knew what happened, the three soldiers were unconscious on the ground and the stranger was helping him to his feet. The man had the strongest grip he¡¯d ever felt. It gave him a sense of security and dried his tears. Caelum looks through the mask at the black, glimmering eyes beneath. He would never forget those eyes. The next part came in flashes ¨C streets choked with corpses, ruined homes, smoke and fire. He was again surprised as he watched the masked man run along walls to protect them from another group of soldiers. Wind and sand danced at his will as he beat back the four bad men, keeping himself between them and the dozen or so survivors. Caelum stood locked in pace, his tiny hands curled into fists. Was this one of the demonhunters he heard about? If he had been as strong as them he could have protected his sister! If he lived, he swore never to forget what these bad men did. The fight against those four soldiers had been difficult. Besides the fact they were no pushovers, he also had to protect the people with him. It was a lot of things to juggle. One of the soldiers called out kindly. ¡°Hey newbie, you¡¯re just confused! You aren¡¯t supposed to be helping them. Stop right now and we¡¯ll forget it ever happened. You¡¯re just a trainee at the valley, not even twenty years old yet. You got a bright future, kid. The world¡¯s a big place. Don¡¯t throw it away.¡± ¡°The world is a big place, and I just take up a few inches of it. If I live a hundred years, that¡¯s thirty-six thousand five hundred days of what you call confusion. What¡¯s bad about that? Fuck your ¡®grand elysian cause.¡¯ It¡¯s bullshit!¡± Cloudhawk stood tall before them, sword in hand. ¡°If I see something disgusting that I can prevent, then I¡¯m stepping in. Piss me off, and I fight back. No use splitting hairs, living right is hard enough as it is.¡± ¡°You¡¯re beyond saving. Cut him down!¡± The soldiers had looked favorably on Cloudhawk before, but found him intractable now. Just as they were ready to charge at him, two of their number were summarily knocked unconscious. The remaining two paused as they tried to get their bearings. They reached for flares, but before they could signal more soldiers they, too, were quickly beaten senseless. All four were dealt with, and Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t lifted a finger. He blinked at the sudden shift in fortunes. Those veterans were tough, and he was sure he wouldn¡¯t have been able to take them out so quickly unless he took them by surprise. Two figures stepped out to reveal themselves as the culprits. The first was a large bronze-skinned man in black armor, with a huge sword in one hand. The second was a handsome blonde-haired, blue eyed man with a sheepish expression. They were joined moments later by a sly-looking demonhunter. The third man was clearly being held hostage by the other two. A pair of transparent, metallic orbs floated through the air to hover over his palms. Once the surprise wore off, Cloudhawk recognized him as a member of his squad, Rohan Stalwart. He was born in an average elysian town, with the innate ability to control both wind- and thunder-type relics. The four soldiers suddenly falling unconscious were surely his handiwork. Rohan whined bitterly. ¡°Oh man, this is a disaster! If my family finds out they¡¯ll peel the skin from my bones!¡± ¡°Oh shut the hell up. We¡¯ll bear the blame for this nonsense, what are you scared of? Now go!¡± Drake clearly had no kind feelings towards this troublesome young man and had a distasteful expression just having to associate with him. He gave him a swift kick. ¡°Get out of my sight!¡± Rohan heard Drake¡¯s rude tone, but he knew the larger trainee was trying to protect him from what they were about to do. He hesitated for a moment, but in the end chose to withdraw. He didn¡¯t have the courage to commit treason. After all, Drake came from a lauded family with countless talented offspring. Rohan had the reputation of his family squarely on his shoulders, so even if he didn¡¯t care he still had to think of his family¡¯s name. Cloudhawk looked at the two who remained with surprise clear on his face. ¡°You two¡­¡± Gabriel chuckled but said nothing. Drake hefted his blade heroically. ¡°We can¡¯t let you steal all the glory. I¡¯ve also been itching for a little fun, what about it?¡± Cloudhawk had to admire the burly guy. For him and Gabriel it didn¡¯t matter; one had murdered an oracle, while the other ignored rules as a force of habit since he could leave whenever he pleased. Not the case for Drake, since he was the descendent of an influential family. His responsibilities far outweighed anything the other two men had to contend with. For him to join them now was nothing short of harebrained, but it sure highlighted the man¡¯s character. He wasn¡¯t just a meat-head. Attacking the demonhunters in Deadwood Forest proved he had smarts and could think tactically. He was also bold, and ambitious, and willing to help his brothers when it mattered most. With the right foundation, and knowledge of martial arts at such a young age, he was destined to be a celebrated military leader in the future. Cloudhawk was a lost cause. It didn¡¯t matter what happened to his reputation. But if Drake¡¯s destiny was compromised, that was a shame. Drake frowned at him. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? You didn¡¯t catch something from that sissy Caspian, did you? I¡¯m telling you, I don¡¯t have any interest in guys.¡± ¡°Oh fuck you.¡± ¡°Uh, can you two flirt later?¡± Gabriel interrupted their exchange in his meek voice. ¡°We¡¯re going to get surrounded if we stick around.¡± Cloudhawk, Gabriel, and Drake were on the move. Soon they¡¯d rescued another ten survivors, prioritizing children and the elderly. Dark Atom spies were hardly found, but it was the people of the village that had to be eliminated, from an elysian standpoint. If these poor folk got free, than word of what happened here would get out. If others knew that soldiers were killing their own people, the consequences would be unthinkable. They¡¯d seen it all with their own eyes. Hell¡¯s Army was a secret, but if word of their existence got out it would certainly harm the domain¡¯s reputation. Without question, these villagers would hate them forever for what they did here. It was inevitable that many would join the Dark Atom, and become seeds of a future rebellion. What Cloudhawk and his friends was doing was the worst thing imaginable, from the point of view of elysian leadership. But Cloudhawk never liked to get hung up over the idea of right or wrong. The ambitions of Dark Atom were no concern to him, and neither was the self-righteous standpoint of the elysians. Overarching principles were beyond him, he just bothered doing what he had to do. And as for consequences, he¡¯d deal with them when he got to it. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d come to regret his decision in the long run, but he knew that he would regret it by tomorrow morning if he ignored this, and buried his head in the sand. Doing it by himself would have been hard. A handful of soldiers could have cut his rebellion short. But now that there were three of them no one stood in their way. However much of a ruckus they made, anyone who dared stand in their way was dealt with. In the heat of it all Cloudhawk would have fought off the assistants, even the giants of Hell¡¯s Valley themselves. A soldier was hiding unseen in the ruins nearby, scowling at what he saw. These new bloods were trouble, but he wasn¡¯t strong enough to handle the three of them by himself. As he was reaching for a flare to alert his brothers, a loud clap arose from behind. It sounded like a blast from a thunderstorm. The veteran was caught off guard, and swung around to meet whatever it was with his weapon. He managed to block a handful of blows, but more than a dozen others found their mark. Without armor, he was defenseless. The soldier hit the ground, leaking blood. Claudia walked over and, using the butt of her spear, knocked him out. The others couldn¡¯t have missed the ruckus, but they were surprised to find Claudia as the source. What was this self-described noble doing here, helping them? Cloudhawk looked at the soldier on the ground, covered in lacerations. ¡°Man, they aren¡¯t kidding when they talk about the wrath of a woman scorned. We¡¯ve just been knocking them out, you almost killed the guy.¡± ¡°These are strong fighters, hesitate and it could be too late. Anyway, it¡¯s not so bad. None of his wounds are lethal.¡± When she saw Drake¡¯s stunned expression, she explained. ¡°I¡¯m not helping you, I¡¯m protecting the innocent. What Hell¡¯s Army is doing here is intolerable. It may be the logical choice, but I won¡¯t accept it, and my honor won¡¯t permit it. I know I¡¯m doing the right thing.¡± ¡°A real avatar of justice. Let me revere you, oh mighty mistress.¡± Cloudhawk smirked at her. This lady was stubborn as a mule, so caught up with virtue even after all she¡¯d seen. He wasn¡¯t sure she was na?ve or just screwed up in the head. ¡°But you be careful, whatever your reasons. Oh, right. Let me remind you that if you kill one of a pair of friends or lovers you should kill the other one, too. It¡¯s just polite. Let them live and ¨C I¡¯m speaking from experience ¨C they will never fucking go away.¡± Cloudhawk expertly threw his barbs, but now wasn¡¯t the time for snide arguments. Claudia looked at him with a cold expression, while her tempest flower bloomed threateningly. ¡°Are we going or not?¡± Her captain threw up his hands in mock surrender. ¡°We¡¯re going, why wouldn¡¯t we?¡± Cloudhawk, Drake, and Gabriel were a formidable group. But, they weren¡¯t strong enough to escape this place on their own. The instructors would surely find out and move to stop them before they could get the villagers to safety. Claudia made things far easier, especially since her seeker torque was able to pinpoint patrols for them to avoid. She gave the old men and the children a chance at escaping death. It didn¡¯t matter what their reasoning was. Once they decided to disobey orders, they were like grasshoppers, evading the elysian boot lest they got squished. Book 2, Chapter 114 - Old Enemies Mee Oddball was overhead, scouting their escape route. On the ground, Claudia was using her own methods to help them along. Both had their advantages. For instance, Claudia could all by herself locate demonhunters who used stealth abilities. Although Oddball could also see through these tricks, it was unable to gauge the strength of those individuals. Claudia¡¯s seeker torque told her the strength and mental psychic capabilities of anyone within range. Drake¡¯s melee superiority made him the perfect candidate to engage foes. He would charge in, while Gabriel would weave his threads through around the battlefield. Cloudhawk would stalk around their targets out of sight, then get behind them and knock them out. It was the first time these four were working in concert, but they made a seamless team. [1] At present there were nearly three hundred villagers huddled close by. ¡°This is no good. The more people we save the bigger target we become. All the village exits are closed off by soldiers and we won¡¯t bust their blockade with just us. We need a plan to get them out of here, otherwise it won¡¯t matter how many we gather.¡± Drake had a point. Saving lives meant getting them away from here. Right now they were jumping from the frying pan and into the fire, no one was safe yet. There were a few hundred they rescued from a soldier¡¯s bolt, but whether or not they would survive the day still wasn¡¯t certain. It wouldn¡¯t be until they escaped the village. ¡°I know a secret way.¡± A white-haired elder in their group of survivors spoke up. ¡°Maybe we can use it to get out of here.¡± This old man had lived seventy years in the village and knew more about it than most. The way he spoke about was an ancient aqueduct, small and unassuming, but only large enough for one person to pass through at a time. However, it was the best way for them to slip out of the village and escape the soldiers¡¯ notice. Claudia thought it was a feasible plan. ¡°Where to then?¡± Teal Ridge was situated against a mountain, and they were told about the cave system scattered throughout it. If they could get free of the village, the survivors could disappear into the woods and find shelter in those caves. It would be hard for the soldiers to track them down, then. Only, then the elysian lands would have another pack of refugees lurking in its underbelly. The whole realm would see it as a disaster, not a blessing, and the survivors were looking at long hard lives in exile. But whatever was coming, it was better than being butchered by a soldier¡¯s blade. The old man lead them toward the escape route, and before long they all gathered round the entrance to a narrow aqueduct. This was how they were going to survive. The old man was relieved to know this wasn¡¯t how he and his people would die. ¡°Thank you for saving us,¡± he said to the young trainees. ¡°We don¡¯t have time, elder.¡± Claudia was visibly anxious. ¡°Go, quickly. If you stay here any longer it¡¯ll be too late.¡± Drake grabbed the bars of the gate that covered the aqueduct¡¯s entrance. His muscled bulged, and the finger-width iron bars screeched in protest as they bent and snapped. Drake threw the shards of metal from his hands and they lodged into a wall like they were fired from a gun. What strength! The survivors gaped at the burly man like he was a beast. The old man expressed his heartfelt thanks once more, then turned to go. However, just then Cloudhawk received a warning from Oddball. ¡°Wait! Come back!¡± The old man was half a second too slow. The others watched in horror as something descended from above. It was a huge iron chain with a spiked ball attached to the end, too fast and too fierce for anyone to defend against. Everyone was forced to watch as, with a terrible thud, the old man was crushed into a pile of meat and broken bones. The iron ball hit with such intensity the survivors nearby were knocked off their feet, and the walls nearby cracked. Drake and Claudia stared, wide-eyed. Gabriel reacted quickly, trying to wrap up the spiked ball with his threads. But much to his surprise, the ball spun quick enough to throw them off. It slithered toward Cloudhawk next, dragging several tons of force behind it. The wastelander first shoved the people on either side of him away before lunging himself. Sadly, there were a handful of villagers who did not have his speed and were obliterated. In the face of this enormous spiked ball, human bodies may as well have been made of glass. Claudia clutched her staff and shouted in anger. ¡°Who¡¯s there! Show yourself, coward!¡± Oddball knew. ¡°To the South-East,¡± Cloudhawk warned. Claudia poured her psychic energy into the tempest flower and right away it began to bloom. A hundred petal spread out then fired off in a glittering display, like a sudden rainstorm. The wave of power shattered the cloak of shadow hiding their attackers. Ten figures appeared before them, most of them equipped like demonhunters. One of them had a shield, which they used to protect the others from Claudia¡¯s attack. Three others pointed bows their way. Drake recognized them at a glance. ¡°Watch out, exorcist bows!¡± Exorcist bows were relics, just like exorcist staffs. Their powers were straightforward, nothing extraordinary, yet still far outstripped typical weapons in stopping power. The demonhunters pulled back on the strings, though no arrows were nocked. They didn¡¯t need any, what came from these bows was a blast of energy that had the force of ten shots. Cloudhawk threw up his hand, and a curtain of sand rose from the ground between them and their attackers. Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! He could hardly follow their path! Holes opened through Cloudhawk¡¯s sand curtain, even though it was even stronger than a stone wall. The bolts of energy punched through and into the crowd. Cloudhawk raised his sword, Drake hefted his own, and Claudia brandished her staff. Each of them moved to intercept one of the bolts. Gabriel¡¯s fingers were wrapped with threads. He was ready to throw them out to help, but just then the enormous ball and chain rejoined the fight. Dripping with gore, it swung toward the crowd once again. All of a sudden the four trainees were caught between an enormous iron wrecking ball, and lethal bow shots. Drake gritted his teeth, drew back his shoulders, and stepped forward to meet the threat. Gabriel called out. ¡°Get out of the way! These are relics, you can¡¯t just stand in front of them!¡± The burly man turned a deaf ear to the warning. He held his iron sword before him in his right hand, and placed his left against the blade itself. Planting his feet, squatting low, he set himself squarly in the path of danger. When the iron ball hit his sword Drake felt like he was being struck with a mountain, with all the force of the seas behind it. Yet instead of being knocked away Drake replied with a scream that sounded like it was thundering from the depths of the earth itself. His whole body surged with strength. The ground all around him shuddered and cracked ¨C but he was knocked but one step back. They all saw it. Drake, with nothing but his own inner strength, had saved them from the blow. He was strong, no doubt, but not enough to stop that ball and chain. He called every ounce of potential, summoning strength from the deepest parts of himself to save their lives. His enormous sword was visibly dented from the exchange. Who were these men? Where had this group of demonhunters suddenly come from? Cloudhawk wall crumbled away and both sides were left staring at one another. The other side was comprised mostly of demonhunters, led by a large black man in thick armor. His features were unique and striking, for every inch of bared skin was anything but normal. Peaks and valleys, pits and protrusions, all different shades like he was a patchwork of tree bark. His hideous, toad-like flesh looked like it was slathered with mud and all different colors. The survivors shuddered and looked away, for he was like a demon who¡¯d just climbed out from the pits of hell. The enormous ball and chain slithered back toward this man like an iron python. ¡°The fateful anvil?¡± Gabriel recognized the relic, and the more he looked at the more the more he felt he knew him, too. Suddenly it came to him. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­ you¡¯re still alive!¡± This ugly, inhuman thing was a man he knew ¨C none other than the savage killer Frost recruited with Gabriel to kill Cloudhawk. The Butcher! But, hadn¡¯t Naberius dealt with this man back in deadwood forest? He¡¯d seen it with his own eyes, he¡¯d been carved to little more than bone. How was it possible he was here now? ¡°Surprised?¡± The Butcher¡¯s voice had changed dramatically. He words rattled through his throat like broken glass on flesh. ¡°I live because it is the will of the gods. They spared me so that I can bring their wrath down upon you!¡± [2] Gabriel couldn¡¯t believe what he was looking at. After what Naberius did to him, he had survived? Yet when he thought about it, it was the sculptor¡¯s custom to keep his pieces alive for as long as possible. Gabriel had forced Naberius to go before his masterpiece was complete, so the Butcher kept breathing. His luck was almost supernatural, for after the others left and he was left pinned to that tree, no natives came to finish the job. He held on, one breath after the other, until a group of Hell¡¯s Valley soldiers found him. He was rescued, brought back from the brink of death, then summarily expelled from training. His incredible will to survive kept him going, and now he was an unrecognizable monster. No one knew who he was, and somehow through these trials he had become even stronger. Frost recognized his skill, his tenacious will, and his unassailable faith. This suited him, so instead of sending the madman back to prison, Frost chose to keep him by his side as a faithful dog. But if the Butcher was here¡­ what about Frost? Forget about this man. His group was sizeable and dangerous, but what really frightened Cloudhawk and the others was Frost himself. With Cloudhawk in his trap and all the power of a master demonhunter, Frost could kill them all without breaking a sweat. It was no exaggeration to say the rebels were in deep shit. 1. So Drake the Tank, Gabe the Mage, Cloudhawk the Rogue/Assassin, and Claudia the Support? Snap up a ranged ADC and we got ourselves a solid team comp. 2. I inadvertently called it back in chapter 112! Book 2, Chapter 115 - Single Comba Through their telepathic link, Cloudhawk ordered Oddball to keep looking around, and the bird reported Frost was nowhere in sight. He wasn¡¯t in a rush to come for them? If he hadn¡¯t joined the fight, there was still a chance for them. However, this did not ensure escape. After all, the Butcher was not a weak foe and there were several in his crew who were at least his equal. For the four rebels to fight their way through would be a difficult undertaking, to say the least. Doing that while protecting the villagers with them was practically impossible. ¡°Ah, I remember¡­ it¡¯s you, the one from before. I¡¯m sorry, my memory¡¯s pretty bad most of the time. I tend to forget the people whose asses I kick.¡± Cloudhawk played as though he was struggling to remember the man¡¯s face. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t nearly finished provoking the killer. ¡°I have to say, you¡¯re as tough to kill as a cockroach. Really, though, I figured if you were lucky enough to live you¡¯d have the smarts to stay that way. Go find a hole somewhere, not come looking for more. If I can spank you once then I can spank you again. I killed you once, this time I¡¯ll make sure it sticks.¡± ¡°You think you¡¯re hot shit!¡± The Butcher¡¯s eyes smoldered with anger, especially when he looked at the villagers behind Cloudhawk. The disgust in his eyes was born from disbelief. Veins bulged on his face and neck, but whether it was from anger or that¡¯s just how he looked now, it was hard to determine. ¡°There are probably terrorists hiding in that group. Saving them puts the whole domain at risk! You aren¡¯t just disobeying orders, you spit in the face of the gods! Our divine keepers cannot suffer your insolence, so they have sent me.¡± All this lip service, the Butcher sure was willing to be lapdog to these gods of his. ¡°Ugh, you make me fucking sick!¡± Gabriel¡¯s face had begun to twitch. The other person buried inside him had begun to stir, the darker part of his soul wanted out. ¡°Not killing you last time was my mistake. It¡¯s not an error I¡¯m going to repeat.¡± The Butcher croaked a laugh. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can.¡± Ten other demonhunters dropped into combative postures. The three of them with exorcist bows draw back their strings. A palpable sense of mortal danger hung over the area. The rest of Butcher¡¯s crew were still a mystery, who knew what sort of powers the demonhunters commanded? Fighting an enemy whose skills were unknown, especially demonhunters, was asking for trouble. Most troublesome, of course, was making sure the villagers stayed safe. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t save these people out of pity. He did it because what the elysian soldiers was doing was wrong. He was irritated at how much trouble it was beginning to cause him. In its ten years, Teal Ridge had never seen a demonhunter. There was no reason for the mighty agents of the gods to come through. Now there were a dozen, and they were here to kill them. Shock was to be expected. To these simple folk, demonhunters were superhuman. How could people such as them, who stood on the sidelines of their holy battles, protect themselves? ¡°Gabby! Back off!¡± Cloudhawk knew the others with the Butcher were not pushovers. Taking them all on at once was a recipe for disaster, so he had to take a gamble. Cloudhawk shoved his sword forward, stabbing the air and using it to point accusingly at his target. ¡°Hey, ugly. You¡¯re still pretty sore about losing to me, am I right? You probably wanna kill me so bad. Take your shot, then. Right here, right now, you and me. Single combat. You got the balls?¡± Gabriel¡¯s bloodthirst abated and Naberius was forced back down before he could surface. He understood Cloudhawk¡¯s intention. Single combat? Drake and Claudia had no idea what drugs Cloudhawk was on. It was a race against time for them, how did they have time for a duel? What they should be doing is holding this men off while the villagers escape. If they were lucky most of them would escape. But the longer they delayed, the more likely Frost ¨C or valley soldiers ¨C would arrive and seal their fate. The Butcher¡¯s inhuman face twisted into a mask of ferocious anger. His defeat at Cloudhawk¡¯s hands had been the greatest shame of his life. It was unbearable seeing him swagger around with such arrogance. Did this lowlife really think he stood a chance? ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t even have the guts to face the challenge?¡± Cloudhawk saw the anger, but the Butcher still didn¡¯t accept. It was clear he was right that the guy was bothered by it, but still hadn¡¯t let his emotions take control. He had to be wondering if this was some kind of trap. Cloudhawk just kept digging. ¡°You lose to me, then don¡¯t even have the courage for a rematch. And you have the fuckin¡¯ gall to call yourself a soldier. If anything you¡¯re an insult to the gods!¡± ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll give you what you want!¡± The Butcher heaved his ball and chain like a vengeful ghost. ¡°I¡¯ll smash you into paste!¡± ¡°Quit fuckin¡¯ chatting then! Bring it on!¡± Cloudhawk raised his sword and lunged at his foe, nothing fancy about it. As he rushed ahead, everywhere his feet touched left behind a trail of sand. The granules gathered and spread. The Butcher growled at the others to stand their ground. The other demonhunters weren¡¯t happy with the arrangement, but they were still certain the Butcher would win. Even if he didn¡¯t the results would be the same. These three young demonhunters and the martial artist couldn¡¯t stop all of them. Two different vibrations from two different relics tickled Cloudhawk¡¯s senses. One was, of course, the enormous ball and chain the Butcher used as his weapon. The second one he still hadn¡¯t been able to pick out, his opponent was holding it until the right moment. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t worried. He was sure nothing this guy could do was a danger to him. Clatter-clank! The sound of iron chains rattled across the battlefield. It was the Butcher¡¯s weapon, fateful anvil! It was a metal-type relic. Just as ice-type relics were an extension of water, metal was a branch of earth. Demonhunters with the talent for metal were rare, and the Butcher was one of them. Frost kept him close in part because of his uncommon talent. The fateful anvil¡¯s area of attack, as well as its attack strength, was in direct proportion to the amount of psychic energy put into it. The length of its chain and the weight of the spiked ball were controlled by the bearer¡¯s will. ¡°Die!¡± As the Butcher screamed his relic fired at Cloudhawk like a cannonball. It missed him and struck the ground, leaving a crater. Nevermind the skinny wastelander, someone with Drake¡¯s constitution would be smashed flat by such a blow. Shockwaves were visibly radiating from where the ball landed. Cloudhawk disappeared from view. ¡°Such insignificant skill!¡± The Butcher scowled darkly and heaved on the chain, wrenching fateful anvil from the ground. He whipped it through the air like a lethal metal whirlwind. He couldn¡¯t tell where Cloudhawk had disappeared to, so the easiest method was to strike everywhere at once and try to flush him out. Drake watched the Butcher and his tactics, sure of Cloudhawk¡¯s superiority. There was no denying this psychopath was strong, and even Drake would be gravely wounded with even one hit from his relic, but Cloudhawk was different. It was like trying to beat water by repeatedly slapping its surface. However strong he was the force wasn¡¯t going to find its target. Cloudhawk most unique abilities were invisibility and phasing. His phasing ability wasn¡¯t invincible, of course. If the blow was strong enough, the material dense enough, the energy high enough, then he was helpless. All of the fateful anvil¡¯s most threatening power was concentrated in the spiked ball, and if that caught Cloudhawk then he was done for. Yet the Butcher was left with no way to tell where his opponent was hiding, so his only recourse was to swing his weapon all around and hope. Ultimately, the danger from his relic was a straight line. If Cloudhawk avoided it, and let the chain slip through him ¨C he would be unharmed. And that¡¯s just what he did. The fateful anvil swept by, but didn¡¯t even ruffle Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes. Even the most intrepid attacks were eventually exhausted, so after a few swings the Butcher was visibly beginning to slow. That was when Cloudhawk struck. Quiet carnage carved a deathly silent arc through the air, right for the Butcher¡¯s head. Two months of training hadn¡¯t been wasted on Cloudhawk. He¡¯d made impressive strides in both speed and strength. Compared to their chase through deadwood forest, he put more behind this single strike that that whole fight combined. The Butcher was swinging his ball and chain, and although it had tremendous power is severely hampered his movement and defense. The dark weapon slashed downward. A deadly waterfall of steel. As Cloudhawk and his attack reappeared, the Butcher¡¯s companions looked on in shock. They saw that he was caught, there was no way Frost¡¯s newest pet could avoid the blow. But as Cloudhawk¡¯s slash was about to cut the Butcher¡¯s head in two, a strange smirk spread across the ugly man¡¯s face. In that same instant, Cloudhawk felt the second relic resonate. At the last moment he held back, just enough to be prepared for whatever was coming. But he still followed through with the attack. The onlookers did not see the Butcher¡¯s head get split like a ripe melon. The sword struck him and bounced off like he¡¯d tried to chop a copper bell. No sound was made. In the instant before Cloudhawk¡¯s sword landed, the Butcher¡¯s skin was covered in a metallic luster. All of a sudden his skin was a hundred times tougher. All Cloudhawk managed was the tiniest gash across his foe¡¯s head, not even deep enough to reveal bone. Was he made out of metal? From one moment to another, it was as though the Butcher had turned into a bronze statue. His skin was iron and his bones were steel, so even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t cut his way through. A metal-type demonhunter indeed! In addition to his infinitely dangerous fateful anvil, the Butcher also was protected by a doughty defensive relic. ¡°That was your plan? Absolutely pitiful!¡± Where the Butcher was frightening before, now he dominated the battlefield like a pit demon. Once his body turned to metal, his voice was like a thousand frogs croaking through an iron megaphone. ¡°My turn!¡± Book 2, Chapter 116 - Frost Emerges The Butcher¡¯s arms shook. The ball and chain reared back like the head of a snake before whipping toward Cloudhawk¡¯s back. The Butcher was not losing steam as Cloudhawk had thought. It a ploy to lure him in, to make him reveal himself. With his attack prepared, it would be difficult for Cloudhawk to evade once he fell for the trick. Despite expectations, the Butcher was not a muscle-headed brute. His combat style was dynamic and complicated. His cunning ploy nearly succeeded. Although, the operative word was ¡®nearly.¡¯ Because Cloudhawk had already seen through the Butcher¡¯s plan, he knew it was a trap and went for it anyway. Cloudhawk wanted to push him in order to see what the freak was hiding. So, while the Butcher had been ready to go on the offensive, Cloudhawk was also prepared to face it. However, in this instance his phasing abilities would not help him. The stone¡¯s power activated too slowly, and he wasn¡¯t sure he could maintain it under the crushing weight of the fatal anvil. He decided to try and block! A layer of sand had already appeared beneath his feet and rose all of a sudden, as though gravity had been turned off. An invisible power forced it all together to form a thick shield. Although it was made from gravel, the shield seemed to glimmer with a metal luster that made it look impenetrable. The fatal anvil came crashing down on him like a thunderbolt. Cloudhawk¡¯s shield was immediately smashed to pieces. He reacted quick enough to put Quiet Carnage between him and the ball, but the blow caused his relic weapon to warp from the pressure. Cloudhawk was flung several meters away. Were it not for the Gospel of the Sands¡¯ protection, the young wastelander would have been utterly destroyed. As it was he¡¯d only suffered a few minor injuries. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re a little more irritating than I gave you credit for.¡± Cloudhawk climbed back onto his feet and wiped a trickle of blood that had appeared from beneath his mask. His hard eyes were fixed on the Butcher. ¡°But only a little.¡± The Butcher had revealed his secrets. His second relic was defensive, now Cloudhawk knew there was nothing more to fear. A hideous smile spread across the man¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp tongue, but that¡¯s about it.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s cloak fluttered, though there was no wind. Soon, a strange scene revealed itself as four figures appeared all him ¨C perfect copies of the wastelander. With the one in the center that made five, but soon each of those split once again. Suddenly ten indistinguishable copies of Cloudhawk faced the Butcher from across the field. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this trick before!¡± Drake cried out in surprise. ¡°When did he conjure this up?¡± Although this looked a lot like Cloudhawk using the Gospel of the Sands to create copies, that in fact was not the case. There was no way for him to create so many at once. Instead, these were merely illusions. Through his inheritance and deeper exploration, Cloudhawk learned there was more to his invisibility cloak than he already knew. Aside from increasing speed and hiding the user, it was also capable of forming exact images of the bearer. However, in contrast to the Gospel, his cloak of shadows created only intangible phantoms. Obviously, its original function was to leave a false target behind, so that he could use the cloak¡¯s other abilities to flee. All ten Cloudhawks leapt into the air. There they floated like leaves dancing on the wind. They fell on the Butcher like he was covered in a magnetic field. With swords in hand they stabbed at his metallic body. He swatted at them like flies by swinging his massive anvil, but it did nothing except slip harmlessly through. Were they all illusions? No! That heathen scum had to be among them somewhere! There was no way to avoid them, and the Butcher didn¡¯t try to escape. He put faith in his defenses and let the illusions come. All together they hacked at him with their swords, each one passing right into his body. None of them hurt or left a mark. He knew it ¨C Cloudhawk was nothing more than a trickster. But Drake shook his head and muttered. ¡°This guy¡¯s finished.¡± Nine of the illusions vanished. One remained. His sword was lodged in the left side of the Butcher¡¯s chest. As Cloudhawk let the resonance of his relics subside, a strong repulsive force answered from the Butcher¡¯s body. Although the man¡¯s relic turned his body surface to steel, the weapon in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands wasn¡¯t for cutting twigs. It was a deadly relic itself, and it was lodged deep in the madman¡¯s chest. The Butcher shook, and his eyes dropped to Quiet Carnage. He stared with an expression of disbelief. How was this possible? How did Cloudhawk get passed his defense! How? They were all illusions, he was sure of it. Illusions can¡¯t harm people! Cloudhawk pulled on his sword, trying to take advantage of the Butcher¡¯s shock and cut the man in two. However, the ugly man was still under the protection of his relic. He ripped his sword free without causing any more damage, then flipped through the air to land several meters away. The Butcher fell to his knees as the metallic shine fled from his skin. He began to vomit, copious mouthfuls of blood over and over. As he heaved, the gaping hole in his chest puckered grotesquely. Although, there wasn¡¯t much blood from the wound itself. The Butcher reveled in his good fortune, for his was not a typical body. In his anatomy, the heart was on the right side. Still, he had lost again. The rest of the demonhunters lost patience. When the Butcher was beaten they reacted at once. ¡°Kill them all!¡± A pair of close-range fighters, each equal in strength to the Butcher, jumped forward to engage. They tumbled to the ground right away, and their bodies twitched horrifically as they split into half a dozen pieces. It was as though they¡¯d jumped through a meat grinder unwittingly. Each wound was clean and smooth, cuts even the world¡¯s sharpest knife would struggle to match. One of the younger demonhunters quailed. ¡°What in the name of the gods?!¡± Cloudhawk sheathed his weapon. ¡°You all are a bunch of jackasses. Did you really think I was going to hang everything on a single fight? The challenge was an excuse, a way to buy my friend Gabby some time. Now that he¡¯s weaved his net, I¡¯d like to see you fucks try and kill us!¡± One of the enemy demonhunters, a specialized tracker, called upon his powers. Immediately, his face went pale. ¡°It¡¯s bad. We¡¯re surrounded by miniscule threads. They have to be from that blonde one¡¯s relic.¡± Cloudhawk turned to Drake and Claudia. ¡°You two get the survivors out of here. We¡¯ll cover you.¡± The young enemy demonhunter howled in anger and embarrassment. ¡°Find a way out!¡± Gabriel¡¯s face split into a warm and genial smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s unlikely.¡± His fingers danced, and the threads began to dance with them. The tracker anxiously responded to his comrade. ¡°No good, they move! Careful, they¡¯re coming our way!¡± The remaining demonhunters did what they could do protect themselves, but how could they defend against what they couldn¡¯t see? How were they supposed to fight back? In the midst of their confusion, Cloudhawk gathered up the sand around him and cast it at the group. His sandstorm could pass unhindered through Gabriel¡¯s net, so the two of them made a deadly and effective pair. ¡°Go!¡± Claudia and Drake hurried the survivors toward the aqueduct. Cloudhawk and Gabriel were breathlessly trying to hold their foes at bay. Once most of their charges had escaped, they had expended most of their psychic energy. They disengaged and prepared to leave as well. Gabriel was careful to lay out a wave of threads to cover their retreat. Following Cloudhawk and the others wasn¡¯t going to be easy for these pursuers. ¡°The mountains are about five kilometers ahead. Let¡¯s go!¡± As the four trainees lead the survivors from the village they got their first glimpse of hope. They were less than a kilometer away when that hope was crushed. A figure clad in a snow-white cloak barred their path. Inserted in the ground beside him was a crystalline spear that seethed with a cold mist. When they got close, the man¡¯s frigid blue eyes opened and fell upon them. Their heartless gaze was like a lake of ice. A solemn expression came onto Cloudhawk¡¯s face. He lifted his hand, entreating the others to stop. The survivors didn¡¯t know what was happening. Frost de Winter plucked Frozen Dirge from the ground, and immediately he was surrounded with an aura of bone-chilling cold. Where he walked, the grass and soil instantly was covered in a veil of ice. His voice washed over them like a frigid wind from the peak of a lofty mountain, biting deep into their souls. ¡°A wastelander scum, a boorish soldier, a waste of breath, and a traitor. You make quite the team.¡± Drake grit his teeth. ¡°Frost! Are you also without any moral imperatives?¡± ¡°Moral imperatives?¡± He held frozen dirge at the ready. A cold breeze had begun to whistle around it. ¡°My moral imperative is to help all of you on your way to hell.¡± Gabriel wiggled his fingers, causing threads to slither free. Ten imperceptible strings shot out, severing grass and carving grooves through the ground. Filled with the blonde traitor¡¯s murderous intent, they started to build their pattern. Frost lifted his spear with both hands. It released a blast of icy-cold wind. Gabriel¡¯s threads were infected with a creeping cold. Layers of ice thickened them until they were visible, about as thick as yarn. Then, they shattered. ¡°Ah!¡± Gabriel staggered backward, his face pale. The cold had covered him, too, making his hands numb and unresponsive. He could hardly move, and that was only after the briefest contact. Cloudhawk was also disheartened. Frost was stronger than he remembered. Had he also grown stronger in these last few months? Cloudhawk guessed he was about as strong as the instructors from Hell¡¯s Valley by now. In time, he would easily grow to be twice as powerful. No wonder he was one of Skycloud¡¯s singular talents. No wonder he had come under the tutelage of Skycloud¡¯s greatest teacher. Frost swung his spear around, its bladed head carving a trough through the ground. He moved with the grace and precision of a dancer as he marked out the circle. Whatever the spear passed, a trail of ice was left behind. From it rose a slithering crystal serpent, covered in icy scales that made it look entirely lifelike. It glided along the shaft of Frost¡¯s spear until it reached the end, then shot out toward the survivors. ¡°Ah!¡± The villagers screamed in fear. They were helpless to defend themselves. A hundred translucent petals exploded from Claudia¡¯s body, becoming a tempest of cutting metal. However, as the ice serpent charged through it the petals did little more than cause nicks and scratches. All it managed to do was slow the attack down. ¡°Spearhead!¡± The ground caved beneath Drake¡¯s feet and he launched forward. Fast as lightning he charged, blade first into the serpent and they met with a loud crash. The serpent began to fracture, and as it did its icy body detonated into a hundred shards. In the blink of an eye, Drake was peppered with dozens of punctures. The shards of ice slipped through him as easily as water and immediately he felt like he was frozen stiff. Not good! Cloudhawk engaged his cloak, using its speed and invisibility to get Drake and bring him back to safety. The soldier was a sitting duck, and the next blow was sure to take his life. Book 2, Chapter 117 - A Desperate Battle Chapter 117 - A Desperate Battle Frost de Winter was like a statue made from a ten thousand year old glacier. Anything that dared to get near him was frozen solid. He was too strong. His presence alone filled the others with fear and made their hearts race. For Gabriel, Claudia and Drake this was their first time standing off against a master demonhunter. They felt hopeless against his indomitable power. Were they just weak? No. Yet they were defeated in no time, with little effort! Drake was already out of the fight. The blood he puked up was thick and mixed with flecks of ice. Puffs of steaming air fought through his clattering teeth. ¡°Fuck,¡± he said through mouthfuls of blood. ¡°This asshole is strong.¡± In fact, surviving a direct blow from Frost proved how tenacious the soldier¡¯s body really was. Had it been Claudia or Gabriel in his position, things would have been much worse. ¡°You go.¡± Cloudhawk helped Drake over to the other two. He turned to face Frost, pulling his sword free. It whipped threateningly through the air and he stood defiantly before the man with his sword pointed toward the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll hold him off.¡± Hold him off? They wagered fighting the master demonhunter one on one gave Cloudhawk a twenty percent chance of surviving for any length of time, much less delaying him. Leaving him here was the same as leaving him to die. Neither Drake nor Gabriel would accept it, and the thought was completely out of the question for Claudia. Although her enmity for Cloudhawk ran deep, she wasn¡¯t about to let someone she hated help her run. ¡°You¡¯ve grown quickly. Were you not born to such¡­ humble resources, perhaps you wouldn¡¯t have lost so easily the last time we met.¡± Frost ignored the other three. His piercing eyes were fixed solely on Cloudhawk, and he spoke with a voice cold as the grave. ¡°No wonder my master and Selene look so highly upon you. Such a pity you were born in the wrong place, with no road to salvation. There is no place for someone like you in our holy domain.¡± ¡°Chasing that nonsense is worth less than dogshit. Wait, let me rephrase; you and what you stand for are worth less than dogshit.¡± Cloudhawk shot a glance toward the others, trying to get them to leave. It wasn¡¯t some altruistic notion, just that he knew he was the one Frost was after. Perhaps he¡¯d let them get away if Cloudhawk could keep his attention. He couldn¡¯t hide from his past anymore. Cloudhawk wrapped his hands around the hilt of Quiet Carnage and dug his feet in against the chill wind. ¡°Tell me what you think of my sword before you kill me.¡± ¡°Still so chatty, even in the face of death. You haven¡¯t changed at all.¡± Frost leapt forward amidst a surge of cold. The air became thick with swirling snowflakes and he charged at Cloudhawk like an avalanche. The knight commander swung his silvery spear through the air, which summoned a tornado of icy energy that tore toward his foe. Frost was a different breed from others Cloudhawk fought. Most shot off at the mouth and kept a trick or two up their sleeves in a fight. Frost was a man of few words, and when he committed to a fight he came out with full force. Cloudhawk planted his feet. Grains of yellow sand rose ten meters around, and with his left hand he guided them into a flurry. With his right hand, he hacked at the encroaching torrent of cold. It was obvious right away the difference between the two men. Frost¡¯s power instantly overwhelmed Cloudhawk and all the sand around him was frozen into clumps. The tornado of icy fury charged at the wastelander. ¡°Die!¡± Frost was right behind it, thrusting his spear toward Cloudhawk¡¯s head. Before Frost¡¯s spear found its mark, and as the tornado of energy descended upon him, Cloudhawk¡¯s body was already covered in a thin film of ice. It was getting more difficult to move, even shuffle his feet. He couldn¡¯t protect himself if he could hardly lift his arms. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know when he was going to die, but he was sure as hell not going to let it be at this asshole¡¯s hands. The cold was creeping through him, so bad that his blood had started to stagnate in his veins. But in response, a power from in his blood broke free and got it moving again. Even though he was covered in ice, he did not feel it stifling him anymore. Trespasser, it had to be. Its effect on his body was growing more apparent, and this reaction specifically was new. Although he didn¡¯t like the idea of being any less than fully human, Cloudhawk had to acknowledge how useful the virus was. It gave him the time he needed to mount a defense. When he lifted his head, a crimson fire smoldered deep in his eyes. A sinister power slithered into Frost¡¯s mind as they locked eyes, until those same fires flickered in Frost¡¯s crystalline blue gaze. This was a psychic attack! Frost was distracted, blocking himself from the assault while Cloudhawk whipped Quiet Carnage at his spear. The knight commander was knocked back, landing several meters away and swaying unsteadily. For the briefest moment there was a shadow of doubt on Frost¡¯s face. What did I just see? Cloudhawk was already breathing heavily. It all happened in seconds, but the toll was staggering. It was the same mental assault he¡¯d used on Gabriel, but its effects were greatly diminished against Frost. Likely it was because of the great difference in their psychic capabilities. Gabriel and Claudia stepped forward to join Cloudhawk by his side. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you leave?¡± ¡°If we¡¯re leaving, we leave together!¡± Frost was still confident. He came at Cloudhawk again with another torrent of power. Though it was a surprise that the wastelander had warded him off before, Frost was sure he couldn¡¯t use that power again so soon. He wasn¡¯t going to give these heathens a moment¡¯s rest. By the looks of things, there was no escape for Cloudhawk now. Together with Gabriel and Claudia they would fight Frost to the end. Three was always better than two. Frost didn¡¯t get in close this time. Instead, he jabbed his spear through the air a dozen times. Each thrust belched a spear of blue light, which would encase anything it touched in a prison of ice. It was too late for Cloudhawk to mount a defense, but just then the unexpected happened. A simple bronze mirror appeared in front of them. It extruded a formless field of energy that engulfed Frost. The knight commander grew sluggish like he was moving through mud. In that moment, a silvery scimitar appeared spinning through the air, cutting apart anything in its path. It was aimed right for Frost¡¯s throat. It all looked simple and straightforward, but the power behind that scimitar was undeniable. Once the bronze mirror¡¯s field of control had him, Frost had no option but to get out of the way. As the scimitar spun passed Frost, a figure sprang into the air, and with dumbfounding speed, snatched the blade mid-rotation. The stranger¡¯s other hand bore a sword just the same as the first, and she used both to hack at Frost de Winter. ¡°Fuck you!¡± The young woman¡¯s flurry of attacks was swift and fierce, but was still no match for the master demonhunter. With one thrust of his spear he knocked the scimitar away and countered without missing a beat. As the spear stabbed at her unprotected chest her eyes went wide, and then she vanished. The strange woman reappeared half a heartbeat later next to the sword Frost had knocked from her hand. She snatched it back. Frost descended on her like the shadow of death. The woman crossed her scimitars before her, but would frozen dirge be so easily blocked? A gust of bone-chilling wind swept passed her swords and engulfed her. Then, at this crucial moment, a pair of beads zipped by at the speed of sound. They struck Frost right in the center of his chest. They were too sudden, and too fast for the knight commander to foresee. He staggered back and was forced to stop his assault. Whoosh, whoosh! Figures appeared all around. Felina, Caspian, Rohan, Veronika. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s Tartarus Squad. He gaped at their sudden appearance. ¡°What are you doing?! I told you to stay back!¡± ¡°I heard what you said, Captain. You really hurt my feelings!¡± Caspian¡¯s tittering voice whined at him, a sound that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. ¡°I can¡¯t stand to see my captain in danger, even if he¡¯s fighting the honorable Frost de Winter.¡± Felina flicked her wrist, shedding the frost that had covered her scimitars. The surprise had gone from her face, replaced by her usual sweet smile. She threw back her shoulders proudly. ¡°I was worried about you, captain, so I told them all to come along. It looks like you¡¯re lucky we did.¡± Veronika nodded, while Rohan¡¯s face was bitter and resentful. Fuck fuck fuck. Fuck! It¡¯s Frost de Winter! We¡¯re dead! Seeing the forces arrayed against him, Frost scowled in irritation. He was strong enough to handle Cloudhawk and the other three without trouble, but with these new additions things became¡­ troublesome. After all, these weren¡¯t your average soldiers. Although none came even close to the rank of master demonhunter. At best one or two might be granted the rank of senior. Felina was nicknamed the Demon Kitten for more than just her speed and savagery. She also commanded a unique relic. This pair of curved swords were called the ¡®flickering blades¡¯, a special set that could sense one another. When they were separated, so long as the bearer held one they could teleport instantly to the other. It lent her a speed few could match, so when Felina fought her swords flew all over the field. She would flicker from one to the other, so long as they remained within range. It made her incredible agile and hard to pin down. Caspian was also unique, in more than just his ambiguous gender and sexuality. He bore two relics; one for attack, and one for defense. Both matched his water talent, and both were very high quality [1]. Water-talent was characterized by adaptation. It could flow as a river, rise as a fog, or fall as rain. It could also crash like the sea. Its abilities were boundless. As for Veronika, she was the weakest in straight combat but was as helpful in this exchange as anyone else. Her relic was the ¡®demon sealing mirror,¡¯ a priceless treasure of her family. It was not an offensive tool, but could hinder and regulate its target. It also has the ability to sap the victim of mental energy while bolstering the user¡¯s defense. In other words, with Veronika as support Frost¡¯s strength was at least a third as threatening. He was weaker, in turn making her comrades more effective. The benefits were obvious. Rohan¡¯s relic was nothing special, but he wasn¡¯t a pushover. He had psychic power to rival Gabriel¡¯s, and was cunning in a fight. He was especially effective when making sneak-attacks in confused exchanges. Cloudhawk had lived and suffered with these people for two months. Throughout that time they trained morning to night, which made them all very familiar with one another¡¯s skills and fighting styles. Their cooperation in times of conflict was more than just passable. Even against a foe like Frost de Winter, they had a grasp on how to approach the fight. ¡°Fuck it. Ya¡¯ll are in trouble now anyway, might as well make the most of it!¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the sort to fear stirring things up, and even these high-brow nobles were willing to cause some mischief. So what was he supposed to say? He ordered the unthinkable. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with this asshole together. I want to see the look on Master Arcturus¡¯ pride and joy when I stomp it beneath my boot.¡± 1. Caspian¡¯s effeminate nature and his talent for water-type relics is not random. The Chinese concept of Yin, ''Òõ¡¯, are many of the qualities Caspian displays: dark, flowing, cold, water, female, subservient. Remember not to attach negative or positive stigma to either yin or yang, because they¡¯re two essential fragments of a unified whole ¨C even though the author is clearly using him as a foil for comic relief and homophobia. You can see Caspian as the polar opposite of the man we met in the House of Demonhunters, Blaze Book 2, Chapter 118 - Power to Split Mountains Chapter 118 - Power to Split Mountains Frost let his full potential erupt. He was a prideful man, how could he allow these provocations to go unpunished? He gently struck the ground with his silvery spear, causing frozen dirge to hum with power. A pale and ominous fog of cold spread out in all directions. The land it fell over was choked with frost and ice crept along the ground. Cloudhawk began shouting orders. ¡°Veronika! Go!¡± She answered by stretching out her slender, snow-white hands. Ten meters above Frost her bronze mirror reappeared. It was a simple looking object, but the power that flowed from it was mysterious and strong. The others could see Frost¡¯s field of cold constrict. Cloudhawk felt his confidence swell. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be some sort of momentous badass! Let¡¯s see what you can do with a third of your strength cut from under you, asshole. Cloudhawk had no qualms in holding a fair fight, he wasn¡¯t any sort of hero. Anyway, it wasn¡¯t like a one-on-one fight with Frost was fair odds either. Frost had been training for years, how long had Cloudhawk had his powers? Skycloud domain¡¯s most powerful master demonhunter was his teacher, and he had the backing of the domain¡¯s greatest family. For most of his life, Cloudhawk only had himself to rely on. So what if he was fighting with numbers? He¡¯d been bullied for as long as he could remember. This time, he was gonna do the fuckin¡¯ bullying! He summoned a small sandstorm, which immediately went to war with Frost¡¯s field of cold. If one listened carefully they might hear the sound of scraping metal in the sand-choked winds. It was the sound of paper thin metal petals, hundreds of them whipping through the storm like a deadly train. An addition from Claudia¡¯s tempest flower. Frost¡¯s spear last out like an angry dragon, first knocking away a pair of beads from Rohan, then whipping around like a mad bull. All the petals that got close to him were repelled before they came within two meters. Meanwhile, Gabriel¡¯s fingers were also dancing busily as he weaved threads throughout the battlefield. But Frost de Winter was deserving of his reputation. He was beset on all sides, but the disadvantage was not overwhelming. ¡°What the hell are the rest of you looking at! Do you wanna die?!¡± He hollered at the dumbfounded survivors. ¡°Don¡¯t stand there like idiots, you¡¯re getting in the way. Run!¡± His harsh shouts roused them from their shock. They raced toward the mountains in a chaotic stampede. Frost frantically swung his spear through the air, casting twenty glittering icicles in a cone. Half of them were directed at Gabriel¡¯s threads, but the other half were intended to impale the fleeing villagers. Cloudhawk had guessed that would be his reaction. ¡°Caspian!¡± The young demonhunter rolled his eyes. ¡°I see it, I see it. I¡¯m not blind!¡± He raised his delicate hand and a beam of blue light shot forth. It collided with some invisible substance as it neared the survivors and coalesced into a curtain of water. With astounding speed, it spread out to encompass a large space. This power came from a formidable water-based relic. It was used to establish a defensive field with a unique function. Unlike many defenses that relied on brute force, every inch of the water curtain supported one another. Like throwing a rock into a lake, force was distributed and diffused along the surface as ripples. Breaking through would demand a tremendous impact. Frost¡¯s icicles struck the curtain of water and melted away. Caspian¡¯s defensive field began to freeze, inch by inch, until it was an enormous block of ice. It glittered prettily like a work of art, stunning to behold. ¡°Oh! So strong¡­ so strong!¡± Caspian¡¯s voice was rich with admiration. ¡°He froze my defense so easily, what a man!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to retch over Caspian¡¯s nonsense. He had to fight the urge not to kick him into the sun. Under the cover of Caspian¡¯s interference, the survivors vanished from view. In their wildest dreams, these poor villagers would not have imagined living through such a catastrophe, but they had thanks to these young men and women. Caelum was being pulled away by a group of older survivors, but he craned his neck back to see what was happening. ¡°How are they so strong?¡± ¡°They¡¯re demonhunters.¡± ¡°I want to be a demonhunter. I want to be like that man in the mask so I can get revenge for my sister and the others.¡± The elders sighed miserably, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to tell him the truth. Although they didn¡¯t know what any of this was about, it was clear that the operation was a military one. They were being slaughtered by the elysian army. They weren¡¯t wearing armor and carried no banners, but their weapons, efficiency, and mannerisms said it all. Their own government did this. There was no hope. Even if they survived the night, they were exiles. ¡°Don¡¯t look, come quickly!¡± The further the survivors got, the lighter the weight in Cloudhawk¡¯s chest became. It was time to pull out all the stops and finally teach this stuck up sack of shit a lesson. There was always a limit to an enemy¡¯s strength. He had a group of talented opponents to face, and his psychic energy was quickly being drained by the demon sealing mirror. Cloudhawk suspected it would only be a matter of minutes before Frost was exhausted. He was tired of all the problems he¡¯d suffered because of this dick. He¡¯d almost killed him a number of times. Finally, he had an opportunity to give Frost his comeuppance. Even if he didn¡¯t kill the man, he was damn sure going to make sure he remembered this beating for the rest of his life. Anything less than crippling him for life went against Cloudhawk¡¯s style. There was one piece of crucial information Cloudhawk learned from the skull that he¡¯d not yet used. Now seemed like the perfect time to give it a shot. He wrapped his fingers around the phase stone and summoned his psychic energy. Right away, mind and stone began to resonate. With all the knowledge his predecessor had of normal relics, there was of course a wealth of secrets about his own phase stone left untapped. In the months since absorbing the inheritance Cloudhawk had diligently studied what he could. Now he felt like he was fully capable of communing with the power of the stone. With enough power, he could even traverse dimensions. But that wasn¡¯t what he was reaching for now. He reached into the depths of the stone, toward the sea of mental power that lived within it. He agitated it, causing it to seethe and boil, and inspiring a gush of power to rise to the surface. Cloudhawk guided that torrent through him and into the sword in his right hand. Reality around the sword¡¯s edges warped in protest as unadulterated psychic energy coalesced. The earth and grass beneath it withered by its mere presence. But at the same time Cloudhawk was gathering his power, a hail of attacks from exorcist bows came crashing down around them. Where they hit the ground, great craters opened up. He looked toward where they came from to see a group of demonhunters scurrying their way. One of them had his hands held high and was gathering power into a fireball larger than he was. Fuck! Frost¡¯s reinforcements? The power surging through his arm and into quiet carnage continued to swell. ¡°I need ten seconds!¡± Both Frost¡¯s forces and Tartarus Squad noticed the expanding power Cloudhawk was gathering. While no one knew where it was coming from, it was clear at a glance that the power in Cloudhawk¡¯s sword was enough to decide the outcome of their battle. Only, the wastelander was struggling to control the torrent, and the process of wielding it was a slow one. ¡°Help the Knight-Commander!¡± The demonhunter hurled his enormous ball of fire, to which Caspian responded with an orb of water. The two collided in midair and immediately erupted into steam. Gabriel and Claudia disengaged from the fight with Frost to turn their attention on his reinforcements. That left Felina, Rohan and Veronika with the herculean task of keeping Frost locked down. There was no way Gabriel and Claudia could hold off so many people for long, but they only needed to keep them away from Cloudhawk for a few seconds. By now, Frost¡¯s mental reserves were down eighty percent ¨C not enough to break through them and get to his real target. Sweat poured off of Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead. He held tight to Quiet Carnage, which now had become a searing blade of pure energy. A terrifying shell of energy encased it, so intense it seemed nothing in all the world would survive a single blow. Now. Whether or not they would defeat Frost and survive hinged on this moment. Frost could feel it too, he sensed the energy gathering. His expression changed dramatically, and with great effort he broke frozen dirge free of its containment. Like a tidal wave, he lunged at Cloudhawk spear first. The wastelander didn¡¯t hesitate. All at once, he released all the energy stored up in his sword in a torrential blast. The resulting shock wave was a dozen meters long as it carved a path through the air. Soundless. No boom, no whistle. It wasn¡¯t merely silent, the attack seemed to swallow up all the sound in the world. Everything was robbed of its voice, reality steeped in the silence of the grave. And though perfectly mute, the force of Cloudhawk¡¯s attack was undeniable. The onlookers stopped to stare in shock, in fear, and in despair. Frost¡¯s attempt to interrupt him came too late. By the time he broke away from the others, the dead silent shock wave was released. The unconquerable wave of power was headed right for him. While fighting for his life in the wastelands there were several times when Cloudhawk drew on the power within the stone. It came to him when conditions were just right, the best example being when he defeated the Caliph of the Sands. That one strike, which had blazed so brightly it rivaled the heavens, was the strongest expression of power from Cloudhawk so far. Countless days and nights have passed since then, spent trying to understand the phasing stone. Hoping to control the incomprehensible sea of power locked inside it. For the better part of a year he¡¯d been unsuccessful, until he encountered the skull. Ever since slowly assimilating his predecessor¡¯s knowledge, things had changed. He was beginning to see, when he picked up that stone he¡¯d acquired an immeasurable treasure ¨C but a treasure without the key. The skull had taught him how to open it. The power he released now did not compare to the blow that cut down the Caliph of the Sands. But it did command power that would give a master demonhunter pause! His efforts now were more significant than ever before, because this time he had come to control the uncontrollable. For Cloudhawk, it was a substantial awakening. Had Frost been rested and at full strength, perhaps he could have taken this blow head-on. Much to his detriment, though, the knight commander was weakened from their exchange. His psychic energies were drained, and the demon sealing mirror had robbed him of his advantage. He was outmatched. But he could not stand idly by and let Cloudhawk claim victory. Frost reeled back as fast as he could, desperate to get out of the way of the attack. Meanwhile he gathered what remained of his own strength for a riposte. He swiped at Cloudhawk with Frozen Dirge, releasing a silvery dragon into the sky. It slithered toward the shockwave, a dragon facing a power that could split mountains. What happened when they met would decide everything. Book 2, Chapter 119 - Ending the Charade Chapter 119 - Ending the Charade Frost¡¯s ice dragon was split in two the moment it met the shockwave. Cloudhawk¡¯s attack swept by like it wasn¡¯t even there. When Frost saw that his gambit had failed, he threw up his spear between him and the blast. The impending collision blasted him a dozen meters back. He hit the ground with enough force to shatter bone and lay in a heap, covered by his soiled and tattered cloak. The armor that protected him was badly damaged as well. The knight-commander of the Knights of Splendor no longer had the strength to stand. All he could manage was to heave himself to his knees with the help of his spear. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, turning his snow-white clothing red. He won! Cloudhawk won! A no-name scoundrel managed to defeat one of the most outstanding demonhunters of Skycloud domain! If this news got out it would create a scandal the likes of which had never been seen in the elysian lands. Even Cloudhawk was stunned at how well it¡¯d gone. With the help of the stone, Cloudhawk had augmented his powers to a tremendous degree. However, the power was not his, it was borrowed from the sea of psychic energy locked within the stone. It was a font of strength, and yet had many restrictions. Time, for instance. It took time to bring it to bear, and it would be some time before Cloudhawk could call on it again. This grand source of power was good for a finishing blow, but he could not lean on it too much. At last Frost managed to fight his way back onto his feet. The winding gusts of cold air around frozen dirge were gone, his power was spent. What¡¯s more the damage he¡¯d suffered was significant. But that didn¡¯t stop him. Cloudhawk had seen what Selene could do when her mental strength was gone, and he figured Frost was much the same. IF he got close, he had enough strength of body alone to cut Cloudhawk down. The blow hadn¡¯t beaten down Frost¡¯s will completely. The knight-commander was definitely a foe worth fearing. By now his reinforcements had arrived and encircled the small group. Cloudhawk and Tartarus Squad no longer had the advantage of numbers, both sides were about even. With Frost mostly out of the picture their strength was also comparable. If this fight continued both sides would suffer. ¡°Captain! We¡¯ll help you!¡± Familiar voices called out to him, followed by running footsteps. More trainees from Tartarus Squad were arriving. Before long most of his team was by his side. Thirty fighters, none of them pushovers. Frost and his people weren¡¯t enough to stop them. A surge of joy rang through Cloudhakw¡¯s heart. They got here just in time. His team surrounded Frost and his men, whose faces bore scowls of anger and distress. Had all of the valley¡¯s trainees chosen desertion?! A dark smirk curled Cloudhawk¡¯s lips. ¡°Get ¡®em.¡± As Tartarus Squad was preparing to comply circumstances switched again. ¡°HAVEN¡¯T YOU JACKASSES CAUSED ENOUGH TROUBLE?!¡± A voice thundered over the din. A blast of cyan energy ripped across the field, separated Tartarus Squad from Frost¡¯s men. The sound sent a shudder through the trainees, and they turned to see a scarred visage glaring at them. He was accompanied by a towering suit of armor stomping their way, as well as a lithe figure treading air. When she alighted among the trainees, a shimmering whip was in her hand. The trainees had seen for themselves what that whip could do. If Natessa wanted to really use that thing, no one there was going to stop her. Instructors Windham, Cutter, and Cenhelm had arrived. Cloudhawk¡¯s little rebellion was finished. ¡°What the fuck have you nitwits done? You won¡¯t help, fine. But this?¡± Eckard Cutter was absolutely furious. His eyes were fixed on Frost. ¡°And what the fuck are YOU doing here?¡± ¡°Tartarus Squad took it upon themselves to disobey direct military orders. They began attacking friendly forces and allowed potential terrorists to escape.¡± Frost was in a difficult way. He was obviously injured, but fought to keep the dignity and command in his voice. ¡°Unless you want the whole valley implicated in their treachery, I demand that they be executed on the spot!¡± The instructor¡¯s faces stiffened. Frost was injured. The giants of Hell¡¯s Valley were experienced demonhunters [1]. They knew what Frost was capable of. But they could also tell by the signs of damage to the battlefield that someone had used power equivalent to a master demonhunter and that Frost was the target. Where had such power come from? Natessa followed the cleaved ground, which lead her gaze to Cloudhawk. Her dispassionate expression gave way to surprise. Was it him? Had he done this? How? Frost spoke again, his voice cold with malice and authority. ¡°Instructors, are you disregarding an order from your superior officer?¡± ¡°Will you quit trying to throw your fuckin¡¯ weight around?!¡± Eckard¡¯s temper finally slipped and he hollered at the battered commander. ¡°Whether or not this shitheads live or die is a decision the valley makes. We can handle our own fuckin¡¯ business! Anyway, they¡¯ve only been in training for two damned months. They haven¡¯t even been taught how to behave on a mission, but you insisted on having them here. It was shitty fuckin¡¯ planning, so there¡¯s plenty of blame to spread around!¡± Frost¡¯s eyes hardened and he mustered all the dignity and supremacy within him. ¡°Do you mean to blame me for this sorry display?¡± If there was any single word to describe Eckard, it was direct. ¡°Damn fucking right I¡¯m blaming you!¡± [2] He was talking to the leader of men lauded as heroes throughout the domain. Frost was still managing to keep his cool, but the others were on the verge of a riot! This ugly barbarian was covering for his subordinates¡¯ mistakes, it was obvious. Given Frost¡¯s connections, wasn¡¯t he afraid he¡¯d be immediately thrown in prison? ¡°We apologize for troubling you with this.¡± Natessa¡¯s disarming voice interjected. ¡°Hell¡¯s Valley was established as an arm of Skycloud¡¯s power by the honorable governor himself, and is populated by members of the domain¡¯s army. However, since our inception we have always operated solely under our own discretion. Even Master Arcturus and Grand General Polaris can only issue general orders, they have no influence over our internal affairs. We are not Skycloud soldiers, and we are not subject to the laws and restrictions that would entail. As such, we regret to remind Your Excellency that you do not have the right to demand any action of us. These young men and women have committed a grievous crime, and they will be punished once we return to the valley. As for the villagers who escaped, I will send men into the mountains to make sure they are hunted down. Do not fret.¡± Frost¡¯s crystal blue eyes glared at her like icy daggers. ¡°And if I protest?¡± ¡°This matter is outside of your control, Master de Winter.¡± Natessa¡¯s voice remained perfectly tranquil. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army handles business in a very non-traditional way. If we are threatened, or if someone were to try and violate our independence, I¡¯m sure the Governor would understand our necessary response.¡± Anger twisted within the knight commander and emerged on his face as a hideous smile. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Natessa was as noncommittal and dispassionate as ever. ¡°Many of the members of Tartarus Squad hail from noble families. I¡¯d be curious how you intend to explain to them why their children were executed on elysian soil. I imagine you might be asked what manner of mission they were on in the first place. You are an ambitious man, Your Excellency. If you wish to continue climbing the social ladder, than you¡¯ll need the support of these families. These are important matters to consider. You should weigh them carefully.¡± Eckard could only glower and grumble. Natessa¡¯s points obviously had more of an effect than his. ¡°Very well.¡± Frost stared at each of the instructors in turn. He had come to understand that he would not have his way today. Continuing to press the issue would only embarrass him further. He curtly waved a hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Frost de Winter led his defeated troops from the field. The members of Tartarus Squad could hardly believe their eyes. What had happened to these hateful instructors, where suddenly they were acting as defenders? Why would they rather spit in the face of the knight commander and risk angering a future leader of Skycloud? The rest of Hell¡¯s Army had caught up now. Several hundred soldiers surrounded the trainees. It was then Eckard turned his fury on them. ¡°Son of a bitch¡­ grab all of ¡®em. You shits are gonna get flayed for what you pulled!¡± The mission was over. Teal Ridge had been wiped from existence. There was not a single living soul left in the ruins of the village. Half a day later a regiment from Skycloud army arrived and began cleanup operations. The story they put out went like this: In retaliation for Frost de Winter¡¯s attacks on the Dark Atom in the wastelands, the terrorists leveled Teal Ridge. Although Commander Frost had hurried to the village¡¯s aid as fast as he could, it was too late. He managed to exterminate the heathen element hidden in Skycloud domain, but the village was lost. News of what happened to Teal Ridge incensed the populace, and army enlistment doubled in most areas. Enmity toward the Dark Atom reached new heights and curses on the terrorists were heard in every corner of Skycloud domain. ¡°Nineteen!¡± ¡°Twenty!¡± ¡°Enough! That¡¯s it for today.¡± Cloudhawk collapsed to the floor, his back cross-crossed with nasty gashes from the whips. He was covered in blood from head to toe. His actions in Teal Ridge had deeply annoyed the instructors, so his team was sentenced to a hundred lashes spread over ten days. Cloudhawk, as the ring leader, was given double the punishment. Twenty lashes a day, for ten days. He was also removed from his post as captain. Tartarus Squad would be commanded by the instructors directly from now on. In reality Cloudhawk was happy with the way it turned out. Twenty lashes was certainly no happy thing, but his body was far more robust than the average person¡¯s. The consistent beatings actually toughened him up and sped up the latent potential of that strange virus living in his bloodstream. It made him more tenacious, served as a sort of physical training. ¡°Damn¡­ you guys don¡¯t know the meaning of ¡®go easy¡¯ do you. I thought we were friends.¡± Cloudhawk was laid out on a stretcher, trying his best to ignore the pain that stabbed him to the bone. It didn¡¯t work. It was so bad his vision was starting to go dark, but he grit his teeth and fought to keep his eyes open. He even managed to give the sour-faced instructors a cheeky grin. ¡°Oh, right,¡± he said curiously, ¡°How do you think Frost is going to take all this? I hope it won¡¯t cause you all too much trouble.¡± The giants of Hell¡¯s Valley were speechless. This guy was absolutely shameless [3]. It didn¡¯t seem like their cruel punishment was much of a deterrent. ¡°How do you think you were able to get those people out of the village?¡± Natessa spoke softly, but her voice was enigmatic. ¡°Did you not find it too easy? Didn¡¯t it all go too smooth?¡± Cloudhawk thought back, and indeed it did all seem to work out well. Frost¡¯s forces had reached the city long before he ran into him, so why didn¡¯t he go straight for Cloudhawk? It was chaotic, sure, but Frost would have easily ambushed him at any time and then denied killing him. He was out there breaking orders, after all, what could Hell¡¯s Army have said after the fact? He¡¯d snatched up several hundred villagers and swaggered through town without meeting much resistance. He did come across the Butcher, but not Frost. Why would the commander send a subordinate to stop him? There were only two possibilities; one, Frost¡¯s head was full of dogshit and he made the wrong decision or, two, he knew Cloudhawk would win but didn¡¯t care. It dawned on him. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate Frost de Winter. Master Arcturus holds him in high regard for a reason. There are many talented young men and women in Skycloud, why should he pour all his effort into him specifically?¡± Natessa lifted her head and stared into the sky. She thought back to Frost, to the look in her eyes, and for all her insight she couldn¡¯t read what she found there. ¡°I don¡¯t know the reason, but there is always a reason. Perhaps Frost didn¡¯t agree with wiping out an entire village.¡± This was certainly a new consideration. Frost was a bitter, cold man. Aside from his master, he didn¡¯t spare a thought for anyone. He especially was not one for pity. On the contrary, it was clear he looked on the normal folk as little more than insects. Why would he give the gift of mercy to a bunch of ordinary villagers he looked down on? ¡°Well, forget it. Hey, tomorrow how about you take it easy on me alright? This really hurts.¡± ¡°Another word and we give you two hundred more!¡± ¡°Alright! Alright¡­ so cruel.¡± 1. This is how it¡¯s written, although it has been explicitly stated that Eckard is not a demonhunter. However, I¡¯ll leave it as the author wrote it. 2. nsfw 3. In Chinese, shameless is called ¡®having thick face skin.¡¯ Here the author writes ¡®The skin of his face was so thick a knife couldn¡¯t cut it.¡¯ Book 2, Chapter 120 - Three Years in a Blink For six months, the members of Tartarus Squad were so badly beaten they could hardly lay down at night. Cloudhawk got the worst of it, but he was also the quickest to recover after each beating. Perhaps contrary to its intent, months of torment actually served to bring these conspirators closer together. Shared experiences deepened their respect for Cloudhawk, and they saw him as more than just a man of skill. He had the courage to stand up for what was right. What stuck out most in their mind was how he stood before Frost de Winter. Cloudhawk blocked the governor¡¯s own prot¨¦g¨¦, risking his life for mere villagers. In this world, the powerful were given respect. Squaring his shoulders against impossible odds and coming out on top earned him more esteem than anything he¡¯d done before, and now his people revered him, even though this was never Cloudhawk¡¯s intention. On this day, an assistant instructor came calling. He walked into Tartarus Squad¡¯s barracks and hollered. ¡°Cloudhawk! Someone¡¯s looking for you.¡± Eh? Who? He only pondered the question for a moment before two soldiers led him away, laid out on a stretcher. They brought him from the valley and out into a camp, nestled among the petrified trees of deadwood forest. There, a beautiful and regal young woman was waiting with eager expression. She¡¯d been waiting for quite a while. Before Cloudhawk even got close enough to see who she was, he recognized the resonance of her relics. ¡°So it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°Heh, of course it¡¯s me. Who else were you expecting?¡± Dawn Polaris only seemed to notice his state when the soldiers put the stretcher down. Cloudhawk was so badly beaten he was hard to look at. Her joy and seeing him after so long was replaced with consternation and concern. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t let me into the valley, I could only meet you out here. I heard about what happened. You definitely made some people very worried, I hope you haven¡¯t forgotten you¡¯re agreement to help me. Who am I going to get to replace you if you die out here?¡± Cloudhawk laid on the stretcher, too weak to move. He could only manage a slight shift one way or the other and each time he did his wounds reopened. He grumbled in irritation. ¡°Yeah, whatever. What did you come here for?¡± One of the assistants interrupted. ¡°You¡¯ve got five minutes. Four now.¡± Hell¡¯s Valley didn¡¯t allow family or other representatives into the valley, or to make any kinds of deliveries. Once trainees were enrolled in the system that was it. They typically weren¡¯t allowed to interact with the outside world until their time was up. Of course, the influence of the Polaris family was far-reaching and hard to ignore. Even so, the best she got was five minutes out here in the woods. ¡°You¡¯ve always got such an attitude. An important woman like me comes all the way out here to see you, the least you could do is show a little gratitude. It wasn¡¯t easy, you know. Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t make you acquainted with my sword.¡± Dawn was no less of a menace than Frost, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t fear her any more than he did the knight-commander. ¡°Of course, killing you doesn¡¯t help me any. You still owe me, remember!¡± She knew time was limited, so Dawn cut the banter and heaved a sack off her shoulder. ¡°Special delivery. You¡¯ve got food for Oddball and enough medicine to last you the rest of your time in Hell¡¯s Valley.¡± Her surprise provisions were unexpected. ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lie, it cost me a lot. I can¡¯t put it off anymore, two years of sequestered training in the Temple waits for me when I go back. By my calculations you owe me ten thousand gold by now. Including labor and interest, I¡¯m guessing it¡¯ll be triple that by the time you get back to Skycloud.¡± Dawn grinned wolfishly as she leaned down and patted Cloudhawk, an action that caused him to ooze more blood. She hissed threateningly at him through gritted teeth. ¡°So you better make sure you¡¯re still breathing, at least until you pay me back. Understood?¡± As unreasonable and domineering as she was, Dawn was the closest thing Cloudhawk had to a friend in all of Skycloud domain. He didn¡¯t like being in someone¡¯s debt, but he had to accept it. He could do without the medicine but at least it will help him improve faster. Oddball¡¯s food was different, necessary. Otherwise what would the poor thing eat? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m pretty tough to kill.¡± ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s settled!¡± Time was up. Five minutes didn¡¯t amount to much, they hardly had a chance to talk. After bidding farewell to Cloudhawk, Dawn set off back to Skycloud city. She¡¯d put off her mother as long as she could, now it was time to fulfill her end of the bargain. Two years locked away in the sanctuary. She would rather have been in prison, but there was a silver lining. There was a lot of talent coming up with the new generation, and they were growing quickly. How could someone as competitive as Dawn let the likes of Frost de Winter outshine her? When her isolation was over she¡¯d have to make a point of beating them all up, just to make sure they all knew who was boss. Especially Selene ¨C she still deserved a thrashing after what she did. *** ¡°General.¡± Mr. Ink made his way across the audience hall in the Polaris mansion. ¡°The young mistress has left for the Temple.¡± Skye ran a hand along his beard and grinned happily at the news. The girl was one of the most talented people of her generation, gifted in all areas. After briefly studying painting she produced beautiful works, with some guidance in music she composed masterful melodies. Nearly all the teachers who sought to instruct her were driven away in shame, and the reason was simple ¨C she surpassed all that they could teach, in almost no time. Dawn¡¯s talent, bloodline, and resources were so grand that her character was never imbued with a sense of determination. She had no ambition, no discipline, no perseverance. Her decision to serve penance in the sanctuary and finally commit to learning was something to celebrate. ¡°She went to Hell¡¯s Valley.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s fine. Without Cloudhawk, she would never have agreed to training in the Temple.¡± The family knew right away that she¡¯d gone to visit the wastelander in Hell¡¯s Valley, and they turned a blind eye. Skye had quickly learned that the poison they hoped could control Cloudhawk was useless. If his relationship to Dawn ¨C whether friendship or debt ¨C kept him tied to the Polaris family, then it worked just as well. What Skye did not know was Cloudhawk¡¯s recent run-in with Frost. However, he was able to use his connections to learn about what was happening with Cloudhawk while in the valley. He heard about how he¡¯d overcome the other students to come out ahead, and even the recalcitrant giants of Hell¡¯s Valley had to show him some consideration. All told, it looked like the young man was even more capable than Skye had originally given him credit for. It appeared the Polaris family had managed to snap up a real treasure. Skye was impressed, but he wanted an outside opinion. ¡°What do you think about Cloudhawk, Mr. Ink?¡± The mysterious man thought for a moment. ¡°His talent is comparable to the young mistress or Selene Cloude. It¡¯s a shame he has no sense of duty to the domain, nor any ties to speak of. Neither does he appear to have any ambition for power. It is likely he would flee to the wastelands if things became difficult for him here. This makes delegating any important matters to him inadvisable.¡± ¡°Fair and true points as always, Mr. Ink. It¡¯s the reason I sent him to Hell¡¯s Valley in the first place. There is no one immune to change, and it would be a pity if a fine piece of steel wasn¡¯t turned into a masterful blade.¡± Skye looked up, peering at nothing in particular. ¡°Everything¡¯s been prepared. When he graduates from training I will have a suitable mission for him, then name him Warden when the task is done. Talent like his needs a wider theater in order to make the best of them.¡± Warden was a title, the leader of a group under the Grand General¡¯s command called the Talons of God. It was an elite and secret group of rangers, as mysterious as the Court of Shadows and Hell¡¯s Army. ¡®Warden¡¯ was what they called their leader, and whoever held the post commanded meaningful influence. Mr. Ink paused when Skye revealed his intentions. ¡°If he should refuse?¡± ¡°A piece of steel that can¡¯t be made into a sword is no better than slag, and can be discarded.¡± Skye¡¯s words bore the weight of authority and finality. However, he quickly waved away the possibility. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I understand the boy he¡¯ll behave himself, at least for a while. Then when he¡¯s in it with both feet, he¡¯ll find out it¡¯s quite hard to get back out. Besides, I¡¯ll treat him well. Good talent must be put to good use.¡± Skye Polaris was a clever man. Cloudhawk might not like what was to come, but the furnaces burned no matter how the steel doth protested. *** Cloudhawk went back to training once he¡¯d recovered from the punishment. Teal Ridge was not the first such mission Hell¡¯s Army was called to perform, nor would it be the last. Although their execution caused somewhat of a stir, ultimately there wasn¡¯t much of a fuss from Skycloud. Cloudhawk never learned the fate of those villagers he saved, and he didn¡¯t much care. He just did what he felt was right, for him. What happened after that was out of his control, and none of his business. Training for Tartarus Squad was more severe and cruel than ever before. Cloudhawk had become a thorn in the valley¡¯s side and thus was carefully watched by the instructors. That being said, they were also careful not to push Cloudhawk too far. Irritating as he was, the young man had skill. When they reached a plateau during their own training, the trainers had no choice but to turn to him for guidance. In addition, stripping Cloudhawk of the title of captain hadn¡¯t accomplished much. There wasn¡¯t anyone in Tartarus Squad who came close to the reputation he enjoyed. He worked to make sure none of them got washed out of training, no matter how harsh or cruel the exercise became. He even gave them training tips on his spare time, which benefited them greatly. Thus the days dragged on. Because of how they conducted themselves the last time, Tartarus Squad never even had a hope of joining another mission. Missions like the one at Teal Ridge were rare anyway, and small missions didn¡¯t need any help from insubordinate trainees. After a time, Dawn eventually finished her own training regimen in the Temple. She came to visit him at Hell¡¯s Valley a few times afterward, as a representative of the Polaris family. She never learned about what happened in Teal Ridge. Aside from the most senior members of Skycloud¡¯s government, news of what really happened there was kept in strict confidence. Dawn¡¯s trips were ostensibly to bring Cloudhawk the medicine and feed he needed while in Hell¡¯s Valley, but of course they were never free. Dawn kept a detailed reporting of every copper Cloudhawk owed her. He racked up thousands of gold in debt in addition to three years of interest. By the time he got out he wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d ever got out from under these arrears. Three years passed, day after day, and all the while he never gave thought to the fact that these were the safest years of his life. It was not easy, but he was fed and had a secure place to lay his head. Everything in the world is relative. To most, a place like Hell¡¯s Valley lived up to its name. But to Cloudhawk, it was more like heaven. What would later be writ in the annals of history was this; in the years following, whether he liked it or not, Cloudhawk¡¯s life would be a string of plots, conspiracies, and momentous events. Book 2, Epilogue - Selene Cloude Wind kicked up clouds of dust, whipping across a barren mountain. There wasn¡¯t a spot of green to be seen in any direction. Scenes like this were as common as death out in the wastelands. A figure trudged up the mountain side and through a narrow canyon, stark against the light of the setting sun, leaning against the untamed wind. Though dim and obscure, there was something magical about the figure. Everywhere they went, the earth seemed to glow with vitality. Ever since she appeared in the wastelands, those who looked upon her thought all the beauty of the world had been given to her. Her ragged clothing did nothing to detract from her stunning presence. Skin pale and soft as a thousand miles of snow, touched with holy purity. Hair as dark as a raven¡¯s wing, a life-giving waterfall amidst the choking dust. Someone like her seemed out of place in this mortal world. So refined and alien to the blasted landscape. She was like an angel walking among craven devils, bringing light to lands where evil lurked. Wind sucked at her tattered cloak, making it snap and whistle. Delicate fingers were hidden in finely crafted gloves. A silver cross dangled around her neck. Her steps slowly ceased, though the wind gave her no quarter. The leather of her gloves creaked as she lifted them up and pulled down her hood. The face that was revealed would make the gods jealous. A pair of sharp eyes peered ahead through the canyon, sparkling like twin stars, cold as the moon and bright as the sun. Her gaze reached out like it could penetrate time and space. Fierce and indescribably beautiful. An angel in the service of the gods. ¡°Enough hiding. Show yourself.¡± Her voice was cold and otherworldly as it echoed off the rocks. A pair of figures emerged from behind boulders, one of whom was covered from head to toe in bandages. A single eyes was all that was visible. Three odd weapons were strapped to his back. The stranger was cloaked in a dangerous aura, and there was a feral sense to him that was as wild as their surroundings. The second one wore nothing but a large black cloak that hid him from view. There was nothing human about that one that she could sense. Wolfblade, and his golem. The Dark Atom¡¯s leader spoke first, his voice carried on the harsh winds. ¡°Lady Selene. You prove to have the same strength of character as Master Baldur.¡± Selene pulled her hood down, revealing a face stunning enough to eclipse the sun. I¡¯d been four years since she forsook the elysian lands for this evil place, but all her hardships hadn¡¯t left a trace. On the contrary, more than ever she was like a flower growing amidst the fetid swamp waters. Tribulations had scoured away all the excess, leaving only her most perfect beauty. She stared at this man, this terrorist who deserved death, yet her face betrayed no feeling. She calmly rejoined. ¡°Take me to him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry.¡± Wolfblade slowly unsheathed one of his swords. It was a strange weapon with three edges that began to rotate as she looked upon it. An energy gathered in its center until it culminated in a beam of intense light. ¡°I¡¯m curious to know just how strong the most talented woman in Skycloud really is.¡± This was the sword that cleaved open the walls of Hell¡¯s Valley. One could only imagine what it was capable of doing to a person. Selene¡¯s face was as unreadable as a statue¡¯s. The silver necklace slipped from around her delicate neck of its own accord, and she caught it in her left hand. She flicked the charm to her right palm and a smear of pure white light shot out, carving a trough through the dead earth. Her necklace became a sword of holy light ten meters long. More frightening still, the gash was so deep its bottom could not be easily seen. Wolfblade leapt into the air, both hands on the hilt of the energy weapon. As he brought it down Selene did not move. Instead, she smoothly brought her sword of light up to meet him. The two mighty weapons met. A blast of wind and force ensued, kicking up sand and shoving boulders. As the flood of power washed over her, Selene¡¯s tattered cloak disintegrated like petals in a bonfire. The ground beneath her feet cracked from the strain but she did not move. For a moment the two were locked in conflict, neither winning ground over the other, before a fanatical light began to burn behind Wolfblade¡¯s eyes. Gradually the power coursing through his energy sword grey until it was a searing beam of fury bearing down on the demonhunter. Every minute saw its terrible power grow! Yet, never once did Selene¡¯s stoic expression crack. A shell of holy light embraced her, and her dark hair danced on the whipping winds. She stood unwavering like a goddess, filled with majesty and grace. Suddenly her gloved hands blazed with red light, and flames swallowed her holy sword from hilt to blade. With its addition the power coursing through her weapon surged by several orders of magnitude. A thunderous noise arose, as though the whole mountain was groaning in protest. Stones split and jagged rock pelted the canyon floor. Wolfblade was forced to disengage and retreat. This young woman had stared down his energy sword and didn¡¯t blink. Her improvement since leaving Skycloud hadn¡¯t slowed in the least! But he wasn¡¯t done testing her. His mind turned. The black-cloaked golem stretched out a hand and released a pulse of magnetic blue light from his palm. It blasted toward Selene like a bombshell. Without breaking stride, Selene slapped it barehanded. Her burning angels released a gush of fiery energy at just the right instant, consuming the pulse entirely. A loud, shrill sound rang through the canyon! Wolfblade¡¯s face was lit by a column of fire that shot from Selene and into the skies overhead. As the fires raged higher they transformed into a phoenix eight meters wing to wing. Each feather was clear and distinguishable, a lick of flame that fluttered in the wind. The bird was obviously a thing of fire, but it seemed as alive as any other creature. The blazing phoenix dove right toward the metal man, smashing into his chest with a shuddering blast. The intense heat immediately reduced his black cloak to ash! The fires raged as they engulfed him, blackening the canyon walls. The slate first turned angry red then began to drip like wax in an oven. Soon the sides of the canyon bowed outwards like they were trying to escape the fires. Magna gathered underfoot and the air warped from the intense heat. Selene was wreathed in flame. Slowly, she raised the burning sword in her right hand and pointed it at her opponent. ¡°Do you wish to go on?¡± [1] Wolfblade conceded without a fuss. ¡°I¡¯m beaten. I underestimated you. You aren¡¯t the next Baldur, you¡¯re better. Anyone else, and I would spare no effort to make sure you died now before you became a problem later. But you¡­ tut-tut, well. We shouldn¡¯t keep him waiting.¡± Dark Atom¡¯s leader returned his weapon to its sheath. His golem trundled over, unscathed though he¡¯d just waded through a lake of fire. The slightest frown pulled at the corners of Selene¡¯s lips. She knew what her fires could do. The strongest steel became liquid, but this metal monstrosity seemed unfazed. It made sense ¨C for the Dark Atom to cause Skycloud so much trouble for so long, they had to have many secrets. The two walked into a small crevice that smelled of sulfur. Rivers of magma lazily flowed through it. Colder air turned the surface an angry black, but one could easily see the molten rock through the cracks. Its unstable coating often fractured and rearranged itself. A careless step would be a dire mistake in this place. A small path intersected by burning rivulets meandered toward the center of the magma lake. Wolfblade picked his way carefully along, leading Selene deeper in. He stopped before the entrance to a grotto and slipped a strange token into an indentation. A grinding sound answered, the sound of stone on stone, as before them emerged a thick metal door. When Wolfblade pulled it open, he revealed a pitch black maw leading deeper into the mountain¡¯s heart. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± A voice whispered from the darkness, sinister and magnetic. Ripe with charm and wisdom. A tall and voluptuous figure slipped from the shadows as though she were shedding a dress. Long, silver-grey hair tumbled down her shoulders, the same color as her eyes. Their pale color did not detract from the sharp gleam that twinkled in their depths, in fact they seemed to radiate a hazy beauty. Hard to define. A pair of complex-looking pistols hung from her waist, which were oddly paired with the researcher¡¯s goggles perched on her head. ¡°You¡¯re Selene? As elegant as I expected. My name is Hellflower.¡± This mature, intellectual and attractive woman flashed a captivating smile. ¡°His Excellency, the Caliph of the Sands, awaits inside. He¡¯s expecting you.¡± Selene followed without a word. ¡°So calm, knowing you¡¯re about to meet a demon. The young demonhunter has grown a lot in her time out here in the wastelands. It makes me wonder how he¡¯s doing¡­¡± Hellflower stared absently at Selene¡¯s back, lost in thought for a moment. Her eyes then turned to Wolfblade ¨C or more specifically, the weapons strapped to his back. ¡°Your bodyguard is an interesting fellow. I¡¯ve picked through countless ruins and I¡¯ve never seen toys like these before.¡± Wolfblade cast her a look over his shoulder with his one exposed eye. ¡°Does it excite you?¡± She grinned at him, a flirtatious smirk that was both dangerous and alluring. ¡°I¡¯m not like the two of you. I¡¯m just a Seeker, so all manner of technology excites me.¡± Wolfblade nodded. ¡°Then you can have it.¡± That was not what she was expecting. ¡°What?¡± Hellflower blinked at him. ¡°It¡¯s the last time we¡¯ll ever meet,¡± Wolfblade replied. When he said it the metal golem stopped in his tracks. Wolfblade handed her one of his precious swords ¨C artifacts of immeasurable value ¨C without a second thought. He didn¡¯t even give it a longing glance as he walked further into the cave, disappearing into the darkness. Orange light flickered off the dark walls, giving the unsettling impression that magma would burst from them at any moment. Waiting in the deepest recesses was a ferocious figure whose eyes burned like coal. They were fixed on Selene. ¡°If you¡¯ve sought me out, it means you¡¯ve seen the tip of the iceberg. What do you think so far?¡± She stood calmly beneath the demon¡¯s gaze. Slowly, her hands curled into fists but then relaxed. ¡°I need to know the truth.¡± ¡°If that is your reason for coming, then I¡¯m afraid I must disappoint you. I cannot give you the truth. That is something only you can find.¡± ¡°What can you tell me about what happened?¡± The creature¡¯s voice was strange, both echoing and coming in layers ¨C a dozen voices whispering over one another. He never moved an inch. ¡°Both Baldur and Sterling were tasked with hunting me down. However, it seems they discovered something else in the process. It killed one and maimed the other, but what it was¡­ I do not know.¡± ¡°But you must have some clue.¡± ¡°If you really desire to discover what happened, then it will do no harm for me to reveal it to you. Your fallen father had a very unique relic. It spat green fire that devoured the body and consumed the mind. I have heard tell that information as to its whereabouts can be found in the borderlands. Perhaps that is where you should begin. What¡¯s more, your uncle Sterling disappeared after returning to Skycloud. If you were to find his whereabouts, then he could tell you what they found.¡± A relic of green fire, devouring body and mind? She¡¯d never heard of any relic like that. But she didn¡¯t spend too much pondering it, either. Selene turned and made to leave. Wolfblade was next. The Caliph of the Sands remained seated on his stone dais as Wolfblade placed several shards of something before him. With some inspection one could tell it used to be a skull. ¡°It seems-¡° ¡°I see.¡± The Caliph never moved, but the shards of the skull seemed to react to his will. They rose up off the floor and pieced themselves together. As the fractured bone hovered before him, the demon looked into its empty sockets. It was as though he was peering back a thousand years, eye to eye with the giant this skull once belonged to. ¡°My splendid king. Ever since you fell our species has waned. Why have you chosen a human?¡± The inert shards floated before him, silent. No response was forthcoming. ¡°But I have faith in my king¡¯s judgment.¡± The dark-robed monster swiped its clawed hand, and the skull disintegrated into dust, borne away on the stagnant wind. All the while Wolfblade stood speechlessly to one side. Retrieving that artifact had not been easy, only for the demon to smash it apart moments after its delivery. The Caliph¡¯s smoldering eyes turned onto him. ¡°Have you considered the offer?¡± Wolfblade did not hesitate, dropping to one knee. ¡°I accept.¡± The demon nodded approvingly. His rumbling voice bounced through the shadow-shrouded cavern. ¡°Very good. There will be things you must forfeit, but all sacrifice has value. You will reap much in return.¡± Wolfblade knelt before his master in silent gratitude. [1] 1.0.0 1. A note from Tipsy Wanderer: I¡¯d like to take this opportunity for a brief chat. Several readers have expressed dissatisfaction with our protagonist, saying he is too weak in strength and character. If we confirm to mainstream writing tropes then the main character should be able to overcome any challenge, defeat any challenger. Women should throw themselves at him in droves. While this may be more marketable and appeasing ¨C and frankly easier for me ¨C it would make for a ¡®comfortable¡¯ story instead of an ¡®excellent¡¯ one. The style I¡¯ve chosen is more challenging, more probing. I am hoping to find a marriage between good story-telling and a crowd-pleasing narrative. The hardest part of the creation of this novel is not its theme or conception. It¡¯s being asked to confirm to a prescribed way of thinking. Anyone who¡¯s ever written a story will know that it¡¯s a very subjective process. Infusing a product with the ideas of several people is counter-productive. Truth be told, there are many characters and settings I¡¯m not pleased with. I would have preferred replacing them with other, frankly more inspired ideas. However, they had to be changed in the interest of working with a director and sticking to the script. It has definitely made things more challenging, but I¡¯m still confident that the eight hundred thousand words that will comprise this tale are just beginning. I continue to strive to compose a grand epic, and I hope to have everyone¡¯s support. The next installment will probably appear online next year. Something for you to look forward to. Book 3, Prologue - Sandbars Magistrate The borderlands, where the wastelands and the elysian lands met. It was a haven for wasteland refugees, and felons escaping the harsh rule of law in Skycloud domain. Because it was not part of the holy territories, the elysian soldiers didn¡¯t get involved in trivial matters. However, thanks to its proximity, the scourge of murder and exploitation that plagued the wastelands couldn¡¯t take root. Although it could not be said that the borderlands were lawless, life was much less restrictive than citizens on the other side of the wall had to endure. Well, that was before. Circumstances in the borderlands had started to change. The reason for that was Frost de Winter¡¯s war against the Dark Atom. For the last three years, Skycloud¡¯s illustrious demonhunter had led campaign after campaign through the wilds, rooting out the terrorist cells as he found them. Before long, half of the Dark Atom¡¯s forces had been eliminated. It was the worst blow to their troops in a decade. Then came the Massacre of Teal Ridge, a sensationalized account perpetrated by godless heathens. It constituted the bloodiest tragedy to happen within elysian borders in years. It caused a storm among the people with deep implications, and stirred up unprecedented hatred toward the terrorist organization. It was a foreboding sign of the deepening conflict between Skycloud and its enemies. The governor and his people used this as justification to increase the domain¡¯s defenses, and their capability to fight back. Part of that included heightening their focus on the borderlands. Border soldiers were increased by no less than fifty percent, and countless more checkpoints were established. The Sandbar became one such checkpoint. This typical borderlands outpost became a hub for elysian soldiers as they moved through on their missions, while still remaining a haven for derelicts and fugitives. A surveillance station were erected and manned, and over three years soldiers ballooned to over five hundred strong. It was built beside the outpost and was directed by the Magistrate. There were clear signs of improvement since the surveillance team arrived. Today the soldiers of what they now called Sandbar Station had gathered for a meal. After their prayers, huge plates of roast meat and second-rate wine were passed around. Subpar wasteland fair, to be sure, but no turned their nose up to the feast. They tucked in, shoving chunks of food into their mouths and washing it down with gulps of wine. ¡°Congratulations to the Magister for another great success!¡± Several officers raised their glasses in salute. Indeed, the most recent cell of terrorist wouldn¡¯t have been found without their leader¡¯s masterful direction. The Dark Atom had spent three years doggedly attacking the outpost, and now seemed totally dispirited. Skycloud domain¡¯s military support had been unwavering, and it was no secret to these men that their recent rewards and success was thanks to that fact. ¡°The Magister has eyes like a hawk.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, he saw right through their disguise like it was effortless!¡± The focus on their praise sat at the head of the table, a proud smile on his face. Strangely, his image did not quite coincide with the heroic praise his soldiers were spewing. He was a tall, large man ¨C but large like a humanoid meatball. He had to be nearly three hundred pounds. His round head sat in a cradle of rolls and a few spares hair jutted out from the top of his head. His lack of hair made the thirty-something Magistrate look almost twice his age. An image like this did not serve to bring majesty to god¡¯s glory. Typically his sort would not be given much praise, much less a promotion to such a prestigious position as Magistrate. But none dared say such a thing. At least in this stretch of territory, everyone gave obeisance to the man. They even called him ¡®Uncle Seacrest.¡¯¡± To think, only three years prior this influential man was a mere guard captain ¨C the lowest grade of officer in the armed forces. Before becoming what he was today, he lived for years as a soldier from a humble home, always struggling but never succeeding to win favor. One of his officers couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Magistrate, what¡¯s your story? Tell us how to follow in your footsteps!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing you can learn!¡± The fat man¡¯s face was tinged red with inebriation. He guffawed loudly as he went on. ¡°It was all thanks to him, and that fateful mission. Otherwise I would have remained unknown, and none of this would be. The greatest lesson I can offer is be ready. When opportunity comes you grab it with both hands. Soldiers like us, with no family or background, we have no one to rely on but ourselves.¡± The officers all nodded their heads in agreement. Was now not just such an opportunity? Once the Dark Atom was eliminated once and for all, these surveillance posts would be disbanded and they would be recalled to serve in elysian territory. Other than serving at the border crossings, would accolades could they win then? The Magistrate¡¯s words were clear: now was their time! Hammont Seacrest was a wise man. Those who¡¯d served with him the longest knew what he was talking about. Hammont had always been a small man of no consequence. Years of service in the army had only seen him rise to the rank of captain, until an opportunity fell in his lap. It came in the form of a mysterious demonhunter they came upon on patrol. He led them to a secret Dark Atom cell, and together they foiled the terrorists¡¯ nefarious plot. When it was done the demonhunter disappeared ¨C gone as quick as he¡¯d come. Accolades were lain upon Hammont from on high and he was quickly promoted. But it was not enough. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Dark Atom was completely destroyed, and then all of this would be gone. When he was reassigned, it would at best be as a lieutenant. His aspirations had always been to become a general. Years of effort had been toward that goal. So, even with the title of Magistrate and command over five hundred men, he never relaxed. He was still so far from where he had to be. If he just kept working as hard as he could, eventually his efforts would be recognized. Hammont had held the post of Magistrate for a year already. In that time he¡¯d managed to hunt down and apprehend twenty hardened criminals, uncover thirty smuggling operations, and broke up several dens of scavengers picking through ruins for contraband. Merit followed upon merit, and now capturing these Dark Atom spies he was coming close to earning at least a low-level general¡¯s appointment. He just needed one more¡­ one more sensational achievement that would capture the eye of his superiors. That was all it would take. Then he would find himself a pretty wife with a slim waist, and then what else could a man ask for? Only, it was all easier said than done. The thought caused Uncle Seacrest to heave a sigh. An opportunity like the one from three years ago wasn¡¯t going to come just because he asked for it. How long would he have to wait? One of his soldiers popped his head into the hall to give a report. ¡°Magistrate, the spies questioning has been completed. They¡¯ve been given over to the cleric for execution in the town center.¡± ¡°Execution?¡± Hammont thought for a moment. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Four men, badly tortured and covered in wounds, hunched on a dais awaiting trial. By the time Hammont and his officers arrived, a crowd had already gathered. They had all come for the spectacle. After all, spies were a careful breed and in the last two years there had only been a handful captured. Whenever they were, it fell to the members of the church to deliver their final moments. A middle-aged priest, wrapped in a red cassock, stood before them with a book in his hands. He towered imperiously over the four men and read out their sins for the crowd. He named them blasphemers, and members of a terrorist organization at war with the will of the gods. Their sentencing went on for a good ten minutes. ¡°These are all capital offences,¡± the priest accused. He stood before the oldest of the spies and bellowed with a voice like thunder. ¡°Do you repent?¡± All four of the men looked absolutely terrified. Scared though they were, in their hearts they remained steadfast. They would die, no matter what they said or did. There was no mercy to be found here, so silence was maintained. To the crowd, this made them as good as guilty. Terrorists like them were idealists, and now that they were caught they would not give up on the only thing they had left, their faith. ¡°Purify them!¡± ¡°Purify them!¡± The people cried for blood. ¡°Almighty gods in heaven. Please, heed my prayer!¡± The red priest opened the book in his hands. With a deep and solemn voice, he began to read for the passages therein. He came to the last sentence. ¡°Let the heavens convey upon these sinners its holy fire, to wash the sin from their black souls!¡± All of a sudden, all four men opened their mouths, and a blood-curdling chorus of screams poured forth. Cheers answered from the crowd. Some were excited, and some afraid, at the eminent display of divine wrath. The damned burst into columns of baleful green fire. This fire did not come from outside, but burst out from within their sin-stained bodies like broken water balloons. Flames erupted from bubbling flesh, belched from their mouths and eyes and ears, until it consumed them completely. The smell of cooking meat caused many onlookers to wretch. It didn¡¯t matter how strong they were in their ideals, the men could not will away the hungry fires. They burned for a while even after their piteous cries had stopped and their bodies had turned to cinders. Only once all that remained was ash did the green fires die. ¡°May their lost souls be cleansed, and find peace.¡± The red priest¡¯s face was a mask of despair, bemoaning this necessary incident. He turned back to the crowd and read once more from his book, the same old tales that struck fear in the hearts of the pious. It served well to build the confidence of believers, but had little effect on others. Hammont watched the whole thing. It was the fourth time he¡¯d watched an execution like this, ever since finding the old spy three years ago. It shocked him every time. He couldn¡¯t explain where the fires came from, once the priest levied judgement. Was it really the power of the god of judgement? If it was, he shuddered at its terrible manifestation.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 1 - The Arrogant Store Owner Magistrate Seacrest called back the patrols. They hadn¡¯t found anything out of the ordinary. However, as they were preparing to return to barracks, the sounds of an argument arose from behind. Two soldiers came staggering their way, covering bloody noses. The Sandbar was well known to have more than a few characters hidden among the populace, but there were few with the gall to assault elysian soldiers. This was especially true after the surveillance outpost was established. It was no wonder, then, that some onlookers watched the scene with gloating expressions on their faces. Fuck! Who did this? This was a clear slap in the Magistrate¡¯s face! Hammont was so angry all three hundred pounds of his doughy body shook. Only, his pudgy face and bald head, along with his round body, made him seem more comical than indignant. His wide green-bean eyes were even more amusing. He howled at the crowd around him. ¡°What the hell are you all looking at?! Disperse!¡± He turned his attention back onto the soldiers who¡¯d embarrassed him. ¡°What happened? And don¡¯t tell me you got in a scuffle with some mongrel.¡± ¡°Magistrate.¡± The men saluted, cowing beneath their superior officer¡¯s severe gaze. One of them honked a report through his battered nose. ¡°We were following a lead from an informant. There¡¯s been word of a suspicious person new to town transporting a bunch of illegal goods. When we get to investigate this guy wouldn¡¯t cooperate. He even hit us! His people are more than we could handle.¡± ¡°What? Who would dare be so arrogant?¡± Hammont¡¯s already beady eyes almost disappeared when he narrowed them. He put one hand on the hilt of his sword and pointed at his patrol with the other. ¡°You, you, you, and you. I¡¯ll give you five minutes to gather the others. You two, explain everything to me from beginning to end. Now what happened?¡± ¡°The suspect was openly purchasing guns, ammunition and banned substances. He then turned around and started a black market stall. We followed up on a tip from an information that led us to him. We found that aside from trafficking contraband, he also sells army materials and even fragments of relics.¡± Hammont¡¯s mouth trembled with rage. The Sandbar wasn¡¯t the place it used to be! Who didn¡¯t know that he was in charge now? Even the stronger ones hiding among the people had to bend the knee or suffer harassment from his soldiers. But even if they didn¡¯t respect the authority of the inspection force, they had to fear the forces stationed at the nearby border! What about the whole Skycloud army?! Who would dare spit in the eye of that?! Sandbar Station was still mostly lawless, where petty crimes remained rampant. There wasn¡¯t anything they could do about that, really. After all, this wasn¡¯t Skycloud. Nothing they did was going to change that fact, nor was Hammont going to completely shut down the supply chains that kept black market dealers in business. But whoever this guy was, he dared to do it right in front of their faces?! But what was most unforgivable was selling elysian military supplies! And relics! Crimes like that were not small infractions. If someone used these goods or weapons for evil it would be traced back here. As Magistrate, Hammont would be held responsible and all his work would be destroyed. He didn¡¯t care that this criminal would burn at the stake, the problem was this man was going to ruin all of the Magistrate¡¯s career goals! He was furious. A dozen more soldiers arrived as he was learning the rest of the story. The Magistrate was anxious to learn who would have the gall to piss on his head like this and not fear retribution. The two soldiers, after being thoroughly embarrassed, were ready to exact vengeance as the Magistrate gathered their people. Over the last few years, Hammont had done well by the Sandbar. Things were cleaner, more orderly, and the streets reflected that. The population here had increased by a hundred percent since his days as a patrol captain and all manner of shops have sprung up to meet the demand. They came upon a nondescript corner in a poor part of town. ¡°Is this it?¡± ¡°Yes sir, this is the place.¡± ¡°A group of you stay here and surround the exterior. Don¡¯t let anyone through, in or out. You, you and you, with me!¡± A dozen soldiers cordoned off the corner as instructed while Hammont led three men inside. The entrance was only wide enough for one person to pass through at a time, and narrow enough that Hammont had to struggle to squeeze his girth through. But before he even managed to shuffle in, his nose was assailed by a peculiar smell. Gunpowder. Mixed with engineering oil. There was also a noise, too harsh in tone to be elysian made. Clearly it had to have been made by some other technology. Contraband! A trove of illegal goods! It was strictly forbidden for any old technology to be dug up, researched, or sold. It was even more illegal for it to be sold. When Hammont finally managed to trundle inside the shop¡¯s contents were revealed. All sorts of items were hung on the walls and laid out to peruse. Various gun parts, oil-fueled mechanics ¨C clearly a sort of taboo general store. To establish a place like this is so short a time was nothing short of conceited. The place was illuminated by an old electric lantern, covered in grit. The melodies were coming from a gramophone. A slightly warped record spun slowly on the turn table. It was obvious by looking at it that the tech wasn¡¯t old. Some wastelander must have dug up the plans and built one themselves. Not the most difficult task, but still a rare find. Hammont hadn¡¯t expected to find one in this place. A pretty girl with long legs and a round bottom served as the shop¡¯s clerk. She was tinkering with the equipment. Hammont rumbled a demand at her through his meaty throat. ¡°Where¡¯s your boss?! Get them out here this instant!¡± A slurred and languorous voice answered from the back. The words were slow and easy, with stretched out syllables. ¡°What¡¯s with aaall that sshhouting! Can¡¯cha see I¡¯m busy?¡± The presumed store owner was lounging on a rattan chair. Two more attractive young women were kneading his shoulders. He seemed perfectly happy, even despite Hammont¡¯s rude interruption. The man rolled his head up to look at the Magistrate, an act which seemed more exhausting than it should have. Another one of the shop assistants snorted awake from dozing in the corner and rose to his feet. This one was the only man. He was a big and lithe fellow with blond hair and blue eyes, and skin white as milk. He was handsome, especially with that constantly bashful expression pasted on his face. He was an impressive sight but otherwise seemed pretty delicate, even his voice wasn¡¯t very loud. All in all he seemed like an unexceptional bookworm. However the blonde man was not the least bit perturbed by the men in armor, nor their combative postures. He even yawned impatiently and slurred at them as he neared. ¡°Hey there officer. See anything ya like? Take a look around! Any questions, just ask.¡± The Magistrate was half a breath from blowing his top. These criminals were peddling their contraband right before his eyes, like it was the most normal thing the world! It was open contempt for his authority! ¡°What hole did you rats crawl out of?¡± Hammont pulled his sword from its sheath. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play with you. Keep up your games and see if I don¡¯t kill you were you stand! The women stopped with anxious looks on their faces. Yet, the owner remained in his chair completely unconcerned. One hand rested on the small of a woman¡¯s back, and with the other he waved toward the shop assistant. ¡°Another mutt making noise? Gabby, get rid of him!¡± The golden haired young man turned to the soldiers, then threw his hands up and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, it seems like the boss doesn¡¯t feel like entertaining. I think you should leave. To avoid any unnecessary trouble.¡± Hammont raised his sword to hack at the upstart. He stopped when he heard a rattle, and the blade of his weapon tumbled to the ground in several pieces. The tip lodged into the ground with a thud. The Magistrate pulled his hand back and looked at the hilt of his weapon with wide eyes. His expression was one of utter disbelief. He didn¡¯t understand ¨C it was like his sword just decided to fall apart on its own. His attention snapped back up when he felt a gust of wind, and suddenly the feeble-looking blonde man was right in front of him. Quick as a specter, his hand latched onto his throat and began to squeeze through the many layers of fat. The shop assistant was faster and more cunning than anyone Hammont had come across before. But the former guard captain was no slouch either. He swung his arm around and broke the blonde man¡¯s choke-hold, then stumbled back a few meters. ¡°Ey?¡± The blonde man looked surprised that the fatty had slipped from his grasp. There weren¡¯t many low-level footpads that could, after all. It looked like there was more to this meatball than rolls of lard. Hammont took several steps back. His face was a mix of blue and red and he gulped for breath. It was already very clear who was the superior fighter between the two, and he was afraid today he might have met his match. Still, he adopted a tough posture. ¡°I am Hammont Seacrest, Magistrate of Sandbar Station, under the protection of Skycloud domain. You are trafficking in illegal materials and breaking the law, and you¡¯ve just assaulted an officer. Do you understand the consequences of what you¡¯ve done?¡± The blonde assistant idly rubbed his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me like that. This is the borderlands, there¡¯s no use using the elysian boogeyman here. Out here its fists that do the talking, and you seem to know a thing or two. Come on, let¡¯s see what you got.¡± The assistant rushed at him again, but every movement seemed erratic and hard to read. It left Hammont confused, unsure how to defend. He was sure this fight was over before it even begun, but suddenly it was stopped by a languid call from the rattan chair. ¡°Wait a minute. What did you say your name was?¡± The blonde haired man¡¯s fingers were inches from Hammont¡¯s eyes. If the shop owner had been half a second later his assistant would have plucked them right out of his skull.It¡¯d been a very long time since Hammont had encountered someone with this sort of skill. Sweat was pouring off his forehead. The shop owner waved the girls away, rose to his feet, and slowly walked over to the Magistrate. The man¡¯s face was completely unfamiliar. Black eyes and hair, a black beard, tanned skin. He bore a rather sardonic expression and a handsome enough face. Hammont figured he had to be around twenty years old. A small pudgy bird with golden feathers hopped up and down his shoulder. There was a strange air about him ¨C a sort of untamed, feral dignity. Like a proud alpha wolf. Or a hawk, just come of age, with its wings spread and spirit free. Book 3, Chapter 2 - The Secret Mission Time flowed. Places transformed. Scenery altered. People changed. Cloudhawk had forgotten exactly how old he was. It wasn¡¯t strange, the wasteland didn¡¯t care how old you were. When he first clawed his way out of the ruins and into the world of mercenaries, he was about fifteen ¨C give or take. Of course it was hard to tell, malnutrition had made him emaciated and pale. Everyone looked older with one foot in the grave. From the ruins to Blackflag Outpost. Escaping to Greenland, then all that came after. It was hard to believe it¡¯d been only four years. So Cloudhawk figured he had to be somewhere around twenty by now. A lot had changed in four years, and more was on the horizon. Twenty was often a year of transition. The path fate led him down was littered with stories, and all sorts of experiences. They washed the sheen of youthful ignorance from him, leaving a man in its place. The scrounger he had been was not the man he¡¯d become. But his eyes ¨C those never changed. Those sharp black eyes filled with wisdom and confidence shined brighter as ever. Hammont stared back at the young man, struggling with an odd feeling. This stranger was calm, almost flippant, and yet the Magistrate couldn¡¯t shake the sensation that he was surrounded by peril. Beneath that, there was also a sense of something familiar, but where would he have met this young man before? Hammont definitely would have remembered someone with his kind of presence. Yet no matter how he wracked his brain, the answer eluded him. ¡°Who are you?!¡± Sandbar Station¡¯s Magistrate decided it was time to be prudent. There was too much that made him uncomfortable about this man. It wasn¡¯t until he looked him over and saw the tattered grey cloak hanging on his shoulders that it clicked. The revelation struck him like a truck. His mind went blank. Hammont would remember that cloak all the rest of his life. He remembered the first time he saw it. Three years ago, but it might as well have been yesterday. Was this the man¡­ No, impossible. His body type was totally different. That masked stranger had been practically skin and bone, maybe a hundred and seventy centimeters tall. Nothing like the man before him now, who was muscled and closer to a hundred and eighty centimeters. But he kept ruminating. If his guess that the stranger was twenty was right, three years ago would have made him about sixteen. It was totally plausible for someone to change in that time, even drastically. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Hammy. Having trouble remembering me?¡± Cloudhawk produced a mask from nowhere as if by magic, and slipped it over his face. Instantly the gravely, unsettling voice he remembered from so long ago returned. ¡°You¡¯ve done well for yourself.¡± ¡°It is you!¡± The moment he saw the mask there was no doubt. He threw his sword to the ground and fell to his knees, both making an audible thud. As he prostrated himself before the young man, everyone else gaped at the scene. ¡°Your humble servant is here to serve your whim, Master Demonhunter!¡± Confused stares were passed all around. Skycloud society followed strict rules of etiquette, and it was expected for lower ranking men and women to salute their superiors. Kneeling was another thing altogether, reserved for those times when someone leagues above made an appearance. At those times it was customary to bow on one knee, even for someone like the Governor. Both knees was only typical when worshiping the gods. The Magistrate was a man of determination, resolute in word and action. He might not have been very high ranking in the army, but he wielded his influence here like an emperor. Even the powerful had to pay their respects. Seeing him now, bowing before in a criminal in open reverence, was completely out of character. Hammont veritably gushed with flattery. ¡°I-it¡¯s nothing. All thanks to milord¡¯s efforts. None of it would be possible without what you did. What brings milord back to us after three long years?¡± Cloudhawk fished out two tokens from his pockets. The first was a demonhunter¡¯s token, marking Cloudhawk as a member of the order. The second was the insignia of Grand General Skye Polaris¡¯ ¡®Talons of God¡¯. ¡°The general has entrusted me and my men to execute a special mission. I report directly to him, and have been given authority to appropriate your soldiers as needed.¡± Hammont¡¯s face changed as the reality dawn on him. Three years ago he already knew this man was no normal demonhunter, but this!? The Talons were a secret force under the direct supervision of Grand General Skye that was second only to the Court of Shadows in might. Cloudhawk was their Warden, a title that bore no less weight than a low-ranking general, and came with more prestige. Hammont looked around, confusion clear on his face. ¡°But, if milord is here for a mission. Why¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s above your pay grade. There¡¯s a reason for what I do. Are you saying you expect me to run everything I do by you?¡± This caused the Magistrate to vomit apologies and trip over his own tongue to say it was unnecessary. Cloudhawk ignored him and went on. ¡°In brief, our mission is an important one and we expect you to offer any assistance you can to see it through. Failure is not a result you can afford.¡± Hammont didn¡¯t hesitate to nod his head, so fast the rolls of fat threatening to completely swallow his neck. He rolled his eyes up toward Cloudhawk sheepishly. ¡°Milord, y-your humble servant would never presume to ask anything but what was necessary. I only want to contribute the best I can.¡± Dreams of that general¡¯s star on his lapel danced through Hammont¡¯s mind. He had proved himself time and time again, he just needed one more crowning achievement. One success that would turn heads and catch his superiors¡¯ attention. It seems the gods had listened to his prayers. What was Cloudhawk other than just such an opportunity? Cloudhawk¡¯s face was plastered with a beguiling grin. The fat man¡¯s ambition was as naked as his eating problem, but he didn¡¯t mind. In fact, he¡¯d been looking for him. He asked directly. ¡°What do you know about the Crimson Church?¡± Sandbar¡¯s Magistrate replied promptly and respectfully. ¡°The Crimson Church isn¡¯t its real name. They call themselves the Sanctum of Judgement. Its founder is called the Crimson One, so the people call it the Crimson Church. They¡¯re very active here in the borderlands, the wastelands too. They send missionaries everywhere to evangelize for their god and punish non-believers. Over the last few years we¡¯ve seen their influence grow. Its presence has helped us here in the Sandbar.¡± ¡°You wanted to know why we¡¯re here, right? Then I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Suddenly, Cloudhawk paused. The bird on his shoulder took flight and perched on a nearby window sill, taking up position to ward against prying eyes and ears. ¡°The Grand General¡¯s instructors were very clear. We¡¯ve come to learn everything we can about the Sanctum of Judgement.¡± Hammont¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Investigate the Church? Why!?¡± ¡°The red priest claims to be an attendant in service of the God of Judgement. In the name of spreading his word, he¡¯s come here to convert and gather followers. Lately he¡¯s been very successful, and this has attracted Skycloud¡¯s attention. There¡¯s evidence to suggest the red priest is more than just a missionary. So they sent me to learn the truth.¡± Hammont was stunned. He¡¯d come to investigate a holy organization? It was no secret that the red priest wielded tremendous influence out here in the borderlands. He was practically synonymous with Divine Will. Investigating such a man and doing it quietly would be very difficult, if not impossible. Needless to say, word of this would cause a sensation in Skycloud domain. If he could help this master demonhunter discover the truth behind the organization, it would surely be enough to get the promotion he was so desperate for. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes at the large man. ¡°Are you afraid? I can find someone else.¡± ¡°N-no, no!¡± Hammont was again nearly choked on his efforts to ingratiate himself with the Warden. ¡°Anything you need, sir¡¯s ever whim is your humble servant¡¯s desire. I¡¯ll climb a mountain of swords or swim through a lake of fire. I can organize men right away to learn whatever you need about the Crimson Church!¡± Cloudhawk answered with a grunt. ¡°Get to work then. But remember, no one can know what we¡¯re doing. Even if your efforts are exposed you cannot ¨C under any circumstances ¨C reveal who I am or that we¡¯re even here. If you do, you¡¯ll face court martial.¡± ¡°Understood, sir!¡± The rotund Magistrate nearly bounced for joy as he left the shop. His captains were completely baffled by the exchange. Were they letting this guy go? How were they supposed to explain that? What about all the contraband they were selling? When faced with the inevitable questions, Hammont barked at them. ¡°Is there half a brain among you lot?! Do you think any normal citizen can get their hands on all that military surplus? They could only do that with the backing of Skycloud¡¯s government. It¡¯s been set up to resupply soldiers as they go through Sandbar for missions. From now on no one is to bother them, do you understand?¡± ¡°But the illegal goods-¡° ¡°There¡¯s always a reason for it. They¡¯re using it as bait, and those who buy and sell those goods are recorded. Or are you morons too pig-headed to understand? Now let¡¯s go, we have work to do!¡± Contrary to the Magistrate¡¯s curses, his officers were not stupid. They understood what was going on from the look on the Magistrate¡¯s face. Few things proved to be intractable for Hammont in his domain, so for him to turn a blind-eye meant it was something big. The only other person who got that sort of treatment was a bar owner named Adder. Adder¡¯s history and motives were a mystery to everyone. Hammont never made much of an effort to cause him trouble, though, and that spoke volumes. Now this young guy shows up, but he¡¯s different. The Magistrate didn¡¯t just fear him, he worshipped him. Sandbar Station¡¯s chief officer was a¡­ broad fellow, with his hand in many proverbial pies. But he was also a soldier, and had all the dignity that came with the territory. If the shop owner had been some random traitor, Hammont definitely would not have reacted like he did. The only explanation was that the young man had to be someone important from Skycloud domain. If that was the case, what else could they say? Nothing. The portly Magistrate led his people away. Gabriel absent wiped down one of the tables as he spoke. ¡°Do you think the big man¡¯s reliable?¡± Cloudhawk was fiddling with the gramophone. The way he handled it showed his reverence. For a moment he just shut his eyes, and lost himself in the sounds that washed over him. Nodding his head in satisfaction, he finally replied. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t look down on Hammy. He¡¯s a capable guy. Besides, it¡¯s much more convenient to conspire with the snake when your business involves digging through dirt. Sometimes, they surprise you. Let him lay the groundwork, it¡¯s better than us going in blind. Right, that¡¯s enough chatter. How much money do we have left?¡± ¡°Not a lot. A few dozen gold pieces.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go have a few drinks. Maybe we¡¯ll find a few nice lookin¡¯ ladies and have ourselves a good time.¡± Cloudhawk turned to the shop girls and told them to look after the place. Together he and Gabriel wandered through the streets until they came upon a place with a familiar sign. When he looked at the bar¡¯s fa?ade Cloudhawk went silent for a moment. It hadn¡¯t changed at all. He wondered if the people inside it had. Book 3, Chapter 3 - The Bar Sandbar¡¯s local drinking hole was much like any other. Primped and pretty barmaids fluttered through the crowd, draped in alluring clothing that put full chests and long legs on display. They moved among the drinkers, delivering copper trays and taking away empty mugs. From time to time an inebriated patron might try to cop a feel and the girls danced away with polite titters. A few even gave flirtatious ¨C if admonishing ¨C glances. The hostesses are offered other services. So long as the patrons spent the coin, they could hire girls to do most anything. Ever since monitors from Skycloud took over the city, electric lights were banned. The bar replaced them with the mystical sand lanterns popular among elysians and a giant candelabra. Together they were enough to give the bar proper mood lighting. Aside from tables for eating and drinking, the center of the bar had a clear space intended as a dance floor. A group of girls occupied it now, slowly stripping off bits of clothing as they gyrated around one another. Rings on either side were where burly men beat each other up and bet on the outcomes. The bar was a cesspool of tobacco, liquor and testosterone. A pair of visitors very different from the usual guests sauntered in. They were young and good looking, a far sight better than the typical rabble. One of the barmaids greeted them as they walked by, eyes all a-sparkle and a genuine smile on her face. Strangers like them were a rare sight, and worth a fun night or two even if they didn¡¯t have the money. Gabriel was set. The gods made him with all the right parts to grab a girl¡¯s attention. Blonde hair, blue eyes, white skin, refined features¡­ he was the essence of dignity and cultivation, like a well-educated schoolboy or a warm-hearted boy next door. Of course, none of them knew about his darker side. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t hard on the eyes, either. He had a body to rival Frost de Winter¡¯s. While it couldn¡¯t be said he had the handsome features of Gabriel, he was like a totally different person from the kid that clawed his way out of the wastelands. Gone was the skin-and-bones waif, replaced with a man of good build who was quite a bit taller. So he wasn¡¯t a one-in-ten thousand, but he was perhaps one-in-a thousand. At the very least he was a one-in-one hundred sort of looker. The girl sashayed over to the pair, making sure her hefty assets were easily noticed. ¡°Maybe I can help you handsome fellas find something you like? Cigarettes, booze, girls. We¡¯ve got it all.¡± Gabriel had grown up in Skycloud where scenes like this were unthinkable. He was overwhelmed by the woman¡¯s heaving cleavage and pretty smell, and shuffled awkwardly before her. He wasn¡¯t sure what to do with his hands. Fuckin¡¯ Cloudhawk, he thought to himself. The rotten bastard. Couldn¡¯t he have found us a normal place to get a drink? He definitely wasn¡¯t in Skycloud domain anymore, and the fact was that out in the wastelands this was a normal place for a drink. He¡¯d just never seen a place like this where a man¡¯s more basic proclivities could be satisfied. ¡°Go on now, put those knockers away before you hurt someone.¡± Cloudhawk was far more natural. He gave the girl a playful slap on the ass. ¡°You¡¯re scaring my virgin friend here. You got anywhere quiet?¡± Gabriel¡¯s pale face went red as a tomato. Girls like her made him very uncomfortable. Cloudhawk was holding back, but gave her a smack with perhaps a little too much force. She yelped and giggled, causing her cleavage to jiggle enticingly. These girls may have been low-class but they were definitely cunning. Everyone could tell at a glance that these two men were different. This had to be the blonde one¡¯s first visit to a place like this, judging by the way he looked at the girls. It was somewhere between resisting his urges and hiding disgust. The other one seemed like he was perfectly comfortable in this environment. In the end, elysians had more hang-ups than your typical wastelander. They continued to gather a bunch of curious looks. Cloudhawk was inferior to Gabriel in looks, but his delicate features and coquettish air made him a lot more approachable. A year of struggle, followed by three years of doing whatever came up had made him irreverent and cynical. But as his strength and experiences grew he became more self-confident, less of a downer. Now it wasn¡¯t unexpected for him to crack a joke or screw around when things weren¡¯t serious. Banter was something he¡¯d learned from the wasteland mercenaries. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t under any illusions that his life would be like Frost¡¯s or Arcturus¡¯. He wasn¡¯t going to be some kind of hero, and he didn¡¯t fit in with the elysians. It was just the way things were and he wasn¡¯t going to try and force it. Do what you have to do, that was his motto. Go with the flow. That was the best policy. Gabriel¡¯s frown said he was not going with the flow on any level. ¡°Women like these are cheap and dirty.¡± ¡°Oh for the love of... wake up, will you? You think we¡¯re still in the elysian lands?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t ashamed about their environment. ¡°People out here, we¡¯re castaways. We¡¯re the abandoned population. If you can get a full belly and wear a warm set of clothes your life is set. You think anyone is eager to make a living selling their body? But that¡¯s life, at least in the wastelands, and everyone¡¯s just trying to make it the best way they know how. I don¡¯t think they¡¯re dirty. Hell, compared to a lot of the girls where you¡¯re from, they¡¯re more real. Spend more time out here and you¡¯ll see. No one has the right to sneer at someone else just trying to get by.¡± Gabriel continued to shuffle like a fish out of water. ¡°Is it just me or is everyone looking at us?¡± ¡°Are they?¡± Cloudhawk looked around. Indeed they¡¯d caught more than a few eyes when they walked in, all sorts in fact. There were hungry looks from the women and envious look from the men. Some were uncomfortably penetrating. ¡°Oh,¡± he said, ¡°I forgot to mention. You¡¯re gonna find no small number of guys out here who like to have a little fun with other men, if you know what I¡¯m sayin¡¯. A fella like you with your blonde hair, blue eyes and noble look ¨C you¡¯re just the sort they like. Making friends won¡¯t be a problem for you.¡± A frown instantly marred Gabriel¡¯s face. ¡°Any of ¡®em try pulling a Caspian on me and I¡¯m not holding back.¡± Cloudhawk chortled. He was reminded of the growing love Caspian had shown for Gabriel as their three-year stint in the valley went on. Eventually Caspian had decided he¡¯d give it a shot, and that night he climbed into Gabriel¡¯s bed for a little slap and tickle. Things did not go well for him. It was the first time in three years Naberius took control and¡­ needless to say, there was a lot more slap than tickle. Caspian was bed-ridden for half a month after that. From then on, people were very careful not to get on Gabriel¡¯s bad side. Every time Caspian and him were in the same room, the poor guy cowered like he was avoiding the devil. ¡°Give us the best booze, the best meat, and the best girls you got.¡± Cloudhawk threw himself into a booth and snapped his fingers. Two gold pieces glinted as they traveled three meters up into the air, and landed snuggly in the groove between the barmaid¡¯s breasts. ¡°Keep the extra for yourself, darlin¡¯.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The girl was wild with joy. Two whole gold coins! The change was what she made from five years of running tables. The guy didn¡¯t look like he had that kind of money to throw around, but he proved her wrong. Cloudhawk¡¯s ostentatious display made eyes pop all over the bar. Beyond that they saw how he did it ¨C perfect shot, right in her dress with his back turned! The clean-cut young man was more than a simple traveler, that was certain. If he could put a coin between her bosoms he sure as hell could throw a knife through someone¡¯s heart. All of a sudden the more covetous eyes looked away. The booze and food started to arrive. A group of drinking companions came with it and positions themselves on either side of the pair. Cloudhakw picked a cigarette off a platter and leaned toward one of the women to give him a light. He took a drag and felt the low-grade tobacco fill his lungs with acrid smoke. It was like sucking down a tube of pepper spray ¨C a sensation that instantly took him back a handful of years to the first time he had a stick. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the first time he had a cigarette was after his first mission with the Tartarus missionaries. Life flowed by like a dream. You never knew what was around the next corner, whether there would be a tomorrow. It took Cloudhawk a long time and a lot of kilometers to realize wasteland freedom agreed with him just fine. Gabriel piped up with a curious tone. ¡°So what¡¯s your plan, in the future? I can¡¯t imagine you¡¯re going to be working for Polaris forever.¡± Cloudhawk let out the cigarette smoke in a long, slow exhale. His dark eyes were searching for a minute, but quickly returned to normal. ¡°The old man helped me a lot. It¡¯s only right I return the favor. Once that¡¯s done maybe I¡¯ll settle down here. Skycloud has all the riches, but the people that live there have all got a screw loose, if you ask me. You know the sort of guy I am. I don¡¯t belong there.¡± Gabriel slowly nodded his head. After passing out of Hell¡¯s Valley, Cloudhawk returned to the Grand General. Skye appointed him Warden of the Talons and gave him his first secret mission: Investigate the Sanctum of Judgement, and the guy they called the Crimson One. Grand General Polaris had told him it was an important mission, one that Governor Arcturus was following closely. If Cloudhawk performed well there was a promotion waiting for him back in Skycloud city. He didn¡¯t care much about status or position, though. After Hell¡¯s Valley he could carve out a comfortable life for himself anywhere in the wastelands. He didn¡¯t need the domain¡¯s protection or its approval. He¡¯d learned a lot during his time in training. Sweepers didn¡¯t trouble him anymore, no matter how cruel. Fierce and brutal mutants weren¡¯t much of a challenge, either. What he never became confident in was his ability to deal with the scheming and back-biting that was so common in the elysian lands, or the mysterious Temple of God looming over everything. In Skycloud, the higher you climbed the more likely it was you would fall. Nah. Political power, influence, honor ¨C none of that meant anything to him. Even if he didn¡¯t find himself back in the wastelands someday in the future, he wasn¡¯t going to settle down in Skycloud. The borderlands were an enticing place, or maybe a small secluded town somewhere on the edges of the domain. But it was true, the General had treated him well and Cloudhawk felt obliged to pay him back. Once his debt was paid, he could strike out on his own. For now, that was as far as he needed to plan. At least when it came time to set off, he knew he could. If he wanted to disappear he could, and no one would be able to find him. The mission out here in the borderlands was just the sort of thing Cloudhawk wanted. The stern eye of the gods felt far away, and here he could do as he liked. Grand General Skye had authorized him to take as many of the crack Talons as he pleased, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t see a need for them. He just wanted one person, the same guy who stood by his side all through his time at Hell¡¯s Valley. A felon and an outcast like him. Gabriel had killed an oracle once, so there wasn¡¯t a welcoming corner for him anywhere Skycloud domain. This was just an opportunity to get him out. They¡¯d grown close after three years. Aside from occasionally losing control to a murderous alter ego, he was a reliable and trustworthy guy to watch his back. His other fellow trainees had moved on to other things. Drake Thane had gained esteem and notoriety among his family, so he was appointed to a position as lieutenant colonel of a border battalion. Felina was snatched up by the Court of Shadows and was made an important member of this mysterious group. Claudia Lunae returned and took a position in the League of Demonhunters, and last he heard was commanding her own unit. Her success catapulted the prestige of her family to new heights, exactly as her lard-ass of a father had hoped. Cloudhawk figured he had the last laugh after all. The others went back to their families and were given high positions or important posts. Some were held as ¡®secret weapons¡¯ and were secreted away to continue training. In every case, those three years in the valley hadn¡¯t been a waste. Every single one of them walked out of that place a finely honed tool of war. It was impossible to go three years without making connections with people, but in the end they all came from different worlds. It was impossible to say whether they¡¯d ever meet again, or under what circumstances. Gabriel was the only one Cloudhawk thought would share his road. Shit, reality really was disappointing. Book 3, Chapter 4 - The Reunion ¡°Come, another round!¡± The two met clinked their glasses together loudly. Cloudhawk down the contents of his mug with a series of chugs. He wiped droplets of foamy beer from his face with a dirty forearm and put the mug back down on the table. The girls cooed and lauded his drinking ability while refilling their glasses. After the first glass Cloudhawk became more boisterous, his eyes watery. Anyone who spent any time drinking with Cloudhawk would be impressed, because it was obvious he was just playing around. It was easier to move mountains than to get this wastelander drunk. It was a ruse to trick others into thinking he¡¯d let his guard down. ¡°We¡¯ve got six months to finish the mission. Now that we¡¯re here, we have time before results are due.¡± Cloudhawk lifted his glass again. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. We open that store as soon as possible though. Saving up some funds has to be our first priority.¡± Gabriel¡¯s face was tinged red after polishing off his first mug. The alcohol was already working to chisel at his guarded exterior. The scent of the barmaid¡¯s perfume permeated his nostrils and he let go of some of his disgust. It just went to show that anyone got used to the wasteland given enough time, whether it was Gabriel or someone as intractable as Selene Cloude. ¡°What do you need so much money for?¡± ¡°To repay my debt, obviously. Some of which you¡¯re responsible for, too, I¡¯ll remind you. There¡¯s no escaping it!¡± Of course there was a reason for Cloudhawk¡¯s decision to open a store here in the Sandbar. Aside from a possible future living here, he also had a mountain of gold he owed to Skye Polaris¡¯ illustrious granddaughter. Thirty or forty thousand, at last tally. But what was the plan? At the House of Demonhunters auction, a single high-quality relic in working order could fetch a thousand gold coins only. Cloudhawk¡¯s debt was enough to make a small noble family collapse under its weight. Even the likes of the Cloude family would struggle to pay it off. And every day it was collecting interest, like a snowball made of shit that was only getting bigger as it rolled downhill. Hell, at this rate he expected it to hit a million before too long. Thankfully, Dawn was sent off to distant lands after her time in the sanctuary. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t seen her once since getting out of Hell¡¯s Valley, and he considered that lucky ¨C chances were he¡¯d meet Terrangelica before he could get a word in edgewise. Dawn dogged him to repay the loan like her life depended on it. However, not all of it was Cloudhawk¡¯s alone to bear. Gabriel was responsible for some, and a good chunk at that. Three years in Hell¡¯s Valley was no picnic, but Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t beat nearly as often as the others. Besides, with his natural fortitude and healing ability, when he did face the whip his recovery was quick. Most of the healing salves Dawn brought for him he ended up giving to Gabriel. Others had the support of their families to lean on. Not the fugitive, especially once he turned his back on Frost de Winter. Who else could he turn to? For three years he received Cloudhawk¡¯s help, so now he was obligated to stay and pay his part. Gabriel glowered into the contents of his mug. ¡°Hell, you should have enough skill to wiggle your way out of a little debt. Steal a few pretty trinkets and this business is done, no?¡± Their store was, in fact, already open. Only, they didn¡¯t have much variety. Aside from the odd wasteland trinket, most of its contents were brought from the elysian lands. The newest elysian weaponry, superior demonhunter armor, exorcist bows and staves, even quality medicines. He¡¯d managed to bring a fair amount of inventory with him, even if it wasn¡¯t very diversified. Cloudhawk was a uniquely talented thief. ¡°Sure, I had that idea, but the question is where can I find a good score? Even if I score something, how do I fence it? I can¡¯t say I¡¯m very eager to be hunted by the whole domain.¡± Cloudhawk rolled his eyes. ¡°Screw around enough in one place and you¡¯re bound to get caught. Best plan is to make some money as honest as we can. But I¡¯m done talking about this depressing shit for today. C¡¯mon, drink!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes scanned the bar, even as he spoke. Like he was looking for something. One of the more attentive barmaids noticed. ¡°Is milord looking for someone?¡± He was, and at the moment the Warden wondered why he hadn¡¯t seen her yet. Struck by inspiration, Cloudhawk fished a few gold coins from his pocket and slapped them onto the tabletop. The girls stared, transfixed. None of them had ever seen someone so liberal with his money. Did he just not have any silvers or coppers? Every time he opened his hand it was filled with gold. A single coin would buy a dozen men willing to work themselves to the bone, a dozen beautiful women willing to do whatever he asked. ¡°Let¡¯s play a game.¡± A grin spread across Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°I ask a question, you ladies answer. Fastest wins, and the reward is one gold coin. Who wants to play?¡± ¡°Oh, me! Me!¡± The girls practically wriggled in delight. Gabriel remained quietly watching, wondering what his boss was up to. Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Alright. First question ¨C what color underwear are you wearing?¡± Pffft! Gabriel spat out a mouthful of beer. This guy had no shame! Of course, out here in the wasteland it was practically an innocent question. To Gabriel it was almost incomprehensibly lewd. The girls practically yelled over each other to answer. One even removed her panties to prove she was telling the truth. Cloudhawk was satisfied with her zeal and awarded her the first gold coin. ¡°Not bad, not bad.¡± Cloudhawk continued. ¡°Is there a girl working here, ¡®sha¡¯ something?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± A slender barmaid blurted out. ¡°Her name is Luciasha, but she¡¯s not like us. She¡¯s the boss¡¯ special girl, he takes care of her. She doesn¡¯t run beer or take care of the guests, she just works as a bartender. Cloudhawk pushed one of the gold coins toward her. ¡°Does your boss treat her well?¡± Another girl hurried to answer. ¡°More than well. He treats her like a daughter. The boss keeps a low profile in the Sandbar, but everyone respects him. The Magistrate from the elysian lands ¨C that fatty they call ¡®Uncle Seacrest¡¯ ¨C even he doesn¡¯t give any trouble.¡± That was exactly what Cloudhawk wanted to hear. Adder had kept his word. He was fully prepared to show Adder the error of his ways if he¡¯d learned Asha wasn¡¯t being treated well. He didn¡¯t know a lot about the strange bar owner, but Cloudhawk was no pushover. At the very least the man would wake one day to find his secret treasure trove empty. But, since he did what he promised Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to start trouble. ¡°Alright, y¡¯all enjoy yourselves. I need to take a piss.¡± He was hardly refined with his declaration, and climbed to his feet bearing a dark grin. ¡°Make sure you treat Gabby here really well. He¡¯s a virgin, and whichever of you ladies manages to pop his cherry will earn ten gold.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Gabriel choked on his own fury and he cowed beneath the lusty fire in the girls¡¯ eyes. He felt like a slab of juicy meat that caught the attention of hungry lionesses. Cloudhawk laughed, well pleased with himself and his trouble-making. He cast his friend an encouraging look, then walked away with a self-satisfied hum in his throat. He wasn¡¯t off to the bathroom, of course. He wanted to see the bartender. He spared a few inconspicuous glances toward the iron bar spanning one wall of the establishment. Three years ago he¡¯d expect to see that large man in the black cloak tending bar. This time he was replaced with a slim girl with a pretty face. She was wrapped in a white dress and a mass of naturally curly hair tumbled down to her shoulders. She wasn¡¯t wearing any market or perfume, in stark contrast to the heavily painted barmaids who shuffled back and forth carrying drinks. She was very pretty, though not stunning. A lingering charm and a frail nature that made her seem like a precious, delicate flower. Everyone who looked at her had a natural urge to keep her safe. A rare smile, warm instead of sardonic, turned his lips. Ten years spent in the wasteland, and people had marched in and out of his life. The old man who taught him to read. Slyfox and Maddog. Artemis. Friends who were dead and gone. Then there was the mysterious Mantis and dignified Selene. Their complicated histories and strange futures were destined to leave Cloudhawk estranged from them. He had no idea where they¡¯d gone, or what they were doing. He turned his head and the wasteland took them, like dunes changing in the gusting winds. The only one left was this pretty girl. At the moment Luciasha was deftly pouring beers, and set a pair on the bar counter. She was pulling back, when suddenly a rough hand held her fast. A group of rugged and unfamiliar men stood before her. The men bore fierce and salacious grins as they tugged at her, loudly arguing. It was clear at a glance that these men were new here. They were used to more rugged fair and were eager to try a tastier fruit. Alcohol had made them bold and impaired their thinking, otherwise they would have noticed the telling stares from the other bar patrons. Whatever, if they got a bite out of this juicy peach what could be the worst that happened? Over the last three years, the bartendress had lost count of the number of idiot men who¡¯d tried to take advantage of her. The end result was often a miserable end for the fools, and so people learned that she was off limits. Knowing what was to come, the other patrons eager awaited the show. One of the men reached out to grab a handful of her breast. Another hand shot out from one side and snapped the man¡¯s wrist. The pop that rang out was audible from across the bar. To say the bones broke like rotten wood would be an understatement. While the owner was still staring wide-eyed at the unnatural angle his hand was making, the mysterious fist returned to shatter his cheekbone. The thug was unconscious before he could even register the pain. His companions suddenly weren¡¯t in such a bawdy mood. They didn¡¯t know where this guy had come from, but the way he clobbered their friend like he was a toy said enough. Whoever he was, he was out of their league. The men stumbled back to get away before they were next, but as they scrambled for the door the man flung out his hand. Both were brutally pinned to columns by something punching through their backs. Throwing spikes! Cloudhawk handled the thugs like swatting a group of irritating flies. Bouncers suddenly came charging over. They saw the three men and assumed there¡¯d been a fight. Brawls and murder were not allowed in this establishment. They surrounded Cloudhawk, ready to deal with the troublemaker. Suddenly ¨C ¡°Stop!¡± Luciasha stared at Cloudhawk¡¯s face in shock. Silence stretched for three or four seconds before she found her voice. ¡°Cloud¡­ Cloudhawk?¡± A smile curled the edges of his mouth. ¡°You still remember me?¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. He stretched out a hand and gently patted her hair, like a brother. His face was full of warmth and affection, no hint of dark intent. The same tenderness entered his voice. ¡°We all change. You have too. You¡¯re more beautiful than ever. Life must be treating you well!¡± Book 3, Chapter 5 - Primeval Weapon The troublemakers were taken away. The nobody who put them out of commission wasn¡¯t paid any more mind. Cloudhawk took up post across the iron bar from Luciasha, and the two talked about what has happened over the last few years. The two had traveled with each other for a month after he saved her from Lighthouse Pointe. By the time they reached the Sandbar the two were like brother and sister. For Luciasha, Cloudhawk had come to her aid when things were darkest and without hope. She would always be grateful for what he did. As for Cloudhawk, he¡¯d never had a family. He didn¡¯t even know what that would feel like. The girl he¡¯d known as Asha was a rare spot of joy and purity in the wasteland. She made up for a little bit of the things he was forced to do to survive out here. He wasn¡¯t going to allow anyone to tarnish her light. Asha felt like it was all a dream. Three years. In all that time she hadn¡¯t heard a single word about the boy who¡¯d saved her. Now, suddenly, here he was. For years the stubborn, good-hearted teenager had been in her heart. But the man who spoke with her now had none of the trappings of youth anymore. That innocent rakishness was gone. He looked like a traveler, with years of miles passed beneath his boots and beaten by the elements. Easy-going, compassionate, and a little strange. What had he gone through in the three years since she last saw him? ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know where to start. He sipped at a cocktail of booze then went over everything that had happened. Asha interrupted in a low voice. ¡°Squall told me a little about what happened in Skycloud.¡± This news surprised Cloudhawk, and he looked at her with brows raised. ¡°You¡¯ve seen Squall?¡± She nodded. ¡°He¡¯s come to see me a few times over the years. He¡¯s always passing through, busy I think. I don¡¯t know what he does.¡± A young and easy-going face swam up from Cloudhawk¡¯s memory. If Asha hadn¡¯t mentioned him, Cloudhawk might have forgotten the Bloomnettle heir. So he survived the tunnels under Skycloud city? So much had happened to him, but he defied fate and survived. Only, how was he able to life in the elysian lands after losing his identity? What Asha was telling him was that Squall had come in and out of Skycloud domain more than once. Slipping passed elysian guards at their border walls wasn¡¯t like hopping a fence. Asha went on in a soft voice. ¡°Squall¡¯s changed a lot, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal.¡± Cloudhawk shook his mug, swirling the liquid within. His expression was a little dulled from the alcohol, but it added to his charm. ¡°You think you know what the future holds in store, you think you have your feet firmly on the path. Then life throws you curves, and suddenly you¡¯re walking down a road you never thought you would be. That¡¯s the way it is, always what we never expected.¡± Luciasha gazed at Cloudhawk with tender eyes. She was just a normal girl, but a very lucky one. She didn¡¯t have any great powers or special skills. She wasn¡¯t any more intelligent than anyone else, and life hadn¡¯t promised her anything but pain. But she got lucky ¨C lucky enough to run into a string of good people in a place where good people were rare. Coppertooth was the first, a thirty-year elysian veteran who was expelled for his ideals. Then Cloudhawk delivered her from the harsh wastelands to the safety of the Sandbar. Finally, Adder agreed to take her in and treat her like a daughter. Without these guardian angels, she would never have made it here. Luciasha wasn¡¯t ambitious, nor did she have any lofty desires. After what the world had done to her she resigned herself to the whims of fate. All she hoped was for peace and safety granted to the ones who cared for her. It was just like Cloudhawk said. Life and fate took you off guard. She wasn¡¯t strong like he was. She couldn¡¯t fight off attackers or anything. All she could do was cherish what she had and try to be content. ¡°I heard someone stood up for Luciasha when some thug got handsy. I wasn¡¯t expecting you.¡± Cloudhawk was chatting with Asha when a deep, magnetic voice arose from behind. A towering man approached, with buzz-cut hair and an average face. His hulking frame was hidden beneath a large, black cloak. Adder. He hadn¡¯t changed one bit in three years. He even had the same haircut. Cloudhawk lifted his mug toward the enigmatic barkeep. ¡°Thank you for looking after her.¡± ¡°Asha¡¯s a good girl. I¡¯ve got a lot of love for her.¡± The hard lines of his sculpted face melted as he gave her a warm smile. He drew his eyes up and down over Cloudhawk a few times and smirked. ¡°Do you have time for a word or two?¡± ¡°As mysterious as ever.¡± Cloudhawk gave Asha a little wave, then followed Adder into his secret room. It was the same room Adder had taken him to three years prior. There were even more goodies in it now, as Cloudhawk felt no fewer than eight specific vibrations from relics. He could dispel the thought that if he were to, maybe, repurpose the contents of this treasure trove it would earn him a pretty penny. Nothing short of a princely sum, he wagered. He put the idea away for the time being. ¡°Since I haven¡¯t seen you in three years, I assume you managed to get a foothold in the elysian lands. Why are you suddenly back in the Sandbar?¡± Adder pulled out a bottle of liquor and poured Cloudhawk a glass. ¡°On some sort of mission, I imagine?¡± ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°I know my way around the wastelands. I have my contacts. I¡¯m sure there are things I can learn that will help you. Seeing as you¡¯re a friend of Lucia¡¯s, I¡¯ll even give you a discount.¡± This gave the Warden pause. Adder was a mystery, but he certainly had influence. His help would go even farther than Hammont¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t unthinkable that the barkeep could help get him juicy information about the one they called the Crimson One. Yet, as Cloudhawk was considering the offer, there was the slightest inkling in the back of his mind that stopped him. There was something about Adder he couldn¡¯t read. The strange man was inscrutable, and although Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the smartest guy he was wise enough to be cautious. It didn¡¯t make much sense to be so liberal with his secret mission, especially since he knew almost nothing about the guy offering to help. ¡°Come on. Secret mission¡­ pfft. I just couldn¡¯t fit in with those stuffy zealots is all. I came back here to see if there was a way to make a few coins. You know people, maybe there are some folks willing to spread a little wealth, eh?¡± Cloudhawk pointedly drew his eyes around the room. ¡°I mean, you definitely know how to make a profit.¡± ¡°You need cash?¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Well, it just so happens I know a way you could make a bundle. So long as you got the interest and the stones to pull it off.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be thinking of pulling one over on me again, would you?¡± Cloudhawk lifted the glass and swirled its contents, though he didn¡¯t drink. ¡°Last time, things nearly didn¡¯t work out very well for me.¡± Adder shook his head. ¡°This is different. Do this job, they¡¯ll be singing your praises back in Skycloud. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re here, but I¡¯m willing to bet whatever it is won¡¯t pay as well as I¡¯m offering.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? What job is so lucrative, then?¡± ¡°Destroying the Dark Atom.¡± ¡°Heh. You¡¯re a funny guy.¡± ¡°You remember that map you got me three years ago?¡± Adder¡¯s face was sincere. ¡°I cracked it. It outlines every inch, nook and cranny of the Dark Atom¡¯s headquarters. Not much good to me though ¨C they¡¯re careful, and everyone I send ends up missing or dead. But maybe you have what it takes.¡± ¡°Well, that just makes it more confusing.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t about to believe anything that came out of this guy¡¯s mouth, at least not at face value. He thought Adder was a snake three years ago, and despite all that¡¯s changed since then that feeling stayed the same. Playing with him was like smacking a viper on the head. If you stopped paying attention for one second, you got bit. ¡°If you know where the Dark Atom headquarters is you should give the information to Skycloud authorities. That by itself will earn you huge respect. Why waste time and resources, only to share the glory anyway with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in what they think about me in the elysian lands. But there are things in the Dark Atom stronghold that I wouldn¡¯t mind getting my hands on.¡± Adder paused for a moment. ¡°If you were to get what I¡¯m after and bring it to me, I¡¯d be willing to give you everything in this room.¡± This took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°A primeval weapon,¡± Adder replied. ¡°I saw references to it in ancient books. A weapon that could level an entire city in an instant. Even gods and demons kept their distance. But it¡¯s one-time use only. I need to know if it¡¯s real, and if it is then I want it.¡± Cloudhawk was not impressed. How could there be a weapon like that lying around somewhere, much less surviving intact after the destruction of the world? If the Dark Atom had such a weapon why would they be on the back foot? There would be no reason to suffer like they did if they could flatten Skycloud city with a snap of their fingers. ¡°I don¡¯t care about any ¡®prime evil¡¯ weapon and I don¡¯t give a shit about the Dark Atom. Not my bag, convince someone else to do your dirty work.¡± Cloudhawk tossed back his glass and finished its contents with an air of finality. ¡°Thanks, barkeep. I got shit to do, so I¡¯ll be going.¡± Adder regretfully shook his head. ¡°I hope you reconsider.¡± But Cloudhawk was uninterested. He didn¡¯t even wait for Adder to open the door, instead slipping through the treasure room¡¯s wall like it wasn¡¯t even there. Adder watched the showy display with sparkling eyes. In the end, Cloudhawk, Asha and Adder shared a meal at the bar before he left. As Asha watched him go, eyes bright, she pressed her hands together. ¡°It looks like Cloudhawk is going to be living here. That¡¯s wonderful!¡± ¡°Luciasha, do you trust me?¡± ¡°Why do you ask? Of course I do.¡± ¡°Who do you trust more, me or Cloudhawk?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Asha was taken aback by the question. Both men were indispensable in her life. Admittedly she¡¯d spent a lot less time with Cloudhawk, but she felt she knew him despite his mysteriousness. There was just something about him that made the wastelander trustworthy. But if Cloudhawk was a clear pond, than her adoptive father was a river. Asha sensed that there was more to Adder than what she saw on the surface. No one knew where he came from or what he¡¯d done in the past. Had he come from the wastelands, or Skycloud? He was as dangerous as he was obscure, too. But over the last three years she knew Adder saw her like his own daughter. They were both important to her. She had faith in each of them. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you don¡¯t need to answer.¡± Adder affectionately ran a hand through her curly hair. His stony face broke into a smile. ¡°After all this time, you should know you¡¯re my girl. Sometimes I may say things you don¡¯t like, but I have to say them as a father.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Asha. I have a bad feeling about that man. You should stay away from him, otherwise you might be wrapped up in something uncomfortable.¡± Uncomfortable? What was he talking about? ¡°For instance, what if you were forced to choose between him and I one day? Who would you pick?¡± Adder looked into his young charge¡¯s big, pretty eyes and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the same question, asked another way. And you don¡¯t have to answer. Just so long as you know in your heart. Don¡¯t let anyone tell you what to do or how to think, but you need to be strong. You live in a cruel world.¡± Asha stared up into the sky. Cloudhawk¡­ Adder¡­ if she was forced to choose, who would she pick? She didn¡¯t have an answer. How could she? Book 3, Chapter 6 - Eboncrys When Cloudhawk ate and drank to his satisfaction, he returned to the emporium. There he found Gabriel, his clothes ruffled and lipstick smeared across his face. He was enveloped in a cloud of booze stink and perfume. The look on his face was one of shame and resentment. Cloudhawk tried to explain away his guilt. ¡°Gabby¡­ eh¡­ I forgot to tell you about a friend of mine who works at the bar. We lost track of time catching up. Did you have fun with the ladies?¡± He could hear Gabriel grinding his teeth. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Come on now, don¡¯t be like Caspian. I arranged the finest girls for you, full-figured with everything a hot-blooded guy would like. Quality goods like that are very rare in the wastelands, you know. Outside of the Sandbar you could pass through ten outposts and not find the like. C¡¯mon, I did you a favor. Don¡¯t repay my kindness with attitude, alright? Show a little respect.¡± ¡°There is nothing funny about this situation!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lose your temper over this small stuff.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the least bit concerned that Naberius might rear his head. On the contrary, he walked right up to Gabriel and patted him on the shoulder. His voice was sincere. ¡°Listen to me. Your life in Skycloud is in the past. You¡¯re never gonna be a pious believer, it¡¯s better to accept a life of freedom and sin out here in the wasteland.¡± Cloudhawk was a simple man with a soul as stained as anyone else out here, but his words weren¡¯t completely nonsense. A man lived a hundred years max, and it was a rare man who was able to live for himself. The ideals and morals of the old world were gone. It didn¡¯t make sense to live by their restrictions any longer. Those girls were just doing whatever they could to get by, so that they could live the best way they knew how. Wasn¡¯t what they did a form of kindness? No one knew what tomorrow held. Out in the wastelands, every minute you kept breathing was a gift. With the limited time you got, you went for the things you wanted. The world was different now, and the way humans lived was forced to change with it. Of course, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t start to wax philosophical with Gabriel. The elysian would learn all that on his own the more he experienced real life. He would have to. Cloudhawk called out as they walked into the store. ¡°How are the preparations?¡± One of the shop assistants replied in a soft voice. ¡°Relax boss, we have everything ready. We¡¯ll be all set to open tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Good. Do what you can, I¡¯m not a slave driver.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± The two girls who looked over his shop were on the young side ¨C seventeen or eighteen years old. The little one with white skin and a pretty face was called Neve. The other, less attractive but plump in all the right places, was Jasmine. When Cloudhawk and Gabriel first got to the Sandbar, they came across a slave trader while walking the streets. The two helped the girls get free from their cruel owner. Even though the outpost had come under elysian control, there wasn¡¯t anything they could do about the wasteland¡¯s thriving slave trade. But it wasn¡¯t like the slave trader Cloudhawk stole from could lodge a formal complaint, since most of his corpse had already passed through a wolf¡¯s digestive system. The dead weren¡¯t known for vocal opinions. Cloudhawk really was conscientious of his new charges. He didn¡¯t exploit them or force them to do anything they didn¡¯t want. He even paid them a salary and provided lodging. They were free, or close enough for it not to matter. He gave them as much freedom as they desired. If they didn¡¯t want to be here, they were free to leave at any time. But the girls cherished this opportunity to work, especially when they say that even elysian soldiers feared their boss. With him, they felt like they had found a safe and reliable benefactor. In the wastelands, beauty became a liability. Without the strength to defend oneself, or a haven where safety was promised, beauty became a matter of life and death. ¡°Elysian goods will fetch five times their price out here, maybe more. We¡¯ve got full sets of armor, swords, bows ¨C stuff that would fetch five gold in Skycloud will earn us twenty a piece in the wastelands.¡± ¡°The guns, ammunition, and old tech we got for dirt cheap will sell for twice the price, too. The higher to can sell ¡®em for the better. At the end of the d ay we¡¯re the only racket in town, so people will accept or prices or go empty handed. We¡¯ll have a monopoly on the city¡¯s black market in no time ¨C and that¡¯s when we loosen Adder¡¯s stranglehold. You ladies got it?¡± Cloudhawk had his ideas set. He was determined. The slender Neve replied in her gentle voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. We¡¯ll make sure everything runs smoothly.¡± Jasmine ¨C darker in complexion but with a body that made blood race ¨C nodded in agreement. The difference between the two ladies went deeper than their appearance. Neve was sharp, and with time and opportunity she would grow to be a shrewd business owner. Jasmine was quiet, laid back, but Cloudhawk saw she was a talented control meta-human. Eventually he would train her on how to use weapons. Aside from the juxtaposed beauties, there was also Gabriel. Cloudhawk was confident their business would be fine. If something untoward should happen, they had the city¡¯s Magistrate in their corner as well. His emporium was just the first step in Cloudhawk¡¯s plan to corner the Sandbar¡¯s black market. Cigarettes, drugs, guns ¨C everything except slaves, he was willing to deal in. Legal or illegal, it didn¡¯t matter. The Warden used his influence and connections to have goods delivered from the elysian lands. Things like medicine, which were effective and had a market out in the wastelands. Elysian medicine wasn¡¯t banned for sale, like weapons. It was still restricted, but most normal drugs were free to sell with the proper permissions. One of the current elysian army officers ¨C Drake Thane ¨C still owed Cloudhawk. A connection like that couldn¡¯t just go unexploited. He also had the Magistrate wrapped around his finger. Eventually becoming an established, reputable and legal merchant company wouldn¡¯t be difficult. On the other side he could trade wasteland minerals, leather, and other rare animal parts back to the elysian lands. With Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities, it was only a matter of time before he established himself here in Sandbar Station. ¡°We don¡¯t really have very much, especially elysian goods. What happens when we sell out?¡± Gabriel wasn¡¯t as confident as his commanding officer. The longer he spent with Cloudhawk the less reliable he found the wastelander to be. ¡°Armor, for example. We only brought a few sets.¡± ¡°There¡¯s plenty!¡± Cloudhawk was full of confidence. ¡°You still don¡¯t trust me? It¡¯ll all be fine!¡± *** The next day, Cloudhawk¡¯s Emporium was open for business. Magistrate Seacrest¡¯s unsuccessful raid the day before had served to advertise the place, and that it was above the law. They sold what they pleased and the elysian soldiers did nothing about it. The only other person in Sandbar Station Hammont turned a blind eye to was the barkeep, Adder. For better or worse, the guy kept a low profile and traded in intelligence. What a bold thing, then, that this new stranger would so openly challenge Adder¡¯s established dominance. The anomalous circumstances earned a fair amount of suspicion from buyers. This had to be a trap, right? To flush the bolder heretics out into the open. Once the store began welcoming customers there were many who came to peruse, but no one brazen enough to make a purchase. After two or three days, Cloudhawk still hadn¡¯t sold a single thing. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t so confident anymore. He¡¯d sunk all his assets into setting up shop. Paying off his debts ¨C indeed, having money to live ¨C all depended on the success of Cloudhawk¡¯s Emporium. His inventory was solid, but no one was willing to buy. It was all rather awkward. He spent days, from morning to night, ruminating on how to solve the problem. As he pondered, a pretty scent came in on the breeze. Cloudhawk¡¯s keen sense of smell picked it up right away. This wasn¡¯t the sort of stuff prostitutes wore. It was a naturally sweet aroma. The other patrons stared with wide eyes as the green-clad figure appeared. She was beautiful, so beautiful she would have turned heads in the middle of Skycloud city. Her clothing was unique and out of touch with rugged city; a well-tailored green gown was wrapped around her, and her face was hidden behind a thin veil. The quality of her gown¡¯s material wasn¡¯t elysian-grade, but it was a far sight better than the stuff typical for the wastelands. It was hard to tell where she was from based on clothing alone. Half the woman¡¯s face was hidden beneath the veil. The cute shape of her nose and her plucked brows were clear, and the pig-tail braids on either side of her head added a youthful charm. Everything about her was mystifying, alluring, like a beautiful lark appearing from a deep forest. There was none of the rigorous elysian intractability about her, nor the rough crudeness of the wasteland. The girl¡¯s eyes traveled along the walls, lingering on the soldier¡¯s equipment hung there. She seemed especially interested in the rapid-fire crossbows. Her voice dripped like shimmering pearls. ¡°I¡¯m interested in purchasing in bulk. Do you have enough?¡± ¡°I do!¡± Cloudhawk perked up when he realized she was a potential customer. ¡°How much do you need?¡± She lifted a delicate finger and pointed at several items. ¡°Three hundred¡­ oh, no. Five hundred sets.¡± The shop assistants were struck dumb, as were the lingering window shoppers. Cloudhawk mirrored their sentiment. Five hundred sets? She had to be joking! That was enough to outfit a small army, what did she need all that for? Cloudhawk paused and looked the woman over. She was definitely unusual, but she didn¡¯t look loaded to him. Anyway, she could stuff enough gold for five hundred sets of weapon and armor in her dress. Cloudhawk rolled his eyes at her. ¡°The lady seems to know quality. These are elysian goods, you won¡¯t find the like anywhere else in town. One set would be full body armor, a sword and a crossbow ¨C fifty gold coins total. This includes five bolt cartridges and a hundred white crystal arrows.¡± None of this fazed the woman, who nodded without hesitation. ¡°Alright. When can I pick them up?¡± Was this bitch crazy? One set was ten times the cost she would find in the elysian lands, but that wasn¡¯t outrageous. But five hundred? That was twenty-five thousand golds coins! That was an outrageous sum even for elysian nobility. And this chick didn¡¯t even attempt to bargain. Cloudhawk began to suspect there was something wrong with her head. ¡°Yeah, we got it. The problem is your order is too large. You¡¯ll need to leave a deposit.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any gold.¡± She said it without a hint of concern. Her revelation was met with quizzical expressions. Cloudhawk almost kicked over a table in frustration. She was fucking with him! He was preparing to throw the audacious woman out on her ass when she pulled a bulging parcel from the folds of her dress. She pulled the cloth aside to reveal its contents, and everyone froze. Pitch black stones were nestled inside, each one a neat little cube whose shimmering faces caught the light appealingly. They shimmered like gemstones and drew the eye mysteriously. The girl carefully picked one from the pile and handed it to Cloudhawk. ¡°As I said, I don¡¯t have gold. However, my mother assures me these could fetch you as much gold as you need.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This is eboncrys.¡± Gabriel approached, taking the cube from Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. ¡°It really is eboncrys ¨C an energy crystal. They use it to power equipment in Skycloud domain. A cube like this will go for a couple hundred gold, easy.¡± This little cube, a couple hundred gold? He had to be joking! If he hadn¡¯t heard it from Gabriel¡¯s mouth Cloudhawk would have called bullshit. But he trusted his companion. ¡°My name is Autumn Draper.¡± The girl in green covered the eboncrys crystals back in their wrapping. ¡°Is that enough for a deposit? When can I expect my order to be ready?¡± Cloudhawk swallowed. ¡°Give me a few days.¡± Book 3, Chapter 7 - Noble Madam Autumn Draper left, as calm as though she was leaving the local farmer¡¯s market. She was a young girl of seventeen. By the looks of her, Autumn had yet to even begin really experiencing life. But what normal person would walk around with a bundle of eboncrys to go shopping? That would be conspicuous in Skycloud city, to say nothing of the lawless and unstable borderlands. There were only two sorts of people who were so brazen. The first had something cracked in their brain, and those folks deserved whatever came to them. The second were strong enough to fear nothing, like prowling lions who did not fear the prey. Was Autumn the latter? No! From the moment she walked in to the instant she left, Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t sensed the vibration of relics around her. A demonhunter without relics was like a tiger without claws, and was more likely to hurt themselves than anyone else. It was hard to say whether she was a demonhunter or not, but if she was a demonhunter without relics she wasn¡¯t a threat. What if her innate capabilities lay in her physical strength? She could be like Instructor Cutter from Hell¡¯s Valley, relying on pure force and physical ability. That didn¡¯t seem likely, either. On the one hand, she was too young to have any credible training. On the other, skills like that were honed only from living in extreme harsh conditions. Based on her posture, rate of breathing, and attitude, she was maybe only slightly more capable than an average citizen. Definitely nothing special. He didn¡¯t sense any danger from her or any threatening aura. Based on what he saw, Autumn was as deadly as a cage-raised canary. An over-inflated porcelain doll. But that just made him even more suspicious. She had no coin, but the parcel of stones she readily showed them was staggeringly valuable. Where did she get it? It seemed Autumn Draper was a name he would have to study. Between the wastelands and the Skycloud domain, names were markedly different. Most wastelanders didn¡¯t have a family name. Hell, many didn¡¯t have families. They got by with nicknames or designations. Common names were things like Boulder, Grit, or Cloud. Or animal names like Lupus, Tigra or Leopard. Things you saw often in the wastes. Cloudhawk, Mantis, and Wolfblade were textbook examples. Next down the list were ancient names picked out of antiquity, like Roste. Pathfinders spent their days combing through old ruins and excavating the past, so they picked names that brought them closer to that long-dead culture. Now the elysians, they were a people divided into families and clans. Whether from noble stock or common lineage, everyone had a family history. Given names were chosen by how flowery and dignified they sounded; Selene and Arcturus Cloude, Frost de Winter, Raithe Umbra, Claudia Lunae and so forth. Autumn Draper was definitely not a wastelander name, but it didn¡¯t seem very elysian either. Wandering around with the equivalent of ten thousand gold coins in a little sack¡­ back in Skycloud, you would have to have come from a family everyone knew. Before coming back to the borderlands, Cloudhawk had gathered as much intelligence as he could about who the big players were. There was definitely no family that would fit the way Autumn was acting. But the most confusing thing of all? What did she need with five hundred sets of weapons and armor? Was she actually looking to outfit a small army? A few of the patrons had watched the whole exchange, and the look in their eyes were less than wholesome. While she and the others were distracted, they slipped out and followed her. Gabriel noticed this. ¡°It seems your girl has garnered some attention. Do you want to do something about it?¡± But Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He was always a curious sort, so it was uncharacteristic for Cloudhawk not to be interested in the result. Since his boss seemed uninterested, Gabriel made no further motions to get involved. *** The Sandbar was head and shoulders above the condition of most other wasteland outposts. However, it was still a rough and foul place for someone like Autumn, who was used to living in the lap of luxury. After wandering for some time she chanced upon a hotel that seemed passable. It happened to be the nicest lodgings in the Sandbar, run by a middle-aged man of some affluence. He was known for his friendliness and hospitality. ¡°Hello miss, are you looking for a place to stay? We offer three packages. The cheapest is fifty copper a night, then eighty, and finally two silver. Which would you like?¡± Autumn plucked the smallest cube of eboncrys from its sack and placed it on the counter between them. It was worth ten gold, easy. ¡°Is this sufficient?¡± ¡°This¡­ this is eboncrys?¡± The friendly smile he wore like a mask froze and he snatched it up. He fumbled with a pair of dirty glasses and slipped them on so he could take a closer look. In truth, he¡¯d never seen this treasure, but he knew of it. Elysian coin and other trade goods often passed through the borderlands. ¡°Very pure,¡± he said excitedly. ¡°Such high purity.¡± Autumn pressed him. ¡°I¡¯d like a room, please.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Of course!¡± The hotel owner clutched tight to the tiny cube, worth enough to rent out half his establishment. His customary smile returned wider than ever, eyes bright. ¡°Stay as long as you¡¯d like!¡± He brought her to the innermost room on the third floor. It was forty or fifty square meters in size and had its own showers. It was the best of the lot, and clean at least. Autumn looked over the lodgings with a nod of satisfaction, then closed and locked the door. Once alone, she removed her veil and revealed a beautiful face. If there was one word to describe her, it was ¡®ethereal.¡¯ She was flawless. There wasn¡¯t a single blemish on her. Autumn allowed her hair to tumble free down her shoulders, which revealed a pair of pale white ears that were unique from others. They were longer, perhaps some sort of mutation, but they did not detract in the least from her enchanting looks. If anything, the peculiarity made her even more attractive. Water spat from the shower head, and she washed off the dust that had accumulated from the last few trying days. Moments after putting her clothes back on, a knock came from the door. The voice of the hotel owner called to her. ¡°Noble madam, I¡¯ve taken the liberty of preparing our finest supper for you.¡± Autumn pulled the door open without a second thought. On the other side was the owner, standing behind a simple serving trolley. She offered a gentle thanks and pulled the cart inside. Mutant animal meat, primarily. This wasn¡¯t her home town, so she couldn¡¯t have expected much in the way of wild fruits or vegetables. ¡°Please enjoy.¡± He bowed and scraped, never allowing his smile to falter as the owner took his leave. Autumn preferred vegetarian meals. Although the hotel proprietor had prepared the meat with expert care, she only took a few bites before setting it aside. She spent dinner sipping at a tepid beverage and brooding. So far things had been going smoothly. She¡¯d only just gotten to the settlement and already found the equipment she needed. Perhaps the high-quality goods would give them a chance. A solution to her people¡¯s troubles. But perhaps not. Five hundred sets of armor and weapons did not seem near enough to deal with that monster. Autumn was clear on the purpose of her expedition. The equipment she purchased was important, but her main aim was to return with the ancient treasure of her people, gone for so many years. The best means would be to recruit people who could help her. The people she¡¯d brought to assist her had been scattered through the wasteland from beast attacks and sandstorms, leaving her alone as she reached the Sandbar. Could she complete her mission with no one to rely on but herself? She wasn¡¯t given much time to reflect. An intense dizziness came over her. Her vision doubled, everything started to swirl and warp. Before she even knew what was happening she hit the ground with a thud. The food trolley was tipped and sent its contents tumbling across the floor. ¡°Noble madam? Do you need some help?¡± The hotel owner called out but there was no answer. The door¡¯s lock slowly began to turn. He poked his head on with that honest smile spread across his face. However, clutched in the hand behind his back was a gleaming knife. Autumn lay prone on the ground, unmoving after ingesting the drug. There was a note of surprise on the owner¡¯s face. He was surprised it¡¯d been so easy. He placed the knife down and found the satchel of eboncrys. He lifted it up with a grunt. It was heavy. He pulled it open and his eyes shimmered lustfully as the contents were revealed. Scores of them. He couldn¡¯t believe it. Excellent! He could reach in and pull one out at random and it would be worth man than his whole hotel. He wouldn¡¯t need to run this shithouse anymore. With this bag he could just run away and live out the rest of his days in enjoyment. The owner selected one from the bag and raised it to his eyes. However, he¡¯d only just begun to appreciate the beauty of his ill-gotten goods when a pair of blades punched through his back and jutted out from his chest. The steel was a glossy dark green, obviously tempered in poison. The hotel owner immediately went rigid, eyes wide as saucers. The only thing that moved was his mouth, which opened and closed grotesquely like a fish out of water. Finally, the world went black. ¡°Go to hell.¡± A lean and rugged-looking man violently pulled his daggers out of the corpse and returned them to their sheaths. He shoved the body to one side with a grunt and waved over his shoulder. ¡°All set!¡± A sinister looking man walked in, followed by another with a repulsively scarred face. The three men had trailed Autumn here from the emporium. Without even a glance spared for the slain hotel owner, the dangerous-looking one picked up the eboncrys cube that had been dropped. It felt moist and warm in the palm of his hand. It was soaked with the dead man¡¯s blood and stained the thief¡¯s fingers red. ¡°Rich! We¡¯re fuckin¡¯ rich!¡± The thin, monkey-like one who killed the owner dropped his eyes to the prone woman. A dark and obscene light glimmered in his beady gaze. ¡°That¡¯s one tasty lookin¡¯ bitch there. I haven¡¯t tried one like her yet, but I¡¯m about to correct that.¡± He reached out his hand and pulled. Autumn¡¯s clothing was ripped half off. Her long, pale legs were revealed to their lusty eyes. The desire to pull her legs apart and explore what lay between raged inside them. The skinny one was almost mad with excitement and started to fumble with his pants. The ugly one barked at him. ¡°Hey, Gibbon! Are you fuckin¡¯ stupid? A bunch of people saw her today, they¡¯ll be lookin¡¯ to score too. I know your little worm works quick, but every second we stick around is trouble. We aren¡¯t gonna risk it because you wanna get your dick wet.¡± The one called Gibbon flushed red. ¡°Fuck your mother! You¡¯ve got the fuckin¡¯ worm. You work quick!¡± ¡°With all this money you think you can¡¯t get women?¡± The ugly one pulled out a knife. ¡°Stop wasting time and kill her!¡± The malicious one who¡¯d so far been silent stopped him. ¡°If she was walking around with so much money, she¡¯s gotta have access to more. Keep her alive, and when we get to a safe place we can question her. There might be more to gain if she stays breathing.¡± ¡°Good point. He¡¯s right!¡± A grin stretched across Gibbon¡¯s face. ¡°The three of us can take her together. I¡¯ll show you the real meaning of ¡®wasteland manhood¡¯!¡± The scarred one didn¡¯t waste anymore time with nonsense. He pulled a sheet off the bed and wrapped Autumn up. Their leader took the sack of eboncrys, then put his foot through a window. ¡°Hotel workers will be here soon. We¡¯ve gotta go.¡± Book 3, Chapter 8 - Oddball Attacks The three men slipped out of the hotel through the window and onto the roof ledge below. From there, they slipped overhead until they could drop down unseen onto a quiet street. They took furtive looks to the left and right before quickly racing off. They almost made it out of the settlement before their plans were unceremoniously halted. The loud twang of a bowstrings caught their ears. Arrows started screaming passed. ¡°Careful! It¡¯s an ambush!¡± The sudden attack took Gibbon and the scarred thug by surprise. They were too slow, and both were almost immediately sprouting with arrow shafts. One screamed in pain and fell to the floor. The other was pinned to a nearby wall. It happened in the blink of an eye. Their leader was also caught off guard and one of the arrows caught him, too. It wasn¡¯t fatal, but there was no getting away now. It was only a few moments before he was surrounded by crossbow- wielding attackers. A muscular gentlemen approached, with his thick arms crossed. ¡°Give us the eboncrys and the girl, and we¡¯ll let you live.¡± The insidious man had not expected to be blinded by greed, but here he was. Gritting his teeth, he dragged the tightly wrapped body of Autumn over. He wasn¡¯t going to let his riches go without a fight. ¡°This bitch is mine, who the fuck are you to keep all the profit for yourselves? Take one more step and I¡¯ll kill her. I asked already, and she told me where there¡¯s more eboncrys hidden. If she dies you don¡¯t get shit!¡± ¡°Look at this one, acting like he can make demands.¡± The burly man unfurled his arms and pulled open his shirt, revealing an intricate weave of tattoos across his chest. ¡°Try it. If you¡¯ve got the balls.¡± The thief¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Highwaymen!¡± The men answered his shock with hideous grins. The Highwaymen were the largest criminal enterprise in the borderlands. They had eyes and ears in every outpost, that¡¯s how they were able to pick off merchant caravans. This group was a cell who operated in the Sandbar, and one of them had been in the variety shop when Autumn came in. He saw the parcel she flashed and had immediately told the others. Their leader growled dangerously. ¡°You know us, what we can do, and my patience is running out. Kill her, if you think you can.¡± ¡°Fine! I give up. Ruthless fucks!¡± The man knew this wasn¡¯t going to go his way. The Highwaymen were known for their tyranny and aggressiveness. If he really killed the woman they weren¡¯t just going to end his life. They were going to make him suffer. After thinking about it for a minute he decided his life wasn¡¯t worth it. So he stepped back until he was a few meters away from the others and, when he thought he was safe, put the girl down. ¡°Kill him.¡± ¡°You ¨C Ah!¡± With his leg injured, the man couldn¡¯t avoid all of the arrows that came at him. They punched a dozen holes through him as he screamed, then met his violent end. His demise was punctuated by a chuckle from the large man. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for trying to bargain with the Highwaymen.¡± All of the noise had stirred Autumn from her drug-induced haze, but the anesthetic still made her weak. She could hardly move her arms, much less escape, but she struggle onto her back to see what was happening. ¡°Bring her!¡± The big man waved a hand. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t know you!¡± Autumn saw the corpses and fear crept into her face. ¡°What are you going to do with me!¡± Two of the thugs walked over to her, but not to chat. One brought his hand back to knock her out. Just then there was a flash of yellow that swept across both men¡¯s throats. Their heads lurched back as pillars of blood spat from newly-made holes in their necks. Autumn was quickly soaked in hot, red fluid. The men were dead before they knew it. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± The big man yelled. The flash of yellow returned, landing on the ground. Finally the men got a good look, and what they saw baffled them. It was a bird, about the size of a fist. Its neck was almost comically short, with the head and body of an owl. Its whole body was covered in golden feathers and a pair of big round eyes stared unblinking at the crew. They were bright and intelligent, and as the bird flapped its wings blood splattered off its right side. A bird? What the fuck kind of animal was this?! The creature slowly blinked its big eyes. At rest, the goofy-looking thing seemed completely harmless. Nothing about it hinted that the bird could move faster than a bullet, with wings sharp as a blade¡¯s edge. The look on the big man¡¯s face said he sensed something wasn¡¯t right. This thing didn¡¯t seem like a mutant animal. But he didn¡¯t waste much time thinking about it. ¡°Shoot it,¡± he ordered. It was just a bird, right? Members of the Highwaymen were formidable thugs. There was no lack of decent fighters in their ranks. The little golden bird would make good target practice, they thought, as they reset their crossbows. Oddball watched with its big eyes as the arrows came. It squatted down, kicked off the grouwnd with its scrawny legs, and took off like a bolt of lightning. Its wings beat with unrivaled speed. But to Oddball, everything seemed to be moving slow as a snail. It reached the first arrow and kicked it with just enough force to change its trajectory. The arrow had been headed right for the girl¡¯s back. Oddball slipped passed the second arrow, then used its duck-like bill to strike the third. That one threatened the girl as well. An explosion of golden light erupted from Oddball, surging from each shimmering feather. The bird dashed passed the remaining arrows to the thugs behind, sweeping by and then sinking into their leader¡¯s body. Half a blink later the tiny bird burst out of his back. Three lives were unceremoniously ended by the little critter. It¡¯d slowed from the effort, but as it spun around Oddball beat its wings frantically. Four plumes shot out like a handful of throwing daggers. Each one caught a distant thug right between the eyebrows as they struggled to reload their crossbows. Autumn had managed by then to wriggle herself out of the bedsheet. She looked around in speechless confusion. Half a dozen arrows were scattered around her in a circle. Then, from the corner of her eye she caught a flash of yellow and another hoodlum hit the ground like a sack of potatoes. It all happened far too fast for her to see clearly. The bird moved even faster than a bullet! What kind of creature was this? Certainly no typical bird, that was for sure! The several thugs left decided this wasn¡¯t worth dying for. They threw down their weapons and high-tailed it toward the safety of back alleys. Autumn had never seen a creature like this. She was just as terrified as the thugs, and was preparing to flee herself when the bird appeared right in front of her. It gave her a gentle peck, which earned a terrified yelp from the girl. She covered her face and scrambled back. The strange bird kept knocking its beak against the back of her head until Autumn finally understood it was trying to get her to follow. She saw what the bird could do to soft human flesh, and with no alternative she picked up the parcel of eboncrys and followed it. Huh? The variety shop? Autumn found herself standing before the familiar doorway. It was closed, but just as she was considering whether to make a run for it the hinges creaked. It swung open, apparently under its own power, and a lazy voice called out to her from inside. ¡°Come on in!¡± The little yellow bird entered without hesitation. Autumn followed, though with far more caution. The store¡¯s interior was dimly lit with electric bulbs and the gramophone from before was still playing soft music. A young man around twenty years old sat in a large rattan chair, rocking back and forth. He looked perfectly at ease. The little bird went right to him and alighted on his left hand, where it pecked at a pellet of food. Did this strange creature belong to the store¡¯s owner? Autumn wasn¡¯t the brightest, but she was starting to catch on. ¡°You saved me,¡± she said, half in a trance. ¡°You¡¯re not as stupid as you look.¡± Cloudhawk stopped rocking and looked over the girl¡¯s face, absent the veil. He¡¯d seen any number of pretty women, but she was still striking. ¡°You¡¯ve got enough in that parcel to buy half of this town. You¡¯re obviously an easy target, but you made no attempt to hide your wealth. I honestly don¡¯t know how you even made it here alive.¡± Autumn¡¯s face burned with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble. I can compensate you.¡± ¡°And how exactly do you plan to ¡®compensate¡¯ me?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± He interrupted her awkward silence with a laugh. ¡°You¡¯ve already delivered the stones right to me, so think carefully.¡± Autumn was nervous and took a couple frightened steps backward. But a glance at the yellow bird and she knew there was nowhere to run, it just made her look guilty. The store owner looked like a young man, but if he raised a bird like that there was definitely more to him than what was on the surface. Her mind raced. She had an idea. Screwing up her courage, Autumn pled her case. ¡°If you¡­. If you could help me, there are many more crystals where these came from.¡± Cloudhawk was ever more curious in this girl¡¯s backstory. She was about as bright as pile of rocks and weak as a child, but she definitely had money to back her up. She claimed to be capable of getting him much more eboncrys. Maybe her family came from a place where it was made. Luckily for her, money was exactly what Cloudhawk needed. So her offer intrigued him. ¡°What do you need done?¡± ¡°I want to hire you to bring me somewhere. A-a place called Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. My tribe¡¯s ancestral treasure is there somewhere. Help me recover it, escort me back, give me the equipment I ordered, and take me back to my people. If you do that you¡¯ll have as much eboncrys as you want. You have my word!¡± ¡°Tribe?¡± Cloudhawk was curious. ¡°Is your tribe out in the wastelands?¡± No one from the elysian lands called their group a ¡®tribe.¡¯ None of them looked like her, anyway. The girl had to be from some isolated wasteland settlement somewhere, a place she¡¯d probably never left before now. That would explain why she was waltzing around like an idiot. Most importantly, it seemed like wherever she came from was also where eboncrys was made. But that was hardly information that was wise to share! If his suspicions were true and word got out, things would turn from bad to worse for the na?ve girl. It wasn¡¯t just wastelanders, elysians would be scrambling over one another for information about where she came from. She was the key to an incredibly valuable prize! Book 3, Chapter 9 - Uses For Eboncrys Was Autumn really that na?ve, or had she been cursed with dull wits? I should test her. Cloudhawk stretched and crossed his legs, feigning disinterest. ¡°Words are cheap. Let¡¯s do this. Tell me where your tribe is, and I¡¯ll check it out. If it¡¯s like you say then I¡¯ll think about helping you.¡± Autumn clenched her fists and was about to speak, but she swallowed it back before the words could pass her lips. At the last moment she remembered something an elder of her tribe constantly repeated, and shook her head. ¡°The elders have said that we must never share the location of our home with outsiders, no matter the circumstances. I will not tell you.¡± ¡°Well, it sure seems like you don¡¯t understand the situation you¡¯re in.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s dark eyes became sharp, and it seemed almost as though there was a fire smoldering deep inside. All at once the whole store filled with a bloodthirsty sense, and the young man¡¯s voice went from lazy and amicable to something from the depths of hell itself. She trembled at the sound of it. ¡°I don¡¯t it like when people screw around with me.¡± He spoke slowly, calmly. To others they would not hear anything out of the ordinary. But to Autumn the words struck her mind like a war hammer. A frigid sensation raced through her body and her throat closed up like someone¡¯s hand was wrapped around it. What she saw in the man¡¯s eye was bestial. He was a creature that had crawled its way up from the corpse-strewn mountains and blood-filled seas of the underworld. She¡¯d never experienced anything like it, and the terrifying man seemed to close in on her with every passing second. She was rigid as an icy-cold feeling started to curl around her legs. Like a frigid serpent, it slithered up her legs from the ground, the creeping fingers of death itself. She knew if she moved even an inch those fingers would tear her apart. Cloudhawk¡¯s face split into a devilish smirk. ¡°Think carefully.¡± Her legs trembled of their own accord. Never in her life had Autumn encountered a man so terrifying. She knew intrinsically he would crush her like a flower if she refused. Even the strongest warriors of her people wouldn¡¯t be able to stand against this monster¡¯s will. As fire roiled in her heart, eating away at reason. Cloudhawk maintained a perfect, distant calm. ¡°If you want my help, then you have to be straight with me.¡± Her teeth audible ground together as Autumn fought back. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you!¡± The Warden was surprised by her fortitude. Autumn gasped as the fires in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes receded and the pressure lifted. The terrifying sensations melted away, though it felt like she¡¯d been caught in a nightmare for decades. Her clothes were drenched in sweat. There was a demon living somewhere beneath this man¡¯s handsome face! ¡°Sure.¡± Cloudhawk shrugged uncaringly. ¡°But if we can¡¯t come to a mutual understanding, then I¡¯m not interested in your mission. I¡¯ll just take what¡¯s mine and leave it at that.¡± Cloudhawk waved a hand, and flecks of sand gathered into a grasping tentacle. It reached forth and snatched the parcel of enboncrys from Autumn¡¯s arms, delivering it to his waiting hands. ¡°Bring her to the bedroom so she can rest.¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± Autumn jumped as a pair of young women appeared on either side of her and took her arms. She glared at the brute who commanded them, her delicate features giving way to anger. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re nothing but a bandit!¡± She screamed at him. ¡°If I¡¯m a bandit, then I¡¯m a gentle and handsome one. Consider yourself blessed you ran into a scoundrel like me. Neve, Jasmine, let her go. If she doesn¡¯t want to stay here then she may go. The door¡¯s right there, and you¡¯re feet know what to do. If you¡¯re so intent on dying, far be it from me to stop you.¡± Cloudhawk reached back and netted his fingers behind his head. He was perfectly at ease, like her decision didn¡¯t matter in the least. ¡°I do have to say, though, that if I hadn¡¯t very graciously intervened then right now you¡¯d probably be in a dark room somewhere, with big guys taking turns on you. To be honest, I¡¯m taking a risk with you even standing here. If others knew this was where you were hiding, trouble would be coming my way. Right now you¡¯re a juicy slab of meat, missy, and everyone wants to take a bite.¡± This very day, she¡¯d run into a string of bad men with bad intentions. It underlined the reality that she¡¯d made a mistake. This young man was also no good, but he¡¯d at least spared her life. For the time being he hadn¡¯t tried to bully her into anything or showed intent to harm. Obviously, trying to get her sack of eboncrys back was out of the question. Truthfully, she didn¡¯t care much, but she couldn¡¯t go back empty handed. ¡°You can have the eboncrys, but you agreed to give me five hundred sets of equipment. We agreed.¡± Cloudhawk laughed like he¡¯d heard the world¡¯s funniest joke. ¡°Miss Autumn Draper, you gave me a down payment, but I doubt you now have funds to settle accounts. This sack here is the fee for saving your life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going back on your promise!¡± ¡°Calm your head down, missy. Think about it; let¡¯s say you¡¯ve got ten copper and you¡¯re off to buy some bread. On the way your money¡¯s stolen, and the thieves use that money to buy the bread you were going to get. Now, should I give the bread to them, or give it to you?¡± Cloudhawk snorted. This girl really had no idea how lucky she was to run into him. ¡°This eboncrys doesn¡¯t belong to you. I got it from a bunch of thieving brigands. Spoils of victory. I have the equipment you want, but if you want them you¡¯ll need to pay. Hand over the rest of the money, and you get what you want.¡± ¡°You¡¯re full of nonsense, you-¡° Autumn was so furious words failed her. Pale skin turned an angry red. She had never been good at arguing, much less in stressful situations like this, and he was far more verbally gifted than she was. ¡°The world out here is a fair place. When you make a mistake, you''ll pay for it. Walking around by yourself while waving this sack of eboncrys about was just plain dumb.¡± Cloudhawk waved a hand dismissively. ¡°When I saw there was a wrong that needed to be righted, I stepped in. When I saw you were in need, I helped. I didn¡¯t have to, you know. I could¡¯ve just taken the stones and then left you to those actual bandits. Good men like me are hard to find, especially in this dirty world. You should be grateful you¡¯re still alive, but you shouldn¡¯t continue to push your luck.¡± Cloudhawk was being stubborn. Faced with such a shameless rogue, what choice did Autumn have? She couldn¡¯t fight him ¨C she couldn¡¯t even fight his little bird. She turned to storm out of the shop, but Cloudhawk¡¯s words caught her feet. There were bad men like him looking for her all over the city now. Would she even get five hundred meters out the door before the next group came? Chances were she¡¯d be a captive before she got that far. After thinking better about it she stomped a heel in impotent fury and trudged upstairs to the second floor bedroom. So she does have a brain. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Cloudhawk said dryly as he watched the pair of long, pale legs disappear up the stairs. He caught the smell of her as she passed by and a mischievous light twinkled in his eye. When she was gone he quickly pulled open the parcel, picked out a cube and held it up to the light. ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. These are good quality, they¡¯ll fetch a damn good price. At least enough to pay off most of our debt. A damn good score.¡± In truth, added together the parcel was only worth about twenty thousand gold coins. If he stuck to the price of fifty gold per armor set, then this wasn¡¯t enough to cover the whole cost. But Autumn didn¡¯t seem to know or understand. Did she not realize what they were really worth? However, getting more didn¡¯t seem like a problem for her. That¡¯s partially why Cloudhawk saved her. He had to admit, her willpower was tougher than he would have figured. He¡¯d tried to overwhelm her with his psychic energy, and any normal person would have collapsed under the pressure. Yet she kept her secrets, which proved to Cloudhawk that threats weren¡¯t going to win him anything either. He¡¯ll keep her close for the time being. Eventually he¡¯d get his answer. Gabriel had been seated a little apart. He had a thread in hand, and was working on a tapestry. None of this concerned him, but he couldn¡¯t help but glance reprovingly at Cloudhawk. What a shameless hoodlum, speaking to her like that. What sort of uncouth thug would pick on a poor young girl? Cloudhawk caught the look, but simply shrugged as he tossed up the cube and then snatched it out of the air. ¡°This isn¡¯t Skycloud. She¡¯s gonna get herself killed. Far as I¡¯m concerned, I¡¯m doing her a favor.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a moment. ¡°Which reminds me. Hey Gabby? If any rats try to sneak in tonight, let Naberius deal with them. Let him blow off some steam, right? We can¡¯t have him rearing his head in broad daylight and causing me trouble.¡± Gabriel was rather linear in character. Outside of embroidery and sculpting, his artful pursuits, there wasn¡¯t much else that caught his interest. He wasn¡¯t out for money or women. Most of the time he preferred to stay quiet and mind his own business. Of course, his amicable persona fled when Naberius took over. The two fractured minds had long ago come to an agreement. If Gabriel wanted Naberius to behave, he was expected to find materials for the sculptor to work with, at least a couple every week. The only way to make the beast sleep most of the time was to let him have his fun every so often. Tonight was just such an opportunity. Gabriel nodded. He set down the embroidery, then with a stuffy sigh walked out of the emporium. Cloudhawk turned the gramophone back up, and turned it up to the loudest it would go so he wouldn¡¯t be bothered by the ruckus. The old record began to spin and music filled the room. Cloudhawk shut his eyes and lost himself in the melodies, entirely content. He¡¯d only been here a few days, but he was finding that he rather liked this sort of life. No one looking over his shoulder, no constraints, total freedom, and a few coins in his pocket. Honestly he wasn¡¯t sure what he was thinking, trying to get to the elysian lands all those years ago. But it was no wonder. Such was the way of most men, no? In fact, all of one¡¯s wishes and expectations came down to where they were in life. Hopes changed as the years passed, but it was always a mystery when you had your face pressed up against it. It only made sense when you stepped back. People were always unable to get a grasp of the truth in the middle of living it. His wild desire to flee the wasteland was a perfect example. But if the whole world was a wasteland, where to hide then? Cloudhawk finally understood that the only real oasis existed in his heart. Although he was out in the bone-dry wasteland, he carried a green paradise with him wherever he went. Oddball began to squawk at him. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes popped open, and he looked down to see the tiny bird furiously flapping its wings. It was excitedly hopping around the eboncrys cubes. He¡¯d raised the divine creature for three years, and in all that time the little bird hadn¡¯t changed much at all. It maybe grew a little, and its wings had fully developed. That¡¯s how it¡¯d dealt with the Highwaymen. The range of their shared visual connected had grown by four or five times since the beginning. He figured the limit was about five hundred meters by this point. He could instantly communicate with the critter so long as they didn¡¯t separate farther than that.Oddball, of course, didn¡¯t have much combat ability on its own. The bird relied on Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic energy, and its master had learned in the last few years how to capitalize on Oddball¡¯s abilities. For instant, Oddball could shoot through the air at the speed of sound now. Beyond the sheer speed, Oddball was also capable of moving with perfect control. With its keen feathers, Oddball was able to rip through foes before they even knew what happened. The only way normal enemies could protect themselves was if they were covered in armor. Otherwise they were left exposed to its slicing wings and bullet-like impact. Then there were the feathers. Oddball¡¯s skill at flinging feathers like throwing daggers was exceptional. They weren¡¯t enough to deal with more formidable characters, but the critter¡¯s harmless appearance took many off guard. Oddball¡¯s subsequent attacks often came as a surprise. Cloudhawk was confident there was still more for him and Oddball to discover. Divine creatures were a unique class of relics. The stronger the master, the stronger their pet. So long as Cloudhawk continued to improve, he could expect Oddball to become ever more impressive. Oddball¡¯s beady eyes were fixed intently on an eboncrys cube. ¡°Is this what you want?¡± Cloudhawk curiously picked one up and offered it to the bird, who plucked it from his fingers. Bird and cube fluttered down to the ground, and Oddball proceeded to throw it down, and peck at it with his beak. The eboncrys fractured into several jagged pieces. Tremendous energy was contained in those cubes, especially considering their size, and kept very stable. They were also hard, but Oddball could knock its beak against something with the force of a bullet, so it was no surprise they broke. The creature gobbled up the pieces one by one. Cloudhawk watched with some measure of surprise. He didn¡¯t expect his little friend to scarf it down like that. Through their emotion connection he could feel the bird¡¯s satisfaction, even joy. Evidently this was a delicacy, and likely far better for the little thing than the feed from Skycloud. This was bad news. If Oddball got a taste for these, how many would he need in a year to keep his companion fed? There were only about a hundred cubes in the parcel he took from Autumn. Not enough to feed Oddball for very long. To confirm his fears, Oddball quickly finished his meal then looked pointedly at Cloudhawk. He sensed it clear: the feed he¡¯d been giving him previously was bird food. Garbage! Cloudhawk was distressed. This damn critter was a serious responsibility! This was the difference between a normal relic and a divine beast. Relics didn¡¯t change once they were forged, but divine beasts developed over time. A thing like Oddball had tremendous growth potential, and the eboncrys seemed like it would help. It seemed unavoidable. Cloudhawk had to get more of the stuff for his little friend. This was going to be a problem. Cloudhawk had to come up with a solution. Book 3, Chapter 10 - The Angel of Bone Autumn tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her long lily-white legs kicked at the sheets. She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had trouble sleeping. Autumn sat up, brows knit. Her people were in danger and all their hopes had been placed on her frail shoulders. How could she sleep, now that her vital mission had failed? The girl¡¯s inexperience dealing with people had come back to bite her. The eboncrys was gone, stolen, but that didn¡¯t make her angry. She wasn¡¯t a resentful sort by nature, and her people had no shortage of the energy crystals. No, what made her furious was that bastard¡¯s smug face. What could she do? Her tribe was living under threat of destruction, she had to save them! Knock-knock! Someone was standing just outside the door. Was it him? Could he have suddenly found a conscience? Did he decide to help? Clinging to the na?ve hope she slipped off the bed and padded to the door in bare feet. But the man on the other side wasn¡¯t the shop owner. This was the other one ¨C tall and lithe, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was the owner¡¯s accomplice, though had a much warmer expression than that hateful thug. The faint smell of gore hung over him. As the scent crawled up her nostrils anxiety welled up inside Autumn. She saw that he¡¯d changed clothes. His golden hair was still wet from a shower. Whatever he¡¯d done, a single wash hadn¡¯t washed away the stench. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re safe here. I¡¯ve already dealt with a group of them who were planning to make trouble. It¡¯s probably best if you stay here, at least for tonight. By tomorrow things will start to cool down.¡± He¡¯d brought some food with him, and offered it to her with a gentle smile. ¡°Here, some snacks. Cloudhawk heard that you weren¡¯t sleeping and thought you might be hungry. He asked me to prepare something for you.¡± Autumn¡¯s eyes sparkled. This golden-haired man was like a refreshing breeze next to that brute. He was polite, gentle, and thoughtful. She didn¡¯t believe for a moment that the store owner cared about her well-being. ¡°Thank you.¡± He was the owner¡¯s servant, but he couldn¡¯t be much weaker. There was a flicker of hope in Autumn¡¯s expression. ¡°You¡¯re a good man.¡± He answered with a bashful smile. ¡°I¡¯m not, actually. And Cloudhawk isn¡¯t as bad as he seems.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re definitely a hundred times the man he is. Can I¡­ ask a favor?¡± Her eyes glistened with desperation. ¡°Can you help take me away from this place? Escort me back home and you can have as much eboncrys as you want! I can¡¯t be stranded here, my people are dying. I¡¯m begging you!¡± The last work broke as emotion caught her throat. She searched his eyes pleadingly, her own heavy with sadness. Even the coldest heart would be moved by her appeal. She tugged at Gabriel¡¯s sense of compassion. He hadn¡¯t agreed with how harshly Cloudhawk had treated her. It was nothing short of robbery, and then refusing to help her only made it worse. What sort of man did that! ¡°I want to help you, but Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t agree. I can¡¯t.¡± He bowed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry. I hope you get some sleep.¡± He sighed and left her alone. It was true, he did wish to help. If it were something small, he¡¯d be happy to perform a service for the pretty girl. But even an idiot could tell whatever burden she was carrying wasn¡¯t light. That was probably why Cloudhawk refused her in the first place. Besides, they had their own mission here in the Sandbar. Autumn wasn¡¯t yet ready to give up. Fine! If they aren¡¯t willing to help, then I¡¯ll flee and make do! It didn¡¯t matter what dangers were stacked against her. She had to find Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. She had to get the treasure her people had lost! Images of accusatory faces glared at her through her memory. Children and elderly consumed by fire. Her eyes reddened. She remembered that ferocious beast and its devilish powers. Just the memory made her shiver, made her restless. If what the golden-haired man said was true, and the danger was passed, then she couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer. Under the cover of darkness she quietly pulled open the door and tip-toed toward the exit. Run! I have to run! She was determined to escape. She had only shuffled a few steps forward before colliding with something damp. She stumbled, falling onto her backside with an oof! Something wet covered her face and a cloying scent filled her nose. She looked up at the figure looming above. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± She was started and offered the apology instinctively, but no sooner were the words free from her lips than Autumn sensed something was wrong. Her eyes slowly widened until they were large panicked orbs. Terror bubbled up from inside and escaped as a piercing scream. This wasn¡¯t a person! It was a monster, tied to a stake, without a single stitch of flesh on it! The unfortunate soul had been flayed to the bone, but no major arteries had been severed. Dripping red vessels twined around the exposed bones of the victim¡¯s face, arms and torso. Yet most terrifying was that whatever man this used to be was still alive! Its jaw opened and shut but the sound of its teeth were the only sound. Clack! Clack! Clack! Gabriel¡¯s assurances rushed back into her mind. Tomorrow, things will start to cool down. She remembered the smell¡­ Hot tears burned trails down her face as she shrieked. ¡°Demons! You¡¯re all demons!¡± *** The next day, Sandbar Station was in turmoil. Naberius¡¯ masterwork creation was on display for the world to see. The Angel of Bone. Nothing so appalling had ever been seen in the borderlands before. Word quickly spread that something had happened by the new emporium. Frantic crowds went to see for themselves, finding five perfectly flayed ¡®angels¡¯ staked around the store¡¯s entrance. The scene was macabre, bloodcurdling. Onlookers weren¡¯t sure whether to scream or vomit. Out here, corpses were a daily sight. Murder was also common ¨C who hadn¡¯t taken a life or two? But this¡­ brutality. Such a malicious and frightening display was unheard of. Whoever they were these skeletons still lived. Exposed lungs filled with air, and they even seemed to know what was happening. The last few hours of their lives were lived in simply indescribable, excruciating pain before death finally claimed them. What sort of monster would do such a thing? Eventually, the whole story came out. This repulsive masterwork was the effort of someone from the emporium. Gabriel ¨C bashful and polite, handsome to look upon ¨C became famous after that day. He became known as the sculptor, but the name that resounded furthest through the wasteland was the Angel of Bone. Citizens of the Sandbar came to realize that the emporium''s enigmatic owner was not the only strange thing about the place. Even his assistant was a man of terrifying power! *** That day, in the bar. The Angel of Bone was the phrase on everyone¡¯s lips. News of Autumn and part in it also got around. Covetous words were passed about the treasures she hid, but no one wished to be next to meet the sculptor¡¯s knife. All they could do was shake their heads and sigh. Adder was manning the bar at the time, his motions smooth and practiced. For five years he¡¯d lived in this town under the guise of a simple bar owner. He kept a low profile, but everyone knew the man was much more than he appeared. So long as you could afford it, there was no shred of information Adder couldn¡¯t deliver. Selling to him was lucrative, if the information was true and current. He always paid a good price, and was fair with anyone who came to him with business. His bar was the premier entertainment location in the Sandbar, and the first place to go if you were looking for answers. Adder¡¯s bar was notorious, even among elysians passing through on missions. They came by, surreptitiously trading in information. Mystery shrouded Adder better than his trademark dark cloak, but no one could do anything about the man. That fact alone was enough to prove his abilities. A man appeared from a dim corner of the bar, wrapped in black cloth and carrying a large sword on his back. Where he¡¯d come from was a mystery. There were only walls in that dark corner. Had he been born from the shadows? Perhaps he walked through them, for he was as silent as a ghost. Adder¡¯s hands never stopped moving. He cleaned glasses and filled them for patrons, stony faced and calm of voice. ¡°So was Cloudhawk sent by that old mule, Arcturus?¡± The man slowly fell to on knee. ¡°There aren¡¯t many who have information about him in Skycloud, but he has plucked a few strings on our web. He first appeared in Skycloud city several years ago. There was some conflict between him and the governor, but he came under the Grand General¡¯s protection. After a short period he disappeared, and for three years no one knows where he went or what he did.¡± ¡°Skye Polaris. What is that old has-been up to?¡± A cold light flashed through Adder¡¯s eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, the senile roughneck is nothing to concern ourselves with. Just so long as Arcturus doesn¡¯t get involved.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve managed to learn a little about the mysterious girl he met with. She¡¯s no wastelander, nor does she come from the elysian lands. That would mean¡­¡± Adder¡¯s intelligence concerned all manner of things, all across the borderlands. He even knew much of what happened in Skycloud. However, he had nothing on this girl, including where she¡¯d come from. But an inkling whispered into the back of his mind. That couldn¡¯t be it, could it? ¡°I suspect you¡¯re right, Revenant. That¡¯s likely where she came from.¡± Adder nodded sagely. ¡°The place is more like a legend, no one knows where it is. Now it seems we have a lead.¡± ¡°Should I put out feelers personally?¡± Revenant asked. ¡°I¡¯m confident I could get her.¡± ¡°Cloudhawk is stronger than he seems. His senses are unnaturally keen. We also have to consider whoever is pulling his strings. Until we know more we should tread carefully.¡± Adder stared into his own mug and the liquor sloshing inside. He tossed it back and drank the mug dry. ¡°The ones who died today were Highwaymen. Make sure word gets out, see if they¡¯re interested in paying Cloudhawk back for his attention. We¡¯re not ready to get involved, but maybe we can stir the pot a little.¡± ¡°Your servant understands.¡± Revenant rose to his feet and stepped back. He vanished into the shadows like he was never there. Adder placed his mug on the bar top. ¡°Angel of Bone, eh? Interesting.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure why Cloudhawk was here yet, but the wastelander was a man Adder could appreciate. They might even have been friends, under different circumstances. Book 3, Chapter 11 - Fishmongers Borough Sandbar Station was rocked with news of the grotesque ¡®Angel of Bone.¡¯ In a single night Gabriel went from being a nobody to a terrifying figure, and no one dared cause any more trouble for the emporium. However, this turned out to be troublesome for Cloudhawk. There was nothing worth sympathizing about how those men died. They deserved that and worse. But why did he have to suffer for it? Clattering skeletons posted in front of your door didn¡¯t exactly do wonders for one¡¯s business. Most were too frightened to walk in. Had he known this was going to happen, Cloudhawk would¡¯ve rather handled the situation himself. The Warden wasn¡¯t the only one irritated by this. A gloom had come over the Sandbar¡¯s magistrate as well. Hammont¡¯s job was to keep vigil over the station and report what happened. Murder wasn¡¯t expressly against the law here, but the emporium itself was. Its existence undermined the power of the elysian authority which had taken over the settlement. Now there were ghastly living skeletons and parts of what had to be a dozen corpses spread around the damn place. Apparently, Gabriel only had time to fully complete five works. The remaining ¡®materials¡¯ were disposed of and discarded haphazardly through the streets. His methods for culling them were almost as brutal as what happened to the ones he kept alive. What could he do? Turn a blind eye? But arresting Gabriel was also out of the question. Gabriel hadn¡¯t broken any laws. What¡¯s more, going after him wasn¡¯t going to put him in Cloudhawk¡¯s good graces. The Angel of Bone had come to the Sandbar with Cloudhawk, and judging by what he¡¯d done he was just as capable a demonhunter as his employer. Hammont certainly wasn¡¯t going to face a pair of demonhunters with nothing but a troop of borderland soldiers. Yet, if they pretended like nothing happened, what would the rest of the town think? He had to consider the reputation of the inspection officers. This thing could go either way. Hammont mulled over how to gloss it over. At the same time, his own investigations had seen a breakthrough. When he poured over the report handed to him by a subordinate, the lumpy skin of his flesh quivered. ¡°By the gods¡­ someone get in here!¡± ¡°Your orders, sir?¡± ¡°Assemble a hundred guards and order them to surround the emporium. Put them under house arrest on the grounds of investigating this Angel of Bone matter.¡± His assistants shared a nervous glance. Just days before under penalty of death, the magistrate told them never to trouble the shop or its owner. Now, all of a sudden, they were supposed to surround the place? Anyway, none of the soldiers even knew what Cloudhawk was like. All they knew was no one seemed very pleased with the arrogant newcomer. Their boss¡¯ total change of heart was perplexing. Before long, a hundred elysian guards were surrounding Cloudhawk¡¯s variety store. All citizens were cleared from the area. Hammont ordered most of the soldiers to wait outside while he and a handful of trusted officers crossed the threshold. Once they were out of the public eye and Hammont once more faced Cloudhawk, the ingratiating smile returned to his face. ¡°Your humble servant is sorry to offend. I beg you to understand, I come here with information about the Sanctum of Judgement.¡± All the fuss and commotion he came with was a cover for the benefit of the people. Nothing but an excuse for him to meet Cloudhawk without arousing suspicion. In this way he didn¡¯t lose any face and he could deliver the information without fear of exposure. Two birds with one stone. Cloudhawk was taken aback. ¡°So fast? I knew I could rely on you.¡± ¡°Sure enough, through our investigations we found that the Sanctum of Judgement doesn¡¯t have many members. They have missionaries everyone but don¡¯t accept many true believers. We suspect about two hundred members in total.¡± A frown tugged at the Warden. Anyone could have found that out. What did he need this lard-ass for? But what he said next proved his worth. ¡°I recently learned that the Sanctum of Judgement is preparing for some sort of ceremony in a place called Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. I¡¯m not sure whether the Crimson One himself will be there. If you¡¯d like, we can send someone to see what they learn.¡± The lines on Cloudhawk¡¯s face deepened. ¡°Fishmonger¡¯s Borough? Tell me about the place.¡± He remembered Autumn had said some name like that, when she was begging him for help. Was it the same place? What a staggering coincidence! ¡°We aren¡¯t sure of this outpost¡¯s precise location. Your humble servant only knows its somewhere in the northern barrens.¡± The northern barrens wasn¡¯t a place. Like Skycloud, it was the name of the wasteland¡¯s northern sector. As the name implied, what they called the northern barrens were the wastelands north of Skycloud domain. Cloudhawk¡¯s former haunts were the southern barrens. While both were considered the wastelands, word was there were several more outposts in the north than in the south. Reputedly, several of them were even the size of cities ¨C several times bigger than Sandbar Station. With a name like ¡®borough¡¯ this Fishmonger¡¯s place must be one of the larger ones. Although there were more and larger city-sized settlements in the north, it was still a barbaric place. Tribes and warlords carved out their own territories and killed one another over it. People were raised like livestock, and there were stories of cannibals who feasted on the bodies of their fellows. They were just a bunch of monsters draped in human skin. There were just as many mutated beasts up there as they were in the south. But no beast could match the savagery of a man¡¯s heart. The general consensus was things were far more dangerous up there. Cloudhawk was dissatisfied, as it seemed the fatty had only done half the work. ¡°What the fuck do you mean, you don¡¯t know where it is? And you still have the gall to come swaggering in here? Do you think this is all a fuckin¡¯ game!¡± ¡°Please allow your humble servant to make amends. This isn¡¯t because of incompetence. The people of the north are cunning and active. To avoid elysian soldiers, they are often forced to move about. The place called Fishmonger¡¯s Borough has likely been moved a dozen times just in the last year. There¡¯s no way of knowing its exact location today.¡± Hammont stopped there. Making any more excuses would be counterproductive. He went on determinedly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry, sir. I swear to spare no effort in finding out everything I can, or demand answers from the intelligence service of Skycloud. Give me a few days and I¡¯ll have your answers.¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment before responding. ¡°Never mind. It¡¯ll attract too much attention if you start asking questions about something so far outside of your authority. I¡¯ll figure out where this Fishmonger¡¯s Borough is myself, you leave it alone. Follow any other leads you find, and remember to keep the whole thing quiet.¡± ¡°Of course, sir!¡± Hammont¡¯s body might have been thick, but his mind wasn¡¯t. He knew better than to ask too many questions. His superior was a talented demonhunter with the Polaris family at his back, finding out where a settlement was should be easy. Sandbar Station¡¯s magistrate hung around the store for a little longer to sell their ruse. He ordered the guards to clean up the bodies, then put up a notice to announce their findings. After a little while, Magistrate Seacrest and his lackeys dispersed. Gabriel was seated nearby, idly working his needlepoint and paying little attention to the matter. He continued to work on his piece as he muttered, ¡°Are you going or am I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re tough, but you don¡¯t know the wastelands like I do. We also don¡¯t know the whole story. Stay here and work on your embroidery, you don¡¯t have the survival experience I do. Let me see what sort of freak this Crimson One is. Maybe old man Polaris was right to suspect him. ¡°So be it.¡± Gabriel didn¡¯t offer up any argument. He didn¡¯t have much interest in the matter from the start. Who knew what sort of dark powers this Archbishop of the Sanctum commanded? Gabriel was good at making traps. Straight fights and skulking around were Cloudhawk¡¯s specialty. Several Gabriels together couldn¡¯t do what he did. Cloudhawk walked upstairs. He pushed open a door to reveal a room, empty but for the young woman curled in a corner. Her frail arms were wrapped around her legs, hugging them tight as she whimpered and shivered. When she heard the door open her whole body went rigid and red eyes snapped toward him. They were wide with fear and surprise. Cloudhawk stayed by the open doorway. ¡°Miss Autumn. Don¡¯t even think about it. Someone like you has no chances of survival in the wastelands. Let me make it clear, what you saw here was nothing compared to normal life out here. The evil that exists in the wastelands is far worse than anything you could imagine.¡± Autumn wiped the fluid from her eyes and nose. ¡°You are all bad men. You¡¯re evil. I want to go home. I just want to go home¡­¡± This pure and innocent girl had suffered a blow that struck her to the core. She tucked her head into her legs and began to weep. She had been told by her elders that the outside world was a cruel place, but now she found it was more than she could bear. Cloudhawk spoke over her cries. ¡°Where do you live? I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Autumn grabbed the first thing her hand could reach and flung it at him. ¡°You¡¯re a beast! You can¡¯t fool me, so give up! I¡¯ll never tell you.¡± Cloudhawk easily snatched the plate she¡¯d thrown from the air, then strode into the room with long steps. Fear welled up in the girl as he neared her and she pressed herself to the wall, trying to disappear into the wood. There was nowhere to hide, and when the terrifying pressure settled on her she found it hard to move. ¡°You smell nice.¡± As Cloudhawk stepped close to her, Autumn¡¯s natural scent filled his nose. She was fragrant as a flower, a smell that was entirely different from anyone he¡¯d encountered before. The slight point to her ears was already proof of mutation, so it had to run deeper than just cosmetic. Had her people evolved a natural scent? Autumn looked back at him, her face ashen with fright. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be scared. I¡¯m not as bad as you think.¡± Cloudhawk dropped the plate on a nearby table. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it and I¡¯m willing to help with your task. We¡¯re going to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough.¡± Autumn had lost all hope, so when she heard him it was like a gust of cool air through the pits of hell. She wasn¡¯t even sure she¡¯d heard correctly. ¡°I imagine you know how to get there.¡± Autumn was silent for a long time. She¡¯d given up, only for a spark of hope to be rekindled. Innocence certainly had its advantages, though she it meant she didn¡¯t suspect Cloudhawk might have ulterior motives. As for the location of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, of course she knew. Her plan had been to avoid the Sandbar, but she was forced into the outpost when she lost her people. Her goal had always been the northern barrens. ¡°What is it? Have you lost the courage already?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one with no courage! Who says I¡¯m scared!¡± Autumn didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s motives, but now that he¡¯d agreed to see her to her destination, how could she refuse? 1. I think this may be a play on words. On the one hand, as the following paragraph shows, he is referring to her actual smell. However, I believe the term he uses here ¨C ÕæÏã¨C is also used colloquially as a phrase to describe doing something you were determined not to do, but were forced to. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 12 - Meeting the Highwaymen Again A solitary wisp of smoke rose up from the desert, a stream reaching up to meet the setting sun. The crimson light of the dying sun kissed the distant horizon, melting into a hazy red line. The boundless expanse of desert was pregnant with a sense of desolation. Dusk in the wastelands was as majestic as it was wild, and the solemn whistle of the wind was one¡¯s only companion. It was the perfect representation of life and death in this desolate, post-war world. The sound of an engine broke the lonely silence. A vehicle was flung from the top of a dune, kicking up a lengthy plume in its wake. The sound of a woman¡¯s terrified screams followed. It struck the ground with a thud. The machine¡¯s four massive wheels churned the sand like gnashing teeth, and paired with the guttural roar of the engine it was like some ancient metallic beast. In a blink it shot forward ten meters. The vehicle leapt from dune to dune like a rampaging beast. It bounced and pitched over the bumpy wasteland terrain, until with a pathetic whine it came to a halt on the upslope of the next rise. The dune buggy¡¯s door was flung open. A pair of lily-white legs poked out searchingly. A beautiful girl, her hair a tousled mess atop her head, flopped out. Her face was pale as a sheet, and her legs trembled. Unable to stomach the rumbling in her guts, she keeled over and violently empties their contents into the sand. When she recovered, her face was a mask of bitter anger. The buggy only had two seats. The driver was a short-haired young man with a pair of goggles fit snuggly over his face to protect against the sun and sand. A thick cigar of wild tobacco hung from the corner of his mouth. His look and actions could be described as ostentatious, but his features were that of a delicate youth. ¡°You bastard! You did that on purpose!¡± Autumn managed to rise on shaky legs and threw a handful of sand at the driver. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, you thug!¡± The handful of grit looked as though it would strike the man unawares, but strangely it all stopped in midair as though caught in jelly. Autumn stared in surprise. As she gaped, the sand was flung back her way and splattered against her face and clothes. Some managed to find its way into her mouth and nose. Her hair became a sandy mess. Already unstable, the shock of it sent her reeling backwards and she plopped down into the sand. She had never been more confused or more furious in all her life. The young man lifted his goggles up so they sat on his head and stood on the buggy¡¯s frame. The setting sun cast his face in stark light and dramatic shadow. A strange expression crossed his eyes as he looked out over the wastes. He felt the hot, dry air whip by as it danced along the rugged terrain. He felt like he was in a dream. It¡¯d been years since he¡¯d looked out over a scene like this. Like a memory from another life. He was different. His mood, his thinking. The setting sun and the desolation it enveloped looked beautiful to him now. ¡°I blame you. You! It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Autumn angrily picked herself up from the sandy pit. ¡°Why must we use this damn contraption? Why didn¡¯t you listen to me and just buy a camel?!¡± Cloudhawk plucked the cigar from his mouth. He looked at her like she was an idiot. ¡°Those things are slow as shit, and not any nearly as satisfying to drive. This is how we get around out here.¡± ¡°And did you not know that cars need gas? Gas which we don¡¯t have? It¡¯s still a long way, what are we supposed to do now!¡± ¡°Honestly, even when I was young and dumb I still had more sense than you. At least I was smart enough not to throw sand at my betters and constantly get in their face.¡± Cloudhawk stepped down from the buggy. He flicked the final inch of his cigar into the sand and extinguished it with a boot. Autumn couldn¡¯t believe that the repugnant man was as well-behaved as he claimed to have once been. ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet,¡± he said. ¡°A bet?¡± ¡°I bet that I can keep this thing running.¡± Autumn gave the vehicle a careful look. The dune buggy was small, just large enough for two people, with nowhere to hide an extra can of gas. Fuel was rare, where was he supposed to find more? ¡°A hundred eboncrys. If I win, that¡¯s my prize. If I lose then I¡¯ll chop that off what you already owe me.¡± Autumn knew this scoundrel had some trick up his sleeve. However, she was curious to see how he¡¯d do it. Happily she answered. ¡°Fine! A hundred eboncrys? It¡¯s a deal.¡± ¡°Deep pockets!¡± Cloudhawk gave her an approving thumbs-up. He placed his hand against his chest for a moment, and Autumn watched curiously to see what he¡¯d do. After a few moments a light peaked between his fingers. It glimmered from his palm, and as he stretched out his arm the light began to ripple like the surface of a pond. Cloudhawk reached in. When he pulled back, a heavy can of gas appeared from the rippling space, clutched in his hand. He opened it up and started refilling the buggy¡¯s tank. ¡°One hundred eboncrys. Don¡¯t forget.¡± ¡°Ho-¡­. How did you do that?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. ¡°You can just pulled things out of thin air?¡± ¡°I¡¯m awesome, right? Believe me, lady, you ain¡¯t seen nothin¡¯ yet.¡± Beasts didn¡¯t need gas, this was true. But they did get thirsty, hungry, and tired. Those were limitations that didn¡¯t apply to a machine. So long as he had gas, they were set. Cloudhawk made sure to pack enough for their trip to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Autumn was taken aback by his strange methods. She¡¯d heard of people with strange abilities like this, the ones they called demonhunters. Was this despicable man one of them? Her elders always said she should keep far away from demonhunters, for they could never live together in peace. Who was this mysterious man? Cloudhawk refilled the buggy with gas, enough to keep it running for another four or five hours. He was about to put the can away when Cloudhawk felt a slight tremor through the sand beneath his feet. A scowl tainted his face. ¡°What is it?¡± Autumn couldn¡¯t help but ask when she saw his expression. Cloudhawk put the canister on the ground. ¡°Something¡¯s coming.¡± Autumn looked out over the horizon, toward an encroaching sandstorm. There she saw a host of blood red banners with the image of an ox skull emblazoned on them. Ferocious and scary, it made her shudder. Beneath them were nearly a hundred large men astride all manner of beasts. They were covered in thick armor protecting their most vital areas, leaving muscled arms exposed. Odd tattoos were inked along every inch of skin to serve as representations for their love of violence. All of them bristled with weapons. It was a group Cloudhawk seemed to have encountered before. After a moment the memories returned, of his time first crossing into the borderlands. These were the Highwaymen, the largest bandit clan in the area. Three years and they were still going strong, proof of their tenacity. They weren¡¯t as thick as their name implied. ¡°Hand over the girl and we¡¯ll let you die quick!¡± The threatening order rang out from the distance. Cloudhawk frowned at the descending horde, puzzled. ¡°So they are here for you. How did they know where we are?¡± Autumn had never seen a larger group of terrifying men. Timid by nature, just the scene almost sent her into a panic. ¡°What should we do?¡± Cloudhawk shoved her into the buggy and pulled out a crossbow that¡¯d been stored by their feet. The mob was getting closer by the moment, so he stomped on the accelerator. Their buggy leapt into motion. It went from inert to break-neck speed in no time. The mob tried to surround them. Cloudhawk was headed right for them, aiming to drive right through the mob. As the distance between them shrank Autumn¡¯s terror grew. She was drenched in cold sweat but her screams had stopped. There was no shortage of bull-like men on the other side. A direct collision seemed destined to result in Autumn and Cloudhawk being torn to pieces. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t slow down. He sped up. Just in the instant they were about to run headlong into the horde¡­ The head of the gang shouted over the din. ¡°The boss said we need her alive! Outta the way, don¡¯t let ¡®em kill themselves!¡± The bandits flung themselves to either side. Cloudhawk slipped through clean as a hot butter knife. As the snarling men brushed passed, the Warden lifted his crossbow and fired into the crowd. A dozen rugged men hit the equally rugged ground. As Cloudhawk tore through them ¨C driving the buggy with one hand and firing the crossbow with the other ¨C both maintained perfect accuracy. But the bandits were violent and unafraid of death, so his brazen attacks only served to make them angry. They began to fight back. Arrows and throwing axes clanged as they peppered the buggy. With a frown, Cloudhawk shoved the crossbow down by his feet, pinning the gas pedal to the floor. He pulled himself up, leapt into the air, and drew his sword all in one fluid motion. Wind whipped passed him as they tore across the wastes, easily two-hundred kilometers an hour. With his sword the Warden knocked axes and arrows aside, crashing into one of the bandits. The thug didn¡¯t even know what hit him. His head was nearly cut clean up as Cloudhawk¡¯s sword swept by. Autumn¡¯s eyes went wide as she watched Cloudhawk jump from the moving vehicle. She was by herself now as the buggy careened toward the horizon, picking up speed. She almost burst into tears. ¡°Aaaahh! What do I do? I can¡¯t drive!¡± Cloudhawk paid her no mind. Straddled the ox-like mount, won from the bandit he killed, and dug his heels into its flanks. The force broke several of the creature¡¯s ribs, and it immediately fell to the ground. Its sturdy legs kicked and tread air as it screamed in pain. Cloudhawk leapt to the next one. He kept pace with the buggy as he dashed from one enemy to another, bounding onto their mounts and moving on just as quick, agile as a bird. His stomped on several of the members so hard that bones shattered, meanwhile Cloudhawk never lost momentum. Those who passed ¨C if they weren¡¯t dead the instant his feet touched them ¨C hit the ground and were left behind. All the while, Cloudhawk¡¯s sword was moving too fast for the human eye to follow. Those unfortunate enough to meet his sword were cleaved apart, as easily as dicing carrots. The Warden realized it was unrealistic to believe he could kill near a hundred bandits on his own. Instead he fixed his attention on their leader. He leapt into the air, soaring over the others like a bird of prey, then knocked the bandit leader from his mount. The impact of his head meeting the stony ground knocked him dizzy, but he still managed to climb back onto his feet. By then the inky-black blade had already reached his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t move an inch.¡± Cloudhawk grabbed his captive, pressing the keen steel to exposed skin, and dragged him up onto his mount. He then jumped off the creature, pressing it at least a meter into the ground, as he and the bandit leader landed back onto the speeding buggy. Cloudhawk held the man fast by his clothes and delivered a teeth-jarring punch with his free hand. ¡°Listen up! Tell these assholes to back off, or I¡¯ll cut off your fuckin nuts and shove ¡®em in your mouth! I¡¯ll make you eat ¡®em in front of me.¡± Book 3, Chapter 13 - Killing A Way Ou Autumn couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. How could a soldier with these sorts of abilities exist? From shooting moving targets with perfect accuracy, to leaping from one raging ox to another, it all happened in seconds. In the time it would take to spit a curse, twenty bandits lay dead or broken. ¡®Brilliant¡¯ didn¡¯t begin to describe what he did. Not only were Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks ruthlessly efficient, they were also clean. Like war was bred into his bones. He moved like it was instinct, killed like it was natural. In Autumn¡¯s tribe, their strongest warrior had been her late father. However, at his strongest her father didn¡¯t even come close to this young man. He was only a few years older than she. How had he even learned all of this? It was nothing short of incredible. What¡¯s more, he had the powers of a demonhunter like her mother, and was capable of extraordinary feats. Incredible! Absolutely amazing! Autumn felt a jolt run through her body. She knew he was no pushover, but the strength Cloudhawk put on display just now far outstripped her wildest expectations. If she could convince him to come back to her tribe, maybe he could save them. Cloudhawk dragged the bandit leader into the cramped buggy, giving him a few sharp punches for good measure. The beating left the man bloody, but bandits were a tough breed. In fact the rugged man wasn¡¯t cowed yet and tried to fight back. He wrenched an arm back and pulled a hunting knife from his belt, then tried to bury it in Cloudhawk¡¯s abdomen. The Warden¡¯s reaction was to hack at each of the man¡¯s shoulders. Both of the bandit¡¯s arms were dislocated. In the same moment, a hail of arrows and throwing axes were coming their way. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the time to block them all, and one ax caught the buggy¡¯s door. It shattered the metal and caused debris to fire out every which way. Another ax lodged into one of the buggy¡¯s tires and got lost in the rubber, while an arrow pierced the gas tank. Precious fuel gushed from the hole like an open wound. One of the arrows was aimed right for the back of Autumn¡¯s head. Cloudhawk wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled. She felt a burning sensation and something rubbed against her cheek. Before she knew what was happening, Autumn¡¯s face was buried in Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. She could hear his heart thudding in his chest. Pressed so close and draped over her, she felt safe. ¡°You¡¯re dead meat!¡± The bandit leader¡¯s face was a mess of dirt and blood. He glared at Cloudhawk in pain and savage defiance, and though his arms were useless he yelled arrogant taunts. ¡°Blackfiend wants this one, and no one stands between Blackfiend and his prey. You¡¯re gonna die, and be left out here to rot!¡± The man was mad, and completely unafraid of what Cloudhawk would do. He was a burly man, all knotted muscle and bulging veins. His one eye was hidden behind red eye patch, and a nest of unkempt red hair sat like a flame atop his head. With the insane expression twisting his face, the Highwaymen would not easily be forgotten. But it wasn¡¯t his expression that affected Cloudhawk. It was the eye patch ¨C something about them called up an old memory. Three years ago! In the borderlands. Was this the same man that tried to rob the Bloomnettle company? He was still alive, out here terrorizing the borderlands all these years later. Wait! That wasn¡¯t right¡­ The Highwaymen were a savage gang, but they weren¡¯t ignorant. The first time they met, the bandits had backed off when they knew Cloudhawk had the powers of a demonhunter. Three years was long enough to change a man, but not long enough to change someone so dramatically. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again,¡± Cloudhawk hollered over the roar of the engine. ¡°Tell them to stand down!¡± A sinister fire burned behind Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. The bandit felt a tremendous pressure settle on his mind, shattering his will. A fear the likes of which he¡¯d never known consumed him. The one-eyed bandit leader¡¯s face twisted hideously. This was an assault on the psyche of a victim, and especially for those much weaker than Cloudhawk, it was difficult to resist. Even after losing the use of his arms, the Highwayman would not capitulate, so the Warden had to try another way. Veins bulged in the man¡¯s head and eyes. His armored vest almost seemed to stretch as he struggled with every fiber of his being. The bandit was no match, but still he struggled until blood poured from his every orifice. He slumped, unconscious, beside Autumn. Cloudhawk cursed and took his place back in the driver seat. His foot stomped hard on the accelerator, despite the damage to its tank and tire. ¡°Hold on to him! We have to get free!¡± The other Highwaymen were not fazed in the least by their leader¡¯s condition. Throwing axes tumbled toward them like a meteor shower. The bandits were formidable. Axes thrown from their bulging arms could easily split a man¡¯s head in two. Cloudhawk relied on Oddball to watch the incoming attacks, and as they got closer he had no choice but to have his friend join the fray. A streak of golden light darted out, first knocking an axe aside then fiercely beating its wings. Dagger-like pinions were cast out toward their targets. Four bandits were thrown from their mounts. As Cloudhawk poured his psychic energy into their connection, Oddball was rife with power. The tiny bird darted faster than the eye could follow, whipping around the buggy as it charge forward. However, Cloudhawk and Oddball couldn¡¯t be everywhere at once. The axes and arrows kept coming, cutting apart the buggy piece by piece. The ground began to rumble. Oddball¡¯s keen eyes spotted another group, coming from the distance. This second horde was even larger than the first and were bearing down at them with break-neck speed. If this band of thugs had been irksome, now they were in deep shit. ¡°Here!¡± Cloudhawk called Oddball back then shot out his hand. A torrent of golden sand erupted from his palm like a geyser. It spread out over the sand below and seemed to infuse it with life. As the bandits charged after them the sand churned like an angry sea. The beasts they rode were caught off guard and threw their riders as they panicked. ¡°Rise!¡± Cloudhawk lifted his arm. His voice was not loud, but still fell like a thunderbolt. Countless granules of sand shot into the air dozens of meters. They blotted out the sun and hindered vision, spreading out from the buggy in all directions, following it forward. Cloudhawk¡¯s sandstorm swelled from ten meters to twenty, from twenty to forty. Eventually fifty meters were covered in choking dust, too thick for the Highwaymen¡¯s reinforcements to know where they were going. Their world was plunged into suffocating darkness. Sand blinded them. It was impossible to see where their targets were hiding. It was enough for Cloudhawk to shake them. He slipped passed the confused hordes, hurdling for dozens of kilometers into the distance as pieces of their beleaguered buggy rattled free and fell away. Since one well-placed axe had punctured a tire, the ride was anything but smooth. With their tank punctured they also couldn¡¯t get very far. ¡°They can¡¯t keep up for the moment.¡± They had no choice, they had to abandon the car. Cloudhawk wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°The Highwaymen are all over the borderlands. Now that they know which direction we¡¯re headed you can bet your ass they¡¯ll keep hounding us. We need to find somewhere to lay low for a little while.¡± Autumn was still suffering from the shock of what she¡¯d witnessed. She pointed at the man lying in the sand. ¡°What about him?¡± The captured bandit leader was a mess. Blood trickled from his nose, mouth, eyes and ears in a light but constant stream. His nose was broken, and he whined in pain. The madness that had consumed him a moment ago was gone now. It was as though the blast of psychic force Cloudhawk leveled at him wiped it all away. ¡°He won¡¯t be much help to us.¡± Cloudhawk hefted his sword. ¡°Might as well kill him now.¡± The one-eyed bandit shuddered. ¡°I-f you kill me, you¡¯ll just seal your fate! Blackfiend will never let you go!¡± ¡°Ah, so you are afraid of death.¡± Cloudhawk returned quiet carnage to its sheath. He reached down and grabbed a handful of the bandit¡¯s clothes, using it to lift him up. He gave him a couple sharp slaps across his face, bringing the half-dead thug back to the present. When he saw Cloudhawk there was a palpable fear in his eyes. Whatever happened in his skull a moment ago had left a deep impression. His face, though, was menacing as ever. Autumn stared at the man in fear. Cloudhawk had him under control, but there was an air about him that made her very uncomfortable. For half his life this maniac had lived in the borderlands, murdering and performing all manner of vile deeds. Countless innocents likely died by his hand, so it was no wonder death hung over him like a shawl. Cloudhawk¡¯s lips curled into a savage grin. ¡°I bet you¡¯re thinking about what¡¯s gonna happen now that I got you.¡± The bandit looked back at him with his one good eye, his shock of red hair wild and matted. ¡°You¡­ kill me if you can, runt. Because if you leave me alive, I¡¯ll show you what it feels like to wish for death once my men get here.¡± Cloudhawk lazily waved a hand. A coil of golden sand encircled his forearm like a snake. ¡°I am a demonhunter. You should know the consequences of trying to kill a demonhunter.¡± ¡°Demonhunter?¡± The bandit was a rough sort. Cloudhawk¡¯s threats didn¡¯t unsettle him. ¡°Under Blackfiend¡¯s leadership we¡¯ll tear Skycloud apart one day. When he is the ruler of all the wasteland, bastard demonhunters like you will be his slaves!¡± The Highwayman¡¯s reaction surprised Cloudhawk. Who was this ¡®Blackfiend¡¯? He gave the thug another ear-ringing slap. ¡°Stop the bullshit. If you want to keep breathing then you¡¯ll start talking sense. Keep it up and I¡¯ll keep chopping parts off.¡± The bandit leader looked back at him for a long time Fear was welling up inside again. He didn¡¯t know why, but there was something very dangerous about this young man. Book 3, Chapter 14 - Blackfiend ¡°Hey little guy. Do me a favor and keep an eye out, let me know what¡¯s coming.¡± Oddball beat its tiny wings and took flight. Its pudgy little body soared overhead and circled, keeping vigil. Autumn was always curious when she saw the bird. What sort of creature was it? Was it psychic? She thought about the creatures that menaced her own people. They also ate eboncrys ¨C in fact, in many ways they were similar to Oddball. However they were far more terrifying than the docile little thing. She was out here looking for a way to defeat these monsters. All the dangers she suffered was toward that end. As night overtook the wastelands, Oddball remained their sole sentry. Once the sun was gone a human¡¯s eyes were blinded, but the bird could still see tens of kilometers in all directions. If the Highwaymen got close, Cloudhawk would know right away. Regrettably, there was no shelter anywhere nearby. Cloudhawk found a relatively safe spot. There, he raised his hand and the sand danced to his will just as before. Golden granules gathered together, solidifying into a makeshift igloo that was big enough for the three of them. Once they were snug inside, Cloudhawk sealed the entrance. The only indication they were there was a small hole so they could breathe. From the outside it was just a pile of sand, not dissimilar to any other in the wasteland. Out in the wastelands, temperatures varied wildly from day to night. Autumn was having trouble coping. Cloudhawk put together a small fire. It wasn¡¯t large enough to dispel much of the cold, but it eased Autumn¡¯s troubled heart. The Warden didn¡¯t seem bothered by the chill. His body was too tough for something so mundane. She was surprised he considered her at all. Her pale cheeks turned pink from the cold. She looked so young and cute with her dual braids and thin frame. Huddled near the tiny campfire, Autumn rubbed her hands and blew warm air into them. It didn¡¯t stop them from shaking. The day had been a stressful one. Even now her heart still raced. Her pointed ears perked up as she eavesdropped on Cloudhawk, questioning their hostage.Though the man with the eye-patch was tenacious, Cloudhawk¡¯s methods earned them some information. One name he kept repeating was of special concern ¨C Blackfiend. He was the founder of the Highwaymen, as well as their spiritual leader. It¡¯d only taken this mysterious bandit leader a few years to gather a sizable mob. They began gobbling up territory and feeding off merchants to make their living. Why merchants? The Highwaymen didn¡¯t have the strength to take on more dangerous and bloodthirsty prey like sweeper gangs. Small-scale merchants were much easier to pick off and had a much better payoff. Elysians didn¡¯t care very much about the bandit crew. Like the name implied they weren¡¯t a particularly large or dangerous outfit. They were like weeds ¨C cut them down and they¡¯ll just spring up somewhere else. Destroying the Highwaymen would only make space for two more to arise in its place. The elysians could kill bandits all day and never get rid of them entirely. The many years the highwaymen kept a low profile, picking off careless merchants. Since merchants weren¡¯t respected in Skycloud, there wasn¡¯t much they could do. This went double for merchants from the borderlands. Every now and again guards from the border wall would be dispatched, but Blackfiend would just recall his people. They hid in whatever hole they called a headquarters and waited for the storm to pass, then they went right back to business. Everything changed three years ago. Autumn listened carefully as the story was recounted. Three years ago the Highwaymen¡¯s cherished leader disappeared. When he resurfaced, Blackfiend was completely different. He¡¯d been strong enough before to keep the thugs in line, but when he returned he was even more powerful. All of a sudden, the force he wielded was terrifying to them. He started calling himself a blessing to the wasteland. From then on he adopted the title ¡®Undying¡¯. Under his leadership, bandits started going after notable crews. As success piled upon success it seemed Blackfiend¡¯s assumed moniker was true, he might as well have been immortal. Like wind sweeping away autumn leaves, the highwaymen absorbed the bandit gangs they came across. Numbers and influence swelled, and with each passing day they became more radical. That¡¯s why they called him Blackfiend the Undying. Blackfiend was more than a robber baron. As their spiritual leader it was not only chiefs who heeded his orders. Every member, big and small, bowed to the man¡¯s will. When he became Blackfiend the Undying, his status elevated even higher. He was almost worshipped. The Highwaymen had total faith in their leader. He was the chosen of the wastelands, destined to rule this untamed place. A simple gang of thieves suddenly became a cult of personality. Blackfiend the Undying was a god among men, immortal as the elysian gods. Sooner or later the wastelands would bend to him whim and he lord over it all. Autumn shivered, though it was not just the cold that made her tremble now. The one-eyed bandit hooted like a night owl. ¡°Holding me won¡¯t help you. Only delivering the girl to the Undying will do that. Maybe he¡¯ll spare your life. You are in his territory now, and out here there is no hope!¡± Cloudhawk stuffed a piece of cloth in the zealot¡¯s mouth to keep him quiet. He then turned toward the fire and lit a cigarette. Tobacco crackled as it burned. Tendrils of smoke curled around Autumn and made her cough. Irritated, she opened her mouth to share a few choice words but then saw his expression. The young Warden¡¯s black eyes peered searchingly into the flames. Her curses turned to curiosity. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Whether or not I should give you to Blackfiend, obviously.¡± He seemed genuinely torn by the idea. ¡°He sounds like a dangerous guy.¡± Her face drained of color and fear made her heart race. ¡°How could you even think that!¡± ¡°Relax with the drama, lady. I¡¯m just joking, alright. Shit, you¡¯re almost in tears.¡± He chuckled at her terrified expression. ¡°Why would I do that? Do you know how valuable you are? Relax. Until I get my eboncrys, I¡¯m not letting you out of my sight.¡± His words hardly filled her with confidence. Autumn tried to keep he voice from trembling, but failed. ¡°Is there really someone like that? Blackfiend the Undying?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his bullshit. Undying?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head, he didn¡¯t believe the tale. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of shit in my life, but nothing that claimed itself immortal. The bandit king probably has some skill, but if I come at him with my sword his head will come off same as anyone else. I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯d kill him.¡± His confidence helped ease Autumn¡¯s fear, but she glanced at the other member of their small party. The one-eyed bandit lay on the ground, his face twisted in a mad grin. In the faint light of the fire his hideous expression looked particularly unsettling. Autumn shifted uncomfortable at the sight of him. Blackfiend the Undying, chosen of the wasteland and its ordained future ruler. How could these insects understand? This self-important young fool only dares speak his blasphemies because he has not seen it for himself. If he only knew, he wouldn¡¯t be so dismissive. What does this young demonhunter think he knows about the world? Just wait. Insult the Undying. Your death is coming. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know anything about where their leader came from, but he saw the sort of zeal he inspired in his people. They were devoted, and unafraid to die. This didn¡¯t come from some special power, though. When he lived with the Seekers he learned of their drugs, and how it could turn people into rabid followers. Their actions and thoughts changed after even one injection. It turned them berserk, mindless, fanatical, and aggressive. At the same time it completely removed fear and a sense of self-preservation. If Cloudhawk¡¯s guess was right, the Highwaymen¡¯s leader was using these drugs to control his people. Little by little it ate away at their will until they were brainwashed into worshiping him. Cloudhawk saw it in the crew leader, his judgement was starting to be effected. He would probably eat shit if his master told him to do it. So did that mean Blackfiend had the support of the Seekers? And speaking of the Seekers, ultimately that meant the Dark Atom. When did they start to have this ability? Cloudhawk was still mulling over the connection when something came through his connection with Oddball. He shot to his feet. ¡°A group of bandits is getting close.¡± ¡°What? Bandits?!¡± Autumn¡¯s eyes went wide and she started to shake. ¡°Have the Highwaymen found us? We have to run!¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t seem like them.¡± Cloudhawk stamped out their little fire. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look.¡± Silvery moonlight blanketed the wasteland, giving it a spectral glow. A long caravan was fighting something and seemed to have run into some trouble. Targeted by a pack of wild wolves, it sounded like. However the group was an odd one. There were about fifty or sixty people all told, but only half of them were able-bodied. They had longbows and guns, and at the moment they were surrounded. Women and children were being shoved in the center for protection. The wasteland was a dangerous place, especially at night. Most people tried to avoid traveling in darkness as much as they could. This went double if they had women and children to consider. ¡°They have women and children. They can¡¯t be bandits.¡± Hope sprang in Autumn¡¯s eyes. She looked pleadingly at Cloudhawk. ¡°They¡¯re being attacked by beasts. Quickly, go help them!¡± Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°They aren¡¯t helpless. I¡¯m sure they can handle a few wolves. But something doesn¡¯t feel right, let¡¯s keep watching.¡± ¡°What are you doing?! There are women and babies over there! What if they get hurt?¡± Irritation was clear in his voice. ¡°Whatever I decide to do, you can be damn sure it has nothing to do with your bullshit opinion. If you¡¯re so eager to be a hero why don¡¯t you help them yourself?¡± Autumn shrunk under his reprimands. Her bottom lip began to quiver. ¡°Alright, alright! Fuck, you¡¯re a pain in my ass. I¡¯ve never met someone so annoying.¡± He shot her a helpless look, and her eyes twinkled. Just as she was beginning to think Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a total scoundrel, his eyes narrowed. Suddenly he whispered, ¡°But if you want me to help I¡¯m sure as hell not doing it for free. I see sixty people over there, so let¡¯s add sixty eboncrys to what you owe. Call it labor costs.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Autumn¡¯s pretty eyes went wide. She angrily stomped her foot but it didn¡¯t make her feel any better. With no other option, she grit her teeth and spat her answer at him. ¡°Fine! You¡¯ll have your money! I hope you choke on it!¡± Cloudhawk guffawed and moved in to help. Roughly half of the group were women and children. Cloudhawk figured even if something was off about them, they weren¡¯t a threat. And a dozen or so wolves? Hardly worth a thought. With a crossbow in hand he leapt into the air. From above, a hail of bolts peppered the wolves and killed half their number in a blink. What remained fled, yelping in fear. The caravan he saved looked around in panic. Out here, in this place, it didn¡¯t matter who popped out from the shadows. Fear was the standard reaction. Autumn dragged the one-eyed bandit with her over to the group. When she got there, she saw that although there were women and children, it wasn¡¯t what she expected. Obviously they were not there of their own free will. The twenty-some men with them, bearing weapons, were driving them along. ¡°Slave traders?¡± There was nothing and no one Cloudhawk hated more than slave traders. ¡°Thanks for the help.¡± One of the older men stepped forward. He took a careful look at Cloudhawk and saw the murderous intent in his eyes. It immediately put him on guard. ¡°We¡¯re on our way to the Highwaymen. These people are our gift to Blackfiend the Undying, so we can buy a spot on his crew. If you¡¯re thinking of making a move, I¡¯d advise against it. These women and children belong to Blackfiend now, and we fight in his name. Piss off the Undying and you can bet your corpses will be left out for the sun to rot.¡± An offering? Women and children? Autumn was mortified, and the news took Cloudhawk by surprise as well. The bandit leader they¡¯d captured began to struggle. He spat the cloth from his mouth and screamed at the top of his lungs. ¡°I¡¯m a Highwayman! All glory to the Undying! Save me!¡± Book 3, Chapter 15 - Back in the Wastelands Among the group of slavers was a man in black, younger than the rest. A long, nasty scar slithered across his face. Sharp, cold eyes were fixed on Cloudhawk as he muttered in the older man¡¯s ear. ¡°He looks like one of Blackfiend¡¯s men.¡± He had a keen eye, and the bandit¡¯s exposed flesh bore the markings of the highwaymen: Tattoos of the wasteland, of carnage, and the love of violence. It was proof of where he came from, and his status among the thieves. The older leader of the group scowled in confusion. The bandit had to be skilled to earn his station, so how did he allow himself to be captured? The younger man in black, and the older in grey robes were this group¡¯s leaders. The one in black was a wastelander, whose years had been spent honing his close-combat abilities against beasts and mutants. They called him Sandwolf. The man in grey robes was also a character. He hailed from the elysian lands, but fled when he was deemed a criminal. The borderlands was where he ended up. He hunkered down in a settlement for a time until he gathered a crew. The man wasn¡¯t a strong fighter, but he was smart. Smart enough to get people to follow him. They called him Greyfox. Sandwolf and Greyfox. The older one had to be twice the age of his younger counterpart, but they came together as men of like tastes. Greyfox studied the wasteland¡¯s situation and decided there was a way for them to make a living, but nothing was possible on a small scale. Their best bet was to attach themselves to a larger outfit. Sandwolf was a man of some combat ability, but was relatively short-sighted compared to his friend. He listened to the old man¡¯s suggestions, and had the strength to make sure they were followed. The Dark Atom was the big power in the neighborhood, but as they say, ¡®the tallest trees catch the wind.¡¯ Elysian soldiers were always out for terrorist blood, and sooner or later that tree would be burned down to its roots. The highwaymen, in contrast, had seen a period of impressive growth over the last few years. Its leader ¨C the one called Blackfiend the Undying ¨C was said to be the next great warlord of the wastelands. Greyfox and Sandwolf decided the Highwaymen were their best bet. The older man was getting on in years. He had no great ambitions anymore. There was no going back to Skycloud, so he was just looking for shelter to live out the rest of his days in comfort. Build a crew and survive, that was all he wanted. Desert Fox was a little different. He was strong, a child of the borderlands. He yearned for the allure of the wastelands, and had been wandering its blasted landscape ever since, building the life he wanted. The story of Blackfiend and his rise was legendary at his point. Since his return, the mysterious leader of the Highwaymen had only become more renowned. ¡®Blackfiend the Undying¡¯ ¨C it was a title that evoked powerful feelings, and attracted no small number of men seeking to get close to power. Sandwolf was confident in his abilities, Give him a chance, he thought, and he was sure to impress. Two men had different aspirations, but were headed the same way. Once Greyfox decided Blackfiend was the one to follow, he gathered together a group of twenty or so strong men and with them captured as many women and children as they could handle. He did not expect that they might find trouble on their way to delivering the gift. ¡°Did you hear me? I am Cyclops, the leader of the Highwaymen¡¯s second crew!¡± Cyclops saw this as his opportunity to escape. His group was on the rise and prosperous days lay just beyond the horizon. He couldn¡¯t die now. He¡¯d grasp at any straw, so long as it meant he kept breathing. ¡°This woman, she holds the secret to a treasure hidden in the wilds! The Undying will spare no expense to get his hands on her, and those who deliver will be richly rewarded. Obey! Or the master¡¯s curses will haunt you to the end of your days!¡± Cloudhawk openly chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve got a big fuckin¡¯ mouth.¡± Cyclops began to choke as Cloudhawk¡¯s iron grip clamped his throat shut. The one-eyed bandit was lifted off the ground. Burly men shuffled as they watched, for the young stranger handled the highwayman like an ape throwing around a chimpanzee. The more it went on the longer it was clear how large the strength disparity was between them. Greyfox, Sandwolf and their men looked at each other in uncertainty. If Cloudhawk could capture a Highwayman crew boss he definitely wasn¡¯t some weakling. At the very least he was a master marksman. It was that fact that made them hesitant to come to Cyclops¡¯ aid. ¡°Blackfiend the Undying only wants her secrets! Do what you want with her body, so long as she is alive enough to tell what she knows! Why are you still standing there?!¡± Cyclops¡¯ face was beginning to turn a dark red. He voice came in choking gasps. ¡°Prove your loyalty and worth to the future ruler of the wastelands!¡± Hungry eyes fell upon Autumn¡¯s supple form. She was a rare beauty, with pale skin smooth as silk. Her long legs looks absolutely delicious. She had an adorable heart-shaped face and a pair of braids perfect for keeping her in hand. Her eyes were big and beauty, and in all there wasn¡¯t a hint of the crude wildness of the wastelands about her. Neither did she have the prudish disdain of an elysian. She was like a fairy, neither common as the dust nor unreachable as the stars. A rare treasure. Any number of men would give a decade of their lives for a taste of what she had to offer. What treachery did Greyfox commit for the elysian to cast him out? He¡¯d been a doctor in his old life, providing his services to a small town. He was a master pharmacologist with a talent in alchemy, well respected in his community. Naturally, he was the one they turned to when the mayor¡¯s fifteen year old daughter fell ill. The young woman was beautiful, the most cherished girl in town. Greyfox gave in to his darkest temptations. Under the guise of treatment he locked her away, force-fed her drugs. What he did to her over the next seven days was unspeakable. Eventually the mayor realized something was wrong, and when they found Greyfox¡¯s secret chamber the girl they found was hardly human anymore. With a weak constitution to begin with, the doctor¡¯s torment was too much for her. She died shortly after rescue. She was fifteen years old. Rage had swept through the city. The mayor even went so far as to offer his family¡¯s fortune as bounty for this sick monster who killed his baby. He had to have justice. As Greyfox¡¯s eyes slid over Autumn, he couldn¡¯t help but compare her to the mayor¡¯s daughter. She wasn¡¯t a tenth of what stood before him now. How could he resist? Girls like her ¨C young and fresh ¨C were exactly how he liked them. As for the man in black, he was young and full of all the urges one would expect. He was just as eager to partake in carnal pursuits. Having grown up in the borderlands, he was no virtuous soul. Sandwolf¡¯s desire was to conquer a corner of the wasteland for himself, and part of that was any woman in that territory. He committed his first rape when he was twelve. By fifteen he¡¯d graduated to murder. For a long time he found his amusement by torturing and murdering one woman a week. It was intoxicating, wantonly using these frail creatures to feed his desires. He enjoyed their bodies and their torment to the fullest. Such a sensation was more addictive than any drug. Autumn felt their slimy gazes violate her, making her angry and confused. It was her who demanded Cloudhawk save them from the wolf pack. This was their thanks? She regretted not listening to his warning. If she¡¯d listened they wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament. The hearts of every person in this vile wasteland was as sick as the land they came from. Greyfox and Sandwolf were prime examples, and the men with them were just the same. How could an elfin, innocent girl even begin to wrap her head around it? These pieces of human garbage didn¡¯t need to do a thing, Cloudhawk knew what he was dealing with by the looks in their eyes. He was a man of the wilds, too, but not like them. ¡°Put down your weapon, young man. Let the Highwayman go!¡± At Greyfox¡¯s signal, one of his muscled followers stepped forward. But his gun wasn¡¯t aimed at Cloudhawk, it was pointed at Autumn. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll blow the girl¡¯s head off. Then no one will want her.¡± Autumn went white as a sheet. They were using her to threaten him? Even with twenty or thirty of them, the prospective bandits couldn¡¯t beat Cloudhawk. But with more than a few guns aimed her way, that severely limited his options. These scoundrels were cunning. A dark grin split Cloudhawk¡¯s face. He replied in a flippant tone. ¡°Gentlemen, we don¡¯t have to do this. Put your guns down before you hurt yourselves. If you wanna talk, then let¡¯s talk.¡± Crack! A gunshot rang out and the bullet kicked up a plume of sand by Cloudhawk¡¯s foot. Autumn nearly jumped out of her skin. The big man pointed his gun at her head. ¡°Cut the bullshit! I¡¯m losing my fuckin¡¯ patience!¡± There was no reward without risk. These men had struggled for years in the wasteland, and were desperate for someone to take them in. Blackfiend was a rising star, sure to be the next great leader of the wastelands. The sooner they earned his favor, the easier it would be to rise in the ranks. The women and children they brought were their own wives, their own sons and daughters. Wives agreed to sell their bodies for safety, daughters too. What else could they do? They had to take any opportunity to win a future. They left Cloudhawk with no choice, either. He loosened his grip. The crossbow fell into the dirt. Cyclops gasped as he was released and stumbled into the crowd. Sandwolf cut his restraints and Greyfox, being a doctor, quickly reset his dislocated arms. Cyclops snatched a battleax from one of his saviors. Honestly, he was surprised at the fortunate turn, as were the others. Sandwolf liked his lips. ¡°So he¡¯s a coward after all. Shit, I thought he was worth somethin¡¯. Didn¡¯t even break a sweat.¡± His eyes turned back toward Autumn. He¡¯d never seen a girl as pretty as her. He was going to enjoy himself. So she was the key to some secret treasure, eh? He¡¯d only just started his future out in the wastes, and the wastes brought him this gift. He saw it as an omen, a sign of the wasteland¡¯s favor. He would leave his mark out here, not become lost in the endless deserts like so many others. ¡°Kill the man! Whoever brings me his head will earn the Undying¡¯s favor. They may even become a crew boss and get first dibs at the girl! Quick!¡± Cyclops screeched at them, causing the goons¡¯ blood to boil. Women, riches, food. What else did they need? The Highwayman¡¯s aggressive cries urged them on, while he fell back into the crowd to hide among the women and children. His ferocity made the women shrink away and the children burst into tears. He grabbed a girl too slow to move out of the way and pulled her before him like a shield. While the others closed in Cloudhawk, Cyclops retreated to try and make his escape. Cloudhawk looked at the sea of twisted faces coming his way. It felt like he¡¯d been in this situation before, and he stood staring back at them as though in a trance. ¡°I really am back in the wastelands,¡± he muttered to himself. Indeed, this was the wastelands. He could read the story in each burning, crazy glare. Filth like them were the same all throughout this barren place. The darkest parts of human nature thrived here. Nurtured, even encouraged. People wore their ugliness plain on their faces, open to the world. It was just the sort of situation old Cloudhawk had been so desperate to escape. Book 3, Chapter 16 - Life and Death in the Wastelands Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to run again. The ¡®wastelands¡¯ weren¡¯t just this blasted place. What was Skycloud but another post-apocalyptic wilderness, albeit with more ornamentation? He was a different man now, with the power and smarts to protect himself. The freedom of the wastelands, where he could do as he pleased, was preferable to the strict boundaries foisted on him by the elysians. Kill whoever looks at you funny, deal with whatever you don¡¯t like the way you want to. Force was all you needed to solve your problems ¨C simple, direct. Do as you like, that was real living! [1] Greyfox, Sandwolf and the others were positioning themselves to attack. None of them had noticed Cyclops flee into the desert. Crude guns were leveled at Cloudhawk. Triggers were pulled. Their weapons were crude arms forged from wasteland scrap. They had a slow rate of fire and had to be manually reloaded. Still, bullets still packed a mean punch. At such close range they were lethal enough to put down a wild boar. Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils constricted to small black points and a faint scarlet light burned within ¨C a single lick of flame in a sea of black. The trajectory of the bullets were revealed to him clear as though it were drawn. Even the displaced waves of air were visible where the bullets passed. Cloudhawk began to move, erratic jukes first in one direction and then another. His movements were deliberate, unhurried. Not one bullet found its mark. As Greyfox watched, the look in his eyes hardened. Amazement bloomed in his expression. ¡°Son of a bitch. He isn¡¯t just a marksman. Everyone, together!¡± Cloudhawk wrenched a dagger from his hip, slashing it through the air. Ting! He cleaved a bullet in half before it reached him. The thugs stared in open shock. Did he just do that? From this range? Before they had a chance to recover, Cloudhawk flicked his wrist and the dagger went soaring. A cold metallic light carved a path through the night, penetrating the chest of the first bandit who held a gun to him. The dagger slipped through without stopping, coming to an end in the chest of a second foe. There was enough residual force to knock him flying. Greyfox hollered at the others in a shrieking voice. At least he realized what sort of man he¡¯d picked a fight with. ¡°Everyone, kill him!¡± Those who carved a life for themselves in the wastelands were not timid, or afraid of death. But as Cloudhawk dodged their bullets and cut them from the air, his enemies knew fear. Anyone who could protect themselves from gunfire with nothing but a dagger was first-rate. Even Sandwolf, their strongest, was outmatched. A handful of crude firearms wasn¡¯t going to kill this guy. Their only hope was to overwhelm him by attacking all at once. It was a fight for their lives, a chaos of flailing limbs and steel! Although Greyfox wasn¡¯t much of a fighter, it was time to bare his teeth or die a miserable death. He grabbed the hilt of his short sword, hollering orders at the others. However, before his weapon even left its sheath he stared in horror as the two men in front of him were nearly cleaved in half. A pitch-black sword was reflected in the pupil of his eyes. Silent as death, glinting through the night right for him. It was the last thing his living eyes saw. There wasn¡¯t even time for his life to flash before his eyes, or to think back to evils he¡¯d done. Quiet carnage split his skull in two. It kept going, all the way down like slicing through a piece of paper. Greyfox slopped into the dirt in two vertical halves. From crown to crotch Cloudhawk¡¯s sword passed without effort, and without sound. Mutilated corpses lay strewn around the young stranger as pools of blood formed rivers beneath his feet. However there was none of him. So precise were his movements and control that he avoided the mess spewing from his victims. The tattered grey cloak flung over his shoulders fluttered. Cloudhawk vanished. One by one the thugs began exploding into fountains of blood like they were being hunted by an evil ghostly force. Every second saw another bandit reduced to dead meat. This wasn¡¯t a battle. Chopping vegetables wasn¡¯t this easy. Compared to other roving bands in the wastes, this group could handle itself. They might have even stood toe to toe with an elysian army unit. But that didn¡¯t matter. After all, the fight they picked was with the Warden of the Talon¡¯s of God. A survivor of Hell¡¯s Valley! The warriors stationed in that cursed place were veterans of countless battles. They had survived some of the worst the wastelands could throw at them. Moreover, Cloudhawk was a demonhunter. The black blade in his hand could cleave iron in half, to say nothing of a man¡¯s vulnerable flesh. Its mirror-like surface cut through his enemies unimpeded. Sandwolf had yet to join the fight. He realized the horrible situation he was in when Greyfox was cut in half right in front of him. The men they¡¯d painstakingly gathered were being slaughtered. Half were dead already. They were supposed to be the force that bought him a place in the Highwaymen! They were worth nothing as worm food. Cyclops, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found. Sandwolf knew it was all over. Fast as he was, however, he was not fast enough. His thirty men were almost completely wiped out by the time it occurred to him to run. Before he retreat one step he watched as a man was cut in half. The blood hadn¡¯t even hit the ground before Cloudhawk¡¯s sword was in front of him. He roared a challenge and ducked out of the way. The sword missed, but deftly changed directions mid-swing to come back around. A ninety-degree slash came across toward his head. ¡°Ah!¡± Half of Sandwolf¡¯s face was sheared off. With his hand gripping tight to his sword, his eyes narrowed and tried to find his foe. He didn¡¯t understand, the guy was about as old as he was. How could he be so strong and experienced? The bandit had only just started his bid to tame the wasteland. How could fate let him die out here like a dog? Cloudhawk slowly rematerialized. He looked at the young fighter before him and saw something familiar in his eyes. Conviction, perseverance, something wicked. There was a lot about this young man that reminded Cloudhawk of himself. ¡°Die!¡± Sandwolf reacted when Cloudhawk reappeared before him. A dozen blows rained down like a steel tempest. Avoiding the Warden¡¯s double attacks proved he had some ability, a fact that was highlighted by his flurry. It bordered on martial art. Autumn gasped and flung her hands over her mouth. She watched as every one of Sandwolf¡¯s blows entered Cloudhawk¡¯s body. They pierced him through, again and again. Yet, her protector¡¯s reaction was entirely unexpected. Cloudhawk lazily reached out with his left hand. The young warrior froze, stiff as a board. He twitched and jerked, his arms twisting unnaturally. Crack! Pop! Bone and tendon gave way. Sandwolf¡¯s hand was rotated in a full circle, forcing him to drop his weapon. Death had come, he knew that. In his final moments, though, the young brigand did not cry out in pain. His screams were filled with anger and defiance. Cloudhawk slapped him on the head with an open palm, and the force buried Sandwolf¡¯s legs into the sand. Fragments of spine jutted from the skin as his skull was forced down into his chest. Sandwolf died, pegged into the sand like a grotesque totem. This was life in the wastelands. This was death in the wastelands. Both came and went like the breeze. The young man Sandwolf had set out on what he thought would be an epic adventure through the wastelands. In the end, his first step put him in his grave, and he was destined for nothing but to become another nameless pile of bones. Cloudhawk made his way unhurriedly back toward Autunm. Quiet Carnage dripped blood into the sand, marking his passage. None of the bodies were intact, rather reduced to large chunks of blood-soaked meat. A few who he¡¯d severed at the waist were still in the process of slowly dying. They twitched and whined in pain as blood and organs seeped out in a grotesque display. As the smell of carnage and the mangled bodies, Autumn couldn¡¯t stem the inevitable surge of nausea that filled her. She hated to see people hurt, and scenes like these haunted her nightmares. However, in the deepest part of her heart, she appreciated Cloudhawk¡¯s work. The women and children were huddled together, terrified. The weak had no recourse but to cower before the terrors of the wasteland. Autumn hurried to Cloudhawk¡¯s side. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Replacing his sword to its sheath, Cloudhawk answered with a malicious grin. ¡°Now you¡¯re concerned for my health? You didn¡¯t fall in love with me after seeing how handsome I was kickin¡¯ ass, did you?¡± ¡°Ugh! Only a devil would find you attractive.¡± She was thin-skinned and easily rankled at his teasing. She gave him a quick look but saw no indication he¡¯d been wounded. The dozen puncture wounds she was expecting weren¡¯t there. She whined at him like an angry child. ¡°You¡¯re still just standing here, talking nonsense? That Highwayman has escaped. Aren¡¯t you going to bring him back?¡± Cyclops was only barely visible as a black dot on the horizon. He was fast. Cloudhawk watched the dot shrink for a time, then shook his head. ¡°Nope.¡± Autumn blinked at him. ¡°Why not? It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you. If he goes back to his people he¡¯ll tell them where we are. We¡¯ll be surrounded by hundreds in no time, I¡¯m sure of it! What would you do then?¡± Cyclops was no pushover. He could hold his own. At a bare minimum, Cloudhawk figured he was at least as capable as Mad Dog, his old companion from the Tartarus mercenaries, had been. The Cloudhawk now was not the Cloudhawk from four years ago. Mad Dog had a true powerhouse back then. Now, he didn¡¯t seem like much at all. Any Hell¡¯s Valley veteran could match him. By the time Cloudhawk completed training, he could take on ten of those veterans at once. That was just for training. He was sure in a life-or-death situation he could take even more, so Cyclops wasn¡¯t any sort of challenge. ¡°I¡¯m not worried, so what are you worried about?¡± He gave her a devilish smirk. ¡°Relax. Someone will help me take care of him.¡± What did he mean, someone would help him? Autumn¡¯s first thought was the kind, blonde-haired man from the shop. She immediately broke into a cold sweat. He might have seemed kind on the outside, but he was a monster through and through. By contrast, this scoundrel Cloudhawk seemed more trustworthy. Had that blonde-haired devil been following them this whole time. No, that was impossible, they¡¯d been driving the whole time. No human could keep up. So it wasn¡¯t Gabriel. But if not him, then who was Cloudhawk talking about? 1. Readers may have noticed a change in Cloudhawk since the beginning of this volume. He is harsher, more selfish and self-centered, less forgiving. I think this paragraph encapsulates just why that is. Cloudhawk is not a teenager anymore. He¡¯s jaded, his dreams have changed from idealistic to realistic. Like many in their early twenties he thinks he knows everything and is out to get his, screw everyone else. So far he¡¯s made a difficult turn from reluctant protagonist to anti-hero, definitely not what you would expect from the ¡®good guy¡¯ ¨C but it is what you might expect from a young man with considerable power and prestige, in a world that doesn¡¯t give a shit about him. Book 3, Chapter 17 - The Huntress The barren, arid wastes were home to any number of shocking things. The sudden rise of the highwaymen was an example. For twenty years Cyclops had gone through hell and high water with Blackfiend, and trusted his leader implicitly. Cyclops believed it in the core of his being, one day Blackfiend would turn them into an organization even greater than the Dark Atom. They would all become stronger, and be granted the blessing of the wastes just like their Undying leader.¡± Outsiders only saw the Highwaymen as a band of cruel brigands. They thought of themselves as a family. Innumerable murders were attributed to them, but together they feasted, shared of their food and wine and women. This life of crime, lost to a haze of gluttony and sin, might have been deplorable to the self-righteous elysians. But it was exactly the life the Highwaymen wanted. This was the life they chose, the story they wrote for themselves. This was their wasteland. Only theirs. Even the likes of Cyclops, an unknown and insignificant worm of the deserts, had his dreams and ideals. He chose to pluck out his own eye as punishment. He wanted to become like Blackfiend the Undying, his illustrious living god. Cyclops was determined to stand above the rabble and cast his sight wide. People didn¡¯t fear death. They feared what they would lose when they died. So long as desires remained, and so long as there were goals to accomplish, one would not slip easily into the darkness. As Cyclops fled further into the desert, silence seemed to close in around him. Fear and unease whispered ominously in his mind. Had that piece of shit killed all those idiots so quickly? Useless! And they thought they were worthy of being Highwaymen? He cursed inwardly at them and quickened his pace. He saw the sort of speed and power the guy was capable of. So long as he kept his distance he was safe, but the bastard was more than capable of catching up if he slackened. Cyclops had no choice but to push himself as hard as he could and keep running. But even in that moment the one-eyed Highwaymen felt a creeping sense of danger wash over him. A dark iron staff roared from the darkness, bringing with it a tempestuous wind. This was no normal staff. Judging by the way the moonlight played off the surface it was made of metal, and one end had been shaped into a three-edged spike. The razor-sharp end was spinning furiously as it bore down on him. An exorcist staff. Demonhunter! Cyclops flung his hand ax at it with a roar. The moment they collided the exorcist staff exploded with power. The force of it shattered the axe¡¯s blade and broke his wrist. Shards of metal and the axe handle went flying every which way. How powerful could a demonhunter¡¯s strike be! Cyclops was nothing more than a stronger-than-average thug. He couldn¡¯t even compare to a novice martial artist. How was he supposed to compete? However, he was about to give up. Cyclops¡¯ reaction was quick, and though he couldn¡¯t see who was attacking him he flailed at them with his left fist. His attacker answered with a strike in kind, and they met in midair. His punch was doughty enough to crack stone. However, not only was it ineffectual, he was also knocked back. Struggling to get his feet back under him, Cyclops couldn¡¯t protect himself from the follow-up. A dark figure rose into the air, a dark shadow against the night sky, kicking up a cloud of dirt. A leg whipped at him, fast as a bullet. It caught him in the chest and Cyclopse was knocked back, head over heels. He hit the ground and had the wind knocked out of him. Eyes wide, he struggled to keep a grip on what was happening. His attacker was not just a demonhunter, but a melee fighter as wel ¨C and stronger than him! Who? Where did they come from? An agile figure crept from the darkness like a leopard. Cyclops was halfway to his feet when another kick came rocketing at his face. He managed to throw his hand up for protection but was still kicked nearly a meter off the floor. He fell again with a thud. Injuries piled on injuries. He coughed up a mouthful of bright red blood. He still didn¡¯t know who his attacker was, but the two strikes alone proved he was outmatched. There was nowhere to run, no chance to flee. Demonhunters were not normal foes, and even the most inexperienced among them were hard to kill. Death at the hands of a demonhunter¡­ Cyclops could only accept his fate. A burning pain shot up his leg as the exorcist staff pinned him to the ground. He screamed into the sand. Blood oozed freely from his mouth and nostrils as he lifted his head. A young woman with short hair came into view. She wore simple, almost tattered equipment. Tousled hair sat above a face where dirt had gathered around the edges of hideous scars. It looked like she¡¯d been burned. She was ugly, but was likely chosen with the other women and children for her charming figure. Good-looking women were few and far between in the wastes. So long as a woman had a pert ass, big tits and a small waist they were worth something. Nothing else mattered when the lights were off. The woman was about a hundred and sixty-five centimeters tall, give or take. Her body wasn¡¯t anything spectacular, but she was well-proportioned, curvy in all the right places. [1]. She had a feral way about her when she moved, like a sexy bobcat. No wonder they were bringing her to the highwaymen. Cyclops had grabbed one of the captives when he was fleeing to use as a human shield. Was this her? He¡¯d thrown her aside once he escaped and hadn¡¯t given her a second thought. A demonhunter¡­ hiding among the captives this whole time. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts stirring up trouble before your betters, woman.¡± She reached up to her cheek and pulled at the skin. It tore apart in chunks, and as she threw them aside it was revealed that the scars were a disguise. Below was a face of healthy and unblemished skin. Pretty. Her bright eyes glimmered, framed by short hair that fell to her shoulders. ¡°Come along!¡± She yanked her exorcist staff out of his thigh, then leaned over and snatched him up like a cat with a prize mouse. She dragged the several-hundred kilograms of beaten bandit behind her like a sack of garbage and flung him at Cloudhawk¡¯s feet. Returning the staff to her waist, the woman snapped to attention. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, your Excellency!¡± Autumn was seeing to the women and children, trying to calm them. When she saw this heroic demonhunter appear, she was stunned. She was pretty, and seemed both generous and straightforward. How did she know Cloudhawk? Judging by her looks she should have been older than him as well, yet called him ¡®your Excellency¡¯. Cloudhawk offered a nod. ¡°Barb. I¡¯d hoped you would recognize me.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a demonhunter as well?¡± Autumn was utterly puzzled by the turn of events. ¡°What was she doing with these people?¡± Three years ago Barb had been a penniless novice who nearly had her exorcist staff robbed from her. Then Cloudhawk showed up and chose her for a mission. To him it had been a small act of generosity, but to Barb it was life-changing. The accolades she earned when that Dark Atom plot was foiled were enough to help her complete her training. Three years later, Barb was still traipsing through the borderlands and the wastes. On average she completed one or two missions a month as a monster hunter for the League. Be it strength, experience, or wisdom, she¡¯d come a long way. Barb was no longer the green demonhunter struggling to make a few silver. ¡°I remembered you the moment I saw you.¡± Their encounter was purely coincidental. ¡°What a fluke, huh? The last time I went back to the elysian lands I stopped in a small village for a few days. Small place ¨C ten or twenty thousand people. I noticed they didn¡¯t have a demonhunter presence, and since I had earned some renown with the league they welcome me with open arms. The village mayor hoped I could help them with a mission.¡± She pointed to the two halves of Greyfox. ¡°This piece of shit imprisoned the mayor¡¯s daughter and did all sorts of terrible things to her. After a week they found out what he was up to, and he fled to the wastelands. Till today, he¡¯d gotten away with murder. Others have been after him, but he proved too cunning for most. If I¡¯d been able to bring him back alive the mayor agreed to give me all his fortune. Half for a corpse, which seems like what I¡¯ll have to settle for.¡± That explained her presence and makeup. She¡¯d been trying to work out a way to get Greyfox back to the elysian lands alive. Of course, never in a million years would she expect they¡¯d run into Cloudhawk out here. It turned out pretty bad for these idiots. Barb looked at ¡®his Excellency¡¯ with a face filled with admiration, for not only had Cloudhawk shown incredible strength, he¡¯d also done a righteous thing. Barb¡¯s disguise had been flawless. For all their smarts and cunning, neither Greyfox nor Sandwolf had suspected a thing. However, Cloudhawk had picked her out in an instant. He was really something. No wonder he was her superior [2]. ¡°Well, shit. I¡¯m sorry I cut your mission objective in half.¡± ¡°Ah, think nothing of it. The mayor¡¯s an honest man and his family¡¯s been in dire straits for many years. He doesn¡¯t have very much, and I¡¯m doing just fine for myself. I¡¯ve been wanting to end this creep myself for the longest time. He deserved everything he got.¡± She wasn¡¯t troubled by the turn of circumstance. ¡°So, your Excellency. What are you doing all the way out here?¡± ¡°We got involved with some gang trouble while executing a mission. And stop calling me your Excellency! Hell, I¡¯m younger than you are.¡± ¡°Of course, your Excellency!¡± Barb chuckled and clicked her tongue playfully. She ignored him and went on. ¡°You are both younger and more awesome than I thought. I thought after a few years of hard training I might close the gap between us, but it looks like I¡¯ve still got a long way to go.¡± Her playful remark bore a note of frustration. 1. Bro. You¡¯re dying. Are you seriously taking the time to check a lady out right now? 2. Remember, all she really knows about him was he had the token of a master demonhunte Book 3, Chapter 18 - Heart-scry Thorn Three years. Not a long time, but not short either. After bidding farewell to the Sandbar, Barb made her living wandering from place to place. Time and again death nearly had her, but from those experiences emerged a new life. Although she never received formal training, she grew up in the school of hard knocks. The wasteland made her strong, hard, and did it quickly. She was head and shoulders above a typical demonhunter, though still had a ways to go when compared to Cloudhawk. Most surprising to Barb was the fact that her ¡®senior¡¯ was, in fact, younger than she was! Selene, Zephyr, Dawn, Frost, Atlas, Blaze¡­ each brilliant stars in Skycloud¡¯s night sky. Seemed to her they could tack another name to the end of that list. The respect Barb had for the mysterious demonhunter from years ago only grew. Those geniuses were unreachable, rising high above the masses. They were also the children of great families and spoiled with wealth and opportunity. None of them held a candle to her ¡®senior¡¯, for which of them would have even given a low-born demonhunter like her the time of day? Three years ago she didn¡¯t know how to grab onto opportunities when they arrived, but she wasn¡¯t going to let it go this time. ¡°Stop struggling.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to reminisce about the old days. He pinned Cyclops to the floor with an unsympathetic boot. ¡°You and those fuckin¡¯ Highwaymen are really starting to annoy me. I really hope you decide to cut it out and tell me where their headquarters is. Do that and I¡¯ll make it worth your while.¡± Autumn and Barb looked at the beaten man struggling in the dirt. Neither felt burdened by the need for mercy. Countless innocents were destroyed at this bandit¡¯s hands. How many women and children had be killed, or ordered slain? He was unworthy of anyone¡¯s sympathy, even from soft-hearted Autumn. Letting him live would be a sin. No fire remained in Cyclop¡¯s heart. He was beaten, convinced that these were his final moments. Still he grit his teeth in obstinance. ¡°Elysian dogs. I¡¯m not going to tell you a damn thing. I¡¯d rather die than betray Blackfiend!¡± He was one stubborn asshole. Cloudhawk looked down at him, his eyes narrowing to slits. They¡¯d taught him how to deal with stubborn people back at Hell¡¯s Valley, but it took time. Out here they were exposed, and the Highwaymen¡¯s territory wasn¡¯t safe enough for them to hang around for the time he needed. This one-eyed shit¡¯s friends could show up at any moment, and the trouble would outweigh anything they might gain. The Warden wasn¡¯t interested in the Highwaymen or their hideout. He just wanted to know about this ¡®Blackfiend the Undying¡¯ everyone was so doe-eyed over. There was no such thing as an immortal, so either this guy was building a bullshit identity or had some unique abilities that made him seem hard to kill. Whatever the case, he piqued Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity. But, if Cyclops wasn¡¯t going to cooperate than Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to waste his time. Barb saw her senior lift his sword to cut the bandit¡¯s head off. Suddenly her eyes glimmered and she stepped forward. ¡°Let me have a go at it, your Excellency.¡± ¡°Eh? You¡¯ve been trained in interrogation?¡± ¡°Nope. But we don¡¯t need to go through the trouble!¡± Barb extricated a bag from her clothing, and fished out a dozen needles from inside. They were long, silver spurs with the exception of one, which was gold. In fact, this is what helped Cloudhawk recognize Barb within the crowd ¨C they resonated with power. Barb¡¯s delicate fingers picked out the golden needle. ¡°I have a gift for the spiritual and psychic. This here is called the heart-scry thorn. With it I can read his thoughts and memories. Only, it has a pretty low success rate ¨C twenty-five percent, maybe. It does terrible things to the victim, so you have to be prepared for them to die. I might as well give it a try if we¡¯re going to kill him anyway.¡± A psychic-type seeking relic? A rare treasure indeed! The only other demonhunter Cloudhawk had known with psychic talent was Claudia Lunae. Her seeker¡¯s torque was of the same type as this needle. The seeker¡¯s torque was used for local surveillance. It scanned surroundings for any homicidal or evil intent. Barb¡¯s needles were even more detailed, boring right into the mind of the victim and taking information from the source. The drawback, of course, was that resistance from the subject could result in their permanent disability, or even death. At Barb¡¯s current psychic capabilities, there was only a one in four chance of success. Psyche, spirit, soul, and reality: These were the rarer talents, and often specified. Claudia likely couldn¡¯t use the heart-scry needles despite having the same class of ability. Barb was lucky to find such a powerful relic, especially one that suited her so well. Taking Cloudhawk¡¯s silence as consent, Barb decided now was the time to show her worth. Without a word, she shoved the golden needle into Cyclops¡¯ forehead. [1] ¡°What are you doing ¨C¡° Cyclops felt an electric shock race through every nerve in his body. The agonizing, burning sensation was instantly followed by a total lack of feeling. He couldn¡¯t move, only stare wide-eyed at the woman in front of him. Autumn winced. A needle to the brain certainly couldn¡¯t feel good. ¡°Give me five minutes, your Excellency. If the scrying is successful I¡¯ll even be able to tell you the first time he shot a pistol, [2], what color he likes, and his favorite sexual position.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± Cloudhawk was quick with his praise. ¡°If you become proficient in this skill, the big-wigs in Skycloud would be scrambling to snap you up.Don¡¯t forget the little people like me when you¡¯re calling the shots, right?¡± His words were exaggerated, certainly, but were not out of the realm of possibility. The power players like Arcturus and Skye were rife with capable fighters, but they lacked people with special talents like Barb. Reading a person¡¯s heart was a unique and useful skill. The Dark Atom had caused so much havoc over the years because their members were notoriously tight-lipped. Someone like Barb, with the proper training and proficiency, would crack that mystery wide open. At this point it was only a matter of time. ¡°You flatter me, Excellency. It¡¯s my honor to be of service.¡± Pleasantly surprised, she accepted his compliment. She went on to describe the history of the heart-scry thorn. ¡°This treasure is a family heirloom from the mayor of that town I stayed in. Unfortunately for them, their family is in decline. There hasn¡¯t been any offspring with a demonhunter¡¯s talent for close to a century. Anyway, there are only a few people in all of Skycloud who could use these needles. They were destined for me, so the mayor handed them over. A gift for taking on this mission. If your Excellency needs my help for anything in the future, all you need to do is ask. I would consider it my duty.¡± As she spoke, Barb pressed her hands together, clasping them tight. She began focusing her mental powers. Cyclops was frozen. Unable to move, he could not express the terror that crept up from inside as he realized his mind was no longer his own. Memories rose unbidden, even things he thought he¡¯d forgotten years ago. It was surreal, like nothing he¡¯d experienced before. His mind was an open book, laid bare before this hateful woman. A scream of rage bubbled up from his paralyzed throat. He summoned all the power left in him, desperately trying to repel this invasion. But it was all in vain, for no amount of struggle could stop the incisive power that was drilling through his memories. His will crumbled before it, his mind was forfeit. Once Cyclops was totally under her control, he slumped into a semi-coma. ¡°We can begin!¡± Barb pressed her hands against Cyclops, who remained motionless on the ground. She was resolved to put on a good show so Cloudhawk could see just what she was capable of. Maybe he would even ask her to join him on their mission. Barb¡¯s greatest wish was to be a champion for good. She would wander where needed, battling the forces of darkness and defending the righteous. Her humble beginning made every step on her journey more difficult, but perhaps that would change if she could become Cloudhawk¡¯s partner. The golden needle began to glow. A sign that her psychic energy was galvanizing its power. She was lucky, overcoming Cyclops¡¯ resistance had gone smoother than she could have hoped. There didn¡¯t appear to be any major damage to the bandit¡¯s mind, which meant there was a fair chance they¡¯d get what they were after. Time to get started! Barb picked up one of the silver needles and inserted it into her own body. A surge of memories burst forth within the bandit and danced through Barb¡¯s mind like a slideshow. They were clear as photographs, no holes or obscurities. In fact, Barb was surprised at how well it all was going. She sifted through the images as they came, looking for anything of value. And then¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± She yelped in surprise, rising to her feet. Her eyes were wide and a look of disbelief painted her face. It was like she¡¯d seen a ghost. ¡°Senior, perhaps you better see for yourself.¡± Barb pulled out another silver needle and handed it to him. ¡°This is a transference needle. Place it anywhere on your body and you¡¯ll be able to see what comes through the heart-scry thorn.¡± The needles were part of a set; gold focused the information, silver delivered it. Not only was the relic able to read an enemy¡¯s thoughts, the silver ones could pass them on. The uses were many. For instance, if used in a battle with every soldier bearing a silver needle, thoughts could be passed instantaneously. In that way the user could create a sort of neural net to communicate that ignored distance. So long as the user¡¯s psychic energy remained all manner of information and orders could be shared with a mere thought. How interesting. Cloudhawk push the needle into his skin. He felt a brief electric shock jolt from the needle and pass into his nerves. It crackled up and permeated into his brain, and right away a huge burst of information assailed him. It felt similar to the connection he and Oddball shared, where they used a psychic connection to share their minds. ¡°Give me a needle, let me try.¡± Autmn was fascinated and wanted to see for herself. She grit her teeth against the anticipation of pain and stuck herself. Suddenly pictures flashed behind her eyes in a long procession. It was completely foreign to her, like walking through another person¡¯s head. Everything this bandit had ever done and ever experienced was open to her. Was this the power of Skycloud¡¯s demonhunters? Autumn couldn¡¯t help but think about her own mother. On her deathbed, she claimed that Autumn had the talents of a demonhunter. She didn¡¯t know if what her mother said was true, but she hoped it was. Over the last few days she¡¯d been made painfully aware of her weakness. Autumn didn¡¯t want to live her life feeling fragile and useless. 1. Ok. Acupuncture can¡¯t be used to read people¡¯s minds, otherwise I would totally be doing that shit. There is an acupuncture point around the forehead though. In fact, it¡¯s right where the ¡®third eye¡¯ is located between the eyebrows. It¡¯s called yintang, and aside from local issues like sinus problems and frontal headache, it is also used to calm the spirit. 2. Hilariously, and probably unintentionally in this context, ¡®shot a pistol¡¯ is also a euphemism in Chinese for jerking off. Or it isn¡¯t and Tipsy is a comic genius. Book 3, Chapter 19 - Life of a Wastelander As darkness took authority over the sky, dots of light sprang up throughout Miner¡¯s Bluff [1]. Soldiers huddled by campfires to dispel the chill. The cold and darkness made them lazy, and they filled their bellies with heated wine. The slaves they were meant to watch over saw it as a fortuitous combination. Miner¡¯s Bluff was a wasteland slave camp, with a hundred captives working nonstop in the bowels of the mountain. It didn¡¯t serve the master to offer any safety equipment, so hardly a week went by without at least one death from exhaustion, illness or injury. The black-hearted slave driver didn¡¯t want to waste any funds of keeping the slaves fed, so it was common practice to mince up the dead and use them to sustain the living. Most of the slaves survived because of this forced cannibalism. Despair and hopelessness had drained them of shame. However, those who did not die harbored a secret seed of rebellion. For a month they prepared. Tonight was the night ¨C they would gamble their lives for a better future. A grizzled, white-haired slave turned back to look at a younger man, named Sprout. Sprout was nothing like his name implied, being the largest and strongest of the enslaved miners. He¡¯d been down here with the rest of them for two years, but never once in that time resorted to eating his fellows. He wasn¡¯t special, and eventually the ones who refused to eat became fodder for the others who didn¡¯t. But thanks to his strength, the slave-drivers felt he was more use to them alive than on someone¡¯s plate. They kept him fed with proper food, to keep him strong and healthy. ¡°Everyone, get ready.¡± The old slave kept his voice to a haggard whisper. ¡°Sprout, we¡¯ll keep the guards busy. I need you to break into the room, gut that pig, and take his gun. Use it to kill the watchtower guards. That¡¯s our only hope.¡± Sprout¡¯s simple, earnest face betrayed anxiety. But the memory of his people, the ones he knew were still waiting for him, spurred him on. Filled with resolve, he nodded. ¡°Alright friends. Live or die, it all gets decided right now. Go!¡± The group of slaves sprang up from their crouched positions and clambered over a high fence. The guards, comfortably languishing near their fires, were taken by surprise. As they groped for weapons, a hundred angry men descended on them. Although shackled they fought with fist and feat, and heavy rocks they carried up from the mines. The shrill cries of the guards rang out as they were torn apart. Men up in the watchtowers heard the commotion. Clearly it was a revolt, so they did not hesitate to level their weapons and start firing into the crowd. Slaves began to fall, helpless as fish in a barrel. Sprout heard the whistle of an arrow pass centimeters from his ear. Screams came from all around as his fellow slaves died. He ran over the body of his closest friend, Brick. Flea, who¡¯d cared for him many times over the last two years, fell somewhere to his right and didn¡¯t get back up. Fear gripped him. The slave-master¡¯s private cabin was down the way, but his courage was fading fast. Whoosh! Another arrow was coming his way. Before it could find purchase, a wrinkled and emaciated form shoved him aside. The old slave hit the ground, clutching his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t stop, Sprout!¡± He cried. ¡°You have to live!¡± Sprout¡¯s eyes were red from fear and grief. An inner strength he didn¡¯t know he had burst from him, and he jumped back to his feet. With a roar that rattled through the night he charged ahead. Arrows peppered the ground he¡¯d just vacated, and several more buried themselves in his old friend. He died with his gnarled hand outstretched toward Sprout¡¯s fleeing figure. Many nights in the cold and dark had been spent fantasizing about what the slave-master¡¯s home looked like. When Sprout burst through the door he couldn¡¯t help but stop dead in his tracks. Pots of clean water were piled up in one corner, while the walls were hung with smoked meats and sun-dried grains. A group of five or six young women without a stitch of clothing between them huddled together, like frightened naked sheep. Scarred, wounded, they curled in a shivering ball of clutching limbs. The slave master had been busy with one when Sprout forced open the door. Bare-assed, he hurriedly climbed off the bed with a pair of trousers in one hand. His member pointed accusingly toward the door, but shrank instantaneously when he saw the large slave who stood there. The slave master¡¯s ugly face was a mask of fury. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?! You¡¯ve got a death wish!¡± It was kill or be killed. Sprout underestimated the fight contained in the slave-master¡¯s pudgy body. It cost him a few broken ribs before he managed to wrap his hands around the fiend¡¯s throat. With a satisfying pop the slave-driver¡¯s spine separated. Fumbling through the hut, Sprout grabbed the master¡¯s gun and stuck his head back outside. Crack! Crack! The guards raining arrows from their towers screamed as they tumbled from their posts. The day was won. By the time the night reached its deepest point, shadows clung to a very different scene. Those guards unfortunate enough to survive were tied up. Slaves argued over whether to cut them up and eat them raw, or cook them first. Filthy slaves flooded the master¡¯s room and dragged his women out by their hair, kicking and screaming. The men pounced on them, one after the other, like a pack of ravenous wolves. Sprout stood back and watched it all with a black expression. He was thinking about a woman, too. One from his past, his first, the one he had sworn to protect for all his life. They¡¯d only been together for two when the slavers got him. Two years. He¡¯d been gone as long as they¡¯d been together. He thought about her every night. He was only still alive because he so fiercely wanted to see her again. His desperate wish was what gave him the strength to fight, and in the last two years he learned to improve his body¡¯s mutant constitution. When his hands were wrapped around the fat slave-master¡¯s throat, it was her face behind his eyes. It was all her, the reason he clung so desperately to hope, and lived. He was different from the others. Sprout never touched the poor women, only stealing some of the food and water the master had kept. With what supplies he could muster, he left. *** Sprout had no idea where his home was, not all the way out here, not after all this time. He relied on scraps of memory as unreliable as the breeze. On his forlorn journey he met others, travelers like himself or murders on the prowl. He fought through sandstorms and other natural disasters, and always emerged stronger. Hardships would not break his iron will. Whatever fate threw at him, he only became more resolved. An absolute certainty that he would find his home again gave Sprout strength. He would find her again. But the wastelands gave no concern for a single man¡¯s longings. By the time he came upon familiar tracts, four long years had passed. Nothing remained of the place he once called home. After all, four years in this barren hellscape was an eternity. The woman of his dreams remained out of reach, and forever would remain just a memory. The truth was that two months after his disappearance, she¡¯d fallen into the arms of another man. Sadly, he eventually grew bored and sold her to a brothel. There she became ill and died. Her corpse was lost to the wastelands. When reality sank in, something broke deep inside Sprout. He lost his mind, found the brothel, and murdered every living soul he found. He trudged through a sea of blood until he found the man who betrayed her, the one she¡¯d turned to for support when Sprout was gone. He was going to tear him apart, piece by piece. But Sprout was tricked. In a disastrous loss he was blinded in one eye, captured, and once again found himself thrown in a pit. *** Life in the arena was one of blood and pain, far crueler than the black bowels of Miner¡¯s Bluff. Every day was a fight for his life, against hideous monsters or others like himself. He drenched himself in blood, and in exchange audiences sang his praises. All just so he could live another torturous day. There was even less of a future for Sprout here than back at the mines. At least in the pits with his fellows he could plot revolution. In the arena he was small, weak. He couldn¡¯t make a move without his new masters knowing, much less plan an escape. Worst of all was that piece of shit, coming every night to appreciate Sprout¡¯s nightly beatings. Sprout refused to give up, so he clung to life. But instead of a woman¡¯s memory driving him, now it was vengeance. Most fighters didn¡¯t last more than six months in the ring, but this sturdy youth had fought his way through a full year of opponents. Sprout didn¡¯t fit him anymore, so they gave him a different name. A more theatrical name for the audience to cheer. They called him Cyclops. Death was the only fate that awaited warriors of the colosseum. It didn¡¯t matter how strong Cyclops was, everyone met their end in the arena¡¯s blood-soaked dirt. Eventually he found himself wounded, staring up at his dominator. The colosseum¡¯s master had earned a great deal from Cyclops¡¯ rage, but that time was done. An invalid, he was cast out like refuse ¨C life or death determined by him alone. ¡°Do you want to live?¡± Cyclops was like a stray dog, living among the trash heaps. Fiends had begun to sharpen their knives, waiting for the moment he was too weak to resist. Before that could happen, though, a man in fine clothing approached him. Cyclops opened his one good eye to have a look at the man, with his onyx black skin and handsome face. The clothes he wore were elaborate and masterfully made, like nothing he¡¯d ever seen in the wastelands. He later learned they were made from elysian materials. This well-dressed strange with pitch-black skin called himself Blackfiend. ¡°The wastelands are cruel, so only the cruel survive. The only way to live better than others is to be more savage, more brutal, more vicious.¡± Once Cyclops recovered he pledged himself to Blackfiend. At the time his new master had gathered around twenty other like him, beaten and discarded by the world. Years of harsh living had turned Cyclops into a terrifying force, and he grew even stronger with the backing of this strange elysian defector. There were no principles to this nightmare they called the wastelands. The only law was strength. Strength to capture a hundred slaves, to murder your master with your own hands, to plunder another¡¯s women. Cyclops¡¯ favorite color was red, the color of blood. He chose a blood-red eyepatch, covered himself in red tattoos, and dyed his hair. Life¡¯s cruel lessons were burned into him and he was reborn as a bandit, terrorizing the borderlands. Years followed in a haze of violence, plunder, and rape. There was no evil he would not perform. He never knew if it was the pursuit of pleasures that drove men to depravity, or if it was depravity that drove him to seek out these pursuits. The desire to cast off his chains and give in was addictive, and he came to understand the heart of his master from so long ago. He learned the pleasures that had enticed his woman¡¯s murderer, and the pleasure of watching another¡¯s suffering just like the audience that had once drooled over his own. Heaven and earth were not kind. This was the wastelands, and it served nothing to blame fate for what befell you. Fate didn¡¯t give one rotten shit about anyone. It was best to put away that pathetic excuse and realize that one¡¯s suffering meant nothing in the grand scheme. In the end, it was only someone else¡¯s entertainment. 1. The name is ¡®mine mountain¡¯ or ¡®ore mountain.¡¯ First instinct was to call it Butte Lode, but the part of me that isn¡¯t stuck at age twelve prevailed. Book 3, Chapter 20 - Rise of the Highwaymen Blackfiend claimed to be a defector from the elysian army, a general. He committed some crime that deeply offended his betters and caused him to become a pariah. However, it was clear just by his presence that there was more to him than that. The elysians would not sit idly by as a high-ranking member of their army became a wasteland warlord. Elysians were a harsh and paranoid people, full of pride. Allowing a general to openly defy them, then letting him go free, just didn¡¯t add up. However, these discrepancies didn¡¯t affect Blackfiend¡¯s rise to power. Everyone had their own history and experiences, and were often loathe to share all the details. Cyclops and the others accepted him as their master. At first they made their living through murder and banditry, but before long they began to grow dispirited. The goal they all strove for seemed further than ever from their reach. They realized they could only succeed with more strength. More likeminded men were gathered to their cause and the highwaymen were born. Cyclops never liked the name. He would have preferred if they called themselves Blackfiends. It sounded far more¡­ imposing. But his master disagreed. He saw no fault in a highwaymen. Living a simple and straightforward life like their lowly namesake seemed appealing. Blackfiend felt that a dramatic name would only bring more attention, and with it more trouble. ¡®Highwaymen¡¯ didn¡¯t sound like the sort with lofty ambitions, certainly not worth the sweat of elysian soldiers. Out in the wastelands pride meant nothing. It was always survival first. Over time, twenty bandits became a hundred, then several hundred. At present the Highwaymen boasted a thousand strong, becoming one of the borderlands¡¯ fiercest group of bandits. Cyclops, because of his years of service and experience in war, was given a position of leadership. Blackfiend put him in charge of one or two hundred men. He thought back to one night in particular. They¡¯d just finished a big job, one that netted them seven or eight thousand gold easy. Their score also came with a group of about a hundred slaves and a dozen pretty young girls. As the crew celebrated, Blackfiend summoned all the leaders before him. After twenty years Blackfiend hadn¡¯t changed much physically. His shining ebon skin and burly frame looked just the same as he did all those years ago, when he came to Cyclops in the street. The only indication of his age was the grey that¡¯d crept into his beard by the corners of his mouth. That, and his slowly growing collection of scars, were the only indication of the passage of time. At fifty or so Blackfiend was growing older, but no one dared challenge his leadership. The highwaymen owed their existence and growth solely to this man¡¯s leadership. Cyclops and the other leaders had fought shoulder to shoulder with him for years, one desperate struggle after another. During that time the general Blackfiend once was became clear. He knew how to train soldiers, and command them in a fight. They were bandits, yes, but under Blackfiend¡¯s command they were a tremendous force. Years of harsh existence in the wasteland tempered them. Though they could not stand toe to toe with an elysian bastion, out here in the wilds they were nigh unbeatable. Blackfiend ordered wine bowls for each of his commanders. ¡°I must go away for a while.¡± [1] The others exchanged curious, uneasy glances. But not asking questions had been beaten into them after years of servitude. If Blackfiend wanted something said, he said it. If he didn¡¯t, then they didn¡¯t need to know. He raised his bowl, and said to them something the original Highwaymen couldn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°In thirty days, if I return, things will change for the Highwaymen. Anyone who wishes to leave can, without ill-will. If I don¡¯t come back, then the Highwaymen will scatter.¡± Thirty days later, no sign of Blackfiend could be found. But the highwaymen did not disband. Cyclops and the others refused to believe that Blackfiend would discard those who had been his brothers for twenty years. It took fifty days, but eventually Blackfiend did return. Only, he wasn¡¯t the same man who left. He called himself the chosen of the wasteland and took on a number of shocking habits. For instance, upon his return Blackfiend developed a preference for the blood of the young. There were also powers, mysterious abilities that made no sense. After a time he came before them again with an announcement. It was a challenge to another mighty borderlands outfit, who called themselves the Ligers. Although both groups made their living in the borderlands, both were comparable in strength and tended to keep to themselves. So long as one didn¡¯t encroach on the other¡¯s territory, there wasn¡¯t a problem. Blackfiend decided that needed to change. Strange and sudden though it were, bandits were a savage people. Without even stopping to question the state of things, the Highwaymen chose to attack. When the war began, Cyclops and the others didn¡¯t even need to raise their weapons. Blackfiend stole into the Ligers¡¯ den alone, and by himself tore the life out of forty men. That number rose to a hundred before he was done. The enemy bandits shot him with guns and arrows, stabbed him with knives and swords, but he would not die. Blackfiend trudged through their hail of steel without pause. The Liger¡¯s bandit king even chopped Blackfiend¡¯s head off. But he simply picked it up, and put it back on the jagged wound of his neck. It healed instantly. Any damage they did to heal vanished as soon as they dealt it. He was immortal! It didn¡¯t matter how dire the wound or how often he was hit, Blackfiend recovered in seconds. Alone he obliterated the opposing bandit clan. With a single punch he reduced half their leader¡¯s body to gruesome paste. Whatever happened to Blackfiend in his nearly two months away was a mystery. The devastation he caused was a shock to any who witnessed it. The Highwaymen absorbed what remained of the broken bandit clan. Overnight their numbers went from a thousand to a fifteenhundred. Their march of destruction continued, consuming several more bandit crews. Recruiting, expanding, becoming more powerful with every victory. Gradually, Blackfiend brought an end to the pillaging of borderland caravans so that they could continue to gather strength without attracting elysian notice. Blackfiend¡¯s reputation grew with every clash, transcending into the realm of godhood. He was worshipped as such by his men. With more fame, Blackfiend became ever more mysterious as well. Fear gripped the hearts of those who heard his name. The highwaymen were no longer a mere bandit clan. They were a cult, in service to their undying god. Cyclops didn¡¯t understand any of it, but he watched with one fervent eye as the Highwaymen grew day by day. Equal parts shock and excitement filled him, for he knew that if they continued at this pace the Highwaymen would soon surpass even the infamous Dark Atom. Sooner or later his people would come to inherit all the wasteland and call it their kingdom. Blackfiend the Undying would become its master! *** Barb slowly extracted the golden needle from his head. Cyclops¡¯ eye rolled back into his head and lay in the dirt, twitching. The process of dredging up these memories was barbaric and harmful. He¡¯d made it worse by resisting, and as a result he¡¯d caused great damage to himself. After the reading, what was in his mind became a shattered mess. If he lived, he would be only a shadow of a man. Cyclops lay in the sand, jerking every now and again, lost between reality and his memories. Cloudhawk and the others had watched Cyclops¡¯ life unfold like a book. It was a normal wastelander life ¨C full of pain, loss, and hope. Full of blood, murder and evil. ¡°That¡¯s a damn fine relic.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even spare a glance to what was left of Cyclops. There wasn¡¯t anything left there but a mindless sack of flesh anymore. He wasn¡¯t worth another thought. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame about the side-effects.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. The problem now is this dark power growing in the wastelands. And we had no idea. Incredible. I¡¯m willing to bet this Blackfiend will become another Wolfblade if given the chance, and will be just as much of a threat to Skycloud.¡± Barb¡¯s face was stern. She had to get back and report what she learned to her superiors soon. It would definitely be worth something to the right pair of ears. ¡°Have you come here to investigate Blackfiend, senior? I¡¯m sure figuring out where they¡¯re holed up will be very useful for the leadership back home. We should make a report right away!¡± Cloudhawk shook his head noncommittally. This left Barb puzzled. Something this important didn¡¯t even get a glimmer from his eye? ¡°You think Skycloud domain doesn¡¯t already know about the Highwaymen?¡± Cloudhawk looked at her. ¡°You underestimate the big wigs back across the border. I¡¯m willing to bet they don¡¯t just know, they probably have some ins we don¡¯t know about. If you go rushing back with this news before you know the real deal, six to one odds you die before you get there.¡± Barb¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her skull. What he was implying seemed nothing short of ludicrous. ¡°How could Skycloud allow an evil like this to continue?!¡± Barb was young, and idealistic. Cloudhawk had been like her, once. ¡°My mission has nothing to do with this, but we should take a look since it¡¯s on the way.¡± His decision took both ladies by surprise. Autumn even blurted out, ¡°Are you crazy?¡± It was clear from Cyclops¡¯ memories how terrifying Blackfiend was. He was a monster the likes of which the wastelands had never seen! Obviously it would be better to enlist a group of demonhunters to come and deal with the problem, if not a full army corps. Although Barb did not question her senior¡¯s abilities, it seemed reckless to go after whatever this Blackfiend was on his own. ¡°Relax. I¡¯m only going for a look, not to pick a fight. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Cloudhawk looked from one pensive face to the other. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it myself. The two of you should stay here.¡± ¡°No way! I¡¯m coming too.¡± Barb didn¡¯t leave any room for argument. ¡°I want to see this nest of evil myself. If I¡¯m going to become a master demonhunter then I can¡¯t be afraid of a bunch of garbage bandits! What sort of shit demonhunter would I be then?¡± Autumn wasn¡¯t eager to go running headfirst into new conflicts, especially ones that involved immortal former elysian generals. However, the problem she faced now was clear. Either go with them, or split up. Even if it was only temporary, she had come to understand how dangerous it was out here. Following Cloudhawk into the heart of a bandit camp, or cowering alone in the wilderness. She preferred the former. Anyway, Cloudhawk had said they were only going to take a quick look. Cloudhawk looked at Autumn. He knew from Cyclops¡¯ words and memories that Blackfiend was interested in her ancient heritage. Whatever place she came from was hiding an unfathomable treasure. Whoever controlled it was sitting on inexhaustible energy and wealth. Why was it the wastelands never openly fought with the elysian lands? In a word: poverty. Elysian divine energy was infinite, so wastelanders weren¡¯t going to fight their way through their holy lands. Not unless they found an infinite power source of their own. Anyone with even the faintest hint of ambition would see Autumn as the key to limitless power. And that was a problem. Cloudhawk found himself conflicted, but often the most dangerous place was also the safest. Maybe bringing her into the belly of the beast was a good plan. It was decided. The three gathered up their provisions and prepared to set off. Autumn took one last look back. Cyclops lay in the sand, twitching, blood trickling from his mouth and nose. His one good eyes stared blankly toward the sky and his hands groped at air. He was reaching for something, but it was something only he could see. His lips worked but nothing comprehensible came out. He had completely lost his mind. Autumn felt a sense of sadness come over her. No one was born evil. That eighteen year old boy named Sprout was a good man. If he¡¯d stayed back in his home with his lover, lived peacefully in the borderlands, what sort of man would he have been then? How would things have been different? She didn¡¯t know. This was the wastelands. No one knew what the next sunrise would bring. 1.Here is an example of a wine bowl from Iran. This is more of an Asian tradition, but for brigands I imagine they would drink out of whatever they had at hand instead of bothering with fine glassware. Book 3, Chapter 21 - Boondocks What was left of the old world was strewn around the wastelands as nameless ruins, but the ruins around the Highwaymen city of Boondock [1] were different. They were known as the thunderheaps. There was a story behind the name, one whose origins began twenty years ago. Then-demonhunter Arcturus Cloude fought a terrible foe here. Some claim it was a demon, others say a nightmarish monster. There were some claims he stood alone against a whole wasteland army. Whatever the case, it was clear a terrible battle occurred. The story goes that Arcturus called three thousand bolts of lightning upon his enemy in one fell sweep. With the definitive show of prowess, he won victory. Word spread, and Arcturus began to be called first of the demonhunters. Since that day, the governor never again brought his full power to bear in combat. Demonhunters were not normal warriors, however. They did not become weaker the older they became. Now at nearly sixty years of age, Arcturus was likely even stronger than his legends portrayed. But the truth of his strength remained a mystery. There were few situations that required Master Arcturus to become directly involved. It was widely accepted that if the master had lived during the demon wars, he would have been revered today as one of the greatest demonhunters in history. Boondock was a city in the thunderheaps, though it was not a city in the typical sense. In the early years their crew had numbered only about a thousand strong. If you counted the slaves and women, that drove the number to about three thousand. They lived a largely nomadic lifestyle, keeping their belongings on mounts and going where the wind willed. The Boondock of today different. With so many new comers and a rapidly growing catalogue of slaves and women, its population had swelled to more than ten thousand. As those numbers grew, the Highwaymen couldn¡¯t be as agile as they once were forced into a more sedentary living arrangement. However, Boondock still retained the style of a nomad camp. It had no walls, not even a simple fence to mark its borders ¨C exposed fearlessly to the wilds it inhabited. Its outskirts were ringed by the terrible beasts they raised, from wolves to enormous lizards, pack animals to creatures larger than elephants. All told their menagerie was probably two or three thousand strong. As for the people, they lived in makeshift tents of leather and burlap. Naturally a settlement of this size, with so many beasts and people, was difficult to provide for. Boondock would have crumbled under its own weight long ago if they relied on plunder alone. The Highwaymen didn¡¯t have the power of an organization like the Dark Atom. But what it lacked in influence, it more than made up for in barbarity. Entering Boondock one was greeted with the common sights of gambling, drinking and ravenous eating. Beyond that, though, were crueler scenes of blood and violence. Slaves who disobeyed their masters¡¯ orders were publicly hacked to pieces and fed to the beasts. They were beaten like dogs and tied to posts by tents, or viciously tortured for pleasure. In one case a horse galloped through town with the broken remains of a slave tied behind, dragged to death. Cheers rose up wherever it passed. The denizens of Boondock were your typical wasteland brutes, covered in tattoos and masked, with iron helmets and improvised prosthetics. There were a number of ogre-like men easily three meters tall lumbering the streets as well. In the deeper recesses of the wastelands mutants like that were common, but were far rarer the closer you got to Skycloud. Reaper must have reached into the far reaches of the wastes in order to bolster his ranks. Clang! Clang! Burly men stripped to the waist worked in open-air forges. They poured sweat while hammering strip of angry red iron. People came by with groups of slaves, offering them for goods and services like currency. When three strangers wandered into the camp, it didn¡¯t take long for them to garner some attention. There were three of them, two women and a man. The man¡¯s face was covered in a demon mask and was covered in an unassuming grey cloak. In one hand he held a rope tied to the throats of the two women, tugging them toward a rugged tent like a pair of dogs. ¡°Hol¡¯ it!¡± A large man with an equally large sword and missing front teeth barred the way. Glimmering eyes dragged over the two women. ¡°Where you comin¡¯ from, eh? I don¡¯ reco¡¯nize you.¡± The masked man looked up at his accoster and replied in an even voice. ¡°I¡¯m from the wastelands, looking for shelter with the Highwaymen. These girls are a gift to one of your bosses.¡± ¡°O¡¯ly two? Sorry offerin¡¯. You fink it¡¯s easy to get in fis crew? What feckin¡¯ dope told you to come ¡®ere?¡± The toothless brute practically hollered at him. He looked again at the women and notice one was covered in horrible burn scars. The other one was covered in tumors and other signs of mutation. Neither were the least bit appealing. ¡°Look at these feckin¡¯ dregs. We got plenty o¡¯ rotten goods ¡®round here already.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get caught up with their faces. Look at these legs.¡± When the masked man saw the goon¡¯s displeasure, he yanked one of the girls over. Lifting her raged skirt he revealed a pair of flawless legs, thin as twigs. The girl, visibly upset, grabbed the hem of the skirt and yanked it back down. She glared at him in quiet fury but the masked man paid her disobedience no mind. He gave her tight arse a slap. ¡°Check out this rump. Grade-A meat, you can tell. Wasteland women are rail thin, where are you gonna find something this juicy? Who looks at faces these days?¡± The gap-toothed brute had been taken off guard by their hideous faces, but at the man¡¯s urging he looked over the rest of them. Their enticing curves were clear under their shabby clothing, especially their pert chests. He had to hold himself back from grabbing a handful. ¡°Well well, dem ladies might be worf sum¡¯n. Dis one ¡®ere don¡¯t bother bringin¡¯ in. You can jus¡¯ give ¡®er to me.¡± The brute wasn¡¯t going to stand on manners. ¡°Take it easy, though. I ain¡¯t gonna leave you wid nuttin¡¯. All you gotta do is mention my name and no one¡¯ll give you no trouble.¡± Both women began to shift uncomfortably. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Whatchu say? Dese bitches are gifts, you said. Now you won¡¯t give ¡®em up? Whatchu playin¡¯ at?¡± The thug towered over Cloudhawk menacingly. ¡°You think hard now, runt. ¡®Member the rule ¡®ere is Boondock is off limits to scum like you.¡± ¡°You misunderstand. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but these girls are already spoken for. They belong to a guy called Cyclops ¨C he wears a red eye patch.¡± ¡°Well feck, shoulda said so. What a feckin¡¯ waste o¡¯ time. Off you go, find a place for yourself. Some¡¯n will come by in a few days to put you in a crew.¡± Finally the man and his two offering managed to make their way into Boondock. When they got into the city itself, suddenly things became much more crowded. These days it was a common thing for new faces to appear, so no one gave them more than a passing glance. That worked just fine for Cloudhawk, and the two disguised women by his side. Most of the city¡¯s population were slaves, mostly women. That made sense, since women were easier to control. Ones with pleasing figures were also good as gold out here, too, and bought their weight in goods. Next in terms of worth were young handsome men and those with special skills. Here among these bandits, the number of slaves one controlled was a direct display of influence, ability, and wealth. Slaves required food and drink, maintenance costs were high, so the more slaves you had the more you were willing to give up for them. As such most bandits didn¡¯t keep many slaves, but that didn¡¯t stop them from comparing themselves to others. Slaves skittered around the city, living lives of perpetual fear. They had no status here. It wasn¡¯t just their masters they feared. Everywhere they went they had to be careful, lest they were captured by someone else or murdered in the street. Slaves were chattel, treated with all the care and affection one might show a sack of coins. What¡¯s more, that was just threats from the outside. At any time their master could come back with a better slave. There was only so much a single bandit could provide, and a limit to the number of slaves they could care for. So what do when that limit was reached? For those slaves that have outlived their usefulness, the lucky ones could be traded elsewhere and continue to live. The unlucky ones were culled outright and fed to the animals. They weren¡¯t offered any compassion. Begging for one¡¯s life was a natural instinct, and that lead to servitude. If someone wanted to live they would do whatever it took. Outside of doing their master¡¯s bidding, slaves did everything in their power to make themselves more useful. They looked after the animals, took care of equipment, women learned tricks to please their masters, or secretly traded with other slaves in better conditions. Those with some measure of professional skill looked after themselves, or helped their masters run their businesses. Such was life in this wasteland shanty town. Rag-tag tents were strewn everywhere, aside beast pits for domesticated animals. Bandits were gathered in groups, eating and drinking together while emaciated slaves served them. ¡°Yall new?¡± A thin slave woman approached with a bitter expression. ¡°You want a tent? Cheap, but you¡¯ll need to wait a while. We¡¯ve had a lot o¡¯ people coming here lately. Wait¡¯s pretty lengthy.¡± The tents were a hodge-podge of animal bone and scraps of leather, gathered up by these women and stitched with whatever materials were on hand. Poor as they looked, it was obvious they required a lot of effort to make. Cloudhawk only had a small bit of food, and it wouldn¡¯t be wise to fish out a bunch of money here to pay for her services. He offered her a dagger instead. The slave woman looked it over with a look of surprise. ¡°Elysian?¡± Cloudhawk was likewise surprised at her keen eye. ¡°If you can recognize elysian craftsmanship at a glance then you¡¯re no simple slave.¡± ¡°I was caravan leader for a group of borderland merchants years ago.¡± Her scarred and beaten face twisted into a bitter smile. ¡°This dagger¡¯ll buy you few days¡¯ stay.¡± Barb watched the woman leave with a dumbstruck expression. She was assailed by a pair of young children, who wrapped themselves around her legs. They were only three or four years old. The slave women leaned down and picked one up, then walked back into her shoddy accommodations. For the first time, Barb recognized that there was no difference between an elysian and a wastelander. 1. The name is literally ¡®thug city.¡¯ It evokes the idea of Tortuga or other pirate cities. Keeping in mind Reaper¡¯s penchant for understatement, I went with Boondock because it sounds like a nothing backwater, and not a bandit stronghold. It is also a distinctly American phrase I imagine would hold over after the world was destroyed. Interestingly, did you know it is actually a loanword from Tagalog? Pretty cool that something so rednecky sounding comes from so far away. Book 3, Chapter 22 - The First Meeting Autumn¡¯s legs had been trembling ever since they entered Boondock. Cloudhawk called her a coward her for a reason, but who could blame her? Everywhere she looked her hulking, evil men. If their true identities were revealed she shuddered to think of the consequences. Autumn wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk, fearless and resourceful. Neither did she have the years of experience in dangerous situation that Barb had. She couldn¡¯t protect herself. If she was caught, what could she do? She didn¡¯t even want to think about it. At the same time she fumed with indignant fury at Cloudhawk. She hired him to bring her safely to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, but instead they were in this den of thieves. Then, once they got here, he manhandled her! She didn¡¯t hold back once they were safely hidden inside a tent. ¡°You dare slap my behind?!¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m supposed to be playing a part. You¡¯re the one breaking character and almost exposed us. I had to show some level of discipline.¡± Cloudhawk then added in muttered tones, ¡°Nice feel, too. Not quite enough for a handful, though.¡± Autumn was so angry her breath caught in her throat. He did it on purpose! If they were anywhere else she would have stormed out of the tent. ¡°I was looking around as we walked in. This place is bigger than we thought, and while it looks pretty lax it¡¯s just the opposite. There¡¯s a whole bunch of undercover sentries, so we need to be very careful every minute we¡¯re here.¡± Cloudhawk spared a glance at the women¡¯s chests again. ¡°Right, it¡¯d be a good idea if you got some cloth and bound those puppies up. As it is you¡¯re gathering an unhealthy amount of attention.¡± A slight blush invaded Barb¡¯s cheeks, but she was a straightforward sort and she wasn¡¯t going to balk at a small matter like this. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve successfully infiltrated the city,¡± Barb said, ¡°What¡¯s the next step?¡± ¡°The highwaymen are looking for us out in the wastelands. They would never think to look for us in the heart of their city. In a few days the recruits will start looking for people to take in, so I¡¯ll need to find a way to make sure I¡¯m one of them. Maybe I¡¯ll even get selected for their inner circle, who knows. But we can¡¯t waste time while we wait for that to happen.¡± Cloudhawk pressed a hand to his chest, over the phase stone. A sizeable parcel appeared in his hand like magic. ¡°These are sensor mines. I bought ¡®em off a wastelander ¨C rare and expensive. Barb, your job is to find places around the city to hide these. We¡¯ll use them to help us escape when the time comes.¡± The young huntress rubbed her eyes. ¡°Where did you pull that from?¡± Autumn had seen Cloudhawk pull this trick before. Although she didn¡¯t know much about demonhunters, she¡¯d heard a little bit from her late mother. This guy was deliberately making a show of it. More than likely, he had some secret pocket or something where he hid these things. ¡°No time for questions. Now this place was easy to sneak into, but it¡¯s gonna be a bitch getting out. Slaves especially aren¡¯t permitted to leave the city. One step out of Boondock and you¡¯ll be killed on the spot. New people don¡¯t have much freedom either, at least in the beginning. I figure they only get out if they¡¯re on pillaging crews.¡± Cloudhawk pondered aloud. ¡°This means getting out of here will be much more dangerous than getting in. We better watch our step and be ready for anything.¡± Barb¡¯s veneration for his Excellency was growing by the day. His abilities were beyond incredible. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°I¡¯m gonna poke around Blackfiend¡¯s nest, see what I can find out.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, didn¡¯t you say we were trying to avoid a fight?¡± Autumn practically leapt up, like a cat whose tail had been stomped on. ¡°What is that devil finds you? Can you survive a fight?¡± ¡°Pretty lady, I appreciate your concern but don¡¯t underestimate me. I don¡¯t know if I could take him, but you can bet your ass I can come and go where I like without a problem. Relax, alright? Normal folk can¡¯t stop me.¡± Concern! Not likely! Autumn nearly choked. She was the weak one. Barb could handle herself from anyone other than Blackfiend himself, even his closest henchmen. But Autumn hardly had the stretch to strangle a chicken. What was she supposed to do if she got into trouble? Even the weakest bandit could easily overpower her! Cloudhawk¡¯s plan was simple. Find where Blackfiend laid his head, and figure out what the deal was. If he spotted a weakness, maybe he could slip in and put an end to the ¡®Undying¡¯ without a fuss. Although he was eager to get to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, it was a long journey. It¡¯d only be more difficult if he had these fuckers hounding him the whole way. He wouldn¡¯t get a moment to breathe unless they were dealt with. Besides, Cloudhawk was thinking of settling down in the Borderlands. The Sandbar was considered part of the wastelands, and if this group of zealots got too strong it would mean trouble for the settlement. Eventually it would be overcome, so it seemed worth a little risk if he could avoid problems in the future. Whatever, it wasn¡¯t like every step he¡¯d taken his whole life wasn¡¯t through one danger after another. He even faced a fuckin¡¯ demon, and slipped away from an angry governor-demonhunter. There wasn¡¯t anything he couldn¡¯t handle. That didn¡¯t mean he could act stupid, though. He didn¡¯t know anything about Blackfiend, or whatever weird abilities he had. A ringing bell signaled night, and fires sprang up all around Boondock. As the sun fell, spirits rose. Suddenly the grimy shanty town was alive with activity. Crowds gathered around bonfires eating, drinking, and keeping entertained. It was chaos, perfect for Barb to start making her way through town. Cloudhawk also prepared for his task. Oddball, meanwhile, stayed perched on his head the whole time. Cloudhawk was thankful for the little guy, ready to alert him at the first sign of trouble. Autumn fidgeted nervously. ¡°What am I supposed to do while the two of you are out?¡± Cloudhawk cast a glance her way. What can you do? He thought. Babysitting was chapping his ass, but it wasn¡¯t like he could just leave her alone out in the wastelands. ¡°Stay in the tent and keep quiet. If someone comes poking around, stall for us.¡± His cloak fluttered, and suddenly there were two of him. It was an illusion, and it remained behind as the real Cloudhawk faded from view. Although it was just a mirage, the phantom was so complete it would fool most. Unfortunately his cloak couldn¡¯t make copies of others, but Barb¡¯s mission wasn¡¯t a tricky one. With Oddball¡¯s help, she would be done quickly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off.¡± Cloudhawk activated his phase stone and slipped out of the tent. Between his invisibility cloak and the stone, he made his way to the center of camp without any trouble. Boondock was divided into three sections. The first was the one they were staying in, where newcomers stayed while they waited for their chance to join the bandits. The second layer was for established crews, and the center was where the leaders resided. So where was Blackfiend? Cloudhawk looked around at the myriad of large tents. Any one of them could belong to the bandit boss, but checking them out one by one was too inefficient. Oddball was helping Barb, but even if it were here going into these tents was too dangerous. Suddenly, a pulse of energy shuddered through him. A relic?! Did that mean there was a demonhunter here? Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. It seemed he was right and the Highwaymen¡¯s recent changes had something to do with the elysian lands. But he couldn¡¯t be sure yet. Just because he sensed a relic, it didn¡¯t necessarily mean there were demonhunters here. These bandits could have picked something up out in the ruins ¨C though Cloudhawk found it unlikely. Anyway he looked at it, Blackfiend¡¯s abilities had to be the result of some special relic. So he headed toward the resonance. He had his target. Passing by several of the large tents, he came upon the source of the pulse. The inside of the shabby-looking tent was nothing short of extravagant, like a palace chamber. The floor was carpeted with first-rate goose down. The tent¡¯s walls were covered in fine elysian art and weaponry, all of the highest quality. Cloudhawk had the urge to start stuffing things in his pockets. But he resisted, because in the center of the room, sat high on a stool, was a single figure. His skin was black as onyx, but white had begun to gather by his temples. His features were aquiline, sharp, like they¡¯d been chiseled from stone. In both posture and attitude, he might as well have been a statue. Arrayed before him were several bowls, filled with fresh blood. This was him. Blackfiend! Cloudhawk had found what he was here for, but something wasn¡¯t right. There was something weird about this place, about the atmosphere. Staring at Blackfiend, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get the impression he was even alive. He just sat there, still as stone, with eyes dull and staring. Like some sort of puppet. That sort of look wasn¡¯t something you saw in a living face. Were it not for Cyclops¡¯ memories, Cloudhawk would have doubted this was Blackfiend. He seemed more like a wax dummy than a bandit king. A very realistic fake. Shutting his eyes, Cloudhawk reached out with his feelings. No denying it, the resonance was coming from Blackfiend. Strange. Cloudhawk drew his sword and began to slowly approach. He was still under the effects of the invisibility cloak, which by right made him all but nonexistent. However, as he neared the center of the tent, the unthinkable happened. Blackfiend¡¯s wax-like body seemed to be filled with vitality. A palpable, murderous aura flooded the area. Cloudhawk¡¯s face immediately darkened. He pulled his sword in front of him and flicked the blade¡¯s edge with his fingernail. He felt the vibrations tremor through it, but no sound emerged. Was did follow was a formless energy that spread out through the tent. This was one of the abilities locked inside Quiet Carnage, something Cloudhawk called a ¡®mute field.¡¯ All noise in its area of effect was silenced. You could scream at the top of your lungs and no one would hear a peep. ¡°Aaauuurrgghhh!¡± Blackfiend let loose with an inhuman roar, channeling energy began to channel in his fingers. Large, claw-like nails spat from his skin. Even from this distance Cloudhawk could feel they were brimming with power. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate, lunging at his target! His black sword whipped through the air. As the power of the blade left his sword, it carved a deep trench across the several meters that separated them. Both the table and the stool Blackfiend sat on exploded into splinters, and the slash of power bit into the bandit king¡¯s flesh. The sheer force carved right through him. Book 3, Chapter 23 - The Young Man After three years with the veterans of Hell¡¯s Valley, the Cloudhawk of today was completely different than the wasteland scrub from before. In every way, he had matured, most notably in the physical department. This manifested in increased speed, power, sensitivity, constitution and more. Cloudhawk¡¯s swipe from Quiet Carnage was proof of his progress. He could say, without boasting, that anything less than a senior demonhunter was no threat to him. Even against established hunters he could draw on explosive power and his rare collection of powers to win victory more often than not. The attack against Blackfiend would cut down someone twice as strong as the bandit king. After all, a body was naught but flesh, no matter how strong the muscles. How could one survive against a blow that would split steel? Blackfiend stared ahead at what appeared to be an empty tent, when suddenly the ground was split by some unseen force. The table placed before him was blasted apart, and yet there was no reaction from outside. The bodyguards he had set at the tent entrance were absent, ignorant of what was happening inside. Why would they? There was not a single sound that they could hear. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t reveal himself at all during the attack. His invisibility cloak was a high-rated relic, but it wasn¡¯t invincible. During use, a sudden blast of resonance from another relic could interrupt or outright cancel its abilities. Because of this, in previous fights Cloudhawk would sneak up on his victims and then be revealed in the moment of his attack. This, unfortunately, left him open for a counter. However, this time he left no trace. The slash of light seemed to come from nowhere, belched from another dimension. Cloudhawk¡¯s command over his relics had only improved. Unless he pulled out all the stops for an attack, he could maintain invisibility. It was a small improvement, but one that made him infinitely more dangerous. From across the tent Blackfiend was cut open from jaw to abdomen. In that instant his expression went slack. There was no reaction at least, like this mortal blow had happened to someone else. Nor was there any blood from the new fissure that nearly split his torso. Instead, black fog oozed from the wound. Tendrils of it reached out and as Cloudhawk watched, Blackfiend¡¯s black flesh was knit back together. When it was done, there wasn¡¯t even a scar. The Warden scowled. No wonder that asshole Cyclops worships this guy, his abilities far outstripped any normal person. His body really did seem immortal. As the bandit king¡¯s body was recovering, the tent¡¯s interior was enveloped in black mist. His silhouette was barely visible, a nightmare in the fog. His eyes began to simmer with a dangerous red light when suddenly he darted forward. Blackfiend¡¯s large claws swiped wildly through the air, and it all happened before Cloudhawk could blink. This guy moved at the speed of sound! His flurry of blows created a web of energy. ¡°Back off!¡± Cloudhawk hacked with quiet carnage to cut the web apart. It was like striking an iron wall. His blade stopped dead. With no other recourse he let his invisibility fade but activated the phase stone¡¯s energy field. As he appeared before Blackfiend, the bandit king¡¯s slicing net slipped right through him. The goose-down carpet beneath Cloudhawk¡¯s feet kicked up a cloud of severed feathers. Shards of fabric rose as well, igniting from some unseen energy and filling the air with flashes of heat and color. A flash in the pan, and then darkness. But the uncomfortable feeling that hung in the air remained. Cloudhawk felt a crushing sense of danger come over him. Blackfiend was too strong. As the web of energy rushed through him he felt the phase stone¡¯s field ripple and nearly collapse. He was lucky ¨C the Cloudhawk from three years ago would have been cut into neat little cubes. Cloudhawk, of course, wasn¡¯t just going to sit around and take a beating. Blackfiend was fast, but to someone who could effortlessly follow a bullet¡¯s track like Cloudhawk, he was nothing to gawk over. A hand whipped back and pulled a silver weapon from his waste. It was a strange tool, less a throwing dagger and more a pointed cone. It was a specially made throwing weapon that was very slender, and ended in a very sharp point. Four of them burst out all at once, faster than if they¡¯d been fired from a rifle. At this distance it would have been near impossible to dodge, yet Blackfiend ¨C whatever the fuck he was ¨C didn¡¯t even bother to try. Two caught him in the chest, one in the throat, and the last one right between the eyes. Cloudhawk¡¯s capabilities were nothing to sniff at. They found purchase in the bandit king¡¯s body, and to any normal person each one would have claimed their life. Of course, then, they would have an effect on Blackfiend. The black-skinned monstrosity stopped mid-fight. ¡°Aaaaauuurrrgghh!¡± He released another guttural roar. The sound of it was contained and didn¡¯t reach outside, however with a burst of strength the awl-spikes popped out of his body. Curling wisps of smoke seeped from the injuries. Cloudhawk was ready for something like this. One of the spikes passed right through him before tearing through the tent walls. There were four punctures now, letting in light from the outside. One of the guards screamed in pain, and Cloudhawk heard something heavy hit the ground. My turn! Cloudhawk brought his arm around as hard as he could, and another boomerang of energy leapt from quiet carnage. It was aimed toward Blackfiend¡¯s waist, and before the freak could reaction it swept right through him. As it whipped passed and through the tent a loud rrrip ensued, like someone tearing a sheet of paper. Guards coming from outside were not prepared and were split in half, dead before they knew what happened. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Boss!¡± Several of the bandit leaders had heard by now and raced toward the din. When they arrived, they found Blackfiend¡¯s tent collapsed, and corpses strewn around it. The clash between Cloudhawk and the bandit leader had encompassed mere seconds, and until the end had been almost entirely silent. When they finally managed to pull the heavy tent fabric aside, what the leaders saw shocked them. The body of bandit king lay on the ground in two halves. He¡¯d been cut in half at the waist, severed completely. The vicious scene left them dumbfounded. Blackfiend¡¯s top half lay unmoving, eyes closed, while chaos erupted all around. Strangely, not a drop of blood came from the injuries. No pool of gore had gathered, as would be expected. There was only plumes of that black mist like ethereal tentacles, reaching out for his bottom half. One by one they gripped onto onyx black flesh, pulling, tugging. Horrified and awe-struck eyes watched as their master¡¯s body stitched itself back together. Shocked cries rippled through the crowd. Blackfiend pulled himself to his feet and opened his eyes. With calm expression he looked over the others, then stretched his neck to the sound of popping joints. ¡°Blackfiend, the Undying!¡± ¡°Blackfiend, the Undying!¡± ¡°Blackfiend, the Undying!¡± All who witnessed it fell to their knees in worship. His closest subordinates tripped over themselves to speak. ¡°Someone dared to attack the master, herein our home! Gather some men and find who it was!¡± If Cloudhawk had stuck around he would have been as astounded as everyone else. Blackfiend looked exactly the same as he did before their fight, although Cloudhawk had indeed cut him right in half. Blackfiend spoke to his men without a hint of concern. ¡°If the assassin can enter with a trace, he can leave just as easily. You will not catch him ¨C don¡¯t burden your men with a task they can¡¯t complete.¡± Dread gripped the hearts of all the bandits. What sort of person was this assassin, that he could slip into the heart of their stronghold and strike at their leader? How strong was he, that he could cut Blackfiend apart with one blow then disappear like smoke? Everyone knew how strong the master was, but still he¡¯d lost. Was this assassin a demonhunter sent from the elysian lands? Impossible! ¡°He is nothing but a rat, skulking the shadows. Pay him no mind.¡± With a voice deep and coarse, Blackfiend calmly gave his orders. ¡°Keep this business from spreading, and continue to focus on growing our ranks. We need more. More soldiers, more men of quality.¡± ¡°Yes, sire!¡± Blackfiend the Undying did not seem at all perturbed by the assassination attempt, even going so far as to orders his men to ignore it. If their living god was not worried, then why should it trouble them? These men were long-time followers of Blackfiend and followed his wishes to the letter. Whatever happened to Blackfiend when he vanished into the wastelands, he came back greatly changed. He returned to them reborn, more god than man. *** Cloudhawk burst back into their makeshift tent, breathing heavily. Reappearing from thin air, he flopped onto the ground while fighting for breath. ¡°Fuck! What a pain in the ass, that guy!¡± Barb had recently returned, and was visibly surprised when Cloudhawk popped in from nowhere. ¡°You didn¡¯t actually fight him, did you?¡± Autumn nearly leapt to her feet. ¡°We¡¯ve been found out! We have to get out of here!¡± ¡°Shit, I walked in here in one piece, didn¡¯t I? What the fuck are you freaked out about? Sit down, you wuss.¡± Cloudhawk picked up a chipped bowl and drank down the turbid drinking water within. He didn¡¯t care that it wasn¡¯t the cleanest. ¡°It didn¡¯t go¡­ exactly as planned, but I got to test our enemy. He¡¯s stronger than I thought, maybe a demonhunter. But different somehow. If he isn¡¯t dealt with he¡¯s gonna cause a whole mountain of shit.¡± Barb was most surprised by his words. Was this Blackfiend actually strong enough to threaten Skycloud? Blackfiend¡¯s history was definitely strange, and they had no way of knowing what happened. What was obvious was that no normal methods were going to put him down. All of a sudden Cloudhawk realized he¡¯d stepped right into a steaming pile of shit, and it was going to be hard to get the stink off. For the next few days, the small group kept their heads down. Boondock didn¡¯t react at all to the assassination attempt. Either they didn¡¯t know, or didn¡¯t care. Eventually a gong sounded, and all the new folks hoping to win Blackfiend¡¯s favor were gathered together. It wasn¡¯t a huge crowd, but there were at least a hundred or so potential recruits. Not all of them would be accepted, of course. There was a screening process to see who was worthy of representing the Highwaymen. Cloudhawk lurked among the crowd, trying to stay inconspicuous. He peeked between the press of hopeful recruits at someone greeted them. Blackfiend was clad in simple grey robes. He approached the crowd, flanked by his closest henchmen. Cloudhawk was instantly suspicious, however, because this man was different from the one he saw before. The stiff, puppet-like quality was gone. This man seemed as alive as anyone else. ¡°I am Blackfiend. You are here to join my people, the Highwaymen. I will tell you, only the useful will be admitted.¡± He paused, looking over the prospects, then started again. ¡°I will begin by introducing someone to you. A newcomer to our family, yet to celebrate the anniversary of their first year with the Highwaymen. However, in that time he has already been promoted to underboss of our family. Today is as good an opportunity as any for you all to grow acquainted.¡± As Blackfiend¡¯s words hung in the air, a young man with long hair stepped forward. He was about twenty, his body wrapped in a wide cloak. In his left hand he held a white strip of cloth, while his right was perched on the handle of a staff. He looked young, but after Blackfiend¡¯s introduction no one let slip a hint of defiance. What¡¯s more, anyone with a keen eye could see that his weapon, while plain, was more than it seemed. That was an exorcist staff ¨C a demonhunter¡¯s weapon. Knowing he was a demonhunter was enough to earn everyone¡¯s compliance! Surprise was clear among the crowd. Could it be that Skycloud¡¯s greatest warriors, the fabled demonhunters, were also in service to Blackfiend? It was almost unthinkable out here in the wastelands! None were as surprised as Cloudhawk, though. But it wasn¡¯t just that this young man was a demonhunter. He knew him. All those years ago... the borderlands¡­ the sewers. It was Squall! Book 3, Chapter 24 - The Underboss Asha told him Squall was still alive. He¡¯d come to visit her several times. Cloudhawk and the young Bloomnettle survivor hadn¡¯t known each other long, but both had played an important role in each other¡¯s lives. Cloudhawk considered him a friend. He¡¯d thought more than once about what it would be like if they met again, but never in a thousand years had he imagined it would been like this. More proof that fate loved to play with its human victims. Squall wasn¡¯t an outright elysian. Especially now, as he was considered a fugitive in the eyes of his former people. But typically people in his position sought out membership in the Dark Atom. Down in the bowels of Skycloud, he and the others had been taken care of by Majjhima ¨C an agent of the Dark Atom. It would make sense, with no one else to turn to, that Squall would throw in his lot with Wolfblade. It was almost unthinkable that the carefree, kind-hearted young man from years ago would choose to join these thugs. More than that, he had been promoted to crew underboss already. Such a dramatic change was staggering to say the least. The Squall standing before Cloudhawk now was more mature than he remembered. He¡¯d ditched the braid of his youth and let long hair flow down to his shoulders. A simple headband kept it in place, lending him a more heroic appearance. Time and the elements marked his skin, tan and rough. A pair of hard eyes smoldered like candles, both familiar and strange. It was impossible to know what the young man had experienced down in the darkness, but whatever it was had changed him. ¡°Like you brave, strong men, my time with the family has been short. By luck, our master has chosen to gift me with my position. As he said, we will not accept weakness. If you want to be one of the Highwaymen then you¡¯ll need to prove you have something to contribute.¡± Squall stood before the potential recruits, his voice carrying across the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m not going to waste everyone¡¯s time with bullshit. This is your shot; challenge myself or another crew boss. Survive ten blows, you¡¯re in. Beat me or another crew boss, you take our place. On the other hand, don¡¯t blame us if you choke biting off more than you can chew.¡± The Highwaymen weren¡¯t the sort to be bogged down by rules. The challenges started right away. Whispers spread through the crowd as people tried to work out their plans. While people were still muttering, a thin middle-aged man stepped forward. ¡°I challenge you!¡± The first public challenge came faster than expected. Obviously, whoever this man was he had a high opinion of himself. Squall looked over the contender. The middle-aged man was rail-thin, pale, with sunken eyes. Everything about him was dull and downtrodden, like he was carved from heartless stone. His clothes were worn, and a scabbard wrapped in bits of cloth hung from his waist. On his back was strung a chipped wine gourd. Beside a young boy shifted uncomfortable. He didn¡¯t seem like an offering, perhaps he was the man¡¯s son. ¡°Good.¡± Squall said nothing further, just walked forward and gripped his exorcist staff. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Green Snake.¡± The man¡¯s eyes were sharp, fixed. He put his hand at the hilt of his sword and stood at the ready. ¡°Careful, ¡®underboss.¡¯ Once my sonic sword is drawn, I don¡¯t put it away until it¡¯s had some fun.¡± Squall replied with a self-confident grin. ¡°Sonic sword. That¡¯s a famous martial move, isn¡¯t it? Are you a martial artist?¡± Green Snake didn¡¯t answer. He reached back and pulled the wine gourd from his back and handed it to the young boy, who took it dutifully. Sunken, drawn eyes then turned to Squall and then he attacked. The crowd could hardly see him, he was so fast. He flung his sword, still wrapped in cloth. In the same instant he jumped up and grabbed the hilt of the sword from the air with a deep growl. An explosive sound ensued, like a cannon. As the blade¡¯s scabbard fired off toward Squall like a ballista bolt, the cold light of the sword inside was revealed. Squall¡¯s eyes gleamed. Clang! His exorcist staff whistled through the air and knocked aside the scabbard, which embedded itself in a nearby wall. Cracks spread through the stone until, all at once, the wall exploded outward. If just the scabbard could cause this sort of damage, would could Green Snake¡¯s sword do? They were about to see, for his follow-up attack came on the heels of the first. The exorcist staff continued to whip around in a full circle then returned to Squall¡¯s hand. A deafening screech of metal on metal rang out as staff and blade met. ¡°Nice!¡± Bandits cheered and recruits watched his fervent attention. The first challenger had skill, that was clear, and this newly elevated underboss was something too. Everyone knew that demonhunters weren¡¯t usually close-combat fighters, but so far the young Highwaymen was yet to use his demonhunter powers. This meant he could hold his own even without them. Jumping through the air and flinging his scabbard, Green Snake had shown his martial talent. He was by no means a master, but still a student of martial arts. Men like him often held high station in the elysian army. And this was just his first attack, meant to gauge what Squall was capable of. Squall obliged with a counterattack. Green Snake watched, calm, ready to react. His sword was made from special materials, making it sharp enough to cut through iron. He felt it could easily kept the simple-looking staff off of him. With a flash in his green eyes, their two weapons met again. Green Snake flicked his wrist, and though no one saw him gather any sort of energy a burst of power pulsed from his sword. Sonic sword! Green Snake¡¯s greatest stroke! The speed of sound was considered a barrier for most warriors. However much you trained or how strong you became, using nothing but your body to surpass the speed of sound was incredibly difficult to do. Unless one overcame the constraints of the outside world, drawing on the potential of every cell, every fiber. This is what martial artists called true power. Be it in the air or under water, a warrior could summon tremendous amounts of power. Those who mastered the potential in their bodies didn¡¯t need to be on solid ground to summon it. Their bodies were like a bowstring; only needing to be pulled taught then fired. Almost all at once Green Snake delivered a dozen rapid-fire strikes with his sword, like a torrent. This was a technique no normal fighter could muster. Only those with special training could do it safely. Squall brandished his staff at the flurry, and the two weapons clashed twenty, thirty times in quick succession. The air was alive with sparks, and the deafening sound of their contest pierced the ear. But Green Snake¡¯s onslaught was proving too much. Squall was slowly being pushed back. For the moment the middle-aged warrior had the advantage. However he juked backward, causing Squall to overextend and swipe at empty space. Green Snake flung his sword. The weapon spun through the air like a boomerang, aimed at Squall¡¯s waist. It was perfectly executed, a technique that required tremendous skill. If properly used in a fight it could turn the tide. But Squall was quick, and leapt up and over the sword before it could reach its mark. It carved a path through the air and started to head back toward the sword¡¯s owner. Green Snake saw it, now was his chance. Squall wasn¡¯t a martial artist, but even a demonhunter couldn¡¯t dodge when they were in midair. This was his opportunity to put the underboss down with one well-placed strike. He snatched the sword out of the air and jumped, aiming a definitive strike toward Squall. The demonhunter¡¯s exorcist staff released an ear-piercing squeal, then he hurled it like a javelin. But Green Snake was ready. He knew the young man was a demonhunter and had been holding back. But wasn¡¯t it too late now? The middle-aged challenger deftly twisted out of the staff¡¯s path. Boom! When the staff hit the ground it left a crater several meters in diameter. The black-metal weapon was fixed right in the very center. The crowd stared, wide eyed, as though they¡¯d been struck by lightning. If Squall had started the fight with a blow like that, Green Snake¡¯s flimsy sword would have been powerless. Now it was too late. It seemed like Blackfiend¡¯s newest underboss was soon to be replaced. Green Snake did not hold back. He drew every ounce of vigor from within him and focused it into his right fist, up through the sword, to concentrate at its tip. Squall reacted in a way no one expected. He reached out and grabbed the blade with bandaged left hand. As he did, the strips of cloth began to disintegrate. Inch by inch they dissolves to ash, revealing his arm and the criss-crossing beneath. But these were no ordinary tattoos. The lines blazed with red light. To Green Snake, the sensation was like shoving his sword into a sponge. When Squall had gathered enough energy it was like his whole arm had swelled to twice its original size. The light pouring from them gradually darkened to a purple before Squall shoved his hand forward, releasing all of the pent-up energy. Green Snake¡¯s sword detonated. From tip to hilt, it fractures into a hundred thousand metal shards and exploded toward its bearer. Green Snake hit the ground, but couldn¡¯t avoid all the shrapnel. Curiously, he was only slightly wounded. ¡°Not bad! You have some talent.¡± Squall walked over to him unscathed, rewrapping his arm with a bandage. ¡°Enough to be a crew boss. Take crew sixteen. And from now on you can consider yourself my aid. Of course, as long as master Blackfiend approves.¡± Blackfiend acquiesced with a nod. He¡¯d lost, but the martial artist had done enough to impress his betters. He was awarded command over a crew. Green Snake didn¡¯t say anything as he rose and returned to the crowd. The young boy handed back the gourd he¡¯d been protecting. Squall sent his eyes searching once more through the crowd. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± Another smallish man stepped forward with another challenge for Squall. He figured now was the right time. Squall had to be a little tired from the last exchange, and now he knew a little of what the demonhunter could do. The short fellow knew he didn¡¯t have the same skill as Green Snake, but he was still confident he was good enough. Ten moves, that¡¯s all he had to handle. Maybe they¡¯d make him a crew boss, too. The results were not what the small man hoped. Squall burst open his skull with one blow from the exorcist staff. ¡°This opportunistic shit thought he had what it took. Clearly he didn¡¯t.¡± Squall was covered with blood and bits of brain matter. His gruesome appearance, together with the mysteriously bandaged arm, made him an intimidating presence. Two men had challenged him, with two vastly differing consequences. ¡°Continue!¡± The rest of the crowd shared nervous glances. The young underboss might have looked harmless with his lopsided grin, but he didn¡¯t hold back when it came to killing. No wonder he was such an important member of the Highwaymen. Book 3, Chapter 25 - Paying a Visi t The Highwaymen¡¯s leadership had a simple attitude: their people either needed to have a useful skill, or knew how to handle themselves in a fight. After what they saw, no one in the crowd made the mistake of underestimating the young demonhunter anymore. Challenges for his position were suddenly and conspicuously silenced. Recruits like Green Snake were rare, and most of the others hoping to become Highwaymen were just hoping someone support. To them the Highwaymen were a means to survive in the harsh wastelands, and that was good enough. Squall¡¯s sudden appearance was striking to Barb. ¡®Shock¡¯ didn¡¯t even begin to describe her reaction. Even though Cloudhawk had warned her that the Highwaymen had a connection to Skycloud, she didn¡¯t believe it until she saw the young demonhunter for herself. Barb secretly watched some behind the crowd. At this distance Squall wouldn¡¯t be able to see her clearly. Besides, they¡¯d known each other only a short time when they met in the Sandbar, and never kept in touch afterward. She didn¡¯t recognize Squall. All she could tell was that he was a demonhunter, and a young one at that. Someone with his talent at his age had a bright future, that was certain. But if that were so, why betray the faith and join this band of ruffians? Could it really be true that the Highwaymen had tied to the elysians? When Autumn learned that a demonhunter was among these bandits, she was also taken by surprise. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder. ¡°What do you know about him? Can you handle the demonhunter if you have to?¡± They already learned that the Highwaymen¡¯s leader was beyond Cloudhawk¡¯s ability to kill on his own. Now with a demonhunter in the mix things were getting ever more complicated. What were they going to do? ¡°One on one with exorcist staves? I¡¯m not of afraid of anyone!¡± Barb threw her shoulders back pridefully. She¡¯d watched Squall fight. He could fight, sure, but Barb was confident she could hold her own. However, she suddenly frowned as she remembered something. ¡°But he¡¯s got that strange relic tattooed on his body. I¡¯m not sure I can take him. But his Excellency? He shouldn¡¯t have a problem.¡± Squall packed a punch, literally and figuratively. Three years ago he had about the same physical capabilities as Cloudhawk. The difference between them was measured in psychic energy and quality of relics. Now, three years later, Squall had come to learn a lot about the skills of a demonhunter. He also had that strange relic. And besides, who knew what he¡¯d learned when he disappeared from the public eye. ¡°Things have gotten a little sideways.¡± Cloudhawk mentally weighed his options before coming to a decision. ¡°I know this demonhunter. He¡¯s a good guy. I don¡¯t know what brought him here, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯s got his reason.¡± Both the women wore their doubt openly in their expressions. Could he still be called a ¡®good guy¡¯ if he was part of an organization that raped, murdered and robbed indiscriminately? Cloudhawk looked toward Barb. ¡°Actually you know him, too.¡± ¡°I do? No way¡­¡± Squall had changed a lot in three years, and he was disguised. Since Barb didn¡¯t have Cloudhawk¡¯s gift for espionage, she hadn¡¯t been able to get in for a closer look. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how to explain the truth. ¡°It¡¯s complicated, but suffice it to say we can¡¯t hang around any longer.¡± They¡¯d come here to deal with Blackfiend and hopefully solve an issue before it became a problem. Evidently, the Highwaymen¡¯s leader was more trouble than he¡¯d anticipated, and now there was Squall to deal with. Circumstances were a lot less simple than he thought they would be, so plans would have to change. ¡°We need to come up with a way to get out of here.¡± For the last few days the Highwaymen had been searching the wastelands for them to no avail. Sooner rather than later, those teams were going to begin coming back to Boondock. If by then their identities were exposed then fleeing would be impossible. They needed to go now, and get back to the mission at hand in Fishmonger¡¯ Borough. Luckily Boondock didn¡¯t take them too far out of the way. Once they got out of the highwaymen¡¯s hideaway they could be on their way directly. Cloudhawk set about formulating their plan of escape. Barb Produced her needles and began to distribute them between herself and her senior. While Cloudhawk slinked through the city¡¯s dark alleys in search of an escape route, Barb would follow every step. Together they could work out a solution. While he was out scouting, the mission of protecting Autumn fell to Barb. The young demonhunter wasn¡¯t the strongest warrior, but she wasn¡¯t a push-over either. So long as she was careful, neither were in danger. Cloudhawk also had another motive for looking around. Now that he knew Squall was nearby, he had to see him face to face. He wanted to know what the Bloomnettle survivor had done for the last few years that brought him to this place. In the early hours of the morning, all was quiet. Now, when the bandits slept off their alcohol and the sun was yet to rise, was the best time for Cloudhawk to move around. Boondock wasn¡¯t a big place. Following a relic¡¯s song, he quickly found Squall¡¯s tent. Upon making sure it was the same resonance he sensed before, Cloudhawk entered without so much as a word. Squall¡¯s tent was much smaller than Blackfiend¡¯s, though still much larger than most. It was humbly decorated, with no fancy carpets or expensive furniture. At present, Squall was inside speaking with a middle-aged man. Green Snake, the one from earlier. The young boy who was always at his side was present as well. He held the wine gourd tight to his tiny frame. Cloudhawk took a moment to regard the boy. He was around ten, but very quiet and detached for his age. Completely different than he¡¯d seemed during the daytime. His eyes were duel wells, deep and inscrutable, and so lacking in emotion it was almost unsettling. At first, Cloudhawk thought the boy was Green Snake¡¯s son. While rare, it wasn¡¯t unheard of for a strong father to wander the wastes taking care of his child. However, looking at them now Cloudhawk got the suspicion that was not the case. Firstly, Green Snake¡¯s mannerisms revealed a deep respect for the youth. That in and of itself was incredibly odd. More surprising, the way they sat and talked it seemed as though Squall knew them both. Green Snake stood to one side, a new sword in his arms. Cloudhawk¡¯s first assumption had been wrong, for it was the child who did most of the talking. He couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying. Cloudhawk stepped forward to try to get within earshot, but unwittingly trampled something with his foot. A trap, cleverly hidden though uncomplicated. A line, when pulled taught, rang a small bell. Its gentle chime announced his presence. ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± Green Snake¡¯s half-lidded eyes snapped open. Squall shot to his feet, exorcist staff already in hand. The boy looked, too, but all his keen eyes saw was air. Instinctually, Cloudhawk pulled out his own weapon. In that same instant he a blanket of energy settle down upon him ¨C and not just him, for it seemed to overflow from the tent and envelope the whole area. It was like he was suddenly caught in an enormous, invisible bubble where sound was snuffed out. Whatever happened in this tent, the outside world wouldn¡¯t hear a thing. Nor could they hear what was happening outside. Cloudhawk followed up by hacking his sword toward Squall. Green Snake saw the streak of energy appear from nothing and ripped his sword from its sheath. In a blinding series of moves, he carved a protective defensive net cutting them off from this unseen attacker. Green Snake, as a martial artist, was capable of super-human speed. Each slash was the speed of sound, and it took only an instant for an overwhelming number of blows to come raining down. Faced with the airtight defense, Cloudhawk¡¯s reaction was to take a swipe. Quiet Carnage tore into the web of blows and dissipated it. Green Snake¡¯s new sword shattered into pieces. He went sailing back and struck the floor hard enough to knock the breath out of him. Hands shaking uncontrollably, they dripped fresh blood. Cloudhawk¡¯s second strike followed. But it wasn¡¯t at Squall, or Green Snake. His sword was aimed at the boy. All of a sudden the child¡¯s eyes went wide. Tiny arms flung the wine gourd in his hands high into the air, where the plain-looking receptacle belched a wave of power. A river of reddish-purple energy poured out of it and congealed into a skeletal warrior, clad in scarlet armor. Though only bones and steel, the skeleton held itself with regal bearing, like a mighty general. In addition to its protective gear, it also bore a large two-handed broadsword that gleamed like a snow-capped hill. It roared ¨C a strange and terrifying sound ¨C and rushed toward Cloudhawk¡¯s unseen form. Cloudhawk was right. The relic he felt earlier was the gourd. This one who looked like a child was actually a demonhunter. However old he was, he definitely wasn¡¯t ten. Maybe it was some natural ailment that made him look so young. Green Snake was his cover, so it wouldn¡¯t be strange for a young child to meet with Squall. The skeletal warrior was cleaved apart within moments of being summoned. Gloom took over the child¡¯s face as both guardians fell. He gathered up the bones of the skeleton and held them aloft, his eyes hysterical. The gourd produced another pair, while the third and fourth began to coalesce from the violet mist. A summon relic like this could probably continue to call skeletons until the whole tent was full of them. If he didn¡¯t deal with the demonhunter first, things would quickly spiral out of control. It wouldn¡¯t be long before someone outside the mute field discovered what was happening. As Cloudhawk threw everything into his attack, his stealth melted away. In one mighty swing from Quiet Carnage, a blast of power raced toward three of the skeletons. They each brought their massive swords before them to defend, but were easily shattered. Cloudhawk¡¯s sword swept across their waists, cutting them down like weed stalks.There was enough residual power in the strike to reach the mysterious boy. That¡¯s when Squall reacted. He leapt from behind to put himself between the boy and his attacker. He deflected the wave of energy with the exorcist staff in his right hand, which was already whirring, while grasping at it with his left. The biting gash of energy shrank and then vanished, as though it had been swallowed up. The bandages covered his tattooed arm were cut to ribbons, revealing the gleaming eldritch lines beneath. ¡°So it was you.¡± Squall narrowed his eyes as he saw their attacker step out from the shadows. He couldn¡¯t help but greet Cloudhawk with a queer look. ¡°When did you get so strong?¡± Cloudhawk lowered his weapon. The mask against his face kept his features hidden as the two stared at each other from across the tent. That tattered grey cloak fluttered, though there was no breeze, as he melted back into view. ¡°Not bad yourself, Squall.¡± ¡°It was you who cut Blackfiend in half two days ago, wasn¡¯t it.¡± A wry grin split Squall¡¯s face. ¡°Frankly speaking, I¡¯d never seen anyone do what you did. Obviously I¡¯m no match for you. Why are you here?¡± ¡°I could ask you the same thing.¡± Cloudhawk fixed his old friend with a stare. ¡°What are you doing in a place like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Squall said, shaking his head with a sigh. He first turned to Green Snake and the boy, silently signaling that all was well. The child stopped channeling through his gourd and Green Snake climbed back onto his feet. Both kept their eyes fixed on Cloudhawk, alert. Squall pointed to a chair. ¡°Sit and talk for a minute?¡± ¡°No time,¡± he replied. He was in a rush, so he cut to the chase. ¡°I need your help.¡± Book 3, Chapter 26 - All In One Sho t After three years apart, this was their reunion. A lot had changed for Squall. He¡¯d become taller, stronger, more rugged. His clothes and hair had changed with him. But more than those surface differences, Squall had transformed from the inside out. A thin beard peppered his face, and his long black hair had grown down to his shoulders. He seemed to be blanketed in a chilly aura that persisted all the time ¨C the presence of a man who was no stranger to killing. He had the impression of someone who had been scarred by the tempest that was life, baptized in the cruel reality of the wastelands. Time had stripped the youthful idealism from the Bloomnettle heir. In both mind and body, he was a man. Physically, there was a notable difference between his left and right arm. It was almost like it had been cut off someone else and stitched on. It didn¡¯t belong. It was obvious Squall had suffered, even more than when Cloudhawk knew him. No wonder Barb hadn¡¯t recognized him. You couldn¡¯t blame her imperfect memory, or the distance between them when she¡¯d tried to sneak a peek. He was a completely different person from the one she met in the borderlands. He hadn¡¯t been a full-fledged demonhunter back then, just a boy full of hope and energy. He had worshipped Arcturus Cloude, and his greatest dream was to one day be a demonhunter like him. Now, three years later, at least part of that dream was realized. He was a demonhunter, and even stronger than Barb. But the jovial young man was gone, and the Squall he¡¯d grown to become found himself the underboss of the Highwaymen. He commanded a group of men known for rape, murder and banditry. Those he called family were responsible for a great deal of blood and suffering throughout the wastelands. What could have happened to change a man so thoroughly? Right now, however, that wasn¡¯t a pressing question for Cloudhawk. His priority was trying to figure out how to escape in one piece. Squall could see that Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t interested in playing catch-up, so he didn¡¯t press him. ¡°Alright. Although I¡¯m not sure why you tried to kill Blackfiend, he is far too strong for you to be a threat. You¡¯re in deep shit if he finds you, so we won¡¯t waste time with chit-chat. Go on, say what you need.¡± Cloudhawk waved his sword and a formless but palpable energy filled the tent. Both Green Snake and the mysterious child continued to eye Cloudhawk with suspicion. He was standing only a few feet away, but neither could hear the words exchanged between him and Squall. It had to be some sort of power from the weapon he held. ¡°What the hell is Blackfiend? Is there a way to defeat him?¡± Cloudhawk paused for a minute before adding, ¡°Also, the Highwaymen are hunting a woman because she has access to a secret trove. Why?¡± ¡°Sorry, there¡¯s nothing I can tell you about the first question. From what I can tell, I don¡¯t think Blackfiend is human. What he is exactly, though, I have no idea. I will say that beating him is probably impossible, and my advice is to get as far away as possible.¡± Squall didn¡¯t know much about his current boss, and made that clear. He hesitated before moving on to the second inquiry. ¡°As for the one with the treasure¡­ Blackfiend¡¯s talked about it before. He¡¯s mentioned a woman from the Woodland Vale wandering the wastelands.¡± ¡°The Woodland Vale?¡± ¡°Yes, the legend of a wooded valley goes back a thousand years, to the god wars.¡± Squall went on to share the legend. ¡°It is said that one of the gods rebelled against their kind, fleeing the war and taking with them a sacred treasure.¡± ¡°So Blackfiend¡¯s after this treasure.¡± ¡°No, everyone¡¯s after this treasure,¡± Squall corrected. ¡°Whatever it is, the god¡¯s stolen trinket is capable of producing limitless energy. The Woodland Vale has never lacked power for whatever it needs. Think about it. After a thousand years, the Vale has to have more energy stores than we could imagine. That¡¯s why everyone wants to get their hands on this woman.¡± Well, that explained why Autumn had been walking around with so much eboncrys. Those crystals were essentially condensed energy, and even elysians held them in high value. All that much truer for the energy-starved wasteland. Autumn¡¯s dim-witted persona didn¡¯t stem from a lack of intelligence, but rather her upbringing. Where she came from they never lacked energy, and clearly coming to the wastelands was her first time leaving whatever isolated village she came from. It definitely explained her ignorance. Cloudhawk was still brimming with questions. ¡°If Blackfiend knows its somewhere in the wastelands, why not just expand the search? Why does he need her?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t imagine the power of the gods. The rebel deity protected the Vale with powers that hide it from normal people. Only those of a particular bloodline are permitted to enter, and unless I¡¯m mistaken that woman is one of the tribal leaders.¡± Here Squall paused, his brows tightening. ¡°Why do you ask? I¡¯d heard she was being protected by a powerful demonhunter¡­ wait. That must be you.¡± Cloudhawk sighed, unwilling to hide the truth. ¡°Unfortunately that¡¯s right.¡± Squall¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise. ¡°Fuck. You¡¯ve been the one hiding her?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s next sentence showed Squall his surprise was premature. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t hiding her. She essentially just fell into my lap. She¡¯s actually here now, in Boondock.¡± The Highwaymen were scouring every inch of the blasted wastelands for a woman who was kicking her heels up here in their home. It was so dramatic he had to stop himself from laughing. ¡°Well, you¡¯re carrying a damn target on your ass. The highwaymen, Dark Atom, big players in the northern barrens, elysians¡­ they all want what that girl represents.¡± Squall was floored by the turn of events. ¡°What you¡¯re doing is incredibly dangerous. You can¡¯t handle such a treasure on your own. Get close to her, make nice, at least so you have some backup. Otherwise, even if you get your hands on that trove you won¡¯t be able to hold on to it.¡± ¡°Fuck, who the hell cares about this treasure? I sure as shit don¡¯t. I had no idea who she was and now I¡¯ve got this tiger by the tail. Let this prize go and I¡¯m fucked. Hang on and I¡¯m dead. Shit circumstances either way you cut it.¡± Cloudhawk was frustrated, and it showed. Nor were his words an exaggeration. He couldn¡¯t just abandon Autumn, it wasn¡¯t in his character. He got straight to the point. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. Is there any way you can think of to help us get out of Boondock?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Squall¡¯s sour expression was a clue. He clenched his fists, and eventually answered. ¡°If it were just you I could do something. But¡­¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste time with words. He only wanted an answer. ¡°Fine. Blackfiend trusts me, I can find a way to get you out of the city. Where is she right now? Bring me to her.¡± Squall¡¯s help was a big win for Cloudhawk. Boondock¡¯s security seemed loose, but was actually pretty stringent. Walking out with a pair of women, without explanation, was a tall order. But what about Squall¡¯s aim? What was he doing here? Squall didn¡¯t seem interested in sharing, so Cloudhawk didn¡¯t ask. He was sure he¡¯d find out eventually. He waved a hand, and the mute field dissipated. Squall turned to his two companions. ¡°Green Snake, Imp[B1]. Why don¡¯t you head out.¡± The two shared a quiet glance, but did as instructed. Barb and Autumn were in their tent in the outskirts of Boondock when they saw the two figures coming. Squall, in turn, saw them in the distance. ¡°Strange, two?¡± ¡°You know the other one. That¡¯s Barb ¨C you fought together in the Sandbar.¡± Squall wracked his mind. It was only three years ago, but to him a century might as well have passed. Eventually it came to him. Barb was that crude and straightforward demonhunter. ¡°Ah, her. I almost forget. Wasn¡¯t she all about traveling the world and proving herself? What¡¯s she doing mixed up with you?¡± ¡°Just circumstance.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re bringing up old times, have you seen Asha?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t anticipated the question from Squall. ¡°She also talked about you. Seems you¡¯ve left an impression.¡± Squall sheepishly scratched his head. Thinking of something, he heaved a gentle sigh then looked toward the tent. A glint entered his eyes. ¡°I should stop and say hello, don¡¯t you think? Though I doubt Barb remembers me.¡± They approached the tent. But as Squall was preparing to enter, Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes and looked around. Something didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°Hold up. It¡¯s too quiet.¡± Squall paused. Before he could ask what was wrong, Cloudhawk had already called on the phase stone. He reached into the pocket dimension and pulled free a bow. Quick as lightning, he whipped around, half-drew the bowstring and let fly. A ghostly arrow was expelled, ripping through the canvas of a tent and running through a pair of bandits hiding inside. Their cries gave voice to the spray of blood that spurted through the tent flap. All of a sudden the area was a chaos of motion. Bandits poured in from all sides, hundreds of them. Squall¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What the hell is going on? We were tailed?¡± From among the crowd a figure emerged. He was wrapped in grey robes, with skin black as pitch that glimmered in the moonlight. His head of grey hair was cut short, adding to the lordly air of his tall figure. Blackfiend had come calling. ¡°Blackfiend,¡± Squall hissed. ¡°You have to run.¡± But how could he? Cloudhawk stood bolted in place. Blackfiend was still approaching when his deep, scratchy voice arose. ¡°As always Squall, you are my worthy Underboss. You¡¯ve delivered the would-be assassin right to me. I¡¯m sure it took considerable effort. Everyone, grab him. Remember to keep him alive.¡± The hundreds of bandits raised their weapons all at once screaming their war cries and grinning with bloodlust. Like a tidal wave they came crashing down, from all directions. They didn¡¯t know who Cloudhawk was, but they knew he was a demonhunter. However, with Blackfiend the Undying at their backs the bandits were not afraid. What did it matter if he was a demonhunter? Even a master demonhunter died like anyone else. Squall was terrified. He called out in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯re strong enough to get yourself out of this, but only yourself. Don¡¯t waste time and get out of here! I¡¯ll find a way to deal with this mess.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes hardened as he stared down the sight of his bow. The string was pulled back and poised for his next shot. This time it wasn¡¯t the bandits, but their leader he had in the crosshairs. Dust was kicked up all around, swallowing them up like a sandstorm. He poured all the energy within him into one single arrow. The crackling power of it was incredible! ¡°You know it in your heart. You cannot beat me.¡± Blackfiend faced the single pinpoint of light that was Cloudhawk¡¯s arrow, but there was no fear in his face. ¡°If you think this arrow will kill me then I invite you to try. Fire, I will not move.¡± ¡°Undead, eh?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes blazed. ¡°Let¡¯s see you put yourself back together after I blow you to fuckin¡¯ pieces.¡± ¡°Just you?¡± The ends of Blackfiend¡¯s mouth curled up ever so slightly. ¡°Not likely.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just have to see!¡± Cloudhawk reached out with his psychic power and called on the phase stone¡¯s hidden essence. It rose to his summons, melding with his own powers. Yes ¨C it was the same attack he¡¯d used to defeat Frost, but this time it was not a sword he used. All of that energy congealed within the exorcist bow. Although the weapon was among the most basic of relics, it was still of quality make. The amount of energy it could sustain was staggering, proven by the sheer amount of power coursing through it that Cloudhawk called from the stone. The force of this blow was greater than even a high-rank demonhunter could produce. As it formed into an arrow, the light cast from it blinded the eye. ¡°I can level a fuckin¡¯ mountain with this one arrow! See what happens when you take it up the ass!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice rang over the din like thunder. The terrifying essence he released was thrown out in waves, strong enough to stop the bandits in their tracks. No one dared take another step closer. Squall also stared at him, eyes wide and mouth agape. How could he have become so strong? All the while, Blackfiend¡¯s expression never changed. Like the others, he felt the suffocating power pointed at him, but when he spoke his voice was even as a lake surface. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± [B1]I picked Imp for now because it evokes a sense of ¡®small, tricky¡¯, but I¡¯m not terribly happy with it. The character¡¯s name is ¹íͯ, ghost child. I searched for something in mythologies and d&d but couldn¡¯t find something equivalent and pithy Book 3, Chapter 27 - One Arrows Strength How strong was this arrow? Simply put, beyond anything a normal person could imagine. Wind roared around like a tiger, whipping up everything in a ten-meter diameter. Sand danced through the air in tendrils like earthen snakes. The well-made bow was struggling to contain all the energy contained within, a fact given voice by an unsettling crack as the string was drawn. It could explode at any moment. The coalescing power of the arrow was brighter than the sun, and its blinding rays tore off in every direction. Looking at it, witnesses couldn¡¯t see the man behind the bow. Cloudhawk shifted, struggling to hold the bow steady. Whoever it pointed, and overwhelming pressure followed. Tents in his line of sight whipped and shuttered, threatening to blow around in the invisible tempest. All the Highwaymen¡¯s rough and rugged bandits stared in shock and trepidation. They¡¯d heard that demonhunters could do incredible things, but this was beyond all expectations. To them, even a god would shirk from the threat of this arrow. Never had these simple criminals seen the full might of a demonhunter on display, and they failed to keep composure. What they felt was more than fear. It struck them in the deepest parts of their mind. Blackfiend was worshipped by his people for the same reason anyone obeyed in the wastelands ¨C he was strong. Nearly all the members of the Highwaymen were cowed by the mere suggestion of what their leader could do. Now they were faced with a nameless demonhunter, displaying capabilities they never thought possible. How would such a demonstration affect their faith? The arrow was not released, yet the terror it evoked held them fast. What calamity would ensue once Cloudhawk relaxed his fingers? The Warden was convinced that this arrow would blow Blackfiend into unrecognizable pieces. Blackfiend knew it, too. It didn¡¯t matter how strong he was, Blackfiend was made of flesh and bone. No creature made of such fragile material would survive this arrow. However, much to everyone¡¯s amazement, Blackfiend stood calmly in its path. Even as the world roared in protest around Cloudhawk, Blackfiend¡¯s face never changed. His merely fixed the would-be assassin with a dark, venomous glare. Their leader¡¯s calm bolstered the Highwaymen, sticking their courage. If Blackfiend did not flinch, and he was the target, then they had nothing to fear from this demonhunter. Of course, they still hesitated to wonder how this conflict would end. As Cloudhawk¡¯s energy reached its peak, Blackfiend leaned forward ever so slightly. He was inviting the arrow. What followed was a scene that dumbfounded the onlookers. Cloudhawk whipped around, pointing the bow toward the young man by his side. Squall immediate felt the crushing weight of the energy wash over him, threatening to erase his presence. The pressure of it was so great he felt himself physically sink an inch into the muddy ground. He was held fast. ¡°Cloudhawk, you¡­¡± Squall managed to stagger backwards two steps then stopped. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was cold as ice. ¡°Cut the shit. I knew you were up to something from the start.¡± When Barb read Cyclops¡¯ memory, there was never any indication of Squall¡¯s presence. The red-masked bandit was one of Blackfiend¡¯s right-hand men. Squall rose to the position of underboss in less than a year, was held in high regard by Blackfiend, but one of his oldest lieutenants had never heard of him? Squall¡¯s appearance here was too much a coincidence. A day after Cloudhawk fought Blackfiend, Squall showed up. This could mean only one thing ¨C Squall knew it was Cloudhawk from the beginning. He also knew the Warden was connected to Autumn somehow. That would explain why security had seemed so relaxed. Squall knew at least a little of what Cloudhawk could do, so he must have known that trying to flush him out would have been useless. Once Cloudhawk had his mind set of escape, no one could stop him. There was no way for Squall to confirm Autumn¡¯s identity. He also couldn¡¯t know whether or not Cloudhawk had brought her into the city. As such, it was obvious finding the girl would be hard. The clever choice was to dangle himself out as bait and grab his prey¡¯s attention. What¡¯s more, after his first encounter with Blackfiend, Cloudhawk had to be frightened by the man¡¯s power. He wouldn¡¯t tip his hand again easily, so he had to be made to. Squall was the perfect ploy. It did not require expert reasoning to guess that Cloudhawk would seek him out once he knew Squall was in the city. After revealing himself to Blackfiend, the hunted man would come looking for help. However, doing so put him right where they wanted. In looking for help, he would deliver himself and the girl right into their hands. Squall stared at the condensed point of energy leveled at him. At this distance, there was no way he would survive. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill me?¡± ¡°Only because you¡¯re trying to kill me.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was hidden behind the mask, but something about his bearing must have made him look conflicted. It was unexpected and unfortunate that the two men would find themselves in this stand-off. ¡°Blackfiend¡¯s a puppet, I figured that out right away. Nothing but a special sort of relic. And the only person here that could control it is you, Squall. Blackfiend¡¯s a tool ¨C a story. The real leader of the Highwaymen is you. Am I right?¡± Squall looked at him with shock and incredulity. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re gonna stand there and deny it, then I¡¯ve got no more hope for you. Your arm gives it away. The tattoo is the same dark-type relic as Blackfiend. Ever since I fought it, I was wondering why it seemed so detached. Because it was only fighting on instinct. For Blackfiend to then show up in front of everyone and act like a normal human meant it had to be rigged. Controlled.¡± Outwardly, Blackfiend looked perfectly human. In reality, it was a device with no independent thought. Every word, every action, was controlled by someone else. Without its controller nearby the relic resorted to instinct. That explained why it seemed so wooden when Cloudhawk fought Blackfiend in its tent. When he snuck into that tent, it happened to be a time when its master was not around. The bow in his hands crackled with energy. Cloudhawk pulled the bowstring back farther. ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet my life that when I let this arrow go, everyone will see Blackfiend for the puppet it really is.¡± The faux shock melted from Squall¡¯s face as energy began to gather in his left arm. A cold, apathetic mask emerged. ¡°Impressive. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d notice.¡± The two men stood mere inches away. The sound from Cloudhawk¡¯s bow and the wind it kicked up made their exchange inaudible to the other bandits. While the Highwaymen stood stunned, not everyone remained motionless. Green Snake and Imp took their shot, attacking Cloudhawk from opposing sides. Blackfiend also surged forward. Cloudhawk had guessed right. It was Squall all along. There was only a split second to react. If he killed Squall with the arrow, at least Blackfiend would the demonhunter would be taken care off. But if he hesitated, even just for a second, he would be overwhelmed. Squall, Green Snake, Imp, and Blackfiend ¨C four on one. His chances of escaping then were slim to none. For a fraction of a second the two men exchanged a look. Then Cloudhawk released the string. In the moment of released it seemed like reality upended itself. Rivers flows backward and mountains danced as a deluge of energy erupted from the bow. The beam it released was two meters thick and carved a ravine sixty meters long. Anything in its path was completely disintegrated. ¡°Boss!¡± Cries rang out among the bandits. They didn¡¯t know what was going on, only that in the instant Blackfiend leapt at Cloudhawk the assassin spun toward him and fired the bow. When the dust cleared, Blackfiend was a pile of ash and smoldering meat. There wasn¡¯t anything left of him larger than a fist. It wasn¡¯t just Blackfiend who was ended, either. A large swathe of bandits unfortunately caught in its path had been snuffed out. The Highwaymen stared in horror, struck dumb by a power that seemed able to level the pillars of heaven. Cloudhawk abused their momentary surprise to drop the bow and pull quiet carnage from its sheath. He put it against Squall¡¯s throat and began to drag him backward. ¡°Anyone dares take another step and I¡¯ll kill him!¡± The Highwaymen¡¯s boss was a heap of entrails. Their second in command was captured. After what they saw the demonhunter do, no one wanted to test him. In the instant Cloudhawk released the bowstring, Squall was certain he was dead. But the arrow wasn¡¯t aimed at him. The sudden change from what he was expecting was dramatic, and it took him time to recover his wits. By the time he had a handle on things, Squall was already being dragged backwards by Cloudhawk. A grin split his lips. ¡°That was a smart move. Use me as a hostage to clear an escape route. But you¡¯ll have to leave the girl behind.¡± ¡°Fuckin¡¯ chatty aren¡¯t ya. You¡¯re in no position to tell me what I can and can¡¯t do.¡± The deadly black blade was pressed against Squall¡¯s throat. In a threatening growl Cloudhawk shouted at the bandits, nervously shuffling around him. ¡°I¡¯m counting to three. If you dimwitted cocksuckers don¡¯t clear a path I¡¯ll slice his fuckin¡¯ head off.¡± The bandits were at a loss, looking at each other for guidance. Squall called out to them calmly. ¡°What, are you deaf? Move!¡± As the beleaguered thugs looked on, their fear was replaced with awe. For as Cloudhawk retreated with their underboss, the bits and pieces of their leader began to rise from the trench carved by the assassin¡¯s arrow. Chunks of blackened flesh, the ash of what was left, all gathered together before their eyes and began to reform. First it was a skeleton, then viscera, then flesh. ¡°Blackfiend, the Undying!¡± ¡°Blackfiend has come back to life!¡± Even reduced to chum, Blackfiend was still able to reform itself from the remains. It was unkillable. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bother with that now. While the bandits were distracted he shoved Squall aside, channeled his invisibility cloak, then slipped away through the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Squall pushed off a group of bandits who¡¯d come to look him over. He pointed to a nearby tent. ¡°There are two women inside, take them both. Don¡¯t let them escape.¡± The thugs rushed forward to do his bidding. Inside were two figures laying on the ground. Bandits ripped the sacks covering their faces to reveal that they weren¡¯t the women they were after. They were dressed properly, and struggled like a woman might, but they were actually made of sand. Decoys, made by Cloudhawk. The instant the bandits grabbed them the figures melted into piles of silt. Squall¡¯s face darkened when he saw what happened. Only, thinking about it, it made sense. Cloudhawk was a clever one. It was no bluff, he must have known from the start. If he was suspicious of Squall, then the first thing he¡¯d do was get the real women far away. It didn¡¯t matter, though. Cloudhawk could come and go as he pleased, but trying to bring a pair of women along was going to make escape from Boondock far more difficult. ¡°Gather everyone!¡± By now Blackfiend had completely recovered, though his clothes remained ash. He stood naked before the bandits, every inch of his chiseled black body revealed. It glistened like oil in the firelight, invulnerable. Blackfiend¡¯s commands were coldly violent. ¡°Hunt him down. Bring him to me, alive or dead.¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 28 - Clean Escape ¡°Die! Die!¡± Cloudhawk called on the power of his invisibility cloak. In no time he was a hundred meters away from the press of the crowd when suddenly an armored vehicle pulled up ahead. A bandit clambered onto the top, behind a mounted machine gun, and started to fire. The thug hoped a lucky bullet might catch the assassin. But it was no use. Cloudhawk could see the path of every bullet as though they were drawn out for him. For the ones he couldn¡¯t dodge, his phase stone protected him from harm. Even in a hail of bullets, so long as a concentrated stream wasn¡¯t directed right at him he was fine. No quarter was given. Cloudhawk pulled back on the exorcist bow¡¯s string and let loose, firing an ethereal arrow into the barrel of the bandit¡¯s gun. It exploded, firing molten shrapnel largely into its bearer¡¯s chest. Sparks and blood rained from the sky. Green Snake and Imp gave chase. These two were different from the other henchmen, and had enough skill to know where Cloudhawk was even when invisible. The Warden leapt onto the armored vehicle, and then again forward into the air. Midflight, he twisted around and fire another shot from his bow. Quick as a whip, Green Snake kicked an iron spear off the ground in front of him and forward toward his enemy. When the spear and the energy arrow collided, a thunderous blast followed. Imp was watching the situation unfold. He had to be cautious, for although he was more capable than Green snake, his talents didn¡¯t extend to melee combat. Both his reaction times and physical constitution were nothing like the martial artist¡¯s, so he wasn¡¯t going to put himself in the bow¡¯s path. For the time being, he maintained distance and waited for an opening. Only, just then a great roar erupted from the crowd. Blackfiend charged ahead, leading the others in pursuit. Blackfiend could handle itself one on one with a high-ranking demonhunter. Cloudhawk¡¯s success had been due to luck and trickery. Back in Blackfiend¡¯s tent, no one had been controlling the puppet and it¡¯d be left to react purely on instinct. When under the command of the Highwaymen¡¯s true leader ¨C Squall ¨C Blackfiend fought at an entirely different level. Cloudhawk¡¯s chances were slim. The slightest misstep and he would be surrounded. Now. Cloudhawk fished the detonator out of his pocket and jammed his thumb down on the button. As Blackfiend closed in the whole tent city was rocked by simultaneous explosions. The furthest was a thousand meters away. The closest was right under their feet. Barb had hidden the bombs around the animal pens. Boondock¡¯s sudden turmoil frightened the creatures and caused them to frenzy. With their cages now blown open, terrified beasts began to flood the streets. A stampede of bulls started charging through tents, leaving chaos in their wake. Mutated rhinos gored whatever came too close and trampled everything in their way. As the raucous explosions and fire balls rose into the sky, Boondock¡¯s bandits were also cast into turmoil. In more than one area tents had caught fire, and the blaze was spreading. However, Blackfiend paid no mind to any of it. Its glistening black body charged through a wall of fire in pursuit of Cloudhawk, heedless of anything but its prey. This was the best he was going to get! Cloudhawk gathered what remained of his psychic energy and funneled it into the phase stone. Maybe ten seconds afterward a corona of light erupted, causing reality to shift and ripple unsettlingly. Blackfiend reached out, clawed hand groping for purchase, when Cloudhawk disappeared completely. Blackfiend left a gash in the ground where its claws passed. He was gone. Not invisible, not phased, but truly vanished. The Warden was no longer a presence in their reality. Squall wasn¡¯t sure whether to be irritated or overjoyed. How could Cloudhawk have so many incredible and secret abilities! Green Snake¡¯s gentle voice intruded on his thoughts. ¡°It looks like he¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°We did what we could. He has too many tricks, it¡¯s impossible for us to overcome them all.¡± Imp¡¯s features were especially dark as he struggled with his fury. Their impotence clearly cut him deeply. On the surface, Green Snake and Imp were there to assist Squall. In reality they served as monitors. However, only Squall could control Blackfiend, so he was integral to their ploy. Cloudhawk¡¯s guess had been very near spot on, but Blackfiend wasn¡¯t exactly the humanoid relic he thought. It was a monster, made in man¡¯s image. Blackfiend was originally one of the Seraphs used in Skycloud to repair the city. The Seraphs were thoughtless, mechanical in action, and under the guidance of the sanctuary¡¯s highest order. So long as they remained near the temple, they were immortal. It was said that the blood of the gods pumped through their veins. Blackfiend was the same¡­ only, the blood in its veins came from a demon. Destroying it was impossible. So long as it and its controller had any strength, Blackfiend would reconstitute itself and fight on. Creatures like this, corrupted Seraphs, had their own name: Blackfiend golem[B1]s. Seraph were made to repair and protect, guardians of the great city. Blackfiend golems were beings made for the purpose of murder and destruction. Just as Seraphs could only be controlled by the sanctuary, Blackfiend golem were also attuned to only certain people. They were rather like relics, and only those with a particular talent could resonate with them. So far, Squall was the only person in the known world with that ability. That was why he was here. This literal figurehead helped Squall control the rapidly swelling wasteland organization. However, over time and after many battles, Blackfiend had begun to show signs of fatigue. Without some source of energy the Blackfiend golem would fade. That was why getting Autumn¡¯s trove of eboncrys was important. It was the only way Squall could ensure his evil toy kept ticking. Blackfiend was a tool, which by itself could surpass the lethality of most accomplished demonhunters. With it at Squall''s beck and call, he could indeed dominate the wastelands. Then he could exact vengeance. *** When Cloudhawk opened his eyes once again, he felt like they would shoot right out of his skull. Not in the way of seeing something one shouldn¡¯t see, or from shock. No, it felt like his eyes were being pulled right out of their sockets. He was in a void, out in a space with no air or atmosphere. The vacuum squeezed him from all sides, flattening his veins and forcing many to burst. Blood leaked from his eyes and nose. His lungs swelled like balloons, instantly expanding to their limit [1]. His eardrums immediately ruptured. Everything ¨C from his head to his abdomen ¨C was in excruciating pain. Cloudhawk felt like he might explode at any moment and become nothing more than a red mist. At the same time, however, he was encased in such absolute cold that it was a wonder his blood hadn¡¯t frozen in their arteries. He wasn¡¯t in Boondock anymore, but this place wasn¡¯t unfamiliar either. Three years ago, the skull of his benefactor brought him here. Since being granted the being¡¯s memories, Cloudhawk had seen his strength grow significantly. What¡¯s more, his control over relics like the phase stone became more adept. Where before he could only stride between realities, now ¨C with effort ¨C he could pass through them entirely. He first learned how to do it a month before leaving Hell¡¯s Valley. It was an enormous discovery. However, perhaps because this was the ¡®closest¡¯ spatial dimension, out here in the void was the only place he¡¯d visited thus far. At least for now, any of the other realms he¡¯d visited were beyond his reach. He couldn¡¯t survive this way for long. Veins bulged in his eyes, turning his vision red, and his heart was on the cusp of failure. It would take only a minute for him to be crippled or even die out here in this inhospitable environment. Phase! The bubble of protection gradually spread out over Cloudhawk, cleaving him from the harsh reality. After taking a moment to recover, he began to look around and found himself in a building constructed from wreckage. Something told him this place was left behind by the stone¡¯s former master, preserved by the lack of environment. As Cloudhawk searched his new surroundings, he saw it stocked high with implements of war. This was Cloudhawk¡¯s secret vault. Before leaving Skycloud, Cloudhawk had stolen into a military depot and helped himself to many of its goods. Over a thousand sets of equipment, to be precise. Back in the city, one set would fetch four or five thousand gold easy. Out in the wastelands, if he could find a way to distribute them, they represented a tremendous fortune. Cloudhawk had also helped himself to a number of items from other demonhunters. Exorcist staffs, bows, leather armor, and other quality equipment was strewn among the typical stuff. Aside from weapons and army, Cloudhawk also helped himself to a large store of medicines, supplements and more. This was all gathered together from the warehouses of the rich and powerful, a little bit from everywhere. It¡¯d caused quite a stir. After all, it wasn¡¯t like mere thieves could have pulled off such a heist. It was completely unprecedented! This was how Cloudhawk seemed to be able to pull things out of nowhere. He couldn¡¯t simply magic things into existence, of course. Instead, he had his stash safely stowed away out here where no one could get it. When he needed something, it was as easy as activating the phase stone and reaching in. Of course, it worked similarly to his phasing abilities. There were limitations. First and foremost, no living things could survive out here for any length of time. Even if that was something he wanted to do, forcing a living thing through space-time took ten times the mental energy. Definitely no easy feat. Secondly, shuffling things from one reality to another was taxing. The more energy the item possessed, the more difficult it was. It was one reason why Cloudhawk didn¡¯t keep his relics there. There weren¡¯t even many low-grade items like exorcist equipment. Energies in even the most basic relics made pulling them through space-time very draining. At Cloudhawk¡¯s current level of strength, he was still unable to place or receive items freely. Whatever the situation, Cloudhawk¡¯s ability to manipulate dimensional space was an incredible boon. It was also his last bastion of safety. Even if the likes of Arcturus Cloude was hunting him down, he only needed a brief opportunity to flee here. Once out in space, how could even the master demonhunter survive? Cloudhawk passed through one of the crumbling walls. Outside, he was greeted with the shattered horizon of a dead world. He didn¡¯t have much time. Pushing off the ground, Cloudhawk rose up high into the void. He soared through the nothingness, passing fragments of worlds and large, blasted fragments where terrible battles were held. As he watched them slip passed he kept count. One thousand meters. Two thousand meters. Three thousand¡­ four thousand¡­ Good enough. The phase stone shimmered. As Cloudhawk slipped back through the space between, a host of light and shadow whipped by him. Air and gravity returned, depositing him back on solid ground. He was back in the wastelands. Back in Boondock. He was quite a ways from the spot where he¡¯d disappeared. The two worlds were like two parallel threads he could jump between. Moving in one space also moved him through the other. From outside he watched as great, lumbering beasts charged through the fires, wreaking havoc in the tent city. With so much going on, no one was going to pay much attention to where he was. Cloudhawk leisurely made his way to a parking area, stepping over a few prone bodies. ¡°Excellency!¡± Barb poked her head out from one of the vehicles. ¡°You were dead on, everyone is distracted. It doesn¡¯t look like anyone¡¯s coming this way. It looks like you were busy, so I took the liberty to disable the other cars. This is the last one that works.¡± ¡°Good thinking.¡± Cloudhawk pulled open the door and jumped into the driver¡¯s seat. Barb and Autumn had been waiting for him to show. He turned over the ignition and hit the gas. ¡°Let¡¯s get going!¡± The car roared off the parking lot and into the night. [B1]I was trying to choose between Blackfiend golem and revenant. Blackfiend golem evokes the idea of being controlled and has the eastern feel to match the demons, i.e. the demon calling himself the Caliph of the sands. Revenant is a spirit that has come back from the dead, which is Blackfiend¡¯s whole deal, and is more ¡®epic¡¯ sounding in conjunction with its goodie counterparts, Seraphs. 1. According to cnet.com, if you ever find yourself shot into the vacuum of space, the first thing you should do is exhale. I supposed dying from asphyxiation is better than having the gases instantaneously rupture both lungs. I imagine this will be very relevant to your every-day lives. Book 3, Chapter 29 - An Eboncrys Per Biscui The dune buggy roared across the sands, leaving Boondock behind. ¡°Hey! Who the hell is that?! Who the fuck told you to take a car?! What¡¯s going on!¡± Shouts started to come from the watchtowers around Boondock as lookouts took notice. They saw the flames and heard the screams, then noticed the buggy trying to slip away. By instinct they tried to bar the way. ¡°Motherfucking¡­ close the gates! Don¡¯t let them through!¡± Autumn, pressed deep into the passenger¡¯s seat, held on for dear life. Her head spun as they dashed through the ruins. She heard the curses buffeting them, and saw the giant plate-metal gates start to swing shut. Half a dozen bandits marched into their path. She covered her face. ¡°Gods! We¡¯re going to hit them!¡± Cloudhawk flung his arm up, throwing the exorcist bow into the air. With a deep shout he cried to the other passenger. ¡°Barb!¡± She was ready. Barb almost launched from the back seat, the cloak she used as a disguise blown away by the lashing winds. The demonhunter armor she wore beneath was revealed, outlining her figure. After a full year it was still sturdy, but scarred from hard use. She plucked the exorcist staff from the air. Barb hooked her feet through the hodge-podge of bars that constituted the buggy. It swung left and right, but she stood firmly on the roof while she drew the bow. Her psychic power coalesced down the sights and was released as a shaft of energy. Boom! The makeshift gate they¡¯d used to seal the ruins whined like it¡¯d been struck by a battering ram. It blasted open, flinging the two bandits forcing it shut into the air. Half a breath later the buggy raced through, grinding another unfortunate thug into the gravel beneath its wheels. Free from the city, now a narrow stretch of road snaked through the ruins before them. Barb leaned her elastic body back as far as she could as they surged below an obstacle. Rotted bits of jutting metal passed inches from her chest and lower jaw. She sprang right back into place after they slipped through. ¡°Three o¡¯clock, about six meters out. Guard tower!¡± Cloudhawk tore through the maze-like ruins with his foot burying the gas pedal to the chassis. At the same time he watched their route through Oddball¡¯s keen eyes. He was drained, there was hardly any energy left in him to communicate with Oddball. Fighting was off the table. But Barb was strong, and fresh. She pulled her bow ready and aimed it toward the guard post. A gun barrel sprouted from the lookout by the time they pulled around, but before they could fire she let loose. A streak of energy pierced the walls and silenced the guard ¡°Ten o¡¯clock, about eight meters up!¡± Barb whipped around and fired in one fluid motion. Debris rained down around them as the towers crumbled. The road was already rugged and blocked by junk and potholes. Their buggy charged ahead like the devil himself was after them, jolting again and again as they narrowly avoided obstacles. Autumn could hardly breathe. Eventually, with Cloudhawk¡¯s driving and Barb¡¯s cover fire, they escaped the thunderheaps. Coarse, gulping breaths made Autumn lightheaded, but despite the rough ride she handled it better than before. Her dainty hands held tight to whatever they could grab to stop her from flying off. They shook from the effort. How Cloudhawk and Barb were able to do anything as they escaped, she couldn¡¯t fathom. Sharing an adventure with these beasts with human faces was torture! The na?ve girl was as resentful as she was depressed. Had she known one day this would be her fate, she would have taken training back with the tribe more seriously. As it was, she wasn¡¯t the least bit helpful ¨C she couldn¡¯t even defend herself. This trip to Boondock hadn¡¯t succeeded, by measure of their aims. They neither learned about Blackfiend¡¯s history, nor dealt with the threat. The Highwaymen were still on their tail. However, it couldn¡¯t be called a failure either. At least Cloudhawk had learned an important secret about the bandit organization. They were definitely being helped along by a secret benefactor. Some unseen force had selected Squall to be their representative out here. That made things complicated. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure if he could consider Squall a friend anymore, and he didn¡¯t know what was going on. The next time they met, who knew whether it would be on the same side. But Cloudhawk had faith. Even though Squall¡¯s history was tearful, even though he still held that hatred deep in his heart, even though he almost threw Cloudhawk to the wolves tonight¡­ he wasn¡¯t a bad person. Time was a carving knife no one could escape. But however much time passed, wood was still wood, metal was still metal. However the knife shaped the outside, the quality of the material remained. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have many friends, he wasn¡¯t ready to throw away such a rare commodity easily. He didn¡¯t want to be Squall¡¯s enemy unless he had to. The buggy bounced over dunes through the night, and when the sun dawned over the horizon there were no signs of pursuit. Finally it was safe for a break, a chance to catch their breath. Autumn clambered out of the vehicle but had to hold herself. Her legs felt like noodles. As she took a few exploratory steps, she rubbed her red and swollen eyes. The wind and sand were terrible without any means of protection. Her hair was a shocking rat¡¯s nest of golden strands jutting out at odd angles. When had she ever had to go so fast? She was a sorry sight, stumbling around trying to get her bearings, a young thing anyone would feel obliged to protect. Cloudhawk nimbly dropped from the driver¡¯s seat, picking the demon mask off his face. He pulled up the hood to cool the engine, and right away a plume of smoke hissed forth. He refilled the gas tank in the meantime. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the girl stumbling around, teetering unsteadily. ¡°Hey, get your shit together. If you can¡¯t handle this then you might as well turn around and go home.¡± ¡°Who says I can¡¯t handle it?!¡± Autumn wore a petulant scowl. ¡°I¡¯m getting to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough no matter what.¡± ¡°Yeah, whatever.¡± Cloudhawk busies himself fishing a cigarette out from his clothes and lighting it up. He leaned against the car door and looked ahead toward the horizon. This part of the wastelands near the elysian border was still barren, but there were at least tufts of dead grass and a few husks of trees to break up the scenery. There were even signs of life, solitary groups of hardy weeds that had someone managed to survive the drought. By the look of it, they were getting close to the northern barrens. By all accounts the northern barrens were in poorer shape than the south. Cloudhawk spent years surviving off plentiful ruins and mutated creatures. Far as he could tell from here, the only thing in front of them was desert. Boundless, hopeless desert. He took a long drag of his cigarette and felt it fill his lungs. It was rejuvenating, enough to get him thinking. How big was the wastelands? The areas north, east, south and west of Skycloud were nothing but endless blasted landscape as far as they could travel, but it was only a small part of the world. No one knew what it was like ten thousand kilometers, a hundred thousand kilometers out there beyond their field of view. The world was big ¨C real big, and full of the unknown. The wanderlust and need to know what was out there was unavoidable. [1] Autumn took a few minutes to get her bearings. After a while she was mostly recovered. Once the butterflies in her stomach quieted down, she noticed Cloudhawk staring quietly into the distance. She looked over the man, with the demon mask perched on his mop of unkempt black hair. The orange light from the rising sun painted his delicate features. In his quiet and contemplative state, it gave him a mysterious sort of charm. Autumn couldn¡¯t help but let her mind wander a little. She thought there must be a lot the demonhunter was keeping quiet. Her first impression of him had been a sour one. He was deceitful, impudent and crass. But over the last few days, as she got to know him, she saw more than just physical strength. He had an extraordinary mind, rare especially for his age. The talented youth of her own clan couldn¡¯t reach his level, she was sure. What had happened to him, to make Cloudhawk this way? He was a rogue, and had many shortcomings, but he was a good man compared to others in this cursed place. She really was lucky to have run into him. As the thought crossed her mind it startled her, and she stopped herself. Lucky? What a joke! He was only out to get his hands on more eboncrys and that was the end of it. The tribe elder always said never to trust outsiders, and never count them as friends. Autumn paused to once again commit the elder¡¯s words to heart. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m exhausted!¡± Barb loudly whined as she made her way over to them. She¡¯d managed to get a lizard from somewhere and had already skinned it. She trudged their way, dragging the corpse behind. ¡°Gods, this damned place is the worst. This was the only thing for kilometers, but at least we¡¯ll have some meat.¡± Autumn¡¯s voice rose an octave as she glowered. ¡°I¡¯m not going to eat that nasty thing!¡± Barb lifted the skinned, dripping lizard corpse. ¡°You¡¯re pickier than I am, and I¡¯m an elysian. What¡¯s nasty about it? Having any sort of meat out in the wastelands is a blessing. All we need is a fire, and once the fats get cooking it¡¯ll smell delicious. You¡¯ll see, it tastes fine.¡± Autumn¡¯s face took on a green tinge, especially when she looked at the corpse. It was leaking some unidentified green ichor and smelled like battery acid. She would rather die. Autumn vehemently shook her head in denial. Barb shrugged. ¡°Suit yourself!¡± As resolute as Autumn was, her stomach disagreed. Its disgruntled gurgling was clear enough for everyone to hear. She pitifully looked toward Cloudhawk. H paid the spoiled girl no mind, but had to silently praise Barb. There weren¡¯t many elysians who would stoop to eating mutant lizard, but she didn¡¯t bat an eye. She was a demonhunter of solid character. ¡°Barb, don¡¯t bother with that. I¡¯ve got something here.¡± He channeled his psychic energy through the phase stone and picked something from his stash. They were some sort of biscuits, and water. ¡°Ten minutes. Eat quick, then we get back on the road.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Autumn immediately perked up. She snatched a biscuit and stuffed it in her mouth, immediately chasing it with a gulp of water. Her pretty face beamed with pleasure. ¡°Good work!¡± ¡°I forget to mention, one biscuit will cost you one eboncrys each.¡± Hack! Cough! Ack! ¡°I take it back!¡± Autumn almost choked in the face of Cloudhawk¡¯s blackmail. She glared incredulously at Barb. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she have to pay anything?! It¡¯s unfair!¡± Cloudhawk just rolled his eyes. ¡°Barb is smart, she¡¯s capable, and she¡¯s helpful. She earns her keep. You? Yeah, not so much.¡± She threw the rest of her biscuit in the dirt. ¡°How dare you look down on people!¡± Cloudhawk met her rage with flatness. ¡°Ten minutes. Nine, now. Don¡¯t eat if it bothers you so much.¡± Autumn¡¯s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but she was forced to swallow her fury when she saw Cloudhawk¡¯s dispassionate face. She bowed her head, defeated, but inwardly screamed every single curse she knew a hundred times. She picked up the biscuit, wiped it off, then tore into it. She bit it much harder than necessary, perhaps imagining it was someone¡¯s head. It¡¯s eboncrys you want? Fine! I have eboncrys! I don¡¯t want to be a burden. One day, I¡¯ll surprise you! 1. The discord channel tried to determine about where Skycloud was. Using the distances in the novel and things like swamps and mountains, I figured Skycloud was somewhere in Newfoundland, Canada. Book 3, Chapter 30 - The Quicksand Monster Book 3, Barb was thrilled with the change in circumstance. She didn¡¯t know anything about Autumn or where she came from, but it was painfully obvious how pretty the girl was. Barb was embarrassed to compare herself. How could a wastelander be that pretty? What¡¯s more, every other word out of her mouth was about eboncrys. Where did she get so much? She threw them around like they were worth less than dirt. Barb could work herself like a pack mule all the rest of her days and never have that much money. She could see how dismissive Cloudhawk was of the girl. At the same time, he sang Barb¡¯s praises. This made her happy. She slung the exorcist bow off her shoulder and gripped it in one hand. A fair amount of trouble had been avoided thanks to this weapon. Without it their escape would have gone a lot less smoothly. She tentatively plucked the bowstring, testing it, then reluctantly gave it back. ¡°Your bow is a fine one, your Excellency. Exquisite workmanship, I can tell. Worth a hundred gold at least. Here ya go.¡± Such was life. Autumn had the means to throw around something worth more than a hundred gold for a single biscuit, while Barb worked herself to the bone and couldn¡¯t afford a decent bow. Cloudhawk saw the interest and disappointment in Barb¡¯s eyes. With a wave he said, ¡°I have a few. If you like it, I can lend it to you for a while. Something tells me you¡¯re gonna need it on the road.¡± Barb called herself a monster hunter, but a hunter with no bow wouldn¡¯t survive for long. Most novice demonhunters specialized in either melee or long-range combat. The distinction was clear, especially since a young demonhunter¡¯s choice of weaponry determined their role in combat. An exorcist staff, obviously, was suited for close encounters. They didn¡¯t consume much energy and were quick. The drawback was they were relatively weak. Exorcist bows, in contrast, were much the opposite. They were used at range, and although they were slower and required considerable psychic energy to use, they could pack quite a punch. Staff and bow were fundamental equipment for budding demonhunters. Those who chose the staff were typically stronger physically, and those with bows had a talent for precision and control. As one would expect, a ranged specialist would not have much of an advantage using a staff. A melee-focused demonhunter likely wouldn¡¯t hit much if they used a bow, and may quickly run out of mental energy. They might manage to get a couple shots off, but if a target got in close it was too late to resort to a staff. Barb had considerable potential, with talent in both areas. She was stronger than any novice, that was certain. While she might have been better suited for a bow, Barb had never had much luck with money. Since exorcist bows were several times more expensive than their close-range counterparts, she settled for a staff from the outset. Cloudhawk, taking the girl¡¯s self-esteem into account, decided to give it to her under the guise of ¡®lending.¡¯ On the surface Barb seemed a little off-the-cuff, but sometimes she proved to be quite sharp. She knew Cloudhawk¡¯s intention in lending the bow to her and appreciated it deeply. There weren¡¯t very many people who treated her well. Refusing the gift and making a show was low-class, so she accepted without argument. ¡°Thank you, your Excellency!¡± ¡°Alright, hope you¡¯re rested.¡± Cloudhawk slipped the mask back onto his face and pulled himself back into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°We¡¯ll be at Fishmonger¡¯s Borough soon. The Highwaymen won¡¯t be on our tail for a while yet. And the next time they do I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll think twice. Off we go.¡± The buggy¡¯s engine sputtered back to life. Autumn kept gnawing at her biscuit as she produced a map and compass from a pocket. She confirmed Fishmonger¡¯s Borough lay straight ahead, then off they went. After four or five hours, buildings started to sprout from the horizon. Was this Fishmonger¡¯s Borough? Barb and Cloudhawk looked relived, safe harbor meant they could put their troubles behind them. At least for a little while. ¡°Eh, that¡¯s not right!¡± Autumn pointed at the map and exclaimed. ¡°We¡¯re on the right path, but Fishmonger¡¯s Borough should still be farther ahead. Judging by our speed, getting there by tomorrow morning would be a stretch. It¡¯s only afternoon. Are you sure you went the right way?¡± Cloudhawk shot her a hard look. ¡°Horseshit. I¡¯ve survived near my whole life out here, and you have just wandered through. Of the two of us which one do you think is more likely to get lost?¡± ¡°Wastelander cities are always moving, there¡¯s nothing strange about that. Maybe your map is just old.¡± Barb put her hands on the seatback in front of her and stood. She craned her long neck and squinted into the distance. ¡°I can see it ¨C definitely a town. It seems unlikely there would be two outposts so close to each other, so I¡¯m thinking we¡¯re here!¡± Oddball darted off ahead to scout the area. ¡°We¡¯re definitely going the right direction.¡± Cloudhawk frowned and shook his head. ¡°But this settlement is too small. Hardly more than a campsite, much less a major borough.¡± ¡°So what is this place?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ll skirt around. Better safe than sorry.¡± Barb nodded. If Cloudhawk said it, then it must be the right call. Without another word she slung the bow over her shoulder and wrapped her hands instead around the exorcist staff. Barb was ready to do anything Cloudhawk asked of her, a fact that earned considerable disdain from Autumn. Barb was supposed to be a demonhunter too, right? What was she doing groveling before this man so pathetically? She had no self-respect. What Autumn didn¡¯t understand was that Barb had come from a poor family. She wasn¡¯t like Selene Cloud or Dawn Polaris, born with a sterling future and a silver spoon in their mouths. Neither was she like Frost de Winter, who was taken in by an illustrious teacher. Barb didn¡¯t even have the good fortune of someone like Cloudhawk or Squall. For someone like her, even moving in the same circles as these people was incredibly hard. Barb¡¯s dream was to travel with an experienced senior, someone rich in knowledge and experience who could teach her. Three years ago Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even know what was in store for him, so he refused Barb¡¯s offer to travel together. The situation was different this time. Cloudhawk was better than before; weaker than some, but stronger than most. While not a dominant force, he was more than capable of handling himself. Little by little, Barb was proving herself to be a woman of talent ¨C talent worth cultivating. The outpost drew closer. Whatever it was, it didn¡¯t matter. They¡¯d figure it out when they got there. All of a sudden they were struck by a strange sensation. The buggy¡¯s engine roared and its wheels fired up to dangerous rpms. The instrument panel said they were going eighty kilometers an hour. But they weren¡¯t moving. They were stuck in place. Autumn immediately took the opportunity to mock her tormentor. ¡°Is this how you drive? Now we¡¯re stuck in a ditch!¡± Cloudhawk wrinkled his brow but paid her no mind. Dune buggies were designed to handle rough terrain, but it wasn¡¯t unheard of for one to break down in particularly fine sand. But that didn¡¯t seem to be the case here. Cloudhawk gripped the roll cage and was about to jump out so he could take a look, when unexpectedly something jerked the whole vehicle. It slid more than ten meters down a slope to their right. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Autumn held tight so she wouldn¡¯t be thrown, her face instantly going pale. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Barb¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°Senior. Something¡¯s got us from under the sand.¡± Her words were punctuated by another violent tug. They¡¯d lost control, and were being dragged to the center of a sandy pit as though on rails. It was like being on a boat stuck in a whirlpool, slowly being dragged to its doom. ¡°Son of a bitch. We¡¯re in trouble!¡± Overhead, Oddball looked down at the expanse of desert as it passed below. It spotted the problem right away: The whole area for a hundred kilometers all around was thickly dotted with pits. The smallest ones were several meters across, while the largest were a couple hundred. At ground level it was easy to dismiss the features as nothing more than odd. But they were more than odd, and more than mere divots. It was quicksand! From above Oddball could see that the pits were flowing. It was hard to see without a keen eye, but close inspection showed that everything was being inexorably drawn to the center of these pits. Something was in there, waiting for whatever was caught to reach it. It was too late! The dune buggy was dragged further into the pit, nearly rolling as it did. As it moved closer to the center, Cloudhawk grabbed both women in turn and heaved them from the car. Once clear, he jumped out after them. His feet hit the ground, but then instantly sunk into the roiling sand. He was stuck up to his waist. ¡°Save me!¡± Autumn¡¯s head was the only thing above ground. She nearly choked on sand just trying to scream. She tried to struggle, thrashing her arms and kicking her legs, but to no avail. There was no resistance, but she just kept sinking. Things were worse for Barb, who had been flung into the sand head first. Her upper half was buried in the quicksand, and her legs kicked wildly in the air. The sand was fluid was water but grasping as mud. Once you slipped it, getting out took ten times the effort. Someone who didn¡¯t know how to swim was fated to drown, however they treaded water. It was about how you used your energy, not how much. About the only person who could find the leverage to get free of their own accord were martial artists, capable of using the total power of every cell. Cloudhawk quickly engaged his phase stone and fumbled out from the quicksand. The bugger was heavier than them, so it sank much faster. In the few seconds since they ejected it had already reached the center of the pit. What followed was equal parts terrifying and unexpected, as from the depths rose a monster five meters thick and thirty meters tall. The beast had no eyes or nose, but it did have a mouth filled with rings of dagger-like teeth. Its nightmarish maw clamped around the buggy and immediately reduced half of it to ruin. Metal screeched and cracked as the monster gnashed its teeth. The slag was gulped down and disappeared. Holy shit, this thing was fucking crazy! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste any time. His feet touched the ground and in that moment granules of golden sand behind to emerge. Like a cold snap it froze the swirling quicksand in place and stopped the women from sinking further. Threads of power rippled through the pit, forming into arms that held Barb and Autumn fast. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk fished them out and the three scrambled out of the pit before they became the monster¡¯s next meal. Barb and Autumn fought against racing hearts, trying to catch their breath. Especially after seeing the thing that lived down there, their body were drenched in cold sweat that made the sand stick to them. It was like a pit that led right to hell. They were everywhere around here, pits just like this one. And horrible creatures like that lived at the center of each of them. Anything careless enough to get caught in quicksand quickly became lunch. Book 3, Chapter 31 - Dust Bowl Lodge Deserts were the most prevalent terrain in the wastelands, but nothing like the expanse that spread before them now. Those deadly pits stretched out as far as Oddball could see, thousands upon thousands of ugly pockmarks on the planet¡¯s weathered face. It looked like the whole area had been pummeled by comets. The only way to get around were the thin ridges between the pits. The surface of the pits seemed calm and unassuming, though the sands inside swirled. Its dangerous dragging tide was only felt by the unfortunate souls that fell in. Carelessness was a death sentence out here, for once you were caught it dragged you to the center. There, the monster¡¯s hungry belly waited. Whether someone weak like Autumn, or strong like Barb, it didn¡¯t matter once the sand had you. Struggling only made you sink in deeper, robbing you of any chance of escape. ¡°I can¡¯t breathe!¡± By the time Cloudhawk saved them, both women were red in the face and fighting for air. The quicksand was fine as dust, and deadly. A single breath was enough to fill up one¡¯s lungs, making Barb¡¯s situation of being buried head first especially dangerous. Every lungful now burned and felt like sandpaper. She could hardly get any air. Cloudhawk took out a bottle of water and used it to rinse out Barb¡¯s mouth. She hacked and coughed, vomiting up mouthfuls of sand and water. After a few moments she could breathe a little easier. Both Autumn and Barb were still recovering when Oddball cried out in alarm. Cloudhawk shot his eyes skyward. ¡°Sandstorm!¡± Wind whipped across the barren landscape all the time, that was nothing special. This was different. The wind wasn¡¯t dangerous, but the clouds of thick yellow sand it kicked up were. They could see it blotting out the horizon like a tidal wave. It was coming at them with frightening speed. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Cover your nose and mouth. Quick!¡± The powder sand was incredibly lethal. Once it was over you, breathing became a challenge. For most it ultimately ended in painful suffocation. The three of them somehow had to make their way through a sandstorm now, toward a settlement on the other side of a field of monsters. Their only recourse was to try and keep to the ridges, blind and unable to breathe, until they got to safety. ¡°Quick, get moving!¡± Autumn stumbled ahead, staggering though the sand with great effort. Cloudhawk knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up, so he picked her up and slung her over his shoulders. He then waved for Barb to follow and led them toward the distant camp. It was only a few moments more before the sandstorm reached them. All of a sudden the world was lost in a mist of yellow and brown, making it almost impossible to tell where one was headed. Cloudhawk¡¯s demon mask served him well in this environment, keeping out much of the sand. Barb and Autumn had to resort to covering their faces with strips of cloth. Far ahead was the settlement, the only place where they could find succor. Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp! The shrill call of a bird could barely be heard over the tempest. The noise got louder until it was a blaring cacophony, as a mass of creatures charged at them. They were without measure, featherless hawk-like creatures with earthy yellow bodies. Amidst the sandstorm they were hard to spot, but they were closing in on Cloudhawk and the others. Mutant animals. This sandstorm was getting more irritating by the second, one disaster after another! These meat-eating creatures preferred to travel with sandstorms. All manner of living things got lost in the tempest ¨C humans and larger beasts alike. When they eventually suffocated these vultures swooped in for a free meal. It went without saying that these blood-thirsty critters also didn¡¯t have the best temperament. If their dinners didn¡¯t die fast enough for their liking, the birds didn¡¯t mind helping things along. Hundreds of the flesh-eating scavengers would dive at the target, using their sharp beaks and talons to wear them down. They were ravenous, too, and a group of humans was only going to be an appetizer. However, as the birds would soon find, these appetizers would be hard to swallow. As they closed in, Cloudhawk pulled out a book that shimmered gold in the uneven light. He threw it high, where it dissolved into sand. As the cloud of golden particles wafted toward the ground, the sand encircled Cloudhawk like a curtain. The choking cloud of dust was locked out. The sandstorm vultures started to pummel the curtain, leaving smears of blood. The ravenous things didn¡¯t pause for even a second, throwing themselves toward Cloudhawk with wild abandon dozens of times. Eventually the curtain of sand was coated with a layer of blood flesh. Luckily he¡¯d recovered some psychic energy in their ride over, otherwise this might have been the end of them. As Cloudhawk continued to channel his relic, the sandstorm roared by all around them. Step by step they moved ahead, until eventually they made it safely to the settlement. They were surprised to find that it was even smaller than they thought. Just a camp. The buildings were set on a relatively even spot of land, the ruins covered in years of grit and sand to create a sort of earthen wall. Only a few structures were still standing, and most of those had obviously been repeatedly fixed up. From the outside they looked like sorry shelters. Only the one in the very center of camp looked in good shape. There were lamps on inside. The makeshift wall had kilns dug out inside of them, and were burning something that let off a caustic stench. Black smoke rose into the air. It seemed the sandstorm vultures hated the smell, too, and avoided the settlement when they got close. After several minutes, the cloud of hungry vultures were forced to give up among a chorus of angry cries. The unfortunate souls who lived here seemed like they had a lot to deal with. Cloudhawk stumbled into the campsite, covered from head to toe in fine sand. His first priority was to find shelter, then maybe a shower. ¡°Anyone home?¡± He hollered. A series of fissures appeared, barely visible through the sandy haze. A large and burly man approached with a few others, all holding guns. They wore protective clothing and covered their faces with strange masks. Their guns were unique as well. When they approached and saw the travelers unharmed, they were clearly surprised. The big man failed to conceal the taunting tone in his voice. ¡°You lot got balls tryin¡¯ make it across the quicksand sea in a buggy. At least there¡¯s a silver lining in the pile of shit you stepped in - you made it here in one piece.¡± The large man was plain featured, swarthy, with big lips and even bigger arms [1]. Hair sprouted all over his body, thick as a coat, and he was the only one of the crew who wasn¡¯t wearing protective gear. Cloudhawk gave him the once over. ¡°You are¡­?¡± ¡°Bonobo, at least that¡¯s what everyone calls me.¡± [1] The distinctly simian fellow had a fitting name. ¡°And this is my lodge. I¡¯m not running a charity, so expect to pay if you want anything. I won¡¯t tolerate anyone without coin, so pay up or move the fuck on.¡± This place was a hotel? These dilapidated structures were barely standing, what sort of person would come out here for a night? The proprietor wasn¡¯t exactly friendly, either. They hadn¡¯t even started to talk business and he was already sneering down his nose at them. What sort of businessman was this? Barb sucked in a breath but ultimately couldn¡¯t bite her words back. She answered instead of Cloudhawk. ¡°We¡¯re looking for Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Where is it? Our maps say it¡¯s supposed to be around here, but this place is all we found.¡± ¡°Hah! You think I like having my hotel in this shithole? This is one of the only routes into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough.¡± Bonobo noticed the fine leather armor these newcomers wore. Even covered in dust he knew what it meant. The exorcist staff on her shoulder was another clue. Bonobo¡¯s face scrunched for just a minute, then returned to normal. He went on in even tones. ¡°Everyone who comes here is on their way to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, but there¡¯s only a limited number of people allowed inside. Whether or not you get in is up to you.¡± ¡°How about you cut the shit and speak clearly?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said enough already. Are you staying or not? Pay or fuck off, stop wasting my time.¡± Barb¡¯s eyes were smoldering with anger. ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude? Do you know who we are?¡± Bonobo looked back at her with an icy cold glare. ¡°Yeah, I do, demonhunter. You¡¯re far from anywhere your title means jack shit.¡± Barb¡¯s short temper threatened to get the better of her. Cloudhawk caught her eye and waved a hand, warning her to cool off. She obediently shut her mouth with an audible clack of teeth. Cloudhawk cut right to it. ¡°Three rooms.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bonobo responded. ¡°We¡¯ve got a lot of people already. Don¡¯t have three rooms.¡± ¡°Two then.¡± Cloudhawk could have his own room and the girls could share one. ¡°No. One room¡¯s all we got.¡± Bonobo continued to stare at them with a firm and hostile glare. ¡°And we charge by the head. Two elysian gold a night, per person. Food and water not included.¡± Barb¡¯s anger flared up once more. ¡°This is robbery!¡± Ignoring the terrible state of the place, two gold a head without food or drink was completely unreasonable. What did one gold mean? Barb was an established hunter, and a mission only earned her four to six gold. After the guild¡¯s cut, she only walked away with two or three. That was considered a good few days¡¯ work. Bonobo didn¡¯t back down, regardless of the fact he was talking to demonhunters. He spat his response. ¡°Pay. Or. Fuck. Off.¡± Demonhunters were used to being treated with respect wherever they went, even in the wastelands. In the face of this despicable and insolent ruffian Barb didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°Don¡¯t cause any trouble, Barb. We have a job to do.¡± Cloudhawk put a hand on her arm before she could use her exorcist staff. He fished out a handful of gold and gave them to the owner. ¡°Alright, one room it is. We¡¯ll stay. When will the room be ready?¡± Bonobo didn¡¯t answer right away. He took a good long look at the gold coins, and replied only once he was satisfied they were real. ¡°It¡¯s dinner time. Go get some grub, we¡¯ll let you know when the room¡¯s ready.¡± With that said, he turned around and left. ¡°Don¡¯t let nonsense like this make you mad.¡± Cloudhawk patted Barb¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in spending another second outside, I don¡¯t know about you. Let¡¯s head in.¡± 1. Casual racism, check. Gets worse 1. Yup, worse. Book 3, Chapter 32 - The Old Drunkard As the small group walked into the hotel, they discovered its interior was very different from the patchwork mess of its fa?ade. Inside they were completely safe from the wind and sand. The walkway was lined with tidy stalls, wrapped in the scent of grilling meat. There were bottles of fruit wine with unique flavors, and even potted plants. The hotel¡¯s workers were equipped strangely. They had guns about the size of a grown man¡¯s arm, but they weren¡¯t guns that fired bullets. For the next several minutes they used the equipment to coat the visitors in a potent yellowish-white powder. When it was done they were clean, and permitted to enter. There were a lot more people here than the outside would lead one to believe. The cafeteria alone had about forty people of all sorts, picking at plates of food. Autumn was secretly pleased as they made their way inside. Cloudhawk was constantly bullying her, and it was a nice change of pace to see someone putting the screws to him for a change. It wasn¡¯t much, but it sure felt good. However, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t seem to mind at all. In fact, he was even level-headed enough to calm Barb down. A pity he wasn¡¯t more irritated. ¡°Senior, this place isn¡¯t bad.¡± Barb took a seat and gave the menu a cursory glance, immediately bristling up again like a cat after someone stomped on its tail. ¡°Is this what prices are like out here? High-class hotels in the elysian lands aren¡¯t even this expensive!¡± Ten silver for a drink, another ten for a piece of break. Thirty silver for bottle of fruit wine. And one hundred silver for a special bottle from one of the stalls. The hotel¡¯s interior might have been barely satisfactory, but compared to anywhere in the elysian lands it might as well have been a hovel. With a handful of silver you could eat your fill in any average town back home! For the prices they were charging here, you could buy a full course meal at the best restaurants. ¡°Senior, we are demonhunters.¡± Barb rapped her knuckles against the table for emphasis. ¡°Why should we have to put up with that ugly barbarian¡¯s attitude? You know, if you hadn¡¯t stopped me I would have caved that bastard Bonobo¡¯s face in with my staff!¡± ¡°You underestimate him.¡± Cloudhawk responded. She wasn¡¯t convinced, when she pressed for clarification he laughed and pulled his mask to the side. ¡°Take things as they come. Eat what you like, drink your fill, make yourself comfortable. Our wealthy patron will make sure the tab is covered.¡± Autumn¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°How¡¯s that?!¡± ¡°We¡¯re merely demonhunters. It¡¯s standard practice to accommodate food, lodgings and pay for deeds rendered when you hire a demonhunter for a mission. It¡¯s Skycloud law. You don¡¯t expect the workers to cover the cost of a mission, do you?¡± Autumn grit her teeth so hard she was afraid they might crack. Accommodations! She wasn¡¯t an elysian, how was she supposed to know anything about their rules? Of course, the inordinate cost was a drop in the bucket for her. What she couldn¡¯t stand was Cloudhawk¡¯s determination to harass her. ¡°Right, we¡¯re all tired from the road. Time to take it easy.¡± Cloudhawk completely ignored Autumn¡¯s indignation. He picked up the menu and perused its contents. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this place has to offer.¡± ¡°Heheh, good luck little brother.¡± A hoarse, elderly voice intruded on their conversation. His derisive laughter didn¡¯t match the maturity of his body, though. It was crude and mocking. Cloudhawk lifted his head. An old man limped toward with, with a lopsided grin on his face and a cane in hand. He was covered in what could graciously be called clothes, though they looked more like dishrags. They were more patches than anything else. Sparse wisps of white hair dotted a pock-marked head, and smiling revealed a row of yellow teeth. Cloodhawk doubted the old man had ever once brushed his teeth, and the smell that came out would slay a rotwolf. Barb and Autumn both scrunched their faces in distaste. The old man dragged his eyes over the women with a lascivious gaze. The short haired one had a healthy glow, with tanned skin and a supple body that just had to be all sorts of bendy. He¡¯d seen her fiery temperament, the sort of woman who was well suited for life in the wastelands. But she wasn¡¯t a wastelander. It was easy enough to tell by her clothes and bearing that she was a demonhunter. But not the other one. The young girl with the pigtails and ivory skin was pretty as a picture. She was quiet, frail, even prettier than the short-haired one. Who wouldn¡¯t be envious of the man who gets to travel with a pair of women this attractive? ¡°Hey, old man. Watch where you point those creepy eyes. Keep it up and you can bet I¡¯ll pluck ¡®em right out of your head.¡± Barb could feel his greasy look as the old man in rags gave her the once over. She didn¡¯t appreciate the covetous look. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m exactly what I look like; a crippled old drunkard.¡± The sleazy, yellow-toothed smirk never left his face. ¡°But the look of you lot caught my eye, no ordinary folk. I know this place pretty well, so I thought I¡¯d introduce myself, answer any questions you might have.¡± The drunkard didn¡¯t catch the eye except to earn disdain, but when Cloudhawk dropped his eyes to the old man¡¯s cane they widened a little with surprise. There was something, a resonance. The drunkard was¡­ The old man seemed to notice Cloudhawk change in demeanor. He gave the young man another searching glance. Autumn blabbed on unthinkingly. ¡°What can you tell us, grandfather? Do you know where Fishmonger¡¯ Borough is located?¡± The old cripple answered with a raspy chuckle. ¡°You know, my throat¡¯s rather parched. The wine here is good, but sadly my coin purse is on the light side. I don¡¯t have a penny to my name. If you could help an old man with a few bottles to wet my whistle, I¡¯d be happy to sit and talk a while.¡± The other patrons heard the exchange and looked at the old man with hard, contemptuous eyes. The old man had been making the rounds for days, begging for wine form anyone within earshot. But no one complied, and he was shooed away with mouthfuls of spit and curses. It was a wonder why he even still tried. Now there were newcomers, someone else he could try his luck on. Shameless, he decided to give it a shot. Barb gaped at him. Did he know how much a single bottle of wine cost? He had the gall to ask for several. Why not just go to the owner and ask for a whole damn cask, then? ¡°Alright, I¡¯m thirsty myself. Let¡¯s order a few bottles.¡± When the old drunkard saw the bottles arrive, his greedy eyes burned with desire. He¡¯d wandered the sands for seven days and seven nights without a drop, so when he saw the life-giving nectar make its way toward him he couldn¡¯t help himself. Before the bottles were even placed on the table, he snatched one up, uncorked it, and guzzled it down. ¡°Ahh¡­ hot, spicy, but without losing its mellow undertone. If you ask me, fruit wine is the best in all the wastelands.¡± The drunkard placed the bottle back on the table with a hollow thud. With a look of pure bliss he let loose a blech and reached for a second bottle. ¡°You¡¯re good folk,¡± he said. Cloudhawk reached out and slapped away the old man¡¯s spindly hand. ¡°Hey old man, you aren¡¯t here to just drink. We asked you a question.¡± The cripple offered a sheepish chuckle, revealing his broken row of nasty teeth again. ¡°Everyone in this place is trying to get in to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. From what I hear it¡¯s a fine place, ¡®bout fifty or sixty thousand people behind its walls. It¡¯s hidden, safe. They aren¡¯t afraid of you elysians, either. Got their own way to make it. Getting there¡¯s dangerous. But no risk, no reward eh?¡± There were as many as sixty-thousand people in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough? That was a huge number for the wastelands! Out here the struggle was always about having enough, especially in large settlements. Most of the time the lack of resources were a hard bottleneck, keeping the population in check. The only places that could support so many people were places like Greenland Outpost with its fertile forests. Of course, compared to the elysian lands it was the size of an average town. Skycloud City had a population close to twenty million, two million of those being soldiers. If you added into that anyone of fighting age that increased the number by several times. From all the way at the top with the likes of Arcturus Cloude, to the very bottom newly minted soldier, it was like comparing apples to oranges. So what made Fishmonger¡¯s Borough special? The old man had got his paws on a second bottle and pulled out its cork. He snatched a handful of dates with his free hand. ¡°The reason is simple, and it¡¯s not. Complicated and straightforward. Two main reasons; on the surface, the part everyone can see, they picked a fine location. The city is safe, and even the elysians would have a hard time finding it. Now if you dig deeper, well then things get more complicated. Young folk like you don¡¯t need to bother with it, though. The old man said nothing further, but Cloudhawk could guess a thing or two. A place like Boondock had backing, a benefactor that stretched all the way back to Skycloud. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough had to be similar. Some relationship made sure that they weren¡¯t attacked. Autumn wasn¡¯t at all interested in any of that. ¡°Grandpa, how can we get into the city?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little miss. Wait, be patient. When the time comes you will find a way.¡± By the second question he¡¯d already downed the second bottle. ¡°You haven¡¯t told us anything useful at all!¡± Barb was fairly sure the old man was just flapping his gums to weasel some wine out of them. ¡°Geh,¡± he hiccupped. ¡°You lot don¡¯t know nothin¡¯. Since you were kind enough to share some wine, I¡¯ll fill you in before you get yourself dead.¡± Pop! The third bottle was open, and the cripple was tittering happily as he continued. ¡°There are people here who¡¯ve come from thousands of kilometers away to get into the city. Either to get rich, get their hands treasure or some other reason. Something happened and the road was closed off. They only open it once a month now, for just a few lucky folk. You know what that means?¡± The three travelers were silent, Autumn looked around the cafeteria, suddenly aware that something was wrong. The hostile looks from the other people were made her heart race. She saw it now ¨C tight-knit groups, carefully separate from everyone else. They held their weapons in plain few and looked around with hard, vigilant eyes. Only Cloudhawk¡¯s table seemed relaxed. ¡°Tut tut, take a look around. Everyone here is a wastelander that can hold their own. Practiced killers, all gathered together in a single place.¡± The old man¡¯s face was already red from the drink. He continued expectantly. ¡°In a few days we¡¯re going to have a good show, a rare sight. If I could offer some advice, I¡¯d tell you young ladies not to risk it. You only live once, better to spend it here on the sidelines watching the spectacle.¡± The old man punctuated his warning by snatching up another bottle and unsteadily rising to his feet. He plucked another handful of dates and threw a few into his mouth. He left them with another grin. ¡°Thanks for the wine.¡± Cloudhawk poured himself a glass. ¡°Are you on your way to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough as well, old man?¡± The cripple nodded. ¡°I am. I¡¯ve got important business to take care of.¡± Raising the cup to his lips, Cloudhawk tossed back its contents. ¡°So us and the others will have to fight you for the opportunity.¡± ¡°Heh, don¡¯t worry.¡± The drunkard stood there with easy bearing and patted his sloppy clothes, as though trying to shoo away a fly. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you quick,¡± he said, as though describing the weather. As he said this, tone indifferent, Barb and Autumn felt the blood freeze in their veins. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. Deep inside it was almost like there was a fire burning. He raised his glass. ¡°Thanks for the tip, elder. So before you kill me ¨C cheers.¡± ¡°You, kid.¡± The old man clinked his bottle against Cloudhawk¡¯s glass. ¡°I like you.¡± Book 3, Chapter 33 - Bitten Incredible. This old, crippled, horny old asshole was a secret powerhouse? The world was full of surprises, and anything was possible. Nothing they saw should be taken lightly, either. Cloudhawk had grown strong, but he wasn¡¯t strong enough to travel the wasteland carelessly. By the time they finished dinner, their room was ready. All three had to share a single room, only twenty square meters. Tight quarters made for embarrassing circumstance. Barb didn¡¯t seem to mind, however, and whether or not Autumn had a problem didn¡¯t matter to Cloudhawk. He was certainly no gentleman, and wasn¡¯t going to turn down the opportunity to bunk with two pretty ladies. ¡°What was going on with that old grandpa? I didn¡¯t know It would be so dangerous just try to and get into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough.¡± Autumn walked into the room and sat with a heaving sigh. She seemed unwilling to deal with their current problems. That old man¡¯s words weighed on her. Thinking about it still made her shiver. ¡°Hey, Mr. Shameless. Don¡¯t you have anything to say?¡± ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°Hmph, of course I¡¯m talking to you!¡± A mischievous light flickered through her pretty eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a thug. You even cover your face all day from the shame.¡± ¡°What the fuck do you know, woman. I cover it to protect you.¡± Autumn had just made the comment off the cuff, not knowing she¡¯d strike a nerve. What did the mask and protecting her have to do with one another? Cloudhawk answered her with grave sincerity. ¡°If you looked on this handsome face every day, you couldn¡¯t help but fall in love with me. What then? I have no interest in an immature and undeveloped girl like you.¡± Autumn grabbed the closest thing to her at whipped it at his head. Cloudhawk snatched it out of the air and lazily set it aside. She wanted to scream and pull her hair out. This rogue was impossible! She couldn¡¯t hit him, couldn¡¯t insult him ¨C she was so furious she could just die. ¡°I¡¯m not a god, how the fuck should I know what¡¯s going on with that old coot?¡± Cloudhawk dialed it back once he saw that she was really angry. This girl ¨C he was just screwing around, and here she was getting all bent out of shape. ¡°If you really want to know, have Barb stab him with one of her needles. Maybe she¡¯ll learn something.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? That old guy seemed strong, but we know what those needles could do. We don¡¯t have anything against him. How could you be so cavalier about using such a method?¡± Cloudhawk had obviously been joking. How the hell was she so thick? This was just the sort of person Autumn was ¨C direct and earnest. She took people¡¯s words at face value. To her, Cloudhawk was clearly overstepping. Barb¡¯s relic was incredible, but hardly reliable. By her own words it only worked a fourth of the time. And those that do have their minds successfully read suffer terrible side-effects. Cyclops was a perfect example. Who knew what had happened to that crazy bandit since they abandoned him. He¡¯d lost his mind, so if an animal hadn¡¯t gotten him by now than hunger and thirst certainly had. Autumn closed her mouth and didn¡¯t mention the old man again. However, the truth was that Cloudhawk had his own suspicions about the old man. The cripple was a sorry sight, with leathery skin and tattered clothes ¨C the model wastelander. Only, that cane he¡¯d been using was definitely a relic. Cloudhawk was certain the drunkard wasn¡¯t the down-and-out wastelander he pretended to be. So what, then? Another top-grade elysian fighter cropping up from nowhere? What elysian big-shot would chose to live out here in squalor? ¡°Senior, I found the washroom.¡± Barb came trotting back into the room, out of breath. ¡°The hotel has several public washrooms we can use to shower. I checked one out by the way. They¡¯re nice, you should check them out.¡± Cloudhawk had been thinking about washing off the dust from the road. ¡°My sense is things are¡­ delicate here. Dangers hidden around every corner.¡± Cloudhawk spoke earnestly with Barb. ¡°Collect whatever information you can while you¡¯re wandering around. We especially want to know where that old drunkard came from. If shit goes down we want to be prepared.¡± Barb was eager and willing to follow instruction. ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll start poking around immediately.¡± Barb slung the exorcist bow over her shoulder, grabbed her staff, then headed out. Cloudhawk left as well, taking Oddball for backup. He shut the door of their small room behind him and set off to find the washroom. What he found was a simple and crude room with a number of stalls broken up by rotted wood partitions. There was a charge to use the bathroom, naturally. Fifty silver, clearly marked and charged to everyone who wanted it. Out in the wastelands, bathwater and drinking water were two different things. For most places, bathwater was contaminated and not suitable to drink. Letting too much in your gullet would harm the organs. Washing the grime off wasn¡¯t a problem, though. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Autumn came trundling after him, carrying a pair of buckets. ¡°Let me shower first. You can keep an eye out.¡± ¡°Why? You need a bodyguard to shower now?¡± ¡°Nonsense, of course I do! This place is full of unsavory people. What if one of them gets some ideas?¡± Autumn wasn¡¯t interested in haggling over this, she was anxious to get clean. ¡°Just keep everyone out ¨C that means you, too. If you try to peek on me while I¡¯m showering, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll¡­¡± Autumn suddenly realized she couldn¡¯t even come up with a worthy threat. ¡°You¡¯ll¡­ offer your body to me?¡± Cloudhawk offered helpfully. ¡°Ugh! In your dreams!¡± She squared her shoulders and glared up at him. ¡°If you walk in on me I¡¯ll crack my own head open!¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s¡­ a unique threat.¡± ¡°And you won¡¯t get a single eboncrys!¡± ¡°Fuck. Fine, you ruthless nutcase. I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± It was a rare thing for Cloudhawk to be so compliant, a welcome and happy incident for Autumn. She threatened Cloudhawk a few more times before she was satisfied, then heaved her buckets of water into the bathroom and shut the door. She carefully plucked off her clothes and hung them to the side, then scooped the water over herself with a wooden ladle. The cool and refreshing sensation sank into her bones. As she scrubbed her pale and tender skin, for some reason her mind went back to what Cloudhawk had said back in the room: An immature and undeveloped girl like you. What the hell did he mean by that? He was always looking down on her. Autumn didn¡¯t put much thought into her body, but she wasn¡¯t unhappy with how she¡¯d filled out. As far as she was concerned she had just as fine a figure as Barb. Anyway, she was seventeen years old. What a double standard! She inwardly groused over the insult. Back in her tribe she was called the star-wreathed princess! Everyone ¨C from the most ancient elders, to the contemporaries, to the youngest children just learning to walk ¨C they all knew who she was. They looked upon her with respect! But ever since leaving her home, she hadn¡¯t come across a single decent person. What Autumn learned was that she wasn¡¯t really a princess at all. She was just a lucky girl, living in the shadow of her parents. Her father was a hero of the Woodland Vale, and her mother had made equally important contributions to their home. Both had sadly passed from the world some time ago, but had left a very deep impression on every member of her tribe. Autumn was faced with the frightening and hurtful realization that out here she was nothing. No one knew her name, and she was constantly at the mercy of people like Cloudhawk. It was said that in the elysian lands there were men tens or hundreds of times more powerful than him, as well. Before she was a girl who knew nothing of the world beyond the end of her nose. Now, all of a sudden, she had been thrust into reality. Finally she had come to realize how big the world was, and how small she was as a part of it. But things would change. Just so long as her quest in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough went smoothly! Autumn had finished with two buckets and lifted the third to pour over head, when she noticed something yellow through the turbid water. It was about a meter long, and covered in delicate scales. Two triangular antennae jutted from one end. A desert viper! Autumn had been afraid of snakes ever since she was little. With an ear-piercing shriek she threw the wooden pale across the washroom, which frightened the snake as well. It coiled up and shot out from its watery respite, sinking its teeth into Autumn¡¯s thigh. She grabbed the thrashing reptile, pulled it off of her then flung it aside. Her leg burned like it was on fire. In moments her pale flesh was red, like blood was pooling just below the surface. ¡°Help! Help me!¡± Autumn hurriedly grabbed her clothes and pulled them on. Meanwhile the snake was slithering closer for a second bite. Her eyes were wide, she couldn¡¯t get away from it. As the snake reared back Cloudhawk kicked open the door and rushed in. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Autumn jumped as though she¡¯d been struck by lightning, clutching her clothes to her chest. She would have jumped back, except the deadly viper was right behind her. With nowhere to go, she awkwardly stood there as all sorts of emotions raced through her. She felt like she wanted to feint. The snake recovered from the shock of Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden entry and started to move closer. Its supple body darted up from the ground like an arrow, aimed for Autumn¡¯s backside. She instinctively lurched forward into the man standing before her. Cloudhawk wrapped it right arm around her, and with his left hurled a metal spike at the viper. The snake vanished Thud! Half a breath later the viper reappeared on the wall. A thick metal spike pinned it there. Autumn tried to shove Cloudhawk away, but a creeping darkness entreated on her vision ¨C the poison working its way through her veins. Her whole body felt burning hot and her heart beat furiously. She felt like it would burst out of her chest any moment. ¡°Did it bite you?¡± Cloudhawk dropped his eyes to Autumn¡¯s right thigh. Wasteland animals were all deadly, especially poisonous vipers. Normal folk were paralyzed ten seconds after a bite, and dead after just a couple minutes. Mere moments had passed since she was bitten, but already her frail thigh was purple as the poison spread. Fear and anxiety filled her. This was the first time anything like this had happened to her, she didn¡¯t know what to do. Was the poison going to kill her? She didn¡¯t want to die! What a shame, to die while showering. Her parents would roll over in their graves. ¡°Am I going to die?¡± ¡°Shut up and swallow this.¡± As she opened her mouth Cloudhawk shoved a pellet of something inside. He pulled her jaw closed, forcing her to let the pill down her gullet. Next he pulled out a small knife and cut two cross-shaped wounds in her thigh. He then placed his mouth over the wounds, drawing out mouthfuls of poison and blood. It hurt more than anything she¡¯d ever felt. Covering what she could with her clothes, Autumn sat on the ground. Sitting here like this, in this condition, it was unthinkable. But as she sat with Cloudhawk drawing the poison from her system, she just leaned back with her eyes closed and endured. For some reason, she didn¡¯t feel afraid anymore. Book 3, Chapter 34 - Collateral Damage Autumn lay in the room with her leg crudely bound. The area that was bit was numb, but otherwise ok. She looked at Cloudhawk standing before her. Because he¡¯d helped suck out the venom, his mouth had become swollen. Autumn was a little nervous. She hoped swelling was the only thing he¡¯d suffer from helping her. Of course Cloudhawk was in no danger. His special situation limited the damage toxins could do. At present he was in the process of complaining. ¡°It¡¯s lucky you saw it when you did. A few seconds later and you¡¯d be dead ¨C or least lost the leg.¡± Autumn was still embarrassed by the whole ordeal. Her cheeks were red and she looked off to the side, angry and ashamed. But she was also grateful. At Cloudhawk¡¯s dire words she looked back at him. ¡°Was it that serious?¡± ¡°No shit. Nothing that lives in the wastelands is safe to ignore. The viper was probably hiding in the water to escape the heat. They like to cool off in water especially. Recklessly throwing it around scared it, that¡¯s why it bit you.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°The medicine I gave you came from a friend, who got it from the sanctuary back in Skycloud. You can¡¯t buy it out here, no matter how much money you throw around. Without it you wouldn¡¯t be here talking to me.¡± Autumn understood that all of this was because she hadn¡¯t been careful. But she was the victim here. Not only was she bitten, but Cloudhawk also saw more of her than she was comfortable with. The hooligan got a good eyeful and got to be the hero, but instead of improving his attitude he just treated her worse. She felt indescribably maligned, kicked while she was down. She could just die. But she couldn¡¯t really blame him. She had to just accept it. *** Barb set out on her mission to learn all she could. The best way to do that, she felt, was to ask the shop assistants. Many of the people trying to make their way to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough were quite famous in the wastelands. That made it easy to gather information. Only the old drunkard was the exception. No one knew a thing about him, other than he¡¯d been around for a few days. At least the sandstorm outside had started to calm down. Barb took advantage of the lull to go outside and get some fresh air. Outside the place was almost buried in heaps of sand. Seeing this, she was starting to understand how dangerous getting caught out in one of those storms was. A group of large men had set about shoveling out the sand and getting things in order. Barb bent her knees and jump. She sprang a full four meters and landed nimbly on the top of the earthen walls that surrounded the hostel. She shielded her eyes from the sun¡¯s glare with one hand and peered out into the horizon. In contrast to when they were forced to stop, now she could peer out over the whole field of quicksand. The minefield of pits and monsters they¡¯d dodged on the way here was just the edge. On the other side of the hostel, the same scene stretched out farther than she could wrap her head around. As far as the eye could see, all the way to the limit of her vision. She squinted as the endless sands reflected the sun¡¯s light. Pools of quicksand joined, creating rivers of moving sand that crisscrossed the way forward. They were hard to pick out with the naked eye, but she saw signs of them as far out as a hundred kilometers before her vision failed her. Out in the distance she could see the border where choking sands still hung in the air like a curtain. Unlike the sandstorm it was constant, an ancient staple of this deadly place that ignored wind currents. Why would they build a city in a place like this? How did it even get a name like Fishmonger¡¯s Borough in the middle of a desert? Barb¡¯s curiosity was piqued and she felt that familiar lust for adventure tugging at her. The more mysterious the thing, the more she yearned to uncover its secrets. The truth was Barb had already started to grow weary of a bounty hunter¡¯s life, but she wasn¡¯t strong enough to life as she wanted. Traveling with her senior killed two birds with one stone. Alright, well that¡¯s enough. Time to make my report. Barb hopped off the wall and made her way back toward the entrance when a gruff series of curses caught her ear. It sounded like some sort of conflict. Curious, she approached to get a better look. ¡°Mother fucker! Do you know who this is?¡± A group of men stood huddled together. The first one she saw was a tall man covered in a thick cloak. His face was red, scorched by the sun and sand, with a mop of black hair. There was something unsavory about him, especially his face which looked gaunt as a skull. He carried a pair of large hammers as his weapons. Silent and intimidating he just stood by the door, while an older man with a large curly beard hollered. ¡°Anyone who stands in the Red-Faced Ghost¡¯s way dies. You fuckwits wanna be next?¡± This was the Red-Faced Ghost? That was a famous name in the wastelands. Red-Face for short, he was the boss of a bandit clan. He didn¡¯t operate in the borderlands much, but his crew was known far and wide throughout the wastelands. In the last decade he¡¯d made quite a name for himself, and now here he was with a dozen of his henchmen, right outside the door. Only, several hotel workers were barring them from entering. Bonobo treated the infamous robber gang leader the same way he¡¯d greeted Cloudhawk. ¡°We¡¯re full up. Come back later.¡± Red-Face was silent as a tombstone. His henchman with the curly beard swaggered forward. ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are? You worthless sack of rotwolf puke. You¡¯ve got some fuckin¡¯ stones thinkin¡¯ you can stand before the boss and talk like that!¡± ¡°Get the fuck outta here,¡± Bonobo replied. The bearded man did not take that well. Red-Face was also scowling with displeasure. He was holding back, but he wasn¡¯t moving to stop his subordinate from acting in his stead. Seeing this the bearded man wrenched a machete from a loop on his belt. Its mirror-like sheen caught the sun, cold and brutal, thirsty for blood. Bonobo was unimpressed. ¡°I¡¯ll say it one more time. Fuck off.¡± The bearded bandit was done arguing. Without hesitation he whipped the blade at the owner, its tip whistling through the air. As it traveled onlookers were struck with the distinct impression that it was no mere weapon. The sword seemed like it was dragging its wielder behind its tremendous power, not the other way around. Red-Face¡¯s right hand knew how to handle himself. Barb suspected it would take some effort on her part if she ever had to kill him. The bearded man wasted no time and gave no quarter, aiming for Bono¡¯s head. A curtain of blood arose. With a thud, a head hit the sand. Only, the head did not belong to Bonobo. The bandit¡¯s sword was sharp. Sharp enough to easily slice through bone. He turned it on the hotel owner, who was unarmed. However, it was more accurate to say that Bonobo held no weapon. He used his fists. One slap. The bearded man¡¯s head was slapped off his shoulders like a ripe melon. Barb could hardly believe what she witnessed. Bonobo reacted with the explosiveness of a mortar shell. Suddenly Barb knew why Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t picked a fight when they showed up, as she could immediately see the power this ugly roughneck possessed. If Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t have stopped her she likely would have ended up like this mouthy asshole. Was the Red-Faced Ghost not a feared name throughout the wastelands? One of his most trusted men had been brutally murdered right before his eyes ¨C quit literally a lethal slap in the face. But he was powerless to do anything about it. Bonobo fixed Red-Face with a hard gaze. ¡°Anyone else wanna give it a shot?¡± ¡°That shithead always talked too much. We went back a long ways, you saved me the trouble.¡± If the ghost of the brigand¡¯s loyal follower could see his master poking his head with the toe of his boot, one wondered how he might react. But he was dead and gone. Red-Faced turned around to scold the rest of his crew. ¡°I¡¯ve told you lot again and again, rules are rules! You can¡¯t break ¡®em cuz they don¡¯t suit you. Don¡¯t like it, bring it up with this guy.¡± Red-Face put his foot on the gently oozing head of the dead bandit. The rest of his crew felt their blood run cold. The bearded man had run with Red-Face for more than ten years. Every night they shared booze and women. Then, when his head was slapped clean off, Red-Face wasn¡¯t even mad. In fact, he didn¡¯t seem to care much at all. It was pretty clear what he thought of them. ¡°Rules can¡¯t be broken. But maybe they can be bent. You¡¯ve got a lot of people here, but do everyone deserve a room? I¡¯m guessin¡¯ if someone vacates their lodging that¡¯ll open room for us, am I right?¡± As the last word rolled off his tongue, one of the bandit leader¡¯s hammers went flying from his hand. Right at Barb¡¯s face. She¡¯d been peeping and thought she was well hidden. The hideous red-faced bandit¡¯s sneak attack took her completely by surprise. She was quick enough to reach instinctively for her exorcist staff, but not quick enough to summon its power. The hammer slammed into her staff. Barb felt like she¡¯d been hit by a truck. She was flung back a full three meters then hit the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood. As Red-Face was preparing to throw his second hammer a flash of yellow caught his eye. Yellow feathers sharp as daggers flashed across his throat. Only, the bandit¡¯s skin was hard as iron, and Oddball¡¯s surprise assault didn¡¯t slice his neck. Clang! The hammer was held fast before it could leave the bandit¡¯s hand. ¡°Guests are under the hotel¡¯s protection.¡± Bonobo held the iron-forged head of the hammer in his grip. He tightened his fingers, leaving deep imprints in the metal. ¡°Once they leave you can do whatever the hell you want. But while they¡¯re here, I have the final say.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve met someone like you out here in the wastes.¡± Red-Face¡¯s scowl was savage and horrible. ¡°I¡¯m anxious to see what the master¡¯s capable of. Maybe we can compare notes, what do you say?¡± Suddenly the long hair that sprouted from Red-Face¡¯s head rose, though there was no wind. He reeled back, then smashed his hammer into Bonobo¡¯s shoulder. The hotel owner stood in place, unmoving as the weapon hit. The sound that rang out was like a hammer striking an anvil. A blast of concussive energy kicked up dust several meters around them. It didn¡¯t even leave a mark! Unless he was some sort of super mutant, Bonobo had to be a martial artist. Mutants relied on their physical changes to protect them from harm, but martial artists learned defensive skills that made them nearly invincible. Methods like gathering true strength from their cells moments before an attack lands to make flesh impenetrable. The two men exchange a flurry of attacks and counterattacks. Bang! Bonobo¡¯s fighting style wasn¡¯t flashy. He slammed his fist into Red-Face¡¯s hammer, knocking the bandit back several meters. His arms tingled from the vibrations that rang through the weapon. The famous killer was surprised at the exchange. How could this nameless hotel owner in the middle of nowhere train to such a level? His defenses were overwhelming. Red-Face¡¯s hammers dealt tremendous damage themselves. In their furious exchange his attacks were knocked aside, leaving massive cracks and craters in the earthen wall when it struck. Red-Face wasn¡¯t a pushover, as strong as Bonobo in every way. In the end it was hard to tell who would win. But, for the moment, Bonobo had the upper hand. If Red-Face continued fighting on the back foot then the odds were against him. Still, if Bonobo was going to win it would cost him. The bandit took the initiative to back off with a mirthful chuckle. ¡°You made a worthy protector for these travelers. I¡¯ve caused enough trouble today. We¡¯ll finish this up another time.¡± The Red-Faced Ghost led his men away from the hotel. But he wasn¡¯t going to give up on getting into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Red-Face was counting on what he could smuggle from the city. The rare treasures and resources Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was said to hold were valuable, to say the least. So if doing things the right way wasn¡¯t going to work out, then he¡¯d had to resort to other measures. After all, there was no such thing as right or wrong out here in the wastelands. There was only what worked, and what didn¡¯t. Book 3, Chapter 35 - Stubbornness Barb pulled herself up off the floor. Wrong place, wrong time. She¡¯d nearly had her ass handed to her as collateral damage. Anyone put in this situation would have found it simply irritating, but Barb especially wasn¡¯t known for her even temper. The whole thing made her hopping mad. The Red-Faced Ghost had attacked her for no reason at all, holding no punches and ready to kill her without a second thought. If she¡¯d been half a second slower the asshole¡¯s hammer would have crippled or killed her. ¡°Cocksucker! Go to hell, you fucking nutbag!¡± Barb rushed at her attacker with psychic energy pulsing through the exorcist staff. Just as she was preparing to release a blast of power something stopped her. It was like she smacked headfirst into a mountain, forcing her to stagger back a few steps. Her angry eyes shot up at the figure who¡¯d suddenly blocked her path, ready to skewer them, but stopped when she met Bonobo¡¯s deep and inscrutable gaze. She had to settle for shooting both men a menacing gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself. Again.¡± Bonobo said in a threatening growl to everyone. ¡°No fighting in my fuckin¡¯ hotel.¡± ¡°Are you blind?!¡± Barb knew Bonobo was a lot stronger than he looked, so she had no recourse. ¡°He started it! He attacked me for so reason. Now get out of my way, this dickhead needs to have his attitude adjusted. Let him learn what happens when you piss off a demonhunter!¡± Demonhunter? Red-Face paused. However, when the surprise passed, Barb did not receive the respect of worship she anticipated. While the men looked nervously at her exorcist weaponry, they seemed neither afraid nor apologetic. Bonobo didn¡¯t give a shit about right and wrong. There were only rules. ¡°If you want to kill him then go outside.¡± ¡°The virtuous lady wishes to challenge the Red-Faced Ghost?¡± The bandit¡¯s hideous red face split into a malicious grin. His unbridled, hungry gaze slithered over her body. ¡°Your only advantage is a nice pair of tits. You should join us, let the boys take turns grabbin¡¯ handfuls. We¡¯ll make sure to keep our pretty girl protected in those cold wasteland nights.¡± His henchmen smirked at the dark prospect. Red-Face went on. ¡°What? You don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good deal?¡± Barb grew up a commoner in Skycloud. She got to where she was today through nothing but her own grit and determination. She had more pride and self-respect than any noble. How could she show herself in a sea of people if she wasn¡¯t relentless and stubborn? Now this shit-stain was insulting her, and she was just supposed to turn a blind eye? Of course, pissing her off was exactly what Red-Face was aiming to do. He could tell from her gear that Barb was a genuine demonhunter from the elysian lands. But this wasn¡¯t the borderlands. They were in the northern barrens. People here knew Skycloud existed but its influence didn¡¯t extend this far. There wasn¡¯t much fear or respect for elysians in these parts. What gave elysians the right to hoard all that food, water, and fertile soil for themselves? Why did wastelanders have to live and die in the dirt, just because they were unfortunate enough to be born on the other side of some fucking wall? There was a deep and lasting enmity here for elysians. Every city, every tribe cursed the name Skycloud. But they knew they were outmatched. They didn¡¯t have the gall of a group like the Dark Atom to fight back. But this girl was alone, with nothing but a low-level relic to protect her. She definitely wasn¡¯t someone important back where she came from. Demonhunters from important families almost always had fancy relics given to them, even as novices. This one was in her twenties ¨C tough and experienced, but still using exorcist gear. That could only mean she was scrub, and not much of a threat. Red-Face¡¯s plan had been just to provoke a guest, get rid of them, then take the vacant room. Now that he knew who Barb was, though, plans changed. There weren¡¯t a ton of demonhunters, and they were especially few and far between in these parts. Coming across one all the way out here was a rare opportunity. Besting one would definitely solidify his reputation, but more than that she was a prize herself. Young, reasonably attractive. A rare fruit to be tasted. ¡°So what do you think,¡± he pressed. ¡°You think you can take me in a fight?¡± ¡°If we¡¯re gonna fight then let¡¯s get on with it! You think I¡¯m scared?¡± Red-Face knew demonhunters didn¡¯t usually travel the wastelands on their own. If she had an entourage that was no problem, but if there were other demonhunters with her things could get dicey. ¡°So,¡± he went on calmly, ¡°call out your friends then. Let¡¯s have at it.¡± She hesitated. ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern anyone else, just you and me.¡± ¡°You got guts!¡± If the girl was going to throw herself to the fire it would be rude to deny her. What was Red-Face going to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough for except to make some cash? If he could capture a demonhunter bitch he wouldn¡¯t even need to bother with the city. With those delicate elysian features she was prime goods out here, and she''d be worth twice as much since she was a demonhunter. For wastelanders, after a certain point it didn¡¯t matter what women looked like. A hole was a hole. What really shot costs up were quality, and status. Like a demonhunter. She would fetch a pretty penny at any slave auction in the northern barrens. Demonhunters were worshipped back in the elysian lands. Turning her into a slave would slate any man¡¯s lust for conquest. After all, the pleasure of the spirit was much greater than pleasures of the flesh. Oddball was still nearby, fluttering around Barb. It saw everything that was happening and knew Barb was in danger. It tried to stop her, doing whatever it could to stall for time until Cloudhawk could show up. It was true that Oddball shared a connection with its master, but it was one limited by distance at the Warden was too far. Oddball could do nothing but wait until Cloudhawk came within range. Asking for Cloudhawk¡¯s help had crossed her mind, but she abandoned the thought. This was her problem, she couldn¡¯t stomach troubling his Excellency with it. She couldn¡¯t run to him any time someone bullied her. That was no different than a young girl being teased and running for her daddy. To Barb, if she couldn¡¯t handle something as simple as a personal insult then she deserved his Excellency¡¯s scorn. She was a big girl, she didn¡¯t need someone to wipe her ass for her. She wasn¡¯t an idiot, either. She knew Red-Face was strong. She knew it was probably a trap. But that wasn¡¯t enough to back down. This was life out here in this rough place, some things had to be done even if you knew it was trouble. Barb waved Oddball out of her face. She jumped up onto the earthen wall surrounding the hotel, then down onto the sandy ground outside. Brandishing her exorcist staff, she called a challenge. ¡°Bring it on!¡± Suddenly, a dull pain bloomed in her chest. The injury from his earlier attack was worse than she thought. Red-Face appeared atop the wall. At her challenge he roared back, leapt into the air, and came crashing down toward her with both hammers poised. He knew how to fight, and he opened their contest charging toward her like an avalanche. How many skilled fighters died because they talked too much shit? Take whatever opportunities present themselves, attack at the right time. This was the most important rule of combat. Life before banter. ¡°Contemptible.¡± Barb wasn¡¯t expecting it, but this time she was ready. Her exorcist staff immediately began to spin, kicking up a howling wind. She lunged forward, swung her arms up, and caught the hammers with her staff. Boom! Barb was flung five meters away. She caught herself, gasping, with pain shooting up her arms from the impact. This asshole was strong! Red-Face hit the ground and pushed off the soft earth with his powerful legs. Great plumes of it were kicked up as he charged ahead. With a sinister smirk on his face he closed in, windmilling his arms with a hammer in each hand. The force behind them kicked up a hurricane of wind and dust. At first glance, he could have been mistaken for a sand wyrm, tearing her way. Bearing was important in a one-on-one contest. Intimidating the enemy often meant the upper hand. In his opening assault, Red-Face had forced Barb into a passive position, forcing her to react to his pace. Barb planted her feet, looking for a chance to counter-attack when suddenly Red-Face stopped in his tracks. The plume of sand and wind in his wake rushed forward. Seeing this, Barb pushed off her supple legs and sprang backwards to avoid being blinded. Red-Face juked around to the side to try and flank her while their battlefield was choked with sand. He vanished from view. Barb shut her eyes against the sand, leaving her in darkness. She focused everything on her hearing, felt the vibrations, listening for a sign. When Red-Face came at her from behind, she flung her staff around without even turning her head. Bang! Crack! Their weapons met in a tempest of blows. The sound of their conflict reverberated like thunder. The wall surrounding the hotel was thick with spectators now. Some were Red-Face¡¯s henchmen, others merely passers-by who heard the commotion. It was meant to be a good show, but they were denied the spectacle when the cloud of sand hid them from view. Red-Face was a fighter who relied on pure force. Years of harsh struggle were his teacher, and now he had crossed the threshold of mere fighter into the realm of martial arts. Every blow hummed with true power, force enough to obliterate all foes to this point. For the time being, Barb was protecting herself with her relic, but so it had not given her any sort of advantage. From the start of their battle she¡¯d successfully blocked four or five deadly blows. However, she saw no opportunity yet to answer with strikes of her own. ¡°Heh heh heh. Is this supposed to be what a demonhunter can do? Honestly, it¡¯s a bit pathetic. Kneel. Beg for forgiveness. Swear to be my slave and maybe I¡¯ll consider keeping you alive. Wildcats are less vicious once you pull their teeth out.¡± Barb could tell that her situation was getting worse by the minute. She was already pulling out all the stops to keep herself from being smashed apart. By comparison, Red-Face still looked like he could go on. Whoosh! A war hammer came right at her! Cold iron struck Barb square in the abdomen, bringing her to her knees. Red-Face was easily strong enough to shatter bone, but he¡¯d obviously been holding back. It wasn¡¯t out of mercy, but because a full-armed strike would have outright killed or maimed her. Red-Face needed her whole, it was the only way she¡¯d fetch a good price. No one wanted broken goods. Barb swung her staff and rose back onto her feet, to which Red-Face replied with another swing of his hammer. As she flipped out of reach his hammer hit the ground, leaving a telling crater where her feet had been. Barb had taken serious damage, but she could still stand. The bandit¡¯s faintly visible silhouette dashed through the sand. He caught Barb with a kick, knocking her back again. A savage grin split his ugly face as he slowly closed the distance once more. He stepped on her prostrate form, pinning her to the ground. ¡°Come on, bitch. Call me master ¨C lemme hear how it sounds.¡± Barb¡¯s blood mixed with the sand beneath her. Her fists were curled tight. How did this happen? She¡¯d worked hard her whole life, only to lose to a wastelander. Was this her fate? Humble was her destiny. With no noble blood and no great talent, it didn¡¯t matter how much blood, sweat and tears she put into getting better. For all her diligence, drive and faith, she was a girl caught beneath the boot of a wasteland bandit. Atop the wall a pretty young girl watched with wide eyes. With a mix of fear and confusion she begged the person next to her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do something?! He¡¯s going to kill her!¡± ¡°What a pain in the ass¡­ send her off for a simple task and she starts picking fights.¡± The young man beside her stood atop the wall staring down, with the wind tousling his tattered grey cloak and black hair. Whatever expression was on his face was hidden behind the silver ghost-faced mask he wore. The hilt of a sword jutted above his right shoulder, still in its sheath, and a fist-side bird perched on his left. His arms crossed before his chest, the young man did not seem in any hurry to intervene. It wasn¡¯t the right time. He recognized the bottleneck holding her back. The only way to get through it was if she broke passed it on her own. Cloudhawk could jump in and save her from the wastelander, but he wasn¡¯t going to be around forever. He wanted to see just how much potential she could tap when she really needed to. Book 3, Chapter 36 - My Turn To Play Barb suddenly shot up from the ground, exorcist staff whipping toward the Red-Faced Ghost. The bandit easily side-stepped her attack. A pair of trenches were left in the sand from where he slid backward. He was just too quick, too skilled. Barb hadn¡¯t managed to even snag his clothing through the whole ordeal. Barb was in a bad way. A trickle of blood dropped from her tousled hair and down across her forehead. She looked like a wild woman, covered in dirt and wounds. It was during this moment of conflict that a strange thought crept into her mind. Where the elysian lands the utopia she really thought they were? Wastelanders thought so. Most elysians did, too. Barb, though¡­ she wasn¡¯t convinced. Elysians were people, same as anyone, and people were flawed. They were capable of terrible, unconscionable things in the name of greed and selfishness. That was just the way man¡¯s heart was made. Wastelanders wore this dark part of themselves in the open, but elysians had it suppressed in the name of piety. Suppressed. Not erased. There could be no light without shadow. *** It¡¯d been a cold winter that year in the border town. A young girl with her face and hands red from the chill wandered the streets. Her thin body was covered in threadbare rags, the only thing protecting her from the weather while she begged. Her very ill mother was inside their modest home, hacking from the sickness that consumed her lungs. Her father was a well-known rogue in town. He¡¯d been a carpenter once, a good one too. But gambling consumed him, and alcohol. Eventually those two vices stole what little they had to feed and clothe their small family. The girl¡¯s earliest memories of her father were him, stumbling drunkenly through their home, beating her and her mother. She never understood it. Her mother was famously pretty. Why did she marry a drunk and abusive piece of trash like him? She didn¡¯t understand why her father couldn¡¯t treat them better, like all the other families. As it turned out¡­ she wasn¡¯t her father¡¯s daughter at all. Her birth father was a demonhunter who¡¯d left their town some time ago ¨C the greatest member of their community in a decade. Like all the other girls in town, her mother had been infatuated with him. The demonhunter eventually ran off to Skycloud in pursuit of his future. There he married a noblewoman from a respected family. With such illustrious prospects, there was no gain for keeping a humble village woman. So, like in any clich¨¦ romance story, the good-hearted village woman was cast aside. To protect himself, the demonhunter used his prestigious standing to spread rumors and drag the woman¡¯s name through the mud. When he was done with her the town shunned the woman. She was a stain on their honor, a tarnished thing no one dared associate with. The church wouldn¡¯t even permit her to pray inside its walls. Eventually she married the gambler as a last resort. He was a despicable drunk, but at least he brought food home from time to time. Worry and fatigue hounded the woman, becoming illness. Day after day it consumed her from the inside. The town doctor was indifferent, and wouldn¡¯t even see the little girl when she once cracked her head. Sad news came to her again when the man she called her father was found dead in a garbage heap. He¡¯d drunken himself into a stupor, and was found three days later. She remembered the smell when they brought him home. She couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. Her mother held on for a few more months. When the disease had nearly claimed her, she pulled opened up a trunk tucked away in a corner of their hovel. In the bottom was a nice white dress ¨C the only set of decent clothing she owned. For the first time in years she dressed herself up, put on her make-up, and did her hair. She sat before her mirror, remembering days from long ago as tears streamed down her face. Those memories carried her into darkness as she drank down a vial of poison she kept at her bedside. To this day the girl remembered holding her mother, awash in blood and tears. With her last breaths she apologized for her life. Every day she carried on was another day she held her daughter down. She said she had rely on herself from then on. Don¡¯t let anyone or anything hold her back. Let them spread their rumors. Dry her tears. The gods knew the truth. Don¡¯t hold on to any hatred, because in the end hatred never brought any good. Her mother didn¡¯t want a funeral. The girl wrapped her in a straw mat and brought her body to the church for help. Although Skycloud had many a good soul, none were interested in helping a pitiful, hopeless girl and her dead mother. Below the winter sun, the beggar girl disappeared. There was just a child who desperate to bury her own mother. Her mother had been a devout believer, even though it seemed as though the gods had abandoned her. The girl couldn¡¯t bear to bury her out in the wilderness, so she tried to arrange a humble funeral despite her mother¡¯s wishes. But who would stoop to help this dirty, tragic girl? Who would suffer the ire of others, wasting time, effort and money on these pariahs? The town¡¯s clergymen were friends of the demonhunter who so maligned her mother, and would deny her a funeral even if they had the money. The girl was lost. With nowhere to go, nowhere to turn, she knelt at the bend of a busy intersection in town with her pleas etched on a charcoal board stained with tears. [1] A group of boys about her age spotted her. The cursed her, laughed at her, and called her mother a whore. Asking to have a sinner like that buried in a church was beyond shameless. The girl fought back. Her mother was not a whore, she screamed. It was all that man¡¯s fault. They spit on her and laughed in her face. One took her board and smashed it to pieces. It was more than she could take. When she lost her temper, she pounced on the bows like a hurricane of nails and teeth. Still there were more of them than there was of her. Six boys pushed her to the ground and beat her with their hands and feet. She curled into a ball, head covered. But she didn¡¯t cry anymore. ¡°Stop!¡± The sound crashed down on them, sharp as their blows. It was loud, full of power and command. A lavish carriage was passing by, the source of the voice. When the boys heard it they scattered. A middle-aged man stepped from the carriage, dressed in a white coat. The girl thought it looked pure as fresh snow. He was elegant, noble, almost inhuman, and where he passed the world seemed just a little brighter. His eyes were deep, filled with insight and wisdom. There was no sense of tyranny about him, but eyes were inexorably drawn his way. The young girl had never seen anyone so incredible. He said nothing at first. He looked at her chalkboard, then back to her. Eventually he asked her to share her story. Later that day, the girl¡¯s mother was brought into the church and absolved of her sins. She was given a solemn and respectful funeral that nearly everyone in the town attended. All of this was so completely different from the day before. And the boys who beat her? One by one they were publicly spanked, and their parents came with gifts of food and money to beg her forgiveness. The most extravagant shows of remorse, however, came from the town¡¯s highest levels. The chaplain, garrison commander, and the mayor ¨C men the young girl didn¡¯t even dare look at directly ¨C spent most of the night kneeling before her door. They would not leave until she offered them her forgiveness. The next day they were all removed from office for their despicable mishandling. When the man in white reappeared before her, he asked a simple question: ¡°I can make any wish of yours come true. Just speak your heart¡¯s desire.¡± The girl didn¡¯t know who he was, but she knew he had to be someone special. Those words stayed with her for the rest of her life. Though she wasn¡¯t sure why, one desire crystalized in her mind. ¡°I want to be a demonhunter.¡± The man looked down at her. His clothes were still that spotless white. They reflected the light, encasing him in brilliance. It wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, on the contrary being in his presence brought a sense of comfort. ¡°Alright. You seem to have the aptitude. I will teach you.¡± Years passed. The girl became a woman. With the help of the town she was admitted into training as a demonhunter. After years of inquiry the girl learned who it was that came to her all those years ago. His name was Baldur Cloude [2], one of the three master demonhunters of Skycloud, and Demonhunter Knight-Commander of the League of Demonhunters. A true and legendary paladin of the gods. More sad news came to the girl on the eve of her graduation. Baldur was dead! But how? What could have killed such an incredible man? After graduating there were rich families like the Lunaes who were interested in taking her in. There were also military families keen to have her join, but she declined them all. She chose to enter the League of Demonhunters to honor the memory of the man who saved her life. *** When Barb opened her eyes again, the fear and uncertainty was gone. What was left was a perfect calm, her heart smooth as a lake surface. In smooth, slow motions she leveled her exorcist staff toward her foe. In that moment, the vigor of a thousand warriors filled her. Red-Face saw it, and was afraid. She was wounded, he knew that much. But she still had the power to stand and fight. Standing was one thing, of course, but this aura¡­ even the infamous desert bandit suppressed a tremble. Hmph! She¡¯s a spent bullet, just trying to puff herself up. One more hit and this fight¡¯s over. Red-Face swung his hammers, kicking up another tempest of sand and wind. They never seemed to stop as he rushed at the demonhunter. Barb stood fast before the savage onslaught, and from her blood-tinged lips arose a battle cry that shook the earthen walls of the hotel. Without even seeing her target, she released a blast of energy easily twice as strong as she was typically capable of. She rose up as though she weighed nothing, just the tips of her feet still on the ground. She took seven steps forward, and with each step she left behind a pool of energy. Her footfalls twinkled like stars as the power blossomed like lotus flowers. With her final step the ground gave way, leaving a crater in her wake. Red-Face quailed. Power he could hardly believe was pouring from this mere girl, true power dredged from every cell of her being. With every step she was gathering it from deep inside, and by the seventh footfall she was a font of terrifying strength. Together with the focused might of her demonhunter powers, she was an unstoppable force. But with age came wisdom. Red-Face had survived countless fights with all manner of opponents. His response was quick and effective. He spun to the side just in time to avoid being impaled through the heart by Barb¡¯s staff and knocked it away with his hammer. The maul in his offhand crashed into her flank. Both of them went flying away from one another. Red-Face hit the ground and rolled a few meters, then sprang back onto his feet. His brush with death left him shaken and drenched in a cold sweat, on the edge of collapse. When Barb hit the floor she was spent. There was nothing left to get her back on her feet. ¡°Tut, tut, tut¡­ I thought you were a kitten! Turns out you¡¯re a tigress.¡± Red-Faced brandished his hammers as he stalked toward Barb. ¡°I¡¯ll start by crippling your hands. Let¡¯s see if you ever pick up a weapon again.¡± CLANG! The sound of metal on metal pierced the air. Red-Face¡¯s hammer was held fast by a black blade. A figure gradually emerged before him, a dim shadow eventually revealing itself as a man in a silver ghost mask. His unkempt black hair and tattered grey cloak rustled from the impact of their weapons. Cloudhawk glared into the eyes of the bandit with terrifying hostility. His voice came through the mask like a specter¡¯s hiss. ¡°Not much point in kicking a girl around. It¡¯s my turn to play.¡± 1. This is not an uncommon sight in China. Beggars will often find a corner and write out their story in chalk on the sidewalk or a board. Here¡¯s a picture as an example. The commentary also points out the truth that government safety nets ¨C especially for the elderly ¨C are practically nonexistent. 2. Oh shit! Selene¡¯s dad! Book 3, Chapter 37 - Spearhead Cloudhawk attacked without hesitation, sweeping quiet carnage and lashing out with a streak of energy from the blade. It reached for Red-Face in an upward arc ¨C if the sand could be seen as an ocean, then Cloudhawk¡¯s blade swipe was like a shark¡¯s fine closing in. Sand parted as it screamed past, leaving a trough in its wake. Red-Face swung his hammers up to protect himself. The impact knockedhim backward. After shoving the bandit some distance, Cloudhawk reached down to check on Barb. He fished an elysian medicinal pellet from a pouch and pushed it into her mouth. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you had it in you. Where did that come from? Remind me never to piss you off.¡± Barb was a little embarrassed. She coughed weakly, too beaten to be any use in a fight. With a face full of shame she looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m useless, this is all my fault. But you still came to help me.¡± ¡°Oh shut up. This is a good scrap! No trouble at all.¡± Cloudhawk straightened up. ¡°You made a good breakthrough. Now leave the rest to me. I needed a little exercise anyway.¡± This young stranger was able to knock Red-Face back with a half-hearted swing of his arm. He couldn¡¯t be any normal wastelander. From the way he showed up, to his powerful fighting style, he had to be a demonhunter. But what really impressed the audience was Barb¡¯s last-ditch attack. The onlookers couldn¡¯t help but put themselves in that fight. If it¡¯d been them having to stand against her terrifying attack, could they have survived? In short, most of them couldn¡¯t. If it didn¡¯t kill them outright, they wouldn¡¯t be walking away unscathed. They didn¡¯t envy Red-Face. With what she they witnessed, that woman was a terror no one was eager to scuffle with. As they watched, the other hotel patrons were making calculations in the back of their mind. It was always best to deal with threats early, but this girl and her friend were a mystery they didn¡¯t know anything about. Red-Face wasn¡¯t going to take any chances. He backed off another ten meters, his body shaking, and stared venomously at Cloudhawk. ¡°This was a fair fight, your excellence is interrupting. You show up at the tail end to take advantage after I¡¯m spent. I¡¯m not about to fight those bullshit odds. Elysians can¡¯t fight their own battles it seems, eh? Is this how demonhunters act?¡± ¡°Say whatever you like.¡± Cloudhawk pulled his sword back, resting it on his shoulder. He stood unguarded like they were having a nice afternoon stroll. He was different from elysians, that much was certain, and didn¡¯t share their same stilted sense of propriety. Nothing the bandit said was going to get under his skin. If Red-Face was aiming to throw him off with insults he was going to be disappointed. Cloudhawk answered with an almost lazy air. ¡°I¡¯m not unreasonable, but reason is a thing you do with other people. You see a rabid dog causing shit, you shut it up with the point of a knife. You can try and reason with a mutt till your blue in the face, but it isn¡¯t gonna do you any good.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s insulting words made veins bulge at the sides of Red-Face¡¯s head. ¡°What an arrogant elysian fuck. Underestimating a wastelander¡¯s power will cost you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk like you¡¯re hot shit. You don¡¯t represent the wastelands.¡± Cloudhawk was becoming impatient. ¡°Alright, my time is precious. Come at me if you think you can, but if you keep fuckin¡¯ around I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± Red-Face swallowed the injustice. A fight was a fight. If it was to be two fights, then so be it. This guy looked pretty young, so how strong could he be really? But to be safe, the bandit leader motioned to his men along the wall. Half a dozen or them drew their weapon and dropped down to join Red-Face in the fight. Cloudhawk looked at them dispassionately. ¡°Calling some friends? Is that all you got left?¡± ¡°You broke the rules first. Don¡¯t blame me for taking a page from your book!¡± Red-Face grinned, then ordered his men to attack. Him and the rest of his gang moved in to attack. With his hammers raised high, Red-Face charged. ¡°I¡¯ll show you just how strong the Ghost Pack is!¡± The men he had with him were his crew¡¯s best. Pick any one of them at random and they were a considerable threat for wastelanders. After their time pillaging on the road they had goos synergy. And with their leader at the fore, they were a force to reckon with. The marksman of the group was the first to get off a shot. His pair of handguns fired off eight shots in quick succession, making sure Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t flee to either side. Instead of backing off, Cloudhawk pressed forward, his sword flashing. The bullets ricocheted from him like they were trying to pierce an iron curtain, and the Warden slipped between without trouble. Whoosh! In a blink he was in their midst. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a large or intimidating guy, but nonetheless his footprint dug deep into the sand as he charged ahead. Even the air seemed to heat up around him, causing it to shimmer and warp. An army and its fortress couldn¡¯t stand in his way. Quick as fire and strong as iron, he came crashing down on them with a thousand pounds of pressure and a thunderous blast. In the instant before the two sides met, Cloudhawk swung his sword. It seemed to cut the sky in two. Onlookers could clearly see the friction of its passage coughing out sparks. The relic was also humming with a purple aura, thus increasing its scope and power. Strong. So strong! It was incredible that he could gather so much strength in such a short period. What they saw from Barb was incredible, but composed. This guy¡¯s headlong charge seemed like it could route an army. A few in the crowd recognized it for what it was. Spearhead! Spearhead was a martial technique taught to members of the elysian army. Typically, only their most capable officers were able to learn its secret. It was used to penetrate the enemy¡¯s first line and route their defenses. That¡¯s how it earned the name spearhead. Did that mean this young man was a soldier? He had to be, otherwise how could he know how to do a move like this? Red-Face thought he had things under control, until he saw the unexpected scene emerge. This young demonhunter was far stronger than he¡¯d given him credit for. Cloudhawk tore through the group, smashing into one of them and blasted them into pieces. Cloudhawk and his deadly black sword kept going, right toward Red-Face. He had no choice but to hide behind his hammers again. A tremendous BANG arose. Red-Face cleverly used what techniques he knew to deflect most of the blow. He timed it to leverage Cloudhawk¡¯s own force to knock him safely out of the way. Meanwhile the remaining bandits scrambled to surrounding him. After using up all his strength, it was the perfect opportunity to gang up. Cloudhawk paid them no mind, he was fixed entirely on their leader. As Red-Face was retreating, Cloudhawk planted his feet on the ground, kicking up a wave of sand. The series of attacks had begun to wear on him, but the Warden didn¡¯t stop. With another sudden surge of power he rocketed forward toward Red-Face. Spearhead? Again?! How?! The bandit crew boss knew a little about spearhead, at least enough to know what kind of strain it put on the body. It was supposed to be intense, exhausting. A one-and-done sort of attack to overwhelm the enemy. As far as anyone knew, you couldn¡¯t do it again until you recovered. It was one of the important drawbacks about using the technique. But Cloudhawk had launched into a second spearhead only moments after using the first. It was unheard of! Quiet carnage was closing in, arcing threateningly through the air! The second charge was even stronger than the first. The impact knocked Red-Face¡¯s hammers from his hands. The bandit¡¯s arms couldn¡¯t bear the load and he felt a stabbing pain rise through both. The impact must have cracked his bones. The pain and surprise forced a cry from his throat, and in a shrill voice he called for mercy. ¡°Stop! I give!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in surrender.¡± Cloudhawk rushed forward with a third spearhead. Even the air around him could hardly stand it and almost seemed to boil. His third swipe from the sword unleashed every ounce of power in his body at all once, resonating with the aura of his relic. The subsequent stroke of power cut Red-Face in half like he was made of paper. ¡°I want your goddamn life.¡± Red-Face tumbled to the ground in two pieces, severed at the waist. In the moment before blood loss took him, he stared wide-eyed and disbelieving at the mess of meat and organs where his abdomen used to be. He never stood a chance! Completely annihilated! Against Barb, Red-Face was able to use his superior agility to protect himself from her heavy blows. That didn¡¯t work against this man. Though young, he was an expert, his body a weapon. He hadn¡¯t found a single flaw in his series of attacks. So young, so strong, so potent¡­ who the hell was this kid? Cloudhawk was sweating and breathing heavily after the successive blows. He¡¯d learned spearhead from Drake, and Instructor Skinner had taught him the specifics of how to summon his body¡¯s true strength. A lot of his three years in Hell¡¯s Valley had been spent mastering just this skill. Performing spearhead this way was weaker than usual, but a lot more versatile. After all, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t fighting armies. He didn¡¯t need to burst through ranks of soldiers, he was only after one man. Agility was more important than brute force. Each following use of spearhead after the first also borrowed momentum, making the next one stronger and faster. It left his target with no way to fight back. Until finally he cut him clean in half. Incredible. Red-Face was a name men feared in the northern barrens, a bandit who ¨C for better or for worse ¨C was well known out here. Yet despite his reputation, so no-name outsider squashed him as easily as an insect. Spectators found it hard to accept. Red-Face might have used a fair amount of energy in his first fight, but he didn¡¯t even last three rounds in the second. The gulf between the two men was obviously too large for the bandit to handle. Simply unbelievable. The remainder of Red-Face¡¯s crew knew it was hopeless and fled. They didn¡¯t even look back, afraid to catch the man¡¯s attention. Of course Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t care less about these small fries. He walked back over to Barb and helped her stand. She looked at him with stars in her eyes, ready to fall to her knees before him in worship. She knew Cloudhawk was capable of amazing things, but now she saw the extent of it for herself and it was far beyond what she expected. Barb opened her mouth to say something, but before she could the sound of a gunshot blast echoed from the wall. He just managed to raise his sword and knock the bullet away. The surprise made him stumble back a step. With hard eyes and a pursed brow, he glared toward the wall which was thick with spectators. They all looked back at him with abject terror. From among the crowd a voice arose. ¡°This guy¡¯s good, but if we just let him walk away without a scratch it¡¯s like spitting in every wastelander¡¯s face! Red-Face wasn¡¯t going to stand for it, and neither will we!¡± This instigator was obviously trying to band everyone together to get Cloudhawk out of the picture. ¡°Do you assholes have no shame?¡± Barb shouted back. No sooner had she answered then another group of men dropped from the wall, weapons drawn. Suddenly the strip of land outside Dust Bowl Lodge was a killing field as opportunistic thugs positioned themselves for a fight. In an unexpected turn of events, the inevitable conflict for the right to enter Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was coming early. ¡°Fine! If we¡¯re doin¡¯ it anyway then it might as well be today!¡± Cloudhawk recognized that there was no hiding this time. But as his enemies were arranging themselves before him, the Warden¡¯s eyes rose to an inconspicuous figure on the wall. It was the drunkard. ¡°Hey old man. What about you?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not interested in joining the fun.¡± The grungy lush picked at his earwax with one finger in a show of disinterest. Obviously he was just here for the drama. ¡°But since you bought me a few drinks, I¡¯ll promise to look after your lady friends when you¡¯re dead. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Cloudhawk responded with a string of choice curses. Book 3, Chapter 38 - Carnage Outside the Dust Bowl Lodge, amidst the dunes, the lust for blood was rising. Out in this chaotic mess a fight came whether you wanted it or not, it wasn¡¯t discussed. Sometimes it was over a little thing, sometimes it was for no reason whatsoever. It didn¡¯t matter, bodies in the dirt and rivers of blood were a common sight once the world was destroyed. Nothing to be done. This was the wastelands, after all. Autumn didn¡¯t know whether it was from the beating sun or the fear that gripped her, but she was drenched in sweat. Her fists were clenched at her sides, eyes glued to the scene below. The sun was reflected off the yellow-white sands, forcing her to squint. Dozens of men had started to close in around Cloudhawk ¨C alone in a sea of angry faces. Autumn didn¡¯t doubt Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities¡­ but would he be able to defend himself against so many at once? The lame drunkard hobbled his way to Barb¡¯s side. The hunched boozer supported himself with two hands on his walking stick, making him at least outwardly unthreatening. Barb seemed safe for the moment, but was she really? No one was sure whether the drunkard was a friend or foe. As for Autumn, she was within the hotel¡¯s walls. For the time being, she was under Bonobo¡¯s protection. But how long would that last? The wastelanders looked at her with eyes like fire. Sooner or later, she was going to get burned. Autumn was feeling more uneasy by the second. In battle, everyone understood the concept; the mantis throws itself heedlessly at the cicada, unaware that the finch would close in at the first opportunity. Everyone wanted to be the finch, but that wasn¡¯t how things worked. Someone had to make the first move. Whoosh! Someone with a massive shield tried to bash him in the face. It was dented and scarred from many battles, but still serviceable. A stream of something dark had stained a part of it, and no amount of washing would make it go away. Blood, from someone who¡¯s life the shield claimed. They were finally making their move. Alright. I haven¡¯t had a good fight since I left Hell¡¯s Valley. Cloudhawk was a wastelander. It didn¡¯t matter what he looked like on the outside, his heart was forged in conflict. This was going to be a fine chance for him to see how much he could really stretch. Cloudhawk spun through the air, catching the shield with a dropkick. Clang! The several-hundred kilometer shield was flung away. A huge man, easily two and a half meters tall, stepped out from the crowd. His face was dull and sluggish, his eyes dim, clearly not a fellow known for his intelligence. But his skin looked as tough as a rhinoceros, and he was further protected by a set of extremely thick armor. His weapon was the massive shield Cloudhawk had just kicked away, as well as a giant maul. Most of the crowd was made up of mutants and metahumans. Judging by the look of them, they were largely constitution-based. Men like this had skin tough as animal hide. Boiling them and they didn¡¯t blister, scorch them and they didn¡¯t burn. Even in death their flesh was hard as iron. Ordinary weapons couldn¡¯t do a thing, it was like they were forged from steel. Tough enough to punch through any enemy. The brute snatched the man-sized shield from the air then brought it screaming down. For a moment Cloudhawk felt like there was an iron mountain coming straight for his head. He was sure that if it caught him, he¡¯d been smashed flat. Cloudhawk scrambled backward. His enormous opponent didn¡¯t rush to follow up. He knocked his hammer against the shield which rang like a gong. A stupid grin spread across his rigid face. The look on his face was proof enough that this guy wasn¡¯t good for much more than fighting. Just then, a tiny handpopped up from behind his shoulder, and a dwarf with the body of a child no older than eleven or twelve scrambled onto his back. Small as he was, Cloudhawk put him at about middle-age, caught in a shriveled and tiny body like the world¡¯s oldest prepubescent. ¡°You¡¯re going to remember us, elysian. I am Elder Locust, and this is Little Rock.¡± The ugly dwarf seemed to have some intelligence, as opposed to the brute he rode. He clung to the big man¡¯s back and shoulders like a baby monkey riding its mother. ¡°That spearhead move was impressive. Although, I doubt it¡¯s strong enough to break through my little brother¡¯s shield!¡± Cloudhawk chose to respond with his sword. With a screech, the sword left a mark across the brute¡¯s shield, albeit one that was not to odeep. Little Rock didn¡¯t move one centimeter. Cloudhawk only needed this one test to know the big guy¡¯s defenses were going to be a problem. Locust was probably right, spearhead might not even be enough to break through his shield. The dwarf tittered sickeningly on his brother¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Hehehehe! You shouldn¡¯t misjudge my brother. Your sword hardly left a scratch! Little Rock, show this asshole what you can do.¡± Little Rock bounded forward. His enormous, shoeless feet pounded the soft earth as he charged at Cloudhawk like a feral beast. Large as he was, Little Rock was anything but slow. With all the force he put behind it, his shield was a weapon of tremendous force. He could go head to head with a bull and the poor beast would have every bone in its body splinter. For someone like Cloudhawk, a full-on impact would turn him into paste. So far, no one had been able to stand up to Little Rock and his brother. Both of them were sure Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t be an exception. While the larger one charged, Locust wasn¡¯t idle either. His tiny hands were flung in wide arcs, throwing poison-drenched concealed weapons before them like bread crumbs. It was clear from the way he fought that Locust made a good compliment to his brother. Where Little Rock was all strength and constitution, Locust was a metahuman whose talents were in control. His weapons were flung with incredible speed, coated with lethal poison that would take a life with a mere nick of the skin. Cloudhawk suddenly found himself caught in a rain of poison steel. Locust¡¯s technique was flawless. His throws were aimed at the areas which might cause the most damage, and in addition were cast in such a way that it was almost impossible to read their trajectory. While they might look like they were coming right at you, suddenly they would dip toward the legs, or even swing around to the back. A fact that made avoiding them difficult. Yet Cloudhawk faced the threat calmly. Without any trepidation he leapt into the air, right into their path. Unexpected ¨C the Warden chose to plow right through the eye of the storm. Did he have a death wish, Locust thought. The spectators watched with rapt attention. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t moving quickly, especially compared to the spearhead moves he¡¯d wowed everyone with a moment before. Instead he almost seemed to float through the air, light as a feather. With almost lazy impetus he volleyed across the battlefield toward the large man¡¯s shield. He was going to try and break through Little Rock¡¯s defenses like that? Was this a joke? Locust and his brother were poisoned to hit him with dual blows. Little rock would bash his dagger-riddled corpse to ground meat when he got close enough. But as they watched with eager grins, Locust¡¯s hail of poison daggers slipped through Cloudhawk¡¯s body without leaving a mark. ¡°Impossible!¡± Locust shrieked. In spite of the dwarf¡¯s incredulous cries, Cloudhawk appeared before them unscathed. Little Rock heaved his enormous shield with as much violence as he could muster, while Cloudhawk pushed his dark blade through the shield and into the big man¡¯s chest almost gently. The other brigands, closing in, stopped and stared with their mouths wide. How was it that easy? That shield was tougher than a castle wall. Behind it was a man with tougher hide than a rhino. None of that seemed to matter to the demonhunter, though. His sword passed through both like they were wind. Little Rock reacted slowly. He didn¡¯t feel the sword as it entered, but half a second later the keen kiss of it burned through his chest. It felt like his insides were tearing, and they were as quiet carnage went from ethereal to solid. It didn¡¯t matter that he was protected by a massive shield, sturdy armor or thick skin. None of that was any use. Cloudhawk bypassed Little Rock¡¯s defenses effortlessly. Locust¡¯s screams howled across the sands. ¡°Little Rock!¡± ¡°One and done,¡± Cloudhawk boasted and he pulled the sword free. ¡°Fuck off if you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± He kicked off Little Rocks¡¯ shield, knocking the brute away like an avalanche. He hit the ground, gravely wounded and unable to continue the fight. Most shocked was Little Rock himself. Sprays of gunfire never scared him, not with his defenses. His shield was invincible, as far as he had found. One blows. He was proven wrong with one blow. The demonhunter¡¯s sword went right through shield, and armor, and skin. Locust was not ready to surrender. His sturdy mount had been cut out from under him, but the dwarf still soared high. Like a peacock proudly spreading its tail, he released a wave of poisoned daggers in a deadly fan. They whipped out and then began to curve in, all aimed at a particular target. He then began to spin like a windmill, a dagger in each hand as he spiraled back toward earth. The steel whistled threateningly as he closed in on Cloudhawk. Without warning the ground heaved, and a wall of sand was spat skyward! It curved over Cloudhawk like a shell. Shhtk, shtk, shhtk! Throwing daggers lodged into its surface but could not get through, followed by Locust himself. As the dwarf struck the wall, it broke apart and revealed Cloudhawk hiding inside. Whoosh! Desperate for blood, his dagger reached for their target. Again, they passed harmlessly through without finding purchase. He¡¯d attacked a phantom. With the power of his invisibility cloak, Cloudhawk had laid his trap. The illusion faded, leaving Locust without a target. The others searched the area with wide eyes. How could he simply disappear? He had to have some way to hide his presence. There was a flash of steel. One of the brigands outside the wall fell, his head rolling from his body. Then another. Blood spread across the hot sand as a second corpse joined the first. Faced with uneven odds, Cloudhawk chose to take the initiative with a staggering opening blow. They were caught off guard, and suddenly the crowd of thugs erupted into blood and body parts. One. Two. Three. The corpses piled on top of one another. Cloudhawk was like an evil wind, an invisible Blackfiend come for their lives as he darted among them. Before anyone knew what was happening four men had died, and several more were screaming from serious injuries. ¡°This bastard! He¡¯s toying with us! Everyone, all together! Find him and kill this fuck!¡± The wastelanders were gripped with a fear they¡¯d never known. This demonhunter¡¯s methods were inexplicable, they couldn¡¯t imagine how to fight back. Cloudhawk¡¯s invisibility cloak alone was a great advantage, but with quiet carnage he was unstoppable. In full view of the terrified crowd he had become an angel of death. Every flash of his sword claimed another life. You all are supposed to be dangerous? Well today we put that to the test! A wild and chaotic battle ensued, drenching the sand with blood. People tried to flee, while others turned on their fellows to thin the herd before the path to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough opened. With nothing left for them they turned to the one chance they had to flush Cloudhawk from hiding. The girl ¨C the one Red-Face had almost killed. Threatening her was sure to get his attention. Several of the thugs wordlessly reached an agreement then raced toward her. ¡°Fuck off old man! Give us the girl!¡± The drunkard had been busily digging in his nose with a finger when they came his way. When he saw them coming, his face split into a crooked-toothed grin. Alright. I got a few bottle of good wine, so I guess I owe you. It¡¯s only fair. The drunkard raised his walking staff. Book 3, Chapter 39 - Landslide There was absolutely nothing about the smelly, dirty, crippled drunkard that made him threatening. His rail-thin figure and tattered clothing was not what you¡¯d expect from someone who knew how to take care of themselves. How could such a lewd degenerate invalid be any sort of a threat? Five of the bandits ran over in the hopes of grabbing Barb ¨C still injured from her fight with Red-Face ¨C and using her to coerce Cloudhawk. The old man wasn¡¯t going to stand in their way, and if he did he would be cut down. Of course this would not be the case. The drunkard¡¯s first action was slow, two ponderous steps forward. Only, the steps seemed to carry him a full ten meters forward through space. Suddenly he was standing in front of one of the bandits, and leisurely tapped his foe on his chest with the crutch. The bandit¡¯s charge was immediately halted. He didn¡¯t fly backward, just crumbled on the spot like the lights were turned off. When he hit the ground his body made a sound like shattered glass. Every single bone in his torso was fragmented. One of his fellows noticed, and came rushing at the old man with his battleaxe raised. The drunkard leaned precariously to one side as though he were about to lose his footing, resulting in the bandits ax swinging wide. With a yellow-toothed grin, he lightly tapped the man with his cane. Like the first, he fell into a heap without so much as a whimper. ¡°Standing in our way? Die!¡± The others didn¡¯t see how powerful the drunkard was, not in their hurry to get Barb. One of the bandits had an elysian rapid-fire crossbow, pilfered from somewhere. In a single belch of compressed air he released a dozen bolts toward the old man. But in the manner of a man too drunk to stand, the lush wobbled from side to side, somehow miraculously avoiding most of the bolts. A couple of them managed to catch his person that he didn¡¯t even try to deflect. As they came near, his whole body began to shudder, almost vibrate, and when they struck they were either splintered or knocked away. They didn¡¯t even leave a hole in his clothing. A third. Fourth. Fifth. The old man wobbled from one bandit to the next. By the time his feet seemed settled, the whole group was motionless on the ground. The impact from his cane hadn¡¯t sent them falling. There were no outward signs of injury, either. It¡¯d only been a series of gentle taps, after all, but somehow it had laid them flat. Closer inspection would show cranial fluid leaking from their ears, though, or their bones powdered and organs turned to mush. What was slow was actually fast. Weakness was actually great strength. It was an understatement to say he had the situation in hand. The old man¡¯s control was nothing short of perfection, sublime even. He deftly struck his targets while making the blows seem unimposing. In truth, the force behind them was lethal. All of his power was concentrated in precisely the right area, none of it wasted. Such strength and control was not possible for a common man. When he was done, the old man wiped sweat from his brow, and said with a sigh, ¡°I am getting old. This is getting tiring.¡± Barb watched the whole thing with an expression of disbelief. Who the hell was this old pervert?! Meanwhile, Cloudhawk was caught in a stalemate. The bandits who attacked him ranged in quality from useless scrubs to formidable adversaries. A few were even superior to Red-Face. Cloudhawk had caught them unprepared at first, but now that they had their wits about them they¡¯d figured out his fighting style. Hiding and striking from invisibility wasn¡¯t going to be enough, but they also couldn¡¯t fight what they couldn¡¯t see. A large bandit wielded dual axes roared. ¡°Elysian dog! Show yourself! What sort of man slinks away. Did your mother give birth to a pussy bitch? Show yourself if you have any balls! I¡¯m gonna chop you up and eat you for dinner!¡± The large brute stomped his feet in challenge, but it wasn¡¯t one Cloudhawk was eager to meet. He was tiring, and fast. He wasn¡¯t going to be able to fight so many people all at once. He needed a plan. ¡°I got one more trick. If anyone blocks it and doesn¡¯t run then I¡¯m finished ¨C I¡¯ll give up any plans to go to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice drifted among them from an uncertain source, or everywhere at once. His booming voice gave them pause. The wastelanders knew the demonhunter was strong, stronger than the girl even after her mightiest strike. There were enough of them to win the fight, but there was no trust among them. The best situation, they figured, was to get rid of as many as possible and be the last man standing. Why continue fighting like this is there was no ill-will? The young demonhunter was offering to give up his shot to get into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, so let him give whatever plan he had a shot? They all saw he was getting weaker ¨C he had to be nearly exhausted. It was a bluff, nothing more. The old drunkard couldn¡¯t help but smirk when he heard the challenge. ¡°Force ¡®em all to run with one trick, eh? The kid sure can talk himself up!¡± Barb managed to stand. Gravely injured, her eyes still burned with vigor. ¡°No, I have faith that his Excellency can do just what he says. I¡¯ve never seen him lose.¡± The old man rolled his eyes. He wouldn¡¯t believe such praise if a veteran demonhunter was in the fight. Was this kid supposed to be a master? What a joke. Bravado had its limits, he was eager to see how far Cloudhawk¡¯s boasts really got him. The Warden slowly filtered back into view. ¡°One condition. No interruptions.¡± The crowd¡¯s bloodthirsty eyes fixed on Cloudhawk, then on each other as they weighed his offer. Two in the crowd lurched forward to attack now that he¡¯d shown himself, but their companions stopped them. ¡°Fine!¡± It was the one with the axes again. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you elysian scum know how to keep a promise.¡± Cloudhawk took a deep breath, then slowly crouched before them. He placed both hands on the sand and a moment later the earth quivered. A strange, invisible force rippled through the area, bending to his will, resonating with every grain of sand. As the bandits watched in shock, an area ten square meters around Cloudhawk began to rise. Sand floated into the air like an enormous screen, proving that the demonhunter also had the power to command the very desert. Was this how he planned to beat them? A small sandstorm? The old drunkard was also watching earnestly, waiting to see what the young man had planned. He could tell Cloudhawk¡¯s powers were spent, proven by the fact he could only affect ten meters. How was this supposed to be intimidating? ¡°Eh? The wind¡¯s picking up¡­¡± They felt the gusts wipping around, and the screen of sand around Cloudhawk started to rotate with it. A sand cocoon became a sand tornado. [1] The whipping winds quickly devoured all the sand ten meters around him. Ten meters became twenty, then thirty, then forty. The tornado itself was a few meters wide and maybe ten meters high, and while it was still weak the sight was enough to frighten the crowd. However, nothing about it seemed capable of knocking everyone down. A wave of dizziness came over Cloudhawk. This was the limit of what he could accomplish using his power alone. Using the tornado to make good on his boast was impossible. But Cloudhawk had a trump card, one final trick to be used in critical moments. That was the phase stone resting against his chest. It started to glow. He felt a vigorous power flood his body. Another several meters of sand around him rose into the air like gravity had been turned off. In an angry surge they were caught up in the tornado, and immediately the impressive if weak phenomena swelled. In the space of half a minute the tornado was a roaring threat, hissing like the sound of ten thousand angry vipers. It was a one-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable scene for the dumbstruck bandits. Was this man even human? How was he doing this?! Fear lived in their wide eyes as the tornado continued to grow. They could feel the winds tugging at them now, kicking up the sand beneath their feet. Dust and sand began to fill the air and blot out the sun, not dissimilar to the ominous skies that warned on an incoming sandstorm. ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°It¡¯s coming! Run, get out of here!¡± No one knew how the enormous tornado was summoned, only that the sand and wind were deadly. Sand choked the sky and covered everyone in ominous darkness. Besides his abilities of stealth and cunning, the demonhunter was also hiding somewhere in the heart of this storm, pushing it forward. If they decided to fight in the middle of this storm, it was the bandits who would suffer. No, there was only one choice. Run. Staying alive was more important. Even these rugged, dangerous men felt the cold grip of fear as the engulfing storm kicked up around them. This dangerous and terrifying event stole the breath from their lungs. In a few minutes they would suffocate to death, if the demonhunter didn¡¯t get them first. The tornado continued to rage. Meter by meter it pressed ahead. The twenty-so bandits were forced back to the hotel¡¯s walls. Bonobo watched the whole thing. As the tornado bore down on his establishment, his face darkened. If Cloudhawk drove that thing into the hotel he¡¯d be left with nothing but rubble. Even Autumn sucked in a gasp of fear and surprise. Barb stood in awe of her companion¡¯s skills. Despite her wounds, she shouted in triumph. Incredible! Once his foes had fled Cloudhawk stepped out from the tornado. He floated out from the swirling wall of sand before the old drunkard. Eddies of golden sand swirled around him, for all the world like the god of the desert walking his domain. ¡°All bark and no bite. Useless.¡± The old man¡¯s bearing hadn¡¯t changed, and he turned his nose up at the young demonhunter. ¡°What a waste for you to use such a treasure of the demonkin like this.¡± The old man¡¯s words were cutting and incisive. He must have known about the Gospel of the Sands. It seemed like this wrinkled invalid was from the elysian lands. The Gospel of the Sands was a treasure of the demons. A terrible relic of great renown and infamy. Cloudhawk knew that very well. Normal folk however, even demonhunters, didn¡¯t encounter items from the demons often, if at all. Those who could recognize the power had to be people of status in Skycloud. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good eye and plenty of experience, old man. You know what it was and I didn¡¯t even need to take it out.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mistrust of the drunkard grew. ¡°I almost think you¡¯ve seen the book before. Maybe even had to fight against it.¡± The older man rolled his eyes but did not answer. ¡°Whatever the case, thank you for protecting Barb.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do shit with your ¡®thanks.¡¯ Buy me a few bottles and we¡¯ll call it even.¡± ¡°Some fruit wine? No problem, consider it done.¡± The old man sniffed. ¡°Better make me happy. I¡¯m going to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough no matter what. In a couple days when we have to fight, maybe I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± What a stuck-up old shit. Barb was surprised that he could keep up this self-confident and snarky bearing after seeing his Excellency summon a damn tornado. What gave him so much confidence? 1. Does this look familiar? Think back¡­ Book 3, Chapter 40 - Wealth Equals Profligacy Cloudhakw carried Barb back to their room. There, he gave her some medicine and told Autumn to look after her. It was the way of the world that women sometimes were synonymous with trouble. ¡®They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent.¡¯ [1] First Autumn got herself bit by a snake, which resulted in Cloudhawk have a swollen mouth for most of the day. Then Barb got into a fight with a famous bandit which almost turned the whole hotel against them. Luckily it didn¡¯t end up causing too much trouble. It wasn¡¯t all bad, though. Both of his companions had a new respect for Cloudhawk. ¡°Where his Excellency go?¡± ¡°Off to be sociable, of course.¡± ¡°Be sociable? What?!¡± Autumn had to wonder if Cloudhawk was insane. A few hours ago the men in this hotel had tried to kill him. Now he was off to try and win them over? Cloudhawk left the girls and went down to the cantina. At present there were about thirty wastelanders sitting in groups, many of them participants in the fight against him. Those that hadn¡¯t knew all about the scuffle by now. When Cloudhawk walked in there was no lack of animosity in their glares. But they also saw what the demonhunter could do. It had been enough to convince them that bothering Cloudhawk further wasn¡¯t a good idea. Bonobo was also there, separate from the others, quietly keeping his own counsel. And the drunkard? He didn¡¯t miss a beat and walked right up to Cloudhawk when he walked inside, expecting wine. The old fuck sure knew how to play the wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Cloudhawk was sure he hadn¡¯t gotten close to using his full strength today, but even the little he revealed was enough. The rest of the hotel guests probably would still be ignorant of the fact if they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes. They¡¯d have died before they knew what hit them on their way to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. No one could tell whose side the cripple was on, but it seemed like he was getting closer to the demonhunters. If they joined forces then no one would be stupid enough to try and fight them. Outside the hotel¡¯s walls, more than a dozen corpses had been buried. Bold men, keeping the devil company in hell, now. ¡°Hey, barkeep! A bottle of wine for everyone!¡± Cloudhawk flippantly chucked a cube of eboncrys. ¡°Whatever y¡¯all want to eat. It¡¯s on me.¡± Bonobo caught the cube, gave it a cautious look, then tucked it into his clothing. He gave a wave to a dazed subordinate and a few moments later, the wine flowed. Whole barrels were brought up from the cellar and tapped before everyone¡¯s fixed gaze. What was this all about? One bottle was a hundred silver coins! One gold! So how much was a barrel? Bonobo was known for his stingy character and he wasn¡¯t about to give Cloudhawk more than he paid for. What did the young demonhunter give him, anyway? Cloudhawk tapped one and the enticing scent of the wine filled the cantina. Regardless of their misgivings, the brigands came over with glasses in hand, and began pouring. ¡°Drink!¡± ¡°Good lad!¡± ¡°Good shit! Don¡¯t mind if I help myself¡­¡± All of a sudden hard stares turned to beaming smiles as the men got their drinks. Life in the wastelands was cruel, any opportunity to drink a little and forget was welcome. Before long the cantina was alive with laughter and rough voices sharing stories. It was like nothing happened. ¡°A toast to you, on behalf of my brother!¡± Locust approached wrapped in bandages, blood still seeping from their borders. He hobbled over, glass raised, and gave Cloudhawk a loud toast while his dimwitted brother stool beaming a few steps behind. The wound in his chest had already healed nicely. ¡°I never met a man who could beat Little Rock, especially not in one hit. You¡¯re tough shit, kid. You got us convinced.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite the pair yourselves. I won by the skin of my teeth.¡± ¡°Keep the booze comin¡¯!¡± No one would suspect, looking at them now, that most of the people in this room had tried to put Cloudhawk in the ground. This was the wastelands. It was a dark and twisted place, but it was honest. Happy enmity was a thing out here. Your arch-nemesis in one moment could become your closest drinking buddy in the next. Then, when the hangover¡¯s passed, you went back to trying to murder one another. The wastelands were a place where you lived in the moment. No one cared what tomorrow brought. ¡°Everyone listen up for a second.¡± When Cloudhawk figured everyone was good and liquored up, he climbed on top of a table and gathered their attention. ¡°I know everyone wants to get into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. I know it¡¯s about money. But as important as wealth is, it isn¡¯t worth your lives. I¡¯m willing to give two thousand gold pieces if all of you decide to give up the journey. Payment for your losses.¡± Two thousand gold pieces! To any blood-of-the-earth wastelander this was a fortune! And the demonhunter was right, the only reason they were out here was for money. Costs in the hotel were tantamount to highway robbery, so no one was going to give up the trek easily after spending so much. Now they were being offered the choice of either getting paid a hefty sum for the mere act of going home, or fighting a demonhunter and that crazy old man. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough wasn¡¯t going anywhere, they could always come back for another try. As long as they made money from this trip, it was all worth it. Cloudhawk was employing the crudest ¨C yet most effective ¨C means of solving problems. Throw money at it. Two thousand gold was no small number, but luckily Cloudhawk had a sack of eboncrys at his disposal. He would make sure Autumn reimbursed him after the fact. ¡°Do all elysians demonhunters have pockets deep as yours?¡± A familiar man with a shaved head but for a pair of braids, a pair of axes on the table before him, shouted a response with genuine surprise in his voice. ¡°Son of a bitch, if I had that much money, what fuckin¡¯ point would there be goin¡¯ to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough? You need people for your crew? I ¨C Black Whirlwind ¨C would be happy to ditch my outfit and roll with you!¡± ¡°No doubt!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°If I had that much money you better make sure the brothels are well stocked. I¡¯d be there every day! Hahahaha!¡± Obviously Cloudhawk¡¯s plan had merit. Most of the brigands were ready to pack up their things that minute. There were several who seemed reluctant to accept it, but it was no longer up to them. Cowed by the angry glares of the majority, they had no choice but to obediently bow their heads. Cloudhawk had made it clear that this deal was contingent on none of them going. If a minority refused to accept the deal and ruined it for everyone else, well... the majority wouldn''t mind dealing with them in accordance to wastelander rules! The crowd had begun to look at Cloudhawk with new eyes. Not because he had money, but because they somehow didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of estrangement from this ¡®elysian¡¯ as they normally did. He wasn¡¯t the haughty and pious sort they expected. He was just like them; ready with a raunchy joke and just as eager for a drink or a smoke. They knew it by looking at him, this wasn¡¯t an act. He was just like them, and didn¡¯t look down on their lifestyle. If not for the fact he was a demonhunter, they would have taken him for a wastelander just like them. A few were even willing to get close and work for him, men of quality. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know their motivations. He wasn¡¯t the sort of blindly buy loyalty for loyalty¡¯s sake. Men were complicated and greedy animals, and only a fool thought they were safe if they surrounded themselves with friends because of money. It was just as likely these bastards would stab you in the back and try to take the wealth for themselves. Anyway, Cloudhawk¡¯s biggest obstacle was solved. The only one he had to worry about was the drunkard, and he wasn¡¯t going to be bought off. His origins and motivations were a complete mystery. He didn¡¯t want to have to deal with the guy, but maybe he wouldn¡¯t have to. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough could handle more than a few visitors, so the problem wasn¡¯t insurmountable. The second night passed in drunken celebration. The third day at Dust Bowl Lodge dawned with an ear-piercing whistle. Cloudhawk promptly awoke and stepped outside the hotel. Out in the sand-choked desert he could see several long shadows. They were big, and coming in fast. The way they moved was strange; not a run, or a walk, or even flying. They seemed to almost¡­ swim. When they got close enough for people to get a good look, what they saw left them stunned. The creatures were six or seven meters long and had no legs. Their bodies were covered in scales, much like a snake but far thicker. They had fins down along their backs and a pair on either side, and slithered along the sand. At Bonobo¡¯s command piles of fresh meat were brought out and arranged in neat piles. These strange, fish-like desert monsters swam through the quicksand and up to the hotel¡¯s walls, where they began to tear at the meat Bonobo laid out. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stop the astonishment from showing in his voice. ¡°What the fuck are those?¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to get to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough and you don¡¯t even know what sandsharks are?¡± The old drunkard punctuated the sentence with a roll of his eyes. ¡°Fishmonger¡¯s Borough is in the middle of the quicksand sea. There are no routes of travel through it, not even airships since the sea makes for dangerous air currents. These creatures are the only known way in and out of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough.¡± So that was the secret. Bonobo greeted the critters with the meat because he was, for all intents and purposes, a bus stop. In fact, he used to have seven of the beasts shuttling back and forth, but due to some tragedy he lost most. There were only three left. No wonder the hotels prices were so expensive! The fish were only big enough to carry one person at a time. The journey was exhausting for them, so they took about half a month to recover before making the trek again. For those who missed their shot, that meant another six months paying through the nose for a second shot. The problem now was that Cloudhawk¡¯s posse was exactly three people. If the old drunkard wasn¡¯t going to give up his spot, there was bound to be conflict. ¡°Your Excellency, I¡¯m not going.¡± Barb said it with a heavy heart. ¡°My wounds still aren¡¯t healed. If I go I¡¯ll only slow you down. I won¡¯t be much help.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. She couldn¡¯t deny how curious she was about the mysterious wastelander city, but she didn¡¯t want to force Cloudhawk into a fight because of her wanderlust. Cloudhawk was quiet for a moment, but ultimately nodded his head. ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve just had a breakthrough anyway, you need rest. Wait here. If your wounds have healed and we still haven¡¯t come back, head to the Sandbar and look for a man named Gabriel.¡± Barb nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡± Bonobo busily fixed a makeshift saddle to the sandsharks and brought out the travel gear its riders would need. This included gas masks, and two oxygen tanks. Without them they were sure to die out in the quicksand sea. The drunkard made sure to top himself off with another dozen bottles of wine before climbing onto the strange mount. Of course, the bill was put on Cloudhawk¡¯s tab. The Warden made sure to make a mental note so he could charge it to Autumn when the time came. Before long, the three travelers were ready. Bonobo blew a long, loud note through his whistle. That was the signal for the sandsharks to depart, and so they did. Their snake-like bodies swam through the quicksand deftly. Cloudhawk had ridden all sorts of things, from wasteland criters like jaguars and lizards, to elysian airships and war vessels. But this was the strangest yet, by far. A fish as a mount¡­ not in his wildest dreams. He hadn¡¯t even realized creatures like this existed in the desert. The wastelands were full of all sorts of strange and incredible things. At last, Cloudhawk was on his way to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Was the item Autumn searched for there? Would the Crimson One show up? What was the strange old drunk¡¯s purpose in the city? Soon there would be answers. All the twists and turns Cloudhawk was forced to traverse to get here were coming to an end. 1. Frederick Nietzsche. The phrase in Chinese is ¡®the disaster of a beautiful woman.¡¯ I had to search over twenty minutes for a phrase to even get close to ¡®women are trouble.¡¯ I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s a good thing or a bad thing. Book 3, Chapter 41 - Fishmongers Borough Cloudhawk, Autumn and the mysterious drunk made their way toward Fishmonger¡¯s Borough atop their sandsharks. As ridiculous as riding fish through the desert sounded, it was even more amusing to witness. Amusing, but not easy. The quicksand sea was a deadly place. It was a barren hell that would take their lives at a moment¡¯s carelessness. An endless sandstorm had raged over this land for years, covering ninety percent of it in scouring winds. In many areas it was impossible to see your hand in front of your face. Without the masks from Bonobo they would surely die as the sand filled their lungs. Aside from the weather, the terrain itself was a threat. They were surrounded by quicksand with dangerous undercurrents that followed no pattern. A feather falling on the surface would be dragged under in an instant. Put simply, veteran demonhunters couldn¡¯t press through this dire environment unaided and make it to the other side. Of course, sandsharks traversed it without issue. They were born in this place, lived their whole lives in the tempest. Instinct guided them through the dangers. Quicker than a horse or even car on a clear day, as well. Still, after half a day of fighting the wind and sand the group was exhausted, to say nothing of their mounts. Through some unknown means, the flows of sand continued endlessly, increasing in intensity the deeper they went into the quicksand sea. The undercurrent tugged at the sandsharks, pitching them left and right. Dangerous pitfalls surrounded them on all sides. A fierce gale surrounded them at all time, with wind that cut like knives. Grit struck exposed flesh like bullets. The briefest lapse and the riders could be pushed into the churning sands below. The old man did not appear to be struggling at all. It was becoming more obvious by the day that the cripple was more than met the eye. Not only did the winds and sand give him no trouble, on several occasions he actually uncorked a bottle of wine and helped himself. Cloudhawk found himself tiring, but he was strong enough that the environment didn¡¯t trouble him too much. Autumn, on the other hand, was a frail and weak thing. She was only managing because Cloudhawk used the gospel of the sands from time to time to shield her from the elements. The brief respites gave her a chance to breathe, and the perseverance to keep pressing forward. Cloudhawk was starting to worry she didn¡¯t have the strength to make it through. The sandsharks were fast, but already exhausted. He was sure they couldn¡¯t keep up this pace. What if one got too tired and died? Where would that leave them? Their corpse would be sucked into the quicksand and lost forever. Even the old man wouldn¡¯t be able to claw his way out. As he struggled with these anxieties, something rose from the horizon ahead of them. Oddball saw it first and warned its master. A silhouette emerged through the dim light, like a mountain standing tall in the middle of an ocean. The perpetual sandstorm made it invisible to the naked eye, and even Oddball only saw a hazy outline. But what was a mountain range doing here, planted in the middle of a quicksand sea and a constant storm? It seemed more than likely the constant sands would wear it down or bury it eventually. So a mirage, maybe? No¡­ no it couldn¡¯t be. Tricks like that could fool human eyes, but not Oddball. Cloudhawk shouted over the howling winds at Autumn. ¡°Hang in there, we¡¯re getting close!¡± Autumn was elated. The old man squinted his eyes, but before he could pick out the city¡¯s outline a pair of figures suddenly rose up around them. Looking closer, they were revealed to be a group of sandsharks moving their way. One¡­ two... three of them. At the same time the sandstorm was finally beginning to let up. Much to Cloudhawk¡¯s surprise, he found that there were suddenly sandsharks all around them. Only two at first, but after a few moments there were ten. They were also able to see the mountain clearer now, and the fact that the sandsharks were being ridden. Some were being used as pack mules. The mountain range in the middle of the quicksand sea had to be none other than Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Years of assault by the surrounding sandstorm had eroded the mountains, and now they were smooth and rolling terrain pockmarked with caves. Denizens converted these naturally-occurring features into homes and other structures. The city they made was large enough to accommodate over a hundred thousand people. Banners caught Cloudhawk¡¯s eye, fluttering in the wind, and among them men carrying heavy machine guns. Defense against the monsters that lurked beneath the quicksand, he figured. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for cities in the wastelands to move. They did it to avoid threats from groups that meant them harm, or roving mutant creatures. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was no different. The question was ¨C how? It was the most incredible fact about Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, because the eroded mountain range it was built on moved with the current of the quicksilver sea. It was impossible for the outside world to track it. Between the kilometers of quicksand and constant sandstorm, even the greatest demonhunter tracker would be confounded. That meant there was only one way in and out of this place! Find a suitable place and hope you got ahold of some sandsharks. Sandsharks had lived in this roving mountain range for generations. They¡¯d been laying their eggs in the caverns below the sands for a thousand years. Once domesticated, Fishmonger¡¯s native population made for excellent transportation, highly precise, and rarely lost to the sands. However the terrain and environment shifted, they knew the way. Like homing pigeons, they could pick out the mountains they called home no matter where they floated to. It was safe to say that without them, there would be no Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. They were reliable, safe, and integral to life here. Since the sandsharks that traveled outside were mostly under the city¡¯s control, they had a stranglehold on the one way in. It was an ingenious method of keeping them safe. Autumn was overjoyed at feeling the sun on her skin once again. She desperately clawed the mask off her face and took deep, grateful breaths of the clean air. However, while comparatively clear of sand there was still dust abound. She quickly paid for her impatience with a series of coughs. Soon, though, she recovered, and her watery eyes leveled on a scene that left her speechless. Hundreds of sandsharks surfed the quicksand. Everywhere she looked they charged ahead, leaving plumes of fine sand in their wakes. Schools of them moved together like salmon fighting upstream, and all of them headed toward the mountains ahead. It was nothing short of incredible to witness. Eventually the small party reached the foot of the small mountain range. Upon arrival, the specifics of the city were clearer to them. For instance, the upper regions and lower regions were each unique. The higher elevations rose like castle spires, making a naturally-forming fortress. At its base were scores of caverns, with hundred more sandsharks shuttling back and forth. The sandsharks guided them through a tunnel several hundred meters long. Autumn was still discovering the world outside her valley, and the more she discovered the more surreal it all seemed. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was like an anthill. The city was a series of tunnels and caverns, carved and repurposed throughout the interior of the mountain. Natural dens and burrows were converted into homes. Crude suspension bridges crisscrossed the empty spaces between them. The caverns weren¡¯t dark as one might expect, but what was curious was how it was light. Wood fires were rare, and most of the light came from fuel lanterns. Fuel was, of course, a rare and expensive commodity in the wastelands. What¡¯s more, getting any resources into the city had to be an arduous process. However, this didn¡¯t seem to affect the city in the least. Electric lights kept it bright as day even in the bowels of the mountain. This was Fishmonger¡¯s Borough? As they passed through the city they saw its populace coming and going. Most, of course, were wastelanders judging by their garb. One the sandsharks carried them inside, they made their way to an underground lake and stopped. Water was the motivating force that made the sandsharks run so quickly through the quicksand. The accumulation here was like a feast for them. ¡°These are probably their breeding grounds. There must be a thousand sandsharks in this lake, and more coming. Incredible, what a way to get around. No wonder Fishmonger¡¯s Borough is so successful.¡± Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a model wastelander settlement, in many ways. Built in a mountain, it was peppered with a combination of ancient machinery and jerry-rigged tech. Rusty pipes slithered along the mountain walls like old arteries, while stuttering machines powered lifts. The sound of engines and squealing metal was everywhere, lit by electric lights of all sorts of colors all over the walls. Cloudhawk turned to speak to the old man. ¡°Well here we are, chief. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Why were you so eager to get here? If you need help let me know and I¡¯d be happy to do what I can. Call it a favor.¡± ¡°Oy, plying people for favors is my shtick.¡± The old man pulled out the cork of his final bottle of wine. ¡°My business is my own, don¡¯t you worry about it. But seeing as you kept me stocked with booze for the trip, feel free to ask me whatever you like about the city. I¡¯ll share whatever I can.¡± Autumn immediately took him up on the offer. ¡°I came here to find something. If you have reliable information then I need to know. This item is here somewhere, in the city. Where would be the best place to start looking?¡± ¡°Fishmonger¡¯s Borough has the largest black market in these parts. There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t find there. If whatever you¡¯re looking for is still here, that¡¯s where you¡¯re most likely to find it. Check the showroom.¡± The old man paused to polish off the bottle of wine. ¡°Try your luck there.¡± ¡°Thank you, grandfather!¡± Autumn continued to ask several more questions, and the old drunkard gave willingly of all he knew. ¡°Alright, all that needs be said has been said. Here¡¯s where we part ways, I have my own business to deal with.¡± The old man irreverently flung the empty wine bottle into the quicksand, gathered up his cane, and hobbled away. He was leaving, just like that? Cloudhawk was still filled with questions. What was this old man¡¯s connection to this place? But they weren¡¯t important right now. What he needed to know was when the Crimson One was supposed to arrive. Autumn¡¯s little quest also needed to be seen to. After all, Cloudhawk was counting on making the rich woman¡¯s pockets significantly lighter. ¡°Okay. Off we go.¡± Cloudhawk lead Autumn away from the subterranean lake shore and into the wharf. There they found a lift that would bring them to the city. As they rose up and away from the docks, the veil of mystery hiding this unusual wasteland city was pulled away and revealed to the travelers. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 42 - Fat Mama Just as the old drunk had told them, Fishmonger¡¯s Borough had a black market unlike anything they¡¯d ever seen. So long as your stuff was good, it didn¡¯t matter how hot the item, you could find a buyer. So long as you had the coin, anything was for sale. The black market of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was the largest draw for outsiders. There were treasures beyond counting, a veritable path paved with gold. Everywhere one looked there were opportunities for riches and temptations abound. Cloudhawk followed guideposts from the lift, which led them to the heavily trafficked avenue. There was hardly any room to shuffle from stall to stall. There were all manner of wastelanders in outlandish clothing or fancy threads. They had their wares in booths or out on blankets, and even Cloudhawk was taken aback by hat he saw. An unassuming man of dark complexion sat before a blanket, with the barrels of all sorts of guns poking out from the bottom. A weapons wrack erected behind him had a number of other tools hung up for display; power tools, chainsaws, flamethrowers and so forth. Across the street, a stout fellow squatted before a rug. He had all manner of hand grenades hung on his person, and the rug was overflowing with other explosives. Cloudhawk randomly picked one of the caves that served as a storefront and stepped inside. He was greeted with a small warehouse of rusted metal robots at exorbitantly pumped-up prices. Aside from these sorts of things, archaic technology of bygone ages was also relatively common; rocket launchers, particle blades, even laser rifles. Rare materials and artifact fragments were stacked together with other mysterious and unknown items. Cloudhawk took the chance to purchase things for himself, including firearms and ammunition, or relic fragments. Reselling back in the Sandbar, he figured, would net him quite a hefty profit. Autumn was struggling to contain her irritation. Was this asshole here to restock his own shop, or help her with her mission? He was snatching up guns and bullets, almost like he forgot completely about her! Worst of all, he was spending her money! ¡°Hey, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Cloudhawk put his hands to the side of his head, vexed by the scale of things. ¡°This place is fuckin¡¯ huge. There¡¯s almost no point. By the time you find it the sands will have swallowed this place up.¡± Autumn kept a straight face and didn¡¯t buy in to Cloudhawk¡¯s nonsense. Instead, her delicate features were set in determination. ¡°I need to find it. No matter what.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch, you¡¯re stubborn. At least tell me what the fuck we¡¯re looking for so we ask around. You expect us to just wander in to some random stall and find it?¡± This gave Autumn pause. It¡¯d been a monumental task just to get here, and if she wanted even half a chance to succeed in her mission she needed this scoundrel¡¯s help. He was going to learn what it was anyway, sooner or later. She might as well tell him now. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a pan flute. It was stolen from my tribe five years ago by a renegade of our people named Brier. ¡°A flippin¡¯ flute? How much could that be worth!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just a flute. It¡¯s an artifact, bestowed upon us by our patron god!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s flippant response appeared to really anger her. This vulgar ruffian really had nothing but profit on his mind! How could gold measure the worth of a gift from the gods? ¡°The flute is called the ¡®Call of the Shepherd Goddess.¡¯ You demonhunters would call it a relic.¡± A relic, huh? No wonder. Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s stop wasting time. Nothing around here matches what you¡¯re looking for.¡± Autumn scowled at him skeptically. ¡°You haven¡¯t even looked, how do you know?¡± ¡°I just know.¡± This was Cloudhawk¡¯s unique talent, but Autumn wouldn¡¯t understand. Cloudhawk traipsed a circuit around the market with her in tow. He sensed resonance from a few relic fragments, but nothing whole ¨C and certainly nothing that would feel like it earned the name ¡®Shepherd''s Call.¡¯ He also learned nothing about the Crimson One or his plans. Both travelers were at a loss. Suddenly, Cloudhawk was struck by a flash of inspiration. He pulled Autumn after him. The sector he led her to was different from the others. Living goods were sold here ¨C slaves. ¡°Hey there friends, is that girl for sale?¡± A slave trader stepped into his path and blocked his way. She was a rotund woman with a savage face. Cloudhawk had never seen a woman so large. She had a moon-shaped face with a large mouth. A set of beady eyes were set in rolls of fat, and on her head was teased hair with dozens of sloppy braids that made it look like a nest of snakes. One look at her face was enough to tell she wasn¡¯t a good person. She looked at Autumn with hungry eyes. Years of experience selling people for a living told her this one would fetch a good price. The mere concept threw Autumn into a fit. What the hell was this? Was this the scoundrel¡¯s place? To pretend to help and then sell her into slavery? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give her a chance to flip her lid. He smirked before she could open her mouth, and asked. ¡°How much you offering?¡± ¡°Young man. The girl is prime goods, but you don¡¯t have a merchant¡¯s touch. You won¡¯t get a good price, not like me. I¡¯ve been doing this a long time. Ask a round, you won¡¯t find a single person in this whole place who doesn¡¯t know Mama Jade. I know a lot of folk in the market for a pretty slave. People who''ll pay top price. I¡¯m the one you want, ehm¡­ handling your goods.¡± In the wastelands women weren¡¯t often given status. Merchant women especially. This slave trader, Mama Jade, was as fat and as ugly as they came. But the rich quality of her dress spoke volumes. The jeweled necklace nestled in her chins did, too. Each of her ten sausage-like fingers bore a bejeweled ring. Her face was painted in layers of ostentatious makeup. With every movement, the smell of her perfume invaded the nostrils as though she¡¯d bathed in it. It didn¡¯t matter, of course. A hog was a hog no matter how you trussed it up. If there was one thing Cloudhawk knew about the wastelands, it was to never underestimate the fat ones. Mama Jade¡¯s rolls of fat did just as much to show off her abilities as the rich clothes she wore. ¡°Two ways to go about it, son. First, you could give the girl to me and I¡¯ll use my contacts to find a good deal. I¡¯ll keep forty percent of the take, and you get the rest. The second method is much more convenient though, if I do say so myself. If waiting for a buyer is too much trouble, I¡¯d be happy to trade you twenty good looking girls for this one. Good stock, easy to sell. Get rid of the ones you don¡¯t like and keep a few for yourself. You get to walk away with a hefty sack of gold for your time ¨C probably more than if you try to sell your girl straight.¡± Fat Mama was definitely a shrewd businesswoman. Cloudhawk shook his head with a grin. ¡°I only accept cash. If you can afford it, we got ourselves a deal.¡± Fat Mama scowled. Bartering was the preferred method in these parts. It was the wastelands, after all. Coin wasn¡¯t standard. She pondered for a moment. ¡°How much are you thinking?¡± Cloudhawk raised a single finger. ¡°A hundred gold?¡± He shook his head. A hundred gold for a single slave girl wasn¡¯t cheap. Average slaves went for ten silver, more or less. Pretty girls or males with a good physique went for one or two gold pieces. A hundred gold pieces was high, but feasible for top-grade chattel. ¡°A thousand gold?¡± Mama Jade had a sour expression on her face like she¡¯d smelled something bad. A thousand gold was at the limit of what she could stomach. At that price it didn¡¯t matter how outstanding a slave was, she wasn¡¯t going to make a profit. In fact it was a significant risk. But she also knew that a rare specimen like this girl was hard to find. Value wasn¡¯t merely measured in terms of profit, after all. If she found the right buyer, she could prove herself a fine purveyor and worthy of more business in the future. That was a benefit no amount of gold could buy. But Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t mean ten thousand gold!¡± [1] She snarled openly at him now. The man was crazy! Cloudhawk decided it was time to end the game. ¡°I¡¯m sayin¡¯ one million gold. And I won¡¯t accept one copper less.¡± Mama Jade went red at the face and her ugly face twisted incredulously. She snapped at him angrily. ¡°Quit playing with me, boy!¡± He chortled at her anger as if to say, what are you going to do about it? ¡°That¡¯s what she¡¯s worth. If you can¡¯t afford her, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t afraid of some cow. He hated slavers and their kind anyway. He almost wished she¡¯d try something, then he¡¯d have an excuse to draw his sword. How much trouble could a flesh peddler be to him, even with a backer? In the last few days he¡¯d killed the bandit leader Red-Face, and managed to piss off the entire Highwaymen outfit. He wasn¡¯t going to sweat some fat bitch. Mama Jade didn¡¯t get to where she was today by luck. She might have looked grumpy and unreasonable, but inwardly she was cold as ice. She seemed to know what Cloudhawk was thinking and her overworked heart thumped wildly in her chest. She gave him a closer look, saw the armor behind a gap in his cloak, and knew her place. She was a clever lady, and she knew the way the world worked. This was demonhunter armor. So was that who this was? Mama Jade was taken by surprise. No wonder he was so arrogant. The anger fled from her face and she chuckled good-naturedly at him. ¡°Business is business, we got no problem here. But Ravenous Tiger isn¡¯t someone you want to offend ¨C no one wants to get into trouble over a simple exchange. Listen boy, you need something you come to Mama Jade. If I don¡¯t have what you need, I¡¯m sure I know someone who does.¡± Ravenous Tiger was the governor of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Just the name alone told Cloudhawk he was no pushover. The name wasn¡¯t just as a deterrent to scare potential rivals. ¡®Ravenous¡¯ was intentional. He was the sort of man who took what he wanted, consumed without hesitation. He was also immensely paranoid and managed the city with what could only be described as a merciless fist. His presence explained how this city could be a mixture of both serpents and dragons, yet remain on an even keel. ¡°You switch attitude faster than I can pick my ass. There is something you can help me with, actually.¡± Cloudhawk changed his estimation of the slaver. It wouldn¡¯t do to go around causing problems before his mission was done. ¡°I heard a group of missioners passed through recently. What can you tell me about them?¡± Mama Jade hesitated. ¡°Let me think a second, now¡­¡± Cloudhawk plucked an eboncrys from his pouch that Oddball had been pecking at. He deliberately rolled it around in his hand. ¡°Just some information, nothing serious. I could always just ask someone else if you aren¡¯t interested¡­¡± ¡°Why go through the trouble?¡± Mama Jade slapped her rotund belly. ¡°I can find out whatever you need.¡± ¡°Right, a guy named Brier might have also passed through recently. If you know anything about him you¡¯ll pass it my way, yeah?¡± Cloudhawk tossed the eboncrys at her. ¡°You got twenty four hours. Get what I want and the eboncrys is yours. Don¡¯t, and I don¡¯t give a shit about Hungry Kitty or whatever the fuck his name is, I¡¯ll make sure to kick up a fuss. Understand?¡± ¡°You got it, son.¡± Once she learned he was a demonhunter, Mama Jade wasn¡¯t foolish enough to underestimate Cloudhawk. He just wanted some information, anyway. The city had fifty thousand people, but after so long in her trade there wasn¡¯t anything she couldn¡¯t uncover. 1. Ten thousand is ¡®yi wan¡¯ or one wan. In case you were wondering how she got ten from one finger. Book 3, Chapter 43 - The Hermits Clinic After a full day of riding a nightmare fish, Autumn barely had the energy to drag herself into the hotel room. She flopped onto the bed with a sigh of contentment, and in that moment suddenly her bones turned to jelly. She couldn¡¯t get herself up off the comfortable mattress, no matter the circumstance. In an avalanche of exhaustion her eyelids felt heavy as lead. But Autumn¡¯s heart was a sea of emotion. She¡¯d never had to face so much hardship in all her life. Would it be worth it? Would she be able to complete her mission? A sacred item which had been lost for so many years wasn''t going to be easily recovered! Autumn was mentally prepared for this. She knew the journey would be trying, maybe even fatal. There was always the reality that she might day ¨C and worse, her quest would fail. Beyond that, there was also the question of whether she would be able to use the relic if they eventually found it. And then, if all of that turned out true, there was a monster back home she had to defeat. Otherwise, her tribe would be destroyed. The situation was a complicated and difficult one. Her chances of success seemed almost non-existent. But did she have a choice? The fate of her people weighed heavy on her shoulders. Eighty thousand lives! And the place they called home was threatened with destruction. Eventually drowsiness overtook her, and Autumn slipped into a dream-filled sleep. She dreamed about a time years ago, when she had been light-hearted and care free, frolicking among the trees. Although her parents had passed long ago, she still lived in their shadow. Everyone saw her like a princess, worshiped through inheritance. But the truth was she and she alone was master by divine right. The grand elder was wise, and learned. He never tired of teaching Autumn what she needed to know. He told her she would need to grow to be a great leader. It was more than a love of their place, or a spirit of sacrifice. She would need courage. The grand elder was one of profound knowledge, but never rejected the benefits of force. In fact, the elder always though their tribe was too weak. Too soft. Sooner or later, this would become a problem.That was why, when her parents were still alive, they had strongly advocated for the establishment of an army and to even occasionally open up the realm and accept powerful warrior bloodlines from outside. The ''shepherds'' were a kindly people who were aloof from worldly affairs. They despised violence, and it was the Shepherd Goddess who had sealed their realm off.A thousand years of oracular predictions had told their ancestors long ago that the enchantments that protected them should never be opened. For if they did, chaos would follow. Wise and noble though the elder was, no one shared his hawkish views. No one could¡¯ve imagined that his worst fears would come to pass. Autumn then dreamed of a man. There he was, a memory locked in the recesses of her mind. If she were to ever see him face to face, she wasn¡¯t sure how she would react. He was the tribe¡¯s youngest elder. Brier. It could be said that the junior elder had watched Autumn grow up, and as they grew up he often stood up for her after she¡¯d been caught doing something naughty. Autumn always knew that Brier looked at her different than the other elders, more like family than the strict demands of the others. Ever since her parents passed away, Brier was the only one that made her feel like she still had a family. Why did he do such a thing? What made him steal their holiest artifact and disable the enchantments of the Shepherd Goddess ¨C the only thing that protected them? It was his fault that chaos and disaster had come to their people. Because of his decision, the number of dead was in the thousands. She missed him. And she hated him. She dreamed about her dear friends and playmates, and her long-dead parents. When she awakened, her face was streaked with tears. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she missed home, or missed her parents, or for some other reason altogether. Drying her eyes, she chastised herself. She was an adult, and she had responsibilities. A leader had to be strong, so she had to put away her tears. Luckily no one was there to see. Especially not him. He would only taunt her if he saw her cry. As though summoned, Cloudhawk suddenly appeared in her doorway. When he saw her at the foot of her bed, wiping her face, he greeted her with some surprise. ¡°Awake already? You were crying like someone smashed your puppy. I bet you were dreaming about me breaking up with you.¡± ¡°Hmph, gibberish! You have no shame.¡± Autumn¡¯s anger flared. ¡°Who said you could enter my room? Get out!¡± The girl was far too sensitive, Cloudhawk once again thought to himself. A few sentences of banter and she was all up in arms. It was harmless, right? What was her problem? ¡°Alright. If you¡¯re not interested in what Fat Mama learned then I¡¯ll just leave you alone.¡± ¡°What? Already?¡± Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a big place. Searching for specific information from place to place was like looking for a needle in a haystack. The chance of finding anything had to be incredibly low. Yet while Autumn had the patience to wait, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t of such forgiving temperament. To him it was as simple as; find the traitor, problem solved. Autumn understood the logic and agreed that finding Brier was an important step. But what did the ¡®Crimson One¡¯ he was looking for have to do with anything? She had no idea what his intentions were, but none of it was important to her. What was important, was that the portly human trafficker had a lead for then in under half a day. Somehow Mama Jade, who was fat enough for two people and ugly enough to attract a gorilla, had done the impossible. ¡°I got what you asked for, sweetheart. There were indeed some of those red-robed priests you talked about kicking around Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. From what I could find, seems like they¡¯re close to the governor, too. Ravenous Tiger brought your Crimson One somewhere.¡± ¡°Ravenous Tiger?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°What do you know about that guy?¡± The trafficker paused. She seemed genuinely surprised he didn¡¯t know who the town¡¯s leader was. ¡°He¡¯s not your average wastelander, hun. About eight years back he took control of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. I have it on good authority that he¡¯s tangled up with elysians, but how I haven¡¯t a clue. I don¡¯t dare poke my nose around too much, not if I want to keep it.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. He thought about what the old drunkard had said; somehow this place was connected to Skycloud. Ravenous Tiger had to be a key player if he was holding the reigns here. ¡°What do Ravenous Tiger¡¯s dealings have to do with us? We¡¯re not after him!¡± Autumn was getting tired of Cloudhawk¡¯s flippant attitude. She¡¯d hired him to do a job, but he was spending his time on his own matters. She asked Mama Jade herself. ¡°Have you found Brier or not?¡± ¡°Well, that¡­¡± She paused at Autumn¡¯s irritated tone, and her deep-set eyes looked to the ground for a moment before lifting to Cloudhawk. The warden nodded, and only then did she continue. ¡°I do have information about him. He¡¯s here, only¡­¡± Cloudhawk pressed her. ¡°Only what?¡± ¡°There was a man who came here with that name, but he changed it to Hermit. His training in herbology and medicines have made him quite famous. A lot of the wastelanders who come here make the journey just to see him.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes slid to Autumn. ¡°That¡¯s him!¡± Her voice was enveloped in anger, but it hid more than that in the undertones. Her tiny fists slammed the tabletop. ¡°Brier¡¯s skills as a healer were what earned him my mother¡¯s trust. That¡¯s how he became elder. No one thought he¡¯d turn his back on us and escape with the artifact. We need to find him.¡± So that¡¯s what happened to Brier. He was here, and they knew it. So what were they waiting for? It was time to confront him! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t one to waste time. The two of them left for where Mama Jade said Hermit set up shop. His home was an unassuming place, except for the fact that there was a long line of people waiting at the door. They all looked sick or in pain. Just as the slaver said, Brier had come to live in exile here, as a noted doctor. Here he was, living in comfort and admiration, while the tribe he left behind suffered. The thought made Autumn¡¯s blood boil. Yet a moment later she felt her angry heart sink, inwardly torn. Cloudhawk saw it on her face and made a gesture as though to say ¡®take it easy, let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on.¡¯ Hermit¡¯s Clinic was manned primarily by a small cadre of trainees. Hermit himself was an intelligent looking man of middle years, tall and thin, who¡¯d begun greying at his temples. He seemed for all intents and purposes a normal man, but the keen brightness in his large eyes. Cloudhawk was a pretty good judge when it came to these sorts of things, and from the look of him Hermit didn¡¯t look like an evil man. One of the interns approached them. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re finish for today. I¡¯m going to have to ask you to return tomorrow.¡± ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting in line for hours!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We are bound by rules ¨C we may only see fifty patients a day.¡± The intern¡¯s face was dismissive and arrogant. ¡°Try to come earlier tomorrow.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± A muscle-bound man stomped forward and grabbed the intern by his shirt. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through all sorts of shit to get here, and I¡¯m not likin¡¯ your fuckin¡¯ attitude! You can bet your life I¡¯m gonna make you eat that grin. I don¡¯t care what you have to do, you¡¯re gonna help my brother right now, otherwise I¡¯ll burn this whole motherfucker to the ground!¡± ¡°There are limits to what the master can do in a day. Fifty, that¡¯s all.¡± The intern was a brave one. Beneath the big man¡¯s angry scowl he was neither frightened nor upset. ¡°Rules are rules, after all. They cannot be broken.¡± ¡°Fuck your mother, and fuck your rules! Lemme show you what I think of both!¡± The angry patron lifted his fist, ready to slam it into the intern. Judging by the sheer size of him, the big man¡¯s punch would put the healer in line with the rest of them to have his wounds looked after. His fist alone was like a boulder, and you could practically walk a horse along his bicep. By the looks of things the diminutive intern was in trouble. But then the brute froze. Arm raised, but unmoving. A young man appeared beside him, holding back the muscles arm with a single hand. The difference between their visible strength was almost laughable, but he held him like a vice. ¡°You¡¯re here asking for help and this is how you behave? If it were my clinic, I¡¯d tell you to find a comfortable corner to go die in. Now fuck off!¡± Fury burned in the big man¡¯s heart, but before he could act on it he saw the world stretch as he flew backwards. The stranger had kicked him square in the chest, sending him back half a dozen meters. The brute scrambled to his feet and quickly looked himself over for more serious wounds. His face was pale from fear. Knocking someone on their ass was not hard, but kicking them several meters away without doing any real damage took skill and control. When he looked back at the man, a wave of malice washed over him, so intense he immediately broke out in a cold sweat. The brute knew deep in his bones he was outmatched. ¡°A-alright! Remember what you did here!¡± He leaned down to scoop up his brother who¡¯d been lying prostrate on the floor and left, defeated. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 44 - Brier Cloudhawk turned away from the brute and walked toward the clinic entrance. The intern, without missing a beat, blocked his path. ¡°You can¡¯t go in, either.¡± The Warden dropped his head, looking down at the healer a full head shorter than he was. The guy had guts, but his self-importance and sense of immortality were flawed. Cloudhawk considered using his fists to teach the guy that there was nothing more precious than life. A voice called out from inside the clinic. ¡°Don¡¯t be so rude, Cavil[B1]. Let him in.¡± Brier sized up the young man as he entered the clinic. He caught glimpses of his demonhunter armor through the tattered grey cloak he wore. It made his gaze a little harder, but didn¡¯t seem to affect him much otherwise. He was steadily mashing herbs by hand, and addressed the newcomer with even tones while keeping up with his work. ¡°Thank you for dealing with that issue outside, sir. Excuse me for presuming, but you don¡¯t look like you¡¯re here for healing.¡± ¡°No shit, do I look sick to you?¡± Brier lifted his head again and gave Cloudhawk another look. He frowned, as though ready to say something else, but thought better of it. The doctor just shook his head. He didn¡¯t remember ever seeing this demonhunter before, but if he wasn¡¯t here for treatment then what brought him to the clinic? ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I should call you, sir.¡± ¡°What a coincidence,¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to call you, either. Should I say Hermit, like they call you here? Or would Brier be better?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t one to keep people in suspense. ¡°There¡¯s a young lady here who really wants to have a talk with you. You¡¯re old acquaintances, as I understand it. Say hello.¡± A lithe figure slipped into view from behind the demonhunter, and when Brier saw who it was the calm expression fled from his face. She was a young girl of roughly seventeen years, beautiful, poised despite her travel-worn clothing. Her long hair was kept in a pair of braids. Brier felt like he¡¯d been struck by lightning. His face stiffened unconsciously. His interns were equally uncomfortable. They knew their master¡¯s real name, of course, however this young man¡¯s bearing was unheard of. Even Ravenous Tiger didn¡¯t forget himself before the renowned doctor. The young woman pushed everything from Brier¡¯s mind. He stared at her blankly as memories came flooding into his mind. Looming largest among them was the deepest buried memories of the green-robed woman. Long-buried feelings bubbled to the surface. Everything he¡¯d hidden inside came back the instant she slipped into view. In all the world, for all his life, there was only one woman he loved ¨C the mother of the girl standing before him. But their love was star-crossed. Autumn¡¯s mother was betrothed to the greatest man of the tribe. Brier was delegated to nothing more than a friend, standing at her side and in her shadow. He discovered that setting aside his feelings was easier said than done, though. It didn¡¯t matter how far he ran or how much time passed, he couldn¡¯t forget the girl in green. To this day he remained alone, with no children or spouse. He¡¯d decided a long time ago, that part of his life was reserved for her. Loving a person, however, meant loving the people close to them. A daughter was born, one Brier treated as tenderly as though she were his own. After he left the tribe, he was sure he¡¯d never see her again ¨C but here she was. Who¡¯d have thought that she would appear in a place like this, so far from home? She was even more beautiful than her mother had been. When he spoke again his voice quavered a little. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I swore to hunt you down, no matter what corner of the earth you tried to hide in!¡± Autumn¡¯s face was a mess of emotions. Anger turned her cheeks scarlet, and tears welled in her eyes. All of cruelty, injustice and difficulties she¡¯d suffered to get here struck her all at once. Underneath it all was the knowledge that her people were being slaughtered, and all of it perpetrated by the man before her now. She focused everything she was feeling into two loud accusations. ¡°Fraud! Traitor!¡± Brier paused, and then a bitter smile spread across his face. Cloudhawk looked from one to the other in confusion. He wasn¡¯t sure what relationship these two shared and getting caught in the middle made it uncomfortable. He pushed through. ¡°Brier, right? Looks like we got the right guy. Give us the flute you stole. I can tell by the look of you that a tussle wouldn¡¯t work in your favor, so cooperate. I don¡¯t want to have to ask you twice.¡± Brier suddenly deflated. ¡°Is that why you came?¡± Autumn revealed everything she¡¯d suffered to get here. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault,¡± she concluded. ¡°Our people are being slaughtered, and you have the gall to ask that question? I was wrong about you all these years. My mother was wrong about you!¡± All the color drained from Brier¡¯s face and her words seemed to take all the strength out of him. He swayed unsteadily and couldn¡¯t find the words to defend himself. Several times the words rose in his throat but couldn¡¯t get passed his lips. In the end he released a bitter sigh. ¡°Theflute isn¡¯t here. I was near dead when I got here, so I traded it for healing and the right to stay. Ravenous Tiger keeps it as collateral.¡± Autumn looked at him with the crushing weight of disappointment. He¡¯d abandoned their people and stolen their holiest artifact, but most egregious was throwing it away like a bargaining chip. Just so he could stay in this place? She had been wrong about him, she never would have expected him to be so selfish. He was a friend, a respected elder, but she saw now all of that was undeserved. Cloudhawk answered with a sigh of his own. ¡°Well, now that we know the rest should be easy.¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± Brier didn¡¯t know anything about the young man, but he did know that Autumn couldn¡¯t have gotten all the way here on her own. He had to be some kind of guardian. ¡°Ravenous Tiger is famously covetous. Getting him to give up one of his treasures ¨C especially something like the flute ¨C you might as well ask the sun to shine at night.¡± Indeed. A relic like that would fetch thousands of gold on the black market, easy. It was probably fair to say a relic gifted to human from the hands of a god was of similar grade to the Gospel of the Sands. An artifact like that was impossible to measure in mere coins. Cloudhawk had been able to hold onto the book mostly because no one from the other big families could use it. As a retainer of the Polaris family, no one dared get on Skye¡¯s bad side either. Especially just to grab a relic they couldn¡¯t operate. ¡°You misunderstand. It¡¯s not a matter of whether he¡¯s willing to give it to me. All that matters is I want it.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s plan was simple; steal it. If that didn¡¯t work, rob the governor. If he refused, fight. Fighting was last resort, since there were many people he couldn¡¯t take in a straight brawl. But as a thief, few were his equal. Most of the time he was gone before anyone knew something was wrong. ¡°You two catch up. I¡¯ll be back in a little while.¡± With that, Cloudhawk left Autumn alone in the Hermit¡¯s Clinic. What made him so confident she was safe? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t an idiot, he¡¯d experienced a lot in his few short years on earth. He knew the difference between a good man and a bad one at a glance. He didn¡¯t know why Brier stole the artifact, but Cloudhawk suspected there was more to his story than greed. But in the end there were only four motivating factors for everything someone did; money, power, fame, or love. Running all the way out here, changing your name, and starting a clinic¡­ what¡¯s the big picture? He was coming from a paradise, judging by everything he knew of the Woodland Vale. If Brier really wanted to wreak havoc on his people all he had to do was mention their location once in all the years he¡¯d been in exile. He could have even lead someone there. But the reality was that Brier kept his mouth shut. In all this time, he hadn¡¯t told a soul. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know his real motivations, and truth was he didn¡¯t care. He just wanted to complete this mission as quickly as possible. As for Ravenous Tiger, Cloudhawk would have paid the governor a visit even if he didn¡¯t have the flute. He had a connection to the Crimson One, after all ¨C at least according to Mama Jade. That mission was handed to him by Skye Polaris personally, so he had to make sure it was done and done well. *** Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was organized into an upper, central, and lower level. The lower level, along with the subterranean pool therein, was where the mutant beasts were kept and raised. Many of the city¡¯s resources came from here, as well as their means of travel. The central level housed the city¡¯s normal denizens, and entertainment to keep them busy. The city¡¯s expansive market was located in this section. Finally, the upper level was where the privileged and powerful presided over the others. Here was the mansion of the governor, Ravenous Tiger. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s mansion was as ostentatious as his name would suggest. Its luxurious hallways were manned by a veritable army of personal guards, but to Cloudhawk these mundane defenses were not even worth mentioning. He waited until the coast was clear and slipped through the walls. A few moment later, he was standing in the governor¡¯s private treasury. It was just like the rumors said, Ravenous Tiger was a man of singular greed. His vault had piles of valuable items haphazardly stacked all around. Calling it dazzling didn¡¯t do it justice. If Cloudhawk had the time, he¡¯d have been happy to rob the governor blind. Sadly, right now the mission had to come first. Three display cases in the center of the vault caught his eye. Rather, more specifically, it was the resonance coming from inside that drew him. Cloudhawk wasted no time in opening them one after the other. The first box contained a very delicate fan that seemed to be carved from a single piece of jade. Carefully lifted it free, he gave it a moment of closer scrutiny. At first glance, the fan looked like a luxury art piece, absolutely beautiful. The truth was, though, that it was also a relic of considerable power. Inside the second box was a bow. It shone with a burnished bronze luster, like some old artifact from days long gone. It was sadly broken, as proven by the erratic pulses he felt it give off, but Cloudhawk could tell it was recoverable. Autumn¡¯s flute was in the third box. It wasn¡¯t made out of wood, or stone or metal. It was something else, a strange and unfamiliar material with an equally strange texture. The resonance it emitted was like nothing Cloudhawk had ever felt before. It had to be the holy artifact Autumn needed. Found at last! Cloudhawk activated his phasing stone and shoved the relics into his warehouse. He placed them into the warehouse one by one, each requiring significant effort. It was difficult transferring something that wasn¡¯t himself, and the process took two full minutes before all three relics safely stowed. By then most of his mental strength was exhausted, but otherwise he was fine. Success. Time to get out of here. Cloudhawk was well pleased with himself. Not only had he completed his mission, he¡¯d even come away with a little extra for his trouble. He reengaged his invisibility cloak and slipped back out into the mansion proper. He was passing the mansion¡¯s reception room when he heard voices that gave him pause. Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, and he peeked in to hear more clearly. He spotted a figure in the chamber. Spotted was wrong, because the three-hundred pound bulk was hard to miss. He was standing before an opulent golden bench inlaid with gemstones. This gluttonous gasbag had to be the local despot, Ravenous Tiger. But he only kept Cloudhawk¡¯s attention for a moment. Soon his eyes slipped toward the one he was talking to. The man in red robes looked to be about fifty years old, with salt and pepper hair. A small but well-kept beard hugged his chin, lending to his sage-like appearance. Long fingers gingerly rested on a staff, and even before the city¡¯s governor he had an almost regal bearing. However, the handsome gentlemen¡¯s face was marred by a scowl that seemed permanently etched. He looked miserable, like a great god tasked to save a people who did not want saving. Ravenous Tiger treated the man with nauseating deference. There was nothing about his groveling that spoke to the status of governor. He even stood up when speaking to the man in red, here in his own house. Was this him? Was this the Crimson One? What an incredible coincidence to find him here in the middle of Cloudhawk¡¯s heist! Book 3, Chapter 45 - Castigation The man in red was none other than the founder of the Sanctum of Judgment, the Crimson One. The big man was confirmed as Fishmonger Borough¡¯s governor, Ravenous Tiger. How could Cloudhawk be so sure? He wasn¡¯t omnipotent, but he did have strong instincts. The most telling where waves of resonance that pulsed from the both of them. Relics. They were demonhunters. Demonhunters weren¡¯t minions, especially not when they were as strong as these two seemed to be. Cloudhawk felt an oppressive and dangerous air around the enormous governor. There was no question that he was a practiced demonhunter, which made sense seeing as he was the governor of a massively lucrative wasteland city. The Crimson One was far less obvious, and someone so inscrutable was very likely to be in a leadership position. Inwardly Cloudhawk praised his luck. He¡¯d slipped in unseen and raided the governor¡¯s vault, only to find his mission target on the way out. The definition of ¡®two birds with one stone.¡¯ Now if only he could get close enough to hear what they were saying. Maybe he might learn what the Crimson Church¡¯s real motives were and report right back to Skye Polaris. There was something very suspicious about the relationship between Ravenous Tiger and this charlatan hiding between a god¡¯s banner. It was worth exploring. And so, holding his breath, Cloudhawk crept closer to try and hear what they were saying. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a wasteland city. Immediately that made it a den of evil in the eyes of any elysian. The Crimson church, in the effort to spread the will of their god, brought with them judgement for whatever blasphemers they encountered. It was strange, then, that the leader of a wasteland city and the leader of the church who wished it cleansed should be having such a civil conversation. Suspicious didn¡¯t begin to cover it, but sadly Cloudhawk had come late. He only caught a portion of their exchange. The Crimson One spoke with a soft voice. ¡°We cannot afford to delay the construction of the weapons factory. There are over thirty thousand soldiers depending on this equipment.¡± ¡°Thirty thousand?¡± Ravenous Tiger absent-mindedly fiddled with his rings, turning them around his fingers compulsively. He was visibly anxious. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little excessive? Won¡¯t Skycloud be alerted?¡± ¡°I will arrange for Fishmonger¡¯s Borough to receive five thousand blessed castigation arrows. You may use them to your advantage if elysian forces attempt to invade.¡± Ravenous Tiger¡¯s face was a dark cloud of displeasure, as though faced with an intractable circumstance. He knew this man¡¯s power, and he feared he¡¯d live to regret it if he tried to set boundaries. The consequences wouldn¡¯t just mean his position, but perhaps also his life. However, standing with him meant unending conflict with a powerful and zealous nation. ¡°Have you considered Arcturus Cloude? If he finds out what we¡¯re doing, he definitely won¡¯t let it stand. Are you really prepared if he gets involved?¡± Arcturus Cloude. The greatest demonhunter in all Skycloud, governor of Skycloud City. His station and titles did not come unearned. ¡°In this crumbling world, men are but puppets. Sacrifice is unavoidable if you want to cut the strings. That senile war hero has lived passed his usefulness, and has made many mistakes over the last few years. He has pledged himself in service of a false god ¨C a puppet himself. If he is unable or unwilling to do what is necessary, then the task falls to us. Should he choose to stand in our way then he will be dealt with.¡± Ravenous Tiger drew in a surprised breath. ¡®Deal with¡¯ Arcturus Cloude? The Crimson One had to be the only man with gall enough to even suggest it. ¡°These divisions of wastelands and elysian lands are unnecessary. The world doesn¡¯t need disunity, we must join together. The elysian lands must assimilate, just as the wastelands must merge. Man¡¯s destiny must be returned to our hands ¨C we cannot allow a false god to determine our fate.¡± Ravenous Tiger was still hesitant. ¡°But it will be too difficult¡­¡± The Crimson One¡¯s eyes took on a keen bite, and his countenance hardened. A cold fire almost seemed to dance in his eyes as he fixed them on the governor. ¡°Are you losing faith at a time like this?¡± Thick, oily beads of sweat began to pop out from Ravenous Tiger¡¯s face. His many rolls of fat quivered. Unable to hold the man¡¯s accusing stare he dropped his head, and replied in meek affection. ¡°I-I am at your disposal. I wouldn¡¯t dare have second thoughts.¡± ¡°So you say. It would be good to remember who put you in the position you enjoy today. I am just as capable of taking it all away.¡± Ravenous Tiger stared at the ground, deflated. ¡°Of course.¡± Hidden in his sleeves, the fat man¡¯s fists curled tight, only to relax a moment later. He feared the man in red, and for good reason. Years ago he¡¯d been set upon this path. It was far too late to change anything now. Ravenous Tiger had no choice but to acquiesce, and comply. The awkward exchange was interrupted when a bodyguard rushed forth. ¡°Governor, sir. Someone¡¯s been sneaking around. Our patrol outside the audience hall found him, but we can¡¯t stop him!¡± Ravenous Tiger felt his heart begin to race. The mere thought of someone having the balls to break into his home made him fly into a rage. Before he respond to the guard, the doors to the audience chamber flew open and a figure stumbled in. A thin, leathery-skinned old man hobbled in with an empty wine bottle in one hand and a walking cane in the other. As he stormed in, his rheumy eyes were fixed straight ahead at the Borough¡¯s governor. The old man had a cool grin and a hard glare. Murderous intent flooded the chamber as he entered. Ravenous Tiger paused when he saw who it was. His sudden appearance shocked him more than the surprise of having someone barge into his home. ¡°You? Weren¡¯t you healing back in the sanctuary? What the hell are you doing here?¡± The old man steadied himself on his cane and answered tepidly. ¡°You know why I¡¯m here.¡± The governor¡¯s face fell. With a distasteful twist to his mouth, he said, ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Eventually, everyone reaps what they sow. I¡¯m here to collect.¡± The drunkard slowly raised his cane, then let it clack against the floor. ¡°Have you made your peace with the gods?¡± It seemed almost half-hearted, but as the cane struck the ground it caused a thunderous blast of sound to echo off the chamber walls. All of a sudden cracks spread out a hundred meters in every direction from where it struck. As the fine stonework shattered, jagged pieces were lifted into the air by some inexplicable power. It was as though somehow the old man turned off gravity in the area around him. ¡°Hahaha ¨C you¡¯re here in a suicide mission, aren¡¯t you! That takes courage, I respect that!¡± Ravenous Tiger dropped the charade and a frigid smile hung on his lips. ¡°If this was before, five of me together couldn¡¯t stand up to you. But it¡¯s been a long time, a lot has happened. You think you have what it takes to kill me now?¡± The old drunkard didn¡¯t answer, he let the stones do that for him. Hundreds of jagged fragments shot toward Ravenous Tiger like bullets. An invisible but potent protective field sprang up around him. The stones were stopped in their tracks five or six inches from the governor, stuck in the air like they¡¯d struck a wall. They then crumbled away and slid to the ground in piles of dust. He didn¡¯t simply let the attack persist. Lifting his two-handed battleaxe, an eerie glow glinted along its edge. A glance was enough to prove this was a relic, and a powerful one at that. As he slammed it into the ground a tumultuous energy rapped through the earth, kicking up dirt and stone in a straight line toward the drunkard. The lame old man lifted his cane for protection. Just then the whole mansion began to tremble. Glass shattered, walls cracked. Even the people in the Borough¡¯s lower levels felt the tremors like a bomb had gone off. The old man¡¯s unassuming cane was suddenly a grand spear, becoming brilliant gold in hue after warding off Ravenous Tiger¡¯s attack. The drunkard leapt into the air, and as he did his spear took on a life of its own. Writhing like a golden snake, it struck toward the governor. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s enormous bulk proved to be misleading, for despite the extra weight he moved with startling agility. He dodged out of the way, and instead of him it was his throne that was split in two. In one fluid motion, he sidestepped the drunkard¡¯s strike and answered with one of his own. Heaving the battleaxe with both hands, he sent it whistling toward his foe. The old man used his spear to deflect it. All the earth around them was reduced to rubble merely by being in proximity to their clash. Somewhere in this process the drunkard¡¯s spear had gone from gold to blazing white, and knocked away Ravenous Tiger¡¯s ax with little effort. With incredible speed the deflection turned into a counter-attack ¨C and not one, but dozens, nearly a hundred. One jab after another came crashing at the governor like a meteor shower. Fist-sized holes appeared in the walls several meters away. Ravenous Tiger was struck dozens of times himself, but whatever power protected him stopped them from dealing damage. Even so, the strain of keeping himself from harm was taking its toll. Blood had started to trickle from the corner of his mouth. He¡¯d obviously underestimated how strong the old man was. The drunkard¡¯s raucous laughter bounded off the crumbling walls. ¡°You¡¯ve sat on your golden throne out here in the Boroughs for years. You haven¡¯t gotten better, you¡¯ve grown soft! Die!¡± Another flurry of spear strikes followed. Unexpectedly, a flash of red streaked in front of Ravenous Tiger. With an easy wave of his arm, the Crimson One used his crosier to deftly knock aside the drunkard¡¯s weapon. The vibration caused by their impact shuddered through the entire mansion. The old man¡¯s smoldering eyes fixed on the red-robed priest. He¡¯d seen him there, but paid him no mind until now. He took a second to measure him then, surprised at the strength he displayed. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re here. I¡¯m eager to see whether the Dawnguard of the Temple is capable of withstanding the power of Castigation!¡± ¡°Adjudicator?¡± The old man thought for a moment before a look of fear and surprise painted his expression. ¡°You¡­¡± The priest¡¯s crosier swept toward the lame traveler, and the drunkard was too slow to react. In an instant one attack became five, each one bearing substantial power. As the Crimson One pummeled his target, the drunkard spat up mouthfuls of angry red blood. With the last blow he was cast away and slid halfway across the chamber. The Crimson One slowly closed his eyes, then plunged the crosier deep into his own body. His hands pressed together in obeisance, then parted. When he opened his eyes again they were dual embers of green flame. All at once the sage-like holy man was gone. The one who stood in his place had become a demon, birthed from the deepest pits of hell. The old man¡¯s spear was flung from his hands, plunging into the stone several meters away. Seemingly of its own accord, the white light inside surged out to form a protective wall. Holding his chest, the drunkard struggled back to his feet. He turned and made to flee, ready to abandon his weapon, but not fast enough. The Crimson One extended his hands, and torrents of green flame emerged. The leaping flames chased after the drunkard like a hundred vipers. Where they touched, even the walls began to melt away like wax. Gathering into a roiling ball of fire intense as the sun, it raced at the retreating form of the drunkard. There was no escaping it. But then, at the final crucial instant ¨C A transparent figured bound from a corner, grabbing the old man and yanking him toward the wall. As the nightmarish fires closed in, both slipped through stone like it wasn¡¯t there. The green ball of flame did not have this power, however, and instead of crashing into the barrier it stopped in midair. There it roared, unmoving. Ravenous Tiger hobbled over to the priest. ¡°That old man is strong. What a disaster to let him get away!¡± The Crimson One¡¯s eye sockets were pools of green flame. He stared without eyes at the place where the drunkard disappeared, and with a voice like creeping darkness he said, ¡°He cannot run.¡± At some unseen command the ball of green flame began to break apart. One orb became two, then four, then eight and so on. In no time the chamber was a field of blazing spheres. Like a plague of fireflies they set out, spreading every which way in search of their quarry. Book 3, Chapter 46 - The Good Die Young Cloudhawk dragged the old man through a series of walls, but eventually had to stop. The effort quickly exhausted him. When the drunkard saw who it was that saved his life, he gave a wry smirk. ¡°So it¡¯s you, naughty child. When did you enter the mansion? I had no idea you had such talent for sneaking around.¡± ¡°I mean, if we¡¯re talking about being a sneak, I can¡¯t compare to you, old man. Sure seems like you lost your marbles though.¡± Cloudhawk mustered enough energy to give the drunkard sass, even rolling his eyes. ¡°Fuck, coming all the way out here to kill the Borough¡¯s governor. What if you succeeded? Did you think you were just gonna walk out of here? You pack a punch, no doubt, but there are limits to the number of people one person can handle. If you died it wouldn¡¯t be any skin off my ass, but then Autumn and I would be implicated in your plot. Your nonsense is definitely gonna get us in some shit!¡± He responded in a stern, dry voice. ¡°Some people are fated to live on in spirit, and others a long life while dead inside. I am nothing but a discarded cripple. There is no difference between living and dying for me. I might as well try to something worthwhile before my time comes. As for wrapping you two up in this? Well, I hadn¡¯t given it any thought.¡± Well, that was pretty fuckin¡¯ frank. Cloudhawk was at a loss. ¡°Who the fuck are you, anyway? Why the hell do you want to kill Ravenous Tiger?¡± Before he could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps interrupted. About a dozen soldiers were closing in from different hallways. They bore crossbows, the sort used by elysian military, and in the cramped interior of these hallways a concentrated burst was deadly. Even a high-ranked demonhunter would find themselves in a tough corner. Cloudhawk was coming to acutely regret sticking his nose in this business. The bitter realization that he was neck-deep in shit practically turned his face green. [1] Playing the hero was definitely not in his wheelhouse if it didn¡¯t concern him, especially if there were no damsels in distress involved. Hell, he wouldn¡¯t even earn a round of drinks for his trouble. The problem was, even after the old fart died Fishmonger¡¯s Borough would no longer be a safe place for them to stay. Better for him to grab a powerful ally while he was at it, no matter how much he was starting to regret it¡­ but regretting his choices now was only going to get him killed. ¡°Do you have any spare weapons?¡± the old man growled. ¡°Just this.¡± Cloushawk tossed him an exorcist staff. ¡°You¡¯ll have to make do.¡± When the guards found the two intruders they didn¡¯t spare a moment for words. Right away the familiar thck-thck-thck of pressurized air releasing filled the hallways, as a volley of bolts came their way. Cloudhawk¡¯s face paled as he was forced to call on the phasing stone again. The bolts slipped harmlessly through him, but he could feel the pressure threatening to break his concentration. It was a significant burden, especially since he was drawing on the last remnants of his mental energy. Cloudhawk could lean on the phasing stone¡¯s power to protect him. But what of the old man? He anxiously watched the bolts come, afraid that he¡¯d saved the cripple only for him to turn into a pincushion moments later. He refused to let it happen ¨C he had to get some return on his investment for saving this shithead¡¯s life. Without even so much as a second thought the drunk walked in and kicked a hornet¡¯s nest. Now, they were in a world of trouble. He was still mulling over what to do when the cripple reacted. Eyes hard, he lifted his staff and raced toward their attackers ¨C right into the storm of crossbow bolts. With the staff he knocked away the shots aimed at his most sensitive areas, but he couldn¡¯t protect his whole body. Many found purchase, yet as they struck him it was like hitting an iron sheet. They ricocheted off without leaving a mark. As he charged at them, the walls and floors in his wake bristled with arrows. Cloudhawk saw the whole thing. What sort of skill was this? The old man wasn¡¯t using a relic, he would have been able to tell. He was relying on physical ability alone. The only way it was possible was through martial ability, true power. In the instant a bolt reached him, he was gathering strength into the area and hardening his flesh. This level of skill was almost unheard of. The sheer level of training and master over one¡¯s true power was incredible. Cloudhawk had always suspected that this old man might be a better fighter than him, and this confirmed it. Even crippled the drunk could probably go head to head with a veteran demonhunter and have the upper hand. He had to be a superior demonhunter himself, or better. Even with Cloudhawk¡¯s suspicions, he¡¯d underestimated what the boozer was capable of. Although it was obvious he had considerable psychic ability, the old man¡¯s superiority was in his physical skill. Sadly, some life-threatening injury had left him crippled and robbed him of a great deal of potential. Up to now, the greatest martial artist Cloudhawk had ever seen was Eckard Skinner, the instructor from Hell¡¯s Valley. But several men like him still couldn¡¯t compare to this lame old man. Then he swung the exorcist staff. He was still several meters away from the guards, but as the power surged through the relic they all were summarily blown apart. The hallway became a grotesque display of blood, bone and quivering innards. Absolutely incredible! The scene reminded Cloudhawk of something he¡¯d heard once; The greatest demonhunter family in Skycloud boasted three paragons of their craft. They were the city¡¯s governor, Arcturus Cloude; Inquisitor General of the League of Demonhunters, Baldur Cloude; and Knight-Commander of the demonhunter military forces Sterline Cloude. Chief among them all, the greatest demonhunter in recorded history, was Arcturus. Baldur was sadly killed, but word was that Sterling had been gravely wounded. It couldn¡¯t be that this smelly old man¡­ as it occurred to him who it was he might have saved, Cloudhawk¡¯s heart lit up. They wasted no time in fleeing the scene of destruction the old man left, but the Warden shouted his questions as they ran. ¡°Hey old man, how did you protect yourself from those bolts? Can you teach me that?¡± ¡°You just figured out how to use spearhead and now you expect to learn one of the sanctuary¡¯s greatest abilities? Learn to crawl before you can fly.¡± ¡°Shit. Don¡¯t worry about whether or not I have the skill, it doesn¡¯t cost anything to teach me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if we survive first!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that!¡± Cloudhawk finally found some comfort in his rash decision. If they managed to escape maybe he could get the drunk to teach him his invulnerability technique. That was something no amount of money could buy. With a chance like this falling in your lap, you¡¯d be an idiot to pass it up. As they raced ahead, their way was suddenly blocked off by an ominous green glow. A host of flickering green orbs appeared in their path, like innumerable fireflies. Pervasive fluctuations of deadly power wafted from them, a fact Cloudhawk felt wash over his body. He couldn¡¯t hide his puzzled and concerned expression. ¡°The fuck is this stuff? Each one is like an independent relic.¡± ¡°Castigation. Do not touch it, don¡¯t even get close. If it reaches you, you¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°That bad? You¡¯re fuckin¡¯ with me.¡± Cloudhawk looked around and discovered that the flickering lights had blocked off any escape. Even the way they came from was bathed in green. [2] The old man¡¯s face was ashen and grave, proof that he wasn¡¯t exaggerating. He¡¯d fled from the Crimson One when he saw the fires, even leaving his relic behind to escape. The castigation fires had to be just as terrible as he described. ¡°Use your phasing ability!¡± The old man commanded. Cloudhawk angrily shot back, ¡°Easy for you to say! You think it¡¯s so simple?!¡± The old man had no time for his nonsense. ¡°Use it or we die. Figure it out!¡± ¡°If it were just me then I could, but bringing someone else makes it much more difficult.¡± ¡°Well you¡¯re the one who decided to save me, so follow through. If you try to run without me I¡¯ll cave your fucking head in!¡± Cloudhawk was ready to spit blood. This fuckin¡¯ guy! Every moment they sat there the fires were getting closer, and as they neared they were less like fireflies and more like the souls of the damned. Without any options left to them, Cloudhawk grabbed the old boozer and called on the stone¡¯s power one more time. Both men flung themselves through the nearest wall. Thankfully it led them outside. Face pale and covered in sweat, Cloudhawk gasped from the exertion. The old man raised his head and saw scores more twinkling fire swirling above the mansion. The moment they appeared outside the fires were alerted and descended their way. ¡°Fucking stupid asshole things are on us like stink on shit!¡± Cloudhawk was at his wits end. He drew Quiet Carnage, aiming to try and swat them away. The old man tried to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Too late! The fires clung to the sword as he attempted to knock them away, sticking to it like creeping waves of pus. All at once Quiet Carnage burst into flame like it was made of dry wood. He wanted to throw it aside, but was a fraction too late. The fires reached his body and slipped inside. ¡°What the fuck?¡± Cloudhawk felt himself begin to burn. Spouts of green flame belched from his pores. The sudden and intense pain was too much, and he slipped into darkness. His final thought hung in the back of his mind as his consciousness fled: Nice guys live short lives. This was the end! The old man trembled with rage. He told him not to touch it, but the idiot kid wouldn¡¯t listen! Did he think the fires of Castigation were that easy to banish? In the whole of Skycloud domain ¨C with the exception of Arcturus Cloude and a precious few other masters ¨C no one could withstand such terrible power! The young man was beyond saving. The old man had decided to abandon Cloudhawk to his fate and save himself. He turned his head to spare a final glance for the poor soul when what he saw froze him in his escape. There he was, lying on the ground with his flesh cracked and blackened. Green flame belched from the cracks, yet they seemed to fuse back together as quick as they opened. Somehow his body was fighting against the all-consuming fire. But how? Castigation was renowned for destroying its victims from the inside out. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything about this young man that was different from any other person, not outwardly anyway. And yet, he was protecting himself somehow. The old man grabbed Cloudhawk once the fires died and picked him up. He leapt from the parapets they emerged from down to the streets below and disappeared into the city. Meanwhile the Crimson One was recovering in Ravenous Tiger¡¯s audience chamber. The green fires had returned and were slipping back into his body. He stood staring absently into the distance with stern expression. ¡°A young man with unprecedented abilities. Touched by the fire, yet he survives!¡± ¡°He had to have been saved by that old fool!¡± The governor saw his compatriot¡¯s reactions and knew their targets must have escaped. It was a sobering realization to discover that the terrifying man could also fail. ¡°I was unable to kill them, but they no longer have the strength to run.¡± The Crimson One turned to command Ravenous Tiger directly. ¡°Shut down the city. Discover what you can about those two, and anyone they¡¯ve been in contact with. Bring them all in for questioning.¡± Ravenous Tiger didn¡¯t dare hesitate. ¡°Of course!¡± Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a unique place. People couldn¡¯t come and go as they pleased. Without the help of sandsharks, travel was halted. Closing off the city was as easy as restricting access to the animals. The young man with the ability to slip through space was badly injured. There was nowhere for the old man to run to. Finding both of them was only a matter of time. With the five thousand soldiers at Ravenous Tiger¡¯s disposal, on constant patrol, even a mouse couldn¡¯t slip through much less two wounded men. But it wasn¡¯t only them in their crosshairs now. Everyone they knew, everyone they¡¯ve spoken to was in danger. 1. The Chinese is ¡®cut him open and all his guts would look cyan¡¯. The Chinese love cyan as a descriptor for sickly and uncomfortable (blue-green). It took a minute to think up an equivalent, so I picked another sort of mental imagery and color to try and evoke the same thought. 2. Bruh, the Crimson One is Maleficent. Book 3, Chapter 47 - Blessings in Disguise Cloudhawk felt everything in excruciating detail, leading up to when darkness came. He tried to use his sword to protect him from the flames, but it only created the means for it to reach him. He remembered watching the green light hungrily consume the sword, slithering toward his hand, then slipping into his body. Unnaturally crafty, as though the fires possessed a mind of its own. It didn¡¯t matter that his sword was a relic, nothing stopped Castigation. Before he even knew what had happened, he was consumed by it. Quiet Carnage survived, but only barely. Its surface was a spider web of cracks. The sheer abuse the Crimson One¡¯s power could unleash in just an instant¡­ it was nothing short of hellish. The miserable flames ate away at whatever it touched, like a plague of termites. It consumed the inner construction of his relic, just as it wreaked havoc within Cloudhawk¡¯s own body. Though brief, the fires plundered the power of Quiet Carnage as it moved on to its bearer, a terrible force that could not be stopped. Cloudhawk sensed the danger but reacted too slowly. He learned firsthand what made Castigation so terrifying. Castigation didn¡¯t so much burn as it gnawed everything it encountered. No! This was no fire. It looked like it, but that is where the semblance ended. Just like diamonds looked like ice cubes. The qualities of each were different as night and day. What they called the flames of judgment, Castigation fire, were more biological. Small, horrific living creatures ¨C like a cluster of almost imperceptible ants that ate everything in its path. They slipped in through the victim¡¯s pours and devoured their cells. Like a virus, they infiltrated the cells and consumed them for energy, multiplying, and ultimately bursting free. In so doing the ¡®fires¡¯ grew a hundred fold in a matter of seconds. Afterwards, once they burst out of the body of their victim, they continued to search for more fuel. They lived to spread, to devour, to erupt. That which they penetrated was sapped off their life force from the inside. The end result for the victim wasn¡¯t much different from being burned alive. Cloudhawk had encountered a number of strange relics over the years. But never anything like this. ¡®Biological¡¯ maybe wasn¡¯t the right word for them. Maybe more mechanical, tirelessly executing a command to infiltrate and destroy. It was perhaps informed by the chemical and biological weapons of the ancients, but Cloudhawk could sense the resonance of godly power in it. If that was the case it had to have been created in the same way other godly relics were, and similarly controlled through psychic energy. Their destructive capabilities and division also had to be influenced by the relic¡¯s bearer. It was the first time in his life he¡¯d ever encountered an attack this¡­ outlandish. He¡¯d never suffered in this way, despite all he¡¯d been through. Any normal man would have been destroyed in under five seconds. All that would be left was ash. It was the same as the execution he¡¯d witnessed at Sandbar Outpost. This ¡®judgment¡¯ from the gods was merely a show while the relic was activated. The miniscule creatures were injected into the victims in advance and then released at the prescribed time so that it seemed like the gods were passing a verdict. At the relic bearer¡¯s behest, Castigation would begin to spread ¨C and to the casual observer, the victim was burned by holy decree. But the action caused resonance, which Cloudhawk was attuned to sense. He remembered feeling it when he witnessed that execution, and it aroused his suspicions. A normal man was dead the instant Castigation touched him, without question. However, Cloudhawk managed to survive though it left it drained and immobile. Lucky for him he was not a normal man. When Castigation invaded, it immediately had to contend with another power that had taken hold long ago. Trespasser did not take kindly to an attack on its host. In the years since his infection, trespasser had helped Cloudhawk in many ways. Academician Roste¡¯s parting gift was not the curse he feared it would be, but he also never expected it to save his life in such a critical time. Aside from giving him immunity to poison and allowing him to drink obscene amounts of alcohol, it hadn¡¯t much crossed his mind. Nor had it caused any ill effects. Since it didn¡¯t appear to be doing harm, he eventually lost interest in having the infection cleansed. Cloudhawk finally understand that Trespasser never stopped, despite his apathy. It continued to multiply at an incredible rate until it permeated every drop of blood, every inch of bone, and every fiber of muscle. Under a microscope he would discover that every inch of him was Trespasser¡¯s territory now ¨C no less prevalent than it had been in Roste. Like low-key and disciplined defenders, the Academician¡¯s virus had bided its time. Just as a city facing a siege might gather resources and bolster strength, Trespasser had been busy growing power within him. There it stayed, silent until the time was ripe. From dormant and ignored to alive and universal throughout its host ¨C with the mutual power of destruction and creation! In fact, Trespasser would have become active in only a few months. The attack of Castigation just woke it up early. Perhaps to his benefit There wasn¡¯t anything he could have done to stop it. In an instant, Cloudhawk would have become the most perfect specimen for adaptation in the world. Who knew what he would have become ¨C whether he would remain the same Cloudhawk, or become something else entirely. Trespasser had long invaded every cell of his brain, so it was impossible to say how it would have affected his thinking. This would have been an even more terrifying transformation than even Roste envisioned! Indeed, Trespasser had the home field advantage. Years were spent slowly expanding, but Castigation descended like an invading army. It raced through Cloudhawk, razing everything in its path, leaving devastation in its wake. Withered, stem and root. Trespasser was forced to counter-attack. All living things prescribed to a unifying truth ¨C survival of the fittest. For years Roste had used his own body as an incubator and host, gathering genetic material from throughout the wastelands to create his perfect entity. Constantly barraged by change the genes warred for dominance. They changed, adapted, died off, reformed, until in the end Trespasser emerged. Through its tenacity the host feared nothing ¨C no fire, water, electricity, or acid was to be feared for it would adapt. And in this world, only the most adaptable were qualified to survive. The trespasser virus within Cloudhawk was the newest strain. It was more versatile than ever. So inexorably fused with its host, even an aggressive power like Castigation couldn¡¯t completely eradicate it. Castigation was tremendously powerful. In an instant its corrosive taint spread throughout Cloudhawk¡¯s body, nearly destroying him. His organs were desiccated, and it was only through the quick reaction of Trespasser that he survived. Castigations own short-lived nature helped to overturn and extinguish it before it could finish the job. Although undeniably strange, at the end of the day Castigation was still created from a relic. The psychic energy commanding it was limited. If its victim wasn¡¯t slain quickly then the power faded. In the midst of this invisible battle, Trespasser had suffered as well. Though a fair amount of the virus had been consumed, what remained was not ready to give up its host. It fought back, ensuring Cloudhawk would survive. The process was an arduous and difficult one. Trespasser had suffered, but in the end it was victorious. It wasn¡¯t a lengthy conflict. Cloudhawk was only unconscious for ten minutes. When he came to, he found himself lying in a strange room without any signs of injury, though his skin was a brighter shade of pink than he was used to. But pain. Fuck, the pain! While outwardly he looked whole, several areas inside felt like he was being stabbed. There was no way for him to express it, like every cell was being torn apart. Strong as he was the waves of it almost made him pass out again. The Castigation fires were extinguished, but in its fury it had awakened Trespasser. A virus like that wouldn¡¯t return to a dormant state so quickly, and so it set to work remolding Cloudhawk¡¯s body. The changes came quicker than he could get used to, causing pain and discomfort. Without a doubt it was a¡­ novel experience. In this day and age, harsh environments and mutated organisms weren¡¯t rare. However this process was typically very slow. He¡¯d never heard of someone actually feeling the process of evolution as it happened. He felt horrible, but the pain in his heart came from the fear that he would become some form of monster. ¡°You¡¯re up already?¡± The old drunk sat nearby, surprise on his face. He¡¯d lost hope that Cloudhawk would recover. It was incredible that he not only resisted the vicious attack, but seemed to have completely bounced back. ¡°It¡¯s incredible. You survived Castigation and it didn¡¯t even leave a mark.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t leave a mark my chapped ass. Not only am I suffering, now I¡¯m in seriously deep shit!¡± He was in so much pain it hurt just to talk. He raised his hands to search out the damage and his hands came away with large tufts of hair. It¡¯d all started to fall out. His face was immediately crestfallen, like the world had ended all over again. ¡°It¡¯s done. The mutation¡¯s already started!¡± The old man plucked up a few strands of hair and looked them over. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Cloudhawk was in too much pain, and was far too exhausted to explain. Cloudhawk reached for his sword to support him off the bed, but he heard it start to crack the instant he put weight on it. It sounded like rotted wood. He felt another pang of despair. Quiet Carnage had been his preferred weapon for three years. Was this how he lost one of his favorite tools? It was another display of Castigation¡¯s dreadful consequences. The fires of judgment had ruined his precious relic beyond repair. Wait! Something felt strange¡­ Although Quiet Carnage was all but destroyed, he could still sense its familiar power. However, it wasn¡¯t coming from the brittle metal in his hands. It was coming from him. In its destructive path through both the sword and his body, Castigation had transferred some of the relic¡¯s power into him. Through some strange combination of circumstances, when Castigation was eliminated the relic¡¯s abilities were left behind. He could feel it, a part of his own psychic energy. Cloudhawk slowly lifted his hand, and whispered a command. ¡°Silence!¡± A formless essence poured from him, blanketing the room. Everything caught in its embrace was immediately and entirely muted. Cloudhawk allowed his arm to drop in astonishment. As he did, the field of silence dissipated and sounds reemerged. Amazing¡­ I have the power of a relic. He was ecstatic to the point where even the blinding pain seemed to ease. He remembered what the stone¡¯s former master had once told him; at the highest echelons of power relics were discarded, for one¡¯s own body became a relic. For years he worked toward that end but could never learn the secret. Instead his efforts were pointless, because it came as a blessing in disguise after an attempt on his life. He only almost had to die to succeed. The loss of Quiet Carnage also marked the first time he could call on a power without a relic¡¯s help. So that was it! That¡¯s how it worked! Cloudhawk had always lacked the means to absorb a relic¡¯s power, so he couldn¡¯t independently use a relic¡¯s power even though he had the talent. It turned out Castigation fire had precisely what he was missing. It conveyed the sword¡¯s essence into him permanently. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how, but once it was inside of him he absorbed it. He made it into a part of himself. It couldn¡¯t have been more than a one-in-ten chance of success, but somehow it happened. He had to thank his lucky stars. Even for Cloudhawk, all of this was way out of the norm. The unfortunate part of all this was he¡¯d learned the truth after being attacked by Castigation. The power of the flames wasn¡¯t his to command. If he were able to get the essence of Castigation for himself, it didn¡¯t even matter the incredible destruction he could wield. He¡¯d have a way to refine the power of relics and absorb them into himself. He needed to think of some way to deal with the Crimson One. But no. He cast the thought away the second it entered his head. Was that a fucking joke? There was no way he could beat a guy like that! What dumbass reason would I have for pissing him off? That asshole nearly killed me. Fuck, it still hurts. Before anything we need to find a way to get out of here. However much we learned, first priority has to be to keep breathing. The Borough¡¯s people, the Church, fuck maybe even the whole world is after me. If I don¡¯t get out of here in a hurry it¡¯ll be too late. Book 3, Chapter 48 - Exodus Hermit¡¯s Clinic was a cacophony of medicinal scents. Seated cross-legged before a small furnace, the light of its fire illuminated Brier¡¯s uncomfortable features. He busily works a mortar and pestle, grinding the contents then from time to time conveying the mushy result into the furnace. He steadfastly ignored Autumn, and maintained an indifferent detachment even in the face of her questions. Outwardly he didn¡¯t seem to take her presence or her accusations to heart. She would not be dissuaded, as she kept snapping at him in anger. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?! Pretending to be mute isn¡¯t going to help you!¡± ¡°You won¡¯t believe anything I say anyway. If that¡¯s the case, why waste my breath?¡± Truthfully Brier wasn¡¯t even sure how to explain everything that¡¯d happened. It was more complicated than a simple answer could do justice. Autumn was an adult now, but there were still some things she was not ready to know. For her part, Autumn wasn¡¯t sure how to approach the former elder. She was never good at this sort of thing ¨C diplomacy and argument. Faced with his apathetic affectation, she was¡­ disappointed. So very, very disappointed. He wasn¡¯t even going to argue? Was he just going to accept his reckless and deplorable actions? Was this how he was going to treat her? She could hardly stand to spend another second here. When was Cloudhawk going to get back? She needed to get her tribe¡¯s artifact back to her people, and drag Brier back with her to face judgement. The elders would deal with him. Although he¡¯d committed an unforgivable offense, Autumn couldn¡¯t execute him herself. Bringing him to the tribe was her only option. Hadn¡¯t Cloudhawk said getting the artifact would be easy? A piece of cake, he¡¯d said. For all his self-confidence, here she was half a day later and the rogue still wasn¡¯t back. Had something happened? What would she do if that arrogant megalomaniac got into trouble? These concerns whispered in the back of her mind as suddenly alarms began to sound from the governor¡¯ mansion. The upper level was far from where they were, but she could pick out explosions from a battle. The ground trembled slightly even all the way down here. Autumn felt her heart seize. She¡¯d guessed right! Brier stood up with a concerned scowl, casting his eyes toward the din. He ordered a pair of interns to go see what happened, and they returned a few moments later with their report: ¡°There was an assassination attempt on Ravenous Tiger. The city is in chaos. Soldiers have been dispatched to hunt down the culprits.¡± An assassination attempt? What was that idiot doing trying to kill the governor?! Both Brier and Autumn were stunned by the unexpected turn. However, at the moment whether or not Cloudhawk was involved wasn¡¯t important. Hermit¡¯s clinic was no longer safe. Brier turned to her and said, ¡°Ravenous Tiger is strong, and he has thousands of men at his command. There isn¡¯t much chance your protector will make it out alive, but my clinic has an escape tunnel. It will take us out of here.¡± Fear gripped her. All this time Autumn had had to rely exclusively on Cloudhawk. Although she found this impudent and barbarous scoundrel repulsive, she had to admit she¡¯d have long perished without his help. Without him by her side, she felt far less secure. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for him!¡± She then added, ¡°I will not abandon my friends to save my own skin. You go ¨C it¡¯s what you¡¯re good at.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop him from going, she was too weak to do anything. Even protect herself. But after refusing to leave, Brier also remained behind. Despite herself, the fact made her feel a little better. Not a few seconds passed before an old man with a lame leg came bursting in. He had a young man draped over his shoulders, with a look of unbearable pain on his face. He threw Cloudhawk onto the ground without a word. For his part, the Warden was shriveled and pink like a boiled shrimp. He was soaked in sweat, and something was odd about his body. The skin of his arms and chest bubbled sickeningly like malignant growths. Brier¡¯s first priority was revealed in his opening question. ¡°Did you get the flute?¡± Autumn glared at him. This was who he was? That was his first question? Did he not feel an ounce of guilt over what he¡¯d done?! He was the bastard who gave the Shephard¡¯s flute to Ravenous Tiger in the first place! ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Cloudhawk managed to wheeze. He produced the artifact from some secret pocket and handed it to her. ¡°But¡­ at least the mission¡­ for your flute¡­ is complete.¡± He did it? He actually got it for her? Brier¡¯s face was nothing short of dumbfounded. The moment the flute was placed in Autumn¡¯s hands it was as though a tremendous weight was lifted. For the first time in ages she felt like she could breathe again. Man¡¯s luck had its limits. Cloudhawk had managed to survive a direct assault from a terrible attack thanks to Trespasser. Its forced awakening kept him from being reduced to ash. But he wasn¡¯t out of the woods ¨C not by a long shot. Now that Trespasser was awake he could feel the mutations occurring. If he didn¡¯t find the Dark Atom soon and beg for their technology to help him, it wouldn¡¯t be more than half a month before he became some twisted monstrosity. Things were bad. They had to get out of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough immediately! Any hesitation, and it would be too late! The old drunkard who brought him in interrupted. ¡°Hey, this is a clinic isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re a doctor, and this kid is in a bad way. See what you can do.¡± Brier gave his new patient a cursory examination. Cloudhawk was half dead from whatever ordeal brought him here. He didn¡¯t have enough strength to stand, let alone escape the city. Brier¡¯s mace grew more concerned the more he saw. ¡°I knew your physicality was unique the moment you walked in. Yet the rate of mutation I¡¯m seeing is incredible.¡± ¡°You have to save him!¡± Autumn interjected. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my expertise is in common diseases. What I¡¯m seeing here isn¡¯t from typical cancers or injuries. Whatever this is, it¡¯s coming from inside your own body. In other words your body is fine, just¡­ changing. You are becoming a mutant at a rate that is frankly unfathomable. The good news is this isn¡¯t malignant.¡± I fucking know this already! Tell me something I don¡¯t know! Cloudhawk fought to speak through the pain. ¡°Don¡¯t just fuckin¡¯ flap your gums at me! This is a freaking clinic, don¡¯t you have any pain meds?¡± ¡°Actually, I do.¡± Brier reached over to a nearby rack of vials and picked one. Inside were a number of small, crudely made pills. ¡°These will help ameliorate the pain significantly, but they¡¯re short-acting.¡± This medicine was exactly why Cloudhawk had the drunk carry him all the way here. Brier was an accomplished doctor, and with the technology in this city he had to have something to help with this blinding pain. A few moments after taking the medicine, Cloudhawk could feel the pain begin to subside. The speed and efficacy of it proved why Hermit had become so popular here. Still, he wasn¡¯t optimistic. Just outside those doors, all of the Borough¡¯s soldiers were looking for them. Since Cloudhawk and Autumn had been in contact with Brier, sooner or later someone would come knocking. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a unique place that made escape difficult, and they could be sure there was going to be tight defenses in the lower level ensuring no one got out. Getting a ride on sandsharks didn¡¯t seem like a possibility. Brier turned his attention to Autumn. ¡°Blow the flute. Use it and we¡¯ll be able to escape.¡± How was a flute supposed to do that? Cloudhawk doubted this artifact had that sort of power. Nervously Autumn complied. With no other option available to them, she raised the flute to her lips and began to blow a small stream of air. Nothing. She blew harder, but still there was no response. Her face was red from the effort, but that was all. It was too much to ask for a young woman who had never handled a relic to summon the power of something like this on her first try. Autumn was just the same as Cloudhawk used to be. She¡¯d never received any training, she didn¡¯t know a single thing about relics. Those like Cloudhawk ¨C who could pick up and use nearly any artifact handed to them ¨C were rare beyond measure. How could Brier expect her to simply evoke the flute with no foundation? Learning the skills was a long and difficult process, and even those with natural talent like Selene and Dawn couldn¡¯t accomplish it in a single attempt. Autumn¡¯s face fell, discouraged. ¡°I can¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°You are the last scion of divine blood.¡± Brier pressed her, but was not reproachful. ¡°You are the only one who can use the artifact. I know you can. Have faith!¡± Cloudhawk watched the doctor with a measure of surprise. Who was this man? Why the sudden change in attitude? He knew Brier had a sordid history with his people, so it was strange for him to seem so concerned with Autumn¡¯s safety. It was a fact that did not escape her notice, for she looked at him in a trance. Which was the true Brier? Did he care, or didn¡¯t he? But his words were enough to inspire her to try again. But then, the sounds of a piercing voice arose from outside. ¡°Here, this is the place!¡± A fat, shrew-like woman was pointing accusingly at the front door. Two red-robed members of the Crimson Church were with her, along with over a hundred city soldiers. As they closed in the fat, ugly woman made sure to disassociate herself. ¡°I don¡¯t know him, but I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something going on with him and Hermit!¡± That was enough proof for them. The unit commander motioned, and half a dozen soldiers moved toward the clinic. But as they kicked open the door the men were blinding by a flash of golden light. A pudgy little bird appeared before them, beating its tiny wings. Feathers shot out toward the soldiers like throwing daggers, each one skillfully aimed at their throats. They hit the ground clutching at their opened necks. ¡°What was that?!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Fire!¡± All at once the remaining soldiers leveled their weapons. Bows twanged and guns roared as they pummeled the clinic storefront. The eclectic mix of weapons were fierce in their barrage, shredding the building. The missionaries reacted as well. They drew back bows nocked with feathered arrows, but did not fire. They shut their eyes, and with a quiet prayer the arrows came alive with green fire. Whoosh! They released the strings, and the arrows raced toward the clinic with malignant green tails like evil comets. One of the interns wasn¡¯t fast enough and took an arrow to the chest. It hardly found purchase before the unfortunate young man was completely devoured in flame. ¡°This way!¡± Brier pushed open a secret passage and everyone pushed through without a second thought. It was flee, or face a hundred angry soldiers and a pair of infernal priests. Book 3, Chapter 49 - Three Hundred Years of Silence Brier was the first one down the tunnel. Cloudhawk limped behind, clutching his chest. Autumn, with flute in hand, and the lame drunkard took up the rear. The medicine was helping ease his pain, but it only gave Cloudhawk enough respite to move around. His ability to defend himself was greatly hindered, and besides the medicine¡¯s actions would only last a little while. They had to get far away, and fast, otherwise they were as good as dead. Even if they weren¡¯t captured by Ravenous Tiger and the Crimson One, Trespasser¡¯s mutations could steel his mind from him. That was a fate worse than death. All throughout their journey, Autumn had never seen Cloudhawk as anything other than a pillar of iron. He¡¯d even out-maneuvered a nightmarish thing like Reaper the Undying. So what happened today that nearly killed him? Autumn thought to ask, but the question died in her throat. She didn¡¯t want to appear too concerned. Cloudhawk was already in danger of snapping his own neck, peering so far down his nose at her. So she kept her mouth shut. ¡°Things aren¡¯t lookin¡¯ so good for me.¡± Cloudhawk stumbled forward with great effort, but even still couldn¡¯t pass up an opportunity to screw with her. ¡°Be honest. Will you be happy or sad when I die?¡± Autumn kept her lips tightly closed and pretended like she hadn¡¯t heard. ¡°Right, well if I do die the mission¡¯s still complete. Make sure you send the reward you promised to Gabby. Don¡¯t give this old drunk shit. He¡¯ll just spend it all on wine.¡± The old man merely rolled his eyes at the accusation. Autumn glared at him. ¡°Are you finished with your last words?¡± Cloudhawk pondered his poor luck then added more. ¡°Make sure you find a good man to marry. Don¡¯t waste your life pining over my corpse.¡± Autumn gripped the flute tight in her hands and fought back the urge to fling it at him. Her teeth ground audible as she answered. ¡°Hmph, I have the artifact. If you die it¡¯ll save me a lot of eboncrys.¡± ¡°Damn. Kicking friends to the curb the moment you don¡¯t need ¡®em anymore.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Autumn shot back, obstinate and angry. ¡°If it¡¯s that important to you, then live! If you can, that is. Then you can get the money yourself. What does a dead man need all that money for anyway? Am I supposed to send it to that psychopath so he can give you a proper burial? In your dreams! I¡¯d rather scatter the eboncrys into a river!¡± Brier gave a quick glance over his shoulder. This wasn¡¯t the Autumn he remembered. She was a good-hearted girl by nature, playful, gentle. Her cruel treatment of the young man was not typical. However, it was clear from their banter that she cared for him. Even if she refused to accept the fact herself. Youth, he mused. Brier¡¯s thoughts turned to far away memories as they made their way down the tunnel. Images of the woman in green returned. Had she lived a good life? She wasn¡¯t his, but he had always been concerned for her. News of her disappearance took away the anxiousness, along with all the light in his life. This girl was the last bit of color in an otherwise barren world. He¡¯d thought about seeking her out once she was older. He hadn¡¯t thought she might come looking for him. Was it the will of the Shepherd Goddess? It didn¡¯t matter. But he had to make sure she got to safety. Meanwhile, the drunkard contemplated his appreciation for the young demonhunter. The kid was smart enough to be afraid of death, but stupid enough not to avoid it! He was a man of character and purpose, how was it he¡¯d never heard of him? Was he someone knew? A new generation replaces the old, stronger than the last. With so many talented youth in Skycloud, it was a surprise to see another rising star. Their struggle for supremacy would be a fight to watch. The old man fretted inwardly over the things he could not change. His plan had been to fall in this one-man war against Fishmonger¡¯s Borough and the despicable man who ran it. Instead he¡¯d accidentally drawn out the one pulling the strings. He lived despite his plan, and found a young man who could succeed where he had failed. If Cloudhawk could resist the Castigation fire, then there was a chance he might defeat that fiend. What was a few more years of living if it meant he¡¯d have fine seats for a good show? The four fugitives absconded through the tunnel, lost in their own thoughts. Cloudhawk had to stop when a stabbing pain swept through him. It was so quick, so intense that for a moment he lost his breath. He took a few deep gulps of air to steady himself, but his helpless state was clearer than ever. He was both scared and amazed at how vulnerable he¡¯d become. ¡°There¡¯s an ambush ahead. We can¡¯t go on.¡± There was no such thing as safe harbor in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, not for them. Their only hope was escape. But of course Ravenous Tiger would have defenses set all through the lower level. There were over five hundred soldiers lying in wait for any sign, ready to pounce. Among them were at least four of the red-robed devils ¨C with that sanctimonious, middle-aged terror at the fore. Strong as the drunkard was, he couldn¡¯t break through such a blockade, especially if he was trying to usher a group of people much weaker. After Oddball returned, Cloudhawk reported what the bird had found about the forces arrayed against them. Suddenly they were stuck between the frying pan and the fire. The old man suggested trying to fight their way out ¨C at least they might take a couple of the assholes with them before they died. Cloudhawk¡¯s first reaction was to inwardly chastise the old man. He might be bored with life, the Warden thought, but I still got shit to do. The drunkard¡¯s suicide mission was stupid. But really he didn¡¯t have a better suggestion. ¡°If we could summon the flute¡¯s power, then we would have a chance to escape.¡± It was Brier who said it. Cloudhawk found the suggestion useless, for how could the flute ¨C relic or not ¨C help them against a small army? Autumn was less disparaging and put the artifact to her lips to try again. The result was the same; no matter what she did or how hard she blew, the flute never made a sound. The old man shook his head as he watched. ¡°That¡¯s not how you use relics. Don¡¯t think of it as a normal flute. You must join your heart and your mind, your mind and your will, your will and your spirit. That is how you create resonance.¡± Can this old fucker stop being so mysterious? Cloudhawk added his voice. ¡°It¡¯s just a damn relic, right? Let me try.¡± But Autumn was incredulous. ¡°There¡¯s no way an outsider can be allowed to tarnish my tribe¡¯s holy artifact!¡± ¡°Ravenous Tiger has had his slimy claws on it all this time, and I¡¯m the one who stole it back. This is how you show appreciation?¡± He was about to snatch the artifact from Autumn¡¯s hands when Oddball began to twitter madly on his shoulder. Cloudhawk¡¯s face fell. ¡°They¡¯re coming.¡± A grenade came barreling towards them, trailing a wake of fire. The drunk stepped forward, unarmed but fists raised. He held his arms at subtle angle, and when the bomb struck it was curved one hundred and eighty degrees back the way it came. It drilled right through one of the soldiers, into the fat figure standing behind him. Boom! The lumbering figure blocked the explosion with his axe. However, the soldiers around him were quickly ripped apart. Ravenous Tiger slammed the head of his battleaxe into the ground in a rage. He glared at the old man and his companions with a frigid gaze. ¡°Bringing others to die with you on your stupid crusade, eh? Any last words?¡± The old man¡¯s words were practically a growl. ¡°You despicable traitor!¡± Upon discovering that the cripple didn¡¯t have anything new to say, Ravenous Tiger grew tired of hearing him speak. He wasn¡¯t one for nonsense, and this old boozer was a menace that was better dealt with sooner rather than later. If he escaped, the chances were good he¡¯d be back one day for another attempt on his life. ¡°Kill them!¡± Hundreds of weapons were raised and ready to be fired. The area came alive with the sounds of gunpowder and screams, from every direction. The Borough¡¯s soldiers, caught unprepared, were mowed down by a sneak attack as a host of men descended upon them. ¡°Master Hermit! We¡¯re here to protect you!¡± Cloudhawk and Autumn were stunned. They looked searchingly at Brier. Brier, on the other hand, was not taken aback. ¡°These are the men I¡¯ve recruited the last few years,¡± he said in reply to their wordless question. ¡°My suicide soldiers. My plan was to recover the flute from Ravenous Tiger in a couple years, with their help. I was going to bring it back to the tribe so they could use it. Now it seems they serve a different purpose.¡± Autumn was only more confused. ¡°Why would you do this?¡± Brier looked at her, his eyes soft and warm. ¡°You still don¡¯t understand? I¡¯m protecting you!¡± The old man and Ravenous Tiger were once more engaged in battle. Behind them, the middle-aged priest lifted a weapon encased in green fire. Its hungry fires began to reach for the other three. This was it, they would find a way to flee or they would die. Cloudhawk wrenched the flute from Autumn¡¯s grip. He knew immediately that this relic was different, but he could still see its pattern. ¡°It¡¯s no use!¡± Brier shook his head. ¡°This artifact is different from those in your homeland. The Shephard¡¯s flute can only be used by someone with divine blood. For three hundred years it¡¯s lain silent ¨C Autumn is the only one. Your efforts are a waste.¡± But even as his words were spoken, the stone around Cloudhawk¡¯s neck began to glow. The Shephard¡¯s flute answered with a shine of its own. Cloudhawk had only started to recover, and his mental fortitude was limited at best. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to call on the flute, but he could summon the stone¡¯s power. The surge of psychic power it gave him could only be used once a day at most, but it gave the Warden access to strength equivalent to a veteran demonhunter. As the mighty flood rose, it instantly resonated with the artifact. A clear and melodious note came from the flute. But to call it ¡®sound¡¯ was not right. It was not a sound. It was a peculiar noise that spoke directly to some special sense. All of a sudden the whole area began to quake. This was the Shepherd¡¯s Call, silent for three hundred years. Three generations of stillness and anticipation. Here in this strange and dangerous place, it sang again. In the underground lake below a vortex formed. Some inexplicable power filled it, and all the beasts therein began to thrash and turn. At last he knew what the flute was for. It controlled animals. But there was something he lacked. He could awaken the relic, but he couldn¡¯t use it to bend the creatures to his will. They whipped around in a mad chaos, throwing the whole city into turmoil. Every animal in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough suddenly defied orders, bucking off riders or tearing off in random directions. The flesh-eating birds which circled outside even started heedlessly diving through the city. The most striking, however, was what was happening in the lake below. In the depths of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough were thousands upon thousands of beasts. More than just sandsharks, there were powerful monsters of the wastes who heard the Shephard¡¯s Call and became enraged. They came tearing to the surface, breaking through all throughout the lower levels and sending foes careening in all directions. ¡°The beasts are losing their minds!¡± ¡°Get them under control!¡± It was madness. Weakened by the ordeal, Cloudhawk blindly shoved the flute back into Autumn¡¯s hands. She was staring at him in utter disbelief, an expression mirrored by Brier. Neither could fathom how this outsider had done it. Shepherd¡¯s Call had been dormant for years, but somehow this outsider had given it a voice. ¡°What the fuck are you idiots gaping at? Run!¡± Cloudhawk shouted at them angrily, unaware of the earth-shattering feat he¡¯d just performed. Book 3, Chapter 50 - Pandemonium in the Boroughs The flute had sounded. After three hundred years, out here in this foreign place, its song was heard again. Only, the bearer was not one of the tribe. Shephard¡¯s Call rang through the mountain and beyond, a thousand meters in all directions. No distance diminished it, and no material muted its voice. All living creatures heard it resounding in the depths of their soul. The murder of ravenous birds outside heard the call, and it drove them into a frenzy. They were drawn into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough like months so a flame, wreaking havoc and rending flesh in their passage. With the soldiers withdrawn to deal with the would-be assassins, there was nothing to stop them from entering. Meanwhile, the city¡¯s domesticated beasts were also out of control. They attacked their handlers, wrecked buildings, and trampled their pens. Anarchy prevailed. The underground lake was the center of the storm. No one knew what lived in there besides the thousands of sandsharks needed to keep the city functioning. All of a sudden beasts they¡¯d never seen before were roused, and creatures which had never come to the surface were breaching with terrible effect. Unfortunate citizens caught too close to the lake were attacked before they knew what was happening. All manner of creatures ¨C be they beasts of the land, air or water ¨C began to attack the city. It was no different from the stampedes of starved animals out in the desert. Never in the history of the Boroughs had they needed to contend with a threat of this magnitude. All because Cloudhawk played a flute. The Shephard¡¯s gift was a spectacular artifact indeed! Yet how could Brier and Autumn accept what they¡¯d seen? Three hundred years, and no one had been able to coax a sound from their holy relic. No one, not even her illustrious parents nor all the tribe¡¯s elders. Only once Autumn was born did the flute begin to resonate. Autumn was important to her people for more than the name of her parents. In three hundred years, her birth had done what no other had. She was the only soul in all that time with divine blood, the only one who could call on the flute¡¯s power. She was destined to lead their people. Throughout the valley¡¯s history, none were born with the ability to commune with the beasts. None but Autumn. For this reason she was seen by her people as chosen by their god to lead. Her innate power and talent made her fated ¨C maybe even a reincarnation of their beloved Shephard. In a mockery of all of that, an outsider had been the first to call on the flute¡¯s power. This one born to carry on the Shephard¡¯s lineage, this avatar, had tried desperately and failed while an unknown scoundrel did so with his first attempt. Everything seemed so absurd, now. All their prophecies and beliefs. But this was the hard truth. Brier could no longer maintain his flat affect. His eyes were wide and red, and the shock caused him to forget the mortal danger they were in. He lurched forward, grabbing Cloudhawk by the front of his shirt. ¡°Who are you? What are you?! How can you use the Shephard¡¯s power?!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Cool the fuck off! I can use all sorts of relics, god or demon.¡± Cloudhawk had always possessed this ability, but he kept it quiet. Who would believe him? But under duress and at his wit¡¯s end, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help it once Brier grabbed him. ¡°Now get your fucking hands off of me! And thank your shithead god that I¡¯m hurt, otherwise I¡¯d slap your ass to the dirt.¡± A volley of bullets and arrows were coming their way, so Brier was forced to comply. Autumn¡¯s face was the bitter mask of a woman maligned. Her tiny hands squeezed the holy relic as though she were struggling with the desire to smash it. Why? Why could he do it, but not her? But now wasn¡¯t the time. ¡°We have to go!¡± In his years in exile, Brier had recruited and trained several dozen believers to his cause. The suicide soldiers were formidable, but not invincible. Alone against hundreds of soldiers they couldn¡¯t hold them off for long. Besides the sheer disparity in numbers, Ravenous Tiger¡¯s men were also well equipped; from rapid-fire crossbows, to automatic rifles, and even rocket launchers. They were frighteningly deadly. The old man was locked in combat with his nemesis, the governor. He had lost his relic during the assault on the mansion, but even with only the exorcist staff he¡¯d gained the upper hand. After all, the skills of the cripple ran far deeper than one imagined. His powers as a demonhunter were just one aspect ¨C and not even his forte. The drunk¡¯s greatest abilities lay in martial combat, and the manipulation of true power. Even bullets didn¡¯t present any threat to him. However, there was a limit to what a man could do, even a man like him. Alone against Ravenous Tiger, the old man had nothing to fear. But there were two clerics of the Crimson Church involved as well. They bore their own weapons, exorcist staffs as well, and launched a fierce combined assault on the lone warrior. Since when had demonhunters become a dime a dozen? Even Crimson Church clerics were demonhunters! Word of this would cause a sensation if it reached Skycloud domain. The demonhunter title was an honorable one in the elysian lands. They were required to register, and all that they did was recorded. Few were ever missing or unaccounted for. And yet, out here in this wasteland city, the reality did not match expectations. Not only was the governor himself a demonhunter, but mere clergymen were as well. How could men like this so effectively conceal their identities, and play as holy men out in the wastelands? More frightening, how much power did the Crimson One wield if these were his subordinates? Against a veteran demonhunter and two missionaries, together with a myriad of normal soldiers, how long could the old drunk endure? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t spare him a passing though, however, since he had his own life to worry about. After all, he was in too weak a state to protect himself. He couldn¡¯t even call on the phase stone to save him. Even if he stayed behind he would only get in the way. Brier grabbed Autumn and was bringing her to the underground lake. He was trying to get a sandshark for their escape. All around was pandemonium. Every minute they remained was one minute closer to disaster. Four men in red were coming their way, led by a middle-aged man. He bore a longsword, wreathed in flame. When he came in range, he hacked the blade toward them. The weapon itself was a relic of uncommon quality, and the green flames none other than Castigation fire. It was a terrifying weapon capable of bearing Castigation. Cloudhawk had become intimately familiar with the nature of this danger. Castigation fire was misnamed, not a fire at all. It did not burn indiscriminately, and so the destruction it caused could be controlled. In many ways, Castigation fire was more relic than anything. Its power was directed by the will of the bearer. This was how it was capable of devouring Cloudhawk¡¯s sword, and at the same time leave the cleric¡¯s weapon unscathed. ¡°Careful!¡± The middle-aged cleric struck, but not toward Brier or Autumn. His target was Cloudhawk. Attacking the other two had been a ploy to force Cloudhawk to show his hand. He must have seen something in Cloudhawk to recognize him as the main threat, and as such the focus of his weapon. At peak condition Cloudhawk might have struggled to avoid the blow, and now he hadn¡¯t an ounce of mental ability left. The sword streaked through the sky faster than a bullet. It ripped through his demonhunter armor. Green fire danced along the edges of the wound it left behind. Autumn screamed. The priest laughed. One down. The wound was not deadly, but it didn¡¯t have to be. Castigation fire sealed his victim¡¯s fate. The middle-aged man paid Cloudhawk no more mind than a corpse and prepared to turn his ire upon the remaining two. As he did, an angry roar came from behind as an armored, tortoise-like monster came charging his way. It was one of the monsters rising from the depths of the lake. His flaming sword lashed out! But the beast¡¯s shell was too hard, and the sword couldn¡¯t pierce its defenses. However, the shallow gash left behind glowed an ominous green. The Castigation fire remaining on the blade after piercing Cloudhawk were weak, but not gone. It was still enough to claim the mutant creature¡¯s life. Those fires grew and spread, until they encased the unfortunate beast entirely The priest cheered in triumph. The power of his master was unassailable! Not only was he able to wield such incredible power, but he was able to turn it against his foes to great effect. In time, as he learned to master it, who could contend against him? This was why he left the elysian lands; not only because he shared the Crimson One¡¯s faith, but because he had unwavering conviction in the Crimson One himself. Even Arcuturus Cloude could not stand against his illustrious leader! It was his master who should hold the title of greatest demonhunter! Blood surged through his veins as the cleric inwardly reaffirmed his master¡¯s ideals. What did it matter to sacrifice elysian ideals of honor in the face of such an exalted mission? They were the people chosen to usher in a new future for the world. It was a triumph for which they would forever be lauded as heroes! Who were these fools to stand in the way of the master? They deserved death! He raised his sword, ready to claim another life for the cause. Its gleam was reflected in Autumn¡¯s wide eyes. The priest had once been a crack demonhunter, and it showed in his assault. With incredible speed he¡¯d cut down Cloudhawk, slain the mutant creature, and now turned on Autumn. All in the blink of an eye. The unarmed girl was powerless before such a warrior. Sword raised high, the priest shouted. And in that instant his chest caved in. A tremendous force had caught him straight on and sent him flailing through the air. His eyes were wide in disbelieve, for the one who hit him was the young man he was sure had died. Somehow he was alive, and beyond that capable of fighting back. Cloudhawk had sent him flying with a bone-crunching kick. Autumn was stunned and confused. Cloudhawk reacted to the deadly blow by getting stronger. The injury he sustained still burned, but the fires died even as she watched. She could see that the wound was deep, but even that was quickly stitching back together. The Warden didn¡¯t seem pained at all ¨C on the contrary, he looked almost invigorated! In his wildest dreams the priest would never have believed it. He could not have known that the fires had actually helped fight off more of the Trespasser virus that was assailing him. Thus cleansed, he was actually ready to go a few more rounds. In one smooth motion Cloudhawk kicked up a discarded sword from the ground and charged. Spearhead! Before the priest could react, Cloudhawk¡¯s weapon was buried halfway through his chest. Just in time. A suffocating weakness returned to sap the Warden of his sudden strength. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t truly recovered. Trespasser was still eating away at his body, stealing his ability to fight. Monsters were closing in, making their pitched battle that much more complicated. However, it also meant more trouble for Ravenous Tiger and his people. After all, there were many more of them than there were of Cloudhawk¡¯s small party. Brier took a long look at the young man who¡¯d twice saved their lives. He was an enigma, from the inside out. What other secrets was he hiding? Cloudhawk turned, thinking their opportunity to run had arrived, when suddenly his way was blocked by a flash of red. His entire body was drowned in green fire. Even his eyes were burned by it. Like a demon clawing its way from the depths of hell, he flung burning arms every which way to try and extinguish them. Two more orbs of fire struck a pair of Brier¡¯s suicide soldiers and instantly dissolved them to nothing. Residual fire slithered from the ash left behind, searching for a new target ¨C the old drunk. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think the old fiend would get here so fast! Now that the Crimson One was here, escape was impossible. Book 3, Chapter 51 - Shepherds Embrace The old man nimbly jumped out of the way, and a moment later the tongues of flame struck the ground with surprising force. Streaks of it branched out, and anyone contaminated by the fires was instantly burned up. The victims were doomed in an instant, and could only howl in unimaginable pain as they died. ¡°Get out of here!¡± The old man was like a scalded dog, yelping as he clambered and scurried from the fires. It would be embarrassingly awkward if not for their predicament. The Crimson One¡¯s powers were unfathomable. The Castigation fires at his command killed everything it touched. Cloudhawk was the rare exception. Though not immune, he was somehow able to withstand what would outright slay any other man. However, he was quickly reaching his limit. No strength was left in him to withstand a second attack from the Crimson One. Yet the fates were blind, piling tragedy upon tragedy as monsters continued to clamber out from the lake below. The flute¡¯s call had driven them mad, and those that weren¡¯t attacking humans on land were warring with one another in the water. ¡°Where the hell are we supposed to go?¡± Cloudhawk angrily shouted back at the old man. All the blame for this mess he could place firmly at this wrinkly asshole¡¯s feet. At this point, if they tried to jump into the lake and grab sandsharks they might as well be called bait. The Crimson One waved his right arm toward a suicide soldier who¡¯d managed to get close. With seemingly little effort a bout of flame emerged, and immediately swallowed his attacker in a ball of flame. A cloud of ash swirled around him. He wasn¡¯t done. Pressing his hand forward, he dragged the wretched fires through the remains of the soldiers and along the ground, cutting off any escape for the outlaws. An arc-shaped wall arose, penning them in. The churning waters of the lake lay behind them, and all around burned green fire. Death awaited in every direction. Another set of jagged claws appeared on the water¡¯s surface, clawing from the depths. The Crimson One watched, face stark against the sickly flames. He didn¡¯t need to do anything, the beasts would do the work for him eventually. Now that their quarry were driven into a corner, Ravenous Tiger felt a sense of relief. The taste of vengeance was so sweat it was almost cloying. He knew who the old man was, but what of his compatriots? How did they get roped into this suicide mission? Their actions had turned his paradise into a war zone! And¡­ that girl. Was that his flute in her hand? Was that what had driven all the animals mad? It seemed the flute was a far more worthy treasure than he thought, but how did she get her hands on it! Ravenous Tiger¡¯s eyes turned to Cloudhawk. He¡¯d seen the young man appear from nowhere and slip through walls. He would be the one capable of stealing into his vault. ¡°Killing them quickly would be too good for these bastards! I want them cut into a thousand pieces, then maybe I¡¯ll let them die.¡± The Crimson One paid his fat subordinate no mind, nor was he in a hurry to kill the culprits. His gaze stopped as they reached Autumn. ¡°You must be from Woodland Vale. Killing you would be a great shame. Pledge loyalty to me and you will be spared. Of course, my offer does not extend to the old one.¡± The Woodland Vale!? Ravenous Tiger looked back at his master with astonishment. Of course he knew the stories of the Vale¡¯s vast riches. So this ragtag crew had people from the Vale? If that were true their worth was incalculable. Their treasures were so legendary it made elysians salivate, much less the starved wastelanders. With the Vale¡¯s resources, they could finally fight back against Skycloud¡¯s tyranny. Autumn was inexperienced in the ways of the wastes, but she was not stupid. There was no way she would believe a word that came from this self-righteous monster. His offer to free them from death was just a ploy to learn about her homeland. Should Autumn or Brier fall for his lies, they would be slain the instant they were no longer useful. Even in death, she was determined to protect her people! She had long known this would be a possibility. Although his prey didn¡¯t speak, the Crimson One could see the answer in their eyes. The refusal didn¡¯t upset him, for he still had still had methods yet to try. He motioned at Ravenous Tiger, a signal for him to surround the small party and take them alive for questioning. Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened at the prospect. He was getting really tired of this shit. The Crimson One was not to be trifled with, and the Warden was exhausted. He couldn¡¯t use the phase stone to save them, no matter how desperate their situation had become. Even if he could, at this distance it didn¡¯t matter. Using the phase stone to traverse space took time ¨C time enough for the Crimson One to destroy them a hundred times over. What to do? For the moment, Cloudhawk was at a loss. Perhaps he could fake a surrender, then book it. Return when he had a plan for how to save Autumn? Normally that would be a solid plan, but his condition was unstable, and rapidly deteriorating. He could hardly be sure he¡¯d be able to walk out of here, and the Crimson One was a crafty old fuck. Would his ruse even convince the old man? What he really wanted was the Vale¡¯s treasure. There was no guarantee he wouldn¡¯t kill Cloudhawk the minute he learned he was a wastelander. He was furious. ¡°You asshole drunk! I couldn¡¯t give a shit if you want to die, but you just had to drag us into it!¡± ¡°A little late for gripes now, don¡¯t you think?¡± The old man cast him a dismissive glance. He dropped into a combat pose, ready to defend himself from the Borough¡¯s forces. ¡°All we can do is fight to the death!¡± Autumn¡¯s heart sank. It had been an ordeal just to get the flute, and now they faced death because she could not use it. She couldn¡¯t accept it, her whole tribe was waiting for her to return with their salvation. The old, the infirm, the children ¨C they faced death while desperately hoping for her to come back, bearing the artifact. Was this to be their end? Dying here? Ravenous Tiger shouted the order. ¡°Grab them!¡± A hundred soldiers gathered round, as the Crimson One¡¯s wall of flame slowly died away. Autumn watched them come. She gripped the flute tight, her face crestfallen. They were all dead anyway, she couldn¡¯t let them take her alive. Who knew what sort of torture was in store if they got their hands on her. She also couldn¡¯t let the gift of their goddess be lost to outsiders ¨C a toy for them to defile. She¡¯d done her best, but there was no other choice. If she couldn¡¯t bring the flute back to her people, at least she would choose how she would die. ¡°I will not let you succeed!¡± Autumn ran headlong toward the wall of fire. Cloudhawk was caught off guard by her sudden suicidal charge. Her actions were completely contrary to the meek, cowardly girl he¡¯d traveled with up to now. He wouldn¡¯t have believed she had it in her. She was meek, but a sense of duty and faith turned even the most cowardly person into a hero. Autumn was willing to sacrifice everything for the safety of the Vale. If that meant dying, then she did so gladly. Yet before the fires could take her, a figure swept in to deny them. She tumbled backward into Cloudhawk¡¯s waiting arms. ¡°You¡¯re not dying first, even if you want to.¡± Brier had been the one to drag her away from the fires, flinging her back toward her Warden. He looked pointedly at the demonhunter. ¡°Young man, I leave the tribe leader¡¯s safety to you.¡± Cloudhawk was slow to react. What was he planning? Why was he putting her safety on him all of a sudden? He was just a normal doctor, wasn¡¯t he? What crazy idea had gotten into his head! Brier stepped forward to the border of the wall of fire. Their sickly hue painted his face as he looked down upon the corpses of his people. There was no fear, nor anger. In their depths there was only a steel resolve. With his jaw set, he stepped forward. What the hell is he doing? The same thought passed through everyone¡¯s mind at the same moment. As Brier embraced the flames, he fished out a small green pellet from his robes and stuffed it in his mouth. Autumn seemed to snap back to reality. Her face was white as a sheet. ¡°Shepherd¡¯s Embrace?!¡± Brier body shimmered with green light, and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. The doctor became a conduit of life, as verdant branches and slithering vines burst from his body. Like a host of pythons they whipped and wrapped, reaching through the fires to the corpses beyond. Upon touching them, that radiant green light was conveyed to the bodies, making them glow as well. Vines grew forth from them as well, so fast that they filled the area before anyone knew what was happening. Vines thick as tree trunks knit together and rose high overhead to separate Cloudhawk and the others from their pursuers. Ravenous Tiger had never seen anything like that before. ¡°What is this? Some sort of relic?¡± ¡°It is of similar function, but no ¨C not a relic.¡± The Crimson One watched with brows furrowed. ¡°It appears the people of the Vale are capable of many mysterious things.¡± His observations were punctuated by a wave, and a ball of green fire assailed the vines. However, this flora was not of the common sort. Even Castigation fire struggled to quickly burn through them. A defense like this was comparable to the mightiest defensive artifacts. Its price was flesh and blood. Brier sacrificed his life so that the incredible power of Shepherd¡¯s Embrace could give Autumn a chance. This phenomenon was unique to the people of the Vale, which came at a terrible price. The power was conveyed through the seed of a sacred tree, which empowered the defender with holy power. Years of introspection, training and faith were needed so that the sacrifice could be made when it was needed. The process caused more pain than any normal person could bear. One¡¯s body became the soil from which Shepherd¡¯s Embrace emerged. Like the men he¡¯d trained for years, who valiantly gave their lives to get him this far, Brier took the mantle of suicide soldier upon his own shoulders. Had this been his plan? Had he always been prepared to act as a sacrifice? How was this selfless act the deed of a despicable traitor? Autumn stared at the living wall with wide eyes. She saw the root of them, the broken body from which they extended. Only the chest and head of the man who had been Brier was left. The vines wrapped all around them. One final, protective embrace. Tears gathered in Autumn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why did you do this? Why didn¡¯t you just explain?¡± ¡°There was no time. Don¡¯t mourn me, you must continue to live. The tribe needs you.¡± Blood poured from Brier¡¯s mouth. He fought for every breath. ¡°Know that your father¡¯s death was not as you have been told. I¡­ took the flute¡­ to protect you. Beware¡­ the grand elder!¡± The words choked through his throat with a final breath, before Brier became one with the vines. Green¡­ such a beautiful shade of green. Just like the woman in his dreams. Autumn stared at the remains of this tight-lipped man. Her face wet with tears, she slowly lifted the flute to her lips once again. This time she was of singular focus, all of her heart and soul centered on the object of her people¡¯s salvation. She felt it resonating, like it was speaking to her. As the final moments of life fled from Brier¡¯s body, he heard it. A spectacular tone unlike any other. It transcended mere sound and was sung directly in the heart. His lips curled into a smile. It was time for his story to end. His only regret was that he wouldn¡¯t get to watch her grow into the magnificent women he knew she would become. You have a long road yet, my girl. Tread well. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 52 - Autumn vs. the Crimson One None of the unfortunate citizens of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough knew what was happening. Clouds of carnivorous birds and other wasteland monsters had shattered the peace they¡¯d known in the belly of the mountain. These creatures destroyed everything they came close to, be it flesh, wood or stone. Meanwhile, the mad cries of even their domesticated animals were deafening. This magnificent city, protected by sea and storm, had descended into chaos without warning. People desperately barracked themselves wherever they could in the hopes that this madness would pass and spare them. Amidst all of this, the Shepherd¡¯s flute sounded once again. It did not travel as normal sound did, in a wave. It was deeper, like a call from the depths of the soul. It rang in the minds of all, clear as though it came from right beside them despite the tumult. It was absolutely terrifying. The disaster they faced now had come from the first such sound, only minutes ago. Somehow it had drawn the bloodthirsty birds into town, and driven all the animals to madness. Never had these poor souls ever seen such destruction. Now the ominous sound returned. What fresh terrors would it bring with it? However, the clear-headed listener might find that there was something different in the call of the flute this time. Its original call had been thunderous, stretching a thousand meters all around for but a moment. This time it was much softer. It extended less than half that of the first, yet its gentle call was persistent. In contrast to the dissonance of before, the sound pacified the racing hearts of all who heard. From loud and boisterous, to gentle and melodious; like the sharp attempts of a novice beside the works of a master. Mind and spirit blended into one as the flute¡¯s melody continued. A perfect resonance. From the highest point to the lowest alley, the enraged birds were soothed by the flute¡¯s call. Their compulsion for blood and destruction ebbed. Then. As citizens peaked out from behind doors and walls, they witnessed something they could hardly describe. All of the birds, bats, eagles, and buzzards¡­ from the largest bird of prey to the smallest insect, all began to converge on a single point as though on command. Arranging themselves into lines, they were nothing like the mindless creatures from moments ago. Now they were as precise and united as an army. How could they describe what they were seeing? It was a sign! A miracle! A plethora of monsters lived in the depths of the river, and though the people could not see what happened beneath the dark waters they could hear. A series of organized calls answered the sound, like soldiers closing ranks. All at once the people forgot their fear as it was replaced by wonder. They were spellbound. Could it be that these vicious, mutant creatures of the wild were cowed by the power of a flute? Boom-boom-boom-boom! A series of bone-jarring explosions rose from the Borough¡¯s lower level. A few of the more curious spectators were knocked back from the force. At some point the banks of the lake had become overgrown with a wall of vines. They were long and embracing, like a man with his arms outstretched. From the middle level it was hard to make out much detail, but it was clear that a large number of soldiers had gathered on one side of the wall. On the other side was a writhing mass of aquatic monsters. Boom-boom-boom-boom! Another series of deafening blasts rocked the mountain. Orbs of green fire pummeled the vines like cannonballs until they tore open a hole. Its miserable green light was like the flames of hell, here to scour the world clean. The city¡¯s soldiers raised their weapons, firing wildly into the breach. Bullets and arrows descended like an iron rain, bearing down on their quarry with the weight of mountains. Roaring explosions gave voice to their terrible assault against the darkness, punctuated by the snap of gunfire. But creatures of the wasteland were hardy and terrifying. Bullets pierced their flesh, and they bristled with dozens of arrows, yet they kept coming. Rockets belched fire and shrapnel, but the monsters charged forward regardless. It would be a mistake to assume this was a typical stampede, for the flute¡¯s song was still ringing in their minds. This was a methodical invasion. Mutant creatures were frightening on their own. Beasts from the depths of the lake were often the subject of nightmare. How much more horrible, then, now that they answered commands!? These weren¡¯t just monsters. It was a hellish army! Dozens of leviathan-like monsters sprayed the soldiers with toxic green sludge. They answered with hideous, agonizing cries as the acid ate through leather, skin and bone. Another group of creatures like enormous frogs followed, their mouths engorged to unsettling proportions. They belched torrents of water with enough force to shatter bone. Soldiers taking the brunt of their deluge were pulverized. They were followed by a number of web-footed beasts covered in scales, thick as steel plate. With guttural roars they threw themselves through the breach and the leaping green fires beyond. Immediately they were engulfed in Castigation fire. With shrill cries they ran wildly through the crowds. Like a torch through a field of dry grass, the beasts left a wake of fire behind them. The briefest touch and the fires spread to another victim. Soldiers rolled on the ground and slapped at their bubbling flesh, all to no avail. The hungry flames would not be extinguished once their hunger was piqued. Death was their only release. By the time the scaled creatures were burned up, they¡¯d taken a hundred or more soldiers with them. The wall of fire had weakened after being spread through their ranks, and even more creatures had started charging the line. Still, although the Borough¡¯s forces had suffered serious losses there were more soldiers filing in all the time. Their numbers grew, even as the beasts and fires consumed their brethren. Bullets and arrows continued to fly. Rockets trailing tails of fire streaked across the city. Death rattles, explosions, roars; all of it fought for dominance. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough shook from the fury of what had become all-out war! The strength and ferocity of the mutant creatures gave them an innate advantage. Between their intensity and organization, they easily overcome the guards¡¯ hastily mounted defense. As soldiers fell in droves Fishmonger¡¯s Borough became a field of corpses. However, as the humans were being beaten back they were bolstered by a swell of inscrutable power. A figure clad all in red stood in the midst of the battle with his body wreathed in green fire. Before terrified eyes he lifted into the air, erupting in flames until seconds later he had become an enormous raging orb. The light of it reached every corner of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Its terrible brilliance grew more intense as the orb swelled, until it was like hell¡¯s own sun above the market place. And yet for all its blinding radiance there was no heat. On the contrary, its presence filled every soul with a deep, intractable chill. It was the antithesis of the warm, life-giving sun without ¨C instead, it was an emblem of death and despair. The tremendous power contained within it was enough to raze this entire mountain to the ground. Horrific didn¡¯t begin to do it justice. It was destruction incarnate. No living thing could withstand the oblivion the Crimson One promised. Yet as the holy man reigned in his power, the flute¡¯s call grew shrill. The horde of flying monsters dove from above, gathering into a spearhead of razor sharp claws, a dark and lethal cloud. Before the Crimson One¡¯s unholy green sun was complete they crashed into it, like moths to a flame. Crashing into the fires, the orb became unstable. Streaking licks of fire shot out and descended unto the battlefield below like a meteor shower. Blood-curdling shouts of man and beast rose to the heavens as they were bathed in flame. It took only an instant for hundreds of lives to be snuffed out. The rain of fire continued to descend as figures infected with the green death ran wildly through the crowds. It spread madly among the hapless fighters in a cruel and sickening scene ¨C a vision of hell on earth. One of the birds streaked across the sky with its wings ablaze. It crashed into the market like a missile. ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Help me! HELP ME!¡± Their cries joined the dying soldiers and mutant beasts. Tongues of fire dripped from the firebird as it dissolved in midair. They fell onto the citizens below, setting them ablaze. They in turn ran wildly among the stalls, seeking succor but finding none, spreading their cruel fate to friends and colleagues. Fires continued to tumble from the Crimson One above. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough had been consumed by utter turmoil. ¡°Castigation!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Castigation fire!¡± ¡°It¡¯s everywhere! Fishmonger¡¯s Borough is done for!¡± Those lucky enough to witness the tragedy from afar wailed in despair. Castigation fire was the tool of the Adjudicator, his holy retribution against sinners. Was this calamity sent by the gods on hire to cleanse the wasteland city of blasphemers? The virulence of Castigation fire was well known. With so much in the mountain below, it would claim thousands, if not tens of thousands of lives before it burned out. Even the soldiers had never seen destruction on this scale before, to say nothing of the citizens caught in the crossfire. Courage fled from them as the guards witnessed friend and foe alive burned to ash. Weapons were flung away in a desperate attempt to flee, while flaming monsters continued to rampage through their ranks. Without order or direction, casualties rose ever higher. All the while, the Shepherd¡¯s Call kept sounding. No matter how piteous the wails, how loud the shrieks, how shrill the roars, nothing could drown out the flute¡¯s singular note. It was always there in the background, a soundtrack to the carnage playing out all around. Its beautiful, ending tone rang in every mind ¨C a sharp contrast to the ugliness it caused. These were the final moments of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. What had been called one of the northern barren¡¯s safest bastions of humanity was naught but bone and ash. Book 3, Chapter 53 - A Successful Getaway ¡°How the fuck is she controlling these animals?!¡± Ravenous Tiger watched helplessly as the army he labored to raise was viciously destroyed. His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body shook from the rage in his voice. ¡°What kind of demon relic is this!¡± The Crimson One eventually returned to the ground, after his orb of Castigation fire had razed most of the Borough¡¯s lower level. His mood was no better than the governor¡¯s. He¡¯d held nothing back in his latest attempt, but the flock of birds that threw themselves at him ate away at the fires until there was nothing left. He was not spared from injury himself. The Crimson One was a man of supreme arrogance. None ¨C outside of the highest levels of elysian hierarchy ¨C gave him pause. So what had happened? He¡¯d been foiled by a little girl and her flute! The Shepherd¡¯s Call. A power the ancient gods had used in their infernal war of old. Not long before becoming a rebel deity and falling from grace, the Shepherd Goddess gifted this artifact to her people. Here it reemerged, more incredible than even the legends told, with a power that rivaled Castigation fire. Few relics of this quality existed in the elysian hands ¨C it was rare even among the gods and demons themselves. The Shepherd¡¯s flute counted itself among a class of artifacts that wielded unfathomable potency. Of course, the more incredible the tool the more strict its limitations. Not just anyone could resonate with the flute. Autumn bore the blessing of her fallen goddess, manifesting as the talent needed for the flute to answer her will. If the sheer number of beasts she commanded was any indication, she had been born with a psychic capacity to rival veteran demonhunters! But Autumn¡¯s situation was unique. She couldn¡¯t use even the most ordinary of relics, like an exorcist staff. Physically she was no different from any other woman. Yet with this artifact in hand she wielded staggering power. Luck was also an undeniable factor. In many places, even with the flute¡¯s power she wouldn¡¯t be able to call on the aid of so many animals. Due to the unique placement of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, along with its lake, the city was a gathering place for all beasts of the desert in search of comfort. The power of Shepherd¡¯s Call allowed Autumn to control creatures of low intelligence. Through a variety of circumstances and coincidences, she was able to manifest terrifying authority on this battlefield. Because of her, Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was gripped in fear and chaos! Castigation indiscriminately devoured man and beast as it swept across the city. Even the buildings melted in the face of the green terror. Spreading like a prairie fire, the bustling city of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was reduced to ash. Ravenous Tiger looked over the ruins of his kingdom with dull, disbelieving eyes. Buildings collapsed, people ran for their lives, screams filled the air. He was forced to watch as these streets and buildings, the fruits of his sweat and blood, were consigned to oblivion. ¡°M-master! Please stop these fires! They¡¯re going to destroy the whole city!¡± Castigation fire was a relic whose power corresponded with the psychic power of its invoker. The Crimson had to be able to dispel it at will. Every second his city was in flames was a stab to the chest. He couldn¡¯t return to the elysian lands, this place was everything to him. If Fishmonger¡¯s Borough burned to the ground, he would be nothing but a ghost wandering the barrens. Yet the Crimson One did not intend to give in. His hands shot up, and the fires responded by swirling together into dual pillars. Dragons of green flame writhed through the battlefield, turning every living thing it passed into blackened husks. The Crimson One rose again into the air, crosier held aloft. His attention fixed on three figures amid the sea of flame. He did not hesitate. As the fiery dragons coiled around him, the cardinal reeled back and let his staff fly. Screaming through the air, his ornate staff multiplied into hundreds of copies, ripping through all three figures before embedding itself in the ground behind. Nothing could survive such a barrage. But something was wrong! The silhouettes didn¡¯t react at all, even when the staff ran them through. The Crimson One soared over the fires, robes flapping, like a being of the immortal realms. All hundred duplicates of his crosier were gone, leaving the one true staff jutting up from the ground. Holes and cavities peppered the ground, even beneath the feet of the three ¨C entirely unharmed ¨C fugitives. Illusions?! He¡¯d been tricked. By the time he realized it and lifted his head, a group of sandsharks were already making their escape. The Crimson One narrowed his eyes as they slipped into the darkness of the tunnel leading out of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Escaped ¨C they¡¯d slipped out of his reach. Chasing after them was not an option, for trying to ride a sandshark now would be asking for death. Finally, the raging Castigation fires began to abate. Shepherd¡¯s Call diminished then grew silent, and the lakes monsters returned to their watery home. The war that had embroiled Fishmonger¡¯s Borough ended as quickly as it had begun. Ravenous Tiger staggered through the aftermath. Over a thousand men, dead. His army in shambles. Where the Crimson One¡¯s fires had burned, there was nothing but devastation. He had become the governor of ashes. This was the power of the Crimson One. The fires at his command could level entire cities. As bitterness gripped his heart, Ravenous Tiger asked himself if aligning himself with such a beast was the right decision. But could he run now? He was a goat, looking for a way to escape a hungry tiger. He didn¡¯t have even of a fraction of the power his master commanded. He was uncomfortably aware that this goat could be sacrificed at a whim. The red-robed cleric slowly walked back to Ravenous Tiger¡¯s side. He was a clever man, and could see the bitterness and uncertainty in the beleaguered governor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do not be disheartened by what has become of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. A great cache of resources has been revealed. We need only take it for ourselves. You will be given lordship over the Woodland Vale, a place even more defendable than your mountain and wealth a hundred- - no, a thousand-fold greater. You should understand the value.¡± The Crimson One knew how to entice men¡¯s hearts. A promise such as this would be enough to buy the zeal of many greedy men. Ravenous Tiger answered with a sad smile. Six years of his heart¡¯s blood had been spent here. Now it was gone, and to the man in red it was written off like collateral damage. But how could he cast away something he¡¯d strived so hard to build? What could buy back the loss of his home? Ravenous Tiger knew he was an insignificant cog in the Crimson One¡¯s machine. Merely a pawn, and a pawn was destined to go where the hand willed. But when a pawn stopped being useful, or did not know its place, then it was sacrificed. ¡°You have half a day to gather a search party.¡±The Crimson One was no fool. He knew this was a serious blow to the governor¡¯s loyalty, but it didn¡¯t matter. His only concern was gaining access to the Woodland Vale. ¡°I trust you have come to understand what it means to disobey me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With his fists clenched, Ravenous Tiger left to make preparations. The Crimson One did not see the harsh, cold light that flashed in his eyes once his back was turned. Likewise, a callous grin stretched across the cardinal¡¯s face. He added, ¡°Also, spread word that there is a hundred thousand gold reward for their capture. A handsome reward for anyone who can bring them to me alive. Send out the word by bird ¨C I want the whole wasteland to know the price on their head before they reach the other end of the quicksand sea.¡± A hundred thousand?! Ravenous Tiger fought the urge to vomit. That was his entire fortune, years of effort! It didn¡¯t matter, not according to the clergyman¡¯s logic. What did the riches of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough matter? Only the Vale was important! Everything they spent would be returned in spades once the valley was theirs. Ravenous Tiger was forced to comply. Throw a bone and he had to chase it, with a scrap of meat as his reward. Was he no better than a dog? He was acutely aware that he could not scheme like the old priest, but there were other ways to get the upper hand. When the gap between ability was this large, the advantage fell to the one who made the first move. So long as Ravenous Tiger remained useful, the Crimson One would have no reason to discard of him. If, however, he chose this moment to rebel then he would be destroyed where he stood. Wait. Wait for when the time was right, then things would change. *** The scorching sun blasted endless kilometers of yellow desert. Three weary sandsharks carried three exhausted passengers to the far shores of the quicksand sea. The old drunk leapt off his mount then craned his neck to look at the sky. Patting the sand from his clothes, his lips stretched back to reveal rows of rotten yellow teeth. ¡°Heh, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d live to find my way back out of that place. Must be fate.¡± ¡°If I could move, I¡¯d shove my staff right up your-¡± A pained yelp cut off the unfriendly sentiment. The pain medication had worn off and a blinding pain wracked Cloudhawk¡¯s body. It wasn¡¯t as bad as it was before, but it was still hard for him to bear. The Warden could hardly move. The plan hadn¡¯t been a complicated one. It should have been easy for Cloudhawk to help Autumn get her damn relic, learn a little about Ravenous Tiger and that red-robed fuck, then deliver the information to General Polaris. Except this suicidal old fuckwit ruined the whole damn thing. It was all his fault Cloudhawk was mutating! An old man wishing to die was still alive, and the young man desperate to live was left hung out to dry. The old drunk acted like he hadn¡¯t heard Cloudhawk¡¯s griping. He chuckled and commented on the weather. ¡°Well, after a good scuffle and a lot of travel my mouth is pretty dry, I don¡¯t know about you two. Let¡¯s find a place to throw a few back, eh?¡± ¡°Is that all you think about? You can drink my piss, you asshole!¡± Cloudhawk was in rare form. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m dying over here?! You need to get me back to the Sandbar right away!¡± A dirt-caked finger picked at earwax as the old man went on. ¡°I know. You¡¯ve been whining like a little bitch the moment we left, but the person who really saved our asses hasn¡¯t said a word.¡± Even Cloudhawk had to look at Autumn with new eyes. For the whole trip he¡¯d treated her like a burden, weak and ineffectual. She proved she was a lot stronger than he gave her credit for. It was her that protected them from the Crimson One and his evil fire. But ever since leaving with the flute, she¡¯d sat there like a rock. The relic hadn¡¯t stole her wits, had it? ¡°I killed so many people...¡± she muttered. Cloudhawk almost breathed a sigh of relief after hearing her speak. ¡°Let it go, it was them or us. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re gonna haunt you. Anyway, most of them were killed by that asshole in the red dress. If their spirits are gonna go after anybody, it¡¯ll be him first. Far as I believe they¡¯ll want to make sure he gets a taste of his own medicine and burns to death.¡± Autumn glared at him. Did this scoundrel not feel an ounce of guilt? Autumn didn¡¯t know how many people died, but it had to be in the thousands. A thousands lives cut short, many of them innocents. It was more than the gentle-natured Autumn knew how to bear. She¡¯d had no choice. The Crimson One was too strong. ¡°Now I gotta warn you, that monster isn¡¯t going to let us go easy. I bet he was making plans to hunt us down the second we jumped on those sandsharks. If we run into him again, do you have a plan?¡± Fear gripped the young girl¡¯s heart. The wastelands were rife with creatures, but the most she could gather within a thousand-meter radius were a hundred at best. If they were forced to defend themselves out here, the flute wasn¡¯t going to save them. The old drunk was starting to itch from the withdrawals. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Come on!¡± Book 3, Chapter 54 - An Encounter in the Snow The sandsharks had taken an unfamiliar route from Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, so the three fugitives couldn¡¯t return to Bonobo¡¯s hotel. They hadn¡¯t the slightest idea where they were. All they could do was blindly walk forward, out into the vast wilderness, and hope to stumble on a settlement. Several days passed. They never met a soul. Desolation stretched as far as the eye could see, with no signs of life or a drop of water for kilometers all around. Cloudhawk had enough food and water available through the phase stone that they wouldn¡¯t starve, but it was only prolonging what seemed to be an inevitable slow roasting out here in the sands. Hard as it was for Autumn and the old man, Cloudhawk found it difficult to put one foot in front of the other. He¡¯d hardly slept a wink. It was the fourth day. Cloudhawk had managed to get a few good hours of slept, and woke up feeling better. The pain was still there, but it¡¯d eased enough that he could handle it. Of course, that wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. It probably meant Trespasser had completed the first stages of mutation, so his symptoms were less noticeable. Cloudhawk¡¯s night vision was fairly keen, he could peer out into the surrounding darkness without a problem. It was almost pitch black. No stars or moon overhead, no light. But he could still see the wastelands clear as day. He could even see a few glittering snowflakes as they tumbled through the sky. No wonder it was so cold, he thought. It was snowing. It only rained a handful of times out in the wastelands, and snow was even more uncommon. Cloudhawk could count the times he¡¯d seen it on one hand. Laying out here in the dark he could see every flake. It wasn¡¯t something he could do before. It seemed the mutations were starting to manifest. He couldn¡¯t drag this out for much longer. He needed to find the Dark Atom. They were the largest Seeker organization out there, with the most remarkable scientists in all the wasteland. Cloudhawk¡¯s illness was genetic in nature, so he knew there wasn¡¯t anything in the elysian lands that could help him. The Dark Atom was the only group that had an answer, he was sure of it. But their headquarters was one of the greatest kept secrets in the world. If he even wanted a chance at finding it, the Sandbar was where to start. Adder claimed to know. But how far away were they from the border town? How far away was Sandbar Outpost from the Dark Atom headquarters? If it took him too long to find them, he was afraid it might be too late to reverse the process even if he got there. The Trespasser virus in Roste¡¯s body had been relatively weak, but it¡¯d turned the old man into a monster. What would the more potent strain in Cloudhawk do to him? Autumn saw that he was awake. ¡°Don¡¯t lay there like you¡¯re dead. You don¡¯t look so bad. We should keep moving.¡± Cloudhawk chuckled darkly. He reached his hands back behind his head to form a pillow. ¡°You in a hurry? Are you worried about me?¡± ¡°Like hell. I¡¯m eager for you to die, actually. I¡¯m worried we¡¯re being followed.¡± Autumn¡¯s teeth audibly ground in anger. He wasn¡¯t taking their situation at all seriously. She saw that he was struggling, and while she would never let it show she was concerned for him. Autumn didn¡¯t understand why she cared at all for this bastard, but it was true that he was an important part of her success so far. She didn¡¯t want to watch him suffer and die if she could help it. They had to get back as soon as possible. Cloudhawk was preparing a few teasing words when from the darkness came the twitter of a bird. Oddball came back to their small crew with its wings beating furiously. Cloudhawk¡¯s coy phrases were replaced with surprise. ¡°The little guy found a settlement! Cut the shit, let¡¯s get moving!¡± By dawn they could see the outpost dim on the horizon. ¡°Finally, alcohol!¡± After four days without a drink the old man was starting to lose his mind. ¡°I hope whatever they got tastes halfway decent.¡± Cloudhawk, walking at his side, rolling his eyes so hard they threatened to pop out of his skull. They could make their wine out of horse piss and he¡¯d still drink it. When they arrived, the old fiend heartlessly abandoned them for the nearest watering hole. Autumn hastened to ask the first person they saw for directions, and discovered that they were a four or five day walk from the border of Skycloud domain. They¡¯d completely missed the Dust Bowl Hotel, but were still in the northern barrens. ¡°Now that we know the way we shouldn¡¯t waste any time.¡± Autumn still held onto the flute with her frail hands. She never let it out of her sight. There was no question that the girl was exhausted, but she had no intention of staying in this settlement. ¡°We should get a couple vehicles and head back to Sandbar Outpost.¡± She looked at Cloudhawk and quickly made her case. ¡°We¡¯re still pretty close to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. After barely managing to escape we don¡¯t want to be caught again. The Sandbar is out in the borderlands, and I doubt Ravenous Tiger and his people who dare cause trouble so close to the elysian border.¡± Cloudhawk took a rare break from ridiculing her and sighed instead. ¡°I think we¡¯re in trouble.¡± She paused, unsure what he meant. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± A snowflake about the size of a fingernail floated in the air between them. Cloudhawk reached out and grabbed it, and the snowflake quickly melted in his grip. ¡°A rare snow day. Perfect weather for killing,¡± Cloudhawk muttered to himself. Autumn saw what he meant. There was something odd about the atmosphere in town. It was unsettlingly quiet. Although there were a number of people out and about, no one spoke to each other. In fact, it seemed everyone¡¯s attention was on them. Hard eyes followed them, filled with dark intentions and a covetous shine. Whack! The bar¡¯s door was flung open. A group of four or five men tumbled out and smacked into the adjoining house. The old cripple stumbled out after them, followed by a small avalanche of empty wine bottle. He polished off the one in his hand and punctuated it with a burp of satisfaction. He chuckled. ¡°You sorry sacks o¡¯ shit think you can grab us?¡± Seeing their plan betrayed, someone among the crowds shouted. ¡°Now! Surround them!¡± A hundred people appeared suddenly, closing in from every direction. They held knives, guns, bows, and whatever other item they could use as a weapon. The murderous intent pouring off of them had reached a fever pitch. While Cloudhawk and the others had fled Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, Ravenous Tiger had done what he was instructed and sent out their bounty. Dozens of letters were sent all throughout the wastelands, stating that the Sanctum of Judgment and Fishmonger¡¯s Borough had issued a joint bounty of ten thousand gold coins to anyone who could bring the three fugitives in alive. One was a young woman in a green dress carrying a flute. Another was a dark, thin drunkard with a lame leg. The third was a black-haired young man in leather armor, a grey cloak, and a mask. They stuck out like sore thumbs. When word of the bounty spread it sent the wastelands into a tizzy. Hundreds of trackers and hunters gathered in the area for their shot, looking for any sign of their quarry. They could hardly believe their luck when the three escapees waltzed right into town like they didn¡¯t have a care in the world. Sheep sauntering right into the tiger¡¯s den. Out here, a single elysian gold coin could buy a man¡¯s life or a beautiful female slave. Ten gold could buy you a crew willing to do all manner of evils. A hundred gold was enough to establish a crew, and a thousand was more wealth than most knew what to do with. These strangers¡¯ lives were worth a hundred times that! Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was wiling to give up a fortune for these criminals to make sure they didn¡¯t get away. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but you lot are worth a whole lot of money. There¡¯s no way you¡¯re walkin¡¯ out of here.¡± A man with a deep voice separated from the crowd. He was a middle-aged fellow with a long leather coat and a cold, craggy face. He moved in a purposeful, yet restrained way ¨C the sort of way an experienced hunter might. ¡°I see a few familiar faces as well. Come on out.¡± ¡°Heheheh! I guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised to find you here, Owl.¡± A smaller group pushed their way to the fore from different angles. One was a fierce looking man with a pair of swords on his back. There was also a dwarf with what could only be described as a hand connon. Then there was a woman, who absent stroked a python that wound its way around her body. These three appeared to be unique among the other bounty hunters. In fact, all four were famous out here in the barrens. The mob of hungry thugs that surrounded Cloudhawk were a combination of their crews. Eighty-something in total. The middle-aged man went on. ¡°The take is more than any one of us can handle solo. I say we tackle this together, split the reward. What do you think?¡± ¡°Fine by me!¡± The other wastelander leaders agreed with the plan. With an offer this big for their capture, it was obvious the three fugitives weren¡¯t your typical criminals. All four crews knew it was a risk, but the rewards were too attractive to pass up. Even if they were risking their lives, a hundred thousand gold was worth it. It would be stupid to fight each other when their prey was enough of a threat. A hundred thousand gold! Even if everyone here got a share it was enough to set them all up for life. The dwarf with the hand cannon grinned darkly as he looked over the three targets. He fidgeted, anxious to act. ¡°For years we¡¯ve wandered the wastelands making a living. There isn¡¯t a ruthless psychopath I haven¡¯t encountered. If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll surrender and come quietly. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough might want you alive but they didn¡¯t say anything about being in one piece.¡± As the crowds closed in, sinister promise gleamed in their eyes. But before anyone could make a move, the air was pierced by an elegant and frigid voice. ¡°These three are mine. You all can fuck off.¡± What? Who would be so bold! The voice had come from a woman. Dozens of angry glares turned toward the speaker. A woman wrapped in a tattered cloak stood at the gate of the settlement. Her tale, attractive body was covered from head to toe in dust from the road. Her face was hidden beneath a frayed hood, revealing only threads of raven black hair. She didn¡¯t wait for their irritated responses. Zzzzzzrrrrmmm! A sharp hum buzzed in their ears. Bright light glimmered from the woman¡¯s hand, where a sword composed entirely of light rested. The hunters shuffled backward a step. Demonhunter! But so what if she was? If this were a common bounty they might back down, but for a hundred thousand gold they weren¡¯t going to go home ¨C even for a demonhunter. She didn¡¯t give them much time to consider. The girl brandished her weapon, the saber of light glowing bright as a star. A column of light pierced the sky until she brought it crashing down. It cleaved the outpost gates in half, and split the earth from one end of the settlement to the other. A number of stone building collapsed, the light incinerating everything it touched. The camp was cut almost in half with one swing of her sword! What terrible power was this?! Even the four notorious hunters stared wide-eyed at the scene. The dwarf had spoke true; they had traversed the wastelands for years facing some of the most dangerous targets. Yet before the woman¡¯s opening display even they felt powerless. All notions of defying her were burned away by the light of her sword. The woman cherished words like gold. Her point made, she offered a final suggestion. ¡°Leave.¡± Yeah, a fortune was grand ¨C but you had to be alive to spend it. From what they witnessed this woman could level the entire settlement all by herself, so when she told them to fuck off it was a good idea to listen. The four hunters looked at one another, saw the hopelessness reflected in each other¡¯s eyes, and ultimately chose to withdraw. With the others gone, the woman slowly approached the escapees. The harsh wasteland winds plucked at her coat, from time to time revealing lily-white flesh beneath, delicate as jade. Her hood remained in place but threads of hair danced in the breeze. Every step seemed to bring with it a stifling pressure, forcing many spectators to take shaky steps backward. Snow drifted down from above, swirling on the dancing winds. She stopped a few feet away. Cloudhawk looked at her hands, at the gloves that covered them. He saw the cross-shaped necklace and felt that familiar hum. For the first time in a long time, a genuine smile crossed his tired face. [ref] The title of this chapter can be read in two ways: ¡®Meeting Enemies in the Snow¡¯ and ¡®Meeting Old Friends in the Snow.¡¯ Take that as you will. Book 3, Chapter 55 - A Mighty Ally Autumn clutched the flute. Fear stole all the color from her face but she stared daggers at the woman standing before them. Then she saw what was hiding beneath the hood, and for a moment she forgot herself. Unless she¡¯d seen it for herself, she wouldn¡¯t have believed there was a woman so pretty in all the world. The young girl from the Vale felt like a peasant. Truthfully, Autumn was a beautiful young woman. But where her beauty bore a sense of innocence and purity, this newcomer was as beautiful as a snow-capped mountain ¨C cold, majestic, and indomitable. Both women were stunning, and while neither could be said to be more beautiful than the other, there was a clear discrepancy in bearing. Autumn was like a forest fairy, a natural phenomenon. She was elegant, frail, like a single lotus floating on a clear forest pond. The woman standing before her now was ethereal, like she was hardly from this world at all. Faultless, noble, her presence stole your breath. Hers was the sort of beauty men fought wars over. The ladies made for quite a juxtaposition: Autumn, the rare bird of paradise deep in a mystical forest; And this stranger, an edelweiss standing proudly alone on a mountain peak ¨C peering down upon the common flowers of the world but refusing to vie with them. Beautiful, commanding, powerful. She was young as well, in her early twenties, but nothing about her spoke to immaturity. Her perfect arrogance made her unassailable, a flower that can be appreciated but never plucked. Who was she?! Her manner alone showed that she was no ordinary wastelander. Autumn had begun to tremble and sweat. The mere presence of this rare class of woman was overwhelming. Yet this supernatural beauty, when she stood before them, bore no violent intent. Her bright eyes were fixed upon the young man seated on the floor, and for a moment something flashed through their depths. Her lips slowly curled into a smile. It was stunning, like watching a glacier melt. Even as a woman Autumn was immediately enamored. Untouchable as a goddess, but the smile she had for this young man was genuine and affectionate. At last, she raised her hands and pulled the hood down from her face. The sun¡¯s light finally revealed her in full. Gasps arose from the crowd of settlers who stood watching nearby. It was like witnessing the appearance of an immortal. Selene Cloude stood over Cloudhawk, looking down at him. Cloudhawk looked back up at her, and the two stayed that way for a time just smiling. Selene spoke first, her voice calm and warm like she was addressing an old friend. Autumn could hear the fondness in her words. ¡°How are you? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± Cloudhawk did now show any reservation toward the radiant beauty. He openly gave her the once-over. ¡°Hey, after four years you¡¯ve only gotten stronger and prettier. Leaving no opportunity for us common folk to catch up, eh? Should I call you the Bloodsoaked Queen or Selene Cloude?¡± Selene Cloude? This was Selene Cloude?! The exceptional talent who had forsaken Skycloud domain five years ago! The old drunk was visibly struck by the revelation. He¡¯d suspected it was her when he saw the sword of light, but hearing it from Cloudhawk¡¯s mouth he still found it hard to believe. Five years. She¡¯d stunned all of Skycloud back when she was sixteen years old. Dawn Polaris, Frost de Winter, Atlas, Blaze¡­ none of them were her equal. She was praised as a once in a generation talent, the only person in all of Skycloud¡¯s history with the potential to become a master demonhunter before thirty. In terms of talent, Arcturus himself would not have been her equalback in his day. However, it was at the height of her fame and potential that she vanished into the wastelands. For five years, no one in the eylsian lands had heard any news of what became of her. The old man looked her over and fought the surge of emotion that washed over him. He saw in her that same elegant, arrogant bearing he remembered from someone else years ago. He laughed to himself; So young and already she has your strength of character. There¡¯s no question she¡¯s your daughter. Cloudhawk was also emotional. Four long years had passed since he¡¯d seen her. He remembered the first time they met, back in Blackflag Outpost. She was so full of faith and hatred. He remembered her arrogance, her drive ¨C she was every bit the Bloodsoaked Queen. She was different now, though. She¡¯d changed. He wondered where her travels had brought her over all this time. Her beauty, strength and demeanor had only grown more brilliant since the last time they were together. She seemed less impetuous. That rage which had always bubbled just below the surface was more restrained. There was no question that ten thousand miles through the wasteland, and five years of conflict had tempered her. She¡¯d grown a lot, more than she ever would sheltered back in the elysian lands. Selene Cloude was definitely a pillar of a woman, more than capable of handling herself in any conflict. But there was something missing¡­ Cloudhawk realized it quickly. Praise for her gods was once every other word out of her mouth. She was a paragon of faith, willing to die in service to her deity. Her disdain for the filth of the wastelands was almost legendary. But now¡­ that stubborn zeal in her eyes was absent. Whatever she¡¯d experienced out here had made her doubt that faith. Or maybe she was strong enough now that she didn¡¯t need it anymore. Selene Cloude had changed. Cloudhawk also wasn¡¯t the same boy who left. When Selene knew him, he was only fourteen or fifteen years old. Short, thin, weak, but bursting with a fierce instinct for staying alive. The Cloudhawk before her now was around twenty. He¡¯d grown tall, and a proper diet had filled him out. He had to be much stronger than he had been. Somewhere along the way he cast aside his youthful brashness, and she could sense that his bone-deep defiance had diminished. It¡¯d been replaced with a kind of brow-beaten indolence. One without faith, and one without spirit. [1] A lot had happened to both of them over the years. A steady march of experiences that left their mark. In the end, had they gained more than they lost? Neither had an answer. The paths they¡¯d taken and the scars they left were known only to them. ¡°Time sure is a fuckin¡¯ butcher¡¯s knife!¡± Cloudhawk commented wryly. Selene¡¯s attention turned briefly to the old man. There was more to the vagrant than his looks, she knew, but she didn¡¯t stop to ponder what. He was dressed like any other wastelander, after all. However, there was a sparkle of something in her eyes when she looked at Autumn. ¡°Who are your friends?¡± Selene had never met the girl, of course. But didn¡¯t she recognize the old man? Maybe Cloudhawk¡¯s guess about his identity was wrong. ¡°Hello sister, I¡¯m Autumn.¡± She was calmer now that she knew the woman wasn¡¯t here to harm them. When she saw what Selene had done with one stroke to the settlement¡¯s buildings, her mind had been filled with awful guesses as to what it would do to her own body. But she swallowed them down, and offered envious praise. ¡°You¡¯re incredible! Compared to others I know who just brag all the time, you saved us just when it was needed. A hundred times more reliable!¡± Cloudhawk scowled petulantly. What the hell was she doing rubbing his face in the mud?! The old man eschewed a self-introduction for a yawn, and posed a question of his own. ¡°What¡¯s the Cloude family darling doing all the way out here on her lonesome?¡± In fact, Cloudhawk was also curious. Was Selene a soothsayer now? How did she knew where to be just when the three of them were in trouble? Her answer was offered placidly. ¡°I am looking for a relic that releases green fire, and I heard there is a church active in the wastelands that claims to have this power. After a few weeks I learned it was the church¡¯s leader who commanded the fires, but no one knew where he was. News came to me that three people had come into conflict with this man, the Crimson One, out in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. I came to see what I could discover.¡± So that was it. Clever plan. Cloudhawk repleid with a chuckle. ¡°Heh. Well you got the right people. That wrinkled ballsack is probably right on our trail. We should join up, deal with him together.¡± The old man¡¯s lips curled in a mocking grin. ¡°You think the Crimson One is that easy to defeat? Even with the baby Cloude here I put our chances at no better than thirty percent.¡± Autumn was visibly skeptical of the old man¡¯s dire warning. Were their chances really so low? Had he seen what she did with the light? Protecting them against the Crimson One had been a fluke, and no one expected Autumn to be able to do it a second time. There was simply too wide a gap between their power. Strong as Selene was, she was still young and largely inexperienced. Only the likes of Arcturus would be able to stand toe to toe against the Crimson One and stand a chance. The drunk was a mysterious one, and Cloudhawk trusted he knew what he was talking about. As much as he wanted to rip that cross-dressing fuck a new asshole, it wasn¡¯t worth dying over. Wiser to put up with his grievances for now. There was no expiration date on vengeance. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Autumn balked at her protector¡¯s lack of spine. Her contempt for him grew. News of their arrival in the outpost spread fast. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the Crimson One knew precisely where they were. If they didn¡¯t get a move on soon, their situation would only get worse ¨C and quick. The closer they got to the elysian lands, the better their chances. Strong as the Crimson One and his cronies were, they wouldn¡¯t dare piss off Skycloud. If they stuck close to the border the Crimson Church would have to keep themselves in check, a fact that worked to their benefit. Avoiding conflict entirely was a tall order. With just the three of them there was a one in ten chance of escaping the Crimson One. Now that they¡¯d met up with Selene their chances increased to one in three, a significant improvement. After a brief search of the settlement they found no cars, but there were beasts they could use as mounts. Wasting no time, the four travelers struck out once again toward the border of the elysian lands. Their goal was to get as close as possible before the enemy caught up. 1. Really, what a fantastic exchange. Even as translator Cloudhawk¡¯s gruff persona had me fooled. Through the lens of an old friend it becomes obvious that years of disappointment, being told what to do and what to believe, Cloudhawk had become jaded. This also puts his relationship with Autumn into new light. Perhaps he treats her so poorly because he sees that na?vet¨¦ that life wrung out of him. Book 3, Chapter 56 - Returning the Favor Selene was as strong of body as she was of resolve. She never backed down in the face of a threat! Even with sour odds she was more than willing to give her all and fight for victory. Blindly rushing into the wastelands to kill a demon all on her own was proof of her determination. Even a fool knew that only a master demonhunter could face a demon alone, and she was still a novice at the time. Strong for a novice, yes, but not nearly capable of killing a demon, much less trying to defeat it on its own turf. Selene had strode off full of grim determination like it was a decision based in logic. It wasn¡¯t, she was a font of emotion. Cloudhawk was surprised, then, that she¡¯d changed so much. The old Selene would have balked after suggesting they flee, but this time she didn¡¯t protest. Unthinkable! The two briefly shared what they¡¯d been doing for the last stretch of time. Cloudhawk learned why Selene was looking for the Crimson One. The Caliph of the Sands was not her father¡¯s killer, contrary to what she believed, but the master of the Crimson Church might have had something to do with his demise. All these years she¡¯d been searching, hunting, tracking. What a hard life for a young woman to choose. Things had gone better for Cloudhawk. He had earned a title as demonhunter, officially, and the backing of the Polaris family. If he kept with this trajectory he had a bright future to look forward to. Wasn¡¯t that just what she¡¯d hope would come to him? She kept a straight face as he described what he¡¯d been through. Why would Cloudhawk choose to align himself with the general¡¯s family, and not the governor? Her recommendation had been to present himself to Arcturus Cloude. Her uncle¡¯s keen eye for talent and depth of wisdom certainly would be able to recognize Cloudhawk¡¯s worth. Coming under his tutelage, there was no limit to what the wastelander could accomplish. So why Skye Polaris? ¡°You say the general has asked you to look into the Crimson One?¡± This piece of information stuck out. She knew who Cloudhawk was and where he came from. A wastelander, who had from the start pursued a life of freedom and self-determination. He cared about his own life, and not much else. He certainly wasn¡¯t the sort to risk his life for others, or for power. So why would he agree on such a dangerous mission on behalf of Skye Polaris? Cloudhawk went on to explain his situation. He went over his trek through the wastes, finally arriving at Skycloud city only to be met by Frost de Winter. He described the conflict that followed, his brief struggle against the governor, and ultimately how the Polaris family stepped in for his protection. Part of the deal, he explained, was that he had to undergo training in Hell¡¯s Valley and work for the general until his debt was paid. Hearing this, the old drunk felt some relief. No wonder he¡¯d never heard of the boy. Autumn, however, was not pleased by his tale. Although the signs were there, she would not have guessed that this rapacious, despicable, flippant scoundrel had been born in the wastelands. The torturous journey he¡¯d gone through to get where he was today was awful, but he was still such a hateful person! He lied to me! She thought Cloudhawk agreed to help because she appealed to his better nature. All of a sudden she was confronted with how stupid she¡¯d been. The asshole never had a shred of conscience to appeal to! None of the fortune of eboncrys she¡¯d offered had convinced him to go on the journey, it was all because it happened to coincide with his mission to learn about the Crimson One. Bastard! Asshole! To think she¡¯d felt guilty! Autumn thought Cloudhawk had shouldered the dangers of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough and gotten injured to help with her quest. In reality, he did it to himself. The gods couldn¡¯t take him soon enough. Every minute he lived was a scourge on humanity! The small group traveled as fast as they could, reaching the elysian border by the fourth night. The only place they¡¯d be safe was here near that mountain range. It wasn¡¯t Skycloud, but it was close enough that it was under their protection. Wastelander cities and their hunger for that ten thousand gold reward wouldn¡¯t dare reach so close to the elysians. In addition, Skycloud had strengthened its hold over the borderlands lately, flooding it with more soldiers and clamping down on lawlessness. Oddball flapped back over to Cloudhawk after scouting around. It made sure they were safe for the time being, and picked out a good place for them to rest. ¡°There¡¯s a settlement ahead. The lizards are tired, let¡¯s bunker down for a while and get ourselves together before we press o. Sandbar Outpost is still about a day away, by the time we get back it won¡¯t matter if they catch up.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s condition was going from bad to worse as they traveled. He felt much stronger ¨C in fact every facet of his physical body was improved. Some parts of him were even beginning to show mutation, proving that he didn¡¯t have time to lay around. He need to find a way to stop the process before it was too late. ¡°Boss, we found the targets!¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely them. Go after them!¡± A group of several hundred capable soldiers were lying in ambush. They saw the group of weary travelers approach on tired mounts and their eyes gleamed dangerously. Hands gripped tight to swords and bows, and they gathered themselves to attack at a moment¡¯s notice. All they needed was the order. In the dark room in which they waited was a particularly dark silhouette. He was a handsome, dark-skinned man seated with his eyes closed. Beside the valiant figure was another, a young fellow with delicate features and wearing a headscarf. A stalk of withered grass jutted from one corner of his mouth, and his hand lay idly on the shaft of an exorcist staff looped through his belt. The hand was covered in bandages that reached all the way up his arm. He stood there in the darkness, calm as a lake surface. Two others stood behind the young man. One, a swordsman with a pallid face. The other was a boy clutching tight to a gourd. They were an odd pair. ¡°They¡¯re close!¡± ¡°Boss, give the order!¡± Squall clenched his jaw and crushed the stalk of grass between his teeth, but he did not act. The towering black-skinned man finally opened his eyes before finally offering an emotionless response. ¡°There are more of them. Spread the order ¨C no one moves. Wait and watch.¡± The boy-like fiend with the gourd spoke up. He looked like a boy, but he spoke with the authority of an elder. ¡°Now is the best opportunity. Why are you hesitating? We have our best people here, it doesn¡¯t matter how strong they are. We need the treasure of the Millennium Vale and the key to it is right there. I¡¯m sure our illustrious leader knows how important that is.¡± Several of the Highwaymen around them nodded fervently. They were chomping at the bit to act. Seeing that he was losing them, Squall sighed. He began to reach out with his mind toward Blackfiend, when one of the bandits called out in alarm. ¡°Look the sky! Fire!¡± ¡°Shit for brains, how can there be fire in the sky?¡± Several of the bandits peeked out, but their skepticism soon changed to surprise. What was this, a fuckin¡¯ ghost invasion? Balls of fire floated through the clouds, and not just normal fire either. It was green. The sky was full of it, maybe a hundred orbs like a meteor shower in slow motion. Squall¡¯s face suddenly hardened. ¡°Shit! Tell all the men to find cover!¡± The Highwaymen had been so focused on the impending attack that the new circumstance took them completely by surprise. Before they could get their bearings, the orbs of fire came crashing down among the settlement. Most of them were focused on the outpost¡¯s center, where the four travelers had entered. As the whole settlement was engulfed in fire there wasn¡¯t a lick of heat. Instead the sickly green flames filled everyone with a frigid sense of dread. Just it seemed the small group would be incinerated, one of the women lurched forward. She flung an unassuming gourd into the air, and from it exploded a dozen three-meter long birds of orange flame. They beat their blazing wings, bringing them into the path of the green orbs and ramming into them with a frightening explosion. A dazzling scene of sparks and tongues of flame danced overhead. The act was repeated over and over again. Red and green warred for dominance and sparks wafted down among the people like burning snowflakes. Both powers were fierce and unwilling to abate, but the green fires were more potent. It swallowed up everything with a voracious hunger, and those that were not quick enough to avoid the cataclysmic scene were turned to blackened residue. The most humble looking of the group, an old man, stamped his foot on the ground. It immediately cracked from the force and spat shards of stone into the air. When the next volley of green fire descended, it was prevented from reaching them by this cloud of debris. At the same time, the woman raised her gloved hands. Turbulent flames arose from around her hands, then quickly spread to create a shell around her and her allies. In an instant all the world around them burst into flame, a pyroblast that immediately swelled to incredible dimensions. The sheer ferocity of it beat back the orbs of green fire that tried to fight through. It was so intense, in fact, that several nearby buildings were blown apart as though from a bomb blast. The unlucky bandits hiding inside looked at each other in speechless despair. Suddenly they were alone in a hell of green and red fire with no recourse but to scream and die. ¡°Strong!¡± Squall and the others remained hidden in their dark room, watching what transpired. Twice the woman acted, and both times the power she displayed was breathtaking. Inwardly he praised his instincts in not rushing into battle. If he hadn¡¯t, there was no question most of their hunting party would have been wiped out. The old man wasn¡¯t to be discounted, either. Shit ¨C just one of these characters was a big deal. How many impressive people did Cloudhawk surround himself with? Squall fought the unhappy feeling in the pit of his stomach. A man descended from the heavens, clad in red robes and wreathed in green flame. With an ornate staff in hand he dropped to the ground before the four fugitives. As the woman protected them with her shield of flame he pummeled her defenses. Dozens of thrusts from his crosier buffeted them, whipping around to assail them from several different directions. Most were angled to put maximum pressure on the woman. The old man moved in to assist. He used his exorcist staff to ward off what he could. Selene was nearing the limit of what she could handle. Her chest heaved with deep gulping breaths, and the continuous blasts forced her to stagger backwards. She was struggling, but so far could handle it. A few stray blows got close to Autumn and Cloudhawk as well. Fear gripped the young girl from the Vale ¨C she was too feeble to protect herself from the Crimson One¡¯s terrible attack. Selene and the old man were too busy defending their own lives. Cloudhawk squared his shoulders and threw himself between her and the attack. They struck his body with a series of dull thuds, the force of them causing Cloudhawk to cough up a mouthful of blood. They hit so hard that by all rights Cloudhawk should have been blasted to pieces, but he was not the same man. Ever cell in his body was active, filling him with potency. Rattled, he was otherwise alright. The old man lashed out with the exorcist staff like a rabid dragon. A gust of turbulent power rose. Red robes flapped dramatically as the Crimson One withdrew. In a blink he was fifteen meters away. Green fires burned behind his eyes, looking for all the world like a denizen of hell. He paused to look over the beleaguered fugitives, sparing a few extra seconds to regard Selene. Something he saw gave him pause, but he quickly recovered as though nothing had happened. Cloudhawk mocked him with cold laughter. ¡°Hey Pinky! You finally made it!¡± ¡°You have arrived. This can only mean you draw close to the truth.¡± The Crimson One ignored Cloudhawk and fixed his eyes on Selene. For the moment none of the others existed. ¡°But you are too young still to face me alone.¡± Selene stepped forward, her cloak billowing in the winds. Her sword of light burst into being and brought with it a stifling sense of majesty. Her eyes bore through the man in red like she could kill him with a glare. ¡°Hey now, don¡¯t count your chickens before they¡¯re hatched,¡± Cloudhawk said through a lopsided grin. He raised his voice and shouted toward the surrounding buildings. ¡°Squall! I know you¡¯re there, you can stop hiding!¡± He was exposed. Squall was left with no choice but to tell his men to stay at the ready, then stepped out with Greensnake, Gremlin, and Blackfiend by his side. The building they stepped out of was positioned behind the man in red. ¡°It seems despite our efforts we still couldn¡¯t hide from you.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste any time with pleasantries. ¡°I know why you¡¯re here, but we can put our own shit aside for the moment. This geriatric is super cranky, and it just so happens his goal is the same as yours. I wondered what you thought about that.¡± Squall was quiet for a moment. He knew what Cloudhawk was getting at. So it seemed like today they were unavoidably pulled into a fight that wasn¡¯t theirs. His answer came in a resigned drawl. ¡°Alright. I suppose I still owe you one.¡± Book 3, Chapter 57 - Solidarity Fishmonger¡¯s Borough sent out two hundred of their best soldiers to hunt the fugitives down. However, in the interest of speed they split up their force. Six members of the Crimson Church and about a dozen soldiers were hurrying with Ravenous Tiger toward the settlement. Though few in number, the group¡¯s destructive capabilities were incredible! Ravenous Tiger had participated in several secret missions for Skycloud authorities. It was during those times that he saw the true nature of elysian power, and lost faith in those he called master. He feared for his own life, for he knew what happened to those who knew too much. In order to save his own life he was willing to forsake his name, his family, and his honor to escape to the wastelands. Forced to assume a new name, he took on the mantle of governor. However, his change in circumstance didn¡¯t change his nature. Ravenous Tiger was still ambitious and greedy. His hunger for wealth, women, power, and talented subordinates was all-consuming. For years he played the warlord. On the one hand he provided elysians with information about the wild lands outside their borders, while simultaneously he helped the Sanctum of Judgment grow in strength and prominence. However, both were merely steps in his ultimate plan. For years he hoarded wealth and women, but also surreptitiously took in anyone worth their salt. Day after day he gathered strength as quietly as he could, in the hopes that eventually he could break off and finally be his own master. That was what he dreamed of, finally being able to determine his own life. He never wanted to have to look into anyone else¡¯s smug face and swallow their orders ever again. The small group of soldiers able to keep up with the Crimson One were the best Fishmonger¡¯s Borough could provide. Pick any one at random and they were sure to be the equal of any elysian top officer. They were the greatest immaterial asset Fishmonger¡¯s Borough possessed, more precious than any treasure in the governor¡¯s vault. Now, at the Crimson One¡¯s command, they were supposed to throw themselves into the fires? The thought gnawed at Ravenous Tiger, but he dared not disobey£¡ Elysian authorities knew for a long time that Ravenous Tiger was double-dealing. The Crimson One also guessed his henchman¡¯s self-serving logic. Yet neither cut him down, purely because the spot he occupied made him useful, valuable. But years of having his strings pulled had worn him thin ¨C Ravenous Tiger needed to be the master of his own destiny. ¡°Go take a look.¡± Ravenous Tiger picked someone from the group with a gesture. The scout hurried up a nearby incline to look out over the horizon. This one was covered in rough skin, with half his body covered in scars. He had a darker complexion, and was born with a head of spindly white hair. He looked normal enough but for a pair of enormously strong strong at least twice the size of any other strongman he knew. The skin there was much tough, like rhino hide. While off-putting at first glance, the advantage was clear. A buster sword was his weapon of choice, two meters long and as wide as his waist. The weight of it alone was potentially fatal and its presence on his back made the man look terrifying. He looked over the desert toward the settlement, where he saw the Crimson One soar into action. Hovering over the town he rained destruction with a hundred fiery green orbs. Like an angel of devastation he fell upon the settlement and proceeded to reduce it to ruin. Seconds later he was locked in combat with a pair of formidable opponents, though obviously still maintained the upper hand. ¡°That fucker is no joke!¡± The man pulled his sword free and hacked at a boulder nearby. With a screech the sword cleaved it in half, leaving behind a mirror-like fissure. It was a dramatic show of what the sword ¨C and the man who wielded it ¨C could do. He was anxious to turn it on their enemies. ¡°The fight¡¯s started, boss. Are we going in?¡± The swordsman was a big name back in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. He¡¯d made waves on his own out in the wastelands before joining Ravenous Tiger¡¯s crew. With his natural strength and ferocity, he once tore apart several bulls with his bare hands. Years of training in the Borough¡¯s had also taught him how to harness his true power, turning him into a competent martial artist. Over time he rose to prominence as Ravenous Tiger¡¯s right-hand man, one of his most trusted followers. Ravenous Tiger stood amid the desert with his relic battleax resting in the sand. His eyes narrowed in thought and a strange light flickered in their depths. His thick fingers rubbed one of his rings, a sign he was lost in thought. After a few seconds he made his decision. ¡°No rush. The bishop can handle himself. Let them wear each other out, then when their guard is down we¡¯ll move in for the kill. Catch them unprepared.¡± His henchman grinned sadistically. ¡°Understood.¡± He looked like a brigand, but there was intelligence behind the bloodlust. After all, after so many years with the governor he¡¯d come to know how the big man thought. The six priests, however, looked at one another in speechless displeasure. However, their leader was a powerful man and these fugitives couldn¡¯t be much of a threat. As for Ravenous Tiger, the fat governor wouldn¡¯t dare disobey his master. Ravenous Tiger walked forward, eyes narrowed. Whatever he was thinking was inscrutable behind his hard gaze. As they slowly approached the sounds of battle were deafening and shook the ground. There was no doubt the Crimson One was a powerhouse of the wasteland, one of the strongest. The power of his lone attack was something to behold. Yet, much to his surprise, his colossal blows were being deflected by a single elysian. Ravenous Tiger witnessed the scene and right away his mind began to churn. An enigmatic smile spread across his face. Things just got far more interesting, and judging by the fiery manifestation of this elysian¡¯s power, she was no less a fighter than Ravenous Tiger himself. Maybe even better. Senior demonhunters weren¡¯t throwaway novices. Every one of them held status in Skycloud domain. The old cripple was as fierce as ever, even as a disabled outcast. His specialty was martial arts, but he could command a relic as well as Ravenous Tiger. After his injury he couldn¡¯t call on his true power like he used to, so this fiery display had to be from this unnamed elysian newcomer. Had Skycloud gotten involved already? If that were true then things just got a lot more complicated. It didn¡¯t matter how strong or cunning the Crimson One was, he couldn¡¯t take on the whole domain. Even discounting the presence of Arcturus, the likes of Skye Polaris and the sanctuary being personally involved was a frightening prospect. Skycloud was also famously tight-lipped, keeping their own counsel. If this was an ambush, even the Crimson One would have a hard time escaping. Ravenous Tiger was certain his decision to hang back was the right one. He would continue to watch the fight play out ¨C waiting to pick off stragglers. But would he be given the opportunity? The Crimson One continued his pitched battle against Selene. As the clash became ever more fierce, both warriors felt a creeping dread about the other. Just as the old drunk presaged, even with Selene their chances were thirty percent, at best. But the situation was about to change. Squall appeared on the field with three others; Green Snake, a martial artist, the formidable demonhunter Gremlin, but most powerful of all ¨C Blackfiend. Cloudhawk had experienced the puppet¡¯s strength face to face, and knew it had the power of a veteran demonhunter. Stronger, even ¨C for a human could die no matter how strong. Blackfiend was undying. ¡°The Millennium Vale is open. Chaos and strife are unavoidable. Your homeland is the only place with the resources to contend against Skycloud. If your peple should fall into the hands of the elysians, then the world is without hope.¡± The Crimson One stood regally before them, crosier in hand and demeanor calm. Tendrils of green fire continued to swirl around him like a host of vipers. They roiled with dangerous promise, as though they might strike at any moment. ¡°What Ido is not for personal gain. In time, you will understand.¡± Selene held her sword at the ready, face coldly indifferent to his pleas. ¡°Your goal is to destroy Skycloud domain?¡± ¡°The destruction of your home is the aim of the Dark Atom. I am not interested in destruction ¨C but liberation. Mankind has been deceived for too long. Only when elysians and wastelanders learn to join forces will they be capable of recapturing their destiny. This is why I must reach the Millennium Vale.¡± ¡°You¡¯re dreaming!¡± Autumn shouted back at him angrily. ¡°The Valley is a paradise, left to us by the Shepherd Goddess. It is ours and no one else¡¯s, and we will never let the ambitious and greedy lay claim! Especially no one as mad and as evil as you!¡± ¡°What the fuck are we wasting time talking to this asshole for?¡± Cloudhawk figured that with Squall¡¯s help they sat at a fifty-fifty chance of getting out with their skins intact. With equal odds he felt emboldened, and used his phase stone to pull an exorcist bow from storage. ¡°This senile fuck is obviously burning time for reinforcements to get here. I could see through the dumbshit plan if I was thinking with my asshole. Don¡¯t waste time talking. Attack!¡± At his command Selene and the old man were a blur as they charged forward. Autumn gave voice to the Call of the Shepherd Goddess, summoning aid from any beasts nearby. Gremlin and Green Snake hesitated as they watched it all unfold. This wasn¡¯t their fight, better to disengage. ¡°Can¡¯t you see how strong he is?¡± Squall struggled to find a way to motivate them, but eventually found one. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that our mission is to take control of the wastelands. The bishop is going to be an enemy sooner or later. Deal with him, then we can kill Cloudhawk and the others.¡± Green Snake turned his eyes searchingly toward Gremlin. The demonhunter thought for a moment, but ultimately reacted by slowly opening his gourd. He gave a single order. ¡°We do what we can. If it becomes too much, retreat.¡± The order given, a flood of dark smoke belched from the gourd. A host of skeleton monsters appeared from the fog. Meanwhile, Squall unfurled the bandages wound around his left arm. ¡°Attack!¡± Green Snake and his sonic sword took the lead. He lashed out half a dozen times with his weapon, sending a shower of cutting sonic booms before him. As this vicious opening assault ensued, six skeletal beings in full armor rushed forward to support from the left and right. The Crimson One faced Selene and the old man¡¯s attacks with ease. There was no trepidation as the Highwaymen leadership joined, either. With one sweep of his crosier the six skeletons were blown to pieces. The onslaught of blows from Green Snake¡¯s sonic blade dispersed. The sword in his hand shattered into a million shards. ¡°You overconfident fool! Begone!¡± With the briefest thought, the Crimson One cast forth two streams of fire. As Green Snake and Gremlin scrambled to escape, the streams collided and burst into countless balls of fire. They blanketed the battlefield, leaving nowhere for them to turn. Squall¡¯s face darkened. He surged ahead, bandages snapping, leaving his arm exposed. Stretching out his hand the tattoo-like design etched in his flesh began to glow. With arm held high, the shimmering power seemed to draw the fires closer. He was planning to crush them in his grip. Cloudhawk yelled a warning. ¡°Don¡¯t touch the fire!¡± But Squall had already gathered the bullet-sized orbs in his hand. All of a sudden his face twisted into an expression of unspeakable pain. He underestimated the terrifying power of Castigation fire. Book 3, Chapter 58 - Firestorm Squall¡¯s own right arm was a unique sort of relic. From what Cloudhawk understood, it had the power of attraction and repulsion. But Castigation fire was not your typical power. As his arms drew in the fires traces of green were revealed just beneath the surface. His skin started to crack, the arm barely held together, ready to burst. Squall¡¯s face grew heavy. Suddenly, the power was released. The cracks actually moved, slithering together to gather in his palm. They spread up to the tips of his fingers, and finally that was where the eruption occurred. A ray of concentrated green fire spewed from his fingertips, marring the ground before him. Cloudhawk watched in utter amazement. Squall really had come into his own! Ever since the red-robed bishop became leader of the Sanctum of Judgment, he¡¯d known only a few people capable of withstanding the power of Castigation. Cloudhawk managed to survive thanks to the special circumstance of his own body. Squall, on the other hand, used whatever relic was implanted in his arm to expel the threat. A strange power like this was typical of demonic artifacts, however. So who was it backing this strange youth? Squall saw for the first time the breadth of the power they were faced with. ¡°Fall back!¡± But the Crimson One was not inclined to let them escape. With an orb of green fire he repelled Selene¡¯s own flaming assault, and with his crosier he deflected an attack from the old man. In the midst of this fight he had the skill and strength to launch of strike of his own, but as he stretched forth his hand something he had not expected occurred. The black figure who had remained unmoving by Squall¡¯s side up to now made its move. Blackfiend the undying, surrounded by wisps of black power, launched forward. He moved so fast that an afterimage remained, that he cracked the sound barrier with a sonic burst. Moving a hundred meters in an instant, he used his right hand to chop at the coagulating fires gathering in the Crimson One¡¯s hand. The fingers of his left hand contorted into five pitch-black, dagger-like claws. Blackfiend swiped at the bishop with staggering speed and ferocity. He was too sudden for the Crimson One to avoid it entirely, and the claws ripped a hole in his elegant robes. His experience in battle served him well, and before Blackfiend could find purchase in his flesh he responded with the crosier. The dozen strikes he delivered were incredibly fast, blurring together so they were difficult to distinguish. They all struck their target, slamming into Blackfiend with a loud crunch. He was blasted back, crashing into a building nearby. Amid a deafening impact, the building collapsed around him. Swiping through the green fire was a death sentence. Facing the full impact of the Crimson One¡¯s attack spelled doom to anyone. The terror that was Castigation was well known, but his crosier ¨C supreme divergence ¨C was also a powerful relic. Each strike hit with the force of a thousand kilos, from all different angles. Paired with the Crimson One¡¯s depth of psychic power, it was capable of tremendous power. But Blackfiend¡¯s attack left the bishop open. An opportunity Selene was quick to exploit. Her crossblade seethed with burning light. She swung her sword, carving a blazing, brutal arc toward the bishop. The Crimson One hurriedly swung his staff around to protect himself. Caught on his back foot, the force knocked him several meters away. That had been almost more than he handle. He felt surprise grip his chest, as he realized that the woman before him was quite a lot stronger than he¡¯d given her credit for. The collapsed building suddenly erupted into a shower of debris. A black figure rose from the ruins. Blackfiend the Undying was half covered in hungry green flames. Parts of his torso were concaved where the bishop¡¯s staff had landed, and yet he just stood there in a blank, almost confused manner. His eyes had the blank cold of a corpse, yet he stood tall as gossamer-like threads of black energy swirled around him. An instant later he threw himself at the Crimson One again, heedless of its brush with oblivion. The Crimson One¡¯s face stiffened. What was this creature? Selene didn¡¯t stop with one blow from her sword. Brandishing the crossblade high, it erputed with a beam of energy that split the sky and consumed the green fires. He brought it down on the bishop¡¯s head with all her strength. The momentum behind it was breathtaking, so vicious it threatening to tear through reality. Seeing his chance, the old warrior also threw everything he could in his next attack. Gathering all of his true power into his arm, his staff vibrated as it ripped the air and birthed a roaring shock wave. In front of the bishop was the old man. Behind him, Blackfiend. Selene was coming down on him from above like a celestial being. The three attackers left him nowhere to run. Whipping winds, roaring thunder. Terrible power assailed the Crimson One from several sides, all at once. He stared death in the face. Fear cracked through the bishop¡¯s sanctimonious facade. He planted his crosier in the dirt before him, kicking up a tuft of sand. As his foes closed in he pressed his hands together. Red robes swelled, as green fire erupted from every part of him, spreading every which way. Like a bomb it consumed everything in an expanding radius of green fire, horrifying in its savagery and impetus. A lake of green fire was left behind. Boom- - -! The force of the blast alone nearly toppled buildings. The heart of the settlement exploded. The drunkard¡¯s attack was the first to reach its target. It cleaved through the shell of the expanding orb of fire like bursting a bubble. Blackfiend charged into the blast radius fearlessly. He rushed at the Crimson One but the force of the explosion knocked him away. Selene¡¯s crossblade of light was last to reach the bishop, slicing clean through the fires. They were blows away from the point of impact, erupting into the sky. Malevolent green light carpeted the settlement as a firestorm began to fall. Squall, Green Snake, Gremlin, Cloudhawk, Autumn ¨C everyone darted for the nearest cover. As they ran Autumn chastised the man beside her. ¡°Hey, why aren¡¯t you doing anything?! Your friends are in trouble and you¡¯ve can¡¯t do a damn thing!?¡± Cloudhawk scoffed and responded self-righteously. ¡°I¡¯m injured!¡± His excuses were cut short as the rain of fire started to reach them. Cloudhawk grit his teeth and threw himself of Autumn just in time to spare her from the flames, but they quickly set about trying to consume his own flesh. There was a moment of tremendous pain before the trespasser virus quenched Castigation. Though he didn¡¯t say it, inwardly he complained at Autumn¡¯s words. How many times would she have died without him putting his ass on the line? And she still had the gall to talk shit! The two of them scrambled out of the danger zone and hunkered beneath some cover. Autumn continued to summon the power of her flute. She couldn¡¯t be of much help against the Crimson One directly, but at least she could try and trip him up. However the battlefield had became a killing field of green fire. Any creature that tried to get near was immediately swallowed and reduced to ash. Her monsters were powerless to attack or defend themselves. Cloudhawk clutched his exorcist staff and started to look for an opening. His body was in no condition for close range combat, but that didn¡¯t mean Cloudhawk wash happy to stick to the sidelines. He couldn¡¯t let this obnoxious girl continue to sneer down her nose at him, could he? He leveld the bow and slowly drew back the string. He knew that against an enemy like the Crimson One, he only had one shot. If he didn¡¯t take the chance then he wouldn¡¯t get another, but one he took it he had better make sure it counted. He couldn¡¯t give his enemy the smallest opportunity. But it wasn¡¯t the right moment, not yet. He couldn¡¯t see the bishop, but Cloudhawk could feel him. He wasn¡¯t weakened enough, which meant Selene and the others hadn¡¯t done enough with their attacks. Above the settlement on a distant rise. One of the red-robed priests turned angry eyes on the governor. ¡°Ravenous Tiger! You can see the fight has started, why are ¡®t we moving in to assist?¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± The conflicted light behind the large man¡¯s eyes dissipated, replaced with determination. ¡°Now is the time to act!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± The priest hollered back, to which Ravenous Tiger ripped his ax from the sand and swung it around. A circle of cold light cleaved the air in a disproportionately large circle for the weapons size. The angry priest stared at Ravenous Tiger with wide eyes, for his throat was in reach of the gleam. ¡°You...¡± Another of the priests fumbled for his exorcist staff. He¡¯d only managed to pull it half out from his belt before the white haired swordsman was on him. It took only one swing from his buster sword to cut the cleric apart at the waist. By the time the remaining four knew what was happening, it was too late. The crack soldiers from Fishmonger¡¯s Borough finished them off at a cost of six dead and five wounded. By now the scene in the outpost center was becoming clear. More than half of Blackfiend¡¯s body was covered in fire. Selene was perched on the ruins of a nearby building. The old man stood panting in the lone patch of save ground in a sea of green flame. Blackfiend was functionally immortal, but the ravenous nature of Castigation kept devouring what was remade and stealing his power. By now his attacks were much weaker than normal. The old man was not injured himself, but the encroaching fires were closing in from all around, leaving him in a precarious position. Selene was the only one with her strength intact. She gracefully rose to her feet like a fairy, with the flame-cleaving crossblade of light still help in her hand. What was not obvious was what the last clash had cost. Nearly half of her mental energy had been spent. The Crimson One reappeared in the center of the sea of flame. His elegant robes were a tattered mess, blood was dripping from the corners of his mouth, and his hair was a matted mess. But that was all. Though three powerful attacks had close in at once, he remained largely unscathed. Blackfiend and the old man were inadequate ¨C only Selene¡¯s attack had managed to fully pierce his defensive shell of fire. The wound on his chest proved it. ¡°It has been many battles since someone¡¯s managed to draw blood.¡± The Crimson One dropped his head to inspect the wound, though his face never broke from that unsettling calm. A man of his strength had a body just as tough, and no matter how deep the wound his control stopped it from bleeding. It had already begun to heal, in fact. ¡°But this was all you could muster.¡± Obviously Blackfiend was proving irritatingly difficult to destroy. It was the tactical choice, then, to deal with the next easiest target. The drunk. The three warriors all possessed powers beyond any normal demonhunter. Together their chance to defeat the bishop was no better than fifty percent. If he were then to concentrate his attacks on one of them and remove them from the equation, his foes would be greatly weakened. The fires around the old man seethed and roiled, slithering toward him like a host of angry vipers. They were almost on him, inches away, when - A piercing light shot toward them from the distance. It buried itself in the ground before the old man, and he immediately recognized it was a familiar tool. His walking staff, the one that was abandoned back at Ravenous Tiger¡¯s mansion. There was no time to wonder how or why, instead the boozer snatched up his staff and released barrier of energy all around. Half a breath later the fires were on him. Even with his barrier the old man would not last long. A rush of energy tore through the fires then, clearing a path. Seeing his chance, the old man leapt for safety. Selene retracted her sword but spared a shocked expression for the old man and the cane he bore. ¡°This is¡­ the Dawnguard?¡± At last the Crimson One realized his support would never come. His eyes narrowed into a hard glare. ¡°I would not have suspected you¡¯d have the courage to make such a decision. I underestimated you.¡± Ravenous Tiger smirked at the bishop, watching from nearby. A war between two tigers was a loss for both sides. Wait for one side to destroy the other, then clean up what was left. When the Crimson One was finished the Millennium Vale would be his. With such an attractive reward, why not take the risk? Book 3, Chapter 59 - A Furious Battle Ravenous Tiger betrayed his master. It had always been just a matter of time. This rapacious man had no space in his ambitious heart for faith or loyalty. Men of different paths cannot share similar schemes, betrayal was the destined end to their union. The Crimson One knew this, yet no matter how strong one¡¯s desire for treason, one would not throw themselves willingly to the fires. Despite the potential for trouble, however, Ravenous Tiger was useful. His connections with the elysians and the information he could provide was value enough for the risk. Anyway, the fat governor also thought too highly of his own abilities and machinations. You are a clever tiger, aren¡¯t you. Wise not to act rashly while your life was pinched between my fingers. It is indeed true that the covetous and faithless cherish life more than believers. What had happened up to now was a series of exceptional circumstances. He had not expected the one who could summon the Call of Shepherd would appear in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. The Valley¡¯s resources were integral to his plan to join the wastelands and Skycloud. This frail little girl was the key. The normally prudent and astute bishop had thrown himself in the path of danger. He did not pause to consider Ravenous Tiger¡¯s mental state and pushed him farther than he was willing to accept. In the face of his immanent acquisition of the Valley, the governor did not seem important. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a means to an end, nothing more. With its value lost, what did Ravenous Tiger mean to him any longer? Govern the Millennium Vale? Even if the Crimson One were serious, Ravenous Tiger would never believe those words. It only served to intensify their conflict. Yet even after such insults the Crimson One could still maintain control of his fat henchman. After all, the gulf of power between them was too great, and Ravenous Tiger would never do something rash that might result in his death. His one miscalculation was that Cloudhawk might run into an old friend out here in the wastes. The sudden reappearance of this talented young woman, and the power she now wielded, was beyond expectation. He had also not foreseen the Highwaymen¡¯s interference. Nothing indicated that this recent player in the wastelands would be lying in wait in the middle of nowhere. Blackfiend¡¯s meddling shifted the balance of power, keeping the Crimson One busy and leaving an opening for Ravenous Tiger¡¯s betrayal. Logical ¨C everything that led to this moment made sense. He merely hadn¡¯t seen it coming. At present most of the settlement was consumed by fire. Selene was high above with her crossblade ablaze, awash in majestic power. With his cane in hand the old cripple¡¯s fighting abilities were greatly enhanced. The unassuming staff was flashing with internal light, releases pulse after pulse of energy. He lifted it and pointed first at Selene above, then at Blackfiend nearby. Rays of morning light erupted from his relic and enveloped both his allies. The power not only gave them a major shield, but also improved speed and power. This left Cloudhawk startled. What an incredible relic! He didn¡¯t think that dawnguard would be a support relic. It was barely passable as a combat weapon, but it was capable of empowering a whole squad. It was rare to encounter a relic of its like. With it in hand, their small team enjoyed a formidable upgrade. Yet they would not allow the sudden change in circumstance to make them complacent. The Crimson One was a cunning and mysterious foe, who even up to now had not revealed his full strength. His relic was a strange and terrible one ¨C Castigation was by no means ordinary, practically unrivaled. It was a legendary force passed down from the war that conveyed their planet into ruin. Even Slene dare not risk the briefest touch of its flames. The Crimson One did not let Ravenous Tiger¡¯s sudden betrayal throw him off guard. He calmly turned his gaze to the other one, graceful as a cloud dragon. He looked at her almost in a trance, a complex combination of emotion. ¡°It is not strange that you shook seek me out. I am not upset. On the contrary, your arrival brings me great joy. These years of training have made you strong, and in that time you¡¯ve peered behind the veil to the truth of our existence. Yet it is not enough. You are still too young.¡± Selene¡¯s aloof facade adopted a dark chill. ¡°If you knew I would come for you, then you must know why. I need an answer.¡± The Crimson One waved his fist, and the surrounding fires burned with fresh intensity. They kicked and danced like boiling waters. Amid their searing light he had no answers for the girl, instead turning his attention to Blackfiend. The green fires that had consumed it were almost spent, yet Blackfiend still was not dead. ¡°I can understand why they would choose to ally against me. But I cannot fathom why the Highwaymen would chose to muddy these waters. I do not know who pulls your strings, but perhaps we can come to some agreement in our exploitation of the Valley.¡± A thick, murderous sense gathered around Selene. Very well ¨C if he wouldn¡¯t provide answers, then she would put him in a position where he wouldn¡¯t have a choice. Selene reached over and wiped her hand along the pure white light of the crossblade. The power of her burning angels flowed into her weapon, turning its pure white light to an angry red. Its crimson glare was so intense that the air around its borders warped dramatically, a weapon of the angels capable of laying low whole hoards of demons. The bishop knew this once-in-a-generation talent from the elysian lands was preparing to throw everything she had at him. His tattered robes once more began to flutter though there was no wind, and his rough hands stretched toward the heavens. The fires responded, shooting skyward at his command and swirling around their master. A nightmarish tempest of hellfire began to brew. The scene was unforgettable; A beautiful woman floating in air, bearing a sword of holy fire. A monster with eyes of green flame enveloped in terrible power, calling forth a storm of apocalyptic proportions. ¡°Show me how strong you have become!¡± The Crimson One¡¯s deep and thunderous voice spread far and wide across the wastelands. Yet even in the face of this monstrous presence Selene did not back down. She had changed in the years since meeting Cloudhawk, but the passage of time had only made her more determined. She was one of the greatest warriors the world had ever seen ¨C she would not retreat. No matter how strong or how frightening her enemy. Selene poured every crumb of strength left to her into the sword. The burning sword of righteous fire stretched a full ten meters long. [1] While it seemed frail in the face of the hellfire brewing overhead, in truth it held more vigor than a hundred thousand men. The gourd in Gremlin¡¯s hands had continued to belch black smoke. A dozen skeletons had formed around him, each with tower shields for protection. They were positioned around him, Green Snake and Squall with their shields raised, stoic in the face of the raining flames. But the Crimson One was too strong. The firestorm he summoned threatened to devour them all. Gremlin shouted toward Squall. ¡°We must retreat, or we¡¯re going to lose too much. Even if we beat him we won¡¯t be strong enough to defeat the others.¡± Squall stared at the dreadful scene, stunned. Was this what real power looked like? He shook his head free of the shock and terror. ¡°It¡¯s too late for any of that. Do you think we¡¯ll be able to run from that?¡± Gremlin¡¯s little boy face pinched into a scowl. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± Squall grit his teeth. ¡°Not much of one ¨C kill him, whatever it takes!¡± Gremlin found his compatriot¡¯s plan reckless and dangerous, but they no longer had an option. He gently patted the gourd, and their small cadre of skeletons began to march toward Blackfiend. Meanwhile the puppet raced toward the center of the forming tempest. The skeletons all began to fall apart. Their boney remains tumbled along the ground and through the air, affixing themselves to Blackfiend. Piece by piece they reconstructed into an enormous, four-meter tall mountain of bone with Blackfiend at its center. Plumes of dark smoke seethed from the enormous skeleton, and its eyes stared at the Crimson One like twin abyssal pools. From below, the old man recognized Selene¡¯s posture. She was preparing to throw herself at the bishop, consequences be damned. He jabbed dawnguard toward her and once again she was swathed in radiant light. She burned like the morning sun, encased in a protective shell. The old cripple couldn¡¯t get near enough to the Crimson One to fight directly, but he could do everything in his power to protect the girl. The storm of power around the bishop grew in intensity. The world around them seemed to buck in protest against the destruction on the horizon. Meanwhile, Ravenous Tiger was shifting uncomfortably. The old priest had to die right here, right now, or he was finished. The Crimson Church had many eyes and ears in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, so if the Crimson One survived he would never again know a day of peace. A growl rumbled under the fat man¡¯s breath. He held tight to his ax, stonesplitter, then heaved it with all his might into the ground. A column of yellow, earthy power rumbled through the ground toward the Crimson One in his first direct assault. The shock wave rolled through, dispelling the fire in its path. Blackfiend, encased in his bone armor, followed through on the heels of the shock wave to launch his attack. The green fires devoured his flesh and gnawed at the bones, but could not stop his charge. The old man¡¯s cane continued to shine its light upon Selene, and the girl drew up all her might into a single, ultimate blow. At last her crimson sword plunged toward its mark. It was as though the pillars of heaven and earth quaked. Ravenous Tiger, the old man, Blackfiend, Selene¡­ all in the same instant they gave every bit of themselves to see the Crimson One destroyed. The power thrown into this one act was phenomenal. The Crimson One answered their ardor with a hysterical roar, then released his power heedless of his wounds. When the tempest broke, its fires gathered into the form of an enormous, indomitable spirit of fire. A crushing shockwave, followed by the ferocity of Blackfiend¡¯s attack, hit in the same moment. From above, the crimson and gold light of Selene¡¯s crossblade came surging down. An intense contest of power ensued. This incredible war of godly and demonic proportions cast the wastelander spectators into madness. Their pitiful imaginations were incapable of comprehending the gravity of what they saw. A fight like this was inconceivable outside of ancient legends. Who would emerge victorious? Who would fate choose? 1. Someone draw this shit! Book 3, Chapter 60 - The Third Uncle The Crimson One fused with the roiling tempest to become a behemoth of flame. With his left hand he stopped the attacks from Ravenous Tiger and Blackfiend, while with his right he grabbed Selene¡¯s burning sword. Through his overwhelming power and terrible presence, the Crimson Once instilled a deep fear in all who looked upon him. The bone armor protecting Blackfiend burned away and the all-pervasive fires devoured what they could. He was sent flying. Suddenly, the piercing cry of a bird captured the giant¡¯s attention. A giant phoenix awash in fire came into being, summoned by Selene Cloude. It crashed into the giant¡¯s chest resulting in an explosion that shook the form of the Crimson One hidden within. The bishop¡¯s face was pale, haggard. Blood continuously trickles from his mouth. The injuries he¡¯d suffered were the kind he would never recover from, so the load from Selene¡¯s attacks was almost more than he could bear. The wasteland¡¯s tyrannical holy man was nearing his end. Its large hand loosened. The blazing crimson sword buried itself in the giant¡¯s form. As the tip drove toward the waning figure inside, the giant¡¯s left hand swung around to press against the right, palm to palm, with Selene¡¯s crossblade caught between. The sword stopped mere meters from the Crimson One¡¯s body. Selene¡¯s raven hair danced in the unnatural wind. She heaved against the giant¡¯s grip with all her might, forcing the sword deeper inch by inch. The giant¡¯s malevolent green fires continued to spill toward her, but could not find passage through the dawnlight shell the old man protected her with. The two were caught in a test of mettle, and only the one who could hold out longer would survive. The Crimson One was incredibly strong ¨C far greater than anyone would have imagined! A rapid surge of power pulsed through the giant, and with this power Selene¡¯s sword was engulfed and broken apart. The young demonhunter flew helplessly through the air, spitting voluminous blood from her mouth. In the instant the giant was spent, and dispersed. The Crimson One, framed by a sky all aflame, raced for Selene as she fell out of control. This girl was the only one of this small group who was a threat to his life. It was a critical moment. The Crimson One had once more managed to protect himself from their concerted attack, but it had cost him. Wounded, drained, he had to destroy at least one of them before they could reconvene for a second attempt. He would not survive another attack like the last one. ¡°Not good!¡± The old man¡¯s eyes went wide and fear painted his face. Selene Cloude was in a fatally dangerous circumstance. The bishop soared above her, fires gathered in his right arm. He reached out with claws of green fire to snuff out this one beautiful life, and in that moment he caught the girl¡¯s gaze. The priest froze. Although she stared death in the face, there was no fear in the girl¡¯s eyes. What he saw was an unbreakable will, and iron resolve. It was born from an inherent pride, and the belief that although she faced destruction she would not be defeated. People like her possessed unyielding spirit, and a proud heart like hers would never break. The image of a figure draped in snow white crossed the bishop¡¯s mind. The look in their eyes was so similar. Their kinship was unmistakable. The Crimson One had his arm raised to take the girl¡¯s life, but in this moment he hesitated. It less than a second, half a breath, but then suddenly everything changed. His reverie was broken when he sensed a powerful force descend on him, a sense of danger that raced through his body like an electric current. What power! It had been no less intense than the sword Selene had nearly used to run him through. The Crimson One¡¯s face stiffened. He couldn¡¯t tell where this attack came from. His four opponents had been knocked away and couldn¡¯t have rallied a counterattack of this intensity so fast. Was there someone else? Another master hiding in the shadows? When the bishop turned his eyes toward the source of the threat, they fell upon a figure he¡¯d neglected up to this point. Cloudhawk had risen to his feet, with the exorcist bow in his left hand and the bow drawn taught with his right. A light blazed against his chest, infusing him with a hurricane of energy. A spear of coalesced energy was aimed his way. He could feel it. Cloudhawk¡¯s arrow contained more sheer power than any attack the Crimson One had faced so far. Enough to split mountains, crumble valleys, shatter the sky. One chance. One shot. Cloudhawk¡¯s opportunity was now. For all his strength, in this moment the Crimson One was a spent bullet. The four he¡¯d defeated had spent everything within them and were left with nothing. They were helpless and exhausted, incapable of fighting back. The Crimson One was the same. Every man had their limit. It was likely Cloudhawk was worn out as well, yet as the Crimson One and the others warred he had been gathering strength. The bishop¡¯s brief moment of hesitation was a moment too long, and now it was too late. Cloudhawk¡¯s scream blasted like thunder through the settlement. ¡°Die!¡± The string went slack, the arrow loosed. In the moment the arrow was released Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist bow shattered. Every once of lethal force it contained sheered the air on its way toward the Crimson One. Extraordinary¡­ that this young, wounded man could yet produce an attack of this quality. Excellence. Whether the power behind it or the precise timing, it was masterful. The Crimson One could find no flaw in it. Autumn stared at the Warden in silent astonishment, stunned by the power he had hidden within him. Nearby, Ravenous Tiger stared in open shock. If the Crimson One survived ¨C a man so dreadful he made his heart race ¨C then he was doomed. But just as it seemed that would be his fate, this arrow from the darkness emerged emerged, poised to save them all. The old man¡¯s face was lit by the blazing arrow as it streaked past. ¡°Good lad. Well played.¡± The Crimson One tried to gather his fires into his hands, yet they withered and died instead. Blood continued to leak from his mouth as truly all his strength was spent. It seemed to happen in slow motion; the arrow reached the bishop, colliding with his tattered robes and ripping through it like a blade. He flew backwards. Light consumed him. The world disappeared. The old holy man¡¯s mind was vacant in this briefest of moments. How could it be that he would meet his end at the hands of a cripple and his young friends? Especially Selene, and that other young man. Indeed the younger generation was a promising one. With such incredible talent on the horizon, Skycloud need not fear for their future dominance. Too old. But no¡­ I cannot die yet. Arcturus, the sanctimonious fool. Seated in his gaudy mansion. So long as that dog reigns, the elysian lands were doomed. Humanity is doomed. How could these young warriors, intrepid though they were, defeat such power? I cannot die. Whatever it takes, I cannot die! Cloudhawk¡¯s arrow crashed into him, ready to pulverize the Crimon One¡¯s body, when - Something was released from within him. Some strange power that wrapped him in its sheltering embrace. A faint outline appeared that exuded a vast and noble majesty, like the face of god. Cloudhawk¡¯s arrow struck the golden figure with such force that cracks ran all through its frame, ultimately causing it to fragment and disperse. The Crimson One hit the ground like a butterfly with broken wings, leaving a smear of blood along the ground. Another crippling wound, but the bishop yet lived. The mighty protective relic he bore had saved him. ¡°Immortal effigy!¡± For the first time Selene¡¯s face betrayed true surprise, for she knew this relic. How could she not? It was a treasure of her family. It had been in the possession of her third uncle. ¡°You are Sterling!¡± [1] Ravenous Tiger¡¯s face was a mask of anger and fear. The old man watched with dumbfounded amazement. Cloudhawk was stupefied, so much that his mouth hung wide open. What the actual hell? Skycloud¡¯s three master demonhunters were legendary, names that resounded across the lands. Was this one of them? Was this Sterling Cloude? The story went that Sterling Cloude was severely wounded in battle several years ago. His injuries were so bad that he was forced to resign from his post as Knight-Commander. Since then, he was never seen in Skycloud again. Cloudhawk had suspected the old drunk was Sterling. Obviously he was crippled by something, and the injury had stolen a lot of strength from him. He was also clearly an old master from the elysian lands. But he was wrong, incredibly wrong. The red-robed bishop was the one and true Sterling Cloude. The Sanctum of Judgment was the church he created to combat Arcturus, his brother. The man they had been fighting all this time and still could not defeat was a legendary master demonhunter! It should come at no surprise that the fight had nearly ended them. A master demonhunter was capable of defeating demons single-handedly! Though not in peak form, it was clear from the way he fought that the master demonhunter had recovered much of his strength. With Castigation fire he was all the more terrifying to face. Nearly dying was to be expected, for he was one of the greatest demonhunters to have ever lived after all! Selene clenched her fists. ¡°My father died at your hands?!¡± The bishop¡¯s body was a mass of blood and bruises. It wasn¡¯t even certain he heard her until he began to laugh, like he¡¯d heard the world¡¯s funniest joke. Selene¡¯s fury bubbled over. ¡°Answer me!¡± The half-mad old man opened his mouth, perhaps to respond. But Ravenous Tiger couldn¡¯t stomach any more. He would never again sleep easy so long as this old bastard lived. Brandishing his ax, he threw himself at the Crimson One to try and end the monster once and for all. ¡°Hold!¡± Selene had been blindsided by the revelation that this man was her uncle. She couldn¡¯t watch him die before she got the answers she so desperately needed. ¡°Ravenous Tiger¡­ You are¡­ such a disappointment to me.¡± A golden aura flashed around the Crimson One and the fat governor shot back like a bullet. Another round of hacking, bloody coughs wracked the bishop¡¯s body. He hardly had the strength to speak. ¡°Be at ease, my dear niece. I will not accept death¡­ not until Arcturus has ceased breathing. But I think... I have had enough for today.¡± With that the bishop rose off the ground, then soared toward the horizon swift as a bird. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s eyes were so wide his lids might split. As they all watched the Crimson One escape all the strength drained from the survivors. Selene made as though to give chase, but her body refused. Wounded and drained, it was questionable she could deal with her uncle even if she caught up to him. Cloudhawk made his way to her side and held her fast. ¡°Don¡¯t try to chase and corner a wounded animal. Let¡¯s regroup and plan our next move.¡± While the others struggled with what they¡¯d learned, Squall came to his senses. A hard light entered his eyes as he looked toward Autumn. His shout rang out through the ruined outpost. ¡°Everyone, now¡¯s the time! Grab the girl!¡± Bandits began to scramble from the smoldering debris. Seeing this, Cloudhawk erupted into a string of curses. ¡°Fuck your dead whore mother, Squall! You sackless piece of dog shit! I swear if I get my hands on you, I¡¯ll rip you limb from fucking homeless limb!¡± ¡°Words are cheap, Cloudhawk. Come find me, if you can.¡± Squall was not bothered by the Warden¡¯s brutal tirade. ¡°I¡¯m here for the girl, and anyone who wants to stop me is welcome to try.¡± Ravenous Tiger snapped out of his fearful trance. His mind spun, looking for any straw to clutch so he might survive the Crimson One¡¯s inevitable fury. Going back to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough was a death sentence, so his one chance was the girl. Millennium Vale was protected by enchantments ¨C spells that he could hide behind to keep him safe from the Crimson One, even Arcturus himself. ¡°Attack! Get her!¡± Ravenous Tiger called for his men. ¡°We need her no matter the cost! Bring me the girl!¡± The white-haired swordsman and a dozen other soldiers from Fishmonger¡¯s Borough charged into the fray. Squall and Blackfiend answered with a hundred bandits under their command. Both groups charged at Cloudhawk and their small group. Things were dire ¨C Blackfiend was enough of a challenge to handle Selene, and Ravenous Tiger had shown he was able to hold his own against the old man at the best of times. That left Cloudhawk to take care of a dozen elite soldiers and a hundred bandits all on his own. He could tell that the ones from Fishmonger¡¯s Borough ¨C including the white haired freak ¨C were troublesome all on their own. The Highwaymen also had Green Snake and that weirdo Gremlin to contend with. What goddamn nonsense! It was too much for Cloudhawk to handle even if he was in perfect health! 1. OH snap! Book 3, Chapter 61 - Becoming A Monster In the end, helping Cloudhawk defeat the Crimson One had been a favor for a friend from bygone days. Squall felt a pang of guilt for taking advantage of their situation, but there was much in life that couldn¡¯t be helped. Millennium Vale was the wastelands greatest hidden treasure. If they wanted to have any hope of contending against the elysian lands, Millennium Vale was the key. Whether the power that pulled Squalls strings or his own self-interest, he had to take control of the valley before it fell into other hands. He especially couldn¡¯t allow the elysians to have it, a power which Cloudhawk represented. He was an elysian demonhunter, and traveled with others of his kind, so he couldn¡¯t under any circumstances leave the girl with him. Of course, none of the reasoning behind any of this was important to Cloudhawk. Squall knew the young man didn¡¯t have any ambitions to exploit the valley for himself. He just got tangled up in something much bigger than he thought. If you fell in a latrine, it was impossible not to get covered in shit. Squall¡¯s expression, however, remained detached. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t meddle in things that don¡¯t concern you.¡± Cloudhawk felt like his lungs would burst with all the nasty words he wanted to spew. ¡°You¡¯re all arrogant now that you put on your big boy britches, huh?¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t for the life of him understand why he haddn¡¯t shoot Squall through the head when he saw him back in Boondock. Now the dickhead was here causing problems at the worst time. Softhearted and nostalgic people really left themselves open to get screwed over. He kept screaming. ¡°Face me one on one, punk. I¡¯ll rip your ass apart with one hand behind my back.¡± His taunts fell on deaf ears. Blackfiend crouched, then leaped into the air. He tore high over them like a dark arrow, surrounded in wisps of black energy. He hung at the apex of his trajectory for just a second then started to descend like a comet. Cloudhawk and Autumn felt the threat he posed as stifling power washed over them. Any other time Cloudhawk would have been able to protect them from Blackfiend, but the wounds and changes he was going through made his body stiff and hard to move. How was he supposed to protect her? Autumn was utterly distressed and at a loss for what to do. Suddenly she was a sweet pastry everyone was scrambling for. She had a powerful relic now, but its strength was only apparent in specific environments. Her inherent psychic abilities were tremendously strong ¨C strong enough to even contend against the Crimson One under the right circumstances. She¡¯d proved that in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough where she not only countered his green fires, but the nearly every guard in the city as well. The abilities of the flute helped her turn the desert beasts against her foes. But not this time. It all happened too fast. She had no time to prepare. And where would she find enough creatures to create a tide of claws and teeth to protect them? A loud call arose as another phoenix roared to life. It spread its fiery wings before them as Blackfiend approach, and took the creature¡¯s first punch right on the head. A blast of dark energy erupted from its fist, punching a hole through the bird¡¯s incorporeal form. Selene¡¯s phoenix detonated against the puppet, wrapping it in flames. However, though it managed to avoid most of the damage the same could not be said for a handful of bandits who¡¯d gotten too close. They screamed and flailed their arms, madly running through the battlefield as human fireballs. Blackfiend wasn¡¯t dissuaded, yet a flash of light from a sword kept it at bay. A celestial maiden dropped in from above to protect Cloudhawk and the girl. Blackfiend was too slow to protect himself. Selene¡¯s sword pierced it directly in the chest, pinning it to the ground. Selene had abandoned the idea of chasing after her uncle. He had been gravely wounded, but she was sure the old snake still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Intercepting him all by herself wasn¡¯t going to happen, nor could she turn a blind eye to Blackfiend flagrant attack on her allies. She had to make sure this immortal creature was kept busy. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s rotund girth came bounding forward next. He whipped the battleax right for the old man¡¯s face but it was deflected by the walking stick. The impact forced the cripple backward a few steps but then his whole body quivered like an iron rod. After shaking for a moment all the force of Ravenous Tiger¡¯s blow was dissipated. Another high-level martial technique. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t kill you back in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. I don¡¯t understand why you would be so willing to throw your life away ¨C oh, yes. It¡¯s because dying by my hand is a far more noble death than being devoured by Castigation fire.¡± The old man sneered mockingly at Ravenous Tiger. He turned his head then and called to Cloudhawk and Autumn. ¡°What are you two staring at? Run!¡± Ravenous Tiger didn¡¯t have time to bother with the crippled old fool. He brandished his battleax and flung himself at Cloudhawk. ¡°It¡¯s not polite to ignore an old man like this!¡± The drunk whipped his cane around as he spoke and smacked it against the governor¡¯s weapon. By the last syllable he¡¯d whacked Ravenous Tiger with his stick a dozen times. Quick as the wind and fierce as thunder, he attacked even faster than Green Snake. With several times more force as well. His onslaught was like a hurricane with enough strength to tear down a castle wall. A pair of Ravenous Tiger¡¯s men bounded over to help only to meet the business end of the staff themselves. In a stunning display of just how much power was behind it, both men were basted into giblets at a single blow. This also had to be another special tactic, using his true power. Ravenous Tiger found the rain of blows hard to endure so he made the tactical decision to back off. He glowered at the drunk with a dark expression. The old man was definitely no pushover, but the governor didn¡¯t fear him. His stamina had to be spent after fighting the Crimson One. So he ordered his men to go after the girl while he kept the boozer busy. Keeping the portly man off Cloudhawk and Autumn was about all the old man could manage now, anyway. Whether or not the kid and that sweet girl could get away was down to luck now. But Autumn¡¯s physique was only slightly better than a normal woman. How was she supposed to outrun a bunch of wasteland killers? Highwaymen bandits and Borough warriors swarmed Selene and the old man. When she saw they would soon be surrounded Autumn growled through gritted teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Get away, don¡¯t die for us!¡± ¡°Are you fuckin¡¯ loony?¡± Cloudhawk cursed through ragged breaths. Every step felt like he was dragging a thousand pounds. Trespasser was holding him back, making his limbs feel like lead. But his tongue was just as sharp as ever. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re saying? They¡¯re gonna use every cruel method they can think of to get you to tell them where Millennium Vale is. Day in and day out, no breaks. I¡¯m pretty sure a delicate flower like you can¡¯t handle that kind of punishment.¡± Autumn felt a cold shiver run up her spine. She didn¡¯t think she could, either, but her indignation at his low opinion still flared. ¡°That¡¯s my business! Just get out of here!¡± She flung the words at him when suddenly a group of people appeared to block their path. Autumn¡¯s heart sank into the pit of her stomach. She wrenched a dagger from her waist with a shaking hand. If they really couldn¡¯t escape then she would take her own life. Staying alive would only mean suffering. She put the knife to her throat, but before it could be proven whether she had the courage a strong pair of arms grabbed her from behind. She was so startled she dropped the dagger into the sand. Cloudhawk flung his foot out and kicked the knife, catching it midair and sending it into the chest of one of the bandits closing in. Autumn felt herself picked up and flung over Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She furiously beat her fists against his back. ¡°What are you doing?! Let me go!¡± As he carried her along Cloudhawk managed to squeeze out a sly smirk. ¡°Our account isn¡¯t settled yet. Are you trying to die to get out of paying me? Not gonna be so easy, missy. No one owes me money. Besides you¡¯re a rare commodity, I¡¯m not someone else get their hands on you. He was trying to hide his good deed behind a shitty reason. Autumn saw through it, but his words made it hard for her to feel or express gratitude. All of a sudden they were caught in a forest of swords, spears and spiked maces. They caught him all over, too fast for him to avoid completely. Autumn screamed helplessly. Pain. Awful, stabbing pain stimulating his body. Cloudhawk felt like every cell within him was set on fire, simultaneously filling him with strength. It was the innermost potential of his being, called to the surface without the help of any relic. The human body was a font of possibilities, and that was where the true strength of the martial warrior came from. Three years in Hell¡¯s Valley had not been a waste. There, Cloudhawk had learned how to draw on this inner potential but never like this. In an instant, under duress, he felt everything inside him spring to life. He felt several times stronger than even his best day. Cloudhawk charged ahead. Brute force flung his body forward and shattered the weapons that tried to pierce him. He pulled an exorcist staff from his waist and whipped it at a pair of attackers. They were immediately reduced to paste. The power he used wasn¡¯t really psychic, he wasn¡¯t resonating with any relic¡­ but it was just as destructive. Cloudhawk hugged Autumn against his shoulder with his right arm with the exorcist staff whirred menacingly in his right. He tore through a line of foes in front of them with a quick spearhead, unmindful of his own body. The unfortunate souls he crashed into, however, where the ones to pity. They were blown apart as chunks of bone and organ. What incredible strength! It felt limitless! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know where it would stop. He charged through the horde like a raging bull, breaking through any attmept to pen them in and leaving carnage in his wake. The men who tried to stop him quailed in shock and pain. Was he even human?! Insane! Where was this average-looking guy getting all this power? But it didn¡¯t matter how intrepid he was. There were no shortage of skilled fighters closing in, and they weren¡¯t going to let him get away so easily. Among them were a number of crack sharpshooters. When they had a target in their sights they rarely got away. As bullets and arrows were loosed Cloudhawk¡¯s face hardened. With nothing but his intuition he jerks around to avoid being hit in critical spots. Still, easily half his body was struck by the projectiles and quickly turned dark with blood. ¡°Are you crazy? Don¡¯t try to be a hero!¡± Autumn was nearly out of her mind with fear. ¡°You could die! Let me go!¡± Cloudhawk was drenched in sweat. His heart was filled with rage, which he gave voice to with a guttural roar. Bullets and arrows were spat out of his body and into several of the men around him. The wounds in his body began to heal fast enough to be seen by the naked eye, like a dozen invisible hands were stitching him up. Autumn was stupefied. Was¡­ was he really a monster? Suddenly a sharp, burning pain spread across her bottom as Cloudhawk gave it a slap. She very nearly started crying. ¡°So fuckin¡¯ noisy!¡± Even Cloudhawk¡¯s voice sounded different. ¡°You don¡¯t get to tell me what to do!¡± Green Snake saw his moment and rushed in to attack. Cloudhawk skidded to a halt and, while still holding Autumn with one arm, swung his exorcist staff haphazardly to deflect Green Snake¡¯s blow. He didn¡¯t feel like he put much force behind it, but the swordsmen went reeling. In the same instant skeletons summoned to the field by Gremlin closed in around him. A pair of swords hacked toward the Warden, leaving two deep wounds in their passage. Their swords shattered, however, and the gashes quickly healed. It was useless! The attacks weren¡¯t enough to slow him down! The white-haired swordsman from Fishmonger¡¯s Borough had arrived, though. He heaved his enormous buster sword towards Cloudhawk¡¯s chest, the same weapon that had neatly cleaved a boulder in two. The buster sword caught him. By all rights, even if Cloudhawk were made of iron the blow should have torn him in half. Armor was useless, but even if it could there was nothing in a human abdomen to stop a blow like this. Skin and fleshy organs couldn¡¯t endure a direct hit. With this swordsman¡¯s dexterity and power, he could easily cut through layers of armor to get at the critical organs beneath. As the sword struck, inwardly Cloudhawk wailed in despair. But while he was sure he would be cut down, he felt his body change. Every cell in that stretch of flesh immediately rearranged, turning the skin of his abdomen hard as tungsten steel. All the impact force of the sword caught him, but didn¡¯t leave a wound. Its power was diffused through Cloudhawk¡¯s rapidly changing body, redistributed as though he were a series of interlocking springs. His flesh twisted and compressed grotesquely, but did not tear. While the sword struck him with the force of a point-blank cannon-ball, he didn¡¯t die. Hack! Heugh! Cloudhawk coughed up a mouthful of blood. Autumn saw him spit up, but it wasn¡¯t normal blood that came out. It was not red, but an unsettling shade of purple ¨C like no human blood she¡¯d ever seen. She looked back up at him in surprise and found that the skin around his throat had begun to separate into something that looked like scales. The inhospitable environment and circumstance had quickened Cloudhawk¡¯s transformation. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was a haze of anger and confusion. His eyes flushed red, and a chilling bloodthirsty air poured from him. Born with an innate berserker tendency, Cloudhawk¡¯s mutations empowered that rage to a much higher degree. The languid, indolent Cloudhawk was gone. He practically growled with every breath and his whole body trembled like a wild and wounded animal. His felt the strength inside him surge. In terms of sheer physical force he felt like he could take on the old drunk blow for blow. But extremes came at a cost, and sooner or later he would pay for this rush. Cloudhawk¡¯s evolution was powered by potential and life force, and he felt himself slowly being lost to the beast inside. ¡°You¡¯ve got skills. I knew you did, but you¡¯ve surpassed by expectations.¡± Squall stepped out from the crowd. He looked over Cloudhawk¡¯s wounded and bloodied form with a look of disbelief and bewilderment. ¡°But why put yourself through this? Leave the girl, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Cloudhawk clung to the last bit of clarity in the sea of rage that threatened to devour him. A hoarse sound from deep in his throat growled a reply. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Book 3, Chapter 62 - Incident in the Wilds When he launched his attack, the wild haired swordsman was confident in his abilities. Unless he had some mysterious defensive relic, even a demonhunter couldn¡¯t stand a direct blow from his buster sword. And yet, not only was the guy still standing but he didn¡¯t even look injured. That should have been impossible! Cloudhawk¡¯s body continued to change, in ways he never experienced or thought possible. His skin became red and leathery as though it¡¯d been baked. Steam hissed visibly from his pours like he was some kind of steam locomotive. What¡¯s more, several tumorous black scales appeared and his normally black eyes became a vibrant green. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot, giving him an even more violent appearance. An instant transformation¡­ some sort of shape-shifting mutation? The swordsman did not believe in supernatural phenomena. After years in the wastelands he¡¯d seen all sorts of mutants, and no small number of incredible creatures with strange abilities. Cloudhawk¡¯s dramatic appearance didn¡¯t intimidate him, and he refused to back down. The warrior shot at him like an arrow. Whatever demon this kid was, he would die today. Sword held high, the swordsman jumped up only to come crashing toward his target with a vicious hack. His giant sword was aimed right at Cloudhawk¡¯s skull. He was eager to see if the kid was as invincible as he seemed, see if he died like everyone else. Cloudhawk¡¯s mutated eyes glowed with a faint bronze light. Pulsing veins engorged until all the white was gone, leaving a pair of viridian orbs in a sea of blood. His white-haired attack came crashing down, but Cloudhawk¡¯s hand shot up to meet him and caught the blade in his grip. A loud, ear-shattering clang rang out. The dirt kicked up around them made the force of the impact obvious. However, Cloudhawk never budged an inch, solid as a statue. His whole arm had turned black and was enveloped in dull golden light. A few drops of blood rolling down the blade¡¯s edge was all that came from the blow, much to its bearer¡¯s shock. Squall, the swordsman ¨C hell, even Cloudhawk was stunned. His body¡¯s reaction was entirely instinctual, with no help from any relic. He stopped his attacker¡¯s massive sword with his hand like it was nothing, and the wound it left was equivalent to a paper cut. He didn¡¯t even lose a finger. How was this possible? Cloudhawk looked at the pitch-black thing his arm had become and found it unsettlingly familiar. His mind grasped at a far away memory of when he encountered the Caliph of the Sands. The look of the demon had left a deep impression. Even heavy gunfire hadn¡¯t left a mark on that coal-black skin. The similarities he saw in his arm were undeniable. The white-haired swordsman stood there, dumbfounded. Mere flesh¡­ hard as steel. He might have expected something like that from a master martial artist. They were able to draw true power from every part of their bodies, making themselves invulnerable almost instantly with enough skill. Otherwise it might be seen in rare and incredible mutations. But those sorts of creatures couldn¡¯t be called human. Their constitution far exceeded anything natural. So which was he? His thoughts were interrupted by a loud snap! His sword broke in two. The swordsman staggered backwards. Cloudhawk flung the jagged upper half of the sword at its owner. The white-haired man protected himself just barely by pulling his broken weapon in front of his chest. But the force of their collision actually shattered the parts of the buster sword, tearing him up with shards of metal. It was like he was caught in the center of an explosion. Hurt, he was flung backward while jagged bits of metal spread all around. As the hail of metal came his way, Squall was forced to act. He raised his left arm and the tattoos scrawled on it started to glow. A strange sort of power swelled in his fist and captured the shrapnel in midair. They were stopped dead in a white circle, like they were caught in a magnetic field. Then, gathering around Squall, they compressed into a jagged metal ball. The sound of grating metal set everyone¡¯s teeth on edge. It fell to the ground with a thud. The white haired swordsman half knelt on the ground, clutching his chest, he scrambled away from the freak in fear and amazement. He wasn¡¯t human. He was some sort of monster! Cloudhawk¡¯s bloody eyes dragged across the battlefield. Soldier and bandit alike exchanged terrified and uncertain looks. Even wounded, they were sure the freak would kill most of them before being taken down. How much potential was there in life? That was a question no one could answer. From simple to complex, weak to strong, all through the ages the miracle of life was revealed through unending evolution. Every moment life existed was an opportunity for outstanding things. Cloudhawk understood. He could feel it. He had always been unique, but his circumstances weren¡¯t. When trespasser infiltrated his body it wasn¡¯t mutation so much as evolution. It was drawing out all the latent potential that had been lurking inside him since birth. Awakening the deepest truths of who he was. He¡¯d always had these abilities. Like Autumn, who was born with her power but needed the right opportunity for them to awaken. He remembered that he never got sick in all those years scrounging the wastes with the old man. He rarely got infections, or anything for that matter. If those early signs were explained away as having a hardy constitution, then nothing that was happening now made sense. Ever since he found the phasing stone¡­ Cloudhawk always had naturally increased healing and balance, and underneath that en explosive berserker rage. With age and experience he came to understand that wild power as galvanizing his inner potential. It was the rough beginning of calling on true power. Therefore the more he used it the more it empowered his person. Now, by chance, Cloudhawk¡¯s potential was awakened further. In this moment every cell inside him was alive, working like components in a raging machine. With all of them working in unison it gave every punch, every kick unimaginable force. He felt it in the burning heat within him that jettisoned steam through his skin. He felt it in his boiling blood. It was a forced upgrade from trespasser, a blood frenzy. But the more powerful the engine, the more fuel it needed to sustain it. Cloudhawk¡¯s body couldn¡¯t maintain this level of total stimulation forever. He was overdrawing his life energy, and shortening his lifespan as a result. If he kept it up for too long it would cause irreparable damage. What¡¯s more, trespasser had made his body unstable. He felt like he would collapse at any moment. The longer this fight went on the more likely that became. He needed to get back in control, otherwise the consequences were too dire to consider. Autumn had no idea what was happening, only that Cloudhawk¡¯s body felt burning hot against her. She was sure it wasn¡¯t a good sign. The young girl from the valley was almost hysterical and didn¡¯t know what to do, so it fell to Cloudhawk. He thought for a moment then put her down on the ground. He picked up a dagger one of the bandits left behind, pressed it against her neck, then growled at Squall. ¡°Everyone back the fuck off or I open her pretty throat!¡± Squall and Autumn both froze. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°She¡¯s the only person who knows where Millennium Vale is, and how to get in. You think all this effort would be worthwhile if she¡¯s dead?¡± Everyone around him shifted uncomfortably. This asshole was ready to bring everyone down with him! Squall¡¯s response was cool as a spring breeze. ¡°I know you. You won¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Well then you don¡¯t really know me.¡± Cloudhawk gradually got his ragged breathing back under control. His body temperature started to come down, and his body¡¯s systems were slowly getting back to normal. It came with a crushing sense of exhaustion, but he fought it off. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be the first time I hurt someone to fuck someone else over, and it won¡¯t be the last.¡± Squall¡¯s face was locked in a scowl. It didn¡¯t matter how Cloudhawk changed, his toughness was bone deep. If he upset him enough, Squall wasn¡¯t convinced Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t do something rash. The wastelander might not look brave or willing to fight, but he was peerlessly stubborn. Pushing him into a corner was a good way to see the depths of his cruelty. Squall¡¯s mind raced as he searched for solutions. Before his could he felt something was over him, a sensation that made his whole body shake. Turning, he saw a beautiful figure approach from the camp with a dazzling sword of light in her hand. ¡°What now?¡± Squall shut his eyes and reached out for Blackfiend. He felt the puppet laying in the dirt, convulsing and unable to move. He was a mess of fatal wounds, each of which burning with pure white light. It made the injuries difficult to heal. Selene¡¯s holy sword was especially dangerous to beasts of darkness like that fiend. A thing like that golem was almost impossible to kill, only wounded. Yet Blackfiend the Undying was too broken to be of any help right now. Selene jumped, landing next to Cloudhawk. She reached out a hand and grabbed him, flinging both Cloudhawk and Autumn out of the crowd. She then threw her sword after them and cut open a path for her own escape. They broke from the encirclement. Gremlin¡¯s tony voice could be heard over the din. ¡°After them!¡± But Squall denied the order with a shake of his head. ¡°No, hold.¡± Gremlin was clearly unhappy. Why were they letting them go? The woman was obviously exhausted, and while the young man was monstrous his condition was unstable. They had him surrounded and probably under control. Squall watched the three figures run toward the horizon. His brows were drawn tight, and after a few moments he sighed. ¡°Blackfiend is nearly spent after fighting the Crimson One. That woman and her sword of light are too much for him now. And I know Cloudhawk. He won¡¯t deliver the girl to the elysians. Let¡¯s gather our strength, then we can deal with the matter¡­ and we still have important business yet to see to.¡± The old drunk had also managed to escape. Ravenous Tiger looked over the aftermath of their battle, at the devastation that had wiped this settlement from the map. His dejected expression was almost caustic. A figure approached. It was the young underboss of the Highwaymen. He was wrapping his left arm in bandages, and looked at the grim governor with indifference. ¡°This was a lost opportunity,¡± Squall said, cutting to the chase, ¡°but we did defeat the Crimson One. Is there somewhere for you to go?¡± ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± ¡°No. Quite the contrary. I want to help.¡± Ravenous Tiger glared at the young man. He had to be in his early twenties. He could already tell that Blackfiend might have been the Highwaymen¡¯s leader in name, but when this lad spoke people listened.He wasn¡¯t sure why, or how, but this youth had managed to make himself leader of a bandit army. He was anything but ordinary. Squall¡¯s voice remained flat and unemotional. ¡°You only have one road before you now, anyway. Join us.¡± Ravenous Tiger¡¯s face twisted into a sneer of anger. ¡°Now don¡¯t rush to decline. You¡¯re smart enough to know the situation.¡± Squall¡¯s words were calm, not pushy. He was just stating the facts. ¡°Join the Highwaymen, combine our forces, and even the Crimson One would think twice before coming after you again. It¡¯s your only shot. Either way, my invitation is open. Whether you accept or not is up to you.¡± Ravenous was a smart and cunning man. After weighing the pros and cons he had to accept that the kid was right. With nowhere left to turn, his decision was obvious. Today. The Crimson One¡¯s true identity was revealed. Today. Ravenous Tiger swore allegiance to Squall and the Highwaymen. When word of who the Crimson One was spread the news would tear through the elysian lands like an earthquake. The union of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough and the highwaymen was also sure to change the dynamic of power in the wastelands. As dusk fell Squall stood outside looking over the dunes. The wind ruffled his hair as he stared into the distance, eyes thick with fatigue and conflict. He wasn¡¯t sure when this life he fell into would end, but some paths were set in stone. He would have to walk it to the end. ¡°I just want to help you.¡± His gaze was cast far in the direction of Skycloud city. Book 3, Chapter 63 - The Old Mans Identity Cloudhawk found it difficult to completely relax, fearing that Squall would be hot on his heels. With no strength left to fight back, he and the others traveled as fast as they could with not a moment of rest and eventually reached Sandbar Station. It was home turf for Cloudhawk, more or less. Hammont was an ally and commanded five hundred elysian soldiers who would protect them. Skycloud¡¯s borders were close so they didn¡¯t need to be afraid of Highwaymen influence, or that of other wasteland organizations. ¡°I thought it would just be another mission. Ends up we almost got killed. We¡¯re only still breathing because we got lucky.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was heavy with regret. ¡°If I knew what was coming I never would have agreed. It¡¯s time for that girl to settle accounts and get out of my life!¡± Cloudhawk griped about his sour fate the whole way back. This spineless child was absolutely shameful. No one, the drunk included, paid his whining any mind. Cloudhawk fell quiet when no one engaged. But whatever the case, Autumn¡¯s name had become synonymous with trouble. He had to keep her out of sight, otherwise she¡¯d just bring more problems down on their heads! The first order of business when they returned to the Sandbar was to buy Autumn a mask. In passing Cloudhawk grabbed a soldier on patrol and instructed him to fetch the magistrate. He demanded that Hammont take several hundred soldiers and locked down the surrounding wilds for everyone¡¯s safety. However powerful their wastelander foes, Cloudhawk was confident he could manage so long as they were back at the Sandbar. The reaction he was concerned about now would from Skycloud. If the elysians came for Autumn, they¡¯d be in real trouble. Skycloud was a breeding ground for capable fighters, not to mention their legendary older generation. Of people his age, there were enough to cause him concern. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the least bit interested in tussling with them. He didn¡¯t have any reward from Autumn either, so simply sending her away wasn¡¯t an option. It was almost certain she¡¯d renege on their agreement the moment she got back to her people. What would he do then? Best course was to clamp down on the spread of the news, and keep their heads low here in the station. A lithe, short-haired women was standing outside of his shop. She practically yelped in excitement when she saw Cloudhawk and the others draw near and trotted over to him. ¡°Excellent! You¡¯re back safe. I¡¯ve been worried.¡± Cloudhawk motioned for her to tone it down. Sending Oddball on a brief circuit to make sure they weren¡¯t being follows, he lead everyone into the store. It was nearing dusk and patrons had all gone home for the day, leaving Gabriel alone. He sat in his chair lazily knitting while the shop assistants busied themselves with tidying things. I¡¯m out here getting my ass kicked and this guy¡¯s living large, Cloudhawk griped inwardly. Gabriel sensed someone entered, and knew from the sound of the footfalls that one was Cloudhawk. But they sounded heavier, like he was hurt. Judging by the gait of the others, two were dangerous fighters. He slowly raised his eyes, drawing them over the old cripple and the beautiful stranger. Gabriel looked back down to his knitting. ¡°Back, eh? Find what you were looking for?¡± Hammont and Barb helped Cloudhawk to his favorite sitting chair. He fell into it with a sigh and a series of popping joints, feeling like he might fall apart. The Warden sank into his chair like a puddle of mud and couldn¡¯t move a muscle. I¡¯m done. Finished. Could I be paralyzed? He honestly couldn¡¯t lift a finger. Two days after the big fight he wasn¡¯t hurting anymore, but Cloudhawk knew trespasser was still changing him from the inside. It had reached the point where things really needed to be addressed, so even though he was completely exhausted Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t delay. He responded to Gabriel in a weak voice. ¡°Yeah, we got the info. Turns out the Crimson One is that old fuck Sterling Cloude. No wonder he can found a church and fill with demonhunters. Back in Skycloud he was Knight-Commander of the entire damn Order of Demonhunters. So what do you think? I¡¯m awesome, making it back in one piece and all. If it was you, they¡¯d be carrying you home in a little baggy.¡± Sterling Cloude! Both Gabriel and Barb were floored by the revelation. Even the wildest imaginations wouldn¡¯t have connected the Crimson One with one of Skycloud¡¯s mightiest demonhunters. Sterling wasn¡¯t as famous as his brother, but he was still one of the greatest warriors of their time. He was one of the top ten most incredible demonhunters in all of elysian history, and regarded as a living legend. Why run away to the wastelands? Why found a church, burn people alive, and contend against his own people? But it was the truth, whether they believed it or not. Reality couldn¡¯t be changed. But the mission Skye Polaris tasked Cloudhawk with was to uncover everything, so his task wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°This is big news. When word gets out its hard to guess how Skycloud will react.¡± Cloudhawk gently rubbed his temples. He thought about what was back in the elysian lands waiting for him. The mission wasgiven by Skye, but he was damn sure Arcturus was keeping an eye on what they found out. How closely he was paying attention was the question. ¡°We gotta keep this under wraps, for safety. Fatty.¡± Hammont jolted to attention, his fat quivering. ¡°Your faithful servant is here. What is your command?¡± Cloudhawk fished out his demonhunter token and threw it toward him. ¡°You need to get to the border and find their deputy commander, Drake Thane. Tell him what I told you, and make sure he goes directly to Skye Polaris with the information.¡± Magistrate Seacrest¡¯s face immediately flushed bright red and beads of sweat popped out of his fat head. He almost ran to obey. Giving him a mission this important was certainly reward for his service. Deputy commander of the border forces was a station far outside of Hammont¡¯s purview, and the news he was trusted with was going to even more important ears after that. What an unprecedented gift! ¡°Yes, of course! Right away! Your humble servant will let nothing stop him in completing this important task!¡± Afraid that Cloudhawk would rescind the honor, Hammont bowed and scraped, making lofty promises before throwing on his helmet and veritably running out of the store. He was off to prepare his departure. Barb then spoke to Cloudhawk, a note of skepticism in her voice. ¡°Are you sure this fatty in reliable enough for a mission this important?¡± ¡°The meatball might look dimwitted, but the rolls don¡¯t match the filling. He¡¯s a smart one.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Since he¡¯s no one important he won¡¯t attract notice. His unit here is under the border guard¡¯s command as well, so no one will think twice if he heads over there to give a status report. As long as we¡¯re not sure how Skycloud will react, he¡¯s the best choice for the job. If he disappears all of a sudden, then we know to get the hell out of dodge.¡± No one knew what to say. This guy was heartless. When it came to Sterling, it was best to make doubly sure their asses were covered. He was a great man in the eyes of elysians, and though he might have defected to the wastelands he sure as shit had people in Skycloud to do his bidding. Dealing with their small group wouldn¡¯t be hard if they got the drop of them. Selene stood by, face expressionless. From the moment they entered the safety of the shop her eyes had been glued to the old man. She abruptly changed the topic of conversation. ¡°How long are you going to play dumb, Lord Vulkan?¡± The old man had just opened a bottle of wine and was inhaling its intoxicating aroma when Selene¡¯s words made him jerk. He tried to play it off by taking a swig from the bottle like he wasn¡¯t involved. As he came to think about Cloudhawk wondered why this old man had been so mysterious this whole time. Did he also have something to hide? The demonhunter looked about at the confused expressions surrounding her. She raised her hand, letting the tattered sleeve of her cloak fall back. Power from her burning angels caused the shop¡¯s interior to grow noticeably warmer. ¡°Vulkan was once the highest officer of the Temple¡¯s templars. Bearer of the Dawnguard, commander of hundreds of holy warriors. His respect was shown by the title they gave him: The Warrior Saint of Skycloud.¡± ¡®Skycloud Warrior Saint¡¯? Fuuuuuck! What a kick-ass nickname! Cloudhawk was blindsided. What an appropriate title for this cranky lame old ball sack! Gabriel was also stunned. Although he and the others had learned a great deal about important figures while studying in Hell¡¯s Valley, their knowledge was restricted mostly to city officials and powerful families. The Temple was always an enigma. It was taboo to go poking around for information. Although it didn¡¯t have any obvious power, everything it did influenced the lives of all elysians. The Temple was a direct route of communication to the gods they held dear, but that also meant they were aloof and mysterious. Even Hell¡¯s Valley, for all their supposed independence, didn¡¯t dare throw their weight around when the Temple was involved. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind turned to Dawn Polaris. She was a templar, wasn¡¯t she? That terror of a woman was trouble enough, so what was this rotten old coot capable of as their former leader? He used to be the sort who¡¯d footsteps would rattle the whole domain, so what happened to turn him into¡­ this? ¡°The Warrior Saint of Skycloud? Heh... hehehahaha!¡± The old drunk smoothed the spindly white hairs that remained sprouting from his dirty scalp. He had a look of indifference, like they were talking about another life. ¡°I¡¯m just a cripple. Another abandoned soul out in the wastes. You flatter me, Lady Cloude.¡± He was careful to keep his words respectful. Selene kept her eyes fixed upon him. ¡°What happened all those years ago? What turned you into a drunk, sad old man!¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was on him. He sighed. The guise was done. The old man tipped the bottle back and loudly finished off its contents before answering. ¡°This is a serious matter, not as straightforward as Baldur¡¯s death. Are you sure you want to know? Heed me, children ¨C don¡¯t blame me for what you hear. Sometimes it¡¯s better to live in ignorance. There are some things that you cannot escape, once you become involved.¡± ¡°That big a deal? Fuck it, then!¡± Cloudhawk warred against his body to flop out of his chair. ¡°I got shit to do. I¡¯m out.¡± Selene glared at him. Autumn¡¯s stare was keen as daggers. Under their deadly looks Cloudhawk obediently collapsed back into his seat. Inwardly his heart was full of resentment. Why is trouble always following me around? A former Warrior Saint turning into a character like this is not going to be a happy story. Why is living a lazy and comfortable life so fucking hard! 1. Whew. Ok. The old man¡¯s name is À¤Àë. The first challenge is deriving the name¡¯s proper meaning. The first character ¨C kun ¨C is used to denote a feminine aspect to something. Li, the second character, means to leave or diverge. Neither of those made sense for the character, so after more digging it is discovered that both kun and li are characters for two of the eightin taoist practice. They are ascribed to earth and fire respectively. Because of his mystical and martial nature this made more sense, and his personality fits the elements of earth (tough, defensive) and fire (forceful, destructive). However, the challenge becomes finding a western-themed name to go with this very eastern philosophy. We went with Vulkan, to evoke the image of a volcano, the fusion of earth and fire. It is also the Roman iteration of the Greek god Hephaestus who was born with a crippled limb. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 64 - The Drunkards Sad Pas Templars were guardians of the Temple. Through a strict selection process they gathered only the strongest fighters. Ten templars could wipe out a cell of heathens on their own. Fifteen were like their own army. A hundred were said to be capable of razing entire cities. Templars were only under the command of the Temple and no other, the strongest fighting force in Skycloud. That being the case, it was easy to imagine the respect and ability of a man who once lead their order. Even the governor had to show some deference. It was too much for Cloudhawk to believe that this withered, crippled, smelly old pervert was this ¡®Warrior Saint.¡¯ But he had to admit the sharp contrast between the man and the title made him curious. What had happened to the old drunk to knock him off his golden pedestal, if he really was Vulkan. He was washed out, gutter trash. Cloudhawk had to admit he wanted to hear the story. But curiosity killed the cat ¨C or so they said. Just as deadly to people, too. He tried to avoid things like this. Whatever truths or secrets were behind the curtain were more than he cared to know. You had to be crazy to want to. Only, under Selene and Autumn¡¯s hateful stares he was forced to do the stupid thing. Whatever. It¡¯s a story, I¡¯ll just make sure to wipe it from my memory later. If they wanna dig themselves into a hole they can¡¯t crawl out of, it isn¡¯t any of my business. Vulkan went on to tell the story of the events from years ago. He and Baldur were lifelong friends, pulling each other from death¡¯s jaws more than once. The old man knew him well, and recognized that he was a unique soul. He didn¡¯t have the same overwhelming abilities of his brother, but in terms of talent they were equally blessed. As a member of the Cloude family and a master demonhunter, he had the right to demand any top-level post he desired. Only, Baldur was a special sort of man. He appreciated freedom and never liked the yolk of command. His strong personality and explorer¡¯s spirit were unsuited for military life. So instead he became the leader of the people¡¯s demonhunter guild, the Inquisitor-General of the League of Demonhunters. For years he wandered, following a strong sense of justice and a drive to help those in need. In his days he was known as the savior in white, who would came to wash away wrongdoings. The people called him Skycloud¡¯s greatest Paladin, a term of admiration and respect. His easy and approachable persona earned him adulation wherever he traveled. Everything that happened after was because of who he was. Baldur was a man of firm conviction ¨C a true warrior of god. He spend years traversing Skycloud and roaming the wastelands. Everything he did was in pursuit of righteousness and defense of the weak. Hunting demons was his attempt to strike evil at its root and erase it from the world for good. It was his way to fight for a real and lasting peace for his people. As a master demonhunter, his abilities were second only to Arcturus Cloude. Before long news of his actions in the wastelands spread, stories sung far and wide. His brilliance knew no bounds. With Arcturus guiding the people from within, and Baldur defending the people from beyond, the elysians were assured centuries of peace! However, Baldur was often gone on these missions. In his travels he uncovered many historical monuments and ancient sights. He cavorted with countless heretics, and was faced with things no ordinary elysian was forced to face. Perhaps it was inevitable that he would become lost. Through his one man war against the demons Baldur learned that the beasts were not merely the hideous creatures they seemed to be on their surface. Much of what he learned about them was eerily similar to the legends of his own gods. The more he learned, the deeper these parallels ran. How could gods and demons share so many likenesses? How had the world become such a broken and strife-filled place? Baldur sought knowledge through ancient tomes and remains of the old world. He learned about an old and mysterious civilization that once ruled the land, in a world much different from the one they inhabited today. They were not separated into wastelands and domains, as now, and the human population was a great and burgeoning presence. All of this changed when a cataclysm ushered in an age of chaos. The gods and demons arrived after. What was the relationship between these two races? What caused the apocalypse that burned that great civilization, and the whole earth with it? And the gods and demons? What were their motives? Why did demons seek to eradicate humanity, and why did the gods endeavor to help them? Merely asking these questions was tantamount to treason for an elysian. Even if these thoughts occurred, they would never dare give voice to them. To seek answers was unthinkable. But Baldur was a man of adventure with a thirst for knowledge, and he resolved to learn the truth of it all. ¡°This was where the tragedy of Baldur¡¯s life begins.¡± The old man opened another bottle and took a drink. ¡°I remember that day. Baldur came back looking for me, still dusty from the road. He claimed to have proof of something incredible, so incredible it would change the whole world if people knew.¡± Selene couldn¡¯t keep herself quiet. ¡°What was it?¡± ¡°That gods and demons were one and the same. Two identical seeds from the same fruit. Only, when the seeds sprout they become two completely different plants. Yet while they might look different on the outside, their essence is indistinguishable. There is no difference at all between them.¡± The old man¡¯s claim took their breath away, even Cloudhawk. He¡¯d never met a god, but he had seen a demon with his own eyes. How could they be the same? Of course, what was stunning to Cloudhawk was an earth-shattering accusation for the others! Were they to believe that the demons ¨C who were responsible for so much agony and tragedy in human existence ¨C and the gods who protected and provided for them, were the same? How could they accept such blasphemy? Had Master Baldur really said such unthinkable sacrilege? The suggestion was more sinful than the actions of any heathen! Gods and demons were as incompatible as fire and water, it was an age-old truth. Stating otherwise seemed wholly ludicrous. The old man¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I was a templar. I pledged my life and loyalty to the Temple and all it stood for. How could I question the gods? I can see in your faces that you feel the same way I did when he told me. So I refused to help Baldur, and advised him to stop his foolish search immediately, as a friend. But I knew even then he¡¯d strewn too far from the path. His doom was certain.¡± Barb was sweating, her heart pounding in her chest. ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°He said that if we didn¡¯t know the truth about the beings we worships, we would never understand their nature of motives. What would our faith be then?¡± The old man shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. ¡°Heh¡­ but if he listened to my suggestion, he wouldn¡¯t be Baldur.¡± Cloudhawk was the next to interrupt. ¡°What a stubborn idiot. Like father, like daughter...¡± He hardly got the words out before a fierce and violent gaze immediately made him shut his mouth. Selene¡¯s face was as inscrutable as ever, but her fists were clenched so tight Cloudhawk was afraid she¡¯d break her own fingers. She looked back at the drunk, who continued. ¡°Baldur left disappointed, but I knew he wouldn¡¯t give up his quest. Sure enough word came to us that a demon had appeared in the wastelands. Baldur, evoking his title as demonhunter, left to face the beast. Later people would use his disappearance to spread rumors that he defected and joined the demons.¡± The demon had to be none other than the Caliph of the Sands. ¡°It wasn¡¯t long after he left that I was approached by one of his people, a general of the League who said Baldur had been ambushed and was on the verge of death. While I didn¡¯t approve of Baldur¡¯s actions we had been friends all our lives. I couldn¡¯t stand by while he was in danger. So I struck out from the Temple without orders and took a company of templars to save him.¡± Here, the old man¡¯s face grew hard and bitter. ¡°We followed the demonhunter to a place out in the wastelands, but we never found Baldur. We were ambushed. I was gravely wounded and all my men were slain. I was forced to use a technique that consumed the better part of my life force, but managed to escape. I later came to learn that the demonhunter who brought us to the ambush escaped to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough and took the name Ravenous Tiger.¡± ¡°Well no wonder you wanted to kill that piece of shit.¡± Cloudhawk blurted out. ¡°But if you were so mighty who could hurt you so badly?¡± The old man answered with a wry smirk. ¡°What elysian do you think would have such ability?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t mean Arcturus...¡± Cloudhawk replied. The old man said nothing. ¡°Fuuuuck! Are you for real?!¡± Cloudhawk scowled. That asshole again. After meeting him Cloudhawk had to fear and admire the old fox¡¯s shrewd nature. But Cloudhawk, thankfully, had never faced the extend of the great demonhunter¡¯s power. All he knew was that he was always called the greatest demonhunter who ever lived, but what did that mean? He knew at least the scholarly governor was not a weak man. Only after facing the Crimson One did Cloudhawk even start to understand what men of their level were capable of. If Sterling was already so strong, what sort of power did Arcturus wield? It was a striking thought. Far from coming to his brother¡¯s aid, Arcturus stopped the templars who went to save him. Vulkan was almost killed on the spot to silence any loose ends and avoid suspicion. But what did all of this have to do with the governor? Why get involved, to the point where he didn¡¯t even care if his own younger brother lived or died! Cloudhawk¡¯s head was spinning. By now the old man¡¯s eyes were hazy and swimming from the drink. ¡°The more you try to hide things, the more guilty you are. That¡¯s what I think. More I ponder on it, the less it seems those lofty gods up there have pure motives. And the demons don¡¯t seem as evil as we always said they were. Whatever the truth, it¡¯s too late now. Baldur¡¯s dead, and I¡¯m a cripple. Another abandoned soul out here in the wastes.¡± Selene¡¯s burning angels creaked as she clenched her fists. ¡°Don¡¯t you want revenge?¡± ¡°Revenge? Aside from the Temple and the guy who¡¯s been gone for years, who in Skycloud stand against Arcturus Cloude? You know, once I calmed down and though about it, I¡¯m not sure Iwould have done any different if Iwas in the governor¡¯s position.¡± The others exchanged silent glances. ¡°Arcturus is master of the domain ¨C not just because he is strong and wise, but because he does what others won¡¯t, or can¡¯t. He is willing to shoulder responsibilities that would crush anyone else. Whatever truth Baldur found would have caused chaos in our domain. Think about it, what would you have done in Arcturus¡¯ shoes? It still isn¡¯t clear how Baldur died, but if you are honest with yourself you can see he brought it on his own head. He was too obsessed, saw things too simple. It was clear he was beyond redemption, walking down a road that led into darkness!¡± ¡°And me? I was a victim who learned more than he should of by accident, and I almost died because of it. I hate Arcturus for killing my disciple and crippling me, but I can see why he felt he had to. I can¡¯t seek revenge, nor would I. Skycloud can lose any citizen, except for its governor.¡± ¡°I hate Baldur, too. What¡¯s so wrong about living in ignorance? Is the truth so important?! But damned if I don¡¯t admire him! He was unstoppable when he had a goal, even if he knew it would kill him. He followed through. If I live a thousand years, I could never be a man like him.¡± ¡°So do you understand now? There are some things that really aren¡¯t worth knowing. Ignorance is bliss.¡± That was how a glorious warrior became a crippled vagrant. Faithless, honorless, powerless. This old man with nothing left of what he used to be tottered back onto his feet and hobbled on his ruined leg toward the door. The others watched him go, hunched as though the weight of the world hung around his neck. Cloudhawk watched him go, speechless. In his heart was just one thought. Damn¡­ incredible. For all my shit luck it pales compared to what happened to that old fool! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 65 - Tasks That Must Be Taken Night crept over Sandbar Station. The borderlands town was a sea of twinkling lamplight. Ever since elysian soldiers were stationed in the outpost things had become calm and stable. Morale was better, and the markets had become a safe and lively place even after dark. A withered and unobtrusive figure sat in a corner, cradling a bottle of alcohol with an iron walking stick resting by his side. He took gulps of the foul liquid while keeping himself upright, wisps of dwindling white hair swaying comically as he did so. His bloodshot eyes, dim from drink, stared into the light of a fire in front of him. Passersby hardly looked at the pathetic beggar as they walked the market. There was nothing strange about a crippled drunk in the wastelands. You could throw a rock and hit six just like him. The old drunk sloshed the bottle¡¯s contents in frustration, thenthrew his head back and drank its contents, all while miraculously avoiding falling backwards. When it came to the final drop he smacked the empty bottle against his teeth to draw out its savory contents. It would be unthinkable if the truth was sitting right there. This sad drunk was the same man who, just six years ago, shook heaven and earth with what he could accomplish. Now he was a casualty of the wastelands, like so many others. He chucked the empty bottle away and had another handed to him before the first hit the ground. He took a couple gulps, smacked his lips in contentment, and only then noticed the figure who had come to block his firelight. She was dressed in a ragged cloak that hid her face, but her ratty clothes couldn¡¯t hide her majestic air. A pair of eyes ¨C bright and clear as the full moon ¨C looked down on him with clashing emotion. ¡°Thank you.¡± The old man managed to say. He spared her a brief look. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re gonna do next?¡± ¡°Continue,¡± Selene replied. It didn¡¯t really answer his question. How was she supposed to continue? Continue tracking down her father¡¯s murderer? Continue her father¡¯s search for answers? The old drunk didn¡¯t ask, he already guessed the answer. She was so much like her dad. He opened his mouth and another slurred mess of words spilled forth. ¡°I know a place¡­ might be where Baldur¡¯s remains are buried. You might as well look for your answers there. After all, you¡¯ve gotten strong¡­ but you haven¡¯t inherited his full legacy yet.¡± Selene turned the question back on him. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Me?¡± The drunk chuckled, revealing his yellow teeth to the firelight. The mirth died away just as fast as it came. ¡°Now I¡¯m out here there¡¯s no plan to go back. Nothin¡¯ back in the elysian lands for me ¨C nothin¡¯ to do with me anymore. Not interested in getting involved in your mess either. That lad Cloudhawk has the right idea. Gotta say I¡¯m interested in his secrets, though.¡± Selene looks him over for a minute then continued in her soft voice. ¡°You of all people should know sometimes destiny makes a quiet life impossible. Cloudhawk is one of those people. The more he runs the more tangled up he gets. He tried to escape the wastelands by going to Skycloud, and this is where that brought him. He ran away from the elysian lands for the comfort of the wastelands, but found us instead.¡± He filled his mouth with another gulp of booze. ¡°Well I¡¯m eager to see how he fucks both places up, hehehe...¡± Selene wasn¡¯t here to convince him of anything. He was in this condition because Baldur dragged him into it. How else could one of the most illustrious characters in Skycloud end up drunk and despondent on a wasteland street corner? This old man wasn¡¯t that grand Warrior Saint anymore. He was half dead, both body and soul, waiting around for time and booze to finish the job. No one was going to help him, except himself. Selene returned to the shop. When she got back Cloudhawk was already gone. Gabriel was in a corner, absorbed in his knitting when she walked in. He didn¡¯t even raise his head. ¡°He went to Adder¡¯s bar for a drink.¡± *** Cloudhawk walked through the streets with a belly full of bitter complaints. He was surrounded by freaks and psychos! An insufferably stubborn woman hellbent on revenge, a down and out drunk, a literal psychopath, and a scramble-brained nitwit. The only one even halfway normal was Barb. Things were unbearable! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure what life had in store for him in the future, but the prospects were making him anxious. He decided to drink the edge off at Adder¡¯s bar and speak with Luciasha. She was a good, normal, common woman. She wasn¡¯t involved in any crazy shit so Cloudhawk hoped spending some time with her would make him feel better. No burdens or pressure to deal with. He was looking forward to a quiet drink when he walked into the bar. The scene he was met with almost made him jump back. Luciasha was tending bar while a familiar man was speaking merrily with her. The two seemed close, laughing and talking without a care. The young man she was with had his back to the door, leaning on the bar with his right arm. A bandaged left hand held his glass of alcohol. ¡°Squall!¡± ¡°Cloudhawk, you¡¯re back!¡± Luciasha was excited to see him again. The last few days since he¡¯s been gone she¡¯d missed his presence. She was surprised when Squall arrived too out of the blue, and predicted Cloudhawk would be showing up. Now he was here, just as he said. ¡°What a coincidence you two would show up together. We should all have dinner together!¡± Cloudhawk stared at Squall his eyes narrowed. His face betrayed nothing, but he walked in a way to make his weapon more easily accessible. If it was just Squall, Cloudhawk was confident he could handle him, but the Warden had already spotted the masked man nearby. His tar-black skin and burly build gave him away immediately. The pulses of resonance Cloudhawk felt from him just confirmed it. Blackfiend. Cloudhawk had walked in to a circumstance he was ill prepared for. Luciasha, happy and oblivious, bounded off to prepare some food. She didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary. The two men, meanwhile, sized each other up for a second. Squall finally smiled. ¡°Think we can talk over a drink?¡± Cloudhawk shrugged. ¡°I can¡¯t refuse Asha when she looks so excited.¡± Squall nodded. ¡°Take a seat.¡± They chose a nearby table and sat across from one another. Inwardly Cloudhawk was working out Squall¡¯s motive. He had to admit, the guy was getting harder and harder to see through. Was he here to try and abduct Autumn? Was he here to show that he had access to Asha? But he had to know his Highwaymen didn¡¯t have any power in the Sandbar. A smile still played on Squall¡¯s lips. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Cloudhawk rolled his eyes. ¡°Cut the shit. I¡¯m fine. What I want to know if why you didn¡¯t follow us the day before yesterday. I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯ll rip pieces off you and make sure you suffer before you die if you brought your people here.¡± But Squall shook his head. ¡°If that was my intention would we be sitting here chatting?¡± ¡°Food¡¯s here!¡± Luciasha¡¯s sing-song voice interrupted them as she approached. She placed a carefully prepared series of food and drink on the table, all full of smiles and excitement while wringing her hands in her apron. ¡°Tuck in!¡± Squall made a show of taking a deep breath to take in the pleasant scents. With a sigh of appreciation, and a grateful expression he said, ¡°Smells amazing. You made this yourself? You¡¯ve got a talent for it! The man that eventually wears you down will be a lucky one.¡± A blush crept across her cheeks. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t say anything, but he did snatch up a fork and started to eat. What a change from the day they met three years ago¡­ Their meal was interjected by a deep and magnetic voice from behind. ¡°Luciasha. Your friends are back?¡± The thirty-something year old man with a buzz cut and a scar over his eye was unmistakable. The large black cloak hung over him like a shadow. His presence was definitely striking. The man took in the two youths with an expression of interest. ¡°You two. No wonder our girl is so excited.¡± Cloudhawk responded through a smirk. ¡°Ey, its you? Better late than never, right? Come! Sit! We¡¯d love for the bar¡¯s owner to join us for a glass or two.¡± [1] The rickety table was laden with fragrant food and refreshing drink. Four people from four different backgrounds sat around it, harboring their own secret thoughts. They talked and laughed over drinks, and anyone who walked by might think they were just old friends catching up. Three rounds later¡­ Squall rose to his feet, patting his head. ¡°Well this was a blast. It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve had so much fun over a pint. Thank you very much, Asha, for the hospitality. Cloudhawk, Adder. It was fun, we should do it again some time.¡± In such a hurry to leave? Luciasha begrudgingly stood up to send him off. Squall graciously accepted with a smile, but stopped for a moment to spare a glance for Cloudhawk. ¡°Things have been crazy out there lately. Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. I know what you mean. I¡¯m gonna make damn sure things stay straight on my end. But you, hard to keep your face clean when you¡¯re out on the road all the time. Make sure you keep an eye out.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ I¡¯ll keep that in mind. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll run into each other again soon.¡± Squall threw his hood over his head and stepped out into the night. Blackfiend followed after like a loyal puppy. Cloudhawk watched him go, this simultaneously familiar and completely foreign character, and sighed to himself. What would he be when they met again? Friend or foe? ¡°Hey Asha, there¡¯s something Adder and I need to talk about.¡± Luciasha understood and busied herself with clearing away the empty plates and glasses. Adder had spotted the subtle tenseness between Cloudhawk and Squall, but he was smart enough not to bring it up. After all, things were less interesting when you stripped them of their mystery. Once they were alone Adder looked over this young man with his black eyes and raven hair. He didn¡¯t speak, he was waiting for his guest to make the first move. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°I accept your mission to infiltrate the Dark Atom.¡± A flash of surprise crossed Adder¡¯s normally inscrutable eyes. ¡°Why the sudden change of heart?¡± ¡°I thought about it for a while after you made the offer,¡± he said, acting dumb. ¡°It sounded like a good opportunity for me. If I tell the people back in Skycloud where their base is hidden you can bet your ass I¡¯ll be rewarded. Tithes and titles, am I right? What am I doing kickin¡¯ around here if that¡¯s what¡¯s on offer. Must say, I¡¯m interested in that weapon you were talking about as well.¡± Adder narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Cloudhawk knew he couldn¡¯t trick Adder so he obfuscated, offering half-truths and partial explanations. ¡°I have my own reasons, too. Got my own business to handle with those folks, so two birds with one stone ¨C you know what I¡¯m saying? Mutually beneficial, as it were. I help you out, I get paid.¡± Adder fiddled with a ring, turning it around his finger as he pondered for a minute. Eventually he answered. ¡°This is a serious matter. I spent a lot of time and resources getting this information. If you don¡¯t get what I¡¯m after, it¡¯d be a serious loss of my investment, you understand? I¡¯d be thrilled if you take the mission, but I¡¯m going to need something suitably expensive to hold as collateral.¡± Fuck. Slippery as ever. How did he know what I was thinking? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t gave a shit about Adder¡¯s mission. He was just accepting to get his hands on the group¡¯s headquarters. Once got there, his only interest was to somehow convince them to deal with his condition. Whatever primeval weapon Adder wanted was just background noise. But the old snake seemed to have taken that into consideration and wanted to make sure Cloudhawk would hold up his end of the bargain. ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything valuable.¡± Cloudhawk paused as a thought crossed his mind, then pulled a metal-bound book from his clothes. ¡°I¡¯ve got this, the Gospel of Sand. I can leave this famous relic with you to ease your mind if you like.¡± The Gospel was indeed a precious, even priceless artifact. Cloudhawk still could only command a tenth of its power. But you had to be alive to use a relic, and the only way to gain sometimes was to pay the appropriate cost. Cloudhawk was out of options. He handed the book to Adder, who looked it over. The barman was knowledgeable, and knew the artifact was a worthy trade. Probably the most expensive thing Cloudhawk had on him. ¡°Come with me.¡± Adder brought Cloudhawk back to his secret room and retrieved a map from a hidden compartment. He placed the map in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands and with a grave expression said, ¡°Everything we know about the Dark Atom is right here. Remember, your first priority has to be stealing that ancient weapon and leaving as fast as you can. The Dark Atom is a more dangerous foe than you can possibly imagine.¡± 1. What is this, dinner at the Boltons? Book 3, Chapter 66 - Separate Assignments The wastelands were full of groups vying for power, quietly laying in wait and gathering strength. All of them feared Skycloud and the destruction they represented, and so did whatever they could to avoid detection. The Dark Atom was the only organization to ever dare openly defy elysian supremacy, and have done so for ten years without being destroyed. When not enacting grander plots, the Dark Atom harassed their foe with terrorist acts. Assassination attempts, bombings, sneak attacks on patrols, poisonings, sabotage¡­ all the way down to petty theft. But their dirty tactics were always small-scale, never enough to cripple the behemoth that was Skycloud domain. On the contrary, it really only served to stoke the flames of hatred elysians had for wastelanders and made them a more unified enemy. More than once Cloudhawk suspected Arcturus was holding back, allowing the Dark Atom to keep up their antics. The occasional threat from an outside force kept his people vigilant, united, and strong. Peace made a population soft, but conflict ensured they were supplied with a steady stream of talented people willing to do their part for the good of the realm. These terrorists also served an important role as scapegoats. Cloudhawk learned the hard way back in Hell¡¯s Valley, that there was a lot of bad hung around the Dark Atom¡¯s necks that they didn¡¯t do. Of course Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any insight into what that lofty bastard really thought. He was a worm by comparison. Nor did he have the die-hard drive of Baldur. He was content with a superficial understanding, living every day in ignorance. That was his goal. The Warden thought on how to get inside the terrorist stronghold. The Dark Atom was famously strict in their operating style, and from what he could tell from the map their base was hidden away in dangerous territory. His sneaky tricks might not even be enough to get him in. What worried him most was his less than sterling reputation with the group Walking up and asking for help was the same and throwing his head in a noose. Suffering in their care only to not be cured and eat a bullet didn¡¯t sound like a good time. On the other hand, the Dark Atom wasn¡¯t your typical wasteland outfit. Not just the peripheries, but at its core. Most wasteland crews, at the end of the day, were just a bunch of tough guys. The Dark Atom took pains to gather scientists and engineers, hundreds of them. These informed and clear-thinking people were sure to see things differently. They were of a differently quality, at their core, an authentic Seeker powerhouse. And from what he knew of Seekers, they tended to be calmer than sweepers and other sorts. He just needed to find the right way, and maybe he could sit for a relatively friendly conversation. Well, there was no sense in sitting around. Time was wasting. Adder led Cloudhawk to the door once all relevant matters had been discussed. As he was leaving, Cloudhawk felt a familiar sensation. An alluring figure walked toward him from a dark alley, dressed in a ragged traveler¡¯s cloak. Even in the dim light he could see the gleam from her eyes. Adder stared at Selene as she approached. She answered him with a sizing glance of her own. When their eyes met, the force of it seemed like clashing blades. He narrowed his eyes, and gave a chuckle. ¡°Another friend of yours? You sure like to surround yourself with interesting characters. I¡¯ll be here, waiting for news of your success.¡± With that, Adder stepped back into the bar and shut the door behind him. Selene watched him go, unblinking. It was the first time the two met, but each could sense the power in the other immediately. Adder hadn¡¯t expected someone of her caliber to travel in Cloudhawk¡¯s circles, and Selene hadn¡¯t expected a man like him to call this small border town home. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± She didn¡¯t waste time with pleasantries or small talk. But what if the Crimson One came back? Abandoning them now seemed selfish. That meant they only had the old drunk to rely on, and his former power was a memory. He couldn¡¯t compare to the Bloodsoaked Queen. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Selene¡¯s posture said that his business was none of hers, and also that she saw the anxiousness in his face. There wasn¡¯t anything this guy wouldn¡¯t do to save his own skin. She explained herself. ¡°The Crimson One already had old wounds to contend with which hadn¡¯t healed, and now he gained new ones from our fight. He¡¯s likely glad I didn¡¯t go racing off after him right away. I think the chances are we won¡¯t be seeing him any time soon.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cloudhawk was skeptical, but Selene was ever the sort to speak her mind. She never gave him cause to think otherwise. ¡°Then I¡¯m not worried.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s too early to take things lightly,¡± Selene said. ¡°There are many organizations with their eyes on that girl, and the treasure she represents. Those out in the open are nothing to fear ¨C its the dark forces in the shadows you need to look out for. If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t keep Autumn around. The longer she¡¯d by your side the more likely trouble will come to find you. The sooner she¡¯d back in her valley, the better.¡± Cloudhawk nodded, then asked, ¡°You talk about dark forces. Are you saying that other than the Highwaymen and Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, there are other groups that pose a threat?¡± ¡°Be it the wastelands or Skycloud, there are more dormant organizations looking for their opportunity than you can imagine. If you think the ones you met are the only people interested in woodland valley, think again. But I haven¡¯t been active in these parts for years, I don¡¯t know what might have cropped up in the interim. But there is one man I can tell you to be very wary of.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Zephyr.¡± The name tickled something in the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. It¡¯d come up in Skycloud, then again in Hell¡¯s Valley. It was often spoken in connection with Dawn, Selene, Frost ¨C that group of talents. IT was safe to assume this Zephyr was like them. Selene sigh, like she¡¯d just remembered something upsetting, then continued in somber tones. ¡°Zephyr is my cousin, Sterling¡¯s only child. He¡¯s meticulous, careful, the people of Skycloud have always had high expectations of him. Only, he disappeared from the public the same time his father did. His whereabouts are unknown, even to this day. Now that Sterling has been wounded, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he sends his son after you.¡± Here, Selene paused to heave a sigh. Zephyr was her cousin, and at one time was the closest member of her family. She¡¯d been so different when she was young, lively and mischievous, and it was Zephyr who was always there to stop her from getting into too much trouble. Her cousin always struck as a warm, careful person. Like a spring breeze. Handsome, tall, friendly, witty ¨C but not scheming. Where was he now? Would he feel resentment for the actions of a past life? Cloudhawk rolled his shoulder, suddenly uncomfortably aware of their exposure. ¡°Is this Zephyr as strong as you are?¡± ¡°Last I knew he was significantly below my grade of training.¡± Hearing this, Cloudhawk¡¯s expression still wasn¡¯t pleased but he at least wasn¡¯t terrified. Not being as talented as Selene didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t a threat. She then added, ¡°But he is several years older than I am. So he¡¯s been training longer. In a full-on fight I¡¯m sure I could take him one on one.¡± ¡°Fine, enough, I get it. Your family is a bunch of monsters and disaster follows wherever you people go. Geniuses apparently crop up in clusters like mushrooms now.¡± Selene couldn¡¯t help but smirk at Cloudhawk¡¯s uncomfortable state. A flash of affection crossed her eyes, though no one saw it. ¡°You are just as talented as I am, you just weren¡¯t fortunate enough to have good guidance or resources. Under those circumstances, reaching the point where you are now after three years is no easy feat. But the stronger you become, the more burdens you¡¯ll be expected to carry. This is fate. There is no running from it.¡± ¡°Forget about me, have you thought about yourself? You can¡¯t spend the rest of your life looking for vengeance.¡± For a brief moment she paused in contemplation, her beautiful face crinkling as she thought. Aside from the young man before her, she didn¡¯t ever really show hesitation or confusion. To everyone else she was like an angel, above such paltry human troubles like ¡®indecision.¡¯ ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll cross that bridge when I get there. I can only focus on the road ahead. Failure or success, it doesn¡¯t matter. I just have to keep going, no matter what enemy is before me. My blade won¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°What if it was me? Would you cut me down?¡± ¡°Without a second thought.¡± [1] Selene laughed when she saw Cloudhawk¡¯s face twist uncomfortably, as though someone had just kicked him in the balls. She laughed more with him in the last few days than she had in the last several years. She continued in a heart-melting gentle tone. ¡°So, you must get stronger. If we do draw swords against one another someday, at least don¡¯t let me kill you. My conscience might object.¡± This lady was quick. ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah. Since you put it that way I¡¯ll make sure to spare your life when the time comes.¡± Selene didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or curse. You gave the kid an inch, and he always took a mile. All this nonsense they were spewing¡­ had it been so long since she¡¯d had a proper conversation with someone that she could no longer stop herself once she¡¯d started Selene shook her head and said nothing further. She bid her friend goodbye, then turned away. The silver moonlight hugged her body as she walked from him with light, but determined steps. This woman¡­ always off on her own, so full of conviction once she thought she knew the answer. When she made up her mind to do something, she did it ¨C no matter if there were miles of mountains and rivers in her way. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have that sort of perseverance. Quite the opposite, he avoided trouble like the plague. Speaking of trouble, he had to figure out what to do with the biggest pain in his ass. Autumn and Barb were back in the shop having dinner. The old drunk was also there, lost in the bottom of a bottle. You couldn¡¯t get that guy away from his drink for more than a minute. With the amount he was drinking it wasn¡¯t a question of whether it was affecting his life expectancy. He drank enough on the regular to drown a bull. ¡°Hey, old timer, cheer up will ya?¡± Barb picked at her food while trying to offer the drunk some guidance. ¡°Put your faith in miracles. Doesn¡¯t matter how bad the wound, there¡¯s always a way around it. Always a way to heal. So why haven¡¯t you searched for treatment all these years? You¡¯ve got to know alcohol isn¡¯t going to cure your troubles.¡± The old man answered with an inebriated chuckle, then slurred, ¡°Yer right, my condishun isn¡¯t irrecovrabul¡­ jus¡¯, about as easy as kissin¡¯ my own ass is all. The gods themselves could come n¡¯ wash their hands o¡¯ me.¡± ¡°How do you know if you never try?¡± Barb retorted. To this she earned a dramatic roll of the eyes. ¡°What does an ignernt pup like you know anyway.¡± ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you come along with me to woodland valley, grandpa?¡± Autumn was struck with an idea. The old man might have been crippled and half dead, but he was twice the man of that bastard Cloudhawk on his worst day. He¡¯d already given up on Skycloud, so why not go back with her to her tribe? Protected by someone strong like him, they wouldn¡¯t have to fear for their safety. ¡°We¡¯re the Shepherd¡¯s chosen, good people. We¡¯d take good care of you, and who knows, maybe we can find a way to heal your injury.¡± Barb was displeased with her methods. She was a firm disciple of the Warden. ¡°He¡¯s a guest brought here by his Excellence. You can¡¯t just poach his people like that.¡± Autumn paid no mind to her protests. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. She continued. ¡°I just need you to bring me back to my people. I can promise you all the top quality alcohol you could want. Our floral wines are unmatched.¡± Irritation bloomed on Barb¡¯s face. This woman was going too far. His Excellency had gone far out of his way to help her, and here she was trying to steal away a powerful ally. She was so ungrateful! ¡°She¡¯s so sincere, I¡¯d take her up on the offer.¡± Cloudhawk walked in, stepping over a floor filled with empty bottles. ¡°Shit, I can¡¯t have you taking advantage of my hospitality anyway. Do some work if you¡¯re gonna drink me dry like this.¡± The old man paused. ¡°You¡¯re sending her back?¡± What bullshit was this? This girl was an enormous pain in the ass. If she stuck around any longer¡­ Cloudhawk shuddered to think about what other sorts of trouble would come knocking. ¡°Barb, Gabby, you two should go as well.¡± Autumn set her bowl down and stool. ¡°You¡¯re really sending me home?¡± ¡°What the hell would I keep you here for? What are you gonna do, warm my bed? Give birth to my children?¡± Cloudhawk impatiently waved her away like shooing a fly. ¡°It¡¯s done. The drunk, Barb, Gabby, you three are responsible for getting her back to the Vale in one piece. Gabby, make sure she pays what she owes. Not one eboncrys short, you hear me?¡± Autumn was thrilled at the prospect of getting back as soon as possible. It was obvious Cloudhawk was sick of the trouble she brought with her, and didn¡¯t have even the slightest intention of keeping her around. He was damn near elated she would be out of his hair. But for better or worse they¡¯d had an adventure, faced danger together. His flippant disposal of her was something she found infuriating. Cloudhawk make it clear he wasn¡¯t up for discussion. She wasn¡¯t staying her a second longer than she had to. Her heart was full of contradictions, but they faded when she thought about her people and the suffering they were going through. The quest she¡¯d set out to complete was done, the relic of their patron god recovered. What¡¯s more, she was being escorted by the far more reliable drunk, and the demonhunter Barb. Gabriel was demonstrably insane, but perhaps not evil. With these three and the Shepherd¡¯s flute, she was confident the monsters would be taken care of. As for Cloudhawk? If he was so eager to stay behind, then fine! The only thing that was ever on that bastard¡¯s mind was eboncrys anyway. I¡¯ll make sure you regret the way you treated me! 1.Ouch Book 3, Chapter 67 - Overtures Woodland Vale was miraculous place, separate from the conflicts of the wastelands and Skycloud. Back in the day, a utopia like that was exactly the sort of place Cloudhawk was searching for. Now he looked back at that desire as naive. There was no place where humans lived that was peaceful. That said, a place like Woodland Vale was a rare sight in the post-apocalyptic world. Cloudhawk would have liked to take a look, but the rapidly changing state of his body made that impossible. He had to give up the chance, for his own well-being, and put his fate in the hands of the Dark Atom. Only their scientists could help him at this point. Yet at the same time Autumn couldn¡¯t spend any more time out here either. They had to split up. Before the others left, Cloudhawk made sure to reiterate the most important thing; Gabriel had to make sure to get payment in full. If he could find a way to squeeze more out of her, then do it. This was their ticket, they might never have to work again. Rumor was Woodland Vale hid a treasure the likes of which the world had never seen. What a shame if they were to find the mother lode and come back empty handed. Cloudhawk prepared plenty of alcohol for the old drunk. Barb was still untested, and although Gabriel was strong he was famously¡­ unstable. The old man was more level headed even half-drowned in wine. He was the one responsible for whether they made it to the valley safely. Autumn didn¡¯t say a word. She didn¡¯t even say goodbye. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get this girl, there was always something off between them. Wasn¡¯t her whole thing that she wanted to get back to her valley as fast as possible? So why the fuck was she all huffy after he arranged for a crew to help her do exactly that? The girl¡¯s brain was too scrambled for him to figure out. But whatever, he didn¡¯t care how willful or obnoxious she was as long as she paid. The travelers left for Autumn¡¯s home under the cover of night. A gourd filled to the brim with alcohol hung on the drunk¡¯s back. Half a dozen more sloshed around hanging from his lizard mount. He and the others used the fog of early morning, before the sun rose, to muffle their steps and conceal their departure. He lead the while, while Gabriel and Barb took up the rear. Autumn was nestled safely in between. That was the marching order for fifty kilometers or so. By now the sky was painted with morning light. They paused for a moment to let the mounts rest. By the time dawn rolled around the old man had gone through three bottles of alcohol. His ruddy cheeks and blurry eyes showed he was already mostly sloshed. A hand raised to throw an empty bottle out into the desert when suddenly he stopped. The glass container slipped from his fingers and out into the air, followed by a squeal. The bottle stopped, then a moment later split right down the middle. Its two neatly severed halves hit the ground with a raspy thud. A black fog rolled in, spreading toward them. A figure bundled in darkness could be seen in its midst. Only its glimmering eyes and the long straight blade in its hands were clearly seen. Those eyes were fixed on the drunk. ¡°Careful!¡± Barb just caught on to the change in circumstance. She slung the exorcist bow off her shoulder and gripped the string. ¡°It¡¯s an ambush!¡± Fifteen or so masked men appeared from the surrounding wastes. They¡¯d been preparing their attack for some time, but no one could tell how long they¡¯d been near before the drunk spotted them. IF they could get this close and avoid detection, they weren¡¯t normal bandits. Their masked leader gestured with his hand. His men leaped at the travelers, like hungry shadows. Barb released her first arrow. It sheared through the chest of her target. However, even before the first victim hit the ground his companions had closed the distance. Barb didn¡¯t have time to draw her bow a second time. They were like ghosts, soundless as they dashed through the pockets of darkness not yet burned away by the rising sun. It was a hair-raising scene of which they were on the receiving end. But as the masked men jumped toward them they went limp in midair. Sturdy bodies became formless chunks, spurting blood as they fell. Gabriel¡¯s fingers danced as he controlled the threads of his relic. Two more of their attackers had their throats opened. With a tug the blonde-haired demonhunter finished the deed, and a slight breeze pushed their severed heads from their shoulders. The brutal scene left Barb breathless. It was the first time she was confronted with what Gabriel was capable of. His fingers continued to pluck and pull. A dozen threads slithered through the air at his command. They were practically invisible even in full daylight, and impossible to spot now. Closing in from all sides like a dragnet, Gabriel left no space for the masked leader to escape. His threads spiraled tighter, but as he closed his fist to shred his target, the man in black dissolved into mist. In the same instant, Autumn heard a muffled thud from nearby. She turned her head to see a creeping black mist, and within it a long sword stabbing her way. Gabriel scowled, surprised to find that their foe was a demonhunter. What¡¯s more, the man¡¯s skills were nothing he¡¯d seen before. He was a step too slow to protect Autumn from the surprise attack. The deadly gleam of the man¡¯s sword drew closer. A hand shot forth from his side and grabbed his weapon When he turned his face to see who interfered, the masked man was met with a wide, yellow-toothed grin. He didn¡¯t know when or how the old man had gotten so close, but he found he couldn¡¯t wrench the sword free of his grasp. The old man pulled his arm back and whipped his open palm toward the masked man¡¯s head. The instant before it struck, the drunk felt his other hand release. His target had reengaged whatever strange power and turned both himself and his weapon into mist. What a strange and incredible power ¨C the ability to teleport over short distances and ignore obstacles. An assassin with these capabilities was a deadly threat. Barb swapped her bow for an exorcist rod and made to give chase. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± The drunk shook his head discouragingly. ¡°He¡¯s wearing the Wraithrobe. We can¡¯t catch him.¡± Barb was curious about this stranger¡¯s power. ¡°Is it a relic? How does he shift around like that?¡± The old man seemed to know quite a lot about it. ¡°It¡¯s not really shifting, more like a short-range speed boost that also lets the user slip through the smallest cracks. But they can¡¯t get through something tightly sealed. Out here in the wastes, with that robe, if he wants to run there¡¯s nothing we can do to stop him. We¡¯ll just leave ourselves exposed.¡± The Wraithrobe was once the possession of a demon, hundreds of years ago. The fiend was an agent of much chaos and destruction, although it was considered of only average strength among its kin. Despite this, it took a dozen veteran demonhunters and two masters to eventually destroy it. That relic is one of the reasons why it was so hard to kill.¡± The old man stopped to rub his chin, lost in thought. ¡°Far as I remember the Wraithrobe was kept hidden in the elysian lands. I hadn¡¯t heard anything about it being given out to a demonhunter. Who on earth could this person be...¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Gabriel didn¡¯t care. He stopped channeling Shadethread, retracting its filaments. ¡°We have to keep going.¡± He was right. Whoever those people were, they were definitely after Autumn. Thankfully, they¡¯d underestimated her entourage. Now that it was obvious they were being hunted, who knew when there might be a second attempt, and a third. Staying here was foolish. The four travelers quickly went on their way. *** Sandbar Station. Adder¡¯s bar. Adder himself stood behind the bar today, using a rag to dry a set of glasses that¡¯d been freshly washed. Luciasha sat beside him with her chin in her hands, smiling excitedly. ¡°Cloudhawk and Squall have grown so much. Strong, too! I¡¯m so happy for them, I just hope we can get together again soon.¡± Adder offered her a warm smile. ¡°They both care about you a lot. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be back when they can.¡± Luciasha nodded. She appreciated how lucky she was that in this cruel world she¡¯d met so many good people. She didn¡¯t have any wild hopes or ambitions. She was happy to live just like this, surrounded by friends and living a mundane life. Adder hung the crystal-clear glass on the rack hanging over the bar with the others. He shared a few more words with Luciasha then retired to his room. Moments after shutting the door a dark mist seeped into the room, and a masked man emerged. He pulled the scarf down, revealing a face so ordinary it would be hopeless to try and pick him out from a crowd. There was dried blood at the corner of his mouth. He¡¯d been injured. That old drunk was a shadow of his former self, but still more than most could handle. Revenant¡¯s low voice whispered through the room [1]. ¡°Cloudhawk is not with them, but the others are strong as well. The old one is a highly skilled demonhunter. I was forced to retreat.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Adder¡¯s face wrinkled in thought, but soon relaxed again. ¡°Should I get more people and try again?¡± Revenant asked. ¡°If even you cannot overcome them, then none of my people can.¡± Adder shook his head and abandoned the thought. He pulled open a drawer and placed it on a nearby desk. ¡°Anyway, a more pressing issue has arisen. We can put our plans for them on hold for the time being.¡± Revenant nodded. ¡°What is the new mission?¡± Adder picked up the latter once again and threw it with a flick of his wrist. The easy motion sent the thin paper hissing through the air so fast it seemed able to behead a man. Revenant deftly snatched it from the air and looked over its contents. Surprise came over his typically flat affect as he came to understand Adder¡¯s meaning. It would be odd if he wasn¡¯t surprised, given the gravity of what he read. ¡°This is what you¡¯ll do. Go to the wall, and give the troops stationed there all the information we have on the Dark Atom.¡± ¡°You want the elysians to go after them. Didn¡¯t you just send Cloudhawk? The item we sent him to retrieve...¡± ¡°Things are much worse than we thought. Now is the time, and we must act accordingly. Cloudhawk is not a reliable agent, and some risks are necessary. Now go.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Revenant nodded, then melted away into fog. Adder walked toward a window and pushed it open. The morning sun had already risen, and a warm breeze caressed his face as the darkness of his room was dispelled. Its light made his harsh, sharp features appear even more ruthless. 1. I had to search for ages to remember what I called this guy. Remember, no throwaway characters. Book 3, Chapter 68 - The Volcano Dwellers To the south-west of Skycloud was a place their maps referred to only as ¡®no man¡¯s land.¡¯ Out in that stretch of the wilds, ninety-five percent of all living things were mindless hunters, beasts killing for survival. There was nothing unique about that, but there was a reason for its special designation. It was home to the Blisterpeak mountain range. [1] As its name implied, the Blisterpeaks were a treacherous area. It stretched a hundred kilometers and boasted a hundred active volcanoes. Every day a dozen of them erupted with varying intensity. Scouring heat and deadly magma were intrinsic features. It was a hellscape of blackened ground, and the air was choked with toxic ash. So thick was the gushing smoke from these volcanoes that it blotted out the sky and turned the Blisterpeaks into a lifeless expanse. Yet, even with a name like ¡®no man¡¯s land,¡¯ this inhospitable place was not uninhabited. What sort of people could survive in an environment like this? Life was tenacious, and stubborn. From seething fissures, to baked deserts, to ice-covered tundra life eked out a way. Somehow it managed the impossible and adapted where no life should be possible. Out among the Blisterpeaks, deep among its peaks and valleys, were a tribe that have so far remained unknown to the rest of the world. They were a small group ¨C several hundred only. It was impossible to know how long these people and their ancestors have lived here, only that this had been the land of their people since the old stories. Coal was one of them. Any living creature would need to adapt to live here, and humans were no exception. Their skin had thickened to deal better with the intense heat, and their noses had mutated to filter toxic dust from the air. In times of extreme famine they could subsist off charcoal and other minerals. Heat from the volcanoes were swallowed up inside them and converted into vital energy. The elders always said they were normal humans. But to anyone from the outside, they would undeniably be considered mutants. Coal didn¡¯t know what a mutant was, of course. Really, he didn¡¯t know what defined someone as ¡®human¡¯, either. Their old tribal leader was the most knowledgeable among them. He had once traveled the burning fields and the smoke-filled chasms all across their territory, experiencing the dangers of the outside world for himself. Once, the chief had even shared his experience with Coal. He said it was like another world out beyond the Blisterpeaks. The air wasn¡¯t poisonous, he said. There were no volcanoes constantly threatening destruction, and the earth did not quake as though in a constant rage. He told Coal that the sun burned unmasked, shining upon vast tracts of cool sand. Fresh, tender things grew up from the ground that you could eat, you need only pluck them for yourself.And meat ¨C lots and lots of meat for the taking. It sounded impossible to Coal. He had always thought the whole world was endless fields of lava, just like his home. The old chief¡¯s tales filled Coal with a yearning. It had been three years since he last found a plant to eat. Meat? There was some in the mountains, rare creatures like fire salamanders, but the chief always turned his nose up at those things. He said their bodies were foul, sour, toxic. Out there beyond the mountains, the meat was sweet and nourishing. ¡°If the outside world is so nice, why did you come back?¡± The old chief¡¯s body was a map of scars. He¡¯d lost his left arm at some point, and something had smashed part of his head flat. When Coal asked the question his battered face fell, and he was silent for a long time. Eventually he took a deep sigh and spoke. ¡°Coal. Out in the world there is something dangerous. More dangerous than the magma earthquakes, worse than fire salamanders, harder to see through than the ash clouds. Do you know what this is?¡± Coal shook his head, to which the old man lifted a gnarled finger and pointed it at his chest. Coal did not understand his elder¡¯s meaning at first, but when he asked the old chief said that the outside world was filled with evil men. To them, Coal and his people were like monsters. If they were not strong enough to defend themselves, they would be taken away. This explained the elder¡¯s many wounds, Coal observed. A decision was made in Coal¡¯s heart, then. He would train, become strong, so that no one could trouble him. He wanted to be like the old chief, traveling far to the outside world so he could feel the sun on his skin and eat his fill of delicious food. It was decided; no matter how hard, or how much effort was needed, he would see his wish granted. Coal lived down near a volcanic lake. From birth his tough skin could survive a brief touch with the lava, but now after training he could stand immersed in it for two whole breaths ¨C then three, then five, then ten. Eventually that grew to twenty or thirty breaths without any harm coming to him. But protecting himself from being burned wasn¡¯t enough. His body needed to be strong, fast, and agile. Coal had grown naturally into one the of tribe¡¯s strongest men. He was able to pick up an object big as himself and throw it clear across the lake. But still he was not satisfied. Through training the objects grew to twice his size, then three times ¨C five times as large and as heavy as himself, thrown just as far. Every day he became stronger. No one else in the tribe was his equal. But his kin thought him mad. Eventually they refused to deal with him at all. Coal did not lose heart. It only pushed him further away. He no longer spent time with his people, training instead with every available moment. His body grew stronger than ever, able to stand in the middle of an erupting volcano¡¯s spray, or wade through the lava lake and eat the fire salamanders on the other side. No concept of time existed for Coal. His life was training, day in and day out. Each time he thought of leaving his mind would turn to what the chief said, and he would return to his grueling regimen. Until that day. Coal found a fire salamander¡¯s nest and stole in for a meal. But there were no lizards, instead there was something else he¡¯d never seen before. It was alive, like a salamander, but different. It was scavenging around, digging through the ash and comparing things it found. Clearly it was a creature of some intelligence. Coal had seen nothing like it. It was new, interesting. He crept closer to try and get a better look. It wasn¡¯t very large, about his own size, with black coarse hair sprouting from its head. It¡¯s skin was fair, soft¡­ rather like the stories the chief used to tell. And then¡­ The creature realized Coal was standing there, nearby. Just as Coal was mesmerized by the strange thing, Coal¡¯s own hulking frame froze it stiff. It recovered and pulled out a tool, something like a bow though there were no arrows. But when the creature pulled back on the string and release, a shooting beam of light struck him in the chest. Pain! Terrible pain! Once Coal trained his body to tread lava, no creature had caused him this much pain. When the strange beast pulled back the string for a second shot, Coal was afraid. He curled his fingers into a fist and prepared to strike back. His enormous fist slammed into the ground, leaving behind a crater several meters deep. Yet when he pulled his hand back the nasty beast that stung him wasn¡¯t there. Behind. Coal tried to turn around but he wasn¡¯t fast enough. The creature had a stick with it too, thick and black, which it used to whack against his body. Coal reeled backward from the strength of it, filled with fear and surprise. This was all knew, unexpected. The blows of this tiny creature hurt terribly. Flee. That was the only thought in his mind. Desperately he swung his palm to swat at the smaller thing. It struck rocky ground, sending shards of rock into the air, but not the creature. It split apart into many more creatures that looked just the same. Coal kicked and punched and slapped, not knowing which way to turn. The outsider with the black fur brought its stick down on Coal¡¯s head so hard he thought he might fall over. He clutched his head and cried out for mercy in his people¡¯s tongue. Hearing his wailing cries, the creature stopped in confusion. It put away its terrible weapon and warbled something. ¡°What sort of creature are you? A mutant? Can you speak?¡± Coal paused. Those weren¡¯t words from his language. This was¡­ the language of the outside, that the chief had taught him. Coal struggled to remember what he was taught. He could understand a fair amount, but speaking was hard. He did the best he could. ¡°Coal no fight¡­ Coal! No fight!¡± It was a misunderstanding! Cloudhawk had found the awful mountain range by following Adder¡¯s map. When he turned around and saw the giant sneaking up on him he thought he was being attacked. Only terrible monsters could possibly live in a nightmare expanse like this. Cloudhawk, true to his nature, attacked first before asking questions. He was surprised to find that the giant was tough, like mountain tough. It took a shot from his bow and two blows from the exorcist rod to make the critter hurt. But he didn¡¯t see any wounds. Was this thing supposed to be human? If he was to judge by appearance alone, the thing looked more like a demon. Cloudhawk struggled to communicate with it, eventually learning that he called himself Coal. The Warden was here looking for the Dark Atom, but the mountain range was tricky and easy to get turned around in. He was getting ready to retrace his steps when he ran into one of the Blisterpeaks¡¯ natives. Coal came to know that this creature was an outsider, just like the ones the chief spoke about. He was excited, but nervous. He wasn¡¯t sure how to properly treat his new guest, so he did what he thought best. Coal charged through the lake of lava to snatch up a fire salamander hatching. It was some of the best fair available in the Blisterpeak ranges. When Cloudhawk saw him jump and walk through it like nothing his jaw almost hit the floor. What the actual fuck was this guy made of?! Thousands of degrees of heat and he was wading through it like a goddamn hot spring! Coal presented Cloudhawk with the salamander, riddled with oozing poison glands. Was this thing even edible? His stomach could be made of cast iron and he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle this thing¡¯s rotten meat. The poison coursing through it would lay him out, no question, but the mutant seemed to love it. Cloudhawk shook his head, then produced a hunk of beef and tossed it his way. ¡°Try this.¡± Coal looked at the fresh chunk of meat with wide, captivated eyes. Fresh¡­ food? He¡¯d never seen the like, but he was not worried. He and his people could eat rocks if they needed to. From the look of it the food was tasty. He tenderly snatched it up, took a tentative bite, then trembled all over from delight like a child tasting candy for the first time. The chief wasn¡¯t lying. Things from the outside were even better than he imagined! 1. The name is ¡®worried mountains¡¯. ¡®On tenterhooks¡¯ is a phrase meaning to be anxious about future events. Tenterhooks also look a little like mountains. Except I¡¯m just kidding. I translated a few chapters ahead and took another look at the characters, only to realize the word ½¹×Æ can mean both worried and ¡®blasted¡¯ or ¡®seared¡¯. I¡¯m leaving this note here as an interesting example of how I can screw up. I still think Tenterhooks was clever, too. Book 3, Chapter 69 - A Blisterpeaks Village Cloudhawk was here in the asshole of nowhere because that¡¯s where Adder¡¯s intelligence said the Dark Atom was hiding. Even with a map and directions, though, he still got lost. Whatever. No matter how detailed a map was just a piece of paper. He was a creature of three dimensions, so a paper wasn¡¯t going to give him accurate instructions on where to go. The Blisterpeaks were as complicated and inhospitable as they came. No roads or buildings served as landmarks, so it would be difficult for anyone to find where they were going even with a map. Adder said he dispatched several people but none returned, and it seemed likely they¡¯d died out here. Lost, like him. Thankfully, Cloudhawk had Oddball¡¯s help. The bird gave him an overview of the area that matched the map closer, but it was a laborious process. Despite his efforts, so far the Dark Atom¡¯s headquarters remained hidden. Instead he found this¡­ person. He called himself Coal. His body shape was humanoid but he was definitely not normal. Highly mutated would be a generous description. He looked more like a living boulder. One of his arms was thicker than Cloudhawk¡¯s waist. Coal was about three meters tall, and hairless from scalp to sole. He didn¡¯t wear a stitch of clothing, but his skin was more like a stony shell, equivalent to several layers of sturdy armor. It was a sort of saffron hue, pitted and cragged, with scars in various places. If he stayed still he might easily be mistaken for a boulder. His stony skin was different from other mutants as well. Very distinctive. A unique characteristic of the Volcano Tribe was the natural shell that covered them. It was a special mutation developed from generations out here in this highly irradiated, high-heat environment. From birth their skin began to secrete a substance that hardened over time to protect them. Members of the Volcano Tribe also had a robust digestive system. They subsisted off carbon and any other natural minerals they came across. In particular, they preferred items rich in energy and highly radioactive. Not only did it make them stronger, but any excess was stored in them for use over the long term. Year after year, day after day, the skin of these mutants hardened into a shell. At first glance, Coal¡¯s skin was almost indistinguishable from rock, but it was actually harder than elysian tungsten steel. That was proven when Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t break through it with two hits from his staff and a shot from his bow. All he got was a yelp of pain. Coal¡¯s skin protected him from pretty hefty blows. As one might imagine, it was just as effective in protecting him from the heat. Cloudhawk watched him walk through fuckin¡¯ lava. His mouth and eye sockets were unique, too. A sturdy membane protected him from volcanic ash and blasts of heat. Mutants out here had developed incredible ways to survive out here among these broken mountains. Certainly an eye-opening discovery. If someone would have told him a creature this highly mutated was out here somewhere, Cloudhawk would have laughed them off. Coal was strong ¨C real strong. He¡¯d punched a goddamn hole in the floor three meters deep. Most anyone would be flattened by a punch like that, even the old drunk would have suffered terribly. Such incredible constitution reminded him of his fight against the Caliph, and how tough his skin had been. [1] Even without the powers of a demonhunter, Coal could probably use brute force to exert his will in most places around the wastelands. But all through his life Coal had never left his mountain range. He knew hardly anything at all about the outside world, and seemed timid when confronted by it. Especially after feeling what Cloudhawk could do, Coal had become frightened of the people from the outside. He had wanted so much to see the paradise that waited out there, but he put the idea aside. Maybe after another four or five years he would consider it again. Cloudhawk had prepared a number of things in his special storage space before leaving on this journey. Much of the things he pulled out for Coal were things the giant had never seen. Cloudhawk produced them as though by magic, a wondrous feat as far as Coal was concerned. Uncooked, the meat he offered would have been hard to swallow even for Cloudhawk. But for Coal, whose people were fond of rock and volcanic glass, it was the most amazing thing he¡¯d ever tasted. Coal¡¯s round, boulder-like face bore was eager and expectant. In halting English, he jabbered on for a long time. As far as Cloudhawk could gather, it was about how great the outside world must be and how much he envied Cloudhawk for being lucky enough to live out there. The Warden was understandably surprised by his new friend¡¯s praise. He was always taken aback when he found someone who actually wanted to live in the hell hole he came from. But looking around, Cloudhawk could understand why the mutant would feel the way he did. Lucky and unlucky were always relative. You might think a man with three square meals was lucky. But even someone with only enough food to keep him alive felt lucky sometimes, for there were those who were sick and dying, or missing arms and legs. It was all a matter of perspective. Cloudhawk mulled over the revelation for a time. Coal polished off five whole sides of beef before his belly was satisfied. He didn¡¯t understand why the chief said outsiders were bad. This one wasn¡¯t. He shared delicious food, and sat and spoke with him for a long time. It¡¯d been such a long time since he¡¯d spoken with anyone¡­ ¡°I¡¯m looking for someplace. A lava waterfall. Do you know anywhere like that?¡± Afraid his companion wouldn¡¯t understand, Cloudhawk gesticulated dramatically with his arms while he talked. Coal understood but knew of no such place. He indicated thick by awkwardly scratching his rock-like head with his finger. The scratching sound it produced made Cloudhawk wince. ¡°You don¡¯t know, eh?¡± Coal thought for a minute, then something occurred to him. ¡°Ch¡­. Chief!¡± After a pause, Cloudhawk pressed him. ¡°You mean your chief might know?¡± That was exactly what Coal was thinking. He lumbered to his feet and trudged away, Cloudhawk trailing after. A few minutes later they came to the base of one of the volcanoes where a gorge had formed. Inside was an unassuming, spartan village set up in the lava caves. A black semi-fluid substance flowed all around, oxidized lava. Cloudhawk could feel the heat and radiation all around them. This place was choked full of it. It made him actually itch. He figured it would only be a matter of time before anyone out here would become mutated. Due to the inhospitable and environment and sparse resources, one couldn¡¯t imagine a sizable population being supportable. The fact that anything survived out here was a miracle of life. Living out here was like walking on thin ice, always inches from disaster. If you weren¡¯t quick enough on your feet, you would perish. Both the volcanoes situated on either side of the village constantly oozed streams of red lava. Plumes of smoke rose above, and from time to time it would belch a massive cloud of toxic fumes. The fiery mountains here were all still very much active, and very dangerous. As they approached, Cloudhawk spotted more members of the Volcano Tribe. They were quite a bit smaller than Coal ¨C two meters or so. Their crusts were thinner and not as complete as his, either. Truth be told, the discovery was a relief to Cloudhawk. If they were all like his friend, here, what a terrifying race they would be. To them, Cloudhawk was like a completely alien species. They poked their heads out from their rocky dwellings as he passed, looking at him like he was some kind of monster. It was a strange sensation to suddenly be the center of attention for a bunch of mutants, and still feel like you were the freak. Cloudhawk pulled more food from his phase stone and passed it out to the natives. After some trepidation they tried it, and the flavor was met with great delight. It was like these poor folks had never tasted something tender in their whole lives. When had they ever had a chance to see elysian-made weapons and tools? More villagers came trundling over with excited yelps to see what was happening. Coal was practically giddy. To him, Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival was life a miracle, a gift from the gods. How else was this young outsider able to produce so much delicious food from nowhere? From the village center another villager came, this one covered in jet black rocky skin. Among these mutants, age was best determined by how dark their shell was. Coal¡¯s was a sort of reddish-orange, bright and vibrant. He had to be younger. The man who walked toward them now ¨C covered in chips and gouges, even missing an arm, a dent in his skull ¨C his skin was black as night. He had to be some sort of village elder. ¡°Young man, how you find this place?¡± Unexpectedly, the chief was almost a master of Cloudhawk¡¯s language. He spoke ten times more fluently than Coal¡¯s broken attempts. He sized up Cloudhawk with a guarded and vigilant expression. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a city hidden in a volcano.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words came as some surprise to the chief. Among his people there was a legend that spoke of a prosperous city below the Blisterpeaks. It was supposed to be an incredible city of abundance, able to feed tens of thousands. But it was only a legend. If such a place existed, the people of his tribe would have found it years ago. Cloudhawk continued. ¡°According to what I know, the entrance is hidden behind a waterfall of lava. If Ican find this waterfall, maybe I can find a way in to the city.¡± ¡°Lava waterfall...¡± The old chief thought for a few minutes. ¡°That could be...¡± When Cloudhawk saw the spark in the chiefs eye he grabbed at the opportunity. ¡°You know a place like that?¡± The chief¡¯s face was solemn and stern. ¡°That is home of Magmesa, our god. Volcano dwellers cannot go near, or we are punished.¡± Coal stood by, listening. He stepped forward at this point to interrupt the chief, speaking a few words in a language Cloudhawk could not understand. But to look at Coal, Cloudhawk might guess he didn¡¯t have much respect for ¡®Magmesa,¡¯ maybe even some hostility. What were so many gods doing kicking around, anyway? He didn¡¯t think there were really any gods living in a place as shitty as this. Cloudhawk pushed back into the conversation. ¡°I don¡¯t care about any volcano god. I need to get into that city. If anything gets in my way, no matter what it is, I will cut it down. I hope you will be able to point me toward where I need to go, chief. What I need has nothing to do with you or your people. It¡¯s my own problem to solve.¡± 1. There are a number of similarities, aren¡¯t there. Preference for lava, as we saw in the epilogue of book two. Super thick skin. Big. It makes one wonder if these are more than passing resemblance. Book 3, Chapter 70 - Insects Obstruct, Armies Approach The old chief had spent ten years of his life wandering the wastelands and making his way. He experienced much, but seeing Cloudhawk pull sustenance from thin air shocked him. Even during his time among the outsiders he¡¯d never witnessed a power like that. Thinking on it, memories of a mysterious group both noble and powerful crossed his mind. They possesed powers far beyond the abilities of normal folk. Demonhunters! This revelation made the chief nervous. He knew what it meant when a demonhunter arrived. He knew it well. He knew what they represented! He¡¯d met demonhunters on the road, back when he was a young wanderer. Hailing from the mysterious land of the gods, they had powers that filled his heart with fear. The chief also saw first hand how ruthless they could be. Mutants were not friends, they were pests to be exterminated. The chief urged Coal to tell him how they met. Coal obliged, telling him what happened. The chief sighed. Demonhunters weren¡¯t coming for them, judging by the young man¡¯s story. Pondering it, the mutants of the wastelands were many and his tribe had only three or four hundred members. Nestled deep in the Blisterpeaks, it made no sense for demonhunters to ignore all the things they hated on their doorstep, and come all the way out here to trouble a distant tribe who had never had contact with the outside. Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities were unquestioned. Beating Coal into submission was no easy feat. Coal was their tribe¡¯s one and only man of talent. The next strongest didn¡¯t have a tenth of Coal¡¯s power. The progress of his mutation was unheard of among his people. However, the giant had never had a proper fight. He didn¡¯t really know how to defend himself. If Cloudhawk could beat Coal, then he could destroy every one of them. Obviously, he hadn¡¯t used his full strength against Coal. How much he was still hiding was a mystery. The old chief¡¯s mind worked. They couldn¡¯t afford to anger the demonhunter, but neither could they upset their god. The chief was certain in his own mind that the god his people have appeased for generations was no deity. Likely, it was a powerful mutant who had taken up territory here among the volcanoes. He had planned for Coal to gain more strength, then lead him and the others toward Magmesa and kill it. But the sudden arrival of a demonhunter seemed to be a boon. Why not rely on his magical powers to help in killing the beast? The young man seemed brave, and this appeared to be a way to both appease the demonhunter and remove a danger to his people. But¡­ if they went to battle against the god of volcanoes, could they win? It had been tried before, the stories of their people tell tale of it. Each time it ended in disaster. More than once their people were almost completely wiped out. Cloudhawk watched as the chief hesitated, lost in thought. He was growing impatient and asked Coal what was going on. In his halting and broken accent he tried to relay the legend of Magmesa. A god of volcanoes? Bullshit ¨C it was just a particular strong beast that has taken to living among the Blisterpeaks. According to Coal he was fierce and shrewd. Every now and again the Volcano Tribe was forced to bring up offerings of food or their god would find and devour one of their own. Running served no purpose, their god would find them. It was their tormentor, a lord they both feared and despised. It had been a long time since Magmesa had shown its face, since before Coal was born. It seemed immortal. Tales of its existence went back generations and it was still demanding tribute. Time had only made it larger, stronger, hungrier. Coal had always hated this invisible overlord, even going so far as to harbor a secret hope to one day kill it. If the day ever came that he was strong enough to defeat their god of volcano, then he would be strong enough to make his way to the outside world. The village patriarch came to a decision. ¡°Sir. You look for city in volcano. My people will do our part, if you kill evil false god.¡± Cloudhawk silently cursed his circumstances. He¡¯d hoped these tribesmen would be a bunch of dull-witted, simply folk. Turns out they were impulsive, and cunning as anyone else. Fuck, half a minute ago the thing was their god of volcano and now it was a pretender. Didn¡¯t matter. God or not, Cloudhawk needed to get where he was going. ¡°Then I appreciate it, chief. I¡¯ll remember your help, and I¡¯ll make sure to pay it back one day.¡± The outsider¡¯s words eased the chief¡¯s concerns greatly. There would be no point in a demonhunter to lie and play tricks with his lowly people. If he was willing to make such a promise, it was unlikely Cloudhawk would turn around and bring the elysians back down on their heads. The next day, the chief gathered his people¡¯s strongest and youngest fighters. He called on Coal to lead them. Their goal was the lair of the god of volcanoes. Cloudhawk¡¯s entourage was no pushover and it took little effort to gather them together. Still, this god of theirs was supposed to be quite the beast, and he wondered if he¡¯d stumbled into being their meat shield. They¡­ they weren¡¯t all going to just sit back and let him deal with their problem, were they? But it didn¡¯t matter. If it meant he could find where the Dark Atom was hiding then a little trouble was worth it. He and his dozen or so guides came upon a dramatic scene as they traversed the ranges. It was a sheer cliff on the borders of a lame of lava, and from their vantage below they watched as the molten stone plummeted over the sheer edge, spouting fire and smoke. It was a magnificent waterfall of liquid fire, and they could feel the heat blasting off of it even from a distance. Cloudhawk was finding it harder to breathe Only people like the Volcano Tribe were unaffected, who had had generations of time to prepare themselves physically for something like this. Hot as the Blisterpeaks were, the temperature wasn¡¯t enough to melt the thin crust of molten lava along their path. Peering at the curtain of lava, they briefly caught glimpses of a deep cave behind. Cloudhawk checked the location against his map and was thrilled to find it very similar. This was one of the entrances into the Dark Atom¡¯s headquarters. ¡°So where¡¯s this god of yours?¡± Coal pointed forward. The tribesmen with him dropped into a defensive crouch and brandished their spears of volcanic ore. His rocky throat bellowed a war cry, and they raced barefoot over the parched and lava-strewn field. With spears held high, they throw them through the lavafalls with incredible strength, into the darkness of the cavern. A low, earth-rumbling growl answered. It sounded like the bowels of the mountain itself, more threatening than the rumble of an eruption. A very old and cruel presence abruptly filled the area, as they watched an enormous twenty-five foot long insect skittered from the cavern. Its grotesque body was a sickening shade of orange. A heat even the tribesmen couldn¡¯t stand blasted their way, and they were forced to move back. It split the lava falls, causing lava to splash on and around it like burning raindrops. The stone sizzled against its hide but did not burn, for this monster did not fear any heat. It lashed toward the members of the tribesmen that had dared to disturb it. Cloudhawk gaped. What the actual fuck?! The tribesmen continued to rain their spears on it. Even with considerable strength behind them, the spear shattered against the beast and left only minor wounds. God of the volcano indeed! The damn thing was huge, and its presence was downright terrifying. A rarely seen true horror of the wastelands. Rushing at it like a cloud of angry bees was a stupid decision on the part of the tribesmen. ¡°Coal! Lure him over here!¡± It didn¡¯t matter how strong Cloudhawk was, he couldn¡¯t get close enough to the lava to fight. If he wasn¡¯t careful and slipped into a pit and be burned to ash in an instant. He didn¡¯t have the constitution of these mutants, so he wasn¡¯t going to risk it. The insect scrambled the rest of the way from its cave. It looked like a centipede, but on a titanic scale. Its chitinous body as separated into hundreds of segments, and though incredibly large it still moved with lightning fast dexterity. It rose the first third of its body high, revealing the churning mouth below. That¡¯s when Cloudhawk felt the atmosphere change. When the monster breathed in, the current of air drew everything toward it. But there was more than that. Cloudhawk unhappily discovered that as the monster breathed in the surrounding flames, they were captured in a strange sack inside. Magmesa was able to store fire in an organ that swelled as it sucked more air in. Red-hot light glowed through the skin and armor. Coal shouted something at his tribesmen. They scrambled desperately for some sort of cover. Magmesa¡¯s fire sack collapsed, spewing a stream of intense heat like a deluge. It spilled out over a large area and swallowed up a number of the tribesmen too slow to hide succor. Coal had situated himself in front, and so had taken the brunt of it. A blast of scalding heat rose sharply, so that even Cloudhawk from his distance could feel the tempestuous winds. Throughout his life he¡¯d seen all sorts of nightmare monsters crawl out from the wastelands. But nothing like this. *** At roughly the same time, at the border camp between the wastelands and Skycloud. A rugged man covered in a suit of fullplate tungsten steel sat at a table in camp playing chess. His opponent was a slender, haughty-looking decorated officer. Neither man looked old, perhaps in their thirties. For Skycloud to promote men of their age to such lofty stations, they must have performed incredible deeds and won support from many of the noble houses. ¡°Heh. You lose again, Officer Storm. ¡°Our illustrious deputy commander is too skilled for a mere man like Brontes Storm.¡± ¡°Yet I can¡¯t shake the feeling you¡¯re letting me win.¡± The large man in the massive suit of armor was none other than Drake Thane. As the pride of his military family, it wasn¡¯t long before he picked up a position at the wall as a lieutenant commander. The border forces were the largest standing collection of troops in all of Skycloud, and composed its outer line of defense. Earning a commission under this command at such high rank was no easy feat. It also didn¡¯t take him long to show off his skill when he got here. Whether it was tactics, training or individual combat effectiveness, everyone had to acknowledge his quality. He won a lot of fans pretty quick. As for his companion, Brontes Storm, he had joined the army at the bottom and worked his way up. He was now lead of the border¡¯s vanguard forces ¨C in the top ten of the army¡¯s upper echelons. Brontes smiled and was about to say something when guard burst into the room. ¡°Lieutenant Commander, sir. There¡¯s someone outside who¡¯d like to speak with you. I believe he¡¯s the Magistrate of a station called Sandbar.¡± ¡°The monitoring station? What does he want.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know. He was insistent that he deliver his report to you only.¡± The monitoring stations came under the auspices of border security. They were minor forward bases scattered throughout the borderlands. For one of their magistrates to come for a direct meeting with the lieutenant commander was leaping several rungs above your pay grade. Why not then go right for the commander himself? Brontes stood up. ¡°What¡¯s his name? Does he not know how to follow protocol?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Brontes.¡± Drake rose from the table and nodded at the sentry. ¡°Let him in.¡± The subordinate snapped to attention and left to collect the visitor. A few minutes later he returned with a man who could only be described as rotund. He was easily three hundred pounds, or close to it. Drake had never seen a man so large in his entire life. The Magistrate was visibly nervous but managed a proper salute. ¡°Your servant Hammont Seacrest, Magistrate of Sandbar Station...¡± Both Drake and Brontes frowned at the man. How could someone like him have been given any command? He was a disgrace to the uniform! Drake apathetically cut him off. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Just then, an alarm bell rang out along the border wall. Nine chimes. Drake and Brontes immediately looked at each other, faces dark. That alarm meant emergency, and nine chimes meant it was bad. Everyone was called to drop whatever they were doing and fall into rank. What happened? Was the border under attack? The commanders immediately put this fatty out of mind and prepared to see what was the matter. But Hammont, seeing them move away, brazenly called after Drake. ¡°W-wait! Master Cloudhawk is the one who sent me to deliver a report!¡± Drake froze. Cloudhawk? Him! What the hell was that guy up to now? Something had put the border on critical alert, he didn¡¯t have time to be taking reports. Drake instructed Hammont to stay close as he hurried to where forces were instructed to gather. When he got there over thirty thousand soldiers were formed up, and several warships were hovering in position overhead. Drake look them over and realized what this was. A dispatch posture. Why were they arrayed for battle? Who were they fighting? How did he have no idea ¨C he was the lieutenant commander! Brontes approached after stopping by the commander¡¯s side, weapons bared and a silvery-white mask slipped over his face. ¡°Well this is sudden. The Dark Atom¡¯s headquarters have been discovered. We¡¯re forming up to strike right at the heart. We¡¯re the tip of the spear, so I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t have to say you should get prepared in a hurry. We¡¯ve got to be fast, you know how tricky those bastards are. If they catch wind we¡¯re coming, they¡¯ll vanish. It¡¯s an opportunity the commander can¡¯t let slip.¡± Drake was floored. What the fuck¡­ the Dark Atom base! Drake snapped back into the present. Shit, the Dark Atom! Always skulking around and retreating like frightened turtles back into their shell when the fight got started. Tracked down at last! He hadn¡¯t been involved in a single note-worthy skirmish since he joined up. Was this the gods giving him his shot? ¡°Move out!¡± ¡°Motherfucker!¡± Drake felt his blood surge with excitement. As for the fat messenger from Cloudhawk? He was forgotten already. Book 3, Chapter 71 - Skullcracking Cloudhawk lunged behind a large boulder for protection. He threw the tattered invisibility cloak over him to ward off the gust of scalding air. The sound and smell of burning hair hung as the heat singed him. This monster was certainly¡­ unique. Several sack were located at the base of its mouth that allowed it to suck in fire from the surrounding environment. But it was much more powerful going out than it was going in, so something on the inside was giving it more power. Some organ that stored detonation force that, when combined with the fire, gave this creature its terrible breath attack. Cloudhawk had never witnessed anything like it before. How could a monster of flesh and bone mutate this way? To the point where it breathed fire? It was hardly believable. The tribesmen were protected from the intense heat by their stony skin, but even that had limits. The sudden burst of fire and heat from the insect badly scalded several of them. Coal protected his face with a hand, and with head bowed tried to get in closer. As the continuous stream of fire pummeled him, Coal¡¯s skin began to glow from the intensity of it. Crack! Coal slammed his shoulder into Magmesa¡¯s armored torso at full sprint. The insect staggered back andspat the remaining stream of fire into the air as it reeled. The mightiest warrior of the Volcano Tribe followed up by curling his hand into a fist ¨C easily bigger than the skull of a normal man ¨C and ramming it into Magmesa¡¯s head. A full-armed punch from the giant would break the defenses of many a martial artist, and against the insect the blow made its whole body tremble. The volcanic rock beneath it cracked under the stress, as did the formidable chitin skullcap protecting Magmesa¡¯s brain. It was not an easy victory. Coal¡¯s blow left little damage even though it shook his foe. Magmesa swung its head around after staggering back and slammed it into Coal¡¯s side. The three-meter tall mutant was sent flailing through the air, striking by jagged ground, and eventually coming to a stop when he slammed into a jutting pillar of volcanic stone. The other tribesmen began to lose their nerve and scatter. Magmesa let loose with a skin-crawling screech and gave chase. At Cloudhawk¡¯s order Oddball joined the fight. It¡¯s tiny round body flashed back and forth before the insect, harassing it at every opportunity. It gave Coal enough opportunity to get up and retreat back to Cloudhawk¡¯s location. Thanks to his incredibly tough exoskeleton he didn¡¯t seem harmed, despite the strength behind Magmesa¡¯s attack. However, his entire body was sizzling and wisps of smoke rose off of him. His skin was red-hot and to Cloudhawk it felt like standing beside a stove. It was a potent display of the kind of heat this insect was spitting out. Even the other tribesmen couldn¡¯t have survived a direct blast like that. Thanks to his training, Coal was the only one equipped to survive Magmesa¡¯s fury. Ordinary flesh like Cloudhawk¡¯s would have been carbonized in seconds. Coal was shaken, anxious, and losing confidence. He¡¯d clearly underestimated what Magmesa could do, and now that he saw firsthand what the insect was capable of doubt had crept into his heart. But they were in it now, and there was no going back. They would win, or they would be decimated. More danger threatened, however, because these brave tribesmen were most of the younger generation. If they were all slain, the future of their people was in jeopardy. And yet, if Magmesa was not killed, it would come seeking vengeance. The village they came from would feel the consequences. There was no time to think. Magmesa was coming their way. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t wait for the tribesmen to react. He pulled out a rocket launcher from his interspatial storage and shouldered it, aimed toward the insect. It was one of several new toys he¡¯d bought at the black market in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. He guessed it was a Seeker weapon, created by following old blueprints from the ancient times. Against someone like the Crimson One it was useless, certainly ¨C after all, rockets were relatively slow. A master demonhunter could dodge bullets, so a rocket was no threat. But this was the sort of opportunity where a launcher would come in handy. It didn¡¯t matter how smart or how strong this insect was, nothing would prepare it for humanity¡¯s technological superiority. [1] Magmesa was overlord of this mountain range, and was furious with the attack on its superiority. Mid-charge it witnessed the stream of metal and fire headed its way. Not knowing what it was, but confident in being able to destroy it, the insect opened its mouth and swallowed the rocket in one bite. A muffled explosion ensued. A giant ball of flame expanded out of Magmesa¡¯s mouth along with a deluge of charred meat and blood. It pitched and screamed in pain, slapping itself against the rocky ground. The tribesmen stared, dazed by what they¡¯d witnessed. Cloudhawk, too, was surprised and happy with how effective the gambit seemed to be. He¡¯d bypassed the insect¡¯s impenetrable hide by taking advantage of the series of circumstances. Oddball settled back on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. In swallowing the rocket, Madmesa had blown half its mouth to ruin. But the beast proved uncommonly tenacious. The explosion hadn¡¯t killed it, and in fact the monster was more dangerous than ever in its frenzy. Although its mouth was obliterated, it still reered back and drew in more fire for a second breath attack. Shit! Coal roared like a madman and charged ahead. The three-meter tall mutant was a giant by any standard, but his height meant nothing in contrast to the hulking centipede. Coal crashed into his people¡¯s terrible god, grabbing it by the waist, and attempted to squeeze it in half. The discrepancy in scale was too much for Coal to succeed, but he did stop Magmesa from moving any closer. As the two struggled mightily the ground beneath them cracked and fractured. It was a war of constitution, both refused to back down. Finally the other tribesmen jumped to Coal¡¯s aid. They surrounded Magmesa and began attacking it from several sides. The mutant creature and its mutant attackers were locked in struggle, one the humanoids were losing. With each lurch of its body Magmesa sent tribesmen flying through the air. Coming back in wave after wave of attack, they only managed to scar the beast¡¯s armor but not break through. It was obvious to Cloudhawk that brute force alone wasn¡¯t going to kill this monster. It was too big, too tough. None of their weapons could piece the shell, and even lava was useless. If the tribesmen were planning to punch it to death he couldn¡¯t calculate how many months it would take. Cloudhawk dropped the launcher and replaced it with an exorcist bow. Slowly, he drew back the string. The phase stone shimmered as it was called to life. Cloudhawk poured most of his own psychic energy and drew on the inheritance from the stone to empower his attack. By the time the bow was fully drawn a tempest of power swirled around him. It was the mightiest attack Cloudhawk could muster, enough to kill a veteran demonhunter in a single shot. He aimed it toward Magmesa¡¯s already charred and broken maw. Cloudhawk was sure that this beast, like any other, couldn¡¯t keep fighting if he blew its head off. Coal could feel the gathering power. Magmesa, a creature of unfathomable age, certainly felt it too. Its struggle against the tribesmen became more intense, casting them to the side. Meanwhile Magmesa swung its massive head from side to side to throw off Cloudhawk¡¯s aim. The ruined place where its mouth was cast blood and chunks of meat all around. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice rang out across the mountain. ¡°Keep it still!¡± Coal shifted his grip to grab the centipede¡¯s upper half. By virtue of his overwhelming strength, he managed to stop it from flailing around. He only had enough strength to hold it for a moment, but that was all Cloudhawk needed. Magmesa sensed the danger and a hideous screech gurgled from its throat. Once again it released the fires stored inside in a pillar of stone-melting heat right toward Cloudhawk. The Warden saw it was too late to dodge, but that was fine ¨C head to head then! See who blinks! He didn¡¯t have time to gather his energy to its limit, but the time was now. He released the bow string. A streak of light like split the pyre in half on its way to its source. The energy arrow charged ahead with irresistible power, ringing loudly as it disappeared into the open gullet of Magmesa. Once again the partially obscured sound of an explosion followed, and the insects head was blasted apart. A hail of putrid insect meat splattered the area as the resulting concussive force blasted Coal away. To the other tribesmen that would have been lethal, but to him it was nothing to be concerned about. But the flames Magmesa had belched before its demise were not dispelled. They smashed into Cloudhawk¡¯s position with shuddering force, enveloping him in flames hotter than liquid stone. Coals eyes were on Magmesa, whose head had been reduced to a mess of ruined meat. Its enormous body bucked and twitched as it came to terms with its end. Incredible that one person could have so much power. Watching that arrow obliterate a god was something he wouldn¡¯t have imagined in his wildest dreams. He turned back to Cloudhawk, knowing that his frail outsider flesh couldn¡¯t withstand the fires. Fear seized him when- Whoosh! Whoosh! A violent gale whipped up around them! Cloudhawk reemerged, surrounded by a small host of cyan-hued tornadoes. The surrounding fires were drawn into them as the tornadoes spread outward. Eventually both wind and flame dissipated, and from the smoke Cloudhawk could be seen, unscathed. He clutched a dainty looking jade fan in one hand. It was one of the relics he¡¯d pilfered from Ravenous Tiger¡¯s haul back in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. ¡®Heavenly Gale¡¯ was a wind-type relic that manipulating air as he wished, forming tornadoes, wind-blades, and pressure blasts. In a way it functioned similarly to the Gospel of the Sands, though of course the Gospel was more effective in an environment where sand was plentiful. Creating sand from nothing in other places ¨C like these mountains ¨C required far more psychic power. Heavenly Gale, on the other hand, needed only air, making its mental requirement far less taxing. It wasn¡¯t the most exciting relic, but it sure as shit was useful to deflect long-range attacks. Cloudhawk closed the fan and put it away, only then allowing himself a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t think the ¡®god of volcano¡¯ would be such a tough cookie, but they had won. After watching Cloudhawk blow their god to pieces, Coal had to remind himself to breathe. If Magmesa was a demon god that breathed fire, then what was he supposed to call the creature that killed it? The war party only had a moment¡¯s respite before the unexpected captured them again. Tics and jerks shuddered through the corpse of Magmesa like it was trying to rise, a scene which immediately made Cloudhawk¡¯s face go pale. The damn thing¡¯s brains were soup! How the fuck was it getting back up?! 1.Are you doing your part?! Book 3, Chapter 72 - City Within the Volcano Cloudhawk¡¯s arrow had blasted its head apart, but still Magmesa quickly climbed back onto his feet. The red light of its body had dimmed significantly, and it trembled from end to end like it was struck by lightning. An oozing mass dribbled from the hole where its throat had been. Fluid and meat rained on the tribesmen below, as well as a powerful stench. Cloudhawk had seen all sorts of incredible things as he traveled the wasteland, but never anything like this. A creature this large, headless, jerking like some demon puppet. This creature had been feared and deified by the indigenous people of the Blisterpeaks for who knows how many generations. Passing years didn¡¯t make it old, but just the opposite. Magmesa had only become larger and stronger as its food was provided by the tribesmen. Could it be that this thing, after possibly thousands of years of worship, had somehow left mortality behind? Could it really keep on living without a head? A torrent of ruined organs and fetid discharge continued to ooze out of it. The bits of meat that tumbled out were unrecognizable, bits of shredded organs and intestine probably. But no ¨C as they continued to watch the bits of meat writhed and twisted. Cloudhawk¡¯s hair stood on end as he watched them change, spotted the outline of a limb here or there. More insects. About the size of a fingertip, hundreds of them. The continuous sludge expelled by Magmesa¡¯s corpse were its babies, and the monster¡¯s killers watched in horror as ever more poured free. Hundreds, possibly thousands, writhing around and over one another with the same savagery as their mother. Their hunger was directed toward Cloudhawk and the others. Meanwhile Magmesa¡¯s body continued to decompose into more offspring. Somehow, it seemed the titanic beast was made up of these smaller bugs. Cloudhawk figured this was a reproduction system of last resort. A monster like this wasn¡¯t male or female, or maybe both, so it produced the next generation on its own. When its bodies were destroyed it set off a chain reaction to release its brood. Given several centuries or a millenium, the critters would grow into a creature just as terrible as the one they crawled out from. When the humongous monster eventually was split apart, the ground was covered in its progeny. It was a dire fate for the mountains, which in the future would be covered in these awful things. Even newly hatched, they were vicious and aggressive, and many were skittering toward the crowd of people hungry for a meal. But they were living things, and all livings things died eventually. Magmesa lost its head but somehow kept moving, however that was just as a host for its children. The enormous beast could no longer fight. The swarm of insects was dangerous, but they were nothing like the threat its mother posed. ¡°Deal with them!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes flashed toward the bubbling like a lava and called out to Coal. ¡°Knock them into the lake!¡± The creatures of the Blisterpeaks had evolved to deal with intense heat, but it didn¡¯t matter the methods or mutations ¨C underneath the protective measures, all things were made of meat and blood. Coal could wade through lava, but even he couldn¡¯t stay immersed for more than a short time. The newborn insects were no exception. No natural thing was going to survive after being thrown in a lake of lava. It was important to kill them now, before they grew big and became a pestilence on an already inhospitable environment. Several of the tribesmen hurried over to what remains of Magmesa and started pushing it into the lake as well. The insects that had already burst free bit at them with toxin-covered mandibles, however, which were strong enough to pierce their stone-like skin. Those that were injected by the toxins fell to the ground and began to twitch uncontrollably. Magmesa¡¯s upper half swelled grotesquely as another burst of insects prepared to emerge. If the tribesmen were left where they were, they would be picked apart by the swarm in seconds. Cloudhawk flicked Heavenly Gale back open and waved it towards them just as the insects burst free. A formless gust of air knocked them away. With an angry roar, Coal ran up to where his brothers had fallen and started to shove Magmesa¡¯s corpse toward the edge. Sensing something, the mindless yet still mobile remains swayed and bucked to deny him. The rest of his fellow tribesmen gathered round to help, but as they came close cracks in the chitinous armor of the creature became clear. More insects poured out of the fissures, proving once more that the whole thing was filled with offspring. Sacks where the young were kept bubbled under the armor like boiling water, ready to burst and release their horrific payload. Once that happened millions of mutated centipedes would rain across the area. They all would be eaten alive. Cloudhawk knew the danger, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do to stop it. He rushed forward, joining Coal and the others as they heaved against the enormous monster. Even dead the animal was so much stronger than all of them. Cloudhakw¡¯s addition to their efforts was insignificant. But he gritted his teeth and called on the mad rage that always boiled deep inside him. Vessels in his eyes engorged and turned his vision red while the blood in his veins started to boil. Steam rose up from his skin and seeped from the pores. In an instant Cloudhawk became five or six times stronger than normal. Heave! Magmesa¡¯s body caved in at the point where he shoved. It was just enough, the final straw to break the centipede¡¯s back. It collapsed into the lake with the upper fourth of its body first, immediately trapped by the ropy threads of molten rock that splattered over it. First its body became searing red and a series of pops and tiny pained screams arose. A few seconds later the heat cracked its chitin armor. Hundreds, thousands of tiny insects spilled into the deadly lake and burned up. Cloudhawk angrily snatched one that landed on his neck and flung it to the ground. Another in perhaps a dozen bites he¡¯d received while trying to get Magmesa into the lake. But potent as the toxins were, their effect on him was small. Instead it was the act of calling on the rage in his blood that harmed him. A deep, tearing pain wracked his body. It didn¡¯t matter. At last, they got rid of that damn monster. Cloudhawk stood at the edge of the lack, panting as he watched Magmesa slowly sink into oblivion. He then turned his eyes on the insects skittering all around. With their mother destroyed they seemed to abandon any aggressive posture, and all ran for dark crevices in which to hide. If they were lucky, any one of those bugs could turn out just as terrifying as the monster that spawned it. But that wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s problem. People a hundred or a thousand years from now would need to find their own way to deal with it. But the experience had definitely opened his eyes. Live continued to surprise him with its talent for survival. Coal walked back over to him after dragging Magmesa into the lava. Half his body was covered in molten rock that slowly cooled to black against his skin, making him look like a moving statue. He shook and kicked, causing the cooling stone to crack and fall away. No damage had been done. Cloudhawk inwardly shook his head and once again balked at how monstrous he was. If he were to leave these mountains and join the rest of wastelander society, he¡¯d be a formidable presence. Coal was elated. His tribesmen were glowing in the aftermath of their victory. At last, the monster which had held their people hostage for generations was destroyed. The Volcano Tribe¡¯s doughty warriors were appreciative of this outsider, for they knew victory would have been impossible without his help. Price for failure would have been too much to bear, but Cloudhawk kept it from coming to that. Cloudhawk looked above them, at the waterfall of lava. There in the cave was a secret entrance, he knew. An entrance to the city in the volcano. They still needed to find a way through the cascading lava ¨C an obstruction even Coal would find difficult to traverse. But not Cloudhawk. He slipped into a parallel dimension by activating the phase stone, then blinking back once he walked far enough to cross the waterfall. His feet landed back on solid ground, safely behind the cascade. Sweat drenched Cloudhawks body from the heat and the mental fatigue. Looking around, the cave was a very wide expanse that stank of sulfur. Small rivulets of lava inched along the floor all over, and in fact the relatively solid ground he stood on was just old cooled lava flows. If he shifted wrong the brittle shell cracked, and an angry red glow appeared underneath. A dangerous place to talk a stroll, to be sure. Cloudhawk walked deeper into the darkness of the cave. Further back he discovered a lever, which he pulled without hesitation. As it clicked into the down position the sound of gears and grinding stone met him, like the cave itself was one giant device. The waterfall of lava outside slowed to a trickle. It allowed Coal and the others to join Cloudhawk in the cave. It turned out this cave was not the access tunnel he suspected. It was an escape tunnel. If something happened and the Dark Atom needed to beat a quick escape, they could flee out here through the waterfall. That was why the controls for the waterfall were in here, not outside. Also, because it was a secret escape route, he could assume there weren¡¯t manner inside who knew about it. It left it unmanned and vulnerable to invasion. That was good. It definitely made it easier for Cloudhawk to get in. Coal lead his men across the scorched cavern, all of them looking around in wonderment. Who would have thought there was something else in the lair of their volcanic god? ¡°It¡¯s dangerous from here on in.¡± Cloudhawk turned to the others. ¡°The rest of you wait here. If I¡¯m not back in a day, then leave me. I probably won¡¯t be coming back out.¡± Coal understood. The legends of a city within the volcano were enticing, but they weren¡¯t stupid. Anyone who could build a home in this terrible place, and command a beast like Magmesa to protect their escape route, was beyond them. The men of the Volcano Tribe were content to wait. Moving further into the cave he came upon a large iron door, sealed shut. Judging by the texture of it, the door was constructed using wastelander methods. More likely it was the remains of a base from before the great war that the Dark Atom took up residence in. It was definitely the standard for Seeker groups, like he saw in Blackwater Base. Looking the door over he saw a number pad where a password would grant entrance. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to bother with such things. He engaged the phase stone. Not even flawless iron doors could keep him out. This was it! The city in the heart of the volcano! On the other side of these doors was the secret hideout of the Dark Atom. Book 3, Chapter 73 - The Price of Hubris Nucleus, headquarters of the Dark Atom. A city constructed in the belly of a volcano. There was no place like it within ten thousand kilometers. Nucleus was tucked away in the deepest parts of the Blisterpeak mountain range. A repurposed ancient fortress, the data wasn¡¯t clear on its origins. Information seemed to suggest it was a prehistoric science base. Supposedly it was used as a shelter in the beginning days of the apocalypse. It extracted energy from the volcano to sustain the populace. That was how it was able to remain active all this time. It didn¡¯t matter what the history of the place was, though. It didn¡¯t matter who used to live here. Now, it was the home base for a group of wastelanders. Many were scientists in service to the largest Seeker group in the known world: The Dark Atom. Skycloud had been searching for this place for more than a decade. Countless times elysian leadership was forced to guess at where the terrorists were hiding. What was it like? Was it a hell of torture chambers and burnt corpses? A damp, dank place of pestilence and death? No twisted tale came close to the truth of his volcanic hideaway. Cloudhawk stole through the cavern, toward Nucleus beyond. Although the city was situated beneath countless volcanoes, the smell of sulfur had been left behind. The city was isolated from the scalding heat outside as well. As he moved further along, Cloudhawk came upon an opening that spread into a massive underground space. Layers of terraced fields. Large fruit trees stretched out from fertile soil, laden with their bounty. A massive light hung in the upper reaches of the cavern like a miniature sun. It lit up the underground like it was midday. There was even a breeze, and the fresh scent of foliage hung on the wind that kissed Cloudhawk¡¯s face. Further away, rows of factories. He heard the faint roar as they churned. Smelting, material processing, operations where wasteland ingenuity and ancient technology worked in unison. Huge tubes slithered from the factories and spread out over the fields like a spider¡¯s web. A fleet of airships. The greatest representation of wasteland science. With no direct line to the secrets of the past, humans in the wastes had to rely on scraps dug out of the ruins of their civilization. Over time, piecing together bits they learned from books and data, mankind was able to recreate these incredible marvels of machinery with a distinct wastelander flair. IN the bowels of the Blisterpeak mountains were fields of farmland and groves of trees, orderly factories, and mighty airships hanging overhead like hot air balloons. But all of these incredible scenes did not immediately capture Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. In the center of all these miracles was an enormous settlement. He could manage only a rough estimate of the number of people who could be living there, but by scale alone it had to at least be comparable to Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Cloudhawk figured the Dark Atom would be sizable, but not like this. A troubling thought nagged at the back of his mind as he looked over Nucleus: Now that he was here, where was he supposed to start? ¡°Who are you?¡± He¡¯d only been standing there for a few moments, but there were guards coming his way already. Large as Nucleus was, it was clearly well protected. Passage in and out was strictly policed and few were given permission to leave. It didn¡¯t take much to grab attention. Cloudhawk¡¯s clothing was also not the standard down here, which helped him stick out like a sore thumb. It wasn¡¯t strange that he might draw an eye or several. The Warden was here for help so he didn¡¯t want to piss anyone off. His mind raced for a moment until he fished out a token from his pocket. ¡°Gentlemen. I just arrived, we¡¯re on the same team.¡± In his fingers was the token given to him by Majjhima, handed over after helping them survive in the Skycloud sewers. It was a symbol of loyalty to the Dark Atom. The two men gave each other a wordless look. For someone to show up like this in the middle of nowhere was highly suspicious. The token he held wasn¡¯t enough to ease their minds. ¡°Move it!¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see what the captain has to say.¡± Both men carried something that looked like a gun which they trained on Cloudhawk. He wasn¡¯t worried ¨C it wasn¡¯t like he couldn¡¯t handle a couple guards with a moment¡¯s effort ¨C but that wasn¡¯t the right play. They brought him to patrol outpost nearby. He was kept outside while one of the guards walked in to give his report. Cloudhawk turned to the one guard with him. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, you guys. I just came here to see your leader Wolfblade. You think you can help me get a meeting?¡± The guard didn¡¯t respond, because a voice called out from inside. ¡°Who do you think you are? You think you¡¯re important enough to demand a meeting with the big boss?!¡± A large man covered in knotted muscle lumbered his way. Aside from his size, the most notable feature was his bald head. He looked at Cloudhawk. Clouhdawk looked back at him. The two men stood in silence. Something about the guy looked very familiar. IT was like he¡¯d seen him somewhere before, but he couldn¡¯t place it. The bald man¡¯s face twisted angrily, however, and his eyes burned. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°You know me?¡± That was a surprise. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think he had any sort of reputation here, nor was there any sort of recognizable marks he thought someone might be able to pick out by looking at him. Besides, most of the time he was causing trouble in the wastelands he¡¯d been wearing the mask Selene had given him. It was a little concerning that this guy recognized him so easily. ¡°Hmph. Oh I know you. You could burn me up and my ashes would remember your face!¡± Hostility poured off the man, which only confused Cloudhawk further. He leaned back as the big man yelled in his face. ¡°This one¡¯s a traitor, not one of ours! Grab him!¡± The surrounding guards all hesitated, surprised by the exchange. He wasn¡¯t part of the Dark Atom? How did he even get inside? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t stupid enough to let himself be a sitting duck, so to that end he made the first move. He didn¡¯t remember who the baldie was, but he sure as shit called the shots with this lot. Taking him hostage might deter the guards from rushing him. He moved in a flash. There was a lot he learned after three years in Hell¡¯s Valley. In any number of ways he was better than normal people. In a blink he appeared in front of the bald man and grabbed his throat in a vice-like grip with his left hand. As his fingers dung into the skin Cloudhawk noticed it felt off. Smooth and taught, not like human skin at all. It felt more like snake scales. The bald man¡¯s body began to shift, starting with his eyes. They elongated and folded together like a reptiles, while fine green scales sprouted all over his body. From behind a long tail stretched from his lower back. The guy was a damn lizard. Wait! A lizard! That¡¯s it! At last Cloudhawk remembered who this baldie was. He met him the first time in the marshes outside of Blackwater ¨C a mercenary sent to kill him. Seekers brought him to the base half dead and turned him into one of Roste¡¯s monsters. The Academician¡¯s techniques made him half human, half lizard, and a great soldier they eventually sold to the Dark Atom. No wonder he remembered! Baldie wasn¡¯t prepared for a burst of strength like this from Cloudhawk, but the Warden was distracted by the revelation and his hold was broken. In his reptile form, the baldie was also much faster than normal. He slithered backward out of Cloudhawk¡¯s reach then drew his hatchet and whipped it at his face. ¡°It¡¯s you. So you¡¯re still alive.¡± Cloudhawk said the words while halfheartedly slapping the hatchet to the side. The metal rang as it was deflected. Cloudhawk whipped his leg around, catching the baldie in the chest and sending him tumbling backward. He collapsed on the floor of the room he¡¯d come out of and the whole patrol office shook. Laying on his back, the baldie had time to take in the amazement he felt. When did a runt he was once hired to cut down get so mean? After what they did to the mercenary at Blackwater he was stronger than he¡¯d ever been, and thankfully his improved physique protected him from harm. But the brief exchange was clear indication that he was no match for Cloudhawk. He scrambled back onto his feet and looked around for a way to escape. By then the rest of the guards gathered enough of their wits to respond. Their guns raored as triggers were pulled. Cloudhawk jumped into the air above their line of fire and toward the baldie. He reached out to grab the lizardman again when a figure flashed into view from the side. Both men exchanged a furious series of blows before landing a short distance from one another. ¡°Vulture!¡± The newcomer, with his aquiline nose, was immediately familiar to Cloudhawk. There was a history between them as well, that also started all the way back at Blackwater Base. ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Greenscale?¡± Vulture wasn¡¯t likely to beat Cloudhawk in a straight fight. He packed just as much of a punch and had demonhunter powers to back him up. However, this wasn¡¯t the best spot for a full-on scrap, so Cloudhawk summoned the power of cloak and vanished as Greenscale explained. Vulture¡¯s face darkened. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± He remembered what happened in Sandbar Outpost the last time they crossed paths. He was the reason their cell in the borderlands was destroyed. He¡¯d sworn to get revenge for the death of his old friend, but lost track of Cloudhawk afterwards. Now, beyond all expectations and in lieu of all his wasted effort, he appeared right in his backyard. ¡°He¡¯s an Skycloud demonhunter! Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± ¡°Quick, raise the alarm! An enemy has infiltrated the base!¡± A series of deafening peals hung over Nucleus and echoed off the interior walls of the volcano. A demonhunter in their headquarters was a potentially disastrous crisis for the Dark Atom. It meant the hideout they¡¯d worked from for years was no longer safe. They were exposed to their enemies. Down in the town women and children who had lived their whole lives in this mountain cried in fear. Thousands of soldiers were mobilized to hunt down Cloudhawk. Having it all fall immediately to shit wasn¡¯t how Cloudhawk wanted this to go. But he couldn¡¯t just allow himself to be captured. Since he couldn¡¯t rely on these guys to put a good word in for him, he decided to just find the leadership on his own. While everyone was scrambling to find him, Cloudhawk used his phase stone to penetrate ever deeper into the heart of Nucleus. He was getting closer to where the seat of power had to be¡­. When suddenly he was stopped by a flash of lightning! The attack came faster than he could prepare for, so without the help of the phase stone the blast hit him straight on. It wrapped all around him like a chain, holding him tight and leaving no room to struggle. He fought as hard as he could against the bounds, but they weren¡¯t budging. ¡°Well fuck.¡± Cloudhawk had overestimated his abilities. Most attempts to track and discover him were useless with his combination of skills, so he¡¯d gotten complacent. He thought a place without relics and demonhunters couldn¡¯t stop him. He was wrong. The world went black. Book 3, Chapter 74 - Three-Eyed Spider When Cloudhawk awakened, he found himself laying on something like an operating table. The surrounding lights were so intense he found it hard to open his eyes. The nervous squeak of Oddball caught his attention, though. He was nearby in a cage that was made from some unknown material, too strong for the bird to break free from. The room was filled with men in spotless white coats, as well as a couple familiar faces. Vulture and Greenscale, along with a handful of other soldiers were just beyond the periphery of the lights. They must be here to stop him if he tried to escape, Cloudhawk thought. He never thought he¡¯d get caught. All of his things were gone, even the unassuming stone he kept around his neck. The phase stone was the single most precious thing Cloudhawk owned, and for the first time ever it wasn¡¯t in his grasp. That fact alone made him intensely uncomfortable. But the pulse. He still felt the pulse. The stone was nearby. When his vision adjusted to the light Cloudhawk turned his head toward the stone¡¯s resonance. He spotted one of the scientists, probably the highest ranked in the room, standing over a pile of items. He was an interesting man, truly hideous in appearance, and most notably a closed eye in the center of his eyebrows. The scraggly gray hair on his head jutted out in all directions like a withered forest. His gnarled hands were pouring over Cloudhawk¡¯s things ¨C more specifically, the phase stone. Cloudhawk called out in irritation. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°This man has killed important members of our group!¡± Vulture was surprised to find Cloudhawk awake already. He was speaking to the three-eyed scientist. ¡°We should just slit his throat and be done with him!¡± The older man waggled his hand dismissively. Seeing no way to manipulate the rock in his hand he flung it into an iron box and forgot about it. It was then the third eye on his forehead peaked open, and focused its vibrant gaze on Cloudhawk. Suddenly the Warden knew how he¡¯d been caught. The old man¡¯s eye was special, he felt it. Cloudhawk had never seen someone with a mutation like this, able to see through things like his invisibility cloak. Of course the Dark Atom would have hidden masters. This three-eyed scientist wasn¡¯t at the attack on Hell¡¯s Valley so he remained a mystery. He¡¯d obviously been working with the terrorist organization for years, but nothing Cloudhawk recalled pointed to him. He was nameless. In contrast, Skycloud had a fair bit of information about Wolfblade, but not this scientist. If he was just some researcher that would be one thing, but it was obvious he was someone of importance. Vulture was a respected, high-ranked member of the Dark Atom and even he was deferring to the scientist. The old man had to be as important to the cause as Wolfblade, or close to it. Cloudhawk struggled against his bindings for a moment in vain. When he settled down he tried to speak again. ¡°Who are you?¡± The three-eyed scientist was calm and offered his response in a no-nonsense manner. ¡°I am the Dark Atom¡¯s lead scientist, Three-Eyed Spider.¡± As a Seeker organization, scientists were respected members of the Dark Atom. This Three-Eyed Spider guy claimed to be a lead scientist, meaning it was likely even Wolfblade had to treat him with respect. The Dark Atom was an outfit several times bigger and stronger than Blackwater was. It was safe to assume this old guy was just as capable as the Academician had been ¨C maybe more. He always remembered something Hellflower had told him once, that if there was anyone in the wastelands who could help him figure out the truth about Trespasser, they would be with the Dark Atom. It was exactly the reason why Cloudhawk came all the way out here. ¡°Look, this whole thing is a mistake.¡± ¡°A mistake? Oh yes, indeed.¡± The old man¡¯s ugly face twisted into a snarl. His voice was strange, almost sing-songy, like a bad opera singer. ¡°You destroyed my single most important test subject. That specimen was a thousand years old. Do you know how much time and effort was spent on it?! You definitely made a mistake.¡± Thousand-year old specimen¡­? Magmesa! So the Dark Atom used some sort of equipment or technique to make that giant thing guard their back door, eh? That damn thing was easily capable of ripping a veteran demonhunter apart, so Cloudhawk believed him when the old man said it represented a lot of effort. Magmesa¡¯s destruction was certainly a major loss for the Dark Atom, but it was especially insulting to the three-eyed scientist. A mistake? It was personal! Cloudhawk hurriedly tried to explain. ¡°It was just a monster, right? I¡¯ll find a way to make it up. I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± The old man¡¯s face continued to darken, yet a sinister smile still painted his face. ¡°Do you have any idea how valuable that creature was? It was immortal ¨C a beast that could live forever, just like the gods. Its nervous system was a special combination of annular and dendritic ¨C absolutely singular and irreplaceable! [1] In its body was the secret to ever-lasting life ¨C a secret you obliterated! Its value was incalculable!¡± Most all creatures in the world had a dendritic nervous system, where its nerve cells spread out like branches and communicated through dendrites to the nerves around it. It all relied on a central point. For example, the brain. If that central point was destroyed then creature died. Magmesa was unique because its nervous system was iterative. Its ring-like nervous structure was designed in such a way that it had no central point. If the primary structure was damaged then another took its place, making the monster effectively immortal. As new cells continuously replaced the old, a creature like Magmesa never really grew old, and in theory could live forever. It had no gender distinction, either. Beasts like this were often limited in offspring it could produce, but in theory it could live forever while continuing to grow strong. By chucking it in the lava, Cloudhawk completely destroyed every trace of its nervous system and made sure it wouldn¡¯t come back. Magmesa and everything it promised was dead. The smaller insects it released would influence these mountains for generations to come, but none of them were as valuable as a science subject as their mother. It wasn¡¯t like researchers could wait a thousand years for them to mature. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know any of this, of course. But it was pretty clear killing Magmesa fucked up his chances to get on these scientists¡¯ good side. Vulture and the others watched from nearby with murderous grins on their faces. Three-Eyed Spider, in his pursuit of immortality, had spent more than twenty years researching Magmesa. Cloudhawk single-handedly destroyed his hopes. How could he forgive this bastard? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know the scientist¡¯s breadth of technique, but he was going to learn the hard way. Before long the boy would be begging to die. Cloudhawk lay upon the table, stunned at the situation he found himself in. He came all the way to these fucking mountains to ask for their help. Instead, he ended up being roped in to killing a thousand year old bug and pissing off the one old man who could help him with his problem. ¡°Hey hey hey. Wait a minute. It¡¯s not like the thing had your name on its forehead. How was I supposed to know anything? Isaid I will find a way to make it up to you, but killing me isn¡¯t going to get you anything.¡± Cloudhawk groped for anything to win him favor. ¡°I-I¡¯ve got eboncrys! I can get you all the eboncrys you want.¡± ¡°What am I supposed to do with that? Nucleus has the eternal energy provided by these volcanoes to keep it going, do you think it needs those piddling rocks?¡± The scientist¡¯s unsettling third eye continued to size Cloudhawk up. A sinister laugh rose from his wrinkled throat. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve already found a way for you to pay me back. The trespasser virus in your body is the same that Roste was working on all his life. Your own body will be a replacement for the one you destroyed.¡± Cloudhawk paled. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± A fervent gleam blazed behind Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s eyes. ¡°Roste, that old madman, was a rare talent. When it came to biological manipulation I could never even come close. He succeeded in his great hope, to create the perfect body that would withstand any threat. Fire, water, electricity, illness ¨C the virus within you renders almost any dangers moot. I am confident that the secrets of his discoveries are locked in your blood, along with the secrets to living forever. Death is the greatest scourge of humanity. Once I uncover the means of freeing us for the curse of a truncated lifespan, we will finally take our place as masters of the planet!¡± The old bastard was going to turn Cloudhawk into a guinea pig? He was crazy! Obsessed with living forever, just like the Academician. Three-Eyed Spider seemed to have grown tired of discussion. He motioned to the assistants on either side of the table, who went to a cabinet and returned with syringes. Seeing them coming, Cloudhawk blanched. He didn¡¯t know what they were planning, but whatever it was certainly couldn¡¯t be good so he didn¡¯t bother to ask. But the scientist told him anyway. ¡°Your body has up to this point limited the efficacy of the virus. But no matter, I will galvanize trespasser so that within no more than half a day the mutation will be complete. Very soon you will finish your transformation, becoming the most perfect biological entity in the world! Even those rock-heads outside will pale in comparison to what your body could withstand! Are you excited?!¡± Cloudhawk chose the sensible response. ¡°I¡¯m excited to fuck your mother you goddamn psychopath!¡± He came here to stop trespasser and here this asshole was trying to make it worse!The scientists leaned over him, bringing the syringed toward his skin when suddenly an enchanting voice called from the doorway. ¡°Stop where you are.¡± Three-Eyed Spider didn¡¯t even turn around though his face instantly stiffened. He waved at the others to continue. ¡°Pay her no mind! Comply!¡± Bang-bang! The sound of two gunshots blasted through the room! In such a tight space the sound was deafening, louder than any gun Cloudhawk knew. What the hell sort of weapon was that? The bullets struck with more force than a cannon and the upper bodies of Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s assistants erupted in a shower of blood and gore. Their remains painted the walls. Three-Eyed Spider practically leapt out of his skin. ¡°Y-you madwoman! What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± A tall, curvaceous figure strode into the room. Her legs were long and shapely, culminating in a pert backside. Her hair was a rarely seen silvery-gray that hung to the small of her back. A mature and erudite charm made her attractive features even more alluring. On top of her head was perched a pair of safety goggles. Behind her stood a man draped in a black cloak. The light crept in just enough play off his metallic body. Hellflower pursed her plump lips and blew the smoke away from the barrel of her guns. She replaced them to the holsters at her waist with practiced grace. Paying no mind to Cloudhawk¡¯s dumbfounded expression, she looked at the chief scientist and came right to the point. ¡°I¡¯m taking him.¡± The old man¡¯s head looked like it might explode. ¡°That is absolutely, unequivocally out of the question!¡± Hellflower answered with a throaty chuckle. ¡°It isn¡¯t up to you. He is a stranger who found his way into Nucleus. For the safety of our organization we need to question him and find out what he knows. This is a direct order from Wolfblade.¡± ¡°Wolfblade! Wolfblade!¡± The old man quivered like a volcano set to erupt. He tripped over his words, babbling indignantly before he managed to string a few together. ¡°Sooner or later Nucleus will meet its end at your inept hands! Do you hear me?! Your ignorance will be our doom!¡± ¡°When the nest falls all the eggs go with it. If Nucleus dies, don¡¯t think you¡¯ll rise the better for it. Now cut the shit and hand the man over.¡± Hellflower stood with her hands resting loosely on the handles of her guns. The enormous metal man behind her lumbered forward, and the men in his way instinctively scrambled out of his way. Not long ago the golem was Wolfblade¡¯s personal attendant, but lately he¡¯d come to serve this crazy bitch. She was deadly enough on her own, and now that she spoke with the gravity of Wolfblade¡¯s command, who would dare try to stop her? Cloudhawk¡¯s restrains were undone. ¡°My bird. And my things.¡± ¡°Relax, no one wants your garbage.¡± Cloudhawk made sure to put on a show of replacing his cloak, slipping the phase stone back around his neck and taking Oddball from the cage. He practically strut out of the room in Hellflower¡¯s wake. ¡°Son of a bitch! Bastard!¡± The old man¡¯s temper finally boiled over and he flung his arms across a nearby table, scattering its contents. That woman completely emasculated him, in front of his own staff! Vulture and Greenscale stood by and gave each other a silent look and sighed. Eventually Vulture approached. ¡°Never mind. All in all -¡± ¡°Never mind?! That¡¯s what you have to say to me?! Are you blind or just ignorant?¡± Three-Eyed Spider spun around to face them. ¡°Wolfblade has not been himself.¡± When he said it the others all shared quiet glances. Vulture¡¯s expression was especially dark. He had once been one of Wolfblade¡¯s favorites, and knew his leader well. It was true, he¡¯d changed. Wolfblade was like a different man. Three-Eyed Spider continued his rant. ¡°Ever since that madwoman arrived, nothing has gone right!" 1. This is admittedly nonsense on my part. The raws talk about ¡®ring nervous structure¡¯ and ¡®tree nervous structure¡¯. I chose phrases that made it sound more sciency, but the truth is I have no idea what the author means by ¡®ring nervous structure.¡¯ Book 3, Chapter 75 - Complete Resolution? Cloudhawk had changed. Selene had changed. Squall, Asha¡­ no one was the same person they used to be. Hellflower was the exception. Cloudhawk knew she was in her thirties, but on the surface her tender skin and fine figure still bore the mature, feminine charm of a woman in her mid twenties. Of course, Cloudhawk was familiar with what was below the surface as well. He¡¯d run into a number of attractive women over the course of his adventures. Selene was an unsurpassed beauty, practically inhuman. But there was also Autumn, a rare flower from a hidden garden; Natessa, wild and unpredictable as the wind. Claudia, Barb¡­ the list went on. Where Hellflower differed from these other women was that she was a wastelander, through and through. She had spent her life in the same twisted, blasted landscape that spawned Cloudhawk. A beauty like hers was rarer and more precious than eboncrys out here. Her beautiful, alluring presence was more shocking than a sudden rainstorm. What had she been doing all this time? Had she joined up with the Dark Atom? ¡°You little scamp. Who¡¯d have thought we¡¯d meet again here.¡± Hellflower glanced back at him with a charming smile. She was as inscrutable as ever, impossible to read. She saw Cloudhawk open his mouth and cut off his questions before he could give them voice. ¡°After all this time I know there¡¯s a lot you want to know. I¡¯m anxious, too. But I need you to hold on to those thoughts for a little while. You need to see the man in charge, first. Maybe afterwards we can rekindle old flames, hm?¡± What did she mean by that? He wanted to ask her a few questions, but the way she spoke to him it sounded like she had other ideas. They made their way through an old-style building, where oddly not a single guard could be spotted. Crossing a large antechamber Cloudhawk looked up to see the ceiling open to the elements. Under the mountain they didn¡¯t need to be concerned with sudden rainstorms or other natural troubles. An open architectural style gave the place a grander sense of scale and ample light. Lining the walls were stacks and stacks of books, several stories of them carefully arranged on bookcases. There were large leather volumes, rolled up scrolls and more. Some of it was bits and pieces of ancient knowledge, pieced together into volumes of data and old pictures. Most of them were treatises and works of current Seeker researchers. There was a lone occupant, climbing down one of the towering ladders that gave access to the upper shelves. He was thin and unimpressive in demeanor. He was covered in a set of clean robes and was descended the stairs with a tome in hand. Once his feet were back on solid ground he threw the cover open and began to recite from a paragraph. His hands traced dramatic patterns through the air as he spoke aloud. It sounded like poetry, smacking of literary self-importance. He had a very scholarly appearance, a rare thing in the wastelands. However, it was undermined by the nondescript eyepatch that partially obscured his vision. ¡®Scholar¡¯ was the correct term, but perhaps with ¡®Wasteland¡¯ added as a prefix. Hellflower strode forward. ¡°I¡¯ve brought him.¡± Cloudhawk looked at the one-eyed scholar with uncertainty. ¡°You¡¯re Wolfblade?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. That¡¯s me. I am Wolfblade!¡± He fired back a rapid response to Cloudhawk, as though afraid someone else might claim the title. With an expression of irritation at unfinished business he slapped the book closed. He looked the warden over with his one exposed eye. ¡°Ah, this young man¡­ You look very familiar. Have we met before?¡± Wolfblade had led the charge against Hell¡¯s Valley three years ago when they went after the demon skull. His power and leadership had left Cloudhawk with a deep impression. Could that be what he was referring to? That would be¡­ strange. It had been a chaotic scene when the Dark Atom razed the valley. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the least bit familiar with this man. It could have been because of the circumstances, or because the Wolfblade he thought he saw was masked and covered in bandages when he almost single-handedly took on the giants of the valley. He remembered the seething murderous presence that he had, and to look at the middle-aged scholar now it was like they were completely different people. ¡°You must be wondering why I haven¡¯t just thrown you in a cage.¡± ¡°Yes, actually. I¡¯m from Skycloud. You are the leader of the Dark Atom.¡± ¡°Skycloud, wastelands¡­ what¡¯s the difference? If you spent some time here studying history you might find that the dirt we all stand on was a unified whole a thousand years ago, a place we called Earth. It was a place brimming with glorious accomplishments, culture and knowledge. At one point the human population was in billions.¡± That was a surprising claim. So the Dark Atom had found out what happened to the world all those years ago? ¡°In other words, there are no ¡®elysian lands¡¯, no ¡®wastelands.¡¯ All of it is a ploy by false gods to force division.¡± Wolfblade flung his hand and released the book he held. It spiraled through the air and landed in its prescribed spot on the shelves with a thunk. ¡°Hellflower told me your story. The powers of a demonhunter, but a child of the wastelands. Interesting. What is it that brings you here?¡± There was no sense of hostility from the terrorist leader. However, Cloudhawk still decided it was best to tread with caution. The simpler this man seemed, the more dangerous the Warden believed him to be. If he were some average schmuck that would be one thing, but Wolfblade commanded the biggest Seeker organization in the wastes. If he commanded an organization this big and this secretive, he was anything but a common man. So what was he getting at? ¡°Back in Sandbar Station there¡¯s a man named Adder. He managed to get his hands on a map to your headquarters.¡± Cloudhawk had no qualms throwing Adder to the literal Wolf. It wasn¡¯t like the guy was a friend anyway, and Cloudhawk needed a way to get out from the predicament he was in. Of course he was stupid enough to say that it was an agreement between him and Adder that lead to the map coming into his possession. He figured they would find out the truth eventually, but hopefully by then Cloudhawk would be long gone. ¡°So in the end we were discovered?¡± There was brief indignation in Wolfblade¡¯s demeanor, but it quickly melted away. ¡°Well, in a hundred secrets there is bound to be a few that leak. It was only a matter of time before Nucleus was discovered. But that doesn¡¯t explain why you were so eager to come here, alone.¡± He was right. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a good explanation. So with Hellflower there to corroborate, he gave Wolfblade a brief rundown of why he needed the Dark Atom¡¯s help. The scholar nodded his head through the tale. Then, wringing his hands, he said, ¡°Roste was a singular mind when it came to biological science. He was even more brilliant than Three-Eyed Spider. A shame¡­ a shame. However, thanks to our beautiful Hellflower we were able to salvage much. It wasn¡¯t a total loss.¡± Cloudhawk spared a glance toward the gunslinger. She looked back with a brow raised in a wordless tease. In contemplative silence, Wolfblade turned and approached the bookshelves. By the time he reached them he¡¯d made a decision. ¡°I leave your circumstances to Hellflower to manage. She represents a new school of wasteland scientific thought. She¡¯s still young, but as a scientist she is no less capable than Three-Eyed Spider.¡± Surprise took Cloudhawk¡¯s words. Was it really this easy? A brief investigation, and the matter was settled? Cloudhawk was the first outsider to enter Nucleus ever, in all of the organization¡¯s history. Didn¡¯t he want to know anything else about how he did it? He¡¯d gone from nearly losing his life due to his own overestimation, to¡­ no troubles at all? He seemed to always run into unexpected developments. Fuck it! He could trust Hellflower, insofar as he could trust anyone. Back in the day it was with his help that she finally managed to crack Roste¡¯s legacy. Now, after three years of research, even if she wasn¡¯t as brilliant as the Academician was she had to be closer than anyone else. With the resources provided by the Dark Atom, Cloudhawk was sure she could help him solve his problem. Hellflower interjected suddenly. ¡°Three-Eyed Spider also captured the members of the Volcano Tribe you brought with you. What are we supposed to do with them?¡± This was not a pleasant revelation for Cloudhawk. This wasn¡¯t his territory, though. How did he have the authority to decide their fate? She was waiting for an answer, so after a few moments Cloudhawk offered his thought to Wolfblade. ¡°The tribesmen are young mutants from the surrounding mountains. One of them, Coal, is exceptionally mutated. They¡¯re introverted and solitary folk who have been living in the Blisterpeaks for generations. If Dark Atom decided to serve as their benefactors I¡¯m sure the tribe would respond by offering their loyalty.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. That makes sense! A fine thought!¡± Wolfblade had already plucked a collection of poems from the shelf and was preparing to go back to his recitations. At Cloudhawk¡¯s suggestions he muttered affirmations, like he either didn¡¯t care or was incapable of forming his own opinion. He waved a hand without giving it any further thought. ¡°Hellflower, go with Cloudhawk and release the tribesmen at once.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t wrong, either. The Volcano Tribe was a group of capable mutants. He¡¯d met all sorts of sweepers, mutants and twisted locals in his travels, but never any like the Volcano Tribe. Their most valuable aspect lay in the fact that they were still intelligent. Most of the time, the process of mutation brought out the most violent and aggressive aspects of a person, which eventually led to them losing their minds. Nothing more than crazed animals. The Volcano Tribe weren¡¯t just strong, but they were also a rarely encountered group of honest folk. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to see a people like that destroyed, nor did he want them crushed by the harsh environment of the Blisterpeak mountains. If he could convince the Dark Atom to take them in then it was a win-win. The tribesmen would definitely appreciate Cloudhawk¡¯s help in improving their lives. Really the others didn¡¯t matter, but Coal was strong and capable. He packed a punch as nasty as the old drunk. If he had a chance, maybe he could convince the mutant to come with him as a powerful ally. Coal and the remaining tribesmen were kept in a nearby prison. It was clear special considerations had been taken for Coal himself, because he was bound from head to toe. A dozen soldiers were nearby in a tight cluster to make sure they didn¡¯t try to escape. ¡°Lady Hellflower!¡± ¡°Release them immediately,¡± she commanded. ¡°These are the mutants Three-Eyed Spider captured outside. He demanded we keep them under strict supervision, under any circumstances...¡± Just the mention of the old scientist¡¯s name irritated Hellflower. He was without question a more practiced scientist than she, but an obnoxious old mutt all the same. A wrinkled old prune that just kept on living and annoying her with his snobbish moods. ¡°This is a direct order from Wolfblade! Do you men intend to disobey?¡± Throwing the boss¡¯ name around was the best way to get anything done in the Dark Atom. Cloudhawk entered and removed their bindings. The tribesmen were frightened, but after some explanation from Cloudhawk and the woman they understood it was a mistake and breathed a collective sigh of relief. Cloudhawk turned to Coal. ¡°I already spoke with their leader, Wolfblade. He¡¯s agreed to let your people into the city to live, and you¡¯ve seen what this place is like. I¡¯m sure your tribe will grow here.¡± Coal translated what he said to the others. His fellow tribesmen looked around with glittering eues. Coal turned back to Cloudhawk. ¡°Chief.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t forgotten. We¡¯ve arranged a place for everyone. Go back to the tribe yourself and explain the situation to them.¡± Coal¡¯s rock-like face was plastered with a goofy smile. He thanked Cloudhawk from the bottom of his heart. If not for him, Coal¡¯s people would still be terrorized by Magmesa. It was because of him that they were allowed into this paradise. His people were simple and honest, and would not be suspicious of the offering. Coal left on his own, back the way they came, to deliver the good news to his chief. The chief had lived a rough life, full of hardships. Since becoming leader of his people, every day was a struggle to keep the tribe alive. From finding sustenance and maintaining shelter, to growing the tribe and making sure of their continued existence ¨C every day was a trial. He was old now. It was time his people got to enjoy the fruits of this wonderful land of legend. The joy Coal felt filled him up. He was delighted at his people¡¯s good fortune. Book 3, Chapter 76 - Internal Strife, External Aggression A researcher entered Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s lab, carrying with him several glass boxes. Within each was a small insect skittering nervously. The poisonous critters squealed threateningly and attacked the walls of their glass prison to no avail. The insects were in their infant stages of development. Their value as test subjects was far inferior to the mother, however, and as such the research into their peculiar biological state ground to a halt. For the time being it seemed their research would be forced to conclude. Three-Eyed Spider stood in his lab, face darker than a thundercloud. The loss of his test subject affected him most of all. Never¡­ never would he have imagined that Wolfblade would allow that outsider to remain here in Nucleus. The old researcher was nearly as respected as Wolfblade in this city. For years they worked together with the tacit understanding that Wolfblade would not impede on his worse, and Three-Eyed Spider would not question his leadership. This agreement ensured that everything ran smoothly, and Nucleus remained free of strife. However, lately it seemed the Dark Atom leader had less and less respect for the scientist¡¯s autonomy. Yet the real object of the old man¡¯s animosity was the woman, Hellflower. No, animosity was not the right word ¨C it was jealousy. Wolfblade couldn¡¯t slap down Three-Eyed Spider himself, but Hellflower had no qualms about it. More than a physical threat, she was smart enough to eventually replace him. At the end of the day, Nucleus was a Dark Atom base of operations ¨C a Seeker¡¯s base. At the heart of their organization was the belief that the gods were false idols, and that the knowledge of those ancient days was precious. Scientists had unprecedented status as a result, and until recently Three-Eyed Spider was unassailable in his dominant talent. He was a leader, a guiding font of knowledge. He was certain no one could usurp his illustrious position. But all of that changed. This flower blew in from the wastelands, and suddenly his livelihood was under threat. Although still young, Hellflower was a tremendously talented researcher. She was only in her early teens when she began to wander the wastelands. For years she learned anything, everything, growing into the epitome of wasteland grit and potential! How short had her time been here, with the Dark Atom? Years only, and yet she had the Seekers wrapped around her delicate fingers. From the beginning she spared no respect for Three-Eyed Spider while simultaneously growing her own prestige. This was his home! His position! His life! For every member converted to Hellflower¡¯s camp, that was one more blow to Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s foundation. Now his most important subject of study was destroyed, his research all for naught. Meanwhile Hellflower had brought with her incredible insights into transforming the human body ¨C a body of work that would keep her busy and valuable for years to come! With all of this, and Wolfblade¡¯s recent erratic behavior, how could the old scientist not fear for the future? ¡°Three-Eyed Spider, sir! There¡¯s a problem!¡± A pair of the scientist¡¯s confidants hurried over. When they say his face they both shrunk back and delicately gave their report. ¡°W-we captured the mutants as you ordered, but they were all released by Hellflower and Cloudhawk.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes suddenly widened to saucers, and in their veiny depths was a bone-deep hatred. When he spoke it was obvious he was trying very hard to control his voice. ¡°What did you say? Say it again!¡± His assistants felt the cold grip of fear wrap around their hearts. It wasn¡¯t like the old man was a physical threat, but it was clear at a glance that he was just barely holding back his sadistic and murderous nature. The near-mad look in his eyes was enough to steal their breath. ¡°Hellflower was gone too far!¡± ¡°Obviously she does this solely to undermine us!¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t even ask. You¡¯ve been lead scientist here for over thirty years, and who does she think she is? Is she trying to take your job?¡± Three-Eyed Spider did not respond, but a burning indignation rose up in his subordinates. They were his trusted followers, loyal and dedicated to the work. It was true that there would be competition, both for prestige and resources, between groups in the same department. So it was they immediately disliked Hellflower the moment she joined their organization. If not for Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s direct prohibition, they would have tried to kill her themselves a long time ago. Three-Eyed Spider slowly closed his eyes. He saw the dire state of their circumstances differently from the rest. The mutant tribesmen weren¡¯t important, it was the fact that Hellflower and Cloudhawk together were the ones to release them. He remembered what Vulture said, that the two were old acquaintances from Blackwater Base. It was an important fact that he could not ignore. Who was Wolfblade? At one time Three-Eyed Spider knew the answer clearer than anyone. He had the same aggressive drive as the Dark Atom leader, the same keen decisiveness. Now, however? Three-Eyed Spider didn¡¯t care for him personally, but what happened? He gifted his personal bodyguard to Hellflower, the iron goliath that had always remained at his side. What¡¯s more, he gave her free-reign to aggressively grow her own team openly in the city. There was no other explanation other than she was preparing to overtake Three-Eyed Spider and capture his position for herself. Now there was an outsider who was brazen enough to sneak into their home. Far from punishing this obvious threat, Wolfblade allows him and Hellflower to run wild! A single aggressive enemy was nothing to fear, even if they were smart and difficult to contend against. But when you were no longer able to read their intentions, that¡¯s when an enemy became fearsome. Three-Eyed Spider was quiet for a long time. When he opened his eyes again, he answered his associates¡¯ string of angry curses with an even timbre. ¡°Summon Raven. Vulture as well.¡± Several minutes later, two men entered Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s lab. The first one was Vulture, with his familiar beak-shaped nose and sharp features. The other one was dressed strangely, and so tall that he was almost twice the height of his companion. He was draped in black from head to toe; a black scarf around his face, black glasses, black boots and black gloves. The cloak he wore was a collection of glistening black plumage like raven feathers. They almost gleamed in the light with a metallic sheen. Even Vulture seemed to keep his distance. Ravens weren¡¯t birds with a good reputation. Apparently, neither was this man who shared their name. Everyone in the Dark Atom knew this man. Tales of his cruel deeds were widespread. However he was not one of Wolfblade¡¯s people, he belonged to Three-Eyed Spider. While other members of the Dark Atom would leave on tasks aimed at disrupting Skycloud, Raven remained behind with the scientists. And like his master, Raven was considered in high standing here among the organization but completely unknown to the denizens of the elysian lands. Three-Eyed Spider did not summon Raven on a whim. Summoning this terrifying presence meant something important was on the horizon, and dire times drew near. Vulture, however, was puzzled as to why he would be called as well. Raven stepped into the lab, his heavy footfalls punctuated with muffled thuds. Standing next to him Vulture hardly seemed worth a glance much less a figure of any interest. Vulture approached Three-Eyed Spider and, with a nod, spoke. ¡°You called for me, mentor?¡± Three-Eyed-Spider nodded. Raven took up position at his side and said nothing. The old scientist pinned Vulture with his stare. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve noticed there have been some subtle differences occurring within the Dark Atom. We are surrounded by darkness, and crisis may break out at any moment. If we don¡¯t act now, I fear it will be too late.¡± Vulture¡¯s brows slowly gathered together. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no room for your doubts. You know as well as I do that Wolfblade is not the same man he used to be. Suddenly he has a host of strange powers at his command, a fact you know well enough to understand that I do not exaggerate. If we do not take the necessary steps now, then everything we¡¯ve accomplished all these years could be undone in an instant.¡± At this point the third eye set in his forehead popped open. The unsettling gaze fixed upon Vulture. ¡°Now is the moment of decision, the precipice of life and death. We need your help.¡± Vulture¡¯s face slackened. The others in the room were similarly stunned by the implications. Only Raven remained stoically silent. Three-Eyed Spider was talking about open rebellion against Wolfblade. The two men were equally respected in the eyes of most Dark Atom operatives. If they came into conflict, the consequences would shake the organization to its core. It was impossible to know what the results would be. Three-Eyed Spider had been watching, though. Wolfblade had made no efforts to hide his sudden change in behavior, and it was making many people uncomfortable. One of those people was Vulture, one of his most loyal agents. If he could be convinced to change sides, surely many of those who look to him for guidance would join him at Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s side. Success would make what had to happen next much easier. If they failed, than the outlook was bleak. The sudden decision made it appear as though Three-Eyed Spider was instigating rebellion, but really it was all started by Wolfblade. He was the one who snatched Hellflower out of the desert and brought her here. He was the one who cannibalized Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s team so that she could have her group of henchmen and undermine his authority. The longer they let this inevitable schism drag on, the weaker position Three-Eyed Spider would be in. Every moment he hesitated brought him closer to ruin. As such, this seemingly crude and impulsive decision was in truth the best course of action. Acting while Wolfblade¡¯s leadership was in doubt and before Hellflower¡¯s position was stable was his best opportunity. Allowing Cloudhawk to wander around was the perfect foil for him to illustrate the Dark Atom¡¯s failure of leadership. Yes, this was good. He didn¡¯t have time enough to prepare as he would have liked, but neither did Wolfblade. Vulture felt an imposing air wash over him. Raven, largely hidden beneath his mask and glasses, was a mystery. What was he feeling? Was his face betraying anything at all? But Vulture could feel the large man¡¯s focus weighing on him like a mountain. There was no question that if he refused, it would be the last moment of his life. ¡°You must understand that I only have the best interest of the Dark Atom at heart. It is our responsibility to guide our people through this difficult time.¡± He spoke to Vulture like he was explaining a simple and unequivocal truth. ¡°So long as Wolfblade lives, all of our lives are in danger.¡± Vulture was silent for a full five seconds. Eventually he lifted his head and stared right into the scientist¡¯s fiendish third eye. ¡°Alright.¡± *** Beyond the Blisterpeak mountains, the sound of hymns rang out, like a heavenly chorus. An armada of beautiful airships were arrayed in formation, cutting through the toxic fog that hugged the range. From a distance they almost seemed to inch across the sky, but in reality the ships covered ground very quickly. These were the righteous forces of god, come to spread the light of salvation to this stricken world of fire and ash. ¡°I swear on my life, my soul, my honor and my faith to defend the Supreme Luminary!¡± ¡°Great and Merciful God! Please accept my resolute soul, and give me the strength to fight in your name until death takes me.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Aboard the flagship of the border forces, all the commanders knelt in prayer before the altar to their deities. An elderly general in his sixties dressed in resplendent golden armor was at the fore. His hands were wrapped around the handle of an enormous broadsword, and at present his eyes were shut while he prayed. This was Aegir Polaris, commander of the border forces for Skycloud. He hailed from the same family as Skye, general of the army in its entirety, and the two were of the same generation. He was Skye¡¯s younger brother. Drake Thane was his second in command, and as such took up position just behind him as they prayed. Next was commander of the vanguard, Brontes, followed by the rest of the officers. Skycloud¡¯s border forces were the largest standing army in the domain, with several hundred thousand troops ready for deployment. This expedition was comprised of thirty thousand of them, drawn up and thrown on ships with hardly any notice. The fleet set sail shortly after word of their mission was delivered, and it included all of the border¡¯s leadership. Never before had a group of wasteland blasphemers galvanized a force of this size. The war was about to begin. ¡°We have arrived at the Blisterpeak mountain range!¡± When Aegir finished his prayers, he rose and faced the officers with stern countenance. ¡°You all know how important this mission is to Skycloud. It is imperative that we trap the rats in their hole, and we can¡¯t let a single rodent escape. By the end of our business today, the Dark Atom will cease to exist. Our efforts today will be sung from the highest peaks of Skycloud, emblazoned on the pillars of our illustrious future. Every pure soul that dies will be welcome onto the holy mountain with open arms.¡± The soldiers roared at the promise of everlasting glory. They couldn¡¯t wait to prove themselves and return as heroes, or dies as martyrs. The greatest tool of the elysians weren¡¯t their miraculous equipment or expansive army. It was their zealous faith. ¡°Drake, Brontes. You will lead our troops into the fray. Find the rock our enemies have hidden under and launch the initial offensive.¡± Both men rose to their feet and offered a salute as affirmation. This was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No one was going to let it pass without giving it their all. It had been a long time since Skycloud dispatched such a host ¨C not since three years prior when Frost de Winter brought his troops sweeping through the wastelands. He¡¯d wiped out half of the Dark Atom¡¯s forces in that quest. This time, they aimed to finish the job. Book 3, Chapter 77 - Fateful Misfortune Skycloud. Within the garden of the governor¡¯s mansion. An older man in simple but well-kept robes sat opposite a game board. His hair was fastidiously combed without a single hair misplaced. Streaks of gray swept back from his temples. His face was more youthful than the rest of him might imply, but from time to time his eyes would narrow as he looked at the board and fine wrinkled would appear at their corners. He sat calmly, staring at the situation before him with a stoic consideration, still as an ancient well. ¡°I¡¯ve lost again.¡± A young man in brilliant white garments scowled and dropped the piece in his hand. The older man¡¯s defeated opponent was Skycloud¡¯s darling, a man of seeming endless talent, Frost de Winter. ¡°I can¡¯t capture my mentor¡¯s thought process. Your tactics are ever changing. How can I cultivate a mind like yours?¡± [1] Arcturus Cloude slowly placed his own piece back on the table. ¡°The spirit of the game is to understand it as nothing more than a dozen or so vertical and horizontal lines. The colors of the pieces and the places they can occupy are limited. The forms may vary, but the result is the same, all within the rules of the game. In the end you win, or you lose. This is the fundamental nature, but that is not enough.¡± ¡°So what is the bigger truth?¡± Frost asked. ¡°The game between all the creatures of heaven and earth, of course,¡± Arcturus replied. ¡°We are both the players and the pieces. As pieces we have our colors, black or white, but we can switch from one to the other. In the same vein the strong become weak, the weak become strong. The whole game can change. Through the course of it there are small challenges, and smaller clashes beneath those. Heaven and earth are the backdrop, and the backdrop may change as well. Boundaries are endless. Tokens rise and fall, wither and flourish, and it no longer matters who wins and who loses in any given moment. A thousand years of success can be undone in an instant. It¡¯s a game that goes on and on, for eternity.¡± Frost remained silent as though mulling over his mentor¡¯s words. The stiffness in the governor¡¯s face relaxed, grew warmer, and a slight smile crossed his features. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you struggle with this small contest. What matters is the bigger game.¡± ¡°How should I improve?¡± ¡°Ask yourself, what are my limits? Ask what your motives are. Never play a game that is beyond you. You must always know what you are capable of, and what you are aiming for. In pursuit of our goals we must not be burdened by gains or losses. We cannot afford to fret over stigmas, nor whether others understand. We must be prepared to accept that victory or defeat may not be achieved in our lifetime. All that is important, is that we continue to make progress toward our goal. Arcturus stopped and raised his hand. An attendant approached with a box in his hands and presented it to Frost. The young man opened it, and resting within was a beautiful sword etched with veins of ice. It was obvious at a glance that this was a relic of rare quality. Frost stared at it in surprise. He knew what it was Arcturus was giving him. ¡°This sword is named Rimeshard, and as of today it belongs to you.¡± Arcturus signaled for Frost to take it. ¡°A situation has come up in the Blisterpeak mountains. After two years in training here, I believe now is a fine opportunity for you to give your new weapon a try.¡± ¡°As you command!¡± Gratitude was painted on the younger man¡¯s face. With a mentor like this he was destined to succeed with indomitable spirit. Two years, now it was his chance to see what his training had wrought. He slipped the sword into its sheath and affixed it to his waist. The outstanding young man wasted no time in gathering a contingent of demonhunters. He left to seek victory in the Blisterpeak mountains. At roughly the same time, the army general¡¯s aid Mr. Ink approached Skye Polaris with a report. The general¡¯s lion-like face broke into smile, and he laughed hard enough to shake the walls when he learned that the operation to eliminate the Dark Atom was underway. People on the other side of the mansion could hear his bellowing voice. [2] ¡°Aegir is one of the few remaining lions of the Polaris familiar. With him leading the charge, it will surely revitalize the glory of our family name!¡± ¡°Perhaps we should arrange for reinforcements,¡± Mr. Ink offered. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Select our finest troop and send them for support. Then sent word to Hell¡¯s Valley to mobilize and join them.¡± Mr. Ink was puzzled by the order. ¡°You wish to involve the valley as well?¡± Skye dismissed his question as foolish. Why shouldn¡¯t the valley be tapped for a mission this important? Mr. Ink thought for a moment but could see nothing inappropriate in the action, so he left to exact the Grand General¡¯s orders. *** Dark clouds gathered over the Blisterpeaks. Their bellies were painted red by the light of lava flows below. The famously apocalyptic landscape was enveloped in an especially menacing air. Coal was on his way back to the chasm where his tribe lived. He didn¡¯t know why, but an uncomfortable sense of foreboding gripped his chest. Somehow he knew something was coming, something bad. The young mutant quickened his pace so as to reach his people as soon as possible. Coal was still young, his world was small. While that ominous feeling followed him, he couldn¡¯t guess what it might mean. He focused on his task, bringing the news of the city to his chief and ensuring a peaceful life for his tribe. Maybe then the uncomfortable feeling would flee. He could put aside his concern for his people and travel the vast wastelands like he always intended. By the time he reached the chasm, three days had passed. The tribe was nervous after hearing nothing from them for so long. Their chief especially was struggling with his disquiet. The fear visibly melted from him when he saw Coal come back alive. ¡°Why just you? What about the others?¡± ¡°The rest are inside the city within the mountain. I came back to gather the rest of you. We can all live in the fabled city now.¡± Surprise was an understatement. Did the foreigner really find it? The city within the mountain? The chief was even more stunned to learn that the people of the city were willing to take in their tribe. Forgetting his disquiet for the time being, Coal told his people all about what he¡¯d seen, to a chorus of gasps and cries. A paradise like that was hiding in this terrible place, all this time? Children from the tribe all gathered around Coal and pelted him with questions. He told them about the beautiful and mysterious land, covered in trees and plants, farm animals and clean water. And it was safe. The most wonderful things they could imagine were waiting for them there. It only took about a day to reach, so not much preparation was needed. Coal told them to gather just what they needed and then they would leave. Joyous cries rose up from the Volcano Tribe. Their years of bitter existence had finally come to an end. Everyone gathered only what was essential and prepared to follow Coal to this new land of promise. Suddenly there came a blast like thunder from overhead. Beams of piercing light broke through the clouds and crashed into the chasm. Their intensity blinded the eye and deafened the ear. After several seconds, when the barrage died down, the tribesmen looked around in speechless shock. Suddenly their chasm was surrounded by scores of men in shining armor. When the old chief saw this, his face fell in despair. These were elysian soldiers. Who other than the chief had seen outsiders like this? They shrunk away instinctively, but they were surrounded on all sides. Where could they escape to? Fear scraped at the back of Coal¡¯s mind. He knew from their dress that they weren¡¯t from the city, nor denizens of these mountains. He tried to communicate in broken English. ¡°Wh...who¡­ are.. you?¡± Drake chuckled. ¡°Well, a surprise that the natives can speak our language. Good ¨C very good. Saves us the energy.¡± The man beside Drake, also dressed in officer¡¯s garb, stepped forward. Brontes¡¯ face was hidden beneath a silver mask, and when he spoke through it his voice was chillingly cold. ¡°Grab them all!¡± A thousand swords rang against scabbards as they were drawn. Terrified, the people of the Volcano Tribe did not know what to say in the face of this sudden aggression. The elysian soldiers moved in, giving them no chance to find their words. But the chief¡¯s rumbling voice rose above the sound of steel boots. ¡°Run! Run!¡± Nature had provided these natives with rock-like flesh, strong enough to deflect elysian blades. Their weapons rang against the mutants¡¯ bodies as though they were striking steel, while they fled in terror from their attackers. Fierce as charging animals they broke through the ranks, but individual strength only got them so far before they were overwhelmed. It took a dozen soldiers to subdue one mutant. Dozens of blasts from elysian bows fired at them, strong enough to pierce their tough hides. There was no suspense as to the outcome, the Volcano Tribe was quickly dominated. Several dozen were killed. Fear and anger roiled within Coal as he watched his people being killed or captured. A dozen soldiers hung from one of his arms like plaster, and when he flung them away they soared through the air like garbage. Not even elysian armor could protect them from the jagged volcanic rock, and they fell into crumbled piles of broken bone to die gasping. ¡°The one who speaks knows a thing or two!¡± Drake eyed Coal with surprise. He pulled out a massive sword that was stuck in the stony ground, and it started to glow. Drake¡¯s weapon was a special one, blessed by the sanctuary itself to be several times sharper and more destructive than a normal broadsword. ¡°It¡¯s our turn, Brontes!¡± Brontes wrenched his own large sword from its sheath. As leader of the vanguard, his strength was without question. Both officers opened their assault with spearhead. With tremendous momentum and an explosion of energy they burst forward toward Coal. By virtue of spearhead Drake gathered his formidable strength into his arms, which ripped his sword through the air with gale-force winds. He landed a brutal hacking chop on Coal¡¯s chest. Too much! Even if Coal¡¯s body really was made of tungsten steel, Drake¡¯s attack was too overwhelming. Cracks appeared centered around where the sword struck and spread out. The pain and force of impact sent Coal reeling. Brontes¡¯ spearhead attack followed soon after with his sword aimed at Coal¡¯s head. He was not quite as strong as Drake, but he was more clever. He made sure to aim his blow at an area that would do more damage. However, while Brontes¡¯ attack could cleave a sheet of iron it left no mark on Coal. The mutant stumbled back and forth. The successive hits had made him dizzy and unstable. So strong¡­ outsiders were all so strong! Timid by nature, Coal wanted to run. But through the double vision and ringing ears he saw soldiers tying the chief¡¯s hands behind his back. Fury overtook him. He couldn¡¯t run. He refused to run. A deafening roar boomed through the chasm. Coal threw his boulder-like fist at Drake. The lieutenant general called on his martial training to riposte. His true power, in addition to the blessed sword, bore the indomitable strength of a mountain. Just like Coal, who was like a living mountain himself. The mutant¡¯s hand was badly injured as sword met flesh, but Drake was also hurled back a good six meters. Coal didn¡¯t let up. He charged in with a second punch. Brontes¡¯ sword exploded into pieces and he went flying. Drake was utterly dumbfounded. What was going on with this monster? He was just a mutant, there was no way he knew how to harness his true power. Was it just evolution and pure strength that made him this hard to deal with? ¡°CHIEF!¡± Coal¡¯s forlorn shout bellowed over the sounds of conflict. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me! Run!¡± The chief shouted back. ¡°You can¡¯t beat them! You must escape!¡± Coal was single-minded, he had to save the chief. In a wild rampage he charged toward the elder, ignoring the volley of arrows that bounced off his form. Soldiers that tried to bar his advance were knocked away or trampled, and nearly twenty were killed for their efforts. There was nothing human about this mutant! He was pure, monstrous rage! Both Drake and Brontes wore scowling faces. After all, a mere mutant was proving more than their forces could handle. Just then, a lower ranked officer emerged from the din. He was hard to miss, so fat as to be nearly spherical. A platoon of forty or fifty men were close on his heels. They were all corporeals, sergeants and other low-ranking officers, men of formidable ability. Hammont Seacrest had taken the lead. ¡°On my orders! Move in!¡± The platoon charged at Coal like a sea of angry metal. They swarmed the mutant, throwing sturdy lines around his neck, his arms, his legs, pulling them tight to leave him no place to go. The material they used to tie him up were spools of elysian bowstring. The materials used to create it were tenacious and difficult to snap. Coal found himself quickly wrapped up in meters of it, unable to move. Seconds were all they had, but it was enough for elysian soldiers. Hammont threw his flaby arm high and shouted. ¡°Quickly! Tie it down!¡± The officers scrambled all around like ants. Coal was wrapped up tight before he could fight back. By the end there were hundreds of meters or bowstring keeping him motionless. All he could do was scream impotently at his failure. Brontes gave the fat soldier a searching look. ¡°This one¡¯s got more to him than it would seem.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Drake was reminded of the surprising news Hammont shared with him just before they disembarked for these mountains. The reminder darkened his face. But, he definitely was seeing this fat magistrate in a new light. ¡°In fact, catching the natives and using them as pathfinders was his idea. It¡¯s better than relying on some map. If we went kicking around blindly, we¡¯d almost certainly tip off the enemy.¡± ¡°Lieutenant General, Vanguard General. Sirs, reporting for orders!¡± Hammont presented himself before the two men, bursting with eagerness to please. ¡°The mutants have been captured. We¡¯re awaiting further instruction.¡± Drake nodded but spoke to Brontes. ¡°I leave it to you.¡± Brontes strode over to Coal without a word, then, ¡°There¡¯s a city hidden in these mountains. Do you know where it is?¡± Coal was terrified, panicked. He¡¯d never felt so helpless, he didn¡¯t know what to do. The chief was nearby and heard the exchange. It was then he knew the elysians were searching for the fabled city under the mountain. If they found it, it was certain their paradise would be destroyed before the Volcano Tribe could even see it. He shouted hysterically at Coal. ¡°They¡¯ll never let us go! Some of our people are still there, even if they kill us our tribe will live on! But if we let these devils know where the city is, they will kill every one of us. Tell them nothing!¡± He shouted in the gutteral, growling language of their tribe. Neither Drake nor Brontes understood a word. But Drake was not a fool. He knew it just by looking at his face, and smiled at the revelation. ¡°Seems like this rock-head does know something, Brontes.¡± Behind the silver mask there was a sour look to the vanguard leader¡¯s eyes. He snatched a sword from one of the nearby soldiers, but instead of using it on Coal he strode over to the chief. He pressed his foot on the prostrate body of the elder and put the tip of the sword against his neck. Heartless eyes fixed on Coal. ¡°You care about this one?¡± Coal shouted back, struggling against his bindings. ¡°Don¡¯t kill-¡± He didn¡¯t get to finish. Brontes swung the sword. It was nearly silent as it whipped through the air faster than sound. Some martial technique imbued it with staggering power. The old chief¡¯s neck was neatly separated, and his head rolled down the chasm. When it came to a stop, dim eyes stared at Coal. He could almost see the regret still there the moment the chief died. [3] 1. They are playing weiqi, or go. 2. Off topic, but the strength of one¡¯s voice is strangely telling in Chinese medicine. The power of someone¡¯s voice is seen as an indication of Lung qi. The more a voice carries the more preponderance of qi exists. Typically this works in one¡¯s benefit as the Lung qi helpd defend against external pathogens. Interestingly, the lungs are also considered closely tied to the emotion of fear (hence you gasp or scream when afraid, giving voice to it). It is no surprise, then, that the ones with the booming voice are often assumed ¨C correctly ¨C to be more resilient against being frightened. 3. This whole scene sucked. Well done Tipsy, you asshole. Book 3, Chapter 78 - The Unkindness of Ravens The chief was dead! Murdered! Butchered! Coal felt like his head would explode. Rage, hopelessness, hatred, sorrow. Each one was like a cold knife to his heart, a searing fire in his mind. The mutant screamed, a sound more terrible than any wasteland monster. He heaved against his bindings, snapping enough to free one of his arms. Coal whipped it around like a mace, and nearly ten soldiers died from the bludgeoning before they knew what happened. Clang! A sword swept by to catch his arm as it passed for another swing. Drake was so fast that he appeared in front of Coal from nowhere, like he just blinked into existence. He positioned his sword in the crux of the beast¡¯s arm to stop him from causing any more casualties. He offered a vicious hack toward Coal. ¡°If you want it to end then tell us what you know!¡± Soldiers swarmed in and tied the mutant back up without needing to be directed. ¡°Ahh! Rrraagggh! Nnnrrrgghh!¡± All Coal could do was yell at his powerlessness. Even with the power of fear feeding his muscles, all he could do was stare daggers at these hateful, evil men. With a cold laugh, Brontes raised his hand. Soldiers forced a group of ten more tribesmen to their knees before him. The vanguard leader faced Coal. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. Where is the city hidden?¡± Coal only screamed back at him. Brontes did not waste his breath. The giant was forced to watch as ten more of his brothers and sisters were cut down in cold blood. Ten more were brought forward. ¡°Where is the city?¡± Hate and resentment bubbled up inside Coal, forming into words. ¡°Don¡¯t kill!¡± A blade flashed. Heads toppled. Ten more. This time it was children. They shivered and cried as they were forced to their knees. Brontes raised his voice for the third time, calm and dispassionate as though he was weeding a garden. ¡°Where is the city?¡± Coal¡¯s will crumbled. He couldn¡¯t do it. He couldn¡¯t stand to watch them murder his tribesmen. In a voice thick with humiliation and disgrace, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t kill¡­ I say.¡± Brontes swung his arm. Ten smaller heads went rolling through the chasm. [1] Coal¡¯s pained well rang off the stone. He didn¡¯t understand. He agreed! He said he would answer! Why would this demon continue to slaughter innocent people? Brontes answered as though reading his mind. ¡°To remind you not to make me ask three times. Now you¡¯ve got one chance. If you try anything, everyone here will die ¨C because of you. And they will die painfully.¡± Drake just chuckled wryly at the scene. ¡°You certainly have a way about you, Brontes.¡± Hammont also admired the steadfast officer. Coal could only remember their faces. He took in every single detail, burned them into his memory. He made himself a promise that if he survived, he would break every bone in their body with his own hands, inch by inch. He would use his own fists to punch them flat. He would make them pay for the murder of the chief. He wouldn¡¯t die until he made every one of them regret the evil they committed! But even though his heart was an inferno of hatred, there was nothing Coal could do. He would be their puppet, forced to lead the way. The two hundred remaining natives were tied up and kept under guard, while Coal ¨C bound hand and foot ¨C was surrounded in what seemed like a sea of elysian warriors. He was given only enough slack to walk, not enough to run if a chance to flee presented itself. The chief¡¯s words rang in his ears. He¡¯d heard them, he understood, but he had no choice. He couldn¡¯t stand to watch his family be murdered. If he didn¡¯t promise to bring these monsters to the city, he would have had to watch as they were cut down batch after batch. It was beyond torture. There was no question in his mind that these men had nothing but evil intentions, but it was too much. There was hope, at least he thought. He didn¡¯t know how strong the elysian force was, but secretly he thought those who lived in the city under the mountain could destroy these devils. A mysterious group was lurking in the nearby crags. Not a large force ¨C several hundred only ¨C and they wore uniforms of absolute black. Only the two men in front were different. One was a masked man hidden beneath the Wraithrobe, with a sword on his back and a strip of cloth covering his face. The other wore a long trench coat and his close-cropped hair was uncovered. He was an unassuming man, but for the scars that ran down his eyes. ¡°It seems they found a guide to the Dark Atom headquarters. It looks like those Seekers are finally going to meet their doom.¡± ¡°The Dark Atom has deep roots. Skycloud can¡¯t destroy them so easily. But for the time being they will keep the elysians¡¯ attention. That will make what we have to do easier.¡± Adder¡¯s eyes glimmered in the harsh light. Whatever he was thinking, the depths of those snake-like eyes were impossible to read. A short time later the several hundred shadows were on the move. They came down from the mountains silent as the night. Obviously, though small in number, they were not to be underestimated. *** Cloudhawk was lying on the examination table and medical instruments and strange devices whirred around him. A dozen or so scientists busily poured over the results and manipulated the machines. He¡¯d been their guinea pig for most of the day already. Hellflower had only visited long enough to take a vial of blood, and then she was gone. The next time she appeared she carried a syringe filled with some mysterious liquid. She jabbed the needle into Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. The contents of the syringe were pumped into his veins. The first thing Cloudhawk experienced was the pain ebbing away. It washed down like a tide, starting from his head and moving down. Good¡­ good stuff. He was surprised and delighted that a single shot would have immediate effect. The woman really knew her stuff! ¡°You¡¯re lucky. A few days later and I wouldn¡¯t have been able to help you.¡± Hellflower was not as excited about his change in circumstance as Cloudhawk was. Her eyebrows were wrinkled tight as she thought. ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate yet. Reversing this problem won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Cloudhawk rolled his head from side to side. ¡°I feel pretty good. Everything seems normal to me now.¡± ¡°The injection I gave you temporary paralyses the trespasser virus. They are only a tenth as active as normal for the time being, almost dormant.¡± ¡°In other words you weren¡¯t able to kill it.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t kill it.¡± ¡°How long will it be dormant like this?¡± Hellflower shook her head and said, ¡°Trespasser¡¯s adaptability is unprecedented. Sooner rather than later it will find a way to neutralize the medication. I imagine it won¡¯t be long. More importantly, the injection won¡¯t work a second time.¡± His affliction wasn¡¯t so easily solved. What were they supposed to do, then? Her response was frank. ¡°I¡¯ve been carefully studying Roste¡¯s Trespasser virus over the last several years. I have even been able to replicate a portion of it, but so far I haven¡¯t been able to crack its secret. Do you know why?¡± ¡°No. Why?¡± ¡°Because of the complexity of the virus itself. It is constantly mutating. Roste spent most of his life researching this biological creation, and used himself as the experiment subject. At least thirty years he spent cultivating Trespasser. Extrapolating the changes is very difficult given the data we have.¡± Complicated was putting it mildly. ¡°What is important in your case is that Trespasser has begun to spread at an increased rate. It integrates with the host¡¯s genetic material and so won¡¯t be transferred through blood or fluids. In other words, if I injected myself with your blood Trespasser still wouldn¡¯t take hold and spread. After using himself as a petri dish, Roste transplanted the virus he incubated into you. Since then it¡¯s changed considerably, almost an entirely different strain at this point. After three years it¡¯s had time to insert itself into much of your DNA, making it even more unique from when Roste infected you.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand a goddamn thing you¡¯re saying.¡± Hellflower rolled her eyes at the Warden¡¯s ignorance. She tried to explain as simply as she could. ¡°In short, Trespasser is unstable. It will change with its host, so Trespasser is different inside you than it was inside the Academician. What I was able to extract in your blood is completely different from Roste¡¯s information. Two completely different things.¡± Hellflower motioned toward a microscope. ¡°See for yourself.¡± The equipment in Nucleus was far superior than what they had access to in Blackwater Base. For instance, the microscope was much clearer. After setting up a sample and arranging the lenses Cloudhawk could see what was going on. He remembered the first time he had a look at Trespasser. It was a sample from Roste, and aside from mutating his blood and cells he¡¯d seen countless green structures swimming through the plasma. That was Trespasser. He didn¡¯t see any little green things this time. In his body Trespasser had become more golden in color, and the virus didn¡¯t flow freely like in Roste¡¯s sample. Flecks of gold were inserted in his cells like tiny jewels and visibly changed their construction. Cloudhawk sucked in a breath. ¡°How did this happen?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a question only you can answer.¡± Hellflower regarded him with a look of slight suspicion. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to wonder if there¡¯s something more fundamentally wrong with your body. Frankly, whether you¡¯re even human.¡± He didn¡¯t know how to respond. That was a bullshit statement, wasn¡¯t it? Was he human? Of course he was! Cloudhawk thought about the various ways he was different from other people and had to admit to feeling bewildered. If he was normal than what would explain his strange talents? He didn¡¯t have an answer. Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Whether I¡¯m normal or not, I don¡¯t want this nasty shit in my brain. You need to help me find a way to get rid of it.¡± ¡°There is a way, but we need time.¡± It didn¡¯t matter, so long as it stopped him from becoming a monster! Cloudhawk found himself unconsciously breathing a sigh of relief. For the time being, his illness was under control. Whatever else needed to be done to cure himself, Cloudhawk was willing to do. Living was more important than anything else. Cloudhawk was going to ask her more questions to see what the next steps were, when he was interrupted by an explosion. The doors were blown off their hinges! Guards that had been posted outside flew through the door frame in pieces. Blackened chunks of flesh were a precursor to a crowd of people rushing in. The one who led them was tall, really tall, and dressed all in black. He wore a cloak that looked like metal feathers, and when he entered the room it was immediately filled with a cruel aura. ¡°It¡¯s Raven!¡± The surprised shouts came from Hellflower¡¯s assistants. One of the braver ones had the gall to stand in his path. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? What gives you the right to come charging in here!¡± He answered with the barrel of a gun. The scientist¡¯s head opened like a grotesque flower and splattered brains everywhere. Cloudhawk had no idea what was going on, but he didn¡¯t need to be a genius to figure it out. These people were here to kill Hellflower. She was the only person here who could help him, so he didn¡¯t want to see her life cut short before she did. He shouted her way. ¡°Go! Hurry!¡± Raven¡¯s grim voice slithered from his throat. ¡°No one¡¯s going anywhere.¡± [2] 1. Well fuck this guy. He better die in a particularly nasty way, and soon. 2. Did you know a group of ravens is called an ¡®unkindness¡¯? Seemed fitting. Book 3, Chapter 79 - Technological Fighting Force Raven made his dark promise as twenty men rushed into the lab with weapons ready. They arrayed themselves before their leader in a semi-circle, then pulled the trigger on twenty high-grade rifles. The lab became a backdrop for a dazzling display of broken glass and sparks as bullets tore the place apart. Concentrated rifle fire obliterated everything in the enclosed space. The best fighters in the wasteland wouldn¡¯t be able to protect themselves from what was tantamount to a wall of hot lead. Most of the unfortunate souls in the room were hardly fighters, either, but scientists who didn¡¯t know how to defend themselves. Shooting fish in a barrel would be more difficult. Cloudhawk was fast enough to grab Hellflower, and the two huddled behind the thick examination table he¡¯d tipped onto its side. As the hail of gunfire pummeled it the metal bent and warped, but did not give. Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°All this fuckin¡¯ noise!¡± Quiet! He snapped his fingers and a formless, invisible cocoon of energy spread out to fill half the laboratory. The assassins looked around as they struggled to understand the sudden, inexplicable circumstance. Their weapons were firing ¨C they could tell by the kick-back and muzzle flare ¨C but there was no sound at all. The bullets ricocheted through the room but they heard nothing. It was like someone just shut off the volume. It wasn¡¯t a power from any relic. This time the mute field came from him and him alone. It was an unsung phenomenon, for never in recorded history had any demonhunter been able to use a relic¡¯s power without the tool itself. Summoning a mute field wasn¡¯t an earth-shattering accomplishment, but it did stop the attackers from being able to communicate. A flaw that maybe he could exploit. Sure enough, as they continued to fire that flaw revealed itself. Cloudhawk reached over the gurney and flung eight metal spikes toward the door. They slipped through the air fast as any bullet, faster than anyone could believe, and each one found a target. Was this guy omniscient?! He didn¡¯t even need to aim! He wasn¡¯t, of course. He had to aim, but not necessarily with the help of his eyes. Moments after the spikes ended eight of the gunmen, a streak of gold swept by that opened the throats of several more. Oddball¡¯s dagger-like wings ripped through soft flesh without effort. It came at Cloudhawk¡¯s beck and call as he reached out to form a connection. After engorging itself on eboncrys the small bird was overflowing with energy and flew almost faster than the eye could follow. At that speed, skin was separated like wet paper. It stopped for just the blink of an eye and beat its tiny wings. Glittering, golden feathers fanned out in a deadly semi-circle! Hellflower craned her neck over the table to see what was happening. Twenty assassins were now rapidly cooling corpses, in just a matter of seconds. Eight were on the ground with metal spikes in vital areas, and eight more were bled dry from holes in their throats. The rest had been killed by feathers. So fast! How quickly the tables had turned! Raven stood before the doorway like an iron tower, unmoved. Ten more giant men stood behind him, just as grim and quiet. Their average height was over two meters and even then they were still slightly shorter than Raven. A red light flickered in the man¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°Kill them.¡± But of course, there was no sound. Still the large men seemed to get the message. They came closing in like hulking shadows, outfitted differently from the others. They wore something on their head like motorcycle helmets, and everything from their vests to their gloves to their boots were all made of metal. It made them look almost mechanical, a technical fighting force comparable if very different from the artistry of elite elysian warriors. The armor these men wore was simple in appearance, but exceptional in function. They moved in lock-step, almost mechanical. A host of heaven guns were raised their way. They were not normal guns, either. Rocket launchers! Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes, tracking the trajectory of their gunfire. Wrapping an arm around Hellflower¡¯s waist he crouched low, then exploded into the air. He leaped safely from behind the gurney to another bit of cover. Hellflower was not idly flung around. She drew her pistols and tightened her grip. These were high-grade weapons dug up from ruins of the ancient world. They were unique in that their projectiles weren¡¯t propelled by gunpowder, but electromagnetic coils. The magnetic current sped up the bullets to incredible speed before releasing them, which in turn made them far more destructive. She fired off a volley with incredible speed! The rockets spat from the tech unit¡¯s weapons where struck in midair. Sparks, explosions, shrapnel ¨C the lab was a battlefield but still remained silent as the grave. The armor-clad behemoths stumbled from the blasts. Hellflower followed up with two quick shots at Raven. They struck, but didn¡¯t seem to puncture flesh. However he was thrown back against a nearby wall. In the space of a few seconds the assassins had lost their advantage, and now found themselves in a difficult position. Years of wandering the wastes had made Hellflower strong. She was formidable years ago when Cloudhawk met her in Blackwater, and she was only more terrifying now. In addition, her new guns could blow holes in three inch steel plating. There was no reason why Raven could have survived. With him dead the others weren¡¯t any concern. But he wasn¡¯t dead. Raven¡¯s cloak of thin, metallic feathers had deflected her bullets. The dramatic clothing had to be made from elysian tungsten ¨C much sturdier than normal armor. The cloth material itself was some kind of mesh composite that offered extra protection against piercing blows. The combination made him effectively bulletproof, even against Hellflower¡¯s high-velocity shots. Raven probably wore more armor underneath. Metal feathers chimed while Raven got back to his feet. There was something about the guy that made Cloudhawk very uncomfortable ¨C like there was something about him that was not normal. No more waiting around, the Warden was a man of action. Phase, become invisible, move in close, attack. The lab was still encased in a shell of soundlessness. With that and his invisible, formless body Cloudhawk was impossible to detect as he moved toward the tech soldiers. He shoved his exorcist rod into them, releasing his mental power through it as the phase field dropped. The explosion of force ripped through the soldier and sent him careening wildly through the air like a rag doll. Two quick swipes from the staff followed, two more armored attackers went flying! Meanwhile Oddball was doing its part, whipping among the soldiers and using its wings to cut their weapons apart. They were left with no way to defend or pressure their target. He broke through the line of tech soldiers and moved in toward Raven. Even though Cloudhawk never dropped his invisibility it didn¡¯t seem to confound the assassin. Tugging his cloak, the feathered armor was flung out toward him with a dangerous ringing. If Cloudhawk wanted to get in close enough to land a blow he would have to fight through a host of knives. He instinctively backed away. From Ravens wide sleeves extended a hand wrapped in a metal gauntlet. The fingers were several inches long and ended in spiked tips strong enough to pierce concrete. But it wasn¡¯t enough to overcome Cloudhawk¡¯s phasing ability. An odd buzzing sound emerged as a high-frequency particle blade emerged from the same sleeve. The guy¡¯s fighting style was fast and brutal. He changed approaches fast and often enough to make his next moves hard to read. Definitely an opponent of rare skill. The speed with which he attacked was no less dangerous than the likes of Vulture and other Dark Atom leadership, but Cloudhawk had his own methods to defend himself ¨C to begin with, his incorporeal body. He didn¡¯t need it now. As Raven lashed out with the particle blade he was stopped mid-swing and sent reeling backwards. His hulking form struck the wall again with bone-jarring force. Several of the feathers on his cloak dropped to the floor in pieces. The cabal of tech soldiers looked at the culprit; a massive, ominous tower of metal stood with its arm outstretched. An orb of blue energy was gathering in its palm, and then released. Boom! The armored giants were hit with a deluge of energy that pitched them several meters back. They hit the ground near the far corner in a heap of limbs. Cloudhawk recognized the new arrival, a golem that represented the apex of ancient technology. Its entire body was specially constructed tungsten steel that could self-repair, capable of sustaining incredible heat and tremendous force. Wolfblade had controlled it when they attacked Hell¡¯s Valley. The enormous guardian cut an impressive figure, capable even of standing toe to toe against Instructor Dumont¡¯s relic-empowered charge! Afterwards, the guardian was gifted to Hellflower. With such a powerful force by her side, it was unlikely anything was a threat. However, Cloudhawk saw he wasn¡¯t giving their enemies enough credit, for even after taking a direct blow from the guardian Raven got back onto his feet like nothing had happened. And so did the ten tech soldiers. Raven¡¯s reputation among the Dark Atom wasn¡¯t just because of his personal abilities, vaunted though they were. He also commanded this unit of mysterious and powerful armored giants. All of them were uniquely talented killers, as skilled in combat as those like Vulture. The suits of armor they wore were the same grade of ancient technology as Hellflower¡¯s guns, far from ordinary equipment even for Seekers. The tech unit¡¯s fighting abilities were nothing short of incredible. With their weapons destroyed, the soldiers charged forward into melee range. Cloudhawk was left with no choice but to meet them head on. Several successive blows had destroyed Raven¡¯s glasses. Behind the glass, his left eye crackled with electric energy. Certainly not natural. Hellflower¡¯s face was solemn and dignified. She¡¯d only been part of the Dark Atom for a short time, but even she knew Raven¡¯s reputation. He was Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s most loyal dog, rarely dispatched and rarely sent out into the wastes. Consequently, Hellflower knew next to nothing about what he could do. The silver guardian raised its arm. Blue light began to gather. Raven fearlessly rushed forward, breaching half the distance between them when the guardian¡¯s pulse wave was released. The assassin strafed to the side but was still clipped by it. The blast tore off his mask and glasses, and whipped back his cloak. Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s mysterious servant was fully revealed. His face was a mess of poorly healed scars. His right eye was normal, but the left was an electronic replacement. His scalp was gone, and where there should have been hair there was instead a metal plate like some kind of helmet. His half-human, half-machine appearance was disturbing to behold. Hellflower¡¯s irises constricted. ¡°A cyborg?¡± Roste wasn¡¯t the only madman who had tried to improve his body. Three-Eyed Raven wasn¡¯t the only lunatic trying to extend his life. Three-Eyed Spider had to be brilliant in order to achieve his status among the Dark Atom. He and Roste both were scientific minds practically without equal. Their processes were as incredible as they were unique; Roste¡¯s transformation went deep, to the genetic level. A biological effort that was difficult but continuous and self-improving. Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s tried to exploit a shortcut by combining high technology with the natural body to create a living machine. Natural and unnatural. Each had its advantages and drawbacks. Raven was no man. He was Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s weapon. A semi-artificial super human! The silver guardian¡¯s pulse wave didn¡¯t catch the cyborg full-on, but it did stop his charge and cause some visible damage. It moved forward to launch an attack of its own, flinging its silvery streamline fist at its enemy. It caught the assassin in the chest. Raven didn¡¯t dodge. He couldn¡¯t, nor would it have helped. A hand-to-hand battle with the silver guardian was suicide. His chest caved in where the guardian struck. Obviously the damage was severe, but there remained no expression on Raven¡¯s scarred face. Perhaps whatever process had converted him into this creature had stolen the ability to show emotion? He abandoned any futile attempt to defend himself, and instead met the guardian¡¯s fist while wrapping his own hands around its head. Ravens body suddenly crackled with surging electrical current. Thousands of volts coursed through his metallic arms and into the guardian¡¯s head. While Hellflower¡¯s protector was reaching back for a second blow, its body suddenly went rigid. Raven whipped his leg around and kicked the metal beast away. It hit the ground and skid through the mute field, sending sparks cascading through the air. A trench of broken tile marked where it passed. When it stopped the guardian remained frozen where it lay, convulsing. Impossible! Raven should not have been able to overcome the high-grade robot! Cloudhawk had seen what the robot could do with his own eyes. Raven had to have used some kind of special ability to knock it out of commission. Now Hellflower¡¯s face was turned in a dark scowl. She didn¡¯t know enough about their enemy, but he knew everything about her. He proved that by beating her protector. Fire, ice, acid ¨C nothing was too much for the guardian. Physical damage? Laughable. Its only weakness was high-voltage electricity! Raven knew this and had come prepared. For the time being, the silver guardian¡¯s body was shut down and could not help. Without it, how was Hellflower supposed to defend herself against Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s half-human assassin? Book 3, Chapter 80 - The Wolf and the Spider Hellflower fired off another volley. Her first-class gunplay was unequaled in the wastelands, and few could evade her attacks. As such Raven didn¡¯t even try. The first shot struck him in the chest where the guardian had him, forcing the assassin back several steps. The next one caught him right between the eyes and flung his head backwards at an impossible angle. A series of cracks and pops followed. Raven¡¯s heads was forced up, popping his mangled spine back into place. There was an obvious indentation in his forehead where the bullet struck, but the shot did not otherwise seem to have an effect. His hideous face twisted into a cold sneer. His right hand rose. The only way to describe what happened was to say his wrist disassembled. Raven¡¯s hand folded backward against his forearm to allow a barrel to extend from the cavity beneath. Immediately following the gun sparked to life and fired a salvo a bullets at Hellflower¡¯s position. His arm was actually a heavy machine gun, fed by a bandolier Raven had slung over his torso beneath the cloak. The ferocious salvo was more intense than most and struck hard enough to shred most metal cover. His right hand folded back next, exposing an igniter. A stream of fire five meters long belched forth and covered half the room. It was hot enough to melt alloy in ten seconds, and was wide enough to cut off any escape. It was too much! He was a monster, completely inhuman! A feat of scientific horror. [1] Every inch of his two and a half meter frame was built for destruction, a weapon with independent thought. Hellflower had spent decades combing through ancient ruins, and never had she seen anything like this. Three-Eyed Spider was deserving of his reputation as a master scientist. Hellflower had underestimated his abilities. Raven¡¯s tech force were comprised of only the most exceptional warriors. They were outfitted with priceless gear, including high-frequency particle blades of their own. It was an array of exceptionally dangerous enemies that Cloudhawk had to face alone, and he was very nearly overwhelmed. He could hardly protect himself, much less try to protect Hellflower from the assassin. Both of them were a hair¡¯s breadth from destruction! Raven was stepping closer to where Hellflower hid. Each step was preceded by flames and gunfire, keeping her pinned down. There was no way out. She had nowhere to go. Damnit! Fuck this! Cloudhawk summoned the power of the phase stone just in time to avoid several particle blades. They passed harmlessly through him without leaving a mark. He slipped away from the tech soldiers and threw himself at Raven. Fire sprayed from his right arm like a deluge. Gunfire erupted from his left arm like a hurricane! Cloudhawk rushed through it, feeling the lethal pressure bear down on him but somehow making it through. He reached out and grabbed Hellflower, cutting his link with the stone and blocking her from Raven¡¯s onslaught. Intense pain wracked his body as fire and bullets struck his back. A normal man would have been instantly blown apart. No one could survive an attack like this. No one could save a soul marked for death by Raven. The assassin watched this strange outsider put himself between Hellflower and her doom, expressionless. Foolish! Suicidal! But Cloudhawk was anything but suicidal. His gambit had a real chance of getting him killed, but it wasn¡¯t certain. Somehow he wasn¡¯t dead from the spray of bullets, and in this critical moment he didn¡¯t do what Raven expected. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t run for the exit, or look for cover. With Hellflower wrapped in his arms he ran straight for the back wall. Both of them slipped right through. Raven¡¯s fire burned the wall black and the gunfire punch a hundred holes into it, yet his targets vanished. His eyes flashed and flickered, engaging technology to peer through the wall. He picked up their silhouettes in the hall on the other side. That was¡­ unexpected. But the target was still alive, his mission wasn¡¯t finished. He gave chase, dropping his head and charging full speed at the wall they passed through. The resulting impact shook the whole floor. The partition of concrete and plaster was blasted apart like it was made of paper. Yet when he raised his head, the hall was empty. Flickering lights danced in his eyes as they searched, but no sign of the two could be found. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pause for breath after phasing through the wall. He continued to race through any barriers in his way until both he and Hellflower were outside of Raven¡¯s scope. The assassin was unprepared. A demonhunter¡¯s abilities defied logic and could not be planned for. They were abilities he had never had to contend against before and thus could not account for Cloudhawk¡¯s intervention. His tech soldiers quickly followed through the new opening he¡¯d created. Never once did the cold, stoic expression leave Raven¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Eventually Cloudhawk slowed, then stopped, and with a gasping breath fell to the ground. Hellflower picked him up and found he was slick with blood. Raven¡¯s machine gun fire was too much, too intense. Just one bullet would have blown a fist-sized bullet through her frail body. Cloudhawk had used his own body as a meat shield, putting himself between her and a whole storm of bullets. It¡¯d been only a second or two, but in that brief moment he was struck at least fourteen times. The assassin¡¯s precision was clear, for most of those were in critical places like his back, thigh and the back of his head. Luckily his body¡¯s evolved status turned what would have otherwise been lethal blows into grievous wounds. Hellflower scowled. ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?!¡± Cloudhawk wiped some of the blood from his face and managed a wry smirk. ¡°Well, if you died I was a goner anyway!¡± She couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong with this idiot¡¯s head that made him act so recklessly. It wasn¡¯t certain he¡¯d die if Raven got her. Trespasser would continue to mutate his body, true, and it might even affect his thinking, but Cloudhawk would still be Cloudhawk. A monster maybe, but not dead. ¡°Look, now¡¯s not a good time to think it over.¡± Cloudhawk shut his eyes for a moment and make sure Oddball was alright. It was, and his small friend confirmed that Raven wasn¡¯t right on their heels. Cloudhawk sighed in relief. ¡°That asshole¡¯s retreated. What do we do now?¡± ¡°Raven is Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s man. If he came to kill me it was at that old lunatic¡¯s command.¡± Hellflower¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s real target has to be Wolfblade.¡± ¡°Wolfblade?!¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯s in danger, we have to hurry!¡± Cloudhawk tried to stand but slowly sunk back down to the floor. His legs were torn up, and he only managed to get them away from Raven by force of will. Without a word, Hellflower picked up onto her shoulders then headed off toward Wolfblade¡¯s quarters. Nucleus was in chaos. News of Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s coup had spread. Everyone knew an inevitable war between the scientist and Wolfblade was about to happen. By the time Hellflower reached the library Wolfblade often frequented, there were hundreds of soldiers already there. Vulture and other leaders were present as well. When Vulture saw Hellflower approach with the wounded Cloudhawk on her back, his naturally malicious features twisted even further. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°Three-Eyed Spider has started a revolt!¡± She paid him little attention. ¡°Where¡¯s Wolfblade?¡± They pushed through the study doors, and there was Wolfblade. He stood there looking at the two of them in surprise, wearing only his robes and with a book of poetry in his hands. Cloudhawk bit back a flurry of abusive words. Fuck! The shit has hit the fan and here he is with a goddamn book, like he doesn¡¯t know anything was wrong! Hellflower was also confounded by his lack of reaction. ¡°Three-Eyed Spider is coming to kill you.¡± Wolfblade stood there with his face half covered in bandages and a book in his hand, nonplussed. He looked at her and Cloudhawk with his one good eye, then smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, relax. Everything is under control. He isn¡¯t going anywhere ¨C he¡¯s already here.¡± A large group arrived before the study. Crack soldiers, lead by Three-Eyed Spider. After a few seconds of desperate searching Cloudhawk could not see Raven. He figured it would only be a few more minutes before the assassin arrived, however. When the old scientist saw Hellflower and Cloudhawk his face was a mixture of surprise and anger. It was almost inconceivable that his cyborg killer would have failed in his mission. ¡°Three-Eyed Spider, my good sir. I long suspected it would come to this, though perhaps not this quickly.¡± Wolfblade greeted his betrayer with an inappropriate smile. ¡°It makes little sense for you to be in such a rush. You¡¯re old, one foot in the grave already. I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯d be so eager to leap in with the other one.¡± Three-Eyed Spider answered with a derisive chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether you¡¯re really Wolfblade, but I¡¯m sure I¡¯m more than a match for you. Do you have the courage to test yourself against an old man?¡± Was this scientist really challenging the terrorist leader to a duel? Cloudhawk reached out to Oddball, and through his pet saw that Raven was rushing toward them as fast as he could. He immediately grasped the old man¡¯s plan and tried to warn Wolfblade. ¡°Ignore him, he¡¯s just trying to buy time until Raven gets here!¡± ¡°Just as well, just as well. A gentlemen is abiding, yes? We shouldn¡¯t take advantage of our guest¡¯s precarious position, we¡¯ll wait until the entire party has arrived.¡± Keeping to his incongruous stance, Wolfblade handed the book of poetry to Vulture, who stood nearby. He walked forward, smiling the while. ¡°A spider hiding in the shadow for all these years¡­ What sort of talents have you been hiding? I am a man who respects his elders, and since you¡¯ve decided you can do a better job I would be remis to deny your attempt. Come, let me see what sort of power you really possess.¡± ¡°As you wish!¡± The scientist¡¯s third eye popped open. Suddenly, Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s hunched form began to swell as his lean frame was replaced with bulging muscle. Loose clothing became taut, threatening to burst the seams at any moment. His withered hair regained its youthful vigor, becoming golden blonde. All of this in mere seconds. Where once had stood a shrunken elder there was now a young and muscular man. Surprise filled Hellflower¡¯s face. ¡°Rejuvenation?¡± Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s voice dropped the old man¡¯s quaver and was once again full of youthful vitality. ¡°A temporary condition achieved with the aid of pharmaceuticals, but for a while I have been restored to the prime of my life. Wolfblade, child, before you were born there were none within the Dark Atom who were my equal. Are you arrogant enough to believe you are?¡± There was a common misconception around the wastelands that the Seekers were a bunch of smart but feeble researchers. They may have all sorts of knowledge, but take away their fancy gadgets and any half-wit bandit clan could wipe them out. But ideas like this were phenomenally wrong. Roste proved this, as did Three-Eyed Spider. The highest echelons of the Seekers weren¡¯t just smart, they had long ago learned to turn knowledge into power. Only a fool failed to understand that in the wastelands, a man without power was merely a victim. In his youth, Three-Eyed Spider had employed a cocktail of drugs to strengthen his body. At that time he was already one of the Dark Atom¡¯s most esteemed fighters. But as he got older, he no longer had a place out in the field. As the younger generation came to replace the old, they mistakenly assumed the old scientist was just useful locked away in his lab. Little did they know that Three-Eyed Spider was among the top five most lethal fighters in the organization, if it came to it. ¡°Time to die!¡± Three-Eyed Spider took the initiative. He ran forward, his steps heavy enough to shake the ground. His fighting style was simple and direct, a fist with strength to rival a cannon ball. Wolfblade, looking scholarly and exposed, stood right in his path. ¡°Boss, be careful!¡± Wolfblade¡¯s men stared, dumbstruck. Who could imagine that the old scientist was really this strong? Only Vulture and a handful of other men reacted differently. They were pulling out their weapons, preparing to act. 1. It¡¯s the goddamn Terminator! Book 3, Chapter 81 - The Mysterious Blade Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s words were full of confidence, but he didn¡¯t dare miscalculate his foe. Wolfblade had masterminded every act of the Dark Atom for the last decade. The most capable leader the organization had ever seen. His personal abilities were without question, no mere wastelander. Three-Eyed Spider threw great force behind his opening attack, but perhaps no more than seventy percent of his full strength. He needed to keep something in reserve, leeway in case he needed to back off. The old scientist came charging toward Wolfblade on the offensive. Meanwhile, the Dark Atom leader seemed hardly concerned. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s expression that changed. He sensed something coming from Wolfblade¡¯s body, a familiar phenomenon like someone plucking a string. A relic! It was some sort of artifact he¡¯d never felt before, strong and mysterious! This peculiar melody was foreign to Cloudhawk. It was strangely isolated, incomplete, and yet incredibly powerful. A moment later Wolfblade reacted. But he did not move. A pyre of blue ghostly flames burst from him. Ghostly flames were perhaps not accurate, though ¨C they were more akin to fluorescent smoke. Formless, shapeless, but clinging tightly to his body, the strange emission was alive with light. Sparkling color danced through it like a starry night sky, and for a moment it was like Wolfblade stood in the center of his own galaxy. Glimmering shards vibrated in the mist. They gathered together until the disparate fragments combined to form a blade. It was formed like a sword, with a sharp tip and razor edges. Something was inscribed along its surface and the whole thing shone with ethereal azure light. Sparkling impressively, its presence filled the study with an old and imperial air. Both real and illusory, caught somewhere between a dream and reality, it was impossible to determine if the weapon was actually there. The hiltless sword hovered above Wolfblade¡¯s, divorced from the rules of reality. Energy poured off of it like a mist to diffuse all around its bearer. When Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s fist was about to make contact, the mist pulsed and deflected the concussive force back on the scientist. Three-Eyed Spider went hurtling across the study. He landed on his feet, crushing the fine marble into powder. ¡°Y-you¡­ you¡¯re a demonhunter!¡± He stuttered the revelation. Everyone present was equally stunned by what they saw, Cloudhawk among them. No one would have thought that the Dark Atom¡¯s illustrious leader, a man who had spent his life battling the elysians, was himself a demonhunter. Dogs would scoff at such a ridiculous assertion. In their previous meeting Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even get the slightest inkling of a relic on or near the Dark Atom¡¯s leader. No one had ever been able to hide a relic¡¯s harmony from him before. What sort of person was Wolfblade? Certainly no normal wastelander! The scholarly man stood before his attacker, his expression never changing all through the assault. He stood almost indolently with his arms folded before his chest, perfectly composed. ¡°You all are too rigid in your thinking. That won¡¯t do. Gods and demons both rely on servitors to fight their battles, don¡¯t they? What are demonhunters other than a faction? Not everyone who can use relics is a demonhunter. They could be godslayers.¡± Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s arm was badly mangled. The mighty punch not only failed to injure his opponent, it turned out to be far more harmful to himself. The scientist¡¯s face was pale, and sweat was pouring down his brow. ¡°Godslayers? What are you talking about?!¡± Wolfblade¡¯s lips turned in a dark smirk. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter that concerns dead men.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see!¡± Three-Eyed Spider raised his voice to shout, ¡°Now! Kill him!¡± His cries shook the traitors for their surprised stupor. Wolfblade was stronger than they they realized but it was too late to back away now. Their faith in Three-Eyed Spider was solid, and besides that they knew Wolfblade would never forgive their treachery. Either he died today, or all of them did. Hundreds of Dark Atom members charged at each other like tidal waves. Civil war had erupted within Nucleus. Wolfblade¡¯s men were at an obvious disadvantage, but their leader was unperturbed. The mystical weapon continued to float around him, encasing him in the cloak of blue mist. This diffused power was drawn back into the sword, infusing it with ever more energy. Wolfblade extended a single finger toward the crowd. A streak of blue light fired through where he indicated. A dozen men were summarily butchered as the light passed through them, dead before they hit the ground. Their bodies did nothing to slow the sword down. They fell away like dry weeds before the scythe, powerless against the indomitable weapon. One after the other Wolfblade¡¯s relic weapon pierced his foes with the only indication that it was weakening being a slight dim in the light around it. After it was done a line of corpses trailed in its wake, and its light was spent. Thunk! The sword implanted itself into the floor of the study. No sound came from the unfortunate men who were in the sword¡¯s path. Their wounds seethed with blue light that spread out like cracks in a window pane. They hit the ground and shattered into pieces. Those pieces continued to crumble into smaller and smaller parts until they wafted away on the wind as tens of thousands of glimmering blue specks. In the passage of only a few seconds nothing remained, not even a drop of blood. It was as though they never existed at all. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°That power¡­ amazing!¡± In that one display Wolfblade showed he had more ability than many veteran demonhunters. Even Selene might struggle to beat him in a one-on-one fight [1]. Whatever this blade without a handle was, it was definitely a relic of the highest quality. The fact that it just erased a dozen people was proof of that. Using the sword had robbed Wolfblade of his misty defense. Three-Eyed Spider seized the opportunity and came charging at him with another punch. His henchmen moved in for support. Wolfblade was pushed back several steps, back toward Vulture and the others. While Three-Eyed Spider pressed the attack, he shouted toward the beak-nosed fighter. ¡°Now¡¯s the moment! Kill him!¡± Hellflower and Cloudhawk froze. Had Vulture betrayed his master and joined the scientist? Although Wolfblade¡¯s relic was immensely powerful, even the strongest tools had their limits. He¡¯d used it to attack and left himself open. Now, under assault from Three-Eyed Spider, if his closest people turned on him then Wolfblade would be caught in a deadly trap. Not even a demonhunter could escape unscathed when surrounded and sneak attacked. A handful of men went on the offensive. Vulture wrenched a poison dagger from his belt then attacked like a baneful gale. He swept up behind Wolfblade and raised his hand high. ¡°No!¡± But what happened next was unexpected, for as Vulture¡¯s dagger was poised to stab his master in the back it missed. And bored right into the center of Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s chest. The scientist¡¯s three eyes stared wild and angry, gaping at the man in disbelief. ¡°You -¡± Wolfblade looked at his incredulous expression with a smile wide enough to show teeth. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of fear at his apparent brush with death. The rest of the men under Vulture¡¯s command turned on Three-Eyed Spider. He was too stricken to voice his rage, and could only scream as they closed in. He tried to flee, earning several life-threatening wounds for his efforts. Meanwhile Vulture¡¯s poison had seeped into his bloodstream and robbed him of any hope. ¡°Why?!¡± Three-Eyed Spider was gravely wounded, perhaps fatally. He had not thought that the one Vulture would betray would be him. Could they truly look upon this man Wolfblade had become and remain loyal? Were they really willing to work themselves to death at his command? Did they honestly believe all his lofty promises would offer any return? Why?! Ten or so of the Dark Atom¡¯s elite stood by Wolfblade¡¯s side, Vulture among them. They had their weapons raised, ready for war. And though their expression were all different the light in their eyes was the same. There was no sliver of regret or hesitation in their depths. The hovering blue sword returned to Wolfblade. His body once more began to release its cocoon of power. Beneath the supernatural blue light his face lost its playful charm, and instead adopted an inscrutable intensity. ¡°Your time on this earth is more than twice my own. Yet you still cannot see?¡± Three-Eyed Spider didn¡¯t understand. Neither did Cloudhawk, for that matter. ¡°These men are the backbone of the Dark Atom. Faithful revolutionaries in service to our cause. They are all willing to give their lives to defeat the tyranny of Skycloud, and revolutionary men like them need a revolutionary leader. Not a man who spends his days hiding in a laboratory, desperately searching for a way to extend his own life.¡± Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s face was a sickly pale. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what changes befall a leader, whether they are the same as they once were.¡± As he spoke the sword drew in the mist of energy once again, several times more than before. Wolfblade¡¯s voice thundered through the study as though he might blast the traitor apart with the force of his words alone. ¡°What is important is that I can still lead. We have faith! You have none! You are selfish, and you are a coward!¡± The sword lashed out! Three-Eyed Spider knew his coup had failed. He turned and tried to run, but the sword gave chase fast as a lightning bolt. More than twenty men were reduced to dust as they tried to scramble out of the way. Wolfblade¡¯s nightmarish relic gleamed as it caught up with its target. But in that instant a hulking black figure appeared in the air, wreathed in a cloak of metallic feathers. One arm struck the blade and was immediately disintegrated, but it was enough to alter its trajectory ever so slightly. Another ten renegades were turned to nothing. Raven landed, grabbing onto Three-Eyed Spider with his one remaining hand. Wolfblade narrowed his eye. The sword was already back above his head gathering strength. It had become clear that Wolfblade¡¯s sword was indeed powerful, but could only release its energy all at once in a single strike. If it failed to end its target, it had to recover energy before it made another attack. While it did its bearer was protected by a powerful shield, a shield which was lost when the weapon was released. Therefore, defeating Wolfblade first required his attacker to be strong enough to evade or deflect the sword. Then he needed to have the speed and wits necessary to take advantage of his small window of vulnerability. It was the one intrinsic flaw in an otherwise marvelous relic. Raven had arrived, but it didn¡¯t matter. He was too late and too weak to stop the inevitable. The sword struck a third time. Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s ashen face fell, yet as he faced his own demise the entire city shook from an impact. The quaking ground was so severe that for a moment up and down were impossible to discern. Great boulders collapsed from overhead, raining down on the unprepared masses below. ¡°Earthquake?!¡± Cloudhawk shouted in surprise. ¡°Impossible! Nucleus id protected against earthquakes!¡± Hellflower¡¯s mind raced to find the most likely cause. ¡°We¡¯re being attacked from outside!¡± Blaring alarms screamed all throughout the city in confirmation. Someone¡¯s terrified shouts rose over the din. ¡°The Skycloud army is at the gates!¡± At last Wolfblade seemed to recognize that the situation was critical. He frowned, for although he knew their position had been revealed he hadn¡¯t expected an assault so soon. The other members of the Dark Atom were scared and furious. Over the last few years they had been hounded by these elysian scum, and now they were knocking down the door to their home? Fate had abandoned them. ¡°Evacuate!¡± Three-Eyed Spider didn¡¯t know how the elysians got here, but he was grateful. It was his chance to escape certain death. Raven opened his mouth and spat out a series of pellets. When they hit the ground they burst into clouds of noxious green smoke, which he used as cover to pull Three-Eyed Spider to safety. Vulture and the others were ready to give chase, but Wolfblade called them back. ¡°Forget him.¡± He called back his sword and sighed. The scientist was dealt with, for now. He couldn¡¯t allow the distraction. ¡°Save your energy. The real fight starts now.¡± Skycloud had arrived. It was the single greatest disaster the Dark Atom could suffer. Ever since its inception there had never been a wasteland power strong enough to stand up to the elysians. It wasn¡¯t just their superior numbers and equipment, Skycloud was home to a host of brilliant warriors. Without a doubt, this would be the most harrowing test the Dark Atom had ever faced. Cloudhawk¡¯s supernatural healing had been working on his injuries, and by now he was at least recovered enough to move. But the problem facing him now was especially fraught. Any decision he made was the wrong one: In a war between Skycloud and the Dark Atom, which side was he supposed to choose? If he helped Skycloud, would Trespasser continue to wreak havoc through his body? But if he helped the Dark Atom, was it not the same as throwing his life away? How were these wastelanders supposed to survive against the full might of the elysian army? Even if by some miracle he got away Cloudhawk would immediately be branded a traitor. They would hunt him for the rest of his life. 1. Pretty huge power-up, considering he had his ass handed to him when they actually scuffled Book 3, Chapter 82 - Full-On Assaul A minute before chaos. The elysian warships had reached their destination and the soldiers all gathered at the staging area. The Blisterpeak mountains stretched in all directions; a barren, rolling expanse inhospitable to life. If not for their guide, no one would know that the Dark Atom city was just below. Hammont wiped the sweat collecting on his fat face. It all still felt like a dream. Back in the Sandbar, catching one or two Dark Atom terrorists was a rare and lauded accomplishment. How many times had he imagined a day like this? Charging into the heart of the rebels with his countrymen, wiping them from the face of the earth. He looked at the faces of fellow soldiers all around him, nervously gripping their weapons, silently waiting for their moment. The intensity of the atmosphere was almost overwhelming. One soldier thrust a long metal rod into the ground. From its apex a light pierced high toward the clouds. The ominous haze did not dim the elysian signal, a call to war. A few minutes later the magnificent ships of the Skycloud army descended through the clouds. They were as terrifying as they were beautiful. Each one was a work of art, like a thousand skilled craftsmen had turned a jade mountain into a masterpiece. As they slowly lowered toward the ground their construction was more easily discerned. An array of spires adorned each one. They were the core of elysian technology, and each had a different function. Two of them were source towers. They provided the ships with an unending supply of power. Another was the defensive tower that maintained its protective shields. Another was the attack tower. Even now as the ship sank toward them, this pylon was aglow with energy. Halos of energy pulsed from the base of the tower and rose to its apex, where it gathered at a singular point. From there it blasted outward in an effusion of pure force. It was a blast mighty enough to split mountains and cleave the earth. Enough to level an entire city! Many of the ships fired simultaneously. A rain of glimmering spears of light descended. Boom! Explosions rang out, the earth shook! Fissures appeared in the sides of the volcanic mountains. Below the ground, Nucleus shook from a blow more ferocious than any it had experienced before. The entire mountain surface was blown to pieces. Smoke rose toward the heavens in a plume, while chunks of rock the size of warships were blown across the range. Day turned to night as the sun was blotted out. Coal¡¯s eyes were wide as he witnessed this apocalyptic scene. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was watching, he¡¯d been sure the city under the mountain had some way to defend itself against these devils. But the power they commanded was otherworldly. Coal¡¯s hopes were shattered, just like the mountain. While the pylons obliterated their target, more soldiers dropped from the ships to join those already on the ground. This was a war against their most hated foe, so Skycloud wasn¡¯t satisfied with sending just a few thousand soldiers. A full third of the border forces had been mobilized, their best men, enough to overwhelm the Dark Atom through sheer manpower alone. With the addition of their elysian armor and weaponry, they were an invading army capable of incredible destruction. ¡°The mutants are useless now. Kill them.¡± Brontes¡¯ cold voice was heard through the thunderous blasts of the pylons, cold as ice. Despair knotted Coal¡¯s stomach. He was responsible for bringing these evil outsiders here. The abyss that faced his people was one of his making. The glint of a thousand sword glittered all around as soldiers drew their weapons, preparing to attack. ¡°No!¡± Coal screamed. A dozen swords came raining down upon him. These were strong men, the elite. The mutant¡¯s rocky body was scarred by their vicious blows, but they also cut away much of the wire that bound him. Coal roared and struggled, calling on an inner strength he didn¡¯t know he had. His arms burst through the bowstrings tying him down and immediately the swords that assailed him were shattered or cast away. He landed a punch on the chest of one of the soldiers closest to him. Sturdy metal cracked like porcelain. The force was like an explosion ripping through the interior and bits of blood and flesh oozed from the gaps. Whatever human was inside had been smashed like a ripe tomato. Coal raced toward the members of his tribe being slaughtered. He ran through and over the soldiers in his path, a runaway meat grinder. He punched through the forest of swords, smashing apart anything that tried to stop him. His attacks weren¡¯t showy, and in fact were almost clumsy, but had a force born from pure rage. Riding the fury and putting faith in his impenetrable body, he charged ahead. Drake balked at the scene. ¡°He¡¯s gone mad again!¡± He moved in to intercept the mutant himself. The two clashed several times in the space of a few seconds. Drake managed to leave Coal with a few wounds, and Coal had knocked him back more than once. The elysian lieutenant was amazed at how a mere barbarian could grow so strong. The beast could stand still and men would tire themselves to death trying to hack through his skin. Brontes¡¯ chilly voice called out more commands. ¡°Everyone, attack! Overpower him!¡± If ten wasn¡¯t enough, then they would bring a hundred. If a hundred couldn¡¯t stop the mutant than two hundred would come! It didn¡¯t matter how strong it was, no beast could take on the entire elysian army. It would tire eventually, it was only a matter of how many would die with it. A white-haired man plunged from overhead with a golden sword held high. He heaved his broadsword with both hands, causing the air to whistle in protest as it swept toward his foe. But that was an illusion. The old man wasn¡¯t swinging the sword, the sword was dragging the man along with it. What was a dead weapon otherwise became a living thing in this veteran¡¯s grasp. Like a metal dragon with its teeth bared, the sword lashed at its target while its bearer clung tight to maintain control. An attack like this with a weapon that seemed to have a mind of its own¡­ it was definitely a master-level martial ability. Coal¡¯s headlong charge came to an abrupt end. Coal didn¡¯t know much of the world, but he was no fool. He knew what sort of attack was a threat. He knew what he could handle, what he could deflect, and what he had to avoid. He stopped out of an almost instinctive reaction. In the instant he stopped, the old warrior responded. He missed with the edge but spun it around and slammed the flat body of his sword against Coal¡¯s chest. Outwardly it seemed like a little slap, but the power in it knocked the giant to the ground and sent him tearing backward. A trench was left in his wake. Aegir Polaris, commander of the border forces! Coal had never come across such a fearsome warrior. That brief contact had left the mutant with the worst internal injuries he¡¯d ever experienced. Coal couldn¡¯t help but feel lost and astonished. No creature ¨C not even Magmesa ¨C had caused him as much pain as this human. He was almost child-like compared to Coal, his white hair a sign of advanced years, yet he handily knocked Coal down. He was filled with a terrible sense of danger. This white-haired foreigner was a far more terrible enemy than Magmesa. They hadn¡¯t even really exchanged blows, but Coal already knew he was outmatched. Death was the only outcome of trying to fight him! He was the strongest living thing Coal had ever met! Aegir said nothing. He raised his sword high and the inscription etched into it began to glow. His weapon wasn¡¯t a relic. Relics were the tool of demonhunters, and Aegir did not have their powers. He was just a metahuman with highly evolved speed and strength, a superhuman body he empowered through martial technique. Although his weapon was no relic, it was a sword specially crafted by the Temple and imbued with holy energy. It was tailor made for him and infused with tremendous potency that wildly increased its killing ability. There were no more than fifty weapons of this caliber in all of Skycloud. It was not a relic, but it was close. Aegir swung his arms again. A blast of power was cast out from where the sword passed, tearing through the ground toward Coal. It was a physical phenomenon, a rare long-ranged attack from a non-demonhunter. While only effective within ten meters, there were only a handful of people in all the elysian lands with the skill needed to pull it off. And it was mighty enough to split Coal in half. Fear urged his body to scramble out of the way. But Aegir¡¯s incredible feat was just a ploy. Coal managed to evade, but immediately an even more dire sensation washed over him. The white-haired foreigner came charging at him, encased in fiery light. A normal human couldn¡¯t spout fire from his pores, of course. This fire was a reaction from his speed. He raced at Coal so fast that friction was causing the air around him to ignite. He was easily going twice the speed of sound and he came at the mutant with the momentum of a whole army. Spearhead, one of the most basic moves in the martial arsenal. Only, when used by a master like the general it was vastly more dangerous. Coal was struck full-on and flung into the air. An arc of blood spat from his mouth marks his trajectory. But the old man wasn¡¯t done. Aegir leaped into the air. Light played off his broadsword, leaving a trail like a heavenly dragon! As he rose up toward Coal¡¯s falling body the sword split from one into two, from two into four. By the time they intersected there were eight blazing swords in the sky, borne by eight copies of the general. A fervent light gleamed in Drake¡¯s eyes as he watched from below. ¡°The Polaris family¡¯s Manifold Strike!¡± Manifold Strike wasn¡¯t really cloning. The technique was done so quickly that to the observer several copies appeared all at once. It was one of the greatest skills of the Polaris family. The only other person aside from Aegir capable of performing it was General Skye himself. Eight golden swords closed in on Coal, and all at once eight golden swords pierced his body. Cracks appeared all over him The swords struck from eight different directions. It was impossible to tell which came first, but the streaks of golden light obviously passed all the way through Coal. Boom! The earth shook as Coal fell back to the ground. His body was a mess of gaping wounds. Coal try to claw his way back up twice but couldn¡¯t manage. He looked toward his people as bitter tears rolled down his rock-like face. He held out a hand, reaching toward them. The hand fell into the dirt. Aegir Polaris nimbly landed back on his feet, having hardly broken a sweat. He hit the ground so hard the stone beneath him buckled and left a crater. Harsh winds from the volcanoes picked up the edges of his cloak, causing it to flap as he heaved his broadsword high. ¡°Glory!¡° ¡°Glory!¡± ¡°Glory!¡± Their commander was a force from heaven! The soldiers cheered at his heroic display! Aegir looked over his men with a gaze of iron. He slowly pointed his blessed weapon forward. ¡°Advance! We will not return home until the vile city has been razed to the ground!¡± Skycloud¡¯s forces had assembled and were ready for the final assault on the Dark Atom headquarters. They were arrayed in battle formation, each battalion protected by a shield of radiant light. They marched forward like a colony of ants, surrounding the entrance to Nucleus. Meanwhile the warships overhead continued their bombardment. The elysian army began its glorious assault. If the Dark Atom continued to remain silent, it would be doomed. Then, from the surrounding volcanic vents rose rugged wasteland airships, one after the other. There were more than expected, dozens of them, but that should not have been a surprise for a group like the Dark Atom. All the power at their disposal was here, and engaged for this epic conflict. The outcome of this war would determine whether the rebel organization continued into tomorrow. Now was not the time to hold anything back. Wasteland airships emerged from the surroundings to encircle the elysian forces. A Dark Atom officer shouted his command. ¡°Attack!¡± A swarm of ballistae fired on the Skycloud warships. Normally the elysians would have nothing to fear from crude weapons like this, but these bolts were different. They were made entirely from high-grade alloy, and in lieu of traditional sharpened tips they were fitted with a cylindrical payload covered in an intricate net of sparking wires. Missiles! The arrows fired from these ballistae were tipped with high-explosive ordinance and chemical weapons! When the three-meter long projectiles struck the elysian shields they detonated with incredible force, releasing huge amounts of black smoke in the process. Skycloud¡¯s air support was blinded from the haze. Heavy machine gun fire and cannons roared from the Dark Atom ships as they pulled broadside in an unending assault on the invaders. Aegir looked up at the scene with severe countenance, but there was no fear or uncertainty. ¡°Onward!¡± Loud hymns of praise for their gods rang off the mountain peaks as the soldiers marched on. Advancing through clouds of toxic smoke and a hail of bullets, they would not be dissuaded from their righteous mission to eliminate the Dark Atom once and for all. Book 3, Chapter 83 - A Snake in the Garden Cloudhawk¡¯s first thought: Run. Escape. Screw everybody. If he only worried about himself and Hellflower then he was certain they could escape with their lives. What did it matter if the Dark Atom was wiped off the map? Hellflower was the only one who could save him anyway, so why should he risk his life by sticking around here? These rebels were a bunch of psychopaths anyway, zealots willing to throw themselves on elysian swords. They had no one to blame but themselves for the tragedy they were about to suffer. But Hellflower refused. She wouldn¡¯t flee with Cloudhawk. That¡¯s when he remembered. Hellflower was just as crazy as the rest of them, maybe crazier. She¡¯d wandered the wastelands for twenty years, traveling from one Seeker base to another. Nucleus was the culmination of all her searching. The Dark Atom¡¯s technology and collected knowledge were like a furnace where she could temper everything she learned. It turned her into the incredible scientist that she was. She was a simple woman, in a way. She didn¡¯t really care about the goals of the Dark Atom. Nor was she determined to make elysians her enemy. Her one goal was knowledge, the pursuit of that which is hidden. It was an insatiable need, and the Dark Atom was the only group for thousands of kilometers with the tools she craved. So she wouldn¡¯t leave. Hellflower would remain with the Dark Atom till the end. And what did Cloudhawk understand, anyway? Hellflower may have managed to get her hands on Roste¡¯s legacy, but without the proper equipment or resources it was just data on a page. She couldn¡¯t help him without the Dark Atom¡¯s help, so if he wanted any chance at getting better he had to fight with the rebels. ¡°The Dark Atom isn¡¯t as weak as you seem to think. The elysians won¡¯t destroy us so easily ¨C stop worrying.¡± Her false sense of confidence floored him. How could such a smart woman be so blind?! Wastelanders were wastelanders, how did she know what Skycloud was capable of if she¡¯s never even been there? Who knew what monsters they¡¯d sent to take out these terrorists? Skye Polaris? Maybe even Arcturus Cloude himself? If just one of them were here then they were doomed, without question. But even if they didn¡¯t, who knew how many officers had been dispatched for a mission this important. Skycloud had more skilled fighters than the desert had rocks, and their scope of training was vast. Not to mention, Skycloud¡¯s border forces had to be close to a hundred thousand men. If you added all of the Dark Atom¡¯s rebels together it wouldn¡¯t even number half of that. Hellflower wasted no time on Cloudhawk and started to act, leaving him scratching his head. There was no choice, it wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk could knock her out and drag her away. ¡°Don¡¯t stand there like an idiot. Help me evacuate people!¡± Wolfblade was already gone. He had gathered the fighters and was mounting a defense. However, there were many who were caught in the chaos and couldn¡¯t escape. The greatest resources of Nucleus wasn¡¯t the city or any thing in it, it was the Seekers themselves. The scientist who were often looked at as though they were useless, they were the ones diligently researching the secrets of the old world and bringing its boon into the present. To the Dark Atom, these people were priceless. Now that war had come to their home, they had to be protected. Cloudhawk¡¯s injuries had improved greatly, enough that he could be of use. Yet as he was moving to help Hellflower he heard the sounds of combat draw near. Presumably, a small group of invaders had slipped in while the two main forces were busy fighting each other. ¡°Fuck, fine. It looks like I¡¯m not going back to the elysian lands.¡± There was no question that Nucleus had been consumed by the turmoil of war. Cloudhawk pulled out his mask and slipped it onto his face, then looked toward Hellflower as she was helping a group of women and children find shelter. ¡°I¡¯ll help where I can. Get those people out of here!¡± An ambiguous smile teased the corner of Hellflower¡¯s lips when she saw he was preparing to offer support. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t abandon me. Protecting yourself and staying alive is the most important thing.¡± Do you really care? The Dark Atom, or Cloudhawk. There was a chance it would come down to one or the other, and if Hellflower had to choose¡­ well, he didn¡¯t like his chances. Soldiers had begun to pour into Nucleus from several breaches. So far it wasn¡¯t many, several hundred perhaps. Buzzard, Greenscale and other Dark Atom agents had mounted a small resistance force. However, despite their small numbers the rebels quickly discovered that these black-clad invaders were more of a threat than they appeared. This was especially true for its two leaders, who by themselves cut down many of the rebels who rose to oppose them. Buzzard recognized quickly that they were outmatched. ¡°Greenscale, go get help!¡± The former mercenary was completely in lizard form. He barely managed to slip beneath an attacker¡¯s blade, but before he could respond to his commander an arrow pinned him to the wall. Two invaders hacked their weapons toward him, aiming to finish him off. Buzzard responded by flinging a steel pole their way. His aim was true, and the two men in black were both pierced through like a gruesome kebab. There were only a dozen or so soldiers left, and the invaders were close to two hundred. Underestimating the invading force had put Buzzard in a bad position. A particularly large man appeared in his field of view. He was hidden beneath a large leather cloak and scars were etched around his eyes. His lips were pulled into a derisive sneer. Fondling jade ring on his thumb, the man idly raised his arm toward Buzzard. A scorching wave of energy came tearing across the distance between them. Buzzard, having thrown his weapon to protect Greenscale, was left defenseless. But just as he felt the hair begin to singe on his head someone kicked his leg out from under him. The sweep was hard enough to very nearly snap bone, but it sent him sliding several meters away instead. The invader¡¯s ray of light screamed by overhead but caused no harm. It arced through the city until a wall stopped it. The sheer energy contained in the ray melted the wall into a bubbling liquid within seconds. Buzzard was drenched in a cold sweat. If he hadn¡¯t been knocked away he would have been instantly incinerated. He turned his head to look for his savior but saw no one. Adder, however, frowned at the scene, but the knowing light in his eyes was obvious. He turned that piercing gaze toward a corner. ¡°Cloudhawk? It¡¯s you!¡± Cloudhawk? Buzzard looked doubtful. Why would that guy help him? ¡°Heh, Boss Adder¡¯s got a keen eye.¡± Cloudhawk spoke easily, even after being discovered. He dropped the power of the invisibility cloak and appeared before the crowd, and although his stance was casual his eyes were iron as they fixed on Adder. His voice was thick with mocking humor. ¡°I know you¡¯re not the reason the Elysians got here so quick, right?¡± ¡°I am,¡± he replied frankly. ¡°So you sent me to blaze the trail and had the Elysian army follow. Is it wrong to suspect you¡¯re an agent of Skycloud that was sent to the wasteland? It¡¯s the only thing that makes any sense to me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡± Adder shook his head. He didn¡¯t have much time, and we wasn¡¯t going to waste it here. So he was blunt: ¡°I¡¯m just here to make sure I get what I want. For Luciasha¡¯s sake I don¡¯t want to have to kill you, so move aside and mind your own business.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give two shits about Adder and his mission, but throwing him into the fire like this was fucked up. He wassn''t a forgiving sort, so he couldn¡¯t just let Adder get away with being a dick. ¡°You know, the more you say shit like that the more curious it makes me. I¡¯m the sort of guy who can¡¯t help myself when I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Then I suppose I¡¯ll just have to kill you.¡± ¡°Alright, tryin¡¯ to intimidate me eh? I have decided to get involved in everyone¡¯s business today.¡± Cloudhawk rolled his eyes. He didn¡¯t know a damn thing about Adder ¨C whose side he was on or who he really was ¨C but he sure as shit wasn¡¯t going to just let him walk into Nucleus and get his hands on that weapon he wanted. If it really existed, things would be really bad if Adder came to possess something that could level a whole city. ¡°Let¡¯s see what Boss Adder¡¯s really got. I¡¯ve always wanted to know, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to see for myself. Hell, if we walk away without a little scuffle I wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive myself.¡± Adder wasted no time. ¡°Revenant!¡± With no prelude to his arrival, Revenant appeared at Cloudhawk¡¯s side. His keen blade was already poised to strike. But Cloudhawk knew he was there. People can be concealed but the sound of relics always rang in his ears. He was prepared, so that when Revenant¡¯s sword came slashing toward Cloudhawk it passed harmlessly through. The demonhunter responded with a vicious swing of his exorcist rod, with the black-clad killer deflected it with his sword. The impact still knocked him backward. Adder raised his hand and fired another searing beam. It possessed too much power, impossible to avoid. Nothing was faster than light, so by virtue of this terrible beam Adder had slain many of his enemies. Only, it didn¡¯t have the expected effect on Cloudhawk. The wastelander¡¯s six sense was preternatural, sharp enough that he knew where the beam would pass even before it arose. He moved a fraction of an inch, just enough that the attack missed him completely. Adder replied with a sinister chuckle. ¡°Insignificant skill.¡± No sooner were his words conveyed than a mirror surface appeared before Cloudhawk. An inexplicable power encased him. The strange sensation make him pause. He narrowed his eyes, staring at the mirror. His reflection stared back. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how or why, but his reflection started to move on its own. It stepped forward. Cloudhawk¡¯s mirror image, locked safely in a world of reflection, stepped brazenly into reality. A carbon copy, it was nonetheless easy to see which Cloudhawk was the real one. The mirror image bore a sinister, bloodthirsty expression and brought with it a deadly air. A ghost, plucked from the pits of the abyss. This was a unique experience for Cloudhawk. ¡°What the hell? What, did you think I needed a twin brother?¡± Adder offered a twisted grin. ¡°Ignorant hooligans rarely know how irritating they really are. I thought I might help you see yourself as you really are.¡± Cloudhawk snorted a laugh. ¡°Oh bossman, so na?ve. You think a copy can beat me?¡± He might look and move just like Cloudhawk, but could his copy really have his same abilities? A sneer from the mirror image seemed to be his answer. It flicked the tattered cloak around its shoulders, and vanished. His face stiffened. Like meeting a fuckin¡¯ ghost! It could even use relics! The thrum of an exorcist rod appeared out of nowhere, which he just managed to deflect before it could cave his head in. As the two weapons met the air was filled with a concussive blast of energy that cracked the ground beneath their feet. The surprise attack staggered him. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to bother with you now, child. Play with yourself for a while. Men, move out!¡± Adder didn¡¯t even spare Cloudhawk a second glance. With a curt thrust of his hand, he and Revenant led the other men in black toward their objective. ¡°Over my dead body!¡± But Cloudhawk¡¯s threats were useless. His mirror image raced forward to block his path. He was unpleasantly aware of the fact that this copy was just as strong as he was. An easy resolution to his problem wasn¡¯t forthcoming. Buzzard also tried to move toward Adder, but the invaders in black stopped his advance. For the time being, all they could do was watch impotently as Adder raced away to perform whatever black act they had planned. But what was it? Book 3, Chapter 84 - The Primeval Weapon Four exorcist staves, two for each Cloudhawk, clashed with bone-jarring force. The Warden and his mirror image had identical fighting styles. As they met again and again, kicking up gravel, it was hard to determine who would come out the victor. What an incredible ability. Everything was a perfect copy; Cloudhawk¡¯s speed, power and fighting style, even his relics were imitated perfectly. It was like a second Cloudhawk had stepped out from the ether. Cloudhawk knew Adder was dangerous, but this was something else! How could such an amazing item exist! With such a relic, was there anyone who was his equal? Against Selene, he could make another Selene as an ally. Against the Crimson One, the same. Would Arcturus be able to survive a fight against himself? If he could turn any enemy against themselves, how could he be defeated? No! No one was invincible! This power came from a relic, and relics relied on the demonhunter for their power. Cloudhawk was sure Adder couldn¡¯t create a perfect copy of just anyone. He was sure that there was so flaw in what looked like a perfect weapon. His mirror image raced at him, sliding across the ground like it was ice. He had an exorcist rod in each hand, which he whipped at the real Cloudhawk from both sides simultaneously. An advantage the mirror image enjoyed was singular purpose ¨C it would not be distracted, unlike the real thing. It wasn¡¯t human, either, so a single well-placed blow wasn¡¯t likely to put it out of commission. With single-minded fury and without fear for one¡¯s life, the fake Cloudhawk was more ferocious and threatening than the original. No time to dodge. Phase! The exorcist staves past through. Tremendous force ripped through Cloudhawk¡¯s incorporeal form, nearly causing him to lose control of the phase field. When the danger had passed he dropped the stone¡¯s power, turned, and whipped his own staff at the mirror image. He knew his own style, and at this range mirror Cloudhawk would definitely have to use its phase ability to avoid getting hit. He held back in anticipation of this, saving some strength for a follow-up. However, much to his surprise the blow landed. His mirror image went sailing through the air and hit the ground a few meters away. Its clothes were tattered and wisps of something like steam seeped from cracks in its body. That hurt it pretty bad. Strange¡­ it didn¡¯t phase? The mirror image was perfect. Wait¡­ almost perfect. Every hair was there, every pore, every relic ¨C except the phase stone. There was nothing hanging from the copy¡¯s neck. There it was. With that revelation, Cloudhawk¡¯s confidence was restored. Without the ability to slip between dimensions, his mirror image didn¡¯t pose anywhere near the kind of threat he did. His copy didn¡¯t appear frightened or frustrated, in fact there was no expression on its face at all as it called on the invisibility cloak to summon several copies. Its aim was to confound enemies, but Cloudhawk knew the tactic and how to overcome it. ¡°A fake is by definition fake ¨C never as good as the original. Die!¡± A streak of golden light descended from above as Oddball appeared. It dashed through the copies head first for the true copy, and though it dodged out of the way it gave Cloudhawk the opportunity he needed to close the distance between them. With his staves raised high, he came crashing down on the copy with everything he had. The copy saw a flaw in his headlong rush and tried to knock him aside with its staves. But it was a ploy, and as they met Cloudhawk slipped through the copy to materialize behind. He twisted around, poured his mental energies into the weapons and unloaded it into his foe. Once again the mirror image was knocked away. This blow was momentous. Cracks appeared across the copy¡¯s body like it was made from glass. Smoke poured from the fractures. It was obvious that an ability like this would need a lot of mental power from Adder, enough to keep the mirror image mobile for a while. The more damaged it became, however, the more of that energy was released, reducing how long it would be maintained. At this point his doppelganger was on its last legs. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any more time to waste. Oddball continued to flutter around the mirror image to distract it, while the Warden came charging forward against with his staves. They blasted through the copy, and finally it was more than it could bear. It exploded into a hundred thousand shards like a shattered mirror, then disintegrated into nothing. ¡°If that¡¯s all you got, Adder, let¡¯s see how far you can run.¡± Free from his own troubles, Cloudhawk helped Vulture quickly dispatch of the black-clad invaders hounding him. There was a conflicting light in the Dark Atom lieutenant¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t like the kid, and in fact if he had half a chance he might kill him for consigning his fellow rebels to the executioner¡¯s block. But Cloudhawk had become strong, and in an unexpected turn the demonhunter responsible for his friends¡¯ deaths was here helping them against the elysians. Cloudhawk sensed the confusion and uncertainty. He glanced at Greenscale, who looked back at him while alert for any sign of threat. His lips turned in a disdainful, mocking smirk, and with a dismissive air said, ¡°If you two still have a problem with me then you¡¯re free to start shit later. For now, I need to get to that dipshit Adder. You can either help, or get the fuck out of my way.¡± What an arrogant little shit. He was talking like he¡¯d already beaten the invaders. If it wasn¡¯t for the Dark Atom agents he probably would have turned tail and run. Vulture and Greenscale exchanged a silent look, but one that said they were determined to see this through. They didn¡¯t know Adder, or what he was here for, but it was obvious the men in black were a threat. They definitely weren¡¯t here for anything good. Meanwhile Adder was pushing deeper into Nucleus. He had a defender by the throat, which he snapped as easily as a fist full of dry twigs. He threw the corpse aside like a piece of garbage. Bodies were littered all around. Revenant was nearby, with his swords pressed against the throat of a lone survivor. He was the commander of this unit, the only one who could open the doors to the warehouse before them. The invaders¡¯ cruel and ruthless techniques had ruined him, to the point where he looked less than human. Begging for mercy, he complied with their demands to open the way forward. Yet once the doors had been unlocked Adder stopped. He sensed something, something that made him scowl. ¡°That annoying child is still coming. Make sure he doesn¡¯t get through.¡± Revenant briefly nodded his head. He and a group of invaders took up position along the hall in preparation for an ambush. Adder took what remained of his people into a top-secret storage facility. The commander opened up the several barriers blocking passage further in until they reached the heart of the warehouse. Adder¡¯s typically dispassionate gaze took on a seething light when he saw it. Two meters long, ancient in construction but with obvious modern adjustments. Its cylindrical structure was encased in a metal shell, thick and heavy. Adder¡¯s information was right. Here it was, an ancient weapon that countless Dark Atom scientist had toiled over until it was repaired. Signs of that were obvious with patchwork metal and exposed wires, but it was serviceable. Yet while he always suspected it was true, seeing it here before him¡­ Adder muttered almost to himself. ¡°Is this it¡­?¡± Much to his surprise, someone responded. ¡°Heh heh heh¡­ of course it is.¡± The laughter slithered through his ears and wrapped itself around his spine like ice cold fingers. It seemed to come from everywhere at once, simultaneously far away and right beside him. The other men in black surrounded their leader and brandished their weapons, peering into the shadows for hidden threats. But they saw nothing, and the voice continued. ¡°An ancient weapon from a bygone era ¨C an atomic weapon, discovered by the humans of a long-dead civilization. This is where the name ¡®Dark Atom¡¯ is derived from, this one metal tube. Up to now it is the only one they¡¯ve managed to repair. Two meters tall, and powerful enough to erase a million souls in an instant.¡± Dread clung to Adder like the stench of death, a dread the likes of which he had never felt before. An enormous, almost feral-looking humanoid figure, black as pitch, appeared before him. Its dual red eyes burned like coal and its mere presence filled the area with the palpable sense of oblivion. Adder¡¯s eyes constricted as he looked upon it. At the instant their eyes met the powerful and mysterious man felt his heart seize. The thing before them was no ordinary man. It was the essence of destruction, an avatar of calamity, and much more powerful than he could hope to contend with. A demon! Adder was not a man to be trifled with, but before a demon he was like a child. An idea completely outside even his best laid plans, that a demon would appear in the course of their mission. His immediately instinct was to raise his hand, and with that motion a crystal orb extended from his sleeve. It traveled for a short distance before the solid object flattened out into a mirror surface. It was the same that blocked Cloudhawk¡¯s path, and from it a field of energy sought to envelop the demon. ¡°The antipole crystal is a fine relic. It is said to be capable of perfectly replicating powerful foes and their relics. However...¡± The demon didn¡¯t move. Instead, it looked back at the mirror as though enjoying a piece of fine art. Contrary to Adder¡¯s wishes, no mirror image of the demon stepped forth. Instead the demon was the one to step into it, and caused the mirror to shatter into pieces. Adder stumbled backwards in alarm. His forehead was dripping with sweat. The demon¡¯s strange and sinister voice arose once again. ¡°It cannot emulate relics more powerful than itself. Likewise, you cannot copy a foe with power so far above your own. Am I not correct?¡± The enigmatic bar owner scowled. They had yet to trade blows but he already knew he was beaten. There was no way he could take on a demon. Instead he tried to calm himself down, keep his composure. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Abaddon is my true name, but wastelanders have given me a title by which I am better known... the Caliph of the Sands.¡± Abaddon rose its twisted hand as it spoke and pointed a spiked digit toward Adder. He felt something being ripped from within his clothes, flying away as though it had a mind of its own. It was a book with a metal binding. When it returned to the Caliph of the Sands, it burst into a cloud of yellow grit then disappeared into his body with a raspy hiss. ¡°Fret not. I am not here for you. I have only come to reclaim what is mine. As for the atomic weapon, take it. If you think you can put it to good use.¡± Adder had been certain their mission was a failure. The color had drained from his face as his very life was in question. Yet, that was not the case. In a chance of circumstance he would not have believed, the demon called Abaddon was not here to kill him. Upon delivering his final words, the demon began to crumble away like an ancient sculpture. Winds kicked up around it, creating a whirlwind of sand and floating away. One of Adder¡¯s subordinates stood on unsteady feet, but eventually found his voice. ¡°B-boss¡­ are we taking it?¡± Adder stood in silence, looking around the now empty warehouse. ¡°Yes.¡± It was too important to leave behind. Book 3, Chapter 85 - The Battle Under the Mountain Revenant stood in the center of the hallway. He arms were extended, hands crossed, and the blades held therein pointed toward the ground. The wraithrobe draped over his body seemed weightless, tangible as a mist, floating though there was no breeze to lift it. The hood was raised and a black mask hid his features from view. From head to toe, Revenant dripped with sinister promise, like an emotionless totem. Was it ten years, or eight? Revenant couldn¡¯t remember exactly how long he¡¯d worked for Adder. But he would never forget his mission and purpose. He was a ghost, ever at Adder¡¯s side. He was a weapon, swung at his master¡¯s command, desiring only to be of use. Adder¡¯s work was important, so Revenant had to ensure it all went right. It didn¡¯t matter who came walking down that hallway, he would stop them. This was the scene that greeted Cloudhawk when he arrived. The two men confronted one another roughly twenty paces apart. Adder¡¯s right-hand man was no weakling. His fighting style was cunning, treacherous, and hard read. The wraithrobes made him particularly elusive, meaning that taking care of him would be difficult for Cloudhawk. It would certainly take more than the few moments he had to spare. Besides Revenant there were also another twenty men behind him, bows drawn and ready to fire. In an area this small, a volley of arrows was lethal. Cloudhawk knew that if he took another step they would fire on him. A concentrated volley would be as deadly as a point-blank minigun. ¡°I mean¡­ I guess this welcoming committee is passable.¡± Cloudhawk pointedly looked to his left and right, and with a distinct note of dissatisfaction in his voice, he asked, ¡°Adder¡¯s too important to come and say hello personally?¡± As Cloudhawk stopped the Dark Atom agents behind him were forced to pause as well. Although they didn¡¯t like to admit it, they had to accept that they couldn¡¯t fight through these invaders alone. They had to rely on Cloudhawk¡¯s strength to punch through the men in black. Revenant remained unmoving with his eyes closed, as though he hadn¡¯t heard. ¡°So I¡¯m starting to get confused. Are you lot elysians, or wastelanders?¡± With the mask concealing his features it was impossible to read Cloudhawk¡¯s face. But his eyes were fixed on the invaders with a hard light. ¡°Who the fuck is Adder? What the hell are you guys planning to do?¡± Revenant¡¯s robes continued to flutter of their own accord, like he was a spirit from the nether world bound to their reality. In much the way a spirit would, he had grown tired of Cloudhawk¡¯s inane questions. His eyes slowly opened, fixed on his foe, and then in a voice that was both raspy and youthful he responded. ¡°How does this concern you?¡± How does it concern me? Maybe on the surface it didn¡¯t seem to be any of Cloudhawk¡¯s business, but that wasn¡¯t further from the truth! Adder was Luciasha¡¯s ward. Cloudhawk had to know whatever vile thing the man was planning, otherwise how could he trust in Asha¡¯s safety? But he wasn¡¯t stupid, and the Warden knew that pressing the bastard for answers wasn¡¯t going to get him anywhere. Knock a few out, and bring ¡®em back to Barb. Her and her needles would tell him everything he needed to know. Alright, well such was the way of things. Adder had revealed himself to be an enemy. Even though Cloudhawk had no idea what this primeval weapon was, Adder wanted it and wanted it bad. He sure as shit wasn¡¯t going to use it to plant pretty flowers. If he wanted to kill himself trying to turn this weapon on his enemies then fuck it, but he was dragging Luciasha into it. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t allow that. Cloudhawk tightened his grip on the exorcist staves in each hand. ¡°Well it seems you thick-headed fuckwits won¡¯t change your minds. Bring it on. First I¡¯ll smash you all into an unrecognizable mess, then I¡¯m gonna break that bastard Adder¡¯s legs and leave him here. What the hell is wrong with being an honest barman, that he has to come all the way out here and start shit?¡± Some people were just ungrateful, Revenant thought to himself. If Adder really wanted him dead, Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t be standing here running his mouth. Adder had clearly given him an option, even spared his life, but the hateful child was willing to take off the gloves and fight for real. He even had the audacity to stand here and taunt them. Revenant slowly raised his weapons. The ungrateful would never learn their place. Both sides stared at each other, weapons bared. Suddenly everything changed. The floor, walls and ceiling all began to crack as a torrential gust of sand swept through. All eyes were blinded by the yellow sand as it flooded the hallway. Everything was swallowed up. Cloudhawk felt the familiar resonance and his face fell. ¡°Who the fuck is sneaking around?! Show yourself!¡± Sand roared around him like tempestuous waves. Limbs appeared and disappeared all around him like some hideous creature lurked just out of view. These were the others from the hall, and the thought of what happened to them froze his blood. Inwardly Cloudhawk cursed his foul circumstance, but things would get worse. He reached out with his mind to engage the phase stone, only to have it snatched from his neck by a host of sandy tentacles. Fucked! I¡¯m totally fucked! His phase abilities were robbed, and with no way to protect himself the tidal wave of sand carried him away. Helpless as a lamb caught in a flash flood, he was carried out of Nucleus. The others were summarily spat out of the wave as they continued while Cloudhawk struggled in vain. He was eventually flung far away from the volcano and its underground war. Adder and the others exited the warehouse and went back the way they came. The weapon was being gingerly carried on the backs of two of his men. When he came to the sand-blasted hallway he knew instantly what had caused it. He looked around with a glance of doubt and suspicion, but there was no time for hesitation. He nodded toward Revenant, somehow spared from the deluge. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± Revenant was no normal man. He didn¡¯t know what happened, but his place was not to ask questions. Wordlessly he followed his master away from the warehouse. Cloudhawk found himself belched out of a nearby volcanic vent. He hit the obsidian mountainside with a grunt, and for a moment struggled to get his bearings. Scrambling to his feet, there was still a dervish of sand surrounding him, which slowly formed into a familiar outline as he watched. Finally, a towering black figure emerged from the sandstorm. ¡°You!¡± The battle continued to rage all around them. Cloudhawk had never seen a conflict of this scale or intensity. Yet more shocking was the sudden appearance of this creature, a creature that should have been dead. ¡°It¡¯s not dead...¡± ¡°I thought that the years might have made you wiser. It seems just the opposite.¡± Cold laughter wormed its way into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind as Abaddon continued. ¡°Did you really think someone like you, with all the strength of a three-legged cat, could kill a demon? [1] If the divine were so weak, then mankind would have reclaimed this world long ago.¡± ¡°So what, are you here for revenge?¡± Cloudhawk shot a sidelong glance at the phase stone, clutched in Abaddon¡¯s taloned grip. ¡°At least give me my necklace back.¡± ¡°You think too highly of yourself.¡± Nothing about the stone seemed to interest the Caliph. He handed it back to Cloudhawk as though it were nothing. ¡°I brought you here for no other reason than to behold the performance with you. Open your eyes, see it clear. A war like this is rare to witness.¡± Cloudhawk snatched the necklace and put it back around his neck. He immediately felt more at ease. The demon was cryptic, it was impossible to know its thoughts. Cloudhawk was nothing, easily killed if the beast had the slightest intention. There was no trick or skill he knew to keep him alive, but even so he wouldn¡¯t let the bastard smell his fear. ¡°Heh, well, I¡¯m glad you said so. I wouldn¡¯t want there to be any misunderstandings.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words were flippant, but inwardly he was crouched and ready to react. ¡°So you invited me up here to share a cup of tea then?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t afraid, but he sure as shit didn¡¯t have any pleasant feelings toward this monster. This was the same monster that obliterated Blackflag Outpost and his friends. Artemis was dead by the demon¡¯s own hand. He couldn¡¯t say that he had an especially deep relationship with the members of Tartarus company, and his time with Artemis had been very brief. But the tragedy that ended them left a mark, a scar that he carried with him. He had no respect or favorable opinion of this bastard demon. For the Caliph to appear here, now, blocking Cloudhawk¡¯s path, could only mean he was helping Adder. Did that mean this beast was the bar owner¡¯s real master? I will kill him. If ever there was a chance, Cloudhawk promised himself he would make the demon suffer. He had to pause when he realized it was the first time he swore death on anything. ¡°If you believe you can kill me, then I invite you to try. However, I will advise you that you have just one chance. If you fail, then it will mean your end.¡± Abaddon could feel the violent urges rise within Cloudhawk but didn¡¯t seem to take them to heart. His burning red eyes continued to survey the scene before them. ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± Cloudhawk tightly clenched his fist, but ultimately the strength drained from them. ¡°I think I might still want to live a few more years.¡± The demon hadn¡¯t done him any harm, and if Cloudhawk decided to make a move it would probably be the last decision he ever made. He turned to follow Abaddon¡¯s gaze. ¡°Anything I say would just be a guess, I don¡¯t know. I do know that you showing up here is probably the biggest variable.¡± ¡°There are many variables, and it isn¡¯t certain I am the biggest.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand what the demon was saying, but he didn¡¯t care enough to ask for clarification. Looking out over the battlefield, it still seemed like either side could win the day. The Dark Atom had the defensive advantage of home terrain, but the elysian army just kept coming. Wastelander airships continued to pummel the attackers, but though they were numerous they fell like flies. But it wasn¡¯t all one-sided. The shield protecting elysian ships were taking serious blows and already two of their number were sinking toward the ground. Enormous, stone-like hulls crashed against the craggy mountain sides from several hundred meters up. The earth shook as the wreckage left scars along the ground. Both sides were fully engaged in battle, and at present it seemed as though the elysian army was eking out an advantage. Dark Atom soldiers threw themselves into the fray, and under the border forces leadership they were cut down as though they were walking into a meat grinder. They were steadily gnawing away at the terrorist forces. If it kept up, clearly the Dark Atom would find themselves on precarious footing. But the rebel fighters were not toothless. Their counter offensive was ramping up, and they blasted the Skycloud soldiers with all manner of guns and rockets. There were even a few ancient weapons Cloudhawk had never seen before. They were still getting beaten back, but although they were losing ground the rebels knew it was win or die. Their morale held strong. Surveying the landscape, Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes fell on a sight that made him scowl. On the outskirts of the conflict he spied the remains of the Volcano Tribe warriors laid out on the ground. One in particular caught his attention. Coal? What was he doing here?! Cloudhawk glanced at the demon. ¡°I need to go to my friend. Don¡¯t try to stop me.¡± Abaddon merely waved him off. His pale, mask-like face betrayed no expression. Seeing that the creature would not stand in his way, he took off toward the valley. At the same time, in the midst of battle, Wolfblade peered out toward his foes with narrowed eyes. He watched the elysian ships rain fire upon his home. Blue light was gathering around the hilt-less sword hovering nearby. He extended a finger and the sword darted forth. Protective shells of energy around the elysian warships were useless against it as the weapon pierced their hulls. Nearby Dark Atom warriors were ready, and the moment its shields failed they punished the warship with minigun and rocket fire. Explosions belched into the air as the spires which held the ship aloft were destroyed. Several thousand tons of jade-like stone plummeted toward the ground. Cloudhawk had just reached Coal when the shadow of the falling airship came over them. It was like being caught beneath a falling mountain! He looked down at the body of Coal, at his terrible wounds, and couldn¡¯t be sure whether the mutant still lived. Nearby, the ship made contact and erupted into a shower of debris. Pieces of the ship and the mountain were thrust high into the air before tumbling down over several kilometers. Cloudhawk pulled the giant onto his back and began to run. A second ship fell. Then a third. War machines from both sides were falling out of the sky in every direction and filling the sky with burning wreckage. It was as though the very sky was falling in burning chunks. Wolfblade continued to command his mystical sword, appearing for all the world like a man admiring a painting. Meanwhile his blazing sword sundered the defenses of the Skycloud army, leaving them exposed. Wolfblade¡¯s presence had turned the tide back in the Dark Atom¡¯s favor. In the distance Aegir Polaris saw his peoples¡¯ stalwart defenses failing, but did not know why. He called out the order. ¡°It appears a demon¡¯s apostle is among our foes. I will lead a company to confront him myself. Brontes, cover our advance with the vanguard. Drake, the rest of our forces are under your command.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Drake had seen that the sword was coming from the farthest reaches of Dark Atom territory, deep behind enemy lines. It was clear that if he wanted to get to whoever was controlling that sword, they would need to fight through most of the terrorist army to get there. It would be dangerous, almost suicidal. At the very least the death toll would be staggering. ¡°I feel it¡¯s too dangerous. Reinforcements will be here soon, we should retreat and regroup for a second offensive. By then the demonhunters will be with us.¡± ¡°Faith is my sword, and my will is my shield. Warriors of god never retreat.¡± Aegir gave Drake a stern look. ¡°Our soldiers may die, but we cannot be defeated. We may lose our lives but we can never lose our will to fight. That is the spirit and the pride of our great army!¡± Drake had already seen countless soldiers die in the name of pride. He never understood it. The life of a soldier was precious. Was a single conquest worth so many dead compatriots? The affront of holding back, just for a while, was nothing if it meant ultimate victory. ¡°All of these lives, just for pride. What do we get in return in return?¡± ¡°Righteous glory!¡± Aegir¡¯s eyes burned with pious resolve. ¡°One day you will be the leader of this army. Then you will understand what I¡¯m telling you. This is the source, what makes us invincible! Besides, it¡¯s just a single despicable blasphemer. He will hardly be worth the stain on my blade. Now, attack!¡± 1. The phrase he uses here is ¡®three legged cat¡¯ which also means ¡®jack-of-all-trades¡¯ - an interesting choice considering Cloudhawk¡¯s unique ability to use any sort of relic. Book 3, Chapter 86 - Escalation ¡°Blasphemers, die!¡± Black smoke obscured the eye, and the earth trembled. It was no exaggeration to say the scene was cataclysmic; the sky was falling, the pillars of the world seemed to shake. The old general stood amid the darkness, a golden god of war, bathed in holy light. With the mighty broadsword ablaze in his hands, he lead the troops toward their foes. Ardent fire burned in his eyes, his puissant roars like righteous thunder that were audible even over the clamor of war. His golden figure crashed into the front lines. Sparks surrounded the general from bullets ringing off his armor, none of which left a mark. Aegir planted his foot into a Dark Atom shapeshifter¡¯s chest which sent it careening across the battlefield. Its hefty body collided with a group of allies with bone-breaking impact. Aegir didn¡¯t stop. With a triumphant war cry he jumped into the air and further into the fight. Heavy footfalls found purchase on the heads of enemy soldiers as he pushed through, causing them to burst like they¡¯d been struck by a sniper¡¯s bullet. ¡°Protect our leader!¡± Dark Atom soldiers huddled around Wolfblade, trying to shield him from the incoming assault. Meanwhile the self-styled godslayer stood casually in place, easy as a spring breeze, with a gentle smile on his face. Overhead, his mysterious blade hovered as a tempest of blue energy roiled around. The sword was in the process of drinking the energy up. All of a sudden, there was a flash of radiant blue light! That demonic weapon ¨C synonymous with death ¨C pointed toward the golden figure charging forward. A stalwart defensive aura sprang up around the battle-hardened general. He bellowed at Wolfblade, and thrust his own weapon toward the heavens. The beam of light that erupted from it which he used to cleave the peak off of the mountain he trod upon. Aegir gave the peak a violent kick, which sent it hurtling toward Wolfblade¡¯s position. Shadow blanketed the ground as the tumbling rock blotted out the sun. Then, with a burst of true power from deep within, he swept his sword downward while pedaling through thin air. Wolfblade was surrounded by an orb of power that crackled with barely contained energy. As it reached peak concentration the ground for meters all around fractured under the strain. Shards of earth rose into midair and were gathering toward the blade, but dissolved into fine sand before they reached it. Dark Atom soldiers nearby, growing pale at the sight, were pushed away from the sheer intensity and had to retreat to avoid being injured. The inevitable clash of these two men was far beyond their abilities. It was a clash these wastelanders could not survive if they tried to get involved! The general¡¯s momentum rose as he plummeted like a meteorite. An unprecedented surge of vigor and strength filled him as every ounce of potential was squeezed from inside. Every bit of power from every cell was called upon. His hair, at first a luxurious satin white, turned black as pitch. His stone-like body became hard as iron. Once Aegir¡¯s sword met the tumbling mountain peak he released all of that pent-up might into it. But while the power he released was enough to shatter the stone into a thousand shards, it didn¡¯t. Instead the blow from his sword left no mark, utilizing his potency to speed up its descent. For a moment it seemed like the hundreds of tons of falling rock were light as a feather, a mere trinket affixed to the golden blade. It was closing in! At last, Wolfblade thrust both fists toward the peak and the general. His blue demon blade reacted. The ground around Wolfblade buckled, but not from any excess force or gravity. Rather, the power of the sword as it streaked away was pregnant with the esence of destruction. All reality surrounding it, with the exception of its bearer, was immediately erased ¨C vanished into a mist like water on the surface of the sun. What would happen when sword and mountain met? Would the sword break? Would the mountain burst? Neither. This chunk of mountain, tall as a skyscraper, hung still in the air. At the point of impact it slowly began to disintegrate, inch by inch, vanishing into the wind like smoke. Neither Wolfblade¡¯s sword nor the mountain peak moved, yet the rock continued to dissolve. The blue light within Wolfblade¡¯s sword softened. The mountain peak melted away. Eventually nothing remained of the rock, atomized by the power contained in Wolfblade¡¯s relic. Yet just as it vanished, so too did the blue light fade from the sword. ¡°He¡¯s blocked me! Advance!¡± Aegir¡¯s thunderous voice shouted his next command, while in the moment the mountain peak dissolved he reappeared into view. He charged like a golden bolt of lightning toward his next target, the blue sword itself. Clang! Too fast, no one could follow his path. Wolfblade¡¯s mighty relic was flung four thousand meters away, where it became lodged in the side of a volcano. Cracks appeared and spread out from where it was embedded. The successive actions seemed to drain the essence out of the old warrior. The black drained from his hair again, leaving it whiter and more brittle than before. Even still the general pushed on, indomitable, unassailable. Aegir Polaris had studied the blade since he was eight years old. A child from an offshoot branch of the respected military family, he rose to prominence and became commander of Skycloud¡¯s largest standing army. Yet no matter how much he achieved, he never forget his life as a child, and the vow he made to the gods the first time he picked up a sword. Through this sword, I will win peace for Skycloud. Through this sword, I will earn glory for my family! Through this sword, I will bring a thousand generations of stability! From tender child to grizzled veteran, fifty years of practice with that sword had transpired. He never forgot those vows. He didn¡¯t care that the sword would eventually cost him his life, his time on earth was promised to wielding this weapon and keeping his promise. Success was in his grasp, he would destroy this Dark Atom commander and bring peace to Skycloud. The fiend wielded the power of demons, but it would not be enough! Though Wolfblade was hardly as much of a threat as a demon, his continued existence threatened the elysian homeland far more than any demon did. With his death the Dark Atom would crumble. If this was to be his final battle, killing the terrorist leader would be more than worth his life. The elysian army erupted in a chorus of loud shouting. Drake watched with wide eyes. Was this the power of the elder generation? Aegir Polaris wasn¡¯t a demonhunter. Everything he did was by virtue of his own strength and potential. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, Drake wouldn¡¯t have believed a human was capable of such incredible feats. If Aegir was this strong, what about his brother Skye? What about the leader of the templars, the one they called the War Saint? Suddenly, Drake felt stupid for worrying over his general. Aegir could cut Wolfblade apart with his holy weapon without a problem. Meanwhile, Brontes had led the van into the heart of the Dark Atom forces just in time to help their valiant general slay the terrorist leader. He was the general of the border forces ¨C who was Drake to assume the general, a man who earned his position, would foolishly rush in alone if he thought it was suicide? Of course he had the confidence and smarts to make such a risk, and not just throw away the lives of his soldiers. What hubris, to believe all men in power were fools! He felt a fire roil in his veins. Holding his weapon high, Drake let his voice bellow. ¡°Prepare for a full assault!¡± As Wolfblade watched the light of the sword grow ever closer, his face became white as a sheet. But if one were to look closely, they would see his pallor was from strain, not fear. In fact, there was almost a note of ridicule behind the man¡¯s eyes, as though he were idly watching an ape make a fool of itself. He was running toward the muzzle of a gun and didn¡¯t even know it. A sword of sand came sweeping past. Simple and unassuming, it was hardly worth noticing compared to the dramatic scene from moments before. In fact, its approach was entirely disregarded by most. Aegir felt the danger as it approached, but he was already committed. After the clash with the demonblade, his holy weapon had already suffered significant damage. So it was that when the seemingly feeble sword of sand collided with the general¡¯s sword, the blessed weapon split down the middle. But the sword of sand kept coming. General Polaris¡¯ breastplate couldn¡¯t stop it and the sword pierced his chest. Its gritty point exited from his back with a spray of bright red blood. It almost seemed to hang in the air for a moment like a macabre fog. Like a great eagle with broken wings, Aegir tumbled from the sky. He struck the ground a few meters from Wolfblade, while the godslayer watched with a dispassionate gaze. Watching from a distance, Drake froze. Brontes, too. All the soldiers who saw their great general fall were suddenly frozen. When the shock wore off it was replaced with berserk fury. Brontes commanded his men to cut a path to Aegir, but it was already too late. It was a trap! A rain of sand arrows descended on them from the sky! They struck with more force than a spray from a minigun, easily strong enough to punch right through the armored soldiers. More frightening still, the flesh of the soldiers were reduced to sand and in mere seconds they crumbled away as though they never were. The vanguard was now nothing more than a pile of dust. Aegir gasped as he was shocked away from a brief moment of unconsciousness. He raised his head and came face to face with a masked visage, only one eye revealed and yet still somehow refined. Wolfblade stood a short distance away, watching him with a smile, yet did not attack. Bastard! You dare mock me?! Aegir tried to rise, but in that moment a wave of sand appeared to submerge him from the waist down. The sand was like a giant hand, which reached up to encase him entirely. Slowly, bit by bit, crushing force pressed in on him from every direction. Any second he would be pulverized. The elysian general was about to be smashed to paste before the eyes of his soldiers. In this critical moment a streak of icy blue light arrived with a burst of energy. It inserted into the sand and froze it instantly in place. Jutting out was a spear of masterful craftsmanship, appearing to be made entirely of ice. Only Aegir¡¯s face remained free, the rest of him locked in a prison of crystal and sand. However, the crushing force was gone. The mocking light in Wolfblade¡¯s eyes faded. He reached out with his mind for the demonblade, wrenching it from the distant cliff and calling it back to him ¨C aimed directly at Aegir¡¯s back. But before it could find its target, a figure wrapped in the purest white descended from above. He bore a magnificent sword that filled the area with a bone-deep cold. In the same instant this new foe knocked away Wolfblade¡¯s sword, the icy shell around Aegir shattered. Frost de Winter lifted Aegir from the sand and stood between him and Wolfblade. With his feet planted firmly on the ground, he reached down and picked up his spear, Frozen Dirge. The sword in his right hand cut toward the terrorist leader. The series of changes were unexpected, and too fast for Wolfblade to react. No one was nearby to come to his rescue. The ground in front of Wolfblade began to fracture and open up. A burst of sand gushed from the fissure to form a towering wall. Deadly icicles lodged into it, jutting out like a hedgehog¡¯s hide. But the sword strike was enough to split the sandy shield, just wide enough for Frost to throw Frozen Dirge through the opening. The mighty spear ran Wolfblade through and pinned him to the rocky wall behind. It all happened in a matter of seconds. One after the other, white-clad figures fell from the heavens. There were at least a dozen, men all wearing snow-white cloaks. Demonhunters. Frost flicked his wrist and Frozen Dirge dislodged from the wall of its own accord. It almost seemed to sing as it streaked through the air and returned to his grip. Raising his head and looking toward the sky, toward a black figure who peered down at them through burning red eyes. ¡°Young man. What is your name?¡± A smile spread across Frost¡¯s lips. ¡°I thought we were here to exterminate a few measly rats. How unexpected that the Dark Atom would be hiding a sheltering a demon. Good. Killing your kind is what demonhunters do best!¡± Agents of the Dark Atom looked at one another in speechless despair. The demonhunters had arrived too quickly. Things were different now. It wasn¡¯t just a war, it had escalated to a confrontation between demonhunters and the very creature they were sworn to destroy. Everyone knew the capabilities of the young man, this champion of Skycloud. Though he himself perhaps was not the warrior Aegir Polaris was, he had led a contingent of veteran demonhunters to the field. They were not a force to disregard. Demonhunters and a demon. Old enemies, face to face once more. Book 3, Chapter 87 - The Big Game Skycloud city. A pair of guards were patrolling the gardens around the governor¡¯s mansion. An old man in plain grey robes sat under a pavilion. Arrayed before him was a chess board. This time he had no opponent, yet the board was still peppered with two different colors. The younger guardsman gave the older man a sideways glance, and couldn¡¯t help but mutter to his companion. ¡°What¡¯s the governor doing?¡± ¡°Hush! Keep your voice down!¡± The older guard chastised him in a harsh whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb the governor. Can¡¯t you see he¡¯s playing his game?¡± ¡°Playing? What game?¡± ¡°Skycloud chess, obviously.¡± ¡°So what, is it special or something?¡± ¡°Foolish question. Skycloud chess has quite the story behind it. Legends say a thousand years ago, during the great war, the children of the gods started to gather in the holy lands. Life became better, but there wasn¡¯t much to pass the time. It all became monotonous.¡± The older soldier had been patrolling this route for a decade. He was pleased to have a chance to show off his knowledge to the younger recruit. ¡°Did you know that Skycloud¡¯s first governor was a demonhunter, who took part in the war against the demons? He was an ancestor of the Cloude family. The story goes that he was lying in a field, watching the stars cross the sky. As the moonlight spread over the fields and valleys he was struck with an epiphany about the nature of heaven and earth. He observed the phenomenon that all living things surrounded one another. From that the idea for Skycloud chess was born and has continued to this day. So, it isn¡¯t just a game for entertainment. Its history also includes old wisdom and ancient philosophy.¡± The younger guard was enlightened. He never thought a game could hold such meaning. ¡°There are three levels which Skycloud chess can be played at. The lowest level has ten vertical and horizontal rows on the board. The middle level has fifteen. The top level has thirty. The rules can be complex: black pieces and can seize white and vice versa, and the players use tactics to surround and devour their opponent¡¯s pieces. Players come up with all sorts of clever strategies and patterns to outwit each other. If you take the long view, you can see parallels between the game and all sorts of real-world situations, in politics and in war. Master Arcturus is a genius, and even when he was a young there was no one in Skycloud who could beat him.¡± Both guards glanced toward Arcturus with respect in their eyes. A chess master when he was just a child. They were already much older than he had been when he was beating everyone in Skycloud, and they were just guards. Of course, not everyone could be a guard in the governor¡¯s mansion. Their positions here brought honor to their ancestors. The younger man still had questions. ¡°But if he¡¯s playing chess, doesn¡¯t he need someone to play against?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s something you wouldn¡¯t know. Aside from Frost de Winter, Master Arcturus doesn¡¯t play with anyone.¡± Here the older man paused in confusion. ¡°Most of the time he sits out here alone playing by himself, using a different hand for each color. He places the pieces in cross patterns back and forth. Almost like¡­ like¡­¡± ¡°Like he¡¯s playing against himself.¡± The younger one finished the thought. It¡¯s like the older guard said. Who else would he play with, if no one was his equal? ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. You wouldn¡¯t believe me if I told you.¡± But after a moment, looking left and right for prying ears, the guard lowered his voice conspiratorially and went on anyway. ¡°I¡¯ve been posted here for over ten years. I keep on having this weird feeling that the governor is playing with someone who is invisible, and that he¡¯s just moving the pieces on his opponent¡¯s behalf. The recruit felt a chill run up his spine. ¡°Are you messing with me?¡± ¡°Most important, whoever this invisible opponent is, he¡¯s good.¡± There was a strange sort of curiosity in the older man¡¯s face as well as he spoke. ¡°As far as I¡¯ve been able to tell, Master Arcturus has never won.¡± The younger man¡¯s eyes widened. Too weird! But really it had to be nothing more than a bunch of hot air from his companion. There wasn¡¯t anyone better than Arcturus Cloude, except maybe the gods and demons. Today, Arcturus wasn¡¯t playing with any mysterious invisible opponent. He stared at the board of white and black pieces, going over strategies. The white represented Skycloud, and the black were the wastelands. Nearly a hundred white tokens were on the board at present, all gathered together to exert influence over its territory. Black tokens were scattered around the periphery, maybe only twenty, loosely spattered like a starry sky. Chaotic at first glance, but upon closer inspection one would be foolish to ignore the threat they posed. The distribution of power between Skycloud and the wastelands, conveniently arrayed before Arcturus Cloude on the board. It was abstract, but were one to look closely they would be surprised to see how closely the circumstances on the board matched what was actually happening.This was a manifestation of Arcturus¡¯ wisdom. Arcturus placed a series of white token down in quick succession to invade new territory. The circumstances on the board were difficult and queer ¨C a lot like the Blisterpeak mountains. With his eyes slightly narrowed, Arcturus paused to survey the board as a whole. Wrinkles gathered at the corner of his eyes, and somehow he knew the mighty battle out in the wilderness was underway. Then came a shocking moment. He plucked a white piece from the board, one that had been surrounded and eliminated. Just like Aegir Polaris and his border army. He snatched up a second piece. Reinforcements. A third. The contingent from Hell¡¯s Valley sent by Skye Polaris as insurance. Thinking for a moment, Arcturus then gathered a handful of black pieces and began to place them. When the moves were done he looked down again, staring at the white piece that in his mind represented Frost de Winter. For the briefest instant the corner of his eye twitched, then with a sigh the strength seemed to drain from him. Arcuturs rose, pacing back and forth, and looked off into the vast horizon. The elysian sky. Always so blue. But even the clearest day would pass, sooner or later. A tempest gathered in times of peace where the eye could not see. The longer the sunshine held, the more time that tempest had to brew. *** Blisterpeak mountains. Outside the city under the mountain. Coal fell like he was falling into an abyss. The white-haired outsider was too strong. He could do nothing, had nothing ¨C nothing but fear and hatred. But not death. I will not die. Not like this. Our great chief¡­ hundreds of my people. Slaughtered. Killed before me. But dozens more are still in danger because of my decision. No matter what, I cannot die. Besides, what about the plan? To go out to the world beyond. I can¡¯t fall her, not when there¡¯s still so much to see. Terrible hatred, bitter refusal. In the end they coalesced into the will to keep living. Coal was falling through an abyss, but he wouldn¡¯t let the darkness take him. He reached out, grabbed onto an invisible precipice and held tight. But the abyss was strong. He could feel it dragging at him from below like the grasping hands of the dead. They pulled, trying to drag him into oblivion with them. His strength was waning. The pull was too great, and sooner or later he would have to let go. But no¡­ no, because one he fell he knew that would be the end. Helplessness. Hopelessness. Fear. Coal felt his fingers begin to slip, but in the instant before the darkness claimed him a hand stretched out from the edge. It held him tight. Strong. Reliable. The hand pulled him from the brink. Consciousness slowly came back to him, and the mutant opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed were the explosions and the cries that assailed his ears. The battle was still going on around him. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a familiar face. A young man with black hair and black eyes stood over him with his hands folded in front of his chest. There was surprise in his expression. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s like you¡¯re made of rocks. Harder to kill than a cockroach. Your internal organs are fucked, but you¡¯re still kickin¡¯. Still, you outta thank me. If I hadn¡¯t have showed up when I did with some medicine, you¡¯d be deader than the dirt I found you in.¡± Coal¡¯s survival wasn¡¯t all luck and willpower. The luck part was his heavily mutated body, which protected him from being injured beyond repair. On the other hand his survival instinct kept him breathing long past where most would give pu. Of course, most importantly Cloudhawk had showed up before time ran out. He dragged him away from the fighting to a safe spot and fed him whatever medicines he had in a desperate attempt to keep him alive. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s hand that dragged him from the precipice. Cloudhawk was ready with another string of teasing remarks, but he stopped when he saw no look of joy on Coal¡¯s face for surviving his brush with death. On the contrary, all he saw was sorrow and self-loathing. Cloudhawk remembered where he found the mutant, among the bodies of his tribesmen. He hadn¡¯t been there, but it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what happened. ¡°Hey brother, pull it together. I busted my ass to save you, so you need to make it count. Don¡¯t let me catch you giving up. Your people got caught in the shit, but you¡¯re not alone. There are still a few left back in the city, and I got your back.¡± Coal¡¯s eyes regained their focus. He was lucky to have met Cloudhawk. Without him, his whole tribe would have been wiped out. ¡°Great volcano is witness¡­ You are forever¡­ friend of Volcano Tribe.¡± Coal fought through the pain to speak in broken wastelander. ¡°I will repay. My life to repay!¡± Cloudhawk watched the stone giant begin to cry. There were few in this world as pure and simple as this mutant. Even Autumn wasn¡¯t burdened by the sort of tragedy this poor survivor would have to bear. Coal may not have looked like any human he knew, but what Cloudhawk saw in him was more purely human than anyone. A simple life, a simple mind, simple ideals. Easy to be satisfied and easy to be happy. But fate intervened, and this was his reward. It didn¡¯t seem destiny cared much for people like him. It wasn¡¯t like the people of the Volcano Tribe were unintelligent ¨C just ignorant. Coal had no experience with the world outside of the Blisterpeak mountains, so to them he was almost child-like. [1] Now he knew what it was like out there, and the realization cast a dark shadow over his soul. How much would the knowledge change him? Squall was an example of one way he could react. Cloudhawk patted him on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about revenge later. Right now you need to heal up. Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± He made sure Coal was safely tucked away before returning to the edges of the battlefield. An hour had passed since the first shot was fired, but already the surrounding mountains were nearly leveled. The exchange was only getting more intense as time went on. He was still unhappy with having to be involved. On the one hand, what was one person supposed to do? It wasn¡¯t like he was strong enough to turn the tide. On the other, his situation was shit no matter which side he chose to help. He had to make a decision. From what he could see, things weren¡¯t going well for the Dark Atom at this point. Wolfblade had been seriously wounded, and though the Caliph was strong Frost¡¯s sudden appearance threw everything into question. After years of being shut away, he was now stronger than ever. Nor was he alone, the fuck-face had brought a whole squad of demonhunters with him. Common knowledge was that a demonhunter with the rank of ¡®master¡¯ was strong enough to kill a demon on their own. Frost was too inexperienced to be a master, and if it were just him he would find surviving against the demon nearly impossible. The problem for the Dark Atom now, however, was that Frost was a commander under orders to bring reinforcements. He had arrived with a contingent of his own. The squad he brought was a group of well-trained demonhunters with no fewer than four highly experienced veterans among them. With Frost included, that was five formidable warriors with thirty subordinates as support. Every one of them had their own collection of relics for both offensive and defensive collaboration, making them a well-equipped and comprehensive fighting force. Even against a power like the Caliph of the Sands, there was a chance of victory! The Dark Atom was nearing the point of collapse. Frost¡¯s appearance also heralded the arrival of several more elysian warships. Thousands of troops dropped in to join their brothers, resplendent in silvery white armor. Their weapons weren¡¯t the typical elysian blade, but two handed broadswords that seethed with a white-hot glow. The Knights of Splendor?! Cloudhawk slapped his forehead. Three years ago Frost was elevated to lieutenant commander of the Knights of Splendor, after eradicating half of the Dark Atom¡¯s forces from the wastelands. Although they were far fewer in number than the border forces, they were much more potent on the battlefield. If Frost brought them along with him, it put the already brow-beaten Dark Atom in an even more precarious situation. It very well could be the final straw that breaks the rebels¡¯ backs. They wouldn¡¯t last much longer! Not good. Really, really not good! The Dark Atom couldn¡¯t be destroyed! In the eyes of many it may be a terrorist organization, but Cloudhawk was no hero himself. His first consideration was always himself and his friends, and at the moment he could think of only one thing to stop everything. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes quickly scanned the battlefield. The border forces were legion, easily twenty thousand strong, and somewhere among them were his targets. They were hard to spot, however. Since their equipment was simple, and any ships with their markings had long been shot down, Cloudhawk found it hard to pick out where they might be. The general was wounded and could no longer take to the field. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan; to take out the elysian leadership one by one. If the Skycloud army lost their commanders, they would quickly collapse. His eyes kept searching. There ¨C that one, with the silver mask. It was clear from his armor that this one was an officer. Probably part of the vanguard. Watching the masked man carefully, Cloudhawk was assailed by an odd sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. His mind went back to Hell¡¯s Valley, three years ago, when he met a unit of elysian soldiers. This was him, the unit¡¯s commander. He¡¯d risen quickly through the ranks, so he obviously was no typical soldier. Cloudhawk sure had a bone to pick with this one. It was about time he met the Warden¡¯s blade. But he wouldn¡¯t be the first target. With the general wounded, command would have certainly fallen to the lieutenant commander. Dealing with the second in command would throw all the attackers into chaos. Then he¡¯ll pick the rest off one by one. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he could take a veteran demonhunter in a straight fight, but if he got the drop on them there weren¡¯t many who could stop him. Most important was making sure his identity was kept hidden. A fish in muddy water, taking attacks of opportunity as they were revealed. His eyes kept scanning the field, until at last he found his target. With a sinister grin he began to creep toward the one with the lieutenant general star on his armor. You¡¯re part of the reason those innocent Volcano tribesmen were slaughtered. Today you¡¯ll pay for your crimes! Dark promises flit through his mind as his body faded into nothing. 1. Where was this compassion when Autumn walked through your door, dude? Book 3, Chapter 88 - The Crimson Arrival Cloudhawk always had a talent for stealth. Here, in this white-hot conflict, surrounded by the killing intent of so many, he was impossible to detect. He crept closer to the lieutenant general. Closer. He only had a single shot! Anyone with a title like his was no push-over. Even with all his advantages he dare not underestimate this foe. And so he waited, taught as a bowstring, crouched like a leopard, waiting for the perfect chance to strike. From a flanking position several Dark Atom soldiers came charging in, laden with packed vests. Elysian soldiers weren¡¯t well-versed in the weapons of old, but years of battling these terrorists made them familiar with their tactics. These were suicide soldiers, and their aim was to blow themselves up in the middle of a crowd to take out as many enemies as possible ¨C and themselves in the process. Insanity. They were willing to destroy their own bodies for the promise of mutually assured destruction. Cloudhawk watched from his hidden vantage, speechless. But the lieutenant and his men were not without teeth. As the suicide soldiers closed in soldiers met them with weapons raised. Several of the rebels had their heads severed before they got too close, but even still their bodies erupted into cacophonous explosions once their dead bodies struck the ground. A second later, fire and concussive force buffeted the soldiers. Many of the elysians who had moved in to stop them were blasted away or blown apart. There were no buttons or switches to control the suicide vests as they were connected to the wearer¡¯s heartbeat. When they died, the vests activated. Other rebels continued to charge forward, set ablaze by the detonation of their comrades yet they seemed to feel nothing. Showers of arrows pelted them in their assault, and several more fell in their attempts. The ground shook at they, too, exploded into a mess of limbs and organs. One of them crossed the field with no less than a dozen arrows jutting from his body. He screamed at the sky, a terrible cry like a dying animal. It was the sound of unyielding faith and indomitable will. His heart was pierced and his legs shot through, yet he refused to fall. Using what remained of his quickly fading life, he jumped toward Drake with wide bloodshot eyes. The upper half of his body split apart in midair and was consumed by fire. He fell upon Drake like a hellbeast. The lieutenant watched the human fireball descend with a grin and raised his shield. The debris of what had been the soldier and the detonation were both deflected by his shield. For Drake, an attack like this was no threat. However, it did give the one hiding nearby the opportunity he was looking for. Cloudhawk rose up, ready to attack. There was no question, the officer¡¯s life. However, as he was raising his weapon to strike there was something about the man¡¯s stalwart body that gave him pause. As he got closer he saw more clearly who he was about to attack. Though it was not accurate to say he ¡®saw¡¯ ¨C the cumbersome armor hid anything that might be recognizable ¨C but he did know that pitch black sword he carried. Cloudhawk stopped. Three years in Hell¡¯s Valley weren¡¯t wasted on Drake, and three years later he had only gotten stronger. His senses were sharp, so when the cloud of danger fell over him it was like an electric shock through his body. Reflexively he swung around, bringing his several hundred kilogram sword over his head. ¡°Hold it!¡± Cloudhawk pulled back his dual exorcist staves in a defensive posture just in time. Drake¡¯s sword came crashing down with an intensity that threatened to crush him flat. Joints popped beneath the strain. The chance had been there, and Cloudhawk could have slain Drake if he¡¯d wanted but held back. Now the opportunity had passed. Drake was not weak, but one-on-one the Warden had a clear advantage. Of course now that his quarry knew where he was Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t assassinate him, but he wouldn¡¯t anyway now that he knew who the border forces¡¯ lieutenant general was. For better or worse, the two shared the bitter experience of Hell¡¯s Valley for three years. It came as complete surprise to find him all the way out here. Cloudhawk let his invisibility fade. Drake¡¯s mouth fell open in astonishment, while in the same moment there was a kernel of suspicion in the back of his mind. There was no question that there was a threat to his life just a moment ago. Now, here was Cloudhawk. What was going on? ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± Cloudhawk saw his old comrade¡¯s guarded expression. The soldiers he had with him had gathered round now with their weapons raised, and the Warden had to laugh inwardly. Who knew this would happen? He was in the shit now, and what was he supposed to say? I was actually just about to murder you? The weather was nice so I decided to go out for a stroll? Coal might have fallen for a line like that, but there weren¡¯t many as trusting as that one. An elysian lieutenant was a skilled leader with plentiful experience. Drake might have looked like a brute, but in reality he was anything but. He was smart and sophisticated, and cunning in his ways. Back in Hell¡¯s Valley his improvement had always been quick and consistent, one of the best of his class. Even if they had been close in those days, right now Drake clearly had his doubts about his former colleague. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind raced for an answer. He had to get himself out of this situation, and he needed to find some way to help the Dark Atom. Drake wasn¡¯t an idiot and hedging would only make him more suspicious, but how was he supposed to explain what he was doing with a group of terrorists? What excuse could he offer to explain why he was sneaking up on him? One of Drake¡¯s retinue stepped forward, an enormously fat man whose armor was badly damaged in several places. He was wounded, but they didn¡¯t seem to bother him much. Hammont Seacrest, Magistrate of the Sandbar made his presence known. ¡°Sir, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°I am out here on a secret mission in the wastelands, the Dark Atom is one of my targets!¡± He couldn¡¯t let the Dark Atom be destroyed, so Cloudhawk grasped at any excuse. With a grim expression he stepped forward. ¡°And you all are morons. You fell for the Dark Atom¡¯s trap. If you keep this up everyone ¨C I mean everyone - is dead.¡± Drake and Hammont both looked at him in shock. It was exactly what he wanted. Scare them for a minute, just enough to give him time to think up a way out of this mess. But he was careful not to show them any sign he was working off the cuff. ¡°In my investigations I¡¯ve discovered that the Dark Atom is working with demons. They¡¯re scheming something, and this so-called war is a part of it. You¡¯re being played ¨C think about it! All of a sudden you get handed the location of the Dark Atom¡¯s secret headquarters! Totally out of the blue, am I right?¡± Drake didn¡¯t know where leadership got the information, just that they were on the move right away. It was strange¡­ where in the world did their intelligence come from? Cloudhawk answered before the question was posed. ¡°Your information came from a wasteland group that¡¯s been trying to weaken border security and attack Skycloud. This whole thing was a distraction. I was trying to stop you, but when I arrived the fight had already started. I was too late.¡± Drake narrowed his eyes at him. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± They were in the midst of it now, and pulling back on the cusp of victory would be catastrophic. Besides, the general had given explicit instructions that they were to destroy the Dark Atom, even if it meant their deaths. A vague threat wasn¡¯t going to be enough to convince him. Yes, it was true there was a demon, but that didn¡¯t prove that Skycloud was in any direct danger. Demonhunters were here now to deal with the fiend, and the border forces already had the situation under control. With the addition of Frost¡¯s three thousand Knights of Splendor there was no question the rebels would be eliminated, unless something drastic occurred. As far as Drake could tell, the whole matter would be cleaned up in under an hour. To pull back now would be ludicrous. No one in their right mind would believe the order even if he gave it. Drake and Cloudhawk had a deep connection, and he believed Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t want to kill him, but he wasn¡¯t going to let friendship make him blind to the big picture. Cloudhawk replaced his lack of hard evidence with urgency. ¡°Drake, if you ignore what I¡¯m telling you shit¡¯s gonna to get bad.¡± Hammont interjected. ¡°Sir Cloudhawk has been sent to the wastelands on a secret mission from General Skye. He was ordered to uncover information about the Crimson Church. I don¡¯t believe he would deceive us.¡± In Hammont¡¯s eyes, Cloudhawk was larger than life. It was unthinkable that he would collude with the Dark Atom terrorists. Drake looked at both men with a calm expression. He was a resolute and inflexible man, and even if he was inclined to believe Cloudhawk he wouldn¡¯t act on just his word. He only believed what was in front of him, and right now there was nothing to convince him to pull the border forces back. While Cloudhawk was struggling to find some solution, the unexpected happened. An ominous whistling sound arose from above. In a quiet plain or lazy city the sound would have captured everyone¡¯s attention. But here, amidst the screams and explosions, it was easily overlooked. An odd streak of flood of light approached from a valley, thousands of thickly dotted sparks like glowworms or fireflies. They blanketed the sky before falling down among the recently gathered Knights of Splendor. ¡°Ahhh!¡± "What¡¯s happening?!¡± These weren¡¯t fireflies at all, but a hail of arrows. Strangely, the arrows were all burning with a sickly green fire. While the projectiles themselves were not strong enough to pierce elysian armor, they were far from harmless. Once they struck the flames they bore splashed in all directions, and the briefest contact caused it to spread. The result was a sea of green fire and writhing bodies. This was punishment from the depths of purgatory! The ire of the gods visited upon them! Cloudhawk cried in disbelief: ¡°Castigation!¡± As if on cue, another force appeared on the peripheries of the battlefield. Leading them were a group of men in red missionary robes. The force with them was not large, numbering perhaps only a thousand. However, their equipment was excellent ¨C bows and compressed weapons of elysian make, which shot arrows with range to match a sniper rifle. It was the arrows that were most deadly. They were all cursed with Castigation fire, the most deadly substance in the world. Cloudhawk felt his heart racing. Had the Crimson One recovered already? If that old shit was here he could change the tide of battle all by himself. He could destroy a small army without any help! But what were the priests of the Crimson Church doing here, anyway? They weren¡¯t the Dark Atom¡¯s allies! Book 3, Chapter 89 - In Deep A master demonhunter, former Knight-Commander, and bearer of Castigation fire. The Crimson One was capable of reducing whole armies to ash by himself. But as Cloudhawk fervently searched the distant forces of the Crimson Church, he saw no sign of their leader. He sighed in relief ¨C it appeared the old man was still recovering. No answers were forthcoming as to why they were here at all, though. However, in attacking the elysians they proved that they were ¨C at least in part ¨C on the side of the Dark Atom. Good. Cloudhawk was pleased by this sudden change in circumstance, for at least the Sanctum of Judgement could hold the elysians at bay for a while. The Dark Atom wouldn¡¯t be so easily wiped out. The day sure was turning into an interesting drama, that was for damn sure. What happened next was anyone¡¯s guess. Frost de Winter¡¯s razor-edge eyebrows furrowed as the hail of green fire descended. In a dangerous growl he ordered the retreat. The demonhunters under his command fell back quick as the wind. They were all dressed in the same superior equipment, and easily recognized by the pure white cloaks draped across their shoulders. Across from them were the warriors of the Crimson Church, a tide of blood red. Both sides eyed one another, the air thick murderous with enmity. Frost¡¯s demonhunter squad was a collection of top talents. For over a decade they were commended for their great abilities and accomplishments. Their members were among the best demonhunters in active service. The fact that Abaddon¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t routed the elysian forces already was a testament to their abilities. Once again, the situation on the ground was changing, The red-robed missionaries of the Sanctum made no effort to hide their identities. The field came alive with flashes of power from the relics they wielded. It was hard to understand ¨C how could these supposedly pious men, bearing the gifts of the gods, turn these artifacts on the children of the holy lands? The church¡¯s demonhunters were no match for Frost and his squad, but their timing was impeccable. Appearing suddenly in the perfect moment disrupted the elysians¡¯ brief advantage. Their leader was a man in his fifties, unattractive and rugged as though he were plucked from the ruins. But he was tall, and strong, and stood before the missionaries in bare feet. His relic was a standard with the flag rolled up. The flagstaff itself ended in a sharp point, so that with the flag wrapped tight it was no different than a spear. He motioned with his hand. Half of the priests separated from the group and joined the Dark Atom forces in battle. The Knights of Splendor were recovering, and thanks to their equipment the hail of Castigation had not done as much damage as it could. However, now they were faced with a dozen missionaries of the Crimson Church. Though not of the same caliber as Frost¡¯s squad, they nonetheless were demonhunters, and a demonhunter¡¯s presence on the field was not to be discounted. ¡°You!¡± When Frost saw the standard bearer a deadly cold crossed his eyes. In their depths was a terrible fire born from loathing. He growled his words, stressing every syllable. ¡°I should have known.¡± Obviously, Frost and this barefoot priest knew one another. It was clearly not a friendly relationship. Cloudhawk gave the priest a curious look. ¡°Who¡¯s that peasant preacher?¡± He asked. ¡°He¡¯s no peasant.¡± Drake¡¯s face was solemn, but also surprised. ¡°He¡¯s a member of the Cloude family. Twenty years ago he was a famous man in Skycloud. Ten years ago he was the lieutenant commander of the demonhunter division of the Skycloud army. Around then, with Sterling¡¯s influence, he resigned from his post and disappeared. Now all of a sudden he show¡¯s up here¡­ your information was right!¡± Cloudhawk was all full of concerns and suspicions, but for the time being it was what it was. He might as well take the gift he was given. ¡°Well, no shit I¡¯m right! When has my information ever been wrong? That guy looks like one of the Crimson One¡¯s captains, but the real danger in the Crimson One himself. Who knows if he¡¯s lurking in some dark corner, somewhere waiting for his chance. Like I said, you walked right into a trap!¡± Just a captain? What a joke! It was nonsense from the Warden, just a wild guess. Really, the peasant priest was one of the Crimson One¡¯s right-hand men. When Sterling defected from Skycloud he took a hundred or so demonhunters with him. It would be no surprise if he enticed several from his own house to follow him as well. A master demonhunter and Knight-Commander would definitely not be lacking in loyal underlings. Cloudhawk quietly rejoiced over meeting Sterling at Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. While he almost died, dealing with the man then was far better than having him show up now. If the Crimson One was at full strength and here in this battle, the outcome here would already have been written. ¡°All these years you claim to be in seclusion, but here you are! In the wastelands, colluding with sinners!¡± Augustus Cloude stepped out from among the demonhunters, furious in his accusations. ¡°You betray your family! You betray your faith! These misdeeds you commit against our gods are unforgivable!¡± The rustic-looking barefoot man let the words wash over him. He showed no grief, no guilt. Who was betrayer, and who was betrayed¡­ was the word of one angry man enough to condemn him? He felt no compunction to explain, nor did he respond. Instead, his eyes turned toward the Caliph of the Sands. ¡°We have arrived as promised. I expect you to hold true to your commitments.¡± ¡°Fear not. He has already left with his prize.¡± Abaddon remained suspended above the battlefield, with dervishes of sand dancing around him. In one hand he held a yellow-gold sword of sand, and grit whipped all around him in a cocoon several meters in diameter. It marked the borders of his own domain. ¡°What is your name, priest?¡± ¡°I have abandoned the name of my birth. I am now known as Wyrmsole.¡± Though he did not speak loudly, there was a definite force to his voice. In it one could find what remained of his former days as a noble. When next he turned his eyes back to Frost and the other demonhunters, he said something that made them scratch their heads in confusion. ¡°These lost and pathetic men do not know why they fight. They give of their blood freely, ignorantly, and those that fall do not know to what end they consign their souls.¡± Augustus bristled. ¡°Our heroic soldiers who fall in battle live for eternity on the peaks of the heavenly mountain! It is blasphemers like you who are condemned to the endless abyss!¡± The corners of Wyrmsole¡¯s mouth twitched upward in a taunting sneer. ¡°You who live in a world of lies. Your faith does naught but blind you.¡± ¡°You dare!¡± ¡°Punish the heretic!¡± All the demonhunters within earshot were incensed by his words. In contrast, the priests in red were dispassionate and unmoved. They had already abandoned their faith in the elysian gods. They were true blasphemers. Augustus¡¯ face was crestfallen. This man was a senior member of his family, a man he should call cousin. He never would have believed that such an illustrious member of their family would fall so low. Did the honor of their family name mean nothing to him? All of the demonhunters looked spurned and glared at Wyrmsole with loathing. A traitor like him turned to the darkness was worse than any heathen! Burning him at the stake wouldn¡¯t be half what this bastard deserved! And worst of all, they operated in the wasteland under the guise of faith. Wyrmsole understood their ire, of course. He had once been just like them, but all that remained now was numbness, indifference, and sadness. He had experienced much in his life. There were times when he made the right decisions, and times when he was wrong. Sometimes he was firm, and many times lost. In the end he found himself, and discovered that there was no such thing as right and wrong. There was only that which must be done. As for the fate of his eternal soul, whether he would spend forever in darkness? None of that mattered. Frost suddenly burst into action. He brought his arm back and heaved Frozen Dirge through the air. Its silvery length seemed to drink in power from the world around it, and leaving a trail of ice crystals in its wake. With frightening speed it raced toward Wyrmsole, and the aura around it almost looked like a dragon formed of ice. The attack was heavy with a bone-chilling cold and suffocating fury. Frost held nothing back. Wyrmsole did not move, however the flag wrapped around his standard was somehow released. It fluttered open, a red banner that reached out like a tongue of fire. The pattern on its surface gleamed as the sun caught it, though the light seemed to come from the image itself. Then, as Wyrmsole gently waved his hand, the pattern came to life. A winged dragon, which mystically leaped out from the banner and into reality. Two dragons of fire and ice met in fierce confrontation, intertwining as they battled. The opposing powers warred, consuming one another. Wyrmsole¡¯s reputation was clearly deserved, for his strength was nearly on par with Frost. However that was merely an opening move, and Frost had crossed the distance between them while their powers contested. He pulled the frost-covered sword from the sheath at his waist and thrust it forward, releasing an energy that froze Wyrmsole¡¯s fiery dragon in place. It shattered into crystals of ice and fell away. A swift, fierce aura of frigid cold sprang up around them. Rimeshard was a weapon of unknowable cold, but the fury with which it was wielded as burning hot. The Church¡¯s standard bearer didn¡¯t know why this boy hated him so intently, nor did he care. In his years of service, Wyrmsole had committed all manner of crimes. The number those who wished him harm ¨C alive and in the underworld ¨C were beyond measure. What did another one matter? ¡°You are strong, young man.¡± With this said the banner rolled up of its own accord, and a slight nick appeared on the pole¡¯s surface. Immediately following a surge of fiery power arose, strong enough to counteract the chill of Rimeshard. He was in it now, no option but to fight. ¡°You lot, help the commander.¡± Augustus waved his hand at a group of demonhunters, then set his eyes on the Caliph. ¡°The rest of you, we are going to slay this demon.¡± Abaddon looked upon the mighty demonhunter from the Cloude family with some interest. ¡°I spared your life years ago, child. You should have learned to cherish it.¡± His words were like a barbed thorn, digging deep into Augustus¡¯ heart. The refined, intelligent middle-aged hunter was consumed with anger. He would never forget the battle from years before, where the demon destroyed nearly all of the forces he brought with him to the wastelands. It was the greatest shame of his life. This battle was more than just an opportunity to free the wasteland of this monster¡¯s tyranny. It was a chance for Augustus to wash away the stain of disgrace! Battle raged all around; in the skies above, and in the mountain below. War consumed the Blisterpeak mountains. For honor, for justice, for power, for faith, and for survival, thousands of men put their lives in mortal danger. Cloudhawk kept watching. Once again it was unclear who had the upper hand. More and more support troops from the border army were flooding the field, and the Knights of Splendor were in full conflict with the priests of the Crimson Church. This battle could continue for several more hours and still a winner might be hard to determine. No matter who won, in the end there would be tens of thousands of dead to bury. It had been a hundred years since the world saw a clash of this magnitude. The Warden looked over the battle with an unprecedented sense of awe and uncertainty. He was vaguely aware of the fact that the elysians had more support, but also that the Dark Atom would fight tooth and nail for their survival. News of what was happening here would quickly spread, and when it did the other secretive factions of the wasteland would likely come to their aid. After all, it was the Dark Atom that kept Skycloud¡¯s focus off of them. Were the rebel organization to be destroyed, how long would they last out in the open? ¡°This thing has gotten a whole lot bigger than just this fight,¡± Cloudhawk shouted suddenly. ¡°It¡¯s not hard to see, this is going to change the whole dynamic between Skycloud and the wastelands.¡± Drake was still vigilant for the possible arrival of the Crimson One. Cloudhawk¡¯s warning gave him pause, and he looked at his old companion in surprise. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Because the continuation of the Dark Atom is important for the wastelands. The dispute between the people on either side of that border has been brewing for a long, long time. The elysians have always tried to keep the wastelands in check, and the wastelanders have always fought back. Eventually the stalemate was going to break and force all that hatred to the surface.¡± Cloudhawk turned his eyes toward Drake. ¡°This is that day. This fight is what destroys the balance, no matter who wins. The more elysians die, the more soldiers will be sent here from the border. All the wasteland groups wanting to get back at Skycloud will flood this place to win revenge. A long, drawn-out war will start right here if we let it, and the whole world will suffer for it. I¡¯m just grateful I¡¯m not a soldier.¡± The thought horrified Drake. The wastelands was a vast and impenetrable place, and no one knew just how wide it really spread. How many monsters were lying dormant, quietly waiting for their chance to rise from the shadows? When the specter of the wasteland fell over Skycloud, would their soldiers really be ready? As a soldier, all Drake knew was that the destruction of the Dark Atom had always been a priority for his people. He never spared a thought for what would happen afterward. Not until Cloudhawk opened his eyes to the dire possibilities. Book 3, Chapter 90 - The Dark Atoms Trump Cards Raven led Three-Eyed Spider and less than a hundred of their people through a secret route. Only a dozen or so of them were actually equipped to fight ¨C the rest were scientists who followed Three-Eyed Spider in his defection. Vengeance was forefront in the old man¡¯s mind, but he wasn¡¯t going to do it with the skeleton crew he had now. They were no threat to anyone, and escape was only more difficult the farther they went. The Blispterpeak mountains were a deadly and inhospitable place. If a handful of them made it out alive they would count themselves lucky. Even at considerable distance from Nucleus they could still feel the ground shake from explosions, and see lights flashing in the cloudy sky. Those were blasts from elysian warships, and the roar of defensive cannons from the city under the mountain. Three-Eyed Spider himself had been wounded in his conflict with Wolfblade. He sagged under his own weight, nursing his grievances with an angry and dismal countenance. For more than half his life the scientist had sacrificed for the Dark Atom, only to be cast away in the end like so much refuse! It was so unfair! You deserve to die for what you¡¯ve done, Wolfblade! Suddenly they stopped as Raven drew to a halt. His angry red eyes glared at the path ahead, and in a cold voice he called out. ¡°Show yourself!¡± One¡­ two¡­ three figures stepped out, then whole groups. A few moments later there were thousands people blocking the way forward. A frigid hand gripped Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s heart. Even in the midst of all this, had Wolfblade sent people to hunt him down? No, that was impossible. These weren¡¯t Dark Atom members¡­ but who were they? Several figures stepped ahead of the battalion. The foremost among them was a young man with a bit of straw jutting from the side of his mouth. His left arm was covered in bandages, and an exorcist rod hang at his waist .It was obvious by the look of him that he was this group¡¯s leader. Another was a heroic, albeit strangely expressionless man with inky black skin. His presence was odd, and looking at him one didn¡¯t get the impression he was human at all. There was a distinct sense of death and destruction that followed him. Next was a man with a battleax that would have seemed huge except for the fact that it¡¯s bearer was also far larger than average. The malicious looking fat man hefted his weapon, putting the etched runes along its surface on full display. Obviously his battleax was no typical tool of destruction. Aside from them there were also a young-ish looking man with a pale face and a thin sword, and a young boy carrying a gourd on his back. They traveled with a group of two or three thousand, who were obviously from two different camps. One group consisted of considerably rougher looking men, many of them mutated. The other was clearly well trained and equipped, with a white-haired swordsman standing at the fore. What an odd collection, the scientist thought. Squall didn¡¯t pay any mind to Three-Eyed Spider or his insignificant party. Standing in the middle of the road, he raised his bandaged arm to his eyes and peered into the distance. ¡°Ah¡­ it looks like we¡¯re early. We should wait for a while, let the two sides beat on each other for a time.¡± Although he was a new addition to the Highwaymen, Ravenous Tiger¡¯s influence was perhaps just as weighty as Squall¡¯s. He didn¡¯t like having to take orders from a child, but he was afraid of whatever benefactor he represented. For the time being it was wiser to play the role of obedient henchman. Indeed Squall was young, but his time and experiences in the wilds had made him shrewd and ruthless. When word got out that war had erupted in the Blisterpeaks, he gave the command to make for the mountain range as quickly as possible. OF course now that they were here, according to Squall it wasn¡¯t their place to get involved. Elysians, wastelanders, the Sanctum¡­ it didn¡¯t matter. They were all enemies. Skycloud was a given, an ancient foe to the wastelands. The Dark Atom was a wildcard with tremendous influence, which made them a threat. Once Boondock and Fishmonger¡¯s Borough joined they had the strength to vie for control of the whole northern barrens. It was only a matter of time before they came into conflict with the Seekers. Saving them from destruction was like cutting off his own foot. The Sanctum of Judgment was a different sort of adversary. Putting aside the fact he razed Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, the Crimson One¡¯s goal was to unite the wastelands. This put him at odds with the Highwaymen. The bishop was a terrible foe, so if there was a chance that the elysians could take care of him and his people before Squall had to, then all the better. Ravenous Tiger finally turned his attention to Three-Eyed Spider and the other escapees. ¡°Where are these rats scurrying off to? We should run them down and be on our way.¡± As he spoke his ax started to glow, eager for blood. Seeing the threat in the fat man¡¯s posture Raven lifted his cyborg arm, ready to react. However Three-Eyed Spider quickly told him to stand down. They were outnumbered, and these strangers before them were strong. If they tried to fight they would certainly die. Instead he tried another tactic. ¡°A moment, gentlemen!¡± Squall half-heartedly motioned for Ravenous Tiger to relax. ¡°If you¡¯re skulking around here it means you aren¡¯t ordinary folk. Tell us who you are, then we¡¯ll decide what to do with you.¡± ¡°I am called Three-Eyed Spider, and I am the lead scientist of the Dark Atom!¡± ¡°Lead scientist...¡± Squall¡¯s eyes sparkled. A title like that certainly carried a lot of clout. The Dark Atom was the biggest Seeker organization in the wastelands, and if what this man said was true then he was a rare talent. Even without any fighting capability, he would not be a man to underestimate. Three-Eyed Spider was a tiger driven from his cave, and out in the open he was vulnerable. He dare not push his luck, and meeting this motley crew was potentially catastrophic. In order to save their lives he shared his tale, and in the process offered a way out for him and his people. ¡°Obviously, you lot are not a typical group of hoodlums. We have fallen on hard times and have nowhere to turn. If you accept, my people and I would like to join your organization ¨C with the stipulation, of course, that we are treated well and with respect.¡± Squall shared a wordless look with Ravenous Tiger. It was a great deal. Strong fighters were a dime a dozen out in the wastelands, but men like Three-Eyed Spider were rare. If the old scientist really was willing to join them, it would mean a great boon for their group¡¯s development. ¡°You are defectors. I represent the Highwaymen, and this man leads Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the Highwaymen and their recent growth. We¡¯ve got the muscle. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough is one of the richest towns in the wasteland. I¡¯ve got people, and he¡¯s got resources. If you choose to join us, we¡¯d be a real threat to the current balance of power. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Three-Eyed Spider rejoiced. ¡°Absolutely! Just as it should be.¡± So it was that a great mind of the Dark Atom defected to join a budding power of the wastelands. First Squall annexed the strength of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, now he had the aid of Three-Eyed Spider and his man Raven. The cards were increasingly being dealt in his favor. Radical expansion came with dangers of course, for both Ravenous Tiger and Three-Eyed Spider came with their own people. However there was no reward without risk, and though they might be hard to manage there were turbulent times ahead. Now was the time to consolidate strength. He would deal with those problems when they arose. For now it was enough to bring them into the fold. Three-Eyed Spider made a show of submitting to their direction. ¡°I understand you were thinking of joining the battle. In my estimation, this would be unnecessary.¡± Squall didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What are you saying? You expect that the Dark Atom can withstand Skycloud¡¯s assault? Word has spread and other wasteland groups will come, but they¡¯re still a far ways off. They won¡¯t be here in time, the Crimson Church and my people are all there is.¡± Three-Eyed Spider crooned a laugh. ¡°The Dark Atom may be no match for the elysians, but do not expect them to be destroyed in a single attack. Everyone has underestimated them. The organization is almost a hundred years old, and the city under the mountain has existed for several centuries ¨C do you honestly believe they have nothing else to aid them in their troubles?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying,¡± Squall interrupted, ¡°that they still have a trump card to play.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, two in fact, and either one is capable of annihilating their enemies. The only reason they haven¡¯t used either yet is because they haven¡¯t captured enough prey in their trap! Things will be different when enough elysian support troops and their mighty commanders arrive!¡± His assertions took everyone by surprise. The Dark Atom couldn¡¯t be that audacious, even if they were twice the size. Were they expected to believe that with the power to wipe out the elysian army, they wouldn¡¯t use it right away? Instead, they would take the risk of waiting for an even higher body count? It was ludicrous! Ravenous Tiger pressed for more information. ¡°What tricks do they have up their sleeves?¡± Injured though he was, Three-Eyed Spider drew himself up with a regal air. Neither fast nor slow; neither rushed nor sluggish, he revealed the Dark Atom¡¯s greatest secret. ¡°The first is a weapon of the ancient times, forged in the zenith of humanity¡¯s destruction. A nuclear weapon that, upon detonation, atomizes everything around. Nothing can survive. Nucleus was built deep underground to protect against destruction should one go off nearby.¡± The ancient people created weapons this powerful? And the Dark Atom had control of one?! Three-Eyed Spider went on. ¡°The second is a defense system built into Nucleus during its construction. ¡®Nirvana.¡¯ If Nirvana is activated then everything within several tens of kilometers around the city will be destroyed. The valley they battle in is ground zero. That is why you mustn¡¯t go ¨C entering that valley would only lead to your inevitable destruction!¡± Both Squall and Ravenous felt a chill go up their spines. No wonder Nucleus had survived so long. Their defenses were as terrifying as they were incredible. Squall offered a slight bow toward the scholar. ¡°We appreciate your guidance, elder. You¡¯ve prevented us from making a mistake we would regret for eternity. In that case, what do you suggest we do?¡± ¡°In this old man¡¯s estimation, the chances of them using the atomic weapon are small. It is powerful, yes, but as far as I am aware the Dark Atom has only discovered one. If in a single use it doesn¡¯t slay the likes of someone like General Skye or Governor Arcturus, then it would be a pity beyond measure. In addition, the weapon does not pick sides. Using it in your own territory would have dire consequences. It is far more likely they will choose to activate Nirvana!¡± Now that he was committed to Squall and his Highwaymen, Three-Eyed Spider held no information back. After all, in saving Squall¡¯s life it was an investment in his own standing. Earn favor now, and later his counsel would be all the more welcome. ¡°We establish ourselves in a valley stragglers are likely to pass through. Once Nirvana is activated, those who manage to escape will be forced to come our way, where we will be lying in wait. They will be unable to escape, and everything that comes through will be destroyed, be they elysian or wastelander.¡± ¡°Good, good, yes! A fine plan.¡± Squall applauded the cunning scheme. If it all unfolded as he claimed, then they might be able to eliminate all of their foes in one fell strike without risk to themselves. Squall had to appreciate his luck. Fortune had decided that instead of being obliterated on a mountain side, the power of the entire wasteland might be delivered on a silver platter. 1. Alright, considerable change here. From the beginning we¡¯ve mistaken the phrase Çýħfor exorcist staff, when in fact it is actually more of a cudgel or mace. The confusion arises because the final character, ¹÷, can mean both a stick or rod, and a bludgeoning instrument. Especially in recent chapters ¨C i.e. with Cloudhawk dual wielding them, and the fact that everyone wears them on their waists where a staff cannot be worn ¨C it was clear that these are intended to be mace-like weapons, not staves. This is further confirmed by their size, as mentioned in chapter 36, where it is described as three feet. A staff would be closer to six, whereas many styles of medieval maces were between two and three feet in length. Looking back it makes quite a bit of sense. We¡¯ll be using ¡®rod¡¯ as these are fairly slim weapons, almost baton-like. Henceforth I will be translating this weapon as intended, and eventually some heavy editing will be needed. One day, like some time before I die. Maybe. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 91 - Perplexed War raged in the volcanic valleys for three whole hours. Bullets, bombs and arrows filled the air. Elysian warships and Dark Atom vessels pummeled one another. Within the clouds of dust, a normal man couldn¡¯t see farther than five meters in front of his nose. A sharp shriek rose through the air, and suddenly the ground exploded in all directions. Dozens of craters appeared. Drake emerged from the airborne debris, covered from head to toe. ¡°How many men do we have in reserve?¡± He was screaming at the top of his lungs but the sounds of battle still threatened to drown him out. Hammont was about to respond when he was struck by five or six bullets. They struck his helmet and breastplate, casting sparks every which way. But elysian-made armor was incredibly strong. The impacts sent him to the floor but he was otherwise fine. Rearranging his helmet, he cried out. ¡°Lieutenant General! Everyone¡¯s on the field, the only soldiers left are those here ¨C less than a thousand men.¡± ¡°Everyone retreat to the mouth of the valley!¡± Drake wasn¡¯t going to hesitate any longer. ¡°Cloudhawk! I need your help.¡± All thirty thousand border troops were in the thick of battle, and withdrawal might already be too late. But a thousand people in this situation weren¡¯t going to make any sort of difference. It was best to try to fall back, and leave only a token force as a deterrent. It was clear as day. They were entrenched, and in for a long losing battle. Drake finally decided to heed Cloudhawk¡¯s advice. At the very least they would have a breath to consider their next move, but it was a decision that was starkly different than his superiors. The soldiers of Skycloud were known to fight to the death, until the last soldier took his final breath. Drake felt their lives were too precious to throw away, an exceedingly rare quality in an officer. After all, a commander who kept his men alive was a good commander. They were the sorts of leaders who rose to become the backbone of a society. ¡°Fatty, squad, I¡¯m getting you out of here.¡± Not long after Cloudhawk gave the order to retreat, the air hummed with a sound like rumbling thunder. Even through the choking smoke it was easy to see; dozens of resplendent beams of light streaking overhead. An auspicious omen that roared like divine judgment, as suddenly the skies filled with enormous warships ¨C reinforcements! A great cry of joy sprang up among the elysians. Were someone to have a high vantage or sufficiently keen vision, they would note that the arriving troops were arrayed in three divisions. They were the Talons of God, Hell¡¯s Army, and the Guard Corps. The first two were special forces. Small in numbers, but incredibly deadly on the field. The last one was a more standard army like the border forces. Although they weren¡¯t quite as large an outfit, they still numbered ten thousand strong. The fight they were joining was white-hot, and neither side had a clear advantage over the other. Any unforeseen change could turn the tide, much less the sudden arrival of three new divisions. ¡°Just in time!¡± Panting raggedly, Aegir Polaris cleaved a Dark Atom officer in half. He had recovered enough from the surprise attack by the demon to rejoin the fight, though he was considerably weakened. The Knights of Splendor were engaged with the crimson priests, while Frost and his demonhunters were keeping the demon occupied. ¡°The death of these blasphemers is at hand!¡± As though in response a large man bearing a minigun charged out from the fog. He swept his gun through the general¡¯s forces. Of course this wicked wasteland technology was nothing before the might of elysian steel. The bullets bounced off Aegir¡¯s armor like raindrops on a metal roof. The grizzles commander didn¡¯t even move except to cover less shielded areas of his body. Whoosh! A large sword was buried in the attacker¡¯s chest. Brontes pulled his sword free from the gunner. He and the remaining soldiers tightened their protective circle around the general. The press of Dark Atom enemies had put them all on the back foot, but now that reinforcements had arrived there was a chance they could fight their way out. There was no time to rejoice. Another group was emerging through the smoke. Among them was a man with a spectral blue sword suspended above his head. Brontes¡¯ eyes went wide. He shouted to the others. ¡°Wolfblade! It¡¯s their leader, kill him!¡± Several officers recently back on their feet were slain instantly as Wolfblade¡¯s demonic sword ran them through. It kept on, heading right for General Aegir. The Dark Atom leader had been caught off guard by Frost¡¯s surprise attack, and it had left him wounded. However, Wolfblade was by no means weak. Frost¡¯s attack had been hasty ¨C too rushed to land a fatal blow. Frost¡¯s arrival and the sudden addition of outsider forces changed the godslayer¡¯s plans, for he had wanted to wear Aegir down through attrition. Now he had to grasp at any opportunity that presented itself. ¡°General, be careful!¡± Brontes threw aside his sword, snatched up a pair of shields and then put himself between Aegir and the sword. The sword struck the crossed shields ¨C shields hard enough to easily deflect high caliber bullets ¨C and they shattered into dust. The leader of the vanguard forces was thrown violently to the ground, spitting up a mouthful of blood. Meanwhile, Wolfblade¡¯s sword had run out of power and returned to hover above his head. Not good! The godslayer¡¯s stamina was quickly running out, and elysian vanguard soldiers were closing in. The Dark Atom assault didn¡¯t let up. Suicide soldiers on either side of Wolfblade shook the field with berserker roars and threw themselves at the embattled but stubborn enemy. Aegir watched them come. He opened his mouth to mobilize a counteroffensive, but all that out was a trickle of blood. His silver mask destroyed, Brontes¡¯ face was covered in wounds. He knew their situation, and regardless of the danger shouted his orders. ¡°Protect the general at all costs! Protect the general for the glory of Skycloud and the border army!¡± ¡°Skycloud, forever!¡± The vanguard had only a handful of men left, and they were spent. How could they repel the Dark Atom¡¯s final, desperate attack on their own? Reflected in their eyes were the twisted, insane faces of the suicide soldiers as they neared. One after the other, these tired but driven soldiers threw their own bodies between the bombers and their general. They sacrificed themselves to prevent the rebels from getting to their leaders. Plumes of fire and smoke appeared. Explosions shook the battlefield as suicide vests detonated, their sound conveying crazed souls to the afterlife. Aegir¡¯s snow-white hair was stained with blood. A sad and bitter sense of heroism assailed him as he watched these brave men choose death. Witness these soldiers he commanded ¨C these were the defenders of Skycloud. True soldiers of god. If these were to be his final moments, there was nothing to mourn. If there was one regret, it was only that his sword had not cut down more heathens! Brontes and his soldiers were on the verge of breaking. Aegir raised his broken sword. He had prepared himself for the moment of his death long ago. He was ready to throw himself at the Dark Atom and greet his demise. But before he was given the chance, a shadow fell over him. A figure descended from above like an eagle, sweeping through the enemy forces. Where the shadow passed, the heads of Dark Atom soldiers flew off their shoulders. The general¡¯s defender was a middle-aged man in elysian armor with the insignia of the Talons of God. His hands moved too quickly to see what weapon he used to cut down his foes. It was the commander of the Talons, Roc! Roc was no typical soldier. He was also the last lauded member of the Polaris family, so while Aegir Polaris protected Skycloud along the border, Roc and his special forces protected Skycloud from within. Rarely did they meet face to face, but they held one another in high regard. Skycloud had three primary special forces. The first was the secretive Court of Shadows, and the second was the largely unknown Hell¡¯s Army. The Talons of God were a group directly under the auspices of the Polaris family, and its leadership were called Wardens. While Roc raced through the crowd, an enormous shield fell down from the sky. Aegir was encased in half a circle of solid metal. Despite how close the suicide soldiers where when they detonated, their explosions didn¡¯t touch the officer. Amid the roar of explosions rose a triumphant scream. The earth shook as an armored man hit the ground like a thousand ton metal beast. The enemies all around were crushed beneath him, and the shock wave from his impact scrambled the innards of those nearby. Of course no ordinary soldier was this strong. This was another commander, come to take his toll on the rebels. One was a Warden of the Talons of God. Another, Exemplar of the Guard Corps. By comparison, these men were somewhat weaker than Aegir in a fight. However, like the general they were also heroes of Skycloud, with long careers in leadership. With two divisions in tow, they had come in the nick of time to turn the tide of battle. Countless warships descended from above. Soldiers tumbled from their decks to join the fight. Wolfblade reacted, but too late. In an instant he was surrounded by elysian soldiers, everywhere he looked. Three figures had crept up behind before he even knew they were there. One was a beautiful woman with her long hair fluttering in the breeze. The second was hidden beneath a suit of malleable yet thick armor. Their third companion was a big man with a face crisscrossed by hideous scars. The three titans of Hell¡¯s Valley! ¡°I bet you had no idea what you were in for.¡± Roc stared at the oft-heard but rarely seen Dark Atom commander with cold eyes. ¡°Today is the day you¡¯ve got nowhere else to run.¡± True. Where could he turn? Wolfblade was spent. The suicide soldiers that were with him were all gone. What else was left to him, to battle such a group of elysian heroes? Any one of them could take his life! Aegir himself was surprised at how quickly they¡¯d arrived. ¡°Roc, stop wasting time and kill this sinner. Finish it!¡± The three giants of the valley fixed Wolfblade with hard, angry eyes. Natessa¡¯s ethereal whip of air was fully formed in her grip. Power sizzled through Dumont¡¯s armor. All of the potential within Ekchard¡¯s body was ready, poised for the instant he needed it. All three of them were like taught bowstrings. They were just waiting for the finger to release. At last, Wolfblade was at the end of his tether. His face did not betray fear, however. Instead there was a rather queer expression on his face. Regret. Yes, regret. Not that fate had conspired to lead him to this point. No ¨C it was the regret of a merchant who didn¡¯t get the deal he wanted. ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t catch the big fish, but a decent haul of shrimp is just as well.¡± Wolfblade''s lips slowly curled into a grin. He slowly reached into his robes and extracted something that looked like a small remote. ¡°It¡¯s time we all achieved Nirvana.¡± What was he thinking? It didn¡¯t matter, he couldn¡¯t be allowed to continue! These soldiers were men of talent and experience. There was no way they were going to allow Wolfblade to drag on a costly and wretched situation. Whatever this thing was he pulled out, under no circumstance could he be allowed to activate it. Between their overwhelming numbers, strength, and the close proximity to their target, they were confident they could do at least that. There were no words, no orders. Three valley giants and three elysian war heroes ¨C six warriors moving in using with an unstated understanding. They converged on Wolfblade. Fast¡­ too fast for him to press any sort of button. But the rebel leader didn¡¯t even try. He just smiled a small, condescending smile. General Aegir sensed something was amiss. Years of experience had taught him to trust his intuition. The smile on his face and the look in his eye was not the kind you saw on a man backed into a corner. It was the look of a hunter ready to pull the snare. A look of satisfaction. Why? What was he missing? His body and mind operated separately. Inwardly he wracked his brain for an answer, but his body gathered up all the potential of his cells and brought it to bear. No matter what, Wolfblade had to die. Even if he died with him. A sword shot out from within Roc¡¯s sleeve like a silver serpent. The Guard Corps commander charged headlong with his shield held high. Nor did Aegir hesitate. He poured every bit of strength he had left into his broken sword. In this key instant, as Aegir bore down on their enemy, his eyes were drawn to the three figures behind Wolfblade. When his eyes met theirs, in that moment he felt like someone poured a bucket of ice water over his head. Why didn¡¯t it feel like he was looking at allies? Instead what he saw in their eyes was the cold light of betrayal. Finally he understood. ¡°Careful!¡± Natessa¡¯s ten-meter long whip wrapped around Aegir¡¯s throat and pulled. As the skull soared into the air, the expression on its face was frozen in rage. Before it reached the ground Dumont charged ahead like a comet, smashing into the Guard commander. The large man¡¯s shield was blasted to pieces and he was knocked back several meters. What was left of him didn¡¯t look human at all. Eckard soared through the air to meet Roc. His attack was slowest, giving the Warden enough time to react. He wrenched himself to the side, but Eckard still hacked his arm from the socket[1]. Roc endured the intense pain long enough for another blade to leap from his right sleeve. Knocking the instructor¡¯s weapon away, he kicked the man back down onto the ground. ¡°You actually¡­ but why?!¡± Book 3, Chapter 92 - Nirvana, Annihilation The three giants of Hell¡¯s Valley: Natessa Windham, Dumont Cenhelm, Eckard Cutter. Each of them came from politically connected families! Skycloud nobility! Their backgrounds, education and records of service were spotless ¨C their loyalty had never once been in doubt. This went without saying. Otherwise, how could they be given command of the secret bastion in Hell¡¯s Valley? More importantly, there was a lot of bad blood between the valley and the Dark Atom, not least of which stemming from the rebel attack on the bastion three years ago and the events that followed. Three years ago, after the attack, Hell¡¯s Army was responsible for wiping out an entire elysian village. Razed to the ground, in order to root out any influence from the Dark Atom in Skycloud territory. Yes, it was precisely these two groups, who none would believe would ever collude toward any end, who were working in concert now. Wolfblade was saved. More than that, the giants of Hell¡¯s Valley had actually betrayed their elysian brothers and murdered fellow officers in cold blood. Two were dead, one was gravely injured. It didn¡¯t matter what reasons they had, or toward what end they did it ¨C attacking your own people was the direst of sins, from which there was no going back. Brontes and the soldiers of his vanguard stared in utter disbelief. Yet another was even more shaken by the act. Drake had cut through the enemy toward them in order to protect the general, just in time to see him die. Three years. It¡¯d only been a few months since he¡¯d graduated from that grueling experience. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined¡­ they were supposed to be the necessary evil! The darkness that defends the faith! How had they succumbed to evil? Natessa brought the whip back to her side. Her eyes were cold, heartless. It was the same indifferent gaze she used while giving the order to cut down innocent civilians. She looked out among the dumbstruck faces until she caught one among them, the lieutenant general newly arrived at the scene. For a moment, she and Drake just looked at one another. No explanation was given. None was needed ¨C wasn¡¯t this the way of Hell¡¯s Army? They never gave explanations for the things they did, and their victims were always left confused and left without answers. All that was ever said was ¡®it is necessary.¡¯ Thud! General Aegir¡¯s head struck the ground. His body, encased in golden armor and clutching the remains of his holy blade, stood in place for a long time. Blood continued to dribble from the jagged edges of his neck, signaling the departure of his life and heroic soul. Eckard, failing to kill Roc in the opening attack, brandished his sword and prepared for a second pass. Rage filled Drake¡¯s eyes. Charging at them with wild abandoned, he howled a challenge. ¡°Heh. Don¡¯t forget I taught you most of what you know, kid.¡± Eckard easily deflected Drake¡¯s attack. With an almost halfhearted kick he knocked the lieutenant general back. ¡°You think you can challenge your drillmaster with the little you know?¡± ¡°Traitor!¡± Drake scrambled back onto his feet. The skin between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand was split, wounded when he was disarmed. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. ¡°How could you defect to the Dark Atom?!¡± ¡°Wrong. We have not defected. We are merely using this opportunity to declare our independence from Skycloud.¡± Natessa had always been a woman of few words, speaking only when necessarily. This appeared to be one of those times. ¡°From now on, we three and our Hell¡¯s Army are people of the wastelands. We will no longer be subject to the orders of a distant tyrant.¡± ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°Why do you think!¡± Eckard¡¯s scarred face twisted into a hideous sneer, making him look even more sinister. ¡°Dumont has been in the valley for twenty years. Ten years of my life have been spent in service, and eight for Natessa. The things we¡¯ve done, others might not understand¡­ but you should.¡± The giants of Hell¡¯s Valley were capable people ¨C not just on the field of battle, but in many ways. If they were given leadership positions, they would excel. If they were given a standard commission in the army, training soldiers and leading them on missions, they would undoubtedly be successful. But they weren¡¯t. Instead they were cast out into the valley, where they did the dark deeds Skycloud couldn¡¯t do. No matter what they did or how long they served, they were cut off from the light. Mission after mission, bloody deeds that piled up without any sign of appreciation or acknowledgment of their contributions. Anyone would question their faith under these conditions. But no one had really considered this. No one knew how a life like that could change a person. ¡°I¡¯ve wasted ten years in Hell¡¯s Valley. I¡¯m done! I will not tolerate any more, will not pretend anymore!¡± Eckard was like a different man. He¡¯d always been wild, but now he shown naked lust and ambition. ¡°What did he expect? Throw me to the wastes, and that¡¯s where I¡¯ll grow roots. I won¡¯t listen to another word that motherfucker says.¡± Perhaps the only person who would understand the sentiment was Cloudhawk. How could someone like Drake, from a lauded family and born with all the blessings of Skycloud, grasp what they were saying? ¡°First, let me express my appreciation for letting the past remain in the past,¡± Wolfblade said to the three former instructors. ¡°Second, let me say I understand, and sympathize.¡± He grinned, and then slowly pushed the button in his hands. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to end this!¡± No sooner had his finger moved than the volcanic mountains around them echoed with the sounds of an alarm. The ear-ringing sound rose above the din of battle. It was a signal, the final warning that Nucleus¡¯ Nirvana defense was about to activate. Agents of the Dark Atom all over the battlefield blanched and scrambled to retreat toward whatever opening was closest. ¡°Time for us to go!¡± The giants of the valley wasted no time fighting Drake. Taking the warriors of Hell¡¯s Army, they followed Wolfblade in falling back. The Knights of Splendor were abandoning their assault as well, seeing their enemies scatter. That was when the explosions started. It was like the whole world was trying to tear itself apart. When the first volcano erupted, it spewed angry red light and pitch black smoke into the air. An airship unfortunate enough to be directly overhead was blown to pieces, which caught flame and came tumbling down the mountain sides. The pillar of liquid fire roared into the air. But eventually gravity would have its say. Orbs of angry red flame descended far and wide, a rain of devastation that covered the battlefield. Globs of liquid rock as large as a man¡¯s head fell in an unending torrent. Meanwhile the volcano kept belching more into the sky. As lava snaked down the mountain and peppered the battlefield, it was like a scene from the end of days. And this was merely the beginning. A second mountain, then a third, and a fourth all started to erupt in succession. All of the volcanoes around them began to release the angry red fury hidden in their depths. As more pillars of lava rose, the rain of death increased in volume and scope. Rivers formed and snaked through the fleeing crowds. At least airships had a chance, but the forces caught in the valley suddenly found themselves immersed in hell. Toxic volcano ash covered everything. Flames devoured everything they touched. Elysian soldiers and Dark Atom members too slow to react were caught in the deluge of fire. They found themselves faced with nowhere to go, no place to hide. All that was left to them was to scream in torment as they were burned to cinders. A trap! It had all been a trap! As the terrible attack dressed as a natural disaster raged, no one caught in the valleys below survived. Drake embraced the leadership role Aegir¡¯s death had thrust upon him, and stopped the soldiers from giving chase. ¡°Stop! I¡¯m ordering a full retreat!¡± ¡°Listen to him!¡± Roc was drenched in sweat. ¡°Gather up, look for a way out!¡± Would it be that easy? The lava spewed by these volcanoes was closing in from all directions. Hundreds of degrees of molten rock threatened to turn anything it touched to ash. Beyond these molten rivers were kilometers of valleys, bombarded by orbs of fire. The thin channeled between the maintains were all funnels leading right to their deaths. The remnants of the elysian army looked around desperately for any hope of survival, but it increasingly seemed that escape was not possible. Drake gathered a few men, but he only took a few steps before a scorching, stifling sensation brought him to a stop. Ash from the eruptions was filling his lungs and burning him from the inside out. He coughed fruitlessly and staggered as his head spun. Above them lava was cascading down the mountain side, headed their way. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Gods, save your devout servant!¡± What followed was a scene Drake would take to his grave. His soldiers froze under the weight of volcanic ash. They screamed as rivers of lava dissolved them from the bottom up. A hopelessness more intense than anything he¡¯d ever felt griped him, stole his breath. Then there was regret, for not listening to Cloudhawk¡¯s warning. These brave, heroic men didn¡¯t deserve to die like this! But there was nothing he could do. He, and all his men, were staring oblivion in the face. Lava was closing in. Drake, Brontes and Roc inched closer as the island of safety they stood upon steadily vanished beneath the angry red torrents. Death was inevitable, the only question was whether they would be melted, burned, or suffocated. And then, a flash. A figure appeared before him. ¡°Drake! Hold on! I¡¯ll get you out!¡± But the lieutenant general¡¯s face was downcast. ¡°No. I won¡¯t leave them behind. Help the others!¡± Cloudhawk was nervous and uncertain. Drake was a friend, he had to save him. But he was asking him to save a whole host of people, too. Besides Brontes and Roc, there were all the soldiers desperately trying to avoid the lava as it slowly rose. How was he supposed to save all of them by himself? Drake saw the uncertainly in Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°I will not leave them!¡± He had to fight the urge to knock Drake out and drag him away, but then Cloudhawk looked around at the sea of ash-covered faces. They were scared, some were crying. None of them wanted to be burned alive. As far as Cloudhawk was concerned, elysians and wastelanders ¨C it didn¡¯t matter. People were people. If he didn¡¯t condone the slaughter of wastelanders, how could he leave elysians to such a cruel fate, especially when friends were among them? ¡°Fine! Why the fuck not.¡± Cloudhawk shouted above the noise. ¡°Everyone gather up, hold tight!¡± Cloudhawk was left with no choice but to try something crazy. Once everyone was huddled he called on the phase stone and tried to spread its field of influence as far as he could. The only way they had a chance was if he could cover everyone in it and get them to safety. Otherwise, death would come for all of them! But it was easier said than done. Before today the most Cloudhawk had been able to manage was one other person. He never tried two, but it might have been possible. This time he really might have bitten off more than he could chew. No choice ¨C he had to try. Try something he never attempted before, pushing himself beyond all known limits. Life or death. That¡¯s what was on the line. Book 3, Chapter 93 - Breakthrough! Escape! The Dark Atom¡¯s Nirvana defense system was a man-made natural disaster ¨C a mass volcanic eruption they could somehow unleash at will. The Blisterpeak mountain range was a massive swath of territory, pock-marked with volcanoes ready to burst. If any one of them blew, then dozens of kilometers would be covered in deadly lava. What¡¯s more, the scale of even one volcano was monstrous. If just the mountain Nucleus was located under blew its top, the results were catastrophic. At the very least, elysian soldiers caught in the cataclysm would become hard pressed to find safety. A single person¡¯s strength in the face of nature¡¯s fury meant nothing. Once Nirvana was triggered, the area for kilometers around Nucleus would be buried beneath liquid stone and volcanic ash for a long time. Everything within range died, and for a long while the city would remain isolated from the outside world for it would be impossible to get close. In preparation for this, Nucleus had long ago established an enclosed ecosystem. They had food, water, and resources to keep itself going without outside help for the better part of a decade. It was their greatest trump card, only to be used in the most dire of circumstances. At the site of their great battle, the mountain range had already become a sea of lava. Ash lay over tides of angry red stone, thick as mud but surging like the tide. Its fiery glare painted the mountain sides in dramatic hues as swells of lava came sweeping through the valleys. Those caught in the open were washed away, dead before they could drown. In this moment, heaven and earth had no boundaries. Beyond the reach of the lava tides, orbs of it spat from the volcanoes were still falling. They struck the ground like missiles, sometimes dozens of kilometers away, stealing the safety of the air. Elysian warships dodged and weaved, but to no avail. Pyroclasts slammed into their hulls, blasted them apart and setting ablaze everything it touched. There was no succor for the humans caught in the blast zone. All of that bullshit he was spitting at Drake¡­ Cloudhawk never thought he¡¯d actually be right. It really was a trap. They were hiding all these years, making people think they were afraid of Skycloud, so that when they were actually discovered the elysians would come running. Of course they would throw everything they had at the Dark Atom, as quickly as they could before the rats could scurry away back into their holes. Little did they know, bringing their full might was playing right into the rebels¡¯ hands. The Dark Atom had held back on activating Nirvana, too. Wolfblade wanted his net full to bursting before he pulled in the haul. What a terrible cost the elysians had paid for their hatred! Cloudhawk never had much trouble getting himself out of sticky situations. This time it was a much taller order to save a whole squad of soldiers, and it was a task he very nearly failed. But he gritted his teeth and drew on everything inside of himself, recklessly drawing on his potential. Waves of stifling heat were closing in. He felt like his head might explode! Brontes and Roc felt the scorching heat wash over them and had already lost hope. How were they supposed to get out of this? Cloudhawk ignored their surroundings, focusing everything on the phase stone. There was an ocean of physic force within he, he¡¯d seen it! Why couldn¡¯t he call on that power for himself? Why was he always restricted to calling on such a small token of this inheritance? Why wasn¡¯t he given more? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t satisfied with boundaries. He needed what the stone could offer, it was the only way to save himself and the others from annihilation. ¡°Get out! Give it to me!¡± Drake saw him struggling. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it then save yourself. Get out of here!¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up! [1]¡± Cloudhawk had been born with a stubborn spirit, and it was that he drew on. Veins bulged on his forehead and the vessels in his eyes became engorged. ¡°Who says I can¡¯t do it?! I¡¯ll fuckin¡¯ show you what I can do!¡± Both will and body were pushed their highest limits when at last a blinding light burst from the phase stone. In the recesses of his mind Cloudhawk saw the sea of mental energy. A large margin of it evaporated, but did not vanish. Instead it hung in the darkness like a cloud, while a portion of it was drawn into him. To him it felt like a breath of fresh air. A cool gush of water flowing through his body and mind. His own mental energies were like a trickle, but now all of a sudden it was stream. Got it! I fuckin¡¯ got it! His elation wasn¡¯t because he succeeded in calling the stone¡¯s power. Cloudhawk was happy because he managed to make that power his own. This wasn¡¯t merely a surge of temporary strength, it was a breakthrough! Since obtaining the phase stone, it became the source of much of Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energies. Over time it gradually increased, but absorbing power from that dark sea was slow and laborious. The tremendous inheritance from the stone¡¯s former master was not easily transferred. Instead, as Cloudhawk got stronger he was able to finally push through the bottleneck and increase his capabilities. Over the last several years, improvement was exactly what Cloudhawk had been after. Step after step, hour after hour, finally he was reaping the benefits. He didn¡¯t know when he had the strength to refine some of the stone¡¯s power, only that now was the moment. He had been lacking impetus, but the deadly environment and his will to save Drake had given him that last push. At last, when everything was in place, he was finally able to push through the block that was keeping him back. ¡°It¡¯s no good! You need to go!¡± Drake had no idea what was happening within Cloudhawk. All he knew was that lava was quickly going to be lapping at their heels. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get away now, he would lose his chance. He respected the guy¡¯s intention. Drake just regretted not listening to him in the first place. If Cloudhawk died because of his stubbornness, his spirit would know no rest even once it was among the gods. ¡°Shut up!¡± Cloudhawk yelled back in frustration. It had come down to the moment. His newly enhanced powers reached out for the stone, joining with it. The combined might diffused out into the air around them to form a bubble with Cloudhawk at its center. It swelled until it embraced everyone and then¡­ They were gone. Drake saw it all like some kind of dream. A moment before the lava tumbling off the mountain sides reach them, he felt a strange, intense driving force. The molten tide swept over them ¨C but nothing. There was no burning, no heat of any kind. Before he knew it they were racing through the lava, faster than he could imagine and getting faster. Everything fell away. Dust, lava, the mountains, boulders¡­ all of it vanished behind them in faint streaks of light until finally they stopped. It all happened in a split second. Drake staggered and looked around. ¡°Wh-what happened?¡± By the looks on their faces, all the other soldiers had the same burning question. Truth was, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know. He focused on the stone, asking it to get them far from danger. When he opened his eyes, they were ten thousand of meters from the mountains. At this distance they were relatively safe. Teleportation! That had to be it, teleportation! Well, more precisely it were instantaneous travel. The stone¡¯s known powers were all related to space. Cloudhawk knew that the power he just used was different from phasing. It wasn¡¯t crossing dimensions, either. This time he was vanishing entirely from one place, and appearing somewhere else. All before he could even process it. Teleportation. Phasing, dimensional travel¡­ had he found another way this rock fucks with space? Was there anything it couldn¡¯t do? When Cloudhawk calmed down he decided to try it again. But when he tried a sharp pain wracked his body. It¡¯d taken every ounce of mental energy in him to bring all these people to safety. And that was a surprise. After his breakthrough Cloudhawk felt like he had the mental acuity to take on even a veteran demonhunter without needing his berserker rage. But even so, he¡¯d only had a single teleportation in him. The commander of the Talons of God stared at Cloudhawk in shock. ¡°Some sort of dimensional power?¡± Drake stared at him like he¡¯d never seen him before. ¡°How the hell have I never seen this?¡± ¡°Can we not flap our fucking gums over nonsense right now?!¡± He was spent, and he couldn¡¯t save them again even under threat of death. So he grit his teeth, and growled at them. ¡°We¡¯re not out of the shit yet. We need to get out of here, because I refuse to die with you dumbasses.¡± Falling chunks of lava began to fall around them, as though to punctuate their need to escape this lethal gorge.Everyone staggered forward as fast as they could, but all of them were exhausted. ¡°General! This way!¡± The hulking frame of a portly soldier lumbered into view. ¡°I¡¯ve scouted the area, there¡¯s a canyon we can use to get out of here. Everything else is overrun by rivers of lava. The canyon is our only way out.¡± Cloudhawk nodded in approval. ¡°Well done, Hammy!¡± This unit, which had been hiding in preparations for an ambush throughout the entire battle, was now proving its value. The soldiers, drained and wounded, quietly thanked Hammont¡¯s foresight. Without him they probably wouldn¡¯t have found shelter before the lava got to them. Only, just then, the whistling sound of something piercing the air rang out. A dozen figures fell from above. While they had arrived in resplendent white coats, the volcanic ash had turned them gray. The demonhunters¡¯ noble faces were smeared with soot, but it didn¡¯t detract from their majestic presence. One of them stepped forward, apparently of higher rank. "Where is the canyon?! Lead us there immediately!¡± Noble demonhunters! Hammont¡¯s heart beat a hundred miles a minute. He hurriedly answered. ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient, your Excellencies. Sir Cloudhawk and the lieutenant general just arrived.Let''s pool our resources, then move out together.¡± ¡°What did you say? Cloudhawk¡­!¡± The older demonhunter¡¯s eyes gleamed like an angry hawk, and just as keen picked out a figure among the crowd. Cloudhawk, nearly collapsed and surrounded by generals. An openly hostile light burned in the depths of his eyes. ¡°You!¡± Cloudhawk recognized the man immediately. It was Augustus Cloude, one of Arcturus¡¯ most trusted men! 1. ¡®Your mother¡¯s fart¡¯, lol Book 3, Chapter 94 - Another Unavoidable Confrontation Augustus Cloude recognized Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk remembered his face as well. However, he didn¡¯t remember what what happened between them ¨C though if the hatred in Augustus¡¯ eyes was any indication, it was nothing good. In this world one didn¡¯t love without reason, nor did one hate without cause. Augustus¡¯ initial sour impression of Cloudhawk stemmed from Frost¡¯s enmity, as Frost was convinced that the wastelander would soon grow to be a threat to their beloved governor. If Augustus Cloude was anything, it was steadfastly loyal. There was no doubt in his mind that Governor Arcturus was the greatest man in all of Skycloud. Anyone who posed a threat to him was immediately Augustus¡¯ mortal enemy. Time after time Frost tried to eradicate the boy, but always he escaped. Over time he even thrived, growing strong as quickly as the other great Skycloud talents. It would not be a surprise if he were a man of significant influence in just a few years, if left alone. Augustus feared Skye Polaris, though. He dared not upset the great bear of a man and cut down one of his favorite pets. He was helpless to deal with the threat standing before him. These survivors had lived thanks to the good fortune of Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival. On his own he¡¯d managed to save perhaps two thousand lives. It was the only thing to cheer for in the whole, wretched debacle that was their assault on Nucleus. Among his supporters were also formidable elysian officers. They recognized that the contribution Cloudhawk made to saving their lives was a meritorious act, and he could hold his head high. Of course, Cloudhawk¡¯s methods were far from altruistic. In saving their lives he made powerful friends. With time, those relationships would serve him well. When the officers did the math, it actually didn¡¯t seem so bad. The Dark Atom wasn¡¯t destroyed, but they sure as hell caused some damage. They lost, handily, but every storm cloud has a silver lining. They may have been defeated, but the consequences and implications of their attack were far-reaching. The border forces, the Guard Corps, the Talons of God¡­ these were all armies directly under Polaris-family control. Sadly they had been broken against the Dark Atom, nearly eradicated. For the waning martial family, the results of today could be said to be a nearly insurmountable tragedy. Skye Polaris had always been a check against the governor. He was maybe the only man in Skycloud that could stand in Arcturus¡¯ way. But what was left with which to exert pressure? Cloudhawk ¨C the young man he saved from death, who he¡¯d entrusted with an important mission out in the wastes. He was more important to the family than ever, and especially given Frost¡¯s dark prophecy they had to be careful of him. Whether on his own, or his role in a hostile family, Cloudhawk was a threat that couldn¡¯t be permitted to exist. Augustus¡¯ mind raced to find a way to deal with him. His thought process seemed complex, but flashed by in an instant. Then, in the most direct way possible, he reacted. Pulling out a crescent blade, thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, the weapon rose of its own accord from his hand. Pregnant with homicidal intent it burst into motion. No warning, no omen ¨C the weapon raced toward Cloudhawk at twice the speed of sound! When this thorn in their side was dead, the Polaris family would be weaker than ever. At last Arcturus would have full control of Skycloud city! After the series of brutal attacks Drake felt numb. However, the sudden attack on Cloudhawk¡¯s life from a supposed ally once again took him by surprise. His first instinct was to shout a command. ¡°Hold!¡± A streak of silver light flashed from Roc¡¯s right sleeve, quickly revealing itself to be a snake-like wave-bladed sword. He moved it so quick that a web of steel separated Cloudhawk from Augustus¡¯ relic, knocking it away. Cloudhawk balked, full of confusion. Was this motherfucker crazy? He didn¡¯t remember killing the guy¡¯s dad or screwing his wife, so what the fuck?! ¡°That battle stole the lives of some of our best. It had to be the work of a spy!¡± Augustus stared accusingly at Cloudhawk. ¡°We have long suspected this fiend to be working with the demon. He saved you as a clumsy means of hiding his intentions. We can not allow him to make it back to Skycloud!¡± ¡°What absolute bullshit!¡± Drake responded, losing his temper. ¡°Where¡¯s your proof?!¡± ¡°You want proof? Three years ago he infiltrated Skycloud from the wastelands, with a demon relic in hand, claiming to have killed such a monster on his own!¡± Augustus was a clever man. In a blink he knew what to say to expose this traitor. ¡°Today we saw that demon on the field, with his gospel of sand in hand and used to cut down our brothers! If it weren¡¯t for that monster I would have eliminated the Dark Atom years ago. You still have the gall to stand there and deny that he works with the demon? Look at him ¨C look at what he is capable of now. You mean to tell me that three years ago he fought a demon on his own and won? How do you explain the gospel that he once held suddenly again in the hands of a beast that should be dead?¡± The words were cutting, and persuasive. It seemed as though Cloudhawk had nothing to say. How could he explain any of this truthfully? Although he had been painted into a corner, Cloudhawk remained calm. ¡°I can explain everything about the gospel, but it is up to a court to decide whether or not to act on the information. Trying to kill me without a verdict is shady as hell. It¡¯s almost like you¡¯re trying to kill me to keep me quiet.¡± Drake was convinced of Cloudhawk¡¯s innocence. How could he be a demon spy? Without him they would all have died in the valley, and someone working for the enemy wouldn¡¯t have any reason to spare their lives. Augustus¡¯ words were nothing more than mean-spirited slander! Hammont and the other soldiers were just as indignant. Augustus brought up important questions, but it was hardly enough to warrant cold-blooded murder. Sentencing a man to death on suspicion alone was rushed and excessive! However, he was a demonhunter ¨C a veteran, and from a noble family to boot. No lowly soldier was going to stand in his way. They could only silently protest his actions. Roc¡¯s blade had illustrated his position on the matter. His full name was Roc Polaris, and completely loyal to his family. How could he not be aware of Augustus¡¯ true aim? Augustus continued to urge his moonblade forward, desperately trying to behead Cloudhawk. But although the Talon commander was crippled, he still had one good arm. The steel defense was impenetrable. At the same time the soldiers did not react to Augustus¡¯ commands to cut down the traitor, a fact that made him furious. But it didn¡¯t matter. He had a dozen demonhunters who were sworn to obey! ¡°Everyone, after him! He must die today!¡± A veteran demonhunter and a dozen of his compatriots. It was a squad equipped to kill a demon! Baffled though they were, the demonhunter were nonetheless trained and sworn to the Cloude family. Augustus¡¯ commands were law, so they brandished their relics and splayed out in preparation to attack. ¡°Men who were saved by Cloudhawk¡¯s hand! Are you willing to stand by and watch as these demonhunters cut him down without cause?¡± Drake called out to the soldiers. ¡°We are a nation built on laws! Even if he is a Cloude, the name does not give him the right to kill a demonhunter at a whim! If you¡¯re brave enough to stand for justice, then fight with me!¡± Hammont felt a surge of emotion rising to his head. He was a small, insignificant man, but he trusted Cloudhawk. He found Augustus behavior worthy of disdain, so it was the Magistrate who first lifted his blade to aid the lieutenant-general. The gorge rang with the sword of swords being drawn, as the remaining elysian soldiers came to Cloudhawk¡¯s defense. No one said a word. Their silence was a deafening protest. Only one man hesitated. The commander of the vanguard, Brontes. Cloudhawk had recognized the man, and of course Brontes remembered Cloudhawk. He knew Cloudhawk came from the wastelands, and he remembered the chase from years ago. It was the only time in his military career that he had been defeated. Was Cloudhawk as clean as he wanted everyone to believe? But doubtful or not, he didn¡¯t believe the demonhunter deserved to be slaughtered out here like a dog! Suddenly faced with the prospect of fighting their own countrymen, the demonhunters paused. Did Augustus really want them to fight their own side, here in enemy territory? Thousands were dead already, what would they think if word got back to Skycloud that they were killing their own after such a tragedy? ¡°Just try and screw with my brother!¡± Drake was emboldened upon seeing the soldiers stand behind him. Inwardly he couldn¡¯t help but feel relief. He hefted the broken sword left behind by their fallen general and spoke to his compatriots in a booming voice. ¡°Augustus Cloude is trying to murder a good man! His intentions are clearly malicious ¨C arrest him!¡± The rallying shouts made Cloudhawk¡¯s heart soar. Surviving had never been easy for him, so he cherished every friend he made. Never in his life had he ever had so many willing to stand by his side, and in that moment he really felt like he was part of a crew. Hammont and the thousand-strong remaining soldiers brandished their weapons, ready to act. Demonhunters were lauded warriors of god, but Drake was their commander! A soldier¡¯s first duty was to obey orders ¨C nothing else was as important. What¡¯s more, despite the great respect they held for demonhunters, to them their actions here were unfounded. In that moment Augustus knew his plan had failed. The men with him were also preparing to stand down. Yet as it seemed the situation was about to deescalate, a sound emerged from gorge nearby. ¡°It¡¯s taken you so long I thought everyone died on the mountain. Instead it turns out you¡¯re too busy trying to murder each other.¡± Squall finally emerged from the gorge with a large group of men. He looked at the soldiers and demonhunters, noting their tense standoff with a grin. ¡°Elysians dogs nipping at one another. Quite the sight.¡± His sudden appearance took everyone by surprise. Drake called out. ¡°Who goes there?¡± Squall sniffed in laughter, revealing his white teeth. ¡°The one who will be burying your corpses. Watching you all squabble for half the day, we were growing impatient. I figured we¡¯d come along and help you along your journey to the afterlife. It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t need to thank you.¡± Terror gripped Cloudhawk. ¡°Squall!¡± Why was it that this fucking guy haunted him always at the worst possible times? Squall hadn¡¯t noticed Cloudhawk at first. After all, everyone looked the same caked in volcanic ash. Only now was it clear he was among them, and that he was the cause of their conflict. ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± Squall¡¯s expression shifted to something strange. ¡°We¡¯re always running into one another! Well, if one thing is clear it¡¯s that you sure love to cause a scene. Go on, fuck off. I¡¯m tired of looking at you.¡± Hey! I should be saying that to you, asshole! The two men were something between friends and enemies. Or, perhaps more accurately they were mirror images. The world was a fucking lousy place, and it seemed like it was always just the thing you wanted to avoid was what came to bite you in the ass. Like Cloudhawk and Squall, or Squall and Old Thistle. Three-Eyed Spider also recognized the young man who had caused him so much pain. Although the chief culprits of his sorry condition were Wolfblade and Hellflower, Cloudhawk had been the catalyst that got it all started. As a result he had just as much of a reason to want him dead as Augustus. But the old scientist was a smart man. He was able to read the crowd at a glance. It appeared Cloudhawk had some sort of relationship with his new benefactor, and Squall seemed ready to let him go with his life. How was that acceptable? As far as Three-Eyed Spider was concerned, letting that scoundrel life was just trading trouble now for disaster later. A poisonous thought wormed its way into the old man¡¯s brain. He stepped out from the crowd and fixed Cloudhawk with his steely gaze. ¡°Cloudhawk, you had contact with both Wolfblade and Hellflower. It was because of you that I have been kicked out of the Dark Atom. Now I see you are among the elysians. From this perspective, it seems you are working both sides against one another. In all my years, I¡¯ve never seen such a brazen man!¡± The moment he said it, all the faces in the crowd around Cloudhawk changed. Drake and the others looked at him in betrayed shock. Fuck, Cloudhawk thought. That old man really screwed me. Book 3, Chapter 95 - Hostility So Three-Eyed Spider was colluding with Squall. And it wasn¡¯t just the scientist, either. He recognized a number of familiar faces. One of them was a fierce-looking fat man with an enormous ax. Wasn¡¯t that the governor of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, Ravenous Tiger? Since when did he become a mercenary? Incredible. All of a sudden Squall had a crew of these assholes, and not your typical run-of-the-mill assholes either. Didn¡¯t he know that if he raised a bunch of snakes, he was liable to get bit? But it wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk was going to give him advice right now. Three-Eyed Spider was smart, and vicious. He couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°My orders were to scheme a way into the heart of the Dark Atom, and to do that I needed to get your dumb ass out of the way. I didn¡¯t think a mangy bitch like you would find another master so quick after getting thrown out of the kennel.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s tongue was as sharp as anyone¡¯s. Three-Eyed Spider, in all his arrogance, was furious at the vile things the bastard was calling him. Cloudhawk turned to the others. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by this clumsy bullshit. It looks suspicious, no doubt, but these fucks are capitalizing on your doubts to make us fight each other. Meanwhile they¡¯ll sit there and watch us kill each other, then mop up what¡¯s left. Don¡¯t fall for it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Hammont stepped up. ¡°Back in Sandbar Outpost, Sir Cloudhawk led me and my men to a terrorist cell and eliminated them! How could he be working for the Dark Atom?¡± In this moment it didn¡¯t matter what was going on in his own heart - Drake was determined to stand by Cloudhawk¡¯s side. ¡°He suffered with me side by side in Hell¡¯s Valley for three years. I know the kind of person he is, and he¡¯s no traitor. Don¡¯t let these blasphemers cloud your mind with their lies!¡± ¡°So eager to absolve him of his sins¡­ rather illustrative that Cloudhawk has something to hide.¡± Augustus offered a cold chuckle. ¡°As far as I can tell, this whole disaster is his fault. In the midst of an emergency, it is better to kill a threat immediately, rather than to wait for his knife to appear in your back later.¡± The other demonhunters looked gravely upon Cloudhawk with hard, agreeing expressions. Anger bubbled up inside the wastelander. It was pretty clear that nothing was going to convince this obnoxious shithead to give him a break. More escaped the destruction of Nirvana than Squall anticipated. Among the survivors were a number of demonhunters and military officers ¨C a force to reckoned with. In a straight fight, the cost would be high. Now, with distrust sown among them, the demonhunters and elysians soldiers would at least not be working together against the Highwaymen. It was as good a time as enemy for them to put these mongrels down. Ravenous Tiger began to pour energy into his battleax. Others soon took his lead and prepared to attack. ¡°Careful!¡± Drake looked between the demonhunters and the bloodthirsty wastelanders. His voice came in a dangerous growl. ¡°Augustus is acting against the law. When we fight, make sure you keep an eye out for surprise attacks.¡± Roc understood what he was getting at. Augustus was the governor¡¯s trusted man. The men with him were demonhunters employed by the family. Everything they did, they did for the benefit of the governor¡¯s mansion. Weighing the conditions right now, Cloudhawk was a more valuable target to them than a group of wasteland thugs. As for them? Augustus would be more than happy to cut Drake and Roc¡¯s heads from their shoulders. With them out of the picture it would be easier for Arcturus to consolidate power over Skycloud city. Augustus muttered to the demonhunters with him. ¡°They will be distracted between defending Cloudhawk and fighting the wastelanders. The officers themselves will stay by the spy¡¯s side. We just need to wait for the right time. Remember, he doesn¡¯t leave this gorge alive. He is Polaris¡¯ man, and stands against our governor. Spare no effort to protect our governor and our city!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± One of the veteran demonhunters with him spoke up. ¡°He¡¯s already exhausted. Any one of us can kill him with a hand tied behind our back. All of us together, he¡¯s as good as dead. The demonhunters crouched, ready to spring into action. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk watched it all begin to unfold. He couldn¡¯t help but suppress a bitter laugh. It¡¯d cost him so much effort to get out of that deathtrap in one piece, and he did it with a bunch of others. In the background the volcanoes were still raging. Lava and ash could envelop them at any moment ¨C yet here they were, stumbling into a new danger when the old one was still nipping at their heels. Who knew what the end of this day would have in store! Ravenous Tiger was on the cusp of giving the order to attack. The wastelanders and the elysians were posturing themselves for a final charge. Augustus and his group of murderers were circling their prey. Suddenly, in this instant they were all distracted by an imperial voice echoing through the gorge. ¡°Who told you attack? Who¡¯s the goddamn boss here? Everyone, back off!¡± Squall¡¯s frigid eyes swept over his people. Those they fell upon felt a chill run through them. An intense air of cruel brutality billowed from him in a way they never felt before, forcing his people to stand down. Squall dragged his eyes away from his men, and pinned them on Augustus. [1] They were colder and more lethal than any blade. When he spoke, his words were slow, each syllable carefully enunciated. ¡°Anyone who wants to go can go. Anyone ¨C except you. You will die today.¡± His bloodthirsty intent seemed the fill the whole area. But Augustus was at a loss. Why? What was going on? Hatred like this didn¡¯t come out of the blue. It grew from the darkest parts of a man¡¯s heart over years. He traced it to this young man, but Augustus was sure he had never seen him before. But of course he had, only... the years had changed Squall dramatically. Besides, he was a nobody when Augustus killed his father ¨C a lowly merchant unworthy of the demonhunter¡¯s memories. But then he remembered. Looking into the deep wells of hatred that were Squall¡¯s eyes, it all became clear. Him! But how? He had been a nobody, quiet and insignificant. How, after only a few years, had he become something like¡­ this? It was hard to believe. He couldn¡¯t have achieved all this on his own. Who was he getting help from? What organization did he work for? What had happened over the last several years to have him end up here? All the while, Squall stared unblinking at his quarry. He was afraid that if he took his eyes off the demonhunter for a single moment, that he would disappear. Visibility was low in the canyon, and Augustus was covered in ash. He¡¯d only just recognized that face ¨C a face he would never forget. Squall¡¯s bloodshot eyes were wide, and a frenzied rage boiled up inside him. It emerged on his face as an expression of such intense hatred that all who saw would remember it forever. He never forgot. Would never forget. How could he? Old Thistle had raised him, a good and faithful father. Just a merchant trying to do good by his people. He worked hard, kept the faith, spending the better part of his life toiling to make life better for other people. He had never been one for an ostentatious lifestyle, never sought to live beyond his means. All he ever wanted was to earn a respectable life for the people of his small merchant company. He worked so hard he had no time for a woman, no opportunity for a child. If it could be said that he had one wild desire, it was that the young man he raised could grow to become a respectable demhonunter, and bring honor to the family. Did the gods really think that was so unreasonable? Squall had been raised by the old merchant from when he was small. His generous and lighthearted personality had probably come from that upbringing. Like his foster father, Squall never had any great ambitions. He worshiped Arcturus Cloude like so many others and hoped that one day he could be a noble demonhunter, bringing glory to the realm. It was also a way to pay Old Thistle back for everything he¡¯d done, that one day he could look at Squall with pride and know that all his hard work had paid off. Was that too much to ask? Fate had been cruel to his father, a good man! It wasn¡¯t the robbers of the wasteland that took his life, it was a demonhunter. This demonhunter. How desperate he must have felt at the end? Fate had been cruel to Squall, too. He had been forced to watch as his father was beheaded. He still remembered how old Thistle¡¯s blood felt as it sprayed across his face. He¡¯d been so helpless¡­ In the years that followed he was lost to darkness. He had done all manner of evil things, so that now his hands were as stained with blood as the beast who made him this way. He¡¯d gone down a road there was no coming back from, but it was the price he willingly paid for power. The power to do what he had to do, to protect the people who were important to him. The gods had stopped listening, so he turned his prayers to the devil. This¡­ this animal. He was the one that killed his father. He was the one who destroyed Squall''s happy life! In his dreams Squall had murdered Augustus a million different ways.Now he had to choose which one to bring into reality. What luck that he should appear right here before him, almost as though it was by divine will ¨C or a demon¡¯s. Squall managed to restrain his rage with considerable effort. ¡°Out of my way! No one is permitted to get involved. I am going to kill this man with my own hands.¡± ¡°You?¡± Augustus felt as though the whelp was insulting his abilities. ¡°You absolute fool! Let him have his wish! No one intervene! I will get rid of this filth that slipped through my fingers years ago.¡± Neither side understood what was happening, but they could guess. Ravenous Tiger and Three-Eyed Spider were not pleased. The young man¡¯s passions were delaying their work. He was letting his emotions get the better of him, and in doing so destroyed a perfect opportunity. Augustus obviously held Squall in very little regard. Cloudhawk was surprised by his former friend¡¯s decision. Three years ago he wasn¡¯t even qualified to study as a demonhunter, what made him think that he had the strength to prevail? His opponent was a veteran demonhunter, one of Arcturus¡¯ most trusted men. He surely hadn¡¯t been wasting the last three years either. Squall clenched his fist and flexed his muscles. The bandages that hid his left arm ripped inch by inch. Gushing, inky-black gas poured from the tears and coiled around his arm like vipers. Squall¡¯s typically average-sized arm actually swelled, while the tattoos scrawled along his flesh became scales. Blackish-purple nails several inches long stretched from his fingers. ¡°An implanted relic.¡± Augustus narrowed his eyes as he watched the display. ¡°Before inserting it into the body, you have to remove the thing it is replacing. The process is more painful than most can handle. However you got it ¨C by fair means or foul ¨C it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m not afraid of an arm.¡± He spat the words condescendingly, and in the same moment his whisper-thin crescent blade began to rotate. Immediately the power it emanated overcame Squall¡¯s presence. Dust and ash were thrust several meters away from the epicenter as it spun, so fast that the blade became a disk as brilliant as a full moon and as blinding as the sun. Under Augustus¡¯ command, even tungsten steel was no impediment. Cloudhawk watched from the sideline with his eyes narrowed. It was no good, the discrepancy in power was too great. In this circumstance, with everyone¡¯s eyes on them, there was nothing Cloudhawk do to intervene. Besides, even if he wanted to help he didn¡¯t have the strength. As for Squall¡¯s henchmen? They didn¡¯t care if he died, it would just be an opportunity for the Tiger or the Spider to seize the reigns. No help would be forthcoming from them. However, Blackfiend did begin to move. Energy poured out of its inky-black body and into Squall¡¯s arm until it throbbed with power. All of that energy appeared to solidify inside him. The tattoos etched in his arm were clear and discernible, as monstrous as a demon¡¯s own. All of a sudden his strength surged to several times what it had been. Augustus¡¯ face froze, but his hesitation was only temporary. He rushed to be the first one to attack. Squall had spent countless nights fantasizing about just this moment. He clung to that as his power gathered to its highest point. He focused it all into his fist and released it, answering the demonhunter with a punch of such concussive force it rivaled a missile blast. The crushing momentum washed over Augustus. The scene took everyone¡¯s breath away. Squall¡¯s sudden burst of strength was enough to overpower a veteran demonhunter! Augustus quickly switched his focus to defense, but it was too late. A shell of protection sprang up around him but shattered in the instant of impact. He was launched backward at break-neck speed. Meanwhile blood was seeping from every pore in Squall¡¯s body. His hair was wild, and the madness in his eyes was more befitting a demon. Suddenly he hurled himself into the air and started to gather his strength once more. His target was the prostrate demonhunter who was still recovering from the unexpected blow. But the other members of his squad could not suffer to watch him get beaten into oblivion. They began to summon the power of their relics to kill Squall before he could reach Augustus. After a moment of surprise, Ravenous Tiger rejoiced. Good! Incredible ability, he¡¯s managed to hide it well all this time. A good thing I didn¡¯t have to learn it the hard way. With any luck, he dies here in this gorge! 1. XL: Did you forget he saw this shit kill his dad in front of his eyes? I did. RWX - Me too! Book 3, Chapter 96 - Wars End Squall charged recklessly at Augustus with all the might of his dark power. The consequence was significant self-inflicted damage, and the other demonhunters capitalized on the opening he gave them. He wasn¡¯t going to be able to protect himself. Cloudhawk wanted to help, but he couldn¡¯t. The resonance of a dozen or so relics was almost deafening. It seemed like Squall would be blasted apart in moments. Hatred had devoured all reason. What harm would there be in escaping to try again another time? At best he was going to die with his enemy! The man¡¯s unbridled insanity had taken Augustus by surprise. Was he willing to destroy himself to drag them both to hell? He felt the threat of mortal danger wash over him. A hundred battles, a thousand threats¡­ he never would have guessed this was how he would die. But the danger was suddenly interrupted when a sword surrounded by an aura of frost streaked down from the sky and buried itself in the ground between Augustus and his foe. Blue-white energy diffused through the area like a fog that swallowed up everything in a given radius. The frost borne by the sword was unique. It caused no damage to flesh, but had a distinct effect on nearby relics. The various weapons of the demonhunters stopped without warning in mid-flight, their energy stolen. Squall¡¯s arm was no different, and suddenly he found that all the strength he¡¯d accumulated had vanished. Frost de Winter descended into the gorge with his men in tow. They were all covered in soot with the exception of Frost himself, whose resplendent armor glimmered in the light. He landed by his sword and wrenched it from the ground. Brandishing Frozen Dirge with his other hand, he threw it toward the one still charging ahead. Squall was caught by the spear in the chest. The impact immediately stopped his forward momentum, and the blood that poured from his mouth steamed and congealed like half-frozen ice. ¡°You¡¯re alright.¡± Frost helped Augustus up from the ground. He was covered in hoarfrost and shivered, but it wasn¡¯t the cold that made him quake. Augustus couldn¡¯t feel it ¨C the connection between him and his relics had been severed entirely. ¡°This is the secret power of Rimeshard? It can restrain the power of other relics!¡± Frost¡¯s heavenly sword repressed every relic in its sphere of influence instantaneously. All of that power, vanished. Rimeshard created a sort of static field that counteracted a relic¡¯s resonance. Unless Frost was facing a foe much stronger than him, they couldn¡¯t break the lock. All they could do was wait for Rimeshard¡¯s power to wane. Augustus was grateful for it, for it¡¯d saved his life. Cloudhawk¡¯s innate ability allowed him to distinguish and connect with a relic¡¯s song. He was able to sense what no one else could. He knew right away that the sword was special. Its own power wasn¡¯t any spectacular, but the ability to deactivate relics was. No wonder, then, that Frost had been able to completely disregard the Caliph¡¯s sand powers. His most threatening combat weapon was Frozen Dirge. With that sword as support, it made a man already notoriously powerful even more difficult to deal with. Squall was forced to retreat back to his men. Blackfiend, Greensnake and Gremlin quickly surrounded him for protection. Frost stood before the gathered survivors with Rimeshard in one hand and Frozen Dirge in the other. His jade-like armor sparkled in what little light there was, while his pure white cloak flapped heroically in the breeze. He peered upon the others with an aloof, elegant indifference with eyes like frozen pools. His presence was enough to shake the onlookers, even if he stood before them alone. Three-Eyed Spider opened his third eye and searched the newcomer. His face was plastered with an unhappy scowl. What an unpleasant surprise, to find that the elysians had a young man like this among them. Ravenous Tiger was also soured on the idea of conflict, especially since Frost had come with his own contingent of demonhunters. The Highwaymen were in better condition for a fight, but what would that get them? Best case scenario, they destroyed each other, and that wasn¡¯t worth it. ¡°So long as I¡¯m alive, I will haunt your nightmares. And one day¡­ one day they¡¯ll come true. I promise.¡± Clutching his chest, Squall glared daggers at Augustus. ¡°Remember, every dark corner¡­ every shadow¡­ every black crevice ¨C I¡¯ll be watching. I will curse your name with my every breath until the day you die. And when you do, I¡¯ll make damn sure your spirit never knows rest!¡± Ravenous Tiger and Three-Eyed Spider exchanged a glance. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Frost watched the wastelanders go, his sweeping eyebrows slightly furrowed. He did not give chase. Frost was strong, but even he had his limits. After the taxing battle with Wyrmsole he was only slightly less exhausted than Cloudhawk. The other demonhunters were wounded and tired. Now was not the time to pursue conflict. At last Frost¡¯s gaze turned to Cloudhawk, hard and unfriendly. Their animosity ran deep and had festered long. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t afraid. He met his stare unflinchingly, even smiled. With a mocking tone he greted his old nemesis. ¡°You make quite an entrance. It¡¯s been a long time, but obviously even in defeat you still like to show off. How can a loser still have so much confidence? It¡¯s shameful, really.¡± One of the demonhunters lurched forward threateningly. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Cloudhawk hardly paid them any mind. ¡°I¡¯m talking shit about your commander, Frost de Winter.¡± Drake knew that Cloudhawk was talking about their fight three years ago, when Cloudhawk and the Tartarus squad defeated Frost in the outskirts of Teal Ridge. Recognizing that his friend was using an old wound to cause problems he was ashamed on his behalf. Inwardly he urged Cloudhawk to keep his mouth shut. If it really came to blows, things were not going to end well for anyone. Of course, Cloudhawk was not the least bit concerned. He knew just the sort of person Frost was. Conceited, hot-tempered. The more you provoked him, the less he knew how to respond. As a man who couldn¡¯t admit defeat, his first instinct would be to find a level playing field to redress these insults. The situation being what it was, killing Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t an option. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk had just experienced a breakthrough. Although he didn¡¯t know exactly how much he¡¯d improved, perhaps it was enough to go toe to toe with this sanctimonious shit-nugget. All of the demonhunters present were under Frost¡¯s command. Cloudhawk¡¯s insult infuriated them all, but none more so than Augustus. Frost was the governor¡¯s personal disciple, so an insult against him was spitting in the face of their illustrious leader. Besmirching any of the men here was one thing, but insulting Arcturus Cloude was unacceptable. Frost was like a sculpture of ice, nothing changed in his expression. His response was tepid. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you today. Grow stronger, and one day far¡­ far in the future when we are on more equal footing I will show you exactly how ignorant you are.¡± ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re issuing a challenge then I accept. I¡¯d be more than happy to help you find all the teeth I knock out afterward.¡± Cloudhawk was physically incapable of holding back his sarcastic remarks. It was a compulsion. But while he still had a litany of irritating things to say, now wasn¡¯t the time. Lava was still creeping toward their position and if they didn¡¯t go soon, it would be too late. Forsaking a few choice phrases of his own, Frost hoisted Frozen Dirge and took the lead. By now a lake of molten stone separated them from their escape, but he walked onto it without hesitation. The moment his boots touched the lava it hardened, stretching out in a straight path toward safety. All the remaining survivors filed along in tow. Cloudhawk followed Drake and his men until they got far away from the Blisterpeaks, then went his own way. Drake and the border forces had a bitter reality to face when they got back, and Cloudhawk had his own important matters to deal with. Now wasn¡¯t the time for him to return to Skycloud. ¡°This was General Aegir Polaris¡¯ sword.¡± Before parting, Drake handed Cloudhawk what remained of the blessed weapon. ¡°With his death, much of the Polaris family¡¯s influence is gone. That means the elysian army is weak. I think it¡¯s fair to expect Arcturus Cloude will use this opportunity to strengthen his position, so it¡¯s time to make a stand. The governor is a remarkable man, but having the entire city under one family¡¯s control is not for the good of all.¡± Cloudhawk understood what Drake was saying. He wanted him to deliver Aegir¡¯s sword to General Skye ¨C and he hoped that Cloudhawk might work to make sure Arcturus didn¡¯t become the only power in all of Skycloud. Cloudhawk accepted the blade. As for the rest, he would need time to decide. By the end of the war for the Blisterpeaks, tens of thousands of elysian soldiers had lost their lives. Hell¡¯s Army defected under no uncertain terms. Either one of these events would sweep through Skycloud like wildfire. Both together would shake its very foundation. The aftermath of this conflict would be far-reaching, and change the world as they knew it. Eruptions continued for several more days and nights, all throughout the Blisterpeaks. By the time the lava slowed to a trickle, the mountain ranges returned to normal ¨C but for the thousands of blackened corpses that were littered among the valleys. There were elysians and wastelanders, though it was hard to tell which was which after the fires claimed them. Once Nirvana was initiated, those that were too slow in escaping succumbed to the heat and suffocating ash. Those that weren¡¯t incinerated by the lava lined the mountain sides as twisted sculptures. Many of them were frozen in the positions in which they died. Some were mid step, others were huddled in despair. A few knelt in prayer while many were locked in eternal combat. The disaster had encompassed nearly all on the battlefield. The tragedy was perfectly preserved here for all eternity. Thousands upon thousands of lives ¨C gone because of the war between faith and survival. Their reward was eternal slumber, forgotten out here among the ash and obsidian. When it was safe, Cloudhawk returned to the valley. What had always been a dead world was now covered in a blanket of ash, with rivers of lava beneath. He imagined it would remain this way for a long, long time. He peered through Oddball¡¯s eyes and saw it was the same all around. Spectacular¡­ and cruel. Nature is and will always be the greatest artist. It was the kind of picture that should be shared with everyone. To show them what war brings, how fragile life was. But even if they knew, would the killing stop? No¡­ no it wouldn¡¯t. The killing would never stop. The only consequence of war was more war. Death only lead to more death. In the end it would only stop when there was no one else to fight and no one else to kill. History would open a new chapter ¨C and then it would all start again. For all man¡¯s accomplishments they were too weak to stop the inevitable return. A three-meter tall figure that looked like a pile of rocks stood by his side. Scars marred several parts of his body though he seemed to have recovered from the numerous wounds. An extraordinary mutant, indeed. ¡°I decide not go,¡± Coal said as they looked out over the valleys. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t expect that. ¡°You changed your mind?¡± For a few seconds Coal was silent, dropping his eyes to the floor. ¡°I cannot go with you.¡±A frown touched Cloudhawk¡¯s face. He thought he knew why. ¡°I saw you save two men. Enemies of Coal ¨C men Coal swear to kill. You are friend to Coal, do not want bring trouble to friend. So I cannot go.¡± It took effort for Coal to put his thoughts into foreign words, but he got his point across. Cloudhawk understood. Coal looked at Cloudhawk as a friend, but the blood of his people demanded vengeance. If he chose to travel the wastelands with Cloudhawk, eventually he would cross paths with the ones who destroyed his family. That would put his friend in a tough position. The only option was to part ways. Coal asked a question. ¡°When I kill, you try stop?¡± Cloudhawk answered. ¡°If someone tries to kill me, would you stop them?¡± ¡°You are friend. You save Volcano Tribe. Coal die before you die.¡± His broken words were filled with conviction. ¡°I know. Understand what I must do. Kill them when you not there, so you not stop.¡± The mutant made no effort to hide his intentions from Cloudhawk. That was who he was ¨C pure, open to expressing what was in his heart. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t in a place to try and dissuade Coal from his path of vengeance. Anyway, Coal had the right. It was his responsibility, and more than that it was his destiny. No one could criticize his decision. If Cloudhawk tried to convince him otherwise because Drake was a friend, it would be nothing short of stupid and selfish. His heart sank. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± ¡°Join Dark Atom.¡± Coal gave his answer without hesitation. ¡°Train. Become strong. Only strong can get revenge.¡± Coal had been born with a gift. In all his travels Cloudhawk had never seen anyone build upon their mutation like he had. If Coal joined the Dark Atom, they would give him a more effective and systematic form of training, teaching him how to use weapons. Practically turning him into a weapon. With the help of all their technology he would grow strong, smart, and capable. How strong would he be when he emerged again into the world? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know, stronger than he would believe to be sure. But what worried him more than that was what Coal would become to the Dark Atom. In joining them he would be a tool, used at their discretion. Cloudhawk had always been careful to avoid stepping into conspiratorial circles, but who would be there to protect Coal and help him get free? There was no going back from some decisions, but Cloudhawk had no right to try and educate his friend. The Dark Atom was the only place that would take him in.It was his only chance to get strong fast. Their grim conversation was interrupted by an explosion. Several wasteland airships emerged from nearby calderas and started for the borders of the Blisterpeak mountains. Cloudhawk knew when he saw them that they carried Dark Atom agents to seed throughout the wastelands. The war for the Blisterpeaks had opened the flood gates. The Dark Atom and Skycloud were locked in naked conflict. Results of the battle had spread, and the Dark Atom¡¯s reputation had grown. Now there were all manner of groups in the wastelands willing to pledge loyalty. A conflict like this hadn¡¯t been seen in over a hundred years. Who knew what would happen when the giants of the wastelands emerged from their hiding places. The only thing that was clear was that this was just the beginning. Chaos would only spread. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t guess what would become of the world, but he would be lying if he said he didn¡¯t look out over this scene and wish to see it for himself. After all, he was ¨C at heart ¨C a wastelander. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 97 - The Mysterious Wolfblade After the war for the Blisterpeaks, Nucleus was like an ant-hill someone kicked over. For the most part, however, Wolfblade acted as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He spent most of his time in the library, just as he had before they were almost annihilated. The library was an elegantly constructed building, constructed of sound-proof materials that kept the din of the outside at bay. The moment you walked inside it was like stepping into another world. Towering shelves stuffed with books rose all around. For all this massive space, there was only one singular occupant. Wolfblade was perched high upon a ladder and looked out over the library. The books were spread all over like a whirlpool of knowledge. They seemed to have some sort of magic that diffused through the room and swallowed up any eager soul who entered. Among the towers, Wolfblade¡¯s meager form was almost insignificant. This collection of books were a microcosm of all human history. What remains of all the collected knowledge of the world at his fingertips. It was society, and culture, distilled into words on a page and placed here for safe keeping. A single man standing before all the collected works of mankind throughout the ages¡­ it was impossible not to feel small. As Wolfblade was busy contemplating this, tendrils of yellow sand invaded the room and started to gather. A few moments later they formed into a familiar image, with red eyes and dark bark-like skin. The demon¡¯s presence immediately brought with it the stink of fear and destruction. Wolfblade sensed the demon¡¯s arrival but didn¡¯t even turn his head to look. He gently closed the book in his hands. ¡°Every time I¡¯m here, I am confronted with the idea that there is no other place like it in all the wasteland. There¡¯s more knowledge here than a man could hope to learn in his lifetime. And yet, all of these books represent just the tiniest fragment of a civilization we¡¯ll never know. A glory that will eventually be forgotten. For such a small people to have such a vast history¡­ it¡¯s funny that the so-called gods and demons do not even know their own history.¡± The Caliph of the Sands was not opposed to Wolfblade¡¯s wry comment, though he did not agree. ¡°Ten thousand years is a long time, be it for humans, gods, demons, or any other living creature. It is enough, however, to seize the moment. The past doesn¡¯t matter, it is the future that is important.¡± A somewhat derisive smirk spread across the human¡¯s face. ¡°So we remain in ignorance from birth to death. If we do not know ourselves, then we cannot know how vulnerable our beliefs are. We cannot know how laughable our pursuits are, or how worthless our sacrifices are. If you never take time to know the past, how can you be sure the future you seek is the one you desire?¡± A flash of light flickered in the demon¡¯s crimson eyes. ¡°You can see everything?¡± ¡°No. I am an ordinary being, one of many. Chance and circumstance are to thank for reaching the heights I¡¯ve acquired. But the altitude does afford me a longer view.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Like a man who sees a shadow cast over the world, but does not know why they form ¨C for beyond it is a vast and inscrutable sky of darkness. And I was careless enough to catch a glimpse.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s words were as profound as they were enigmatic. Abaddon mulled over his meaning for a time in silence. What did it matter, none of this was worth consideration. This one had always been strange, and his style of thought was never Abaddon¡¯s proverbial cup of tea. The demon was merely interested in doing what he had to. So he stopped waxing philosophical and changed the subject. ¡°Are you becoming accustomed to your new vessel, ancient one?¡± ¡°It is adequate, though too weak. At present, my strength can only return to this piddling degree.¡± ¡°Heheh¡­ but it is the most incredible power in the world. You are indeed the maddest fiend I¡¯ve ever met. If word reaches Gehenna that you¡¯re alive, it will definitely cause a stir among those fools.¡± Abaddon once more changed the subject. ¡°Speaking of Gehenna, it appears they have begun to stir. There is one among the wastelanders with the Hellion Arm. It seems they¡¯ve begun to court disciples, but I do not know for how long.¡± A seldom-seen grim expression crossed Abaddon¡¯s hideous face. If those cowards were stirring, then it meant this world¡¯s troubles were just beginning. But he was certain the fiends of Gehenna were incapable of doing anything noteworthy. Abaddon had long abhorred their company and had never wanted to call himself one of their number. Now that the ancient one and his unfathomable mind was here, he had even less inclination to bother with them. He was not going back, and if they chose to get in his way then the Caliph of the Sands was not disinclined to eliminating trouble in the wastelands. ¡°You should not underestimate Gehenna. There are several among their ranks who fought in the great war and have survived to today. The scope of their vision is far beyond the ken of those who came after, like you. You are too impatient, and do not understand the cost in blood and effort that must lay the foundation for a grand victory. The more eager one is for glorious success, the more likely that they are brought low.¡± Abaddon took exception to the scolding, but before he could respond something caught his attention and he stopped. Plucking something from its dark clothing, he threw it toward Wolfblade. ¡°Enough for now. Someone comes.¡± His words hung in the air as the demon¡¯s body melted away into dust and floated away on the wind. Wolfblade snatched the item Abaddon had given him from the air. ¡°What are you still doing in here, milord Wolfblade?¡± A slightly raspy yet alluring female voice filled the library. A woman in a crisp researcher¡¯s overcoat with goggled perched on her head walked in. Her long, silvery-grey hair and alluring figure never failed to stir the dark passions of the men she encountered. ¡°Our honored guest from the wasteland has been kept waiting for some time. If you keep them in suspense for much longer we might make them angry.¡± The Dark Atom was the only organization in a hundred years that stood up against the full might of the elysian army and survived. It stood to reason that many would come to seek entrance, and curious glances won from the hidden powers of the wastelands. Now was the time to come seeking audience for negotiations. After all, defeating Skycloud would require a collaborative effort. Wolfblade descended from the stairs with slow, deliberate steps. Without a note of hurry, and in an almost languid tone he replied. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Now that they are here, they won¡¯t deign to leave so easily. There is no sense in rushing. Let them wait.¡± But the wastelanders waiting for an audience weren¡¯t just anyone! Hellflower¡¯s rise through the Dark Atom was hard won. As part of the leadership she now took its future seriously. Skycloud wasn¡¯t going to simply forget what happened in the Blisterpeaks, and repelling another attack like the last was by no means a given for the rebel organization. These potential allies were integral for Nucleus¡¯ continuation. How could Wolfblade not recognize the importance of this? Hellflower had more words of advice to give, but they died in her throat. Truth be told, whether it was the wise Roste or the powerful and unpredictable Caliph of the Sands, Hellflower was not one to bow her head in reverence. Her master had always been knowledge. If there was anything in the world she respected it was the pursuit of truth. To her, staring at this casual-looking man, with his book of poetry and strange demeanor, was like trying to peer into a fog. She couldn¡¯t guess who it was she stood before, but it wasn¡¯t the same Wolfblade from before. Wolfblade changed the subject. ¡°I have been told that unruly youth you brought to me escaped the battle and saved a fair number of elysian soldiers in the process. Many of our people look upon him unfavorably. He is certainly adept at causing headaches, isn¡¯t he?¡± Hellflower paused. ¡°You knew? You aren¡¯t going to punish him?¡± The gall of the wastelander in saving those elysians didn¡¯t seem to bother Wolfblade much at all, which was uncharacteristic of what one would expect from the Dark Atom leader. Rather, he seemed to view it like the irritating actions of a naughty child, willfully releasing a host of ants. ¡°It is of no great concern.¡± Wolfblade even chuckled. ¡°But you must understand that he cannot be allowed to become a lackey of the elysians. Perhaps in the future he may be one of us. I have prepared something for him ¨C a method I have concocted that will both improve and mitigate the Trespasser virus. Bring it to him.¡± The item he referred to looked like a small metal box. It was finely crafted, and inside rested a very peculiar looking syringe. The outside was metallic, which hid the contents from view. The surprise this caused Hellflower was easy to imagine. Cloudhawk¡¯s condition was complicated, and Hellflower was still trying to puzzle out a solution. Trespasser had permeated deep into every part of him, so removing it was bound to leave Cloudhawk crippled or dead. Was this magical solution Wolfblade was offering really an answer to his problem? When did he work it out? Hellflower didn¡¯t know. ¡°What is this? How is it able to improve Trespasser? Where did you get it?¡± Hellflower was bursting with questions, a trait that was not surprising in a woman who had spent her life looking for truth. After acquiring all the collected wisdom of Roste and Three-Eyed Spider, Hellflower was confident there was no one else in the wastelands more knowledgeable than her. Yet she was proven wrong when Wolfblade flippantly presented her with this syringe, which purportedly was able to solve a problem whose answer eluded her. How could this not surprise her? Wolfblade shook his head as he replied. ¡°It is a little unorthodox. This medicine will only benefit Cloudhawk. Used on any other, there would be no effect.¡± Questions continued to bubble up from inside her. ¡°What¡¯s so different about Cloudhawk¡¯s body?¡± But Wolfblade was already stepping out of the library. ¡°That is a question you do not need to know the answer to.¡± His infuriatingly cryptic responses made her feel strange. For good or for ill, she had spent some time with Cloudhawk. Even physically! Yet apparently her knowledge of him was far inferior to the man before her. Obviously, he knew Cloudhawk very well. Why, then, did he insist on pretending like he didn¡¯t? She couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer. ¡°What are you?¡± Wolfblade stopped, turned his head slightly to the side, and for the briefest moment something flashed across his one revealed eye. Something she¡¯d never seen before. It wasn¡¯t cold, or cruel. More¡­ majestic, completely foreign to the Wolfblade she¡¯d once met. Hellflower felt her throat close up, and the prick of a thousand daggers pressing against her skin covered her from head to toe. She knew that if she made the slightest movement, her body would be torn to pieces. ¡°Do what you¡¯re told, and do not ask questions about things that don¡¯t concern you.¡± Hellflower felt an irresistible force claw into her mind, forcing her head down. ¡°Y-yes,¡± she muttered obediently. The change was instantaneous, and gone just as fast. Only Hellflower knew. She didn¡¯t know what the Dark Atom leader had become, but there was no question that he was very¡­ very dangerous. Book 3, Chapter 98 - Negotiations Cloudhawk covertly stuck his head into the Dark Atom¡¯s conference hall. The first thing he noticed was that these ¡®honored guests¡¯ from the wasteland numbered only a handful. Most of them were totally unfamiliar to him. The most recognizable group were the ones in crimson red robes. They were lead by the barefoot man, ascetic in bearing. The weapon he held was the standard that he carried during the recent battle. The flag was furled, its image hidden. However, the resonance from it was thick with baleful power. Just the sight of it filled Cloudhawk with an oppressive sensation. That was the former second in command of the demonhunter military squad, the one they called Wyrmsole. He was a big name from the former generation of Skycloud leadership, stronger than a normal man could imagine. Even Frost had failed to gain the upper hand in a fight against him. For the last several years, the Sanctum of Judgment had been active throughout the wasteland, under the guise of spreading the will of their god. In reality, they had been busily establishing their own wasteland power. From the beginning they had had no contact with the Dark Atom. Likely due to conflicting ideals, they had been loathe to align themselves with the rebels. However, a series of unfortunate events had befallen them. Their leader, the Crimson One, was badly injured. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough ¨C which had been the source of their wealth ¨C had fallen into the hands of Squall and the Highwaymen. They were also revealed to their enemies, and their difficulties obvious to the rest of the wasteland. They had no choice but to court allies. Besides them, there was another group that caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. They were uniquely equipped, different from wastelanders and elysians alike. Of the three who led them, their highest authority was a young woman, cold and beautiful like an autumn breeze. Beside her was a man covered from head to toe in an imposing set of armor, and a hideously scarred mountain of a man. All three sat in solemn silence, faces grim. A dozen or so burly men stood at their backs surrounded by an air of ruthlessness. These men were officers, discharged from the elysian army after years of service. None were to be taken lightly. Familiar faces. Looking at them, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind went back three years prior, to something the scarred Instructor once said; To some Hell¡¯s Army is a group of evil men and women. But we don¡¯t think of ourselves as evil, because the truly evil will do anything to get whatever they want. Hell¡¯s Army is willing to sacrifice anything. We are a necessary darkness. What happened in the years since Cloudhawk left? What were they forced to do that was so bad they turned their backs entirely on Skycloud? Perhaps it was the allure of the wasteland¡¯s brutal inclusiveness. After being stationed in the filth for so long, it was only a matter of time before you put down roots. After spending so much time in blood and darkness, eventually it changes you. Changes you enough to take a road there was no coming back from. Both of these groups had played a crucial role in the war for the Blisterpeaks. If the Sanctum of Judgment hadn¡¯t shown up when they did, the Dark Atom would have been wiped out. If Hell¡¯s Army hadn¡¯t acted, Wolfblade would be dead and he wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to activate Nirvana. As for the rest, there were all manner of eclectic groups as part of the meeting. At a glance Cloudhawk counted another six or seven groups he didn¡¯t recognize, each one different from the one before. Most seemed to be mutants with the one unifying factor being they all looked ready to tear someone¡¯s head off. Among them were two figures that captured Cloudhawk¡¯s interest. From what he could gather they represented the two strongest mutant factions, because the others gave them a wide berth. Obviously the others were afraid of their bosses. One was covered in a black robe with the hood drawn, an impenetrable darkness hiding his face. It almost looked like there was nothing inside the cloak but shadow. He stood among the others, oozing with a dangerous presence that was clear from across the room, almost like something could burst out of that cloak any minute and devour everyone. The other one was clad in robes as well, but were green and didn¡¯t have the same all-consuming quality as his companion. Half of his face was revealed but it would have been better if that were not the case. This mutant was the most hideous, most savage looking thing Cloudhawk had ever seen. His features were all twisted and misshapen, and a cloud of fetid stink hung over him at all times like a decaying corpse. He¡¯d never heard of anyone like these two. It seemed there was still a lot about the wastelands Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know. It was clear by looking at them that these men and women had grown impatient. Eventually, the long awaited people they¡¯d come to see emerged. The first was dressed simply, like a scholar, with an eye patch slung across half his face. This was clearly Wolfblade, leader of the Dark Atom. Beside him was his silver-haired protector, the lead researcher second only to Wolfblade. Hellflower. ¡°Our humble Nucleus is happy to receive such illustrious visitors from far across the wastes. An honor, friends. An honor.¡± With an easy and welcoming facade, Wolfblade approached the gathered leaders. Smiling amicably, his eye searched the ground and eventually alighted on the robes mutants. ¡°The renowned northern barrens¡­ a place rife with battling clans, ancient ruins and magnificent cities. There four kings hold sway, recognized by the robes they wear; green, black, purple and blood. Unless I am mistaken, we are graced with the presence of two of them. The green-robed King Toad, and the black-robed King Canker. Cloudhawk continued to eavesdrop with rapt attention. Wasteland mutants, calling themselves Kings? The one in black remained silence, so it fell to King Toad to speak. His ugly face twitched as sound rumbled forth from its fetid vocal chords. Several in the crowd visibly gagged. ¡°An undeserved reputation. I would not presume to call myself king before the likes of Wolfblade. Simply call me Toad.¡± Kingly those his words were, there was nothing inviting about the green-robed monstrosity. This corpse-like beast looked at Wolfblade like he might a distasteful insect. ¡°You are all very busy people. You¡¯ve come a long way to attend this meeting, so I will not waste any more of your time.¡± Wolfblade made his way toward a large chair and took his seat. He sat back and rested his hands on the arms of the chair as though it were a throne. ¡°I know why you¡¯re here. We share a common enemy in Skycloud, and the Dark Atom will always be at the fore of future clashes. In our last exchange tens of thousands of soldiers were slain, resulting in the worst elysian loss of life in a century. No one expects them to let this stand. Sooner or later they will respond, and when they do it is not only the Dark Atom who will be in danger. The whole of the wastelands will feel elysian ire.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± A spattering of concurring voices arose from the crowd. Chaos was on the horizon, and these groups had come to the Dark Atom to seek an accord. Toad, Canker, Wyrmsole and the giants of the valley did not react. They knew the words that were to come held the most importance. ¡°Generations of grievances have been tallied between the wastelands and Skycloud. Every other decade, the elysians send their soldiers to eradicate as many of our people as they can catch. During these purges, numerous burgeoning groups are destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of lives are lost. Yet our people are resilient, tenacious, and like weeds we sprout up stronger ¨C burned but not razed, culled but not exterminated. The reaping came again, but this time the Dark Atom stood strong before our enemies ¨C and survived. I am sure you all understand the significance of this.¡± ¡°No single entity in the wastelands is strong enough to withstand the crushing tide that is Skycloud¡¯s army. But on the precipice we stand upon, and the chaos it entails, is an opportunity for our beleaguered people. We must seize this opportunity to join together, and form an alliance of wasteland powers. Gather the disparate sands of the desert and form a mighty fortress. Only together are we strong enough to finally rid ourselves of our oppressors.¡± Wolfblade''s speech caused the blood of his agents to boil in anticipation. Finally they were going to stand proud and fight the elysians responsible for so much suffering! The purpose of this meeting was to reach a consensus, that one day the Wastelands Alliance would rise together. Starting now, what was a land of strife and division would join together under a single banner. But the question remained, who would lead this fledgling resistance? How would domain be assigned? Wolfblade brazenly offered solutions. ¡°Everyone here is aware of the Dark Atom¡¯s long history. We are the front line in the fight against Skycloud. We are an organization of revolutionaries whose ideological tenacity is unmatched. In the war for the Blisterpeaks we achieved a great victory, but it came at an equally great cost. Due to our record of service, our experience, our accomplishments and our sacrifices, it is clear that there is no better organization to lead the Wastelands Alliance than the Dark Atom.¡± Whispers circulated among the other representatives. The moderate and smaller sized groups came here for this reason and did not balk at the offer. However, Canker and Wyrmsole did not rush to acquiesce. ¡°Were the Dark Atom purely a rebel organization, then the Sanctum of Judgment would have no qualms as to its leadership. Yet as far as we have seen, your organization works in concert with demons. During the battle we saw you gain support from the Caliph of the Sands, the fiend long active in the southern wastes. Who can know what the Dark Atom¡¯s aims truly are, when they are in league with demons? We do not accept your claim for leadership.¡± Wyrmsole had risen from his chair, facing Wolfblade with stoic expression. He did not shy away from confrontation. Wolfblade¡¯s one good eye narrowed to a sliver, but just for an instant. He shifted to a more comfortable position, and answered with a string of apathetic retorts. ¡°Are you putting forth the Sanctum as an alternative? The Crimson One certain has the strength to lead, but does he have the influence? What¡¯s more, let¡¯s not pretend the question of who backs him is a simple one. Can you claim to know his true motives? I might also point out that the Crimson Church has thus far failed to produce meaningful results. It leads one to question whether the Sanctum of Judgment wasn¡¯t planted in the wasteland by Skycloud to act as false friends.¡± It was a potent argument. After its victory against Skycloud, the Dark Atom was a shining beacon of the wastelands. What other group could claim to be half as effective as they have been? The Crimson One¡¯s identity was no longer a secret. By now, everyone in power knew that he was once commander of the demonhunter regimen. Yet no matter how illustrious his own reputation, the cult¡¯s reputation was hinged on a single man. With the loss of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, they were on especially precarious ground. Thus, any way you looked at it, the Dark Atom was a superior choice. ¡°The Crimson One is the only man with the qualifications to lead. He is welcoming of all people, and does not cavort with demons ¨C unlike your kind.¡± Both Canker and Toad were hesitating to voice their support or opposition. Eventually the green-robed mutant looked toward Wolfblade. ¡°What do you say to this, Master Wolfblade?¡± ¡°His Excellency Abaddon has worked with us for a long time. Through him, the Dark Atom has benefited greatly.¡± He made no effort to conceal their relationship with the demon. ¡°But our accord is mutually beneficial, and I do not feel merely capitalizing on a demon¡¯s offer of help makes us lackeys. On the contrary, the strength we¡¯ve gained with the help of the Caliph has given us hope in our battle against Skycloud.¡± Wyrmsole shook his head. ¡°In the ancient days it was the demons who brought this world to ruin. Humanity¡¯s cataclysm came at their hands. This is indisputable. There has never been anything good or righteous about them. We must ensure that the destiny of the human race belongs to humans, and not demonkind!¡± The brutality gathering in Wolfblade¡¯s eyes was not lost on the spartan priest. ¡°We cannot accept the will of demons as any part of the Wasteland Alliance. If the Dark Atom is serious about their desire to head this consortium, they must slay the Caliph of the Sands in full view of all or be known for the puppets that they are.¡± ¡°Abaddon has been kind to our city. Master Wyrmsole goes too far...¡± ¡°I will say it again: Humanity¡¯s destiny can only be under human control. Be they gods or demons, neither can be trusted to work in the best interest of the people. If they are, we will simply be trading a realm of gods for an empire of demons. What cost will humanity be asked to pay?¡± Wyrmsole¡¯s voice rang through the hall, weighty as iron and thick with gravitas. ¡°The Sanctum of Judgment will declare right now that so long as the Dark Atom continues to refuse to shed the yolk of demonic influence, we will never support their bid for leadership. Anyone who chooses to follow them will be seen as enemies to our Church, and will invite Castigation fire down upon their heads!¡± Cloudhawk was speechless. The only reason this man was here was to publicly voice the Sanctum¡¯s defiance! Who didn¡¯t fear the vengeance of a master demonhunter? The Sanctum¡¯s refusal weighed heavily on the minor powers who had come to seek shelter under the Dark Atom¡¯s wings. Of course, the Dark Atom¡¯s leadership was visibly indignant. Was this hypocrite blind? Or was he simply refusing to acknowledge everything the Dark Atom had accomplished through the years? Wolfblade raised his hand, stopping his compatriot¡¯s ire before it began. His own features remained impassive. ¡°The old books say ¡®do not make plans with those who walk a different path.¡¯ [1] If Master Wyrmsole is insistent in his principles, then I can only express regret in our inability to work together.¡± ¡°Our presence in the Blisterpeaks was a transaction. Now that our business is done we will be taking our leave.¡± He turned to the others. ¡°The rest of you wait, soon the Sanctum of Judgment will offer proof of our capabilities. You have seen the limits of what the Dark Atom can achieve. Do not doubt that the Crimson One is the only person suited to leadership. No one has more determination and faith in our purpose. He and he alone is the true savior of our world!¡± The remaining missionaries stood and exited the chamber. Their position was clear; they would not be supporting the Dark Atom. The Sanctum of Judgment was an important player in the wastelands. Without their support, the Wasteland Alliance suffered a major setback even before it came to be. Wyrmsole¡¯s threat still hung in the air, making the atmosphere uncomfortable. ¡°Some have hunted demons for too long. It is inevitable that there would be some resistance to change. What they do not understand is that there is no such thing in this world as eternal enemies.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s eye turned to the giants of the valley. ¡°Is this not so?¡± Natessa did not appear the least bit interested in their conflicts. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army only seeks independence and freedom from elysian influence. We have no foundation in the wastelands, and thus have no interest in your political strife. Whoever among you is shown to be more capable to lead, and whoever we find to act more in our interest, is the one we will support. Quite the display. Natessa Windham truly knew how to walk the middle path. What¡¯s more, she made it perfectly clear; her loyalty could be bought. Hell¡¯s Army was a powerful group of soldiers. If you wanted their support, then you needed to pay the price. Toad and Canker had now seen the situation clear. With such obvious divisions and no steady support, neither were eager to pledge themselves to the Dark Atom. As it all fell apart the various smaller groups muttered noncommittally. They each had their own plans. Cloudhawk saw the whole thing, and he couldn¡¯t help but smirk furtively to himself. These wastelanders all had their own axes to grind, and too many differences to overcome for the sake of cooperation. It seemed as though there was still a long way to go before they would have their alliance. But if things continued like this, the wastelands were going to suffer when Skycloud came for revenge. [2] 1. This is referencing a line from the Analects of Confucius, specifically chapter 15 section 40 ¡°The Master said, do not make plans with others whose dao is different from yours.¡± Dao is a term that translates directly to ¡®way¡¯, but is more metaphorical. It describes the way one lives their life, including morality and ideals. 2. I love writing chapters like this so much more than fight scenes. The intrigue was real. Arguments were cogent, unexpected, and involved. More importantly, it failed ¨C or at least seemed to. Whatever Wolfblade has become, he miscalculated and got slapped down for it. Consequences are inevitable, and now we have a chance to mull over how the wasteland is going to get out the shit it¡¯s neck deep in. Book 3, Chapter 99 - Great Progression Cloudhawk thought he was going to bear witness to an incredible historic event. In the end, the negotiations failed. He didn¡¯t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. On the one hand, if the powers of the wasteland did gather into a loose association of groups, even as just a prototype, it would be a great improvement to the stability and society of the area. However, it would also mean death and turmoil; the birth of a Wasteland Alliance would mean war. A thousand years in the past, after the great war and before the gods left for their heavenly palaces, they created lands of plenty where their loyal servants would live. These utopian lands were rich with resources, power, and tools to make life better. From the moment of their construction, the elysian lands and the wastelands were at odds. Elysians were pious and loathed the godless heathens of the wastes. Meanwhile, wastelanders despised the cruel methods of these zealots and were jealous of all they had been given. For a thousand years these differences have only become more irreconcilable, nor has the battle they raged ever been on equal footing. Elysian forces had always crushed wastelanders under their thumb by virtue of their godly inheritance. Yet Wolfblade was right, wastelanders were like weeds. Whether cut down by fire or by blade, it didn¡¯t matter. They rose again, stronger and more resilient than ever, from the cracks and the dirt and stones, emerging from places no one in their right mind would live. Tenacity was in their blood, and they survived no matter how many times the elysians came to destroy them. Today, organizations like the Dark Atom had been born from the blasted sands. Perhaps in the future, more groups like it would emerge and cooperate. Then, even though they would still be at a disadvantage compared to the elysians, they at least would be able to stand their ground. A war like that would not be short lived. The world would be plunged into a sea of blood. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know who would win. For every brilliant point of light on Sumeru, the mountain of the gods, there was a shadow in the demonic abyss of Gehenna lying in wait. Who could say if the turmoil wouldn¡¯t draw these beings back into the world of men? And if they did, it wouldn¡¯t matter how many were gathered under any single banner. By then, it didn¡¯t matter what side you were on, for destruction was promised any way you looked at it. Fuck it. Cloudhawk was a small lizard in a big, wide desert. Problems like this were way beyond him. The physical condition that had given him so much trouble had been greatly eased after just one injection from Hellflower. ¡°The Trespasser virus has been stabilized and continues to be assimilated by your body. It¡¯s still multiplying, but at this point the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages. You don¡¯t need to worry about it having an effect on your brain.¡± Cloudhawk answered her with a skeptical stare. ¡°That easy, eh?¡± Hellflower was equally puzzled. Although she hadn¡¯t had time to do more in-depth tests, it was obvious that Wolfblade¡¯s medicine had had the intended effect. Trespasser now lay mostly dormant in Cloudhawk¡¯s body like orderly soldiers. It still reproduced, but the virus no longer attacked his organs or mutated tissue. She really didn¡¯t have an answer for him. Prior to injecting Cloudhawk with it, Hellflower had given into her curiosity and did some tests on the substance. What she found was that it contained a fair amount of blood. But that didn¡¯t make it sense, how could blood have such magical properties? It went far beyond Hellflower¡¯s capabilities as a scientist. Her hope was to be a comprehensive scientific mind, but was it even possible to know everything about such a vast and inscrutable subject? The search for truth was always limited by the span of one¡¯s lifetime. The only way to explore the infinite mysteries of the universe was to walk its twisting paths for all eternity. This wasn¡¯t the first time she encountered something that stumped her. What sort of scientist would she be if she wasn¡¯t often confronted with the unknown? It was the fact that she didn¡¯t know everything that made life worth living. ¡°Test it and see for yourself.¡± She shoved him into a training hall and faced him off against her metallic protector. ¡°My guardian isn¡¯t just a top-grade robot, it¡¯s also a priceless utility. Go on and test your strength against it. Don¡¯t be afraid, do your worst. You can¡¯t break him.¡± The silver guardian stood there like a statue. Inwardly Cloudhawk noted that he hadn¡¯t had an opportunity to test himself since his latest breakthrough. If she was offering, he wasn¡¯t going to refuse. Cloudhawk gripped the exorcist rod and poured his energy into it. A tempestuous roar sprang up around him! The long stick burst into fire, consumed by angry red light. The intense heat caused unsettling warps in the air around him. He attacked. The golem stood steadfast in the center of the attack while winds whipped all around. It struck with so much force that it was launched backward like a bullet and slammed into the distant wall. The alloy metal construction caved from the impact, leaving a man-shaped imprint. Hellflower gaped at him with her big beautiful eyes. ¡°How¡­?¡± She didn¡¯t know anything of what had happened to Cloudhawk over the last several years, but she had watched him fight Raven. He was strong, but not like this. If he were then Raven wouldn¡¯t have nearly killed him. And yet, inexplicably, in a matter of days Cloudhawk seemed to have reached a whole new level of ability. If Raven and Cloudhawk were to have a rematch today, she wouldn¡¯t be able to predict who would win. Cloudhawk stared at the golem, but instead of surprise he looked disappointed. ¡°Tell him to get back here, I want to try again.¡± The metal warrior was a sturdy construct. Although electric attacks could temporarily disable it, normal blows had little to no effect. Even veteran demonhunters would be hard pressed to leave a scratch. While Cloudhawk¡¯s strike looked vicious, to the golem it was nothing. Hellflower fixed her young friend with a curious gaze. ¡°What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?¡± ¡°Heh, watch closely lady. I¡¯ll show you something I just recently learned myself. I haven¡¯t had a chance to put it to good use yet.¡± Cloudhawk turned back to the golem. He started to breath; deep, long breaths. Again¡­ again¡­ again¡­ By the third breath Hellflower¡¯s goggled began to tremble. Like all Dark Atom equipment they weren¡¯t merely goggles, of course. They were constructed with sensitive detection equipment that was capable of reading Cloudhawk¡¯s quickly rising body temperature. What the goggles were telling her couldn¡¯t be right. The speed at which his temperature was rising was totally unnatural. By the time it started to slow it should have been unbearable for a normal human. His skin slowly grew red and steam wafted off of him. His eyes were bulging and bloodshot, and every muscle in his body became taught at once. His heart rate increased, blood surged through his veins. His metabolism burned through any energy it could find within him. Seeing this, Hellflower knew that it was a tactic of Cloudhawk¡¯s own creation ¨C an ability that let him rapidly increase his strength. All at once the energy in his cells revved up like a motor, turning him into a powerful force. This sort of power was the subject of much of Hellflower¡¯s recent research. For ordinary people, the power in their bodies came from the contraction of muscle and tendon. It was the simplest form of force. Martial artists, after reaching a certain level of training, learned to master a special sort of strength. It was deeper than just the muscles, reaching into one¡¯s total potential and drawing on the power residing in every cell. That was what they called true power, what martial artists drew on to perform super-human feats of strength and protect themselves from harm. At present Cloudhawk¡¯s body was filled to the brim with this power. Skycloud had many martial warriors, and they cultivated this inner strength after long years of imbibing special medicines and tinctures. These medicines changed them physically, strengthening their muscles, and training them from the inside. As for the base nature of this true power, Hellflower still hadn¡¯t figured it out. She was lacking in data and test subjects. In a way, the war for the Blisterpeaks had provided her with a unique opportunity, for now the lands around Nucleus were littered with corpse for her to dissect and study. Hellflower was convinced they were the secret to her next breakthrough. During his time in Hell¡¯s Valley, Cloudhawk had learned how to harness this inner strength. However, he wasn¡¯t satisfied, not yet. Drawing on this extreme method he summoned more and more of that potential. Were a normal man to attempt this, they would quickly consume their own life force and cripple themselves. But Cloudhawk¡¯s condition was different. He didn¡¯t seem to be affected at all. He¡¯d always had a berserker strain, which revealed itself as early as his days in Blackflag Outpost. It was different from the insanity of Mad Dog, because this transformation markedly increased Cloudhawk¡¯s strength and speed. Especially after fighting his way from Squall after the battle with the Crimson One, this latent wildness had grown to these new and frightening levels. The exorcist rod burst into flame once more, and Cloudhawk belted out a guttural roar! The ground seemed to shake from it. Cracks appeared in the glass of nearby windows. He started to move, taking only a few steps before a burst of wind revealed he¡¯d broken the sound barrier. Releases every bit of explosive power inside he heaved the rod, smashing it into the golem¡¯s body. This time Hellflower didn¡¯t see what happened to her protector. This time a hole was blasted into the metal wall! Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist rod was broken, and because he still couldn¡¯t fully control his own speed, he also went careening into the wall. The collision nearly smashed him to pieces. He reeled back, clutching his broken nose and resetting it with a crunch. A small injury like this was nothing to his regenerative abilities. ¡°Whadda ya think?¡± The golem twitched and jerked. When it rose back onto its feet, the once smooth chest plating had a clear dent. Luckily for the robot, some sort of living metal had been used in its construction. It would repair itself over time, so long as it wasn¡¯t totally destroyed. Even as Cloudhawk watched, the guardian¡¯s concave chest popped back into shape. Hellflower stared at him as though he were some sort of monster. There was a price to pay for Cloudhawk, of course. His whole body hurt after that collision, and once the rage passed he felt totally drained. The blow from the rod was easily three or four times stronger than normal, but at least ten times more exhausting. He happily noted, however, that he had broken the sound barrier. That was even faster than Drake. The lieutenant general of the border army was a tried and true martial artist. He¡¯d been training since he was a child. Cloudhawk was a demonhunter who only started picking up martial techniques a few years ago. Like Selene who started training at eight and was a high-status demonhunter by the age of ten, some people were just built for certain things. That was the nature of talent. ¡°Only a freak like you could do a freakish thing like that. The side effects aren¡¯t likely to shorten your life expectancy, but using it will definitely tire you out. If you allow it to go on for too long you could do serious damage to yourself. You might be able to wreak havoc, but it will come at the cost of your own health as well. This is why, even against strong enemies, you should only call on your potential as a last resort.¡± Hellflower gave him a cursory once-over before sighing helplessly. ¡°You are as hard to read as ever.¡± Cloudhawk chortled. In reality, he had more yet to reveal. With the power locked inside the phase stone, he could increase his abilities even further. If he combined his own strength with the power of the stone, he might even be able to stand toe to toe with someone like Frost! Cloudhawk was pleased with himself and where he was at. Now that the problem with Trespasser was handled, he decided to head back to Skycloud as soon as possible. Every day he stayed away, the easier it was to invite trouble. Augustus Cloude had his eye on him, now. But before he left, there were still some things he needed to figure out. ¡°So it looks like the Wasteland Alliance isn¡¯t going to be a thing, huh.¡± ¡°The Sanctum of Judgment and the Dark Atom are at odds. It doesn¡¯t appear that Wolfblade has a way to change their opinion for the time being.¡± Cloudhawk felt a tightness in his chest. ¡°That only raises more questions. If the Sanctum dislikes the Dark Atom so much, then why did they come to help against the elysians?¡± ¡°There are many implications there. For one, the two organizations have an agreement. I recall that Nucleus used to have an old atomic bomb buried somewhere, but after the battle it seems to have gone missing. That weapon was the treasure of this city, so I suspect it was used as a bargaining chip. Maybe that was the reason the Crimson Church got involved.¡± ¡°What did you say? An atomic bomb!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened. He¡¯d almost forgotten all about Adder¡¯s ¡®prime evil¡¯ weapon. Shit, Adder really got away with it? If that¡¯s the case what is he preparing? Where will he use it? What¡¯s his plan? Cloudhawk felt himself break out in a clammy sweat. He couldn¡¯t let this drag on anymore, he had to get back as fast as possible! Book 3, Chapter 100 - An Abyss Behind, Darkness Ahead The war for the Blisterpeaks sent a shock wave through the wastelands. Word spread that the Dark Atom¡¯s secret base had been discovered in the inhospitable mountain range. It was confirmed that there was such a person as Wolfblade, the long-rumored leader of the organization. People also learned that the elysian army suffered terribly in the battle. Two generals, a dozen or so lesser commanders, several dozen airships and tens of thousands of regular troops destroyed. The numbers spoke to the viciousness and brutality of the war. For some perhaps the numbers didn¡¯t mean much, but just walking through the borderlands one could feel the suffocating atmosphere. Like the calm before a storm. Everyone could sense it. Elysian warships could be seen hovering over the border outposts. Like stars in the sky, they dotted the horizon, and more arrived every day. It was among the largest gathering of forces in Skycloud¡¯s history, an unprecedented accumulation of soldiers preparing to exact vengeance. They would make sure that this time, no one would escape by sheer luck. War had yet to break out in full, but already the borderlands were caught up in it. Before this conflict, Sandbar Station had been a focus for Skycloud. Under the Magistrate¡¯s guidance, chaos had been slowly becoming order. But overnight that guard force, which had been stationed in the outpost for years, was withdrawn. In their place was a larger and more sophisticated regular fighting force. Sandbar Station was under complete control now, and searches had become commonplace. Any suspicious person above six years old ¨C be they escaped elysians or wasteland refugees ¨C was detained and questioned. It was obvious; they would rather kill three thousand innocents than let a single guilty soul go free. One after the other, bloody heads sprouted up at the outpost gates until they made a small mountain. Only two days since the arrests started, and already it was difficult to count how many had been beheaded. Luciasha had no connection to Skycloud or proof of identity, so she should have been one of those heads staring sightlessly into the distance. However, when the brutal men came to take her away Adder¡¯s men intervened. They blocked the soldiers from taking her, then showed them a token. These hardened killers became reverent and meek as sheep when they saw what it was. They never troubled Adder¡¯s establishment or employees after that. It was the token of a veteran demonhunter that won him peace. They were symbols of prestige and privilege, impossible to duplicate. When the intended bearer died, the symbols etched on its surface disappeared. Luciasha had seen something like it in Cloudhawk¡¯s possession once, so she knew how special and precious they were. Why did Adder have one? Did he have friends in Skycloud? Luciasha thought about her foster father and couldn¡¯t help but worry. He¡¯d left in a hurry some time back and still hadn¡¯t returned. With so much turmoil in the wastelands she couldn¡¯t know if he was safe. She worried about the men she considered brothers, Cloudhawk and Squall. She wished desperately that they could all be together, safe, but they all had their own business to deal with. Why was life so hard for everyone? Couldn¡¯t this world be kinder? Sometimes Luciasha was angry and ashamed at her own uselessness. She didn¡¯t have any abilities to speak of, no skills to help her family. Today the bar was quiet. There were no patrons, and in the dim lamplight it made the place seem even lonelier. Luciasha padded toward the door and gingerly pushed it open. She peeked out to try and see what was happening outside. Sandar Station was deathly silent. All she saw was a group of rail-thin children foraging through the rubbish for something to eat. Their parents had been gathered up in the purge, and most of them were never coming back. These poor children¡­ She looked at the malnourished kids, one after the other. The softest part of her heart ached for them. She saw herself in their plight, the way she used to be. Starving, their parents stolen from them, without shelter¡­ how were they expected to survive? Luciasha was lucky, she knew that without a doubt. Her good fortune inspired her to do whatever she could do help. She gathered the children into the bar. She gave them bread and water to ease their aching bellies. Luciasha wasn¡¯t going to steal from the bar, of course. She purchased the food with what little money she¡¯d accumulated working here for the last three years. Before now she didn¡¯t know what to spend it on, and now there was a proper use for it. ¡°You¡¯re a good lady, big sister.¡± Luciasha brought her attention to a little girl who was different from the others. She was six years old, give or take. Her eyes were big and clear, and a beautiful shade of azure blue. But she was so skinny that her bones were clear through her skin. One hand was draped over her slightly protruding stomach and her face was pale from the pain. Her lips were cracked and dry. It was obvious she was suffering, and she hardly even had enough strength to walk. It was her eyes that made the girl stand out. There was something in them that was different from the others. She saw a rare intelligence for a wastelander, the sort you only saw once in a long while. The only other person Luciasha knew with eyes like this girl¡¯s was Cloudhawk. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m called Azura.¡± The little girl saw Luciasha stretch out her hand to offer a loaf of bread, but she nibbled her lip and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want bread. I don¡¯t want water, either. Can I have some chalk?¡± ¡°Why do you want chalk?¡± Azura didn¡¯t answer. She just looked pleadingly at Luciasha with her big pretty eyes. It was a tiny but desperate wish. Luciasha couldn¡¯t turn the poor thing down. Of course she also insisted on giving the child the bread and water as well. Luciasha watched Azura totter away, swaying like a withered stalk of grass in the wind. She stumbled on, her face thin and drained of vitality, her small dirty hands¡­ Luciasha felt a bitter flavor fill her mouth, and her eyes quickly misted up. Why did these pure young souls have to suffer so terribly? She could help this small group, but how many homeless children were dying out in the wastelands? The children didn¡¯t squabble or make any ruckus. With what they¡¯d gone through, they were forced to grow up much faster than the spoiled ones who still had a roof and parents of their own. They understood that making being loud and rowdy would bring them more trouble. If they didn¡¯t behave they might be beaten, even killed. They knew playing cost energy, and without food they needed all their energy not to starve. With bellies full of bread and water, they settled on the icy cold floor to sleep. Luciasha was afraid they would get ill, so she summoned one of the men Adder left behind and had him bring some clothes and linens. She went to the orphans one by one and made sure they were warm. Anyway no one was coming to stay at their inn, so she prepared the rooms so that the children could have somewhere soft to sleep, at least for a little while. As she was preparing she caught a glimpse of Azura once again. She was lying in a corner, white as a sheet, with vomit caked at the corner of her mouth. Whatever illness gripped her was making her delirious. It was much worse than Luciasha thought. Right now the only thing keeping that little girl alive was persistence. But not for long ¨C she was at the cusp of death. It was the picture on the ground that kept Luciasha spellbound. Azura had used her chalk to draw two figures, simple but vivid. One of them was a man with a beard, and the other a woman with long hair. Their arms were open and outstretched, ready for a hug. All around them were grass and flowers. Just a few strokes, but the image was warm and sweet, and full of beauty. Luciasha shuddered at the bittersweet emotions that ran through her. The little girl still clung tight to the half-worn piece of chalk. Where she was curled up, it looked like the man and woman had their arms around her. ¡°Mommy¡­ Daddy...¡± Azura¡¯s pained face turned serene, and a flush came to her cheeks. It was the last, fading radiance of a setting sun. [1] Peace overcame the child as in her feverish dreams she was one again with her family. As the life faded from her, in her own mind she was in the warm and loving embrace of her mother and father, happy with the ones that she loved. Hot tears began to tumble down Luciasha¡¯ cheeks. She hurried to the girl¡¯s side in a thoughtless dash and gathered her up in her arms. She had to save her. Somehow, at any cost, Luciasha had to stop this beautiful little girl from dying! The Sandbar¡¯s modest hospital had been empty for a while now. Azura¡¯s illness was critical, where was she supposed to go to get help? Luciasha didn¡¯t know where to turn or who to call. All she could do was clutch the small child to herself and rock back and forth as tears dripped down her face. Was this all she could do? Watch helplessly as this poor baby faded away? Too cruel! Unbearably cruel! Luciasha desperately wished she could give her life instead. She hardly noticed when the door opened and a figure entered from outside. When she at last lifted her tear-streaked face, surprise overtook her. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing here?¡± The young man¡¯s hair hung loose at his shoulders and he was partially concealed beneath a worn brown cloak. His left arm was wrapped in bandages. When he saw the girl, he stooped low to get a better read of her condition. Reaching into his clothes, the bar¡¯s latest visitor produced a syringe ¨C some sort of wastelander medicine. He put the needle to the girl¡¯s arm and pushed the fluid into her bloodstream. Whatever was in it had a quick and beneficial effect. Azura¡¯s ragged breaths settled after only a few moments. Luciasha was elated. A miracle¡­ this was a miracle. Through the process Squall¡¯s face was solemn. He looked exhausted. ¡°I¡¯d like a glass of alcohol,¡± he said in a raspy voice. He made his way to the long, empty bar. He made a lonely picture as he poured himself one drink after another. Annoyance, hatred, exhaustion, pain ¨C he tried to swallow them all down with each gulp of the wine. He hoped that eventually the alcohol would quiet them down. ¡°The little girl seems stable. Thank you so much.¡± Squall simply nodded his head and said nothing. Luciasha was truly thankful from the bottom of her heart. If Squall hadn¡¯t have shown up when he did Azura wouldn¡¯t have lasted the day. But when she saw Squall¡¯s face she knew he wasn¡¯t fairing well either. Her soft voice intruded once again. ¡°Squall¡­ what¡¯s troubling you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± He raised his bandaged arm. ¡°I found the animal that killed Old Thistle, but I couldn¡¯t kill him. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll get him eventually.¡± When he said it the words seemed to draw all the power from him. He slumped in his chair. Most of Squall¡¯s story Luciasha was familiar with. She remembered that he wasn¡¯t an elysian ¨C and in fact, as far as she remembered he was a wanted man in Skycloud. With the Sandbar under brutal military control, it was a dangerous time for him to be walking around. ¡°Old Thistle was a kind man. If he is somewhere in the afterlife looking down, he wouldn¡¯t want you to turn into something he didn¡¯t approve of on his behalf. You should turn back from this path, before it¡¯s too late.¡± Luciasha meant it, a truly held belief. She didn¡¯t want to see Squall lose himself to revenge. He tightened his left fist, causing the glass he held to shatter into pieces. ¡°Turn back? I will never turn back! You don¡¯t understand, there is no going back! Behind me there¡¯s nothing, a chasm so deep you¡¯ll never find the bottom. In front there¡¯s only a dark mist. Swallowed by the chasm or lost in the mist¡­ these are my choices, one is my destiny. A person can¡¯t change their fate.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe if. If you decide to turn away from this there isn¡¯t anything in this world that can stop you! I know it¡¯s hard, but maybe Cloudhawk or my foster father can help. Just¡­ just don¡¯t talk like this, alright?¡± Luciasha didn¡¯t want to lose anyone. Emotion had crept into her voice and was causing it to quaver. ¡°Please stop tormenting yourself.¡± Squall looked at this kind, simple girl. There was a warmth in his eyes when he gazed on her, and something more. When did it start? Probably the moment he saw her. She always felt deeply for this genuinely good soul. It was just a shame that his life was fated to be spent in darkness. ¡°Alright, stop crying now.¡± Squall wiped the tears from her face. Shaking his head, he changed the subject as they both looked back at the sick child. ¡°I have a dream, you know. When the dust is settled and everything¡¯s over, I¡¯d like to open an orphanage. A place where children like them can come, victims of this awful world. I¡¯ll help them grow, become good people, just like Old Thistle tried to do.¡± Luciasha¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Can I help?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled! I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Squall smiled, a real smile that was rare for him these days. He only ever let his guard down when he was around Luciasha, because she was the only one it wasn¡¯t necessary to protect himself against. ¡°I¡¯m just passing through, things are complicated right now. I can¡¯t stay long.¡± Squall polished off what was left of the wine bottle, then fished out a few coins from his pocket. He placed them on the bar. ¡°Keep the change, call it a donation. I have no time for now, so I leave it to you to continue our cause.¡± Luciasha did not refuse. She thought it was a great idea. The world was crazy and getting worse. The number of homeless children would only grow as the conflicts continued. This was an opportunity for her to use her own humble life to someone else¡¯s better. Just like how Old Thistle took Squall in. Like how Coppertooth raised and protected her. Everything was a circle, and at last it seemed to her like she found what she was supposed to be doing. Night fell outside of Adder¡¯s pub. Darkness. Silence. A figure emerged from the shadows. He had a tangle of black hair, and wore a tattered grey cloak around his shoulders. His sharp eyes shone brighter than the stars in the sky. He¡¯d been there for a while, and heard everything that Squall and Luciasha had said. Squall looked at Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk looked back at Squall. They brushed past each other without a word of greeting. ¡°Asha¡¯s a good girl.¡± Cloudhawk suddenly spoke up. ¡°Cherish her.¡± Squall¡¯s gait never slowed. He threw his response over one shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve her.¡± ¡°The fuck are you muttering about? Stop whatever it is you¡¯re up to, it¡¯s that simple. I¡¯ll help you! You want to kill that piece of shit Augustus? Say the word, we¡¯ll slip into Skycloud tomorrow and cut his fuckin¡¯ throat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. It isn¡¯t that simple, you can¡¯t help me by yourself.¡± ¡°Enough is enough, Squall. You¡¯ve screwed with me several times already. I can laugh that shit off, but you listen to me right now. If you do anything to hurt Asha, I swear to you I¡¯ll hunt you to the ends of the fuckin¡¯ earth, and I will kill you.¡± Squall¡¯s form had already disappeared into the darkness. He had no interest in trading words with Cloudhawk. Anger roiled in Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. He wanted to beat that asshole into the dirt and force him to say what the fuck he was doing. But he hesitated. In the end he decided it wasn¡¯t worth it. 1. This is a real medical phenomena where people with serious illnesses have a fleeting period of normality just before they die. In Chinese medicine they say in this moment the depleted Yang energy finally separates from the Yin, and in the time when it rises to leave the body there is a moment when everything is clear. The body uses the very last vestiges of its energy and holds nothing back until it is exhausted, and death comes. It¡¯s both cruel and beautiful ¨C awful for the false hope it gives loved ones, but a wonderful gift from the body to grant clarity and peace in one¡¯s final moments. Book 3, Chapter 101 - Azuras Inspiration Cloudhawk had returned to Sandbar Station for two reasons. First; to see if Gabriel was back. When he returned to his store he discovered it nearly closed by the new, stringent rulers of the city. Luckily he returned when he did, otherwise they would have seen nothing but a load of contraband. The poor shop assistants running it would have been wrongly executed. Gabriel, Barb and Vulkan were still gone. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know whether it was because the valley was farther than he anticipated, or they ran into some sort of trouble. He supposed it was also possible that they were living it up in comfort and weren¡¯t in any hurry to get back. Selene¡¯s whereabouts were also a mystery. His return to look for help turned up empty handed. Second; find a clue as to Adder¡¯s whereabouts from his bar. This guy¡¯s scheme¡¯s to steal the Dark Atom¡¯s atom bomb had really pissed him off. He still didn¡¯t know a hundred percent where that snake-fuck was going to use the thing. He had the power to level a whole city, erase hundreds of thousands of life in an instant. Terrible, evil power in the hands of an untrustworthy man. It had to be destroyed. Cloudhawk could only imagine what sort of calamity would unfold if he let Adder keep the weapon. He couldn¡¯t just stand by and let countless innocent souls get annihilated. Nor could he let Adder¡¯s insanity put the people he cared about, like Asha, in danger. It was a problem that suddenly very much became his business. ¡°You¡¯re looking for Dad? He left several days ago and hasn¡¯t come back yet. I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s gone either!¡± Adder wasn¡¯t at the bar. Hardly a surprise. With the weapon in hand it wasn¡¯t like he would bring it here, where it could be easily discovered. But although the man himself wasn¡¯t here, it afforded Cloudhawk a chance to poke around. If he was lucky there might be a few valuable clues lying around that¡¯d tell him where the asshole was hiding. Luciasha, in her simple honesty, didn¡¯t think too much of it. By now the young girl, Azura, had come to. Squall¡¯s medicine had been very helpful, Azura was in much better shape now. She blinked her big crystal blue eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not dead?¡± ¡°Silly child. You¡¯re still young, with many long days ahead. Don¡¯t even think about dying.¡± Luciasha gave her a gentle hug, then introduced her to Cloudhawk. ¡°A girl like this is rare, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m strong enough to protect her myself. Do you think you can help?¡± The poor child was beautiful, but life had dealt her a cruel hand. Her hands were covered in small wounds, and thirst had caused her lips to crack painfully. Only her two big, beautiful eyes maintained their youthful vitality. Cloudhawk spared a glance for the drawing she¡¯d scratched into the floor. He looked passed the simple lines, at the beautiful life it represented. At the life the little girl hoped to regain. She had clung to the best part of her short life in the moment when she thought she might lose it. In many ways she was like Cloudhawk when he was little. Who knows what she might accomplish if she were allowed to grow up. Cloudhawk hunched down and fished some medicine from his clothing. It was one of the cultivating bundle of herbs from the sanctuary, intended to foster and increase one¡¯s inner potential. ¡°Azura. That¡¯s a pretty name. Since Luciasha asked, I thought I¡¯d give you something. It¡¯s simple, but with practice you¡¯re going to get stronger and stronger. You¡¯ll never get sick like this again.¡± Cloudhawk taught her the basic motions of the demonhunter training regimen. It was a quick thing, provided on a whim. How much Azura retained would be up to her. Much to his surprise, the small girl picked it up in a hurry. She got the basics after one go, a fact which surprised Cloudhawk. Judging by this alone it was obvious to him she was no average little girl. She was brilliant, but she¡¯d had the misfortune of being born a wastelander. Otherwise, with a good teacher, she would be a great success in less than a decade. Luciasha clapped happily nearby. She spoke excitedly with the girl. ¡°Cloudhawk is such a wonderful man, don¡¯t you think? This is the first time I¡¯ve seen him teach anybody what he knows. You should call him teacher.¡± Even at just six years old, the little girl was clever. She solemnly bowed before Cloudhawk. ¡°Thank you, teacher!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, none of that. Shit.¡± Cloudhawk waved his hands before him defensively. ¡°I don¡¯t have the right to call anyone my student, so don¡¯t you go calling me teacher. It sounds weird.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a mommy or daddy anymore. I don¡¯t have anywhere to go.¡± Yearning sprang up in Azura¡¯s crystaline eyes. Her little heart was sensitive enough to know that this was her chance to change her circumstance. Maybe her only chance. She bowed again, pressing her head to the floor. ¡°I want to be as great as you, teacher.¡± Cloudhawk found the scene to be both funny and infuriating. The kid showed real talent and intelligence, rare talent. But what right did Cloudhawk have to be a teacher? Azura had an instant trust and dependence on him, probably because there was so much about them that was similar. It was easy and immediate that they should take a shine to one another. Somewhere a thread of fate had drawn them together. ¡°Why do you want to get strong?¡± Cloudhawk asked. Tears started to well up in the girl¡¯s eyes. Was she thinking about her dead parents? ¡°Because there are a lot of people in the world who need help!¡± Her tiny hands balled into fists as she made her shocking declaration. ¡°I want to protect everyone who can¡¯t protect themselves! I want everyone who is hungry to be full, and everyone who is cold to have clothes! Everyone without a home should have a place to live. I want the world to be full of flowers.¡± Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have believed a six year old would say something like this. But here it was. A child¡­ what, did she want to be the whole world¡¯s savior? Something like a trance overcome Cloudhawk as he thought back a decade or so. Back nearly farther than he could remember, an old scavenger plucked Cloudhawk out from the ruins. Back then Cloudhawk was humble as the dirt, but like the girl he had unrealistic ambitions. Back then there seemed to be so much to look forward to. Now he was an adult, and all that youthful optimism had dried up. Now here was Azura. Was this fate, or just a coincidence? Cloudhawk sighed. ¡°You can live in my shop.¡± Luciasha, her face bright with joy, explained to the girl. ¡°That means Cloudhawk has agreed to take you in.¡± Azura rubbed the tears from her face and quickly brought her head back down to the ground thankfully. A moment¡¯s weakness, and now he had a disciple. It didn¡¯t matter how talented she was, the damn girl was six. He was staring down the barrel of at least ten years of responsibility. He hadn¡¯t shown her the demonhunter forging method in the hopes of making her some grand hero, he just wanted her to be ready if she ever got herself into trouble. No matter what the world took from her, she would have that inner strength. But maybe she could achieve what Cloudhawk never could. That was his hope, anyway. After enduring the harsh journey back home, here he was. It¡¯d only been maybe half a day. Now that the business with Azura was done, he slipped into Adder¡¯s secret treasure room to see what he could glean. But like his first objective, his attempts were fruitless. He was at his wits end. As Cloudhawk mulled over the helples situation, he suddenly felt something. Faint, but there ¨C the resonance of a relic somewhere in the bar. It was so faint he wasn¡¯t even sure it was a relic¡­ a token! A demonhunter token! Cloudhawk quickly returned to Luciasha. ¡°Is there a demonhunter token around here somewhere?¡± She looked at him in surprise. ¡°How did you know? Yes, there is.¡± He took the token and poured over it carefully, peering at every detail. And then, all of a sudden, his pupils contracted like he discovered something frightening. ¡°I should have thought of that¡­ I should have thought of that!¡± For most they wouldn¡¯t have noticed anything about the token besides the obvious. Cloudhawk, however, recognized the insignia. It was enough to confirm Adder¡¯s identity, because it was a token of the Cloude family. The markings were very similar to the ones on Selene¡¯s token. Every one of the Cloude family¡¯s younger generation was talented enough to rise to the rank of veteran demonhunter, and carry their own token. Selene Cloude! Zephyr Cloude! Adder was Zephyr! Cloudhawk remembered very clearly when Selene confronted him outside of this bar and told him to be wary of Adder. The two had come face to face and yet she hadn¡¯t recognized the one she grew up with. It had never even occurred to him. Zephyr¡­ Zephyr¡­ You sure know how to keep a secret Adder, you piece of shit. It all seemed so obvious! Adder was the Crimson One¡¯s son. He lived out here in Sandbar Station, secluded, feeding information back to his father. This was how the Sanctum of Judgment was able to gain a foothold in the wastelands so quickly. Without someone gathering intel, it would have been almost impossible to keep their secrets hidden from the elysians. All of it was orchestrated by Adder. He¡¯d managed to muster together his own group, which meant Adder didn¡¯t have to rely on the Crimson Church for manpower. But that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t working for them. Going after the atomic weapon was an act in service to the Crimson Church, definitely. A slow, ponderous plan ¨C but once the Crimson One¡¯s identity was revealed, they were forced to speed up their timetable. Adder had to make the dangerous trek to the heart of the Dark Atom himself in order to ensure the primeval weapon was captured. Years ago, Zephyr was a veteran demonhunter. He knew how to get information to the right hands at the border forces, and fast. He also had to know how to make the intelligence look convincing enough to make the officers act without question. It was clever: Make the border forces attack the Dark Atom headquarters, and use it as a distraction to steal inside. It worked, and now that rat fuck was somewhere with a city-destroying bomb. Somehow the Crimson Church had to have known the Caliph of the Sands was there. Adder would be in danger, so it would only make sense if the Crimson Church had come as part of some arrangement. A business transaction... that¡¯s what Wyrmsole had called it. As for what the Dark Atom thought about the whole ordeal, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t say. Wolfblade would probably say that there was only one weapon, so you only had one chance to make proper use of it. Smuggling something like that into Skycloud and detonating it was a real tall order. But Adder¡­ he was different. He lived in Skycloud, at least back when he was younger. He almost certainly still had contacts, and thus a way to get the weapon passed the border. Doing that would be exactly what the Dark Atom had wanted from the beginning. It was also a fine way for the Sanctum of Judgment to assert itself in the wastelands. So was Adder¡¯s target Skycloud city? There was no clear evidence to support the idea, though common sense would say it was the best way to break the elysians. What would be a more crushing blow than reducing their grand capital city to rubble? After growing up in the city Adder had to know it inside and out. He was the perfect agent to get the job done. A cold sweat broke out over Cloudhawk¡¯s body. Madness¡­ it was all madness. What would happen to everyone else when Skycloud was blown to smithereens? He couldn¡¯t wait, not a second longer. The consequences if he let this happen were unthinkable! But was he too late? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 102 - Misunderstandings The magnificent airship descended through roiling clouds above. Skycloud¡¯s sun-speckled expanse was revealed. Light sparkled off the wondrous falls that fell from midair. No matter how many times one saw it, the vision seeped into one¡¯s spirit. From the depths of one¡¯s humble heart they felt the majesty of the gods. But Cloudhawk saw it differently. To him, Skycloud was a city built on quicksand. If Adder succeeded in bringing his primeval weapon here, this whole place would be reduced to ruin in an instant. A million lives would be snuffed out, bodies turned to ash. Cloudhawk struggled to imagine the scope of such destruction. All he knew was that the city¡¯s spectacular views would make its annihilation all the more terrifying. Destruction on an unprecedented scale. How could an ancient weapon like that hold so much power? How could mankind have uncovered such a potent means of destruction that might even surpass the power of the gods? With it, mankind had put themselves above the devastating capabilities of gods and demons. Was the ancient civilization¡¯s disappearance from this earth as the elysians said? Had their greed for scientific knowledge unlocked an unholy power they couldn¡¯t control? By now the news of what happened on the Blisterpeaks had reached the elysian lands. People were solemn and melancholy, but their prosperous lived were so far unchanged. With the war so far from their borders, the blessed folk did not fear for their safety. Skycloud was a sanctuary, protected by the auspices of the Temple. So long as they remained strong in their belief, no defeat would break them. Tens of thousands of soldiers lost, though¡­ the deaths of so many generals and great men. Yet it was merely a topic of conversation, brought up with forlorn sighs during afternoon tea or dessert. All that death was so distant from them, like it had happened on another planet. Sad, certainly, but otherwise it did not affect them. A thousand years of peace and prosperity had bred in them tremendous confidence. They were elysians, the chosen people of the gods, while wastelanders were like rats scurrying in the darkness. With but the smallest effort the warriors of god could turn the desert sands red with the blood of heathens. Faith held them up, and in their faith they believed that even Armageddon could not tear down their shining city. Skycloud would stand until the end of time, until the entire world ceased. Cloudhawk disembarked from the ship and was hailing a carriage when the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears. The tell-tale sound of steel of leather told him their weapons were being drawn. Suddenly, the streets were thick with a dangerous atmosphere. ¡°Apprehend the criminal. Citizens, back away! Disperse! Grab him!¡± The people of Skycloud scurried aside, making way as a dozen or so crack city guards flooded the area. They brandished crossbows which were leveled squarely toward Cloudhawk. In addition the eight soldiers in the front row each had tower shields and spears, which they hefted threateningly as they surrounded him. No explanation was given, only steel. Cloudhawk gaped at the less than friendly welcoming committee. ¡°Eh¡­ there has to be some sort of mistake. Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Cloudhawk! We have evidence that suggests you have colluded with demons, and worked with the Dark Atom to contribute to the death of loyal soldiers in the Blisterpeaks!¡± A bearded man who seemed to be their captain was the one giving the orders. ¡°No more talk! Get him, dead or alive!¡± Was this the next effort by Augustus and Frost to keep him quiet? This nonsense was too heavy to put on the back of one scapegoat! What a fucking joke! Cloudhawk took the long trip all the way back here to save this fucking city, and this is what it got him! Halted, before even a glimpse of Adder¡¯s shadow was found. But what was supposed to say? No! Stop! The city could explode at any second and I¡¯m here to be your hero? This dimwitted fucks wouldn¡¯t hear a word of it. They would rather kill him than let him go, and to prove it they didn¡¯t even give him a chance to speak. A barrage of several hundred arrows came screaming at his head, while at the same moment the shield-bearers charged forward. Their aim was to crush him small enough pieces to make into dumplings. The first threat to arrive was the hail of arrows. They passed harmlessly through his body like they were made of air. The guards were among the city¡¯s best. They didn¡¯t know how Cloudhawk had avoided the arrows, but they didn¡¯t hesitate. Eight six-foot shields pressed in from all around with sharp spears bristling from the gaps between. Cloudhawk was left with no exit and the rapidly shrinking area he occupied had become a killing field. A series of brutal jabs were determined to turn him into a pincushion. Cloudhawk sidestepped through the shield-bearers effortlessly. He whipped around and snatched the bearded captain with his right hand, quick as lightning. ¡°If you want to grab me,¡± he said from behind them, ¡°you¡¯re at least gonna need more men than this. You sacks of shit mean nothing to me!¡± The captain was tough. Cloudhawk could snap his neck at any moment, but his red face was stoic. ¡°Get him, don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Cloudhawk was preparing to teach the man a lesson when two curiously shaped cutlasses chopped toward his side. They were so fast he didn¡¯t even have time to reengage his phase stone. He was forced to throw the captain. Draw his rod and knock the attacks away with a ¡®clang¡¯! Then the situation changed once again. Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye, coming quick. It was a streak of energy, tearing through the air like a silver river right toward him. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes to follow its trajectory, and moved just in time to narrowly miss the blow. Where it passed the ground split wide. Cloudhawk reacted with a jab toward his assailant¡¯s chest, but his foe was quick. With the sneak attack failed, his enemy dropped the cutlass and vanished, reappearing moments later with the other cutlass in hand. He launched another streak of dangerous sword energy at Cloudhawk. Spectators were unable to explain what happened next. The swords danced like they were being manipulated by some unseen string, or they had spectral wings of their own. They whipped around Cloudhawk in random directions, and among them a figure moving too fast for the naked eye to register. It constantly moved back and forth between the swords, seeking for a break in Cloudhawk¡¯s defenses, filling the area all around him with streaks of cold steel light. Cloudhawk¡¯s whole world was full of shadows. Everywhere he looked were cutting streaks of light. Three breaths, that¡¯s about how long their exchange had lasted so far. Already the ground was scarred with a dozen or more deep cuts. Exasperated, Cloudhawk called out. ¡°Will you just fucking stop already?!¡± His eyes burned with internal power, and his will along with his words filled the plaza. His foe was nailed in place immediately. Cloudhawk was ready to take advantage of the chance, but was foiled when another weapon came tearing his way. This one was a short sword that reflected no light whatsoever except for a faint purple haze, like the fang of some hellish demon. The attack was sudden, perfection both speed and timing. Most importantly the strike was almost timid. There wasn¡¯t much strength behind it, making the blow soundless and easy to miss. However, Cloudhawk knew that the dozen previous strikes weren¡¯t even close to the destructive power behind this blow. He was fighting an expert, adept in his craft. A master assassin. Any normal person would have easily fallen into this trap. But Cloudhawk was far from normal. No matter how much effort his attacker put into concealing himself, he couldn¡¯t dampen the sound of his relics. Cloudhawk had been waiting for him to tip his hand. His series of blocks off the back foot were a ploy to goad his foe into action. His exorcist rod screamed as it was flooded with power! Cloudhawk abandoned his attack on the first assassin, the woman with the scimitars. Instead, in as subtle a move as he could muster, he swung around to meet the man in black. When their weapons met, Cloudhawk¡¯s rod was drained of it¡¯s power and calcified. IT shattered on the spot, but the residual strength behind the blow managed to knock the assassin back as well. ¡°It¡¯s you two!¡± The first was a girl with a cherub face and a cutlass in each hand. She stared at him with her big, round eyes full of shock. The other was a man in black without a hint of expression on his face. The weapon in his hand said it all, poised like a scorpion ready to strike. Well ain¡¯t that a bitch. I know these two. The girl was someone he knew from his days in Hell¡¯s Valley, Felina the Demon Kitten. The swords that where dancing all over were her relics. Her specialty was sudden, unpredictable and brutal attacks. Quick and strong, she could easily command a battlefield by controlling the rhythm of a fight. The second hardly needed any introduction. Three demon kittens couldn¡¯t stop this man if he wanted to claim a life, for he was no ordinary assassin. The man in black was the infamous Atlas, the Court of Shadows¡¯ right hand man. Among all of Skycloud¡¯s famed talents he was the most enigmatic, but there was no doubt that he was just as capable as someone like Frost. A dozen more men poured into the area, weapons at the ready. Cloudhawk was starting to get it. The first group was a distraction, intended to keep Cloudhawk from noticing the ones who were really supposed to capture him ¨C the Court of Shadows. The secretive group was the best of Skycloud¡¯s special units, under the command of the Umbra family. That family was blessed with a coterie of talented members, and often recruited from outside to bolster their strength. The Court wasn¡¯t an easy group to tangle with. ¡°So it¡¯s you, eh little lady? Looks like you¡¯ve been doing well for yourself with the Court.¡± Cloudhawk flung the handle of his broken rod aside. He looked helplessly at the woman in front of him and continued. ¡°We¡¯ve been separated only a couple of months and you found a new man already? You¡¯re not going easy, either. Shit, your lack of nostalgia hurts my feelings.¡± Felina was born with a pretty face and a gentle look, but anyone who spent time with her in the valley knew she was the one person not to mess with. She was easily top three in their class. In the times they sparred Cloudhawk could never claim to have a solid upper hand, which spoke volumes to her skill. She stuck out her tongue petulantly. ¡°If the Demon Kitten hadn¡¯t tried to capture you first, Deathstalker would have taken your life. But it seems maybe my fears were unfounded. How did get so strong so quickly?¡± Felina hadn¡¯t wanted to kill Cloudhawk, her intention was to incapacitate him so he didn¡¯t have to fight Atlas. After all, who didn¡¯t know how lethal that psychopath¡¯s weapon was? Who didn¡¯t know how deadly Atlas was all on his own? Among Skycloud¡¯s new generation of stars Atlas might not have been the strongest, but there was no question he could kill almost any target he was sent for. He was an assassin, not a warrior. Felina was honestly surprised at the progress she saw in Cloudhawk, after only a few months apart. She was not surprised, however, that Cloudhawk would have a way to prevent assassination attempts. After all, unless a killer had a way to conceal their relics Cloudhawk¡¯s intrinsic talents protected him. His sort was a bane to the likes of Atlas. ¡°Don¡¯t resist, Cloudhawk. You know you can¡¯t escape.¡± He almost scoffed. You could it was foolish to fight back, but fleeing was what he did best. Cloudhawk responded in a no nonsense manner. ¡°If I want to run no one can stop me. But I¡¯m telling you I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. I clean hand does not want for washing. Take me to the commander in chief!¡± ¡°It would make things very difficult if there were casualties here today. You know what condition the general is in, are you sure you want to bring him more trouble? If you trust me then stop resisting, we promise to conduct a fair investigation.¡± Felina¡¯s words were sincere. Cloudhawk¡¯s attention was entirely on the man in black, though. This whole time he hadn¡¯t said a word, waiting for his opportunity to strike. So far one had not presented itself. Cloudhawk replied, never taking his eyes off Atlas. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time. There¡¯s a dangerous, ancient weapon that more than likely is making its way here as we speak. If I don¡¯t stop it then the consequences will be unthinkable.¡± [1] ¡°Evidence?¡± It was the only word Atlas spoke. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any. How could he expect anyone to believe such a claim if he didn¡¯t have anything to back it up? Felina also suspected Cloudhawk was making up tales to get himself out of trouble. She didn¡¯t believe there was any weapon that could be smuggled into the city, much less be the sort of threat he claimed. ¡°Regardless, we can¡¯t stand here at an impasse forever. Come back with us and submit to an investigation.¡± Motherfucker! Investigation my ass! You dumb-asses might get blown sky high at any moment! Cloudhawk¡¯s rebellious temper boiled just below the surface. He didn¡¯t care about this morons, he would just activate his stone and teleport to safety. Only just as the thought entered his mind, another wave of danger washed over him, like an enormous storm cloud hanging over the entire city. He didn¡¯t see anything, but he sure as shit felt it. There was another assassin nearby! Someone even more deadly than Atlas! Skycloud only had one person who could fit that description, the leader of the Court of Shadows and patriarch of the Umbral family. Legends claimed no one outside the Court had ever seen him and lived. Even Hell¡¯s Army hardly had any information about him. The greatest assassin in all of the elysian lands. They¡¯d even sent the head of an organization of killers after him. Suddenly Cloudhawk was far less confident. Just using his phase stone took time, to say nothing of the teleport skill. He wouldn¡¯t have a chance to do either before the assassin king got him. He¡¯d be dead in a tenth of a second. This was the sort of guy Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to fuck with. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± 1. Anyone else getting a strong 24 vibe right now? Book 3, Chapter 103 - Jailbreak Atlas Umbra did not become second in command of the Court of Shadows by chance. Even young, he was brimming with potential and was widely considered to be the future patriarch of his family. He was the right hand man, both for his family and for the Court, but he was not second strongest of the Umbras. Something happened in the past three years that had catapulted him to new heights. Were it not for Cloudhawk¡¯s anti-assassination abilities, and his body¡¯s special condition which protected him from Deathstalker¡¯s poison, his death at Atlas¡¯ hands would be all but certain. He didn¡¯t think he had the faintest glimmer of a shot against that asshole¡¯s boss. So he submitted himself to the Court of Shadows, and watched helplessly as they took all of his equipment. Nearby the mist gathered, and within was a silhouette. No one could see his features, much less his age, but it was obvious who this man was. If there were a list of the most terrifying people in Skycloud, this person ranked in the top three. Shadowmaster of the Court, a man with a name as strange as his legend: Janus ¡®Many-Face¡¯ Umbra. Janus ¡®Many-Face¡¯ was a name as well as a title. He was a man of many faces, though none knew his true visage. Upon materializing in this dark corner, the great assassin raised his head to the sky. He sensed something. Reaching out, he languidly extended his palm as though to pluck a falling leaf from the air. Overhead there was a flash of yellow. A small, pudgy bird with a stone in its mouth was in flight. Suddenly it faltered and came shooting down as though caught in a vacuum. Before Oddball knew what was happening, it found itself caught in Janus¡¯s grip, and could not get free despite a valiant struggle. The man¡¯s face was inscrutable, but there had to be a look of ridicule somewhere in those shadows. This sort of trickery might work on the young and inexperienced, but him? Laughable. Pale fingers reached forward to pluck the stone free, when he was interrupted by Atlas and the innocent-faced girl. ¡°Patriarch, these are his things. Should we take them all?¡± Felina stared at this near mythical figure, her heart thudding with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. For as long as she could remember she had held Janus aloft as an idol. It was her first time being so close to the Shadowmaster. It was just like the legends said. His face was hidden behind the mist, so that nothing of his features could be gleaned. Nothing of Cloudhawk¡¯s was particularly rare or interesting, besides perhaps his cloak which might come to be of use to the family. After all, the Umbras were masters of stealth, someone would certainly find it helpful. With Skye Polaris assailed from all sides, Atlas was certain he wouldn¡¯t come to Cloudhawk¡¯s defense. This time, his brother¡¯s killer was destined for death. There was no enmity between them but for that, but it was a fact he never forgot. There was no love between them, but at least he could appreciate the unwitting gift of a decent cloak. Janus was about to nod his assent, when suddenly he paused as he something caught his eye. A lone syllable wafted from the mist. ¡°Mask.¡± Felina¡¯s eyes glimmered as she drank it all in. He was impenetrable, mysterious. Nothing about the voice ¨C from gender to age ¨C was discernible. Its raspy hiss was uncomfortable, like it wasn¡¯t coming from a human throat. Among Cloudhawk¡¯s things was indeed a mask. Atlas plucked it from his other belongings and handed it to the patriarch. He didn¡¯t ask why. Apparently, ¡®taciturn¡¯ was a shared trait in their family. Janus held the mask in his hands and regarded it in quiet contemplation for a time. Felina didn¡¯t know if it was her imagination or a trick of the mist, but for a brief moment she thought she glimpsed her idol shiver. He gently stroked the mask as though reliving old memories before eventually throwing it back. He apparently had no intention of keeping it for himself. ¡°Skyden.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± None of the orders were questions. Atlas simply complied, leading their quarry away. Janus raised his head and looked toward the sky. His hand loosened, allowing the small bird to go free. Oddball raced off in a headlong sprint, desperate to get as far away as fast as it could. The assassin made no effort to stop it. The mist he hid within danced in the breeze, and then as a gust came through it carried it all away. The Shadowmaster was gone, as though he had never been. *** Skyden was no ordinary prison. The dungeons were a place where ordinary offenders were housed, but those who needed special accommodations were brought here. Many of the unfortunate souls in Skyden were demonhunters or other powerful men. Years ago it was the place Gabriel had called home, before Frost came to offer him a job. Because of its dangerous clientele, the prison was much more heavily guarded than the city dungeons. In recent days, the Skyden had come under new management. The new Overseer was very young, but strong and from a noble family. He was gallant of visage, and his station as Overseer spoke to considerable personal aptitude. His other¡­ idiosyncrasies were a closely guarded secret. Some of the more handsome guards ¨C and even a few of the prisoners ¨C were known to receive the Overseers special attention. It was no surprise that a man like him would be delegated to watching over a prison. Engaging in such hobbies elsewhere was asking for trouble. If word got out his family could never walk the streets of Skycloud with their heads held high. Of course, he was also capable at this profession. He was an adept interrogator with particular skill in physical and mental torture. So far none of the prisoners under his care had managed to withstand his methods. His effeminate features belied the cruel techniques he favored. He was crueler than any of the previous Skyden wardens. Many wondered where the Overseer had learned his trade. Once, in a brief moment of carelessness he spoke about a place called Hell¡¯s Valley. None of the prison guards had heard of the place. With a name like ¡®Hell¡¯s Valley¡¯, how was it a part of Skycloud? ¡°This job is getting rather tedious. I¡¯m beginning to miss those old days.¡± The Overseer idly cleaned his nails while complaining of his boredom. ¡°Overseer. The Court has brought in a dangerous criminal. A girl with them wanted to ask you to come personally.¡± ¡°A girl of the Court of Shadows? Why, that must be the Demon Kitten! She¡¯s one to hold grudges. Her prey was probably someone who offended her long ago. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll want me to pay him special attention. How bothersome. Does she imagine I¡¯m so easily ordered around? I might consider it if the request came from Gabriel. Or, perhaps Cloudhawk. But her? Hmph!¡± ¡°O-Overseer¡­ I don¡¯t understand.¡± His muttered rants made no sense to the prison guards. ¡°Never mind. Take me to her.¡± He stopped picking at his nails. There wasn¡¯t anything for him to do anyway, he might as well see if he could have some fun. The guard led him to the furthest reaches of the Skyden, which surprised the Overseer. In his time here they had never consigned a guest to one of these cells. More and more it appeared the girl¡¯s enemies were becoming serious. He had to admit he was somewhat titillated. ¡°Are we here?¡± ¡°In front,¡± the head guard timidly answered. ¡°Anyone locked up back here is dangerous, relics or not. Regulations state we should them chained around the neck to prevent escape. Do you want to wait until he¡¯s chained or would you just like to go in?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t necessary. I¡¯m certain it is impossible this fellow will escape my grasp, especially without relics.¡± The Overseer rolled his eyes and swaggered into the cell. ¡°Now let¡¯s see who our unlucky-¡± His words trailed off. Stunned, he swallowed the rest of his thought. He merely stood there, staring at his latest charge. Surprise took the jailors too, who stood nearby with hooks and chains. They were all acutely aware of the Overseer¡¯s peculiar hobbies, and they looked at each other with uncomfortable stares. This newbie was young, and reasonably good looking. Probably¡­ The Overseer snapped back to reality. ¡°W-what¡­ what did he do?¡± The head guard placed a stack of paper into the Overseer¡¯s hands. ¡°This is the report. He¡¯s a special case, it¡¯s been three years since we¡¯ve had someone like him. We need to keep him under the strictest guard, to make sure there aren¡¯t any problems.¡± The Overseer glanced over the documentation. Beads of sweat broke out across his forehead. ¡°This can¡¯t be right. That¡­ we¡¯re fine here. Disperse, I need to ask him some questions.¡± Everyone was aware of the Overseer¡¯s hobbies. They fled the moment he gave the word. Once they were alone the prisoner opened his mouth and spoke. ¡°I was wondering why Felina sent me here. This place is being watched over by a fuckin¡¯ sissy boy now, huh?¡± Anyone else, and the words ¡®fucking sissy boy¡¯ would have inspired the Overseer to snap every single bone in their body. But from the mouth of this man it just made him smirk. ¡°Not because of my reputation, I assure you. Still, they¡¯ve left me here to rot just like the rest of them. I guess the real question is when the Boss started working with demons. This¡­ my my, this is quite a serious offense.¡± ¡°Bullshit! You believe this nonsense too?¡± Cloudhawk heaved against the chains that bound his wrists. ¡°I am under direct orders from the commander in chief, General Skye. I¡¯m being framed by those shitfucks in the governor¡¯s mansion. Go on, ask Drake if he would still be alive if I didn¡¯t get involved at the Blisterpeaks. Ask who he owes his life to!¡± Of course Caspian didn¡¯t believe Cloudhawk was a spy. After the tragedy at the Blisterpeaks, General Skye had taken a serious blow to his influence. It would be no surprise if the governor took this opportunity to try and snatch up more power for himself. Besides, Cloudhawk had a somewhat sour history with some members of Arcturus¡¯ group ¨C a fact which lent even more credence to the claim he was being targeted. ¡°I see, I see. Obvious those¡­ shitfucks?¡­ in the governor¡¯s mansion are jealous of the Boss¡¯ talent and good looks.¡± Caspian cooed the words with a strange smile on his lips.He leaned in and lowered his voice. ¡°By the way, how is my dear Gabriel? It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve heard word and I miss him terribly.¡± ¡°Look, I don¡¯t have time to reminisce.¡±Cloudhawk rolled his eyes at the brazen words of his old squad-mate. This guy wasn¡¯t going to give up his sinister plans for Gabriel. Wasn¡¯t he afraid Naberius might take offense? But whatever, he didn¡¯t have time to tease the sissy anyway. He came right to the point. ¡°Listen, sissy, do you not trust me?¡± ¡°Nonsense, the Boss is our glorious leader. Do I look like the sort to play false allegiances? Speak, what do you need from me? Come hell or high water, I won¡¯t balk at any request.¡± ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± Caspian balked. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time for any of this shit, and had no intention of sitting around waiting for a sham trial. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Court¡¯s boss had been present, Cloudhawk was sure he could have escaped from Atlas. He definitely wouldn¡¯t have allowed himself to get thrown in here! He would rather be hunted all through the city than let it get blown to pieces. ¡°Boss, my hero, my lord. Don¡¯t play with me like this! You¡¯re an enemy of the people. I don¡¯t care about being Overseer but the fact is these charges against you can¡¯t be substantiated. I can look after you here, and we¡¯ll just wait for the general to handle all of this himself.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°Do you understand how serious of a crime it is to try and escape from here? Even if you¡¯re completely innocent, I cannot let you do that.¡± Cloudhawk fixed him with a grim stare. ¡°Cut the shit. Are you going to help me or not?¡± Caspian scowled. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve thought this through?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got my reasons, and those reasons won¡¯t wait for me to stand trial. If I don¡¯t do something now then everything is going to hell in a hand basket, do you understand?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was thick with sincerity. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not going to get you in any trouble. Just tell me where they put my shit, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Caspian was still unsure. ¡°Hey sissy boy, you make up your mind yet or what? I am out of time!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s irritation was bubbling over and he raised his voice. ¡°And if you don¡¯t do me this small favor I¡¯ll make damn sure you never see Gabriel ever again!¡± Caspian smirked. ¡°Our dear Boss¡­ always causing trouble. Alright, alright. This time I¡¯m the one who takes the bullet. Who put you in charge, anyway...¡± The Overseer made sure Cloudhawk¡¯s gear was stored in an easy-to-reach place. He then went back to his room and slept like nothing had happened. In the middle of the night he was awakened by a pealing bell. ¡°Damn! A prisoner has escaped! Hunt them down!¡± The Boss knows what he¡¯s doing. Even under tight observation, lock and key he still managed to sneak away. Caspian turned over and went back to sleep, paying no mind to the chaos outside. Trouble was sure to come his way, but far more of it would fall on Cloudhawk¡¯s head. If the boss wasn¡¯t scared, then what did he have to be frightened of? 1.. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 104 - Drawing Out Dawn The general¡¯s compound had been swallowed by an invisible haze. What happened at the Blisterpeaks had struck a serious blow to the strength of the Polaris family. Already in a phase of diminished strength, one could imagine the burden such a loss placed on the embattled military lineage. Many of the small and medium sized families that had followed the general were now silent, leaving the compound a grim and desolate place. It was around midnight, and in a training hall a woman with long blonde hair was seated cross-legged in meditation. In her stillness she was the dignity of a godly effigy, beautiful and alluring. However, to anyone who knew here it was obvious this angelic facade was a perplexing mask. Beneath it was a devil woman with a hair-trigger temper. ¡°Who goes there?!¡± Her eyes popped open and she spat the word out. It boomed through the room like thunder. The wall before her spat out plaster as a hole appeared. Her gaze alone was enough to cause damage to her unseen assailant. It was a technique only high level martial artists were capable of, lending a valiant air worthy of a templar. She missed? Hmph. The gall, barging in here! The woman scowled and reached for her sword. ¡°Hold up!¡± A familiar voice wormed into her ears as suddenly a figure emerged from the ether. It was none other than Cloudhawk. But why? Hadn¡¯t grandfather send him away on some mission in the wastelands? What was he doing here? ¡°I know this is suspicious, but I don¡¯t have time to explain.¡± He knew Dawn was going to whine that he didn¡¯t come to see her sooner, but he couldn¡¯t spare the breath. ¡°I have urgent information that the general needs to hear right away.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re here to see grandfather, then now is exactly the wrong time. With everything going on he¡¯s taken a trip to his home town. He won¡¯t be back for a while.¡± The home town she mentioned was located in the ancestral lands of the Polaris family. There were at least a dozen cities of considerable size in Skycloud, each with a history spanning thousands of years. Not all of Skycloud¡¯s elite had been born there. Back when their gods established this domain, they granted meritorious soldiers of the war various levels of authority. Skycloud came to adopt a city-state system of governance, where each area was mutually independent. They had their own laws and organizations, and the nobles who lived there enjoyed a high degree of personal autonomy. The city itself was a self-sufficient core of leadership. After such a terrible loss, Skye Polaris had no choice but to return to his home city and assure the populace that everything was alright, and also transfer some of his own troops to bolster the ones he¡¯d lost. How could Cloudhawk have known this would happen? Were his enemies really that clever? They all knew who Cloudhawk was and who he worked for, but still had the gall to arrest him. If they¡¯d tried it while the general was here, it would have definitely sparked his famous temper. They would have at least thought twice. Dawn asked what had happened, and as Cloudhawk explained the situation her eyebrows climbed up her forehead. Eventually she shot to her feet. ¡°Without grandfather here, the fiends are growing bolder and bolder! I¡¯ve been too nice for too long. It seems people have forgotten to be afraid of me!¡± This was the she-devil Cloudhawk remembered. She¡¯d been almost demure ever since completing her training in the Temple. It was likely the only bright spot in a sea of shit for Skye. But assuming that Dawn¡¯s character had changed was a fatal mistake. She had just been too busy to let her crazy colors fly. For the last three years, her focus had been on training. Gone were the days when she could idly wander through the city causing trouble. Dawn was considered a star pupil of the Temple. She was a master of art, music, chess, and sculpting. Whether it was physical training or studying the arts, she never really had to work hard. With the slightest effort she mastered what would take many a lifetime to achieve. Her art was oft on display, and the music she composed was cherished by the Temple. Few could match her in a game of chess, and with training she had come to develop a rare level of physical and mental potency. Her sheer magnitude of accomplishments hardly seemed human. All she needed was a fragment of her attention and Dawn Polaris could do anything. After several years of training, it would be fair to assume her skills were approaching that of the older generation of elites. Dawn no longer gained pleasure from tormenting the children of the family. Her aim now was to be the scourge of the city¡¯s elite, and perhaps to show them that their assumptions of the Polaris family were dead wrong. This was a primary reason for her latest good behavior, the quiet before the storm, before she made her grand move. Yet she had not anticipated that at this crucial moment, her grand scheme would have to be put on hold. She needed more information. ¡°What¡¯s so terrible that you needed to rush back and see my grandfather?¡± Cloudhawk pondered whether or not to tell the truth. In all the city, who else but Dawn would believe him and have the balls to do something about it? Besides, now wasn¡¯t the time to be picky about his allies. He briefly explained his suspicions that Adder had a plan to attack Skycloud city. ¡°What? You¡¯re telling me that Sterling Cloude has become a wasteland cult leader, and that he and Zephyr have been lurking out there in the desert for years?¡± Dawn¡¯s eyes were wide after hearing these claims. News was still circulating through Skycloud and apparently hadn¡¯t reached the Polaris family yet. Even for a girl like her who thrived on chaos, the explosive news hit her like an airship. ¡°That¡¯s not everything. Let me finish.¡± Cloudhawk went on to tell Dawn about the primeval weapon that had been hidden in the belly of Nucleus. This ¡®atomic bomb¡¯ was now under Adder¡¯s control, and worse he had vanished off the face of the planet. There was no trace of him to be found in the wastelands. That could only mean one thing ¨C he was trying to find a way into Skycloud. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know where the snake was hiding, but he had reason to believe he was close. If there was anywhere in the Elysian lands where a weapon like that would make the biggest impact, it was here. Adder had the skills and connections to get here, so that meant Skycloud city was living on borrowed time. Dawn was floored. She didn¡¯t know how to process the information. It was all so sudden, and so dire, and caught her completely unprepared. But she knew that Cloudhawk was not the sort to involve others unless he had to. There had to be a real threat of destruction or he wouldn¡¯t be here. ¡°Quick, surround the place! The fugitive has probably already entered the compound!¡± Dawn wanted to ask him questions and learn more, but the sounds of movement outside drew their attention. Judging by the din there was a group of soldiers surrounding the place. It was obvious why they were here. Her fury seethed up from inside. ¡°Do these peasants think the general¡¯s name means nothing?! I¡¯ll tear them apart!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste time! I absconded from the Skyden, so everything they¡¯re doing here in legal. There¡¯s no use tangling with them over this, it¡¯s better to just deal with the matter at hand. Remember, we¡¯re talking about a million lives here. Everyone in Skycloud city. Fuck, everyone in the whole domain.¡± He was right! This was the capital city! If their capital fell who knew what calamity would befall the rest of the domain? All of the knowledge and history of their holy land was housed in this city. Dawn snatched up her equipment, and without waiting for another word from Cloudhawk commanded him with a righteous air. ¡°It irks me to say it, but I¡¯ll do what you recommend. You and I together will prevent this evil from claiming Skycloud.¡± This high-and-mighty girl of noble blood would never change, but he¡¯d convinced her. If Cloudhawk were lying, then he was doing a damn fine job of it. Cloudhawk would say more but a shiver crept up his spine. A relic ¨C faint, deadly, but easily recognizable. Deathstalker! The purple-shrouded blade lashed out, its deadly and lusterless blade sweeping through the air. The ground split, a table shattered, columns crumbled, all in an instant. Everything seemed to become infected by some terrible rot that withered whatever it touched. Atlas Umbra materialized from the gloom. He was like a shadow, soundless and formless, without even a hint of malice in his bearing ¨C like the specter of death. His first attack missed. He immediately followed with a second. A sinister gleam flashed as he stabbed toward Cloudhawk. Both he and Dawn dodged, while she instinctively reached out with her mind toward her Aegis Mirror. Her quick reaction shielded them from assassin¡¯s blade. ¡°Atlas!¡± She roared. ¡°You dare break in and attack me in my own home?! You better believe I¡¯ll skin your hide!¡± Cloudhawk heard the resonance of increasingly more relics. Demonhunters from the Court of Shadows had the compound surrounded, from many different families. Now wasn¡¯t the time to take a fighting posture. Summoning the power of the phase stone, he grabbed Dawn and ran. ¡°Forget about them. We need to go!¡± Atlas held tight to his relic and it trembled in his grip. A dim power oozed from Deathstalker to form a hungry maw, which threatened to swallow both Dawn and Cloudhawk. It bit at Dawn¡¯s shield, sapping it through whatever caustic power it bore. However it was enough time for Cloudhawk to gather the energy he needed. The air around him shimmered and spread out all around. No, not the air. It was reality that rippled. Just as Atlas¡¯ dagger closed in the two figures blinked from existence. A moment later Felina came charging in, swords raised and a host of assassins on her heels. She saw Atlas standing alone in the room and she had to stop herself from sighing in relief. ¡°Where¡¯d he go?¡± It was Atlas¡¯ first time confronting a problem like this. His prey was right within his grasp, only to suddenly disappear. One of the relics he held allowed him to sense if someone was hiding within a thousand meters, which meant they could run but not hide. However, for the moment it seemed they¡¯d completely eluded him. This had to be that power from the legends, the ability to manipulate space. Demonhunters were a rare commodity, and even fewer of them had the ability to use such relics. Atlas was silent, thinking. After a series of failed attempts he was beginning to learn. Somehow, Cloudhawk was able to sense his presence. Deathstalker was returned to its sheath and its owner breathed a frigid order. ¡°Call everyone. I will lead the hunt, he cannot leave the city.¡± ¡°But where should we look?¡± ¡°I managed to mark him while we fought. Through it I will be able to track him, no matter where he tries to hide.¡± In their last exchange Atlas suspected he might fail, so he prepared a special powder to use in that event. It indeed marked Cloudhawk with an invisible tag that he would find scentless, but that Atlas could readily identify. Cloudhawk was able to hear relics, but this powder was not that. It was the first time Felina knew Atlas had a method like this. There was a reason Atlas was the second in command of her order. Inwardly she was worried about her former boss, but she couldn¡¯t understand what he was thinking. Caspian was Overseer of the Prison, so Cloudhawk had to know he was safe there. All he had to do was wait for General Skye to come back and he would have cleared everything up. But he didn¡¯t, he chose instead to break out of prison ¨C a far graver offense. The Court of Shadows was entirely mobilized against him now, and likely other groups as well. She didn¡¯t like where this was going. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk carried Dawn through space several thousand meters from the compound. The process was incredible draining. In effect, what he was doing was folding space between two points. The farther he tried to go, the more energy it required. Quite the demanding trick. ¡°How did we get all the way here?¡± Dawn was taken aback. It was the first time she¡¯d ever seen anything like this. ¡°Did we just...¡± Cloudhawk pressed his finger to his lips to silence her, as his eyes were pinned to a lurking figure in front of them. The silhouette crawled out from a drainpipe then slipped into the crowd, indistinguishable from anyone else. This gave Cloudhawk an idea. Wasn¡¯t that one of the lurkers, from the sewer system below Skycloud? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t wait for Dawn to ask the many questions he knew she had. ¡°If there¡¯s nowhere in the city for us to hide, I think I know someplace that¡¯ll suit us just fine. We haven¡¯t found any clues yet, but just maybe we¡¯ll get lucky where we¡¯re going.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 105 - Objective Found Dormant beneath Skycloud was a group hardly anyone knew about, built on the premise of gathering intelligence. However, once the Dark Atom contacts in the Elysian village were destroyed, no more lines of communication were opened. This network of spies was left to fend for itself or collapse. They did not lose heart. Carefully, treading on the cusp of disaster, they slowly regrew their foundation. Eventually the Dark Atom would reach out once again and they could continue their important work. But if you spend your days by the river, eventually your shoes would get wet. They were discovered. An astute guard noticed that several citizens were rationing and smuggling goods over a long period. Food and water, mostly. Even the poorest citizens of Skycloud had their basic needs satisfied, so who were they keeping these goods for, he wondered? It was this faintest of suspicions that drew the city guards¡¯ attention. Eventually the clues led them to this intrepid group, hiding like rats beneath the city. A thousand soldiers were mobilized, and the sewers were combed for criminals. Hundreds were captured and summarily executed. A hundred and thirty of them were publicly burned at the stake. Ten thousand people gathered to watch, and the scene left a deep impression on the city. The clever guard was promoted for his good work and more effort was paid to watching the sewers. Most entrance were barred off or sealed, and regular patrols were scheduled. Markets and materials were more strictly accounted for to make sure that a network like that would never resurface. That was almost two years ago. Most people had already forgotten about it. Over time patrols grew more lax, attention waned. The forgotten enemy reemerged from the cracks three hundred meters below the city like cockroaches, miraculously surviving the purge. Not just survived. They were thriving. *** A bunker had been excavated in the crypts below the city. They dug trenches to collect water that seeped through the ground, and used crude hand-made generators for electricity. They eked out a simple living in the depths of the earth where they could not be found. They were the Underground. Skycloud¡¯s brilliant light didn¡¯t reach the impenetrable darkness down here. An old, bent man was watching his men struggle with an oval-shaped object. He was tall, but thin, with long spindly white hair that jutted out in all directions. The mess of hair and his thick beard hid most of his face, but from time to time a black gaze peeked from behind the withered strands. He was dressed in threadbare rags that probably hadn¡¯t been washed in years. He lived like a walking corpse and had the smell to match. Among those who lived in perpetual darkness were none who cherished the light. This is what they became. ¡°Skycloud city¡­ will fall.¡± The old man croaked these words to himself. His voice was as withered as his hair, and the raspy tones didn¡¯t make it clear how he felt about that statement. A man with a black mask and a large sword on his back stepped forward. His strange black cloak wasn¡¯t particularly wide, but strangely moved on its own even without any breeze to speak of. It almost seemed like it was made of smoke. ¡°Have you found a way out?¡± This man was one of Adder¡¯s trusted followers, the one known as Revenant. His eyes fluttered as he spoke. Adder¡¯s man seemed to be sizing up the geezer, but in fact it was the dark figures nearby he was measuring. Something about them made him uncomfortable. They were more than they looked, for it was not by luck that this old man and his organization survived the purge three years ago. They had other means of protecting themselves. Hidden forces still remained in Skycloud, weaving their webs. Stirring up trouble was their modus operandi, in particular inspiring others to turn their backs on the gods. What better method to achieve both ends than to have them kill one another? They were a group that feared a lack of chaos, and the lives they saved came at a cost. That cost was service to their cause, over time becoming pawns in their dark game. The old man knew his role as leader of their crew was unstable. With this reality ever looming, he had no choice but to become a pawn. A way out? What nonsense. If there was a way out, would they have lived so long in this sunless pit? When the old man spoke his voice was heavy with resolve. His tired eyes were firm, but spoke to a life of hardship. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve spent most of my life in Skycloud city. I have never walked her streets in the light of day, nor have I ever enjoyed its bounty. But I do love it like a home. There is no place better than where we are.¡± Revenant listened and did not respond. The old man¡¯s name was Majjhima, the only Dark Atom agent to ever successfully infiltrate Skycloud city. For more than ten years he¡¯d lived here, keeping a watch from the shadows while others basked in the light. What this not the cruelest fate one could suffer? Was it not the same as placing a feast before a starving man, but never sharing a bite? Or being condemned to watch the one you love day in and day out, knowing you¡¯ll never have them? No one could understand the old man¡¯s bitter existence. Majjhima was among the best of the Dark Atom. A true revolutionary, firm in his believe and generous in his self-sacrifice. He believed deep in his heart that one day the tyranny gripping Skycloud would be overthrown, and when that happened people would live in peace and equality. The surplus these Elysians enjoyed would be shared with those who suffered in the barren wastelands. And yet, wasn¡¯t it that life of plenty he so dearly cherished? He was here! So close he could reach out and touch it¡­ But what was the point of living this cursed existence if he was forgotten by the Dark Atom? Nothing more than lingering in squalor, wasting away. ¡°I want to see this glorious pinnacle fall. Watch its magnificence borne away as ash on the wind. Let it be taken by a sea of fire. To me, that would be the most fitting end. I may not have possessed its beauty in my lifetime, but to make this city in mausoleum¡­ that would be enough.¡± There was perhaps nowhere else on earth with the same safety and prosperity Skycloud enjoyed. Majjhima himself didn¡¯t expect to feel so deeply for a city that wasn¡¯t his. He had only ever been worthy to peer on it from the shadows. Where it at all possible he would not resort to Skycloud¡¯s destruction, but there was no choice. This road was preordained, and their job was to see it through to its end. He wasn¡¯t going back to the wastelands. No matter what. Revenant¡¯s tepid voice returned. ¡°Are you willing?¡± ¡°This life has been worth it,¡± Majjhima replied. Revenant had no interest in asking the old man about his spiritual journey. He was about to say more about their plans when he sensed something, and stopped. His eyes darted to one side, in the direction of a sound. The sounds of struggle. Someone had found them. A strange light flickered through Revenant¡¯s eyes. He knew who it was. ¡°Someone¡¯s come to make trouble. I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± His words hung in the air as he dissolved into a mist and was whisked away. Majjhima didn¡¯t see their visitor, but he had his doubts they were trouble. After all, for two years they had been safely hidden here. His agents were careful when they came and went. Why now, all of a sudden? No matter. Whoever it was, that which had been put into motion could not be stopped now. Majjhima turned to his men. ¡°Pay it no mind. Activate it immediately!¡± Once the ovoid structure was engaged ancient text began to scroll across its display, followed by a group of numbers. Five minutes. After that, even the greatest of warriors would be doomed. The old man watched, indifferent. He knew immediately that this man who claimed to be from the Dark Atom was lying. Majjhima was no fool. The Dark Atom couldn¡¯t get into the city, much less bring a weapon like this with them. He didn¡¯t know how they managed it, but he would not waste the chance. No one leave! We will bury this magnificent city together. A zealous gleam burned behind the old man¡¯s eyes. In a nearby hallway Cloudhawk had just finished dealing with a few small-fry guards when a familiar group of masked faces appeared to block his path. One among them had a wraithrobe, which he knew to be Adder¡¯s personal lackey. ¡°Well, shit. I struck gold huh. Look who it is.¡± ¡°How the hell am I supposed to know who he is?¡± ¡°This is Adder¡¯s man. If he¡¯s here, it means we hit pay dirt. I¡¯ve said it before and I¡¯ll say it again, Lady Luck has taken a liking to me.¡± Cloudhawk spoke with Dawn like the group of desperate killers wasn¡¯t even there. Revenant narrowed his eyes, and in them the thirst for blood was obvious. He wasted no time speaking and drew his weapons. In the next instant he vanished, reappearing behind Cloudhawk with his sword poised to open his foe¡¯s throat. Revenant¡¯s attack was quick and impatient. Cloudhawk never moved an inch. The woman with him was the one who reacted. With a sniff of cold mirth she lifted her slender leg, then whipped it at Revenant like a coiled spring. There was only half a meter between them, but in that short space her leg moved faster than sound. When it connected it caught Adder¡¯s henchman like a blast of thunder. Revenant crashed through a nearby wall, leaving a hole several meters deep. The impact reverberated down the path. Dawn slowly lowered her leg and sniffed. ¡°Too slow.¡± Cloudhawk was left speechless. The only way he could match this woman¡¯s ability was with his berserker strength. She deserved her dubious title of the city¡¯s madwoman. If that kick didn¡¯t kill Revenant outright, then it sure as shit left a mark. The others who had come to stop him spread out and prepared to attack. Dawn responded by slowly drawing her radiant blade. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this rabble. Go deal with their leader.¡± Did he have a choice? He obedient trotted over to the hole that Revenant had made and could immediately tell that Dawn had used some sort of martial technique. No one could do this sort of damage with just a kick. Revenant had been blasted through several meters of solid rock. ¡°Eh? Where¡¯d he go?¡± When Cloudhawk looked around all he saw were a few drops of blood and strips of cloth. No sign of the man himself. Had he escaped? But while Cloudhawk sat there brooding, a black mist had begun to gather at his back. Revenant reformed and brought his sword down. Cloudhawk gently flicked his wrist. The exorcist rod hidden up his sleeve slipped into his palm. Immediately the weapon hummed with power, and he swung around to knock the blade away. Revenant¡¯s tungsten sword exploded into shards of metal as the rod unleashed its payload. It rammed into the man like a torrent. If Atlas couldn¡¯t sneak up on him, how was this scrub going to manage? Cloudhawk had pretended to be oblivious in order to lure Revenant back into the open. Adder¡¯s henchman was also unaware that Cloudhawk had recently broken through his bottleneck and grown in strength, and so underestimated his enemy¡¯s ability. Too late to dodge, the mistake might just cost him his life. The rod¡¯s power threatened to blast him apart, first ripping his head wrap and face mask to shreds. Only the wraithrobe was untouched, and far from being damaged it managed to win Revenant enough protection to live. He burst into mist and retreated back several meters. A frown soured Cloudhawk¡¯s expression. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Revenant would survive, though at least he was out of the picture for now. But there was something in that instant between when Revenant was in front of him and when he escaped. Without the head wrap and mask, he caught a glimpse of the face beneath the robe¡¯s cowl. Long, raven black hair. A blood-streaked oval face. Revenant was a woman. Didn¡¯t matter, he was still gonna kill her ass! Cloudhawk got ready to finish her off. Only, Revenant had no intention of continuing their fight. The wraithrobe was a relic designed to get its wearer out of difficult situations. So long as she had mental energy left, she could escape at will. Anyway, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t here to kill people, just the opposite. He had no choice but to let her flee. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 106 - Fiendish Mass Production Cloudhawk¡¯s scuffle with Revenant lasted only a handful of seconds. When he returned to where he left Dawn, the scene that unfolded left him speechless. The small hallway had somehow grown what had to be hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites. Each one pierced deeply into the bodies of Revenant¡¯s crew. Expressions of excruciating pain and horror were frozen on their faces. Judging by the looks in their dim eyes, they couldn¡¯t believe what happened. Dawn tugged the blade of her sword out of the ground. With that the collection of spikes receded back into the ground, walls and ceiling. There was no indication that just a second ago the hallway was a death trap. Nothing except for the seven or eight badly mutilated corpses that littered the ground. ¡°What about the air-head?¡± ¡°Escaped.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re so useless! Don¡¯t tell anyone you know me, alright?¡± Cloudhawk rolled his eyes. The wraithrobe was no joke, Revenant was probably just as adept at running away as he was. She wasn¡¯t going to be so easily finished off. But it didn¡¯t matter, she was hurt and wasn¡¯t going to be a problem. Right now they had to finish what they came here to do. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Dawn thrust her sword back into its sheath before reaching back and pulling her small shield forward. She faced the rocky wall that blocked their path and braced herself. Then, gathering strength, she released a burst of energy that smashed the obstruction to pieces. At last, we found it. Cloudhawk hurriedly slipped through. Right away he was surrounded by a dozen figured, led by an old man. ¡°You!¡± Majjhima didn¡¯t think that after three years he would see this surprising young man again. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the same waif he remembered, he was stronger and taller than before. ¡°What are you doing back here?¡± ¡°Shut it! Obviously I¡¯m here to stop you crazy fucks and your crazy plan!¡± Cloudhawk tried to step forward but the crowd closed in. He brandished his exorcist rod, ready to fight, when an odd sensation gave him pause. Somewhere around Majjhima¡¯s group he felt the faint whisper of a relic. Was there another threat lurking nearby? Was it Adder? Cloudhawk was sure he didn¡¯t want to find out just how strong that asshole really was. Definitely not the sort of guy to underestimate. He held back, choosing to talk instead. His cold voice growled at the others. ¡°You¡¯re all being played. They aren¡¯t Dark Atom, they¡¯re just using you to do their dirty work. Their plan is to upstage the Dark Atom and steal their influence over the wastelands, and you¡¯re going right along with it.¡± ¡°What of it?¡± When he stared at Cloudhawk he had the look of a complete stranger. There was nothing recognizable in his eyes. ¡°Under a brutal dictatorship this city continued to hoard its riches, while countless wastelanders suffer and die. They are forced to wander the desert, exposed to the cruelty of men and acts of god. How is this acceptable?¡± ¡°The hundreds of thousands of people who live here are innocent. They have feelings, families, lives they have just as much a right to live as any wastelander. It doesn¡¯t matter where you were born.¡± Cloudhawk scanned the area while he spoke, looking for that hidden threat. ¡°You think fighting the elysians like this is fair? This is the method you so-called revolutionaries have chosen?¡± ¡°There must always be sacrifices, for every great cause. How can we create a new paradise without tearing down the old order?¡± Majjhima tightened his grip on his walking stick. ¡°I thought you were different. I thought you were wise. But you are soft as a woman. The years have turned you into one of these elysian dogs.¡± ¡°What are you two grousing about?¡± Dawn didn¡¯t understand their exchange, and she was growing impatient. She ripped Terrangelica from its sheath once again. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to flap my gums! Time to die!¡± She thrust the sword into the ground. All around the earth began to quake as pillars of jagged sprouted like grass. Many of the underground defenders were instantly skewered. They had no way to protect themselves from the attacks from from under foot and overhead, nor was there any place to hide. It wasn¡¯t like they could just float in the safety of midair. Cloudhawk was too slow to stop her. Dawn waved her sword, and a host of stone spikes answered. Like a cloud of locusts they were flung into the air and raced toward the one barring their path ¨C the white-haired old man. Dawn¡¯s sword, Terrangelica, was a powerful relic. The hail of stones she summoned was not to be treated lightly. Each spike was strong enough to pierce armor and almost too fast to defend against. Crack-crack-crack-crack! As the spikes drew near to their target, suddenly they were stopped by an invisible force. They exploded into flecks of rock before they could cause any damage. Dawn was stunned. She couldn¡¯t understand what had happened. All of Majjhima¡¯s men were dead, there were only the two quiet men standing on either side of him. The power that deflected Dawn¡¯s attack was coming from inside of them. ¡°Are¡­ are these blackfiends?¡± To Cloudhawk, the power they exuded was a familiar one. It was a similar aura he sensed from Blackfiend the Undying, only¡­ different. However, their blank expression and whatever energy gave them life was much the same. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Dawn asked. ¡°I came across something in the wastelands that radiated an energy signature similar to these two.¡± Cloudhawk seemed to come to a realization. Squall only get to the level of influence he held because he was following someone¡¯s orders. Did whatever master he follow also find a way into Skycloud? Only one way to find out. ¡°Whose orders are you following?¡± Majjhima¡¯s grim and inscrutable eyes were ice cold. ¡°We¡¯re all going to die, how will this information help you?¡± ¡°Obviously you¡¯re eager to kick the bucket, old man. You won¡¯t even spare a thought for the old days.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t some pushover. His lips curled into a contemptuous smirk. ¡°You think those two pieces of shit are enough to stop us?¡± ¡°No? Then how about ten.¡± The surrounding walls split, revealing several cocoon-like structures hidden in the stone. They had a jade-like quality to them, and through their opaque surface one could barely make out humanoid figures inside. Crack! Crrrack! The chrysalis-like structure began to fracture, spilling plumes of black smoke out into the cavern. Nude figures emerged, each with cold dead expressions on their faces. Black mist surrounded them like a cloak so that when they walked forward they did not seem human at all. They were harbingers of destruction. How could there be so many? Was this place being used as some sort of¡­ factory? Mass-production of these creatures was a terrifying prospect. But even more dreadful was the realization that whatever orchestrated all this was having them made inside Skycloud. They were bolder than a mouse trying to hide from a cat in plain view.But who could imagine, in the most insane fever dream, that this was happening right below their feet? So they were kept safe, fostered, until the time when this power was ready to surface. The results were destined to be earth-shaking. This was the very heart of Skycloud, and Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even know what dark hand held the blade about to pierce it. ¡°The atomic weapon has been armed and activated. Even if you escape this cavern, you will be buried with the rest of the city.¡± Majjhima released a long, slow breath. His face slackened, and there was a look almost like relief. ¡°Death. It is not something to be feared. It is a liberation.¡± ¡°Well then, let me help you get there faster!¡± With a shout Cloudhawk leaped straight up from the ground, sparks shooting from his exorcist rod. He came crashing down toward one of the fiends, bringing with him a crushing sense air of destruction. The fiend, seeing him coming, raised its hands and released a blast of black energy. What was supposed to be a shield crumpled immediately upon contact with the rod, though it also broke Cloudhawk¡¯s weapon. These sorts of low-grade relics really couldn¡¯t be relied on. Dawn gaped as Cloudhawk showed what he was capable of. From what she saw he had the strength to rival a veteran demonhunter! Is this what three years of training had wrought? In another three years he would be stronger than her! Was he even human? His speed of improvement surpassed Selene¡¯s back when she was making waves. Joined the demonhunters at eight, and was considered a veteran by fourteen. Six years from start to finish. She also came from the greatest demonhunter family in all of Skycloud. Meanwhile Cloudhawk was a nobody. Despite the surprise Dawn was not idle. With a sweep of Terrangelica a blast of light was cast forth, cleaving the unprotected fiend in half. That was when Cloudhawk discovered the difference between these things and Blackfiend. Squall¡¯s tool was strong, but it was still just a tool. As a result it functioned on Squall¡¯s command. These creatures didn¡¯t appear to be under anyone¡¯s control. They all attacked automatically, as though galvanized by some defense mechanism. Majjhima didn¡¯t appear to be doing anything. Cloudhawk was lucky. Blackfiend the Undying was true to his name, and no method he knew had been able to finish the thing off for good. Luckily, these fiends didn¡¯t share that trait. When Dawn¡¯s sword cut the one in half, it immediately dissolved. ¡°Ah fuck, thank god. Inferior products.¡± If these things had been immortal like Blackfiend, Cloudhawk and Dawn would have perished here. Thankfully they were a far cry from Squall¡¯s relic guardian ¨C at least they were killable. It made them far less dangerous. The remaining nine protofiends stirred. Their hands hummed with black energy, which they cast at the two invaders like hand grenades. Their detonations were as potent as blasts of thunder. The cavern was too damn small. Where were they supposed to find cover? ¡°Out of the way!¡± Dawn summoned her defenses, encasing them in a glass-like shell of protection. As the blasts pummeled them, the worst they managed were a few cracks in the shield. This was not a strategy, though. Even though they were inferior to Blackfiend, these creatures still packed a serious punch. If the current circumstance was anything to go by, there were more where this batch came from. Dawn¡¯s shield wasn¡¯t going to protect them forever. The cracks spread further. Whatever energy powering them appeared to be limitless. Blast after blast assailed them and didn¡¯t seem to be slowing down, giving them no chance to catch their breath. They couldn¡¯t hold out much longer! Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was racing for a way out, when a feeling caught his attention. He breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°The cavalry¡¯s here!¡± ¡°What is this nonsense?¡± Dawn hissed. ¡°What cavalry?¡± Half a breath after speaking the words, a dagger appeared from the center of a protofiend¡¯s chest. Deathstalker¡¯s caustic power infected the creature¡¯s entire body, causing it to wither and crumble away. Cloudhawk turned his head and saw Felina charging down the pathway with a contingent of demonhunters in tow, along with over a hundred Shadow warriors. They¡¯d been following him, arriving just in time to see what was going on. Cloudhawk was ignored, for the time being. There were other evils to deal with first. 1.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 107 - Race Against Time The rocky walls exploded, sending fragments all throughout the cavern. A dozen or more chrysalis incubators were revealed. Cloudhawk stared in disbelief. There were more of them! It was a breeding ground! The incubators broke apart like eggs, and newborn fiends with deadpan expressions stumbled forth. Their uncoordinated movements were made more disquieting by the wisps of black smoke that hugged to their naked bodies. The inky black mist covered them and gathered around their hands forming orbs. So far, all Cloudhawk knew was that the same group responsible for these things was also backing Squall. But that was it ¨C he couldn¡¯t guess where they came from, or what secrets they kept. The protofriends were strong. Too strong. Each one fought as well as an Elysian soldier. If the ones behind the scenes were just making these things at a whim, how terrifying a force had they built already? Majjhima wasn¡¯t controlling them, but he and his group of lackeys were down here for a reason. Probably to watch over the macabre farm. The fiends also had an innate instinct to protect this place as well. Once danger neared, they awakened and took to its defense. Atlas raised his hand, an order to attack. Scores of men wrapped in black armor charged into the cavern. The shadow warriors were agile, and maneuvered through the rock-strewn area with ease. One of them ran up a wall and raced along it while firing from a bow. However, he only got two shots off because an orb of black energy caught him in midair. A moment later ¨C boom! The unfortunate warrior was turned to paste and splattered throughout the area. No piece of mangled flesh or bone was larger than a thumb, and it coated everyone like a foul rain. A second followed. Then a third. These men were elite soldiers, with bodies far tougher than your average man. In addition, they were outfitted with the Court¡¯s finely crafted armor that were tenacious enough to stop any bullet from causing harm. However, under the mighty blows of the protofiends they were blasted apart like they were made of paper. The fiends fought on, expressionless. They felt no anger, no fear ¨C they were never built with nerves or emotions. So they fought on in an increasingly pitched battle against these invaders. Bows were drawn and arrows fired, shot with superhuman precision. Not a single one missed its intended target. But it was no use. Their arrows couldn¡¯t piece the shields of black mist, shattering mere inches from the fiends¡¯ flesh. With each successive attack against them, the mists that protected the protofiends dimmed ever so slightly. But the weakness was brief, for a moment later the inky black returned dark as ever. Their innate strength was nothing special, not even to the level of the shadow warriors. They moved slowly and clumsily through the cavern. It was that black power inside them that was difficult to deal with. One of the shadow warriors, flying in the face of death, charged forward for a close-ranged attack. He wrenched a sword from a sheath on his back and closed the gasp between them with a spearhead attack. The result of him coming into contact with the black mist was large chunks of his body rotting away. The protofiend slammed a fist into the attacker¡¯s head, blowing half of it off and spraying brain matter in a cone behind him. A cold and angry light seethed in Atlas¡¯ dark eyes. It was just as surprising to him that the dark underbelly of Skycloud would be home to these evil creatures. ¡°Hey, Mr. Wood Face. Are you seeing this shit?¡± Cloudhawk called out to him from across the cavern. ¡°If we don¡¯t work together you can bet your brooding ass no one gets out alive.¡± His meaning was obvious: Don¡¯t stab me in the back you prick, or we all go down together! Felina threw a glance toward her commander. ¡°He¡¯s right.¡± Atlas straightened and put his dagger away. He reached back and drew the blade on his back instead. Felina knew what this meant, and turned to the other Court members to issue a command. ¡°Everyone, with me! We¡¯re on support!¡± She flicked her wrists, sending her twin scimitars whistling through the air. They almost seemed to have a life of their own as they danced around obstacles. Felina darted around the battlefield with the speed and agility of a cat, switching seamlessly between her blades. In a blink she peppered a protofiend with a dozen strikes. Her onslaught dissipated its protection, allowing the other demonhunters to mop up. Finally, one was down. The combined attack garnered the attention of two more creatures. They came at the group from two directions while throwing concussive blasts of black energy at them. Atlas made his move. He had two weapons; one long, one short. The long sword was his newest relic, a gift from the family called Malady. It did a fine job of offsetting the assassin¡¯s lack of direct combat ability. The sword looked black as pitch from pommel to point, and no wider than two fingers at its broadest. IT was a dramatic and charming weapon at a glance, full of dark majesty and deftness. Cloudhawk felt an abnormal hum from it. Atlas, already blindingly fast, was suddenly moving at twice the speed. At his peak you couldn¡¯t even see him, only the gleam of death released by his relic. The swings from his weapon did not hold any earth shattering vigor, but that wasn¡¯t the aim. Instead, it seemed as though reality held no sway over the blade. Skimming across the ground, it left a deep fissure in its wake. Boulders and rocky columns split apart like they were nothing. The black orbs split apart in midair. Atlas appeared behind behind one of the protofiends, holding his sword in both hands. It still gleamed with incisive power. Behind him, the creature slowly parted down the middle before falling in a heap. Blinding speed, incredible power. Atlas was still only for a moment. Once again he became a living malady, and cut apart a second protofiend before it knew what was coming. Once again Cloudhawk was confronted with the truth, that he underestimated Skycloud¡¯s talent. He thought Atlas could only claim a life if he did it from the shadows, but that wasn¡¯t the case, He was cutting down these things easily, proving his strength and skill. ¡°Hmph. What insignificant skill. We can¡¯t let him show us up.¡± Dawn fished out a rock from somewhere and threw it. It was about as big as a fist to start, but as it rolled along the ground it swelled to the size of a small shack. The whole cavern shook and rumbled as though a whole host of chariots had thundered through. The boulder ran over one of the protofiends and smashed it pieces. A trench stretched out behind it to mark the boulder¡¯s path, and whatever creature it encountered was easily knocked away. Then the rock ¡®stood,¡¯ revealing itself to have taken the shape of a humanoid. At five meters tall it was categorically a giant, and its rock-hard body gleamed like it was made of volcanic glass. Heaving its arms, the rock giant smashed protofiends on either side of it. They flew through the air like rag dolls and left holes where they landed. The rock giant was Dawn¡¯s relic, her Golem Sentinel. Cloudhawk remembered it ¨C one of the relics he found at the It was a simple item, but in Dawn¡¯s hands the beast it summoned was as strong as Coal. Dawn charged through the battlefield, multitasking. With one part of her mind she controlled the golem, ordering it to wreak havoc among their foes. With the other, she maintained their protection through the Aegis Mirror so that the hail of black orbs didn¡¯t reach them. One person drawing so much power gave the others the space they needed to mount an attack. ¡°What are you standing there for? Destroy them!¡± Cloudhawk pulled an exorcist bow from the ether, and in the same fluid movement began to release arrows into the fray. The power he poured into each one could rival a high-ranked demonhunter¡¯s. The first arrow struck the protofiends¡¯ shields and diminished them, and the second finished them entirely. On average it took two arrows to deal with one target. Relatively quick work. He wasn¡¯t sure how many more protofiends were hidden here, but so far they weren¡¯t showing up as fast as they were being put down. At this rate, they would be out of trouble soon. Dawn shouted at him while they fought. ¡°Have you found the thing you were looking for?¡± ¡°It has to be here somewhere!¡± He answered. Almost right away he caught sight of it. When the fight broke out, Cloudhawk had sent Oddball to scout around. The little guy could deal some damage if he had to, but he was more use as Cloudhawl¡¯s eyes and ears. Eventually his small companion spotted it, an egg-shaped object nestled above the cavern. At a glance it was obvious the thing was old, from the time before the war. Signs that the Dark Atom scientists had been at it were also clear. The protruding wires and makeshift repairs were crude, but effective. At the moment there was a series of numbers counting down on a display screen. Looking closer through Oddball¡¯s eyes, Cloudhawk felt his breath catch. Just a little over a minute remained. ¡°Shit! Fuck!¡± Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°They¡¯ve already activated the weapon!¡± Majjhima had been hiding from the start. His face was expressionless, but when he heard Cloudhawk¡¯s shouts it grew sour. Obviously he hadn¡¯t expected him to find it in time. ¡°This is your last chance!¡± Cloudhawk said to the old man. ¡°If you stop it all right now, I can get you out of here. If you don¡¯t then the only path left is death.¡± If he feared death, then why would he be here? This young man¡¯s words only highlighted his immaturity. These creatures didn¡¯t listen to Majjhima, so whether he was inclined to stop or not didn¡¯t matter. They would not stop fighting. As for the bomb? Very soon it would all end, and no one would be leaving here. He¡¯s still so young. Skilled, special¡­ but he will pay the price for his ignorance. ¡°I have a plan.¡± Cloudhawk was out of options. ¡°Keep their attention.¡± Dawn yelled for him to go, then called on Terrangelica¡¯s power. Spikes of stone were spat from the ground, forcing even protofiends to dodge or be impaled. Her wide area of attack also served to gather more attention. More of the creatures turned to this increased threat and pelted her shield with their black orbs. Cloudhawk wrapped his fingers around the phase stone. Reality shimmered, and all at once he was gone. Watching him disappear into thin air, Majjhima frowned. His head snapped up, and there a hundred or so meters away he spotted Cloudhawk. He¡¯d somehow teleported across the cavern, right in front of the bomb. ¡°Stop!¡± The old man¡¯s peaceful features were suddenly twisted with rage. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 108 - What Remains Cloudhawk drew back his bow and fired at the stone wall. The fissure that housed the bomb cracked and opened further, sending large stones cascading down into the cavern below. The strange object hidden inside began to tumble out as well. Whatever terrible weapons the ancient civilizations created, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t familiar with them. He didn¡¯t know if this really was what he was after, but after hearing Majjhima¡¯s reaction he was convinced. So without hesitation he leaped up, straight as an arrow, and caught the bomb before it hit the ground. It was armed, ready to blow at any moment. The Dark Atom¡¯s scientists had spent years of sweat, blood and tears striving over this thing. The display that was rapidly counting down was its detonator. It was activated, and the instant that timer reached zero a thousand years of Elysian history would be consumed in atomic fire. Unimaginable destruction would consume the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Cloudhawk never set out to save the world. He was not the hero type. But was it right to indiscriminately eradicate so many people? How many young people were just trying to make a living up there? How many children, and elderly? Where they just supposed to be sacrificed on the altar of someone else¡¯s ambition? No! Cloudhawk paid no attention to the problems he was inviting on himself by saving this city, he just knew it was wrong. He couldn¡¯t just stand by and let it happen! Of course, it wasn¡¯t like he had an experience in handling atomic fucking weapons. The only thing he could think of was to use the phase stone and throw this thing into that strange airless space. It didn¡¯t matter how destructive the thing was all the way out there. Majjhima¡¯s eyes were so wide the skin around them threatened to split. A cruel and determined fire burned inside him. How could a man suffer to live? How much could he stand in one lifetime? He¡¯d trained with the Dark Atom since he was a young man, eventually being selected from among hundreds of others to be sent here. It cost him a lot to be the one they chose. Now, at the dusk of his life and looking back at all that transpired, he sadly realized that he had nothing. No family, no friends, no lover, no children. No achievements. Decades of his life spent in darkness and loneliness had left with nothing but a gnawing void in his belly. He¡¯d often thought about his death, whether anyone would feel sorry when he was gone. Would anyone cherish his memory? Would anyone even remember his name? Even the smallest life was entitled to leave its mark, however insignificant. He deserved to have his voice be heard! His final wish was to do something with his death. It didn¡¯t matter how his actions would influence the future, just so long as he left his mark. To prove that he once lived! He had finally found a light in his long and lonely existence, and he wasn¡¯t going to let it go out no matter what others thought. A once in a lifetime opportunity. A chance to prove he was worth something, even if the methods were extreme. Once the Dark Atom ceased communication with their cell in Skycloud, the sense of abandonment broke Majjhima. He had never been afraid to sacrifice himself, only that his sacrifice would be worth nothing. Until he met that man, during the purge. ¡°The Dark Atom doesn¡¯t want you. But I can use you.¡± That was the day Majjhima turned his underground resistance into a monster breeding ground. He never learned who that person was, where they came from, or why they wanted to grow their creatures here. But there was no doubt about it, whatever power he spoke for was more entrenched in Skycloud than the Dark Atom ever was. They wielded more power than those rebels could dream of. At the time, the visitor presented him with an item. ¡°If one day this place should fall,¡± he said, ¡°use this at the end. The torment you will suffer will be unthinkable. All the flames of hell wouldn¡¯t add up to a tenth of its cruelty. But it will bestow upon you great power ¨C and when you die, you will release what remains of your outrage.¡± This was that time, when he let his outrage free. Majjhima opened his tattered robes to reveal the withered body underneath. Intricate lines were tattooed on his paper-thin flesh. They covered his whole body and quivered visibly from some internal power. The fiends locked in combat stopped suddenly. Whether those that still lived or the corpses of the ones that had fallen, clouds of black mist seeped from them all and gathered toward Majjhima. The ominous smoke drew together in a cloud over the top of his head. Cloudhawk had managed to snatch the bomb from the rocky debris that fell like rain, but before he could enact his plan his eyes were drawn to Majjhima. What was this old man doing? Dawn, Atlas and the others were frozen, unsure of what to do. The enemies they had been bitterly striving against stopped all of a sudden. It was more accurate to say they seemed to completely bleed out, drained entirely of all their energy. Majjhima clutched a translucent, crystalline-like object in his hand. It excited and attracted the black mist, gathering it all into itself like a vacuum. The crystal bead changed from translucent to pitch black as all the mist was consumed. Now it was a small speck of black, the sort of black that threatened to swallow anything that drew too close. ¡°No one can stop this. No one!¡± Majjhima pushed the bead into his mouth and swallowed. It wasn¡¯t hard for Cloudhawk to guess what was happening. That item had stolen the power from the protofiends, and now all of it was forced into Majjhima¡¯s body. ¡°Careful!¡± Dawn shouted. Waves of palpable energy surged from the old man, rising off of him like black fire. His screams were deafening, and his presence alone cracked the cavern walls. In a fraction of a second, Majjhima appeared in front of Cloudhawk. Shit! His face blanched. He wanted to activate the face stone and get the bomb away. Out there it couldn¡¯t hurt anyone. But it was a process that took a little time, time which he no longer had. Majjhima materialized ten meters away like a demon rising from the depths of hell, and launched a punch toward Cloudhawk with the force to shatter mountains. Cloudhawk had poured over this moment in his brain a dozen times. He wondered if Adder would be lurking in the dark underbelly of Skycloud, waiting for his time to strike. He considered the possibility of the Crimson One appearing at the most inopportune moment. But he never guessed this wrinkled old man would be the threat he needed to prepare for. Cloudhawk abandoned his efforts to planar shift and instead used the energy to teleport. He vanished the instant before Majjhima¡¯s attack arrived, conveying him and the weapon to a safer distance. ¡°Kill him!¡± Ten shadow warriors closed in and surrounded the old man. They hacked at him with their swords without hesitation. No use. It was like his whole body was made of tungsten steel. His was protected by the huge amount of energy he¡¯d consumed, more effective than any armor. The swords were broken on his wrinkled flesh. ¡°Get away!¡± All at once the ten warriors where torn asunder. Majjhima, surrounded by that terrible energy, was lifted off the ground and into the air. There he hovered like a nightmare given flesh, a horror that made all onlookers tremble. How could this old man contain all of that energy inside himself? No one knew how the protofiends were made, but they knew that Majjhima was no demonhunter. Even if he was strong in his younger days, he was an old and withered man now. Forcibly injecting a failing body with so much energy was a death sentence, no doubt, but that did not concern Majjhima at all. Cloudhawk scowled at the increasing threat. There was less than a minute left! Majjhima¡¯s body began to change. Black mist poured out of every orifice, every pore, though still hugging tight to his body. He was only partially visible through the haze. Occasionally glimpses of his white hair were caught, standing straight up, or his eyes which now were consumed with pure unadulterated fury. ¡°You are all going to die.¡± Majjhima charged at the rock giant. It was given no time to react, and in a blink Dawn¡¯s golem sentinel exploded into gravel. A wave of dark energy pulsed from the attack that swallowed half the cavern, like water from a burst dam. Everything in its path was obliterated, from the stone columns to the rocky ground. Those demonhunters not quick enough to dodge were swept away. Whatever protective relics they were relying on instantly shattered under the pressure. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice rang over the blast. ¡°Felina!¡± His cries were answered by a glint of steel as a cutlass pierced the mist. It struck the ground a few meters outside of the black torrent. A second later Felina¡¯s doll face appeared beside it. She clutched a compatriot in each hand. One was missing half his body, and her own armor had been badly mangled. She stumbled for a moment then fell to the ground. Atlas hurried to her aid, dragging Felina and the soldiers she saved to safety. Majjhima had lost his mind. He was a beast of pure rage, stampeding through the cavern and smashing everything in his path. Great fissures were appearing in the walls, the ceiling, and the ground as he punched through the stone columns. Boulders large enough to crush a whole squad fell from overhead. He was bringing the whole place down on top of them! Cloudhawk, Dawn, and Atlas all stared in shocked horror. By the time they gathered their wits, it was too late. With its supports destroyed, the cavern suffered a catastrophic collapse. *** In the midst of a quiet day, the townspeople gasped as a thunderous noise arose. It came from underground and continued for several long moments. Confused and alarmed, they looked around for the source. In the West of the city, a commercial street was suddenly thrown into chaos as the streets broke apart without warning. It was followed by a deafening bang. All at once the whole block collapsed. Dozens of shops, homes and business tumbled into an impossibly deep abyss. Fissures continued to slither from the edges like angry centipedes, opened up beneath the feet of doomed citizens who had no idea what was happening. Their screams rang out as they were swallowed by the darkness. Others wailed and ran for their lives. ¡°Gods above!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± People cried and ran in fear. Was this an earthquake? In fact most Elysians couldn¡¯t even grasp the idea of an earthquake. Floods, drought, tornadoes, earthquakes ¨C these sorts of natural disasters were unheard of in the lands of the gods. It was the first time in the thousand-year history of Skycloud that a disaster like this had ever occurred. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Book 3, Chapter 109 - Deception The strength of the power forced upon Majjhima directly correlated to the blinding pain he felt, but it did not compare to a lifetime of disappointment and regret. He wouldn¡¯t change these precious seconds for several decades more of the life he was giving up. Was this his end? A long and lonely journey ending in a climax of fury? He tore through the cavern, desperate to tear it down around them. He would die, but he would take them too. That would be enough. Cloudhawk was unprepared for the old man to be such a threat. It was too late for him to do anything, too late to stop him. As the last of the supporting pillars was destroyed, a chain reaction of fissures began to slither over the ceiling. This underground world hundreds of meters below Skycloud would vanish any instant. Was he supposed to be buried here with everyone else? Dust covered everything, hiding much of the scene from Cloudhawk¡¯s vision. Even so, the deafening sound of rocks snapping was unmistakable. The world above was falling, and the impact would spell their end. He clutched the phase stone around his neck. There was time, at least enough time for Cloudhawk to get free. He could make it if he left Dawn, Atlas and the others behind. Too late. It was really too late. He couldn¡¯t change anything. Cloudhawk was born a lowly picker, and the first half of his life had been spent scrambling through garbage. It taught him that his first priority always had to be staying alive. Staying down here was the opposite of that. He had to go! But as time seemed to slow and the dust burned his eyes, another voice sprang up in the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. It intruded on his cowardly thoughts, telling him that there was still time, that all was not lost. He didn¡¯t know why, but he knew that if he fled he would never be able to face himself. Then. Dozens of columns fired up from the ground like a petrified bamboo forest. They rose and split, creating a stony web overhead that caught the falling ceiling. This was Terrangelica¡¯s territory. Dawn alone was capable of saving them from a gruesome death, but only barely. Blood seeped from her very pores as Dawn yelled out. ¡°I¡¯ve got this handled! You can¡¯t let him succeed! He can¡¯t-¡° Her shouts were interrupted as Majjhima tried to silence her with a punch. Dawn couldn¡¯t move. All she could manage was to hold out her shielded arm, spare what little of her mental energy she could, and hope for the best. But between defending herself and keeping the stones from crushing them, her shields were limited. The shell of protection shattered easily. Her relic shield caved in upon impact. A sound like broken glass surrounded her. Majjhima¡¯s attack would have liquefied another opponent, and even for Dawn it left her with a number of broken bones. It was the first time in her life she¡¯d been injured so badly, but an ingrained stubbornness surged from inside her. The rocky ground beneath Majjhima¡¯s feet suddenly turned to fluid. All of a sudden he found himself covered as the very earth tried to turn him into a statue. But the old man merely shook himself and the rock exploded apart. Seeing this, Cloudhawk forced thoughts of escape from his mind. If Dawn was so obstinate as to stay here and die for the cause, how was he supposed to run like a little bitch? Majjhima reared back for a second punch toward Dawn. Cloudhawk reacted by drawing back the string of his exorcist bow and filling it with power. Crack! The bow broke apart in his hands when he loosed the string. A piercing beam of light struck Majjhima square in the chest, knocking him back several steps. The black energy that surrounded him dimmed. But it wasn¡¯t enough! Fear gripped Cloudhawk. How strong was this guy?! He was as deadly as a demon! Three demonhunters weren¡¯t enough to deal with him. A whole army of them, trained specifically for this sort of confrontation was required. But the strike was god enough to interrupt the madman¡¯s attack. Cloudhawk quickly prepared to follow up. As he did, a figure swept by fast as lightning. A streak of sword light sharp enough to cleave the air left a trail in its wake. The stones in its path were blasted into pieces. The figure then struck again at a forty-five degree angle with incredible speed at the exact same spot. The black mist concealing Majjhima split to temporarily reveal the man within. Good enough. One well placed shot and this fucker¡¯s done for. Atlas stopped as he prepared for the next onslaught, just long enough for Majjhima to pinpoint his location. He opened his mouth, and a deluge of power poured out like dragon¡¯s breath. Atlas, with no time to dodge, swept Malady forward in an attempt to protect himself. Another concussive blast rocked the cavern and Atlas was thrown into a distant wall. Atlas was strong, but he wasn¡¯t specialized in defense. If that blow hadn¡¯t killed him he was at least down for the rest of the fight. Clang! Malady went soaring through the air like a lonesome falling star. With a voice like a thousand shrieking souls Majjhima shouted at them. ¡°You will all die!¡± Nothing remained of who he had been, no sense of free thought besides ¡®kill.¡¯ He was only sustained by superhuman levels of persistence and obsession. A silhouette streaked through the cavern, snatching Malady from the air. This shadow didn¡¯t give Majjhima a chance to catch his breath. Taking Atlas¡¯ place, they used Malady to renew the assault. Hacking relentlessly at the man¡¯s mist-clad form, eventually his defense was breached. Through the rage-fueled haze Majjhima recognized Cloudhawk. His mind was gone, but there was enough familiarity that his anger focused in on him. Majjhima¡¯s right arm lifted, black mist gathering in his palm. When he released it, a beam of pitch black power streaked forward at near the speed of light. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t as fast as Atlas, and even the assassin couldn¡¯t evade these blows. Caught in mid-air, how could he hope to? So close. So close! As the wave of destruction came crashing down, Cloudhawk was filled with a sense of denial. Blood poured from Dawn¡¯s mouth as, heedless of the consequences, she drew on the vestiges of her strength. Spears of earth rose up directly in front of Majjhima, stabbing at his dark protection. Though not enough to harm him, it did throw the old man off balance. His ray of death missed Cloudhawk by mere centimeters. It screamed by and disintegrated a section of stone wall behind him. Cloudhawk landed safely and immediately rolled forward. His skin turned red and heat began to sizzle off of him. He sprinted ahead, suddenly much faster than before, breaking the sound barrier in less than two seconds. He charged at Majjhima like a human bullet. Dawn¡¯s barrage had put him off balance, leaving the madman no chance to fight back. The breach in his armor created by Atlas and Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t yet closed. It was now or never, their one chance. He had to land this hit! As this final opportunity presented itself, Cloudhawk held nothing back. Not only did he put every ounce of strength he had behind the strike, he even drew on the inheritance locked within the phase stone. It catapulted him to a level of power he¡¯d never wielded before. For a moment gravity held no sway over Cloudhawk. He became a streak of light that stretched on into infinity, splitting heaven and earth. With this mystical blade severing all obstacles it pushed through Majjhima¡¯s body. Its vessel pierced, the black energy within him exploded in all directions. Majjhima tumbled through the air, stopping only when he struck a wall several dozen meters away. Cloudhawk was caught in the epicenter of the blast and was covered in blood. There was no part of his body that wasn¡¯t somehow injured. But he wasn¡¯t finished yet. Ignoring his injuries Cloudhawk jumped into the air, flipping half a dozen times. He nimbly kicked off falling debris as he crossed the cavern in a blink, appearing once again before the broken old man. ¡°You¡­ you...¡± Majjhima¡¯s shriveled body had become even more wasted by the ordeal. He seemed to have almost shrank to half his size and blood dripped from everywhere. He¡¯d still lost! After all he¡¯d done, all he suffered, this was how it ended! Majjhima stretched out his hand with the last of his strength. ¡°One day¡­ you will¡­ understand...¡± Before he could finish the sentence he seemed to almost collapse in on himself. A husk no longer capable of speech, never again to make a sound. Cloudhawk thought back to the day he broke the old man out of prison. Now, years later, he was the one to kill him. But shaking the sad thoughts from his mind he looked around for the egg-shaped weapon. He found it, turned it around, and looked at the display. Three seconds. Shit! Too late! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes widened in fear. It was too late to teleport! He didn¡¯t know what to do, so he fell back on the simplest thought. He raised Malady and gave the bomb a solid whack. He didn¡¯t know if it would do anything, all he knew was this thing was about to go off and when it did there wouldn¡¯t even be piles of ash left to mark where they¡¯d been. There was no alternative. The results were surprising. It was more fragile than he thought, and the blow cracked open the bomb¡¯s metal casing. Moreover, the continuous jostles and impacts had damaged it, so the internal components tumbled out easily. Components.. that was a generous term. What fell out of the fractured casing was nothing more than rocks! This thing wasn¡¯t even a normal bomb, much less an atomic one! What was going on? The reading on the display reached zero! One second passed. Two¡­ three. Time crept forward but nothing happened. At last it dawned on him. A fake¡­ the fucking thing was a fake. It wasn¡¯t supposed to explode at all. Majjhima was tricked. And Adder? Did he know? Or was this a decoy¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t hold it anymore, everything¡¯s about to come down!¡± Dawn pulled Terrangelica from the ground with a grunt of effort. ¡°Run. Don¡¯t worry about me, it¡¯s already too late!¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 110 - Layers Within Layers No more than two minutes after some semblance of calm returned to Skycloud, another loud rumbling shook its foundations. This time the quakes were more intense than the first. The whole city seemed to undulate from it. Chasms appeared down quaint neighborhood lanes. Their scope and range were orders of magnitude greater than the last disaster, splitting apart islands of land. They jostled and bucked, spreading toward the horizon like a sea of shattered ice. Buildings toppled, and dust hung over everything. A group of figures appeared through the haze. One of them was dressed in a plain grey robe. It was the city¡¯s governor, together with the head of the Court of Shadows, Janus. Behind them were the heads of many prominent families and military leaders. It was the greatest tragedy to have ever struck the city, in its thousand years of history. A response had to be immediate. Governor Arcturus surveyed the destruction, brows knit close. He spoke to the people standing on either side. ¡°This is undoubtedly the result of some foreign power. Mobilize all of our public safety officers and deal with the casualties. The rest of you, come with me. We must find out what happened.¡± Frost de Winter sat astride his horse, dazzling spear in one hand and the snow white cape that was his staple flowing behind. He was a gallant figure, stark against the destruction that surrounded him. In his left hand he lightly held the reigns of his unicorn mount, a mystical white beast which stood majestically above the rubble. Frost dismounted, rubbing the knuckles of his fist. ¡°We seized a number of people found underground. Cloudhawk, Dawn Polaris, Atlas Umbra and others.¡± The other officers and heads of house were alarmed by the news. Few if any of them knew Cloudhawk, or what he might be doing caught up in this mess. Dawn and Atlas, however, were pillars of Skycloud¡¯s next generation of rulers. How did they play into this tragedy? Janus felt their eyes fall upon him, to which he offered a tepid explanation. ¡°Atlas and the Court of Shadows were hunting the fugitive, Cloudhawk.¡± Had their underground struggle caused the calamity suffered on the surface? Were they really capable of such destruction? A slight frown creased Arcturus¡¯ already glum features. ¡°Where are they now?¡± Frost replied. ¡°It is confirmed that they were all directly involved in the incident. I¡¯ve had them sent to the Skyden, and have them under watch by my own men.¡± The situation was bad. Whole blocks had been reduced to ruin. It was no exaggeration to say that what happened to Skycloud caused more panic than the massacre at the Blisterpeaks. Arcturus guessed that the death toll here would be in the thousands ¨C a far cry from the tens of thousands who lost their lives in the mountains, but this happened here, in their own city, before their very eyes. A strike at the heart of Skycloud domain. How could such a dramatic catastrophe go unnoticed? Arcturus ordered the entire area locked down while they dug for bodies and survivors. Meanwhile, he and the other important members of city leadership left for the Skyden. When they arrived they found Cloudhawk, Dawn, and Atlas still breathing, though badly wounded from the affair. Their equipment had been confiscated, and they were being kept in a cell while the situation was being looked into. All of the prison guards had been replaced with soldiers, obvious to ensure they could not escape. The cell door open, and the room was suddenly crowded with people. Cloudhawk was laden with countless chains and locks, keeping his hands firmly fixed behind his back. He couldn¡¯t even move his head. But he didn¡¯t need to, he felt the aura that filled the cell the moment they entered. These people were the true masters of Skycloud domain. This time, Cloudhawk really didn¡¯t know where his antics were going to land him. Arcturus Cloude stared at the young man, a face he hadn¡¯t seen for more than three years. There was a flash in his eyes, but his features remained calm and genial, without a hint of anger. ¡°Is there something you wish to say?¡± A smirk split Cloudhawk¡¯s face when he heard the governor¡¯s voice. ¡°Would you believe me?¡± Arcturus¡¯ response was even, unhurried. ¡°If it is the truth, why should I not believe it?¡± With no better option available, Cloudhawk shared his unlikely story in full. ¡°Who could believe such an absurd excuse?!¡± One among the crowd bit back with a hard, incredulous voice. ¡°If the city was in danger, why didn¡¯t you go directly to the governor? The city was threatened with destruction, and you three children thought you were saviors? Absolutely ridiculous! Sheer nonsense!¡± Cloudhawk tried to defend himself. ¡°We were dealing on a lightning fast timetable, here. We didn¡¯t have the luxury to do it the right way. Besides, I was locked up as a felon right when I got back. The only person willing to believe me is General Polaris, and he isn¡¯t here. I was out of options.¡± ¡°Pure sophistry!¡± ¡°Alright, enough. This is a grave matter that requires serious investigation.¡± With that said, Arcturus and the others left, locking the cell behind them. That same day excavation crews picked through the ruins, down into the chasms where they found proof of Cloudhawk¡¯s claims. At least some of what he¡¯d told them was the truth. ¡°There was a cavern this large, here underneath Skycloud and nobody knew. ¡°Governor. Judging by the debris we found there were a lot of protections in place to keep them hidden. It would have been difficult for anyone to know it was here.¡± Arcturus looked over the parts of the caverns they¡¯d managed to clear, and said nothing. Frost de Winter hurriedly approached. ¡°Master, we¡¯ve found something. You should come see for yourself.¡± Arcturus and the others were lead into a section that had just recently been reopened. The scene that greeted them caused everyone¡¯s face to stiffen. Row after row. Hundreds of cocoon-like incubators. Every one of them contained a nuked humanoid body, steeped in thick black energy. This crop seemed less developed than the ones that had awakened during the fight, not yet functional protofiends. ¡°Governor¡­ what is this?¡± ¡°These are the dark beasts Cloudhawk said were being grown here.¡± The other city leaders exchanged silent glances, but the look on their faces all said the same thing; they couldn¡¯t believe this was true. How could this exist underneath their fair city? Arcturus approached one of the incubators. ¡°This structure in and of itself does not contain any energy. Instead, it steals and refines the energy of our holy lands for its nefarious purpose. As the heart of our domain, Skycloud city is also the richest in holy energy. With such surplus, it would be virtually impossible to notice if something was draining a small portion. Everyone knew that Skycloud domain owed its prosperity to the miraculous tools of the gods, limitless in energy and capability. Things like their airships, their street lamps, even things they used for their daily home life. None of it ever ran out of power, no matter how long or often they were used. No one knew why. They didn¡¯t need to, for it was a gift from the gods to their faithful. It was the foundation of what made their land strong, all that was required of them was that they remained thankful and reverent. Now, however, someone had unlocked the essence of this energy. What¡¯s more, they had changed it to serve their own ends, converting it into some evil power to fuel these dark soldiers. It was a fact that was both sensational and nauseating. One of the group members burst out in anger, ¡°We should grind those Dark Atom heathens to dust!¡± ¡°You are mistaken.¡± The governor never took his eyes from the incubator. ¡°No one from the Dark Atom, no Elysian, not even the men of the ancient civilization could do this. No man is capable of such power, for it goes far beyond the ken of us simple creatures. This is the domain of gods and demons.¡± ¡°You mean to say¡­¡± ¡°These dark creatures are similar in form to our Seraphs, though different in important ways and far simpler. This vile hatchery is not the product of any wasteland organization. It comes from something much darker and more powerful.¡± Demons. The answer was clear. All of this was the work of those evil monstrosities. The defeat of the demonkin had happened a thousand years ago now, but they were creatures bred in murder and destruction. Demons were always lurking in the shadows, ready to take advantage of the slightest weakness, plotting their return to the lands of man. Janus¡¯s enigmatic voice whispered through the cavern. ¡°Reports claim the Dark Atom works with a demon. It is not impossible they may be involved.¡± ¡°I am certain this is not Abaddon¡¯s doing. There is no record of this in the ancient books, nor were they used in the great war, so I suspect these fiends must have been concocted within the last millennia. Obviously, these wicked souls have been very active since their defeat. Progress as we see here cannot be achieved overnight. It takes time, careful study ¨C Abaddon does not meet these criteria.¡± He paused for a moment, then added more. ¡°More importantly, whoever is behind this managed to do it all under our very noses. This can mean only one thing: They are deeply embedded within our city. To penetrate to this level would take a decade, perhaps longer. I suspect that by now its influence has reached into the power structure of Skycloud. Perhaps even the highest levels. If the Dark Atom had achieved such success this would not be the result we would see.¡± The others with Arcturus were struck dumb. Sidelong glances were cast all around. Was someone here an agent of the demons? One of their own? If that were true, then the implications were too terrible to imagine. ¡°Be at ease. There are certainly spies, but not necessarily among you. It could be someone you have regular contact with. From this point forward we must all be more cautious in our dealings.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed!¡± Arcturus listlessly motioned with his finger, and a stream of light flashed out like lightning. The bolt struck one of the incubators and raced through it in an instant, then another and another. In the blink of an eye the entire room was flickering with lightning. The cocoons ¨C and their foul contents ¨C were destroyed. ¡°Make sure that news of what we¡¯ve discovered here does not spread. We must continue our investigation into the work of these demons in secret. Anyone who breathes a word of this will be dealt with. Harshly.¡± A chill ran through the lords and officers. They weren¡¯t sure whether it was from his electrical display of might, or the brief murderous threat in his voice. His demands were reasonable. If the public were to learn of what happened here, who knows what sort of chaos would ensue. Arcturus ordered his men to continue the search. So far, the primeval weapon Cloudhawk mentioned had not been found. The Elysian nobles were loathe to believe such a terrible thing could exist in their back yard, but after seeing the breeding grounds they realized all manner of dark things were possible. They could only rest once a thorough search was completed. After several more hours, another collection of incubators was uncovered but no sign of the weapon turned up. No evidence was found to suggest it ever existed at all. Without it, Cloudhawk would be hard pressed to explain why he¡¯d been forced to create such a scene. There were still so many dubious parts to his story. Things were only going to get more difficult. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 111 - Remanded to the Temple Cloudhawk had a long time to think during the several days he was kept in custody. From the beginning there was something about this whole ordeal that didn¡¯t seem right. It was like he was on rails, lead by the nose from the moment he arrived at Skycloud. Clues were easily gathered, his objective quickly located, and the ¡®crisis¡¯ averted just in time. It was all just too¡­ structured. Cloudhawk had the uncomfortable sensation that he was being used. First instinct was that the Dark Atom may have deceived the Sanctum of Judgment, and left out a false bomb for them to pilfer. However, it was just as likely that the Sanctum was the one doing the fooling. After all, getting a bomb passed the numerous checkpoints and other hurdles was incredibly difficult. There were a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong, and only one way it could all go in their favor.Was it really worth the risk when they had just one of these weapons? What¡¯s more, there was no sign of the Church¡¯s higher-ups being present. The Crimson One, Wyrmsole, Adder ¨C a task as important as this wasn¡¯t going to be left in the hands of an underling like Revenant, right? There was no logical explanation. He was wrong. From the beginning, he¡¯d had it all wrong. That¡¯s why he felt like he was being played. Is this what they wanted from the beginning? But towards what purpose? Meanwhile Cloudhawk was stuck here, helpless, left to lick his wounds and wait for the next act in this sordid play. His body¡¯s improved regeneration had him healed in two days, leaving him plenty of time to brood over circumstances. Today, Caspian had managed to slip away and visited in secret. He was drenched in sweat, and anxiety was clear on his face. He called out in his sharp, high-pitched voice. ¡°Ah my dearest Cloudhawk, your head¡¯s really aimed for the chopping block this time.¡± Cloudhawk was tied up like a sacrificial lamb, excessive measures to make sure he didn¡¯t escape again. He was wrapped in ancient chains from the era of the great war, used by demonhunters for their most dangerous criminals. He didn¡¯t know what sort of powers these chains had, only that once they locked him down he felt much weaker. Somehow they were suppressing his mental energies. He opened his eyes and stared at the Overseer. Words dripped from his lips, thick with irritation. ¡°I appreciate that, sissy boy. Maybe next time you can come with some good fucking news for a change.¡± ¡°What good news are you expecting?!¡± Caspian knelt down before him. ¡°Do you know how many people are out looking for that bomb you claim was brought into the city? They¡¯re everywhere, inside the city and out. Peace officers, guards, military, and no one has found a trace. How do you explain that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident in my intelligence, but may have been wrong in my assumption. But just because Skycloud city wasn¡¯t attacked doesn¡¯t mean that other important areas of the domain aren¡¯t in danger. Besides, the protofiends we found below the city were real. We stumbled on it by mistake and stopped a credible threat before it had time to mature. Is that not good enough?¡± ¡°Cloudhawk, Boss, let me put it this way. What you did will never be made public. They¡¯ll act like everything you did under the city never happened. But they can¡¯t hide the death of thousands of civilians, and someone has to be held accountable for that. The city leadership will choose someone to take the fall.¡± Caspian swallowed hard and continued. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you found, or how many threats you dealt with. Compared to the disaster that happened before the eyes of everyone in the city, it doesn¡¯t matter. You did this as an escaped criminal. No one can help you.¡± Cloudhawk inwardly railed against the bleak words. Were they going to put all the blame for this on his head? They didn¡¯t see how strong those protofiends were. If they¡¯d been allowed to mature the scope of destruction would far outstrip what happened a few days ago. Cloudhawk had saved the city from a danger they didn¡¯t even know existed! Was that a mistake? ¡°Don¡¯t think General Polaris will be able to protect you, either. He¡¯s in enough trouble as it is, and protecting just his daughter will require a lot of clout.¡± Caspian¡¯s face was sad. ¡°Honestly¡­ I can¡¯t help you. You need to fend for yourself.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s temper flared. ¡°Then what the fuck did you come down here for?! To tell me to make peace with my death?¡± Caspian shrugged. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I can record anything you want the world to know once you¡¯re dead. We were brothers in arms once, this is what I can do. Oh, and I was hoping by the way to hear any news about Gabriel.¡± Who the hell would call a sissy prick like you a brother?! Cloudhawk was preparing a particularly choice string of curses when he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. The footfalls were gentle, but there was something about them that made the whole Skyden seem to shake. When he heard them Caspian¡¯s face turned paler than normal, like a mouse suddenly finding itself surrounded by a clowder of cats.Cloudhawk could almost hear his teeth chatter as he said, ¡°Te¡­Templars!¡± A group of soldiers in glistening armor appeared in the hall. They were led by a graceful looking man in his middle years, pale of face, with a thin strap of a beard along his chin. His armor marked him as the second in command of the Templars, titled Seneschal. His left hand rested on the Templar sword resting on his hip, which only added to his heroic and cultured bearing. Caspian made a show of bowing when the man approached. ¡°I am your humble servant, Overseer Caspian Black. It is an honor to receive you, acting Grand Prior Mist.¡± The Templar Order was the mightiest fighting force in all of Skycloud. They were few in numbers, but every one of them was a squad unto themselves. They operated differently from other military units, and often only dispatched one or two of their number for a given mission. Only the most serious tasks were given the dubious honor of a whole unit. Most Templars were required to stay within the Temple. They were the last, greatest line of defense for the realm and the Temple itself. Several years ago the Templar Grand Prior ¨C Vulkan the War Saint ¨C led an entire regiment of Templars out on an unauthorized mission, resulting in their numbers being completely wiped out. It was the worst defeat the Temple suffered in a hundred years. After being removed from his post, the Order¡¯s second in command, Phain, became acting Grand Prior. Although Phain wasn¡¯t the true leader of the Order yet, he was its most outstanding member. His skills were more than adequate to bring honor to the position. Phain presented Caspian with his token. ¡°Have this prisoner remanded into the Temple¡¯s custody at once.¡± The acting Grand Prior was forceful and articulate. He did not speak with the typical overbearing attitude of a man in power, but his tone indicated that he would not tolerate any question to his authority. Caspian was merely a glorified jailer. What right did he have to disobey a direct order from the Grand Prior himself? What¡¯s more, this order came directly from the Temple. He had no choice but to bow, and order Cloudhawk¡¯s transfer to the ones who would determine his fate. Cloudhawk was brought out from his cell, still chained hand and foot, and flanked by eight Templars. He caught a glimpse of Dawn and Atlas, enjoying similar treatment. I sure as shit dug myself into a hole this time. He wasn¡¯t sure how he felt about having Dawn fall in after him. Dawn didn¡¯t have Cloudhawk¡¯s supernatural healing ability, and her wounds were serious. She was pale, almost bloodless, and with her equipment taken she was left with nothing but a soiled robe to cover herself. Two Templars kept her standing. But it was her who sighed in relief when she saw that Cloudhawk was ok. She limply waggled her hands toward him and shouted down the hall. ¡°Cloudhawk, don¡¯t worry! So long as I¡¯m here you have nothing to worry about. Doesn¡¯t matter what happens, my grandfather will handle everything. He¡¯ll make sure justice is upheld!¡± Phain¡¯s knife-like eyebrows wrinkled. ¡°Silence!¡± Dawn looked back at the Grand Prior, and the fight drained out of her. Cloudhawk had heard of the Templars, of course, but beyond that he didn¡¯t know very much about the Order at all. It was obvious by the looks of things now that they were a very important player in Skycloud. Obviously there was a reason the Temple and its warriors were so highly respected. For one thing, nearly all of the relics used by Skycloud¡¯s demonhunters came from the Temple. Not just that, but all of the magnificent tools and equipment that made this land so prosperous came from them as well. In a way they could be described as a liaison ¨C a bridge between the Eylsian lands and Sumeru, the mountain of the gods. They controlled the bounty the gods bestowed. As such, even though the Temple did not involve itself in the day-to-day administration of the domain, it was nonetheless arguable its most important party. Had the tragedy that fell upon Skycloud stirred the Temple? Cloudhawk was brought to the majestic Temple, floating overhead and beyond the reach of most normal citizens. The interior was heavily guarded by a contingent of Seraphs, silently standing at attention along the hallways. Standing there, unmoving, they were almost indistinguishable from statues. Each one was over three meters tall. Seraphs weren¡¯t merely guards, of course. They were the protectors and repairers of the city. Although the disaster had claimed several city blocks, the streets and buildings would be back good as new in seven days. These puppets, brimming with the powers of creation, were immortal and commanded limitless power so long as they remained within the domain. Cloudhawk had only just entered the Temple when he felt a palpable sense of danger wash over him. It was a suffocating aura, released by something of incredible strength. He lifted his head, and there before the doors ¨C nearly three meters tall lying down ¨C was a breathtaking animal. Cloudhawk had never seen anything like it, the creature was utterly fantastical. Its body looked like it had been chiseled from a single block of spotless white jade. If not for the steady movement of its chest as it slumbered, and the steady blasts of frigid air from its nostrils, Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have believed it wasn¡¯t some kind of sculpture. Its appearance was something between a lion and a tiger, inspiring awe just at a glance. Its streamline body was sleek and powerful, and blanketed by a pair of wings which also looked like they had been made from precious stone. Its long, thick tail was covered in scaled like a fish, and refracted the light. Even asleep, its mere presence was enough to have men shaking in their boots. He also felt the resonance of a relic. This was no ordinary creature. A divine beast. A very strong divine beast. Cloudhawk¡¯s Templar entourage had no intention of disturbing the jade creature, yet it sensed something as they passed. Its deep blue eyes rolled open and before anyone knew what was happening, it leaped down from its sleeping platform. The area was immediately entrenched in biting cold. Several of the Templars were startled and staggered back. A biting energy washed over Cloudhawk and he looked up at the beast whose head alone was nearly half his size. It peered down at him, and he looked back at it, man and beast separated by perhaps twenty centimeters. Ice started to accumulate on Cloudhawk¡¯s eyebrows and hair. What¡¯s going on? Phain walked over to the creature. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Anima. They have permission to enter from the High Priest.¡± The creature stared at Cloudhawk for a long time. Though an animal, there was clearly a deep intelligence in those eyes. If it could speak it would express its bewilderment, but merely snorted and returned to lying beside the door. Phain turned his eyes briefly toward Cloudhawk and spoke in a flat voice. ¡°This is the jade guardian, protector of the Temple. It has protected our halls for a millennium with its strength, and a preternatural ability to sense trouble.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Simply put, if there really was a weapon or Dark Atom plot that threatened the Temple, it would tell us. In all its years of service, that alarm has never been raised.¡± It was a roundabout way of saying that Cloudhawk¡¯s claims of danger were lies. This power and the beast that bore it was unknown to Cloudhawk, of course. Even Dawn had never heard of it. Of course if it had never used this power in a thousand years, who really knew if it was true or not? But so far there was no proof of Cloudhawk¡¯s fears for city-wide destruction. And whether or the not creature sensed it, it sure seemed like his judgment was flawed. The large double doors granting entrance to the Temple slowly opened. Cloudhawk figured he had gotten himself into serious trouble, but not to the point where the Temple would get involved. He didn¡¯t know what waited for him on the other side of those doors. Maybe some people were just not destined to play the hero. Cloudhawk knew it well. He had a destiny, but it had nothing to do with being a hero. Whatever it was, he never would have guessed this is where fate would bring him. 1. Yes, that is what a group of cats is called. I had to look it up. Your subscription dollars at work. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 112 - Verdic The Temple was more than just the heart of Skycloud city. Were one¡¯s eyes sharp enough, they would discover that the Temple was situated in the center of the entire domain. In fact, it was precise down to the smallest unit, far beyond mankind¡¯s construction capabilities. There was no way to describe it other than a miracle from the gods themselves. Every morning and every evening, the citizens of Skycloud knelt in prayer before the Temple. People in other cities shared the tradition, always facing the distant center of their faith. Every church and place of worship in the domain was built with its faade in the direction of the Temple. Cloudhawk¡¯s nerves were on edge, so he hardly noticed the grandiose and opulent interior. However, there were some things that struck him even if he didn¡¯t see them directly. From the outside the Temple was a towering structure, but in some way he could not explain it seemed like the inside was several times larger.It defied logic, like walking into a three-meter room only to find its ceiling was six meters high. But that was exactly what it was like in this place. Phain brought Cloudhawk and the others toward an expansive audience hall, suspended in air. It was spotless, immaculately kept, and without blemish. All around was sky, and as the clouds wafted by they adopted all different hues. A dozen metal-forged depictions of the gods were arranged all around, with the hanging audience hall situated in the middle. Walking through, it felt like the gods were watching, making it hard to breathe. Cloudhawk was sure this was no illusion, the interior had to be bigger than it looked from the outside. Some method in the way they constructed the Temple was the culprit, certainly. Somehow both fixed in volume and expansive within, turning a structure of a dozen meters into a palatial expanse that measured a hundred cubic meters or more. It went against the laws of physics, but who could fathom the mystical powers of the gods? Humans said it was impossible because humans were too ignorant. Cloudhawk was led down a long bridge, enveloped in colorful clouds. Walking through it lent the illusion that they were traipsing through the heavens. Eventually they reached the magnificent hanging hall. The Templars fanned out to the left and right. Taking up station, weapons in hand, they looked like a cadre of holy effigies standing in mute supplication. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes trailed up the terraced stairs toward the apex, where he could make out a group of figures. Seated in the center was a figure all in white, ancient and kind of countenance with the soothing presence of an immortal being. Two platforms were arrayed below the old man to his left and right, each with their own occupant. One was wrapped in red, solemnly bearing a black scepter. The other wore robes of aquamarine, and carried a volume that poured irradiant light. An old man in white. Another in red, scepter held forth. One in blue, bearing a brilliant tome. This was the High Priest of the Temple and his two Cardinals. Phain was reverential in their presence. As Grand Prior he was not inferior in rank to the Cardinals, but they did have the authority to direct the Templars. There was also the High Priest, who stood above them all. Cloudhawk noted that he couldn¡¯t see them very clearly. It wasn¡¯t because they were far away, or because of the clouds that surrounded them. His eyes were keener than his namesake, especially after the continuous improvements his body had undergone. He could even see through cloud cover and mist, to an extent. No, there was something blocking his vision, making their images vague and indistinguishable aside from general details. He couldn¡¯t pick out their faces. After a few minutes the multicolored clouds gradually dispersed. Skycloud¡¯s highest authorities were revealed through the haze. They had to be on some sort of moving platform, but the clouds made it look like they were magically floating through the heavens. Governor Arcturus Cloude was among them, looking down over the crowd from his lofty vantage. ¡°There is no need to go over the events of the past few days.¡± Arcturus occupied the platform closest to the High Priest. Both were equal in height and respect; one the spiritual leader of the realm, and the other its highest governmental authority. The governor, speaking first, paused as his calm voice reverberated through the hall. Every syllable was clear. ¡°Today, before the High Priest, we will determine how this matter shall be put to rest. Illustrious colleagues, what say you?¡± ¡°The charges against them are without contestation. Obvious are the maleficent consequences of their actions, and we can proceed directly to sentencing. Atlas Umbra was performing his duties in defense of the law, but failed in those duties. In this failure, he allowed for great harm to come to the people of Skycloud, and should be punished appropriately. Dawn Polaris was aware of Cloudhawk¡¯s fugitive status, and yet still she chose to follow him toward catastrophe. She is also culpable and should be stripped of her title of Templar, along with all the rights and duties it entails. As for Cloudhawk, the instigator of dubious background and unclear motives. There is still much about this that remains unclear, and serious punishments shall be levied once the truth has come to light.¡± ¡°I wholeheartedly agree with this verdict!¡± ¡°As do I!¡± The judgment was fair, and the responsibility of all parties involved appeared clear. The gathered ministers and clergy raised their voice in agreement. ¡°I do not accept your verdict!¡± A sharp voice answered them from the platform below. Despite her heavy chains, Dawn shot to her feet in defiance. ¡°High Priest, Cloudhawk is being treated unjustly. He is guilty of nothing other than wanting to save our city. The fact that you are willing to lay the responsibility at his feet is a travesty! What about the Dark Atom agents that were allowed to thrive below our very feet? Do you accept no responsibility for that?¡± Her accusatory words drew ire from the authorities passing judgment. While they knew this daughter of the Polaris family was unruly, her willingness to sling mud even in the face of such dire circumstances was untenable. She was inviting her own destruction by openly warring with Skycloud¡¯s masters. ¡°Kneel!¡± Phain roughly kicked the back of her knees, forcing her back onto the ground. He glared at her and growled in low tones. ¡°Keep your mouth shut.¡± Pain and rage wracked her, and the sweat that soaked through her robes dripped onto the stones beneath her. But defiance still raged inside her. Dawn grit her teeth, ready to rise again. She knew that if this farce were allowed to continue Cloudhawk was as good as dead. No one would be able to save him. Phain glanced at the Templars nearby. A pair of them approached and held Dawn firmly on her knees. Cloudhawk glanced her way and saw that Dawn was preparing to say more. With a shake of his head and a smirk, he flicked his finger. A small field of silence fell over her, to make sure she didn¡¯t dig that hole any deeper. Cloudhawk was no fool. Now that he was here, there was no going back. If Dawn kept up as she was the only thing she¡¯d accomplish was putting her neck in the noose beside his. His remarkable act of using a relic¡¯s power without a relic wasn¡¯t easily detected, so no one noticed. Yet, all of a sudden the old High Priest ¨C who had been sitting in silence with his eyes closed ¨C suddenly opened his eyes and fixed them on Cloudhawk, but did not speak. The Governor waited for things to settle down. ¡°Does Cloudhawk have anything to say in his defense? ¡°Dawn has nothing to do with any of this. She didn¡¯t know I¡¯d escaped from the Skyden, and I was the one who convinced her to go with me to the underground. The consequences are mine to bear, so if you need to punish someone then punish me and leave Dawn out of it. This was one person¡¯s doing, and should be one person¡¯s responsibility.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the least bit cowed by this high and mighty crowd. He was under no illusions that anything he said would be heard here. They would do whatever they wanted, regardless of what a small voice like his had to say. Trying to escape repercussions was pointless, it only made them more determined to make Cloudhawk an example. But Dawn had been implicated in all this, and that was his fault. It was a bitter pill to swallow, a result of youthful ignorance. He lacked the experience to know, but now he did. There were consequences for acting rashly, and he would be more careful next time¡­ well, if there was a next time. Under the circumstances there was nothing more he could do. He was nobody, and there was nothing about him or his station to take pride in. But he was brave, principled, and stubborn. You wanna make me your whipping boy, eh? Fuck it, bring it on. I can take it! The least he could do was make sure his friends weren¡¯t caught in the blast. When Dawn heard him, her eyes went wide. ¡°Cloudhawk, you bastard, are you crazy? This isn¡¯t the time for your nonsense!¡± But Cloudhawk had stolen her voice, so no sound could be heard. He rose to his feet, facing his accusers with his back straight. He stood before the realm¡¯s most powerful men and women, before its spiritual leader, before the eyes of the gods, and though he was an ant before them he was still defiant. When he spoke, his voice rang through the hall. ¡°We all know by now there is nothing I can say that will justify my actions in your eyes, but there is something I want to say to you self-righteous people. You spit on wastelanders, but those weak outsiders are survivors. They¡¯ve fought tooth and nail over the last thousand years just for the right to live. They have more worth and potential than you in your blessed bounty can ever imagine.¡± ¡°My only aim is to do everything in my power to stop the fighting, stop the greed and ambition that causes it. I only want there to be fewer innocent victims. So while my actions may not be in line with your values, there are in line with mine. My conscience is clear. I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve done anything wrong. You can punish me however you like, but I will not accept fault!¡± Dawn¡¯s face hardened at his declaration. He took her by surprise. All of a sudden, she felt like she never really knew him at all. His innermost self, his ideals, his conviction. Maybe even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t fully know what was buried deep inside, but it was coming to the surface now to influence his actions. Atlas raised his head and regarded the fugitive. For a moment, there was a glimmer of respect in those black eyes. In the face of this overwhelming circumstance, he wasn¡¯t going to defend his actions? His humble appearance hid a more tenacious truth inside. There was a dignity deep in his bones that was unmatched. Arcturus spent no more time asking questions. His eyes swept across those gathered, and for a short time they discussed in private. Soon, they were in agreement. The punishments proposed were seen as fair and just. ¡°Cloudhawk will be consigned to the stake! His sentence will be carried out by the acting Grand Prior of the Templar Order, Phain Mist!¡± Dawn and Atlas would be given their sentence was more was uncovered. Arcturus, the High Priest, and the cardinals did not oppose the judgment. The matter was settled. Tears that had been gathering in Dawn¡¯s eyes finally began to fall. She raised her head and looked at Cloudhawk, her only friend, and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Do you think it was worth it?¡± What was she asking? Whether it was worth it to blindly come rushing back to save Skycloud, only to be unfairly branded a criminal and sentenced to death? Or if it was worth it to shoulder all the responsibility and refuse to defend himself so he didn¡¯t drag a friend down with him? Maybe both. ¡°No.¡± His offered a curt reply, but there was a flash of mirth in his dark eyes. ¡°But I¡¯m happy. This was my decision, and I stayed true to who I am. Don¡¯t feel bad. Take care¡­ bye.¡± Cloudhawk was dragged away by a pair of Templars. He looked so alone as they carried him away. Dawn raised her head once again to that lofty dais and glared with hatred. It was the first time she saw something so ugly and grotesque and unreasonable in their holy city. If the gods were real and cared for justice, why would they let this happen to Cloudhawk? She hated that there wasn¡¯t anything she could do about it. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 113 - A Gift to the Wastelands Sandbar Station had become a lifeless settlement. Open a window, and all you saw were patrolling Elysian soldiers. Its entrance had become an impromptu execution site and heads were stacked high in three separate piles. Ash from the incinerated corpses were carried on the wind and kept the city in perpetual haze. Adder¡¯s bar still had no patrons. But that didn¡¯t mean it was empty. Twenty or thirty children were busily cleaning the place with duster cloths, happily working. Even at their young age they knew the bar was their only refuge. On the other side of that door was certain death. There was no such thing as a free meal, so everyone contributed how they were able. Otherwise, their option was starvation and pain. Luciasha watched over the children, who averaged about ten years old, each striving to prove their worth. She couldn¡¯t help but feel sad for these homeless children who¡¯d had their roots cut out from under them. They were hopeless, without a place to feel safe or loved. Only someone who had experienced it for themselves could ever really understand what they were going through. ¡°Rest, all of you. We aren¡¯t expecting any patrons.¡± But just as Luciasha said this, there was a loud bang behind her. An Elysian officer kicked the door open and a squad of men with swords and bows poured in. Without a moment¡¯s pause they started flipping over tables and smashing furniture. The sudden ferocity made everyone in the bar freeze. Children scattered, hiding wherever they could under tables and behind the bar. Adder¡¯s henchmen were afraid for their necks, but remembered what the boss had told them. They stood, attempting to stop the soldiers from causing further damage. ¡°Stop! You can¡¯t-¡± Shtick ¨C thunk! Crossbow bolts fell upon the man before he had a chance to finish his thought. In an instant the unfortunate man was a pincushion, with bolts sprouting all over his body. The others who thought of getting in the soldiers¡¯ way shouted in fear and surprise and thought better of it. Luciasha was also terrified. Did these soldiers not realize this was Adder¡¯s bar? He had a token of a high-ranking demonhunter, when did soldiers start to disregard the authority of demonhunters?! ¡°Adder has been declared a traitor and an enemy of Skycloud. Everyone here is considered an accomplice and will be given no quarter. Gather them up!¡± The officer stood in the center of the bar, shoulders back and his hand on his sword. He gave the order in a cold, callous voice. ¡°Kill anyone who resists.¡± Luciasha¡¯s face went white as a sheet. Obviously something had happened to her adopted father, and his name wasn¡¯t going to protect them. Without it, the bar was no longer safe. The children knew this was bad. They cried and ran in a panic, trying to escape. Soldiers raised their crossbows, aiming for the tiny bodies. Filled with a courage she didn¡¯t know she had, Luciasha threw herself in front of them. ¡°Don¡¯t kill the children! They¡¯re innocent. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not up to you to decide who is innocent!¡±The officer¡¯s face was cruel and disdain dripped from his voice. ¡°Leaving these rats alive is only inviting trouble down the road. The evil of the wastelands must be erased, kill all of them!¡± ¡°No!¡± Luciasha screamed in despair. But the order was given. Soldiers leveled their weapons, placed their fingers on their triggers. But just as they were ready to fire, a streak of light burst through the bar from outside. It tore directly through the officers head, to the other side of the room and left a fist-sized hole in the wall. The other soldiers froze for a moment before shock and anger overtook them. They stared unsure of how to react as their officer, now missing two thirds of his head, tumbled backward. All that was left of his skull was bits of brain matter and his lower jaw. ¡°Who?!¡± The soldiers turned around and were stunned at what they saw. Those soldiers left outside to catch stragglers were dead to a man, brutally hacked to death. Whoever or whatever had ended them was definitely a highly trained killer. ¡°Careful! It¡¯s an ambush!¡± For the first time since taking control of Sandbar Station, they were under serious attack. Elysian soldiers were trained not to fear anything, so with stoic expressions they whipped around and aimed their weapons toward where the attack had come from. Without even knowing their target, they fired a volley. The hail of arrows fired toward the partially opened door. In an instant it was blasted to splinters. One of the higher ranked among them quickly dropped his crossbow and pulled the changeable weapon that was standard Elysian equipment from his back. He kicked open the ruined door and charged outside, but before he died without even spotting his foe. The soldier¡¯s head was easily severed from his neck and went flying through the air, while his body stumbled five or six steps forward before realizing what had happened. ¡°Heathens! Everyone, charge!¡± Fury spurred the soldiers on and they filed outside to hunt their attackers. They were met with blades faster than the eye could follow, as a dozen figures clad in black cut them down. Only two of the men in black were slain by the time the Elysians were dead. Clearly there was a great discrepancy between the capabilities of these two forces. A man appeared among them. Large, wrapped in a black cloak with his hair cut short and scars across the corner of his eyes. Average in appearance, but something about his presence left a deep impression. A warm, lopsided grin was stuck to his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was gone for a while.¡± ¡°Father!¡± Luciasha threw herself into Adder¡¯s arms. After three years together Adder considered Luciasha no different than a daughter. Nor did it matter who Adder was, to Luciasha she was father. For him, he¡¯d never met a purer and more unsullied spirit thans hers. To her, he was the unshakable mountain that shaded her and lifted her up. Adder patted her head. ¡°Come with me.¡± She raised her head and looked at him with surprise and concern. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°The Sandbar is no longer safe. We need to find somewhere else.¡± ¡°But the children...¡± She looked back at the kids who were just starting to peek their heads out from hiding. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave them here.¡± ¡°Asha, you¡¯re a good girl. I know this is hard, but in order to protect people you need to have the strength and the means to do it. We can¡¯t take this many with us.¡± Luciasha bit her lip. She knew there was truth to what her father was saying, but how could she face these dozens of tiny faces and tell them they were being abandoned? ¡° ¡°We have no more use for the bar. Tell them they can take whatever food they can carry. At least it will give them a chance. Whether or not they make it will be up to them from now on.¡± Adder gently took his daughter by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. ¡°You need to understand, saving someone isn¡¯t as simple as providing food and a warm place to sleep. Eventually they will need to learn how to strive for themselves.¡± Her work with these children was done, she knew that. While Luciasha might not like it, she didn¡¯t have any right to talk back to the man who had given her so much. She begrudgingly nodded her head. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± He smiled. ¡°Actually I¡¯ve prepared a gift. A gift for all the wastelands. Will you join me in witnessing this moment?¡± Luciasha nodded. A man in red robes strode up to their side. ¡°This place leaves a thread, enough for demonhunters skilled in tracking to follow. Should we raze it?¡± ¡°No. We called this place home for five years. I want to leave it here, a monument to what was. As for the Elysians, you don¡¯t need to worry. I wouldn¡¯t make such a careless mistake.¡± Adder picked his way across the corpse-strewn street while the others followed. A team of ox-driven carts were waiting to bring them away from the outpost. As they made for the exit, the caravan passed by Cloudhawk¡¯s shop. Waiting outside was a small girl with tattered clothes and brilliant blue eyes. ¡°Azura, when Cloudhawk comes back tell him I had to go. Tell him not to worry.¡± She didn¡¯t answer. The small girl watched in silence as the caravan trundled away into the distance. *** Blood red hues painted the evening sky as the day drew to a close. The undulating desert stopped where razor-sharp mountains groped for the clouds. Luciasha followed Adder to the rocky desert mountains, where from its peaks one could see far into the distance. Up here the dunes looked flat, and spread to the limits of ones vision where it met the burning sky. If she had Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes, then at the very farthest reaches of her sight she would be able to see a golden line, a shining border in the distance. It wasn¡¯t the fading sun reflected on the clouds, or a mirage from the intense heat. It was the border wall that separated Skycloud from the wastelands. Luciasha didn¡¯t know why her father had brought her all the way out here, but she was a clever girl. There were no probing questions, or complaints. She knew Adder had a reason for everything he did. A few moments passed and a fog rolled it. Small, localized, and in fact as Luciasha watched it gathered together into the form of a woman. She stumbled as she appeared and fell to her knees, panting. Dried blood caked her face. She was wounded badly, but paid the injuries no mind. A raspy voice slipped from her throat. ¡°It is done.¡± Luciasha recognized her. Revenant, wasn¡¯t it? The mysterious shadow that was always at her father¡¯s side. Her mask and turban were gone, leaving her raven black hair free to fall around her face. She could count on one hand how many times they¡¯d encountered one another, but this was the first time Luciasha saw her real face. Like so many, she was surprised to learn Revenant was a woman. Adder helped steady her and checked her pulse with a free hand. His dark brows knit tight before Adder produced a pill from his clothes. ¡°You¡¯ve taken some significant damage. Eat this.¡± There was a wave of vitality in her solemn, inscrutable eyes. She looked up at him briefly, then lowered her gaze and took the medicine in silence. ¡°This time you have suffered on our behalf.¡± Adder¡¯s frame was outlined by the light of the setting sun. The stark lighting made him look indomitable, but in his voice there was a note of reproach and apology. ¡°All you¡¯ve done over the years¡­ it is enough. More than sufficient for the live that was saved. More and more I have the ominous feeling that life will not end well for those like me. If you like, you can choose to leave. Make your own way. It would be better for you.¡± Revenant closed her eyes for a moment, then when she opened them again they were filled with determination. ¡°You know I do not follow just to pay a debt.¡± All things considered, Luciasha hadn¡¯t many life experiences. But she knew right away that look in Revenant¡¯s eyes, the look of a girl in love. Although she didn¡¯t have the words, it was clear to anyone paying attention. Did her father not see? He had to, but he didn¡¯t show it. Adder knew what sort of man he was, and the sort of life he led. Commitments and a future were not things he could give. As she pondered this an uncomfortable sensation rose in Luciasha¡¯s chest. Her mind went to Squall. These two men were similar in so many ways. What were they carrying that bowed their shoulders so much? Her foster father shut his eyes, feeling for something. Wind from the direction of the Elysian lands gently caressed his lined features. He let the breeze take him back to when he was a child. It was an evening long ago, just him and his dear cousin Selene. They were toughening themselves by climbing a mountain peak, and reached it just as dusk was claiming the day. He remembered how happy he¡¯d felt. Those were the days he looked upon most fondly. He believed Selene probably thought back on them with joy, too. But happy days are fleeting¡­ When had it all started to change? The gods wanted to imprison everyone in their neatly painted circles, but there were always things you could not control. Like the wind. Like a man¡¯s heart. Like dreams, and a sense of duty. The gods were not omnipotent. They couldn¡¯t control everything, no matter their ambitions. And if they weren¡¯t omnipotent, then they weren¡¯t really gods. Adder would never forget the day his father lost faith. The pain, the guilt, the drinking. He¡¯d watched his father descend step by step, from a champion of the gods to a bitter adversary. He also watched the confident and happy Selene allow vengeance to fester in her soul. She¡¯d become a ghost of a person with no aim but to exact punishment. Yes¡­ he¡¯d seen so much absurd reality. All the way back then, that was when he knew his purpose. He¡¯d chosen a path of sin, where curses would be spat eternally upon his name. Even if it was a path that lead to disaster, to pain, maybe even to death. But there were some things a man could not ignore, or escape. Some missions had to be undertaken. Humans weren¡¯t cattle, they weren¡¯t meant for captivity. Mankind had to rise up, they had to be free. But like beasts domesticated for too long, some would not be accustomed. There was destined to be many who could not adjust after being made fat at the hands of their masters. Yet if this was the only performance that would change the world, then he was willing to be the one who played the overture. He slowly opened his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark.¡± Luciasha followed his eyes toward the distance. The setting sun had vanished, and darkness had come to claim the sky. Suddenly, without warning¡­ A blinding light shattered the encroaching night, far in the distance. The starry sky was bright as day again for an instant, as though the sun had clawed its way back from sleep. It was several minutes later that the sound of a blast reached them. Even at such a great distance Luciasha still felt the earth tremble beneath her feet. As the light faded from blinding white to angry red, it illuminated the mushroom-shaped cloud rising from the earth. When the sound finally reached them it was like a hundred thousand stampeding horses. The intensity of it was almost deafening. She couldn¡¯t imagine what it was like closer to¡­ whatever that was. Adder watched as that thin golden light vanished within the red glare. The explosion¡¯s epicenter was the heart of Skycloud¡¯s border wall. Taking advantage of the border forces¡¯ weakened state after the Blisterpeaks, he¡¯d slipped the ancient weapon into the heavily fortified area. None of them knew a thing, even as their bodies were incinerated by atomic fire. Outside forces had tried and failed for years to overcome the Skycloud border wall. Only one thing was capable of bringing it down, and Adder had made sure it got there. With the heart of their defenses in ruin, it would not be long before their precious walls collapsed entirely. For a thousand years it had stood as the border between Skycloud and the wastelands. Now it was gone. There was no longer a distinction between the Elysian lands and the wastes. From now on wastelanders could enter Skycloud as they pleased. That painted circle, that gilded cage could no longer hold nor protect those blinded zealots. This moment¡­ this glorious moment heralded the birth of a new era. Luciasha stared wide-eyed at the historic scene. She was of course blind to the importance of it, merely in awe of its fury and drama. She hardly noticed when the first few drops of coolness struck her cheek. She gently reached out her palm, watched the moisture gather. Water¡­. Rain. Rain! Rain out of nowhere, with no warning and for no reason! Luciasha had lived all her life in the wastelands, and to those like her rain was a thousand times more precious than gold. She¡¯d never seen a storm like this. With such an incredible bounty of rain came the promise of life! As the walls fell, a deluge of energy poured from the Elysian lands. It swept across the wastes like a swarm of animals long held at bay. Where it touched grass sprang from arid ground. Snow-white wildflowers grew and bloomed in the blink of an eye. Up and down the rolling hills surrounding them, a blanket of charming green appeared. Skycloud¡¯s grand wall wasn¡¯t just a symbol. Its vast expanse was more than merely protection. Why was it that their great machines could fly in the air for ever, but fell the moment they left that border? Why was the land stark and dead on one side of their wall, and a green paradise on the other? It was because the wall was not just a wall. It was a coil placed there by the gods, trapping their energy inside. It was a sort of barrier, a containment field that kept the grace of the gods firmly locked away. The instant of its destruction, thousands of kilometers of desert were brought back to life. And the Elysian lands were robbed of much of its excess vitality. All at once the wastelands were not so desolate. Skycloud was no more a place of miracles. ¡°We have changed the world.¡± Adder looked out over the scene he had orchestrated. His eyes burned with something that approached mania. From now on there were no Elysian lands. He raised his arms up high, and screamed at the looming heavens in a resounding voice. ¡°From now on, the people no longer need to fear hunger! Not a single soul more will die from thirst! At last, all men and women who walk this earth will be seen as equals!¡± He dropped his eyes back to the world below, beaming with pride and elation. He knew what consequences this act would bring, but he did it anyway. Whatever was to be his end, history would remember him, because he was the architect of a new age. ¡°This is the gift I give to the wastelands.¡± He paused, then smiled. ¡°Do you like it?¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 114 - Unparalleled Disaster Cloudhawk was kept in the Skyden, under Templar guard. Even the prison Overseer wasn¡¯t given permission to see him. The Temple¡¯s sentence had been handed down. What was done could not be undone, and there was no authority that could overrule his judgment. General Polaris could come storming through the door and it would make no difference. Cloudhawk¡¯s fate was sealed; execution, al because he had been to hasty. Skycloud¡¯s leadership council would dig into every question they had. Cloudhawk¡¯s wasteland background would be revealed, as would his connections to the Dark Atom and his association with demons. They would grill him for answers, but why would he confirm any of it? He was already bound for the stake, and if he shared the whole truth all it would accomplish was to drag the General and others down with him. It didn¡¯t matter how the Templars would interrogate him. He would die before he answered their questions. What torment had he not endured through the years? He was almost curious to see how Templar torture compared to life at Hell¡¯s Valley. When they finally did, he was frankly a little surprised. They either didn¡¯t know his about his stubborn personality or he was given special treatment, because the torture wasn¡¯t anything special. They didn¡¯t use any terrible methods or special techniques to try and get him to talk. How could they expect this half-assed effort break Cloudhawk? After all the beatings he took to get here his skin was tough as nails. Their beatings were gentle as a lover¡¯s caress. The Templars were unable to learn anything of value. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk focused on enjoying his final days. He didn¡¯t just hang around, so while his body couldn¡¯t move his mind was still agile. Long hours were spent thinking, especially about all he had experienced since coming to Skycloud. A lot had happened and his experiences were many, but he always felt as though something was missing. Although he¡¯d gained a lot, he lost just as much. Thinking on it for a long time, he came to a realization. What he¡¯d lost was his ideals and his faith. He felt adrift on the wind, going where it led him. A mindless shambling corpse, a stilted marionette. Sure, he¡¯d always talked about living a good life, but not even he knew what that meant. He couldn¡¯t say what he stood for or how to live life. Lost, ignorant, like he was always stumbling through a fog. Deep down inside something that had held him up was gone. He was filled with a sentiment of meaninglessness. These were growing pains! But he wouldn¡¯t have to suffer long. The date of his execution quickly approached, but he wasn¡¯t afraid. On the contrary, there was a grim sort of relief that it would all end. That wasn¡¯t to say he didn¡¯t fear death, only that the life he¡¯d been living scared him more. ¡°Cloudhawk! Off you go.¡± Templars escorted him from his prison. Interrogations had been halted as they were no longer worth the bother. Better, they thought, to execute Cloudhawk quickly before the General returned and muddied the waters. There wasn¡¯t much he could do if he came back to a pile of ash. Phain Mist led the procession personally. Cloudhawk was then flanked by Templars, hands ever at the ready on the hilts of their swords. He remained bound hand and foot by heavy chains as they paraded him down the city¡¯s main thoroughfare. His destination was the city center, where the stake waited. Dusk had turned the sky a myriad of colors. Crowds had gathered along the road to watch ¨C obviously word of his execution had spread. Citizens from this neighborhood and beyond all congregated to bear witness. They were packed tight like a herd of animals, stretching as far as Cloudhawk could see. It was as if the whole city had turned out to watch this villain earn his just retribution. ¡°Sinner! Demon-lover! Burn in hell!¡± A middle-aged citizen with wild hair and puffy red eyes pushed to the front of the crowd. He flung a rock toward Cloudhawk¡¯s head. ¡°My wife was in that market with our daughter to buy clothes. Now they¡¯re gone ¨C because of you! My baby girl was only five years old. Give them back, you animal! Give them back!¡± The Templars managed to hold the grieving man at bay, but his rock struck true. Anger rose up among the others upon hearing the poor man¡¯s words. They all stooped down to pick up rocks, eggs, or whatever else they carried and threw them with the nastiest curses they could conjure. Phain made no effort to stop them. The Templars continued, stone faced. This was part of his punishment. Thousands had been hurt or killed by Cloudhawk¡¯s actions. Resentment festered like an angry wound and someone needed to take the blame. Someone had to be brought forth to be the focus of the people¡¯s pain. Unfortunately, Cloudhawk was chosen to be that someone. For decades to come people would curse his name and spit when it was mentioned. Cloudhawk feared no bullet, no hail of blade or arrow. These rocks and eggs would do him no harm, but the humiliation cut him deeper than any sword. The insults were a blight worse than any poison. Words wounded him more deeply than any weapon could. His looked out over the angry, twisted faces. The stark light of dusk cast them in shadows that made them all the more monstrous. He faced their foul curses in silence. He took their hail of garbage and did not try to protect himself. Cloudhawk had suffered much. He was accustomed to the vilest parts of human nature and was acquainted with hysteria. He wasn¡¯t sure whether he was numbed to it, or if in facing his mortality he no longer cared. Whatever the reason, he didn¡¯t answer to their fury. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± A shout cut through the din of the crowd. Dawn pushed through, her hair all a mess, and brandished her sword at the people like a wild animal. She swung her sword to keep them at bay. ¡°Fools! Idiots! Do you know what you¡¯re doing?! Do you have any idea?! I¡¯ll kill anyone who takes another step!¡± ¡°Dawn Polaris!¡± Phain¡¯s reacted, faster than most could follow. In one smooth movement his golden Templar sword was drawn. Streaking through the air, it left a trail of gleaming light in its wake. A single blow disarmed the unstable woman. As if on cue, a pair of Templars appeared on either side of her and held her against the ground. ¡°You don¡¯t think this matter is serious enough?¡± Phain returned his rapier to its sheath. ¡°Leave! Reflect on your sins!¡± ¡°Reflect? You want me to reflect? What sins have I committed?! Trying to exact justice in a world where there is none? Is that what you want me to atone for?¡± She raised her tear-streaked face and stared defiantly at the acting Grand Prior. ¡°Teacher, instruct me. Is this what we stand for?!¡± ¡°You are no longer a warrior of the Temple!¡± Phain looked down upon her with his brows furrowed. ¡°Take her away!¡± He glanced at the Templars holding her, and they dragged Dawn away. She¡¯d only recently been released from her captivity and her wounds had not yet healed, not enough to fight back. All she could do was cry out Cloudhawk¡¯s name in despair as they pulled her from view. Her one and only friend! Was this all she could do? Watch helplessly as they marched him to his death? Cloudhawk¡¯s lips wilted into a frown, and he let out a small sigh. For some reason he thought about how much money he still owed Dawn. Luckily, Gabriel is still around, he thought. He hoped the guy would do what he promised with the earnings they got for helping Autumn. Many saw the dramatic exchange, including a master and apprentice overlooking the crowds nearby. Frost de Winter was clad in a plain, snow-white robe. He watched silently as Dawn was carried away, and as Cloudhawk suffered the rocks and curses of the people on his way to execution. Finally, he couldn¡¯t hold it in. ¡°Master, I still don¡¯t understand this man, Cloudhawk.¡± The gray-robed elder at his side offered a gentle smile. ¡°He is an interesting child. He has more potential than anyone knows, but never found direction. However, it is difficult for the young to avoid a period of being lost. Through suffering, disgrace, joys and sorrows, separations and reunions¡­ through all of this they are reborn and emerge changed. A sword only gleams after it has met the grindstone.¡± Arcturus¡¯ words took Frost by surprise. It was the first time he¡¯d heard his master regard anyone so highly. ¡°But now, he¡¯s going to die.¡± The sage-like older man did not respond. Instead he eyes peered out toward the horizon as though admiring the cloud-strewn skies. Such a stubborn and foolish child. Nothing to be done about it, but at least you had value. Indeed, Cloudhawk was consigned to the fire. Phain spared a glance for the young man, who had suffered the walk toward death in silence. He also felt a pang of sadness. Before Dawn¡¯s excommunication, Phain had been her sword instructor. That obstinate, prideful girl¡­ he knew she¡¯d beat him one day. More than once she¡¯d told him about this young man, the only person she ever had a kind word for. If Dawn was willing to spare a compliment for him, then Cloudhawk had to be no ordinary sort. Of course Phain saw the injustice, but some things were hard to explain. If there was a reason for everything, why not say them? If there was anything to blame for all of this, then it was the boy¡¯s obstinance. A shame¡­ if he wasn¡¯t bound for execution then he could have grown well. By now he had no opportunity to know what the future could have held. ¡°Carry out the sentence!¡± Phain gave the order in a cold, dispassionate voice. But before the orders could be followed, a scene no one expected came to pass. An ear-piercing scream filled the air. Overhead, an airship suddenly listed to the side and began to plummet. People watched in horror as itfell out of the sky like a missile right into the crowd of onlookers. Screams of fear and pain were followed by an explosion. The ship¡¯s hull was ripped apart, sending burning debris in all directions. What happened?! Templars drew their sounds and looked around for an enemy. ¡°By the gods... the sky! Look at the sky!¡± As eyes rose to the heavens they saw one ship after another tipping over and falling toward the earth. The floating docks at the city¡¯s edge had also become unstable and came toppling down. It crashed into the beautiful city walls, reducing the beautiful stonework to rubble. Earsplitting blasts rocked all of Skycloud. Chaos erupted, and all at once every light was extinguished. The evergreen plants went from full bloom to wilted in the blink of an eye. Even its lakes were affected, as suddenly tidal forces cast the water from their banks and flooded several city districts. Many citizens who were too slow to react were carries away by the surging waters. Too sudden¡­ it all happened to fast. It was like a nightmare. The madness was even worse than the market district¡¯s collapse! Skycloud was plunged into darkness, while a deluge of water drowned its streets. Amid the panic and falling debris, no one knew what was happening or how to react. ¡°Cancel your orders! You there, bring the prisoner back to his cell!¡± Phain fired off a round of orders. ¡°The rest of you, help me get a handle on this situation! Quickly!¡± Cloudhawk was just as much at a loss. Disaster didn¡¯t begin to describe the scene unfolding. How could this happen, here in Skycloud city? Were even the gods offended by Cloudhawk¡¯s unjust treatment? Had they sent these plagues to prevent his death? Compared to the apocalypse that now held the city in its grips, what Cloudhawk helped to cause seemed like nothing. Whatever the cause, things were sure about to change. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 115 - Swings and Roundabouts The disaster that had just befallen Skycloud killed at least ten times as many as the collapse of the market district. Cloudhawk was not one to gloat, but he had to admit this misfortune had saved his life. The cataclysm had at least postponed his date with the flames. After two days, the order came down that Cloudhawk was to be brought to the Temple once again. Soon after he found himself in the grand hall, only this time the atmosphere was even more solemn and grave. Aside from the High Priest were two others. The first, in his simple gray robes, was Governor Arcturus Cloude. On the High Priest¡¯s right sat a man who had the build of a crouched tiger. His hair was white but it only added to his commanding presence. Sitting there, unmoving, he gave the impression of a mighty beast waiting for the moment to strike. This was none other than the Commander General of Skycloud¡¯s army, Skye Polaris. Three great leaders; Spiritual, Political, Military. The three most powerful men in the realm. Besides them, all other notable members of Skycloud¡¯s elite were in attendance. After Cloudhawk, Dawn Polaris and Atlas Umbra were also conveyed into the hall. Dawn was elated upon seeing Cloudhawk alive and well. In recent days, her mood had been gone through many radical fluctuations. Through it all, she came to realize how much she cared for her only friend. That stuck up little shit is definitely something. He said there was a weapon that could destroy cities, and that prophecy was proven true just before his execution. Her grandfather had only just returned to Skycloud, and already things were changing swiftly. There was still hope. The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, almost dire. Dawn ¨C for the time being ¨C kept her mouth shut in order to avoid further problems. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t out of the proverbial woods yet, and today might be his only chance. She absolutely couldn¡¯t mess this up for him. The recent disaster hadn¡¯t just affected Skycloud city. Every city in the realm had experienced catastrophe, and turmoil had spread across every corner of the domain. There was no way for anyone to obfuscate and hide these troubles from the populace. A discussion had been raging long before Cloudhawk had arrived. Right now, an old man who was mostly just skin and bones had the floor. ¡°This is the situation currently.¡± ¡°In short, the traitor Sterling Cloude and his son Zephyr fled to the wastelands, where they have been living in secret. Over the last few years they have worked to establish a cult of missionaries which they call the Sanctum of Judgment ¨C referred to as the Crimson Church by the people. Assuming the title ¡®the Crimson One¡¯, Sterling has attempted to gather support and power among the wastelanders. Meanwhile, his son Zephyr has posed as a bar owner in Sandbar Outpost for five years under the name Adder. Using this new persona as cover, he spent that time plotting an elaborate attack on our realm.¡± ¡°Based on the intelligence we¡¯ve managed to gather, Zephyr has extensive experience in military matters. His time among soldiers allowed him to cultivate a large number of sympathizers. It was certainly he who leaked the location of the Dark Atom¡¯s headquarters to our border forces. After misleading General Aegir into attacking, as you know, the general¡¯s forces were massacred in the Blisterpeak mountains.¡± ¡°As we are all aware, the border forces are powerful but spread thinly. Galvanizing such a large force would of course expose weaknesses, and after losing so many the acting general on the border could not discover and correct all of them right away. Zephyr, employing the aid of his confidants, exploited the situation to steal into the heart of the border wall and therein hide a weapon of mass destruction. Its detonation has led us to the situation we are in today.¡± ¡°Skycloud¡¯s wall was a miracle of engineer created by the gods themselves. Not only did it protect our millions of god-fearing citizens, it also kept out the filth of the wastelands and whatever residual demonic power remains. It was also an important foundational structure for the domain. Once the wall was destroyed, it caused the internal energies of Skycloud to become unstable. The resulting disasters claimed many lives and inflicted tremendous loses. While we have reestablished order for the most part, there are still many places that are still in the midst of chaos. The most important fact to consider is that we have lost the protection of the border wall. We are now completely exposed to everything that lives in the wastelands.¡± ¡°...¡± The old man was the director of Skynet, the domain¡¯s primary intelligence service. All while he spoke sweat was pouring down his brow, for the disaster at the border was clearly part of his responsibility. It was a failure of Skynet¡¯s ability to foresee and act on potential threats. ¡°Bullshit!¡± A voice like dull thunder doomed through the hall as Skye Polaris glared at the man. He was flushed with rage, only barely containing his anger from boiling over. His gaze was sharp enough to cut the old man in half. ¡°Why the hell do we pay you people? The resources spent on keeping your so-called ¡®intelligence community¡¯ running have been a complete and utter waste of time!¡± ¡°The General should be careful with his words. Indeed Skynet failed to act in haste, but we should not forget that it was General Aegir¡¯s folly that led to the defeat in the Blisterpeaks. If he had not, our borders would have remained secure.¡± The biting words came from a man standing near Governor Arcturus, one of the representatives of the Cloude family. Skye visibly bristled at the accusation, and he spat an angry response while glaring at the one who dared to speak it. ¡°Have we forgotten who the traitor is who caused this? Hm? Who set this trap? Have we forgotten who is responsible for destroying the wall that has stood in our defense for a thousand years?! A man from your family, a Cloude! Our sorry state is directly tied to the traitor and blasphemer your family produced! Cloudhawk isn¡¯t the one who should burn, it should be your whole contemptible, hypocritical bloodline!¡± Everyone sat in dumbfounded silence. All the blood drained from the Cloude family representative¡¯s face. There was perhaps only one person in all of Skycloud who had the gall to speak like that to the greatest demonhunter family in the realm, and it was him. The general¡¯s rage would not be contained. Nor was he wrong ¨C who could have imagined that one day the illustrious Knight-Commander of the demonhunter forces would betray his country and orchestrate such a disaster? Arcturus Cloude betrayed no hint of anger. ¡°We all bear responsibility for the plight of our home, but that is not what we are here to discuss today. We have gathered to seek confirmation, and to formulate a plan.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about any of that,¡± Skye replied without hesitation. ¡°I only demand my people be released!¡± Arcturus paid him no mind. From his high vantage overlooking the hall, the governor turned his gaze down unto one man. ¡°Cloudhawk. Can you explain what happened?¡± Cloudhawk recognized his opportunity, here at last. When he was asked this question several days ago, with General Polaris out of the picture, it would have been a waste of breath to profess his innocence. His humble background afforded him no power to change his circumstance. All that mattered to them was finding a scapegoat to pin Skycloud¡¯s troubles on, so he was marked for death from the start. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t taken it too hard at the time. Hell, it wasn¡¯t like he was leaving behind a happy life. But this experience in particular had been an enlightening one. He chose to accept this chance to keep breathing. ¡°Our noble general tasked me with finding information about the Sanctum of Judgment. I first met the Crimson One in the place known as Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, and during a confrontation learned of his real identity. I was also able to uncover the Sanctum¡¯s real aim. I returned to Sandbar Station immediately, and tasked its magistrate Hammont Seacrest with delivering the news to the border General. You can call on the Magistrate to confirm what I¡¯m saying is true.¡± Someone from the crowd interrupted. ¡°With information this sensitive, why didn¡¯t you deliver it yourself!¡± ¡°I wanted to, but couldn¡¯t.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mind raced as he constructed a story. ¡°During my investigations I came to suspect Adder. He had known for a long time ago about the ancient weapon held by the Dark Atom. I believed he was working with the Sanctum, and after hearing about what this weapon was capable of I thought it was a matter of pressing importance. I had to find out more or we would be caught completely off guard by a serious threat. Is that so hard to imagine?¡± ¡°Why did Adder appear in the Blisterpeaks while you were investigating him? Once you learned this information, why didn¡¯t you return to Skycloud immediately?¡± His mind continued to churn out excuses. ¡°Once Adder knew that his plans were in danger, he was forced to act quickly. He leaked the Dark Atom¡¯s location to the border forces to buy time and block information of his father from spreading. Then, while the Dark Atom was preoccupied defending against Skycloud¡¯s attack, he slipped in and stole their weapon. He used the war to manufacture an opportunity to place the weapon. Three birds with one stone. Unfortunately, by the time I reached the Blisterpeaks the fight had already begun, and Adder had already succeeded. I was just one step behind.¡± His words were a mix of lies and half-truths, making it impossible to tell which was which. It wasn¡¯t a flawless tale, but passable for the circumstances. Skye Polaris sending him off to investigate the Sanctum of Judgment was true. Discovering the Crimson One¡¯s identity and sending Hammont to deliver the news was also true. This core of reality was enough for him to stand on, no one could refute it. ¡°It seemed more than likely that Adder would use the weapon to attack the Elysian lands. I raced back as fast as I could to try and stop a tragedy, and from there you all know what happened. Even after the second time you threw me in jail, I still tried my best to inform you as to what was happening, but what did you do?¡± Cloudhawk adopted an indignant and accusatory stance. ¡°You refused to believe there was such a weapon. Your pride let our last chance to save lives slip away.¡± All the grand nobles of the city looked at one another in shame-faced silence. ¡°Did you hear?!¡± Skye punctuated the words with a cruel laugh. ¡°If you¡¯d paid attention, there would have been time to strengthen the border. We could have avoided this terrible attack entirely! This brave and loyal man was instead branded a demon spy by you good-for-nothing straw men. But my granddaughter had faith in him the whole while! Cloudhawk is at fault, and his failures helped bring us to this day, but his sins are not deserving of execution. It was you lot who wasted our only chance to protect our citizens. You should tie yourselves to the stake and light the bonfires! Maybe that will bring some comfort to the thousands of victims!¡± How could the Elysians believe that the men of old had created a weapon of such terrible destruction? But they did, and it had been used on their soil. A resounding slap to the face, one they were still reeling from. Whether they wanted to believe or not, the proof was in the ashes of their wall. Skye pressed on while sentiment was in his favor. ¡°Bring in the others!¡± Two more were brought into the hall. One was Drake Thane, lieutenant commander of the border forces. The other was a man dressed in a junior officer¡¯s uniform. He could only be described as enormously fat, and the rolls of his face trembled as he staggered inside. He walked with infinitely careful steps as though wading through a small pool. Hammont Seacrest was obviously overwhelmed by the situation he found himself in. He trembled from head to toe, either from fear or excitement. He couldn¡¯t tell. Hammont was a grunt, nothing more ¨C one of many low-level soldiers in a vast army. His greatest dream was to become the commander of a small force, but never in those dreams was he ever invited into the Temple. Not even commanders had the right to meet the High Priest. Even the general of the border forces had only ever been inside a handful of times. Now that he had, he could die without regrets! Drake was uneasy. This wasn¡¯t the sort of situation a typical man could shoulder without effort. But Drake was not a typical man, so as he walked in and turned his eyes onto the faces of Skycloud¡¯s elite, his voice was strong and resounding. ¡°Drake Thane, Lieutenant-General of the Border Army. I am here to testify on behalf of Cloudhawk, and affirm that he was not there in collusion with the blasphemers. On the contrary, it was his bravery and quick thinking that saved my life, and the life of many others.¡± Hammont got down on one knee and thought for a moment. His testimony differed from Drake¡¯s, bearing more vivid and descriptive. ¡°Hammont Seacrest, your humble servant. Allow me to describe what happened. Our forces were enmeshed in fierce battle in the valleys of the Blisterpeaks. For days we fought and died, but as the stalemate reached a crucial juncture the honorable demonhunter Cloudhawk approached us with a warning. He said we were headed into a trap, so our great Lieutenant-General ¨C even knowing he would face terrible criticism ¨C displayed the true wisdom of a leader and ordered me to sound the retreat. His quick thinking saved the lives of two thousand soldiers. Without Cloudhawk¡¯s help and the Lieutenant-General¡¯s wisdom, our forces would have been utterly decimated in those mountains. Honorable and respected members of the council, if a man like Cloudhawk is a spy, then I refuse to believe there are any good men left in the world.¡± Skye gazed upon the fat man with an approving air. ¡°I hear you are the one Cloudhawk tasked with bringing news of the Crimson One¡¯s true identity to the border forces. If this true?¡± ¡°Yes, this is true. I serve as commanded.¡± Skye went on. ¡°Describe what happened.¡± ¡°Honorable council members, I remember it this way: Master Cloudhawk had just come back to Sandbar Station and was clearly worse for wear. From the looks of him, he¡¯d just come from a terrible battle and his wounds were serious. But although he was suffering, he did not forget his duties. He chose to remain in the wastelands and continue his mission. His spirit is worthy of admiration, and his persistence venerable. Although your humble servant¡¯s time with Master Cloudhawk has been brief, I have been deeply affected by his person. His nobility and spirit of sacrifice has been a beacon in dark times.¡± Hammont put the extra effort into squeezing out a few tears for added effect. Then, his voice quavering with emotion, he cried out to the rapt onlookers: ¡°But I am ashamed to have failed Master Cloudhawk in this mission. I was not worth of his trust, and have besmirched my honor before the eyes of the gods. I am a disgrace to this uniform, and a disgrace to the people of Skycloud. I had intended to take my own life as penance, but when I thought of all the evil and pain still threatening this great land I decided to live. At least until today, where I could share these words.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Drake had to physically restrain himself from smacking the fat off this guy¡¯s face. Was he a goddamn actor in a former life? He had better poise and cadence than an opera singer! His talent was wasted as a soldier! ¡°Hammont Seacrest, rise. The faults are not yours to bear. You have not maligned the uniform you hold in such esteem.¡± Skye Polaris was instantly enamored with the simple, honest junior officer. When Hammont heard the kind words the edges of his mouth twitched ever so slightly. It was a risky move, for if the great man had agreed with his emotional mea culpa he¡¯d be dead. However, Skye was obviously touched by the display. Hammont let his breath out in a furtive sigh of relief and had to stop himself from leaping off the floor. General Skye had said his name. Even praised him in front of all these people! Really and truly, he could die in that instant and be happy. 1.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 116 - No Longer Alone Governor Arcturus¡¯ cool gaze never left Hammont. ¡°Do you have proof of the things you say?¡± Hammont was speaking off the cuff, so when the governor¡¯s gaze fell upon him he felt like a mountain had landed on his shoulders. As a run-of-the-mill soldier, he was deferential to even novice demonhunters. He was ready to pledge his life to a general if he came across one. How, then, should he react when coming face to face with the greatest demonhunter to grace the earth? Arcturus Cloude was universally accepted as the ultimate demonhunter, as well as the political head of the entire domain. He was a man of civil and military achievements that were utterly unparalleled. Compared to Arcturus, Hammont was like the dirt beneath his feet. The governor¡¯s shrewd eyes pinned him in place. Hammont had begun to sweat, and his mind could focus on nothing but that crushing presence. Although his presentation had been exaggerated, nothing Hammont had said was untruthful. Arcturus¡¯ piercing eyes felt like it held him fast for an age, but really it only lasted half a moment. Once again he knelt, donning his dramatic facade. Without Cloudhawk he would still just be a lowly squad leader. Without Cloudhawk he would have died on the Blisterpeaks. Without Cloudhawk he wouldn¡¯t be standing here, speaking with these great men. He was a simple man from a simple family, who rose from the humblest of beginning to where he stood today. His mother had always said their sort were to first be worthy of the grace of gods, second to be worthy of others, and last to be worthy of themselves. His fat face grew stern, his movements solemn. ¡°Before the eyes of the gods I, Hammont Secrest, pledge on my honor ¨C now and forever ¨C that if Cloudhawk is a traitor then I will accept any punishment. I am so certain than I willingly barter my life on it.¡± Cloudhawk was floored. ¡°Hammy, you...¡± Drake followed suite, dropping to one knee. ¡°I also swear it, on my life and honor.¡± In reality Drake had questions, a suspicion that Cloudhawk was holding back secrets, but he believed to his core that Cloudhawk was no demon sympathizer. He had saved him from the demon during the battle for the Blisterpeaks. If he had truly been blinded by Cloudhawk¡¯s lies, he¡¯d just pay for his mistake with his life.He was a true man, through and through, and there was no way a man could shrink back at times like this. ¡°And me! I swear as well!¡± Dawn refused to be silenced and ignored Phain¡¯s attempt to hold her down. She shot up, strode to the center of the platform then went down on one knee. ¡°I, Dawn Polaris, before the eyes of the gods and the High Priest, swear upon Cloudhawk¡¯s loyalty with my life and honor! Whether now or in the future, if he is found to be a traitor then I will take my own life. I will forfeit my name and reputation, and may the gods condemn my immortal soul.¡± The corners of Skye¡¯s eyes tightened. Gods, she cares a lot for the boy. He has her roped in. Cloudhawk¡­ oh, Cloudhawk. If you ever do anything to harm this realm or my granddaughter, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and tear you limb from limb! A smoldering, ominous light burned in Skye¡¯s eyes. As Dawn¡¯s words still hung in the air, someone from the Court of Shadows delegation stepped forward. She was a young woman with a pretty, cherubic face and she took a knee beside the others. ¡°Like them, I attest to brother Cloudhawk¡¯s honor.¡± Her pledge shocked the council even further. Cloudhawk was a mere waif! How could he command such respect from so many? Not only did they trust the young man, they swore on their very lives! Theirs was no ordinary friendship. But of them all, Cloudhawk was the most surprised. He gawked at the small crowd kneeling in the center of the platform. Each of them came from different backgrounds, with different social statuses, but they all were willing to give up everything to prove his innocence. Cloudhawk felt something he¡¯d never felt before, like a warmth that spread from his chest and penetrated into his soul. All this time he thought he was alone, for he had been born a lowly wastelander. Although he had made friends, he had always believed that fact would forever be a barrier between them. He never knew what it was like to be recognized as a person. It felt¡­ good. He¡¯d wandered alone for so long, only to look back now and see that he had these friends with him all along. Real friends, willing to fight and die side by side with him. How could he live up to their faith and confidence! In his heart sparked a flame that had been cold for a long time. He was like a lost man once again seeing the beacon that marked the way forward. At the very least, the next time he fought he would know what he was fighting for. Three years he¡¯d lived in the Elysian lands, and for the first time he felt a sense of camaraderie and belonging. ¡°And I!¡± This voice was one no one expected, but was heard all the same. Atlas Umbra! Cloudhawk had Hammont¡¯s appreciation for the help he¡¯d given. Drake stood for Cloudhawk because he¡¯d saved his life. Dawn was an old friend, and he¡¯d served with Felina for three years in the valley. These people had clear reasons and a history with him. But Atlas? What was his angle? The two men were far from friendly with one another. On the contrary, you could say there was an old score they had yet to address. But instead of kicking him while he was down, Atlas was offering a hand to help him up. It was an act no one could explain. But whatever the case, Atlas words bore weight. Lending it to Cloudhawk¡¯s defense would help him greatly. The briefest glint of an intrigued smile appeared on the governor¡¯s face, but passed an instant later. It was a potent display of Cloudhawk¡¯s charm. Were it Frost de Winter in his place now¡­ Arcturus wondered if anyone would kneel in Frost¡¯s defense. Cloudhawk was born with the soul of a leader, which made him the heart of that group whether he intended it or not. He just never realized it. ¡°Members of the council, what are your thoughts?¡± The representatives from Skycloud¡¯s noble families and government officials immediately began arguing. While the Polaris family had been in decline for a while, it was not dead. Even a camel that was wasting away was still bigger than a horse. Since Governor Arcturus had not stated a clear position, the other nobles weren¡¯t prepared to provoke Skye¡¯s famous anger. A dark-skinned officer stood and called out over the tumult. ¡°I feel Cloudhawk¡¯s guilt has been absolved. Skycloud is in need of strong hands to help rebuilt. Have him atone for his failures through public service.¡± This man was the patriarch of the Thane family. Theirs was a name synonymous with lauded generals and military elite, boasting many notable persons. Drake, for instance, was already Lieutenant-General of the Border Army and was still in his twenties. Just by himself, he was an example of the weight his family held. ¡°I agree.¡± A voice that was almost overlooked joined the first. It was neutral, hard to determine whether male or female, and almost monotonous. Almost mechanical. Yet although the voice was easy to miss, when it arose everyone sat up and listened intently. The head of the Court of Shadows, Janus Umbra. The Court of Shadows, despite being the largest of Skycloud¡¯s special forces, was very secretive in its missions and methods. Its leader Janus never took sides in decisions such as this. Today was the exception. Cloudhawk had managed to impel the Umbra family to take an unprecedented stance. Was it because of Atlas? It would hardly be that simple! Although the reasons weren¡¯t clear, both the Thane and Umbra households had spoken out in defense of Cloudhawk. With the support of the Polaris family, it was increasingly unlikely that Cloudhawk would be consigned to the stake, as his sentence demanded. ¡°You all have shown great faith in him. This is good.¡± Arcturus gave a slight nod before turning his eyes back onto Cloudhawk. ¡°But do you have such faith in yourself? After what you have experienced, are you still willing to serve Skycloud?¡± Cloudhawk looked to the small group at his side and took a deep breath. However he had been treated in the past, it was time for him to put down his roots, here among his friends. For no other reason, just for them. ¡°I am!¡± ¡°Very well.¡± The governor continued. ¡°Then it is my suggestion that Cloudhawk¡¯s sentence be amended. Instead, he shall help Skycloud to recover from this tragic circumstance.¡± Arcturus had spoken, no one disagreed. He then turned to regard the old man, who had remained completely silent through this proceeding. ¡°What are our venerable High Priest¡¯s thoughts?¡± ¡°Let it be as you recommended. The future of Skycloud belongs to our youth, and it is encouraging to see so many excellent representatives of the next generation. This is the only encouraging light in a sea of darkness. May it bring peace of mind to old men like us.¡± At last the old man, who had until then merely sat there upon the central throne like a statue, shared his words with the council. His voice thrummed through the hall, deep and with a supernatural sort of gravitas. It filled the listeners with a sense of tranquility, though it was not without a note of command. Dawn shot to her feet. Atlas nodded in approval. Drake, Felina and Hammont felt like they could breathe once again. Seeing his goals achieved, Skye was also filled with pride and inspiration. It was his first victory in a long time. ¡°There is one thing I still don¡¯t understand. If it was not the intention of the Sanctum to attack Skycloud city, why did they mislead Cloudhawk to believe this was their target? All they accomplished was to reveal their foul breeding lair.¡± Skye wasn¡¯t the only one pondering this question. Everyone was curious to know the logic behind it. It seemed superfluous, even haughty for the Church to add this extra flair. Governor Arcturus answered. ¡°You do not understand Sterling. His aim was not to destroy us. He seeks to integrate our realm and the wastelands. He has rejected not only the will of the gods, but also the sway of demons. This fact explains why he would obliterate our defenses and expose a demonic plot in the same act.¡± It was just as Arcturus said. Sterling¡¯s aim was to guide humanity to take hold of its own destiny. Liberation from outside control! This meant casting off the yolk of faithful servitude to the gods, but still railing against demonic influence. Sterling was at war with the Elysian realm, not the Elysian people. His conflict was with the faith that he felt kept them tethered. In this way, the Sanctum of Judgment was different from other wasteland groups. Somehow, through whatever channels they¡¯d managed to cultivate, they must have discovered demonic sympathizers long dormant in the midst of Skycloud. Adder¡¯s actions were designed to throw Cloudhawk off the scent, but more importantly to use him for the Sanctum¡¯s own ends. It was a plan expertly crafted to force him to drag these demons¡¯ plans from the darkness into the light. Skycloud would be distracted while investigating a potential threat ¨C one that would have certainly come back to haunt them in the future. On the one hand this protected the Elysian lands from a common enemy, while on the other it took some of the stress off the Sanctum¡¯s shoulders while they prepared for their grand opus. It sounded almost too perfectly orchestrated to believe, but Sterling was just intelligent and ideological enough to do such a thing. Cloudhawk understood now that Arcturus had it all figured out from the start. What other secrets was this man hiding? The High Priest, Ramiel Caelestis, finished off the council meeting. ¡°For the first time, our great society has come to know a succession of tragedies. Discord touches our land of miracles, and I can feel dark powers growing in strength. A danger the likes of which we have never experienced looms on the horizon, but I have faith. My faith in our people remains unshakable.¡± ¡°Soon the Lord of Lords will return to us. You, who are the mightiest guardians of this city, are also staunchest in faith and service. This is a test. The sullied and the sinful have provoked a war with our fair people and released our birthright into the tainted lands without. They must pay the price for their sins.¡± Cloudhawk knew that war was inevitable the moment that wall fell. And here he was, wrapped up in it all. The tide of events that was sweeping across the world had caught him in its current. There was no running from it now. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 3, Chapter 117 - Throwing Down the Sword ¡°Finally, I have an announcement I¡¯d like to make.¡± High Priest Ramiel went on before the council was allowed to disperse. ¡°Due to recent events, it is clear that our glorious, divine realm is facing a darkness the likes of which we have never seen. In order to aid us in preventing further tragedy, I am submitting a name for recommendation on behalf of the Temple. It is a name you may find strange, but if she accepts this mission then she will work together with you as our representative to ensure the safety of our people.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions changed at the announcement. The Temple didn¡¯t involve itself in military affairs, and it stayed out of Skycloud¡¯s political discussions. It was purely an organization meant to guide the people¡¯s faith, and provide for their spiritual well-being. It was a thousand year tradition, yet it was one that was about to change. What signal was he trying to send by appointing a Temple representative? Was the High Priest trying to express his lack of faith in the council? Or was this the Temple taking this opportunity to expand its influence on the domain ¨C changing from a purely spiritual body toward more tangible pursuits? Or was there some other plan they couldn¡¯t fathom? While the proclamation didn¡¯t sound like a big deal, in fact it heralded a great change to the future of the domain. This was naturally of concern to every Skycloud noble and military officer. However, Cloudhawk was more interested in the sort of person the Temple would appoint to such an important post. Was it one of the cardinals? Grand Prior Phain? High Priest Ramiel did not leave them in suspense for long. ¡°Enter!¡± A pressing aura suddenly filled the chamber, as a figure clad all in white came into view. Stunning, majestic. Members of the council felt their breath catch in their throat as they stared entranced. The holy lights of the chamber coalesced around a figure that was full of unbridled elegance and purity. Baldur?! No ¨C of course not. But it was someone who shared his same bearing. Clad in white gossamer robes, she had the same presence as the late Master Demonhunter. Long, raven-black tresses tumbled down past her shoulders. When she walked there was a keen presence to her step, like a sword dancing through the air. Every inch of her glowed with a sort of natural quintessence, forming a woman nearly perfect both in form and substance. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes went wide. Dawn¡¯s mouth fell open. The whole council stared in absolutely shock. She was a woman widely known, though had gone unseen for half a decade. In fact, they¡¯d almost forgotten that Skycloud had ever produced someone like her. At eight years old she joined the ranks of the demonhunters, and at fourteen she had been accepted into the heights of the order. Her achievements shattered all previous records, and before her disappearance it was widely believed she would be the first person in history to achieve Master status before her thirtieth year. Selene Cloude She walked through the hall to the front of the platorm, not even sparing a glance for Cloudhawk as though she had never met him. Dropping to one knee in a solemn and dignified salute, she spoke out in a clear voice which rose like a crystal bell among the clouds, cold and crisp. ¡°I, Selene Cloude, come to pay homage to the High Priest.¡± ¡°You are worthy of your spectacular bloodline, and are a shining beacon for the future of our demonhunters. I can sense it from you, the determination to break through all barriers. I can feel your indomitable spirit. I can also feel your strength, and noble heart.¡± High Priest Ramiel¡¯s saintly voice reverberated through the hall. ¡°Selene Cloude, with her virtuous spirit and faithful heart, is a peerless representative of her generation. Five years of tribulations in the wastelands has tempered her into the woman that stands before us today, capable and self-sufficient. She is the only person suitable to speak as the voice of the Temple.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see Arcturus¡¯ expression, hard as he tried to peek. After five years Selene had returned, but she did not return to her household. Instead, she turned directly to the temple. Others might not be aware of the significance, but Cloudhawk had come to know of the struggles between Skycloud¡¯s ruling factions. Things were never as simple as they appeared. High Priest Ramiel then turned to address Arcturus. ¡°Our great and noble Governor, Selene is a rare gem of the Cloude family. I should not have tapped her for this position without first seeking your blessing, but seeing as the governor¡¯s mansion already has the boon of those like Frost de Winter, I thought it would be better if she served the gods in a more direct capacity. Have you any thoughts?¡± Arcturus gently nodded his head. ¡°With the Temple cultivating Selene¡¯s enormous potential, a glorious future is assured. This appointment is to her good fortune and future. As patriarch of the Cloude family, I am delighted.¡± The High Priest smiled, appeased. ¡°Then with that settled¡­ brave and steadfast Selene, do you accept the role of a saint? To become an angel in service of our masters at the expense of your feelings, freedoms, maybe even your life? To defend the majesty of the gods and the safety of our twenty million faithful?¡± Selene remained on one knee before them. ¡°I do.¡± The old man nodded once again. ¡°Very good. With that, you are anointed as an Apostle of the gods. From this day forward, it is our hope that you valiantly defend the realm on the front lines.¡± Selene said nothing further. The High Priest¡¯s announcement had caught everyone off guard. Never before had the Temple inserted itself in civil or martial affairs, yet with the state of the realm in critical danger no one objected. After all, their representative was Selene Cloude. She was no ordinary person. Who but she was suitable for the job? At last, the council was disbanded and the meeting adjourned. Cloudhawk filed out of the hall with everyone else, but stopped at the exit turn back for a final look. Standing alone in the chamber was that solitary white figure. He was very curious what she was thinking right now, why she had decided to make this choice. Once they were finally outside of the temple, everyone felt like they could breathe again. Dawn petulantly stamped her feet. ¡°That bitch shows up and immediately attached herself to the High Priest¡¯s ankles! Don¡¯t think for a minute this makes me afraid of her. Ugh! It just infuriates me to watch her play it so cool. One day I¡¯ll punch all the teeth out of that pretty mouth!¡± Once again, Cloudhawk was confronted with the suspicion that something was going on between Dawn and Selene. They were both beautiful, both talented. Dawn had a drive to exceed over others and Selene was competitive down to her very bones. A fiery volcano and an icy mountain peak ¨C he guessed it was only natural two people so different wouldn¡¯t care for one another. Neither were women to be underestimated, either. Dawn could feel Cloudhawk had some kind of connection to Selene. She shot him a sidelong glance. She was definitely going to try her best to win him over to her side. It was a fact that caused him some anxiety. Both women were his friends, but he sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to put himself between two angry tigresses. Luckily, before she could make her pitch the Polaris family advisor appeared. Mr. Ink approached Cloudhawk and spoke directly to him. ¡°Cloudhawk. The General has requested your presence.¡± Cloudhawk sighed, relieved but also nervous. Facing Skye Polaris still scared him a little. Just a few minutes ago, his granddaughter had pledged her life and honor on Cloudhawk¡¯s innocence. The Polaris family was facing a critical shortage of capable members, so Dawn was more than just a cherished granddaughter. She was the only hope for a renaissance of the Polaris clan. He wasn¡¯t going to tolerate an outsider like Cloudhawk dragging her down! Could this man ¨C famous throughout the domain for his explosive temperament, swallow such a risk? Cloudhawk hoped he didn¡¯t lose his cool, after all, the General wasn¡¯t the General for no reason. If that old drunk had been called the Skycloud War Saint in his day, then Skye was the full on War God. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t protect himself if the old madman lost his temper. He didn¡¯t have a choice. He had to go whether he wanted to or not. Something suddenly occurred to Cloudhawk. He summoned the power of the phase stone and pulled from his pocket dimension a broken sword. It was the blade of the fallen Border Army General, Aegir Polaris. Aegir had been one of the few remaining stars of his family, but was cut down in the Blisterpeaks. The broken sword was all that remained. It had to be returned to its original owners. Mr. Ink brought Cloudhawk to the audience hall, then through it to an artificial lake in the backyard. General Polaris¡¯ old but powerful silhouette was seen standing in a pavilion overlooking the lake, watching the ripples. ¡°General.¡± Cloudhawk was surprised to find that Skye was not surrounded by his typical explosive aura, like a lake of fire bubbling beneath the surface. Skye turned to face the young man, noting the broken sword in his hand, and let his eyes wander as he heaved a deep sigh. It was only then Cloudhawk felt something was off. This wasn¡¯t the animalistic General he knew. This was just¡­ a tired old man. As the pillars of his family crumbled one after the other, all of that pressure came to rest on his broad shoulders. Cloudhawk could now understand why this old man always seemed so overly aggressive. He was the only person supporting his family in a cutthroat political field. If he admitted his age, then the Polaris family would age into obscurity with him. If he was weak, then his family was seen as weak. If he fell, the whole Polaris clan crumbled. So General Skye Polaris couldn¡¯t be old. He couldn¡¯t be weak. He had to be stronger and more ferocious than anyone, because he wasn¡¯t a man ¨C he was the soul of his family, and the bearer of his ancestors¡¯ honor. It was an impossibly heavy burden to carry. ¡°Honestly, Aegir wasn¡¯t all that special.¡± Skye stared at the gently undulating lake before him. ¡°Do you know why he was chosen to be General of the Border Army?¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Skye continued to speak, facing the training ground situated in the center of the lake. ¡°He was adopted from an offshoot family when he was eight years old, a nobody. His contemporaries all wanted to make their mark on the world, and they strove to show off their great prowess and ambition. But not Aegir. He always seemed to live in his own world, training here in this garden day and night.¡± ¡°Just train?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°That¡¯s right. Just train. From the moment he opened his eyes in the morning to the second before he fell asleep, day after day, year after year. It didn¡¯t matter if it was raining, or if he was sick. The sword was all that existed for him. For as long I knew him, he never had friends, lovers or offspring. He hardly ever left the house. Do you know how long that went on?¡± ¡°Three years? Five?¡± ¡°Forty years.¡± Cloudhawk twitched. ¡°True, he wasn¡¯t as talented as some. He relied on strength of will and character to improve himself. It cost him forty years of loneliness and disregard before he finally took his place as one of the greatest soldiers of the realm.¡± Skye¡¯s eyes continued to search the lake, as though that was where the memories were hidden. ¡°More than half his life given to the blade. Forty years of hardships. In the end, he became a peerless swordsman whose skill with the blade was renowned throughout the realm. No one would have expected that this man from humble origins would one day become General of the Border Army.¡± Cloudhawk looked at the shattered blade in his hand and voiced his thoughts. ¡°How could he endure so many years being alone?¡± ¡°Because he had faith. When a man is strong in his faith, no humiliation or hardship can break his spirit. If your faith is strong, you can be willing to give up everything and still go on. Through faith and sacrifice, a person of even the basest origins can become a king. Aegir was never coddled a day in his life, and he had no woman or children to lift him up. From his earliest days, he was subject to ridicule and mockery, but he didn¡¯t care. To him, so long as he had his sword then all was right.¡± Skye paused and lowered his head. ¡°You have a unique talent, the kind that could change the world. But tell me ¨C what about faith? One look at you, and I can tell you¡¯re lost. Why don¡¯t you ask yourself what it is that you want?¡± Cloudhawk looked at the lake surface, lost in thought. He thought about the things he used to believe. He had come to believe that such things were impossible, but listening to Aegir¡¯s story hit something deep inside him. Skye looked at the young man. ¡°Do you know what I saw in you when we first met? You were unrestrained, unyielding, and untamable! You were like a wild animal. You¡¯ve grown over the years, grow strong ¨C and faster than anyone could have predicted. But what happened to that wild heart?¡± It was a question Cloudhawk had also asked himself. ¡°It¡¯s the same for most anyone. We seem to grow and improve, accumulating power and status and things. But really, we often come to discover that we¡¯ve already lost the most important thing without even realizing it.¡± Skye fixed Cloudhawk with an earnest stare. ¡°You¡¯re young, full of potential. If you don¡¯t like the state of the world, then use your strength to change it. You have the power to do it!¡± Cloudhawk was quiet for a time. Then, without warning, his arm flashed out. A shattered blade glittered in the gentle light of the yard. It tumbled through the air like a butterfly with broken wings. Both men watched as that broken butterfly¡¯s final dance brought it rest in the center of the lake.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Book 4 - Chapter 1 - The Plutocra Skycloud city, mansion of the Lunae family. Several men in finely beaten cotton doublets ¨C faces pale and dripping sweat ¨C were delivering an intelligence report to a portly man. The one they groveled before was the head of household, patriarch of the Lunae family. He was also the richest man in all of Skycloud, Garuda Lunae. The men with their glittering garb were members of the family¡¯s chamber of commerce. Any one of them was stupendously rich, but their sad faces couldn¡¯t have been direr if it was the end of the world. For them, it very nearly was. The wall¡¯s destruction was an unparalleled attack on the realm, and among the first to feel it was the Lunae family. Half of their merchant vessels were destroyed in a blink crippling their trade network. Skyclouds previously well-organized merchant empire was thrown into disarray. How large of a hit did they suffer? To put it simply, this catastrophe set the family back several hundred years! Decades of effort had gone up in smoke and who knew how long the detrimental effects to the economy would last. Who could tell when the danger passed and things could go back to normal? If they would go back to normal? Would their family even survive? Garuda¡¯s gem-encrusted fingers pinched the handle of a delicate teacup, but the tea inside had long gone cold. As the grim reports were delivered he sat in glum silence, face expressionless as he looked over the figures. ¡°Patriarch, we¡¯ve been robbed. Plundered!¡± a councilman moaned piteously. ¡°Our family suffers. How do you suggest we handle this calamity?¡± Garuda glanced at the man with his beady eyes. Brief, but enough so that the councilman knew he was speaking out of turn. Garuda¡¯s hard eyes stole his voice. ¡°We lose a few ships and suffer a business setback, and this is how you react? You¡¯re all a disappointment.¡± The other men glanced at one another. ¡®Lose a few ships¡¯? Practically all of their fleet lay in ruins! Their business contacts were in tatters! The Lunae family¡¯s business industry was spread far and wide, with countless lives it was expected to support. How could anyone look at those figures and think this was anything other than an unprecedented disaster for their family? ¡°If we lose money, then we find a way to make it back. When business falters, there is a way to build new bridges. Money and business is like the tide, and there will be times when it ebbs and flows. Like a river in periods of drought and rain. All we need to do is make sure we¡¯re situated properly and the wealth ¨C like water ¨C will continue to flow.¡± Skycloud¡¯s ultimate plutocrat placed the teacup aside. ¡°That being said, the troubles that face us are like an earthquake. It has shifted the terrain, and we no longer stand on a suitable precipice. However, it is important to remember that disaster and opportunity come hand in hand. You all foolishly focus on the troubles before your face, and it has blinded you to the fortune hidden behind. Breathlessly running around in a panic robs you of vision, leaving you shortsighted and ill equipped to react when the time is right.¡± One man, frowning, asked, ¡°Is the Patriarch saying there is some way to turn this tragedy to our advantage?¡± The rich man tented his gem encrusted fingers and spoke unhurriedly. ¡°The problems that arise have affected all of Skycloud, not just the Lunae family. Every business and merchant organization is staring at figures like these. Only the most tenacious and extensive parties will persist.¡± One again the men looked at each other. These business moguls were smart and seemed to understand what he was getting at. ¡°Bad as it looks on paper, you can be certain that other merchant groups are faring worse. We are strong, and smart. We will persevere. Meanwhile, other families will fold under the strain. If we play our cards right, we can turn this lull into a boon. Temporary pain could portend a great blessing for the Lunaes.¡± He continued to speak in tranquil tones. ¡°People will always need more clothes, and food to eat. So long as there is demand and a country to service, there is room for us. What is there to fear?¡± The other council members¡¯ eyes lit up. He made a good point! ¡°What¡¯s more, with the wall down and wastelanders pouring through, we have a wider market. Even if it comes to all-out war there is opportunity waiting for us. Tremendous opportunity, given to the Lunae family by the gods themselves. And anyone who dares spread more nonsense to sow discord, I¡¯ll make sure they are held accountable!¡± ¡°Yes sir. Of course!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a fine lesson, Patriarch. You¡¯ve enlightened us all.¡± ¡°All praise the gods for their bounty. How could they lead us astray?¡± All members of the Lunae chamber of commerce busily wiped the sweat from the brow and ceased their doomsaying. To be honest, this thought hadn¡¯t occurred to them. In their mind, this was a tragedy the Lunaes had never seen the likes of. How could anything good come from it? But their patriarch saw this astronomical cost as the price of business, a down payment on success and leverage for future riches. He was a real businessman, a worthy head of household. A head of one of the offshoot families spoke up excitedly. ¡°We can take this chance to buy out other families and take control of their production lines! As long as we make it through this tough period, we¡¯ll come out the other side stronger than ever!¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t fully understand.¡± The plutocrat¡¯s eyes burned ever brighter. ¡°This isn¡¯t a matter of how much money is in our coffers or goods on the shelves. Chaos means restructuring. For years the Lunae family has been seen as the overly fat pig, ripe for slaughter. Merchant families are only given lip service and no true respect. Can you not see that this is our chance to change that?¡± Ah? Change? A manner attendant hurried in and leaned toward the patriarch, whispering something into his ear. The merchant lord responded with, ¡°Call Claudia immediately.¡± The steward acknowledged and scurried away. A grin spread across the large man¡¯s face. ¡°Opportunity knocks. Look closely.¡± Several of the councilmen who served as the chamber¡¯s backbone knew their patriarch to be shrewd and cunning. Yet all of that disappeared in a flash, replaced with an honest and almost simple-minded sort of facade. Only Garuda¡¯s confidants knew it to be an act. It was a face he put on only for outsiders. The Lunaes were Skycloud¡¯s richest family, but merchants were still disdained by Elysians. Garuda¡¯s clever ruse of being supplicating and unthreatening had given the family the space it needed to grow. A figure appeared at the doorway and strode inside. ¡°Welcome noble, and mighty envoy!¡± A wide and flattering smile was plastered over Gardua¡¯s pudgy face. He bound up from his chair, wobbling like an enormous meatball and clumsily stumbled forward, almost falling like a clown. His visitor was a fair-skinned man in his middle years, skinny, and though handsome was conspicuously missing a whole arm. His face was somewhat drawn and weak. There weren¡¯t many in Skycloud familiar with him, yet he was a man to remember. Roc Polaris. ¡°Please sir, please take a seat.¡± The wealthy merchant fawned over Roc like an absurd, if generous host. The asinine smile never left his face. ¡°You know it always struck me as a coincidence. Roc.. Garuda.. similar, don¡¯t you think? Only your humble host is like a golden tit before the mighty eagle of the Polaris envoy. I¡¯ve long admired you and your work as a military commander.¡± Roc addressed the man with a somewhat humble persona. He smiled self-deprecatingly. ¡°Enough, you could find a dozen like me in the Cloude family. I have no qualification to hold this post, it was just a result of my family¡¯s lack of a talent pool. At any rate, I¡¯m leaving the post. I¡¯m special envoy for General Skye¡¯s expeditionary force now.¡± ¡°Talons of God or expeditionary force, both are the bedrock of our illustrious realm and worthy of this small man¡¯s respect. I have always admired your strength and modesty.¡± Roc couldn¡¯t suppress a smile. As a patriarch, this fat man¡¯s antics were an embarrassing display. ¡°Your philanthropic nature is reputation is widely known, Garuda. Why have you called me here?¡± ¡°Oh, I really haven¡¯t earned the reputation of a philanthropist. I¡¯m just an Elysian, one of two million citizens of our beautiful land. I am really only interested in doing my duty to the realm. How does the saying go? Oh, yes: The poor are morally rich, and the rich are universally responsible. This humble man before you has been blessed by the gods with wealth. Meanwhile I think about the soldiers of the expeditionary force, who are marching to fight and bleed for the prosperity of us all. Sadly I am but a simple businessman, otherwise I would be proud to lift up a sword and fight shoulder to shoulder with you brave folk.¡± Roc waved his one remaining hand. ¡°Say your piece, Garuda.¡± ¡°Of course. I have thought long and hard about how to be of service to our realm. So, the Lunae family is prepared to offer to the expeditionary force all of our savings and military supplies.¡± Garuda¡¯s offer immediately stole the breath from the elderly chamber members still standing nearby. Roc was also stunned by the gracious offer. The Lunae family was not your typical merchant business. Most of the food services and manufacturing services throughout all of Skycloud were involved with them somehow. After all, Garuda wasn¡¯t known as the richest man in the realm for no reason. If he decided to be a patron for the expeditionary force, it would mean a great deal. The news was certain to delight General Skye! But Roc did not immediately accept. Of course it wasn¡¯t going to be this easy, Garuda was a businessman. Everything he did was a measure of cost versus benefit. The plutocrat went on. ¡°In addition there are several younger members of our household who ¨C despite our lowly station ¨C aim for greatness. Trained warriors all, who I very much hope could join the army in their righteous mission. They, and I, are eager to bring glory to Skycloud.¡± Roc looked back at him skeptically. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± A wry chuckle bubbled from the fat man¡¯s throat. He was almost apologetic as he said, ¡°And one more thing.¡± At this point a beautiful maiden with golden hair entered the chamber. Garuda hastily introduced her. ¡°This is Claudia Lunae, a member of the League of Demonhunters. She has earned accolades and command of a small squad, and if at all possible I would be honored if the envoy would allow her to travel with him for a while. To serve Skycloud in her own way.¡± Roc was finding it difficult to read the fat man¡¯s intentions. Was there something wrong with his brain? Roc was not alone in this thought, as many of the others could not fathom the patriarch¡¯s lavish offers of assistance. Garuda lightly patted the sweat from his portly face. ¡°The life of a humble man such as myself has few prospects. I only hope to contribute as our men and women in uniform fight for our future. Perhaps you could impress upon General Skye how eager the Lunae family is to be of service.¡± After a moment of consideration, Roc could find nothing wrong with this offer. He glanced briefly at the young woman standing mutely nearby, and eventually nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m not in active military service so I¡¯m afraid there won¡¯t be must opportunity for this young woman to prove herself. But I can recommend someone. If she were to offer her services to him she might find it more beneficial.¡± Garuda opened his eyes wide. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°A young man, but one who the General has placed great hopes in. He is certain to be a pillar of our army¡¯s forces. Although few know his name so far, he already prepares to take over my post as Warden of the Talons of God. They still work independently from the expeditionary force and are performing secret missions in service of our country.¡± Roc paused for a moment. ¡°The Talons suffered many casualties on the slopes of the Blisterpeaks. If this young woman proves herself, I can¡¯t see how he would refuse her help.¡± Garuda immediately responded. ¡°Excellent! Very good, thank you milord emissary ¨C from the bottom of my simple heart!¡± Roc then turned his gaze back toward Claudia. ¡°As it just so happens, I need to find him now in order to formerly hand over command. If the young miss has no objections, we can leave immediately and I can make the introductions.¡± Claudia¡¯s wooden face pulled into a frown. Expeditionary force? She wasn¡¯t thrilled with the idea. She¡¯d seen enough truth and cruelty during her three years with Hell¡¯s Army. Lately Claudia had been itching to cultivate herself. She¡¯d escaped this ugly world of business to serve as an instructor in the Demonhunter Academy. However, although she was not happy with the deal, she had no choice but to capitulate under the pressing gaze of her father. ¡°Very well.¡± She had no choice. She was the patriarch¡¯s daughter, and was bound to obey. Her father¡¯s aim was to turn the Lunae¡¯s into a dominating force. His dream was to be able to hold his head high among the other nobles and join his voice with theirs in the Temple¡¯s audience chamber. There wasn¡¯t anything he wouldn¡¯t sacrifice to reach that goal, his own daughter included. 1. Remember them? We met our first Lunae before Cloudhawk entered the wastelands. 2. Her father, Garuda, we met briefly . 3. Both men have the character Åôin their name, which is a sort of bird. That is what he¡¯s gushing over. And yes, a golden tit is a real bird, I picked it because it¡¯s small and its name is ridiculous, which is what Garuda is going for. The , however, is actually a powerful legendary bird in Hindu mythology. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 2 - The New Warden Once her transfer was approved, Claudia and her small team boarded an airship bound for the front lines. Four members of her squad were green, freshly graduated from the academy. The fifth was the only one that could call herself a real demonhunter. For all intents and purposes she was a babysitter, lording over a bunch of rookies with no combat experience. But rookies or no, a demonhunter was a demonhunter! Pick any one of them at random and Claudia was confident they could take on ten Elysian grunts! They were a small unit of six, but with the proper tactics they could handily defeat a whole company of foes. Fervent, excited light burned in the eyes of these young boys and girls. They knew nothing of the world and saw this only as a chance for them to prove their worth. Years of grueling training had prepared them for this, right? ¡°Hey, big news! Did you hear? The sergeant¡¯s family generously gave a small fortune to the expeditionary forces. This is something that almost never happens. Even the most saintly of persons still has at least some selfish impulses, after all. I¡¯ve never seen someone sacrifice so selflessly for the Elysian lands.¡± The young man with an exorcist bow strung over his shoulder was bored with the stagnant atmosphere and was trying to kick up a conversation. Another stood next him, and the two looked fairly similar. In fact it was just the equipment that marked them as different, as the second guy was laden down with thick armor and an exorcist rod. The two were obviously brothers. The one with the bow was Crain Sutherland. Much like he name, he found it hard to keep his mouth shut. His older brother with the exorcist rod was Tigron Sutherland , much larger in build and trained for close combat. Both Crain and Tigron were promising young demonhunters, having graduated from the academy last year. Passable on their own, when working together they were a force to be reckoned with. Tigron nodded. ¡°The sergeant is an amazing lady.¡± Anyone who heard about the Lunae¡¯s act of generosity had respect for the merchant family. Seated a little away from the two brothers was a young girl in a yellow cloak. She had to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old and seemed rather shy. When she spoke it was in a timid voice and she tended to stutter, but underestimating her was a mistake. Her name was Rei Belle and graduated second in her class at the Demonhunter Academy. Definitely not a book one could judge by its cover, for her tender and shy exterior hid explosive ability. Those who tried to bully and take advantage of her in school had learned that the hard way. Her meek voice interjected. ¡°What do you think of this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s never that simple. The wastelands are immense, so the battle lines are stretched far and wide. Without support, the expeditionary force will quickly be stretched thin and weakened. General Skye can¡¯t raise enough materials to support everyone in such short notice all on his own.¡± Claudia paused to let her lips stretch into a mocking grin. ¡°So it was never a question of will he come asking for help, but when. In this case it¡¯s better to offer up the contribution before he even asks, winning better standing and reputation. It puts you in a better bargaining position.¡± The others looked quietly at one another. Hearing this from their sergeant¡¯s mouth sounded strange. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± This one was a thin girl with long red hair. She had graduated top of their class, the strongest of the crew. Her name was Belinda Pyrrus, born to the noble Pyrrus family and with all the arrogant bearing that entailed. She found nearly everyone she met lowly and distasteful, with the notable exception of Claudia Lunae. ¡°Sister Claudia¡¯s training methods have a distinct military feel, I can tell you¡¯ve been in active service. Definitely not the ordinary forces, though. I suspect¡­ Court of Shadows?¡± ¡°How can you just ask that sort of question, Belinda?¡± She was cut off before Claudia could answer by a man who looked to be around twenty five ¨C around the same age as Claudia herself. Mason Swain was corporal of the squad, second in command. He was stout of build and carried a heavy shield ¨C obviously a demonhunter specialized in defense. Mason had the experience of ten missions under his belt, and while not exactly a fully-fledged demonhunter he could definitely hold his own. Besides Claudia he was the only one of the squad who wasn¡¯t a novice. ¡°And even if she was part of the Court, it¡¯s not like she could go around talking about such a secret organization.¡± Belinda answered with a derisive sniff. Some people were well behaved because they didn¡¯t have any skill to speak of. Mason was just that sort of nice guy. Belinda showed respect because of his age and rank, but it remained to be seen whether the corporal would keep his job for very long. Claudia didn¡¯t answer the curious student¡¯s question. ¡°We¡¯ve left Skycloud now. Remember what I told you; things are going to get dangerous, so keep your eyes peeled.¡± Crain chortled arrogantly. ¡°With a woman as experienced and skilled as you leading the way, sergeant, what do we have to be scared of? I don¡¯t know about the rest of you, but I¡¯m thrilled to have this chance! I¡¯m looking forward to kicking the hell out of all the wastelanders we find alongside our glorious army!¡± Tigron silently nodded his head, and the others all voiced their agreement. ¡°That¡¯s risky thinking.¡± Claudia planted herself squarely in front of the young crew. ¡°I had a similar mindset when I went on my first mission. Because of it, almost two thousand men lost their lives in the wastelands, including a good friend of mine. I was wounded, but lived. It changed me. Remember that it doesn¡¯t matter what you come across out there, never take your task lightly.¡± Claudia¡¯s eyes were a strange mix of hatred, helpless sadness, and the scars of an old fear. She looked at each of her charges in turn, lingering especially on the unruly noble Belinda. Something about her reminded Claudia of herself three years ago. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± A typical borderland settlement was pulling into view. Sprawling buildings sprouting from one another in a mess of ramshackle structures met their eyes. Roads snaking through the settlement were uneven and littered with potholes. Glimmers shone off the metallic armor of expedition soldiers who wandered the lanes. There were scores of them, turning the settlement into a bustling center of activity. It was the first time these young ones had ever left Skycloud, so they watched the scene with eyes full of wonder. A voice from behind called their attention. ¡°Welcome to Sandbar Station.¡± Somehow the man had gotten right up behind them without anyone noticing. They didn¡¯t need to look to know he was a man of skill. When Claudia heard the voice her face darkened. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead yet?¡± Her squad members put their hands on their weapons and looked over, looking as though they were ready to act at a moment¡¯s notice. What they saw was a man dressed strangely. He wore demonhunter armor with a tattered gray cloak overlying. His face was covered by an odd mask and perched there on his left shoulder was the most adorable little ball of fluff ¨C a veritable orb of golden feathers. ¡°Don¡¯t be so rude.¡± Envoy Roc quietly chastised her. ¡°This is your new commander, Warden Cloudhawk.¡± Cloudhawk? Why did that name sound so familiar¡­ It came to them after a moment. A while ago when the wall collapsed, the Temple purported to have the mastermind in custody. Wasn¡¯t that sinner called Cloudhawk? It was an infamous name back home, so the first question in their minds was the same as their sergeant¡¯s. Why wasn¡¯t he dead? Hell, nevermind why he isn¡¯t dead. How was someone like him our new commander?! Cloudhawk pulled the mask off his face, revealing handsome features and a coquettish smile. ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m still kicking. They even gave me a promotion, if you can believe it. Now it¡¯s my turn for questions. Why did you bring them here, milord emissary?¡± Roc didn¡¯t know Cloudhawk and Claudia knew each other, but now it was obvious there was some history there. Roc paid it no mind, though, and explained the situation. ¡°Many Talons died on the Blisterpeaks and I don¡¯t have many men to hand over. It just so happens that Claudia Lunae volunteered to join, right when we are in dire need of manpower.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Fine. They aren¡¯t much to look at, but beggars can¡¯t be choosers.¡± ¡°Who isn¡¯t much to look at?!¡± Belinder¡¯s temper flared, and Cloudhawk earned angry stares from the Sutherland brothers. Once they heard his name, no one in the squad was willing to show this fiend an ounce of respect. ¡°You think our sergeant would debase herself working for you?!¡± Roc¡¯s face grew stern. ¡°Impudence! Do you know who you¡¯re talking to?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, relax. They¡¯re kids, don¡¯t let them bring you down to their level. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Cloudhawk waggled his hand as though shooing the matter away. ¡°You¡¯ve done much already. I have a fine bottle of alcohol I¡¯d like to share with you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯m here to transfer command of the Talons to you. Henceforth you will be known as Warden of the Talons of God.¡± Roc fished out his official orders and handed them to Cloudhawk. From this point forward, he was a man of status. ¡°You have higher jurisdiction among the expeditionary force than an ordinary lieutenant general. You report directly to General Skye, and have the authority to conscript other units to your aid in the course of a special mission.¡± ¡°Thank you kindly.¡± ¡°In addition, I have a gift for you. Just a little something from me.¡± Roc produced a pair of silver short swords. They were oddly forged so that the blades seemed to writhe like metallic snakes. Cloudhawk heard the significant resonance of a relic come from them. ¡°The Silver Serpents, weapons I kept in my sleeves for when they were needed. I held them for twenty years, but since I can¡¯t make much use of them anymore and you¡¯re the new Warden, it¡¯s only fitting that they should pass to you. Consider them a token of my esteem.¡± The Silver Serpents were a special pair of relics, cunning and unassuming. But while they didn¡¯t look like much, they were certainly deadly. Since Cloudhawk was currently lacking a suitable weapon, be accepted without much fuss. After twenty years of service, it would be a lie to say Roc didn¡¯t miss his command. There was no way he could completely ignore the pang of jealousy he felt at having been replaced by this young man. But he trusted General Skye and his eye for talent. He bowed to the old warrior¡¯s wisdom. So it was that with the transfer of command concluded, Roc left to report for his next assignment. Cloudhawk stood there staring at Claudia, and she stared right back. For a long time the two brooded over the old days, making the atmosphere awkward. Even though three whole years had passed, there was still no love lost between these two. Just then someone rushed up to interrupt them. ¡°There¡¯s a letter addressed to you, Warden!¡± Cloudhawk accepted the paper and glanced it over. The corners of his eyes winced ever so slightly, then he folded the sheet and put it away. Suddenly he was full of authority. ¡°Excellent, we¡¯ve already got a mission. You all get ready, we¡¯re heading out right away.¡± 1. ¡®South Crane¡¯ is the kid¡¯s name. is what cranes sound like! 2. ¡®South Tiger¡¯ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 3 - A Plea For Help Excellency Cloudhawk, Woodland Vale¡¯s situation is grave. Please send help, ¨C Barb The note was short, scrawled on a sheepskin map, and didn¡¯t describe what problem she was facing. It was delivered by a man who wore strange garb, who rode in astride an enormous bird. He died moments after delivering the letter, before he could say a word. Cloudhawk felt like a cold hand was gripping his heart. This was bad. Gabriel, Barb, that old drunk¡­ He was the one who had ordered them to go. The idea was to protect Autumn on her way back to Woodland Vale, then come back as soon as they¡¯d collected their fee. Instead almost a month had gone past, and he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Now, all of a sudden, this. What sort of mess had they gotten involved in? It wasn¡¯t like Gabriel couldn¡¯t handle himself. In fact, after these years Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t have a full handle on just how strong Gabriel really was. Each time they got in a fight, he kept his head and didn¡¯t let Naberius off the leash. Cloudhawk knew that if he did, his psychic energy would become at least several times stronger. Barb had learned some serious martial abilities in her time and had an uncommon explosive attack power she could draw on if needed. As for the old lush, what was there to say besides that he was one called the War Saint? In his prime, he could probably go several rounds with General Skye and come out on top. Even in his current sorry state, it wasn¡¯t like some half-assed scrub could take him down. Autumn was inheritor of her people¡¯s historic powers, and now she had their artifact as well. All told that was some serious firepower, so what was giving them so much trouble? He ruled out a threat from the people of the Vale. From what he¡¯d heard from Autumn, the drunk could probably handle all their soldiers by himself. Reputedly, there was some sort of powerful beast harrowing the people who lived there. Cloudhawk guessed it was possible that was the problem, although it should have been a problem easily handled. After all, how strong could a single monster really be? What really made him nervous was the possibility that something else was at play, some other dark actor he didn¡¯t know about. Maybe someone had already managed to infiltrate Woodland Vale, and if that were true then it made things far more complicated. But he wasn¡¯t going to waste his time with wild guesses. Woodland Vale wasn¡¯t itself a secret. Squall knew about it, Wolfblade knew about it, the Crimson One, Skycloud¡­ unless you were deaf dumb and blind, you knew the story. Everyone wanted what it promised, so even though no one knew where it was, it was still disputed territory. ¡°Report the situation to the General immediately. And tell Commander Drake¡¯s men to get ready.¡± Upon becoming Warden, Cloudhawk was part of the expeditionary force¡¯s leadership. Both to protect his friends, and his promise to General Skye, he decided to leave matters on the front lines to the expeditionary force. The Conclave of Judgment and Skycloud¡¯s army were both strong. Their deathmatch was destined to be a catastrophe for both sides. This put him in an awkward position. Most of his friends ¨C Dawn, Drake, even Selene ¨C had joined the expeditionary force. General Skye led them personally and would do where they went. He didn¡¯t want anything to happen to them, but if they won it meant the wastelands were destined for a bloodbath. His old stomping grounds would be cleaned out and looted. That meant Squall, Hellflower, Coal and others. What was he going to do when he inevitable had to face them? It wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk could have stopped the Conclave or General Skye¡¯s new army from being created. He sure as hell couldn¡¯t stop them from going at each others¡¯ throats, either. Far as he could tell, Cloudhawk¡¯s only option was to keep climbing the ranks until he had the clout to have better choices available. Now that the great wall was gone, Skycloud¡¯s era of infinite energy was over. Suddenly, the Elysian realm was feeling the same hunger for energy that everyone else did. Since the wastelands shared the same problem, everyone¡¯s eyes were searching for where Woodland Vale was hidden. Woodland Vale wasn¡¯t just a millennia-old vault, it was also perfect natural chasm. If General Skye¡¯s forces took control, they could be stationed there indefinitely. Not only would the Vale¡¯s treasures strengthen their weapons, it would also serve as a perfect staging point to strike out at anyone in the wastelands. It had extremely high strategic value. On the other hand, if a wasteland organization managed to seize the Vale, they could exploit its natural defenses and broad resources to be almost invincible. From there on, a nasty and prolonged battle with Skycloud was a certainty. The moment Woodland Vale was exposed, it became the center of a world-wide dispute. Nothing could stop the storm that was coming. From where he was standing it seemed like a better idea to be proactive. Strike now, before the Vale fell into someone else¡¯s hands. At least he could force the Vale out of its passive stance into a more active role. As for what to do later down the road, that would be decided when the situation was clearer. An aggressive officer approached Cloudhawk and snapped to attention. ¡°Warden, the request for forces from Lieutenant-General Drake was been delivered.¡± Drake and his company weren¡¯t far off. One night was more than enough time for word to get to them. Cloudhawk looked the officer over. He was a man in his thirties with a very peculiar suite of armor. It was beautifully made of superior materials that made it more defensive. The weapon he carried was the changeable sort that could be switched from sword to pike to bow to cross bow as needed. Yet the most eye catching detail was the helmet, which was fashioned to look like a great eagle spreading its wings. It added to his valorous and majestic demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re one of the men Roc has brought, yes?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Colonel Rio Clifton. I was born into the Polaris family!¡± The man¡¯s face was wooden and his voice boisterous. ¡°Chief of operations for the Talons of God.¡± He¡¯d approached Cloudhawk in a tavern. Leaning back against the bar, he continued. ¡°If I were you I¡¯d probably be pretty sour that General Skye passed me over for an outsider. Am I right?¡± Nothing in Rio¡¯s expression changed. ¡°My duty is to obey the orders of my superior!¡± This earned a chuckle from Cloudhawk. ¡°If I ordered you to leap into a firepit what would you do?¡± ¡°The substance of the order does not matter.¡± But the flash of displeasure in Rio¡¯s eyes said something different. Not because of the ludicrous question, but because Cloudhawk was questioning his loyalty. He chose to speak further. ¡°Not just me, whatever order is given to a Talon ¨C whether it¡¯s to jump in a fire or slit our own throats ¨C we execute without hesitation.¡± How interesting. Cloudhawk had never sparred with the guy, of course, but he could tell that he probably fought as well as Drake. Without relics, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he could take the man in a straight fight. Where did they find such a strong and loyal soldier? Cloudhawk continued his line of questioning. ¡°How many men are under my command?¡± ¡°Since many Talons were ordered to be General Aegir¡¯s personal protection detail, many of our number were lost at the Blisterpeaks.¡± Rio paused for a moment. ¡°At this point, myself included, four hundred and twenty three Talons remain. And the Condor, our warship.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t expecting that. ¡°More than four hundred men are waiting for me to give them orders?¡± ¡°You are our Warden.¡± He felt like his head was swimming. The General¡¯s one hell of a guy! He¡¯d been gifted one hell of a post. Talons were carefully chosen from among the best soldiers of the Polaris family. They were strong, resolute, and almost mechanical in their efficiency. Without a doubt the Talons were a mighty force, about as deadly as Hell¡¯s Army ¨C only better equipped. With four hundred of these guys by his side what battle did he have to fear? Cloudhawk told Rio to spread the word. They would be leaving soon. Nearby a young girl poked her head out from around a corner. She furtively watched Cloudhawk, trying to escape attention. While she never learned who he was exactly, the large numbers of soldiers who kept coming by were all very respectful of him. Was he an Elysian military officer? He wasn¡¯t like any soldier she¡¯d ever seen. Azura was distracted for a moment in thought, and when she looked back toward Cloudhawk he was gone. Suddenly she felt a shove from behind and spun around. There in front of her was a terrifying ghost face. She fell onto her rump with an oof and scrambled backward, throwing the basket in her arms into the air. The snacks she¡¯d been carrying tumbled all over the place. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Azura hurriedly snatched up her goodies with a sour face. ¡°You little waif.¡± Cloudhawk pulled off his mask, revealing a mischievous grin. ¡°You¡¯re slacking off and eating food!¡± Her face immediately turned red, and her big beautiful eyes glimmered with tears. Her piteous voice whined at him. ¡°Have not!¡± Cloudhawk grunted. ¡°I don¡¯t like kids who lie.¡± ¡°I practiced the moves twice, meditate for three cycles, practiced weapons for two hours, and studied fifty new words...¡± Azura, with flustered countenance, counted on her fingers as she outlined her accomplishments. She then nodded her head. ¡°I finished everything!¡± In order to harden the little one¡¯s will, Cloudhawk had deliberately given her what he thought was more than she could handle. Instead the kid, no taller than his waist, had done it all. She was just full of surprises. ¡°I did it all myself. Then I heard you hadn¡¯t eaten yet, Teacher, so I was preparing you some food.¡± She glowered at the dirty cakes clutched in her hands. ¡°Now they¡¯re dirty. I¡¯ll go ahead and take them...¡± ¡°You know, you¡¯re right. I am hungry.¡± Cloudhawk plucked one from her grasp and took a hearty bite. He gave the mouthful a good chew and swallowed before giving her a thumbs-up. ¡°Good work! You can make cakes already at your age. There is no limit to how bright your future is.¡± Azura watched as he stuffed the dirty cake into his mouth and was filled with delight. She¡¯d made them with the help of sister Jasmine. She was just a child after all, and even a talented child couldn¡¯t bake at her age. Even though it had gotten dirty, Cloudhawk still went ahead and ate it. He had eaten far worse.. ¡°Why are there so many soldiers outside?¡± ¡°Because there¡¯s going to be a fight. They¡¯re getting ready.¡± Her big eyes twinkled with confusion. ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t it better not to fight?¡± His tiny disciple¡¯s question gave him pause. Yeah¡­ why did they have to fight? He wasn¡¯t sure he had an answer. However, even though he hardly considered himself the teacher sort, he couldn¡¯t look like a fool in front of the kid. So he tried. ¡°On the surface, it¡¯s because of survival and religion. Really, though, it¡¯s all about desire.¡± ¡°Desire what?¡± ¡°Well¡­ everyone has desires, all sorts of desires. It doesn¡¯t matter where they come from, what sort of person they are, in the end it all comes down to what they want. It¡¯s the source of why we do things, create things, but also the source of suffering and weakness.¡± He could tell by the look in her eyes that she didn¡¯t really understand. ¡°You¡¯ll get it once you¡¯re older.¡± He ruffled her hair. ¡°All in all desire is a good thing. But the strong and the smart know how to control their desires. The weak and the stupid are controlled by them. That¡¯s one reason why you have to get strong.¡± ¡°Ngh! I wont let you down, Teacher!¡± Blue looked at back him firmly. ¡°But, can you bring me with you when you go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s safer here.¡± ¡°I can learn more if I¡¯m with you. When Teacher¡¯s gone so much there isn¡¯t anyone here who can help me get strong.¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment. ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you along.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 4 - High Altitude Interception On dawn of the second day, Drake and his regiment arrived at Sandbar Station. He joined with Cloudhawk¡¯s Talons of God and they boarded their flagship, Condor. They wasted no time in departing for Woodland Vale. Condor was twice the size of a normal warship. In total, there were three energy pylons that powered it, which allowed it to move much faster. Any one of the three pylons was enough to keep the ship afloat, so it was in no danger of falling during the expedition. In addition, the ship¡¯s offensive and defensive capabilities were quite unique. It had installed within it one long-range beam pylon, another mid-range flame pylon, and a shield reinforcement pylon. Condor was a gift from the Polaris family to the Warden of the Talons, their greatest airship. Drake¡¯s corps had two warships of their own, as well as an entourage of smaller guard ships and long range supply vessels. The warships were standard issue, with one pylon each for energy, attack and defense. In addition they were equipped with detachable heavy ballistae and other weapons. Their support vessels were not so heavily equipped. Cloudhawk¡¯s Talons numbered four hundred strong. Drake had brought with him three thousand soldiers. Not an overwhelming force by any means, but enough to consider themselves a small army. Cloudhawk was confident it was suitable to deal with any problem they might come across. ¡°What are you doing, bringing a child?!¡± Claudia was shocked when she saw the little girl following him around like a puppy. Anger immediately reddened her cheeks. She and the others had been briefed on their mission. She knew how important it was. It was bad enough that their commanding officer flouted military discipline, but now he was bringing defenseless kids with them? Who was she, anyway? His bastard daughter? Was he too stupid to know how dangerous the wastelands were? Cloudhawk was in the flagship¡¯s war room with his legs on the desk and a big cigarette hanging from his lips. He slurred his response around it. ¡°Sergeant Claudia Lunae! Don¡¯t forget your place. What authority do you have to question your commanding officer¡¯s decisions?¡± Hateful! Monstrous! Someone needs to smash this idiot¡¯s smug face in! The members of Claudia¡¯s squad were already opposed to associating with this ex-convict. Facing his bad attitude ¨C especially when directed to their sergeant ¨C caused the younger members to nearly spit in rage. Demonhunters were a welcomed, respected group! Any troop should be thrilled to have them as part of their number! The Talons were not a demonhunter force per se. They should feel proud to have a squad attached as support! Instead, this bastard Cloudhawk seemed to take every opportunity to malign them. Belinda wasn¡¯t afraid to be loud and confrontational. ¡°What you¡¯re doing is in violation of military doctrine, article three section four. I¡¯ll report you to be court-martialed! I¡¯d love to see if you¡¯d be this pompous during the hearing!¡± Well said! The Sutherland brothers had choice words of their own on the tips of their tongue. Meanwhile, Mason and Rei looked on helplessly. ¡°Since you know my name, I¡¯m sure you have some idea of my history. If you feel like tattling on me would do a damn thing, then please, be my guest.¡± Cloudhawk stamped his cigarette out on the conference desk then rose to his feet, facing the impertinent young girl with an air of indifference. ¡°Hey newbie, let me tell you something. Twice I¡¯ve been brought before the Temple for judgment, and twice I got out. You think a shitty court martial will do me in?¡± Belinda was so furious her face was beet red. He was a scoundrel, through and through. How could a despicable thing like him exist in the Elysian lands? Not just exist, how could he be their commander? Were they dredging the bottom of the barrel? It was especially cloying to note that Cloudhawk was only a couple years older than them, but held such a high post. He had to be very skilled. He had to know something the sergeant didn¡¯t, otherwise she definitely was strong enough to stomp him into the dirt. ¡°Introductions, then. This is my little disciple, Azura. I call her Blue.¡± She was a quick kid and recognized the tense air. Afraid to say something wrong in front of these haughty strangers, she instead kept her mouth shut. ¡°I guess I should remind you all that I¡¯m the highest ranking commander here. Obviously, I¡¯m a busy man and don¡¯t have a lot of time to train her. So, I need someone to give her a little tutoring when I can¡¯t.¡± He said it almost like he was muttering to himself. Suddenly, he slapped a hand to his forehead as though he¡¯d had an epiphany. ¡°I can just have you teach her some basic demonhunter moves!¡± He jabbed a finger toward Claudia. The demonhunter squad was ready to erupt into protest. They were here to fight, not babysit! But they were stopped before they could openly rebel. ¡°Rio!¡± ¡°Colonel Rio present, sir!¡± ¡°You¡¯re now Blue¡¯s martial arts teacher.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± He gave a salute of acknowledgment and showed no objection. Cloudhawk glanced at the others as if to say, See? This is how a soldier behaves. I am leader of the Talons, and you lot are demonhunters dispatched as my support. For all intents and purposes, a part of the Talons ¨C and under my command! Claudia waved her hand to silence her squad. After three years, she knew exactly the kind of person Cloudhawk was. He was a rogue. The more rankled you were, the more joy he got out of it. As their direct superior, picking a fight with him was only going to get them into trouble. She didn¡¯t like it, but she would accept it. Cloudhawk, on the other hand, was disappointed he could no longer get under her skin. This Claudia wasn¡¯t the same one he knew from before. If she were, her temper wouldn¡¯t have allowed her to suffer such a perceived insult. Back in the day she was just as aggressive and irritable as the one called Belinda. Time really was a knife that cut everything, wasn¡¯t it? It sure made things boring. ¡°Warden.¡± Colonel Rio interrupted to give a report. ¡°We have a situation.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve come across a heavy fog.¡± Fog? Unexpected. Something didn¡¯t seem right. A lot had changed after the wall fell, including drastic changes to wasteland climate. That said heavy fog only appeared in places of very high humidity. Definitely not a common sight in a place as dry and arrid as the wastes. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go take a look!¡± All together they raced to the deck and were met by a milky blanket of fog. It hid the horizon all around, and in fact the naked eye could only cut through it to about ten meters. They could no longer see Drake¡¯s vessels were hidden somewhere in the blanket of gray. Elysian ships had several methods they used to communicate. For the simplest orders horns were preferred, while more complicated instructions were shared with flags signals. Of course, if they couldn¡¯t see each other, then their communications were effectively cut. ¡°No¡­ this isn¡¯t some ordinary fog. A relic is doing this!¡± Faint, but still obvious to Cloudhawk. He could hear the resonance of a relic in that fog, leaving no doubt in his mind. They were caught in a trap. ¡°The only wasteland group with demonhunters is the Conclave of Judgment. Sound the horns, gather the ships, and prepare to fight!¡± Rio immediately passed down the orders without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Cloudhawk cast out a hand, and Oddball darted into the air on command, off to see what it could gather. Meanwhile the demonhunters with Claudia looked scornfully at their new commander. He was making a big deal out of nonsense. There wasn¡¯t anything to see out in that fog, what made him think a demonhunter was doing it? But Claudia¡¯s face was stern. She believed every word. ¡°You lot go below deck. Don¡¯t come back out until I give the word.¡± Crain protested. ¡°Sarge, don¡¯t tell me you believe this gibberish?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± Mason was Claudia¡¯s most loyal soldier, her equivalent to Cloudhawk¡¯s Rio. ¡°She has her reasons, don¡¯t question them. Now go below!¡± They begrudgingly started to go. Oddball relayed a surprising scene to its master. A strange expression dawned on Cloudhawk¡¯s face, one of disbelief. Suddenly his voice rang out, muffled by the thick air. ¡°Evade! Evade!¡± Before the sound of his voice faded he spun around and grabbed Azura. She didn¡¯t know what was happening. All of a sudden she was flung up over Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. She looked up, and that¡¯s when she saw the dark outline appearing through the mist. One¡­ two¡­ three of them. Like nightmares given form. They¡¯d managed to slip very close to Condor, hidden by the fog. By the time they came into view it was too late to change course. Not good! Incoming! ¡°They¡¯re going to ram us!¡± Rio¡¯s voice cried. ¡°Engage shields!¡± A cadre of modified Elysian ships were finally revealed. They¡¯d been reinforced with an ugly layer of twisted black metal, and their decks were lined with cannons. The ships were no smaller or less numerous than their own armada, and they also had several wasteland airships on the flanks as support. BOOM! The impact caused the air to shudder! The black-clad warship smashed into its target. The leading support vessel guiding their fleet was too small. Its defenses weren¡¯t strong enough, so at the moment of impact it was nearly broken in two. Its energy pylon was destroyed and they watched as it fell through the air, vanishing into the fog. They were caught in an air battle! Ship against ship! Shields against shields! After the opening strike, the ships that had been lying in wait unleashed their attacks. Dozens of cannons, poised and primed, spat hot iron toward them. This opening salvo struck their shields while their own attack pylons fired beams of light. Already their defenses were strained. Condor had suffered the brunt of their sneak attack. Cloudhawk, Claudia¡­ everyone looked around and tried to get their bearings after the ambush. No one had expected to face such fierce air combat this deep in the wastelands. What were Elysian ships doing out here? Cloudhawk eventually got his feet back under him. He shouted for attention. ¡°Status report!¡± ¡°Cracks are appearing in the shields. The enemy is among the fleet, they¡¯re all around us!¡± Rio had his sword in hand, and a dozen more Talons were rushing forward. ¡°Protect the Warden!¡± Mason was also shouting to the squad of novices. ¡°We¡¯re in combat! Form up, don¡¯t get separated!¡± Crain, Tigron, Rei, and Belinda nervously tried to look everywhere at once. No one knew where the enemy had come from, or where they would strike next. They had no clue as to who their attackers even were. All of a sudden, a shower of arrows plummeted toward them! Everyone scrambled to avoid, with Cloudhawk¡¯s forces still trying to get a handle on the situation. Cloudhawk shouted over to Claudia. ¡°Where are they?¡± She¡¯d already grabbed her Seeker¡¯s Torque and reached out with her mind. She gave her answer through a grim scowl. ¡°Everywhere. We¡¯re surrounded, they¡¯re coming.¡± Sure enough, a host of soldiers dressed in Elysian military attire appeared from the mist. They were fast and organized, attacking different ships from different directions to keep their prey guessing. Mason cried out. ¡°The enemy is here!¡± Just as Claudia reached for her relic, Tempest Flower, she suddenly recognized their foes. Her expression changed all at once. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army!¡± Indeed, they were the veterans of Skycloud¡¯s former secret legion! Warriors from Hell¡¯s Army were trying to destroy them! It was only a few months ago that Claudia trained with these people. It was incredible to think in such a short time they would be facing one another on opposite sides of a battle. Cloudhawk realized their target had somehow been exposed. The Conclave of Judgment was definitely laying siege to Woodland Vale. They¡¯d sent Hell¡¯s Army out to intercept Cloudhawk¡¯s forces before they could interfere. ¡°What a pain in the ass!¡± Cloudhawk handed Azura off to the Talons. He knew how Hell¡¯s Army did things. Once she was safe with his men, he turned back to the fog and shouted as loud as he could. ¡°Hello, Instructors! Is fighting our only choice here? Maybe you can let us go, what do you say?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 5 - A Desperate Struggle ¡°Warden, watch out!¡± Rio shouted as another volley of poisoned arrows came whistling through the fog. The veterans of Hell¡¯s Army were practiced killers, and they used bows with the range and precision of a sniper. Even at several hundred meters away they were dead on, and their shots were strong. Typical Elysian armor would be punched through like paper. Most importantly, they were all headed right for Cloudhawk. His hands shot out from underneath the tattered cloak. Immediately there was a flash of silver as the Silver Serpents slipped into his grip. He moved them with incredible speed, creating a net of steel. Before even the other soldiers around him could react, Cloudhawk reduced the arrows to sawdust. Pieces of them fell around him, leaving behind piles of splinters. Another flash, and the Silver Serpents disappeared into his sleeves. Like nothing had happened. Surprise and admiration showed on the faces of the Talons who saw. Weren¡¯t those the blades of their former Warden? They were a fine pair of relics which, because they were usually hidden in one¡¯s clothes, were sometimes called Sleeve Snakes. They were sharp, and made for brutal unseen attacks. Each one could adjust from short to long as needed and could take a life in the blink of an eye. But they weren¡¯t easy to control. For most, practice was needed before they could be used effectively. However Cloudhawk was a master right away, wielding them with ease. Judging by how he commanded these tools, his psychic energies had to rival any of the talented stars of his generation. Judging from the arrows that they¡¯d tried to pepper him with, they weren¡¯t going to be able to talk their way out of this problem. And if Hell¡¯s Army was here, it meant their masters were not far. By now, Cloudhawk was confident he could take any one of his old instructors in a fight and hold his own. Three together, though ¨C he didn¡¯t like the thought of that. He couldn¡¯t rely on Drake, Claudia, Rio or the others either. None of them were a match for the Giants of Hell¡¯s Valley. Cloudhawk leveled his next order at Claudia. ¡°Get the scrubs out of here!¡± One Hell¡¯s Army soldier was worth at least ten Elysian grunts. These days, they were equipped with technologically advanced gear and had Conclave demonhunters as backup. They¡¯d gotten the drop on his people and had first-strike advantage. Hell¡¯s Army moved in a systematic and brutal way, and so far it was all going according to their plan. Both Cloudhawk and Claudia knew what to expect from Hell¡¯s Army, the things they were capable of and what they could do. It was too dangerous for a group of kids with no real combat experience, and their enemy wasn¡¯t going to show them any mercy. Claudia released Tempest Flower, which immediately erupted into a shower of metallic petals. Whipping around into a cutting whirlwind, it went in search of targets. Anyone who was unfortunate enough to get caught inside would be cut to pieces in an instant. She then turned to her team. ¡°Retreat!¡± Belinda saw figures just out of view, hidden in the mist. Ignoring her sergeant for the moment, she drew her bow and fired. Her target, being prepared, dodged out of harm¡¯s way and ducked back into the mist. Her energy arrow blasted a chunk out of Condor¡¯s deck. ¡°Fleeing just as a battle starts is cowardly. We¡¯re demonhunters!¡± Soldiers were rushing to their stations, eager to fight. How could noble demonhunters be hidden below decks when the action was outside? An ear-piercing sound captured their attention. Eyes snapped up as a steel-forged arrow burst through the protective shell Claudia¡¯s Tempest Flower had created. It was strong, and as it passed through a shower of sparks turned the mist orange briefly. One of the novice demonhunters was struck full on and knocked off his feet. ¡°Crain!¡± Shouts of surprise and alarm rang out. He¡¯d been shot by one of the former Hell¡¯s Valley teaching assistants. Claudia felt fury bubble up inside her. She harnessed it, turning it into mental energy and channeled it through her relic. The tempest of petals under her command spun faster, gathered up, then surged toward their energy like a flood. The attacker pulled his bow apart into two swords then spun like a dervish as the petals approached. Steel met steel a hundred times, filling the air with screeching sounds and flashes of light. But Claudia¡¯s attack did not draw blood. Several figures had landed nearby, while they were distracted. Boom! Condor¡¯s deck continued to be punished. This first wave of invaders served as suicide soldiers. They¡¯d come to demolish the flagship and cripple them before they could fight back. If they got their way¡­ Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to imagine the consequences. ¡°Sons of bitches! Where are those three assholes?!¡± Despite his best efforts, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t pinpoint any of his former instructors. But somehow he could sense they were close, just on the outside of what he could detect, waiting for the right time to strike. ¡°I don¡¯t need protection. Go protect the scrubs.¡± How were they supposed to help? Everything was a mess! Caught in combat with the Hell¡¯s Army pirates, Claudia¡¯s protective wall of steel petals was starting to show holes. Another group slipped in with a few wastelanders among them, worming their way through cracks in the defenses, aiming to put down the demonhunters quickly. No one knew Elysians better than other Elysians. Hell¡¯s Army knew exactly what kind of destruction demonhunters were capable of in a battle, making them high-value targets. Crain¡¯s sudden and violent injury had thrown the rest of the squad into disarray. Figures were closing in on all sides, and they didn¡¯t know where to turn. Without any sort of defense, Hell¡¯s Army closed in on them for the kill with grenades and poisoned darts. ¡°Out of the way!¡± The squad¡¯s corporal raced forward, displaying the speed and reaction time of a proper demonhunter. Mason plasted the bottom of his shield into the deck and braced himself behind it. Suddenly it extended several meters in height and width. Tell-tale sounds of metal on metal rang out as the arrows were knocked away. Several dazzling explosions followed, but no one was injured. Mason was built for this; he was a demonhunter specializing in defense. However, while his guard was strong it did have one major flaw ¨C he could only protect one direction at a time, the area right in front of him. Seeing this, a pair of Hell¡¯s Army veterans changed tactics and swung around. One slipped up from behind and attacked. Tigron gaped, dumbfounded by the ferocity. ¡°How are these soldiers so lethal?!¡± As the top members of their class in the Academy, it was unavoidable for them to not have an overly-high opinion of themselves. Normal soldiers were hardly worth a second glance to them, after all¡­ but these warriors were different. Each one was more terrible than the last! They were confronted with the reality that one-on-one, they would probably end up dead against any one of them. Their enemy was superior, both in combat skills and destructive abilities. While the young demonhunters might have had a leg up in sheer power, that wasn¡¯t enough. Will, experience, morale¡­ these were important qualities they lacked. Colonel Rio threw himself at the attacker with a well-placed Spearhead, leaping through the mist like a tiger toward its prey. The attackers quickly dodged, revealing the extent of their training. Rio landed hard, generating cracks in the beleaguered wood of the deck. Light gleamed off the thin Talon rapier he held in his right hand, and then that light washed over one of his foes like a cold waterfall. The man fell apart onto the deck in a hundred mangled pieces. Suddenly faced with this brutal and valiant challenger, the other warriors tried to flee. Rio drew out a small spear, flicked his wrist, and let fly. It stretched it midair from a third of a meter to nearly three full meters before embedding itself in the man¡¯s throat. The spiked point jutted from the back of his neck, dripping with fresh blood. The demonhunters were shaken back to reality. A fireball sparked to life in Belinda¡¯s hand. She flung it at a wastelander who¡¯d been closing in, turning him to ash in a matter of seconds. Rei knelt beside Crain¡¯s injured form with her hands outstretched. A gentle light spread from her palms, and suddenly her friend¡¯s mortal wound began to stitch itself shut. ¡°I¡¯ll cover you!¡± Mason had planted himself in front of a host of wastelanders and Hell¡¯s Army soldiers. ¡°Get out of here!¡± The fight raged all around them, suddenly at a fever pitch. The deck of Condor had become a war zone. Cloudhawk had escaped to the ship¡¯s command room with Azura in tow, where he instructed her to stay put. He ordered a group of Talon soldiers to protect her with their lives. Elysian control rooms were interesting. They consisted of several ivory orbs, each of which allowed the user to control as aspect of the ship. The ship¡¯s keepers stood by the orbs with their hands resting on them, controlling the various systems with their mental power. Outside, one of the Hell¡¯s Army ships released a beam of energy it had been gathering for a long time. The resulting explosion was deafening. Cloudhawk watched from a nearby porthole as the beam streaked past Condor and struck one of Drake¡¯s vessels straight on. Its shields were immediately overcome, and caused its beautifully carved hull to crack and break apart. A number of soldiers fell through the cracks, screaming as they disappeared into the fog. The whole ship listed to one side, in danger of capsizing. Cloudhawk spat out a curse. ¡°What¡¯s our status!?¡± The ship¡¯s captain, drenched in sweat, was busily maneuvering Condor. ¡°Warden, things aren¡¯t looking good. We¡¯ve already lost our protection detail and all our warships ¨C including the Condor ¨C have been boarded. If just one of the primary warships are shot down, we could be wiped out.¡± ¡°Our pylons are at full charge.¡± The ship¡¯s energy officer broke in. ¡°We can fire at your command.¡± The officer standing by the weapons system looked searchingly at Cloudhawk. ¡°Shall I fire?¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Oddball was still darting through the air, giving him a constant birds-eye view of the situation. He learned that there were enemy ships in total, all with standard three-pylon construction. A wasteland vessel, outfitted with heavy artillery, was playing the role of their fleet¡¯s frigate. At present the frigate was blasting their shields with rockets, mostly for suppression and to weaken their defenses. It was actually the Hell¡¯s Army ships which were doing most of the damage. ¡°Well if you fucks aren¡¯t going to go easy on me on account of the old days, then don¡¯t blame me for not holding back.¡± Cloudhawk had no experience commanding a force like the Talons, but three years spent studying tactics in Hell¡¯s Valley wasn¡¯t a waste. He also summoned snippets of lost knowledge from that old inheritance, so he knew just how to react. ¡°By the time we blast one of them with our pylons, they¡¯ll have plenty of time to take out at least one of ours and damage the others. We can¡¯t beat ¡®em that way.¡± The captain nodded. He saw the truth in that. ¡°But, Condor has six pylons. Their biggest ones only have three each, and the smaller vessels might as well be made out of paper. Condors aren¡¯t afraid of goddamn pigeons. Open her up and aim this baby their way.¡± Cloudhawk stared at them with a ferocious glare. ¡°They want to give us a love tap? We¡¯ll ram this ship right down their fuckin¡¯ throats!¡± The captain and his man stared wide-eyed. He was telling them to ignore all their mighty weapons¡­ and ram their enemies instead! But when the shock abated and they thought about it, what seemed like insanity on the surface was their best course of action. Hell¡¯s Army ships surrounded them, and retreat wasn¡¯t an option. Because they were caught unprepared, Condor was getting the full force of their arsenal. They were starting to recover from the shock, but by now it was too late for standard weapons. After being surrounded it was Condor that had taken the brunt of their anger. Even if they fought back while caught within this trap, the best they could hope for was mutual destruction. How was he supposed to come to Woodland Vale¡¯s aid then? The only option was to first break through the blockade! To burst out of their crossfire. Now whether or not they would make it, he left up to fate. At least it gave them a shot¡­ Either you die or I die. Worst case, I take you assholes with me! Cloudhawk¡¯s first dispatch with his first command, and this is what they ran into. He knew how dangerous the Giants of Hell¡¯s Valley were, and so knew he had to put it all on the line. ¡°Energy pylons at one hundred percent. Warden, we¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Alright. Put ten percent into the shields, and the rest into propulsion. Smash them to pieces!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 6 - Psychotic Warship Book 4, Condor¡¯s three energy pylons functions like three powerful motors. Huge amounts of power were consumed to push it forward, while lights filled the cracks in its shields momentarily ¨C perhaps a sign their defenses were recovering. ¡°Smash them!¡± As nearly all of its energy was focused into its engines, Condor rocketed forth at break-neck speed, disregarding the bombardment it suffered from surrounding enemy ships. Like an out of control beast or an enraged rhinoceros, it bore down on the first airship in its path. There was a deafening crash as the two vessels met, like a bomb had detonated. The wasteland ship folded like it was made from paper. Fire belched from it, swallowing the patch-work deck and all who stood upon it. Conversely Condor plowed through like a divine hammer, obliterating the inferior ship. It spun helplessly down through the mist, trailing black smoke to mark its demise. Condor¡¯s protective shell was set ablaze and peppered with debris from its first victim. Cloudhawk laughed in satisfaction as the sky became clearer. That was all Hell¡¯s Army had, eh?! Too easy to break free. But of course, it wasn¡¯t that Hell¡¯s Army was weak. Rather, Condor was just too big to contain. The six-pylon Talon flagship was the greatest vessel in the armada, with three times the energy potential of a normal warship. How could Hell¡¯s Army hope to compete? The captain called for Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. ¡°Another ship off the bow, sir! Judging by the look of her, she¡¯s the enemy¡¯s command ship!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s brows knit tight. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, run her down!¡± Condor obliged. At such close proximity, their ship didn¡¯t have a chance to reach full speed after the first impact. Both were protected by shields, so when they collided the air screeched from the friction. Soldiers held their ears and scowled. The shields of both ships warped. The Hell¡¯s Army command vessel tried to hold Condor at bay, but how could it? Instead it was shoved back while tremors rocked both ships. Cracks appeared in their shields and hulls. Crews were flung about like beans in a tin can. From the bridge, Cloudhawk stared in amazement. Although both ships were damaged by the collision, it was clear Condor would be victorious. He could see that by the way the enemy shields bowed. In the end the Hell¡¯s Army vessel would fall like the first. So what were they doing? Courting death? No, they weren¡¯t that stupid! Cloudhawk understood his old trainers¡¯ style. Hell¡¯s Army was the epitome of special forces and tactics. More than just strong, their leadership consisted of noted strategists. If it looked like they had made a fatal mistake, he was sure that was just what they wanted him to see. The captain¡¯s excited shouts returned. ¡°Warden, two more ships approaching from port and starboard!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°What did you say?¡± He didn¡¯t have time to explain. Two hideous, lumbering silhouettes appeared on either side of Condor. They appeared out of the mists like towering mountains. Condor had slowed to a near halt after impact with the command vessel, placing it squarely between these two ships. They had to have been waiting for exactly this. As they picked up speed, Cloudhawk realized the danger they were in. The impact hit them like a landslide! Shattered glass filled the bridge as its viewing ports exploded. Outside, massive cracks nearly split the deck in two. Claudia and the others were pitched off their feet and hurdled through the air. For a moment sky and deck switched places as they tumbled end over end, then rolled from right to left. The experience of fighting enemies while being thrown about like a rag doll was not a pleasant one. ¡°Gods! What just happened?!¡± Rei¡¯s wide eyes swept over the badly damaged deck. Her face was pale when staring at the nightmarish scene. A ship in front, one to the left, another to the right. All three started firing at once. Condor had become a cornered animal. The pincer attack had nearly overcome Condor¡¯s shields, as was evident by the cracks that slithered across its surface. Hell¡¯s Army had forethought ¨C if one ship was not enough, then they would use three. Cloudhawk¡¯s order to ram their enemies was madness, a gambit that threatened to do nearly as much damage to themselves as to the enemy. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that Hell¡¯s Army was just as crazy. Getting his bearings, the captain cried out. ¡°Damnit! Our shields are failing. Divert all energy to defenses! If our shields collapse we¡¯ll be blown apart!¡± ¡°They¡¯re arming their weapons!¡± ¡°Our controls have been damaged. Trying to fix the problem.¡± ¡°Condor¡¯s starboard hull has been badly damage. Emergency hatches activated.¡± The bridge was in turmoil. After the three-pronged attack Condor was still listing forward, but at a slow pace. She was clamped tight in the enemy¡¯s grasp. Cloudhawk gave the order for all other ships to come to their aid. At least for the time being, three enemy ships were busy with one. Drake received the order. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army knows what they¡¯re doing, but it¡¯s a mistake to think we don¡¯t! Attack!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t!¡± Brontes responded in a grim voice. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army ships have pinned Condor, but their remaining vessel has joined with the wasteland fleet and is forming for another assault.¡± ¡°We have two warships. Leave one to fend them off, while we go to Cloudhawk¡¯s aid.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work, we¡¯ve been too heavily damaged. Our situation is bad enough, much less throwing ourselves against superior numbers to help the commander. If we can¡¯t prevent ourselves from being shot out of the sky then we¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°Damnit¡­ then we¡¯ll draw them away, create an exit.¡± Hell¡¯s Army almost seemed to know how their moves before they did. Whatever orders Cloudhawk gave, Hell¡¯s Army was right there with a response. The sudden air battle was quickly putting them out of their depth. Nearby, Hammont was standing nervously on the deck of a transport ship. He¡¯d never been in a fight like this! A typical Skycloud fleet consisted of a flagship, destroyers, frigates and scout vessels, with supply ships bringing up the rear. Even though they were rushed, this was essentially the battle group Cloudhawk had pulled together. But both Cloudhawk and Drake had been caught in their trap. They were caught in a stalemate for the moment, but the Elysians were clearly at a disadvantage. It was obvious from how well Hell¡¯s Army had executed their surprise attack that their commanders were experienced. Cloudhawk and Drake could not measure up to them. It would take something big to turn this around. ¡°Everyone, gather up!¡± Hammont shouted for the logistics force. Their two ships were situated at the rear of the fleet since they had no combat or defensive capabilities to speak of. As a result the enemy vessels paid them no mind. While they had been the target of a shot or two, so far it was nothing life-threatening. ¡°I have a plan!¡± His crew looked nervously at one another. One of them spoke up. ¡°Major Seacrest¡­ w-we¡¯re just rear support. Our ships don¡¯t even have any weapons!¡± ¡°Bullshit! Are you going to run from a fight because you don¡¯t have weapons?!¡± Hammont was not pleased with the excuse. ¡°What do we have? Eboncrys! Fuel! We¡¯re carrying what all these ships need to keep flying.¡± One of the soldiers piped up. ¡°How does that help us?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get it? Morons!¡± Hammont didn¡¯t keep them in suspense. ¡°We convert the eboncrys into energy for the pylons, overload it, and turn this whole ship into a bomb.¡± They stared at him like he was insane. Something like this had never been suggested before, much less attempted. Was it even possible? ¡°Prepare to evacuate.¡± Hammont did have the answers, but there was nothing else they could do. He saw his men hesitate and suddenly adopted a more malevolent posture. ¡°Part of the enemy forces are attacking Commander Drake. The rest have Commander Cloudhawk surrounded. Our warships won¡¯t last forever, and when they¡¯re gone the enemy will turn to us. We need to move now, I will bear responsibility.¡± Elsewhere on the battlefield, Condor was pinned down. Clamped on three sides, there was nowhere for it to escape to. Enemies ships were bettering their shields with everything they had, which were slowly weakening the only thing between Cloudhawk¡¯s men and absolutely destruction. As more cracks appeared in their defenses, Conclave soldiers poured through. The sound of heavy footballs rattled the deck. Claudia caught sight of a colossal figure through the haze. Covered from head to toe in armor, it was impossible to see any detail of the warrior, but that didn¡¯t matter. As light gleamed from the armor, she knew who they faced. Dumont stood before them like a pillar of flame. Belinda called out. ¡°This one¡¯s different.¡± She brazenly flung a fireball at him. Her fires were enough to incinerate most soldiers, she¡¯d seen it herself. Yet upon striking Dumont it sizzled against the armor for a moment before dying. No doubt about it, his red-hot suit of armor was a relic! Claudia, recognizing the foe they faced, called out in a grim voice. ¡°Retreat!¡± Mason had never heard this note in his sergeant¡¯s voice, something almost like fear. He knew immediately that this was unlike any opponent they¡¯d faced before. He shifted his shield around and planted his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll hold him!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± She tried to warn him, but before he could react to her words the dim armored figure vanished. He reappeared moments later, encased in light and moving faster than the eye could follow. Like a beam of light he streaked right for the sturdy shield blocking his path. Mason could feel it even before he reached him. What an incredible aura! The deadly presence stole his breath away. He¡¯d never felt anything like it, this sense of fear and helplessness. Dumont hadn¡¯t reached him yet, but he knew in his bones that destruction was coming his way. She was right. He couldn¡¯t stop it. Dumont crashed into the shield and its wall of light, shattering it and the man behind. His fragile body exploded like it was made of glass. Mason¡¯s warped shield hit the deck with a thud, followed by a rain of mangled flesh. His forearm still clutched the relic. The demonhunters stared in sickening horror as their corporal was blown apart. He was hale and hearty a second ago, and now his corpse was unrecognizable. Fear struck them deep into their core. ¡°Mason!¡± Shock froze the novice demonhunters in place. For the first time they were faced with death, the loss of a compatriot. They¡¯d watched him blown to pieces before their eyes. What could be more terrifying? Another shadowy figure raced forward. Rio swept passed them with his sword raised, ready to defend them from this new threat. Ten strikes and parries passed in a blink, but the Talon colonel was ultimately disarmed and knocked several meters away. A twisted and heavily scarred face snarled at them through the fog. His hands were clenched around an enormous sword and the threat of murder hung around him like a cloak. Claudia¡¯s despairing voice came almost in a whisper. ¡°It is you...¡± Once Dumont and Eckard were in full view, a woman with a glimmering whip slowly stepped from the mists. She approached from between the two men, her beautiful face unsettling devoid of any emotion. Only a cold light shone in her eyes as she looked them over. She glanced at Claudia, but did not otherwise react to the presence of her old student. When she spoke it was only to deliver a singular, chilling command. ¡°Kill them.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too slow!¡± Eckard grumbled at Dumont, who had started to gather his energy into the armor. His scarred mouth twisted into a grin. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± An exorcist rod slipped into Claudia¡¯s grip, and it spun to life as her fingers wrapped around it. She lashed out, the head of the rod colliding with Eckard¡¯s blade. A shock went through her, causing half her body to reel backward. She stumbled a few steps away to gather her bearings. ¡°You¡¯re still too weak!¡± Eckard rushed at her with his second strike, holding nothing back. ¡°Is this all that Hell¡¯s Valley has taught you? Then die like the failure you are!¡± Claudia was already wounded, but she knocked the second strike away. His third cleaved her exorcist rod in two. The fourth came screaming down, aimed for her head! Claudia¡¯s melee abilities weren¡¯t weak, but she was no match for Eckard and his martial proficiency. I didn''t even make it to five moves. Bleak realization filled her heart as she watched the sword come. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 7 - Student vs Teacher Eckard¡¯s sword was inches from Claudia¡¯s skull. Suddenly, an arrow ripped through the air, grabbing his attention. Feeling the danger approach, the instructor was jerked away from its target to block the arrow instead. Odd. The energy arrow wasn¡¯t threatening, and it appeared to have been shot from an ordinary exorcist bow. A shot like this might kill an ordinary person, but to one like Eckard it wasn¡¯t something to fear. Even if it managed to strike him it wouldn¡¯t do much damage. Why did it feel so dangerous, though? He glanced at his sword and saw a speck of black on its surface. That speck quickly grew to the size of a palm. It was lusterless, dull, and course. The actual structure of the sword was changing as he watched. Petrification. Another grayish arrow appeared from an unseen location. By then half of Eckard¡¯s alloy sword had petrified. He used the sword to protect himself again, but this time the weapon broke apart with a sound like shattering stone. A third arrow. From a different direction. He wasn¡¯t going to stand around, it was too dangerous. Eckard broke off his attack, dodged the arrow, and retreated. The area of the deck struck by the arrow petrified and crumbled away. While the Army¡¯s ultimate combatant didn¡¯t have any means of detection, Eckard still had years of experience in war. What sort of commander would he be if he couldn¡¯t determine an attacker¡¯s location after three shots. But while he couldn¡¯t see anything, he felt the murderous intent and used it to guess where his attacker hid. However, it was the dreaded weapon that gave him pause. Cloudhawk was concealed nearby. A simple yet delicate bow was in his hands, string drawn. His weapon was a simple, delicate bow composed of some bronze-like material. In its center was affixed a gray stone, and the string was of a similar color. As he drew it back, a strange energy gathered in its central point. Once the mental energies coalesced into an arrow, he let fly. Natessa Windham recognized the weapon in short order. ¡°Basilisk.¡± Dumont blazed with gathered power, and raced off as soon as Eckard fell back. With incredible speed he determined Cloudhawk¡¯s whereabouts, aiming to smash him apart. Cloudhawk answered with an arrow to his armored chest. But it didn¡¯t petrify it, like it had the sword. The blazing energies did weaken, however. Cloudhawk hastily dodged out of the way and Dumont raced past. In his wake the ground had broken apart, and he could only come to a stop after he¡¯d traveled another dozen meters. From a distance, Natessa brought up her arm and swung with all her might. Light slithered from a bracelet around her wrist and formed into the shape of a lengthy bullwhip. It roared to life like a hurricane and reached twice the speed of sound in an instant. Her weapon audibly tore the air and caused it to ripple, as in the space of a second it fanned out ten meters. Anyone within the area of effect was severed at the waist. Too fast. Too strong! Cloudhawk had yet to get his bearing after dodging Dumont, but had just enough time to summon the phase stone¡¯s power. As Natessa¡¯s whip tore passed he could feel the phase field ripple and nearly collapse. He couldn¡¯t maintain both. The phase field held, but he lost his invisibility. The Warden of the Talon¡¯s of God appeared on the battlefield. The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army stood at different positions around him, forming an equilateral triangle. Cloudhawk was caught in the middle, with nowhere to run or hide. Their cooperation and positioning wasn¡¯t planned, just a product of years fighting alongside one another. Power, cooperation, and experience. The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army had not been given their titles lightly. Eckard snatched up a discarded sword. Another smile pulled at his hideously scarred lips. ¡°Cute toy.¡± ¡®Basilisk¡¯ was one of the relics Cloudhawk had stolen from Ravenous Tiger¡¯s vault in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. It¡¯d been broken when he pilfered it, but when he returned to Skycloud he had found someone to help get it repaired. It was of average strength in terms of raw offensive power, but was also capable of petrifying its victims. Even the strongest foes were flesh and blood in the end, so if his sneak attack had been successful Eckard would¡¯ve been doomed. Calm and composed, Cloudhawk put Basilisk away. He stood in the midst of his former teachers¡¯ keen eyes with an air of disregard. ¡°You think three on one is enough to beat me? I¡¯m not the Cloudhawk you remember.¡± Dumont immediately began gathering up energy once again. Natessa, stone-faced as always, simply stared at him. Eckard answered with a coarse laugh. ¡°You definitely know how to talk shit, kid. But how much have you really improved? I¡¯m eager to find out.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Right away Cloudhawk¡¯s flesh turned nearly crimson. He bound into the air, straight as an arrow. Much to the surprise of his attackers, between a burst of increased speed and the cloak¡¯s powers he was almost too fast for them to follow. He was dashing toward Dumont. Dumont¡¯s power hadn¡¯t been fully gathered yet, but it was enough to launch an attack. His Dawnbreaker battle armor had all the energy gathered in the legs, which he used to instantly pick up speed. Dumont shot forward like a cannon to intercept Cloudhawk. Reeling back, he drove his fist into the ground. It blew a hole in the deck several meters deep. Stone and splinters were thrown in all directions like a bomb had gone off. Cloudhawk was forced to stop. From behind, Natessa¡¯s deadly whip was already in motion. Instead of being angry at his failure to escape, Cloudhawk¡¯s face lit up in an expression of triumph. He reached out and grabbed Dumont by the breastplate, activated his phase stone, and then blinked from existence. The two men reappeared a hundred meters away, in midair. A thousand meters of nothing stretched out below. Dumont looked down, then back up at Cloudhawk, incapable of understanding what had just happened. ¡°Enjoy your flight.¡± Cloudhawk booted Dumont away from him and watched as the heavily armored men plunged toward the earth. He used the remaining energy of the stone to teleport himself back onto Condor¡¯s deck. For a brief moment he stood there, crouched with one hand steadying himself on the ground, and then he was off again. Natessa was forced to react. She engaged her relic boots and leaped off the side of the ship after her companion. While the armor might protect Dumont from being killed outright from the fall, he would definitely be badly wounded. His absence would be a major blow to the fighting capability of Hell¡¯s Army. She had to get him back. Eckard stared at Cloudhawk with eyes wide. ¡°You little mother fu-...¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let him finish. His figure flickered in and out of existence as he raced across the deck, like an angry phantom. He blinked into focus right in front of the scarred instructor, who was alone now that Natessa and Dumont were indisposed. ¡°No one to bother us now, beautiful. Let¡¯s have some fun!¡± Eckard Cutter felt his blood boil. This cocky little shit! So goddamn arrogant! Did he think his little games with Dumont and Natessa were going to save him? Eckard lashed out with his sword. The strike seemed straightforward but in reality contained staggering strength. It filled the space between them that Cloudhawk was trying to traverse, forcing him back. He was the Army¡¯s only pure martial commander. Eckard¡¯s speed, strength, and explosiveness were at peak levels. This idiot child¡¯s ignorance would be his undoing. Cloudhawk felt the world around him disappear as the brutal, cold light of Eckard¡¯s sword filled his vision. It was like being struck by lightning, so fast he didn¡¯t even have time to blink. A pair of flashing silver lights emerged. Clang! Rrring! Onlookers watched a tempest of energy blast around the Warden. Fragments of steel were flung every which way, none bigger than a finger. Eckard stood there with a sword¡¯s handle in his grip. He stood there, wide eyed, as dancing wisps of silver steel bore down on him. Dozens of blows landed almost simultaneously and ripped through his sturdy armor, to the flesh beneath. Flesh blood poured freely from several gaping wounds. Defeated! Eckard had been defeated! One of the mighty Giants had been bested in a single round! It wasn¡¯t because Cloudhawk had any overwhelming power. In fact, he hadn¡¯t even activated any of his relics. He wasn¡¯t any better in straight combat than someone like Rio, and even with relics he had perhaps a fifty-fifty shot against someone like Eckard. But just like he had against Dumont, Cloudhawk employed unique tactics against his former instructor. First, he¡¯d destroyed Eckard¡¯s mighty alloy sword with Basilisk. This forced the warrior to fight with common steel ¨C and how could a typical soldier¡¯s weapon compete against his Silver Serpents? Eckard didn¡¯t know how strong Cloudhawk had become since his time in the Valley, nor did he know of the gift the former Talon¡¯s Warden had bequeathed him. So, using this to his advantage, Cloudhawk easily tore through Eckard¡¯s weapon and won himself a decisive victory. Eckard lost, but not for lack of strength. He lost from inferior equipment and tactics. Cloudhawk lifted his right hand, an undulating silvery blade held tight in his grasp. It extended from his sleeve, thin as a cicada¡¯s wing and rippling like a wave. Its cold light was reflected in Eckard¡¯s red eyes. Cloudhawk pressed it against his neck. All it would take was a flick of the wrist¡­ ¡°The Polaris family¡¯s Silver Serpents.¡± Eckard scowled, his face sour. ¡°How did you learn to use them so quickly?¡± He wanted to fight back. He yearned to tear this little prick¡¯s head off his shoulders. But wounds that cut down to the bone opened his wrists, ankles, and everywhere else. His tendons were severed, and though even now he was healing it wasn¡¯t a fast process. If he¡¯d had any fight left in him, Cloudhawk would have ended it immediately, without giving him this moment of reprieve. A flash from the corner of his eye. He glanced sideways, only to see Dumont being flung back onto Condor by a bullwhip. Natessa gracefully alighted back on the deck. The whole exchange had taken less than ten seconds. Cloudhawk had used that brief window to enact a nearly miraculous change of circumstance. Hell¡¯s Army forces continued to storm the ship, caught in pitched battle with the Talons of God. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, had managed to gravely wound one of their commanders. His valiant display had greatly boosted his soldiers¡¯ morale. Here he was, their Warden! While Colonel Rio and the others had their doubts, this display had put them at ease. Their Warden¡¯s mysterious and unpredictable powers, lightning-fast reflexes, and keen wit showed he had what it took to call himself their leader. He was still so young! A fine replacement for Roc. Grief enveloped Belinda, Rei, and the Sutherland brothers after witnessing Mason¡¯s death. The appearance of the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army had stolen their pride and bravado. It turned out even once-loyal soldiers could change sides in a war. Demonhunters could betray their masters. The outside world was a cruel place. They didn¡¯t know what to do, so they stared blankly at their sergeant as she battled fearlessly against their enemies. Suddenly the scoundrel Cloudhawk had appeared, and through his courageous efforts the tide turned. On his own, he wrested the advantage from the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army. How was he so strong? They had looked down at him at first, believing him to be a creature unworthy of their respect. Now they were fully aware of their arrogance and stupidity. All of them together weren¡¯t a quarter of this man the Talons trusted to be their leader. Claudia was equally stunned. She couldn¡¯t fathom how Cloudhawk had changed so much! She couldn¡¯t even hold a candle to him now. The whole time there was another pair of big, blue eyes watching the fight. Azura was half hidden in the bridge, peeking through a shattered port hole as the battle raged. It was a different side of the mischievous, immature man who ate dirty things off the floor to make her happy. He was strong ¨C really strong. ¡°The Conclave of Judgment has no future, and your poor choices are sure to infuriate the General. Is it worth it?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s Silver Serpents gleamed with dangerous promise, like a serpent¡¯s fangs pressed against Eckard¡¯s exposed throat. ¡°I¡¯d recommend you made no sudden moves and quit this nonsense. Otherwise, the Three Giants of Hell¡¯s Army will have to change their name to two.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 8 - Captor and Captive A near imperceptible anger broiled behind Natessa¡¯s shinning eyes. This child¡¯s tricks had gotten under the famously stoic woman¡¯s skin. The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army each had their own responsibilities. They needed Eckard to train their soldiers. Without him, their strength as a fighting force would suffer greatly. He was comparable to the greatest generals of Skycloud, too important to be cut down by Cloudhawk here. ¡°Heh, you know...¡± Eckard¡¯s face was sour, but there was more behind his hard eyes. ¡°...I would be careful how you look at her. More¡¯n a few circles call her the Madwoman . Piss her off and you¡¯re looking at some serious consequences.¡± ¡°Fuck you and fuck her nicknames. You¡¯re my prisoner, so how about you shut your goddamn mouth and play nice.¡± Cloudhawk gave his former instructor a vicious kick to the back of his legs. Eckard hit the ground face first. Cloudhawk then wound his Silver Serpents around his captive¡¯s throat like a snake. The slightest twitch, and their trainer would be dead. ¡°I never liked you and your ugly fucking face. I knew that the second I saw you three years ago. Now that I got you here I just might make you pay for all the shit you put us through.¡± Natessa¡¯s voice was still calm as a Spring breeze as she spoke. ¡°Do it, if you have the balls to.¡± Dumont was of course silent. Energy had gathered throughout his armor, and he was ready to fly into action at a moment¡¯s notice. Fighting had stopped across the deck. Talon soldiers and rebels from Hell¡¯s Army gathered round to watch the confrontation. Weapons were gripped in sweaty hands and nerves were high, caught in a standoff. Cloudhawk answered with a peel of loud, savage laughter. He pulled on his weapons just a little, cutting into Eckard¡¯s throat. ¡°You think I¡¯m scared? Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but you assholes still haven¡¯t got your feet under you out here in the wastelands, am I right? First you were thinking about the Dark Atom, but when you saw what the Sanctum of Judgment could do, you went squealing to them to protect you. You want to hide under the skirts of your betters until you have the fuckin¡¯ stones to stand on your own two feet. But without Eckard, I wonder how worthwhile your new masters will think you are?¡± The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army were strong. Truly strong. But the wastelands had all sorts of strong people as well. What made these three different was the trained army they brought with them. Hell¡¯s Army was tactical, surgical, and well trained ¨C that was the sort of thing that had real value out in the wastelands. Sure, the Conclave of Judgment was making a lot of noise, but at the end of the day they were a mob of ruffians with a strong core. How could they stand against a focused, experienced fighting force like General Skye¡¯s army? The Crimson One used to be Knight-Commander ¨C leader of a few thousand demonhunters. He didn¡¯t know how to lead a full-fledged army. Meanwhile, General Skye had only grown even more brilliant as he aged. In a proper fight, the Conclave was at a serious disadvantage. The Giants were only as good as their skills in tactics and training ¨C scarce talents out here. But since their skills were in high demand, they could leverage them for a seat at the Conclave¡¯s high table. If Eckard died, though, they were much less attractive allies. Cloudhawk had a surge of confidence. He was spot on about the situation Hell¡¯s Army found itself in, so he knew he had the upper hand. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, if I want to leave there is no one ¨C not you, not even the Crimson One ¨C who can stop me. You might keep me from helping Woodland Vale now, but the price will be a nasty blow to the Conclave¡¯s command structure. I can live with that trade.¡± ¡°If you escape, I will use every method at the Army¡¯s disposal to torture every single person here to death.¡± A psychological offense was the best play. Cloudhawk¡¯s upper hand had its limits, and Natessa knew this boy. He¡¯d grown up alone and lonely in the wilds, and that experienced had left him with an ingrained weakness. He was more emotional than most, so he was unlikely to throw away his allies to save his own skin. He was just blustering. Natessa went on. ¡°Let him go, and we will allow you and your people to leave.¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t get it? I¡¯m not fucking negotiating with you.¡± He was unswayed by Natessa¡¯s threats. ¡°I¡¯ll say it slow so you can understand: Fuck. Off. Otherwise, Scarry McScarface here will start grinning from the neck.¡± Her eyes grew sharper with every word. It was easy to miss in the midst of all the drama, but the wind had started to pick up and whipped around them. Natessa was at the limits of her patience. Her energies were gathering ominously around her. Cloudhawk was ready to do what he had to do. Only an idiot would believe the Giants¡¯ false promises. At any rate, he had to get to Woodland Vale and no one was going to stop him. If they couldn¡¯t agree, then there was no more room for talk. If he killed one of them, the other two Giants could be handled. Cloudhawk himself would deal with one while Rio and Claudia could kill the other. Even if they didn¡¯t survive, at least they¡¯d take these shitheads down with them. We¡¯re all ready to die. You assholes don¡¯t scare me! Cloudhawk could see in Natessa¡¯s eyes that there would be no compromise. He had to kill his captive first to make sure there weren¡¯t more problems later, then he would deal with her. Cloudhawk could be as heartless and cruel as anyone when he needed to be, so without a second thought he pulled his arm back. His Silver Serpents gleamed. But suddenly - A scream drew his ear from off to the right. It was the sound of a transport ship¡¯s overloaded energy pylon as it bore down on them. It was going faster than he¡¯d ever seen a ship its size move, aimed right at the enemy like a divine lance. No one had time to react before it smashed into the side of the Hell¡¯s Army flagship. Transport ships didn¡¯t have shields. A battering ram maneuver like this was suicide! What happened next caused everyone¡¯s jaws to drop. As the Elysian vessel struck the shields of the enemy warship, it immediately began to break apart. Yet, as cracks tore through its hull, a bright and violent light poured out. The resulting explosion ripped through the area with bone-jarring intensity. Boo-oo-oom! The enemy¡¯s shields disintegrated, and the ship that had Condor pinned was blown half to pieces in the space of a breath. Cloudhawk was perfectly positioned to see the whole thing. When the ship detonated it temporarily blinded him. In that instant, the Hell¡¯s Army warship was destroyed. Condor lurched as it was suddenly freed from bondage. As the ship pitched forward Cloudhawk lost his balance, thus exposing a flaw for his enemies to exploit. Natessa was an experienced and brilliant warrior. She was always ready for situations like this, because the conditions of a battle could always change in an instant. Years of battle have taught her to grab at any opportunity the moment it arose, so her whip shot out at just the right moment and wrapped around Cloudhawk. ¡°Shit!¡± Terror gripped him. He tried to call his phasing power. Just at that moment Eckard summoned the strength to stand and grabbed the Silver Serpents with his bare hands. The old warriors skin was tough as iron, and Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the time to heave back. He slipped from Cloudhawk¡¯s grip. Had Eckard recovered from having his tendons severed this quickly?! Phase! He reached out to the stone and used its power to slip free from Natessa¡¯s whip. Only, just then another blast of unexpected power assailed him. It struck him like a hurricane, storng enough that it overcame his phase field and shattered it. Fuck! Fuck! Furious and flustered, Cloudhawk brandished the Silver Serpents and flung himself at his enemy. Ten quick blows followed in succession, each one scraping harmlessly across the glowing Dawnbreaker Armor. A metal hand shot out and clamped around his throat, then pinned him to the deck. He was crushed against the sturdy stone-like material of Condor¡¯s deck, which snapped beneath the pressure. He was practically shoved into a hole. Cloudhawk found himself embedded in the ground. Condor¡¯s deck was constructed using Skycloud¡¯s unique methods, which imbued it with a sort of memory. Over time the material ¨C strong as steel ¨C would repair itself. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Rio¡¯s face paled. ¡°Warden!¡± Dumont wrenched Cloudhawk up from the deck, still in his grip. Dangling there, Cloudhawk spit a mouthful of blood onto the glorious armor before swinging wildly with his weapons once again. But no matter how hard he swung, he couldn¡¯t cut through the relic armor. The enemy command vessel was destroyed, Condor was free from encirclement. It alone was strong enough to fight off the wasteland airships that remained. The Elysian transport ship had robbed Hell¡¯s Army of their victory. But it didn¡¯t matter. They might have lost the battle, but there was still a long way to go before the war was decided. Natessa wasn¡¯t here to win in a single stroke, either. Their purpose was to stop Cloudhawk from getting to Woodland Vale. The hidden settlement was too important. Their leader was captive, and for now she believed that to be a victory. Natessa lifted her hand, signaling the retreat. A pair of red-robed missionaries descended from overhead. They wrapped Cloudhawk in a set of thick chains. They were the same chains that were used in Skyden, used specifically to rob demonhunters of their power. He couldn¡¯t communicate with his phase stone, thus was unable to escape. ¡°Retreat!¡± At her command, Hell¡¯s Army soldiers leaped from Condor¡¯s deck onto the remaining warships. They turned their cannons toward the Elysian flagship and pummeled it with attacks, buying time for their heavily damaged vessels to escape. ¡°The Warden¡¯s been captured by those bastard turncoats!¡± Crain had recovered enough to cry out. ¡°What are we supposed to do?¡± The novice demonhunters had been completely stunned by this savage string of attacks. From ambush to battle, encirclement to interception, and finally captors to captive. It¡¯d all happened so fast, and from Cloudhawk to the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army it was a fight of skilled combatants. Their reaction times, tactics and smarts had left these newbies with their heads spinning. Demonhunters were noble. They had poise and self-confidence. This was the first battle they¡¯d ever really experienced, but they¡¯d been utterly useless. All of them had stood around like idiots and just watched as the battle unfolded. Where was their poise and self-confidence now? This was battle! This was war! ¡°Our commander is temporarily unable to order the troops.¡± Rio quickly made his way to the bridge. ¡°According to rules of engagement, I am taking command of our forces.¡± ¡°Aye!¡± The captain¡¯s face was solemn. ¡°We¡¯re awaiting your orders!¡± Rio searched the bridge. ¡°Where is the Warden¡¯s disciple?¡± ¡°The blast from the transport ship was fierce,¡± the captain explained. ¡°She may be the Warden¡¯s disciple, but she¡¯s still just a child. The blow knocked her out, but she¡¯s fine otherwise.¡± Rio sighed in relief then continued to issue orders. ¡°As acting Warden of the Talons, I am ordering that we give chase to the enemy. Hound them, spare nothing!¡± 1. In Chinese medicine, often when someone has mental disorders we say it is a consequences of ¡®evil wind¡¯ stirring. This is the second or third time we¡¯ve seen someone with a wind-type name being called crazy. This is reflected in the characters, too. Wind is ·ç, while crazy is ·è - a combination of ðÚ, sick, and ·ç, wind. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 9 - Canyon Access The remaining Hell¡¯s Army warships sank to low-altitude flight. Meanwhile, Natessa was busily issuing commands. ¡°Everyone disembark.¡± Soldiers leaped off the sides of the ships to the ground below. A skeleton crew remained to lift the ships back into the air, and then fly them away. She was quite the cunning vixen! Natessa knew there was no escaping Condor, but she wasn¡¯t afraid to abandon her own ships. The six-pylon behemoth was faster and more destructive than anything she had. The only way to fight it was an ambush ¨C a straight fight was suicide. She ordered her doomed ships to lead the enemy away on a wild goose chase, giving her and the others time to escape. By the time Condor discovered the truth, it would be too late for them to know the Giants had taken their leader. Being in charge was not an easy job. Failures had to be swallowed and accepted. Who would choose to square off against people like the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army? Under these circumstances there was only one thought that kept tumbling through Cloudhawk¡¯s head: Who was the absolute dipshit who rammed the transport ship into the enemy? Where they trying to kill him?! Two Sanctum missionaries led Cloudhawk along, holding firm to his chains. Soldiers fell in line with Natessa, Dumont and Eckard taking the lead. He was surrounding by quiet and gruesome killers. The wound in Cloudhawk¡¯s scalp had healed and the blood had stopped flowing. His hair was matted and tousled, dirt and grime was smeared on him from head to toe. Cloudhawk had to admit he was in a tight corner ¨C a slab of meat on their chopping block. There wasn¡¯t any way for him to squeeze out of this problem for the time being. ¡°Man, you know¡­ you guys really are something. This former student of yours has to admit to your superiority.¡± Maybe he could play to their pride. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°Maybe, Instructor Cutter, you could tell me how you healed up so fast.¡± Natessa spared him a brief glance. Eckard snapped a finger and approached with a smile plastered on his ugly face. The wounds to his wrists and shoulders still weren¡¯t nearly healed, and you could still see deep into the flesh. Yet, incredibly, he was still moving. ¡°You learned nothing from your time in Hell¡¯s Valley. Tendons pulling muscles is how lesser creatures move around. A martial artist is able to call the potential of every muscle cell, so it doesn¡¯t matter if you cut every tendon and smash every bone. As long as I used my power wisely, I could still twist your fat fuckin¡¯ head off that scrawny neck. You get me?¡± So that was his trick. It was some sort of martial technique. This time, it was Cloudhawk who underestimated his enemy. He promised himself that if there was a next time, he¡¯d just go ahead and chop this hideous fucker¡¯s arms and legs right off. See if he could still saunter around then! Eckard suddenly punched Cloudhawk, forcing him to swallow the taunting words he¡¯d prepared. He¡¯d used his martial skills for this punch, too. Even though it hit his abdomen, he felt it tear through his whole body. He wasn¡¯t even knocked back, for every ounce of strength was contained in his wracked body. Cloudhawk had only seen technique like this from the old drunk. This scarred shit had been holding back for three years! He hadn¡¯t taught them any of his real skills at all. Eckard grabbed Cloudhawk by the front of his cloak and pulled his up. The scars of his face twisted into a hodgepodge of shapes as he grinned. ¡°Where¡¯s all that bravado, punk? What happened?¡± Natessa, standing a short distance away, called out to him. ¡°Stop wasting time. Tell him to give it to us.¡± Cloudhawk was at a loss. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Stop acting like a fuckin¡¯ idiot!¡± Eckard¡¯s anger flared. ¡°Where¡¯s the map to Woodland Vale? Give it to me!¡± His confusion didn¡¯t ease. Wasn¡¯t Hell¡¯s Army part of the Conclave of Judgment now? Hadn¡¯t the Crimson One sent them to stop him from getting there? He figured that meant the Conclave already had people after Woodland Vale, but these three didn¡¯t know where it was. Ah¡­ unless the Crimson One didn¡¯t fully trust them. Woodland Vale was home to almost limitless energy, and whoever controlled it potentially controlled the wastelands. It was a crucial resource, for both the Elysians and the wastelanders. Because it was so important, the Crimson One would only send his most trusted people to secure it. It was telling that Hell¡¯s Army would be dispatched to stop anyone from getting close instead of taking part in the assault. Cloudhawk looked between his former instructors. ¡°Why do you want to go to Woodland Vale?¡± Eckard was growing impatient. ¡°What the fuck does that have to do with you? You¡¯re trying my goddamn patience, and you know as well as anyone what happens when I lose my patience.¡± Having not hidden the map in his secret stash, Cloudhawk had no choice but to give it to them. Natessa took it, and glanced at the information therein. ¡°Is this the real one?¡± ¡°Look, sister, I¡¯d give you guys a fake one but ¨C well, now that I¡¯m helpless in your clutches, I don¡¯t have any recourse.¡± Cloudhawk put on a show of being helpless and compliant. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m not all-knowing. How am I supposed to know if the information is real or not?¡± She folded the sheepskin parchment and tucked it away. ¡°Bring him.¡± Eckard pulled Cloudhawk back into his feet and punching him to his knees. ¡°Lemme be honest with you, kid. One false move and I¡¯ll start by chopping off your little pecker.¡± Hell¡¯s Army had murdered two Elysian generals and gravely wounded the former Warden of the Talons of God. There was no way General Skye was going to let them live for any longer than he had to. With such a dramatic betrayal, there was no going back for the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army. It was the reason they were so eager to be part of a wasteland alliance. Sooner or later, Hell¡¯s Army would come face to face with Skye Polaris¡¯ ire, and they clearly weren¡¯t interested in being someone else¡¯s pawn. It would be a tragedy if they were no longer deemed useful and important to their new masters. They could depend on others for a time, but not forever. If they could take Woodland Vale for themselves, then they wouldn¡¯t have to. Hell¡¯s Army¡¯s greatest weakness was that they didn¡¯t have a base of their own. At present, all they could do was affix themselves to someone¡¯s side like a parasite. Taking Woodland Vale would give them exactly what they needed, a foothold. It didn¡¯t matter if the Crimson One was angry with them then. He would have to accept it. Ambitious. ¡®A man whose heart is not content is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.¡¯ Hell¡¯s Army was strong, but they had to resort to bullying Cloudhawk like everyone else. Stealing Woodland Vale from the Crimson One and Skye Polaris¡­ it was a bold move, akin to stealing food from the tiger¡¯s mouth. Still, the spoils were vast if they succeeded. They would have positioned themselves as a key member in the future of whatever new world was emerging. Cloudhawk was dragged by the arms behind the Giants as they marched on. About a day passed before the army reached the entrance to a canyon. Cloudhawk looked about at the tall cliffs that rose on either side. They were steep and rocky, and scraped the clouds above. The sky was just a faint sliver of azure, meaning the canyon probably only got a few hours of sunlight a day. It was cold and uninviting here, without any signs of life. Eckard glowered dubiously at the narrow expanse. ¡°I heard Woodland Vale was supposed to be some kind of miracle settlement. Greener than anywhere else in the wastelands, the stories go. This sure as shit doesn¡¯t look like a desert oasis to me.¡± Cloudhawk spat back. ¡°This is where the map told me to go.¡± The scarred man snorted. ¡°You better pray it is, because if you¡¯re lying to us you won¡¯t like what happens.¡± Cloudhawk cursed quietly to himself. Getting dragged around wasn¡¯t a plan ¨C he needed to find a way to get free. But how was he supposed to do that under the eyes of the three Giants? They weren¡¯t the sort to make stupid mistakes Cloudhawk could exploit. Not to mention, his powers were locked away. The canyon stretched into the distance, deep and cold. Darkness suddenly pressed in from all around. The soldiers scowled as the distinct aura of danger hung over them like a wet blanket as they approached the sight of a battle. Natessa wordlessly lifted a hand to the others. Eckard put a blade to Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are there people fighting here?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was a gloomy one. ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± The scarred man glared at him with hard, bloodshot eyes while soldiers carefully searched their surroundings. The deepest part of the canyon was also where it ended. It was blocked off by a massive, ancient stone doorway. It was impossible to tell how old it was except that it was prehistoric. Long years had eroded its surface, but if one looked closely they could still see an ancient script scrawled on it. Hell¡¯s Army carefully groped further, coming to the edges of the conflict. Through the darkness they could see combatants, none of whom wore Elysian equipment. ¡°Squall and his posse!¡± Cloudhawk recognized them right away, one of the groups fighting for Woodland Vale were the Highwaymen. Squall and the Dark Atom knew about Autumn¡¯s people before anyone, and he was a man of determination and nothing else. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t surprised he¡¯d found a way to track Woodland Vale¡¯s location, but he couldn¡¯t fathom how. Squall continued to be full of surprises. From the looks of things Squall had brought every man he had. Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider, Blackfiend, Raven¡­ everyone. He pulled out all the stops. Other than the Dark Atom, locked in their fortress beneath the Blisterpeaks, only the Conclave of Judgment was strong enough to face the Highwaymen. It was likely the Crimson One was the second group, which was confirmed when Cloudhawk spied the Conclave¡¯s second in command ¨C Wyrmsole. He¡¯d seen what the bare-foot priest could do back in the Blisterpeaks. He¡¯d gone blow for blow with Frost de Winter and never used his full strength. Clearly the former right hand of the Knight-Commander was more than just a figurehead. He was trouble enough to deal with, and he wasn¡¯t alone. Two others joined him among the Conclave forces, one with a green rove and another in black. Cloudhawk had seen both before in the negotiations with the Dark Brotherhood. Kings of the Barrens they called themselves ¨C wastelanders, but strong ones. Eckard looked over the scene and muttered. ¡°Wyrmsole, Toad, and Canker. Tough bastards, the lot of ¡®em. They got Squall on the other side, and he¡¯d a pain in the ass as well.¡± Natessa¡¯s delicate brows furrowed. She thought for a moment, and eventually gave her opinion. ¡°They haven¡¯t discovered us yet. We should wait and watch, don¡¯t rush in until it¡¯s time.¡± The Highwaymen and the Conclave. Both had their own heroes, but were locked in fierce combat. Hell¡¯s Army was adept at incursions and represented an experienced unit. It wasn¡¯t hard to stay out of sight. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, scowled at the scene. Shit was just getting worse and worse. He was so sure that after taking command of the Talons of God, he could sweep through to Woodland Vale and save the day. No one could get in the way of him, his people, and Drake¡¯s corps. Looking at it now, the situation was a lot more complicated than he¡¯d thought. Woodland Vale was ground zero for a deadly conflict. For the time being, it looked like the Dark Atom hadn¡¯t staked a claim, but they sure as hell had their eyes on it. The people Cloudhawk had mustered wouldn¡¯t be enough to win the day, not to mention the fact that he¡¯d been fuckin¡¯ captured. How was he supposed to steal and save his friends, much less fight off three attackers? Cloudhawk was getting antsy and fretful when suddenly he felt his body shake. He narrowed his eyes, sensing something, and peered toward its source. A smile curled the edges of his lips. He¡¯d waited so long¡­ was it finally time? Crack! The shackles holding him fast broke apart! Three of the nearest Hell¡¯s Army soldiers gaped in shock. Cloudhawk had been held fast between them. There was no way he would have had some way of getting free from the chains on his own! They turned around and saw the two Sanctum missions lying dead on the ground. A black figure stood beside Cloudhawk. He was a shadow; from his black hair and eyes, to his black clothes, mask and gloves. He was a shadow given form, with only the dull glint of light coming from the short blade in his hands. An ominous purple haze hung over the dagger like a ghastly flame. Somehow he had crept silently into the heart of their army, killed two demonhunters, and freed the Warden of the Talons. ¡°Deathstalker!¡± Natessa knew that weapon the instant she saw it. ¡°It¡¯s Atlas Umbra!¡± A dark chuckle rumbled through Cloudhawk¡¯s throat. ¡°¡¯Bout time, bro!¡± Atlas¡¯ answer was curt and cold. ¡°Go!¡± Both men vanished from view in an instant. Eckard screamed and glared into the darkness. ¡°Where¡¯d they go?¡± Before they could give chase, the entire canyon shook violently. The ground pitched and threw up deadly spikes of stone like a petrified forest. The Hell¡¯s Army veterans were too busy trying not to get impaled to chase after their prey. ¡°Terrangelica!¡± This time even Natessa¡¯s stoic exterior cracked. She knew what it meant if that relic were here. A holy white light arose, splitting darkness, rending shadows, cleaving stone, eventually becoming a stunning rainbow that rained down upon them. It was quickly followed by a cold gash of silver power which froze everything in its wake as it raced their way. Who was this? How many deadly fighters were suddenly arrayed against them? How did they get here?! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 10 - The Battle For Woodland Vale Begins Eckard felt the two streaks of incredible power come his way, neither of which he could deflect and survive. There were scant few in the Elysian lands with that sort of power, and fewer still in the wastelands. Damnit! They¡¯ve got me pinned. The way they came at him sealed off any retreat. He had to face these encroaching blasts of power even though they were too much for him ¨C especially without a weapon to defend himself. The first thing Natessa did was to engage her Windwalker boots and rise into the air. Her whip crackled with stunning energy, and from it was hurled a tempest. The beating winds ripped stony spikes from the ground and flung them back toward their unseen attackers. When it struck the wave of cold energy, the stalagmites froze into icy daggers before shattering in midair. Natessa¡¯s hurricane and the blast of cold met in the middle of the canyon. They warred against one another for a time, equally fierce. Amidst the countless shards of rock and ice a brilliant light gleamed. It was a silver spear of unsurpassed beauty that felt fast in the tempestuous air without effort. Power coalesced around it, like a bolt of blue lightning aimed at Natessa. Her face darkened, and Natessa¡¯s black hair rose of its own accord. Teal light shimmered in her eyes as ¨C light as a feather ¨C she danced through the air and wielded her whip. With a flick of her wrist a tornado was born, and roared toward the glimmering spear. Crrrack-crack crack! Though composed of pure energy, the whip froze in its path through the air. With every inch the spear advanced, the whip cracked apart. Eventually it failed entirely and the spear streaked right for the center of her forehead. Eckard appeared in the air, leaping end over end to kick the spear off track. By then the spear¡¯s energy was mostly spent, so the scarred instructor had no problem kicking it back toward its owner. A man, resplendent in snow-white armor, snatched the weapon easily. In the middle of this exchange, a holy light had descended from above. Its radiance flooded the canyon like the arrival of a divine being, coming to lay waste to evil. Dumont condensed his mental energy into his arms, preparing to block the radiant strike. All of the stone around him was shattered as the power swept by. Dumont himself was knocked backward, flung to the ground. Rivulets of blood began to appear from the places where the Dawnbreaker armor joined. His chest and arms sporting scorched marks where a sword had impacted. Such terrifying power! It¡¯d even overpowered Dawnbreaker¡¯s defenses! A figure bathed in white appeared in Dumont¡¯s hazy vision, like a vision of some immortal beauty. Two warriors in white. One male, one female. Both were indescribable in looks and talent, but gave completely different impressions. The man¡¯s sharp features and starry eyes were like a glorious mountain top ¨C dignified and cold. His companion was an unparalleled beauty, otherworldly, untouchably sacrosanct. Frozen Dirge¡­ that was the weapon carried by Frost de Winter, chosen disciple of Arcturus Cloude. It was no surprise that he would be a challenge. The woman, bearing a blade of radiant holy energy, was also unmistakable. No other woman had her gravity of presence, and even though she had been missing for five years it was impossible not to know Selene Cloude immediately. Selene Cloude, Frost de Winter, Dawn Polaris, and Atlas Umbra. The most brilliant stars of Skycloud¡¯s next generation. How where they all here? The sound of conflict couldn¡¯t be hidden, so the other combatants stopped to see what had caused it. Wyrmsole on one end, and Squall on the other; neither expected what they saw. Outmanned and outmaneuvered, Natessa called for a retreat into the ravine. She explained herself to Wyrmsole. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s forces are too powerful. Hell¡¯s Army can¡¯t stop them.¡± The red priest scowled at their rapidly deteriorating position. His battle against the Highwaymen had been bad enough, but now they were in danger of being overrun. Across the field, Ravenous Tiger was speaking with Squall. ¡°Skycloud has sent a lot of big names.¡± Three-Eyed Spider had no dealings or knowledge of these Elysians, but he could tell they were strong. Now that Skycloud knew the location of Woodland Vale, they would surely send the bulk of their power to claim it. There was no question this new threat was a dire one. ¡°The Elysians are our shared enemy. We should convince the Conclave to help us fight them!¡± Squall idly chewed on a stalk of grass between his lips. His left fist clenched as the tattoos writ on his skin glimmered. He stared in silence, thinking, staring at Wyrmsole from across the battlefield. Eventually he answered. ¡°We¡¯re here, we can¡¯t leave without staking our claim to Woodland Vale. We play it by ear.¡± Cloudhawk and Atlas dashed away until they were a couple thousand meters away from the heart of the fighting. Once they were behind the front lines Cloudhawk saw that a whole contingent of Elysian soldiers were pouring into the canyon. Many of them were marked by the insignia of the Talons of God. A small, timid voice called out to him. ¡°Teacher!¡± ¡°Hey little one, what are you doing here? It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Azura shook her tiny head. ¡°Big sister Claudia and big brother Rio are protecting me.¡± Rio approached and snapped to attention. ¡°We¡¯re sorry for the tardy arrival, sir. I will submit to whatever punishments you deem fitting.¡± Claudia watched him with conflicting emotion in her gaze. The novice demonhunters of her squad looked at him with a sort of reverence. Although he had a foul name back home, he was obviously among the most talented people they had seen. ¡°You aren¡¯t late, right on time in fact. Nice work.¡± ¡°Hmph. You¡¯re such a disgrace to the family name.¡± Dawn stood with a hand lazily resting on the pommel of Terrangelica, striking a casual pose. Her pretty face was marred by a vicious smirk. ¡°Our Warden, captured on his first day on the job. That¡¯s a new record.¡± Cloudhawk raised his hands in a gesture of helpless despair. ¡°Let¡¯s table the whole scolding me bit. I assume Oddball led the others, but how about you explain how the rest of you got here?¡± It wasn¡¯t very shocking to find Rio here with the Talons. Natessa was cunning, but Cloudhawk had his own tricks. He couldn¡¯t blame them, it was easy to miss the pudgy little yellow bird that had gone missing when he was captured. When they¡¯d thrown their shackles on him, it severed Cloudhawk connection with Oddball. However, everyone had a tendency to underestimate the goofy little thing. While maybe not as intelligent as a full grown adult, Oddball was as clever as your average ten year old. He didn¡¯t need to give it instructions most of the time. Oddball was more than able to make good decisions based on what it saw. The bird had hatched in part thanks to Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energies, so there was always a connection between them. Even if their mental union was severed, the bird still innately knew where its master was. When Oddball discovered that they were being led in the wrong direction, it pestered Rio until he figured it out. The Talon¡¯s Colonel didn¡¯t pay the bird much mind at first, so it was actually Drake and Claudia who were more sensitive to its cries. They¡¯d spent three years with Cloudhawk and knew there was more to Oddball than met the eye. With their suggestion, Rio broke off pursuit of the decoys and headed for Woodland Valley. Rio explained to his Warden. ¡°We were following the remaining wastelands warships, but it came to our attention that they were deliberately trying to lead us away. So we split into two forces, with Drake continuing to follow the ships while the Talons followed your little bird here. From there, Lady Claudia used her tracker senses to pinpoint this canyon and your location.¡± Alright, but what about Dawn and the others? How did they get here? That was thanks to Roc¡¯s speedy delivery of the information Cloudhawk was given. General Skye had been in the field commanding his troops when it arrived, and couldn¡¯t come himself. Luckily these four were already on various missions in the wastelands so they were ordered to come in his stead. They happened to all arrive at roughly the same time. Lady luck had smiled on Cloudhawk. It was almost fate. Even though Rio could track him to a relatively accurate location, it wasn¡¯t like Condor could fly into the canyon. Down in the dark here it was also unlikely the Talons would be able to successfully attack Hell¡¯s Army, meaning it was very likely he would have been killed as a hostage. It was the circumstance he feared was most likely. But much to his surprise, Atlas was the one who¡¯d come to the rescue. That bastard was just as sneaky as he was! Hell¡¯s Army had their own tracker-focused demonhunters, but it was almost impossible to catch an assassin like Atlas if you weren¡¯t on the lookout for him specifically. Selene and Frost had by now retreated from the front and joined them. Everyone regrouped in their corner of the canyon. There was an uncomfortable, almost awkward sense that hung over the party. It was a strange set of circumstances that brought them all here, and even in his wildest dreams he hadn¡¯t thought they¡¯d be together like this. After all, saying that their relationships were complicated was putting it lightly. Cloudhawk killed Atlas¡¯ little brother, so there was no love lost there. He¡¯d tried to get revenge a number of times on Cloudhawk to no avail, but in the end stood up for him in the Temple after having been saved from Majhima. Whether or not he might try to kill Cloudhawk again in the future, it was hard to say. Things were even murkier between Cloudhawk and Frost de Winter. It seemed their shared destiny was to despise one another. From the day they met, both men had rubbed each other the wrong way, and more than one Frost had made Cloudhawk¡¯s life miserable. If Cloudhawk was honest with himself, he had to admit that he¡¯d embarrassed the guy pretty severely as well, so they were far from friendly. Dawn and Selene seemed like female versions of Cloudhawk and Frost, with all the same animosity. They were the most beautiful and outstanding women of their generation. Dawn was born with a wide array of outstanding talent and a noble bearing, while Selene was the pride and joy of Skycloud. As the saying goes, a single mountain wasn¡¯t big enough for two tigers. Frost¡¯s greatest personality flaw was his arrogance. He looked down on all of these people. To him Atlas¡¯ skillset was too narrow, while Dawn was insane and had reached the peak of her abilities. As for Selene, she had the skill but no accomplishments to back them up. What¡¯s more, because of his relationship with Arcturus, he saw Selene almost as an enemy. Frost, in short, did not play well with others. Selene, for her part, was too aloof. Besides Cloudhawk, who she considered a friend, she hardly paid any mind to the rest of them. Now her stauts was even loftier after being named Apostle of the Temple. How was this team supposed to function? Who was supposed to lead them? Cloudhawk broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about the responsibility. He was about to say something when he felt a murderous look level at him. He turned his head to see. Because the call to arms had been quick, Frost hadn¡¯t had time to call on the likes of Augustus Cloude, but he had brought several of his elite demonhunters. Among them was a ugly man with a hammer attached to a chain. The Butcher? The hatred he felt for Cloudhawk resonated through his past lives! The battle in the canyon gradually cooled, and stopped. Wyrmsole and his counterpart Squall had analyzed the situation and a brief negotiation ensued ¨C a forced consensus. Neither pretended that the other was an ally, and that the chances were good they¡¯d get a dagger in the back. But the Elysians were an enemy to all of the wastelands people, and the enemy of my enemy was my friend ¨C at least for a little while. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 11 - Opening the Door The first problem Cloudhawk was struck with: This battle was impossible to fight! On the Elysian side there was Cloudhawk, Selene, Frost, Dawn, and Atlas ¨C the core of their fighting force. In addition there was Claudia, Rio, and Butcher as capable demonhunters. Together they were equivalent to several hundred Elysian soldiers. However, the wastelanders had not held back on sending their own heavy hitters. Wyrmsole, Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider, Blackfiend the Undying, the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army, Raven, Toad, Canker, Squall, Gremlin, Green Snake ¨C an impressive roster to say the least. To back them up were Ravenous Tiger¡¯s soldiers from Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, Wyrmsole¡¯s Conclave priests, and Raven¡¯s heavily armored techno-soldiers. Both groups were rife with capable fighters and solid backup. Neither the Highwaymen nor the Conclave had an advantage in strength or numbers. The wastelanders had also come a mutual understanding and joined forces against the Elysians. If Woodland Vale came under the control of Squall or the Conclave, at least it would still belong to the wastelands. While the two groups had deep-seated differences, both would keep it from Skycloud. This was imperative. If Woodland Vale was taken by Cloudhawk and his crew, it would be a disaster for everyone else. So long as Skycloud was involved, even enemies would join forces to make sure their worst case scenario wasn¡¯t realized. Despite their many disagreements and conflicts, none were stronger than the hatred they shared for Elysians. At least for now, the wasteland stood united in an effort to fight off their shared foe. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± Dawn had Terrangelica resting on one shoulder and her shield gripped tight in her other hand. Her face was full of excitement. ¡°I¡¯m taking the vanguard. I¡¯ve never fought in such a glorious battle! Let me see how many I can cut down before you all catch up.¡± Selene answered with a halfhearted sniff. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to die, no one will stand in your way.¡± Dawn immediately bristled. ¡°What are you saying?! Talk like a normal person for once!¡± Selene¡¯s keen eyes, like shimmering pools, peered across the way toward the man carrying a furled banner. ¡°Wyrmsole was once the Companion of the Order of Demonhunters, its second-in-command. If he fights at full strength, he is more terrible on the battlefield than even General Skye. If you think you can match that, then I invite you to try.¡± Selene was a Cloude. She knew exactly how strong each member of her family was. Before his fall from grace, Wyrmsole was a shining star among the Cloudes. Dawn knew this as well. Wyrmsole himself was already a very tough foe. Although Dawn hadn¡¯t fought any of the others, she could sense the danger hanging over them. At least ten of them were killers at their peak, and they outnumbered the elysians three-to-one. Victory seemed a remote possibility. Dawn visibly withered when the truth was pointed out, but she wasn¡¯t willing to allow herself to lose face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how strong they are, we can¡¯t retreat. If you¡¯re scared then run away. I know Cloudhawk will at least stand by my side.¡± Selene¡¯s delicate brows gathered in irritation. As for Cloudhawk, he could only force out a pained chuckle. This damned women. Why are they always dragging me into this stuff? Rio¡¯s eyes were sharp as daggers. ¡°The Talons of God are not a force to be disregarded! Men, form up!¡± Ten men with banners marched to the fore. All at once they released their mental energies, and together they formed a formidable barrier. Divine Grace, special Elysian war banners. Bestowed by the Temple to soldiers in faraway lands, they protected the faithful from harm. In situations like this they were bound to play an important role. Talon soldiers drew their bows, aimed for the sky, and let loose. A series of feathered volleys rose, leaving trails of light where they passed. Somehow they sped up as the projectiles fell. With an ominous whoosh the arrows picked their own target so that no arrow was shot in vain. As the wasteland soldiers came rushing across the canyon they were met with the hail of arrows. Their mad dash was slowed to a crawl. Of course, though wide in area and deadly to many, archers alone wouldn''t be enough to stop the wastelanders. Frost stood heroically to one side, with the crystalline spear held loosely in one hand. He reached for the sword on his belt with the other and drew forth Rimeshard. His cold eyes glared death at his foes, with the coldest stare aimed at Wyrmsole. From the frigid aura surrounding him rose a burning battle lust. Wyrmsole had been holding back in the Blisterpeaks, and still he had gone blow for blow with Frost. Arcturus¡¯ disciple was no typical demonhunter. Three veteran demonhunters together couldn¡¯t match his talent. Even so, it was clear to everyone that Frost still was not as strong as the former Companion, a fact which highlighted how dangerous their enemy was. ¡°It¡¯s already too late to run.¡± Impatience was clear in Dawn¡¯s voice. She shoved the tip of Terrangelica into the ground and released her mental energies into it. The canyon walls cracked and fractured, dislodging massive boulders. ¡°If any of you have a plan, now¡¯s the time!¡± The world shook as deadly arrows and crushing boulders rained upon the wastelanders. From the enemy lines, Natessa¡¯s whip cracked and birthed another tempest. The fierce winds cast the boulders back toward the Elysians, only for them to shatter against the protection of Divine Grace. ¡°If we don¡¯t get reinforcements here soon, we won¡¯t be able to last long.¡± Cloudhawk finally spoke his mind. ¡°Fighting recklessly isn¡¯t the best plan, but it is our only option. Fight or die, it¡¯s the way its gotta be.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we need to get into the valley and stop them. Watch how I do it.¡± Dawn put both hands on the hilt of her sword and pushed, shoving it into the ground until none of the steel was visible. Sparing no effort she assailed the canyon walls with her power, practically causing them to explode. Countless rocks of all sizes tumbled down, and everyone could feel the invisible surge of energy she released. It burst forward from under their feet. The earth rumbled like a dragon was slithering through the very stone. Clearly felt, but impossible to pinpoint. All of a sudden the wastelanders¡¯ rear echelon members were pitched off their feet as the ground opened up beneath them. A fissure split the rock, and many soldiers were too slow to react. They went screaming down into the darkness. The fissures split the canyon all the way to the stone door at its far end. Boom! A rumbling sound like thunder followed. Dawn¡¯s fissure stopped abruptly thirty meters before the door. It simply ended, like it¡¯d run into an invisible barrier. The towering door was easily a dozen meters tall. Enormous statues of roughly the same height were situated on either side. In the right hand of each was a spear, and in the left a shield. Solemnly they watched the canyon from their vantage, unscathed by Terrangelica¡¯s power. ¡°If the door was opened that easily, they would have gotten in a long time ago.¡± Even from across the canyon, Cloudhawk could hear the resonance from the door. The giant stone obstruction was actually a sort of seal, set here by the god that made this place. No outside power was going to force it open short of another nuclear bomb. Even a master demonhunter couldn¡¯t open it with brute force, because it was somehow drinking the force up. A key¡­ there had to be some sort of key¡­ doors were made to open, otherwise why put one here at all? His guess was that the key to opening it was resonating with a specific frequency, making the giant door no different from any other relic. Cloudhawk was suddenly reminded of Autumn¡¯s ''flute'', which was no typical flute at all. It didn¡¯t resonate with typical demonhunters, only someone with a very specific type of mental energy. It had sat around for three hundred years waiting for someone who could resonate with it. Autumn had been that someone. Well, and one other. Cloudhawk was the exception. From what he felt, the stone door and Shepherd¡¯s flute had a similar frequency. His first thought was that this proved both items were created thousands of years ago when the Vale was made, by the hand of its rebel god. His second notion was that if he could use the flute ¨C albeit poorly ¨C what was stopping him from opening this door? The request for help had been sent by Barb from inside Woodland Vale, with a map provided by Autumn. It was obvious they were in a great deal of danger, so coming out to open up a way in wasn¡¯t an option for them. ¡°Cover me, I¡¯m going to try something!¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t finished his thought when a plume of fire burst through the rubble. It struck the boulders like a deluge, blasted them aside. As it roared forward the fires coalesced into a fist, ultimately hammering into the entrenched Elysian forces. The shell of divine energy protecting them dimmed visibly. Wyrmsole appeared, wreathed in flame. His banner had been freed and its flag waved triumphantly in the scalding winds. Each flutter pulsed with energy that knocked Elysian arrows away. At the same time blazing orbs of fire rose up and arced forward. Selene summoned her holy crossblade and dashed from under the protection of Divine Grace. She rose into the air, resplendent in her white armor. Although her motions seemed almost slow, in reality she dashed with incredible speed through the enemy. Their relics and arrows assailed her, but she didn¡¯t dodge. They struck her armor but did not even leave a mark. Radiant crossblade and triumphant battle standard met. An explosive release of energy knocked both away. Selene¡¯s cold, hard words rang above the din, stressing each syllable. ¡°Where is the Crimson One!¡± ¡°The Holy Crossblade, his Sacred Vestments¡­ you¡¯ve grown, Selene.¡± Wyrmsole¡¯s weather-beaten features softened with reminiscence. He remembered the last time he¡¯d seen her, when she¡¯d just begun her training as a demonhunter. Now she stood before him, wielding Baldur¡¯s weapon and wearing his armor. She was still young, but strong enough to stand against him. ¡°Why do you wish to know?¡± ¡°To kill him,¡± she replied. A bitter smile wrinkled his already heavily lined face. ¡°I¡¯ve made a lot of mistakes in my time. The Crimson One as well. You would not even give us an opportunity to atone?¡± ¡°The only way you can atone for your many sins...¡± From ten meters away Selene swiped her weapon at Wyrmsole, knocking him further back, ¡°...is to die!¡± He wasn¡¯t going to give her the answer she wanted. One day Selene would be stronger than the Crimson One, but not now. Even with Baldur¡¯s inheritance, she would die if she faced her uncle. This was even truer now that the Crimson One had become leader of the fledgling Conclave of Judgment. Frost pulled his arm back and threw Frozen Dirge into the fray. It shot out like a beam of icy light. Wyrmsole easily knocked it aside with his standard. Frost appeared in front of Selene and snatched back his spear. In his left he still held Rimeshard, glinting dangerously. He used both relics to hack at Wyrmsole¡¯s banner. ¡°Leave him to me,¡± Frost hissed. ¡°Deal with the others!¡± Ravenous Tiger, Blackfiend and the three Giants were leading their respective troops in a counter attack against the Eylsians. The battle had broken out, a conflict of attrition. Skycloud¡¯s forces were under tremendous pressure. Dawn was locked in place, controlling the power of Terrangelica and otherwise unable to fight. Selene and Frost were in the enemy¡¯s midst and were paying Cloudhawk no mind. As for Atlas and the other members of the Court, who knew where they¡¯d disappeared to? With so many demonhunters and their relics vying for his attention, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t pinpoint where they¡¯d gone. ¡°Goddamnit, can¡¯t you idiots keep an eye on the big picture? We¡¯re not here so you can have a good time cutting people apart!¡± His irritated words went unheeded. He would have to rely on himself. Cloudhawk wrapped his fingers around the phase stone and then blinked across the field, toward the stone wall on the other side of the canyon. Woodland Vale was under attack, and had been for a while. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how they got in, but as far as he was concerned this door was the only way. It was either resonate with it, or find a weapon big enough to smash it apart. No weapon like that was at hand. He had to find another way, and fast. 1. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 12 - Buying Time Ravenous Tiger positioned himself before the Elysian defensive shield, his ax glowing brightly. But before he could, a column of light crashed down from overhead, blocking his path. It was a searing beam that, as he watched, began to carve a path in his direction. The ground beneath it split apart. ¡°Out of my way!¡± With a surprising amount of strength from his fat body, Ravenous Tiger heaved his ax at the column, splitting it apart. A second answered, headed right for the top of his head. He hastily used his ax to block it, but the impact nearly wrenched it from his grip. Quickly engaging his defensive relic, a shield sprang up to shield him from harm. It held. Selene dropped back to the ground with her white cloak flapping valiantly. She stood before the wastelanders as her crossblade seethed with dim holy light. With her left hand she reached back and drew a second sword. This one was different from her relic weapon. The Holy Crossblade was made entirely from holy energy and light, but her second sword was wholly physical. It was beautiful in its construction, a masterwork from hilt to tip. The blade itself was not steel, but a transparent material like glass or crystal. A faint light pulsed within. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s eyes went wide. He knew this weapon. ¡°Master Baldur¡¯s Transcendence?¡± Anyone with a passing education knew of Master Baldur¡¯s three mighty relics: His Sacred Vestments, his Transcendence, and the Holy Crossblade. The crossblade had long ago been bequeathed to Selene, but his Vestments and Transcendence were said to have been lost when he disappeared. Here she appeared, bearing all three. The daughter stood before her foes with the full inheritance of her father. Selene brandished the crystalline weapon, a perfunctory motion that immediately shattered Ravenous Tiger¡¯s defenses. An invisible but intense energy lifted him off his feet and threw the former governor several meters away. The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army gathered around her, together with Blackfiend. They wasted no time in assailing her with their strongest attacks. She stood alone, a spot of peerless white with a blade of light in one hand and one of crystal in the other. She was larger than life, an invincible avatar of divine fury. Both swords moved. No one dared test their strength. Selene kept five of the enemy¡¯s strongest at bay with nothing but her own power. Eckard had never met someone so young with so much strength. His face was a map of hideously twisted scars as he frowned. However he quickly saw her flaw; Selene¡¯s attacks were too strong, too overwhelming. She wasn¡¯t holding anything back, so while each strike was deadly they were also draining. ¡°How long can she keep this up? Don¡¯t fight her now, wait until she tires herself out.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apply ordinary logic to her. Your tactics won¡¯t work,¡± Natessa warned. ¡°Her Sacred Vestments are among the Cloude family¡¯s strongest relics ¨C made during the Great War. It was given to the founding father of the Cloude family by the gods themselves.¡± Eckard paused. ¡°What¡¯s so great about it? It looks ordinary to me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because this relic isn¡¯t offensive or defensive. It looks normal during combat.¡± ¡°Neither offensive or defensive? So what the hell does it do?!¡± Natessa explained . ¡°The Vestments store mental energy. Put another way, when wearing the armor one¡¯s energy is almost limitless. For every attack Selene does, her Sacred Vestments restore a large portion of it. We can¡¯t wait for her to tire out!¡± Eckard was taken by surprise. Demonhunters were already living war machines. A typical demonhunter could kill Eckard with a direct shot from one of their exorcist bows. Their primary limiting factor was mental energy and how long it took to recover it. In a battle like this it was easy to become exhausted, and once a demonhunter was drained his destructive capabilities were reduced dramatically. Now there was one who could quickly recover even after using her most powerful attacks. How could she be considered anything but invincible? Of course, there was no such thing was an invincible foe. The energy stored in Selene¡¯s Vestments represented whatever she poured into them before the fight. Its upper limit was perhaps ten times her typical mental capacity, a process which required days of effort. In other words, Selene could go from drained to fully recovered maybe ten times, but would be completely spent once the Vestments ran dry. To say they couldn¡¯t wait for her to tire herself out wasn¡¯t entirely true, only the five of them wouldn¡¯t be able to do it on their own. Strong as they were, under Selene¡¯s relentless assault they were forced to back off. Seeing her display, Dawn was also stunned. This crazy bitch was that strong?! She had to be on some sort of drugs! Elsewhere, Wyrmsole and Frost were in the middle of a fierce confrontation. Frost¡¯s attacks were swift and fierce, with his spear flashing through the air like a hundred angry dragons. Wyrmsole was caught among them, forced to defend himself against it and Rimeshard¡¯s continuous swipes. Each time he deflected Rimeshard with his banner, a thin sheet of ice thickened around it. It was the unique function of Frost¡¯s weapon that it suppressed the power of other relics, thus weakening Wyrmsole. This was why he told Selene to deal with the others. He knew the sort of power contained in her Sacred Vestments, which would allow her to fend them off. She was well-equipped to battle five enemies weaker than she, but the Vestments were less effective against someone closer to her own strength like Wyrmsole. On the other hand, Frost carried Rimeshard. With each swing he weakened Wyrmsole¡¯s power and brought the two of them closer to equal. So long as Frost kept up the pressure, Wyrmsole couldn¡¯t split his attention on other parts of the battle to lend aid. Layer after layer of ice crusted over Wyrmsole¡¯s standard, and not ordinary frost either. It was a condensed form of energy that interrupted the relic¡¯s resonance. Normal heat had no effect at dispersing it, and after a few exchanges Wyrmsole wa already finding it more taxing to try and summon his banner¡¯s strength. ¡°You¡¯re so eager to kill me, young man. All because I once betrayed your master? In bygone years I was also Arcturus¡¯ student, and like you I worshiped the man. Now I stand by the Crimson One. I decided to renounce my home, my honor, everything ¨C and do you know why?¡± Frost was not a man of words, but of action. In his typical, persistent style he focused completely on the battle at hand. He took advantage of Wyrmsole¡¯s pause to speak to launch into another assault, using the edge of his blade to answer the older man¡¯s question. Wyrmsole methodically and steadily fended off Frost¡¯s attacks. He could see it clear, the hostility that roiled just beneath this young man¡¯s icy surface. There was a secret hidden here¡­and if he could see it, then Arcturus had to know it too. It didn¡¯t matter. All that mattered was making sure Woodland Vale did not fall into Elysian hands. A surge of energy rose through Wyrmsole, summoning a pillar of fire around him. It roared with such intensity it threatening to blot out the sky. Rising like a dragon of fire, it swept overhead before descending toward Frost. The younger man¡¯s face darkened. Even after Rimeshard¡¯s suppression, he could still call such power? He reeled back, spinning Frozen Dirge around in his hand like a whirlwind as he squared off against the pillar of fire. Fire and ice collided. Steam filled the canyon from their struggle. Meanwhile, Dawn was not idle. She continuously poured her energies into Terrangelica to bring the canyon crashing down around them. Under her power the earth shook and landslides threatened her foes, while spikes of jagged rock were belched forth among their ranks. Only the enemy was too many. She couldn¡¯t stop them all on her own. Where did that idiot Cloudhawk get to?! Why isn¡¯t he helping! No sooner had the thought crossed her mind then the canyon began to shake, and not from Terrangelica. It came from somewhere deeper. She lifted her head and looked toward its source, the stone doorway. It was aglow with power that set its runes stark against the drab gray surface, like some ancient and archaic spell. Power flooded the canyon, filling it to the brim. The doors began to move! Cloudhawk! It had to be! He stood at the base of the massive door, both hands pressed against the rough stone. He felt with his mind for the resonance, joining with it, and in that moment there was a threat of light that appeared. It slowly rose from the ground up toward the door¡¯s apex while its runes flared to life. He was doing it, but he needed time ¨C if they kept him safe he would be able to open their way into Woodland Vale. Cloudhawk had slipped past everyone, far behind enemy lines. He was alone, isolated, and the enemy wasn¡¯t about to let him succeed. Dark power swirled around Squall¡¯s tattooed arm. A taunting chill invaded his eyes when he saw what Cloudhawk was attempting and he cried out to him. ¡°Such a disappointment. I thought eventually you¡¯d see reason and stand with us. Instead you¡¯ve become just another Elysian dog.¡± Cloudhawk knit his brows and focused on the door. He couldn¡¯t stop, or it would all be a waste. Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s shrill voice shouted orders. ¡°Raven! Kill him!¡± The cyborg wordlessly obeyed. Raven lifted an arm, preparing to attack, but was foiled by a dagger that appeared from thin air. Seething with purple energy, Deathstalker buried itself in its target¡¯s heart. Raven went stiff as iron. No normal weapon was a threat to Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s greatest achievement, but the dagger split flesh and metal like it was paper. The old scientist¡¯s three eyes went wide when he saw. A faint figure, almost like a shadow. Grinding his teeth he howled, ¡°Diiee!¡± A strike to the heart was deadly, especially a kiss from Deathstalker. However, Raven¡¯s body had long had its internal organs removed. For all its toxic fury, Deathstalker could not poison metal. As a reaction, a death beam fired from Raven¡¯s eyes right toward his shadowy attacker. Atlas blinked out of existence, only to appear half a moment later behind Cloudhawk. He returned Deathstalker to its sheath and drew a long, sickly shadow in its stead. He dropped into a combative posture. His voice was curt, and cold. ¡°How long?¡± ¡°A couple minutes!¡± Cloudhawk shouted back. Atlas¡¯ emotionless gaze swept over Three-Eyed Spider, over Raven, over Squall. He could hold them off, at least for the moment. But as he set his jaw to face them two more figures emerged, in robes of green and black. Besides the clothes they looked like typical wasteland mutants, but he sensed they were much more dangerous than that. One against five, and Atlas was not trained for head-to-head fighting. He wasn¡¯t a warrior like Selene, but he didn¡¯t shudder at the circumstance. He was a cold-blooded killer, and killers didn¡¯t blink. But his pupils contracted when they landed on one of his foes. Squall. ¡°You.¡± 1. . 2. ...In the middle of a fight... If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 13 - Stone's Awakening Squall was faced with a difficult reality in fighting Atlas. Without the assassin, Squall would have been dead three years ago. It was a surprise for Atlas as well. How could he have known that this man, who three years ago was hunting rats in the sewers to survive ¨C would rise to command a major wasteland power? A lopsided grin split Squall¡¯s features. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Atlas grip tightened around Malady, but his voice was unreadable. ¡°I just feel pity for the person who saved you.¡± Squall chuckled. ¡°How do you know how he thinks if you aren¡¯t him?¡± Atlas¡¯ eyes followed Squall¡¯s allies as they closed in, unblinking. ¡°Are you going to try and kill me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you as my enemies, but I can¡¯t let Woodland Vale fall into anyone else¡¯s hands. If you insist on trying to stop me, then I¡¯ll be forced to bite the hand that once fed.¡± Ruthlessness and savagery played on Squall¡¯s face, but there was conflict as well. He¡¯d lost a lot over the years, to the point where it¡¯d start to make him numb. He was finding it easier and easier to shed whatever morals he had left. Cloudhawk or Atlas, it didn¡¯t matter. If they stood in his way, better to deal with them now. He saw it in Squall¡¯s eyes. His heart and mind had been stepped in darkness, determined to kill. He was beyond the point of saving. But Atlas had never seen someone change so dramatically over such a short time. What happened to the young man that caused him to so thoroughly lose himself to darkness? What hatred made him willing to sacrifice everything? ¡°It seems I made a mistake.¡± Atlas spoke slowly, his voice low almost as though he were speaking to himself. ¡°Today I will rectify it. At least it¡¯s not yet too late.¡± Squall responded with a tepid chuckle, but smoldering ferocity twisted his youthful features. ¡°You think you can handle me? Hehe...¡± Raven acted. His wrist folded back to reveal a barrel, and a tempest of lead quickly followed! Under sustained fire from Raven¡¯s heavy gunfire, even a person who specialized in physical hardiness like Eckard would be overwhelmed ¨C much less Atlas. A man could be made of iron and still be blown to pieces. Atlas was nimble enough to dodge, but if he did it would leave Cloudhawk exposed to the gunfire. He couldn¡¯t move. Instead he left it to Malady. He hacked the sword through the air, sending a hundred shredding waves of energy forth. They were so numerous and so fast it was hard to follow their passage. None of his foes had seen a sword used so rapidly. Atlas had created a wall of protection in front of him through expert use of his weapon. If someone threw a pot of ink at him, not a single drop would pass to strike his body. Of all the talented youth of his generation, only Atlas was this quick. The air was alive with sparks. The ground between Raven and Atlas was ruined from blade and bullet. Onlookers stared in shock at the display. A brief lull allowed Atlas to react, and with an almost imperceptible flash he launched into an attack. Raven was quick, though, and raised his cloak of steel feathers defensively. Malady racked against the cloak, leaving no damage. As fast as the assassin was, Atlas¡¯ weakness was obvious. He didn¡¯t have the strength to force his way through a stalwart defense. His relics were focused on speed and stealth, not direct confrontation. Raven swung his other arm around and belched a grenade from his wrist, which Atlas knocked away. A shuddering explosion quickly followed which knocked him back several meters and wounded him with the shrapnel. Cloudhawk was watching from the corner of his eye and felt his heart sink. Squall was using the fact that Atlas was forced to protect him for an advantage. Despicable ¨C Squall had said he was disappointed in Cloudhawk¡¯s choices, but his wicked deeds were what was disappointing. Cloudhawk shouted in anger, ¡°What happened to your conscience, Squall!¡± The leader of the Highwaymen showed no reaction, no remorse. At Raven¡¯s command, his technological fighting force joined the fray. They hefted their massive weapons and aimed them toward Atlas and Cloudhawk. Both men felt the air shift as a sense of danger filled their minds. They were alone ¨C Dawn¡¯s Terrangelica didn¡¯t work this close to the door, and she was beset by the invading forces. Frost and Selene were warring with others, and everyone else was fighting for their lives. Cloudhawk called to Atlas. ¡°Hey, forget about me and get yourself the hell out of here!¡± Although the two men were far from friendly, but in contrast to Frost he at least had some respect for the assassin. At least their relationship was clear, and they treated each other like men. Cloudhawk also wasn¡¯t convinced Squall would really kill him. Raven¡¯s men pulled their triggers. With only his sword to protect him, Atlas could brandish it twice as fast as before and still get hit. And he did; bullets found purchase in his chest, arms, abdomen ¨C even his face. With each successive hit his defenses failed even more. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t face it. ¡°Are you fucking stupid?! Run!¡± Atlas didn¡¯t budge. This was his mission. Ever since he was small, the assassin had undergone strict training. He was raised less like a human and more like a machine. To Atlas, he only had worth when he completed his assigned task. Today, that task was to stop the wastelanders from entering Woodland Vale by any means necessary. Part of that was supporting the Elysian forces, and he would not abandon them even if it meant his life. Apprehension tore at Cloudhawk¡¯s heart, undermining his focus. He had to get this door open! Everyone reeled as suddenly a thunderous blast shook the ground! The earth quaked much stronger than anything Terrangelica had produced before, as everyone turned to face a blast of energy that ripped through the canyon. Ethereal blue light sprang to life in the eyes of the statues beside the door. The statues¡¯ eyes¡­ what was happening?! Fighting stopped as all attention was turned to the statues. Their enormous pikes stabbed suddenly at the crowd that had gathered by their feet, slaying a dozen wastelanders in the blink of an eye. Incredible! These things could move! Shocked and incredulous eyes watched as the statues came to life and pulled themselves forward. The spears they wielded ¨C so thick several men together couldn¡¯t wrap their arms around one ¨C raked across the ground. Men were sent flying, in whole or in pieces, as the statues swept them away like refuse. These enormous sculptures were too large, too destructive for anyone to contend with. Despite the alarm Cloudhawk felt, he nonetheless recognized that this was part of Woodland Vale¡¯s defenses. The door must have felt Cloudhawk¡¯s fear and impatience, sensed the danger he was in. The statues were its response, dispatched to clear the threat. Amazing¡­ were these also left by the Vale¡¯s patron, the Shepherd? Massive pikes were thrust toward Squall¡¯s location. Both he and Three-Eyed Spider who stood nearby threw themselves out of the way. Three-Eyed Spider, a wasteland scientist, had never seen such a miraculous event. His third eye popped open and fixed on the statues ¨C stone, nothing but stone. How could they move like living things?! ¡°Deal with it, quickly!¡± In the face of these mighty defenders, Raven was forced to turn his offense away from Atlas and toward this new danger. A volley of grenades were launched at the stone figures, scarring their surface but otherwise dealing no damage. They were too big, and too sturdy. While their movements were clumsy, they were made of solid rock, so normal weapons were limited in what they could accomplish. Squall burst into action. He leaped onto one of the spears and followed it up to the statue¡¯s shoulder. As he charged forward, his left arm glowed with infernal power just before ramming his fist into the statue¡¯s face. Crrrack-crack! A chunk of the monolith¡¯s cheek split and fell away, but it didn¡¯t seem to faze it. These defenders had no vulnerabilities, he could shatter their stony skulls and it would make no difference. The sudden addition of these creatures to the battle sent trepidation rippling through the wastelanders. Suddenly the Elysians felt the pressure ease considerably. All the while, light continued to diffuse through the stone door like the branches of a tree. Ten seconds more and it would start to react. Atlas was hunched but still standing at Cloudhawk¡¯s back, wounded in a dozen places. Thanks to his quality armor, none of the wounds were too serious. Squall and several of his allies were distracted by the statues, but that wasn¡¯t the end of his troubles. There were still the two Barren Kings to contend with. ¡°A true masterwork of the old gods. If the door is this magnificent, I ache to know how wonderful the world beyond it is.¡± Toad¡¯s hideous face was twisted and foul, like melted wax. As he watched the statues, he croaked toward his companion in black. ¡°But first, to deal with the Elysians. Shall you go first, or shall I?¡± Canker answered by stepping forward, and raising his arms. The large sleeves drooped but nothing could be seen from inside but an inky darkness. Suddenly, that darkness writhed free from the confines of the robe. The fog spread quickly, created an orb of perfect darkness four or five meters in diameter. It was a strange and perfect darkness, like thick ink drawn together in an orb that filled their vision. From deep inside they could hear a faint buzz. Atlas hesitated. He¡¯d never seen anything like this. Wastelanders couldn¡¯t be demonhunters¡­ this attack had to be some kind of mutation, coming from the body of the mutant himself. But what kind of terrible power was this? Whatever it was, it would stop when the mutant¡¯s head was cut off! Atlas moved so quickly he became a streak of dull light. All corporeal material in his wake was cleaved apart, including the rotten body of the creature in black. It slopped to the ground in two cleanly severed halves. Toad watched as his companion was felled and shook with gloating laughter. ¡°Ah, Canker. How could you let this whelp get the better of you?¡± The two pieces of Canker floated back into the air like shards of torn paper and fused back together. The black-robed mutant stood before them like nothing had happened, and the orb of darkness he¡¯d summoned was undisturbed. A strange and measured voice hissed from the darkness of the robes. ¡°His blade is too fast.¡± Atlas¡¯ image reappeared several meters away. He knew his blow had struck, he felt it as he cut the mutant in two. But it didn¡¯t seem to do anything¡­ How? An odd feeling drew Atlas attention to his weapon, where some residual darkness clung to the blade. When he looked closer, he saw that the darkness was actually infinitesimally small insects. That black fog was made of a huge number of minute insects. They crawled over his weapon after he¡¯d racked it through the mist. Atlas watched in shock as the tiny bugs gnawed at his weapon, quickly covering the blade. Of course Malady was a mighty relic, and no amount of insects was going to damage it. However he soon discovered that his cloak was also covered in them, so he ripped it off and threw it to the ground. He watched as it was devoured before his eyes. The mass of black insects was spreading and dissolved the cloak like acid. It didn¡¯t take long for the clothing to vanish entirely, leaving only a nauseating smell behind. Canker¡¯s insects had brief life spans but powerful corrosive properties. When that acidic substance was released they dissolved and devoured anything they touched, making them incredibly deadly. ¡°You demonhunters¡­ did you expect us wastelanders to collapse at the first blow? Perhaps today you will learn our real power!¡± Toad¡¯s raspy and unsettling voice called out again. ¡°Canker! Stop wasting time. We fight him together.¡± 1. Oh damn you guys, he¡¯s fighting ! As an aside, Tipsy was clever in his naming choice here and with this new reveal I¡¯ve decided to make a change. In Chinese his name is ºÚÊ´, ¡®black Canker¡¯ or ¡®black corrosion.¡¯ At the time, all we knew about him was that he was pitch black, which made Eclipse seem like the proper choice. However, now that we see bugs are involved it makes things more complicated. The character for insect is ³æ, which we can see nestled in the second half of Canker¡¯s name. Interestingly that character ¨C Ê´ ¨C is a combination of ³æ and â»which is the radical for eat! So eat bugs! In addition to Canker, Ê´ also means ¡®canker¡¯, and with the whole bug angle and their corrosive abilities I chose Canker to allude to cankerworms and the imagery of sickly dissolving. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 14 - Super Mutants Toad bulged as he filled with air, and his body blistered with pustule-like poison glands. The hideous, pimpled body swelled until it was permeable, then weeping in a way that was nauseating to behold. Each one of the swollen glands released a toxin which interacted with the air, dissolving into a deadly fog. With each movement the grotesque figure made, more fetid air rose around him. It was a scene well known throughout the Northern Barrens. Toad wasn¡¯t just immune to poison, his whole body was peppered with toxic pockets from inside out. Over his many years Toad had scoured the wastes for its many poisonous creatures, stealing their bounty from them. The mist that seeped from him now was the consequence of that searching, years and years of toxins released all at once. Poison floated through the air itself! There was nothing like it. Every cell of the mutant¡¯s body was deadly. A normal man would die in an instant after a mere touch. Once Toad engaged his whole body, that terrible potency grew even more, and the pestilence killed everything it came in contact with. Even the very grass withered around him. It was obvious at a glance that one could not approach this creature, much less touch him. Even demonhunters would find themselves in dire circumstance if they did. So far, Toad had encountered no creature that could withstand his poison. ¡°Bear witness, young Elysian ¨C A mighty King of the Northern Barrens!¡± By now Toad was round as a ball and crouched on all fours. His green robes were now a small vest on his engorged, amphibian-like body. ¡°If your soul does flutter to your holy mountain after death, tell your self-righteous gods that one day I will reduce them to rot as well!¡± Atlas stared at him with a dark scowl. ¡°All talk.¡± His form flickered, then all at once the assassin disappeared from view. Toad¡¯s swollen body jiggle as it belched a laugh. ¡°Gaaah gaah gaah! You think you can hide? Look at your young friend!¡± Toad vomited a stream of poison toward Cloudhawk, forcing Atlas to reappear and come to his defense. Once again he brandished the sword with lightning speed so that not a single drop of the poison passed through. Even holding his breath and focusing on shutting his pores, and even though Atlas was moving at speed, what little skin was exposed to the poison fog immediately began to decompose. Toad¡¯s black laughter rang through the canyon. ¡°You are no match for me!¡± For the moment Atlas was not gravely wounded by the poison, and he could still move without issue. However, with the situation as it stood he could not fight back effectively. Nearby, Canker was also following the young assassin with a malicious gaze. The inky fog around him grew thicker still. Millions upon millions of insects ¨C no longer than a tenth the size of a grain of rice ¨C floated through the air. Where Toad was living poison, Canker was an insect. His actual body was still a mystery, even to this day. No wasteland scientist had ever had the opportunity to study him. The truth was that this mutant was unique, a hive of insects that was able to turn other living things and itself into hosts. Eggs were nurtured, hatched, and from them were birthed these insignificant black bugs. He couldn¡¯t even be called human any longer. In reality, he was more of an amalgamation. Any part of him ¨C it, really ¨C could live independently of the whole. As it stood nearby bits of some unidentified substance sloughed from below the clothing. The strange, flesh-like matter slithered along the ground, infecting the corpses of the fallen. Soon those corpses swelled, and eventually burst as clouds of black insects fought free. Before long, the air was choked with them. Insects flew into every opening, every gap in armor. There was no way to protect against them. For Elysians, these Barren Kings were largely unknown. However, in the northern lands they hailed from, mentioning the names Toad or Canker would summon a chill up anyone¡¯s spine. They were true super mutants, beasts known as Kings. Both had at sometime in the past single-handedly destroyed an entire settlement. A millennium of life in the most heinous of environments had transformed them into creatures that could survive almost anything. Either of them had the strength to threaten and kill demonhunters. Atlas was painfully aware that he had no methods to fight them. He was the elite, an assassin of incredible talent and the child of a mighty noble family. But today, he was entirely castrated by these monsters from the wilds. He glanced behind them, at the battle raging between the wastelanders and the statues. They had collapsed, finally, after killing easily several hundred Highwaymen. Massive chunks of stone fell to the ground as the statues finally succumbed to gunfire and explosions. There was no time to waste. Cloudhawk reached into the phase stone and drew on the energy stored within. Runes etched within the door blazed brighter and spread faster in response, until they covered the entire surface. Finally the ground shook as the stone barrier began to give way. The single line of line that bisected it started to widen. They door began to open inward. Success¡­ On the heels of his victory Cloudhawk spun around to face Toad. He called out to Atlas. ¡°That goopy asshole I leave to you. Let me handle this prick.¡± The doors were opening! The light from inside was rising in intensity, filling the deepest part of the canyon. Without wasting a beat Cloudhawk raced toward Toad, and the hideous mutant met him with a grin. He regurgitated a glob of poison that sprayed all over the space between them. It fell over Cloudhawk and yet¡­ nothing. For it never touched him at all. The phase field rippled imperceptibly. Both the mutants had a weakness that was easy to recognize. The attacks themselves weren¡¯t very strong, so while they were an intractable threat to most they did not scare Cloudhawk. Nothing they could summon would overpower his phase abilities. He charged ahead, heedless of the poison. The Silver Serpents gleamed in his hands. Toad knew that demonhunters were capable of all sorts of miracles, but he¡¯d never encountered someone who could turn their body incorporeal. Against someone like that his poison was ineffectual. Yet the Green King was a survivor of countless battles, and would not let the surprise throw him off. He couldn¡¯t keep that strange power engaged forever. If he ever planned to attack he would have to drop it. He stayed put, focusing everything on releasing more of the poison stored in his body. Rolling clouds of malignant fog hung around him. His bulging figure was lost within it. ¡°Fool.¡± Cloudhawk appeared in front of Toad, and just as he expected the young Elysian was immediately soaked by the poisonous cloud. At this level of concentration he would be killed immediately. But¡­ nothing happened. Cloudhawk did not react to the poison at all. With a sickening shhhtck, two identical silver blades plunged into Toad¡¯s grotesque body. Toad had the leathery flesh of his namesake, tough and tenacious, but not tougher than steel. Cloudhawk was confident he was on the verge of cutting the frog-like freak to ribbons. Toad, feeling fear grip him, deflated like a punctured balloon. A dozen gashes of silver light swept by harmlessly once their target shrank back to normal size. But the last-second gambit came at a price. Both of Toads arms were hacked off, and several more wounds appeared across the rest of his body. Even while reeling from the dire wounds, the mutant was aghast at how Cloudhawk was completely unfazed by his poison. How?! No creature he¡¯d met had ever survived being doused by his poison! Atlas was also continuing his onslaught against Canker. The cloud of insects had not risen to its peak yet, but was already choking out what little light was coming from overhead. Masses of insects gathered around Canker¡¯s body and pressed together tight, like a shield. Atlas jumped into the air and disappeared, moving too fast to follow. A dozen gashes raked against the shield of insects from several different directions. The swarm disintegrated. Canker was carved into several pieces. Though not enough to kill the creature, Canker would be out of the fight for a least a little while. At last, the door was open. The world beyond was revealed. As the door fully extended, intense light flooded the canyon, blinding the eye. The door served as an enormous vortex as all the air within the canyon was sucked out. It was as though someone punched a hole in the bottom of a tank and all the water was pouring free. Many of the weaker wasteland fighters were picked up off their feet and flung through the door, vanishing into the blinding light. Their fate was unclear. The others stared at one another with wide, wild eyes. ¡°Woodland Vale! The way is open!¡± Wyrmsole¡¯s mission had failed. He had been unable to stop his enemies here. As for Squall, the desire to fight was gone. Now that the door to the Vale was open, continuing to throw himself at his enemies was pointless. Get in, and find a way to take control ¨C that was the plan. If he didn¡¯t then the Conclave would beat him to it. ¡°Forget about them,¡± Squall shouted. ¡°We¡¯re going in!¡± Squall and his henchmen made a beeline for the door, and they weren¡¯t alone. This millennial treasure trove was within their grasp, open and ready for the taking. They had to get in! Wyrmsole ran as fast as he could toward the light. Frost and Selene returned to the Elysian camp. Dawn cried out, ¡°The door is open. Everyone, on me!¡± To which the Elysians all charged toward the door. Claudia scowled. Because that bastard Cloudhawk had brought the child, she wasn¡¯t sure what to do. Was she supposed to follow, dragging the child with her into a war zone? It was their only option, a problem to deal with once they were on the other side. They ran through the press of bodies, Azura holding tight to Claudia¡¯s hand. When they passed through the wall of light suddenly it felt like passing through a windstorm. They were immediately lost in the buffeted gusts and blinding light. Claudia didn¡¯t even know which direction she was facing. An intense blast of air struck her in the face. Azura cried out as the wind flung her away. Claudia and Rio both reached for her, but it was too late. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 15 - The Godtree Azura felt like the breath was stolen from her lungs, and felt her stomach leap into her throat as she fell. For a moment it was like she had slipped into a bottomless pit, and then she lost consciousness. An indeterminate amount of time passed. Azura slowly came to, awoken by the sound of chirping birds. The air was crisp, clean and refreshing. She greedily drew in gulps of air like it was the most delicious thing she¡¯d ever tried. It made her dizzy until she stopped. Once her senses fully returned, the small girl realized she was slung over a set of not very broad but safe shoulders. Someone was carrying her over rugged terrain, careful not to jostle her too much. Azura¡¯s brilliant blue eyes opened and she looked around. She was greeted with a world full of life and vitality. Colossal trees that had to be thousands of years old rose all around her, each one easily a hundred meters tall or more. It would take a dozen people to completely surround one of them. Above the sky was covered by a canopy of green, thick luxuriant leaves layered one on top of another. Then there was the fruit, large and inviting, hanging from branches lining their path. From twig to branch the trees were covered in moss and other foliage. Flowers peaked through the underbrush, glorious and in full bloom. Their dizzying fragrance danced in the air. Although she could not see the sky, their path was not dark. Luminous mushrooms peppered the ground and provided more than enough light for her to see. They came in all sizes, with the smallest the size of a fingernail and the biggest half the height of a man. She was inundated with greenery, it was as though no inch of soil was wasted. The sheer volume of growth left her dumbfounded, with life occupying every nook and cranny. Creatures akin to jellyfish danced on the breeze on the edges of her vision, glowing like fireflies. Deeper in the forest she often caught side of fawns or rabbits. None of them were aggressive, like playful spirits flitting among the trees. It was so serene, so quiet, so peaceful, and so fertile¡­ in a word: Perfect! Azura stared, hardly able to comprehend what she was seeing. This dreamscape, this fairy tale forest was unfolding before her eyes. A familiar voice whispered into her ear. ¡°What do you think? Pretty, right?¡± She looked down and for the first time recognized the tattered gray cloak beneath her. Cloudhawk had raced in to save her after the winds had ripped Azura from Claudia¡¯s grasp. Her eyes sparkled as she continued to try and take in everything at once. A joy that sprang from the depths of her heart was given voice in her words. ¡°So pretty! I like this place.¡± Cloudhawk chuckled. ¡°Well, then you¡¯re really going to like what you see next.¡± He crouched down then leaped into the air. He and Azura rose sharply through the air, fast as a bullet until they pierced the canopy. He landed on the tops of the trees light as a feather. The world opened up before them. It was a scene that confounded her imagination. A sea of green was revealed, stretching as far as the eye could see. Ancient trees reached toward the heavens, tall as mountains. It was a world where the full expression of its wild and natural essence was left unchecked. The wind blew, causing the canopy to undulate like verdant waves far into the distance. The pleasant sound of rustling leaves was the only noise. Incredible. Cloudhawk only had Greenland Outpost to compare it to, and this cradle of life was a hundred times better. It was a unique paradise, filled to the brim with life. In sharp contrast to the blasted lands outside, everything here was pristine. No mutations, no forced evolution. It was exactly as it must have been a thousand years ago. Yet the forest was ornamentation. When Azura¡¯s eyes gazed upon the center of this wooded utopia, she felt the breath catch in her throat. A truly gargantuan tree occupied the center of the forest. It was no exaggeration to say it was the size of a mountain. Its trunk had the look and consistency of black rock, rising three thousand meters up into the sky. The canopy was enormous, practically enveloping the clouds. It had to be five kilometers from end to end. It was a towering island in a windswept sea, a majestic king surrounded by countless adoring subjects! How small humans were¡­ they could stare at a tree a few meters high and be in awe. An average tree in this forest was a thousand years old and a hundred meters tall. The tree in the center of the forest was several thousand, so that even at this great distance they still couldn¡¯t get a full view. Striking was putting it mildly. The visual seeped into one¡¯s very soul, making them feel small like an ant or speck of dust. In the face of the towering Godtree, humans were insignificant. Its canopy was breathtaking, so high that clouds wafted among the leaves and made them hard to see. If they looked closely, Azura and Cloudhawk could almost see structures built between the branches. That had to be where the people of the Vale lived. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was thick with praise. ¡°Truly a god¡¯s masterpiece, don¡¯t you think? Spectacular.¡± Skycloud was full of its own miracles, or had been at one point. He was reminded of the waterfall that fell from the heavens and the enormous border wall. However, it was Azura¡¯s first time seeing anything like this. She was rendered speechless. That was enough. Cloudhawk had subjected the small child to terrible danger, but it was a critically important experience for her. She had witnessed the bitter, cruel war between the Elysian lands and the wastes. She learned what it meant to be strong, how important it was. Now she faced a true miracle and witnessed the sort of beauty that could exist. It was a series of ordeals that would change her utterly and forever. Azura was a talented young girl. Cloudhawk had a sneaking suspicion that if she grew well, Azura could change the world. He trusted his gut impressions, which was why he agreed to take her own as a disciple in the first place. Azura¡¯s curious voice interrupted his reverie. ¡°Where are we?¡± He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a strange place. Everyone¡¯s been separated in the forest. I guess you could say we¡¯re lost, but that big tree is a pretty hard landmark to miss. If there¡¯s anywhere that serves as the heart of this place, my bet is it¡¯s there. So that¡¯s where we¡¯re headed.¡± Azura¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t as good as her teachers, so she couldn¡¯t make out the buildings that were constructed along its boughs. But she didn¡¯t need to know there were people living there to understand it was the heart of this magical place. And if she could figure that out, so could everyone else. Heading to it as fast as possible was the right decision. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡± There wasn¡¯t any time to enjoy the scenery. Everyone else had to have seen the tree ¨C it was impossible to miss ¨C and had to be headed that way. The longer they stood there the further behind they fell. Cloudhawk wrapped his hand around the phase stone. Reality undulated around him and his charge and then suddenly they were gone. They blinked back into existence a dozen or so kilometers closer to the tree. Without any threat to distract him, around twelve kilometers was the current limit to what Cloudhawk could muster. He rested for a little while, then teleported them further. For Azura it was a series of stutters, each one bringing them closer to the enormous tree. At first it was a distant image, like staring at a mountain in the horizon. A few minutes later, though, and her vision was filled with the thick black bark of it. They were now too close for her to see the whole thing at once. By the time they reached the tree Cloudhawk was spent. The size of the thing was absolutely breathtaking, and its canopy covered the ground for miles in shadow. Because the sun was shut away there were no large trees here to compete for space. Instead, a long grassy expanse was all there was between them and the base of the heart tree. Never had Azura experienced so much green in all her short years. The grass alone was stunning to her. Eye-opening was an understatement. She was still recovering when Oddball jumped off Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder and began circling them excitedly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your bird?¡± He reached out with his mind to connect with Oddball, gathering what he could through their shared link. Cloudhawk then looked toward the towering crest of the tree, his keen eyes caught site of numerous heavy black fruit. Azura followed the line of his gaze and suddenly understood. ¡°He likes to eat fruit? He¡¯s so greedy!¡± Never taking his eyes off the tree, Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Those aren¡¯t fruit.¡± She looked at him strangely. ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s growing off the tree. Isn¡¯t that fruit?¡± ¡°I guess if you put it that way you aren¡¯t wrong. Maybe it¡¯s better to call it a very special fruit.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was thoughtful. ¡°That¡¯s eboncrys, which is why Oddball is so excited.¡± ¡°What¡¯s eboncrys?¡± ¡°Something that is very useful,¡± he explained. ¡°It¡¯s different from other minerals, not least of which because you don¡¯t dig it up from the ground. It contains a thousand times more energy than its weight in fuel, and is very stable. Wastelanders and Elysians both want it to power their weapons.¡± She still didn¡¯t really understand, but it was obvious from the way Cloudhawk talked about it that eboncrys was special. She looked over the tree, completely covered by the black balls. Weapons, he said¡­ if bad people got their hands on this, they could hurt a lot of people. She muttered to herself ominously. ¡°This isn¡¯t a Godtree. It¡¯s a death tree.¡± Already people were fighting, killing, and dying to get to this tree. Whoever took control of it would definitely be one of the world¡¯s most powerful groups, and only bring more death and suffering. Any awe and admiration Azura had for this tree quickly fled. She didn¡¯t think a tree like this should exist at all. Cloudhawk looked down at his little disciple, at her solemn face, and smiled approvingly. He then looked back at the tree. Now he understood why Autumn had brought so much eboncrys with her during her journey through the wastelands. She could have carried kilos of it, and it wouldn¡¯t have made a dent in what the tree produced. With a little refinement, just one of these black ¡®fruits¡¯ could produce several handfuls of eboncrys. A quick glance told him that there had to be hundreds of thousands of them up there, ready to be plucked. The small ones were the size of a human head, and the big ones rivaled water tanks. It was a thousand years of accumulation. This was the fabled treasure of Woodland Vale. Cloudhawk called to Oddball, trying to calm it down. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time, buddy. Wait a little bit and I¡¯ll make sure you can eat as much as you¡¯d like.¡± Oddball had never seen so much eboncrys, much less the ¡®fruit¡¯ it came from. The unrefined bounty of the tree was even more suitable for him to nibble on, and easier to digest. If he stayed here for a little while, Oddball was certain to grow quickly. Something was happening in the tree. Cloudhawk was pondering a way to get up, when from the treeline behind him came the sound of an explosion. Someone was fighting somewhere in that dense forest. ¡°Fuck, these guys are a pain in my ass...¡± Cloudhawk scowled, weighing his options. He decided to go take a look. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 16 - The Dragon The sound had come from a small clash. By the time Cloudhawk arrived at the scene, it had already finished. He crouched up in the boughs of the giant trees with the ghost-faced mask pressed against his face. Peering through the leaves, he peeked at the scene before him. Scar marks and bullet holes could be seen in the bark. Smaller shrubs and undergrowth had been trampled by something big. Corpses littered the grassy floor, some dressed as Elysians and some as wastelanders. But the wounds that had taken their lives were strange. It wasn¡¯t bullets or explosions that¡¯d killed them, nor Skycloud arrows. He ruled out relics, too, based on the results he saw. The bodies were badly mangled by tooth and claw. Heads were cracked open like coconuts and their contents were conspicuously missing. By the look of things, they were killed by some sort of terrible monster. The fight hadn¡¯t lasted long, either. Whatever it was killed its prey quick, then consumed their brains. When he was sure the coast was clear, Cloudhawk dropped down to inspect the battlefield more closely. Picking through the bodies, he recognized them as elite soldiers from both Skycloud and the wasteland. One of them wore badly damaged red robes. Cloudhawk carefully followed the tracks and signs. He determined that the creature had snuck up on the expeditionary force in battle with the wastelander, and had attacked the Conclave priest first. The demonhunter was probably dead before he even knew what was happening. From there, the monster killed two more in quick succession. When the others saw what had happened they tried to fall back, but the beast gave chase and killed three more. Following the trails of blood, Cloudhawk found the rest half-eaten and buried in the underbrush a few meters away, killed before they could run very far. Whatever this thing was, it was strong. It was somewhere close. He turned around and motioned for silence. Leaving Azura in a safe place, Cloudhawk then had Oddball scout around. With the stench of gore in its nostrils the little bird began its search. Their target was big enough that its tracks were easily followed, especially for the bird¡¯s keen eye. It followed the signs to an ancient cemetery, where a root system close to the surface had knotted together into a burrow. Inside was a strange, twisted thing. Its entire body was green, and covered in scales. They were beautiful in their own way, like interlocking green gems. A long, serpentine body crouched on powerful legs, streamline and supple. Its head was crowned with a pair of short horns, and wings sprouted from the middle of its back that were large enough to give it the power of flight. Cloudhawk murmured to himself. ¡°What is a beast like this doing in Woodland Vale...¡± It didn¡¯t look mutated. The wastelands had big creatures of its own, but those were changed after a thousand years of alteration a harsh environment. Whatever cataclysm had ended the world, it had also compressed tens of thousands of years of evolution into a much shorter period. There was a rule for the development of all living things ¨C haste makes waste. Animals were no exception. Mutated creatures emerged with extra organs or physical structures, but the forced evolution caused flaws as well. Strange redundancies, unhelpful additions, and other negative changes. One could tell a mutated thing at a glance because it didn¡¯t have the harmonious symmetry of a natural thing. It was different here. Woodland Vale was isolated from the devastation that the rest of the world had suffered, and its creatures were not forced to rapidly adapt to a deadly atmosphere. What¡¯s more, nothing about this creature looked out of sorts. The monster, in quiet repose within its lair, was obviously the product of continued evolutionary perfection over time. It was almost intuitive, completely separate from the beings of the wastes. Cloudhawk was reminded of the reason Autumn left her perfect home. She had told him the Vale was under attack by a ferocious beast, one which was murdering her peaceful and defenseless people. With so many dead already, she¡¯d been forced to seek answers out in the poisoned world beyond the stone door. He¡¯d seen what it had done to a group of hardened warriors. There was no doubt the monster was strong. He now had more than enough reason to believe Autumn¡¯s story. This creature, with its powerful body and six-meter wingspan, had to be the monster she meant. But it was strange. The Vale was closed off from the outside. How had a threat like this appeared only now? The winged lizard sensed something. A pair of burning viridian eyes opened and immediately fixed on the little yellow bird flapping around its home. A thorny tongue, sharp as a rapier, shot from its maw to try and skewer the creature that had disturbed its slumber. Oddball was taken by surprise. It hastily avoided the monster¡¯s tongue and fled back toward Cloudhawk. The brief interaction only proved that the monster was quick to anger. A sound somewhere between a hiss and a growl rattled from its throat like a hungry predator as it leaped from its burrow. Powerful wings beat once, twice, lifting it into the air with a speed to match Oddball¡¯s. ¡°Blue, stay here. Stay as still as possible.¡± Cloudhawk turned in the direction of the encroaching creature. He pulled Basilisk off his back, drew back its string, and released an arrow of energy through the forest. Where it passed, leaves and branches withered and crumbled. They made gentle thuds as they hit the ground, completely petrified. The gray arrow brushed passed Oddball, toward the angry beast that was quickly gaining from behind. But the creature was perceptive, and alert. It sensed the danger approaching. Instinct forced its wings to beat harder and lifted the monster high, but the arrow still glanced off its back. The scales stopped the arrow from finding purchase, but their emerald hue turned into a rotten grayish-white. Thud! The beast hit the ground, writhing in pain. Its back was already turning to stone. Oddball returned safely to perch on its masters shoulder while Cloudhawk watched the beast suffer from a safe distance. It was a monster of explosive power, good at stealth, and was conveniently protected by a body encased in scales. No wonder it was so easily suppressing the human population here. It was no surprise how it had killed so many. But Basilisk was deadly to any living thing. No flesh or organ could survive petrification. Cloudhawk¡¯s victory over the creature was more confusing to him than joyful. It was easily within the ability of Gabby or the others to put the thing down. Hell, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t take the old drunkard in a fight, so why hadn¡¯t he handled this thing? Azura cried out. ¡°Careful, it isn¡¯t dead!¡± He hesitated, feeling the danger press in on him just as she gave her warning. A flash of green, quick as a specter. It was too quick for Cloudhawk to defend himself and gave him no chance to. As the monster swooped toward him it lashed out first with its spear-like tongue for his head. It was mighty enough to puncture iron plate, much less the comparatively brittle skull of a man. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to dodge. Turning toward the tongue, his eyes went wide as the vision of his brainless corpse littering the jungle floor filled his mind. The creature struck, fast as lightning. Sparks flew and a ringing sound filled his ears. Cloudhawk stumbled backward as stars filled his eyes, but otherwise he was unharmed. Never in his wildest dreams did he think the ghost mask would one day save his life in a manner like this. His immediate reaction was to engage the phase stone and get away from the danger. When the monster reached its prey, dagger-like talons ripped through empty space, and the spry human had already threw itself off to its left. It answered with a furious screech, and when its long neck craned around the two made eye contact. Green eyes met a pair of scarlet flames. Moments later, the fires had infected the creature¡¯s own vision. Crushing pressure ensued, tearing claws through the beast¡¯s mind. It wailed from the sudden pain and grew sluggish. Cloudhawk lunged backward while drawing his bow. Basilisk continuously drew in energy. Thrum! The arrow conveyed its curse to the beast¡¯s foreleg, shoulder and lower jaw. A blow like that was a death sentence to any mutant creature, but it seemed to have little effect on the flying serpent. It continued to howl in protest and swing around for another pass. Catching a glimpse of its black, Cloudhawk saw that the scales of its back had returned to their normal vibrant green. His attacks hurt, but they weren¡¯t having the intended effect. It was somehow immune to the petrification curse of his bow. No matter how many times he shot it, the stone scales regained their luster. Without the benefit of its power, Basilisk was like any other normal bow. How was it that this creature could resist the power of an artifact? Cloudhawk was stunned. He¡¯d never seen anything like it. The beast shook its head, clearing the invading flames from its mind. Regaining focus, it roared angrily at the irritating creature giving it so much trouble. Cloudhawk¡¯s ability to claw into its mind would no longer work. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind raced, planning where to fire his next shot. Before he could make his move, however, a large shadow like that of a giant bird swept over him. He only caught a glimpse of a lithe foot crashing down that thrashed the beast out of the air and into the ground. Its scales were unbroken, but the force had shattered its bones. The monster would not be rising again. With that, the newcomer approached and jabbed his metal staff against its head. Its tough skull did not crack. However, the brains inside were immediately liquefied, then spewed from its eye sockets as those green orbs went dim and popped from their cavities. Two attacks from this man was all it¡¯d taken to slay this indomitable creature. ¡°This is the only way to kill a dragon.¡± The man who¡¯d descended from on high to slay the dragon was a crippled old man. He was dressed in decrepit clothing that was more hole than garment, and his thin white hair sprouted like weeds from his head. One of his legs was atrophied, and when he grinned the old man revealed a maw of crooked yellow teeth. He looked like anything but a mighty warrior. Cloudhawk looked at him surprise. ¡°Boozer? You aren¡¯t dead!¡± The old drunk rolled his eyes and scowled. ¡°You little prick, can you open your mouth without wishing death on someone? ¡°Excellency! Excellency!¡± Three more figures appeared from among the trees. One was a lithe demonhunter with short brown hair, followed by a handsome blonde-haired youth with valiant features. The last was a beautiful young woman in an embroidered green dress whose ears drew up to a point. Everyone was here. Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief. The drunk caught sight of Azura while uncouthly excavating some earwax with a dirty finger. Curiosity in his voice, he spoke up. ¡°Who¡¯s the little one? Your bastard daughter?¡± ¡°Horseshit. She¡¯s my disciple.¡± ¡°Makes sense, nothing you make could ever be this cute.¡± He casually threw his barbs at Cloudhawk while looking the girl over. ¡°Bold to have a disciple when you don¡¯t amount to much. Shameful, really.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t in the mood to trade insults with the crotchety asshole. He wanted to know what the fuck was going on. Barb vomited her explanation all at once, doing just a passable job at describing their situation. Cloudhawk was having trouble following. This might have been avoided since Barb had left one of her relic needles with him when they parted. He could have used it to immediately know everything that was going on. However, they had not counted on the Vale¡¯s otherwordly powers being so strong. Upon entering the Vale, all of their relics were prevented from resonating with the outside world. Any attempts Barb made at trying to contact him through the needle failed. It was only after Cloudhawk had come into the Vale as well that Barb was able to pinpoint his location. She was the one who led the others here to find him. As for what was going on here? Well, it was¡­ complicated. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 17 - The Elder's Conspiracy Everything could be explained in a single word: Conspiracy! Woodland Vale was separated from the world, and adhered to the laws of their faith, loyal to Shepherd. For a thousand years they controlled their birth rates and protected the ecology of their paradise, and as such the gifts of their god were everlasting. They never wanted for food or comforts, and suffered no disasters. As a result, their people never had need to learn the art of combat for they¡¯d never had to defend themselves. It made them weak, and vulnerable. Since everything they could want was readily available, the ugly side of humanity was locked away. The Valites were a kind and good people. And then, several years ago, everything changed. It began when the patriarch and matriarch of their tribe died. Soon after, Brier ran away taking his people¡¯s treasured artifact with him. The death of their tribal leaders was unusual, but such was the nature of the tribe¡¯s people that they didn¡¯t see it as anything other than an unfortunate circumstance. Brier¡¯s treachery, while itself was deplorable, was also not the first time. There had been other instances in the tribe¡¯s history where someone had grown bored of living under the Shepherd¡¯s yolk and committed heinous sins. Several of them find their own ways to escape to the outside world. Brier was an elder, so it was not unusual that he would have the power to do what he did. It wasn¡¯t like defectors were unheard of, either. What made his sin especially egregious was the item he took with him when he did go. Since its disappearance, Woodland Vale had begun to experience odd phenomena. The most frightening were the appearances of creatures like this, deadly predators in a hitherto peaceful land. People of the Vale had come to call them dragons. They believed these monsters were a punishment, send by their patron god for the loss of this artifact. Dragons feasted on the eboncrys fruit, and had a taste for human brain and marrow. Their overwhelming strength and impenetrable scales were too much for the primitive weapons of the Valites. Since their arrival, the dragons had come to their homes every couple of days to feed. Valites were not fighters. They couldn¡¯t protect their village. They paid their price in death. Dragons continued their lethal hunt unimpeded, supping on brains to their heart¡¯s content. Faced with the eminent destruction of her tribe, the hopes of the Valites were laid upon Autumn¡¯s frail shoulders. She was sent out into the unforgiving world with a handful of brave but ineffective protectors. However, that was only part of the story. Reality was a fair bit more complicated. It was all laden with intrigue. Only now had it begun to rise to the surface, and the origin of this wickedness was the tribal elder himself. It had come as a terrible shock to Autumn when she learned that the noble elder she¡¯d known all her life was hiding such a covetous heart. She never would have believed the man she¡¯d respected so deeply would commit such awful deeds. He¡¯d murdered her parents. Autumn would have been next. When she was born the tribe learned of her ability to command the flute and placed great importance upon the girl. But the elder envisioned a different future for his people. He knew the value eboncrys held in the outside world, and wanted to use it to make his people rich and strong. He wouldn¡¯t allow the old guard to hold the progress of their tribe hostage any longer. And then Brier stole the artifact, fleeing from the Vale. He did it solely to protect Autumn, for without the flute she was no longer a danger to the elder. He would no longer feel the need to deal with her, at least not right away. She would even come to be of use in the future. It was around that time that the dragons appeared. The elder did not know why, only that their arrival had thrown his tribe into chaos and wracked them with fear. His goal was simple; open Woodland Vale to the world! The Vale¡¯s hiding place was not perfect. From time to time loopholes appeared, small pockets which allowed those who sought to flee the Vale a chance to do so. Yet exploiting them required one to be at the right place at the right time. Brier and those before him knew how to do it. But these gaps in protection could not be controlled. The only way for the elder to completely open Woodland Vale to the outside was by opening the stone passage. However, such an act was contrary to the wills of the Shepherd god. Prophecies foretold that once the door was opened, an age of chaos would be invited into their realm. No one but the elders had the right to open the doors. Even if they wanted to, they could only do it with the approval of the whole tribe. For all the head elder¡¯s noble bearing and persuasive words, he couldn¡¯t convince the tribe to go along with his plan. The threat of extinction from the dragons was just what he needed to galvanize the people behind him. With no way to protect themselves, they would have to turn to the outside world. It was here that Autumn¡¯s good luck came to her aid. Under the guise of sending her out to recover the flute, the elder actually planned to have her assassinated. Once the gate was opened Autumn was of no more use, and since killing her in the Vale would be too suspicious he arranged for it to happen in the wastes. But fate conspired to save her life, and before the elder¡¯s men could do the deed a sandstorm scattered them through the wastes. When had they ever experienced natural phenomena like this? Many died, choking to death on the sands. The remainder were never seen again. Autumn wandered aimlessly until she came upon Sandbar Station, and stumbled into Cloudhawk¡¯s shop. He knew the story from that point. ¡°Is this the dragon you were talking about?¡± Cloudhawk kicked the empty skull of the beast. ¡°What do you think? If not this, then what?¡± Autumn chastised. ¡°Yes, of course!¡± Cloudhawk grinned, yet at the same time felt there was something strange. ¡°Nasty thing, but not unstoppable. This old wino handled it pretty easily, so why hasn¡¯t the problem been solved yet?¡± The old man uncorked a jug of alcohol and took a swig, only to discover its contents were long dry. He longingly took in the scent before replacing the cork with a bitter scowl. ¡°Counting this one I¡¯ve put down eight of the beasts. Gabby there¡¯s killed two. Barb took care of one herself. So eleven total.¡± ¡°Eleven?¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°You¡¯re telling me there are more of these things? How many?¡± The old fighter shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t know for sure. Conservative estimate¡­ I¡¯d say up to five hundred.¡± Saying the words summoned a dark expression on Autumn¡¯s face. The others sighed despondently. Cloudhawk nearly vomited. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating, right? If there were five hundred of the things your whole tribe would be dead already. Shit, if there are five hundred of them why bother finding outside help? Just pick up and move, this place belongs to them now. Maybe you can keep some of your people alive.¡± Cloudhawk just learned how strong just one of these things were. They were resistant to energy attacks from relics. Fire, ice, lightning, corrosion, even Basilisk¡¯s stone curse ¨C it would be hard to deal lasting damage with any attack like this. Brute force was the best way to deal with them. Cloudhawk figured, strong as he was now, he could probably deal with maybe three dragons at once. Any more than that and things would get very dangerous for him. The old man was saying there were maybe five hundred of them. How the hell were they supposed to deal with that?! Autumn was immediately irritated by Cloudhawk¡¯s panicky response. ¡°At first there was only one of these creatures that threatened the tribe. Once I returned with the flute, our elder showed his true colors. Thankfully he underestimated Uncle, Gabriel and Barb¡¯s strength. We were able to escape unharmed. Since that time the dragons have grown more bold and numerous. I believe five hundred is a low estimate.¡± Cloudhawk openly gaped at her, unsure of how to respond. The drunkard clicked his tongue and continued. ¡°Anything less than half of Skycloud¡¯s Templars would probably be wiped out if they tried to go after these things.¡± Aw, shit! Cloudhawk knew Woodland Vale was going to be a hard nut to crack, but this was ludicrous. He had half a mind to get the fuck out of here right away. ¡°Wait, these things are animals, right? If they¡¯re animals, why don¡¯t you just use the flute?¡± ¡°If it were that easy, we wouldn¡¯t need to call you!¡± Autumn heaved a long sigh, frustration clear on her face. ¡°I tried for a long time to control them with the flute, but discovered that some unifying will is protecting them from me. So long as I¡¯m blocked, the flute is useless.¡± ¡°You suspect it¡¯s the elder controlling them?¡± He asked. ¡°Possibly.¡± Autumn wasn¡¯t sure, but the mere thought of the elder caused her to frown and grind her teeth. ¡°If it is him then how is he doing it? And if it isn¡¯t, then there must be some other power we don¡¯t know about manipulating the dragons.¡± ¡°Well, at the very least we can be sure this has something to do with the elder.¡± Cloudhawk was groping for a place to start looking. ¡°Where is the old fart? Since it seems dealing with the dragons is more than we can manage right now, our best bet is to see to him.¡± ¡°A lot has changed recently,¡± Barb explained. ¡°It¡¯s all been too much for us to handle on our own. That¡¯s why we called for you.¡± Autumn nodded. She wouldn¡¯t have agreed to ask this scoundrel for help if there was any other option. For Cloudhawk, if he¡¯d known the wicked girl¡¯s intentions early on, he would have refused with every nasty curse he could muster. Why risk being overrun by giant brain-eating lizards when he could just walk the fuck away? He got right to the point. ¡°What changes?¡± ¡°Once the enchantment protect Woodland Vale was overcome, the elder has started to enact his plan.¡± Autumn explained. ¡°He has been quietly cultivating a relationship with outsiders. This foreign faction had recently been invited into the village, with many strong fighters among them. We¡¯ve had no opportunity to get close.¡± Barb continued. ¡°Your Excellency is very familiar with this faction. In fact, I¡¯m sure you know their representative quite well.¡± ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Adder.¡± Gabriel was the one to answer his question. The Conclave of Justice! Of course it would be them! Adder was already in contact with the Vale¡¯s elder? Woodland Vale was a game-changer, a wildcard with enough power to dramatically change the landscape of the wastelands. Everyone wanted to claim it, and as things stood it seemed impossible for any single power to succeed in doing so. The elder was an ambitious man who was unwilling to spend the remainder of his years withering away in this small Vale. He was unlikely to submit to any outside rule, but circumstances being as they were he would have to choose between Skycloud and the Conclave. Obviously the Conclave was his preferred option. Compared to the imperialist tendencies of Skycloud, the Conclave¡¯s forces were a better fit. Adder was a shrewd and dangerous man. If he was here smooth-talking the elder then it meant bad times for Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force. Cloudhawk called to mind the scenes of devastation and disaster that had killed so many innocents back in Skycloud; the image of Hammont¡¯s mother¡¯s tombstone. A feeling he¡¯d never had before burned in the depths of his heart. ¡°We will not let Adder get away with it this time. No matter what, I won¡¯t allow it to happen.¡± Cloudhawk made his solemn pledge. For the time being, the Conclave was only a loose alliance. Nothing more than a cooperative of Skycloud turncoats, rugged wastelanders and freaks from the Northern Barrens. They couldn¡¯t stand against General Skye¡¯s full might. But if they had the Vale¡­ that would definitely change things. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 18 - Secret of the Mausoleum Woodland Vale was surrounded all sides by mountains. There were four entrances, with one currently having been opened. The remaining three were currently unusable. The Vale was merely a valley forest, spreading over a massive area with the Godtree in its center. In its branches and hollows was enough space to house the valley¡¯s population ¨C a tribe of one hundred thousand souls. Over the last thousand years the tribe had kept stringent restrictions on reproduction, so that the bounty of their land would never be spent. ¡°Hold on a minute, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m from here. I don¡¯t need to know about all your customs.¡± Cloudhawk cut Autumn off in the middle of her presentation. He was only interested in things that concerned him. ¡°All I need to know is how to kill your elder.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you now, if you would stop interrupting me!¡± She glared at him. This irritating ruffian hadn¡¯t changed at all since she¡¯d last seen him. ¡°There is a forbidden area here ¨C the heart of the Vale, where only our tribal leaders may open and enter.¡± ¡°So the elder isn¡¯t in the Godtree. What¡¯s he doing in this forbidden area?¡± ¡°Of course it has something to do with us,¡± Barb interjected. ¡°We have been under attack ever since we entered the Vale. The elder misjudged the strength of our drunken Excellency, so he¡¯s sought a way to have us killed. We¡¯ve been hiding in the forest ever since, and he¡¯s been unable to find us. Obviously worried, he fled to the heart of the Vale because we can¡¯t get in.¡± So that was what was going on. The elder was planning to open the Vale and lead his small tribe out into the big bad world beyond. But if the village leaders had the power to open the passages, then they certainly had the ability to close them too. Should the passages be shut then all of this wicked elder¡¯s efforts would be wasted. In order to prevent Autumn from doing this, he¡¯d shut himself away in the heart of the Vale where everything was under his control. If he held that position Autumn would have no opportunity to foil his plans. What¡¯s more, this forbidden place was the safest and most secret part of the Vale. Without question, that was where the elder was holding negotiations with Adder. ¡°Is there anything special about the forbidden area that I should know about?¡± Autumn nodded her head. ¡°Yes, it is the sacred resting place of our patron god, the Shepherdess. A legend among our people states that the mausoleum holds our land¡¯s greatest secret. However, no one has ever been able to solve this riddle. For many long years the elder has tried, and I suspect he will use the presence of his powerful foreign friends to his advantage.¡± This took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°Your god is buried here?¡± He¡¯d never met a god. He¡¯d met a demon, and through it learned how cunning and powerful they could be. However, gods and demons were still mostly an enigma to him. Especially gods. He didn¡¯t even know what they looked like, much less how they lived and died. About all he knew about them was that they were a race of tremendous creative power. From Skycloud¡¯s miraculous vistas to Woodland Vale¡¯s vibrant tracts of green, it was clear to him that the gods possessed amazing originative abilities. Now to learn that the lauded Shepherdess of Autumn¡¯s people was actually buried here ¨C how could Cloudhawk not be surprised and a little curious? He had to ask, ¡°Can you actually see the god¡¯s corpse in the forbidden place?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?!¡± Autumn adopted a piously incredulous expression, thoroughly displeased with Cloudhawk¡¯s question. There was also a hint of anger. ¡°Our illustrious Shepherdess used up all her energy, and it is in the mausoleum that she took their final rest. The Shepherdess is our master, and we her progeny. I will not tolerate such disrespect.¡± Neither the old drunk nor Gabby chose to get involved in the confrontation. Barb was listening intently, however, and was just as stunned that a god could die. And supposedly one was interred right here. ¡°Whatever,¡± Cloudhawk merely shrugged. ¡°We need to get down to business anyway.¡± There were many questions that remained, though. What was a god¡¯s existence like? Why would one betray their own kind? What was Shepherd Goddess¡¯ purpose in building this place? What was this ¡®thousand-year secret¡¯ that supposedly was hidden in the heart of the Vale? What was so important to protect that a god would spend all their life energy? Or was it to hide something? Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity was burning, especially when it came to the particulars of this fallen god. If he got the opportunity, he¡¯d very much like to open Shepherdess¡¯ tomb and at least see what a god looked like. Of course he wouldn¡¯t dare say such things out loud. With a zealot like Autumn within earshot he feared for his safety. Anyway, more pressing were the hundreds of dragons hiding among the trees and mausoleum. Getting close to either was going to subject them to attack. Autumn had a way to get them into the mausoleum, but not into the Godtree. Cloudhawk was secretly glad he hadn¡¯t rushed over here at the beginning, otherwise he¡¯d already be overrun by these damn dragon things. Already the situation was pretty intractable; the elder and Adder were locked away in the forbidden area of the Vale. With Cloudhawk¡¯s current strength, he would only be able to get himself and Autumn passed the dragons to enter the mausoleum. But he couldn¡¯t handle Adder, not by himself. They were pondering their next move when a sound wafted toward them from the forest. It sounded like someone trying to quietly approach. Cloudhawk spun around, Basilisk raised, string drawn. ¡°Hold!¡± With the voice a figure emerged from the foliage. She was a blonde woman, on the tall side, with hundreds of metal shards wafting on the wind around her. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to look close to recognize the relic and its bearer. Claudia. She was leading two young woman. The first was petite and quite fetching with her curly hair. She followed in Claudia¡¯s footsteps shyly. The other stood proudly as she stomped through the underbrush, with a personality as fiery as her short red hair. Gabriel welcomed Claudia with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Not so long.¡± For better or worse Claudia and these two men had a history. With their shared experience in Hell¡¯s Valley she was at least cordial. ¡°I heard sounds of fighting. I guess it was you.¡± Barb recognized Claudia as a fellow demonhunter and introduced herself. ¡°I am Barb, a member of the League. His Excellency right here is-¡° ¡°AHEM, ehm¡­.¡± Cloudhawk loudly coughed, cutting her off. Barb got the hint. If the old drunk¡¯s identity got out it was only going to cause more drama. Since there was no reason to burden these two young women with the old man¡¯s troubling story, better just to keep it quiet. The drunkard just smiled at them, unperturbed by the sudden and obvious silence. Rei, upon seeing so many people together, felt her anxiety wash away. This whole place was uncomfortable for a girl who¡¯d never before set foot outside of Skycloud. While she was lauded during her time in university, those tests were about theory and mental acuity. In a real fight she was the weakest link so far. Her sergeant, Claudia, was a tried and true demonhunter, but the enemies they¡¯d faced so far were very strong. Hell¡¯s Army and the other wastelanders that had attacked them put real fear in Rei, and only now that she was back with Cloudhawk did she start to feel safe again. Cloudhawk was¡­ a strange man. His name bore a dark smear back in Skycloud, and almost every mention of him was laden with curses and ill-wishes. ¡®Cloudhawk¡¯ had come to be synonymous with scum. Claudia had also looked at him disdainfully at the beginning. But after the fight on the Condor, and in the canyon, everyone¡¯s opinion of the Warden had changed. He took such care of the little girl, taking her everywhere with him. How could such a person be called ¡®scum¡¯? Her senior demonhunter was surprisingly strong, quick, and experienced in a fight. Those were qualities you only learned after looking death in the face several times and coming out the other side. He had more ability in his little finger than people like her, fresh out of university. ¡°Greetings, seniors. My name is Belinda.¡± Belinda took the initiative, stepping forward and introducing herself to the others. Cloudhawk, Gabriel, even Barb, they were all senior members compared to her. She ignored the ordinary-looking old drunk and the pretty girl in the green dress. Cloudhawk fixed her with an expression of ridicule. ¡°I seem to remember pretty recently you threatened to have me court-martialed. Now all of a sudden you come to your senses.¡± Belinda¡¯s cheeks reddened from the shame. Who was she to make such a threat? As the first in her class at university, Belinda was understandably cocky. But recent events had shown her pretty quick how insignificant she was in the grand scheme. In a real fight she wasn¡¯t worth much. Cloudhawk never made any attempt to explain his bad reputation or change their minds. To him, fame and respect didn¡¯t matter. But how could someone who reputedly had no sense of honor become Warden of a military unit? How could such a person repeatedly sacrifice his own safety for his men and mission? He was a contradiction. Belinda didn¡¯t know how to deal with him. ¡°You showed up just in time. We need help.¡± Cloudhawk quickly explained the situation to them, to which they were understandably shocked. None of them could have guessed there was an actual god buried somewhere in this place. But it was more than just that alone. Elysians were pious people, the same as Valites. The only difference was that the people here followed a rebel god. It was a staggering blow to what the Elysians knew of the world. To them, the word ¡®god¡¯ was equivalent to ¡®perfect¡¯. Their bounty was given freely to the faithful, and they asked for nothing in return. Only, now they were confronted with the possibility that even the gods could be in conflict. If that were true, what did it mean for them? The possibilities confused and frightened them. Claudia and her two squad mates weren¡¯t strong enough support for what they needed to do. Cloudhawk needed to gather more people. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Crain and Tigron Sutherland walked into their small clearing. They were dragging a body drenched in blood, and gravely wounded. ¡°Rei, we need help!¡± Rei fumbled with a delicate crystal bracelet as she slipped it onto her wrist. The jewelry was capped with a hexahedron-shaped gemstone which sparkled with internal power. When that light fell upon the open wounds, they began to heal before everyone¡¯s eyes. Cloudhawk was taken aback by the power. ¡°This¡­¡± Claudia explained. ¡°The Benediction Cuff. Rei has a rare life-energy talent, giving her the ability to use curative relics like this. As you can tell, she¡¯s very effective.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 19 - A Complicated Pligh Cloudhawk was stunned at how effective Rei¡¯s healing abilities were. In a matter of minutes, he watched life-threatening wounds stitch themselves back together. The healing power of relics were far superior to any medicine. If Cloudhawk could get his hands on something like that he would never have to fear another fight. It didn¡¯t matter how badly mangled he got, so long as he had any mental energy left he¡¯d be back in fighting condition in short order. ¡°That¡¯s a rare ability you got there, lady. You¡¯re definitely going to get a lot of attention for it, especially with the world caked in shit like it is. You should stick with me.¡± Rei blushed, very flattered by his somewhat crude compliment. She wasn¡¯t sure whether or not Cloudhawk was joking. She had just graduated, and he was the commander of a special unit. The Talons were a major part of the Court of Shadows. It was unthinkable that a girl like her with no practical fighting experience could join them so quickly. Anyway, for the time being she was a member of Sergeant Claudia¡¯s squad. ¡°I¡¯ll put it to you this way.¡± Cloudhawk brazenly pursued the issue. ¡°Back during training, I was your squad leader¡¯s squad leader. Following her won¡¯t get you as far as the Talons could. You¡¯ll go on missions with me from now on.¡± Belinda was practically green with envy. Being conscripted into the Talons, beyond just being a fine appointment, was a tremendous honor to Rei¡¯s family. She came from a middle-of-the-road clan, so Cloudhawk¡¯s offer was an incredible opportunity. It would be a lie to say Rei wasn¡¯t greatly moved by his eagerness. War had come. Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force had been established, and would perform their duties for the foreseeable future. As Skycloud¡¯s army swept across the wastelands, the Talons would be the tip of its spear. She would have many chances to gather accolades and praise. Rei did not covet wealth and fame, but her family had struggled mightily to get her to where she was. What better way to repay their efforts than to bring them honor through her deeds? Belinda couldn¡¯t bite her tongue any longer. ¡°Rei, what a great offer. Why are you hesitating?¡± Claudia shot Belinda a silencing gaze then planted herself in front of Rei. She faced Cloudhawk, her stance saying she would not tolerate his actions. ¡°You go too far!¡± What was she all up in arms about? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get it. Claudia then turned back to Rei. ¡°You aren¡¯t joining the Talons.¡± Belinda thought it was mad. Why would the sergeant stand in the way of such a great opportunity for her squad mate? Rei was also confused. Claudia was usually level headed and fair, why was she so upset? What was the difference if she chose to serve in the Talons? She was still going to perform this mission with her demonhunter squad. Yet Rei was a clever girl by nature, so she obeyed. Resentfully, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t press the matter any further. Fucking Claudia, a snake couldn¡¯t change its scales. Her thorny personality was so quick to anger. Cloudhawk was half-convinced she would start throwing fists. Had she already forgotten how many times he¡¯d saved her sorry ass in the valley? All he wanted was a healer and this was how she reacted. She was a damn pain in his ass. Since there was nothing he could do, Cloudhawk changed the subject. ¡°How¡¯s this one doing?¡± Rei sighed, hesitating after the strange interaction between him and Claudia, but answered when he pressed her. ¡°The wounds were bad, but not caused by a relic. These sorts of injuries are easy to heal. A full recovery is expected.¡± There was a familiar thrum coming from the wounded soldier, the resonance of a relic he was acquainted with. This person was an Elysian demonhunter, one he knew. ¡°Hey¡­ isn¡¯t this one of Frost¡¯s demonhunters?¡± Crain and Tigron, the ones who found him, only knew that the guy was savage and ugly. His face was more scar tissue than flesh, like a shattered doll that¡¯d been haphazardly pasted back together. There wasn¡¯t a single inch of him that wasn¡¯t disfigured in some way. Just looking at him was discomforting. And those were old wounds. The young men shuddered to think what kind of injuries would make him look like this. Elysians had techniques to remove scar tissue, so this man chose to keep these marks. It was glimpse into the man¡¯s fierce and determined heart. He obviously didn¡¯t care what other people thought, and the dull pain of every scar was a reminder of a lesson he¡¯d learned. He drew strength from the pain ¨C a constant reminder as he sought his vengeance. If he was willing to be so unforgiving with himself one could only imagine what he was like to his enemies. When Butcher came to, all he saw was a group of shadows clustered around him. Like a wild animal he grabbed his hammer and scrambled to his feet, ready to attack. Rei stumbled away, out of reach of his weapon. About then Butcher realized his wounds were healed and his bones knit back together. Wild eyes focused on Rei and the glimmering bracelet on her wrist, and then he understood what had happened. ¡°Thank you!¡± His voice was hoarse and forceful, like a beast trying to choke out the words. Rei had never encountered this savage demonhunter before, but Cloudhawk called at him with a wry voice. ¡°My old friend!¡± Cloudhawk, Claudia and Gabriel all knew Butcher quite well. As for Butcher, he would never forget Gabriel¡¯s pale face ¨C and the scars he left him with. Every time he felt the old ache he was reminded of his betrayal in the forest. When he saw the handsome, coquettish face before him once again Butcher¡¯s eyes darkened with murderous intent. ¡°Do it, if you want a reminder of what it¡¯s like to be one of Naberius¡¯ masterpieces.¡± Gabriel could feel the large man¡¯s anger as it poured off of him. ¡°I know I wouldn¡¯t be so eager if I were you.¡± Butcher answered with a malicious chuckle. Everyone had grown strong, but only Butcher had learned how to turn pain into power. He didn¡¯t think he was any less deadly in a fight than the rest of his former valley compatriots. He never liked these bastards, so he was always itching for a chance to make them suffer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, eventually I¡¯ll smash your skull and show you the price of betrayal. But not today.¡± Butcher growled through cracked lips, glaring at Gabriel through bloodshot eyes on the brink of madness. He gave them all the impression of a fierce and loyal mongrel. ¡°I¡¯m a demonhunter. I won¡¯t endanger a mission for personal revenge.¡± Barb, Belinda and Autumn were at a loss. What reason did this hideous man have wish harm on Gabriel? This level of self-control was impressive, since it was obvious how much he wanted to smash Gabriel to pieces. Whatever they may think of him, Butcher was a competent demonhunter. He wasn¡¯t going to allow anything to get in the way of his duties. Even if he dreamed about ripping Cloudhawk¡¯s corpse to pieces. Even if he desperately wished to hack Gabriel into an unrecognizable mess. All his many hostilities and resentments were pushed aside if they would impede in the least on what he was ordered to accomplish. A demonhunter¡¯s mission and duty were always more important than a single man¡¯s personal grievances. Butcher was the perfect dog to his masters. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give a shit. He wasn¡¯t itching for a fight with the big guy. He was probably about as tough an opponent as Drake, definitely no threat to Gabby much less Cloudhawk. ¡°You haven¡¯t said how you ended up like that.¡± ¡°I got separated from my brothers after crossing the door. I was wandering through the forest when I started seeing signals left by Conclave forces. They all pointed in one direction, a gathering place.¡± Autumn interrupted. ¡°Who? A conclave?¡± Barb and Gabriel had been stuck in the forest this whole time, so they were just as confused as she was. Cloudhawk took a moment to explain the basics. ¡°After you left, a whole lot has changed. The Conclave of Judgment is a wasteland alliance created by the Crimson One. Things between the wastelands and Skycloud are very tense right now, with daggers at one another¡¯s throats. We¡¯re on the brink of all-out war. Adder ¨C whose real identity is Zephyr, the Crimson One¡¯s son ¨C is part of the Conclave as well. He¡¯s here on the Crimson One¡¯s behalf, and Wyrmsole had to be here to protect him.¡± Barb looked at him in disbelief. Adder was Zephyr Cloude?! Insanity! ¡°The elder must have only invited Adder into the Vale. The others were left outside to guard the entrance. After everyone showed up and the fight started, Wyrmsole failed to keep the gate shut. He had no option but to follow everyone else in. They¡¯re a nasty group, with many strong demonhunters among them. A bunch of strong wastelanders have also joined the Conclave to bolster its numbers. And they have an army that broke off from Skycloud and joined the enemy.¡± Autumn was struck dumb by the gravity of change. ¡°So if they¡¯re in the Vale join and have joined Adder¡­ what are we supposed to do!¡± This was inviting the devil over for dinner. When the elder invited Adder into the Vale, he definitely didn¡¯t expect half the wasteland¡¯s strongest would come knocking as well. Then, Squall and the Elysians came right on their heels. How was he supposed to handle all of this at once? Definitely more than he could chew, Cloudhawk suspected. However despicable the elder was, Autumn was convinced he was doing what he thought was best for the Vale. But his poor choices had thrown them into chaos, caught in the center of a deadly struggle. Now it was too late for regrets. Cloudhawk underlined their dire situation even further. ¡°This is only the beginning. I¡¯m sure Skycloud¡¯s main forces will show up eventually, and if General Skye finds out what¡¯s going on you can bet he¡¯ll show up personally.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± The old drunk suddenly broke into hysterical laughter. ¡°Skye¡¯s a damned man-shaped animal. It would be a hell of a thing to see him rampage through this place.¡± Things had changed dramatically for Woodland Vale. All of a sudden the situation had gotten very complicated. General Skye was still far away, and it wasn¡¯t even certain he would come himself. What Cloudhawk was worried about was that the Crimson One would get here first. He also had no idea what the Dark Atom was up to lately, either. If the Caliph of the Sands also showed up here the clash would be¡­ cataclysmic. Cloudhawk turned to Butcher. ¡°Continue what you were saying.¡± He obliged. ¡°The wastelanders were also split up when they crossed the door, so they¡¯ve been slowly gathering back together. Seeing it as it was as good a chance as any, I went looking for them and kept an eye out for the expeditionary forces. Best case scenario was I brought our people to them before they had a chance to regroup.¡± So that was the deal. What happened next he didn¡¯t need to explain. When Butcher got close to the wasteland camp he encountered a group of them and got into a scrap. Wounded, he managed to escape. He was lucky enough to pass out nearby, and a passing dragon didn¡¯t eat his brains. Shit, the dragons were bad enough. Now with everyone converging on Woodland Vale it was like throwing gas on a fire. Their situation was a clusterfuck, and Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have enough help to deal with it. Adder wasn¡¯t a run-of-the-mill wastelander, and the elder was dangerous. What was he supposed to do? Barb offered her thoughts. ¡°We can kill them if we catch them unprepared!¡± ¡°Kill them my ass,¡± the drunk said, rolling his eyes. ¡°Do you have any idea how dangerous Wyrmsole is? The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army aren¡¯t pushovers, either. Especially with their numbers. If we try to take them on with this small group we¡¯re as good as dead.¡± Autumn made a proposition. ¡°Cloudhawk, you brought people didn¡¯t you? Fire a signal arrow and have your people meet us here.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± Claudia was the one who answered. ¡°We got thrown around when we passed through the doorway. Our people are probably scattered all over, we can¡¯t regroup with such short notice. Besides, without the advantage we¡¯re just advertising our location to the enemy. It¡¯d be like painting a target on our backs.¡± She had a point. What if their signal just invited more danger? Autumn couldn¡¯t think of a way out of this mess. She felt like a cat on hot bricks, nowhere to stand but she had to keep moving. Sweat trickled down her brow. Her tribe was under the elder¡¯s thumb, and they were already under threat from the dragons. Now there were outsiders threatening their lives ¨C what was she supposed to do? ¡°Teacher? Look in the sky.¡± While the adults had been arguing, Azura¡¯s piercing blue eyes had risen to peer through the canopy, and stark against the fading light of dusk she could see a dozen or more dark figures crossing the sky. The old man¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Dragons. They must have felt it when we killed one. They¡¯ll be heading this way to hunt us down.¡± ¡°Well then we need to get the fuck outta here,¡± Cloudhawk wisely posited. ¡°But it¡¯s dumb to run around like headless chickens. For the sake of safety we shouldn¡¯t act now, so let¡¯s find somewhere where we won¡¯t have our brains eaten and hunker down for the night. Let¡¯s fill our bellies, get some sleep, then come up with a plan tomorrow.¡± Now was the time for them to accumulate strength and wait for the right moment. Cloudhawk had been getting his ass whooped the whole way here then opened the passage to Woodland Vale on his own. He was tired, drained, and so were the others. As the curtain of night descended on Woodland Vale, sleep was the best option. It was too difficult to carry out any other plan for the time being. So it was what it was. The group began to wander through the forest looking for a place to hide out. However, it wasn¡¯t long after they began their search that Oddball came across another dragon. It was slinking through the forest, faint light glinting off its scaled body. Cloudhawk let the others know. ¡°There¡¯s one over there, waiting to ambush!¡± Claudia felt it at the same time through her Seeker¡¯s Torque. When they got close to the beast¡¯s voracious hunger it was easy for Claudia¡¯s relic to pick it out of hiding. 1. 2. This is wrong, but I struggle to find an alternative. The phrase is a religious one, directly translated to something like ¡®inviting in God can easily invite trouble.¡¯ Buddhists (and others) will often have shrines dedicated to their gods in the home. These shrines are very meticulously placed somewhere in the house and paid obeisance constantly. This includes prayers, offerings, incense, the whole nine. If, after inviting a god into the home, you do not perform these deeds then the god becomes angry and curses you and your family with ill fortune. Having been on the rotten side of this myself, it¡¯s my opinion one should just tell gods to buy their own fucking house and stay out of my business. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 20 - Thrall-Collar Dragons were intelligent creatures, and cunning. They excelled at laying in wait for their prey. By the time their victims realized they were in danger, the dragons were already on the move. Quick as lightning, they charged from their burrows with wings sharper than Elysian swords, shredding undergrowth in their wake. Cloudhawk was actually relieved. His fear was that a whole group of the things would get the drop on them. This dragon seemed to be hunting alone, not under whatever control bound the others in service. Cloudhawk and the drunk exchanged glances. The old man was more suited to deal with these creatures than he was, since its scales were resistant to the power of relics. In fact, most of what made a demonhunter dangerous couldn¡¯t be applied to dragon fights. Martial artists were the ones with an advantage here. The old man moved sluggishly as though reticent to do the deed. Just then, two lithe figures charged out from the trees. Barb exploded into motion, racing forward seven measured steps. Each one kicked up clouds of dust behind her while at the same time power surged from within to incredible levels. She swung her exorcist rod at the dragon as it launched it¡¯s attack, each swipe knocking it to the ground. Butcher¡¯s ugly face dropped in amazement. Judging by how her exorcist rod reacted, the girl¡¯s mental energies were middling at best ¨C perhaps slightly better than a novice demonhunter. However her martial skills were impressive, much better than most. Demonhunters had their own training to strengthen their bodies, but it was different from a martial artist. Where a fighting hones their body into the perfect weapon, demonhunters focused more on the psychic and spiritual aspect. Barb was the exception. She had more talent as a martial artist than a demonhunter. Claudia was also a capable close-combat fighter, so between these two women the dragon was prevented from threatening the rest of the party. Cloudhawk was surprised by Barb¡¯s display. ¡°She¡¯s a lot stronger than she was a month ago! How did she manage that?¡± ¡°The move is called Demonbreaker March . Seven steps are taken in the process of attack, with the user¡¯s power growing after each one. The boost is layered one upon the other to greatly increased their capabilities in a fight. Demonbreaker¡¯s March is a high tier martial ability.¡± The old drunk smacked his lips as though mulling over an aftertaste. ¡°Back in the day Baldur tempted me with a bottle of his family¡¯s finest wine. I was compelled to teach him this forbidden knowledge with the understanding that he wouldn¡¯t let it slip. The old bastard seemed to have lied to me though. He taught the Temple¡¯s lost knowledge to a little girl.¡± The tale he let slip caused Butcher to freeze in place. Baldur? That Baldur, the Master Demonhunter? Did this old man expect them to believe such a legend would come to him for knowledge. What a farce! Belinda, Rei, Tigron and Crain all watched the fight with rapt attention. They didn¡¯t catch the exchange. But Cloudhawk knew this wasn¡¯t the old man bragging. ¡°Strange. If it¡¯s such a good move why haven¡¯t I seen her use it before now?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know shit, do you think someone can just ¡®pick up¡¯ an ancient Temple skill?¡± The lush watched Barb as he explained. ¡°Such a shame that she became a demonhunter. If I¡¯d have been the one to find her, she would have made a fine disciple.¡± Cloudhawk refused to believe Barb¡¯s talent would be more promising than Selene¡¯s. Selene was a uniquely gifted woman, with the skills to surpass any teacher. In many ways she was superior to her father, the Master Demonhunter. Likely this was the reason she was beginning to close the gap between herself and Arcturus on the path of the demonhunter, while also spending a great deal of effort learning martial skills. The Skycloud War Saint sure had an epic ring to it ¨C but in the end, wasn¡¯t he crippled by Arcturus? After being knocked out of the air by Barb, the dragon knew it¡¯d bit off more than it could chew. It began to look around for a means of escape. Barb was also frustrated by how sturdy the dragon¡¯s defenses were. She had really laid into it, and it still was able to run? The dragon¡¯s serpentine neck swung to and fro, looking for the best way out. Barb prepared for a follow-up attack. ¡°Hold. Let me.¡± Claudia raced passed her, and as she did threw something out in front. It looked like a bracelet, which gradually rose through the air after leading her wrist. As the others watched it¡¯s width extended, slipping around the beast¡¯s neck and then lodging there. It was too late for the dragon to flee now. Claudia raised her hands and let her mental energies flow. Her bracelet-turned-necklace began to shimmer and shrink. It tightened around the dragon¡¯s neck until it was almost choking off the air. As Claudia continued to channel through it, the ring pulsed with an energy that wracked the dragon¡¯s body with pain. It screeched and rolled on the ground in agony. This continued for roughly ten seconds. Eventually the beast¡¯s flailing grew still. Belinda and the others were beside themselves with excitement at the sergeant¡¯s display. They clapped and praised her for her mastery. Even the old drunkard gave her a surprised look. ¡°What is this?¡± Belinda eagerly answered. ¡°It¡¯s our sergeant¡¯s newest relic, Thrall-collar! It has the power to control any animal, even weaker-willed humans.¡± Barb looked toward Claudia with envy in her face. It was clearly a mental-based relic, a talent both women shared. But because relics of this sort were rare, they were expensive and hard to come upon. Barb was lucky when she was given the Heart-Scry Thorn. Sadly it had no use in a fight. She was born to a poor family without means or prestige, so it was difficult for her to acquire any relics that suited her. The Lunae¡¯s on the other hand, didn¡¯t have relics to pass down either since Claudia was the first of her family to show talent as a demonhunter. But that didn¡¯t matter, not when you came from the richest family in all of Skycloud. If there was anything Garuda Lunae did have, it was money to buy what he wanted. First he¡¯d bought his precious daughter her Seeker¡¯s Torque to keep her safe. Thrall-collar was the next gift, which he spared no expense to obtain. Besides these two, she also had Tempest Flower to help her in combat. Were it not that trading in relics was strictly regulated, Garuda would have armed his dear child to the teeth. Everyone gathered round the docile dragon. Autumn was especially stunned. Shepherd¡¯s flute couldn¡¯t stop the beasts from rampaging, so how was this ring of metal keeping its hostile urges at bay? It was a blow to her confidence. In reality the two methods had their own advantages and disadvantages. Shepherd¡¯s flute was wide-ranging and indiscriminate, while Thrall-collar¡¯s control was directly and powerfully imposed. The former could manage countless beasts so long as they were in range, although sufficiently powerful forces could override it. The latter could only exert its force upon one target, but it¡¯s power was stable and difficult to break. On the whole, Autumn¡¯s artifact was a hundred time better than Claudia¡¯s, the two weren¡¯t even in the same realm. Woodland Vale¡¯s young princess would be able to perform incredible feats once she improved her own mental capabilities. Azura stared wide-eyed and curious at this monster with a taste for human brains. It rose to its feet, then with steady gait began to walk her way. The small girl yelped in fear and scurried behind Cloudhawk¡¯s legs. It¡¯s emotions were stable, its thoughts clear. Claudia¡¯s impressive relic had it fully under control. Cloudhawk gave it a closer look as a plan began to form in his mind. ¡°Is there a sensory connection between the dragons?¡± ¡°From what we¡¯ve been able to learn, the dragons are under the control of a single master consciousness. Habitually they are independent, but they have some special way to communicate with one another. That¡¯s why when we kill one, others nearby can tell and come to investigate.¡± Cloudhawk continued to stare at the dragon and speculate. Barb grew ever more curious the longer he stared. ¡°Excellency, what are you planning?¡± He answered her question with one of his own. ¡°Your Heart-Scry Thorn can transcribe information, right?¡± Barb paused for a moment, then nodded. ¡°There¡¯s the main thorn and the secondary thorns. The main thorn reads thoughts, and the secondary ones can pass them on. So yes, it can share information.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then we may be able to use this creature. Tell it to send a signal to other dragons that it needs help.¡± The other immediately caught on to his plan. Autumn¡¯s jaw dropped. This idiot was crazy! Was he going to manipulate the dragons into attacking the wastelanders? That was exactly what he intended. ¡°What? IS it possible or not.¡± Barb felt everyone¡¯s eyes fall on her. She felt all that pressure land squarely on her shoulders. Right now, one of the biggest obstacles they faced in Woodland Vale were these vicious creatures. If they could turn the beasts to their advantage before their master learned about it, it could be a great help to their cause! ¡°I¡­. don¡¯t think it will be too much of a problem.¡± ¡°Good. Very good. Let¡¯s take it slow, first find a place to rest for a while.¡± More dragons would be coming soon, staying here any longer was asking for trouble. They had to find somewhere safe. Cloudhawk found a low-lying spot that hid them from view. By now darkness had taken the sky. He had Oddball keep watch while the party huddled together for a night¡¯s rest. Barb and Claudia, both psychic-focused demonhunters, spent some time experimenting with the dragon and passing information. Barb placed the main thorn in the beast¡¯s skull, and through it could feel the dragon¡¯s emotions. Of course it was not human, so Barb found it difficult to decipher what was going through it¡¯s mind. It didn¡¯t matter, Claudia¡¯s Thrall-collar would manage it¡¯s mood and actions. Heart-Scry Thorn¡¯s job was to introduce what they wanted it to think. Both relics together worked well, and succesfully filtered fake messages through the beast¡¯s brain. Barb excitedly spoke to the others. ¡°We¡¯ve got it.¡± Claudia wasn¡¯t convinced their ploy would work, but she didn¡¯t share her concerns. Instead, she spoke in calm and tepid tones. ¡°We can¡¯t be sure yet, first we have to test it.¡± With that said, Claudia told the dragon to leave their small camp. The dragon beat its large wings and rose into the air. A few minutes after relaying its call for help, more dragons were discovered in the forest nearby. Over a dozen powerful scaled bodies burst from the trees and fell in behind their thrall. It worked, no doubt about it! Cloudhawk¡¯s wild theories had been proven practical, and the implications promised to drastically change their situation. Now they had to do something useful with their brood of dragons before whatever mind controlled them discovered something amiss. 1. ¡®Seven Steps to Break Magic/Demons.¡¯ I¡¯m not sure why seven is such a trope in Chinese fantasy, but it could be because seven is sometimes used to represent yin, yang, and the five elements (wind, water, fire, wood, earth, metal). Thus seven could be used as a stand-in to describe all of the universe. I did not include the specific number here (even though it¡¯s in the name) because it felt unnecessarily laden with cultural meaning that did not apply to Western readers, does not impact story elements, is clunky when translated, and felt out of place in a Western-centric post apocalyptic society. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 21 - Thwarted By Dragons Within three kilometers, the power of the Thrall-collar was stable. Powerful as it was against a single target, the collar still had its limitations. If the dragon flew beyond this distance, Claudia would lose control. The campfire burned among them. Cloudhawk and his allies meditated to recover their mental strength and stamina. ¡°Hey, look at what I brought back.¡± Barb appeared in the depressed clearing, dragging two small deer behind her. ¡°This forest is just chock full. Fruit, game meat, and fish are everywhere. Even the Elysian lands can¡¯t match this bounty. With everything else going on, at least we won¡¯t go hungry.¡± Butcher¡¯s face was a thundercloud. He was struggling to imagine how a god that betrayed the pantheon could lord over a land as grand as the one he came from. He could think of no reason why that should be. The Elysian lands were created by the gods ¨C as was Woodland Vale. Upon bequeathing humans with power and knowledge, their great benefactors made no demands on who they should worship. While Autumn was a denizen of the Vale, there wasn¡¯t much to distinguish her from any other Elysian. Both people were bathed in the glow of a god¡¯s holy radiance. For the first time there was a strange sense of contradiction in Butcher¡¯s beliefs. He worships the gods because he hated people ¨C indeed, Butcher hated his own race with a bone-deep passion. Humans were filled with ugliness and betrayal, an inherent sin that they could not escape. He worships the strength, authority and selflessness of the gods. He adored them for their majesty, wisdom, and righteousness. But all of this around him¡­ was this proof that the gods were not perfect? Not infallible? He cast the thought away the moment it entered his mind. The gods wereperfect, and the mere thought it could be any other way was shameful. The Sutherland brothers were nearly drooling at the sight. ¡°Quick, let¡¯s cook ¡®em up! We¡¯re starving. We can¡¯t fight on an empty stomach now, can we?¡± Belinda summoned some fire and set about cooking their meal without wasting a breath. The firelight danced off her eager face. As the sweet scent of cooking meat filled the air, she spoke to the others. ¡°The wastelanders are always calling us their tormentors. What an honor to fight for the glory of our gods, making them tremble in fear from our might while proving our superiority! I¡¯m confident that our families will be proud when they learn of our accomplishments.¡± The young and inexperienced were always so ready to set their blood boiling. They couldn¡¯t wait to get into a fight. Chunks of venison were carved from the corpses and cooked to perfection. Even without spices or ingredients the meat was still delectable. The taste filled their mouths and eased their bellies in a way completely different than the mutated flesh of wasteland monsters. The small crew ate ravenously, for hunger had started to set their stomachs rumbling. Claudia looked around at her squad, shaking her head. They reminded her so much of herself when she was younger. All they knew was to press forward, so ignorant of the world and what waited for them. Over time she¡¯d grown tired of striving for honor. If it were up to her, she hoped these novices wouldn¡¯t be forced to fight so quickly on the front lines. It was the reason she¡¯d stepped in when Cloudhawk tried to steal Rei away. Once you were in the fight, it was hard to get out. If Rei accepted Cloudhawk¡¯s offer, she would follow the Talons from mission to mission until she died. They were still so young, so full of promise. Each one had more promise than Claudia had at their age. It was just that they knew so little about the world. Did they really even understand what it was they were willing to give their lives for? Was it as worth it as they thought? What a shame if their lives were taken from them before they could find the answer to these questions. As Claudia leaned against a nearby tree and pondered these sad circumstances, she felt a deep exhaustion waft over her. She just wanted it all to be over. She wanted to go back to Skycloud and work as an instructor in the demonhunter university. It was the sort of life she¡¯d come to love. As for fighting? After three years, Claudia had had her fill. Aura nibbled on meat and fruit for a time, then curled up at Cloudhawk¡¯s side and fell asleep. As he looked down at her peacefully resting form, he couldn¡¯t help but feel shame for the difficulties she¡¯d been through. He carefully scooped her up and wrapped her in his tattered cloak to dispel the night¡¯s cold. He sighed while gently setting her down comfortably. ¡°The Vale really is something. How many wastelanders would do anything to live out their lives here? Meanwhile the elder is scheming a way out. I really don¡¯t get what¡¯s wrong with that guy¡¯s head.¡± ¡°What do you young folk know?¡± The old man took a bottle of alcohol Cloudhawk offered. He was already determined to drink himself into oblivion, since days had passed like years here in the forest without any booze. Each gulp was like liberation. He continued in a relaxed tone. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how nice a place is, you get tired of it after a while. You start to focus on what makes it bad. Like having a beautiful wife, you get bored of bedding her as the years crawl on.¡± Autumn didn¡¯t like his explanation. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you think of a better example?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what excuse you give, this place is definitely better than the wastelands.¡± Cloudhawk did not agree with the old man¡¯s words. ¡°Inexhaustible treasures, food, water. There isn¡¯t anywhere out there that can compare.¡± The old man laughed. ¡°And what ¡®inexhaustible treasure¡¯ do you think they have?¡± Cloudhawk rolled his eyes. ¡°Those thousands of eboncrys fruits, obviously.¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t get it. There isn¡¯t a single thing in this world that doesn¡¯t come without a price. Anything with value first has to have a value attached to it. Sure, those fruit are priceless in Skycloud. One of them is enough for a normal person to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. Here, though? Worthless decoration. This world-changing treasure you¡¯re talking about they don¡¯t need here. You understand?¡± Cloudhawk paused in thought, enlightened by the old man¡¯s words. The bounty of Woodland Vale¡¯s eboncrys fruit was priceless to outsiders. If the Vale was smart with it, they could purchase powerful weapons, establish a mighty army, even build a country. Leaving them here to grow on the trees, they weren¡¯t even worth normal fruit. At least wild fruit could be eaten and give the body some sustenance ¨C eboncrys fruit just¡­ hung there. That was probably what the elder was thinking ¨C he could leverage these useless things to buy his tribe more power and profit. People! Such was their nature. They could have enough to be comfortable and still desire to accumulate more. They could have all the wealth but thirst for power. They could be rife with power and pine for freedom, for health, for beauty¡­ People were creatures of boundless avarice. The elder was obviously convinced that with wealth Woodland Vale would rise in prominence. He thought he could turn their humble tribe into a global powerhouse. A kingdom with countless soldiers, who fought for the glory of their people and brought ever more wealth into their coffers. The people of Woodland Vale would be free; free to pursue their own dignity and power; free to leave the verdant cage they¡¯d been locked in. If that was his aim, then was the elder really so evil as he was made out to be? Not necessarily! Whatever Now he was a problem ¨C a problem they had to find a way to solve. Cloudhawk remembered that it was that same elder who murdered Autumn¡¯s parents ¨C a reprehensible act, for sure. But he couldn¡¯t lie to himself and say that killing him would be some noble deed. Was he willing to kill a man for similar reasons? What was the difference? Ever since coming back to the Vale, Autumn had sunken into a strange silence. She had always been the sort of quietly mull over her thoughts. Cloudhawk knew that all of this had to be weighing heavily on her, especially since the elder had once been someone she trusted deeply. How could she have thought one day her life would come to this? The human heart was too complicated to predict. The night passed. As dawn neared, Oddball brought a message to its master. Cloudhawk got to his feet and announced what he learned to the others. ¡°Conclave members are headed our way. Get ready, we¡¯re going to have to face them.¡± Was it finally time? Faces among the others ranged from nervous to excited. ¡°Gabby, go set a trap. Drunky, after a bit you and I will go handle them face to face.¡± ¡°The rest of you, help Claudia and Barb with whatever they need to get those dragons on our side. Once you¡¯re set, give Autumn cover so she can get to the Mausoleum. We¡¯ve only got a small window, so we¡¯ve got to be quick. It¡¯s probably our only chance to safely get in close. Once we¡¯re there, shoot a signal arrow to the other Elysians right away.¡± Cloudhawk quickly went over the steps with them. By the time he was finished they could hear the trees rustling as a host drew near. They waited. The rustling became louder, and then as their enemies neared the clearing shouts began to ring out. The front line was cut apart before they could get close enough to see anything. ¡°Careful! It¡¯s an ambush!¡± Gabriel¡¯s deadly threads were doing their job. His Shadethread relic would easily slice through solid iron, and were thinner than a strand of hair ¨C almost impossible to see. Out here in this densely packed forest, they were invisible, so the first batch was caught off guard and suffered badly for it. The rest, unsure of what had happened, stopped before they became victims too. Then, mixed with the sounds of pained screams, roars filled the air! One... two¡­ ten¡­ twenty! The silhouettes of twenty angry dragons appeared against the dawn sky, charging forth from the Godtree. Their ferocious nature was stoked. The dragons didn¡¯t care who they encountered, they wished to feed. One after the other the beasts swooped, and the vicious nature of the fight was made evident by the sounds of screams and combat. Dragons were not easily defended against. Fighters from the Conclave did not have an easy method of killing them. Cloudhawk, however, was very pleased with the result. ¡°Not bad, not bad! Keep hidden, get ready to fall back.¡± Just then, several dark figures broke through the trees. When they saw Cloudhawk they didn¡¯t have a chance to determine he was friend or foe. There was just a flash of silver, and suddenly hot blood was pouring from their throats. Bodies crumpled lifelessly to the leaf-strewn ground. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk and the old drunk covered their retreat while the others raced for the Godtree. Cloudhawk¡¯s ears tickled as from somewhere nearby in the forest came the powerful resonance of a relic. A plume of fire was belched their way. The dark forest instantly turned bright as day. The fires seemed to have a life of their own, like a fiery dragon winding its way through the trees. It roared toward Cloudhawk¡¯s location, but he managed to dodge. The tree it struck instant turned to blackened coal in the space of a breath. A bare-footed man brandishing a flapping standard appeared. Wyrmsole! The old soldier¡¯s bitter face had grown more sour over the last few days. Although he wasn¡¯t sure what had just transpired, he was sure it was this young man¡¯s doing. So, without hesitation, he summoned a brilliant pillar of fire and flung it at Cloudhawk like a spear. The waif was of only average strength. He was no threat to Wyrmsole. Only, much to his surprise, an iron rod streaked through the sky and knocked his standard off target. His spear of fire streaks off to one side, impaling and consuming a pair of enormous trees but missing its intended mark. Wyrmsole regarded the wild looking old man who had interfered. He gazed upon the cane until realization dawned. He looked back at its bearer, unbelieving. ¡°Dawnguard. You are-¡± The old drunk lifted Dawnguard and pointed it at Cloudhawk. He was instantly wrapped in a brilliant orb that empowered his strength, speed and reaction time. Vulkan spoke in even, authoritative tones. ¡°There¡¯s another one behind. Deal with her. Leave this one to me.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 22 - Dead Hea A sharp blast rattled in their eardrums. Cloudhawk felt that familiar sense of danger fill him, as suddenly something too hard for the naked eye to follow swept by. He called the power of the phase stone just as a light blue orb of compressed pressure passed through him and detonated against the ground. The earth and rocks undulated like the surface of a pond. Dirt was kicked high into the air. As the first concussive wave settled, a second followed. The dark forest came alive as harsh light flooded through. Hurricane-force pressure was cast from somewhere amid the trees with the burst of light, bringing with it a roar that promised to rip everything in its path asunder. Cloudhawk dared not try to deflect it, so he fled the area. With Cloudhawk out of the way, the sweeping light struck a tree that would five men wouldn¡¯t be able to embrace. It was blasted apart at the base, sending shards of bark in all directions. The hurricane lash disappeared, but that did not mean the attack was finished. A swarm of pale blue swords came swinging from the trees. The air whistled in protest from their savage passage. In the center was a woman dressed in cyan, lithely moving toward Cloudhawk through an array of postures. She deftly moved among the trees as she and her swords closed in on the fleeing shadow. Cloudhawk¡¯s world became filled with cutting blue energy. He was caught, with nowhere to flee. Meanwhile, the cyan woman came closer. In her grip was a whip of power that flowed through the air, heedless of gravity¡¯s laws. She walked on air, her black hair dancing in the wind as she sped along. Yet her eyes were calm, indifferent ¨C like a vision of a tempest fairy. The power in her weapon had coalesced in preparation for another strike. It didn¡¯t matter how Cloudhawk tried to avoid her, she was ready with a counter strike. Natessa was a wind-focused demonhunter, and possessed a number of relics of this type. Just like the wind, she was fast ¨C much faster than Wyrmsole. Cloudhawk could not outpace her, but at least he could create some space. If others interrupted their inevitable conflict, things could turn out very poorly. ¡°I was wondering who was so eager for my head. Turns out it¡¯s Instructor Windham!¡± Her cyan blades did the talking for her. They closed in on Cloudhawk¡¯s location, flawlessly whipping around one another and leaving no space between. He watched them come. Just as the impossibly sharp swords were about to shop him into pieces, he vanished. Half a second later he reappeared right behind Natessa. The swords collided in empty space. Each one went spinning off into the forest before dissipating. Teleported? She looked behind her without a word. Her arm was already in motion, swinging her whip with the force of a tempest. Grass and underbrush in its wake exploded into clouds of debris. Not even trees thousands of years old could survive Natessa¡¯s wrath. But attacks like this had a clear flaw. While the trees and shrubs couldn¡¯t stop Natessa¡¯s blows completely, they were obstacles that reduced the lethality of said blows. She was strong, but cutting through terrain to get to her target required twice as much strength. It was wasteful. Cloudhawk closed the distance between them. The Silver Serpents sprang from his sleeves, quick as lightning and rippling like snakes. But as the silver light came her way she leaped up on a bed of compressed air, lithely retreating several meters. Cloudhawk looked at her. She looked back. They stared at one another for a moment with a strange sense of unfamiliarity, like they hadn¡¯t spent three years meeting one another every day. Natessa didn¡¯t know where Cloudhawk¡¯s odd powers came from, or how he¡¯d gotten so strong over such a short period. Cloudhawk was just as confounded by this woman. The Giants of Hell¡¯s Army. One was a roguish soldier of fortune, another a chatty old lecher. She was different ¨C attractive, unassuming, taciturn. Cloudhawk always had the best impression of her, but so much had changed. He never thought she¡¯d sink to such lows. Why would she choose to betray Skycloud? Was this woman¡¯s low-profile persona hiding an ambitious heart, and he¡¯d never noticed? If not, then what was the point of all of this? What was she chasing? Natessa pulled back her arm to bring the whip back. It stiffened into the shape of a rod. Crouching down, she pushed off empty space and launched herself at Cloudhawl like a missile. Her eyes retained that emotionless glaze, the same as ever. She was never one to bother explaining her actions. No one knew what was going on in that woman¡¯s mind. Her thoughts and secrets were her own. Cloudhawk was left with no choice. She was not holding back, so neither could he. More than a hundred rapid-fire exchanges happened between them in an instant. The dazzling performance was too fast for an outsider to follow, dazzling to the eye. True to her nature, each of Natessa¡¯s attacks invoked buffeting gusts of wind. Not just swift and keen, her attacks were laden with staggering power. Thankfully, Cloudhawk was blessed with the old drunk¡¯s empowering light. It was enough so that even though he was still at a disadvantage, Cloudhawk could at least contend against her. His Silver Serpents danced among the impenetrable waves of cyan like venomous snakes, eager to land a bite on his former instructor. ¡°I have to admit, big sister ¨C you pack a punch!¡± Cloudhawk spoke as they continued their pitched battle. ¡°You can fight, you¡¯re pretty, you¡¯re a leader ¨C there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do, nowhere you can¡¯t go. So why fight Skycloud? You really need to come back home.¡± His own incessant prattling stole his attention just enough to reveal a flaw in his defense. She quickly exploited it, slamming her rod into his chest twice in quick succession. Cloudhawk was knocked back several steps. She followed up with a forward charge. Channeling through the boots she compressed the air nearby into a cutting blade of wind and sent it flailing toward him. A flash ensued as Silver Serpents met cyan blade, causing the latter to break apart. But it was a distraction, allowing Natessa the time to move in before Cloudhawk could react. Her rod descended upon him in a flurry of blows. Cloudhawk was too slow, and the blows rained down on him from everywhere. Were it not for Dawnguard¡¯s blessing he would have been gravely wounded. ¡°You think I can¡¯t get the best of you?¡± She never replied. Her cyan rod came swinging for his skull. Rage filled him and fires sparked to life in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. His gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment Natessa felt like a needle was driven into her brain. Her flawless onslaught was broken. A Silver Serpent hissed through the air toward her. Natessa¡¯s face drained of color, but she managed to barely fend off his deadly attack. His second silvery blade cunningly swung around her staff to bite into her shoulder. Blood quickly began to seep through her cyan clothing, front and back. She stumbled back on unsteady feet and coughed up a mouthful of blood. He must have struck an artery, for half her body was quickly drenched with blood. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let up. She had pushed him too far, and now he was determined to bury her before she could do the same to him. He knew the instructors and how they operated. If he showed the slightest hesitation then he would be the one bleeding out on the ground. He no longer cared what Natessa thought, or why she made the decisions she had. If she was so willing to forget their old bonds then he would send her down the road she so stubbornly adhered to. Natessa had underestimated Cloudhawk¡¯s ability. She knew it had been some sort of psychic attack that had thrown her off. She didn¡¯t understand how, but he¡¯d summoned that power from inside. It wasn¡¯t some kind of relic. Whatever that was it came from Cloudhawk, a power he innately possessed. She gritted her teeth. The jagged wound in her shoulder puckered tight and halted the bleeding. Her two long legs whipped out in a pair of kicks and each summoned a gash of cutting air. In a cross-shape ¨C one horizontal and one vertical ¨C that screamed across the distance between Natessa and her former student. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dodge. Instead he deflected them with his dual swords, then followed up with a flurry of attacks. They came at odd angled and unpredictable spots, overwhelming her defenses in a handful of seconds. She jerked as one of the Serpents bite into her flesh for a second time. A glint of silver light passed her throat. Natessa¡¯s creamy skin separated and rich crimson blood began to flow. Cloudhawk had ruthlessly severed the arteries in her neck. Her delicate hands went to the wound and pressed tight. Her face turned white as a sheet and the pupils of her wide eyes contracted to small black points. Death was near, she could feel it. Natessa always knew it would be her fate to die in battle, but had not anticipated this young man would be the instrument of her destruction. Cloudhawk drove his sword into her chest. She jerked backward, leaving a spurt of blade in her retreat. Hair wild, with one hand gripping her cyan rod and the other helplessly clutching at her neck, Natessa glared daggers at Cloudhawk. That cool indifference was gone, and instead her eyes were filled with blazing resolve. She wasn¡¯t afraid to die. But she would not allow herself to die here. If she did, her whole life would be meaningless. He keeps getting stronger¡­ Cloudhawk would give her no time to think. His silhouette dashed through the forest with the Silver Serpents gleaming hungrily. They were poised for a final blow, ready to cut her down. Natessa¡¯s mind went blank. It¡¯d been so long since the last time she met death face to face. Since joining Hell¡¯s Army she had only been tasked with eliminating commoners, renegades or vagrants. Eventually her heart had grown numb to all the killing. Then one night, he showed up in the valley. A man who changed her destiny, and that of Hell¡¯s Army. Was her presence here not a way to prove herself? If she died here, all she would prove was that she was unworthy. She couldn¡¯t let that happen. In that moment - Natessa¡¯s eyes flashed with cyan light. Her power surged tremendously and channeled into her rod which began to spin wildly. It whipped around like a windmill, a backward tornado. The cone of wind it summoned was thick with cutting cyan light, turning it into a shredder that threatened to obliterate anything caught inside. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s turn to pause in shock. A breakthrough? In the middle of a fight? Natessa was the youngest of the Giants, however she was also the strongest. Beyond a tactical proficiency, she was also a skilled demonhunter. For real warriors like her, it was well-known that the opportunity for a breakthrough was strongest when death was on the line. The cut to her throat that Cloudhawk had given her wasn¡¯t deep enough. Severing an artery was lethal to a normal foe, but not Natessa. The threat to her life allowed Natessa to cut through years of stagnation and access all the strength that had been waiting on the other side. Her battle against Cloudhawk had become a blessing in disguise. He saw that the circumstances had changed. He dared not attack recklessly any longer; it was time to change strategies. Cloudhawk abandoned his assault and fell back, just as Natessa released the storm of wind blades. Like a hurricane it wreaked devastation upon the forest as it passed through. Massive trees were cut to pieces in an instant, carved apart in a million ways. She was only going to be more difficult to handle in the future. Estimating that Dawnguard¡¯s boon would soon be spent, Cloudhawk decided now was the time to take the old drunk and flee. He wasn¡¯t afraid of Natessa, even if she was stronger now. She was still within his abilities to handle. If he used all of his strength, there was still a good chance he would be the one to walk away alive. But his task wasn¡¯t done, he still needed strength for what was to come. A harder battle was waiting for him in the depths of the mausoleum, so he couldn¡¯t afford to finish what he started with Natessa. ¡°I think we¡¯ve had enough fun for today, Instructor. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll see each other again real soon.¡± When Cloudhawk decided it was time to go, no one could stop him. Natessa watched him disappear into the forest with a strange expression on her face. 1. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 23 - Last Light of a Setting Sun As Cloudhawk warred against Natessa, Wyrmsole and the old drunk were at one another¡¯s throats. This was a far more interesting conflict. Wyrmsole was a man of bitter expression and frail build. Far from the bearing of a soldier, he looked more like a man who¡¯d been imprisoned in a mine for years on end. His opponent was a withered, wrinkled drunk with a lame leg and an obscene look. From the looks of them, there was nothing special about these two haggard men. In reality, however, they were once very strong and tremendously influential in the world they¡¯d abandoned. One was the Companion of an army of demonhunters, and the other used to be hailed as Skycloud¡¯s War Saint. They had long known about one another, their opponent¡¯s personality and skills, so they were in a stalemate even before they started the confrontation. Wyrmsole stared at what had become of the once-glorious War Saint and sighed emotively. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have believed it before I saw with my own eyes. Even someone like you could become¡­ like this.¡± ¡°I lost that fight fairly. No complaints.¡± He punctuated the assurances with a wry chuckle, then continued dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know very well what Arcturus Cloude is capable of. You used to be one of the ones he trusted most.¡± Something unnatural flashed in the depths of Wyrsmole¡¯s eyes. The old drunk¡¯s words had struck a nerve. ¡°The past is the past, and maturity brings clarity ¨C no more need to be said. He is insane. Evil. Our shared enemy. You are on the wrong side. Helping the Elysian forces is to stand with him. You should pledge yourself to the Conclave.¡± A former Templar leader had a resounding reputation. As impactful as the Crimson One himself! The former War Saint would see his own power grow if he chose to work with them, but more importantly, a luminary like him openly supporting the Conclave would add tremendous pressure on Skycloud. After all, he had once led the holy warriors of the Temple ¨C he was once perhaps the mightiest warrior in all of the Elysian realms, and a representative of divine authority. The old man¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°In attempting to murder Ravenous Tiger, you have shown that hate remains in the depths of your heart. Standing before you is an instrument that could help you achieve your goals.¡± Wyrmsole was solemn, his tone and bearing even, presenting himself as an honest and harmless. messenger. He earnestly supplicated himself before the old drunk in the hopes of winning him to their side. But the cripple was growing impatient. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Disappointment clouded Wyrmsole¡¯s stricken face. ¡°Then you will never succeed in killing Ravenous Tiger. You are no threat to me, and to persist is only repeating old mistakes! The Conclave of Judgment is the only power that can face Arcturus. Only we can bring salvation to humanity. Is it not better to rouse yourself in the service of a great cause, than to wither away in a mire of decadence and self-pity?¡± ¡°Horseshit.¡± The old man irreverently picked at his ear. ¡°You think your helter-skelter mob can achieve anything? I may be a shadow of what I used to be, but I¡¯m not blind. I¡¯ve suffered a lot out in the wastelands, learned a lot too. And one thing I learned is that life should be about the pursuit of happiness. If we¡¯re going to fight, then let¡¯s fight. I¡¯m tired of talking.¡± Regret filled Wyrmsole. The old man no longer had Skycloud in his heart, but the pride of a War Saint was part of his bones. He was willing to wander the wastelands as a vagrant, but he would not bow to it. After all, no matter how far he fell, a man of strength remained a man of strength. Wyrmsole respected the old man. He resolved to show it by ending his pitiful life with his own hands. Since revealing himself in their war against Skycloud, Wyrmsole had pitted himself against the stars of the younger generation. In none of those clashes had he called on his full strength, nor had he intended to kill these misguided youths. After all, his quest was to lift up the future of humanity, not bring it low. They were still young. They could be convinced. Wyrmsole had a son about their age. He was a father, though never really acted in that capacity. Instead he¡¯d chosen another path, the one that brought him here. The guilt he felt for abandoning his child was like a cancer inside him, and it ached that much worse when he saw the hope for humanity¡¯s future blaze across the battlefield. He couldn¡¯t help but hold back. This old man was different. He was a soldier of the old guard, a saint who had fallen from grace. Even though he was not the man he once had been, the cripple was a Skycloud legend. Wyrmsole could show compassion to the younger generation, but not to him. It would be an insult to treat him as lesser. Besides, he had outlived his usefulness. And old institutions were hardest to tear down to their foundations. Facing an opponent like Vulkan, he was determined to show the breadth of his character. He waved the standard held tight in his grip. Fires rose all around. ¡°Very well,¡± Wyrmsole cried out among the roaring flames. ¡°Before the day is done, your head will adorn our flag!¡± He launched into the air, rising several dozen meters while the standard flapped valiantly at his side. The sky burned in its wake, stark against the frail light of dark and painting the clouds above an angry red. The flames gathered together into reptilian forms, dragons of fire that writhed around their master. What a spectacular scene ¨C a beacon of fire in the early dawn, shocking to behold. Those forest dragons that had drawn near were frightened by the surge of power. They kept their distance, wincing against the flames. But the old man stared at his foe with an ineffable fire of his own smoldering in the depths of his eyes. His metal walking stick came alive with a shimmering halo that covered his body. He looked like a divine avatar, bathed in holy light. His gnarled and hunched body stood tall in defiance. A battle fervor he hadn¡¯t felt for a long time filled him. Air combusted around the crimson priest, hot gusts causing his standard to flap. Angry red dragons undulated around him, leaving fire and smoke in their passage that formed into a giant vortex. A stifling power rose with the maelstrom, filling the forest. This was his path, one he¡¯d chosen. It left him with scars and memories too bitter to recall, but the path of the betrayer ¨C sacrificing his pride and glory ¨C was not one he regretted. His conscience was clear. ¡°The Skyfire Banner. Can it really set the skies ablaze?¡± The buffetted heat turned the old man¡¯s face red. His mind recalled a scene from long ago. It was him. The dignified leader of the invincible Templars. The man who warriors once looked up to as their War Saint. One of the mightiest fighters in all the realm. He had spent most of his life surrounded by that blinding glory. Then, all at once, he was cast into darkness ¨C a forgotten vagrant wandering the wastelands. Once he had led the Templars far and wide, before learning his own friend was murdered by a treasonous disciple and there was nothing he could do. A long time ago he had stood at the peak of the world, and now he was a ghost aimlessly stalking its gutters. That long-buried disgrace bubbled back to the forefront of his mind. Was the War Saint dead? The old drunk closed his eyes. Six whole years he¡¯d spent drowning himself in alcohol. What was the use of this husk of a form he kept dragging from place to place? He¡¯d had his heart set on death when he stole into Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. Kill Ravenous Tiger, and let the city guards cut him down. That had been the plan ¨C an ignoble period to this farce of a life he lived. But circumstances conspired to even steal that from him. Neither he nor his failed disciple died that day. But he thought on it for a time, and it was good he didn¡¯t die. What a worthless death, a shameful way to go. He still desired to die, but wished to see his life snuffed out in glorious fashion. A final period to his story was inevitable, but he was now determined to see that last sentence carry weight. Was cremation good enough? No! The old man¡¯s eyes popped open. He stood in the heart of a firestorm, with a blazing sky descending his way. A smile spread his cracked lips. He did not fear, did not cower ¨C he attacked. His assault ruptured the shackles that had held him back; tore through the barriers he built around himself. From the shell of Dawnguard¡¯s light, a spear of illumination shot forth. In an instant the beam pierced through the firestorm. It was powerful enough to run through the storm without impediment, to strike at its heart ¨C the banner in Wyrmsole¡¯s hand. The forest all around them was enveloped in flames. So intense were the flames that the enormous trees turned black like dried kindling. Vulkan¡¯s attack struck Wyrmsole hard enough that he was flung back several meters. Blood spat forth from his mouth. When he righted himself, his shocked eyes turned back to the old figure standing in the sea of fire. ¡°You strength¡­ it¡¯s like it never left you!¡± The nimbus of light around the old man gradually faded. He almost stumbled as exhaustion washed over him. That strike had been the most he could muster. His alcohol-stepped cells were beginning to reawaken, but the old man knew the truth. After fermenting for so long, even with the aid given to him by Autumn, this was it ¨C the last light of a setting sun. How much longer did he have? A year? Half a year? It would be enough! For much of his life, the former Templar had lived his life for glory and for the mission. At the end of his days he¡¯d taken the opportunity to live in freedom, doing and going where he pleased. What did he have to regret? Fires continued to rage around him, lethal and hungry. He risked being burned alive or suffocating if he remained for much longer. ¡°Stop fighting! Let¡¯s get the hell out of here!¡± Cloudhawk blinked into existence beside him. He didn¡¯t expect to show up in the middle of a fucking apocalypse though, and now wasn¡¯t the time to play with the barefoot zealot either. He looked for a way out. Wyrmsole saw that the two were preparing to run. ¡°After them,¡± he shouted to his subordinates, ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape!¡± Yet even as he shouted the orders the sound of conflict could be heard from several directions. One of the missionaries came racing toward him. ¡°No good. The Elysian army and the Highwaymen are both here. We¡¯re outnumbered and fighting on several fronts.¡± ¡°Damnit!¡± Wyrmsole didn¡¯t think they¡¯d get here so fast, but it wasn¡¯t unimaginable when he thought about it. Their battle could likely be felt through the whole forest. It would be hard to ignore. It was only a matter of time before others players came to interfere. Nothing could be done about it. They had to do what they could to hold the Highwaymen and Elysians back. As for Cloudhawk and the drunk? They were a troublesome group, but not enough to cause Adder any significant danger. After all, Adder was no ordinary man. He had to have faith that Adder could handle things on his own. Cloudhawk teleported himself and the drunk back to the grassy clearing with a series of jumps. Dragons flew by overhead in sizable groups, a fact which made him spew a few choice curses. Most were headed toward the forest, but a few were still nearby. When they spotted the small group trying to pass the grassy expanse toward the Godtree, they swooped in to attack. Fortunately Cloudhawk and the drunk arrived in time. Together they quickly dispatched a dozen or so of the dragons that got close, and in that time closed the distance to the Godtree. Autumn led them to a passageway made out of roots, which she claimed would lead them to the mausoleum. Everyone squeezed in. Dragons screeched in protest outside, but the opening was too small for them to enter. They clawed and roared at the entrance but were forced to remain outside. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 24 - The Forbidden Area This burrow was different from the others they¡¯d encountered. Instead of rocks, the entire structure ¨C from floor to walls to ceiling ¨C was all composed of tree roots. Layer upon layer of them tightly intertwined and stretching deep into the earth. As the small party made their way, they couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the strange fact. Suddenly, everything around them shook. The root tunnel undulated like the bowels of some giant beast, and they were just a meal waiting to be digested. Cloudhawk called out a warning to the others. ¡°Careful, trap!¡± He words came half a second before black roots shot out from the walls. They writhed and struck like poisonous vipers, like deadly thorns. The bodies of the roots were black as night with the only exception being their pointed tip. Those were a bright crimson. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to experience it to know they were capable of turning a human body into a meat skewer. Belinda shouted after him. ¡°The exit is gone!¡± Cloudhawk craned his neck around and discovered that the roots had coiled together, conspiring to cut off their escape. He caught a glimpsed just as they spiraled shut, blocking out the last bit of outside light. Suddenly darkness enveloped them. But even without sight everyone could feel the cramped root tunnel beginning to constrict. Nervously Barb called through the darkness. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± If they weren¡¯t impaled by the roots then they would be crushed by them. Barb had found herself in several difficult spots over the years, but none this dangerous. ¡°This has to be some kind of defense measure set by the elder, to stop people from coming in. The roots are prepared to kill anyone who tries to come in from the outside.¡± Autumn had never entered the forbidden area, so she didn¡¯t know how to proceed. She fumbled the flute from her robes, put it to her delicate lips and blew. Her consciousness focused on the artifact, concentrating on a single command. Retreat! And then, everything stopped. Grasping tree roots fell still. Like obedient soldiers they drew back to open the passage forward. Everyone breathed an audible sigh of relief. Thanks to Autumn¡¯s quick thinking they survived what otherwise would have been a deadly circumstance and could proceed. ¡°The elder is definitely inside the mausoleum. He probably knows we¡¯re here.¡± Autumn¡¯s face was stern and serious. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what other traps or dangers we¡¯ll find, and the enemies are hidden while we are exposed.¡± It wasn¡¯t like they had a choice. Outside dragons roamed the skies and patrolled the area around the Godtree. ¡°It¡¯s just a tomb. Even if there are traps it can¡¯t be worse than fighting a few hundred dragons, right?¡± Cloudhawk tried to stay logical. He turned a curious eye to the old drunk. ¡°By the way, I saw you fighting that obnoxious preacher. You blasted right through a whole storm of fire. Since when did you become so strong?¡± The old man arrogantly rolled his eyes at the question. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen a tenth of what I could do. That was just a little trick. But I had help from Miss Autumn, a little something she gave me to eat which has some surprising benefits.¡± Cloudhawk then looked to Autumn. ¡°You got awesome stuff like that here, too? I¡¯ll have some of what he¡¯s having. I should get something back for all the hard work I¡¯m doing, right?¡± This rascal has the nerve to even open his mouth! Did he think the boon she gave to the old man was just some ordinary food? It was a precious medicine, gifted to them a thousand years ago by their god. Only a few doses existed, and the main reason Autumn offered it to the drunk was to motivate him. He was¡­ sloppy, so say the least. But at least he was not a bad man. There was nothing evil in appreciating alcohol. With the Vale¡¯s resources and influence he could spend the rest of his days chasing the bottle of a wine barrel. At the time it was simple: Convince him to stay, and it would mean a lot for the safety of their home. She could not have anticipated the situation in Woodland Vale would have become so dire, so quickly. As for Cloudhawk, she didn¡¯t want him here even though she¡¯d asked for his help. Wasn¡¯t he part of the turmoil that had come to her people? Of course it was just habitual bullshit on Cloudhawk¡¯s part. It didn¡¯t matter how fine the medicine was, it wouldn¡¯t have much of an effect on him. Chalk it up to a passing interest on hearing what it had done for the old man. Barb picked up on something and pressed him about it. ¡°What are you thinking, Excellency?¡± Cloudhawk turned back to the drunk. ¡°Whose condition is worse, yours or the Crimson One¡¯s?¡± He answered honestly. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle I¡¯m still alive. While the Crimson One¡¯s injuries do impact his abilities, it didn¡¯t stop him from nearly wiping us all out in the wastelands. So you tell me, who¡¯s in worse shape?¡± This was a problem. If it had such great effect for the drunkard, could the same medicine be used on the Crimson One to make him whole again? If he returned to full strength as a Master Demonhunter, he would be the greatest weapon in all of the wastelands! No more time for talk. The group continued deeper into the burrow. It eventually empties out into a wide area with several colorful vines. Each one was laden with gently glowing fruit which was just bright enough to illuminate the space. As they spread out from the small opening, stunned eyes look out over the thousands of intertwined roots which composed this chamber. It was the end of the tunnel, no other exit was visible. Cloudhawk slowly walked further in. Something tickled at him, a sense of unease. Situated in the center of the tree root temple were several altars, each one embraced by the roots that built this place. Unless he was mistaken, this was some sort of sacrificial chamber used by ancient priests in service of their Shepherd god. They hadn¡¯t gotten to the mausoleum proper yet. Cloudhawk opened his mouth to speak when suddenly he was stopped by the faintest nose off to one side. He spun toward the source. As they entered a flower had sprouted from between the vines. It was a beautiful, brightly-colored bloom that looked something like a Morning Glory. What Cloudhawk had heard was the bud opening. It was quickly followed by thousands more as flowers sprouted all around in some sort of fantastical welcome. It had to be galvanized by some kind of mysterious power, which lent the beautiful scene an ominous undercurrent. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Cloudhawk had never seen anything like this. Yet even before he could finish the thought, plumes of some black substance began to seep from the walls. It flowed down to the floor, dark as ink, and spread in all directions. ¡°Bugs! Ah! They¡¯re bugs!¡± Azura¡¯s tiny scream filled the chamber. Millions ¨C possibly billions of small insects poured from the walls and skittered along the ground. Each one was about the size of a fingernail and were covered in pitch black chitinous armor. Tiny scarlet eyes blinked in the dim light of the chamber. Crain took a swipe at a group of them with his exorcist rod. The ones he managed to catch exploded into sickening paste, but it only served to upset those around it. Wings popped from their backs and the insects rose up around their attacker. ¡°Aaarrgghh!¡± Crain screamed as the small black creatures encased him. Tigron rushed forward to try and help him, but was immediately swallowed up as well when he got close. The bugs squeezed through gaps in their leather armor, biting at their flesh, burrowing through their skin, digging through their eyes and up their noses. The others looked on in helpless terror. What sort of insects were these?! Cloudhawk yanked Azura to his side and covered her with his cloak. He shouted at Autumn. ¡°Hey! Do something, make them stop!¡± Autumn was frozen stiff. She had never been here, and like most Valites knew almost nothing about this place. She didn¡¯t know what to do. What were these vicious, bloodthirsty monsters doing in the belly of the Godtree? She hadn¡¯t even heard of insects like this. Belinda couldn¡¯t stand idly by any longer. Her hands rose, summoning an orb of fire which she flung at the cloud of bugs. As the intense heat consumed several thousand of them, they watched as an unexpected scene unfolded. Many were consumed by the fire, their shells cracked and their innards boiled. However, a group of them seemed to gather the flames into their carapace and begin to glow. They hung in the air and skittered over the blow like fireflies. Pop! One of them landed on Belinda and exploded, spitting fire across her skin. She yelped in a panic and started slapping at the spreading fire. ¡°Sarge, help me!¡± Claudia wanted to, but it was too late. She watched in horror as countless insects landed on her charge and detonated. Before she could blink the young woman was completely ablaze, flailing impotently. She screamed until her vocal chords were charred and fell into the insects, which quickly swarmed her body. There were too many. Rei tried to escape but quickly succumbed, falling into the horde. She vanished beneath the black bodies. Butcher was madly brandishing his war hammer, but for every batch he squished more were skittering along his flesh. They¡¯d torn through his flesh already, but the madman¡¯s tolerance for pain kept his standing. Barb, Autumn¡­ even the drunk and Cloudhawk felt the beetles¡¯ bite. Even though they couldn¡¯t pierce the old man¡¯s tough skin they were still a threat if they got in through his eyes, ears or nose. There were too many important areas to protect, even the strongest person would be overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. They had no way to fight back. What could they do? What! Cloudhawk desperately clung to Azura while the evil bugs bug ate his flesh. Some had started to dig inside, and one had entered his abdomen and was gnawing at his internal organs. It was nearly painful enough to make him pass out. No! I can¡¯t let this happen! He took several panting breaths as his mind raced for a solution. That¡¯s when he smelled it ¨C a strange fragrance. Smell... it was the smell! ¡°Hold your breath! Everyone, hold your breath! It¡¯s fake, an illusion!¡± Cloudhawk took one more gulp of air and then held it, but the bugs still kept coming. Whatever was causing this had gotten into his brain, so it was too late to stop breathing it in. More and more of the bugs were digging into his body. He felt himself starting to lose consciousness, darkness creeping in on the edges of his vision. ¡°Claudia, attack the flowers!¡± She jumped to action, summoning the strength of her Tempest Flower. Metallic petal burst through the chamber like a cutting rain. The offending flowers were shredded, petals fluttering to the ground in pieces. Moments later nothing remained on the root walls. Gradually, the bugs began to disappear. They vanished into smoke like dew before the morning sun. 1. Interesting aside; alcoholism is a problem in China. A lot is changing with the new generation ¨C mostly because of health concerns ¨C but for the poorer areas and the older folk, excessive drinking has tremendous bearing and effect. Cancer and stroke are the big killers in China today. Liver cancer, of which alcoholism plays a part, killed so many that accounts for of Liver cancer deaths worldwide. Of course China has a lot of people so they do everything big, and much of that is also attributable to HBV, but the numbers are still staggering. Then there¡¯s stroke, which was responsible for in 2012 (and has increased since then). make it the third most deadly disease and highest debilitating disease in China. For stroke in particular, its deadly effects are historically catalogued in ancient Chinese medicine, which had many herbal formulae and healing methods to deal with the onset and sequelae of the disease (see Zheng Gan Xi Feng San, Xiao Huo Luo Dan respectively). Drinking in China ¨C like in many cultures ¨C is deeply ingrained in society, to the point where there is no real concept at all of alcoholism. People can ¡®drink too much¡¯ but there is no such thing as the disease of alcoholism. As such, there is no treatment for those who suffer from its crippling effects (which includes psychotherapy, which is practically nonexistent in China). I remember during my time volunteering with villages that day drinking wasn¡¯t just encouraged, it was required to show respect to village elders (as was smoking). Drinking ¨C often to excess ¨C is a staple, in fact a highlight, of the holidays. While this is slowly changing, it is likely that drinking too much will continue to be a health and societal risk in China for years to come. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 25 - The Charnel Tree The agonizing pain of the insect bites gradually subsided. It was the flowers the whole time. The beautiful, trumpet-shaped blooms were another one of the mausoleum¡¯s defensive measures. Something in its scent had invaded their minds and produced visions ¨C terrible, realistic visions. All four of Claudia¡¯s novices were currently unconscious. Butcher, Gabriel, Barb and Autumn were drenched in a cold sweat. Even Cloudhawk and the old man had only narrowly escaped going mad. What a psychic assault. The intensity of it proved the danger they were in by being here. Cloudhawk quickly looked over Azura who was clutching to his side. She was frightened and pale, but unharmed. She¡¯d recognized the insects even before Cloudhawk had. The small girl continued to impress. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He asked nervously. Azura was wringing her tiny hands, feeling for where a bug had started to nibble at her. No mark could be seen however, so she bit her bottom lip and nodded assuringly. She didn¡¯t want Cloudhawk to be concerned. The old man¡¯s face was hard as stone. ¡°What happened?¡± Cloudhawk looked around at the petals of Claudia¡¯s Tempest Flower still floating through the air. Ruined petals carpeted the floor, a fact he took heart in. ¡°The flowers let off a scent that weakened our will and psyche. It induced mental collapse that puts its victims into a coma. If we let it go on much longer the consequences would have turned us all into mindless vegetables.¡± After a few moments, the young demonhunters began to come around. Rei startled awake and immediately began slapping at her body. Her eyes were wide and wild in her pale face as she cried in a trembling voice. ¡°Bugs! B-bugs! So many bugs!¡± Her constitution wasn¡¯t as strong as the others, so she hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet. That all-consuming fog of fear was still hanging over her mind like a nightmare she couldn¡¯t wake up from. Belinda looked to be in a bad way, but managed to force a weak smile. She tried her best to look nonchalant. ¡°It was a pretty convincing trick. Hmph. Sure gave me an early taste of what death is like ¨C but a silly ploy like that isn¡¯t enough to put me down.¡± Crain and Tigron were the last to awaken. The encounter had caught them off guard, and they had no way to protect themselves. Thankfully, however, their torture was brief. A demonhunter¡¯s mental strength was far stronger than your typical person, so over time they recovered without issue. Cloudhawk spared a glance for Autumn. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re supposed to be one of the local leaders, right? Obviously you had no idea what was going on since you almost fell for it yourself. Doesn¡¯t make much sense to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a leader for my people, not entirely. Only true elders know about this place,¡± shot shot back. But something did feel odd, so she continued with a lower voice. ¡°I¡¯ve never been inside the mausoleum, but every few years our people do come here to make sacrifices to the Shepherd. This¡­ has never happened before. It must be a trap set by the elder.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a whole lot of unexpected stuff going on in this valley.¡± Cloudhawk paused, absorbed in thought. They were here already, and even though the elder was prepared for them they still had to push forward. He cast another look around the sacrificial chamber. ¡°I don¡¯t see an exit. How are we supposed to get into the mausoleum?¡± Autumn made her way to one of the sacrificial alters. Pressing her hands together and muttering a few words, she suddenly cut a gash in her wrist. Hot, fresh blood dripped onto the root and stone. It was quickly swallowed up, and the roots that her blood touched shimmered with strange red script. The crimson lines wound a path forward and everything vine it passed through came alive. Writhing like snakes, they slithered aside to reveal a large yet strange delicate stone doorway. The others watched in wonder. No ordinary person could open the way to a god¡¯s mausoleum. Cloudhawk felt that his teleportation abilities were useless, too. Some kind of powerful energy hung over the entirety of this place. Only one with the blood of the tribe¡¯s leaders or some holy relic could reveal the path. The stone door slowly opened. A stuffy wind heavy with mystery and foreboding filled the chamber. It swung back to reveal a passage way that was deep and wide. Like everywhere else its walls were lined with creeping vines and glowing fruit. Dim light illuminated the path as it continued into the heart of the tree like a pathway to some other realm. As the doorway was revealed to her, Autumn¡¯s pretty face glowed with devotion. Her hands pressed together before her chest, she knelt and prostrated herself before the altar three times while whispering prayers. ¡°Great Shepherd, please forgive me for disturbing your eternal rest.¡± Cloudhawk was growing impatient. ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t waste time. We have places to be.¡± Oddball dashed into the newly opened tunnel, a streak of golden light. It was back a moment later having made sure the coast was clear. Everyone began to file in. Each step they took further into the tree increased the sense of mystery and peculiarity. They couldn¡¯t shake the sensation that something was watching them. And it was more than possible ¨C this was the burial place of the valley¡¯s ancient godly patron. All manner of secrets were likely interred here. Punctuating this, the small group felt a wave of unease pass through them. Something unnatural. They were nervous, and on alert. When they reached the end, Autumn put the Shepherd¡¯s flute to her lips and blew. As before, the vines slithered away to grant passage into a chamber beyond. It was the tombs antechamber, a space twice as large as the sacrificial hall they¡¯d just come from. What immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention was the tree situated in the center of the room. It was a strange thing in many ways. For one, the fact that it was here at all was odd. What¡¯s more it looked nothing like any tree they¡¯d seen before. Maybe a dozen rectangular boxes that looked like coffins were nestled in its boughs and had started to grow into the bark itself. It was a macabre kind of cemetary. Foreboding hung over Cloudhawk like a wet blanket. ¡°What¡¯s this tree called?¡± Autumn faced the pitch-black tree with her hands folded devoutly. She spoke in hushed and reverent tones. ¡°It¡¯s the Charnel Tree. It guards and watches over the elders of the past. When they die, our elders are buried here inside the Charnel Tree so that they can spend eternity protecting the mausoleum.¡± Her explanation left the rest of them speechless. What kind of bizarre custom was this? Autumn paid their strange looks no mind. She shut her eyes and began to pray. Cloudhawk had only grown more intolerant but was forced to suppress his complaints. He knew that not all of the Vale¡¯s elders were like the one hiding here. What little he knew of Woodland Vale was that the head elder was chosen by popular vote, whereas other elders were determined by blood lineage. The bodies in that petrified tree were Autumn¡¯s ancestors. If her ancestors were going to make their power felt, he sure as hell didn¡¯t want to upset them. Autumn¡¯s lengthy prayer came to end. She opened her eyes, looking upon the tree with a conflicted expression on her pretty face. Her sigh stirred the stagnant air. ¡°Let¡¯s continue on.¡± They walked in, intending to go around the tree to the exit beyond. But as they got close Gabriel muttered an unsettling observation. ¡°The coffins are moving.¡± Much to their surprise he wasn¡¯t kidding. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. At the same time, Cloudhawk sensed a faint resonance coming from the tree. He watched as the entire tree began to shudder and the sound of ghostly cries rose from it. Fear gripped them. And then ¨C crash! One after the other, wooden coffins cradled in the tree¡¯s branches fell to the ground. Every one of them hit the ground vertically like wooden tombstones. Vibrations continued to tickle at Cloudhawk¡¯s senses, but he still didn¡¯t know what strange power this artifact was summoning. He turned to Autumn, searching for an answer, but she shook her head and just stared in fear at the scene. She had no idea what was happening. All she knew about the Charnel Tree was that it was here to protect the Vale. Why was it reacting this way? ¡°Son of a bitch, the dead are coming back to life?! We should¡¯ve fuckin¡¯ known nothing good would come from skulking around a tomb. Get ready to fight!¡± Punctuating his words, the coffin closest to them burst open in a cloud of splinters. What stumbled out from inside was something like a human, but nearly two meters tall. It wore no clothing and the ancient skin was mostly replaced with knotted bark. Its features were indistinguishable. Some sort of¡­ mutant? No. That wasn¡¯t right. Thrumming relic power hung wafted off the gnarled humanoid in waves. No signs of consciousness were evident, but sensing the presence of an intruder it came alive like some sort of grotesque guard dog. Gurgling noises rumbled in its throat as it shambled forward. Autumn was frozen in place. The scene playing out before her was unthinkable, a scene that wouldn¡¯t feature in her darkest dreams. Pale as a sheet, she watched as her ancestors came to life as puppets under the tree¡¯s command. W-why¡­? This was supposed to be a place of honorable repose! Belinda wasted no time with words. She summoned an orb of fire into her hands and flung it into the face of the closest creature. They were slow at first, but picked up speed as their old joints remembered how to move. As the light of Belinda¡¯s fireball lit up its face, flesh from the defender¡¯s left shoulder burst open with a splurt! Vines slithered free from within and entwined to create a shield. The fireball struck it and burned away harmlessly. Cloudhawk scowled at what he was seeing. ¡°Gabby, deal with this thing.¡± At this command, Gabriel drew himself up and lifted his arms. Threads thin as a spider silk tangled around his fingers. Yet when the shambler saw him coming its right hand spat out stabbing vines, sharp as a switchblade. Gabriel was a capable fighter. He dodged the piercing vines then planted his hands on the creature¡¯s arms. He pulled back, taking both of the beast¡¯s arms with him. They twitched and jerked on the ground even without a body to command them, like fish out of water. As for the monster itself, long roots were extending from the severed limbs to replace them. Gabriel didn¡¯t give it quarter. His infinitely sharp threads wrapped around their target and tightened. The monster¡¯s body, though tough as steel, was carved into pieces like it was made of bean curd. Was it finished? The question was on everyone¡¯s mind as they stared at the heap of bark and flesh. Confirming their doubts, the pieces of the shambler continued to move. Roots and vines reached out from each chunk and wrapped around one another to pull the pieces back together. It took only a matter of seconds for it to pick itself up from the ground. What¡¯s more, it had morphed in a grotesque and terrible way. It was easily three or four meters tall now, with arms four or five meters long. Thin roots connected its top and bottom halves like the trunk of a horrific tree. Head, arms and body jerked irregularly in an unsettling and unnatural fashion. It continued to gather itself together. Only a few moments more and all of Gabriel¡¯s efforts would be reversed. The grim realization struck them all at the same time ¨C this thing couldn¡¯t be killed! Worse, other coffins were starting to open as well. Gnarled hands shoved the wooden lids open and stepped into the chamber, creatures that had once been men and women but now were indescribable horrors. Cloudhawk watched wide-eyed, and as he did a sickening sense of familiarity flashed through his brain along with a single word. Seraphs! 1. ¡¯s a reminder. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 26 - Unremitting Danger These creatures were similar to the protofiends Cloudhawk had encountered deep beneath Skycloud. Only, perhaps more complete ¨C more like Blackfiend the Undying, or Seraphs. Fiends and Seraphs. They were the same, in the end. Human-shaped relics. Reputedly the creation of these creatures required the blood of a god or demon, hence their dramatic names . Presumably the rigors of their creation were demanding. At least it could be assumed, since there was no mention of vast quantities of either Seraphs or Fiends during the Great War. The Charnel Tree had to be some sort of¡­ incubator. A way to turn the bodies of the Vale¡¯s ancestors into servile relics. In that way it wasn¡¯t very different from the chrysalises the protofiends had come from, just older. Obviously it needed more time to do its work. Dryads, they were called. And they used to be human. Elders, in fact, with varying levels of psychic and spiritual power. That made them fine material for Dryad creation. In other words, while the process of creating a Dryad was much longer than the protofiends beneath Skycloud, the final product was far more complete. More like Squall¡¯s formidable Blackfiend ¨C only, there were quite a few here now. ¡°Mother¡­ Father. Elders! Why can¡¯t you rest?!¡± Panic stricken, Autumn stared in horror at the Dryads. She couldn¡¯t really tell which of them were her parents, they were all featureless creations of old bone and bark. But they were there, part of this nightmare coterie. She felt a pang of despair that began smolder into anger. ¡°You were the leaders of our Vale! Servants of the Shepherd! Why have you been turned into the demons?!¡± ¡°Hey, calm down. They aren¡¯t demons ¨C they¡¯re probably closer to your god now than they ever were.¡± Cloudhawk could only imagine how much of a blow this was to her, but they were in a dire mess and if Autumn lost her head they were done for. ¡°They can¡¯t think for themselves anymore so don¡¯t scream yourself hoarse for nothing.¡± But Autumn couldn¡¯t accept this. These were people she loved and respected, changed into abominations that were neither human nor spirit. ¡°They¡¯re just relics with human shapes. Like dolls!¡± Cloudhawk could feel the vibrations growing stronger in the Dryads with each passing moment. It felt identical to when he fought the protofiends. The cold sweat that trickled down his spine was familiar, too. ¡°Stop them, you have to. Otherwise we¡¯re all dead!¡± Easier said than done. He didn¡¯t have time to explain to her what he knew had happened, and he probably couldn¡¯t even if he did. A few sentences were all he could manage as the Dryads began to close in on them. Their bodies hummed with awakening energy. Vines sharp as spears were spat from unliving flesh toward them. The old drunk¡¯s face darkened in the same moment he summoned the power from his relic. Golden light arose from Dawnguard, sweeping out to meet the vines and blasted them apart. Haphazard attacks from the others followed, yet nothing could stop the Dryads. Claudia jumped into the air and summoned the power of Tempest Flower. Scores of metallic petals exploded outward and dug into the Dryads¡¯ bodies, peppering them with shrapnel. Belinda flung fireball after fireball at anything that moved. Dryads burned, but never stopped their attack for an instant. Now instead of tree people they were shambling pyres of wood and metal. No living creature would have withstood such a vicious combo, but the Dryads were unfazed. Ignoring the biting metal and roaring flames, they continued to manipulate lashing roots toward the invaders. Those closest to them shuddered as clouds of spores were ejected from their bodies. Fires were instantly extinguished and the cloud spread out over the others. ¡°Watch out for poison!¡± They shuffled backward to keep themselves outside of the toxic cloud. However, some of the spores managed to land on Rei¡¯s lily-white face and neck. Blinding pain paired with a maddening itch immediately racked her nervous system. Lines of purple spread out from the point of contact, marring her fair skin as the poison sought an artery. Evidently the spores produced their toxin quickly, and spread it just as fast. She screamed in agony and fell to the ground. Patches of repulsive, rough skin arose on Rei¡¯s face and neck. Raising his hammer high, Butcher roared and flung it at the Dryads. It spun end over end, striking the nearest one with thousands of pounds of force square the chest. Force equivalent to being crushed by an elephant blasted through it, causing the Dryad¡¯s body to explode into pieces. Residual force from the impact actually knocked the other Dryads around it off their feet. Useless. The mangled pieces of his victim¡¯s body quickly reassembled. The hammer returned to its owner, but it had brought some of the spores back with it. Butcher snatched his weapon back and felt it immediately as the spores settled onto his right hand. Even for him, the pain was almost more than he could ignore. It felt like fire coursing up the nerves of his arm, while purple fluid bubbled under the surface of newly forming malignant skin. The reactions were so fast he only had time to stare in shock. ¡°Fire!¡± Belinda understood what Butcher meant. She summoned her fire and put it to his arm. The smell and sound of scorching flesh filled the air, but it stopped the growth from expanding. Butcher watched his flesh burn black without even batting an eye, like pain wasn¡¯t a sensation he could register. Nearby, Barb and the Sutherland brothers were trying to fight off the Dryads with exorcist bows. Claudia pummeled them with a cutting rain of metal. Belinda flung her orbs of fire without pause. While the Dryads were particularly fast, nothing the invaders did slowed them down. Morale was quickly collapsing. They¡¯d never fought enemies they couldn¡¯t kill before. Cloudhawk¡¯s face grew darker with every step they were pushed backward. ¡°Can you make them stop or not?!¡± Autumn wasn¡¯t an idiot, she was going to get them all killed if she didn¡¯t try something. She put her faith in the flute, her only recourse. Putting it to her lips she took a deep breath and blew, her mind fixed on a single thought: Stop! A pure note arose and hung in the air, washing over the Dryads. They stopped¡­ but Autumn¡¯s heart sank as half a beat later they resumed their forward trudge. Anger had crept into Cloudhawk¡¯s voice as his nerves began to fray. ¡°That fucking useless piece of shit flute! Can it do anything?!¡± Autumn felt her eyes burn as tears threatened to rise. She didn¡¯t want this! They were under assault, and any minute they would be overrun. She didn¡¯t know what to do! Cloudhawk forced himself to be calm and look around. His keen eyes began to spot details, like the fact that the Dryads¡¯ attacks were all avoiding Autumn. Like¡­ they didn¡¯t see her at all. The Dryads were only trying to attack the people who weren¡¯t supposed to be here. Autumn had the blood of her ancestors, leaders of the tribe. They would allow her to pass unmolested. In fact, it was more than likely all of these troubles wouldn¡¯t have happened if she¡¯d come alone. At least she was safe, even if the others were increasingly likely to meet their deaths here. The Dryads couldn¡¯t be defeated. After all, humans only had so much stamina. It was foolish to try and win over a creature that could never tire, and never stop. Even a Master Demonhunter could run out of strength, so there was only one method left to try. Try to sever their connection to whatever power kept them alive. Cut them off from the source! ¡°These things are drawing their strength from the tree!¡± Cloudhawk decisively pulled Basilisk off his back and pulled back on the string. An almost imperceptible twang thrummed among the din. The arrow found purchase in the chest of one of the Dryads, and immediately the upper portion of its body was turned to stone. It crumpled apart, shattering against the floor on impact and scattering stone in all directions. This sort of attack would at least slow the relic¡¯s recovery. ¡°Autumn, these things aren¡¯t after you. Help them, and the rest of you cover me. I¡¯m going after this fuckin¡¯ tree!¡± Cloudhawk jumped into action before anyone could protest. But the Dryads seemed to know his plan. They centered their assault on him, and all of a sudden Cloudhawk was faced with a wall of deadly opposition. The phase stone¡¯s power spring to life, so that poison spores and piercing vines passed by harmlessly. Life and death depended on this ploy! Cloudhawk rushed through the crowd of Dryads protecting their tree, Basilisk at the ready. He fires several arrows, one after the other, all aimed for the Charnel Tree. Where they struck, dark bard started to petrify. The Dryads went mad, doing everything in their power to try and tear Cloudhawk apart. Forced to drop his phase field to attack the tree, he was left exposed. ¡°Go!¡± The drunk blessed Cloudhawk with Dawnguard¡¯s light while swinging his iron cane. A blast of power issued forth and knocked several of the Dryads aside. Butcher, Barb, Claudia and her squad all rushed in to give him cover, with Autumn leading the charge. Thankfully the Dryads didn¡¯t seem very intelligent. The others hid behind Autumn like a shield, temporarily confounding their attacks. A brief respite, but enough to give everyone the breathing room they needed. Cloudhawk arrived before the Charnel Tree. His Silver Serpents sprang into view, turning to streaks of silver as he hacked at the petrified bark. Cold steel flashed like he was chopping vegetables until ¨C BOOM! A concussive blast rocked the chamber. All at once the Dryads became sluggish, then still. The old man laid into one of them with his shinning cane, smacking it to the ground. It didn¡¯t get back up this time. He turns his vicious attacks onto the others. ¡°We did it!¡± Belinda caught one of the Dryads with a fireball, burning it to ash. ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Warden!¡± She was practically jumping for joy. Her admiration for the scandalous demonhunter only grew with each passing battle, to the point where it was almost zealous. It was only natural ¨C force someone to confront the possibility of death and emotions will rise. Cloudhawk¡¯s quick thinking and decisive action had saved their lives. Everyone knew it. But before they could celebrate too long, several lumbering bodies appeared in the hallway they came from. While Cloudhawk and his crew were cleaning up the Dryads, they used the distraction to launch a surprise attack. ¡°Shit, dragons!¡± He couldn¡¯t for the life of him figure out what these damn things were doing down here, nor did he have much time to ponder. They were on the group of humans in an instant, one of them knocking Barb to the ground and pinning here there. Another caught Gabriel in a bull rush. It was then they noticed black-clad people clutching to the dragons¡¯ backs. They had Elysian-made rapid fire crossbows in their hands which spat a volley of deadly bolts. This sudden, violent sneak attack took them all off guard. Claudia and her squad were quickly surrounded. It was too quick, and the dragon riders had specifically zeroed in on the weakest invaders. They were overwhelmed. Claudia fended off many of the bolts but caught several in the chest and shoulder. Her squad mates suffered worse, and were quickly brought to the ground. Claudia was so furious she was seeing red, but the dragon riders were on her before she could react. They¡¯d circled around them now, and were closing in for another attack. 1. Their names in Chinese are Éñ (god) ÊÌ (servant) and ħ (demon) ÊÌ respectively. Seraphs, detailed as servants of God, were chosen for the good ones. Fiends were picked for demons, as a ¡®fiend¡¯ is like a mini-demon. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 27 - Another Narrow Escape Cloudhawk was furious! These piece-of-shit cocksucking mother fuckers! Sneaking up on them like a bunch of pussies! Adder must have known that Cloudhawk could sense relics, so the assassins he sent were not demonhunters. Without any resonance to give them away, they were able to sneak up and catch them unawares. It was standard practice for Cloudhawk to use Oddball as his eyes and ears in a fight, sending the bird out to survey the situation while he fought to keep an eye on the flow of the battlefield. Due to their connection as divine beast and master, the moment Oddball recognized a threat it was conveyed to Cloudhawk. And yet, that was the problem. Cloudhawk was nearly impossible to sneak up on, so he was caught completely off-guard when it actually happened. In the fury and chaos of their fight with the Dryads he¡¯d completely missed the black-clad dragon riders lurking in the shadows. Their sudden arrival took everyone by surprise. Their timing was impeccable. Two minutes earlier and they would also have been wrapped into the fight with the Dryads. Two minutes later and their targets wouldn¡¯t have been distracted enough to get the drop on them. None of them anticipated the sudden, suicidal attack that came just as they were finishing off the Dryads. It was too perfect, so even though Cloudhawk and his crew were greater in skill and numbers, they were still left with a disadvantage from the surprise attack. A salvo of arrows flooded the room. The attackers set about reloading. As one of the men in black was raising his crossbow to fire again, a beam of golden light flashed right for him. It struck his weapon first, tearing it apart as though it were made of paper. The light continued through his chest and burst out the other side, leaving a fist-sized hole in its wake. Indomitable, the light continued. It pierced through a second assassin nearby. Cloudhawk urged Oddball to attack his foes through their mental connection, flooding the bird with his psychic energies. With its master¡¯s aid, Oddball reached speeds three or four times faster than normal. With its sturdy body, the pudgy critter had more stopping arrow than a crossbow bolt. Adder¡¯s piddling soldiers couldn¡¯t defend themselves. Several flashes later, the corpses of the assassins slumped against the backs of the dragons they rode. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk teleported into the center of the Dryads, with the Silver Serpents clenched in each hand. He hacked and cut, blocked and dodged, doing everything he could to handle the freaks while the others managed for themselves. The old drunk saw what he was doing, and knew how to react. Cloudhawk was giving him the space he needed. So the crippled old man turned his sights on another target. He disengaged from the Dryads and leaped into the air, coming down on a nearby dragon like a comet. The beast opened its maw wide to greet him, but was met first by the drunk¡¯s iron cane. The impact shattered the dragon¡¯s skull. It whined piteously and slumped to the ground. Without missing a beat, the old man kicked off its back toward the next dragon. While these beasts were well protected against demonhunters, martial artists like this old man were their bane. One pass, three moves. The dragon was incapable of protecting itself from the withered alcoholic. Five more were quickly dispatched. If their brains weren¡¯t scrambled then than their spines were shattered. Not all died, but whether or not they still drew breath they were no longer a threat. While the old man was dealing with the dragons, Cloudhawk had managed to cut down four of the Dryads. The rest of their small party ¨C still stunned by the sudden, vicious sneak attack ¨C had yet to come to their senses. And yet, even though Cloudhawk heedlessly threw himself at these creatures, there were simply too many for him to handle on his own. His body was covered in toxic spores, which caused cancerous growths to spring up all over exposed skin. Roots from the malicious tumors dug into nerves, causing excruciating pain ¨C worse than Cloudhawk could put into words. Of course he had learned how to tolerate pain, and he didn¡¯t let it throw him off. Trespasser, he knew, was working hard inside of him. The growth and poison wouldn¡¯t get any further than flesh deep. No, it was the large number of Dryads that remained giving him the most anxiety presently. Their continuous attacks had broken through Cloudhawk¡¯s defenses, and in rapid response they lashed out with dozens of stabbing vines. Not just at him, at everyone. Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened. Riddled with tumorous growths, he still flung himself bodily in front of the vines to protect the others. Only, it was too late. Claudia, her squad, Gabriel, Butcher and the others were in sudden and lethal danger. In this critical instant there was a streak of green light as a silhouette joined the fray. Autumn, ignoring the threat to her own life, put herself between the others and those vines. Her hands were out in front of her entreating them to stop. What seemed like a hundred razor-sharp creepers thrashed through the air, right toward her. Millimeters before her face, they stopped. But not all of them. Some were too close already. Perhaps a dozen lodged themselves into Autumn¡¯s frail body, wounding her gravely. With a pained grunt she fell to her knees. What was the use of risking her life like that? How much space could her tiny frame protect? The vine attacks from the Dryads were fully encompassing, reaching all around in all directions. Their sharp feelers quickly slithered around her and continued toward their targets. Everyone felt the raw murderous intent wash over them as their situation shifted into peril once again. Flashes of almost imperceptible cold light filled the air, as suddenly the vines were neatly chopped to pieces. It was like the sharpest beams of laser light descended on them all at once, every incision impossibly smooth and clean. Before the Dryads could recover from the unexpected counter attack, flashes of silver assailed them. Dozens needle-thin streaks shot at and among them. Strange oblong daggers peppered their foes glowing brilliantly, indicating the power that rushed through them. Gabriel manipulated the Shadethread, glaring malevolently at the Dryads. His face was a dark and twisted mask of rage, and a mad laughter rang from his throat. He sounded like a wild animal, elated and infuriated all at once. ¡°You jackass! You should have let me out long ago!¡± Naberius¡¯ voice was unnatural as it rolled from Gabriel¡¯s throat. ¡°You almost let these pieces of shit kill me!¡± Murderous intent flooded the chamber like an icy deluge. With a low, hysterical roar Naberius clenched his fingers. The Shadethread stitched together and tightened. Streaks of faint silver light raced through the Dryads as easily as reaping wheat. In an instant, most of the tree relics collapsed into piles of cleanly severed chunks. No wonder it was so strong¡­ Naberius had come out to join them. Cloudhawk was very familiar with the relationship between Gabriel and Naberius. Two minds sharing one body, each with very different outlooks and methods. Under most circumstances it was Gabriel who retained control. A handsome, almost shy gentleman. Sometimes, however, when the circumstances were most dire or when provoked, Naberius stirred. Naberius didn¡¯t need to train. As the saying went, ¡®where the priest takes one step the devil takes ten.¡¯ Each time Gabriel saw his skills improve, nestled deep within Naberius was reaping the greatest benefit, growing stronger by leaps and bounds. As such, even though ¡®Naberius¡¯ never trained his skills he would always be stronger than Gabriel. It was the most frightening aspects of this dark personality. It was the first time Cloudhawk had seen Naberius use the full extent of his power. From what he was witnessing, he guessed Naberius could go toe to toe against a veteran demonhunter at this point and come out victorious. Powerful as the Dryads were, they were puppets without someone pulling the strings. Without a unifying focus or minds of their own, they paid no heed to Naberius even after watching him carve the others into pieces. Dumbly they stared as Naberius weaved the Shadethread around them and pulled. Whoosh! The strings constricted. The long daggers streaked back to their owner. The weapons were only about as long as a man¡¯s pinky, and about a centimeter thick. They resembled a weaver¡¯s needle, and were perfectly suited for piercing flesh. Whatever they were it had to be a relic unique to Naberius. ¡°Kill me? You shambling, worthless pieces of refuse think you can kill me?!¡± Naberius erupted into egomaniacal laughter while flinging his dagger once again. The silver weapon split into several dozen, each one leading a thread humming with power. The Dryads became the focus of this madman, and he used them to vent his insanity. On average, each one was severed into a dozen pieces. They pitched and writhed upon the ground like dying serpents. No longer a threat. Yet although the threat was handled, Naberius was not assuaged. After so long he needed more, he needed release. How could a few moments and a group of tree men be enough to satiate him? He needed to kill, he wanted fresh blood. He wanted to hear their pained wails and cries for mercy! Bloodshot eyes dragged over to Butcher. The smile that stretched over his twisted face could only be described as obscene. ¡°You wanted to seek vengeance for what I did, didn¡¯t you? Now¡¯s as good a time as any!¡± Butcher froze. He thought he¡¯d grown strong over the years, but seeing what Naberius did to the Dryads he realized how laughable his assumptions were. This monster was as strong as a veteran demonhunter now, perhaps stronger. There was no circumstance under which Butcher could face someone this strong and hope to emerge with the upper hand. ¡°Get your shit together!¡± Cloudhawk stormed over from behind, fixing Naberius with a hard glare. He¡¯d spent several years with Gabriel by this point, and although he wasn¡¯t familiar with the full extent of Naberius¡¯ strength they were still acquaintances. Naberius licked his lips. ¡°What makes you think you have the right to give me orders? Gabriel, the spineless shit, might be willing to work for you ¨C not me. I hate it. I hate it! I¡¯ll kill both of you! I¡¯ll carve you to shreds! I¡¯ll chop you into pieces!¡± Fires blazed in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. ¡°Just you fucking try.¡± But the hard gaze was met with disdain by Naberius. ¡°This cheap trick of yours means nothing. Fight fair, if you¡¯re able.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic assault worked on demonhunters of similar strength, causing them to hesitate, grow dizzy or feel pain. Against those with weaker mental constitutions it could cause hallucinations, take control of them, or otherwise completely rob them of their consciousness. Naberius was a creature of decidedly unstable mental bearing, which made him vulnerable to attacks on his psyche. He only came to the surface while suppressing Gabriel, and if that control faltered he would be swallowed up. At that point there would be no need to fight. Cloudhawk had no time to deal with the psycho. He had to see to the wounded. And so he turned away and looked first at Autumn. There was a lot of blood and several wounds, but he could tell her breathing was even. Nothing serious. A low cry reached him then. Claudia was on the ground with a small girl clutching to her back. Her shoulders were shaking, and in her lap was a red haired girl. Belinda had been shot by seven or eight bolts from the assassins. All of them were lodged superficially, all but one. It¡¯d caught her in the temple and was lodged into her brain. The damage was clear. She lay twitching in Claudia¡¯s arms, pupils dilated and clutching at something unseen. Cloud¡¯s heart raced. ¡°Rei? Rei, get your ass over here!¡± The healer was just coming around from a coma induced by the Dryad spores. Once she saw the scene she came scrambling over. She looked over Belinda and quickly the tears began to flow. ¡°I can¡¯t heal her.¡± ¡°What the fuck do you mean you can¡¯t heal her!¡± Looking down at her crestfallen face it took everything he had not to smack her. How did the university allow someone this weak through their program? ¡°I¡¯m ordering you to heal her, now!¡± Rei tenderly pulled the bolt from her friend¡¯s skull. It came back clinging to bits of brain matter. A faint, green light pulsed at the end of it. With her hands glowing, Rei set about reconstructing Belinda¡¯s brain and skull. But she knew what happened. This wasn¡¯t something she could heal. All she could do was fix the surface damage and cry. ¡°Belinda¡¯s brain has been permanently damaged. The bolt was poisoned, and by now it¡¯s spread everywhere. I¡­ I can¡¯t heal her.¡± Rei¡¯s abilities worked miracles on all areas of the body ¨C except the brain. It was too complicated a structure, and when it broke it wasn¡¯t easily repaired. But even then, what if she could heal it? The assassins¡¯ bolts all were poisoned. The toxin was so deadly that a normal person would die almost instantly. Even a demonhunter would have to fight. Once it was in here brain, though, there was no healing that. But in testament to her strength, Belinda still had some semblance of consciousness. ¡°W-warden...¡± Cloudhawk reached out and clutched her groping hand. Her breath was coming weaker, and blood had started to invade the whites of her eyes. ¡°I always¡­ w-wanted to tell you s-s-sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have¡­ been so r-rude to you¡­ before...¡± Claudia was holding tight to her other hand. ¡°Don¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°N-no.. I w-want to. It¡¯s m-m-my last ch¡­ chance. I d-don¡¯t want to go. I don¡¯t want to.¡± Her body was wracked with uncontrollable ticks. ¡°I don¡¯t w-want to d-die here. I d-don¡¯t.. I Don¡¯t¡­ Sarge. I don¡¯t want...¡± She muttered the words over and over again, until her body went still. Her eyes were open and staring into the distance, but there was nothing in there anymore. The look on Claudia¡¯s face was beyond pain. She could feel the despair and unwillingness in Belinda¡¯s heart as she went. Such a young, talented girl¡­ top of her class. Her life had held so much promise. A child! Sixteen years old! Only sixteen! She had the potential to be a respected, powerful demonhunter. She had the sort of talent people envied. Ambitious¡­ such lofty dreams. But she never boasted, never held it over the rest of her peers. All of it wasted. Cut short before she could do anything with her gifts. There was no sadder tragedy than when a brilliant light was snuffed out. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 28 - Hidden Secre What a shame. What a goddamn shame. Cloudhawk looked down at Belinda¡¯s body and felt his heart sink into the pit of his stomach. She was the most promising of Claudia¡¯s squad. She had looks, aptitude, intelligence, and a unique outlook. Although she hardly knew anything about the world, she¡¯d been so full of confidence that it bordered on arrogance. But weren¡¯t all young people the same? Why did Fate choose to rob her of a chance to live? If she¡¯d have survived, Belinda would have returned to Skycloud and become a skilled demonhunter. At the very least, she would quickly surpass her sergeant, Claudia. Belinda would have been a name to remember in Skycloud. Now she was a cold body. What a loss. No doubt, when the rising stars burn out early it¡¯s always a tragedy. Rei hugged Belinda body and sobbed. Her own wounds weren¡¯t healed yet, and the growth still festered on her face. If she didn¡¯t deal with it soon it would permanently scar her, but the pain of her loss was all-consuming. She didn¡¯t care about something so inane as her looks. Crain and Tigron were also wiping away tears. Both young men were wracked with shame. When Mason died they were furious, but not sad. But Belinda was their age. She was the gifted one, someone they¡¯d known for a long time. As fellow graduates they shared a deeper connection. Seeing a friend die in front of their eyes¡­ they couldn¡¯t hide the pain it caused them. Of all of them, Belinda was the one that was supposed to survive! Either brother would have gladly traded their life, because all the rest of the team together couldn¡¯t add up to her promise. Claudia reached out and gently shut Belinda¡¯s sightless eyes. She rose back to her feet and looked at the others with a face devoid of emotion. She wasn¡¯t the same girl who entered the wastelands for the first time all those years ago. She was familiar with loss. A squad member¡¯s death was a leader¡¯s failure. She felt the grief, the shame, and the remorse ¨C but she was their sergeant. Claudia put all of that away. Her words were solemn and gentle as she wished Belinda¡¯s spirit an eternity in the embrace of the gods, among the vaulted peaks of Sumeru. The remaining squad gathered around, and offered their fallen comrade a final salute. Barb was touched by what she saw. Even Butcher, ugly as his spirit was, had respect for the young girl who¡¯d given her life. So long as Skycloud had demonhunters as dedicated as she, it would flourish. Azura was hiding behind a stele, quietly watching. She hid the moment the fighting started, since she couldn¡¯t help. Because she was no sort of threat she was ignored by the creatures that tried to kill her friends. She was like a little rabbit, and who was threatened by a little rabbit? Her big blue eyes were fixed on Belinda in her final moments, and Azura felt the cold sensation take root in her heart. It was hard for her to grasp that she would never see the youthful, powerful elder sister again. Just a second ago she¡¯d been¡­ this was death. Cruel and impartial. Autumn had been wounded badly by the Dryads, but with a little healing she was stable. Belinda¡¯s death struck her to the core. She was out here doing her duty, and this is what it earned her. She was beginning to understand how important strength and responsibility were. The old drunk was cold as steel. A life like his, you became closely acquainted with death. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when he heard something. He was immediately on alert. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We don¡¯t have time to sit here and cry over our loss. Pack it up, we need to move.¡± About then Cloudhawk could also sense that something wasn¡¯t right. By instinct he turned his eyes to the tree and went rigid. The Dryads, all cut into pieces, weren¡¯t dead. All the various pieces of them were slithering together. They were all balls of whipping tentacles, like hideous octopuses. Vines slithered every which way, latching on to whatever was close and pulling the pieces back together. The Dryads didn¡¯t reconstitute themselves completely ¨C more like they were patched back together by a bad tailor ¨C instead the disparate pieces became one monstrous amalgamation. The abomination was easily four meters tall, ugly as hell and haphazardly put together. Vines peaked from the various fissures in it like excess thread, or sprouting hair waving incessantly. It hadn¡¯t pulled itself together entirely yet, but the threat it posed was clearly felt by everyone. Eager to rend the invaders limb from limb, it trundled forward though its legs could not yet fully support the bulk of its body. The Charnel Tree was destroyed. Why weren¡¯t these monsters dead? Cloudhawk scowled, his brows knit tight in thought. He¡¯d simplified their predicament too much, the creatures didn¡¯t just draw energy from the tree. They had energy of their own as well. It was foolish to think ripping them apart just the once would be enough. Shit. Watching the shambling horror approach, Cloudhawk¡¯s mind went immediately to that old fucker Majjhima, and the creatures he¡¯d been hatching. He¡¯d had perhaps a dozen of those protofiends at his beck and call, and when he absorbed their power he was almost too much to deal with. It was easy to assume, then, that this monster they faced now was at least as dangerous. They weren¡¯t strong enough to handle the super-Dryad on their own. ¡°Move it, go! We need to get out of here.¡± Cloudhawk shouted the order, hoping to get them mobile before the Dryad completely rejoined. Autumn pointed them toward a hall entrance in the back and they began to flee in that direction. As they all pressed into the relatively safety of the hall they heard a terrible roar from behind. Autumn looked back and felt the icy grip of fear take her. The massive Dryad was fully formed, and all over its body ¨C from its shoulders, to its chest, to its arms ¨C was all covered in savage-looking faces. Its head was four faces pressed together that could see in all directions at once. It was a creature that she couldn¡¯t have imagined in the depths of her darkest nightmares. The chamber¡¯s floor began to crack as countless vines burst out from it. Before their eyes, the antechamber became a writhing mass as vines reached out from everywhere. The Dryad crouched as wave after wave of undulating vines brought it forward as incredible speed toward the invaders. Autumn gasped in a trembling voice. ¡°Close the door!¡± Cloudhawk and the drunk heaved against the door, forcing the heavy portal shut. They managed to close it before the deluge of flora could reach them, but the whole area shook from the impact as the Dryad raged against the doorway. No one knew how long the barrier would last. Not long. Small creepers were already finding their way through cracks in the door and frame. It wouldn¡¯t going to be enough to keep the monster at bay. ¡°This damn thing is too strong. Forget it, keep going deeper!¡± Cloudhawk led the others down the hall, the blind leading the blind, racing as fast as their legs could take them. But it didn¡¯t matter which way they turned or how fast they run, vines were whipping at their heels. The Dryad¡¯s strength seemed limitless, and it kept on them like stink on shit. Luckily the mausoleum was massive, and its construction labyrinthine. Cloudhawk threw himself down whichever path presented itself without any bearing, until they came upon a cave. It was different from all the rest of the mausoleum, since its halls were made of tree roots and the chambers were all deliberately constructed. In contrast, the cave looked perfectly natural. Cloudhawk asked Autumn about it, but she was at a loss. The mausoleum was a mystery sinceancient times, a place forbidden to all but a handful. Any sacrifices were left outside in the chamber they¡¯d already passed through, and dead elders were interred in the Charnel Tree. Beyond that, even tribal leaders rarely ventured far into the tomb. This deep into the Shepherd¡¯s final place, Autumn doubted anyone was familiar with the layout. She¡¯d never heard anything about the deeper sections, much less a cavern. But they didn¡¯t have time to mull over it. The Dryad chasing them was ruthless, and tireless. Since there was no other way forward, they would have to take their chances with the cave. Cloudhawk and the others pushed ahead. As expected, it was a natural cavern. However, somewhat unexpected was the damp and fetid air that smelled of putrid meat. Barb appeared to sense something out of sorts. ¡°Look, what is that?¡± The cave floor was dotted with eggs, the smallest being three times the size of a typical bird egg. The shells were pale white, though slightly opaque to reveal a faint green hue inside. Barb hefted her exorcist rod and gave one a few good smacks. When it cracked open something spilled out, covered in viscous fluid. It looked rather like a bird with no feathers, covered in tender pink flesh. Whatever had been growing in the egg was mostly formed, more or less ready to fight its way out into the world. The party picked their way among the eggs, deeper into the cavern. As more of the area was revealed to them, everyone was shocked to find that the whole place was covered in eggs. Autumn in particular was stunned that she¡¯d never heard of this place. Where were they? What was this place? What was such a strange cavern doing in the middle of her god¡¯s mausoleum? It was around them Cloudhawk, who had taken the lead, felt the ground tremble ever so slightly. It was faint, like a brief electric buzz. His face scrunched into an expression of confusion. The old man saw it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cloudhawk waved him quiet. His eyes peered into the darkness of the cavern, and then offered a thoughtful question to Autumn. ¡°How much do you know about the mausoleum? Is it really just where the Shepherd¡¯s body is buried?¡± The question took her off guard. She wasn¡¯t sure why Cloudhawk would suddenly think otherwise. The others also began to feel an unsettling air settle over them. If it was really just a tomb, why would there be protectors as strong as the Dryads? What were all these eggs doing here? ¡°Honestly¡­ I don¡¯t know. It is said among my people that the Vale¡¯s greatest secret is hidden deep in the mausoleum. Although, none of our elders going back generations knew what that was. Legends say whatever it is, it was the reason Woodland Vale was created. Our greatest treasure.¡± She paused and her eyebrows furrowed in thought. ¡°With all the changes in the mausoleum, I suspect the elder is using outside powers. He must be trying to discover this secret. We can¡¯t have much time.¡± Adder? That asshole just loved to cause problems! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes hardened with the promise of violence. 1. Leeeerrroooyyy¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 29 - Between the Hammer and the Anvil Of course, it wasn¡¯t so simple. What caused Cloudhawk to ask the question was something strange he¡¯d heard. A sound he¡¯d encountered only twice before. The first time was several years ago in the wastelands, the first time he came upon the phase stone. The second was when he found the skull in Hell¡¯s Valley. And then, now. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t evne strong enough to summon a tenth of the phase stone¡¯s power. He couldn¡¯t recall a tenth of the lifetimes of memories that¡¯d been trapped in the skull. But even so, he could guess with a fair amount of confidence that Shepherd and¡­ whoever had owned the phase stone before him had some kind of connection. Whatever secret was hidden in the mausoleum had something to do with this sound. What exactly, though, he couldn¡¯t guess. They would just have to continue to find out. Man, whatever his benefactor was, it was strong. He hid something here, and the Shepherd built an entire secret garden to protect it. It was almost hard to believe. What exactly was the creature that had gifted Cloudhawk so much? He was beginning to sound like some sort of god! Crrack-crack-crack! The faint sound of grinding stone reached their ears. Cloudhawk learned from Oddball that the monster chasing them had reached the cavern entrance. It was following their trail, and would soon be upon them. ¡°Son of a bitch. That leafy cocksucker is still after us.¡± There was no question that the Dryad was strong. If it caught them here they weren¡¯t going to escape intact. He called for everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Follow me!¡± He followed the familiar resonance deeper into the cavern. Much to everyone¡¯s surprise, the natural cave was part of a complicated system of openings. This time, as Cloudhawk led the small party, he wasn¡¯t picking directions at random. He focused on that odd feeling, a sort of hunch that nagged at the back of his mind. IF he could just get to where the call was coming from, it was for sure where the elder was hiding. They were close. Very close. As they closed in on the source a deep growl emerged from the darkness of the caverns. A green body darted at them, fast as an arrow. It was as fast and ferocious as a tiger, reaching for them with razor-like talons. ¡°Excellency, watch out!¡± The rod in Barb¡¯s hands roared like a hurricane as she heaved it toward their attacker. Boom! A pulse of concussive force that was hard to see with the naked eye shuddered through the air. It slammed directly into her target. The sound of a dozen bones snapping followed. The creature was flung against a nearby wall so hard it was almost liquefied. Barb was panting. ¡°Where did that thing come from? It just out of nowhere for his Excellency!¡± Autumn pointed at the body and muttered with surprise ¡°It looks a lot like a dragon.¡± Everyone took a closer look. Shit¡­ she was right. It was lizard like and the whole body was covered in green scales. A pair of immature wings were folded against its back. It was a dragon, wasn¡¯t it? All at once it hit them. This is where the dragons were coming from! What Barb pulled out from the egg was an unborn dragon. The one they just killed must have been out for a while, but not yet full-grown. That was why it was so weak. After seeing all those eggs in the cavern, it was no longer a surprise why there were so many of them flying around the skies of Woodland Vale now. If the Valites knew that these creatures that threatened them came from the bowels of their god¡¯s mausoleum, what would they think? They didn¡¯t stand around to ponder the question, for lithe green-scaled bodies began to slither toward them from the surrounding caverns. All of them were immature dragons. They were about the size of tigers, but didn¡¯t have the power or defenses of their grown brethren. What made them dangerous was the sheer number. With the Dryad closing in, they were running headlong out of the frying pan and into the fire. Only way out was to cut a path forward. Naberius wasn¡¯t bothered by the flood of critters. On the contrary, he was elated. A fervent bloodlust burned in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been locked up for so long, then I¡¯m let out and all we do is run, run, run! Now I get to kill! Ah-hahahaha!¡± His mad cackling rang off the walls as Naberius launched an attack. Right away several of the dragons were carved to pieces. More came, dozens of them like an army of ants, gnashing teeth and swiping claws. But Naberius only laughed maniacally as he plucked his Shadethread. He wrapped them around the throat of a nearby dragonling and pulled, severing its head from its body. Silvery needles embedded themselves in the abdomen of another and then dragged across, eviscerating it. Blood and organs spilled across the cavern floor. ¡°Even this psychopath can¡¯t handle them all himself. Let¡¯s help.¡± It was obvious to Cloudhawk now that he¡¯d miscalculated how dangerous this mission was. IF he¡¯d known he wouldn¡¯t have brought all these people with him. He especially wouldn¡¯t have put Azura in this sort of life-threatening environment. All he wanted was to give the girl a chance to see the world. Now he was struggling to keep himself safe, much less his disciple. The child looked up at him. ¡°Teacher, I want to fight too!¡± Autumn spoke up as well. ¡°Give me a weapon! I won¡¯t stand here and be useless.¡± Cloudhawk was struck by their determination. Activating the power of his phase stone, he pulled out two weapons and handed one to each. ¡°You two protect yourselves.¡± Azura clutched the Elysian crossbow in both arms, and even still struggled to hold it straight. Her eyes were wide as a vicious dragon came leaping toward her. Fear was obvious in those big blue eyes, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. Almost by instinct she leveled the crossbow, and pulled the trigger. Thunk-thunk! Elysian excelled in craftsmanship, so when the two frail girls fired their crossbows neither were knocked back by the recoil. Their bolts assailed the nearest dragons, deadly as a hail of gunfire. Several hit the ground with bolts jutting from their skulls. Cloudhawk nodded approvingly. ¡°Well done. Let¡¯s go.¡± Azura heard her heart racing in her ears. Her little face was flushed with excitement, and holding the crossbow high she shouted, ¡°I¡¯m ready to fight with you teacher, shoulder to shoulder!¡± Although these dragons weren¡¯t fully grown, they still fought as hard as an average wasteland mutant beast. They¡¯d stumbled into their home, and there had to be hundreds of hungry lizards desperate to take a bite out of them. Cloudhawk, the drunk, and Naberius took the fore. They were the strongest fighters and tried to keep the rest of the group at least partially covered. They pushed forward through the throng, leaving in their wake as trail of blood and viscera. The broken bodies of the dragons were left in heaps. Claudia kept Autumn and Azura safe in the middle of their crew while offering long-range support to the front. Rei had also picked up a bow and was firing at whatever got too close. Barb, Tigron and Crain took up the rear. Thankfully it didn¡¯t turn out as difficult as they feared. The dragons numbered in the hundreds, but cramped passageways meant they only needed to face three or four at a time. Cloudhawk and the others were trained killers, they knew how to handle themselves. A bunch of baby lizards weren¡¯t going to stop them. Forging ahead like a bulldozer, it was only a few minutes before thirty or forty corpses lined their path. Cloudhawk was soaked in blood, scales and bits of flesh. He and the others were cutting down the dragons almost faster than they could plug up the way forward, but he was not happy with their circumstance. Oddball was in constant contact, and he was telling him that a large number of vines were reaching through the cavern. The Dryad was getting closer. If it weren¡¯t for all the fighting, everyone would be able to hear Cloudhawk¡¯s teeth as they ground together. He sped up as quick as he dared, anything to get them out of danger quicker. Suddenly, from deeper in the cavern he heard an angry roar. This one was particularly fierce, and he felt it shudder through his bones. A powerful, ice-cold blood lust washed over them, seeping into their souls. The dragons felt it to, and as though on command scattered into every crack and crevice. ¡°Why are they running?¡± ¡°Because they were told to. It looks like we¡¯re about to meet their mother.¡± Barb shuddered as the roar started to work on her nerves. Autumn had told them before that the reason Shepherd¡¯s flute didn¡¯t work on the dragons was because a stronger will commanded them. Judging by the fact that hundreds of young dragons scattered at its call, they were about to figure out where that will came from. Claudia looked at Cloudhawk with a frown. ¡°What do you think?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Nothing we can do. Whatever it is, we have to fight our way through!¡± They walked into a wider portion of the caverns. Six fully grown dragons were crouched within, surrounding one that was different from the rest. It was a sort of dragon they¡¯d never seen before. It was at least half as large as the mature dragons beside it, but the most striking difference was its complete lack of scales. Instead, the whole thing looked like it was carved from emerald, head to toe. Nothing like a monster at all, more some sort of incredible gemstone statue ¨C if a statue that completely flooded the cavern with murderous intent. Barb was half-crouched, ready for anything. ¡°Is this the dragon king?¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a divine beast.¡± ¡°You mean something like the chimera, Anima?¡± The old drunk asked. Indeed. Cloudhawk could sense the familiar resonance coming from the dragon king¡¯s body. It was the same one he felt from Oddball, and the creature that guarded the Temple. In addition, Cloudhawk could tell that the dragon king had something else in common with Anima. It was old ¨C at least a thousand years old, fully grown. An infant creature like Oddball was a mere speck in comparison to a beast as ancient as this. The dragon king had to have been the Shepherd¡¯s, back in the time when Woodland Vale was being created. It meant the Shepherd must have blessed the dragon king with the power to make lesser versions of itself, which it could control. With the death of its master, the dragon king¡¯s eggs would no longer hatch and thus laid in wait, nestled in the darkness of the cavern. Now it seemed the dragon king had come to recognize a new master. The elder was the one causing the eggs to hatch, and all the tragedy that followed. Autumn¡¯s flute was Shepherd¡¯s, a powerful godly artifact. However, the dragon king was a thousand-year old divine beast. Both were comparable in power, but Autumn was not strong enough to use it to its fullest ¨C and certainly not enough to overcome the will of such an ancient thing. A Dryad behind, the dragon king in front. Now they were really caught between the hammer and the anvil. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 30 - Divide and Conquer The dragon king gleamed with light like an emerald statue. Its presence filled the chamber with frigid menace. A pair of green eyes blazed with internal light, smoldering with anger, and each breath from the creature stirred the air around them. Even just in its breathing the arrogance of command was obvious. A thousand years old. This was no typical monster, the dragon king had to be at least as formidable as the Temple¡¯s protector. Autumn¡¯s face had gone white. Barb was struck dumb with amazement. No one had anticipated that this creature would be what controlled the dragons. Claudia broke the stunned silence. ¡°Maybe we can convince the dragon king to fight the Dryad that¡¯s after us.¡± Urging the tiger to eat the wolf? A risky endeavor, but if successful it could save them from a dire situation. ¡°Are you joking? We¡¯re caught between them with nowhere to go, the Dryad¡¯s hunted us across this mausoleum, and we can¡¯t go forward. That thing is determined to tear us apart, so what are we supposed to do, turn into air? Even if we were able to hide somehow, we are the Dryad¡¯s target. Invaders. The dragon king has lived down here with them for a thousand years, what makes you think they¡¯ll fight?¡± While the Shepherd¡¯s puppet was a mindless killing machine, the dragon king was not. It heard and understood everything they said. Its lips curled up into something that would be called a sneer from a human mouth. A fierce and tyrannical aura poured off the creature. It slowly rose to its feet from a lying position, long neck held high, and stretched it crystalline wings. Every inch of the magnificent creature looked like it was carved from precious gems. It was preparing to attack! The dragon king roared! The sound echoed off the chamber walls and stole their will, causing the invaders to tremble in its presence. Opening its toothy maw, a green light roiled in the dragon king¡¯s throat. The breath attack poured out like a thunder wave. Cloudhawk and the others scattered in any direction they could to avoid it. Green tendrils of fire-like breath were so intense the stone ground cracked underneath it. The whole cavern shook violently. No quarter was given to the invaders, no chance to fight back. Towering above its children, the majestic dragon king roared an order. Lesser dragons standing guard nearby threw themselves into action without fear. Divine beasts were most threatening when drawing on the mental power of a master, but a creature like this ¨C with age and ability to rival the Temple¡¯s guardian ¨C was a dire threat all its own. Though there were few who knew of it, Anima held high respect within Skycloud. It had the capability to sense danger for hundreds of kilometers in all directions, which made it the perfect protector for the Temple, and in fact all of Skycloud city. The dragon king¡¯s unique ability was controlling lesser beings there were similar to itself. All of the hundreds of creatures stalking Woodland Vale¡¯s skies were under the yolk of their king. Not even Autumn and the Shepherd¡¯s flute could break its hold. That fact alone was enough to prove how fearsome an opponent the dragon king was. Divine beasts did not have ordinary bodies. As part of that they did not reproduce in the same way as other creatures might. However, the dragons were natural entities, and after a thousand years of reproduction their progeny filled the caves. There were enough of them to threaten the entire Conclave of Judgment, if the Vale were to rise in defiance. The old man shouted toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Destroy their leader and the rest will follow. You go, deal with Adder and the elder!¡± Cloudhawk could sense that the source of the strange call was close. Adder and the Vale¡¯s elder would be there too. Any other time he might¡¯ve been able to teleport right to where his targets where, but for the moment there was a gemstone dragon in front of him and a hideous undying Dryad behind. Were the old drunk and Naberius enough to deal with both threats on their own? He wasn¡¯t strong enough to teleport all of them to safety. ¡°Why are you still wasting time?!¡± Naberius growled at him. ¡°Let this wine-soaked hobo deal with the dragon. I¡¯ll handle the monster that¡¯s following us. If you aren¡¯t going to go after the leaders then just die and get out of everyone¡¯s way!¡± The old man¡¯s power was without question. But could this psychopath really handle the Dryad by himself? Unlikely! It was suicide. No more time to hesitate. Six dragons were closing in the wake of their king¡¯s breath attack, ready to enact its deadly orders. Meanwhile the dragon king remained behind, preparing for another blast. Already they could see sparkling energy gathering in the depths of its translucent throat. Was it preparing to coat them all in dragon¡¯s breath this time? ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go confront Adder. Take care of yourselves!¡± The decision was made, though it wasn¡¯t like he had a choice. If they didn¡¯t do anything then they were all dead. He couldn¡¯t take everyone with him, but he could take two. So he called Autumn and Azura close. Since Shepherd¡¯s flute was useless here, she wasn¡¯t any help to the fight. As for Azura, she was just a child. Although she was improving quickly she still didn¡¯t have the strength of even an average adult. Leaving them stuck between the dragon king and the Dryad was leaving them in the path of the reaper¡¯s scythe. Besides, they would probably get in the way of the others. So he reached out with his mind for the phase stone, filled it with his power ¨C and then three of them vanished from view. With that, the old man grinned. He lightly tapped the ground with his cane, each gentle motion causing the stones to crack. Sensing the danger wafting from him, the dragons didn¡¯t rush in to clamp their teeth around his throat. His cracked, yellow-toothed smirk never faltered. His hoarse voice called to one by his side. Barb, young miss, stay and help me. The rest of you can handle that monster coming up behind us.¡± ¡°Then we leave this overgrown lizard to you.¡± Without any further wasted words, Naberius raced back toward the mouth of the cave. Butcher, Claudia, and the three novices followed. Barb used her exorcist staff to knock aside a clumsy swipe from one of the dragons. She was curious as to the old man¡¯s behavior. ¡°Senior, why did you have me stay behind?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you always bothering me about wanting to learn how to fight like a Templar?¡± He tepidly replied. A sudden burst of force thrilled through her and she focused it against a dragon. It went careening through the cave and smashed against a distant wall. She shook her head, tousling her short hair. A stern expression gave way to excitement and anxiety. ¡°Senior¡­ why do I get the feeling you think your days are numbered? Or that you¡¯re planning to die against the dragon king. This isn¡¯t you passing on a legacy, is it?¡± ¡°Cut that shit out! Fuck this, I¡¯m not teaching you shit, forget about it!¡± ¡°Alright, wait! I¡¯ll learn! Of course I want to learn.¡± He brandished his cane, and its golden light retracted to envelope himself. Soon after his already mighty aura grew more vigorous. He was still a cripple, still looked like a beggar with one foot in the grave, and nothing had changed on that lecherous face¡­ but somehow in that moment he was once again the mighty Skycloud War Saint of old. Invincible, and with all the noble bearing of his long-lost station. Fast¡­ so fast! Barb didn¡¯t even see how he did it. She caught a glimpse of his cane dart out like an arrow, and then suddenly one of the dragons was launched backward with its head split wide open. It pinned the beast to the nearby stone wall. His body shimmered and then vanished, like a ghost. Following a strange trajectory, the former Templar streaked through the air. He plucked his cane from the dragons corpse and, ignoring the others that were racing toward him, swept right passed them toward the dragon king itself. Meanwhile his voice rang through the cavern. ¡°Alright, then here¡¯s your chance. These five dragons are your responsibility. Kill them, then I¡¯ll accept you as my disciple.¡± Barb felt like her breath was stolen. How was she supposed to do that? Five on one, and these dragons were not easy foes. They growled and hissed at the drunk, preparing to strike. So be it. She steeled herself with a defiant grunt, raised her exorcist staff and threw herself toward the enemy. The dragons didn¡¯t have time to attack the old man before she caught up to them. She was on them in an instant, whipping through their midst like a deadly wind. Barb¡¯s exorcist staff smashed the nearest dragon¡¯s skull to pieces. The rest roared in anger, and switched their focus from the old man to the young girl who dared attack them. Elsewhere¡­ Naberius and his crew arrived at the entrance to the cave. It was already covered in writhing vines. They bristled from the crags and crevices like a thousand snakes and were creeping further in. At the rate they were moving, the whole cave would be covered in only a matter of minutes. Claudia frowned as she looked over the situation. ¡°We aren¡¯t strong enough. We can¡¯t fight this thing.¡± Naberius responded with a cruel laugh. He hurled throwing daggers at the opening, each one connected to a thread humming with energy. They weaved around the entrance until it was covered by a nearly invisible net. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how strong it is if it doesn¡¯t have a head.¡± Claudia began to grasp his plan. While the Dryad was very strong, it lacked any real intelligence. It was sure to run headlong towards them, through the trap Naberius was laying. As a result the thing would be immediately shredded. No doubt the mausoleum¡¯s protector was strong, but everything had its limits. They could fight it like guerillas in the complicated cavern system, with the help of Naberius¡¯ pre-laid Shadestring traps. Every time the creature came back to life, it used some of its own energy. Eventually, if they killed it enough, it would stop coming back. But only a fool would fight it head on. Claudia glanced at Naberius. Looking at him with new eyes. Yes he was brutal and bloodthirsty, but he was also shrewd. He was smart enough to know the right tactics to use in a place and circumstance like this. It was backed up with the strength of a high-grade demonhunter. Then a blanket of vibrant green appeared from the cave entrance. Suddenly the area was alive with bright green vines and tangled underbrush that seaped along the ground toward them like someone had spilled a pot of dye. They watched, faces dark. The Dryad got here faster than they¡¯d thought. Rei yelped in surprise. ¡°There¡¯s a face in the wall!¡± Everyone followed her eyes to a harrowing scene. Wood was growing out through cracks in the wall, wrapping together into the shape of a human face. The tough bark made it look like the face of a wrinkled old man with big wide eyes. The face was just the beginning. More vines gathered to create a body, a fully-formed plant-man with a wooden mask to hide its hideous features. It was like some nightmarish creature birthed from the depths of their psycho, simply emerging from the wall. One. Two. Three. Five. Ten. More of them just kept appearing from the moss-covered stone, numerous as leaves in a tree. One after the other they shambled forward with expressionless faces in an endless stream. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 31 - Confronting Adder Teleportation took only a moment. In a blink, Cloudhawk and his two companions appeared near a cave opening. The room they found themselves in was peppered with stalactites and pillars of mica. Several men in black were interspersed through the area. In the center was an altar woven from roots upon which sat an uncut gemstone. Light from it shimmered through the cavern. Cloudhawk gazed into the large crystal. He was transfixed, for the longer he looked the more it seemed like there was actually something inside of it. A dark, vaguely humanoid shape. His eyes went wide. Was this Shepherd¡¯s body? Was this one of the legendary and elusive gods? A thick and powerful aura inundated the chamber, emanating from the body. The call Cloudhawk felt was definitely coming from this crystal coffin, though he couldn¡¯t understand why or from what specifically. Since the crystal was opaque, he couldn¡¯t see clearly was lay inside. More concerning, however, was the coterie of red-clad men who were clustered around the crystal coffin. Priests from the Conclave were pooling their mental power, focusing it on the god¡¯s body. The crystal around it seethed with a faint blue mist and shrunk by minute degrees. They were trying to thaw it out, to get at the body. Cloudhawk could hardly believe it. Those were the remains of a god who created this place! Did this bastards have nothing better to do than desecrate tombs? Was the wealth of power and resources here not enough for them? Cloudhawk looked around at the others in the chamber. What he saw made his breath quicken. Several familiar faces he recognized right away. The first was unmistakable; a large, black cloak, close-cropped black hair and scars along the corner of his eye. Adder ¨C the man who¡¯d cast the world into chaos. He was flanked by two others. One was a woman in a black robe, bearing a longsword. Her long, raven-black hair hung passed her shoulders. Revenant was absent the mask that usually hid her features, thus revealing her pretty face. Adder¡¯s right-hand woman stood close to his side and watched the proceedings. The other was a younger girl ¨C maybe sixteen or seventeen years old. In contrast to the stern expressions of the others, her face was delicate and endearing. Her flaxen hair fell down her back in gentle waves, and she watched the ritual with wide innocent eyes. Her frail body shuffled from side to side, so frail and innocent that one couldn¡¯t help but have the urge to protect her ¨C like some rare and delicate flower. Luciasha. Cloudhawk¡¯s jaw was clenched so tight he feared his teeth might crack. This bastard¡­ trouble was all around them. Didn¡¯t he know that Skycloud could flood this place with their deadliest warriors at any moment? Cloudhawk half suspected the leader of the Court of Shadows, Janus, to be skulking the shadows at any moment. So what the fuck was he doing bringing Asha here? She was helpless! Was he trying to get her killed? He swallowed the rage that threatened to boil up from inside. Putting them out of mind for a moment, Cloudhawk turned his attention to an exceedingly old man who was with them. His green robes were similar in make and style to Autumn¡¯s, and he carried with him a gnarled walking stick. His wrinkled features were kindly and sincere, his hair snowy white, but the lines between his brows were deep as though he were prone to frowning. It made him look more frail and human. ¡°That¡¯s the elder.¡± When she saw him Autumn¡¯s fists curled tight. Cloudhawk could hear her teeth grinding, and she had good reason ¨C the old man had brought outsiders to the heart of their patron god¡¯s tomb, and was using the power here to wrest control of Woodland Vale. His actions were egregious, unforgivable sins. But the most terrible affront of all was that he merely stood by and watched as these foreigners desecrated the Shepherd¡¯s body! She could hardly suffer watching another moment. The fury she felt was intense, watching this old man she once respected throw away everything they stood for. Cloudhawk saw her body quiver and raised a hand, warning her to keep silent. They had to get a read on the situation before making a move. Adder stood among them with his arms crossed before his chest. His eyes were fixed on the altar. ¡°At this rate the seal will be removed soon. But if you will allow me my curiosity¡­ why are you interested in this?¡± The elderly man began his response with a gentle cough. ¡°I found a stone tablet here in the mausoleum ¨C a remnant from when the Shepherd created the Vale a thousand years ago. Written upon it was a prophecy, speaking of untold secrets. The Shepherd must have had more than the flute and the dragon king to aid him. She must have had a greater treasure, but in all my years of searching this tomb I¡¯ve never found it. The only possibility is that it is interred in there, with Shepherd¡¯s body.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re willing to take a risk like this, for a treasure no one¡¯s ever seen and that may not even exist? If word got out to your people that you¡¯re digging up their dog, they wouldn¡¯t accept any reason you gave.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand how important this item is,¡± the old man replied in a frail voice. ¡°I don¡¯t need to explain anything to my people, nor will I. Everything I do, I do for the benefit of Woodland Vale.¡± He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to reveal everything. The prophecy he¡¯d discovered spoke of this strange item, stating clearly that it would resurface in a thousand years¡¯ time. It was said that whoever held this treasure would possess the strength to contend against the gods themselves. They would become a champion, capable of breaking humanity free of the godly and demonic shackles that bound them. Was that single sentence not enough to prove the treasure¡¯s worth? The elder was convinced this was fate! And it destiny called for it, then his actions could not be blasphemous. Shepherd left this prediction a thousand years ago, surely He knew someone would come and do exactly what they were doing. Over the years the elder had witnessed much, and as time went on he grew more convinced that this was his destiny. Only he was equipped to lead his people from Woodland Vale, to free them so that the tribe could determine its own future. It was his fate to allow the people of the Vale to realize their bright future. That would be the great gift he would provide for them. A thousand years they¡¯d been locked in this valley. Now it was time to reveal themselves to the world! Adder knew the old man was holding back, but he knew now wasn¡¯t the time to press him on it. ¡°We¡¯ve fulfilled our promise to help you break the seal on this tomb. Now it¡¯s time to uphold your end of the bargain, yes?¡± ¡°Naturally. I would never go back on an agreement.¡± He pulled package of dried herbs from his robes. They looked like a collection of mushrooms, only they were strangely crystalline and translucent. A glance was all it took to recognize that these herbs were special. ¡°This is the miracle herb gifted to us by the great Shepherd. Take it as an expression of my sincere thanks. When this item is in my possession, and my people are free, we will gladly join the Conclave in its endeavors.¡± Adder¡¯s expression showed that he was pleased. His mission was complete, these herbs could help cure his father and return him to his former glory. During their discussion more of the crystalline block had melted away. If they kept up the pace, whatever was inside the crystal would soon be revealed. Victory was within their grasp. But Adder suddenly felt something, a premonition. When he looked around he discovered that a large number of the warriors he¡¯d brought with him had conspicuously gone missing. His eyes flashed with a brief, brutal light. Almost as though by habit he began to thumb his ring, which in turn started to glow. All at once the chamber was thick with murderous intent. ¡°Someone¡¯s here.¡± Revenant and the remaining soldiers reached for their weapons. The elder and the pair of men he¡¯d brought him with looked around nervously. How was that possible? The elder knew how dangerous the mausoleum was for invaders. Whoever they were, they would need to get passed the Dryads, Adder¡¯s own guards and the Shepherd¡¯s divine beast. Only Skycloud¡¯s strongest would be able to pull off such a feat, and they couldn¡¯t have gotten here that fast. Besides, the only one who could open the mausoleum was Autumn, and from what the elder knew of her personality she wouldn¡¯t trust opening this place to Elysians. Adder called out, unperturbed by the change in circumstance. ¡°We know you¡¯re here. Come out.¡± A figure emerged from the shadows. Average build, unassuming, and wrapped in a tattered gray cloak. Beneath its deep hood was an unsettling ghost face. Nothing of the form beneath the cloak and mask could be seen, making it impossible to determine age or gender. Of course Adder didn¡¯t need to see a face. His lips curled into a grin. ¡°I knew it was you.¡± Cloudhawk was the only person Autumn would trust, and Cloudhawk was one of the few people he knew who could slip past their many defenses. ¡°Cloudhawk? What are you doing here?¡± Luciasha looked around at the others, with their swords and bows drawn. Worry and confusion soiled her pretty face, frightened that the two sides would come to blows. Behind the mask, Cloudhawk frowned when he saw her. He figured Adder brought her here as a human shield. The elder looked at this man who had slipped unseen an unheard into their midst. He was calm as well, and did not react to the dangerous atmosphere. All he needed was time, victory was certain once they got into Shepherd¡¯s tomb. Adder fixed Cloudhawk with a cold stare. ¡°You chose the wrong path. But there¡¯s still time to change your mind ¨C join us.¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you not to fight my father.¡± Luciasha stared pleadingly at the emotionless ghost face. ¡°I-I¡¯ve been traveling with him. I know what he¡¯s done has affected many people. It was a great gift to the people of the wastelands! Wastelanders like us. You should be with your people, and fight for your own side, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± Luciasha had seen the destruction of Skycloud¡¯s walls with her own eyes. She¡¯d watched as the power they¡¯d hoarded for a thousand years was released, swallowed up by the wastes like a man who¡¯d been dying of dehydration. She was a wastelander, through and through. Luciasha had never been to Skycloud, and knew so little of the world at large. All she knew was that her foster father¡¯s actions had helped people like her. He was saving the wastelands. He was changing the world. It was a great and noble pursuit. Cloudhawk remained still, unmoved by her pleas. When he spoke his voice was flat. ¡°If what he did really was for the wastelands, then he wouldn¡¯t have started this war. Odds are the expeditionary force wins ¨C and behind it is the rest of Skycloud¡¯s power. He¡¯s a rat, bearing its fang at an oncoming car. Wastelanders will die because of his ambition. I¡¯m not going to stand by and watch that happen.¡± Cloudhawk acknowledged that the wastelands had power, but for all its strength it couldn¡¯t contend with Skycloud. Run, hide. That was what they should do. Far beyond the reach of General Skye and his armies, where they could gather. The Crimson One and his lackeys were zealots. They were dreaming if they thought they could win. Once the war started it would last for ages. Years of death and destruction would follow. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t like the Crimson One or Adder, wrapping themselves in this perverse delusion of grandeur to save humanity. His aims were shallow ¨C save the millions of lives that would be lost if these psychopaths got their righteous war. Adder responded. ¡°Win or lose, someone has to do it. No?¡± Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else for us to say to each other.¡± Adder agreed. He sighed. This is what it had come to. An inevitability. His arm snapped up, and a beam of searing light screamed from his ring toward Cloudhawk. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 32 - Mirror Crystal Cloudhawk leapt out of the way. Adder¡¯s beam of light streaked by, right through where Cloudhawk had been a moment earlier. It struck a column of stone and instantly reduced it to slag. Woodland Vale¡¯s elder gaped at the display ¨C was this the power of these demonhunter outsiders? Incredible! Luciasha lunged at Adder, grabbing at his cloak as though to stop him. She kept screaming at Cloudhawk. ¡°Please! Don¡¯t fight! I¡¯m begging you to leave!¡± But he couldn¡¯t leave. This was a fight long in the making. He was only willing to back down if Adder agreed to flee from Woodland Vale and leave Asha with him. Ridiculous demands, of course, so he didn¡¯t even bother to make them. Both men were set, they were determined. The only way this was going to end was in combat. He really didn¡¯t understand these people. He refused to take the side of the wastelands this time. In the short term, if Adder succeeded here then Woodland Vale would join the Conclave of Judgment. No one here now would be able to escape; Dawn, Selene, Atlas, Frost; any one of them were incredible in both leadership and individual skill, but was it enough? Adder wouldn¡¯t give any of them quarter, not even his own cousin Selene. Cloudhawk had to do what he could to preserve the lives of his friends. Then there was the long view. Cloudhawk was confident in the expeditionary forces¡¯ chances against the conclave. He wasn¡¯t an ambitious sort, and high-brow ideas of honor were bullshit as far as he was concerned. It afforded him the ability to look at this situation soberly, and objectively. However, he didn¡¯t know what sort of effect this war would have on the future of humanity. All he knew was that while the elysians would suffer, but it was the wastelands that faced potential extermination. Skycloud. Wastelands. Woodland Vale. Millions facing the threat of death, countless more displaced. This was the vision he had for their future, and it sure seemed the most likely. As for the Crimson One and his lofty ideals? This grand utopia of human unity and liberation? To Cloudhawk it was fucking nonsense. Say he succeeded; say he managed to reverse a thousand years of history, and defeat the strongest demonhunter to have ever lived. Had he thought about what would happen next? Were the gods just going to sit up on there on their holy mountain and watch the show? Maybe. Over the last thousand years, the only proof they had that gods once existed were the miracles and relics they left behind. But what if they did return? How strong would they be? What would they do if they were forced to come and deal with rebellious humans? Did this father and son duo think that humanity could protect itself? Wishful thinking! It was suicide! If those two dumb fucks wanted to kill themselves who cared, but their careless actions were putting millions of lives at risk. If Luciasha kept following Adder around then eventually she would get wrapped up in it as well. Cloudhawk had to stop it ¨C now, today, no matter what! Revenant pulled her sword free without a word, and was about to react when Adder reached out to stop her. Adder could feel the intensity coming off of Cloudhawk¡¯s form. His cold eyes grew sharp, like a slowly drawn blade. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve improved even more since the last time. Almost enough to be a worthy opponent. Truth be told, I always knew fate would put us on opposite sides. A fight was forever in our cards.¡± Cloudhawk remained on high alert. He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what Adder was capable of, but he did know he came from the same family and was revered in the same way as Selene. He was certainly no one to take lightly. What¡¯s more, he was older than his more revered cousin. More experience meant he was probably just as deadly as Baldur¡¯s daughter. Luciasha was caught in the middle, unsure of what to do. Her foster father was a good man, she was sure of it. So was Cloudhawk. Why were two good men trying to kill one another? They both were important to her, so to her it didn¡¯t matter who won this fight. In the end she would mourn. Adder then looked her way. With a simple flick of a finger the young girl crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Cloudhawk glared daggers, unsure of what the older man had done. Adder then turned to the black-clad woman at his side. ¡°Take her and the medicine and go. It¡¯s time the differences between the two of us were settled. You can¡¯t help here.¡± Revenant paused to look deeply into his eyes. Within her own something lurked just beneath the surface. While she was fully confident in Adder¡¯s abilities, for some reason she couldn¡¯t shake a sense of discomfort and uncertainty. But she¡¯d never refused Adder, and she wasn¡¯t going to start now. Any word, any order, she followed without question. Her soft voice intruded on the tense stillness. ¡°You¡¯re coming back to Asha and I, right?¡± Adder faced her, locked by those cold eyes that hid a burning passion just below. He couldn¡¯t meet her gaze, and merely nodded. ¡°I will.¡± That was enough. Revenant knew Adder never broke his promises. Once he made a commitment, he stuck to it. Revenant¡¯s job was to take his adopted daughter and the herbs they¡¯d come for and find somewhere safe to stash both of them. There she would wait for his return. ¡°Asha stays here!¡± Cloudhawk squared off to try and stop her, but Revenant was too fast. She gathered Luciasha in her arms, then dissolves into smoke and vanished. The woman wasn¡¯t much of a face-to-face combatant, but she sure as hell could flee and sneak around. With Adder keeping him pinned here, Cloudhawk could do nothing but watch as the young girl was spirited away. Cloudhawk let out an impotent sigh, clenching his fists. He then eyed the crowd he was stuck here with. Several red priests were gathered, but they were focused on dealing with the seal on the Shepherd¡¯s tomb. Beyond them were a few of Adder¡¯s fodder, and a couple men from the Vale. The latter in particular were no concern, since Woodland Vale had no fighting prowess to speak of. There was only one person here he needed to fear, and that was Adder. The Vale¡¯s elder had no idea who this man was who¡¯d appeared from nowhere. It didn¡¯t matter ¨C his heart was set on getting to whatever was locked beneath the crystal. Time¡­ just a little more time! Whoever this intruder was he couldn¡¯t stop them. The elder spoke to Adder. ¡°What are you waiting for? Deal with him.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to rush, good elder. Today, there¡¯s nowhere for him to run.¡± Adder produced an orb. Light played off of its surface, and though smooth there appeared to be some kind of runes etched into it. At a glance Cloudhawk recognized it as the same relic Adder had used against him in Nucleus. The copy it produced would force Cloudhawk to expend a lot of energy to defeat. This shit again? Adder was enough of a pain to deal with. If he had to deal with a copy of himself, then the fight would be ten times harder. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to let Adder have any more chances or advantages. He galvanized his cloak and instantly vanished from view. Appearing in one spot, then vanishing to appear somewhere else a moment later, Cloudhawk deftly sped around Adder. The latter couldn¡¯t focus enough on his target to use the mirror crystal. Yet after producing the mirror, Adder did not adopt an offensive posture toward Cloudhawk as he¡¯d expected. Adder threw it onto the ground, and the mirror orb spread out in an instant. His three-dimensional crystal suddenly became two-dimensional, creating a sort of silhouette that was barely visible behind the man. What the hell is he doing? Unsure of what he was up to, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t rush in to attack. The mirror rippled. Innumerable disparate lights and shadows overlapped on one another, until he reached into the mirror surface and pulled something free. It was a single white cross. As Adder held it tight in his grip it began to emanate blinding light. Eventually it formed into a blazing sword nearly twelve meters long. A crossblade? Yes, the same sort of holy crossblade Selene used. It didn¡¯t take long for Cloudhawk to figure it out. Another one of the mirror¡¯s abilities was to remember things it¡¯d seen. This allowed Adder to stockpile copies of relics he¡¯d encountered and produce them as needed. This damn relic was unbelievable! It gave him the abilities to dozens of relics, all of the highest grade. It made Adder unlike any other demonhunter in the whole of Skycloud. He swung the saber of light back and forth, searching for Cloudhawk¡¯s form as he flit through the chamber. A savage, taunting smirk split his features. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You¡¯ve gone through hell to track me here, now you don¡¯t have the courage to fight like a man?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the young, inexperienced hothead he¡¯d once been. Fighting the right way wasn¡¯t about getting pissed and throwing caution to the wind, especially when you were contending against someone much better than you. So instead of letting Adder¡¯s taunts get the better of him, he continued to probe his opponent for a way in. And he found one. At first glance, Adder¡¯s mirror relic seemed insurmountable. It could copy people and even relics, but there had to be limits. He noticed that Adder couldn¡¯t copy his phase stone, for example. Cloudhawk also figured there had to be limits to how long Adder could use a copied relic, or how strong it was. For instance, it was probably an exhausting process. In addition, the crossblade he wielded wasn¡¯t the real thing. Even if it was an exact replica of Selene¡¯s, it was just a mirror image. As a mirror image, it needed to be maintained. So he was using two relics simultaneously; the mirror, and the crossblade. That meant if he wanted to continue using it, the cost in mental energy was at least doubled. Recognizing this, Cloudhawk was even more convinced not to throw himself into the fight. Adder was strong, but Cloudhawk¡¯s own mental prowess had to be comparable. Every second he goaded his foe into wasting his energy, the more likely he would win the fight. On the other hand, Adder was far more experienced in the ways of battle than Cloudhawk. To him, the boy¡¯s skills were insignificant, nothing to fear. Did he really think his stealth was insurmountable? Without saying a word, Adder called upon the mirror once again. This time another relic came into being, something that looked like an old brass lantern. Reaching out with his mind, Adder resonated with the antique. Immediately it gleamed with a blinding splendor, casting its light dozens of meters all around. The fuck is this? Cloudhawk felt the light stab his eyes. The beams poured over him and clung to his body like water. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 33 - Adder's Strength Adder¡¯s brass lantern illuminated the entire cavern. Strangely, Cloudhawk could actually feel the photon particles striking his body ¨C not with any weight, of course, for they wouldn¡¯t even bother a normal person much less one with Cloudhawk¡¯s constitution. What a dirty trick! The light wasn¡¯t intended to harm him, rather Cloudhawk knew right away that his invisibility had been robbed. At first he was a blotch of shadow among the light, and before he could figure out what was going on Adder attacked with his crossblade. He swung it at his slippery foe, heaving a blast of energy in Cloudhawk¡¯s direction. Shit! Cloudhawk stumbled out of the way, but in that instant Adder raised his hand and fired another searing beam from his ring. He was already on his back foot, so he did the only thing he could think of and tried to block the light with his Silver Serpents. The force from the beam was strong enough to overcome his phase field. Boom! It struck. Cloudhawk was flung against a stone pillar hard enough to cause cracks to form all over it. He wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth while inwardly struggling with the surprise. So that was the trick, his lantern was a probing relic. Much to Cloudhawk¡¯s chagrin it¡¯d been able to sniff him out without issue, even easier than Claudia¡¯s Seeker¡¯s Torque. The invisibility cloak he wore was a high-grade relic that Claudia¡¯s relic was unable to detect. Not so for Adder¡¯s lantern. He wasn¡¯t just invisible, either. He was half-phased from reality. For all intents and purposes he didn¡¯t exist, a fact which should have been him outside the ability of most relics to detect. Why was this brass trinket the exception? Of course the lantern was special. The particles of light that it produced were especially large and filled the space. This special property interacted differently with Cloudhawk¡¯s phase field, which folded space around him. Since the particles were large enough to be visible disturbed by the field, Adder was able to determine where Cloudhawk was. He could no longer rely on being unseen, not against Adder. The exiled demonhunter stood tall, like a divine effigy, glaring at Cloudhawk with a pair of calm, cold eyes. All of a sudden he jumped into the air, striding twice to cover the distance before bringing the crossblade down on Cloudhawk dozens of times with incredible speed. Adder wasn¡¯t just mentally strong. His physical capabilities were no less impressive than Cloudhawk¡¯s. He was truly a rare caliber of warrior. The holy crossblade was a relic that did damage through high powered, condensed energy. It was exactly opposed to Cloudhawk¡¯s phase abilities. It could cleave right through his field in a single blow. He couldn¡¯t just let attacks happen anymore, he would have to actively evade. As the dozens of hissing strikes rained upon him Cloudhawk was forced to fight back. A cold and dangerous light clashed against the crossblade. Deadly as vipers, fast as lightning and strong as a tempest, Cloudhawk¡¯s Silver Serpents¡¯ slipped from his sleeves. Gold and silver clashed over and over. Their contest illuminated the chamber with flares of energy. Columns were cleaved apart, as in their conflict formations thousands of years old were torn asunder. The others watched as they fought this epic battle. Wide eyes and gaping mouths abound, they were struck not by flashy moves or technique, but by the sheer force each combatant threw at their foe. Adder, wielding his crossblade, attacked with a straightforward and unadorned style. Thrust, hack, parry. No flourishes, just simple brutal strikes that were impossible to ignore. Every swing of his arm was deadly, with speed and force enough to chop Cloudhawk in half. By contrast, Cloudhawk¡¯s Silver Serpents danced like cunning vipers. His style was that he had no style, attacking in a thousand different ways from a thousand different angles. It made him difficult to read; sometimes a strike would be slippery as an eel, followed by a thunderous direct blow. Cloudhawk was inferior to Adder in every sense, and the only way to beat a better opponent was to try and outsmart them. Clang! One of the serpents knocked aside the crossblade. The other swung around to try and exploit the opening. Cloudhawk was fighting with all of his might, holding nothing back and giving Adder no mercy. Like a sudden storm he pummeled Adder with a torrent of blows, even landing on target. But instead of the satisfying squelch of steel of flesh, it felt like he was striking an iron statue. Clang-clang-clang! The chamber rang out with the sound of metal on metal. Adder¡¯s mirror revealed another function in the middle of their fight. It was enveloping him in an egg-shaped shell of protection. Incredibly strong, Cloudhawk¡¯s flurry of blows hadn¡¯t even left a mark. On the contrary, much of the force he threw behind them was reflected back at him. Bringing the crossblade back around, Adder knocked the Silver Serpents away and hacked at his opponent. Another simple attack, nothing complicated. Just fast, accurate, brutal and strong. It struck, forcing Cloudhawk to stumble backward. His cloak was torn from the impact, and it¡¯d even cleaved through his armor to split the flesh beneath. A sickening stench invaded his nostrils, the smell of his own flesh burning. Adder wasn¡¯t the sort to mince words. He wasn¡¯t going to give him prey any mercy, especially when he had them on the ropes. So he attacked against with the crossblade, going in for the killing blow. His weapon seemed to burn brighter in anticipation of cleaving Cloudhawk in two. Burning golden light was reflected in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. He had no choice, now was the time to release the energy he¡¯d been storing. His phase stone shone, the light causing reality to ripple. Cloudhawk then blinked out of existence, reappearing a hundred or so meters away. Basilisk was in his hands. Cloudhawk did it all in less than a blink, evading Adder¡¯s attack then drawing his bow for a shot. Adder didn¡¯t even have time to turn around, so when the cursed arrow was released it struck his shell of protection. Basilisk¡¯s cursed arrows were like potent acid, eating through the shield. But half a second later Adder¡¯s shield reconstituted itself without issue. An attack like this wouldn¡¯t be enough to overcome his defenses, much less fatally wound him. Adder¡¯s lips curled into a mocking grin once again. His words were tauntingly frigid. ¡°Cloudhawk, you still aren¡¯t good enough.¡± As he finished the sentence, another shadow rose from the mirror surface. His copied crossblade was allowed to fade as Adder grasped the bow that had emerged. He pulled a bundle of arrows from the mirror as well. The bow was a typical bow, nothing special ¨C it was the arrows that drained all the blood from Cloudhawk¡¯s face. The Lifedrinker Arrow! Many Lifedrinker Arrows! How could Cloudhawk not recognize them? All those years ago, running through the wastelands. It was the first time he¡¯d fought a demonhunter. He¡¯d almost been hunting down and killed by this relic. Of course he remembered the demonhunters that had been dispatched to kill him. Claudia, and Atlas Umbra¡¯s younger brother Raith. The image of that terrible arrow coming at him was burned into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. It never stopped, not until it took the life of its target. That¡¯s how it earned its name. So many of them, and he¡¯d struggled so much to protect himself against one. Fear and surprise welled up inside him. Other than the lowest grade of relics, most were unique. It was rare to find even two relics that were exactly the same. The real Lifedrinker Arrow was singular, otherwise every demonhunter would love to have a weapon that could claim a life from a thousand meters away. They would be unstoppable by that point. If he had it stored in the mirror, it must have meant that Adder had seen the Lifedrinker Arrow before. Through the power of the mirror he was able to overcome the singularity of it and make several copies, twenty or thirty even. All of a sudden Cloudhawk felt like this fight was several times more deadly. He¡¯d always known Adder was strong. He¡¯d prepared himself for it. But this outrageous display was more than he expected. For the first time Cloudhawk felt doubt grip him, and he felt out of his depth. The damn guy¡¯s abilities seemed limitless. Attack, defense, probing, support - Adder was able to quickly copy any relic he could attune to within the mirror. And what had he shown so far? Cloudhawk had encountered many demonhunters, most of which could resonate with one ¨C maybe two classes of relics. Demonhunters that could use more than that were exceedingly rare. Someone like Adder, who seemed able to use whatever relic he pleased, was entirely unique with the exception of Cloudhawk himself. Back in Skycloud he was lauded was equally as talented as Selene, Frost, or Dawn. Since he was the oldest of the new generation of geniusus, he had often been considered chief among them. Now Cloudhawk could see that it was not idle praise. Such a pity. If he hadn¡¯t defected with his father, Adder ¨C Zephyr ¨C would have been a lauded champion of Skycloud for decades to come. His prospects would have out shined even the likes of Frost. He had more talent, more cunning, and more strength. In every way possible he was superior to his contemporaries. ¡°How long do you think you can survive?¡± Adder fired the arrows all at once. His hands worked like a machine, firing them one after another after another ¨C pinch, pull, release. Before he could react there was a wall of arrows whistling through the air toward Cloudhawk. The faint light of the chamber made them glint with a hungry light. Cloudhawk¡¯s first instinct was to use his cloak. He remembered that was how he¡¯d protected himself last time. The arrows would keep coming until they thought their target was gone. But shit! The cloak was torn. It¡¯d been damaged protecting him from Adder¡¯s crossblade. Unfortunately for him the blow had destroyed the artifact, and Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t use it to hide himself. The arrows were getting closer. He was forced into a corner with nowhere to go, all Cloudhawk could do was hope to deflect them by flailing his swords. But if the Lifedrinker Arrow was so easily dissuaded, it would not have such an ominous name. Even if Cloudhawk wielded his blade so expertly that nothing could reach him, they would just keep coming. He couldn¡¯t keep it up forever. The arrows stuck to him like maggots to a corpse. He knocked them away, only for them to swing around and come back. Cloudhawk suddenly found himself in the midst of a gleaming hurricane of steel he couldn¡¯t escape from. Hundreds of attack came from every direction. They were as cunning as any assassin, probing his defenses and exploiting every flaw. Before long, Cloudhawk felt a stinging pain catch him in the back. Two of the arrows were lodged into his skin. They burned like red-hot iron, he could even feel his blood boil in the area. A third, then a fourth¡­ His defenses were faltering, and it would only get worse. Cloudhawk was about to get turned into a pincushion. ¡°You have lost.¡± Adder showed him no mercy. His right hand rose, bearing the brilliant crossblade, and held it high. A beam of light several meters long erupted from it and with lightning speed, he brought it crashing down on Cloudhawk¡¯s beleaguered body. 1. a loooong time ago. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 34 - Invincible Adder had always kept things famously close to the vest. Whether in Skycloud, or the wastelands, he rarely tipped his hand and showed others his real strength. That was, until he obliterated Skycloud¡¯s border wall. All of a sudden he was at the forefront of everyone¡¯s mind. His skills and training weren¡¯t as rich as someone like Wyrmsole. What made him so unbearable to deal with was that fucking mirror relic. There wasn¡¯t much of a difference between having a dozen or so relics as copies in the mirror and having the real things. It provided him with numerous tools and opened numerous avenues. What¡¯s more, it also allowed him to have more than just one of a certain relic. That was a boon even Skycloud couldn¡¯t match. So it didn¡¯t matter who he fought, or how skilled they were, Adder was ready and capable of handling them easily. The cloud of Lifedrinker Arrows screamed around Cloudhawk in an endless attack. A disaster. The frequency of these attacks alone was enough to overcome most people, and they just kept coming. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t even catch his breath long enough to summoned a phase field. Once the arrows found their mark, they injected his body with pulses of energy. A normal person would be killed by a single arrow as the blood boiled within their veins. So far Cloudhawk was still standing, but as the attack continued it was getting more difficult and more painful. And just as Cloudhawk was about to break, Adder added to the pressure by attacking with the crossblade. There was nowhere for him to go, the demonhunter¡¯s brutal series of precise attacks made sure of that. In truth Adder held Cloudhawk in very high esteem. He was convinced that if given time, the young man would grow to achieve more than he ever did. Unfortunately for him he was a rogue element, an uncertain variable. Whether he would be a friend or foe in the days to come was hard to gauge, and he couldn¡¯t afford the risk. Better to relieve himself of potential conflicts now, before they became a bigger problem later. The copied crossblade seethed, at the limits of its condensed power. The entire chamber was flooded with blinding light as Adder brought the beam of light crashing down. It was poised to finish the job his Lifedrinker Arrows started. Only, in this key moment a flurry of arrows interrupted his coup de grace! Adder felt his heart flutter. More invaders? When he swept his eyes toward the source of the attack, his eyes were met with a frail silhouette draped in green. She had just leaped out from her hiding place and had a crossbow trained on him. Of course, to the likes of Adder her attack was no more than a tickle. Autumn shouted as she unloaded the crossbow¡¯s barrel. ¡°Cloudhawk, run!¡± She¡¯d revealed herself and was willing to die in defense of her people. Firing the weapon at Adder was useless, but that wasn¡¯t where she was looking. Her eyes were pinned on the tomb of her god, rapidly melting away. She jerked the crossbow to one side and aimed its spray at the red-robed priests desecrating Shepherd¡¯s body. The elder¡¯s frail voice screeched through the cavern. ¡°Stop her!¡± Autumn had experienced more in the last few months than she had in the previous decade. She¡¯s undergone the bitter quest to recover Shepherd¡¯s flute, only to discover that it had no effect on the conflict her tribe was embroiled in. It¡¯d been a crushing realization that the source of all their troubles was this old man she once respected so deeply. She realized how ineffectual and powerless she was. In the face of this poisoned elder there was nothing she could do. But Cloudhawk and his people weren¡¯t from here. The troubles of the Vale weren¡¯t theirs, so she couldn¡¯t let him die for them. She gritted her teeth. Autumn would use her final moments to foil the Elder¡¯s plans, and protect the body of their patron god. All of this time and effort for her people, only to throw herself on the enemy¡¯s swords¡­ Adder recognized the Vale¡¯s young leader. The elder had been seeking her for a long time, for she was leading the last of the Vale¡¯s opposition. She was a more attractive target than Cloudhawk, in regards to their future plans for this place. Did she expect such a paltry effort to save Cloudhawk? ¡°Naive,¡± Adder muttered. He bent his wrist, which changed the trajectory of his blade toward the defiant young woman. Cloudhawk was too busy trying to keep himself alive, Adder was in no hurry to deal with him. Kill this irritating princess of the tribe first, then Cloudhawk was next. Autumn didn¡¯t even have time to pull the trigger before her entire world was swallowed up by that golden light. She couldn¡¯t even keep her eyes open against the glare. Her breath caught in her throat as the mortal danger swept through her. Through winced lids she saw the seal on Shepherd¡¯s body continue to erode. Autumn felt buried beneath an avalanche of disgrace, disbelief, helplessness and anger. It filled her up so much she thought she would explode before Adder could kill her. But the mighty demonhunter had made a mistake, one that might prove deadly. He had put Cloudhawk out of mind. His young opponent was struggling to defend himself against the arrows, but he had deliberately kept his wildcard hidden until the final moment. Changing targets had given Cloudhawk the split second he needed to react. The phase stone nestled against his chest flared with a sudden light, and then all at once a powerful aura enveloped him. The cuts of his blade became twice as intense without foundation. ¡°I might suggest you pay more attention, boss. I¡¯m the one you need to worry about.¡± With a shout Cloudhawk cut through the air with one of his blades. It caught a copy of the Lifedrinker Arrow right in the middle and chopped it in half. Adder¡¯s face darkened. Cloudhawk¡¯s muscles tensed until they were hard as iron. He summoned all his true power and brought it to bear in a screaming Spearhead maneuver. Meanwhile the sword in his left hand was lashing with incredible speed, deliver three blows quick as lightning. Crack, crack, crack! Three more arrows shattered. Another Spearhead. Cloudhawk was getting closer to Adder. Adder recognized that Cloudhawk had suddenly gotten stronger. He could feel the resonance of his Silver Serpents, humming with intense energy like they had lives of their own. He could tell by their cold, dazzling light that the weapons were much deadlier than seconds before. It was proven by how Cloudhawk was destroying the Lifedrinker Arrows that were still after him. ¡°A fake is a fake! Your toys can¡¯t stop me! I¡¯ll break them all!¡± Cloudhawk heaved his arm and his sword fired out a spray of silver light. It spread out like a thunder wave, precise indomitable. The blast caught the encroaching arrows and destroyed several more of them. How could such a deadly relic be so easily foiled? It couldn¡¯t, at least not the real deal. But as Cloudhawk had said, a fake was a fake. As incredible as Adder¡¯s relic was, it couldn¡¯t make perfect copies. If it did it the mirror would create, not reflect. Adder didn¡¯t have that kind of power. For the first time since their clash began, Adder felt the threat. He forced once more to break off his blow mid-swing. He pulled back the crossblade before it could cut down Autumn in order to protect himself, to fend off Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden attack. ¡°Die!¡± Cloudhawk charged into him with unstoppable momentum, through the encirclement of arrows with his blades flashing. He met the crossblade¡¯s column of light head off and dispersed it with a single blow. The blow-back of energy caused Adder¡¯s shield to crack. He stumbled backward several steps, but that was all. Vigorous as the attempt was it didn¡¯t so much as scratch Adder. His response was quick, dodging to the side then firing off another deadly ray at Cloudhawk. However, the young demonhunter was ready. It was with his left hand only that he¡¯d broken passed the arrows. Now, right hand poised, he struck. Empowered by the phase stone, his weapons were not just swords. They darted like naga, alive in his grip. He stopped his headlong charge and sidestepped Adder¡¯s beam. At that moment he released the stored up power in his right hand, and a dazzling silver serpent lashed out from his hand. It dashed through the air fast as lightning, wriggling in unpredictable patterns and confounding Adder¡¯s attempts to get out of the way. Finally! Like a raging torrent! The silver serpent crested against Adder¡¯s weakened shield. Those who witnessed would say the cavern shook with the sound of broken glass. Adder¡¯s shield was overcome. The serpentine blast of energy ran him through and burst open his chest. It slithered through him, one side to other without losing an ounce of momentum then continued to whip through the room. Several black-suited figures had surrounded Autumn, but where caught in the serpent¡¯s path. Pieces of them rained down among the rocks as they were obliterated by its passage. Hardly nowhere remained that wasn¡¯t caked in gore. At the last moment Cloudhawk had accessed the sea of mental energy inside the stone, strengthening himself. Focusing it into that one attack he released a blast several times more powerful than it would be alone. Perfectly poised to take advantage of Adder¡¯s mistake. It was well executed. In the end Adder had dismissed Cloudhawk and paid for it. He¡¯d been so sure of his victory that he was caught unaware. Adder looked down at the gaping wound in his chest, eyes wide with utter disbelief. His heart and lungs had been pulverized. The gods themselves couldn¡¯t save him now. Done. In one shot. Cloudhawk had him beat with an incredible stroke. Autumn stood nearby, watching it all happen with a look of amazement. How had he gotten so strong? Incredible! Cloudhawk was gulping for air, trying to recover from what was likely his deadliest fight. He had to admit Adder was one hell of a foe. If Autumn hadn¡¯t intervened when she did, Adder was sharp enough to have likely caught Cloudhawk before landing the blow. He opened his mouth to say something but was silenced by fluttering sound. Woosh-woosh, woosh! The Lifedrinker Arrows halted only for a moment before continuing their dogged pursuit of Cloudhawk. He dodged to one side, and moment later a pillar of stone behind him was broken to pieces by the arrows. His face dropped from elated to displeased. What the hell was this? Adder was certainly dead! These deadly arrows were powered by the man¡¯s will, or should have been. If Adder was dead all of his mirror reflections should have vanished immediately. Cloudhawk whipped his head around to look at where Adder still stood, staring at the hole in his chest. But he needn¡¯t be so quick, it only made the shock worse. There Adder stood, expressionless as blood and bits of organ seeped from his chest. But moments later that gruesome image drained of color and became transparent. Like a pane of glass his figure shivered and cracked, then scattered across the ground in shards. ¡°I¡¯ve known you had strange powers for a long time. That kind just now gave you a tremendous boost of strength, all in a moment. Do you think I wouldn¡¯t be prepared?¡± The cold voice called at him tauntingly from nearby. Adder calmly walked out from the mirror¡¯s surface. Completely unharmed. Cloudhawk felt his face stiffen as he realized what had happened. His body went cold. All this time, he hadn¡¯t been fighting Adder. It was a copy, a mirror image. The real Adder had been hiding the entire time. It was never his intent to kill Cloudhawk with the copy, only distract him long enough to spring his trap. Son of a bitch! Cloudhawk felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead. He¡¯d used up the power of the stone, not to mention most of his own stamina. How was he supposed to fight the real Adder in this condition? The older man¡¯s face remained an inscrutable slate. ¡°At the end of your rope? I¡¯m just getting started.¡± Another copy of him walked forth from the mirror, then a second, then a third. This crowd of mirror images of surrounded Cloudhawk, with a burning crossblade gleamed in the hands of each of them. Three copies, and the real one himself. Four Adders. That¡¯s what Cloudhawk had to face next. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 35 - Just A Little More Adder¡¯s mirror crystal was a relic that could rival the Gospel of Sands, Selene¡¯s Holy Vestments, or Castigation ¨C nothing short of epic quality. Part of its power was that it could copy any relic of equal or lesser strength, as well as people. Cloudhawk heaved a tired sigh. This fuckin¡¯ guy. Monsters, him and his dad both. Holding the crossblades, Adder and his copies slowly strode forward. The remaining Lifedrinker Arrows hovered in the air, still but poised to strike at any moment. With an ominous glow the arrow heads themselves began to spin at high speed like an exorcist rod. Adder was summoning all the strength from the arrows in preparation for a final blow. They were more deadly now than ever before. But the demonhunter himself retained that emotionless faade. He was cool and composed, like he had everything under control. After all, Cloudhawk was still too young and immature to really be a threat to him. ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, a surge of power like that can only be used once in a short period.¡± It was less of a question and more an observation, as Adder fixed Cloudhawk with that dispassionate stare. ¡°I am curious whether you¡¯ve prepared anything for what happens next?¡± After a brief moment of shock Cloudhawk regained his composure. He was always the practical sort, and never had he encountered a relic that was wholly invincible. At the very least, the more powerful the relic the more mental energy it demanded to maintain. Incredible and varied as the mirror was, it was limited by the one who bore it. For Adder to summon so many copies ¨C both of himself and these relics ¨C it had to be taxing. For an average demonhunter he suspected they would be so spent they couldn¡¯t even use an exorcist rod by this point. Even if Adder had the talent and capacity of someone like Selene, he still couldn¡¯t keep this up for long. As far as Cloudhawk knew, he didn¡¯t have a tool that stored energy, like the Holy Vestments. He was convinced that Adder had to have used most of his stamina already. How much longer could he fight at peak strength? What¡¯s more, he¡¯d split his focus between himself and three copies. Intimidating, for sure, but gimmicky as well. The new mirror-Adders had to be much weaker than the one he¡¯d just fought. How many times could they attack before their energy was spent? Cloudhawk figured that they would collapse on their own after just a few minutes. Beyond that, there were restrictions to what the mirror could do. It didn¡¯t take much to recognize the connection the copies had to the relic, and that the mirror was constantly feeding them energy. Without that constant supply the copies couldn¡¯t manifest. In other words, the more copies one made the more unstable they were individually. In addition, the further the copies got from the relic, the more energy was needed to keep the connection strong. Cloudhawk shook his head regretfully. ¡°You¡¯re certainly an extraordinary guy, boss. That¡¯s obvious considering what you¡¯ve done. Such a¡­ pity. You would be awesome at anything you decided to do, but you just had to pick this.¡± He wasn¡¯t just buying time. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t much for fawning over others, but after fighting Adder he had to give respect where respect was due. He was strong, collected, and the scope of what he¡¯d done was admirable regardless of which side of the war you stood on. Sooner or later, he would grow to be a man every bit as impressive as his father. Of course, unless he died. It was a cruel twist of fate that the most brilliant stars burnt out fastest ¨C like Belinda. Adder replied. ¡°Actually I envy you. Free to live and die as you please, unburdened. And yet, I cannot call you a man.¡± Cloudhawk was grateful for every second, so he looked back at the older demonhunter with a look of curiosity. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± Adder took a step forward. It was slow, impactful, filling the space between him and Cloudhawk with a choking aura. ¡°A real man finds his path and sticks to it. No matter how hard he must fight, how bloodied he may become, he never turns back. A real man will die without complaint in service of his purpose.¡± ¡°And what about you and your purpose?¡± Cloudhawk retorted. ¡°Have you ever stopped to think it was all worthless?¡± ¡°When I was young I scoffed at the idea that the beat of a butterfly¡¯s wings could change the world. Now, as I¡¯ve gotten older, my views have changed. Each generation has its heroes, but these are not the ones I look up to. I reserve my esteem for the bleached bones that carpet our path, the hundreds of thousands of people who died and who will never have their names spoken again. The heroes we love to worship stand on their shoulders. These forgotten victims are the backbone of our species.¡± He took another step. His presence seemed to fill the whole chamber. Fearless, resolute. Unstoppable. ¡°Perhaps you find our methods laughable. Maybe you sneer at us just like you¡¯d sneer at that little butterfly and its ridiculous, lofty delusions. But me¡­ I would be proud to be that butterfly. I would cherish being another pile of nameless bones that lifts others up! I may fail, but at least my corpse will bring humanity closer to inevitable victory.¡± The two men regard one another in a brief and uncomfortable confrontation. Cloudhawk respected this man, really. Adder respected him in turn. But the two were destined to stand on opposing sides of this conflict. Adder slowly raised his hand. ¡°I¡¯m not finished. I can¡¯t stop. But here your journey ends!¡± All four copies of Adder fired searing bolts at him. In that instant the remaining Lifedrinker Arrows also burst into motion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s keen senses helped him dart away from the beams. He jumped up and over the net of deadly light. His Silver Serpents gleamed dangerously in his grasp. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to die yet.¡± An ear-piercing sound rang off the stone walls of the cavern as the arrows raced his way. They were moving faster than the speed of sound, but Cloudhawk caught them with one of his swords. When the blade impacted with the arrow he felt an explosion of force release into his arm, making it numb. But the arrows were deflected, and were sent careening through a group of stone pillars before getting lodged in a wall. What amazing power! It was like trying to deflect a missile! Adder wasted no time in launching a follow-up attack. He poured more of his mental prowess into the arrows, increasing their lethality. Not all of them were aimed toward Cloudhawk, though. Some had their gleaming arrowheads trained on Autumn. An assault like this was nearly more than Cloudhawk could handle. How was Autumn supposed to protect herself? At the same time all four Adders began to move. Four identical crossblades, burning with divine light, lashed out in unison. They came hacking toward Cloudhawk with lightning speed on the heels of the arrows to create an impermeable wall of force. It was flawless. Cloudhawk had nowhere to go. His plan had been to kite the arrows; keep just out of range and lead them around while simultaneously wasting Adder¡¯s mental strength. It seemed that wasn¡¯t possible anymore as the connection moved with Adder, keeping the flow of energy stable. Cloudhawk once again found himself surrounded by an angry and impermeable onslaught. He felt like a leaf caught in a hurricane, and the buffeting winds threatened to tear him apart at any moment. Meanwhile the elder bore witness to their conflict. It was a shock to see first-hand what these men were capable of. There was also a zealous blaze in his eyes. He¡¯d heard of demonhunters, but for the first time he saw that the stories didn¡¯t do them justice. Woodland Vale had been closed off from the rest of the world for too long. Were they too far behind everyone else? Thankfully, the dragons the Shepherd created ¨C in all her wisdom ¨C were resistant to the power of demonhunters. There were more than a thousand of them now and they would keep the Vale safe. Not even the elysians could fight their way passed them. A little more¡­ just a little more and they would be through the seal. Shepherd¡¯s greatest treasure was nearly in his grasp. Real power would come when he had it, the elder was certain. Enough power to lead his people from their verdant cage to freedom, and to turn their warriors into a force that would rival Elysian demonhunters. The young man Autumn had chosen as her champion was clearly no match for Adder. His death was just a matter of time! Autumn saw two of the Lifedrinker Arrows fix on her position and close in. Winds from their rotating arrowheads tugged at her hair and clothing, while shards of debris peppered her lily-white skin. It felt like she was staring into the face of death, its cold hands on her trembling shoulders, making her feel small and helpless. She¡¯d tried so hard to save the Vale. She had desperately tried to be a good leader. Why, then, was she always a burden? Cloudhawk¡¯s situation was dire, and he was barely holding on. He wasn¡¯t going to save her. The gleaming light of the arrows filled her vision when suddenly Autumn¡¯s heart filled with denial. Trembling hands pulled Shepherd¡¯s flute from her belt. In a final act of protest, she put the flute to her lips and released a single clear note. The note shuddered through the area, more than just sound. Its echoing ring seeped into the hearts of everyone within earshot, capturing them in waves of mental energy that spread out in all directions. The arrows shuddered. Then stopped. They actually stopped. Adder was staggered by the psychic blast, and a look of shock spread across his face. In an unbelievable turn of circumstances, his connection with the Lifedrinker Arrows was severed. As such, the impenetrable wall that had sealed Cloudhawk in was riddled with flaws. Dodging Adder¡¯s crossbloades, he had just enough time to teleport several dozen meters from harm¡¯s way. He looked up. The Lifedrinker Arrows were suspended in mid-air, unmoving. Somehow, Autumn had exerted influence over them with her flute. Even she didn¡¯t know the artifact could do that. Since getting the flute she had only know it to be capable of controlling mindless animals with its psychic pulse. Who would have believed this? The waves were interrupting the connection between the arrows and their master, depriving them of direction. As an epic-grade relic itself, the flute was proving more than merely a way to bend animals to one¡¯s will. Cloudhawk shouted at her. ¡°Break the mirror!¡± She suddenly understood what he was saying. Autumn blew into the flute once more, and this time the arrows flew according to her will. Adder tried to stop them from reaching their destination, but Cloudhawk blocked his path. The mirror-Adders launched themselves at him angrily. As the crossblades seethed with maximum power Cloudhawk felt the heat wash over him. Closer and closer they came, but the arrows reached their target first. As the mirror shattered, so did the crossblades, mere inches from his face. They exploded into a hundred million shards of light, and then vanished; the swords, the mirror-Adders, the arrows. Everything. The mirror was destroyed! Unmitigated rage swelled up inside Adder. In an immediate reaction he thrust his fist toward Autumn and fired a death ray at her from his ring. It struck, burning a path through the center of her chest. She was flung through the air like a discarded doll and struck the stone floor hard a dozen meters away. Her body sported a hole the size of a fist, with the edges and viscera inside burned black from the heat of the ray. ¡°You bastard!¡± Cloudhawk roared in fury and flung himself at Adder, heaving his Silver Serpents with all his might. That dull glint passed through Adder¡¯s left wrist like it was made of paper and severed his hand. A spray of hot, bright red blood sprayed out in a gruesome fan. Cloudhawk followed up with a vicious kick to the center of Adder¡¯s chest, which struck hard enough to cave it in. His ribs were crushed and shards of bone dug into his lungs. More blood started to pour from his nose and mouth, and pooled around him as he fell backwards onto the ground. The elder¡¯s eyes went wide with terror. Desperately flashed in his gaze as he looked at the altar and the crystal. Whatever was inside could almost be seen. A little more. Just a little more! 1. So it¡¯s like a wifi router. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 36 - Downfall Autumn lay on the ground, weak from her terrible injury. The fist-sized hole had been completely cauterized by Adder¡¯s searing beam. She would not be rising again, even if Rei were here to help her. Pain was reflected in her big eyes. They were fixed on Cloudhawk as she feebly gripped his hand. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t want to die.¡± Cloudhawk wanted to tell her to take it easy, that her wounds were not serious. Only the words caught in his throat. He couldn¡¯t make the lie believable. Of course she knew what was happening. This sort of wound, for someone as frail as her¡­ were it Cloudhawk in her place even he would be in danger of dying. He could sense the life draining from her at an alarming rate. He half-lifted her and supported her body against his, still holding tight to her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Just¡­ endure. It¡¯ll be over soon, then everything will be alright.¡± He saw the sorrow and loneliness take over her pretty face. Two clear, crystal tears rolled down her cheeks. Her voice was barely audible. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m useless, aren¡¯t I?¡± He held her hand tighter. ¡°If not for you Adder would have killed me. You saved my life, how can you say you¡¯re useless? I¡¯m the one who¡¯s useless.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words gave her a little relief and the anguish in her face abated. She¡¯d always felt like a burden, but at least she did something helpful before she died. Autumn¡¯s time was fleeting. Cloudhawk was waiting for her to tell him what to do with her people, how to explain things. He would do anything she requested, but when her tiny voice called out to him with her final request, it took him by surprise. ¡°Let me see your face?¡± After a moment of hesitation he raised his hand and took off the mask, revealing his youthful and handsome face to her. For a few moments she just took it in, noting the absence of his trademark coquettish smirk. He looked so solemn and¡­ guilty. This is the real Cloudhawk, then. With pain and sadness in her gaze, Autumn breathed a low sigh. It was like she was releasing some kind of burden. Her words were heavy with wry disbelief. ¡°This last month has been hard, but it left me with many precious memories¡­ Are we friends?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this nonsense you are spewing? We always have been.¡± It was undeniable that Cloudhawk liked to terrorize the girl. At times it¡¯d been so brutal it was surprising that they were anything but enemies. But it wasn¡¯t because he hated her, in fact he liked her. If he didn¡¯t, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered dealing with her at all. Cloudhawk had met many extraordinary women in his life. Brilliant Hellflower, beautiful and stubborn Selene, pure and innocent Luciasha, powerful and righteous Dawn¡­ they all had their own unique charm. But Hellflower was too complicated. Selene was too high-brow. He looked at Luciasha like a sister, and Dawn treated him like a brother. Autumn¡­ she came from a fairy land that had never been corrupted by the outside world. She was anxious, sentimental, kind, honest, and dutiful. Autumn was different from all the others, never pursuing wealth or power. All she cared about was the peace and happiness of her tribe. Her life was supposed to be free of cares and worries, a beautiful spirit flitting among the boughs of her holy tree. Why did fate rob her of that? Why did destiny choose to throw her into this mess and cut her life short in this dank cavern? The pain and fear had drained from Autumn¡¯s face, along with all her color. She was calm, serene. In her final moments the regret and elf-pity were gone, because she realized that she¡¯d helped. She didn¡¯t had this man, not anymore. Even as her vision dimmed and figures grew blurry, a bright light appeared before her. Silhouette emerged among the glare, walking toward her; it was her mother, her father, and Brier. They had smiles on their faces and were beckoning toward her. Cloudhawk wrapped the dying girl in a warm embrace and spoke softly into her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Autumn.¡± ¡°Cloudhawk, i-it¡¯s time¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ make sure you live¡­ free¡­¡± Autumn trembled ever so slightly and then her whole body relaxed. Her eyes slipped shut. Seventeen. She¡¯d just turned seventeen. Cloudhawk was shaken from his reveries when the whole cavern quaked. Something was stirring on the altar. It was an old consciousness, from a time before history; majestic, grand, sacred and otherworldly. Autumn is¡­ dead? Then our biggest obstacle has been removed. The elder looked back at the rapidly melting seal. Cracks were starting to appear over the crystal¡¯s surface, and light poured from each one as though something was trying to burst free. The seal. They were almost through! The elder felt his heart race. But he also felt his soul tremble. Whatever remained inside the seal was releasing an aura that was as crushing as a mountain. Cloudhawk gently lay Autumn on the cold ground. She looked so peaceful that but for the terrible wound, like she might¡¯ve been sleeping. He slowly rose as though he were afraid to wake her. With slow, deliberate motions he straightened and slipped the mask back over his face. There was no grief or regret on that ghostly visage. It was emotionless, but the eyes that burned behind it were bloodshot. It felt like a stampede of rabid animals were charging through Cloudhawk¡¯s chest, and their bloodthirsty calls were getting louder. A terrible, mindless desire to destroy filled his mind. A need to annihilate anything and everything around him. By now Adder had also risen back to his feet. He glanced at the body of Autumn. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but she had to die.¡± For a moment both men forget space, forgot time. They stood a hundred meters apart from one another, staring. Even from this distance they could see in each other¡¯s eyes. It was the same; a wild, frantic look that promised murder. Alright. Nothing was going to make either man back down. This was their fate, a conflict that was preordained. Only one of them would live to walk out of this cavern. Cloudhawk¡¯s red eyes never strayed from Adder¡¯s face. The fire burning behind them was almost palpable. ¡°Any other last words?¡± There was no anger in Adder¡¯s voice, and he spoke like he was speaking with an old friend. ¡°If I die here, please make sure my remains are given to Revenant and Luciasha. They¡¯ve both lived a hard life.¡± Cloudhawk slowly nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°You?¡± Adder asked. After a moment of consideration he answered. ¡°If I die I don¡¯t want to be buried. I want no tomb or headstone. Burn me, and scatter my ashes across the wastes from a mountain peak.¡± Adder¡¯s eyes gleamed for a moment. Though a seed may be cast far from its source, in the end it still grows into the same tree. Everything returns to its origins, as it should. And even in death this young man wanted the wind to carry him to freedom. Admirable. ¡°Very well.¡± No more talk. Everything had been said. Adder was in a bad way. His hand was missing, several bones were broken and a number of internal organs had been effected. More importantly, his mental energies were spent. The odds of survival were stacked against him. But it didn¡¯t matter. His face might as well have been carved out of marble, but a grin touched the edges of his stoic faade. In his one remaining hand he held a translucent crystal. ¡°Let¡¯s end this now.¡± Behind Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes was a look that only be described as that of a barely restrained animal, but his mind was sharp as ever. With his keen vision he didn¡¯t see an ounce of hesitation in his foe¡¯s bearing. Adder was an animal, too. And a beast was most dangerous when injured and cornered. ¡°So be it!¡± Cloudhawk wrenched the phase stone from around his neck and gripped it tight. Blood trickled continuously from Adder¡¯s mouth and half his body was dyed red from his injuries. Ignoring the agonizing pain from his ruined organs, he clenched his fist around the Mirror Crystal and raised his hand. Faint cracks had appeared upon the surface of this rare and powerful relic. At first glance it seemed like some overwhelming force would cause it to shatter, but all of the tremendous power was quickly absorbed by Adder¡¯s body. In an incredible display, nearly all of his spent energy was restored. Incredible¡­ Adder still had tricks up his sleeves! The power he absorbed with the inner essence of the mirror relic. While it could quickly replenish Adder¡¯s psychic energies, it was also intensely damaging to the relic itself. The cracks that appeared on it were because of this. But with Adder¡¯s mental prowess restored, did Cloudhawk stand a chance? It was beyond the point of second guesses. Cloudhawk tightly held on to hi phase stone, every muscle in his body taught as a bowstring. He threw himself at Adder with abandon. The mirror crystal was filled with cracks. Adder screamed with fury as once again a crossblade flared to life in his hand. Its dazzling glare filled the cavern like a cosmic deluge. The ceiling cracked, the stony floor buckled. Everything was devoured by this outpouring of force. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let the frightful display dissuade him. He knew in his bones that any hesitation would spell his demise. He put all of his heart and mind into destroying the man in front of him. Fury, sorrow, pain. A tempest of emotions seethed in his heart and he used them to make himself stronger. He didn¡¯t want to die here. Like Adder said, he wanted to die on his own terms, not in the darkness beneath some fucking tree. ¡°Go!¡± Cloudhawk shouted the order, and a streak of silver lightning burst from his sleeve. It collided with the Adder¡¯s sword, cutting it down the middle for several meters. But Adder had put all of his strength behind this blow. It wasn¡¯t enough to get through. Cloudhawk forged ahead regardless. Somewhere in the back of his mind he remembered the face of the old man who found him. In a flash, everything that¡¯d happened in the past four years flit a cross his mind¡¯s eye. Despite all that time, he still hadn¡¯t found his place in the world. He couldn¡¯t die until he did. The phase stone pulsed with blinding light. For a moment it felt like his battle with the Caliph of the Sands. Indescribable power flooded every cell, threatening to burst. Just as that streak of silver he summoned was about to collapse, it burned with a renewed and empowered fervor. With that Adder¡¯s sword of light was obliterated. Its residual energy hung in the air like a hundred million fireflies. But the streak of silver prevailed, screaming toward its prey with indomitable momentum. For the second time Cloudhawk watched his attack run Adder through. Only this time, the once-lauded darling of the Cloude family was blown into countless pieces. His remains coated everything, turning the chamber into a grotesque and horrifying scene. In the instant before his destruction, Adder felt like he was floating in nothing. His mind was blank; he didn¡¯t think about losing, nor did he death¡¯s embrace. The only thing going through his mind in that last instant was a moment frozen in time, like an old picture. The whole family was together ¨C Sterling, Baldur, Arcturus. His young cousin Selene was there too, vivacious and care free. He two of them were laughing like there was nothing in the world to worry about. It was an old memory he hadn¡¯t enjoyed for a long, long time. The picture came alive and Selene blinked her pretty eyes up at him. ¡°Zephyr? I¡¯m so tired of training all day. Will you play on the swing with me?¡± ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go.¡± Handsome and gentle, Zephyr reached out his hand toward her with a smile. Selene took it, and the two happily walked off into the distance to play. Zephyr, among the most outstanding people Skycloud had ever produced. Sterling Cloude¡¯s only son. An incredible man who gave his life for the Sanctum of Judgment, who on his own started a war. Dead, at the hands of Skycloud¡¯s new Warden. The world would no longer feel Adder¡¯s influence. He was only twenty-six. 1. I had thought he¡¯d been described before as middle-aged, but when I look to find it I couldn¡¯t see a reference. I¡¯m sure you readers will comb through the chapters and find out. At any rate, twenty-six probably is middle-aged in the wastelands. Anyhow, in honor of Zephyr¡¯s demise is where we first met the man who would single-handedly change the course of human history. An odd feeling to look back, knowing now would was to come. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 37 - Shepherd's Descen There wasn¡¯t an inch of ground beneath Cloudhawk¡¯s feet that wasn¡¯t drenched in blood. He bent over and picked up a cracked, blood-soaked crystal. The only thing left of Adder. What in incredible relic! But Cloudhawk had no intention of taking it as a trophy. Whatever else could be said of Adder, he was an honorable opponent and a man worthy of respect. There was no love lost between the two men, but he had made a promise. Promises had to be kept. The red-robed clerics who had accompanied Adder here stared in shock and fury. They couldn¡¯t believe that some no-name grunt had defeated Adder. ¡°This¡­ abomination! He killed Adder!¡± Incensed, the priests forgot completely about the seal. To them Adder had been an incomparable hero, their patron. More than just the Crimson One¡¯s son, he had been the architect of the Conclave¡¯s greatest success. Slain, before their eyes. An unmitigated disaster! How could they suffer this in silence? How could they allow his killer to continue breathing? The elder¡¯s face fell. He stared wildly at the crystal atop the altar, full of cracks and beams of light. But they weren¡¯t through! So many days of struggle. They¡¯d been so close to success! But because of him they were stopped here, on the cusp of victory. Unlike the others he didn¡¯t care that Adder was dead, only that his mission was still unfinished. Cloudhawk frowned. Although the ten or so priests weren¡¯t strong, Cloudhawk was weak after a long series of conflicts. He was outnumbered, and dealing with them would not be easy. They were gathering themselves to attack when suddenly everyone was thrown off their feet. The cavern shook and a sound like a bomb blast made everyone cover their ears. An eruption of force burst from the crystal seal, causing it to explode open. Shards of it rained down all through the chamber. Finally Cloudhawk could see what was inside the crystal. It was a set of pitch-black armor. It wasn¡¯t any sort of armor made by humans, either. It was dermifuse armor. What was dermifuse? Very old tomes spoke about armor that melded with the wearer¡¯s flesh. Once worn, it essentially became a part of the bearer. Light. Intense, blinding light. Every corner of the chamber was illuminated. A column of incomprehensibly powerful energy fired toward the ceiling! Anyone ¨C even a normal person ¨C could feel the psionic pulse as it ripped through the area. Like an expansive consciousness it spread around them before coalescing into a radiant humanoid figure. ¡°At last¡­ I have awakened.¡± The voice was low and possessed of a strange gravity. The humans watched in quiet anxiety as the figure of light arose. It raised a hand toward the body laying nearby as though drawn to it. The corpse slowly rose. It stepped forward. The radiant figure approached the body until they were side by side, and then the corpse vanished into the column of light. The process instigated another rush of energy, and those that were caught off guard were once more knocked off their feet. Cloudhawk watched it all happen with wide eyes. He had no idea what was happening, but he knew that this figure of light was one of the most powerful entities he¡¯d ever encountered. Was this¡­ the Shepherd? The goddess from a thousand years ago? But that wasn¡¯t what struck Cloudhawk most. What took his breath away was the body this beam of light had chosen was Autumn¡¯s. The young woman¡¯s corpse was bathed in that resplendent light like a shining cocoon. Something mystical and mysterious was happening, but he couldn¡¯t say what. Ten seconds passed. Afterwards a pair of slender, pale feet descended to rest upon the ground. Autumn, dead not but a few minutes, stood before them encased in a divine glow. When she opened her eyes again, they weren¡¯t the gentle green he remembered, but had become dual points of light. An undeniable stateliness poured off of her, a sort of supreme presence like true royalty. The unmistakable urge to obey hung heavy in the hearts in all who stood near. The face belonged to a young beautiful woman. But that innocence and purity that had defined Autumn was gone. The figure that she had become was a being with lifetimes of experiences. An unfamiliar voice murmured through Autumn¡¯s lips. ¡°That old devil Legion didn¡¯t lie to me after all...¡± The wound that had taken Autumn¡¯s life was gone, completely healed. Cloudhawk looked at where the hole had been, but not even a scar remained. In fact her porcelain skin looked like it was carved from milky jade and glowed with an internal light. It was all so surreal. Only a highly mutated creature with regenerative capabilities could have survived that wound, and Autumn was no such thing! No, Autumn was dead ¨C killed by Adder. But how could a dead woman come back to life? The light from her eyes was gradually restrained, as well as the radiant glow that encased her. Eventually it was gone entirely, and there was no visible difference between the Autumn that was and the one who stood before them now. She looked toward Cloudhawk, or more specifically the stone he still clutched tightly in his hand. Such unfamiliar eyes¡­ Whatever was in Autumn¡¯s body wasn¡¯t her. This was an entity he¡¯d never met before, and stronger than anyone he¡¯d ever encountered. The priests looked back and forth among one another, stunned by the scene. None of them had ever seen nor heard anything like this. For the moment they weren¡¯t sure what to do. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± One of them, perhaps the leader, called for their retreat. They turned to flee when suddenly the ground all around them began to crack. A host of vines, as fast and as agile as serpents shot forth leaving the men in red no chance to escape. They were immediately swallowed up, and stabbing vines wound their bodies over and over until little was left. Anguished cries rang off the stone walls but were quickly silenced. Autumn put those men down as easily as swatting a fly. Her attention then shifted to the altar, and she floated toward it. The elder still stood nearby with his eyes so wide they threatened to roll out of his head. Without a second thought he threw himself to the ground, prostrating himself before Autumn and cried out in a trembling voice. ¡°M-my Lord Shepherd!¡± Autumn swept her hand out, fingers pressed together like a blade. The elder¡¯s head was unceremoniously removed from his body and rolled off into a corner. It came to rest, staring at his corpse as it slumped onto the ground with wide, unbelieving eyes. Autumn had slain everyone, and with as much effort as it took to lift a hand. Once again her attentions returned to Cloudhawk. ¡°You are the chosen successor?¡± His eyes were fixed on the girl he¡¯d watched die a moment ago, but who now commanded a level of power that frightened him. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I was once one of the six Supremes, attendants to the God King. My true name was Silvana ¨C mistress of the steppes and forests ¨C but the people of the Vale took to calling me the Shepherd Goddess. Now I suppose my name is... Autumn. And I am the leader of this tribe.¡± Autumn¡¯s impassive face took on an expression of impatience. Her fingers twitched ever so slightly, like she was holding something back. ¡°Take what belongs to you and go, now. Before I kill you where you stand.¡± Cloudhawk was at a loss. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Her pretty brows furrowed. ¡°I have stood watch over the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass for a thousand years. I have fulfilled my promise, and now that responsibility falls to the successor.¡± Demon King¡¯s Cuirass? Successor!? Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes turned to the armor suspended above the altar. Now able to see it more clearly his first impression was that it reminded him of the Caliph¡¯s armor-like skin. Was this some kind of demonic gear? Demon King¡­ judging by the name he would have to be the antithesis of the God King which Autumn mentioned. Finally, Cloudhawk understood who the phase stone¡¯s former master really was. He had come to possess the will of the Demon King, killed a thousand years ago during the Great War! That was his benefactor! Cloudhawk¡¯s uncertainty must have shown on his face, for Autumn then said, ¡°You know nothing about this?¡± He nodded. ¡°I came across this stone by accident. I had no idea who it belonged to.¡± ¡°Impossible¡­ there must be some mistake.¡± Autumn frowned in thought for a time, but after a thousand years of sleep she found many holes in her memories. She couldn¡¯t call to mind what she was looking for. In the end, she waved a hand dismissively. ¡°What happens to demons like you is no concern of mine. Take it and go, the cuirass no longer has a place here.¡± Cloudhawk had never questioned the inheritance he¡¯d stumbled on. But now that he knew he had come to possess what remained of a demon king he had grown wary. The only demon he knew was Abaddon, and that monster was strong enough to fight ten veteran demonhunters by himself. As far as Cloudhawk knew, he wasn¡¯t any sort of Demon Elder, either. Given how powerful Abaddon was, what did that imply about the Demon King? Cloudhawk simply didn¡¯t dare to imagine such power. ¡°What happens when I put it on?¡± Her response maintained that dispassionate tone. ¡°You will continue to receive his inheritance. From the moment you put it on, you will become the next Demon King. The title affords you the right and responsibility to command your kin. Of course, the gods upon Sumeru will not sit idly by once the birth of the new Demon King is felt.¡± The implications of what she said were dizzying. Once he accepted the final item of inheritance, Cloudhawk would be¡­ the Demon King? Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought something like this would fall on his shoulders. Demons were such mysterious beings, and now he was inexorably tied to them. It was especially strange to hear these words from Autumn¡¯s lips. But this Autumn wasn¡¯t the one he teased so incessantly. This one was a god. And that being the case, what was she doing watching over a demonic artifact? Why would she do nothing when a new Demon King was on the cusp of ascending? There were too many questions Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the answers to! He slowly shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t take this armor!¡± Autumn¡¯s eyes glimmered with internal power. ¡°The power of the Demon King does not entice you?¡± Entice my ass! He fought the temptation to string together a few choice curses. It was a terrifying prospect! He was just a guy, trying to find some peace. Becoming a Master Demonhunter was already a ludicrous dream, and now he was being told to put on some rusty armor and become a king. How was anyone supposed to react? It was like a beggar on the street wandering into a palace, only for someone to rush up and stuff a crown on his head and proclaim him master of the realm. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about being successor to a Demon King,¡± Cloudhawk said. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to do with demons. I won¡¯t accept this armor.¡± Autumn fixed her eyes on Cloudhawk for a long time with a look of suspicion. The demons had chosen a human to be their king? That didn¡¯t make any sense¡­ Autumn, or at least the god she had become, didn¡¯t know what had gone wrong. But she didn¡¯t care whether this human would be the new Demon King or not. It was a problem for the demons to trouble themselves with. It made no difference to her if those fiends had no king. Cloudhawk hesitated for a moment. ¡°Autumn ¨C I mean, the Autumn I knew¡­ Is she still¡­ there?¡± There was another jarring explosion in the distance. He suddenly remembered that the old drunk and Gabriel were still at war with the Dryad and the dragon king. Their respective battles had to be nearing their end, too. 1. Hmm¡­ godly relic, armor. My first thought goes , but it was reported to have been destroyed¡­ 2. Ding-ding-ding-ding! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 38 - Power of Faith While Cloudhawk was battling Adder, his comrades were also embroiled in conflict. Naberius had tried to protect them by weaving a trap at the entrance to the cave, but was foiled when they discovered that the Dryad could summon others like it. It took only moments for the cave to be filled with leaf-spackled tree people, crawling out from the vine-encased walls. Incredible. He¡¯d never heard of a power like this before. They were independent constructs, seemingly composed of vines. What counted as a body was not humanoid by any stretch, they didn¡¯t even have necks. But they did have faces ¨C wooden face plates that looked like masks haphazardly draped over the vines. Hideous expression made the invaders¡¯ hair stand on end to look on the tree demons. The masked vines startled to gather and draw closer. Stumbling forward their gait was slow, but by the way the cavern trembled with each step their strength was made evident. Vine-like arms were dragged like hammers and carried enough force to shatter rock or bone. And there were a lot of them. More kept pouring out of the walls in an endless stream. Their fighting style consisted of more than just brute force strikes. They were also able to attack from a distance with javelin-like spiked vines, or ensnare their enemies with poison-barbed creepers. ¡°Fall back!¡± Claudia flooded the area with petals from Tempest Flower. Hundreds of metallic slivers burst out in all directions like bomb shrapnel. Many of the vine creatures were shredded. But these summoned monsters were not normal creatures. They feared neither death nor pain. Broken apart of blown to pieces, it didn¡¯t matter. They pushed on as long as they could with mechanical determination. No matter how many they managed to cut down, more took their place. It was like watching a slow motion tidal wave coming to swallow them up. One of them waved its floral appendage and a vine shot out from its waist. Friction from its lightning-fast passage made it sound like the air was tearing. The invaders scrambled out of the way. Crack! It missed them and dug about a meter into a nearby wall. As the creatures drew nearer, the humans could now see they were covered in thorns. Judging by the color of these barbs they, in turn, were coated in poison. Without question, getting pricked by one would be less than ideal. They kept getting closer. Forced onto their back feet, Naberius didn¡¯t have a chance to weave his web. They were forced to flee, with the only end in sight a gruesome death. The masked constructs kept coming, rigid shambling bodies shuffling their way, coated in poisonous barbs. ¡°We can¡¯t hold them.¡± Claudia shouted. ¡°Scatter!¡± ¡°No!¡± Butcher¡¯s wide eyes fixed on her, furious that she would even make such a suggestion. ¡°Demonhunters put the mission first, even if it means their death!¡± Claudia scowled back at him. She wanted to yell fuck the mission! But she knew the truth, that there was nowhere to run. Right now it seemed like a matter or whether they died sooner or later. All the while the number of masked vine creatures increased. They weren¡¯t proper living things, so they didn¡¯t have soft underbellies or essential organs. No weaknesses. Killing them wasn¡¯t easy, especially since they could attack from both up close and far away. They weren¡¯t going to stop this hoard all by themselves. ¡°Gods give me strength!¡± The howl came from Butcher¡¯s scarred throat while he flung the enormous hammer in his right hand. Its massive weight displaced the air ¨C woosh, whoosh! - while the chain it was connected to clanged noisily. When he let it go the hammer tumbled end over end for a dozen meters before smashing into the face of one of the vine monsters. Its wooden face was smashed to splinters. Once its ¡®face¡¯ was gone there was a surge of energy from inside the construct that was released like a mist. The vine-entangled form lost the ability to hold itself together and fell limp to the ground. Just normal vines again. Everyone paused. Their faces! That was their weak point! Butcher¡¯s reckless attack had revealed their vulnerability. Claudia commanded Rei and the Sutherland brothers to use their exorcist bows. Strong though the wooden masks were, it couldn¡¯t stand a direct shot from the Elysian weapons. One after the other, energy bolts started streaking into the encroaching mass of vines. Each shot took one down. Simple and straightforward. Eventually they started to make a dent in their numbers, and then got the upper hand. As it seemed the torrent was ebbing, the humans thought they were out of the proverbial woods. They were gathering for a final push to wipe them out when a host of vines struck from behind and caught Rei unprepared. They hit so hard they could split rock. Rei¡¯s armor was cut apart and even a demonhunter¡¯s sturdy constitution couldn¡¯t protect her. The wounds were serious. The rest of the party wasn¡¯t quick enough to respond, and another vine caught her in the leg and dragged her down. ¡°This is bad! They¡¯re behind us!¡± While they¡¯d been focusing on the vine monsters ahead the Dryad¡¯s scope of influence had grown. Several masked creatures had emerged behind them, catching the humans in a quickly tightening vice. Because Rei was a healer, her typical strategy was to stay in the back. That put her right in the path of the masked monsters, and made her a priority target. Entangled by their grasping vines, Rei was dragged into their midst. She was quickly surrounded. Her piercing screams echoed off the cavern walls. Fury sprang up within Claudia. A hundred shimmering petals quickly gathered together overhead to form a cone-shaped bloom of metal. ¡°Let ¨C her ¨C go!¡± The host of petals was thrust into the face of a monster like an awl pike. Though the petals were small enough that they could penetrate into the creature, they weren¡¯t strong enough to destroy the mask individually. However, as more gathered inside of the creatures head they suddenly burst out, causing the entire upper half of the creature to detonate. The petals were flung out to find new target, and six or seven more of the monsters were quickly felled in the same fashion. Rei was revealed to them, laying on the ground and covered in blood. She was trying to claw away with all of her might, when one of the monsters slammed both of its heavy fists into her back. Rei was pummeled into the ground, bleeding from every orifice, and unconscious. They couldn¡¯t tell if she was alive or dead. They¡¯d already lost Belinda. The world would never again see the talented woman¡¯s smile. Did fate wish to steal Rei from them, too? No! It couldn¡¯t be allowed! It was unacceptable! That tragedy could not be repeated! The number of petals Claudia could control was limited. After dealing with most of the creature that had threatened Rei, she was spent. Naberius was nearby with streaks of silver shooting from his hands. His daggers fell like rain and killed many of Rei¡¯s assailants, but not enough. Rei¡¯s life was at stake! Claudia was weighing what to do when two figures streaked past her. She called out. ¡°Stop! It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Crain and Tigron were not the sort to disobey their sergeant¡¯s orders, but they were deaf to her cries now. The young brothers charged into the fray, communicating with a single wordless look. Neither Sutherland was very strong, so running into the middle of these monsters was almost a death sentence. They just didn¡¯t care ¨C how could they call themselves demonhunters if they didn¡¯t save a comrade in danger? Shame would haunt them for the rest of their lives in the brothers simply watched Rei die. Some things in life were more important than living; they would rather die saving a friend then living a long existence plagued by guilt! The word demonhunter was synonymous with pride, and even novices like them wore it like a badge of honor! ¡°Bro, use it!¡± Each brother produced a small relic, like pieces of a jade pendent. They fit perfectly together to form a full relic. IT was covered with intricate inscriptions, and if Cloudhawk were here he¡¯d recognize it as a particularly powerful tool. The Sutherland brothers had received this upon graduating from university. Until now, they¡¯d never had cause to use it. This Sutherland family heirloom wasn¡¯t just powerful, it was also very unique. It demanded a huge amount of mental energy, so much that two demonhunters were needed for the relic to engage. Two wills, two minds, joined in focus and belief. Crain and Tigron had grown up together, as close as brothers could be. However, it was difficult even for them to achieve the sort of total unity the relic demanded. Now, though, in this key moment when they were of singular mind and purpose, maybe it would answer their call. Hideous wooden faces turned toward them. If their gambit didn¡¯t work, the brothers would be doomed. Together, they called on the relic¡¯s power. A dusky light bloomed around the pieces, and as it crept up the brothers¡¯ bodies they began to change. Crain and Tigron melted away into two strands of smoke that gathered together. Two heads. Six limbs. Three meters tall. Their combined body was somewhere between realities, half visible like some kind of divine avatar. Claudia knew they had the relic in their possession, of course. However using it was exceedingly difficult. She didn¡¯t expect them to be able to summon its power so soon. In summoning the relic¡¯s strength, it transformed the brothers into some kind of conjoined quantum state. Dual frequencies that, when combined, created the creature they saw before them. It was more than just transformation. Their strength, mental energies, and physicality rapidly increased by several orders of magnitude. With Crian and Tigron as one, their combined power was easily four times what they could accomplish on their own! Even Claudia wasn¡¯t sure she could fight the amalgamation they¡¯d become. The two headed, six armed goliath charged into the creatures. Almost immediately whipping vines were sundered and thrown aside. One meaty fist plowed into the vine creature hovering over Rei and turned its mask into dust. They picked her up and carried her back to the group, while vine creatures viciously slashed at their back all the while. It was no use. What the Sutherland brothers had become was more than human, and soon Claudia and Naberius had come to their aid. The remaining masked creatures that had crept up behind them were relatively few in number. It didn¡¯t take long to cut them down. However, while the threat from behind had been dealt with, the pressing mass of twisted wooden faces before them was only growing. Butcher and his hammer was the only thing standing between them at the writhing torrent. He¡¯d smashed a dozen or more of them to pieces in succession, but he¡¯d been wounded a number of times as well. Word of his mad bravery was proven true once again as he single-handed faced the hoard in defense of his colleagues. Naberius¡¯ face darkened. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± The passage out was thick with plants, that writhes and slithered like a hundred thousand angry snakes. It spread into the cavern at a rapid pace. Strong though they were, the slow pace of the masked creatures reduced the threat. Given time Naberius and his crew could have cut them down. The real danger was the Dryad, which was quickly coming to finish them off. ¡°I can hold it off for a while!¡± Butcher¡¯s body was slick with blood, but he stood tall before them like he felt nothing. With a growl he smashed his hammer into the face of a vine monster that got too close. ¡°Fall back and set your trap. Go!¡± Claudia could hardly believe what she was hearing. ¡°Butcher, you-¡± ¡°Stop wasting time!¡± His voice was harsh and defiant. ¡°You can¡¯t all die down here, you¡¯re the next generation of Skycloud¡¯s strength. You¡¯re also more talented demonhunters than I. Our realm still needs you!¡± For a moment everyone was silent. Cruel, hideous and tyrannical, Butcher was infamous for the terrible things he¡¯d done. Yet here it was, a day when this nightmare of a man was willing to lay down his life for others ¨C others he didn¡¯t even like. Among those he was willing to die for was a madman who had carved the flesh from his bones and tortured him brutally. His grotesque appearance was a direct result of this evil act. Butcher shouted at them. ¡°Go!¡± A smirk spread across Naberius¡¯ face. ¡°You¡¯re an honorable man. We¡¯ll settle our grudge in the next life.¡± He was the first to fall back deeper into the cavern. Seeing this, Claudia was left with no choice but to abandon Butcher as well. She had a responsibility to what remained of her team. She ran after him. Butcher was left alone. Though considerably wounded, the injuries did nothing to rob the man of her iron will. On the contrary he almost grew taller with dark pride. He was a warrior, and the greatest battle of his life lay before him. I give my life to the gods of my home. A holy warrior never yields! Attack! Attack! For our grand army! For the gods! Press on! Skycloud, forever! Seeped in righteous fervor, Butcher threw himself at the masked monsters with everything he had. His strikes landed true, stronger than ever before, and his hammer obliterated everything before it. In these moments he wielded more strength than a demonhunter twice his grade. His mind descended into a frenzied rage. The light from his eyes blazed with a level of devotion he¡¯d never felt before, as though he¡¯d spent months in prayer. Twisted masks appeared before him and fell, splintering beneath his hammer. It felt like the power flowing from him was limitless, and every step forward was miraculous. The creatures¡¯ numbers dwindled. Butcher¡¯s heart seethed. The soul of a holy warrior burned inside him. The savagery of the fight pushed him even further, awakened his potential, and filled him with a pure and brutal joy. Butcher fought like he never had before. It was faith! Faith had granted him power! He didn¡¯t know what would happen next, but he wasn¡¯t afraid. He was eager to meet his end. He yearned for it! Vines swarmed in around him. Eventually a towering figure appeared, like a demon marching through a tearing green tide. What an ugly, devilish horror! At least a dozen rotting skulls protruded all over its body. Its entire body was a hideous synthesis of corpses haphazardly sewn together with vines. As the Dryad rose to its full height before Butcher, the powerful aura it bore washed over him. Indomitable. Unyielding. Attack! Press on! For the glory of Sumeru! For the honor of Skyloud! Our armies will not be defeated! Butcher launched into his final assault without a shadow of doubt. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 39 - Eternal Warrior Spiri Barb panted was panting heavily. Four dragons lay broken by her feet. Peppered with wounds and bruises, she stared at the final one. She hardly believed she¡¯d gotten this far, for five dragons together was difficult even for a high-grade demonhunter to handle! The slightest misstep could mean death, especially since these dragons were resistant to demonhunter attacks ¨C but here she was. Four down. It showed that Barb¡¯s total capabilities weren¡¯t inferior to someone like Claudia, who underwent the grueling rigors of Hell¡¯s Valley. The difference was that Barb learned everything she knew on her own, with nothing but her talents and the bitter wastes as her instructor. Getting to this point wasn¡¯t easy. A brief moment passed where the two stared at one another. Then, with an angry roar, the final dragon attacked. Blood was dripping into Barb¡¯s eyes, turning her vision red. But even though her eyes burned she didn¡¯t blink. She watched the dragon come, knowing that her body was reaching its limit. Yet her heart was determined. It was coming! Power flowed through her exorcist rod. The dragon opened its flurry with its spear-like tongue, but Barb deftly juked to one side. She held her breath, swinging around to the side and bringin her weapon up. Barb released the air from her lungs in a roar of challenge, bringing the rod down on the dragon¡¯s neck. Sturdy scales cracked, but held. Every muscle in Barb¡¯s body went tense as she pressed, pushing with all her might to force the rod through. Crrrack-pop! Her rod fought passed the scales and into the breast¡¯s neck. One viridian eye glared at Barb, wide and angry, as she pinned the hulking creature to the wall. One final shudder wracked through its body, and with a gurgling death rattle it went still. It took four or five seconds for Barb to wrench her rod free. Blood dripped down her body from head to toe, making her hair slick. Some of it was her enemies, but much of it was her own as well. She stumbled back a little when her rod was freed. IT had been a trying ordeal, one that pushed her to her limits- but in the end, Barb had prevailed. Five dragons were felled by her hand. She¡¯d pushed herself past her limit to succeed in a mission that should have been impossible. Even so, five dragons meant nothing in the grand scheme of their battle. Victory here was not what mattered. Not far ahead of where she was recovering was the fight that would change the tide. The dragon king¡¯s crystal body shimmered with pure green energy. It was hunched low to the ground, facing an old man bearing an iron cane. Golden light embraced the filthy warrior. Though he faced a creature who¡¯d dwelled in this tomb for a thousand years, the old man¡¯s presence was no less dignified. Little remained of the old drunk they¡¯d met at the outskirts of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. To Barb¡¯s eyes that vagrant was gone. The man between her and the dragon king was an invincible War Saint. The two had already exchanged several blows. The shattered stoned and fractured walls gave testement to the fury of their battle. The old man¡¯s body was marked by several deep gouges from the dragon¡¯s claws. His martial prowess allowed him to regenerate quickly and the blood gushed from the wounds, but they were far from negligible. Meanwhile the dragon¡¯s magnificent crystal scales glimmered along it¡¯s form unscathed, like a beautiful piece of art. This was despite the fact that half of the old man¡¯s attacks had found purchase. Did this mean that even the drunk¡¯s considerable power still wasn¡¯t enough to harm the divine beast? The dragon king was a tenacious foe, whose scales resisted all energy and corrosion attacks. Pure force was the only way to combat it. While a normal dragon to someone like Barb would be a threat, the old man could defeat one in a handful of moves. Not so for the dragon king. The emerald monstrosity was resistant to most assaults, in addition to other formidable defenses. It¡¯s scales were stronger than any steel, and even masterwork weapons were impotently deflected by its hide. Seething in the divine beast¡¯s glowing green eyes was a look of haughty derision. Then it was on the move again. Leaping up from the ground, it threw itself at the old man with such force that a gale tore through the cavern. A torrent of green fire was expelled from its maw, forming into orbs as it traveled. The old man danced around them like a pendulum, deftly avoiding each orb without issue. Yet from above the dragon watched his erratic movements, gauging where he would be, and descended with claws outstretched. Its great wings folded over them to restrict his movement while those dagger-like talons reached. Keen as spears, with the strength to crush steel and rend stone. Clang! The impact of two incredible forces released waves of energy, visible to the naked eye. So intense was their collision that even the air was blasted away from them, creating a brief vacuum. Pain shot up from the old man¡¯s wrist. The dragon¡¯s strength was too overwhelming and threatened to break his defenses. It felt like a whole mountain had been dropped on him, like he was a lightning rod in the midst of a terrible storm. He could feel the terrible power sear through him from his head down to his feet. Boo-oo-omm! A thunderous crack ensued as the rock beneath his feet cracked apart. He positioned himself to redirect at least some of this power to help him retreat, but the dragon would not give him any quarter. It stretched out its neck and belched another wave of green fire over his body, a torrent of pure hate. For a moment nothing could be seen, but the sound of something heavy striking a distant wall was clear. Fist-sized shards of rock were expelled as the old man was buried several meters in the rock. His gnarled hands held tight to the iron walking stick. Golden light blazed, protecting him from the brunt of the dragon¡¯s fire. Even so, through breaks in the roaring flames one could see the old man¡¯s hair, clothes and even skin begin to melt. The creature¡¯s fire breath was no normal fire. It was more like acid, so strong that even corrosion-resistant equipment would be dissolved in moments. One shuddered to think what it could do to flesh. Mighty though he was, the old War Saint found himself in dire straights. Seeing this, barb gripped tightly to her exorcist staff and charged forward. Disregarding the real dangers to her life, and although past the point of exhaustion, she gathered up the dredges of strength hidden deep inside her cells. Pain jolted through her every muscle; a combination of burning, tingling and bone-deep agony that was almost more than she could bear. She pushed through it. One, two ¨C seven steps, charging ahead until with the last footfall she flung herself at the dragon king like a human javelin. Barb focused all of her remaining strength in her exorcist rod as she brought it crashing down on the divine beast¡¯s spine, hoping to break it. Barb¡¯s combat skills were not inconsequential. While her mental prowess was lacking, and her physical and martial capabilities were average at best, where Barb differed from others was her ability to combine them together. Joined with the advanced Demonbreaker March martial technique, it gave her an intense and brief explosion of power. Toonnnnnnggg! A deafening peal sounded, like she¡¯d struck a large bell. Barb¡¯s arms went numb from the impact, as her power was reflected backward. As it shuddered through her weapon the rod was overwhelmed, and shattered. Far from injuring the beast, Barb was instead blasted backward by her own attack. The dragon king didn¡¯t even spare her a glance, it merely answered by whipping it¡¯s tail. She was sent careening across the cavern like a baseball and ultimately ended up in a heap on the floor. The beast¡¯s defenses were too strong, so much so that Barb hurt herself trying to attack it. It paid her no more mind. The creature was intelligent, calculating. Obviously the human female was no threat, and thus was beneath notice. It could stand there and let her attack to her heart¡¯s content, all to no avail. The only one who constituted even threat was the male. And so it kept trying to dissolve him with its green fire. The dragon would dissolve this old fool into a heap of mush before he could fight back! The old drunk was fighting to protect himself, but the fires were taking their toll. Skin and muscle were starting to separate, to melt and fall away. Seconds would all it would take to reduced him to a skeleton if this kept up. Seconds after, nothing at all would remain of him. The human was waning, he was getting tired. He was not strong enough! The dragon king¡¯s heart was flush with mockery and disdain. It was a creature that took part in the Great War between gods and demons. The dragon king witnessed the greatest of their race, as well as the ten legendary demonhunters dispatched by the humans. This paltry old man did not measure up, and it was folly to think he could stand against the likes of the dragon king! The old man felt his strength quickly fleeing. The inner strength that had recently begun to return to him once again evaporated like water droplets in an inferno. This creature was too strong. In his heyday, Vulkan could have stood his ground. But this withered old man ¨C even with the help of the Vale¡¯s powerful medicines ¨C was fighting an ancient foe with only a fraction of the strength he¡¯d once commanded. It wasn¡¯t enough. Dawnguard¡¯s light began to fade. The old man knew he couldn¡¯t hold out against the flames for much longer. He felt helpless to change the inevitable, a familiar experience he¡¯d had once before. Five years ago, when he brought his Templars out to the wastes under the direction of his disciple. When he¡¯d gone to rescue Baldur. A figure in a gray robe had appeared to bar their path. Strong¡­ too strong. The moment he attacked they were overwhelmed. Ten of the Temples most talented warriors, each one comparable to the mightiest demonhunters ¨C but it didn¡¯t matter. Half their number had been slain in the first attack. By the end of his second, they¡¯d been wiped out. The disciple he had painstakingly selected to succeed him had thrown herself between Vulkan and their attacker in an attempt to give him time to escape, giving no heed to the fact that it might end up costing her everything. It didn¡¯t matter. The man in gray began to glow. A bolt of lightning streaked from him that mercilessly obliterated any martial attempt at defense. He remembered watching the charred black flecks of ash float through the air, all that remained of his disciple. Fury filled the mind of Skycloud¡¯s War Saint. But the fury was just a front, hiding the terror that was beneath. The mightiest warrior of Skycloud, a man whose pride bordered on defiance, was struck dumb in the face of a power that was so far in excess of his own. Complete and utter hopelessness was all he felt, a sense that there was no option but death. That was the fear that gripped him, fear and despair. Fates had conspired to keep him alive, but so absolute was his defeat that he never even considered vengeance. Instead he took to wandering the wastelands, a beggar in the land he once sneered so openly at. He was reduced to accepting food from the vile prostitutes he spat upon, subsisting on the foulest fair, performing the lowest deeds for coin. Once he had been held high above everyone, a prince among the clouds. In the end, he was nothing more than a worthless old man crawling through the gutters. All glory, gone. Five years now, and all that time the old man was convinced his heart had withered. Yet in the face of this dragon he felt a stirring of defiance. He remembered that bitter defeat, and the years of disgrace that followed. Would he allow this failure to haunt him a second time? No. Five years of miserable living was enough. The grim existence, the pain ¨C it had filled him to his limit like water in a bottle. No more. Not a drop more, or he would burst. A little more. He only needed a little more to break through. The old man¡¯s eyes widened and started to burn with a radiant light. Dawnguards¡¯ nearly spent light flared back to life stronger than before. Skycloud¡¯s War Saint had never died! He¡¯d only been waiting, waiting for this moment! With the light of his relic protecting him the old man stepped out of the hole he¡¯d been buried in. His weakening body was quickly returning to normal. Once free, he brought his cane back and swept it forward, expelling a wave of pure energy. For an instant, there was something like panic in the dragon king¡¯s eyes. It didn¡¯t know what had happened, how suddenly the old human had fought back from the brink and fought back with such intensity. No answers were forthcoming, and so taken aback was the dragon king that it couldn¡¯t avoid the blast that caught it in its stomach. Its scales cracked as the beast of several tons was thrown into the air. A second blow knocked the divine beast to the ground. Cracks split the ground when the beast landed and spread through the cavern. Exhaustion could be seen from the wrinkled creases around the old man¡¯s eyes, but it would not diminish his resolve. For he had finally vanquished the demons he¡¯d been warring against within his own soul. His third strike was aimed for the divine beast¡¯s skull, to obliterate the ancient brain within. However, it was in the moments before the killing blow that the sound of a flute echoed through the cave. The flitting notes raced like bullets toward the old man. He could feel their physical presence as a danger. His face darkened as the old warrior was forced to abandon his attack. The flute¡¯s sound knocked him from the air and several meters away from the beleaguered dragon king. Through his glowing eyes he watched several figures emerge from the far end of the cavern. Autumn was at the fore, with the flute against her lips. Had she been the one to stop him with the godly artifact? He looked passed her, toward Cloudhawk who followed with an odd expression on his face. Intentionally or not, he was keeping his distance from the young leader of Woodland Vale. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 40 - Someone Who Can Figh Autumn was still Autumn, beautiful and delicate as a forest nymph. Her clothes were unchanged, the same as any other Valite. But the old drunk had spent more time with Autumn than Cloudhawk had. He was more experienced and had a keener eye as well. So if the young Warden could recognize the difference in her, how could the old man miss it? Although she was the same in appearance, this Autumn was not the same one that followed Cloudhawk into the central chamber. She¡­ felt different. There was no emotion in her pretty eyes anymore. Instead her eyes were filled with an arrogant stateliness. She looked upon them like a mighty beast might look upon insects, like worms slithering through the dirt. What happened to the sweet and sentimental girl he knew? The dragon king heaved itself back unto its feet. Though the attacks it sustained from the old man were devastating, this was no ordinary creature. Its injuries were not life threatening. The old drunk squinted at the figures across from him, alert and uncertain. However, there was no need to fear. The crystal dragon did not resume its attacks. In fact it ignored the old man completely and hung its head like a docile mutt. The ancient creature, with strength and intelligence to match the Temple¡¯s great protector, was as meek as a kitten before the seventeen year old child and her flute. To display such a servile and respectful posture to the frail girl was strange to say the least. Autumn reached out and stroked the beast with her hand. A faint glow spread from her fingers and into the divine beast¡¯s body. Its cracked scales knit themselves back together before their eyes. When Autumn dropped her arm, a scowl of deep displeasure was aimed toward the old man. ¡°Is this your doing?¡± When the girls eyes turned upon him, the War Saint felt a pressure rarely experienced before. It was as though the air around him grew thicker. But he was a man of the world, and he¡¯d faced many with impressive bearings. Though it was clear much had changed in the young girl he once knew, it didn¡¯t stop his insolent nature. ¡°What are you doing, you little scamp? You wanted to hire me to come and protect the Vale, and you know¡­ thinking on it for a bit, it¡¯s starting to seem like such a bad idea.¡± Her pretty eyes narrowed and grew dark with indignation. ¡°Begone.¡± The words were almost gentle, but they caused the entire cavern to tremble. All of the walls and ceiling surrounding them split apart at once, and from the fissures slithered a host of deep green vines. Whipping creepers filled the cavern so fast it was like being caught in a box underwater, when suddenly the box cracked and the sea began to invade. ¡°Wait! He¡¯s one of us!¡± Cloudhawk shouted to try and dissuade her. Autumn¡¯s face was cold as ice, possessed of a sort of grim majesty. She was a god, and the presence of this rabble in her mausoleum was more of a sin than she could stomach. The gods were fickle beings, and so it was she decided they all shall die. One of us? There was no ¡®us¡¯! None of these mortals were worthy! Most importantly, they knew of her true identity, that she had been reborn as Shepherd. They could not be allowed to leave and spread what they knew. She readied herself to rend these worms limb from limb when suddenly she was stopped by the faintest voice in the back of her mind. A frail thought, from the depths of her soul. It was enough to distract her from releasing a sea of mental energy that would obliterate these piddling mortals. Enough to give her pause. The will of the girl who once inhabited this body was not destroyed? When Shepherd had chosen this form for herself, Autumn¡¯s spirit had not been entirely dominated. A fragment of her still existed within the god¡¯s mind, like a speck in a vast ocean. It was effortless to keep the mortal child contained, and yet still she managed to exert influence. As Shepherd¡¯s will to slay her friends grew, that small piece of Autumn rebelled in protest. It was laughable to think she could stand in the way of a god¡¯s resolve, but the spirit of the fallen girl had won them a brief reprieve. The old man wouldn¡¯t let up. ¡°What the hell is wrong with this kid?!¡± ¡°Cut it out with the bullshit!¡± Cloudhawk shot him a warning glare. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Autumn¡¯s body was home to a god now, she had become a god ¨C and more than that, a Supreme. Her power was leaps and bounds beyond that of mere mortals. In fact, all humans were below notice but for the legendary demonhunters of old, and perhaps the Master Demonhunters of today. Help? She required no help. The crippled old man was a worm and nothing more! The old man realized this was graver than he thought, and so raced towards the prostrate Barb as fast as he could. He swept her up, then raced from the cavern toward the mausoleum¡¯s exit. Claudia and her team had since finished their part of the battle. Laying upon the ground bruised and bloody, they watched him race by. Gabriel could hardly raise a finger, and Naberius had slipped back into the darkness of his subconscious. The Dryad lay in a mindless heap nearby. After chasing them through a maze of cutting wires it had spent all its energy, and could no longer cobble itself back together. Pieces of it still quivered on the ground in an impotent heap, still trying and failing to kill its prey. Butcher was dead. The rest had one foot in the grave. The drunk didn¡¯t explain as he ran by, only urged them to follow. Although they weren¡¯t sure what was happening, one look at his face convinced them that it was best to move and ask questions later. Only Cloudhawk and Azura were left to stand before Autumn. He didn¡¯t know why, but something inside him told Cloudhawk that the Shepherd wasn¡¯t going to kill them. The Shepherd¡¯s presence here had something to do with an old accord he was a part of. As for Azura? She¡¯d watched the whole scene from beginning to end, but the Shepherd¡¯s pride would now allow her to stoop so low as to murder children. Autumn¡¯s brief revolt faded and Shepherd regained control. She looked at Cloudhawk with burning anger in her eyes and lifted a hand. Suddenly Cloudhawk felt a power envelope him like a vice and lift him off his feet. A dangerous light shone in her eyes, pregnant with exuberant power and malice. It was as though she could peer right through him with a glance. ¡°You are so confident that I will not kill you?¡± He felt so confined that he might suffocate. ¡°Do it then,¡± he managed to croak. Several tense moments passed. Autumn¡¯s eyes grew harder by the second, thick with murderous intent that flowed through her entire body. It surged up inside her like a tidal wave before she forced it back down. ¡°I will spare your insignificant life. Out of respect.¡± Respect? Respect for who? The former Demon King! Autumn walked through the cavern and blew once again into the flute. Naberius¡¯ shadethread traps were suddenly fragile as silk, breaking merely by the sound waves released by her artifact. The chunks of rotten meat and vines that was the Dryad shuddered and reorganized themselves like dutiful soldiers. After a few moments a humanoid figure rose up from the ground. It was still an ugly thing, but much more¡­ complete than it had been before. It was no longer so much a haphazard doll of mismatched pieces, and more like a three-meter tall super mutant. The Dryad retook its shape, unscathed from its war with Naberius. It lumbered their way like an iron giant, a loyal guardian dead set on protecting its mistress. It was no different than Blackfiend the Undying and its blind loyalty to Squall. The situation was becoming more troublesome by the moment. Autumn herself was frighteningly volatile and monstrous. With the addition of two indomitable protectors Woodland Vale promised to be a formidable force. Whichever side they chose to fight for would receive a great boon in their support. Easily enough to turn the tide. ¡°Go. Kill all who offend the sanctity of Woodland Vale!¡± Autumn¡¯s low command was no as frightening as the sharp and unforgiving look in her eye. Awash in the homicidal urges of its master, the crystal dragon spread it wings and dashed out of the mausoleum with her on its back. They moved so fast that wherever they passed the grass and shrubs were torn up, leaving a trail in its wake. Arrrrrrooooggghhh! The dragon king¡¯s cries caused the Vale¡¯s canopy to shudder. It was on the hunt. They left the dank bowels of the Godtree, and as Autumn looked out over the setting horizon there was a deep sense of satisfaction at her freedom. It was a well-deserved freedom, bought by a thousand years of captivity. But deserved or not, she couldn¡¯t let her contemporaries on Sumeru know that she had awakened. To that end, anyone who had come into the Vale had to be silence, lest word got out. Hundreds of dragons circled above the forest now. They would wildly dart into the trees below and attack invaders as they were found. It didn¡¯t matter who; Elysian demonhunters, wasteland warriors, or a few with particularly wretched airs ¨C all were subject to the tearing claws of the dragons. A thousand years. How had the world changed? In the distance, the dragon king roared. As if on command the many dragons broke away to make room for their master. Autumn stood upon the crystal dragon¡¯s back, bathed in the light of a dying sun. Such a majestic scene was hard to ignore. The Elysians, Highwaymen and Sanctum warriors all stopped to bear witness to the arrival of the awe-inspiring figure. ¡°It¡¯s her!¡± ¡°What the hell?!¡± Selene, Squall and the other commands stared at the spectacle in disbelief. Meanwhile she stared down at them from her vantage high above. ¡°The dignity of your Shepherd shall not be maligned! In daring to enter my abode, you forfeit your lives.¡± In the space of an instant the world below was awash in thrashing vines and stabbing roots. The forest came alive, and Autumn assailed the invaders without mercy. Screams from her victims rose up into the dimming sky, giving voice to her cruel and unending slaughter. The dragons renewed their attacks, only now they were far more organized. Attacks were more targeted and structured, like they were more soldier and less beast. Cutting talons fell in phalanx formations and routed their human foes quickly. It was all too sudden. Where had this all-powerful girl come from? Her attacks were savage and indiscriminate, levied against whoever caught her eye regardless of faction. Anyone and everyone was her enemy¡­ and the Shepherd had no tolerance for enemies. Wyrmsole looked about at his men, who were dying by the dozens beneath the heinous attack. He would not suffer their destruction, and so in a mighty voice and with his standard flapping he cried out to the instrument of their destruction. ¡°Try your tricks on me!¡± A flaming dragon roared from him and lit up the darkening forest. In response, a single note from her flute. Wyrmsole¡¯s dragon was torn asunder without foundation. He gaped at her in shock. Wielding nothing but a flute and hundreds of meters away, she dispersed his mighty attack as though it were a mere afterthought. Shock was an understatement. It was fear that he felt, deep and unabating. He raised his standard to defend himself from the acoustic waves she flung at him, and was blown several hundred meters into the forest. When he came to a stop blood was pouring from every orifice. In a single attack she had wounded him gravely. He was the strongest demonhunter here, and yet she flung him through the trees like a discarded puppet. This strange girl had a power more immense and mysterious than he could fathom. No one could understand how this child was doing this! They could take all of Skycloud¡¯s most talented youths and add them together, and they wouldn¡¯t be able to match her fury. Selene looked at the cherubic face, which was both familiar and unfamiliar. Was this the same girl that had traveled with Cloudhawk before? It couldn¡¯t be. Autumn had been born with great potential, but not to where she could swat Wyrmsole away like he was a babe. How had she so suddenly become this strong? But it didn¡¯t matter ¨C if this was Autumn now, then the situation in the Vale had changed dramatically. Selene placed herself squarely before Autumn. ¡°Where is Cloudhawk!?¡± Shepherd had no idea who this ¡®Cloudhawk¡¯ was. The name was entirely unfamiliar. However, when this presumptuous woman appeared before her, swathed in holy vestments and dripping with divine energy, she became incensed. Seeing the familiar relic called to mind sour memories from a thousand years ago. It was a mighty tool she had presented eons ago, and one that made her think of things that should have remained buried. ¡°Dead! The single word was her response. Selene¡¯s face, cool as an iceberg, suddenly darkened. ¡°What? Impossible!¡± Dawn and the others heard her claim and stared in horror. A heartbeat later, the Polaris heir turned crimson from fury. Her voice rang out loud enough to drown out the din. ¡°You killed him!?¡± ¡°Why do you trouble me with such asinine questions?¡± Her voice was frigid and impatient. ¡°It matters not, for today every one of you dies!¡± The dragon king reared back and belched a column of flame toward Selene. But the Cloude prodigy was no coward, nor was she unfamiliar with battle. She did not stand idle once her foe took an offensive posture. Moreover, the anger rumbling inside her was eager to be felt, so she struck out with her blade. Frost, Dawn and Atlas were quick to follow her lead. Their enemy was too strong. Though it wasn¡¯t clear how she¡¯d become so strong, it was obvious they would need to fight as one. No hope of success could be found in fighting alone. Autumn used her flute as her weapon, blowing into it to summon a beam of light. The single beam split into six. Six became thirty six. Each of her attackers suddenly found themselves the target of several spears of light which struck them from the sky with sprays of blood. The brunt of the attack was aimed toward Selene. Her Holy Vestments were largely a support relic. Though they had some defensive capabilities, it wasn¡¯t enough to protect her from Autumn¡¯s ire. She was simply too strong, and her attacks were blindingly quick. The only other time she¡¯d encountered an enemy so fierce was her battle with Abaddon four years ago. Another exchange! The girl in airy green robes handily blasted back four of Skycloud¡¯s greatest warriors! What were humans to a god? What had become of them over the years? They had become so weak! She remembered how mighty the champions of old had been, the ten legendary demonhunters who made the battlefields tremble. How had their species fallen so far? These worms were hardly worth her attention! She prepared herself for the killing blow. Suddenly, the blast of an explosion sounded in the distance. It rolled across the forest like dull thunder. Even from what had to be a great distance it was as though a hundred thousand stampeding horses were charging across the Vale. The energy it produced could be clearly felt, as though the gods themselves had come knocking. It swept by quickly, this sound of thunder. In fact it was the blast of something breaking the sound barrier. Who? Who could produce such a deluge of power? Autumn¡¯s eyes narrowed as she peered into the distance. ¡°Finally. Someone who can actually fight.¡± 1. Hm. Foreshadowing? 2. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 41 - Skycloud's War-God He was a towering man, with a head of silvery hair like a lion¡¯s mane. In times of peace he was as indomitable as a mountain. In times of war he was a beast that could not be chained. ¡°Skye Polaris!¡± Wyrmsole¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Retreat!¡± Every Skycloud denizen, past and present, knew the great General. He was one of the three illustrious leaders of the Elysian lands: Grand General Skye Polaris, High Priest Ramiel Caelestis, and Governor Arcturus Cloude. The first was Skycloud¡¯s principal military mind. The second was its spiritual core. The last was their executive leader and a political genius. These three were giants among men. Where they tread the earth trembled. Their names shook the pillars of civilization. Arcturus Cloude was not one for traipsing through the wastes. He was, after all, Governor of Skycloud and the head of government. So he remained within the confines of the Elysian lands to ensure the realm operated as it should. Especially in these trying times, he wouldn¡¯t dare abandon his people. Ramiel, as High Priest, was the spiritual center of the Elysian lands. His place was in the Temple, and rarely did he step foot outside. In those rare circumstances where the Temple¡¯s influence needed to be felt he dispatched their holy warriors in his stead. It was unlikely Ramiel would ever be forced to step out into the wastes. Skye Polaris was another matter. He was the sword of Skycloud, commander-in-chief of its armies. It was also widely known that he was the realm¡¯s greatest warrior. Since the Polaris family had to clear successor it fell to him to lead their Elysian might out against their foes, whether to maintain the prestige of his failing house or other practical reasons. When Cloudhawk first learned of Woodland Vale¡¯s location, his first order of business was to dispatch Roc with the news. It was a backup plan in case their gambit here failed. However, since General Skye was elsewhere it was Selene and the others who were sent in his stead. Meanwhile, however, he had been racing here as fast as he could. Now he arrived at the critical moment, when his presence was needed most. And thanks the gods, for if he hadn¡¯t shown up when he did the young and talented bearer¡¯s of Skycloud¡¯s future surely would have perished. ¡°Grandfather!¡± Dawn had already been heavily wounded by Autumn¡¯s assault. ¡°Just in time, cut down this bitch!¡± Skye observed the scene with smoldering fury. Too far! These fiends had even injured his granddaughter! The rage that broiled inside him was like a hurricane, making him see red. He felt it stirring inside him like a dragon, like a mad beast that caught the scent of blood. In the blink of an eye he was up in the air. Every muscle went taut, and as the power seeped from his cells his skin turned a deep amber hue. He ignored Wyrmsole and his ilk as they scrambled for safety, throwing the whole of his might against Autumn and her crystal dragon like a spear of light. Skye Polaris was not a demonhunter. He bore no relics to empower his attacks. The changes his body underwent were a result of training and evolution, and every cell in him was like an energy reactor. When accessed, it was like a hundred million tiny fusion explosions at once, racing across his body in a chain reaction of explosive release. His swollen form and ruddy skin was a reaction to this process. Skye Polaris¡¯ body had far surpassed the likes of an ordinary human. He had ascended to something greater. His attack was nothing fancy. The grizzled warrior arced through the air with his fist raised. The air around it warped and changed from the pressure, leaving behind a streak of effervescent energy. Everything gathered at that singular point, a focus of power so intense that it birthed a shock wave. Particles in the air caught fire from the friction as he descended toward his victim. One of the Polaris family¡¯s most supreme martial attacks ¨C Meteor Fist! Skycloud boasted two peak-level martial warriors. The first was the Skycloud War Saint known as Vulkan. The other was Skye himself, praised as the Skycloud War-God. Both men had achieved perfection of their physical form far beyond the limitations of what humans could achieve. Yet when it came to pure physical strength, none could match Skye Polaris. The War Saint, as he was known, was a nigh-peerless warrior. In addition to superhuman martial capabilities he was also possessed of mental energy to rival a high-grade demonhunter. Skye Polaris had none of this. He didn¡¯t know the mysterious martial styles of the Templars. He¡¯d never trained his mind in the use of relics or divine artifacts. For all his life Skye Polaris had trained in pursuit of pure speed, pure power, and an invincible physique. His body was tempered inside out, every cell and muscle fiber, to the point that the rules of nature hardly applied when he summoned his full strength. He had developed the potential of the human force to unprecedented levels ¨C that was his training style. Autumn had been grumbling that the humans were no match for her, and pined for a true challenger. It seemed she got her wish. She adopted a dignified expression, lit by the fires of the encroaching fist. Her flute darted to her lips and again the sky was split with a hundred streaks of light. They weaved and darted together like a net to try and deflect the punch. The opposing forces met in midair. Their collision birthed a roaring firestorm over the canopy. Onlookers below winced against the light and heat. Trees near their confrontation were felled by the buffeting winds. Autumn felt a hitherto unmatched power rush through her. Beneath her feet the crystal dragon whined as together they were blasted dozens of meters through the air. Cracks appeared upon the divine beast¡¯s gem-like scales. Skye Polaris stood unmoved and unscathed. However, all of his accumulated power had been spent and he could not follow up with a second attack. Dozens of Autumn¡¯s attacks had struck, with the power to fell mountains. Against the War-God, however, they didn¡¯t even leave a scratch. Shocked stares gaped at them as the onlookers struggled to comprehend what they were witnessing. Squall¡¯s face was particularly sour. ¡°The old freak is incredible.¡± Wyrmsole and his people were still fleeing for hitheirs lives, and he didn¡¯t even dare look back. He was trailed by Natessa and the other Giants of Hell¡¯s Valley, whose faces were deathly pale at the prospect of facing Skye Polaris. Their infractions were the worst, for they had turned their back on Skycloud and were known as the most egregious of traitors. What¡¯s more, they were responsible for the death of his brother. If they were caught, their deaths were assured. Further into the forest¡­ Vulkan, Gabriel, Barb, Claudia and her squad were just clambering out of the Godtree. Their eyes turned skyward just in time to see the dramatic exchange between Skye and Autumn. The old drunk¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Old my ass. That bastard hasn¡¯t weakened an ounce from his heyday.¡± Barb was nearly struck dumb. ¡°Is that General Polaris, the War-God? How could someone like him ever grow old? He¡¯s hardly human!¡± The drunk didn¡¯t respond. Of course people got old. It was the inevitable curse of humanity that they should wither. Where there was growth there was also decay, where there were peaks there were also valleys. Strong as he was, Skye Polaris wasn¡¯t above the rules. He couldn¡¯t stand upon his peak forever. There was no question he would live a hundred years longer than his peers, however. The old man was just too stubborn to accept growing feeble. He was steadfast in maintaining his peak form, halting the inevitable decline. Impressive though it was, it demanded much from him, and would eventually rob him of years of his life. The old drunk was in awe of the old general. Skycloud¡¯s strongest were almost exclusively demonhunters, Vulkan among them. Where Vulkan differed was a focus on physical prowess, with mental energy as support. The combination of the two was what allowed him to perform near-mythical feats. But in the thousand-year history of their realm there had been no one like Skye Polaris. Never had there been a human with the gall to spit in the face of convention and eke out every ounce of potential from their mortal form. Skye Polaris was a living legend! He was a paragon for all the many warriors without mental or spiritual gifts. What he accomplished was more impactful than the mystical feats of even the greatest demonhunters! The War-God¡¯s presence meant that the path of the martial warrior was not a doomed, lonely one. He was their pillar, their guiding light, who gave inspiration to the struggles of the ordinary and the diligent. Without a War-God, how would there be such a thing as a War Saint? It was true that Skye Polaris was nearing his eightieth year. The old drunk himself was almost sixty, so even he respectfully addressed the General as a senior and elder. Back when Vulkan was just beginning his journey as a martial artist, Skye¡¯s name was already ringing through the Elysian lands. It was, in fact, an encounter with Skye Polaris years ago that convinced Vulkan to give up his mental pursuits and focus more on his martial abilities. So in a very real sense, the War-God created the War Saint. In Skycloud, the gods held an unrivaled position of respect and authority. Nothing, no matter how grand, could be compared to a god. But that unspoken rule was flouted when it came to Skye Polaris. Martial warriors and soldiers alike extolled the abilities of this old man, the greatest among them. Their War-God. Ringing as the title of War Saint was, it could not compare with a god. ¡°What a shame,¡± the old man muttered to himself. ¡°What a damn shame?¡± Barb glanced at him. ¡°What¡¯s that, Excellency?¡± He tightened his grip on his cane and for a moment seemed almost frail. He shook his head with a sigh, and the others continued to look at him with confusion. The fallout from Skye and Autumn¡¯s first clash lasted for a full half minute. Skye Polaris stared at her with the fixed gaze of a raging bull. ¡°So something exists in the wastelands which is capable of surviving my punch!¡± Autumn¡¯s face was as inscrutable as a lake surface. Yet in her heart there were ripples of surprise. A thousand years. So this is what humans have achieved! This male¡¯s body is more divine than mortal! Is he honestly human, or a monster? Trepidation was felt on both sides. Skye knew what sort of power his punch had delivered. In Skycloud, he could count the number of men who would survive a single blow on one hand, much less the fiends of the wastes. This child, who looked younger than his own granddaughter, hadn¡¯t just taken the punch ¨C she wasn¡¯t even injured. He knew of no other living creature that could accomplish this. When did the wastelands produce a freak like this? But he wasn¡¯t alone in his distress. Autumn felt it, too. Though she didn¡¯t let it show on her face, Skye¡¯s punch had wounded her. Its concussive wave caused internal injuries, but her divine power had quickly healed them before it was evident to others. At last she remembered that she was now the young leader of Woodland Vale, not the mighty Supreme she had been. Most of Shepherd¡¯s mental prowess had been retained, but she no longer had a god¡¯s physical form. Was she really so weak, now? Fragile as a bird¡¯s egg. Her opponent was a beast in human form. In close combat she wouldn¡¯t last three rounds before he pummeled her to death. Suddenly, Autumn found herself in a difficult position. Her mental abilities were more than sufficient to battle this man, but her physical body was not. If she was felled here because of this old man, than all of the effort to preserve herself for a thousand years ¨C and all that time locked in that prison ¨C would have been for naught. Shepherd would not tolerate another defeat. Nor could she expect a more suitable body than Autumn¡¯s to present itself any time soon. This mighty, prideful god discovered that she was not as invincible as she¡¯d imagined. A thousand years of captivity escaped, only to encounter this super human freak. Fate had conspired against her, it seemed. 1. Ok, let¡¯s just stop here and appreciate that an eighty year old guy put the fear of god in a freakin god. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 42 - Best Case Scenario Oddball led the way as two figures ¨C one big and one small ¨C pressed through the forest. Azura was like a little monkey that¡¯d just climbed out of a mire. She was covered in dirt and scraps from head to toe, but was a scrappy kid so it didn¡¯t bother her. Despite the hardships so far she hadn¡¯t once complained and still insisted on walking on her own. ¡°Teacher, why didn¡¯t you wear the armor?¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Well, because Autumn said if you did it would make you stronger. You don¡¯t want to be stronger?¡± Azura was the only one who¡¯d seen the entire exchange between him and Shepherd. Hell¡¯s Army, mutants, the old drunk, Claudia, and Butcher. Cloudhawk¡¯s fight with Adder, Autumn¡¯s death and rebirth, all of the love and hate and animosity ¨C all the while she was there to bear witness, and each had a strong impact on her young psyche. She didn¡¯t understand what happened to ¡®sister Autumn¡¯ that changed her so dramatically. She also didn¡¯t know why her teacher would refuse to wear armor that promised to make him a better warrior. It was right there, right at his fingertips, the promise of incredible power. Why didn¡¯t he just reach out and take it? Did power really mean so little to him? He turned around and bent at the waist so he could address the small girl at her level. His dark eyes shimmered, clear and keen. ¡°Blue, we live in a world that¡¯s at the same time fair and unfair. Everything you get in life will come at a price, and the more power you get the more responsibility you¡¯ll have. If you don¡¯t have the wherewithal to shoulder all that burden then more power will only make you lose yourself. It¡¯ll end up crushing you.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re scared you won¡¯t be able to control the power?¡± She didn¡¯t fully understand what he was saying. ¡°But teacher, how do you know you can¡¯t if you don¡¯t try?¡± For a moment he didn¡¯t know how to answer. The little scamp sure had a lot of faith in him. He didn¡¯t even have that kind of faith in himself. Just a few minutes ago he¡¯d learned that the former master of the phase stone he carried was the fallen Demon King, an entity that shook the world with his passage. All this time Cloudhawk never felt his life had anything to do with demons, much less being the chosen successor of their leader. It was too sudden, he wasn¡¯t prepared for all that meant. Why should he put on this damn Demon King¡¯s Cuirass? Between the power locked in the phase stone and Cloudhawk¡¯s own talents, he was sure he¡¯d be a celebrated elite demonhunter in a handful of years. That was enough power, as far as he was concerned. He really wasn¡¯t ready for the kind of power to save the world, or destroy it. ¡°In the world we live in, when you think about a problem you¡¯ve got to consider all angles. Things are rarely as simple as they seem.¡± He thought for a minute, then went on. ¡°Let me give you an example: Say I put something precious right in front of you. All you have to do is reach out and grab it, but the second you do you lose all friends, all loved ones, everything you ever knew. What would you choose?¡± For all the questions and potential problems becoming a Demon King might mean, this was the one that concerned Cloudhawk the most. It was the reason he refused the armor in the first place. The moment a new Demon King arose, it was possible that a second Theomachy between the gods and demons would break out? If he accepted the Cuirass, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t avoid completely aligning himself with the demons, and would perhaps even be forced to play a significant role in whatever their plans were. He didn¡¯t know anything about their world. The Caliph of the Sands was the only demon he¡¯d ever met, and not exactly on pleasant terms. Abaddon was already too enigmatic for him to understand. How could he presume to have the right to lead those creatures? What claim did he have to the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass? At the end of the day he was human, and the demons wouldn¡¯t listen to a mere human! With the problems it would cause he wasn¡¯t even sure he¡¯d survive making the claim. But most importantly of all? The second he put that armor on, Cloudhawk would become enemy number one to all of Skycloud and the gods on Mount Sumeru. And it wasn¡¯t just them; General Skye and even the Conclave of Judgment would send their warriors after him. He¡¯d be hunted to the ends of the earth, and nowhere ¨C not Skycloud nor the wastelands ¨C would be safe for him. Dawn, Selene, Barb, Drake¡­ he would inevitably be at odds with all of them. And then there were the gods themselves. A threat like a new Demon King would stir them from their mountain repose, and sooner or later Cloudhawk would find himself at the center of their attention. Power was what was promised. But when he thought about it, the price and the pressure it came with was too much to accept. Eternal solitude was what that armor really offered him. Constant war, being an enemy to the whole world, and darkness as far into the future as he dared to look. No, there would be no happy ending for him. All Cloudhawk had ever asked for was peace and quiet, it would be foolish to throw himself into a pit of fire. He wouldn¡¯t be their Demon King. Fuck, whoever wanted that title could have it! He wasn¡¯t ready for it, and he wasn¡¯t sure he would ever be. He wanted a destiny of his own choosing, not one another had locked him into. Azura gave her answer with as much resolve as her little body could muster. ¡°Everyone could leave you but I never will, Teacher.¡± With a lopsided grin he teased her. ¡°You little punk, you sure know how to talk. I knew I took you on as a disciple for a reason.¡± Azura knew her teacher was a good man, he just didn¡¯t like to have to deal with things. She didn¡¯t understand the principles he was trying to teach her, but what she did know that what belonged to him belonged to him. If he was chosen by fate, there was no running from it. The world was filled with all sorts of things to be desired, and those things one wished to avoid where often the ones we came upon. Inwardly Azura made herself a pledge, that she would strive to be better. She would grow strong and capable, to be a worthy right hand to her teacher so that she could share the responsibility for these worries that weighed on him. ¡°Ah, here¡¯s the exit.¡± Cloudhawk and Azura followed Oddball out of the mausoleum. As they did, their ears were met the sound of distant explosions. Cloudhawk¡¯s first action was to send Oddball out to investigate. It darted off as a streak of golden light, quickly breaking passed the canopy and peering in the direction of the sound with its keen eyes. What it saw was a tempest of epic proportions over the nearby forest. A tempest? That couldn¡¯t be right! Woodland Vale was sealed from the outside world and didn¡¯t suffer from extreme changes in weather. Cloudhawk focused through his connection with Oddball and found that it wasn¡¯t a tempest at all. It was a battle, and an epic one. The combatants were Autumn, obviously, and a silver-haired figure that he didn¡¯t expect to see. The commander-in-chief of Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary forces had arrived, General Skye Polaris! Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t expected him to arrive here so quickly. It was clear by the residual energy hanging in the air that the two had already traded blows. For the moment they were at a stalemate. Their exchange was a fierce one, with Skye Polaris attacking with nothing but his hands and feet. His attacks were so intense that they kicked up whirlwinds, and with each swing of his arm or leg the trees around him were felled. There was already a wide clearing around where they fought. Trees, grass and shrubs were all torn apart. A fight of this level far surpassed anything Cloudhawk could imagine. He could see it clear through Oddball¡¯s eyes, Skye rushing through the trees like a raging bull and Autumn¡¯s agile body darting out of the way. She was obviously trying to keep as much distance between her and General Polaris as she could. A host of dragons was nearing their battlefield. Skye was quickly enveloped. The War-God released a thunderous battle cry before throwing a punch that blasted all the surrounding dragons to pieces. His powerful legs kicked off empty air, launching him back in a headlong assault toward Autumn. He recognized the girl¡¯s weakness. While her mental abilities were comparable to a Master Demonhunter ¨C maybe even stronger than Baldur¡¯s when he was at his prime ¨C but her body was tempered. He could rip that soft female form apart without much effort. Autumn blew upon her flute, summoning the Dryad from nearby. Meanwhile the dragons gathered back around so that even though the human was unexpectedly strong, it was still an encirclement he couldn¡¯t break free from. It was then her turn to attack. As the forest came to her aid, Skye found himself in a position of disadvantage. Suddenly a number of figures dashed onto the field to support him. The first was a living shadow, hidden behind a dark mask. Immediately his potent and sinister aura filled the clearing. He was Mr. Ink, the most trusted agent of the Polaris family. It appeared that Mr. Ink was not just an adviser, but a powerful demonhunter in his own right. The instant he appeared, Mr. Ink was on the offensive, throwing orbs of onyx fire at the Dryad. Autumn¡¯s champion was forced to abandon its attack on Skye and switch focus to the new attacker. Judging by his sudden and puissant appearance, Mr. Ink could surely hold his own against the Dryad despite its strength. The rest who had come to help turned on the dragons. General Polaris, meanwhile, paid no mind to the chaos that had erupted around them. His burning gaze was fixed on Autumn, and he raced after her again. A brief, heated exchange followed that sent them both reeling into the clouds. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t make out anything else. Occasionally a thunderous blast would echo from beyond the cloud cover, or a flash of light. Countless snapped and severed vines tumbled from the heavens like some sort of nightmare rain. From below onlookers could see clouds being pushed around or blasted apart from the force of Skye¡¯s punches. Above the swaying canopy of trees, their epic confrontation continued for another half an hour. Both Autumn¡¯s mental fortitude and Skye¡¯s unadulterated force were breathtaking to behold. The General was a man nearing eighty, and Autumn had literally just returned to life. Neither were at peak condition, and yet their clash could only be described as titanic. As for who would emerge victorious, neither answer was a good one. Cloudhawk felt deep gratitude for the old man, because it was he who took the wastelander in all those years ago in Skycloud. And though Autumn wasn¡¯t the same Autumn he once knew, Cloudhawk knew that some small part of her was still in there. It was hopeless and impossible, but he thought that maybe one day that girl might came back somehow. If Skye killed the Shepherd, then everything would be lost. At last, the sounds of fighting ceased. Both warriors fell back to toward the ground. Skye and Autumn stopped in midair, about a hundred meters from one another and got their bearings. The General remained unharmed, and in fact his body hummed with a steely aura. His hands were raised to prepare for the next punch. Likewise, Autumn showed no damage and floated in the sky with a lofty majesty. The old warrior¡¯s face was etched with frown lines. ¡°What the hell are you?¡± Autumn¡¯s reply was calm but callous. ¡°I am leader of the Woodland people, Autumn Draper!¡± Leader of the Woodland people? It could hardly be that simple! They looked at one another with the full knowledge that the only way to determine who would win this fight was if the other one died. Skye¡¯s mission to eradicate the Conclave was not yet over, and he had a family to support. Although it was a struggle against every part of his being, with his prestige and position he couldn¡¯t give in to the urge and put everything aside for a good fight. Autumn, too, was not eager to meet her end. Not while she hadn¡¯t even fully regained her power. Her newfound freedom had been hard to gain, and she was loathe to let go of it. Neither side came at this conflict with the intention of dying. For the time being, their challenge was doomed to a draw. Cloudhawk surprised himself with a relieved sigh he didn¡¯t know he was holding. An anticlimactic end, to be sure, but the best case scenario. 1. Oh, is that so¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 43 - Collaboration ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve found someone who can go blow for blow!¡± Energy wafted around the general like steam. It caused the air around him to grow hot and shimmer. Despite their extended contest he didn¡¯t appear at all weaker. ¡°You¡¯re strong. If you were to join with Skycloud, then I ¨C Skye Polaris ¨C would personally make sure you were safe. I would be protector and representative for the needs of you and your people.¡± Autumn¡¯s gaze turned even colder. Skycloud was a land created by the gods, a group Autumn was once an important member of. How foolish for this mortal to presume she needed or would accept capitulating with his demands. Autumn blew into her flute, once again summoning a surge of psychic power. As it swelled to encase the area, her power coalesced, gathering strength. Very quickly it became obvious that when she let it go, it would be a danger to everyone nearby. Skye scowled. While he didn¡¯t have the sort of mental abilities Autumn had, it wasn¡¯t difficult for his keen senses to deduce what she was planning. If she couldn¡¯t deal with Skye, then she would hurt him by targeting those on his side. This forced him to hold back, for fear that she would retaliate against his granddaughter and the other Elysians. Her aggressive posture obvious, Skye wasted no further time with talk. IT was obvious to him that Autumn would not bend the knee. ¡°Mr. Ink, we withdraw!¡± The leader of Woodland Vale was far stronger than he¡¯d anticipated. Although she had a clear weakness, they were on her turf and she had an army of dragons. Skye put his odds of victory at sixty percent, but it would be a fight to the death. Yet beyond the danger to himself, the more pressing concern was his allies in the surrounding forests. It was more than likely that, in the course of their lethal battle, those under his command would suffer. Skye wasn¡¯t going to let that happen. General Polaris was the commander of Skycloud¡¯ds expeditionary force. For now, their main enemy was the Crimson One. Ultimately, Woodland Vale was a third party, and not worth the consequences of an all-out war like this. He was sure the Crimson One would like nothing more than for the Vale and Skycloud to beat each other bloody. Their involvement had prevented the Vale from coming under the Conclave¡¯s control. It was impossible to tell where the chips would fall in the future, but the only option now would be to report what happened here to the rest of Skycloud¡¯s leaders and formulate a plan. Something would be done when they had more information and input. Dawn was irritated by this anti-climactic end, but it was clear her grandfather had made up his mind. ¡°Dawn, go with Mr. Ink and leave this place.¡± Without waiting for her protests he shot up into the air. In a handful of seconds he was going five times the speed of sound. His powerful feet kept kicking the air, pushing him further and faster and causing compressed air to boom dully in his passage. Onlookers couldn¡¯t follow his incredible speed, only the bursts of energy left from his footfalls. He was after the Conclave. Those worms had to be trampled before they could flee. Dawn openly scoffed at the order to retreat. Selene also had no intention to leave before she found Cloudhawk. However before they could formulate their next move, a small group rushed into the clearing created by Sky¡¯s battle. It was none other than Claudia and the others of Cloudhawk¡¯s party. They were quickly pressed for news on Cloudhawk and was told he was safe ¨C at least for the moment. Only then did they agree to fall back. A hint of exhaustion was beginning to show at the corner of Autumn¡¯s eyes. Human bodies were too weak. Had she possessed her former body the likes of Skye Polaris would never have been a threat. He was an impressive specimen, but even still could not compare with the legendary demonhunters of old. *** Woodland Vale, Godtree, Midbough. This was the center of Woodland Vale, a city among the Godtree¡¯s branches. Homes were patched together among the boughs or fashioned out of holes in its trunk. Some were like birds nests, composed of mismatched materials and almost precariously thrown together among the leaves. The Valites were a people who lived their lives entirely by the bounty of the Godtree. Midbough¡¯s populace was all aflutter Men, woman, children, old, young ¨C they all came out of their homes and threw themselves prostrate on the bark before Autumn. She had changed into a different robe of green, and her hair had been freed from the two braids she usually kept them in to flow freely down her back. A crown of woven grass and flowers adorned her brow, and her hand lightly cradled a long wooden staff. She was being carried among the people on a litter born by eight strong tribesmen. ¡°Matriarch!¡± ¡°Chieftess!¡± People called out to her as she passed, for it was clear that the Autumn they knew had become something greater. She had received the Shepherd¡¯s inheritance, and had become strong. The ancient protectors of their people ¨C the Dryad and the dragon king ¨C obeyed her commands. With the help of over six hundred mature dragons, their land was an impregnable fortress, safe from outside aggression. Work had begun on an altar. It had been at Autumn¡¯s command, though no one knew the reason. The Vale¡¯s new matriarch send out parties to find Cloudhawk, but despite combing the forests there was no sign of him. It appeared he was gone. Had he truly abandoned his rightful inheritance? Without even a second thought? The young human¡¯s mind was an enigma to the Shepherd, but it was no longer a concern of hers. She had other troubles, for it was becoming more evident that the spirit of the girl she¡¯d possessed wasn¡¯t destroyed. On the contrary, her frail presence in the back of the god¡¯s mind was becoming more active. The Shepherd found this¡­ troublesome. After all, a mountain could not have more than one tiger. The same applied to one body. A thousand years ago the Shepherd had planted the seed of this tribe among the boughs of the Godtree. It was deliberate, for eventually she knew one would become her new vessel. In all the time she was locked away her consciousness had watched, guiding and manipulating the humans through the Godtree. It was Autumn that turned out most perfect, a magnificent work of art guided by Shepherd¡¯s hands. Because of this she was born capable of resonating with Shepherd¡¯s flute. Without any means of training she possessed impressive mental fortitude. Yet once Shepherd took her body for herself, this proved to be a problem. It was unexpected that the girls¡¯ will would remain even after her physical body was dominated. No matter. She was a mere mortal, in the end. What threat did she pose to a god? Shepherd was confident the rebellious little soul would be suppressed in short order. One of her scouts scurried along the wide branches toward her, breathlessly giving his report. ¡°Matriarch, bad news. Another group of invaders has arrived!¡± What? The border to their Vale had been closed, how could someone have gotten in? Autumn realized there was only one possibility. Someone had found a breach. A thousand years ago it had taken the Shepherd an enormous amount of energy, life essence and a legendary relic to create Woodland Vale. As part of that process she separated it from the rest of the war-torn world. But there were limits to even what a god could do. Her beautiful creation and its protections were not perfect. There were¡­ loopholes in the Vale¡¯s defenses, though they were secret and hard to stumble upon. Most would never discover them, for it required a working knowledge of the powers that kept them hidden. Autumn was still trying to puzzle out who it could be when a dervish of sand and grit blew into view. Countless grains of sand rasped as they blew in front between the leaves and branches. A detestable look gathered in Autumn¡¯s eyes when she realized. It was a sort of innate loathing that was bred into her very soul. Gods and demons, eternal enemies. Polar opposites that would never live in harmony. Shepherd was different once becoming Autumn, but this bone-deep hatred which had existed for centuries would not be so easily dispelled. A demon! What was a demon doing in her domain? Was it because of the Cuirass? It was supposed to be a secret, one that even the inner circles of the demonkin themselves did not know about. If they had, Woodland Vale would have been overrun by the fiends long ago, so why would they choose today? The sands slowly gathered together in front of her. Autumn blew a quick note on her flute which gathered energy together around her. A shell of force appeared that kept the sand from getting too close. She needn¡¯t fear, for the sands coalesced into a twisted black form three meters adjacent to her. Two burning red orbs served as eyes, and in their depths was a look of curiosity with a note of surprise. Gnarled hands gripped tight to an ancient tome. God and demon stared at one another for a moment. ¡°The Shepherd, one of the Six Supremes whose name was sung even amongst the peaks of Sumeru. That is¡­ until you were defeated by my king a thousand years ago, and for reasons unknown rebelled against your fellow gods. Forsaking your place among the divines, you chose the life of a pariah and built this place, ultimately to die in the wastelands.¡± Abaddon¡¯s unsettling, raspy voice slithered through the air between them. ¡°No one expected that the dignified Shepherd should escape oblivion through cunning schemes. I wonder, how do you think the God King would react if he learned the truth?¡± A burning, murderous hatred darkened Autumn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Have you come seeking death, worthless beast?¡± Nearly all of the mightiest demons were slain during the Great War, and Shepherd knew those that remained. She was unfamiliar with this one, which meant it was not a part of the battle ¨C in other words, no demon of consequence. A grating laugh rumbled from the Caliph¡¯s throat. ¡°I came to be after your war was finished, so it is no surprise you are unfamiliar with me. Unless I am badly mistaken, Shepherd, your condition upon rebirth is not suitable for open conflict. This is where I enter in to the story, for we are in ¨C as they say ¨C in a position to provide mutual aid¡­ or mutual destruction.¡± Shepherd was uncomfortably aware that any misstep would be quickly exploited by this crafty demon. Her greatest fear was that the other gods would know she returned before her power was wholly recovered. After all, she was the only god in history to turn away from her own people. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Collaboration.¡± ¡°You think I would debase myself by helping a demon? ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be the first time. But if you insist on refusing to show me respect, perhaps at least you might show the ancient one some civility.¡± Autumn watched as two more figures emerged from the lazily dancing sands around Abaddon. The first was a man whose one eye was covered by a strip of cloth. The other was a fiery and enchanting woman. They were the leaders of the Dark Atom, Wolfblade and Hellflower. Not long ago Cloudhawk puzzled over why the Dark Atom had not been involved in the efforts to take Woodland Vale. He suspected they¡¯d been waiting in the rafters, and would attack when the other parties were at their weakest. A delayed entrance until all unworthy players had left the stage. Autumn¡¯s eyes fell immediately upon Wolfblade, and for a long time the two stared at one another. Eventually, she let her vigilance and protection wane. The look of revulsion in her face turned to fear. ¡°You still live!¡± ¡°I thought we were old friends. Your words wound me, Shepherd.¡± Indeed, Wolfblade¡¯s tranquil bearing was like that of an old friend who hadn¡¯t come to visit in a long while. His movements and carriage were relaxed, almost flippant. ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°Still sealed.¡± Autumn¡¯s responses were unconcerned. ¡°He refused to accept the bequest.¡± ¡°What an interesting young man. But this was expected.¡± Wolfblade smiled, as though he knew all that had transpired. ¡°He is not yet mature enough. It¡¯s no matter, he will accept eventually.¡± Abaddon interjected. ¡°Are we ready to discuss our cooperation?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Autumn replied. ¡°We require eboncrys. A lot of eboncrys.¡± This came from the woman, whose voice had an alluring sort of magnetism. Autumn looked at the woman¡¯s hands, for something green sparkled in her lithe fingers. It was a dragon¡¯s scales. ¡°These scales are also very valuable. Made into armor, it would defend well against a demonhunter¡¯s attacks. I should like to negotiate for a sizable order.¡± It was as Hellflower said, these dragon scales were special. Normal demonhunter attacks were ineffective against them, and if the Dark Atom¡¯s soldiers were equipped with them they would be well-protected. No one needed to explain how beneficial this would be in an all-out war. Her request made a lot of sense. The dragon scales were harder and more tenacious than steel alloy. If Woodland Vale provided the Dark Atom with eboncrys and scales, it would be an injection of incredible proportions to the organization and the wastelands as a whole. Autumn looked among them. ¡°Is that all?¡± From Hellflower¡¯s eyes flashed a brief look of mania. ¡°I would also like to get my hands on some divine technology.¡± ¡°You have a healthy appetite,¡± Autumn mused with some disdain. ¡°What do I get in exchange?¡± ¡°You should be familiar with what I¡¯m capable of.¡± Wolfblade fixed Autumn with his one good eye. ¡°I can provide you with whatever you wish. For example¡­ help with that trifling voice in the back of your mind.¡± A secret agreement between the Dark Atom and Woodland Vale. The Conclave of Judgment had spent much in their attempts to win the Vale for themselves, only to leave empty handed. Adder had lost his life in the mausoleum beneath this enormous tree. Cloudhawk and the Elysian forces fought tooth and nail, but for naught. In the end, it was the Dark Atom which skulked in and got what they wanted without ever having to lift a finger. Perhaps¡­ Perhaps that was part of the plan all along. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 44 - Adder's Final Reques Skycloud was in a state of upheaval. The wastelands had also begun to change. Its barren expanse was showing signs of life, and from time to time rainstorms would sprinkle the long-parched soil. Sprouts of green began to peak from dirt for the first time in centuries. Two hundred kilometers to the west of Woodland Vale was a small settlement nestled among the valleys at the foot of a mountain range. It would have gone unnoticed if not for Oddball¡¯s high vantage and sharp eyes. Cloudhawk and Azura trudged through the simple pathways to a humble inn. Oddball alighted on his shoulder and twittered excitedly, to which Cloudhawk responded by fishing out a small fruit as a reward. Eboncrys fruit varied in size, from roughly the diameter of a man¡¯s fist to as large as a barrel. Cloudhawk had pinched some from the Vale on their way out. After all, it was what Autumn had promised him. He just took a little more than was agreed upon. As interest. Considering how much of it grew all over the Godtree what he took wouldn¡¯t be missed. But out in the rest of the wastelands he was sitting on a small fortune. Oddball hopped around the piece of eboncrys fruit elatedly then threw its pudgy yellow body forward. Peck peck, peck peck! Tiny, bird-sized bites worked away at the husk of the fruit and a thick ooze began to leak forth. Energy flowed through the viscous stuff in high density. IT was in fact this fluid, when collected and refined, that create ultra pure eboncrys crystals. Oddball lapped noisily at it as the liquid emerged. Cloudhawk was saddled with the unavoidable and expensive cost of raising this little thing. He hoped Oddball would grow soon into the sort of divine beast he¡¯d seen in Woodland Vale and the Temple. Would be as strong as Anima or the crystal dragon? Right now the little thing could hardly take care of itself. Oddball seemed to pick up on Cloudhawk¡¯s displeasure. Lifting it¡¯s pudgy head it let out a series of squawks, turned its back on him, and tucked into the fruit. Whatever. Cloudhawk thought about the old drunk and where the others could have gone. He guessed it didn¡¯t matter right now, not as much as a nice drink of water. Their journey across the stirring desert hadn¡¯t been easy. He and Azura had gone through all the water he¡¯d had stored, and in fact he hadn¡¯t had a drop for nearly a week. His little disciple wasn¡¯t going to last much longer at this rate, so water had to be their first priority. Thankfully the climate had started to change, and water was easier to come by. This region had seen some rainfall recently, and a clear river had carved a path down the nearby mountains to run through the settlement. Its bounty was currently controlled and dolled out by the settlement¡¯s leader. Cloudhawk traded several Elysian weapons for two large canteens. He was about to bring the water back to Azura when his whole body went stiff. An urgent warning came through the connection between him and Oddball. Cloudhawk rushed back to the inn they were staying at, inwardly cursing this ill sensation. He pushed open the door to find eboncrys fruit scattered on the ground, but nothing else. So quick¡­ someone had grabbed Azura? Oddball was following the offenders, so Cloudhawk let the little bird¡¯s vision guide him. They¡¯d just left and where still nearby. Who would have the gall, the titanic fucking stones to kidnap one of mine? Cloudhawk used his phase stone to teleport toward the Azura¡¯s captors. He flashed into existence before a group clad in black. None of them moved or reacted to his sudden appearance. Their leader was unmasked, revealing a pretty and imposing face. Long black hair hung passed her shoulders. She was beautiful, but there were signs of exhaustion in the lines on her face. In her hand was a long blade pressed against Azura¡¯s face. All it would take was a jerk of her arm to separate the small girl¡¯s head from her body. Cloudhawk was floored when he realized who it was. ¡°Asha¡­ is that you?¡± When he spoke the words Luciasha pushed out from the crowd. She was thinner than before, and her eyes were strangely void of emotion like she¡¯d lost something. When Cloudhawk looked into those eyes he saw something puzzling and unfamiliar. He frowned. ¡°The Asha I knew wouldn¡¯t be threatening a young child.¡± ¡°And the Cloudhawk I knew wouldn¡¯t murder a good man.¡± Her attention was fixed on him, with a look that cut Cloudhawk deep. Her voice cracked with emotion. ¡°Where is my foster father?¡± She tried to keep a hard facade, but the tone in her voice and the look on her face was pleading. She was clinging to the desperate and unreasonable hope that Adder still lived. Cloudhawk was quiet for a time. Eventually he sighed. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Everyone guessed that had to be the case, but hearing it from his lips struck them like a tidal wave. A man like Adder, killed by someone like Cloudhawk? Revenant¡¯s eyes were like stagnant pools, but when Adder¡¯s death was confirmed they dimmed even further. Like the last light of hope in her world had gone out. Looking at her, one could almost see that she¡¯d lost her spirit, leaving only a husk behind. Impossible¡­. Impossible. He promised, and he never goes back on his word. How could this child have killed him?! If what he said was true, then she swore to make Cloudhawk suffer whatever the cost. Her hand tightened around the blade, ready to move. Azura¡¯s face was pale as she felt the lethal determination wash over her. She fought back the tears that were gathering at the corner of her eyes, biting her lip so that her whimpers couldn¡¯t escape. She was just a child, but she knew that right now her teacher was more helpeless than she was. ¡°Asha, what are you doing!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s fists were balled tight but he didn¡¯t move. ¡°This is the child you saved! Are you really going to stand there and watch her be murdered? She¡¯s innocent!¡± ¡°What terrible things did my father do?! What right did you have to kill him!¡± For the first time Cloudhawk heard anger in Luciasha¡¯s voice. It was a depth of fury he never thought he¡¯d hear from such a frail and gentle thing. ¡°You could have just left! Why did you have to kill him?!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to explain it to her. Their fight was ostensibly over the future of Woodland Vale, but really it was about Asha¡¯s safety. Adder had made himself enemy number one to Skycloud. With so many powerful people in Skycloud looking for his head, he was doomed to die sooner rather than later. His fate was sealed the second that bomb went off. Cloudhawk¡¯s worst fear was that the consequences of his actions would fall on Asha¡¯s shoulders. But would she understand? No, she couldn¡¯t understand. If Adder¡¯s death ruined the beautiful girl Cloudhawk had saved from Lighthouse Point, then he was the architect of his worst fears. He wouldn¡¯t forgive himself. ¡°Don¡¯t! I have something Adder wanted me to give to you.¡± He fished a small cracked gemstone from his pockets. It was all that was left of Adder, and Cloudhawk had promised to deliver it to Revenant and Asha. When Revenant saw what it was she froze. Luciasha stumbled forward in a daze, stretched out her hand, and took it. The moment her fingers touched the cracked surface the relic began to glow. The gem turned into a mirror. Reflected therein was a figure everyone was familiar with. He was tall, and stalwart. A heavy cloak was wrapped around his frame, covering everything but his chiseled features. Scars traced a path across one eye. The figure stepped out from the mirror world and into theirs. Everyone stared in awe. What was going on? Adder was alive? Luciasha wanted to throw herself into Adder¡¯s arms and sob, to vent the joy of realizing her loss was imagined. But when she tried to wrap her arms around his body they passed right through. She stumbled through his strong chest and fell to her knees. Cloudhawk looked at the man and soon realized it wasn¡¯t Adder. The real Adder was dead and gone, smashed to pieces by Cloudhawk¡¯s own hand. This was just his reflection. This shadow of the man had no physical form. It was merely a fragment of his psyche, left behind. ¡°If you are seeing this, it means I am dead. I am confident that Cloudhawk will uphold his promise and deliver my final words to you.¡± Adder¡¯s reflection smiled warmly to Luciasha, like he was really there. ¡°Asha, why are you crying? Don¡¯t fret over my loss. Death comes for us all, and sometimes it may crush us like a mountain or pass as a light breeze. Now that I have passed, my vain pride comes is using this diseased and disabled body to begin a new chapter in the story of this chaotic world we live in. But my greatest honor was being your father, and in having that opportunity I die without regret. I hope you remember all that I have told you, and remember that while you can leave a life of frailty you must never be weak!¡± Luciasha couldn¡¯t speak, her words would only come out as sobs. Adder¡¯s face took on a conflicted expression. ¡°Revenant, are you here? I came back, just as I promised.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯m right here.¡± Revenant¡¯s hard eyes were moist. ¡°Why don¡¯t you look at me? You never could just look at me.¡± He turned, and somehow from beyond the grave honored her request. His dark eyes looked deeply into her own. ¡°I have never done anything contrary to my beliefs. But with you¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I was especially cruel. I¡¯m sorry I forced you to suffer a pain so difficult to bear. Of all people in the world you were the one who understood me best, and I understood you just the same. There is no way I can repay everything you¡¯ve done for me.¡± Thud. Revenant¡¯s dagger slipped from her grasp and hit the ground. ¡°I never wanted anything in return!¡± She answered. ¡°I understand everything. You only ever wanted an answer to a question you asked many times, in many ways. I must beg forgiveness for every time I failed to respond. The road I was fated to walk was a dark one, one without redemption. It wasn¡¯t something I wanted for you. Now, at last, I can answer. These words have been a weight on my heart for many, many years. Adder¡¯s voice bore a sense of warmth and affection it never had before. ¡°At last I can put down my burden, and say that I have always loved you just as you have loved me.¡± His iron features melted in an expression of unrequited longing. ¡°I often cursed the fact that you and I were not born as normal folk. I would have chased after you like a madman, and all of my effort would have been put toward giving you an ordinary but happy life. You are the one person I must apologize to. I deeply hope that you and Luciasha do not let hatred consume you. Remember that this end was precisely the death I was meant for.¡± As quickly as that affection had come across his features it was gone, replaced with the calm expression that was his norm. ¡°Revenant, promise me you¡¯ll stop. Give it all up. Do not seek vengeance for there is no purpose in it. I need you to take care of Luciasha for me.¡± Revenant closed her eyes. Two lonely tears rolled down her cheeks. She said nothing. ¡°Cloudhawk.¡± Adder¡¯s voice changed, and he knew that the man who¡¯d killed him was also watching. ¡°I want you to know that our fight was the most enjoyable contest I¡¯ve had in my life. You are a mighty and noble opponent, and I thank you for giving me a worthy end.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to respond. ¡°You still don¡¯t understand? You and I are much the same, actually.¡± There was no enmity in Adder¡¯s gaze as he looked at his killer, only relief and a note of uncertainty. ¡°I sensed it in the final moments of our battle.¡± ¡°I felt a passion for struggle that pumped through your veins! A yearning for conflict in your bones! And the light of heroism in your soul.¡± ¡°Your heart, your dreams, your wisdom, your nature ¨C everything that you are is perfectly suited for our times. Cloudhawk, you truly are one of a kind. You¡¯re too young to see it, but I know that in time you will understand and join our cause. It is your fate to take the torch, and carry our glory farther than any of our predecessors.¡± ¡°You and I are both willing to give our lives for what we believe in rather than give it up. You would wade through a sea of fire without hesitation, and brave the scalding heat without regret. It is a sign of the sort of person you are, and the purpose for which you were born.¡± ¡°People like you and never fade away into old age and obscurity. We could never suffer the humiliation of being trapped, day after day. You and I, we never accept, and never yield, for if we did we would be giving up the essence of who we are! Without all of this, our lives would be like quicksand, our bodies like withered grass. The world would lose all color, and our years would be spent like walking corpses. It is my great hope that you will realize this soon. You can¡¯t remain lost, you must dare to soar!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a hawk. You must battle the storm, challenge the thunder, and churn the clouds. Use your wings to carve your mark on heaven and earth. Shatter the darkness, bring light to a new age. Bring honor to those of us who have spilled blood to blaze a trail!¡± Cloudhawk was stunned that Adder held him in such high regard. He watched as the reflection began to grow dim. Time was running out. Adder offered one last smile, calm and easy. There were no regrets as the final vestige of Zephyr Cloude vanished from the world. The mirror gem grew dark, and cracked into pieces with a sense of finality. ¡°Here my life ends, without lament. Though my body fails my light shines on.¡± ¡°Farewell.¡± Luciasha hardly had the strength to sit up. Revenant stood in silence, her eyes glistening with tears. Gradually the light came back to her eyes and she stooped down to help Luciasha to her feet. The two left, never turning back, leaving Cloudhawk to stare at the fragments of crystal littering the ground. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 45 - A Distant Figure Cloudhawk stooped and picked up the dull pieces of crystal from the dirt. Azura stood by his side with a belly full of questions, but did not give voice to any of them. These people and their relationship was too complicated for her young mind to comprehend. Cloudhawk and Adder obvious respected one another, so why did they have to fight? Cloudhawk obviously cared a lot for Luciasha, so why did they treat each other like strangers? She¡¯d experienced so much on her journey, so much of which she didn¡¯t understand. So many vivid figures who were strong and brave and persistent and remarkable¡­ but so much of them was a mystery. Azura could only commit them to memory, and let the years to come give her the answers. Her gaze was on Cloudhawk, who she knew was struggling with what happened. Adder¡¯s words had struck something in her teacher, as did Asha leaving without saying a thing. Still, he managed to squeeze out a gentle smile her way. ¡°What are you thinking about, you little punk.¡± ¡°How can you still smile?¡± ¡°You think I should cry?¡± Azura thought for a moment. ¡°I guess smiling is better.¡± ¡°All that from Adder was just wishful thinking.¡± Cloudhawk ruffled the little girl¡¯s dirty hair. ¡°I¡¯m not the sort of person to go too crazy like that. It¡¯s a pity, though. He had the potential to shine much brighter.¡± ¡°What are we going to do now?¡± Azura asked. Cloudhawk put the ghost mask over his grinning face. When he answered his voice was coarse and guttural. ¡°Keep up!¡± *** Revenant led Luciasha and the remainder of Adder¡¯s men northward for several days. Strangely, every time they were running out of water they discovered that someone had left canteens by the side of the road full of clean, fresh water. Whenever they came upon a group of monsters, they would discover them slaughtered before anyone had to draw a weapon. Even a fool could recognize that they were being watched over on their path. But who? It didn¡¯t take much to guess. Several times Revenant wanted to seek him out, but she didn¡¯t have the skills to do so. She also tried quickening their movements to leave him behind but never could manage. Every time she lifted her head she saw a tiny yellow speck flitting overhead. After a while she came to accept it. What was Cloudhawk doing? Was this his way of trying to ease his guilt? Was he secretly making the way easier for Asha? It didn¡¯t matter, she wasn¡¯t strong enough to face Cloudhawk face to face anyway. After all, Adder had died at his hand. Let him follow, then. She was curious how long he¡¯d stick around. Luciasha also knew, for their trek would not have been this easy without the help of someone strong like Cloudhawk. She didn¡¯t know how to process all that had happened. Did she hate Cloudhawk? She did, and she didn¡¯t. Luciasha didn¡¯t have an answer. What right did she have to hate him? Cloudhawk had saved her from a brutal death in the wastes. Without him her body would be rotting in the burnt remains of Lighthouse Point with Coppertooth and all the others. But it was also true that two of the most important people she knew in life were dead because of Cloudhawk. She remembered Coppertooth hanging from the lighthouse. She didn¡¯t even know where Adder¡¯s body was. Coppertooth¡¯s death was indirect, though. Perhaps Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t to blame. But Adder? He¡¯d been such a good man, with great dreams! After three years Luciasha had come to feel deeply for the bar owner, her foster father. He¡¯d treated her like his own daughter. She still couldn¡¯t accept he was gone forever, and that the one who killed him was the man she saw as a brother. They passed another group of mutant corpses. A dozen or so, one at least ten meters long. Against monsters like this they¡¯d have lost a few of their crew, even fleeing. Even Cloudhawk likely had to struggle to clear it from their path. The vast, empty wasteland stretched out around them in all directions. Nothing, no trace. Where was he? Was he hiding in some dark corner, watching her now? Was he hurt? Luciasha couldn¡¯t help the tears from gathering at the corner of her eyes. Why was he being so stupid! How long was he going to keep this up? Dusk fell. They came upon an oasis just as the final rays of sunlight were fading on the horizon. It was no more than a couple hundred meters from one end to the other, and in the center was a crescent shaped spring. A few fruit trees cropped up sporadically by its banks, and they discovered that someone had already built a roughshod fence around the place. It was small, and out of the way, but this small settlement still had all the fixings. There were a couple hundred people living around the oasis, and although remote they still had a small inn for the occasional visitor. The shabby lodgings had a brazier in the center next to which sat a lame and tumor-laden proprietor. He heard them approach, and lifted his head to greet them with a glint in his eye. He was pleased to find that the two women were free of tumors or other scars of the wasteland. Their skin was soft and white, their bodies toned. A rare sight indeed! Revenant scowled. There was a flash of cold light, and a dagger appeared buried an inch in the wood of the counter. The innkeep felt a tremble run through his body. He hadn¡¯t realized she was a fighter, so he gave her an apologetic look before shouting angrily over his shoulder. ¡°Shitheel, get your ass out here! We have visitors!¡± The one called Shitheel came when summoned. He didn¡¯t look at all like his name implied. His whole body was covered in dark red tattoos, and his hair was a crop of stiff red spikes. He had a tough face and was blind in one eye, and the second he walked over the place filled with his presence. However, his temperament was completely out of sorts with his appearance. He was timid, almost cowardly, like a mouse surrounded by hungry cats. He looked around in a perpetual state of fear and even his knees shook. Luciasha frowned at Revenant. ¡°Those look like Highwaymen tattoos. Is he one of them?¡± Revenant shook her head to reveal she didn¡¯t know. They were definitely the Highwaymen¡¯s style, but he didn¡¯t have the temperament of a thug. The Highwaymen were Squall¡¯s men at arms! It didn¡¯t matter, he was a wretch and below Revenant¡¯s notice. The one-eyed brute fearfully looked at them and stammered. ¡°P-please s-...s-sit.¡± They obliged, arranging themselves around a shoddy table. A plate of roasted lizard was provided for them to supp on. ¡°Wait!¡± Revenant took up a piece of meat and sniffed at it. Once she was sure it was safe, she nodded to the others. ¡°Tuck in.¡± After walking all day everyone was famished. They immediately began stuffing their mouths. Luciasha raised her head long enough to realize that the innkeeper had disappeared. The one he called Shitheel was hiding behind a nearby column. He recoiled when she saw him, but his one good eye was wide and pleading. ¡°Leave¡­ go!¡± He whispered. Luciasha immediately turned to Revenant. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right.¡± The second she said it, it felt like the world started spinning. A second later she was unconscious. Revenant¡¯s face darkened to a thunderhead. She¡¯d checked the food, there wasn¡¯t any poison in it. Besides they were a careful group, and there was always going to be someone who doesn¡¯t eat right away to make sure everything was fine. But even the ones who hadn¡¯t eaten yet were beginning to slip into unconsciousness. It wasn¡¯t the food! Then what? It took her a second before she realized ¨C the brazier! There were pieces of coal smoldering in the fire. They must have added something, some sort of drug that had no color or smell. By the time they realized something was amiss it was too late. All of a sudden the door burst open and a dozen burly men entered bearing weapons. Lascivious grins were plastered on their twisted faces. The one-eyed man who¡¯d tried to warn them cowered in a corner, but that didn¡¯t stop several of the men from pelting him with punches and kicks. They cursed at him and spit while doing so. Eventually they grew tired of their abuse, and dark eyes turned on the two women. No effort was made to hide the dark promise in their toothy smirks. Revenant stood up and went to draw her weapon, but found she couldn¡¯t keep her feet under her. She nearly stumbled into one of their attackers, who knocked her to the ground with a vicious backhand. ¡°I get this one first.¡± ¡°Fuck, have you ever seen women like this?¡± ¡°Better back the fuck up or I¡¯ll cut that little worm you call a dick right off!¡± Darkness came over Revenant, slowly closing in around the edges of her vision. The last thing she felt was someone turn her over and paw at her body like a pack of hungry wolves. An indeterminate amount of time passed. Revenant awakened to a splitting headache, but hurriedly snatched up her dagger which was still lying nearby. Her eyes darted around, discovering that the room was empty. In fact it was perfectly clean. Her clothes were still on and no other signs were visible that she¡¯d been violated. ¡°D-don¡¯t kill m-me! Don¡¯t k-kill m-me!¡± Shitheel was still huddled in a corner. She ignored him for the moment and went to check on the rest of her crew. When they were awake she sent several men outside to get a grip on the situation. Luciasha shook her head to dispel the effect of the drug. Strange, she remembered Shitheel trying to warn her before she passed out. She walked over him to try and figure out what happened. ¡°D-dead. All dead! A g-g-ghost, k-killed them a-a-all!¡± Shitheels words were practically incoherent between his sobs and stutters. His face was a frozen mask of fear and his crotch was wet. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Luciasha knelt down and tried to calm him. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°S-s-..S-Shit-h-heel.¡± ¡°No you aren¡¯t, what¡¯s your real name?¡± ¡°S-shitheel. I¡¯m a u-useless sh-sh-shitheel!¡± ¡°You must have a name, think. Can you tell me?¡± Shitheel ¡®s face went blank as he thought for a long time. He struggled, his face twisting and wincing until he managed to fight out a word. ¡°S-sprout.¡± The other members of their small crew returned and made their report. Every man in the settlement was dead, their corpses flung outside the makeshift fencing like garbage. All that remained were a handful of women and children who had been captured by this band of brigands. Before whatever tragedy befell them, this place was home to a small band of thugs. A cunning group, and even the likes of Revenant nearly succumbed to their tricks. She went out to check herself and discovered that they were now safe. Since there appeared to be no further threat in their vicinity, she decided they would remain here for a time. Luciasha decided that she would take responsibility for the inn now that it was in need of a proprietor. She took to calling their settlement ¡®Crescent Moon,¡¯ named for the small body of water at its heart. The young children came under her care. Finally she had come to possess the life of her dreams, protecting those in need. It was the best she could hope for. Luciasha also knew it only happened with Cloudhawk¡¯s help. Without him she would have died any number of times. On this particular day she sat outside, watching the rays of the morning sun dapple the peaks and valleys. She was struck by a powerful intuition that told her that Cloudhawk was nearby. All she had to do was call and Cloudhawk would be at her side. Maybe they could mend their relationship and have things be like it was before. But¡­ but maybe it was like trying to mend a broken mirror. She didn¡¯t call to him. Instead she held the memories close to her heart, and let time encase them like amber to be held inside for all eternity. They belonged to different worlds. All she could do was forever treasure those memories in the depths of her heart. As day broke and she looked out over the expanse, she saw a faint silhouette moving toward the horizon. The familiar, thin frame looked so lonely, caught on that thin line between heaven and earth. Lucaisha knew it was the last time she would ever see him. Cloudhawk would never return to Crescent Moon. Their shared story had come to an end. In a way it was plain, their relationship simple. It was a story that didn¡¯t finish neatly, on a complete sentence. All that was taken was not necessarily kept, and that which was discarded not wholly forgotten. In the years to come, these feelings would fade. It would become difficult to determine was was true and what was not. Theirs was a tale of two in a sea of millions. Small threads in a vast, complicated tapestry that were wound together for a while and then separated again, stretching off into the distant reaches of time. 1. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 46 - A Clean Break Cloudhawk trekked the broken streets back toward Sandbar Station. He hadn¡¯t won Woodland Vale to their side, but in killing Adder he at least prevented the Conclave from winning a powerful ally. He considered it a reasonable success. His success would be rewarded, and his reputation in the expeditionary force and Skycloud as a whole would grow. Titles were good ¨C he didn¡¯t have to like it, but he had to respect what they brought. Appropriate for when you needed to get things done. Maybe if he earned enough prestige in Skycloud, he could use his influence to protect the parts of the wasteland worth protecting. As he walked across the broken landscape, he thought back on the little sister he¡¯d just lost. The memories slipped by without a sense of loss or regret. He could understand. they were people from two different worlds. Their separation wasn¡¯t a bad thing. It was good that she¡¯d found a nice place like her little oasis. He was happy for her, truly. His only hope was that she could stay happy and safe far into old age. In helping her along that final journey, Cloudhawk had done everything he could, and now there was nothing left for him to do. No worries, no remorse, a clear conscience, and a clear mind. Azura admired her teacher for his carefree and direct attitude. A person like him had a particular aura that followed them around. Something caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention and he came to a stop. Eyes narrowed, he looked around in all directions. ¡°Hey, come out. No point in hiding.¡± Oh no! An ambush! Azura could feel the hairs rise on the back of her neck. A young man with his left arm wrapped in bandages came into view. His gaze was cold and strict, his face indifferent, his presence solemn. Something about him made people shift uncomfortably. Cloudhawk was once again struck by how different this man was from the care-free youth he¡¯d met years ago. Squall was wrapped in tattered armor. Streaks of blood covered his face and hair. An unsettling sense of carnage hung over him, like he¡¯d just stumbled out of a killing field. His black eyes didn¡¯t have the same shine that they used to. They were dark now, like pools of shadow. No more warmth lived in his hard face. His youthful elegance and charm had vanished with the march of time, giving way to a sharper and more angular cut. The wastes were silent, but for a gentle breeze kicking up dust and blurring their vision. Both men stood facing one another without saying a word. Strange, it felt to both of them like they had somehow traded places. A constant smoldering rage burned inside Squall, down into his bones like he was some kind of wild animal. How was that any different from Cloudhawk, during those hard months when he was fighting his way toward Skycloud? As for Cloudhawk, it was impossible to see his face beneath the mask but he stood casually with his arms crossed. He was at ease, muscles relaxed. He had begun to learn to face things calmly and not rely on hysterical anger to solve his problems. He¡¯d found that same carefree quality Squall had lost along the way. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t Squall, and his easy bearing wasn¡¯t naivete. He¡¯d lived the bitter, harsh, painful reality of the world they walked and learned to face it with tranquility. It was a sign of maturity. Nor was Squall the Cloudhawk of old. Even when he was drinking animal blood and hunting for grubs, Cloudhawk was a child of darkness yearning for light. He never let that darkness in. But Squall¡­ he¡¯d accepted it, let it become part of him until it devoured his soul. What lay beneath that increasingly powerful shell was a man wrapped in hatred, who wanted the world to know his vengeance. Pure loathing and burning rage was what fueled him. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was calm as the breeze. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Squall looked back at him, face dark. His left hand was curled into a fist and a tick caused his cheek to jerk. Veins in his neck pulsed like he was just barely containing his anger. ¡°Why did you kill Adder? Why would you do that to Asha? If you don¡¯t want to help the wastelands in this war, that¡¯s fine, but why throw your lot in with the Elysians?¡± ¡°This war is meaningless. The Conclave of Judgment will be destroyed eventually, and the whole wasteland will suffer because of their idiotic alliance. If I become important enough to the Elysians, then when it comes time to clean up I can protect those that deserve it. That¡¯s how I aim to stop a whole lot of people from dying.¡± It was a reason, but to Squall his logic was absurd. His already swollen left arm bulged further. Tendrils of black smoke seeped from between the bandages, and a grim aura hung over the area. It was unclear whether that sensation came from the power of his arm, or the depths of this man¡¯s blighted spirit. ¡°I don¡¯t know whether or not the Wastelands Alliance will succeed, but it¡¯s no question you¡¯ve just become another mongrel for those self-righteous killers.¡± Squall¡¯s eyes darkened further as the black mists spread. He was like a demon of rage wrapped in living shadow. ¡°So it has come time to cut you down!¡± Images from Oddball¡¯s point of view flashed through Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. Figures were closing in from all sides. Ravenous Tiger, Blackfiend, Three-Eyed Spider, Raven and others. They¡¯d been waiting here for him. This attempt on his life was premeditated. Cloudhawk knew that this confrontation would happen eventually, but he hadn¡¯t thought it would come so soon. He looked around. ¡°Kill me? You didn¡¯t bring enough men to get the job done.¡± If he couldn¡¯t fight them all, that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t run. There weren¡¯t many in the wastelands or Skycloud anymore who were a real danger to him. Three-Eyed Spider hobbled forward with a malicious grin. His third eye was open and its bloodshot orb was fixed on Cloudhawk. ¡°Don¡¯t be so self-confident. Your teleportation abilities are difficult to manage, but limited. You¡¯re also carrying a burden. Hundreds of kilometers of wasteland stretch in all directions. I wonder how long before you run out of energy?¡± The former lead scientist of the dark atom relied on technology for most of his abilities. Cloudhawk was unfamiliar with those old secrets, and who knew what tricks the old codger had hidden up his sleeves? His invisibility cloak had been damaged in the Vale, so if they gave chase it would be difficult for him to give them the slip even with his phase stone. Cloudhawk looked back at them with an expression of pity. ¡°Squall, you¡¯ve spent too much in pursuit of power and violence. Here I am, a friend, and you¡¯re ready to kill without question. You¡¯re letting the darkness eat at your humanity, and if you let it it¡¯ll drive you insane.¡± ¡°I went insane a long time ago! The moment they killed Old Thistle, from the moment I knew.¡± Squall¡¯s handsome face was twisted into a hellish expression of hatred. ¡°Who forced this on me? Who made me live this mad, cruel existence?!¡± Mist poured from Blackfiend¡¯s onyx body and seeped into Squall¡¯s left arm, while the bandages keeping it contained started to rip apart. The blood lust in the air was unmistakable. Conflict was certain. Words were never Cloudhawk¡¯s strong suit. Nothing he could say would turn Squall away from the dark path he¡¯d chosen. An exorcist staff slipped into his grip, and right away the power flooding through it caused it¡¯s head to spin. All at once Squall was on the move. He darted toward Cloudhawk faster than an arrow. In his right hand was an exorcist staff of his own spinning furiously. His left arm pulsed with deadly black energy. It was the same energy he¡¯d used to . As time passed, his control over this power, and the limits of it, had grown by leaps and bounds. Cloudhawk immediately teleported himself and Azura thirty meters away. Squall smashed into the ground where they¡¯d been causing the earth to visibly ripple like a lake surface. His attack was so violent that the entire area looked as though it¡¯d been instantly terraformed. Squall was hunched in the center of a crater after his shocking display. Before Squall recovered from his opening attack a stiff breeze caught him. He looked, pupils constricting, just in time to watch an exorcist rod catch him. Crack! He¡¯d managed bring his arm up in time. The two rods crackled for a moment before Squall was thrown a dozen meters across the field. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s hands were wrapped around his ax as he watched their exchange. Every passing second his scowl deepened. Squall¡¯s progress was incredible, almost frightening. His control over that power had also improved. Ravenous Tiger wasn¡¯t sure he would be able to take the young man on in a straight fight. It was a grim fact, for it meant his standing and influence in the Highwaymen would always be overshadowed. But it was Cloudhawk that really caught Ravenous Tiger by surprise. He remembered their first exchange. The guy had some ability then, but was passable at best. Somehow in the time that had passed he was like an entirely different person. When he¡¯d heard that it was Cloudhawk that killed Adder he didn¡¯t believe it, but now he could see it was true. The gulf between them was too great. Were it not for Squall¡¯s unique implanted relic enhancing his abilities, he wouldn¡¯t have survived a single blow from Cloudhawk. Even with the Hellion Arm, he was only just managing to fight back and was clearly at a disadvantage. Cloudhawk pressed the attack. One, two, three blows from the exorcist rod in quick succession. Each one forced Squall back. Cloudhawk continued to try and talk him down, even while they fought. ¡°Why do you have to be a fucking idiot and follow Adder¡¯s footsteps?! You think I won¡¯t kill you?¡± Squall deflected the onslaught with his left arm. It drank up the energy from Cloudhawk¡¯s relic like rain over a parched landscape. With a bestial roar he released all the energy contained within it, a punch that birthed a thunderous gale. It shattered Cloudhawk¡¯s exorcist rod like it was a rotten tree branch. A flash of silver slithered from Cloudhawk¡¯s sleeves as his twin swords emerged. Eight streaks of cold light followed almost right on top of one another as he counterattacked. Squall protected himself with the Hellion Arm and fought back with his exorcist rod, but he was outmatched. Even a master of close-combat like Eckard wouldn¡¯t have been able to deflect Cloudhawk¡¯s tireless assault. One caught him, digging into his body and cutting an angry red swath. ¡°Raven, deal with him!¡± Three-Eyed Spider shouted the order. Like a robot Raven responded to the command. His wrist folded back to reveal the barrel of a machine gun, and an instant later the battlefield was churning from a storm of lead. Outnumbered. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t an idiot. There was no point in fighting this uphill battle. His mind was churning out a plan of escape for Azura and himself when suddenly, there was a streak of light from overhead. Raven¡¯s mechanical hand was cut clean off. Another, this one forcing Ravenous Tiger to leap back or suffer the same fate. Cloudhawk caught a glimpse of a figure in pure white descend from the sky. Selene? What was she doing here? Everyone was familiar with the strength of Baldur¡¯s daughter. She as deadly a fighter as Adder had been, and with her father¡¯s relics even more terrifying. Faced with this new, formidable enemy Squall was forced to retreat. He wasn¡¯t willing to sacrifice half his people just to deal with Cloudhawk. Faced once again with a show of Selene¡¯s force, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help the faint trepidation that filled him. After all, it wasn¡¯t long ago that he killed her cousin. But it didn¡¯t seem like the former Bloodsoaked Queen blamed him. Beneath that mask of cool indifference what emerged was a look of genuine concern and relief. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 47 - Fireside Cha The night was clear, cloudless. Stars speckled the velvet black sky. Cloudhawk had just finished lighting a fire nestled in a pile of ruins. Azura was exhausted. She nibbled through half a loaf of bed before curling up against Cloudhawk¡¯s side and falling asleep. The poor girl had learned a lot of bitter lessons about the world from this journey, and there had to be at least twenty scrapes and bruises all over her. But in a display of her Tenacity she never once complained. Cloudhawk flung a few pieces of scrap wood into the fire. It crackled at him appreciatively. Selene sat across from him, half wrapped in shadow. Her eyes glimmered as they caught the light of the fire like twinkling stars. They never moved from Cloudhawk¡¯s face. That cold, aloof air she typically shielded herself with had thawed somewhat. ¡°I know I¡¯m more handsome than I used to be, but has no one ever taught you to only sneak brief peeks? Stop staring at me like that, you¡¯re creeping me out.¡± His flirtatious banter was especially amusing, knowing that Selene would have cut anyone other than Cloudhawk in half for trying it. She wasn¡¯t offended, though. She just kept staring at him. ¡°I was just thinking about how much time has passed. The obstinate scavenger I met all those years ago has matured.¡± ¡°Is that supposed to be an insult or compliment? Same could be said for you, right? You were gone for a long time, then turn up and join the Temple. Why?¡± He paused for a second with a lopsided smile. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. It has to be offensive to Governor Arcturus, since by working with the High Priest you weaken his influence.¡± It was a long story, and Selene wasn¡¯t sure where to start. She thought for a few seconds before answering. ¡°Do you know why Sterling killed my father?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t prepared for her to bring the topic up. After so long, her anger around the issue hadn¡¯t seemed to ease at all. She didn¡¯t wait for him to answer, it was a rhetorical question anyway. ¡°He was following orders. Arcturus¡¯ orders.¡± His hand twitched as he threw another stick onto the fire. He had already suspected something like that, but hearing it out loud still shook him. Skycloud¡¯s governor truly was a fierce and ruthless man. ¡°So you¡¯re not just after Sterling. You¡¯re after Arcturus as well.¡± ¡°The Crimson One was part of the plot against my father. However much he might regret it, the deed is done. I will never forgive him. As for Arcturus, it is clear he was the mastermind, and for better or worse there is no better schemer in all of Skycloud. I can guarantee it wasn¡¯t his first black act, and I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be his last. A person like him can¡¯t be allowed to lead our realm.¡± Selene had never spoken about this with anyone before. She knew that an accusation like this would cause a sensation. But she didn¡¯t keep her guard up around Cloudhawk, so it was natural ¨C almost subconscious ¨C when she shared her thoughts with him. ¡°Gods aren¡¯t the perfect mysterious beings humans think they are, but they did create a fertile place where hundreds of thousands of people could live in peace. No one can refute that. I joined the Temple for no other reason than to work against the Crimson One and Arcturus. It is the only organization with the power to help me do it.¡± The more she spoke, the more relief she felt. It¡¯d been a long time since she let it all out. From her words one could determine that there was a conflict between Arcturus and High Priest Ramiel. Ramiel wooing Selene to his side was of course an effort to aid him in his own ends. Selene knew she was being used, but she was willing. She had goals of her own. Cloudhawk looked back at her. The two just stared at each other for a second as the shadows of the firelight danced across their faces. Selene felt her heart beat quicken as she stared into those dark eyes. A strange feeling tickled at the back of her mind, like trying to put up any sort of defense was pointless. Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze seemed capable of peering right into her. ¡°Do you think you could give it up?¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Hate is a nasty thing. I don¡¯t want to lose another friend.¡± His words filled her with a sense of warmth and a smile teased at the corner of her lips. ¡°You¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll end up like Squall. Don¡¯t worry, you aren¡¯t the only person who¡¯s grown over the last four years. I¡¯m not the same foolish girl with a head full of vengeance. What I do now is not as simple as settling a debt.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot in this world we¡¯ll never be able to change. Part of life is learning to accept one¡¯s fate, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m not going to spend all my days trying to put the universe in order. Once this war is done, how about we find a quiet place and let the days pass in tranquility.¡± ¡°You¡¯re shameless.¡± Selene¡¯s cheeks were red as she chastised him. ¡°Have you looked in a mirror lately? Who¡¯d want to spend the rest of their life with you?¡± Cloudhawk had never seen her so flustered. It was infinitely amusing that this steadfast, powerful woman would act like a jittery little girl. It was so unexpected that for a moment he just gaped at her, but then recognized how she might have misunderstood. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m going to bed.¡± Selene didn¡¯t give him a chance to explain. She turned her back, and laid down facing away from the fire. A woman¡¯s heart is inscrutable, he thought. Especially a woman like her. Several minutes passed in silence. Cloudhawk thought she¡¯d gone to sleep, but then her voice met his ears, faint as the crackling embers. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Only after everything¡¯s finished.¡± Cloudhawk understood. He settled down as the fire started to wane. Though the two of them lay back to back across the fire pit, heart to heart there was an understanding. Selene Cloude was an imposing, ice-clad mountain, one designed to intimidate people not to draw near. Cloudhawk was the only one who could find a spot of warmth within that mountain. After all they¡¯d been through, all their shared experiences, and even the years they spent apart¡­ it all worked to erode at Selene¡¯s mighty protections. ¡°By the way, you and Adder¡­ Zephyr. What happened?¡± Selene had never spoken to him about Zephyr, except to impart warnings. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to pretend as though he hadn¡¯t killed his friend¡¯s cousin, so he had to ask. For a long time, silence was his answer. Eventually, her sad voice replied. ¡°We used to be what I imagine you and Luciasha once were. Like brother and sister.¡± Cloudhawk figured she hated Adder, and that¡¯s why she said nothing after he was dead. In fact it was quite the opposite, and Cloudhawk was surprised by just how close she claimed they¡¯d been. It was hard to imagine. If someone ¨C especially a friend ¨C killed the person he considered to be his sister, how could he react? How would that feel? He definitely wouldn¡¯t be as reserved as she was, no matter the reason. The gentle sounds of the dying fire took over once again. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what else to say. ¡°The moment he decided to become Adder was the moment he left everything that was Zephyr behind. You killed Adder, not my cousin. I¡¯m not upset. Zephyr has been gone for a long time.¡± He mulled over her words. What she said made sense. When a person changed like that, it was difficult, maybe impossible for them to go back to the way they were. It was just like what happened between him and Squall. After their last confrontation any relationship they once had was gone ¨C a full break. The next time they met it would have to be a fight to the death. And who could blame them? No one spoke further. Cloudhawk stared off into the darkness, thinking. If he helped Selene deal with Arcturus, and her mission was done, would she do what she said? Would the two of them find someplace nice and quiet and let the world forget them? He was suddenly filled with determination. Why not? It seemed like a good idea! But then on second thought, it was a really tall order. After all, how strong was Master Demonhunter Arcturus Cloude? He was the most feared person in all of Skycloud and universally accepted as the greatest demonhunter alive. The greatest in a hundred years, in fact. He was comparable to the legendary demonhunters that fought during the Great War. He was the sort of person who could easily defeat a War Saint in his prime, as well as an entire company of Templars. But he wasn¡¯t just an incredible warrior like General Skye. He was also methodical, brilliant, and capable as he showed in how he governed Skycloud. Great is the man whose vision extends far, that was a fair way to describe the Governor. Arcturus was a man who played things close to the vest, stayed low-key, and preferred not to make waves. But his presence was constant, like the water behind a dam, always rising until the moment the burst through the barrier. Cloudhawk wrestled with these thoughts for a time before sleep eventually took him. As dawn broke, he was awakened from his light rest. Selene was already on her feet, and leapt up onto the top of an eight-meter tall stack of ruins. What¡¯s going on? Cloudhawk scrambled up the ruins to join here. Both sets of eyes were cast far toward the horizon, to where lights could be seen flashing among the clouds. The boom of something like distant thunder reached their ears. The light was moving toward them like an enormous firefly. Cloudhawk stared in wonderment. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°The Skycloud armada. From the looks of it, it numbers several hundred ships.¡± Selene¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°The expeditionary force is on the move.¡± ¡°So the war¡¯s finally begun.¡± ¡°With this sort of formation, that¡¯s surely the case.¡± A fiery light shone in her gaze. ¡°Once both sides¡¯ main forces are engaged, that will be the best time to kill the Crimson One.¡± Selene wouldn¡¯t suffer a wasted moment. She decided it was time to depart. They traveled together until they met with the edge of the expeditionary force. Selene bade him farewell, and then disappeared into the distance. Cloudhawk knew she was off to hunt down the Crimson One, she just hadn¡¯t said anything so as not to put him in any danger or cause him to worry. After reconnecting with the army, Cloudhawk learned of the situation. Apparently, Skye Polaris failed to wipe out the Conclave¡¯s forces in Woodland Vale. Just as their General was preparing to strike down Wyrmsole, the Crimson One himself appeared. Skye Polaris and Sterling Cloude had fought a war out in the wastelands. Wounded as he was, the Crimson One was no match for Skye, but the mighty soldier was too quick in leaving the Vale. He didn¡¯t have enough men. Vastly outnumbered, he was forced to abandon his hunt. Nonetheless, the Crimson One and Skye Polaris still exchanged blows. The Crimson One in his weakened state was forced to retreat back to the Northern Barrens while Skye Polaris returned to his fleet. Upon returning, he called upon the full might of their armada. Now was the opportunity, and it was a chance he seized upon. War had come, and with luck they could wipe out the Crimson One and his followers in one fell swoop. Not all of the Elysian combat and supply ships were prepared, but an old veteran like General Skye knew not to pass up a chance to end a war before it started. It seemed Cloudhawk¡¯s actions in Woodland Vale had kicked off a conflict the likes of which the world hadn¡¯t seen for hundreds of years. 1. Did he just friend-zone her? 2. I-It¡¯s not like I like you or anything, Cloudhawk-chan! ! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 48 - The No-Good, Foul, Unreasonable Polaris Ploy Cloudhawk had become a near-legendary figure. The notoriety wasn¡¯t because of his strength, not entirely. Even before his exploits with the expeditionary force he was a familiar name in Skycloud. Of course, it wasn¡¯t necessarily a respected name. Cloudhawk was scorned by the whole city as the culprit behind one of the worst tragedies in the realm¡¯s history. Thousands of people died as a result. Passions ran high in the aftermath, and the crowds bayed for blood. Cloudhawk was condemned to be burned at the stake ¨C until Adder destroyed Skycloud¡¯s border wall. As the world they knew changed and calamity piled upon calamity, the climate changed. In a strange way, Adder¡¯s timing had saved Cloudhawk¡¯s life. Today, even small children knew to curse the name of this maligned demonhunter, for not only had he killed so many good and innocent people, he¡¯d gotten away with it! He¡¯d been given a high position among the armed forces. However, nowadays the name Cloudhawk was mired in even more controversy. It was spoken with a mix of praise and revulsion. Cloudhawk walked into the General¡¯s war room. In the center sat Skye Polaris, flanked by two high level military officers. The room was crowded with ten others, from officers to demonhunters, all men of rank and title. Several were familiar faces. Dawn greeted him with a furtive wink as he entered, and Roc offered a genial smile while cradling his severed wrist. Also in attendance was the powerful and mysterious Mr. Ink. The group they¡¯d seen out in the wastes was just the army¡¯s vanguard. General Sky was discussing dispatching the second wing of the army when he arrived. As such Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival was well times. When General Skye saw him waltz through the door his gruff face broke into a grin of pride. He¡¯d supported this kid when no one else would because he knew Cloudhawk was destined for great things. But no one expected this. Before the General could open his mouth, Dawn swept in front of the Warden with a tell-tale sour expression. She shouted at him accusingly. ¡°The nerve of you just walking in here! Do you have a reason for not returning the moment your mission was completed? Instead you go traipsing through the wasteland for days without coming in for a debrief. Is this the level of respect you have for the expeditionary force? Do you have so little regard for me and the General? What¡¯s your excuse!¡± Before the eyes of a dozen officers Dawn planted herself between him and the General, one hand on her waist and the other poking him ruthlessly in the forehead. She was yelling so wildly that spittle was splashing on his face. This wasn¡¯t a superior chastising a subordinate, this was a jealous girlfriend laying into her unwitting partner. ¡°That¡¯s not fair, of course I respect you.¡± Cloudhawk sheepishly wiped the spit from the side of his nose. ¡°I was badly wounded in the fight with Adder so I hid someplace for a while to recover. I¡¯ve only just gotten well enough to come back, so I returned as soon as I could.¡± Dawn¡¯s face changed from angry to concerned in a split second. ¡°What? Injured? Where? It is serious? Let me see!¡± Cough-cough! Skye interrupted her deluge of inappropriate questions by clearing his throat. Once he had her attention he fixed his granddaughter with a warning stare. ¡°Cloudhawk did well, a great victory for Skycloud¡¯s army. I will make sure he is fairly rewarded for his efforts. However, you were only recently elevated to the rank of Warden and any further promotion is impossible. So name your heart¡¯s desire, and this old veteran will do whatever is in his power to see it happen!¡± The promises of the army¡¯s commander-in-chief carried tremendous weight. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have anything he wanted. In fact he could only think of one thing. ¡°My relic was broken in the fight with Adder. I was hoping I might find someone to fix it.¡± He¡¯d had his invisibility cloak for four years, it was like an old friend. A strange set of circumstances had him absorb the powers of Quiet Carnage, but sadly not the cloak. Until he found another way to take in a relic¡¯s powers then he relied on the tools themselves. Skye stared at him. ¡°That¡¯s at?¡± Cloudhawk smirked. ¡°I deeply appreciate the General¡¯s generosity, but I¡¯m a simple man and I have everything I need. I can¡¯t think of anything to ask. Maybe I could save the offer for later, when I might need it?¡± ¡°Cultivating favors then, is that it? We¡¯ll do this then!¡± Skye leaned toward Roc and shared a few quiet words with them, then turned his attention back to Cloudhawk. ¡°Since you¡¯re a demonhunter, I can offer you a relic.¡± Roc disappeared from the room and returned a few minutes later. He stepped back into the room with a grave expression, cradling in his arms a broken sword. The blade was thick and solid, about the width of a palm, but extended barely half a meter. ¡°This blade is called Ardent Wrath. It is a relic that has been used by the greatest warriors of the Polaris family.¡±Skye¡¯s face almost seemed to twitch when he looked upon it. ¡°Now I give it to you. Give it a try.¡± Cloudhawk took it from Roc with no show of awe or regard. He reached out with his will, resonating with the blade, and brought it to life. The broken weapon was immediately wrapped in blazing fire from end to end. Like molten rock, the fires coalesced around where the blade had been broken to once more make it complete. The leaping fires turned it into a greatsword, easily the height of a man. He could feel the energy seeping off of it, so vigorous Cloudhawk knew he could carve through iron with little effort. It was so hot steel would melt, maybe even evaporate. It was the sword of weapon made for furiously hacking down one¡¯s enemies in direct combat. Dawn¡¯s eyes went wide. She didn¡¯t understand, why would her grandfather give Cloudhawk this relic? Outsiders didn¡¯t know the significance, but Dawn knew better than anyone. The last person to use Ardent Wrath was her father. He¡¯d been dead for more than ten years¡­ Skye Polaris carried this weapon with him for years, everywhere he went. He couldn¡¯t use relics himself, but he kept it like a treasured heirloom, a memento. After all, it once belonged to his only son. Cloudhawk was well pleased with the gift. Roc¡¯s Silver Serpents were fine relics, but used differently. They were more for nimble, dexterous strikes and weren¡¯t suitable for well guarded enemies. What Cloudhawk lacked was a weapon to serve him when all other trickery failed. With Ardent Wrath that deficiency was corrected, and it made him far more dangerous. He offered a heartfelt thanks and sheathed the blade before asking his next question. ¡°I¡¯d like to know what happened to Drake and his command? Why haven¡¯t they returned?¡± ¡°They left to pursue the rebel warships. At present they are deep in the Northern Barrens, and at last report had encountered some sort of trouble. I¡¯ve already ordered Colonel Clifton and the Talons to give them support. Don¡¯t trouble yourself over it.¡± Something occurred to the old man then. ¡°I don¡¯t want to running about for the time being, you¡¯re undoubtedly a high value target. That¡¯s to be expected after killing Adder. To many in the wastelands he was a hero, so that makes you a villain.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. He had to agree. After delivering his orders, General Skye dismissed the war court. He was preparing his next move, but before leaving bade Dawn to remain behind for a moment so they could speak. ¡°Do you know why I gave him Ardent Wrath?¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of making him your successor aren¡¯t you, you rotten old coot.¡± ¡°A broken clock is right twice a day,¡± he muttered. He made no secret of his intentions. ¡°You know there aren¡¯t many in our family that bring us prestige, not anymore. There¡¯s great potential in that boy, and with the right grooming maybe one day he can sit where I¡¯m sitting.¡± Dawn was stunned. The old fart has actually admitted it! Her surprise was clear on her face. ¡°But he¡¯s an outsider, and was born to a low caste. Our family is a thousand years old. Giving our family¡¯s future to an outsider ¨C a wastelander ¨C aren¡¯t you afraid the other elders will refuse him? And if they aren¡¯t willing to accept him, then you can be sure Skycloud wont!¡± ¡°Do you think there¡¯s anyone who would deny me when I want something? Anyway, an outsider can easily become a member of the family!¡± Skye shouted over her, running his fingers through his long white beard. ¡°Do you think being my granddaughter¡¯s husband is enough to keep everyone¡¯s mouth shut?¡± ¡°FUCK THAT!¡± Dawn¡¯s eyes were so wide they threatened to roll right out of her head. She stomped forward like she wanted to rip her grandfather¡¯s beard out by the fistful. ¡°If you can¡¯t keep this nonsense out of your hairy mouth then don¡¯t blame me if I forget respect for my elders! You think this is something you can just play with?¡± ¡°Who says I¡¯m playing?¡± Skye Polaris looked at his cherished granddaughter. The War-Gods eyes were full of caring and kindness. No one understood the girl better than he did, and that included what she held in her heart. ¡°Stop your bullshit and tell the truth. Do you like him, or don¡¯t you?¡± If looks could kill Dawn would have succeeded where Autumn had failed. After a second, however, she dropped her head and muttered something unintelligible. The truth of how she felt was too difficult for her to say. Ever since she was small Dawn was a hell child, people fled from her in the street. Even the people who followed her around feared her so she¡¯d never had any real friends. Cloudhawk was about the only person she¡¯d been able to tolerate. All her years Dawn was always different, and prided herself in bucking traditional norms. She¡¯d never really given serious thought to relationships. But she did know, back in the Temple when they sentenced him to death¡­ Dawn had felt like the words gnawed a hole in her heart. The girl who feared nothing in all of heaven and earth felt a terrible dread when they passed down that sentence that still shook her to the bone. ¡°Ach, forget it. This sort of thing you can¡¯t force anyway.¡± Skye was no fool, he knew what his daughter was thinking. But he made a show of it, sighing heavily and shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ll call Roc and have him take the sword back. We¡¯ll pretend like none of this ever happened.¡± Dawn was no ordinary girl, and her grandfather knew just what to say to strike a chord. Her head shot up, her eyes shining, and in a loud voice she declared: ¡°I like him!¡± Skye leaned back, brows raised. ¡°Is that a problem?¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean he likes me!¡± Dawn hung her head and shrunk into her shoulders like all the confidence drained out of her. Women were sensitive when it came to these sorts of things, and Dawn felt that Cloudhawk treated her more like a sister. Their relationship lacked that special spark. Skye looked down at her down his nose with all the authority and majesty of an alpha lion. His anger swelled, seethed and boiled over as he slammed a fist onto the table before them. ¡°Is my excellent granddaughter not good enough for that scoundrel?! If he dares turn his nose up at you I¡¯ll rip off his testicles with my own hands! He¡¯d have no use for them anyway! Who the hell is better than my granddaughter?!¡± A deep blush painted Dawn¡¯s cheeks, making her look like a small embarrassed child. Her voice was timid, unsure. ¡°Hmph. Other women can¡¯t even hold a candle. Except¡­ well, Selene Cloude has grown rather close with him. I...¡± A loud snort and a dismissive wave of Skye¡¯s hand cut her off. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, it isn¡¯t worth discussing further. Feelings change, grow. Besides, he doesn¡¯t hate you right? It will all be taken care of. Your grandfather¡¯s lived eighty years and weathered all sorts of storms. Never a difficult character I haven¡¯t bent to my will. Nonsense to think this will be the first problem I can¡¯t solve!¡± ¡°You really think it isn¡¯t a problem?¡± Dawn was off balance by the rapid shifts in emotion. ¡°You know how stubborn that asshole is. I¡¯m afraid-¡± ¡°Enough. When this war is over and those despicable rats have been eliminated, I¡¯ll make sure that boy isn¡¯t going anyway. I¡¯ll see the two of you married even if I have to tie him up and break his limbs myself!¡± The old man¡¯s brutal methods would have been unpalatable to normal folk. Dawn, however, was grinning like an idiot. She was practically giddy when she replied. ¡°Alright, thanks grandpa!¡± ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m grandpa now? All day I¡¯ve been ¡®old fart¡¯ this and ¡®has been¡¯ that. If I didn¡¯t know any better I¡¯d say you were just waiting for me to die!¡± Skye grumbled and rolled his eyes. ¡°If I live to see you marry someone you like then I can die happy.¡± ¡°Rubbish. You¡¯re old but strong, you¡¯ll at least live to see a hundred!¡± Dawn¡¯s attitude toward her grandpa had much such a quick one-eighty it was a wonder it didn¡¯t give her whiplash. All of a sudden she was the sickeningly sweet, so much that Skye could only shake his head. Incredible the sorts of things love could do this crazy child. In reality, however, Dawn was still wracked with worry. The word ¡®wife¡¯ was never one she thought would apply to her. But she knew it was the only way to make sure Cloudhawk would be with her forever. He was definitely going to be stronger than her one day, and if he became part of the family it would solve the problem of Skye having no successor. Dawn would also be happy. So that was it ¨C it was settled. What Cloudhawk thought didn¡¯t matter. Grandfather and granddaughter would persist to unreasonable lengths. Like weasels, once they had their jaws clamped around something they weren¡¯t letting go. Just let that blockhead try and resist! 1. These lines always made me laugh. So did they just stand there and stare awkwardly at each other for whole minutes waiting for this guy to come back? Did they just shrug and start milling around? Was there, like, an epic staring contest? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 49 - Martyrs Twiligh General Skye impressed upon Dawn the need for her to remain and keep an eye on Cloudhawk several times before he left. He told her to stop him running off again like any ordinary soldier. The armies weren¡¯t in open confrontation for the moment, so there was no need for him to take the field. Cloudhawk was essentially a hate magnet. Far too many people were far too eager to make him pay for his actions. ¡°All companies are gathered and equipped, sir.¡± The expeditionary force¡¯s special envoy, Roc, delivered the report to General Skye. ¡°Governor Arcturus and the High Priest have also sent reinforcements. Frost de Winter will join us with ten of the Cloude family¡¯s best soldiers and three thousand Knights of Splendor. Apostle Selene Cloude and Grand Prior have also come with a contingent of Templars. What are your orders?¡± It was a considerable show of force. Obviously Skycloud didn¡¯t have the stomach for a drawn-out war with the wastelands. With an array like this the intent was clearly to smash the opposition to pieces as quickly and as decisively as possible. ¡°Pointless peacockery! My expeditionary force is more than sufficient to deal with this rabble!¡± Skye was clearly displeased with this infringement on his authority. Though displeased, he gave Roc the orders he sought. ¡°If they want to get in on the scrap then let them come along so long as they don¡¯t interfere with our fight. If they get in my way the neither the High Priest for the Governor can blame me for smacking their representatives around a little!¡± Roc respectfully bowed his head and left. The armada was on the move. Skye stood at the bow of their flagship, his burly form solid as a mountain. Even a massive galleon with ten energy towers would shudder beneath the oppressive air only a War-God could produce. The barren yellow landscape stretched out to the horizon. Scores of ships lifted into the sky and rode the wind toward a distant enemy. Where they passed the sky was filled with divine light and pious chanting. Skye quietly took it all in from the fore of his ship. Then, unexpectedly, his face stiffened. A tearing pain wracked his chest, and from the corner of his mouth trickled a small line of blood. It glimmered with an unnatural metallic hue as though it were filled with some inexplicable power. He really had become more than human. Skye wiped his mouth and looked down at the bloodstain on his hand. His thick white eyebrows slowly knit together. ¡°General.¡± Skye was always followed by a masked man, always low key but always vigilant. After twenty years Mr. Ink was like his shadow, and had seen everything. ¡°Your body can¡¯t keep this up.¡± Skye knew what sort of condition his body was in, of course. Birth, old age, sickness, and death ¨C there was no escaping it. Not even him. After all, he was eighty years old! It didn¡¯t matter how powerful one was as a youth, old age robbed everyone of their strength and vitality. Through tempering his body the General had managed to slow the effects of aging on a cellular level. It allowed him to retain a powerful physique even so late in life. However, it came at a price. The cost of keeping himself at peak condition was a shortened lifespan. Skye Polaris was a living legend. He¡¯d started participating in fights at sixteen years old. The first time he¡¯d fought a demon he was around thirty. A lifetime of battle inevitably left a veteran with wounds that wouldn¡¯t heal. For someone like him these chronic issues alone were nothing to fret over. However, they did add to the burden of keeping himself hale and vital. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know. There¡¯s easily another decade left in me.¡± Skye watched the clouds drift passed, all painted red by the harsh sunlight. ¡°Ten years is enough.¡± Ten years¡­ that would put him at ninety. For a normal man to live so long and retain the physical features of his prime was wishful thinking. Keeping so strong so late in life was nothing short of a miracle, but nothing came free. There was no other choice! He had to, there was only so much time and too much still to do. A decade was more than enough time to deal with one turncoat. To find someone to continue things when he was gone, however, Skye would pay twice the price he¡¯d already spent. Once he had that matter settled he could pass into frail old age in contentment. Mr. Ink asked, ¡°Do you really look so highly on Cloudhawk, General?¡± ¡°That boy is a prodigy,¡± he replied. ¡°I was convinced once word got out that he¡¯d killed Adder. Other than him, who else is there?¡± ¡°I beg forgiveness for the unpleasant remark I must make, but¡­ creation and destruction, wax and wane. This is the way of the universe, and it applies to men as much as families and societies. Where there is light there is also darkness. To change the will of fate, one must sacrifice a great deal.¡± Mr. Ink was respectful and apologetic in offering his wisdom. He had never been a notable figure in Skycloud. During his twenty years of service to the Polaris family he had always shunned wealth and notoriety. The advice he was giving to the old veteran came from his heart. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough. Why not take the rest you¡¯ve earned?¡± Skye Polaris wasn¡¯t angry. In fact he gave a halfhearted chuckle. ¡°The situation has grown complicated. I¡¯ve known for a long time that Arcturus is planning something, but in all my years I haven¡¯t been able to see through that man. All I know is that he is dangerous. Ramiel is also preparing to make a move. Beneath Skycloud¡¯s calm surface, a storm is brewing, and it would be improper to forsake her now. So long as I hold this post, I will not abandon it.¡± His words rang with determination and confidence. ¡°When this war is over I plan to carry out my promise to Dawn. I¡¯ve got a decade or so of mentorship left in me, enough time to make those two great. They will be a counterbalance to the chaos in our realm, and that¡¯s good enough. I might not have lived up to the name of my ancestors, but if I can do that then I can die with honor.¡± The elderly could still hold high aspirations. A martyr undaunted in his twilight years. Skye Polaris was never a man to resign himself to the whims of fate, and so long as he had a say the Polaris family¡¯s glory would not dim. He swore to stir things up for as long as he drew breath. It was part of the pledge he made to fight for his great realm when he first took up the sword. Mr. Ink said nothing more. Twenty years at this temperamental man¡¯s side weren¡¯t spent idly. He knew how to tread the razor¡¯s edge. He¡¯d made his point, there was nothing to be gained for pressing further. Skye Polaris hated ¡®bullshit¡¯, so he avoided it whenever possible. The fight before them was critically important to the expeditionary force. It was critically important to the Polaris family. General Skye would spare no effort or expense to win victory for both. Nor was there any suspense surrounding the outcome of this war. The Crimson One¡¯s injuries were grave, and his loss at Woodland Vale costly. It¡¯s effect on the fledgling wasteland alliance was toxic to say the least. Whether it was equipment, strength, logistics or discipline, the two sides were on completely differing levels. How could the Crimson One hope to win? What¡¯s more, Governor Arcturus and High Priest Ramiel weren¡¯t sitting on their hands. Half of Skycloud¡¯s total power had been mobilized to ensure this war was won before it started! If the wastelands had the sort of power to contend against them, they wouldn¡¯t have stayed silent and repressed all these years. *** Cloudhawk had no idea what was happening. He was too busy fondling his new toy like he¡¯d just won the lottery. Ardent Wrath was a spectacular weapon. At a glance it looked like just another broken sword, but once activated the weapon brimmed with energy. Molten fires completed the missing half of the blade to create a stunning and dramatic tool of destruction. As he continued to test it, Cloudhawk came upon an interesting feature. When the sword was activated one fourth of it was physical, and three fourths formed from pure energy. But the part that was energy didn¡¯t create an actual, substantive blade. Unlike like Selene¡¯s crossblade which physically cut into its foes, it sort of radiated through its target. The light it created was super-heated, and at Cloudhawk¡¯s current level of mental strength he was convinced he could evaporate metal with this thing. It sure as shit wasn¡¯t a throw-away trinket. Because it was more light than physical, it could ¡®cut¡¯ through anything it came up against. Presumably it could slip passed armor and incinerate the flesh beneath so that any physical protection was meaningless. It was definitely a deadly ally while on the battlefield. Cloudhawk was pretty damn happy with it. ¡°Cloudhawk.¡± Dawn approached from behind him. There was something different about the look on her face. He of course was completely unaware of the sinister conversation she¡¯d just had with her grandfather. However she was finding it hard to conceal the sense of guilt she felt for her dark bargain. Cloudhawk slipped Ardent Wrath into a sheath at his waist and met her with a greeting. She stared at him for a minute, and was puzzled with how she felt. It wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk was particularly handsome or heroic looking, so why was it she couldn¡¯t stop picturing his face? When her mind turned to the inevitable future marriage, her heart rate immediately quickened. An indescribable nervousness mixed with a secret joy toiled inside her. ¡°You need something?¡± ¡°Some of your people are back.¡± She was avoiding looking him in the eye. Cloudhawk knew who she was talking about ¨C the demonhunters who¡¯d helped him in Woodland Vale. He immediately got up and headed for the door to find them. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Cloudhawk stopped for a minute to look her over. ¡°You¡¯re acting weird all of a sudden.¡± Something flashed across her face, but she quickly shook her head and looked away. ¡°Moron, I¡¯m fine!¡± He had no idea what was going on. Dawn Polaris was famously irreverent of the rules, a woman who marched to the beat of her own drum. Yet for some reason she was almost¡­ reserved. She was even speaking softer. Altogether unusual. Whatever. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pay it any more attention, and Dawn brought him into another room. Claudia was tending to her bandages. Gabriel sat by the light of a nearby window and was knitting something, as was his custom. The old drunk was drinking ¨C as was hiscustom ¨C and rubbing his calloused feet. Barb stood behind him, holding his iron cane wrapped in cloth. The vagrant was the first one to notice Cloudhawk enter. He shot the Warden a smirk but never stopped rubbing his grimy feet. ¡°Damn kid, nice work. Every new lady I see you with gets prettier. This noble morsel must be the famous Dawn Polaris.¡± Dawn¡¯s pretty face darkened into a scowl. She immediately didn¡¯t like this hoggish and indecent old man. However she had a sharp eye, and still wanted to play the tender sweetheart while in front of Cloudhawk. She managed to hold back the burning urge to leap forward and wring the old man¡¯s neck. ¡°The rest of you I couldn¡¯t care less, but what are you doing here, gutter trash?¡± Even though Vulkan had once been lauded far and wide, hailed as the War Saint and elevated to Grand Prior of Temple. But that position was a secretive one, and the former Templar grandmaster¡¯s work was clandestine in nature. Moreover he looked entirely different than the majestic holy warrior of old. With Dawnguard wrapped up tight and in Barb¡¯s hands, there was nothing to indicate he was anything other than a dirty old man. Dawn surely didn¡¯t recognize him. It was a good thing, too. The former Grand Prior¡¯s sudden appearance among the expeditionary forces would have caused a tremendous stir, and would have far-reaching influence. ¡°Drinking, obviously. And I¡¯m almost out.¡± He irreverently waggled his empty bottle at her. ¡°Since I¡¯ve got nowhere else to be, I thought I¡¯d hang around with you lot.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 50 - Hard-Fought Leisure Time The old man was grungy and disrespectful, but not one to be underestimated. Dawn had heard that the old man had done incredible things in the mausoleum beneath Woodland Vale¡¯s Godtree. Word was he was recapturing some of his old abilities. In asking for more detail, Cloudhawk learned that his breakthrough was a spiritual one. The old codger wasn¡¯t just a mighty fighter, he also possessed formidable mental prowess, at least comparable to a veteran demonhunter. He always did, but the old man had given up on mental cultivation early in life. It¡¯d been a decade or more since he¡¯d put any effort into strengthening his psyche. The last six years had been especially hard on him. But at the same time, unconsciously, he¡¯d been accumulating what he needed for a breakthrough. The battle beneath the Godtree was the proverbial straw to break the camel¡¯s back. However, the strength of Skycloud¡¯s War Saint would always lie in his martial abilities. If he hadn¡¯t received an infusion of vigor when he did, the old man would never have regained a ghost of his former life. Old soldiers like him died hard, but it would have been a creeping life of walking death. Now though, Cloudhawk figured he couldn¡¯t take the old man if he had his arms tied behind his back. Someone like him as a bodyguard would be a great help. He didn¡¯t even have to worry about a salary so long as the old wino had his fill of wine. Pretty damn good deal, all told. Where else would Cloudhawk find a deal like that? Dawn took a moment to look over the motley group. She had a reputation for crassness but there were times when she could be refined when needed. Among the others in the room she recognized Gabriel and Claudia, two who were woefully inadequate when compared to her but at least had some skill to speak of. Barb and the novices were unfamiliar, but Dawn could tell at a glance that they were also demonhunters. Demonhunters were a respected group! But Dawn could see that all of them had a healthy fear and veneration of the old drunk. He didn¡¯t even pretend to show respect for Cloudhawk or Dawn. Instead he treated them like an elder demanding esteem from the younger generation. He was definitely more than he seemed! As far as Dawn was concerned, now that her future marriage with Cloudhawk was certain it was high time she got on well with his friends. Cloudhawk stepped forward. ¡°Are you all alright?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Excellency. We¡¯re alright.¡± Barb was as respectful as always. ¡°The newer recruits were wounded badly though, it might take some doing for them to heal completely.¡± Badly was a fair description. Rei¡¯s neck and face were still badly dissolved from the toxic spores. Because of how serious the situation had been, no one was able to help her quick enough. The spores ate right through her skin to the bone, and while none of the injuries were life-threatening they would definitely leave permanent scarring. It was a shame she had been so badly marred so soon after graduating. She¡¯d been such a pretty girl. Demonhunter or not, women cared about how they looked. By comparison Crain and Tigron Sutherland were better off. Of all the novices they had received the greatest benefit from participating in this mission. The hardships they faced taught them how to use their family relic and join together, which greatly improved their combat effectiveness when needed. Claudia¡¯s heart was heavy. Of the six members of her squad, two had died. One was badly wounded, and the other two escaped unscathed through sheer luck. But what guarantee did they have they would be so lucky next time? War and its consequences were always cruel. The tragedy that befell Belinda would only repeat itself down the line. Rei¡¯s tiny voice intruded. ¡°Warden, is that you?¡± She lay upon a cot, heavily bandaged. The only part of her that wasn¡¯t covered in medicated wrappings was her face, which was pale as the sheets which covered her. Her big, bright eyes ¨C so endearing. They revealed a pain and confusion that didn¡¯t reflect on her face. Seeing her this way filled Cloudhawk with a sense of guilt. Although the squad had been thrust upon him by his commanders, the failure to protect them was his fault. He reached over and gently patted her hand. ¡°Those scratches you got aren¡¯t anything to worry about. We¡¯ll have you right as rain in no time.¡± He didn¡¯t know if the words sounded as hollow as he felt. They were meant to be comforting, but he didn¡¯t know if Rei would ever be made whole again. Dawn looked over them once more. ¡°You¡¯re the group that helped Cloudhawk in Woodland Vale? Well done, and rest assured I¡¯ll make sure General Skye hears all about it. I¡¯ll also write a letter to the Knight-Commander of the Demonhunters detailing your exploits, to make sure you get the honor that¡¯s due.¡± Since when did Skycloud¡¯s most infamously cruel woman become so kind? When Rei heard the promises her eyes lit up. To a demonhunter, nothing was more important than honor. Their expedition to Woodland Vale had been fraught with danger, and had exacted a heavy toll. However, the silver lining was that their success was a career-defining achievement. Yet it wasn¡¯t an honor they could enjoy. Tigron and Crain were touched by her praise. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Polaris.¡± ¡°Why are you thanking me? You should thank Cloudhawk!¡± With a practiced air of nobility, Dawn turned the appreciation toward their Warden. ¡°After all, he is your commanding officer. As for what I can do, if anyone ever gives you any trouble, tell me immediately. I¡¯d happily stand up for you!¡± Cloudhawk grinned. What was she up to? Dawn caught the smile from the corner of her eye and felt her heart flutter. She doubled down on her heroic bearing. ¡°In fact, as talented as you all are I would be proud to accept any of you into the Polaris family. Consider yourselves my people, don¡¯t be shy.¡± All of the novices listened to her offer with excitement. Barb was openly stunned. All the while the old drunk was rubbing his feet. His rheumy eyes looked first to Dawn, then to Cloudhawk, then back to Dawn again with a knowing smirk. Gabriel was still by the window working away at his knitting. Nothing seemed to faze this bashful, lonely guy. ¡°I think these new bloods have had enough for a while. Let them recover, no new missions for a while.¡± Cloudhawk offered the suggestion to Claudia. ¡°I have something else for you anyway.¡± Claudia frowned at his cryptic words. Was this guy addicted to ordering her around? She never had any pleasant feelings towards this bastard, not even from the beginning. She wasn¡¯t willing to do anything he asked unless she was ordered to. Cloudhawk went on unwittingly. ¡°From today forward I want Blue to be part of your squad. Your task for the time being is to train her up. No cutting corners, you hear me?¡± Claudia thought for a moment, then agreed. Azura was a tiny thing, but already her physicality could compare to an adult¡¯s. Her training was quick, and in six month¡¯s time she could probably scrap with a soldier and hold her own. If she put a focus on cultivating her mental powers, her progress would be even faster. Very good material to work from, Claudia thought. Cloudhawk had high hopes for the little one. He wished one day for her to be even better than him. Better than Dawn, better than Selene ¨C better than everyone. Any other mission and Claudia would have refused out of hand. Not this one. Wasn¡¯t her dream to be an instructor? Azura was an once-in-a-lifetime sort of student, a fact Claudia had no problem recognizing. No teacher worth their salt would turn down a good student, just as no sculptor would refuse a fine block of marble. With their new mission delivered, Claudia and her team stayed while Cloudhawk took the others and left. Dawn could see that this group of demonhunters weren¡¯t the typical sort. Even the newbies had real potential. The others were unique in skill and personality, and all seemed happy with leaving Cloudhawk in charge. It was a surprising revelation. After all, Cloudhawk came from lowly origins, and among the people of Skycloud his name was sad through scowls and curses. Most frightening was a fact even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t recognize, that all of this was changing him. He¡¯d gone from a crude bumbling nobody to a man with real leadership potential. His newfound skillset was still in the beginning stages, but it was clear to those who paid attention. One day Cloudhawk would grow into his role as a leader. Dawn¡¯s grandfather might have been a hot-head, but he had a good eye for this sort of thing. She couldn¡¯t stop the corners of her lips from curling upward. Cloudhawk was still young, and already he was displaying real potential. With so much raw ability to tap into, his future was a bright one. Good! Good for the future of the family, and good for her. She would just need to work on some of her¡­ features. As the idea of marrying Cloudhawk once more intruded on her thinking, Dawn¡¯s heart was filled with conflicting emotion. It felt at once so sudden and not quick enough. She felt the expectation, even urgency, and the more she thought about it the more her heart raced. In all her years she¡¯d never felt like this. Dawn represented the essence of the Polaris clan; direct, confrontational, stubborn, and volatile. However, she was also fearful of the potential consequences. She knew the sort of person Cloudhawk was, and if he decided he¡¯d rather die than go along with their plan ¨C then what? Not only would it be incredibly embarrassing, she would also lose her only friend. No good! That wouldn¡¯t do at all! She couldn¡¯t allow that to happen. If Cloudhawk learned that this famously frank woman was being so cautious it would surely make his head explode. He spent the next several days enjoying himself. When he wasn¡¯t drinking with Dawn he was drinking with the old hobo, and sometimes they went drinking all together. While the front line blazed with the fury of war, they hung out in the base and boozed it up. Word of what was happening starting trickling back to them. The expeditionary force, led by General Skye had already engaged the Conclave¡¯s forces. Twice already they¡¯d traded blows, with hundreds of airships involved in far-reaching battles. Both encounters, General Skye pushed forward victorious. It was a dark scene, laden with death and mired in carnage. Word was six wasteland settlements had been razed so far. The battles had to be spectacular to behold ¨C spectacular, and horrifying. The wasteland alliance was trying to regain its footing by mounting a frenzied offense. But their wild tactics failed them, and defeat after defeat was pushing them further back. Of course, it was to be expected. The wastelanders couldn¡¯t hope to match the overwhelming force of Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force. The Skycloud assault was too much for them. It would be a miracle if the Wastelands Alliance lasted more than six months. When it came into existence it was momentous, and turbulent. No one thought it would move ahead so quickly. Yet the expeditionary forces had them on the ropes, and that was just a piece of the terror that was the Elysian lands. It was one of the reasons why Cloudhawk never gave their lofty ¡®alliance¡¯ a second thought. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 51 - Ar During this period Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t idle. Through various underhanded and coercive means, he managed to convince the old drunk to teach him a few things. There was no one else he knew with more knowledge of martial arts than the former War Saint. The first time Cloudhawk had seen him tip his hand was in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough. He¡¯d seen the drunk peppered with gunfire, and the bullets didn¡¯t so much as pierce his clothes. It was like trying to shoot holes in a sponge. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand how it was possible, so ever since then he¡¯d been anxious to get the old man to teach him a few things. Unfortunately, they never had an opportunity until now. With a little free time and nothing else to occupy them, how was he going to let this opportunity pass? When it came to stuff like this Cloudhawk also believed strongly in the phrase ¡®sharing is caring¡¯ ¨C if he was going to go through all the trouble to learn this himself, the old man might as well train everybody. As a result, even the not wholly recovered novices from Claudia¡¯s squad were gathered together for a training session. This was a fortuitous chance they found themselves in and Cloudhawk wanted to pay the young demonhunters some extra special attention. The old man supported himself on the wrapped cane while cradling a wine bottle in the other hand. He hobbled into the center of the training field, the hair catching his sprarse grey hair and sending it whipping in all directions. Everything about him poke to a frail old man so drunk he could hardly walk, with no energy to lift his cane much less teach a lesson. A stiff breeze would knock him off his feet. ¡°Such a pain in my ass,¡± he muttered. The bottle rose once against to his lips and its contents spilled across the old man¡¯s face. He wiped the fluid away with a dirty hand. ¡°Let me ask you all a question. Do you know what ¡®martial arts¡¯ is?¡± ¡°What kind of question is that?¡± Dawn stood in the center of their group. Since she was physically incapable of keeping her mouth shut, she brazenly called out her answer. ¡°Martial Art is a fighting style that doesn¡¯t rely on external things. A practitioner utilizes pure cultivation and potential to access true power, giving them incredible strength!¡± ¡°Hey. Yeah, Skye¡¯s¡­ granddaughter, right? Wrong!¡± The old man chortled raucously. ¡°You¡¯re talking about a warrior, not a martial artist. A real warrior, when they reach peak condition, can rise to the likes of Skye Polaris. But ask yourself this, will there ever be another man like him?¡± Dawn nodded her head thoughtfully. He had a point. Her grandfather was an incredible man. ¡°Someone like General Skye comes along maybe once a century. His style can¡¯t be taught or imitated. He treads his own path.¡± The old drunk was in a rare serious mood. ¡°Martial Arts is not just about excavating one¡¯s potential. An emphasis is placed on style and skill, so that there are routines we can pass on to future students. This accumulated knowledge is passed down through the generations and given as blessings to those willing to work for them. That is Art. It is the true Way.¡± Cloudhawk understood the point he was trying to make. The old man was a completely different sort of fighter from General Skye. Skye was a special sort of creature who forged his own body into something more than human. He was effectively immune to the elements ¨C fire, water, wind and lightning held no sway. Even his corpse would likely remain perfectly preserved for a hundred years. Every cell within him was bursting with power like a nuclear reactor. When used together he had the strength to punch through mountains and kick open fissures. His style was not fancy nor particularly skillful, it was just pure accumulated potential cultivated to superhuman levels. The former War Saint came upon his abilities differently. While his body was also thoroughly tempered, he had a specific and unique training regimen that he followed to achieve these ends. He¡¯d put years of efforts into mysterious and esoteric techniques that transformed weakness into power. Such were the near mythical abilities of the Templars, who were trained through a regimen Vulkan himself created. It was part of the reason they called him the War Saint. One gained strength through personal experience. The other learned their power through technique. Each path had its benefits, but the styles of martial arts possessed a level of continuity that Skye¡¯s method did not. Skye¡¯s sheer destructive power was likely impossible to imitate, but what Vulkan knew he could teach to others. That is what the old man began to attempt with his small troupe of students. He¡¯d learned the secrets of human will and physicality through decades of study. Only pure physical cultivation could see results like the kind Skye displayed, but that was only physical. If an artist could train their will, body, mental prowess to the limit then they would display never before seen heights of what the human form could achieve. Years ago, the old drunk had a chance to do just that. After all, he was younger than Skye when he had started catching up. Unfortunately tragedy struck six years ago and any chance was lost. There was no more hope that he would surpass Skye Polaris, not in this life. Regret for what could have been still troubled him from time to time. ¡°I¡¯m parched after all this talking. Are you all following?¡± The old man¡¯s wine bottle had already run dry, as had his patience. His eyes swept over the group, struggling to focus through the haze of alcohol. ¡°No amount of talk can beat hands on experience far as I¡¯m concerned. So which one of you wants to show off what you got?¡± Cloudhawk had a mind to show off a little. After all, he figured starting with three spearhead maneuvers in quick succession would impress. However, before he had a chance someone else stepped forward. Dawn Polaris wasn¡¯t going to pass on an opportunity to show off, so she stepped forward practically before she knew what she was doing. ¡°I do!¡± The old drunk grinned at her and motioned for the mouthy girl to make her move. Dawn made no effort to hide her thought process. Terrangelica was in her grasp in a blink. She shut her eyes, wrapped both hands around the blade¡¯s hilt and poured her will into the relic. As her will converged everyone could feel it, for waves of power washed through and around her. Gradually all of that focus poured into her hands. Her eyes shot open. Terrangelica streaked out and then vanished into its sheath. The whole thing happened in an instant. An arc of energy remained where her blade had passed. Its track diffused outward from her position, eliciting a tearing sound as it traveled through the air. A set of shields set several meters away were split apart like they were made of tofu. Their fractured pieces clattered as they hit the ground even though Dawn¡¯s sword hadn¡¯t even gotten close. The power of her strike was stunning to behold. Cloudhawk blinked in astonishment. ¡°Impressive!¡± A stupid grin split Dawn¡¯s face when she heard Cloudhawk¡¯s praise. ¡°Of course, you know who I am. Dawn Polaris isn¡¯t just a demonhunter, I am a martial warrior! It¡¯s just no one ever gets close enough for me to show my true skill.¡± ¡°Quick-Draw technique?¡± The old man gave Dawn a quick once-over. ¡°That¡¯s not a Polaris family style. It¡¯s not even taught to the average Templar. What¡¯s your relationship to Phain Mist, young lady?¡± Dawn¡¯s efforts were solely an effort to show off what she knew. She was surprised when the old man said the name of her former Seneschal. ¡°He was my swordsmanship instructor. How do you know him, old man? He¡¯s the current Grand Prior of the Templar Order. The fastest sword in Skycloud!¡± ¡°Fastest sword in Skycloud?¡± A strange look passed over the drunk¡¯s face, almost like a slight sneer. He then shook his head and said, ¡°Phain¡¯s an amateur, but he taught you well.¡± ¡°You arrogant old coot! Have you even seen Grand Prior Phain at work?¡± Dawn¡¯s anger flared at the perceived disrespect. ¡°Call him an amateur all you like, but I won¡¯t have you looking down on me! You¡¯re asking for a beating!¡± Dawn would be Dawn. Her nature wouldn¡¯t let her tolerate anything but absolute obeisance. What she didn¡¯t understand was where Cloudhawk found this crazy hobo. Why would he ask this sack of wine-soaked bones for martial training? If he wanted a whooping he could have come to her to learn a thing or two! She was on the cusp of losing her temper entirely. But the old man just smirked at her, revealing a maw of rotten yellow teeth. Before Dawn could draw her sword again his hand was in motion. Fast as lightning, quicker than the eye could follow, his two fingers lightly tapped the scabbard. Crack! Loud as a dragon¡¯s roar! A streak of cyan colored energy tore through the ground carving a mark several meters long. Dawn felt a tremendous force bearing down on her. Terrangelica flashed out and came into contact with an opposing power that knocked her back several steps. She returned her weapon to its own sheath and stared at the mark on the ground in awe. The look on her face was one of abject stupefaction. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes gleamed. The others, looking from the sidelines, where also stunned. How had the old man done it? ¡°Do you understand now, little girl?¡± The old drunk rolled his eyes. ¡°How do I measure up to your Master Phain?¡± A Templar Grand Prior was no pushover. It was a title given only to the best. When it came to strength Phain was probably just as strong as the vagabond, if not stronger. But all they¡¯d seen him do was tap the scabbard and that staggering attack was what had followed. Phain and the old man were oceans apart in terms of skill. In a trance, Dawn recalled something her grandfather told her when she decided to approach Phain to be her teacher. Her grandfather was characteristically ornery at the time, for the best martial artist in the realm was not Phain, but another man who had vanished from the public eye. To her grandfather, Phain was a pale imitation and only acceptable since he was the next best option. Who was this master martial artist? Dawn knew, of course ¨C the only man who could even hold a candle to her grandfather, the War Saint! Dawn gaped openly at the creepy slob standing before her. Was this¡­ impossible! It was completely outside any of her expectations. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all for our demonstration.¡± The drunk dug at the contents of his nose with a grimy finger. He¡¯d begun to grow impatient again. ¡°I¡¯m not in the same shape I once was, so I don¡¯t have the energy to teach you all one by one. I¡¯ll show you some maneuvers, my own style, and how much you learn will be up to you.¡± In a thousand years of history, many sages had traipsed Skycloud¡¯s landscape. In their lives they uncovered many secrets to unlocking human potential. The maneuvers he taught them were both a way to temper their bodies and their minds. Cloudhawk had learned something like this from the BLoodsoaked Queen, techniques demonhunters used to strengthen themselves. Depending on the knowledge of people long ago, it was a much more systematic means of improvement over the life and death struggle of a life in the wastelands. The moves he taught them were more complex. Over two hundred in total, they were involved and mysterious ¨C and that was just the beginning. Cultivation involved electric shock therapy, acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine and other ancient aids . It was an involved and holistic body forging system that was completely unheard of to all of them. The old man didn¡¯t discover this method, nor did he give it a name. But it was obvious to all how precious this knowledge was! It was a tremendous boon to these young students, but one that demanded great talent to utilize to its fullest. As such when the old man shared with them his cultivation methods, the extend to which they all grasped his secrets were different. To put a number on it, the novice demonhunters grasped maybe just a fifth of it. Claudia and Gabriel, perhaps half. Dawn¡¯s formidable talent was enough for her to understand a full three-fourth of these mysteries. But what surprised the old man was the three others who understood his methods intrinsically. The first was his recently accepted disciple, Barb. The other two were Cloudhawk ¨C a fact he didn¡¯t find strange in the least ¨C and another that absolutely did. Azura. A child, hardly old enough to dress herself. When the old man saw her take to these techniques like a fish to water, he thought ¨C not without some regret ¨C about how the new generation would inevitably overcome the old. Cloudhaw¡¯s generation hadn¡¯t yet surpassed their betters and already the children of today were making their potential known. H suspected this scamp would have the potential to change the world before her twentieth year. Yet the old man noted with pity that time was short. Cloudhawk was unsuitable to take on his legacy, and Azura was still too young. The only person worth the old man¡¯s effort, the one who could carry all the hundreds of Templar skills into the future, was Barb. While the old man¡¯s nameless forging technique was useful for physicality, he didn¡¯t actually teach them any martial techniques. It was a fact that irked Cloudhawk. He was about to ask the old man if he was fucking with them when suddenly the environment took on an urgent feel. A soldier came rushing their way, recently returned from the font. Judging by his equipment and bearing, he was a Talon. His armor was broken in several places and was obviously wounded. Whatever he¡¯d gone through had to have been bad, for he looked lucky to have made it back. ¡°Warden, sir! Commander Drake and the Talons have been caught in an ambush on the front! Things are bad. I was ordered to head back here as fast as possible and ask for reinforcements.¡± An ambush?! Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened. Drake had been sent to hunt down the wasteland warships that had ambushed them on the way to Woodland Vale. It should have been a quick mission, but it was nearing six months since he departed without any news. That¡¯s why General Skye had sent Rio and the Talons after him. Then instead of helping, now Rio¡¯s gotten him and the Talons caught in a trap? What had they run into? ¡°Hey- hey! You aren¡¯t thinking of going yourself are you?¡± Dawn physically placed herself between Cloudhawk and the soldier. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare disobey grandfather¡¯s orders!¡± ¡°Drake, Hammont, and thousands of soldiers are going to die.¡± A nasty feeling in the pit of his stomach told Cloudhawk something bad was on the horizon. He couldn¡¯t just stayhere. ¡°We can¡¯t just watch them get crushed. Anyway there aren¡¯t many in the wastelands who would recognize me. If I¡¯m disguised who can tell? Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Dawn was staunchly against the very thought. Nothing could be allowed to happen to him! ¡°The front has exploded! You¡¯re telling me you aren¡¯t the least bit interested in getting your hands dirty?¡± The moment he said it Dawn could feel the itch in her breast. Cloudhawk was a clever one, and knew Dawn wasn¡¯t that hard to manipulate. ¡°If you¡¯re worried then come with me. If we can we save them, if we can¡¯t then it is what it is. Do what we can, and leave the rest up to fate. What do you say?¡± It seemed reasonable to Dawn. She nodded her head. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± 1. It is important to note here that while ¡®War¡¯ is used as part of the title for Skye and Vulkan, they are actually two separate characters. This is intentional. As Vulkan just explained, Skye is a ¡®true warrior¡¯, which he described in Chinese as սʿ. His title ¨C War-God, is Õ½Éñ, which utilizes the same character. Vulkan uses a different character to discuss Martial Artists in contrast to warrior, even though they could be translated the same. That character is Îä, which is also used in his title War Saint ÎäÊ¥. While this is a significant difference, using the term ¡®war¡¯ is appropriate because of the juxtaposition between the two. A god is greater than a saint, and both are warriors, though they are very different in style as intimated by Vulkan in these paragraphs. 2. Oh this smack down is going to be delicious. 3. I believe is what he is referring to. 4. Wewt! Shoutout! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 52 - To The Battle Lines Gabriel, Claudia and the novices were left back at base. Dawn, the drunk and Barb followed Cloudhawk to the battle lines. Dawn lay on the large bed in her cabin, arms up and fingers netted behind her head. Her eyes glimmered, and her features would from time to time shift from a knowing grin to a resentful scowl. She was immersed in a world of her own thoughts form which she couldn¡¯t extricate herself. What did that idiot Cloudhawk think of her? What was she to him? From the moment she was born, Dawn was a woman who followed her own rules and lived unapologetically. Her emotional intelligence was thus not very developed. After all, she hardly cared what anyone thought. Most of the time it was the rest of the world trying to figure herout, for there was no one worth her notice. Lately Dawn had felt less and less like her old self, a fact she found distressing. And yet, the changes were also exhilarating! There was a sense of expectation. Where before her feelings toward Cloudhawk had been muddled and unclear, after her chat with grandfather it all came into focus. A she-devil was still a woman. Moment by moment she wrestled with how she felt about him, and what she could do about it. She needed to know how he felt. Yet she also dreaded the answer. Days passed as Dawn mulled over the pros and cons, which in itself was an experience she¡¯d never had before. It was infuriating! Maddening! But also fulfilling in a way she didn¡¯t expect. Was this love? The word just appeared in her mind, and all at once her heart felt like it was shudder out of her chest. Her half-lidded eyes were evidence that she was relishing the sensation¡­ what was she afraid of? She was pretty, talented, and had been a friend to him for years. Cloudhawk would have to be blind not to recognize there was no one better! Gods damn it! If Dawn had deigned to handle this in her own way, she would have dragged Cloudhawk into her room and asked him bluntly. If he refused her, she would have just beaten him until he agreed to marry . Dawn was a firm believer in the power of violence ¨C there was no problem a few smacks with her fist couldn¡¯t fix. And if that didn¡¯t work, punch harder. Yet this problem seemed to confound her iron-clad logic. Cloudhawk was the kind to be persuaded by logic, not by force. In killing Adder he proved he was strong. Dawn was strong, too, but not strong enough to overpower him. If she decided to try and physically coerce him, she wasn¡¯t sure it would succeed. The take-away she grasped from that was just regret she didn¡¯t train harder in former years. With her potential, she would have been so much stronger today! Luckily she still had he grandpa. He would know how to deal with this. But when would this damnable war end?! She was flustered, distracted, annoyed! Dawn had to fight the urge to draw her blade and hack the cabin to pieces. A sound broke the train of thought as her fingers twitched toward the weapon. ¡°Hey, her excellency Miss Polaris!¡± She shot up from the bed like something bit her. Dawn hurriedly fixed her hair and clothes, and took a few deep breaths to make sure no sign of her distress was showing. Then she walked to the cabin door and pulled it open. ¡°What. You interrupted me in the middle of a fine dream. The sun isn¡¯t even out ye,t why are you knocking on my door.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ve found traces of a battle. I wanted to go down and get a better look.¡± ¡°What a waste of energy, what¡¯s the point in crawling over a pile of garbage!¡± There was the barest hint of disappointment in her eyes . ¡°No matter, I can¡¯t sleep anyway. I¡¯ll go and have a look with you.¡± Neither Dawn nor Cloudhawk had the authority to command any forces back at base, so they¡¯d had to disguise themselves and climb aboard a supply ship. Over the last several days in the air they¡¯d passed a number of battlefields, and since Cloudhawk was getting stircrazy he¡¯d stopped at each one to see what he could find out. What they discovered was something amiss. Cloudhawk took the drunk, Barb and Dawn from the ship to the battlefield below. It was the ruins of a wasteland settlement that had been leveled in the conflict. It had been roughly the size of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough before being caught up in this war. Judging by the foundations, it had been well fortified from attack. Unfortunately for them, nothing was impregnable to an armada of a hundred Elysian warships. The settlement was practically reduced to rubble. Barb¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. ¡°Excellency, what did you find?¡± Cloudhawk was picking over the debris while Oddball patrolled nearby. It didn¡¯t take very long for their combined efforts to produce results. ¡°This city was in the process of being evacuated by the time the expeditionary force got here. Any goods or materials of value have been taken away, and nothing of worth was left behind for our forces to capture.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°No, the army wouldn¡¯t want anything they had. Our soldiers are after Conclave soldiers, and their mission was to harry them in their retreat. They didn¡¯t have time to stop and comb through the ruins of a city.¡± Dawn wasn¡¯t following. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°Two possibilities.¡± Cloudhawk raised his head and looked at the others with a dire expression. ¡°One; the Crimson One began his retreat into the Northern Barrens even before Adder went to Woodland Vale. Our forces have picked off what they could, but haven¡¯t caught the Conclave¡¯s main strength.¡± ¡°And the second?¡± Dawn pressed. ¡°Feign defeat to lure the enemy in.¡± Cloudhawk pulled out his exorcist rod and started drawing in the dirt. ¡°If we look at the route the expeditionary force took, we can see they two at least two major detours. These were likely efforts by the Conclave to lure our men into less favorable territory.¡± The others looked at one another. It was a sensational claim. That would mean the Conclave¡¯s successive defeats were a ruse, and they hadn¡¯t yet attacked with their full army. After a moment it seemed to make sense ¨C the Conclave was led by one of Skycloud¡¯s Master Demonhunters, after all. The Crimson One was not a man so easily beaten. Dawn hardly cared. ¡°What are you afraid of? Our men are far superior to the Conclave¡¯s ragtag bunch. It doesn¡¯t matter what tactics they use, none of it means anything in the face of overwhelming force.¡± In his standard display of disinterest the old man took another swig of alcohol. ¡°Really, what are you worrying about kid. You think if you can see the clues General Skye will miss them?¡± That was true. While it was easy for people in the thick of it to miss things, standard tactics like this weren¡¯t beyond the General¡¯s ability to see through. He might have been considered the dullest of Skycloud¡¯s three great leaders, but no one would dare assume he was easy to fool. He was shrewder than most. Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s go, we still need to find Drake.¡± Dawn stole a glance toward the old drunk. She still wasn¡¯t sure about who he really was. Could he actually be the old War Saint? What would turn such a noble man into¡­ this? If he wasn¡¯t the War Saint, then how was he so good at Templar martial techniques? Each of them had practiced his no-name strengthening techniques as they traveled toward the front lines. By now the benefits were starting to show. They felt more agile, especially when it came to body control even on micro levels. All of them had noticed the improvement, giving credence to the old man¡¯s skill. And whoever the old drunk was, he was willing to follow Cloudhawk around for the time being. Cloudhawk was destined to be a big name for the Polaris family. At least for now, it looked like his presence would also include this strange but capable old man. If he chose to remain with the family under Cloudhawk¡¯s command, it would be an incredible boon for the Polaris clan. ¡°We¡¯re close to the front.¡± Cloudhawk stared toward the horizon, calculating the distance yet to travel. He figured they were still about a day out. It was probably the last time they were going to stop and search for clues. The front was bound to be mired in chaos, with hundreds of ships and tens of thousands of soldiers fighting for their lives. It was likely the Crimson One and his closest lieutenants would be there as well. Trying to move through a battlefield was dangerous, they had to be careful. ¡°Move out.¡± The others nodded and started heading back to the ship. And then, suddenly, everyone looked up toward a streak blazing stars trailing into the distance. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Everyone fixed their eyes on the scene, and by then the twinkling lights had filled nearly the entire pre-dawn sky. They couldn¡¯t be stars, besides they were moving ¨C fast. Cloudhawk reached through his connection with Oddball and borrowed the critter¡¯s sharp eyesight. When he saw what it was, his face blanched. ¡°Abandon ship! Everyone needs to abandon ship!¡± Too late! Dozens of¡­ something, dragging tails of fire in their wake, carved a path through the black sky. They split the darkness like a hot knife before smashing into the airship overhead. The projectiles were small but shook the whole vessel from the impact. Supply ships didn¡¯t have armor. The resulting explosion boomed across the barren landscape as their means of escape was blown to pieces like it was made from paper. Flaming debris began to tumble from on high. Shock waves from the blast rattled through the ruins and caused the debris to shift. Half-toppled buildings fell from the additional strees, and as screaming balls of flaming metal fell from the sky the land all around Cloudhawk suddenly became a deadly field of nightmare. The world turned red. ¡°They blew up our ship!¡± Dawn was more furious than surprised. Pale fingers wrapped around the hilt of her weapon and ripped it from its sheath. Wild eyes glared in the direction the attack had come from. ¡°Who¡¯s the bastard that dared destroy my ship?! I¡¯ll cut them to pieces!¡± Cloudhawk tried to talk the rash woman down. ¡°Don¡¯t go rushing off!¡± Barb and the old man stood to one side, faces stern. The ships burned and crashed to ground over the next several minutes. Shortly after the air was filled with raucous sound. Fifty or sixty wastelands ships appeared on the horizon, heavily outfitted for combat. It was obvious that this fleet was put together specifically to deal with the expeditionary force¡¯s armada. The harsh light of the fires danced in the drunk¡¯s craggy face. He stared at the ships as they traversed the early morning sky. ¡°These don¡¯t look like the Crimson One¡¯s men...¡± ¡°No. This is the Dark Atom.¡± ¡°The Dark Atom!?¡± What Elysian didn¡¯t know of that old terrorist organization? The battle of the Blisterpeaks was Skycloud¡¯s most costly defeat in hundreds of years. Everyone had been distracted by the Conclave¡¯s meteoric rise over the last several months, which had stolen the spotlight from this old nemesis. However, as the greatest Seeker cell in the wastelands no one dared doubt the destructive capabilities of the Dark Atom. But, weren¡¯t they at odds with the Conclave of Judgment? It was the reason they didn¡¯t join when the Church established its wasteland alliance. But from the lumbering dark figures passing overhead, it was clear Skycloud¡¯s perennial foes had returned. 1. ROFL! 2. She wanted him crawling over something else, If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 53 - Familiar Faces The wastelands airships were crude, savage looking things. They were visually repulsive, constructed of disparate materials, with a menagerie of flashing lights and contrived technology. Bristling with cannons, it looked like a cancerous and aggressive tumor cell hanging in the air. Its shadow brought with it a distinct and ominous sense. Back in the Blisterpeaks, the Dark Atom was careful not to tip its whole hand. More than likely, many of its weapons were still a secret to the world at large. Cloudhawk had never seen anything like this from the terrorist organization before. The airships steamed toward the settlement ruins with surprising speed. Before long they descended on the outskirts and released their crew, two hundred Dark Atom soldiers or more. All of them wore the same unique outfit. Some manner of composite material tightly wrapped around their torsos like a second skin. The leather substance was tough and elastic to allow for movement while being defensive. Clearly it was some new kind of armor the Dark Atom had concocted. ¡°Wicked blasphemers!¡± A few lucky survivors were scrambling from the wreckage of their supply ship nearby. They recognized who their attackers were the moment they saw the enemy ships. Dripping blood and covered in wounds, their faces nonetheless turned to challenging scowls as they drew their weapons. What remained of the ships crew formed up to mount an attack. Though these were but logistic soldiers, all Elysian regulars were all well trained in the ways of combat. Even wounded they were a threat. Thhck! One of the soldiers hacked his sword at a foe and caught him in the shoulder. He was sure there was enough strength in the attack to cleave the bastard rebel clean in half. However, to his surprise and dismay, the soldier¡¯s sword buried mere centimeters into the armor and became stuck. IT wasn¡¯t just the armor, either. The enemy he¡¯d attack had a body like iron. How? The expeditionary soldier¡¯s wide eyes slowly trailed up the Dark Atom agent¡¯s body. Suddenly it appeared his target had grown at least twice his size. His face sprouted coarse black hair, and a row of razor-sharp teeth extended from his gums. Human eyes turned feral now, red as blood, as his target became more monster than man. A long, ear-piercing howl answered. Crack! The soldier¡¯s neck was snapped like a twig. His body was thrown aside by the shapeshifting Dark Atom soldier like a sack of garbage. The monster then reached up and plucked the sword still lodged in his shoulder, haphazardly flinging it into the dirt as well. The remaining survivors from the ship were quickly dispatched in a brief scuffle that followed. Dawn watched it all happen from a short distance away. She could taste the harsh metallic flavor or her anger as it stewed inside her. These despicable fiends were killing her countrymen right in front of her! ¡°Calm down lady,¡± Cloudhawk muttered at her. ¡°Running at them half-cocked is just going to get us killed.¡± She was strong and impulsive, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure a few words were going to keep her from rushing into a fight. But surprisingly it worked. There had to be fifty or sixty airships still overhead, and a group of two hundred monstrous soldiers right in front of them. They were going to cut a path to freedom out in the open, it didn¡¯t matter how much damage they could do. Dawn might not have cared about her own safety, but she didn¡¯t want to see any harm come to Cloudhawk. Barb crouched in the ruins, silent as a shadow but no less enraged. No Elysian could watch their countrymen be cut down and not feel it in their gut. The old drunk was openly surprised at the scene. ¡°How can they change into monsters like that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re genetically modified warriors,¡± Cloudhawk explained. ¡°The Dark Atom has a genius scientist on their side who must have figure out how to do it. Honestly though, I¡¯m surprised they managed to make so many so fast.¡± A scornful expression flit across the drunk¡¯s lined features. He¡¯d heard a little about ancient technology from the old world. He turned his nose up at what he considered shortcuts to strength. It didn¡¯t matter if they went rooting around in a human¡¯s genes, nothing they science could produce was superior to old fashioned physical training. Barb¡¯s voice was hoarse and low. ¡°Look. Those three must be the leaders.¡± Cloudhawk followed her gaze and was surprised to see three familiar faces. Oddball fluttered closer for a better look. One was a middle aged man with a hooked nose and bald head. The second was also bald but much larger of frame, with a ferocious expression. The first was Buzzard, a capable warrior and part of the Dark Atom¡¯s leadership. His companion was Greenscale, the mercenary who¡¯d chased Cloudhawk to the gates of Blackwater Base years ago. Unfortunately for him, the mad scientist Roste captured the large man and turned him into one of his monsters. In the years that followed his mutations were perfected, and he rose through the ranks of this organization he was sold to. Both men were clad in the same composite armor of their compatriots, only of somewhat higher quality. Between the two men was another figure, one which took Cloudhawk by surprise. He was easily twice as tall as a normal man, and as wide as three burly fighters put together. His skin had a thick and rocky texture from head to toe, and scar marks from where he¡¯d been hacked at by weapons lined his torso. He was a walking tank, powerful enough to punch through solid rock with his mace-like fists. Coal! It was Coal! Cloudhawk gaped at the sight, taken aback that he should find this super mutant all the way in the Northern Barrens. Coal lumbered forward a few steps and fished something out of his clothing. Once activated, a translucent and fuzzy image flickered to life in the space before him. There was enough detail to make out the voluptuous figure of a woman who held herself with an intellectual and commanding bearing. ¡°Boss Hellflower.¡± Coal¡¯s English had improved. ¡°We found a supply ship. Shot it down.¡± The voice that came through the projected image was tinny and strange. It stopped and started in fits, but Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure what that indicated. Incredible that Coal should be so quickly brainwashed by the Dark Atom. Judging by his presence and importance, they¡¯d already made him a lieutenant and sent him to the battlefield. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. He was so young, with more potential than he¡¯d ever seen in any other mutant. All he needed was time. Eventually Coal would be just as strong as those Barren Kings, Toad and Canker. By then even a veteran demonhunter wouldn¡¯t be a threat to him. A shame¡­ Cloudhawk had once thought of having Coal come with him and help in his efforts. But the foul circumstances that destroyed Coal¡¯s tribe were the same ones that had him refuse Cloudhawk, and come under the wind of that bastard Wolfblade. Hellflower was also incredibly dangerous. Two hundred shapeshifting soldiers, and some sort of long-distance communication device¡­ all of it likely the work of that woman. She was more precious to the Dark Atom than a hundred lieutenants! These monsters she¡¯d made were as strong as Cloudhawk¡¯s own Talons, with the additional capability to adapt as needed to the harsh climes of the wastelands. As for whatever device Coal was using, if something like that became popular then the Dark Atom would have a powerful command and information advantage. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind recalled the insane man they¡¯d called the Academician, Roste, and what he¡¯d said. Before he died, the madman swore that Hellfire was far more dangerous than he. Judging by what Cloudhawk saw now, the old man was right. Something like jealousy flashed behind Greenscale¡¯s dark eyes when he saw Coal speaking with Hellflower. He made no secret of it, kicking a chunk of twisted metal a hundred meters into the distance to vent his frustration. This earned a chuckle from Buzzard. ¡°Your genetic modifications are only getting more better and better.¡± ¡°All thanks to Boss Hellflower, right?¡± By the way he said her name, it was obvious the bald man adored her. ¡°You were strong to begin with, Buzzard. I¡¯m sure you are on a whole ¡®nuther level now.¡± Obviously Hellflower¡¯s addition to the Dark Atom had benefited both men. It was no surprise. She was the synthesis of all the collected scientific knowledge of the wastelands. She was miles beyond the accomplishments of Three-Eyed Spider. Coal shut off the device, and Hellflower¡¯s figure vanished from view. He turned back to the others. ¡°Boss Hellflower said look around. Find survivors. Can¡¯t let them know we were here.¡± ¡°It was just a supply ship,¡± Greenscale muttered dismissively. ¡°They didn¡¯t have anything but stuff for the Elysian front lines. They weren¡¯t escorting anyone, we¡¯re just wasting time. We should make our way to where the fight is.¡± Coal¡¯s rigid features fixed on the shapeshifter. ¡°Boss Hellflower¡¯s orders!¡± Greenscale retorted, still full of defiance. ¡°Listen rockhead, who the fuck do you think you are trying to push me around? You¡¯ve been part of this outfit for all of five fuckin¡¯ minutes. Don¡¯t think just because Hellflower vouches for you that you can talk down to me!¡± Their interaction was a clue to Coal¡¯s status as an outcast. He was looked down on, not just among these men but the Dark Atom as a whole. It wasn¡¯t helped by the fact that after only a few months he had risen to a similar position as these two. To make matters worse, Coal had become a man of particular interest to Hellflower. She had eyes to make him her confidante, someone she could mold. Everyone in the Dark Atom knew what sort of clout Hellflower wielded these days, so being her right hand came with real authority. It was more advantageous to curry favor with Hellflower than even Wolfblade. Coal was already strong. With Hellflower¡¯s help and knowledge, what was stopping him from becoming an integral part of the organization? It was only natural that a new blood rising to such heights after just a short time would earn a lot of angry looks. Coal was an honest and direct sort. Greenscale was also obvious in his disdain. Buzzard was left with no option but to play mediator. ¡°Greenscale, give it up. Coal has a point, and it¡¯s better to be cautious. Hellflower and the Boss are on the way. Whether or not we get the drop on that old dog Skye and kill him will be determined by us keeping this quiet!¡± Greenscale grunted his displeasure, but waved a hand in dismissal. He had to comply. The shapeshifter soldiers separated into several dozen groups. Each squad was equipped with a device that picked out living creatures in a certain radius which they used to start combing the ruins. Luckily no one seemed to notice that ever word of their conversation was overhead by a tiny yellow bird. Cloudhawk was still crouched in the ruins, processing this new information. The Dark Atom was going to get involved? They were planning to attack the expeditionary force from the rear. It seemed foolishly bold. The Dark Atom was strong, but even if Abaddon himself showed up they couldn¡¯t take out the whole Elysian army and General Skye. Where was all their confidence coming from? Cloudhawk knew Wolfblade and Hellflower weren¡¯t idiots, especially Wolfblade. He was only getting more mysterious and inscrutable as the days went on. If they were choosing to join this fight, they were doing it because they were confident of success. If they weren¡¯t here with the rest of their fleet, then it meant those two had something else planned. ¡°Those things in their hands will be able to detect us. We can¡¯t hide.¡± The old man gripped his cane tightly. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°Slow down!¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment. ¡°We can¡¯t fight against so many. I have an idea.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 54 - Union of Demons and Gods Hundreds of shapeshifter soldiers were spread out among the ruins. The detection equipment they carried was able to point out any living thing within a dozen or so meters. That meant it was only a matter of time before Cloudhawk and the others were discovered. Dawn was getting antsy. If they were going to be found wasn¡¯t it better to strike when they had the element of surprise? Take the initiative! Attack on their terms! Kill all of these bastards! That was the strategy she preferred. Her hand was already wrapped around the hilt of Terrangelica. ¡°They¡¯re coming, what are you planning to do about it?¡± Barb¡¯s heart was racing. The danger they were in was nothing to take lightly. There had to be fifty or sixty ships above them, thousands of troops. Among them were a lot of these mutant shape changers. If they were going to fight, it was almost sure the four of them were doomed. Hell, their bombs alone would be enough. But Cloudhawk was perfectly calm. ¡°Shut up. If I say we can do it, then we can do it.¡± Dawn grit her teeth and pursed her lips, but reluctantly removed her hand from the sword. Not even her grandfather would talk to her like this. Anyone else and she would have taught them a lesson before charging into battle, but from Cloudhawk the words didn¡¯t even make her angry. Strange. At Cloudhawk¡¯s command Oddball shot higher into the sky. The little bird approached one of the ships several hundred meters above and slipped into a ventilation duct. After passing through a twisting maze of piped, it popped out in an empty room. That¡¯ll do, good a place as any. ¡°Everyone grab onto me!¡± Cloudhawk wrapped an arm around Dawn¡¯s waist and grabbed Barb¡¯s arm. Barb quickly reacted by snatching a handful of the drunk¡¯s clothes. The Dark Atom¡¯s search squad was maybe fifty meters away and closing. They could hear the beeping from their machine, picking up speed. They¡¯d found something. Cloudhawk reached his mind into the phase stone and called for its power. The detection equipment suddenly went silent. Soldiers hurriedly scoured the nearby ruins for any traces of survivors, but found nothing. It was clear throughout the settlement. Maybe their instruments were malfunctioning? But that seemed unlikely, they had all been checked and upgraded by Hellflower¡¯s people. For all their suspicion and confusion, in the end the soldiers had no recourse but to abandon the search. It seemed like nothing had escaped their net, so the troops filed back into their airship and returned to the rest of the fleet. Meanwhile the four Elysians sputtered into existence within the small room Oddball had found. Cloudhawk looked at the sea of stunned faces surrounding him and grinned. ¡°I¡¯m pretty awesome, right?¡± ¡°Hmph, keep your hands to yourself!¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± Cloudhawk himself was stunned that he was still holding on to her. He pulled his arm back as though burned and shuffled back a few meters. Dawn was anything but forgiving, so if she got the idea the crazy woman would likely break his arm. A blush crept into her cheeks, but when she saw Cloudhawk recoil like she was a viper her brows shot up. ¡°Think you could be any more dramatic?! I¡¯m not some fire-breathing monster, what are you so scared of!¡± A fire-breathing monster was a hell of a lot less terrifying than she was, Cloudhawk thought to himself. The old drunk looked at Cloudhawk, then at Dawn. His cracked lips were pulled in a smirk. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty nasty smirk,¡± Barb noted. ¡°What awful thing are you thinking?¡± ¡°Nothing. Those two remind me of someone?¡± ¡°Who? It must be a lady!¡± Barb and the old man had grown more familiar over time, so she didn¡¯t waste time with respectful addresses when unnecessary. She didn¡¯t even call him Excellency any more like she used to, now he was just ¡®old man¡¯. After all, he was pretty explicit about not accepted her as a disciple. It was odd. He had given her all he had, was willing to teach her everything he knew, but for some unknown reason he was unwilling to acknowledge their relationship as master and student. He didn¡¯t care what she called him, and since he wasn¡¯t objecting to the familiarity she decided to press the old drunk on his past. The old man lazily uncorked a wine bottle and took his time enjoying its contents. In his mind¡¯s eye flashed a purple silhouette , and then all at once it was like he was drawn into the memory. Like a deluge, recollections of the first time they met rushed through his mind. He¡¯d been thirty years old at the time. She was in her teens. He was a martial prodigy, full of ambition and a dream to bring the art to the world. He didn¡¯t have time for the mysteries of relationships, so he swore them off entirely. She was famous in Skycloud for her beauty, with great talent and high expectations. Countless men vied for her affection, but she had eyes only for him. He never gave her the time of day. Meanwhile, she never doubted he would achieve his dream. She smiled about it, for she was determined to be there whenever he succeeded, waiting ¨C no matter how long ¨C for him to finally see her. Twenty years passed in a blink. He never saw her. Thus passed her best years, her beauty wasted in waiting. When his mind turned to this the old man¡¯s heart was filled with regret. Did she ever imagine that mighty War Saint would tumble so far, and become the shit-smeared vagabond he was today? No, she never would have accepted it. Thank the gods she wasn¡¯t around to see, and yet, such a pity she couldn¡¯t. He called out to Cloudhawk and Dawn. ¡°You young folk should learn to cherish how blessed you are. The things which seem so easy to get can disappear in an instant, and then are gone forever. Too late for regrets.¡± In that moment Dawn knew the old man had seen right through her, into her heart. She felt her cheeks burning and stole a glance at Cloudhawk to make sure he didn¡¯t see. He missed the subtle shift in her expression, for he was too busy teasing the drunk. ¡°Hearing you pine over bygone days is something I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d hear, old man.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot that would surprise you.¡± He rolled his eyes at the mouthy youth. ¡°Don¡¯t let my looks now fool you. In my day there was a line that circled the temple of young beauties after my attention.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to bullshit with the old fool. ¡°What we need to be doing is finding a way to sneak among the Dark Atom forces. I can have Oddball scout out the ship and keep an eye out for patrols. If we can get our hands on a few key personnel, we can use Barb¡¯s Heart-scry Thorn to read their thoughts. Then we use that information to help us take over the ship. You guys have any more input??¡± ¡°No,¡± Barb answered immediately. The room they¡¯d teleported into was a storage closet, stacked high with supplies and armaments. Since nothing in here was of any particular importance, they didn¡¯t leave anyone to guard its contents. At least for the time being, their small crew was safe here. And so Cloudhawk, using his phase abilities and Oddball, began to scout out the situation aboard the ship. At this point even the old man had to acknowledge how helpful Cloudhawk¡¯s skills were. With his talents it didn¡¯t matter how rigorous the defenses were. Any secret place, any no-man¡¯s land, any impenetrable fortress was child¡¯s play. In a way he could teleport a group of soldiers behind enemy lines and strike at unexpected places. Cloudhawk continued to pick his way through the ship hallway by hallway. Every handful of minutes he returned to tell the others what he learned. Dawn and Barb were both enamored with his incredible abilities. He was practically unstoppable! It took less than two hours for Cloudhawk to scout the entire two-hundred meter long ship from top to bottom. He knew what rooms were empty, where the bridge was, where most of the crew hung out, and more. Dimensional and spatial abilities were very rare. It¡¯d been more than two hundred years since Skycloud had a demonhunter with the skills needed to use those sorts of relics. Beyond having the ability to use them, Cloudhawk also had an incredibly powerful dimensional relic his own. It was through it that he was able to perform these incredible deeds. However, he didn¡¯t let it get to his head. The task was both very dangerous, and very tiring. The stone¡¯s abilities were as draining as they were incredible. While Cloudhawk was much stronger than his former self, scouting a ship this size in such a short period of time was hard enough. Teleporting three other people up here was already an impressive feat for him. Transferring a whole contingent of soldiers? Laughable. It was time for them to make their move. It didn¡¯t take long for them they to subdue the ship¡¯s officers on the bridge by stealthy means. Then, using Barb¡¯s special relic, they learned how to control the ship and use it to their advantage. Done! They had occupied the ship without anyone knowing better. Cloudhawk settled himself smugly in the captain¡¯s chair. One man had been kept conscious to control the ship¡¯s complicated machinery. Barb and Dawn stood on either side to make sure it all went smoothly. The control systems were capped by a screen. Words flashed across the surface. They were all commands to the ship, determining its speed, altitude, heading and so forth. Nothing too complicated. But Dawn stared at it all with barely hidden shock. Never¡­ never would she have believed they¡¯d simply waltz onto a Dark Atom ship and just take it for themselves! This behemoth of a machine and all its weapons were theirs to command. At any moment they could launch a surprise attack on the other airships and cause devastation before anyone knew what hit them. She figured easily a fifth of their fleet would be destroyed by the time they were done. Heh, the Dark Atom wouldn¡¯t suspect a thing. Not in their wildest dreams! Right under their noses! They sailed among the rest of the fleet for a full day. Eventually, orders came across the screen to decelerate. ¡°We¡¯re there.¡± Cloudhawk pulled back on the lever that controlled their speed. The sound of gears churning and hiss steaming shuddered throughout the ship. Everyone lurched forward a little as they slowed. Another order flashed across the speed, and everyone¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°We¡¯re going to be meeting up with the rest of the Dark Atom¡¯s forces soon.¡± ¡°Yeah I see ¡®em,¡± the old man said, uncorking another bottle and gesturing with it out a nearby window. ¡°Heh, the General¡¯s got his hands full this time.¡± When the others looked out to see what he was talking about their eyes went wide. Dozens of long, green, serpentine bodies slithered in the air nearby. Large wings beat to keep their muscles bodies airborne. Weren¡¯t these dragons? The same creatures from Woodland Vale? But that was a passing shock, for what really made their jaws drop was the thousands of birds of prey which coasted behind them! There were dozens of different types, with the largest being over a dozen meters long. The scene was incredible, like a wave of deadly monsters waiting to crest. ¡°Autumn!¡± She was the only person who could control so many wasteland monsters. Now the body that once belonged to the young Tribal leader was under Shepherd¡¯s control, and was brimming with a god¡¯s will. The scope of control was far greater than before, incomparably so. Thousands of creatures swayed in the wake of the ships at her beck and call, ready to kill on command. Thousands of mutant birds, plus fifty or sixty airships decked with heavy artillery. If they attacked all at once with the advantage of surprise, it very well could spell disaster for Skye¡¯s forces. Cloudhawk looked further into the distance and saw a sandstorm rolling in. Abaddon was coming, too. All of a sudden the situation had just gotten very, very bad. The Crimson One in front, gods and demons behind. General Skye and his mighty Elysian Army were faced with a deadly situation, and they didn¡¯t even know it was coming. 1. Interesting note, ¡®purple¡¯ is important I suspect, since Barb¡¯s name in Chinese is ¡®Purple Water Chestnut¡¯ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 55 - The Northern Settlemen A blue sky stretched out for thousands of kilometers. The setting sun was an angry orb on the horizon, setting the undersides of the clouds afire. Desolate mountains slunk across the world like earth-bound dragons, craggy peaks like broken swords jutting toward the heavens. As the sun¡¯s dying glow was reflected by the unwitting clouds, one could get lost in the majestic and almost picturesque tract of desert that stretched into the distance. Evening light painted the mountain rock red like blood, and their peaks speared the clouds as they wound through the region. Between them were chasms carved deep into the earth, where the faint light of lava rivers radiated an angry red. Their angry pulsing heat was like someone had cut open the very arteries of the earth. The vast wastelands North of Skycloud were an expansive area whose terrain was complicated to traverse. It was filled with the unknown, and since ancient times it was considered a dangerous land meant to be avoided. It was even given its own name ¨C the Northern Barrens. What sort of tenacious mutants and wastelanders lived in this inhospitable mountain range? For all its might and miracles, even Skycloud didn¡¯t know. Not even the power of the gods gave them wisdom when it came to this evil place. This beautiful and harrowing sight was highlighted by the pious sounds of chanting. Beautiful airships wafted among the clouds, masterfully crafted machines that sparkled in the dying light of the sun. Their magnificent jade-stone hulls gleamed in sharp contrast to the harsh surroundings below. General Skye stood upon the deck of the Elysian flagship, staring out across the horizon. Their current expedition had persisted for nearly two weeks. In that time they¡¯d had four encounters with the enemy, resulting in four victories. But the job was not done, and they could not stop until it was. They would not rest until their foes were scattered, so they pressed on into the Northern Barrens. Skye knew the Crimson One was luring them deeper into his territory, but he was still determined to fight. And not just fight ¨C fight at all costs. Two words were his guiding mantra ¨C fast, and fierce. The General came from the school of indomitable bravery. He knew a battle like this would be a quagmire, and the longer they were caught in it the more costly it would become. It didn¡¯t matter. They would shatter the bridges and sink the boats, anything for ultimate victory. If they played it safe then this war would dragon, and the Elysian people would suffer for it. Although the General¡¯s personality informed his tactics, Skye didn¡¯t reach his position by being a bloodthirsty fool. He knew well that merely throwing yourself wholly at an enemy wasn¡¯t always the way to win victory. Since departing on this campaign they¡¯d won four battles. Long days and thousands of kilometers were behind them. The might of the expeditionary force was without question. After four successive victories morale was high, even condescending. Elysian soldiers were eager to crush the Conclave of Judgment, to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies in the wasteland. In a contest of arms, morale is paramount. With it, victory could be earned before the first blow was struck. It sowed fear in the hearts of one¡¯s enemy. Already the momentum of Skyloud¡¯s forces had dealt a major blow to the Conclave. The Crimson One¡¯s plan in luring the expeditionary force to the Northern Barrens, was to contain the larger army and steal its advantage by virtue of the difficult terrain. He had not anticipated that General Skye would take such a dogged approach. Because the Elysian general had charged ahead, the Crimson One had not had the needed time to lay his ambush before the expeditionary force was in range. IT seemed inevitable that in less than two weeks, the wasteland alliance would be no more. Or at least, so General Skye was convinced. His half-lidded eyes gazed across the barrens toward the setting sun. Darkness was falling quickly. He couldn¡¯t see the ships in the distance clearly, for at this distance they only appeared a faint points of light slowly wafting through the air. It would be the last great fight of his life. No matter how mighty his name rang in the halls of power, no matter how great his former accolades and singular ability, even this proud lion of a man must bow his proud head before the march of time. He wasn¡¯t bothere,d though. It was a fine period to the story of his service. Then when it was over, he could spend his final days teaching the next generation to follow in his footsteps. ¡°General!¡± Roc hurried to his side. ¡°The representatives of the Governor and High Priest.¡± Skye turned his head and was greeted with two shimmering white figures entering the bridge. He had to acknowledge the majestic sight these two conveyed. Frost de Winter reminded everyone of a young Arcturus Cloude. He wasn¡¯t the strongest of the new generation of leaders, but he by far the most dedicated to his cause. Selene Cloude, who had entered with him, was named Apostle of the Temple and bore the inheritance of her illustrious father. She held a position of tremendous respect, bore astonishing power, and was destined for a future just as bright as Arcturus¡¯ chosen. Skye felt strange when he looked at them, but it was a strange sensation he could recognize. It was like staring at the peak of a glacier rising from the ocean. He couldn¡¯t tell what lay beneath the surface, though what emerged was spectacular to behold. A contingent of perhaps a dozen of the Cloude family¡¯s best demonhunters were arrayed behind Frost. Selene¡¯s entourage was equally pretentious, sporting a squad of Templars along with their Grand Prior himself. He stood like a sentinel just to her side, hand on his sword. The display was a poignant display of how important Selene was in the eyes of the High Priest. Skye looked them over for a moment before speaking. ¡°Icalled you both here to tell you the wasteland alliance¡¯s lair has been discovered. We have a high degree of confidence they are located in a place called Fallowmoor.¡± What an interesting name for a settlement. No one present had heard of it before. Frost¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s so unique about this place?¡± ¡°Fallowmoor is one of the largest cities in the Northern Barrens.¡± Skye went on to give some more general information about it. ¡°It is very famous, but also mysterious. Few have ever laid eyes on the place.¡± That took them by surprise. If the city was so famous, how could so few people have seen it? Skye explained. ¡°Ten years ago I tried to gather as much information I could about Fallowmoor, but every scouting party I sent went missing. No one from any of those missions survived. Unless I¡¯m mistaken, Fallowmoor is a place like Woodland Vale, in that it is a sealed location nearly impossible to break into.¡± ¡°What are you saying, General?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what sort of dangers we¡¯ll encounter when we get there. Since you aren¡¯t part of the expeditionary forces, I am giving you the option to remain outside of Fallowmoor while we make our assault.¡± Skye¡¯s invitation to the two young folk turned out to be a disclaimer. Frost¡¯s answer was immediate and without question. ¡°I am here under orders to destroy any traitors to Skycloud. With a decisive battle on the horizon, how can you expect me to stand aside? The mere suggestion is a display of contempt, General.¡± Selene glanced at Frost, noting his incredulous bearing. She didn¡¯t say anything. The fervent light of anticipation in her eyes was enough to show that she had no intention following his suggestion. She had to be a part of this fight. It was Phain who spoke in her stead. ¡°Our duty lies is cutting down blasphemers and traitors!¡± Skye was not perturbed by their zeal. ¡°Very well. That being the case, prepare yourselves. My orders are being disseminated at once. Our target is in our grasp, tomorrow we end this.¡± The battle was about to begin! Everyone felt the excitement rising. Lumbering ships hovered across the rolling mountain ranges. The next day, they arrived at the staging area. Below them was a blasted landscape that looked as though it had been ravaged by a shower of meteors. The mountains here were shattered and enormous craters could be seen peppering the ground. Ancient ruins decayed at the lips of these craters and the fallen sides of the mountain ranges. The building foundations were in triangular, square and round shapes ¨C all manner of ancient styles. Among the strange architecture were also piles of scientific detritus, left over from ancient times. They were watched over by crumbling statues and other art installations. Obviously it was home to a huge number of wastelanders. From their elevated vantage, they could even see scraggly orchards and farmsteads. An array of colorful flags sprouted from every corner of the settlement. That was when a deafening blast reached them. Denizens of this settlement looked up in fear as the thunderous sound rolled across their city. A sea of airships swept into view. When in the life of a wastelander could they witness such a thing? Luckily for them, Skye did not have the interest or time to wipe their home from existence. The Elysian warships continued forward. Everything about this place ¨C from the mountains to the fields to the valleys ¨C all of it was strange. Ancient towers jutted from the barren mountain sides, or perhaps they were the remains of ancient ships that had crashed into the ranges. Whatever the case, they didn¡¯t look like anyone was living there, rather that they had existed for a very long time. They were all connected together at various levels with something, giving it a very messy and haphazard appearance. Clearly, many wastelands groups had made this their home. The first impression it gave to these visiting Elysians was disorder. As they flew further across the city, a black line appeared in the distance. It looked like a collection of ominous storm clouds, and from time to time a flash of lightning peaked through. At first glance it looked like they would be fighting in a downpour. But, there were never any storms like that in the wastelands! Anomalies like this often came with trouble, so the soldiers of the expeditionary force were immediately on alert. As they took a closer look, the scale and thickness of that black cloud was extraordinary. No, it wasn¡¯t a cloud ¨C it was an absolutely enormous sandstorm. Incredible volumes of sand and dust had been kicked into the air, and was heading their way as a roaring gust. It easily covered several kilometers and rose at least a thousand meters high. The cresting winds were not merely carrying sand, either. Massive boulders and bits of debris from the surrounding ruins could be seen whipping in sand-choked eddies. Stones and concrete that weighed several tons wafted in the hurricane-force winds as though they were light as a feather. What a horrifying sight. No normal store was capable of this! From what they felt on approach, dangerous winds like this were rare in this part of the Barrens. Were on capable of seeing its whole scale from above, they would be astonished by how much the sandstorm covered. The whole thing spun around an eye like an enormous vortex. While it didn¡¯t move, it also wasn¡¯t weakening. On the contrary, the longer they watched the more it appeared to be picking up speed. Elysians, for all the miracles they¡¯d seen, had never witnessed anything like this. But Selene Cloude had traversed the wastelands for five years, and had learned more in that time than most demonhunters ever did. When her cold eyes caught sight of what lay before them, she knew what they were looking at. It was a dimensional fold. Dimensional folds were areas where two places existed in the same physical space simultaneously. Some sort of interference force combined two worlds and created incredible scenes like this one. One of the ways she could tell was the huge amount and massive size of the debris in the cloud. Dimensional folds created a field of near weightlessness around them. Something like this may very well have been the cataclysm that destroyed the human race thousands of years ago. The cataclysm changed the world and the lives of all who lived in it. Although over the years most of these anomalies had faded, there were still pockets of them out in the wastes, marks where dimensions collided. As one could imagine, areas like this were phenominally dangerous. No one could know what awaited them once they crossed the barrier. Could it be the city they sought was inside that cloud of dust? What a terrifying and astonishing thing to contemplate! They were just getting their head around the spectacular scene, when a host of hulking black figures began to emerge from the sandstorm. Ships, a whole fleet of them, one after the other. ¡°Attention!¡± ¡°Enemies approaching!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 56 - Decisive Engagemen The Conclave of Judgment¡¯s establishment was done by and around the Crimson Church. In doing so, it absorbed many powerful organizations. Some of these were Seeker organizations with the knowledge and resources to create. While individually they could not rival the Dark Atom, together they were much stronger than the old terrorist organization. In regards to weaponry, the Crimson One¡¯s coalition would surely have more weapons than the Dark Atom. He also called back all his agents from around the wastelands back to defend them. For all intents and purposes, now was when the real fight between the expeditionary force and the Conclave of Judgment began. All manner of grotesque, patchwork airships were spat from the sandstorm. Their numbers were hard to fathom, a hundred at least and more coming. The ancient and repurposed war machines that had been affixed to them sparked to life in preparation. The Conclave¡¯s first offensive began. Hundreds of eye-stabbing light shot from the choking dust. Projectiles were hurled toward the Elysian warships from cannons big and small. Streaks of angry fire were left in their wake as missiles and other deadly weapons streaked across the sky. They started pummeling the invaders with tremendous speed and force. ¡°Overconfident,¡± Skye muttered with a cold glint in his eye. ¡°Aegis!¡± The warships rearranged themselves into a defensive position. One ship, perhaps a hundred and fifty meters in length, took the fore while the rest arrayed themselves in orderly fashion behind. They steamed toward the enemy in a semicircular formation. All the energy of the formation was funneled into Aegis and its enormous shield. This matrix of ships produced a huge amount of energy to the shields, expanding it to massive proportions ¨C easily large enough to protect the entire formation. As the missiles and other projectiles struck it, the shield shimmered but held. No Elysian ships were harmed by the enemy¡¯s opening salvo. Skycloud¡¯s warriors stood fast on the decks, watching as the missiles blew themselves apart against the shield like raindrops on a window pane. The din was terrifying, but for all its fire and fury it produced no effect. The fleet remained protected in their advance behind the shield, so that even an errant gust of wind couldn¡¯t squeeze through. However, the Conclave¡¯s offensive was by no means weak. They fires enough artillery at them to level an entire city! And yet, against the thousands of ships coming for them, this effort from the wasteland alliance was as effective as a mayfly trying to topple a willow. Energy from dozens of ships was what powered the shield protecting them. By all appearances, no weapon the wastelanders possessed could overcome it. Even if one or two did manage to slip passed, one missile was hardly more than a tickle to the Elysian warships. After all, each individual ship had its own shield as well. It was an expensive use of weapons and artillery, only for it to produce nothing of value. On the contrary, it only bolstered the morale of the Elysian troops. Yet, a problem emerged. Wastland ships could missiles at vast distances, but the Elysian ships relied on beams from their energy towers. The benefit of their energy weapons were that they were intensely powerful, but weakened quickly the further from the source they traveled. So long as the Conclave¡¯s vessels remained out of range, they could continue to pummel the expeditionary force without fear of reprisal. Now, the Crimson One was the leader of this rabble, and their forces were almost certainly commanded by the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army. Before he was the Crimson One, Sterling Cloude was a formidable commander. He and his lieutenants knew their strengths and weaknesses, and thus that their enemy could be whittled away by a prolonged, long-range assault. Ten days of chasing the Conclave through the Barrens had already taken its tole on the expeditionary force. They would need everything they had to win a full-on engagement. So long as the Conclave had enough bullets, there was a chance they could win this war through attrition. All the while, the expeditionary force advanced. The wastelands ships retreated to maintain distance. Conclave forces used the sandstorm to their advantage, peeking out to fire their weapons then darting from view. The sky was alive with balls of fire. Before long, the expeditionary force was closing in on the edge of the sandstorm. A few meters more and they would delve into unknown territory. No one knew what waited for them on the other side of these churning black clouds. General Skye faced a problem: Charge ahead into Fallowmoor and whatever perils awaited them, or retreat and wait to be blown to pieces. ¡°When did the Crimson One become such a coward?¡± Skye paid no mind to their impotent attacks, but he knew the engagement had to be finished quickly. The longer it dragged on, the more danger they were in. It was time they felt a little pain, so that the wastelanders knew just what sort of enemy Skycloud was. ¡°God Spear!¡± Once again, the Elysian ships adjusted formation. A unique ship slipped to the front. God¡¯s Spear wasn¡¯t a big ship. Its most immediately difference was that its hull was gold, instead of the typical white of other warships. It was not ornately carved, either, but rather etched with strange runes in a series of loops. Several nearby ships activated their energy pylons and directed their payload to God¡¯s Spear. They appeared as streaks of white light that shone upon the golden ship. God¡¯s Spear gathered them all together, then fired a beam of light thick as a barrel. It fired across ten thousand meters in an instant! As its name implied, the attack was like a spear of pure energy. It could through the sky, scattered the flames and parted the black clouds in its way. Any wasteland vessel caught in its path was immediately destroyed ¨C blown into pieces no bigger than a man¡¯s fist. What incredible, frightening power! Certainly worthy of its name, the Spear of the Gods! After the stunning blast, the Conclave¡¯s offensive slowed. Its fleet pulled further into the cloud cover so that the Elysians were left with fewer targets. A second spear came. Then a third, and a fourth! Each time the golden streaks of light erupted from the Elysian armada, oblivion rained upon the wastelanders. They couldn¡¯t escape it, nor could they survive a direct hit. The fury it delivered shook the pillars of heaven and shook the foundations of the earth. It was indomitable, like the will of death given form. Roc called out. ¡°The enemy is almost routed, we should launch a full attack!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush!¡±Skye called for their fervent hearts to cool. ¡°Send the first and second battle groups first.¡± Clusters of ships broke off from either side of the main armada, sixty or seventy vessels in all. Each one was roughly eighty to ninety meters in length. All told it constituted maybe a tenth of the expeditionary forces¡¯ full strength. Under cover of the massive shield and God Spear, the two battle groups advanced on the enemy. These ships were carved with delicate frescos and their hulls were white as jade. Exquisite beyond compare. The energy pylons jutting from their decks gleamed dangerously, giving power to their weapons and shields. They formed up in a semi-circle around Aegis and God Spear and all together pushed forward. Each ship was encased in a hazy shell of white light. Enemy missiles continued to assail them, but all were destroyed before getting within ten meters of their target. Aegis¡¯ defenses continued to protect them. Meanwhile, God Spear proceeded to punish the enemy forces with its main weapon. General Skye¡¯s superb tactics were on full display. No one questioned why he had held the post of Commander-in-Chief for all these years. Under his astute direction the expeditionary force was adaptable and dynamic. It was destructive and defensible, moving ahead and falling back when appropriate. In a word, his command was impeccable. ¡°Kill them!¡± The vanguard began its attack. All of their pylons sparked to full power as they plunged into the darkness. The world was engulfed in black clouds. Shadows, faint silhouettes. All around them were the ruins of ancient buildings and shattered mountains. Some were pieces of warships blasted apart by God Spear. What made it dangerous was the fact that nothing was falling. The massive, jagged chunks of rock and burning detritus simply hung in the air all around. Once the Elysian ships crossed the black cloud border everything immediately felt weightless. The swirling gusts threatened to sweep them away like a current. The black clouds were created by the cracks between realities. Here, gravity and the rules of physics struggled to maintain control. The battle group officers took all relevant measures to retake control, and the warships regained some measure of stability. However, as their forward charge continued a flood of debris came roaring their way through the dark. The rocks and other debris numbered in the thousands and hung in the air like meteors. At present, they were slowly converging on the ships¡¯ position. Of course, normally rocks would not be a concern for Elysian shields. However, close inspection revealed that these rocks shone with a faint glow. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± Here among the rocks and dark clouds, the wasteland forces had only feigned disarray to lure them in. Now that the Elysian ships were in inhospitable and disadvantageous territory, the enemy reemerged and began to fire their weapons once more. They no longer cared about maintaining their range advantage. They were now prepared to go head to head with the Elysians. Full-on melee. It was likely they hoped to break through the ships shields and board the enemy vessels. But that was much easier said than done. Even if they managed to slip passed God Spear¡¯s attacks, the battle group ships were strong on their own. Energy sparked as it traveled up their pylons, condensing at the top, then firing off as bolts of lightning through the dark clouds. Fire and lightning flashed as the opposing sides engaged a hundred meters apart. Elysian warships cleaved through their foes with energy blasts keen as swords. It was almost laughably easy for them to blast the inferior wasteland ships to pieces. They were simply too weak! They couldn¡¯t even handle a single attack! As expected, for these were god-given weapons of war. How could wastelanders and their vain reliance on science protect them from the might of the gods? Rocks floated closer from the darkness, seemingly attracted to the Elysian ships like magnets. The closer they got, the faster they became. Boom! Boom-boom! Boom! Plumes of fire briefly lit up the darkness! When the rocks collided with the ships they detonated, spewing fire across their shields. The Elysian vanguard was lost in a world of fire, smoke and thunderous impacts. The ¡®stones¡¯ that hung in the air here were mines, strategically placed by the wasteland forces. Using the weightlessness that was part of this place, they arranged them as a floating minefield so that anything that tried to pass would be blown apart. It worked. Several ships saw their shields fail as a number of mines overpowered the pylons. The beautiful Elysian ships started to see their hulls damaged. It wasn¡¯t critical damage by any means, but for the first time since the start of this fight, the wastelanders were making a dent. ¡°Worthless heathens!¡± More shields were starting to fall. One by one, wasteland ships swooped in to try and board them heedless of the danger. The soldiers scrambled onto the ships, clad in explosive vests. They were determined to eliminate this Elysian threat even if it meant they would have to blow themselves up in the process. It didn¡¯t take long. Several were rocked from explosions, listed to one side, then became just another hunk of debris in the darkness. Their bitter war continued, both sides desperately trying to inflict as much death to the other as they could. A mutual, burning fervor overtook them that promised mutual destruction. Although it was difficult to see through the black clouds, General Skye sensed that his vanguard had been stopped. He ordered a second and third group to advance as well. It didn¡¯t matter how many ships they had hiding in that hellish cloud. None of their tricks and machinations were enough to stop them! They had to find Fallowmoor, and destroy the heart of the Conclave of Judgment! Destruction and victory! At all costs! When General Skye felt that it was time, he called the next order. ¡°All ships, full attack!¡± Dozens of glimmering white ships lurched back into motion. With no intention of turning back they plunged into the darkness, a host of shining stars in defiance of the encroaching night. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 57 - Between the Hammer and Anvil General Skye¡¯s body blazed with golden light as he rose into the air, and shot off into the clouds by himself. Each step in midair caused a small explosion, propelling him forward. After a few steps he was moving faster than a bullet. Abandoning the ships, he took the lead as they charged into the fight. ¡°What the fuck is that?!¡± ¡°Quick! Stop him!¡± Wastelanders stared in open shock at the figure coming their way, cloaked in golden light. Several heavy machine guns swiveled around. Skye was only several hundred meters away when they spun up and started to spray a cloud of bullets toward him. He neither dodged nor blocked the thumb-sized bullets coming his way. Dozens of bullets struck him every second, fired with such velocity that they would punch right through an iron plate. Sparks flew off the general from head to toe, but not so much as a scratch appeared on him. Three missiles locked on him and rammed into his super human body. The air shuddered from the explosions and three angry balls of fire appeared. Choking smoke joined the black clouds all around. Another heavy cannon fired into the aftermath for good measure. Still General Skye was unharmed. The pervasive golden aura hadn¡¯t even dimmed, and in fact burned brighter than before. Nor was his forward momentum effected at all. Screaming through the air, he sped up to catch the wasteland airships harassing him. Two times the speed of sound. Three times. Four times! He raced passed one of the suspended rocks, a fragment easily hundreds of tons in weight. His passage was like an enormous hammer that first cracked the rock and then caused it to detonate into a hundred thousand fragments. Finger-sized pieces shot off in all directions as deadly shrapnel. Skye had reached top speed. The wastelanders and their heavy weapons were no threat to him. His body was stronger than tungsten alloy that neither bullet nor missile could pierce! His blazing golden figure loomed large in the wide eyes of the wastelanders, as General Skye collided with their ship. He punched through the fore and half a breath later emerged from the aft. It didn¡¯t matter what materials they used in its haphazard construction, he tore through it all as easily as breaking the surface of a lake. A series of explosions and raging fires followed, belching from the holes he¡¯d created. In the end the entire ship detonated, reducing it to burning scrap. Concussive force from the ship¡¯s explosion caused the air to visibly ripple. Skye used its momentum to fire him even faster toward his second target. He shot right through it, same as the first. On the other side, his calloused hands latched onto another piece of debris that in the outside world would have weighed several tons. He handled it like a baseball, and flung the chunk of rock toward a third ship. The two collided and destroyed one another. ¡°Hahahaha! Line them up, knock them down! Defeated in one shot!¡± Skye hovered in the ominous space between dimensions, filling it with his booming laughter. ¡°Is this the best you got? And still you hide, Crimson Fool! Are you waiting for me to kill all of your little playmates before you have the courage to show your face?¡± The old man¡¯s hearty laugh was dark and demeaning. Something in it made his taunts loud enough to drown out the sounds of war surrounding him. One among the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army ¨C Dumont Cenhelm ¨C possessed armor with much the same effect as Skye. While it gathered energy and could break through barrier like the old general, it wasn¡¯t anywhere near as potent. Anyway, Skye Polaris could use no relics. The calamitous damage he was doing to the Conclave¡¯s forces was done with his physical strength alone. So far he¡¯d eliminated three warships on his own, and hadn¡¯t even been scratched. Wasteland forces began to retreat in a panic. By then, the main body of the expeditionary forces had begun to catch up. Since the Crimson One had not entered the fight, Skye returned to the bridge of his ship. The armor worn ostensibly to protect him was in tatters, but in fact it was mostly just for show. The skin beneath had an unnatural sheen to it, and in an astonishing display he hadn¡¯t even been bruised. However, his chest did rise and fall as he fought for breath. The dramatic and frightening display had been exhausting. He did a good job hiding it, but age was still taking its toll. The Conclave had raced back here as quickly as they could, but Skye had been merciless in giving chase. Fighters from the wasteland alliance hadn¡¯t the time they needed to properly prepare, however there were still countless mines hovering in the darkness disguised as rocks. Dark terrain and trickery made them hard to spot, and if enough latched to a single target they could destroy even the hardy Elysian ships. But a ploy like this wasn¡¯t enough to dissuade the expeditionary force. Skye shouted his orders. ¡°Attack, press the attack! Don¡¯t give them any room to breathe!¡± The General¡¯s mad fury struck fear into the hearts of the wastelanders, and kept them perpetually on a back foot. Their vanguard continued to press ahead while the main force kept a conservative distance behind. It was proof that while Skye fought with the ferocity of a lion, he was also measured. He knew how to hold a line. Several hours passed as the Elysian armada punished the Crimson One¡¯s followers. They pressed into the deepest parts of the dimensional rift. The air was thickest in this area with dust and debris. Skycloud¡¯s ship captains could hardly see the other vessels in their formation and progress was hard, but a short time later an enormous outline began to appear. It looked like an enormous oblong shaped¡­ ship? Judging by the outline alone it looked bigger than a mountain. The unusual structure was suspended in midair like everything else. Its surface was black as ink with a metallic sheen. Its interior was completely hollow. One could faintly see lights and various fortifications. No wonder they called it Fallowmoor. It hung here in the middle of a perpetual storm. Incredible to think that deep in this dismal place, suspended high above the ground, was a titanic city. It was large enough that tens of thousands of people could live inside it easily. By what they could see, it had to be the greatest settlement in the whole of the wastelands. Scores of airships hovered around Fallowmoor. In addition, there were scores of rocks hundreds of meters across surrounding it, all of which had undergone some modifications. They had the ability to move, albeit clumsily, so that they could be arranged as needed in this weightless place. Each one was like a fortress. Their interiors had been scooped out and then manned with scores of soldiers and heavy weapons. In addition there were perhaps a hundred ships ready for battle, and ten floating batteries with guns pointed into the clouds. Dozens of rocky forts floated among them with their rocket launchers jutting from craggy hollows. The space between the clouds and Fallowmoor was a no-man¡¯s-land of assured destruction. The Conclave¡¯s more than ten thousand soldiers were ready to die here, if need be. They maintained an airtight line of defense before the magnificent city. In the distance, Skycloud¡¯s vanguard slowed. Their main force caught up and the two rejoined, facing off against the formidable wasteland defense. ¡°Have you run out of ideas, Crimson One? All of this struggle is pointless, you can¡¯t keep the expeditionary force out!¡± Skye looked down his nose at the enemy¡¯s battle array, sparing a look of ridicule for their soldiers who were ready to die for a foolish cause. ¡°Victory is in sight,¡± he growled. ¡°Take down the city with the Spear of the Gods!¡± Elysian soldiers were taken aback by the ease of this whole expedition. Wasn¡¯t this their target? The wastelanders had done nothing to protect their precious city. For all its mighty appearance, nothing could stop the Spear of the God¡¯s. The city¡¯s sleek black exterior could be twice as thick and it would mean nothing. By the time the wastelanders began their attack attack, Aegis and God¡¯s Spear would already be prepared. A dazzling spear of golden light pierced the dark, cloudy air. With a thunderous blast it shot toward one of the floating fortresses. Fervent light gleamed in the eyes of the Elysians as they expected to witness righteous destruction. But what they saw took them by surprise. Just as the beam was about to disintegrate its target, it vanished. Gone, as though something had just swallowed it completely. Even General Skye was stunned by the display, for he¡¯d seen things deflect the Spear of the Gods but never consume it. Before he could puzzle out what was going on, those ships closest to Fallowmoor were smashed to pieces, as though they¡¯d been flung into a meat grinder. Hulls harder than tempered steel were shredded without foundation, and a pulse of energy was flung out through the weightless expanse. Soldiers were caught unawares and were flung from the deck, tumbling head over heels off into the cloudy distance. No one had anticipated a counterattack like this. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Everyone knew how hardy the hull of Elysian ships were, so it was inconceivable that something would rip them apart so easily. Even other Elysian weapons couldn¡¯t produce such terrible results. Clearly there was more Fallowmoor was capable of than its appearance would suggest. This city in the clouds was definitely unique. While it wasn¡¯t sealed away like Woodland Vale had been, the dimensional fold it had been constructed in was rife with unstable fractures. These tears were impossible to see with the naked eye, nor were there any methods they knew of to detect where they hid. Because of the strange circumstance that forced these two dimensions, those places where the barrier was weak produced horrific tearing force. It didn¡¯t matter how tenacious the Elysians ships were once they collided with one. Reality tore them asunder in its effort to recompile some semblance of order. The Conclave¡¯s forces began their counter offensive. Everything the Crimson One sacrificed was to lure the expeditionary force to this battlefield! Here, on home turf and among the mysteries of the rifts, they had a chance to defeat their Elysian pursuers! Countless rock-mines assailed the Skycloud armada. Upon detonation, they sprayed plumes of wicked green fire onto the decks of the their ships. Castigation fire was flung fire and wide by virtue of the weightless environment, making every single explosion a deadly threat to the whole fleet. Outrage gripped General Skye when he realized what was happening. Their insolent counter attack came as he was trying to find a way around Fallowmoor¡¯s supernatural defenses. Roc¡¯s scrambled over to him, breathlessly. ¡°General, the situation is deteriorating. We have enemies approaching from the rear!¡± ¡°What?!¡± He said, eyes wide. Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force was fully engaged with the main Conclavian force in front of them. Suddenly, from behind came the sound of something fast coming their way. It was followed with the ominous crunch of artillery smashing into Elysian hulls. The sneak attack had caught them off guard, and so many of their rear vessels were left unguarded with minimal protection. Before Skye could react, ten of his ships were shot to pieces. He stared, stupefied, at the destruction. Where had such a vicious rear assault come from? Whatever weapons were being used against them were more advanced than those being used by the Conclave. In addition to heat rays there were also pulse weapons, gauss cannons and more. Range, destructive capability and precision were all far superior to the Crimson One¡¯s men. All at once the expeditionary force was flung into confusion. The surprises continued, for as they tried to focus on the attacks from behind a host of mutant raptors descended from above. Gnashing beaks and tearing claws fell upon them from all sides. The screams of soldiers as they were ripped to ribbons mingled with the sound of high energy bursts and fiery explosions. Deadly threats enveloped the Elysians from all sides. The Conclave of Judgment and the Dark Atom had colluded to trap them. It was the only answer. After General Skye had ordered his ships to attack the Conclave in full force, that was when the Dark Atom made their move. Now they were caught in a pincer move with nowhere to go. 1. Tipsy was hungry. He describes it as ¡®a really, really big Big Mac. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 58 - Can't Afford To Lose Whether against the Conclave of Judgment, the Dark Atom, or both, Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force was equipped to face the threat. However, they now found themselves in a complicated and dangerous predicament. Just as the Elysian forces were closing in on Fallowmoor and engaging with the Conclave, a Dark Atom sneak attack took them by surprise from the rear. While their weapons were a force to reckoned with, they were not as effective against a hoard of mutant birds, especially as they were skittering across the decks and attacking their soldiers. It was clear something was controlling these creatures. They came at the ships from below or from blind angles their weapons couldn¡¯t reach. Nearby ships were prevented from helping, for if they turned their energy pylons on the birds there was a risk they¡¯d strike and damage fellow vessels. For now, it was every man for himself. Soldiers poured out onto the decks with crossbows at the ready. Meanwhile, Fallowmoor¡¯s counter attack was in full swing. The floating fortresses and wasteland airships fired volleys of missiles and gunfire. Many of the ships would peek out to fire, then hide in the turbulent clouds behind Fallowmoor. Elysian weapons couldn¡¯t get them through the floating city. Boom! One of the Elysian ships was rocked by a blast of blue energy from the Dark Atom fleet. It was a deadly and powerful particle cannon, and it shattered the vessels shield in one shot. Once its protections were down, a salvo of missiles and other hard ordinance came screaming across the battlefield. With the particle beam doing most of the work, nothing stopped the missiles from crashing into the beautiful carved hull of the ship. Several large holes appeared and ruined sections of the hull spun off into the foggy distance. The Dark Atom¡¯s large and ugly vessels were outfitted with very powerful weapons. They continued to punish the expeditionary force from behind. The beautiful Elysian ships were rocked and their masterfully carved hulls cracked from the assault. Once the shields failed, those bloodthirsty animals waiting on the borders raced in to deal with the soldiers. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Elysian soldiers were killed in short order. What had been a formidable battle array was scattered as the forces teetered on the verge of being completely routed. General Skye was furious, unable to believe things could change so dramatically in his enemy¡¯s favor. They needed to respond, change the formation to fight on two fronts. Skye opened his mouth to give the order but was interrupted when a gust of sand swooped in front the surrounding clouds. The sand squeezed tightly together into the form of a fist easily six stories tall. It savagely crashed into the side of his ship. The sound was nearly deafening. Cracks appeared in their shield from the impact. What¡¯s more, the force of it caused them to list to one side and collide with another vessel in close formation. Its shields were already damaged in the initial strike. As it careened toward the other ship, dozens of figures leapt overboard in a panic. Suddenly a streak of brilliant sword light split the sky. A beam of light that seemed a thousand meters long carved free a path. Several dozen of the predatory birds were caught in it and floated away in two pieces. The resplendent beam didn¡¯t dim one bit as it cleaved the sandy fist in twain. It all happened so quickly, like a comet streaking across the sky and then it gone. Eventually, a figure gradually emerged from the aftermath. A middle-aged man, roughly in his forties, with refined countenance. He was Grand Prior of the Templars, Phain Mist! Most likely, the only one in all of Skycloud City who could launch such an attack was him. Phain remained hovering in the air, sword in hand, and his brows furrowed. Though he¡¯d cut the fist in half, he knew he hadn¡¯t struck his real target. Cutting through the fist had felt like running his sword through water, hardly any resistance. A host of angry screeching birds gathered round. In response, a dozen warriors in golden army burst into action. One among them was in white, pure as snow and beautiful as the morning sun as she charged to the fore. With two swipes from her sword huge swaths of the birds were cut down. Phain didn¡¯t bother with the animals. His eyes squinted through the darkness as he searched for the real threat. He found it, but then the sand from the giant fist was swirling around him like a tempest. As Phain felt the sand tearing at his skin, he realized the enemy¡¯s next offensive had already been prepared. The sand sucked back together into another fist. Phain was caught in its grip. Five sandy fingers clenched tight around the Grand Prior¡¯s body. To most others the crushing force would have reduced them to paste, but as they tightened first one, then two, then three, four, five, ten ¨C countless streaks of sword light flashed from the center of its palm. As the angry streaks blasted from their origin the sandy fist was once again carved to pieces. Phain reemerged with his sword held high. He was chased down by a dark blue blade without a handle. The Grand Prior brought his sword before his chest and held it tight with both hands. The enemy blade struck, and in the instant of their collision he felt a power like no other wrack his body. Even with Phain¡¯s strength it took him time to recover. What an incredible weapon! The sword seemed to contain infinite destructive capability! Phain¡¯s own sword was made specifically for him by the Temple. While it wasn¡¯t a relic, its craftsmanship was unparalleled. Even a monster like Skye Polaris would find him a difficult foe with this weapon in hand. However, one blow from this strange blue sword had caused cracks to appear on its surface. Another fist was birthed from that damn sand. Phain was too busy wrestling with the blue sword to deal with. Skye saw the trouble the Grand Prior was in. With angry eyes and a drawn face he launched from the deck of his ship once again, streaking through the darkness like a bolt of white lightning. He kicked off one of the birds, causing it to explode into bloody chunks, then met the sandy fist with a punch of his own. Compared to average men Skye was nearly a giant. However, he was an ant when faced with the fist of sand. It didn¡¯t matter, for when Skye landed his punch the fist was blasted apart once again. He then turned around, reeled back and delivered another thrust. This time a burst of colorful energy swept through the eighty year old man¡¯s body and out through his fist. It struck the blue hiltless sword, and sent it spinning into the distance. He¡¯d managed to deflect the terrible relic with his bare hands. Neither Phain nor Skye said a word, but shared a glance. Each intrinsically knew what was needed, and so their work was divided. Phain raised his sword and chased after the sword. Skye sought the origin of the sandy fists. Phain found the swords master riding on the back of an enormous bird. Without waiting for his foe to recover, he sent a streak of cutting sword energy toward his mount to cut it from under him. He struck with incredible speed! So fast that few of even Skycloud¡¯s best could protect themselves from it! Clearly, Phain¡¯s title as Skycloud¡¯s greatest swordsman was not given in vain! At the same time Skye had reached the source of the sand. Torrents of it were slithering through the air to form a sandy figure several meters tall. He would not give it a chance to fuse completely. He opened with a screaming punch! A hole was blasted through the sand creature¡¯s chest, and a dark figure was ejected from the other side. The old veteran gave chase without hesitation, following up with a strike that sent his enemy sailing through the darkness for a hundred meters. The strike would have turned a rhinoceros to putty. Metal would be melted to slag from the friction alone. But the enemy Skye faced now was no rhinoceros. The body of his foe was stronger than any metal known to the world of man. Abaddon was a demon, a powerful one. One of the most powerful demons on the face of the planet. Demons were born with bodies of supernatural tenacity, strong enough to compare to the body Skye needed a lifetime to cultivate. The two creatures were evenly matched in that regard, so it would require tremendous destructive power just to wound him ¨C and many wounds before Abaddon felt the effects. ¡°I figured it was you!¡± Skye fixed the demon with a cold stare. ¡°All these years you¡¯ve been playing your games, slinking around the outskirts of Skycloud. Now here you are, standing before me. Are you so bold to think no one from the holy lands can defeat you?¡± ¡°Hehehe, I am surprised that one such as you would recognize me.¡± Abaddon stared at Skye with a twisted smile. ¡°I am nothing in the world of demons. For the mighty General Skye to know my name¡­ it¡¯s an honor.¡± The demons words may have sounded like a compliment. In fact, they were anything but. Skye Polaris was likely one of the strongest humans in history. If Abaddon were so insignificant to his people, what did that mean for Skye? The disparity between their race and lifespan was vast. The weakest runt of a camel litter was bigger than a horse. Even the world¡¯s biggest ant was insignificant to a dragon. Elsewhere, Wolfblade and Phain had begun their fight. The Grand Prior opened with a forward thrust. Wolfblade¡¯s relic swept by at the last moment to counter with a dozen rapid blows. He didn¡¯t stop the Templar leader flat out, but one of the blows did manage to knock Phain¡¯s weapon away. Wolfblade¡¯s aim was to shatter his weapon with the power of his superior relic, but to his surprise the Temple-made sword remained intact. After several exchanges Phain¡¯s weapon was only chipped, and bore a few cracks. It would take a while to break through it if Wolfblade chose to persist. This new foe was even stronger than the last man who threatened him, Aegir Polaris. A particularly sturdy blow caused Wolfblade¡¯s relic to be flung aside. He was drained. Free from opposition Phain lifted the sword. Holy runes etched upon its surface glowed with righteous promise, and he released its power as a blast of energy. He brought it crashing down on the scholarly man barring his path with the full intention of cleaving him in two. Only¡­ As it descended a flute went sailing across its path. It spun across his vision, and Phain¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise as the golden light of his sword changed direction. It struck the flute instead, causing the instrument to be knocked away and delaing no further damage. A young pretty woman snatched the flute from the air. Autumn sat sidesaddle on a crystalline dragon nearby. This child, not even twenty years old, had managed to single-handedly deflect his attack. The demon Abaddon was difficult enough to contend with. The Caliph of the Sands had been active in the wastelands for many years. This would be impossible if he relied on cunning alone. Back in the day when Sterling Cloude first became a Master Demonhunter, he tracked the beast across the wastes and eventually they came to blows. Abaddon emerged victorious, proving that the demon was not as weak as he liked others to believe. Yet Skye Polaris could manage to keep the demon busy on his own. However, if they added the young leader of Woodland Vale into this equation, the situation quickly became unmanageable. Autumn, Wolfblade and the others of the Dark Atom commanded strength far superior to a veteran demonhunter. Skye and Phain were simply not enough to stem such a terrible tide. What¡¯s more, if Skye was busy protecting his soldiers from this threat, he had no means to command them in their war against the enemy. They could not afford to lose coherent command, not in this key time. Phain had not anticipated encountering an enemy this dangerous. After the girl had deflected his attack with nothing more than a flute, the Grand Prior knew he was no match for whatever she was. He was Grand Prior by default, and could not fill the shoes of the War Saint who once held the title. It would be some time still before he could rise to such heights. If Autumn were to come at him with all her strength, he anticipated it would be over in thirty moves or less. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re here to help!¡± Several of his Templars floated up to meet them. Representatives of the Cloude family would not be upstaged either, so Frost and the demonhunters he¡¯d brought with him took the field as well. Just when they were needed. Still, the circumstances were dire. All of the strongest fighters from the expeditionary force had been called to combat. Meanwhile, the Dark Atom warships were still closing in. The Crimson One and his lieutenants were yet to be seen. They were cornered, pinched between the Dark Atom and the Conclave of Judgment. Before the sneak attack took them by surprise, there was easily a ninety percent chance the expeditionary force would emerge victorious. Now the odds were fifty percent at best. Even if this war ended in an Elysian victory, the cost would be horrific to consider. More ships were destroyed as the Dark Atom warships and their advanced weaponry drew within firing range. Airships and fortresses in front of Fallowmoor neutralized much of the Elysian¡¯s foreward firing power. Skye and Abaddon continued their contest of arms. If it kept up, disaster was the only feasible outcome. Gods damnit! We can¡¯t lose here! In truth Skycloud¡¯s army was vast enough that they could suffer several defeats before crumbling. If Skye fell there still remained Arcturus, Ramiel and other hidden powerhouses ready to rise to the call. But Skye could not afford to lose. The pride of his family and the hope for its future rested on this battle. If he failed here, he risked the destruction of his family line. As energy raced through him the old War God¡¯s beard and hair stood on end. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. Even if it meant the end of his life, he had to win this fight! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 59 - Stirring Things Up Cloudhawk watched the whole scene play out. Outside the portholes the world was a chaotic display of explosions and beams of light. The flames of this conflict painted the dark clouds an angry red, and everywhere they turned they were met with disarray. Burning wreckage and hunks of shattered warships floated passed, crisscrossing the horizon and striking the hull of their ship. All together it was like a scene from a nightmare. This was war. Real war. None of them ¨C not Barb, not Dawn, not even Cloudhawk had seen combat of this scale. The howling winds and burning skies made the world angry and inhospitable. All around Fallowmoor was the enormous dust cloud which hid it from view. The perpetual storm restricted their field of vision, as well as the many other airships which were locked in combat between them and the floating city. So to the four of them furtively hiding in the hip¡¯s bridge, all they could hear were the deafening explosions. They had no idea where they were coming from. An order flashed across the screen: Begin the attack! The flagship relayed its commands to the rest of the wasteland fleet in this way. Pilots didn¡¯t need to know where the enemy was, or even required a visual. All the relevant data was provided on the screen, all they needed to do was comply. Since the area around Fallowmoor did not submit to the rule of gravity, the missiles fired from wastelander ships could travel much farther. This allowed them to keep a safe distance while still punishing the enemy with artillery fire. Dawn¡¯s face hardened in a look of anger. ¡°Ahead is the home of the wasteland alliance, and the expeditionary forces have been trapped. These blasphemers are hoping to stab them in the back.¡± She¡¯d never seen anything like it. For the moment she wasn¡¯t sure how to react. ¡°After the Blisterpeaks everyone was sure the Dark Atom would stay under their mountain and lick their wounds. Not even grandpa expected them to have a fleet like this. Even though the expeditionary force had the equipment to protect themselves, between the conclave and the help from Woodland Vale there are too many variables. They can¡¯t handle it, we need to do something immediately!¡± Barb was visibly nervous. How could she ¨C an average demonhunter of no great importance ¨C know how to react to a situation like this? It was clear to everyone that the expeditionary force had found itself embroiled in a deadly plight. Without timely intervention, the consequences they faced were dire. ¡°Old man, guard the bridge door and make sure no one gets in. The two of you, back me up.¡± Cloudhawk then smashed his fist through the control screen. ¡°Activate all weapons and throw the engine wide open. Go, go, go!¡± Through the Heart-scry Thorn, Barb knew how to do all of that. She hurried to follow orders. Cloudhawk¡¯s plans were not hard to guess. The woman felt their hearts race, if they did this right they stood to vastly change the tide of this war! Barb shoved the throttle as far forward as it would go. ¡°Engines at full power!¡± Meanwhile, Dawn hurriedly unlocked the weapon systems. She was unfamiliar with these scientific constructs, o it took her a moment to get a handle on how to use them. But she was very smart, so before long she knew what to do. ¡°All weapon systems active!¡± Everyone could feel the ship rumble beneath their feet as the engines roared. The cast iron sheets that made up the ship¡¯s exterior were pulled back, revealing several dark cannons. One of them was different from the other ¨C larger and more complicated. That was the airship¡¯s main weapon, a pulse cannon of tremendous destructive force. ¡°Excellency! Energy storage at max capacity!¡± ¡°Weapons are ready!¡± Both women nervously looked through the bridge¡¯s windows. They were situated in the center of the enemy fleet, leaving them with a wealth of targets to choose from. Yet the plethora of choices also made picking the most suitable one difficult. What¡¯s more, the moment they took out one of them their cover would be blown. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, shoot somebody! Blow them to fuckin¡¯ pieces!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even hesitate about pushing the launch button. Hundreds of shells were launched from the ship. They weren¡¯t all fired in one direction, but spread all over like deadly flower blossoms. In the next moment five or six ships nearby were rocked by unexpected explosions. The pulse cannon shot a beam directly into the ass of another vessel right in front of them, blowing it to pieces. The sound was deafening. Outside the grit-stained windows the world was a sea of fire. Cloudhawk¡¯s ship was like a wild animal suddenly going rabid. The ships nearby where wholly unprepared, so several were rendered incapacitated from the attack. Many others were badly damaged. Their ship continued to pick up speed, like a wild horse trying to escape the lasso. They recklessly smashes into several ships as they pushed through the fleet toward the front. A large number of parts were left in its wake like discarded building blocks. Such an expected scene quickly garnered everyone¡¯s attention. Wastelanders on other vessels and the one Cloudhawk controlled stared in wide-eyed disbelief. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± ¡°Who the hell is controlling that ship?!¡± All of a sudden the Dark Atom¡¯s sneak attack was interrupted. Everyone scrambled furiously through the ships to try and get a handle on the situation. Now was the perfect opportunity for the Dark Atom to deliver a knock-out blow to the Elysians. Fifteen minutes was all they needed to shoot down at least a hundred of those gaudy warships. If it didn¡¯t route the expeditionary forces outright, it would at minimum be a crushing blow to their morale. And just when the Dark Atom was licking their chops, the unthinkable happened. Even a brief delay was catastrophic to this well-laid plan! Several messages were crackling through the radio system, other ships trying to figure out what the hell was going on. All went unanswered. By now the Dark Atom leadership had to know that somehow the enemy had gotten control of a ship. ¡°Destroy it!¡± Buzzard screeched the order and made to handle it himself. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a look, see if I can¡¯t figure out who the fuck is playing games with us.¡± Coal and Greenscale decided to join him. Two minutes and two more destroyed wasteland airships later¡­ At last the Dark Atom ships pulled around to respond. Their cannons roared as heavy machine gun fire and missiles were spat at the traitorous vessel. Jagged, gaping holes appeared on the patchwork hull, each one hemorrhaging fire. On the bridge sparks were flying from the control panels and the acrid scent of burning electronics filled their nostrils. Outside the bridge, it was an absolute mess. A group of Dark Atom soldiers had gathered and were trying to break through the door. The old drunk made quick work of them with his iron cane. ¡°Fire another round! Another!¡± Dawn¡¯s face was red with excitement. She hammered on the control panel,blind to the danger that surrounded them. ¡°Let me this time!¡± BANG! The pulse cannon fired another shot, causing the ship directly in front of them to immediately detonate. Barb and Dawn whooped triumphantly. But Cloudhawk¡¯s keen danger sense was filling the pit of his stomach with fear. He knew it wasn¡¯t time to celebrate. ¡°Good enough. Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± In that moment the blast from a particle cannon struck. The shot was well placed, and their vessel split in two with a shuddering blast. The bridge was devoured by fire. Cloudhawk¡¯s quick reaction gathered his small crew and teleported them a thousand meters away. They were floating out in the weightless place between dimensions as rocks and debris floated passed. They didn¡¯t stop. Jumping from one massive boulder from the next, they could see the lights of the expeditionary force in the distance. ¡°Kill them! Kill them all!¡± A host of Dark Atom ships gave chase. Their left flank was aimed toward them, bristling with cannons and gun barrels. Dark Atom agents were positioned behind heavy machine guns and opened fire when the four culprits swung into view. The bullets were deflected by the old drunk, who single-handedly knocked the spray of lead off target by spinning his cane. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± Their escape was cut off by the sudden arrival of Dark Atom agents. Greenscale¡¯s burly form had completely switched to its bestial state. Barb quickly deflected his opening attack with her exorcist rod. Buzzard and a handful of others were right on the shapeshifter¡¯s heels. Cloudhawk wrapped his fingers around Ardent Wrath and pulled it from his waist. He heaved it at Buzzard to keep him at bay. Engaging his mental energies, the broken sword suddenly flared to life and became a longsword of fire. ¡°Out of my way!¡± The angry flames reached for Buzzard¡¯s face. The Dark Atom lieutenant was protected by one of his lackeys. The formidable soldier lifted a sword to protect them, grossly underestimating Cloudhawk and his new weapon. Ardent Wrath was not made up of physical energy, so using his sword to deflect the blow achieved nothing. The flaming weapon slipped passed the sword like it wasn¡¯t there, then burned through its bearer¡¯s body. Where it passed the flesh was immediately carbonized. What an incredible relic! Cloudhawk was satisfied. He took the lead, Ardent Wrath held aloft, then cut down the next few Dark Atom agents who made to bar their escape. Once several more soldiers had died, the rest were too afraid to draw near. But not all. Another figure swept by to stop Cloudhawk¡¯s advance. His scowl darkened: Another asshole looking to die?! He stabbed toward the attacker¡¯s face. But when Cloudhawk raked the sword against the sturdy body before him, it didn¡¯t have the same effect as it had on the soldiers before. In fact his new opponent heaved an enormous fist in to counterattack, which caught the physical half of Ardent Wrath and knocked the attack wide. Cloudhawk reeled like he¡¯d been struck by a cannonball. He felt his whole body shudder and ache. When he finally stopped to look at who delivered the punch, he understood. Coal¡¯s imposing figure hovered in the air before him. No wonder Ardent Wrath hadn¡¯t done anything. The mutants of Blisterpeak had a high tolerance for heat! Coal also paused when he recognized his new foe. ¡°You?¡± Cloudhawk warily held his flame-spewing sword at his side. ¡°Coal, it¡¯s been a while. You¡¯ve gotten a lot stronger. But you still aren¡¯t strong enough to stop me.¡± His words caused the large mutant to hesitate. Not long ago he considered the outsider a friend. Cloudhawk had even saved Coal¡¯s life. His was a simple code of ethics; repay favors, and punish slights. But which one applies here? Raising his hand against Cloudhawk was disrespecting a friend. But if he let Cloudhawk leave, he would harm others. There were already many in the Dark Atom who disliked him. He was still struggling with the answer when someone dashed in to join them. The old drunk whipped a kick at Coal¡¯s body. Crisscrossed arms extended to deflect the attack, but he wasn¡¯t expecting how much strength was behind the old man¡¯s kick. It sent it tumbling head over heels through the clouds, ultimately smashing to a distant boulder. The drunk looked over his shoulder. ¡°No time for chit-chat. If we don¡¯t leave now, we aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡± ¡°Do you not see me trying to do that?¡± The phase stone around Cloudhawk¡¯s neck shimmered. A flash, and the four of them disappeared further into the dust storm. Buzzard watched helplessly as his targets vanished from right under his nose. He was so furious he could spit blood. Of course he recognized Cloudhawk. What he didn¡¯t understand was why this shit stick was stirring up trouble just when they didn¡¯t need it, and what side the asshole was even on! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 60 - Cutting Off the Head The Dark Atom¡¯s fleet switched focus. Skye Polaris used this breathing room to repel Abaddon¡¯s attacks and retreat to his men. Grand Prior Phain returned to the ships as well, breaking off the fight with Wolfblade. Both armies withdrew and eyed each other warily. Dark Atom agents suspected the Elysians would have some kind of backup plan, but doubted they would be so thorough as to expect their sneak attack. From what they could gather the whole Elysian armada was here, caught between them and the Conclave forces. How could Skye have known what would come? Whatever the case, their carefully planned rear assault on the Elysians had been cut short by unexpected treachery. It gave Skycloud;s soldiers the time they needed to restructure formation and adopt a more defensible position. Skye could breathe a little easier. It was then a familiar voice caught his ear. Cloudhawk, Dawn and several others were racing his way. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?!¡± ¡°Grandfather, you should be thanking us. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t sneak us into the enemy side, our forces would be a much tougher position.¡± Dawn called to him, still exhilarated from their success. ¡°Remember to write us a commendation when this is over!¡± Skye was pretty damn sure he ordered his granddaughter to keep Cloudhawk back at base ¨C the exact opposite of what she was doing now. Hell, she let him drag her out to the middle of a war zone! Selene was just as surprise to see Cloudhawk suddenly appear among them. It seemed as though any time something big was happening, this guy was part of it. And a good thing, too. Showing up gave the expeditionary forces a moment of respite to re-calibrate the situation. Cloudhawk briefly explained what happened that brought them here. After days of searching on their way here, neither hair nor hide of Drake and his people had been found. Instead, the clues they followed led them to Skye and the main Elysian force. While he knew it was in violation of direct orders, he pointed out the obvious ¨C that he¡¯d saved their asses. So in the end it was the right decision. But this guy was just so damn impertinent! Didn¡¯t he understand how dangerous this place was? Were he a normal demonhunter, Cloudhawk would have died half a dozen times before they reached the front. Skye Polaris had decided that he was to be his son-in-law, and now here he was caught between a flying fortress, a demon, a god, and a two gods-damned armies. All of his plans for the future would go up in smoke if things went poorly. If he paid so little heed to Skye¡¯s orders now, how could he be expected to lead the whole family? And Dawn, always following his lead. What happened to the stubborn girl from the old days? What happened to the traditional fury he¡¯d bred into the Polaris family? Skye sputtered through his beard, ready to share a few barbed sentences with his future son-in-law. But then his eyes swept over the others he¡¯d brought with him. A girl with a short hair, she looked like a demonhunter. Skye could tell at a glance that she had the physicality of a martial artist, though. A shame that she¡¯d chosen the road she did. His eyes lingered on her for only a moment. When they fell on the old drunk, however, they narrowed and he took a closer look. A man like him had surpassed the limits of normal human capabilities, and part of that was the ability to tell someone¡¯s strength at a glance. There was definitely more to this lame vagrant than what was on the surface. His eyes traveled down to the cane clutched in his dirty hands. ¡°Dawnguard? You¡¯re...¡± The drunk made no effort to conceal his identity. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, elder.¡± Skye had guessed his identity, and it struck with with a deep sense of astonishment. No one in Skycloud had heard from him in over six years. He¡¯d been almost forgotten, only to show up in the thick of battle. ¡°It is you!¡± It was disappointing to the drunk to meet Skye in this way. One of his sorest regrets in life was that he¡¯d never been good enough to spar with the War God. Skye was a respected hero of the former generation, a mountain of a man. Vulkan¡¯s greatest ambition had always been to conquer that mountain, but fate had deigned he would never succeed. Phain was stunned. The expression on the middle-aged man¡¯s face was conflicted. However, the other Templars with him were elated when they discovered who the old drunk was. The War Sage held tremendous sway in the Temple, commanding even more respect than the two Oracles. He was only second to the High Priest himself, and to the Templars he was a living legend. Most of the training regimens used in the Temple were either designed or improved by him. If you said the War God¡¯s achievements opened a door to new heights for humanity, then the War Sage cut down the brambles that barred the way. Both men had left bold marks on the annals of human history. But one was old, and the other a recluse. Time was cruel, and heroes were fleeting ¨C a true shame. The old drunk was Phain¡¯s senior, and former commander. Logic would lead one to believe he would share the other Templar¡¯s excitement at seeing him again. But that was not the case, or at least not entirely. A keen eye might see the veiled resentment in his eyes. Perhaps the drunk did, because he spoke next to the new Grand Prior. ¡°You display good progress. In another three to five years the position of Grand Prior will have an honorable bearer. I can stop worrying then.¡± Phain said nothing. He didn¡¯t need to, Vulkan saw it for himself. In truth Phain had not led a charmed life either. The person Vulkan had failed the most was the same person Phain cherished most deeply. Inevitably there was some estrangement between the two men, a chasm that was likely insurmountable. ¡°I can¡¯t explain what happened with Jade, but I can see you still hold on to it ¨C even to your detriment.¡± The drunk spread his arms, exposing his chest. ¡°I know you hate me. If you wish to solve it with a sword to my chest, then get it over with. I won¡¯t raise a hand to stop you.¡± Everyone else watched the exchange in surprised silence. The former Grand Prior and his successor stood eye to eye in a tense stand-off. What could have happened between them? Phain¡¯s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. ¡°Who is her murderer?¡± He managed to ask through clenched teeth. The vagrant did not reply. His answer would only hurt more people. Better to have it end with one death. ¡°Hey, are you two assholes done? We¡¯re kind of in the middle of a fuckin¡¯ war, so maybe air your shit out later.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand what their problem was, but he didn¡¯t care. He left it at that and turned to General Skye. ¡°Gramps, I think I¡¯ve got a grip on what¡¯s happening here. The sneak attack was orchestrated by the Dark Atom, who are in league with Woodland Vale. They¡¯ve coordinated with the wasteland alliance with the intent of smashing Skycloud¡¯s army here.¡± The only thing Skye was surprised to learn was that Woodland Vale had decided to join the fight. Hadn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s efforts stopped the Vale from falling into wastelander hands? What reason did they have for getting involved in this fight? ¡°Right now we¡¯re caught on both flanks. It¡¯s just as deadly to push forward as it is to retreat. This fight is destined for a deadlock and everyone¡¯s going to suffer badly, no matter who wins.¡± Cloudhawk was the sort who hated trouble, but his experience over the last few years had taught him that sometimes trouble was unavoidable. Sometimes the only thing you could do was try to avoid more problems. With that in mind he went on. ¡°Far as I see it, caught in this trap we have one option; deal with the Crimson One, and destroy that floating city. Then the wasteland alliance will collapse under its own weight.¡± Skye understood the tactical thinking. ¡°You plan to head in and kill the Crimson One.¡± Dawn was immediately keen on the idea and voiced her support without a second thought. But Skye was less enthusiastic. ¡°Just this group? Unacceptable!¡± It was then that Selene¡¯s cold but determined voice interjected. ¡°I will go with them.¡± Dawn¡¯s hostile gaze turned on her. ¡°Hey, crazy, who¡¯s asking for your input? Cloudhawk, the drunk and I are more than enough to deal with that has-been. You¡¯d just get in the way!¡± Selene¡¯s brows slowly drew together in a scowl. She didn¡¯t say anything, but the loathing in her eyes was unmistakable. It was a look that said ¡®I could cut five of you to ribbons.¡¯ If it weren¡¯t for their time-sensitive circumstance, she would have happily taught this arrogant bitch a lesson. Even with her offer, General Skye was still intractable. ¡°I fought the Crimson One not very long ago. I know what he can do, and you lot will just be throwing your lives away.¡± The drunk was once a legendary warrior, but now he simply didn¡¯t have what was needed to best Sterling. After all, the Crimson One was no typical foe. He was a Master Demonhunter, and the organization he led commanded many formidable enemies. Wyrmsole and the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army were deadly on their own merit, and who could say what other dangerous wastelanders were lurking in their midst? Further, they were proposing to take the fight onto the enemy¡¯s home turf. Any way you looked at it the plan was a bad one. ¡°Fallowmoor is locked up tight and the Crimson One presides over many deadly allies. The General is right, even with Selene you cannot succeed.¡± The dark assurances were delivered by a cold and dispassionate voice. They were joined by a heroic figure in resplendent white armor. ¡°Clay and I shall accompany them.¡± Frost de Winter was a mighty ally in and of himself. As for ¡®Clay¡¯? It was a name Cloudhawk recognized. He¡¯d met him once, years ago. It was shortly after entering Skycloud city for the first time. His¡­ trouble with the Governor led to a banquet where the two tried to air out their grievances. Clay Cloude had been the man who greeted them, then known as the steward of the Governor¡¯s mansion. Cloudhawk had picked up on the fact that the smiley butler was more than just a house man. Later, while gathering data as part of his training in Hell¡¯s Valley, he had learned more about the Cloude family. In that data he discovered that Clay was quite strong ¨C actually much stronger than Arcturus¡¯ personal manservant Augustus. His help would likely make their mission go much smoother. But the prospect made the situation even less palatable for Dawn. What a pain! Now there were two people she hated on their team. Cloudhawk, Dawn, Selene, Frost, an old drunk, and the Cloude family butler. If it was just the Crimson One they faced this team would be passable, even if he was a Master Demonhunter. But it wasn¡¯t that simple. The Crimson One wasn¡¯t stupid enough to fight them alone. The mission they proposed was still very dangerous. Neither Skye nor Phain could afford to join them, and anyone else who could aid the effort was needed on the front lines. But despite his misgivings, Skye knew that the expeditionary force had no choice. IF they wanted to emerge victorious, they had to take the risk. The leader of the wasteland alliance had to die. General Skye hesitated for a moment, and then agreed with a sigh of resignation. ¡°Fallowmoor is a dangerous place. Be careful. Mr. Ink, go with them.¡± Little was known about Skye¡¯s right-hand man, except that he was stronger than most suspected. Mr. Ink¡¯s job was clearly to watch over Cloudhawk and Dawn. At least those two had to make it out alive. Skye¡¯s loyal servant nodded and went with them without a word. So it was that Cloudhawk came to lead a strong selection of fighters, bound for the belly of the proverbial beast. Their assassination squad was comprised of him, Dawn, Selene, Frost, Vulkan, Barb, Clay, and Mr. Ink. The strangely turbulent area around Fallowmoor did not trouble Cloudhawk, not with his abilities. He used his dimensional powers through the phase stone to pinpoint where the dangerous rifts resided. It allowed him to lead their team safely toward their objective and infiltrate it. Shortly after, the armies had regrouped and renewed their bloody war. 1. The oracles, I believe, being the two who had flanked High Priest Ramiel when we first met him. 2. I had no idea who this was. I recognized the name, but because I would have had to comb through several hundred chapters to figure it out. No throwaway characters! It¡¯s like Tipsy has a hard cap on the number of characters allowed in his novels so he has to recycle. In fairness, read the TL note ¨C he did give us a hint. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 61 - Intrusion Fallowmoor was a strange and enigmatic wastelander city. It was a gloomy shadow hovering over the dark landscape below, which was the source of its ominous name. From the outside, Fallowmoor looked like a titanic, floating black mountain. Upon closer inspection, however, this proved to be misleading. First and foremost, its surface gleamed with a metallic luster even in the dim light of the constant sandstorm. Its outer shell was separate from the interior, and spun with the influence of the hurricane outside. The centrifugal force created as a result provided artificial gravity for the city¡¯s interior and the constant motion powered electricity generators. This place was obvious not natural, or even created by wastelander hands. It wasn¡¯t even from this era. Fallowmoor had to be some kind of ancient mother ship, created by ancient man. A space port perhaps, packed with technology far beyond the ken of modern humans. Inside, all of the buildings and farmlands were build on the walls where there was enough space to grow produce and live their lives. The center was crisscrossed with tunnels and lanes for travel. All told it was a complex structure completely closed to the outside. Invaders would find it impossible to find a way inside, and it was practically unheard of for those inside to venture out. In addition, there were a number of floating fortresses build into rocks suspended all around the city. The environment it occupied was danger and unpredictable. There were no instruments that could tell outsiders where the deadly dimensional tears were located, or where they moved to. As such they were a natural defense system for the city ¨C insomuch as dimensional tears were ¡®natural.¡¯ It was no exaggeration to claim Fallowmoor was the most secure city in the whole of the wastelands. Inside sat the Crimson One, eyes closed in meditation. Toad and Canker stood at his side. Brief was the time since these two proud mutants chose to join with the Master Demonhunter of bygone days. They paid him all due respect, for he was after all one of the greatest demonhunters of his time. In the wastelands strength was respected, and he was incredibly strong. What¡¯s more, he had the intelligence and experience that wasteland leaders lacked. Simply put, they needed a man like him to give them structure and guidance. Both mutants had ambitions of power, but they were not fools. They saw the situation between the wastelands and Skycloud, and recognized that they did not have the clout or resources to lead a war against the Elysians. Only a man like the Crimson One could do that. The Crimson One had faced much in a short period of time. His son, Adder, had been slain in the bowels of Woodland Vale. No matter how many years passed, that pain would remain with him forever. As a father, he and his son had little interaction. In fact they¡¯d seen one another only a handful of times in the years since absconding to the wastes. They had been alike in many ways, as one might expect. Most notably, each were strong in ability and personality, but famously tight-lipped about their emotions. Whether to friends, enemies or loved ones, they always kept their thoughts hidden like a wide river running deep below the surface. On the surface one would never know, but deep inside the waters raged. When word of his son¡¯s death reached the Crimson One his expression had been indifferent. He revealed neither pain at the loss of his boy, nor hatred for the ones who killed him. He was as unreadable as a mountain face. However, subtle clues betrayed his stoic facade. The priest¡¯s salt and pepper hair was more gray now, but he let nothing else show. It was as though the man who had been blown apart in the Vale was not his son at all, just some stranger who¡¯d died for the cause. Toad and Canker shifted uncomfortably beside the man. They felt it. This silence was terrible. There were some people who, when encountering the difficulties of life, did not kick and scream and pull their hair. Nor did they sink into depression and let the world overwhelm them. To these people pain was a source of power. The more hardships they faced, the stronger they became. These were the types of people others called ¡®powerful.¡¯ Natessa Windham walked into the chamber. Even a woman as wild and independent as her showed true respect when before the Crimson One. She offered a slight bow. ¡°The situation outside has stabilized. For the time being, there is no way for the expeditionary force to break free from the fight.¡± Lines at the edges of the Crimson One¡¯s eyes deepened for a moment. ¡°How do you expect this will play out?¡± ¡°Skycloud¡¯s forces responded quickly, forcing us to arrange only half of our strength to mount a defense. We didn¡¯t have the time we needed to properly prepare.¡± Natessa had obviously been caught off guard with the speed and efficiency of the expeditionary force. ¡°Luckily, the Dark Atom fleet caught them by surprise with a rear sneak attack. Their timing was impeccable, otherwise we would have been hard pressed to fend off Skye¡¯s attack. For now we must hold the lines and wait for reinforcements.¡± It was clear how much pressure the Dark Atom¡¯s surprise assault had laid on the shoulders of the Elysians. If current circumstances continued then the devastation to all sides would be frightening to behold. However the Elysians had the numbers to lose many such battles, whereas the wasteland couldn¡¯t afford one. Everyone was painfully aware of the fact. Skycloud still had a second and third division ready to take up arms. The Conclave didn¡¯t have that luxury. If their alliance fell here, the wastelands faced an unprecedented area of ethnic cleansing that would leave millions dead. But then again¡­ The Dark Atom had proven stronger than previous thought. There was still significant uncertainty as to who would win this war. The Crimson One nodded. He offered no opinion, and only opened his eyes to fix a gaze upon Natessa. ¡°Since defecting and leaving the valley, you and your people have become hated by the Elysians. You¡¯re an especially rancorous pill to Skye Polaris. After sacrificing so much, and putting your life in such danger, do you have any regrets?¡± Natessa didn¡¯t know why the Crimson One was asking her this question now. However she answered directly, without much thought. ¡°In the fight for freedom, there are no regrets.¡± The betrayal of Hell¡¯s Army came as a bitter surprise to many in Skycloud. But anyone who thought about it critically would see it should not have been. Theirs was an organization with strength and ability, but no recognition. For decades they were stationed out beyond the wall, forced to live within sight of the holy land but subsisting on the scant bounties of the wastes. Skycloud only reached out to them when the foulest deeds needed doing. Hell¡¯s Army was seen as a necessary evil, a tool so ensure the security and stability of their great domain. And they did it without honor, without recognition, and without reward. The leaders of Skycloud must have known that when you¡¯re mired in darkness for long enough, it is easy to let it consume you. When you tread along the edge of a precipice for long enough, one day you¡¯ll fall. Hell¡¯s Army took the plunge, and had no intention of looking back. When Natessa defected she did so under no uncertain terms. She murdered the commander of Skycloud¡¯s border forces, the general of its defense force, and maimed the Warden of the Talons of God. Each of them were Skye Polaris¡¯ men or family. There was no question that the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army were top on the General¡¯s list of those to be executed. Skye Polaris would give them no quarter. The Polaris family would see them punished, in the cruelest fashion they could muster. Skycloud¡¯s people could never forgive their betrayal. Hell¡¯s Army would never be brought back into the fold. So long as any member of the Polaris family still lived, Hell¡¯s Army lived under threat of retribution. He looked at this young, dominant woman. When surrounded by darkness, you might as well be free in the shadow. When you¡¯ve fallen from grace, why not fall with dignity. Is that the creed Hell¡¯s Army had adopted? But freedom was a tempting and dangerous luxury that not many earned. Were they really willing to sacrifice everything for this lofty ideal? ¡°The Conclave is lucky to have many talented soldiers, but there are few capable of real leadership. Adder is dead, Wyrmsole is growing old.¡± The Crimson One rose to his feet, never taking his eyes off Natessa. ¡°From this moment forward you will be commander of all our forces. Our conflict with the Elysians will now be your responsibility to bear.¡± The sudden promotion took Natessa by surprise. It was always Adder that the Crimson One had placed all his hopes on. He¡¯d been strong, capable, and made of the stuff of leadership. If anyone was suitable for the post of Commander, it was him. Unfortunately, Adder had fallen. The Crimson One had always wanted someone young and talented to take under his wing. After years of searching, Natessa was the only one who seemed worthy. She was one of the Giants of Hell¡¯s Army, a leader and a tactician, and the youngest member of the Conclave¡¯s leadership structure. Not only was she a capable commander, she was also a fine soldier in her own right. But most importantly, she knew their enemy. Many of the veterans among Hell¡¯s Army¡¯s ranks were former officers. Pick any one at random at they would tell you of the dozens of battles they fought and survived. These days the Hell¡¯s Army of before was no more. Many of its most effective fighters were cannibalized and made into the backbone of the Conclave¡¯s army. Even its most average members were good enough to be mid-level officers of their fledgling alliance. While from the outside Natessa¡¯s influence in the Conclave seemed limited, in fact it was precisely the opposite. Her and her army had tremendous weight in the conclave. If he should fall, it was not his right hand man Wyrmsole who would take over command of the alliance. Nor was it Toad, or Canker. It was Hell¡¯s Army! To be more precise, it was Natessa Windham. Natessa name did not ring through Skycloud. Hers was not a personality that inspired the wastelands. However, the Crimson One could tell that she had all the right tools to be a great leader. So long as she had his backing, Natessa would certainly be accepted as the next in line to lead their organization. ¡°No need for surprise. To be young just means to be in need of practice. Our struggle will not end here, the war with Skycloud will drag on. We will need young people like you to bring us to ultimate victory.¡± The Crimson One was full of encouragement and support in the face of her astonishment. ¡°Unfortunately we find ourselves in an uncertain position, otherwise I would accept you as my apprentice in a more formal manner. Skycloud sorely underestimated your worth. If the fates decide you should live and progress, then the leaders of the Elysians lands will be forced to see you with new eyes.¡± Natessa had always been capable, reasonable. The reason she had lead Hell¡¯s Army into the arms of the Church was for its own benefit, was it not? She raised her hands in salute. ¡°I will not betray our leader¡¯s trust.¡± The Crimson One then turned his attention toward the mutants, who had been standing silently by his side. ¡°When can we expect reinforcement from the Northern Barrens to arrive?¡± Toad stepped forward and answered. ¡°We¡¯ve already dispatched an emissary. I believe we can convince one or both of the other leaders to come to our aid. The outcome of this fight doesn¡¯t just affect us, but the wastelands as a whole. I am confident they will recognize this.¡± The Crimson One hoped this was true. The powers of the wasteland were legion, but scattered like dust in the wind. Wyrmsole hurried pushed his way into the chamber. ¡°Something unexpected is happening in the city!¡± The Crimson One¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Speak.¡± Wyrmsole obliged. ¡°We¡¯ve found evidence that someone might have snuck inside. I¡¯ve dispatched a team of demonhunters adept at tracking to see what they can discover. At present we suspect there may be roughly eight intruders.¡± Toad¡¯s face twisted into a scowl. ¡°Fallowmoor hasn¡¯t even been struck once with an attack. How could someone have gotten inside?¡± ¡°We are not mistaken,¡± Wyrmsole replied with certainty. Silence came over the room as the Crimson One mulled over the possibilities. ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, Cloudhawk will be one of them. His teleportation capabilities are hard to prepare against. It is not strange for him to appear inside the city, even if the walls haven¡¯t been breached. Cloudhawk?! Everyone scowled when they heard the name. That damned troublemaker again! If not for his involvement, Woodland Vale would have been an ally of the conclave, or at least willing to cooperate. With Woodland Vale as their foundation and the Northern Barrens for support, the Conclave of Judgment would have been all but unstoppable. After all, Woodland Vale was famous for its inexhaustible resources, resources which were desperately needed by the alliance. But he ruined everything! What wastelander didn¡¯t despise the name Cloudhawk? Luckily for them, however, they didn¡¯t need to hunt the despicable man down. He was walking right into their hands. In contrast to the others, the Crimson One¡¯s face was deathly calm. His voice was cold as a winter breeze. ¡°Bring them to me.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 62 - The Mission Begins Every wasteland city was unique in some way. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough floated freely in a sea of moving sand. It was never in the same place and was hidden in a choking sandstorm. It was remote, veiled in deadly weather, and rife with ferocious creatures. It took a special sort to make the journey, and even then the only way was with special sand sharks. Nucleus was buried deep beneath an active volcanic mountain range. Above it lava flows dominated the landscape. The Blisterpeaks were deadly enough as they were, so even just finding the city¡¯s hidden entrance was practically impossible. Woodland Vale was nestled in a lush valley hand crafted by a god. It existed in its own plane, wholly separated from the rest of the world. So perfect was its defenses that the Vale remained a closely guarded secret for over a thousand years. Like the others, Fallowmoor was a wasteland city. Like the others, it was completely unique. The city¡¯s power source was the perpetual tempest swirling outside its wall, providing enough energy to sustain a population of over two hundred thousand people. Gravity inside Fallowmoor was only one sixth of what it was outside, making everything strangely buoyant. It was a holdover from the ancient times, created by people from a bygone era. Therefore the interior was extremely complex. While the metal had rusted over the years, it didn¡¯t have the desolate look of most ruins. Moss and vines had crept across the once sterile hallways as nature asserted its dominance. If someone from the ancient times were to see it now, their glorious structure would be all but unrecognizable. Now it was a strange amalgamation of steel and metal, given new purpose. Fallowmoor was like stepping into an entirely different world. All the fire and fury just outside the walls disappeared once inside. You couldn¡¯t even hear the explosions, though they were only a few dozen meters away. Dawn tore off the mask she¡¯d been wearing to protect her from the dust and took a deep breath. The air that filled her lungs was clean, moist and invigorating. Everywhere she looked were strange and wonderful plants, and the path beneath her boots was coated in soft moss. In contrast metal columns lined the path forward. It was impossible to see what they looked like before, since now they were mostly coated with creeping vines and other strange foliage. Snakes, ants, lizards and other small critters skittered by as they suddenly appeared. Towering trees reached overhead, thick brush dotted the landscape, and butterflies danced on a nigh imperceptible breeze. It was a mystical, ancient, vibrant place. Selene leaped into the air and alighted on a pillar ten meters above them. With her higher vantage she spotted a place of abnormally high density. There were countless buildings with expansive farmland interspersed among them at random intervals. Messy, at least at first glance, but it seemed to work. Spread out across her field of view were many multicolored balloons suspended in air. The balloons, far from being decoration, were actually used for transportation. Some dripped with tiny cabin-like structures and twinkled from electric lights as though people were living on them. Considering how low gravity was here, living in a balloon wasn¡¯t at all strange. Selene cast her eyes into the distance, over tens of thousands of lights busily dancing across the horizon. It was exotic and exciting, but at the same time there was something depressing underneath the apparently flourishing settlement. If there was no war, this would just be another bustling city. It was a city with hundreds of years of history, and the largest settlement for a thousand kilometers. No one knew much about the reclusive city, or how rich its denizens were, or how many powerful people walked its floral lanes. Cloudhawk jumped up after her to have a look for himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t know this place would be so beautiful. None of these people have ever been outside, this is their world. Now the expeditionary force is closing in. If I were these folk, this wouldn¡¯t be any different than the end of the world.¡± His words wormed into Selene¡¯s stoic heart and caused it to ache. Cloudhawk just felt guilty. This war, all the fighting and death ¨C it was for the benefit of those in power. A means to an end for the most ambitious. None of these sacrifices meant anything to them, because they didn¡¯t have to sacrifice. Most often it was these ordinary folk who suffered when those in power played their games. He stood there, peering over the beautiful landscape with a conflicted heart. Once, years ago, he was just like them. A weakling, a nobody. He felt like they were kin. Now, of course, it didn¡¯t matter how strong Cloudhawk was. He couldn¡¯t change anything. Like everyone else he was caught in Fate¡¯s current. No one knew when the rip tide would drag them under. No one could stop it, much less save someone else from destiny¡¯s cruel indifference. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t see the purpose behind these countless human sacrifices. It wasn¡¯t worth it. Whoever won, whoever lost, all of it was built on a pile of corpses. The others couldn¡¯t understand what Cloudhawk was feeling. No one except maybe Selene. She¡¯d figured him out some time ago. On the surface he liked to wear the mask of a bastard ruffian, but in his heart he was good and kind. It was one of the reasons she liked him so much. It didn¡¯t matter how the world tried to snuff out his ideals, that fire remained lit within him. ¡°You can sit here and complain about the state of things, or you can turn that energy against the Crimson One.¡± Selene¡¯s voice was as aloof as ever. ¡°If we¡¯re successful, I know the General will reward you well. It¡¯s the only way.¡± She looked at him and saw the odd way he was regarding her. ¡°Am I wrong?¡± She asked. ¡°No¡­¡± Cloudhawk shrugged. ¡°Back in the day, the Bloodsoaked Queen only cared about the mission. She never cared whether wastelanders lived or died. I like Selene better.¡± Her face darkened. ¡°Watch your words, or you¡¯ll have my sword to answer to.¡± Selene was sour over Cloudhawk¡¯s observation, but there was someone with an even darker expression. Dawn looked up at the two sharing their moment, and like a woman catching an adulterer the rage was slowly building up inside. The sound of her teeth grinding was audible to everyone. She always knew the relationship between those two was more than a casual friendship. This was just further proof. She gave vent to her frustration by kicking a nearby pillar, leaving it with a nasty dent. She called out, her face full of displeasure. ¡°What the hell are you two yapping about?!¡± Cloudhawk was startled by the sudden, angry voice. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d done this time to piss off the angry tiger stalking the ground beneath them. Of course the old man did. He shook his head and uncorked a bottle. The kid was still young, and sometimes he could be as dumb as a bag of rocks. Didn¡¯t he have any common sense? Did he not understand how he was committing an age-old taboo? Of course emotions were tricky things. Always were. It was one of those things where the closer you were too it, the harder it was to see clearly. Wasn¡¯t the old drunk just the same, in his youth? Naturally, Cloudhawk¡¯s situation was a little more complicated. Both Selene and Dawn were incredible women. Proud, strong. They had tremendous levels of talent and both came from good families. There were no two more perfect ladies in all of Skycloud. Then again, their personalities couldn¡¯t be farther from one another. One was lofty as a frigid mountain peak, and the other was explosive as a volcano. One was reserved and calm, while the other was hotheaded and direct. However it was clear to anyone with eyes that both women had feelings for Cloudhawk. And neither knew what the guy thought, or what he would ultimately choose. It could also be described as unlikely. As an old saying went, ¡®a mountain cannot have two tigers.¡¯ Women were a hell of a lot more dangerous than wild tigers. As proud as they were, they were equally less capable of dealing with disappointment. For all intents and purposes, it was impossible to tell where their emotions would lead ¨C love or enmity stemmed from the same root. Just thinking about it was giving the old drunk a headache. He didn¡¯t envy Cloudhawk¡¯s situation. Mr. Ink paid them no mind, nor offered input. He simply kept an eye on their surroundings. Frost de Winter and Clay were absorbed with something else. Barb wandered over to where they were staring out of curiosity, and noticed some sort of disk in Clay¡¯s hand. It looked like some sort of compass to her, only more complicated. The needle in the center kept spinning. ¡°Lord Frost, what is that?¡± She asked with interest. Frost ignored her completely, a fact which made Barb feel awkward and confused. As far as she knew, she didn¡¯t have any problems with the commander of the Resplendent Knights. On the contrary, his name was highly respected in the world of demonhunters. The young, handsome, talented commander could be said to be unapproachable. That was part of his charm, and why so many women fell over one another for his attention. Word was that every time Frost was dispatched from the governor¡¯s mansion, a line of a thousand women gathered to see him off. Of course he was famously self-disciplined. He never drank, never cavorted with women, and in fact no one had ever seen him have any fun. The man was single minded, and aside from his germaphobia, was the perfect man. His master was also a man every demonhunter looked up to as an idol. For these reasons Barb was curious about Frost, so figured she would take the initiative o start a conversation. She¡¯d heard that Frost and Cloudhawk had less than a friendly relationship, though she didn¡¯t know why. Both men were excellent, as far as she was concerned. Shouldn¡¯t such talented representatives of their generation work together? Dawn and Selene were all wrong too, now that she thought about it! She was confused, to say the least. All of these great compatriots that she adored were the pride and joy of Skycloud. But they couldn¡¯t seem to work in harmony! Clay raised his head. The somewhat pudgy middle-aged man with a likeable face smiled at her. ¡°This is a relic compass. It¡¯s a relic itself, so it¡¯s capable of detected any relics in its area of effect. We can use it to tell how many demonhunters there might be. The Crimson One will definitely have many by his side, so presumably we can use the compass and follow the signal right to him.¡± Barb vocally expressed her wonder. Frost scowled at the noise. ¡°We have the general direction.¡± Clay put the relic away. ¡°There¡¯s a group of demonhunters to the north. We should go take a look.¡± Cloudhawk was skeptical of the compass¡¯ precision. After all, he himself was a living compass, but his powers were limited by distance. For the time being he had to bow to the consensus of the crowd. ¡°If we start walking through the city like this, we¡¯d just be just asking for trouble.¡± Mr. Ink finally broke his silence. As he spoke, he produced a small orb from his clothing and held it up toward the others. Flash! Their clothes began to change, to be more in line with typical wastelander attire. ¡°This Eye of Disguise isn¡¯t a fancy relic, but it¡¯s useful in situations such as these.¡± Each passing second saw Cloudhawk growing more curious about these two men he¡¯d met but never really interacted with. Mr. Ink and Clay were representatives of the Polaris and Cloude families respectively. They were also powerful and trusted subordinates. While Clay looked like the fat owner of the tea house next door, it would be a mistake to underestimate him. He was a Cloude, and that family produced demonhunters like a bar produced hangovers. He was definitely more formidable than his genial appearance would lead one to believe. Mr. Ink had shown his hand in a few occasions, and each time the relics he employed were mysterious and inscrutable. His fighting style was the sort who won by attacking suddenly and unexpectedly, but that by no means meant he was weak in a straight fight. Their addition to the strike team increased their aggregate power significantly. However, they still couldn¡¯t treat their prey lightly. Cloudhawk knew just what sort of threat the Crimson One was. Strong as their little assassination squad was, they deep in enemy territory. The Crimson One was deadly all on his own, and he was surrounded by other characters who were also not to be underestimated. Best would be to avoid letting their presence slip until they met with the red priest face to face. If they got caught out in the open, there would be nowhere to run. 1. Oh sweet summer child. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 63 - Revealed Fallowmoor¡¯s streets were choked with guards. War was just outside, so security was high. Cloudhawk had to acknowledge his frazzled nerves. Skulking through the enemy¡¯s den was like treading on thin ice, each step had to be carefully measured. The slightest mistake and they could get swallowed up. Thankfully, Mr. Ink¡¯s disguises were not so easily seen through. The relic he used was a sort of mental illusion, which changed appearances and not the physical characteristics of the targets themselves. In many respects the camouflage was like a blanket. It hung over the person, changing colors and shapes. It was a stable guise, and would maintain so long as they didn¡¯t become the focus of someone¡¯s aggression. The eight infiltrators were indistinguishable from the normal citizenry. A glance would reveal nothing but just another group, going about their business. Clay led the team with Frost by his side. The normally valiant and arrogant young commander was far less resplendent in his commoner¡¯s disguise. Part of that was the melancholic and brooding expression on his face. He was mulling over something. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said in flat denial. He face immediately returned to its normal cold disinterest. ¡°I just find it curious. The governor¡¯s mansion has many capable soldiers. You¡¯ve served at the Governor¡¯s side for years, never leaving the grounds. What is it about this mission that made him decide to send you?¡± Clay¡¯s somewhat pudgy face adopted a sly grin. ¡°What do you think?¡± Frost thought for a moment then replied. ¡°The Master¡¯s decisions are always carefully considered. You are his most trusted and capable attendant. It would make sense that he dispatches you in only the most critical missions that involve the Governorship. Having you come in itself shows there is more to this than is on the surface. It is possible...¡± He lowers his voice. ¡°It is possible that you are here on a mission of your own.¡± Clay regarded the young man with an appreciative gaze. ¡°Clearly the Governor¡¯s faith in you is well placed. You know the man well, know how he thinks. But you¡¯re wrong ¨C the one he trusts most is you. It isn¡¯t that he doesn¡¯t trust you with the real reason I¡¯m here, you¡¯ll learn the truth of it soon enough.¡± Frost turned the idea around in his brain. For Master Arcturus to be so cautious, it must be serious. Mr. Ink noticed the two men huddled in conspiratorial conversation. Though nothing registered on his expression, the man¡¯s eyes flitted their way time and again. Frost didn¡¯t dare ask Clay for more information. The Master was an enigma ¨C the more you knew about him, the less you understood. That sounded like a contradiction, but such was always the case with knowledge and learning. Those who knew little felt confident in their intelligence. It was those who were learned that realized how little they understood of the truth. To Frost, Master Arcturus was an idol worthy of eternal worship. He was a font of knowledge that could provide everything he ever wanted to know. His faith in the Governor was stronger than that of any god, for in Frost¡¯s eyes Master Arcturus could best any god or demon. Arcturus never took a wife, nor had children. Was Frost not closing thing he had to an heir? Because of this, the Cloude family never saw Frost as an outsider. The further into the city they crept, the more anxious and doubtful Cloudhawk became. From the moment they walked in, an ominous feeling had been following him. It felt like he was being watched. ¡°Are we there yet?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Hey!¡± When Dawn noticed his question wasn¡¯t being answered fast enough she took matters into her own hands. ¡°Is that trinket of yours worth anything? We¡¯ve been waling half the day already. Our mission is important, there¡¯s a war going on outside if you¡¯ve forgotten. If you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing, then tell us and stop wasting everybody¡¯s time. I know how you Cloude folk like to put on airs, you fancy-nancy embroidered pillows.¡± Frost¡¯s expression became even colder. ¡°Watch your tone.¡± Selene also sniffed in irritation. Dawn¡¯s slight included her as well, without question. ¡°Cloudhawk, why don¡¯t we just leave them to their own thing.¡± Dawn grabbed Cloudhawk¡¯s arm and started dragging him along. ¡°Why would be better off just grabbing someone off the street and asking. Someone has to know where the Crimson One is, we just keep snatching up people and beating them till they tell us. Eventually we¡¯ll get the information we need. I bet we¡¯ll still be faster than these fools.¡± This woman sure did love to stir things up. Even now she couldn¡¯t put the big picture first? Her temper was a damn health hazard! Already their team was lacking in harmony and trust. Dawn¡¯s contentious posture was only making things worse. If they couldn¡¯t work together just walking down the damn street, how were they supposed to defeat the Crimson One? Barb, seeing that things had become precarious, offered her voice. ¡°Excellencies, don¡¯t be angry. We need to work together, don¡¯t let something so small get in the way of our mission. We¡¯re here to do something very important.¡± Clay shook his head and responded. ¡°The Polaris family, as uncouth as ever.¡± ¡°The girl¡¯s breasts have always been bigger than her brain,¡± Selene muttered. How could Dawn suffer such open disrespect? Shit, they were down-talking her like she was some kind of spineless twerp! She had to prove them wrong! Cloudhawk interrupted her slow boil with a low warning. ¡°Dawn!¡± When she saw his angry expression her heart skipped a beat. The anger inside her deflated like a popped balloon and she hung her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. Things are dull, I¡¯m just trying to liven us up.¡± Cloudhawk rubbed his temples like his head was about to burst. Clay stopped then and pulled the compass from his pocket, which Cloudhawk noticed right away. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Strong reaction,¡± Clay responded. ¡°We¡¯re close. Right in front of us.¡± Clay¡¯s compass pointed to relics, and where there were relics there were demonhunters. All demonhunters in the city had to be trusted followers of the Crimson One, so even if he wasn¡¯t with them they would know where the priest was. The group arrived at a plaza and was surprised to discover it was full of people. At least a thousand! Overhead, hot air balloons floated in tightly packed formation. Platforms were suspended from the balloons, and each platform had at least one red-cloaked soldier. The uniform of the Church¡¯s demonhunter missionaries. What was going on? Was this some sort of cult meeting? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t feel the presence of Castigation fire, and that meant the Crimson One wasn¡¯t nearby. As they approached, they could hear one red priest giving an impassioned speech from a balloon in the middle of the cluster. It was the same tired propaganda about how Elysians were the real devils, how they had brought tragedy to the gates of Fallowmoor. It was meant to inspire them to arms, and motivate them to fight for their homes and families. Fire and brimstone. Crisis loomed and there was no escaping it. Conflict was the perfect time to inspire unity. As the priest¡¯s fiery speech was reaching it crescendo, the crowds were shouting in a single cacophonous voice. They screamed at the fact that Elysians treated the people of the wilds like wild animals, like snakes and insects. And it was all true, so how could anything but bone-deep hatred be expected from this maligned populace? Of course, it wasn¡¯t so simple. There was no right or wrong. The Elysians didn¡¯t choose to be born in the fertile lands of the gods. When their wall fell, was it not the wastelanders who slaughtered innocent people and robbed them of the resources they needed to survive? And what of the wastelanders? They were born sinners by no fault of their own. Their lives were concerned with a singular focus on survival. Blaming them for their obsession to take whatever they could was out of touch. The Elysian lands were a place of abundant wealth, so to them taking from such weak, rich prey didn¡¯t even require a second thought. There was no way to solve the contradiction between these two classes of people. If Skycloud elected to share their surplus with the wastes, it would immediately ingratiate them to a large swath of the populace. But hostility and the stigma against the filthy outsiders was deeply ingrained in Elysian culture. To think that any Elysian would agree to share their bounty with heathens was madness. The discrepancies between their faith and outlook of the world were too different. So what option was left? War! My life would be better when your life ended! ¡°Kill the Elysian dogs! Cut down the zealots!¡± The people gathered in the square thrust their weapons into the air. They fought with whatever they had; guns or bows or machetes. A chorus of voices rang with their shared hatred of a foreign enemy, uniting normal citizens, rugged wastelanders, women, and the children. Was this where the compass had guided them? What the hell were they supposed to do here? The murderous intent of these citizens was so thick you could cut it with a knife. If they revealed themselves here, there would be enough people to drown them in angry spittle. Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t act here. Fall back, we¡¯ll figure something else out.¡± Dawn couldn¡¯t help but mutter in irritation. ¡°Cloudes, as unreliable as ever.¡± Cloudhawk shot her a warning glance and she shut her mouth. The old drunk, however, clicked his tongue appreciatively. What goes around comes around. Before they could fall back the orator raised his hands. All voices fell silent like the stillness after a cresting wave. He looked out over his flock, face twisted in anger. ¡°Today there is one I must call attention to. He is the impetus that brought conflict with Skycloud. He is the hand that brought the wasteland alliance to fruition. His brilliance contributes to the glory of the wastelands, even after his death!¡± ¡°This hero of our people was slain at the hands of traitor! Tell me, people, what should we do if that traitor should fall into our grasp?¡± Everyone knew who he was talking about; Adder, and the despicable man who ended his life. ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Fuck.¡± In this instant the red priests jumped from their suspended platforms, surrounding the eight intruders. Dawn gaped at the sudden change in circumstance. ¡°Hey¡­ ehm¡­ can they recognize us?¡± Selene¡¯s words came out as a near-growl. ¡°Polaris clan members, as unreliable as ever.¡± ¡°The culprit has presented himself to us. He is here, before your eyes!¡± The priest pointed accusingly at the small group. ¡°Not only are they responsible for Adder¡¯s death, they have also attempted to rain destruction upon our glorious city , destroy our homes, and kill our families! People, what shall we do with them?¡± All eyes turned to Cloudhawk and his team. Their eyes burned with a depth of hatred that was inhuman. It was a bloodlust that would not be satisfied, even when their corpses were torn to pieces and their bones turned to paste. The depths of their hatred could not be expressed. To say their change of fortune was unexpected was an understatement. Unless you were a Master Demonhunter or someone like Skye Polaris, who could claim they could escape an angry mob of this size? Among the crowds were violent mutants, crack marksmen, and deadly demonhunters. Who other than a living legend could survive these odds? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how it happened, nor did it matter. He said only one thing. ¡°Run!¡± 1. The quip is a little strange in English, but I liked it because you get the gist without it being an expert barb. Since Dawn is flustered it seemed appropriate. 2. Oh shit, them¡¯s fightin¡¯ words! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 64 - Public Enemy A sea of angry faces was pointed at them, framed by glinting weapons. Dozens if not hundreds of bullets and arrows would rain down on their heads any moment. More dangerous, however, were the demonhunters and their deadly relics. They had been ready for them. ¡°Is everyone stupid? You¡¯re so ready to condemn us and you don¡¯t even know the situation.¡± Barb stepped forward, trying anything to buy them a few extra moments. ¡°Do you actually have any proof we killed anybody?¡± They were still disguised as citizens thanks to Mr. Ink¡¯s relics. They were practically indistinguishable from anyone else here! But despite her pleas the mob was still out for blood. They didn¡¯t care about proof, only justice. Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was almost comical, like he¡¯d been walking down the street on a sunny day when suddenly he¡¯d stepped into a pile of shit and then stumbled into a beehive when trying to wipe it off his shoe. This ruckus was sure to attract more attention, so if they didn¡¯t do something soon the whole city would be here trying to put new holes in their bodies. The General was right. Cloudhawk really was a magnet for conflict. It didn¡¯t matter how talented he was, he couldn¡¯t stand up against several tens of thousands of people. Barb was stunned at how quickly things had gone sour. They¡¯d only just teleported into the city, presumably without leaving any traces of their entrance. How could they have been discovered so quickly ¨C and what¡¯s more, walk right into a bloodthirsty mob like it was all planned? A man with a scraggly beard lurched forward, gun raised. ¡°Kill the Elysian dogs!¡± The barrel of his weapon spat hot lead and fire. His machine gun sprayed toward them with frightening velocity. The old drunk brandished his cane, using it to expertly deflect most of the bullets. In the same moment Dawn activated her Aegis Mirror. The invisible barrier protected them from the remainder of the bullets, however the rest of the crowd began their attack. More gunfire, arrows, and even shots from exorcist bows began to pummel their location. Her defensive shell quickly showed signs of cracking. Selene¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in a scowl. Blazing light extended from her hand as the crossblade flared to life. Her grip tightened in preparation to begin cutting their assailants down, but when she began looking for targets she took note of the many children among them. She hesitated. Cloudhawk was right. Five years ago the Bloodsoaked Queen would have slain anyone who dared offend her ¨C regardless of age or gender. Now, however, she found it difficult to make the call. A streak of cold silver blasted from their small crew. The beam coiled together into the image of a silver dragon, racing deftly through the angry mob. It did not impact anyone directly, however. Instead it weaved through the gaps, and everyone it passed was frozen solid by the mere passing contact with its aura. None were dissuaded by the attack. On the contrary, it only seemed to stoke their lust for carnage. Angry, bloodshot eyes were wide with the promise of a painful death. Frozen Dirge flashed back into Frost¡¯s hand. With one wave he¡¯d created dozens of frozen statues, yet his foes would not be cowed. As the citizens pressed in a murderous resolve took root in Frost¡¯s eyes. He swing Frozen Dirge around in a circle, casting out several streaks of energy. As it swept across the area in all directions, icy statues shattered into jagged fragments that were fired into the masses causing further casualties. A hundred or more of Fallowmoor¡¯s residents and farmers had been injured by the icy shrapnel. They lay on the ground screaming in pain, clutching at gaping wounds and bleeding gashes. At last they seemed to recognize the danger Frost presented and hesitated to move in closer. However, there was still a constant barrage of bullets and arrows assailing Dawn¡¯s shield. Cloudhawk looked over the carnage. The number of citizens, both living and dead, continued to swell. He called at his compatriots through a scowl, ¡°This will never end. We¡¯re just wasting time and energy here, we need to get free!¡± Dawn continued to protect them from the projectiles with her Aegis Mirror. Strong as she was, the numbers they faced were overwhelming and growing by the moment. She wouldn¡¯t be able to protect them all for long by herself. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded, where are we supposed to run?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll draw their fire, the rest of you get out of here.¡± Dawn and Selene answered in one voice. ¡°I¡¯m going with you!¡± Both stopped and looked at one another. The fire in their glares could melt an ice cap. Cloudhawk failed to notice amid the sound of shouts and gunfire. ¡°No one¡¯s coming with me, it¡¯s easier if I¡¯m by myself. We don¡¯t have time to discuss this, it¡¯s what we¡¯re doing. Quickly!¡± It was a solid plan. Who among them was the focus of most these wastelanders¡¯ ire? A rhetorical question, certainly. Cloudhawk felt like he¡¯d unwittingly become Fate¡¯s punching bag. Not only was his name maligned in Skycloud, he was enemy number one throughout the wastes as well. Why the fuck was it so hard to just find a quiet place to settle down?! Obviously his fight and eventual victory over Adder in Woodland Vale was common knowledge now. Every member of the Conclave and those organizations affiliated with it would be overjoyed to get their hands on Cloudhawk. Finally they had their chance, so he was the target down most gun sights. If he drew attention away, perhaps the others would have more of a chance to escape. As for Cloudhawk¡¯s own safety? Not to worry! He¡¯d never been easy to kill. On his own, Cloudhawk was even less likely to run into mortal danger. ¡°Miss, Cloudhawk is right. We can¡¯t afford to spend our strength fighting the whole populace of this city.¡± Mr. Ink made his case to Dawn. ¡°We need to retreat and save ourselves for the mission¡¯s objective.¡± Corded muscles danced along Dawn¡¯s jawline as she ground her teeth. ¡°Then be careful!¡± Though Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know it, as far as Dawn was concerned he was her fiance. With General Skye¡¯s support for the idea, it would be impossible for Cloudhawk to refuse. Now he was offering to take on the most dangerous role in order to make sure their plan succeeded. She was worried for him. Mr. Ink produced another one of his strange relics. It was a bottle, standard but for the fact that it drank up all the light around it completely. Its contours were outlined with faintly glowing purple runes. When he opened it the contents erupted like a volcano, instantly belching forth a black mist. The inky darkness quickly spread throughout the area. It cut off both the vision and hearing of anyone caught inside. The angry mob spun around in fury, swinging wildly in attempts to cut down the invaders they could no longer see. Cloudhawk watched in surprise as the inky mist did not diffuse, but rather almost seemed to ooze across the plaza. Distance did not thin the darkness. If it continued like this, the unnatural darkness would soon cover half the city. Such a wide-reaching ability was rare to behold. The mysterious Mr. Ink definitely had amazing tools at his disposal. ¡°Go!¡± Everyone began to move. Recognizing that their prey was trying to escape, the Conclave demonhunters tried to charge through the darkness and cut them off. They were still getting organized when Cloudhawk teleported atop one of the nearby balloon-suspended platforms. He unceremoniously booted the red-clad priest who had stirred up the crowd into the masses below. ¡°Hey, ya bunch of fuckwits! You can¡¯t do shit, and you ain¡¯t worth shit!¡± Cloudhawk snatched up the instrument the priest had been using to amplify his voice. ¡°That¡¯s right! I killed Adder. Cloudhawk. Remember my fuckin¡¯ name!¡± Too far! This bastard! Cloudhawk kicked the mob¡¯s anger into an outright frenzy. Bullets, arrows, spears and swords were thrown toward him. But their field was vision was small, and Cloudhawk was agile as a monkey. He dodged their clumsy attacks, teleporting when necessary, or using his phase stone when no other option worked. It was as public a humiliation as he could manage, stoking the mad fury of his attackers as high as it would go. And the angrier they became, the dumber they got. All sense went out the window; there was nothing but the burning desire to kill this asshole. When he felt it was enough, Cloudhawk took off at a full sprint. The mob came racing after him, ignorant to the fact that he was by himself. The rest of the invaders were getting away without much attention. There were bullets everywhere! The ground was littered with shell casings. The wind was alive with blades of wind or fireballs or icicles as all manner of relics came to life. As he raced on, Cloudhawk felt like the whole world was after him. There was nothing but hatred and anger and murder, all directed toward him. For just a second he felt a little hopeless, a little lost. Was he really meant to be hated by the entirety of the wastelands forever? He was a gods-damned wastelander himself! His self-pity came just as a nearby demonhunter launched a sneak attack. A rather unassuming orb of fire was flung his way, suddenly erupting into a blast that took Cloudhawk by surprise. What a violent blow! He was caught off guard and the force was enough to collapse his phase field. He tumbled out of the air and into a house below. It was immediately surrounded, and the mob ruthlessly buffeted the structure with bullets and arrows. ¡°Kill him! Kill the traitor!¡± Cloudhawk lay flat on his belly and crawled forward as projectiles tore through the walls inches above his head. Immediately the place was a warzone, with almost everything inside shot to pieces. Its walls were barely standing, more hole than wall, like a half-built honeycomb. So complete was the destruction that the structure began to collapse around him. Now or never! Cloudhawk grabbed the phase stone around his neck. As he filled it with mental energy light began to poure from between his fingers, and the air all around trembled from an unseen power. Reality twisted into a whirlpool that sucked him in. The crowd burst into the room moments later. Nothing. As they picked through the ruins of the structure they found no body. They cursed and kicked and screamed in impotent rage, then spread out to try and recapture his trail. But it didn¡¯t matter, he was gone like a puff of smoke. It was like he¡¯d simply stopped existing. Even seeker relics weren¡¯t picking up anything. And in fact, Cloudhawk really had ceased to exist, at least from their world. He popped into existence far from the conflict. He floated in the ruins of a broken world where he hid his secret cache. The ruined warehouse he¡¯d repurposed was crammed full of all manner of things, mostly weapons, demonhunter equipment and food. For some reason, his phase stone had a connection to this place that allowed him to use it at will, both to store things and to flee when needed. However, transporting a living thing here was not easy. An entire human body was particularly difficult. Because of this, Cloudhawk rarely transferred himself here. It cost him a lot in mental energy, and the airless environment was less than hospitable. Strong as he was, the place was uncomfortable at best. Cloudhawk left the warehouse and was set adrift across the shattered landscape. In this place, every step he took corresponded to the same distance traveled back in his world. Since the building he¡¯d escaped was surely still crawling with people, he would have to move around here for a distance before attempting to return. When he got back, with any luck he¡¯d be far from where they¡¯d think to look for him. It was the perfect escape tactic. Once he got it off, it didn¡¯t matter who you were. The Crimson One, Skye, Arcturus, even gods and demons¡­ all were helpless. After all, how were you supposed to track down something that didn¡¯t exist in your dimension any longer? Short of someone having the same powers, he was uncatchable. And the likelihood of someone with his same abilities was zero! His phase stone was a relic from the Demon King himself! He had to wonder, if this was the sort of power the phase stone had then, what about that cuirass? The prospect excited him, but he squelched the excitement soon after. He didn¡¯t dare wear the former Demon King¡¯s armor. The power he had now had all come from the Demon King, hadn¡¯t it? And what had happened to that unholy thing? Despite the downright legendary effects of his relics, the beast had still fallen. Taking on the mantle of the Demon King was asking for death, as far as Cloudhawk was concerned. It was much better to just live as a normal man. Alright¡­ should be good enough. Cloudhawk guessed that he¡¯d probably gone the equivalent of halfway across Fallowmoor by now. Once again he called on the stones power to bring him back into his own dimension. When he popped back into existence, he was alone. He¡¯d gotten away without a trace! Taking a moment to make sure his surroundings were safe, Cloudhawk found that he¡¯d phased back into some sort of tower. He was then immediately assailed by a familiar hum. A relic he knew, coming from somewhere in this very building. Castigation fire. The Crimson One. Had he chanced upon the Master Demonhunter¡¯s location? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 65 - The Pligh Barb pulled out the Heart-scry Thorn. ¡°It turns out every resident of Fallowmoor is implanted with a small ID chip. Even if we conceal ourselves, they know right away that we¡¯re outsiders since we don¡¯t have one.¡± The information was extracted from a soldier they¡¯d managed to capture. It explained why so many of the previous attempts at sending people in had failed. Fallowmoor had a fine method for making sure spies didn¡¯t escape with important information. Having lived in the wilds for a time, the old drunk knew a thing or two about how the wastelanders did things. ¡°Heh, not a problem. Get his ID chip and we can stop worrying about these ants swarming us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so easy.¡± Barb had learned more from the Heart-scry Thorn. ¡°The chips have special restrictions. They activate when they¡¯re implanted, then stop working if they¡¯re removed. We can¡¯t take it ourselves, not that way. We have only one option.¡± ¡°Well, spit it out!¡± Dawn was anxious. She could hear the sound of footsteps approaching. The city was still shrouded in fog, but if they had sensors like the Dark Atom soldiers, then they would be discovered eventually. ¡°This is old technology, precise and complicated ¨C which also means it¡¯s easy to break. They¡¯re connected to a main sensor unit, so if we can find and destroy it they won¡¯t be able to use the ID chips to determine who are outsiders.¡± Frost de Winter regarded Barb with an aloof gaze. She was the weakest of their crew, yet here she was providing key intelligence just when they needed it. They had their next target: Head for the main sensor unit without further delay. One of the buildings in Fallowmoor looked like an enormous crystal ball. That was the building responsible for controlling all of the city¡¯s systems, including its sensors. It kept track of incursions, irregular or unexpected deaths of citizens, and so forth. All manner of information was filtered into this building and parsed for critical intelligence. When they arrived, Dawn wasted no time in drawing her sword. With both hands on the hilt of Terrangelica, she heaved it toward the structure. A streak of energy was expelled into the ground, which caused it to shudder and crack. A dozen or more fissures emerged and slithered toward the main sensor like angry dragons. Those fissures then spread into the sensor, causing it to crack and belch forth sparks and angry spurts of fire. ¡°All done!¡± Dawn looked at her handiwork with a lopsided smirk of satisfaction. Easy as pie! She arrogantly rested Terrangelica on her shoulder and looked back at the others. Now they could find Cloudhawk, hunt down the Crimson One, and kill him dead. Their efforts would mean victory for the expeditionary forces. ¡°Careful!¡± Selene called a warning. ¡°An attack!¡± The black fog was lit up with an angry red light. All of a sudden, dozens of bull-sized fiery orbs burned away the darkness as they headed their way. They impacted, filling the area with ear-piercing explosions. The orbs of fire detonated and spread across the ground, creating pools of fire. Before long the flames devoured most of where they were standing. Dawn had deftly activated her Aegis Mirror thanks to Selene¡¯s warning, so their immediate location was safe. However the look on her face betrayed her struggle. Whoever was attacking them was strong. A barefooted man descended from above, carrying a standard whose flag danced in the hot breeze summoned by the fires. There was only one man like that who could launch such a powerful attack; the Conclave¡¯s second in command, Wyrmsole. He was accompanied by twenty or more red-robed missioners of the Church. Wyrmsole glared at the invaders with hard, cold eyes. The bulk of his animosity seemed aimed at Selene and Clay. After all, Wyrmsole had at one time been from their same family. It was clear by his gaze that he hadn¡¯t expected the Cloude family¡¯s fixer to be here as well. When Clay saw who it was, his pudgy and amicable face broke into a smile like he was seeing an old friend again. ¡°I knew you¡¯d have changed after all these years. Those fire orbs have gotten a lot bigger.¡± Wyrmsole returned with a question, his face solemn. ¡°Arcturus bade you come?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Clay replied in an indifferent inflection, ¡°Just for a bit of housecleaning. The Crimson One is no match for the governor, you know that. He didn¡¯t need to come and waste his time.¡± Wyrmsole¡¯s face retained its typical calm facade, however the flash in his eyes and the heavy presence betrayed what he really felt. ¡°Hmph. Let Arcturus come himself, then we will see. Do you think this group is enough to contend with the Crimson One? You march towards your own demise!¡± Frost wasted no time. He heaved Frozen Dirge in a deadly arm, releasing a wave of frigid energy that doused the fires on its way toward Wyrmsole. Ice and fire collided between them. The air was made thick with steam. Clay had intended to speak more. He¡¯d gotten under Wyrmsole¡¯s skin, there was more he could achieve in undermining the man¡¯s confidence. He had not anticipated Frost would be so eager to start a fight. He didn¡¯t know Arcturus¡¯ apprentice to be so quick to action, but now that the fight was on there was no wasting time. He looked toward the others. ¡°The rest of you find Cloudhawk and the Crimson One. Leave this crowd to us.¡± Wyrmsole was a formidable enemy, as were the twenty Conclave demonhunters he¡¯d brought with him. While the invaders had a fair chance of victory, the longer they remained in one place the more likely it was more enemies would join in. Not only would it drain their enemies, it also robbed them of any chance to escape and find the Crimson One. If they had to fight all of Fallowmoor, they would surely die. hey were in the heart of enemy territory! Every second counted! Wyrmsole brandished his battle standard, Skyfire. A gout of fire erupted forth toward Frost and his icy weapon. Arcturus¡¯ apprentice swung his spear as deftly as a breeze, covering the area in frigid energy and causing the fires to wither and die. He raised Frozen Dirge, ready to thrust it toward Wyrmsole. Clay called for his attention. ¡°Don¡¯t rush in!¡± Wyrmsole had been a member of the Cloude family, and at one point was as strong as Clay himself. Frost, talented though he was, was still young. It was unlikely he could take the seasoned warrior one on one. Nor was Wyrmsole by himself. The other demonhunters brandished their relics, including half a dozen exorcist bows. They fired toward Frost who was leaping through the air. Clay saw the critical error his ally had made and his eyes dimmed. He had no other choice but to attack despite the disadvantage. After all, Arcturus had high hopes for Frost. If the Master¡¯s protege died here, Clay wouldn¡¯t be able to face the Governor ever again. He raised his hands overhead. Billowing steam continued to pour through the area as ice and fire waged their war. As mental energy reached out for it, that mist condensed into droplets of water. They rained down onto the field below like bullets, smashing into the ground with as much power and velocity and churning the earth. The mists continued to aggregate, and once it became a deluge, Clay send it toward their foes like a tidal wave from an angry sea. The missionaries were caught off guard. They hadn¡¯t expected this one so dangerous. They were forced to retreat or be swept away. Meanwhile Selene, Dawn and the others wasted no time. Although Frost and Clay were powerful, they could only hold out for so long deep in enemy territory. If they didn¡¯t find the Crimson One soon, they would all drown in a sea of enemies. What¡¯s more, Fallowmoor was rife with dangerous foes. Who knew how many more powerful opponents were waiting in the winds, besides those they¡¯d already encountered. Who knew when they would appear to block their path? Suddenly a blast caught their attention from somewhere else in the city. Surely there was some sort of conflict, and more than likely it was Cloudhawk. Dawn would wait no longer. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Before her words even had time to fade from the air, a shadow flit by from some indeterminable location. It was too fast to follow with the naked eye, but where it passed the ground was crushed and cracked. The power of it was of rare quality, and it was headed right for Dawn. Too fast. Even Mr. Ink and the old drunk were slow to react. Mr. Ink only had time to cry out. ¡°Miss, be careful!¡± Dawn shoved Terrangelica into the ground and created several walls between her and her attacker. However when the mysterious assailant struck them the stone walls folded as easily as paper. However, by then Dawn had her second line of defense prepared, an invisible field placed right in front of her. A bone-jarring crash sounded. Cracks appeared across Dawn¡¯s translucent defense. On the other side was a figure, a ball of light. She couldn¡¯t dodge, her foe was too fast. All Dawn could do was summon her true power in straight martial combat, and hack at the attacker with Terrangelica. She was immediately swallowed by crushing force which knocked her a dozen meters away. After coming to a stop she fought for breath, coughing up a mouthful of blood. ¡°Dawnbreaker Armor? Hell¡¯s Army!¡± Dawn stumbled back onto her feat, wiping the blood from her lips and throwing off her ruined cloak. Angry eyes glared at her foe. ¡°Contemptible worm! Only brave when you can attack from stealth. Is that how you killed Aegir Polaris?¡± As the energy dissipated off of Dumont Cenhelm¡¯s armor, his towering armored figure was revealed. Several more approached from different directions. Eckard Skinner, Toad, Canker, and a number of mutants. All of them were deadly wasteland killers. Toad met the invaders¡¯ angry glares with froglike laughter. ¡°Should I call you brave, or foolish? Did you really thing such a small number of you could take Fallowmoor by yourselves?¡± Canker said nothing. Tendrils of insects wafted around him like undulating lines of ink. As that darkness reached out the others adopted combative postures, ready to launch into battle in an instant. Support would surely be on its way, and if they didn¡¯t do something they would surely die before they even laid eyes on the Crimson One. Dawn audibly ground her teeth. ¡°Hey, Selene. I can handle this. You take the drunk and get out of here.¡± For the time being Dawn was forced to put aside her loathing for Selene. Though it rankled her to admit it, the Cloude bitch was a better fighter than she was, and all of them getting away from this situation was impossible. Besides, she had the benefit of her father¡¯s relics, which likely made her the strongest of their whole group. She didn¡¯t know what the old drunk was capable of anymore, but he sure as hell wasn¡¯t weak. It looked like they were the best choice to join up with Cloudhawk. The three of them had the highest chance of survival. As for this group of mutants and traitors, she and Mr. Ink could hold them for a while. ¡°Most of the Crimson One¡¯s lieutenants have shown themselves. Now is the best opportunity to go after the head of the snake! Don¡¯t get fussy about it and just go!¡± Eckard¡¯s deep laugh rose from the darkness. He lifted his enormous sword, and rushed at them. Barb was the one to meet with, swinging her exorcist rod toward the enormous sword he wielded. Between her rapidly improving martial abilities and the demonhunter relic, she was actually able to stop his advance. It was a fact that surprised the former instructor. Where the hell had this little bitch come from? He¡¯d never heard of her, but clearly she wasn¡¯t as weak as she appeared. Barb was under no illusions that she could help in a fight against the Crimson One, she would only hold them back. Better to be here, and help the others fight off a threat from behind. Selene and the drunk saw the truth in this and were forced to separate again. They turned away from Dawn and the others to cut a way out. Eckard made no attempt to stop them. Three people against the Crimson One? As far as he was concerned, they¡¯d failed their mission the moment Fallowmoor knew they were there. Trying to kill the Crimson One with a handful of children? They might as well throw themselves on their own swords. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 66 - Power Discrepancy Cloudhawk was preparing to scout the tower when he heard the tell-tale fwip of crossfow fire. His head swiveled toward the sound, where he discovered a wall of arrows headed his way. Their tips glowed with an ominous green light. Green. This hue of green represented death. It wasn¡¯t poison ¨C Cloudhawk feared no poison. But he did fear this. The arrows screaming his way were imbued with Castigation fire. The terrible energy needed only touch its target to infect them with the unholy flames. The victims would quickly find themselves engulfed in it, burned down to their very bones until there was nothing left but ash. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes, timed seem to slow. He saw the trajectory of each arrow and began to move. He dodged between them as agile as a cat, as quick as a falcon. Not a single bolt came close enough to deliver its deadly green payload. Instead they clattered against the ground or the wall behind him, kicking up angry sparks. His attackers wouldn¡¯t have time to fire a second salvo. Before they could reload their crossbows, Cloudhawk was on them. A pair of dancing silver lights sprang into action in the middle of the ill-equipped crowd. These men were strong, but even if they were made of stone they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the cutting power of Cloudhawk¡¯s Silver Serpents. He dashed among them for but a split second before coming to rest in the exact position where he started. Only now, in his hands were the lethal twin short swords. Thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, the blades weren¡¯t stained by even a single drop of blood. His ambushers all stood still as statues for a moment them collapsed to the ground, dead. With a flick of his wrist, the Silver Serpents retracted back into Cloudhawk¡¯s sleeves. His enemies fall apart into several pieces like leaves being blown away by an autumn breeze. For days he had been practicing the nameless postures taught to him by the old drunk. He could feel how the training had improved his body in every way. It was a testament to the old warrior¡¯s skill as a fighter and teacher that Cloudhawk should improve so much in so short a period. ¡°You¡¯ve grown stronger. I can see how you defeated Adder.¡± A voice, calm as a forest lake, reached out to him through the silence. When Cloudhawk looked to its source it felt like someone had wrapped their fingers around his heart and started to squeeze. For a moment it felt difficult to breathe. The staff bearing man, without Cloudhawk¡¯s knowledge, had sneaked up and stood practically right in front of him. He was a man of medium build, average looks and soft expression. Frown lines had etched themselves into the space between his brows, but his eyes were calm and almost compassionate. Judging by appearances he looked to be in his fifties, though his hair was the silvery gray of a much older man. The red cloak he wore was embroidered with dark clouds. A long crosier was cradled in the gentle grip of his right hand, and green fire danced in and out of existence around the staff¡¯s apex. He was none other than Skycloud¡¯s former Knight-Commander, leader of the Conclave of Judgment ¨C The Crimson One. Just the man Cloudhawk was looking for, but without his allies Cloudhawk was in no rush to start a fight. After all, in his fight against Adder Cloudhawk barely managed to survive by the skin of his teeth. In the end luck played an important role in the fact that he was the one still breathing. Only ten days after that deadly encounter and here he was, face to face with possibly the deadliest man in the wastelands. Fighting him one-on-one was no different than committing suicide. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t planned on being discovered by the Crimson One. What was he supposed to do now? It wasn¡¯t like he could stride across dimensions at whim. With how difficult it was to enact, it would be some time before he could do it again. As for invisibility or teleportation, he was confident neither would protect him from a Master Demonhunter. However, the Crimson One didn¡¯t seem eager to start their fight either. It highlighted how confident the man was in being able to handle these invaders. After all, he was one of the world¡¯s greatest demonhunters. It didn¡¯t matter how much talent and potential the younger generation possessed, they were not his betters. Back in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough he had spent a great deal of energy. In addition to his old battle wounds, and a fear of revealing his identity too soon, the Crimson One had not fought them out in the wastes with his full strength. Circumstances conspired against him then, but things were different this time. No matter what the cost or consequences, that poor showing would not be repeated. Cloudhawk looked back at the deadly man in a half crouch, eyes wary. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve recovered well.¡± The Crimson One never took his eyes off the irritating youth. ¡°Adder gave his life to make sure a particular medicine made its way back to me. His death was not in vain.¡± His words were cold and dispassionate, however Cloudhawk felt the danger around him surge with every syllable. It was like watching a deadly viper slowly slither closer and begin to wrap around his leg. He could feel the cold fingers of death brush the back of his neck, and the slightest misstep would force those fingers to clamp down. ¡°I do not hate you for killing Adder,¡± the Crimson One assured. ¡°It was his destiny. He had the misfortune of being the Crimson One¡¯s son. If it wasn¡¯t you who took his life in Woodland Vale, it would have been one like Janus. You gave him a proper death, in pursuit of what he believed in, like a true soldier. As his father, I can appreciate the glory in his demise.¡± To Cloudhawk the demonhunter¡¯s words were odd. However, he soon discovered the surprises did not stop there. The Crimson One¡¯s next sentence astonished him even further. ¡°In killing Adder you proved to be stronger than him. I have never seen someone improve so quickly. Should you choose to pledge yourself to the Conclave, I will not seek vengeance for his death.¡± His words were direct, and nothing in his bearing contradicted the promise of mercy. ¡°I should hope you consider the offer carefully. You are, after all, a wastelander.¡± Cloudhawk could hardly believe what he was hearing. Did the Crimson One care so little for his son? While his hair had gone white and the man seemed to have aged several years since the last time they met, Cloudhawk could see no visible sign of grief ¨C or any emotion for that matter. Of course, the reality was entirely different. His love for Adder, for his son, was as deep and encompassing as any father for his son. But the desire to punish the one who took his son¡¯s life had to be put aside. He even tried to recruit the culprit to fight by his side. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand, was he so open-hearted or was this a decision of pure survival? ¡°We don¡¯t fight for ourselves; for rights, titles, honors or treasures. We fight as one people, for the dignity of our race. That is why we stand in resistance.¡± The Crimson One¡¯s intense gaze seemed to pierce deep into Cloudhawk¡¯s soul. ¡°For many years you lived in the wastelands. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve questioned it on many occasions. Perhaps it¡¯s even made you doubt, made you angry. Why has humanity been discarded? Forgotten? By what cruel destiny are we forced to live at the whim of gods and demons? Why are we denied the right to determine our own future?¡± ¡°I agree with everything you¡¯re saying,¡± Cloudhawk answered. ¡°But peace and human equality can only be a reality under conditions of equal or similar strength. Otherwise, we¡¯re weak and frail things, screaming angrily at the wind but having no power to change things. It isn''t that I think you are wrong. I just don''t believe you have the power to do anything about it. The only thing you are doing is making things worse.¡± ¡°Is that what you really think?¡± For the first time anger flashed in the Crimson One¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you not afraid I will strike you down right here? Do you not fear death?¡± ¡°Oh, death scares the fuck outta me. Really. It¡¯s because of that fear that all I want is to find somewhere quiet to live out my life. It¡¯s because I fear death that I¡¯m working hard to become stronger. Exactly because I fear death, both for myself and those I care about, I''ve chosen to stand with the Elysians.¡± Cloudhawk reached up and grabbed the hilt of Ardent Wrath. He slowly pulled it from its sheath and fire consumed its surface. The whole time he kept his eyes fixed on the Crimson One. ¡°All that being said, some things are worse than death.¡± The Crimson One was surprised by Cloudhawk¡¯s forthcoming response. He had no qualms admitting to his fear of death, and yet was still willing to meet it. ¡°I don¡¯t know how great you are, or how noble your goals might be. I don¡¯t care. All I see are people who betray their loved ones, discard their friends, and abandon the honor they claim to treasure. You¡¯re a man who sees the death of his own son as necessary, even willing to recruit his killer.¡± The light in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes grew more determined as he spoke. As his will to fight increased, so too did the fires surrounding Ardent Wrath. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this life is a bitter one? I don¡¯t go in for all your bullshit idealism. I do things my own way. I will do anything necessary to protect myself and the people I care about. Live like a king, die a happy death ¨C I¡¯m just a nobody. Freedom is my way of life!¡± The older man¡¯s eyes dimmed, but whether from the pain of loss or disappointment it was hard to say. He knew what Adder¡¯s final words to Cloudhawk were, he¡¯d heard them second-hand. Was his son wrong in his estimation of the man? ¡°Heaven and earth are inexorably tied. There has never been such a thing as absolute freedom. Nor are you nobody, for destiny seeks out those with strength to do its bidding.¡± Cloudhawk could feel the vigor rising within the Master Demonhunter. Nothing more need be said. It was time to fight. He vanished from the Crimson One¡¯s view. Using the power of his invisibility cloak he crept closer as Ardent Wrath burned furiously, invisible to the outside world just as he was. Cloudhawk filled it with the full breadth of his strength so that its flames poured like a river. Countless shards of flame burst out toward the Crimson One. The Conclave¡¯s leader didn¡¯t move an inch. He didn¡¯t even raise his head to look. He was enveloped by a golden light that sprang up suddenly around him, in the image of some mighty god of war. The impervious shell of protection wholly deflected Cloudhawk¡¯s attack. Clang! The fiery blade of Ardent Wrath exploded completely! Cloudhawk felt like he¡¯d come upon a completely impervious wall. In a blink, all of the power he¡¯d accumulated was dispersed, and the Crimson One hadn¡¯t even suffered a scratch. Quite the opposite, for the shell of power had reflected much of the power back at Cloudhawk. The fires of his own sword were blasted back at him, and all of a sudden he was engulfed in an angry sea of burning red. The blow-back knocked him several dozen meters through the air before he hit the ground. He was half buried in a crater. Blackened marks where the fire had scalded him and his clothes were peppered all over Cloudhawk¡¯s body. Not far away, his broken sword smoldered. It sizzled with heat, radiating an angry red and trembled unceasingly. Cloudhawk stared wide eyed up from the hole he was in. He¡¯d thrown everything he had at the Crimson One, and the old priest hadn¡¯t even blinked. Hell, instead Cloudhawk had nearly blown himself to pieces. The Crimson One had won victory with his defense alone. The discrepancy between them was incalculable, vast as a mountain range. ¡°Though your potential is great, too much uncertainty surrounds you. I don¡¯t have time to wait and see how things develop. Since you refuse to see reason, I must kill you myself.¡± The Crimson One raised his hands. Green fires danced in his palms, gathering together into arrows. He flung them at Cloudhawk at incredible speed. Such a direct and overwhelming assault from castigation fire would surely mean death if they struck. An iron cane whistled through the air and struck the ground right in front of Cloudhawk. The area all around him cracked and sunk half an inch. When the fires came they did not strike their target, and instead hit the body of that iron cane. The shimmering gold aura of the relic and the sickly green of castigation fire warred for supremacy. In the same instant, a streak of blazing white light descended from overhead toward the Crimson One. Like Ardent Wrath, it too shattered when the light collided with the Crimson One¡¯s golden shield. The Master Demonhunter scowled. Two figures emerged to stand at Cloudhawk¡¯s side. One was an old man, filthy and lame. The other was a beautiful woman clad in spotless white. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 67 - Fury of the Master Demonhunter Cloudhawk¡¯s body was covered in burn marks, however they were healing even as he scrambled back onto his feet. He had to admit the Crimson One was stronger than he thought. Without the timely arrival of his two friends, he definitely would have been put down. With the sudden change to their conflict, the Crimson One did not immediately make any further attacks. The day finally came. The seed that was planted was finally bearing fruit. Baldur¡¯s daughter and his best friend stood shoulder to shoulder, facing their shared enemy in solidarity. The Crimson One first turned his eyes to Selene. In her left hand she clutched Baldur¡¯s weapon, Transcendence. In her right, the holy crossblade. One radiated with holy energy, and the other glittered with crystalline beauty. She stood with her shoulders back and head high, a blade in each hand. Her white vestments reflected the red and green fires that surrounded them. Her raven black hair fell straight to her shoulders like a silken waterfall. The contrast between her pale skin and dark hair was especially striking. Her gradually maturing features highlighted the beautiful woman she had become. ¡°At last you inherit your father¡¯s legacy.¡± While the Crimson One¡¯s face had a natural air of compassion, there was no great emotion at the sight of his brother¡¯s daughter. ¡°Like father, like daughter, it would seem. Both such incredible people. A pity you do not come to me now as a friend.¡± Deadly ferocity overtook Selene¡¯s moon-like eyes like an eclipse. She became a beautiful and deadly beacon of righteous vengeance. Slowly her right arm raised, poising her blazing sword of light toward the man. ¡°You are unworthy to even mention my father.¡± ¡°Whether you believe me or not, I promise you that I have no greater regret in my life than killing Baldur. It was the most painful thing I ever had to do. I did it anyway, and if you knew the truth you would rejoice in his death. Otherwise-¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°Otherwise it would not be me you face today. It would have been him.¡± All three of them stood in silence, letting the words hang in the air. Anger overtook Selene¡¯s senses. She threw herself at him, her blazing sword of light thrust toward his chest. The righteous light burned the pupils, but for all its fury the blow suffered the same fate as the several before it; upon striking the golden aura around the Crimson One, the sword was easily deflected, like a toothpick trying to pierce a diamond. The shell was left unscathed while her crossblade shattered into pieces. Immortal Defender! One of the Cloude family¡¯s most treasured relics. During their battle in the wastelands, the Crimson One had been beaten to the point of exhaustion. Injured and spent, it was this relic that saved his life and allowed him to escape. Since it came into possession of the Cloude family, Immortal Defender was considered one of the strongest relics to have ever been unearthed. It was capable of deflected any attack thrown at it so long as the Crimson One had a shred of energy remaining. ¡°You all know in your heart that the order to kill Baldur came from Arcturus. I was simply doing as I was commanded!¡± The stones scattered around the Crimson One¡¯s feet began to tremble. Gravity in this strange city was already weaker than the world outside, and under the influence of the Crimson One¡¯s power it failed entirely. Stones rose like they had a life of their own. Flecks of sickly green Castigation fire also emerged, giving more weight and power to the former Knight-Commander¡¯s words. Rock and flame danced around them, turning into a pulsing tide. The stones caught fire and glimmered like the night sky, everywhere they looked. ¡°If you respected your father, if you loved your friend, then you would not stand in my way. You should be helping me complete this important work. If I fail then everything that Baldur went through will be for nothing. Raising your swords against me does not earn vengeance for Baldur, it insults his memory!¡± Selene slowly raised the crystalline blade in her other hand. Transcendence, the sword of her father. The air around it warped threateningly, and as she hacked it at their foe the ground split before a tremendous flood of energy. It smashed against the Crimson One¡¯s defenses with so much intensity that it splintered stone. Still it caused him no harm. Inwardly Cloudhawk cursed their continued failure. His defenses were too strong! Sterling wasted no more time on words. Yes, Selene and Vulkan had begun to doubt, but nothing he said would push them beyond questions. They suspected that the Elysian leaders weren¡¯t as righteous as they pretended to be. They doubted this Elysian cause they championed was as noble as they were lead to believe. Perhaps ¨C perhaps ¨C their holy mission had nothing to do with divine justice after all. But it was all just suspicions. At the end of the day, all of the tragic things humans had suffered at the hands of the gods were tempered by their blessings. Others were forced to live in squalor, but not them. They were the fruit of Skycloud, the Elysian lands were home. They¡¯d never truly experienced the blood and death and violence. How could they understand the Crimson One¡¯s position? How could they join him in his zealous pursuit? Selene was strong. She could lift her hand against the Crimson One. She might even be able to make Arcturus nervous. But the gods? No ¨C she was no threat to the gods. For all her doubts, Selene knew one thing; that her father was the greatest demonhunter to wander the wastes. He traveled the world, bringing justice where there was none. A prideful, powerful defender of the righteous! The drunk felt similarly. It had been years since he¡¯d gone to Skycloud, and it was unlikely he would ever go back. But it was a place that still held sway, and the ties he felt to it would remain forever. IF ever the Elysian land came under dire threat and his service was needed, he would be the first to stand before their enemies. This was the pride of a warrior, and the commitment he had made. It was a responsibility that he was sworn to bear. For her. Sterling was urging a war between the wastelands and Skycloud. Neither side could see eye to eye, nothing about them offered a road to harmony. With the addition of all the enmity suffered through the years there was no chance of reconciliation today. The Crimson One had no choice. This battle was inevitable, and once they were dead no one would remain who could stand in his way. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk could feel the rising determination on both sides. Buffeting waves of energy crested around them, and with each passing second his face darkened. The old zealot meant business this time. While it was true all three of his attackers were stronger than when they fought after Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, the Master Demonhunter was ten times ¨C a hundred times the stronger after recovering from his old wounds. Today there would be death, and while the outcome was not certain, Cloudhawk did know the Crimson One was far stronger than they were prepared to deal with. The three would-be assassins wasted no more time, they attacked in unison. Three attacks landed from three different directions, yet still the golden aura held. The Crimson One raised the crosier in both hands while green fires danced above his head. All the while they¡¯d been talking, the disparate spurts of Castigation fire had been gathering above him. Whatever invisible dam holding it back crumbled. Deadly green fire surged toward them like a waterfall from the depths of hell, submerging the area. Anything the fires touched was dissolved, leaving nothing but a scoured landscape in its wake. Inch by inch, the fires crept forward in an insatiable need to consume. The old drunk called for the protection of Dawnguard. Blinding rays of light shot out like the glory of the morning sun. The three invaders were wrapped in a circle of protection. As the tide of Castigation fire reached them it crashed against the golden light. Vulkan¡¯s defenses dimmed almost immediately, for he was not a demonhunter specialized in mental fortitude. At best he commanded relics as well as a veteran, so how could he hope to stem the fury of a Master Demonhunter? But it bought them enough time. Cloudhawk summoned the power of his phase stone. Just as the golden light was overwhelmed he and his two companions blinked to a location several hundred meters away. He found himself standing atop a nearby building looking out over the sea of fire. The spot they once occupied was engulfed in flame, along with a vast swath of the surrounding area. Towers and buildings caught in the crossfire were slowly beginning to fall apart. It was a nightmare to behold. It was almost more than he could believe. Was this the power of a Master Demonhunter? The endless fires rose up into the air, heedless of logic or gravity. The Crimson One¡¯s golden outline was barely visible beneath the torrent of Castigation Fire. Tendrils of it curled around him like angry dragons, changing directions at his whim. He was like some unimaginable horror, with whipping tentacle arms of all-consuming fire. ¡°Since you refuse to obey, then you will die!¡± The Crimson One¡¯s hand shot up, and in response a column of Castigation Fire rose toward his attackers. Though not overly fast and weak in appearance, no one doubted the destruction the fires could cause. Everything caught in its path, even whole buildings, was erased. To the Master Demonhunter the whole world was made from paper, eager to burn. Plumes of fire were belched into the air and began to fall around them like fire from the heavens. At the same time the Crimson One lashed out with several tendrils of flame. They whipped toward Cloudhawk at the others from the front and both sides, each one the size of a bull. A glance was enough to know these spears of fire could pierce even the strongest foes. Tongues of fire descended from above, and a sea of flame raged below. All around were whipping tendrils like spears of broken jade. They were caught in a raging deluge, as though the apocalyptic war between gods and demons had been summoned once again to this place. Nothing could bear the touch of Castigation, and whole buildings collapsed under the assault. It was as terrible as hellfire and threatened to cleanse all worldly things from reality. At the heart of the torrent was the Crimson One, sparkling in a shell of golden light and commanding a horde of green tentacles. To any who witnessed he was no different than a God or Demon. Denizens of Fallowmoor saw the conflict from far away, witnessed their leader become an avatar of destruction. Ever soul was left breathless by the scene. He had to be one of the world¡¯s strongest living creatures ¨C someone who could contend against the divine and unholy with nothing but his own power! Dawn, locked in combat with Dumont and the others, lifted her head to witness the scene. Panic crept into her pretty eyes. There was no question that the Crimson One had returned to full strength, which meant even her grandfather was no match for him. What was Cloudhawk, Selene and that old drunk supposed to do? Against someone like this, their whole team didn¡¯t even have a forty percent chance of escaping with their lives. Just those three? Ten percent at best. Dawn needed to help them. Her distracted allowed Dumont to catch her with another violent collision. She couldn¡¯t get free, not when these enemies had her pinned down. All she could do was pray. Cloudhawk. If you can¡¯t beat him, you have to run. That¡¯s what you¡¯re best at, right? Don¡¯t get hurt. Please don¡¯t get hurt! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 68 - Grievous Harm Any who suffered the touch of Castigation perished! Such an overwhelming and all-encompassing display was impossible to avoid completely. A Master Demonhunter¡¯s mental powers were enough to maintain this nightmare assault for a long time, so trying to wait it out was simply waiting for death. After furiously trying to find any other method, Cloudhawk determined the only way to survive was to beat their enemy as quickly as possible. So, it was basically impossible. He was surrounded by Castigation Fire and protected by Immortal Defender. What were the three of them supposed to do? Up til now the most they¡¯d managed was to poke at the Crimson One and test his defenses. What they discovered was that even if they threw everything they had at the golden aura, it stood firm. So far as they could tell, there was no solution to the very deadly circumstance they found themselves in. Meanwhile, the Crimson One¡¯s attacks were only getting more ferocious. Attack after deadly attack was thrown their way, from the rain of fire overhead to the lake of fire below, to the scores of flaming tentacles aimed their way. Once again the old drunk called on Dawnguard¡¯s power to protect them, at least temporarily. He and Selene tried to break through the rapidly encroaching blockade of Castigation and thus created an opportunity to attack the Crimson One. Though it was only the second time the two had fought together, they executed their plan with stunning cooperation. Many were the skills the old man learned from the Temple. He danced among the deadly flames like a specter. What¡¯s more, his mental prowess was enough to protect him from Castigation. Whipping tentacles and raining fire couldn¡¯t break his defenses, at least not yet. Selene didn¡¯t have the same mystical skills as the former War Saint, but she did have formidable skills of her own. Her mental abilities were practically limitless, and her Holy Vestments were able to protect her at least marginally from the deadly fires. So long as she defended a few key areas from the flame, and avoid a direct blow, she needn¡¯t fear being devoured. Yet despite their well-executed cooperation, it was no use. The Crimson One¡¯s gave them no quarter, their attacks were almost clumsy to his well-trained eye. First he released a wall of fire to keep the old man at bay. He followed that with a barrage of fireballs toward Selene. Her retreat was cut off, so she had nowhere to turn when the Crimson One rose into the air and came streaking toward her with incredible speed. His crosier came down on her like a cudgel, but she deflected it with her two swords. The strength of the blow knocked her backward. As she struggled to regain her footing the fires reached for her, like the abyss of hell opening its maw to receive her. Spouts of flame lapped at her vestments like the grasping hands of the dead. Selene felt her heart seize for a moment as she lost her balance. She fell backward toward the hungry fires, when suddenly she felt herself get yanked to the side. All at once the world whipped by and she found herself dozens of meters from where she¡¯d nearly died. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, she felt her heart races and her chest burning. The old drunk was also forced back. No one questioned the Crimson One¡¯s overwhelming strength, he was handily pinning down three attackers without any real danger to himself. ¡°Let me take a shot!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid¡­ you can¡¯t break his defenses!¡± Selene hadn¡¯t even finished talking before Cloudhawk blinked out of view. When she spotted him again she was shocked to discover he¡¯d brazenly teleported right in front of their enemy, blocking his path forward. Putting himself in front of a Master Demonhunter was suicide! Almost on instinct, the green fiery tentacles lashed toward Cloudhawk. But they achieved nothing! As experienced as Sterling was, he¡¯d never met someone who could completely ignore the Castigation Fires. However, it took him only a second to realize what sort of power this was. Cloudhawk tightened his grip on Ardent Wrath. It was now or never, he would put all their hopes on this strike! He leaped into the air with the sword held aloft. As he brought it down on the priest, Ardent Wrath burst into fire. The dancing red blade cleaved through the green tentacles and struck the Crimson One¡¯s golden aura. The Master Demonhunter hardly paid it any mind. In his phased state Cloudhawk was immune to damage, but neither could he cause any. His attacks were useless, so why attempt it? Was it some sort of feint? Ardent Wrath¡¯s fiery blade passed right through the golden barrier. Cloudhawk¡¯s attack passed through Immortal Defender¡¯s protection like it wasn¡¯t there. This was the moment. Success of failure depended on what happened next. At the risk of being consumed by the spectral fires, Cloudhawk allowed his phase state to collapse. His weapon was already through the Crimson One¡¯s barrier and inserted in his body. The blazing sword once again entered into real space along with its owner, manifesting within the Crimson One. ¡°What?!¡± Sterling¡¯s face became pale and he pushed himself away from Cloudhawk as quickly as possible. At the same moment, Cloudhawk felt a bone-jarring repelling force knock him away! This sort of dimensional attack was much different from physical blows. When an object shifted from outside of one dimension into another, it tore apart anything in the space it inhabited. If the energy it attempted to displace was as strong or stronger than itself, a powerful oppositional energy arose. It was just like years ago, when Cloudhawk overcame Drake¡¯s defenses with a dead tree branch. Drake was a talented martial artist, even back then. His body was as hard as steel, so Cloudhawk¡¯s stick couldn¡¯t even scrape his skin. Yet through his phasing ability he¡¯d managed to shove a dead stick all the way through and seriously injure Drake. It was proof of how dangerous the combination of an attack and his phase ability could be. It didn¡¯t matter how strong the Crimson One¡¯s Immortal Defender was. It could be twice as strong, and still be incapable of protecting him from an attack that didn¡¯t even come from the same reality. A clear fissure was visible where Cloudhawk¡¯s sword had pierced it. The Crimson One stared in wide-eyed disbelief. His relic was one of Skycloud¡¯s best defensive items. By all rights, it should''ve been all but impermeable. So long as he had any mental energy remaining it was supposed to provide absolute protection... but not against a dimensional strike. After tearing open a hole, Cloudhawk suffered tremendous backlash in the form of rebellious energy. The fires of Ardent Wrath immediately dimmed, to the point that it seemed unlikely to do the Crimson One any real harm. The Crimson One did not hesitate, did not let panic take hold. He danced backward out of the way while simultaneously launching a counter-strike with his crosier. The staff moved so quick that several showy copies appeared, delivering several dozen blows against Cloudhawk. Each one was expertly landed, snapping the younger man¡¯s sturdy bones like they were twigs. Each one infected his body with Castigation. Where the blows landed, tongues of green flame wormed into his flesh. ¡°Get away!¡± Selene screamed. Cloudhawk¡¯s vision began to dim. He felt the terrible power surging inside of him. Selene¡¯s scream reached him from across the battlefield and he knew that his situation was grim, he had to retreat quickly or lose his life. But there wouldn¡¯t be a second chance. How could he accept retreat now? The cruelty and ferocity that lived deep in his wastelander bones rose to the surface. It seethed up from the depths of his heart. Engorged veins in his eyes made them swollen and bloodshot, and his face twisted into one of unbridled madness. ¡°I will not fall back until I break this fucking turtle¡¯s shell!¡± Cloudhawk roared in defiance of his injuries. The stone around his neck bloomed with light, and a torrent of mental energy poured into his relics. The flames of Ardent Wrath were renewed, ten times stronger than before. A power burst from it with astonishing strength, like a condensed laser beam. It struck Sterling¡¯s gold-encased body and viciously flung him to the ground. The Crimson One soared through the air like a golden meteor, then kicked up a plume of dust when he landed. The ground couldn¡¯t sustain such immense force focused in one area. An enormous crater was carved out of the ground, but that wasn¡¯t the end of it. Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes were in tatters. His invisibility cloak had started to burn, and the skin of his face was blackened and cracked. Scars from the fires were spreading out like inky tentacles and spurting from his pores. He was being burned alive. Castigation Fire was trying to incinerate him from the inside out. His companions could see the furious power threatening to blow their friend apart. The old drunk stared in horror. Was this kid trying to kill himself? Did he think he could take the Crimson One with him? Cloudhawk dragged his sword, and with it the streak of pure energy. It carved a semicircle in the ground in its journey, once gain slamming into the Crimson One and dragging him along the ground. The earth was cleaved apart, and whole buildings felled by the force. In the end he carved a semicircular trench a hundred meters long. At last, Cloudhawk¡¯s energy was spent. Selene raced over to try and pull him to safety. Cloudhawk collapsed onto the ground, unable to breathe. An indescribable pain wracked every corner of his being. He¡¯d suffered the torture of Castigation Fire before, and it had nearly killed him. This time it felt so much worse. The inside of his body felt like a war zone. Every cell was being torn apart and put back together, a hundred million times a second. The pain was so excruciating he fought just to maintain consciousness. Darkness was creeping in. He couldn¡¯t think straight, much less continue the fight. Selene impotently held his hand. She didn¡¯t know what she could do. He somehow managed to croak out a few words through his blackened throat. ¡°Did.. I.. kill him?¡± If the Crimson One could be so easily defeated, then he would not be worthy of the title Master Demonhunter. The man was enveloped in the golden radiance, floating ten meters above the ground. There he quietly hovered, above a maligned ruin of landscape yet himself unscathed. Panic gripped them as they saw that not a hair was displaced on the man¡¯s body. Ardent Wrath¡¯s burning blade was pointed right at his chest, having torn a hole in that perfect defense. The condensed flames had plunged two inches passed that golden shell. But alas, it was not enough! The angry flames had stopped a hairs-breadth from the Crimson One¡¯s eye! To put it simply, while Cloudhawk¡¯s unique skills had allowed him to pierce the Crimson One¡¯s defenses, he simply wasn¡¯t strong enough to harm the Master Demonhunter. It was only a matter of centimeters, but there were no trophies for almost enough. ¡°Impressive strength!¡± The Crimson One was cold, calm, and dispassionate in his praise. He seemed almost devoid of emotion, no sign of frustration being shown at nearly having his eye carved out. After all, for all the fury of Cloudhawk¡¯s assault he¡¯d felt no danger. Cloudhawk simply wasn¡¯t good enough. He posed no threat. The Crimson One stood before them unscathed, and confident. This was the root of his calm demeanor. The red priest floated forward, once again filling the area with the suffocating weight of his power. Hungry green flames once again emerged from thin air to float around him, each one holding the promise of death. It reflected in the fear-filled eyes of the assassins as it spread once more. He was too strong. Too dominating a foe. How could they hope to win against a monster like him? Even the old drunk had despair written in the lines of his worn face. He had hoped at the outset that the Crimson One was still suffering from his old injuries. Instead, they found Sterling as strong as he had been in his prime ¨C perhaps stronger. They were as threatening as ants before the might of this man. Cloudhawk was spent. In his desperate gambit he had achieved nothing but suffered much. Though his wounds were not yet lethal, they would come at a cost if he survived. The cruel fires would ruin him, maybe worse than the old cripple he¡¯d come with. 1. He¡¯s like If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 69 - Sublime Transcendence Cloudhawk was violently coughing up blood. His wild attack had been costly. As the blood trickled from his lips and hit the ground, spurts of green fire leaped out from the boiling liquid as it melted a hole in the rocky ground. Upon entering his blood, Castigation¡¯s deadly effect awakened the virus that had been dormant. Trespasser and the Crimson One¡¯s fires warred for supremacy, neither winning over. Cloudhawk was thus caught in a purgatory of agony, alive but in terrible pain. If not for Trespasser¡¯s involvement, however, he surely would be dead. For the blood he spat up to be consumed by fire¡­ one could imagine the dire circumstances he was in. Killing Adder had been a herculean task. Killing his father seemed impossible. Selene watched Cloudhawk writhe in pain, grinding her teeth at how ineffectual she was. She was desperate to continue, do to anything. Her eyes were slightly red from fear and anger, and from the pain that stabbed at her heart like a knife. It was a feeling she couldn¡¯t remember experiencing since she learned of her father¡¯s death. This hopeless idiot! First in Greenland Outpost, and now here! Why is he always so eager to get involved in fights that were beyond him? Selene could feel him getting weaker. She clutched tightly to his hand, whose flesh was cracked and blackened. Stinging pain assailed her even through the gloves. Castigation was breaking through his skin and reaching for anything it could. If just being near him caused this pain, she didn¡¯t want to imagine what Cloudhawk was feeling. But the most frightening realization was that the destruction wrought by Castigation was irreversible. There was no medicine known to man that could heal the hellish fires. Castigation infected his blood, and seeped deep into his marrow. There was no cure! What¡¯s more, the Crimson One¡¯s staff had broken many of his bones in their vicious exchange, and the jagged edges had torn into his internal organs. Anyone Selene had seen with wounds this serious died quickly. Pat¡­. Pat¡­ Cloudhawk felt drops of water falling on his face. They eased the eternal agony that was eating him up from the inside, at least slightly. He managed to open his eyes and peer up at the face hovering above his own. His handsome features were hideously scorched, his skin blackened and split. When he smiled the expression was horrific, but it was a genuine smile from the heart. Selene was crying. It was her second time. As strong and stoic as she was, she was still a woman. Only in these rare moments was the gentle part of her spirit revealed. From the standpoint of a man, any price was worth seeing a woman this beautiful crying over him. He struggled to speak, every syllable crackling like the fires that danced in his throat. ¡°This fucker is too strong¡­ I don¡¯t think we can beat him.¡± Selene¡¯s answer came in a quavering tone. ¡°Did you¡­ do this for me?¡± ¡°You carry too much on your shoulders¡­ I can see how tired you are. The pain you hide¡­ I see it every time I look at you. I hate it. But I¡¯m¡­ not strong enough. I can¡¯t help you.¡± ¡°No. You helped me find myself again. You made me rethink my life, and showed me that the world isn¡¯t all darkness and hate. You¡¯ve already helped me so much.¡± Was Cloudhawk¡¯s suggestion to kill the Crimson One really just for the expeditionary force¡¯s benefit? Even he himself wondered when he¡¯d become so altruistic. He¡¯d found the answer when he cast aside his sense of self-preservation and attacked the Crimson One. He didn¡¯t really give a shit about the expeditionary forces. He did it because he hoped it might help Selene put down some of her burdens. But did she need him to do it? No! So Selene left him behind at the Elysian base and took the Temple¡¯s warriors with her to the front. She hadn¡¯t wanted him to be here, where death was a real possibility. Of course, the moron had to stick his nose into everything and came anyway. All for what? The Crimson One hovered above them entirely unscathed. The hole Cloudhawk had punched into his defenses was already being repaired. Immortal Defender was more than strong; for all intents and purposes, it was indestructible. Yet Cloudhawk had managed the impossible and tore open a hole. Even the Crimson One¡¯s relic seemed taken aback, for it was slow to seal the fissure. This appeared to be the only flaw in the relic¡¯s function. Unfortunately Cloudhawk had failed to do more than open a small crack. A breach this small would only require a few minutes for the relic to repair. Once that happen, Cloudhawk¡¯s idiotic but valiant attempt would have been for nothing. The Crimson One would again be wholly invincible. But what could they do? Cloudhawk, with the help of his incredible phase stone, had only managed to tear open a small hole. What means did they have of trying to break through that golden shield? Motes of green fire were gathering over the Crimson One¡¯s head. He released another torrent of Castigation toward Selene. The old drunk¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Selene, get out of the way!¡± Selene¡¯s Holy Vestments were powerful, of the same caliber as Castigation Fire. Because of this, they were able to withstand the all-consuming fire, at least to some degree. However she had no way to protect the already gravely wounded Cloudhawk. If she escaped the threat to her own safety, she would be abandoning her friend. What¡¯s more, the waterfall of green fire was too powerful. Although Selene was as strong as Adder had been, she wasn¡¯t mighty enough to fend off an attack of this magnitude. Choosing to stand against it was a death sentence. Death and destruction loomed over the two small figures. Selene didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t budge. In her heart she was at peace. Wherever he was, there was always some measure of peace. Four years ago in Blackflag Outpost, huddled in his small shack. Their meeting was predestined. From that moment on their lives had been inexorably tied. Together they¡¯d fled through the wastelands, fending off death at every turn, and in that struggle had become companions. Then came the battle at Greenland Outpost. The Bloodsoaked Queen had been struck back down to earth from her lofty pedestal. Both of them cast aside title and identity and saw one another for who they were beneath all that. After that, they were friends. Four years passed. They¡¯d spent such a brief time together, but the impact they¡¯d had on each others¡¯ lives loomed large. If Cloudhawk had never met the Bloodsoaked Queen, he would have never learned about demonhunters. He would have known nothing about the Elysian lands or Skycloud city. All of the experience thereafter ¨C good and bad ¨C would never have come to pass. Selene had spent such a brief time with Cloudhawk, but he was responsible for the single biggest transformation in her life. He had left an indelible mark on her heart. He occupied an important and unassailable position in her eyes. Cloudhawk was a lone wolf. So was Selene. They were two lonely souls, meeting each other at a crucial moment in time. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was divine predestination. Cloudhawk was the only person in the whole world who could open Selene¡¯s eyes to the truth of the world. Her one real friend, and probably her last. The heavens had delivered a man like this to her side. She would not allow anyone to take him from her! He risked his life for me. I will give my life to protect him. They were companions, in life and death! They shared glory and failure, victory and defeat! Selene was a warrior, down to her bones. She wasn¡¯t much for words, and kept everyone at arm¡¯s length with her aloof persona. She was unapproachable, but when she finally came to acknowledge something or someone she was dogged in her persistence and loyalty. Nothing would sway her. Selene turned her head toward the encroaching torrent. The sickly green light danced across her resolute face, a hundred million butterflies of flame. As the deadly fires came crashing toward her there was no trace of fear or apprehension in her. The blazing sword in her grip shrunk until it was once again a small crucifix of pure white. Was she giving in? No! Of course not! Surrender was not a word Selene knew the meaning of. She held Transcendence aloft, its crystal blade twinkling in the stark light. Within the hilt of this unsullied, masterwork blade was a small indentation just the right size for a cross. ¡°I made a promise. I will not go back on my word.¡± She placed her crucifix in the opening. It slipped right in. The two relics were a perfect fit, like they were meant to be together all along. In fact the two were forged together, intended to be used as one. Each one individually was a powerful tool, but together they created a relic of epic capabilities. A burst of power caused Selene¡¯s raven black hair to dance in the wind. Her pure white armor came alive with an internal glow. The tempestuous winds that followed blew the motes of green fire to either side like she was parting a sea. Meanwhile, a single thread of light crept up from the center of the crystal blade. This was the weapon of a god, capable of sweeping away any mortal thing in its path. Transcendence, asleep for decades, had finally awakened. As the light of the weapon split his fiery attack, the Crimson One did not see a twenty year old girl in his path. To his eyes, the figure was a middle-aged man of righteous bearing, encase in pure white light, with this godly weapon leveled against him. Countless demons had been felled by Transcendence¡¯ crystal edge. So many legends revolved around the man in snow-white Holy Vestments. A power like that persisted forever, its spirit endless. Especially now that this beautiful heir had risen to bear the righteous tools of her father, the light he bore would never be extinguished. The Crimson One was distracted by seeing his brother¡¯s glory reflected in the visage of his daughter. The roaring flames ebbed. Selene raised her weapon, Sublime Transcendence, and shut her eyes. Her mind went blank, her heart silence. ¡°Father¡­ please be with me.¡± Selene brought her sword down, and the fires parted. A streak of holy light illuminated everything around them, a beam of pure heavenly energy. A gully was carved through the torrent of fire, splitting it into two streams. The fierce winds were like a harnessed hurricane. It was fast, furious and unpredictable. The Crimson One snapped back to the present just as Selene jumped into the air, poised for her second strike. A crushing aura fell over him, strong enough to shatter mountains and part seas. It came roaring toward his gold-encased form with such power he could hardly believe it. Sublime Transcendence was one of the most powerful relics in the whole of the Elysian lands. Selene aimed the full might of it right toward the small fissure Cloudhawk had cut in his defenses. Her strike widened the rift. The Crimson One¡¯s face showed a note of fear. Sublime Transcendence was just as incredible a relic as Castigation Fire or Immortal Defender, but the threshold required in order to command the relic¡¯s power was high. Even Baldur, mighty as he was, would not have been able to summon the sword¡¯s strength at Selene¡¯s age. It was incredible to behold, that a girl so young could call upon the weapon in such a mighty display. She delivered two strikes, one after the other. Already the color was drained from her face from the strain, for the weapon demanded much. Her Holy Vestments blazed with the fire of a star as it imbued her with mental energy. She reared back for a third strike. ¡°If you¡¯d had another four or five years of training, not even I could say with confidence that I could defeat you. But today, you are not strong enough.¡± The Crimson One pushed the shock from his mind and recovered his calm, calculating persona. Selene was a child in her earlier twenties. However vaulted her talent, innate ability only went so far. Children like her were no match for a man like the Crimson One, a Master Demonhunter who made his name decades ago. She didn¡¯t let his words distract her. Selene hacked at her foe with a third strike, finally cracking the golden shell. Only, it just barely fell short, like Cloudhawk¡¯s attempts before. The Crimson One was still unharmed. ¡°That is all you will manage!¡± His crosier burst into flame, and came at her with blinding speed. Countless images of it dashed through the air like an impenetrable net. She couldn¡¯t see a way through this area attack and was struck half a dozen times. The onslaught of blows knocked her ten or so meters back. The beating had left a mark, and fresh blood stained her fine white garments. The Crimson One shook his head. Such a pity¡­ the dour reality they faced sapped him of energy. He felt drained, not from the effort of the battle but from what he witnessed in Cloudhawk and Selene. He felt like his time had indeed passed. All he could manage was a prelude, but the future was destined to be written by young and talented people like them. This deep, abiding powerlessness made him feel¡­ tired. If he killed these two rising stars it would be a tragedy for the future of their species. But he had to. The Crimson One prepared himself to deliver the killing blow. ¡°It looks like you forgot about me.¡± The gruff, slightly slurred voice came from behind. The Crimson One turned with cold, indifferent eyes toward the drunk. Cloudhawk and Selene had been defeated. What could this washed-up old warrior do to turn the tide? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 70 - Apex Attack The old drunk had watched the two young people in their battle against the Crimson One. Cloudhawk¡¯s mysterious dimensional powers took everyone by surprise, and Selene¡¯s Sublime Transcendence was destructive on another level. But what the vagabond noticed most of all was the deep connection those two shared. It was pure and undisguised, one of life¡¯s most profound connections. It was also the source of life¡¯s greatest power. The look in Selene¡¯s eyes was one that the old man found familiar. Back when the drunk was the lauded War Saint, everyone acknowledged that he was the greatest martial artist of their time. He rose to fame as a favorite of the gods and well known even in his youth. Those were the greatest days of his life, the peak of his heroism. Countless young women vied for his attention back then. One of them was a girl like Selene; beautiful, prideful and strong. Two people: one living in the height of his glory, and the other in her most pure and innocent years. It was the perfect time for them to meet, and if they had chosen to follow their hearts it would have been a fairytale love story. Sadly the War Saint¡¯s heart was filled with arrogance and ambition. He was determined to explore the limits of the human body, and open the door to new realms of potential. Desperate was he to surpass the towering figure of the War-God and become the strongest person under heaven. The two were together every day, but might as well have been separated by a vast ocean. The old drunk, in his folly, expected his dreams to consume all his life. He left no space for anything but the dogged pursuit of his goals. She was content to wait and follow in his footsteps, so that when he reached the summit of his mountain he would look back and see her. Happiness had been right there, just within reach. No longer. It took him so long to wake up. Half a lifetime he¡¯d carried this regret and was still unable to put it aside. Only in the abyss of his darkest days did he realize what he really wanted. It wasn¡¯t to be the greatest martial artist, or to be an enduring celebrity for the ages. It meant nothing to rise above all the rest of humanity if you stood at the peak alone. He made her wait for so long¡­ so now he would hold her in memory for all the rest of his days. It was too late to tell her what he really felt, but in the depths of his heart it had given him a measure of faith to hold on to. Today, whatever the cost, he would protect these two young people. The Crimson One peered upon the mighty warrior of bygone days. ¡°It seems you were also gifted Woodland Vale¡¯s medicines, yet you remain a far cry from your former glory. Even at the height of your skills, you were never a threat to me.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t fought yet. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little preemptive to declare victory?¡± ¡°Hmph. I can kill you with a snap of my fingers.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s small fissure in his golden defense had been hacked open even further. This formerly invincible opponent now had an obvious weak point. It was their one opportunity. If they did not act fast, Immortal Defender would seal the crack and any hope of victory would be lost. The Crimson One could buy time, or take a defensive posture in order to give Immortal Defender a chance to recover. From that point on he would again be invincible, and could handle these invaders at his leisure. However, he was a Master Demonhunter and had a Master Demonhunter¡¯s pride! The old man before him had once been cheered throughout the realm, their glorious War Saint. Despite his taunts, Vulkan would have been a force to be reckoned with back in his prime. In order to spare his own pride, the Crimson One didn¡¯t want to resort to dirty tactics when fighting a crippled old man. So he rose up higher off the ground, trailed by tendrils of Castigation Fire. They spread out all around him like the grasping arms of an octopus. ¡°We¡¯re both old men, priest. Too old to cling to idealism. The future belongs to the young.¡± The old man drew himself up as he spoke, causing his joints to pop and creak in protest. His hunched figure straightened to his full height, while his old bones rolled back into place visibly beneath the skin. He almost seem to expand as toned muscles appeared where moments before there was only emaciated, papery flesh. He was changing right before the Crimson One¡¯s eyes. Dirty, patchwork rags still hugged his form and he still looked like he¡¯d been dragged out of a gutter. The many half empty bottles hanging from him remained, but there was something fundamentally different about his presence. The Crimson One¡¯s response was a direct and violent assault. Four or five tendrils of flame lashed out at the drunk, surrounding him. He didn¡¯t budge one inch, still as a statue. However, just as it seems the fire would swallow him up the old man¡¯s body vanished like a shadow in the noonday sun. A torrent of green fire slammed into the ground at everywhere the old man appeared, but each time only struck an illusion. He was too fast, rapidly changing his position on the battlefield with such speed that an afterimage of him was only the Crimson One could follow. None of the tendrils could pin him down. It wasn¡¯t teleportation, but at short distances the drunk¡¯s speed might as well have been. The Crimson One couldn¡¯t tell where he was or where he was going. The old man¡¯s recover was more complete than the Crimson One had assumed. He was using a mighty and effective skill from the Temple ¨C Shadowstep! His incredible speed allowed him to dodge attacks and close the distance between them. However, such a physically intensive skill was hard to use continually especially in the drunk¡¯s condition. The Crimson One need only flood the area with his deadly fires and eventually the drunk would be caught in it. Of course the vagrant was not content to passively accept these attacks. He darted between the tongues of flame, both hands lifting Dawnguard high. Its resplendent light burst forth like the morning sun as he came in for a direct assault. He¡¯d used this technique to beat back the dragons in Woodland Vale, for it was effective and powerful. However, today he was not in the Vale and the Crimson One was far more dangerous than any dragon. Cane and crosier exchanged half a dozen thunderous blows. Neither side won the upper hand. In their contest several sparks of green fire had landed on the old man, yet extinguished upon touching his iron-like skin. Small burn marks remained but nothing further. The power he was calling from inside of him flooded the exterior of his body, and was strong enough to present Castigation Fire from infecting him. Close combat? The old man was asking for death! The Crimson One was no longer the grizzled warrior he once was, but doused in Castigation fire there was no hope for the old drunk to break through. The green flames were spreading out through the area, leaving him with nowhere to go. How long could the drunk keep up their fight if he had to do it in a sea of fire? Again their weapons clashed. The old drunk was falling further behind. Under constant assault from Castigation fire, Dawnguard¡¯s surface had started to corrode. Even a relic as mighty as this could only suffer so much from the fires, and the effect was obvious in how the golden light surrounding him had begun to dim. Each exchange saw the Crimson One¡¯s face grow increasingly cold. The fires gathered rapidly around him and danced across his body. ¡°You could have found a hovel somewhere to live out the rest of your sad existence. Instead you¡¯ve chosen to come here, seeking death. I shall oblige.¡± Immortal Defender still wrapped the priest in a shell of gold. Castigation Fire enveloped him further and turned him into a pyre of green destruction. The Master Demonhunter grew before his eyes until he towered over a dozen meters, but it was transitory. He quickly coalesced from a dozen meters to a fireball five meters in diameter. The power that poured off of it was staggering! Was he preparing his final attack? The old drunk slowly lifted his scorched cane. Even in this critical moment, he felt his mind wander to an old promise. It called a wry grin to his face, full of bitter mirth. ¡°You said you wanted to see me perform the best technique in the world...¡± His right hand shot out. He wrapped gnarled fingers around one end of the cane and let loose with a guttural roar. His hand jerked back and pulled a slender blade from inside the cane. The moment the sword emerged, everything around them quivered from some shared resonance. A strange power swept through Fallowmoor. It crested against the flames and forced them back as it was revealed that Dawnguard was not a cane, but the sword hidden inside. The true depths of its strength were contained in this hidden relic. The real Dawnguard! Six years... ...six long years. Years spent wallowing in guilt and self-pity. He¡¯d fell from the loftiest mountain peak to the muck below. A sad figure cast from the light of heaven into the abyss. In those six years he¡¯d lost everything, and the mighty War Saint became a miserable wretch suffering the indignity of his failures. But now he had somehow summoned the courage to draw Dawnguard once again. From the moment its holy light was allowed to shine anew, the War Saint was reborn. For all the hardships, all the pain and all the hopelessness there was a single truth: The dawn was brightest after the darkest night! A man¡¯s life was like a parabola, for the deepest valleys were followed by soaring peaks. Existence was a measure of ups and downs, the cruelty of constant change! In his quest to forget the old man put all of his mind and all of his strength into the hidden sword. He wanted to lock it all away, keep it from view. For six long years that¡¯s where he kept the spirit of the old War Saint. When it was drawn, its light contained not only all of that mental fortitude and latent strength, it bore all of his frustrations, all of his regrets. ¡°This is what you wanted to see, wasn¡¯t it, Jade? I hope you¡¯re watching.¡± When the two foes met against, it was like two comets colliding in space. The fury of their clash shook the whole city. Selene could feel in the power expelled that the old man had miraculously regained his former grandeur. The Crimson One was also calling on the full extent of his power. Two legendary men in a contest that required everything they could summon. Selene feared she and Cloudhawk would be destroyed merely by being too close. She turned her eyes away, heedless of who held the upper hand, and wrapped her arms around Cloudhawk. Selene lifted him up and ran while violent explosions and plumes of green fire erupted behind them. The resulting blast force felt like being struck by an Elysian warship. Both of them were flung to the ground, and she hacked up mouthfuls of blood. Cloudhawk was flung a dozen meters away, flailing like a broken doll. Time passed, no one knew how long. The apocalyptic aftermath of the drunk¡¯s attack slowly faded away. No inch of ground nearby was unscathed, especially around the old warrior who stood with Dawnblade in hand, panting from the strain. His body was badly charred from flame. It looked like the battle was over. The Crimson One was no better off. At last Immortal Defender had been completely defeated. Blood leaked from a wound that went straight through his chest and out from his back. Both men had suffered gravely from their battle. Neither expected to find themselves here. The Crimson One¡¯s expression was one of disbelief. Somehow, the old drunk had done it. But the old War Saint was hardly standing himself. After all, his injuries were old and intractable. He had called upon all the power asleep within him, but his body could not support it anymore. It would not allow him to make a second such attack. On unsteady feet the Concalve¡¯s leader looked to his hands, where the shattered remains of his crosier were clutched by pale fingers. The power wielded by Skycloud¡¯s War Saint was nothing short of extraordinary. But it didn¡¯t matter. In the end, he still lost. Though his defenses were breached and he¡¯d been wounded, the Crimson One was still a Master Demonhunter. The strength of his mental fortitude empowered his body, so that his wounds ¨C although serious ¨C did not influence his ability to fight as much as they would the martial artist. Cloudhawk was unconscious. Selene had no fight left in her. The old drunk¡¯s strength, astonishing as it was, was a flash in the pan. It was over. They¡¯d lost. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 71 - Beyond All Expectations The Crimson One¡¯s vast mental powers were reaching their limit, but even near exhaustion the threat he posed could not be understated. These defeated opponents were no longer worthy of any concern. As the confrontation reached its final moments, a woman¡¯s harsh voice called out. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a showing.¡± A beautiful woman appeared in the air. She gently descended among them with lithe steps, cradling in one hand a cyan-hued staff. She was none other than the leader of the Conclave¡¯s army, Natessa Windham. When he saw her the Crimson One demanded a report. ¡°What is the situation outside?¡± She had recently been promoted to commander of the wasteland alliance¡¯s forces. She was supposed to be directing their actions on the battlefield, so her presence here had to mean the fight was over. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary forces have been contained and can no longer continued their assault on the city. They gather their forces to counter the Dark Atom and General Skye is locked in combat with the Caliph of the Sands. Fallowmoor is under no threat for the time being.¡± Morale was critical in battles like these. In failing to quickly conquer Fallowmoor and the troops lost in the attempt, it was fully expected that the Elysians should be in low spirits. The losses they suffered had to be serious, otherwise Skye¡¯s temper would not allow him to break off the assault. Fallowmoor was safe. Skycloud would not break itself against the city and risk the losses it would entail. General Skye had summoned most of his family¡¯s strength to participate in this fight. If the Elysians chose to kill themselves and bring Fallowmoor down with them there was a real chance it could happen, however it would be a foolish decision from the perspective of Skycloud and the Polaris family. ¡°I am here seeking permission to lead out troops out of the city.¡± ¡°Lead them away from Fallowmoor?¡± Their current success in stalling the Elysians was due to the defensive environment surrounding Fallowmoor. Leading their forces out to face the expeditionary force on more even footing gave them no advantage to speak of. ¡°I¡¯m told reinforcements from the Barrens will arrive soon. There is no better opportunity for us to deliver a crushing blow than right now. While we may have repelled their assault on our city, the bulk of their forces remain intact. If we allow them to return to Skycloud with information about our city, we¡¯ll have an army twice the size in our doorstep in two months.¡± She paused for a moment to let her warning sink in. ¡°The wastelands are weak compared to our enemies. This war has cost us dearly in manpower and equipment, and I am not confident we will be able to survive a second attack of this magnitude. General Skye would not expect a counterattack from Fallowmoor after repelling his forces, and we can use this to add to the pressure from the Dark Atom and reinforcements from the Northern Barrens. An attack from three angles will completely route the Elysian forces and rid us of their greatest general.¡± She was suggesting abandoning defense for attack. Their city had just been rocked by a vicious offensive, taking the fight to their enemies was easier said than done. It put them at great risk. The expeditionary forces¡¯ withdrawal could be a feint, meant to lull Fallowmoor into a false sense of security. If they lowered their defenses they would be naked, left open to any sneak attack. But Natessa had studied her enemy and she knew Skye Polaris was an arrogant man. She had also studied the Crimson One, and saw that he was overly cautious. Skye was familiar with the Crimson One, too, and would be betting on his typical timidity. Since he did not know the North was sending reinforcements, playing against his assumptions would give them a powerful advantage. The Crimson One was leader of the wasteland alliance, so he could not take the field himself. General Skye would not be expecting Natessa leading them to the field, however. The priest considered her tactic and determined it would be a lethal blow from Skye¡¯s blindspot. It was a clever strategy. If they were able to attack the Elysians on three fronts the odds of victory would rise to seventy percent or better. A risk worth taking. ¡°Very well. Go at once.¡± Selene and the drunk heard her the order and felt an icy grip in their hearts. Even if the expeditionary force survived they would suffer tremendous casualties. They would be able to continue this war for at least half a year. The Crimson One¡¯s attention returned to his three would-be assassins. He slowly walked toward them as green fire danced in the palm of his right hand. ¡°We end this here.¡± The drunk could feel it, the deadly intent of their enemy. He wanted to protect them but he had no strength left. The Crimson One raised his hand, preparing to incinerate the three invaders so that nothing remained. Standing behind him, Natessa suddenly raised her head. Her eyes, usually as unreadable as the depths of the ocean, suddenly saw something ripple across. It was a deep, dark, profound intent to kill. Her cyan staff flared brightly as she thrust it right into the Crimson One¡¯s back. Were he not injured, the Master Demonhunter could have avoided her dastardly attack. If his Immortal Defender had survived the drunk¡¯s assault, her ploy would have been meaningless. If the Crimson One had even an ounce of suspicion for Natessa, he wouldn¡¯t have turned his back on her. But none of that applied. He was exhausted, defenseless, and focused on eliminating the threats he expected. Natessa had been ready the moment he made the error of putting her out of mind. She, like the others from Hell¡¯s Army, was a veteran soldier with years of experience. Her timing and speed was perfect. Cyan blue flashed as keen as a blade. It tore through thick red robes, through coarse skin, and out again from the Crimson One¡¯s chest. Blood gushed from the new wound. Natessa slapped her palm against the end of her weapon, still lodged in her victim. It fired through the Master Demonhunter as streak of light, lodging itself in the ground below. A gaping hole was left behind. The Crimson One¡¯s face underwent a rapid series of changes. First was surprise, then confusion, then anger, and finally disappointment. All of these emotions were too late to act on. In the left side of his chest where his heart should have been was only an empty cavity. No one ¨C Master Demonhunter or not ¨C could survive such trauma. ¡°You¡­ really...¡± He couldn¡¯t finish the thought. A hoarse rattle came up through his throat as he pulled his right hand away from the drunk and toward Natessa. But she was a step quicker. A twisted wind blade sparked to life in her hand and she hacked it at him before the flames arrived. His right arm was cleaved from his shoulder, sending Castigation Fire spiraling in all directions. Gouts of flame blasted open ravines in the surrounding cityscape. Natessa danced weightlessly into the air on her Windstep boots. They shimmered with power as she delivered a kick right to the Crimson One¡¯s chest. Compressed air was released in a concussive blast that tore the abused priest¡¯s clothes apart. The bones of his chest collapsed, leaving a sickening indentation. The Crimson One careened through the air several dozen meters. Natessa raced after him. He wanted to ask why, but the look in her eye as she caught up told him everything. Lies¡­ It had all been lies. This wasn¡¯t a betrayal, because Natessa had never been loyal to him! From the beginning, Hell¡¯s Army had moved at the expert machinations of some shadowy hand back in Skycloud. Everything that happened on the Blisterpeaks was a calculated, masterful performance! Hell¡¯s Army was responsible for the death of Aegir Polaris, several high ranked officers, and thirty thousand soldiers. Heinous, but no different than the missions they performed in the years prior. This was a task, one they were ordered to perform. For years they slaughtered civilians on the whim of their superiors. Why would they balk at killing soldiers? But who? Who gave this order? Who condemned so many of their own countrymen to death? The answer was clear in the Crimson One¡¯s mind before it even formed the question. He was just unwilling to accept it. There was only one person in Skycloud who would give that kind of order and not even blink. Now that all was revealed, it fit his style perfectly. The Crimson One felt his whole body growing colder. It was so complete that it seeped down into his soul, making even his spirit tremble. It was fear ¨C but not of death. It was ten times worse than a fear of death. One thought echoed over and over again in his final moments. He can¡¯t succeed. I have to find some way to stop him! Natessa flashed across the ground, wrenching her staff free. Her face was a dispassionate mask as moved in to finish the job. She never said a word, never betrayed her feelings. Natessa was a ruthless and efficient tool, and she would not be stopped. One target, one mission: Kill the Crimson One. The last vestiges of his life force were fading from him. As his body gave up any attempts to recover, it released all remaining energy into a deluge of pure force. He slapped his left hand against the ground, causing the ground to fracture and geysers of flame to emerge. Natessa was forced to dance nimbly away from the attack, escaping the prison of flames before it could close around her. As her legs pumped furiously to get her to safety, the Windstep boots came back into play. Every step she took was propelled by bursts of compressed air. She used the momentum to dance between columns of flame. She raced around to one side then came rushing in again to resume her attack. She threw spirals of cutting wind at him in quick succession! The Crimson One knew he was dying. He summoned several walls of flame to protect himself, though the effort caused him to vomit mouthfuls of blood and shredded viscera. All his life, where he tread the earth itself had trembled. Now, it was over. He didn¡¯t even have enough strength to fight back against someone as inconsequential as Natessa! He came to a final decision. Bleeding profusely and quickly reaching his end, the Crimson One dashed across the ground and snatched Cloudhawk before fleeing further into Fallowmoor. Selene tried to stop him, but was too slow. She watched with wide eyes as her friend was dragged away. As the Crimson One ran his body poured forth Castigation. Countless sparks of green light hung in the air with his passage, which prevented Natessa from giving chase. Upon finding a hidden corner, he stopped. Today, fate had come calling. It had come at a time and fashion he had not foreseen. Cloudhawk remained unconscious. Castigation was still scorching him from the inside, causing his skin to crack open, only to regenerate and crack again moments later. Spurts of fire belched from inside him when his skin split like he was a piece of coal. It was astonishing to the Crimson One that this young man was somehow still alive. Was this the will of the gods? He came to the grim realization that the Wastelands Alliance, which he had painstakingly built, was doomed to tragedy. Knowing this, he took action. Stretching out his hands he placed them on Cloudhawk¡¯s chest, drawing forth the flames. Tongues of green fire slithered out of Cloudhawk and back into the Crimson One. With the threat of Castigation removed, Cloudhawk¡¯s body quickly began to recover. The priest then reached into the wound in his own chest and extracted a small orb. Smoldering like a ball of fire composed of energy, runes glimmered upon the item¡¯s surface. Whatever this was, it seemed composed of something neither material nor energetic. It was a source flame! From it the Crimson One could summon the deadly Castigation Fire! Bloodied fingers forced the source flame into Cloudhawk¡¯s mouth. Once he retracted his trembling fingers, all the fires within him once again returned to the young man¡¯s scalded form. ¡°The flames of Castigation belong to you now...¡± ¡°Wake up... you need to wake up, quickly!¡± The Crimson One looked down at Cloudhawk with a drawn, bitter, desperate expression. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 72 - Surprise Schemes Cloudhawk¡¯s consciousness was in a state of flux. It felt like he was falling through purgatory, a nightmare landscape of fire that burned him but wouldn¡¯t let him die. The hungry fires weren¡¯t hot ¨C on the contrary, they felt cold as ice, like millions of tiny icicles digging into every inch of his body. All the while pieces of him were disintegrating and reforming. This agony seemed to stretch on forever. Until, at last, relief. It spread out through him as a wave of some unfamiliar power filled his body. All at once the unending torment subsided and he felt his life force returning. Cloudhawk slowly opened his eyes. Everything hurt, and although the Castigation Fire was gone the wounds from it kept him lying on his back for a long time. ¡°What am I doing here?!¡± When his eyes focused, he saw the white-haired badly wounded figure of the Crimson One looming over him. Wasn¡¯t this the same man who nearly killed him? What was going on! The Crimson One was badly wounded. Fatal was a better way to describe it. A hole in the left side of his chest had blown right through his heart, and blood was pouring from it. His crimson robes were stained an even darker hue. In addition his right arm was missing from the shoulder, and his entire chest appeared to have caved in. Broken bits of bone jutted from his flesh, and stab wounds from his contest with the old drunk were also visible. None of his internal organs were whole anymore. All the blood within him was leaking from his punctured heart. It didn¡¯t matter who or what you were ¨C the strongest mutant in the wastes or evn a MASter Demonhunter ¨C wounds like this meant certain death. The Crimson One¡¯s voice was hoarse and low. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time, so we won¡¯t waste time with nonsense.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mind raced to comprehend the situation. The Crimson One had apparently rescued him, only just a moment ago he¡¯d been trying to kill them all. It made no sense, there had to be a reason why the priest would suddenly change his mind and spare his life. The Crimson One briefly gave him context, explaining Natessa¡¯s treachery. It was Hell¡¯s Army that delivered the fatal blow? Strong as the Giant was, she didn¡¯t have the ability to take on a Master Demonhunter. He didn¡¯t ask for the details, for the Crimson One was in his final moments and clearly had more to say. ¡°I was wrong from the beginning.¡± The Crimson One slowly shut his eyes. ¡°Hell¡¯s Army never betrayed Skycloud, it was a play by Arcturus all along to undermine the wastelands.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Cloudhawk blurted out. ¡°Their crimes are unforgivable, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll be allowed back into the Elysian lands after what they¡¯ve done. They killed a general, officers, and thousands of soldiers!¡± ¡°And if they hadn¡¯t, would I have trusted them?¡± His ashen face betrayed anger and frustration. He hadn¡¯t thought he would be so thoroughly fooled and defeated. ¡°You trained with them for three years, you know how Hell¡¯s Army operates. You say them eradicate a village without batting an eye. Do you believe there is anything they wouldn¡¯t do? Their treachery at the Blisterpeaks was all part of their mission ¨C serving the same function they always have.¡± The same function? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t accept the explanation. Thirty thousand soldiers lost their lives on the Blisterpeaks, many of them Skycloud¡¯s elite! Two of them were leaders! ¡°You still don¡¯t see? What happened in those mountains was killing two birds with one stone!¡± The Crimson One¡¯s dimming eyes opened again. ¡°Aegir, Roc, the border forces, the guard corps¡­ all of them loyal to the Polaris family. Skycloud¡¯s two major families have been at one another¡¯s throats for years. A masterstroke¡­ in one move he dealt a serious blow to the wastelands and cut the Polaris¡¯ family¡¯s influence by a tremendous margin. He forced Skye out onto the front lines and ensnared me as well. You must see the truth of who is behind all this.¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re saying it was Arcturus?¡± It all made sense. Indeed Skycloud had many advantages, but the wastelands weren¡¯t helpless. Its people were forged in a deadly and inhospitable environment. Their cities and outposts were like weeds, clinging to the slightest resources in every nook and cranny. Skycloud was too far away, its reach couldn¡¯t extend into those dark corners. If Arcturus really wanted to harm the wastelands, what was the best way to do it? Obviously plant your own people among them, and Hell¡¯s Army was the perfect poison seed. But merely stating they were defecting wouldn¡¯t be enough to earn the wasteland¡¯s trust. When Arcturus ordered Hell¡¯s Valley to save the Dark Atom, he did it knowing many Elysians would die. The wastelanders would see Hell¡¯s Army as heroes, he would consolidate power back in Skycloud, and eliminate those opposed to his rule ¨C like the Polaris family. Skye Polaris was completely ignorant of the fact that he was being played like a fiddle. In order to wash the stain of defeat from his family¡¯s name and regain its glory, he had no choice but to lead the expeditionary force out here personally. All of it, part of Arcturus¡¯ plan. Every move everyone had made was orchestrated, puppets dancing on the Governor¡¯s strings. Cloudhawk quickly recovered from the shock of the revelation. ¡°Why did you spare me? Why are you telling me all of this?¡± Sterling¡¯s voice was growing weaker. ¡°Arcturus is the sort of man who keeps his hand hidden, only moving when all the pieces have fallen into place. Once you can see what he was planning you¡¯ve already fallen into his trap. Then ¨C boom, like a thunderclap. It¡¯s already done. Hell¡¯s Army has completed its mission. The Wastelands Alliance belongs to him.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What are you saying?¡± He already knew the answer. After all Hell¡¯s Army had done, their reputation and status in this budding alliance was immense. Their veterans were now wasteland officers, spread out through the whole of the organization. Like an insidious virus, they¡¯d crept into every aspect and were accepted with open arms. Hell¡¯s Army was the backbone of their rebellion. Most importantly, it was only a short time ago that the Crimson One himself gave Natessa full control of their army. It more or less made her next in line to lead. When he died, Natessa would take the reigns. This budding alliance, which had demanded so much to pull together¡­ at the end it was just another tool of Hell¡¯s Army. Just another pawn for Arcturus. How much had Sterling sacrificed to build this Conclave? What had it cost him? For years he concealed his identity and worked in the shadows. He built a religious order to hide his intent, even sending missionaries out to keep up appearances. All the while he¡¯d been working in the shadows, courting wasteland leaders, wooing potential allies. All of that groundwork came to fruition when Adder destroyed Skycloud¡¯s border wall. It was the coup de grace that convinced them to follow the Sanctum of Judgment. With bitter realization the Crimson One saw that he hadn¡¯t been as crafty as he thought he was. Arcturus, he suspected, had known about his plans all along. Pointless! Useless! He¡¯d spent all these years trying to defeat Arcturus, not work for him! Arcturus was truly a master at these games. Without ever stepping foot from his mansion, thousands of kilometers away, he had destroyed Sterling¡¯s efforts with one well-placed token. He poisoned the fruits of his labor and revealed Sterling¡¯s folly in the most painful and humiliating way possible. He¡¯d sacrificed his honor, his dignity, his son. Everything. All of it just so Arcturus could benefit. All of his efforts used to bolster the enemy! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what to say. The Crimson One¡¯s whole life was a tragedy and he was witnessing its end. Sterling knew he was out of time. His heart was broken, both figuratively and literaly, and it stained his bitter words. ¡°His plans won¡¯t stop here. This is just the beginning. Whatever you do, you must stop him.¡± A scowl touched Cloudhawk¡¯s scorched face. ¡°If you¡¯ve failed to stop him, what makes you think I can!¡± ¡°First, Wyrmsole cannot be allowed to perish. He is the only person in the alliance who can stand against the Giants¡¯ influence. If you tell him what you¡¯ve learned, it may buy you some room to maneuver. Then¡­ the expeditionary forces¡¯ destruction is undoubtedly part of Arcturus¡¯ plan. You must find a way to stop him.¡± Cloudhawk was shocked. ¡°What are you saying? Destroy Skycloud¡¯s own army?¡± ¡°Skye¡¯s forces have already failed in their mission. Soon he will face the combined might of the Northern Barrens, the Conclave and the Dark Atom. We can¡¯t let Skye and his soldiers fall, otherwise¡­. Otherwise...¡± The more he spoke the more agitated the Crimson One became. He felt himself growing weak. Such a strange thing to be saying, he thought¡­ as the Elysian soldiers warred with his own people, he was telling Cloudhawk to find a way to save Skycloud¡¯s army from destruction. ¡°Otherwise what?! What are you trying to say!¡± ¡°Now that Arcturus has control of the Wastelands Alliance, it¡¯s only a matter of time before he controls the entirety of the wastelands itself. If he is able to eliminate the Polaris family then he will have total control of Skycloud and the wastes. If that is allowed to happen, no one will be able to stand against him.¡± What the hell was Arcturus¡¯ final aim? Even the Crimson One didn¡¯t know. If he¡¯d known, he wouldn¡¯t have been outplayed so thoroughly. He wasn¡¯t sure anyone had the capability to defeat Arcturus, but at the very least someone had to try and stop him from taking control of the known world! The sound of airbursts sounded nearby. Natessa was catching up. The Crimson One wrenched Cloudhawk onto his feet and shoved him down the lane. ¡°Remember what I told you!¡± Cloudhawk was too wounded to fight, and too confused to do anything but fight through the pain and run. He believed in what the Crimson One had told him, death had a way of getting the truth out of people. He stumbled through the city until he found his way back to the old drunk and Selene. After what he¡¯d learn, the first order of business had to be locating Wyrmsole. Once he exposed the truth behind who commanded Hell¡¯s Army, perhaps he could wrest the remnants of the Sanctum from this alliance. Fleeing into the wilderness he could try and stop Hell¡¯s Army from destroying the expeditionary force. It was the only way Cloudhawk saw a way out of this. Natessa floated through the air and descended toward the Crimson One. She said nothing as the Giant of Hell¡¯s Valley launched into another set of vicious attacks with her corkscrew blade. In her other hand was the cyan staff, striking so swiftly it was almost a shadow. The Crimson One didn¡¯t have Castigation to protect him any longer. He had no means to fight back. ¡°Tell me...¡± He¡¯d managed to somehow dodge her flurry of blows and was breathing heavily. ¡°What is your relationship to Arcturus?¡± Natessa¡¯s hand tightened around her sword. She pushed off the air with her powerful legs and charged at the Crimson One. She streaked by like a gust of wind, with her sword tracing a deadly path across the priest¡¯s throat. The Crimson One¡¯s eyes went wide as the world turned end over end. Thud. He stared at the gray dome that served as Fallowmoor¡¯s sky. It just hung there, as dark as his fate. An endless sadness filled him. He¡¯d tried so hard to fight back, but in the end darkness and defeat still claimed him. One of Skycloud¡¯s mightiest Master Demonhunters, founder of the Wastelands Alliance whose name thundered across the Elysian lands, died in silence. Natessa walked to the Crimson One¡¯s headless corpse and began to feel through his clothing. She gathered a few items then straightened up, looking up and down the lane. Her eyes quickly found Cloudhawk¡¯s trail. The Crimson One had definitely said something to him. A whelp like Cloudhawk was no threat to Master Arcturus¡¯ plans, but as they said, better to nip a problem in the bud. She would deal with him now, while he was weak and injured. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 73 - An Eighteen Year Grudge Wyrmsole was perturbed by how vicious this battle had become. Then, all at once, the sounds of combat fell silent. When the Crimson One failed to reveal himself Wyrmsole felt an ominous pang in his chest. Dawn Polaris, Mr. Ink and Barb were keeping the mutants and Hell¡¯s Army soldiers at bay. Clay Cloude was keeping ten Conclave priests locked down all by himself. Concern had stolen an ounce of Wyrmsole¡¯s attention, and in that moment a frigid spear came stabbing toward his head. Frost de Winter came charging at him with lethal intent. He wielded the spear as deftly as petals on the wind, or snowflakes in a storm. Wyrmsole didn¡¯t have anywhere to turn. Frost¡¯s mental acuity and martial prowess was the best of his generation. Even Wyrmsole had to cautious or risk being slain. What he didn¡¯t understand was why this white-armored, spear wielding young man was so dogged in his desire to kill him! He suspected Frost didn¡¯t see him as merely a foe to be dealt with. To Arcturus¡¯ disciple, Wyrmsole was a mortal enemy. What had he done to earn this young man¡¯s enmity? That dark foreboding grew in Wyrmsole¡¯s heart. It would only go away once he knew the truth and saw for himself. He opened his mind completely, spilling his mental energies into Skyfire Banner and holding it aloft. Streaks of fire shot out in a blazing inferno, like countless fiery comets crashing down from the heavens. Coils of flame wrapped around his body, turning into a raging tornado. The blazing storm stretched out in all directions. All the soldiers were forced to back away or get burned to cinders. With his red robes flapping in the angry winds, Wyrmsole released the full force of his powers in the middle of the battlefield. He brazenly threw himself at Frost in attempts to kill Arcturus¡¯ prized disciple. Clay¡¯s voice shouted over the din. ¡°Fall back! I¡¯ll deal with him!¡± Such was Wyrmsole¡¯s skill. Few from the Elysian lands could withstand his full wrath. If caught in the deluge of flame, Frost would be killed or maimed without question. Yet he turned a deaf ear to the pleas of his keeper. Cold fury seethed behind his eyes, and as straight as an arrow he launched himself into the flaming tornado. Frozen Dirge trembled, sensing the emotion from its bearer. Runes began to appear upon the weapon¡¯s surface etched in frost, causing the air the crystallize. The ground below turned pale and covered in hoarfrost, while moisture immediately turned to snowflakes and were caught on the wind. Frost¡¯ body was the center of his own frozen domain. As he leaped off the ground toward his foe, his spear shining brilliantly, he stabbed it toward the heart of the fiery tornado with deadly precision. A firestorm? His spear would break it apart! In the meeting of strength and zealous faith, the resulting explosion of energy was deafening! Frost¡¯s spear of ice collided with its antithesis in the fire storm. Two mighty, opposing energies clashes and while in theory they should cancel each other out, the fire storm was stronger. An overwhelming pressure like the weight of a mountain descended upon the battlefield. For a moment the silver spear held. Then it started to buckle. The inferno centered on the weapon trying to break through. Cracks appeared in Frost¡¯s resplendent armor and his hair curled from the heat. The skin on his hands and face began to burn, for at the final tally he was too weak to withstand his opponent¡¯s attack. Flames, steam and snow were flung every which way. Frost could see his defeat encroaching. Clay fumbled through his clothing and pulled out a small blue orb. It was something entrusted to him by the Cloude family, meant to be used against the Crimson One or similarly terrible foe. Frost¡¯s life was in danger. Arcturus had put a lot of faith in his one disciple, he couldn¡¯t perish! Se he crouched down, looking for his moment to strike. Frost was on rapidly weakening footing. In this desperate struggle more power bloomed from within him, summoning more ice and snow from the ether. They were all caught up in a sudden blizzard. Ice and fire raged, each vying for supremacy. Frost managed to fight back from the brink. Was this true power he¡¯d been hiding all this time? Clay stood down and decided to hold on to the item Arcturus had given him. While Wyrmsole was among those he was told to kill, he wasn¡¯t their main target. Better to save it as a wild card for when it would be most effective. Wyrmsole sensed the sudden outpouring of strength from his young contender. With it came a surge of hatred and bloodlust. Frost roared at the older demonhunter in anger. Enormous spears of ice cut through the blizzard like spears, flying through the fire storm in search of a target. As their conflicting power continued to fight for dominance he inched closer and closer to Wyrmsole. Meanwhile, the Crimson One¡¯s closest ally was at a loss. He¡¯d had no interactions with this boy, yet still his attacks were hysterical and angry like he¡¯d been personally wronged. Why? What was his motivation? The distance between them continued to shrink. Fallowmoor was split into a world of fire and a world of ice, and while the mighty warriors became locked in a stalemate all the rest of the battlefield was flung into chaos. ¡°What hatred do you carry, that even now you refuse to give voice to?¡± ¡°With everything that happened in White Pine Village, do you remember nothing?¡± Frost¡¯s words came through gritted teeth. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve forgotten, but I never will!¡± A shock went through Wyrmsole. White Pine Village ¨C a small settlement in Skycloud. It was a small place few people had even heard of, especially since it was wiped off the map over a decade ago. Wyrmsole was the man responsible for its destruction. Frost glared at him through the ice and flames, murder in his eyes. ¡°I am here to make you pay for everything!¡± He¡¯d been waiting for this for eighteen years! Now the day had finally arrived. The years had taken all of his hate and anger and pain and condensed it into rock-hard vengeance. He poured all of it into his attack, dredging every ounce of strength within him and making himself stronger. The sheer emotion of it shattered his latest bottleneck and forced him to new heights of power. The stalemate shattered. Frozen Dirge had just the break it needed to dash into the heart of the firestorm. Wyrmsole sought to protect himself, but it was too late. Frozen Dirge caught him in the chest, digging deep. Wyrmsole reached out to grab the body of the spear but Frost shoved him away and wrenched his weapon free. The red-robed veteran came crashing back to ground like a falling star. He was followed by a roaring winter storm that blanketed the ground in frost. Wyrmsole felt his body go stiff. Even his blood froze as it seeped from the wound. Surprise overtook him at being defeated by the young man. As his vision became muddled and his thoughts unclear, Frost was gathering himself to end their fight. A long jade-liked sword rang ominously as it was drawn from its sheath. Its blade shimmered like pure ice. The sword was cold personified, but not as cold as the murderous intent in Frost¡¯s eyes. For a moment those cold eyes were the only thing Wyrmsole could see. Their pierced him like an arrow, burning through his mind like a thunderbolt. Memories that had long lain dormant in the back of his mind swam to the surface. Eighteen years ago¡­ Wyrmsole wasn¡¯t Wyrmsole back then. He¡¯d been a leader of the Demonhunter Corps and personal assistant to the governor. He was then what Augustus Cloude was now, one of Arcturus¡¯ closest confidants. He knew all of the Governor¡¯s secrets, and had performed many ugly deeds in his name. Word came to them of a rebel organization taking root in White Pine Village. It was never discovered whether the townsfolk were bewitched or just lied to, but they began to question the existence of gods. If there were no gods, they argued, then all of the supposedly offensive things they were forbidden from doing meant nothing. They began to do as they pleased without fear of being called blasphemers, and their mutiny was beginning to ripple across the region. Since it was an open act of defiance, there was no need at the time to get Hell¡¯s Army involved. Under orders from the Governor, Wyrmsole lead a contingent of demonhunters to the town and razed it to the ground. Indeed razed was the right term, for the firestorm he summoned disintegrated most buildings and their denizens. After the village was mostly destroyed, the soldiers he¡¯d brought came in to kill anyone else who defied Skycloud¡¯s rule. Wyrmsole did not stop until nothing remained of White Pine Village. Thousands of women and children were kept alive as prisoners. At the time Wyrmsole doubted the entire village was in on this rebellion. He was going to report back to his superiors and let the prisoners go, only leadership had different ideas. His request to free what remained of the villagers was denied. He was told only one thing: Kill them all. Every single person from the village was slain that day. They were branded heretics and turncoats, and burned alive. Wyrmsole had no choice but to commit the murders himself. He remembered the screams of the old, the women, the children as their bodies burned. It was the first time he questioned his faith. Why were so many innocent lives sacrificed? Just to protect the authority of these gods? Every second was torture. He had to leave, had to get free! The troops were ordered to withdraw, and as Wyrmsole prepared to leave he discovered something. The soldiers had missed two children hiding in the ruins. The older one could only have been six, and the other too young to even speak. They were siblings by the looks of them, and the older brother was trying to bravely hide his younger brother from view. He remembered the cold, angry eyes that stared at him as he passed. He had to kill these children, it was his orders. But he chose not to. He remembered the older boy clearly, even all these years later. It was his eyes, they were different from any other eyes he¡¯d seen, and colder than any child¡¯s eyes had a right to be. Just like these eyes. So that was it. He understood now. He never would have thought that his one moment of weakness would mean his downfall. Frost de Winter was a survivor of White Pine¡¯s destruction. Had he come here to avenge what happened all those years ago? Wyrmsole could see now where the young man¡¯s hatred stemmed from. He must have watched as his parents were murdered, and Wyrmsole was the one who ordered it. But he realized too late! Wyrmsole saw his time had come, but there was no fear in his expression. In its stead was a deep wish for repentance, and a shadow of relief. ¡°It¡¯s you, child. It¡¯s really you. Who¡¯d have thought you would grow to be so incredible. You know¡­ I have lived these last years in pain and self-loathing. Every time I close my eyes I see the fires. I can hear the screams when I try to sleep. To die at your hand is right and proper.¡± Frost kept coming. He never said a word. ¡°This is retribution for my sins. I have committed many wrongs, death is not enough to atone for them. But at least falling by your hand will cleanse me of some small measure of this awful debt.¡± Wyrmsole¡¯s leathery, plain features were at peace. He looked back at the man who would kill him with pity. ¡°Killing me is easy. But how will you ¨C who walks in a world of ice and snow ¨C face a destiny darker and colder than you¡¯ve ever known?¡± ¡°With my sword!¡± Frost growled in answer. Wyrmsole¡¯s head rolled across the ground, eyes wide as though it was the weight of Frost¡¯s words that had killed him and not the blow from his sword. Frost stood over the body, a bloodied sword in one hand and his spear in the other, buried deep in the priest¡¯s body. He pulled it free. A sound like a shattered chandelier filled the air as Wyrmsole¡¯s frozen corpse hit the ground and broke apart. As the icy chunks slid across the battlefield Frost didn¡¯t even spare them a second glance. Though nothing registered on his stoic expression, in his heart there was a flood of emotion. Finally! He¡¯d finally killed that fiend Wyrmsole! But it wasn¡¯t enough¡­ He had just been a heretic, a soldier exacting someone elses¡¯ orders. If Frost was to truly avenge the death of his parents and all those villagers, there was more blood his weapons would need to spill. A figure that loomed large in everyone¡¯s mind. It was the man who bestowed upon him a new life, and responsible for changing his destiny. The man who gifted him with strength and wisdom. When the object of your hatred was your entire world, when it was the person you admired and looked up to, what were you supposed to do? Wyrmsole¡¯s words were prescient; there was a dark and dismal road ahead for him, where the cold threatened to snuff him out. Whatever decision he ultimately made would cast him into an abyss he would not ever escape from. Wyrmsole was dead. Killed at the hands of a younger and inferior man. What remained of the Wastelands Alliance stared in shock and disbelief. Clay wasn¡¯t sure what had transpired. The battle had been fierce, and the dual storms of ice and fire made it difficult to see. He only witnessed the end result. ¡°Good. Good, good! People continue to underestimate you. You are not one bit inferior to Selene Cloude!¡± Clay walked over to Frost, crushing pieces of Wyrmsole beneath his feet. ¡°The Governor¡¯s faith and efforts in raising you have not been wasted!¡± Upon killing Wyrmsole, Frost quickly brought his emotions back under control. He regained the typical dispassionate facade he was famous for. ¡°There are too many of them. We must retreat.¡± 1. My creating writing course in college had an interesting thing that¡¯s stuck with me. My instructor said ¡®if you show a gun in act one, you¡¯ve got to use it by act three.¡¯ Now that we¡¯ve all seen this blue orb, we know it¡¯ll be coming back soon. However, keeping us guessing is a clever and effective ploy. However, the author runs the danger of not using it, or making it insufficiently bad-ass to justify the waiting. I will probably never watch Constantine (with Keanu Reeves) again because whatever kick ass thing he was supposed to do with those tattoos on his arms never happens. I¡¯m still pissed off about it. Of course, Tipsy has shown that he has no problem bringing stuff back from dozens of chapters ago. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 74 - Arcturus' Game Cloudhawk was running. Several spirals of cutting wind whistled toward his back. ¡°Natessa, you psychotic bitch!¡± Cloudhawk yelled over his shoulder at her as he fled. ¡°Kicking a man while he¡¯s down? That¡¯s hardly fair!¡± It didn¡¯t matter how he insulted her, Natessa¡¯s assault remained deadly and methodical. What sort of woman was the Giant of Hell¡¯s Valley? Certainly not the sort who would be distracted by shit-talking. Her gutting gusts of wind drew closer and launched attacks from every side. Using his keen senses Cloudhawk was able to avoid most of them, and when an opening revealed itself he responded with a counter attack. Flashes of silver extended from his sleeves, just in time to deflect another blow. Boom! The spiral blade of wind shattered with a shuddering blast! Shards of cutting wind were flung every which way. He was blown back from the explosion with several dozen small gashes peppering his body. After nearly dying he found it hard enough to keep his feet under him. A shadow flashed across his vision too fast to distinguish as Natessa descended from above. Her whip tore the air, headed right for him. Son of a bitch! Cloudhawk¡¯s face fell. Suddenly the ground below him cracked and chunks of rock were flung into the air. Rather, not so much flung as gravity seemed to be reversed. The rocks floated up before Cloudhawk and gathered into a patchwork wall, protecting him from Natessa¡¯s lash. Natessa scowled in irritation. ¡°Who!¡± ¡°I see you dared to hurt one of my people. You must be tired of living.¡± A lithe figure dashed into view. Her body moved with explosive speed, causing a head of golden hair to trail behind her in the wind. Terrangelica was hacked toward Natessa like an avalanche. ¡°Die!¡± Terrangelica¡¯s might washed over Natessa. She glanced behind Dawn to see several figures in hot pursuit. Selene, the drunk, and Barb quickly closed the distance. She knew there was no way she¡¯d kill Cloudhawk now. With the help of her Windstep boots she blasted herself out of Terrangelica¡¯s reach, and escaped. Dawn watched her go. She turned back to Cloudhawk and returned her sword the sheath on her back before helping him keep steady. Concern was written on her pretty face. ¡°Are you alright? I heard you were injured, are you able to push through it?¡± When Selene saw Dawn¡¯s careful consideration for Cloudhawk her thin brows inched higher up her forehead. For a reason she was having trouble describing, the scene made her uncomfortable. These two women were as opposite as night and day. Dawn was direct and likely didn¡¯t even know how to conceal her emotions. Love as you want, hate what you wish, take what you want, cut down what you loathe. She only beat around the bush when she was trying to kill what was hiding in it. In contrast Selene was as haughty as a queen. A she matured greater weight had been lain on her shoulders. Although she knew she liked Cloudhawk, she couldn¡¯t show it in the way Dawn did. After all, she didn¡¯t even know what her own future entailed. ¡°I¡¯m fine, not dead yet. Where is Wyrmsole?¡± There was too much to worry about to bother with his own injuries. ¡°We need to find him!¡± ¡°What do you want with that idiot?¡± Dawn gave him a strange look. ¡°Not that it matters, you won¡¯t see him again in this life. Frost killed him.¡± Of course. Once Frost killed Wyrmsole the rest of them were able to break away and come to Cloudhawk¡¯s aid. Worried for her future husband, Dawn had urged Barb to come with her in search of Cloudhawk. Once Frost had killed Wyrmsole, Mr. Ink covered their retreat with a dense fog. Dawn had stumbled on Selene and the drunk as she was searching for Cloudhawk. After catching their breath, neither were seriously injured, so all together they continued the search. Ultimately it was Natessa and the sound of her attacks that led them here. Was it really too late? Upset, Cloudhawk let his eyes slide shut. Who could stop Arcturus¡¯ plan, now? He¡¯d hoped to flee and tell the whole wasteland of Natessa¡¯s treachery. The Crimson One was dead by her hands, under order of the Elyian Governor. He was the power behind Hell¡¯s Army, and now Hell¡¯s Army rules the wasteland alliance. His plan was clear ¨C to use them to take the wastelands for himself. But who would believe him? Cloudhawk was an Elysian commander, a leader of the Elysian expeditionary force. How was he supposed to explain what he was saying to his own men, much less wastelanders. There was nowhere safe for him if he did that. What¡¯s more, there was no question that Natessa will immediately spread her own version of the Crimson One¡¯s death. The ¡®great triumph¡¯ of Cloudhawk and his team would ingratiate them to Skycloud and vilify them to wastelanders. His name was already cursed, and after this wastelanders would as soon kill him as look at him. No one would suffer a word he said. The hatred that would sweep through the wastes would swallow all reason. Fallowmoor would be thrust into chaos and everyone would be clamoring for blood. Surely there were still huge groups looking for them, and waiting outside was a battlefield where wastelanders and Elysians were locked in a deadly battle. The expeditionary force. They were in danger! Cloudhawk remembered the second warning Sterling had told him. It was too late to help Wyrmsole, but perhaps they could still save the expeditionary force. The small crew was aghast when Cloudhawk explained the situation to them. ¡°I suspect Frost and Clay came here with a different goal in mind. My guess is they¡¯re already gone, probably back with the soldiers to try and lure them into the trap. We need to get back right now.¡± ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck.¡± Dawn¡¯s anger was boiling out of control. Obviously, Cloudhawk¡¯s cruder nature and vocabulary was rubbing off on her. ¡°Whatever, they won¡¯t succeed. The expeditionary force isn¡¯t a bunch of flower pickers.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t waste any time,¡± Selene interjected. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Cloudhawk was in agreement, he just hope they could catch up in time. But Dawn was right, General Skye and his people weren¡¯t fragile by any means. Although Skye was advanced in years, at full strength he was among the top three strongest people in Skycloud. Frost and Clay weren¡¯t enough of a threat to spell his downfall. What¡¯s more, Skye had no love for the Cloude family. He would certainly take anything those two said with a grain of salt. Hell, those two couldn¡¯t even scratch the General, much less kill him. Trying something would be tantamount to suicide! Then there was also Mr. Ink to consider, who fled with them. Mr. Ink was Skye¡¯s most trusted man, who had been standing by his side for more than twenty years. He would certainly dissuade the two Cloude family representatives from any trickery. For Cloudhawk and his crew, their primary goal now had to be leaving Fallowmoor, and getting back to share the news with Skye as soon as possible. Mr. Ink¡¯s fog still covered a vast swathe of the city. It made it much easier for them invaders to escape without issue. Dawn led her injured comrades out of the city. When they were back in the strange dimensional tear Fallowmoor floated in, they saw that the wasteland army was gathering to deploy. The group snuck aboard one of the airships then commandeered it to take them to the expeditionary force as fast as it would go. Skycloud¡¯s army had withdrawn some time ago. It would take roughly half a day to reach them. The Elysian forces were in dire straits. Soon Fallowmoor¡¯s ships would strike from the rear, and before long the Northern Barren reinforcements would also join the fight. Once the expeditionary force was surrounded, the chances of escape grew slimmer. Even if they managed, the Elysian forces would be decimated. No good would come of it if Arcturus¡¯ plans came to fruition. *** Mr. Ink had followed Frost and Clay as they escaped the city. Before them stretched the Elysian fleet. They would be arriving soon. Mr. Ink breathed a sigh. They¡¯d made it. But just as he was preparing to leave the others and return to Skye, Frost stopped in his tracks. There was a flash of silver as Frozen Dirge was thrust toward Mr. Ink. W-what?What is the meaning of this! He stumbled to a stop, knocking the cold spear off track with his bare hands. Frost stood before him now, blocking a path forward. Mr. Ink tried to shuffle backward, but Clay was there to make sure he didn¡¯t get far. Mr. Ink tried to get a handle on this sudden change. Seeing his confusion, Clay smirked. ¡°We just want to chat.¡± ¡°About?¡± The wary Polaris family steward responded. ¡°The Governor knows who you really are.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point in playing dumb now.¡± Clay knew he held all the cards. Went on in calm, even tones. ¡°We know you were Majjhima¡¯s contact, and that you were involved in the dark soldiers he was growing beneath the city. Your¡­ style... was written all over them. You¡¯re a godslayer, trained by demons, and you¡¯ve been lurking in the city for decades. You¡¯ve been using the General¡¯s hospitality to hide all this time. Am I correct?¡± Mr. Ink¡¯s hands, hidden bneath his long sleeves, clenched tight. Clay wasn¡¯t worried the cornered man would lash out. He kept talking in that same easy cadence. ¡°I also have reason to suspect that Squall¡¯s Highwaymen are dancing to your strings. You are the demons¡¯ man in the heart of Skycloud. Majjhima and Squall were your little projects.¡± Mr. Ink offered no excuses or refusals. They had done their homework, nothing he said would convince them otherwise. Mr. Ink responded tepidly. ¡°So Arcturus has ordered you to kill me.¡± ¡°Oh, no no no.¡± A small smile spread across Clay¡¯s face. ¡°The Governor has known your little secret for a long time. He¡¯s had a thousand opportunities to kill you over the years. But he hasn¡¯t¡­ and that should tell you what his interests are.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get right to it.¡± Clay¡¯s face remained friendly, but his eyes were affixed on Mr. Ink with a dark intensity. ¡°The Governor is very interested in you. Or, more precisely, the demonic organization that sent you. We would like to invite you to be a liaison of sorts.¡± ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Mr. Ink probed. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice. Master Arcturus knows all about your years of spying, and your efforts in the wastelands. Culling the weeds, as it were, would be tremendously easy for him. All of the work you¡¯ve put in these last few years must have been painstaking work, it would be such a shame for it all to go to waste. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if some form of it lived on? It¡¯s something to think about. I would advise you not to refuse Master Arcturus¡¯ generosity.¡± Clay¡¯s eyes never left his target as he continued. ¡°It would behoove you to remember that it is Master Arcturus Cloude you stand against. You live because you lets you live. The instant he wants you dead, it will happen.¡± ¡°Surely there¡¯s a reason you waited until now to tell me all of this.¡± ¡°Of course. We need your help completing the important mission I was sent here for.¡± ¡°What mission is that?¡± Mr. Ink could already guess what that mission was. Clay answered. ¡°To kill Skye Polaris.¡± Even in the enlightenment afforded to him in death, the Crimson One could not see through Arcturus¡¯ schemes. He had assumed the Governor would employ the wasteland alliance to destroy the expeditionary force and get that much closer to absolute supremacy back home. But he¡¯d been wrong. Whoever led it, the expeditionary force was an important part of Skycloud¡¯s might. If they could simply have it change hands, why trouble with destroying soldiers who still had a use? If Arcturus wanted to eradicate the Polaris family, he only need cut off its head. Skye would be enough! Although he¡¯d known Mr. Ink was a demonic plant, Arcturus never tipped his hand. The Polaris family steward was a pawn, to be used for best effect when the time was right ¨C and that meant now, when Skye Polaris was marked for death. Master Arcturus¡¯ grand chess strategy was revealed. From the Blisterpeaks to Fallowmoor, the expeditionary forces to the wasteland alliance, from killing the Crimson One to assassinating Skye Polaris. All of them were pieces on a board wholly under Arcturus¡¯ control, with no way to escape. Frost was once again confronted with the expertise of his master¡¯s schemes. Skycloud¡¯s greatest demonhunter wielded power beyond reckoning, but he defeated his enemies with cunning and wisdom. Could someone like him ever be defeated? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 75 - Assassination Skye Polaris had taken Roc and several of their best soldiers to hunt down Abaddon and Autumn. They¡¯d been successful in beating the two mighty beings back, but they couldn¡¯t be sure they wouldn¡¯t return and attack the expeditionary force during its retreat. Both had the capabilities to destroy an entire ship on their own. If they were allowed to attack as they pleased, they would use whittle away at Skye¡¯s forces when no one was paying attention. They were also sure to gather more enemies to help them, so it was imperative they were dealt with now before they became too much of a threat. Yet for the time being, the war was over. They¡¯d lost hundreds, perhaps a thousand warships in the assault. Fallowmoor still stood. Skye¡¯s eyes were a mess of conflicting emotion, as the War-God¡¯s typical rage was being undermined by exhaustion and confusion. He felt himself succumbing to age, growing weaker. In his prime he could hold the front lines for three days and three nights without the need for rest. Today their battle hadn¡¯t lasted three hours and he could feel the effects of fatigue creeping in. With the addition of old wounds that would flare up from time to time, it was a bitter lesson that he needed to accept. He was old. Men weren¡¯t Gods. They withered, grew old, and died. It was their fate. Both sides had suffered from this violent exchange, and neither could walk away saying they were the victor. The wasteland forces might have lost more ships and soldiers, but to Skye not winning was the same as losing. It would be one or two months before the expedition force was back in fighting shape. The expeditionary force¡¯s failure would soon make its way back to Skycloud. Painful consequences will befall the Polaris family. Skye knew this, so the pressure to do something about it was growing heavier. He was patriarch of their family, after all, and the responsibility to guide them to back to prosperity fell on his shoulders! Skycloud¡¯s eighty year old Commander in Chief sighed defeatedly. I¡¯m not enough¡­ but perhaps that¡¯s alright. Dawn and her appointed fianc, Cloudhawk had tremendous potential. With time and appropriate cultivation they could be great leaders for the family. Through the, the Polaris legacy will reach into the future. As for Skye himself? Once this war with the wastelands was over he would find a suitable time to retire. ¡°Commander!¡± Roc hurried toward his to deliver a report. ¡°A scout ship ahead has made a distress call. They found a wounded man on the route, and by his description it sounds like Mr. Ink.¡± Did that mean Dawn and the others had returned? They were still within the swirling, unnatural dust storm that surrounded Fallowmoor. They had to be wary of an ambush. What if this was just a ruse to lure Skye into a trap? He wasn¡¯t going to wildly charge forward without knowing more. Skye delivered his orders. ¡°Continue the search. I¡¯ll go and see for myself.¡± Roc nodded. ¡°As you say.¡± Skye dashed off quickly toward the indicated location. He arrived quickly without encountering anyone. When he got there he spotted the dark figure, enveloped in black clothing. His face was covered in a mask, revealing only his inscrutable eyes. His clothing was torn in places and was wet with blood. It looked as though he¡¯d taken a serious beating. Mr. Ink sighed when he saw his master. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to protect Dawn and Cloudhawk?¡± Skye said in lieu of greeting. ¡°What are you doing here by yourself?!¡± After twenty years the relationship between Mr. Ink and Skye was less master and subordinate, and more like that of friends. Skye knew what sort of power Mr. Ink was capable of, and if he were so badly wounded it didn¡¯t portend well for Cloudhawk and his granddaughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, General, I wasn¡¯t wounded in Fallowmoor. I stumbled into some combat after fleeing and was injured. I got separated from Cloudhawk and Mistress Dawn in the city, but I¡¯m sure they¡¯re fine.¡± Mr. Ink stopped and doubled over in a coughing fit. Copious amounts of blood leaked from his mouth. Skye hurried to his side. ¡°Tell me what happened in Fallowmoor.¡± ¡°The Crimson One and Wyrmsole are slain. Fallowmoor is in chaos.¡± Was this true? Then they¡¯ve succeeded! Skye felt his heavy heart suddenly freed from burden. Now that this rabble had lost their leader, he could expect them to turn on one another. Cloudhawk and Dawn had done an incredible thing, single-handedly ripping victory from the jaws of defeat! The Crimson One and Wyrmsole had been the two heads of the snake, the core of their Conclave of Judgment. With them gone, the expeditionary force¡¯s actions here in the Northern Barrens were justified. At least it wasn¡¯t a total loss. ¡°We also learned very important information.¡± ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°We suspect Hell¡¯s Army is operating under orders from Arcturus Cloude.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Skye¡¯s eyes went wide as saucers. ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± An accusation like this was no trivial thing. Skycloud has already labeled Hell¡¯s Army as a rebel terrorist organization. If it were discovered that they were following orders from the Governor¡¯s mansion, then Arcturus would be implicated in all of the terrible things they¡¯d committed since defecting to the wastelands. Like everything that had happened on the Blisterpeaks¡­ ¡°Arcturus was using the Crimson One. After Sterling spent years cultivating friendships and building the Wasteland Alliance, Arcturus ordered Hell¡¯s Army to infiltrate the organization. Now that the Crimson One is dead, command of their forces fall to the Giants. Arcturus¡¯ goal is to take control of the wastelands through this proxy.¡± Mr. Ink¡¯s injuries appeared severe, and he was in obvious pain. He rested for about a minute before continuing. ¡°Sending Clay Cloude here to help the front lines is a lie. His true goal is to murder the expedition¡¯s General ¨C to kill you. The wastelands are in his grasp, and if he can eliminate your check on his power then even the High Priest wouldn¡¯t be able to stand in his way.¡± Mr. Ink looked down at his grave injuries. ¡°As for evidence¡­ I am the evidence. On the way back to your side I was attacked by the two Cloudes. First they tried to blackmail me into helping them kill you. No more proof is needed to know their foul aims for the expeditionary forces.¡± ¡°The impertinence!¡± Skye¡¯s anger flared. ¡°Arcturus will explain himself before the Temple, or I will personally break every bone in his body and tear down his mansion with my own hands!¡± It was then two dark figures emerged from the dust. ¡°Who goes there!¡± Skye hollered. Although the grim environment hid them from view, Skye knew from their potent auras who these shadows were. Frost and Clay. Had they been there the whole time? Mr. Ink stumbled to Skye¡¯s side and dropped into a combat pose. ¡°They¡¯ve followed me here!¡± ¡°I will deal with them.¡± Skye stepped in front of Mr. Ink. But before he could say a word, he felt a searing pain in his abdomen. It was the sort of pain he hadn¡¯t felt in a long, long time. It was the pain of a weapon tearing through his skin and into his body. After so many years spent training, Skye¡¯s body was a fortress. Few weapons could pierce his iron-like flesh. Mr. Ink had fetched a dark blade from his sleeve, glowing with the power of a relic. The dagger was similar to Atlas¡¯ Deathstalker, only perhaps more deadly. Not only had it pierced Skye¡¯s belly, but once buried in his guts it released its dark power. The unassuming weapon was like a gateway. Once it was in Skye¡¯s body it became to gush with a foul sludge. Whatever filth this was quickly spread through the General¡¯s body. Skye looked down as his ruddy, bronzed skin turned dusky in hue. His eyes were wide, and disbelief was thick in his voice. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ ¡° ¡°I¡¯m sorry. They convinced me to do it, but I didn¡¯t want to. I¡¯ve been your man for twenty years, and I still care for the Polaris family.¡± The melancholy in Mr. Ink¡¯s eyes did not look feigned, but it was quickly replaced with a dark brutality. ¡°Unfortunately, I am a demonic agent, and I still have work to do.¡± Disappointment, pain, heart-break, anger ¨C despair. It all jumbled in Skye¡¯s mind as he realized the betrayal. His stately and dignified expression twisted. Skye Polaris had dedicated his life to the protection of Skycloud. He thought he was its righteous guardian. Yet all this time a demon spy was in his shadow. For twenty years. He never knew. Hell, he treated the man like family. How much important information had he stolen for his dark masters? How many plots and schemes had been enacted right under Skye¡¯s nose? Raging fury welled up inside him, causing his whole body to blaze with a white-gold light. Shining like a pillar of holy fire, even the air around him warped. He opened his mouth, but instead of a scream an orb of pure white burst out around him. Mr. Ink was flung hundreds of meters away like a leaf on an autumn breeze. His tattered clothing became hardly more than rags. His mask disintegrated. What was revealed was the thin frame of a man in his fifties. When Mr. Ink finally came to a stop, he looked toward his former master as the light gradually faded from around him. Skye polaris stumbled like a drunk man trying to keep his footing. ¡°It¡¯s a relic given to me by the demons, ¡®Death and Decay.¡¯ It was crafted with the will of those fiends, specifically to be used against powerful men like you. You¡¯ve cultivated a physique that has surpassed the realm of man and is almost god-like, but already the power of Death and Decay is coursing through you. It¡¯s spreading through your entire body. It won¡¯t be long before you rot from the inside and die.¡± It didn¡¯t matter how strong he was. Skye Polaris was only human! How could a human resist demonic corrosion? A figure streaked down toward them from above. The light of a silver spear struck the old man¡¯s cranium, summoning a shower of sparks. Frost¡¯s attack was deflected. To him it didn¡¯t feel like striking a body at all, rather like cutting through a steel wall. Wasn¡¯t Skye¡¯s body supposed to be weakened by the power of Death and Decay? Why hadn¡¯t his killing blow ended the old soldier? Skye swung around with a quick counterattack! Frost was forced to back away. The grizzled old man was gasping for breath. He couldn¡¯t follow up on the attack. The wound to his stomach was neither long nor deep, logically it was hardly a scratch to him. His rate of recovery was only superhuman, or should have been. IN his younger years Skye had once had his arm cut clean off. He dealt with it by picking up the severed limb and pressing it back into place. It healed on its own. His regenerative abilities were unquestionable, and he¡¯d only gotten stronger since. This, in addition to his formidable physical defenses, were part of what made him so powerful. And yet this small wound, a few centimeters long, would not heal! The stench that came from it was nauseating. Gouts of black blood seeped from it, sick and viscous like mud from a bog. ¡°The old man should come to accept his death. You cling to something that doesn¡¯t belong to you, that is what has brought you here.¡± Clay stood before Skye, delivering his sermon. ¡°The time of your demise has come.¡± He made no effort to conceal the contempt in his gaze. A boor like this, who was strong but lacked strategy, what qualifications did he have to lead Skycloud in any capacity? A fool with nothing but big muscles should have quit long ago! Master Arcturus was a true and great genius, and the only person with the right to lead. It was his destiny to unite the wastelands and Skycloud. He was not some war hawk, he had true vision, and the strength to change the world for the better! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 76 - War God's Fall At eighty years of age, Skye Polaris was long past his prime. Still, the power he brought to a field of battle was no less catastrophic than the Crimson One¡¯s. While the three who faced him now were powerful fighters in their own right, all together they still weren¡¯t even a match for Cloudhawk and the two companions who faced Sterling. If the two groups were to switch places, they¡¯d have without question been consumed by Castigation Fire. Of course, this was all built on the premise of a fair fight. Skye¡¯s strength was spent after days of battle. The vile sneak attack was sapping him of what little power remained, and had left him with a serious injury. Death and Decay was a poison dagger made by the hands of demons. Legends told of several gods this foul weapon was responsible for killing. While Skye was said to possess the physique of a god, it wasn¡¯t enough to protect him from the evil dagger. The dark power locked within it had been injected into him, and was tainted every cell of his being. It went to work against living tissue, turning it into rotted filth that infected everything around it. Skye¡¯s majestic face had taken on a dusky, sickly tone. His body had become the site of a fierce and deadly battle, where his vitality warred against the putrefying taint of demons. Over the years he had driven himself to heights no one thought the human body was capable of. That strength made him impervious to almost everything, but the damage from old wounds were never completely healed. Instead he used the might he cultivated to keep the sequelae from affecting him. Death and Decay was like fuel on a fire. All at once, those dozens of old wounds and illnesses flared up. Mr. Ink¡¯s toxic bite led to a chain reaction, a tide of collapse. He could feel his organs starting to decay as black blood trickled from every orifice. He couldn¡¯t stop it. All of his strength was draining, like dew beneath the morning sun. He couldn¡¯t fight, he couldn¡¯t defend himself. What Skye needed to do was flee as far and as fast as he could. Maybe there would be a way to save himself. But the three assassins had risked much in luring him here ¨C they weren¡¯t going to let him flee and expose their dark deeds. Frost groped at every opportunity. Leaping at his target once again, where Frozen Dirge passed blooms of frost hung in the air. Everything swirled and danced, forming into a storm of ice and snow. The tempest condensed into the shape of piercing cone and in the blink of an eye crashed into Skye¡¯s body. There was a scream. The attack landed. The world all around became a universe of icy crystals! Skye¡¯s body withstood the storm. In fact, not a scratch could be seen. There wasn¡¯t even a trace of frost on his body and the ice broke across his skin like raindrops against a bronze statue. For all of Frost¡¯s bluster he couldn¡¯t even pierce the old man¡¯s skin, dealing no damage. For now, Death and Decay¡¯s power was still sealed within him. The outside of Skye¡¯s body was as impenetrable as ever! Frost tried again, stabbing at Skye through the roaring tempest to try and skewer him. ¡°Fuck off, child!¡± Hostility poured off Skye like steam. He didn¡¯t even try to avoid the blow, sticking out his chest to welcome Frost¡¯s spear. It was impotently knocked away. Skye then snatched at the weapon with lightning fast speed, grabbing it and holding it tight. Losing control of one¡¯s weapon was one of the greatest disgraces a soldier could suffer. Using his thick, calloused hands Skye wrenched the spear from Frost¡¯s grip in the midst of his attack. He then flung it back as though it were a used toothpick. It took only a few meters for it to break through the sound barrier, generating a massive explosion of sound. When the shockwave struck Frost in the chest, it did so with what felt like several tons of force. Even the War-God¡¯s casual attacks contained frightening power! The spear was flung with enough force to punch right through Frost¡¯s body! Frost felt the danger coming. Frozen Dirge was his weapon, however, and as such he had a deep mental connection with it. Just as the spear was about to pierce him he reached out with his mental powers, called on its resonance, and stopped it to the best of his ability. At the same time his hand went to the pommel of Rimeshard and wrenched it from its sheath. He swung with all his might to deflect the spear. Still its potent energy was traveled from the spear into the sword, then through Frost¡¯s arms into his body. An intense shudder rocked him, nearly breaking both arms. Nor did Frozen Dirge stop. It was deflect to one side and darted off into the dust storm. The streak of icy blue energy dashed toward Mr. Ink. The beautiful and elegant weapon missed him by centimeters, close enough that it tore off a chunk of his clothing. From there the spear vanished into the dust storm, twinkling like a distant star until it faded entirely from view. Wherever it ended up, there was enough residual impetus in the spear to run through whatever it struck. All from Skye¡¯s listless throw! ¡°Die, you despicable rats!¡± Skye charged at full bore. All of the air and matter he passed was assaulted by a burst of violent power that caused everything to catch fire. His two fists ¨C capable of felling cities ¨C were aimed toward Clay¡¯s pudgy body. It was a force comparable to a full blast from a warship! Clay would surely die if a strike like this landed. He quickly summoned the aid if a defensive relic, but how many relics were powerful enough to protect him from Skye¡¯s ire? One punch landed. The whole world seemed to crack. Clay¡¯s protective relic shattered. Blow-back from the strike sent Clay flying, leaving a trail of blood behind. More than a dozen bones snapped as he tumbled head over heels. An injury this severe would confine him to bed rest for at least several months. Skye¡¯s booming voice was like thunder. ¡°Arcturus is a fool if he thinks you three are enough to stop me!¡± The old man was definitely a hard one to put down! It seemed unlikely the assassins would succeed. Mr. Ink was controlling the power of Death and Decay as it wormed through his body. Caustic purple smoke and a terrible stench forced its way from Skye¡¯s pores. The general was assailed by a sudden bone-deep weakness. His limbs felt numb and his mind muddled. All of this together made it hard for him to even move. Mr. Ink urged the corrosive power to begin expressing on the surface. It would surely serve to greatly reduce the old man¡¯s defenses. These contemptible weaklings! He would not be felled at the first blow! Skye released another deafening roar of anger. Light returned to his beleaguered form, smothering the negative energy that poured off of him. Mr. Ink¡¯s foul methods would not be enough to finish the War-God, but it did buy them time. But what did that matter? Skye felt another wave of dangerous energy pass over him. A small bead hung in the air for a moment before detonating. Hundreds of streaks of light erupted forth, blanketing Skye in electric energy. Everything centered on him like he was a magnet, blasted him again and again. Boom ¨C boom ¨C boom ¨C boom! At least twenty bolts of lightning hit him in sequence! Even someone as tenacious as Skye would have to be injured after an attack like that. The concentrated bolts of lightning were but a prelude. As he was unable to move, more lightning gathered over his head. It coalesced into a column of electricity as thick as a barrel. Skye felt a tremendous pressure fall on him. With a mighty yell he flung his fist toward the heavens, like he was trying to punch it apart. Even amid the deafening thunder his feral roar could be heard. ¡°Arcturus!¡± He may have been flailing at the bolt of lightning, but all of his fury was directed at Skycloud¡¯s Governor. The bolt crashed into the General and Skye¡¯s iron body was immediately burned black. Like a spear from the gods it blasted all the way through him. The item Clay had used was called a ¡®Spirit Bead,¡¯ a relic with a one-time use. The last time one was seen was back in the Great War. A Master Demonhunter was able to inject their power and mental energies into the beast and give it to someone else to use. It was all the wrath of Arcturus Cloude, to be used at one¡¯s leisure. It delivered a blast comparable to the full force of a Master Demonhunter. Skye Polaris had first fought off the demon Abaddon, managing to fight him off but not without expending considerable energy. This was despite old injuries and advanced years conspiring against him. He was then caught by Death and Decay, suffering the betrayal of a decades-old friend. The dark powers of the relic stole what remained of his inner strength. Finally, the Spirit Bead. It was more than he could withstand. From outside the destructive force of Arcturus, from within the corrosive poison of devils. His body quickly started to collapse in on itself. He was done for. ¡°Now!¡± The three killers moved in to finish the job. Frost thrust his crystal blade into Skye¡¯s throat. Clay stabbed a blade of light into Skye¡¯s broad chest. Mr. Ink jabbed the dim edge of Death and Decay into his friend¡¯s eye. Three deadly blows, from three terrible weapons. Nothing ¨C no god nor man nor demon ¨C could endure such cruel abuse. Skye Polaris felt his mind beginning to go. In the dim remnants of his consciousness he felt a crushing regret. He shouldn¡¯t have dragged Cloudhawk into all this. And Dawn¡­ Dawn. I¡¯m sorry. Grandpa broke his promise this time. I won¡¯t be able to preside over your wedding. Light poured out of Skye¡¯s body. After years of toughening, every cell was like a nuclear reactor. Skye knew he would die, but if he had to go he would release every iota of what he had left in one final blast. He would take these treacherous fucks with him. ¡°Shit! Back off, back off! He¡¯s going to blow!¡± The three assassins broke for safety as fast as they could. Light was released from the old General¡¯s body with such intensity that he had become a figure of pure illumination. All at once the dazzling silhouette broke apart, releasing unthinkable amounts of energy. The ensuing blast was like a storm of apocalyptic proportions. In a blink it swallowed up everything within a thousand kilometers. Anything caught in this radius was atomized. General Skye Polaris, the greatest warrior in Skycloud¡¯s history. His life was proof that although he was no demonhunter, any man could rise to match those lauded Masters. He was a spectacular, singular human. Commander of the Elysian army. Patriarch of a respected family. An avatar of power and authority. Killed by cowards and turncoats. Not even a corpse remained to give him a respectful burial. Blinding light hung in the sky for a long time. This was the way Skycloud¡¯s legendary general died. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 77 - Dismal News Cloudhawk led the airship they¡¯d stolen toward the expeditionary force. The old drunk rubbed his dirt-smudged nose as he looked out across the sky. ¡°Fallowmoor¡¯s troops are gathering. They look like they¡¯re preparing a sneak attack against the Elysian army soon. We don¡¯t have much time. If we don¡¯t speed things up, even if we reach the expeditionary forces it¡¯ll just be like adding more meat to their dumplings.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think I want to go faster? First of all, his is fast as this piece of shit can go. Second, we don¡¯t even know where the fleet is. You think it¡¯s easy finding them in this ass-backwards place?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t believe Natessa was the sort to act recklessly, but here they were. Fallowmoor managed to repel its attackers, but they suffered more than the Elysians did. Their defenses were practically routed. It was impressive enough that Natessa managed to keep her troops together, much less mount a quick counter-attack. Crazy bitch! Then¡­ A distance in front of them the world lit up like someone had detonated a nuclear bomb. For an instant the blast was brighter than the sun, and even at this distance their ship shook from the shock wave. Shocked faces gaped at the scene. Selene was stunned by the sheer power of the wave as it passed through them. ¡°What was that? Some sort of weapon?¡± ¡°Not a weapon.¡± Dawn¡¯s eyes were fixed in the direction of the blast. She felt a fear creeping into her heart, an intense sense of foreboding she refused to acknowledge. Gritting her teeth, she growled at the others. ¡°Quick. Something¡¯s happened, we need to get there as soon as possible. Towards the explosion.¡± Cloudhawk glanced toward the old drunk, who stood at his shoulder. The warrior¡¯s face was also grave. He knew right away that it was no weapon. Skye¡­ but how? He was strong, strong enough that he should be able to escape even if the enemy caught up to him. Was it to protect the fleet, or was there something else they had to worry about? They continued forward at full speed for over an hour. At last they reached the site of the blast, along with the rest of the Elysian fleet. They appeared to be in the midst of a search. The second the wasteland ship arrived through the dust storm they were surrounded. He and the others quickly revealed themselves and were escorted the rest of the way to the other ships by Skycloud soldiers. The group disembarked and gathered with the other officers at the bridge of the fleet¡¯s flagship. There, the Grand Prior Phain Mist, and the former Warden Roc Polaris were waiting. Phain¡¯s hand was wrapped tight around the pommel of his sword with a white-knuckle grip. The look on his face was one of barely contained fury. It was a strange change to his typically polite facade. Roc was crestfallen, and so frightened he hardly seemed to know what was going on. He stared into the distance with a far-away look. Even as people walked back and forth in front of him he didn¡¯t seem to notice a thing. Everyone stood around in dumb silence. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what happened, but everyone¡¯s reactions and the conspicuous lack of the General led him to a dreadful conclusion. Dawn stormed toward the two men who¡¯d been with her grandfather. ¡°Am I insane or are we still in the middle of a battlefield? Why are you standing around with that dumb look on your faces?! Where¡¯s my grandfather! Get him out here immediately!¡± No one dared answer. This only made her angrier. ¡°We¡¯ve just come back from killing the Crimson One. We¡¯ve completed our mission, with flying colors I might add. I bet never in his wildest dreams did he think we¡¯d actually be able to do it, and to tell the truth it wasn¡¯t easy. Why isn¡¯t he out here kissing our feet?!¡± It was Phain who eventually broke the stillness with a quavering sigh. ¡°From what we have been able to gather, the General¡­ may have been killed.¡± The sheer rage that exploded from Dawn threatened to burn their whole fleet down. ¡°I will not suffer such outrageous bullshit! Who the hell in this ragtag bunch of wasteland trash could harm my grandfather? Don¡¯t you dare stand here and lie to me!¡± Vulkan, Selene, Barb and the others felt the breath stolen from their lungs when they heard it. How could it have happened so fast? Even at his age General Skye was as strong as a Master Demonhunter. He was dead? Just like that? Cloudhawk was having a hard time accepting it. But he had to, no one would joke about something this terrible. As the news sank in Dawn was on the cusp of totally losing control. Cloudhawk walked over to her and placed a hand on her arm. She spun around, and the moment she saw Cloudhawk¡¯s downcast face she could no longer control her tears. They tumbled from her eyes like a dam had burst. Skycloud¡¯s intractable, unassailable she-devil broke down into inconsolable tears in front of everyone. Seeing her like this, hearing this news ¨C it was almost more than Cloudhawk could take as well. Young, new to the world, ignorant¡­ he¡¯d flown around Skycloud like a headless fly. If not for Skye Polaris, he would have drowned in the intrigue of the Elysian lands. All of his interactions with the stubborn old man flashed through his mind at once. His voice. His bearing. The time in front of the lake when they talked about Aegir¡¯s life. Skye Polaris had been one of only a few men in Cloudhawk¡¯s life that looked on him kindly. He¡¯d jumped at the chance to take him under his wind, train him, protect him¡­ Cloudhawk could still see him clearly in his mind¡¯s eye. How¡­ how could he be gone? The old drunk¡¯s hoarse voice gave voice to his internal questions. ¡°The General was strong, at least among the top four strongest in Skycloud. There is no one among the wastelanders who should be a threat to him. How could this have happened?¡± ¡°Simple: False friends are much deadlier than open enemies.¡± The voice came from the door of the bridge. Two figures entered, the first being a slightly plump man with an amicable face. Behind him was a heroic looking young man in splendid white armor. Both looked a little battered, nicks in their armor and stains on their clothing. Both had visible bruises. Clay spoke calmly as he walked toward the group. ¡°The General walked into a sneak attack. Among the aids and staff of the Polaris family was a deeply entrenched spy ¨C a plant, controlled by the demon organization known as Gehenna. His real identity is Inkshade, the man you know as Mr. Ink. He abused the trust Skye placed in him, luring him out away from the rest of us and then struck. That is how he got away with it.¡± He threw a dull black dagger onto the ground among them. It hit the deck with a thud of finality. ¡°This is the murder weapon, Death and Decay.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the dagger. Anger and tears had turned Dawn¡¯s eyes red. Without even a moment¡¯s hesitation, she pulled Terrangelica from its sheath and hacked it toward the two men. Phain, with impressive speed, reacted by drawing his own sword and holding it in front of her to block her path. ¡°They¡¯re lying! They are definitely lying!¡± She screamed and hacked at the air. Bursts of energy were flung from its tip and cleaved whatever they came into contact with. ¡°They killed my grandfather! Dogs! Murderers! Sent by Arcturus! This whole thing was planned by the Governor to destroy my family!¡± Phain grabbed Dawn with his free hand and shook her. ¡°Stop this nonsense!¡± Phain wasn¡¯t going to let things devolve. Although he had his doubts about Skye¡¯s death, there wasn¡¯t any evidence to support Dawn¡¯s claim. From what little remnants they could find at the site of Skye¡¯s death, it pointed to Death and Decay as the culprit. Mr. Ink had to be what they claimed: Inkshade, an agent of Gehenna. So far, he was the most logical suspect. As for Clay and Frost, they explained their battered appearance and the events that followed their escape from Fallowmoor. During their return with Inkshade, they encountered the spy¡¯s friends and discovered his plots. They were wounded in trying to flee, leaving Inkshade and his henchmen free to attack Skye. When the General detonated, he was trying to take his assassins with him. Sadly what energy remained wasn¡¯t enough, and his killers were able to flee. As for the truth? Well, at this point it didn¡¯t matter. Skye Polaris was dead. Nothing could change that. The Polaris family was no more. Provoking the Cloude family now wouldn¡¯t serve Dawn in any positive way. For her own sake, Phain blocked her from acting in her grief and anger. In the instant Skye died, Dawn went from a child pampered by her grandfather to a fallen noble of a broken family. There was no one left to indulge her capricious nature. If she didn¡¯t grow up ¨C immediately ¨C who was left to protect her? A sea of murderous stares were fixed on Clay and Frost. Cloudhawk, Selene and the others didn¡¯t even blink. They all knew the truth of what happened, at least most of it. But if what they said about Mr. Ink was true and they could verify it, the General¡¯s assassination could easily be wholly pinned on that scapegoat. The Wastelands Alliance was under the control of Hell¡¯s Army, and Skycloud had come to be dominated by a single family. Arcturus Cloude¡¯s schemes had been executed flawlessly, with great success. From now on, any power in Skycloud or the wastes would find it nearly impossible to stand in his way. The Master Demonhunter, a man of incredible strength and deadly cunning, had taken his place as an uncrowned king. Cloudhawk felt an anger inside him unlike any he¡¯d felt before. His relationship with Dawn was complicated, but at least the very least he considered her a dear friend. There was a lot about Cloudhawk¡¯s personality that was lacking, but he was someone who greatly valued loyalty. The Polaris family had been good to him, helped him when he needed it. Dawn was a friend. He couldn¡¯t just watch her go through this, there had to be justice! But it was already done. There was nothing he could do. He couldn¡¯t change what happened. Such a poisonous feeling of guilt and helplessness. He couldn¡¯t stop his fingers from wrapping around Ardent Wrath. It was the last gift General Skye had given him. It would be the tool of win vengeance for his murder. Cloudhawk would use it to cut apart these foul bastards for what they¡¯ve done. Four years ago Cloudhawk would have thrown himself at these killers right then and there. It wouldn¡¯t have mattered what the consequences would be, or how dangerous it was. But he¡¯d grown since then, and knew that acting in the moment would solve nothing. It would only make matters worse. The old drunk¡¯s voice cut through the thick air. ¡°Are we still happy stand here wasting time? Fallowmoor¡¯s troops will be arriving soon, and while we¡¯ve been talking the Dark Atom and Woodland Vale have being regrouping. We¡¯ve learned there is also another wasteland power about to join the fight. We¡¯ve lost our general, and we¡¯re about to get attacked on three fronts from three armies. Are you all confident we can handle that?¡± He was right. The situation was worse than terrible. Cloudhawk had no swallow the bitter anger in his gullet and focus on the matter at hand Selene answered. ¡°The General is gone. Who is next in the chain of command?¡± The officers all looked at one another. Roc chimed in. ¡°The general didn¡¯t have a second in command. Everyone below him was considered of equal rank.¡± ¡°The expeditionary forces are separated in ten or so corps. As I understand, the Talons of God ¨C as a special military unit, had greater scope and function than typical corps.¡± Hearing no immediate objections, Selene continued. ¡°In my authority as Apostle to the Temple, I support the appointment of Warden Cloudhawk as temporary commander of the fleet, to be assisted by myself and the Grand Prior Phain.¡± Phain¡¯s brows furrowed at being volunteered. What qualifications did this young, untested man have to command an entire fleet? But Selene¡¯s status in the Temple was even higher than his own, so he had no right to challenge her order. Besides, his own appointment was temporary anyway. Everyone understood Selene¡¯s intention. Now that General Skye was dead, the Cloude family would certainly be looking for some way to take control of the expeditionary force for themselves. If they thrust command on Cloudhawk now and he somehow managed to get them out of this in one piece, they would have more room to maneuver in the future. Clay Cloude¡¯s sharp eyes were fixed on Selene. For just an instant there was a cold, lethal light in their depths. Was this girl openly defying her family and patriarch? Was she declaring war on Master Arcturus? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 78 - Fortitude Entrusted with an impossible mission, Cloudhawk was nonetheless forced to accept. What choice did he have? Whatever the intrigue, whatever the anger, first they had to survive. Nothing was more dangerous than the position they¡¯d been thrust in. The old drunk and Barb brought Dawn below decks. Her fragile state of mind made her unstable. No one was sure how she would react. Selene, Phain and the Templars stood by Cloudhawk¡¯s side awaiting orders. They represented the power of the Temple to give Cloudhawk¡¯s new command legitimacy. The pain and misgivings had to be put aside until this dark hour passed. What happened could not be undone, but they could work to make sure this tragedy didn¡¯t worsen. They had their work cut out for them ¨C the Elysian fleet was in no shape to take a three-pronged attack. ¡°Ten divisions were gathered for this excursion, totaling roughly sixty thousand men. The fleet currently stands at three hundred and five warships. Twenty of them are heavily damaged, fifty five have suffered moderate damage, and eighty nine are managing with minor issues. In addition, there are two hundred logistics and supple ships. Now the divisions, they are as follows; the Vanguard, Flank, Airborne...¡± Roc rattled off the current state of their armed forces. All of the divisions he named were populated with experienced soldiers. While the attack on Fallowmoor had failed and left them with many damaged ships, total losses were still minimal ¨C perhaps ten percent, twenty at most. It wasn¡¯t enough to threaten the core abilities of the expeditionary force. While Skye Polaris had been a brash and angry man, years of combat had forged him into a capable strategist. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to break himself and his whole family on a single assault. This fighting force was the last vestige of the Polaris family¡¯s strength, and his most important heritage. He knew that, whatever the cost, they had to get home safely. Phain¡¯s suspicions about Cloudhawk¡¯s command had merit. He had no experience leading a force of this size. However, during his years in Hell¡¯s Valley he was taught the basics of tactics and leadership. He also had the guidance of others with more practical knowledge. Cloudhawk was fairly confident he could manage. This was a time and environment where confidence and bravery were important. Wisdom and tactics, there was none to speak of in this clash. Whenever your opponent had such an overwhelming advantage in power, so-called ¡®strategies¡¯ and ¡®tactics¡¯ were nothing more than minor parlor tricks that could only be used to stall for a time. Cloudhawk looked to Roc. ¡°How many do we have in our demonhunter battalion?¡± ¡°Three hundred demonhunters have been dispatched with our forces,¡± he answered. ¡°Two hundred or so are still in fair enough condition to fight.¡± The Polaris family wasn¡¯t like the Cloudes, who were rich in demonhunter talent. Finding a hundred demonhunters in a group of ten thousand soldiers was considered a good haul for them. But even this small battalion would play an important role. Out here, a demonhunter¡¯s combat proficiency was secondary. In a fleet of several hundred ships, only so much information could be passed through shouts and flag signals. This was especially true in this dust storm, which hid anything more than a few meters out from view. To counter this, each battle group¡¯s command ship was fitted with a psy-tower. Psy-towers worked differently from the three other towers typically found on Elysian warships, but were just as important in function. Demonhunters, in their ability to manipulate and summon mental power, were able to tap into a neural network created by these psy-towers. Through it information could be passed almost instantaneously, delivering critical battle conditions and orders in a fraction of the time. Where was the enemy attacking from, what flank required more support, damage reports, combat orders ¨C the psy-towers made sure the information was quickly delivered to every part of the fleet. This neural network is what made the entire fleet work as a cohesive fighting force, and prevented the chaos of battle from tearing their formations apart. Now, Skye was not a demonhunter. As such he was forced to rely on reports from demonhunters passed to him, and then again when any orders needed to be relayed. From receiving information, to processing it, to formulating a command and then spreading it to the fleet, the procedure was a lengthy one with a lot of middle-men in between. It created significant delay and an increased chance that something was missed or relayed incorrectly. In a fleet this size the negative results were greatly compounded. A main factor in the expeditionary force¡¯s sluggishness in responding to the Dark Atom sneak attack was because of this chain of information. Luckily, Cloudhawk could prevent this from happening by receiving information directly. He plugged his own mind directly into the neural network. After plans were discussed, the Elysian ships began to reform. They¡¯d lost half a day after their general was slain in trying to reestablish command. Now they were forced to escape this perilous setting as fast as possible. Cloudhawk relayed his orders. Although it was a critical time for the beleaguered fleet, he took a moment to go below and find Dawn. Everything that had transpired was a particular cruel blow to the girl. She looked like an entirely different person, drained of all that vivacious energy that usually surrounded her. Like she was dead. It was all so¡­ sudden. She wasn¡¯t ready. A loved one, gone in a blink. What tormented her worst of all was knowing his killers were just a few feet away, and there wasn¡¯t anything she could do about it. This sort of rage and helplessness changed a person. Cloudhawk knew that it had struck to the very core of her, otherwise the Dawn he¡¯d known would have let anger devour her. He also knew that this sudden change in disposition didn¡¯t come without deep scars, whose dangers would only be revealed in the future. It was the last thing he wanted to see a friend go through. ¡°The General was good to me. I¡¯ll always appreciate his respect, and the chance at a new life he¡¯d given me.¡± Cloudhawk walked to Dawn and placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I hope you can understand that you aren¡¯t the only one going through this. I¡¯m with you, so don¡¯t carry it all yourself. No matter what happens or what needs to be done, I¡¯ll be right by your side.¡± Dawn¡¯s eyes were red and swollen. She didn¡¯t react, like she hadn¡¯t heard. She just sat there, unmoving, like she was made of wood. With a scowl he put both hands on her shoulders and roughly pulled Dawn to her feet. His dark eyes looked deeply into her own. ¡°Hey. Where the fuck did that girl who wasn¡¯t scared of nothin¡¯ go? Hell, far as I remember the only thing you were scared of was losing face. Where the fuck did this weak kid come from?!¡± Any other day and Dawn would have put her fist through his face. That¡¯s what he wanted, what he was hoping for. It at least would prove that she hadn¡¯t been completely broken. She still had some fight left in her, some courage, that she hadn¡¯t given up. But she didn¡¯t. There were only the tears that welled up in her eyes, and silence. Dawn had lived every day of her life telling anyone within earshot how great she was. Then, life dropped the hammer. She realized none of it was true ¨C she was weak, she was small. For the first time she really saw how inferior she was to Selene. Both women had loved people close to them. Selene¡¯s loss had made her brave, given her the strength and courage to strike out into the wastelands on her own to seek justice for her father. Dawn didn¡¯t feel brave at all. All she felt was the desperate, foolish hope that this was all somehow a bad dream. Just a nightmare she would soon wake up from. The Polaris family couldn¡¯t go on without its patriarch! Dawn couldn¡¯t live without her grandfather! As for Cloudhawk, he was angry. Real angry! He glared at her with eyes that burned into her skull. ¡°I will help you. I will make sure Arcturus pays for his crimes.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words bore the weight of grave, honest commitment. ¡°You and I, we¡¯re going to kill him or die trying. Whether we get our revenge or get killed in the process, I¡¯m with you.¡± I¡¯m with you! There was a real power in those words. They struck Dawn in the heart like a kick to the chest. Her wooden expression trembled and some spirit returned to her tear-streaked face. It was like a light being switched on in an impenetrable darkness, like a drowning man whose fingers wrap around a lifesaving vine. Yes, she had suffered a great loss. But she had Cloudhawk. Dawn hung her head, and when she spoke the bitterness in her voice was cloying. ¡°We can¡¯t win.¡± ¡°Fuck that! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m hearing this shit out of your mouth! The Dawn I know would throw herself sword first at her enemies, whether it was Arcturus or the fuckin¡¯ King of the Gods himself.¡± Cloudhawk never took his eyes away from her. ¡°All my life I¡¯ve spat on the idea of fate. If I would have let destiny decide for me, I would have died a long time ago, another corpse in the wasteland!¡± Yeah¡­ how would they know if they would lose if they never tried? ¡°Listen, we¡¯re not helpless either. We¡¯ve got Selene and all the rest of them. We might not be ready yet but one day we will be, and we¡¯ll tear that son of a bitch limb from limb!¡± Cloudhawk extended a hand to wipe the tears from Dawn¡¯s face. ¡°Trust me.¡± His words and conviction were infectious. She felt it fill her up. Arcturus¡­ he was the greatest demonhunter the world had seen in several centuries. He had more power and influence in the Elysian lands than anyone else. Yes, Cloudhawk had been given help, guidance and resources from the Polaris family. But he¡¯d paid all that back in spades. He had no reason to do anything out of a sense of repayment. He didn¡¯t offer to go up against the most powerful man in the world because he felt he had to, but because he wanted to. For her. For himself. Cloudhawk was willing to risk his life to try. Why couldn¡¯t Dawn show the same courage? Dawn thought about all the years that had passed. Languishing, content with the bare minimum, making trouble instead of applying herself. If she¡¯d instead been mature enough to share the burdens of her grandfather¡¯s struggle, would she be here today? Would he? Now her shoulders bore the inescapable burden of avenging her grandfather¡¯s murder. If she shirked it because she was too scared, all the world would laugh. She would be a crushing disappointment to everyone that mattered. She was bolstered by a deep, real fortitude. She had to keep getting better. It was the only way to honor her grandfather, who gave everything in service to his family. Getting stronger was the only way to earn Cloudhawk¡¯s friendship. She would grow so strong Selene couldn¡¯t sneer down her nose, but would be forced to look up instead. Arcturus Cloude! No matter how long it takes, no matter what it demands, I will kill you with my own hands! ¡°Thank you.¡± A spark of fire had returned to Dawn¡¯s eyes. She looked at the man who had given her strength and courage when she was at her weakest. In that instant she knew without a shadow of a doubt that nothing would separate them. Loss was a double-edged sword. It brought crushing pain, but in the right hands it brought growth. Cloudhawk hoped the pain of this moment would help Dawn see herself clearly. He hoped it would awaken the potential he knew she had. She wasn¡¯t inferior to Selene in any way, she just needed to discover that power in her. She had the mental prowess of a great demonhunter, and the martial ability of a Templar. Selene had ambitions to be the next Master Demonhunter as well. Cloudhawk? A lot had changed for him. There was no way to know what the future would hold. He didn¡¯t know if he would be strong enough, but he knew that deep in the bowels of Woodland Vale there was another part of his inheritence, silently waiting for him to come and claim it¡­ Dawn looked over Cloudhawk¡¯s maturing features. Her eyes danced over it as though she were in a dream. That reckless, ignorant boy she met years ago can grown into a man she could rely on. ¡°Commander!¡± Roc hurried below decks to find him. ¡°We¡¯ve received urgent reports that an enemy force approaches. We need you on the bridge immediately.¡± ¡°Motherf-¡­. This fast?¡± Cloudhawk followed Roc back to the command center. Barn and the drunk stood in the doorway after watching the whole exchange. Both weren¡¯t sure how to react. Vulkan rubbed his temples. ¡°Arcturus isn¡¯t pulling any punches. If these three kids are really dead set on standing against him it will be one hell of an effort.¡± Barb wasn¡¯t sure how to react. She felt like everything she knew about the world had turned upside down. Arcturus Cloude was the leader of Skycloud, and of every demonhunter. He was the man everyone looked up to. A living legend, a hero. But after seeing everything he¡¯d done with her own eyes, a grave chill had sprung up in her heart. If a man like him were allowed to take control of the whole world¡­ the thought made her shudder. He was already the singular political power in Skycloud, with command of countless demonhunters. In standing against him, Cloudhawk and the others were risking the menace of every major power in the Elysian lands. What was she supposed to do? Barb stole a glance toward the old man at her shoulder. He still looked like he wanted no part of it. She didn¡¯t get it¡­ how could he remain so indifferent? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 79 - The Ancient Vessel When Cloudhawk walked back onto the bridge, he was met with a host of strange stares. Most viewed him with doubt and wonder. After all, he was but a young man. The Warden had no experience but for a few years of training, and that didn¡¯t amount to anything considering the challenge they faced. There was no lack of veteran commanders in the fleet, so why had command fallen to him? Murmurs began to circulate among the officers. Templars had taken to standing by Cloudhawk¡¯s side, so there was no immediate mutiny. However, the feeling in the air was that one misstep by this unproven upstart and things would go downhill quickly. The look on Phain¡¯s face painted him as someone with a similar view. After all, many of his soldiers were putting their lives on the line and that was nothing to play with. Cloudhawk exchanged a quiet look with Selene. Their eyes met from across the bridge, and in it they saw one another¡¯s intentions. Cloudhawk had one shot at summoning a military miracle out of thin air. The steps he made from this moment forward would leave a permanent impression on the gathered officers. It would inform their reactions going forward, for in any future conflict they would not be so willing to go along with such a mad appointment. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°Fallowmoor¡¯s forces have caught up. Their fleet is large. It looks like they¡¯ve come in full force.¡± Natessa had cobbled together a massive fleet in the span of a single day. Efficient didn¡¯t begin to describe it. She probably used the Crimson One¡¯s death to light a fire under the soldiers and instigate the Wastelands Alliance. That¡¯s how she convinced them to gather up and set out so quickly. Tens of thousands of troops, organized in a day¡¯s time. It would be at least three days before they could withdraw back to Fallowmoor and reinstate defenses. In other words, if Cloudhawk could route their forces it would leave their precious city vulnerable. The Wastelands Alliance wasn¡¯t strong enough to defeat the Elysian flotilla by themselves, so if they crushed them here Cloudhawk could take Fallowmoor for Skycloud. Natessa was a bold one. She must already know Skye was dead, and thus assumed the expeditionary force would be demoralized. She wasn¡¯t afraid because she was sure the Elysians would choose retreat over confrontation without their general. That lithe woman with a calm exterior had the mad soul of a gambler. It was no wonder Eckard always called her the crazy one. ¡°I say this is a grand opportunity!¡± One of the officers loudly offered his opinion. ¡°If we return home with our tails tucked between our legs we won¡¯t be able to show our faces to our families or the people of Skycloud. We should take this chance to blast right through them! The wastelanders can¡¯t stand up to the might of our fleet. It¡¯s a sign from the gods to keep up the fight!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Another officer called out in agreement. The death of their great General had filled them with a lust for vengeance. Though everyone knew his murderer had only a passing connection to the wastelands, they were eager for some outlet to vent their anger and frustration. ¡°We must seek vengeance for the General!¡± ¡°For the General!¡± ¡°Relay the order! Our soldiers will take the field again!¡± ¡°We would rather die than go home a pack of rotten, beaten mongrels!¡± As Fallowmoor¡¯s forces drew near the officers all puffed out their chests and clenched their fists. They were ready to give their all. Yet Cloudhawk did not give the order, as demanded. They would not be caught off guard by a sneak attack because the order to prepare for one had been given. However, something didn¡¯t play right in Cloudhawk¡¯s head. Now that Natessa was on the field she could only enact the part she¡¯d been given. But attacking the Elysian fleet with her army was suicide, and she was smarter than that. Cloudhawk was sure she had something up her sleeve. A sneak attack wouldn¡¯t work, but their forces were still without an accepted leader. If they were attacked all at once from all sides as he feared, the destruction to their forces would be catastrophic! Cloudhawk connection to the psy-tower and gathered what information was available from his scout ships. What he saw was a peculiar scene that gave him pause. The wasteland armies were about half an hour out from the fleet, on the edges of the dust storm. Patchwork ships hovered in the darkness of night. There was no question that they could see the lights of the fleet in the distance. They were stopped. Scout ships could tell that they were in a loose formation. What this meant to Cloudhawk was that the moment they attacked, the wasteland ships would separate into different battle groups and attack from every angle. Logically, the expeditionary force would separate into battlegroups to meet this threat, getting mired in a one-on-one conflict. If they chose rather to attack single targets at a time, they would still be too cumbersome to maneuver properly. Inevitably they would be surrounded and caught by an ambush from the other encroaching armies. It was a standard diversion tactic. Cloudhawk was sure Natessa wasn¡¯t so foolish as to believe she could take on the Elysian fleet on her own. He delivered his orders. ¡°All ships stop here. Take defensive formation.¡± The other officers looked at him incredulously. Defensive formation? If that was his plan why not just retreat? Their ships were must faster than the wastelanders, easily capable of throwing off most pursuers. If they attacked instead, as the officers preferred, they could crush the heathens like dry weeds before the scythe. What was the point in just¡­ sitting around? The expeditionary force slowly came to a halt. They formed into a circular defensive pattern. Undamaged ships constituted the outside of the formation, while those that had suffered from the previous assault were protected within. This was to prevent them from further harm while till utilizing their fighting capabilities. Still, the officers were not pleased with the decision. ¡°You¡¯re being too passive!¡± ¡°Why are we afraid of such a small enemy force?!¡± They started to clamor and gripe, their incredulous voices filling the bridge. A move like this only proved that Cloudhawk was a man without courage. Sitting back like this just made them a target for the wasteland ships and their superior range! Upon seeing that the Elysian fleet was not approaching, the wasteland forces formed up and started to slowly approach. However, it was another forward force that appeared, suddenly and in close proximity. ¡°Careful ahead!¡± ¡°Mutant birds approaching!¡± Dark clouds hung over the gathered warships, except they were not clouds at all. Swaths of shadowy figures fell onto the vessels. Those clouds of dark shapes disintegrated into individual mutant birds, thousands of them with tearing claws and stabbing beaks. The soldiers were taken aback in shock and fear. What the hell was this? Hadn¡¯t they eradicated these wretched birds already? Cloudhawk had long assumed Autumn was waiting in the wings, searching for a chance to play her tricks. After Shepherd took control of her body, the girl that once was Autumn had her mental prowess improved by several orders of magnitude. Her fighting capabilities had become comparable to a Master Demonhunter in the space of an instant. But Shepherd¡¯s greatest danger wasn¡¯t her individually. It was her ability to bend plants and animals to her whim. All manner of weak-willed beings fell under her control, quickly changing the very environment against her foes. After having the first wave of beasts destroyed, it took Autumn only a few days to gather another flock. An offensive like that would hamstring even the mighty Elysian force, but she had not anticipated they would have adopted a defensive posture so early. Each ship was perfectly position to assist one another, wholly preventing the beasts from breaking through the protective line. Countless blasts of energy streaks from the expeditionary force. Unfathomable numbers of flying beasts exploded into chunks of quivering meat. ¡°The Dark Atom and Woodland Vale have joined the fight.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s brows knit tight. ¡°Soon Abaddon and Autumn will show their faces. Grand Prior Phain, I need you to lead the Templars to battle against them.¡± ¡°As you command!¡± Phain did as he was ordered without a second thought. His mission was to prevent Abaddon and Autumn from wreaking havoc in the fleet to the best of his ability. The Dark Atom warships and their Wastelands Alliance counterparts had picked up speed and were closing in. Once within range, their long-range bombardment commenced. In its circular formation, the Elysian fleet became the center of this furious salvo, turning it into a ball of fire. From time to time a shot would find its way passed the shields and strike a ship, but to only very limited effect. Cloudhawk waited. Wasteland weapons had a glaring limitation, and that was the need for ammo. Once they survived the opening attack, the expeditionary force could mount a counter offensive while their enemies reloaded. It wasn¡¯t like a bunch of birds and rickety airships could withstand Elysian might when it was turned on them. Yet even while Cloudhawk waited to attack, he wasn¡¯t idle. As they suffered the seething anger of their enemies, he was constantly adjusting the formations. Those ships whose shields were running low retreated and were replaced with those that could suffer more punishment. It made their defensive more fluid and dynamic, greatly reducing the potential danger of wasteland missiles. All of the officers who had vociferously been decrying Cloudhawk¡¯s lead were suddenly silent. His actions spoke for themselves; decisive, systematic, precise ¨C nothing like the greenhorn they expected. Was he some sort of tactical genius? In the midst of Cloudhawk¡¯s methodical defense, he was sudden struck by an intense sense of foreboding. He¡¯d had a talent all his life for sensing danger when it was near. It always came over him when a deadly attack was imminent. Years of experience have taught him that feeling was always right. But this time it was different. Before, the danger he felt was always directed at himself. However the moment he reached with his mind into the neural network, he could feel the whole fleet ¨C and the danger presented to any part of it. He could accurately determine where that danger would strike. ¡°Deliver my orders! 1600, Third Division ¨C engage your shields at full strength!¡± The others on the bridge were again at a loss. However, Elysian training drilled into them the need to obey, and do it quickly. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation they delivered his commands and the shields were engaged toward where he indicated. Surrounding ships immediately injected their surplus energy into the main ships¡¯ shields as support, forming an enormous wall of crackling power. In less than half a minute after the barrier was raised, a beam of incomparable strength streaked toward them from ten thousand meters away. It struck the barrier so hard that even at full strength the Elysian shield nearly buckled. Gaping, pale faces stared in the direction the beam had come from. What sort of ghastly attack was this! The power behind it was nothing short of incredible! If not for Cloudhawk¡¯s quick reaction, the beam would have ripped a hole clear through the Elysian formation. How did he know? Could he somehow see the future? Cloudhawk paid no mind to the stares. He felt another wave of strange power wash through him and immediately ordered the shield moved. As he expected, another dense rain of blows came from the new direction. All of it was deflected. ¡°1500! Second Division, shields!¡± Aegis¡¯ dominating protections were on full display. Another blast struck its formidable shields head on. One shot might have been coincidence, but two proved it ¨C Cloudhawk really could tell where the attacks were coming from, and when. That prescience was saving lives. He could sense that whatever enemy was behind the trigger for this gun wasn¡¯t part of the Wastelands Alliance. They also weren¡¯t Dark Atom. The source of the attacks was located ten kilometers away or more. This was the longest ranged weapon he¡¯d ever seen. How could the wastelands have this sort of ordinance? If any Elysian had encountered something like this before, they would remember. There was only one explanation ¨C this was some new enemy they¡¯d never faced before! That meant the Wastelands Alliance, the Dark Atom, Woodland Vale, and¡­ whatever this was, were all attacking at the same moment. Not only did they time and execute this attack with incredible precision, that deadly beam would have ripped their ships apart. If Cloudhawk had listened to the bloodthirsty officers, the fleet might have already been lost. ¡°God¡¯s Spear!¡± Cloudhawk knew where the mysterious enemy was firing from. Now it was time to hit back with the best Skycloud had. A thick golden beam seared the darkness, shooting into the distance. Out in the darkness of night a plume of angry fire erupted. They hit something. Whatever it was couldn¡¯t hide. It gradually pushed through the dark clouds, revealing a hulking behemoth that startled everyone who looked upon it. It was entirely unlike anything they¡¯d ever seen. It was at least four time larger than any ship in the Elysian fleet. It was of strange construction, like an enormous black umbrella, open and tipped on its side. The underside of its domed surface was bristling with weapons and docks for a flotilla of smaller aircraft. A mothership! Hideous ugly and absolutely terrifying! The most intact weapon of the ancients that had ever been unearthed to date! It also had its own defensive measures, which reduced the blast from God¡¯s Spear to nothing but a small burned hole. Nothing created by the wastelands could withstand one of Skycloud¡¯s deadliest weapons. This was something of a completely different grade. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 80 - Siegebreaker The enormous mothership was an imposing deterrent force on the battlefield. It shattered everyone¡¯s preconceived notions of the wastelands air force. Most of the machinery found in the wastelands were scavenged piecemeal. They were relics of, a bygone era, creating mishmash constructs that barely held together. Among them, their airships were particularly grotesque, and rare to find. Only the strongest wasteland groups possessed them, and those were either propelled with hot air balloons, some sort of gliding mechanism or the like. Their ships were limited in how much damage they could take. There were also restrictions in what they were capable of due to shoddy craftsmanship, so much that normal use was often only achievable with considerable effort. Even the more advanced ancient tech was clumsily employed. All of this meant that one on one, many of the best wasteland vessels couldn¡¯t take on the most basic Elysian warship. But this thing was completely different. It could go against Skycloud¡¯s best ships blow for blow. Elysians weapons were the pinnacle of art, beauty and power. In contrast, this mothership was an altar to streamlined pragmatism. It was built to be a weapon, and no frills or beauty were considered in its construction. Every inch had to be useful and no ornamentation or waste was tolerated. This vessel was purely a weapon of mass destruction. It was constructed in the shape of an umbrella. Like its inspiration, it could open and close as needed. When shut it was best suited for high-speed flight, like an arrow streaking across the sky. Once opened, it focused electromagnetic energy to the fore to create a shield. While not as powerful as Elysian pylons, it still mounted a formidable defense. In the center was an enormous cannon, currently pulsing with light. From what they¡¯d seen, it was as deadly as God¡¯s Spear. One shot could level a mountain. Of course, as with all weapons of this sort it greatly drained its energy source with each use. As the wastelands greatest deficiency was energy, every shot was precious. The Elysians now knew that the wastelands had an absolutely dominating weapon, but they could only use it if they had the energy to fire its guns. Where the hell did they dig this thing up? Luckily, Cloudhawk¡¯s preternatural senses allowed him to pinpoint the ship through the darkness and engage their defenses. Without him they would have been caught unawares, and likely would have lost an entire flank. Now that it was closer they could see wastelanders scrambling over the ship¡¯s surface, clambering into the honeycomb of cannons and artillery guns that dotted it. A moment later the ancient vessel was a storm of light as its payload was released. Zeppelins, precision guided missiles, automated suicide aircraft ¨C they all launched from the ship and blasted toward the expeditionary force like a hellish rain. Dark Atom and Woodland Vale, the Wastelands Alliance, and this mysterious new foe all launched their attacks simultaneously. Luckily for the Elysians, they were in a defensible position, but even so they couldn¡¯t completely protect themselves from this incredible assault. Once the tripartite siege was fully underway the sky came alive with angry fire and terrible explosions. Zeppelins and airborne forces cut off any means of escape. Caught in this passive stance, the Elysians could only suffer the beating or risk being smashed to pieces. The wasteland attack was strong, and the scope of their ambush was suffocating. An anxious expression painted Selene¡¯s face, in part because of their bleak condition, but also because a loss would fall heavily on Cloudhawk¡¯s head. Her quick thinking in forcing him to lead would be a crushing disservice. Her shining eyes turned toward him. She saw a man who was calm and collected, absorbed in commanding their fleet. Through the neural network he was constantly gathering information. Through it, he knew the condition of every part of his fleet. The mothership¡¯s main weapon started to pulse quicker. At such close range the attack would pose a serious threat to the expeditionary force. Cloudhawk quickly told Aegis to reposition. Just in time, for no sooner was it in place than a beam of energy as thick as a gas tanker slammed into it. The explosion was deafening, and even the air around them seemed to ripple in protest. Elysian soldiers stared in horror as the shield cracked, split, and part of the beam hit Aegis. The hulking defense ship lurched to one side and the whole thing shuddered. Roc was stunned at the sight. ¡°How did they suddenly get so strong?¡± But no, they weren¡¯t getting stronger. Elysian shields were getting weaker. It was true that the beam was a little stronger since it didn¡¯t have to travel so far, giving it a small boost. However, the Elysian fleet was under tremendous duress. The first wave of attacks was the fiercest as the wastelanders spared nothing, and it only continued from all four sides. A constant barrage of attacks fell on Skycloud¡¯s ships, giving them no time to recover. Over time energy drained and less was available to bolster their shields. ¡°God¡¯s Spear!¡± Cloudhawk saw the weapon gearing up for another shot and knew he couldn¡¯t let it. While he didn¡¯t know how many more times the mothership could use that cannon, he sure as hell knew his ships couldn¡¯t take much more. Their shields weren¡¯t back to full strength yet. Another shot would blast right through and tear a whole through their formation. Natessa would then command all her zeppelins, small airships and airborne fighters to slip in wherever they could. Once passed the defensive line they would wreak havoc, and the Elysians would be beaten. Aegis and God¡¯s Spear were a special class of warships. Their fleet had two of each supported by battle groups. One Aegis was situated at the front of the formation, and the other at the rear. One of them was still recovering. The fleet also had two God¡¯s Spear ships and only one of them was ready to fire. It was gathering energy from a dozen ships nearby, rapidly depleting their shields by half strength. Officers watched what appeared to be a gamble, Cloudhawk¡¯s last resort to darken the mothership before the beam struck again. A ribbon of golden light streaked from within the Elysian formation. At the same time a pulse of powerful electromagnetic energy arose from the mothership. The particles erupted in a dispersed pattern to weaken anything that tried to pass through. In this way it functioned just like a shield. All four armies rattled as the impact swept across the battlefield. The attack from God¡¯s Spear broke through the shield, found purchase, and the ancient vessel listed to one side. A delay of several seconds followed and then the main gun fired. In that instant Cloudhawk delivered another order: ¡°Break formation! Scatter!¡± A stunning scene ensued, where the circular formation split down the middle like it¡¯d been cut by a knife. The mothership¡¯s beam slipped right through that channel. It missed the fleet entirely! The level of precision to move so many ships was incredible! Everyone ¨C from Selene to all the officers- stared in open shock. It really seemed like Cloudhawk could read the future, see where the enemy was going to attack. Had they all been wrong? Was Cloudhawk some secret military genius? Natessa seized on the break in their formation. Countless airborne units ¨C wasteland soldiers stradling mutant birds ¨C surged into the fissure. They laid into the Elysian ships with machine guns and missile launchers in the hopes of splitting their forces further. A textbook attempt at divide and conquer. Cloudhawk called out his next command. ¡°Abandon ranks, everyone break for open air!¡± What sort of lunatic gave an order like that?! Although their enemies were many in number and furious in their attacks, there was still a chance for the Elysians to fight back. Defeat was not a given. Indeed, they¡¯d managed to survive the first wave. Even without their general and surrounded on all sides, they were turning the tide. They could fight back. The wastelanders had teeth, but they were nothing but a pack of mongrels. Since the ambush began, the Elysians had suffered no real casualties. The wastelander strategy could be declared a failure. But break out of the siege? Did Cloudhawk understand what he was ordering? More than that, to abandon ranks? Every man for himself? When an army broke formation, its power was reduced by at least half. He might as well be giving their enemies the Elysian fleet on a silver platter! But Cloudhawk was the acting commander and these were special circumstances. They could not defy orders, so officers bit back their protests and did as commanded. Each half of the fleet turned and burned at full speed toward the enemy ranks, splitting apart as they tried to fight through the ambush. After a brief and intense clash they succeeded in breaking through the as yet fully formed wasteland blockade. Their enemies scrambled to catch up, making them disjointed and no longer such a deadly threat. Since their target had split they weren¡¯t sure which to pursue. Did the Elysians break ranks in order to force the wasteland armies to follow the example? How could they expect such a thing? As the wastelanders struggle to get themselves back under control, both halves of the expeditionary force got some distance in opposite directions. Failing to reach a conclusion, the enemy forces fell in with the decision of their commanding vessel. They focused on one half of the broken Elysian fleet while sending a token force toward the other to keep tabs on them. Elysian ships were uniform in speed, and faster than their wasteland counterparts. Once breaking out of encirclement they could easily lose most hunters. Wasteland ships and their mounted forces all varied in how fast they could give chase, forcing their ranks to thin out. In their greed the wastelanders wanted to destroy both parts of the Elysian fleet but failed to crush either. Their ambush had failed. The expeditionary force would not be wiped out here. One half successfully escaped. The other was being pursued by several hundred wasteland ships. The ancient mothership dare not embark alone. It could only push ahead as fast as it dared and rely on its advantage of long-range artillery to harass the Elysians¡¯ rear. Cloudhawk ordered Aegis to the rear, neutering most of their efforts but not all. A handful of shots still found their target. *** The two forces raced over the blasted wastelands. It wasn¡¯t long before Natessa discovered something strange. Her quarry would increase or decrease speed, maintaining a set distance between their forces ¨C just enough so that she thought they could catch up. The realization struck her like a slap to the face. They were acting like bait¡­ This definitely wasn¡¯t Skye Polaris¡¯ style! But that was expected since he was supposed to have died. Who, then, was commanding the fleet? The chase continued for a little less than half the night. Wasteland ships expended much of their ammo to little effect. Instead the expeditionary force was leading them around by the nose. Natessa decided to break off the chase. There was too great a difference in speed. If the Elysians wanted to kite them around the wastelands her forces had no way to stop them. Natessa hated being forced to react to her enemy. It gave her foes control of the fight. She gave the order. What followed was completely outside of her expectations. The piece of the fleet they¡¯d been chasing swung around and came charging right at them. A second ago they¡¯d been the prey, but suddenly they stole the role of predator. What the hell were they thinking? A creeping foreboding slithered up Natessa¡¯s spine. Eckard¡¯s urgent voice called out. ¡°We¡¯re trapped! Elysian ships have appeared at our rear, they have us surrounded.¡± Natessa¡¯s eyes narrowed. The two halves of their fleet had fled in two opposite directions! They¡¯d chased after this half but she never stopped receiving reports on the other. How did she find herself in between the two all of a sudden? All that chasing, only to be surrounded by the ones they were supposed to be pursuing. It came to her suddenly. ¡°I think I know who¡¯d commanding the fleet. For what it¡¯s worth, we definitely trained him well.¡± Clouhdawk. It had to be him. The tactics were just the sort she would use. Split your force in two, make it look like they go in different directions, but not in an exact straight line. A large, discrete circle. The distance made it hard to tell they were turning at slight degrees. The sprawling deserts made for a poor directional reference. But she knew it was true, they¡¯d just flown in a massive circle. Humans had a limited sense of space and scale, and what they thought they knew could be easily manipulated. In the darkness of night, with no moon or stars, the landscape all looked the same. The only point of reference was the ships they chased. They¡¯d all assumed they were going in a straight line, all the while getting further away from the other half of the fleet. In reality both halves were getting closer with every passing kilometer, all at Cloudhawk¡¯s command. Two slowly arcing halves of a circle. Natessa¡¯s forces had used much of their ammo and energy. It was too late to retreat. She was stuck out here, hundreds of kilometers away from Fallowmoor and the dust storm that could protect them. *** ¡°Heh¡­ that was fun, right? Now get a taste of your own fuckin¡¯ medicine.¡± Cloudhawk stood on the bridge of his ship, glaring at the wasteland ships dead ahead. ¡°Attack!¡± Two streks of golden light shot toward the wastelanders, one from in front and the other from behind. God¡¯s Spear! In the growing light of dawn those ribbons of light tore into Natessa¡¯s ranks. Ships detonated, and their explosions rocked nearby vessels. Elysian ships quickly closed in, locking their enemies in a tri-pronged siege and then aggressively pushing inward. They¡¯d turned an ambush meant for them into a trap for their enemies. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 81 - Survival The wasteland forces were in turmoil. In a greedy rush to devour the Elysians, many of the slower wasteland ships had fallen behind. With diminished numbers it would be a struggle to kill one half of their fleet, let alone being caught between both. But they would not sit idly by! The ancient vessel spread open again, funneling energy into its cannon. It took aim, preparing to blast a whole through their shields. After days of continuous battle, the Elysians were spent. How much more could they endure? If Hell¡¯s Army was going to suffer, then they¡¯d make sure Skycloud did as well! But would Cloudhawk give them a chance? God¡¯s Spear fired first, loosing a streak of golden light. It was too fast, the mothership had no time to engage its particle shield. Without anything to stop it the beam struck, piercing the barrel of the central cannon. All the power it¡¯d gathered was released as the weapon lost control. A deafening explosion followed. And then another, and another in a chain reaction that obliterated half of the enormous vessel. With a terrible groan of metal it listed into the distance and sank, until it collided with a mountainside. A ball of fire slowly rolled skyward, and a column of thick black smoke marked the mothership¡¯s final resting place. Flames from the wreckage reflected in Natessa¡¯s narrowed eyes. But instead of anger or a sense of loss, her lips were pulled up in a smirk. Eckard scowled at the enemy fleet. ¡°It¡¯s too much. We need to find a way to fall back.¡± Natessa nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll lose them in the mountains of the Northern Barrens. Take us down.¡± Elsewhere on the bridge of a Dark Atom ship, Wolfblade was also grinning. ¡°They¡¯re too strong. This situation has become out of control.¡± Abaddon and Autumn were standing in front of him. ¡°We¡¯ve certainly stirred up trouble.¡± Abaddon¡¯s red eyes bore a particularly dangerous glint. ¡°We¡¯ve done what we set out to do.¡± Autumn¡¯s pretty face was drawn into a scowl. She didn¡¯t understand why she¡¯d been roped into this mortal conflict. She was a god, above these petty and boring concerns. But Wolfblade had promised to rid her of that nagging voice of the girl she took and restore her divine powers. She couldn¡¯t lift her nose at that offer. Hellflower sauntered over to them. ¡°It¡¯s not good. I would propose you spread out into the mountains and disappear until the Elysians leave.¡± Whole ships were abandoned or dashed on the mountains and their crews ¨C at great risk ¨C tried to escape the Elysian fleet. Only a small remnant of the impressive force remained, and filtered into the mountains. *** ¡°Incredible.¡± Roc¡¯s face was joyful and incredulous. ¡°We¡¯ve crushed the wastelanders¡¯ main forces and our losses account for a fraction of what we dealt. It¡¯s simply¡­ but for the loss of our General, we would be returning home with a flawless victory.¡± In what had become commonplace for Cloudhawk, everyone was looking at him with new eyes. There were even traces of awe in the eyes of the Templars. He had a sixth sense for danger and an incredible grasp of leadership. Real military potential. With training and experience there was no doubt he had the talent for high command. Now Roc understood what the old man had seen in him. Skye might not have had the talent of those Master Demonhunters, but he had a gift for reading people. It was a wise choice to cultivate Cloudhawk¡¯s talents, and guide him to leadership of the family. But now, the fate of the Polaris family would be very difficult. As would Cloudhawk¡¯s, the wastelands, Skycloud and potentially the whole world... There was no sense in asking ¡®what if.¡¯ Skye Polaris was dead and not coming back. Everything moved forward as some dark destiny intended. ¡°What should be our next step?¡± ¡°Do you even need to ask?¡± ¡°You must pluck up the weeds by their roots!¡± Everyone immediately began calling to press the attack. Their enemies had lost their weapons of war, and without them it would be a long time before they were once again a threat. However, there were still many soldiers who had survived and who could tell what tragedy they would orchestrate next? For the safety of the realm, it was better to eliminate their enemies when they were weak. Elysian warships spread and out began to search. Cloudhawk led a small group to survey the ruins of the mothership. It had been a priceless link to the past. The vessel contained science and knowledge that could transform the wastelands. Know it was nothing but scrap metal. As Cloudhawk looked out over the burning ruin he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity. Once they¡¯d gotten close enough they could see survivors picking their way toward the wreckage. The Elysian ships prepared to barrage of the ground with their pylons. But something tickled at the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. He spotted one small group leap out from the ship and begin fighting another cluster. ¡°Those are¡­ Elysian soldiers!¡± Elysian soldiers? In that ancient vessel? How could that be? It clicked. Cloudhawk¡¯s brows shot up. ¡°The Talons. Drake. Those are our men!¡± His original intention was to rescue them, having received word that they¡¯d been caught in an ambush. Cloudhawk and the others got swept up in the push for Fallowmoor, but never in that time did they hear word of Drake or the Talons. It turned out they survived by being captured. Once the mothership crashed, they made to escape. However, the soldiers were in bad shape with open wounds and tattered armor. They were clearly in a dangerous situation. ¡°We can¡¯t attack.¡± Cloudhawk called for everyone to hold off. ¡°Let¡¯s send people down to get them first before we start killing indiscriminately.¡± The officers looked at once another for a moment before one spoke up. ¡°We have an opportunity to decimate the enemy without them fighting back. We should take advantage of our airships and higher vantage to clear them out. Once we¡¯re in the mountains we¡¯ll lose them.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s anger flared. ¡°So you expect us to just watch as our people are massacred?¡± ¡°We have no way of confirming their identities! Nor is that a reason for throwing away our advantage!¡± The officer applied sound reasoning. ¡°We cannot let this piece of the field draw us from the big picture. If those are Elysian soldiers then they would gladly give their lives for the peace and security of our realm. They knew it was a possibility from the beginning.¡± Everyone else was silent, but most agreed. From a logical standpoint the right decision was to scour this site, eliminate all the survivors. A blast from God¡¯s Spear would slay most, and a ground squad could clean up what was left without a problem. ¡°Fuck your sacrifice, this is a goddamn order. Now do it!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t spare an ounce of his contempt in front of the gathered officers. Although the reprimanded soldier¡¯s face darkened in anger, there was nothing more to discuss. *** Hammont Seacrest¡¯s body was a collection of injuries. He clambered through a twisted metal hatch, where a wasteland swung around with his gun raised. Hammont¡¯s eyes went wide. He was done for. But then a large tungsten steel sword swept by and cut the wastelander in two. A big man, covered in blood, trotted toward him with a grin. ¡°You have amazing luck, fat man, if you can survive flying into a mountain.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t curse me like that, Drake, sir. I can¡¯t die until I¡¯m a general.¡± Hammont rolled out of the hatch like a globe of meat. Two more figures emerged from the wreckage to join them. Rio and Brontes were also still alive. Drake took the initiative. ¡°How many live?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We¡¯ve gathered about thirty, but there may be others. The whole area is crawling with heathens though. We don¡¯t have enough to hold them off.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Kill one and it¡¯s enough. Every dead blasphemer after that is icing on the cake.¡± Drake picked his sword up from the ground. His head snapped up at the sound of shouting, as suddenly a group of a hundred or more wastelands came charging at them. Many were mutants, but one woman in particular was what caught his eye. She was also a mutant as well, which meant one did not expect good looks. Her skin was like a leathery old woman, maybe seventy years old. Short in stature, both of her eyes were covered by something. Her long wavy hair wriggled and whipped like an octopus¡¯ tentacles or a thousand angry snakes. Drake scowled when he saw her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like we¡¯re slipping away.¡± Four beings in the Northern Barrens were considered to have reached the highest level of mutant evolution in the wastelands. Because of this they were called the Four Kings, and were recognized by the color of their robes. The Green and the Black already pledged themselves to the Conclave of Justice. The remaining two had yet to reveal themselves. She was known for her purple robe, and the purple snakes that were her hair. King Cobra was what they called her, but her name was Naga. Word was Naga¡¯s skin was like that of a snake, and her mutation changed each time she shed. The first time her hair had turned to snake. The next she emerged with super regenerative powers. Most recently her gaze could not turn people to stone¡­ Her abilities were many, but what the stories always focus on was her eyes. A mere glance was enough to condemn someone to an agonizing death of petrification, comparable to the abilities of a demonhunter. Her role among the Kings was not unlike that of a Seeker. She had lived for over a hundred years, spending all that time acquiring old memories and ancient knowledge. Her scientific insights were not inferior to the likes of Roste, Three-Eyed Spider or Hellflower. The ancient vessel had been her most prized possession. Naga¡¯s roving fortress! Now it lay in ruins ¨C destroyed in pursuit of those bastard Elysians. In a fit of rage, she threw herself at the despicable outsiders. 1. OUR BOOOIIII! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 82 - Castigation Fire Dense smoke, shuddering explosions. Intense heat warped the air. It was too much chaos for Drake to get a bead on their whole situation. After capture they were brought to the mothership and locked in prison, so they had no idea what was going on in the world outside. They didn¡¯t even know what direction they were facing much less what shot this behemoth out of the sky. Drake leaned over to help a wounded soldier on his feet as the crack of gunfire sounded from nearby. Bullets started raining on them. He waved his sword to put himself between the gunfire, but the soldier he¡¯d been helping wasn¡¯t so lucky. He was peppered with half a dozen shots. His armor protected him from one, but one had caught him in the eye. It splattered his brain across the ground, killing him instantly. ¡°Motherfuckers!¡± Drake let the soldier¡¯s body drop. Wrapping both hands around his blade he roared at them. ¡°I¡¯m right here! Kill me if you think you can!¡± ¡°To the end!¡± Hammont had also fished out a weapon. ¡°Death before surrender!¡± Brontes and Roc gathered what Elysians remained and got them ready to rush the enemy. No one would suffer being captured again, they would rather die. ¡°You¡¯re certainly brave.¡± The hoarse voice of a woman called to them. Naga, with her head of whipping snakes, emerged from the thick smoke. In her wrinkled hand was a strange rod made in the ancient style. Even as she walked through walls of fire she was unscathed. When her and her entourage of gun-wielded wastelanders appeared it was clear she was their leader. Drake had learned to watch where he looked, especially when the monster had her mask off. Those pupil-less, white orbs held some sort of devilish power. It¡¯d caught them off guard before, hence their capture. There was a flash of energy from her eyes. Moments after sweeping across the charging Elysians the screams began. Soldier twisted in agony before losing consciousness, their faces contorted from some horrific psychic attack. Drake shouted over their screams. ¡°All together!¡± Naga¡¯s vision swept toward him. His body was like a machine, poised to strike when all of a sudden it felt like someone threw a wrench into the works. Every muscle froze up and clenched tight. He was frozen. ¡°Bitch!¡± Hammont tried to close the distance but stuttered to a halt after a few steps, rigid as a statue. Elysian soldiers were trained to accept death before capture, and few were ever taken alive. Naga¡¯s damnable and infernal powers robbed them of a glorious death in battle. Of the four kings, Naga was the second strongest. Her capabilities were better than Toad and Canker combined. It was said she could even challenge Blood for the height of mutant achievement with her petrifying gaze. Of course, Naga was not a demonhunter. Her eyes didn¡¯t truly turn people to stone. The tales were really just tales. What her most recent mutation had unlocked was the ability to send energy through visual contact. Energies she radiated from her eyes had an intense reaction on creatures with extensive nervous systems. Unlike an Elysian psion, who might attack the will or spirit, her energies threw one¡¯s nervous system into chaos. That was the fate that had befallen the soldiers who¡¯d rushed her. Her gaze instantly stimulated every nerve in their body, filling their minds with pain. An attack like this, from the perspective of the victim, was like experiencing the most excruciating pain one¡¯s life all at once, everywhere. Even the strongest wills would crumble before very long. If the condition persisted the prey¡¯s entire nervous system collapsed and they died from the pain. But Drake and the others were frozen, not in pain. This was also Naga¡¯s doing. Just as she could infect someone with unthinkable torment, she could cut off nerves entirely. Her victims could lose consciousness and become locked in place. At the extreme, if the petrification reaches their heart they would die within a minute. This was the origin of the tales about her petrifying gaze. Potent though her natural mutations were, they reached incredible levels through Naga¡¯s own efforts. She was a gifted scientist and used her intelligence to understand her powers. Her name resounded through the Northern Barrens for a reason. She¡¯d killed two of them already with a glance. Even Drake hardly lasted an instant before his muscles betrayed him. Her expression sour, Naga walked closer to the hapless Elysians with the help of her walking stick. Light continued to pour from her eyes, and when she spoke a black snake writhed out of her mouth like a tongue. ¡°You sshould never have come here, Elyssianss. You¡¯ve desstroyed my fortress ¨C a quick death is not your fate. I will make you pay for your sstupidity.¡± Drake, Brontes, Rio and Hammont. These men were not weaklings, but before Naga they were like dolls. It was a bitter realization that they were so powerless against her. The mutant was certainly no demonhunter, but the power at her command was just as deadly. Her hair began to writhe. Every strand of it was a purple snake that eagerly curled on her head as she approached them. While none of the Elysians knew what her motives could be, the sinking feeling in their gut was telling enough. Shadows flit by from overhead and eyes darted skyward. Cloudhawk was falling toward them with a group of soldiers, Basilisk drawn. Before Naga realized, a bolt of energy pierced her leathery flesh. She reeled back with a shrill howl and backed away. She wasn¡¯t the only one with the power to turn people to stone. Cloudhawk¡¯s bow gave her a taste of what the stories said about her. Drake and the others regained movement and gaped in utter shock. Hammont was practically shedding tears. Somehow, Cloudhawk just knew when they were in mortal danger and showed up in the nick of time. Elysian soldiers appeared all around the ruins. Many of them were among the expeditionary force¡¯s best. Wasteland forces were cut off from fleeing. After landing a shot, Cloudhawk put Basilisk away. ¡°This place will be crawling with wasteland soldiers and mutants. Our ship is just above, let¡¯s find an open area to board and get out of here.¡± Everyone began to fall back without question. It¡¯d only been a day since the fight on Fallowmoor. Cloudhawk¡¯s wounds were not yet fully healed so he wasn¡¯t keen on the idea of another nasty fight. However, as he helped get everyone back he caught a flash of movement. Naga was there, unscathed. Strange. Basilisk didn¡¯t work? When he looked closer he saw a hole in her chest, through and through. He had struck her, but one of Naga¡¯s mutations allowed her to shed parts of herself. She must have discarded the affected skin before it could spread. Every bit a high-grade mutant! Her milky eyes sparked with power! Cloudhawk was reaching back for his bow when suddenly he lost control of his muscles. Maddening, indescribable pain exploded through every inch of him. Possibly more agonizing than Castigation Fire. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± Drake skid to a halt, turning to come to his aid. ¡°Don¡¯t stop!¡± He managed to croak. ¡°Keep going!¡± He then reached out to his stone and phased. Immediately the pain vanished. Naga¡¯s powers were derived by throwing energy. While it was an incredible feat, once one knew the origins it was easier to defend against. For instance, any shield that blocked energy would negate her power. Cloudhawk¡¯s phase power had a similar effect. Drake saw that Cloudhawk seemed to have things in hand and followed after the others. Naga glared at the agitator who had somehow thrown off her power. Her eyes were cold, angry depths. ¡°An Elyssian demonhunter. You have ssome sskill.¡± Cloudhawk grinned at her. ¡°One or two tricks, you know. Want to see a few more?¡± Her wrinkled frame suddenly shot forward with incredible agility. Quick and erratic, she was in front of Cloudhawk before he realized. Her body stretched like there was a serpent living inside that humanoid body. How many nightmare abilities did this bitch have?! Cloudhawk already saw that she had impressive regeneration, freaky eyes and the ability to change her shape. She was a real example of what the wasteland could produce when dialed up to the extreme. She was unique, but if forced to compare her to demonhunters she would be on par with the likes Clay or Wyrmsole. Cloudhawk was wounded. A reckless fight wasn¡¯t going to go his way. Then he thought of something. Naga closed in on him with an open maw. Black, toxic fire smoldered in her mouth, but as she prepared to breathe it over this human she discovered he was already aflame. A sickly green flame. Curious. Strange. Naga felt no heat, but the danger that poured off of it felt scalding. It was too late to get out of the way. Cloudhawk forced the flames into an orb and thrust it into Naga¡¯s twisted, ugly body. Her screech was like a call from the grave. Such a small ball of fire should be nothing to Naga, but this cursed flame spread quickly. Her wretched body was consumed by fire like she¡¯d been coated in oil. Naga had never experienced something this frightening and screamed for her life. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 83 - Hemmed In ¡°Boss!¡± Several wastelanders reached for her in a panic, to try and douse the flames. Instead the flame spread to them like some kind of evil curse. At the fainted touch they were consumed, and threw themselves upon the ground in desperation. Nothing seemed able to stop the green fires. Everything it touched ¨C flesh, clothing ¨C became infected. Thrashing around on the ground or pouring out their canteens, the result was the same. All to no avail. This foul power only looked like fire, it was nothing else like it. Fire was a natural reaction, the release of energy in the form of heat. These green tongues of flame didn¡¯t release energy at all. In the contrary it was more like a bacteria that devoured everything it touched. It gobbled up energy and split, constantly spreading in the mindless need to consume. Until the will that commanded it ceased, the fires would never dampen. Indeed, this was an artifact whose power was almost all-conquering. The effusion of fire was a shock to everyone, even Cloudhawk. The Crimson One had given him the source flame before his death, and it was that Cloudhawk had reached for. When his will joined with the flame, it poured forth a steady stream of Castigation Fire. An attack like this was a death sentence for nearly any living thing. Even a mutant as highly developed as Naga couldn¡¯t escape it¡¯s hunger. The Crimson One had been a major threat largely because of the legendary power of Castigation Fire. If it¡¯d been Cloudhawk wielding the fire in their earlier fights, even a Master Demonhunter like the Crimson One would have feared him. Yet its destructive capabilities weren¡¯t its best part. Aside from his phase stone, it was the greatest relic Cloudhawk owned. In his first encounter with the green fires in Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, he had nearly died. It¡¯d destroyed his Quiet Carnage, but in the process spread its power throughout his body. That meant Castigation fire could smelt relics! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand how it worked, but imagine what he could do if he condensed his weapons into power and absorbed them all. He wouldn¡¯t need relics at all. He¡¯d be an unstoppable force. Like a god! The Demon King had once told Cloudhawk that the truly powerful cast off the yolk of relics. Either rise above the need for them, or absorb them into one¡¯s self and consume their energies. In that way, you could make yourself into the greatest relic of all. Cloudhawk resisted the Demon King¡¯s wishes for him, but he had to acknowledge one fact. The creature was once the single mightiest living thing on this earth. During the wars he waged battle against countless gods, the Shepherd Goddess among them. He had the power to contend with the King of Gods himself. Though he ultimately lost, that defeat did not detract from how overwhelming powerful the Demon King had been ¨C far greater than any human. There was no question he understood the nature of strength. Besides, he was already dead. He had nothing to lose in speaking truth. A creature dead one thousand years would not have a reason to lie to his inheritor. Cloudhawk had no interest in taking up the mantle of Demon King, but why not learn what he could? Make himself stronger. Naga was still aflame. Her doom was all but assured. Cloudhawk gently snapped his finger and summon another ball of fire. He threw it toward another group of wastelands where it detonated, spewing motes of green fire in all directions. They infected all the nearby soldiers. Moments later the howls increased. Cloudhawk walked among them as they turned to pillars of ash. Not even a stitch of clothing was left unburnt. Wasteland mutants? Beneath his concern! It didn¡¯t feel like very long ago that Cloudhawk would have been killed ten times over by one of these soldiers. Today they were an annoyance he could resolve with a flick of a finger. He didn¡¯t let the realization stoke his ego. There were potentially hundreds of enemies nearby. Some of them carried high-tech gear, and others had strange mutant powers. Since he didn¡¯t yet have the mental power of the Crimson One, he wasn¡¯t about to take on an army by himself. He quickly rendezvoused with Drake and the others. They¡¯d climbed onto a mountain ledge and were waiting for an Elysian warship to descend. Soldiers began to board as Cloudhawk trotted their way. Roc called out to him. ¡°Warden, time to retreat!¡± Cloudhawk stopped when suddenly that familiar ache struck him. Danger. ¡°Careful!¡± A streak of electric blue light streaked passed form some unseen angle. It tore right through the warship¡¯s shields and carved a tear in its hull. Son of a bitch! Wolfblade! Cloudhawk recognized the weapon. This was Wolfblade¡¯s relic. It meant Dark Atom agents had to be nearby. As if to prove his fears, particles of golden sand gathered in midair into the form of a spear several dozen meters long. Its rough surface sparkled with power. A burst of energy flung it forward. It slipped through the tear in the shield, punched right through its armor and impaled the ship from end to end. Seconds later the mountain rang with the sound of angry screeches. Hundreds of mutant birds swooped in from all directions. All three of Dark Atom¡¯s leaders were here. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t foreseen it, but they seemed to know exactly where he¡¯d go. There was no time to escape. Before Cloudhawk could react a figure wrapped in sand descended his way. Abaddon hung in the air wreathed in sandy tentacles. His ferocious, hulking figure occasionally peaked through. Another figure joined him, very different from the demon. She was draped in green silk instead of sand, noble instead of vicious. Autumn soared through the air on the back on her crystal dragon. Lither fingers held a flute to her lips, the song commanding the Dryad that joined her. It was easy to be fooled by her sweet exterior, but the danger that exuded from Autumn was palpable. Wolfblade made his approach with a group of his own men. He walked with slow, purposeful strides while the blue sword danced above him. The Dark Atom leader was the picture of calm, and with him were many of his lieutenants. Among them were the likes of Buzzard, as well as their latest member Coal. Clouhdawk glared at Wolfblade with a face full of fury. Eventually he managed a sentence. ¡°What is the Dark Atom doing with Woodland Vale?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s humble, warm appearance never skipped a beat. He smiled softly. ¡°The dignified and powerful mistress of the Vale is an old friend of mine. She agreed to help us eradicate a shared threat, an alliance I¡¯m sure you can see makes sense.¡± Autumn¡¯s face was unreadable. Wolfblade went on to say, ¡°As a matter of fact, we all have a rather storied history together, don¡¯t we? You and I first met a long time ago, which is why I know you better than anyone. Skycloud won¡¯t tolerate you. If keeping your friends safe is a priority, then take this opportunity and join our side. The consequences if you do not are more terrible than you can imagine.¡± His soft words hung in the air. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Cloudhawk. The Warden spat out each word through gritted teeth. ¡°Fuck. You.¡± Woldblade shook his head. He made a show of looking around. ¡°How do you intend to get out of this predicament? Formidable though your powers are, you know they aren¡¯t enough.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t know ¡®till I try!¡± Cloudhawk lifts his hands and a spark of green flame appeared in each palm. They joined to create an arrow of fire, which shot directly toward the Dark Atom leader. Wolfblade shook his head in disappointment. He extended his hand, and with that motion his shimmering weapon struck. It pierced the arrow of Castigation ¨C entirely unscathed. Not a spark of the deadly flames scarred its surface. It continued toward Cloudhawk without slowing down. His eyes went wide. Was this some sort of joke? Wasn¡¯t Castigation Fire supposed to break any relics it touched? How could Wolfblade¡¯s relic cut the fires apart like they were nothing? Wolfblade was kind enough to explain. ¡°Once, this sword of mine was at a level of power which was superior to that of Castigation. Such a shame it broke ¨C but it is still far beyond your attempts to destroy it.¡± Cloudhawk simultaneously darted backward while drawing Ardent Wrath. He hacked the deadly blade away from him. The impact hit him like a battering ram. Blood spewed from his mouth and he was smashed to the ground. A wave of exhaustion washed over him and loudhawk was again reminded that he hadn¡¯t had time to rest since Fallowmoor. It¡¯d been only a day or since he¡¯d almost died, and even Cloudhawk¡¯s superhuman regeneration could only do so much. If he lived, he would need half a month in a hospital to fully recover. It was no question that the only strategy was to try and escape. ¡°You are certainly a man of real potential. I see your strength and cunning. I also see your biggest weakness. Emotion rules you. It was foolish to come down to the field yourself when you could have wiped out all of the wastelanders here from your ships. Only, that would have required sacrifice. You chose precisely the move that could turn the battle against you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still too young. Too soft.¡± Wolfblade lifted his finger and pointed it at Cloudhawk. ¡°In trying to save everyone, you ended up sacrificing even more. I¡¯ll teach you that bitter lesson today.¡± His indigo sword darted toward Cloudhawk again. As the lethal danger reached out towards him, a figure descended from overhead and hacked at Wolfblade¡¯s relic with a large sword of her own. The impact caused the blue blade to spin off target. His savior ¨C a golden haired warrior woman with a sword held tight in one hand ¨C stood between Cloudhawk and his attacker. Dawn had come. Of Cloudhawk¡¯s trusted compatriots, Selene and the old drunk didn¡¯t have his kind of regenerative capabilities. The only one who still had the strength to fight was Dawn. But the former Templar¡¯s defiance was negligible in the face of the powers that had come for them. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 84 - Coal's Revenge Dawn had just experienced the greatest pain of her life. But it was transformative. She promised herself that no pain or failure would be a reason for her to abandon herself, or her mission. Dawn had lost the most important part of her family. She would not lose her closest friend in the same day. Cloudhawk, clutching his chest, looked up at Dawn and was overjoyed by what he saw. Escaping the pit of despair she¡¯d fallen into was no easy task, but she¡¯d succeeded. Only those who had suffered true loss ever matured. Seeing Dawn stand between their enemies and the fleet¡¯s commander, the rest of the officers were inspired to fight back. Their numbers were many, yet none of them were worth Abaddon or Autumn¡¯s attention. Dawn was too weak to change their dire fate. The likes of the crystal dragon, the Dryad or Wolfblade were already too much for her. They were determined to slaughter every Elysian in their path, and Dawn couldn¡¯t stop them. ¡°You all misunderstand.¡± Wolfblade had his arms folded in front of him. He was calm and relaxed. It was hardly the stance of a man ready to kill. ¡°I wanted to teach you a lesson ¨C not kill you. Now, I am a gentleman and as such am loathe to raise my hand against such a lovely young woman.¡± Was that so? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he trusted anything this man said. The one-eyed rogue didn¡¯t look like a gentleman at all. His tone shifted as Wolfblade went on. ¡°However, there is one among my people who has taken issue with one of yours. Seeing as the situation has¡­ changed¡­ now is a fine time to address these grievances. I assume you won¡¯t mind.¡± Before Cloudhawk could respond, a lumbering figure stepped into his field of view. Coal! The mutant didn¡¯t look any different, but his presence was completely different from the kindhearted soul Cloudhawk had met in the Blisterpeaks. It was clear Coal had experienced many things during his months with these terrorists. Drake recognized the giant mutant right away. Was it really that same mutant from before? It was General Aegir himself who cut this beast down with a dozen sword blows ¨C but he still somehow lived. ¡°Cloudhawk. You saved Coal¡¯s life, but cannot give him the vengeance he seeks.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s one good eye flicked toward Drake and Brontes. ¡°These men gave the order that slaughtered an entire tribe of innocent mutants in the Blisterpeak Mountains. Good and evil, as they say, each have their consequences. Our encounter here is an opportunity to judgment. Curious looks turned to Cloudhawk. He had saved Coal? Cloudhawk also scowled, for Wolfblade was stoking Coal¡¯s lust for vengeance. It put the fleet commander in a difficult position. The hatred that burned behind Coal¡¯s eyes smoldered from the depths of his soul. His fists clenched, knuckles cracked. A palpable desire for blood hung around him like a stench. Meanwhile, Abaddon and Autumn looked on wordlessly, as casual as though they were watching a play. Wolfblade¡¯s face bore a small smile. ¡°Go, child. Do what you were meant to do.¡± Coal paused before eventually speaking. ¡°Not here.¡± A note of surprise crept into Wolfblade¡¯s face. ¡°Child, have you forgotten how these men brutally slaughtered your people? Have you forgotten their pained cries, cut short as they drowned in their own blood? Have you forgotten the responsibility that rests on your shoulders?¡± ¡°Never.¡± Coal looked down at his trembling fists. ¡°I promised myself. Kill them with my own hands. I also promised a friend. No vengeance with him here. Makes it hard for my friend. I can¡¯t.¡± Coal was a simple, honest creature. For many, if they came face to face with the monsters that killed their family there would be no hesitation. A lesser man would throw himself at his enemies without a second thought. But Coal had made a promise that he would not fight Cloudhawk¡¯s friends while Cloudhawk was there. He was willing to give up that chance for vengeance to keep his oath. ¡°While you might imagine these thoughts are noble, you are wrong. If Cloudhawk was a true friend, he would not stand between you and justice for your family.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s poison words urged Coal¡¯s hatred. ¡°You should do what you want to do ¨C what you know to be right. If your acts are righteous, why should you care what someone else thinks? We humans must learn to be volatile in our volatile world. There are many times in life when you will not be able to have everything you want. You must chose. To have one you must give up the other, or risk losing them both. ¡°I -¡± ¡°You want to be powerful. This is a lesson you must learn and experience. It is your one chance ¨C either you kill them or I shall. Choose between your promise to a friend or vengeance for a slaughtered family. Think carefully. Listen to your heart.¡± ¡°Coal, don¡¯t listen to that snake-fuck!¡± Cloudhawk shouted over Wolfblade¡¯s sinister words. ¡°He¡¯s trying to turn you into something you¡¯re not!¡± Drake scowled in anger and confusion. ¡°What are you saying? If this freak wants to try and kill me, let him. Do you think an Elysian officer is scared of a mere mutant?¡± ¡°Do you see? Even to this day, the fiend had no regret for his crimes. To his eyes, your people were were like animals, to be slaughtered as he pleased. What lies beneath that pretty Elysian exterior are sick guts poisoned with narrow-minded hatred.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s eye never left Coal. ¡°Are you really willing to let this unthinkable crime against your people go unpunished? For friendship?¡± A change came over Coal¡¯s stiff expression. Cloudhawk saw pain, hesitation, struggle and then¡­ resolve. Coal turned away from Cloudhawk, leveling his attention unto Drake and Brontes. ¡°I choose justice, for the chief.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s expression fell. He tightened his fists. Dawn stopped him, hissing ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty!¡± ¡°Heh, foul mutant. What makes you think you stand a chance?¡± Drake knew getting out of this predicament was not going to be easy. Better to face it. So he braced his broadsword on his shoulder and growled defiantly. ¡°Show me what you¡¯re made of.¡± Brontes strode up to his compatriot¡¯s side without a word. For a few moments the two youths just stared at the freak before them. The unblinking eyes of Abaddon and Autumn watched with interest. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know why those two ¨C strong as Master Demonhunters ¨C were listening to an asshole like Wolfblade. But they were here. This was happening. He couldn¡¯t do anything to stop it. Regret wormed its way through him. If he¡¯d known this day would come, Cloudhawk would have made Coal come with him from the Blisterpeaks. Joining the Dark Atom was Coal¡¯s greatest mistake. He had so much potential, at least enough to challenge the wasteland kings for their titles. But once he met Wolfblade and Hellflower, all he became was a pawn in their dark game. All of a sudden, the simple and honest mutant was gone. In his stead was a creature of intense violence, the harvest of Wolfblade¡¯s poison seeds. Drake just sneered. He thought nothing of this twisted heathen. He was under no illusions that he might be able to beat these opponent. Delaying was to their advantage, for the longer they dragged this out the sooner reinforcements would arrive. It might buy Cloudhawk and the others a chance to escape. Besides that, his capture at the hands of these barbarians was a great source of shame. Dying on the field was nothing to fear, but dragging down one¡¯s fellows was. Those were the thoughts running through his mind as he glared at Coal. He just found it ridiculous that there would been a mutant out there hating him so deeply. This malformed, pathetic beast actually thought he was a challenge to an Elysian officer? Hammont watched from the periphery, his expression tense. He knew what kind of power Coal had in his punch. Fighting him back on the mountain hadn¡¯t been easy! He wasn¡¯t sure even the two officers were enough for a clear victory. ¡°Come!¡± Drake taunted. ¡°You ugly freak. Show me and Brontes what your clan shat out as their champion. Monsters like you shouldn¡¯t even exist!¡± Brontes hunched in a combative posture. His frigid calm never shook. What the others didn¡¯t see, however, were the engorged veins creeping into his eyes. ¡°Go!¡± Drake and Brontes rushed forward in unison. After a few steps, both charge at Coal with that staple of Elysian military, the Spearhead manuever. Coal had been trying to contain his anger, but when he heard Drake¡¯s foul words he could no longer. The vision of his chief¡¯s head rolling along the ground played in his mind over and over again. He remembered those uncaring faces as the Elysians killed everyone he loved. When he remembered everything, an anger that had been brewing within him like a volcano broke free. His people spent their lives on volcanic mountainsides, far away from Skycloud. They¡¯d done nothing to the outsiders, caused them no harm. They welcomed them into their village. Why did those honest, humble people have to die? Why did these Elysians have to massacre people they¡¯d never met? How could these murderers have been allowed to go on with their lives!? Coal felt it rising up from within him. Rage, like an inferno, burned away everything but itself. It was released in an earth-trembling roar, and Coal¡¯s ruddy terracotta flesh began to glow. He radiated like a lightbulb, like a lit coal! The light came from within him, pressing out to the surface where it enveloped Coal entirely. Even from several meters away people could feel the heat billowing off of him. Coal had turned himself into an avatar of fire. Drake and Brontes hacked their weapons across Coal¡¯s flesh. Clang! What little scarring they did to his skin healed in an instant. ¡°How?¡± Drake was shocked. He knew the mutant wasn¡¯t a pushover, but he was expected slightly more defenses and power than typical. This freak was more like Naga. Had he also cultivated his mutation to extreme levels? Coal let his power free. Two fists crashed into the Elysians faster than lightning, faster even than Cloudhawk could follow. Both Drake and Brontes felt their chests collapse as they were fired backward like missiles. Luckily they had hardy constitutions, because the blow felt like a dozen tons of freight slamming right into them. Normal folk would have been blown to paste. The two men were caught after being flung back only a few meters. Coal had plucked them right out of the air, then smashed them into the ground with a feral roar. He then wrenched them out of the craters and threw them both against the dense of the mountain sides. The sheer rock face cracked nearly to its apex. Cloudhawk howled, ¡°Stop!¡± Dawn prepared herself to attack. Wolfblade snapped his fingers and his sword sprang to action. Guided by its master¡¯s will, the sword rammed into Terrangelica. Incredible force blasted through Dawn¡¯s body and knocked her backward. Coal paid her no mind and jumped at the holes were his targets lay. Like a wild animal he crashed into the rock and pummeled it over and over with his fists. Shards were flung in all directions. Wolfblade¡¯s strength was more than Dawn had assumed. She couldn¡¯t get passed his relic sword, only manage to keep it from harming her. If this kept up, the two Elysian officers were destined to die. After that, Cloudhawk and the others faced a similar fate. The shimmering relic hummed with power. Dawn had never seen nor heard of anything like it. It was incredible to her that wastelands could even use relics. However it wasn¡¯t unprecedented. After all, Cloudhawk was a wastelander. So was that snake Inkshade, who¡¯d hidden in plain sight for twenty years. Not only were they able to use relics, they were also strong. She wasn¡¯t too taken aback by his powers. But his strength was another matter. The blue blade was starting to overpower her. The cold, icy-blue metal flashed inches from her face. All of a sudden it burst with energy and spun forward in a deadly thrust! Dawn felt an intense burst of energy drill through her. She¡¯d deflected again with Terrangelica, but her weapon¡¯s mirror surface had begun to crack. She didn¡¯t know how much more she could take. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 85 - Reinforcements Wolfblade¡¯s sword gouged a path through the air, leaving a wake of energy and a loud blast behind. The energy rippled through Terrangelica, into the woman who held it. Luckily Dawn was still protected by her Aegis mirror, which shuddered but protected her from the impact. Cracks appeared on an intangible surface which sounded like breaking glass. What was before an invisible shell of protection was now clearly visible from the spider web of cracks. Dawn wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight off Wolfblade. Her treasured sword would soon break, and her life would be in danger. His actions were a mystery. If he wanted Cloudhawk dead he had the power to, it would be a simple act. Why was he wasting time? Wolfblade also seemed to have a strange familiarity with Cloudhawk, and a relationship like that didn¡¯t grow out of thin air. He just couldn¡¯t read this strange man. Despite his injuries, Cloudhawk managed to find his feet. Then, all at once, he disappeared. He blinked back into reality between Coal and his victims. Silver light extended from his sleeves and the Silver Serpents, like some ethereal rope, entangled Brontes and Drake. The two Elysians hardly looked human anymore. Brontes looked like he¡¯d been pummeled to death. Drake miraculously was still conscious, but his wounds were bad. All of a sudden Coal became enraged, like a child whose favorite toy was taken away. He roared in frustration. ¡°Mine!¡± ¡°Coal, that¡¯s enough. I can¡¯t watch you do this!¡± ¡°You do help them. Why stand in my way?!¡± Coal¡¯s eyes burned with fury. ¡°Your friends lives are important. The chief¡¯s life was important. My people¡¯s lives ¨C the children!¡± Who was right and who was wrong? Cloudhawk knew that if he was in Coal¡¯s position, he would never forgive Drake or the others. He was a wastelander, or at least used to be, so he understood Coal¡¯s heart. A million excuses ran through his head but they didn¡¯t even sway Cloudhawk, so how could he choose any to try and dissuade Coal? He had no right to stand between Coal and his vengeance. But he also couldn¡¯t watch Drake be killed. Coal had so much potential, then the Dark Atom sunk its claws into him. Cloudhawk knew what this meant ¨C that if Coal got the vengeance he wanted here, he would forever lose a piece of himself. Was it the right decision? In the eyes of the Dark Atom, Coal was the perfect warrior. Without a doubt they would use him as a tool in their dark schemes. Coal rushed at them like a hurricane, his flaming fists clenched and raised. He¡¯d been empowered by the mysterious methods of the Dark Atom, and anger had him drawing on the limits of his potential. With the force he put behind those punches, even at peak condition Cloudhawk would be hard pressed to protect himself. Weak as he was, this made the mutant even more dangerous. Suddenly Cloudhawk¡¯s legs were caught by grasping vines. He was prevented from grabbing his compatriots and fleeing. Instead, he heaved his arms and threw the two men over toward Hammont and the others. ¡°Aaahhh!¡± Coal was incensed, hardly able to speak. ¡°You are not my friend! You are not my friend!¡± Cloudhawk stood with his back tall, watching the mutant¡¯s flaming fist come. ¡°But I saved your life!¡± A shudder ran through Coal. His fist stopped an inch in front of the Warden¡¯s nose. Cloudhawk¡¯s dark eyes never blinked. Anger had consumed the mutant, but he knew that beneath the pain and fury Coal was still in there. He was trying to think of something to say, anything to help him snap out of it. But vines continued to slither up his body like vipers. He was violently wrenched to one side. Coal¡¯s eyes were dragged back toward the Elysians, where the source of his pain still lay. Instigating words hissed from Wolfblade. ¡°Will you leave your responsibility half finished? Go! Take the vengeance you deserve.¡± Hammont looked between this enemies and his battered allies. ¡°Fuck,¡± he said, unable to keep from getting involved. ¡°They insult and attack our Elysian people! Everyone, fight with me and let¡¯s kill this freak! At worst we all die together!¡± The other Skycloud soldiers were also eager to join the fight. Hundreds of angry faces turned on the Dark Atom murderers, prepared to fight. Most of the attention fell on Coal, and without a second thought they let loose a storm of crossbow fire. Elysian solders were the warriors of god, zealous and unflinching! Anger relinquished its hold on Coal¡¯s mind ¨C just for an instant ¨C before another bitter memory rushed forth. He remembered being surrounded by soldiers much like these. They forced him down as they killed his people. Never again¡­ never again would he allow them to humiliate him like that. As his mind descended once again into rage, the crossbow bolts broke against his skin like twigs. Coal jumped into the air, over the bulk of the arrows. He came crashing down onto one of the soldiers with his palm on the unfortunate man¡¯s head. The soldier in his beautiful armor was crushed like an empty can. Blood and flesh burst from cracks in the armor and caught fire from Coal¡¯s flaming proximity. A sickening stench filled the valley. ¡°Mine!¡± Coal roared at Drake, and the fat man protecting him. Cloudhawk was wrapped so tight in vines that they were like a cocoon. They dragged him roughly across the ground and up onto the back of the crystal dragon. He was kept there by vines extending from the right hand of Autumn¡¯s Dryad. Strangely, the monster¡¯s grip not only kept him from moving but also greatly affected his mental powers. He couldn¡¯t reach out to the phase stone to blink away. Autumn looked at the insignificant human with cold, dispassionate eyes. ¡°It would be in your best interest to remain still. Wolfblade is unwilling to kill you, but I have no such qualms.¡± Coal continued his rampage, punching through the crowd of Elysian soldiers. They were defenseless before the mutant¡¯s unhinged assault. ¡°Autumn ¨C no, you aren¡¯t Autumn. You¡¯re Silvana, right?¡± Cloudhawk stared at the figure, both familiar and completely foreign. ¡°You call yourself a god? You associate with demons and provide for wastelanders. Do all the noble gods act like you?¡± Anger flared within Autumn. Even if this whelp was the successor to the Demon King, he was merely an arrogant human! What right did he think he had to speak to a god in such a manner? She stabbed her flute at Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead like it was a blade. But in the last instant she felt her hand jerk as another consciousness within her stirred. Her muscles seized. Cloudhawk caught the sudden change. Was that Autumn, still locked somewhere in there? She knew what was happening in the outside world. She hadn¡¯t been completely destroyed! Dawn was locked in place, and each moment she couldn¡¯t get the upper hand filled her with indignation. She always thought she was so strong. There was hardly anyone in Skycloud that could compete with her! She was forced to come face to face with the depths of her conceit and complacency. It was becoming clearer that Selene had far surpassed her. Frost as well. Even Cloudhawk was at least as strong as she was. In believing she was beyond compare, Dawn allowed herself to fall far behind! The calamity that fell upon her grandfather could not be undone. Those responsible smiled to her face and acted like friends while she was powerless to do anything about it. Now Cloudhawk needed her and she couldn¡¯t even handle one of their enemies. Meanwhile Elysian soldiers were behind slaughtered by that mutant. She was the greatest representative of her family, and a protector of Skycloud ¨C and she couldn¡¯t do anything! Damnit, damnit, DAMNIT! I can¡¯t let this happen. I can¡¯t live like this! Dawn had always turned her nose up at the weak. Never had she suspected one day the weakest person she knew would turn out to be herself. A fire of anger and frustration with nowhere to vent grew in her heart. All the while Abaddon hovered among them, unmoving. One of the Elysian generals tried to sneak up on him. In response, the demon lazily lifted a hand and the officer was jerked off his feet. The doomed soul was dragged into Abaddon¡¯s grip. With dagger-like talons for fingers, the demon thrust them through the Elysian¡¯s armor and into his body. The officer opened his mouth to scream, but the only sound that came out was an unsettling rasp. In an instant, all the moisture in his body vanished and he became a statue of loosely packed sand. Abaddon flung the corpse aside without a second thought. When the officer¡¯s body hit the ground it exploded into dust. Never once did the demon¡¯s unemotional facade change, and his eyes remained locked on the scene. Wolfblade, meanwhile, was smirking at what he saw. He sensed Dawn¡¯s resolve rise sharply. She was a fine young talent, he thought to himself. Her potential should have been unlocked long ago ¨C he was determined to help her find it. He thrust his hand forward once again. His relic dashed into another bone-crunching attack. Dawn was knocked backward. Blood sprayed from skin split by the bursts of lethal energy that ran through her. She was pushed back another ten meters. The cracks on Terrangelica became deeper and more numerous. Just as it seemed she could handle no more, everything that had been brewing inside of her was released in a torrent. Terrangelica flashed with power. Wolfblade¡¯s attack was knocked away. ¡°DIE!¡± Dawn followed up by shoving Terrangelica¡¯s fractured blade into the earth. The light from inside it poured forth and rapidly spread out. Stone split as a thunderwave of yellow energy traveled through the ground toward Wolfblade. A fissure one hundred meters long opened up between them. It slithered forward like it had a life of its own, even avoiding obstacles. Despite the distance traveled it lost none of its power as the wave reached its intended target. Wolfblade was ready to evade. The fissure snaked passed him and struck the wall of the mountain where it climbed upward at a ninety-degree angle. It continued along the wall for another hundred meters leaving a crack like it¡¯d been cleaved with a sword. Wolfblade was genuinely impressed. ¡°Not bad.¡± His praise was hardly past his lips before another sword came at him from above. This strike wasn¡¯t from Dawn, and was even more powerful. It came crashing down on the terrorist leader like a lethal waterfall. Phain had just finished dealing with one of the mutants. He pulled his sword from its skull before launching himself toward Abaddon. The streak of his sword was nearly too fast to follow. The demon chose to react at last. A sword of tightly packed sand in his hand rose to meet Phain¡¯s, and the two weapons met with shuddering impact. The Grand Prior was flung away like a bullet into his Templar compatriots. He recovered and surrounded both Wolfblade and Abaddon with his contingent of warriors. Templars! The greatest warriors Skycloud had to offer! Each one of them possessed formidable demonhunter powers. With Phain¡¯s leadership, they were a force to be reckoned with. In the same moment a contingent of soldiers dressed in demonhunter equipment appeared among the valleys. There weren¡¯t many demonhunters among General Skye¡¯s expeditionary force, but they still numbered in the hundreds. Two hundred relic-wielding warriors of the gods were nothing to sniff at. Only the best of the best joined their ranks, especially those who joined the army. Not just any green horn earned the position they had. All at once, as the Elysian reinforcements arrived, the situation took a radical turn. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again. Behave yourselves.¡± Wolfblade had no desire to fight to the death today. He shot a final enigmatic smirk toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Fall back!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 86 - King of the Wasteland They wanted to flee? Phain answered with by throwing his sword, becoming a spear of light that ripped through everything it touched. It did not have an exaggerated blast or a magnificent showing, but all defenses were useless in the face of this strike. The Templars were the most elite warriors in the realm. Any one of them could hold their own against grim odds. Their leader was certainly not a man who could be easily dealt with. Phain was an outstanding member of the order. In addition to his mastery of Templar abilities, he was also adept at his own set of skills. Most of those involved swordsmanship. He was not known as the fastest sword in Skycloud for no reason. He was very unlike his predecessor. The War Saint had created over a hundred martial styles. It was his attempt to find every tool possible to release human latent potential. Thanks to his efforts, even a common man with no demonhunter talents could contribute with great effect to the battlefield. Phain Mist chose to abstain from the complex and focus on the simple. His sword style wasn¡¯t overly showy, and focused on three core moves; draw, swing, and throw. He¡¯d spent his life perfecting these simple fundamentals, so that although his swordsmanship looked simple there were few who could compete. Dawn, when she was still a Templar, was a sort of quasi-disciple of the new Grand Prior. However, she hadn¡¯t learned all he had to offer. True to her former nature, Dawn had learned only the fundamentals. It was in part for this reason that the old drunk had put his nose up at her. If instead had been Phain displaying his skill, it was unlikely the old drunk would have been so dismissive. Throw-fencing was the quintessence of Phain¡¯s ability. It was a gamble, meant to be used only in life or death situations, or to turn the tide of battle. Half of his strength was promised to the strike, in the hopes it would route their enemies. Wolfblade wasn¡¯t considered an overwhelmingly powerful figure. His strength was supposedly comparable to that of the late Aegir Polaris. By contrast, Phain was considered several times more capable than the late general. If Aegir¡¯s full strength had forced Wolfblade into a disadvantageous position, then Phain¡¯s should outright slaughter him. That was exactly the Grand Prior¡¯s intent. He would cut the terrorist leader to pieces! And were it not for Wolfblade¡¯s allies, he would have succeeded. Abaddon would not stand idly by and watch his compatriot be slain. He threw a tome bound in gold, right into the path of Phain¡¯s sword. The blade was obliterated into a fine cloud of steel particles upon impact, and the Grand Prior staggered backward several steps from the rebound energy. In his exchange with Wolfblade, their weapons had clashed dozens of times. Even Dawn¡¯s mighty Terrangelica was damaged after conflict with the flying blade, so it was no surprise that it would weaken Phain¡¯s inferior equipment. Outwardly, there were few signs that his sword was weakening. However, its integrity had long ago been compromised from the inside. Colliding with the Gospel of Sands was enough to destroy it entirely. ¡°Everyone, attack!¡± Phain ordered. ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape!¡± The gathered Templars and demonhunters rushed to comply. It was an imposing array of Skycloud might. Autumn, however, was still committed to punishing these pretentious humans. Cloudhawk knew the real Autumn was still locked in there, somewhere. Her powerful will remained, strong enough to rebel against a god. He only had a second, so he took the chance. ¡°Autumn. Don¡¯t give in, you need to wake up!¡± The pretty young woman¡¯s face twisted. Her eyes alternated between dull and piercing as within her two wills battle for supremacy. While the battle raged, palpable shifts were obvious until at last a light of clarity bloomed in Autumn¡¯s eyes. For just a moment, Cloudhawk recognized the girl he¡¯d met back in Sandbar Station. ¡°Cloudhawk.¡± She waved her hand, and the vines holding him fast parted. ¡°Run!¡± He reached for her as excitement surged within him. She was still there. The girl in the green dress had not been defeated. When she saw the fervent light in his eyes, Autumn was satisfied. But she could feel Silvanas¡¯s will rising. Her domination was imminent. The young girl didn¡¯t know if she would ever have the strength to do this again, but at least she saw that look in his eyes. That was enough. Cloudhawk hesitated, holding out his hand to grab her. ¡°Come with me!¡± But even as he said it, he could see her sweet expression devolve into fury. Tremendous and frightening power poured out of her, reaching for the mutant creatures that hovered all around. They were infected with the god¡¯s rage, flinging them into a bloodthirsty frenzy. Beaks and talons ripped at anything that moved as they went absolutely berserk. The expeditionary forces weren¡¯t prepared for such intensity, and for the moment were thrown into chaos. ¡°Die!¡± Autumn thrust at him again with her flute. Cloudhawk saw it coming and called on the power of the phase stone to protect him. There was too great a difference between him and the god for Cloudhawk to fight back. More reinforcements came pouring in, so many that even these mighty wastelanders would soon find it hard to contend with them. It was time to fall back. ¡°That¡¯s enough, child. Your vengeance is achieved.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s voice cut across the tumult toward Coal. He called for him while making his retreat. ¡°Your offenders will not survive.¡± Autumn glared at Cloudhawk, unwilling to give up her assault. The human she¡¯d dominated was still inside her, but when Silvanas was vigilant the girl could not take control. Most of the time the tiny will was insignificant ¨C until Cloudhawk appeared. Somehow the man gave the human soul incredible strength, enough to contest Silvanas¡¯s domination. It was clear, then, that to destroy the fragment of her body¡¯s former owner she had first to destroy this young man. But Autumn also saw the look in Wolfblade¡¯s eyes. They seemed calm, but there was a majesty in their depths that was hard to define. There was no question that within the body of this human there was a unique and powerful soul. Even once she regained her full powers, what she saw from those eyes was that he would remain one of only a scant few creatures she genuinely feared. Whatever Wolfblade¡¯s plans, Cloudhawk was a vital piece. He would not suffer Autumn ruining his plots. Though on the surface Autumn, Abaddon and Wolfblade seemed to cooperate, the truth was more complicated. Each represented different aims, different viewpoints. These were special times when interests aligned, so for the time being they chose to work together. Once the worth of their alliance was no longer obvious, it was just as likely they would become enemies. When had Silvanas ever had to swallow her grievances in this way? She was no longer a god, no longer wielded the power of creation, and although her individual strength had been greatly diminished she bore no regrets. If she could go back a millennia and choose again, she would still defy the God King, even knowing what it would cost. Dark Atom agents mounted the mutant creatures and began to flee. Abaddon rose back into the air and with a flick of his wrist summoned the Gospel back to him. His red, bewitching eyes burned to reflect his foul soul. They swept across the anarchic scene and he grinned. ¡°Things grow more interesting by the day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t chase after them!¡± Cloudhawk called out to stop Phain and the Templars. ¡°We¡¯ve lost too many already, let¡¯s bring our men back home.¡± When they heard him a silence spread across the field. Indeed, this expedition had cost them all dearly. Dawn approached Cloudhawk, who was swaying on unsteady legs. Concern was written on her face, to which Cloudhawk nodded to assure her he was fine. In fact it was Dawn he was worried for. The battle against Wolfblade might have caused her to break through to a new level of power, but it sure as hell hadn¡¯t been easy. Both sides gathered their wounded, and left. Drake and Brontes had clearly been no match for Coal. While it was too soon to know their condition, it was obviously bad. Brontes was showing no signs of life at all, meaning it was unlikely even Skycloud¡¯s most talented healers could help him. Drake wasn¡¯t much better off. His tenacious body had been thoroughly broken, and visible depressions showed where his bones had been obliterated. It looked like there wasn¡¯t a single part of him from head to toe that was unscathed, and his internal organs had to be similarly mangled. A normal man would¡¯ve died a hundred times by now. But, at least for the moment, Drake was holding on in a state of agony. His breathing was growing more shallow. A number of demonhunters with healing capabilities were crowding him, but all shook their head to indicate there was little they could do. ¡°Commander!¡± Hammont knelt next to Drake, his eyes red and swollen. ¡°You need to hold on. Commander Brontes is already gone, we can¡¯t lose you too!¡± Drake¡¯s resolute features had been burnt and deformed. Despite the horrific state of his body, he was still awake. Hammont¡¯s pleas rang in his ears, and he answered with an ugly smirk. ¡°If I can¡¯t even beat a worthless mutant, then I¡¯m a disgrace to the expeditionary force.¡± Cloudhawk stood by in silence, but the other soldiers could barely hold back their indignant fury. They were desperate to get their hands on the murderous freak and tear him to pieces. Drake¡¯s torn lips continued to writhe painfully. ¡°I¡¯d hoped to become one of Skycloud¡¯s greatest generals, like our great War-God. Unfortunately I just didn¡¯t have the talent. My dreams will only ever be dreams, but my only regret is I won¡¯t have the opportunity to kill more heathens.¡± Cloudhawk looked down at the man, who hardly looked human anymore. His old friend wouldn¡¯t last the day, but he held on to his self-righteous beliefs to the very end. How was any of that important now? He hadn¡¯t heard that General Skye was dead. The legend of the War-God was over, but no one had the heart to tell him. The general was an idol to a man like Drake, unassailable and invincible. It would have been cruel to steal that from him in his final moments. ¡°Cloudhawk, don¡¯t let General Skye down. He has high hopes for you. You need to help him. Help our soldiers.¡± ¡°Fat man, we¡¯ve known one another only a few days but I could tell right away you¡¯re different. Tricky, clever. Most soldiers act rashly and don¡¯t have your kind of smarts. You need to stay alive and serve as an example.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s grim voice asked. ¡°Do you have any last requests?¡± ¡°What would I wish? I¡¯m a soldier, and I will die with my sword in hand.¡± A dark chuckle rattled from his chest. ¡°Maybe bury me and my sword in Hell¡¯s Valley. When I think back, those were the days I cherished most...¡± Fifteen minutes later, Skycloud¡¯s twenty-nine year old Commander Drake Thane died aboard his warship. Skycloud had lost another exceptional warrior. Cloudhawk lost a good friend. Using his authority as fleet commander, Cloudhawk announced that Drake¡¯s Corps would not be dissolved. Instead, it would continue under the leadership of its ranking officer Hammont Seacrest, though its name would not be changed to honor the young soldier who died before he could make his mark. They did not know it now, but in the future this handful of soldiers would one day rise to become one of Skycloud¡¯s greatest fighting forces. Step by step, it would carry the spirit of a young, undistinguished officer to greatness as a way to honor his sacrifice. An honor guard brought Drake¡¯s body to the hold where it waited with countless other corpses to await transport. They were preparing to return to Skycloud and bury his remains as Drake requested, when suddenly one of the corpses gasped and sat up. The soldiers were at first frightened at the unexpected even, and cautiously approached. With faces white from shock and disbelief, one of them called out. ¡°C¡­ Commander Brontes!¡± Brontes slowly opened his eyes. They were unusually cold and sharp, and if one looked closely they could see a ring of red around the irises. Had he really come back to life? It was both astounding and terrifying to the soldiers. They¡¯d definitely checked his body and saw no signs of life. He was definitely dead. ¡°Today, I saw a truly extraordinary mutant. But I am one true King of the Wastelands.¡± No one understood what he was talking about. Before they could ask, Brontes¡¯s hand shot out and the human appendage immediately began to change. It stretched out to become several writhing fleshy tentacles. Like bolts of lightning they drilled through the foreheads of the soldiers. The unlucky men were lifted off their feet, jerking erratically. By the way Bronte¡¯s tendrils undulated it was obviously he was pumping something into their brains. Eventually he retracted his fingers and they returned to normal. The hole between the soldiers¡¯ eyebrows slowly healed until there was no proof that anything at all had happened. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 87 - The Conclave Assembly Brontes had died, and come back to life. Cloudhawk found that to be more than just a little suspect. He¡¯d seen the man when they dragged him back to the ships. Dead as a door nail. Could a dead man suddenly came back like that? He had to accept it when he saw Brontes for himself. They must have just been careless when checking his body, he thought. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for badly wounded people to seem dead only to come back. In those cases it was hard to tell if someone was still alive, even with sophisticated equipment. People could be forgiven for the error since they only had their eyes to rely on. Although Brontes lived, by the look of him he would be permanently disfigured from his fight with Coal. Strange that this lieutenant commander, with no real ability or accolades to speak of, should survive. Even Cloudhawk hardly knew anything about him. But they had encountered one another before. Four years ago, when Brontes was a squad captain, he¡¯d been ordered to assist Claudia Lunae in her excursion through the wastelands. He¡¯d been among those who razed Lighthouse Pointe in search of Cloudhawk. He didn¡¯t succeed of course, so there was no friendship between them, but neither was there animosity. Cloudhawk had no real impression of Brontes because he hardly thought about him at all. Surviving and facing a life of disability¡­ Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure if that was a blessing or a curse. He gave the order to return to base, but Cloudhawk was stunned to learn that all the officers were in opposition. The reason they gave was simple; the wasteland opposition was routed. The soldiers were spread out through the mountains and as such couldn¡¯t be wiped out, but their den was left unguarded. Now was the time to turn back around and sweep through the Barrens. Fallowmoor and every other cesspool they called home could be burned to the ground unopposed! Total victory was in their grasp ¨C a mighty victory that would be the crowning achievement of their service records. Was Cloudhawk really going to give that up? Once their base was destroyed, the remaining wasteland forces would become vulnerable, roving bands of agitators. There would be nowhere for them to hide, and even if they tried to regroup they would have only a shadow of the strength they had before ¨C nothing that could threaten the safety of Skycloud. The expeditionary force¡¯s mission will have been achieved! ¡°No!¡± The gathered officers were shocked. Cloudhawk flatly denied their demands. ¡°Commander, this order will never be accepted. Sixty thousand Elysian soldiers won¡¯t stand for it!¡± Roc couldn¡¯t understand Cloudhawk¡¯s reasoning, and didn¡¯t agree with the order. ¡°We have an opportunity to accomplish something incredible here. Even as commander, you do not have the right to rob our soldiers of this glory!¡± Cloudhawk retained his steadfast denial. ¡°Our army is exhausted, we need to recover. We are returning to Skycloud!¡± ¡°Nonsense! This is absolute nonsense!¡± One of the officers with less control over his temper stomped forward. He was a man of noble carriage with twenty years of leadership experience and one of General Skye¡¯s trusted advisers. ¡°You can¡¯t cut the weeds and leave the roots ¨C you¡¯re just asking for disaster down the line! Yes, we have lost many soldiers, General Skye among them. If we don¡¯t carve out the cancer that is these heathens right now, then all of our effort and sacrifice will be meaningless. All of those deaths, meaningless! How could General Skye¡¯s spirit rest in peace?¡± The officers weren¡¯t alone. Dawn didn¡¯t understand Cloudhawk¡¯s hesitation, either. Her grandfather gave his life for the cause. How could they show their face back home if they returned with the mission left undone? What sort of excuses would they give to the people? Millions of Elysian citizens were waiting for victory, and their soldiers had suffered so much in pursuit of it. They could not allow the Elysian people to remain hopeless! They could not disappoint the soldiers who were fighting for their realm! Everyone clamored to be heard, vociferously arguing with their commander to change his mind. Of them all, only one understood what he was thinking. Selene knew Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. The officers were right. The wastelander cities were undefended and even an exhausted Elysian army could easily destroy them ¨C and the countless innocent people who lived there. Nothing but smoke and ashes would be left in the wake of their bloody charge. Cloudhawk had never given an order that could wipe out hundreds of thousands of lives. It wasn¡¯t in his character. Didn¡¯t he used to be just like them? A scavenger, picking through the ruins, totally unaware of the rest of the world. All the people these Elysians were desperate to kill were too busy clawing out a living to be any kind of threat. They were normal folk, just trying to survive. Most of them didn¡¯t even know Skycloud existed. If he gave the order to have these poor, innocent purple murdered, then how was he any different from the people he despised? Indiscriminate slaughter, blood and misery, unmitigated cruelty¡­ how would he be any different from Arcturus Cloude? Cloudhawk would not be swayed by their cawing. ¡°Trust me, the wasteland and Skycloud won¡¯t be fighting after this. There is a reason why I choose to permit them to continue to exist.¡± Skycloud¡¯s leader was Arcturus, that was undisputed now. Through Hell¡¯s Army, he was also the ruler of the wastelands. What sense did it make for him to destroy pieces of his own territory? There was no way another such war would break out between the two sides. If they kept these settlements intact, each of the various wasteland organizations would still have their own bases, which would help promote disunity amongst them. Destroying them would only hasten everyone¡¯s rush to unite. This was why Cloudhawk didn¡¯t see a need to destroy the wastelander cities. However, he couldn¡¯t explain it to the expeditionary forces. No one would ever believe him. ¡°Cloudhawk, that¡¯s enough!¡± The grizzled general no longer even feigned respect. He practically howled at the fleet commander. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re doing? As commander of this fleet you are openly insulting our forces! I will not follow this order. I will go alone if I have to and happily face court marshal when I return ¨C victorious! This officer will never suffer such disrespect to his men!¡± ¡°I refuse as well!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Their collective outrage reached a boiling point and they chose to refuse a direct order rather than sacrifice their sense of honor. Cloudhawk might have been fleet commander, but in name only. He was, after all, only one man. His real position was Warden of a single corps, as far as these men were concerned. Equal to any of these officers, no better. But that was just status. He hadn¡¯t earned anyone¡¯s respect, only having been part of the military for a handful of months. What qualified him to tell these veteran soldiers what to do? Especially when he gave an order like this! The officers all stormed from the bridge. Each was off to order their regiments to press the attack. Dawn was flustered, unsure of what had happened. She turned to Cloudhawk to offer support but he just waved it off. He walked off to his quarters without a word. As he walked away a heavy sense of helplessness weighed on his heart. It felt like nothing had changed, even after all these years. He couldn¡¯t stop his friends from dying, or stop the things he didn¡¯t like. ¡°You did your best.¡± A clear and stoic voice reached his ears. Selene approached and took a seat beside him on a flight of steps. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t help you.¡± He couldn¡¯t blame her. Selene was an agent of the Temple, and had to make sure the Temple¡¯s power was intact for its battle against Arcturus. If she inserted herself in this army matter it would have ended poorly, and reflected badly on her in the eyes of the Elysians. She had to be careful not to do something that ¨C in the eyes of Skycloud ¨C didn¡¯t make sense. Cloudhawk felt lost. He didn¡¯t know what to do, or what would happen. But at least he wasn¡¯t completely in the dark. He knew his enemy. Life required direction, and sometimes that direction took the form of a powerful foe to overcome. Whatever was to come, Arcturus had to be dealt with. Then Abaddon, then Wolfblade, and all the others. Cloudhawk quietly added all their names to the list of those he would see killed. *** The sun rose over a broken landscape, causing the chilly darkness to scurry away until night fell once more. A stooped figure clawed itself out of the dirt. The figure was covered in grime and ashes, an old hag with purple snakes for hair and skin like leathery scales. Her twisted, ugly face was illuminated by the rays of the morning light. Castigation was deadly, but not enough to destroy her. As the fires had tried to claim her, Naga continuously shed her skin. Castigation Fire couldn¡¯t be extinguished, but would burn itself out over time. Because it was fueled by psychic energy, the hotter it burned and the farther it spread the more draining it was to maintain. Another distinguishing fact was that normal matter ¨C like flesh ¨C wasn¡¯t fuel for Castigation Fire. And so Naga continuously shed the incinerated flesh until at last the green flame was extinguished. Her quick thinking and unique mutation kept her alive. Once she clambered out from the dirt, Naga started to gather what subordinates survived. All told, there were one thousand eight hundred people remaining after the wreck of the ancient vessel. After a little while the Green and Black Kings joined her with their own forces. The three separated themselves for a talk. ¡°Naga, you live. This is stupendous news.¡± Toad¡¯s frog-like voice croaked at her, in sharp contrast to his gentlemanly style of speech. He kept his voice low. ¡°Did it go as planned?¡± Naga¡¯s response was equally restrained. ¡°No one knows a thing.¡± ¡°Good. It is best, for his safety. It must be kept strictly confidential ¨C going no further than the three of us.¡± A strange, conspiratorial light glinted in Toad¡¯s eyes. Canker finally joined the conversation. ¡°Others are coming.¡± The three mutants peered into the distance, where scores of wastelanders were approaching. They were led by the recognizable figures of the Three Giants of Hell¡¯s Army; Natessa, Dumont and Eckard. While the battle had been a long and grueling one, the Wastelands Alliance¡¯s forces had not suffered insurmountable losses. It was as Natessa expected. Her loss to the expeditionary force was only in part thanks to Cloudhawk¡¯s adept command. It had been her intention to fail. She had chosen this location, these rolling mountains, for her people to hide out. The cities and settlements they left behind were of no interest to her. They had to be razed. How else would the wastelanders become more pliable? Once the Elysians took everything from them, they would be desperate to join the Conclave and come under her command. What¡¯s more, destroying these worthless villages would be a lauded accomplishment in Skycloud. Once the matter was settled, Arcturus would have no further need to fight against the Northern Barrens. It would avoid any more internal friction or mutual conflict. The expeditionary force would do as expected, sealing defeat while imagining victory. And the wastelands, on the surface appearing crushed, would be the real winners of this conflict. Leaders from both sides lay dead, and it was perfect. It¡¯d all gone more smoothly than Natessa had anticipated. All that remained was the Cloude family. She approached Naga, who she was seeing for the first time. ¡°The wastelands are in a critical fight for survival. We need to work together. The Crimson One has fallen, but we will not allow this defeat to crush the alliance he built.¡± ¡°Say no more, I know what must be done.¡± Naga coughed, her voice hoarse. ¡°My men and I agree to join the Conclave of Judgment.¡± Three out of four terrible mutant kings from the Northern Barrens had joined the call. It would surely inspire other organizations to follow their lead. The Wastelands Alliance would swell in numbers, powers and influence. Naga had a reputation as a wastelands scientist. Her knowledge was deep and broad, with a dozen or more workshops peppered throughout the wastes where she practiced her craft. Any large organization which aspired to greatness needed scientists and laboratories to further their aims. Squall had Three-Eyed Spider. Wolfblade had Hellflower. Now the Wastelands Alliance had their own lead scientist in Naga. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the fourth King shown himself?¡± ¡°His identity is¡­ unique. Even we cannot contact him.¡± ¡°Is that so? What a pity...¡± Natessa knew there was more to it than they were sharing with her, but the stage was set and no one was going to change it. Once these wastelanders returned to their ruined cities, they would be begging for a role in their young alliance. The Wastelands Alliance no longer had a leader. Instead, it would be run by council. The Three Giants of Hell¡¯s Army, and the three Kings of the Barrens. In addition there were four others, mighty leaders of the wastes. All told ten members constituted what would come to be called the Conclave Assembly. They would be the supreme authority over the alliance. The Assembly chief also acted as the commander of their armed forces. Natessa, then, was the only option. The Northern Barrens took one step closer to unification, forged in the fires of war. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 88 - The Hand of Gehenna Thousands of wasteland soldiers gathered in the ruins. Squall, Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider Raven, and Blackfiend stood at the fore. There were others like Gremlin and Green Snake, along with a dozen others who constituted the second tier. What remained were the best soldiers of their organization. This was the leadership, a small but deadly group of killers. A man in his fifties, dressed entirely in black, stepped forward then. His expression was one of insidious malice, his eyes dark and unreadable. He was flanked by ten warriors dressed in similarly dark attire, with expressionless faces. They all followed behind the first man, who radiated an aura of enigmatic power. He was none other than Skye Polaris¡¯ former confidante, Inkshade. The dark warriors who flanked him were the fiends created through his devilish power ¨C the power of a godslayer. What was a godslayer? They were the ones whose power and inheritance came from demons, who used the tools of those dark beings in their efforts to contend against the gods. A thousand years ago the gods shared their power with human, creating demonhunters. Godslayers were a more recent evolution, so they were few in number and largely unknown. It was easy for them to hide, for side by side one could not tell the difference between a demonhunter and a godslayer. The primary difference was where they gained their power from. They were two sides of the same coin. Inkshade had at one time been a normal wastelander. Then one day he was selected by one of the demons. He was trained, empowered, and then took the identity of a child of Skycloud. For decades he remained living among the Elysians, his identity secret, never revealing himself to be different in any way. Eventually, he earned a spot among the staff of the Polaris family. Inkshade had spent most of his life in Skycloud. He hardly remembered anything of the wastelands, but now after many years he found himself walking among the blasted landscapes once more. It was familiar and comforting feeling. After all these years, the core of who he was had never changed. He¡¯d finally returned home. This was where he belonged. But killing Skye¡­ he would be lying if he said he didn¡¯t feel some small measure of disappointment. ¡°My lord!¡± Squall approached and bowed his head, full of respect. All of the power and influence he wielded today was thanks to this man. He knew very little about his benefactor except that he was an emissary from an organization called Gehenna. The power he represented could destroy the world if released. ¡°We¡¯ve come with all of our best warriors, and are awaiting your orders. What would you have us do?¡± Inkshade casually waved his hand. The fiends he¡¯d brought with him joined Squall¡¯s forces. He went on to speak in an almost languid voice. ¡°My identity has been revealed. I can no longer remain in Skycloud. However, there remain those who I have cultivated over the years, faithful to our cause. From now on our organization will be an official one, and as for the next step we must observe the recent circumstance before planning what to do.¡± From the beginning, Squall had only ever been second in command. The two other major wasteland organizations were the Dark Atom and the Conclave of Judgment. The Dark Atom was an old power, and the newly formed Wastelands Alliance was making great waves in its short time in existence. The Highwaymen had exploded under the radar for a long time, but wisely avoided conflict with the other wasteland powers ¨C even seeming to agree with them. In the meantime, they cultivated mighty allies like Three-Eyed Spider and Raven. Over the years they had quietly gathered organizations big and small. When Squall came, that process quickened and the Highwaymen saw a rapid surge. Now that Inkshade was back as well, he returned with the backing of a sizeable force that would at least allow them to hold their own. ¡°We are darkness, destruction, and death. We are the will of Gehenna!¡± Inkshade talked loudly to the others as though delivering a sermon. ¡°Our illustrious Master shall bestow upon us ever greater heights of power, and in return we shall become his sword and shield. Henceforth, we shall be known as the Hand of Gehenna!¡± The Hand of Gehenna¡­ was this to be their new name? It didn¡¯t have the same ring as Highwaymen, but it was more appropriate than they knew. Now they wore their allegiance on their sleeve, almost like they were eager to let the world know they were in league with demons. Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider and the others all bore different expressions. Ravenous Tiger, for one, didn¡¯t know that it¡¯d been demons pulling Squall¡¯s strings. He had once been a demonhunter. Since then he¡¯d betrayed Skycloud, and now found himself unwittingly thrown in with the agents of demons. He was probably the only demonhunter in the history of the realm to defect entirely and be a traitor to his people. In the eyes of every demonhunter, he would be a despicable sinner of the highest order. A perpetual smear on their formerly pristine reputation. But if what this man promised was true ¨C if the demons could grand him power, riches and strength ¨C what was a little betrayal? The only thing Ravenous Tiger cared for was personal benefit. Three-Eyed Spider was a scientist before anything. He was more curious about the demons themselves rather than the power they promised. He knew, for instance, that both gods and demons were immortal. They had limitless wisdom, power, and vitality. If joining the Hand of Gehenna meant it would bring him closer to these enigmatic and elusive beings, then he was only too eager to do so. Perhaps at last he could uncover the secrets of life and death. As for loyalty? No one cared. It didn¡¯t even cross their mind. ¡°The Wastelands Alliance grows more massive by the day. Woodland Vale and Dark Atom have become allies. The Hand of Gehenna, as young as we are, lacks a true advantage. Meanwhile, Skycloud has begun to awaken. We will soon witness an Elysian purge of the wastelands, and cities like Fishmonger¡¯s Borough and Fallowmoor will be hard-pressed to evade destruction.¡± Squall detailed what everyone knew. ¡°When will the master show himself?¡± ¡°When Gehenna stirs, Mt. Sumeru will not stand idly by. The time is not yet right. We have yet to build the proper foundation and prepare for the inevitable conflict.¡± Inkshade stopped for a moment before going on. ¡°However, while the master cannot involve himself openly, he gifts us with aid from the shadows. With his assistance we will enact his plans, despite pressure from our multitude of enemies.¡± Three-Eyed Spider couldn¡¯t hold back his questions. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, a demon has already shown himself in league with the Dark Atom¡­ What is the difference?¡± Inkshade patiently explained. ¡°Our lords of Gehenna are creatures who participated in the Great War. They bear the mark and the seal. Should they stir, Sumeru will know immediately and will act to keep them down. It is for this reason our masters have lain in wait for a thousand years ¨C but not dormant. For a millennia they have acted in darkness, waiting for an opportunity to rise again. Abaddon is a young demon by comparison. He is not burdened by the seals burned upon his predecessors. An outsider like him does not share our purpose.¡± ¡°Why does Abaddon work against his people?¡± Ravenous Tiger didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What¡¯s the difference anyway?¡± ¡°Abaddon represents the radicals, those who aim to destroy the Elysian lands and advocate for open war with Sumeru. Their ultimate aim is to start another Great War and seek vengeance for the defeat they suffered a thousand years ago.¡± What did this have to do with Gehenna¡¯s plans? Quite a lot! While the basic premise was the same, the process these two opposing demonic organizations chose were entirely different. The older demons were all of the same mind, that their race was broken and scattered ¨C too weak for outright war. To them, there was but one option available¡­ wait, and welcome the new Demon King when he arose. The leader of the Hand of Gehenna¡¯s purpose was to seek out this new Demon King. Only the Demon King could rally the disparate factions of the demon race. He would be able to destroy the seals that bound them, and shine a light on a thousand years of darkness. To the agents of Gehenna, the Demon King was everything. *** Skycloud. The Governor¡¯s Mansion. Arcturus Cloude was busy seeing to affairs of state. News of Skye Polaris¡¯ death had already spread though the city. Citizens were still getting over the shock. Skycloud¡¯s cantankerous, boisterous War-God had fallen in service to his nation. It was perhaps the saddest news the realm had received in decades. However, the expedition had proven fruitful. Many infamous settlements throughout the Nothern Barrens had been destroyed. The Crimson One, leader of his Wastelands Alliance, had been slain, as was his close confidante Wyrmsole. Were it not for the tragic loss of the general, Skycloud¡¯s victory would be flawless. After Skye¡¯s death, the position of Commander-in-Chief lay vacant. It only made sense that the Governor should rise to take on such a heavy responsibility. Arcturus Cloude was now both the political head of the realm and commander of its armed forces. A circumstance like this was exceedingly rare in the history of Skycloud. However, no one questioned or opposed his grab for power. After all, there was no more powerful and respected family than the Cloudes in all the Elysian lands. Arcturus, its patriarch, was the most outstanding leader they¡¯d ever seen. Whether it was reputation, power, or ability, Skycloud could find no one capable of matching their illustrious Governor. He was clearly most suited to the task. Indeed, the only other person of suitable prestige was Ramiel the High Priest, but the leader of the Temple could not feasibly also command the realm¡¯s armies. ¡°Skye¡¯s funeral is beginning.¡± Frost de Winter approached his master, recently recovered from his wounds. He spoke in a low voice. ¡°I fear the Polaris family will take this chance to challenge you in front of the people. Are you certain you wish to attend?¡± ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Arcturus gave a gentle sigh and slowly put aside his pen. ¡°Skye was an honorable man. His death marks the end of an era. Indeed, even I was considered his junior.¡± ¡°Master is far superior, both in power and accomplishment. Skye Polaris was nothing but an old soldier who never knew when it was time to step aside. A carcass clinging to old glory.¡± Arcturus gazed upon Frost with eyes that seemed to pierce into the depths of his soul. Frost was forced to lower his head, and spoke no further. ¡°We rise because we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors. From the foundation they built, we see further and higher. Everything I have achieved, I have done through the efforts of those who have come before. I will not suffer anyone besmirching Skye Polaris¡¯ contributions to our realm, and all the many martial artists he inspired.¡± A pure and honest grief shone through Arcturus eyes. ¡°One day I will grow old, and shall become another rung on the ladder for future generations to climb. That is what civilization is: passing our accomplishments on to be improved by our successors so that we might rise as a people. Greatness and glory grow from the ordinary.¡± Frost was still for a time, as though thinking. ¡°You must show respect to everyone. Friends, rivals, even enemies. They will make you stronger.¡± Arcturus walked out of the room, and only his voice lingered. ¡°Come. Let us send the War-God off on his final journey.¡± As ever, Frost¡¯s master was an inscrutable and confusing man. He wasn¡¯t alone ¨C there was no one in all of Skycloud who could see through the Governor. In the eyes of the citizenry he was a living legend. To demonhunters everywhere he was an unassailable hero. But underneath such high praise was hidden a complicated soul. His actions over the years were incomprehensible and concealed whatever his true motives were. Even after years by his side, Frost was unable to hazard a guess. Perhaps he would never know. Some mysteries would remain secrets forever, so long as Arcturus Cloude wished them to be so. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 89 - Cutting the Weeds, Razing the Roots Skye Polaris had his funeral in the main square of Skycloud city. All business were shuttered for a day of mourning. Every home and business hung out streamers of white silk. Rustling in the wind, they danced like the hair of angels. A solemnity rarely seen in the Elysian lands hung over the city. People took it upon themselves to dress in black and walked through the streets. It was a sharp contrast to the typical brilliant white of the holy metropolis. Masses of black-clad bodies numbering in the hundreds made their way through the lanes and alleys like a dark, slow-moving river. In their hands they clutched white chrysanthemum flowers, which they placed within the square as a sign of their lament. Hundreds of thousands of flowers lay upon the cold stone. A boundless sea of petals carpeted the square. Doves fluttered forlornly in groups overhead. Leading the procession was the High Priest, who was followed by the commanders of each army corps. They bore the jade coffin of General Skye between them. There was no body, of course. In its stead they placed within the casket Skye¡¯s empty armor. Step by solemn step they inched toward the center of the square. Two thousand soldiers were arrayed as an honor guard. Dull sunlight glinted off their ceremonial regalia, and their drawn weapons. They stood vigil on either side of the lane as though they were ready to follow their fallen General into battle. Trailing the procession were the members of the Polaris family, who trudged along with forlorn expressions and broken spirit. For the Polaris family, losing their patriarch was like losing their heart. Who among them could shoulder the responsibility this glorious man had borne for decades? ¡°Thank you, General, for your service to our grateful realm.¡± ¡°Almighty gods, watch over the spirit of our Commander!¡± ¡°Grandpa Skye¡­ may your journey to Sumeru be an easy one. We will watch over Skycloud for you now.¡± Cloudhawk stood outside of the crowds, looking over the sea of white flowers. It was a stunning visual, but what really struck him were the faces of ordinary folk he passed. Old, young, women, men¡­ they looked so lost. The sadness he saw was true, and they had all gathered here to share their sorrow, for each other and for the man they were seeing off. It was a beautiful, painful display of human emotion. Cloudhawk looked on from a distance. Dawn was with her family and the other officers, standing before the casket. Her eyes were red from crying, but it somehow only added to her beauty. She told herself to be strong, but visions of when she would ride her grandpa¡¯s shoulders and tug on his beard assailed her as they walked. The tears came as she confronted the awful truth that he was gone forever. That old man who came to clean up the messes she left behind was gone. He carried their family on his broad shoulders for years, but no longer. From now on, there was no more War-God. The Polaris family was doomed to shameful decline. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to comfort his friend. She had to go through this on her own. As he watched, another group of ten people walked toward the procession. They were the representatives from the Cloude family, several veteran demonhunters as well as Frost, Clay, Augustus¡­ faces every citizen recognized at a glance. In the center, walking with solemn purpose, was Arcuturs Cloude, their Governor. He was dressed in a simple and respectful black robe, here to participate in the funeral. The moment Dawn saw him approach her hands curled into fists. Why were they here, shedding crocodile tears? However, the citizens looked upon their great Governor with eyes of glowing admiration. General Skye was gone, but their illustrious Governor remained to protect them from the horrors of the wastes. ¡°My heard is laden with regret, like all of you!¡± Arcturus stepped into the middle of the crowd, and looked over them with sorrowful eyes. ¡°Together, we mourn the loss of a great warrior, a legend who walked among us. Our magnificent city suffers the loss of a tremendous spirit. It is a tragedy for our people and our society.¡± Dawn glared at the Governor with eyes that promised bloody murder ¨C a volcano that threatened to erupt at any moment. ¡°All of us, regardless of station ¨C from the ordinary man to the noblest officer ¨C will one day take the bitter journey to Mount Sumeru.¡± Arcturus¡¯ voice carried across the square with an almost hypnotic cadence. The pain of his words drew in the crowd. ¡°But where even a simple life can shine like the bloom of fireworks in the heart of humanity, the loss of this great man will shine among the heavens like a blanket of stars. Though the body may be gone, the will and power shall guide us forward in our righteous exploits.¡± ¡°Skycloud is embroiled in a period of strife we have not experienced for many years. But do not think the loss of our Commander makes us weak. His strength will live forever more within all of you, and together are made greater than the sum of our parts. Skycloud is eternal and invincible because of the sacrifice of men like Skye Polaris. Follow his example, and together we will ensure our realm continues to the end of time!¡± ¡°Skycloud!¡± ¡°Skycloud!¡± ¡°Skycoud forever!¡± A wave of emotion surged through the crowd at Arcturus¡¯ words. But then a note of discord trilled through the din, as from the crowds there arose a stifling aura. It was a choking, murderous intent that everyone could feel like needles on the skin. An assassin! From the sea of white petals shot a dazzling light, fast as lightning and ten times as deadly. The air became filled with gentle white petals as the glint from a sword whipped passed, toward the Governor. A sea of shocked faces watched. Someone was trying to kill Arcturus! But Frost was still. So was Clay, and every other member of the Cloude family. In their eyes, this attempt was laughably ineffectual. Skycloud was living in a golden age where three Master Demonhunters had risen to prominence, and the greatest among them was the Governor himself. If some foolish assassin could kill Arcuturs with these underhanded tactics, how many times would Skycloud have been dominated by the enemy already? The Governor extended two fingers, and almost halfheartedly pinched them together. A glimmering sword appeared caught between his fingers. Whatever strength, momentum and fury was behind that blow it didn¡¯t matter. Arcturus had stopped it with hardly any effort at all. It all abruptly drained away into nothing. Eyes darted among the crowd to see who would be so bold as to make an attempt on the governor¡¯s life. Who was foolish enough to brazenly try to assassinate the city¡¯s leader? But when they saw who it was, the faces of the crowd fell in disbelief. Dawn Polaris, the granddaughter of their late War-God, had her hands wrapped tight around the pommel of Terrangelica. She was thrusting forward as hard as she could, but the blade would go no further. Dawn was impulsive, morally inflexible and decisive in action. She had always dared to wear her heart on her sleeve. Her nature would not allow her to do nothing as the man behind her grandfather¡¯s murder bemoaned the loss like it hadn¡¯t been his doing. How dare he stand before the people and make his grand speeches! It was an insult to her grandfather¡¯s memory! Dawn would not stand for it, so with absolute resolve she drew her sword against Skycloud¡¯s Governor. Of course she was no fool ¨C she knew she would not succeed. She did it anyway. But attacking the Governor¡­ that was treason! No one understood what would possess Dawn Polaris to commit such a grievous sin! Being so far away from the center of the square, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stop her. Her strike had been fierce and true, filled with all the strength she could muster, so he likely couldn¡¯t have stopped her even if he tried. Anyway, it was too late now. ¡°You bastard! You despicable hypocrite!¡± Dawn roared at Arcturus, giving vent to all of her pain and anger. ¡°Give me back my grandfather!¡± ¡°This daughter of the Polaris family is bereaved. I know the pain you are going through.¡± Arcturus gently shook his head. ¡°General Skye didn¡¯t die for me, he died for all of us. He died for our realm and all of humanity, and his influence will reach far into our future. We will remember him.¡± Bullshit! Every word was heinous lies to Dawn¡¯s ears. She poured her will into Terrangelica and tried again to chop the Governor in half. But Arcturus was much faster. With a single finger he knocked her blade to the side, while simultaneously a streak of electricity traveled through the blade. Dawn couldn¡¯t hold her weapon and was forced to release it. Terrangelica was flung away and scattered along the stone with a clang. Burning electrical power seared her nerves. It traveled up through her hands and into the rest of her body, like thousands of ants chewing tunnels under her skin. Eventually she lost control of her muscles and slumped to the ground with a thud. Several demonhunters from the Cloude family moved in then, grabbing Dawn and holding her fast. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± An elder of the Polaris family stepped forward and shouted at them indignantly. ¡°We haven¡¯t even laid General Skye to rest and already you put your hands on his granddaughter!¡± Clay answered. ¡°Dawn Polaris tried to assassinate the Governor. Everyone here witnessed it. We must be cautious for the safety of our Governor and our realm, no matter the background of the culprit. Leave Dawn to me.¡± Members of the Cloude family took her away. As Cloudhawk watched it happen he felt his heart skip a beat. There weren¡¯t many who knew about Arcturus¡¯ crimes. The likes of Barb and the old drunk didn¡¯t have the strength to oppose him. The only two with any real power were him and Dawn. Was this the Governor¡¯s attempt at cutting the weeds and razing the roots? First they would deal with Dawn, and then they would inevitably come for him. As expected, the funeral had only just finished when a group of soldiers in full armor approached Cloudhawk. But instead of Cloude¡¯s men, they identified themselves as members of the Temple. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°We have reason to believe there was another inside agent hiding among the expeditionary force. We have plenty of evidence to show for it. We have reason to believe you are guilty of crimes against our armed forces, and must ask you to come and explain yourself.¡± Cloudhawk had no choice. Once again, he was brought before the Temple. Arcturus Cloude now had control of the political and military power of Skycloud. High Priest Ramiel seemed not to notice, and even Selene stood silently by his side. She recognized what Arcturus was up to, though. Was he so impatient to cut down potential threats? ¡°Relying on information from within the expeditionary force, we are charging you with suspicions of collaborating with the enemy, blasphemy, treason, and war crimes.¡± An agent from the Temple read out his laundry list of offenses. ¡°From this moment onward you are relieved of your command ¨C both as fleet commander and Warden of the Talons of God. During this first hearing you will be given an opportunity to defend yourself from these accusations ¨C but your words will be judged by Governor Arcturus and High Priest Ramiel, so think before you speak.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes turned toward the imperious bearing of Arcturus Cloude. A strange expression crossed his features, one of bitter mirth. Once again he had to defend himself from false allegations. 1. Interesting fact; though not displayed here, the traditional color of death and funerals in China is typically white. Often times during funerals mourners will wear white caps or kerchiefs on their heads. This is why you should always think twice before offering white clothing as a gift to someone in China, especially hats. Of course, this is less prevalent now with the new globalist generation and they won¡¯t fault a foreigner for their ignorance. 2. Interesting story number two! In Tian¡¯An Men square the ¡®body¡¯ of Mao Zedong is interred. Most suspect it isn¡¯t the realm body, but a wax replica. Supposedly they bring out the real body on special occasions, but I find that unlikely. On most days you can visit his mausoleum and, if you like, purchase a flower from wandering vendors who walk up and down the line. You go inside and place the flower at the foot of Mao¡¯s coffin¡­ where they are picked up a few moments later by attendants and resold to others waiting in line. Nothing honors the communist spirit like capitalizing on public sentiment! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 90 - Sentencing Though the trees preferred calm, that did not stop the wind from blowing. However much Cloudhawk wanted to be left alone, fate wouldn¡¯t give him a break. Once again he was placed on trial. Only this time, General Skye wasn¡¯t around to bail him out. The Polaris family as a whole had lost their influence, leaving both him and Dawn without a safety net. Cloudhawk thought back to the first time he was brought before the temple. All those people who¡¯d been there to speak on his behalf weren¡¯t there now. This time, Arcturus made sure he couldn¡¯t clear his name ¨C but he had to think of something. Selene stood at the High Priest¡¯s side. There was the faintest hint of apprehension in her eyes. She hadn¡¯t expected the Governor would move on Cloudhawk so quickly. It¡¯d been only a matter of days since they¡¯d returned to the city. There was no time to prepare, to protect themselves. Arcturus had turned his malicious gaze on Cloudhawk the moment he took control of Skycloud¡¯s army. The Temple magistrate¡¯s voice rang out over the crowd. ¡°Do you have an explanation for these crimes?¡± Cloudhawk snorted disdainfully. ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t do anything. I have a clear conscience.¡± ¡°A clear conscience!¡± A boisterous and resonant voice shouted a response. ¡°Do you really?¡± The speaker was a middle-aged man, large in stature and covered in muscle. A thick beard sprouted from his swarthy face. Cloudhawk paused when he saw who it was ¨C the Thane family patriarch, Cosmo. He was present the first time Cloudhawk was charged before the Temple. He stood in defense of Cloudhawk because General Skye had, which was an integral piece of why he was let free that day. The Thanes were a family of military officers. As its patriarch, Cosmo was not a typical citizen but rather the commander of the Retribution Battalion. While his status as commander was no greater than the likes of Aegir Polaris, his reputation and influence held more weight. Cosmo was part of the army¡¯s highest echelons of leaderships and the head of his family. He had no need to attach himself to someone else or another family for prestige. Instead, he chose to follow Skye Polaris because he respected the man and his methods. His support for the General was for no other reason than he liked the way he did things. Now that Skye was dead, would Cosmo still stand by the Polaris family? It was hard to say. There was no one among that family capable of filling the old man¡¯s shoes. But there were no illusions as to whether he would support Cloudhawk. He was the patriarch of the Thane family, and a father. A father to a man who had died at the hands of a foul mutant. His stately posture was rigid and intractable as he spoke. ¡°Call forth the witness!¡± Two men entered the temple. The first was Hammont Seacrest, slowly waddling from side to side as he navigated his girth. The second was Brontes Storm, who entered with the help of a wheelchair. Hammont didn¡¯t know what was happening, but the grave and heavy atmosphere was unmistakable. He could hardly breathe. ¡°Hammont Seacrest. You will be questioned by your superior officer and will answer honestly. Understood?¡± ¡°Your servant would never tell a lie. Never!¡± Cosmo Thane¡¯s eyes burned like torches. ¡°During the excursion to the Blisterpeaks, did you or did you not encounter a mutant native known by the name Coal? And was General Aegir Polaris, commander of the Border Forces, responsible for their elimination?¡± ¡°This-¡± Hammont stuttered, like some simple man overwhelmed with the situation he found himself in. Meanwhile his mind was racing, recalling details of the battle. The question, taken in context with the location and others present, told him most of what he needed to know about what was happening. ¡°Yes, yes. We found a tribe of mutants among the Blisterpeaks, but they were not a threat. Their mutation just made their skin difficult to cut. General Aegir dealt with them without much effort.¡± Hammont paused for a moment before adding more. ¡°The mutants weren¡¯t any trouble for our soldiers. I escaped from them unscathed thanks to Commander Drake Thane¡¯s assistance. Thanks to Drake¡¯s relationship with sir Cloudhawk, and me being in the right place at the right time, we managed to save us all from the tragedy that occurred there. I have always been thankful to Commander Drake for that, and pledged my life to his service.¡± Hammont¡¯s words appeared simple on the surface, but in fact were carefully chosen. On the one hand he understated Coal¡¯s fighting abilities, while talking up Cloudhawk at the same time. Thick as he seemed, Hammont was actual quite clever. At a glance he could tell that this was a trial, and that Cosmo was more than eager to lay the death of his child at Cloudhawk¡¯s feet. Arcturus Cloude sat in silence, quietly sizing up the fat soldier. There was a glint of mirth in his unsettling gaze. ¡°Hmph! Do not waste our time with trivial nonsense here!¡± Cosmo¡¯s voice was gruff and angry. ¡°If Aegir Polaris himself drew his weapon, then the mutant would surely be dead. My question is how this mutant appeared among the expeditionary forces all the way in the Northern Barrens!¡± For a moment Hammont wasn¡¯t sure how to answer. ¡°T-this humble man isn¡¯t sure. The mutant must have been more tenacious than we thought, so-¡± ¡°The audacity! Here we stand, in this grand Temple, and you dare be vague under the eyes of the gods? Do you take us for fools?!¡± Cosmo¡¯s incredulous voice rang through the hall. Hammont felt himself start to tremble. ¡°If you continue to play the fool before the eyes of our Governor and High Priest, I will have no option but to levy punishment fitting the severity of such a crime. You have one more chance ¨C explain exactly what happened!¡± Brontes was the one to answer. ¡°When we first encountered him in the Blisterpeaks, I heard with my own ears the Dark Atom¡¯s offer to recruit him. Cloudhawk saved the mutant¡¯s life, thus Coal was able to join the ranks of our enemies.¡± Hammont¡¯s brows furrowed ever so slightly. Brontes was too blunt! This was a betrayal! Cloudhawk knew he was in trouble the moment Brontes¡¯ words left his lips. He was a demonhunter ¨C at least as far as Skycloud was concerned. To men of his station saving a mutant went beyond the core of what they believed. What¡¯s more, the beast he saved joined their enemies, and was responsible for the death of an Elysian commander. The end result? Cloudhawk was responsible for the death of Cosmo¡¯s son. And after what Cosmo did for him in the first trial, was this how Cloudhawk showed his gratitude? Of course, Cloudhawk had no intention of harming Drake. In fact he¡¯d gone far out of his way to save not only Drake, but many of his soldiers. He had no way to predict Coal would come back to kill him . However, Cosmo Thane steadfastly ignored the several times Cloudhawk saved Drake¡¯s life. He was determined to blame him for his son¡¯s death. Cloudhawk made no effort to defend himself from the accusations. He had no excuse. It was what it was. If he tried to squabble about how many times he saved Drake from death it wouldn¡¯t help his case and would only make his father angrier. He also understood the pain of losing someone important to you, and what it did to your thinking. Whatever the accusations he faced, the key was to remain calm. ¡°Let us not speak on this for the moment.¡± The Temple magistrate continued his questioning. ¡°The primary charge is that you collude with the demon Abaddon, the leader of the Dark Atom Wolfblade, the leader of another wasteland power Squall, whoever guides Woodland Vale, and even the Wastelands Alliance!¡± Abaddon was an old foe. He was responsible for the deaths of the Tartarus Mercenaries, and murdered Artemis in Greenland Outpost. If Cloudhawk had the strength and opportunity he would have slain the fiend long ago. Wolfblade was also no friend. Cloudhawk had no idea what he¡¯d said to entice Woodland Vale to their side. The way he urged Coal down a dark path, though, was sinister and unmistakable. Wolfblade was responsible for destroying what relationship the two had. His poison words were ultimately led to Drake¡¯s death. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to let him get away with it, either. Squall was slightly different. Long ago they were considered friends. Now, anything that had existed before was shattered. He couldn¡¯t say who would walk away breathing the next time they met. That brought him to Autumn, leader of Woodland Vale. But she wasn¡¯t really Autumn. No collusion there. As for the Conclave of Judgment? What a fucking joke! How could he have any connection to those psychopaths? ¡°Those who want to find fault will dig up whatever they think is proof. I¡¯ve done nothing wrong, and don¡¯t think you can pin this bullshit on me.¡± Cloudhawk made his opinion know immediately. But rather than refute their claims, instead he asked a question. ¡°Whether you like it or not, I was named fleet commander and Warden of the Talons of God. Where¡¯s your proof? Present it, or all you have are words. If that¡¯s all you can muster you can¡¯t convict me of anything, much less convince the people of my wrongdoing.¡± He wanted evidence? Very well, they would give him evidence. The Temple magistrate proceeded to provide an in-depths report of the clues and supporting evidence they had. They were presented in five questions. ¡°First: Abaddon¡¯s relic, the Gospel of Sand. When first you appeared in Skycloud you used it to buy yourself the right to live among us. It is now known to be back in the demon¡¯s possession. Is this not suspicious? One might imagine Abaddon gave you the relic in order to establish you as an agent undercover within the Elysian lands.¡± ¡°Second: The circumstances surrounding your appearance in the Blisterpeak mountains is very curious. We know also that you have had contact with the leader of the Dark Atom. It was confirmed when Wolfblade addressed you publicly before witnesses several days ago. He claimed to have known you for a long time. How can you explain being linked to an infamous terrorist leader? ¡°Third: Your relationship with the terrorist known as Squall Rover has always been a mystery. Several years ago he was in custody and marked for death. You are the one who orchestrated his escape. How can you expect anyone to believe the two of you have no connection?¡± ¡°Fourth: We know that for an extended period of time you traveled with the leader of Woodland Vale, Autumn Draper. You knew the secret of the Vale long before anyone else, but deliberately kept that information from Skycloud. Because of your failure to do so, we lost the opportunity to deal with Woodland Vale before it became a threat.¡± ¡°Fifth: Officers report that several days ago, you refused to give the order to eliminate wasteland cities despite the fact that they were unprotected. This led to your commanders choosing to mutiny over complying with your wishes. Can you explain the reasoning behind leaving our enemy¡¯s bases unmolested? What¡¯s more, several witness accounts claim that you have come to possess the relic known as Castigation. This symbiotic relic fuses with its bearer and so cannot be forcibly removed in such a short period ¨C short of its owner bequeathing it to someone else. This begs the question, why would the Crimson One give such an astounding relic to you?¡± Five poignant questions. The situation was critical, for if he were found guilty of any of these crimes he would be cast from Skycloud forever. ¡°None of these charges are damning. I can speak directly to the accusation that he colludes with the demon Abaddon and tell you it is categorically false. I swear it on my faith. ¡°Selene stepped forward and spoke loudly. ¡°When we encountered him in the wastelands, the demon feigned death and left behind his relic in an attempt to confound Skycloud. It was a strategic and ultimately successful ploy. At my personal recommendation, Cloudhawk took the relic and left for Skycloud. I was and am still certain that there is no possibility he is a spy for demons.¡± A direct testimonial from the Temple¡¯s Apostle. Could anyone speak against her assurances? ¡°The remaining accusations are entirely groundless. Wolfblade¡¯s cunning is well-known. Are we to take the word of a known terrorist? When Cloudhawk knew Squall, the merchant son had done no wrong. In fact he was a victim. Afterwards Cloudhawk was undergoing training in Hell¡¯s Valley and could not have been involved in the creation of Squall¡¯s gang.¡± Selene¡¯s logic was irrefutable. ¡°Cloudhawk also had no idea of Autumn¡¯s identity when he met her. I was also present at the time, and saw nothing of Autumn but a simple young girl. Evidence now suggests that Autumn¡¯s body has come to be possessed by the betrayer god known as Silvana. Even though Cloudhawk had interactions with Autumn in the past, it holds no bearing to the situation as it is today.¡± ¡°As for the accusation that Cloudhawk is sympathetic to the Wastelands Alliance? The mere idea is absurd. He was singlehandedly responsible for killing Adder and preventing the Conclave for taking Woodland Vale for themselves. If they¡¯d been allowed to seize that closed-off domain, they would have been all but invincible.¡± ¡°This ¡®evidence¡¯ you present is based on nothing more than speculation. You have no concrete proof of anything you claim. Cloudhawk killed Adder, fought in the Northern Barrens, and led our forces to victory over the enemy. You cannot declare someone guilty based on the flimsy hearsay you¡¯ve provided today.¡± Selene was a girl of few words, typically. Today, she said more than Cloudhawk remembered her ever saying in a single conversation. Most of the crowd was rendered speechless. Hearing these words from her was far more convincing than is Cloudhawk had delivered them. After all, her faith and devotion was not in question. While her loyalty to the Cloude family was unclear, her loyalty to Skycloud was not. Cloudhawk wisely kept silent. He wanted to share the whole story, tell everyone Arcturus¡¯ many crimes, but he had nothing to prove anything he said was the truth. At least on the surface, the Governor had stayed out of this whole mess. Dispatching Hell¡¯s Army to the Blisterpeaks, for instance, was Skye¡¯s order. The missions of the expeditionary force were all at his command, too. If he accused Arcturus of facilitating the rise of the Wastelands Alliance, and claimed he was the black hand guiding it, no one would believe him. If he said it was Arcturus would orchestrated the assassination of Sye Polaris, he would be dismissed out of hand. It would only make his situation worse. The council of nobles and officers conferred with one another. Ramiel called for a brief recess. Meanwhile Cloudhawk was kept within the Temple, under close guard by its warriors. As he was being escorted away, Cloudhawk lifted his eyes toward the exalted man in his simple gray robes. Nothing about his face said anything but perfect calm. Never once during the trial so far had he opened his mouth or made a declaration. He just sat there like a bystander, like he had no part in any of this. Cloudhawk would be more at ease if the snake would make his thoughts known. At least he¡¯d know what the bastard was thinking. But for the time being Arcturus was dead silent, which only made him more frightening. Silence meant he was hiding something, something he had no way to uncover. The most dangerous enemy was the one who never said a word. You never knew where their next attack would come from, or where it might land. Arcturus was ten times more dangerous than an enemy who yelled and screamed. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking or what he would do. He didn¡¯t even know what his aim was. You couldn¡¯t defend yourself if you didn¡¯t know anything about what sort of danger you were in. That was the genius of this old fox. Victory through inaction. It was best to keep yourself out of affairs, and your machinations hidden. Then, when the time was right and your plans in place, move with the speed of lightning. By the time anyone knew what was happening, it was too late. Cloudhawk knew going against Arcturus Cloude was not going to be easy. 1. 2. Yes he did. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 91 - Winning Them Over Arcturus Cloude was writing something in his study. Frost stood beside him. ¡°You want to ask why I don¡¯t get rid of Cloudhawk directly.¡± ¡°Killing him wouldn¡¯t be difficult. All of this trouble seems unnecessary.¡± ¡°Removing Cloudhawk from the equation isn¡¯t the goal. Most urgent is the need to incorporate the expeditionary force into our own camp. He must be allowed to tell everyone his sins, otherwise we would have put a commander to death for no reason. His death would feel less righteous and may upset the Polaris holdouts.¡± ¡°Cloudhawk didn¡¯t earn his position in the standard way, though. The officers already refuse to accept him.¡± Frost offered his own thoughts. ¡°How can you be sure they don¡¯t want him dead as soon as possible?¡± ¡°Many of the officers are directly descended from Cosmo Thane¡¯s line. They are an emotional and fiery sort, who take stock in a man¡¯s actions and not just the man. With men like them there is bound to be friction. Now, Cloudhawk¡¯s actions after taking command of the fleet were impressive. Defense was well-mounted, his break from encirclement clever, and his counter-attack finely crafted. Even at his young age he displayed considerable tactical promise, equivalent to general of average experience. Even despite Drake¡¯s death, there is still the possibility the Thane¡¯s may choose to stand with him. Frost observed that his master didn¡¯t have the faintest ill will toward Cloudhawk. The reasons he gave also made sense. The expeditionary force had many powerful men ¨C men he had to cajole if he wanted the expeditionary force to follow him. Arcturus couldn¡¯t afford to insult or appear to impede these men in their search for justice. But Cloudhawk continued to be a thorn in the Governor¡¯s side, and would continue to be if he was left alive. This couldn¡¯t be permitted! Arcturus surely had a hundred ways to erase Cloudhawk from the face of the planet that couldn¡¯t be traced back to him. He couldn¡¯t have ruled this realm for so long if he didn¡¯t know precisely how and when to get what he wanted. Yet Arcturus did not move against Cloudhawk, and all for a single reason. He didn¡¯t want to. What value did the upstart have to Skycloud¡¯s Governor? He was clearly still a piece in Arcturus¡¯ far-reaching chess game. Frost was still struggling with the question was a guard¡¯s voice called from the doorway. ¡°Governor, Hammont Seacrest has arrived as you requested.¡± ¡°Bring him in.¡± Hammont was brought into the study, flanked by guards. The large man shifted from foot to foot in a visible display of nerves. Arcturus Cloude was no ordinary man, after all, but the political and military ruler of the entire realm. All of Skycloud¡¯s real power rested in his hands, nothing was impossible for him anymore. Only one other person had his sort of vaulted status, and that was High Priest Ramiel Caelestis. Arcturus slowly set his documents to one side. ¡°Your name is Hammont Seacrest, is this correct?¡± ¡°Yes, honorable Master. That is correct.¡± Hammont fell to his knees in a dramatic sign of respect. ¡°Your humble servant is here to do whatever bidding the Master Governor requires.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother with any of that.¡± Arcturus sat back in his chair. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into your history. You¡¯re a talented soldier, with at least as much potential as the likes of Aegir or Cosmo. However, from a professional perspective the Polaris family may not be the best fit for you.¡± The fat man¡¯s expression blanched a little. ¡°Your humble servant was just lucky, that¡¯s all. A few lucky breaks over the years have helped me get where I am, it surely wasn¡¯t thanks to my piddling abilities. I¡¯m really not even middle of the road when you consider our illustrious soldiers. I can¡¯t possibly compare to the honorable Generals you mentioned.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t belittle yourself so. You cannot evaluate the worth of a man by what they display. To properly judge someone, you must consider their potential and their position.¡± Arcturus¡¯ mannerisms were friendly, calm, and instructional. He spoke with the gentleness of a spring breeze, like a scholar mid-lecture. ¡°The age of men like Skye Polaris has unfortunately passed. Times are changing. We must change with them.¡± Hammont wasn¡¯t sure what he meant. ¡°Skye Polaris promoted his men based on the valor they displayed, but ignored the equally important characteristics of wisdom and strategy. For the first time in a thousand years we have encountered an enemy as cunning and as brave as we are. That is what led us to the catastrophic defeat at the Blisterpeaks. That is how we lost our great generals. Soldiers who are too self-assured leave themselves open to destruction. We cannot have courage without discipline, otherwise we will merely repeat the same mistakes. With a new era, and a new enemy, we must change our very foundations to rise to the occasion.¡± Here, Arcturus paused and just watched Hammont for a moment. ¡°It is not enough for a general to know how to defeat the enemy. He must cherish every soldier in his command. Winning a single battle is not the most important thing. In the old days the phrase went, ¡®he who laughed last laughed loudest.¡¯ A masterful commander needs to know more than how to lead his troops on the field. He must cultivate a keen sense to know the hidden battles all around us. That is the key to ultimate victory.¡± Hammont maintained his silence. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s old guard cannot bear the burden of what we need done. Since the weight of Commander-in-Chief rests in my hands for the time being, it falls to me to cultivate the next generation of leaders.¡± Arcturus paused to pick up the document he¡¯d been writing, and handed it to Hammont. ¡°I am appointing Frost de Winter as the new commander of Skycloud¡¯s armed forces. Your mission ¨C if you accept ¨C is to aid him in this charge. Will you embrace this duty?¡± The fat man¡¯s breath was a little shallow. He felt it ¨C a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Arcturus¡¯ offered position was a gateway to tremendous levels of success. Such an important mission from the Cloude family was every man¡¯s dream. But¡­ ¡­ it didn¡¯t feel right. Hammont was here today because of Cloudhawk¡¯s efforts. Anyone with half a brain could see the Cloude familt was at odds with Cloudhawk. If he accepted the Governor¡¯s offer, would that pit him against his former benefactor? ¡°It is critical that the young reach for the opportunities set before them.¡± Arcturus¡¯ words cut through his concerns. ¡°I can promise you that if you aid Frost in consolidating his position, you will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. You will have the authority to rebuild your corps in no time, and bring the glory of our fallen General Drake into the future as one of Skycloud¡¯s greatest military units. In the future, it may even grow into an army of its own, under independent leadership. Your leadership. I myself will teach you the obscurities of strategy and leadership, for I am sure men like you are the future of our realm.¡± Hammont¡¯s teeth clenched tight as he thought it over. Then, slowly, he nodded his head. ¡°This humble man is happy to offer his services to our illustrious Governor.¡± Arcturus revealed no surprise at his decision. He knew the fat man was clever. ¡°You will be happy for the decision you¡¯ve made today. The path you¡¯ve chosen is one of glory and success. Henceforth, your life will change completely.¡± Honeyed words, but Hammont felt something inside of him sink. What this meant was that from this day forward, he belonged to the Cloudes. Arcturus¡¯ declaration of a new Commander-in-Chief spread quickly. Lieutenant Commander of the Knights of Splendor, Frost de Winter, was officially elevated to commander of the entire Skycloud army. Because he was under investigation, acting commander Cloudhawk was removed from his posts. Frost¡¯s leadership was effective immediately. Five hundred demonhunters were donated by the Cloude family to fill out the expeditionary force¡¯s ranks. In a single stroke, their demonhunter deficiency was resolved. A full third of those numbers were delegated to the Drake Corps, under command of the relatively unknown young Colonel Hammont Seacrest. The swift series of changes caught people unprepared. Of course, Frost de Winter was one of the most illustrious youths of his generation. He was Arcturus¡¯ personal disciple, and had risen among the ranks step by step thanks to his merit. For years he served as commander of the respected Knights of Splendor, then lieutenant general, and now General of the whole army ¨C the youngest proper commander in Skycloud¡¯s history. Even if someone were to disagree with the appointment, they would be hard pressed to find a good reason to protest. Beyond his powerful backing, Frost also had considerable skill in his own right. His record was proof of this. His brilliant talent was impeccable, as he showed when he killed Wyrmsole. Few could defeat him, even among the established powerhouses of the older generation. It was Hammont¡¯s appointment that many found curious. A man with few notable exploits to speak of, no noble birth, and only average strength ¨C where did he get the qualifications to rise so high among the ranks? Where Drake¡¯s Corps had original had only a few hundred men, now it was among the best-fitted units in the entire army. It was a bitter pill for the other officers to swallow. Arcturus¡¯ appointment of Hammont was sure to attract attention. It was a tactical call, to draw attention from the more contentious rise of Frost de Winter. Most of the disapproval would be wasted on Hammont. As for whether the fat man could hold his position¡­ this was Arcturus¡¯ test. If he couldn¡¯t handle this small setback, then Hammont didn¡¯t deserve the position. Skycloud¡¯s Governor was now alone in the study. He sat with his eyes closed, deep in thought. Now there was no power in Skycloud capable of standing in his way. And he was only getting started. *** ¡°High Priest! Why are you hesitating?¡± Selene had just finished telling the kindly old man the news about the expeditionary force¡¯s new appointments. ¡°We know the Wastelands Alliance is under Arcturus¡¯ control. We know he was responsible for killing Skye Polaris. The Temple is aware of all of this but doesn¡¯t act, and it only makes the Governor bolder by the day.¡± High Priest Ramiel Caelestis was an aloof, almost mystical figure in Skycloud. Even Arcturus acted humbly and respectfully before him. This was because Ramiel was the only human thought to be able to commune with the gods. It was this fact that made him the only person in the realm capable of standing up to the Governor and his grab for power. It was for this reason Selene pledged herself to the Temple. ¡°The situation is not as simple as you think.¡± Ramiel had known something was off about Arcturus for years, but while Ramiel was greatly respected he had no real power. He only had command over the Templars and the Empyrean Guard. He couldn¡¯t openly defy the Governor, only investigate the situation in secret. He¡¯d been at it for a long time, and so far had not revealed his suspicions. Selene pressed the matter. ¡°This should be reported directly to the gods themselves!¡± ¡°The gods hold no interest in petty human politicking, especially when we have no proof to speak of. Arcturus is a man of caution, and nothing he¡¯s done detracts from his facade of faith and service. The gods will not simply erase a man like him because I say so.¡± She was at a loss. Even the gods were powerless against a criminal like him? What sort of gods were they, then?! ¡°A man as intelligent as Arcturus will not open himself up to challenge. This cannot be rushed.¡± Selene¡¯s thin brows curled in frustration. ¡°Is Cloudhawk in danger?¡± ¡°You need not worry for now. If Arcturus had intended on eliminating all his foes for good, you would¡¯ve been one of the first to be targeted. He would have made sure none of you returned alive. While his reasons are still a mystery, he has chosen to keep his murderous intentions at bay. For now the best thing for you is to wait, and watch. I will keep Dawn and Cloudhawk here within the Temple. They might be ostensibly under arrest, but right now, it is the safest place in the city for them. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 92 - Boiling the Seas ¡°Enter!¡± Several Templars entered and opened the large doors to the guard room. ¡°This is where you¡¯ll be living until the end of your hearing.¡± ¡°Stop pushing me around. You guys got no fuckin¡¯ manners.¡± Cloudhawk fussily straightened his clothes while shooting the stink eye to his guards. ¡°I¡¯ve got legs, alright? You think I can¡¯t walk on my own?¡± ¡°Stop talking!¡± One of them, a captain, glared at the mouthy youth. ¡°You better show me a little respect, and don¡¯t think you¡¯re getting out of here. Try to escape and things will go very badly for you. Even the Apostle won¡¯t be able to protect you from what I¡¯ll do!¡± He punctuated his threat by slamming the door. The resonant thud rumbled through the room. Cloudhawk irreverently jabbed his middle finger at where the man had stood. Did he really think this place could hold him? It wasn¡¯t like Cloudhawk had been wasting time all these years. ¡®House arrest¡¯ was just another sort of imprisonment, only with fewer chains and slightly better accommodations. They would give him three square meals a day, and he didn¡¯t expect to be mistreated. Most importantly, though, the Temple was likely the only place Arcturus¡¯ power couldn¡¯t reach. The structure of the Temple was unique. Its interior was three or four times larger than it appeared from the outside, which was possible because it was constructed with mysterious godly power. It somehow flouted the rules of time and space, which Cloudhawk sensed because the energy density in here was several times what it was outside. Because of the unique makeup of the energy levels here, even just moving around required more effort. Cloudhawk found that the strange dimensional make-up of the temple was more than his relic could overcome. It¡¯s why the Temple didn¡¯t confiscate his relics, even though they knew he had phase powers. Of course, Cloudhawk¡¯s powers were more varied and complicated than they gave him credit for. He didn¡¯t need to waste energy trying to phase through the walls of the Temple when he could simply teleport to another dimension. All he had to do was lip into his warehouse out in space, wander off a few steps, then boom ¨C he was free. The Temple couldn¡¯t hold him, no place could. However, having the ability to escape and actually accomplishing it were two different things. When he got out, what then? What was he supposed to do? Cloudhawk sat cross-legged and fell into a quiet contemplation. He had to look at the bright side; sure he was locked up in this place, but at least he was getting a little fucking peace and quiet for a change. Still, something had to be done. Cloudhawk wrapped his fingers around the relic that hung from his neck and plucked it off. He stared at it, dull even under the strange Elysian lantern light. The phase stone was black as coal, with a texture somewhere between rock and jade. Really, very unassuming except for the almost imperceptible threads of red veins that snaked across its surface and pulsed with the faintest light. Such a simple looking thing, containing such incredible power. From the moment he found this stone, Cloudhawk¡¯s whole life had changed. He felt like something had been pushing him down this path. From when he found the stone and everything that happened afterward. It was like none of it was by accident, that some unseen hand was leading him from one experience to the next. Everything was predetermined. It was¡­ uncomfortable. Like his name he was a hawk, aching for freedom. He would accept no fetters, and would only remain in a cage if he so chose. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what would come if he kept walking this path, but he did know that there was nothing that strength and knowledge could not change. If he encountered something intractable, it just meant he wasn¡¯t strong or smart enough yet. Fate¡­ fate. What did any of that mean? It was an excuse for the weak and a self-deprecating falsehood for the strong. Cloudhawk was determined to take fate into his own hands, but if he wanted to do that he needed more power! He¡¯d gotten stronger quickly in the last half year, but compared to his goal it was a drop in a bucket. He needed more, or he couldn¡¯t protect himself from his enemies much less his friends. When he thought about it his fingers tightened around the stone. Tiny licks of flame reached from between his fingers, the ominous green of Castigation fire. They slithered out from within him like tentacles, gently reaching for the relic. He watched as green fire permeating the stone. Castigation was a relic unlike any other. What made it special was its parasitic nature. When it joined with a host, the power of the relic spread through every cell of its master much like Trespasser. Now, it was as much a part of him as anything else. The actual substance of Castigation Fire was infinitesimal, but it devoured anything it touched. That made it phenomenally dangerous. He¡¯d seen it damage other relics as well, because Castigation Fire gnawed at the source of what made them work. It made repairing said relics very difficult. What¡¯s more, Castigation Fire retained some of that material that made relics function and brought it into the host. In short, it took from a relic and delivered it into a person¡¯s body, eventually granting the bearer the ability to use the relic¡¯s power without the item itself. That¡¯s how Cloudhawk had absorbed a piece of Quiet Carnage¡¯s power before it was destroyed. He wondered¡­ if he could extract some of the power of Quiet Carnage, could he do the same with the phase stone? He decided to try. Of course, the phase stone was also different from other relics. The demands it placed on the bearer were intense. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have taken a thousand years for someone to come along and claim it. There was no doubt that something about Cloudhawk, some hidden lineage or talent, was what allowed him to use the tone. That¡¯s why the demon king chose him. It all began when he touched it. He remembered feeling a connection with it right away, like they were of the same body. It was meant for him, it was a birthright. No one else could wield it but him because of this innate kinship. He was intimately familiar with it even long before he stumbled on that cave. So, it would be the subject of his first experiment. The phase stone was of a higher grade than Castigation Fire, there was no danger of the green fires destroying it. Even if his efforts failed, he wouldn¡¯t be losing a relic. Cloudhawk continued to carefully release the power until the stone was completely enveloped. As it happened, he felt like he was caught in some strange space, a familiar space ¨C that sea of mental energy locked within the stone. Vast, and black. It was what remained of the Demon King¡¯s power. Though only a fraction of what the beast had wielded in life, the immensity of it was staggering. Were Cloudhawk able to absorb it all, he would instantly be as mighty as a Master Demonhunter. Much of the reason for his improvements over the years was thanks to the power locked in this stone. It was a dark gift from a dead monarch, available because he was ordained as the creature¡¯s successor. If not for it, no matter how hard he worked it would be a miracle for him to become even half as strong as he was today without the phase stone. The dark sea stretched out before him like a mirror. Faint lights danced across its surface like the starry night sky. Overhead, the ¡®sky¡¯ was an eerie green reflecting on the murky surface. Flickers of green began to descend, gently touching down upon the sea. When the darkness swallowed up the fires its smooth surface began to tremble, and then seethe. Sinister hues of green began to creep into the pure black waters. As the fires continued to descend, the sea boiled ever more intensely. Cloudhawk looked out over a limitless expanse of pitching waters. Steam was belched into the air as the sea of psychic energy began to boil away. The process continued for a time. A rain of Castigation fire was falling all around. Suddenly Cloudhawk opened his eyes and took deep, gasping breaths. He was soaked from head to toe, like he¡¯d been wading through an ocean. His eyes snapped to the phase stone, where he discovered with surprise that it had become smaller. Where before there had been veins of red through the rock, now they were green. It appeared Castigation Fire was still at war with the black sea within. Power surged through Cloudhawk¡¯s body. He could feel it filling him. He¡¯d directly absorbed only a fraction of the steam he¡¯d seen, however the rest was not lost or wasted. Rather, it was conveyed into his body as he expected it might. His own body became the new vessel for the power sealed in the stone. What did it mean that the relic was smaller? It must have melted! He was puzzled by the results and a little frightened, for he hadn¡¯t wanted to damage the relic in his efforts. Fortunately, he found that the powers of the stone were not diminished by his attempts. Instead, it was now shared with his own body. In other words, with time and effort Cloudhawk could boil the entire sea of energy within the stone and swallow it into himself. Once that was accomplished he could phase and teleport without the stone, a true super human. Over the next few days Cloudhawk was shuffled back and forth from his hearings. He entertained himself by harassing his captors, and when he had a spare moment would continue to work with the stone. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t be so arrogant!¡± ¡°Antagonizing the Governor isn¡¯t doing yourself any favors!¡± ¡°Yeah, Miss Polaris ¨C you¡¯re causing the Grand Master a heap of trouble.¡± Cloudhawk had just settled down for a rest when he heard talking through the wall. He listened as Dawn was shoved into the room next door. Since she was a former Templar, her relationship with their captors was on better terms. Their gruff words were meant to persuade her, for her own benefit. For her part, however, Dawn did not seem grateful for their attempts. Instead she sent them away in no uncertain terms. Cloudhawk chuckled. ¡°I thought there was something different in the air today. I should have known it would be the noble Miss stomping around.¡± He heard Dawn rush to the wall they shared, striking it with so much force it trembled. ¡°Cloudhawk? They threw you in here as well?¡± ¡°They put me here right after they took you away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s inconceivable what they¡¯re doing. I tell them the truth but no one listens. How can you be so relaxed?¡± ¡°Nothing wrong with a little quiet and three solid meals a day. Hell, I¡¯d stay here a year or so if they¡¯d let me ¨C not a good vacation.¡± When he heard her voice it was irritated and incredulous. ¡°You¡¯d willingly live such a cowardly life?¡± ¡°Surprise! You¡¯re annoyed with me.¡± He leaned with his back against the wall as he spoke with her. ¡°You know the southern wastelands?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s riddled with mutant creatures. What about it?¡± ¡°Four years ago, my life was spent picking through the ruins of the southern wastes. I was lucky to get a full meal once a day. I was forever picking through garbage looking for scraps, hiding from slavers, and shivering in the dark hole I called my home. When I opened my eyes in the morning I was happy to still be breathing.¡± As she listened to Cloudhawk recount his former life, Dawn calmed down. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I¡¯ve had to live that way.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was calm and even. ¡°But I don¡¯t have to go back to know the ruins are still filled with people who were like me, just trying to survive. While some people may call being locked up in this place hell, where I come from this is heaven. Heaven and hell¡­ it¡¯s really just a matter of perspective.¡± Dawn didn¡¯t agree with him, but couldn¡¯t refute his logic. ¡°That¡¯s humans for you. If you gave someone a few pieces of every day for nothing, then stopped suddenly, inwardly they¡¯d hate you for it. If you slapped someone across the face every day and then stopped because your hand hurt, your victim would thank you for it.¡± ¡°What are you trying to say, that all humans are garbage?¡± ¡°I guess that depends on how you look at it. So far as I¡¯m concerned, all people are equal. Honor, riches, dignity ¨C all external bullshit. Being focused on all of that nonsense is stupid and serves nothing but to make you lose your way.¡± Cloudhawk laid back on the mattress, folding his hands behind his head. ¡°If I was the same person, picking through the ruins for grubs, I¡¯d fight for what¡¯s mine but wouldn¡¯t complain about what I didn¡¯t have. It was hard, but I was satisfied, even happy. You gain and you lose, you earn what you deserve ¨C it¡¯s how you stay true to your natural self.¡± Dawn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. It was the first time she¡¯d laughed in days. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 93 - The Oracle All troubles in the world came from within. Helplessness came from the sense that you didn¡¯t get what you wanted, blooming from the root of endless avarice. When you have nothing, you want something. When you have something, you want more. It was the source of progress and the source of pain. Who could live all their days in contentment, in the natural way? Life and desire were one and the same. If one were to wholly put aside their desires, what was left to live for? Dawn listened as Cloudhawk waxed philosophical, but he silently asked himself if he could really live such a free and easy life as he wanted. Humans needed ties, because true freedom meant absolute loneliness. Dawn sat with her back against the wall. Both she and Cloudhawk were in the exact same position, though the wall between them hid each other from view. She imagined that she could feel Cloudhawk¡¯s heat through the stone, sense the rush of his blood. It calmed her angry heart. ¡°Tell me about the kind of person you used to be.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to say about a wasteland scav?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t a typical wastelander.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. I was always a little strange, even when I was young. Other scavs thought there was something wrong with me. I thought the same.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I was born in the ruins. Ever since I can remember I¡¯ve had this dream where I could fly over the ruins and into different worlds. I always had this desire in me to know what was out in the world beyond.¡± Dawn paused for a moment. ¡°But the wastelands are endless.¡± ¡°How was I supposed to know that? I always thought that out there somewhere was some place safe and quiet, without death. Some place with fertile land, clothes to keep me warm and food to fill my belly. I would live there, spending my days quiet and content until I died.¡± A smile touched the corner of his lips. ¡°Everyone thought I was crazy. There was only one person who would listen.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Just an old wastelander. He told me that he¡¯d never stepped foot out of the ruins, so all his hopes to see the world would fall on my shoulders.¡± Cloudhawk stopped for a moment. His expression was sad. ¡°When I was small those ruins were my whole world. I had no concept of how large the wastelands were, but I always fantasized about it.¡± ¡°The old man died and I grew older. Later, I was lured to a place called Blackflag Outpost, where I met three wastelanders who left a deep impression on me. One was a pudgy man, cunning and clever. Another was a crazy drunk fighter. The last was a mystery in a lot of ways. Looking back on them now, they weren¡¯t all that special, but at the time they were superhuman. Blackflag Outpost was a tiny place, but it expanded my horizons so much. I dreamed to see more places like that, and to be as strong as those three men. I couldn¡¯t wait for those dreams to come true.¡± ¡°Selene was the first time I saw the powers of a demonhunter. It was incredible. She told me about the Elysian lands, and I realized that was the heaven I¡¯d been striving for. A place where I could stop floating from place to place and settle down.¡± As he continued his voice grew softer. ¡°I learned the reality of things when I got here. It¡¯s nothing like my dreams. When you¡¯re small, the real world is a tiny place, but the world in your dreams is huge. When you get older, that real world seems so massive when the world of your dreams gets so small. Funny, isn¡¯t it?¡± For the first time Dawn heard Cloudhawk give voice to how he thought. It was the deepest parts of his heart, and she closed her eyes to picture the scene. A frail, emaciated teenager appeared behind her eyelids, clawing his way out of the ruins. He set out on his own, on a long difficult journey. He faced countless hardships, and though he was covered in grime from his low birth and hard life, his eyes were bright. At last, he arrived at the place of his dreams ¨C Skycloud. But then, who¡¯d have thought? Skycloud wasn¡¯t the end of the wastelands. It was just an extension of it. Cloudhawk had experienced many ups and downs since he set off on his quest. He saw the ugliness inside of many. The weak teenager from years ago had grown, and now he had status and ability. But was that what he really wanted? Dawn muttered from across the wall. ¡°Put out your hand.¡± Cloudhawk did as he was instructed, pressing his palm against the wall. Dawn did the same. ¡°I know you¡¯ll succeed. If Skycloud isn¡¯t what you¡¯re looking for, then just keep going until you find it. Even if you have to build it with your own hands.¡± Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle. ¡°I believe in you. Even if no one else does, I¡¯ll always stand by your side, until the final moment.¡± Cloudhawk smiled. ¡°You remind me of an old friend I met in Greenland Outpost who told me something similar. It¡¯s been so long, I wonder how things are going...¡± Both of them lapsed into silence. Dawn no longer kicked up a ruckus or threatened to kill Arcturus. It didn¡¯t serve her at all to make that intent known. Running her mouth didn¡¯t solve the problem, it only made things worse. Cloudhawk continued to work with the phase stone. Days passed, and his Castigation fire dissolved what used to be a rock the size of a marble into one only a little larger than a fingernail. The vision of green fire dancing on a black sea returned. He watched the boiling waters, on the cusp of vanishing. Eventually the sea was all steam, and the vast inheritance from the Demon King that was sealed in the stone had been transferred into himself. He opened his eyes, opened his hand, and the stone was gone. Now, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to rely on a tool to phase or teleport. The Demon King¡¯s phase stone was now a part of him, and its powers were his own. Whatever the situation and wherever he was, no one would be able to rob Cloudhawk of that. The same was true for all the power that had been in the stone. However, the nature of it was still different from that of its new host, and as such he could not assimilate everything the Demon King had left behind. Even so, he still felt improved and empowered by the experience. He¡¯d been locked up here for days on flimsy accusations, but Cloudhawk had appreciated the quiet. He made use of the time to absorb the phase stone¡¯s power into himself. Not only was he stronger now, he also gained an incredible, intrinsic power. He didn¡¯t know how much longer this would go on, so Cloudhawk refined his other relics. Next came his Silver Serpents, gifted to him by the Polaris family. He carefully attempted to fuse their power with himself. Having spent days here learning how to wield Castigation Fire, the attempt succeeded without issue. The deadly green fires dissolved metal like a potent acid. The silvery weapons melted away little by little. Its inner power was extracted and fused with Cloudhawk¡¯s body, until there was nothing left. That easy? Cloudhawk tested it by waving a hand. A streak of silver light followed, which carved a groove in the stone wall. It came from inside of him, nearly as sharp as the weapons themselves had been. He¡¯d managed to absorb the power of the Silver Serpents and join it with his own body so that it could no longer be taken from him or destroyed. Cloudhawk was eager to keep going. He wanted to continue until all his relics became a part of himself, but was foiled when he tried it on his invisibility cloak. He got the faint sense that his body was somehow saturated. He didn¡¯t know why, but it was clear that ¨C at least for now ¨C he couldn¡¯t continue. Was there a limit to the number of relics he could absorb? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to continue until he was sure. If he pushed it, he could lose a useful relic for good. That would sting, to put it lightly. So he sat around while the trials continued, kept in the dark about what was happening in the outside world. One day, someone came to pay him a visit. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t familiar with the person, but he¡¯d seen them a few times. They wore a light blue cloak that wrapped up their entire body. No one could see their build or features ¨C or even their gender. All Cloudhawk could determine was that he or she was strong. Real strong. The current top leader of the Temple was High Priest Ramiel Caelestis. He had a few close attendants he relied on, such as Grand Prior Phain and Apostle Selene. But besides them, there were two who were always seen by his side during the hearings. One of them always wore a pale blue cloak and carried a tome of divine law in their hands. This was one of two Oracles, bearer of the Skycloud Doctrine which represented righteous justice. The tome was an illustrious, epic-level relic of the Temple from the time of Skycloud¡¯s creation. But what was the bearer doing here? Cloudhawk looked at them with curiosity. ¡°How long are you and Phain going to keep this up?¡± Dawn looked at the figure with a strange stare. ¡°Can¡¯t you just let us out of here?¡± A calm, almost ethereal voice wafted out from the hood. ¡°If we didn¡¯t keep you in here how would you have calmed down? If we let you free and you try to cut down the Governor again, no one will be able to help you.¡± As they spoke, the Oracle slowly removed the hood. A flood of shimmering white-blonde hair tumbled forth. The bearer of the Skycloud Doctrine was a beautiful, elegant woman who looked near to forty. Much to Cloudhawk¡¯s shock, she looked remarkably similar to Dawn. It was the color of her hair and eyes that gave it away. At a glance it was obvious the two were related. ¡°You¡¯ve never cared whether I lived or died!¡± Dawn answered the woman with a derisive hmph. ¡°I¡¯ve practically forgotten you¡¯re my mother!¡± Mother? Was one of the Temple¡¯s mysterious Oracles Dawn Polaris¡¯ mother? Cloudhawk gaped openly at the revelation. Dawn¡¯s background was unique, Cloudhawk had heard that a long time ago. He¡¯d also heard from her that her mother played an important role in the temple. But an Oracle? Her influence in the organization was even with a Grand Prior. While the clergy¡¯s physical powers were typically seen as inferior, their respect and influence were higher. Even Phain would likely obey were this Oracle give an order. Yet she seemed so cold, and aloof. Skye Polaris was dead, her daughter had tried to kill the Governor, and yet none of that registered on her beautiful face. She hadn¡¯t even shown herself until now. ¡°I am an Oracle. I cannot meddle in these affairs. But since Skye has given him the sword...¡± Her eyes turned to Cloudhawk, and Ardent Wrath which was sheathed at his hip. ¡°¡­ then I will help where I can.¡± ¡°How?¡± Dawn replied curtly. Things were complicated with Cloudhawk and Dawn, to put it mildly. Even the High Priest couldn¡¯t solve their problems. ¡°There is only one way to clear Cloudhawk¡¯s name.¡± The Oracle spoke slowly, deliberately. ¡°We must use the Skycloud Doctrine, and the Arbiter¡¯s Staff to summon the Cloud God. Let the patron of our realm pass judgment.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 94 - Divine Judgemen Two Oracles held sway in the temple: First, Aquaria ¨C Oracle of Order. Second, Thora ¨C Oracle of Justice. It was obvious that the relationship between Oracle Aquaria and her daughter was strained. Although Dawn and Skye often fought, there was still obvious affection between them. The only sense Cloudhawk got when these two women faced one another was that of estrangement. Of course, he didn¡¯t give a shit. Lifestyles of the aristocracy weren¡¯t in his wheelhouse, but it sounded like she had a plan for the situation they were in. One of the Temple¡¯s most important functions was to serve as a link between man and the gods. However, no one knew how they did it. In submitting Cloudhawk to divine judgment, they needed to call forth a god to this earthy plane. They would rely on the wisdom and power of their patron god to levy a ruling on the young man and determine whether he was just in action. If indeed he colluded with the enemy, then the power of the gods would bring this to light. No human could hide secrets before their almighty benefactors. The Cloud God was also the supreme authority over their realm. It seemed to be the only way to clear Cloudhawk¡¯s name. But was Cloudhawk confident in submitting himself to judgment? He wasn¡¯t so sure! For starters, he was not one of the faithful. Skycloud was a place that ran on religious conviction, of which Cloudhawk had none. Anyone who didn¡¯t believe was branded a sinner. And then there was the very big fucking caveat that he was the bearer of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance. That wasn¡¯t a tiny secret. If the Demon King returned¡­ the news would shake the entire world. It could start another Great War. A storm like that, not Cloudhawk could avoid getting swept up in. From the standpoint of anyone in Skycloud and all of the gods, Cloudhawk was the personification of evil. The gods would act, descending on him like armageddon. There would be no escape. He didn¡¯t have a choice, though. Refusing to submit to judgment was tantamount to admitting guilt. There wasn¡¯t much in the way of precedent when it came to wastelanders in Skycloud. Its highest leaders didn¡¯t trust him, so it seemed that the only way to overcome their prejudice was to call on help from the gods themselves. Dawn had utter faith in Cloudhawk, but she also knew he was not a normal man who kept many secrets. When Auquaria made the suggestion, Dawn was skeptical. ¡°Would that help his case? You know as well as I do that he¡¯s from the wastelands. How can the Cloud God accept an outsider, an unbeliever? You¡¯re sentencing him to death!¡± ¡°Skycloud has its rules, and the Temple has its own. If he does not pass muster in the eyes of the Cloud God, then he has only himself to blame.¡± As Oracle of the Temple, Aquaria was strictly bound to its precepts. She could not act on the affects of family as normal people would. But in the end, she was still a mother. She had no desire to see the Polaris family doomed to decay, or for her daughter to be implicated in the death of her grandfather. As for Cloudhawk? If Skye gave him Ardent Wrath, it was because the boy was important. The last time he¡¯d gotten into trouble, Dawn hadn¡¯t hesitated to swear her life on his innocence. That was clear proof the girl had great affection for the low-born outsider. She was in dire trouble now, but was not without redemption. They still had time to recognize and avoid further trouble, if they acted now. And then there was the truth that if everyone was guilty, then no one was. When Dawn swore her honor in Cloudhawk¡¯s defense, she wasn¡¯t alone. There were many who stood by his side, included several from the Umbra family. If Cloudhawk were to be found guilty, severe punishments would have to be levied against his friends, but there was too much power and influence behind them for executions to be carried out. After all, those who stood by Cloudhawk were the talented future of Skycloud. Aquaria had to know the truth about Cloudhawk, both as a representative of the Temple, and as Dawn¡¯s mother. If he died from divine retribution, Dawn might hate her, but at least she¡¯d have done her duty to keep her daughter safe. Ultimately, Cloudhawk¡¯s fate meant nothing to Aquaria. In fact his presence in Dawn¡¯s life was an unneeded risk, as far she was concerned. *** Grand Prior Phain led Cloudhawk through the Temple toward a chamber they hadn¡¯t been to before. He stepped in and announced their presence. ¡°Honorable High Priest, I have brought the accused.¡± The chamber housed twenty four statues arrayed in a circle. The imposing figures glowed with their own milky light, and as they looked upon the chamber¡¯s occupants in stoic silence their beauty could be appreciated. Each one was a work of art, masterfully crafted and without gaudy or unnecessary decoration. In the middle of them all stood High Priest Ramiel Caelestis and Apostle Selene Cloude. Behind them was a crystal doorway flanked by a pair of alters. The Temple¡¯s Oracles stood beside them bearing Skycloud¡¯s Doctrine and the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. From a distance, the rest of Skycloud¡¯s elite watched with baited breath. Everyone was eager to see what judgment would be passed down from the mouth of a god. For someone as insignificant as Cloudhawk to warrant disturbing a god¡¯s slumber was remarkable to them. It was like using a broadsword to behead a chicken. However, many were interested to learn of Cloudhawk¡¯s secrets. In just a few short years, this enigmatic young man had captured everyone¡¯s curiosity. How had a wastelander learned to employ mental powers? How had an outsider grown so strong, so quickly? The rate at which Cloudhawk cultivated his skills outstripped every other talent of his generation. If the gods smiled upon him, then Cloudhawk would have no trouble finding a new powerful benefactor to support him. High Priest Ramiel, despite his white hair and advanced years, was still hale and hearty. He nodded sagely as they entered the chamber. ¡°Cloudhawk, after several days of hearings and reviewing all the evidence, we have not found sufficient cause to determine your guilt. However, too many questions remain to assert your innocence. We must thus rely on the infinite wisdom of our realm¡¯s patron, the Cloud God, to determine how we shall proceed. Do you submit yourself to the omniscient gaze of the gods for judgment?¡± Well fuck, do I have a choice? Inwardly Cloudhawk cursed his situation, but he knew there was no getting out of it. Selene watched with a faint note of concern in her face. She didn¡¯t think Cloudhawk had done anything wrong, but he was a non-believer. Would the gods tolerate someone who openly defied their supremacy? Hearing no objection, High Priest Ramiel slowly raised his hand. ¡°Open the Divine Door!¡± Several dozen priests and clerics began to chant. The two Oracles reacted to the High Priest¡¯s orders. The first bore Skycloud¡¯s Doctrine, a tome that represented order, peace, the rule of divine law, and tradition. The other was the Arbiter¡¯s Staff, which represented judgment, discipline, punishment and authority. Both epic-level relics started to react to the chanting. Their intrinsic powers awakened, and each rose from the altars they¡¯d been placed upon. Floating of their own accord they gently entered the Divine Door. Moments after they vanished, everyone could feel it as an old and powerful will awakened. The majestic aura that followed was more crushing than a mountain. The crystal doorway started to undulate as though it were instead made of liquid. From within, there emerged a humanoid figure, tall and glowing with radiant light. Its presence was like a sun¡¯s rays after a terrible storm. And although the light was intense, it did not hurt the eyes. An aura of absolute divinity filled the chamber. All but the High Priest immediately fell to their knees. Here among them appeared a god worshiped by millions, a great and true being of divinity. It was the righteous guardian of their realm ¨C the Cloud God! Who was the true master of the Temple? The common folk thought it was the High Priest, but there was another who slumbered in secret, far separated from the mundane lives of man. The Cloud God was the being which ruled over the Temple in its entirety. Arcturus Cloude watched the figure emerge from the crystal doorway from a distance. Wrinkles deepened around the corner of his eyes, but otherwise the Governor displayed no emotion. And then a deluge of divine spiritual energy flooded the chamber, exploding through the minds of all who were present. ¡°My faithful, why have you called for me?¡± Everyone could feel the breadth of this power as it filled them. Even a man like Phain pressed himself closer to the ground under the weight of this celestial will. Of all presence, the only person who could remain steadfast against the weight of this creature¡¯s presence was Governor Arcturus. Was this the will of the Cloud God? Selene couldn¡¯t bring herself to look directly at the doorway. Ramiel lifted his head and began to speak with their patron god, though none could hear the exchange. They did not speak in words, but rather mind to mind. Cloudhawk felt the immensity of this creature¡¯s presence right away. Another surge of energy was released from the door like a column of divine might descending from heaven. It pierced into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. Such a potent and indomitable will was unlike anything Cloudhawk had experienced before. All at once every memory and experience in his life started to bubble up to the surface unbidden, even many he¡¯d forgotten. Behind his eyes strange symbols were extracted, coalescing into something like a book that could be leafed through. Was this great being able to read him, like a book? This realization both shocked and frightened Cloudhawk. If it was able to look right into his mind, then no man could hide their secrets from the eyes of a god. It was like Barb¡¯s Heart-scry Thorn, only a hundred times more potent! Nothing he had experienced ¨C no thought or desire ¨C was hidden. No power he possessed ¨C not even the inheritance from the Demon King ¨C could obfuscate his heart. Cloudhawk tried to rise, but found himself to be powerless. His tiny presence was like a dinghy in the vast, rough sea that was the Cloud God¡¯s mind. The book of his memories was complete, and danced from page to page with incredible speed. The Cloud God would require only a passing moment to know and understand all of what Cloudhawk was. Yet when the god reached out to gather the knowledge, a scene that Cloudhawk did not expect was revealed. Suddenly, violently, several pages from the book were ripped from its binding and scattered all over like discarded leaves. A hint of confusion infected the Cloud God¡¯s mentality. In all its many years, and for all its incredible power, the Cloud God had never experienced something like this before. The god reacted with even more power, and Cloudhawk felt it crash into him like a tidal wave. Blood started to trickle from his nose. All of his broken memories froze, and the mind of the Cloud God began to shuffle among them. The pages that were Cloudhawk¡¯s memories were in disarray, all mismatched scenes of chaos. Inconsistencies were rampant, and some even took place in entirely different ages. The furthest memories reached back to the time of the Great War. The most recent were being written in this very moment. This made the Cloud God even more curious. How could a mortal¡¯s memories be so vast? A being of such limited lifespan, and especially one who was so young, could not possess the memories from several lifetimes ago. Yet these memories were his. Where did they come from? The mighty being paused, until an overpowering thought boomed through Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°Approach, mortal!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s disjointed memories were like a jigsaw puzzle, but started to reorganize themselves into something more coherent. The god was attempted to piece them together into something more complete. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk¡¯s body was no longer under his control. He took several stumbling steps toward the crystal door. It rippled in front of him like a reflective pool. He vanished within. A shock ripped through the temple. Shocked eyes stared in horror as the twenty four statues towering above them cracked, as though two violently powerful wills were locked in contention. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 95 - Contaminan It was not the first time the Temple initiative divine judgment on an accused. No secret could be kept from the vast consciousness that was the Cloud God. Life or death ¨C the verdict was direct and immediate. Many have been subjected to divine judgment, but never had there been a situation like this. The mighty deity¡¯s decision on Cloudhawk remained uncertain. The entire Temple quaked while Cloudhawk vanished into the crystal door. Cracks spread quicker through the crystal effigies surrounding the chamber. Each seemed to contain a tempest, and as the power within threatened to explode forth the onlookers began to worry for the Temple itself. After stepping through the portal, Cloudhawk felt like he¡¯d entered into a world that was half real and half created of mental power. The rules that governed this place were distinct from the world he knew. A thick fog pervaded the air that warped everything he saw. Sometimes it was so dense he could see nothing, and sometimes it was almost thin enough to peer through. He found that he was hovering in midair. It wasn¡¯t really floating, nor did he have any sense of gravity. His sense of hearing, smell and touch had all vanished. He was nothing but a disembodied consciousness existing in this strange plane. Some god¡¯s massive will and creative power must have built this place. Everything around him, stretching out in all directions, was the domain of this divine being. No creature was a threat here. Cloudhawk moved through the half-real, half-psychic environment. Now that he was within the creation of a god, everything he did and thought was connected to the entity. If the god wanted Cloudhawk dead, he need only give it a passing thought and it would be so. Here he was, immersed in the mental forces of a god. Cloudhawk never thought he would have such an¡­ intimate encounter. The god¡¯s consciousness was like an orb, and it was not alone. Cloudhawk could sense that somewhere unknown there were more orbs like this. But they were out¡­ there, somewhere. The sense was like trying to peer at distant stars in the night sky. There was more than one god. Yet, what defined the gods was a linked consciousness, a network of connected minds. A god¡¯s life and form were unique in that they were not individual. Each one was connected to the other. From the moment they are brought into existence they join a vast interlocking system. When tapped in, they could feel and know what each other were experiencing even a thousand kilometers away ¨C even whole worlds apart. And that connection could never be severed. It was part of them. This societal structure permitted no lies, no deceptions, no betrayal. Every thought and experience was shared and gathered together, and in return they could accomplish anything. It was what made them perfect, and powerful. Silvana was, of course, an exception. She managed to sever her connection to this collective and betrayed them by declaring her individuality. The cost was access to their collective power, thus greatly reducing what she was capable of. The Shepherd Goddess split from the others, leaving her former compatriots no way to link with her and communicate. They could no longer sense her, or know her whereabouts. When the Shepherd Goddess severed her connection and became Autumn, it could be said she was no longer a god at all. Cloudhawk learned this as he wafted through the vast consciousness of the Cloud God. He also learned that the leader of this species was called the God King. Beneath him, were six known as the Supremes. Autumn had been one of them, once, as was this divine creature at the heart of the Temple. Shepherd once held sway over the forces of the forest and vitality. The Cloud God¡¯s domain lay in unparalleled psychic power. It was capable of reading a mortal¡¯s thoughts with impunity, as easily as flipping through a tome. Its overwhelming mental acuity was vastly greater than any human, and as such could reach into their minds and extract any information it chose. No secret was safe. Cloudhawk was the only mortal in all its many years of existence who could resist its gaze. Somehow, Cloudhawk¡¯s mind and memories were protected from it. The measures that shielded Cloudhawk activated once the Cloud God tried to read his thoughts. The result was the strange circumstance it had just experienced. However, now Cloudhawk was immersed in the Cloud God¡¯s own consciousness. He was a part of the divine being. Here, nothing was kept secret. Cloudhawk watched as a figured emerged from the fog in front of him, though he had no eyes. It was enormous, and adorned with the most beautiful armor Cloudhawk had ever seen. Although he couldn¡¯t make at any features, the eyes could barely be discerned. Light shone from within that the mists could not diminish. Like a pair of piercing lances, they bored into Cloudhawk and make him tremble. Cloudhawk was dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re a god?¡± ¡°You minuscule creatures cannot conceal your secrets from the gods.¡± Before Cloudhawk could react he felt a palm press against him. It filled him with the strange and unsettling illusion that his mind was cracking open. Pieces of it floated away from him and out into the mists. It wasn¡¯t flesh, or blood or bone. This place Cloudhawk existed in wasn¡¯t fully real, and neither was he. So the fragments of himself that were spat out weren¡¯t physical. Rather they were thousands upon thousands of his memories, shards of his life that dotted the landscape like stars. Each one glittered with strange light. Immediately upon separating from him, Cloudhawk¡¯s memories started to shift. They fluttered all around like a cloud of butterflies. The Cloud God¡¯s voice reverberated through the entirety of this reality. ¡°Defenses like this are beyond the ken of mere mortals. Yet it matters not ¨C nothing can be kept secret from me in my domain. Show me what you have been hiding.¡± The fluttering memories danced like they were connected by a threat. Each one of the multitude of fragments gathered together. Surprise trilled through Cloudhawk. Whether it was the book from before or these dancing fragments, these were his innermost secrets. There was nothing he could do to protect them from the will of this being. Resistance was futile. The memories were captured by the god. Everything that Cloudhawk was, in its grasp. Here it came. Once this creature knew what Cloudhawk was, so would all the other many twinkling consciousnesses he felt. Gods in distant places and other worlds would know the truth, once the Cloud God siphoned it from his mind. He couldn¡¯t stop it. All the many butterflies swarmed together. They alighted on the shimmering body of the Cloud God. Half a second later they burst into pieces, dissolving into tiny black threads like strands of silken hair. These threads wormed their way into the god¡¯s body, and it was then the figure began to jerk and twitch violently. Something was wrong. It knew it but recognized the danger too late. It started to mount a defense. Countless more butterflies swarmed around the god. As they touched its body they unraveled and pierced its shining form. Tendrils of black writhed all over it, from every inch, trying to fight their way inside. In an instant the awesome figure of the Cloud God became a monstrous apparition of reaching black filaments. The memories, like parasites, dug in deeper. When the Cloud God was wholly covered, the threads started to intertwine. The shining white light that had radiated from the being was now a sanguine red. Anger. Pain. They pervaded every inch of this place. Fighting through it all was a singular thought. ¡°Contamination!¡± Rage! Unparalleled rage! The anger of a god exploded all around Cloudhawk like a volcano! The spectators waiting in the Temple could feel it as well. The twenty-four crystal effigies cracked apart and tumbled among the distraught onlookers. Blood poured from the mouths of the two Oracles. ¡°What is happening?!¡± From the moment Cloudhawk stepped through the doorway, to the outpouring of this fury, no more than ten seconds had passed. High Priest Ramiel watched in horror as the liquid portal solidified once more into its inert crystal state, as solid and listless as a block of ice. Whatever occurred within had long been lost to cloudy confusion, and now cracks could be seen. The Oracles cried in forlorn voices. ¡°The Cloud God no longer speaks with us!¡± No longer speaks¡­ did that mean judgment iss over? ¡°Where¡¯s Cloudhawk?¡± Everyone looked around, surprised to discover that Cloudhawk had not returned. What happened beyond the door, when Cloudhawk and their god interacted? What had caused their patron such anger? Why had it all ended so abruptly? He never even delivered his verdict. All of this went against everything they knew. ¡°I sense the vestiges of spatial energy here,¡± Thora said. ¡°Cloudhawk has escaped.¡± Chaos ensued. Selene watched it all with wide, unbelieving eyes. If Cloudhawk was really guilty, the Cloud God would have given him no chance to fight back. There was simply too wide a gulf between man and god. Besides, in the domain of such a being Cloudhawk was powerless. Even with his teleportation abilities, the Cloud God could end Cloudhawk a hundred times without lifting a finger. What had happened? What had Cloudhawk done? ¡°High Priest, this is not the time to concern ourselves with the how.¡± Arcturus Cloude displayed no hint of panic. ¡°Instead of speculation, we must send out a party to find where Cloudhawk has gone. We must also reestablish communication with our illustrious patron and discover what has happened.¡± Ramiel had risen from the rank of Oracle and wear the mantle of the High Priest, and he¡¯d held the post for thirty years. Never in all those years had he seen something this strange and incredible. Through his time in the Temple, Ramiel had discovered that gods did not have the richness of emotions mortals were burdened with. Most of the time those mighty beings were indifferent, free from desires, and few were the things that brought them joy or anger. What about the Cloud God¡¯s encounter with Cloudhawk had caused such a reaction? How had the young man inspired such fury from a god? He found Arcturus to be right. They had to reach through the door again and ask their god for clarity. But no matter how he tried Ramiel was met only with silence. After a time he accepted that they could not learn more from the Cloud God. Their patron was asleep, locked in a deep slumber. Sleep was a strange thing for gods, different than it was for mortals. A god¡¯s life essence was eternal. To them, a hundred years passed the same as a thousand. Time held no meaning, so all of history since the Great War had been spent in slumber. After Skycloud was built, the link to the Cloud God was enshrined within the temple, and since that time the god had never left. Before when Ramiel called for the aid of their patron, he would awaken and answer. However, this time there was nothing. It filled him with a sense of unease. The Temple¡¯s connection to all the gods was only possible through the Cloud God¡¯s link with Sumeru. If their master was asleep and would not answer his calls, it meant Skycloud had no way to communicate with the gods. That meant that if something should happen to Skycloud, the gods would not know of it either. They could offer no aid. Something was wrong. Some sort of dark plan was at work. ¡°It must be Cloudhawk¡¯s doing. Under my authority as Governor, I am ordering that he be arrested on sight. Dispatch the Court of Shadows, the Templars, the League of Demonhunters ¨C everyone. He must be captured and returned no matter the cost. If he will not submit to being brought back alive, then he will be slain.¡± Selene watched it all happen around her but could understand none of it. On the surface it looked like Cloudhawk had somehow harmed the patron of their realm, then fled during the chaos. She thought back, remembering the faint thought that had whispered through her mind. A cry from the Cloud God. ¡°Contamination!¡± What did that mean? Was Cloudhawk the contamination? She¡¯d never heard anything like it¡­ For Skycloud to lose connection with its patron god was more calamitous than when the great wall fell. Whether or not Cloudhawk played a role in it, he was involved. He was bound to suffer for it. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 96 - Escaping the Elysian Lands Space folded in on itself. Cloudhawk staggered out of the rift in space-time, fell, then scrambled back onto his feet. He was gasping for air and looked like he was struggling. Everything that had happened in the Temple was running through his mind, a complicated mess. But the general idea was easy to guess. Those memories the Cloud God read weren¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s at all ¨C at least not originally. Most were absorbed from the Demon King¡¯s skull he acquired in Hell¡¯s Valley. The memories of the beast were so many and so vast that even Cloudhawk could only grasp a small portion of them. Much of the inherited knowledge was still a mystery to him. In an act of kindness the god certainly hadn¡¯t intended, his efforts to read the fragmented memories actually helped Cloudhawk recover them. One thing he could be sure of was that the god had seen everything. The Demon King ¨C or something ¨C had used him to attack the gods. It seemed destined that this day would come, because something had been waiting for it, embedded in his memories. While he still couldn¡¯t put his finger on the essence of it, he knew that the memories and this strange effect had something to do with the origins of gods and demons. Their origins. Their connection. Knowledge from the past. In short the memories were¡­ harmless. But the message had to mean something to the gods. Something unexpected and world-shaking. The reaction was like a man of faith discovering that everything he believed in was a lie; like someone learning that their idol was a rapist; like learning that one¡¯s partner had been unfaithful. Those memories¡­ it had to be something like that, only a thousand times more intense. Sometimes, a single piece of information could mean the death of thousands. Sometimes a single sentence cut deeper than a sword. Be it man or god, there were some things that were forbidden. Upon being connected to the god, Cloudhawk could feel every part of it. When the Cloud God learned the contents of those memories there was¡­ suspicion? A strong uncertainty surrounding its own existence. Then chaos followed. The god had called it ¡®contamination.¡¯ Cloudhawk was a contaminant. It was a simple enough idea to understand. The will of the gods was a unified whole. Put another way, there was no separation between the gods. The Cloud God saw all secrets, and he could not keep any from the others. In the instant the Cloud God knew these mysteries, they must have instantly been transmitted to every other god. They would all be affected! The consequences were beyond Cloudhawk¡¯s comprehension. If indeed this was a ploy by the demons to harm the gods, then Cloudhawk was a kind of biological weapon. A vicious, insidious delivery method that had the potential to fracture the unity of the gods. The Cloud God recognized this, but only after extracting them from Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. To protect the others the god attempted to seal the knowledge away inside itself and fell into a deep slumber. Once the Cloud God slept, its connection to the other gods was diminished. It was a means of protection, to keep the poisonous knowledge hidden. However, it meant that the Cloud God could not be awakened for fear of infecting others. Skycloud had lost the wisdom and protection of its patron. Was this some kind of conspiracy? A sinister play by demons? Some ancient conspiracy? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure. The Temple relied on the gods to be its shield and its support. Without a way to communicate with the Cloud God, the High Priest lost his connection to Mount Sumeru and all its denizens at the same time. Without the light of the gods to guide the Temple ¨C even temporarily ¨C the impact on Skycloud would be incalculable. Could it have been Arcturus? But if it was, how? If he could learn such closely-held secrets about Cloudhawk, and was able to predict even the actions of the gods, then Arcturus was no man ¨C he was an invincible monster. But right now it didn¡¯t matter. First, he had to run for his life! He looked for escape, but in the back of his mind he still wondered. Was this the god Elysians worshipped? Such frail things? Even if he¡¯d done it unwittingly, Cloudhawk had infected the Cloud God and forced it into slumber. Skycloud wasn¡¯t going to give him any quarter this time. The Temple wasn¡¯t going to back him up. He had no more friends or allies left. There was no place in Skycloud for him anymore. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to his knees once more. Oddball wriggled out of his clothing and started to flutter around, anxiously circling Cloudhawk. It sensed their pursuers quickly gaining from behind. There was still farther to go before he reached the Elysian boundary, and if they were caught here they were as good as dead. Cloudhawk¡¯s injuries were mental ones. The bursts of psychic energy from the Cloud God were intended to rend Cloudhawk¡¯s mind, but luckily for him the Cloud God was itself mired in confusion. It could not stop the offending mortal from escaping. But while the god had not destroyed Cloudhawk¡¯s mind outright, it had caused significant damage. The process of extracting his memories had been greatly harmful. Although physical Cloudhawk was untouched, his situation was far from optimistic. ¡°You can¡¯t escape.¡± A streak of crystal blue descended from the sky, accompanied by a frigid voice. Whoosh! It missed Cloudhawk by inches. Ice crackled audibly as it appeared and spread out across the ground. A handsome young man, wearing armor as brilliant and dazzling as the sun, slowly stepped into view. He approached Frozen Dirge and pulled it from the ground. Frost de Winter pointed his weapon at Cloudhawk, who was struggling to keep standing. Cloudhawk wiped the blood that had started to leak from his nostrils. ¡°You again¡­ you haunt me like a fuckin¡¯ ghost.¡± Frost approached with a dozen men at his back. They were all clad in demonhunter garb, a sign that they had spared nothing in this hunting party. A sneer twisted Frost¡¯s lips as he spoke. ¡°This time I won¡¯t waste time trading insults with you. The truth is, this time even I have pity for you. After an attack of this magnitude on Skycloud, I wouldn¡¯t wish your death on the lowest mongrel.¡± Cloudhawk snorted in contempt. ¡°I¡¯d rather be a mongrel than someone¡¯s boot-licking mutt!¡± ¡°Still so recalcitrant...¡± Frost spoke to him as though trying to be helpful. ¡°This time your foul deeds don¡¯t just affect you. You¡¯ve dragged down every friend you¡¯ve had in Skycloud. They vouched for you, trusted you. How will they react now, knowing the truth? Their futures are shattered. No one will take them, even their own families. And you are the cause. None of your friends will suffer your treachery any longer.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was dark. ¡°Are you done?¡± He was not. Frost continued. ¡°You can¡¯t escape. Even if you leave Skycloud, remember that you are a criminal in the eyes of the wasteland as well. A public enemy, everywhere you go. You will be shunned and cast away from every hole you try to crawl into. The world is vast, but there is no inch of it where Cloudhawk is welcome.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gotten better at your shit-talking,¡± Cloudhawk admitted. He narrowed his eyes at the man. ¡°This time, you¡¯re really starting to piss me off.¡± ¡°Then do something about it.¡± Frost tightened his grip on the spear. He stood ready to act. ¡°I heard that the Crimson One presented you with Castigation before his death. Tales speak of its destructive power. Come, let me see for myself how mighty it really is.¡± ¡°Just you?¡± Throbbing veins had crept into Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. He reached back and pulled Ardent Wrath from its sheath, launching himself at Frost in the same motion. He and his broken sword came crashing down toward the newly ascended General like an avalanche. ¡°You aren¡¯t worthy!¡± As Ardent Wrath streaked through the air, a burst of power emerged. His experiments in the Temple had cultivated Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energies considerably. His attack, empowered by what he¡¯d gained from the sea of psychic power, was stronger than he dared to imagine. In defeating Wyrmsole, Frost proved the depths of his abilities. Besides Selene, it was widely accepted that there was no one else of his generation who could stand against him. And yet, as Cloudhawk came tearing toward him, Frost had the sobering realization that he couldn¡¯t merely shrug it off. He quickly eyed the sword, looking passed the fires at where the broken blade ended. Wrapping both hands on the shaft of Frozen Dirge, he stabbed it out like a lashing dragon. It struck steel, and steam instantly billowed forth as ice and fire warred. Everyone saw it clear. Frozen Dirge bent under the strain. ¡°Fuck off and die!¡± Cloudhawk roared in his face. A scorching blast of fire blackened the ground around them. The earth was split, leaving a trench that stretched several meters in front of the sword. Frost reeled backward three hundred meters. His resplendent armor was cracked, Frozen Dirge spun off in the opposite direction, his helmet rolled back toward the other demonhunters. Frost¡¯s flowing locks were burned black and curled inward. ¡°How?!¡± Absolute shock was obvious on everyone¡¯s faces. This wasn¡¯t some nameless grunt Cloudhawk had blown away, it was Frost de Winter, famous for his capabilities! Frost had even killed Wyrmsole, yet unexpectedly lost to a single strike from Cloudhawk. It was unthinkable, but they¡¯d all watched it happen right in front of them. Was sort of hellish attack was that? They couldn¡¯t let him survive and lose them in the wastelands! If they did, who could stop him? What prevented him from being the next Crimson One? Cloudhawk eyes were bloodshot and his hair tousled. The wild and sour expression on his face harkened back to what felt like ages ago now, when he first clawed his way out of the ruins as a scavenger. Back in those days he fought and acted like a cornered beast, and that was when he was at his most dangerous. ¡°Everyone, together!¡± Of the demonhunters Frost had brought, three of them were considered veteran level. The remainder was talented and capable. Under Frost¡¯s leadership this squad could overcome a demon, so they did not fear a mere heathen like Cloudhawk. ¡°Hold!¡± Frost called out to them. Cloudhawk acted on instinct, racing off into the distance as they were distracted. Anger showed in the face of one of the veteran demonhunters. ¡°Why did you stop us?¡± Frost was back on his feet and watched Cloudhawk running toward the horizon. ¡°He¡¯s too strong, and his hysteria makes him stronger. Even if you fought and won, many of you would die. I was not lying when I said there was nowhere for him to run. Putting your lives in harm¡¯s way is pointless.¡± They understood when they had a moment to calm down. There was nowhere for Cloudhawk to go. Several mighty organizations were after Cloudhawk now. The Court of Shadows, the League of Demonhunters, the Templars and others. A mission of this scale and importance was unprecedented. Since there was no immediately threat to the city, many of Skycloud¡¯s strongest and finest would be dispatched. This included old heroes and dangerous veterans from the older generation. Cloudhawk was fierce. It was admirable. But he was obviously wounded. Even with his teleportation abilities how far could he run? A demonhunter¡¯s mental prowess was limited, he couldn¡¯t run forever. When word spread of Cloudhawk¡¯s deeds it was met with shock and anger. This rising star, former Warden of the Talons of God, Adder¡¯s killer, the one who brought the Crimson One to justice, and saved the expeditionary fleet from destruction ¨C in a blink he was the most wanted man in the world. Such a roller-coaster of ups and downs had everyone¡¯s head spinning. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 97 - Next! Was he at the end of his rope? Not necessarily, but Cloudhawk did have regrets. His old commander inspired Cloudhawk to fight through it. If the rules of a place were unacceptable, than change the place and change the rules! He joined the army, was given command of the Talons, and step-by-step earned a name in Skycloud. He may not have liked all the troublesome parts of earning rights and titles, but he couldn¡¯t deny the benefits. He used to fantasize that if he were in the same position as men like Skye or Arcturus, he really could do anything he wanted. At last he would have the unrestricted life he always dreamed of. Now he recognized how foolish that was. Power was tempting, but it wasn¡¯t for everyone. How arrogant had Skye Polaris been? In the end he still had to bow to the pressures of his family¡¯s honor, and it killed him. Even a man as powerful and influential as him couldn¡¯t live the life he wanted without responsibility to others. And if he couldn¡¯t, what hope did Cloudhawk have? The good news was that there were many ways to get around in the world. If one road was blocked, then change directions until you found a suitable path. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t burdened by change, but there was one thing that weighed heavily on him. Would the mess he left mean trouble for Selene, for Dawn, for Hammont and the others? Selene was a faithful, loyal warrior. The Temple was her one way to fight against Arcturus¡¯ tyranny. If the Temple ordered her to raise her sword against Cloudhawk, would she do it? Would she have a choice? The only affection Cloudhawk had remaining for the Elysians lands lay in the friends he was leaving behind. What else was there for him? To avoid causing those he cared for more pain and trouble, the right move was to get as far away as possible. He denied Frost¡¯s dark words. The wastelands were endless, and Cloudhawk had the ability to do and go whatever he pleased! Would finding a place to settle down really be so hard? If he found some small corner and hid his identity, who would come looking for him? Of course, his priority for the time being had to be getting away from this place. Cloudhawk was on his own once again. He turned his head toward the bitter winds and pressed on. He reached into himself to teleport away, but a blinding pain answered. It felt like someone was shoving broken glass into his brain. Trying to summon even a little mental power resulted in agony. The Cloud God¡¯s attack had left its mark. The fight with Frost made it worse. His mental abilities were critically limited. If he tried to stretch them beyond a fraction of his capabilities, the pain returned. He could stomach it if he had to, but it interfered with the more complex attempts like trying to teleport. When trying it, even the slightest interference caused the phase to fail. A sound piqued his attention. It sounded like a whistling from overhead. At first he thought it was the wind, but when Cloudhawk lifted his head he saw countless black dots coming his direction. They whistled and fluttered like a swarm of locusts, but a swarm like that didn¡¯t come from the clouds. It was a rain of arrows! Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils tightened to small black dots. As adrenaline pumped through him, the arrows seemed to slow and he was able to see their trajectory. He raced forward, darting between them as the arrows fell. He managed to avoid them until- Boom! A loud explosion caused the air to tremble. An Elysian warship broke through the clouds overhead. Cloudhawk broke out in a cold sweat as he felt the danger wash over him and threw himself to one side. An instant later, blasts of energy smashed into the ground where he¡¯d been standing. They followed as he ran wildly forward, leaving craters in his wake. The shadow of hundreds of soldiers dotted the landscape as they disembarked. Despite suddenly finding himself cornered, Cloudhawk was unfazed. He disappeared from view, and then suddenly the battlefield was a nightmare of flashing silver and sprays of blood. Elysian armor might as well have been made form paper the way these streaks of silver cut them apart. Pieces of these poor men were flung in all directions, marking a bleeding trail of death and destruction. Kill! I have to kill! Anyone in my way! Cloudhawk carved a path for himself through the bodies of his former charges. Yet his invsibility cloak was rendered useless when a squad of senior demonhunters appeared on the scene. The sound of relics buzzing filled his ears, coming from all around. Cloudhawk searched for a way free. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± He gritted his teeth and blinked forward, succeeding in creating some distance but quickly exhausting his strength. He couldn¡¯t stop to catch his breath. Although he¡¯d left many behind, his stronger pursuers were quickly catching up. In the lead was a contingent of Templar soldiers. Out of the corner of his left eye he saw demonhunters closing the distance. A glance to his right, and he saw a group of officers coming his way. The sky was overcast and strong winds blew and he stood on the ledge of a cliff. Cloudhawk was soaked in blood, and it pooled around him as he swung from one direction toward another. There was nowhere to go. Three groups of soldiers thirsty for blood would be on him in moments. Grand Prior Phain approached, his eyes dark and dangerous despite his indifferent expression. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy. You can¡¯t escape. Come back to the Temple with us immediately.¡± Cloudhawk was out of breath. ¡°You think you can fool me with this shit?¡± ¡°The first moment I saw you, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d amount to much.¡± Before Phain could reply, a young man with a shock of red hair on his head stepped forward. ¡°But here we are, much to my surprise.¡± He was a robust and well-built man with a genial face. There was something warm and inviting about his presence that made everyone immediately like him. Cloudhawk thought he looked familiar, and after a few moments he remembered where they¡¯d met. Blaze! This was the man he¡¯d met with Dawn when they went to the Cloudhawk remembered him as a low-key, friendly guy with decent talent. Of the many notable youths in Skycloud he was the quietest. After Baldur¡¯s fall, Blaze had come to take over the League of Demonhunters and was constantly busy with its upkeep. When did he have any time to make his presence known? Because of this, few knew precisely how capable this young man really was. However, if they sent him out for this important task he certainly wasn¡¯t someone to discount. Cloudhawk coughed, spitting up some blood. ¡°So they sent the head of the League after me, eh? How much money have they put on my head?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here because of the mission,¡± Blaze said. ¡°I¡¯m here for my little sister. Belinda. I think you knew her.¡± She was one of the demonhunters assigned to Claudia¡¯s squad. They¡¯d had to leave her body in the mausoleum under Woodland Vale after everything that had happened. Cloudhawk frowned. ¡°In a mission, casualties are inevitable. You¡¯re part of the League, you know that as well as I do. You shouldn¡¯t be like everyone else and pin her death on me.¡± Everyone else referred to one person in particular, a ruddy-faced old general who stood nearby. It was none other than Cosmo Thane, commander of the Retribution Battalion. He had come with several lesser officers, as part of the mission with the League of Demonhunters and Templars. His intent was to make sure Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get away. ¡°No no no.¡± There was no hate in Blaze¡¯s eyes, only calm. ¡°I just wanted to find out for myself the character of the man who accompanied my sister in her final moments. Better to die a dignified death at my hands than be executed in disgrace. Don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this shit,¡± Cloudhawk muttered. Blaze obliged. He stepped forward, and as he did the air warped from a sudden and intense heat. Sparks rose off of him followed quickly by tongues of fire. Flames swallowed him up as though they had a life of their own, visibly forming into something like the texture of flesh and bone. Intense heat billowed off the man. Everyone backed away from it. Blaze was a large man already, but as the fires coalesced around him he suddenly became a giant five meters tall. Every inch of his body looked to be made of condensed, living fire. Not an ounce of the energy he summoned was outside of his precise control. Every muscle in his body surged with power. His transformation was met with shocked stares, and they raised their hands against the increasing heat. All these years, this unassuming man had been cultivating his strength. Only, he had done it quietly and without anyone noticing. His awe-inspiring presence wasn¡¯t just for looks, either. The heat wafting off of him felt hot enough to evaporate steel! He was like an engine, one that used his fiery powers to turn his body into a killing machine. Mocking jeers were aimed toward Cloudhawk. He¡¯d been driven into a corner, helpless. Templars reached for their sword, but Phain motioned for them to stop. He saw that Cloudhawk was nearly exhausted, and his body was in a bad way. He was no match for Blaze. Why go through the trouble? Besides, Phain would rather bring back a corpse instead of a prisoner. If they brought him back alive, it would only lead to more trouble. His personal relationship with Selene and Dawn was a problem. Both women would do something stupid in his defense, if given the chance. Dawn had at one time being Phain¡¯s disciple. Selene was the hope of the Temple. As far as Phain was concerned, this outsider had no place among them. All he did was cause trouble, so he was better dealt with now. ¡°I will begin.¡± The fiery giant warned his prey. Then, he bellowed a war cry. Blaze¡¯s flesh split in several place, and from within terrible spouts of fire erupted. They were pyres of intense energy that spread all across his body, turning him into a spear of flame as he flung himself toward Cloudhawk with a bang. So fast! Cloudhawk barely had time to lift his sword before Blaze¡¯s fist smashed into Ardent Wrath. The wide blade deflected the brunt of the force, but a red-hot mark where the punch had landed seethed against the steel. That angry red spread through the metal until the entire weapon sizzled. The sound of Cloudhawk¡¯s skin burning could be heard. In the space of a few seconds his broken weapon was hot as molten iron. Another roar erupted from the fire giant¡¯s mouth. He levied another punch at Cloudhawk and his weapon, more powerful than the last. He pummeled the sword with his fist as though he were trying to break through it to Cloudhawk. The League demonhunters who accompanied their leader exclaimed with excitement. Their amicable leader rarely raised his hand against anyone, but now they saw that he was much more powerful than they expected. Unlike the other notable talents of their time, he was strong but called no attention to himself. Cloudhawk¡¯s defeat was certain! How could this wastelander stand against such a man?! Cloudhawk kept his grip on Ardent Wrath, which was red-hot from end to end. The ground beneath his feet was cracking from the impacts, spreading out to the lip of the cliff and threatening to collapse. He was completely suppressed by Blaze¡¯s flurry of attacks and had nowhere to go. ¡°You think this is enough to stop me?!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts became muddled. The residual damage from his encounter with the god remained, so he was finding it difficult to follow Blaze¡¯s speed. Sooner or later the big man was going to land a hit, and that was dangerous. But from deep inside of him there arose a sense of absolute defiance. He refused to lose, and that refusal allowed him to draw on the sea of potential locked within him. It instilled Cloudhawk with a burst of incredible strength. ¡°Get the fuck on!¡± Flames danced in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. Dual scarlet fires that drew one in. They appeared in Blaze¡¯s eyes at the same time. Onlookers heard the flaming giant grunt with strain, and watched as his whole body started to split apart. With a glance, Cloudhawk had foiled Blaze¡¯s overwhelming assault. A streak of angry fire followed as Ardent Wrath cleaved into the giant¡¯s body. It cut through flesh and fire, down into the depths of the beast where Blaze was hidden. The leader of the League took what was left of Ardent Wrath¡¯s bite and was gravely wounded for it. His fight was done. The demonhunters gaped at the scene. Their idol had collapsed after one blow! Cloudhawk¡¯s black hair danced in the fiery winds. He thrust the burning length of his weapon into the ground, and glared at them with an aura so imposing for a moment no one could breathe. ¡°Next!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 98 - Farewells Cloudhawk had knocked Blaze away with a single blow from his sword. Cosmo Thane pulled his sword free with an ominous sound of ringing metal. The veteran officer knelt down, then pushed himself into the air with his powerful legs. Craters appeared below where his feet had been, and he vanished from view. Cloudhawk looked up to see him, overhead and dropping fast. It was obvious by his moves and power that Cosmo was a capable martial artist, and his muscles swelled with true power to the point where his armor was creaking. All of that power was gathered into his arms. His sword screamed toward Cloudhawk in a deadly arc ¨C Avalanche Strike! Cloudhawk raised Ardent Wrath in defense. What was the strength of a veteran Elysian General? Just like Aegir Polaris displayed in the Blisterpeaks, they were stronger than an average demonhunter. Blow for blow, he probably could deal as much damage as Selene. CRACK! As their swords impacted the entire precipice beneath Cloudhawk¡¯s feet split! Cosmos¡¯ strike had caused a real avalanche! Cloudhawk felt his joints pop and his bones creak. While he was also using true strength to defend himself, it was like a child trying to protect himself from an abusive father. All he managed to accomplish was to spread Cosmo¡¯s power down through the mountain and cause the rock to split. Cosmo reared back and swung against in a horizontal arc ¨C Crescent Cleave! Cloudhawk could feel the power coming his way, and it was more than he could handle. His sword was knocked out of his hand and went tumbling across the ground. The General followed up with a third maneuver, so fluid it seemed natural. It was a thrust directed right at Cloudhawk¡¯s heart, quick as lightning and ten times more deadly. Cloudhawk had no way to protect himself against Cosmo¡¯s Piercing Star attack! His status and station were clearly deserved. His skills were refined, and his strength was impressive. Of all Skycloud¡¯s martial artists he was certainly in the top ten. But would Cloudhawk admit defeat? Never! As Cosmo thrust his blade forward for the killing blow, Cloudhawk lifted his hand. From within his palm flashed a silver light, which caught Cosmo by surprise. How could this young fiend summon a relic¡¯s power with just his body? He wasn¡¯t sure how, but he recognized the power as the Polaris family¡¯s Silver Serpents. Ardent Wrath was at his feet in the dirt. The Silver Serpents were dexterous, but relatively weak. Cosmo was confident Cloudhawk could not deflect the attack. Yet what followed was something no one expected. Cloudhawk¡¯s right palm released two streaks of silver. As they stretched out the lights intertwined to form a stronger, thicker beam. ¡°Silver Dragon, break him!¡± His Silver Serpents were formed into one. One beam of glimmering light flashed through the air between them like a thunderbolt. Filled with Cloudhawk¡¯s will and strengthened by the sea of mental energy, it struck with incredible force. Cosmo felt it ram into his weapon like an extension of the man¡¯s rage, slamming him with a power that overpowered his forward momentum and force him back. Cosmos¡¯ sword broke apart inch by inch until only the hilt remained. The blowback ripped through his body and dealt damage to his tendons and muscles. Cloudhawk defeated his second challenger, again with just one move! Cosmo was a senior general, a man with the credibility to stand as a member of the Temple council. He was a lauded veteran of the older generation, yet he still was unable to gain victory over this greenhorn. One might imagine what was going through his mind at this point. His soldiers of the Retribution Battalion could only stare in open shock. It was a brief encounter, but the stone around them was cracked and boulders had been sent tumbling down the mountain. Cloudhawk was looking for an escape, but before he could another surge of lethal intent caught his attention. His eyes searched for the source. He found it among the Templars, with their light armor and imposing stances. A number of them had stepped forward to join the fight. With singular focus they drew their weapons, and charged through the broken stone to strike at Cloudhawk in perfect unison. The streak of silver split into two, from one silver dragon to identical silver serpents once again. His attackers danced among the broken landscape, evading his counterattack. As they came at him, suspended in air, Cloudhawk was left with no choice but to rely on his last resort. Tendrils of ominous green fire leaked from his pores and danced around him. Castigation Fire was too deadly for the Templars, and they were forced to retreat or be consumed by the evil fire. Nearby, Phain could no longer stay silent. He drew his sword. The light of his sword bloomed, the essence of its sharp bite given form! The streak of light split sky and stone! So incredible was Phain¡¯s draw technique that even the light from his sword could kill a man thirty meters away. Cloudhawk retracted the streaks of light and stooped down to pick up Ardent Wrath. He arose just in time to bring the weapon up and cut through the streak of energy. While he was distracted, Phain darted forward with incredible speed, seeming to reappear in several locations at once. Once again the deadly light emerged from his sword, but this time from several directions. Phain¡¯s attacks came screaming toward him with a vengeance. The Grand Prior was too fast. Castigation fire was wrapped all over Cloudhawk¡¯s body. One of the blows caught him across the shoulder and cut through the flame. It was too fast to take anything with it, but did leave a nasty wound behind. Phain attacked again. The sea of power inside him boiled, and though the effort caused him considerable mental pain the Castigation Fire around him grew in strength. The fires detonated, spreading outward. As Phain sword came in contact the devouring fired blew it apart. Wide eyes, filled with fear and surprise, watched from the sidelines. Blaze and Cosmo were one thing, but even the Grand Prior of the Temple couldn¡¯t put this mongrel down?! Was this criminal a man or some sort of monster? Before the fight even started, Cloudhawk was already like a spent bullet. Still, he had managed to win advantage over three formidable adversaries, and with Phain¡¯s sword destroyed he seemed certain to escape with his life. Phain¡¯s face was a thunderhead of fury. He was not upset that his weapon was destroyed. He simply couldn¡¯t understand how the injured, exhausted Cloudhawk could handily overcome three of Skycloud¡¯s elite. As far as he knew Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a legendary relic like the Holy Vestments to support him. Were his mental powers endless? It defied logic! It didn¡¯t matter, nor was it important right now. Two Templars threw their rapiers toward the Grand Prior, and he easily plucked them from the air. He dashed over the broken rocks like a bullet, using both weapons to hack at Cloudhawk with a pincer strike. How long could this outlaw resist? Cloudhawk was still recovering after knocking away the first series of blows. Immediately there were a dozen more for him to contend with. He managed to through himself from the path of the deadliest few, but he still felt the swords bite into his chest, abdomen and thigh. While Phain¡¯s strength couldn¡¯t compare to the likes of Cosmo, his speed was otherworldly. Even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t match it. Surviving even one onslaught from Phain was already difficult. There weren¡¯t many in Skycloud who could boast the same. Cloudhawk continued to draw on everything the sea of mental energy could provide. But as the battle continued, the pain and consequence of his mental injuries increased. His vision blurred, his thoughts were sluggish and his reaction time suffered as he continued to lose ground. Were it not for inhuman levels of willpower, he would have already passed out from the pain. Phain was a battle-hardened warrior, so he recognized it immediately when his enemy left an opening. A quick thrust was delivered at the spot between Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. It was evident he had no intention of letting Cloudhawk live. Rather than allow him to cause more trouble for his realm and his people, it was better to end his pitiful life here. Suddenly, a blast of dazzling light fired at the Grand Prior. He was forced to throw himself to the side in order to avoid it. From above, a peerless sword of deadly power came crashing down. Phain blanched, for his swords were like toys against this epic-level weapon. CRACK! Phain¡¯s rapier snapped like toothpicks. A white-clad figure swept by, clear for all to see. It was the Temple¡¯s Apostle, Selene Cloude. She had a handful of Cloudhawk¡¯s cloths and was dragging him to safety. Phain watched wide-eyed. She was mad! The woman was absolutely mad! Cloudhawk was just as shocked to find Selene here, saving his life. Didn¡¯t she know openly protecting him like this would certainly come back to haunt her? ¡°Do you know what you just did?!¡± Cloudhawk struggle to free himself from her grip to no avail. ¡°Mind your own fucking business and get out of here!¡± Selene¡¯s beautiful face was as stubborn and insistent as ever. Nothing in the world could make her change her mind when it was made up. No matter what Cloudhawk said, she was deaf to it. She dragged him out of harm¡¯s way, with her Holy Vestments glowering. The power within bolstered her speed and soon they took off into the air. Phain couldn¡¯t fly. There was no way he¡¯d catch up to them. He could only watch as Selene and Cloudhawk vanished into the horizon. She¡¯d saved Cloudhawk, right under his nose, then rose and soared away. The demonhunters and Templars pulled their long-distance weapons free and took aim, but Phain raised a hand to stop them. The Temple¡¯s losses were already too great. They couldn¡¯t afford to shoot down Selene, or the Temple would be in danger of being crushed under Arcturus¡¯ boot. Another method would need to be thought up for how to deal with Selene¡¯s betrayal. Besides, it wasn¡¯t going to be so easy for Cloudhawk to escape. The Temple had issued its highest proclamation for his arrest. From below a thunderous crash arose. The avalanche Cosmo had caused had finally reached the bottom. Cloudhawk¡¯s clash with the three warriors had lasted mere seconds. They stood around and looked at the aftermath. Selene flew through the air like a fairy from the lands of myth. Strands of silken black hair flowed around her like a waterfall. Eyes peered into the distance with majestic determination. Her bearing ¨C flawless and heroic, sorrowful and strong ¨C was heartbreaking to behold. The two flew over mountain peaks and boulder-strewn valleys. Eventually they reached the edge of the Elysian lands. Cloudhawk once again tried to question the obstinate woman. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± ¡°How could I just stand by and watch?¡± She gradually began to slow. ¡°All those years ago, you came here on my suggestion. I have an obligation to make sure you leave in safety.¡± The two of them shared a quiet look. Selene¡¯s beautiful eyes glimmered like stars, like the eyes of a newly married woman. She did all of this and gave her reasons in perfect calm, without pain or hesitation. It wasn¡¯t a difficult choice for her. She had to do it. ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off,¡± she said quietly and they reached the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t waste any more time. Run.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mood felt like the tide. There was a need to give in to his impulse, and he grabbed tightly to her hand. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Idiot, I can¡¯t go with you.¡± She shot him a charming smile and continued gently. ¡°I have a destiny I still need to fulfill. I can¡¯t leave yet. But remember this: I don¡¯t know what happened back there, you¡¯re still you ¨C and the most important person to me.¡± Warmth spread through Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. ¡°Even if the whole world turns on me, those words are all I need.¡± Cloudhawk and Selene looked at one another for a few seconds, neither speaking a word. It was just an instant, but it stretched for what felt like an eternity. Both of them knew what this meant. The bitter realization that all things must end turns Cloudhawk¡¯s mouth into a frown. He heaved a sigh, eyes briefly closing in exhaustion. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Suddenly he felt something soft and slightly cold against his lips. A heady fragrance filled his nostrils and made him dizzy. By the time Cloudhawk recovered, Selene had already pulled away from the kiss. He felt the hot tears she left on his cheeks slowly start to dry. ¡°No matter where you end up, please remember me. I¡¯ll wait for your return.¡± The tell-tale hum of a nearby relic itched at the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. He knew their pursuers were closing in. He took one final look at Selene¡¯s back before teleporting away, with great difficulty. The Apostle of the Temple tightened her grip on her crossblade and began walking forward. ¡°Come out!¡± A figure shimmered into existence, appearing from nothing. He stood a few meters from Selene, cloaked in a suffocating aura of death and malice. Skycloud¡¯s ultimate assassin, an avatar of death. Any living thing this man chose to kill died without exception, for he was the patriarch of the Umbra family and lord of the Court of Shadows. Janus, the Many-Faced! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 99 - Arcturus Acts Four years ago Cloudhawk was desperate to get to the Elysian lands. Now, he was desperate to leave. Ever since he cast off his destiny as a scavenger, his road had been a bumpy one. Although it seemed his life was doomed to an eternity of wandering from place to place, he didn¡¯t regret any of his decisions. He set out into the world at large, and though he didn¡¯t get what he was after, he got a lot more than he ever thought possible. Cloudhawk¡¯s land of peace and quiet was nowhere to be found, but he was leaving behind many friends and happy experiences. His fingers rose to touch the skin of his cheek where Selene¡¯s tears had dried. They¡¯d disappeared long ago but weren¡¯t gone, he felt them still in his soul. It was a memory he would carry with him for the rest of his life. It was feeling he¡¯d never felt before. Subtle, and beautiful. It was the most perfect thing he¡¯d experienced in the four years since leaving the ruins. Such was life, sometimes. We didn¡¯t always get what we were after, but it was important never to give up. Forge ahead, because what you discover along the way may surprise you. There was always the chance a beautiful garden was waiting just around the next bend. Cloudhawk crossed the border into the wastelands. He turned to look back, over the ridges toward the place he once thought to be his salvation. Selene, don¡¯t worry. I will be back. You hold on until I do. Wounded and drained, Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes still burned with fervent light. He didn¡¯t know where he was going, or what his next step was but it didn¡¯t matter. He could go anywhere, and the certainty he knew in his heart would be his lighthouse so he would never be lost. So, where to. Sandbar Station? The old drunk, Gabriel, Barb, Blue¡­ that¡¯s probably where he¡¯d find them. He wanted to see them again and explain what happened, but when he thought about it he nixed the idea. He had all manner of nasty folk just waiting to pounce on him. If anyone found out that group was important to him, he wasn¡¯t sure what evils they¡¯d encounter. The last thing he wanted was to cause his friends any more trouble, so he would go without his farewells. If they ran into Selene, Dawn or Hammy they would find out what happened. Motherfucker¡­ my head¡­ Cloudhawk¡¯s found it harder to focus. Each step made him dizzier, and he was starting to see double. He¡¯d accomplished something incredible in trying to escape; first Frost de Winter, then Blaze, Cosmo, and finally the Grand Prior. Mighty was definitely one way to describe it. But it was just Cloudhawk trying to keep himself alive. He used a huge amount of energy just to escape the Temple after his encounter with the Cloud God. The wounds he¡¯d received from the deity were still fresh, and none of those he was forced to fight were typical soldiers. At his previous strength, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t have survived. He only made it out thanks to the sea of mental energy he¡¯d absorbed from the phase stone. Before assimilating the stone, the Demon King¡¯s mental powers had been sealed in his relic. He¡¯d only been able to reach into it to empower himself once a day. Now that it was a part of him, it was easier to access. The phase stone was gone, transformed into a new part of himself he could draw on an unlimited number of times for support. Presumably he could just keep using the mental sea to strengthen his abilities, going from mentally drained to back in the fight without missing a beat. The drawback was that the energy wasn¡¯t ¡®his¡¯, so there was the possibility it would be rejected as foreign by his body. Each time he relied on the sea, there were side effects. Cloudhawk¡¯s own mind was reeling from the god¡¯s psychic attack, so drawing on the sea was piling one disaster on top of another. Every step was getting more difficult. It was will alone that kept him moving forward. He couldn¡¯t afford to stop, couldn¡¯t rest, because he knew the moment he let his will slip he wouldn¡¯t be getting it back. If he fell he wasn¡¯t getting back in quickly, maybe never again. ¡°You there! Stop in the name of the Border Patrol!¡± A group of patrol soldiers stepped in front of him. Cloudhawk immediately felt his heart sink. Border Patrol. When the realm¡¯s wall was destroyed, they lost their monument that kept wastelanders at bay. As expected, many wasteland groups big and small saw it as their opportunity to break in and plunder border villages. In response, Skycloud ordered border patrols to be strengthened and better manned. Now they were everywhere. Several dozen men sitting astride unicorns had their crossbows leveled at Cloudhawk. At least for the moment none of them recognized the fugitive. Perhaps the order for his arrest hadn¡¯t reached them yet. However, his sudden appearance and the state of his wounds caused them to be suspicious. Answers were needed. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t let himself be foiled by a bunch of grunts. He needed to get past! ¡°This one¡¯s suspicious, shoot him down. Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± Pulling forth their swords and bows they moved in, charging at Cloudhawk atop their mounts. Surrounded and threatened by a hail of arrows, Cloudhawk felt another surge of anger rise up within him. But he was spent. did he have the strength to protect himself? ¡°Get the fuck out of here if you want to live!¡± Streaks of silver split the crossbow bolts that got close. With ringing sounds and a shower of sparks they tumbled to the ground. Several rangers came at him with whips, but their unicorns whined piteously as their legs were cut out from under them, sending horse and rider sprawling. ¡°He¡¯s a demonhunter!¡± Surprise ran through the patrol. However, an Elysian soldier wouldn¡¯t let a suspicious person leave even if they knew they were a demonhunter. Injured as he was, they were confident in their chances of dealing with him. Their captain hollered. ¡°Cut him off!¡± No sooner did the words leave his mouth than Cloudhawk reacted. The silver lights retracted back into his palms, replaced with a bow. In one smooth motion he pulled back and released. The captain and his unicorn were turned to stone and broke apart on the spot. Their amazement was short lived, and quickly replaced with fury. They rushed at Cloudhawk with deadly intent. They would not be dissuaded. Cloudhawk obliged with another few shots from Basilisk. One after the other, a handful of soldiers were turned to stone and slain. By the time they crossed the distance to get before him, half their number were already dead. They unlatched the lances affixed to the sides of their mounts and charged at him. Cloudhawk grabbed at one with his bare hands, causing the land to dig into him but also lifting its bearer out of his saddle. He heaved, throwing the soldier into two more rangers nearby. Cloudhawk flung the lance aside and drew Ardent Wrath, hacking it at his foes. The nearest ranger was burnt to ash. The others stared in horror. This fiend was unscrupulous in killing Elysians. If he wasn¡¯t some escaped prisoner, then he was a traitor. But if that were the case, what was he doing with these relics? Judging by the quality of them he wasn¡¯t just some random demonhunter! Two more rangers bearing lances dashed his way. Cloudhawk caught one under the pit of his arm. With his right hand, he carved his sword through the air and turned them both into corpses. What rangers were left began to reconsider the situation. It seemed clear that even with a team of people they didn¡¯t have the strength to take this man down. Elysian soldiers weren¡¯t afraid of death, but they weren¡¯t suicidal either. They called out and signaled to fall back. They would return with reinforcements. Cloudhawk watched them retreat while gulping for air like a fish out of water. Blood poured from his chest, but the wounds looked worse than they were. What troubled him most was that in a minute this place would be crawling with demonhunters, using seeker relics to hunt him down. He couldn¡¯t stay here. He had to keep moving. Cloudhawk shook his head to fight off the dizziness and pushed on. But then, a dark and ominous sensation fell over him. At some point, unnoticed by Cloudhawk, the day had changed. Sinister clouds had gathered overhead, and he could faintly hear thunder roiling in their depths. It felt like the heavens were about to collapse on top of him. As though responding to his fears, several thin forks of lightning started to reach out from the clouds. They gathered into a tumultuous orb of lightning that swelled even as Cloudhawk stared with wide eyes. Any idiot could tell right away this was not natural. In an instant Cloudhawk felt his heart beating against his ribcage. A crushing sense of danger bore down on him from above. Gritting his teeth against the increasing damage he was doing to himself, he teleported a hundred meters away. A ray of electric blue light shot forth, a streak of searing light. Like a lance it pierced the ground, then poured all of its energy through the stone and dirt. The ground lifted like an inflating balloon as an unthinkable quantity of energy was pumped through it. It then collapsed, leaving behind an enormous crater. Cloudhawk had escaped the area of destruction half a breath before. Overhead, the thunder orb began to move. Where Cloudhawk went, it followed. As it traversed the stormy skies it continued to gather lightning from the clouds, while firing bolts at the ground below. Each blast was faster than the eye could follow and left blackened craters behind. Incredible! The power behind these blasts was the stuff of nightmares! They were coming faster, only Cloudhawk¡¯s supernatural danger sense kept him from being simultaneously fried and blasted into chunks. He raced forward, knowing there was more to come. He glanced up and saw that the orb was several times bigger than before, and forks of lightning were reaching out like a jittering electric net. Cloudhawk¡¯s pale face was lit by the increasing light of several more orbs being formed. It was like witnessing the end of the world. All the orbs moved in unison. Electricity radiated off of them and bolts fell like rain. The landscape became peppered with craters like it was subjected to a meteor shower. Meanwhile Cloudhawk blinked in erratic patterns to keep himself out of their path. As terrifying as this lightning was, it was the man behind it that Cloudhawk feared most. Few were the demonhunters in Skycloud adept at the use of lightning. Chief amongst them was Arcturus Cloude. What¡¯s more, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t feeling the hum of a relic. Even Oddball couldn¡¯t see what the source of this attack was. He had to be hundreds of meters away. All through the ages there were only a few demonhunters who could kill their foes from such a distance. Such vehement and powerful attacks could only be from that one man Cloudhawk feared more than anyone else he¡¯d encountered. Arcturus Cloude was coming after him personally? Son of a BITCH! Four of the thunder orbs stopped throwing lightning bolts and began to descend. They arranged themselves in the four directions around Cloudhawk, then linked with each other with bars of lightning like a cage. Cloudhawk spun around. There was nowhere to go. He tried to teleport but crashed into the electric barrier, which blasted him back into the dirt. Smoke curled into the air, rising off his blackened flesh. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 100 - A Warrior's Honor The world of lightning Cloudhawk was trapped it pulsed with incredible power. Easily strong enough to overcome his phase abilities. If he couldn¡¯t phase, then he couldn¡¯t teleport. The basis of the power was the same, relying on phase through reality to overcome obstacles. Arcturus was too powerful. And he wasn¡¯t even here. He had Cloudhawk completely locked down from who knows how far away. This left the young man with no way to fight back, much less escape. How much mental energy was required to achieve a feat like this? No wonder he was considered the greatest of the Master Demonhunters! Arcturus was far more terrifying than the Crimson One ever was! He needed to get out of here. Arcturus didn¡¯t give him an opportunity. While Cloudhawk was still planning his escape, the orbs started to move in closer. His electric prison was quickly shrinking, and a storm of lightning was brewing all around him. A scorching electric current fell over him, strong enough to char an elephant. Despite Cloudhawk¡¯s sturdy constitution, it was quickly becoming more than he could stand. Threads of electricity, thin as spider silk, weaved together to form shackles. Hundreds of volts of electricity were forced through him as they wrapped around his wrists and ankles. Immobilized, the electric cage rose with him inside and started to head back in the direction of Skycloud. This fuck is gunna bring me back like this?! The indignity! It didn¡¯t matter if his foe was a Master Demonhunter, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t allow such a disgrace. He struggle valiantly against the bonds, which only made the burning current worse. If he kept it up, the only thing that Arcturus would find when the cage returned was a charred corpse. ¡°Castigation!¡± The foreboding green light emerged at his call. It blanketed Cloudhawk¡¯s flesh and turned him into a burning effigy. His shackles burned and eventually broke apart. Castigation fire was effective. With its addition, Cloudhawk¡¯s power was greatly increased. The fires spread and began bombarding his electric prison. Its edges bulged outward until they burst, causing an explosion of green and white in the sky. Bolts of lightning spread out in all directions with tongues of flame dancing among them like some kind of terrible fireworks display. It was so bright the scene was visible in broad daylight for kilometers all around. Cloudhawk hit the ground with a thud and a grunt. Fuck that guy for thinking he could grab me that easy. He couldn¡¯t truly teleport, the phase ability he relied on was blocked. If he wanted to get free he¡¯d have to rely on his own two legs. First order was business was to get out of range of Arcturus, otherwise he was screwed. Then he felt it. A relic! Cloudhawk¡¯s head snapped around to look. A man in gray robes appeared, calm as a lake surface. White had begun to creep into his sideburns, which lent to his scholarly appearance. The kind look in his eyes was a deception, of course, as was the peaceful smile. At a glance one could be forgiven for thinking Arcturus was anything but a kindly academic. No one would imagine he was one of the strongest and most terrible demonhunters in history. When the hell did he get here? Cloudhawk raised his weapon and attacked! Arcturus merely shook his head. Stretching forth his forefinger a beam of lightning darted out. Ardent Wrath went flying from Cloudhawk¡¯s grip, and he went tumbling ten meters back. Bones crunched as he slammed into a boulder. Lightning danced across him, too small to be seen by the naked eye, but it felt like a million tiny needles digging into his flesh. Cloudhawk jerked and twitched as his nervous system fought the urge to shut down. He tenaciously clawed back onto his feet and looked for his weapon. Arcturus pointed again, and Cloudhawk was blasted back another several meters. Again bolts of electricity leaped from pore to pore. Not only was the pain agonizing, but Cloudhawk¡¯s body no longer responded to his commands. All he could do was curl up in spams. He couldn¡¯t even stand. Skycloud Governor slowly walked toward him. From head to toe he was spotless, not a stitch out of place. There wasn¡¯t even a change in his friendly smiling face. ¡°It¡¯s pointless. Do not try to resist. It is extraordinary that you have so much power at such a young age, but you are no match for me.¡± ¡°F-fuck your m-mother!¡± Cloudhawk managed through clenched teeth. He flung out his arm and cast a gash of silver light toward his foe. ¡°Die!¡± But the light was caught in Arcturus¡¯ claw-like grip. The ethereal weapon was caught easily in his hand like it was a toy. Electricity spread from his palm into the Silver Serpent. Screams followed as Cloudhawk felt the current course through him. His failed attack retracted. Once again he stumbled, smoke rising off his body with the sickening scent of roasted flesh. Meanwhile, the Governor hadn¡¯t even been scratched. He continued to approach at the same even pace, as calmly as though he were taking an evening stroll through his garden. But Cloudhawk would not give up. Orbs of green fire spurted to life in his hands. He lifted them high, and threw both at Arcturus. The Master Demonhunter waved his hand, swatting them away as though they were nothing more than annoying gnats. Thin spears of electricity detonated the fire orbs, spraying smaller fires every which way. With not a wrinkle in his plain gray robes, Arcturus kept walking. His cloth shoes walked over tiny tongue of fire that danced on the ground. In a scene that made the hair on the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s neck stand on end, the fires were extinguished ¨C ignored, like they weren¡¯t even there. Arcturus spoke in a tone that spoke to his infinite patience. ¡°What is your next move?¡± Is this asshole even human? Cloudhawk had a hard time keeping the shock from his face. A sense of total hopelessness came over him. He had nothing left. Both his mind and body were at their limit. The wounds he¡¯d suffered with the expeditionary fleet had yet to fully heal, and just a few short hours ago the Cloud God had assailed his mind. If he was powerless against the Master Demonhunter before, Cloudhawk was as helpless as a child now. He cursed his shit luck. Arcturus went on. ¡°Come with me.¡± This earned a snort from Cloudhawk. ¡°Just kill me.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious where I intend to take you?¡± Arcturus asked. ¡°I¡¯m not gunna help you do shit.¡± Cloudhawk growled. ¡°Over my dead fuckin¡¯ body.¡± A spark of electricity danced on the tip of Arcturus¡¯ finger. ¡°Dying at such a young age is a waste. You shouldn¡¯t be so hasty in rejecting my offer ¨C it isn¡¯t unthinkable that you may yet change your mind. My goals are not so evil as you imagine them to be.¡± Cloudhawk was clever. He knew there was no miracle waiting to save him today. Arcturus was a Master Demonhunter, comparable to the legendary warriors from the time of the Great War. Skye Polaris, even at his peak, was no match for this man. In fact, the only creature that was his match was the Cloud God, hidden away in the Temple. Besides the slumbering god, Arcturus feared no one. With Skycloud¡¯s patron deity quarantined, no one in the wastes or the Elysian lands could stand up to Arcturus. As the Governor was preparing to force Cloudhawk to follow, a figure dropped from overhead. The ringing of steel sounded as a weapon was drawn, bringing with it a radiant glow. It cleaved the lightning cast from Arcturus¡¯ finger. Like an eagle striking its prey, the figure snatched up Cloudhawk in one hand. In a blink they were several dozen meters away. ¡°Drunkard? The hell are you doing here?!¡± Cloudhawk was stunned when he saw who it was. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at the Sandbar? What about the others?¡± Could this wine-soaked gutter-rat read the future or something? How else did he know to be here at just the right time? ¡°Selene brought Azura into the Elysian lands. She will find her a proper school and master for her training. It¡¯s better than letting her wander around with an irresponsible thug like you. For the moment Gabriel and Barb are looking after each other. I saw the storm clouds and knew Arcturus was making his move.¡± The old drunk landed firmly on his feet. Dawnguard was already back in its sheath. He looked at Cloudhawk with that typical lecherous grin, revealing a few stained teeth. ¡°It¡¯s been a very long time since anyone in Skycloud has gotten that old fox to leave his den. I was curious and came to see for myself. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be running into you.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. Arcturus was no run-of-the-mill opponent. Even with the old drunk¡¯s help, escape wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Arcturus looked at them from the distance and calmly called out to the new arrival. ¡°You.¡± The drunk uncorked a wine jug and took a couple swigs. When he looked back at Arcturus his eyes were already a little clouded over. ¡°It¡¯s been a few years. The mighty and illustrious Governor Arcturus. As impressive as ever.¡± Six years of enmity. Perhaps it was time to settle things. Nothing changed in the gray-robed politician¡¯s face. No sign of aggression was revealed in his face or posture. The apocalyptic scene overhead paused, waiting, for every movement of Arcturus¡¯ hands caused the storm clouds to roil in anticipation. Even though he did not display any hostility, it was obvious that this was a truly terrifying foe. ¡°Have you come for vengeance?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been out for vengeance.¡± The drunk was calm, not eager to act against his own interests. Yet his lined features were solemn. ¡°But there has to be some closure between the Governor and the War Saint. Falling to an enemy like you would be an old warrior¡¯s final dignity.¡± The old drunk could look passed losing an apprentice, and falling from grace. But as a warrior, he had to have the courage to face the source of his nightmares here. As a man he had to face his bitter past and embrace those old, painful memories. Only when he accepted them, and stood before them with fearlessness could he truly be called a man of strength. A gentle laugh from the Governor wafted through the space between them. ¡°I have never turned down a challenge from a true warrior.¡± The drunk jabbed his cane into the ground. He took a few deep breaths, one hand upon Dawnguard¡¯s hilt, and slowly drew it forth. Its holy light illuminated the area. Thanks to his near super-human recovery rate, Cloudhawk was able to get back on his feet. He grabbed Ardent Wrath from the dirt, then positioned himself at the drunk¡¯s back. Wary eyes were fixed on the Governor. ¡°You need to go.¡± The drunk¡¯s words reached Cloudhawk¡¯s ears, but he didn¡¯t see the old man¡¯s lips move. He was using some strange skill to deliver the message without being overheard. Cloudhawk hesitated. What about him? How could he let the drunk face Arcturus on his own? ¡°It¡¯s no use. Even together we¡¯re no match for him.¡± The drunk was very familiar with what Arcturus was capable of. The Governor had decimated an entire squad of Templars. How could a crippled old man and a half-dead youth stand any sort of chance? ¡°Don¡¯t shoulder this burden. I¡¯d be itching for this fight even if you weren¡¯t here.¡± Cloudhawk could hear it in his voice. The old man was ready to die. ¡°I¡¯m fading away,¡± his voice once more whispered in Cloudhawk¡¯s ear. ¡°I¡¯ve days left, at best. After fighting so hard to awaken the War Saint again, I can¡¯t let myself waste away. A warrior doesn¡¯t die sick in his bed. My pride won¡¯t allow it. I face this final battle with joy!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 101 - A Torn Sleeve The old drunk¡¯s wounds had festered within him for years. Although he¡¯d come upon a way to return some of his strength, he was weakening on a cellular level. All of the strength he¡¯d trained so hard to cultivate was running out. Years in the wastes chasing the bottom of a bottle didn¡¯t help, and things only turned around when he found Woodland Vale. The Shepherd God¡¯s medicines were miraculous. Autumn had given him the priceless herbs, which helped breathe a second life into the drunk¡¯s body. But the damage was already done, too extensive to repair. Even with the medicine, it was like a few sprouts on a dead trunk. There was no bringing the tree back, no matter how mighty it was had been. If he relinquished himself to the indignity of a drunkard¡¯s life, he had maybe ten more years left. He¡¯d much rather draw on what remained, so that he could go out in a blaze of glory. Strength, or years of drunken regret. He chose the former. He reached into the depths of his vitality, siphoning it into power. His weakened body swelled as limits were torn down. The price of over-drafting his potential was dire, likely resulting in just a brief flare before his fire extinguished. Moments was all it took for the War Saint to return to his former glory. He knew his body, knew that now he had only a year of life left in him at most. Over the course of that year his body would gradually start to fail him. His legs would refuse to carry his weight. His hands would lose all strength. In the end he would die, paralyzed in a bed somewhere. But he wasn¡¯t going to wait for that. There was nothing to regret leaving behind, no worries to keep him hanging on. All that was left was a single old scar to itch. Might as well deal with it while he could. It was time to finish the battle long left undone. He felt his palms sweating. His sword hand trembled. But it wasn¡¯t because he was weak. Even after all he¡¯d experienced, after years of bitter enlightenment, Vulkan found that he could not face this man with calm detachment. His failure years ago still haunted him, its roots reaching deep into his soul. After so long the pain of it never eased, only grew more entrenched. It was time, though. Even if Arcturus hadn¡¯t shown himself, Vulkan would have gone searching. What pride remained in his withered body would have demanded it, for a true warrior never loses the courage to draw his sword when needed. This final fight with Arcturus Cloude was predestined. It wasn¡¯t to win vengeance for his disciple, or to rinse the taste of shame from his mouth. This fight wasn¡¯t even against Arcturus, but against himself. Cloudhawk could understand the old man¡¯s heart. But he could not leave, even knowing what was happening. On the one hand, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t even sure he could. Arcturus had shown that his reach stretched far beyond a normal man. Wounded and spent, he couldn¡¯t escape the Governor¡¯s sphere of influence before he had time to react. On the other hand, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stomach letting someone else die so he could run with his tail between his legs, especially this old man. The drunk frowned at him. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I¡¯m not sure I can help...¡± Cloudhawk tightened his grip around Ardent Wrath. ¡°But I will at least bear witness.¡± There was a measure of appreciation in Arcturus¡¯ stare as he watched the old man. It caused wrinkled to gather at the corner of his eyes. ¡°You were always a remarkable warrior, even more so than Skye. Unfortunately, you were born at the wrong time, in the wrong place. A pity.¡± Arcturus¡¯ sympathy earned loud laughter from the drunk. Joints popped and muscles creaked as his withered form transformed. Before their eyes the drunk melted away, replaced with a towering and imposing warrior. Even his rheumy eyes gleamed, sharp and clear. As calloused hands wrapped around Dawnguard, for a moment the ghost of the former War Saint was visible in the weather-beaten body of this old drunk. ¡°Enough talk. Fight!¡± ¡°You have my respect. For that, you will have three attempts.¡± Arcturus motioned for Vulkan to make his move. That was an insult, no sign of respect! In a test of combat like this, an inch was a mile ¨C the slightest error could mean crushing defeat. Giving the old man three free shots was a flagrant display of Arcturus¡¯ confidence in himself, and how little he thought of the former War Saint. ¡°Hahaha! There aren¡¯t many in the world Master Arcturus gives such an honor to!¡± Vulkan wasn¡¯t offended. In fact, he took it well. ¡°I won¡¯t turn it down.¡± He threw the dirt-smeared wine bottle aside. Dawnguard gleamed in his hand as he pulled it free. Blinding light poured off the blade. As it was drawn from within the cane inch by inch, the rays from it gave the impression of the rising sun. It was a vision of power and vitality. A sunrise was always inevitably followed by a sunset. A cold night followed, but eventually the warm light of the sun returned. A man¡¯s life was like the cycles of the sun. He rose and fell, suffering cold and lonely nights and brilliant shining zeniths. Each time darkness fell it brought promise of new splendor. The brightest days would then lead into the darkest nights. Back, and forth. Soaring highs, and profound lows. Was this not the life of the old drunk? The first strike. A half-arc, lengthwise toward Arcturus¡¯ chest. Even the air warped in protest as the sword superseded its dominion. Arcturus brushed it away with his hand, without a second thought. Vulkan¡¯s mighty blow was knocked aside. Stones nearby broke apart like a hot knife through butter, merely for being close. Cloudhawk gaped at the scene. ¡°Shit!¡± A blow like that against the Crimson One would absolutely have caused serious damage. Yet to Arcturus, it was as threatening as a speck of dust landing on his robes. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even know if he was using a relic. The Governor¡¯s mental prowess was so grand normal people couldn¡¯t even comprehend it. ¡°Your first strike lacks the strength of your former years.¡± The drunk wasn¡¯t perturbed by Arcturus¡¯ flippant stance. He didn¡¯t even pause before lashing out again with his second attempt. It was a strike that contained all the glory and decadence of the old drunk¡¯s style. He was a man who had experienced all the vicissitudes of life, its fortunes and follies. Confusion, despair, and ultimately understanding and acceptance. Years ago, his dream had been to become a man like Skye Polaris. He wanted to be better than the great General. Looking back on it now the dream was a foolish one. Vulkan was his own man, in a class by himself. Why did he want to be Skye, much less a better Skye? The only real goal was to become the best version of yourself. He realized that late in his life, but not too late. The glory of the War Saint shined through in the drunk¡¯s attack, but he was different now compared to when he was at his peak. It possessed the enlightenment of a man who had come out on the other side of great hardships. Vulkan was more mature and determined than he had been all those years ago. Cloudhawk raised his head in shock. The dismal clouds above were being moved by some unseen force, cleaved apart to reveal a swath of clear blue sky. Meanwhile, the ground in the path of Vulkan¡¯s hacking strike collapsed under its weight. The old drunk¡¯s sword literally attempted to carve through heaven and earth. Power rippled from it like a roaring flood of dragons, ripping teeth and tearing claws aimed toward Arcturus. It was clear his second attempt was a far sight more powerful than the first. Cloudhawk was forced to ask himself if he was in Arcturus¡¯ position, could he survive? He didn¡¯t think so. He didn¡¯t even think he could dodge it. Hell, probably none of Skycloud¡¯s new generation of rising stars could ¨C not even Selene with her legendary relics. Vulkan¡¯s strike rose beyond typical mortal constraints. This blow could carve apart both gods and demons! It had to be enough to behead a Master Demonhunter! Bolts of lightning sprang up around Arcturus. They weaved together forming into a net between him and Vulkan¡¯s second attempt. BOOM! To Cloudhawk it felt someone had taken a hammer to his brain. His ears were ringing, and the whole world lost all vibrance and color. It lasted a good four or five seconds before he could recover. He shook his head and the world pieced itself back together like a broken mirror in reverse. The ground was a ruin. It looked like an earthquake had rumbled through and toppled the nearby mountains. What a terrifying attack! When the dust settled Arcturus was standing in the same spot. His robes were blowing in the tumultuous wind, but that was all. Nothing had touched him but a strong breeze. When it passed, it was like nothing had happened. Even his hair was left unmolested. ¡°That is about equal to what I remember.¡± For the second time Arcturus offered his tepid evaluation. Vulkan turned a deaf ear to it. He cared only for what he was feeling, to his own internal monologue. He saw this battle as his last. His next strike would be the final one of his life. What would it be? Something incredible, to be sure! Vulkan¡¯s mind was completely blank. All his bustling thoughts and worries and concerns faded away to stillness. Time washed it all away, like passing clouds or smoke on the wind. The only thing that remained in that sea of perfect calm was a beautiful, smiling face. That smile was his heaven. A heaven he would never see again. Vulkan¡¯s third strike returned to simplicity. The old drunk rose off the ground. His sword began a thin line, forging ahead with indomitable will. While unadorned, the force behind it pierced through Arcturus¡¯ electric net. Finally, its deadly light reflected in the Governor¡¯s eyes. For the first time, the Master Demonhunter looked serious. He reached out to defend. Vulkan thrust with incredible speed, too fast to follow. The sound of something ripping could be heard among the rumbling thunder, and a piece of simple gray cloth floated up on the breeze. One piece became two, became four, became eight¡­ and then dust. The sleeve of Arcturus right arm was missing a piece. It was all Vulkan¡¯s strike had accomplished. Cloudhawk had always known Arcturus was strong. He¡¯d even figured the other two Master Demonhunters together weren¡¯t a shoe-in to beat him. But this¡­ this was beyond anything he could imagine. It was unthinkable that Arcturus Cloude could be this strong¡­ Vulkan had poured all of his strength into that blow, knowing full well he stood at death¡¯s door. All that he had learned and experienced in life had been behind it. His considerable mental powers tempered it. At was a nearly perfect display, a masterful thrust, resulting in a single tear on his foe¡¯s sleeve. ¡°With that, you have surpassed your former glory!¡± Arcturus calmly looked at the ripped cloth. He looked back, esteem in his level gaze. It is not easy for a man to rise back up after reaching rock bottom. One who could return from ruin and walk the paths of his former glory was outstanding. But one who could scale and surpass those peaks ¨C that was heroic. This old drunk was a greater man now than he was in his peak. He was a true and mighty challenger, worthy of respect. ¡°You¡¯ve had your three strikes.¡± Lightning crackled in Arcturus¡¯ palm. There it gathered, forming into a weapon four feet long. ¡°My turn.¡± ¡°Ruin, the Thunderblade.¡± Vulkan stared at the living lightning held in Arcturus¡¯ hand. A smile curled the corner of his lips. ¡°Now that the Master Demonhunter has shown me his true power, I can die with no regrets. The ups and downs of a man¡¯s life are one hell of a story, ahahahaha!¡± Arcturus slowly raised the thunderblade. It burned, like a god bearing a bolt of divine judgment. It was clear. No man alive could survive a blow from this weapon. Vulkan lifted his sword to protect himself, but it was destroyed in an instant. Ruin¡¯s harsh blue light was headed right for him. Six years ago he suffered a spectacular defeat. Six years later, nothing had changed. Ruin was Skycloud¡¯s single most devastating weapon, even more terrible than Selene¡¯s crossblade of holy light. Once, it had belonged to the God King, and no relic in existence could withstand its fury. Vulkan was doomed the instant its light shown upon him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 102 - Salvation The old drunk knew it. His life was done, but it wasn¡¯t lived in vain. As for Arcturus? The bastard wouldn¡¯t win, not when the final tally was counted. Selene, Cloudhawk and the rest of the new generation would make sure of that. Each generation was destined to overcome the last ¨C otherwise, what progress would there be in humanity? As the drunk waited for the lightning to destroy his body, the unthinkable happened. A shadow dashed in front of him, as though to protect the resigned drunk from his inevitable demise. Deep shadows played on his shocked expression. Cloudhawk?! What was this crazy son of a bitch doing?! How did he think he could withstand Arcturus¡¯ attack! It was suicide! The blast of power bore unparalleled fury, and it slammed into Cloudhawk¡¯s body like a train. He could feel it as his flesh and bones were charred from it. Time slowed as death crept up to take its due. Then lightning arced away at a ninety degree angle. It was redirected into a nearby hillside, which it blasted to pieces. Where Cloudhawk had stood, now there was a blackened statue of a man. He managed to give the drunk a pained, lopsided smile before grabbing him. His charred hands tugged the old warrior away from the battlefield. Arcturus watched the scene play out, absent any visible emotion. His only reaction was a slight crinkling of the skin between his brows. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions were¡­ unanticipated. ¡°A clever child, that one.¡± The old drunk loudly lost his temper. ¡°You damned fool! Are you trying to die?!¡± ¡°Of course not, smelly fuckin'' hobo! I just can¡¯t let you die yet!¡± Cloudhawk felt Arcturus¡¯ power had burned deep into his body, injuring him on several layers. A lesser man would surely have died, but Cloudhawk was as stubborn and tenacious as a cockroach. Of course he¡¯d been afraid, but in the end he was elated at making the right bet. ¡°That piece of shit can¡¯t kill me yet. He still needs me!¡± That¡¯s right. Why else would Arcturus have come to get him personally? And why hadn¡¯t he just burned Cloudhawk to a crisp the moment he had the chance? If the Governor wanted him dead, Arcturus would have taken one of a million chances he¡¯d had over the last four years. Instead, he¡¯d allowed Cloudhawk to live as a perpetual thorn in his side, and even now elected to try and capture him alive rather than charring him into ash. The only reason for it was that Cloudhawk had some importance for Arcturus¡¯ plans. Cloudhawk had figured it out at the last instant. Just as Arcturus was launching his lethal attack on the old drunk, he decided to put the theory to the test. If the Governor wanted to turn Vulkan to ash, he¡¯d have to burn through Cloudhawk first. But he wanted Cloudhawk alive. It was the only reason Vulkan was still breathing. Smoke rose off of Cloudhawk¡¯s body from head to toe. The excruciating pain was obvious in the glare he shot toward the old drunk. ¡°You fuckin¡¯ owe me for this! And you can start by making sure we get out of here still breathing.¡± The drunk rolled his eyes in exasperation, while Cloudhawk turned his head to look back at Arcturus. ¡°And how about you, you stuck-up sack of horse shit? Kill me if you¡¯ve got the balls!¡± Ruin continued to crackle dangerously in Arcturus¡¯ grip. He brought his hand back to prepare for another strike. ¡°You¡¯ve guessed correctly. I don¡¯t want you dead, but you can live without your legs.¡± Aww, fuck. Cloudhawk shoved the drunk aside, and the air came alive with dancing tongues of green fire. ¡°You want to take me alive? You want something from me? Well, fuck you, I won¡¯t let it happen. I¡¯ll kill myself before I you get a goddamn thing.¡± Cloudhawk fixed him with a dark glare. ¡°Take one more step and I¡¯ll do it.¡± But Arcturus shook his head, only slightly vexed. ¡°These childish posturings are unnecessary.¡± Cloudhawk answered with a voice full of determination. ¡°Try me.¡± Arcturus Cloude was known for his intelligence. He was able to read Cloudhawk¡¯s character and intention, and knew his weaknesses. He was a born rebel, and prided himself on doing the very thing no one expected. But he cherished both his life as well as the lives of his friends. But even for those same friends, he wouldn¡¯t give up what was most precious to him. He would risk his life, but not throw it away. Suicide wasn¡¯t an option. Arcturus wasn¡¯t afraid Cloudhawk would go through with it. He stared at the young man with keen interest, however, because he knew he would persist in this ploy at least for a while. Of course, Cloudhawk knew his scare tactics might not work on a man like Arcturus. No one had managed to trick this old fox, and he wasn¡¯t likely to be the first. He wasn¡¯t half as clever as the Governor, it was like the difference between a clear pond and a mud puddle. Alright, what to do. What to do. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind raced for an answer. He was losing his advantage with every moment, and his body was giving up. The last poke from Ruin had been no joke. He didn¡¯t know how much longer he could even stay standing. Despite Cloudhawk¡¯s formidable will and tenacious character, he was way past his limits. He felt like he could collapse at any instant. In this moment of distraction, Arcturus dissolved into tens of thousands of lightning bolts. Like a host of writhing snakes they lashed out at what seemed like the speed of light. By the time Cloudhawk recognized the danger, it was too late. Dozens of electric ribbons, thick as a man¡¯s thumb, wrapped around him. Cloudhawk was wrapped up tighter than a dumpling. He struggle, writhing in agony, but the harder he fought the worse the burning became. It didn¡¯t take long for him to submit. It was over in an instant, swift and furious. Arcturus hadn¡¯t given him any space to react. He was caught, but Arcturus had to admit how much effort it¡¯d taken to snatch up this wayward fish. In one hand Arcturus supported Cloudhawk¡¯s limp body. With Ruin in the other, he pointed it toward Vulkan. Although he knew the old drunk wasn¡¯t long for this world, he was not in the habit of leaving loose ends untied. Better to sever them when the opportunity presented itself, so he raised his sword to finish the job. Only, much to his frustration, Arcturus was once again disrupted. Hundreds of sandy arrows tumbled toward him from above. Each one seemed able to pinpoint his location, and move as needed. However he was still protected by his grid of electricity, which easily destroyed the arrows as they fell. Moments after the barrage ended his electric shield was attack by a sand spear. Arcturus narrowed his eyes, and in their depths there was a flash of cold anger. He flicked his wrist, throwing Ruin out toward the spear. They collided, and the sandy weapon became a cloud of grit. Ruin continued toward the hidden figure who¡¯d sneaked up nearby. The Caliph of the Sands? Indeed, hovering above them was the demon Abaddon. Ruin¡¯s angry bluish-purple length was inserted in the demon¡¯s body. It had struck him in the chest, and jutted from his back. A brief pause ensued, before the demon¡¯s body burst apart with a deafening thunderclap. ¡°Impressive, impressive¡­ luckily it was merely a copy.¡± The familiar, hoarse voice slithered through Cloudhawk¡¯s ear, like frogs croaking in a sandy pit. The sound alone made his skin crawl. Such was Abaddon¡¯s presence. Cloudhawk felt the presence of several figures, some of them frighteningly strong. Several dozen dragons alighted around them, and the air was suddenly filled with a host of flying mutated beasts. Their beating wings were causing a small tornado as they circled overhead. Arcturus was strong, but he was not invincible. He did not possess limitless energy, and he was significantly outnumbered. That did not mean, however, that he was in any danger from these beasts. The Governor looked toward the source of this new annoyance. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Wolfblade stood on the back of the great crystal dragon king. He called to Arcturus as though hailing an old friend. ¡°My deepest apologies. Cloudhawk cannot go with you.¡± Arcturus swept his eyes across the field. Autumn, who was also present, and Abaddon were formidable enemies. But the two together ¨C even with Vulkan¡¯s help ¨C were still only likely to hold out for a time against the Master Demonhunter. Their display was exaggerated and dramatic, but none of it gave Arcturus any pause. No. The only person who really captured his attention was the man of middling capability, standing on the divine beast. Wolfblade, a mere human and terrorist leader. But not really, for Wolfblade was more than he appeared. A mysterious creature, living in a human shell. Even if he was stronger¡­ Arcturus was not so foolish as to believe himself unbeatable. Nor was it possible for him to defeat an army on his own. In fact, Arcturus had always believed that force was only one facet of a well-rounded strategy. A man could be weak, but he could not be foolish. Skye was a perfect example. If this was a group of strong but brainless foes, Arcturus would have no issue dealing with them. The reason Skye Polaris had risen to his status over the years was not because Arcturus feared dealing with him. The Polaris family simply wasn''t worth his attention, until the day it was. That was the day its patriarch died. Skye survived into his eighties, not because of his impressive power, but because Arcturus didn¡¯t care to cut it short. The Governor needed a counterweight. The moment Skye no longer held value, it required only a little ingenuity to have him eliminated. Skye had never been the sort of man to threaten Arcturus or his plans. The world had no shortage of players for the Governor¡¯s game. Arcturus, his disciples, Skye, Vulkan, all the many lauded men and women of Skycloud¡­ of all of them, who could accomplish something truly great? In truth, throughout the whole of the world there were only two: One was Arcturus Cloude. The other, Wolfblade. Arcturus finally answered in his typical calm personage. ¡°If I object?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯d be best if you played things my way.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s voice was equally composed. ¡°He is in bad shape. If you bring him back to Skycloud, you¡¯d simply be returning with a fugitive and a public enemy. Only we are capable of aiding him in recovering. I¡¯m certain you wouldn¡¯t like our young friend to be permanently disabled.¡± After a moment, Arcturus nodded in a considering manner. ¡°Fine, then. I¡¯ll give you some face, as you request.¡± The crackling bindings slithered away from Cloudhawk. Arcturus said nothing further. With no further interest in speaking, the Governor¡¯s body dissolved into a flood of blue light before vanishing before everyone¡¯s eyes. Cloudhawk was completely stunned at seeing this powerful man simply leave, but he still sighed in relief when he did. At last the pain and exhaustion took its toll and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Whatever happened next, he wouldn¡¯t know. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 103 - Beaten Bloody It was like a moment, like a millennia. Cloudhawk managed to drag himself out of the miasma of unconsciousness, but it took some time for all of his senses to return. Pain followed, washing over him like a tide. In an attempt to make up for lost time it felt twice as intense as before he fell into a coma. It was so intense, in fact, that even his hearty constitution was overwhelmed. He would rather fall back into darkness. Where was he? Will considerable effort Cloudhawk opened his eyes. At first, everything was blurry. He could only make out shapes. He was lying flat ¨C he could tell that much. When he tried to move Cloudhawk found his body covered in strange instruments. Turning his attention around, he noticed bottles of different sizes with various sorts of fluids hanging all around. Brown, green, clear, each dripping into long tubes that were inserted into him. A few shadows shuffled nearby. ¡°There¡¯s terrible damage both inside and out. Far as I can tell, there isn¡¯t a single piece of him that escaped damage. If he makes it, it would be nothing short of a miracle. ¡°Hush, keep your voice down. If Hellflower hears you talking like that she¡¯ll throw you in the biochemical furnace as her next experiment. Don¡¯t you know her relationship with this guy?¡± ¡°Weird. What¡¯s a woman like her doing with a guy like this?¡± ¡°Hey, look. He¡¯s coming around. ¡°Quick, let the others know.¡± Cloudhawk recognized the buzz in his ears as voices, but he couldn¡¯t figure out the meaning. Four or five minutes later, another familiar image filled his hazy vision. She had a devilishly curvaceous figure, barely hidden beneath a white lab coat. Her mature and charming face came into full view as she leaned in for a closer look. She looked surprised, then breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°He is awake.¡± Hellflower? The name fought through the mist choking his brain. Only he couldn¡¯t move or react. It was like his body didn¡¯t belong to him. He couldn¡¯t lift his head, much less get up to greet her. She said a few things to him, but it was like his head was stuffed with cotton. Everything seemed surreal and far away. Hellflower seemed to recognize the pain he was in, and her face softened like a mother looking over her child. ¡°Rest, you¡¯ll feel better soon.¡± He vaguely felt a needle punch through his skin. Some unknown medicine was released into his veins. After a moment the burning pain eased. Sleep came for him once again, longer this time. He was lost in a world of dreams, waking up from time to time only to slip back into unconsciousness after a few moments. Eventually he came to feeling much better. He was at least able to move a little. He was tired of laying still, so Cloudhawk pulled the many tubes from his arms and legs, and rolled onto the ground. Staggering back to his feet, he tried to walk. Strange¡­ when did his balance get so bad? There was no strength in his legs, either. He struggled to put one foot in front of the other, like he was an infant. He glanced up, noting a mirror in front of him. The reflection that greeted him was nothing short of grotesque. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe. The only thing he could recognize was his eyes. In sick fascination he unraveled the bandages and inhaled sharply at what he found. Every inch of his skin was bright scarlet, full of pits and bumps. Ugly was certainly the proper phrase, like the skin of a toad. When it touched the air he felt a combination of tingling and burning pain. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to remove all of his bandages to know the rest of his body was in similar condition. He¡¯d been turned into some kind of hideous freak. But¡­ why? The last thing he remembered was the fight with Arcturus. To protect the drunk, he flung himself in front of the Governor¡¯s attack. It was a gamble that paid off, for Arcturus broke off his attack ¨C but the damage he did in just an instant was severe. At the time he¡¯d been burned so badly he didn¡¯t even tell how serious the damage was. Now it was clear he probably would have preferred to just die. Motherfucker! As the anger swelled inside of him, another wave of pain made him dizzy. The injuries to his mind still weren¡¯t healed. It never rains but it pours, the old books said. The slightest emotional aggravation and it felt like a hundred knives carving into his brain. The pain made him see double. ¡°I did what I could.¡± The charming and magnetic voice drew his attention. He spied the beautiful woman leaning against the door frame. Hellflower, of course. Cloudhawk looked at his hands, wrapped up in bandages like a mummy. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You should be happy. The fact that you¡¯re alive after the injuries you sustained is incredible. Unfortunately I was only able to heal your body. As for your mind¡­ that¡¯s the science of the gods, and I¡¯m only a novice. I can¡¯t help you with that, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cloudhawk took a deep breath to calm himself down. ¡°How long was I out? Where am I, anyway?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been asleep too long, about a month. This is my laboratory in Woodland Vale.¡± A month? The words were like a basin of ice water poured over his head. Up to now he¡¯d been able to recover from almost any injury within a matter of hours, days at the worst. If after a month he was still this rotten, then he really had to be at death¡¯s door. She was right, it was amazing he was still breathing. But was the damage permanent? Fuck¡­ no way I¡¯m gonna turn into the next drunk asshole. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know Vulkan before his encounter with Arcturus, but whatever happened turned the War Saint into a lame hobo wallowing forever in self pity. Visions of the old man stinking drunk, stuffing a bottle between yellow teeth danced in his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hellflower extended tow pale fingers and strokes Cloudhawk¡¯s arm assuringly. She smiled, trying to give him comfort. ¡°Even if you are disfigured, I won¡¯t abandon you, my young friend.¡± Cloudhawk angrily slapped her hand away. But before he could give her a piece of his mind, the pain returned. ¡°Heh¡­ what you see scares you. You didn¡¯t think about the consequences when you brazenly looked for death at the hands of Arcturus, did you? Now you¡¯re filled with regret!¡± Cloudhawk refused to accept that this was who he was now. There was still so much to do, not least of which was making that bastard Arcturus pay for what he¡¯d done. How was he supposed to accomplish that now, when he was a shadow of his former self? Hellflower chuckled in the face of his terror. Her curves juggled pleasingly, But Cloudhawk was in no mood to appreciate what he saw. He asked the burning question. ¡°Will I recover?¡± ¡°Anyone else and I would say you were dreaming. But Trespasser still flows in your veins, so with patience you will get better. The question is, how long before you¡¯re back to where you were?¡± Her words put him at ease, at least a little. He asked another question. ¡°How long, just a guess?¡± She shook her head. ¡°A year or two for the body on the quick end of the scale. Three to five at the most. As for the mental damage, that depends on how far I¡¯ve come...¡± His heart sank. ¡°Too long. Is there no way to speed this up?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t complain. Do you have any idea what state you were in when they brought you? If they hadn¡¯t brought you to me right away, here in the Vale with its rich resources, you probably never would have woken up again.¡± Shit! A few years is unacceptable! Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t waste that much time. He had to find some way to speed up his physical and mental recovery. ¡°In honor of you coming back to us, I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you. Wait a moment.¡± Hellflower left the room. She returned a minute later with a wheelchair. But instead of taking offense at Cloudhawk¡¯s dour expression she gave him a smug, self-satisfied smile. ¡°What do you think? Aren¡¯t I considerate? I had my people make this for you.¡± Cloudhawk ignored her and the fucking chair. He staggered a few steps forward under his own power before falling back onto his knees. ¡°Now don¡¯t go thinking you¡¯re superhuman!¡± Hellflower pushed the chair over to him. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. From this moment forward, until you¡¯re better you cannot be injured again. If you do the consequences will be bad ¨C find you a coffin sort of bad.¡± A few minutes later Cloudhawk was seated begrudgingly in the chair. Hellflower was pushing him around. The Vale¡¯s environment was as fresh and clean as he remembered. The afternoon sun was warm, and everywhere he looked was a refreshing shade of green. He looked out over a city of unique buildings suspended by vines and connected with bridges. Their entire lives were lived among the canopies. Valites wore strange clothing. A few were picking the black crystal fruits from the boughs of the god tree as they rolled by. Others were tending to crops nestled in between the boughs. The war outside hadn¡¯t touched this place, or these people. Cloudhawk was reminded of a question. ¡°What happened to the old drunk? He better not have died...¡± ¡°Relax. In fact he stumbled upon quite the blessing,¡± she replied. ¡°In fighting with Arcturus he had a breakthrough. He was in bad shape ¨C a month, perhaps a year, and he would be an invalid. When we brought him back here, though, I convinced the Shepherd God to give me some materials that helped. We think he¡¯ll get to live a little longer.¡± ¡°You saved him?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes lit up. The prospect of the old man making a full recovery was a pleasant one. Hell, maybe he¡¯d even surpass his former self. At full tilt the old drunk was probably similar to Skye in sheer strength. In all of Skycloud there were shockingly few who could even tear Governor Arcturus¡¯ sleeve. More importantly, Cloudhawk had gotten himself in this position by trying to save that asshole¡¯s life. He had to be held accountable for what Cloudhawk had become! When the old man was on the cusp of death it didn¡¯t matter, but now he was better. Sooner or later, for better or for worse, he would come under Cloudhawk¡¯s banner. That meant there were few people in the world who could threaten Cloudhawk. While he was in a bad way right now, at least he wasn¡¯t in danger of getting his ass chopped off constantly like he used to. Cloudhawk decided it was time to build his own group. The drunk, Gabby, all of them. When the time was right, he¡¯d bring them all to Skycloud and help Selene deal with Arcturus. IF they had someone like Vulkan at their back, their chances improved significantly. Most importantly, while the drunk looked old he was probably only in his fifties. A full thirty years younger than Skye Polaris. Who could say if the future hold greater achievements for him. If something in this Vale could heal him, it was something to be celebrated. At last Cloudhawk¡¯s mood starting taking a turn for the better. At least this entire mess hadn¡¯t been all bullshit. ¡°This place is alright, isn¡¯t it?¡± Hellflower bent over and cooed into his ear. ¡°People are kind, they live in harmony with their environment. Never wanting for food or clothing. If you¡¯ve got nowhere else to go, you can do worse than this place.¡± The wasteland alliance was the wastelands most powerful group at present. Cloudhawk learned that the Conclave¡¯s leader, Natessa, had ordered a sweep of the entirety of the wastes. No matter where he went, if Cloudhawk let his identity slip he would find trouble. He wasn¡¯t in any condition to fight for the time being, making this place a safe harbor in the growing storm. ¡°You know that Arcturus is strong. All of this is only temporary.¡± Hellflower went on. ¡°Dark Atom has brought a lot of its influence to the Vale. Even someone like the Governor will have a hard time fighting his way in here. You should seriously consider joining us. At least that way we can protect you while you heal.¡± The hint was clear in her voice. It was obvious what Hellflower wanted. Previous If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 104 - Wolfblade's True Identity Cloudhawk was unconvinced. Back when he was younger and knew less of how the world worked, he fell easily for this attractive woman¡¯s wiles. Now, however, not only could he control his hormonal urges ¨C he was also practically crippled, and couldn¡¯t act on them even if he wanted to. As for joining the Dark Atom? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even give it a second thought. If the organization¡¯s motives were pure he¡¯d have at least considered it. After all, an organization like that, with a hundred years of history, certainly had a great deal of influence through the wastes. Besides that, it had the gall to praise the advance of science and stand against Elysian tyranny. The Dark Atom was the definition of heretics, at least in the eyes of Skycloud¡¯s citizens. In essence they were a Seeker organization, just far better equipped and manned with hundreds of scientists at its disposal. Be it technological prowess or production capacity, it was top of its class. They¡¯d even recovered and repaired a prehistoric atom bomb. Dark Atom was clearly capable of incredible feats. But was the current Dark Atom the same organization from years ago? Now that the demon Abaddon and the betrayer god Autumn joined, no one knew what Dark Atom¡¯s real purpose was anymore. But Cloudhawk had no confusion about how he felt toward Wolfblade, Abaddon and the Shepherd God. They could all rot, as far as he was concerned. Autumn and Hellflower were not enough of a reason for him to fall in with this shady group. His relationship with Hellflower was ambiguous at best, but ¡®love¡¯ was not how he would describe it. She was a hungry and ambitious woman, the sort Cloudhawk tended to shy away from. As for Autumn? She was a decent girl before a god stole her body, now he saw her more like an enemy. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give Hellflower the answer she was looking for, but that didn¡¯t seem to dishearten her. She continued to push him along in his wheelchair. ¡°The boss told me he wanted you to come see him when you awoke. To give you answers, he said.¡± The ¡®boss¡¯ was of course Wolfblade. They wheeled along in silence toward the Vale¡¯s forbidden mausoleum. When they arrived, many of the Dark Atom¡¯s important members were in attendance. Notably absent was Coal, but Cloudhawk figured the mutant wouldn¡¯t be comfortable here anyway. Perhaps he¡¯d been sent back to the Blisterpeaks, or performing some task elsewhere. In the depths of the mausoleum was the familiar altar Cloudhawk remembered from his last visit. The pitch black armor was still resting on it. All around were the scars of that battle, writ in cracked stone and broken earth. He remembered it like it was yesterday¡­ That mighty and inflexible man was no longer with them. Still, the glint in his dark eyes appeared in Cloudhawk¡¯s memory from time to time. His presence had been a defining one in Cloudhawk¡¯s life, and when he left he took Luciasha¡¯s affection for Cloudhawk with him. His death was also the final crack that severed his connection with Squall. Every action, every person was closely tied together. If Cloudhawk could go back, he¡¯d have chosen to run his small shop in Sandbar Outpost. Do a little shady business, make a little coin¡­ go to Adder¡¯s bar when he had nothing else to do and share a drink with Squall and Asha. Adder¡¯s true identity soured all that. If Adder would have just been Adder and not the Crimson One¡¯s son, he¡¯d still have two close friends to share time with. Such helplessness was an unavoidable part of life. Just like sometimes you were forced to do things you rather wouldn¡¯t. Sometimes you had to kill people you otherwise wouldn¡¯t want to kill. Cloudhawk shook off the bitter memories and returned to the present. He focused on the three figures closest to the altar: Autumn, Wolfblade, and Abaddon. A god, a man, and a demon. Standing shoulder to shoulder. Even to this day Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand why Abaddon ¨C who for years carved out his own place in the wastelands ¨C would join Wolfblade¡­ a simple, unassuming human. It was just as confusing that a newly awakened god capable of creating her own slice of paradise would do the same. Why would they allow themselves to be used by this strange man? What¡¯s more, why would a man like Arcturus show him such respect? There were too many uncomfortable mysteries surrounding the terrorist leader. Wolfblade greeted Cloudhawk as though he were an old friend. ¡°At last, you are awake.¡± Autumn looked at Cloudhawk with loathing, only too eager to take his life if the opportunity presented itself. He was a significant factor in why she had yet to take full control of this girl¡¯s body. The connection he shared with the fragment of Autumn¡¯s spirit was strong, so the only way she knew to sever that connection was to carve out its source. Only then would the human girl¡¯s will crumble entirely. Abaddon¡¯s eyes burned like dual stars, red and furious. Within them were conflicting emotions. After all, he had watched Cloudhawk every step of the way as he grew from humble beginnings to the man he was today. He knew as well that Cloudhawk was the Demon King¡¯s chosen ¨C but how could a human be expected to lead demons? Cloudhawk answered with a question. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± Wolfblade didn¡¯t answer his query directly. ¡°You are obviously culpable in Skycloud¡¯s current state of upheaval. Would you care to explain what happened?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s tone grew frigid. ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± ¡°Think of this as a transaction,¡± Wolfblade said with a smile. ¡°Answer my questions and I¡¯ll answer yours in turn ¨C to what extent I can.¡± Cloudhawk had no reason or ability to hide the truth. These three could see through him anyway, so he explained what happened from beginning to end. ¡°The Cloud God?¡± A grim smirk crossed Autumn¡¯s face. ¡°That one is clever. If the truth were transmitted to the others because of its folly, the God King surely would have seen it destroyed.¡± Cloudhawk paused, taking in her words. Truth? What truth? What astounding secret threatened the whole race of gods, so much as their mightiest would be willing to kill one of its own? Perhaps she was exaggerating. Could this be why the Shepherd God betrayed her people? It was still a mystery why this creature would choose to break away from the rest of her race. It was a decision that came at great cost. She lost access to the collected power and wisdom of the gods when she severed that connection. It seemed counter intuitive, to give up one¡¯s godly identity and choose the life of an ordinary creature. A very powerful ordinary creature, but still ¨C why? From what he understood of godly society, Cloudhawk envied their system. No lies, no betrayals, no deceptions, no conspiracies. He had gained important and unprecedented insight into their world when the Cloud God took him into its consciousness. All of those separate minds connected together, no matter how far apart they were, and their lifespan limitless. From an evolutionary standpoint they seemed perfect. ¡®God¡¯ was definitely the proper name for them. Yet there was only one being that was a god in the truest sense. The focal point of all their strength and wisdom, from which it all sprouted, was the God King. It was master and commander of all the great knowledge, all the unimaginable power of the gods. For a thousand years the gods had existed in a state of order and stability. Though the Shepherd God chose to separate from them, she could do nothing against her race as a whole. After all, the very act of betrayal meant she could no longer access this unified consciousness. Her freedom was only possible once she broke the spiritual lock that tied her to the others. She seemed to sense Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts, and spoke in an infinitely cold voice. ¡°Foolish whelp.¡± ¡°You envy the gods?¡± Wolfblade also seemed to know what he was thinking, and showed what he thought with a chuckle. ¡°There are always two sides to every coin. This aspect of their reality is not something to admire. Obliterating the one for the good of the whole is monstrous. While it is true there is no deceit, there is also no sense of individuality. There is a price to pay for anything good in this world. With your temperament, I doubt their life is one you would accept. This was illustrated well when I suggested you remain in the wastelands. Yet you persisted in the pursuit of your idealistic vision of the Elysian lands-¡± ¡°My turn for a question.¡± Cloudhawk cut him off, and fixed him with a hard stare. ¡°How do you know so much about me? Who the fuck are you.¡± Wolfblade stared back with his one good eye. ¡°You¡¯ve already guessed the answer.¡± ¡°Mantis? You are Mantis?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s words confirmed his suspicions. It was indeed Mantis who suggested he stay in the wastelands, way back in Greenland Outpost. ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°Indeed, I am Mantis. Or rather, Mantis is part of who I am ¨C one identity of many.¡± A change started to come over Wolfblade¡¯s stare. ¡°In fact, I saw your destiny when you were still wrapped in swaddling clothes. You ask how I know so much about you? It is because I have watched you grow, your whole life.¡± It felt like Cloudhawk had been struck by lightning. His mind catapulted backward through time. He remembered something, a figure. When he was still crawling through the dirt and shit, his lonely pit was shared with a white-haired old man rife with wrinkles. Time sped forward. Now he was in Blackflag Outpost, carving open bodies with the cold and emotionless killer, Mantis. Back to the present. His peered into the eyes of this eccentric terrorist leader. Three entirely different men, but in those eyes he saw that they were all the same. Who could have known? Who was he, really? Cloudhawk may have guessed the answer correctly, but he still didn¡¯t understand. He couldn¡¯t accept it. How could one man appear in his life as radically different people? From an infant, to a young man, and now an adult. ¡°Are you beginning to see?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s eye searched the young man¡¯s face. ¡°Have you ever questioned why all the world¡¯s adventures seemed to seek you out?¡± Cloudhawk muttered, mostly to himself. ¡°I did wonder how I just stumbled on the Demon King¡¯s stone in some random mutant burrow. It was you¡­ it¡¯s always been you...¡± It didn¡¯t stop at the phase stone. The ruins, the phase stone, the Tartarus Mercenaries, the Bloodsoaked Queen, Skycloud, the skull in Hell¡¯s Valley¡­ these defining moments in his life that seemed to happen organically, were all orchestrated by this man? He¡¯d been manipulating Cloudhawk¡¯s life from the very beginning. ¡°Who. The fuck. Are you.¡± Cloudhawk rose from the chair on shaky legs. Excitement was causing the pain in his mind to turn his vision white. ¡°Why would you do this?¡± ¡°Be calm, be calm¡­ I mean you no harm. You should know this, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± What was Cloudhawk supposed to think or feel toward this man? Resentment? Appreciation? He¡¯d lied to Cloudhawk all this time, leading him by the nose. Years of manipulation. But without him, the scavenger probably would have died a long time ago, face down in a pile of shit under some ruin. He definitely wouldn¡¯t have lived very long by himself in the ruins. He never would have made it to Blackflag Outpost, and all the things that led to his current strength and capability would never have happened. Everything he had now was given to him by the secret actions of this man. But no one did these sorts of things for no reason. After going through so much effort, what did he want? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 105 - Aftermath The earth was like quicksand, the sky like a painting. The world he knew lacked something all of a sudden, all color drained. All the life he knew had burst in an instant, like a soap bubble. That kind old man he buried in the rubble, who taught him to read¡­ The quiet assassin in Blackflag Outpost who saved his live on several occasions¡­ Wolfblade. One man playing several roles. He¡¯d often wondered why life seemed to throw so many strange and inexplicable circumstances his way. It¡¯d always felt like some unseen hand was pushing him along. Now it seemed he was right all along. Only, the bastard responsible for all of it had hidden himself so well, Cloudhawk never saw it until now. ¡°Knowing what I do of your temper, I figured if you hadn¡¯t cut someone down with your sword by now you¡¯d at least have stormed out. I¡¯m surprise to find I was wrong. This silence is¡­ incongruous.¡± Cloudhawk was tired of being dominated by others. He couldn¡¯t stand being manipulated. However if there is anything he¡¯d learned over the last few years, it was that flying into a rage was rarely the right course of action. He wasn¡¯t an idiot, here in this wheelchair how could he do anything to Wolfblade, flanked by a god and a demon? ¡°I was amazed by it when you came to Blackwater Base. How could you have mastered an ancient language on your own?¡± Hellflower turned her eyes to Wolfblade. ¡°It was you who taught him. And that explains everything. That was why he was in Blackwater Base to begin with, and how he was infected with Trespasser. All designed by you...¡± Abaddon¡¯s raspy laughter interjected. ¡°It was at the behest of this ancient one that I ordered Cloudhawk to be hunted through the wastelands.¡± ¡°Are you getting it?¡± Hellflower gently patted Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve been following a preset track from the very beginning. Your personality, development, even your morals were all likely shaped to his purpose. Knowing that, do you still have to adhere to these principles ¨C that probably weren¡¯t even yours to begin with?¡± It was a cruel and deliberate blow on Cloudhawk¡¯s psyche, one that had the potential to be wickedly effective. What better way to break the stubborn rock that to strike at its weakest point? Once everything Cloudhawk believed to be true was shown to be a lie, he could be given a new reality to cling to. Cloudhawk shook his head. He couldn¡¯t¡­ wouldn¡¯t accept it. He knew what he wanted, and what he was doing. He believed the innate core of who he was to be unshakable. No matter what he learned, who he was inside would not change. Wolfblade met Cloudhawk¡¯s firm gaze and nodded. The young scavenger had indeed grown. ¡°In a way, I am like a theater director, and you are my most talented actor. All I wanted was to bring that potential to the surface, and let you loose on the stage. My wish is to bill you as this age¡¯s protagonist, with the tools to determine your own story.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be anyone¡¯s protagonist. I don¡¯t want any part of your fucking play.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stomach it. In playing this role he¡¯d become hunted by everyone, and the one who manipulated him all this time was not Arcturus but Wolfblade ¨C or whatever the fuck Wolfblade was. What sort of protagonist was universally despised and controlled? What the hell made Wolfblade think he wanted any of this? As always, all he ever wanted was to curl up in some quiet corner and live his life without being bothered. What the hell did it serve him to be some great and influential man? Cloudhawk turned up his nose at such a sweeping, epic story. Skye¡¯s heroic tale ended with him blown to pieces in the wastelands. Who would remember him in a few decades? And for what? He never lived a day in his life for himself, it was always under the crushing burden of other people¡¯s expectations. That wasn¡¯t any sort of life to speak of. ¡°What you are facing is an inheritance that has waited for you for a thousand years.¡± Wolfblade was careful not to say anything that could be construed as trying to force him. ¡°If you choose to accept your birthright, then you will rise to conquer the world. Or, you can continue as you are ¨C drifting from place to place in search of peace of mind, until you die. The choice ¨C as it has always been ¨C is yours.¡± Any more talk was useless. It was time for Cloudhawk to make his choice, here before the final piece of the Demon King¡¯s legacy. Abaddon and Autumn stared at the young man. This decision was an interesting one to them. Depending on which path he set out on, he could be an instrument of global change. Whether they came to witness the outcome they desires or not, they were here to observe an important moment in history. The Demon King¡¯s legacy. Power beyond imagining, right within his reach. Cloudhawk was in a sorry state, disabled and badly wounded by Arcturus¡¯ terrible power. Before this tragedy befell him he was confident that in another five or ten years he could have stood against the Governor. Now, with his body like this, that was put into question. The promise of immediate power was an alluring one. The ancient and mysterious armor seemed as though it had a life of its own. He could hear it calling to him. It was still encased in crystal, with naught but a dim outline to mark its presence. However its presence filled him with a warmth he¡¯d never known. Deep within Cloudhawk knew that this armor was a piece of him, a fragment of his soul that could not be shed. Reaching out and taking it for himself was not only justified, but proper. Cloudhawk looked down at his bandages hands. For the first time he was seriously considering it. If what Hellflower told him about his recovery was true, he couldn¡¯t afford to stay here for years. Wasting even six months was too much, he felt. Evil winds were blowing in Skycloud, and no one knew what terrible things would soon follow. What would he do if Selene or Dawn were in danger? What if someone needed his help? Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes rose to the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. He didn¡¯t see how this was different from the phase stone. It was just another relic ¨C albeit one of legendary power. What about a relic would make him the next Demon King? An idea stirred in his turbulent mind. Cloudhawk stepped away from the chair and toward where the armor lay. As he approached the dim contours became clear. He saw its patterns and lines, and with each step the draw on his soul grew stronger. The urge to take it and put it on was almost more than he could bear. Once he put it on, all of the Demon King¡¯s former power would be his. He would have the power to defeat Arcturus. It also meant he would be forced to walk a path of blood and ruin. He reached out with a shaking hand. Yet, when his fingertips touched the seal surrounding the amror he was struck with an intense repulsive force. Cloudhawk was shoved away from the altar. ¡°Eh? What is this? He has been rejected!¡± Cloudhawk was similarly shocked. The armor was calling to him, so why would the seal force him away? Wolfblade shook his head. ¡°You aren¡¯t yet ready. You will not be able to don this armor until you¡¯ve come to wholly understand and accept your destiny. You must be prepared for a rebirth as the new Demon King, not merely wear it in pursuit of power.¡± Cloudhawk was not disappointed. In fact, he was relieved. Wolfblade was right, of course. He didn¡¯t want the inheritance for all it meant. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think he had the power to unify an entire race of demons, much less lead them in a war against the gods. If gods and demons were really so similar in strength then they wouldn¡¯t have lost so badly a thousand years ago. He didn¡¯t know how much the demons had recovered to this day, but even humans had a way to fight back against them. How many of those monsters have died at the hands of demonhunters over the years? He¡¯d never heard of any gods being killed. There was some disappointment in Wolfblade that Cloudhawk did not immediately accept his birthright. However, his aims today were met. Cloudhawk had begun to seriously think about it and its implications. He no longer looked at it as a burden. ¡°Hellflower, Cloudhawk looks like he needs rest.¡± Cloudhawk helped him back to his chair, and the two left. Only three remained near the altar. Abaddon spoke first. ¡°We can¡¯t place all our hopes on this child. All of our preparations have paid off, and we can attack at our leisure. Now that Skycloud has lost its connection to the gods, we can take the Elysian realm in one fell swoop.¡± Wolfblade shook his head. ¡°You see the problem too linearly, and our enemies are far more complex than you imagine. Be patient.¡± ¡°I care nothing for your schemes. You made me a promise, one I insist we settle now.¡± Her words were sharp from dissatisfaction. ¡°How can I rid myself of this rebellious consciousness?¡± ¡°Special methods require special equipment. Given our current circumstance, I can only offer general advice for the time being.¡± Wolfblade turned toward Autumn, meeting her impertinent glower with a kindly smile. ¡°There are two challenges you need to overcome.¡± Autumn frowned. ¡°What are these methods?¡± ¡°The first is communication. You must sufficiently connect with the human consciousness, and try to persuade her to willingly accept destruction.¡± Autumn found this to be highly unlikely. This human girl clung tightly to the last vestiges of her existence. It was how she still remained locked in this body in the first place. ¡°The second is assimilation. You can do what she feels she has left undone, or allow her to emerge from time to time to release her pent up frustrations. As her needs and attachments wane, you will find it easier to control her for longer. Over time her influence and desires will weaken. Over time she will lose her emotional bonds will see no further need to resist you. Of course, I cannot allow you to kill Cloudhawk, nor will it eliminate her connection to the extent you believe. On the contrary, you will merely incite her anger, giving her more power with which to resist you.¡± A scowl of displeasure darkened Autumn¡¯s face. Would she be forced to suffer the disgrace of capitulating with a mere mortal¡¯s desires? Wolfblade went on. ¡°You may not need to destroy her outright. Humans have their own unique capabilities, after all. Who knows what results would come from a human and godly soul combining into one?¡± Autumn was, of course, vehemently opposed to the concept. How could such lowly creatures be allowed to taint the immortal soul of a god? She pondered Wolfblade¡¯s suggestions, and mulled over the best way to rid herself of this irritating headache. 1. Fuck, that¡¯s brutal. She just casually says ¡®you and everything you stand for is a lie.¡¯ 2. Cloudhawk looks pointedly at the camera. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 106 - The Purpose of Eboncrys Cloudhawk was in a sour mood. He felt like he was locked in a cage. After saving him from the clutches of Arcturus, Wolfblade brought him to the Vale. While he had not made any demands of him, the mysterious man had forbidden Cloudhawk from leaving. Hellflower was at his side all day, serving as his keeper. She also served as his personal nurse, looking over his recovery twenty-four hours a day. Everything he did every minute of every day was witnessed. She was nearby even when he ate, showered and slept. There was no chance for him to escape, because he was never alone. Hellflower was the most mature, enchanting and manipulative woman Cloudhawk had ever met. However, after a long few days she was desperate to show her foxes tail. Cloudhawk suffered her teasing and seductions several times a day. While he was gravely wounded, Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t lost his natural urges. As a man in his early twenties it was a time of great need , and inciting those primal longings didn¡¯t take much. Strangely, however, Cloudhawk managed to bring himself back from the brink every time. At key moments, a beautiful figure dressed all in white intruded on his memory. He would close his eyes, and feel those cold lips against his. He could feel the hot tears against his cheeks. In all his life no one had ever made him feel like that¡­ Was this what it felt like to truly care for someone? The next image to cross his mind was Dawn. Although Dawn was no threat to Selene in appearance or talent, both women were incredible. Dawn wasn¡¯t the same cold, aloof presence of Selene. She was the kind who always went right for what she wanted, and did exactly what she thought was right. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t an idiot. The difference in Dawn¡¯s persona over time was obvious to anyone, as were her feelings for Cloudhawk. But their relationship was different, more like what he had with Luciasha. He and Asha had been like siblings ¨C he loved her like a sister, and she filled an emptiness in his heart that was left by a lack of family. To him, Dawn was like a dear and important friend. Strange¡­ Cloudhawk hardly had any romantic experiences, and now suddenly he felt like he was drowning in them. Those lurid thoughts Hellflower summoned within him vanished, leaving her with scowls and eyes filled with resentment. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how long this would go on. Day after day with a woman like her, eventually his defenses would crumble. So, he cut to the chase and just asked her directly why she wanted him to remain in the Vale. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± ¡°Bullshit question, of course I do. Are you going to keep me here forever?¡± He was beginning to get better, most of the time he no longer needed the wheelchair. Hellflower knew it was time to come clean, but it would be difficult to explain directly the mission Wolfblade had set upon her. So she took him to her laboratory. ¡°Let me show you something. Then you¡¯ll understand.¡± Woodland Vale boasted a population of around a hundred thousand people. Forty thousand or so were young and healthy. After the Dark Atom came, many of them were selected to harvest the Vale¡¯s most precious asset, the eboncrys fruits growing on the god tree. Every day most of these fruits would be delivered to the Dark Atom¡¯s temporary workshops. There, special equipment extracted the fluid from the fruit and condensed them into high-energy eboncrys. They had uses for the husks as well, as nourishment for the dragons. Cloudhawk was made familiar with the process, but nothing about it seemed strange. The whole reason the Dark Atom came to the Vale was to have access to eboncrys, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Look.¡± Hellflower walked into the lab, donning a pair of goggles and gloves. She plucked up a small cube of eboncrys with a set of tweezers. ¡°This small cube releases the equivalent of ten tons of fuel, if you know how to extract it. Do you know what this mean?¡± ¡°If you can retrofit your vehicles to run off eboncrys, you won¡¯t need to refill nearly as often.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It would completely revolutionize how we get around. Our world is massive, but we only know so little of it. The farthest any wastelander has traveled is about five hundred kilometers ¨C even Elysian maps only measure out about five thousand. The primary reason for this is because fuel is so difficult to store and accumulate. The wastelands are dangerous, expansive, and convoluted, with no way to get energy along the way.¡± Cloudhawk nodded to indicate he understood. Elysian warships used eboncrys powder, which was a highly efficient fuel source that allowed their vehicles to cross vast distances. It also produced the energy necessary to power their pylons, both for attack and defense. However, Elysians rarely explored the outside world. How big was this place, really? Was Skycloud the only godly realm around? Cloudhawk was willing to boldly suggest that was not the case. When he was connected to the Cloud God¡¯s consciousness he could feel the other gods. Most were very far away ¨C probably in the place legends called Mount Sumeru. However, there were also many that were separate from them, spread out in distance places. What¡¯s to say they weren¡¯t just like the Cloud God, patrons of their special realm? The world was big. Humans had a small view of it. Woodland Vale had a means to show humans how little they really knew. ¡°Of course, in addition to powering the Dark Atom¡¯s manufacturing industry, it can also be used to create and power many powerful weapons.¡± Hellflower paused to open her coat, revealing her long milky white legs. A pistol was strapped to her thigh. ¡°Look here, my latest invention.¡± The gun¡¯s construction was simply and straightforward at first glance. It looked much like any other crude wasteland weapon. However, the body of it was unique, as it was not in any way polished or refined. It made the weapon look especially crude by modern standards. A faint green hue was visible in the black gun metal. This was the Dark Atom¡¯s latest military invention, made from a combination of alloy and powdered dragon scales. The combination created a metal thirty percent stronger than average, and twenty percent more fire resistant. Hellflower went on. ¡°We call it a crysgun, and right now it¡¯s the only one we¡¯ve managed to make. It¡¯s a pure energy weapon, created through wasteland ingenuity, powered by an eboncrys cell. Try it.¡± Cloudhawk took the gun from her and aimed at a stone not far away. When he pulled the trigger he didn¡¯t feel any kickback, or hear the rapid expansion of gas from a barrel. Instead he saw a streak of energy streaked from the front of the weapon, which blasted the rock into gravel. It packed quite a punch, comparable to a large caliber rifle in handgun form. Hellflower stared at him with a satisfied smirk on her face. ¡°Much better than your average weapon, don¡¯t you think?¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Quiet, low waste, no need for cumbersome bullets or gunpowder, and strong. If they managed to mass produce these it would make wasteland fighters a lot more dangerous. ¡°And this is just a small sample of what we¡¯re capable of. There¡¯s a lot we can change and improve.¡± Her words were haughty and excited. ¡°I¡¯ve got three hundred scientists working day and night to develop new weapons. Soon we¡¯ll have crys-rifles, crys-missiles, crys-grenades ¨C you name it. Beyond weapons and transportation, this practically limitless energy has the potential to change the life of every wastelander.¡± No wonder people had been fighting so desperately for control of this place. Its store of eboncrys was beyond priceless. After the Cloud God lost its connection to the rest of the gods, the realm it lorded over was left in a state of uncertainty. It made for the perfect opportunity should an organization like the Dark Atom mean to strike. ¡°You¡¯ve spoken a lot, but I still don¡¯t see how any of this has anything to do with me.¡± ¡°What are you in such a rush about? I¡¯m getting to the best part!¡± Hellflower returned the gun to its holster before leading Cloudhawk further into the lab. They crossed a number of checkpoints as they penetrated deeper into the more secret areas. ¡°We¡¯re still in the very early stages of understanding eboncrys and what it can do. I¡¯ve looked through our archives but there has never been mention of this incredible source of energy. All that can mean is that it has never been encountered in the world prior to now. It only appeared in our world after the cataclysm, making its history and origins very mysterious.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Well, we know that the Temple uses eboncrys to repair broken relics. By extension it¡¯s clear that eboncrys is a fundamental component in their creation.¡± She paused and gave Cloudhawk a searching look. ¡°We have enough of it now to attempt to make our own relics!¡± His eyes were as big as saucers. ¡°What are you saying? You¡¯re telling me you can make relics?¡± ¡°The process of relic creation has been a closely guarded secret,¡± she explained. ¡°Part of the reason for Skycloud¡¯s supremacy is their many demonhunters. You only need to look at Arcturus to know what that means. Looking further, much of the reason why humans worship gods is because they bequeath these incredible artifacts to them as divine gifts. If we can delve into the forbidden knowledge of these creatures and learn to master their secrets, we can undermine their tyranny and become our own gods!¡± Shock was an understatement. If she could actually do what she said, it could mean a fundamental change to the world as they knew it. Who knows, perhaps one day the wastelands would have its own army of demonhunters¡­ No. They wouldn¡¯t be demonhunters, but godslayers. ¡°So you¡¯re trying to create relics.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but we don¡¯t yet have the methods.¡± She stopped and fixed him with a pointed stare. ¡°What we do have, is you!¡± For a moment he thought he heard wrong. When did he learn how to make artifacts? ¡°This is what Wolfblade says,¡± she explained. ¡°You are born with the innate talent to sense a relic¡¯s resonance. There are few people anywhere in the world who understand them better than you do. So, you are the only person capable of breaking the mystery. You¡¯re our only hope at learning how to make relics of our own.¡± Indeed, Cloudhawk had a rather unique skill. He¡¯d always had the ability to hear relics, sort of like someone plucking a string. Different relics had different frequencies, and over time he¡¯d learned to recognize their various melodies. Through it he could determine a relic¡¯s type, attributes, and whether or not it was intact. Maybe she was right, maybe in time he could learn to use this skill to pierce the very essence of what made a relic. He had to admit, the prospect was exciting. Imagine if one day he was able to build any artifact as he pleased. He would hold the secret to incredible power and wisdom. But how? 1. Rofl, talk about clumsy euphemisms. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 107 - Making an Exorcist Staff Hellflower led Cloudhawk away from the lab, stating they were going to meet someone. Cloudhawk was surprised when she brought him to none other than the new Shepherd god, Autumn. As relics fell under the purview of the gods, who better to inquire about the process of their manufacture than a former Supreme? Hellflower¡¯s musings rang in Cloudhawk¡¯s ears, stoking his interest. Since he wasn¡¯t going anywhere for the time being, and he wasn¡¯t going to improve his physical prowess until he recovered, it was better to work on other skills than just be pushed around the Vale like an invalid. At any rate, the idea of making his own relics was an interesting one, he had to admit. But when Autumn saw him her face immediately took on a sour hue. Seeing the familiar face scrunched in such an expression of distaste, Cloudhawk was similarly bitter. The Autumn he knew was a simple girl, but after the Shepherd god stole her body that face was nothing but haughty arrogance. What he saw in that expression was the deep-held belief that no one mattered but herself. Did she think she was still a god? Still, he was here to ask for a favor, and sometimes that meant giving up your pride. Wolfblade¡¯s suggestions rang through Autumn¡¯s mind. She squelched the murderous intent that always seemed to rise when Cloudhawk was near, for she knew it would only awaken protests from the human soul within her. She hated having her domination undermined, so the longer she could ignore it the better. Perhaps, with time, the girl will grow weak and vanish of her own accord. ¡°You want to learn to create artifacts?¡± A light flashed through her eyes after Cloudhawk explained their aim. Her lips curled into a derogatory smirk. ¡°Do you think that an insignificant mortal like yourself can wield the power of creation?¡± ¡°Hellflower claims I have a talent for it. I¡¯m confident that if a god or demon can do it, so can I.¡± Cloudhawk was neither humble nor arrogant in his delivery. ¡°Before you left, you were an important god among your race. You must know how to do it.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Wolfblade. He knows more than-¡± Seeming to recognize that she was saying something she shouldn¡¯t, Autumn immediately cut herself off before she could finish the thought. Cloudhawk was of course curious, and her efforts only make him pay closer attention to the slip. According to her, Wolfblade was the one to talk to. ¡°Mortal, I have no qualms telling you that you will fail.¡± Autumn didn¡¯t want him to pose any further questions. She denied him flat out. ¡°Although I am a mighty god, even I do not wholly understand the process of creating relics. In truth there are few gods who are privy to this special knowledge.¡± ¡°You were one of their leaders, weren¡¯t you? Even at your status, you weren¡¯t allowed to know how to make relics?¡± ¡°Foolish mortal!¡± Autumn looked down her nose at him dismissively. ¡°It is the God King who holds the chief position among the gods. The Supremes are merely his immediate subordinates. We are all possessed of different powers, and though our position may be high in the hierarchy, there are many whose strength are no less imposing than the Supremes.¡± Cloudhawk frowned. ¡°Then what sort of gods create relics?¡± ¡°There is a small class of gods among us with unique capabilities. They are the ones with the sole power of relic creation. To us, they are known as Artisans. As for demons, my knowledge is limited. However, I know that the Demon King and a handful of the most prominent demons possess this ability. Their most storied Artisan is the Demon Lord Belial .¡± ¡°Wait wait, hold on.¡± Cloudhawk cut her off. ¡°I thought you gods shared all your wisdom?¡± ¡°Stupid creature. You think that since you¡¯ve learned a little of our ways, you now understand godly existence?¡± She seemed almost offended. ¡°If the entirety of human knowledge was collected into an interconnected web, would one being be capable of absorbing it all?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Stupid, stupid thing. Merely speaking with vermin like you is an offense to my status as the great Shepherd God.¡± Autumn had to hold back the urge to slap Cloudhawk¡¯s head off his shoulders. In reality, Cloudhawk felt the same. She was human now, despite whatever lofty bullshit was in her head. It was done when she severed her connection to the other gods. What was foolish was going on calling herself a mighty god. The total population of gods was relatively small, though they were all born with incredible and unique powers. It was true that they all had access to the unified knowledge and strength of their people, but even for gods there were limits to the knowledge their individual minds could hold. It was rather like the internet from the ancient age, where humanity¡¯s collected knowledge was easily accessible to anyone. Or, like the expansive library of Nucleus, deep in the bowels of the Blisterpeaks. There was such a vast sea of knowledge, no single person could hope to grasp it in their lifetime. ¡°Artisanal powers are a rare thing, perhaps one in a hundred among the gods. Among the demons it is even less common. For this reason, in the Great War the gods were able to equip demonhunters to aid in the destruction of their enemies, while the demons were forced to fight on their own. As for humans, it is impossible for them to possess this skill. If indeed it has awakened within you, then only Wolfblade has your answer.¡± The awakened talent she spoke of was Cloudhawk¡¯s ability to hear relics. He never thought it was such an amazing skill, except to help him discover relics or when demonhunters were using them nearby. Now, however, he was beginning to understand. It was exceedingly rare to have this skill, so much so that in the whole history of demonhunters there had only ever been a handful. He was beginning to appreciate it more. ¡°Alright, insignificant one. I grow tired of speaking, so I¡¯ll make this short.¡± Autumn had run out of patience. ¡°While I do not know the precise methods of relic creation, I am somewhat familiar with the process. If you refuse to accept the futility of it, then the first thing you should learn is how to understand relics.¡± ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± He asked. ¡°Destruction.¡± Her answer was simple. ¡°More powerful relics are beyond the ken of you lowly mortals. Begin with an exorcist rod. Dismantle it, learn its properties, then see if you can remake it with your own capabilities. If you succeed then seek me out again.¡± Autumn waved at them dismissively, and they left. It just so happened that Cloudhawk had plenty of exorcist rods in storage. Now was as good a time as any to give them a purpose. Hellflower pushed Cloudhawk back to the labs. They each set about their individual tasks, with Cloudhawk first retrieving a rod and handing it to Hellflower. She started by running experiments on it to determine its physical makeup. The exorcist rod was widely considered the most basic of demonhunter relics ¨C to the point it was hardly considered a relic at all. More like a novice¡¯s training tool, a psychic multiplier. It was the perfect object to begin their efforts. If it was so simple, there was no reason Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t find out how to make them. Hellflower¡¯s efforts determined that the rods were made from special Elysian alloys. It was especially sturdy, tough, and resistant to both fire and acid. Certainly a material gifted to the Elysians by their gods. No wasteland procedure was capable of making material like this. She was further able to detect another faint signature of another substance. Eboncrys powder. As she suspected, eboncrys was involved somehow in relic creation, and this confirmed it. In addition to being a stabilizing compound, it was also added to the smelting process. From empowering ordinary metals to repairing broken relics, eboncrys was the key. Hellflower was preparing to share this information with Cloudhawk, but when she turned she was shocked at what she discovered. Cloudhawk was seated before an exam table with piles of slag strewn before him. In his hands were orbs of green fire, which burned into a blackening rod. The sturdy material was melting like it was made of ice cream, and dripping onto the table. Castigation Fire was incredible to behold. After what she learned about the rod, seeing it appear so fragile was a shock. It just peeled away. She watched carefully, and discovered that while the makeup of the weapon was simple something unique was created as it burns away. In trying to determine what made up a rod, she had of course cut one apart. In doing so she hadn¡¯t discovered anything out of the ordinary. Castigation Fire, on the other hand, seemed capable of extracting whatever this strange material was. It had a low melting point, reminding her of mercury, but quickly vanished into a mist. As the vapors hung in the air, they quickly gathered into motes of light. Cloudhawk took up a container made from the same material as an exorcist rod and captured some of the strange material inside of it. It glimmered with light, like he¡¯d managed to bottle a star. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Dunno. But every relic has this inside them. It doesn¡¯t seem like a solid or liquid... not really a gas, either. It is present in the core of every relic I¡¯ve encountered ¨C kind of like a¡­ spirit? Doesn¡¯t seem like it appears from any scientific experiments. But Castigation Fire appears to extract it. Cloudhawk¡¯s ability to absorb a relic¡¯s power seemed tied to this. Castigation Fire extracted the ethereal core of the tool and combined it in himself. What Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know, was that Castigation Fire was the work of a Demon Lord. It was a relic from one of the few demonic Artisans, designed especially to aid in relic creation. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe.¡± Hellflower picked up the container, pushed aside her bangs and peered through her goggled at it. Her eyes sparkled with the reflection of the stuff. ¡°This is definitely some new technology, used by gods and demons.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I suspect it¡¯s some sort of quantum energy humans have been unable to detect until now. A demonhunter¡¯s attuned psyche is able to resonate with this power, creating some kind of mutual resonance. The combination changes the fundamental properties of the world around them, restructuring things on a subatomic level. That¡¯s how they¡¯re able to summon stuff life fire, ice, stone or cutting air from nothing.¡± At the very fundamental level, all things are connected through strings. How each string resonated determined their qualities. In a way, while humans saw the world as all manner of different things, it their very core everything was exactly the same. If one had the ability to change a frequency, then in theory they could change water to metal, stone to grass, air to trees ¨C whatever they wanted. This was known as string theory . Hellflower wasn¡¯t one for myths and esoterics, she was a firm believer in the infallibility of science. Anything and everything had an explanation, only this mysterious new force was outside the realm of current human capability. That¡¯s what made it difficult to understand, but not impossible. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand much of her explanation. Really all he cared about was that it was this strange substance that he resonated with, and that it was part of the relic creation process. ¡°Yes, that must be it. First we need a suitable vessel to contain the substance.¡± Hellflower fiddled with her goggles, something she did when she was excited. ¡°The vessel itself must possess suitable energy, that¡¯s why they use eboncrys in its construction.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t imitate the materials the gods use, can you?¡± ¡°That would be very difficult, especially since we know so little about it. Even if we understood the composite materials, it would take a lot of experimentation to figure out the manufacturing process. However, just because we can¡¯t imitate it doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t find a suitable substitute.¡± She pointed at the gun strapped to her thigh as a means of emphasizing her point. ¡°The alloy we¡¯ve created with powdered dragon scales ¨C something I call dragon iron ¨C only needs a little eboncrys powder to create something akin to this godly material. The results would unfortunately be inferior, but we can see if it passes muster for our purposes.¡± This was why Wolfblade liked Hellflower so much. She was a clever and talented woman. Both she and Cloudhawk were growing all the more excited over their experiments. They began the next phase without hesitation. Hellflower created a mold of dragon iron, and Cloudhawk was responsible for infusing it with the secret substance. It didn¡¯t take long for a makeshift exorcist rod of their own was forged, which included that mysterious material. ¡°Success!¡± A black exorcist rod sat inert on the table before them. Their creation methods were crude ¨C but perhaps this was to be expected, seeing as this was a wasteland copy of Elysian technology. Cloudhawk was also just an amateur artificer who did this largely by hand. The gods would of course have a way to mass produce these things. His creation could certainly never stand up to a godly product in terms of precision and quality. ¡°Let me see how it works.¡± Cloudhawk reached for the rod and poured his will into it. The two began to resonate almost immediately. And then - Boom! An explosion ripped through the laboratory. 1. Ehm¡­ . If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 108 - The Refiner Cloudhawk¡¯s arm was nearly blown off. Hellflower was forced to perform emergency triage to save it. Luckily for him, his innate danger sense warned him moments before the blast. It gave him just enough time to throw the rod away. It was about three meters away when it detonated. Any closer, and Cloudhawk would definitely have lost the arm. Hellflower quickly did what she could for the damaged limb. ¡°What happened? It looked perfectly fine, why did it explode?¡± Cloudhawk paid no mind to his wounded arm. He scowled, brows knit, as he considered that very question. Hellflower¡¯s dragon iron and the Elysian material were similar enough that it shouldn¡¯t be the cause. He figured it had to have something to do with the strange substance at the relic¡¯s heart. Apparently they couldn¡¯t just stuff it into anything and expect it to work. There had to be some rule to how it was disseminated¡­ if it wasn¡¯t, the substance became unstable when a catalyst was introduced. Cloudhawk had rushed to test it before giving the idea any serious thought, and was nearly crippled because of it. Hellflower went on. ¡°You can¡¯t continue now. Heal a little before we try again.¡± ¡°No, I want to try once more.¡± Cloudhawk needed to test his new theory. ¡°If I can¡¯t even make an exorcist rod, how can I call myself a refiner?¡± Refiner? Was Cloudhawk giving himself a new profession? That was a little out of order, but Cloudhawk was obsessed with the idea of making his own relics. Hellflower couldn¡¯t convince the obstinate man otherwise, so instead she chose to help. She gathered personal protection equipment from around the lab, which included a reinforced glove that would at least mitigate any more potential damage. It seemed necessary, seeing as their simple initial experiments had already nearly destroyed the lab. Bang! Their second effort failed similarly to the first. Cloudhawk glowered in irritation. He clutched the fragments of the rod for a long time while he pondered the problem. Eventually they fixed it and tried again. BANG! A third attempt ended with nothing but ringing ears and shards of dragon iron. They tried again. A forth experiment, a fifth, a sixth¡­ By the end Cloudhawk was at his wit¡¯s end. The angrier he got the more his head hurt, as his mental injuries still hadn¡¯t healed. But he was learning from his mistakes. He discovered that part of the mystery of the exorcist rod lay in the specific arrangement of the strange matter. Once extracted from a working exorcist rod, that specific arrangement was lost. It was obvious that if he wanted this to work, he would need to further refine the strange matter before putting it into a vessel. Only once he had the pattern right could the two blend seamlessly. So the problem was using his talent to reverse engineer a relic¡¯s pattern. It was about as easy as a man with no music training writing down a complicated orchestral score by ear. It would definitely require some effort. Six or seven hours passed. Night had fallen across the Vale. Hellflower left to make Cloudhawk a bowl of soup to nourish him while he worked. When she returned, she saw the half-wrapped mummy seated with a rod in his hands, and a small smile tugging the edges of his lips. The young man wasn¡¯t particularly tall, strong or handsome, but he had an alluring persistence to him, ever since he appeared before her. That sort of dogged determination was rare to come across. It¡¯s part of what made him special and attractive. It was no wonder he was often surrounded with exceptional women. She watched him as he sat, lost in concentration. He looked quite charming. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know it when she came back. His mind was too busy focused on the task at hand. Behind his eyes he saw countless threads vibrating, creating a melody, threaded together into a perfect tapestry. He was beginning to understand. Little by little, patterns were beginning to emerge in the chaos. Castigation Fire snaked from his palm and once again quenched the dragon iron rod in his hands. Once more he inserted the structured portion of that mysterious substance. ¡°This time it should work.¡± Cloudhawk held the rod tight and walked over to a practice target. Hellflower watched, a little nervous. He was obsessed, she saw the signs. Good things rarely came from that. She was a practiced researcher, and empirical evidence proved that experiments rarely succeeded so easily. Often those experiments which seemed simple on the surface, really required hundreds of attempts to perfect. Hummmmm! She heard the buzz worm into her ear. That wasn¡¯t the explosion she was expecting. She looked at Cloudhawk and her eyes went wide, for the rod in his hands had activated. Wind was picking up as its head spun. Sparks danced in the vicinity. Cloudhawk swung at the target, causing it to blast into pieces. ¡°You did it¡­ you did it!¡± Hellflower couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, rushing over to Cloudhawk and wrapping him up in a hug. ¡°Incredible! You really are a prodigy, and just so damn attractive!¡± Cloudhawk was keenly aware of the large, firm, but pliable masses pressed against him. The devil woman was doing it on purpose. But whatever her ploys, she was right. This was something to be excited about. Even in the Elysian lands, their most basic exorcist rods required help from the gods to create. Cloudhawk had just managed to make one all by himself. It required more testing, of course ¨C it probably wasn¡¯t very stable, and in terms of quality it didn¡¯t match item it was based on ¨C but at least it was a successful start. By making a relic on his own, even a basic one like this, it meant that humans were no longer reliant on the gods for these tools. It was the beginning of a new era, an epochal discovery. Dawn the next day. Cloudhawk brought their successful experiment before Autumn. She took the crude item in her hands and examined it closely. The surprise on her face spoke volumes. While exorcist rods were the very simplest of items for a god to create, for a mortal to uncover its secrets in under a day was nothing short of extraordinary. It completely upended her expectations. Cloudhawk addressed her. ¡°I¡¯ve proven I can do it. Tell me the next step. Exorcist rods are not enough, this basic-level shit is useless to me. I need something that¡¯ll give me a real sense of accomplishment.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve managed to create one, you¡¯ve shown you understand the fundamental nature of a relic.¡± Autumn¡¯s haughty, superior air had softened ever so slightly. After all, Cloudhawk had managed to achieve something she would struggle to complete. Despite her discourteous bearing, he had proven himself more than a typical mortal worm. ¡°In creating a relic, there are two challenges for you to overcome: materials, and anima.¡± By now they understood the problem of materials. Wastelanders couldn¡¯t make the stuff they used to create real exorcist rods. It was surely only going to be more difficult as they tried more complicated relics. All the knowledge and techniques of the gods remained a mystery, but from what they knew it was a thousand years beyond even what prehistoric man had achieved. Anima ¨C as she called it ¨C was even more difficult to fathom. Of course, she meant the mysterious substance they found in the rods. It was completely outside the scope of human knowledge and defied any technology they had to try and learn more about its makeup. In fact the only person who could work with it was Cloudhawk, thanks to his unique talent. In being able to ¡®hear¡¯ relics, he was in fact capable of connecting on a deeper level with a relic¡¯s anima. Cloudhawk had no way to solve their materials problem. That fell on Hellflower¡¯s more erudite shoulders. She had access to a team of scientists and equipment, but even then it had been so long since the ancient knowledge was lost. Even with all of Hellflower¡¯s genius, she would be hard pressed to overcome the gap between what the wasteland could provide and Elysian ingenuity. Instead her task was to invent viable substitutes. What Cloudhawk did have was the talent necessary to learn the secrets of anima. However, the substance defied easy explanation. He was starting from zero, making a difficult task that much harder. He was pioneering an entirely new subject of study, like a babbling infant trying to unravel the secrets of language. It would require Hellflower and Cloudhawk both to succeed in their ambitious aim. They had many daunting challenges to overcome. Autumn went on. ¡°Your next step will be to dismantle a large number of relics and extract the anima within. Use it to study its rules, properties and structure. The process will require a great deal of time, and a veritable treasure trove of relics.¡± His bitter expression made his thoughts obvious. How was he supposed to do that? If he had a hoard of relics he wouldn¡¯t need to go through this bullshit in the first place. He¡¯d just pick up a relic and use it. The whole purpose of learning to make relics was so that he had them at his disposal. His dispirited expression brought Autumn¡¯s typical haughty smile back to the surface. ¡°You ignorant child. You have a treasure before you but don¡¯t even see it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You have the Demon King¡¯s phase stone. With it you can stride dimensions and seek out lost relics. Most that you will discover will be broken, but that doesn¡¯t matter for your purposes.¡± Now he was beginning to understand. She was suggesting using the phase stone to find relics discarded by the Demon King. It wasn¡¯t unthinkable, since Cloudhawk had done just that before ¨C albeit by accident. His invisibility cloak, the Phoenix Furnace he gave Selene, and Oddball were all relics he snagged from other dimensions. ¡°Why did gods and demons appear in this dimension anyway? Why do they stick around?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. The gods¡¯ collected knowledge pays no heed to questions such as this. It is the same for demons. All I know is that the God King has commanded us from this plane ever since I came into being.¡± What a strange fact¡­ But Cloudhawk put it out of his mind for now. He went on. ¡°Using the Demon King¡¯s stone isn¡¯t easy. So far I¡¯ve only be able to teleport to one specific stable nearby dimension. I have no idea how to go about moving to other places.¡± ¡°Fool! That is because your inheritance is not complete!¡± Autumn explained. ¡°The Demon King once commanded perfect control over dimensional power. Were it not for the God King¡¯s temporal abilities, no one would have had the ability to stand against him.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying there is no better method?¡± ¡°Of course there is!¡± The voice came from behind them. Wolfblade regarded the group with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Both he and Abaddon approached. Immediately, an uncomfortable and disgruntled sensation filled Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. He much rather would have suffered the pride of a fallen god than these two. Wolfblade didn¡¯t notice Cloudhawk¡¯s discomfort, or perhaps he simply chose to pay it no mind. ¡°Follow me. You will know what to do once we arrive.¡± Wolfblade had been conspicuously absent for the last few days, but that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t paying close attention to his young charge. In fact Hellflower delivered reports on his actions and behavior every day. Every single thing Cloudhawk said or did, Wolfblade knew about. Or perhaps, as always, everything he did was unwittingly at the enigmatic man¡¯s behest. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 109 - Leading Through Wolfblade led Cloudhawk into the interior of an unassuming tree. Within it was a strange tower-like structure, about three meters tall. Its exterior was covered in eboncrys, and Cloudhawk sensed the mysterious energy wafting from it the moment he stepped close. It came off the tower in pulses. He recognized it as similar to structures in Skycloud, the largest of which was in the center of Skycloud city itself affixed to the top of the Temple. While it didn¡¯t look all that complicated, Cloudhawk was certain no human hands could create towers like these. It was created by gods and demons. ¡°This is a Scryspire. It saw common use in the Great War. Channeling a detection-type relic through it will greatly extend and strengthen its effects. Nothing in its sphere of influence can remain hidden, so they were constructed around important locations for safety and information.¡± ¡°And what does this have to do with me?¡± ¡°Simple; items are not living things, but people are. And who can say that Scryspires are just used for spying? Think ¨C you cannot control the phase stone¡¯s dimensional teleportation abilities, likely because you¡¯re perception is still inadequate. You cannot sense these different dimensions or how to access them.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying that this tower can help me feel all the different dimensions?¡± ¡°At the very least it will strengthen your current perception. I wouldn¡¯t go so far as to expect it will allow you to peer into the deepest layers of the multiverse, however.¡± Wolfblade paused for a moment before going on. ¡°Once you¡¯ve assimilated all of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance, you will no longer need outside help to do this. The true Demon King is a master of spatial dominion. Barriers between realities mean nothing to him. However, if or until you reach that point this tower is your best bet.¡± Cloudhawk frowned, thinking over the information. He wasn¡¯t sure how useful Wolfblade¡¯s suggestions were. It wasn¡¯t like he was in the best shape to go traipsing through other realities. On the one hand he was still recovering from his psychic wounds. Who was to say that doing something this mentally taxing wouldn¡¯t make his situation worse? Maybe it would make his injuries permanent, leaving him disabled. On the other hand, no one knew what waited for him across the veil. There could be any manner of creature looking for a meal, and he¡¯d be powerless to protect himself. Based on previous experiences he knew that sometimes the stone could drop him in dangerous places. Since he was so much weaker now, there was the real threat that a surprise danger could spell his end. ¡°With help from the Shepherd and Hellflower, this shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you.¡± Wolfblade didn¡¯t even need to ask. He knew what Cloudhawk¡¯s concerns were. ¡°The Shepherd God¡¯s flute can accomplish many amazing things. Any other dangers you encounter can be handled by Hellflower. I do not suspect you have anything to worry about.¡± Wolfblade had prepared everything. What else could Cloudhawk say? Take things as they come. Cloudhawk was of course aware that all of this had been prepared for his benefit, and it was not something they could throw together in a couple of days. Wolfblade must have been making preparations for this even before Cloudhawk came to Woodland Vale. What the hell are you up to, Wolfblade? Well, he had no answers. Master how to make relics first, and then he would probably find out what this was all about. Cloudhawk had always been the sort to be dissatisfied with his life. Might as well see what other realities held in store, the dangers be damned. It wasn¡¯t like this would be his first time. He¡¯d leaped across dimensions a couple times, although only briefly and only once on command. It wasn¡¯t a process he¡¯d explored deeply, so he was excited to learn more about it. The two attractive women who¡¯d followed them moved at a glance from Wolfblade. Hellflower was excited and eager. She wasn¡¯t known for being adventurous, but this was completely uncharted territory they were exploring. She was excited for the opportunity to learn something totally knew, especially with Cloudhawk. Autumn was precisely the opposite. Her displeasure hung in the air like a cloud, and to her Wolfblade was clearly pushing the boundaries. Did he honestly expect her to agree to help this pathetic mortal? He was treating her like a subordinate ¨C her, a mighty god, in her own domain! If she willed it, the very earth would rise up to expel these irritating gnats from her presence. Yet while internally she railed against the prospect, she didn¡¯t protest. Instead, with a scowl on her face, she stepped into the tower with the others. The tower¡¯s interior was simple, empty. The walls were etched with strange archaic patterns and as Cloudhawk walked in the outside world seemed to dim into the background. All there was inside was a small doorway. Cloudhawk turned to Autumn. ¡°I¡¯m going to start.¡± She sniffed in response, but put the flute to her lips and began to blow. Melodious tones hung in the air, which seemed to sharpen Cloudhawk¡¯s focus like being dunked in cool water. Clearly the Shepherd God¡¯s powers were not just offensive, but also supportive. He could feel it shoring up his mental powers. Cloudhawk was reminded that the power of a god ran much deeper than what he saw on the surface. Between Shepherd¡¯s power and the tower¡¯s aid, Cloudhawk could feel his mind¡¯s reach expanding. Wolfblade definitely hadn¡¯t been lying. He shut his eyes and summoned the stone¡¯s power from within him. His will reached out around like, seeping like water to fill the tower interior. The pulsing of his mental powers sped up which caused the space to fill with even more energy. The air rippled visibly from it. Yes¡­ Cloudhawk could feel it. Everything was much clearer than he was used to. Every thread of his psychic power was like a tentacle, an extension of himself that reached out into the ether. As he focused, a single thought crystallized in his mind: the universe he knew was far more segmented, and far vaster than he ever could have imagined. They sat on top of one another like layers of cloth. His will was like a sharp, heavy stone dropped onto those layers. If he used enough force he could pierce the barriers and slip through to the space between. That¡¯s how he phased between places. All he needed was the will to see it done, and Cloudhawk could leap into one of these folds he could touch. The first layer was one he was familiar with. It was the dimension he visited often, where everything had experienced some terrible cataclysm and lay in broken pieces. He didn¡¯t know what happened to that world, only that it was uncomfortably similar to the one he came from. It made it easier to shuffle back and forth on a whim. It was all so novel, so unexpected. The idea that there were so many dimensions, extending far beyond his vision, was completely new to him. He figured there was no point in entering the ruined dimension this time, so he poured more of his will through the tower to extend his consciousness. He reached out toward the next barrier. It was hard. That ache had crept into his mind once again, even with Shepherd¡¯s help. Strenuous though it was, after a few moments he felt some of the resistance part, and knew he¡¯d reached into the next dimension. It was all so¡­ incredible. Cloudhawk was amazed that his mind was reaching out through space to other realities. ¡°Got it!¡± His eyes popped open and he looked at Hellflower. ¡°We¡¯re ready to go.¡± She stared back with obvious surprise. Go? What was he talking about? For all her intelligence, the wasteland¡¯s arguably greatest scientist was at a loss. This was entirely outside of everything she knew, beyond what science could explain. ¡°The first time you slip through, it will feel uncomfortable. Relax as much as you can, and it¡¯ll pass quickly.¡± He reached out and grasped Hellflower. Then, a scene she couldn¡¯t quite process followed. The two of them rippled like the air that surrounded them, then swirled in on themselves like whirlpools. As Cloudhawk spaghettified into nonexistence, he gave Autumn an appreciative nod. ¡°Thank you.¡± Then they were gone. Autumn couldn¡¯t help but be entranced by this strange and mysterious power. It reminded her of the old Demon King, a creature who strode the multiverse as he willed, who no one could stand against. He traveled where he pleased, whenever he liked, and no one could follow. The Shepherd God had battled against the Demon King, once. It nearly destroyed her. She remembered being dragged into a different dimension, where she was bound and made powerless. Subversive thoughts and images intruded on her mind, until the Shepherd decided the truth was too much. It was the catalyst that made her choose betrayal, the very first of her kind to turn against her people¡­ That was the power of the Demon King. The only creature capable of killing him was the God King himself. A thousand years after the monster¡¯s fall, this was the frail mortal he chose to receive his inheritance? If the mighty Demon King had failed, what chance did this whelp possess? He commanded less than a hundredth of a hundredth of the capabilities of his predecessor, but even if he absorbed all the former Demon King¡¯s might, he was hopeless against the God King¡¯s time powers. Defeat was inevitable. Autumn stood in silence, feeling the weight on her heart. She felt ever since becoming human that her emotions were more¡­ complicated. As a god she¡¯d never experienced such a riot of feelings. Her people were famously apathetic, acting mechanically on the orders of their king. Emotions were personal things, and ¡®personal¡¯ was not associated with the gods. She was far weaker than she had been, yet felt infinitely more alive. *** A wave of dizziness swept through Hellflower, nearly more than she could stomach. Reality fractured into a hundred million pieces all around her and she was thrown into a chaos of energy. She¡¯d never experienced anything like it, and as her consciousness expanded passed the microscopic reality she knew Hellflower felt her horizons gaze out over an infinite ¨C and strangely complete ¨C cosmos. The discomfort was almost unbearable! It felt like her mind was being crushed to paste, and although Cloudhawk had warned her the sensation took her completely off guard. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Cloudhawk stood in front of her, still covered in bandages, with a pudgy little bird on his shoulder. He reached down and helped Hellflower to her feet. It was the first time Cloudhawk had taken someone with him on one of these excursions. Wolfblade had offered Hellflower¡¯s aid for a simple reason; the laws of dimensional travel were that the more powerful the creature trying to pass through, the harder the process was. Hellflower was much more appropriate for Cloudhawk¡¯s current level of skill. Abaddon or Autumn were simple too much for him to handle, for now. Hellflower was just right. She nodded in response to his question. She was already starting to feel much better. When Hellflower raised her head, even the level-headed scientist was astounded by what she saw. She was so shocked she couldn¡¯t speak, because the scene that stretched out before her eyes was more incredible than anything she¡¯d ever seen in her entire life. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 110 - Exploring The sky above them was typical of a binary star system¡¯s. There was no true night, for it was instead replaced by periods of brief twilight before the sister star¡¯s dawn. Most of the time it was full sunlight, and hot. A normal person likely wouldn¡¯t have lasted ten minutes in this place before dying of dehydration. As the travelers looked around, they noticed the broiling suns above. The largest was four times the size of their moon and burned with a pale blue light. It was beautiful, and was encased with a blinding and alluring halo. The smaller one was about the size of a pea, and only barely visible. Surprised couldn¡¯t begin to describe Hellflower¡¯s reaction. She stood there with her mouth literally agape. Yet the surprises didn¡¯t stop, for in front of them stretched a huge and ancient forest. Instead of large, thick trees they might expect, it was instead composed of towering spindly things with enormous mushroom-shaped canopies. Wait, not mushroom-shaped. Actual mushrooms! Those were absolutely gigantic mushrooms! Hundreds, maybe even thousands of them stretched as far as they could see. The largest of them was about a hundred meters tall or more, and the smaller variety were the size of a thumb. They were easily crushed beneath their feet as the two wandered closer. They came in all different colors as well, and were tightly packed together like a sea of fungus. Spores hung in the air lending to an even more powerful impression they¡¯d stumbled into some surreal dreamscape. Then there were the creatures, strange things that fluttered through the air. They darted around, eating the spores that floated around. Magical, fantastical, incredible! Hellflower would never have believed such a thing if she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes. Flora, fauna, environment... everything was completely divorced from the reality they came from. Her attention was snapped backed to her side when a gas mask was shoved into her face. Cloudhawk¡¯s hoarse voice was warning her, ¡°We can¡¯t be sure these spores aren¡¯t poisonous. Wear this.¡± ¡°The closer we get, the more I like you.¡± Hellflower gave Cloudhawk a coy smirk as she slipped on the mask. Her eyes glimmered as she continued to look around. ¡°It looks like this place has been abandoned, except for these small critters. Where should we start looking?¡± ¡°That¡¯s where Oddball comes in. It¡¯s been doing nothing but eating and sitting around in the Vale for days like a fuckin¡¯ pig ¨C time for some exercise.¡± Oddball chirped at him, peeved at the insult. How could his master say such things? Oddball had been a good companion, training diligently! The pudgy bird lifted off his shoulder and quickly began to swell. Where Oddball was typically about the size of a fist, suddenly it weighed some fifty or sixty pounds and was considerably larger. This took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°Shit, you¡¯ve packed on those pounds! I should start calling you Oddbulge!¡± The little thing¡¯s volume had doubled at least, and he kept the same adorable rotund figure. The golden feathers remains, soft and shining, and its round owl-like head was still half swallowed by the portly form. It was still a ridiculous thing to look at with its round body, big eyes and stubby wings. Hellflower¡¯s scientific standpoint was confounded by what she saw. Physics dictated that a creature that fat with so little lift shouldn¡¯t have been able to fly at all. As she watched Oddball let out a shrill chirp, and started to glow with golden energy. Like a fiery arrow it shot into the distance, then stopped in mid-air. It turned its head back toward the two and chirped as though bragging at how much faster it had become. Cloudhawk shouted after it impatiently. ¡°Stop wasting time! Go find what we¡¯re looking for.¡± Oddball¡¯s portly body was incredible agile, and its field of vision had expanded considerably from before. What¡¯s more, its eyes functioned like x-ray vision capable of peering through the mushroom caps below. Before long, it spied the remnants of an ancient city nestled in the forest. They¡¯d come here to find any relics that may have been discarded. An abandoned city was as good a place as any to start their search. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cloudhawk and Hellflower set off after Oddball. Aside from the spores, they noted that there wasn¡¯t any other sort of plant life around. Oddly enough, even though the ground was barren these mushrooms still managed to sprout and grow humongous ¨C just out of nowhere, springing up from the sandy dirt. There was no indication that they should have grown so large with so little nutrition. Strange was the only way to describe this place and its wildlife. Strange and inexplicable. ¡°It seems this world is in direct sunlight at all times. The earth is parched. I can¡¯t see a drop of water anywhere. It appears this has forced the wildlife to adapt in strange ways ¨C if I had to guess, the fungal surfaces are efficient solar energy collectors. See the wrinkles on the underside?¡± Cloudhawk lifted his head to look at what Hellflower was talking about. Where the exterior was smooth, the inner wrinkles beneath the mushroom caps undulated gently as though it were breathing. Like an animal. ¡°Its respiration rate is rather quick, suitable for gathering any moisture left in the air. In the same way our breathing works it is constantly exchanging oxygen for waste material. It is a natural energy reactor. You can almost feel the energy within it. Whatever it left in the soil it gathers up, and through some complicated chemical process converts it into the nutrients it needs to flourish.¡± Hellflower was almost muttering to herself while she examined the alien flora. She felt like she¡¯d wandered into a treasure trove of secret information. Cloudhawk, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t care less. He was more concerned about the hidden dangers he knew had to exist. Seeing as this was a completely foreign ecosystem, who knew what sort of things existed here humans weren¡¯t equipped to guard against. Hellflower thoughtlessly wandered around, trying to look at everything at once. ¡°These spores have incredible research value. If they can grow in this environment, what¡¯s to stop them from growing in the wastelands? The barren environment is similar.¡± Hellflower quickly gathered several dozen mushroom samples and a large amount of spores. ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll bring them back for experimentation.¡± Cloudhawk was getting better after his ordeals, but still wasn¡¯t completely healed yet. Getting around was a slow and laborious process most of the time. Between his injuries and Hellflower stopping every few steps to gather samples, it was slow going. Eventually, however, they arrived at the ruins of whatever ancient civilization had abandoned this place. Although it was clear these remains were very old, the dry air kept them largely intact. In fact, many of the buildings were still standing, which revealed that they were very similar in architecture to Skycloud. Where did these ruins come from? What kind of culture had this been? Perhaps more importantly, what happened that caused them to disappear? What terrible power swept through? Was there really nothing left in this sun-scorched planet? Question after question worked its way through their minds. And then¡­ Out of the corner of his eye Cloudhawk spotted a large group of creatures huddling in the ruins. They were odd and oblong, sort of like jellyfish. Tentacles slithered out from elongated bodies and crackled with electricity. One of the creatures slowly extended an appendage, and a streak ofl ightning blasted forth! C-rrrACK! The outsiders were sprinkled with dirt and a crater appeared inches before their feet. Cloudhawk¡¯s face fell. ¡°Damn, that looks like it¡¯d hurt. Get rid of them!¡± Hellflower¡¯s guns appeared in her hands in a flash. Shots rang out as she emptied her clips in the direction of their attackers. Gaping holes appeared in the jellyfish-like creatures¡¯ bodies. They stopped their attack, but only so that they could begin to amalgamate together to form a monstrous thing a dozen meters tall. What a freakish monster! Hellflower was frozen in surprise. In the interim Oddball dashed toward it, piercing it through. Oddball moved so fast it was just a streak of golden light that sliced right through the jellyfish¡¯s soft exterior. It came around for a second pass, diving head first into the creature. The jellyfish rapidly began to shrivel up like it was being sucked up from the inside. Its outer membrane cracked, and after a few seconds it broke apart to waft away on the breeze like snow. Cloudhawk watched, eyes narrowed. ¡°It was made from mental power.¡± Hellflower had never seen anything like it. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The expression on his face was strange as he struggled to explain. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure how to describe it. It¡¯s not like anything we¡¯ve seen. It was like it was some kind of spirit entity. Both physical and¡­ not. Obviously we were able to kill it.¡± Strange¡­ what was a creature like that doing here? As the two of them pondered the question, more of the strange creatures were gathering around. Many were the jellyfish sort, but others were even stranger and harder to describe. Where they were all similar was that they floated through the air like gravity didn¡¯t affect them. They were translucent, and looked mostly incorporeal. They were like the spirits of the lost civilization, haunting the ruins. Although Hellflower was curious about the unknown entities, now was not the time for experimentation. Without a second of hesitation her guns were spitting bullets once more, blasting through whatever tried to get near. ¡°There are too many of them.¡± Hellflower¡¯s face was grave. ¡°We can¡¯t stay long.¡± Cloudhawk knew they had to make the most of every second. Since stepping into the ruins he was able to pick out several signatures of nearby relics, but one area was particularly dense. He sent Oddball to go take a look. The pudgy bird obliged, and upon reaching the area discovered a sizable basin. More like a crater, actually, where something very big had detonated. He didn¡¯t have a lot of experience with them, but it looked like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine that it was an ancient war that had spelled this civilization¡¯s downfall. Oddball also spotted several of the spirit creatures hovering near the crater. The creatures did not fear physical attacks, and could only be destroyed by a large onslaught of energy. Luckily they seemed to be particularly weak against divine beasts like Oddball. The little bird gobbled up the energy they were made of and left them with nothing. Oddball flapped its stunted wings, causing grit and dust to be pushed out in all directions. From what they could see this was what remained of a battle from long ago. Demonhunters probably crawled all over this place in the fight, as evinced by the many relics Cloudhawk could sense. Whatever terrible attack took place, and countless years in this harsh environment, had destroyed most of them. Those had no more anima to speak of and didn¡¯t even resonate any longer. But there were others. Cloudhawk sensed seven or eight without having to search very hard. Oddball picked up what it could with its beak and flew them back to its master. Three were gathered in this fashion. But the strange spirit creatures kept coming, and eventually they would be overrun. In order to avoid having to fight off an infinite number of enemies, they were forced to travel back to their own dimension. 1. 2. ¡®Small Strange Bird (oddball¡¯s name in the raws) has become Large Strange Bird!¡¯ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 4 - Chapter 111 - Returning to the Southern Wilds It was a significant ¨C if brief ¨C trip. For the first time, Cloudhawk was in control the entire time. There were notable differences from the instances before where he was flung into different dimensions, and at last he was turning this ability into a skill he could manage at will. Countless dimensions, concealing countless treasures¡­ From now on he could mine for them as he pleased. There were still dangers of course. Cloudhawk had no way of knowing if civilization had been destroyed on every world he visited. If they were, then why? He had so many questions about how all of this was connected to his own reality. How was the phase stone able to link them all together? Why did everywhere he visited seem to bear the scars of the Great War? Would his own dimension end up like all those others? His mind was full of questions, but they ran through and passed quickly without answers. Big problems like the inevitable destruction of the world were too big for him to worry about. His only interest was in the treasures left behind. Whether the discarded relics or crumbling ruins, these new dimensions were rife with valuable remains. Cloudhawk hoped he had enough time to thoroughly explore them. Without a doubt these places held the secret to making himself stronger. Hellflower had also earned a bountiful harvest. It didn¡¯t take her long to grow a few samples from the spore planet. According to her, while Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care so much about her efforts she was convinced they had incalculable value. Her only regret was failing to capture one of those spirit monsters. Their world had nothing of the sort. Who was to know if they didn¡¯t hold some secret to the mysteries of mental energy? At any rate, this was just the beginning ¨C there would be many more opportunities. *** Late night¡­ Cloudhawk was sitting alone in his room. Eleven relics were arrayed before him. They were covered in dirt and many were rusty, but what did he expect from them after they had been forgotten for thousands of years? Most were ruined, probably during the process of whatever war killed their owners and being left out in the open. None were complete enough for him to use directly. He reached out and picked up a bracelet which hummed with a weak and broken frequency. It was obviously badly damaged, but not completely ruined. The anima within it could still be used; otherwise Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have been able to sense it. The relic itself wasn¡¯t important. What he needed ¨C and what made a relic useful ¨C was the mysterious energy at its heart. Since this relic wasn¡¯t completely destroyed, did it mean there was a possibility some part of it could be salvaged? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what the repair process in Skycloud¡¯s Temple entailed, but what was clear was that eboncrys was an indispensable part of it. Something about the energy of eboncrys allowed it to mend a relic and its anima. Why not give it a try? It wasn¡¯t like the Vale lacked eboncrys, and Cloudhawk had a number of relics to practice with. It would be an incredible success if he could figure out how to fix relics. After making up his mind, Cloudhawk held the bracelet in one hand and a chunk of eboncrys in the other. His palms oozed with miserable green flame which began to melt away at both and combine them together. However just as the process was beginning he heart a series of ominous cracks. The bracelet shattered into a handful of pieces. He looked down to see its anima seep from the fragments as motes of light and vanish. Why did he fail? Cloudhawk frowned as he hurriedly collected the shards. They were valuable pieces of his efforts to make new relics, so he wasn¡¯t willing to easily part with them. His knowledge of relics was very limited, so it was no surprise that his methods were flawed. When summing up his efforts, he judged himself to be too impatient. Perhaps it was foolish to think he could simply combine eboncrys and a broken relic directly. He would have to disassemble the process and take it slowly, step by step. He tried again two more times, adjusting his approach with each failed attempt. The relics were too damaged, broken beyond repair. Stubbornness was an integral part of Cloudhawk¡¯s character, so failing in this way was intolerable. After identifying the relics one by one, he picked up a dagger which appeared to have the least damage. If he couldn¡¯t fix this one, Cloudhawk doubted he had the skill necessary to fix anything at all. It no longer had a handle or handguard. However the edge was still sharp and gleamed with a chilling light. The air around it was cooler by a few degrees and the blade itself was crystalline in appearance, like an ice sculpture. A delicate and impressive weapon, when it had been whole. He saw cracks and chips in it now that marred its beauty, like a piece of glass that¡¯d been struck by a hammer. While not beyond all hope, it was in bad shape. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, then took up a handful of eboncrys and began the smelting process. Castigation Fire danced over the black crystals, melting them down in an even distribution. He then guided the eboncrys-laden fires over the dagger¡¯s surface. Castigation Fire rose off the dagger like ghostly tendrils. It slowly seeped into the cracks. All the while Cloudhawk held back his power, employing it by painstaking degrees to ensure it wouldn¡¯t destroy the relic. He could sense that the smelted eboncrys was releasing its energy into the blade, and the relic was slowly absorbing it in turn. Finally, a result he was pleased with emerged. The cracks slowly began to vanish. Before his eyes, the dagger was slowly repairing itself. This continued for a handful of seconds. When it was done, the dagger looked good as new. He gave it a gentle toss toward a nearby wall, which sent the blade out like a frigid streak. It buried itself about an inch in, and ice crystals crackled as they stretched out from the point of impact. Cloudhawk was elated. He did it! He¡¯d successfully repaired an ancient relic, and that meant more would surely follow. Now that he could recover these treasures from other realms, bring them home, and return them to working order, he was invaluable to anyone. Not only were the relics he fixed useful to himself, but the ones he didn¡¯t want could be smuggled into Skycloud and sold, or provided for wastelander demonhunters. However you cut it, he was a breathing gold mine. Once he mastered this skill, he would be in huge demand! His eyes then returned to the other relics. They were all too far gone to be fixed, so their worth lay in taking them apart. He could use any worthwhile material, and reverse-engineering them might teach him something. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to just be a relic handyman, after all. The creation of relics was ¨C until now ¨C solely the purview of gods and demons. That meant it was a process rife with divine and unholy secrets. By disassembling these relics there was much he could learn, and he was convinced eventually he would know enough to be successful. Then he would be an Artisan, worthy of the name. What use would humanity have for gods and demons then? Cloudhawk wanted to prove that humans could surpass those all-powerful creatures. He would do things that gods and demons could only dream of. Wolfblade was of course kept abreast of everything that was going on. He approached Cloudhawk one day for conversation. ¡°I hear you¡¯ve found something you like. Have you given any further thought to your future?¡± ¡°Thought? Well, once I figure out this relic thing I thought I¡¯d establish my own crew. Then when the time is right, we¡¯ll go back to Skycloud and kill that fucker Arcturus.¡± He saw no reason to hide his intentions. It was no secret his greatest foe was Skycloud¡¯s Governor ¨C only, this foe was much too strong for him to deal with alone. ¡°A fine goal.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve finally realized that it is useless to try and stand alone in this world. You need friends, no matter when and no matter where. People to rely on. I know a place you might be interested in.¡± ¡°Oh? What sort of place?¡± Cloudhawk was still displeased with his forced house arrest here in the Vale. He would take any opportunity to get out, only without help from Wolfblade and the others he couldn¡¯t continue to gather relics from other dimensions. ¡°Do you remember Greenland Outpost?¡± The smile on his face spread wider. ¡°Abaddon and I have been active in the Northern Barrens lately, but we¡¯ve also pooled our resources in the south. Of course, things are complicated here now. With both the Wastelands Alliance and Skycloud out for blood, we haven¡¯t had the mental energy required to see after our other holdings.¡± Wolfblade paused for a moment. ¡°It is distant, safe, and has a fine foundation to run your business. I believe it¡¯s time you went back to your roots, and started building a power of your own.¡± And Wolfblade would let Cloudhawk go, just like that? With Autumn and Hellflower? Hellflower, he could somewhat believe. In her heart she was a Seeker, so she was always interested in exploring new places and uncovering more secrets. Besides Greenland Outpost ¨C where the Dark Atom had been operating for years in secret ¨C had all the equipment she needed. What¡¯s more, she could serve as a coordinator with the Vale, and ensure that ample eboncrys was provided for their experiments. Autumn, on the other hand? That was a strange prospect. Would she really tolerate leaving the Vale for Greenland Outpost? ¡°Greenland Outpost has rich soil for growth. I am confident you will help it see its full potential. Turn it into a true wasteland power, and yourself into a mighty Wasteland King.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s words were always hard to read. It was impossible to tell whether he was telling the truth or not. But Cloudhawk was tired of staying here, so he agreed to leave for the Outpost he ran from years ago, without hesitation. Just him, Hellflower and Autumn. The old drunk would remain in the Vale and continue his recovery. Wolfblade said it would be another couple of days before he was well enough to see anyone, so Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bother to wait. He left with the two beautiful women, away from the Vale on the back of the great crystal dragon. Not long after departing, they passed over a mass of ruins below. Wasteland sands had claimed most of it. He saw a half-ruined lighthouse jutting up at an angle. Even from high overhead he could see the sun-bleached skeleton hanging from it, picked clean by wild animals. He remembered this place. Years ago it had a name. Lighthouse Pointe. His mind went to a beautiful, kind, and simple soul he used to know. As far as he knew, she was still in Crescent Moon. He liked to imagine she adopted a large number of homeless wastelander children, Revenant by her side as a protector. Squall probably blew through from time to time, secretly keeping watch. Life was treating her well at last. At least, he hoped. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 1 - Cleaning House Greenland Outpost had turned into Greenland City It was a thriving settlement in the middle of a green and red wasteland, one of the richest in the south. Over the last four years the Dark Atom had been secretly funneling wealth into the outpost, expanding both its riches and its population. There were now eighty thousand people nestled in this deadly oasis working in warehouses, manufacturing plants, fields, pastures and science labs. Whether it was in population, production capacity or regional influence, Greenland City was top of its class. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pay much attention to the tall buildings creeping up from the canopy as they approached. Rather, he took a small detour to an area overgrown with long grass. A mound of dirt without a headstone marked the grave he¡¯d left. He plucked a bottle of alcohol from his dimensional pocket, uncorked it, and poured its contents over the grave of his old friend. A fondness crept into his eyes. ¡°Artemis. What a fuckin¡¯ riot, eh? Even I never would have thought I¡¯d come back here. It¡¯s been a hell of a ride. I¡¯m a lot stronger than I used to be.¡± A flood of emotions was running through him. The past felt like a lifetime ago, and yet it could have been yesterday. It all felt like a dream sometimes. The truth was quite different. Here he was, back in the place he never thought he¡¯d return to. Those he never thought he¡¯d meet he ran in to in the least expected ways. Yet the place he¡¯d always been searching for was never found, and the people he thought he¡¯d travel with forever were gone or far away. What he lost was still lost. What he wanted he still didn¡¯t have. The only thing that¡¯d changed in all this time were the tired lines times had etched in his face. Cloudhawk ran his fingers over the tall grass embracing the grave. They crept out from cracks in the stones he¡¯d used to mark the place. He imagined they took root in his friend¡¯s body, like a part of her given new life. ¡°I don¡¯t plan to leave again anytime soon. This place is as good as any. I¡¯ll make sure to stop by often and share a bottle with you.¡± Four years ago, frail but determined, he¡¯d set out to pursue his dreams in the Elysian lands. Four years later he returned, strong but fragile, he was back for an extended rest. ¡°What are you doing here by yourself?¡± Hellflower¡¯s annoyed voice came from behind. She walked to his side and took his arm. ¡°Come on, the city¡¯s Governor has prepared everything. We have a fine dinner planned for this evening.¡± He sighed. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t here to live in quiet seclusion. He was here to take over a city. And since that was his aim he couldn¡¯t avoid a chat with its current leader. Greenland Fort was a lot better furnished than he remembered it. When they arrived, a towering man with dark skin and red tattoos exited to greet them. He was flanked by a dozen of his best men, who spread out in an orderly line when Cloudhawk approached. The city¡¯s leader bowed his head respectfully. ¡°I am called Cerberus, Governor of Greenland City. Once we heard you three bosses were coming we prepared a feast for you. Please, come in.¡± Something seemed to occur to him then, because he raised his head and looked at them in curiosity. ¡°I was told there would be three, but I only see two.¡± Hellflower smirked, drawing the eyes of the wastelanders. ¡°She isn¡¯t fond of social engagements. Our third has decided to rest instead of join us. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll present herself when the time is right.¡± ¡°Very well, then please follow me.¡± Cerberus was a well-known figure in this part of the wastes. He¡¯d managed Greenland City for the past several years without incident, which spoke volumes to his leadership skills. He led Cloudhawk and Hellflower into a dining chamber. Cerberus ordered his guards outside, where they took up position by the door. Only his most trusted people were permitted to join them inside. Once they were settled a small army of attractive server women entered, each bearing trays of food. The fragrant scents of wasteland fish, fried greens and barbecued meats filled the hall. Some of the finest wine produced in the wasteland was poured into crystal glasses, underlining the fact that this reception was meant to be as luxurious as possible. ¡°The situation in the southern wastes is complicated. I am not a man of much skill, but I took this posting at the respected Master¡¯s request. The past few years have been taxing.¡± Despite his words, Cerberus¡¯ face was relaxed. ¡°But now that you¡¯ve come to take over, the insignificant rascals of the wilds are nothing to be feared. I, Cerberus, am the first to drink to your rule! From now on the torch is passed, but I will aid where I can, come swords or hellfire.¡± If Cerberus was so eager to bend the knee, his subordinates wouldn¡¯t dare offend. The atmosphere was cordial and calm, with all manner of boot-licking freely given. Whether or not they continued to prosper and take over the southern wilds was up to their new bosses, now. ¡°So,¡± Cloudhawk was finishing his second glass of wine. ¡°Is there any known opposition to Greenland City nearby?¡± Cerberus nodded his head and scowled. ¡°It¡¯s different here from the North. The landscape is complicated and strong mutants run their own crews. The further south you go, the worse it gets. Any groups we send out get caught, so we rarely bother with their territory. A few outposts and larger settlements are less than friendly with us. Their forces are tricky to deal with, but not any significant threat.¡± ¡°Really? I grew up here, I don¡¯t remember hearing about any dangerous groups like you describe.¡± ¡°Word is that in the southern highlands there¡¯s a sort of nation they built up. Everyone they send out is a dangerous character. Since the area isn¡¯t even known to the Elysians, it¡¯s largely considered a legend outside of this area.¡± Cerberus voice dropped a little in volume. ¡°But we¡¯ve done some digging, and it seems the legends are true. They¡¯ve been more active lately and are sending more of their people into our territory.¡± Cloudhawk frowned. He was right, there were real differences between the northern and southern wastelands. For one, the south was rife with mutant creatures and twisted freaks. While cities like Greenland existed, they were the exception rather than the rule. An organization like the Dark Atom had never taken root here, and there was no word of mutant leaders like the Four Kings this far south. Since it was so wild and unorganized, the south didn¡¯t get a lot of attention from Skycloud. What he was hearing was that there was an area even further south that was such a mystery even the Elysians didn¡¯t know about it. A secret power has been brewing that way this whole time. Cloudhawk had never heard a thing about it until now. Maybe he was too weak and too insignificant at the time to be part of those conversations, or maybe the mysterious group had only begun to reveal itself. In either case, it hardly mattered. Cloudhawk could hold his own against a Skycloud contingent, some wastelander organization couldn¡¯t threaten him. He decided to pay it no mind for the time being. First, he had to establish himself here. ¡°The wine is poisoned!¡± The cry came from Hellflower, sputtered through a mouthful of blood before she collapsed on top of the table. Her sudden affliction took Cloudhawk off-guard. Half a moment later, his head hit the table as well. Cerberus let his glass drop the ground and shatter. It was a signal to the men outside. They rushed in, weapons drawn. The friendly expressions were gone and the typical savage, deceitful wastelander snarls were painted on their faces. They lurched forward, ready to carve these Dark Atom usurpers into pieces. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ morons,¡± Cerberus growled. ¡°Did you really thing I¡¯d just hand Greenland City over?¡± A sea of sinister grins was closing in. ¡°Strangers from some far off place, waltzing in here to take what¡¯s mine. Obvious you were tired of living. I built this place, and you thought you could just give the command and take it for yourself? Cut these idiots to ribbons!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± A particularly wretched looking man called out, his greedy eyes slithering over Hellflower¡¯s curvaceous firm. ¡°Boss, a woman like her is a rare treat out here. It would be a waste to just cut her up without having a little fun first.¡± ¡°Shit, you¡¯d even fuck a corpse.¡± ¡°She¡¯s still fresh, aint she? What¡¯s wrong with a turn or two? If you don¡¯t want to, then more for me!¡± ¡°Never said I didn¡¯t want to. ¡®Fact I¡¯m going first!¡± The foul nature of wastelanders was clear in their exchange. They fell over each other at a chance to feed their sick desires. After all, if they were sent here to hold a city this far south they weren¡¯t your typical brigands. Besides, even dead Hellflower was a hell of a lot more attractive than most ladies. This position of power was too enticing, too much for their simple willpower to ignore. ¡°That¡¯s enough! You¡¯ll do what I say or I¡¯ll chop your cocks off myself and stuff in your fucking mouths!¡± Cerberus¡¯ anger flared. ¡°There¡¯s still one of them out there. Find where they went, we can¡¯t let word get back.¡± The men reluctantly dialed back their hunger. Cerberus was the authority here. No one was going to ignore his orders. However, no sooner had he finished giving the word then the two corpses sat back up in their seats like nothing happened. ¡°Cerberus, Cerberus¡­ so easy to lose your head.¡± Hellflower had a self-satisfied smirk on her face, even as she picked up her poisoned wine with slender fingers and took another sip. ¡°Who did you think you¡¯d fool with this infantile ploy? Perhaps I forgot to mention that part of Wolfblade¡¯s intent in sending me was to deal with you. You¡¯ve given me an excuse to do it now with a clear conscience.¡± Cloudhawk, of course, was never going to die from poison. Hellflower was clever enough to have any number of means to protect herself from such a simplistic effort. Cerberus¡¯ face sank. He stared in utter shock as his victory was snatched away. How? No, it didn¡¯t matter. There was no turning back, he would never give up his control over Greenland City. ¡°Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve bled for this place?! Do you know how many people I¡¯ve had to sacrifice? I¡¯ve watched this backwoods ruin grow and prosper like it was my own child. What made any of you think I¡¯d give it up simply because you told me to?¡± Cerberus¡¯ voice was a throaty growl, like a wild animal guarding a kill. ¡°You want an answer?¡± Cloudhawk calmly picked up a knife and carved out a piece of meat. Fires from the candelabras danced in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re too weak.¡± The Governor¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You...¡± Cloudhawk continued in a rugged voice. ¡°Greenland Outpost used to be run by a guy a lot like you. Don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve heard of him, but you¡¯re about to follow in his footsteps.¡± Cerberus¡¯ face was a mix of sickly pale and angry red. Cloudhawk¡¯s words were like poison, but he was both speechless and helpless. He¡¯d heard of Hydra, the one who had controlled Greenland Outpost before. He¡¯d tried to betray the Caliph of the Sands, even kill him. It turned out to be a stupid decision that killed him. How was Cerberus¡¯ attempts any different? But he refused to accept this! How could they expect him to swallow such a disgraceful order?! Cerberus¡¯ eyes had gone bloodshot. ¡°Alright¡­ alright¡­ I sure as hell can¡¯t beat Abaddon. But at least I can kill you three sacks of shit before he gets me!¡± The Caliph of the Sands was an unbeatable demon, ordinary mortals couldn¡¯t hope to defeat a creature like him. If Abaddon were here none of them could oppose him, but these three weren¡¯t demons. They were human, and no matter how strong humans were they had limits. There were a thousand soldiers here loyal to him, so even if one of these assholes was a legendary Master Demonhunter they couldn¡¯t take this place. ¡°Kill them!¡± Cerberus roared. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 2 - Clearing Ou In the same instant Cerberus shouted his orders, Hellflower¡¯s pistols were in her hands. A dozen deafening cracks rang off the walls as she pulled the trigger. Her shots were cast all through the hall, too fast for her targets to find cover. However not all of these men were pushovers, as some were quite skilled. Their armor protected them from the worst of it. ¡°Do it! Kill the bitch!¡± Twenty ferocious wastelanders charged in. Some of them fired guns back at her to counterattack, others closed the distance to fight hand to hand. But Hellflower handled her pistols with the speed and destruction of a machine gun. Her attackers were immediately caught in a hail of suppressive fire. A handful of unlucky ones had their heads blown off by being a second too slow. She was too damn strong! Meanwhile Cloudhawk watched as though enjoying a show, taking his time to enjoy his meal. He then drank down what remained of his poison wine, and only at that point seemed to pay closer attention to the fighting. By now it had reached a fever pitch, and although Hellflower was deadly these men were not slouches. She couldn¡¯t handle all of them by herself. Sure enough, a few of Cerberus¡¯ men were pushing forward under the protection of shields. Sparks flew as the thick slabs of metal deflected Hellflower¡¯s bullets. They pulled out guns of their own and started firing back at the invaders. Food and dishware exploded every which way as the table was peppered with gunfire. Cloudhawk¡¯s response was to lazily wave his left hand. A streak of silver wormed out of his palm and whipped through the air. What bullets weren¡¯t reflected back towards the wastelanders were cut in half and rendered harmless. The savage faces darkened. Power like this definitely didn¡¯t come from the wastelands. Was this one of the legendary demonhunters they¡¯d heard about? Regardless of a demonhunter¡¯s storied strength, they were also completely mysterious to these ignorant killers. They couldn¡¯t even begin to understand how to fight against one. After deflecting the bullets Cloudhawk pointed at them with a finger from his right hand. A gout of green fire belched from the digit, like a star had shattered and spread across the dining hall. What was this? Everyone ¨C Cerberus included ¨C was astonished by what they witnessed. Countless sparks of green fire wafted through the air. They slowly approached, swinging back and forth as though they had a life of their own. One man was enthralled and reached out to touch one. He sensed no danger in the unassuming tongue of fire, but when it grazed his skin it clung tight and she couldn¡¯t pat it out. ¡°Ah! AHH!¡± His pained screams were deafening. With wide eyes he watched the fire consume his hand and quickly spread inch by inch up his arm. Flailing wildly about in desperate attempt to douse the fires only helped them spread faster. In only a few moments there was nothing left of the man but a pile of ash. Cries of fear and powerlessness rang through the hall. Even Cerberus was frozen in place. He had witnessed something incredible, the most unbelievable scene in his entire life. One of his subordinates was simply gone ¨C consumed by evil fire. What sort of wickedness was this? That bandaged freak was no human, he was a demon! Motes of fire were bobbing closer to the Governor. With a roar he stamped his feet, crushing the stone beneath and casting it into the air for cover. He then flung himself through the nearest windowand tumbled a dozen meters to the ground below. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Hellflower¡¯s pretty face bore a frightening and beautiful grin. She leaped from the open portal, using the wall to steady herself on her descent. Agile as a cat she scrambled down, while firing her guns at Cerberus. However the man was Governor for a reason. He could guess track where the bullets would land, making even Hellflower¡¯s storied precision insufficient. Hellflower finally reached the ground, landing deftly on her feet. ¡°Everyone, after her! Kill this bitch!¡± Cerberus shouted at the top of his lungs then looked back at her. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much you can handle!¡± In the off chance his ploy failed, Cerberus had had the foresight to station a few hundred of his soldiers in near the fort. They were equipped with guns and bows to kill their targets from afar. A number of them had heavier artillery that was a threat even to Hellflower. Even a veteran demonhunter wouldn¡¯t be able to defend themselves against such an onslaught for more than a few seconds. It didn¡¯t matter how strong she was. Hellflower was just one woman, after all! Greater numbers always won out! Hellflower looked around at the bristling gun barrels and crossbow bolts aimed her way. She paused for a moment, then raised her head skyward. ¡°Hey. Are you just going to watch, or get involved?¡± The soldiers felt a strong wind blow through. They followed her gaze, and then one after the other gaped in utter shock at what they saw. An enormous crystal beast hovered just overhead, its massive wings causing the air to grow tumultuous. It was as though the beast was carved out of gemstones, and every scale was impossibly beautiful. Standing on its back was a young woman in green robes. She scowled down at the wastelanders like a giant regarding an anthill. Autumn was a prideful, conceited former god. She would not suffer a meal with these insignificant creatures and expect to feign respect. She deigned not to attend their little get together, and even now was loathe to lift her hand against these paltry foes. She was a god, and even giving them this modicum of respect was beneath her. ¡°Fire!¡± The dragon creature dove at them. Bolts and bullets ricocheted off its hide without so much as a scratch. Its deadly claw lashed out, rending flesh, armor and stone. A swath of soldiers were flung from the walls or torn to ribbons while at the same time, the dragon released a plume of fire from its maw. But while it looked like fire, it was not. The deadly substance was a corrosive energy that dissolved its victims like acid. The soldiers below howled in agony as their flesh melted away. No armor, not even bone could withstand it. After the dragon passed overhead it left in its wake softly bubbling pools of melted human. The beast reared back, beating its wings. The sharp edges of its cut right through another group of warriors. It was no battle, it was a massacre. While the wastelanders had the advantage of numbers, their weapons were powerless against this monster. Without a way to fight back, what choice did they have but to die? Autumn raised her flute to her lips. A single note arose. Countless dark figures emerged. Beasts which had lain dormant awakened as her command. They charged into the city¡¯s midst. Hellflower watched. She wasn¡¯t a soldier. Her talents lay elsewhere. Cloudhawk¡¯s Castigation Fire was incredibly lethal, but was not fire in the proper sense. It didn¡¯t combust the material it consumed to birth more flame. In order to continue to spread, it demanded will from the one who controlled it. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t recovered enough to destroy thousands of soldiers with a flick of his finger. But Autumn? She was another story. Of the three of them, she was a true powerhouse. It didn¡¯t matter that Cloudhawk was injured, because even in peak form he was no match for Autumn. Besides, her powers were unique. So long as there were weak-willed creatures around, she could summon an army to her aid with but a few notes from her flute. Her power over these beasts was indiscriminate. There was no different to her between controlling one monster and one thousand. Not even a Master Demonhunter could level an entire city. But to Autumn, it was an afterthought! When had Cerberus ever witnessed such frightening strength? He only just now realized the depth of his stupidity, how much he was really ignorant of. There were those in this world he couldn¡¯t even lift a finger against. Perhaps if he¡¯d agreed to surrender the city they would have let him live. He would lose his home, but at least he would still be breathing. But it was too late. Acutely aware that this fight was hopeless, Cerberus abandoned his soldiers and fled for his life. None of this was important anymore, his only interest was to get as far away as possible. He rushed passed the soldiers, away from the din. He was beginning to think he¡¯d made it when in front of him the air rippled strangely. Not the air ¨C space. A figure stepped into existence, his gray cloak flapping in the winds. His bandaged form was unmistakable. A demonhunter! Cerberus¡¯ face was ashen. How many powers did this freak have? He¡¯d left him back at the fort, he was sure of it. How did he show up here all of a sudden? He¡¯d heard Hellflower¡¯s name before, knew that she was an unparalleled wasteland scientist. She was responsible for creating the Dark Atom¡¯s genetically modified soldiers, as well as any number of other incredible discoveries. She was a woman capable of changing the face of the planet. The woman standing on her dragon was capable of destroying it. The man before him was a mystery, with powers that made him seem omnipresent. He vastly underestimated these three! Regret was bitter in Cerberus¡¯ mouth. What the hell made him think he could defy them? He fell to his knees before Cloudhawk and slapped himself several times across the face. ¡°Spare me! Please, spare me! It was a moment of stupidity, let me live and I swear I¡¯ll leave and never come back. I¡¯m begging you!¡± Cloudhawk reached into the void and pulled forth a large, broken sword. He gave it a few practice swings, which caused fire to leap off its surface. He said nothing, but the look on his face was easy to read. Cloudhawk had no intention of letting him live. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you myself.¡± Cerberus stared up at him with bloodshot eyes. He wrenched his own weapon free and threw himself at Cloudhawk in a last-ditched effort. His intense will to survive gave him unnatural strength. But it was no use. Before a man of true power, he wasn¡¯t even worth a second look. Cloudhawk waved his broken sword, and from it reached a roaring flame. It streaked across the ground and crashed into Cerberus before he even got within striking distance. The intense heat of it immediately set him aflame. His body then burst into chunks of blackening meat spread across the ground. Cough, cough! Cloudhawk put away Ardent Wrath and struggled to catch his breath. A few drops of blood trickled from the bandages around his mouth. He was still too weak, but strong enough to easily deal with a worm like Cerberus. Was it that the Governor was weak? No ¨C Cloudhawk was that strong! Cerberus was about as strong as Hydra had been, all those years ago. In these parts it made him top of the food chain. Yet even a wounded Cloudhawk had still put him down without effort. He¡¯d spent too long in the Elysian lands, where the strong were an entirely different class altogether. There were so numerous, in fact, that he¡¯d hardly noticed how much he¡¯d progressed. Now that he was back home, it was becoming clear there weren¡¯t many who could stand against him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 3 - A New Problem The sun rose over Greenland City, as it always did. The city stirred, the same as any morning. Hunters left to track their quarry, vendors hawked their wares, all preparing for another day of struggle in the wastelands. No one cared that just the night before a deadly struggle embroiled the fort. Bids for power were a common sight, from small settlements to large outposts. Out here, everything obeyed the rule of steel. The whole wasteland adhered to it, the single truth that existed from the very first day live crawled up from the dirt. It spanned all of time, threading through countless civilizations, and could be summed up in one simple phrase. Survival of the fittest. Weak were fodder for the strong, and the strong rules the world. He with the mightiest fist got to call the shots, his word was law. Once those loyal to Cerberus were purged from the city, the remaining soldiers fell in line behind Cloudhawk. Such was the way of things. They would do as they were told, until someone stronger than Cloudhawk came and they began the process all over again. Loyalty and honor were foreign concepts in the wastelands. One¡¯s only responsibility was to one¡¯s self. Dong¡­ dong¡­ dong¡­ A bell rang out across the city. It was a signal to call everyone together. The city¡¯s denizens stopped what they were doing and headed for the city center. When they arrived, they saw that three leaders had come to replace the old one. Hellflower, standing in the middle, announced that Greenland City had come under new management. There would be new rules everyone was expected to follow. Cloudhawk never said a word as these rules were conveyed. Autumn merely stood there, looking impatient. ¡°From now on, our city will be the capital of a new Greenland Nation. We will be doing things very differently, but don¡¯t fret. You should all rejoice at having the opportunity to be citizens in this place. Under our leadership you will no longer have to struggle merely to survive. You won¡¯t need to risk your lives for food and comfort. The wastelands beasts will no longer be a threat.¡± Hellflower¡¯s voice rang out over the crowd, but they fell on deaf ears. The attention she got was mostly from her erudite and attractive face, her exaggerated bosom, and pert backside. The men in the crowd whispered about those charms more than any words she spoke. She spoke for a long time to little effect, until she noticed no reaction and grew impatient. Hellflower could speak for the rest of the day and it would accomplish nothing, better just to show them. So she turned to Autumn and nodded. ¡°Begin.¡± Begin? Begin what? Cloudhawk¡¯s expression said he didn¡¯t know the answer either. ¡°You greedy, self-important woman. What makes you think you have any right to command me?¡± ¡°No no no, honorable Shepherd God. It wasn¡¯t an order, it was an invitation.¡± Hellflower¡¯s attitude toward the woman ¨C or, rather, God ¨C changed when her temper flared. Autumn shrugged at the poor attempt at flattery, but obliged by producing a small box. She extended her hands and opened it before the curious eyes of the citizens. Cloudhawk¡¯s vision snapped to it. What powerful resonance! He spied a small green bead resting inside. Judging by the energy coming from it, this had to be a unique sort of relic. It radiated a gentle yet strong light that conveyed power. The citizens did not have Cloudhawk¡¯s innate ability to feel relics, but they didn¡¯t have to, it was obvious at a glance. This bead was definitely something special. It floated up from the box, revealing a more seed-like texture. Thousands of eyes watched, enraptured as it shot into the dirt of the city center. Boom! People shuffled uncomfortably, the earth trembling beneath them. It felt like a small earthquake, or like the seed struck with the impact of a meteor. The trembling continued, even growing in intensity. Autumn knelt down and placed her hands upon the dirt. The Shepherd God¡¯s will poured into the earth like a waterfall on a parched river bed. Everyone, Cloudhawk included, was speechless while she acted. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The tremors strengthened. Shocked and frightened eyes shot skyward as an enormous tree burst up from the ground. Fully formed branches scraped the sky, and in the space of minutes the tree was several hundred meters tall. Leaves sprouted, forming a gorgeous canopy that towered over the city like a shark among minnows. Dazzling emerald light glowed off the megaflora, shining down on everyone like a gentle waterfall and enveloping the city. Now Cloudhawk understood. It was an enchantment. Obviously this giant tree was conjured up through Autumn¡¯s power, an act she¡¯d performed once before as the Shepherd God. It was what kept Woodland Vale secret from the rest of the world for so long. Of course, creating an entire domain like that had been very taxing. With her limited power now, she couldn¡¯t produce the same results. Greenland City¡¯s God Tree was a pale imitation of the one in Woodland Vale, but its essence was the same. The incredible power within it would protect their city. Even if the tree protected just a tenth of what the Vale¡¯s did, it would still be an incredible thing. Elysians or other prying eyes would see nothing. What¡¯s more, it served the important purpose of shattering wastelander preconceptions. To them it was a miracle, entirely outside the realm of possibility. The wide-eyed looks on their faces revealed that the tree had had its intended effect. Greenland¡¯s citizens were ready to prostrate themselves before it in worship. Even though Greenland¡¯s boundaries were minuscule compared to where she came from, this enchantment was still very taxing for Autumn. It would require at least ten days of constant upkeep to make it permanent, giving her little opportunity for rest. If she was interrupted then the enchantment would fail, and all her effort wasted. ¡°We¡¯ll leave this to our illustrious Shepherd God,¡± Hellflower said to Cloudhawk. ¡°Let¡¯s tour our new city, shall we?¡± ¡°Is she going to be ok, left like this?¡± ¡°Are you underestimating the Shepherd God?¡± She asked with a smirk. ¡°After all this you still lack faith, eh? Look at her pet and her protectors. What wastelander do you think can get within fifty meters?¡± Autumn¡¯s crystal dragon settled by its master side. Smoldering green eyes warily scanned the area, constantly vigilant. Anything that got close without Autumn¡¯s permission would be instantly devoured. Besides the divine beast she also had her twisted Dryad, obediently waiting on the opposite side. It¡¯s trunk-like legs were rooted into the ground, which allowed the creature to sense any changes in the nearby environment. It didn¡¯t look like there was anything to worry about here. Cloudhawk was acutely aware of how strong Autumn¡¯s divine beast and undying protector were. If someone could fight passed those two, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to stop them. Anyway, he was silly to think any wastelander in these parts would even get close. Even Skycloud had only a handful that could threaten the Shepherd God. For years Greenland City¡¯s infrastructure had been remotely bolstered by the Dark Atom. Still, it was a simple place. For instance, a hydroelectric generator drew power from the small rivers that ran through the city. While it was enough to power the manufacturing buildings, it didn¡¯t provide enough electricity for the whole city. Warehouses were filled with a large number of eboncrys, prepared long before Cloudhawk arrived. Back in the Vale Hellflower had learned how to construct the focal tower they¡¯d used to traverse dimensions. While it was unlike any earth technology she knew, its basic principles weren¡¯t difficult to ascertain. She was confident that with Autumn¡¯s help they could reproduce one here for their purposes. ¡°From now on, this will be our home.¡± Her voice took on a teasing and provocative tone. ¡°You¡¯re the boss now, and how to choose to run this place is up to you. Everyone here, myself included, is bound to your whim. I am required ¨C eager ¨C to do anything you ask of me.¡± Cloudhawk ignored her overtly suggestive comments. ¡°How many children live here?¡± She gave him a curious look. ¡°Already thinking of raising a crew?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always been my intention. I don¡¯t think wastelanders are inherently any weaker than Elysians.¡± Cloudhawk looked out over the city. ¡°I believe there are a lot of wastelanders with real psychic talent. Since I can now repair and even create relics, there¡¯s nothing stopping me from building an army of wasteland demonhunters and martial artists.¡± This was his territory now. It was time to start cultivating a group of people he could trust. True to her word, Hellflower followed his command. She released a decree that every child between the ages of five to fourteen was to gather at the fort. After the display in the center of town, the city¡¯s people already revered their new leaders. Not many chose to ignore the summons. Before long Greenland Fort was a mess of shuffling children waiting to see why they were called here. Wastelanders had an unfortunate tendency to die young ¨C especially children ¨C so there weren¡¯t many within the age bracket Cloudhawk required. Another problem he faced was the reality that Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a typical demonhunter. He knew exactly nothing about how to determine or awaken potential talent. Even if he had a good group of students, he didn¡¯t know what to do with them. He felt stranded, and that was when Hellflower came quickly to his side with a bit of news. ¡°We¡¯ve got trouble. Three other nearby settlements have heard that there¡¯s been a power play in Greenland City. Word is they¡¯ve banded together to try and take us while we¡¯re still getting our footing.¡± He scowled at the unhappy report. ¡°When will they be here?¡± ¡°Not more than three days,¡± she replied. That was a problem. Of the three of them, the one with the power to obliterate an army was Autumn. She was busy building Greenland¡¯s defense, though. Not only was she preoccupied, but they had to make sure she was protected. Cloudhawk and Hellflower couldn¡¯t fight off potentially thousands of soldiers by themselves. Their enemies had chosen a good time to strike. They¡¯d only just taken control of the city and weren¡¯t wholly in control yet. Greenland had soldiers, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know anything about them and vice versa. Command would be shoddy at best. Whatever his troubles they had to overcome them. Very soon they were going to have a hungry army knocking at their gates. He wasn¡¯t about to sit around and wait for them to come. Cloudhawk gave his order. ¡°Gather everyone.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 4 - Assembled There were very few settlements in the southern wastes that could count as ¡®cities.¡¯ None of them could compare to the power or scope of the Northern Barrens. However, that didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t a potential threat, and if three of them were able to organize this quickly it meant they¡¯d been planning this for some time. It made sense. Greenland City had come under foreign influence, and using the well-defended outpost they could build a fine foundation. It was only a matter of time before these outsiders tried to extend their reach to the rest of the southern wastelands ¨C which was exactly what Cloudhawk was planning. Instead of waiting for that day to come, it was better to be proactive. Seeing the writing on the wall, leaders from these three settlements agreed to work together. It¡¯d been less than a week since the coup. Cloudhawk had to assume there were spies, as that was the only way the cities could have learned Greenland changed hands so quickly. Word was must have gone out through something like messenger pigeons the moment Cerberus was killed. The minute it was received, these vipers slithered from their nests and gathered for an attack on the city. Hoping to take advantage of their precarious status as new leaders, perhaps Greenland might change hands again. The wasteland had its own rules, and when outsiders came to try and impose their own they had to be dealt with. Even beasts protected their territory, to say nothing of grizzled wastelanders who fought and bled every day for what they earned. They weren¡¯t about to tolerate a place as rich as Greenland City coming under foreign control, not when they could have it for themselves. Cloudhawk was both surprised and frustrated. He¡¯d just gotten back and assholes were already causing trouble. Rather than sit around and wait for conflict, though, he gathered the four thousand strong warriors of Greenland City and organized a defensive line. Once again Cloudhawk¡¯s wastelanders displayed impressive efficiency in following his orders. Just five days after Cloudhawk took control, Greenland City had a shifting black line appear at its borders. Maybe ten thousand savage fighters were licking their chops and waiting for a cut of what Greenland City promised. They were a motley crew with wildly different equipment and hardly seemed organized, but there had to be close to ten thousand of them. Some of them rode twisted mutabeasts, others rode in vehicles. Some wielded massive shields and others crude buster swords. Peppered among them were mutants several meters tall with heavy weaponry. From gear to appearance, there wasn¡¯t anything unifying these killers. Strategy and unity was not a wasteland strong suit. They fought for themselves, each one competing for a greater cut of the winnings. ¡°So many?¡± Cloudhawk looked over the milling soldiers with a scowl. He used to live here, and never had he thought the barren and sparsely populated southern wastes could gather such a force. Hellflower looked at the two sides and gauged their situation. ¡°Without Autumn¡¯s help and with you sick, I¡¯m not sure we can rely on a few thousand half-assed troops. Even with the advantage of our walls I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be able to fend them off.¡± The creases in Cloudhawk¡¯s weathered face deepened. He couldn¡¯t think of a way out. From among the enemy forces a large man, perhaps two meters tall stepped forward. He had a strange look about him, for his skin gleamed with a metallic sheen form head to toe. At a glance it was hard to tell if this was some sort of armor, or if he¡¯d somehow absorbed a metal for protection. ¡°I am Iron Grizzly!¡± The hulking man shouted toward the defenders. His booming voice felt so intense the soldiers could swear they saw sand being pushed by the sound waves. ¡°Listen up: This place belongs to me now. Surrender and I let you live, otherwise you¡¯ll wish I let you die. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Men go to the mines. The women we¡¯ll have our way with ¡®till they¡¯re no more use!¡± The wastelanders shouted and brandished their weapons, making themselves look as fierce as possible. It was like two wild animals meeting on a narrow path. Neither was willing to back down, for if they gave in now they¡¯d have lost before the fight even started. As the wastelanders shouted their curses and dark promises, the air between the two armies shimmered. A figure stepped into view, appearing from nothing. Gasps ensued and the wastelanders staggered back. He was a strange in a gray cloak, and those close enough could see that he was covered in bandages. Such a strange figure, appearing out of nowhere, made them both wary and curious. Iron Grizzle glowered at him. ¡°Are you a man or some sort of ghost?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t respond immediately. He slowly drew his eyes across the uncertain faces of his enemy. ¡°I am the new ruler of this place. You traveled hard to get here so fast, it couldn¡¯t have been easy. Maybe you could use a rest. We¡¯ll sit, have a talk. Life is a precious and fragile thing and we can lose it in a blink if we aren¡¯t careful. I¡¯m willing to overlook your grand display today.¡± ¡°You think you can intimidate me?!¡± Iron Grizzly spun around to his men. ¡°You saw what he can do. This piece of shit must have come from the Elysian lands, a mutt in the service to those killers. Demonhunter tricks! Fuck, they think they can just walk into our territory and take control? What do you think about that?!¡± ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± Many of them didn¡¯t know what an Elysian was, but a few were more widely traveled and knew what the word represented. Elysians and wastelanders mixed about as well as oil and water. No way in hell they were going to let an Elysian set up in their territory! Cloudhawk had hoped to scare them a little, but instead he¡¯d only managed to rile them up. This wasn¡¯t just some group of wasteland thugs, and though they obviously feared Elysians they were still itching for a fight. ¡°Kill this one first!¡± Iron Grizzly cried the order and the wastelanders let their hostility free. With guttural howls they flung themselves toward Cloudhawk, coming from all directions like a hoard of beasts. Sons of bitches¡­ these idiots really want to die. If Cloudhawk was in better shape he could have torn through a chunk of these idiots, Iron Grizzly included. Sadly, he wasn¡¯t in the position to pull out all the stops. He was left with no choice but to teleport back behind his defensive line and prepare for the inevitable attack, even though he knew the half-rate soldiers protecting his new home weren¡¯t enough. Besides that, a war here would destroy the fertile land this place relied on. Ground like was precious in the wastelands. If they won this fight but lost most of the usable land, the losses would outweigh the gains. The enemy charged and starting closing in on Greenland City¡¯s defenders. Soon they would be within firing range. But just as they were about to clash turmoil erupted from behind the invading force. Heads spun around toward the sound of pained screams. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Iron Grizzly and the other chiefs looked back in surprise. Had Greenland sneaked a force behind them? That didn¡¯t make any sense. Judging by the defenders they didn¡¯t even have enough fighters to protect themselves. Why would they risk defense by exposing more of their forces in a sneak attack? Iron Grizzly was beginning to doubt it was Greenland he was contending with, when suddenly the ground came to life beneath his feet. It felt like something was alive down there, moving under him. The ground shook violently and where a minute ago it had been calm now they could see the earth moving invisible waves. Waves of mud and dirt billowed into the crowds throwing many of them to the ground. At the same time the ground fought back. Spears of jagged rock stabbed out, ripping through the wasteland solders who¡¯d just been pitched off their feet. This was¡­ a demonhunter? A strong demonhunter! His enemies had more than one, a fact which made Iron Grizzly quickly rethink his plans. Soldiers regrouped to face the threat from behind, but as they formed up whole swaths exploded into gouts of blood. Invisible blades carved them into pieces. Dozens started to die from threads that were barely visible in the dappled light. The threads were frighteningly strong and deadly. At the briefest touch it cut through flesh like bean curd. After watching their companions be cut apart, every soldier stopped. They were too afraid to move, afraid of what those threads would do. A figure leaped up from among the crowd. She was a woman with short hair, bearing a three-edges rod in one hand. She came crashing down onto the wastelanders like a meteor and charged at Iron Grizzly. Fuck! He spun around, knocking away the rod with his spiked mace. The impact elicited a shuddering recoil that knocked him back several steps. His attacker followed up with a series of rapid blows, but he was strong too strong for her. One, two exchanges and then she landed a blow against the man¡¯s iron-like skull. The exorcist rod shattered. ¡°Bastard!¡± Barb wiped a bit of blood from her face, then shouted toward the walls of Greenland City. ¡°It¡¯s us! Miss Polaris and the drunk have come to help!¡± Cloudhawk was surprised at their sudden and fortuitous arrival. He looked out over a group of considerable size ¨C six or seven hundred of them. Among them he saw Dawn, Gabriel, Barb, the drunk, Claudia and other familiar faces. All of them were old friends. He had no idea how they¡¯d found him, and never expected so many to show up all at once. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk ordered his soldiers to charge at the enemy, pining them on two fronts. A brief but brutal confrontation followed, and three thousand of Iron Grizzly¡¯s troops were cut down before them. The rest surrendered when they knew they were beat. What did Greenland City lack the most? Laborers and young people. Winning this fight replenished the city¡¯s resource of young, able-bodied workers in one fell swoop. Eliminate a few trouble makers and the rest would be desperate to join up. Cloudhawk was astonished that Dawn had brought the old drunk, Gabby, Barb and even Claudia with her, along with several hundred loyal warriors to her family. He was delighted. Hadn¡¯t Claudia always dreamed of being a demonhunter instructor? Now she had her chance here in Greenland City. She was a proper, trained demonhunter so she knew how to deal with novices. The old drunk, meanwhile, was an old master in his own right. He would do a fine job teaching these troops the martial arts. It seemed heaven ¨C or something ¨C was smiling on him. Suddenly all his problems were solved. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 5 - Strategy The three invading wasteland forces had totaled near ten thousand fighters. They¡¯d traveled double speed to get to Greenland¡¯s gates, with the hopes of winning spoils before much resistance could be mustered. Instead, they suffered a crushing defeat. Dawn Polaris had brought nearly eight hundred Elysian fighters with her. A small number by comparison, but it was important to recognize their quality. The drunk, Dawn, Gabriel, and Roc were already formidable. Then you had Claudia, Barb, and Rio ¨C martial artists and demonhunters of significant skill. After that were the grunts, each of whom were Elysian trained and equipped, hand-picked from the Polaris family¡¯s forces. Any one of them was equal to ten normal soldiers, making a force of eight hundred equivalent to eight thousand. Against an unorganized wasteland force with brittle morale, they were a nightmare. These southerners had never seen a demonhunter¡¯s powers. Terrangelica spat javelins of rock at them, and it was like the very earth fought for her. Boulders tumbled like rain. How were wastelanders supposed to fight against that? Then there was the old drunk, who could sweep away an entire squad by merely lifting his hand. It was like a fierce tiger pouncing on a mouse. ¡°Everyone, kneel.¡± Rio had brought two hundred Talons of God with him. Weapons bared, they surrounded the prisoners and forced them to their knees. Their weapons and armor were removed and thrown into a pile. Eight thousand gruff men put their hands on their heads and knelt in the dirt. The area outside of Greenland City¡¯s walls was densely packed with anxious faces, waiting to see what their fate entailed. All sorts constituted this force; wasteland settlers both big and small, towering mutants, and everything in between. For those coming from the Elysian lands where homogeneity was the norm, it was a strange seen to behold. A total of over a hundred vehicles and six hundred trained beasts were also captured. In addition there were two thousand or more guns and huge piles of other equipment. Surprisingly, there were also a handful of small airships. All told the weapons and equipment of a small army now belonged to Greenland City. ¡°Cloudhawk, what happened to you?¡± Dawn hardly recognized him beneath the bandages. She reached out to touch his face. ¡°Why do they have you wrapped up like this? IS this what they wear in the wastelands?¡± He was forced, though reluctantly, to explain his story once again. ¡°Well, the fact that you¡¯re still breathing after Arcturus drew Ruin is a miracle in itself!¡± She smiled delightedly as she spoke. She didn¡¯t care about the scars. ¡°You were never all that handsome,¡± she teased, ¡°but I see even a ruined face hasn¡¯t stopped you¡­ who is she?¡± Dawn dragged her gaze over to Hellflower and the two locked eyes. Cloudhawk felt his skin crawl from the intensity. ¡°I¡¯m called Hellflower, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of me. Cloudhawk and I have been friends for many years.¡± Her face bore a calm, friendly smile and she even extended her hand to shake. ¡°A woman as beautiful and talented as you is rare to see. You must be the great Dawn Polaris I¡¯ve heard so much about.¡± Dawn did not take the offered hand. She just gave Cloudhawk a pointed stare. This bastard had been spending his time with this Dark Atom slut all this time? Hellflower retracted her hand, not appearing the list bit awkward. ¡°We appreciate the help, you¡¯ve all come from so far. Come in, rest and we¡¯ll have a meal put out for you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t treat us like guests.¡± Dawn regarded her again with a disparaging glance. ¡°We¡¯ve come looking for Cloudhawk. If this is where he lives now, then this is where we stay. In fact, you aren¡¯t needed here anymore. It might be better for you to go back where you¡¯ve come from, rather than being an eyesore here.¡± Hellflower¡¯s presence and function in Greenland City was indispensable. Cloudhawk was quick to get between them and try to soothe Dawn¡¯s bubbling anger. After all, the force she brought was also important so he had to find a way to get them all to work together. Obviously the relationship between these two women was going to make things very difficult. Dawn¡¯s arrival was enough of a shock. Cloudhawk was even more surprised to see who else she¡¯d brought with her. He thought, for example, that the old drunk was still recovering in Woodland Vale. As far as he could tell the old man looked like he was in fine shape. It turned out he stumbled into Dawn while she was looking for Cloudhawk and led her here. Autumn, and the old drunk¡­ Greenland City now had two incredible defenders. It didn¡¯t seem they had anything to worry about from now on. Gabriel¡¯s was a face Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t seen for a long time, and he was here now as well. There was also Polaris family representatives like Roc and Rio who were fine men to have on his side. Claudia was also here, a woman Cloudhawk had shared a lot of back and forth with. What were they all doing as part of this motley crew? The twists and turns that made up this long story were all shared. In short, after Arcturus¡¯ attempts to hide the truth from the masses things had become both tense and complicated. The Governor¡¯s ultimate aims were still a mystery, but it was obvious he was still annexing power. His puppet army in the Northern Barrens was still expanding and there was no longer any competition to speak of to keep him in check. Still he wasted no effort in making himself stronger, and no one knew why. The Polaris family was no longer part of Skycloud¡¯s political structure. With nowhere to go, Dawn took her family¡¯s best and set out. Now that the Polaris family had been beaten, with their remnants licking their wounds back in their hometown, they could no longer stand against the Cloudes. The Temple ¨C though influential in the city ¨C was still silent and wary of Arcturus¡¯ machinations. Dawn shared the details of her grandfather¡¯s death with those loyal to her family. Those who followed her out into the wastes were the ones who believed Skye¡¯s death was orchestrated by Arcturus. ¡°Sir!¡± Rio approached and faced Cloudhawk. ¡°What do you want to do with them?¡± Dawn looked toward the prisoners and scowled. ¡°Why would we let these filthy heathens keep breathing? Kill them and find somewhere to dump the bodies.¡± She made no effort to control her volume. The wastelanders began to tremble at her brutal suggestion. ¡°Leave them. There¡¯s still a lot to do in the city, and we need laborers. They¡¯re all young and strong and it would be a waste to kill such a resources that was marched to our front door.¡± Cloudhawk gestured to Rio. ¡°Bring them inside, find somewhere for them to stay. But make sure they¡¯re watched and don¡¯t give them any opportunity to make trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Rio quickly set about arranging his prisoners into two lines. They snaked into Greenland City in an orderly fashion. Meanwhile Cloudhawk gathered up all the rest and looked them over. His eyes eventually came to Claudia and Azura. ¡°How did you two end up here?¡± Azura piped up excitedly. ¡°Because I wanted to be with my teacher!¡± Claudia remained silent. Though she couldn¡¯t pinpoint when it happened, she¡¯d grown bored of the false glory Skycloud prided itself on. While the wastelands were a dirty and savage place, it still seemed like a reasonable place to live. Everyone retired to the safety of the city. Cloudhawk showed the newcomers around. Greenland City was a treasure in the southern wilds. You could scour the wastelands and never find another place like it. By now Autumn was roughly halfway through finishing the enchantment that protected its borders, and once she was finished the city would be all but impregnable. It would take the full Skycloud army to break through. ¡°From now on, you will call this place home. It doesn¡¯t have the comforts of Skycloud, but you¡¯ll be safe and free.¡± Rio busied himself by having the prisoners construct a temporary camp for them to live in. Dawn was intrigued by this place. She knew Cloudhawk had been here before, years ago. It was also stunning to find a place like this in an otherwise barren landscape. It was sloppy and filled with mutated creatures, but there were green plants and clean water. Cloudhawk explained his plan to everyone. ¡°Now that you¡¯re all here, we have the strength to make ourselves one of the wasteland¡¯s strongest groups. But, there are still huge swaths of the wastes we know nothing about. There¡¯s no one to know what to expect out there. Meanwhile we, have to keep in mind that Skycloud could hound us at any point. Where we¡¯re at now, if the Skycloud army finds us there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll withstand a full bombardment.¡± The old drunk cut in. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°First, we built this place up. Make it home.¡± ¡°Second, we need to learn more about what¡¯s out there. While we do we can build up our forces by recruiting people we find.¡± ¡°Third, I plan to train up a group of wasteland demonhunters. They won¡¯t be needed any time soon, but when they¡¯re fully trained and equipped it¡¯ll be a hell of a force ¨C whether against the wastelands or Skycloud.¡± The first two were fine. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s third idea that earned disapproval. ¡°You think demonhunters grow on trees? Just pluck them up from the ground?¡± Claudia was indignant at the suggestion. ¡°Forget that demonhunters need years of training, even if we could get a group together what power do you have to equip them?¡± Cloudhawk smirked at her. ¡°What makes you think I don¡¯t have the power?¡± ¡°What a joke. Can you make relics out of thin air?¡± Cloudhawk produced the exorcist rod he had created at her feet. ¡°So far I can make these. Pretty soon I¡¯ll be able to make more unique relics.¡± His words had a visible effect on the crowd. Even the drunk stared at him with open shock. Dawn scooped up the crude relic and gave it closer inspection. Each moment that passed her expression changed, from doubt, to confusion, and eventually surprise. She looked at the imitation exorcist rod in disbelief. This was supposed to be Elysian exclusive! Was it true? Could Cloudhawk make relics? Claudia was so stunned she couldn¡¯t even speak. ¡°Finally, as secretary-general here I¡¯d like to add a few points on top of what our fine leader has already expressed.¡± Halfway through the discussion a sultry voice intruded. Hellflower stepped forward. ¡°We must also work to expand our controlled territory and take over as much of the nearby settlements as we can. That will get us the population and resources we need to continue our studies. Greenland City will continue to improve so long as we pour effort into its agriculture, manufacturing and science.¡± Dawn slapped her hand against the table and shot to her feet. ¡°No one asked for your opinion, so shut the hell up!¡± The room was immediately filled with hostility as the two women faced off. Dawn¡¯s distrust of Dark Atom bordered on hatred. If not for the fact Dark Atom forces had held the expeditionary force at bay, General Skye¡¯s killers wouldn¡¯t have had an opportunity to attack him. They were partially responsible for her grandfather¡¯s death! Cloudhawk looked between them, uncomfortably aware of the trouble this would cause. There was a mountain of work to be done, but the most troublesome appeared to be keeping Greenland City¡¯s members on the same side. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 6 - Greenland Institute Dawn and Cloudhawk had a friendship that was forged through hardship. His bond with Hellflower was just as complex. Both women were important to him. For Dawn, it was obvious; Cloudhawk had absolute trust in her and she was responsible for saving Greenland City from invasion. However, Hellflower was also an integral part of their fledgling territory. Not only was she a brilliant scientist, but she was their link to much needed resources. Greenland City wouldn¡¯t be where it was now without the Dark Atom and Woodland Vale. If Dawn insisted on fighting with Hellflower, Cloudhawk would find himself uncomfortably caught in the middle. Dawn was definitely strong enough to grind Hellflower into the dirt, but strength wasn¡¯t everything. When it came to scheming and sinister methods, Hellflower was ten times more capable than the demonhunter. This was a real problem Cloudhawk had to deal with now, before it got out of hand. Cloudhawk started by bringing Dawn out for a drink after the meeting. The two absconded to a secluded corner of the fort. Dusk had fallen and most of the city¡¯s denizens had turned in after a long day of work. There were still some people about, though. Merchants and guards with free time, who came to the fort to blow off some steam and look for a good time. To the eyes of an Elysian, even this place was very backward. Grass and weeds had crept into the urban spaces, and there were all sorts of critters you had to step around even inside the fort. Here, people lived a very primitive lifestyle. Outside, the God Tree enchantment was nearly complete. A transparent field of energy tumbled from its canopy like a curtain of water, enveloping everything. As the rays of the setting sun filtered through it, the light softened and bathed the city in a pleasant glow. Some of that light shined on a grave without a marker, nestled near the fort. Two figures sat nearby sharing a drink; one a haughty and beautiful woman, the other a simple and untamed man. A strange and incongruous pair. Cloudhawk shared the story of the simple, yet complicated woman buried before them. In some ways Dawn and Artemis were very similar. Like Dawn was an upgraded version of the wasteland woman. Vengeful, loyal, emotional ¨C in these ways they were cut from the same cloth. Dawn took another swig of wine. This wastelander brew was inferior to Elysian stuff, but it still painted her delicate cheeks with splotches of red. After hearing about Artemis she was quiet for a time. Eventually she used her sleeve to wipe her mouth then spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I caused you trouble. It¡¯s hard to let go of my old temper. That tramp just riles me up.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head and looked at the grave. ¡°Artemis was killed by Abaddon. The demon is indirectly responsible for killing a lot of mercenaries who were my first teachers. By all rights I should hate him, but I choose to bear it.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. I want to kill Arcturus but we¡¯re still too weak. I can¡¯t just waltz up and put my sword through his heart. I just have to choke it down.¡± ¡°Yup, that¡¯s the way it is. I hope you can think of everything that way. There¡¯s a whole lot in this world that might be hard to swallow, but we¡¯ve got to. At least for now.¡± ¡°Relax,¡± she said. ¡°I know where to draw the line. I¡¯m here to help, not to cause trouble.¡± Cloudhawk nodded his head appreciatively. If that¡¯s how she felt, then he didn¡¯t have anything to worry about. ¡°Anyway¡­ now that you¡¯ve taken so many people and left Skycloud it doesn¡¯t look like there¡¯s any going back. What¡¯s your future plans look like?¡± ¡°Future plans?¡± She chuckled before giving a frank response. ¡°Nothing! I wasn¡¯t thinking at all when I led these people out of Skycloud.¡± Cloudhawk nearly choked on a mouthful of wine. ¡°What¡¯s the point? You¡¯ll help me figure it out anyway.¡± Dawn reached out a hand and clapped it on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Wherever you go and whatever you do, I¡¯m right there with you. It¡¯s that easy, no reason to wrack my brains over it. Together forever!¡± Dawn¡¯s eyes glittered with determination. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel a pressure settle on him, born from the trust and affection she felt. He didn¡¯t have nearly as much confidence in their situation as she had. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel like he had any level of control over his future, how could he be responsible for Dawn¡¯s? She was such a sincere person¡­ but be it the sincere Dawn or the guileful Hellflower, whenever he was with either woman Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts turned toward another white-clad beauty. He wasn¡¯t going to disappoint someone, no matter what he did. Beneath Dawn¡¯s carefree exterior was a sensitive heart. She sensed some of Cloudhawk¡¯s apprehensions and spoke up with an indifferent tone. ¡°I understand, you know. A man lives his life for pleasure and peace of mind. Some things don¡¯t need to be so complicated.¡± She took another gulp from her bottle. ¡°When grandfather died, I realized that fortune is fickle. Our destinies are out of our control. I don¡¯t think about the future anymore, I just live in the moment and follow my heart because I could be dead the next minute. So long as I leave with no regrets, then that¡¯s enough.¡± Dead any minute¡­ live with no regrets. It was a forthright theory. Cloudhawk still felt the same heroic spirit coming from Skycloud¡¯s devil-woman, but he could tell she was lost. In the last few years everything ¨C actions, people, fate ¨C all affected one another. Nothing ever remained constant. Enemies were now friends, old allies became foes. Hate grew from love and mutual dislike could be washed away with time. Yeah... guess that is life. Cloudhawk leaned back and shut his eyes. He felt like everything was connected, tied together in a huge net with no edges. Like a million rivers rushing together toward the sea, whatever their twists and turns they always wound up together. ¡°We¡¯re all just dust underneath the same starry sky. All we can do is try our best. The only thing we can control is ourselves.¡± Cloudhawk opened his eyes to see Dawn¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Four years ago I had a very similar conversation with the woman in that grave. I didn¡¯t get it then, but I think I¡¯m starting to now.¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s all this nonsense? We¡¯re not sentimental twats. That guy¡¯s gone now, and from now on we fight together!¡± Dawn polished off the rest of her drink and chucked it aside. She rose, patting the dirt off her rear, full of spirit and vigor. Cloudhawk looked up at her with a knowing smile creeping into his face. The greatest fortune of his life was meeting people like this. Why was he always looking outside for some paradise? It was in his heart, with people like her. *** The next morning, Claudia was brought to an unused space within the city. She was transfixed by the sight. A thousand children stood in orderly rows, practicing drills taught by Talon soldiers. The sounds of their shouting rang through the city as they trained. At the front of the group was Azura, and though she was small she was working as hard as any of them. Her tiny face was screwed tight in focus, her punches and kicks delivered with intention. Claudia looked out over the kids who were training the best they could. They were clumsy and unsure, but tried earnestly. ¡°Hey! What do you think, not bad eh?¡± She was shaken from her surprise by a voice from behind her. She turned her head to see Cloudhawk¡¯s mummy-like form sauntering her way. A scowl was her response. ¡°What wicked plan are you scheming?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been years since you and I have had any problems. Will you cut it out with the constant suspicion? Anyhow, in the state I¡¯m in you could beat my ass if I said something you don¡¯t like. Am I right or am I right?¡± Claudia, her face dark, turned to walk away. ¡°See? Still pissy. I was gonna ask you to consider being Greenland Institute¡¯s headmaster ¨C pick out the talented children to be demonhunters ¨C and you turn your back. Fine, if you think it¡¯s below you, I¡¯ll just ask Gabby to do it.¡± She stopped in her tracks. ¡°What? Greenland Institute?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Greenland Institute. I want to build a place where students can learn all sorts of things; from science, to martial arts, to mental cultivation and everything in between. It would be an incredible undertaking, and a milestone for the wastelands.¡± Cloudhawk sounded inspired. A school? In the wastelands? Making demonhunters out of these heathens? It sounded crazy, but that was exactly what Cloudhawk was planning. Did he realize the difficulty of what he was asking? Had he given it any thought at all? ¡°I remember you said you wanted to be an instructor. I figure it¡¯d be hard for you to find a job in Skycloud now, but if you still want to pursue that goal you can do it here. It isn¡¯t as nice as the Elysian lands, but you¡¯ll have children you can mold.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got practically no resources, but you still want to build a school?¡± ¡°Starting from zero is tough, but I think with enough effort we can get it done. Whatever you need, I¡¯ll find a way to get. All I need from you is a commitment to give it a try.¡± Claudia looked over the ragtag group of malnourished children in silence. These were the spawn of those she used to despise, who she saw as less than human. She didn¡¯t see things like that anymore. Instead she found them almost¡­ friendly. ¡°Fine.¡± She made up her mind to stay. Cloudhawk nodded in satisfaction. Claudia was a proper demonhunter, born and raised as a noble member of Skycloud¡¯s elite. She¡¯d undergone all of the proper training from Skycloud and knew all sorts of things Cloudhawk would never understand. No one was a better choice to start developing their demonhunters. He made it official and announced the news to all the students. When Azura heard that Claudia would be staying she was overjoyed. The other children took the news rather calmly. They didn¡¯t really know what this meant for them. Cloudhawk followed up by appointing a handful of the Talon officers as instructors. In general, wastelanders were made of tougher stuff than Elysians. If they submitted themselves to rigorous training, they would grow to be very capable warriors. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 7 - Copperhide's Family Cloudhawk was now the official leader of Greenland City. The typical wasteland community was loosely associated and largely backwards, with its denizens generally primitive and only having simple wants. For these reasons, transforming Greenland City into a regional powerhouse would not be easy. Luckily for Cloudhawk, he had a lot of capable help and a core of strong fighters to back him up. It meant his orders were followed without much conflict. The unexpected arrival of Dawn and her people in particular impacted Greenland City on all fronts. In a corner of the city, nestled in a shack, were three mutants. They lived antisocial lives and kept to themselves, but that wasn¡¯t because they had acerbic personalities. Not all mutants were stupid and violent. The Copperhide family was an example of high-functioning, intelligent mutants. Copperhide himself was over thirty years old and two meters tall. He probably weighed seven hundred pounds, sturdy as a boulder. Every inch of his tough skin was covered in a thick, hard cuticle-like layer as thick as a rhino¡¯s. Most bullets left little more than a scar, and it protected him from the harsh sunlight of the wastes. Stonepetal was Copperhide¡¯s wife. She was smaller than her husband, but small was a relative term. Stonepetal was nearly two meters herself and five hundred pounds of muscle. It would take two grown men together to match her size, and she could probably hammer the guts out of an ordinary man with one punch. They had one child, Ironspike. While mutant households were a rare sight in wasteland cities, they did exist. Ironspike was nine years old and was already over a hundred pounds. He was capable of lifting things three times his own weight and had inherited his father¡¯s tough skin. Even at his tender age the young mutant could hold his own against many wild animals. Both Copperhide and Stonepetal were enormously strong. Ordinary wasteland beasts were no threat to them and most people steered clear. By all rights it should have been an easy life, but things were not so simple. Every since coming to Greenland City, they¡¯d been struggling to make ends meet. More than once they nearly starved, and for a very simple reason. The family was a capable one ¨C even at nine years old, Ironspike was strong and helpful. But their incredible size and strength came with an equivalent appetite. Such hunger in a place with limited food was more lethal than any physical weakness. Their family of three ate as much as ten strong men, and even that was barely enough to survive. Food enough to feed fifteen men might be enough to meet their needs, but if really they wanted full bellies twenty servings would do the trick. It was a massive amount of food! Copperhide worked hard ever since they settled here. Every day he went out with the hunting parties, tracking down dangerous prey. Stonepetal found work in town doing grueling jobs others couldn¡¯t handle. Even Ironspike spent his days working, taking hide and fur to market. They worked from morning to night, laboring to exhaustion just for enough food. When would their struggle end, just for a full belly? Such was the life they led. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Copperhide dragged half a deer carcass into the shack. Ironspike and Stonepetal had been resting inside. Ironspike¡¯s belly rumbled when he smelled the fresh meat. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Stonepetal scowled. ¡°That¡¯s not nearly enough. You¡¯re getting more and more useless! You probably ate half of it on the way home!¡± ¡°We ran into a group of nasty beasts. This was all I could snatch from their mouths. Look, I¡¯ve got the wounds on my back to prove it.¡± Copperhide frowned, upset at the accusations. He turned to show her his injuries. He worked hard to put food on their table, and didn¡¯t deserve his wife¡¯s suspicion. In fact the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. ¡°Hell, you haven¡¯t left the house to do anything in days. All you do is sit here and complain about what I bring home. How am I supposed to get enough for us all on my own?¡± Stonepetal flew into a fury. While they were intelligent mutants, they were still more irascible than average humans. ¡°Don¡¯t you know anything?! The new leader is snatching up children. If I didn¡¯t stay home to protect him, then you wouldn¡¯t be able to go hunt!¡± Copperhide was about to respond but stopped. He¡¯d heard Greenland¡¯s new leader had some sort of demon power. Word was he had to devour a child every night to keep himself strong. That¡¯s why he ordered every child in the city gathered together. They were raised like cattle so that he could consume their life force. It wasn¡¯t clear where this rumor started, but it scared Copperhide and his family deeply. They¡¯d seen what the new leader could do. That sort of power didn¡¯t come from the wastelands. It could only come from demons. After hearing those dark rumors, both Copperhide and Stonepetal decided to keep Ironspike hidden away. But this was unsustainable! They couldn¡¯t live like this! They had to eat! Copperhide was stuck. ¡°That¡¯s not what I heard!¡± The young mutant piped up. ¡°I heard the new leader is a good man. He had the children living in a special place now where they¡¯re trained and don¡¯t have to work. They¡¯re given plenty of food and water.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so hungry here! I want to go!¡± ¡°Who told you that?¡± Copperhide glared at him. ¡°You think such a good thing really exists? I¡¯ve met the new leader, and he¡¯s a demon. If not, then how does he have a demon¡¯s powers? If you go you¡¯ll just be waiting for him to eat your heart!¡± Ironspike hesitated. ¡°If that¡¯s true-¡± ¡°Enough!¡± She slapped Ironspike across his head. ¡°From now on you¡¯re staying here in this house, and if I catch you trying to leave I¡¯ll break your legs! Now eat!¡± The humble household settled down for a meal. Mutants often didn¡¯t care if their meals were cooked or not. Stonepetal tore off a fatty deer leg and handed it to her son, still dripping with blood. Ironspike was so hungry he was at the verge of passing out, so when it was shoved his way he tore into it with relish. Before long it was gnawed down to the bone. Half a deer was enough for a week for a family of average folk. For the three mutants, it was hardly enough for a meal. For a growing boy like Ironspike, a deer leg simply wasn¡¯t enough. Copperhide or Stonepetal had no solution to their predicament. They¡¯d tried everything, but food was scarce. This was the wastelands, after all, so sustenance was hard for everyone. Another day alive was good enough. But it didn¡¯t escape them that the amount of food they were bringing back was decreasing by the day, and with it their strength. It was a vicious cycle. Eventually, Copperhide wouldn¡¯t have the strength to hunt and they would die. No one knew what would happen from one day to the next, even in a community like this. You had to have the strength to protect yourself. Copperhide was urged on by a strong will to survive, something every wasteland felt through their whole lives. The next day, before dawn. Copperhide heard steps outside their shack, drawing closer. He instantly went on alert and all grogginess fled his mind. It was a skill anyone who lived in the wastelands learned. He went to the door and pulled it open, only to find a dozen armored soldiers waiting outside. These were the demon leader¡¯s own men. They were terrifying killers in their own right. ¡°We¡¯re the Governor¡¯s men,¡± one of the soldiers said, identifying himself. ¡°We heard you were hiding a child here and didn¡¯t want him to undergo training.¡± Copperhide was nervous. ¡°No! You heard wrong!¡± But they had already looked into the shack and saw the child huddling inside. ¡°Under the Governor¡¯s new rules, every child under fourteen must submit themselves for training. We¡¯re here to enforce his orders, so please give us your child.¡± Copperhead angrily reached for his cudgel. ¡°That demon wants to eat my boy!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The soldiers looked at one another, puzzled. ¡°That¡¯s a ridiculous rumor. The Governor¡¯s gathered these children so we can train them. We see to their growth and make sure they¡¯re fed. This is a good thing we¡¯re doing. You need to trust us.¡± But Copperhide was no fool. No one got anything for free! The Talon soldiers had begun to run out of patience. This wasn¡¯t the first place where they¡¯d encountered trouble like this. Better to just force the mutant¡¯s submission. ¡°Our patience is limited. Bring the child out now, or we¡¯ll go in and take him.¡± Copperhead looked them over. These weren¡¯t typical wastelander thugs, they were soldiers from Skycloud. Average Skycloud warriors were bad enough, much less this lot which trained under General Skye. Any one of them were the cream of the crop. If they really wanted to cause harm, Copperhide couldn¡¯t stop them. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Ironspike strode forward. Copperhide looked at him in fury and surprise. ¡°What the hell are you doing?! Get back here!¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re telling the truth. I saw Blackswine the other day and he said the exact same thing.¡± Copperhide and his wife weren¡¯t sure what to do. Blackswine was another child who lived nearby and had a friendly relationship with their boy. He was an orphan who survived by collecting scraps. They knew he¡¯d been snatched up early when they were first starting to take children. Were the ones that demon captured really still alive? Were the rumors he was eating their hearts untrue? Ironspike had chosen to ignore his parents. He made a decision to follow these soldiers. If he stayed in that shack eventually he would die of hunger. Better he saw the truth of these rumors himself. So terrifying were these rumors that Copperhide never made an effort to see if the story was real. When they went with the soldiers to deliver Ironspike and saw the place for themselves, their faces were stiff from disbelief. The doors were etched in simple wasteland script: Greenland Institute. It was the name for an entire campus where hundreds of children were housed. There weren¡¯t any walls, nor guards, nor anything to make it seem like they were being forced to stay here at all. They arrived around morning and saw soldiers cooking up gruel from enormous pots. Lines of children were waiting obediently for their portions. The inviting scent of food made Copperhide and Stonepetal dizzy. All of this¡­ put together after just a few days? Copperhide stared wide-eyed at this paradise. All at once, the nasty rumors about their new leader were put to rest. Stonepetal was sold when she was assured that her son would be given all the food he needed for free every day. And what¡¯s more, he would then be trained and made strong by these mighty soldiers. With the truth in plain view, Stonepetal immediately started shouting abuse at her husband. If that idiot hadn¡¯t paid attention to those outlandish rumors they¡¯d have found this out much earlier! All these days of hunger and fear for nothing! Copperhide didn¡¯t lose his temper this time. He also regretted listening to the stories. All of this only made him more curious about their new leader. What sort of person was he really? How was he so different from the ones who came before? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 8 - Greenland's Transformation ¡°We¡¯ll have him undergo the entrance exam.¡± One of the soldiers walked their way. ¡°Your boy will go in with us.¡± Exam? What exam? Copperhide and Stonepetal were concerned. Wastelanders weren¡¯t an educated lot and exams weren¡¯t their strength. What if he didn¡¯t pass? It was a common fear the soldiers faced often. While they were quite frustrated with these mutants, their strong discipline prevailed. Besides, they weren¡¯t Elysians anymore. They couldn¡¯t act high and mighty like they used to. ¡°Everyone has their own talents, the point of the exam is to find out what those talents are. Those who are naturally strong might do well as martial artists, and possibly become great warriors one day. If they¡¯re weaker, that¡¯s no problem. Even students of average intelligence can learn the sciences and train with the Seekers. Once they graduate they¡¯ll be scientists, on the front line of our city¡¯s development.¡± Wastelanders weren¡¯t weak compared to Elysians due to physiological reasons. It was because they were never taught, never trained. Life was a series of days strung together, just trying to survive. What that life taught them was a fierce tenacity, like a wild animal, but without any formal learning it was hit or miss. What¡¯s more, nothing was retained or passed on to the new generation to make them better. That was why Skycloud steadily progressed while the wasteland stayed in ruins. Cloudhawk was determined to lift the wastelands up from the dirt. Greenland City would be ground zero. Here, he would teach everyone that wastelanders were strong and capable. He would build an opportunity for these people to change their destinies. Maybe they became martial artists, or if not then maybe Seekers. Scientists were also highly respected. What about those without physical ability or intelligence? The wastelands were a cruel place. If you were neither strong nor cunning, then you wouldn¡¯t make it ¨C few were the ones who by some twist of fate survived to adulthood. Still, they wouldn¡¯t just be discarded. At least they could learn a little, enough to be effective workers. Cloudhawk was determined to turn this city into the capital of a burgeoning domain. Greenland wouldn¡¯t just evoke the idea of plentiful food and water. It would be a rebirth of culture, of learning. He hoped that in his realm people could learn their own worth. Copperhide and Stonepetal had confidence in their child. They were at least smart enough to get by, and strength was not a worry. The soldier was still taking his time with them. ¡°I can tell you are new here. You haven¡¯t registered at the fort, have you?¡± Copperhide shook his head. With rumors of the new Governor so frightening, he hadn¡¯t been in a rush to present himself. ¡°The Governor has ordered that everyone living in the city must register. What are you doing now, for work?¡± ¡°Work? What work?¡± ¡°Part of the new rules are that if you have a child in training, you are given work priority.¡± The soldier explained. ¡°Since you don¡¯t have any stable occupation, may I ask what you¡¯re skilled in?¡± Both mutants weren¡¯t sure how to respond. This was a real law? ¡°I can hunt, and fight.¡± Copperhide finally said, then added, as an afterthought, ¡°I can take on ten men by myself. Does that count as a skill?¡± ¡°Not bad! We can get you a spot with the Governor¡¯s Hunters. I won¡¯t get too deep into it now, but suffice to say if you pull your weight you won¡¯t have to worry about food.¡± The soldier nodded satisfactorily. ¡°But on second thought, given what you¡¯ve told me, maybe hunting isn¡¯t best for you. The barracks is still looking for soldiers. You could give that a shot. If you pass muster you¡¯ll get your meals every day as well as an allowance. We¡¯ll also make sure you have a suitable place to live.¡± Copperhide didn¡¯t notice his heart racing. Before today, his hunting had always been done solo. It was by design, since he didn¡¯t trust anyone else. Backstabbing was common among wastelanders, especially after a hunt. But if the hunt was formal and regulated, maybe that would happen less. There were a lot of dangerous things out there waiting for unwary hunters. If he could go out with a team, why would Copperhide want to risk it alone? However, what really caught his attention was the prospect of soldiering. Why kill himself going out for scraps day after day? If he became one of the city¡¯s defenders he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about going hungry anymore. He¡¯d also hold better standing with the citizens, which was an appealing and novel idea. Stonepetal didn¡¯t want to be forgotten. ¡°I¡¯m strong, I can work!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve opened a cement factory in the east side of the city. Just so happens we need strong workers. Greenland¡¯s builders need hands at their quarries, too. If you think you¡¯re up for it, go see what suits you. The more work you do, the more food you earn. You¡¯ll only go hungry if you¡¯re lazy.¡± The mutant couple couldn¡¯t believe their ears. Wasteland settlements were always only a loose association. Leaders were just people with the wherewithal to exploit their underlings, who demanded most of their food and goods for the right to live another day. It was unthinkable that a leader would offer work and food. After the new leader had arrived, he¡¯d found there was a thousand things that needed doing. That meant a thousand opportunities for Greenland¡¯s people. Ironspike was led into the campus, through rows of other wastelander children. They were all waiting in line before the giant pots. None of them pushed or rushed, for they knew there was enough for everybody. Ironspike was still a child. All of this was strange and a little confusing. Where did the new leader get all this food to feed everyone? Why would he give it out for free? Ironspike didn¡¯t get it, so he didn¡¯t ponder too long. Either way, this new leader was a man to look up to as far as he was concerned. He didn¡¯t want to ask questions, he only wanted a full belly. ¡°You new?¡± A small, sweet voice spoke at his shoulder. He looked down to see a pretty little girl staring up at him. She was wearing a trainee¡¯s leather vest and had a strange spiral stick slung across her back. Her eyes were a brilliant crystal blue. Ironspike had never seen anyone so pretty in all his life, so for a moment he was too tongue-tied to speak. ¡°My name¡¯s Azura. Come with me!¡± She was young but authoritative. The two of them walked to the far corner of the field and into a building. Therein were a few dozen newcomers like Ironspike, waiting for their exams. Azura turned to him. ¡°Good luck!¡± The first part of the exam was a simple test of their physique; reaction time, endurance, strength and so on. Thanks to his parents Ironspike was born with the strength of a bull so he far surpassed everyone else he tested with. Next was a test of intelligence, also uncomplicated. Testees were given a series of question to determine critical thinking, creative problem solving and more. Even though Ironspike was a mutant he was fairly clever, so he passed this test with flying colors as well. It was clear that some were surprised that this dim-looking mutant was actually rather smart. ¡°Interesting kid. Definitely not your typical mutant,¡± Barb said. ¡°Hey Blue, bring him to Claudia.¡± ¡°Right away, Barb!¡± Azura took Ironspike to a simple room, occupied by a pretty woman with golden hair. Before even speaking a word she threw a stick toward him. Ironspike grabbed it out of the air. Before he even knew what was going on the woman was explaining a series of techniques to him. The mutant did as he was told. Following her instructions, he was stunned when the head of the spiral rod slowly started to rotate. He was shocked, though he had no idea what it meant. ¡°Eh? A mutant with decent demonhunting talent?!¡± Claudia¡¯s surprise nearly matched Ironspike¡¯s. She¡¯d tested three or four hundred children already, and so far only a handful of them had what it took to be trained as demonhunters ¨C less than one in thirty. Those she did find had some talent but not much to speak of. Still, with training they could still develop into fair demonhunters. This one, though, was different. He was able to resonate with the exorcist rod only a short time after picking it up. He even made it spin. It wasn¡¯t deadly by any means, but it was a great start. This kid had real potential. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ironspike.¡± ¡°Ironspike?¡± Claudia wrinkled her petite nose. What kind of a name was this? Wastelanders need to pick better things to call themselves. But it didn¡¯t matter, she had a new student. She waved her hand at him. ¡°Welcome, you¡¯ve been admitted as a student of Greenland Institute. Starting today, you begin training with me.¡± Ironspike shuffled in place, dazed. ¡°Say thank you!¡± Azura quietly prodded. The stunned mutant came back to his senses and flopped to his knees. ¡°Thank you, instructor¡­ c-can I have something to eat before we start training?¡± Claudia was speechless. The kid had no idea that his life was about to change dramatically. All he cared about was his next meal. Well, so be it. Copperhide submitted himself to recruitment with the Greenland guard. Stonepetal also found work in the cement factory. Their son was on the path to becoming a demonhunter. Copperhide and his family came to enjoy the benefits of Greenland City¡¯s revolution ¨C one example of hundreds. With Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival, the wastelands had begun to change. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 9 - A Brief Revival Eerie green flames danced around a crude ring, while sparks of some enigmatic power floated through the air before settling into it. As they touched the ring¡¯s surface these motes of light bloomed into threads of luminescence, then quickly disappeared. As each spark flared and died one could see their threads weaving within the ring. Cloudhawk carefully, painstakingly built the new relic. He manipulated the precious anima into a coherent tapestry and implanted it inside the ring. It was like composing an opus, or a poem. When the flames eventually subsided, the ring was complete. It was not an attractive piece of jewelry by any means, but the inside bore a very detailed pattern none could see. The threads of anima within it spread through the piece like capillaries, as complex and ubiquitous as circuits in a computer chip. Where it different from those other feats of engineering was that there was no way others could see them. His pattern had become an intrinsic piece of the relic, the perfect blend of art, magic and science. ¡°Experiment number one hundred seventy one.¡± Cloudhawk lifted the ring and peered at it closer as he spoke to himself. ¡°A complete success.¡± Cloudhawk had done very little sleeping lately. He¡¯d been working for days ¨C and the end result had been a hundred and seventy failures. But they weren¡¯t fruitless efforts ¨C each time, he learned something new about relics and how to build them. For instance, he realized that the process wasn¡¯t as mystical as it appeared at the beginning. In fact, once he lifted the veil of mystery and looked closer at the process, he discovered that there were specific and uniform rules that governed how it worked. It was a science. Each discovery brought more mystery, more perfection, and guided him closer to the source. It was a science that perhaps was far beyond the abilities of humans to grasp, and likewise about as near to science as art was. Only a very different civilization could have been responsible for its creation. Once he learned the essence of it, then he would know the secrets underpinning it. A relic, a sword, a knife, a gun, a cannon¡­ they were all the same. For instance, the oldest humans used stones and sticks to make their weapons. To them, using metal to smelt their tools was far beyond their limited intelligence. A gun or cannon would have been even more unthinkable. Humans today weren¡¯t far removed from their ancestors of the Stone Age. Relics to them were like a nuclear bomb to early ape-like men. Magic wasn¡¯t a real thing, not in this world. Science was the process of turning magic into reproducible fact. In that way they were inexorably tied; the limits of science seemed like magic, and the essence of magic lay in science. Lower life forms looked at advanced science like magic, just like humans looked up to gods and demons. It was an important revelation for Cloudhawk. It led him to a deeper and more profound understanding of the world they lived in. Before today, relics were inscrutable, just as gods and demons were above understanding. But now¡­ maybe there weren¡¯t any real ¡®gods¡¯ or ¡®demons¡¯ after all. To apes, maybe humans were gods. Maybe the gods and demons of today looked at humans like humans looked at animals. Being a god or a demon was just a title, a layer of mystery laid on these creatures by humans who didn¡¯t understand what they were seeing. Could that be the case? The more he pondered the more he thought he understood. He felt like he had begun to fumble toward the essential secrets of reality ¨C and its charm. It inspired him to research the mysteries of these relics day and night, forsaking rest and food. He was still only at the cusp, now he had to mastery these skills. The more he learned about this power ¨C this strange and special ability that did not originate from his people ¨C the more he would learn about the higher wisdom that governed reality. But that was too big to grasp right now. First, time to rest the ring! He turned it around in his fingers over and over again, making sure that there were no flaws in his design. Finally he nodded in satisfaction, slipped the ring onto his finger, and walked toward the experiment room. He picked one of the dummies and summoned his mental powers. Immediately the air started to ripple. A host of minute threads gathered around him, tendrils of energy that gathered like rivers toward the ocean. Cloudhawk stared excitedly at the stable orb they created. Was he right? After a hundred tries did he finally get this design perfect? Big enough¡­ He drew his arm back, preparing to cast the orb at his target. Only suddenly the once-stable orb bulged grotesquely without warning. Shit! Cloudhawk threw himself behind cover just as the orb detonated. Even with something between him and the blast, the concussive force still knocked Cloudhawk off his feet. He crashed into a wall then crumpled onto the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Blood leaked from between his bandages, some from new wounds and some from old. What happened? Why did it fail? Where was the problem? He wracked his brains. The inspiration for this relic came from exorcist bows. After disassembling several dozen he learned their secrets, but felt that they were cumbersome to carry. He thought it would be far more convenient if you could take the principle of the bow ¨C gathering energy into a shot and then firing ¨C and put it in something easy to carry like a ring. It¡¯d be an excellent upgrade to standard demonhunter equipment. One hundred and seventy-one failures. He¡¯d run out of materials to keep trying. Even for Cloudhawk it was a blow to his confidence. Worse was not knowing why. Where was the flaw? His musings were interrupted when the ground shook violently beneath his feet. The origin was from somewhere outside. Fearing the worst, he rushed from the lab to see what the problem was. In the center of Greenland City was the God Tree, standing proud several hundred meters overhead. The protective energies it bestowed were still raining upon the city, but now there was a crowd of milling citizens gathered near its base. ¡°Gabby, what¡¯s going on?¡± Cloudhawk had spotted his long-time friend among the onlookers. Gabriel shrugged. ¡°Everyone¡¯s rushing to see Mistress Autumn use her godly powers, of course.¡± The earthquake was a result of Autumn completing her enchantment. The curtain of energy that flowed from the God tree¡¯s branches was constant and unbroken. Now, no wasteland power could penetrate their home, and even the Elysian army would struggle to get through. Cloudhawk looked around. ¡°Autumn?¡± Gabriel¡¯s handsome face was curious as he also glanced about. ¡°I saw her mount her dragon and fly toward the canopy when her enchantment was done. Don¡¯t know what she¡¯s up to.¡± It was a tiring effort to establish this protection, Cloudhawk knew, especially now that she was human. Autumn had nothing but contempt for Cloudhawk, and it was a mystery why she agreed to help in the first place. He wanted to check up on her. After all, she¡¯d helped his fledgling domain a lot with her power. It was only proper to say thank you. Noble gods were loathe to spend their time with lowly mortals. To give herself some distance, Autumn had constructed a hollow in the tree where she could abscond. It was only several dozen meters in size, but enough for a single person to hide away comfortably. Autumn¡¯s divine beast was curled on a nearby branch. Its sibilant eyes watched the hollow entrance vigilantly. Cloudhawk called to it. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯m just here to see your mistress.¡± The dragon king kept its burning eyes on the little man. Cloudhawk took its silence for consent and strode inside. Inside he saw Autumn lying on the floor. He called to her several times, but got no response. Was she unconscious? He paused for a moment then approached to see if he could help. Her face was pale and drawn. Sweat covered her form and her breath came in short ragged drags. It looked like she¡¯d just finished running a marathon. An enchantment that covered their entire oasis was definitely not an easy feat to achieve. Cloudhawk looked at her chapped lips, a reminder that she was now human despite her haughty airs. Thinking back, he realized it¡¯d been ten days and nights she¡¯d been working all without food or water. No one could fast for that long without serious consequences. Cloudhawk pulled out a canteen of water and pressed it to her mouth. She took to it like an infant to a teat. After several deep gulps she was already starting to look better. Her eyelashes fluttered, then rose as she awakened. ¡°You¡¯re ok!¡± Her gaze was unfocused and she looked confused. The typical noble disdain she wore was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Autumn?¡± Cloudhawk looked closer, surprised to see a familiar glint. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Tears carved a trail down her pale cheeks as she looked up at him. ¡°I-I¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°You really aren¡¯t dead.¡± Cloudhawk was thrilled. The god who took her body must have weakened after the enchantment, allowing Autumn to come back. ¡°You don¡¯t remember? You¡¯ve been possessed by the Shepherd God!¡± It started coming back to her. She was amazed that the god of her people would rob her of her body. Cloudhawk kept chattering at her. ¡°What have you been going through? Do you know what¡¯s been going on?¡± Her mind was muddled. Everything jumbled together like pieces of a torn diary. She could recall scenes, but nothing was whole. ¡°Cloudhawk, what should I do? I¡¯m scared!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, it¡¯s alright. The god¡¯s got a nasty temper, but we can fight back. Never give up, you hear me? Hold on to your will.¡± Autumn weakly nodded her head. ¡°A lot has happened, to you and me both.¡± Cloudhawk helped her sit up. ¡°But you¡¯re alive and that¡¯s wonderful news.¡± Autumn felt like her head was ready to split open. A flood of memories raced through her mind all at once, causing her to cry as though something had frightened her. ¡°I can see the Shepherd God¡¯s memories!¡± Cloudhawk paused. ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°Gods¡­ gods and¡­ demons.¡± Autumn¡¯s tiny hands clawed at Cloudhawk¡¯s clothing. Sweat dropped off her chin from fear and exertion. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot. ¡°Fake! I-it¡¯s all fake!¡± He looked back at her, puzzled and nervous. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in danger. You shouldn¡¯t be with them.¡± She stopped suddenly, her face contorting in pain. There was a struggling going on in her mind. ¡°Be wary of Wolfblade. He¡¯s-¡± She couldn¡¯t say any more as her body went rigid and her jaw locked up. ¡°What?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was grim. He held onto her quivering frame. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± All of a sudden the expression on her face turned ice-cold. Autumn looked at Cloudhawk¡¯s hands on her shoulder and a deathly malice crept into her eyes. ¡°Wait a second now. This is just a mis-¡± The citizens outside heard a terrible scream. They looked up to see a figure being flung from the top of the two-hundred meter tree. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 10 - Lacking That day Cloudhawk disseminated a new order amongst the people. The God Tree was forbidden for anyone to approach. From that day forward, no one was permitted near it lest they wish to earn the Shepherd God¡¯s ire. One couldn¡¯t even imagine how they would lose their lives if they ignored the rule ¨C the Shepherd God had such little regard for mortal life, the grim possibilities were hard to imagine. While being flung from the God Tree was uncomfortable, Cloudhawk¡¯s trip wasn¡¯t without gain. Autumn¡¯s beleaguered soul, trapped in her own body, weighed on his mind. He¡¯d discovered that in sharing the same body, Autumn had also gained access to the former god¡¯s memories. Something she saw in them had frightened her. This was perhaps not altogether surprising. The Shepherd God, Wolfblade, Arcturus¡­ these sorts of people were always hiding dark secrets better left uncovered. But whatever it was she saw was too much for Autumn to ignore, and scared her deeply. He would have to be even more vigilant around Wolfblade. He wasn¡¯t sure if Hellflower was hiding something as well. He always knew she was a hungry and ambitious woman, so he was on guard every time she was around. It was part of the reason why there was always a distance between them, even though they¡¯d gone through a lot together. Still, Cloudhawk would be sorely disappointed if he learned Hellflower was using some secrets to manipulate him. His musings were interrupted when Roc came to deliver a report. Roc was one of General Skye¡¯s most trusted men, and a treasure of the Polaris family. He¡¯d performed his duties with the Talons ¨C as Warden and as liaison ¨C with skill and wisdom. Cloudhawk liked him a lot and had taken to relying on his council. For nearly all of the Elysians exiled from their home, the transition from noble Skycloud citizen to reprobate of the wastes was a difficult one. Nobility and faith were all they¡¯d ever known. Guilt for their sinful choices would haunt them, and even despite their anger over the death of their patriarch old habits would die hard. Not Roc. He took to his new identity quickly. It was one of the reasons he¡¯d done so well as Warden of the Talons. He saw those soldiers as his responsibility ¨C both their actions and morale. That saved Cloudhawk a lot of energy. It was only natural, then, that he should be elevated to the post of chief assistant to the domain¡¯s new Governor. He¡¯d wanted to speak with Roc anyway, so when the man he approached he wasted no time. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the city?¡± It was exactly for this reason Roc had come to see him. ¡°The young lady and I have done as you asked and have allocated our citizens toward three main projects; education, military, and infrastructure.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°And?¡± Roc gave his report. ¡°Our new Institute has been established and proceeds without issue. We are sorely lacking in supplies ¨C including lacking even a building to teach out of ¨C but they have a temporary camp to serve their purposes. Altogether, there are one thousand, one hundred, and sixty-three children enrolled in training. Among them, eight hundred ninety-two are suitable for martial training; two hundred twenty-eight are smart enough to undergo scientific study; forty-three show potential as demonhunters.¡± Wastelanders grew up quick. Cloudhawk figured they¡¯d have a solid group of scientists and martial artists in a few years at most. Roc continued. ¡°As for our military, we began by reviewing the four thousand or so troops Cerberus had put together. In the end we eliminated over a thousand who didn¡¯t pass muster or had unsavory habits. We bolstered that number with two thousand warriors selected from the eight thousand left after the failed invasion. At present, we have five thousand soldiers being trained by Rio and the Talons. They show promise. I suspect it won¡¯t be more than half a year before they¡¯re ready to see action.¡± In both Skycloud and the wastes, bodies to carry weapons were important. But Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t out for world domination, so this starting force was enough for now. He just needed to make sure they were as disciplined as Elysian soldiers. These five thousand soldiers were carefully selected. They couldn¡¯t suffer the weak, the obstinate, or the cruel. While this group paled in comparison to Elysian warriors or Hell¡¯s Army veterans, they also shouldn¡¯t be underestimated ¨C especially after receiving formal training from the Talons. The Talons of God were known in Skycloud for having a very effective training regimen. Compared to the more shadowy organizations like the Council of Shadows or Hell¡¯s Army who engaged in wet-work and assassinations, the Talons were proper soldiers. Their place was on a battlefield, not creeping through the dark of night. Cloudhawk was lucky enough to have some of Skycloud¡¯s most elite soldiers on his side. The best course of action was to use them to train others. Roc had been put in charge of supervising their fledgling military. Rio was delegated the job of training their soldiers. Cloudhawk knew that he didn¡¯t have to worry about his men, whether it was about their discipline or their capabilities. The last part of their overarching plan was infrastructure. ¡°We¡¯ve organized the remaining prisoners of war into work groups. Gabriel is in charge of planning the projects and Miss Dawn is overseeing construction. Also, we¡¯ve had the factories recruit a large number of workers. All told the thousands of prisoners we have are enough to fill our labor needs.¡± Gabby, Dawn¡­ they were the sort who weren¡¯t used to working hard, but they were working like dogs now. Dawn¡¯s earth powers and Terrangelica were surprisingly effective for work in a quarry. She threw up the rock and their prisoners carved it as needed. Since Gabriel was about the only one among them with artistic talent he made for the best choice as urban development planner. As a weaver he had an eye for lines, so street design was second nature to him. His shadethread relic also helped in stone carving. The two of them working together promised to quickly revamp their wasteland home. Their jobs might have seemed menial on the surface, but really they were incredibly important to the city. Through their efforts, Greenland was becoming a castle whereas the rest of the wasteland was peppered with shacks. With proper structure, they could avoid the dirt and disease that plagued other settlements. Cloudhawk was pleased with all he was hearing. ¡°That¡¯s good, right?¡± Something in Roc¡¯s face undermined his confidence. ¡°Everything is going according to plan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not entirely true. We have several problems we¡¯ll need to address.¡± ¡°What problems?¡± ¡°The first one is food. Before we came, the citizens of Greenland lived mostly by gathering what they could and giving a cut to the leader. The leader would then use that food to sustain his forces. Between the school and those in military service, we now have a lot of mouths that are taking but are exempt from producing. We are going through a staggering amount of food right now, and although this oasis is rife with potential our food stores will only hold for another half a month. That¡¯s our most optimistic estimate.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s the issue of resources and equipment. We¡¯ll need a lot of resources in the training of our students and military. In particular, material for medicines to make them strong. It¡¯ll be hard to satisfy the needs of this city, especially when the surrounding area is as barren as it is. Our current condition is unsustainable.¡± ¡°We have plenty of water and food production for now. What we don¡¯t have is a way to produce ore. We have no iron, saltpepper, or fuel. Without any of that we can¡¯t create more weapons or armor or provide energy for other services. So even with a school we won¡¯t have decent soldiers, and even with elite trainers our army can¡¯t protect us without gear. We can cover this place in buildings but they¡¯ll be in the dark without energy.¡± Roc was forthright with the problems he¡¯d encountered. In short, they needed food, resources and equipment. Since it was the first time Cloudhawk had ever been in charge of settlement, these were not problems he¡¯d foreseen. He needed guidance: ¡°Call the old drunk in here.¡± A short time later the former War Saint was led through the fort and into Cloudhawk¡¯s room. ¡°Hey there, old man. Let me just put it out there that I saved your life, but I didn¡¯t call you here to call that favor in. Rather, I¡¯ll start by saying pretty soon we¡¯re going to run out of alcohol. Sooner or later you¡¯ll drink us dry.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°So look, right now we¡¯ve got all hands on deck. Barb¡¯s at the Institute helping train kids, Claudia¡¯s bringing up demonhunters, even Gabby and Dawn are helping make this place livable. Don¡¯t you feel a bit ashamed, loafing around all day getting sloshed?¡± ¡°Cut the shit,¡± the old man said in irritation. ¡°You got something to say, say it.¡± Cough. ¡°We¡¯re just starting out and there are a lot of problems to solve. Far as I know, there were five wasteland settlements nearby and we wrecked their leadership, so that¡¯s five places with plenty of resources thrown into chaos. I want you to take two people with you and go clean up that mess in our favor.¡± From what Cloudhawk had learned, the four cities had names; Crudeoil, Caliber, the Pit, and Sandspire. Each one was named after what it specialized in. Crudeoil was sitting on a rich oil field, enough to provide fuel for the whole area. Without it half the cars in the southern wastelands would be abandoned with empty tanks. Caliber had plenty of materials and factories for ammunition. The Pit was built over an ore mine, and Sandspire was nestled in pre-historic ruins rife with old tech. Each one had enticing things to offer over Greenland City. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have existed so long and had such high populations. Now their leaders were here in chains, and at least half their defenders gone. It was the time for them to make their move. The old drunk¡¯s mission was clear: Go to each city, pick an obedient figurehead, and plant them for Greenland City¡¯s benefit. ¡°Greenland¡¯s alcohol is shit anyway. I¡¯ll go see if these places have anything better.¡± ¡°Who will you take with you?¡± ¡°No need!¡± The drunk already had his back turned on Cloudhawk, waving goodbye. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t worried about the old man¡¯s safety. He¡¯d seen him land a blow on Arcturus ¨C barely, but still. While it would be foolish to say there was no one in the wastelands who could cause him trouble, there couldn¡¯t be more than a handful. Whether he decided to bring someone with him or not didn¡¯t really matter. Now that the drunk was on board, what did Cloudhawk have to worry about the job getting done? But worry he did. Even with these cities, and even if a dozen smaller settlements like Blackflag pledged allegiance, Greenland City wasn¡¯t looking at direct and immediately improvement. Those four cities had enough to support themselves, sure, but how much could he expect them to give up to Greenland? Especially food¡­ The wasteland¡¯s population had always been restricted because of the scarcity of food. Cloudhawk could think of only one person who might have an answer. Hellflower was full of all sorts of tricks. Maybe she had an idea. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 11 - Super Tree-Mushrooms Laboratories and research facilities were built here before Greenland City was established as a new domain. Now Hellflower led their research and development priorities. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand a lot about science. Perhaps that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t pay much mind to the experiments Hellflower and her team were doing. When he went to find her Cloudhawk found the scientist with her silver hair tied up in a ponytail. Even the unflattering lab coat couldn¡¯t hide her curvaceous figure. Delicate fingers gently pushed the safety goggles up on her head as she looked with some surprise toward Cloudhawk. ¡°So busy yet you find time to visit little ol¡¯ me? You¡¯re right on time, actually. I have something nice to show you.¡± Hellflower grabbed him and pulled Cloudhawk over to a large machine. He gave it the once over but all he saw was a complicated mess of steel and wires. He couldn¡¯t tell what it was meant to do by its construction. The whole thing just looked like a bunch of cylinders and pipes welded together. ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover now.¡± Hellflower folded her arms over her full bosom. ¡°This thing will change face of Greenland City, maybe even the whole wasteland. It will have incredible implications.¡± Hellflower wasn¡¯t typically one for hyperbole. In fact she was well known for being pragmatic, especially with her inventions. Yet this ugly, swollen monstrosity somehow earned her excitement. A couple of her assistants opened the machine. It contained a considerable amount of thick, viscous fluid. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t notice any particular smell. Without that harsh chemical scent he figured it was something more pure ¨C not poisonous or dirty. It even caught the light, giving the surface a faint gleam. The scientists poured half its contents into a metal box and sealed it shut. A lever was then pulled, followed by mechanical whirring. It rather sounded like a furnace coming alive. A dull rumble reached his ears. Moments later, a screech like a wild animal was released from the pipes. The strange crackling he heard was from the machine rapidly heating up. Some of the pipes were spouting fire. But that wasn¡¯t what shocked Cloudhawk. What followed was a scene where he witnessed the ugly and cumbersome machine start to quake. It bucked and rumbled as its pistons starting to move, like within a beast desperate to break free. Thud-thud-thud-thud! Cloudhawk could feel the energy coming off the thing. The pistons picked up speed. If they attacked this to something ¨C say something with wheels ¨C it would make one hell of a vehicle, with more power than anything he¡¯d seen before. Who knows, maybe it could be used in some flying machine or a weapon. Hellflower was right ¨C this engine could really change the wastelands. This wasn¡¯t a typical internal combustion engine. Now Cloudhawk was no engineer and knew next to nothing about old tech, but a man who¡¯d never eaten pork still knew what a pig was. He learned to drive vehicles way back in Blackflag Outpost when he ran with the Tartarus Mercenaries, so he had at least a little knowledge. Engines weren¡¯t all that special in the wastelands. But this¡­ this thing was different. It was a combustion engine, sure, but the energy it produced was a hell of lot more than normal. It wasn¡¯t just about the quality of the fuel in it, either. The reality was it was probably a combination; whatever fuel they used was good stuff, and the construction of it took advantage of that. ¡°If we pushed it, it would produce several times this much output.¡± Hellflower couldn¡¯t hide the pride from her expression, but it was tempered by regret. ¡°Unfortunately we have very little dragon-iron, which is the only material that can handle such high temperatures. We only have enough for the cylinders and other crucial parts. The rest of it was made with standard metals, but that means it can¡¯t handle the full energy load without exploding.¡± ¡°What fuel does it use? How is it so powerful?¡± Cloudhawk was gave the machine a sidelong glance as he thought. ¡°Eboncrys?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a clever boy! But that¡¯s only half right.¡± Hellflower gave Cloudhawk an appreciative look. ¡°Only the Elysians have mastered the formula for stable, useful eboncrys fuel. They use it for their airships and pylons. For us wastelanders to uncover their production secrets is a tall order.¡± Her explanation only made him more curious. ¡°Are you saying you figured it out?¡± ¡°Of course not. Why should we imitate the Elysians anyway? Even if we could figure out the fuel, we would need the technology of their pylon reactors to utilize it effectively. Those are far too difficult to counterfeit. Remember, this was all invented by a very different civilization from our own.¡± She then drew herself up with pride. ¡°We discovered something completely new. Not only is it just as effective as an Elysian reactor, it¡¯s actually more stable and controllable. In fact, you¡¯ve contributed a lot in this invention.¡± She smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll bet you have no idea what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°Well don¡¯t keep me in suspense, what is it?¡± ¡°The mysterious spores we found in that alien world.¡± Hellflower waved over her assistants, who brought the remaining fuel over for them to inspect. ¡°This fuel is actually a mixture of silicon oil from eboncrys fruit and those mushroom spores.¡± Most energy sources were inherently dangerous. Gas, crude oil, and so on¡­ they were flammable and prone to explosive accidents. Eboncrys, on the other hand, was hard to work with but that¡¯s what made it so stable. No flame, high temperatures or direct impact released its energy. The trick was to find an effective and efficient method of release and utilization. Hellflower had gone through many iterations, none of them ideal. It¡¯d cost a lot of time and resources, and ultimately had produced nothing ¨C until they found those spores. To her surprise they were highly absorbent, pulling the energy from eboncrys fruit with very little coaxing. It was an inspiring discovery. In order to employ the spores¡¯ bio-extraction properties, the first step was to isolate the spores. She kept them from germinating and instead used that latent energy to produce the fuel. Her efforts were met with great success. ¡°Spore fuel in itself is hardly useful. Come, you¡¯ll see what I mean.¡± Hellflower guided Cloudhawk toward a special section of the labs. They entered into an enormous space with several well-tended plots of dirt where Cloudhawk saw ¨C much to surprise ¨C several dozen super-massive mushrooms. Each one was thirty or forty meters tall. ¡°What the hell?¡± It¡¯d only been a couple weeks since their excursion to the other dimension. How had these weird mushrooms grown so large so quickly? Even if Hellflower had started right when they got to Greenland City, they would have had to grow at a rate of several meters a day. If Autumn had been responsible for it, that would have been another thing. After all, the Shepherd God and her flute were capable of amazing things. But Hellflower didn¡¯t have that kind of power. So how did she do it? ¡°Surprised? Me too. These alien fungi are very strange. They¡¯re like some sort of mix between tree and mushroom. The internal structure is strong enough to allow them to grow so tall.¡± ¡°Of course, their most interesting feature is how they grow. They absorb external energy and convert it into bioelectricity, so long as the amount of energy they consume is sufficient, they will grow exponentially by utilizing that energy to draw every ounce of needed material from their surroundings. The process is so efficient, they can easily grow four or five meters in a day!¡± ¡°When their energy stockpiles are depleted, the mushrooms will go into stasis. This period is marked by cessation of growth and a focus on accumulating more energy for future processes. If no further energy source is present, they will maintain their current size indefinitely.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the tenacity of life. No wonder the mushrooms they saw in the other dimension were so huge. ¡°Look at this.¡± Hellflower led him further into another room. Here there were also mushrooms growing, however the plots were slightly elevated and wires protruded from the bottom. These wires crisscrossed toward something that looked like a transformer connected to a series of tubes. Hellflower waved at her assistants. One of them pulled a lever whose result caused Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes to go wide. All the lightbulbs increased in intensity until the formerly dim grow room was suddenly flooded with light. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Hellflower waved again and her assistant flipped the lever back. ¡°These mushrooms act like high-capacity batteries. Not only do they absorb energetic material, but they take from anything they come into contact with; light, fire, anything. This makes sense considering the barren planet they thrive on. Growing to such heights in dead soil must take a tremendous amount of energy.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°So every mushroom is a battery. You link them together with those wired to make a battery bank.¡± Hellflower nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. We use eboncrys fruit as fertilizer, which enriches the soil with a huge amount of energy for the mushrooms to consume. They love it and grow very quickly. Once they¡¯ve grown to sufficient size, we stop using fertilizer to curtail growth and turn them into natural power stations.¡± Even without scientific knowledge, Cloudhawk could imagine what this would mean. They could spread these mushrooms throughout the city, use eboncrys fertilizer to help them grow, then leave them alone. They could then absorb sunlight through their caps which could be used as energy. From that point it¡¯s just attaching wires and transformers, and you¡¯ve got electricity. Who wouldn¡¯t be excited about limitless electricity? Mushroom-based eboncrys fuel was a new generation of alternative energy. The energy could be converted for use in tools or weapons, too. A unique, pure source of energy. Where they reached a bottleneck was in machine design. Their internal combustion engines could only utilize about twenty percent of the energy in this fuel. This was somewhat sidestepped by having eboncrys¡¯ energy first absorbed through mushrooms spores to make it more efficient. ¡°You have the key to unlock so many mysteries.¡± The way Hellflower looked at Cloudhawk made him feel like a tiny rabbit beneath the hungry gaze of a wolf. ¡°The more you use your skills, the more amazing discoveries we can make in other dimensions, like these mushrooms. We can achieve incredible things ¨C that¡¯s why Wolfblade had us come with you. Together, we can change the world!¡± Cloudhawk had to admit, her enthusiasm was contagious. When he first discovered his trans-dimensional powers he just thought it was a great way to run if he found himself in a tight spot. Maybe he could sniff out a fancy relic or two in the process, at most use it as a pocket warehouse for his goodies. Now, he saw that the potential went far beyond what he¡¯d originally imagined. Each one of the shattered worlds had a legacy, and that meant potential. Riches that they could use to help their own world recover. But Cloudhawk came upon a crucial question. If there were mushrooms in that dimension that they could use for electricity, were there mushrooms they could eat for food? With the rate at which they grew it might just solve their food crisis as well. Once that problem was solved not only would Greenland City stabilize, but they would reach out to take control of their domain much faster. Once he had thousands of troops at the ready, his day of reckoning against Arcturus wouldn¡¯t be too far off either. Clouhdawk was tired of waiting! It was time for another trip. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 12 - Further Explorations Hellflower began formulating a plan to plant these mushrooms throughout Greenland City for the next phase of her experiments. Cloudhawk left her to her business. He returned to the fort, eager to continue exploring different dimensions. Thankfully, a scryspire had recently been completed in the city and there was nothing stopping them from taking another excursion. They¡¯d made a couple trips to the same place already, so they would need to be especially careful about making another. A whole host of strange spirit creatures had been centered around the ancient ruins they found. If they awakened a bunch of them at once, they¡¯d run into the same dangerous situation they fled from last time. He decided to avoid the ruins for now. ¡°Oddball, you¡¯re up!¡± Oddball had become ¨C for lack of a better term ¨C a fat-ass. It fluttered around Cloudhawk before darting off through the alien environment. For kilometers in every direction there was nothing to see but enormous mushrooms. However, these mushrooms were not all uniform. Cloudhawk was confident there were some he could use. This time, their main focus was a food source. Cloudhawk had spied a number of small creatures before. If they survived here, it meant they had to be eating something. So, his goal was simple ¨C find the animals, and you¡¯d find where they got their meals. Not so complicated. Oddball had eyesight ten times better than an eagle. It could spot a tiny critter dashing among the mushrooms from a hundred meters away. Under Oddball¡¯s guidance, Cloudhawk and Hellflower crept toward their objectives, all the while collecting samples and skirting the ruins. ¡°This place is a treasure trove of alien life. I suspect each one plays an important role in their ecology. You know, the potential for life to adapt is limitless. While introducing outside threats can be destructive to an environment, it also forces native species to become stronger. The more complex and ruthless the ecosystem, the stronger the creatures that inhabit it. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I found some amusing data in the old texts,¡± Hellflower said as they picked their way along. ¡°Ancient scientists were working on something they called ¡®designer venom.¡¯ They took a number of very deadly insects and placed them together in a box without food and buried them in the dirt. Natural instinct caused them to release their toxins. They discovered that those who survived were the strongest.¡± ¡°If none survived?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°Then they changed the box and started over. They continued the experiment until they got the result they wanted!¡± Hellflower glanced at Cloudhawk and saw the strange expression on his face. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°Do you ever feel like humans are being groomed, like those insects?¡± The question took her by surprise. What would cause Cloudhawk to suddenly come up with that idea? Cloudhawk looked over the arid, abandoned landscape. ¡°What¡¯s the different here? This planet is just a big jar where all the animals fight and destroy one another. If whatever ¡®designer venom¡¯ isn¡¯t achieved, the experimenters would just move on. I don¡¯t know about you, but this place looks like an abandoned experiment jar to me.¡± It was an interesting association, one Hellflower hadn¡¯t expected Cloudhawk to make. As a scientist she was trained to see connections like this, and couldn¡¯t help but recognize some similarities between this world and theirs. It was not unthinkable that gods and demons had once inhabited this place as well. The more she thought about it, the more frightening the prospect became. ¡°I have a question I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you.¡± Cloudhawk quickly changed the subject. ¡°Why did you agree to help Wolfblade?¡± ¡°The basis of your question is flawed. I have never agreed to help anyone with anything. I¡¯m here to help myself.¡± She offered the words casually. ¡°Do you remember the first time we met? I told you my one aim is to understand our world and the universe we live in ¨C present, past and future. I have always wanted to explore the world as it had been, just as much as I wish to foresee the wastelands¡¯ future. To see the essence of life, to know these mysteries. I have so many questions, and I will follow whoever can help me satisfy my cravings. My association with Wolfblade is based on mutual benefit.¡± Cloudhawk glanced her way. ¡°You¡¯re walking a path with no end.¡± ¡°Is the end so important?¡± She smirked. ¡°So long as I have the courage and strength to keep moving forward, then I will. It¡¯s what motivates me. If it wasn¡¯t for my curiosity and thirst for knowledge, my body would have been buried in a shallow ditch somewhere a long time ago.¡± Cloudhawk had nothing to say to that. Hellflower was a rare person in the wastes. Someone with her indomitable will was hard to find. Even Skycloud had only a handful of religious types with that sort of zeal. The strength she found to do what she did came from within her, somewhere deep in her soul. A second difference lay in constraint versus ambition. Hellflower wasn¡¯t doing this because of any duty, she did it because it was her passion. Her efforts were to make humanity strong. But it also made humanity frightening. ¡°It¡¯s true. Like a flower in hell, my goals are rare and just out reach.¡± She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°But I chase them all the same.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°You¡¯re really something.¡± ¡°From the moment I first met you, I knew you and I were cut from the same cloth,¡± Hellflower revealed. ¡°I always felt closer to you than Selene or Dawn because of our similarities. The path you are walking is also a long one¡­ don¡¯t you think it would be easier with a partner?¡± Cloudhawk coughed weakly. ¡°For some reason, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll sell me off or something.¡± She wasn¡¯t angry at the implications. Instead, she thoughtfully replied, ¡°Sooner or later you¡¯ll understand.¡± Oddball interrupted with a message. Found it! Something sneaking through the forest of mushrooms. Cloudhawk motioned for Hellflower to follow and the two quickly moved toward their prey. They pushed through the towering fungus to an unassuming section, where they discovered an enormous mushroom that was perhaps sixty or seventy meters tall. At first glance not a lot stood out about this specimen, except for the threads of cobalt blue that lined its stem. The strange addition made it beautiful to look upon, and strands of mycelium swayed from the edges of its cap like fingers. This mushroom was a little separate from others of similar size. Instead the floor was blanketed with a carpet of tiny mushrooms they grew close like blades of grass. Some patches grew a little taller, roughly the size of bushes, which had attracted this small animal. Cloudhawk and Hellflower sneaked closer, observing the creature as it nibbled on the mushrooms. They were overjoyed. These were the ones they were looking for. Of course they would need to be collected and tested before anyone ate them. These were alien fungi, after all, and who knew if they were somehow poisonous to humans. The two prepared to collect samples. But Hellflower stopped after only a moment when a premonition washed over her. She glanced up. ¡°Look at the big mushroom!¡± Cloudhawk followed her eyes and saw that the towering fungus had changed. Small, delicate arcs of electricity had appeared along the threads of blue and were dancing across the mushroom¡¯s length. The small animal, always vigilant, felt the disturbance immediately. It spun around to try and flee, but the mushroom tree was faster. Tendrils of electricity gathered along its stem, coalescing into thick bolts then lashing out. The critter couldn¡¯t escape. The lightning struck it and caused it to explode. A shower of blood and gore spattered through the area. Cloudhawk and Hellflower watched in horror as the small mushrooms drank up the carnage like sponges. Blood, bone, even the creature¡¯s scales were swallowed up in a few short moments. Then everything was calm ¨C like that sudden gruesome scene had never occurred. Even those mushrooms nibbled by the animal regrew in a matter of seconds. Staring up at the tree, Cloudhawk muttered to himself. ¡°The damn thing can attack.¡± ¡°I suspect these small mushrooms are actually part of the large one. It uses its bioelectric stores to attack anything that tries to eat it. A cunning trap. Once it snares a prey, the mushrooms uses the remains to replenish its electric reserves.¡± Fascinating¡­ Cloudhawk was interested, but it wasn¡¯t totally out of the ordinary. Even the world he came from had strange and deadly things like this. While he¡¯d never seen an electric mushroom before, he was accustomed to encounter all sorts of weird things. Since the electric blast hadn¡¯t seemed too powerful it didn¡¯t shock him all that much. Everywhere had its own unique ecosystem, this wasteland and his own were no different. So long as things lived there were always predators and prey. Handling a plant like this wasn¡¯t a problem. Cloudhawk extracted an exorcist bow from his dimensional pocket, took aim, and fired. The mushroom was huge, its fibers strong as steel, but after five or six shots it succumbed to his attacks. In the instant the main body of the mushroom died, its smaller versions began to wither. Hellflower quickly collected as many spores as she could from the folds beneath the mushroom caps. Once she returned home and grew a couple samples, they¡¯d be able to tell if these mushrooms were indeed edible. Who knows? Perhaps they could also serve as defensive structures. Planting these around Greenland City¡¯s borders might detract invaders. ¡°It went well this time!¡± Cloudhawk was well pleased with the results of this outing. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be happy with just this,¡± Hellflower retorted. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, we should try to explore the ruins again. Hopefully we can grab some of those strange spirit creatures and bring them back for study. I must admit, I¡¯m very interested in such strange lifeforms. I anticipate they can teach us something about demonhunters.¡± Even if Hellflower didn¡¯t have an interest in those spirits, Cloudhawk himself was also curious about the ruins. He needed more relics for study and as material to practice repairs. Every piece was useful. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what we can find.¡± Cloudhawk had Oddball race off once again as their trailblazer. After a little while, it arrived at the scene and reported a large number of spirits milling around. The jellyfish-like things came in all shapes and sizes and floated listlessly among the rubble. Hellflower referred to them as spirits for a specific reason. In their first encounter it was clear they were not made up of physical material. Rather they were a gathering of energy. Hellflower knew of no real creature that was able to survive without a corporeal body ¨C other than spirits. It caused her researcher¡¯s heart to itch with anticipation. However, they had to remember that these ¡®spirits¡¯ were dangerous. Since Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t fight very well, he had to rely on Oddball¡¯s help. He had his small friend dash among the creatures and disperse as many as it could. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk surreptitiously teleported them into the heart of the ruins. They wasted no time searching for relics. ¡°This building up ahead looks strange.¡± Hellflower pointed at the structure she meant, a large circular building nestled among the others. Cloudhawk had seen it, too. It had clearly been ravaged by the passage of time, but it wasn¡¯t as dilapidated as the others. Whatever it was made of had to be special in some way. Some unique steel, concrete or semi-precious stone. Something they¡¯d never seen before. ¡°I know what this is!¡± Cloudhawk remembered something he saw in Skycloud that was very similar. ¡°It¡¯s a temple!¡± Hellflower stared. She¡¯d of course never had a chance to see it with her own eyes, but she had heard stories about Skycloud¡¯s mystical seat of the gods. It was the core of the Elysian realm, the center of their faith, and the source of their power. Skycloud sprang into being only once the Temple was constructed, bequeathing the citizens with its mysteries. It was incredible that they should find something like it here. 1. In fact, he has indeed . Tipsy sure has a thing against fungus.. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 13 - The Fallen Temple ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a temple?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been to the one in Skycloud. It looks different from the outside but the material they used to build it is the same. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s an ancient Temple.¡± Skycloud¡¯s Temple was built before the realm, but if you measured it you would find that its foundation was a perfect circle. Perfect meant perfect; no more and no less than a mathematically precise circle. No human engineer could achieve that. The Temple was the heart of Skycloud, all the shields and mystical things throughout the realm gathered their energy from it. If it were to be destroyed, it would mean the destruction of Skycloud. What all that meant was that these Temples were vaults where any number of secrets and powers were locked away. Things the human mind couldn¡¯t begin to comprehend. Hence why it was so amazing to see one laying here in ruin. Cloudhawk felt something strange creeping into his heart. He¡¯d teleported at random, but had deposited them both right here at the base of this place¡­ The former owner of his phase stone had been the old Demon King. It would make sense that the stone would bring him to places where the Demon King had once traveled. Maybe the Demon King left some sort of token or residual power to mark these locations. It would make sense, then, why he would always show up in similar locations when he traversed dimensions. Perhaps the Demon King had left something here. A mark, or trinket¡­ Anyhow, now that they knew what this place was they had to take a closer look. From a distance the Temple looked pretty intact. Of course, ¡®intact¡¯ was a relative term when among ruins. The other buildings around it were all but leveled but the Temple structure held firm. Drawing nearer, however, the travelers discovered its surface was marred with a vast spiderweb of cracks. In several spots the exterior was indented where it¡¯d suffered some massive blow. Some cataclysmic battle had to have occurred here. Cloudhawk and Hellflower carefully traversed the doorway into the Temple itself. IT felt like stepping through a veil and passing through was like leaving the ruins around them behind. All the sounds and smells disappeared. ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary,¡± Cloudhawk said, noting Hellflower¡¯s expression. ¡°The Temple in Skycloud is also weird with space. Sort of like being inside a balloon that keeps expanding, it creates more space with limited volume.¡± To take the metaphor further, it was like trying to fill a soccer ball with a vat of water. By the same principle the temple looked like a large building from the outside, but its interior was the scale of a small city. It was spacious enough to house an army. Hellflower¡¯s eyes glimmered with excitement. ¡°Gods and demons really are operating on an entirely different level from humans!¡± Even this technique alone went beyond what humans could grasp. The gods never shared their techniques with the mortals they governed, and these mysterious abilities were like miracles to Elysian citizens. Their footsteps rang through the Temple antechamber. Although it was abandoned and in disrepair, it wasn¡¯t gloomy. This was thanks to magnificent murals set against the walls that glowed as they passed under them, just enough to light their way. As they walked further it they discovered that while the Temple was abandoned, it did seem to have been spared the destruction of the city outside. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t spare it much of a thought. He made up his mind to keep moving forward, especially since from the moment they stepped inside he started ¡®hearing¡¯ relics. Somewhere in here was a trove full of them. More and more it looked like this trip was going to be a magnificent haul. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± As they picked their way along the halls they encountered no danger. Eventually, they came before a set of heavy doors. Hellflower gave them a shove, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. Did they have to blast them open? Hellflower stepped back, and after a brief examination discovered that someone had already tried that. There were marks and scares from explosions that were still visible from who knows how long ago. Obviously whoever had tried to force their way in had failed. If the marks on the door were any indication then they were strong, too. How were Hellflower and Cloudhawk supposed to break these doors down? ¡°Follow me.¡± Cloudhawk took Hellflower¡¯s hand and the pair vanished. In a blink they reappeared on the other side. As they snapped back into existence Hellflower staggered, surprised that Cloudhawk could bring them through these barriers. He was hurt and his mental powers were limited. But his level of control had only improved with time. ¡°Ey? This...¡± On either side of them were a number of altars. Fires burned in sconces that must have been there for thousands of years. But what shocked them was the appearance of several spirit creatures dispersed among the shrines. They looked stronger than the ones outside, though these were wrapped up in spheres of energy. So that¡¯s what was going on¡­ To capture these being of energy you needed a cage made from the same ¨C energy. These altars had some sort of shield that caught these spirits when they got too close. Also with them in the shrine room was a massive fissure. Shards of broken architecture hung in a black void ¨C the scars of an intense battle. The conflict was so intense it shattered the room and left¡­ this. Looking closer they could see ancient remains hanging among the debris. They¡¯d found broken corpses. With the passage of millennia and the odd environment, these bodies had been well preserved. They were desiccated mummies, locked in the moment of their deaths. ¡°Judging by their clothes I¡¯d guess they were holy warriors defending the Temple.¡± Cloudhawk approached one and fished out a cracked mirror. Its surface was too tarnished to be reflective but he felt a strong resonance from it. It could be fixed. He put it away for later inspection. It wasn¡¯t like the corpse was going to need it. Whatever fight happened here was among some pretty powerful demonhunters. Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was pleased. This was definitely the right place to be. He wasted no time searching for more treasures. As expected his haul was a good one; every few moments he¡¯d find a working gun, or a sword, or a powerful relic. Meanwhile, Hellflower busied herself with capturing some of the spirit creatures. What a huge success! Once the shrine room was picked clean the pair prepared to probe deeper into the Temple. However, before they left Cloudhawk stopped before some discarded in the center of the room. An arm. Seeing an arm among the corpses and debris wasn¡¯t strange in and of itself, but what did catch his attention was its condition. The arm hadn¡¯t rotted at all. It was like it¡¯d been cleaved off moments ago. That set it apart from all the rest of the dried out corpses in the room. ¡°Strange, why didn¡¯t this arm rot?¡± The two gathered around the appendage. A left arm, clad in black armor and a scale-mail gauntlet. When they examined the wound they saw it was ragged and uneven. It¡¯d been blown off by some intense power. Neither could find blood, vessel, nor bone in the wound. Just pale, sallow tissue that contained palpable levels of energy. This came from an incredible specimen that had to be like some kind of super advanced robot. Instead of blood and bone the body was a collection of super strong fibers. The more complex something was, the more chance existed for something to go wrong. Complex meant fragile, simple meant strong. This arm was definitely from some kind of more highly advanced creature. Hellflower looked over at Cloudhawk. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I just realized something. This Temple ¨C in fact all the ruins only have one kind of remains¡­ save for this arm. Looking around, it seems the warriors were all here to deal with a powerful enemy but were wiped out. Even¡­ whatever this was lost an arm in the fight.¡± ¡°So what were they fighting?¡± Cloudhawk scowled at the perfectly preserved arm. ¡°A god.¡± Hellflower was taken aback by the claim. Cloudhawk had no contact with real gods outside his encounter in Skycloud¡¯s Temple. That was more on a mental level than a physical one. He¡¯d never actually stood before one of these creatures before. So he couldn¡¯t tell a god by how it looked, much less one severed arm. But when she looked closer, she saw why he thought it might be. It was almost impossible for invaders to fight their way into the Temple, especially alone. This strange and mysterious thing, whatever it was, must have been here from the start. Only a god could exist in the heart of a temple surrounded by a thousand frightening and powerful foes. But Cloudhawk had more evidence. The gauntlet it wore was a powerful relic. Not just a relic, either, but a really strong one. Aside from a god, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t think of what other creature could use a tool like this. His brows furrowed as he thought. ¡°If this really was a piece of a god, then they must have been here on the day of the city¡¯s destruction. It could have been responsible for all these dead Templars. But¡­ why would a group of faithful want to attack a god ¨C even rip its arm off? What the hell sort of fight was this?¡± Hellflower wasn¡¯t interested in whatever history doomed this place, but she was fascinated by the eternal limb. ¡°None of that matters. Let¡¯s take the arm back and run tests, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be surprised with what we find.¡± ¡°You want to learn more about the anatomy of the gods.¡± Gods were lauded as the perfect creatures. Powerful, eternal. There was nothing more enticing to Hellflower than the prospect of learning about them. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bring them here to play archaeologist either, so they gathered their haul and prepared to go. All told, they¡¯d managed to find more than thirty trinkets. One hell of a yield. Hellflower also succeeded in capturing a number of spirit creatures. That was good enough ¨C their expedition was over. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 14 - Scattered Treasures Autumn sat with her legs crossed in the hollow of her tree. The beautiful young woman¡¯s face was pale, her bearing weak. The efforts of the last few days had been a lot for her to bear on such frail mortal shoulders. She had yet to fully recover from the exertion. Suddenly her still, statuesque form began to change. Her lashes fluttered and her eyelids rose, revealing a baleful glare. Radiating haughty superiority, the animosity in her eyes was ice cold rather than savagely hot. Space warbled before her and two figures appeared from the ether. ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± Cloudhawk said by means of greeting. The episode of being flung from Autumn¡¯s home only a few days ago seemed to have been put out of his mind. ¡°We¡¯ve got a lot this time, several relics ¨C maybe even one you can use. Want to take a look?¡± The Shepherd¡¯s god affect was tepid and expressionless. She hardly thought Cloudhawk would bring back anything powerful enough to pique her interest. Unless he¡¯d unearthed something like her flute, then it didn¡¯t matter to her what trinkets he brought. Yet as she was preparing to turn her back on the pair something did catch her eye. It was one of the spirits Hellflower had managed to capture. The scientist explained. ¡°This is some strange creature we found while exploring.¡± ¡°This is a phantasm, a creature formed by condensing godly spirit and mental power,¡± Autumn corrected. ¡°They live only under very specific circumstances. You humans cannot unlock the mysteries of these phantasms, only the gods can analyze their nature.¡± Autumn¡¯s words only made Hellflower more eager. ¡°Could we impose on her Majesty the Shepherd Goddess to help us?¡± She did not refuse, but her response was a dismissive sniff. Cloudhawk cast Hellflower a knowing look. ¡°Majesty, please forgive any offense. We found something very unexpected during the excursion and I was hoping you may be able to help us identify it.¡± Hellflower produced something wrapped tightly in cloth. When she removed the layers the arm they¡¯d found was revealed. The armor and gauntlet had been removed revealing flesh much like that of a human¡¯s. However it was entirely hairless, without any blemish, like it was carved from marble. Hellflower presented it to Autumn with both arms outstretched like an official in feudal times presenting tribute. ¡°Please see for yourself.¡± The former god expressed satisfaction with Hellflower¡¯s obsequious manner. Whether or not she really believed it, she was at least showing the Shepherd God the proper respect. When she looked at the limb her brows furrowed. ¡°This is a god¡¯s arm.¡± It was as they¡¯d guessed. ¡°We found this along with a bunch of relics. This proves that whatever world that was had some connection to ours. Gods were there once, what was its history?¡± Cloudhawk wanted to know the answer, and Autumn was the only one who could give it to him. She was, after all, once a god. ¡°Have you been to this world? Do you know who this arm belongs to?¡± Autumn looked at Cloudhawk as though he were an idiot. ¡°Please spare me your simple-minded mortal ideas. With your ant-like intelligence, do you think you can comprehend anything of godly history?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity endured. ¡°So did I guess wrong? If the gods never went to that world, why did we find a Temple, these relics, and an arm?¡± ¡°You found various godly relics. I ask you, did you find any trace of demonic presence?¡± ¡°I¡­ not yet.¡± ¡°Not yet, not ever.¡± ¡°Why would be able to find godly relics but not demonic ones? Can you just speak clearly?¡± Autumn stood up and left, spitting a frigid response over her shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say. Figure out the rest yourself!¡± Cloudhawk hated when people talked in riddles, and especially when they only gave him part of the information. If she wouldn¡¯t tell him, it wasn¡¯t like he could put a knife to her throat and force her to speak. He wasn¡¯t so bold. Hellflower was happy enough with their revelations, though. The genetic material she found in this limb would do wonders for her research. Autumn also seemed perhaps open to the idea of helping her discover more about these phantasms. She was eager to begin. Despite not getting all the answers he wanted, Cloudhawk had indeed made out like a bandit as well. Over the next several days he spent his time going over the relics they found. In the end he¡¯d managed to fix some of them. Cloudhawk was happy to find that with more experience gathering relics was getting easier. Soon he would have what they needed to outfit a contingent of demonhunters. Now all they needed was for Claudia to train some up. From now on, the title was ¡®demonhunter¡¯ wasn¡¯t exclusive to the Elysian lands. To Skycloud, Cloudhawk¡¯s actions were more terrible than if he¡¯d just outright destroyed the city, and more effective than if he¡¯d killed their strongest warriors. He was proving to everyone that wastelanders could do anything the gods could. Their precious gods were not the absolute authority they pretended to be. *** A few days later. The old drunk returned to Greenland City after seven days on his mission. He had secretly eliminated the more troublesome factions in the four cities and helped establish leaders who were sympathetic to Greenland¡¯s cause. The four cities, at least ostensibly, were under their control now. Cloudhawk was happy to hear it. He immediately summoned the core of his fledgling kingdom; Dawn, Gabriel, the drunk, Barb, and Claudia. Dawn strode into the room with a scowl. Her pretty eyes looked ready to spout fire. Seeing her in one of her moods, Cloudhawk felt the sudden urge to just turn the other way. He felt the premonition immediately. What had pissed off their noble miss this time? It took only a moment for him to hazard a guess; for the last several days, he¡¯d been spending his time with Hellflower. Often, no one would see him for a long time. Dawn Polaris considered herself a noble among nobles. Yet since coming to Greenland City she felt more like a coolie. Every day was spent in the dirt, helping to build up this piece of shit town. Not once had Cloudhawk come to look in on her. How could she not be furious? That wasn¡¯t all. After his expedition with Hellflower, Cloudhawk had locked himself away in the fort for several days and had been completely absent from public view. About the only person in the gods-forsaken town she could connect with was nowhere to be seen. She couldn¡¯t even go share a drink and blow off steam. It was like he didn¡¯t care about her at all! Dawn was not the sort of person who hid how she was feeling. Nor was she the sort willing to put up with things she found to be unfair. This meeting was her opportunity to confront Cloudhawk with his sins. He had to admit he was afraid, so he cut her off before she could explode. "Dawn, you¡¯ve come just in time. The last few days I¡¯ve been working on these gifts. I haven¡¯t even slept. Come take a look!¡± Gifts? What gifts? Dawn fixed him with suspicious eyes as Cloudhawk produced one item after another. Swords, bows, spears ¨C all items of solid quality he¡¯s brought back for them to use. More importantly he¡¯d already fixed them all. Dawn looked at the pile, shocked. ¡°How did you bring back so many? Did you raid a Skycloud demonhunter family or something?¡± ¡°Look at this one!¡± Cloudhawk held up a yellow pearl with flecks of white inside. ¡°This is called a marshpearl, and it can create an area of swamp to attack your foes. Good for strong an intractable targets. This silver armor here is also more than it seems. It¡¯s got sturdy defenses, and paired with your aegis mirror you¡¯ll be practically invincible!¡± ¡°Woah, these look like high-grade relics!¡± Barb marveled over the collection. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re being unfair! All this for her, just because she¡¯s pretty. Gabriel, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Gabriel rubbed his nose and looked covetously at Cloudhawk¡¯s haul. The exchange told Cloudhawk that Barb and Gabriel had gotten closer. A lot of chemistry¡­ there was probably something going on there. ¡°Hmph, so what if he¡¯s playing favorites?¡± Dawn¡¯s irritation had vanished. She snatched up her two relics and jumped with excitement, even kissing Cloudhawk before cackling with glee. ¡°Hehehe! Come and get ¡®em if you want ¡®em!¡± Cloudhawk wiped the saliva from his mouth with a bandaged hand awkwardly and coughed. ¡°Everyone¡¯s got something.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got two psychic-type relics. One is a bracelet to help with hypnosis and the other is a mirror that attacks a victim¡¯s mind. Claudia¡¯s already got the Seeker¡¯s Torque, but since you aren¡¯t on the front lines much you can take the bracelet. It will help relieve mental fatigue and aid in teaching. Barb, you can have the mirror.¡± Cloudhawk then picked up a blood-colored dagger. ¡°This one¡¯s called Soulbite. Fits you I think, Gabby.¡± Gabriel¡¯s darker personality, Naberius, fancied himself a sculptor. With a tool like this, he¡¯d be even more of a nightmare. Last was the drunk. His relic was destroyed in the fight against Arcturus so he¡¯d been running around without a weapon now for a little while. Cloudhawk presented him with a relic called Morning Twilight. It was a sword whose pretty name didn¡¯t do it justice. This one was easily among the strongest relics Cloudhawk had brought back with them. It wasn¡¯t much inferior to Dawnbreaker, if at all. ¡°It still isn¡¯t fair! We all get one but Dawn gets two!¡± Barb made a show of pouting but she was happy with her gift. Although she¡¯d been focusing on martial arts, her mental powers had also improved quite a lot. She¡¯d never had a proper combat relic before besides low-level stuff like exorcist bows. With her new toy she¡¯d fight fierce as a tiger! She was all the more convinced it was a wise choice to follow Cloudhawk. ¡°What are you doing, giving all of these away?¡± Dawn thought of Cloudhawk, but only after safely putting her own relics away. ¡°How about yourself? I know you can use any relic you find, so if you kept these for yourself wouldn¡¯t you be undefeatable?¡± ¡°Well look here, you do think about me.¡± Cloudhawk lifted his cloak, revealing to the others a gauntlet encasing his left hand. It covered almost his entire arm, like some sort of robotically enhanced limb. Cloudhawk had plenty of relics, and there were limits to how many a person could use. When it came to relics, more didn¡¯t necessarily mean better. More important was finding one suitable for your needs. To him, the gauntlet was more valuable to him than all the other relics he¡¯d given away put together. In one trip he¡¯d increased the power of his whole crew by leaps and bounds! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 15 - Preliminary Stages Complete Nightfall, Greenland City. Cloudhawk stood on the roof of the fort, looking down over his domain. This rare gem amid the sands¡­ he remembered when it used to be a vicious place. The sort of place that would chew you up and spit you out. Since he¡¯d come, him as his friends had helped the city shed its savage face. It was finally starting to come together as a home, where people could grow and be safe. Before the enchantment was constructed there was nothing protecting their oasis from the ravaging sandstorms that plagued the wastes. However, now the God Tree blessed them with three hundred and sixty degrees of protection. Where before the city had only the facade of lawfulness, now there was true order. Meanwhile their high walls kept out the mutants and savages. Within the confines of the city, the dilapidated shanties were leveled to make way for brand new structures. Dawn had played an important role in this slate of new residential buildings. By giving her these presents, Cloudhawk had inspired her to work even more diligently. Between Terrangelica and her new relic, Heart of the Mire, changing the environment to their purposes became even easier. By calling up stones from the earth she constructed frames for these buildings, which then their trainee construction workers set about filling in. Gradually the city was peppered with stone towers for various purposes. These towers were clearly inspired by Skycloud architecture. Each one was a round tower with five floors. Each floor was separated into four sections. Each section housed a family. Ten towers constituted a neighborhood, which had its own roads, parks and markets. Such construction made the city seem staggered and broken up. It lacked the luxury of Skycloud but was functional and had a simplistic charm. They were far from done, but now people were starting to see what the future of Greenland City looked like. This was what happened when everyone worked hard together. Without cooperation, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t have accomplished any of this. ¡°Good. Very good. Greenland City is coming along very nicely. ¡°Cloudhawk was very satisfied with the progress he saw. He turned to the chief designer by his side. ¡°Thanks for your help. Without you we wouldn¡¯t have been able to work on this scale ¨C much less design the streets and such. I have no idea what it would look like otherwise.¡± Gabriel was modest. ¡°Well, you called us all together. Without you, we¡¯d have no one to lead us.¡± ¡°So what do you think of our new city so far?¡± Cloudhawk was a little anxious about the answer he would receive. The Polaris family, for instance, were a noble family. It was hard to get used to living in squalor compared to the luxuries they grew up in. The food wasn¡¯t as delicious as Elysian fair, and their lodgings were spartan to put it kindly. What¡¯s more, they had to spend every day working with wastelanders ¨C a class of people they¡¯d despised all their lives. Could they stomach it? Now things were at a point where they couldn¡¯t leave. ¡°Naberius and I are artists,¡± Gabriel said, his arms folded. The last rays of the setting sun glimmered against his golden hair. Altogether very heroic. ¡°And artists love to take the rugged and turn it into something beautiful. We¡¯ve done countless works, but I think Greenland City will be our most important. As far as I¡¯m concerned this place is precious.¡± Strong words from such a shy, sullen fellow. ¡°I¡¯m afraid other people won¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Everyone feels the same to different degrees.¡± Gabriel looked at Cloudhawk. ¡°You can¡¯t assume everyone thinks the way you do, or think they might. You need to see it from the heart. Yeah, these folks have lost something, but they gained freedom in return. Life is harder than it used to be, but now they have something to look forward to. Tomorrow is in their hands, and there¡¯s nothing more inspiring than that.¡± ¡°Heh, always the schizophrenic. Never know when you¡¯re going to change your mind.¡± Cloudhawk chuckled teasingly. ¡°I see you and Barb are getting pretty close. You¡¯re getting better at picking up the ladies, you dog. I guess even hopeless cases like you can learn.¡± Gabriel¡¯s face grew sour. ¡°Yeah, not one tenth of your talent though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the wrong way of thinking about it. I¡¯ve never chased women ¨C they¡¯ve always chased me.¡± Gabriel was speechless as he sized up the new Governor. He was wrapped tight in dirty gray bandages that only revealed his eyes. His relatively wiry frame was hidden beneath the ever-present tattered cloak that made him look weird and mysterious. Now he had a creepy gauntlet covering one arm and a broken sword on his back. He was the picture of a wastelander, from head to toe. He had an average figure and the recent battle had left him disfigured¡­ so how the fuck was he getting all the girls? From Selene to Dawn, Hellflower to Autumn, each one beautiful and talented. It was a mystery. After sharing a few words with Gabriel, Cloudhawk was in high spirits. Sometime in the last few days he¡¯d changed, from a lone wolf to a city leader. It was never a part he thought he¡¯d play. It came with increased pressure and responsibility but he didn¡¯t feel like he¡¯d lost any freedom. It was like Gabby said; things were hard, but tomorrow was in his hands. Wasn¡¯t that real freedom? His mentality had changed a lot from only a couple years ago. The world they¡¯d all been born into was a flawed one. Whether it was man or all the other things, there were always weaknesses, always defects. The pursuit of perfection was only ever asking for torment. Better to build the paradise you wanted than to try and find it outside. All of mankind¡¯s struggles were just paths on their quest toward peace of mind. ¡°What are you still doing here? You¡¯re such a pain in the ass!¡± Dawn stomped over, grabbed Cloudhawk, and started dragging him away. ¡°It¡¯s an important day, everyone¡¯s waiting for you to speak!¡± In the center of Greenland City the citizens had gathered, a veritable sea of humanity. The very first residential buildings had been completed. In all it¡¯d taken just over ten days. It was staggeringly fast and all these people were here to see their grand opening. The gathering took place in Greenland¡¯s newly renovated square. Dawn had made the ground flat and even, now surrounded by rows of circular towers. The citizens looked at it all with burning expectations. All were eager to be the first to move into these new lodgings, and for many it was their first opportunity to see this mysterious new leader. ¡°The Governor has arrived!¡± All heads rose toward the dais that¡¯d been constructed in the square. The air shimmered and a figure appeared. News had already spread that the Governor and his people possessed strange and magical powers. However, seeing it now before their eyes, the normal folk of Greenland were amazed. Cloudhawk looked out over the crowds. ¡°I am Cloudhawk, Governor of Greenland City.¡± Although he¡¯d appeared before the people more than once, most citizens still didn¡¯t know what he looked like. It was a surprise to see that their Governor, this strange and powerful man¡­ looked just like them. Rather, it was his inner circle that was so strange. The men all seemed handsome, the women capable, nothing typical about any of them. Excluding, of course, the lame old man who followed them around. By comparison Cloudhawk seemed rather down to earth. He was a wastelander after all. ¡°As you all can see, Greenland City is going through a period of change. These were our first steps and they¡¯ve been a success. I¡¯ve called everyone together so that we can all share in this success together.¡± Cloudhawk looked and sounded very self-satisfied, but his words dialed it back. ¡°But this can¡¯t be enough. It¡¯s only the beginning. Our home is a rare gem in a hostile wilderness, which we will cultivate into paradise. But to do it we will need everyone¡¯s hard work and support. I believe that if we do that, we can turn this gem into a dazzling, unparalleled jewel.¡± Murmurs were passed among the crowd. Cloudhawk looked at the sea of awkward faces. He saw fear and doubt. Only a few were confident enough to seem happy at the announcement. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t surprised. Trust was perhaps the wasteland¡¯s rarest commodity. For all his lofty promises he might as well be farting into the wind. It was a sobering reminder. He didn¡¯t want refugees coming and going as they pleased, or people who defected elsewhere when it didn¡¯t go the way they wanted. What he needed was citizens who could help him make this place great! He wanted people who were willing to pick up their weapons and defend their home when it was in danger. Because they believed there was no other place like it and it was something worth fighting for. But from the faces he saw below him, it seemed this was going to be a long process. It didn¡¯t matter. He had the patience and dedicated to see it through. ¡°I won¡¯t waste your time.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t good at inspiring hearts and minds. He was just going to be straight with them. ¡°Make sure your eyes are open. We¡¯re about to enter into a whole new era.¡± He punctuated the assertion with a wave of his hand. He watched as mouths hung open and eyes went wide, for all around the towers twinkled to life. Electricity. This was electricity! Every single building? Hellflower¡¯s experiments with the mushrooms had gone well. These newly constructed neighborhoods had two or three mushroom trees each providing them with electricity. Power was a very unusual benefit out in the wastelands. Usually it was reserves just for the leader¡¯s lodgings. Houses were just the beginning. Hellflower was laying the groundwork for a fully integrated electric grid. Everyone, everywhere would have access to power. Her new engine was nearly ready and tracks were being laid for it around the city peripheral. Word was a fleet of transport trains were being constructed to facilitate the movement of people and resources through the city. Finally, they¡¯d begun to see. It was almost more than they could believe, like living in a fairy tale. Cloudhawk watched the electric lights fill the square and beneath the bandages he grinned. Days of hard work had really paid off. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 16 - Sudden Attack There were several ways Greenland residents could acquire new housing. The first was commercial. Since there was no standard unit of currency in the wastelands everything was done on a barter system. The Governor put out a list of items their city needed ¨C for instance food, weapons, vehicles and so forth ¨C and entrepreneurial sorts could purchase housing with their wares. The second was service. Contributing one¡¯s time as a soldier, scavenger or builder came with benefits. With enough meritorious service, one of those benefits was free housing. Finally, there were a few special cases. These were unique in that a person didn¡¯t need to pay in any fashion, with the one requirement being that they had a unique and highly sought-after skill. For instance, being a very skilled fighter or a particularly brilliant scientist. These folk were given priority for housing along with the others. Copperhide had only recently joined Greenland¡¯s army. He was a grunt, not of any particular importance, and without any commendations to boast of. He was just a mutant trying to make his way. As he looked up at the brightly lit homes he would never occupy, he was full of envy. Much to his surprise, however, he was called out. Him and his family would be given a home. At first he thought he was dreaming. As far as he knew, he¡¯d done nothing to qualify. And he was right ¨C the home was for his son. Ironspike had a rare and impressive talent, or so they said they had discovered at the Institute. Thus he fell under the third condition, one with a unique skill. When Copperhide took the key he couldn¡¯t stop his hand from trembling. Life in the wastes had taught him never to expect good, so something like this was taboo for him to even imagine. He took his son and quickly went to find his wife, who was working on the outskirts of the city. She was working in a steel factory and when they arrived she was helping to move two hundred pounds of steel they were planning to use for the railway. She was just as stunned to hear the news as her husband had been. Her son, who yesterday was a normal mutant, was actually hiding such an important talent? The foreman of the plant, a former Talon captain, gave Stonepetal the day off so they could move their belongings to their new home. Overcome with joy, the small family quickly gathered their things. These new neighborhoods were guarded by soldiers. Anyone had to verify their identity before they could enter. Copperhide and his family were happy to see this, since one of their main concerns is always safety. For the first time, the leader of a city set guards and patrols in a residential area. At last they wouldn¡¯t have to fear. No other city in the wastelands could match this. It also made the Governor¡¯s ambitions clear. If he could create a safe place in the hostile wilds, it would undoubtedly attract many capable warriors and talented scientists. Sooner or later Greenland City would be a hub where the gifted gathered. Three timid figures trundled up the stairs. ¡°Ironspike!¡± A voice called out to them. ¡°You¡¯re so late! I¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± An adorable little girl was waiting at the top of the landed with her arms crossed. She watched the family approach with dazzling blue eyes. Copperhide and Stonepetal looked at one another. They didn¡¯t recognize the child. However, Copperhead could tell right away there was something special about her. Although she didn¡¯t even up to his knee there was something¡­ dangerous in her presence. An inkling in the back of his mind wondered if he¡¯d been able to stop this little thing if she meant them harm. Ironspike immediately presented himself respectfully. ¡°Monitor?¡± Azura had been selected as class monitor of Greenland Institutes¡¯ gifted program. Her small, frail frame belied great talent. During their training Ironspike had sparred with her on a couple of occasions, each time he was thoroughly trounced. What really gave him pause, though, was the sort of support Azura got. Word was she was the Governor¡¯s personal disciple. ¡°Let me help you.¡± Azura very politely offered to share their burden. She approached Copperhide and picked up a sack nearly twice her size without issue. ¡°I¡¯m staying with Headmistress Claudia on the fifth floor. Come find me when we¡¯re not busy and we¡¯ll play!¡± Ironspike was excited. ¡°The Headmistress lives here, too?¡± ¡°Yup! Next door there¡¯s a man named Uncle Roc. He¡¯s also really strong. Maybe you can ask him for some pointers, right?¡± Azura spoke as she helped them move their things inside. ¡°Uncle Rio lives on the fourth floor. He¡¯s really good at martial arts. Maybe he¡¯ll teach you some things, too.¡± Copperhide and Stonepetal were silent, but listened in amazement. They¡¯d both heard of these people she was talking about. They were important people in the city, but instead of living in the fort they were here. In the same building as them. ¡°Here we are!¡± Azura led them to a door on the third floor and pushed it open. ¡°Welcome home!¡± It was very simple, but not unfurnished. There was a stone table, chairs, and even a bed. Even a kitchen and a toilet. And most importantly ¨C electricity! Azura pulled a cord dangling from the ceiling and the lights sparked to life. The mutants dragged their eyes around in speechless appreciation. The sound of them shuffling around attracted their next door neighbors. Each floor had four units. To their left was a family whose child was one of Ironspike¡¯s classmates. On their right was an elderly man working in the laboratories. Across the way was a group of Talon soldiers. Everyone took a moment to introduce themselves. Amazing. Unbelievable, except here it was before everyone¡¯s eyes; mutants, scientists, and Elysian soldiers all living together. This sort of thing would be laughed at as ludicrous, or met with jaws hitting the floor. Azura happily helped Ironspike arrange his room. When they were finished she gathered them together. ¡°Now remember, if you need anything feel free to talk to your neighbors. But don¡¯t start any fights or cause any trouble. The rules here are pretty strict and violators will be punished!¡± Copperhide and the others nodded in understanding. Azura nodded, bade them farewell, and left. That night, the family of three settled down for dinner in their new home. Every neighborhood had patrols and guards at the gates. The buildings inside were a mix of Elysians and wastelanders living together, too. Claudia, Roc, Rio¡­ only an idiot or someone looking to get themselves killed would cause trouble here. For the first time this humble group of mutants felt a sense of belonging. They were joyful and encouraged by the wonderful turn their lives had taken. Greenland had done well by them, so they were determined to work as hard as they could to pay that back. The next morning Stonepetal was up early and on her way to the steel factory. Ironspike literally ran to school for his training. Copperhide returned to the barracks to report for duty. Word had spread that his family was moved into one of the new neighborhoods so he was greeted with congratulations and a lot of questions. When he explained what it was like, everyone¡¯s eyes glimmered and they rubbed their hands in anticipation. Copperhide was the first of their group to live in those wonderful homes, a fact which filled him with pride. A soldier¡¯s life was simple. Every day was comprised of two things; train with Talon troops, and go on patrol. From time to time they¡¯d have to deal with an escaped animal, but that was about it. Today was turning out to be a calm one. Then, after lunch, their captain called everyone together. They had a special patrol mission. His explanation of their job wasn¡¯t very clear. Copperhide and the others were marched to the outskirts of town where they¡¯d cleared out an area for expansion. In the middle of the clearing was an enormous mushroom twenty meters high, with threads of blue through its white stem. Copperhide wasn¡¯t surprised to see it. They were starting to crop up all over the city. They looked like giant mushrooms but were incredibly tough. Cutting through them with a sword or axe took a lot of work, so they tended to grow very tall. Lately, a few seemed rather different. They were surrounded by fields of dense mushroom growth that were smaller and collected almost like bushes. Their mission was to protect this mushroom and its field of miniatures from being disturbed by wild animals. One important instruction was that they were not permitted to get close to it under any circumstances. Watch and protect, that was all. What a strange mission¡­ Copperhide was confused, so he didn¡¯t pay it much heed. They were a small unit, but like any military they were trained to follow orders without question. So it was that he and the others settled in their patrol rout. Several groups of wasteland scientist came and went while they performed their duty. They muttered and pointed, and scribbled notes. What puzzled Copperhide was that the scientists didn¡¯t dare come near, either. Mostly they used tools to apply fertilizer from a distance. Bucket after bucket of a black substance were poured onto the ground and quickly swallowed up by the mushroom field. They could see the big mushroom growing before their eyes. Before they left, they would use more instruments to pluck some of the small mushrooms. Another patch would grow to replace those that were taken in the blink of an eye. Dusk was approaching. Soon, they would hand over their watch to the next patrol. With so little for them to do, Copperhide and the others were relaxed and ready to go home. They spent their time chatting about different topics, but all of a sudden their talking stopped when a palpable sense of danger fell over them. ¡°Ahh!¡± The scream came from somewhere in the forest. One of their companions! Copperhide¡¯s face stiffened and he hefted his battle ax. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± The other guards were alert but couldn¡¯t see the threat. Then a salvo of bullets came ripping through the brush, knocking several off their feet. ¡°Those aren¡¯t beasts!¡± ¡°Sneak attack! We¡¯re under attack!¡± ¡°Copperhide, sound the alarm!¡± His captain shouted the order just as something separated from the trees. This translucent outline passed right through the officer, severing his head from his body. Fear seized Copperhide. Without a second thought he turned and ran. He didn¡¯t know how, but whatever that was had gotten right up on the captain before he could react. The captain¡¯s head was cut right off like he was made of paper. Copperhide was no match for this enemy. That power was more like what the Governor commanded. This was no ordinary foe! But what the hell was it?! 1. Every class in China has a ¡®class leader.¡¯ They weren¡¯t part of my schooling grow up in the US so the closest I could come up with was a class monitor. In essence, class leaders are drafted by the teacher to act as an assistant. They snitch on bad kids, relay orders, pass out papers and take notes when there¡¯s a substitute, etc. The teacher always picks their best student for this job. In selecting Azura for class leader it shows that she is excellent in a class full of excellent students. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 17 - The Mysterious Demonhunter A sneak attack against Greenland City was especially unexpected. After establishing the protective enchantments, even Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t given this possibility a second thought. It wasn¡¯t due to him being carelessness. They were supposed to be hidden. By all rights, outsiders shouldn¡¯t have been able to sneak passed the borders without them knowing. As such, he had only a token force at the walls to protect against mutant animals that might wander too close, and that was all. Most of the army was in the city limits, helping to train or do other important work. This attack got so close to the city because he wasn¡¯t vigilant enough. Ten men from Copperhide¡¯s unit were killed. It was a small crew to begin with, and many died with the initial sneak attack. The remainder ¨C including the captain ¨C were picked off one by one by this translucent stranger. Copperhide tried to flee and let the city know what was happening. But it was all to no avail. The translucent man was too fast. Copperhide couldn¡¯t see him, but he could get a basic idea of where he was by sound and smell. He knew the thing was getting closer. Unless he did something soon, he¡¯d end up just like the captain. Desperation and fear awakened something inside of him. Aaaaarrrgghhh! He roared in panicked fury and flailed his ax wildly behind him. The ringing sound of his ax meeting something sharp returned. His foe easily deflected the blows and returned with a racking slash across the mutant¡¯s chest. Copperhide¡¯s thick skin split like paper. A bone-crunching kick caught him next. The mutant¡¯s several hundred-pound frame was launched into the air and sent sprawling a dozen meters away. As he rolled he watched a field of snow-white mushroom caps split beneath him. Eventually, he came to rest in a patch of fungal bushes. With the patrol unit dealt with, a number of other figures began to emerge. One by one they stepped out from the forest, each one strong and imposing, ready to clean up any survivors. Few in number, they were nonetheless brutal and efficient. They were here to feel out the situation. Discover what they could learn about Greenland City and report back to their superiors. Since they couldn¡¯t afford eyewitnesses reporting back to the city, they had to make sure no one was left breathing. Copperhide, badly wounded, lay among the mushrooms. He watched as the small fungi were crushed beneath invisible feet. His murderer was drawing near. Who were they? Why were they trying to infiltrate Greenland City? He was afraid. His life had only just turned around, his wife and son were finally happy. He didn¡¯t want to die here. Shimmers in the air told him the translucent attacker was raising their weapon. But before he could finish the mutant for good, the large mushroom behind him crackled with energy. It released a singular bolt of lightning from one of its spindles. A peal of thunder shook the area. Obviously, the translucent attacker was caught unprepared. It was too late to dodge, so the lightning struck the nearest item it was attracted to, his weapon. The figure was blasted off his feet and hit the ground a few meters away. Curling tendrils of smoke rose from a singed body. The force of the blast was incredible to behold. Others in range of the mushroom hadn¡¯t figured it out yet. Bolt after bolt fired outward, but these men weren¡¯t as lucky as their invisible comrade. They were struck straight on and detonated from the force. Chunks of burned meat and boiling blood were thrown across the fungus-carpeted floor. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°Destroy it!¡± The remaining invaders raised their weapons and started firing on the mushroom. Of course, these inferior weapons could do nothing. The sounds of their gunshots only managed to attract attention from the city nearby. Nearby, the translucent figure rose on shaky legs. His invisibility faded, revealing a dreary looking middle-aged man. He glowered at the circumstance. ¡°Retreat!¡± The mushroom¡¯s strike hadn¡¯t caught him directly, but the wounds were still troubling. They were supposed to be here as scouts, but now they were exposed. It was time to leave and plan their next move. In the midst of his planning a figure appeared directly in front of him, barring the middle-aged man¡¯s path. She was a woman, maybe in her early twenties and wrapped in a pretty green dress. In her delicate fingers was a flute. A pair of cold and emotionless eyes held him fast. She looked over the group as though surveying a pile of corpses. The boundary had been breached. Something abnormal had happened. Autumn was the first to recognize the danger. The man¡¯s first reaction when seeing the young woman was surprise. Then he saw her beauty, radiating from everything except her deathly-cold glare. But when all that passed what gripped him was her remarkable temperament, like a queen looking scornfully upon unruly subjects. Two contrasting things in one body. She was like no one he¡¯d ever seen before. Though wounded, the middle-aged man looked dangerously toward Autumn. ¡°You dare stand in my way? Do you know who I am?¡± Autumn¡¯s tepid voice returned, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are.¡± He smirked while the other men in his crew looked at each other in surprise. This child had the gall to speak to him like that? They were here as a scouting party, but that didn¡¯t mean they were weak. Each member of their group was a trained killer. Meanwhile, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything special about this girl. What these fools didn¡¯t know was that when the discrepancy of power was too great ¨C when they existed on entirely different levels ¨C then intuition failed to show them the truth. It was like an ant trying to describe the power of a dragon. It was impossible for such a tiny thing to even see the majestic beast in its entirety. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play with you.¡± The man waved his hand toward his companions. ¡°They¡¯ll know something up in a few moments. But take this one with us, maybe the mission won¡¯t be for naught. Grab her.¡± Several men stepped forward to comply. They circled around the deadly mushrooms toward Autumn. She didn¡¯t move except to lift her flute and wave it lazily toward the men. An invisible force struck them with intense force, which caused their bodies to detonate from the inside out. Where muscled men had been were now piles of meat paste and pools of blood. Dead in an instant! Even in the moment of action there was no sense of murderous intent from the girl. She did it was easily and as thoughtlessly as someone might step on an insect. Whatever she was, she was on an entirely different level from them. Killing these gnats wasn¡¯t even an afterthought. Now the middle-aged man understood. His face darkened. He never would have imagined such a pretty, frail looking girl could command such power. How could this be? His reaction was swift. The man threw down a handful of smoke and slipped away. His ploy got him ten meters from the clearing, when suddenly he found his escape route blocked by vines. The man spun around to find another way, but more vines had appeared to cut off retreat. Before he could formulate another plan he found he couldn¡¯t even lift his feet. They were pinned to the floor with writhing green tendrils that slithered like snakes. They started climbing up his legs. ¡°No!¡± A short, shrill scream arose and was suddenly cut short. Autumn¡¯s Dryad lumbered from the forest with a head in one hand. By now, the entire city knew something was wrong. A contingent of Talon soldiers brought a hundred troops to the area, but they arrived to discover that the problem had been solved. Copperhide was saved from the mushroom grove and brought back to the city where his wounds could be looked at. His report was delivered to the Governor. Afterwards Cloudhawk brought Barb and Gabriel to the scene of the attack. ¡°What happened?¡± Cloudhawk looked at the carnage and scowled. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be protected from this? How did these mice squeak through?¡± Greenland¡¯s protections were under Autumn¡¯s purview. Seeing them fail was a distinct loss of face for this prideful ex-deity. She grumbled in his general direction, ¡°The enchantments aren¡¯t perfect. OOf course there are ways in and out. They must have used some special relics or methods to find the holes and slip inside.¡± ¡°Relics?¡± Cloudhawk scowled darkly as he checked the body of the man killed by the Dryad. He found a ring on the body he sensed was a relic. The inscription on it told him the relic¡¯s name; ¡®ring of concealment.¡¯ Obviously, it was a tool to help the wearer remains undetected. Low-grade, really just a means of invisibility. It masked the user¡¯s sound, temperature and aura as well. That¡¯s why the mushroom hadn¡¯t attacked him until his weapon was revealed. Interesting. ¡°Are they from Skycloud?¡± Gabriel asked. ¡°We can¡¯t rule it out, but I don¡¯t think so.¡± Cloudhawk slipped the ring into his pocket. ¡°Not Skycloud¡¯s style. Arcturus wouldn¡¯t have sent these sorts after us. My guess is they came from someplace else.¡± Gabriel found it strange. ¡°Someplace else? With relics?¡± ¡°Not unthinkable. Squall, Wolfblade ¨C they have these kinds of powers and they aren¡¯t from Skycloud, right?¡± As he then leveled his displeasure toward Autumn. ¡°Why did you have to kill them all? You should have at least left one for questioning!¡± Autumn just laughed coldly. Why bother? If this was all the mysterious outsiders could muster, coming here was suicide. ¡°Not a problem,¡± Barb said, stepping forward. ¡°Let me try!¡± Barb¡¯s Heartscry Thorn was typically used on live targets. However, on those who were recently deceased, if their brain tissue was intact, she could still extract some memories. Cloudhawk stepped aside so Barb could get to work. Meanwhile, he was worried about the safety of their city, so ordered that preparations be made for better security. This sort of incursion had to be avoided in the future. At least the mushroom plot had proven to serve as decent protection. While its range of attack was only a hundred meters or so, strategically planted it could be a good defense against invaders and mutant creatures. Hellflower¡¯s experiments also had good news. Through exhaustive tests they found that the small mushrooms were not poisonous. In fact, they were quite nutritious. Nothing about them seemed harmful. It had potential to become a staple of Greenalnd City¡¯s diet. Cloudhawk¡¯s next announcement was to begin planting plots of these mushrooms around the city. 1. It¡¯s funny when you see such an unimposing description and immediately you think ¡®oh man, you¡¯re fucked.¡¯ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 18 - The Unknown South Barb¡¯s efforts bore fruit. However, the process of reading the dead man¡¯s memories was not a smooth one. At Barb¡¯s current level of skill there was always a chance of failure. This was compounded by the fact the head she was working on no longer had a body. The memories she extracted came in bits and pieces, fragmented, and vague. It was like a mirror shattered into a hundred pieces. She was trying to piece it back together by sweeping everything into a pile. Recreating it seemed impossible. However, there were some important tidbits they managed to uncover. For one, this relic-wielding stranger was not from Skycloud. It was as they expected, but confirmation helped them breathe a little easier. The one thing that kept Cloudhawk up at night was having Skycloud set its sights on his young city. With his condition as it was, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t contend against Arcturus. So long as it wasn¡¯t a direct attack from Skycloud, though, Greenland City could defend itself. Both the Conclave of Judgment of the Hand of Gehenna boasted demonhunters of their own. Wasteland demonhunters had existed for some time now. What they needed to know, and had yet to discover, was where this one had come from. If he¡¯d been sent here by the Conclave, that meant trouble. After all, the real power behind that group was Arcturus. The good news was that unless they got help from Skycloud, the Conclave couldn¡¯t defeat Greenland City on its own. This did not mean Greenland City was strong enough to rival the Conclave. Aside from a solid core of good fighters, their young domain wasn¡¯t any better than an average settlement from the Northern Barrens. However, even a dragon couldn¡¯t cross an ocean without growing tired. Natessa was clever and resourceful. The Conclave of Judgment was dominant, with its talons dug deep into every Northern power. But these were the southern wastes. It was too far for the dragon¡¯s reach. With the Dark Atom operating in the area, Natessa¡¯s forces couldn¡¯t run wild here. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, but I¡¯m pretty confident he isn¡¯t from anywhere we know about.¡± Barb continued her trying efforts. ¡°From what I piece together he came from somewhere further south.¡± The southern wastes were far less organized than the north. The environment was less forgiving. It meant the human population was scant. Up till now, there wasn¡¯t much of a force to speak of in these parts. Because it was so harsh here and rife with mutant beasts, even highly trained Elysian troops had a hard time getting around. The furthest reaches of the southern wastes remained a mystery. No one knew what was down there. Or what to expect. Legends said the south was comprised of complex highlands, which the people had come to call the Savage Lands. But recent discoveries made it seemed the savage lands were misnamed. After all, this was a trained and deadly demonhunter that just wandered into their home. What¡¯s more, coming all this way meant two troubling things: One, a significant and unknown power was hiding somewhere down there. One that had its own demonhunters. Two, whatever the reality of this new player, they knew all about Greenland City. Cloudhawk figured the sudden changes in the four nearby cities had caused the strangers to pay attention. Best way to learn more was to send scouts ¨C hence this group. It was trouble. Whether a lot or little, it was too early to tell. If they were a small group then it would stand to reason that they act more defensively, be more cautious. Greenland City would be left alone and the calm days would continue, ample time for them to expand. But if this new threat was strong, and they took offense to Cloudhawk setting up shop nearby, then they could expect a fight. Everyone gathered at a meeting to discuss the possibilities. More trouble for the young domain. Before their problems were internal ones ¨C food, equipment, resources. For the first time, the problem came from the outside. ¡°Afraid my ass,¡± Dawn said from the seat next to Cloudhawk. She slapped the table and shot to her feet. ¡°If those wasteland rats want to cower then let them, but coming up to our house and causing trouble? If we just bury our head in the sand what¡¯s to stop them from stomping on it next time?¡± Several of the people in the meeting hall nodded in agreement. Most of them were members of the Polaris family, whose tradition was to solve weapons with fist and steel. ¡°Cloudhawk, as far as I see it this problems doesn¡¯t even bear discussion. Let me take a few hundred people down there and I swear to wipe them out. We are looking for a chance to establish ourselves in the wasteland and this is it! Cull our opposition to scare the others into place!¡± Barb openly endorsed the plan. ¡°No quarter for our enemies!¡± ¡°If only it were that easy.¡± Everyone was eager to draw blood, but a voice from the other side of Cloudhawk tried to temper their hawkish views. ¡°You¡¯ve only just started to learn about the wastelands. You don¡¯t know just how dangerous this place can be.¡± Dawn scowled threateningly at her. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Never underestimate your enemy, and especially never underestimate the environment. With a few hundred soldiers do you think it¡¯d be easy to cross a thousand kilometers of unknown terrain? You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯ll find when you cross it. Simply charging in blind is foolish and deadly.¡± Hellflower was blunt. ¡°At best, if you follow that plan, victory is a long shot.¡± Dawn opened her mouth to refute her but was cut off. ¡°Hellflower¡¯s right,¡± Cloudhawk said. He didn¡¯t agree with Dawn¡¯s fervor. ¡°She and I have grown up down here. Hellflower has spent her life traveling all over the wastes. No one knows more than she does about it.¡± Dawn tried again. ¡°But-¡± ¡°Enough. I know your objections but force is not the only way to solve a problem. It might be worth trying to talk.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t risk that many soldiers anyway. Greenland City is still young and weak. If you take those soldiers and something happens, that¡¯s a month of hard work thrown away for nothing. If we let internal strife start to tear us up that will only gather attention. We don¡¯t want Arcturus hearing even a whisper of our name, not yet.¡± Dawn gave a deflated snort. She didn¡¯t like it, but she saw the reasoning. The root of her discomfort came mostly from Cloudhawk siding with that floozy Hellflower. But she had to accept it. ¡°We aren¡¯t in a position to commit to a big fight. But we¡¯re in an unenviable position ¨C our enemy is unknown, but they know about us. We need to think of a way to send out feelers and figure out what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± The suggestion came from Roc. ¡°Perhaps instead we should send Rio and a handful of his best soldiers into the territory, see what they can find?¡± ¡°Rio¡¯s capable, but this mission isn¡¯t suitable for Talons. The soldiers are good at what they do, which is a straight fight. They aren¡¯t trained for wilderness survival and covert operations. Besides it¡¯s far, so sending orders is difficult.¡± What Cloudhawk wanted was something like the Court of Shadows. If he had someone with Atlas¡¯ talents, they¡¯d be able to trust that person to sneak into enemy territory and learn what they needed without a problem. Unfortunately a man like that wasn¡¯t near at hand. Sending amateurs to do that sort of a job wasn¡¯t going to help them. A counterattack was out of the question. Investigation was off the table. So what were they expected to do? They couldn¡¯t just sit on their hands! ¡°Sandspire is a city at the southernmost reaches of our territory, there in the ruins.¡± Cloudhawk pulled out a crude hand-drawn map. He poured over it while he made his decision. ¡°It¡¯s about four hundred kilometers south from us. We can use that as a screen between us and whatever is down there. If they promise to help us deal with whatever problems come bubbling out of that place, we can help with expansion and safety.¡± What was waiting for them in the highlands was a complete mystery. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to tip his hand before they knew more. As far as he saw it, the best thing for Greenland City right now was to remain low-key. If they could avoid getting wrapped up in wasteland conflicts, then they should do so. Sandspire¡¯s population was similar to Greenalnd¡¯s. If Cloudhawk could bring it under his control, they would have a fine launch point for any future missions into the deep south. That would save Greenland City a lot of headaches. With the enchantment present, Greenland City could focus more on development. Sandspire was unique and important. In contrast to the other three cities in their orbit ¨C which provided much needed resources ¨C Sandspire gave them something they lacked even more. Technology. It was a city among ancient ruins, filled with strange and interesting things. Hellflower wasn¡¯t the only one excited about learning more about them. Cloudhawk was as well. He made his decision. ¡°I¡¯ll go visit Sandspire myself.¡± Dawn immediately piped up. ¡°You are the Governor. How does it make sense for you to go yourself? You still aren¡¯t fully healed yet. What happens if you run into trouble?¡± ¡°I¡¯m already feeling better. I can get around just fine and I still have the ability to teleport. Even weakened, I can get there in half a day.¡± Cloudhawk made up his mind, but he wasn¡¯t careless. Cloudhawk was fairly confident there were few threats to him in these parts, but the world was big and there was a lot he didn¡¯t know. Who¡¯s to say something altogether unexpected wouldn¡¯t catch him out on the road? He¡¯d learned not to underestimate people. He had to be careful. ¡°Hey drunk, you and Hellflower come with me. We need to make sure the city is ours when we leave.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± The old man rubbed his dirty nose. ¡°You¡¯re falling into a bad habit of bothering me with all this nonsense.¡± Cloudhawk grumbled. ¡°Keep complaining and I¡¯ll stop giving you booze.¡± The hobo raised his hands in surrender. Dawn, Roc, Gabby and the others were strong enough to hold things down. Anyway, they had important responsibilities to see to. They were better utilized here in the city. Right now, Greenland¡¯s construction and development was still the number one priority. Autumn was an option to bring along, but it wasn¡¯t like she would come because Cloudhawk asked nicely. The more he troubled her the more she detested him. Better to employ the god¡¯s powers as sparingly as possible. She was to be used at key moments, when the time was right. In the end, the best pair to bring with him on this journey was Hellflower and the drunk. Hellflower had her powerful silver golem as a bodyguard. Unfortunately for them, her golem had been left behind with the Dark Atom. If not, Cloudhawk likely wouldn¡¯t have needed the drunk¡¯s help. Hellflower was strong on her own, but extra protection was good in case they ran into a particularly hairy scenario. After all, Hellflower¡¯s safety was important too. Cloudhawk needed her if he was to continue building his own power. ¡°Sandspire¡¯s a good place. I visited once a decade ago. Since then I heard there¡¯s been several political upheavals. I¡¯m not sure what it¡¯s like there now.¡± Hellflower gave her approval of Cloudhawk¡¯s decision. She had fond memories of the place. ¡°Their scientists are mostly known for engineering. Perhaps we can recruit a few of their more clever members for ourselves.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 19 - Sandspire One thing the wastelands didn¡¯t lack was ruins. The former civilization that once spanned this world had been vast and glorious. What remained now, of course, was nothing but husks of their former splendor. The skeletons of their buildings and neighborhood were now haunts for scavengers and nests for wild animals. However, the ruins were anything but worthless. Often they were the final resting places of ancient knowledge. Tools, weapons or data were buried in the detritus, waiting to be unearthed. Usually, these places rich in ancient tech were referred to as troves. The wastelands were vast and sparsely populated. It was a land mired in conflict, but also rich in opportunity. One place where opportunity lived was Sandspire. Slowly rusting husks of buildings rose from the dunes like jagged teeth, marking a trove where it was said many legendary weapons were discovered. These stories inspired those who heard them, spreading among the masses and changing with each retelling. For those who lived in Sandspire now, they would say those stories were their lighthouse. They believed without a shadow of a doubt that Sandspire was a place where one¡¯s luck could turn. Beneath their feet was a trove thousands of years old, hiding untold secrets just waiting to be discovered. Attracting nearly ten thousand scavengers came with challenges as well. Sandspire¡¯s complex maze ruins became a breeding ground for sin. Murder was an everyday occurrence. Hideous creatures also lurked in dark corners. They waited for unsuspecting wastelanders and picked off the weak. Despite the danger, certain intrepid scavengers persisted. Gray Rabbit and Sister Bug were among them. Out in the wastes, it was common for one¡¯s name to reflect their abilities. Gray Rabbit was seventeen or eighteen years old, and with a name like that one figured he was quick. The gray part referred to his ashy skin. Little gray boy, quick as a hare. He had a sister about his same age, Sister Bug. She was born small, frail and weak. Even though she was in her late teens the girl looked like she was ten years old. Her timid bearing earned her the name bug, timid little bug. Without a doubt, the pair hung from the lowest rungs of the wasteland¡¯s social structure. They didn¡¯t dare cause trouble or start fights, and steered clear of any place where groups tended to gather. But this place¡­ the stories were too wonderful. They managed to eke out a living among the cracks like frightened roaches. The strong had their way of living. The weak did, too. Being strong didn¡¯t always mean you lived longer than the weak. Neither sibling was very good at hunting, so they dug through the rubble to survive. In the old days this trove had been a vast manufacturing site. All manner of machines and tools were made here, and made them well. Even after a few thousand years some of the things people found were still in working order. Gray Rabbit spent his days picking out usable components which he squirreled away. More than just quick on his feet, Gray Rabbit was also clever. In true crafty fashion, he had his little trinkets hidden in several different places. Little Bug was different from her brother. She was too weak to lift heavy things from the ruins. What she did have was a talent no one could match; she just seemed to know machines. Although she¡¯d never been trained, she¡¯d poured over the manuals they dug out to teach herself how these things work. Brother and sister worked together in a simple and synergistic way. Gray Rabbit pulled out the pieces and Sister Bug put them together. When they had a working product they brought it to the market for sale. Their unique abilities helped improve their standing among the others. Such was their way of making a living. So long as there was a way, even the smallest, frailest life could keep on. Their dream was to one day unearth a particularly grand treasure. Such a find would change their fate like their predecessors, and they could add their stories to the many legends Sandspire already had. What a dream, safety and comfort in the city. They knew nothing of the outside world, of course. To them, Sandspire was the whole world, the safest place they could be. *** Bug wiped her hands, another project complete. It was an ugly hodgepodge of metal that looked like an insect. It was covered in circuits, both inside and out. When Bug hooked them up to a crude homemade battery the propellers fastened to the machine began to whir. Ever so slightly the insect-like contraption rose off the table. ¡°Nice!¡± Gray Rabbit was thrilled. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely get a few scraps of meat for this one.¡± Bug used a dirty sleeve to wipe the sweat from her brow and sighed in relief. It¡¯d been days since they¡¯d had a decent bite. If her efforts bought them a few scraps then it was all worth it. They covered the contraption in a dirty cloth and set off to find a merchant willing to buy it. A good deal meant a brief respite to their hunger pains. The nearest camp was small, less of a camp and more a temporary group of tents. Places like these mostly served as markets where goods were traded. No one lived here but there were a few hundred people gathered inside to see what they could get. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Right after stepping into the market, Rabbit and Bug were stopped by a fierce looking man. The two youths blanched, and Rabbit told his sister to run. But when she turned all she saw were two more hardened men barring their exit. Gray Rabbit pulled out a small rusted dagger. He held it forth with a trembling hand. ¡°The fuck do you want?!¡± ¡°Want?¡± The biggest one stepped forward with a nasty grin. ¡°Word is you grunts make cute toys. What I want is for you to show me what¡¯s under that cloth.¡± Bug held the bundle tightly to her chest while her brother screamed at the men. ¡°Hell no!¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m askin¡¯?¡± Gray Rabbit felt it before he say anything. A pain in his wrist, then his dagger tumbled into the sand in two pieces. He turned to try and run, but a nasty kick caught him and sent him flying. The two henchmen picked him up and held him fast. ¡°Take it! Here, just take it!¡± She cried in a frightened voice and held out the bundle. ¡°Let my brother go!¡± ¡°You want him to live? We can arrange something.¡± The leader eyed Bug hungrily. ¡°Not a lot to look at, but a hole¡¯s a hole. Work for us, warm our beds, and we¡¯ll let this punk live.¡± Gray Rabbit struggled against the two larger men. ¡°No! Don¡¯t do it!¡± In a fit of rage the leader smashed his fist into Gray Rabbit¡¯s face, loosening his teeth. ¡°I-I¡¯ll go,¡± Bug said meekly. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Good choice.¡± The leader grinned and waved at his comrades to grab her. But as they moved in a voice stopped them in their tracks. ¡°You¡¯ve got some balls, roughing up Sand Tiger¡¯s guests.¡± The thugs paused, and a moment later terror crossed their faces. A man came into view, dressed very differently from the other scavengers milling around. He was maybe in his thirties, with a shaved head and covered in all kinds of metal ornaments. He was clad in strange robotic armor that made him look like some kind of spider. With him was a large masked figure. Sand Tiger! Trepidation stole the color from the thugs¡¯ faces. Sand Tiger was not a man to be trifled with. He was a mystery. No one knew where he came from. As far as most knew he was an important person in Sandspire and held high status among the people who lived there. Every few days he made the rounds to these market camps, trading food and weapons for the things scavengers dug up. Sand Tiger had real clout with the lowly sort around here for being generous and treating them fairly. Sand Tiger had dealt with Bug and Rabbit maybe a dozen times. ¡°Mind your own fuckin¡¯ business!¡± the larger man threatened. This earned a dark chuckle from Sand Tiger. ¡°Those are my trading partners you¡¯re laying hands on. If you drag them away, it hurts my business. How can you tell me to mind my own business when you¡¯re fucking with my livelihood? Now, walk away while you still can.¡± ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are!¡± The thug¡¯s fists were curled tight. ¡°Talkin¡¯ down to me like some kind of big shot? Let¡¯s rip this shithead apart!¡± Such was life in the wastelands. A simple disagreement could lead to death. Life was cheap. As for Sand Tiger¡¯s background? Fuck it ¨C won¡¯t matter once the asshole was dead. All they¡¯d have to do was find somewhere else to set up shop. No one was going to bother combing the wastelands for a few thugs. ¡°You really are lookin¡¯ to die.¡± The large masked figure with Sand Tiger stepped forward, standing between him and the angry men. A hair-raising squeal of metal on metal sounded as their weapons impacted and cut away clothing. What was revealed was a body made of steel. ¡°The fuck is this?!¡± Two shocked expressions looked up at the masked face. Two lightning-fast punches followed. One after the other, both men¡¯s heads exploded like overripe watermelons. Bits of bone and brain matter splattered across the area. Their leader, standing a little behind with wide eyes, recognized his folly. This giant thing wasn¡¯t human, it was a robot. He screamed and turned to run away. A deafening shot rang out from behind him, and when he looked down he saw the gaping hole in his chest. Trembling fingers explored the wound in disbelief. ¡°All that big talk, and this is the best you could do?¡± Sand Tiger blew the smoke from the large caliber handgun in his grip. He then turned to the two young scavengers. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching you for a while. You two got skills. Weak, though ¨C if you stay here, sooner or later someone will finish you off. Better you stick with me. I¡¯ll take you into the city.¡± The siblings looked at him and then at each other in shock. ¡°But¡­ we have nothing to earn our way.¡± Sandspire was the largest city in this part of the wastes. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for scavs like them to buy their way in, but it was expensive. There was also a monthly tax that was levied, which by itself was more than the two could manage. ¡°Heh, that¡¯s how it used to be. Now my father, Sand Viper, is the Governor. My word goes.¡± Sand Tiger made no secret of his identity. ¡°So long as you stick with me, Sandspire will find a use for you!¡± The Governor¡¯s son? Since when did Sandspire have a governor? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 20 - Orebiters Sand Tiger stood with his arms folded, looking proud. Perhaps he had some right to be proud. His family was not the most powerful in Sandspire. His father ¨C Sand Viper ¨C was a talented scientist and an exceptional Seeker, but they had been perhaps fifth or sixth in the social hierarchy. How could they have leaped so quickly to the fore, then? It was the result of a spate of circumstances that had occurred lately. It all started when the former Governor left with three thousand troops and never returned. That wasn¡¯t strange by any means, fighting and killing was an everyday thing in the wastelands. There was always conflict around food, water or territory so the people of the city paid little mind. What really took them by surprise was the shocking news that followed a few days later. Their leader was dead, and his soldiers captured. It seemed so sudden to the citizens of Sandspire. They were caught unprepared. All at once the man who held Sandspire in his iron grip, with a force of several thousand men, was just¡­ gone! Once the shock wore off, the vacuum of power incited several to begin vying for the reigns. At the time, Sand Tiger¡¯s family didn¡¯t even attempt to take power. They were a formidable clan, but scientists weren¡¯t a respected class here. Theirs was not a warrior family and had only a few notable fighters to speak of. Not enough to hold power even if they got it. As the struggle raged, two family leaders were found killed in their own homes, with their most loyal followers also mysteriously dispatched. What remained of their forces fell under Sand Viper¡¯s control, which instantly catapulted him into the highest echelons of power. All of it just fell into his lap like a gift from heaven. Sand Tiger later learned that the two patriarchs were killed by a stranger from Greenland City. He¡¯d only been in Sandspire for three days, passing through like the specter of death. Those who refused to capitulate with Greenland City¡¯s demands were removed. Sand Viper survived because he agreed to play by their rules. So it was he became the new ruler of the city. But the ¡®how¡¯ was not important. The result was ¨C and that result was that Sand Tiger¡¯s family was now the preeminent authority in Sandspire City. Sand Tiger had a fondness for the one called Bug. He recognized real talent in her. With the right guidance and proper training, she could be a great asset for his family. Cultivating people like her was how they consolidated their power. Gray Rabbit and Sister Bug would be foolish to turn down the invitation. Every day in the ruins was a fight for survival. Wasn¡¯t their dream was that the struggle would one day buy them entry into the city? Sand Tiger waved his hand with an air of finality. ¡°Come with me.¡± The siblings did as they were told. As they were turning to leave screams stopped them short. A group of a dozen or so men came tearing through the market, howling at the top of their lungs. ¡°Beasts are attacking!¡± Moments later strange shadows darted out from the ruins in their direction. Not a thread of hair covered these creatures¡¯ leathery skin. They were huge, lumbering things with the build of rhinoceros but more toned and sleek. Some sort of combination between a bull and a wolf? Their flesh shone with a metallic light that made the creatures look impervious to blades, and a single spiral horn jutted from their foreheads. ¡°Orebiters!¡± Terrified screams rippled through the camp. Orebiters were the most dangerous mutant beasts in Sandspire¡¯s territory. What made them especially unique was their digestive system. Orebiters could eat literally anything and their stomach acids could break it all down into usable nutrients. The name was given for obvious reasons. These monsters could grind up and devour all sorts of metal, which then combined inside them to great an incredibly strong biological alloy. It strengthened everything from their bones to their skin, making them exceptionally hardy. If they were here in a herd, it meant they meant to make this place their next meal. By now, it was too late to run. These beasts weren¡¯t just powerful, they were also as fast as a wolf pack. The human encampment was already surrounded, cutting off any escape. ¡°Aaaooooghhh!¡± One of the orebiters charge into the crowds with its spiral horn lowered to skewer the first thing it encountered. It caught one of the fleeing scavengers in the back, running him through like a tack through paper. The beast flung the poor man over its back, where he was promptly trampled into paste. Orebiters were famously thorough. During a hunt, nothing in their path was left alive. It was the fate of this camp to become a field of blood and gore. Another scream. The pack leader had caught another scavenger. It charged through the people like a truck. Its two pack mates tore along behind it like a pair of devils. Gray Rabbit and Sister Bug were pale with terror as they watched. Destruction was certain, of both the camp and everyone in it. ¡°This is the superb metallic biomaterial they were talking about?¡± Sand Tiger muttered to himself. ¡°Since I ran into¡¯m, I think I¡¯ll take a piece of¡¯m with me.¡± As he spoke Sand Tiger pulled out his gun. His revolver was a special one, over a foot long with a much thicker barrel than was standard. Revolver was perhaps not the right name for it ¨C it probably couldn¡¯t even be called a hand gun. The thing was a cannon, and Sand Tiger seemed confident nothing could withstand its stopping power. An orebiter came charging his way like a missile. A few steps later it hit the ground, kicking up a plume of sand as it skid to a halt. Next the robot guardian burst into action. With its hammer-like fists it tried to pummel the metallic creature. However, none expected the beast to shoot back onto its feet after a shot from Sand Tiger. Where the massive caliber bullet had struck was a terrible dent. Sand Tiger¡¯s shot had wounded it, but the orebiter was still standing. It swung to the side, ramming into the robot and knocking it away. The creature then opened its mouth and belched out a stream of green acidic fluid. ¡°Shit!¡± Sand Tiger scowled. The green fluid was stomach acid, the orebiter¡¯s digestive fluids. That was how it was able to eat anything it got down its gullet. As a weapon, it was probably more effective than any other acid. As feared, the robot warrior immediately started to dissolve. Its metallic casing melted to reveal complicated circuitry. Before it could back off, the orebiter came in for a second body slam. Like a puppet with its strings cut, the robot was knocked to the ground and stomped to pieces. The valuable computer innards were broken beyond repair. Sand Tiger was furious. Having his robot guardian broken apart wasn¡¯t terrible ¨C they could find more metal to patch it back together based on designs they already had. But having its circuits turned to dust was a massive and irrevocable loss. But now wasn¡¯t the time to curse his misfortune. Three orebiters were coming his way. He fired several more times at them, but the beasts were quick and cunning. They dropped their heads to protect their throats, the only part of their bodies his bullets could penetrate. They shrugged off blows to anywhere else and just kept coming. Dammit, not good! One of the beast jumped into the air in attempts to crush the three puny humans. As its shadow fell over Sand Tiger his face fell. Was this the day he died? Gray Rabbit and Sister Bug were shaking in terror. They were powerless to protect themselves. Sand Tiger shut his eyes and prepared for death, but his ears picked up a sharp gust of wind. He opened his eyes to see a figure standing between him and the encroaching monster. Shocked stares were fixed on this stranger. Was he crazy? Did he think he could stop an orebiter all by himself? Did he know what he was up against? Under a host of horrified stares the figure stood fast and extended his left hand. For an instant everything slowed down. Sand Spider could see that the man was covered in bandages except for his left arm, which was encased in a gauntlet. It reminded him of his robot¡¯s arm. With a slight and understated movement of his wrist, the man patted the orebiter¡¯s forehead. BOOM! The beast¡¯s powerful charge came to an abrupt end as the impact of an immovable object and an unstoppable force caused the air to ripple. Soundlessly, the creature rolled onto its side while the residual concussive force spread out, causing nearby ruins to collapse. Sent into a rage, the remaining two orebiters charged at this new threat. Their mysterious savior pulled a broken sword from his back and swung it at the nearest creature. A spear of fire burst to life, completing the weapon and piercing clean through the orebiter¡¯s metal hide. From the outside there was no visible damage, but the monster¡¯s skin had turned red-hot. One could imagine what that meant for the organs within. A second swipe from his sword, this one aimed at the third orebiter. It screamed piteously and then died. Whoever this stranger was just killed three orebiters as easily as squashing ants. The scavengers all stared in wide-eyed disbelief. Sand Tiger had never before seen such a display of strength. It made no sense that this man could slap down an orebiter the way he did, much less summon fire from a sword to sear a monster from the inside. ¡°What are you?¡± Sand Tiger was vigilant and suspicious, but it was meaningless. If this man wanted him dead there wasn¡¯t anything he could do to stop him. The stranger took his time in answering, returning the sword to its place upon his back. When he spoke his voice was a little hoarse, and when he turned his face was hidden beneath a deep cowl. What little could be seen was also covered in bandages. Nothing was revealed which would show his age ¨C he was a total mystery. ¡°I¡¯m called Cloudhawk.¡± He looked out over the crowd and then the dead orebiters. The other orebiters that had surrounded the camp had fled ¨C likely after watching three of their pack mates ruthlessly slaughtered. ¡°Can you point me toward Sandspire?¡± ¡°Sandspire? That¡¯s where you¡¯re headed?¡± Sand Tiger gave the stranger a suspicious look. He was strong. Too strong. If he made it into town nobody could stand in his way. What was his purpose in the city? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 21 - Entering the City If one was to see Sandspire from overhead, he would undoubtedly be astonished by its sheer scale. Mountains of steel husks stretched into the distance rising as high as a hundred meters. They twisted among one another in an intricate, expansive maze in all directions. Sandspire City was hidden therein. ¡°Sandspire is up ahead.¡± Four figures picked their way through the rusted steel jungle like a small party of ants. Their limited scope made it impossible to understand the breadth of the place they found themselves in. It was easy to imagine one getting forever lost out here and dying from hunger and exposure. Cloudhawk had lived for so long in the southern wastes, but he¡¯d never heard of this place until recently. The wastelands were vast and he knew so little of it. They came upon an oval-shaped building which rose like an iron dragon between two collapsed towers. From the outside it looked like an enormous, metallic bird¡¯s nest. Somehow both complex and natural, it had an artistry to it that was a mix between scientific accomplishment and natural flare. Of course, a thousand years of neglect had stolen some of its brilliance. Rust had crept into every corner of it. Here was the famous Sandspire, nestled in a metal birds nest amid sprawling ruins. The only way you could know it was here was if you grew up in the area. Sand Tiger was very respectful as he introduced Sandspire to Cloudhawk, walking by his side. ¡°This is Sandspire City. Based on the information we¡¯ve discovered this city used to be a manufacturing hub. In fact Sandspire itself was an industrial park in ancient times. Here they made robots and other machines. Whatever cataclysm destroyed the world turned this amazing place into rubble. All except the industrial park which we now call home.¡± Every corner of these ruins was thick with ancient history. As Cloudhawk walked among the collapsed structures he couldn¡¯t help but imagine how magnificent it used to be. Now it was like the shadow of a beautiful dream after waking ¨C pieces and fragments of something you could never get back. He nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± Sand Tiger brought Cloudhawk and his two young charges into the city. He was very conscientious with everything he said to Cloudhawk. And of course he would, after what he saw Cloudhawk do to the orebiters. With that sort of ability, he could sweep away any opposition to his rule in the city. Cloudhawk could squish him like a roach if he wanted to. He was even more respectful when he learned Cloudhawk¡¯s identity as a representative from Greenland City. Sand Viper¡¯s rule over Sandspire was thanks to backing from Greenland. That didn¡¯t mean there weren¡¯t any struggles, though. His rule was still on shaky footing and there was plenty of opposition. It was the nature of wastelanders to be ambitious and there were more than a couple covetously eyeing Sand Viper¡¯s position. Now was not the time to offend their backers, if ever such a time was appropriate. This Greenland powerhouse had come at just the right time, in fact. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t tell him everything. Sand Tiger thought he was just someone from the city, a messenger or liaison. He would¡¯ve have been stunned to learn this was the city¡¯s Governor paying a visit. Even so the respect he showed was admirable and he led Cloudhawk personally through the city entrance. *** Cloudhawk had visited many cities in the wastelands. This one was wholly unique. From the outside it looked like any other piece of the wastelands. Unless you were someone in the know, you could walk by and never know you nearly rubbed shoulders with a population of eighty-thousand strong. It was thanks to its natural camouflage and the maze-like ruins surrounding it that Sandspire was able to survive and prosper. On either side of the enormous gates to the city were two electric ¡®eyes.¡¯ They scanned anyone who tried to pass. Only once their identities were confirmed did the gates slowly open. Passing over the threshold was like walking into a completely different world. If there was one thing that differentiated ruins in the cities from elsewhere, it was the sheer amount of science and technology on display. With every breath Cloudhawk could smell the slightly sweet smell of engine oil. Peering down every lane he saw machines at work, performing different tasks like miniature robots sweeping garbage off the streets. Robots also darted back and forth overhead, sentinels which watched the city for any trouble. ¡°Heeellooo and thank you for listening to Dunehunter Radio! Today our program -¡± Cloudhawk stared in amazement as a small box squawked from the corner of a vendor¡¯s stall. It didn¡¯t look very complicated, but it had to be for words to be coming out of it. At the moment the voice was talking about different mutant beast sightings near the city to help hunters prepare for their work. A wireless radio¡­ Sandspire had its own broadcast station which it used to communicate with its citizens. Sadly, they only worked in the city. The surrounding ruins had no infrastructure and were too choked with debris. The signal couldn¡¯t get far. Cloudhawk was struck with an inspiration. If they put together a radio station back in Greenland, it would be much easier to communicate with his people. Besides that, it would enrich the lives of his citizens. He couldn¡¯t imagine the tech to be too complicated. Maybe he could bring a few engineers back with him to Greenland to get them started. He continued to follow his guide through the city. Around every corner was another strange sight to capture his attention. Incredible things he¡¯d neither seen nor heard of. There were vendors selling things like radios, which to Cloudhawk were valuable treasures but seemed to be everyday objects in this place. He was particularly surprised when they passed by a dark corner down an alley. A group of people were gathered round a screen. Behind them a small contraption was projecting images onto the screen with a flickering light. The pictures were moving. When he asked, Sand Tiger told him they were watching something called a ¡®movie.¡¯ Because of its exceptional status and resources, Sandspire was home to a large number of scientists. They were the backbone of a world where ancient tech and modern wasteland science combined to create an amazing and singular culture. Both the crude and contrived style of the wastes and the high-grade scientific rigor of the old world could be seen in each of these machines. ¡°This place is even more amazing than I imagined.¡± Gray Rabbit was trying to take in everything at the same time. He was filled with excitement. ¡°I never thought the wastelands could have a place like this.¡± Bug¡¯s timid face was bright with excitement as well. ¡°You two haven¡¯t seen anything of the world. Compared to other places, Sandspire is nothing. I heard that somewhere very far to the North there¡¯s a place called Skycloud. Now that place is a paradise. Sadly wastelanders like us can only imagine.¡± As he said it, Sand Tiger gaze Cloudhawk a steady, pointed look. While he¡¯d never been to Skycloud or met an Elysian, Sand Tiger had heard stories. Unless he was mistaken, the strange and amazing powers this man had shown were powers he got from that far away utopia. The two youths were stunned. They¡¯d spent all their lives scrounging for scraps in the ruins. They¡¯d never even stepped foot out into the larger world. ¡°Is that true?¡± They asked, eyes wide. ¡°Remember this; force a bird to live in a fish pond and it will be miserable, no matter how clear the water. Have a fish live in a bird¡¯s nest and the warm sun won¡¯t end the fish¡¯s sorrow. There¡¯s no such thing as a good place or a bad place. Only suitable and unsuitable.¡± Cloudhawk turned his eyes onto the two young ones. ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous. The more you know, the more you think, the more you worry. If the day comes when you¡¯re strong enough to survive in another environment, then the world will come to you.¡± Rabbit and Bug didn¡¯t know how to respond. This mysterious person¡¯s guidance was like a riddle they couldn¡¯t figure out. He talked like an old man who¡¯d lived through a lot. That would explain how he got so strong and had so many amazing things. A few minutes later Cloudhawk was resting in an audience hall. At Sand Tiger¡¯s request, a lean and old man had come to greet them. He was wrapped in a cloak stained with motor oil and his white hair was all in a mess. A thick pair of glasses magnified his eyes, and were constantly being adjusted by calloused hands. Nothing about his look marked him as a city leader or a noted engineer. He really just looked like an old repairman. ¡°I just heard what happened. Thank you for saving this undeserving waste of air.¡± Although Sand Viper didn¡¯t look imposing, his abilities were obvious. He knew right away Cloudhawk had come from Greenland City but showed no reverence or awe. On the contrary, he was totally in control. ¡°What are you doing still standing here? Get Master Cloudhawk a glass of tea!¡± Cloudhawk waved a hand to indicate he didn¡¯t care. He settled back in his chair to speak with Sand Viper. ¡°I came here today for two reasons.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at your service,¡± the man responded. ¡°First, I¡¯m hoping to improve cooperation between Sandspire and Greenland. We are willing to share food and water with you, and in return we want some of your talented engineers and some inventions we can migrate to our city.¡± Sand Viper nodded. It was not an unreasonable request. Anyway, why else would Greenland have propped him up in this position? What surprised him was the fact that he was proposing an exchange. Considering their history, he figured Greenland would simply demand goods and services. Instead they were offering food and water ¨C resources that were much more precious than what they were requesting. Cooperation would mean a lot to Sandspire, and it was a deal tilted in their favor. ¡°Second, considering the special position Sandspire holds, we would like to make this place a base of operations for exploration missions to the south. ¡°What are you saying?¡± At this, Sand Viper¡¯s calm facade suddenly changed. ¡°Explore the south? With all due respect you¡¯re making a dangerous request. They¡¯ve been quiet, and waking a sleeping giant isn¡¯t something we can afford. Provoking the south is suicide.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 22 - More Schemes? Cloudhawk was a little taken aback. What was this guy so scared of? As far as he knew, there was no wasteland power more frightening than the Elysians. If there was, how was it Skycloud didn¡¯t know they existed? If Cloudhawk was willing to spit in the eye of Skycloud¡¯s best, what did he have to fear from nobody wastelanders? ¡°I have lived in these wastes for sixty years. In that time I ran with a number of leaders and met many people. Several had ambitious to explore those southern highlands. Only a few ever returned and never with anything good to say. Greenland City is like thunder in a dry desert, but if we try to fight the south as we are now, all that will come is death.¡± ¡°It sounds like you underestimate Greenland City,¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°Underestimate? I don¡¯t think so!¡± Sand Viper leaned in earnestly. ¡°Have you heard of the great figure that roamed these wastes four or five years ago? Caliph of the Sands, he was called.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face showed that he did. ¡°The Caliph? That demon? What does any of this have to do with him?¡± ¡°If legends are to be believed, then it came from somewhere down south. Half a decade ago he controlled a vast swathe of this place. Greenland Outpost ¨C as it was called ¨C was also under his control. Word was a demonhunter from Skycloud defeated it, forcing the demon to flee. Were it not for that effort then the South would long ago have been unified under the Caliph¡¯s banner.¡± Cloudhawk stared back at him with a solemn facade. Abaddon, the Caliph of the Sands. What did he have to do with the savage south? He was here at Wolfblade¡¯s request, to bring that untamed expanse under heel. But never once was Abaddon¡¯s involvement revealed. What was this asshole scheming? The anger swirled within him to learn that Wolfblade was hiding more things from him. The terrorist leader was no simple sort ¨C Cloudhawk knew that well. He was in a similar class to Arcturus, so he knew there was no getting away from Wolfblade if he didn¡¯t will it. So what was the man plotting? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t figure it out. Seeing the Greenlander¡¯s furrowed brow, Sand Viper knew his words had left an impression. Sandspire¡¯s Governor could not know that Abaddon was working with the Dark Atom, of course. However, he did know the Dark Atom was a northern outfit that had sent some of its best down here to establish a base of power. No clan, outpost or city had the resources to rival the north, so it was no surprise that their denizens would be stronger and better equipped. The new territory known as Greenland was an extension of its strength. It was enough to dominate this small area, but not enough for what they aimed for. If Greenland started kicking up trouble in the south, Sandspire would be caught between them. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was racing. He should have known the south wastes were a more muddled quagmire than it appeared. Why else would Wolfblade have sent him here to build up their fledgling territory? Suddenly it made more sense as to why he¡¯d have Autumn ¨C a god ¨C tag along for what Cloudhawk thought would be a relatively simple mission. But that wasn¡¯t all. Autumn and the old drunk were extraordinary powerhouses and were more than enough to bring the surrounding settlements into line. He also had the Polaris family at his beck and call, with Dawn and at least a couple dozen demonhunters and martial artists. With a roster like that they could stand on their own in the Conclave-infested north, much less down here. He hadn¡¯t thought of it before, but if they were truly so well defended, then why would Autumn go through all the effort of building her protective enchantments? He should have seen it. Someone as prideful and ornery as Autumn wouldn¡¯t have wasted her power for something trivial. What¡¯s more, with her job done she could simply have gone back to the Vale ¨C yet in Greenland she remained. Not just remained; she seemed to have put down roots. If that wasn¡¯t at Wolfblade¡¯s direct order, than Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know why else she would be here. If that snake had ordered such an enchantment to be built around Greenland, if was for one reason only. It would be needed. Greenland City wasn¡¯t as safe as he thought. But it was too late to back away now. He had a responsibility not just to himself, but to Gabby, Barb, the drunk, Claudia, hundreds of Polaris soldiers, and every citizen in their young domain. He couldn¡¯t abandon them, even if he suddenly found himself up against a problem he knew nothing about. This mysterious problem had also sent someone to feel out their defenses. Whatever they were up against wasn¡¯t going to stop ¨C there was bound to be a lot more to come. It was foolish for Cloudhawk to come here and expect Sandspire and Greenland to stand alone. Sand Viper was preparing his arguments, eager to make this Greenlander abandon the idea entirely. However, they were interrupted when a messenger delivered news. ¡°Boss, Red Scorpion has sent an invitation for you to meet him in the ruins.¡± ¡°Red Scorpion? Wasn¡¯t he cast out a decade ago? What is he doing back here?¡± When Sand Viper had first heard of Red Scorpion, he¡¯d been one of Sandspire¡¯s earliest leaders. For a variety of reasons a power struggle transpired and he was overthrown. Red Scorpion was allowed to leave with his life and fled into the wastes. Now he was back, after so many years¡­ Sandspire had seen so many leaders come and go in that time. During his time in exile Red Scorpion had managed to scrounge together a group of sweepers Bandits who lived off small communities and quickly earned a name for themselves. It seemed word had spread that Sandspire¡¯s leader was gone, defeated along with a few thousand fighters. The city was in a delicate and turbulent time. Red Scorprion¡¯s return could only mean trouble. After so many years Red Scorpion likely had built a good number of supporters. Perhaps he thought now was the time to drive out the pretender who sat in his chair, the same way they¡¯d driven him out a decade ago. Sand Viper was a scientist and not a warrior, but he was smart enough to sniff out a trap. This invitation was meant to draw him out so Red Scorpion could deal with him. The new Governor¡¯s hold on the city was still tentative. He didn¡¯t have many capable people and definitely not enough to accept such an invitation. But if he didn¡¯t, he lost the initiative and gave it to his enemy. It was a blow against the reputation of the city¡¯s new and untested leader. ¡°Accept. So long as I¡¯m here, you¡¯ve got nothing to worry about.¡± Cloudhawk could see the uncertainty on Sand Viper¡¯s face. The situation down south could be put aside for now. Whatever came from that mess, he¡¯d deal with as it came. Right now, Sandspire had to be protected. Its relationship with Greenland City was too important to be thrown away from some petty power struggle. Sand Viper still hesitated. He didn¡¯t know anything about Cloudhawk or how strong he really was. He wouldn¡¯t have had so many misgivings if it was the old man from before who was here to assure him. But this man? He couldn¡¯t tell how old he was, but if he had to hazard a guess the stranger was young. As for news he killed three orebiters on his own? While it was a feat only the strong could manage, it wasn¡¯t a truly awe-inspiring feat by itself. This invitation meant Red Scorpion was prepared, with home-field advantage. It would be a mistake to underestimate him, or to pin all their hopes on this outsider. ¡°Very well, thank you Master Cloudhawk. I should like to see what this dog is up to.¡± Sand Viper then turned to his son. ¡°Call Rhino.¡± As the name suggested, Rhino was not just another wastelander. He was easily three meters tall and was built like his namesake with thick skin and bulging muscles. He reminded Cloudhawk of a mutant he met in the southern wastes many years ago. One of Abaddon¡¯s lieutenants ¨C Longhorn was his name, second after the freak in black but easily the strongest. He remembered how the mutant had managed to seriously wound the Bloodsoaked Queen with one of his punches. Rhino here seemed at least as strong, probably stronger. He was most likely among the best Sandspire could muster in a fight. He was a violent man who was willing to do whatever was needed to get ahead. It was that explosive violence that gave him the edge against even established warriors, making him savage and unpredictable. In order to ensure his own safety, Sand Viper had promised Rhino a lot to win his loyalty. This fact did not exactly show a great deal of confidence in Cloudhawk. However, he didn¡¯t give it too much thought for the time being. *** The day of the meeting arrived. Sand Viper and several hundred men filed out of Sandspire and into the ruins. Red Scorpion was waiting. He was a short but fierce looking older fellow who was flanked by a hundred or so hideous looking mutants. These were the best fighters Red Scorpion had gathered through his years of exile. The hands of all of them were stained in the blood of countless victims, and their presence immediately made the atmosphere heavy and foreboding. Sand Viper was the first to speak. ¡°Red Scorpion, you came a long way to Sandspire and called me out for no reason.¡± ¡°Heh heh.¡± The man shook when he laughed as though he had some sort of tick, but there was nothing weak about him. Rather he was like a bowstring, taught and twitching, ready to fire. ¡°Heard Sandspire¡¯s suffered a few setbacks. Heavy losses. Whatever happened, the place is still home to me. Can¡¯t forget where we come from, aye? So when I heard Sandspire¡¯s hurtin¡¯, I brought my men to offer our services.¡± Sand Viper was careful to keep his voice level. ¡°That¡¯s kind of you, Boss. But the city is safe and calm. Your generosity isn¡¯t needed.¡± ¡°You think you can protect Sandspire with this group of shitfucks?¡± Red Scorpion glared at the men Sand Viper had brought with him. ¡°I hear you already sold us out to Greenland.¡± A dark expression came over the Governor¡¯s face. ¡°I am the leader of Sandspire City. What does it matter to you what decisions I make?¡± ¡°Leader of Sandspire City?¡± The older man¡¯s face twisted into something more savage. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for my brother, the Three-Eyed Spider, do you think Sandspire would be in the hands of trash like you?¡± Cloudhawk sucked in a breath. Red Scorpion was the brother of Dark Atom¡¯s former scientific leader? No wonder¡­ if there was one thing Three-Eyed Spider excelled at, it was engineering. That¡¯s how a monstrosity like Raven came into being as well as those mech soldiers. Three years ago he was a big part of the Dark Atom, but before that he must have learned his trade here. It would make sense to reach out to the Dark Atom for more knowledge when you exhausted what you could find in Sandspire. Meanwhile Red Scorpion stayed behind with aspirations of leading the place. He succeeded, only to be cast out later when a more powerful force came to wrest the city from him. ¡°I¡¯m not here to play games! In the wastelands, strength decides all things!¡± Red Scorpion¡¯s face was dark as a thunderhead. ¡°So. You got the balls to pit your guys against mine?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 23 - Who Else Wants Some? Red Scorpion almost lazily waved a hand. An maneater mutant lumbered to the fore , easily three meters tall. Standing beside more average humans he looked like a giant. His body was covered in a patchwork of solid, mismatched armors that made him look like a tin can. In his left hand he carried an enormous shield, and in his right was a war hammer. He looked like an army in and of himself. Moving around in the wilderness with hefty equipment like that was no easy feat! A mere glance proved that this was one hell of a tough maneater ¨C strong enough to be a leader of his own sweeper group. Sand Viper had known this was Red Scorpion¡¯s play. He sized up the maneater, comparing its strength to his own before turning respectfully to Cloudhawk and Rhino. ¡°Do you have this under control?¡± A few years ago, Cloudhawk¡¯s first instinct against a creature like this would be to run. But things were very different now. Brute force didn¡¯t intimidate him like it used to. There was no denying the creature was tough, but at best he compared to an Elysian unit commander. At full strength Cloudhawk could tangle with the likes of Aegir Polaris or Cosmo Thane. He didn¡¯t have to worry about this clanking mountain of meat. ¡°Shit, I thought you said they were dangerous!¡± Cloudhawk turned toward the gruff voice. Rhino strode forward with a mad look in his eye, glaring at the opposition. Finally he returned his gaze to Cloudhawk. ¡°Step aside, little man. Get in the way and I¡¯ll tear you apart with the rest of this garbage!¡± Rhino was the undisputed apex warrior of Sandspire. He had the strength to match some of Skycloud¡¯s generals, with swagger to match. Cloudhawk¡¯s presence was pointless. Rhino was the only fist Sand Viper needed. Who the hell was this runt, anyway? He didn¡¯t look like much and no one had heard of him. It was an insult to stand shoulder to shoulder with the punk! But Sand Viper¡¯s expression stiffened. While he also doubted the stranger¡¯s abilities, he¡¯d been sent here by that old man. It stood to logic that the mysterious and powerful elder from Greenland would send someone to watch over their new investment in Sandspire. Whoever this Cloudhawk was, he probably didn¡¯t have the same status or strength as the old man, but he was a representative from their new masters. Offending him meant repercussions from Greenland City. But, it didn¡¯t appear that Cloudhawk was upset by Rhino¡¯s bluster. In fact he obediently stepped to the side. It was a gesture everyone took note of, and one that demeaned his worth in their eyes. Strength was what wastelanders respected. Out here, in this inhospitable place, they saw the world as though they were wild animals. Animals built their hierarchies around power. If you weren¡¯t fierce enough, or strong enough, then you didn¡¯t deserve respect. Cloudhawk, in turn, didn¡¯t give a shit what they thought. In truth he¡¯d already recognized the state of things. The maneater was a cover ¨C strong, sure, but no match for Rhino. It was a way for Red Scorpion to feel out what Sand Viper was made of. Sending out one of his strongest for a token fight was exactly what Red Scorpion wanted. ¡°Bring it!¡± Unarmed, Rhino called out to his foe tauntingly. Maneaters weren¡¯t known for their intellect, but this one had some brains. He answered the haughty man with a roar then charged at him like a tank. The two enormous bodies slammed into each other, like dual freight trains meeting on the same track. Their impact echoed through the ruins. Both men were knocked backward. Rhino staggered back but kept his footing. The maneater staggered and nearly fell. Each step backward caused the ground to shake and left small craters behind. When he finally regained his footing he looked back at Rhino, who was waving mockingly at him. The mutant couldn¡¯t tolerate such disrespect! His eyes went red and, lifting the hammer high, brought it crashing down toward Rhino. Sandspire¡¯s champion slammed his fist into the weapon. CRACK! The hammer split to pieces in the maneater¡¯s grip. He staggered backward again from the impact. Rhino was not interested in wasting time, so with no more theatrics he charged in. The maneater responded by bringing his shield up to block a punch from the mighty human. Fist on iron rang out like someone had struck a bell. Rhino¡¯s blow punched right through the metal. Then the arm that held it¡­ and it kept going. Rhino¡¯s fist pierced the maneater¡¯s armor like a nail, right into the center of his chest. With a vice-like grip he clenched his fingers around the mutant¡¯s heart and started to pull. Gouts of blood sprayed out onto the sand. A shrill, shocked wail gurgled from the maneater¡¯s throat. In the next instant the massive figure tumbled backward like a landslide. From the edge of the fight Cloudhawk nodded his head slightly. He¡¯d guessed right ¨C Rhino was about as strong as a typical Elysian general. But they were martial artists, whereas Rhino was working with pure force granted by evolution. He was crude and arrogant, but he had the strength to show for it. A powerful mutant like him who learned Elysian fighting techniques could easily be as strong as someone like Drake or Brontes. ¡°Who else wants to die?!¡± With a wide, bloodthirsty grin Rhino shouted his gibes. Sand Viper looked at his champion in satisfaction. He certainly earned his reputation as Sandspire¡¯s strongest fighter. He raised his voice toward the enemy forces. ¡°If that¡¯s the best you¡¯ve brought, what makes you think you can protect Sandspire? Stop throwing away your men, disperse. Let them go back to their families and grow old.¡± ¡°Not bad, not bad!¡± Red Scorpion answered with a sinister grin. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t think garbage like you could manage against a half-decent fighter. But that doesn¡¯t mean you have the right to talk shit.¡± Another figure stepped forth from among the sweepers as he called back. He looked normal enough, but in a single bound the new threat leaped several dozen meters overhead. Landing nimbly before them, they could see a robust form without mutation. His chosen weapon was a halberd. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you do against my friend from the south,¡± Red Scorpion said with a smile. ¡°Have fun!¡± What? The south! The words caused Sand Viper¡¯s expression to fall. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes immediately fixed on the fighter. The halberd was a relic ¨C he¡¯d heard it when they first come upon Red Scorpion. He¡¯d been waiting for the demonhunter to reveal himself, and now here he was. Demonhunter wasn¡¯t the right word for these sorts though. Fallen Hunters, maybe, or like Wolfblade and Inkspecter, godslayers. After all, they didn¡¯t have faith in the gods like Elysians did. That¡¯s not where they got their power. Rhino was ignorant to the danger he was in. ¡°Another one eager to stop breathing!¡± He charged forward without a second thought. The corner of the godslayer¡¯s mouth ticked up in a smirk. With both hands he swept his halberd at the hulking man and as he did its surface gleamed. A gash of black energy intertwined with electric sparks blast outward. Rhino¡¯s eyes went wide, but instinct kicked in and he juked to the side. The stream of energy blasted into a metal tower behind him causing it to explode into shrapnel. Shock was painted on Sand Viper¡¯s face. The stranger was indeed from the south! Rhino realized he might have bit off more than he could chew. As he started to back away the godslayer launched into his second attack. Another piercing ray of black and blue appeared, this time ripping through sturdy flesh and leaving a smoldering cavity where it passed. Rhino was flung into the ruins like discarded trash. ¡°How could such a stupid insect understand true power?¡± The godslayer cast the words toward a sea of shocked wasteland faces. Sand Viper felt his heart sink into his stomach. He hadn¡¯t thought Red Scorpion would have the backing of the mysterious powers from the south. If that was the case he had no way to fight back. He swallowed hard and called across the field. ¡°Perhaps we can talk about shared governance.¡± ¡°Shared governance? Talk? Hah! Why the fuck do you think I¡¯m here? I¡¯m going to make you suffer a hundred times the disgrace I had to bear!¡± Satisfaction swelled inside Red Scorpion, the kind that only came with vengeance. How disgraceful had it been when they showed him the door? Ten years. Now he was back to take what he deserved. This time it would be different. With a fighter from the south his position would be more stable than it¡¯d ever been. Everything they took from him, he would claw back and then some. As for this asshole in front of him, what made him think he was ever worthy to rule over Sandspire? He would die for that sin alone. ¡°Now everyone listen good.¡± Red Scorpion raised his voice, addressing the others. ¡°Everyone except Sand Viper has the option of surrendering to me right now. Do that and you live. Otherwise you¡¯ll die with your Governor right here, right now.¡± The godslayer slowly lifted his halberd toward Sand Viper. It gathered another shock of electric black power. No quarter would be given. Sand Viper couldn¡¯t protect himself from this power. He felt a hopelessness wash over him. But as he shrunk into himself a figure stepped between the Governor and the godslayer, at an almost leisurely pace. ¡°Hmph! Another who wants to die! So be it, you¡¯ll both be blown to pieces!¡± The godslayer was furious at the gall of this stranger and threw more power into his relic. He would make good on his promise and reduce both these fools to paste. The stream of power that belched from his halberd was spectacular. Yet the man who faced him did not move, did not cower, did not flinch. He merely lifted his left hand to show off the gauntlet encasing it. Black and electric blue struck the armor. But the explosion everyone was bracing for never came. In fact there was no reaction at all. Black, electric fire danced around Cloudhawk¡¯s gauntlet and then was swallowed up. He cast his hand out, and the same deadly energy was flung back one hundred and eighty degrees from whence it came. The godslayer and Red Scorpion both leaped out of harm¡¯s way. Sadly, a number of sweepers were not fast enough and were blown to pieces. He¡¯s an Elysian demonhunter! It was the godslayer¡¯s turn to be shocked. He hadn¡¯t thought a place as small and insignificant as Sandspire would house a demonhunter! And one with some skill, at that. He crouched low then sprung into the air, rising high overhead Cloudhawk¡¯s head like an ominous wind. With his halberd crackling with energy, he came dashing down weapon first. Cloudhawk reached out with his left hand. A deluge of power erupted from his palm! The halberd burst into pieces. A streak of silver then appeared in Cloudhawk¡¯s right hand, sweeping toward his enemy then gone just as fast. Cloudhawk finished with a swift kick at the godslayer¡¯s tumbling form. The blow launched him back into the frightened masses around Red Scorpion. The godslayer, who a moment before seemed so powerful that none could stand before him, now lay in the dirt with a shocked expression on his face. A small, almost insignificant gash had appeared between his eyes with one to match on the back of his head ¨C like something had run right through his skull. Cloudhawk slowly looked over the sweepers. When he spoke his voice was calm, almost welcoming. ¡°Who else wants some?¡± 1. We haven¡¯t seen these badasses Wonder how Cloudhawk will handle them now. 2. This mother fucker turned into iron man. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 24 - Specter of the South Everyone was stunned by the sudden and unexpected turn of events. Before today, average wastelanders saw mutants like Rhino as the peak killers of the wastes! He¡¯d been nearly superhuman, with skin like iron and fists of steel. Anywhere he went Rhino would be top of the food chain. What did they learn? Red Scorpion¡¯s godslayer could take out a man like Rhino in only a few moves. The sort of power the godslayer called went beyond was these simple folk could grasp. A powerhouse qualified to do as he pleased anywhere in the wastes. And yet¡­ this stranger with Sand Viper, who looked hardly strong enough to lift a sword, killed the godslayer with hardly any effort at all. Was he even human? With that sort of capability, what was he doing playing second fiddle to Sandspire¡¯s Governor? In truth, it was Sand Viper who was most shocked of all. He was very familiar with how strong the godslayer had been. While perhaps not as strong as a veteran demonhunter, he was certainly comparable to a typical Elysian demonhunter. When it was revealed that Red Scorpion had a man like that with him, the Governor was sure his people would be eliminated. The outlaw¡¯s dreams were in his grasp, starting with the murder of Sand Viper. But it was snatched away. Cloudhawk stepped forward with a placid expression on his face. Red Scorpion and the others took a nervous step backward. They were afraid. How could they not be? Even the savage sweepers weren¡¯t mad enough to fight a man like him. This almost frail-looking stranger commanded a power wastelanders couldn¡¯t even comprehend. His presence took control of this situation firmly out of their grip. ¡°That¡¯s all you brought...¡± Red Scorpion¡¯s face was a mask of rage and fear. ¡°You¡­ you stare all you want! I¡¯ll tell my master what I saw here. Next time you and everyone else will die! Sandspire will be razed to the ground!¡± They were just words, the final taunts of a man who knew there was nothing left to do. Red Scorpion didn¡¯t imagine he could get away, not from a man like this. But when Cloudhawk gave his response the words surprised him. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll let you go ¨C I want to see what sort of power is hiding behind you.¡± Everyone gaped at him. What?! Let him go? What a stupid thing to do! Everyone ¨C even Red Scorpion himself ¨C couldn¡¯t believe their ears. ¡°Make you sure also tell whoever is pulling your strings, that the troublemakers they sent to Greenland have also been dealt with. Our accounts have yet to be settled. Tell whoever they are to remember. Remember that from now on Sandspire is part of Greenland territory. And if any of you are seen around here again, I will personally make sure you never have the chance to leave again.¡± Sand Viper¡¯s face was white as a sheet. Cloudhawk was dragging his city into the mire with him. It was a bold-face provocation of the southern powers! ¡°Change is coming. Let¡¯s see how long you last.¡± Red Scorpion spat the threat, glaring daggers at Cloudhawk. Its impact was lessened when he fled with his people in disgrace. Sand Viper and his people watched them go. The Governor was displeased with the result. Why not just kill the man? ¡°He¡¯s a small fish. We can¡¯t learn anything even if we grabbed and tortured him. Killing him wouldn¡¯t make any difference either. ¡°Cloudhawk explained his reasoning, then continued after a brief pause. ¡°So better to give him some use. Make him bait, maybe we can snag a bigger fish.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°You disagree.¡± Sand Viper looked into Cloudhawk¡¯s bandaged face. While his own expression remained calm, inwardly he was stricken with fear. If Cloudhawk wanted to kill him, no one would be able to stand in his way. ¡°I ¨C I wouldn¡¯t dare. I don¡¯t even know what your role in Greenland is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s on me. I failed to mention. I am its Governor.¡± Governor? This unassuming, humble-looking man was Greenland¡¯s Governor? His doubts were allayed when they returned to Sandspire and found the old man from before. In addition, he¡¯d brought with him a beautiful and erudite woman. The old man he had personal experience with, but the woman was also well known. Hellflower was a famed wandering Seeker in the South. She¡¯d stayed in Sandspire for a while, about ten years ago. In that short time she established herself as one of their preeminent scientists. He was surprised to learn that now she spent her days in Greenland City. Judging by the way the old man and Hellflower treated Cloudhawk, his claim of being the city¡¯s Governor were proven true. This did not put Sand Viper¡¯s mind at ease. Whether it was Cloudhawk, Hellflower, or the old man, none of them were to be discounted. Their presence in the south did not portend smooth days ahead. Highlighting that was the increase in representatives from mysterious powers to the south. Why were the barren, isolated southern wilds suddenly the focus of these antics? Sand Viper couldn¡¯t even begin to guess was tragedies loomed on the horizon, but one thing was for certain. Red Scorpion was right ¨C things were changing. The old drunk piped up with great interest after Cloudhawk explained the situation. ¡°What sort of place are we dealing with down there? I don¡¯t even know, Skycloud has no intelligence on the area.¡± Cloudhawk turned his attention to Hellflower. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just a scientist.¡± She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I ran with Wolfblade and Abaddon, but their secrets are their own.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Cloudhawk was ever more suspicions of Hellflower¡¯s words. ¡°So you just let the little minnow swim away.¡± The old man wasn¡¯t terribly pleased with the decision. ¡°Are you sure he¡¯ll be back? What¡¯s to say they won¡¯t be more cautious now that they know you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t come, what¡¯s stopping us from finding them ourselves?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s lips curled into a cunning grin. He wasn¡¯t an idiot. With everything happening on the ground, no one had bothered to look up. If they had, Red Scorpion might have noticed the pudgy yellow bird trailing them. Cloudhawk was sure the first thing Red Scorpion would do was to report to his handlers. So it was just a matter of following the vine to get to the melon. Once Red Scorpion led them to whoever pulled the strings, more would be revealed. His two companions suddenly understood. *** Skycloud City. Within the gardens of the Governor¡¯s mansion. A rotund military officer was perched in a pavilion, looking nervous. Beads of sweat dripped down his face as he stared with beady eyes at the chess board before him. His breath was ragged, like he was struggling to breathe. Finally he released his breath in a heaving sigh and dropped his piece. Lost again. There were no more moves to make. He looked apologetically at Skycloud¡¯s strongest denizen, seated across from him. ¡°You¡¯ve improved significantly, and in a short period of time. I made the right choice with you.¡± Arcturus looked at Hammont, who looked back with him with reverence and awe. He was entirely taken in by the Governor¡¯s strength and wisdom. At last he understood how even a man as arrogant as Frost de Winter would bow before the Master Demonhunter. By any measure, Arcturus Cloude was the peak of human capability. They were joined by a heroic figure who strode their way. Frost appeared as though Hammont¡¯s thoughts had summoned him. The fat officer clambered to his feet and gave a respectful bow. It was earned ¨C Frost was one of the most important figures in all the realm! He had been elevated to the post of Commander General of the entire army, and was the one Governor Arcturus thought most highly of. He was strong, capable, and intelligent. Even if he did not one day rise to the position of Governor, Frost was destined to be a pillar of their domain. The general addressed his Governor. ¡°Everything is prepared.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Arcturus rose from the table. ¡°Things have calmed in the north, but I sense a dark influence gathering in the south. Make sure our forces are positioned down there and prepare them for the coming conflict.¡± No large organization had ever appeared from the southern wilds. While there was the odd city, none had the manpower or influence of northern groups. So why focus the efforts of their armies down there? ¡°The Dark Atom only has the capacity to rise from time to time and cause problems. They are insignificant, not enough to threaten our home. The real danger has yet to reveal itself, but gathers strength in the shadows. Yet I can feel them stirring.¡± Arcturus folded his hands behind his back and looked out over the man-made pond in the center of the garden. ¡°Do not underestimate the southern wilds. The calm on its surface conceals a deadly undertow. The ripples are only just starting to show.¡± How was this possible? It was hard to imagine! ¡°A thousand years have passed since the Great War between the gods and the demons. You cannot discount the power time brings. Humanity has grown ¨C both here and in the wastelands. If you compare the north to the south, we stand on a precipice we¡¯ve never faced before. Our true test will come from the south. The foulest tempest brews in those mysterious highlands.¡± Shock and anxiety met his heavy words. It is no wonder Arcturus took over the army himself, for an ordinary man like Skye Polaris could never understand the deep shadows lurking beneath Skycloud¡¯s brilliance. Hammont was confused. ¡°If the south has gathered enough power to be a threat, why are we just dealing with them now? Their opportunity would have been to strike while we were preoccupied with the Crimson One.¡± Indeed, why hadn¡¯t they acted yet if they had the power to? Why was now the time? Would have not been to their advantage to attack at the same time as the north? ¡°I¡¯ve told you more than once, if you want to be an effective leader you must take the long view. You must look beyond the comparisons between one group and another. War is not as simple as you imagine, just like the chess game we play. What determines the outcome of a battle is not the pieces we play. Often, it is the power of the one who places them.¡± Frost understood. His master was talking about the Cloud God. The south had lain dormant for so long because Skycloud enjoyed the Cloud God¡¯s protection. Now that their patron was slumbering and could not wake, their realm had lost its connection to Sumeru. Were something to happen to their home, the gods would be none the wiser. Now was the perfect time to release dark and sinister forces unto the world. But what was hiding down there in the southern wilds? Was it Gehenna, the legendary demonic force? Arcturus continued. ¡°You must begin deployment at once. The full power of the Cloude family will join you. Remember, every action you take is in defense of our home. You are the shield that guards two million citizens and the future of our species.¡± Hammont¡¯s face flushed with purpose. He snapped into a bow. ¡°This humble soldier will stop at nothing!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 25 - The Wendigo King Red Scorpion slunk away from Sandspire, defeated. He had to tell his master about the mysterious demonhunter as soon as possible. He dare not waste a single minute, so he boarded a small aircraft and headed off to the uncharted areas to the south where he usually made contact with his handlers. Two days and two nights he traveled before he arrived. From outside this mountain looked like any other mountain in the wastelands. However, inside it was veined with rivers of fresh water. One distinct feature was how it looked, like a wolf¡¯s head nestled in the jagged terrain. Its open maw was the entrance to a system of caves they called the Wolf¡¯s Den. Wolf¡¯s Den was like a world all its own. Red Scorpion took two mutants and entered, and as they walked deeper inside their path was lined with gleaming lights. They were the hungry green eyes of mutant animals that watched their progress. From the darkness an enormous mouse skittered out to waddle beside Red Scorpion. In contrast to its smaller cousins this one walked on two legs. It rose about a hundred and seventy meters tall and its body was covered in smooth gray hair that looked tough as steel. More surprising still was the fact this mutant rat was actually wearing armor. Red Scorpion could see the spark of intelligence in its beady eyes. It wasn¡¯t his first time encountering creatures like this. He¡¯d learned to hide his surprise each time such a strange scene presented itself. Animals were getting smart, even building their own armies. Not for the first time, Red Scorpion wondered if he was going crazy or if it was the whole world that¡¯d gone mad. This strange group of creatures had come here at the behest of their master four years ago, seeking shelter. Since then their numbers have grown considerably. Because of their natural advantages they made the perfect pioneers to set up a base in the inhospitable ranges of the far south. They gave Red Scorpion goosebumps. ¡°Where¡¯s the Wendigo King? I have important news to share!¡± His breath caught in his chest as all around a press of hyper intelligence animals closed in. They sniffed the air around Red Scorpion and the two men he¡¯d brought. One of them, which looked hardly more than a pup, opened its wolf-like maw and tried to nibble on one of the mutant¡¯s feet. While the mutants were trying to stomach these strange creatures, the percieved threat caused him to lose patience. He kicked the tiny wolf away. Red Scorpion blanched. ¡°Idiot! What are you doing!¡± Suddenly the cave was filled with angry grows. All sorts of creatures, whatever their species, suddenly took on aggressive postures. Red Scorpion could feel the mortal threat wash over him. A light emerged from deep within the cavern. A pair of burning eyes that were difficult to look at directly. It took only an instant for the owner of those eyes to appear before them. A pair of scarlet claws ripped through the mutant¡¯s chest and burst out from his back. Like a scene from some torrid nightmare, they watched as the mutant shriveled away into a husk of its former self. It was like watching all the flood and fluid in him being sucked away in an instant. When it was nothing more than a dried corpse, the mutant¡¯s assailant flung the body away like garbage. The rest of the beasts pounced on it and tore what remained to pieces. ¡°Control your mongrels,¡± a hoarse, authoritative voice growled at Red Scorpion, ¡°or you will suffer the same fate.¡± Red Scorpion felt cold sweat trickle down his neck. The power difference between him and this creature was like an ocean. Four years ago these beasts were a typical group, formidable but not terrifying. Yet after joining the Master, this beast in particular became immensely more powerful. It was no wonder he was so highly considered by the Master, or why he was made to be their vanguard. Red Scorpion responded with a mixture of jealousy and fear. ¡°Wendigo King, I¡¯m here to report about a demonhunter appearing in the southern wilds. We must alert the Master right away.¡± ¡°A demonhunter.¡± Nothing changed in the monster¡¯s face. ¡°They were bound to learn about us sooner or later. One or two is no problem.¡± Red Scorpion pressed him. ¡°I believe Skycloud had sent the demonhunter to take over Greenland City. He says the scouting party you sent a few days ago has already been slain. You don¡¯t think this a problem we need to report?¡± The Wendigo King was silent for a few moments. ¡°The demonhunter you speak of is already here.¡± Red Scorpion was frozen solid, but recovered after a second. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The Wendigo King¡¯s pupils contracted to two dark spots and flashed green like two burning embers. His coat of silver hairs bristled and then burst through the cavern faster than the speed of sound. His powerful claws swiped with murderous intent, leaving gashes in the cavern¡¯s wall. The Wendigo King glared at something unseen. ¡°Where did you go!¡± Clang! The sound of metal ringing against something pierced their ears. The whole cave shook violently! Scarlet claws groped as the Wendigo King struck again. They were deadly weapons that could rip through iron like paper, even shatter relics. But what he swiped at now was sturdier than his claws could contend with. It was rare that the Wendigo King¡¯s fury was deflected. It was a gauntlet, dented and scratched from eons of use. But although it looked in poor repair it¡¯d stopped his claws without issue. A figure slowly appeared from nothing. The gray cloak that hid it flapped in the gentle breeze. What they could see of his form was wiry and wrapped from head to toe in dirty bandages. Beyond that, little could be discerned. Red Scorpion felt like he was about to retch. ¡°You! You followed-¡± He recognized immediately that he¡¯d led this stranger right to his master¡¯s vanguard. Such a simple trick. Cloudhawk had tracked Red Scorpion here. What he had not anticipated was that this mutant would be able to pinpoint him when he arrived, even invisible. The blow from his claws had made his arm numb. Luckily the gauntlet he¡¯d found in the alien temple once belonged to a god. Its name was etched in writing across the inner surface - ¡°divine gauntlets of turning.¡± With a name like that it was certainly intended to be an important tool. It was possessed of several abilities, the foremost of which was deflecting any attack. It was a defensive relic by nature. After resonating with the gauntlets Cloudhawk could deflect all manner of energy cast his way. How strong its defensive abilities were depended on his own mental fortitude. A godslayer like the one Red Scorpion had by his side had no hope of harming Cloudhawk. Although Cloudhawk was still recovering, he was not the sort of man who could be easily put down. With the help of this gauntlet he could protect himself from almost anything. But besides deflection, the gauntlet was also highly defensive. Physical blows were just as ineffectual as energetic ones. But that didn¡¯t take away from the sheer power Cloudhawk felt from this Wendigo King. The sudden attack had knocked him several step backwards and pain was starting to creep up his arm. That was one hell of an attack. The beast was just as surprised that its prey would survive the onslaught. ¡°You have some gall, walking into the Wolf¡¯s Den!¡± Howls and hisses from the myriad mutant creatures answered his words. Cloudhawk looked around, acutely away that he¡¯d just stumbled into a hornet¡¯s nest. The half man, half wolf Wendigo King lashed out again with its crimson claws. Faster than the eye could follow he reached for Cloudhawk with enough force to shatter bone. But Cloudhawk liked his bones as they were, so he turned and raised his arm to block the strike. Scarlet claws raked against cold iron. Eyes that burned with nightmarish green light were fixed on Cloudhawk, like a hungry animal eyeing its next meal. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be leaving here alive.¡± As if on cue, the host of mutant creatures jumped to action. Even a Master Demonhunter would be rethinking their exit plan in a situation like this, much less a wounded Cloudhawk. Yet with level tones Cloudhawk just shrugged. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± He took advantage of the Wendigo King¡¯s taunts to reach out and grab him by the armor. The air around them warbled uncomfortably and then, just as the sea of creatures crested around them, the two figures vanished completely from the cave. ¡°Where?!¡± Red Scorpion stared at the space they¡¯d been wide eyed and baffled. He couldn¡¯t grasp what he¡¯d seen. How could two people simply disappear? The remaining monsters started to panic. The Wendigo King was their leader. He was taken from right under their noses without so much as a scent to follow. He was stolen by some dark power, and that meant he would be difficult to find. ¡°Aooo! Aaaaoo-aaaoooo!¡± Howls arose, ringing off the cavern walls. Beasts scattered in all directiobs. Meanwhile Cloudhawk and the Wendigo King blinked into existence outside of the cavern. The wolf-like mutant was taken aback by this strange power, but that didn¡¯t stop him from launching into another series of attacks. The two, now alone in the mountains, traded several blows. Cloudhawk struck out with streak after streak of silver light, but the Wendigo King knocked them away with his claws. Chasing one another across the broken terrain, fissures and landslides marked where they passed. As they continued their struggle Cloudhawk was suddenly wracked by a terrible pain. It was a brief moment, but one the Wendigo King capitalized on. He landed a well-placed kick against Cloudhawk¡¯s chest and sent him to the ground. Cloudhawk instinctively blinked away a hundred meters. It was obvious to the Wendigo King that this demonhunter was powerful, yet somehow constrained. The longer this fight went on the more it moved in his favor. This was good, for otherwise the mutant wasn¡¯t sure he could defeat the human. Was he wounded? So much the better! He charged at Cloudhawk, ready to finish it. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t keep up the fight for long. As the Wendigo King came bearing down he shouted at the top of his lungs. ¡°Hey drunk, are you just gonna wait for him to carve me up?!¡± The call ran through the Wendigo King¡¯s body like a shock. Was this an ambush? His answer came in the form of a shadow from overhead. The figure descended on him with incredible speed and struck with a simple-looking blade. It was the weapon Cloudhawk had brought back and delivered to the old drunk, Sunstroke. The Wendigo King was forced to lunge to the side. A gentle light like the first rays of dawn swept across the ground, and much to the mutant¡¯s shock left behind a gash in the earth twenty meters long. Judging by what he saw, this new threat was no less powerful than himself. What¡¯s more, he could sense that the sword was just a secondary tool. Things were not looking good. The Wendigo King dropped to all fours and started to bound away. But the old man appeared before him, sword raised. With one swing he sent the mutant sprawling. In a single blow the Wendigo King was thrown to the ground and gravely wounded. Only then did the old drunk look toward Cloudhawk. ¡°This one¡¯s their ringleader?¡± ¡°It looks like the big boss isn¡¯t here. Still, this one seems a lot more important than Red Scorpion. Let¡¯s take him alive. Maybe there¡¯s a chance we can dangle this one to get the big boss¡¯ attention.¡± Cloudhawk stopped when he heard the cries coming from Wolf¡¯s Den. What strange creatures¡­ there was something about them¡­ but Cloudhawk pushed the thought aside. Now wasn¡¯t the time. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The old drunk lifted the wounded Wendigo King and together the two figures fled the mountain range. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 26 - Siege of Ten Thousand Beasts Hellflower sat in the small, Sandspire-made biplane idly kicking her legs and fiddling with her pistols. Her eyes snapped toward Cloudhawk and the old man as they approached. The drunk was carrying a humanoid shape flung over one shoulder. Cloudhawk waved his hand at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Hellflower saw what it was they were carrying when they got close enough and it froze her in place. Cloudhawk, however, was in a hurry. ¡°What the fuck are you gaping at? We¡¯ve got enemies on our ass!¡± Hellflower recognized the Wendigo King ¨C how could she not? It was one of the genetically modified mutants she¡¯d helped create. It¡¯d been the program she pioneered at Blackwater Base, which she reproduced for the Dark Atom when she moved house. There was no mistaking her own work, and what¡¯s more this one in particular was a specimen she knew well. ¡°Is that Hyena? Heh, it¡¯s been a while!¡± Indeed, this half-man half-wolf creature had been known by a different name years ago. While he had changed significantly since that time, Hellflower still recognized him. They¡¯d spent years together in Blackwater Base and helped Roste create this monster. ¡°I thought you looked familiar. This fuckin¡¯ guy.¡± ¡°You are¡­ Cloudhawk?¡± Only after their pitched battle did the two finally realize who they were fighting. Now that he knew what was up, Wolf¡¯s Den and that whole deal made more sense to Cloudhawk. Only Hyena was a hell of a lot bigger and stronger than he used to be. Not only was his covered in muscle, but now when in wolf form his coat was snow-white. But most importantly, he was using a relic. Those scarlet claws were a godslayer weapon and a pretty worthy one at that, no question. Were it not for the blessings granted to him by Castigation Fire, Cloudhawk would have found it hard to beat the shapeshifter. How did he get so strong after only a few years? It was like he was a completely different person. Similarly, the Wendigo King had not recognized Cloudhawk at first, either. After all, Cloudhawk was nothing like he used to be and their encounter was brief and rife with adrenaline. While the Wendigo King had recognized Cloudhawk¡¯s smell, he hadn¡¯t placed it until just now. He¡¯d been carried for what felt like ages. Now he knew by whom. The old drunk was out of the loop and sought clarification. ¡°He¡¯s a friend of yours? Is this some sort of misunderstanding? You young people ¨C can we know what we¡¯re getting into before we start throwing punches next time? I¡¯m too old to be dealing with this shit.¡± ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll talk when we get back to the city.¡± This act was done. Talking about it now was a waste of breath. Sure Cloudhawk knew Hyena, but they weren¡¯t friends. At any rate, a lot of time had passed. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know anything about ¡®the Wendigo King¡¯ and his loyalties or purpose. The beast struggle against his bonds to no avail. He was badly wounded and the old drunk held him fast. With just the one hand he could hold down the shapeshifter against a thousand pounds of force. To the Wendigo King it felt like being crushed under a mountain. Obviously this wretched looking geezer was a rare sort of talent. What was a man like him doing with Hellflower and Cloudhawk? ¡°Sit tight, we¡¯re on the move!¡± Hellflower started the engine and their small aircraft took to the skies. Plumes of dark smoke were belched from its sides as they dashed into the distance. As she piloted, Hellflower sought more information. ¡°So what happened? We were after Red Scorpion¡¯s boss, right? And we come back with an old pal?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just as lost as you are. But it doesn¡¯t matter, this guy is definitely important to the southern group. At least higher up than Red Scorpion. I¡¯m thinking he¡¯s at least important enough to get the attention of his bosses. We¡¯ll figure it out at Sandspire.¡± ¡°I advise you to stop this foolishness.¡± The Wendigo King¡¯s voice was guttural and fierce. ¡°Do you think you can stop who I serve? Just you? It¡¯s suicide to even consider it.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t eager to fight with a power he knew nothing about. But the decision was out of his hands. It was their choice to send spies to Greenland City and to try and establish Red Scorpion as Sandspire¡¯s Governor. The two sides have already reached a point where talk was useless. If that was the case, better to act first, and act decisively. By taking the Wendigo King, Cloudhawk figured he might¡¯ve just pissed off the south enough to start a fight, but at least they¡¯d know what they were up against. That was much better than constantly looking over their shoulder, never knowing what to expect. ¡°Did I ask for your fuckin¡¯ opinion?¡± Cloudhawk glanced at the old man. He got the hint and gagged the Wendigo King. ¡°We knew each other a long time ago. We¡¯ll have plenty of time to catch up when we get back.¡± Hellflower flew them back to Sandspire at top speed. Once back on the ground and safely tucked away, Cloudhawk began his interrogation. It quickly became clear that while Cloudhawk hoped to learn something from the shapeshifter, the Wendigo King was frustratingly tight-lipped. Nothing they tried motivated him to share what he knew. A whole lot had happened to the Wendigo King over the years. Strength like he had didn¡¯t appear out of thin air. It seemed obvious that someone powerful and knowledgeable was guiding him. Four years was a long time for stuff to happen. Cloudhawk saw himself as an example. He got where he was today, half through innate talent and half through demonic intervention. That last part was important. He figured the Wendigo King was benefiting from something similar. He was at an impasse and wasn¡¯t sure how to break through. He¡¯d come to his wit¡¯s end. ¡°Bad news!¡± Sand Viper burst in with a report. ¡°There¡¯s a beast wave approaching!¡± Raids like this were a common thing in the southern wilds. Cloudhawk was annoyed by the interruption. ¡°What the hell are you so nervous about? Sandspire can¡¯t handle a few mutant animals?¡± Sand Viper glowered at the dismissive response. ¡°This isn¡¯t a typical beast wave. It¡¯s best if you see for yourself.¡± Cloudhawk conceded to check on the situation personally. When they got to the walls Cloudhawk was greeted with a sea of milling creatures, stretching toward the horizon. There had to be ten thousand or more, all pressing against Sandspire¡¯s gates. It was a nightmarish thing to behold, even in the southern wastelands. But what was strangest of all was how they were organized. Several lumbering undulated sickeningly along the front lines. They were flanked on either size by what must have been over a hundred maneaters. Behind that formidable vanguard was a massive pack of wolves, giant lizards, snakes, lions and so forth stretching into the ruins. Overhead were clouds of predatory birds. It was so orderly. Like an army. At the front of each pack was one or several pack leaders. They growled and snarled and roared orders at their fellows, keeping them in line. Fuuuuuuck. This is not a beast wave. This is a goddamn invasion. Cloudhawk had never seen anything like it in his life. As he looked out over the masses several of the creatures separated from the horde. They called out to him in human words. ¡°Bring the King forth, or your city will run red with blood!¡± Defenders along Sandspire¡¯s walls were on the verge of pissing themselves. It was already horrific to see so many savage creatures on their doorstep. Now, among them were half-human hybrids that could even speak. Even for veteran wastelanders who were accustomed to strange creatures, this was unheard of. Academician Roste had developed two types of genetically modified creatures in Blackwater Base. The first were powerful wasteland predators who were given intellect. He selected those animals with the most favorable genetic material and hastened the development of their brains. Afterwards they displayed an incredible increase in intelligence and a capacity for learning. Though still animals in shape, they were far smarter than their feral counterparts. These were called wargs. The second were originally human who were enhanced with animal genetic material. By restructuring their fundamental genetic code they became something between human and beast. It provided them with the ability to shift between one form and the other, granted them the strength and ferocity of their animal base, while retaining most of their human intellect. These were called wendigos. Both types were on display in the milling horde outside of Sandspire. Their leaders stood at the front. Visually they didn¡¯t look any different from the wild creatures that were common in the wastes, but their intelligence and ability to communicate with their own kind made them capable leaders. They reminded him of the Rat King Cloudhawk encountered with the Tartarus Mercenaries. Now the other sort who could speak with them, those were wendigos. They were fundamentally different species, but had enough in common that they made for good allies. Blackwater Base, the place they came from, was destroyed. Cloudhawk remembered when Hyena led the animals Roste had experimented on out into the wild. There were only a few hundred of them then. Only five years later and now there was ten thousand. He counted at least five hundred wendigo as well. They multiplied like a plague, and Cloudhawk worried that what he saw now was just a fraction of their numbers. Roste¡¯s fears back then were well-founded. Wargs or wendigo, they were uniquely adapted to life in the wastelands. Half a decade and the scale of their expansion was nothing short of incredible. What about in a hundred years? What about a thousand? What would that mean for humanity? Letting Hyena go was like opening pandora¡¯s box. Cloudhawk was never more aware of that fact than right now. With their intelligence and ability to communicate with their own kind, they were able to lead packs of even normal mutant animals. They melded seamlessly into the wastes and could call together an army in short order. Cloudhawk would never have believed it until he saw it with his own eyes. Suddenly he regretted not listening to the Academician. He simply never understood how fast these monsters would reproduce. But what to do now? No use crying over spilt milk, the old books said. ¡°Release our King, or you will all die!¡± The wendigo were becoming impatient. Behind them the myriad creatures shuffled in angry anticipation. However, they made no move to attack and constrained themselves to levying threats. After all, somewhere inside was their King. If these vile humans killed him, it would be a tremendous loss for their kind. Hellflower peered into the distance at the shocking scene. Her eyes were wide, and she even wiped her goggles to make sure it wasn¡¯t a trick. ¡°Woah. That sure is something. Life¡­ uh... finds a way.¡± ¡°The fuck are you talking about? We¡¯re the ones who created this mess!¡± Cloudhawk glared at her, his tone displeased. ¡°This is a disaster of our own making.¡± Hellflower remained unmoved. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say so. Look at it another way: We are responsible for the beginning of a new era. How can we be sure that these intelligent creatures will cause harm rather than good?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to respond. Was this horde of snarling monsters not proof enough that her words were bullshit? ¡°When these beasts were given intelligence they lost their feral nature by definition. Over time they will come to rely more on their wits ¨C and that comes with both benefits and weaknesses.¡± Hellflower waved her hand toward Sand Viper. ¡°Bring the Wendigo King here.¡± Sand Viper shot Cloudhawk a glance. He nodded his consent. Cloudhawk was curious where Hellflower was going with this. 1. 2. Previous If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 27 - The Khan of Evernigh The press of angry creatures milled before the city, but did not attack. Such a strange and fantastic scene had never been witnessed by Sandspire¡¯s denizens before. Even the old drunk ¨C a man who cared for little anymore ¨C was stunned by what he saw. He wasn¡¯t sure what to expect. Ten minutes later¡­ Four burly men ascended the wall bearing an iron cross. The Wendigo King¡¯s hulking form was strapped to it. The wounds he¡¯d suffered were too grave for him to break free, so there he hung limp in his half-human, half-beast form. His matted white fur rustled in the hot breeze. Gasping breaths revealed a maw thick with razor-sharp teeth. Dazzling green eyes were half-hidden beneath drooping lids, but even though he was beaten the air of majesty still clung to him. He looked like a prize lion, captured but not broken. The angry howls slowly subsided as all eyes turned to their beleaguered king. Some breathed sighs in discovering that he was still alive. There was still a chance to claw him back. Hellflower glanced briefly at the horde. She then drew her pistol, pulled back the hammer, pressed it to Hyena¡¯s chest and pulled the trigger. A gush of blood sprayed out over her face. The animal hordes went mad. Roars thick with fury were so loud they shook Sandspire¡¯s gates. The standoff was on the verge of getting out of hand. As the sea of swiping claws and gnashing teeth reached a fever pitch, Sand Viper and his men were nearly faint from terror. This crazy woman was consigning them to death! If she wanted to throw her own life away that was fine, but she was dragging them down with her! Hellflower paid no mind to the frenzied beasts below. With slow, deliberate movements she raised her gun and placed it against the Wendigo King¡¯s temple. Silence. Utter stillness as the king¡¯s subjects watched with baited breath. Wargs growled their commands, ordering the angry masses to be still. Her initial shot had not killed Hyena. A marksmen of her rare ability had complete control of where her bullets went, so she made sure the first shot avoided anything important. The damage to the Wendigo King was minimal, but it served to shock the wild hordes below like a bolt of lightning. Cloudhawk was beginning to see her plan. Wild animals couldn¡¯t be stopped, but these monsters were smart enough to know consequences. They feared their actions would lead to the death of their king. It was an important distinction from the beasts they once were. ¡°If you really want your king to live, then you¡¯ll leave at once!¡± Hellflower pressed the barrel roughly against Hyena¡¯s skull. In her other hand was a loudspeaker she used to call out to the creatures. ¡°Death is what you¡¯re here for, but I¡¯m curious what¡¯s more important ¨C the death of your king or killing all of us.¡± ¡°Hellflower!¡± The Wendigo King growled through gritted teeth. ¡°Pull the trigger, if you think you¡¯ve got the balls.¡± After four years, the king knew his subjects well. Even if their minds had been enhanced and their intelligence improved, they were still nothing like that of a human¡¯s. At best it gave them the ability of basic thought and knowing right from wrong. For some they even learned how to use weapons. But beasts would always be beasts. Wargs didn¡¯t have the same capacity for thought and logic that humans did. They would never have wargs taking on roles of scientists, mathematicians or philosophers. Just the process of creating a written language would be a laborious one. Where humans could built themselves a civilization in a hundred years, it would take wargs a thousand. In short, wargs were undeveloped and inexperienced. Their intelligence was comparable to a human in their early teens, with the logic and comprehension of a group of honest but immature children. It was a volatile combination when paired with their natural savagery. The Wendigo King was a major figure in warg society. By visibly putting him in danger, Hellflower stole all the power from the beasts. A bull-headed wendigo raised his voice. ¡°Release our king!¡± ¡°I want you to understand that this is not a negotiation. Don¡¯t waste your breath making demands.¡± To emphasis her point, Hellflower fired another slug into the Wendigo King¡¯s thigh. She pressed the sizzling muzzle back to his temple. ¡°Anyone else have any thoughts they¡¯d like to share?¡± The wargs were frozen in shock, while the wendigos whispered in conference to plan their next move. Hellflower applied some pressure to the trigger. ¡°You¡¯re really starting to try my patience!¡± A palpable anxiety filled the air. The Wendigo King summoned his strength to shout, ¡°Don¡¯t believe her! She won¡¯t pull the trigger. Humans are skilled liars and cheats. Pay her no mind! Attack!¡± But a deadly light took root in Hellflower¡¯s eyes. ¡°Take. One. Step.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hurt our king!¡± The bull-headed wendigo ground his teeth in fury. ¡°We will leave!¡± She¡¯d left them no choice. With their king in their vile grasp they could do nothing but comply with her demands. Perhaps their master in the south would provide guidance. Eventually the horde receded into the ruins like a tide. Defenders along Sandspire¡¯s walls watched in disbelief. Incredible! Thousands of creatures were repelled from their city without a single man killed. ¡°See? Simple.¡± Hellflower returned her gun to its holster and smirked at Cloudhawk. ¡°They aren¡¯t animals anymore. They¡¯re people in a beastly skin and even easier to deal with. Animals are animals, so without more intelligent leadership we don¡¯t need a genius like Wolfblade or Arcturus to handle them. Little ol¡¯ me can manage just as well.¡± Cloudhawk was speechless. He wasn¡¯t totally onboard with her thought process. Different species saw things differently. It was true they gave up some things in gaining intelligence, but if there was one thing Cloudhawk was sure of it was this; never underestimate the potential of life. If these creatures were permitted to spread at the rate they were going, who knew what sort of impact it would have on the world? The Wendigo King glared daggers at Hellflower. ¡°You better pray I don¡¯t get my hands on you, woman. I¡¯ll make sure you know what brutality really means.¡± Hellflower answered with a flippant shrug. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d be focusing my thoughts on getting out of here alive.¡± Something about her words calmed him. A strange fire danced behind his green eyes and when he spoke again it was in a frigid tone. ¡°And if I were you, I¡¯d kill me now. You¡¯ll just be releasing me in a few days.¡± ¡°You¡¯re dreaming.¡± Cloudhawk scowled at Hyena like he was some kind of idiot. ¡°Release you? Might as well just sit back and wait for you to come back with your fuzzy friends if we did that. As far as I can see, you should be settling in to spend the rest of your life here.¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t afford to let the Wendigo King go. But he couldn¡¯t kill him, either. He¡¯d underestimated these beasts. What¡¯s more, it looked like Hyena and his crew merely served as the front lines. The real power behind them was still a mystery Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know anything about. He had to be careful. If things got too out of hand he could always bring Hyena back to Greenland City. They had enchantments there to protect them. Invaders would have a hard time breaking through. But having a backup plan didn¡¯t give them the right to be careless. Cloudhawk ordered Hellflower to make sure Sandspire¡¯s defenses were bolstered. Those beasts had all sorts and they could attack from the air, from underground, or find other ways to infiltrate the city. If they wanted to, they would find a way in and once they did no human would survive. So be it. Cloudhawk would stay here with Hyena for a few more days and help Sandspire fend off any more creature attacks. Although the plan seemed passive on Cloudhawk¡¯s part, it was the beast army that grew more anxious every day. They had to suffer an inferior position as they waited for word of their king. Certainly they were strong enough to tear the human city apart, but to do so would undoubtedly bring ruin down on Hyena. Every day that passed the problem only grew. Among the beasts there were only a handful of really intelligent leaders ¨C maybe one in ten. Most of the horde consisted wild beasts under control from the others with some level of wisdom. But wild beasts weren¡¯t known for discipline. After a few days going hungry, would they so easily follow commands? It was only a matter of time before the horde tore itself apart. But just as Cloudhawk¡¯s delaying tactics were about to succeed, the situation changed. Night fell on another day of anxious waiting. A dark, sleek, egg-shaped ship slowly settled in the sky above Sandspire. Its ominous appearance was quickly noticed and the city¡¯s denizens trembled in fear. Many scientists called Sandspire home. Their work here often involved mechanical engineering, so it was a subject they knew well. It was obvious to them right away that this ship was like nothing they¡¯d seen in the wastelands before. It spoke volumes about wherever place it¡¯d come from. Ten figures encased in dark armor exited the ship. Each one radiated with power and regareded the denizens of Sandspire with callous expressions. Cloudhawk sensed the relics among them right away. This was a group of godslayers. Based on how they held themselves and the aura they produced he figured they were as capable as Templars. Templars were the result of hundreds of years of cultural development in Skycloud. They were the ultimate defensive force of the realm. Judging by the look of these newcomers, they were just as deadly. While they were few in number, Cloudhawk was convinced they could do just as much damage. A unit like this wasn¡¯t put together over night. The Conclave of Judgment had nothing to rival this. When they approached, Cloudhawk felt fear take root in his heart. Had the dark hand behind the southern power finally showed itself? The group of godslayers split, making a path for one figure wholly different from the rest. He was exceptionally tall, muscled, and enveloped in pitch black full-plate armor. His head was hidden beneath a helmet that fused completely with the rest of the suit. Whatever material his armor was made from was a mystery. It was smooth and glossy, as though he were wearing a black mirror. His footfalls were heavy, proving the weight of his equipment. The sound of his breathing rasping through the mask was audible even from a distance . All that was visible of the man within was a pair of glowing red eyes that filled everyone they fell on with a sense of dread. A coal-black cloak was draped over his shoulders and flowed behind him like a living shadow. Cloudhawk felt his heart begin to race. Every hair on his body was standing on end as an internal voice screamed through his mind: Danger! Danger! This one is major trouble! But who the hell was he? Cloudhawk was at a loss, he wasn¡¯t even sure whatever hid behind that armor was even human. At Cloudhawk¡¯s currently level of power there were a scant handful who made him feel this unsafe. Was this one the big fish? Cloudhawk tried his best to hold the mysterious and dangerous stranger¡¯s gaze. ¡°Who are you?¡± The armored man stared back at Cloudhawk through the helmet. A mask within changed his voice, spitting out an uncomfortable and digitized facsimile. There was exactly nothing human about it. ¡°They call me the Khan of Evernight. That is how you may address me.¡± 1. Holy shit you guys it¡¯s Darth Vader. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 28 - The Mysterious Titan Khan of Evernight? That was quite the title. Cloudhawk was even more convinced his feelings were well-founded. From the second he laid eyes of the enormous figure he felt a creeping dread. Whoever or whatever this person was, he was no throw-away wastelander. Neither was he an enemy Cloudhawk could handle easily. Those soldiers on either side of the Khan weren¡¯t the typical sort, either. With as much fighting prowess as Templars, the group of them was like a small army. It was enough of a display to make Cloudhawk¡¯s throat go dry. And that was before he even considered their boss. He didn¡¯t like getting into a scrap he couldn¡¯t control, so Cloudhawk tried diplomacy. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re the king of daylight and sparkles, what are you doing here? Wanna sit down for a cup of tea? If that¡¯s the case you¡¯re welcome.¡± The Khan¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°You are the one called Cloudhawk?¡± Cloudhawk blinked in surprise. He then looked toward Hellflower. ¡°Look at me, I¡¯m famous. My name¡¯s gotten all the way to¡­ wherever this guy is from.¡± ¡°Infamous more like it,¡± Hellflower grumbled. As high-brow as his title was, there was nothing stately about the Khan of Evernight. He turned a deaf ear toward Cloudhawk¡¯s teasing words and pressed on in his mechanical voice. ¡°You have someone that belongs to me. I expect you to release him. Immediately.¡± ¡°Ah, so this Wendigo King is your man.¡± Cloudhawk acted like this news came as a surprise. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so? Hyena and I actually go way back, so I guess you can say he¡¯s our man, am I right? He¡¯s a guest of ours though, so I¡¯ll make sure he gets back safely when I¡¯m done playing host.¡± ¡°I am here speaking with you as a show of respect. I urge you to comply, for everyone¡¯s sake.¡± The Khan¡¯s digital affect was completely devoid of emotion. Cloudhawk was starting to suspect there was nothing alive in that armor at all and he was bantering with a robot. The Khan spoke like a machine, with flat tones and stilted pronunciation. Everything was at one volume and one tone, making it impossible to tell anything from his voice. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s say I refuse?¡± The Khan stepped forward. Although there was nothing threatening in his posture the sheer presence of him forced Cloudhawk to take a step back. Cloudhawk scowled. This asshole is being all mysterious over a simple question? Fine. I can show off, too. He glanced toward the old drunk, who met the silent order with reluctance. ¡°You haven¡¯t learned a thing. Any time you meet a foe you can¡¯t handle your first act is to trouble me with it.¡± However the old drunk complied, pulling Sunstroke from his belt. The sword was well-suited for the old man, in that they both were nothing special to look upon. However, while an ordinary man might¡¯ve missed the true strength Vulkan concealed, the Khan of Evernight could sense it immediately. He pointed at the sword but was otherwise still as a mountain. ¡°You mean to start conflict.¡± ¡°You want to bring that puppy king with you, right?¡± The old man said with a smirk. ¡°Beat me and you can take him.¡± The Khan¡¯s response was frank. ¡°Alright.¡± With nothing more to say, the old drunk made his move. Sunstroke flashed through the air. His attack was simple, at least on the surface. In reality it contained tremendous strength that would carve right through someone like the Wendigo King. Even Cloudhawk, in the state he was in now, reckoned he would struggle to defend himself against it. The Khan extended his hands and dual blasts of energy belched from his palms. They were a pair of vorpal blades, plum red and composed of pure energy. The air crackled and distorted around its edges. He opened with a dismissive wave of his right arm that cleaved Vulkan¡¯s attack in two. The streak of energy was cleaved down the middle, leaving two troughs in the earth on either side of the Khan. Each one stretched out at an angle, carving a forty-meter long V in the ground. Bystanders stared with mouths agape. The unassuming geezer had attacked with staggering power and the mysterious Khan had deflected it without effort. They felt like their eyes would roll out of their skulls. All but Cloudhawk, who¡¯s face was furrowed in worry. He felt like they¡¯d just stepped on a landmine. How strong was the old drunk? Put it this way; while Autumn was obviously the strongest person in their crew, that was a measure based on a bunch of factors. One on one in a straight fight, it wasn¡¯t certain she could beat Vulkan. The drunk¡¯s combat abilities were comparable to the late General Skye¡¯s. One of the reasons Cloudhawk took him along was because he was convinced there wasn¡¯t anyone around who could threaten the old man. It was what gave him the gall to snatch the Wendigo King in the first place. The end result was watching this Khan of Evernight, who he¡¯d never heard of, deflecting Vulkan¡¯s attack like he was a child. He had to be as strong as the Crimson One! A man like him was a tremendous threat any way you looked at him. But that being the case, how was it that absolutely nothing in Cloudhawk¡¯s intelligence even mentioned him? Anyone with this sort of strength left a trail. They had to have come from somewhere. It wasn¡¯t like super powerful people appeared out of thin air. The South? That must be where this problem came from. But what sort of place was it down there? Sand Viper claimed it was the former home of Abaddon¡­ Hyena had also led his people there, and after only a few years was reborn as the Wendigo King. Now they were facing somebody who fought with the strength of a Master Demonnhunter? If there was something like the Khan hiding down there this whole time, why had they been hiding at all? Maybe it was a demon. The Khan¡¯s black armor gleamed dangerously, and his red eyes burned. A ghastly wind made his shadowy cloak flap and flutter. A powerful resonance buzzed in Cloudhawk¡¯s head. A relic, but he couldn¡¯t tell where on the Khan it was coming from. The mysteries never ended. The Khan of Evernight stood with a burning sword of light in either side. His sinister gaze turned first to Cloudhawk, then to the old man, sizing each of them up. ¡°I did not anticipate facing men of your strength out here. The Wendigo King has suffered no shame in losing to you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d find someone as strong as you outside of Skycloud, either. I haven¡¯t had a good scrap since Arcturus Cloude. Maybe you can help an old man get his creaky bones moving again.¡± ¡°If you can survive an encounter with Arcturus Cloude, it speaks to your value.¡± Cloudhawk took this exchange to heart. From the way he at least one thing could be inferred about the Khan of Evernight; he knew about Skycloud and Arcturus. Though he¡¯d never been there, he knew about the Elysian lands. It would make sense that he knew Cloudhawk¡¯s name, then. After all, he¡¯d made a splash in Skycloud over the last few years. ¡°Enough talk. Let¡¯s give your men a show!¡± The old man vanished. Half a breath later there were a dozen copies of him surrounding the Khan. Cloudhawk recognized it as a martial arts move similar to the Polaris family¡¯s . With incredible speed and power the martial artist could make it look like he split into several copies. The powerful strike that followed was designed to overwhelm an enemy¡¯s formidable defenses. When they appeared, the Khan¡¯s vorpal blades began to rotate. A miniature tornado was spawned around them, and as Vulkan¡¯s sword and the Khan¡¯s energy weapon collided the ground split in all directions. It was like watching a headstrong painter turning the world into his canvas. Everyone was forced to step back or get caught up in the skirmish. A fight at this level went far beyond what they could comprehend. They¡¯d become crippled just by standing too close. Vulkan and the Khan exchanged a hundred blows in an instant. Their speed was too fast to follow. Blows cast out a light that could be seen for a thousand kilometers, and clashed with the force to cleave mountains. None could keep up with the naked eye, they could only feel the result of this contest as a tempest raging all around them. The ancient buildings around them collapsed under the strain. The longer Cloudhawk watched the more astonished he became. Be it physical or mental strength, the Khan of Evernight had reached stupendous heights. Compared to Vulkan, the two were diametric opposites. While the old drunk had focused his training on physical prowess, the Khan¡¯s primary focus was obviously in psychic power. In terms of true strength, the Khan revealed bursts that were comparable to the current Templar commander Phain Mist. Yet the way he used his relics and the depth of his mental fortitude was on the scale of someone like the Crimson One. He was unequivocally a Master of his craft ¨C a dark sage from a mysterious land. It was clear this stranger¡¯s vaulted title was not just for show. For the moment there was no way to tell who would win their contest. ¡°Fuck, this is gonna be a problem.¡± Cloudhawk seemed to realize something and slapped his forehead while grumbling to Hellflower. ¡°Quick, get to Hyena and make sure you keep eyes on him.¡± Hellflower snapped back to the present. Whether or not the old drunk could beat the Khan was yet to be determined. All they could do was parade out the Wendigo King like a bad child and hope to threaten their attackers. But the Khan of Evernight wasn¡¯t a beast. There was no way to know whether such a low-brow move would help, but it was better than just standing around. Hellflower went to fetch Hyena, but before she could go a few steps a shuddering explosion rose from the jail. She watched as a string of figures poured out ¨C a coterie of black-armored soldiers with the Wendigo King in the center. They quickly absconded toward the Khan and his soldiers. Cloudhawk was blindsided. Fuck! When had they even sneaked in? They¡¯d been taken in. The Khan¡¯s presence was meant to keep their attention off the prison. In fact he¡¯d sent men into the city to infiltrate the jail even before the airship made its appearance. While Cloudhawk was busy going back and forth with the Khan, they were freeing their companion. They¡¯d only figured it out after everything was done. Vulkan and the Khan disengaged. Their contest had resulted in a draw, but not really. From the beginning, this whole scene had been controlled by the Khan of Evernight. ¡°I heard you were intelligent, but it is obvious you are still too young.¡± The Khan stood in front of Hyena, staring at Cloudhawk with his electric red eyes. ¡°You are too focused on the fight at hand and have no grasp of the battlefield as a whole. By the time you realized your folly, it was too late. I had no need to defeat your champion, for I had already won.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was a mixture of depression and frustration. While his foe sounded pompous and preachy, there was something more profound hidden in his words. 1. Totally Darth Vader. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 29 - Deep Waters From the moment Cloudhawk came face to face with the Khan of Evernight, he was swept up in a strange feeling. This mysterious stranger knew him somehow. And not just knew him, but understood him on a deeper level. How else would he have been able to so expertly manipulate the situation, or deliver such poignant advice? More than ever, Cloudhawk felt a burning need to know what was behind that digitized voice and pitch-black armor. Cloudhawk¡¯s hunches were almost always right, and one thing he didn¡¯t sense from the Khan was an intent to do harm. Usually, that was how Cloudhawk could tell friend from foe. The Wendigo King, after being freed by the Black Knights, presented himself before his Khan. The wounds they¡¯d put in his leg and chest were already beginning to heal and were not serious. ¡°I was foolish.¡± ¡°You are not to blame.¡± The Khan looked pointedly at the old drunk. ¡°Even I had not anticipated a man like this wandered so far south. Yet the power of one individual is limited. The south will change, regardless.¡± So it was as expected, Hyena worked for this Khan. That meant Red Scorpion was as well. Was the Khan this Master Red Scorpion had referred to? If that were so Cloudhawk could see why the wastelander was so arrogant. Being propped up by someone like the Khan would make even a worthless shit like Red Scorpion stand tall. ¡°I can¡¯t be certain if they¡¯re Elysians or not.¡± Hyena snarled at Cloudhawk and the others. ¡°We should eliminate them now, before they cause any more trouble.¡± The Wendigo King¡¯s relationship with Cloudhawk and Hellflower was tenuous to start. After how they treated him, the limits of his tolerance had long been reached. No remaining fondness from the old days would overcome their provocations. It was despicable for them to use him as bait for the Master. All he needed was a nod. Just the slightest indication from the Khan. He would then instantly call back his horde and turn this magnificent city into wreckage. Cloudhawk¡¯s face sank. It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid ¨C however strong the Khan of Evernight was he couldn¡¯t kill Cloudhawk, especially not with the drunk here. If Cloudhawk wanted to run then he got away, no question about it. There were a very rare few who could stand in his way. But if he did flee it meant abandoning Sandspire to destruction. However, much to his relief, the Khan retracted his vorpal weapons. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Sandspire¡¯s denizens blinked. Words like this from the Khan made them wonder if there was something wrong with their ears. Even Hyena was surprised and confused by the determination. He knew the Khan of Evernight was no pushover. He came at the recommendation of Abaddon, and since arriving in the Khan¡¯s territory had been a dogged follower. Down here, no one disobeyed their Khan. Although relatively new, the Master¡¯s presence and prestige had taken root in the hearts of his subjects. While there were others hiding in the darkness, powerful though they were, they did not hold the same sway. Why, then, did he choose to allow Cloudhawk and his rabble to openly defy him? It wasn¡¯t in his character. Soon they would be in open conflict with Skycloud, and though Cloudhawk may not be an Elysian himself he definitely had ties to the zealots. What¡¯s more he had the support of a dangerous woman like Hellflower and the deadly old man. With allies like that he would be a difficult foe to crush the longer he was allowed to live. Exterminating the weeds before they took over the garden was only right! Cloudhawk spoke up. ¡°Are you responsible for sending spies to Greenland City?¡± ¡°Those were my subjects, but I was not responsible for dispatching them.¡± The Khan¡¯s voice was the same emotionless hum. ¡°There are many powerful forces who are interested in you.¡± ¡°Like who?¡± Cloudhawk pressed. ¡°This is not an answer I can give you. What I can say is that no blood feud exists between us, so this conflict need not persist past this moment.¡± The Khan faced Cloudhawk, unmoving. ¡°On the contrary ¨C as a representative of the city of Nox I hope for your future cooperation.¡± Cloudhawk was skeptical. ¡°Cooperation? Did I hear that right?¡± ¡°We stand upon the precipice of real conflict with Skycloud. In this short time you have established yourself as a rare power in the southern wilds. For better or for worse you have put down roots in the middle of a tempest. You will be forced to consider which side to support, and if I may be so bold ours is the right choice.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t take sides?¡± The Wendigo King¡¯s eyes flashed an angry green once again. This whelp had no respect for his own life! He had no idea who he was speaking to, no understanding that the power the Khan commanded went far beyond what he could imagine. Cloudhawk and his handful of cities were powerless to stand against him. What right did he have to spit upon the Khan¡¯s offer? ¡°When the storm comes you will be unable to find safe harbor. Think carefully on what you decide.¡± The Khan made no further attempt to sway Cloudhawk¡¯s opinion. He turned and prepared to leave, adding as an afterthought, ¡°Your wounds heal too slowly. By my view, you will not recover anytime soon. Come to Nox, perhaps we have a way to help.¡± With this said the Khan and his soldiers absconded to their airship. Hellflower turn to Cloudhawk and looked into his gloomy face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t worry, if they could really destroy us so easily I think they would have done it already. If he didn¡¯t start a fight, to me it means he isn¡¯t sure he can take our territory. Anyway we have the drunk and the Shepherd God on our side. If they sent their rabid animals our way they¡¯ll just be lining up for the slaughter.¡± ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°Of course. We have plenty of people who can handle themselves and do it well. If this Khan of Evernight really expects a war with Skycloud, then he can¡¯t afford to waste his strength nobbling away on our puny bones.¡± That wasn¡¯t what worried Cloudhawk. He had the very uncomfortable sensation that he was being used like a chess piece. Unseen hands were shoving him around a board he didn¡¯t understand looking for advantage and he didn¡¯t even know the game. Peace and freedom. That was all Cloudhawk had ever wanted. Instead he was constantly being manipulated. At least he knew Wolfblade didn¡¯t have his best interest at heart. Cloudhawk muttered. ¡°Hey drunk, what do you think of that guy?¡± ¡°He was holding back, don¡¯t know why.¡± He was just as curious about the mysterious Khan. ¡°Even as the Grand Prior I¡¯d never heard of anyone like him. Very strange.¡± Strange indeed! Skycloud¡¯s informants had all sorts of intelligence, with proverbial fingers in every pie. It would stand to reason that someone as dangerous as the Khan of Evernight would show up at some point in their information. They knew about Abaddon when he was stalking the wastes, even though the demon had few direct conflicts with Skycloud. They even knew about what relics he used. So it was not strange that such a powerful player had showed up in the wastelands. What was strange was that there was precisely zero record of him at all. ¡°Fuck it.¡± Cloudhawk waved the issues away in irritation. ¡°We just keep doing what we¡¯re doing, building up Greenland and growing Sandspire. The southern wilds are a big place, there¡¯s no reason to think they¡¯ll come knocking on our door. We stay out of it like we always have.¡± Whether it was all some elaborate plot or something else, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to take sides publicly. The old drunk looked up at the airship as it hummed toward the horizon. There was something contemplative and inscrutable in his eyes. But he shook his head and cleared whatever the thought was from his mind. *** The Wendigo King was still struggling to understand his Khan¡¯s decision. How many opponents had they chewed up and spit out without a word over the last few years? Only to be so tolerant to Cloudhawk. But the Khan had no intention of explaining himself. When they entered the airship, the Khan of Evernight settled into an absolutely stillness like a robot with its batteries drained. The way he sat without moving, he might as well have been dead. So they flew in silence for a time until eventually returning to Wolf¡¯s Den. Red Scorpion had been waiting for them for some time. ¡°Skycloud has begun to make their move.¡± The Khan of Evernight came back to life and made his announcement. ¡°We will no longer send out feelers to probe for Greenland¡¯s weaknesses. We only monitor their situation.¡± ¡°But...¡± Red Scorpion scowled. ¡°Master didn¡¯t account for this.¡± ¡°My word is law,¡± came the definitive answer. Red Scorpion trembled. In truth, the Khan of Evernight was not his master. There was a more secret figure behind the scenes. However the Khan was important to his master, far more important than him. When he said his word was law, he was right. Red Scorpion could do nothing but obey. ¡°We must focus all of our strength on battling Skycloud. Arcturus Cloude requires nothing but our absolute fiercest opposition. We can spare nothing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see anything to be afraid of.¡± Red Scorpion¡¯s words were full of pomp and disdain as he proceeded to talk up his superiors. ¡°Between you and the Master, Arcturus Cloude might as well be an insect.¡± ¡°Were that so, Skycloud would have fallen a long time ago.¡± As always, the Khan of Evernight¡¯s voice was wholly emotionless. However, inexplicably, it bore a palpable gravitas. ¡°Now remain silent unless spoken to. Do not forget that it is indeed you who are the insect. Were I to snuff the life from you, who would stand in your defense?¡± Red Scorpion was so terrified he fell to his knees. He didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d said to offend his superior. ¡°From now on you all have new orders.¡± The Khan of Evernight described what he required of Red Scorpion and the Wendigo King. They left immediately to enact his wishes. The Khan of Evernight turned away and peered toward the northern horizon with his red eyes. A muffled voice spoke through the mask, this time unchanged and normal. ¡°It begins.¡± It was a deep, hoarse voice that sounded now. ¡°After years of preparation. Arcturus, are you ready?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 30 - Brothers A troop of fighters lurked among the wastelands hills. A bony older man wrapped in black cloth led them through the punishing terrain. Behind him was a younger man with a monstrous left arm, a fat man with a huge ax, an old man with three eyes and others. This was the core of the Hand of Gehenna. The man in black robes was Inkspecter. Squall was the one with the bulging and frightening left arm. The one with the ax was Ravenous Tiger. Three-Eyed Spider was the elderly scholar with three eyes. In addition to them was Blackfiend who walked beside Squall, and Raven who stayed close to Three-Eyed Spider. Inkspecter and Ravenous Tiger also had their own small contingent of bodyguards. All told there was about two hundred, but despite their small numbers this was not a group to trifle with. Inkspecter kept moving forward, his eyes fixed on a point up ahead. Several Elysian warships shuttled back and forth overhead. Lately Elysians had been actively setting up forward operations bases through the wastelands which were marked by tall towers. Various weapons and defensive tools were in different stages of preparation. Ravenous Tiger stared at the scene splayed out before them. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s turning its attention to the south. No wonder things have been so quiet lately.¡± ¡°A lot has changed in the Elysian lands over the last year. Powers lurking for years in the darkness are also beginning to stir. There will be a lot of interesting things to see coming in the future.¡± Three-Eyed Spider had spent many years in the south. He¡¯d heard rumors of those mysterious forces. ¡°But our job is to seek the next Demon King, is it not? Why are we wading into these muddy waters?¡± ¡°These questions are unnecessary. You need only know your role.¡± Inkspecter chastised them in his low voice. ¡°Our future lies in the southern wastes, but we have no roots. This operating base is a fine target. We shall attack while they are still making preparations and steal away their ships and resources.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t look like they¡¯ll be pushovers.¡± There was some discomfort in Ravenous Tiger¡¯s face. ¡°I see marks of the Cloude family, too. We can expect some of their demonhunters to be here. Are you sure you want to offend that family so early?¡± ¡°Hmph, you worry too much.¡± Inkspecter was familiarizing himself with the base¡¯s layout. If the Cloude family¡¯s demonhunters sought to stand in his way they would not find it an easy task. His crew was not the foe that caused Arcturus the most headaches, so hunting them down wouldn¡¯t serve his greater purpose. Inkspecter waved. Squall nodded in understanding. Their small group began to spread out. *** The outpost had only been under construction for a handful of days. There weren¡¯t many troops yet and the defenses weren¡¯t complete, but with Cloude family demonhunters with them there weren¡¯t many in the wastes who would dare cause trouble. No one worried for their safety. Frost de Winter was their commander. He had turned his attention to the southern wilds, and the expeditionary force established for this mission was very different from the one they¡¯d sent north. In his campaign against the Conclave of Judgment, Skye Polaris had only prepared for less than a month. His aim was to strike quickly, before the fledgling alliance had a chance to establish itself. It was a plan that relied on Skycloud¡¯s superior soldiers and technology to take advantage of time. It also was intended to minimize the effects of a protracted war on their realm. The situation was different this time. They weren¡¯t after the Crimson One and a coalition of upstarts he¡¯d cultivated over a few years. What crept in the shadows of the southern wilds had been there more a long, long time. All the while it¡¯d been gathering strength in the darkness, slowly building itself up without any indication to the outside world. What was destined to emerge was a powerful enemy. The war to come wasn¡¯t one to be taken lightly. First they had to test the waters, then construct a plan of action. For this to work, the expeditionary force had to prepare for a long fight. A middle-aged man approached Frost, draped in the simple white robes of the demonhunters. His hair was fastidiously kept and each movement was graceful and purposeful. It was none other than Augustus Cloude, powerful veteran demonhunter and acolyte of Skycloud¡¯s governor. Not a lot had changed for Augustus recently, but this was not so for Frost. Before he had been as dazzling as a snow-capped mountain peak, but time only made him more magnificent. He had the imposing presence of an important man, and everywhere he went there seemed to follow a frigid air that made him unreadable. Surely this profundity came from his years of training under Arcturus Cloude. Before, Augustus could approach Frost as an elder, but as the young man¡¯s star rose Augustus took the role of a subordinate. He¡¯d watched him grow. Once, long ago, the gulf between their capabilities had been so vast. It was still, only now it was Augustus who watched Frost continue to stride forward while he remained behind. So young and already Commander General of Skycloud¡¯s army¡­ There were only a few in their realm¡¯s history who were so accomplished at such a young age. Frost looked up as Augustus approached. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Hammont Seacrest has dispatched several brigades from the vanguard. They¡¯ve sacked a city in the southern wastes and are in the process of establishing a base down there. Half of our patrol stations and other strongholds are complete and more supplies and logistic forces arrive daily. It can be said that the expeditionary force has firmly established itself in the southern wilds.¡± Here Augustus hesitated briefly. ¡°In addition, our Governor has delivered his next decree. He has sent a number of the older generation¡¯s best to aid us. They¡¯ve already arrived at the headquarters. As our operations continue to grow we can be certain the southern powers will start to react. As the commander of our forces we must make sure you also return to headquarters as soon as possible, to ensure your safety.¡± Frost nodded. This staging area acted as an outpost so it could not support an overly large garrison. If the enemy learned that the expeditionary force¡¯s commander general were her, it exposed him to great danger. Surely they would send their best to cripple the Elysian leadership. It was time to go. When they stepped outside they were greeted by an ominous sight. A dark mist had started to gather all around the base. It was a foul, unnatural haze that defied the winds to hang over their newly established outpost. ¡°Raiders approach!¡± Frost de Winter scowled at the scene. ¡°Sound the alert, gather our forces!¡± Augustus did not waste time worrying. He quickly passed the order and summoned their demonhunters. It took only a few moments for more than twenty of them to assemble around Frost. The remainder readied themselves for battle. But as they scanned the area for foes, the base shook from a series of explosions on all sides. The wall before the two men was blasted apart by rebel mortar fire. As the dust settled, Raven¡¯s stalwart figure appeared. He towered over the demonhunters in his metallic raven-feather cloak, and stared at them through unfeeling sunglasses. Expressionless he stepped closer, tightening his grip around the heavy minigun in his hand. In Raven¡¯s hands the recoil on even a gun as large as this didn¡¯t detract from his efficacy. Without a word he unleashed a torrent of searing lead in their direction. Even Elysian armor couldn¡¯t protect the soldiers from Raven¡¯s augmented minigun. His hail of gunfire ripped through them, and all of a sudden the base was awash in pained screams. Raven was joined by ten more soldiers encased in plate armor bearing heavy armaments. They splayed out, firing their guns in various directions and toward anything that moved. With every step they mowed down the unsuspecting soldiers. Their gunfire was concentrated on clusters and more populated areas of camp. Raven and his mechanized warriors seemed unstoppable. But they weren¡¯t alone. Attacks were coming from several directions. So sudden was the attack that Augustus couldn¡¯t tell how strong or numerous their attackers were. He waved at the demonhunters nearby. ¡°You lot, stop them. Commander, we must go!¡± The demonhunters positioned themselves to bar their foes. Augustus took two of their number as escort and fled toward the airships with Frost. Although Frost was a formidable force on the battlefield, his main role was command. He was too important to risk being injured here. What commander would throw caution to the wind and fling himself headlong into a skirmish? If he died, it left the expeditionary force bereft of leadership and defeated before the war had even begun. ¡°They aren¡¯t from the south. It¡¯s a big party, aren¡¯t they supposed to be hiding in the north?¡± Augustus stood on the deck of the slowly rising airship, looking out over the fight. His face darkened into a glower. ¡°What are they doing all the way out here?¡± An unexpected response came from behind him. ¡°Doing? We came to kill you, of course!¡± A sour but handsome young man emerged from the shadows where he was hiding. Squall Rover. He¡¯d been waiting here all along. Augustus¡¯ heart was filled with a cruel sort of mirth. What a fool. Infiltrating an Elysian warship on his own? What did he think he could do by himself? So naive to think he was any match for Frost de Winter. Augustus was about to share his thoughts when his voice was stolen by a cold light. A flash of steel, and several inches of metal protruded from his back. Augustus, mouth agape, looked down at the sword piercing through his chest, at the snaking fingers of frost that spread from the wound. It cut him off from his mental powers, denying him the use of any relic. Rimeshard? Augustus looked at the weapon in astonishment. His expression was mirrored by the two demonhunters by his side. Frost de Winter¡¯s expression was as frigid as it ever was. Without a word he wrenched his sword free then swung it once to the left and right. Before the other demonhunters even knew what happened, their heads were separated from their bodies. Their final thoughts were shock and disbelief. Why would Frost ¨C a hero to these men ¨C betray them like this? Frost kicked Augustus, forcing him to his knees before Squall. The wound to his chest was gruesome but not fatal. Obviously his intention was to deliver Augustus to Squall. ¡°Thank you kindly, brother.¡± Squall looked down at Augustus, lying prostrate on the deck. His handsome features were twisted in mad, savage hunger. He grabbed the man¡¯s head with his thick, muscled black arm. ¡°You must have known this day would come.¡± Squall lifting him up off the ground by his head. Filthy power oozed from the limb and poured into Augustus. It filled his body with loathsome energy. Squall¡¯s voice was hoarse, ragged with emotion. ¡°You will pay for your crimes!¡± Augustus¡¯ elegant features were twitching in agony. Before he died, he managed to choke out his ifnal words. ¡°Killing your heathen father was no crime! Not since he housed a demon child like you!¡± Crunch! Augustus¡¯ whole body seized up then went limb. Even up to final moments, he didn¡¯t understand why Frost did what he did. Why was he working together with this traitor? Why did Squall call him brother? One man was lofty as the mountains, the most illustrious member of Skycloud¡¯s young generation. The other was a traitor who turned his back on his home, who sold his soul to demons for power and freedom. Augustus Cloude would never learn the answer. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 31 - Complicated Relationships The warships stopped for a moment over the barren expanse of the wastelands. Squall and Frost disembarked. They couldn¡¯t be together long, otherwise it was bound to arise suspicion. Frost¡¯s face bore a warm smile ¨C such a rare thing for a man known for his frigid nature, and a fine compliment to his handsome features. The speechless toddler from his past had grown into an impressive young man. The same could be said for himself. He¡¯d come a long way from the shivering youth, furious and helpless against the tragedies he experienced. Now he was an acclaimed soldier, one of Skycloud¡¯s rising stars. Frost and Squall were all that remained of those who bore witness to Wyrmsole as he razed their village to the ground. When the smoke cleared they were set adrift, wandering lost from place to place in search of a future. Years later, one of Skycloud¡¯s preeminent demonhunters found him and took one in. The other was accepted into the family of a borderland merchant. From that point their paths diverged, and the brothers walked their own paths for a decade. Frost knew Squall¡¯s identity from the first moment he saw the markings on his chest, down in the underground tunnels. Luckily, Frost had been the one sent to hunt him down, otherwise he never would have made it out of Skycloud. None of this is what Frost wanted for his younger brother. He never thought Squall would fall in with Inkspecter and be groomed as a godslayer. ¡°Wyrmsole has died at my hand. Augustus is gone now, too.¡± Frost searched the young man¡¯s face. He spoke in soothing tones, which felt unnatural in his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s not too late to turn back. You can find someplace quiet to settle down. That¡¯s the only advice your brother can give you.¡± ¡°What about you then?¡± Squall looked back at Frost. ¡°You¡¯re still preparing to kill Arcturus. Can you give that up?¡± Frost¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. It was exactly the problem that had been bothering him for years. His parents were dead, murdered. Villagers who helped raised him were so many skeletons in the ground. Wyrmsole was the one who commanded the soldiers, but it was Arcturus who made the decision. The only way to earn vengeance for his family was to make sure Arcturus Cloude paid for his sins. However¡­. Could he really kill the Master Demonhunter? Even if he could, would he? It¡¯d been more than ten years since Arcturus took him in. The Governor had no children of his own to pass on his legacy, so he taught everything he knew to Frost. For more than ten years Frost followed dutifully by his side, soaking up everything he could until he realized with some surprise that he had come to worship the man. This teacher, this father figure. When the time came would he really be able to draw his sword? Squall recognized the conflict in Frost¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t imagine the struggles he¡¯d suffered standing by their parents¡¯ killer for so long. But beneath the icy lake surface that was his eyes there was a turbulent current that hinted at it. Contradictions abound in the heart of this man, who on the surface seemed as emotional as an ice sculpture. ¡°Whatever you decide, I¡¯ll stand with you.¡± Squall gave his promise and turned away. ¡°As for me? Yes, it is too late to turn back. I¡¯m committed to following this path I¡¯ve chosen.¡± Frost watched Squall walk away in silence. With him gone there was a strangely vacant feeling in him. Familial blood pumped through their veins, yet Frost couldn¡¯t shake that sense of estrangement. He¡¯d risked exposing himself to help Squall kill Augustus, in the hopes that his brother could win vengeance quickly and return to a normal life. Why? Why, after taking Augustus¡¯ life, had nothing changed in Squall? What destiny were these two brother fated to obey? Frost had no answers. He turned away from the shrinking form of his brother and returned to the warship¡¯s bridge. News of the assault on their forward base hadn¡¯t yet spread. Frost had work to do in cleaning up the scene. Although Augustus wasn¡¯t a vitally important man in the grand scheme, he had also been a close confidante of the Governor for many years. His loyalty had never been in question. Augustus¡¯ death had to look like an attack. Their ruse had to be flawless, otherwise Arcturus would know. He was still pondering the logistics when Hammont Seacrest approached. The fat man interrupted him with an apologetic and humble look on his face. He came with a group of men he clearly looked up to, important men like Clay Cloude and others. Leading them was a pair lauded even among these notable figures. Frost regarded each in turn. Both were men he recognized ¨C more than recognized, their reputations spread like thunder. Most everyone in Skycloud knew who they were. The first was a sprightly old man with white hair who served as Archbishop of the Church of Divine Brilliance. His organization was the largest and oldest religious order in the Elysian realms. For most citizens it was the site of weddings and funerals ¨C the most important events in their lives. As Archbishop, Zoran Leclair enjoyed a high position among Skycloud elite. His companion was of similar age yet did not share the Archbishop¡¯s grandfatherly countenance. In sharp contrast his face was locked in an aggressive scowl and his eyes stared at everything like piercing daggers. He was the current commander of the Demonhunter Knights, Oren Cloude. He took the position after Sterling defected. While low profile, Oren¡¯s seniority in the Cloude family was even higher than Arcturus¡¯. Both men were illustrious representatives of their generation. Perhaps they were not as puissant as Master Demonhunters or Skye Polaris, but they were at least comparable to Grand Prior Phain Mist or greater. The future of the southern wilds was destined to be a complicated one. Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force wasn¡¯t enough to sway it to their favor, and Arcturus had to remain home to govern the realm. So it was that in his stead he sent these two to serve as needed. In addition there were several of the Cloude family¡¯s best fighters. The power at Frost¡¯s command was staggering. He had more real power at his disposal than any other commander in recent years, and was the youngest in history to achieve such a thing. Hammont Seacrest could not envy Frost de Winter any more than he ever did. Indeed every man has his own destiny. Compared to the new commander general, Hammont was worth about as much as a fart. Frost was a man born with an abundance of talent. In addition he had the trust and support of the Governor. As far as anyone could tell, in a decade or two Frost seemed like the best choice to lead Skycloud into the future. To achieve one¡¯s ambitions young in life¡­ what else could you ask from living? Hammont never quite understood why it was Frost was never happy with his lot. *** Squall returned to where Inkspecter was waiting. ¡°Well?¡± The strange man asked. Squall¡¯s face was devoid of emotion. ¡°Augustus Cloude is dead. I¡¯ve established a connection with Frost de Winter, so we can approach him with our needs in the future.¡± ¡°Very good. Frost is Arcturus¡¯ golden child and wields considerable influence, especially now that he is Commander General of their armed forces. We can use that through the relationship you¡¯ve cultivated. He could be of great help to our cause.¡± Squall did not express an opinion. ¡°What¡¯s our next step?¡± ¡°I have someone to introduce to you.¡± Inkspecter waved his hand and an older gentleman stepped forward. He was frail and did not look like much, altogether very mediocre. ¡°This is Red Scorpion, brother to Three-Eyed Spider and former Governor of a wasteland city. He has defected to our service. He¡¯d spent decades living in the harsh southern wilds and has gathered his own crew and a place of shelter.¡± Squall looked the newcomer over. Three-Eyed Spider was a man of great talent, but this Red Scorpion seemed far inferior to his brother. However, now that Red Scorpion was a part of the Hand of Gehenna, they could use him to establish a foundation for their work in the south. He wasn¡¯t a man who could offer much in terms of strength, but he was a recognized name in the south, especially his crew. Red Scorpion comfortably led a group of over a thousand sweepers ¨C an important resources for the sorely undermanned Hand of Gehenna. The southerner respectfully presented himself before Squall. ¡°I hope I can be of service to you, deputy leader.¡± ¡°What brought you to us?¡± Squall inquired. ¡°Ordinary people in the southern wastes might not know of you, but how could I not? The south is changing. Nox and the Khan of Evernight have begun to spread their influence and the Elysians are sending the expeditionary force. I am the Khan¡¯s man, but I need powerful allies to keep up appearances.¡± ¡°Hmph, all these years and you¡¯re still mucking about!¡± Three-Eyed Spider glowered dubiously at his brother, and had seemed displeased the moment he learned he¡¯d joined with them. ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, Sandspire used to be under your control. A fine place, good infrastructure. If I were in charge it would serve our purposes very well indeed, so what are you doing here?¡± Before being forced out by Hellflower, Three-Eyed Spider was the Dark Atom¡¯s foremost scientific genius. Even now, after being replaced, he refused to believe that he was in any way inferior to that awful woman. Even though she was considered a scientific savant there was only so much a single person could know. Hellflower couldn¡¯t absorb the intricacies of every subject, no matter how hard she tried. Her primary focus of course had always been bioresearch and genetic engineering. Three-Eyed Spider, on the other hand, was unparalleled in his knowledge of cybernetics and mechanical technology. His masterpiece, Raven, spoke to the breadth of his abilities. The cyborg¡¯s prowess on the battlefield was no less impactful than that of a veteran demonhunter. He was a representation of the power of science. Yet these magnificent achievements didn¡¯t appear from thin air. Great science required tremendous foundations and support. Red Scorpion sighed at his brother¡¯s accusations. ¡°Don¡¯t even bring it up. Sandspire would be firmly under my control if it wasn¡¯t for this ¡®Cloudhawk¡¯ fellow meddling in everyone¡¯s business. ¡°What did you say? Cloudhawk!?¡± A knowing glance was passed around. It really was a small world. Cloudhawk had become an active presence lately, both in the Elysian lands and in the wastelands. However he had been conspicuously absent from any intelligence over the last few months. They were surprised to learn that he had resurfaced in the southern wilds. That asshole danced around with the wind and showed up everywhere there was trouble waiting to be stirred up. Or perhaps he brought the trouble with him. 1. Interestingly, the phrase in Chinese is ¡®red person.¡¯ Communism intensifies. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 32 - Agricultural Community Outside of Greenland the landscape was rife with wreckage. Cloudhawk¡¯s fledgling territory was a place encased in ancient ruins. These ruins were different from the sort around Sandspire. Those were what remained of an ancient industrial metropolis with warehouses and manufacturing plants. So vast was it that even to this day scavengers were still pulling out valuable pieces of equipment to be traded. Although the ruins at the borders of Greenland were similarly vast, they were merely what was left of an ancient city. Cities had relatively fewer items of worth waiting to be excavated. What¡¯s more, the environment outside of the oasis itself was quite harsh. A thousand years of erosion and the blazing sun have reduced what could be used to ruin. Now the wreckage had become a playground for all manner of vicious wasteland beats. Enormous, savage creatures were a common sight lumbering among the slowly rotting husks of buildings. There were also hordes of infected things and feral mutants. It was a place where danger lurked around every corner. No one was eager to live in such a place. However, it was a mistake to assume there was nothing of use out there. It was large enough that ten Greenland Cities could fit inside, a complicated maze of jagged skyscrapers. Ordinarily it made for a fine protective buffer between the outside world and Greenland. Dangers from elsewhere were loathe to risk passing through such an inhospitable place. Now as the city grew, they found that the ruins were also a good place to install hidden watch posts. If an invading power tried to sneak up on them Greenland would know well in advance and could prepare. Dawn was seated uncomfortably in a small plane with Terrangelica in her lap. The vehicle took her away from Greenland and as they crossed the enchantment¡¯s border the vast ruins spread out before her. She looked at it with wide eyes. The world was a swath of rusty yellow that stretched far into the distance. Broken remains of what once were towering building were laid here and there, fallen monuments to an age long passed. It didn¡¯t matter how glorious they used to be, now they were only piles of metal and concrete, barely discernible from the sand that half-swallowed them. She had to ask herself; is an Elysian still an Elysian when they left home? Dawn peaked over the side, at the expanse of ruins that flowed beneath her. It was a vision that made her mind wander. She didn¡¯t regret leaving Skycloud and taking shelter with Cloudhawk, but she wasn¡¯t alone. A hundred members of her estranged family had followed her out into this place. What was in store for them? When she first defected from Skycloud, the only thought on Dawn¡¯s mind was vengeance. The enmity in her heart cooled through the following months, however, and as time stretched on she was confronted with how improbably revenge really was. Arcturus Cloude was a cunning genius. There had to be a reason why he hadn¡¯t culled the weeds in his garden, allowing Dawn and Cloudhawk to live. After all, if he wanted them dead he was more than powerful enough to see it done. Ever since committed herself to this course, Dawn had come up with a number of schemes and plans to make Arcturus pay. None of them seemed plausible, none of them offered any hope. And if there was no hope, what point was there in sticking to a doomed mission? She wasn¡¯t afraid of dying, but she was afraid for Cloudhawk and the others. Roc broke into her reverie with a quiet word. ¡°We¡¯re nearly there, Miss.¡± Dawn nodded and prepared herself. The Polaris family¡¯s young mistress had changed a lot. Roc remembered that the Dawn of yesteryear had never kept secrets. Lawless, reckless, always free with her thoughts and emotions. These days he often saw her in silence, mulling over something. When she took action, she did so much more carefully. Was she even the same devil woman everyone in Skycloud had tiptoed around? A lot had changed when the general died. If he¡¯d lived to return to Skycloud, Dawn would have continued to live happily under his guidance. Perhaps Cloudhawk would have taken his post as general and married Dawn. Life would have looked so much different. Both passengers lapsed once again into silence as the plane made its descent somewhere on the borders of Greenland. Dawn disembarked onto a relatively empty expanse among the ruins. It was clearly a spot that was carefully chosen. On all sides the husks of buildings were heaped up tall as mountains to form a sort of border wall. There was no way in or out, except vertically. Inconvenient, but safe. Wandering wasteland critters wouldn¡¯t trouble them here. Central to this isolated area was a camp of average size. With some work it could easily be converted into a station for ten or twenty thirty thousand people. With the help of Terrangelica and the Heart of the Mire, Dawn had already terraformed the area as needed. Not only was it perfectly flat, but the soil was also soft and ready to be tilled. And that was exactly what they would do here, in Greenland¡¯s first agricultural community. Dawn had come here personally to see it get up and running. ¡°Miss Dawn, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± A bespectacled elderly scientist greeted her. He welcome Dawn with great respect, for though he didn¡¯t know her whole background her worth to Greenland was unassailable. Through her efforts Greenland City¡¯s infrastructure had exploded into a period of unprecedented growth. That was enough to earn everyone¡¯s respect. If these agricultural communities took off that would only raise her esteem among the people all the more. Dawn rested Terrangelica against her shoulder and looked over the area. ¡°How are things coming along?¡± The scientist shoved his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose. ¡°Very smoothly, Miss, very smoothly. Our first test field has already produced a yield. Please, come see for yourself.¡± Dawn allowed herself to be led to where they¡¯d begun planting crops. The whole thing was covered in white plants. It was a carpet of mushrooms roughly the size of a fingernail. They spread far across the field like a carpet. She watched for a moment as several hired hands from Greenland stooped among them, plucking the mature mushrooms for harvest. However there were far too many for so few workers. They would have to work all day and all night to harvest them all. Across from the workers were scientists busily pouring fertilizer. Of the mushrooms that were plucked, spores remained that were primed for the next round. The scientists used modified spray bottles to wet the ground with eboncrys-infused fertilizer, and in just a few moment tiny sprinkles of white started to sprout from the ground. In other words, the new harvest was growing up just as the old one was being gathered! Dozens of workers spent days toiling in the fields to gather these mushrooms, only to turn back when the job was done and find the fields replenished. It was endless work but provided stupendous yield. The Polaris family representatives gaped at the scene, and their shock deepened when bags of previous harvested mushrooms were laid out before them. It wasn¡¯t very long ago that Greenland was in a serious food crisis. Now it seemed like their crisis would be eating it all before it spoiled! The mushrooms Cloudhawk brought back from his journeys were immensely useful, even more than a trove of high-grade relics. If this had been available from the start, so many lives could have been spared from starvation. On the contrary, the wastelands would probably be booming! ¡°Originally they would only grow in association with the electric mushrooms. They¡¯re perfectly edible, non-toxic, delicious ¨C altogether a remarkable fungus.¡± The scientist¡¯s voice adopted a tone of reverence. ¡°Hellflower is an incredible woman. She was the one who figured out how to separate them, and now without the electric mushrooms they¡¯ve become a constant bumper crop.¡± Dawn couldn¡¯t help but sniff in displeasure at the mention of Hellflower. But even she had to admit the woman had some skill. Of course Dawn wasn¡¯t about to roll over, either. There was only so much usable space in Greenland and it was Dawn¡¯s idea to terraform land in the ruins outside to make their agricultural communities. Communities just like this one. If they used all the available land, this area alone was enough to support Greenland City. Dawn was the only one who could accomplish such a thing. Undoubtedly one of the best aspects of this fungus was its ability to grow anywhere, but throw it in a barren desert and it would grow much slower. Much better results were earned with suitable soil and tending. As for space, Greenland was pretty packed. It didn¡¯t have the space to accommodate a plot of land this large. When Dawn selected this area she first began by molded its surface with Terrangelica. She turned up the soil so that its more nutrient rich deeper levels were churned to the surface. Afterward she used the Heart of the Mire to transform it even further, preparing the soil for planting. The fungus performed in the same way as the mother plants they were gathered from in that alien world. So long as there was suitable energy to consume, they grew at truly stupendous rates. This was facilitated with the specially crafted agricultural plots, and the fertilizer with eboncrys ground inside. Two or three days was all it took for the crop to mature. Pretty damn good, by any standard. Out in the wastelands, food was the most treasured commodity. If you could promise people a mouthful a day they would pledge their lives to your service. Dawn knew that if Greenland really wanted to establish itself, then this food source was the cornerstone. What¡¯s more, Dawn saw this as more than just a form. If they brought some people from Greenland and set them up here, they could both protect the farmers and act as a periphery guard for the city itself. This wasn¡¯t the only agricultural community, either. What was stopping them from making a second, a third, and so on? Her vision was to eventually surround Greenland city with places like this. A screen against outside threat that produced sustenance for their people. Her plans aimed to strengthen her new home on two fronts. She shared her thoughts with Roc, who also thought it was a fine idea. Few places in the wastelands were suitable for large numbers of people to gather. What if they turned Greenland into such a place where hundreds of thousands of people could live and prosper? Would it be like another Elysian realm? War was on the horizon. Before long there would be scores of wastelander communities displaced by the conflicts. It presented them with an opportunity to gather more under their banner. Perhaps they could try Dawn¡¯s plan then. ¡°Time to get to work.¡± Dawn hefted her sword and did just as she promised. A place this large would take more than a day or two to transform completely. She toiled for much of that day and when she was finished the Polaris heir was covered in dirt and sweat. Yet despite her exhaustion, she looked out over her efforts with a satisfied smile. Roc couldn¡¯t help but take notice. ¡°Miss, take a rest. You¡¯ve already done a lot erecting buildings in the city. Running out here and working yourself so hard without taking a break, eventually your body will give in.¡± ¡°Oh, what do you know? This is just a sort of training. Out here, doing this, in this part of the world, I can feel my mental energies improving. In all my life I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever really worked this hard. If we don¡¯t put in the effort now then how can we succeed? How could we win vengeance?¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Nothing needs to be said. Maybe we can¡¯t beat Arcturus, but at least we can bring grandfather¡¯s killers to justice. Frost, Clay and that snake bastard Inkspecter. I need you to keep an eye out and tell me know the moment any of those criminals show up in the wastelands.¡± ¡°Of course, Miss.¡± Dawn crossed her arms and looked around. ¡°Too few people here. Organize some soldiers from the family and establish a small garrison. It¡¯s protected from the ground but there is still a threat from the air.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± With that Dawn¡¯s work was done for the day. She boarded the airplane and returned to Greenland City for her customary three hours of sleep. Every waking hour she dedicated to work and though it was difficult, she performed her duties with resolve. At least she was here, with the people she cared about, working together toward a noble purpose. When she thought about how much they were changing this place for the better, Dawn was filled with a sense of achievement. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 33 - Rapid Changes By the time Cloudhawk returned to Greenland City, several days had passed. Strong undercurrents were raging throughout the southern wilds, but on the surface things looked calm. Frost¡¯s forces and the Khan¡¯s agents were slowly spreading out, inching closer to inevitable conflict. At this point, however, both maintained constraint. No one wanted to make the first move. In the middle was Greenland, who staunchly refused to take a side. Whether Frost¡¯s men or the Khans, each sized up the other. It was like they were crawling over thin ice and the slightest provocation could cause the ground to open up beneath them. The oppressive conflict on the horizon was enough to keep them busy, so for the time being there was no sense in goading a neutral power. After all, Greenland¡¯s strength was not insignificant. Besides the old drunk and Autumn, the Polaris family¡¯s several hundred Elysian-trained soldiers were a force to reckoned with. ¡°Hello, Governor!¡± ¡°Welcome back, boss!¡± ¡°Governor Cloudhawk! Good to see you.¡± As he made his way through the streets various citizens hailed him. They recognized and appreciated Cloudhawk¡¯s power and what he¡¯d done for the city. It was hard to deny that Greenland City had come into an incredible golden age once Cloudhawk took the reins. The benefits everyone enjoyed were as plain as the nose on their faces. Cloudhawk surveyed his city, at the newly constructed residential towers that had cropped up through the city like mushrooms. Lane upon lane, neighborhood after neighborhood, all very orderly and expansive. By now one in four Greenland citizens was living in one of the new buildings. Scores more were in the process of being completed. Soon every citizen of Greenland would be able to leave their rundown, dirty, bug-infested shacks behind. Everyone would have the right to live somewhere new and clean, somewhere safe with food and electricity. At last ¨C after so many long years ¨C wastelanders would have an opportunity to establish a family and build their own society. In this place where materials were becoming abundant, the cruelty of a dog-eat-dog world was giving way to order. Beneath Cloudhawk¡¯s feet was a stone walkway, simple and easy to construct. It had become typical for the routes through the city. Those grass-strewn lanes were cleared, along with the rat holes and insect-ridden piles of detritus. As he surveyed it all Cloudhawk watched a group of guards pass by leading a robotic dog. Above him he heard the roar of a plane¡¯s propeller and saw a squad of eight planes swoop by a few dozen meters overhead. Those were aerial sentries that not only patrolled the area but could also be dispatched where they were needed through radio contact. One of the things they put the most effort into was public security. Out in the wastes, protection of one¡¯s settlement was always one of the most difficult problems to solve. It was in the nature of wastelanders to be fierce and unruly, but those sorts would find it difficult to cause them any heartache. Cloudhawk had imposed strict rules to combat just such a thing. Anyone who dared to cause trouble in the city was severely punished. Paired with the healthy fear the people felt for the city¡¯s Elysian martial artists, trouble was a quickly diminishing occurrence. The city¡¯s atmosphere was improving day by day. Cloudhawk continued his tour, eventually coming upon a market. To maintain the city¡¯s security and environment they¡¯d established several designated trading areas. These markets and bazaars where were people could trade their game or goods for other materials they needed. Lately the market had seen an influx of various sorts of machinery. It was a tangible representation of Greenland¡¯s closer ties with Sandspire. Food and water were always the scarcest resources in the wasteland. Once Greenland started providing them with whatever they needed, Sandspire was more than willing to pay in technology or other goods. Part of this trade included ancient communication equipment, tele-mechanisms and aerial vehicles. Sandspire¡¯s history spanned decades. It was rife with conflict and chaos, but there had been steady progress. It was at least stable enough for its industrial capabilities to flourish, as well as talented engineers and scientists to spur it forward. These were commodities no other city in the wastes could muster, at least not any time soon. Some examples were robots and ancient computers. Back in their time these were tremendously useful bits of tech, so complicated that no other city had the talent to piece them back together. Sandspire stood alone as the only area with the smarts and resources. But those were just the finished products. Hellflower was far more interested in their scientific minds. So, as part of their agreement, she picked out her favorites and relocated them to Greenland where they worked in her labs. This led to a curious incident. Hellflower, in her attempts to squeeze more out of Sandspire and with Cloudhawk¡¯s permission, affixed a price to the various soldiers they¡¯d captured during the attack on Greenland City. Any one of them was available for purchase by Sandspire. When news of this proposal reached the industrial settlement they immediately agreed. After all, these were citizens of Sandspire that were conscripted to try and take Greenland when Cloudhawk¡¯s reign had just begun. Since the city was sorely in need of soldiers and was rife with technology, they accepted their ransom. With their ransom in hand Hellflower was appeased. She ordered the release of their prisoners. And that was the end of it, at least for a few days. However what happened next surprised not only Hellflower, but Cloudhawk as well. The soldiers they sent to Sandspire were back a few days later. Not only did they return, but they also brought their families crying for a chance to live in Greenland City. They were even willing to return to living in the prisons, because being a Greenland prisoner of war was better than being a soldier for any other wasteland city. Every day was hard labor but at least they wouldn¡¯t starve. None of their duties included dangerous fighting, either. It was a far stretch from being force to live hand to mouth anywhere else. But most importantly they could also see Greenland was getting better by the day. They could feel how much safer it was living here. In their basic nature, all wastelanders were the same as anyone else. It wasn¡¯t like they were born with a desire to kill and sow chaos. Most of the time circumstances forced them into it. Who among them wouldn¡¯t jump at the chance of a paradise they didn¡¯t have to kill their way in to? Before now none of them would have thought such a place could even exist out here, but Cloudhawk and his men proved to them it was possible. More and more of them were convinced that Greenland City was the south¡¯s promised land. These folks were all average people. None of them could see the trouble brewing on the horizon. What they believed was what they saw in front of their faces. In reality, it was probably a blessing. Cloudhawk passed by a fenced area and the sight of it brought a smile to his lips. The sign hung on its doors red ¡®Greenland Institute¡¯. The gates were flanked by a pair of guards. ¡°Governor, what brings you here?¡± ¡°I had a little free time so I decided to go for a stroll. My feet brought me here so I thought I¡¯d drop in.¡± No resistance was offered, of course. Cloudhawk was their boss. With his hands folded behind his back Cloudhawk strode inside the school. Where once it¡¯d been a primitive collection of tents, it was now a fully functional facility complete with dormitories, teaching buildings and training fields. Greenland Institute now had over a thousand students enrolled. When he entered Cloudhawk was greeted with the sight of over a hundred students of different ages, running drills with an Elysian soldier. They were all dripping with sweat from the effort. He noted that their trainers had systemized the training even further than before in order to capitalize on their students¡¯ full potential. He kept going. Through a classroom window he heard a scientist instructing a group about the chemical structure of different items. That group was being grouped to be Seekers. Cloudhawk felt thrilled as he watched the vibrant scenes pass him by. He didn¡¯t stop to interrupt anything, however, and made his way directly to the heart of the campus. That was where Claudia taught her future demonhunters. Last time he checked, there were sixty children enrolled in the program. When he arrived they were all gathered for meditation training. Claudia was standing to one side, watching their progress. When she saw Cloudhawk arrive her face turned in a slight scowl, but it passed quickly. She walked over to him. ¡°Your instructions, Governor?¡± Cloudhawk grinned. ¡°You¡¯re the Headmistress, what am I supposed to instruct you in? How¡¯s everything going here? Smoothly I imagine.¡± Claudia¡¯s face eased. ¡°Wastelander children can handle a lot more than their Elysian counterparts. I¡¯m confident they will all grow to be respectable demonhunters. There are a couple with real talent, chief among them your little apprentice.¡± ¡°Excellent, good news.¡± ¡°Actually there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you.¡± ¡°Yeah? What¡¯s that.¡± ¡°Why did you want to open this school? You know as well as I do that most of the time training demonhunters takes a lot of time and resources. It will be years before you can use them toward any end. You put a lot into this but I don¡¯t see you getting anything in return.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t chance upon an understanding of this power, I would still be a lowly scavenger.¡± Cloudhawk offered an honest response. ¡°All of the change in my life can happen to anyone else, I¡¯m sure of it. Everyone has tremendous potential, I just wanted to make sure they have the best opportunities to draw it out. What I hope will happen through this school is that the world¡¯s prejudice against wastelanders might change.¡± ¡°And you think you can do this alone.¡± ¡°Yeah, I do. I mean, I¡¯m small potatoes and I don¡¯t have the power to change the world on my own, but what I can do is plant a seed in this barren ground. Who can say what that seed will grow into after a few years? Maybe an entire forest? I can¡¯t use a forest for myself and frankly I don¡¯t care. So long as I can see the saplings, that¡¯s plenty reward.¡± After her question Claudia was quiet for a long time. She remembered the first time she met Cloudhawk. At the time she was like any other Elysian, who sneered at wastelanders and looked at them like animals. She took the order to kill Cloudhawk without question. He was a filthy beast like the rest of them, so putting him down didn¡¯t mean anything. How much her views had changed after spending so much time among them! Humans were humans, wherever they came from. They were defined by what side of a wall they were born on. Claudia wasn¡¯t familiar with Cloudhawk¡¯s unique perspectives and experiences, but she liked her time here in the Institute. She¡¯d come to call it home. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 34 - Psychic Pearls Cloudhawk hung around the school for a little while. He stepped in to teach Blue and her classmates some martial arts and combat techniques. Although he¡¯d never undergone the sort of training they were doing, he at least had three years of experience in Hell¡¯s Valley and a lifetime of fighting to draw from. Near the end of the session Barb came running his way. ¡°Excellency, Hellflower has something urgent she wants to speak with you about.¡± Most of Greenland¡¯s leadership came from the Polaris family, with Hellflower being the biggest and most notable exception. She served as Cloudhawk¡¯s secretary and personal assistant in addition to her research duties. She played a role that no one else in Greenland City could. Lately she¡¯d busied herself with plans to continue Greenland¡¯s development, which right now meant establishing a wireless communication system over the entire area. It was a phenomenal task that had implications for communication, safety and industry as a whole. There was the potential it could improve every aspect of life for the citizens of the city. Busy was an understatement when it came to Hellflower. So what was she doing calling Cloudhawk over? ¡°Is she in her labs?¡± He asked. ¡°No she¡¯s at the God Tree.¡± Hellflower had something urgent at the God Tree? That was Autumn¡¯s territory, and she was too aloof and proud to share it with anyone. That was to say nothing of her less than friendly temperament. What she hated most of all was being bothered by the lowly humans she was forced to domicile with. Even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare trouble her unless it was very important. *** Cloudhawk hurried to the God Tree. When he arrived he found Autumn seated on the back of her crystal dragon, which itself was perched on the tree¡¯s lofty branches. With a condescending gaze she watched the mortal come, but said nothing. At the foot of the tree a shrine had been erected. It was about five meters tall and at first glance looked like a stump wrapped in various roots. Upon closer inspection, however, its primitive facade belied something far more intricate. The strange sensation of fluctuating energies within it caused Cloudhawk to pay close attention. Hellflower was standing in front of the shrine. In a rare change of pace, she was not dressed in her typical scientific outfit. Instead she was clad in something more sporty and breathable. The tight-fitting clothing outlined her athletic body and didn¡¯t help allay the criminal thoughts lurking in the back of men¡¯s minds. Her silvery hair had been pulled back into a ponytail that extended to her mid back. Hellflower, at least for today, had forsaken her mature and erudite look for something a lot more valiant and heroic. Cloudhawk was struck by the strange change in attire. ¡°What¡¯s our greatest scientist doing dressed like a sexy soldier?¡± Hellflower¡¯s eyes flicked toward Barb who was standing nearby. ¡°I have something secret to discuss with the Governor. If you wouldn¡¯t mind giving us some privacy?¡± ¡°What secret am I not supposed to know?¡± Barb was displeased with being kept out of the loop. ¡°I¡¯m one of His Excellency¡¯s most trusted people!¡± Barb was a curious person by nature, so she found Hellflower¡¯s denial especially rankling. However Cloudhawk didn¡¯t intervene on her behalf. Hellflower was strange, but her decisions always had a logical basis. She must have had a reason for asking Barb to give them space. Cloudhawk nodded at her to comply. With no other options, she chose to sulk a short distance away. He watched her go then returned his attention to Hellflower. ¡°What¡¯s up, why all the mystery? If you¡¯re planning on bothering Her Majesty the goddess, then you can count me the fuck out.¡± Autumn¡¯s lips curled in a disdainful smirk. This foolish mortal didn¡¯t think his false respects hid what he really thought. Humans are such hypocrites. Hellflower leaped at him with a weapon in hand. ¡°First, let¡¯s see you eat my rod!¡± Eh? That wasn¡¯t an ordinary cudgel, it was an exorcist rod. He recognized it right away as one of the dragon-iron rods they produced here. He was so focused on the weapon that when it started to spin, for a moment he didn¡¯t understand the implications. With a fierce scream Hellflower swung it right at Cloudhawk¡¯s face. What the fuck? Since when could Hellflower use an exorcist staff? She isn¡¯t a demonhunter, nor has she ever shown psychic talent. He deflected it with his gauntlet and felt the considerable flows of power the strike delivered. Using the relic¡¯s power he deflected the energy away from himself and Hellflower so as not to harm her. The blast of energy tore into the earth nearby, kicking up the rich soil beneath. Hellflower still got some of the blow-back and staggered backward a few steps. It took her a moment, but she regained her footing. ¡°I use my rod pretty well, huh?¡± She flung the exorcist rod from one hand to the other in a showy display. Cloudhawk had never been formally trained in how to use an exorcist staff, but he did know that training mental powers was no easy feat. Even the students in Claudia¡¯s demonhunter class ¨C aside from Blue ¨C couldn¡¯t effectively use one yet. Hellflower had never received any sort of demonhunter training, in fact had never even shown any measure of demonhunting talent. There was no conceivable way she could use an exorcist rod. So how was she? What sorcery had she employed to get it to respond to her? ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I¡¯m not a magician. It¡¯s all thanks to our great Shepherd God and her wisdom.¡± She opened her left hand, revealing an orb about the size of an eyeball. ¡°Look, our latest and greatest discovery. A treasure produced by the combination of godly wisdom and human technology ¨C the psychic pearl!¡± Psychic pearl? Cloudhawk understood without needing Hellflower¡¯s explanation. The first thing he sensed when he saw it was the energy coming off the orb. It wasn¡¯t a relic, but instead pure psychic energy. In a way it was a lot like the sea of psychic energy that had been locked inside the phase stone. Of course, if the energy within the phase stone was described as a sea, then the pearl in Hellflower¡¯s hand was a puddle. When he thought about the mental energies of his predecessor and the stone it¡¯d been housed in, he understood. It meant that psychic energy was a resource that could be stored, even transferred. And if demons could do it, why not gods? The gods had overcome the demons in their terrible war, after all. That meant they were better at least in some ways. So the Shepherd God had found some way to create these psychic beads. What an interesting thought! Cloudhawk had to ask. ¡°How did you make it?¡± ¡°Do you remember the spirit creatures we found in that other dimension?¡± She meant the strange ethereal things that they¡¯d encountered around the ruins in the mushroom world. ¡°Those are the spirits of ancient demonhunters, even some gods. In the moment of their deaths, their mental energies and willpower fused to create a new form of existence. Incredible, right? I don¡¯t know exactly how it happened ¨C I still need to do more research ¨C but I suspect it has something to do with the combination of spirit essence and quantum science. These are areas of godly knowledge we mortals haven¡¯t come to master yet.¡± ¡°Well don¡¯t bother explaining cuz I have no idea what the hell you¡¯re saying.¡± Cloudhawk took the pearl from her hand and gave it the once over. ¡°What I can see is that this thing allows you to use psychic energy, right? So you found a way to turn those spirits into these psychic pearls, and the energy of the pearls can turn someone into a demonhunter?¡± The reason Cloudhawk had advanced so far so quickly was largely because of the inheritance locked in the Demon King¡¯s phase stone. Although the power in the pearl was a fraction of what had been in the stone, what if they could funnel it directly into a normal person? Why would anyone have to train bitterly to be a demonhunter anymore if they could be infused with power? ¡°It¡¯s not that easy!¡± Autumn interjected. She jumped off her crystal mount, her emerald gowns flowing in the wind like a falling leaf. She landed gently on the ground. ¡°The Demon King¡¯s inheritance is complicated, and the choice of object as its vessel more demanding. Only a very specific sort of person could accept what was locked inside. A very precise series of events, and if it is not done exactly then ten thousand years could pass before another Demon King arises.¡± These psychic pearls were not an inheritance. Rather they were the extracted and condensed essences of those spirits given physical form. Once their mental energies were coalesced, some mysterious method was used to force it into the pearl for common use. To put it more simply, psychic pearls could only be used to awaken relics. They couldn¡¯t be combined with a person to strengthen or create demonhunting talent. They were limited in uses and scope, and once their power was exhausted it would not return. So it wasn¡¯t Hellflower that used the exorcist rod. Actually, she had just found a way to have the pearl resonate with the relic and awaken it for her. Unless one knew otherwise, it looked like she had suddenly evolved the ability to use relics out of the blue. Cloudhawk had to admit, he was a little disappointed. However, that did not take away from how incredible this discovery was. If Hellflower could use an exorcist rod with the help of a pearl, why not others? Cloudhawk could manufacture enough of this to build a fake demonhunter army and vastly strengthen Greenland¡¯s power. He pressed for more answers. ¡°How many have you made?¡± Autumn answered. ¡°The number we can make is contingent upon how many of those spirits you can bring back. On average, one ordinary spirit can be processed into five to ten pearls. Each pearl contains roughly the equivalent of an average demonhunter¡¯s psychic energy.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes sparkled. That was good enough. What was stopping him from making a whole battalion of demonhunter-like soldiers, equipped with psychic pearls and exorcist rods or bows? Imitation demonhunters, sure, but he could make in half the time what the Cloude family had taken generations to produce. He would love to pull out a fighting force like that and watch Elysian heads explode in confusion. Autumn went on. ¡°The uses of these psychic pearls go far beyond what you can imagine.¡± 1. I¡¯m sorry, I had to. It¡¯s the literal translation of what she said. 2. ¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 35 - Dimensional Portal Psychic pearls were items only the gods could create. However, during the four years Cloudhawk lived in the Elysian lands he¡¯d never heard of them. He supposed it made sense. If everyone knew there was something out there that allowed any average person to use relics, why should they respect demonhunters the way they did? Autumn may have taken over a mortal body, but she kept the wisdom she had as a god. She used that secret knowledge to extract the energies of the spirits they captured to make these pearls. Godly society was so strange and unique. The technologies they employed were completely different from those ancient humans used. Relics, for example, were an extension of their strange techniques. Everything they built was constructed on a foundation of psychic power. Humanity only developed their mental talents after being enlightened by the gods. But they didn¡¯t understand that it was a power inherent within themselves ¨C most human believed these psychic abilities were conveyed upon them by the gods themselves. By creating the pearl, the Shepherd revealed at least one thing: Psychic power wasn¡¯t some ethereal, intractable enigma. It was more like lightning or electricity ¨C mysterious at first to the uninitiated, but with the right methods it became controllable. What if they¡¯d been making these pearls all along? Every society needed fuel to power itself. Was this the energy source the gods used to perform their miraculous feats? He had to wonder¡­ Elysians had a saying that the spirits of the strongest, smartest and most devout humans went to Mount Sumeru when they died. Back in the day Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have cared much about the implications. Until recently, he viewed the idea of spirits as superstition. After all, a spirit wasn¡¯t something you could see or touch. But now he could see and touch these psychic pearls, which were powered by the residual energies of those who died. By spirits. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind began to race with conspiracies. When the gods helped human defeat the demons, they ostensibly did it for free. Supposedly, out of a spirit of profound benevolence, they built marvelous Elysian lands for the humans to reside in, gifting them with power and civilization. Predictably, the tens of millions of people who were chosen to live in these Utopias began to worship these great and selfless deities. But was their selflessness genuine? Cloudhawk had learned that gods were not the omnipotent creators they were purported to be. Really, they were just a more advanced species than the humans they¡¯d come to support. A higher grade of being, much like humans were a more evolved version of apes. When humans gave them warmth and shelter, food and safety, apes looked at men like gods. But how could they know if these gods were selfless, or instead simply served their own secret agendas? The temple they found in the mushroom world was the most convincing evidence of his dark theory. When they explored the place, he and Hellflower learned that a huge number of demonhunters and clergy had banded together to charge into their temple and slay their gods. The arm they found showed that they were at least partially successful. What would make these former believers so furious? What would make them attack their own god? What did that long-dead civilization discover? Hellflower shuffled close and poke him. ¡°Did you hear what she said? Why are you just standing there like an idiot?¡± He brought his thoughts back to the moment at hand. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me that they are more than just external energy sources for relics? What other incredible things can they do?¡± Autumn knew many secrets, most of which she was loathe to disclose. The other uses for the pearls were no exception. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what she was so afraid of, but if she wasn¡¯t going to share it, he wasn¡¯t going to risk her angry by pressing the issue. He had his theories, and he would seek out the truth when the opportunity presented itself. Right now he would use them to make his young society stronger. He wouldn¡¯t turn down anything that made him or his people more powerful. Autumn turned their attention to the small shrine. ¡°Inside this shrine is seventy-five more psychic pearls. Their energies travel through the godly connections and aggregate her. It is comparable to the total psychic output of seventy-five demonhunters.¡± Cloudhawk and Hellflower had made several trips to the mushroom world lately, but in total they¡¯d brought back only a handful of spirits. Not all of them had been used for this altar and the beads either, as far as he knew. If what she said was true and one pearl equaled one demonhunter, then seventy five of them together was as strong as a Master Demonhunter. Cloudhawk pondered over the implications. ¡°Can this much power even be controlled?¡± ¡°Indeed, so long as the power remains focused by the shrine,¡± Autumn explained. ¡°In other words, if you fought from atop the altar you would wield the same destructive power as a Master Demonhunter!¡± If that was true, it would be incredible! Here in the center of Greenland City, this altar strengthened their defenses immensely! ¡°Right now, the power you wield is less than one percent of what the Demon King once commanded. But atop this altar you will fight as he did. You could establish a permanent and stable Dimensional Portal, instead of just leaping between dimensions. ¡°Hey, did you hear that?¡± Hellflower¡¯s face shone with excitement. ¡°She¡¯s saying that on this altar, your dimensional powers would be a hundred times stronger. You wouldn¡¯t be restricted to taking just me, you could bring whole expeditions into faraway worlds!¡± A gateway through the void? Cloudhawk listened with equal parts understanding and doubt. He grasped the main idea from its name. At present, Cloudhawk could only transport himself and one other across space, but with more mental power he could bring more people with him. It sounded like he could even burrow a more semi-permanent tunnel, these Dimensional Portals. Before, he¡¯d only slit an opening in the fabric of space-time. Autumn¡¯s efforts meant he could drill a wormhole. That¡¯s the gist of what they were telling him. He was finding it hard to believe, since no one but him understood the sheer amount of effort it took to leap across dimensions. Bringing Hellflower with him was already an incredibly difficult task. Bringing a whole crew sounded about as likely as making the sun rise backwards. Autumn had grown weary of explanations and didn¡¯t bother trying to convince him. ¡°Try it and you will see.¡± Cloudhawk walked up to the altar. As he did the structure reached out with tentacle-like vines. When they touched an immediately connection was made, like they were a part of him. A strange sensation came over him. His mind reached through a network of dozens of energetic lines that weren¡¯t his, but which he could manipulate. He felt like a general whose army was waiting for his command. Cloudhawk reached out his hands in front of him, palms facing each other, and called for the power of the phase stone hiding within him. There was a flash of light! When it receded a pitch black rock hovered between his hands. It hung in midair, shining brightly. Cloudhawk watched threads of energy reaching through the air. At his call, they swirled toward the stone like rivers toward the ocean. Ripples of power radiated out from it. It was a familiar reaction to when he pierced the dimensional barrier. He felt that he could easily rip open a path and slip into a new world, but Cloudhawk held back. Instead, he poured more energy into the fissure until he felt his head begin to pound. It was his old wound acting up, the pain which arose when he used too much mental energy. In that instant, he began to absorb the energy of the altar. At the same moment, the others who watched heard a sharp sound, like a mirror shattering. The area right in front of Cloudhawk fell in on itself. Cracks appeared, stretching from the center outwards. In an instant, each crack grew exponentially, as though some unseen power was pressing on reality and trying to break through. Then, an explosion. Cloudhawk was flung back several steps. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes as before him appeared a spiral portal. On the other side he could barely see the distorted scene of a vast and familiar mushroom forest. ¡°You did it!¡± Even the stoic Hellflower was as giddy as a child when she saw what he¡¯d accomplished. And why shouldn''t she? This was a tremendous leap of progress! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the Demon King, not yet, but he could create a dimensional portal already! Cloudhawk waved his hand and the phase stone retracted back into his palm, but the portal left behind remained unchanged. It didn¡¯t weaken at all, because the power that created it had yet to be expended. Only when someone passed through the portal would it draw on his energies. So long as the psychic energies that sustained it remained, this dimensional portal would remain open. He¡¯d done it! He¡¯d opened a full dimensional portal! Cloudhawk remembered when he first got the phase stone, as well as the scene that followed with the fallen Demon King. He¡¯d called it a ¡®key¡¯, and now Cloudhawk finally understood why. It was the tool that he¡¯d used to open the dimensional portals. ¡°With power like this, it is no wonder the demons could be defeated but not eradicated. Could it be the Demon King sent his kin to other places after the war was lost?¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment and was struck with a revelation. ¡°Mount Sumeru, Gehenna... these places aren¡¯t in our world.¡± Those names weren¡¯t literal. Mount Sumeru wasn¡¯t a mountain somewhere and the Abyss of Gehenna wasn¡¯t a literal abyss. He looked into the swirling portal. ¡°So with this thing open we can send a bunch of people through." ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Hellflower approached him. ¡°With just the two of us shuttling back and forth, we¡¯re wasting time and energy. It¡¯s very inefficient. Instead, we can establish a task force specifically for exploring these dimensions and bring back resources. We could grow a hundred times faster than we already are!¡± Cloudhawk fully understood just how incredible his dimensional powers were. With these secrets revealed, Greenland would quickly become as powerful as the most influential groups in the wasteland. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 36 - Rhino's Decision Rhino, Sandspire¡¯s ultimate warrior, was a man known as much for his arrogance as for his strength. That mighty conceit took a blow when he suffered defeat at the hands of the southern strangers. It was one of the lowest points in his life. But what he really couldn¡¯t stomach ¨C the fact that ached worst of all ¨C was how that invincible southerner had crumbled before Greenland¡¯s plain-looking representative. Such a dramatic contrast in power made Rhino finally grasp how insignificant he really was. All of his posturing and conceit was merely a show. He had been the biggest ant in the anthill, only to be stomped on by an elephant. Although Rhino was somebody in Sandspire, that city was nothing compared to the vastness of the wastes. Out there in the barren expanse, he didn¡¯t even amount to a fart on the wind. Before the truly strong, he was about as threatening as an insect. Luckily, his hide-like flesh saved him from death, though the defeat was a crushing and bitter one. The wounds it left behind weren¡¯t of his body, but of his spirit. It changed him, so that as he recuperated he made no threats to anyone and kept to himself. He had seen at last what true power was in this world, he knew he had no right to be so arrogant any longer. As he came face to face with the crushing realization, an idea started to rumble around in Rhino¡¯s head. It was an idea that got its hooks into him, one he couldn¡¯t let go of. So it was that after a few days he turned that idea into action. Rhino made a final visit to Sand Viper before setting off. The city¡¯s Governor was a little shocked and unhappy with the sudden change. ¡°You¡¯re preparing to leave?¡± The three-meter tall giant of a man had a scar on his chest about the size of a wash basin. When he was well enough to move, Rhino had decided it was time to go. Sandspire didn¡¯t have many capable men. It was a shame to see him go. Sand Viper¡¯s displeasure was evident on his face. Things were rather unstable in the city as of late, and word was the Three-Eyed Spider was back in the southern wastes. It was only a matter of time before he turned his focus on his former haunts. Three-Eyed Spider was not a threat Sand Viper could afford to ignore. He must have joined a dangerous northern organization by now. So there was no question that when ¨C not if ¨C Three-Eyed Spider decided to act, Sandspire would be in for serious trouble. This fact kept Sand Viper up at night. In fact, the only reason he hadn¡¯t abdicated his control over the city already was because of Greenland¡¯s support. ¡°I¡¯m just here to tell you what I¡¯ve decided. It¡¯s not up for discussion. I¡¯m leaving and no one will convince me to stay.¡± Rhino was just as stubborn as his namesake. He was steadfast no matter what stood in his way. ¡°I plan to wander the wastelands. Sandspire is too small, and if I stay here for the rest of my life I¡¯ll never learn what the world is really like. I won¡¯t even learn was true strength is. Now I¡¯ve said my piece, and there¡¯s nothing more to it. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll ever see each other again.¡± And that was that. Rhino turned around and left. Sand Viper couldn¡¯t say he didn¡¯t understand the sentiment. Rhino was an important piece of Sand Viper¡¯s strength, but he wasn¡¯t going to try and compel him to stay. After suffering such a humiliating loss¡­ the mental effects had to be catastrophic for Rhino. ¡°If you want to leave, I won¡¯t stop you. But if the word is to believe and the southern wilds are stirring, now isn¡¯t the time to go wander aimlessly. Have you thought about where you¡¯ll go?¡± Rhino hesitated. He had no answer to give. He¡¯d only decided that it was time to go but had given no thought as to where. ¡°The wastelands are in crisis. So far as I can see, if you leave without a plan, even a man as strong as you will be taken by the desert sooner rather than later.¡± A thought occurred to the governor, which he voiced immediately. ¡°I have a recommendation, if you¡¯re willing to try your luck.¡± ¡°Where do you suggest,¡± Rhino asked. ¡°Greenland!¡± Rhino¡¯s ugly face twisted into a dour scowl. ¡°Greenland has put it out that they¡¯re looking for capable people and have scoured the wastes for two sorts. The first are those with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and the other are the strongest warriors they can find. I heard there have been quite a number of people who¡¯ve flocked to the city already to see if they make the cut. If you make the cut, you¡¯ll immediately have status and a slew of benefits.¡± Sand Viper rose to his feet. ¡°Look, it¡¯s no secret that you can¡¯t beat those folks with supernatural powers. But that doesn¡¯t take away from the fact that you¡¯re one hell of a warrior. I know they¡¯ll see how important you are. Why not prove it to them?¡± It was the first time Rhino had heard Greenland was recruiting. But was that what he wanted? ¡°You say you¡¯re leaving Sandspire so you can see what real power is. Well, as far as I know there are only three places where you¡¯ll find your answer; the south, the Elysian lands, and Greenland. Try as you might, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any way you¡¯re getting into the southern wilds or the Elysian lands.¡± Sand Viper spoke with certainty. ¡°That leaves only Greenland for you to discover what you¡¯re after.¡± The Governor¡¯s words made sense, but Rhino was still uncertain. Greenland had many strong and mysterious people. It was rich, safe, and definitely a fine place to make one¡¯s living. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to go. He¡¯d insulted Greenland¡¯s unimpressive leader when he¡¯d come to visit so what chance did he have of being accepted? He shared his concerns, to which Sand Viper laughed and assured him it would be alright. Sand Viper and Cloudhawk had been in contact often over the last few days. After sixty years, the old man had learned to read a person¡¯s character pretty well. Greenland¡¯s new Governor was a man with a mysterious past, powerful and domineering. Small grievances were of no concern, and in fact if he let someone like Rhino get to him then he was just debasing himself. Sand Viper had another thought. ¡°How about I send Sand Tiger with you, bearing a letter of introduction from me? That should be more than enough to ensure nothing happens to you. That should be fine.¡± Indeed, the suggestion made Rhino happy. Sand Viper was right. There was nowhere to go but Greenland, so he might as well set up shop. Rhino agreed and left. Sand Viper then immediately ordered his son to come pay a visit. ¡°This is an excellent opportunity. Greenland¡¯s criteria are growing stricter by the day for those they accept, but if you go with him then Rhino¡¯s acceptance is assured. He¡¯ll be Greenland¡¯s man.¡± Sand Viper quickly shared his idea. ¡°Set out immediately with Rhino and your men. Don¡¯t come back to Sandspire unless absolutely necessary.¡± There was something unusual in the Governor¡¯s voice and words. On the surface, it looked like Sand Viper was trying to help Rhino out of the kindness of his heart. In reality, Rhino had just been conscripted as a bodyguard. The Governor¡¯s real intention was to send Sand Tiger to Greenland and install him there. ¡°Things are going to get bad in the wastelands. I have a feeling the coming fight will be unlike anything we¡¯ve seen. I want you to be safe, and the safest place for you is Greenland.¡± ¡°If I go, then what about you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I am still Governor. They won¡¯t get rid of me so easily. Anyhow, as my son, you will almost certainly be given special treatment in Greenland. Meanwhile, I can focus on matters here. There¡¯s nothing to consider. Take advantage of this opportunity. There¡¯s no time to waste.¡± It was a grim premonition from Sand Viper. Greenland would become one of the few safe havens in the coming storm. Sand Tiger knew his father to be a wise and prudent man, so he gathered his people and prepared to leave. All together, he had twenty men, several of them talented scientists, and also employed two particularly special characters. They were a brother and sister, newcomers to the city. When news came to Gray Rabbit and Sister Bug that they would be leaving the city, they were terrified. Their whole world had consisted of Sandspire and the ruins surrounding it. They¡¯d never known or cared about what existed outside. If they¡¯d been given a choice, they would never leave Sandspire. But they didn¡¯t have a choice, and weren¡¯t even given an explanation. So they set off, an uneasy pair among a group with similar misgivings. Sand Viper watched his son disappear into the horizon with a delighted smile on his face. This was as much as he could do. His son would be safe, and now he could put all of his attention toward other things. Two days later. Rhino led Sand Tiger and the rest of the group toward Greenland City. During the journey that¡¯d be attacked several times by roving bands of mutated animals. Luckily, Rhino kept them all safe. Although the beasts around Greenland were in many cases more dangerous than those around Sandspire, Rhino performed his bodyguard duties ably and everyone was in one piece. ¡°This¡­ this is Greenland?¡± Rhino was stunned when he saw the place. Everyone had heard the stories, that Greenland City was a rare gem among the barren landscapes of the southern wastelands ¨C a place covered in dense forests and vegetation. But now that Rhino saw it with his own eyes, he was amazed at the scope of it. Even more striking was the seamless cascade of energy that shimmered around the border. To his eyes, it looked like a sort of massive glass bowl placed over the top of the forest. However when he looked up, he saw different sorts of flying animals trying to fly through, only to be repelled by the strange power. It was some sort of shield! A protective covering that enveloped the whole area. What wastelander had ever encountered such a miraculous thing? Were the stories true? Was this place protected by nature itself? Just the sight of this light curtain shield filled the onlookers with a sense of safety. When they came to the entrance, they found it flooded with wastelanders seeking entry. A number of infamous and dangerous figures were patiently waiting in line. It was incredible that Greenland could have such a draw on people. So many of the wasteland¡¯s best people were here, hoping to earn a spot in the new realm! It filled Rhino with excitement. Here was a crowd of people no less powerful than he. A real collection of power. All of them were waiting in line, hoping for a shot. Greenland was a paradise for men like this, a place where the mighty were as plentiful as the clouds. This was the reason Rhino left, wasn¡¯t it? It looked like coming to Greenland was the right decision. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 37 - Entering Greenland The entrance to Greenland was watched over by a small encampment. Here the many different wanderers of the wasteland were put up while awaiting entry. Each was given food and water for free in the interim. To protect itself from those with ill-intentions, Greenland had to subject these outsiders to strict review criteria. ¡°We¡¯re from Sandspire. My father is the Governor.¡± Sand Tiger presented himself before one of the Talon guards. ¡°I have a letter here written by my father, to be delivered to Governor Cloudhawk. With me here is Sandspire''s strongest warrior, Rhino. We hope to join your city.¡± The guard captain took Sand Tiger¡¯s letter and read it over. ¡°I don¡¯t care where you came from. As long as you are from the outside, you need to go through the review process. We¡¯ll take all your information first then send someone to verify it.¡± Was it really this strict? Sand Tiger opened his mouth to protest but was cut off. ¡°Hey, you up there in front! Stop wasting time, there¡¯s a whole line here!¡± A group of burly mutants began to shout in frustration. With no other options, Sand Tiger stepped off to the side. It seemed like their only choice was to submit to the same checks as everyone else. Strange, though ¨C this was the wastelands. No one knew anything except from word of mouth. What stopped visitors from simply making stuff up? What process did Greenland have to see if they were telling the truth? He didn¡¯t understand. One of the guards led Sand Tiger and his crew to a temporary building. There he gave them instructions. ¡°This is where you¡¯ll be staying. Every day, someone will come by with food and water. Don¡¯t go wandering around or you¡¯ll miss your chance to enter the realm. It¡¯s not safe around here anyway.¡± So Sand Tiger and the others did as they were told. In addition to food they were also given fuel for heaters, to make their nights more comfortable. The day slowly gave way to darkness. The temperature began to drop. The frailer sorts like Bug quickly began to shiver. Fortunately, a campfire was quickly lit and the tent walls kept most of the wind out. Besides¡­ Bug was frail, but she was still a wastelander. She was tenacious as a roach. More clusters of campfires appeared as daylight faded away. Between the lights and the camp residents, everything felt safe. After all, the sorts who came to Greenland for shelter were all strong, and the place was watched over by Talon guards. Sand Tiger sat before the campfire. A vast and beautiful starry sky twinkled overhead. He chewed on some scraps of meat and looked around before muttering with a sense of wonder, ¡°What sort of mysterious power does Greenland have, that they can entice so many strong wastelanders?¡± Gray Rabbit and Sister Bug thought the same. They were stunned by the mystical look of the place when they arrived, but that alone wasn¡¯t enough to bring so many incredible people from all of the wastes. ¡°Obviously, it¡¯s because this place is safe.¡± A voice that crackled with the weight of age sounded from behind. Rhino and Sand Tiger turned toward the sound, and there they saw a group of figures standing by the tent. The one who spoke was a wrinkled gentleman who wore tattered clothes and a pair of glasses that were missing a lens. He walked up to their fire and spoke in a slow cadence. ¡°For both the strong and the weak of any species, survival is paramount above all other needs. Our most basic desire is the desire to live. Am I right?¡± Indeed, there was no way to dispute the fact. A safe place to lay your head was the dearest hope of any wastelander. For many, it was something they would never experience in their lives. They would live in hardship, surviving hand to mouth like insects skittering through the rubble. Rhino gave this old man a closer look. He hadn¡¯t heard or felt the stranger¡¯s presence until he opened his mouth. That alone was proof that he was more than he appeared. Rhino also spared a glance for the men he brought with him. One was a mutant with a simian face and two burly arms. While he was seated and showed no sign of malice, Rhino was pretty certain he couldn¡¯t protect himself if the mutant wanted a fight. These are killers! Strong, dangerous killers! Sand Tiger didn¡¯t have his companion¡¯s keen sense. So, with no reason to assume otherwise, Sand Tiger greeted them like friends. ¡°Where are you from, elder?¡± ¡°I¡¯m called Mirage, a wanderer of the wastelands.¡± Mirage then indicated the ape-like man beside him. ¡°This is Ape. He had a crew in the Northern Barrens but the fighting pushed him south. Who would¡¯ve expect the troubles would follow him here as well?¡± It was Sand Tiger¡¯s turn to size up the old man. There was definitely something strange about his presence, while Ape appeared pretty average. When Gray Rabbit watched the stranger, he noted that there was definitely something unique about the old man from other wastelanders. His frail and shabby exterior was just a front. Rabbit didn¡¯t believe for a second that he was as weak as he wanted others to think. Neither man had the same aggressive bearing Rhino carried with him. ¡°You¡¯re a Seeker,¡± he blurted out. Greenland City wasn¡¯t just looking for fighters. Talented scientists were also in high demand. Mirage ran his fingers through his beard when confronted by the question. ¡°I suppose you could say that. I am seeking something. Greenland looks like a fine place ¨C young and exuberant. The wastelands are full of death, and places like this are hard to find.¡± Sand Tiger took up the questioning. ¡°So you lot are also applying to enter?¡± The old man¡¯s answer was noncommittal. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter much to me where I end up. But Greenland might have what I¡¯m looking for.¡± Sand Tiger and his small crew shared quiet glances. It was clear the old man was hiding something. Mirage wasn¡¯t the only strange one, either. Ape was his own mystery. All this time, he hadn¡¯t said a single word. Mutants were known for rash action, but this one just sat there like a boulder. Sand Tiger and the others knew when to stop asking questions. After all, everyone in this world had their secrets. They were all trying to get into Greenland, so there was a chance they¡¯d interact regularly in the days to come. Developing good relationships with future neighbors was a fine tactic. One thing was certain, however. Greenland¡¯s call to arms had definitely attracted some unique characters. *** Before the sun rose over the horizon on the next day, a Talon guard approached their group of tents. ¡°You¡¯re up! Come with me.¡± Sand Tiger and his group, along with Mirage and that crew, got up and did as the guard commanded. They lined up before a pretty, short-haired woman in worn and rugged demonhunter armor. In her hands she held a folder and asked a series of questions from it as prospective citizens presented themselves. Once the questions were answered, they were let through. Sand Tiger was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s how they confirm someone¡¯s identity? Seems pretty sloppy¡­¡± ¡°What do you young folk know?¡± Mirage chastised from behind. ¡°That woman is an Elysian demonhunter. Did you notice her necklace?¡± They furtively glanced again at the woman, noticing the item for the first time. What did it have to do with the questioning? ¡°I suggest you think twice before saying anything false. Answer every question honestly, otherwise you¡¯ll get tossed out on your ass.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relic, created by the gods. It allows her to read your mind.¡± Mirage¡¯s words would have been a terrible shock to anyone within earshot. The one asking questions was Barb, and indeed the necklace she wore was the seeker¡¯s torque. The torque¡¯s special abilities allowed the bearer to sense a target¡¯s mental and emotional state. It was a perceptual enhancer. When someone with less-than-noble intentions came near, the demonhunter could sense their schemes. In short, it worked like a lie detector. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s idea, for he knew that the wasteland was full of snakes. It was important that Greenland didn¡¯t let unsavory sorts in, and so it was well worth spending the extra time and effort to determine who was a fit for their young nation. The time came for Rhino and Sand Tiger to face questioning. Each answered somewhere between twenty to thirty questions and not a single word was false. When the process was done, they were let inside, apparently vetted. Next was Mirage and his crew. Greenland had a dedicated fighting squad for rapid response missions. Indeed, with the oasis being as dangerous as it was, even experienced trackers often ran into trouble. To protect them, Greenland sent guards to act as escorts. As they were led into the forest, their stunned eyes stared every which way. The outsiders could hardly believe such a lush place existed in the blasted wastes. However, their surprise was only just beginning. Eventually the dense forests thinned to reveal Greenland City itself. It towered over them like a giant of the forest. Neat and clean, its row upon row of gray towers reached into the sky. Its lanes ran straight and orderly toward the ancient (but well-maintained) fortress in the center. Nearby was an absolutely enormous tree that rose above all else. As their eyes rose toward its canopy, they saw planes and unmanned drones zipping through the air. Robotic men and dogs wandered the streets, weaving among clean and healthy citizens. What a magnificent display of order and cohesion! The street corners all had machines that broadcast messages from a local radio station. Towering mushrooms could be seen here and there as well. It was like walking into another world. They¡¯d never seen anything like it. ¡°Come with me. Let¡¯s figure out what job you¡¯ll get.¡± Most of Sand Tiger¡¯s small group served as engineers by trade. Luckily for them, Greenland was still in the process of establishing their mechanical networks and needed plenty of people with these skills. They were given suitable positions. Mirage claimed to be proficient in medicine, a position which counted among the Seekers and in high demand. As for Rhino and Ape? They knew how to hurt things. While Rhino had hardly any training, he was still as deadly as an Elysian officer. He was drafted into a special unit, one whose missions were far more dangerous than mere guard work. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 38 - The Goshawks The first thing newcomers did when entering the city was receive a job assignment. People like Rhino and Ape would waste their potential as laborers, so enlisting them in the special forces was the best decision. Such an appointment elevated their status in the city and provided them with unique resources and training to improve their strength. The two men went to the barracks, wherein they saw nearly two hundred wasteland mutants milling about. Each and every one of them was monstrous in size, with average height around two hundred and fifty centimeters. From the perspective of ¡®normal¡¯ people, this could only be described as one ugly group. Each freak was peculiar. Most came from wasteland cities and outposts and had been the strongest those settlements had to offer. A few were sweepers who broke away from their clans. None were inferior to the long-dead mercenary captains of Tartarus Company, who Cloudhawk had met so many years ago. About ten of them were comparable to Rhino, and roughly three were equal to Ape. Just being in the same room filled Rhino with a sense of danger. A lineup like this was rare and spectacular in the wastelands. The resources needed to simply keep them in fighting shape was enough to make most Governors¡¯ heads explode. Just think of the drugs needed to beef them up, and the food needed to keep them strong! ¡°Form up!¡± Rhino turned his head toward the shout. He, along with all the other mutants milling about, stopped what he was doing and rose to his feet. Like machines, they gathered into orderly lines, stiff as statues. It took them less than a breath to snap to attention, and not a single one was out of step. ¡°We¡¯ve got a couple greenhorns for you today!¡± The one who was talking was a one-armed man who¡¯d had his severed limb replaced with a mechanical one. Judging from his clothing, he was an Elysian of notable status, but was otherwise nondescript. The one-armed officer turned to Rhino. ¡°I am Roc, commander of the Goshawks. Starting today, you are my charges, and this man here is your instructor Rio.¡± Roc gestured at the Elysian soldier by his side. ¡°During your service, we will teach you the best martial techniques. You, who have only ever relied on brute strength, will learn what real might is. Our instructors will also teach you how to follow orders, turning you from a savage horde into a force of true wasteland elites. But there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch. If you want a spot in this town, then you¡¯re going to have to bust ass to protect it!¡± Rhino was finally certain that he¡¯d come to the right place. Nowhere else in the wastelands had the clout or resources to gather a group of high-grade fighters like this, much less train them. Wastelanders were proud, overbearing, and savage ¨C Rhino among them. Forcing them to submit to a commanding officer was no easy feat. Seeing this group hop to attention on command, silent and attentive, was nothing short of incredible. These instructors had to be something extraordinary, because the only way to make wastelanders fall in line like this was through strength. Overwhelming strength was the only method to make them surrender. Ape was among the strongest in the new group, at least as far as Rhino could tell. The others recognized it too, and they immediately installed him as a squad leader, with Rhino and the other greenhorns filling out the rest of the squad. Once they were settled in, they were told the Goshawk¡¯s rules, which were simple: The strongest became squad leader. Anyone who was displeased with Ape¡¯s leadership just had to beat him and take his spot. It was simply a matter of training harder. Beyond that, the only requirement was to follow orders! It didn¡¯t matter that their lives out in the wastes before were lawless ones. Now that they were in Greenland City, they had to tuck their tails between their legs and do what they were told. If they didn¡¯t, they had no place here. They would lose their opportunity to grow stronger. The Goshawks were few in number, but each and every one of them, from the instructors to the normal members, was a one-in-a-hundred fighter. Now that he was a member, Rhino was trained in all manner of things. They worked on his strength, speed, endurance and more. He was taught how to handle all sorts of weapons, as well as trained in martial arts styles only taught in Skycloud. As for those who violated the Goshawk¡¯s simple rules? Obviously, the only proper response was swift and severe punishment. The worst offenders would be immediately and unceremoniously thrown out of Greenland. Strict though the regime was, not a single mutant complained. The Goshawks had a special squad whose job it was to oversee discipline. It was comprised entirely of the Polaris family elite¡­ and one particularly ornery drunk. While he didn¡¯t look like much and was often absent, absolutely no one underestimated him. Every handful of days, the drunk led them through a series of martial exercises. On the surface he looked lame and half-starved, but when he demonstrated his martial arts everyone was amazed. He was stronger than they could have ever imagined. He could cleave hills in half with one swipe from his sword! He could redirect rivers with a halfhearted swing! At last, Rhino fully understood why so many were willing to be here and do what they were told. If they could grasp even one percent of the power they were now faced with, they would become stronger than they could ever have achieved on their own. Rhino eagerly threw himself into the training. Day after day, he worked as hard as his body would let him, and each night he felt a little stronger. Over time, he settled into a rhythm. Just as he was starting to think that would be his life for the foreseeable future, one day the instructors gathered the Goshawks in a field. By now, the Goshawks had a standing roster of one hundred and twenty elite fighters, each one unique. Some were specialized for speed, while others were sturdy and unyieldingly tough. Some were strong enough to punch through gates, and some had amazing regenerative powers. The Goshawks were a group of many talents, equipped to face any enemy. They were a little over a hundred strong, but they could take on entire armies of wastelanders! Rhino was convinced that there was no stronger wastelander-only unit anywhere in the world. This thought filled him with a happiness he hadn¡¯t known before. It was pride, pride in himself and the team he was a part of. Perhaps this was that ¡®honor¡¯ thing their instructors were always yammering. ¡°You¡¯ve all been in Greenland for a little while now.¡± Roc appeared before the mutants. ¡°Today, you will all be given your own weapons. Consider them a reward from the Governor, a mark of your status as a Goshawk. Here is the first batch.¡± A dozen Talon soldiers rolled a box before the crowd. When they opened it up all the mutants looked at one another wonderingly. Inside was a pile of large rods. They all varied in heft and length and had names etched into them. They were specially made for each Goshawk fighter. ¡°When I call your name, come forward and claim your weapon!¡± Uncertain glances were shared among the mutants. These were just sticks. What was so special about them? Was this how the Governor showed his appreciation for their strength and hard work? With all this junk? It was an insult! They should have just been given guns! Most of them were mutants, often born with sturdier bodies than normal, and they had undergone grueling training for some time. It made them tougher and stronger. A few of them could even be called novice martial artists, and they were capable of punching through iron plates! What use did they have for a staff? ¡°Greenland¡¯s Governor, Cloudhawk, has personally made these for you. Don¡¯t be fooled by how they look. These are anything but ordinary weapons. Try them for yourselves.¡± Roc picked one out of the pile. ¡°You, come forward!¡± Rhino did as instructed. The stick Roc had pulled out was his. For the first batch, only one in three of their crew would be receiving new weapons, and he was one. They were chosen for being particularly disciplined and hard working. His rod looked like a wolf¡¯s fang. It was two meters long , and thick as a man¡¯s arm at its widest point. Rhino walked over to a sturdy metal target and, as per Roc¡¯s instructions, wrapped his hand around the glass-like beat inlaid in the handle. Almost immediately, Rhino felt something moving through him. It was like some type of power that flowed out from his mind. He raised the rod high¡­ and what followed shocked everyone who watched. An incredible and mystical energy started to gather along the length of the weapon. Rhino felt it pulsing through him and he released a roar of triumph! ¡°Aaaaaggghhh!¡± He slammed the weapon down onto the metal practice dummy. It struck with unspeakable force, blasting the dummy into shrapnel like it¡¯d been made of glass. ¡°Did that really come from me?¡± Rhino looked down at the pieces of twisted metal peppering the ground. The expression on his face was one of disbelief. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was real or if he was dreaming. Yes¡­ yes! This was power! This is what he¡¯d been searching for! His mutant companions gaped with open mouths. After living in Greenland for some time, they¡¯d all seen demonhunters perform their mystical acts. It was unthinkable that this power gifted to mankind by the gods could be mastered by the heathen wastelanders. Every mutant who got a rod from the first batch started to strut around like they owned the place. Their less fortunate companions were sick with envy. Roc interrupted their boasting. ¡°This is the first batch created by the Governor. Each of you will have a chance to earn a weapon of your own. How soon you get it depends entirely on you.¡± Excited growls rumbled through the mutants, and morale instantly skyrocketed. What the hell sort of person was their mysterious Governor? In the blink of an eye, Cloudhawk became even more amazing and mysterious to these powerful fighters. He was responsible for building this incredible place. He was surrounded with strong, capable, talented men sworn to his service. He was able to steal the power of the gods and place it in their hands. Was this not enough to earn genuine admiration and submission? To be able to serve a lord such as him, their futures were bright indeed. 1. This is always a struggle and it drives me nuts. The damn thing is always described as a rod or cudgel, but it¡¯s given arbitrary lengths. This one is six chi long. A chi is an ancient unit of length corresponding to 33 centimeters. So this thing is two meters long. It¡¯s fucking huge. Now Rhino and most of the mutants here at two and a half to three meters tall so it fits them, but they sure as hell can¡¯t be used as described, i.e. mostly one-handed like maces. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 39 - Daily Progress Cloudhawk was quietly watching in a distant corner near the training grounds, while Dawn stood with her arms wrapped around Terrangelica at Cloudhawk¡¯s back. Her eyes burned with excitement. ¡°These wastelanders were already really strong. The training has been going well, making them stronger. Now, with these relics you¡¯ve been making and fixing for non-demonhunters¡­ they have explosive power even demonhunters couldn¡¯t stand against.¡± Cloudhawk was an expert at performing the unexpected. If Elysians knew that ordinary folk were using relics ¨C even the most basic relics ¨C their eyes would pop out of their heads. Most importantly, these weren¡¯t just regular exorcist rods; they were self-activating one! In other words, even though these Goshawks were heathens with no demonhunter training, they could still summon their mental power. Those noble demonhunters would have their haughty airs ripped away in an instant if they saw this scene. It would be a horrifying discovery to learn that mental prowess was not a god-given gift, just a form of energy like fire, wind or light. The only secret lay in learning how to harness it. Cloudhawk responded. ¡°This is just the beginning.¡± Dawn could tell that, since coming to Greenland, Cloudhawk had become an entirely different person. He was still green, but step by step he was becoming a real leader. Dawn was confident that in time he would grow to be someone great. I knew there was a reason why I liked this guy so much! ¡°What do you think of their abilities, Dawn? What level would you say they are at?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not at the level of martial artists, but they¡¯re strong.¡± She gave her honest opinion with the closest comparisons she could think of. ¡°I figure a hundred of these wasteland warriors could handle their own against a hundred low-grade demonhunters. The Goshawks would have an especially good chance if it came to close-quarters combat. But at a distance I¡¯d still say proper demonhunters would win.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Endurance, power and speed go to the Goshawks no question, at least when compared to average demonhunters. If you get the drop on them and start the fight at close range, then Elysians would likely lose. But if they get caught at a distance or their targets managed to slip away? Mm. The demonhunters have the advantage of possessing long-range relics to lean on. They could form up and cooperate to keep the mutants at bay. That¡¯d probably win them the fight.¡± ¡°Pretty sound analysis, seems to me.¡± Cloudhawk cast a glance her way. ¡°You¡¯re not as dumb as people say.¡± Dawn sputtered. ¡°Who the hell said that? Calling me dumb? I¡¯ll pummel their dumb asses into the dirt!¡± Cloudhawk chuckled. In fact, Dawn was quite smart in any field she took an interest in. She had genuine talent that seemed to extend to every field, and most of the time she was able to teach herself everything she needed. So long as she applied herself to something, there was no question that she would achieve incredible results. Because of this and all her hard work, she was considered akin to a deputy Governor. Her tireless efforts had not only led to the rapid development of the city, but the family she brought with her had become the backbone of the city. She deserved this status. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice dropped lower. ¡°You¡¯re right, they can¡¯t compare to Elysian Templars. We need to work harder.¡± ¡°Hey hey hey, learn to be content right? In Skycloud, creating a demonhunter unit a hundred strong would take years of effort and resources. You¡¯ve done it in a few months. There¡¯s nothing to be disappointed in.¡± Dawn was rendered speechless by Cloudhawk¡¯s insatiable ambitions. No; to aspire to match the Templars wasn¡¯t just ambitious, it was nearly insane. They were the strongest warriors in Skycloud! ¡°Honestly, the full potential of this force isn¡¯t even close to being realized.¡± Cloudhawk spoke with certainty. ¡°These mutants are outstanding physical specimens and have incredible, tempered combat instincts. If they manage to truly master Skycloud¡¯s martial arts and are equipped with a few basic relics, what¡¯s stopping them from dominating a similar force of veteran demonhunters?¡± Whatever his hopes, Cloudhawk had to admit the results up to now had been remarkable. He could only imagine the sort of havoc a force like this would cause if thrown into the midst of battle. As far as Dawn was concerned, Greenland was advancing at the speed of light. For the past two months, they¡¯d been sending out nonstop sorties to other realms to gather resources. The first crews mostly consisted of Talon soldiers, and every day they went out to grab everything they could ¨C relics, tools, spirits, plants, and so forth. Those tools which seemed useful went with unidentified plants to the laboratories. Broken relics were given to Cloudhawk, and spirits were brought to the God Tree. Everyone had a role to play. Autumn used the spirits as raw materials to create the psychic pearls. They were then sent to the fortress where Cloudhawk found various ways to make use of them ¨C like self-activating exorcist rods to equip the Goshawks. Greenland¡¯s manufacturing base had also grown by leaps and bounds, and a number of edible things had been recovered from other worlds to help fill out their agricultural communities. Dawn had established several of those communities both inside Greenland and out in the outskirts. Now they were working on erecting massive granaries that supported their burgeoning population, with plenty enough to spare for trade with other settlements. Scientists from Sandspire and elsewhere in the wastes kept coming in. Currently, Greenland had a tally of about three hundred. The eboncrys engine Hellflower developed was already being employed through the city in various ways. It provided tremendous impetus to help develop new industries and improve existing ones. Production was steaming ahead at break-neck pace. New manufacturing plants and warehouses were being built all the time and could hardly keep up with the demand. As for infrastructure and urban development, Greenland was enjoying amazing progress. As chief designer, Gabriel had remolded the entire city in less than three months. Of the city¡¯s fifty thousand residents, over thirty thousand of them were now in newly constructed housing. The markets were bustling hubs of activity all day, every day, and most citizens were able to find a job they were happy with. Dawn, at least, was quite pleased and looked forward to a bright future. Greenland City was progressing day by day. Each step made them stronger. They had plenty of water, limitless food stores, safety, and some of the best teachers in the world. They made their own relics, which in and of itself was an advantage that was unheard of and would improve with time. Together, they¡¯d created a city that defied expectations and imaginations. Through them, the wastelands were being lifted up. As one of the city¡¯s founders, Dawn of course felt pride and expectation for what they¡¯d built. If she had any regrets, it was that she and Cloudhawk had been too busy to spend time with one another. As a result, there¡¯d been no way for their relationship to grow. Dawn would not allow herself to fall behind Selene and Hellflower. She fervently believed that there was no one else qualified or destined to walk by Cloudhawk¡¯s side forever. Was Selene here helping him built a domain in the wastelands? No, nor could she. Baldur¡¯s daughter was too noble, and her ideals too stringent. She was imprisoned by her own stubborn beliefs. She couldn¡¯t match Dawn¡¯s attitude of determination in the face of self-destruction. And Hellflower? She was just as busy as they were. If Dawn was being honest, then she had to admit the scientist was just as responsible as the Polaris family for what Greenland had become. But what she wanted wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk, for Hellflower only ever chased her own aims. No ¨C only Dawn was compatible, for only she could combine her love and ideals to stand with Cloudhawk. When she thought about it, she felt even firmer in her resolve. There was no going back. ¡°Skycloud and the south have been in a stalemate for so long. Even now, there¡¯s still no news?¡± Cloudhawk and Dawn walked from the field back toward the city, shoulder to shoulder. ¡°Have the scouts we sent out learned anything?¡± ¡°As far as I know, there¡¯ve been a few scraps but no major confrontations. Elysians continue to build outposts through the region so that they can establish a permanent presence. Things are just as cryptic when it comes to the Khan of Evernight. His wendigo and wargs are spread out everywhere, and hardly anything escapes his notice. Right now, neither side seems to have the upper hand.¡± Cloudhawk rubbed his jaw. ¡°Sure is strange. Whatever they¡¯re planning, so long as they keep each other occupied then it¡¯s good for us. We can¡¯t afford to ignore this chance to build ourselves up. Our progress during these last few months is worth celebrating. We should go grab a drink!¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± His approval filled Dawn with joy. The two of them went to the fortress and sat down with a few bottles. Greenland was only where it was today thanks to grueling teamwork. In just three months, the city had been transformed from a lawless backwater to a proper city. In the process, Dawn learned that the differences between the wastelands and Skycloud were arbitrary. The domain they¡¯d built could be described as a miniature Elysian realm, and there¡¯d be nothing wrong with that classification at aall Cloudhawk had learned that so long as he was willing to fight for what he wanted, he could create a paradise even in the depths of hell. After they had wined and dined to their heart¡¯s content, Dawn returned to her small home. She was greeted by a Talon soldier who had come to deliver a report. ¡°Miss, I have the latest news. A settlement in Rotwolf Ravine has been attacked by an unknown wasteland power. Their leader has been killed and the settlement is in chaos.¡± Dawn¡¯s brows shot up. Greenland was taking in more and more territory. The stronger they became, the more settlements came under their banner. This settlement was one of the new ones. Greenland¡¯s large influence and resources meant that there were very few who would dare risk their anger. Over time, the settlements that had come under their protection numbered nearly twenty, with another ten proper cities on top of that. It was part of how Greenland had grown so large so quickly. The mutants who made up the Goshawks mostly came from these cities and outposts. Each settlement spread Greenland¡¯s influence farther, spreading the word of their recruitment call. When little brothers were bullied, it was the responsibility of the big brother to answer. Greenland couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye. Dawn scowled in irritation. ¡°What short-sighting fool is spitting in our faces? I¡¯ll go deal with this myself!¡± The Talons solder couldn¡¯t help but interject. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we first make a report to the Governor?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see he¡¯s been busy? He¡¯s got enough on his plate. We don¡¯t need to trouble him with nonsense like this. We came here to share his burdens, not to add to them.¡± Dawn snatched up Tarrengelica. ¡°Right, that¡¯s enough talk. Ready my plane. I¡¯ll head there immediately and nip this in the bud.¡± As promised, Dawn didn¡¯t trouble Cloudhawk with any word. She took a few Polaris soldiers and set off to Rotwolf Ravine. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 40 - Setup Rotwolf Ravine was home to countless rotwolf nests, that¡¯s how it earned its name. Settlers who were brave enough to make their home there had established a place called Howling Outpost. It wasn¡¯t the best location for a settlement. Often, they were harassed by the rotwolves. However, the underground river provided enough incentive that the settlement had grown to house over ten thousand people despite the dangers. Today, it was facing a calamity it was unprepared for. A group of sweepers had arrived from somewhere unknown and were trying to take the settlement. Without a word the invaders had attacked, slaughtering indiscriminately. Already, a hundred corpses lay strewn through the dirt roads, with the outpost¡¯s leader among them. The young and hearty were dragged away. Overnight, Howling Outpost became a nest of violent sweepers who spent their days ravaging the remaining women. It was a sad picture, but in the savage wastelands it was a familiar one. Dawn approached from the air aboard one of Greenland¡¯s planes. She could see the corpses left out to rot, many of which had become meals for the wolves. ¡°Bastards!¡± Fury bubbled up inside Dawn. Howling Outpost was under Greenland¡¯s protection. Were the fools who did this testing them? Did they think Greenland wouldn¡¯t respond? Now that this evil deed was done, they couldn¡¯t just sit back and watch. Today, it was Howling Outpost; tomorrow, who would be next? If Greenland didn¡¯t stand by its promises, it was only a matter of time before others started to question their loyalty. Dawn gestured toward the pilot. ¡°Faster. Hurry up!¡± They sped closer. Although some distance still remained, Dawn could clearly see the flames devouring the simple homes. Plumes of smoke rose turned the sky an ominous ashy gray. Sweepers wandered through the outpost, slaughtering as they willed. She could hear the cries of pain and sadness carried on the wind. Her anger broiled, nearly out of her control. But even so, she was clear-headed enough to recognize that something was amiss. These worthless thugs could have attacked anywhere. Why Howling Outpost? Was it possible they didn¡¯t know it was under Greenland¡¯s protection? Unlikely. Greenland had been making waves for months. They surely must know what was going on. It didn¡¯t make any sense. But it didn¡¯t matter. Dawn pulled Terrangelica from its sheath in preparation. From several hundred meters in the air, she jumped from her plane toward the outpost below. The shocked faces of her fellow Polaris soldiers watched from the plane, unable to stop her. Dawn plummeted from the sky, her platinum blond hair whipping behind. Terrangelica was held firmly in her grasp, its dull gleam reflected in her murderous eyes. She would not allow anyone to disturb the tranquility they fought so hard for in Greenland. Anyone who dared challenge what they¡¯d built would pay for their sins in blood. As she neared the sweepers below felt her lethal aura descending their way. They raised their heads and stared in shock. So¡­ beautiful! Her lithe body, long legs and voluptuous chest were the first things they noticed. It was like watching an angel descend from heaven. Surely, there was no woman like her in the wastelands. She had to have come from some mystical place. Dawned slammed into the ground. Her sword dug into the earth before her feet touched it, causing the terrain to explode. Power rippled out with Terrangelica as the epicenter, followed by blasts of energy that lashed out like serpents. Each blast caught the sweepers who tried to close in around her. B-O-O-O-M! A jagged spike of earth impaled a number of unfortunate attackers. Hundreds more drilling spikes of stone erupted all around her in an instant. Her foes were killed or mauled before they had time to react. In the moment of her arrival, nearly a hundred sweepers were eliminated. Those that remained stared at her in shock and horror. What human possessed this kind of power? Was this beautiful creature from the sky human at all or some sort of goddess? How else could she summon power like that? The wastelanders shook themselves out of their stupor. ¡°Fire! Kill the bitch, kill her!¡± Guns were raised and began to spray the area. But when the bullets came near each one was deflected by an invisible wall of force. Sparks were flying everywhere, but the bullets caused no damage! To the naked eye it looked like Dawn was encased in a shell of glass. The bullets struck the glass and caused it to crack, but the fissures vanished as soon as they appeared. ¡°DIE, you roaches!¡± Dawn swung her sword, casting forth a blast of power in front of her. Nearly a dozen spikes as thick as bamboo shoots shot up from the ground beneath her attackers¡¯ feet. They were speared to death before they could even scream. Since the battle in the Northern Barrens, Dawn had only grown even further in strength. Worthless thugs like this had no hope of giving her any trouble. These wastelanders were fierce but not fearless. Dawn¡¯s opening attack was enough to scare them to their core. Since bullets had no effect and it seemed even the earth rose up to fight for her, their efforts were pointless. Fleeing was their only option. Dawn followed their retreat with a dark chuckle. So stupid to think they could threaten Greenland with such pathetic strength! She pushed Terrangelica further into the ground and, shutting her eyes, extending her perception through the earth. For a thousand meters all around, Dawn could hear the footsteps of her foes reverberating. She continued to flood her weapon with potent will. Spikes rose from the ground far in the distance at her command, silencing those frantic steps. The sweepers¡¯ escape was brought to a sudden and bloody end. Soon, the dirt paths turned into rivers of blood. Eventually the Polaris soldiers caught up to their mistress. Rushing to her side, they stared in amazement at the forest of stone spikes, stained red with gore. Corpses hung from them like grotesque ornaments. Some were still clinging to life, writhing in pain as blood leaked out into the ground. The soldiers looked at one another, faces pale. Even they were stunned by the extent of their mistresses¡¯ power. Her devastating sneak attack had been taxing, but Dawn buzzed with elation. This was the first time since her grandfather¡¯s death that she could fully vent her frustrations. It felt like she¡¯d been holding her breath all this time. Her desire for revenge was stalled, and that caused her endless frustration, even though she knew she wasn¡¯t prepared to enact vengeance. Dawn couldn¡¯t cry to ease her pain like a normal girl. She couldn¡¯t burden others with her troubles by talking it out, either. Instead she had worked to turn her grief and anger into strength. Rather than let it consume her, Dawn worked day and night to use her weapon as a tool of creation. She built homes, warehouses, and farms until her mental powers were spent. When she had no more psychic strength left, she used her physical might until it recovered. It was grueling work which quickly became exhausting. But, she soon began to harvest the rewards for all that effort. Her strength quickly improved. Cloudhawk praised her efforts and the citizens of Greenland respected her for what she accomplished. Little by little, the aching in her heart abated. Dawn had no idea what life had in store for her, or whether she would ever win vengeance for her grandfather. But at least for now, she liked where life had brought her. She would be perfectly happy living in Greenland with Cloudhawk forever. It wasn¡¯t any kind of paradise, sure, but so long as he was there Greenland was her utopia. One of the soldiers trotted over with concern written on his face. He was one of the family elders. ¡°Miss, you shouldn¡¯t go running into the middle of the fight like that. You are our patriarch¡¯s only granddaughter. If something would have happened to you, we would never be able to show our face to the family again.¡± ¡°These worthless worms are hardly worth my time.¡± Dawn pulled her weapon from the ground, striking a dignified and imposing stature. She spoke stressing every syllable. ¡°So worthless that it was foolish to think they could threaten Greenland. Unless I¡¯m wrong they were ordered to be here¡­ so since you¡¯re here, you might as well come out!¡± Her loud accusation was answered by dark laughter. ¡°Heh heh¡­ simply incredible how time changes a person. Our young miss has grown up!¡± The sharp sound of a blade cutting through air reached their ears. But by the time the sound reached them it was too late, the attack was incredibly fast. ¡°Watch out!¡± Dawn¡¯s defensive shell was barraged by a dozen attacks in the space of an instant, and then came the sound of shattering glass. A streak of ominous magenta light caught Dawn in the chest, and the force of it flung her forty meters away. She only stopped after barreling through three nearby tents. The Polaris soldiers didn¡¯t know how to react. Figures appeared and closed in all around them. The leader was a lean and insidious man. With him was a young man, a fat man, an old man with three eyes, and several others. They were few in number, but each one was frighteningly strong. The sneak attack that caught Dawn unprepared was launched by their leader. Squall glared at the Polaris soldiers and sniffed derisively. ¡°We were waiting for Cloudhawk. Instead, we got the Polaris dregs. I didn¡¯t expect that the Elysian family would have taken shelter with him. It seems our intelligence was incomplete.¡± The Hand of Gehenna had learned that Greenland housed strong Elysians. It was in part what made Cloudhawk¡¯s new realm grow so quickly. What they hadn¡¯t known was that their Elysian supporters were the illustrious Polaris family. Ravenous Tiger chortled and gloated. ¡°The glory days of the Polaris family are done. Look how far they¡¯ve fallen.¡± ¡°Their commander has not shown himself.¡± Inspecter shook his head and waved a hand. ¡°This lot is useless to us. Kill them.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 41 - Dawn's Fury They had been ambushed! It was a trap set to lure in Greenland. The Polaris soldiers were not weak, but they could not fend off so many deadly foes at once. But as they struggled, the whole outpost began to tremble as though their conflict had awakened an earthquake. A surge of power raced through rising up from the ground. Squall grit his teeth. ¡°She¡¯s still alive!¡± The earth split open, and a forest of stony spikes were spat toward the sky. A number of the Hand¡¯s elite fighters were caught off guard. Too slow to react, they were impaled by a number of these spikes and died in gruesome fashion. However these men were far superior to the piddling sweepers they¡¯d sent ahead. By feeling the slight changes occurring beneath them, most were able to predict and avoid the attack. If Dawn hoped this alone would do them in, then she was mistaken. A furious roar rang out from the choking smoke. A nearby wooden house was cleaved right in two. Dawn¡¯s body ascended from the rubble and into the air. Her long platinum hair flowed behind her like a curtain of light. Though her clothes were tattered, her skin was still smooth and luminous as jade. No mark or wound marred its milky surface. Dawn exploded onto the scene wrapped in an imposing air, like a war goddess seeking vengeance. Inkspecter had launched that assassination attempt with his foul relic, Death and Decay. This was the same weapon that took the life of Dawn¡¯s grandfather. After claiming the general¡¯s life the relic had weakened, but it was still a deadly tool. Dawn¡¯s aegis mirror was similarly powerful, but it had been unable to protect her from the bite of her grandfather¡¯s former adviser. By all rights, even if that sneak attack hadn¡¯t killed her, it should have at least taken her out of the fight! However the aegis mirror wasn¡¯t her only Temple-derived source of protection. She bore another relic, from another temple, gifted to her by Cloudhawk. Because it was from him, she wore the silver armor all the time and never took it off. Today it¡¯d saved her life. ¡°We¡¯ll hold them off.¡± ¡°Miss, get back to the city and warn Cloudhawk!¡± Surprise and relief painted the face of the Polaris soldiers when they saw Dawn emerge. They cried out to her while fighting off the Hand¡¯s advance. They were smart enough to know that not everyone would be leaving the ravine. At least they could give their lives to make sure their mistress did! If they didn¡¯t, they would be dishonoring the General¡¯s memory. Dawn did not reply. She cast her eyes over her men, then the encroaching members of the Hand of Gehenna. Finally, her gaze met Inkspecter¡¯s. The anger that bloomed on her pretty face was like a smoldering volcano on the cusp of eruption. If looks could kill, Inkspecter would be ash. This black-hearted traitor had lived among their family for twenty years! He¡¯d watched Dawn grow into a woman. He had been her grandfather¡¯s most trusted friend. Even to this day, she found it difficult to believe that this man would be responsible for betrayal and murdering Skye Polaris. But the facts were there. There was the proof, standing right in front of her. She couldn¡¯t ignore the reality. Mr. Ink ¨C no, Inkspecter. He was one of the devils responsible for Skye¡¯s death. In fact, aside from Arcturus, he was the main culprit! Dawn wasn¡¯t there on that day. She didn¡¯t know what happened. But it wasn¡¯t hard to guess. If Inkspecter hadn¡¯t used grandfather¡¯s trust to lure him into a trap, Frost and Clay would never have succeeded. As strong as Skye was those, two fools would have been pummeled to paste by his fists. Killing him without some underhanded trick was out of the question. He was the one who murdered her grandfather. He was the reason the Polaris family fell apart. He was responsible for ruining Dawn¡¯s life! ¡°Despicable traitor!¡± Dawn no longer had control over her anger. She had to fight through the fury to form the words. ¡°Why did you do it?! When had my family ever treated you unfairly?!¡± Dawn¡¯s hysterical questions boomed across the ruined outpost. The faintest trace of regret flitted across Inkspecter¡¯s face. ¡°Day after day, I warned the General that he was getting old, that he had best step down. The world of the future wasn¡¯t one he could grasp. He was a hero, but one of a bygone age. Unfortunately your grandfather was a stubborn man. He never did learn when to back away. If he had only listened, we wouldn¡¯t be here now. His doom was one of his own making. It would have all ended the same, even if I never lifted my hand.¡± Twenty years meant a lot in the life of a man. It was impossible that he would have no affection for Skycloud and the Polaris family after so many years. No, he was not heartless. He felt for his former home. Even if he was completely cold-blooded, even if his ambitions ran deep, he was still human. As for how he felt toward the old War-God? He carried great guilt with him, deep inside his heart. Skye Polaris had been a forthright, honorable, transparent man. Unfortunately, in this day and age it was common for the stubborn and righteous to meet with grisly ends. The only reason Arcturus hadn¡¯t moved against him sooner was because there had been no need. The Master Demonhunter had any number of ways to eliminate the General, whenever it pleased him. His regret passed quickly and the stony expression returned. ¡°You call me a traitor? Then you miss the point. I have never been loyal to the Polaris family. My loyalties have always lain with Gehenna. The people of Skycloud are my sworn enemies. Once my identity was revealed, I performed the mission I was sent to achieve and killed the Elysian general!¡± Dawn was quickly starting to lose control over her emotions. ¡°Hey, hey. Don¡¯t you think we¡¯ve talked enough?¡± Ravenous Tiger muttered from the sidelines. ¡°We aren¡¯t far from Greenland City. We need to wrap this up quickly, otherwise we¡¯ll have their whole army on our heads. Cloudhawk isn¡¯t an easy sort to deal with, to say nothing of the people he¡¯s surrounded himself with.¡± ¡°Then get to work!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with her!¡± Ravenous Tiger hefted his ax and ran toward Dawn to do as he promised. A faint shell of light sprang up around his body. Meanwhile Dawn released the unbridled fury of Terrangelica. One after the other, deadly awls of stone sprang up under Ravenous Tiger¡¯s feet. But when they reached their target, the spikes were deflected by the shell of light, causing only ripples before exploding into dust. The former Governor of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough laughed tauntingly. He was strong in his own right, and recently he had been strengthened even more. Mystical secrets helped him empower his psychic energies, to the point where here he was now half again as strong as he had been a year ago. He was eager to test himself against a formidable enemy like Dawn. Three-Eyed Spider muttered. ¡°Raven. Go as well.¡± A faint red light glowed from behind Raven¡¯s dark goggles before he leaped into the fray. Raven was a powerful and high-tech cyborg, with as much fighting prowess as a veteran demonhunter. Before Dawn could face off against Ravenous Tiger, Raven¡¯s heavy machine gun fire was already screaming her way. Scalding lead was sprayed in a wide swath around her leaving her nowhere to run. But running wasn¡¯t on her mind. Instead she charged forward, her eyes fixed with a light of determination. She paid Raven no heed, aside from casting her left hand in his direction. A translucent shield formed around her hand. Raven¡¯s gunfire struck it but did not break through. Dawn¡¯s face had turned as cold as a winter storm. With her left hand continually deflecting bullets, she used her right to bring Terrangelica to bear. Finally, she hacked it towards her target and released a ribbon of martial and psychic energy. That streak of power roared toward Ravenous Tiger like a thunderhead. In the same moment, Ravenous Tiger lashed out with his ax. He cleaved it toward Dawn with the force of an avalanche. The opposing powers collided, and for an instant it felt like gravity increased a hundredfold. Deafening cracks sounded as the earth split. In the end it was Dawn¡¯s attack that triumphed, piercing through Ravenous Tiger¡¯s and ramming into his body. In her fury the woman¡¯s attack was twice as strong as average. A sound like something ripping filled the air. Ravenous Tiger¡¯s shell of light warped. What an incredible woman! Deflecting Raven with one hand and attacking Ravenous Tiger with the other?! She split her mental energies between two relics simultaneously, and still managed to win the upper hand in their conflict. Not only did she possess incredible mental talent, she was a better martial artist than most Templars. It was no wonder she was lauded as the greatest hope for the future of the Polaris family. Jealousy tugged at Ravenous Tiger¡¯s heart. It wasn¡¯t fair. They were both human. Yet, after years of grueling training, he still couldn¡¯t best someone with superior talent. Why was it that some were born and were cursed with mediocrity, while others were given everything from the beginning? For some, the pursuit of their life¡¯s goals was a constant struggle. For others, it was handed to them on a silver platter! Dawn gave him no space to retaliate, and now that they were in close combat, Raven could no longer rely on his guns. Dawn allowed the aegis mirror¡¯s protection to fade. Her left hand reached back and returned bearing a small shield. It was the shield Cloudhawk helped her buy at auction. Although not a wonderous tool, even the most basic relics were incredible in Dawn¡¯s hands. Dawn dug her heels into the dirt. Her mental and psychical energy exploded into action, launching her forward. She smashed into Ravenous Tiger¡¯s shell, shield first. With a scream the man was knocked off his feet. The impact alone had shattered at least ten bones. Dawn brandished Terrangelica and prepared to continue her assault, when Raven took the opportunity to assail her with an explosive round. The barrel-fired grenade landed in between Dawn and Ravenous Tiger, and the explosion forced the two apart. He is deadly! Raven leveled his heavy machine gun for another salvo. Even Dawn¡¯s sturdy form couldn¡¯t survive a direct shot. If she were exposed to this storm of metal, it would churn her body into paste. But her martial abilities were revealed in a remarkable display. She raised her shield and sword defensively before her. The tip of Terrangelica was shoved into the dirt, which again forced the ground to tremble violently. A surge of power raced through the earth and into Raven, flinging him away. Dawn released her grip on the sword and fished out a small stone which she threw after him. It was no ordinary stone, of course. From the moment it left her hand it began to grow, first the size of her fist. By the time it struck the ground it was already eight or nine meters across. Raven had got his feet back under him and fired, but as much as he chipped away at the rock just as much reformed a moment later. He couldn¡¯t blow it up, but at least his assault had slowed it down. Dawn¡¯s body continued its miraculous change. In a few moments it rose up to a full ten meters, becoming a gigantic humanoid that rose from the ground like a living mountain. Indomitable, unreal, with a single kick it flung Raven several dozen meters away. It trundled forward. All the while, the chips and flakes Raven had shot off regenerated. What terrifying power! What terrible strength! Inkspecter watched with a dour frown. ¡°Worthless.¡± ¡°This woman is strong but she¡¯s a spent bullet.¡± Squall knew that while Dawn¡¯s attacks were mighty, she couldn¡¯t keep them up for long. She was likely already at her limit. He stepped forward. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 42 - Setting the Stage Squall dove forward with murderous drive. Dawn met him with an ice-cold expression on her beautiful face. Her power was gathered and ready to be released on this foolish man. Only, just then Squall juked to the side, revealing a dark figure behind him. When this new foe leaped forward, he did so with a reaching black aura that choked the area in black smoke. He was almost too fast to follow and Dawn struggled to keep up with him. It was Blackfiend the Undying, Squall¡¯s sinister shadow. Upon returning to the wastelands, Inkspecter used his dark powers to strengthen the monster. Squall¡¯s deadly puppet was growing more lethal by the day. Blackfiend led with a punch. It came crashing down on Dawn¡¯s defenses like a storm of lightning and flame. The shell from her aegis mirror shattered. She staggered back as Blackfiend¡¯s crushing blow rumbled through her. But his sudden charge did nothing to dissuade her. On the contrary, Dawn¡¯s resolve only hardened. A burning will to fight smoldered in her eyes. Never in her life had she been caught in such a pitched battle. Terrangelica answered Blackfiend¡¯s punch with a streaking arc. A keen line sliced through the fog. The speed and power with which she lashed out was nothing short of incredible. Blackfiend was cut in half at the waist, while Dawn charged through his mangled body like a freight train. But he wasn¡¯t her target. Inkspecter was the life she was desperate to take. I¡¯ll kill him. Kill him! KILL HIM! Dawn¡¯s mind was a cacophony of sounds. A hundred thousand demons whispered in her ears, telling her to do whatever it takes to cut down her grandfather¡¯s killer. Skye Polaris demanded retribution! ¡°I¡¯m not done!¡± The dark mists gathered into tendrils of smoke that were sucked into Squall¡¯s body. Dawn watched him swell to nearly twice his size. His left arm grew particularly threatening. It was now pitch black, and when he swung it the air around his arm rippled from the bloated power. BANG! Terrangelica hacked into the limb but left no wound. In that instant, Dawn felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Her mental powers were spent. She went for a second strike while Squall reached out to capture her weapon in his hand. Dawn heaved her strength into the strike with the intent of cutting his hand clean off and then into the man who owned it. Yet much to her dismay, her sword did less than nothing when it connected with Squall¡¯s flesh, even though it could normally cleave through iron. Instead, the black arm devoured the power in the sword and left Dawn feeling weaker. Squall¡¯s demonic arm could drink energy! No matter how much force she put into her attacks, they were rendered useless. Once more, Inkspecter inserted himself in the conflict. He produced a strange relic in the shape of a long black thread which he threw into the air. Once released, it grew thick and long, then wrapped itself around Dawn¡¯s body. Before she could react, the Polaris descendant found herself held fast. Inkspecter¡¯s dark thread was unnaturally tenacious. No matter how Dawn struggled she couldn¡¯t break free. As the seconds passed, the thread continued to wrap itself around her until she was nearly encased in it, like a silkworm¡¯s chrysalis. Only her head was currently left unfettered. ¡°There¡¯s no use wasting energy.¡± Squall¡¯s body was entwined with tendrils of black smoke. He held Terrangelica in his left hand and threw it away like a child¡¯s toy. He looked at Dawn with an expression of deep contempt. ¡°It was stupid to think you could beat us all on your own. Your fate was sealed the moment you arrived here.¡± The soldiers who arrived with Dawn were quickly overwhelmed and defeated. None remained to protect her. They were far enough away from Greenland that no help was forthcoming. Who knew how long it would take for them to learn what happened here, or how long it would take them to respond. As Dawn faced the dire circumstance her mind went blank. All that remained was a blind fury which twisted her face. ¡°Just kill me!¡± ¡°Kill you?¡± Ravenous Tiger regarded her with a toothy grin. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever come across a girl as pretty as you. You think we¡¯ll let you off that easy?¡± Ravenous Tiger reached out to stroke her face while the other fighters watched with glimmering eyes and foul smirks. Dawn Polaris was a storied beauty in among the citizens of Skycloud, and from a respected noble lineage. She was a former Templar, and an accomplished demonhunter. These despicable men had never seen a woman of her caliber before. Now that she was in their grasp¡­ it was like their darkest dreams come true. Perhaps today, they¡¯d get a taste of a rare treat. One of Skycloud¡¯s most precious flowers, prickly as a rose. Who¡¯d have ever thought this would be her fate. The thought of what these wicked heathens would do¡­ Panic began to set in. Dawn thought about Cloudhawk, thought about her grandfather, and the sadness it summoned deflated her. There was nothing she could do. Never in her life had she imagined she would find herself in this situation. She would rather kill herself if she had the option. But as Ravenous Tiger¡¯s hand reached out, another hand grabbed it and held it tight in a vice-like grip. The fat man scowled petulantly at Squall. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± Squall pushed him away. He used hardly any effort, but Ravenous Tiger staggered several steps backward. He ignored the former Governor¡¯s anger. ¡°Touch her and I promise you will die a horrible death.¡± A cold light flashed through Ravenous Tiger¡¯s eyes. ¡°What, are you going to take her from me?¡± ¡°No. I know the man she runs with, and if you touch a hair on her head you will wish you were never born.¡± An image swam up to Squall from his memory. Though distant, faint, it was the silhouette of someone who had left a deep impression on him. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re stronger than Adder?¡± The anger fled from Ravenous Tiger¡¯s posture. He understood what Squall was saying, but he continued to itch from seeing that enticing figure helpless before him. He gritted his teeth. ¡°Whether I live or die isn¡¯t your concern. Mind your own fucking business!¡± Other fighters were in quiet agreement. A woman like this was practically impossible to come across, much less capture. Now that the opportunity had fallen into their laps, who would be willing to pass it up? How many chances like this came along in life? This went beyond just pleasures of the flesh. It was a profound spiritual victory. Dawn was a representation of Elysian nobility and superiority. If they could turn her into their whore, even for a night, then a gruesome death was well worth it. Most everyone here came from the wastelands, and wastelanders lived in the present. Tomorrow was a luxury they couldn¡¯t plan for. Their present had brought them here, where a delectable prize hung ripe for the plucking. Squall saw it in their eyes and scowled dangerously. ¡°Enough!¡± While they were so busy drooling over Dawn, no one noticed Inkspecter making his way through the crowd. His cold, unfeeling eyes swept over the soldiers. ¡°I will not suffer your foolishness for a lack of self control. That includes you, Ravenous Tiger!¡± They simply didn¡¯t understand. Why was this woman so off limits? Inkspecter turned to Dawn, still incapacitated. The look in his eyes was conflicted. No man could be as unmoving and unfeeling as the trees. When he took shelter with the Polaris family twenty years ago, this young woman was just learning how to talk. To say he watched her grow up was no exaggeration. All his life, Inkspecter never had the comforts of a wife, children, or friends. In many ways, the man he helped kill was the closest think he¡¯d ever had to a friend. He did not regret killing Skye, but he did feel a pang of self-pity. Now here was Dawn, his only friend¡¯s only granddaughter. He responded to the crowd of puzzled expressions with a tepid voice. ¡°Have you all forgotten our mission as the Hand of Gehenna? Have you lost sight of our real target, Cloudhawk? Without question, our actions here will upset him. Each step further down this path will make it worse, and what you ache to do cannot be undone.¡± A thoughtful pause followed as the fighters thought of the implications. ¡°If indeed he is truly the Demon King¡¯s successor, do you want to take that risk? Have you really given thought to the potential consequences?¡± ¡°How is that possible? How can a human be the chosen of the Demon King?¡± Inkspecter¡¯s voice was calm but cold. ¡°I cannot pretend to understand the breadth of the Demon King¡¯s power. However, I know a little of dimensional abilities, enough to know it is exceedingly rare. It was our monarch¡¯s signature mark, and for Cloudhawk to display this skill means there is a high chance he is indeed our target.¡± Ravenous Tiger couldn¡¯t help but interrupt. ¡°That can¡¯t be right. As far as I can tell, Cloudhawk has all sorts of abilities. Dimensional travel is just one of them.¡± ¡°A thousand years ago, when our Lord was defeated, He began the search for a suitable successor to facilitate His return. If this scion did not possess His power, then all of His efforts would be for naught.¡± Inkspecter continued. ¡°The new Demon King will undoubtedly be stronger than the last. That is the only way he could contend against the God King! The only way to overcome Sumeru!¡± They stared at their leader in dumbfounded silence. Squall was similarly quiet as he mulled over the facts. Could Cloudhawk, a mere mortal, really rise as the ruler of the demonkin? For the time being, there appeared to be very few active demons; Abaddon was the only one he knew about. What Squall did know was that every one of those creatures commanded stupendous power. As more awakened and banded together, what reason did they have to think such creatures would bend to a human? ¡°So what should we do with her then?¡± Three-Eyed Spider lent his voice to the discussion. ¡°Keeping her would only bring us trouble. What will we do if Greenland shows up in full force?¡± Inkspecter addressed his concerns. ¡°Dawn is a traitor to the Elysian lands. We deliver her to the expeditionary force. I imagine they would be happy to have her.¡± They pondered the idea. If they gave her to the expeditionary force, she would be immediately apprehended as a turncoat. Her trial would probably be immediate and her punishment swift. What would Greenland do then? That would be one hell of a show to watch. It would also be an opportunity for them to see just what Cloudhawk was capable of. Inkspecter was not certain that Cloudhawk was the one they were looking for. If he was not, then it didn¡¯t matter if he died by Elysian hands. If he was the Demon King¡¯s successor, then he wouldn¡¯t hide in his hole like a rodent. He would stand up. He would fight! This was destiny ¨C unavoidable fate. No choice or action could change the inevitable. The life of the Demon King was one of strife and struggle. Dawn had guessed correctly that these bastards were planning to use her to get to Cloudhawk. It made her even angrier. Being used this way to hurt the one she cared for was a fate worse than death. All this about a Demon King? Nonsense! Cloudhawk was Cloudhawk! He was his own man! This piece of shit Inkspecter had already killed her grandfather and now was plotting to destroy Cloudhawk. The traitor had set his aims on the two most important people in her life. 1. Does this sound familiar? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 43 - The Khan's Visi Lately, Cloudhawk had been spending most of his time in his lab. A steady flow of things for him to research came pouring in from the other world through the portal he¡¯d created. While he had yet to build a relic he could be proud of, he had already mastered the creation of exorcist bows and rods. Bit by bit his understanding of relics and their creation deepened. Proof of this was the wasteland-style exorcist rod. Inset with the psychic pearl, it could produce as much stopping power as a regular relic in the hands of a normal demonhunter, or perhaps even more. It was a crucial discovery. By making even these basic relics autonomous from the bearer¡¯s psychic energies, he¡¯d shattered the barrier between normal people and demonhunters, between wastelanders and Elysians. In creating these relics, Cloudhawk dispelled the myth that they were solely provided by the gods. Relics weren¡¯t divine gifts. They were tools with a unique source of power, that was all. Mental energy wasn¡¯t some god-granted power, either. It was a power source that was extractable and transformable. Meanwhile, Greenland had continued to attract powerful people from all across the southern wastes. These highly evolved wastelanders had grown up in a land that was harsh and unforgiving. All they needed to become elite fighters was a little training in the Elysian style, and a few pointers in the martial arts. Then, with the relics provided by Cloudhawk, they became practically unstoppable. Right now the only thing they lacked was time to build up. The Goshawks were only about a hundred strong and still untrained. So far, the secrets of martial arts were still mysteries to them, but there was nothing he could do about that. Cloudhawk had to admit with some pride, however, that the Goshawks were already a singular unit, and it was unlikely any other group in the wilds could stand up to them. In fact, he was sure that if you threw them into the heart of Skycloud they could go toe to toe with any other unit of similar size and come out on top ¨C with the exception of Templars. And this was just the beginning! Given a couple of years Cloudhawk could grow the Goshawks to several times their current size. They would all be martial artists, and each member would have at least two relics each. But that wasn¡¯t enough. They would also be equipped with high-grade, high-tech weapons and ordinance. They would have the best armor technology could produce. He would mold them into true wasteland Templars! If Templars existed to defend the Temple, then Goshawks were made to protect Greenland ¨C to protect the dignity of their new home. Once fully established, who would dare look down on wastelander strength? With them, Greenland would become as stable and established as a mountain. And by then, when Greenland had been transformed into the paradise he envisioned, Cloudhawk would heap praise on the three women that made it happen. Without Autumn¡¯s help in establishing a border, Greenland wouldn¡¯t have had the period of safety and seclusion it needed to grow. Also, her guidance in creating the dimensional portal ensured Greenland had plenty of resources to draw from. Hellflower¡¯s worth and contributions were as plain as the nose on one¡¯s face. She was the foremost scientist they had, a genius of invention and creation. From agricultural techniques to all manner of other inventions she was at the head of it all. But of them all, Dawn earned the most praise. Her contributions to Greenland were the most wide-ranging, including bringing the Elysian soldiers that saved them in the beginning. With the Talons of God on his side, as well as veterans and elders from the Polaris family, they transformed every aspect of this city ¨C from its foundation to its administration, from education to training. These soldiers lay at the crux of it all. It was no exaggeration to say that without the Polaris family¡¯s contribution and forces, Greenland City would very likely never reached the place it was today. This period of rapid growth would have been a pipe dream. Dawn herself worked tirelessly and put in as much work as anyone else. Her efforts built the homes Greenland¡¯s citizens now lived in. To accomplish so much in only a few months was a phenomenal and difficult task, even for her. Every corner of this town was built through their blood and sweat. Cloudhawk considered his own position as leader and wryly noted how limited his contributions seemed. The day wore on and the pleasant glow of evening filtered through the semi-transparent barrier that protected them. Dappled rays of fading light were cast through the canopy and down upon the tranquil streets. Yet as he looked at the picturesque scene, for reasons unknown Cloudhawk¡¯s heart was disquieted. It was too calm. The sort of calm you felt in the eye of a storm. He wasn¡¯t sure why he felt so strangely, but he trusted his sixth sense. There was definitely something ominous on the horizon. ¡°Bad news, excellency! Miss Polaris has been captured!¡± Barb burst through the door with this dire bit of news. Dawn? Captured? How? He¡¯d seen her just a little while ago and she was fine. Word of her capture quickly spread through the city. In under twenty minutes, their best and brightest were assembled. Hellflower, the drunk, Gabriel and a number of the Polaris family¡¯s best had gathered. Everyone was present, but for the single empty seat that belonged to Dawn. ¡°What the fuck happened?¡± ¡°It happened too fast. We¡¯re only just hearing about it.¡± Hellflower pushed her goggles up higher on her nose. ¡°Earlier this morning a settlement near Greenland¡¯s border called Howling Outpost was attacked, we¡¯re not sure by who. When Dawn heard she gathered a few soldiers first thing and went to investigate. Best we can tell it was a trap and she walked into it.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was all frowns and furrowed brows. ¡°What do we know now?¡± ¡°We sent someone to find out what was going on. We found the bodies of several Polaris soldiers but no trace of Dawn. This leads us to believe she¡¯s still alive but in the hands of the enemy.¡± ¡°Just from this one attack?¡± ¡°Impossible! How can a mere raid result in this?¡± Representatives of the Polaris family clamored in shock. They were here because their mistress commanded it. If she was in trouble, then it would be a dereliction of duty to sit on their laurels here in the city. If something happened to her, the shame on their names would be impossible to wash clean. Even Roc, ever calm and collected, found himself trembling with anger. Dawn was the General¡¯s only granddaughter. Whatever the cost, whatever the sacrifice, she had to be returned safely. If she died then their lives would have no purpose. ¡°Everyone, calm down!¡± Hellflower scowled. ¡°The enemy acts from the darkness and we¡¯re exposed in the light. We don¡¯t even know who it is we¡¯re up against. We need a target if we¡¯re going to go racing after Dawn, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°There are only a handful of people in the wastelands strong enough to overpower Dawn.¡± Cloudhawk sat in his chair, the picture of calm. However everyone knew that underneath that facade a powerful and angry force was brewing. ¡°This isn¡¯t the way Elysians do things. If Skycloud came to snatch people up it wouldn¡¯t just be Dawn. Unless I¡¯m mistaken, this was put together by wastelanders.¡± His determination only made the Polaris soldiers more anxious to act. If their mistress was in the hands of those savages, it was even worse than they feared. ¡°There¡¯s no one out here she¡¯s made enemies with. The Polaris family hasn¡¯t had any direct conflicts with any wastelands groups, either. I don¡¯t believe Dawn or the Polaris family was their intended target. They were either after me or a response from Greenland.¡± He thought for a moment then rose to his feet. ¡°Drunk, Gabby, prepare to leave. We¡¯re going to Wolf¡¯s Den.¡± Hellflower blinked after hearing his announcement, but quickly understood what he was thinking. If indeed there were only a few organizations that could capture someone like Dawn, they were most likely from the south. The Khan of Evernight was highest on the list of suspects. And even if he wasn¡¯t responsible, a visit to Wolf¡¯s Den wasn¡¯t a waste. If his organization was responsible, Cloudhawk could assail the Den directly and get Dawn back. If they weren¡¯t, he could negotiate for aid or information from the Khan. If they used the wargs to help search for her, it would cut down the time required significantly. They were preparing to leave when a messenger burst into the room. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a group outside who¡¯s here to see you. The Khan of Evernight is with them.¡± This new development stunned everyone who heard. Cloudhawk was just off to see the man and here he was, presenting himself to them. Why? His sudden presence was more than just suspicious. Almost certainly they were here regarding Dawn. The Khan of Evernight had come with the Wendigo King and ten of his black knights. When Cloudhawk appeared, the Khan¡¯s red eyes flared and he wasted no time coming to the point. ¡°I have the information you want.¡± Cloudhawk was dangerously close to losing his temper. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°My intelligence sources have told me about a group from the Northern Barrens. They call themselves the Hand of Gehenna. It was they who laid the trap on the outskirts of Greenland¡¯s influence and captured the Polaris girl ¨C but I believe you to be the one they were after.¡± ¡°The Hand of Gehenna? Them...¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s hands curled into fists. Squall, you bastard. Now, that asshole had really made him mad. The next time they crossed paths, Cloudhawk promised himself he wouldn¡¯t go easy. The concerned faces of the Polaris clan members also turned dark with fury. They all knew the Hand of Gehenna was lead by Inkspecter ¨C the man who was once their patriarch¡¯s closest adviser. The same man who was responsible for all the tragedies that had laid them low. Cloudhawk did not waste time. ¡°Where are they?¡± But the Khan shook his head. ¡°It is too late. Even if you pursue them immediately, you cannot save Dawn Polaris. My sources claim she was collected by Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force. The Hand is clever and knows they are no match for your strength. So, they intend to borrow another¡¯s dagger to kill.¡± The suspicion never fled from Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze as he regarded the mysterious Khan. ¡°I¡¯m not on the best terms with that lot but they don¡¯t have a reason to come after me, either. How do I know this isn¡¯t some story you¡¯ve cooked up?¡± ¡°You¡¯re free to verify this intelligence on your own. However, I will caution that you have precious little time.¡± The Khan paused, and then - ¡°Greenland is not powerful enough yet to contend with the expeditionary force. But it would be, if we joined forces.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 44 - Bai Cloudhawk neither accepted nor denied the Khan¡¯s offer. Likewise, the Khan did not press for an answer. In truth, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have much of a choice ¨C just like the first time they¡¯d met. He might have been able to avoid the rough seas when there was just one storm, but as two threatened to collide there were no more safe ports for him to just wait it out in. Either he rode the waves of the storm, or he got swept away by it. Often in one¡¯s life, decisions would be forced. Sometimes you could escape, but not always. Members of the Polaris family were already sick with worry for Dawn and desperate to act. The moment she was handed to the expeditionary force her situation became deadly. Yet, could they really align themselves with this sinister figure? He was the leader of a group whose goal was to obliterate their former home! The moment they stood with him, they became sworn enemies of Skycloud. The Polaris family had been protectors of the realm for hundreds of years. Their beloved patriarch had been its penultimate defender, and had even died in Skycloud¡¯s service. Now they were faced with a bitter circumstance: To save Dawn, were they willing to throw away hundreds of years of honor and doom their future generations to be marked as traitors? When they left Skycloud, it wasn¡¯t because they were casting off Skycloud. They¡¯d left in protest against Arcturus¡¯ power grab. They¡¯d left with Dawn to gather strength and win vengeance for General Skye. Never was it their intention to bring harm to Skycloud or its people. Those many citizens were completely innocent. Each person knew that if the General were alive today he would balk at the mere suggestion, yet none could stomach the idea of abandoning Dawn to die. Confusion, apprehension and indecision took over the crowd. Lost, they could only turn their eyes to Greenland¡¯s leader to make the decision for them. Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was hidden beneath his bandages, but they could feel the tempest raging underneath those bindings. After a few moments of silence, he made his decision. ¡°Not yet. It¡¯s been only half a day since Dawn was captured. Even if she has been delivered to the expeditionary force, they haven¡¯t had time to deliver her to their headquarters. Everyone, come with me. We¡¯re setting off.¡± Hellflower was taken aback by the decision. They were going to save her? Right now? Greenland wasn¡¯t strong enough to do this on their own. Their new realm was only just stabilizing. Aside from a handful Cloudhawk had brought with him, most of Greenland was administered by members of the Polaris family. The Goshawks were strong but still fresh and untested. They weren¡¯t prepared for a full-on battle with the Elysians. Right now, they weren¡¯t any more of a threat to Skycloud than the Dark Atom. How were they supposed to take on the entire Elysian army? Yet seeing things from Cloudhawk¡¯s perspective, it wasn¡¯t difficult to see why he made this choice. If they decided to join with the Khan of Evernight ¨C to side with this mysterious southern power ¨C Greenland would lose its purity. The peace and safety he wanted so much would be forever out of their reach. The dangers were great and forever mounting, but Cloudhawk had to at least try. Try to free Dawn with whatever power he could muster instead of selling the soul of his young nation. Gathering a few of his core members, Cloudhawk set off immediately. Greenland¡¯s fittest went with him, with only Hellflower and the Shepherd God left behind. Their stop was Howling Outpost, where Dawn was captured. Once there, Cloudhawk had his scouts begin tracking. They traveled through the night nonstop, covering hundreds of kilometers. As the sun was rising over the horizon they arrived at the borders of an Elysian camp. From the outside there didn¡¯t appear to be anything special about this outpost. It was a converted wasteland city where perhaps a few thousand troops had been stationed. No further trace of Dawn was found elsewhere, so she had to be somewhere in the base. Cloudhawk shut his eyes and reached out with his mind. It was confirmed when he heard the familiar resonance coming from the center of the outpost. ¡°I hear Terrangelica,¡± he announced. Roc was eager to act. ¡°Let¡¯s cut our way through!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not so simple,¡± Cloudhawk responded with a sigh. His expression was grave. ¡°Terrangelica isn¡¯t the only relic here, not by a long shot. They have a company of demonhunters stationed here, too.¡± The effect of this realization was reflected on their faces. Everyone knew how strong demonhunters were individually, and that strength was enhanced when they worked as a unit. ¡°How many,¡± the drunk asked. Cloudhawk thought for a moment. ¡°A couple hundred.¡± Their faces darkened further. Even the drunk was surprised. ¡°Skycloud has two major demonhunter organizations; Baldur¡¯s League of Demonhunters and Sterling¡¯s Demonhunter Corps. The League is a loosely affiliated organization, unlikely to have so many members gathered together. That means we¡¯re facing the Corps.¡± Up to now Cloudhawk was mostly unfamiliar with the Demonhunter Corps. He knew that the Crimson One and Wyrmsole had once been its highest officers. If the Corps was here, it could only mean that the Cloude family was extending its reach into the south. And not only that, they were sending in the big guns. The drunk shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t take on two hundred demonhunters.¡± Even someone with Vulkan¡¯s strength was outmatched. All it would take was for them to be surrounded and bombarded on all sides by relics. Dead in seconds, that was the only outcome. After all, enough ants can kill an elephant, and demonhunters sure as shit weren¡¯t ants. More like a pack of lions. Two hundred demonhunters was just the icing on the bitter cake, too. There were also several thousand Elysian troops to consider. With this sort of opposition in their way, Cloudhawk and his crew were looking at a suicide mission. Dawn was also at their mercy, so acting recklessly could get her killed. No, strong-arming this matter wasn¡¯t the way to go. Cloudhawk waved his hand, indicating everyone to fall back and hold their positions. ¡°We can¡¯t rush this. Let me sneak in and take a look around.¡± Best case scenario was to get in, grab Dawn, and get out without having to start a fight. If he was lucky, maybe he could get her out before anyone realized something was wrong. They could hide in an alternate reality until the danger passed. That way, they wouldn¡¯t have to risk lives and walk away victorious. Cloudhawk stole into the base. The resonance led him toward a relatively well maintained stone building. Fifty or so soldiers were on constant patrol around its perimeter. That was proof enough that whatever they were keeping in there was important. Sure enough the closer he got, the clearer Terrangelica¡¯s resonance became. Gathering his will, Cloudhawk turned himself incorporeal and slipped through the outer wall. He continued to press deeper until a few moments later he was in the center of the building. Here it is¡­ Cloudhawk saw Terrangelica piled on top of a bunch of other things. From the layout Cloudhawk figured this was being used as a prison. The room he was in now was where they put the things confiscated from inmates. He plucked the weapon from the pile and deposited it into his dimensional vault. No reason to stick around here anymore. He looked around until eventually he found a figure locked away in the deepest recesses of the jail. Familiar chains held them fast, the sort of chains used to imprison demonhunters. Pretty, with long platinum blonde hair and familiar features ¨C he¡¯d found Dawn. Several demonhunters were stationed around her cell. Cloudhawk looked closer. Everything was right, from the outside that was Dawn right down to her petulent expression. But despite that, alarm bells were ringing in his brain. For four years he¡¯d been close friends with Dawn, so he knew her as well as anyone. Deep down, Cloudhawk knew the girl he was looking at was not Dawn. It was some sort of illusion. A good one, sure, but not good enough to mask the hum of the peculiar relic they used to perform the trick. It was a trap. A demonhunter had taken on Dawn¡¯s likeness. Cloudhawk realized quickly that this was bait, intended to make anyone sneaking around tip their hand. He was getting ready to back away when suddenly ¡®Dawn¡¯ raised her head and looked toward his direction with a cold glare. ¡°You only just got here. Leaving so soon? Stay awhile and share a cup of tea!¡± The surrounding demonhunters suddenly burst into motion as though given a command. Fuck! They caught me! Flashes of silver appeared in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. They lashed out like glimmering serpents toward the closest demonhunter. Luckily for his foes, they had a defensive relic that protected them, but even still hCloudhawk¡¯s Silver Serpent left a large gash in the shield. This group of demonhunters were formidable, he could tell that much. ¡®Dawn¡¯s¡¯ body shimmered for a moment and became translucent, like rippling water. A few moments later the platinum hair turned jet black, she grew taller, and those pleasant features he knew so well changed entirely. A concealing fog hung around this figure, just thick enough to conceal any revealing details. What had been Dawn a moment ago was now a living fog. As he thought. A demonhunter. But not your ordinary demonhunter ¨C one much stronger than your average veteran. Some sort of water-type relic must be what she was using to change her shape. Dawn wasn¡¯t here. She wasn¡¯t in this cell, this prison, probably not even in this base. It was likely constructed quickly for the sole purpose of drawing him in. And since these were some of Skycloud¡¯s elite, they had definitely studied up on Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities. They were ready. He sensed countless relics begin to hum all at once. It was like a discordant orchestra coming from all directions at once. The ocean of sounds disrupted not only his stealth capabilities, but his teleportation as well. ¡°Cloudhawk! Let¡¯s see you try to escape today!¡± A very old figure approached from behind. The moment he appeared Cloudhawk could sense the strength pouring off of him. He knew in an instant that even at peak strength, he was not this man¡¯s equal. Wounded, and with no way to run, he was in dire straits. Two hundred demonhunters. Thousands of troops. All put together for an elaborate trap. Even Arcturus would have a hard time escaping from a quandary like this. There was only so much a single person could accomplish. Once their energy was spent, it was not difficult to surround and kill them. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 45 - A Choice The leader of the Demonhunter Corps was none other than Oren Cloude. He took up the mantle when Sterling abandoned his post. For him to immediately put in this position with the acceptance of the demonhunters under his command spoke to his abilities. For Cloudhawk in his current condition to face off against this elite elder, his chances were slim. He held back instead of choosing to fight. It was Oren that made the first move. He raised his right hand. Oren¡¯s relic was a unique one, a simple black glove. He extended a finger toward Cloudhawk. Before the younger man could react, a strange force fell over him. It felt like several hundred balloons had been affixed to him. Cloudhawk felt gravity cease to hold sway and he rocketed upwards, slamming into the ceiling with enough force to leave a dent. Oren continued by motioning downward with the gloved hand. Boom! Cloudhawk came crashing to earth. It felt like a mountain had fallen on top of him. Cracks spread out from the crater he made upon impact. The power pouring from Oren¡¯s glove increased with each passing moment. Cloudhawk felt like a fly under the flyswatter. Every time he tried to fight to his feet, the crushing pressure grew. The floor couldn¡¯t take it. Inch by inch the stone began to give way. Cloudhawk¡¯s joints popped and his bones groaned. Held tight in his right hand was Ardent Wrath, heavy in and of itself but ten times heavier because of this awful power. The added weight made it impossible for him to lift his arm. Oren¡¯s stern, cold face bore the hint of a sneer. ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t waste your energy. Weak as you are, you stand no chance against me. Especially considering your circumstances.¡± So that was this man¡¯s power, gravity. The glove he wore allowed him to control how much or how little gravity there was in a given area. The ground beneath Cloudhawk¡¯s feet continued to crumble as gravity increased. Oren¡¯s power had been which flung him into the ceiling then down again onto the floor like some kind of discarded rag doll. He felt completely enveloped, as though encased in rock. And while Cloudhawk was locked down Oren¡¯s demonhunters weren¡¯t idle, either. First, a large net of blinding light was flung his way. The moment it fell over him the net tightened until his hands and feet were bound to his sides. His already restricted movement was entirely frozen. His eyes went wide as a dozen controlling and deadly relics were aimed in his direction. Everyone was surrounding him. They¡¯d left him no room to escape. But although they were strong, Cloudhawk was not an easy target to pin down. This wasn¡¯t his first time caught in a bad spot. Over the course of his life, and especially these last few years, he had encountered many powerful and oppressive foes? He was here because he¡¯d escaped those life and death encounters. Cloudhawk reached out to the power of the phase stone, sealed inside him. He released the full force of his mental prowess, holding nothing back. The gauntlet affixed to his left arm began to glow as though it were accumulating power. ¡°Everyone get the fuck off of me!¡± His left arm punched through the net. He then drove his clenched fist into the ground. What followed was a thunderous blast of sound of energy. A flash of light erupted from the gauntlet, followed by a shock wave that spread out in all directions like an exploding bomb. Everything near him ¨C both people and relic energy ¨C were flung away. Suddenly the crushing gravity abated. The next which held him tight exploded into nonexistence and not a trace was left of any of their efforts to hold him down. The demonhunters clambered back onto their feet, staring in disbelief. This guy had blown them all back with a single attack! What the hell was that relic on his arm? Incredible! What they could not know was that this was a relic plucked from the severed arm of a god. How could such a thing be ordinary? It had the power to deflect all manner of powers directed at it. When activated by Cloudhawk, it released a wave of repellent force. All relic power within the sphere of his gauntlet¡¯s explosion vanished as though it never was. Cloudhawk stood in the center, Ardent Wrath in hand. In the next instant the weapon blazed to life and he hacked it in a deadly circle. The flames reached out ten meters in every direction, radiating toward his foes. Ordinary defenses couldn¡¯t keep it at bay and everything it touched immediately became burning hot. A number of the weaker demonhunters could not withstand the power and were turned to mist. Even the walls around him melted. Once again Cloudhawk called on his psychic force, this time detaching himself from reality. He used the blowback from his attack to repel himself backward. While he didn¡¯t have time to teleport, this was enough to shove him through one of the nearby walls. He then disappeared from view. ¡°After him!¡± Cloudhawk was more difficult to handle than Oren had anticipated. Even against such odds, he was still able to flee. ¡°You must bring him to me!¡± Meanwhile, Cloudhawk staggered through walls and doorways as far as he was able. He could hear soldiers on his heels calling the alarm. The expeditionary force¡¯s crack demonhunters spread out to hunt him down. Their aim was to cut off all escape, to trap Cloudhawk inside and make sure he never left alive. Cloudhawk, in his current state, was also drawing on too much power. He was still recovering and the more he pushed himself, the direr the consequences and side effects. He paused to catch his breath, but hardly a moment passed before he felt a presence closing in quickly from behind. Before he even arrived, Oren¡¯s signature power came crashing down from on high. Fuck, again! There¡¯s no end to this shit. Cloudhawk threw himself outside of the area of effect. The ground below where he¡¯d just stood exploded into rocky fragments. Oren was up overhead, descending toward Cloudhawk with his right hand curled into a fist. Cloudhawk could see the air warping around his hand from the gravitational manipulation. Without a doubt the power behind that blow would be terrifying. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to find out firsthand. He teleported a short distance away to avoid it. When Oren made landfall the resulting shock wave rocked the area. Cloudhawk had managed to avoid the direct blow, but was still within the scope of this gravitational wave. Buildings as far as fifty meters away shook and toppled from the blow. The earth trembled as though someone had dropped a mountain from the sky and sank at least a meter. In an instant, that force pressed Cloudhawk to the ground. This old man was one hell of a demonhunter. One on one Cloudhawk was outmatched. Oren used his powers to drag at Cloudhawk from a distance. The younger man flailed like a drowning man, swimming through the air to get free to no avail. Valiantly as he fought, Cloudhawk was being inexorably drawn into the hands of the Demonhunter Corps¡¯s commander. Just then a sword streaked by, alight with the glory of the morning sun. Another formidable enemy! Oren¡¯s face stiffened. He could only release his hold on Cloudhawk and use his power to create a defensive gravitational field or risk being struck. Of course, the old drunk¡¯s attacks were not to easily warded off. The light form his sword slammed into the gravitational field, pierced it through, and cleaved Oren¡¯s left arm from his shoulder. Oren hadn¡¯t planned for Cloudhawk to bring such powerful allies. Judging from the deadly power behind that one strike, this new stranger had as much fighting capability of Grand Prior Phain Mist! Yet the Demonhunter Corps¡¯ leader was no ordinary man. He used his gravitational power to call his arm back after it was flung from him, then retreated to the safety of his soldiers. Demonhunters with healing relics raced forward to his aid and began reattaching the arm. ¡°There are too many!¡± The drunk hacked his sword at one of the base buildings, causing it to explode in all directions and wreak havoc. It bought enough time for the rest of Cloudhawk¡¯s friends to catch up. Both sides were on the verge of a messy conflict. ¡°Run!¡± The camp, which a moment before had been silent and serene, was now a tempest of activity. Countless relics were flinging destructive power down the lanes. Explosions shook the buildings. There were too many demonhunters to fend off. At least ten of them were veterans. Each demonhunter came equipped with his own unique relics as well. Even the mightiest demonhunters would find it difficult to escape unscathed. And the demonhunters weren¡¯t the only problem. Thousands of soldiers were pouring into the conflict. This was not an easy group to tangle with! Cloudhawk¡¯s rescue operation was doomed from the start. All of this was a ruse. They weren¡¯t going to keep the real prize locked up here and risk losing her. Dawn was somewhere else, somewhere hard to find. But, that meant there was no reason to stick around and fight, either. Both sides kicked each other around for a little while before Cloudhawk and his team managed to disengage. By then Oren¡¯s arm was reattached and fully healed. He glared furiously at Cloudhawk and the others as they fled. Bastard! We let them escape! *** When they returned to Greenland Cloudhawk was drained. He was brought o Hellflower¡¯s labs right away. When she saw him, she knew immediately that he¡¯d overdone it. ¡°Boss lady, Governor Cloudhawk¡¯s condition does not look good.¡± An elderly man with a monocle shuffled to Hellflower¡¯s side. This was Mirage, who over the last few months had proven talented in the art of medicine and was recruited by Greenland for his skills. His abilities were a rare find in the wastes, so it was important for Greenland to keep him handy. He wrinkled his face sourly at Hellflower. ¡°The Governor¡¯s body is showing signs of collapse.¡± That was to be expected. The fact he survived an encounter with Arcturus at all was a miracle. Then he was thrown into a fierce battle, against Hellflower¡¯s explicit wishes. It was no wonder he was in a bad way. ¡°Send a message to the Khan,¡± Cloudhawk managed to say with a long sigh. ¡°We will join with him.¡± Although inwardly he railed against the idea, it was the right step to take. Sacrifices would be necessary to save Dawn. Hellflower¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Are you ready for the fight that will bring?¡± But he nodded his head without hesitation. ¡°Yes. If we have to fight, then we fight.¡± She shoved her safety glasses higher on her nose. ¡°You know what sort of state you¡¯re in. If you keep putting yourself in these situations I¡¯m afraid of what the consequences will be. Have you thought about that?¡± Her concern brought a grin to his face. ¡°Since when did you worry so much? Relax, I¡¯ve escaped death plenty of times. I¡¯ll hang in there. I¡¯m not so easy to kill.¡± With that said he put back on his clothes and didn¡¯t bother with any further tests. He needed to put together a plan to get Dawn back. And the only person in the south who could help him was the Khan of Evernight. 1. SHINRA TENSEI! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 46 - The Storm's Arrival The headquarters of Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force. Hammont Seacrest looked up at the gloomy sky with an expression of disquiet. He constantly wrung his pudgy hands and his palms felt clammy. It¡¯d been a long time since he¡¯d felt so nervous and uneasy. A squad of airships appeared on the horizon. From this distance they appeared to crawl across the sky but in fact they were moving quite quickly. It took only a little while before the ships were hovering over the base and depositing their crews. The first to disembark was Knight-Commander of the Demonhunter Corps, Oren Cloude. His naturally frigid expression looked dourer than ever, making the hair on Hammont¡¯s neck stand on end. He was followed by a group of about two hundred more demonhunters in their standard white garb. They were escorting a woman laden with chains. Her platinum hair was in a mess, and what had clearly been a face accustomed to noble disdain was now drawn and dirty. Skycloud¡¯s once formidable devil woman now looked the part of a ragged traitor, a prisoner facing the prospect of execution. Hammont scanned the group but saw no one else. Just one? His emotions were difficult to describe. He couldn¡¯t tell whether he was more relieved, concerned or regretful. One of the soldiers of the newly formed Drake Corps saw the change in his commander¡¯s expression. He¡¯d never seen such worry in his face before so he had to inquire. ¡°Are you alright, commander? What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Nothing. A moment of sentiment.¡± The discomfort was passing. He shared a sentence with the recruit that the soldier didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Men are blades of grass floating on a river. We have no control where the flow takes us. The shore we wash up on is always in the hands of fate.¡± But was fate a real thing? Maybe what they called ¡®fate¡¯ was really just a name for life¡¯s unpredictability. Even a man like Arcturus, whose wisdom extended out into the heavens, couldn¡¯t plan for everything. Mortals were forever at the whim of the unknown. Cloudhawk. Such a controversial and legendary figure already. Not long ago he was one of the men Hammont respected most. But the decisions he¡¯d made and the actions he¡¯d taken led him down a path with no way to look back. Though Skycloud did what it could to keep the information hidden, Hammont had learned some of the details. Cloudhawk was being called a Defiler, a sinister agent of evil. Half a year ago, huge numbers of troops were deployed to try and hunt him down only to fail. Even Governor Arcturus himself took to the field. And yet, miraculously, Cloudhawk still managed to escape. The Dark Atom managed to spirit him away. Cloudhawk could not, would not ever return to the Elysian lands after this. He wasn¡¯t alone, either. Hundreds of members of the Polaris family followed his lead and defected to the wastelands. The news was a tremendous shock to citizens of the realm. As far as Hammont knew, there were several other members of Skycloud who chose to side with Cloudhawk as well. One of them was the formerly lauded War Saint. Hammont was struggling to understand. These were some of the most illustrious names in Skycloud, men and women that Hammont had looked up to as idols. What could have happened to cause such a fracture? His new recruits, of course, couldn¡¯t know the conflict in Hammont¡¯s heart. They looked at their general with envy and admiration, for his meteoric rise seemed to come without nepotism or manipulation. He was the perfect inspiration story. From lowly villager to humble soldier; relying on nothing but his own power, he rose to prominence as a Magistrate. Now, by his grit and determination, he was a mighty figure of the expeditionary force. ¡°We have apprehended the fugitive traitor, Dawn Polaris. She is now remanded to your care. make sure you watch her carefully. Her presence here will certainly impact the expeditionary force¡¯s future campaigns.¡± Oren motioned and Dawn was marched over to Hammont¡¯s men. ¡°You should know how important this prisoner is. If she escapes under your watch, not even the Governor can protect you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Hammont wasted no time in ordering his men to take her. Soldiers led Dawn toward the prison, never speaking a word, haggard and expressionless. Oren ordered several veteran demonhunters to remain behind as a precaution. ¡°What are you planning to do with me?¡± Dawn suddenly asked as she was being led away. Hammont paused. He had no obligation to answer her question, but this was Dawn Polaris. A noble successor to a great house, now laid low. What fools destiny makes of us, he thought. Moreover she was thick as thieves with Cloudhawk, so he decided to respond. ¡°Last night, Knight-Commander Oren set a trap at a nearby base, using your capture as bait to lure out Cloudhawk. If he¡¯s showed up empty-handed today, it means Cloudhawk escaped. Now you¡¯re here, surrounded by some of the most exceptional troops Skycloud has ever produced. It would be suicide for Cloudhawk to try and free you.¡± Dawn shut her eyes and her face twisted into a bitter grin. ¡°But he will still try.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we both know the sort of person he is. He will try.¡± Hammont felt a slight pang in his chest. ¡°Cloudhawk would never leave a friend to die. His only choice is to join forces with Nox. We¡¯ve been posturing against one another for months now. Nox, Skycloud¡­ this is the opportunity they needed to turn this into an outright war.¡± The wastelands plans were simple. Greenland was becoming famous for its wealth of capable members. With its connection to the Dark Atom and figures like Wolfblade, Autumn and Abaddon, this made for a frightening union. The Khan of Evernight saw the potential as well and knew that if they worked together, they stood a much greater chance of defeating the expeditionary force. Starting the fight now was also in Skycloud¡¯s best interests. It was better to suffer short-term pain from surgery than live in chronic agony. Already, Nox and the Dark Atom were thorns in their side. Greenland was just getting started, but had the potential to be a real threat to the Elysian realm. Better, then, to deal with it now. The last few months of brewing conflict had a visible effect on all aspects of Elysian life. If this were allowed to drag on for years order would begin to crumble. If a place like Skycloud was being affected, with its long and stable history, then Nox would surely feel the consequences as well. It seemed all of this was designed to spur these wasteland forces to unite, but in truth Skycloud still held the initiative. Not only did Skycloud control how and when the battle was being fought, they also had the advantage of a defensible position. They were confident they had the strategy and resources necessary to win this decisive conflict. Dawn was awash in depression and bitterness. Once Cloudhawk agreed to side with the Khan of Evernight, there was no going back. The moment he took to the field his hands would be stained with Elysian blood. This was a sin he couldn¡¯t wash clean. Hammont, Selene and the other Elysians he considered friends still stood in defense of their realm. It seemed inevitable that they would be forced to stand against Cloudhawk and his chosen allies. What¡¯s more, the pure land Cloudhawk had wanted so desperately to build would be forever soiled. His dream was dead just as it was barely getting started. All because of me. The anger within Dawn felt like a corrosive poison. Her chains rattled as she was tugged along. ¡°How don¡¯t you see how contemptible and stupid you¡¯re being? Cloudhawk had never done anything against Skycloud in all the years he lived there. All he ever wanted was a quiet, peaceful life. Instead, bit by bit and for no good reason, he¡¯s been forced to turn against Skycloud. One day, you all will come to regret these choices you¡¯re making.¡± She was right, after a fashion. Hammont didn¡¯t understand it, either. Cloudhawk was young and had just as much potential as Frost de Winter or Selene Cloude, maybe even more. He was a little rough around the edges but never unkind. It made no sense. With time Cloudhawk would certainly have grown to be a mighty champion for the Elysian lands. But that chance now was gone. Now, he was forced to be an enemy of the state. Rather than fight for Skycloud, he was cast out and given an opportunity to create a force to challenge Governor Arcturus. It was a disaster, pure and simple. This circumstance was the result of several powers, pulling and tugging. Poor Cloudhawk¡­ in so many ways he was merely a victim of powers greater than himself. *** Governor Arcturus made a personal visit to the expeditionary force¡¯s headquarters. Frost and Hammont were there to greet him upon arrival. Arcturus addressed them with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ve been informed of recent circumstances. Dawn¡¯s capture is certainly Inkspecter using us to do his foul work, but it serves our purposes as well. It provides us with a fair opportunity.¡± ¡°This leader of the so-called Hand of Gehenna is a contemptible heathen!¡± Hammont couldn¡¯t tamp the anger that fiend¡¯s name evoked. ¡°First they attack General Frost¡¯s men, then try to use us for their own ends. Poor Augustus, murdered by that criminal Squall. We can¡¯t let them get away with such an affront.¡± Frost¡¯s face never flinched. As always, he had as much expression as an ice sculpture. Arcturus, draped in long-sleeved robes, dismissively waved his hand. ¡°Gehenna¡¯s agents are clowns, nothing more. Nothing short of the Demon King¡¯s return would convince those fiends to leave their hollow. As such, while they pose no serious threat, we can focus our strength against Nox.¡± Hammont asked something that had been bothering him. ¡°What is this ¡®Nox¡¯ city? Aren¡¯t they affiliated with Gehenna?¡± ¡°Yes, and no,¡± came the Governor¡¯s paradoxical response. ¡°Demons are not a unified front. Gehenna waits conservatively in the darkness for their king¡¯s return. The more radical of their foul ilk choose to take action. Nox is a place where demonic followers have attempted to emulate Skycloud¡¯s brilliance. At one point, the demon Abaddon was Nox¡¯s greatest figure. The city is a dangerous foe which has festered in the southern wilds for some time, always beyond our reach. Inkspecter has delivered up a chance to deal with the problem once and for all.¡± In other words, the mystery power from the south was hardly a mystery. It was merely a city built by the black demonic hands hiding in the shadows. And what of the Khan? Was he one of those evil creatures? It didn¡¯t matter. By any measure, be it in population or infrastructure, Nox was no match for the glory of Skycloud. If they were, they wouldn¡¯t have remained hidden in darkness for so many years. ¡°Dawn¡¯s execution will be the catalyst which will force our enemies to show themselves.¡± Arcturus cast his gaze southward. ¡°The battle to come will have truly far-reaching consequences.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 47 - Pioneers All of these recent events were having a major effect on Greenland¡¯s progress. You could feel it in the atmosphere. A heavy gloom had settled over the city ever since news of Dawn¡¯s capture had spread. It was suffocating, like the air before a thunderstorm. Still and ominous. Posts manned by Polaris soldiers were empty since they could not focus on developing the city as they had before. At the same time, Greenland was and always had been a wasteland city. These settlements were prone to attracting snakes and other bad actors. Chaos always took root whenever cracks appeared in the foundation, like insidious weeds. In large part, stability had been maintained in Greenland because of the strong Polaris presence. Once they began to disappear from their posts, it stood to reason that the security they brought would begin to erode, right. Murder, theft, extortion ¨C would the seeds of sin buried in the wasteland¡¯s barren soil bloom in their pure oasis? And yet¡­ it was a miracle, because what happened was not what people expected and feared. Even though the city was in conflict, and even though threats approached from all sides, chaos did not take hold. Months of effort by its leaders had cultivated a sense of honor and gratitude in the hearts of Greenland¡¯s citizens. They saw this city as their home, a place worth protecting. Was the Elysian view that wastelanders lived for chaos true? Of course not! After having a taste of surplus, safety and comfort, who would throw all of that away for the bloody struggles of their former life? Wastelanders were humans, and but for a few outliers they preferred safety to conflict. This precious gift, which Elysians were given at birth, wastelanders viewed as a hard earned treasure. The emergence of Greenland ¨C its harmony, its order, its abundance ¨C instilled within these wastelanders a long-dead sense of dignity. The Greenlanders themselves, more than anyone, wanted to make sure this place was protected! And if the Polaris soldiers were too distracted to protect them, then they would do it themselves! Grassroots groups sprang up to maintain order. One of the mutants who had been elevated to a leadership position in their forces took charge, leading his squad on patrol and manning guard posts. It was their express mission to make sure anyone who used this chance to cause trouble was harshly dealt with. He was but one example. Greenland was their home! Although they weren¡¯t strong enough to defend Greenland¡¯s honor outside its borders, they could still contribute in this way. There was one area in particular which was deeply affected by the changing times, and that was the Institute. Although classes run by Seekers would continue unchanged, most others had been run in the Elysian style with Elysian methods. Their instructors, soldiers from Skycloud, were now all gone. They were preparing to embark on a campaign to fight and die against the expeditionary force. But what of their students? What would they do without their teachers? Claudia showed up at the school as she did every day and was faced with a striking scene. Several hundred martial arts students were divided by class and were practicing strength training in the yard. These young, immature students were solemn and quiet. What did it matter that there were no teachers? They simply followed the same curriculum as any other day under the guidance of their class leaders . None of them had any doubt that their instructors would return safely in time, and they wanted to be in top shape. Seeing these children dutifully attending to their studies moved Claudia deeply. Beneath these fresh faces was a strength that was growing all the time. When they finally bloom, their effect on the world they inherit will be incredible. Cloudhawk told her that his hope was to give the wasteland an opportunity to make the change it wanted. What wastelander wouldn¡¯t leap at the chance? In most places, they were like drowning men grasping at straws. Now that they¡¯d been given a vine, they would hold on tight as they could and never let go. Claudia slowly made her way to the center of the facility. Here was situated their special demonhunter training area. She took up position behind her podium and every student was present. Wordlessly, they took their seats. Their eyes, bright with a third for knowledge, were all fixed on her. Claudia looked them over for a moment then shut the book in front of her. ¡°No class today.¡± Her students were first surprised then disappointed. No class? Why! ¡°Headmistress, are you joining the fight?¡± From among her students one strong and dignified voice called out to her. It was Ironspike, the mutant. He had trained hard and was acknowledged as an especially talented novice demonhunter by this point. He spoke to her with a face full of enthusiasm. ¡°The headmistress is strong, she¡¯ll definitely make the enemy regret crossing us!¡± The other student vociferously agreed. But their burning eyes were filled both with excitement and concern. Ironspike¡¯s resolute words caught Claudia off guard. She shook her head. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not considered strong here in Greenland. And I will not be participating in the battle for various reasons.¡± When she said it Claudia could see the disappointment in their faces. What were they disappointed about? That she wasn¡¯t thought of as strong, or that she wasn¡¯t going to fight? She kept her face calm and continued. ¡°We aren¡¯t having class today, because we have something more important to attend.¡± Her students quieted down again. They listened with eager curiosity. ¡°Today is an important day for Greenland. For the whole of the wastelands.¡± As she began a conflicting mess of emotions filled her. She had been, after all, a noble demonhunter of Skycloud. Even after months among the wastelanders her former life still left its mark. However it had finally begun to dawn on her that she was an Elysian no longer. ¡°It¡¯s important that you are all there to see this historic moment.¡± ¡°Headmistress, what do you mean by historic moment?¡± ¡°The Governor is going to meet with several people, each of them very important for the wastelands. They are fine examples for you to follow in your life, for they represent the real strength of the wastelands. They came here with a purpose and a motive, but what¡¯s important for you to know is that they are all pioneers, all elders who deserve your utmost respect. Their eyes glittered with interest. ¡°In the future, when you¡¯re sitting safely in class and learning to better yourselves, remember that these men and women are who made it possible. They were the ones who stood up to death and danger in the dark places you can¡¯t see, protecting you so you can have that future.¡± ¡°Further in the future, if some of you grow to be as strong as they are, please remember them and their contributions. Do everything you can to walk in their footsteps. Transforming the wastelands is a long and difficult journey that will require the efforts and sacrifices of many generations.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough lecturing. Now, let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Claudia was suddenly struck with a wave of exhaustion when she finished her speech. The students were all abuzz with excitement. Azura was the first to shoot to her feet and took charge. ¡°Alright, calm down! Follow instructions. We don¡¯t want this to be a mess!¡± Everyone obediently quieted down. Azura wasn¡¯t just the most talented among them, she also had a surprisingly commanding presence for her age. She was only ten years old! When she grew up, she would be exactly the sort of person Claudia had just been talking about. The students arranged themselves into orderly lines, then made their way to the square in the center of the city. They stood straight and tall, and quiet as they waited for the spectacle. It was an hours-long process, and not once did someone complain or get out of line. To them this was like a pilgrimage. They were all excited for every moment. Eventually a loud rumble shook the city. The gathered citizens turned their eyes toward the noise. Several enormous airships were descending on them from above. Once they were docked the students watched as a number of striking and important figures emerged. One after the other they presented themselves, and with each new face the students were more in awe. Their headmistress had impressed upon them how important they all were. They understood that without these people, the wastelands would never survive under the shadow of Skycloud. Wolfblade! Leader of the Dark Atom. For years he stood alone on the front lines against the Elysian lands. The Khan of Evernight! Master of the city of Nox. They were the mysterious power from the south that wielded incredible and enigmatic power. They were the backbone, supporting them as they marched to war. Cloudhawk! Governor of Greenland and one of the men these students adored the most. A unique wastelander, and founder of their great realm! The procession continued: Abaddon, Autumn, Hellflower, Coal, the Wendigo King¡­ a dozen of the wasteland¡¯s greatest leaders all gathered in Greenland. Choose any one at random and you would have a representative of the best of the best the wastes had to offer. Here they were, most of the wastelands¡¯ powerhouses, gathered as representatives of their land¡¯s defiance to Elysian oppression. Their city had become the center of their bid to win freedom and the right of self-determination. Who could have imagined that such a small act could lead to one of the most historic wars in modern history? Cloudhawk, Wolfblade and the Khan stood at the head of the procession. The rest fanned out behind. All together they walked across the square and into the central fort. Although it lasted only a moment ¨C ten minutes at most ¨C the spectacle had filled the students with fervor and determination. They felt pride at being present when these illustrious figures gathered. They felt honored that these pioneers were fighting for their right to live free. They felt confident, for they had faith one day they might join these hero¡¯s ranks. Fight for survival. Fight for freedom! Fight for dignity! Fight! Their actions would plant the seeds of resistance and fighting spirit. Their blood would soak the barren lands and, one day, turn it into a vibrant paradise! 1. Class leaders being a staple of Chinese classrooms, wherein one student is selected as the instructor¡¯s personal assistant. I suppose in the US we call them class monitors. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 48 - Preparations Made Cloudhawk never thought he would be a leader, much less any sort of hero. In the eyes of Greenland¡¯s citizens, however, he was both. To the students of Greenland Institute he was the avatar of the wastelands, rising in defiance against their oppressors. Inwardly, conflict broiled in his heart. Most of the people gathered here today, Cloudhawk was familiar with. If he had to categorize them, he would classify then into three groups: The first category consisted of those with whom his relationship had ups and downs. The Wendigo King, Vulture, Coal and so forth. He might have been friendly with them in the past, but their paths had since diverged. The second category was less complicated in that he just didn¡¯t like them. Abaddon was the worst culprit. Cloudhawk¡¯s feud with him ran deep. After all, it was here in this very city a few years before that the demon had murdered one of his closest friends. Nor would he ever forget the death cry of Slyfox, captain of the Tartarus Mercenaries. Despite the passage of years, Cloudhawk¡¯s hatred hadn¡¯t eased one bit, but he never acted on it. Just like with Arcturus, while his desire to cut the demon down was strong, it wasn¡¯t strong enough to overcome their discrepancy in power. Third were those he shared an unclear relationship with, like Wolfblade. Since the man had revealed his identity, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure what to think about him. Although he¡¯d never acted out of malice toward Cloudhawk, Wolfblade was instrumental in manipulating Cloudhawk down a road he had no interest in taking. Long story short, Cloudhawk was still the same hot-heated kid he used to be. He wasn¡¯t going to take the initiative and join with Wolfblade and Abaddon if he could help it. However, here he was today, about to embark on a most distasteful partnership. Maybe that was a testament to how he¡¯d grown, in understanding the truth of the old adage that the enemy of my enemy was my friend. There was no such thing as an eternal foe in this world. Under the right circumstances, even an arch-nemesis could become an ally. Wolfblade¡¯s smile was mysterious and unsettling. ¡°I was told about the situation. Dawn is an unfortunate casualty, and ultimately her capture doesn¡¯t matter. This was bound to happen, whether the Elysians took her or not. Only, it means we are now short a strong arm.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you knew something like this would happen the moment you suggest I come here. You¡¯ve been using me from the start, I just don¡¯t know to what end. What the hell are you after?¡± Cloudhawk fixed Wolfblade with his gaze ¨C cold, but not angry. ¡°Even now, you won¡¯t share it.¡± Wolfblade answered calmly. ¡°I lost what I wanted a long time ago, so it isn¡¯t important. What is important is if you have made up your mind about what you want to do.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have called you!¡± He changed the subject. ¡°What do we know about what¡¯s happening in Skycloud. What¡¯s our plan of action?¡± ¡°According to our most recent intelligence, Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force is gathering in a fortress at the realm¡¯s southern border. Forces from all over the realm are being dispatched to that location, so they are likely to choose this fort to make their stand. This means they are in control of the battlefield.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cloudhawk was confused by their decision. ¡°They want us to bring the fight to their own doorstep? Isn¡¯t that asking for trouble?¡± Wolfblade unfurled a map. He indicated the fortress with his finger. Cloudhawk leaned over and spied the stronghold¡¯s name: South Haven. Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils contracted. Part of his training in Hell¡¯s Valley involved learning about Skycloud¡¯s different bastions. South Haven was considered the southern gate into the Elysian realm. If they could break through there, was little left defensively Skycloud could do to protect from southern invaders. Its importance to Skycloud was obvious. Of course, that also meant its defenses were a far sight more formidable than that of an average city. ¡°South Haven isn¡¯t as unshakable as Skycloud City, but it isn¡¯t an easy target either. It was cleverly selected ¨C if they¡¯d chosen the capitol instead, we probably would¡¯ve stayed our hands. We aren¡¯t strong enough to fight past South Haven and then on to Skycloud, but bypassing it means that we would have left an enemy at our backs.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. He agreed with Wolfblade. If Skycloud decided to go through with Dawn¡¯s execution in the capitol, Cloudhawk would be forced to find a way to slip in and try to save her with a small crew. This was not the decisive battle Arcturus was going for. Instead, their choice appeared to be most suitable. By staging it at South Haven, Arcturus would have lured the wasteland powers into enemy territory, but not so deep as to turn them off from the idea completely. Lure, surround, destroy. To make it work they needed the right bait. If the bait was too big the fish couldn¡¯t swallow it, no matter how enticing. Too small and you might not catch the fish¡¯s interest. This bait¡­ this bait was just right. If the wastelanders could take this fortress¡­ the implications would be incredible. Most importantly, this was bound to be a war against the bulk of Skycloud¡¯s military strength. There was as much potential for them to annihilate the wasteland¡¯s armies as there was for Skycloud¡¯s to be wiped out. An obvious but masterful scheme. The Khan offered his insight in that robotic, emotionless voice. ¡°Skycloud will throw a lot of its power at this fight. Arcturus himself might appear to ensure it goes his way. It may be our one chance to cut off the head of the snake. Once Arcturus is gone, even if we lose this battle we will have won the war.¡± Everyone was stunned by the suggestion. No one else would dare suggest killing the Master Demonhunter as a primary objective. In addition to his phenomenal power, it was a rare for Arcturus to ever leave Skycloud. This situation was obviously different. Considering how high the stakes were, they could expect Arcturus to make a personal appearance. The Khan was right, it was probably their one chance. That being said, Arcturus absolutely was not an easy man to kill. Cloudhawk would love to sweep all his grudges away in one strike, but that was unlikely to happen. He knew what Arcturus was capable of, he¡¯d seen it first-hand. He was not the sort you took head on. ¡°Let¡¯s cut the shit.¡± Cloudhawk rose to his feet and looked over the group. ¡°Time to get to the heart of the matter. Tell me how many people you can offer. How much are you willing to put on the line in this fight?¡± Cloudhawk got straight to the point. He didn¡¯t expect some resounding success from this battle, all he cared about was bringing Dawn home. He didn¡¯t have enough people to do that, not alone. All he had at his disposal were the Talons. Best he could do was serve as the tip of the spear. The bulk of their forces would have to come from the Dark Atom and Nox. Eventually, they came to an accord. The Dark Atom would contribute a thousand soldiers under Coal¡¯s command. The Khan offered the Wendigo King and a thousand of his wargs. In addition, Wolfblade would offer what reinforcements he could and the Khan would lend Cloudhawk a hundred Black Knights. Altogether, it added up to a massive increase of strength for Greenland. In return, Cloudhawk had to do what he could to crack open Skycloud¡¯s defenses. Though they acknowledged their support was limited, Cloudhawk figured it would be enough. After all, his goal was different from theirs. He didn¡¯t care about winning, only Dawn. ¡°Someone¡¯s here to see you!¡± Hellflower made the announcement. ¡°Representatives from the Goshawks.¡± That was strange¡­ what did they want now? They weren¡¯t ready for a mission like this. Although the Goshawks were Greenland¡¯s most elite, there hadn¡¯t been enough time to get them ready. Throwing them in the middle of a fight like this would obliterate his special forces. Still, Cloudhawk agreed to speak with their chosen representatives. ¡°Governor. We request permission to join the fight!¡± A group of officers from the force strode into the room, Rhino among them. He had no qualms speaking his mind when face to face with his leader. ¡°We want to show those Elysians what wastelanders are made of!¡± The request took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°This is a dangerous fight. Have you thought this through?¡± Morale among the Goshawks was soaring. ¡°If the Talons are being sent, why not the Goshawks? We can¡¯t sit here like turtles with our heads in their shells. This fight concerns every last wastelander. Someone has to show these Skycloud bastards that we wastelanders aren¡¯t cowards!¡± Cloudhawk could tell their fervor was genuine. They really wanted to do their part. He was short lieutenants to command the new troops anyway. If they were so eager to fight, who was he to turn them down? So be it. It was all prepared. This was going to be one hell of a fight. Might as well make it even bigger. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 49 - Southern Sanctuary Skycloud. South Haven, also called the Southern Sanctuary. It was the key most stronghold of Skycloud¡¯s southern lands, situated in the center of its vast plains. Flat land extended hundreds of kilometers in every direction with hardly any ripple. This fortress erected at its heart rose like a glimmering mountain. Sanctuary¡¯s construction was unique. The stronghold itself was massive in scale with eleven sections from periphery to core. Its outer walls were short but each successive barrier grew higher and the spaces in between were as expansive as small towns. Passed the eleventh wall was the fortress center, and the stronghold¡¯s highest point. Within was an expansive square capable of holding over ten thousand people. Thus, the fortress was essentially a series of rings arranged from low to high. From a distance it looked like a layered pyramid, stately and firm. It also was protected by powerful enchantments. When they were engaged a huge, tenacious shield encased everything. No opportunity existed for a sneak attack, and its defenses were secondary only to Skycloud¡¯s capitol. What enemies existed that could overcome such indomitable power? The glorious Sanctuary was a fortress erected during the time of the great war. More than twenty thousand soldiers were stationed behind its walls along with a fleet of airships, all responsible for the defense of Skycloud¡¯s southern region. It was impossible for such an installation to be easily overcome. Repairs were underway to reconstruct Skycloud¡¯s great wall, but while it was in the process the Elysian lands were not left defenseless. On one border was the expeditionary force, while to the south they were protected by the Sanctuary. Those forces together would make even the mightiest foes think twice before attempting to push into Skycloud. As present the expeditionary force had come to garrison Sanctuary and both the stronghold¡¯s standard troops and Skycloud¡¯s army had joined forces. What resulted was a spectacularly large array of fighters. Alone they were formidable. Behind Sanctuary¡¯s walls and enchantments they were even more insurmountable. Explosive news had spread through the realm. The young mistress of the Polaris family, the traitor Dawn, would be burned alive within Sanctuary in three days¡¯ time. It sent a collective shiver through Skycloud¡¯s citizens. It was not but six months ago that the Polaris family was one of Skycloud¡¯s most powerful and respected families. It was the only family with the qualifications to count itself among the likes of the Cloudes. Less than a year after the War God¡¯s demise, however, his brood had suffered an unprecedented decline. Now, they weren¡¯t even considered a second-tier family. What¡¯s more, their most noble and cherished mistress was soon to be executed for the crime of treason. Her fate was sealed the moment she was cast as a traitor to her people. It was unthinkable that a family of a hundred years of dominance could be laid low in a single generation. War was coming to Sanctuary, that much was known. It was not a trick or some underhanded plot. Skycloud held all the cards. The wastelanders knew they were walking into the enemy¡¯s hands, and Skycloud knew the barbarians would try and break passed their defenses. Indeed it was a clever decision to set the stage of their conflict in Sanctuary, but also there were obvious shortcomings. Wastelanders were like starving animals. Opening their doors to these monsters was like letting the wolves into the hen house. Every town, village and hamlet prepared for the worst. From Skycloud City in the center, to key installations in every direction, they all gathered their soldiers and bolstered their defenses in case the wastelanders merely pretended to protect the south so that they could assault somewhere different. Hammont Seacrest stood at Sanctuary¡¯s highest point. From here he could see far out in every direction. Right now all he saw was a verdant expanse stretching to the horizon. He had the image in his mind that Sanctuary was like a legendary beast laying contentedly upon a blanket of green paradise. He looked down at the successively larger rings spreading out below. He saw soldiers crawling along every building and down every street. The troops had wasted no time in arranging their weapons and war machines for the coming battle. Towers had been erected both for offense and defense. Sanctuary was wholly prepared to face a threat anywhere it might appear. All of the many defensive towers constructed along Sanctuary¡¯s eleven walls were manned and armed to the teeth. Every angle was defended and supported by nearby troops. A defense like this was stronger than any warship. The wastelanders were dreaming if they thought they could punch through this array of towers. Hammont lifted his eyes and looked to either side at the hundred or more airships. They hovered in the air nearby in smart formation. They were awaiting orders, ready to act at a moment¡¯s notice. Sanctuary was wrapped up in it, so that an attack from any side would receive air support. If the enemy broke passed the front lines they would be faced with the enchantments. If they got passed the enchantments they had wall upon wall to contend with. Win? Only in their most fanciful dreams! Even if they did, fighting through all those defenses was just their ticket to enter the real charnel house. The Cloude family had galvanized a large portion of their men for the battle. Nearly two thousand demonhunters were deployed to the fortress, headed by Master Arcturus Cloude himself. They joined forces with the garrisoned troops and the expeditionary force. Elite fighters as plentiful as the clouds. Crack soldiers as countless as raindrops. This would be a battle on which they staked the very dignity of their realm. Hammont could not conceive of a way that the vastly inferior wastelanders could win the day. Just as he was thinking, this a spotless white airships descended overhead. ¡°The Temple¡¯s men!¡± Hammont hurried to greet them. He¡¯d been waiting for their arrival for some time. The first to disembark was an elegant, handsome man of middle years. He was wrapped in the robes of Templar leadership. It was a symbol of the formal acknowledgment Phain Mist had received, marking him as Grand Prior. He now held the post of the Templar¡¯s foremost military commander. He had brought with him over one hundred Templars to aid in the battle. It was an expression of force the Templar had not shown in countless years. By his side was a beautiful woman dressed in resplendent white armor. Everything seemed to hold still for a moment in her presence. When she appeared, it stole the breath from all who looked upon her for her beauty hardly seemed real. Despite that, not a trace of unwholesome intent lived in any heart. She was the Apostle, the highest and most holy representative of the Temple, Selene Cloude. She was flanked by twenty or thirty attendants dressed in clerical garb. If the Templars were the Temple¡¯s mightiest warriors, then the Clerics were the Temple¡¯s ultimate demonhunters. Circumstances as they were, Oracle Azura was not dispatched to lead the Temple Clerics. Dawn was her daughter, after all. So while Phain Mist commanded the Templars, Selene Cloude was given command of the Clerics. The two of them together were here to represent the might and wisdom of High Priest Ramiel Caelestis and lend their strength to the defense of the realm. Hammont greeted them with the utmost respect. ¡°Grand Prior Mist, Apostle Cloude. The Governor has been waiting for you for some time.¡± Neither Temple officer showed any expression on their face. Whether as individuals or representatives of the Temple, they were not going to subject themselves to the whims of Arcturus Cloude. However, his machinations in the city were far-reaching and powerful. The High Priest was beneath the Governor¡¯s notice and their patron deity was asleep with no indication of waking. They followed Hammont to a spacious audience chamber. Arcturus was finishing up a discussion with another group. Selene scanned the crowd. There were about twenty people present, all of them notable members of Skycloud. She spied the patriarch of the Umbra family and leader of the Court of Shadow, Janus Umbra. He was the sort of man who could go toe to toe against the Crimson One. Atlas, his son, was also there as the sterling representative of the family¡¯s future. Also in attendance was Cosmo Thane; deputy leader of the League of Demonhunters Blaze Pyrrus; Oren Cloude; Frost de Winter; Zoren Leclaire, archbishop of the Church of Brilliance, and others. Every single person in this room was the sort whose footsteps shook the ground in Skycloud. When Arcturus saw the two enter he offered a faint smile. ¡°With the Temple¡¯s aid our victory is all but assured. Now that you¡¯ve arrived we can settle on individual duties.¡± Arcturus proceeded to delegate responsibilities. Meanwhile Selene couldn¡¯t stop her hands from clenching into fists. She couldn¡¯t see how Cloudhawk would get himself out of this trap they were laying for him. These clever strategies, overwhelming forces¡­ it seemed impossible for him to even break through their front line, much less save Dawn from execution. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t come at all, it would be better. If he did, there would be no escape; they were in the process of meticulously planning his death. She understood Cloudhawk¡¯s thinking, though, and knew he would come no matter what. When they met on the field, what then¡­? ¡°Three days. That¡¯s when we hold the execution. It¡¯s all settled.¡± Arcturus had planned it all to the smallest detail. When he was finished, no one had a thought or suggestion to add. The whole fort was bursting with confidence. From the outset they looked down on wastelanders like feral dogs. How dare they have the audacity to attack this fortress? ¡®Suicidal¡¯ was the only word they could use to describe this foolishness. Three days passed quickly. When the day came, it was overcast and blustery. A rare sort of weather for Skycloud. A solemn, deadly atmosphere hung over everything. Could it be that the mood of these humans could influence the heavens? Every soldier in Sanctuary was in position and stared into the distance with hard, expectant eyes. They were spaced out along every meter of the stronghold¡¯s eleven walls. The center of the fortress was also its highest point. Here Arcturus and his most elite commanders stood sat in vigil. Phain and Selene each stood on opposite sides of the square. Between them were all the Templars and Clerics, in a calm but ready state. All eyes turned toward the figure slowly being brought forth. Dawn did not struggle. Frost de Winter guided her to the stake and tied her to it. Never did the stoic expression leave her face. Her eyes remained fixed on the distance. It was time. Yet, where were the wastelanders? Neither hide nor hair of the enemy could be seen. Frost gave a questioning glance to the Governor. Arcturus simply nodded. With no more hesitation, Frost gave the order. ¡°Begin the execution.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 50 - The Battle of Sanctuary Skycloud made sure that news of Dawn¡¯s execution in Sanctuary had spread far and wide. Without question, all wasteland forces would have been paying close attention. Everyone ¨C wastelanders and Elysians alike ¨C knew the implications of what would happen here today. This so-called public execution was actually a public declaration of war. An open slap in the face designed to draw in an eliminate the wastelanders. In the wastelands, the nervous buzz was nearly palpable. Even the most brutish of them knew how inferior they were in the face of Elysian might. Their chances of defeating Skycloud were slim to none, and if the collective might of the southern wastes broke against their fortress, no one would remain to stand up to them. *** Within Greenland City. The Wendigo King had arrived with his wargs and the Khan¡¯s Black Knights. Though he did not give voice to it, he was displeased with his leader¡¯s decision. Ordering the King and his people to the front lines was a dangerous mission. It wasn¡¯t that he was adverse to the risk, more that the Khan was apparently taking orders from Cloudhawk of all people. If this young, untested leader commanded them poorly, they would all face destruction. Coal arrived at roughly the same time with elite soldiers from the Dark Atom and a fleet of war vehicles. Over the last six months Coal¡¯s status within the Dark Atom had continued to rise, in part thanks to the speed at which he grew in strength. No one in that organization ¨C with the exception of Wolfblade and Abaddon ¨C could go blow for blow against him. He had become the Dark Atom¡¯s penultimate warrior, a status he earned through merit. Coal commanded a contingent of genetically modified warriors who were roughly comparable in number to the Wendigo King¡¯s wargs. However, there was a considerable difference in the quality of these troops. Dark Atom¡¯s genetic soldiers were the result of Hellflower¡¯s research and scientific efforts. Her methods were based off the work of her predecessor, Academician Roste. By combining human DNA with samples from rotwolves, panthers, bulls and so forth she conveyed their strengths into a human body while maintaining critical thought. However, they could not wholly transform into the creatures that empowered them. They were not entirely the same as the wendigos ¨C each had its advantages and disadvantages. Some measure of guilt remained in Coal¡¯s heart when it came to Cloudhawk. He acknowledged that Cloudhawk¡¯s current situation was in part due to his actions. After Cloudhawk saved his life, Coal reneged on the promise he¡¯d made. He wasn¡¯t here because Wolfblade ordered him to, or to represent the Dark Atom. Coal had come to atone for how he mistreated a friend. Aside from the reinforcements from Nox and the Dark Atom, Greenland¡¯s own warriors were out in full force. Goshawks and Talons constituted their main strength. All three armies combined to form the vanguard. Cloudhawk assumed personal command with the help of the drunk, Gabriel, and several of the best fighters from the Polaris family. In theory, it was a powerful combination of forces. But was it enough to take Sanctuary? Was all of this just a race toward their own demise? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a choice. This was something he had to do, even though he knew it might end in death. At present Cloudhawk was lying in Hellflower¡¯s laboratory. He was undergoing his final health check before heading out to war. No one was under any illusions that this fight would be easy. The fight would be hard, and Cloudhawk was still recovering from his first run-in with Arcturus. He was afraid it would greatly affect his ability to fight, which had been the source of no end of trouble lately. Hellflower and her team of doctors took their tests and checked the results several times. Mirage eventually approached to give Cloudhawk his final suggestions. ¡°You have a strange innate regenerative ability, and the Trespasser virus from Roste works to your benefit. As a result, you have a frankly superhuman ability to adapt and recover. If you weren¡¯t about to go to war against Arcturus, I would say there is a fair chance you could make a full recovery on your own. However your attack on the expeditionary force was dangerous and left you weak. Now you are going to South Haven¡­. I can¡¯t guarantee you will get through it without permanent residual injury.¡± ¡°Will it kill me?¡± ¡°It may.¡± ¡°Heh, I guess it¡¯ll save them the trouble. We¡¯ll deal with it as it comes.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s tone was flippant and carefree, like he was discussing someone else. ¡°Alright, no more wasting time. All I want to know is if we have a way to keep me stable during the fight. I can¡¯t afford to run out of steam in the middle of this. That would be pretty embarrassing.¡± Mirage was bewildered by Cloudhawk¡¯s dismissive stance toward his own health. Hellflower could only nod in agreement. Mirage made his way to a drawer and slowly pulled it open. From within he fetched a box, put in the lock code, and retrieved a syringe filled with a pale red fluid. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Cloudhawk asked curiously. ¡°This is a powerful stimulant,¡± Hellflower soberly explained while adjusting her goggled. ¡°For a short duration, it will give you a considerable burst of vitality. This will mask the damage your body has taken, but the after-effects will be anything but pleasant.¡± They¡¯ve have this the whole time? Why didn¡¯t they take it out earlier? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t in the habit of giving a shit about consequences. What he didn¡¯t know was that Hellflower had produced this drug an even longer time ago than he had imagined. She¡¯d never given it to Cloudhawk because she knew he would use it and do something stupid. This stimulant was exceptionally potent, to the point where an average person couldn¡¯t handle its effects. Circumstances being what they were, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give a shit. He put the syringe in his pocket, and suddenly his tone was grave. ¡°Time to go. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be coming back, but if I don¡¯t Greenland is in your hands. Every inch of this place was built with our blood, sweat and tears. I need to know you¡¯ll do right by it.¡± Hellflower¡¯s eyes flickered in the buzzing fluorescent light. A rare expression of worry and sadness flit across her face. Without a response Cloudhawk turned and left, showing no hesitation. He was leaving with nearly all of Grenland¡¯s top brass. Hellflower was the only one left behind. It was a tactical decision. For one, Hellflower held high status here in the city. For another, her greatest talents weren¡¯t in combat. She would not play a decisive role in the fight to come. Of course, most importantly of all, Cloudhawk wanted to make sure Greenland lived on if he died. It was the wasteland¡¯s greatest chance at changing for the better. Hellflower escorted Cloudhawk to the airship. There she stood among countless Greenland citizens who watched as their Governor left the safety of the city. Her heart was full of conflict. She envied Dawn. She¡¯d lived a simple, pure and uncomplicated life until now. Cloudhawk¡¯s desperate rush to save her was the height of stupidity. If he let her die, they would lose the support of the Polaris family, but Greenland¡¯s system of order was already well established. Even if every member of the family left, it wouldn¡¯t affect Greenland too terribly. He could decide to stay here in the safety of the city and live out his days. He could wait, get stronger. Why did he have to be so inflexible? Cloudhawk was willing to give us his dream ¨C his life ¨C for a small chance at saving some girl¡¯s life. But of course, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t stupid. He knew the chances of saving Dawn were slim. Was Dawn really worth him throwing away his life? Hellflower could see that Cloudhawk looked at Dawn like a sister. Why would he do so much for a mere friend? As the airship left Greenland toward its destination, Cloudhawk was possessed by a deep calm. It was true. There was a small chance and a small chance only that they would save Dawn and escape. Most likely, they were all racing off to die. But Cloudhawk knew that if he let Dawn burn at the stake, it would mark his soul like a curse. He would be stained by it for all the rest of his days. Life was trying enough. He couldn¡¯t stomach another weight on his shoulders. And besides¡­ I may surprise them yet, if my little trick works the way I think it will. Greenland disappeared behind them. He thought about the months that had crept by and all the work they¡¯d done. It¡¯d been difficult, but enriching. Whether or not he made it back, Cloudhawk sincerely wished Greenland would continue long into the future. After all, it was a shining jewel in his otherwise mostly unhappy life. The wasteland¡¯s pioneer army forged ahead. They passed above the outposts and settlements on the way without stopping. Their trajectory hardly changed at all, aimed straight at the site of Dawn¡¯s execution. They arrived. When they did the onlookers, were surprised at the scale and majesty of the stronghold, despite being prepared for the sight. Layer upon layer of defensible walls stood between them and their objective. It was as impregnable as an iron curtain. The first thing they saw was a hundred Elysian warships lined up to meet them. They were in a formation that would allow them to retreat and bombard from a defensive position, or advance and press the attack. That alone seemed enough to annihilate the wastelander vanguard. Behind them, countless battle towers glittered with ominous power. It was a threatening display. Sanctuary was well named, for it was as inviolable as the moniker implied. It rose from the plains like a loyal gatekeeper, as Skycloud¡¯s shield against foreign evil. Everyone stood upon the deck, surveying the scene with dour expressions. The old drunk rolled his eyes theatrically. ¡°Frankly, with the ships we brought and the soldiers we have, we won¡¯t even get near Sanctuary¡¯s walls before they shoot us down. You commanded the expeditionary force. you know what Godspear can do. We¡¯ve got no hope.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. Whether force or equipment, Skycloud had them beat. They could sweep like wildfire through the wastelands, much less Cloudhawk¡¯s relatively paltry crew. Rushing in now would be like driving full speed into a brick wall. ¡°Tell the other ships to hold their position.¡± Cloudhawk closed his eyes and thought for a moment. ¡°We¡¯ll go on ahead.¡± The drunk gave him a shocked look. ¡°What are you planning?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± came Cloudhawk¡¯s mysterious reply. The other ships of the vanguard stopped as commanded. One ship moved forward alone. As everyone watched Cloudhawk walked across the ship¡¯s deck to the altar they had set up there. He stood atop the stump-like structure, his cloak fluttering in the wind, hair and bandages rustling. Once he stood steady on the altar, its roots reached up to twist around his legs. That was how it connected to his mental powers. Cloudhawk had used this altar to open the dimensional portal in Greenland. His aim now was not so different. It was a plan that should, in theory, fill him with a huge injection of strength! He fished around in a pocket and produced Hellflower¡¯s syringe. Without even glancing at it he jabbed the needle into his neck and pushed down on the plunger. He felt the fluid being pumped into him. In the next moment, it felt like fire was rushing through his veins. It spread through him to the tips of his limbs and deep down into his bones, a hundred thousand ants chewing through him. A normal man would quickly pass out from the agony, but not Cloudhawk. On the contrary, his mind sharpened. After a moment it felt like he was back to his old self. But it was a condition that would last a couple hours, at best. That should be enough time, he thought, but he wasn¡¯t strong enough. Not nearly strong enough! He needed more power, and fast. And so he shut his eyes and submerged himself into the sea of psychic energy locked within. He muttered to himself: ¡°Demon King¡­ I need your power. Give it to me. Give all of it to me.¡± The quiet sea reacted to Cloudhawk¡¯s demand. It felt his strength of will and fighting determination. A moment later the black surface boiled tempestuously as what remained of the Demon King¡¯s mental powers began to transform ¨C this time, more than ever. A little over half had remained. Before long it had all become steam. Cloudhawk could feel it surging through him, filling him with power. His mind swelled with a volatile sensation, like it could explode at any moment. He had spent half a year in silence, but now it was finally time to cry out. Cloudhawk broke through the barrier to new heights and laid claim to the remaining half of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance. It took only an instant before Cloudhawk reached unprecedented levels of strength. He felt it and knew that at this instant, he was now stronger than at any time before. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 51 - Citybreaker Many wastelanders were gathered on the decks of their ships. No one knew what Cloudhawk was up to. Those with keener senses ¨C like the Wendigo King and Coal ¨C could feel a shift. It shuddered through them as Cloudhawk changed from a sickly dog to a roaring dragon in the space of ten minutes. At this moment, those standing closest to Cloudhawk could feel a suffocating pressure settle upon them. The feeling didn¡¯t from nowhere. The epicenter was clear. Be it the Wendigo King or Coal, they understood that in this moment Cloudhawk could erase them from existence without lifting a finger. When Cloudhawk opened his eyes anew, his pupils gleamed the color of old gold and shone like a lighthouse. ¡°What incredible psychic power!¡± The drunk muttered. He could feel the waves of psychic energy flowing from him. From what he could gather, Cloudhawk had not only suppressed his injuries, but in ten short minutes had somehow empowered himself to near the level of a Master Demonhunter. Meteoric did not come close to describing this sudden rise. It was light speed. Two of the drunks together couldn¡¯t match his mental prowess now. Incredible! Frightening! So this is my full potential? Will wonders never cease! Cloudhawk felt the abundance of power washing through him. However, it was not his. All of it was taken from the Demon Lord¡¯s legacy. In truth, he was frightened. If he had time to absorb all this power properly, it would reduce the chance of dangerous side-effects. He could more easily be able to assimilate it into himself. But what he was doing now was a heedless expression of pure force. He needed what the Demon Lord had left behind ¨C the more, the better. The stronger, the better. Right now, there was no space for other concerns. It was not enough! Still not enough, not by a far margin! His hope had been to draw on and make use of the totality of the Demon Lord¡¯s strength. However, everything had its limits and Cloudhawk could not take any more into himself. But it didn¡¯t matter. Cloudhawk had concocted other plans. There was a reason why he¡¯d had Autumn construct the augmentation altar on their airship. Recently, a fair bit of Greenland¡¯s resources had been spent gathering items from the other worlds. This included spirit beings which, after being delivered to the God Tree, were transformed into psychic pearls. By the time Dawn was captured, they had hundreds in surplus. All of those were used in the creation of this altar. Last time he used an altar, it consumed a hundred psychic pearls to open a permanent dimensional portal. The altar he used now had a hundred times the available power. The limits of what it could accomplish were unfathomable. Standing atop the altar, Cloudhawk could wield a relic with the strength of a Master Demonhunter. Furthermore his own, intrinsic power had exploded to new heights. If it is war they want, I will give them a show. They thought a Master Demonhunter was frightening? Well, today Cloudhawk would make the Elysians see how a man they¡¯d cast out from their home could fight back. The light pouring from Cloudhawk¡¯s golden eyes continued to increase. His psychic energies spread far and wide. With the help of the altar, his capabilities were augmented to levels he never would have dreamed possible. He raised his hands high. The whole ship shook. Psychic energy was invisible, intangible and difficult to detect with typical senses. Unlike waves of sound or light whose origins were known and whose energy was physical, psychic energy was not. This was of course typical at average levels of strength. However, past a certain threshold even items that were not relics were forced to resonate with these psychic flows! ¡°Boss! What the hell is he doing?!¡± ¡°The fuck are you asking me for? Quit bugging me!¡± ¡°Look! Over the city, something¡¯s happening!¡± All eyes turned to the skies above Sanctuary. A thousand meters over the center of the stronghold the air had started to twist and warp. The folds in reality could not directly visible, but were obvious by how the surroundings reacted. First, the clouds. The unseen force pulled at them and twisted them into spirals. Then an airship that had wandered too close was caught up in the invisible vortex. Too quick for the doomed vessel to react, it was drawn into the center and ripped to pieces. Cloudhawk released the full brunt of this energy with a booming declaration: ¡°Witness the meaning of true power!¡± With that, the sky shattered! Cracks splintered far into the distance as though the world were made of fragile glass! It was replaced by a gigantic black hole, like someone had torn through a painting. A shrill, ear-piercing sound erupted from it, followed by a hail of tumbling rock. Each meteor was the size of a three-story building. As they descended from a thousand meters above the city, everyone held their breath in anticipation of the impact to follow. The devastation they would cause would be ruinous and unavoidable, the equivalent of thousands of tons of explosions unloaded on a single target ¨C more apocalyptic than a nuclear bomb. Boom-boom-BOOM-boom-BOOM! Sanctuary¡¯s enchantments warped from the strain. The Elysian warships caught in the shower were immediately thrown into disarray. Wide eyes and open mouths gaped at the apocalyptic scene. No one knew what Cloudhawk had done. Where had these meteors come from? How were they falling from the sky without foundation? And yet, this power that could obliterate a wasteland city was not enough to threaten either Sanctuary or the Elysian vessels. Both were protected by formidable shields. Although the sights were frightening and the sounds imposing, Sanctuary¡¯s protections did not buckle and her fleet held strong. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet,¡± Cloudhawk growled. Before the words vanished from the wind, bright red lines emerged all over his bandaged body. It came from his veins bursting inside of him. Indeed, the power he was wielding ¨C giving him the strength to open up a portal so large and drag meteors through ¨C was more than a mere mortal¡¯s body could withstand. That first wave was just the appetizer. What followed was the full course. A thousand meters above Sanctuary, the black hole was ripped open further. With horrified expressions on their faces, everyone watched as an object, massive beyond reckoning, slowly started to emerge. Even as it just started to peek through, the onlookers felt as though the breath was stolen from their lungs. What is that¡­ It was an absolutely humongous meteor, dozens of kilometers from one end to the other! A metallic sheen outlined it as the sun played across the craggy surface. The meteor was mostly composed of metal. Horrific did not even begin to describe it. The curse Cloudhawk had called upon this place was calamitous. Behind Sanctuary¡¯s walls, everything was frozen in mindless shock. No one could comprehend what was happening. How had this enormous threat appeared out of the blue? They didn¡¯t have time to think, nor time to prepare. An unnatural and terrifying darkness enveloped the stronghold like an eternal night. The meteor was belched forth, and a moment later the impacts begun. Ships that were too slow to escape were decimated, with over a dozen being smashed to pieces as they were caught between the meteor and Sanctuary¡¯s shields. The earth shuddered violently for kilometers all around! The Elysian solders could barely hold their footing. It was as though the world itself trembled in fear. Some stared stupefied, unable to grasp what they were seeing. It was simply beyond their capacity to accept. In the eyes of Elysians, Sanctuary was unbreakable ¨C an indomitable shield no heathen could pierce. After the meteor¡¯s impact, an ugly gash had appeared, one that no measure of time or resources could hope to repair. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 52 - The War Begins Fifteen minutes prior. Atop Sanctuary¡¯s highest point, Dawn¡¯s execution was underway. Clouds overhead began to shift and twirl, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. Expressions darkened as it dawned upon the Elysians that a sinister power was gathering. Light warped and clouds churned, creating a bizarre and disturbing spectacle. Those on Sanctuary¡¯s highest point felt it even more profoundly. This wasn¡¯t merely a disturbance in the atmosphere. Some unholy power was warping the fabric of reality. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± Selene, Phain, Frost, Dawn and all the rest snapped to the present. There was only one they knew who had the power to manipulate space to this degree, and that was Cloudhawk. Arcturus and a number of other powerful demonhunters were seated in the square to witness Dawn¡¯s execution. They looked up at the spiderweb of power snaking through the sky. As Arcturus peered at the scene, wrinkled deepened at the corners of his eyes. This¡­ was not what he expected. Such an immense display of power. How? Arcturus was not sure what method Cloudhawk had used, but the expression of power he witnessed far outstripped even his two younger brothers. Cloudhawk had managed to bolster himself beyond Sterling and Baldur ¨C two Master Demonhunters. But Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t really be that strong. Arcturus knew the damage he¡¯d caused with Ruin. It was impressive that Cloudhawk could launch an attack at all! Six months was simply too short a time for him to improve so dramatically. Conflict showed in Selene¡¯s face as she stared up into the sky. She¡¯d prepared herself for this moment, but a sense of sadness still persisted. He¡¯d told her he would be back. Now here he was. But no one would have anticipated this was how he¡¯d make his entrance. The moment he chose to lift his hand against Skycloud, there was no going back. From this moment forward, even if he struck down Arcturus, Cloudhawk would never be welcome in the Elysian lands again. Once war broke out, his hands would become stained with the blood of its citizens. In the past, his troubles arose from misunderstanding, or foul deeds he was wrapped up in unwittingly. This was different. This time, he was initiating the attack and threatening the lives of Elysian soldiers. For the first time, he stood squarely against Skycloud¡¯s interests. Selene wasn¡¯t sure how she should react. Both Frost and Phain stared with open incredulity. The others gaped in astonishment. There were stories of a time when Arcturus Cloude had summoned three thousand bolts of electricity on his enemies. As the story went, that single attack obliterated half a wasteland city. Such a thing was, to them, the apex of human accomplishment ¨C the peak of what mortal man could achieve. Even those legendary demonhunters of old couldn¡¯t hold a candle to their Governor. So what was this? Was it really possible a barbarian from the wastes could achieve such power? The power required to affect such a large swath of space had to be enormous beyond measure. ¡°Be careful. The shields!¡± Hammont cried out to the others. ¡°Falling rocks!¡± After the fissure ripped the sky asunder, tumbling rocks of various sizes emerged. They came roaring forth and smashed into Sanctuary¡¯s defenses with deafening noise. The shields flickered bowed but recovered quickly. The rebound force flung the rocks away. But that was just the beginning. Shocked eyes rose again to the black hole where more of the rocks were coming ¨C thousands of them. A shower of boulders cascaded unto Sanctuary and the surrounding plains. The world around them was awash in the explosive sounds of impact. The din never eased. It sounded like the end of the world. Such a scene was impossible for anyone but a Master Demonhunter. Were it not for the city¡¯s defenses¡­ the garrisoned forces shuddered to think what these building-sized rocks would do to the stronghold. What sort of demonhunter could command this level of power? Hammont and others were just beginning to suspect their shields would hold, when an even more nightmarish scenario presented itself. What had first seemed a massive assault turned out to merely be the warm-up. The bombardment of tumbling stones eased, but only to allow a truly gargantuan shadow to swallow Sanctuary in darkness. A meteor the size of a small city loomed above them. From a thousand meters overhead, the meteor bore an ominous sort of beauty, almost like an island in the sky. It was huge. As the Elysians watched, the island only grew in size, becoming less an island and more a mountain range. They couldn¡¯t dodge, couldn¡¯t flee. Nothing could stop it. The impact was as inevitable as it was immeasurable. Countless tons of unfeeling steel smashed into Elysian ships, reducing them to splinters. When it ultimately struck Sanctuary¡¯s southern side, the shock wave of its impact blasted out. It created a storm of destructive force, followed by an earthquake which shook the earth a hundred kilometers away. Sanctuary¡¯s defenses were strong, but what could withstand an attack like that? The shields reacted like a balloon, yielding inward from the force to its absolute limit. Then it broke. The meteor burst through and smashed into the stronghold. No one who witnessed it and lived would ever forget the scene. Of South Haven¡¯s eleven levels, eight were demolished on the spot. Those that remained stood with various degrees of damage. Soldiers watched in abject terror as they were assaulted, with no way to fight back. It was like something out of a nightmare! Even the fate of Sanctuary¡¯s highest levels was unclear. Cloudhawk himself didn¡¯t know what was happening beneath that cloud of dust and rubble. But it was clear that the meteor had done more than breach their defenses. It was a stunning punch to the face of every Elysian. That spectacular shield. Hundreds of energy towers in support. Short of another nuclear weapon, it was unthinkable that wastelanders could get through. Even if they could, it would only be after they paid the cruelest of prices in wastelander lives. Yet, this assumption was proven false. Their mightiest defenses were overcome without a drop of barbarian blood spilled. The meteor smashed a large portion of the fortress into the ground like a mountain had been abruptly dropped onto it. When the dust settled it almost looked like it¡¯d always been there. The ground for fifty kilometers in every direction had been kicked up and churned by the impact. An attack like this had never been seen before in all of Skycloud¡¯s history. No one ¨C not Arcturus, nor any demonhunter known to the Elysian lands ¨C had ever launched an attack like this. This far outstripped anything a mortal man could accomplish. Eventually, the dust dispersed. Elysians had been flung every which way and had yet to regain their feet. Before they could, there was a shimmer upon the surface of the vast meteor and a handful of silhouettes appeared upon it. It was none other than Cloudhawk and his crew. He stood arrogantly over the chaotic expanse of Sanctuary, with its many soldiers staring back in alarm. When he spoke he did so without malice, only cold certainty. ¡°Let. Her. Go.¡± His words were not loud but bore a thunderous sort of power. They reverberated through the hearts of every soldier with bone-deep malice. They¡¯d just watched him summon a meteor to flatten a portion of their stronghold. Then, without effort, he appeared past their defenses with a dozen others. Facing thousands of hardened men and powerful demonhunters, he greeted them with one simple command. Seeing this, Dawn couldn¡¯t keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks. The pain, sadness and despair she felt for her failures gave way to appreciation and relief. Here was a man who was willing to face ten thousand enemies to save her. He brazenly wielded unfathomable power in her defense and brought champions to fight through terrible odds. In that instant, felt like nothing else mattered. She could die in that moment and have no regrets, for she had experienced the most romantic thing a woman could hope to witness. Cloudhakw stood over the routed soldiers, gray cloak flapping in the wind. Fresh blood leaked from his bandages in a constant drip that dyed all his clothes crimson. It was obvious the toll that phenomenal display had taken. It was a display that would leave an eternal mark on the history of demonhunters. Cloudhawk had achieved something at a level never before imagined. In fact, it hadn¡¯t been that complicated. Simply put, it was the reverse of his dimensional travel. He had summoned these rocks from another plane. It was a concept he¡¯d been kicking around in his mind for some time. He figured that if he could move through space and bring others with him, why not have it work in reverse? What was stopping him from dragging something here from someplace else? Like¡­ a whole fucking mountain. He¡¯d opened the portal and enveloped a mountain he knew existed in that strange planet he¡¯d visited before. Using the principles of dimensional travel, he brought the topographical feature into their world. Something that large tumbling from the sky would have a lethal force of unimaginable magnitude. Until today, it was a trick that had remained part of Cloudhawk¡¯s imagination. To save Dawn, he made it a reality. Through the combination of his improved powers and augmentation from the altar, he ripped a mountain from the other planet and forced it here. The result was an extraordinary display and a totally demoralizing attack. When it was done, Sanctuary¡¯s defenses were all-but obliterated. The damage could¡¯ve been even greater, perhaps absolute, if he had dropped it from higher up, but he feared that Dawn might perish as well. Cloudhawk had just teleported himself and a dozen of his strongest directly into the stronghold ¨C into the heart of its mighty army. It was as striking a display as could be presented, and it left a remarkable impression on Skycloud¡¯s soldiers. Clearly, he didn¡¯t see them as any sort of threat! In the distance, those wasteland warships continued to advance. All this, and it was just the beginning of their conflict. All the while, Arcturus had remained seated upon the highest point of Sanctuary. The fantastic and unprecedented display appeared to have little effect on him. However, those nearby could sense the terrible power welling up inside the Governor. Even for a man as strong and unfathomable as Arcturus, the attack had been deeply upsetting. ¡°Kill them.¡± His frigid order hung in the air like a snake¡¯s whisper. Hundreds of demonhunters and Elysian soldiers charged at the meteor. Their aim was to encircle these brazen men and cut off their escape. While the men Cloudhawk had brought with him were strong, they were hugely outnumbered. And indeed the Skycloud fighters were not easy to defeat. Oren Cloude, Knight-Commander of the Demonhunter Corps, was the first to appear before Cloudhawk. ¡°I thought you might have learned your lesson when you ran away the last time, tail between your legs. Instead here you are, looking to die.¡± He groped a hand toward Cloudhawk mid sentence. A crushing gravitation force came down upon the invaders. All at once, Cloudhawk felt a hundred times heavier. Even lifting a finger became a herculean task. Yet he was unconcerned. He fixed Oren with a cold glare and growled, ¡°You think you can stand in my way?¡± Last time they met Oren had the upper hand. But Cloudhawk had changed. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 53 - Open Confrontation Cloudhawk was too arrogant! It was a brazen slap in the face! The mighty demonhunters by Arcturus¡¯ side could no longer take it sitting down. However, in this moment they felt more fear than anger. This monster couldn¡¯t be left alive! Today, he destroyed a portion of their grand stronghold in one attack. Tomorrow, he could raise his hand against Skycloud City itself! Cloudhawk was only in his early twenties, yet he already he commanded such hellish power. In another twenty or thirty years who would be able to stand in his way? Even their illustrious Governor may be outmatched! ¡°Let us elders handle this one.¡± ¡°Aye, we¡¯ll slap the arrogance out of him. This heathen can¡¯t be allowed to take another breath. Every day he lives is an affront to the dignity of our realm.¡± Arcturus remained seated. That threatening aura had gradually waned and he was again that calm, inscrutable enigma he always was. He did not immediately agree with the proposal of the angry elders. When he responded, it was in quiet, measured tones. ¡°Cloudhawk could only galvanize an attack like that with immense external aid. He cannot reproduce it. There are other formidable enemies waiting in the wings. It would be foolish to heedlessly press the attack just to cut Cloudhawk down. If we are not prudent, we will lose not just a portion of Sanctuary, but the entire fortress. If that were to occur, all of Skycloud would feel the aftermath.¡± Obviously, Cloudhawk was merely the tip of the spear. Their main force was watching, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Although Cloudhawk¡¯s opening assault was terrible and destructive, it didn¡¯t destroy their fortress outright. Deploying all their strongest to deal with him would be premature. They would have nothing left to counteract the coming demonic and wasteland forces. ¡°He¡¯s a spent bullet.¡± A masked figure beside Arcturus shared their determination. Their voice was strangely neutral, making it impossible to tell whether they were male or female. Such was the case with Janus ¡®Many-Faced¡¯ Umbra ¨C ever a mystery. ¡°Oren has already ordered his demonhunters to surround him. The rest of our soldiers will rally and come to their aid in short order. Cloudhawk and this small group are alone, outnumbered, and surrounded.¡± Indeed Cloudhawk was only peering down his nose at them because the army was still recovering from the shock of his attack. The traitor would be singing a different tune when thousand of Elysian troops were bearing down on him. The hot-blooded members of Arcturus¡¯ entourage looked at each other but had no recourse but to hold position. Skycloud¡¯s elder warriors had been gathered to counter forces from Nox and Nucleus. Arcturus was right, wasting their strength on Cloudhawk would leave an opening for the wastelanders to mop up. The fight had only just begun. So be it! There were enough mighty foes for Cloudhawk to throw himself against already. Oren and Zoren in particular were a lethal pair. In addition the Court of Shadows also skulked the field. When factoring in Oren¡¯s Demonhunter Corps, the combined forces were numerous and formidable. If they charged forth together, a whelp like Cloudhawk was as good as doomed. They watched from above as their forces began to surround the invaders. ¡°Drunk, you and the others deal with them. Clear landing zone for our main force.¡± Cloudhawk shouted his orders then snapped his eyes toward Oren. ¡°Leave this wrinkled ballsack to me.¡± The drunk looked out over the devastation that had taken hold of Sanctuary and sighed. It¡¯d gone to far. There was no looking back. He had not been in favor of the attack, of killing Elysians. But he owed his life to Cloudhawk, and Dawn was the honorable War God¡¯s granddaughter. What was happening here was a tragedy, but one he had to partake in. Cloudhawk had opened the path with his meteor. He made the sky split and the earth quake. Under his power a portion of the Sanctuary had collapsed. Skycloud¡¯s iron defenses had been overcome with a single, stupendous blow. Now, while the Elysians were reforming, the rest of the wasteland forces took advantage of their disarray to move in. Airships arrived and deposited their forces upon the meteor. Speed was to their advantage, for if they could act before the defenders could rally the wastelanders would carve through the fortress like a hot knife through butter. Oren raised his hand toward Cloudhawk. ¡°You conceited child.¡± That familiar gravitational effect fell over the area. Cloudhawk felt as though he¡¯d been tied to a fleet of airships that were lifting him into the air. He floated a dozen meters into the air. ¡°Die!¡± Oren reversed the energy and flung Cloudhawk toward the ground with a hundred times the force of gravity. This sudden change would reduce an iron-skinned mutant to meat paste. Yet just as Cloudhawk was about to impact the ground, he blinked out of existence and vanished from view. Oren¡¯s power crashed into the earth, leaving a crater a dozen meters deep. He¡¯d dug out a grave but there was no corpse to put in it. ¡°Where did you run to?!¡± Oren lashed out at any trace of his foe. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk teleported just out of reach, dodging half a dozen attempts. He would appear for a moment then vanish again. Oren¡¯s reactions were a tenth of a second too late each time, so while the earth around him continued to buckle under the strain none of the craters sported Cloudhawk¡¯s mangled body. This man had risen in the Crimson One¡¯s place to take up the mantle of Knight-Commander, but Cloudhawk did not fear him. Cloudhawk dodged again. When he reappeared, he did so behind Oren. He couldn¡¯t just waste time playing with his target, he needed to fight back. His right arm came alive with blazing green flames, like a hand groping from the pits of hell. Castigation Fire ¨C one touch and Oren would be burned to ash. But the Knight-Commander was a hardened veteran. He had been ready for Cloudhawk¡¯s counterattack so he had the gravity around him under control and ready for action. The moment he sensed danger, Oren was flung up into the air fast as a bullet. Cloudhawk did not abandon the attack. Two streaks of silver light gave chase like angry serpents. Oren responded, increasing gravity around the Silver Serpents and causing them to slow. But while his focus was on the silver light, he heard Cloudhawk¡¯s mocking voice in his ear. ¡°Tossing and turning ¨C is that all you can do? Enough games!¡± Two silver streaks fused into one. The screaming serpent became a roaring dragon with ten times the threat and momentum. It pierced through Oren¡¯s gravitational field as though it weren¡¯t there, faster than the eye could follow. A flash, quick as lightning, pierced through Oren¡¯s chest and exited from his back. Blood gushed from the wound it left behind. He was the Knight-Commander¡­ yet defeated in this brief exchange. The gashing wound looked bad enough to portend death. Had Cloudhawk¡¯s combat abilities really grown so much, so quickly? Oren was a lauded member of the Cloude family, an important member. If he died here, the impact would be dire. From his perch, Arcturus narrowed his eyes. Oren¡¯s vision began to fade when suddenly a streak of light approached from behind. Power enveloped him, followed by an unexpected scene. The gouts of blood and broken flesh were sucked back into the Knight-Commander¡¯s body. In a matter of seconds the deadly wound in Oren¡¯s chest was healed entirely. What incredible healing power! This was practically resurrection! This was the incredible power of Archbishop Zoren Leclair. Zoren ¨C with his white hair and kind face ¨C struck a dignified picture. In his hands he clutched a glowing mirror, the relic that snatched Oren from the jaws of death. ¡°The Rekindling Lens!¡± Cloudhawk knew of this relic. He remembered reading about it in the relic records back in Skycloud. The Rekindling Lens was a one-of-a-kind restorative relic. Among military circles, Zoren¡¯s name was not widely known. However, there were few amongst Skycloud¡¯s citizens who did not praise him. This was not merely because of his high status in the Church of Brilliance, but mainly because he was an unparalleled healer. No matter how grave the injury or how foul the sickness, the Rekindling Lens could restore the victim to health. It was limited only by failures of genetics or wounds that damaged a person¡¯s deepest essence. Even if one teetered on the precipice of death they could be returned to full health, as Oren¡¯s plight had revealed. ¡°You think you can kill me?¡± Oren recovered quickly. He pulled forth a long staff and swung it toward Cloudhawk. Paired with the power of his glove, even this simple staff bore limitless destructive power. One blow, with gravity greatly amplified, could do as much damage as a hundred strikes. Cloudhawk quickly dodged out of the way. The staff struck, and the ground where Cloudhawk had stood exploded into a mess of dirt and stone. Cloudhawk¡¯s mind worked as he dodged. With Zoren here, killing any Elysian soldier was much more difficult. He had to deal with the Archbishop first if he wanted to put Oren down for good. But the enemy demonhunters were starting to close in. A hundred figures clad in long white robes dashed into Cloudhawk¡¯s field of view. They glared at the traitor with grim faces and Cloudhawk could hear their relics hum. It was a dangerous change in circumstance, even for Cloudhawk. ¡°Boss! We¡¯re here to help!¡± The sound came from a strange mixture of troops atop the rocks, split into three groups. On the left was the Wendigo King and his warriors from Nox. On the right was the Dark Atom¡¯s genetically modified soldiers led by Coal. In the center were the intimidating mutants, Cloudhawk¡¯s own Goshawks. ¡°You think this motley group of barbarians can stand against my demonhunters?¡± Oren¡¯s smile was thick with disdain. ¡°The very height of stupidity!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Cloudhawk spoke over his shoulder to his men. ¡°Kill them.¡± The Goshawks answered with a thunderous war cry. Out in the wastes, it was the strong who earned respect. They had watched Cloudhawk summon a mountain from the sky and use it to obliterate their enemy. In their minds he had risen to near god-like status. Never had these twisted mutants experienced anything like it. It was a great honor to join this powerful man in his assault on the Elysian realms. So, without hesitation, they rushed headlong toward the demonhunters, indifferent to the threat of death. Did they not understand the power a demonhunter wielded? Yet what followed was a revelation that left the Elysians speechless. The mutants drew out twisted rods of black metal, foul facsimiles of exorcist rods. All of a sudden, the battlefield was alive with a surge of power that washed over the dignified demonhunters. These didn¡¯t just look like exorcist rods. They were exorcist rods! The Elysians stared at the encroaching mutants, stupefied. It was a scene that shook them to their core, no less staggering than Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor shower. It was an assault on the bedrock of their faith, an affront to all they knew of the world ¨C demonhunters were the greatest warriors in the world because the gods had blessed them with the power to wield relics. Only a few were awarded this holy honor. How¡­ how were these monsters doing the same? It took the demonhunter knights by surprise. By the time they recovered the unflinching wastelanders were already upon them. The damage was done. The power of the psychic pearls was inferior to the power of these demonhunters, but having no fear of death empowered a man to incredible heights. Zoren stared in open shock. ¡°Impossible¡­ impossible!¡± His disbelief was the perfect opportunity. The air shimmered beside the old priest and a figure appeared. A grim streak of metallic light gleamed from the sword in his grasp. Oren glimpsed it from the corner of his eye and shouted to his ally. ¡°Careful!¡± But it was too late. In his moment of distraction Cloudhawk had appeared within striking distance of Zoren. He brought Ardent Wrath down upon him in an arc of green flame. The Archbishop of the Church of Brilliance was cleaved in two. The Rekindling Lens was in enemy hands! Cloudhawk immediately reached into it with his mind. The lens¡¯ healing light washed over him and in that moment he could feel his wounds vanish like dew before the morning sun. However, although this was a legendary artifact it was limited to healing only ordinary wounds. It could reach into the deeper parts of a person and erase those ills. But that didn¡¯t matter now. At least it brought Cloudhawk back to fighting form and robbed a great advantage from the Elysians. Staggering, unthinkable events were occurring one after the other. Arcturus watched the scene with furrowed brow. ¡°Do not be distracted, proceed with the execution. Dawn must die.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 54 - The Cavalry Zoren Leclair was a respected archbishop. There were many among Skycloud¡¯s lower and middle class who adored him. However, this did not stop him from being cut down by Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. The barbarian leader had crushed a portion of Sanctuary in one attack and followed it up by murdering an archbishop. A coterie of relic-using mutant were now tearing through noble demonhunters with bloodthirsty abandon. Each fact was more shocking than the last and painted Cloudhawk more and more like a demon. And indeed, all of these tragedies were piled on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulders. He was an enemy the likes of which Skycloud had never seen in a thousand years. When it rains, it pours. From a time of peace to sudden war! After today, the name Cloudhawk would shake the world. Whether in Skycloud or the wastelands, he would go down in history. Oren was close enough to see the death of the Archbishop in clear detail. Fury rose up in him like a volcano. Never had he encountered a fiend like this traitor. There were other more powerful, but none had ever given Oren such a shock. The inherent strength and violence of wastelanders gave them a crude advantage. Each moment they were locked in close combat with the demonhunters, they were gaining the upper hand. Where the Demonhunter Corps excelled was in their many different sorts of relics. The mutants had only exorcist rods, so in terms of equipment they were far inferior to the Elysian fighters. However, equipment wasn¡¯t the only determining factor in war. These mutants were once throw-away wasteland fodder. Each of them had clawed their way to prominence through a world of blood and corpses. Every jump in strength, every moment of growth was earned through life and death situations. Such a life had taught them to fight as ferociously as the mindless beasts that stalk the wastes. Once the Demonhunter Corps was forced into close combat, they began to lose out against the mad bloodlust of their wasteland foes. In a fit of rage Oren released a wave of gravitational force. A Goshawk warrior caught in the area was smashed flat as a pancake, armor and all. But the grizzly scene did not deter the other mutants. On the contrary, they roared a challenge and charge ahead. Cloudhawk flung an orb of Castigation fire at Oren. The Knight-Commander was familiar the Crimson One¡¯s power, enough to know not to dismiss it. He manipulated gravity to force to ground some distance away. A moment later, Cloudhawk¡¯s figure burst forth from empty space with the Silver Serpents gleaming thirstily. Zoren wasn¡¯t here to protect the Knight-Command any longer. It was unlikely he would survive another lethal blow. Oren screamed in angry protest. His gravitational field spread far and wide, increasing weight a hundred fold dozens of meters around. Caught within in the field, Cloudhawk felt himself instantly grow heavier. It was so intense he found it difficult to move at all. But Cloudhawk was no grunt. He quickly retreated from the scope of Oren¡¯s power and replaced his sword with a bow. He started to blink from one location to another, shooting an arrow each time he appeared. In the space of an instant eight arrows were converging on Oren¡¯s position. Basilisk was a dangerous relic to face! Oren was forced to knock the arrows away with his staff. He managed to protect himself from the arrows, but before he could catch his breath a shadow fell over him from above. Sunstroke lashed at the Knight-Commander, causing him to shuffle backward out of its range. ¡°Leave him to me!¡± The drunk looked over his shoulder at Cloudhawk. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time. Save Dawn!¡± In all the chaos, Cloudhawk had almost been distracted from the reason they were here. Freed from his clash with Oren, he reached out with his mind to Oddball. The bird had been scouring the battlefield at Cloudhawk¡¯s command. It spied several demonhunters closing on Dawn, ready to light the pyre. She was tied fast to the stake and could only watch her doom approach. Sons of bitches! Cloudhawk took control of his beast companion. Oddball went into a nose dive, streaking through the air like a golden bullet. The demonhunters were not prepared for the small creature and had their guard down. When the streak of gold struck them, they were flung off the dais like rag dolls. Oddball came to rest in from of Dawn and used its steel-like beak to begin pecking at her bindings. One of the thick chains holding her fell away. Dawn watched with trepidation, a smile on her tear-streaked face. As Oddball was working on the next chain she shouted a warning. ¡°Cloudhawk, watch out!¡± A gust of frigid air followed in the wake of Frozen Dirge. It was aimed to run the little bird through. Oddball belched a streak of golden lightning at the weapon. Cloudhawk¡¯s divine beast was no match for Frost, but it could protect itself from his spear. However, the bolt only managed to slow Frozen Dirge somewhat, not stop it. Chirp! Oddball released a shrill sound and the rotund critter swelled to five or six times its girth. Its wings spread to a span or two or three meters. Dagger-like talons snatched Frozen Dirge as it closed in. Frost¡¯s face darkened like a winter storm. Holding onto the shaft of the spear, he spared no strength in trying to wrench it free. A burst of power bloomed from Frozen Dirge which launched Oddball away. The bird found itself encased in ice, unable to protect itself from a follow-up attack. But Frost¡¯s ire was turned from Oddball and his spear stabbed at Dawn. She could do nothing. The icy light of his spear was reflected in her wide eyes. An instant before the weapon skewed her, a figure ¨C both familiar and foreign ¨C appeared in the space between them. Frozen Dirge was held fast in her savior¡¯s hand. Frost felt a surge of power sweep through him. His spear would go no further. The Commander-General of the expeditionary force raised his head. He was a mess of rags, bandages that dripped with blood. All that could be seen were his dark eyes that burned with an inner fire. Frozen Dirge was caught in a gauntleted hand. In a hard, grim voice the man growled: ¡°You dare try to kill one of mine?¡± Cloudhawk had appeared at the apex of Sanctuary, alone. Did he not know that most of Skycloud¡¯s strongest were seated only meters away? It was suicide! When Cloudhawk¡¯s words reached her ears, Dawn couldn¡¯t help but feel even more moved. How desperately she wished she was his, and not just as an ally! Frost did not respond. The murderous intent in his glare said enough. He released the wintry power from Frozen Dirge. The burst of energy washed over Cloudhawk but was quickly dispersed by some unknown defense. Flecks of ice and snowflakes burst into bloom ten meters all around as though a bomb had released a blizzard around the two men. In the instant Frost had released his power, Cloudhawk had galvanized his gauntlet¡¯s repulsion field. Rimeshard appeared in the general¡¯s hand. Ardent Wrath smoldered in Cloudhawk¡¯s own. Frozen Dirge was caught between them. With one hand each man pulled, and with the other hacked at his foe. Two swords ¨C one delicate as an icicle, the other fractured and wreathed in flame ¨C collided in midair. Opposed powers of fire and ice battled for supremacy. All the ice crystals in the air turned to mist and a rainstorm was born in the space around them. ¡°With the paltry strength you have today,¡± Cloudhawk sneered, ¡°You can¡¯t hope to kill me.¡± Frost felt a huge force bearing down on him through Rimeshard. He was losing ground. The two men inched closer and closer. Half a year ago, Frost could have struck down Cloudhawk in one blow. But it was different now. With the help of powerful outside forces, Cloudhawk could face the Commander-General face to face and win the upper hand. When these two first met Frost could have killed Cloudhawk without a second thought. It¡¯d taken only a few short years for the scruffy wastelander to grow into a man Frost struggled to defend himself against. Cloudhawk left Frost no time to dwell upon the past. He planted his foot into the Commander-General¡¯s chest hard enough to dent his armor and sent Frost sprawling, then hacked at him with Ardent Wrath in the same moment. A wave of fire chased after his long-time foe. This traitor had the gall to knock Frost on his ass in front of the Governor. He wouldn¡¯t stop there, either. He planned to murder Arcturus¡¯ chosen right in front of his eyes! The Master Demonhunter would not sit idly by. His hand flashed and a metal needle was released. The moment it left his hand it reached hypersonic speed, allowing no chance to dodge. It screamed through the air toward Cloudhawk¡¯s throat. If it landed Cloudhawk would surely be paralyzed! He couldn¡¯t see the attacks¡¯ trajectory but he could sense it. He had only time enough to move an inch, so that the needle caught him in the left arm instead of his neck. Ting! This needle ¨C no thicker than a hair ¨C packed one hell of a punch. It pushed Cloudhawk off balance and gave Frost the space he needed to get safely away. Fuck it! He¡¯s not worth it. Arcturus was as dangerous an enemy as there was and this square was lousy with his henchmen. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t afford to waste time here. While they¡¯d fought Oddball had succeeded in removing Dawn¡¯s chains. Once her arms were free she looked up just as Cloudhawk was tossing a sword her way. She plucked it from the air and once the hilt was firmly in hand she felt that intimate, familiar thrum of power. Terrangelica! Dawn had thought she lost her cherished weapon forever. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Cloudhawk was reaching for Dawn but caught an agile form leaping his way. He didn¡¯t have time to move out of the way, only engage the stone to become incorporeal. Deathstalker still carved a wound in his abdomen. Templars and Clerics were closing in all around him. Assassins from the Court of Shadows had their target in sight. In an instant, Dawn and Cloudhawk found themselves surrounded. As he whipped around, looking for any way out, a familiar silhouette strode into view. She was more beautiful than an early morning snowfall. Her white clothing, spotless and stately, flapped in the winds of war. She stood before Cloudhawk with a burning sword of light held loosely in one hand. When he saw her, the pang in Cloudhawk¡¯s chest was thunderous and painful. Why such a sensation? Because he knew his decisions would bear a price like this. The sort of price where even if he survived this battle, he would barely want to live. He was no longer afraid of death but that did not mean he was without fear. What he feared the most was this moment. Cloudhawk knew that this might be the last time they met face to face. But how could he explain everything? ¡°Selene, you-¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Selene cut him off and wasted no time, driving her crossblade toward him. Her attack was at full strength. The light that poured off her sacred weapon was blinding. The ground split apart beneath her, stretching for several meters. Her power surged across the distance between them like a tidal wave. Her father¡¯s relic ¨C the Holy Vestments ¨C was among Skycloud¡¯s most potent relics. It was nearly as great as Arcturus¡¯ weapon, Ruin. Even a Master Demonhunter would be forced to dodge this attack or risk being slain. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief. Why would she do this? Had even she decided to fight him to the death? As the holy light washed over him, Cloudhawk felt sorrow and despair. Why did it always seem like his closest friends were destined to turn into enemies? 1. This is some cover art level shit right here. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 55 - Posturing In agreeing to participate in this fight, Cloudhawk had prepared himself for the possibility of death. He wasn¡¯t afraid of Arcturus and the other deadly enemies surrounding him. He paid no mind to the consequences or the charges levied against him. The one thing that he worried about was this situation, right here and right now. Dawn had to be rescued, no ifs and or buts about it. Anyone who stood in his way would have to be cut down. Though his chosen road would be lined with corpses and his hands stained with blood, Cloudhawk felt no regrets¡­ except when it came to Selene. What was he supposed to do now? For five years they shared some of the most impactful moments in each others¡¯ lives, moments that were defining and transformative. More than friends, they¡¯d developed genuine feelings for one another. Between them was a pure, if undefined, affection. Beyond a doubt, Cloudhawk understood Selene better than anyone. Likewise, Selene was the only person who knew the true Cloudhawk. She¡¯d participated in his stubbornness, his wanderlust, and his wild determination. Her intractability, tenaciousness, and solitude had all been affected by his presence. These two souls ¨C destined for a life of turbulent change ¨C had rode the tides from mutual exclusion to mutual attraction. They were a pair of lone wolves who¡¯d found their pack¡­ but it seemed as though fate had conspired to rip them apart once again. Cloudhawk had never wanted to lose any of his hard-won friendships, and this was doubly true for Selene, but he knew her and why she had no choice but to stand in his way. Selene Cloude was different from anyone else he¡¯d met. A more steadfast and perfect warrior did not exist. She wasn¡¯t like Frost, who chased after prestige. She wasn¡¯t as impulsive as Dawn either. Although the problems she faced were each more daunting than the last, she still possessed an indomitable spirit. She was like a brave, courageous butterfly beating her wings in a storm. It was her unassailable faith that gave her the strength to forever wade through fire. She¡¯d matured over the years. In that time she had striven to walk in the footsteps of her late father ¨C an unapologetic idealist who never gave up his dogged pursuit of truth and righteousness. The two were both people of lofty morals. Selene was a warrior through and through. In the face of spiritual doubt, of constant opposition from Arcturus, her position always remained planted on the side of Skycloud. The Battle of Sanctuary would become a defining moment in the history of her home. The consequences of what happened here would ripple through the lives of millions of civilians. When Cloudhawk raised his hand against the fortress, he also threatened those innocent lives. That had become the moment of their estrangement. Understanding this, it was not strange at all that she should turn her weapon on Cloudhawk. Rather, it would be wholly unlike her to stand aside and watch Cloudhawk slaughter her countrymen and reduce this first line of defense to rubble. A column of holy light came screaming towards Cloudhawk, who summoned the power of his gauntlet to protect himself. No expression could be seen on Selene¡¯s beautiful face as she unleashed Transcendence against him. Baldur¡¯s epic weapon was one of tremendous potential and to Cloudhawk it felt like he stood alone against a flood. It swept over him, unyielding, each second threatening to break through Cloudhawk¡¯s defenses and smash him apart. ¡°You know, we¡¯ve never had a proper fight!¡± Cloudhawk realized there was no hiding from this. He might as well face her calmly. ¡°I will admit, I¡¯m curious to see just what Skycloud¡¯s supreme genius is capable of!¡± Nearby, Atlas quietly drew forth Malady. As Cloudhawk threw himself in to warding off Transcendence, Atlas launched a sudden attacked. The beleaguered wastelanders now found himself suddenly forced to defend on two fronts, with Selene ¨C as Skycloud¡¯s treasured talent ¨C already a huge threat by herself. Cloudhawk roared and his mental powers burst forth. A pulse of deflective energy was released from his gauntlet in a shock wave. Transcendence¡¯s light stopped as though held fast by an invisible hand and was thrown to the left at a ninety degree angle ¨C right at Atlas. The assassin vanished leaped into the air. He simultaneously avoided the attack and advanced toward his target. While floating overhead he split into three copies, each with Malady in hand. All together, they came crashing down with the deadly gleam of their weapons aimed at Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. He¡¯s too fast. Selene in front, Atlas behind. Even Cloudhawk felt the lethal pressure of this combination. A cold light flashed in Selene¡¯s eyes. She thrust Transcendence through the air, and from it spat a beam of energy, streaking toward Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. But instead it passed him by ¨C and was aimed at Atlas. That brief moment of shock almost cost Atlas his life. Fortunately, he managed to recover in time to use Malady to deflect the blow. Her strike knocked him thirty meters away. Cold as ice, Selene growled at the assassin. ¡°Mind your own business. This is my fight.¡± Cloudhawk, along with Atlas and the others, was stunned by her actions. Still, all knew that she was a prideful woman. Clearly, she would not suffer someone else despoiling her battles. And yet! When Cloudhawk looked closer at her stern face, he felt something stir in his chest. He couldn¡¯t help but smile. She sure had me scared! For a second, he genuinely thought she was going to kill him! Now, it appeared that wasn¡¯t quite the case. On the surface she seemed determined to put him in the ground, but in reality it was quite the opposite. She was trying to give him an opportunity to flee. If it¡¯d been Phain, or any of Arcturus¡¯ other cronies they would have just piled on him. Phain brought his Templars, Selene commanded the Clerics, Atlas led the Court of Shadows, and Frost directed the Cloude¡¯s family¡¯s best. That was one hell of an army all coming his way, with many demonhunters capable of disrupting his abilities. They could easily have locked this place down while he was saving Dawn, making teleportation difficult if not impossible. Given these circumstances, the second Cloudhawk got caught in the trap he should have been as good as dead. But instead, Selene was insisting on a one-on-one battle. No one else was allowed nearby. That undoubtedly worked to Cloudhawk¡¯s advantage. ¡°Hmph!¡± When she saw the gratitude in his face, Selene couldn¡¯t help but let her anger flare. So blatant! He had a brazen yet ambiguous relationship with Dawn¡­ so be it. But the disaster it had caused¡­ she hated that she couldn¡¯t heartlessly hack him to pieces! Her slender legs kicked her off the ground and into the air. Both hands wrapped around the hilt of her weapon and she brought it tearing down toward him. Cloudhawk responded by putting his gauntlet between him and Transcendence. An explosion of light and energy resulted and the ground cracked beneath him. Both figures disappeared in the blinding corona. Cloudhawk simultaneous fought off the pain while forcing himself closer to her: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea what you are doing!¡± She was an angel in the center of a sea of light. Her raven black hair whipped in the air around her like a war goddess. Her face was still twisted into a mask of rage and betrayal. ¡°All this? For a psychotic bitch like Dawn? Have you thought at all about the consequences? Can¡¯t you use your brain for one second? You could have waited a few years while I gained more status in the city. I could have found a way to bring you back. But now¡­ now¡­ I should kill you!!!¡± Cloudhawk had never seen this look on Selene¡¯s face before. It was the face of a woman whose fear and anger were at war in her heart. Take power¡­? Had that been her plan all along? They shoved away from each another, creating a space of about ten meters. It lasted only a moment before they raced in for a second collision. The light it produced hid them from view and to onlookers it was impossible to see anything but a battle at full-tilt. Cloudhawk sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, really. I don¡¯t think I can keep my promise.¡± Selene brought Transcendence crashing down on his gauntlet once more. The force of it almost broke his arm. ¡°So you¡¯re really going to run off with Dawn? With all you¡¯ve done for her, where does that leave me?¡± Cloudhawks¡¯ face fell in pain and sadness. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m saying, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to make it.¡± Selene¡¯s pupils contracted to small, dark dots. ¡°What?¡± He sighed again. ¡°Half a year ago, the Cloud God badly wounded my mind. Then, Arcturus badly wounded my body. Do you really think that sort of damage can be reversed in six months? I¡¯m not going to pretend I¡¯m making it out of here alive. But seeing you like this¡­ it¡¯s enough for me.¡± Selene froze. She didn¡¯t know the power of the Cloud God, but she did know just how overwhelming Arcturus was. Now here they were, a little under two hundred days from that clash and Cloudhawk was still alive. He was harder to kill than a cockroach. But it seemed impossible that he could¡¯ve not only recovered, but also grown stronger. He definitely must have taken something to get this result. Something that threatened his life¡­ No! He can¡¯t die! Cloudhawk and Selene had exchanged two explosive blows. Dawn couldn¡¯t just stand by. So with her hands wrapped around Terrangelica she threw herself into the fray. She inserted herself blade first between Cloudhawk and the Apostle. Selene¡¯s anger erupted. All of this was her fault. You thoughtless, psychopathic bitch! If the idiot didn¡¯t let herself get caught, things never would have gotten to this point. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have been forced to put his life in danger! If you asked Selene who should die today, unequivocally the answer was: Her. She gave her opinion with her sword. Dawn had never gotten along with Selene, and today she was ready to rip the sanctimonious woman apart. It was incredible to her that Selene could have such a cold heart. It was expected that others would raise their arms against Cloudhawk, but her? She couldn¡¯t fathom how Selene could be so callous! This conceited, self-righteous bitch deserves to die as a lonely old crone! What. The. Fuck!?! Cloudhawk was speechless. Once Dawn broke in to confront Selene, all bets would be off. ¡®Thankfully¡¯, Phain suddenly rushed in with his quick-draw technique. Dawn had to defend herself with her sword and was knocked away. Phain pressed the attack, his sword raining down upon his former student. As he bore down on her he growled, ¡°Dawn, I taught you most of what you know. Let¡¯s see how well you learned.¡± Dawn squared off against her one-time instructor. ¡°You always used to harp on about justice. But what justice is there? My grandfather died while defending our realm, stabbed in the back by a devious snake. That snake still leads you. Is this the justice you were talking about?¡± Phain sprang into the air. As he bridged the distance he was surrounded by an onslaught of flashing sword strikes. ¡°Enough nonsense! You are a traitor to Skycloud, and worse a traitor to the Temple. Today it¡¯s time to clean house!¡± The two exchanged a dozen blows in the space of an instant. Phain¡¯s Templars stood around them, unmoving. They wouldn¡¯t get involved until they were ordered to. Frost and Atlas glanced at one another and through it shared their intent. Yet they did not intervene and instead only watched. It appeared neither Dawn nor Cloudhawk would be able to escape anyway. ¡°These four think their ruses to be so clever, none can see through them?¡± Arcturus watched the dramatic display unfolding before him and shook his head with a sigh. Cloudhawk and Selene, Dawn and Phain. Each made such a show of their conflict, but not an ounce of lethal intent was revealed. Smoke and mirrors, clumsily portrayed. While their attempts could fool many, it was foolish to think Arcturus wouldn¡¯t see through it. And yet, what an impressive crop of young fighters! Each one was more impressive than the last. If their predecessors had half as much talent, things would be very different in Skycloud. He wouldn¡¯t have needed to spend a fraction as much effort towards his goals. ¡°Governor! Let me teach them a lesson!¡± Two of those predecessors rose to their feet expectantly. But Arcturus did not grant the request. ¡°Janus. I leave it to you.¡± A masked figure slowly rose to his feet; Janus ¡®Many-Faced¡¯ Umbra, Skycloud¡¯s consummate assassin and leader of the Court of Shadows. He answered his Governor¡¯s summons with a bow. Then, without any grand gestures, his body dissolved into mist like he¡¯d been nothing more than a wisp of smoke. ¡°The rest of you, be still. The real enemy has only just arrived.¡± With this cryptic revelation Arcturus lifted his eyes toward the heavens. The others follows suit and when they witnessed the truth, their faces grew dark. In the skies over Sanctuary, the air was choked with threads of black. Tendrils of sinister clouds gathered like the groping fingers of Gehenna itself. Darkness swallowed the landscape, inching closer to their fortress. Cloudhawk had made a lot of noise, but even in destroying a portion of the fortress he¡¯d done little to impact the Elysian force as a whole. If he only had such a paltry force, only a fool would imagine that Cloudhawk would be able to take Sanctuary alone. The power that really threatened the thousands of soldiers garrisoned here was encroaching with that ominous darkness. *A note from the author, Tipsy Wandered (date unknown): Lately the story has experienced a bit of a bottleneck, effecting updates. Outside influences have had an effect on the story mid-production, thereby forcing some changes to the outline. Since the outline is once again in the conceptual phase the rate at which it¡¯s being written has slowed so as not to lose control of the narrative. Because this novel is in discussions to appear in other media, we can¡¯t be as capricious with its content as other books in the genre. Those works have the benefit of being wholly under the direction of the author¡¯s imagination. Full disclosure, when I started the book I had no outline at all. A map is only useful until you draw yourself into a corner ¨C then just change the map. If there¡¯s a group of characters that have nowhere else to go, write new characters. That¡¯s how it is normally done. However, this book cannot be written this way. I will do my best to update my outline as soon as possible and get back to a normal schedule. I appreciate everyone¡¯s understanding. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 56 - There You Are From the outset of conflict to now, only half an hour had passed. In that time the wasteland vanguard had produced incredible results. Not only had they accomplished what they¡¯d set out to do, their attack had also punched a hole in Sanctuary¡¯s formidable defenses. What¡¯s more, with just a small crew Cloudhawk had cut his way to the heart of the fortress, a fact which has served to greatly demoralize the enemy. They¡¯d already surpassed all expectations. The area Hammont was responsible for defending was blessedly distant from where Cloudhawk had appeared. He¡¯d dodged the proverbial bullet. In fact, his soldiers had yet to even encounter the enemy. Up to now they¡¯d only watched first-hand as Cloudhawk summoned a meteor from some devil plane to devastate their stronghold. Wastelanders of truly impressive capabilities used the meteor as their point of ingress. Indifferent to the threat of death, they launched a fierce attack on Skycloud¡¯s elite, including a whole Corps of demonhunters. Instead of being crushed beneath the heels of these noble warriors, the wastelanders actually managed to occupy the high ground. Archbishop Zoren Leclair was slain in the process. Knight-Commander Oren Cloude was steadily losing ground. Countless twisted freaks rampaged across the battlefield, under command from a demonic madman. They ripped through Elysian defenders for freedom, for survival, in defiance. What sort of battle was this? In the thousand years since the Great War, the Elysians had never been faced with such a threat. Before the fight, Elysians came expecting to participate as a joke. Wastelanders didn¡¯t have the power to threaten their realm, it was laughable to think they did. From manpower to equipment, from elite soldiers to training, the wastelanders were simply no comparison. Skycloud was and would always be superior. How was it that powers in the Northern Barrens got so strong? Frankly it was only because of Elysian traitors who taught them to be strong. One of the illustrious Master Demonhunter, Sterling Cloude ¨C abandoned his people and became the Crimson One. When he defected he brought with him a hundred demonhunters. It took years of toil to build his legacy from the darkness. In the end the wasteland alliance was the fruit of that labor. However, if this so-called wasteland alliance had no Elysians backing it would be nothing at all. It would be nothing but an obnoxious afterthought, if there were naught but the piddling wasteland leaders to command them. What was happening now, though, was different. This was a living nightmare. These men and women ¨C who had grown up in a peaceful utopia ¨C were just now witnessing the horrors of war first hand. ¡°Who the hell is that demon?!¡± ¡°How do monsters like this even exist!¡± ¡°Gods above! These fiends deserve to burn for eternity in hell!¡± New recruits trembled in their boots. All they could do was curse and spit to try and expel the fear from their hearts. Cloudhawk was a recognizable name in Skycloud, though few knew the precise events of six years ago. He was now once again at the forefront of their lives, seemingly from nowhere and looking entirely different. Ninety-nine percent of the soldiers had no idea who he was. The incredible display of power added an extra layer of mystery to him as well. If someone were to call Cloudhawk a demon, not a soul would refute it. The only thing they had trouble believing was the scope of his strength. It was nothing short of astounding. In fact, astounding was just the beginning. To most it was downright horrifying, or worse. To them it seemed he could crush Skycloud with a flick of his wrist, if he so pleased. After all, they¡¯d watched a mountain get dropped on their fortress from a couple thousand meters overhead. What if he¡¯d chosen to drop it from ten thousand meters? The destruction he¡¯d have brought would be ten times worse! It was common knowledge that the greater the height, the harder the fall. If he reached great enough heights, he could probably summon whole planets to rain down on them. Hundreds of thousands would die¡­ this was not the sort of power an ordinary person could begin to comprehend. Why wouldn¡¯t they be scared? Whispers of fear and uncertainty rippled through the new recruits. Meanwhile Hammont watched it all in silence. With his right hand he had his sheathed sword caught in a white-knuckle grip. He darted his eyes one way and then another in open disbelief. How did it come to this? This was the same Cloudhawk that had saved the lives of thousands of soldiers in the Blisterpeaks. The man who had risked life and limb to battle Majhima and save the innocents of Skylcloud from destruction. They sent him to the Northern Barrens, where he successfully foiled the dark plots of the wasteland alliance. How had the kind but oft misunderstood Cloudhawk turned into this man? More and more, Hammont Seacret realized he understood so little of the world and its people. From the perspective of an Elysian, Cloudhawk¡¯s sins were heinous and unforgivable. He was a demon whose foul deeds undermined the holy and just world they¡¯d built. However, to wastelanders he was the only man in their sordid history capable of leading them to victory over the zealous Elyaians. A hero who rose against the tyranny of Skycloud and had the power to change their fate. What one was right? What one was wrong? Were was the border between righteousness and evil? Who defined the standard? Who ultimately determined the code? Hammont had spent these last months at the beck and call of his Governor. In that time his station had risen steadily. He¡¯d widened his knowledge and deepened his wisdom. Yet far from being enlightened, the more he learned the more puzzled Hammont became. Perhaps there was no such thing as universal justice in this world of theirs. It was a construct built by humans which they used to deceive themselves and others. A tool for constraint and collectivism. As he wrestled with these truths dark clouds roiled in from above. From the time they appeared on the horizon they roiled like a slow-moving tide, and yet arrived very quickly. Darkness hung over the stronghold as though caught within a tempest that threatened the whole Elysian land. As the light fled, Skycloud¡¯s warriors looked upon the scene with solemn stoicism. Without question, this marked the arrival of the wasteland¡¯s main force. The first to arrive were clouds of bloodthirsty mutant beasts numbering in the tens of thousands. At such a scope it was more than just a wave of monsters, but a flood. They appeared from many angles; burrowing up from the ground, tearing across the plains, diving from the air. Hundreds of varieties, representing most of the wasteland¡¯s wild inhabitants. Interspersed among them were beastriders. It was common to see wastelanders travel astride creatures of the earth and sky. Their semi-feral mounts were also equipped with armors and weapons, and moved with the same agility and ferocity of the monsters around them. The wasteland¡¯s humanoid army came aboard a hundred airships of various sizes. Each one was unique from another, bristling with weapons that were sometimes haphazardly affixed to their surface. They bore machine guns, missiles and other standard ordinance. However more high-tech weapons were also visible, such as lasers and energy weapons. At the rear of the fleet were three hulking mother ships, leaders of the air and land battle groups. Each one was a highly sophisticated vehicle which drew heavily on the secrets of a bygone age. The incredible destructive power they wielded made the battle groups more than formidable. The darkness that descended on Sanctuary was a threat to this shining, holy jewel. At last, the enemy was revealed. The thousand warships deployed to the fortress arranged themselves to meet the attack. As they swung into formation the glittering light of their energy towers shone through the shadow. Before the front lines of beasts and beastriders could reach the stronghold gates, they came under fire. The sky came alive with the angry flash of energy weapons, like dazzling and deadly fireworks. The marked the true beginning of this war. A once gloomy sky roiled from the glare and the world descended into chaos. The sun¡¯s light had been swallowed up making the warriors feel like they¡¯d been swallowed into a sinister purgatory. All at once, reality became nothing but blood and the threat of death. ¡°Aahhh!¡± A soldier screamed as he was dragged off his feet by a two-headed hawk-like beast. The rider on its back fired his machine gun wildly into the soldier¡¯s body. Even sturdy Elysian gear couldn¡¯t completely stop bullets point blank, so the unfortunate solder was left in a mangled and unmoving heap. Another beastrider dropped a cluster of grenades form above. Fire and shrapnel erupted among the Elysians. A rider clinging to the back of a wolf charged through the ruined portion of Sanctuary¡¯s wall wielding an electric saw. He brought the spinning teeth of the saw down on the nearest soldier which produced an ear-piercing scream of metal on metal and the sparks to match. Rhino¡¯s laden with rocket launchers charged in behind and release rocket-propelled grenades into the clusters of troops. But the Elysians were not green recruits. Hundreds of bolts from rapid-fire crossbows answered the creatures charging through the breach. Meanwhile streaks of energy were cast down unto the enemy from the walls. When the streaks of electricity found a target they exploded in a mess of blood and bone. ¡°Kill them all!¡± ¡°Make these Elysian swine see what wastelander strength is!¡± The barbarian hordes were unflinching in the face of death, like a pack of rabid beasts. In the face of this hysterical charge the Elysians bore down, more determined than ever. They weren¡¯t fighting for survival or resisting some tyranny. They fought for an ideal greater than themselves, honor for their realm ¨C something they were just as willing to give their lives for. Hammont drew his sword when he saw the battle had joined. Now wasn¡¯t the time for high-brow worries over justice and evil. There was only one thing in his mind at the moment, and it was the words Governor Arcturus had told him: ¡°Remember. Everything we do, we do for the millions of Elysian citizens.¡± ¡°Brothers! These despicable brutes are here to sully the brilliant light that is Skycloud! Show them our strength and pride! To the front! Press the attack!¡± Hammont¡¯s soldiers yelled in response. Their blood boiled in their veins fro they were soldiers! Battle was their life! Their enemies were fierce but Elysians were not cowards! ¡°Chaaaarge!¡± Hammont led his troops from the front. With a flash of his sword he cut the head from a giant wolf that had gotten too close. Next he killed its rider who tried to slip in an attack. His Corps of a thousand strong cut their way into the heart of the conflict. As the war spread to the walls of Sanctuary, the battle in the sky was reaching a fever pitch. An oval-shaped flying ship dashed through the battlefield with surprising grace and speed. What powered its attacks were unclear, but searing lasers shot out from every inch of it and wreaked havoc on the enemy. Those lasers carved through armor like it was hardly there. The sturdiest composite alloy peeled back like the skin of a fruit. The Elysians had no means of protecting themselves. Elysian demonhunters attempted to answer with cones of flame, blades of wind and spikes of rock. Energy towers measured their attacks to deliver a persistent onslaught. However the unidentified flying weapon either dodged the threats, or its shields rendered them harmless. It continued to press through the enemy lines toward the heart of the fortress. Its primary target was the cluster of leaders hiding there. Woosh-woosh-woosh! Three angry red beams of light shot forth! An elder by Arcturus¡¯ side shot to his feet. He was a man of station, headmaster of Skycloud¡¯s demonhunter university. Although past his prime, the headmaster was counted among the strongest. He raised his hands and from them was summoned a half-shell of protective energy. The lasers swept across the shield¡¯s surface leaving angry welts in their wake. Arcturus narrowed his eyes. His body suddenly exploded in electric light. All of that energy rose into the sky and condensed into an enormous blade of thunder! It roared through the air with a chorus of thunder, cutting the flying saucer in half as easily as though it were a duck egg. There was no resistance at all to Arcturus¡¯ strength. The frightening wasteland machine ended its reign of terror with an explosive display. A handful of figures could be seen darting from the wreckage. The first among them was covered in sleek, black armor and a mask that completely covered his face. His eyes flashed red, and in each hand was a blade composed of purple light. The violent explosion seemed to have no effect on him. He raced across the sky, legs pumping against invisible terrain as he charged at the heart of Sanctuary. Arcturus Cloude¡¯s eyes were fixed on the masked face. Somehow it was as though he could pierce the mask to see beneath, and peer into the man¡¯s soul. ¡°There you are.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 57 - Settling Old Scores Cloudhawk¡¯s vanguard was too small to be considered the main force. His Goshawks fought fiercely, but though they caught the demonhunters off guard at the beginning the Elysians quickly rallied. As their numbers grew and their shock of the relic-wielding wastelanders was shaken off the Elysians began to regain ground. The Goshawk fighting style was straightforward. They were brutal and overwhelming, but lacked tactical cooperation. Until their training was complete, they were less an army and more a mob. Little by little, the advantage they came in with began to wane. Cloudhawk¡¯s vanguard was now clearly separated into three groups. First was Cloudhawk himself and the men he commanded, including the Goshawks and Talons from Greenland. Among them were the drunk, Gabriel, and Roc who served as lieutenants. They were in a frenzied battle with Oren and his Demonhunter Corps. Second were the wargs and wendigo as led by Wendigo King. They held the flanks against a constant and concerted push from Elysian forces. They fought off what they could while avoiding the most dangerous of Skycloud¡¯s demonhunters. Finally there was Coal and his genetically modified warriors of the Dark Atom. Coal himself didn¡¯t have any innate leadership talent and had pushed too far into the enemy forces. His rear forces were being torn apart by Elysian soldiers. The Wendigo King ripped through a charging demonhunter with his scarlet claws. It was his sixth kill since the battle began at the cost of nine injuries. A full third of his forces were already dead and ten of the Khan¡¯s personal Black Knights had fallen. He was not pleased with how the battle was turning. Wendigo were a sparse population as it was and he couldn¡¯t understand the logic in putting them in a position where many would die. The Wendigo King wasn¡¯t like the other fighters here ¨C he might have thrown in his lot with Nox, but his foremost concern was always his people. Wargs and Wendigo were born of the dusty wasteland. They were uniquely suited to it while the humans struggled to survive. The humans were here fighting for resources and status, and if that was the case then why were his people dying for their benefit? For this reason the Wendigo King insisted on commanding his own force. Under his direction, they could avoid the most lethal enemies, preserving as many lives as possible. Elsewhere, a towering mountain of a figure acted in the complete opposite of the Wendigo King. Coal pierced into the enemy with no regard to safety or survival. His zeal caused his men to quickly be surrounded, alone against a crowd of elite Elysian warriors and a handful of demonhunters. At the moment he was defending himself against several relic-wielding demonhunters who were trying to blow him apart. They¡¯d succeeded in causing some small injuries but that was all. Coal roared at them in defiance and ended the lives of whatever came within arm¡¯s reach. He was no typical mutant. Coal was born sturdy, a gifted warrior. At his young age he was already a threat to veteran demonhunters. With time there was no question he could rise to the ranks of a wasteland king. The Wendigo King vowed to remember this exceptional mutant. Next he turned his attention to the old drunk. Once Cloudhawk left to save Dawn he had risen to replace him as the most dangerous warrior on their side. Alone he was able to keep Oren locked down together with seven demonhunters. It helped remove a lot of the pressure from the rest of the vanguard vanguard. Oren Cloude was no match for the former War Saint. Today the mighty Knight-Commander had suffered a string of humiliating defeats; first at the hands of a transformed Cloudhawk and hnw by this disheveled old lush. It was foolish to consider the commander weak, but even so his attacks could not break the drunk¡¯s unassailable defenses. Meanwhile the drunk danced among his foes like it was a game. More than once there was an opening he could exploit to end the Knight-Commander¡¯s life, but he let each one pass by. It was a confusing realization. Cloudhawk was a monster, surely, but each one of his allies was stranger than the last. Why didn¡¯t this old man just kill him and be done with it? Without their commander the Demonhunter Corps would be much easier to break. What¡¯s more the drunk could turn his attention to other foes. He could handily tie up another ten veteran demonhunters all on his own and prevent further casualties on his side. The Wendigo King wasn¡¯t alone in his confusion. Oren himself wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the situation and the shame was driving him into a fury. The drunk was toying with him! He tried to hold back his indignation and yelled at his foe. ¡°Are you having fun leaping around like a monkey?! Fight like a man!¡± The drunk responded to the outburst with his typical flippant grin, flashing yellow teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I was dragged into this fight, nothing more. The fewer I kill the better ¨C the only life I want is the Governor¡¯s.¡± What? Kill Arcturus?! This dirty beggar has the gall to speak such blasphemy! Oren¡¯s fragile temperament cracked even further. By now the wasteland¡¯s main force had closed the distance. Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor had carved an opening in Sanctuary¡¯s defenses, allowing them to slip in. Carrier vehicles and mutant beasts poured in by the hundreds. There were too many wastelanders too eager to die. They spread like ants through any available space while among them ancient weapons blasted toward the defenders. Finally the Wendigo King and Coal saw the pressure ease off their forces. The Wendigo King sighed in relief. To avoid any further loss of life he ordered his men back. ¡°Stop the advance! We will take up the rear, make sure the main force isn¡¯t surrounded and keep the door open for the rest.¡± Coal saw it as an opportunity to cause more mayhem. ¡°Kill them! Cut in deeper! We have to help Cloudhawk!¡± Before the whole of the main force had arrived Coal was already pushing in deeper. He released his own special ability and there among the wave of Elysians he erupted into a column of flame. Like a molten giant he crashed through Sanctuary¡¯s defensive line, leading his wild warriors closer toward the heart of the stronghold, like it was the only way to ease the guilt in his heart. However as they closed in on Sanctuary¡¯s central area Coal was cut off by Hammont and his forces. When the Drake Corps¡¯ commander recognized the mutant his stoic face darkened like a thunderhead. ¡°You!¡± *** The wastelanders and their brazen beasts were too numerous. Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor had obliterated all the attack and defense towers in that area, allowing them to pour in. Oren¡¯s Demonhunter Corps and the several thousand Elysian soldiers weren¡¯t enough to stem the tide. These despicable barbarians seemed endless. Kill one and three took his place. Skycloud¡¯s forces were being pushed back by sheer number disadvantage alone. The battle grew ever more ferocious. The situation was one of utter chaos. Oren was locked down by the drunk and the situation in the area was nothing short of hell. ¡°Of the three legendary men of the Cloude family, all that remains in Arcturus. Have you thought at all about the consequences if he died? Don¡¯t you see how prosperous and powerful Skycloud has become? The wastelanders can¡¯t be allowed to destroy that!¡± The drunk responded while easily deflecting the Knight-Commander¡¯s attacks. ¡°Ever since that day half a dozen years ago, there hasn¡¯t been true peace in Skycloud. The Elysians lands today are nothing compared to what you were ten years ago. Aren¡¯t you at all curious what happened behind the scenes? Don¡¯t you ever question what Arcturus¡¯ ultimate goal is?¡± A ten-meter long bird of prey swept by. Upon its wide shoulders were twenty to thirty wastelanders, several bearing rocket launchers. They were screaming and firing recklessly into the crowds of demonhunters below. The other fired poison bolts at whatever target they could find. I¡¯ll kill these rotten fiends myself! Oren lifted his right hand and summoned a gravitational field. A moment later the space around the enormous bird began to warp. All of a sudden an irresistible force came crashing down, like a fly swatter on a fly. The bird was smashed against the meteor so hard it left a crater in its metallic surface. That sturdy monster was reduced to paste, its liquid remains indistinguishable from the bloody chunks that had been its riders. Oren turned back to the drunk and launched five consecutive attacks. Each one carved trenches three meters deep and a dozen meters long around him. The meteor Cloudhawk had summoned was at least fifty percent metal. It was supremely sturdy and the strongest warriors could hack at it with an ax and succeed only barely shaving off chips. These attacks from Oren were achieving much more than that with the help of a thousand times the force of gravity behind them. ¡°You think you have what it takes to kill Master Arcturus?¡± Oren turned up his nose at the drunk¡¯s declaration. ¡°His wisdom, strategy and ambition run as deep as the oceans. He is the most incredible human to have lived in the last millennia. A man like you can never understand his decisions, only misconstrue his acts. But we have faith that everything he does, he does in service of humanity!¡± The drunk narrowed his eyes. ¡°What Arcturus has done in these past years violates every tenet of basic human morality and conscience. If you knew the full extent of his crimes, are you saying you would still die for him?¡± ¡°Whether offensive or defensive, this conflict was bound to get bloody. Good and evil are ever at odds. If no one stands against the darkness, how can you sow light around the world? You have shown that you don¡¯t understand this basic truth.¡± Oren¡¯s face was set; intractable, resolute and emotional. ¡°I don¡¯t need to know why Master Arcturus kills someone. I need to know only one thing, and that¡¯s when Arcturus chooses to take a life it¡¯s to save millions of others. Perhaps in your eyes he is a man who won his position through foul means, but I promise that none of you understand the true man that is our Governor! He has sacrificed more than anyone can imagine!¡± The drunk scowled. He was stunned at how fervently Arcturus was defended by these fanatics. Oren continued. ¡°You are beasts that are ruled by emotion. Only Arcturus has the wisdom to rise above! Who knows better than anyone what needs to be accomplished and how. That is the Arcturus I know!¡± ¡°So be it. I don¡¯t have any grand ideals and I don¡¯t know what righteous mission Arcturus claims to be on. All I know is that sooner or later it¡¯ll all come out in the wash. Arcturus¡¯ games have caused this mess and form, and from where I stand it only looks like it¡¯s going to get worse. Now is the time he will need to settle accounts.¡± The old drunk raised his head when he heard the flying saucer scream by overhead. That was the Khan¡¯s personal vehicle. Alone, the drunk was certainly no match for Arcturus. The same was probably true for the Khan of Evernight. But the combined might of Nox and Nucleus had a chance, slim as it was. Vengeance hadn¡¯t been on the drunk¡¯s mind before today. On the one hand he knew he couldn¡¯t accomplish it. On the other, he didn¡¯t think it mattered. But ever since Arcturus orchestrated the murder of Skye Polaris, and ever since the old drunk had recovered his health, his thinking had changed. He didn¡¯t care about this war. It didn¡¯t matter who ultimately won or lost. He had one goal, and one goal only ¨C Arcturus. ¡°Don¡¯t even dream of it. Die!¡± With a mask of fury on his face Oren flung out his hand toward the War Saint. A crushing field of increased gravity slammed down on the drunk. ¡°I don¡¯t have any more time to play with you. We¡¯ll stop it here!¡± There was a glimmer in the drunk¡¯s eye and suddenly he vanished like a ghost. He reappeared directly in front of Oren with Daybreak following in a beautiful arc. Oren held his staff with both hands and held it aloft, instinctively manipulating gravity around him to his benefit. Empowered with the terrible energy of his glove relic the staff screamed through the air toward the drunk¡¯s temple. Strong as the lush was, a direct blow from the staff would break his skull into pieces, no question. But the drunk was agile. The flash of his sword swerved around the staff, its deadly gleam climbing up the weapon but never touching it. It was an incredible display, one only the War Saint could manage. ¡°Agghh!¡± Oren screamed as his right arm was completely severed. ¡°I¡¯m leaving you your life. But your relic belongs to me now.¡± The drunk took the glove off Oren¡¯s hand. Without sparing a second glance he shot toward the center of the fortress like an arrow. He arrived just as Arcturus released his blast of electric power and destroyed the Khan¡¯s ship. As the Khan shot from the wreckage he and the drunk locked eyes. Wordlessly, they came to an accord. Their shared malice settled unto Arcturus. ¡°Both of you have arrived, hm?¡± Arcturus greeted them with a sigh. It was unclear what he felt in that moment, but in the next he was flooded with immense electrical power. A terrifying accumulation of force hung around him like a bomb ready to detonate. ¡°What comes will come. Sometimes it is unavoidable.¡± There was nothing else said. There was nothing more to say. The Khan of Evernight and Vulkan the War Saint launched into their joint attack. Three epic warriors of the last generation met in midair, marking the beginning of a legendary confrontation. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 58 - The Ultimate Assassin Cloudhawk was locked in conflict with Selene. Their exchanges were full of fire and fury, but no real lethal intent. However Cloudhawk knew they couldn¡¯t keep up this ruse for long. The medicine Hellflower had given him would fade soon, he couldn¡¯t afford to stay here. Who could say if he¡¯d even be able to stand once it wore off, much less defend himself. No time to delay! He had to move quickly. Of course, that was easier said than done. They were surrounded by Templars, Clerics, demonhunters, Cloude family fighters, Court of shadows assassins and representatives from the other great households. Frost de Winter and Atlas Umbra were skulking the edges, waiting for their chance to strike, though he didn¡¯t know why they hadn¡¯t already. He couldn¡¯t afford to discount them. Something was disturbing the space in this area as well, preventing him from teleporting to safety. It seemed Selene¡¯s efforts to force an opening were of no use, he couldn¡¯t escape! A sound thundered overhead. Cloudhawk raised his eyes in time to see the aftermath of the drunk and the Khan of Evernight attacking Arcturus. It was an incredible thing to watch, with the exchange shifting and flowing a dozen times in the blink of an eye. They were a mess of purple light, electric fire and gleaming steel. It was dazzling and too fast for most to follow. The Khan of Evernight had dispatched a large number of capable allies. His forces spread out to capture the attention of Arcturus¡¯ lieutenants. Cloudhawk continued to look around the battlefield until he spied a wastelander mothership speezing through Sanctuary¡¯s defensive shell. As it¡¯s shadow fell over the fortress wave after wave of Black Knights descended to join the fight. Frost saw it too and his face darkened. ¡°Stop them!¡± The Black Knights were Nox¡¯s greatest fighters, what Cloudhawk understood to be Godslayers and wasteland martial artists. On average the Black Knights were stronger than a typical member of the Demonhunter Corps ¨C more in line with Templars. The product of years of Nox¡¯s effort and resources, they were trained directly by the mysterious city¡¯s mighty leader. When they were fully trained they were nightmares of martial capability who wielded relics artfully, warriors of superior quality and fighting prowess. Two hundred of them flooded the battlefield, together with a number of other units. Frost and Atlas were forced to turn their attention away from Cloudhawk and order their troops to mount a response. Cloudhawk recognized this as his chance. So did Selene. ¡°Go. Now!¡± ¡°If I leave now won¡¯t they know you helped?¡± He knew things were not easy for her now. She sniffed. ¡°You think it¡¯ll trouble me? Do you still care? You have Dawn to worry about!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s heart ached to discover that even Selene, intrepid as she was, would take this stance. Even now she was still upset. Cloudhawk could see her resentment ran deep. But he didn¡¯t have time to make it right. The window to escape was closing. ¡°If I survive I will come back and find you.¡± Cloudhawk wrapped his hands around Ardent Wrath¡¯s hilt, then hacked it toward Phain. The Grand Prior deflected the strike but was knocked backward ten meters as a result. Cloudhawk grabbed Dawn. ¡°Stop fighting, we¡¯ve got to go!¡± Phain did not give chase. He watched the two leap off the dais and out of the demonhunters¡¯ field of control. They were free from the heart of the battle and Cloudhawk prepared to teleport them to safety - A sickly green flash of light dashed toward them, aimed passed Dawn at the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s neck. Cloudhawk¡¯s danger senses were keen as a knife, but he didn¡¯t have time to warn Dawn. The threat of it chilled him down to his bones. The one attacking them was powerful ¨C one of the most powerful Cloudhawk had ever faced. He knew immediately this was an expert assassin. His sneak attack and the deadly relics he employed were all but impossible to avoid. ¡°Careful!¡± In that instant Dawn drew on all her potential. She shoved Cloudhawk out of the way and threw herself in its path. Caustic green and black power bloomed across Dawn¡¯s chest. It drilled through her, threatening to burst out the other side at Cloudhawk who stood stunned behind. But Dawn¡¯s reaction was quick. Her hands darted out and snatched her assailant¡¯s wrists in a vice-like grip. The weapon stopped, frozen in Dawn¡¯s body and unable to pierce Cloudhawk. No! His vision turned red as the veins in his eyes engorged. Faster than even his mind could react two streaks of silver shot from his hands and wrapped around Dawn. Like a pair of silvery vipers they lashed out at the shadow that haunted them. Light raked through the darkness. Cloudhawk, in blind fury, wrenched the Silver Serpents again and again through the figure until it was cut to pieces. Wait. Something isn¡¯t right. Too easy. Even with Dawn¡¯s help this was an apex assassin they were pitted against. He wouldn¡¯t be taken down by a wild counter attack. He was preparing for another blow. This man would definitely not be so easy to kill! It was a passing thought, however, as Cloudhawk called back the Silver Serpents. He wrapped his arms around Dawn and kicked off with his legs. They both shot off into the distance, away from danger. Seconds only had passed since the blow caught her, but Dawn¡¯s face was already deathly pale. She didn¡¯t even have strength to hold Terrangelica. Clang! The weapon hit the ground. She¡¯d lost all control of her body. She looked up with wide eyes, pupils dilated, fighting for breath. Every nerve in her body was shutting down. Poison! That bastard had made sure she¡¯d die! Killers like him never relied just on their strikes. They were employed to eliminate targets, so they took whatever measures necessary to make sure they died. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Hey, you hold on. I¡¯m getting you out of here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cloudhawk. I just wanted to be with you in Greenland. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d cause so much trouble.¡± Dawn could only manage to weakly shake her head. Her tears dripped down her pale cheeks as blood. She had to fight for each mouthful of air. ¡°That was Janus¡­ you can¡¯t beat him. Leave me. Run.¡± It was just one stab with a dagger! But Dawn was on the precipice of death. That monster¡¯s relic was more deadly even than Atlas¡¯ Deathstalker. Cloudhawk stood up and looked around. He spotted a shadow creeping through the air ¨C a figure draped in black cloth with nothing but emotionless eyes revealed. The wrinkles gathered at his canthus told Cloudhawk he was a middle-aged man. Dawn was right. It was Janus Umbra, sometimes known in whispers as the Titan of Many Faces. Stories told of Janus¡¯ ability to take whatever shape he chose, and his method was killing was known to all in the Elysian lands. He was a man who was among the peak of Skycloud¡¯s elite even in its heyday, comparable to the likes of the Crimson One. Only, unlike the Master Demonhunter, his talents laid in darker spheres. Once you were stalked by the Titan of Many Faces you did not escape. Now his shadow had fallen upon Dawn and Cloudhawk. Phain watched from the dais, seeing the life fade from his former student. His face darkened. In the end she wouldn¡¯t get away. His hand tightened around the hilt of his blade. Surprise flitted across Selene¡¯s expression when she saw what happened. She could hardly believe Arcturus would call out his deadly shadow. She couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°You actually...¡± The look on Frost and Atlas¡¯ face were different. Frost was surprised his master had finally taken the step to kill Cloudhawk. As far as he was concerned the wastelander was finished. It filled him with a sense of displeasure. On the surface he made it obvious he despised Cloudhawk ¨C in fact there was no love at all between them ¨C but logic dictated that the man should live. Thus he understood why Selene had fought with him but had no intention of doing harm. Frost hated what Cloudhawk stood for, hated his potential. But he knew that if there was anyone ¨C anyone - who could cause even a minor inconvenience to the mighty foe he kept secret in his heart it was Cloudhawk. He understood that if he wanted to exact revenge for his parents¡¯ death he couldn¡¯t do it alone. However much he despised Cloudhawk he could still be used. Atlas was just as surprised to see his family¡¯s great power called upon. He was a man in his twenties, his father twice that. Atlas had been positioned as the future patriarch of their clan for a long time. However, based on the current circumstance the transfer of leadership wasn¡¯t set to happen for another couple decades. Still, even after being promoted to second in command of the Court of Shadows he still didn¡¯t know anything about the mysterious leader of his troop and his family. There was but one thing everyone knew about Janus, that he was a complete enigma. He seemed to be cloaked in mysteries. Although he was their family patriarch he rarely dealt in familial matters. Most everything was handled by Umbra elders. Though he held the post of Chief Assassin he almost never led Court agents personally. All of the organizations dealings were handled by Atlas. Yet the most inexplicable thing of all was that no one ¨C not even Atlas ¨C had ever seen his face. Such a puzzling and powerful figure. His interest in Cloudhawk had been piqued years ago. It was not out of the blue. In truth Janus had had many dealings with Cloudhawk over the years, covertly of course. Dealings even Cloudhawk had never known. One of the most extraordinary that he knew of was when the Umbra patriarch spoke on his behalf during his trial in the Temple. But that was not the only time. Six months later, when the Court of Shadows had been contracted to kill him¡­ Janus had been summoned to deal with the problem himself. To the eternal shock of all in know, he failed. For an assassin of his caliber it was unthinkable. More precisely, Janus never had the opportunity to hunt down his target. On the way his road was blocked. Since even the Umbra family was unaware of what happened they sent Atlas to investigate. He followed the trail to a battlefield. The marks left behind told the story of a fierce battle. Between Janus, and¡­ Atlas¡¯ eyes slid toward Selene. The marks he¡¯d seen could only be caused by her crossblade. It could only have been the Apostle who stood against the Umbra patriarch. Atlas knew of her strength, and knew that he was no threat to her. However he was equally certain she was no match for Janus. More secrets shrouded the truth, these time between these two. What were they hiding? Atlas had the distinct impression there was some unseen thread tying them all together. He glanced toward Frost. Frost looked back. Atlas answered the unspoken words with a nod. Both men continued to wait, and watch. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes burned with madness. Those fiery eyes were fixed on the cryptic shadow coming his way. ¡°What did you do to her? Give me the antidote!¡± Janus¡¯ eyes peered back at him, as though they¡¯d never suffered a moment of emotion in all his years. ¡°I kill, I do not save. There is no antidote.¡± ¡°Then I will kill you!¡± Anger took control. Flames from Ardent Wrath flared with unprecedented intensity, lancing across the sky dozens of meters. Like a burning waterfall is screamed toward the assassin. Janus remained still ¨C he did not move, did defend himself. He just stared with those empty, soulless eyes as the fire ran him through. Nothing registered as the fires consumed his body. What the fuck? Cloudhawk had a creeping premonition. That was twice he killed this asshole. But he didn¡¯t understand. Suddenly from behind he felt a sharp and deadly bite. He could feel the cold steel digging into his cloak, his armor, then his flesh. He felt every inch of it as it pierced his heart. The frigid presence of death fell over him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 59 - Cornered The instant Janus¡¯ dagger pierced his skin, Cloudhawk felt the toxins begin to spread through his body. It felt like fire was being injected into him. Luckily it was just a matter of the flesh. Cloudhawk had nothing to fear from poison. Janus must have known this one strike would not have been enough for he prepared to tear open a deadly gash through in his target¡¯s frame. But as the assassin heaved, he suddenly felt his grip grow lax. Cloudhawk had engaged his phase ability and spun around with Arden Wrath cutting a deadly arc. A ferocious cut followed, cleaving Janus apart at the waist! For the third time, Skycloud¡¯s master assassin was slain. Both halves of the man wafted away from each other like leaves on the wind, and settled upon the ground five meters apart. Only a handful of creatures could survive a wound like that, none of them typical humans. But the mysterious patriarch of the Umbra family would not stay down. Cloudhawk made sure to watch carefully. As he stared he saw the borders of that figure begin to dissolve into smoke before the two halves of the figure vanished entirely. Of course, that wasn¡¯t real. No wonder he¡¯d been able to land blows so easily. Cloudhawk looked around, this time finding more than one of the man. Shadows descended on him from several directions, each one masked in the same way and watching with soulless eyes. The daggers in their grip seemed real enough, were they all copies? So that was his secret. No wonder he seemed invincible. It was certainly a unique skill, but something about it made him think of Adder. Adder had been able to summon mirror images through high-grade relic. The doppelgangers it created were near-perfect replicas that copied the form and even the relics of its target. Such a relic had made Adder one of the most terrible enemies Cloudhawk had ever faced. Luck had played a big role in his victory that day under the God Tree. However, Janus¡¯ ability had a distinct difference from Adder¡¯s. Adder¡¯s crystal mirror summoned copies of whatever he liked, but Janus¡¯ mirror images were limited to himself. The former could replicate anything, however they were weaker than the original and capped at four or five copies. Janus¡¯ relic was specialized, thus creating more powerful mirror images and in greater numbers. Three¡­ five¡­ ten¡­ twenty¡­ Shadow after shadow swept toward him like a flood of nightmares, appearing from the ether and gaining substance as they neared. There seemed to be no end of them. Cloudhawk suddenly found himself alone in a sea of deadpan eyes. Each shadow was perfectly identical and it was impossible for him to pick out the true assassin. It was no wonder this man was the head of the Umbra family, the leader of the Court of Shadows and Skycloud¡¯s ultimate assassin. The physicality of these copies was very weak. All of their power was concentrated in their attacks, whose strikes were as deadly as the original. But with each subsequent attack the copies became weaker. That was how Cloudhawk had been able to cut down several already. Assassins were not warriors, they didn¡¯t fare well in protracted battles. They were trained to eliminate their target in one blow, so a single opportunity was all they needed. Ten of the shadows closed in one Cloudhawk and struck in unison. It was a frightening scene, for this singular attack was delivered by Skycloud¡¯s foremost killer, ten times in the same moment. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes slid toward Daen, motionless on the ground. He took a deep breath, sheathed Ardent Wrath on his back and retrieved the Rekindling Lens from a pocket. First he would have to heal the wound in her chest. But Janus would not stand idly by and allow him the chance. Cloudhawk was immune to his poison? They he would just have to kill him the old fashioned way, cutting him to pieces! Those ten copies dissolved into smoke and were carried away by the wind. A moment later four more appeared right beside Cloudhawk. They attacked him with incredible speed. More followed, wave after wave converging on a single point. Meanwhile Cloudhawk remained with his feet planted and did not move. All around him grim specters groped with lethal intent. Janus could be just as deadly as a Master Demonhunter, but his attacks were fundamentally different. The likes of Arcturus and the Crimson One relied on psychic power, and had it in spades. When they summoned that strength the results of their power shook the earth. Janus¡¯ strikes, on the other hand, were not showy or sensational. They were a single adjective, taken to the extreme ¨C fast! Unbelievably fast, supplemented by an assassin¡¯s deadly precision and stealth. Cloudhawk found himself the dead center of a killing field. For this reason Cloudhawk made no effort to protect himself. He knew he couldn¡¯t match Janus¡¯ speed, especially not ten of him. Instead he gathered his mental energies, took a breath, and let it go. A torrent of green fire erupted from him. Before anyone knew what was happening it had consumed an area ten meters in every direction. Janus¡¯ copies were instantly destroyed. Yet despite the orb of deadly fire it was no use. The assassin¡¯s shadows were all-pervasive and slipped through even the smallest gaps between the flames. They racked their sickly daggers against Cloudhawk¡¯s flesh and left a number of gashes. ¡°Get the fuck away from me!¡± Cloudhawk roared and urged the fires forth like a tidal wave. More of the mirror images were obliterated. As his fury raged a huge swath of ground around him was blasted by divine fire. It swelled out in every direction, an orb of all-consuming power with him at the epicenter. With no were to hide, the twenty or thirty specters around Cloudhawk were erased. Yet in a display that robbed him of hope, the number of Janus¡¯ copies was not affected. In fact, they increased. The real assassin was hiding somewhere Cloudhawk could not pin down. He was controlling this perpetual onslaught from some inky shadow. These copies did not require much from him, but maintaining the field of Castigation fire was a demanding task for Cloudhawk. Under these circumstances, Cloudhawk was no match for Janus. Nothing he was doing threatened Janus at all, but the killer was cutting him apart slowly, one strike after the other. Cloudhawk sensed that each attack came at different speeds. Every time the dark blade raked across his skin he could feel the poison eating away at him. Even with Cloudhawk¡¯s incredible constitution, it would soon be too much for him. If this continued, he would die. Selene was watching from a distance in disbelief. She didn¡¯t understand why Janus would do this. With each moment that passed Frost¡¯s brows tightened. It was the first time he¡¯d seen the assassin at work. He was stunned by the strength and skill he witnessed. He found it amazing that such an accomplished person could remain such a well-kept secret in Skycloud. At the same time the battle above them seemed to have cooled. The blazing weapons in the Khan¡¯s hands were dimming. Armor once smooth and sleek was badly scarred from the conflict and the damaged parts revealed complex life-support equipment below . The drunk¡¯s clothes had also been reduced to little more than rags. Smoke rose from marks where his flesh had been badly burned. Standing opposite to them was Arcturus Cloude. He was as calm and collected as ever. His simplistic uniform was unscathed from the conflict, irrespective of his powerful foes. In fact he hardly appeared to have broken a sweat. ¡°Bringing Nox into open conflict was an error. You were doubly wrong to appear here in person.¡± Arcturus drew his attention to the scene below. Cloudhawk was a ball of green fire flinging his rage in a constant stream. The ground around him for a hundred meters was obliterated. However Janus¡¯ shadows were undeterred. They slithered through the cracks, ubiquitous creeping tendrils of death. A strange looked passed through the Governor¡¯s eyes. The drunk stared at him with a hard, dignified stare. Arcturus wielded supernatural mental powers, the likes of which Vulkan had never seen duplicated anywhere. The other two Master Demonhunters together couldn¡¯t match what Arcturus was capable of. Based on his overwhelming capabilities Arcturus even ranked among the top of of those legendary demonhunters of old. Ragged breaths came from behind the Khan¡¯s mask. There was something unusual about this one¡¯s body which forced him to rely on that armor to keep himself alive. As the battle raged and his armor suffered more damage, the effort needed to keep himself growing increased. ¡°The mayfly attempts to shake the oak ¨C a tragic overestimation of its strength. Some powers, some truth cannot be known or profaned. To do so would be to invite death.¡± Arcturus slowly drew forth a weapon ¨C a mere exorcist rod. It was the sort of lowly relic you could pick up at any equipment shop ¨C a couple gold pieces at most. Even among other relics of its sort this rod was of subpar quality. The drunk glowered dubiously at him. ¡°Is this meant as an insult?¡± ¡°You both are spent. It would be an injustice to destroy you with Ruin.¡± Arcturus tightened his grip around the rod. ¡°My intention is to instruct you on a fundamental truth: When facing absolute power we must be willing to accept our inferiority. Be quiet, be hidden, and comprehend your weaknesses so that one day you can grow strong.¡± With the last syllable a flash of electric energy sprang up around the Governor. He dashed at the drunk quick as lightning, exorcist rod at the ready. The drunk¡¯s martial prowess was eternally adaptable. Sunstroke answered Arcturus¡¯ attack with a dozen of its own. Exorcist rod and mighty relic sword clashed forty times so quick it seemed to last only an instant. An opening was revealed, and Arcturus took it. His exorcist rod slipped passed the drunk¡¯s defenses. Power gathered in the heart of the rod and was suddenly released from the head. It struck the drunk¡¯s sword. To him, it felt like all the worlds mountains and rivers were crashing through him at once. Vulkan lost control and was flung twenty meters through the air. Arcturus spun around, turning his attention upon the Khan of Evernight. In his hands even an exorcist rod commanded horrific power ¨C no less oppressive than Transcendence was when borne by Selene. Once again the Governor dissolved into a bolt of lightning and darted erratically around his new target. The Khan of Evernight managed to defend himself from several dozen blows but the rod eventually caught him in the left shoulder. The sound of that impact was deafening. The Khan¡¯s left arm was torn from its socket and flung into the distance. None could see it, but if anyone had been near enough to spy the limb they would have been surprised at what they found. It was not human ¨C at least not wholly. The limb was a combination of man and machine, flesh and steel. ¡°So this is how you¡¯ve managed to keep yourself alive until now?¡± Arcturus spared a moment to offer a sardonic grin before attacking again. The Khan of Evernight was cast away, flailing uncontrollably. Arcturus peered at the two who were struggling pitifully like drowning mice. Floating calmly in the air before them, electricity crackling all around, he regarded them with the calm and geniality of a practiced teacher. Stately, unflappable, unassailable ¨C a man so far above the insects beneath him that he hardly paid them any mind. ¡°Even knowing defeat was inevitable, you still pursue death. Even though you understand that being vanquished would end everything you¡¯ve built, you still foolishly jump into the abyss with both feet. Neither of you comprehend true power. You are ignorant to believe you have what it takes to overthrow Skycloud. The thought is laughable.¡± The drunk didn¡¯t know what the Khan was thinking, just as he wasn¡¯t sure of the look on his own face. But he could feel the hopelessness sapping his strength, worming into his heart. He had begun to believe against all evidence that there was some small chance he could defeat this man ¨C but the truth was proven otherwise. An exorcist rod! The tool of students and novice demonhunters. That was all Arcturus needed to defeat both of them. Were Arcturus¡¯ powers so immense that even such a lowly thing was a masterwork when he touched it? The War Saint was no pushover. The Khan of Evernight, even less so. Both of them could rival a Master Demonhunter, and either could be considered among the greatest warriors alive. And yet, before the eyes of Arcturus they were no threat at all. ¡°Here is where your struggles end!¡± Arcturus clenched his hand around the exorcist rod, ready to deliver the final blow. Yet as he drew his arm back a sibilant hiss reached his ears. From the corner of his eyes he saw sand and grit being to gather in the air nearby. His eyes narrowed revealing once more the deep creases at their edges. He raised his head toward this new presence. 1. Strong Vader vibes you guys. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 60 - Reinforcements Cloudhawk felt his body getting heavier. He was really in the shit, both physically and in general. He wasn¡¯t sure how bad he was hurt but he felt his strength slipping. The orb of castigation fire was too much for him to maintain. Meanwhile Janus¡¯ attacks were still constant and had no sign of slowing. Those biting daggers kept coming from different directions. They were too fast and hid behind dark powers just long enough to land their blows. With every pass they damage they dealt increased. Because of this assassin¡¯s methods, although his attacks fell like rain they were still practically impossible to follow. Even keen-eyed spectators watching from beginning to end could not tell where he was hiding. After all, Janus was not only exceptionally fast and able to change his form, he could also cloak his presence. To most his attacks came from nowhere, summoned from nothing. All they could do was watch. Cloudhawk struggled to uphold the flames. While he continued to blast through a huge number of Janus¡¯ shadows, more kept coming and slipped through the net. The assassin¡¯s attack was ever changing and unceasing. With each passing second Cloudhawk¡¯s body sported a new slash, all of them were laden with poison. So far it wasn¡¯t enough to overcome Cloudhawk¡¯s resistance and his regenerative abilities were closing the slices as quick as they occurred. At least from outside Janus¡¯ attacks didn¡¯t appear to be doing much harm. However it continued, over and over again. As his strength waned it was a miracle Cloudhawk had survived this long. Another demonhunter would have fallen long ago. Where¡¯s that damn assassin! Where is he hiding? Cloudhawk tried to see if he could pick him out with Oddball or with his own special senses. So far nothing was working. Eventually he understood that one¡¯s stealth capabilities could be strong or weak. Oddball¡¯s eyes were sharp enough to pierce many illusory relics ¨C such as the sort used by Atlas ¨C but not whatever power Janus was using. Under these conditions, Cloudhawk¡¯s own senses were equally confounded. Each of the shadow assassins hummed with resonance, completely obscuring where their origins were coming from. In addition to the chaos all around them, with hundreds of demonhunters at war and their many relics activated, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t tell any particular relic out from the din. Selene couldn¡¯t see what was happening clearly but she knew Cloudhawk was dead if things didn¡¯t change. Her power reached in Transcendence and he braced herself to leap to action. But before she moved an unsettling rasping sound filled her ears. It wasn¡¯t so much a sound since it didn¡¯t come through sound waves. It was borne on wisps of mental energy that reached directly into her mind. It dug into the darkest parts of her thoughts as though someone were digging a needle into ker skull. Even Cloudhawk felt the excruciating pain of it. All at once, demonhunters lost control of their relics and their power faded. Huge groups of soldiers fell to the ground grasping their heads. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to guess where it came from, he knew the instant he felt it. At the same time all the shadow assassins stopped in place as though rooted in place. It was the mental dissonance from Silvana¡¯s flute! The Shepherd God had two primary skills; first was the ability to control animals, and second was to control movement. By flooding her victim with mental power she was able to override and take control of their actions. The Shepherd¡¯s flute was the god¡¯s own artifact. When employed against those of low intelligence it took them over completely. Janus¡¯ shadows were powerful but unable to act of their own accord. They had no intelligence, making it easy for Silvana to manipulate them as she pleased. And as the Shepherd God¡¯s song reached across the field, a cascade of yellow sand sprinkled down from overhead. It spread wide enough to encompass the stronghold¡¯s central dais, so thick that those caught within couldn¡¯t see two meters in front of their noses. Among this sudden, unnatural sandstorm was a hail of arrows. They were made from raspy yellow grit and were practically invisible as they dashed along attacking indiscriminately. Noxian soldiers or Elysian elite, it didn¡¯t matter. The arrows ran them through just the same. Hundreds died when the sandstorm appeared. Most of the victims were Elysian. One of the Skycloud demonhunters roared angrily and tried to control the winds with his relic. A huge gust was released, blowing the sand aside like someone had blown a bubble into its midst. It disrupted the storm enough to give them a glimpse of clear air. It lasted only a brief moment. The gust was crushed and once more every eye was blinding by yellow sleet. While it raged at least a thousand troops arrived on the field ¨C Dark Atom¡¯s elite warriors. Two figures stood out, hovering in the air. One was Autumn, in her emerald dress. The other was the hideous and intimidating Abaddon, Caliph of the Sands. One God. One Demon. Both presented themselves before Arcturus. Their timely intervention had saved Vulkan and the Khan of Evernight. Four figures of vastly different background, but all working in tacit congress. It was a mighty seige laid out before the Governor of Skycloud. But could the four of them threaten Arcturus? Things had changed near Cloudhawk as well. Silvana¡¯s flute had frozen the shadow assassins in place. He staggered backward as a streak of bright blue light flashed by his face. It was so brilliant it stung the eyes and moved several times faster than the speed of sound. In the blink of an eye the shadows were cut apart. All that remained was a single target, hanging in the air. Janus the Titan of Many Faces was revealed. A broken sword was immediately hacking toward his chest. The angry blue sword was drilling forward as well. Frost and Atlas finally had something to keep them busy as well. A mighty crystal dragon descended from on high with a Dryad upon its back. When it appeared the crystal dragon released a deluge of green fire toward Frost de Winter. The Dryad leaped off its back and, with its vined hands coalescing into hammers, flung itself at Atlas. Overhead countless green dragons were suddenly visible in the sky, whipping around the dais. With ripping claws and gnashing teeth they tore at whatever enemy they could grab. Such beasts were the bane of demonhunters, for their relics were useless against dragonhide. Phain ordered his Templars to take the field. ¡°Such a ruckus! Now¡¯s the right time.¡± An erudite man with a black eye patch was revealed, hands clasped at the small of his back. Wolfblade, leader of the Dark Atom, strode forth like a man taking a leisurely walk. With his one good eye he glanced around at the chaos. Upon eliminating Janus¡¯ shadow assassins, Wolfblade¡¯s dazzling blue sword returned to his side. It danced around him in orbit as though it had a soul of its own. Any demonhunter foolish enough to draw near was impaled and killed on the spot. Whatever defensive relics they bore were useless before the deadly blue blade. What¡¯s more they died in a strange and frightening fashion. Each victim dissolved into nothing, starting from where the sword had wounded them. They were forced to watch themselves atomize until nothing remained. ¡°Cloudhawk! Are you alright?¡± A gruff voice caught Cloudhawk¡¯s ear. Wolfblade had sent his genetic soldiers with the van. Their enormous mutant leader, saved from the Blisterpeaks, had cut through walls of soldiers to reach this point. Coal stood a short distance away looking at his friend with concern. Now he was alone. His squad was decimated, giving credence to the ferocity of the battle. Coal wasn¡¯t unscathed, either. The mutant of iron sported a dozen nasty wounds, but with his superhuman constitution he paid them no mind. Good. Cloudhawk was still alive. Coal finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn¡¯t sure whether Cloudhawk still considered him a friend, but in Coal¡¯s own heart the man was the closest thing he had to a brother. Wolfblade picked his way across the field until he reached Dawn¡¯s prone body. He fetched a syringe of some unknown liquid from his vest and inserted it into her neck. Heedless of the insanity surrounding him he calmly injected the solution into the girl. Dawn¡¯s still chest suddenly heaved as she took a gulping breath. She quickly shook as a coughing fit wracked her, causing blood to spill from her mouth. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes went wide with sudden hope when he saw her start to move. ¡°She...¡± ¡°She won¡¯t be dying yet,¡± Wolfblade assured him. Excellent! Cloudhawk was elated. Wolfblade, that piece of shit ¨C he always had an answer! He wasn¡¯t one who made many friends, but at least this time he¡¯d done Cloudhawk an incalculable favor. Yet no sooner did he drop his guard than an intense feeling of exhaustion wash over him. He was near his limit and couldn¡¯t know how much longer Hellflower¡¯s stimulant would stay in effect. But even under its influence he was more or less spent. Meanwhile the fight on the dais was becoming more intense by the second. The center of the stronghold was being awash in enemies, too many to deal with. From below Hammont ordered his Corps to charge to the center and lend aid. But Hammont¡¯s main aim was to hunt down and slaughter that despicable mutant, Coal. He didn¡¯t have the strength to fight off the other leaders, but that freak he could handle. But when they arrived at the dais he was stunned by the scene. He was amazed it had reached such a deadly pitch. Cloudhawk spied Hammont¡¯s approach. Hammont, feeling his gaze, looked back. The two men locked eyes and for a moment just stood there and stared. There was conflict in the fat man¡¯s face. He couldn¡¯t face the man he respected so deeply the same way he had before. The Cloudhawk before him now was a wasteland general. In the eyes of Elysians he was a fiend worthy of nothing but a brutal death ¨C responsible for all manner of evils. A traitor who had thrown his lot in with mutants and demons! Hammont tightened his grip around his weapon. His face grew hard. Cloudhawk knew what was in his heart. If Hammont had half a chance he would busy that sword in Cloudhawk¡¯s body. If he did, he would a hero to his people. The highest positions and greatest accolades would await him. The fate of Sanctuary would be decided here, at its apex. Yet no matter who won or who lost the devastation on both sides would be staggering. When a war reached such a point it was inevitable that death would be the ultimate victor. Only¡­ for the cost of so much blood and so many lives, what was the point? Cloudhawk¡¯s only interest here had been to save Dawn¡¯s life. He¡¯d succeeded, but many died for the effort. In recent months he had risen among the wastelanders like a brilliant star. At the same time he was a foul shadow cast over the Elysian lands. How many wastelanders would worship him as a hero if this fortress fell? His valiant efforts for their freedom would be immortalized. Yet how many Elysian children, parents, lovers, and siblings lost their lives? To those who were forced to live on, they would forever curse the name Cloudhawk. Wolfblade straightened and faced Janus Umbra, then looked at the others gathered nearby. A grin touched his lips. ¡°Look at all of you panting. You should rest, catch your breath. Watch the show ¨C I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be impressed.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 61 - The Demon Elder Four peak-level warriors and one superhuman faced each other in the midst of a pitched battle. ¡°Indeed a worthy foe, Master Arcturus.¡± Abaddon¡¯s crimson eyes were fixed on the Governor. His twisted lips curled into a grin. In that uncomfortable demonic voice he said, ¡°Two against one and here you stand without a scratch.¡± Arcturus remains still. His eyes turned to the god. ¡°Abaddon I am familiar with. You are...¡± Autumn¡¯s eyes narrowed. She had no intention of holding a conversation. She twirled the flute in her hand and it released a blast of cutting energy. Arcturus merely stepped aside allowing it to pass him by. The gash her attack left in the ground stretched for ten minutes. A simple flute with so much power. It was no wonder she¡¯d been able to go blow for blow with Skye Polaris. The Caliph of the Sands chuckled and produced his relic tome. Tendrils of rasping grit formed from the sandstorm around them and gathered around the demon. Vulkan and the Khan had found themselves in a desperate, losing situation just a moment ago. Now, however, they stood alongside a demon with the power to stand against Arcturus. The woman, Autumn, was not to be discounted either. Between the two of them as well as the Khan and Vulkan, even Arcturus might have to struggle. Arcturus commanded power to rival the legendary demonhunters of old, but he was one man ¨C and one man had limits. The fiercest tiger could be felled by ants if there were enough of them. This group that congregated around him now were hardly ants, either. They were a pack of bloodthirsty wolves. For wastelanders, the destruction of Sanctuary was not the most important goal. If by some miracle they were able to kill Arcturus Cloude it would be a resounding victory, even if they were all wiped out. To the Elysians, their last Master Demonhunter was orders of magnitude more important than a fortress. Skycloud owed its years of peace and prosperity to this man. What an enticing target for the wastelanders. And how rare that he should leave the protection of his mighty city. Indeed, even having a chance to kill this man was not easy to attain. In choosing to participate in this fight Arcturus exposed himself to these four deadly figures. It was such a rare circumstance, one in which ¨C if they succeeded ¨C Skycloud could be destroyed in one fell swoop. Vulkan and the Khan of Evernight rushed back into the fight. They were quickly joined by their two divine allies. As the dire situation unfolded, Arcturus knew it was not one he could shrug off. His empty palms blazed with electric energy, which quickly coalesced into the form a blade. Ruin, his legendary weapon, crackled with ominous anticipation. It was perhaps the strongest relic in Skycloud¡¯s records. In all its history, only Arcturus had the power to wield it. Its stark glare lit his face as Abaddon, Autumn, Vulkan and the Khan of Evernight converged on him. Light, sword, flute and sand. A myriad of weapons closed in desperate for blood. These four, representing the apex of wasteland power, focused their ire on one man. Their efforts could not fail. Arcturus had nowhere to go. But as the cold light grew in the Governor¡¯s eyes it was evident he would not lay down. A staggering amount of power began to rise up within him. A dazzling light swept across the sky. It was the expression of five weapons reacting at once ¨C four vertical and one horizontal. Their clash was epic, and its echoes were felt across the battlefield like someone had detonated a bomb. The earth around their collision was destroyed for a hundred meters all around and awash in lightning. Lights burst to life and faded in the sand and dust as though their conflict had summoned a thunderstorm. All five were shoved back several dozen meters. The end result was a stalemate. Cloudhawk, Selene, Frost and the others couldn¡¯t hide the shock from their faces. Four against one and still they could not win the upper hand against Arcturus! It was a potent show of what this ultimate demonhunter was capable of. Arcturus truly was unsurpassed in power. Witnessing this display Hammont could not put into words how he felt. It was incredible to him that a man who possessed this staggering level of prowess was, on any other day, simply an amicable public official. Someone who chose to spend his time with a lowly servant like Hammont! It was insane! While everyone was distracted, Janus tried to conceal himself and move in for a sneak attack. Yet as he vanished a streak of azure light shot right for him, forcing the assassin to deflect it with his blade. His sneak attack was foiled, and his invisibility dispelled. Wolfblade gently shook his head. ¡°That was just the preamble. We haven¡¯t even begun the first act yet. It would be rude to interrupt.¡± Janus glared at the one-eyed man, revealing for the first time any sort of emotion in that dead gaze. Any other man and that stare would have scared them stiff. But Wolfblade looked back at him entirely relaxed. He did not seem at all frightened of how the assassin might retaliate. The sand sword in Abbadon¡¯s hand began to shift as he faced Arcturus. ¡°You are strong ¨C stronger than any human I¡¯ve met. But are you confident you are strong enough to fight off all four of us?¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try,¡± Arcturus responded without malice. They obliged, each of his four enemies tearing at him with their full strength on display. Each collision summoned a gale of energy. No one dared involve themselves much less draw near, for merely standing too close could be a deadly mistake. The five combatants traded dozens of blows. At first glance it still appeared that no one was gaining ground, but closer inspection revealed the advantage belonged to Arcturus. Abaddon and Autumn were half a step too slow. The Khan and the drunk were exhausted. As such even at full strength weaknesses began to peak through. As the conflict raged those openings became more frequent. Thus Arcturus did not press the attack, but countered when such flaws became available. There was a flash of electric light. The drunk was blasted backward with his skin burned black. Another flash. The Khan of Evernight lost his right leg and could no longer stand. Autumn and Abbadon continued to trade blows, though they shifted from an offensive posture to a defensive one. Now it was clear they were outmatched. Another five exchanges and the Caliph¡¯s sword of sand was blasted apart. With a swipe from Ruin both god and demon were sent flying. In the end it was clear. Even the four mighty warriors together were no match for Arcturus Cloude. However it had not been easy for him. The Governor¡¯s gray robes were dirty and torn in places. The silvery hair as his temples was slick with sweat. They were strangely human details in an otherwise superhuman display. ¡°The four of you still aren¡¯t enough.¡± Arcturus took a deep breath. ¡°This fight has continued for long enough. I think it¡¯s time we brought it to an end.¡± ¡°End it? So naive!¡± The Khan cried out to Arcturus in that robotic, emotionless voice. ¡°If you think this will be the end of our struggle then you are sorely mistaken. We are only just beginning!¡± A wrinkle appeared in Arcturus¡¯ brow. A disc-shaped aircraft broke through the cloud cover overhead and descended toward the fortress. The Khan and his allies retreated toward the ship. Everyone turned their eyes toward it in curiosity and wonder. Its doors opened slowly and from within strode forth a towering figure. The first, most striking revelation was how much it looked like Abbaddon. His body was encased in dark armor and a pair of burning red eyes gleamed brighter than the sun. However the sturdy armor he wore was far more complicated than Abbadon¡¯s. His hideous and contorted silhouette was uncomfortable to behold. A demon! Another demon! The soldiers from both armies gaped at the sight. Abaddon was a known figure, but this new fiend was completely unexpected. And judging by his look and bearing it was a demon of even higher status than the Caliph. Arcturus¡¯ eyes were fixed on it. Within them was an exceptionally rare glimmer of dread. However, ever a slave to decorum, he greeted the monster. ¡°Your Majesty, you are...¡± ¡°Sovereign of Nox, General of Gehenna, and Elder of the Thirteenth Seal. You may call me Judas.¡± The demon elder provided a string of lofty titles and with each one he took a step forward. Those burning eyes never blinked and never once turned from Arcturus. ¡°I have heard your name, the legendary Arcturus Cloude. Of all the names scribed in your history of demonhunters, yours ranks among the top.¡± That was their ploy. These first four were just the first wave. An appetizer, whereas the real meal they¡¯d prepared for Arcturus was this demon elder. Judas? It was a name Arcturus had heard before. Not unexpected, as all the famous demon elders only rose to great prominence if they participated in the Great War. Most were slain in the conflict, but the remainder skittered back to the shadows of Gehenna to recover. Judas also held a unique position among his people. He was a leader of the radical faction who believed, with the Demon King¡¯s absence for over a millennia, that the time of inaction was passed. He led a coterie of demons who thought like him from Gehenna and established the city of Nox far south of Skycloud. He was the undisputed master of that mysterious place. Any demon active in the wasteland these last many years had some connection to Judas. Most, if not all, heeded his commands. Abaddon was among them. ¡°You are as strong as the stories claim. In truth, there is even a chance you may survive against me.¡± ¡°So to better your chances, you sent your lackeys to soften me up.¡± Judas was frank in his response. ¡°Correct. I suspect you now have very little strength left.¡± A frown pulled at the corners of Arcturus¡¯ lips. He¡¯d long suspected a demon held the reins of power in Nox. He did not expect it to be an elder demon. ¡°I came today not just to end you, demonhunter.¡± Judas¡¯ voice shook the earth in seismic waves. The very foundations of the fortress trembled. Every syllable was clear far into the distance. ¡°I have come to rip away the mask of your realm and reveal its hypocrisy!¡± 1. Take a moment to pause and remember between Mantis and Abaddon, so long ago. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 62 - Mysteries Judas was the master and founder of Nox. He was the representative of those demons who rebelled against the status quo. A demon general, an elder of his race! The Annals of the Great War made mention of his name. Humanity¡¯s unfortunate experience with demons had taught them some of the strange race¡¯s social structure. Demons had long, perhaps infinite lifespans. However, as powerful as they were there appeared to be powerful inhibitions to their procreation. As such their numbers were always small and after the Great War their numbers shrank even farther. Their defeat was an unmitigated disaster for the race as a whole. The supreme leader of that species was known as the Demon King. Below him was what was known as the Council of Elders, dozens of them occupying positions they called Seals. They, in turn, were responsible for the demonic organization beneath them. It was a classic pyramid-structure of power. The Demon King was the most powerful and respected of them all. The elders, of course, were also important members of the species. There was a direct correlation to strength, ability, and elder status. Judas¡¯ ranking among the elders wasn¡¯t the highest. However, the likes of Abaddon ¨C a much younger demon ¨C wouldn¡¯t even be mentioned in the same breath . Two hundred years ago Judas made his exodus from Gehenna and brought his followers with him. Only a few chose to remain when he established the city. Abaddon was the first to swear allegiance to Nox. Judas was loathe to spend an eternity languishing in the darkness. Demons were creatures of incredible power! Why should they suffer the indignation of hiding under rocks and in shadows? With such strength why should they hide? Why not use what they had to gather more resources and enjoy their existence? The Demon King was dead. Their grand elder was missing. Demons by their nature were a fractured people and the wait seemed endless. How much longer were they expected to do nothing? Judas decided to establish his own power. Little by little, step by step he would tear the gods from the pedestals. Starting with Skycloud. He recognized the potential of humans. With enough of their species under his command he could create a powerful army. In this elder demon¡¯s eyes, Skycloud was an ideal place to erect his own realm. In a land of millions he could cultivate powerful warriors to do his bidding. Then, with the fallen Skycloud as the root, his power would extend to take all of the wastelands and Elysian lands beyond. In time he would become master of a far-reaching power to make the gods tremble. Was this not far superior to lurking in pits and caverns? However, Skycloud had a thousand years of development at its back. Each generation had a crowd of mighty representatives and scores of demonhunters as defenders. This was in addition to the god who looked over his creation from the Temple in its center. Overcoming such odds was too much, even for an Elder. Judas remembered when he tried. He was ambushed by Master Demonhunters of the age and they forced him to retreat far to the south. There he established Nox and slowly set about building his power. Once again he was forced into hiding, but in time he would emerge and take Skycloud for himself. Much of his time was spent searching for agents to represent his city. He chose those who thought were the best to build Nox¡¯s foundation. The life span of a demon was endless ¨C a hundred years, a thousand years, they all passed just the same. To Judas it was just a matter of time. Accumulate power. Wait for the right moment. This appeared to be that moment, a once-in-a-millennia chance. For reasons unknown, Skycloud¡¯s patron god had fallen into a deep slumber and had no means of waking. Judas sensed this, and stirred. Then he began to plan. But quickly he came upon a problem, the biggest impediment to his goals. Arcturus Cloude. In the thousand years since the Great War there had been remarkably few creatures like Arcturus to emerge. Fewer than one every hundred years even came close. Indeed humans were a race of massive potential. Luckily, they lived short lives, otherwise in a couple thousand years they might multiply and rise to threaten the demons themselves. Arcturus. Arcturus had to die. He was the only living thing that could threaten Judas. Upon awakening there was much to pique the Elder¡¯s interest. This rare opportunity to take Skycloud was not the largest, nor was the realization that Gehenna had finally begun to stir. No ¨C what struck him most was that the Demon King¡¯s successor had been chosen. A human. A frail, inferior thing that would live a couple hundred years at the very most. Inconceivable! How could such a creature rise to fill the role of the Demon King? Judas would not submit to bowing before the whims of a human! *** The war for Sanctuary raged like a firestorm! Then, suddenly¡­ stillness. All trembled as the elder demon made his presence known. Only Wolfblade remained unimpressed. He rubbed his chin with a strange glint in his eye. The sort of look that came upon a man when everything fell into place as expected. He made no secret of his contemptuous sneer toward Judas. Wolfblade looked upon the mighty elder demon as though he were absurd. Meanwhile Abaddon, the Khan of Evernight and all the rest of Nox¡¯s forces fell back behind their sovereign. Abaddon and the Khan could be counted as Judas¡¯ lieutenants. Abaddon, like Judas, came to the human world from Gehenna. The Khan of Evernight, on the other hand, was recruited by Judas upon awakening several years ago. He was elected to represent Nox among the humans and serve as the city¡¯s Governor. Autumn watched a short distance away. She peered upon the elder demon with brows furrowed. Judas¡¯ presence came as a shock to her as much as any other. For Judas¡¯ part, however, he did not seem to recognize Autumn¡¯s true identity as Silvana. If he had, it was unlikely the demon would suffer the fallen god, given their history during the Great War. Her eyes flashed momentarily toward Wolfblade. Something in her was convinced the elder¡¯s presence had something to do with that sinister creature. What was strange, she thought, was that Abaddon knew of Wolfblade¡¯s true identity. His master Judas, however, did not. Skycloud¡¯s many elite and generals disengaged from their fights. Everything was silent as the balance of their confrontation shifted. Judas did not come to trade words. He raised a hand toward the sky and from it belched a column of light. Above the heads of all who witnessed with eyes wide, the sky became a backdrop for a series of images. It appeared to tell a very old story. ¡°What are gods? What are demons? The distinction is unimportant, for they are but names.¡± Judas¡¯ voice thundered across the plains. ¡°Humans! Have you given no thought to where your divine benefactors hail from?¡± The origins of these mighty creatures had indeed always been a mystery. Cloudhawk knew more than most, and even understood only very little. Legends claimed that gods and demons appeared among humanity thousands of years ago. They oversaw the destruction of that ancient civilization. However, what relationship they had to the cataclysm that destroyed this world ¨C this cataclysm itself ¨C was a story lost to time. In truth neither wastelanders nor Elysians cared much about those bygone days. Only a handful cared enough to unearth its secrets, people like Hellflower. The Elysians had their own explanation for what brought about the cataclysm. What caused it? To them it was unquestioningly the hubris of ancient humans. An excess of green and the unending lust for power. When their appetite grew out of control they lost their grip on the power they¡¯d accumulated. This set in motion the destruction that brought their species to the brink of extinction. Manking were the builders of their magnificent civilization, and the architects of its destruction. Such was the original sin stained upon each mortal soul. This was why the gods forbade those humans who came after from studying the old ways. Forsaking the sciences was the only way to make sure its terrible mistakes were not repeated. Judas casually waved his hand. The scenes writ upon the clouds showed images of the world after the cataclysm. Many long years had passed since the world was nearly obliterated. Those who survived only did so by huddling among the ruins of their fallen ancestors. They ate what beasts they could catch and drank of their blood for sustenance. Humans lived like beasts and no trace of their dignified history remained. It was then that powerful and frightening figures appeared. Demons. ¡°Bear witness. It was not the gods you blindly worship who came to save your species. Those of who you call demons were the first to come and take up your burdens!¡± ¡°A thousand years ago the demons came upon this ruined place. Nothing remained of human civilization. It was demons who guided humanity from the wreckage of its past failures. We wanted to restore your race to its bygone glory. Revitalize the culture and civilization it had lost. The barren prison you live in today would not be, were it not for the arrival of your gods.¡± Shock and disbelief rippled through the crowd. What was this evil creature saying?! Lies, they had to be. According to the histories of the Elysian lands it was true that demons arrived first. However they came to kill, not to save. That was why they were called demons! When the gods came, they came as saviors. Through their power the demons were beaten back and the human species was preserved. ¡°We could have saved this planet, but our hope were foiled by the ones who style as gods. Their power and civilization was greater than ours. They attacked us with frightening weapons. And not just us ¨C but the human who we had come to assist. Those unfortunate souls were twisted by godly power and became the first you would come to call mutants.¡± Once again the pictures shifted to reveal a new scene. It revealed beautiful and enormous ships in a different part of the world. These ships cast rays of light down upon huge swaths of land. ¡°Do you still not see? It was the gods who despoiled your beautiful home. It was their power that reduced most of your planet to lifeless wasteland. Their terrible deeds were then lain upon the shoulders of my people. Small portions were spared and turned into their Elysian lands, where they gathered the ignorant and the gullible to do their bidding. Gods manipulated your ancestors into war with my kin. By exploiting the dangers of survival and the horrors of war, they won your adulation.¡± As he recounted the tale the images followed, revealing this lost history. He claimed the mutants prowling the wastes were victims of the gods¡¯ weapons, which twisted their genetic material. This unforgiving wasteland that choked the world was a curse set upon them at the hands of gods. Skycloud¡¯s millions of citizens were chattel, bred for some nefarious purpose by their falsely benevolent masters. Hammont stared at the pictures and listened to the claims with an expression of patent disbelief. No¡­ it couldn¡¯t be true. No matter what this fiend claimed he would not believe such falsehoods. The gods in their infinite strength and wisdom¡­ why would they attack the demons for no reason? Why try to exterminate a species that was weak and on the cusp of its own destruction? It made no sense! Cloudhawk also found Judas¡¯ tale to be dubious. He made a lot of claims, but the very central bit of evidence was lacking: Motive! Demons came first? Why? What drew them to a ruined planet? Where did they come from? Why choose this world? Both gods and demons were obviously creatures of a higher order than humanity. Their past, their future... a mystery. What could have possible brought them here to wage a terrible war, using lowly humans as their proxies? Cloudhawk had some experience with Abaddon. He could tell that even being a demon, there was much the Caliph did not know about his own race. Even if what Judas said was the truth, humans would not have accepted being chained by demons. Arcturus narrowed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°This is what you claim? This story you¡¯ve woven, with so many flaws¡­ you think it is enough to turn Skycloud¡¯s pious from their faith?¡± A merciless light gleamed in the elder¡¯s eyes. ¡°No. I merely present the truth. Believe, or don¡¯t ¨C it is not important. I believe that the day will soon come when all shall be revealed. Understanding shall bloom. Today I seek to accomplish two very important things. First, is to send your soul to Sumeru. You have served well as their lackey.¡± ¡°I have defeated several demons in my time,¡± Arcturus promised. He revealed no fear. ¡°But I have yet to test myself against an elder.¡± Shadowy ripples began to seep out into the world around Judas. The power within him was more than space could accommodate. He said nothing more ¨C today, Arcturus Cloude had to die. Fresh and prepared, even Judas was not sure he could cut down the mighty human. However, the fight against his lieutenants had cost Arcturus much. Now was the right time to end this man¡¯s life. On one side of dais stood humanity¡¯s strongest champion. On the other, an elder of the demon race. All the rest who stared watched with baited breath. The fight to come would surely be beyond what mortal minds could imagine. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 63 - The Master's Gambi The power radiating from Judas spread from him in black ripples. It spread out to establish a zone of control which attempted to envelop Arcturus Cloude. The Master Demonhunter scowled. He retreated from the ripples of darkness. Allowing Judas¡¯ power to touch him would end badly. ¡°Foul demon!¡± ¡°Sanctuary will not succumb to your darkness!¡± As Arcturus fell back, two of Skycloud¡¯s elite stepped forward. The air around them hummed with the power of defensive relics which attempted to deflect Judas¡¯ power. Their efforts were to buy the Master time but Arcturus called to them when he noticed. ¡°Fall back!¡± But it was too late. Those ripples had spread to form an orb around the elder demon. It swelled quickly, separating from him and swallowing up the Skycloud agents before they could heed the Governor¡¯s warning. When his victims were within his zone of control, Judas wordlessly reacted. He stretched out a hand and gently poked the bubble. It popped as one would expect a bubble to, but when it did everything caught inside was erased from existence. The men who had rushed to Arcturus¡¯ aid ¨C along with their relics, presence and the air around them ¨C simply ceased to be. It was as though they were never there at all. Just¡­ removed. Completely obliterated. Shock and trepidation filled everyone who witnessed it. The elder demon made it look exceedingly simple. He created the bubble, surrounded his target and then they were gone. That was it. ¡°A powerful demonic relic. The Hilt of Annihilation.¡± As he watched Judas, Wolfblade spoke like a man recounting a fond memory. ¡°Once it has you, Judas¡¯ power strips reality of all trace you ever lived. Every atom is scoured. There is no way to protect yourself.¡± What a horrifying power! It was the bane of a demonhunter¡¯s defensive tools. In the face of the Hilt of Annihilation, it didn¡¯t matter how strong one¡¯s protections were. They were of no use. It sounded like a kind of dimensional power. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel any ripples in time or space, so it seemed unlikely. Rather, they were obliterated as completely as the bubble that¡¯d surrounded them. The tiniest ions of what they were disassociated when the field collapsed, leaving not even a faint mist to mark their end. The elder demon hardly lifted a finger, but his power left everyone stunned. As powerful as Arcturus was, he was a creature of flesh and blood. Had he been caught in that field he would have suffered the same gruesome fate. Arcturus did not waste time with words. Power welled up inside of him and he jabbed a finger at the elder. Light flashed, and a javelin of electric energy streaked across the dais. Halfway through its trek a shuddering explosion rocked the beam. Countless threads of lightning crackled through the air like a host of vipers. They jerked and thrashed but gathered around Arcturus¡¯ beam, empowering it further. Harsh electric light fell upon Judas. The power of Ruin was nothing to scoff at. Few things could withstand a direct attack of this magnitude. A fraction of this terrible energy that had nearly eliminated Cloudhawk and the drunk. Yet the demon elder was not intimidated by Ruin¡¯s roar. He did not even attempt to move away. He raised his large hand and ripples once more propagated from his twisted form. Once more a sphere of energy was summoned, the semi-translucent field spreading wide, the demon himself at its center. When Ruin¡¯s power struck the border it was like a meteor striking atmosphere. It had to fight through the dark energy and every inch robbed it of some strength. By the time it reached Judas the overwhelming power had become a mild shock. Bang! Crack! The beam struck Judas and detonated, dissolving into several threads of lightning then vanishing entirely. Incredible! The demon had completely castrated Arcturus¡¯ power! Judas wielded amazing strength. Not only could he stop most attacks, those that got close would be robbed of strength before they could be a threat. This was the power of a demon elder. Judas¡¯ cold, sinister laughter rasped across the battlefield. ¡°Your attempts are pitiful, Governor. Now witness my supremacy!¡± With that, Judas shoved both hands forward. Suddenly the bubble became a missile. It shot toward Arcturus at incredible speed, forcing the demonhunter to action. Ruin was summoned forth and swiped through the air. Whoosh! A streak of lightning energy chopped down from overhead. Judas¡¯ orb of annihilation was cut in two. However, that was not enough to eliminate the threat. The field was now two orbs closing in on Arcturus¡¯ location. The Governor¡¯s brows knit tighter and he was forced to retreat. As he did the two bubbles collided and burst ¨C but instead of vanishing, now they spread out as thousands of smaller orbs. Each one was roughly the size of a human skull, slowly wafting through the air. Those that touched the ground and popped eliminated all they came into contact with. The rest continued to wander across the dais. People scrambled to evade them and those that were too slow suffered for it. Most continued to harass Arcturus. Pop! Pop-pop¡­ pop pop pop! Judas¡¯ orbs burst upon contact, spreading all across the field like a storm. A handful managed to get close to the Governor as indicated by the holes in his robes. As the danger fell over him power gathered within Arcturus and was released as a cluster of lightning bolts. Like the spikes of a hedgehog they jabbed at those orbs that got too close. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is Skycloud¡¯s greatest demonhunter unable to fight back?¡± Judas sneered derisively and cast more orbs of annihilation at his target. Craters had appeared all around, mangling the site of their conflict from contact with the demon¡¯s power. It made onlookers tremble and their hair stand on end. Meanwhile Arcturus frantically defended himself. For ten minutes it continued with the Master Demonhunter on the back foot. Throughout the conflict there was no sound but for the crackle of electricity. Judas¡¯ creeping orbs were nearly silent. They could dissolve a spaceship into fragments and it would all happen without a noise. The elder demon¡¯s powers were just as frightening as the Governor¡¯s. However, Arcturus had spent much of his strength in previous battles. What¡¯s more, demons recovered more quickly than humans. The longer the fight persisted, the clearer Arcturus¡¯ disadvantage became. Judas knew this. He pressed harder with another powerful attack. Another wave of orbs coalesced around Arcturus, forcing him to expend more energy. It was only a matter of time. The instant Arcturus¡¯ mental energies were spent, he was doomed. Pop! One of the orbs burst in front of the Governor¡¯s chest. With a grunt, the orb¡¯s detonation thrust Arcturus back several steps. A large swath of his robes were missing, as well as a fair amount of flesh from his chest. Bright, fresh blood leaked from the wound. Wound. Arcturus Cloude had been wounded! For the first time, it was proven the Governor could bleed. There existed someone with the ability to make it so. Elysians stared at their beleaguered Governor in fear and disbelief. Arcturus was a near-mythical figure in Skycloud. But even a man with his unfathomable strength was wounded in battle against a demon. What normal demonhunter could stand against a fiend like Judas? The Cloud God was sleeping. Arcturus was in danger. Skycloud¡¯s two mightiest defenders were unable to protect the realm from disaster. What had remained of Skycloud¡¯s legendary heroes ¨C Skye Polaris, Baldur Cloude, Sterling Cloude ¨C were all dead. Two betrayed their home. If Master Arcturus were to fall, who would save Skycloud from destruction? High Priest Ramiel enjoyed a fine reputation but had no real authority. If Arcturus fell, would it mean the fall of the realm he governed? ¡°I know your stratagems, demonhunter. There is no escape.¡± Judas was confident he would emerge today victorious. And there was ample evidence to support it. Never in recent memory had Arcturus been in such dire straits. He was a mess in the eyes of his people, with torn robes and a nasty wound. Blood soaked his once-pristine scholarly garb. However, despite his deadly circumstance Arcturus was not off put. The way he looked at his wound was more calculating than concerned. Judas was made curious by his calm demeanor. ¡°You do not fear for your life?¡± Arcturus lifted his head and fixed the demon with a hard gaze. ¡°Do you really believe you¡¯ve seen through me?¡± Judas¡¯ response was tepid and self-assured. ¡°You are the pinnacle of mortal achievement, but that is all. What more is there to see?¡± Arcturus shook his head. ¡°Not so. For if you really understood, you¡¯d have never shown your face here.¡± The demon elder did not understand. The human¡¯s words confused him and something in the Governor¡¯s confidence filled him with disquiet. Arcturus raised his eyes toward the smoke-filled sky. ¡°You have come, eager to discover what would happen to Skycloud without its Governor. But have you given thought to what would happen to Nox without its master to defend it?¡± Cloudhawk felt his heart skip a beat. Does this mean¡­ ¡°The battle for Sanctuary was bait, and I¡¯ve managed to catch quite a haul of fish. Much to my surprise, the biggest one even came for a nibble.¡± Arcturus returned his attention to Judas. ¡°You all came rushing for a meal, and never once noticed the sting of the hook.¡± A flash of anger caused Judas¡¯ eyes to burn more intensely. ¡°Is that how you see me? A fish? You honestly believe yourself to be such a threat?¡± In the face of the demon¡¯s anger, Arcturus was calm. ¡°You might not have seen through me, demon. But I can see through you.¡± In an instant, everything changed. Several dozen figures emerged from below the dais and rose to reveal themselves. As they appeared a wave of shock spread throughout the fortress. It was not just the wastelanders and the elder demon who were taken aback. All the Elysians ¨C even the likes of Phain and his Templars ¨C stared in open amazement. These new figured were not men. At least, not entirely. Each one was encased in brilliant light and were held aloft on massive wings. The power that poured from them stole the breath of all who witnessed their arrival. Seraphs. They were Skycloud¡¯s Seraphs. But weren¡¯t they supposed to be confined to the city? How had Arcturus managed to hide them here? As the combined might of the divine creatures fell over him, Judas¡¯ expression grew dark. Seraphs were humanoid puppets created through their own power, mixed with godly spirit. Simulacrums only, but powerful ones. A few dozen completely changed the face of this conflict. Yet Judas maintained his air of dominion. ¡°This is your plan? Seraphs?¡± ¡°No.¡± In response to the elder demon¡¯s query Arcturus removed his robes. When it was revealed to all what lay beneath, wide eyes and shocked expressions answered. ¡°They are not here to fight you. They are here to give me their power.¡± Arcturus¡¯ body was covered in faint golden script. They looked almost natural, like he¡¯d been born with them. The delicate lines wrapped around his torso, and if one were to look closely they would discover the patterns were identical to those borne by the Seraphs. Was Arcturus¡­ a Seraph? The surrounding divine puppets released their power, but not in an assault. Rather, the ocean of strength was poured directly into Arcturus¡¯ body. Where a moment before the Governor had been drained of energy, now it pulsed through him at unprecedented levels. ¡°Everything up to this point was a warm-up. Now, it can truly begin.¡± A pair of enormous wings composed of lightning spread from Arcturus¡¯ back . His meticulously combed salt-and-pepper hair flared around him, dancing on an unfelt wind. The scholarly Governor was gone, and in his place was a being of tremendous gravitas and majesty. 1. What the actual fuck guys!?!??!?!?!?!! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 64 - A Difficult Escape The Arcturus of this moment was completely different from the scholarly Governor everyone knew. He was surrounded in holy light gifted to him by the Seraphs, which robbed him of the kindly erudite air that was typical and replaced it with a domineering righteousness. In an instant his vast mental energies were restored to their peak. His wings spread forth, four meters long from end to end. The electric energy that composed them gathered rich and thick. His graying hair had become snow-white. Even merely standing before them the Master Demonhunter dominated the area with his presence. It felt as though he could obliterate them all with just a thought, as though Arcturus Cloude wasn¡¯t a man at all but something more. He was like a god! Judas, the elder demon, was shaken by what he witnessed. A note of surprise wormed into his crimson gaze. ¡°You¡­ you have turned yourself into a Seraph. Impossible¡­ how?¡± Skycloud¡¯s Governor, the realm¡¯s ultimate demonhunter, was a Seraph? Was he created at the hands of the gods and installed here as their agent among humanity? It was an incredible revelation that was too much to grasp! Indeed, it was impossible! Seraphs didn¡¯t have independent thought, but Arcturus had been revealed time and again to be a genius. Whatever Arcturus was, he was no puppet. Quite the opposite. He was wise, capable in leadership, exceedingly well-learned to the point that no one in all the realm could compare. Nothing about him could be likened to a puppet. Oren, a member of the Cloude family himself and Knight-Commander of the Demonhunter Corps, stared at Arcturus¡¯ transformation in speechless amazement. He was one of the Governor¡¯s most adoring and faithful supporters¡­ and yet he¡¯d never seen a hint of Arcturus¡¯ true face until now. He was a man whose breadth of power was rarely seen in all the history of humanity. His capabilities were boundless. What other secrets was he hiding? It seemed clear Arcturus could destroy any man or demon who stood in his path, so why hide it for so long? What was his strategy? Oren wasn¡¯t alone. Frost¡¯s heroic features had also gone slack in astonishment. His heart was a storm of emotion. For a whole decade Frost had been by the Governor¡¯s side, but he realized now he¡¯d never really seen the man. It always felt like staring into an unfathomably deep ocean. But even that wasn¡¯t right ¨C it was more like staring into the endless black of a night sky. Cloudhawk¡¯s features were grave. He recognized this. Arcturus Cloude reminded him of Squall. Of course, the two men were on entirely different levels, but it seemed clear both Squall and Arcturus had undergone similar transformation methods. Similar to the Seraphs, Squall could also take command of his own puppet in Blackfiend. Blackfiend the Undying was a demonic version of Skycloud¡¯s protectors. A Fiend. At their root, Fiends and Seraphs were the same. Squall had once empowered himself by borrowing from Blackfiend, just as Arcturus was now by the several Seraphs surrounding him. Were these similarities just coincidence, or was there something more? Arcturus made his move. His electric wings began to beat. A million crackling bolts of electricity were released, blasting out for a thousand meters all around. In a breath he¡¯d summoned a terrible, localized thunderstorm that blinded the eye. Like angry vipers those lightning bolts snaked through the air with an electric hiss. Everyone instinctively backed away for fear of being burnt to ash. Soon there was only Arcturus and Judas, with a field of a thousand meters to test their strength. A mighty demon elder, and a demigod. Ripples of foul energy continued to gather around Judas. Lightning that came within his sphere of influence fizzled into nothing. Arcturus reached out casually with his hand. From the loosely gathered lightning around him he extracted a sword of lightning. When he spoke his voice boomed through the storm, like a god of thunder. ¡°You ¨C an elder from a fractured race, ranked least among your peers, a failure of the Great War. It is laughable to think this paltry gathering can challenge the gods. If your inferior kind had the strength, they would have defeated the almighty ones thousands of years ago.¡± ¡°If you underestimate a demon elder, you will pay the price.¡± The energies gathered around Judas suddenly spread out. In a blink the field swelled to several times its original size. Wherever it passed, Arcturus¡¯ lightning faded into nothing and the space came under his control. Anything unfortunate enough to be caught inside ¨C be it physical of energy ¨C immediately was rent to its basest components and was destroyed. Arcturus pulled back his arm and flung Ruin toward his foe. As the blade left his grip all the world around it warped. The sword tugged at reality as though possessed of an intense magnetic field. Those scattered bolts of lightning changed trajectory and flowed toward it like rivers toward the ocean. With each additional surge of electric power Arcturus¡¯ attack blazed brighter, until it burned like the sun. Was he throwing his weapon? No ¨C he was creating and throwing a small star! With such power it seemed anything in its path was destined for destruction! Judas felt the danger crest upon him with an intensity he hadn¡¯t felt since the Great War. His red eyes seethed as the breadth of his mental energies were brought to bear. His field of control burgeoned out further with incredible speed, voracious and undeniable. The two mighty and opposed power eventually met. The darkness gobbled up the small sun like a hungry beast. What followed caused eyes to bulge and jaws to drop. Countless bolts of electric energy were released inside the field. They evaporated before they could spread far, and Judas¡¯ field of power similarly began to dim. The conflict of these two power was so intense everyone could feel it like a mountain on their chest. Eventually, Judas¡¯ power waned and cracks appeared in his bubble. Lightning began to follow the fissures toward their target. The demon elder was too slow to escape. The thunderblade cleaved through his weakened defenses and pierced through Judas¡¯ chest. His red eyes were wide in disbelief as he stared at the crackling weapon jutting from his body. It was inconceivable that even the full extent of his power was unable to fend off this blow. It proved that Arcturus was strong ¨C stronger than a demon elder! Yet defeating a beast like him was not that easy! Gods and demons were not as frail as the humans they walked among. Half of the thunderblade had cleaved through Judas¡¯ armor and pierced his chest. It released its deadly power in a burst which caused the demon to double over. The deluge of electricity was so intense it caused Judas¡¯ body to sizzle and smoke, and gouts of lightning were belched from his skin as it split. Even then, the wound was not fatal. Hundreds of years had passed since the demon elder had faced such a loss! If his opponent was a group of gods, one of the Supremes or perhaps an elder demon higher in the hierarchy he could accept it. Yet Arcturus was none of these. He was a man, and that fact made his poor showing that much more shameful. ¡°You really are a rare specimen.¡± Judas rose back to his full height. With another pulse of energy he eliminated what lightning remained in the air around him. Black burn marks and the wound left in his chest began to heal at once. ¡°But killing a demon of a higher order will take more than that.¡± Arcturus hovered in the air, bathed in electric light. He stared at the beast with a solemn face. Even an elder demon could not last long if he were subjected to more attacks like the last. The Governor did not respond. In lieu of words he gathered his strength and, like the Thunder God of legend, lightning crackled all around at his beck and call. Arcturus Cloude had the power to overcome a demon elder. However, Judas was not helpless. His capabilities were plain for all to see. What¡¯s more, the power Arcturus wielded was far greater than a human body could withstand. Commanding such strength had to come with a physical cost. It was unlikely he could maintain this fight for long. Judas¡¯ Hilt of Annihilation was more than a one-trick pony. It possessed incredible powers of deconstruction, the likes of which could atomize nearly anything it came into contact with. In other words, Judas only had to get Arcturus within range of his field of control. Then it wouldn¡¯t matter how strong Arcturus was ¨C he would be detonated into infinitesimal particles and slain. It was a viable plan. Executing it, however, would be very difficult. Arcturus stood at a safe distance, a thunderblade in each hand. As more orbs of destruction came toward him he used the weapons to cut them apart before they could be a threat. Those fractured orbs multiplied into the thousands and converged on the Governor like a dismal rain. Attacking them was no use. Arcturus¡¯ wings beat faster. These wings did not just give him incredible speed, but a field of electric defense as well. As the smaller robs came into contact with them the bolts of lightning kept the foul energy at bay. Those bubbles popped across the wings, causing nothing more than a ripple before dispersing. No doubt about it. His lightning wings were also some kind of relic. They augmented his speed, defense, attack and who knew what else. The Master Demonhunter tore across the battlefield at incredible speed, a sword of lightning in each hand. Protected from the demon¡¯s attacks he launched into a flurry of his own. Judas was on his back foot and could do nothing but defend himself. Arcturus left him no space to counter. ¡°We¡¯ve seen the best parts. The longer we dally, the more troublesome things will be. Come, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Wolfblade gave the order to retreat and his Dark Atom soldiers complied. The conflict between Arcturus and Judas still raged, yet the Dark Atom was throwing in the towel? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care. He had no stake in who won ¨C the demigod or the demon. His mission was complete. With Dawn slung over his shoulder he prepared to teleport to safety. However before he could a wave of indescribable pain struck him. It felt like every cell in his body was exploding at once. Fuck fuck fuck! The stimulant wore off! Cloudhawk immediately collapsed to his knees. His whole body went stiff and was wracked with pain. He couldn¡¯t get back onto his feet. ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere!¡± ¡°Brothers! Kill them!¡± The cries for blood rang out all around him. Waves of Elysian soldiers charged in for the final blow. Hammont Seacrest led them in their assault. It was clear to everyone here that these wastelanders were dangerous lunatics ¨C every one of them. If they escaped it would mean the threat to their realm would never diminish. They wanted to run? Not if he had anything to say about it! They all died today! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 65 - Curtain Drop Sanctuary. A scene of devastation. For ten kilometers in every direction dust choked out the sun. The once beautiful planes were now ravaged by conflict. Burning wreckage and mangled bodies could be seen everywhere. The sky was black and the mix of acrid smoke and harsh sunlight cast everything in a crimson hue as though all were submerged in a sea of blood. Their war had persisted for a number of hours. This is what it had come to ¨C Arcturus and Judas were each vying for advantage, to strike the final blow. Whether the Governor or the demon, both wielded power far beyond what a normal man could comprehend. While it was stupendous to behold, those with keen eyes were able to see that Arcturus was slowly gaining the upper hand. Barring unexpected circumstance, Skycloud¡¯s Master Demonhunter would come out on top. After all, the wasteland army was a disorganized force. They didn¡¯t have the equipment and training of Elysian soldiers. The longer a fight dragged on the further the wastelanders slipped behind. Wastelander weapons were simple, and most fighters hadn¡¯t had much traditional training so they lacked organization and discipline. Weapons like rocket launchers were impressive, showy, and deadly when used properly. But their ammo was wasted in the beginning of the fight, so the clunky blasters were useless now as they were beginning to lag behind. This was not so for Elysians. After fending off the initial wave of ferocious attacks the Elysians settled into their experience. Talented commanders wielded their forces like their own arms. Skycloud¡¯s advantage in equipment was also becoming more obvious. After the first assault wasteland forces broke apart into different groups and spread from the furthest gates to the central dais. Making their way back out would be difficult to say the least. As Elysian discipline took control the wastelanders found themselves surrounded and slowly being strangled. They weren¡¯t going to let these despicable thugs leave. If they were stupid enough to attack once they would do it again! Peace would only be achieved when every heathen was dead! Hammont, as commander of his own Corps, was a high-ranking commander on the field. First and foremost in his mind was performing his duties. That was when he made a choice the moment he saw Cloudhawk collapse. He summoned soldiers from nearby and mounted a charge to cut the criminal down. They surged ahead in two solid ranks. In their hands were Elysian crossbows at the ready. Glinting bolts were reflected in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes as he watched them come. His teeth ground together painfully, but despite his anger his body would not listen to him. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of strength left to stand, much less fight. Hammont¡¯s solemn face was suddenly pale. He raised his hand and hesitated but held it ther. ¡°Commander, give the order!¡± ¡°This man is one of their leaders. Accolades for whoever spills his blood!¡± Hammont¡¯s beady eyes slid closed. His mind was brought back years ago, to memories of a strange young man in a dusty town. He and Cloudhawk had history. He¡¯d helped Hammont get to where he was today. But¡­ Hammont was a soldier. An Elysian officer. He could not abandon his duty. ¡°Kill him!¡± Dozens of crossbows fired in unison with spurts of rapid-fire destruction. Perhaps a thousand bolts were cast toward Cloudhawk in an instant. It was overkill, but Cloudhawk warranted it. They weren¡¯t willing to underestimate the man who dropped a mountain on their fortress. He was known to slip out of danger with his teleport abilities. There was no telling when he¡¯d blinked into their midst and crack open their fat commander¡¯s head. But he couldn¡¯t, not now. He had nothing left. A wave of regret and helplessness washed over him. Even someone like Hammy was out for his blood now. Was there anyone he wouldn¡¯t one day have to fight? Suddenly a figure placed itself between him and the hail of arrows. They struck the expansive form again and again, breaking in a cacophonous display. Not a single one pierced his defender¡¯s flesh and they were scattered on the ground like so many used toothpicks. Their arrows heads were glowing red hot. When Hammont saw who it was his fists clenched tight. ¡°You again!¡± Coal¡¯s hulking frame was like a living mountain. The air around him radiated red-hot as he charged ahead at the Elysians like an out-of-control tank. A dozen men were flung aside as they tried to stop him, to no avail. They screamed in pain, their bones shattered from the impact and their skin burned black. Hammont watched his compatriots flinging themselves wildly at Coal. ¡°That¡¯s the wastelanders¡¯ super mutant. Even Commander Drake couldn¡¯t defeat him! Don¡¯t get in close, use the smoke!¡± The moment the words left Hammont¡¯s mouth, Coal roared and tried to silence him with a series of attacks. Coal felt things strike him and explode. They didn¡¯t hurt in the least but in the next moment his world wasp lunged into a smoky darkness. He spun around, completely unable to tell which direction he was facing. What¡¯s more this strange smoke clung to him, so that when he moved the smoke did, too. Coal lost his target. All he could do was rush around wildly and grope for anything to strike. ¡°Forget about him for now.¡± Hammont easily sidestepped Coal¡¯s charge. Although he hated the mutant, and although he didn¡¯t want to kill Cloudhawk, logic told him Coal was not the bigger threat. Even if they let him go and he became a wasteland king, a man like Cloudhawk had the power to topple Skycloud. He shouted his order. ¡°Everyone on Cloudhawk!¡± The soldiers raised their weapons only to find them empty a second later. Somehow, all at once their crossbows exploded into shrapnel. A spear had screamed passed to disarm them. It struck the ground and was itself reduced to splinters. Another elite fighter had come to his defense! The drunk appeared at Cloudhawk¡¯s side. ¡°You alright, kid?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Take Dawn and get out of here. Make sure to tell Gabby and the rest of them to retreat!¡± Of course the drunk wasn¡¯t about to leave Cloudhawk to be torn apart. He took up both he and Dawn, slinging them over his shoulders as Elysians closed in to block his path. Over-confident fools! He waved his sword almost flippantly at them. The men in his path yelped and stumbled back, their armor splitting wide open like a lobster¡¯s shell. Strangely, though, not a drop of blood was spilled. It was clear the drunk was holding back. ¡°Stop fighting and run for your lives!¡± As the path to freedom was open, the battle on the dais was coming to a close. Arcturus continued to dart around the orbs of destructive power. The larger ones he dexterously avoided while the smaller ones were warded off by his wings. The Governor seemed to fully grasp Judas¡¯ combat rhythm. The demon¡¯s ability to deconstruct matter did not seem to be enough to overcome Arcturus Cloude. His mental energies were simply too strong. Any damage to his electric wings was quickly repaired. Witnessing it, onlookers felt like the Governor was invincible. On the other hand, the elder demon¡¯s limitations were clear. Judas¡¯ powers were based on scale. The larger his field was allowed to become, the more incredible the results. If Arcturus were caught in a field a dozen meters across, even the mighty Governor would be helpless. The mighty demigod would be erased from existence. However, Judas power was spread out and cut apart. His assaults became legion in number, but each was now far weaker in comparison. What¡¯s more, with each wave it became clear that the volume of power he released was the same. That meant attack and defense interacted. When Judas forced his power into attack, his defenses weakened. Likewise when protecting himself from Arcturus¡¯ counters, his attacks were diluted. Judas was preparing for another wave of orbs when Arcturus took advantage of the shift. His wings burst with a thunderous noise as he broke the sound barrier. There was a flash and Arcturus appeared in front of the demon. He struck. Judas¡¯ armor split open. The thunderblade left a long scorch mark where it passed. Demons had incredible defensive capabilities. Spray them with concentrated gunfire, shoot them with high caliber bullets, even hit them point blank with a rocket and it would do nothing. Yet before Arcturus, the elder demon¡¯s sturdy armor was about as effective as paper. Judas was gravely wounded. He knew now his weakness had been revealed. If this fight continued he would be slain. A mere mortal! He had single-handedly defeated an elder demon! Human potential was as incredible as it was frightening. Was this why we demons and gods had used them to fight our wars? It didn¡¯t matter now. Judas was out of options. He released a pulse of destructive energy around himself. As Arcturus retreated, Judas rose up from the ground. The demon dashed away from the field so quickly he looked like a streak of light in his attempts to escape. ¡°Trying to leave?!¡± The electric sword in Arcturus¡¯ grasp began to pulse, like a river about to burst its banks. All the power inside him gathered into the weapon, transforming it into an enormous spear of lightning. But as he was reeling back, the Master Demonhunter¡¯s body began to quake. A rivulet of golden blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. The Governor wielded immense power, granted to him by a cadre of Seraphs. However he was still a mortal, with a mortal body that could not handle such a deluge of power. He was beginning to feel the side-effects ¨C internal injuries which would possibly follow him to his grave. But he had strength enough for one ¨C more ¨C attack! Everyone watched as a blast of light was expelled from Arcturus¡¯ hand like a laser. It pierced the demon¡¯s defensive fields, dug into Judas¡¯ back and then out the other side. The wound it left behind was hideous to behold. What a powerful, brutal attack! Even Judas, with the power and defenses of an elder demon, felt Ruin¡¯s awful power coursing through him. Where that tremendous energy passed, it did not just injure tissue. Ruin¡¯s kiss caused permanent damage ¨C wounds any living thing would struggle to survive. Vulkan knew it. So did Cloudhawk. Judas was stronger than those two, but the injuries he suffered were ten times worse. He didn¡¯t dare stop. He knew if he did, he would die. So the demon pushed on with the domain of destruction radiating around him. He thrust his legs and shot off like a shooting star. Arcturus had begun to feel the consequences of his actions. He¡¯d badly wounded the demon but had failed to kill him. It wasn¡¯t enough to keep Judas from fleeing. The demon was a survivor of the Great War and it wasn¡¯t since those dark days that he¡¯d been in such dire straits. However, though he did not achieve what he¡¯d come to do, there was still a chance to get things done! Judas swooped down toward Cloudhawk. Gasps followed. He was after Cloudhawk! The drunk tried to fend him off with his sword but the flash of a vorpal weapon forced him to split his attention. The Khan of Evernight launched into a series of vicious attacks with his purple light weapon against Vulkan. He wasn¡¯t holding back! Yet there was something¡­ Familiar. The techniques used by the Khan were some that Vulkan himself had invented. ¡°You ¨C that¡¯s impossible. You can¡¯t be-¡± The drunk stared with a look of disbelief. ¡°Is it really you?¡± Judas stretched out a black, clawed appendage toward Cloudhawk. Autumn watched from a distance, her brows furrowing. Almost instinctively she raised the flute to her lips and blew. A streak like the slash from a sword struck Judas. Before this moment the elder demon had paid her no mind, but when that blow landed it caught his attention. That power¡­ so familiar. Judas¡¯ crimson eyes fixed on Autumn. ¡°You? How!? What an amusing turn to see you¡­ like this!¡± Her face unreadable as stone, Autumn launched into a dozen attacks. Judas was badly injured but still had strength enough to protect himself from the god¡¯s blows. Upon entering his field of destruction the power of her flute dissolved away. The Elysians looked on, baffled. Why were the wastelanders suddenly turning on one another? Autumn was preparing for a second onslaught when the ground before her began to tremble and spit up yellow sand. Four huge spikes of grit shot up at her like snakes. ¡°Abaddon! Betrayer!¡± Autumn quickly dispatched of the sandy tendrils and glared at her assailant. The Caliph of the Sands answered with a raspy laugh. ¡°We were using one another from the start. You can¡¯t call this betrayal.¡± Vulkan was blocked by the Khan. Autumn was held back by Abaddon. Who was left to protect Cloudhawk? Judas was irritated to discover others remained. Several shadows blinked into existence around the demon and began to attack with lightning speed. ¡°Insignificant.¡± The moment those shadows crossed the boundary into Judas¡¯ sphere of influence, they vanished like smoke on the wind. To ordinary folk, Janus the Titan of Many Faces was an incredible man. However, the demon¡¯s defense more than negated his skills. As his shadows were already weak, they couldn¡¯t overcome the domain. Heedless of the assassin, Judas¡¯ massive have reached forth. Cloudhawk was caught and lifted off the ground. Cloudhawk was unconsciousness. He had no idea what was going on. Excellent! Yes! So this is the Demon King¡¯s successor! Judas had failed to kill Arcturus and the battle today was a failure. However, if these efforts led to the King¡¯s successor falling into his hands then it was not a total loss. A simple, ordinary human. What right does he have to bear the master¡¯s inheritance? Judas, the Khan of Evernight and Abaddon fled the field. Wolfblade watched them go with a chilly, knowing smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. Time to go.¡± The wasteland forces abandoned their assault of Sanctuary and began to fell back while being hounded by Elysian soldiers. Bodies continued to fall as Skycloud¡¯s forces gave no quarter. Only their leader, Arcturus, remained still. After defeating Judas he made no further motions to pursuing the enemy. He vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed in the middle of dais. ¡°Governor!¡± ¡°Governor!¡± The gathered warriors and Skycloud¡¯s elite blanched at Arcturus¡¯ condition. He¡¯d fallen? He can¡¯t! He was their government and spiritual leader! They rushed to his side to discover that the energy encasing hid body had dimmed to a faint sheen. He was weaker than anyone had ever seen him, and his hair had all gone white. It was evidence that although Arcturus had defeated Judas, it had cost him dearly. ¡°Stop pursuing the heathens! Call them all back!¡± Their leader was injured and couldn¡¯t keep up the fight. It was time to call it off. After all, the wastelanders still had a number of formidable killers in their midst. Breaking their forces just to wipe them out wasn¡¯t going to win them any benefit, and besides the day was won. It was an effort that had demanded a great deal of blood and sacrifice, but they had successfully defended the honor of Skycloud. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 66 - No Winners A once towering fortress had become a half-ruined battlefield. It was the site of incredible devastation, but undoubtedly the most striking aspect was the enormous mountain that had appeared from nowhere. It¡¯s suddenly descent from on high obliterated the fortress, to the point where repair was impossible. A meteor like this was beyond their ability to move. It would remain there forever, a testament. In a thousand years when Sanctuary was no longer there, the meteor would remain. For future generations it will have marked the beginning of a legend. But to those who lived through the historical event it was unimaginable. By the time darkness fell the battle was over. Darkness descended like the curtain at the end of an act. Hammont was busy counting what remained of his Drake Corps. The war had lasted half a day perhaps, but the losses were staggering. So many bright young people ¨C new recruits who could count their days as soldier on one hand ¨C conveyed to the arms of the god of death. It was terrible, repulsive! Why did this have to happen? His headcount was interrupted by foul news. The expeditionary force, led by Commander General Frost, had failed to wipe out the wasteland remnants. It meant this conflict wasn¡¯t over. These barbarians ¨C savage by nature and willing to perform any manner of despicable deed ¨C would eventually return. To Hammont it was a crushing realization. One of his soldiers stepped forward. ¡°Commander!¡± Hammont frowned at him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you so late, sir. The captain of the fifth brigade wishes to speak with you. He¡­ he¡¯s been wounded badly.¡± Hammont paused. He remembered this captain, a man he¡¯d promoted personally to his post. He was a fellow of good potential and all reports claimed he led his troops capably during the fight. Word was his force of a hundred or so single-handedly warded off a sneak attack from the rear. It¡¯d cost them terribly. Five remained of the hundred-man unit, and those five were fading away in the field hospital. ¡°I can go back and tell them you¡¯re busy, commander...¡± Hammont cut him off with a wave then motioned for him to lead the way. The young soldier gave him a look of appreciation then did as instructed. They picked their way across Sanctuary, passing exhausted soldiers retrieving the dead and dying. Eventually they arrived at a huge makeshift site that served as a field hospital. It was also one place where they housed the fallen for the time being. When he stepped inside, Hammont was greeted by the sight of countless dead. These soldiers had died in the line of duty and laid here, awaiting a final resting place. They were covered by white sheets that together stretched on like a grim sea. Nearby was where the living were being treated, marked by a chorus of sobs, groans and screams. A steady stream of the newly deceased went to join the ranks of their fallen brethren. The cloying scent of blood and illness filled the air. Hundreds of doctors hurriedly rushed back and forth, their white coats soaked crimson. It was a small army of physicians, but by the way they ran about and through the number of bodies being brought away, it wasn¡¯t nearly enough. As they walked the lane Hammont watched soldiers slip into darkness because they were left untreated. This area were all wounded soldiers from the expeditionary force. Hammont pushed passed them to where men from his own corps were being treated. When they saw their commander appear the groaning stopped, and their eyes lit up. Hammont approached a man wrapped from head to toe in bandages. This was the captain, or what was left of him. When he saw Hammont approach the captain¡¯s eyes looked grateful and relieved. ¡°Com¡­ commander. Commander!¡± ¡°Relax now, soldier. You need to recover.¡± ¡°No, I¡­ I won¡¯t be getting better. You don¡¯t need to comfort me.¡± The captain looked at Hammont with moist, eager eyes. ¡°Did we win?¡± ¡°Yes, we won. The enemy is in full retreat and the one who planned this war ¨C the demon elder ¨C has been badly wounded by your Governor. It will be decades before he dares show his face again. Commander General Frost pursues the fleeing wastelanders and will make sure they¡¯re eliminated, once and for all.¡± Hammont couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell this dying man the truth. He couldn¡¯t bear to let him die in regret. ¡°Good¡­ that¡¯s good. May our people no longer live under the threat of evil. Speaking of which¡­ I miss my wife and kids. No regrets, though. They will be proud that I didn¡¯t dishonor our family. I fought for them, I f-¡­.¡± The captain¡¯s faded vision suddenly hardened. ¡°Commander. You told me your dream is to be a General. You¡¯re going to be a General, right?¡± It took Hammont by surprise. He hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. ¡°You¡¯re different from the other commanders. You will be a great leader, we all look up to you. You have to become a great general...¡± The captain extended his hand but could only reach half the distance between them before his strength gave out. Another heroic spirit taken from the world of man and sent to Mount Sumeru. If Mount Sumeru was a real place¡­ Doctors clustered around. After a brief check it was confirmed the captain was no more. They covered him in a sheet and took him away. Hammont left in silence, forcing himself to walk through the unbearable aftermath of this war once again. They might have fought off the enemy but Hammont felt no joy over their victory. Instead his fat face was scrunched in confusion. It was the world he was struggling with. Victory? Was that what this was? They¡¯d defended the fortress¡­ beat back the enemy¡­ killed a countless number of them¡­ But the one they meant to put to death, Dawn Polaris, escaped. Half the fortress was ravaged and what was left could hardly be considered standing. And what about the demon elder¡­ what if what he said was true? Who were they actually fighting for? What were they sacrificing for? There was no winner here. Maybe there never was, when it came to war. It wasn¡¯t over either. It¡¯d only changed from out in the open to back in the shadows. Uncertainty took root in Hammont¡¯s heart. He¡¯d seen how strong Governor Arcturus really was, so why had he held back so long? There was seemed to be a deeper motive behind everything he did that Hammont was too dim or distant to understand. Cloudhawk was the only one who had the potential to one day defeat Arcturus, but he was routinely allowed to live. Did the Governor not see that? Arcturus had fought off four enemies at once, including the demon Abaddon. Then he took on the demon elder and very nearly killed him. He obviously had the power to dispose of Cloudhawk. If he wanted Cloudhawk dead it would require little more than a thought. But during the war no one rose up to stop him. Why did he just sit back and watch Cloudhawk be rescued by the demon elder? Why would he let that happen? Arcturus was a genius, he had to know that his lack of action would mean disaster. What was he thinking? And then there was the fact that Arcturus could absorb the power of Seraphs? If he¡¯d always been able to do that, why hadn¡¯t the Master Demonhunter used this ability before? They were similar questions being privately argued over by all elders of Skycloud. They were all in awe of Arcturus¡¯ power, but perhaps for the first time there were doubts and questions about their illustrious leader. *** Skycloud Temple. Selene and Phain had returned and delivered news of what happened in Sanctuary. High Priest Ramiel Caelest slowly opened his eyes and within their depths was an undercurrent of¡­ something. He didn¡¯t speak, only waved his hand to indicate they were dismissed. Selene left the Temple with a heavy heart. She wasn¡¯t sure whether Cloudhawk would survive. He was wounded before he joined this fight then pushed himself way over the line. Then the demon elder, who even Arcturus could not slay, snatched him up and took him away. All she could do was watch. She was useless. It made her furious. Her thoughts were interrupted when a shadow appeared before her. It was like the darkness given flesh. The figure was wrapped in black cloth that revealed only a pair of dead eyes that hardly seemed human at all. Selene focused her anger on those soulless orbs. Her fists clenched and her breathing increased. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°To see you.¡± Janus stepped forward. For just an instant something flickered in those emotionless voids. ¡°You care for him that much?¡± ¡°What if I do?¡± Selene spat back. ¡°Better than someone like you, who cares for no one!¡± ¡°You know he had a lot to do with instigating this conflict.¡± ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s intention, just like I know Cloudhawk isn¡¯t the sort who likes conflict. If it wasn¡¯t for the manipulation of Arcturus and those wastelanders he never would have done it. I know him better than anyone.¡± ¡°In this world, no one is born into motivation and goals. Fate and destiny are subject to the things we experience. Whether external, internal, or from the influence of others, people change. Have you considered what you would do if one day Cloudhawk led his troops to lay siege on Skycloud City? As a true leader of the wasteland armies?¡± Selene wanted to shout back at the killer but the words never left her lips. There was a lot that had happened these last few years that convinced her there were no absolutes in this world. Like how Cloudhawk might change, or how she would react if he did lead an army to their doorstep. But while it was uncertain none of that mattered right now. She would face it when the time came, that was the only time she could know for sure. Selene turned to leave. Janus called after her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°None of your business,¡± she curtly replied. ¡°Judas¡¯ appearance will affect more than what we see on the surface. It will gradually influence what comes ¨C people will question Arcturus¡¯ motives and power.¡± Janus¡¯ calm voice continued to seep through the darkness. ¡°If you want to challenge Arcturus, you cannot do it alone.¡± ¡°I can help you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 67 - The Will of Gehenna The Southern Wastes. Greenland. Dawn slowly came out of her coma, opening her eyes to the familiar sight of Greenland fort. Her head was muddled and heavy and she felt weak. It took ten whole minutes for her to fully come around and all the while memories of how she got here filled her mind. Sanctuary! Wasn¡¯t I at Sanctuary? With wide eyes she sat straight up in bed. The last tihng she remembered was throwing herself in front of Cloudhawk to protect him from Janus. She remembered what it felt like when that black dagger dug into her. It was a strike from Skycloud¡¯s ultimate assassin¡­ so how was she still breathing? She swung her legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand, but was too weak. She crumpled to the ground. ¡°Miss Dawn, you¡¯re awake.¡± An alluring voice caught her attention. Dawn turned her head and her eyes traveled up a voluptuous body to see Hellflower standing over her. ¡°You¡¯ve been in a coma for five days. You¡¯re weak, you need to rest.¡± Dawn didn¡¯t care, she could only think of one thing. ¡°Cloudhawk?¡± Hellflower sighed and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now.¡± But she persisted. ¡°Tell me. Where is Cloudhawk? Where is he!?¡± ¡°Cloudhawk led Greenland¡¯s forces to Sanctuary in order to save you. They succeeded, but he...¡± She trailed off, her face a mix of emotions. ¡°He didn¡¯t come back. We don¡¯t know if he¡¯s alive.¡± Dawn¡¯s mind went blank. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t come back? Why not? How could he abandon Greenland? No! Impossible! Hellflower saw the pain in Dawn¡¯s face and shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re all sad to lose Cloudhawk. I know what you¡¯re feeling. But you can¡¯t afford to go running off. We have no idea where Cloudhawk went, if he¡¯s even still alive. All we know is he was taken by the demon elder from the fortress.¡± Dawn could hear it, Hellflower had no confidence he was still out there. She knew better than anyone how terrible his condition was. Under such conditions, to give himself the stimulant injection and push his body passed the limit, the chances he could survive were slim to none. Dawn couldn¡¯t forgive herself. She¡¯d left to try and help Cloudhawk, she didn¡¯t think it would lead to this. She was in his debt. The rest of her life was still so unclear and if something had really happened to Cloudhawk how could she look at herself in a mirror? She was the one who should die! Why was fate so unfair to him? Why was he forced to confront all of this on his own? It¡¯d been several days since the conflict. Only a third of the men Greenland had sent returned. They received a hero¡¯s welcome. Members of Cloudhawk¡¯s Goshawk army had performed wonderfully in the war, going toe to toe against some of Skycloud¡¯s mightiest demonhunters. This division, less than two months old, had already won fame in battle. The Goshawks, every one of them, were proud of the name they¡¯d built. It had ended in defeat but they got their licks in, and gave the Elysians one hell of a fight! In addition to that, Cloudhawk had led a force to rival their mighty demonhunters. He snatched up Dawn and got her to safety under the noses of their best. Such a magnificent feat resonated with everyone ¨C a story that would become a legend of the wastelands. Yes, they¡¯d lost. But every wastelander could pound their chest and declare ¡®We are not weak and cowardly! We have the right to freedom! The right to survive! We can beat the Elysians because we have Cloudhawk!¡¯ For a long time to come people would flock to Greenland, seeking refuge. Dawn was sad, but she knew she couldn¡¯t let it drag her into the abyss. Cloudhawk had poured his heart into this place, a city he thought he could build his dreams. He¡¯d spent so much of his life pursuing freedom and was rebuffed everywhere he went. Nowhere was more important to him than Greenland. After Dawn had awakened the leadership of Greenland came together for a meeting. Cloudhawk was of course missing, but Hellflower, members of the Dawn family, Barb, Gabriel, the drunk and Claudia were all there. Everyone that remained of the highest stations, as well as some new faces ¨C members of the Dark Atom Hellflower had recruited to their cause. People like Coal. Did that mean the Dark Atom was beginning to settle in Greenland? The thought made Dawn curl her fists in anger. She knew all about the Dark Atom and what sort of person their leader, Wolfblade, was. She would not tolerate them destroying what Cloudhawk had built. ¡°We don¡¯t know if Cloudhawk will be coming back and Greenland can¡¯t just be abandoned. We need a new leader!¡± Hellflower rose to her feet before the assembly. ¡°Dawn Polaris, you were the Governor¡¯s second in command. You must rise to the occasion!¡± No one objected. All eyes fell unto Dawn. Would she agree to become a wasteland leader? ¡°I accept.¡± To their surprise, Dawn accepted without hesitation. ¡°From now until Cloudhawk returned, I will serve as Greenland¡¯s Governor.¡± Roc and other members of the Polaris family seemed uncertain. Their mistress agreed to this? People changed. Dawn might have been a noble member of Skycloud¡¯s elite, an illustrious Templar, and an unruly trouble-maker¡­ But life conspires. Her experiences had shown Dawn her mission and responsibility. So with determination she took up her new identity, shouldering the responsibility left behind by Cloudhawk, as a leader of the wastes. *** Dusk. Wastes. Howling wind. Inkspecter led his people through the complex terrain of jagged peaks and rugged valleys. Inkspecter hadn¡¯t participated at all in the battle for Sanctuary. They had merely watched from the sidelines. From the moment Cloudhawk summoned the meteor they all knew it was true. He was the Demon King¡¯s successor. He would be the next Demon King. ¡°Incredible.¡± Ravenous Tiger walked at the front of the party with his ax resting on one shoulder. ¡°The Demon King chose a human to pass on his legacy. Humans only live a hundred years, what was the master thinking?¡± Inkspecter responded in calm tones. ¡°¡¯Knowing the way in the morning, at dusk one may die content.¡¯ When you live for a mission, what reason is there to live past its completion?¡± Squall strode along with them, a stalk of grass poking out from between his lips. ¡°I heard from Frost that Cloudhawk has been taken to Nox. Why are we wandering around here instead of heading there to get him?¡± ¡°Demon Elder Judas is a complex creature. Even though he is a lesser elder, he was still capable of fighting off Arcturus. He is also surrounded by the likes of Abaddon, and the Khan of Evernight. We are not strong enough to save him.¡± Inkspecter knew all about Judas, the radical. He certainly knew of Cloudhawk¡¯s secret and nothing good could come from him snatching the successor away. ¡°It will be fine. Our lord will send someone to meet us, and we shall relay what we know. When Gehenna receives the news it is certain they will react.¡± They were going to meet a representative from Gehenna? It caught Inkspecter¡¯s men by surprise. What sort of place was Gehenna? A mirror opposite of Mount Sumeru ¨C a place of infamy but which no one has ever seen. Inkspecter himself was naught but an envoy, so there was likely many like him spread throughout the world. He was not the only agent Gehenna had chosen to seek out the Demon King¡¯s successor. Inkspecter¡¯s task was now complete. It was time to report in. After days of picking through the inhospitable terrain, the group finally came upon a dilapidated temple. Every member of the Hand of Gehenna approached with various measures of trepidation. Was this where they were supposed to meet Gehenna¡¯s representative? ¡°Enter!¡± The call came from within the temple. Inkspecter gestured, motioning for the others to remain behind. He approached the temple with Ravenous Tiger, Squall and Three-Eyed Spider in tow. When they crossed the threshold they spied a figure waiting for them. Nothing about it looked demonic. Instead this representative was a man like them. When he turned around they all gasped in surprise. ¡°This...¡± Inkspecter looked at the figure in disbelief. ¡°You serve our master?¡± His surprise was mirrored in the faces of Squall and the others. The figure they approached was not someone from Gehenna, as they expected. On the contrary, this mysterious agent was quite familiar. He was a man of medium build he stood before them with his hands clasped behind his back. He regarded them with a calm face, and a single eye. Nothing about him seemed dangerous, rather scholarly and respectable. What was Wolfblade doing here? ¡°No, I do not. On the contrary ¨C if your master was here, he would bow before me.¡± His words summoned a sense of incredulity from Inkspecter. Although he¡¯d had only a handful of encounters with the master, he knew his status among the demons was very high ¨C much higher than Judas. Who did Wolfblade think he was, to speak of the master so disrespectfully? ¡°Allow me to put it this way. Those fiends you built are gifts I have provided.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°But I did not give this knowledge to you directly. Instead it passed through someone else ¨C can you guess who?¡± Squall looked at Blackfiend by his side. Suddenly he remembered the reports he heard from Frost. Was it¡­ Arcturus!? Inkspecter was struck dumb with amazement. Was he saying that Arcturus learned how to absorb the power of the Seraphs because Wolfblade had taught him? Who the hell was this man? How many names did he have? Why would he have a relationship with someone like Arcturus? ¡°I am sure you are full of doubts. You want to know who I am ¨C something that is more difficult to answer than you might think. I have used so many bodies and identities over the years that even I cannot recall them all. All you need to know is that I represent Gehenna.¡± Inkspecter¡¯s expression darkened and was uncertain. ¡°What are you planning?¡± ¡°I am the Will of Gehenna. You are its Hand. A hand does as the will demands, without question.¡± Wolfblade turned away. ¡°From now on, you will follow me.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 68 - Demon Blood Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes shot open. His breath loud in his ears his vision darted around, finding himself trussed up like a lab specimen and submerged in an unknown liquid. His mouth was covered with a breathing apparatus and a host of tubes had been inserted into his body. He was locked inside a life-support capsule. The uncomfortable realization immediately brought his mind back to years before, when he was in the clutches of the mad scientist Roste. Where am I? How did I get here? Cloudhawk groped about like a drowning man, but eventually got his hand on the lever and shoved the hatch open. He clambered out without a stitch on him. Vision, hearing and the sensation of touch returned after what felt like an eternity. He hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet from his physical ailed, either. When he looked down he looked at his body in horror, for his skin was dried and cracked like tree bark. He looked like a walking corpse. He tried to move around a little and felt¡­ obstructed. When someone thought of moving there arm there wasn¡¯t supposed to be much of a delay between the thought an action. But for him, he discovered that it took a huge amount of effort to make his muscles respond. There was a disconnect between his mind and body making it far more difficult to control. He felt like an old, rusted robot could fall apart at any moment. ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on? How did I get here?¡± Cloudhawk was having trouble remembering, he couldn¡¯t recall what had happened. He teetered along the floor like a toddler just learning to walk and eventually had to grab a table to stop himself from falling. He swiped his arm across the table top in frustration, causing the bottles and equipment on top of it to fall to the ground and shattered. A sound captured his attention from behind. Mechanical, indifferent. ¡°You¡¯re alive. That¡¯s enough for now.¡± He looked over his shoulder to see the black figure. The armor he wore was dark as pitch from head to toe, with his face obscured by a breathing helmet. Over it all was a heavy black cloak. Cloudhawk recognized him. ¡°You¡­ Khan of Evernight.¡± The digital red eyes set in the mask seemed to gleam. Once again the impassive mechanical voice arose. ¡°If you can remember me it means you¡¯ve retained some of your memories. That¡¯s certainly a silver lining.¡± ¡°How did I end up here?¡± ¡°Two months ago you were seriously injured when the wasteland army attacked Sanctuary, an Elysian fortress. You were near death, so we saved you and brought you here. Nox.¡± Nox? Attack on Sanctuary? Wait! Two months? He¡¯d been in a coma for two whole months?! Memories came back like an avalanche, but in fractured pieces. Horrible scenes of chaos and destruction ripped through his mind and gave him a splitting headache. The first thing he thought about was Greenland. ¡°Why am I in Nox? No, I need to go back. The others are waiting for me.¡± ¡°Go back? Do you think you can just leave?¡± It was hard to gauge the Khan¡¯s intentions through his voice. ¡°There is no way you can teleport out of here in your current condition. Besides that, you are an infamous figure both in Skycloud and the wastelands. The moment you show your face, you will attract trouble. If news that you survived and returned to Greenland got back to Skycloud, they would surely sent their forces to your home and wipe it out.¡± Cloudhawk paused. He remembered all he¡¯d done in Skycloud, and what he was accused of doing. To Elysians he was public enemy number one. ¡°Put on your clothes,¡± the Khan ordered. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, it¡¯s time you met the city¡¯s true leader. Show him appreciation and respect, repay his kindness. If he hadn¡¯t had grabbed you, you¡¯d be dead.¡± Cloudhawk put on his clothes and followed the strange figure. They stepped out into an enormous cavern, magnificent to behold. Nox City was built on the endless expanse of black ruins that stretched off into the darkness. ¡°This is Nox, the City of Evernight. A thousand years ago it was the scene of one of the Great War¡¯s most important battles.¡± Cloudhawk clicked his tongue. ¡°Gods and demons fought here?¡± ¡°Correct. The Demon King and his godly counterpart fought here, their powers of space and time clashing where we stand. Armies of gods and demons fought to the end and their conflict twisted reality in this place forever. It created this cold, dead world. Lucky for us, the ruins of this place were rife with enough materials for us to build anew and train our Black Knights.¡± This place was much too far from Skycloud for the Elysians to hold sway. The Great War was vast and complicated, so Skycloud probably had never thought to come looking out here, thinking it no different from any other ruin. That wasn¡¯t strange at all. In the years they¡¯d spent building up this place they never left its borders. No hints were put out that Nox was a real place. Cloudhawk was led across a long halway suspended in air, toward a dark fortress. When they arrived in the palace he saw there waiting for them a man. No, not a man ¨C the elder demon, Judas. He didn¡¯t look to be in good shape. There was a nasty wound in his chest that went all the way through to his back. It was the wound Arcturus had left him with two months ago in the battle. That was a long time for an injury to go unhealed, for a demon. His ilk had a thousand times the restorative capabilities of a human. On the other hand, a wound like this would take a thousand times longer to heal up properly. Arcturus Cloude had given him a brutal memento, one even the demon elder couldn¡¯t shrug off. He would find it hard to make trouble in the near future. Cloudhawk took a closer look as they neared. The elder demon was surrounding by a field of power, with tendrils of purplish-black energy swirling around him. Something about them appeared to ease the more detrimental consequences of Judas¡¯ injuries. He was likely far weaker now than he was typically. It was pretty clear that his attack on Sanctuary did not have the intended outcome. He went for wool and came home shorn. Judas watched Cloudhawk approach. ¡°Does the mortal know why he was saved?¡± Cloudhawk frowned. What sort of question was this? It wasn¡¯t because of his looks, that was for damn sure. There was only one reason he¡¯d have been snatched up. ¡°Because I¡¯ve inherited the Demon King¡¯s power.¡± ¡°Hngh hngh hngh hngh. Indeed, you are the Demon King¡¯s successor. I once fought side by side with him, so I know his power when I see it. You possess it ¨C you are meant to be the next Demon King.¡± Judas spoke in a low, weak growl. ¡°As you witnessed, I appeared in person and was defeated by Arcturus Cloude. It is obvious then, that if there is one creature in this world capable of defeating that man ¨C besides the old fools of Gehenna and the gods high up on their mountain ¨C it is you.¡± ¡°So what, you saved me so I can kill Arcturus?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to kill that asshole. He simply couldn¡¯t. Of course it was also possible Judas had some other plans. His race was crafty and sinister. Cloudhawk had to be on guard. ¡°Kill Arcturus? No! If that comes to pass then it comes later. I want you to live. I want you to join fully with the Demon King¡¯s power.¡± Judas explained. ¡°But in your present state, even with all the methods known to Nox, it will take us years.¡± Cloudhawk knew the demon wasn¡¯t exaggerating. His body had been on the verge of collapse back in Greenland, then he went to war. He¡¯d fully expected to die out there on campaign, so he knew whatever state he was in, it was bad. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t trust or believe anything demon¡¯s said, but he knew Judas wasn¡¯t lying to him this time. But what would these nect couple years be to him? How was he supposed to face it? Was he supposed to spend his life wandering the earth or desperately seeking revenge on Arcturus? ¡°We have two methods to help you recover. The first is quick. The second requires effort.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes glimmered. ¡°What¡¯s the first?¡± Before Judas could answer, the Khan of Evernight stepped forward. He opened his armor to revealed what lay beneath. Everything about him had been¡­ changed. Most of his body had been replaced with mechanical equipment. Even his organs were strange, churning things. The Khan of Evernight was, in essence, the same sort of creature as Three-Eyed Spider¡¯s Raven ¨C a cyborg. ¡°Years ago the Khan came to me much as you are now; at his last gasp, hardly alive. Through this method he has lived to this day. But for all you gain, there is a cost. To become like him, you will give up much of what makes you human.¡± That sort of life ¨C not a man, not a beast, not a machine ¨C Cloudhawk would never accept. ¡°The second option?¡± At the question Judas lumbered forward, away from the swirling mists that surrounded him. The elder demon spoke with slow, deliberate words. ¡°You must fully join with the Demon King¡¯s power.¡± Cloudhawk was silent. Join with the Demon King¡¯s power? ¡°You must surely feel that you have already half-fused with this inheritance. The reason you cannot go any further is because of your mortal body¡¯s limitations. You need something more ¨C the blood of the Demon King himself, spilled as he was cut down. His blood will dramatically improve your physical body, only then can you fully command his power.¡± ¡°The Demon King¡¯s blood? Where the hell am I supposed to find that?¡± ¡°It is not difficult, actually. We have built this city on the sight of an ancient battlefield where the Demon King waged war. In fact, it is where the Demon King of that age fell. As you might expect, the blood of such a powerful being was taken by opposing forces. We suspect it to be in an ancient Temple, on the south-western corner of this old battlefield. There you must seek.¡± So he had a target. That made things much easier. Of course Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t about to believe Judas outright. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Judas answered with that unsettling rasping laugh unique to his race, like a frog caught in a box. ¡°You are the Demon King¡¯s successor, the future leader of my people. As a demon it is to be expected that I should aid he who would be king. You have absorbed his phase stone, so there is no going back. No need to be wary of me. If we demons wish to rise once again we can only do it with the guidance of a powerful King. I will not be responsible for the eternal defeat of my race.¡± Cloudhawk hesitated, as though considering this matter. ¡°Where it not for my wounds I could retrieve the blood for you. Unfortunately, my encounter with Arcturus has left me weakened to but a third of my strength. Nox has been defeated and cannot suffer more direct confrontation. The task of retrieving the blood falls to you. You must take the long view.¡± Cloudhawk was convinced there was a lot more to this elder demon, but what choice did he have? With a goal in mind, Cloudhawk turned and left. Judas watched him go with a smoldering malevolence in his eyes. ¡°Arcturus¡­ just you wait.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 69 - The Lost Realm As the Demon King¡¯s successor, Cloudhawk had a special connection to his benefactor¡¯s blood. Through it he could develop the same exuberant life force as the demons themselves, resulting in improved healing and the capability to meld with all of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance. Clodhawk didn¡¯t believe every word out of the demon Elder¡¯s mouth, but if he was hiding something then, what was he trying to accomplish? He didn¡¯t want to die. There was still so much to do. He wanted to return to Greenland and live with his friends. He wanted to help Selene and Dawn exact vengeance on Arcturus. So many things he was worried about that needed to be accomplished. He wasn¡¯t going to just curl up and die. Whatever dark motives spurred Judas, this was the only path available to Cloudhawk. ¡°The place you are going is special,¡± the Khan began to explain as he led Cloudhawk from the temple. ¡°During the time of the Great War it was one of the godly domains. Now it is a twisted ruin that is difficult to navigate. However, this is a small issue in the face of Nox¡¯s capabilities.¡± Judas had just explained this. The news was surprising to Cloudhawk. ¡°So that means there are other Elysian lands in our world?¡± ¡°There once were six, in fact. Each one was lorded over by a patron deity. You have met the guardian of Skycloud, the Cloud God. Where you will travel was a similar place, only its patron suffered some ill circumstance and the realm fell.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°What I¡¯m hearing is there are potentially four other Elysian realms out there somewhere besides Skycloud.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, this is not something Judas has disclosed to me. I know little of them except that they possibly exist, somewhere.¡± The fallen Elysian city was located in the south-west portion of the ancient battlefield. By Comparison, Skycloud was in its northern quadrant. The distance between these two locations was vast and many difficulties lined the path so that even Skycloud could not reach what remained of its sister city. They had no relevant information on Cloudhawk¡¯s destination either. Why would the gods separate their cities like that? Wouldn¡¯t it make sense to work together? The other Elysian lands had to be spread far and wide, far enough that communication was impossible. It almost seemed deliberate, but what would be the motivation for establishing six realms so far apart from one another? What Cloudhawk knew for sure was that Gehenna and Mount Sumeru were not somewhere here on his world. Anyone looking for them would search the earth and come up empty handed. Gods and demons were an independent, highly evolved species far beyond humanity, and both were using their own methods to try and control this world. However, it seemed neither side expected the other to appear on this planet at the same time. As a result, war broke out between the two powerful races. A dead and blasted landscape was what they left behind. Six Elysian realms. Six patron gods. The Cloud God was merely one of them. That meant a god could only lord over one domain. If he had to guess, it seemed more than likely this fallen realm belonged to Sylvana, the Shepherd God. That would make sense ¨C by falling in with the Demon King and betraying her people, the realm she was meant to lord over fell apart. The Khan of Evernight provided Cloudhawk with a few things to prepare for his trip. Among them was his gauntlet, rescued from the strange mushroom world; Skye Polaris¡¯ gift, Ardent Wrath; and his invisibility cloak which was mostly in tatters. Oddball was brought to him as well. Much to Cloudhawk surprise he¡¯d lost nothing since falling unconscious. ¡°Chirp, chirp!¡± Oddball looked like it¡¯d gained even more weight in the last stretch of time. The Khan had been making sure he was well fed. Seeing its master once again the bird tittered happily and flapped its stubby wings. Cloudhawk was ready to go. ¡°Remember, your mission is to find a way into the city.¡± The Khan¡¯s voice was robotic and frank. ¡°Nox where help how it can from a distance. This is your one chance to survive, so unless you want to end up like me you¡¯d better succeed.¡± Cloudhawk looked at the cyborg. He struck him as strange. The Khan of Evernight was Nox¡¯s Governor, responsible for the city while Judas slept. But where did he come from? He was strong, that was obvious from his showing in Sanctuary. At least as strong as the old drunk. Not really human, though ¨C he¡¯d lost most of his body and had had it replaced with circuits and wires. Why would he give up so much and pledge himself to demons? He seemed to know a whole lot about Skycloud. Cloudhawk shook his head and put the thoughts aside. He fumbled a bit with the engine of a flying machine. Everyone had their secrets, and Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the tools or smarts to figure out what those secrets were. The engine sputtered to life, and with flames sputtering from the airplane¡¯s exhaust, he took off toward his destination. The higher he went, the farther he could see into the distance. A panoramic view of the devastation left behind by the Great War. The battlefield was¡­ massive. A boundless darkness hung over it all. Alone in this frigid, gloomy environment he flew for a full day. From up here he couldn¡¯t make out any details below. It was all an endless expanse of ruins like a field of discarded bone. From time to time he¡¯d spy craters, massive holes left behind as a consequence of a terrible war. Lights flickered in isolated pockets to indicate where humans had come together in settlements, to try and survive in this dangerous place. Life was a tenacious thing. No matter how terrible the consequences, human potential rose to the occasion. They adapted because they had to. Cloudahawk peered into the horizon and spotted light. The unrelenting darkness was beginning to subside but the air had a heavy feeling like he was flying into a fog. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ finally, I¡¯m getting out of this hellhole.¡± Suddenly, a figure streaked across his vision. He looked closer and discovered that it was a huge beast. The bird-like thing was at least as large as the Vale¡¯s dragons, but bore no feathers or scales. Instead it had leathery, bat-like flesh with bony spines protruding from its wings. Its head culminated in a pointed peak with a pair of angry red eyes set above it. The creature¡¯s long, thin tail had three drill-like spikes jutting from the end. A glance was enough to know it wasn¡¯t friendly. It noticed Cloudhawk and headed right for his flying machine. It opened its maw wide and a burst of fire was vomited toward him. Cloudhawk jerked the wheel to try and avoid the worst of it. He felt his hair singe as the plume of fire streaked passed the cockpit. What the fuck was this thing?! It sure as shit wasn¡¯t a normal wasteland mutant because he could hear a relic resonance coming from it. Oddball dashed off, a streak of golden light in the darkness. It broke the sound barrier and appeared in front of the creature in an instant. Oddball struck it like a golden bullet, but the beast only jerked slightly. Oddball could punch through a steel plate twenty centimeters thick by this point. However the bird¡¯s attack hardly phased the monster at all. It took an angry swipe at the audacious golden bird. Oddball was batted away with a squeak, several golden feathers left in its wake. In anger and frustration, Oddball opened its peak in the process of retreat and spat out a beam of golden energy at its foe. It crackled through the air like lightning, striking the beast and leaving a nasty black mark. The monster descended into fury. It slowly extended its leathery wings. Cloudhawk could see that all across those wings were glowing lines, kike some sort of ancient pattern. The resonance he sensed earlier grew louder until from the wings arced a host of purplish-black bolts. They came toward Cloudhawk and Oddball both. ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± He glowered at the violet lightning storm closing in. No time to dodge, he had to try and fly through it. Right away his cockpit began to shake violently as the attack hit. The instruments beeped and squealed in protest, belching sparks into his face. Cloudhawk took Ardent Wrath into his grip and bailed. A second later the airplane exploded. Cloudhawk jerked himself around, allowing the wind to carry him toward the creature. The further his traveled the brighter Ardent Wrath seethed until the two collided. He brought his weapon down hard on the beast¡¯s skull, carving a wound from head to belly. The monster screamed, a terrible sound. It reacted with a sharp flick of its tail. Cloudhawk managed to put his sword between himself and the barbs. Clumsy attacks like this were no threat to him, especially after learning the drunk¡¯s martial weapon techniques. However, he was weak and crippled from his previous fights and couldn¡¯t ward off the impact completely. He crashed into the ground, hard enough to make his vision go dark. The giant bird was also wounded by the exchange. It flew away, unsteady and dripping blood. Oddball plummeted from the sky as fast as it could to find Cloudhawk, limp in a small crater. It alighted on its master chest and used its wings to slap him in the face. He had to wake up, who knew what other dangers were hiding in the ruins of this battlefield. It wasn¡¯t working. Oddball took back to the air, scouting the area for threats. Not far away it spotted several figures picking their way through the ruins. Oddball approached One of them, a younger boy, yelped in surprise. ¡°Ay? What¡¯s this!¡± His older companion quickly dragged him back so that he was behind him. ¡°Careful! It looks like a divine beast!¡± Oddball flew in circuits above them for a moment before coming to a stop. It beat its wings frantically and chirped, darting back at forth to indicate a direction. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem dangerous.¡± The boy peered at Oddball curiously. ¡°Does it need help?¡± Curious to see what it wanted, the two followed Oddball¡¯s lead back to Cloudhawk. When they saw him unconscious, they knew what Oddball had been trying to do. The two spoke for a moment and eventually decided to gather Cloudhawk up and take him away. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 70 - The Silver Kingdom Cloudhawk¡¯s plight can only be described as getting kicked while he was down. He¡¯d fought and defeated Adder, Frost, even the likes of Oren Cloude. He¡¯d even managed to hold his own against the Crimson One and Arcturus. Throughout his life there¡¯d been a steady progression of powerful people trying to kill him, and though it wasn¡¯t the first time Cloudhawk had lost, it was the first time he¡¯d lost in such a humiliating fashion. By some fucking leathery bird that came out of nowhere. How humiliating! He felt a cold wind against his ear, enough to wake him up. When he opened his eyes, Cloudhawk found himself perched on the back of a creature that was somewhere between a horse and a rhinoceros. Thankfully it was a sturdy thing with a wide back he could comfortably lay on. Oddball immediately began chirping when it noticed he was awake. Cloudhawk sat up, an act which elicited excruciating pain. He then looked around and was surprised by what he saw. It was a sort of place he¡¯d never seen before, a world of white. Desolate. Lonely. Cold. It was a tundra. There was enough light for him to get a good look at his surroundings. It was obviously not the battlefield he¡¯d been flying over. However, probably because it was close to those blasted lands the temperature here was frigid. Instead of a sandy wasteland there was nothing but sheets of ice as far as he could see. They were far enough away, though, that a harsh light shown upon them from overhead and reflected off the ice in a way that dazzled the eye. Absolutely dead. There was a single living thing for miles that he could see, except for them. It was unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen. Surrounding him was a small herd of pack animals, huge things that were laden down with sacks. They carefully picked their way across the ice. There were also people wrapped in several layers of heavy clothing. Their hats, coats and even beards were coated with ice crystals. Their leader was a skinny geezer who was looking right at him. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± The geezer had striking blue eyes and well-kept hair the color of snow. He was draped in a cloak of alternating red and blue. There was something unique about the way he held himself, in fact a lot of the way he moved and spoke reminded Cloudhawk of Skycloud. Luckily he understood. It was a small group. One old man, a young girl, and a handful of others with simple weapons. This wasn¡¯t his first rodeo. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get any sense of danger from this crew right now, but that didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t a threat. He kept his guard up. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, we don¡¯t mean you any harm.¡± The geezer was kindly and somewhat deferential. ¡°We found you in the forbidden area, you were unconscious. We are merchants from Redleaf.¡± ¡°Redleaf?¡± Cloudhawl asked. ¡°What sort of place is that?¡± The geezer found his question strange. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of Redleaf City?¡± Redleaf wasn¡¯t a large city, but it was well known within the kingdom. How could he not have heard of it? The old man looked at Cloudhawk with a glimmer of doubt in his eyes. They were interrupted when a young boy of fifteen or sixteen excitedly inserted himself between them. ¡°You probably ran into a dracobat if you were traveling through the forbidden area. They¡¯re some of the most dangerous creatures out there. It¡¯s amazing you harmed it and survived! Are you a Beastmaster? Is this little bird your divine beast?¡± Redleaf¡­ Beastmaster? These were things he¡¯d never heard before. It was obvious this place was far from where he¡¯d grown up. The atmosphere, environment, culture and livelihoods were all so different from what he was used to. Unless he was mistaken, this icy expanse was the fallen land of the Shepherd God. The boy pressed him for answers. ¡°I¡¯m Summer. Where do you come from? What¡¯s your name? Why don¡¯t you speak?¡± He had the impression now wasn¡¯t the appropriate time to share the truth, so he rubbed his head and acted confused. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s¡­ strange. I just remember my name is Cloudhawk.¡± Amnesia? The blow to his head must have rattled his memory ¨C it¡¯s happened before. Grandfather and grandson exchanged a look. In a flash of inspiration Summer took the initiative. ¡°Well, since you can¡¯t remember where you¡¯re from you should come with us to Redleaf. You¡¯re a beastmaster, so the city will definitely welcome you.¡± Cloudhawk was again reminded that he knew nothing about this new world he found himself in. He had to find a way to blend in, so he accepted their offer. He soon learned his hunch was correct. These folks were from the fallen Elysian land that they called the Silver Kingdom of Meadow. It was roughly equal in scale to Skycloud, although it was clear the establishment of this realm had been halted. Where Skycloud¡¯s populace numbered in the tens of millions, that was reduced to the low millions here. A small kingdom. That was roughly the population of Skycloud City. However, though few in number they were strong. The beastmasters Summer spoke about were a unique profession here. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t familiar with the idea, but after a few roundabout questions he learned were demonhunters who had divine beasts as pets. Cloudhawk had learned the secret of divine beasts a long time ago. They were, in actuality, special kinds of relics that joined with the consciousness of their masters. That gave them more autonomy and use in a fight. Back in Skycloud they were few and far between, with the most noted being the Temple Guardian. Creatures like that were difficult to come across. Things were different here. Perhaps because of its proximity to the ancient battlefield. During the Great War, the masters of these divine and unholy beasts fell, leaving their pets behind. Some of them had the ability to reproduce and as such the forbidden area became riddled with their offspring. It was a resource for the people of Meadow to exploit, so that even though they had no god to lead and empower them, the people could still father these beasts and relic for themselves. Those with the talent to command divine beasts were given the title of beastmaster. Others that used different relics to empower their fighting ability were called Chosen. Beastmasters, Chosen, Nox¡¯s Black Knights, the wastelands Godslayers¡­ all were what he first came to know as Skycloud¡¯s demonhunters. The only difference was location. The group he¡¯d fallen in with were merchant collectors. Their job was to wander through what they called the forbidden area ¨C the outskirts of the Great War battlefield ¨C and gather up what they could. Hauls included fragments of old relics, energy crystals, and divine beast eggs. Such things were high-value items to these folk. If they were lucky a single trip could set them up for half their lives. But as one might expect, it was dangerous work. The forbidden area was given the ominous name because it was deadly and much about it remained unknown. The dracobat that took down Cloudhawk was a divine beast without a master. Most likely it had been left here, left to wander since the time of the Great War. It was far from the only one as well. They were strong, feral things. Were it not for Cloudhawk¡¯s unfortunate run in with the thing, there was a fair possibility the dracobat would have found the collectors instead. Had that happened it would have ended in tragedy. Cloudhawk once again looked over the bundles strapped onto the mounts. ¡°All of this is what you pulled out of the forbidden area?¡± Summer nodded. ¡°Yup! We got a real good haul this time. If we sell it all we might qualify to start trading in the capitol. Then we won¡¯t have to scramble around outside all day.¡± Cloudhawk sized up the pair. He felt¡­ strange. This reminded him of years ago when he was trying to make his way into Skycloud for the first time. He didn¡¯t know shit back then, about anything. He¡¯d been brought through the borderlands by the Bloomnettle Company, Old Thistle. And Squall. They were both so young back then. Neither of them could have imagined that a few years later their worlds would be rocked. Summer¡¯s full name was Summer Vista. His grandfather¡¯s name was Craig Vista. Hearing his grandson¡¯s hopes, he shook his head. ¡°I know it¡¯s your dream to go to the capitol, child, but it¡¯s not so easy. Ability isn¡¯t enough, you need influence and power. We have none of this.¡± Summer scowled in dissatisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll get stronger eventually.¡± ¡°Well, you sure can flap your lips,¡± Craig said with a shake of his head. He looked up at the sky. ¡°The climate will change in a couple days. Unless you want to freeze to death or get burned to a crisp, we need to pick up the pace.¡± Meadow¡¯s tundras were a strange place. In some parts ¨C the part closer to the battlefield ¨C it was cold all year round and blanketed in ice. In other areas the blazing sun was likely to blind you. Especially in this snow-blanketed place the reflection of the sunlight was greatly intensified. The strength of the sun¡¯s radiation burned skin, and could even cause mutations. It was dangerous because victims never felt hot, but they were cooking nonetheless. Cloudhawk continued to speak and act cautiously as they continued the trek. He was eager to learn as much as he could without seeming like a total outsider. Between what the Khan of Evernight told him and what he could learn from Summer, he was starting to get a grasp on things. He wouldn¡¯t have believed a place like this existed out here, until he saw it for himself. For the next couple days he traveled with the merchants until they reached their destination. He stoop at the edge of a cliff, his eyes drawn into the distance. Here the tundra stopped abruptly and gave way to a frozen steppe. The horizon was broken up by a forest peaking up from creeping snow banks. A land blanketed in white, glowing silver from the sun. Trees with powdered caps and distant mountains scraping the clouds ¨C all enveloped in snow. From the barren world suddenly appeared this beautiful landscape whose ice refracted the light in rainbow patterns in a way that made it all look surreal. He¡¯d arrived. This was the forgotten realm, the Shepherd God¡¯s fallen domain¡­ of course, few if anyone knew what happened a thousand years ago. These days the natives had a different name for it. The Silver Kingdom. 1. Read as: pokemon trainer If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 71 - Redleaf The Silver Kingdom which Cloudhawk gazed upon was in fact one large colony. There were perhaps several million inhabitants altogether, gathered in settlements of various sizes that numbered in dozens. In the center was their capitol, a place they called Imperia. Why Imperia? Well, as the name implied it was the imperial seat of their King. Legends said the one called king had lived for fifteen hundred years. They wielded some great and mysterious power that dissuaded enemies from threatening their kingdom. This strength dominated the nearby beasts and kept threats from Nox and the forbidden area from approaching. Of course the legends were doubtful, to say the least. But... Cloudhawk had seen Nox¡¯s strength for himself and it definitely wasn¡¯t something to thumb your nose at. Judas was ambitious, anxious to gain more people to expand his power. Meanwhile, the Silver Kingdom was just a larger settlement with a population one tenth the size of Skycloud¡¯s. Why didn¡¯t Judas just take advantage of their relative weakness? Surely if he did Nox would gain many more capable fighters. If he accomplished that, wouldn¡¯t their next conflict with Skycloud have a higher chance of victory? The natives claimed that their king was a powerful warrior, comparable to a god or demon. Cloudhawk, however, doubted that this failed godly state could have as many mighty fighters as Skycloud. Could this local despot even hold a candle to Judas or Arcturus? It seemed unlikely. Yet in Cloudhawk¡¯s experience, behind every anomaly was a lurking devil. There was probably more to this place than it seemed from the outside. The merchant company continued its trek across the snow-laden fields of the Silver Kingdom for another five days, while Cloudhawk asked them about Redleaf. It was an average city with a unique environment. Situated in a basin, the geographic landscape made it so that the city was captured in a low-lying haze of clouds. The permanent blanket made the air humid and raised the temperature. As such, foliage that was not seen elsewhere grew on the valley walls. Like maple trees. These dicotyledonous trees bore red leaves all year long. Because their leaves were a constant staple of the city it came to be known as Redleaf. In addition the temperate locale was geothermally active and boasted many mineral-rich hot springs. Thus Redleaf was also called the City of Springs. Maybe it was because this used to be the domain of a god, but the degree of pollution and destruction was far better than the outside world. It was more than suitable for people to settle and multiply. The only thing that stopped it from being considered a paradise on earth was its proximity to the forbidden area. Divine beasts would wander out from time to time and harass the citizens. As they approached Summer bounced excitedly on the back of their pack animal. ¡°This is our hometown. Beautiful, don¡¯t you think?¡± Cloudhawk had no words. ¡°Brother Cloudhawk, you should stay a while and try the fruit wine we distill here. We also have great hot springs. If you ask me there¡¯s no better place in the Silver Kingdom, except Imperia of course.¡± Such a quiet town, wrapped in mist. Something about it filled Cloudhawk with a sense of disquiet. It wasn¡¯t the sort of feeling he got when threatened by something. Rather it was like being out of place. Like he didn¡¯t belong here. It was such a beautiful, peaceful place. Rare to find its like in this world. Five or ten years ago Cloudhawk would have been ecstatic to show up here. After experiencing so much, Cloudhawk realized that he¡¯d changed. He was a harbinger, a bearer of bad luck. Everywhere he went chaos and destruction seemed to follow. That¡¯s why he felt like he shouldn¡¯t be here, because he ruined nice things like this. He didn¡¯t want to responsible for the loss of another beautiful thing in this world. While Cloudhawk had been learning over the last few days, Summer had also carefully investigated this unfamiliar man. He learned he didn¡¯t like to talk much. Most of the time he just sat in silence, thinking about things. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t seem much older than him, but his dark eyes had a sort of exhaustion and guarded look of a much older man. He must have plenty of stories, he thought. He must have seen all sorts of places, lived through many strange things. This sort of bearing was especially interesting to the young like Summer. So, though Cloudhawk was less than welcoming, Summer found any excuse to chat with him. The geezer watched it all with a small smile. Cloudhawk kept a lot to himself, but Craig had lived long enough to be a good judge of character and he sensed nothing evil in the stranger. He treated his grandson well enough. That being said, it was curious that he was so reticent to talk¡­ Summer¡¯s dream had always been to grow strong and travel the world as an adventurer. The old man was not without wits. He understood that bringing a stranger into his home came with risks, but this stranger was Chosen. His merchant company was lacking someone like him. Anywhere in the world strength was important. The stronger you were, the more you could take for yourself. *** Redleaf City, Summer-Autumn Merchant Company headquarters. The somewhat clumsy name was chosen by Craig to honor his twin grandchildren, Summer and Autumn. He started this company with the sole hope of delivering a better life for the people he lived. As such he used the name of his treasured grandchildren to bring the company, and them, good fortune. Autumn was the elder sister, and the two couldn¡¯t be more different. Summer was a dyed-in-the-wool optimist and sunny as his namesake. Autumn also took a cue from her name, and so was demure, introverted and intense. Her personality was better suited to a homebody, so she remained in the city and managed the business while Summer went with their grandfather on his excursions. Even at her young age she displayed a keen intelligence that surprised most. It was thanks in part to her efforts that their small company had grown in recent years. ¡°Sis! We¡¯re back!¡± Autumn come out to meet them, wrapped in the traditional wide-sleeved dress of Redleaf. She had thick, flaxen hair that hung passed her shoulders. Her skin was a healthy bronze, and her eyes were vibrant green. Slim and graceful, quiet and shy, she was young but presented herself as a mature woman. Autumn¡¯s eyes immediately sized up the stranger who was traveling with her family. Expected and unavoidable ¨C Cloudhawk didn¡¯t look like anyone else around here so he was strange from the moment eyes were laid on him. She could tell he wasn¡¯t from around here, and his presence seemed to make her unhappy. Her delicate eyebrows scrunched together. ¡°Why are you bringing strangers to our home?¡± The geezer told them to bring their new friend inside to rest. He then approached Autumn to speak with her. ¡°Child, you shouldn¡¯t be so on guard with everyone you meet. We found him in the forbidden area, he was wounded and lost his memory. A dracobat almost killed him. He¡¯s Chosen.¡± ¡°I saw the dracobat get wounded and flap away like a scaredy-cat!¡± Summer was just as firm in his vetting of Cloudhawk as Autumn was against him. ¡°Cloudhawk isn¡¯t just Chosen, either. He¡¯s also a beastmaster. He has a divine beast with him!¡± Chosen were the realm¡¯s strongest warriors. The Summer-Autumn Company used to employ one, and every month half of their profits went to him. Alas, they didn¡¯t expect that one day another company with deeper pockets would entice him away. Angry as they were to lose an asset, there was nothing the company could do. ¡°Those dracobats are some of the fiercest divine beasts in the forbidden area. Even Redleaf¡¯s best Chosen are no match for one. How did he survive? Did you see him fight the monster yourselves?¡± Summer paused. He¡¯d asked him about the fight but being brought down by a critter like the Dracobat wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s finest moment, so he wasn¡¯t very forthcoming. Besides he didn¡¯t want to let slip that he was from Nox, for to these people the city of Evernight was an evil place in the forbidden area. Cloudhawk kept it close to the vest. Craig interjected. ¡°Whatever the circumstances, he is certainly Chosen. If our company wants to make more connections and gain more resources, we need a Chosen¡¯s help. We will be friendly, and respectful.¡± Chosen were so named because they were born with special talent. They could command divine beasts and use relic treasures to aid them in battle. The laws of the Silver Kingdom were clear, meaning society here was not as direct as the wastes. Various organizations vied for power, but it usually didn¡¯t result in bloodshed. As such, the kingdom had a special sort of competitive manner. Each organization did whatever they could do entice and cultivate their own Chosen. They then relied on these warriors as champions to fight in their name, and such tests of combat were often used to settle disagreements. It was important, then, that resources were allocated to their care. Since the last Chosen in the company¡¯s employ jumped ship, they were forced to look for another. As one might imagine, Chosen were held in very high regard. Every group had to take their chances and recruit the best Chosen they could find. As for Cloudhawk and how strong he was? In truth, Craig and his grandchildren had no way of knowing. But to a small outfit like theirs even the weakest Chosen was a breath of life-giving oxygen. Cloudhawk sat in the room they¡¯d arranged for him, far from the old man but not outside of earshot. What a strange place, he thought. Demonhunters were well respected in Skycloud as well. Merchants, though, were bottom of the social ladder. Even the richest and most respected merchants like the Lunae family could only entice a handful of demonhunters to serve. Why would noble demonhunters debase themselves in the service of a merchant family? Until recently the Lunaes were Skycloud¡¯s paramount merchant family, to the extent that most businesses in the city were in some way involved with them. But even such a successful family could only recruit one or two demonhunters. Ultimately, the only way to alleviate this deficit was to use their vast resources to train up their own. It was not hard to see how respected the mythical warriors were to the common man. Here, in the Silver Kingdom, Chosen were also respected but not out of reach. They were connected to the citizenry in a different way. Organizations of all sorts and sizes could spend their resources to recruit or train Chosen of various skills. Chosen, on the other hand, strove for the best organizations and benefits. This symbiotic arrangement provided Chosen with the resources they needed to get stronger. Once they grew passed what their employer could provide, they broke contract and looked for work higher up the ladder. It was a relationship purely built on mutual benefit. Clearly, this was a fallen realm of a forgotten god. Its divine rules and influence had long since passed into history. Chosen were not sanctimonious holy warriors, but a class with a unique set of highly sought-after skills. Night fell, the sky grew dark. Cloudhawk spent the hours planning his next move. His thoughts were interrupted by a sound from the other side of the door. ¡°You¡¯re making good progress.¡± The door was pushed open and a figure dressed in pitch black armor strode inside. His long, black cloak wrapped around him like a living shadow. The Khan of Evernight. What was he doing here? Cloudhawk made no effort to hide his surprise. ¡°Are you following me?¡± The Khan answered in that robotic, soulless voice. ¡°I told you we would remain on the periphery and serve where we could. If we left you to your own devices in the state you¡¯re in, you would surely fail to retrieve the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal.¡± ¡°Whatever. The information you gave me was sorely lacking, you know. This place is huge, I don¡¯t even know where the blood crystal is kept much less how to retrieve it.¡± ¡°Imperia is surrounded by a powerful enchantment, a remnant of the Great War. The magics are even more potent than those that protect Woodland Vale. Even Judas¡¯ vast power cannot pierce it. It is there the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal is being kept. Your next step is to integrate with these people, find a way into their capitol, and disable its enchantment from within. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°We act. Kill their King. Take the blood crystal.¡± The Khan¡¯s tone never changed, cold and mechanized, as though he were discussing the weather. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 72 - The Spark The Khan never moved a muscle. He didn¡¯t seem to be a living thing at all, just a sentient machine. The shadow of death, standing in Cloudhawk¡¯s doorway. His black mask concealed his face, leaving nothing revealed but cold and flickering red eyes. His gaze was chilling. Cloudhawk looked back with his own dark eyes, just as frigid and unwelcoming. ¡°So I¡¯m just a tool you¡¯re using to break through this place¡¯s defenses. To feed your ambitions to take over. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a little obvious about it?¡± ¡°No. Your worth to Judas is a hundred times greater than all the people of this kingdom put together. At least when it comes to the blood crystal, the elder demon has not deceived you. Once the Demon King¡¯s blood is yours, not only will all your wounds melt away, you will also finally be able to access your full inheritance.¡± Cloudhawk was frank. ¡°I hate being used. Why the fuck should I agree to this?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to live? You don¡¯t desire to make Arcturus pay for his crimes, to protect Greenland? What about saving your friend¡¯s life?¡± The Khan turned away, but left Cloudhawk with a final thought before disappearing. ¡°Remember that in any situation, you have a choice. Think carefully.¡± Humans were selfish by nature. A drowning man would grab whatever was stretched out to him if it meant survival, even if it meant dragging someone else under the waves. Humans were also greedy. Wealth, rights and rank ¨C those were the goals, and it often didn¡¯t matter who got hurt in its pursuit. When it came to these fundamental things any righteous-sounding excuse was just so many words. The Khan was right, there was always a choice. The question was always which one you chose. There was definitely more to Judas¡¯ plans than he was letting on. The demon was a crafty and ambitious thing. But how did that knowledge change anything? Conspiracies were pointless, Judas schemed in the open without concern. Even the Khan could tell there was a lot Cloudhawk still wanted to accomplish. He was eager to destroy Arcturus, protect his companions, build his nation, rejoin his family, and know the truth behind this whole mess. A man like Cloudhawk would not accept death and go silently to the dark in this frozen, lonely place. He had his back to a cliff and the ground was crumbling beneath his feet. As far as Cloudhawk could tell, he had two clear paths before him. Only they were two very different routes that led to very different places. Whichever he chose, the consequences were serious and irreversible. ¡°Cloudhawk, Redleaf has a pub called Cloudtop. Let¡¯s go knock back a few!¡± Summer had tracked him down to make the suggestion. She wasn¡¯t convinced he would accept, so It was a pleasant surprise when he did. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t an iceberg. He didn¡¯t keep people at arm¡¯s length forever. All the callousness and unfriendly mannerisms were to keep himself hidden and protected. But who knew what the future would hold, and Cloudhawk figured so long as he was here, he might as well try to blend in. Cloudtop was a famous waterhole in the area. It was both a hot spring and bar, and dripped with local character. One could say it was the city¡¯s main landmark. The bar itself was surrounded by pools of steamy water giving it all a very heavy, aquatic feel. In that way it was very different from Skycloud and the wastelands both. Singing girls regaled the patrons with local ballads and everyone milled around, relaxed and content. ¡°First you need to try our fruit wine.¡± Cloudhawk did as he was instructed, but could not share his opinions because the wine didn¡¯t actually taste like anything. He appeared to have lost that sense ¨C and not only that, after awakening he felt numb all over. Summer saw his eyebrows drop and figured he was struggling with amnesia again. ¡°Most of the people in Redleaf are really friendly. You could stay here until you recover your memory.¡± If he didn¡¯t only have a year to live, if he didn¡¯t have so much he had to do, Cloudhawk would really have considered it. ¡°Drink up!¡± Summer held up a glass, his face bright and cheerful. ¡°You know, I really respect you Chosen. One day I hope I can be able to wield the sort of power you do. Then I could leave this sleepy little village and adventure across the world. I could built my own name and write my own legend!¡± ¡°Why do you want to leave?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°You don¡¯t like it here?¡± Summer chortled, but his expression was determined. ¡°Redleaf is my home, of course I like it. But I¡¯m a man! And a man who spends his whole life never leaving where he grew up is a coward. We¡¯ve only got a few decades to live our lives so I need to get out there and live it to its fullest. Men are meant to do something with our time on earth!¡± Cloudhawk had nothing to say to that. Summer was left awkwardly scratching his head. ¡°You think it¡¯s wishful thinking too, eh?¡± ¡°No. Everyone have untapped potential, ambitions, dreams, desires¡­ those aren¡¯t bad things. But a real warrior always knows why they¡¯re fighting, and what they¡¯re fighting for. Only when you¡¯re confident and believe in what you¡¯re doing will you have the passion to see it through, and the courage to face the hard times. If you don¡¯t, the weapon in your hand will quickly eat you up.¡± Cloudhawk muttered the wisdom into the red liquid, sloshing around in his cup. It looked like he was talking to the young man, but really the words were directed at himself. ¡°Remember that not ever pursuit will end in the result you want, or even any result at all. Everyone has their limits and when you¡¯re out reaching for what you want, you¡¯re going to lose some things, too. If you want to make a living adventuring, you have to be prepared to give up safety and comfort. When your feet hit the road you better be prepared for every storm that comes your way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re young. You don¡¯t know what it costs to go after your dreams. Maybe one day you¡¯ll succeed and suddenly realize that everything you gave up to get here. That¡¯s why it¡¯s important, before you start, to ask yourself what¡¯s most important. Then you never let that go.¡± Summer didn¡¯t understand. Was he saying that chasing one¡¯s dreams required sacrifice? Brother Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t even be thirty, why was he talking like a grizzled old man? ¡°I¡¯ve done too much talking, don¡¯t listen to me.¡± Cloudhawk lifted the glass and took another sip. ¡°Real life is like a glass of booze, I guess. Warm, cold, bitter, sweet, mild, strong ¨C everyone¡¯s got a preference, but they don¡¯t know till they try them all. I¡¯m just sharing my opinion.¡± ¡°Brother Cloudhawk¡¯s experienced a lot.¡± Summer was even more convinced Cloudhawk¡¯s history was a complicated one. What Cloudhawk asked next almost made him spit out his wine. ¡°Have you met your king?¡± ¡°How would I do that?¡± Summer¡¯s eyes were wide. ¡°Our King is the amazing protector of our kingdom. Every few years citizens from the different cities do a pilgrimage to Imperia to pay tribute, but normal folk don¡¯t actually get to meet the king. A nobody like me, I don¡¯t even have the chance to visit the capitol.¡± An idea was starting to percolate in the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. If what the Khan said was true, then the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal was somewhere in Imperia. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know anything beyond that, but why kill the king to get to it? With his skills, he could find a way to slip into the capitol and take the crystal without spilling any blood. If he found out Judas was lying to him he could return the crystal ¨C no harm no foul ¨C and maybe even get revenge for being used. If the demon was telling the truth, then Judas couldn¡¯t stop him, with his body healed and the Demon King¡¯s inheritance firmly in hand. At that point Cloudhawk could do whatever he wanted. It was as good a plan as any. ¡°You¡¯ve got to try the hot springs, and the ones around Cloudtop are the best. I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s the most relaxing feeling in the whole world and there¡¯s nothing else like it anywhere. Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± In fact it was Cloudhawk¡¯s first time seeing anything like a hot spring, much less experiencing it. Water was such a treasure where he came from! It was unthinkable to him that water would endlessly spill up from the ground, and that people could just sit in it and lounge. If he told this to anyone back in the wastelands they¡¯d think he¡¯d gone crazy. Summer stood and began leading Cloudhawk to the pools. But they were stopped when a figure stepped into their path. ¡°So sorry, the hot springs are reserved. You can¡¯t go in.¡± Summer wasn¡¯t happy at being denied and his temper flared. ¡°What?¡± He said incredulously. ¡°We came here but you¡¯re going to give it to someone else?¡± The waiter gave an apologetic smile. ¡°Young master, I am very sorry. As a means of apology, please consider your drinks on the house.¡± But he didn¡¯t want a refund. Summer had brought his new friend here for an experience! If they turned him back it would be an embarrassment! A voice reached them then. ¡°I should have known it would be you making all that noise, useless boy. The whelp of a small company on the verge of going out of business, and here you are wasting money. Honestly I,¡¯m amazed at your thoughtlessness.¡± A middle-aged man flanked by a group of burly men stepped forward. Summer¡¯s face turned red with rage and his eyes spat fire. He shouted back, almost instinctively. ¡°You ungrateful traitor!¡± The middle-aged man was on the thinner side, with prominent cheekbones and sunken eyes. A black snake was curled around his shoulders. His aura was strange, dark and malicious. When the younger man flung his insults he responded with a dismissive laugh. ¡°Traitor? Do you know who you¡¯re talking to? Do you know the consequence of saying something like that to me?¡± Summer¡¯s face turned white. He ground his teeth for a moment, but eventually turned to Cloudhawk. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cloudhawk. Today I didn¡¯t treat you as I expected...¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Not a problem. Let¡¯s go.¡± Obviously, Summer could not afford to offend this stranger. ¡°Hold it right there!¡± The man¡¯s cold voice called after them. ¡°You¡¯ve offended a Chosen. You think you can just say what you said and leave? But since Ol¡¯ Vista is a former client I don¡¯t want to hurt him too badly. I¡¯ll just take your legs as payment.¡± His cruel words surprised everyone who heard. Was he so arrogant and vicious as to threaten a boy? Summer was so young! If the stranger made good on his threats it would ruin the rest of the boy¡¯s life. Fear gripped Summer when he heard it and he knew he was in serious trouble. He also knew that more than likely the Chosen¡¯s presence here was deliberate. It was too late to get out of it now. However, this man was taking it too far! Summer shot back. ¡°Do you have to burn all your bridges? The Summer-Autumn Company treated you well for years, and this is how you treat us? If this isn¡¯t ingratitude, I don¡¯t know what is.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong. People like you should worship people like me. You should thank me! I don¡¯t owe you anything, but you owe me everything. Now cut off your legs and give them to me. It¡¯s what I¡¯m owed.¡± Everyone else in the bar was dead silent out of fear. The organization the man worked for now was a significant one, and no one dared offend his handlers. Summer was at a loss and cast his eyes toward Cloudhawk. He regretted this trip. All he¡¯d wanted to do was show Cloudhawk a good time, and this was the result. He knew he shouldn¡¯t have answered, shouldn¡¯t have offended this man. But maybe this strange man they found in the forbidden area could help him. But could he? This man was a famed local villain, and a mighty Chosen! Cloudhawk sighed. He was again reminded that anywhere people lived, these sorts of things followed. He stretched out a finger and flicked it. One of the big men guarding the scoundrel was struck by an unseen power. He staggered back as though struck by a lightning bolt, and all the strength in his arms was lost. Numb fingers dumbly dropped his weapons. Onlookers had no idea what had happened. ¡°Where did you dig up this cockroach?¡± The middle-aged man sized up the odd-looking stranger. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to stand up to me, Python, then you¡¯re obviously bored with living!¡± Cloudhawk was silent as he looked over the other man. Nothing about him seemed threatening. At best he was like a demonhunter fresh out of the academy. Cloudhawk could deal with this scrub with one hand tied behind his back. What the hell did he have to be so conceited about? Were Redleaf Chosen really so lacking? ¡°You¡¯re willing to chop his legs off for a few words. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a little much?¡± Cloudhawk was still trying to avoid starting a fight. ¡°Leave, I don¡¯t want any trouble. Let¡¯s all just pretend nothing happened.¡± Python was nothing if not prideful. If he walked away with his tail between his legs, how could he ever show his face around town again? Cloudhawk¡¯s attempts to mollify him only made him more angry. ¡°You lot, bring me all of their limbs! They are going to spend the rest of their lives as useless cripples!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 73 - Offending Local Bullies Python was not considered one of the stronger citizens of Redleaf. He was second-tier at best. However, Chosen were men of status in this kingdom so he was a recognized name by virtue of his abilities. When he left the Summer-Autumn Company, Python took up with Red Banner ¨C one of Redleaf¡¯s best merchant groups. There were forty-three Chosen pledged to their service. Python had just got his foot in the door at this point, but he had plans to have that change. He knew about Summer-Autumn after being in their employ for years. Enough to know the small company had real potential. So he¡¯d come here on purpose, ready to start a fight, because he knew Summer couldn¡¯t resist. Getting that kid to start something was exactly why he¡¯d come. As for the old man, he could go fucking die in a corner. And Autumn? Hmph! She¡¯s be just another worthless bitch without that company, much easier to get into his bed then. After he got rid of Summer-Autumn company his status in Red Banner would definitely improve. That meant more respect and a higher salary, as well. When a lion wanted to swipe at the sheep, the sheep couldn¡¯t do anything but bleat. But this ragged-looking asshole would have to be dealt with, first. Python had never heard of this guy. Either he had worthless backing or he was an outsider who didn¡¯t know his place. Killing him wouldn¡¯t cause any troubles. The four big men Python brought with him all attacked together. These were some of the stronger thugs employed by Red Banner. Among normal folk they were intimidating, about equivalent to a standard Skycloud foot soldier. But there were only four of them. Cloudhawk could be mostly crippled and still wouldn¡¯t have a problem dealing with them. ¡°You must be from somewhere else, huh.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a moron. Obviously he doesn¡¯t know what Red Banner¡¯s about!¡± ¡°For a runt like you to offend Boss Python is a joke! Beg for your life, asshole, andm aybe we won¡¯t kill you!¡± Summer was practically shaking in his boots. He didn¡¯t think Python would be so brazen! Summer-Autumn Company didn¡¯t have any Chosen anymore, and that meant no one to stand up for them. The rules of the Silver Kingdom stated that organizations and merchant companies were forbidden from fighting directly. Doing so was a violation and both offenders would earn the King¡¯s anger. But conflict was inevitable, so the kingdom made an edict ¨C organizations could fight to protect their interests, but only through champions. Essentially, the kingdom allowed for proxy battles between Chosen. They served as representatives for their employers and whoever won the contest settled the disagreement. It was a simple, brutal system, but it avoided full on war between factions. The Silver Kingdom protected its population numbers and Chosen were elevated to a respected class. As gladiators they were showered with resources and training to hone their skills. Over time they developed into a veritable army of mercenaries for the kingdom. Summer-Autumn Company, though, had no Chosen of their own. If someone like Python found an excuse to stir up trouble, the company couldn¡¯t protect itself. Clearly that was Python¡¯s whole game today. To stir up shit. Again, Summer¡¯s eyes darted to the stranger. While he was confident of Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities, Cloudhawk was an outsider. How could he be expected to take on Red Banner? If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t intervene, it was unlikely Summer could get away unharmed, but if he did he was declaring war on one of Redleaf¡¯s strongest companies. ¡°Quick wasting time, deal with him!¡± At Python¡¯s command one of the men acted. He wrapped his arms around Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulders to try and pin him, setting up to try and tear the limb from the joint. But Cloudhawk was faster. He spun around, took the big man¡¯s arm in a vice-like grip and twisted. The sound of snapping bone could be heard clear across the bar. His attacker¡¯s arm was bent backward at an unnatural angle. His companions rushed in to take revenge. Cloudhawk first snapped a lazy kick at one of their kneecaps. The meaty leg bent backward at a ninety-degree angle and the jagged end of his broken femur stuck out from behind the knee. That was enough to convince the other two that fighting wasn¡¯t necessary. They tried to run. Snap! Snap! No one could see what happened next, it was too fast. What was obvious were the indentations in their chests which caused them thugs to crumple to the ground like sacks of potatoes after flying backward a dozen meters. Judging by those wounds these men would be bedridden for the better part of a year, and it was unlikely they¡¯d ever do any fighting ever again. What the fuck?! Was this asshole even human? How was he so strong and fast when it looked like a stiff wind would blow him over? It¡¯d taken two seconds for Cloudhawk to shut down four strong fighters. More importantly, each one of his blows seemed halfhearted but did frightening damage. It was like whatever bone he brushed a finger against, simply just snapped. The sheer force of it made him all the more mysterious. ¡°Do you really want to make Red Banner your enemy? Do you have any idea who you¡¯re fucking with?¡± The black snake entwined around Python¡¯s arm awakened. Like black lightning it darted forth, its black body changing dramatically in the process. It split from one snake into a hundred in the blink of an eye. The writhes and hissed all around Python. A snake that can split apart? Has to be a divine beast. Rare to find in Skycloud, but here they seem commonplace. The snake seemed otherwise normal, except that it could split as often as it wanted. An opponent would find themselves immediately confronted with a whole host of snakes whose venom was quite deadly. One bite was enough to fell an elephant. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this Red Banner,¡± Cloudhawk said, eyes fixed on Python, ¡°but if you¡¯re the best they got, then they aren¡¯t worth shit.¡± ¡°Wait till you get a taste of the death adder. We¡¯ll see if you¡¯re talk is so tough then!¡± Python¡¯s face twisted into an expression of savage rage. He raised his hands and the snakes responded, laying siege to the outsider. They charged at him like a poisonous wave. A flash of gold darted into view. At some point Oddball had swollen to a formidable size! It snapped up one of the snakes with its dagger-like beak and swallowed it down before everyone¡¯s eyes. It whipped its tail and struggled, and though its scales were tough as steel it couldn¡¯t save itself from Oddball¡¯s gullet. Was that it? Python¡¯s serpent was so easily devoured? The rest of its copies meant nothing and were no longer a threat. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t wait for his foe to react. He dashed forward, crossing the dozen or so meters between them in a moment. He came to a stop inches before the scoundrel, pinning him with a hard gaze. Python had never seen eyes like them. They were like dual pits whose bottoms he couldn¡¯t find. There was no emotion in them or lethal intent. He felt like an ant staring into the eyes of a lion. He was so beneath this man¡¯s attention he might as well not exist. All at once he realized how stupid he¡¯d been. This was the most terrifying person he¡¯d ever met in his life. Python didn¡¯t have time to say anything, though. Cloudhawk¡¯s hand shot out before he could open his mouth. The full-arm slap caught him right on the chin. Python¡¯s head spun seven-hundred and twenty degrees. His neck twisted up like a screw and every vertebrae snapped into pieces. No one could survive an injury of that scale. How? How could a guy that looked like him be so strong? And why? Didn¡¯t he know there are entire organizations supporting every Chosen? Python in particular was backed by the frightening Red Banner. He just eliminated an expensive asset, an act which definitely would demand an answer. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about benefactors and power struggles. He was far different from the Cloudhawk of old. Getting to where he was today, he didn¡¯t do it by being a good man. If these assholes were going to treat him this way then he had no reason to go easy. If Red Banner wanted to come knocking, then let them come. Cloudhawk figured such a piddling outfit wouldn¡¯t have anyone that would cause him trouble. Anyway, the Khan of Evernight was lurking somewhere if he bit off more than he could chew. He¡¯d show up if there was any trouble. He could count on that because he himself was a big asset to Nox. The Khan was here to protect Judas¡¯ investment. When Summer returned to the family home he told his sister and grandfather the whole story. It was a shock to the whole company. It was as surprising as it was disheartening that Python would turn on his former employers in only six month¡¯s time. Just as shocking, the arrogant Chosen was absolutely obliterated by one man who no one knew. Craig¡¯s face was full of worry. ¡°You may have dealt with Python but that will only mean more trouble. Red Banner doesn¡¯t tolerate any challenges. Python was a new asset, but an asset none the less. They won¡¯t sit idly by in the face of such an insult.¡± As if on cue, a company man rushed in and delivered news: four Red Banner Standard Bearers had delivered an invitation for tea, to be shared by the leadership of Summer-Autumn Company and Red Banner. Who were these Standard Bearers? Only the most powerful members of their organization! They were on an entirely different level from Python. Among the top ten most dangerous Chosen in Redleaf. How was Summer-Autumn supposed to stand up to that? When the junior members of the company heard the news, everyone began to lose their minds with fear. A handful renounced their relationship with the company on the spot to avoid getting involved. Craig couldn¡¯t believe this was happening. He didn¡¯t know what to do. During the turmoil Autumn approached Cloudhawk and confronted him frankly. ¡°I was wrong about you. Thank you for saving Summer, but none of this is your business. You should go before you get any more involved. Red Banner is strong, too strong for one man.¡± She paused and stretched out her hand, laden with a heavy purse. ¡°This is a thank you gift. Our company is small so it isn¡¯t much. Leave as soon as you can.¡± It took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°If I go what will you do?¡± Autumn frowned. ¡°It feels like things are beginning to fall into place. Worst case scenario, Summer-Autumn Company will be disbanded.¡± Cloudhawk smirked. ¡°Something tells me they won¡¯t be happy with just that.¡± She felt the fear worm up inside her. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t cause this problem, but these people did save him from the ruins. Besides, he needed a way to get to Imperia and a local power was the best way to do that. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that appointment tomorrow.¡± With that, Cloudhawk turned and walked away. 1. You guys, Cloudhawk just bitch-slapped this guy into oblivion. He sure has come a long way. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 74 - Negotiations Cloudhawk was struck by a fundamental truth; that be it in Skycloud, this fallen kingdom, or the vast wastelands, humans were similar everywhere they existed. In even the most beautiful places there were liars, cheaters, greed and violence. Man stood for himself, even in the face of condemnation. The idea of a pure utopia was a fallacy. Such a place could not exist if man lived there. Where there was light, there always existed darkness. However, it was obvious that one¡¯s environment effected them deeply. With the right cultivation, even those dark habits with the deepest roots could be dug out. Faith, the rule of law, military force, culture and morality were all ways to impose constraints on the inherent wild nature of humans. Cloudhawk understood that. It¡¯s why he established Greenland, in search of an unrealistic ideal. But it was better to try and fail to create one, then to leave mankind to wallow in squalor. The pursuit of this ideal inspired Cloudhawk to keep seeking his purpose in life, to look for happiness where there was none. It was the first time in his life he was really committed to doing something well. There came a moment in everyone¡¯s life when they woke up, when the life they led to up this point became insufferably boring, and the thirst for change arises. They hope for something to devote their lives to, a cause that becomes everything to them. Cloudhawk had grown up simple, ignorant, pure. Life propelled him along a tempestuous current where he experienced corruption, confusion and reckless disregard. Through it he discovered what it was he wanted. He saw it begin to be realized in Greenland. And with every new change the city underwent, Cloudhawk felt a sort of joy and satisfaction he¡¯d never known before. He wanted desperately to go back. He wanted to return to his home, his friends. He couldn¡¯t die out here in the cold, alone. It didn¡¯t matter if Judas was using him. It didn¡¯t matter that the Khan was scheming. He needed to survive, get the blood of the Demon King and control that enormous power. When he returned to his people he would do it as a new man, reborn more powerful than ever before! And the dilemma Cloudhawk promised to bring to the kingdom? Not worth worrying about, at least not right now. He would deal with that problem when he got to it. Everyone kept telling him that the Silver Kingdom was protected by powerful people and enchantments. So powerful even the elder demon couldn¡¯t overcome them. He had to find a way to insert himself with the locals and find a legitimate way to enter the Imperia. He was confident that once he was inside, he would have no trouble retrieving the Demon King¡¯s blood. For himself and for the people who took him in, Cloudhawk decided to stick around for a little while. *** The next day. Redleaf Tea House. It was practically empty in and around the facility but for a cadre of burly men who stood before the doors like a human shield. In contrast, there were only three representatives from Summer-Autumn Company. They were the siblings Summer and Autumn, and Cloudhawk who looked very foreign and out of place. As they approached the towering men, Summer felt a lump of fear creep into his throat and his legs trembled. Red Banner was not an organization to mess with. What an overbearing presence it had! The four emissaries had the sort of strength that shook the foundations of the city. Summer had only a handful of years on this earth, he¡¯d never met people like this. He didn¡¯t know what to expect once they walked inside. What could he do? What? Why did this have to happen! He felt so afraid and helpless. Summer¡¯s eyes darted to his sister¡¯s stoic expression, then to Cloudhawk¡¯s calm one. He felt shame rise up from within. He was always talking about what a man should do but at the end of the day he was the one who was almost too scared to move. Could he expect to face frightening monsters and daring challenges like this? If he was so frightened could he make his living wandering the land and chasing his dream? Autumn felt all the fear, too. But she kept it bottled up tight. They were about to face the biggest threat since their small company¡¯s inception. If Red Banner wanted to crush Summer-Autumn they could, as easily as crushing an ant beneath their boot heel. She was painfully aware that all her hopes had been pinned on a man she knew nothing about. She even questioned whether Cloudhawk was genuine in his offer to help¡­ He had killed Python easily, that at least proved that Cloudhawk had some strength. But Python was second tier among Red Banner¡¯s Chosen. He didn¡¯t even rank among their top ten. Did Cloudhawk have the ability to protect them from Red Banner¡¯s four emissaries? Each of them individually were big names in this area. Cloudhawk approached the large men. He regarded them calmly and with little interest, as though they were hardly more than air. As he neared the thugs sought to call him to a halt, but a faint and sinister light flickered to life in his eyes that flooded them with an unassailable will. They were frozen stiff, too terrified to move. So they stood there as though they were made of wood while Cloudhawk led the two siblings inside. Only one of the many tables in the establishment was occupied. Cloudhawk took a seat opposite his hosts without asking for leave. ¡°You lot are from Red Banner, or whatever it¡¯s called?¡± ¡°You are the outsider who killed Python?¡± The first to speak was an older man with a raspy, captivating voice sitting directly opposite Cloudhawk. The gray in his hair marked him as fifty or sixty years old. He was wrapped in an elegant vest of with swirling patterns of white and yellow and draped around his shoulders was a luxurious mantle of deep red, stitched with leaf patterns. Four men stood on either side of elder; one was tall, one was short, one was fat, one was thin. Outwardly they were very different, but there was a uniformity to each. That was the stifling aura that they all bore. By Cloudhawk¡¯s estimation they were equivalent to standard demonhunters. Not bad, but hardly elite material. His own people ¨C Claudia and Barb for example ¨C could beat them to a pulp without much effort. All in all he was a little disappointed. It was too easy. Summer and Autumn remained standing behind Cloudhawk. That was the measure of their confrontation, one which was dramatically stilted in one side¡¯s favor. So vast was the difference that Red Banner¡¯s emissaries couldn¡¯t even sense how far out of their depth they were. ¡°This is the president of Red Banner, Elder Beck Roth. He is one of the most important men in Redleaf.¡± Summer was stunned at Cloudhawk¡¯s lack of decorum, sitting before a man like this without waiting for permission. He gave his new friend whispered introductions. ¡°The men with him are Red Banner¡¯s strongest emissaries. They¡¯re all famous here for their strength. Be careful, they aren¡¯t pushovers.¡± ¡°President Roth, we¡¯ve come here today to negotiate with Red Banner.¡± Autumn took the initiative. ¡°In regards to the matter with Python, we are prepared to admit some fault but Python instigated the conflict. Our company is prepared to offer reparations, as long as we -¡± ¡°The nerve!¡± The skinny emissary glared at Cloudhawk with incredulous eyes, completely ignoring Autumn. ¡°Did the president tell you to sit? Who the hell do you think you are? You think you deserve to sit with Mr. Roth?¡± He and his three companions glared disdainfully at the raggedy outsider. But Beck waved a hand, and the motion alone was enough to silence his subordinates. Cloudhawk could sense the company¡¯s president was also a demonhunter ¨C Chosen, he supposed they were called here. He was weaker than the other four, but they listened to him with deference. Obviously, he knew how to command people. Beck Roth spoke. ¡°I can see you¡¯re young. Not from around here. In fact, I have contacts in several of the nearby cities and I¡¯ve never heard of a man like you from any of them.¡± Cloudhawk offered an unenthusiastic response. ¡°Where I¡¯m from is not important. What is, is how we plan to settle this matter. Talk or fight, get to the point. I don¡¯t want to waste too much time here.¡± The skinny one¡¯s face darkened considerably. ¡°You worthless nobody with no backing. What makes you so confident that you can stomp around Redleaf like you own the place? What gives you the right to speak to Mr. Roth like that?!¡± Summer and Autumn were equally stunned. Cloudhawk, however, almost looked bored. Did he really not fear these men at all? For a stranger he really was bold, but whether it was arrogance or madness it really didn¡¯t matter. Whatever the root of his attitude, it did not reflect well for Summer-Autumn Company. If he continued to antagonize Red Banner, would their small business ever know another day of peace? This was their home and he was burning bridges! A small smile remained on Beck¡¯s face, but the lines at the corners of his eyes had deepened and a dangerous glint lived inside them. Red Banner¡¯s president was a man who earned his station, certainly. Even though Cloudhawk was a nobody in this town, Beck did not underestimate him. ¡°You have slain a man in Red Banner¡¯s service, a Chosen of the Silver Kingdom. Whether in regards to my company saving face or the laws of our nation, this is not a matter to be taken lightly. So I imagine you understand why this needs to be addressed today.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face remained unchanged. ¡°On with it, then.¡± ¡°I can see you are a confident man. Perhaps there is something to you we are not seeing, but I wonder if you¡¯ve considered how this will reflect on your friends. They live here, but are you willing to protect them for the rest of your life? This town belongs to Red Banner, and here we have no less than a hundred ways to dismantle Summer-Autumn company and take every asset they have.¡± ¡°This is how you choose to threaten me?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze became a few degrees colder but then returned to normal. He continued to speak as though he hardly cared. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, because I will make sure your Red Banner will be wiped form the face of the earth before you can cause any more trouble.¡± When the words left his lips, faces around the table changed. That was a direct provocation against Redleaf¡¯s eminent merchant company! Summer and Autumn were so shocked by his claim that the color drained from their faces. He had gone too far! Did he not understand he was asking for death? In the face of such naked threats even Beck found it difficult to keep his composure. Talk was done. He motioned with his hand, and it was all the excuse the skinny man needed to shut this fool¡¯s mouth permanently. Cloudhawk looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Just him?¡± ¡°You have a very inflated view of your capabilities,¡± Beck rasped at him. ¡°He is weakest of Red Banner¡¯s four Standard Bearers. Word is you are a capable beastmater. As it happens, so is he. If you can best him then maybe we will have more to say. Do you consent?¡± Perched on the skinny man¡¯s shoulder was a bird something like a condor. A divine beast, the relic he used to fight. Cloudhawk shook his head in a sign of utter disregard. If he didn¡¯t need to find some way into Imperia he wouldn¡¯t have even bothered with these fools. After all, bullying rarely won anything of worth and it wasn¡¯t in Cloudhawk¡¯s nature. ¡°Hmph, you think you beat Python and suddenly you¡¯re undefeatable?¡± Instead of the fear he was hoping for, the skinny man saw contempt and disregard in Cloudhawk¡¯s response. He would suffer it no longer. ¡°Today you¡¯ll see what a real Chosen is like!¡± He said nothing further, summoning the power of his wil. His condor took to the air with gleaming eyes. Strange black mist poured off its body as it took flight, quick as lightning. Suddenly it took a ninety degree turn and dashed toward its target with dagger-like talons. The momentum was enough to cause the ground beneath it to crack as it passed overhead. Such power! This man was head and shoulder above the likes of Python. Summer and Autumn felt the hopelessness creep through their heart, almost enough to make them throw themselves to the ground in terror. They were sure tragedy would come ¨C after all, he was but one Red Banner Standard Bearer, the weakest of the emissaries! Cloudhawk remained seated and never moved a muscle. One hand was wrapped around a steaming tea cup as though he didn¡¯t even notice the bird. A primary difference between this failed Elysian land and Skycloud was the prevalence of divine beasts, but that was the only advantage it had. Comparing average strength, as far as Cloudhawk had seen this place was greatly lacking. The pudgy bird on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder burst into action. Cloudhawk¡¯s fist-sized companion leaped up and its relatively tiny wings kept it aloft. It looked like a little balloon, especially as suddenly it swelled to ten times its size. The two divine beasts were about equal in size, then. Bang! Both sets of talons collided. It sounded like metal grinding on metal, or swords clashing mid-battle. Sparks filled the air and their violent confrontation filled the tea house. The orderly establishment was quickly ruined, and if it continued for long there would be little left. ¡°That¡¯s all you got? Let me show you something!¡± The skinny man cackled as he poured more mental energy into his creature. From beneath the condor¡¯s feathers spouted tongues of black flame until the whole bird as aflame. The unassuming condor was now a sinister black phoenix. The fires hugged close to the beast like armor. There was no heat but the power in it was unmistakable. Anything that came into contact with it would suffer a devastating blow, increasing the destructive force of this divine beast considerably. Oddball beat its tiny wings. Golden spine-like feathers shot at its opponent in the dozens. They streaked through the air like shooting stars, sharp as daggers and just as deadly. Not only were they flung out with the force of a high-caliber bullet, but they were all also surprisingly precise. They fluttered out and converged on the black condor. However the black fires devoured them before they could cause any harm. The skinny man¡¯s voice was filled with pride. ¡°Your lowly bird is no match for my Blackfire Condor! Die!¡± It was the condor¡¯s turn to beat its wings, causing gouts of flame to jettison forth. They drilled through the air toward Oddball. The power of blackfire was something others had seen before. Could this skinny golden bird withstand such an attack? Summer and Autumn watched, eyes wide and filled with fear. It was the first time they¡¯d ever seen a conflict like this. Was this what all beastmaster battles were like? Oddball didn¡¯t panic as the waves of blackfire approached. Its beak opened and from its maw shot a bolt of golden energy that split the darkness. The two opposing powers battled for an instant before a resulting explosion sent motes of light cascading through the tea house. It appeared to have ended in a draw. Oddball dashed forward, quickly breaking the sound barrier. Its beak slammed into the condor, piercing through flesh and feathers. A shrill cry of pain answered and was silenced when the condor slammed through a distant wall. Outside in the street it hit the ground hard enough to dig a trench several meters. The Standard Bearer howled in outrage. ¡°No!¡± Oddball fluttered back over to Cloudhawk and plopped onto his shoulder in a fashion that could be described as self-satisfied. By the time it was situated the bird was back to its tiny, original state. Its beady bird eyes looked at the skinny man with¡­ was that scorn? This piddling little creature had defeated his condor? It¡¯d done it without Cloudhawk¡¯s aid as well. The brief fight was done using nothing but its own power, and still Oddball had easily defeat the man¡¯s so-called Blackfire demon condor. The others stared at Cloudhawk and his small companion in disbelief. It was unthinkable that the tiny bird would command such strength. This was definitely not your normal divine beast, it was a lot more than it appeared. Cloudhawk, of course, was not surprised in the least. He¡¯d raised his golden friend for years. They traveled together to Woodland Vale, to other worlds. It¡¯d munched on eboncrys and hunted demonhunter spirits. If a lousy matchstick like that condor could defeat it, then Cloudhawk was a shitty owner. The skinny man¡¯s face was a thunderhead. His three companions could hardly hold themselves back. ¡°Alright.¡± Cloudhawk rose to his feet. A faint flicker of scarlet danced in the depths of his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s too much of a pain in the ass to deal with you one by one. All four of you, let¡¯s go.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 75 - Chosen Council What utter pretentiousness! Red Banner¡¯s four Standard Bearers were the best of Redleaf! No one in the city had the ability much less the gall to challenge them! The four men were worshiped ¨C adored! - and at least in this city they were the very best around. How could they stomach such disrespect from some nameless outsider? The leader of the Standard Bearers fixed Cloudhawk with threatening eyes. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re way too uppity for your own good. Do you really think you can fight the four of us together?¡± He was the tall, burly one and strongest of his companions. Cloudhawk figured his strength was about equivalent to his classmates back in Hell¡¯s Valley ¨C and not the good one¡¯s, either. The average ones. After a year of honing they all surpassed a fellow like him. ¡°Why are you wasting your time talking to him, big brother? If he wants to die then let¡¯s send him on his way!¡± The second Standard Bearer didn¡¯t quite reach five feet. As he spoke, long black claws peaked from his fingers. ¡°I want to see if he¡¯s got the talent to block my Cerberus claw!¡± The third Standard Bearer was the one on the heavier side. He was also a capable beastmaster in command of a black lizard with purple stripes. Its two scaly cheeks were puffed out with faint sparks of electricity dancing around it. This was a famed thunderlizard, much stronger than the fourth Standard Bearer and his pet. As Beck had said, the fourth member of their group was clearly the weakest. Any one of the other three could handily beat the fourth Standard Bearer in single combat. Their leader was especially superior, as he not only had a mighty divine beast but also used relics. He was one of the three most powerful men in the city and everyone knew who he was. Cloudhawk had succeeded in thoroughly pissing them off. Four Standard Bearers together¡­ was there anyone in the city or anywhere else that could survive those odds? But Cloudhawk was quite pleased. One after the other would be tedious. He raised his right hand and waved, summoning a wreath of green fire. Orbs of sickly green light hung in the air around him, each one about the size of a fist. The unsettling display was all the more strange as the fires created no warmth. The Standard Bearers were ready with their attacks. Cloudhawk was prepared to answer with Castigation Fire. Beck spoke up, his voice soft but commanding. ¡°Did I say you four can attack? Do you have such little respect for me?¡± His words caught them by surprise. They immediately backed off from their threatening postures, though they were far from pleased in having to. Beck turned his attention to Cloudhawk and looked him over, at the fires which danced around him like fireflies. The unnatural green light set his tattered garb and dirty bandages in stark shadows. He looked like a creature that clawed itself out of the grave. Everything about him oozed danger. Now, he could feel it. This man will kill them all. Beck wasn¡¯t the most powerful man in a fight, but he hadn¡¯t climbed his way to the top of regional power by being clueless. He had a keen eye for ability and there were few in his many years he couldn¡¯t see straight through. The man before him was one of them. Just the like the weird, ghostly fired that surrounded him. They didn¡¯t look like they were all that dangerous¡­ But Beck had a good sense for things. Something told him that any contact with the fire ¨C even the slightest touch ¨C would result in absolute destruction. No way to escape. The stifling danger was all around so President Roth made the executive decision to stop this conflict now, before it got worse. How strong this stranger was precisely, he couldn¡¯t say. But in defeating the fourth Standard Bearer he proved to be strong enough. He could not venture to guess how Red Banner would suffer if he put all its resources into destroying this man. Losing more men or having key members of his organization injured, just to save face and vindicate the loss of a subpar Chosen was not an erudite business decision. ¡°Please, sit.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t expect the old man to remain so calm. But his cronies were backing down so it wouldn¡¯t do him any good to keep pressing the fight. Anyway, killing a few scrubs wasn¡¯t going to make him feel good about himself. The motes of Castigation Fire were allowed to fade away and he did as requested. Might as well hear what else this old man had to say. They sat now at the only table in the tea house that remained whole. Cloudhawk and the Standard Bearer had managed to destroy almost everything else. ¡°Obviously, you are no ordinary man. This has all been a misunderstanding.¡± Beck took a sip of his tea. ¡°Python was nothing of consequence. He was greedy, lascivious, arrogant¡­ he was a member of my organization for less than six months before revealing himself as the sort who bites the hand that feeds. He attempted to strike at his former employer, and that is precisely the sort of person I loathe. Red Banner would never debase itself by associating further with a man like him.¡± The Standard Bearers glowered as they listened. Summer and Autumn looked as though they could hardly believe what they were hearing. The president of Red Banner Company had changed his tone in a hurry. They were even less sure what would happen going forward. ¡°But Red Banner cannot shut its eyes to the murder of a Chosen who came to us for refuge. We have our reputation to consider. This may cause other Chosen to hesitate when considering us for employment in the future.¡± Cloudhawk snorted. ¡°So? What¡¯s the deal.¡± Autumn chimed in. ¡°As I said, our company is willing to provide compensation.¡± ¡°Compensation? For a slain Chosen and to repair Red Banner¡¯s reputation, I¡¯m afraid Summer-Autumn Company doesn¡¯t have the means to make us whole.¡± Beck paused for a moment. ¡°I have a better suggestion.¡± Cloudhawk kept a straight face. He wanted to know what nonsense the old man would come up with. President Roth slowly pushed his cup of tea toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Red Banner would sincerely like to offer you an invitation to join our company.¡± He raised a brow. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°You are a rare talent. If you join my organization you would be worth ten Pythons. I agree to pursue no further action against Summer-Autumn Company and will even offer them assistance. So long as Red Banner exists in this city, Summer-Autumn Company will never struggle. I can also promise that you will be well treated and provided everything you need in my company to grow in your profession. A benefit to all parties.¡± Summer and Autumn hadn¡¯t expected the offer. This was a fierce and powerful magnate, and the only reason he was willing to forgive Cloudhawk¡¯s transgressions was because of what Cloudhawk was capable of. Yet what room was there in a small temple for a dragon of his size? Beck could be ten times the business genius and his organization would still be crushed like insects before the likes of Nox. Cloudhawk was silent. Beck took it as a sign he was considering the offer. ¡°Right, it might also be worth mentioning the Chosen Council occurring in a few days. I should think a man of your abilities would be a fine representative for our organization.¡± The Chosen Council. As the name implied, it was a meeting of the realm¡¯s Chosen. Every organization in each of the kingdom¡¯s cities sent someone to represent them. These representatives then competed with the winner earning great renown for their organization. It earned them the opportunity to enter Imperia and pay tribute to the king. Such Councils occurred once every three years, so it appeared Cloudhawk had shown up just in time. ¡°You should know that the threshold to enter into the Redleaf competition is quite high. Summer-Autumn Company simply doesn¡¯t have the resources to put forth their name. However, if you agree to join Red Banner as one of our Chosen I can ensure you a spot.¡± Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t thought there would be a ¡®threshold¡¯ to pay tribute to a king, but perhaps the old man was right. Summer-Autumn Company was such a small outfit they didn¡¯t seem the sort to be worth a king¡¯s attention. Beck continued. ¡°The importance of the Chosen Council to Chosen such as you is self-evident. Winning conveys fame, fortune and an opportunity to present yourself before our king. Appreciation and rewards from our monarch would be laid at your feet. With luck, you may even be chosen as an Imperial Bodyguard ¨C the dream of every Chosen. Such a pity I never reached such heights.¡± Cloudhawk did need to get into Imperia. But Cloudhawk still wasn¡¯t willing to give in to the old man¡¯s conditions. For one thing, Cloudhawk would not submit to working for Beck in any capacity. The geezer was barely worth his attention. He wasn¡¯t interested in putting down any roots here or leaving behind any loose ends. He only agreed to help Summer-Autumn Company because its old patriarch had pulled him out of the ruins. Once he dealt with this situation he considered the favor returned and that was that. This wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s world, he wanted to get back home as soon as possible. Beck had fallen silent, waiting for Cloudhawk¡¯s response. If Red Banner were to offer such a generous incentive, only to have the hand slapped away¡­ could Cloudhawk really promise them safety forever? How was he supposed to make sure they stayed safe? Slap! Cloudhawk banged something onto the table between them. Beck looked down to see a fist-sized crystal. Cloudhawk got to the point. ¡°I¡¯m sure this will compensate you for your loss.¡± He pulled back to show the black crystal in its entirety, fully the size of a man¡¯s fist. When it was revealed to everyone¡¯s eyes even Beck stared in astonishment. Eboncrys? A huge piece of eboncrys! What a treasure! If such a tribute were given to the king it would please him greatly. He might even reward them with a relic. Summer and Autumn also knew what something like that was worth. Incredible to think he¡¯d been hiding that all this time! Or that he would simply give it to Beck to pay off their debt. Beck did not reach for the eboncrys right away. He looked at Cloudhawk with a slight frown. ¡°Don¡¯t you wish to consider the offer, young man?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll represent Red Banner in the Council,¡± he answered, ¡°but I do not work for you.¡± Represent Red Banner? But not join¡­ so he would essentially be working for my organization for free. What was he after? Beck Roth mulled it over. How many eboncrys was this man hiding on his person? Was he using Red Banner as a way to get into Imperia, so that he could offer tribute to the king in his own name? It wouldn¡¯t be the first time such a thing had happened. No matter. Beck was not opposed. He understood that Cloudhawk had no interest in joining Red Banner, but if he would agree to help them, then the president had no opinion on the matter. After all, their opponents were only getting stronger, and with Cloudhawk in his corner it increased their chance of winning. As for whether he was hiding any more treasures? It didn¡¯t matter! He¡¯d use Cloudhawk against Seven Leaf Company first, then see what happened. ¡°In that case, there is an agreement for you to sign.¡± With the matter settled, Cloudhawk led Summer and Autumn from the tea house. The Standard Bearers watched him go with sour expressions. It was humiliating, like being forced to swallow an insect in one¡¯s food. They could not grasp why their employer would agree to this nonsense. After Cloudhawk had left, Becks¡¯ face returned to its uninviting, frigid norm. ¡°I cannot be certain of his strength, but he is at least as strong as I am. You four might have beaten him but not without suffering for it. Soon we will be in open conflict with the Seven Leaves. We can¡¯t afford any missteps at this juncture.¡± The four understood now why he had stopped them. The Council was nearly upon them, and if they lost their chance to pay tribute to the king because of injury over such a piddling conflict, it would be terrible sacrifice. In Redleaf there were two large merchant groups; the Red Banner, and the Seven Leaves. Seven Leaves was a powerful outfit. Where Red Banner had a core of four Standard Bearers, Seven Leaves had seven elite warriors. They put enormous pressure on Red Banner, but with the wild card Cloudhawk in the mix it at least saved Beck having to risk his own men. Who knows, he might even improve their chances. Late at night. Cloudhawk was alone in his dark room. He hadn¡¯t turned on the light and instead simply sat there in silence. In his hands was a very plain-looking metal mask. His calloused fingers were tracing the lines of it. The mask of a thousand faces, a gift from Selene. The feel of the mask¡¯s rough surface brought back old memories. Selene¡¯s uniquely beautiful face swam through his mind. Every time he looked at the mask he remembered the old times. No matter how important or glorious or sad, everything slipped into the past. Experienced once then gone forever, transformed into a dead picture fuzzy in the mind¡¯s eye. He sighed, set the mask aside and muttered, ¡°You¡¯re here, so just come on out.¡± A piece of the shadow separated, creating an inky silhouette in the darkness. The blinking red eyes came to life, fixed on Cloudhawk with no emotion or indication of anything at all. They flicked toward the mask. ¡°That is a very special item.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Cloudhawk was dismissive. ¡°It was a gift from someone very special to me.¡± ¡°I believe you must be very special to her as well.¡± There was something more behind the Khan¡¯s typically flat voice. ¡°You carry this mask but do not know what it is really capable of.¡± ¡°Capable of?¡± The claim wasn¡¯t strange, but what did surprise him was that the Khan seemed to know about this item. ¡°It is, in fact, a powerful defensive relic. In former years, when under mental assault it can protect the bearer with a psychic fortress that counteracts such attacks. So long as your strength remains, in theory you are protected from any psychic damage.¡± ¡°How do you know about this mask?¡± Cloudhawk frowned at the cyborg. ¡°And why are you telling me?¡± He answered without any change in his robotic tone. ¡°Because you will find it shall come in handy in the future.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 76 - Different Worlds The next morning¡­ Old Vista and his grandchildren approached Cloudhawk¡¯s small apartment. Craig stood in front of the doorway, eyes filled with appreciation. Never would he have dreamed that dragging a stranger from the forbidden area would result in ridding them of Python and standing up to Red Banner. Cloudhawk had even helped them reach a very favorable agreement with Beck Roth. He had been a real blessing in disguise. Not only would Red Banner stop harassing their small company, but thanks to Cloudhawk¡¯s intervention they would actually bring Summer-Autumn under their wing. Craig and his family no longer had to walk on eggshells around Chosen and endure their insults. Cloudhawk did what he did in thanks for saving his life. But today, they were here to thank him. Summer knocked on the door frame and called out, but after a few moments received no response. Was Cloudhawk not here? Craig nodded at his two young charges and Autumn pushed the door open. Inside they spied a figure. ¡°Master Cloudhawk, you -¡± He wasn¡¯t wearing his cloak, so for the first time they saw him wrapped tight in his bandages. Autumn saw that they were stained with spots of blood which sometimes seeped from below. He was seated quietly on the bed, drenched in sweat, clearly suffering. Was he hurt? Or did he have some terrible illness? Obviously, whatever his condition it was clearly in a bad stage. And indeed things were not going well. From the moment he¡¯d woken from his coma Cloudhawk felt like there were a million ants gnawing holes in his bones. The pain drilled through every part of his body, coming in waves or jolts of electric current. He felt like he was on the precipice of collapse. Besides the various medicines from Nox, the only thing keeping Cloudhawk on his feet was the virus he¡¯d contracted years ago. Trespasser was able to main some semblance of balance in his frayed nerves and keep his organs going. Without it he¡¯d be a corpse already. Judas said he had a year at best. It didn¡¯t feel like it. The demon wasn¡¯t necessarily wrong. Cloudhawk would get progressively weaker over the course of a year, but in six months he would be bed ridden. In other words, his time was very short. Autumn saw how terrible his condition was and that he had lost his grasp on the outside world. She hesitated for a long time before gathering the courage to tip-toe closer. Stretching out a hand she tried to press it to his forehead. Cloudhawk sensed a presence drawing closer. Suddenly alert, his eyes shot open. Dark pupils took on a dull gold hue and a fire burned deep inside. The young girl saw her visage reflected in the flames and knew that she could be consumed by them at this man¡¯s whim. ¡°Ah!¡± Autumn stumbled backward in fear. Every hair on her body stood on end. She¡¯d never felt anything like that sensation before. It was like peering into the eyes of some divine creature; grim, regal, and unassailable. It made her feel as small and insignificant as an insect. She caught him with his guard down, unable to hide what was within him. The full extent of his terrible power was revealed to her. He was utterly different from this girl. Cruel ruins and blasted landscapes were his bedding growing up, not the snow-blanketed land of a fallen god. From his very first memory life was a series of struggles, violence, blood, and death. He was like them, a beast down to his bones. Over the last five years Cloudhawk had experienced incredible things. He met gods and demons, trained with a secret army, commanded one of his own, fought Master Demonhunters, became a leader of the wilds, and dropped a mountain on a fortress. The power he¡¯d wielded and the adventures he¡¯d undergone were more than most could even imagine. At first, Autumn was skeptical that he¡¯d fought a dracobat. But in that instant she understood that he was ten times more dangerous than the most terrible divine beast. He was a monster who crawled here through a mountain of corpses. So how could he have been so badly injured? ¡°What happened?¡± Craig and Summer had heard her well and rushed into the room. They saw her on the floor with her face pale from fear like she¡¯d seen her own death. Even Autumn couldn¡¯t believe she could feel so afraid just by looking into someone¡¯s eyes. Cloudhawk quickly composed himself. He rose and slipped on his cloak. ¡°What do you need?¡± He surreptitiously reached out with his senses. The Khan of Evernight was not here. Where was he hiding? Always such a mysterious character, appearing and disappearing like a shadow. He didn¡¯t know how he did it, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel like wasting the mental energy to try and find out. He only had a year left and there were already a thousand problems for him to mull over. That was enough to keep him busy. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Autumn scrambled to her feet but felt her legs were weak and shaking. She answered Cloudhawk¡¯s queery. ¡°We came to thank you.¡± Craig called to a group of people outside the door who ushered something inside. He was presented with several large boxes. ¡°Take a look, brother. These treasures have been in our family for a long time. I know it probably doesn¡¯t mean much to you, but they¡¯re the pride of our company.¡± The boxes were opened. Inside were piles of scrap metal. Judging by their style and composition these were very, very old. Definitely not form Redleaf. ¡°These are fragments we pulled out of the forbidden area and brought home.¡± Craig approached Cloudhawk with a look of deep appreciation. He even hunched a few inches to make himself lower. ¡°Our company is small and our abilities are limited, we don¡¯t have much of exception quality. But these items are at least enough to serve as a fitting tribute to the king.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s response was unexpected. ¡°Your king wants this stuff?¡± The members of the Summer-Autumn Company shuffled awkwardly. Cloudhawk was clearly not impressed with their offering. Craig sputtered an answer. ¡°I know what we gathered isn¡¯t the most impressive, but it has reached the threshold of what is considered a tribute. If you present this to the King you will surely be rewarded. Perhaps he may gift us with a couple relics, or a divine beast.¡± That caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. He thought it strange that all these cities were fighting so hard to be allowed to pay the king tribute. Now he understood. Citizens of the Silver Kingdom gathered their items and presented them to the king because he had some special power. An ability to fix the broken relics they dug out of the old ruins. The King saw these tributes as precious raw material. With crates of this stuff delivered to him regularly, he never ran out of what he needed to build relics. In the end he gave some back to make his people more appreciative and motivated. This really was an interesting place. Regular folk provided for Chosen and cities provided for their king. Like a pyramid scheme. He had to admit, he was intrigued. Everything he saw in these boxes was utterly destroyed. He had some experience building relics himself, even create some. But from what he could gather of this junk there wasn¡¯t a single recoverable object in the batch. That had to mean this king had a much deeper understanding on relic repair and construction than he did. If that were true, Silver Kingdom¡¯s monarch had the ability to outfit his own demonhunter army. ¡°I don¡¯t need any of this.¡± Cloudhawk refused the Summer-Autumn Company¡¯s gift. As far as he was concerned they were square, he didn¡¯t want to feel indebted. As for getting into Imperia? If he really wanted to appear a king, all he had to do was pull out the gathering of relics he had stored in his dimensional warehouse. There were things in there he¡¯d collected from all over, even other worlds. A far sight better than this garbage. Craig Vista was filled with regret. He recognized that Cloudhawk saw it as merely so much rubbish. It had been his final gambit to try and entice Cloudhawk to stay and serve as their Chosen. Judging by his expression, however, it was clear he did not succeed. It wasn¡¯t unexpected. If not even Red Banner could lure him in, what hope did their small company have? Sorry though he was, Craig understood. When he spoke there was no note of disappointment. ¡°Are you really going to represent Red Banner in the Council?¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°I need to get into Imperia.¡± ¡°You hope to stay there.¡± Craig nodded, convinced of his interpretation. ¡°But listen to these words from an old man. You must be very careful during this contest. Red Banner¡¯s nemesis, Seven Leaf, is a dangerous and underhanded sort. The last two years has seen them grow in strength. This year¡¯s council is sure to see violent clashes.¡± ¡°Seven Leaf? What about them, are they stronger than Red Banner?¡± ¡°The two are Redleaf¡¯s most influential groups. Red Banner has been rising in prominence for the last twenty years but Seven Leaf has been around for at least a hundred. Red Banner is on track to catch up, but so far they still cannot face up to Seven Leaf.¡± Here Craig heaved a sigh. Organizations like these were so far above the dreams of his tiny outfit. ¡°As the name implies, Seven Leaf has seven powerful Chosen in their employ, who they call Venerated. Even Red Banner¡¯s Standard Bearers have perhaps a thirty percent chance of winning against one of the Venerated. I¡¯m sure Beck saw your strength and decided you would be a fine representative.¡± A group comparable to Red Banner. Was that supposed to pass as powerful here? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Save your concern for the Venerated.¡± Craig and his grandchildren left without accomplishing what they¡¯d hoped. They took their crates and departed. As they did, Summer¡¯s young face was full of adulation. ¡°Cloudhawk is so relaxed!¡± He said in excitement. ¡°We showed him crates of great finds, and he was completely uninterested.¡± Craig shook his head. Why hadn¡¯t Cloudhawk been impressed? Because to him it was so much garbage. ¡°One day I¡¯ll be just like him!¡± Autumn cut him off. ¡°Summer, you should stay far away form him.¡± This earned a sour look from her brother. ¡°Why are you still so distrusting of Brother Cloudhawk? After all he¡¯s done for Summer-Autumn, you act like he¡¯s a threat. His strength and character are obvious to everyone except you. Why stop me!¡± Autumn stopped and fixed Summer with a solemn look. ¡°Because we come from completely different worlds.¡± Craig regarded his young granddaughter. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°To us he might as well be form another reality. The place he came from is so far beyond ours. It was good he didn¡¯t accept our offering because he can¡¯t stay here. He wouldn¡¯t help us by working on Summer-Autumn Company. He would destroy us.¡± Autumn turned back to her younger brother. ¡°Remember, the closer you get to the sun the more likely you are to get burned. If you want to live a happy life you stay away from him.¡± Craig had never heard Autumn speak like this, nor had he ever heard her regard anyone in such a fashion. Craig knew better than anyone that Autumn had a sharp eye. If that¡¯s what she thought of Cloudhawk, then there was no doubt in his mind that he was just as dangerous as she claimed. Summer opened his mouth to protest but Craig stopped him. ¡°Listen to your sister.¡± Two weeks later¡­ Cloudhawk had spent most of his time preparing in his room. He¡¯d remained behind a closed door while turbulent currents ran through Redleaf. The next Chosen Council was soon to begin. It would determine who had the right to present themselves before the king. Although as many as six companies sent their champions, only Red Banner and Seven Leaf were expected to rise to the top. The two companies were used to conflict and now it was finally going to be public, during what to the rest of the city was a fine spectacle. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 77 - Chosen Council The Chosen Council didn¡¯t have any set time. Sometimes it was every two years, sometimes three. It all came down to when the King demanded it be held. When Imperia announced that a Council was to be held, the various cities of the kingdom complied. What followed was a kingdom-wide celebration. Chosen participated with the hopes of seeing their prestige rise. They all dreamed of basking in the king¡¯s appreciation, and maybe even being invited to live in Imperia. All the many merchant companies vied for the right to present their tributes so that the king would shower them with gifts, relics and riches. The average man also placed great importance to this spectacle. They could not participate themselves but that didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t join in the festivities. It was a grand opportunity to see Chosen perform miraculous feats. Once every few years everything ¨C from gambling parlors to all manner of businesses ¨C came alive. They didn¡¯t want to miss the chance to raise their profile and profits. In many ways the Chosen Council was a national carnival. And it was about to begin. Summer arrived at the arena where it was being held. Although he¡¯d been warned by his sister and grandfather, they couldn¡¯t stop him from worshiping Cloudhawk. Summer wasn¡¯t an idiot. He knew he was just a normal guy with average talents at best, not the sort destined to ride the tides of time. His destiny was to be one of the faceless millions, just some commoner. It was a pity, but¡­ did that mean he couldn¡¯t even look up to people better than himself? Maybe he was just an ordinary guy with a head full of ideals and nothing to show for them. Maybe he would never know what it felt like to be the center of attention and walk the world stage. But at least he could project those ideals on the people he looked up to. There were a number of people signed up to participate, but really on Red Banner and Seven Leaf were contenders. The other four together couldn¡¯t match up to one of the two top-tier companies. To these groups it wasn¡¯t about getting the opportunity to offer tribute. It was all about making a name for themselves. All six organizations presented their champions. The rules were that no one organization could put forth more than ten representatives. In other words this year¡¯s Council would have sixty total challengers. Redleaf wasn¡¯t swimming in Chosen. Aside from displays like this when were there ever sixty Chosen together? And these weren¡¯t your typical warriors, either. They were the very best of Redleaf! Summer was able to determine which Chosen belong to which organization by their flags and banners. The first group to catch his eye was the delegation from Seven Leaf. They¡¯d brought the full ten allowed by bylaw, but only seven of them were worth mention. These seven fighters were all dressed differently except for their capes, which were all uniform with slight variations in pattern. They were stitched with depictions of branches and leaves; one had one leaf, another had two, then three and so on until it reached number seven. In the Seven Leaf Company, the leaf was a sign of power and prestige. To be awarded a leaf meant you were the best of the Chosen. From there, the more leaves one accrued on their cloak the more it denoted their power. The one with seven leaves by definition was the greatest Chosen in the city. He¡¯d been famous in Redleaf for two decades, so illustrious that even Seven Leaf¡¯s president was essentially just a peer. He was Red Banner¡¯s nightmare. These were the illustrious Venerated. Red Banner had four that they put forward as champions. Seven Leaf had seven. They were the very peak of their organization¡¯s power and simultaneously the very strongest warriors of Redleaf. They didn¡¯t just capture the imagination of people like Summer. Every Chosen looked up to them like heroes. It didn¡¯t matter where in the world you found them, people respected the strong all the same. One unique figure stood out against the group from Red Banner. Cloudhawk was dressed exactly as he¡¯d arrived. The only difference was the mask that covered his face that lent him an extra layer of mystery. However, his ragged appearance had many suspecting Red Banner had just pulled someone off the street to represent them. In the present of the seven Venerated and four Standard Bearers, who would pay attention to a man in rags and a silly mask? But Summer was thrilled. Today, Cloudhawk would show them how strong he was! Leaders from the six organizations gathered. Beck Roth called out a greeting to his rival from Seven Leaf. ¡°President Blanc. Here we are, competing for prominence in the Chosen Council.¡± Seven Leaf Company¡¯s president was a thin, white-haired old man. When confronted with Beck¡¯s smiling face his lips pulled into a scowl. Cold words replied. ¡°Maybe Red Banner will last longer this year. You haven¡¯t won once in the last two tournaments.¡± The edges of Beck¡¯s lips curled downward ever so slightly but bounced right back. ¡°Seven Leaf Company is a formidable opponent and an old power here in Readleaf. As your junior, Red Banner would never be so bold as to assume victory. We¡¯re just here for a little fun.¡± ¡°I hope you remain this gracious in defeat.¡± Members of Red Banner felt the anger bubbling up inside. President Blanc treated them all like dirt. But he was the leader of Redleaf¡¯s strongest and oldest organization, so no one dared voice their frustration. ¡°The two of you sure love to loathe each other.¡± A tall and skinny elder tottered over to the two men. His face was a tapestry of criss-crossing gullies and his eyes were partially hidden behind gray films. He blinked at them as though he had trouble seeing. ¡°You two are Redleaf¡¯s greatest leaders. Come, the Council has started. Take your seats and chat.¡± ¡°Greatest leaders?¡± President Blanc spat the words with contempt. ¡°Blind fool, if you have nothing of worth to say then shut your wrinkled mouth! Nothing about Red Banner makes them a great leader. This city only has one, and that is Seven Leaf!¡± The blind old man cringed away and said nothing. Red Banner and Seven Lead held this city in the palms of their hands. Redleaf¡¯s top tier. They¡¯d competed several times, trading wins and losses, but Seven Leaf often came out on top. The blind man and all the rest of the organizations together couldn¡¯t hold a candle to them. To Beck Roth and Otus Blanc, this mouthy codger didn¡¯t even have the right to speak. In Redleaf, the Chosen Council was merely a stage for Red Banner and Seven Leaf to duke it out. The rest were just opening acts. Time had come for the qualification round. The arena used for the Chosen Council had six fields. The six organizations spread their representatives evenly across the fields and those that won the qualifiers were elevated to the next round. Undoubtedly, these early contests came down to luck. Since there were only six competing organizations they all postured to control more of the rings. The more representatives they could bring into the finals, the better their chances. Once the leaders had made their decisions, the Chosen Council began in earnest. The first batch of contestants was presented. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel a little stunned, as his first opponent was the Fourth Leaf from the Venerated. Middle of the road when it came to that bunch, but likely still very powerful. On other fields, Sixth Leaf was facing off against the fourth Standard Bearer and Seventh Leaf was pitted against Red Banner¡¯s second strongest. Six and Seven were Otus Blanc¡¯s first rate fighters. There was no question they could handle Red Banner¡¯s bearers. In fact, when he saw the roster Otus¡¯ mood improved tremendously. He cackled loudly. It looked like Red Banner would lose two of their best in the opening rounds. Their only saving grace was that the best of its Standard Bearers was pitted against the First Leaf. But he was practically alone, leaving Red Banner with no advantage. It wasn¡¯t hard to see that the final, free-for-all battle would see Red Banner facing insurmountable obstacles. Otus¡¯ face softened. ¡°Beck, it doesn¡¯t look good for you this year either. Beg and I may decide to go easy on you. Make a sad puppy face and I might let you off.¡± Beck¡¯s expression was dignified and he did not reply. Things certainly did not look good. *** Sixth Leaf versus Bearer Four. The fight in field three was about to commence. ¡°Welcome to field three of the Chosen Council!¡± The announcer¡¯s voice boomed over the crowds. ¡°Our first contest looks like a fine fight between two powerful contenders. Please join me in welcoming Seven-Lead Company¡¯s Mr. Six, and Red Banner¡¯s Fourth Standard Bearer!¡± Roaring cheers shook the arena. In the eyes of Redleaf¡¯s populace they were both heroic figures. The Fourth Bearer took the field with a dark expression. Opposite him was a grim, dark-skinned man in his middle years. Mr. Six didn¡¯t carry any obvious weapons, but was accompanied by a very large jet-black wolf. The beast did not have a tuft of hair on it. Its flesh was rough and coarse like stone. It stood obediently by its master, calm, still as a statue. Its eyes burned green and never left the Red Banner representative on the other side of the field. ¡°Let the fight begin!¡± A cold smirk crept onto Mr. Six¡¯s face. Without any word or motion, the black wolf took its cue and leaped into action. It then disappeared like a puff of smoke. Fear hidden beneath a veneer of grandeur glimmered in the Fourth Bearer¡¯s eyes. This divine beast was called a shadow wolf and it had the ability to phase in and out of reality. When they did so their opponents couldn¡¯t pin them down and the wolf could chose its timing and angle of attack at will. ¡°Go!¡± The Fourth Bearer knew his foe was strong and dared not underestimate him. An enemy like him, who tried to win through deception, needed to be quick. The way to defeat them was to never give them a chance to use their speed to their advantage. He began by immediately dispatching the black condor he¡¯d used to battle Cloudhawk. The bird¡¯s form was wreathed in smoldering black flames and it released the full extent of its power from the outset. It became a streak of sinister black fire directly right at Mr. Six. It wasn¡¯t a bad tactic to attack the beastmaster with one¡¯s own beast directly. Let¡¯s see who was faster! ¡°Red Banner hasn¡¯t improved at all.¡± Mr. Six shouted at his opponent mockingly. ¡°You think this attack can hurt me?¡± He raised his hands and light shone from the rings on his fingers. The light solidified into a screen that separated Mr. Six from the flaming bird. When the column of flame struck it was all deflected and not a lick got through. The Bannerman¡¯s face stiffened. What relic was this? Why hadn¡¯t he been told? Spectators looked on in disbelief. Mr. Six was a beastmaster, when did he learn to use such a treasure? Seeing their reactions Otus chortled. ¡°That is a gift we received after our last victory. The King, in his strength and wisdom, gave us this relic for our showing. Two years in a row you¡¯ve lost, and that¡¯s twice you did not receive the grace of the king. You keep falling further behind ¨C do you think you have a hope of defeating us? The only thing left to see is how much of a fool you¡¯ll look like by the end of all this!¡± The Fourth Bearer could sense the danger he was in. His mind raced, trying to find a way to protect himself. A snarly wolf jumped out at him from the shadows. It seemed larger than it had before and suffocating power hung over it like a cloud. The ground cracked beneath its paws as it sprinted toward him with incredible speed. He had no time to get out of the way. Red Banner¡¯s representative was struck. The crowds could hear the sound of breaking bones over their gasps and cheers. The Fourth Standard Bearer was flung bodily from the ring and slammed into a wall. By the time he hit the ground he was already unconscious. What everyone had expected to be a mighty fight between two monsters was over in less than a minute. The gulf of power was just too vast! It came as a shock to them all that Seven Leaf Company had grown so strong. So much that Red Banner appeared to have fallen far behind. As far as everyone was concerned after this first fight, it didn¡¯t look like Red Banner would be on the way to meet the king this year, either. It was more likely they¡¯d leave this Council weaker than when they arrived. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 78 - Frog In A Well Cloudhawk watched the battle from nearby. This Mr. Six character wasn¡¯t all that much stronger than the Fourth Bearer. In fact these Seven Leaves and Four Standard Bearers were all in the same league. Some were a little stronger, others a little weaker, but none were overwhelming. They ranged from standard demonhunter material, to maybe senior level. They still had a long way to go before they¡¯d be considered veterans. So how did Mr. Six win so easily? It was simple. He had his divine beast and a relic. When Mr. Six released his beast and summoned the energy barrier everyone was stunned. Other Chosen looked at him with envious eyes because he could both control divine beasts and use relics in a fight. Cloudhawk was¡­ unimpressed. After all, he¡¯d come from Skycloud. Arcturus¡¯ Ruin, Selene¡¯s Sublime Transcendence, Adder¡¯s mirror crystal, and Castigation fire were the grade of relic he was familiar with. He¡¯d learned, used and encountered a plethora of epic-tier weapons over the years. When he got here, the oddities never ceased. This was a fallen kingdom, but a former godly realm nonetheless. Why was there no mark of that fact whatsoever? These Chosen had no idea what demonhunters were or what they were capable of. Their relics were low-grade and sub-par, nothing like the ones from the hands of gods. As for the divine beasts? While it was true the prevalence of them here was an eye-opener for Cloudhawk, the quality was still way below expectations. Cloudhawk had seen two other divine beasts ¨C besides Oddball ¨C before he¡¯d got here; the Temple¡¯s defender, and Autumn¡¯s crystal dragon. The former had the incredible ability precognition, knowing danger was coming to Skycloud before it arrived. It was sort of able to see into the future to warn of dangers ahead. The latter was able to breed an army of dragons and control them through an unseverable mental connection. It was the source and commander of its own army. Both of them were incredibly strong, evolved to their highest point. So what about these critters? From Python¡¯s snake to the Fourth Bearer¡¯s condor ¨C even Mr. Six¡¯s wolf ¨C they were¡­ mediocre. A fairly sturdy relic could cut them down. He didn¡¯t see anything irreplaceable. Forget the super beasts like the crystal dragon and the Temple¡¯s protector, these things didn¡¯t even come close to Oddball. The resonance he sensed from them was weak but the power of a divine beast wasn¡¯t inherent, it came from its master. That was something to consider. The first thing Cloudhawk knew was that divine beasts were a class of relics, special ones. He¡¯d recently learned that relics could be created, so¡­ did that mean divine beasts could be made? He knew the Silver Kingdom was under the control of a person they called the ¡®King.¡¯ Summer had talked a little about him, claiming he¡¯d been alive for thousands of years. If that wasn¡¯t an exaggeration, then this king sure as shit wasn¡¯t human. No human could have lived from the time of the Great War. Beyond that the king was said to have achieved several things: One, after taking control they erased any sign of the gods. Demonhunters were not inexplicably called ¡®Chosen.¡¯ Two, whoever this king was they had the ability to create relics and he was better at it than Cloudhawk. This power was the foundation of what built this kingdom and the Chosen. In addition he appeared to have some way to make or breed divine beasts. That would explain why there were so many around here and why they were of inferior quality. But most importantly of all, whoever this king was he knew Judas. The elder demon was wary of the king, or for some other reason wasn¡¯t willing to just steamroll this place. If that wasn¡¯t the case whatever enchantment they had here wouldn¡¯t matter. Nothing he saw could stop Nox¡¯s forces from breaking through. Judas would at least be able to surround the area and take its people to bolster his army of Black Knights. If there was one truth about Judas, it was that his was an ambitious heart. He wasn¡¯t going to leave this place alone if there was a chance to take it for himself. Cloudhawk was sure if he did a little digging he could dig up more information¡­ ¡­ but right now even knowing the whole story wasn¡¯t going to help him very much. Wherever this king came from or whatever sort of creature it was didn¡¯t change the fact that Cloudhawk needed to get to Imperia. The Master of Ceremonies¡¯ booming voice returned. ¡°Field five will host our next fight!¡± ¡°Cloudhawk, representing Red Banner and Seven Leaf Company¡¯s Venerated Fourth Leaf!¡± ¡°This Cloudhawk fellow is not a member of Red Banner, it is noted, but a strong foreign supporter. Will he be able to stand against the illustrious Gentleman Four? Let¡¯s watch and find out!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s contender reached the field first. He was not a very tall fellow with a burly build and a neanderthal brow with the hair at his temples receding. From head to toe he was like a heavy blade that could cut you with a glance. The leather cape he wore flapped in the breeze behind him. The four leaves stitched into her shimmery and impressive and earned oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Gentleman Four, the Venerated! One of Redleaf¡¯s most lauded talents! He had been given his first leaf when he was just twenty years old. Now in his early thirties he didn¡¯t show any signs of slowing down. In fact many thought he was a good candidate to one day rise to Seventh Leaf. Fourth Leaf walked onto the field and pulled a pair of daggers form his belt. The sinister-looking blades glinted with a dangerous light but they were not colder than the glint in his eyes. Everyone knew that Fourth Leaf wasn¡¯t just a talented Chosen, he was also a skilled warrior. Word was he could cull an angry bull in half with one swipe of his knife. Once those daggers left their sheaths most of Redleaf;s mightiest would be easily defeated. The sight of him made Red Banner¡¯s men tremble. One of their great tigers had just been defeated. Their morale had taken a serious blow and now they were faced immediately with a second confrontation with Seven Leaf Company. Only this time it was a stranger carrying their banner into battle. Was there any doubt to outcome of this duel? While Fourth Leaf was in the middle of the rest of his companions, he was no weaker than Fifth Leaf. In fact he could probably take Sixth Leaf in a scrap. Besides the Standard Bearer¡¯s eldest brother, there was no one who was his match. ¡°Where is he?!¡± Fourth Leaf glared around the ring. ¡°Has the Red Banner lost their nerve? Get the fuck up here and fight like a man!¡± The Master of Ceremonies repeated the call. ¡°Representative Cloudhawk, make your way to field five!¡± When Cloudhawk finally appeared there was a collective mutter of disappointment. This asshole didn¡¯t look special, hell he could even be described as shabby, like some kind of vagabond wanderer. How was a respectable Chosen supposed to react? No one gave Cloudhawk an ounce of hope from the get-go and now they were even more disappointed. Seven Leaf company¡¯s president snickered. ¡°Clearly, Red Banner ran out of representatives. You could have borrowed some of mine! You didn¡¯t need to snatch up some waif from off the street. This wretch is a disgrace to proper Chosen and a disgrace to the Council.¡± ¡°You are right that he is a foreign wanderer. No name or renown, no one knows him.¡± Beck took a sip of his tea, his face calm and words measured. ¡°But nothing is certain, and the outcome of this fight hasn¡¯t been determined yet. Saying otherwise now would leave you open to disgrace if it ends up you lose, Mr. Blanc. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Otus spat. Beck didn¡¯t say anything more. His eyes narrowed as his attention returned to the field. Summer shouted and cheered from among the crowd, filled with excitement and anticipation. His cries drowned out the murmurs. If these idiots couldn¡¯t look past his ragged exterior, then they were just stupid! At the same time at another corner of the arena, Craig Vista had brought his granddaughter as well to watch the festivities. Craig hadn¡¯t seen Cloudhawk fight with his own eyes, only heard what happened from Autumn. He was sure Cloudhawk was no ordinary man, but some things had to be witnessed firsthand. Was he really capable of defeating one of Seven Leaf Company¡¯s best? Cloudhawk finally took to the stage. Oddball was perched on his shoulder, idly pruning its feathers. There was nothing in this man or his little pet that spoke of urgency. Fourth Leaf took it was disrepesct and he felt his anger flare. He growled at his challenger. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re wasting my time!¡± ¡°What of it?¡± ¡°You runt! You have the balls to make me wait? I¡¯ll show you wait my time costs!¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but smirk at how ridiculous this was. Humanity¡¯s capacity for arrogance and stupidity was something to behold. Sometimes they were like frogs at the bottom of a well. Looking up from the depths, all they could see was a little circle of sky and believed that was all the world was. Little did they know that if they hoped out of their little well a whole vast existence would be revealed, destroying their silly preconceptions. But until they did, men remained ignorant and shortsighted. They were the center of their own little universes, measuring everything based on their limited experience. Here in Redleaf, Fourth Leaf was one of the bigger fish. It never occurred to him that the city he lived in ¨C actually the entire kingdom ¨C was such a little pond. When he realized how big the rest of the world was maybe he might understand that he was practically microscopic. But while Cloudhawk pondered these things, he reminded himself not to scorn Fourth Lead too much. How would he be any different from him, then? Cloudhawk may have seen more of the vast universe, but what if there was more? There had to be more. He thought he¡¯d met the greatest creatures in the universe, but what if there were more he couldn¡¯t even imagine? Cloudhawk had hopped out of his well, only to land in a slightly bigger one. It was important to keep a little awe and humility. Fourth Leaf saw that his threats failed to inspire fear in the vagabond. Worse, he was just standing there absent-mindedly! Like he did not consider Fourth Leaf a threat at all! Bastard! How dare this nobody strut around with such disrespect! Gentlemen Four was a bundle of fury. He whipped his sleeves arm and a streak of great was released. The pocket-sized thing quickly expanded in midair until it was the size of a bull. The arena was filled suddenly with a deadly air, pouring off this now lumbering creature. Gasps rang out through the crowd. ¡°He released it! Gentlemen Four¡¯s Hurricane Mantis!¡± The shift in atmosphere brought Cloudhawk back to the present. He saw the hulking insect which did indeed look much like an overgrown mantis. Its spindly body was covered in a vibrant green carapace and it swiped through the air with scythe-like arms. Serrated pincers chittered in the center of its face and were stained a deep red. This¡­ was a unique divine beast. Cloudhawk was a little surprised. Was there a way these creatures could be modified ¨C either through some strange method or even scientifically ¨C to give it new powers? ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be risking yourself for Red Banner.¡± Fourth Leaf looked down at Cloudhawk with a cruel glare and called to him in a commanding tone. ¡°Kneel, grovel! Renounce Red Banner and I¡¯ll spare your life!¡± Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes behind the mask. ¡°If I refuse?¡± Fourth Leaf¡¯s patience had run thin. He had no more time for words. ¡°Then you will die!¡± His Hurricane Mantis bound into the air, causing a powerful gust of wind to sweep across the field. Its shadow fell over Cloudhawk as, scythe-like arms extended, it blocked him from going anywhere. It was poised to chop him in two. While the divine beast attacked from above, Fourth Leaf charged from the ground. He was pretty fast, too. Before Cloudhawk had a chance to counter, he was cornered. He seemed to have nowhere to turn; either he could be cut apart by the mantis or diced into pieces by Gentleman Four. His fate was sealed. This was the power of Fourth Lead? The spectators watched, wide-eyed. Fourth Leaf¡¯s attack style was simple, in contrast to many other Chosen. If they didn¡¯t rely on relics then they relied on their divine beasts. Fourth Leaf, however, was a warrior of some skill. Each pump of his legs was like a catapult shooting him forward, increasing his momentum with each stride. Meanwhile Cloudhawk was as still as a mountain. With a flick of his wrist a crude exorcist rod appeared. A subtle step to the side and the Hurricane Mantis¡¯ swipe went wide. He pushed off his toes and darted forward. Nothing fancy, nothing stunning. He raised his arm. The exorcist staff jabbed forward. Every move looked so ordinary, unhurried. Like he¡¯d done them a thousand times before and could perform each movement with the same result. Fourth Leaf hit the ground with a triangular-shaped wound in his throat. A veritable river of blood gushed from the new hole and each beat of his heart was slower than the last. The Chosen¡¯s face was both pale and frozen in shocked disbelief. The lively, boisterous scene was now one of complete silence. A sea of eyes looked first at the corpse lying in the dirt, then at the masked man who¡¯d done it. He stood over the body without even breathing heavily as blood dripped from the end of his weapon. An errant wind blew through, rustling the stranger¡¯s tattered gray cloak ¨C like the banner of a warrior who had fought through countless wars. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t spare the crowd or the body a second look. He walked away from the field like nothing had happened, wordless, as dumbstruck eyes watched him go. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 79 - The Lone Wanderer How¡­ how did it happen? The fight was over before the crowd had time to react. It was obvious Fourth Leaf had launched into his attack with great force. Cloudhawk watched him come, still as a statue, until at the very last second. A simple wave of his hand and he¡¯d opened up the Chosen¡¯s throat. There were no words to describe it. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t move much faster than Fourth Leaf. It was almost like Fourth Leaf had just thrust his neck into the rod. In the next second he was dead. Absolute silence hung in the air for a full minute. Then chaos erupted. Fourth Leaf had lost! Fourth Leaf was dead! Such a sudden and unexpected turn blew their minds! It went against everything they knew! How could the illustrious Fourth Leaf lose so terribly to this unknown stranger? It was nothing short of mind-blowing! More staggering was the fact that he straight-up murdered the man without a second thought! Chosen were a rare and precious commodity in the Silver Kingdom. Especially those of Fourth Leaf¡¯s caliber. Whatever animosity existed among Chosen, the Chosen Council was a contest between organizations. They were representatives and the fight took place in front of hundreds of spectators. It was customary to show one¡¯s opponent some face. There were lines one should not cross. Killing one¡¯s opponent was rare unless something went wrong. Red Banner¡¯s Fourth Bearer, for example, might live the rest of his life as a cripple but was not dead. Cloudhawk was a man who kept a low profile. He wasn¡¯t loud loud, but amazed with his actions. He rarely lifted a hand, but when he did he did it with lethal efficiency. And the man he¡¯d killed was one of Seven Leaf Company¡¯s very best. More than just a capable man, Four Leaf was widely considered to one day be the current Seventh Leaf¡¯s successor. He was being groomed to lead Seven Leaf Company¡¯s Venerated as their best. Cloudhawk severed that thread of fate before Seven Leaf¡¯s president, and all the citizens on Redleaf. Without question, this was a declaration of war! Cloudhawk had left them no other choice. These two giants of industry would be forced into open conflict, maybe even a blood feud. BANG! The tea cup in Otus Blanc¡¯s hand had shattered. Boiling hot fluid splashed every which way. On the surface he showed nothing. His face might as well have been carved from stone. But his eyes blazed with an unparalleled fury. He slammed his fist on the table and shot to his feet. ¡°Beck, you go too far!¡± Seven Leaf Company¡¯s men all drew their weapons. Their face were twisted in an anger to match their president. Beck, however, remained seated. In fact, he was just as surprised at the outcome as everyone else. He hadn¡¯t thought Cloudhawk would go so far as to kill a man. But, that¡¯s what happened. No changing things now. He had to stiffen his upper lip and swallow this thorny pill. What did they expect? For him to apologize for the death of his man? In the last fight they very well might have permanently crippled his own fighter. Where would Red Banner¡¯s pride be if he bowed and scraped? Red Banner might not be quite the match for Sven Leaf Company, but they were still of equal standing. Beck fiddled with his tea cup. ¡°Why are you upset, Mr. Blanc? Sometimes there are unfortunate happenings, it¡¯s the nature of the Council. It¡¯s a shame but there is no helping it.¡± Otus was so upset he was visibly shaking. ¡°Your man murdered Fourth Leaf on purpose!¡± A cold laugh whispered in Beck¡¯s heart. So what? Nothing he could do about it. But his answer was measured. ¡°Very well, consider it my mistake. I will ask him to come and apologize when the Council is done.¡± Apologize? Beck might agree to something like this but Cloudhawk, a mysterious outsider, was more likely to wipe his ass with the suggestion. Beck knew that without question. Otus was all the more irritated by Beck¡¯s pointless lip service and had to hold himself back from flipping the table between them. But before it could escalate further, a timid voice interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, fellows. The king¡¯s men are in attendance and if you cause trouble the King will have a word. No one wants to be blamed for starting a ruckus.¡± It was the old blind man who was the voice of reason. For him to rise to prominence as president of one of the city¡¯s six major powers, he had to have a clever head on his shoulders. He pretended at being a timid old man, but most knew better. His warning cut through Otus¡¯ anger. He was so upset he could rip Red Banner leader to pieces but with his Chosen in attendance he knew it would not end well. After a moment he calmed down and allowed his mind to work. If Seven Leaf Company engaged in open war with Red Banner they had a fair shot of coming out in top, but it would be costly. If things went poorly it would mean mutual destruction. But if he didn¡¯t demand justice in some way how would he explain it? Beck knew it, too. It was easy to understand. Beck put the cup down after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°I understand your position, Mr. Blanc. You¡¯re in a difficult circumstance. So, to make you whole, how about I deliver Cloudhawk to you to do as you wish when the Council is over?¡± Otus was taken aback. It was obvious by his showing that Cloudhawk was incredibly strong. Who would have believed Beck would simply agree to hand him over to Seven Leaf Company for a gruesome death? But from the perspective of Red Banner Company, it was indeed a fine plan. Cloudhawk was an outsider. If he refused to join Red Banner, what difference did it make if he was taken care of by Otus? Cloudhawk¡¯s insultingly brief murder of Fourth Leaf proved he was an exceptional fighter. His command of divine beasts was better than Beck¡¯s own Fourth Bearer, as well. What¡¯s more, he appeared to be carrying a number of his own special relics. He was stronger than Beck could calculate. Otus wanted revenge? So be it! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a pawn of his to use anyway. If he was the last to employ his power, then all the better! Of course, he would not agree to lead Cloudhawk to his doom until after the Council. In that way they could really see what he was made of. Cloudhawk had several fights to follow. In those he did not kill his opponents but still beat them handily. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t that violent by nature nor that contemptuous. He¡¯d been holding back. Yet Fourth Leaf¡¯s arrogant, mouthy, threatening stance wasn¡¯t something Cloudhawk was going to stand for. No one else he fought was seriously wounded. Each time he took to the field, Cloudhawk did not reveal even a fraction of what he was really capable of. He only used a relic of Oddball a couple times. Everyone could see that Cloudhawk was defeating them with martial skill and battle talent. His victories were won by his own strength and physical abilities which were enough to thoroughly overwhelm the Chosen. If it wasn¡¯t for the little bird on his shoulder people would wonder if he Chosen at all. The remainder of the Venerated saw that Fourth Leaf had vastly underestimated his enemy. But how could someone like Fourth Leaf, with his divine beast and relics, have lost so easily? It was because he had thought himself so superior. He hadn¡¯t paused to think that the man in tattered armor would be his equal. Cloudhawk also had the combat skills to recognize the flaw and take advantage of it, stopping the fight in one blow. The first day of the Chosen Council had come to a close. Tomorrow would bring new challenges and in the end winners from the six fields would be selected for the final. ¡°Cloudhawk, you were amazing today!¡± Summer was thrilled when he saw Cloudhawk again. He bounded over to him with a beaming face. ¡°You killed him in one hit! Incredible! Fourth Leaf was so arrogant, he got what he deserved.¡± Cloudhawk removed his mask and look at the young man with a lopsided smile. ¡°You think so? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting yourself into trouble, talking like that here? From what you keep telling me, Seven Leaf Company is the top brass around here. Even under Red Banner¡¯s protection, Summer-Autumn Company won¡¯t be safe if you piss them off.¡± Summer was currently Cloudhawk¡¯s greatest fan. He didn¡¯t care if anyone heard, not when he was in front of his idol. ¡°So what?¡± Summer¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°I put my family¡¯s whole fortune on you to win. Thanks to you, Brother Cloudhawk, I¡¯m going to be rich! All the wealth we could have gathered from future dangerous trips can be made right now in one swoop! So I want to thank you. If you¡¯re free this evening come to the family estate and eat with us. Let the Summer-Autumn Company throw you a victory party!¡± Cloudhawk looked at this pure, hot-blooded youth. Truth be told, the kid was beginning to grow on him. Like most his age he was full of piss and vinegar, ready to reach for his dreams. It was the greatest time of a man¡¯s life. Life hadn¡¯t kicked him down yet so it was still full of expectation and possibility. He hadn¡¯t gone through the rough patches yet that would scar him along the way. Life would be great if no one grew ever up past that pure stage. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what the future had in store for Summer, whether or not he¡¯d ever have a chance to embark on his grand adventure. What he did know was that he had to stay away from the boy. The longer he remained, the higher the chance destruction would come for Summer-Autumn Company. ¡°You know what, Summer. I envy you.¡± ¡°You envy me?¡± Summer¡¯s eyes were wide. ¡°How could someone like you envy me?¡± ¡°You have a sweet, mature sister,¡± Cloudhawk began. ¡°You have kind and caring grandfather. You have a family that loves you. Hell, you have a family. I¡¯ve never in my life experienced what you have. No family, no one who cares for me like that. I wouldn¡¯t even know what it feels like. All my life all I¡¯ve seen is the shittiest parts of this world. So I envy you. Really, I do.¡± Summer didn¡¯t know how to respond. Cloudhawk was so strong, why did he care about such mundane things? The sun was setting and its fading light turned the whole sky gold. It filtered through the mist onto these two figures, stretching their shadows long. They stood and stared for a time, two contrasting lives examining one another. One was ragged and depraved. The other young and vibrant. One beaten by the elements, the other fresh and immature. One immensely strong. The other, weak and ordinary. ¡°Weak and strong are just a matter of comparison. From the mightiest king to the humblest beggar, the wisest sage or the uneducated commoner ¨C everyone experiences happiness and troubles the same. The joy a king feels when he¡¯s gifted some rare treasure is no greater than a beggar¡¯s when he¡¯s handed a loaf of bread.¡± Cloudhawk patted Summer¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll understand one day. To live is to envy others. Likewise, in other ways, others will envy you. But remember what I told you back in the bar; a real warrior always knows what they find to be most precious. That¡¯s what gives you the strength to stand up and protect it.¡± ¡°I have a little gift for you. If one day you think you¡¯re ready, use it.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t accept the young man¡¯s invitation for dinner. He was planning to stay at Red Banner¡¯s headquarters from now on. Summer watched his hero walk away. In his hand was the gift Cloudhawk left ¨C a rolled up piece of paper. He unfurled it and saw a detailed map. In the center was marked a place called ¡®Skycloud.¡¯ Summer had never known there was a place called Skycloud. Was that where Cloudhawk had grown up? Summer heard someone approaching so quickly rolled up the paper. When he turned around he saw his white-haired grandfather and his older sister behind him. They were both looking at him with anxious eyes. Suddenly, Summer knew what Cloudhawk had been talking about. Even the most ordinary things could be precious. To Summer, the most important thing in his life was this family and the love they shared. He knew that no matter where he went or what happened, that knowledge would give him strength. Autumn¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Cloudhawk, he...¡± Summer responded to the unasked question. ¡°He isn¡¯t coming with us.¡± Both Autumn and Craig sighed with relief. Craig had pulled Cloudhawk from the rubble because he wanted a Chosen to raise Summer-Autumn Company¡¯s profile. Who would have thought he¡¯d fish out so much more than that. This stranger was stronger than anyone he¡¯d seen before. If he stayed with them, it would eventually mean their doom. Summer looked back down the street where Cloudhawk had disappeared. ¡°Sis, you were right. He isn¡¯t from our world.¡± She looked back at him. ¡°You finally understand?¡± Summer nodded. ¡°I can feel his loneliness. He walks in a dark world full of struggle. A rough road, always scrambling for a glimpse of light.¡± Autumn sighed. Her brother understood. Craig regarded his grandchildren each in turn. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go home and eat.¡± Summer tightened his hand around the map in his grip and smiled. ¡°I could kill for a taste of Autumn¡¯s roasted pork!¡± ¡°All you think about is food!¡± The three laughed as they made their way back home. Cloudhawk made his way back to the residence prepared for him in Red Banner¡¯s headquarters. By now the sky was dark and his body had begun to ache. His old injuries were like poisonous centipedes chewing through him, creeping out from the shadows when he was calm and resting. Red Banner was nothing like Summer-Autumn Company. Beck Roth had prepared a luxurious room for Cloudhawk. Outside his door was a large courtyard with delicate, well-manicured flowers and a personal hot spring. Cloudhawk had respect for the man. He was clever, had ambition. But for all that he was still a small player in a small town. What could he achieve? He pushed the door open. He was about to walk in when he sensed something wasn¡¯t right. Standing on the other side of the door was a dozen beautiful women of different sorts. Each one of them was obvious a rare and hand-selected beauty. Redleaf was a place with a pleasant, humid climate. The women that were brought up here were as soft and alluring as water. ¡°Master Cloudhawk, it¡¯s fine. We are here especially at your service. We just want to make you happy, and we are at your command.¡± Each of the women was dressed in nothing but a robe of translucent gauze that left nothing to the imagination. The flimsy fabric clung to their fingers alluringly, invitingly. ¡°Dinner will be ready soon. Would you like to relax in the hot spring while it¡¯s being prepared?¡± One of the women stepped forward. ¡°We can bathe with you if you like. We¡¯ve been¡­ specially trained to make you feel comfortable.¡± Another one of the women added, ¡°We are at Master Roth¡¯s command, but have never been touched by another man.¡± It appeared as though Beck had not given up entirely on trying to entice him. This scene was certainly his latest attempt. A dozen beautiful woman? He was pulling out all the stops. ¡°I don¡¯t need any service.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was cold, and curt. ¡°You can all go.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 80 - The Man With Hidden Power Beck rose from his bed, untangling himself from the limbs of serving women. They helped him get ready for the day, and once he was washed and dressed they brought him breakfast. His housekeeper used breakfast time to deliver the day¡¯s schedule and other important information to the master. ¡°Cloudhawk refused the women you sent to him.¡± Beck was enjoying a meal of crabapples, bread and fried eggs. When he heard of Cloudhawk¡¯s refusal his forehead wrinkled in a frown and he set his breakfast aside. There was no such thing as a man who desired nothing. There was to be something Cloudhawk wanted. He didn¡¯t care about wealth, women, or status. Did such a man really exist? No, it didn¡¯t make any sense. There was only one possibility, and that was whatever he wanted couldn¡¯t be obtained here. It was nothing Beck Roth could give. The housekeeper posed a question in a quiet voice. ¡°Cloudhawk seems to have a special relationship with the members of Summer-Autumn Company. Since we can¡¯t seem to buy him, perhaps we can threaten his friends to get what we want. It would be a shame if we can¡¯t keep a man of his talent for ourselves. He would be a great help in our conflict against Seven Leaf Company.¡± Beck drank from a cup of hot milk, giving himself a moment to think. Next he unhurriedly wiped his mouth with a napkin. Finally, he rose to his feet and answered with no expression on his face. ¡°No need.¡± When Beck wanted to control someone, the best and most direct method was to figure out what they wanted and use that to his advantage. Women? He could provide scores of the most beautiful women in the city! Money? He could shower people in more money than they could imagine. He had ways to scratch all manner of itches, including more specific hobbies like collecting and art. Of course loyalty could not be bought, but he could purchase time. Anyway, Cloudhawk had only been here a couple times. That was not long enough that he would develop enough of a relationship with Summer-Autumn Company where bullying them would get the intended result. Better to abandon that plan than possibly suffer retaliation. The housekeeper was at a loss. He couldn¡¯t understand why someone so strong seemed committed to living a frugal and uninteresting life. People had a hundred years at best to walk this earth ¨C thirty thousand days. Fortune was fickle and no one knew what tomorrow would bring. A man who was delivered a safe and comfortable life on a silver platter only to turn it down¡­ well, such a man was flat-out stupid. Beck walked outside and saw a group of several people milling around. Cloudhawk, his two top Standard Bearers, and several others where in the courtyard. The sight of them made his brows furrow, for he realized the Chosen Council was not going in his favor. In the first round he¡¯d lost most of his delegation. Seven Lead Company was firmly in an advantageous position. If not for Cloudhawk¡¯s participation, Red Banner would have no hope of winning. Twice already they¡¯d lost the opportunity to present themselves before the king. If they lost again, the gulf between his company and Seven Leaf would be too vast to overcome. He could forget about ever receiving the king¡¯s blessings ever again. Something suddenly clicked in Beck¡¯s brain. Cloudhawk¡¯s ultimate goal was to see the king. No amount of money or women caught his eye but he had a dogged wish to visit Imperia. But why? There was so much that was unknown about this mysterious stranger. It wasn¡¯t clear whether he was a blessing or a curse ¨C best to kill him before any ill came. Of course, before he died he could still be useful. *** The Chosen Council was in full swing, the second day of a raging contest. The first fight to capture people¡¯s imaginations pitted Seven Leaf Company¡¯s Seventh Leaf against Red Banner¡¯s second Standard Bearer. The two were among Redleaf¡¯s strongest fighters, so their contest would certainly be a spectacle. What made it more interesting was the recent death of Fourth Leaf. Everyone wanted to know how Seven Leaf would respond. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Master Seven!¡± ¡°Master Seven is taking the field!¡± Venerated Seventh Leaf slowly walked onto the field. His especially robust frame struck quite a figure. At least two meters tall, with hard features and a shaved head he was especially intimidating. For weapons he bore a pair of metal gauntlets. The ground shook with his every step. Onlookers saw him less as a man and more like a giant. When Seventh Leaf took to the field he reached up and tore off his cloak. The fine material stitched with seven pristine leaves fluttered to the ground like as graceful as a butterfly. When he was revealed in full the crowd whispered in surprise. Master Seven was an older man in his fifties. Yet despite his age he was in incredible shape. His corded muscles were taught and ready to burst into motion at any moment. His skin had a healthy, burnished hue and the cut of his muscles were as perfect as a masterwork sculpture. Every movement was like a tiger, ready to pounce. He was as thick and sturdy as an iron fortress. Redleaf¡¯s Venerated Master Seven! To the general public it was widely accepted that he was the strongest man in Redleaf. They¡¯d given him the title Demolition Man. Stories went that his steel-like body could take blows from all manner of weapons and remain unscathed. But with a single punch, he could turn half a man¡¯s body to bloody paste. There was no one faster, stronger, or more mightily defended in all of Redleaf. There were only two or three men in the city who could even come close. Seventh Leaf stood in the center of the field and slammed his gauntleted fists together. Bloodlust gleamed in his eyes. ¡°Come, Red Banner garbage! Let¡¯s see how strong your bones last before they¡¯re ground up into powder!¡± The ferocious warrior was ready and eager to ruin every inch of his opponent in front of everyone. He would underline Seven Leaf Company¡¯s might and fury by turning this foolish Standard Bearer into mush. Beck looked at the domineering Seventh Leaf, then toward Cloudhawk and his prime Standard Bearer. He made a calculated decision and relayed the decision with a glance at his second Bearer. The warrior, though reluctant, got the message. Seventh Leaf prowled the field, almost out of patience when a voice called out. ¡°Red Banner forfeits!¡± Seventh Leaf froze in his pacing. He felt like someone punching at puddles, with no resisting force offered. He¡¯d been aching for a good fight with the finale being ripping his foe limb from limb. Well, he got his victory much easier than he would have liked. ¡°Coward! Red Banner is a bunch of cowards!¡± In frustration Seventh Leaf hammered his fist into the field. The blow caused a fissure ten meters long to open before him. He glared at Beck. ¡°You think you can avoid my fist by giving up? I will break every one of you. Especially that fucking child! He will pay in blood for killing one of mine.¡± The scene was one no one could have predicted. The various presidents looked at Beck in surprise. Red Banner was simply admitting defeat? Their Second Bearer didn¡¯t have much of a chance against Seventh Leaf, but it wasn¡¯t hopeless. By forfeiting the match Red Banner was taking one of their most important fighters out of contention. It meant their odds in the final were greatly reduced. Red Banner¡¯s representation in that final fight was slim. ¡°My Second Bearer is unwell. He has asked to give up his spot in the competition.¡± Otus Blanc¡¯s face was dark with anger. It was unexpected, but it made no difference. Vengeance would eventually be had. Right now, victory in the Chosen Council took precedence. The remaining fights proceeded and their victors settled. They were; Group one ¨C Red Banner¡¯s First Standard Bearer. Group two ¨C Fifth Leaf. Group three ¨C Cloudhawk. Group four ¨C Seventh Leaf. Group five ¨C Sixth Leaf. Cloudhawk was not surprised with these results. He suspected this would be the circumstance before the fights even started. The last fight was the sixth group, which was about to begin and captured Cloudhawk¡¯s full attention. The six groups had seen a number of elimination rounds, and now it was down to the final two. They weren¡¯t terribly exciting match-ups. Seven Leaf Company¡¯s Second Leaf was matched with a group of nobodies. It had ended up that most of the sixth field¡¯s contenders were weaklings, so that Second Leaf and his abilities handily won the day. Seven Leaf Company was poised to win the group, just as they had for groups two, four, and five. Four representatives would be going to the final in contrast to Red Banner¡¯s two. Four on two. Things were looking very good for Seven Leaf Company. Opposite Second Leaf for the final fight was a man in his twenties or early thirties. He had dramatic eyebrows that looked like splashes of dark ink and a knife-like hairline. A completely nobody, someone who no one recognized. Second Leaf regarded him with contempt. ¡°If you got this far, it means you¡¯ve got some strength. But this time you¡¯re way out of your depth, shrimp. I don¡¯t want to waste my time with you, so forfeit and we can all move on.¡± The combatant, named Desmond, stood facing the illustrious Second Leaf without flinching. There was no fear or much expression at all on his face. He merely shook his head. ¡°I have never backed away from anything in my life. I¡¯m willing to give it a try.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got backbone. But the stiffer the backbone, the more it hurts when it¡¯s snapped.¡± Second Leaf was calm. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to hurt, I won¡¯t deny you. Blackbolt, go.¡± Second Leaf pointed with his finger, and a panther dark as shadow dashed forth. When the leopard first appeared it was only the size of an average dog. By the time its feet touched the ground the first time it¡¯d swollen to the size of a wolf. It leaped ten meters and the second time its feet made contact with the field, it was as big as a rhinoceros. The feline reached Desmond¡¯s position and towered over him. It¡¯d taken less than half a second to cross several dozen meters. Once in front of Desmond the panther raked at him with ten dagger-like claws. Even before they made contact their biting edge was almost palpable. Desmond did not move. The crowd begun to gasp, certain he would be gobbled up. They watched the panther bear down on him, jaws wide and ready to take him into his gullet with the sound of tearing flesh. This idiot was so weak, but determined to throw himself into the Chosen Council? Cloudhawk was watching with eyes focused. As everyone was certain the man had become panther food, a surprise turn shook their expectations. The panther noticed it first, that the body it tore limb from limb was cold as clay and did not squirt the satisfying gouts of blood it was hoping for. Second Leaf¡¯s expression changed from derision to surprise. ¡°This...¡± It was clear. Desmond had set a trap. He¡¯d set up a puppet that looked just like him to grab his opponent¡¯s attention. It had worked to confuse Second Leaf, and with his beast preoccupied he realized his mistake too late. Relative to his beastmaster skills, Second Leaf was physically weak. He relied on the speed and strength of his panther to win fights. Without Blackbolt by his side he was left exposed. It would take a moment for his protector to return. Too late! Desmond appeared behind Second Leaf. He hefted a mid-sized shield and slammed it as hard as he could into the back of the Venerated¡¯s skull. Second Leaf¡¯s vision went black. He collapsed onto the ground. The sixth group¡¯s winner had been decided and it was¡­ the nobody, Desmond?! Such an outcome was unthinkable. For the second time Otus Blanc was left grinding his teeth in rage. Cloudhawk was a problem, but not insurmountable. Now this second unknown fool was embarrassing his company? What were these foreigners doing poisoning their Chosen Council?! Otus growled. ¡°You blind shit! This is one of yours!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame me, Master Blanc. I didn¡¯t know he could do that.¡± The old blind man¡¯s face was a carefully concealed mask. ¡°If I had known I wouldn¡¯t have put him forth as a representative.¡± For all Otus¡¯ rage, there was nothing he could do. What was done was done. But no matter, being short one man didn¡¯t make a difference. Cloudhawk watched the one called Desmond with narrowed eyes. He¡¯d felt from the beginning that this one carried at least for our five relics with him. He was actually quite strong ¨C at least strong enough to kill the other representatives. Using Skycloud¡¯s standards as a yardstick, he was probably equivalent to a veteran demonhunter. The man was strong enough that once, Cloudhawk would have had to fight hard to beat him. Of course, ever since the battle at Sanctuary Cloudhawk¡¯s mental abilities had neared the likes of a Master Demonhunter. He was strong, but not strong enough to make Cloudhawk worried. What made him curious was what a man of his caliber was doing in this tiny place. He¡¯d kept a very low profile this whole time, hiding his strength. It certainly made things a lot more interesting. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 81 - The Mad Avenger Six victors. Three from Seven Leaf Company; two from Red Banner Company; and Desmond. These six men were poised to battle for the realm¡¯s great honor ¨C Champion of the Chosen Council. An envoy from Imperia was the one responsible for holding this Council. He addressed the crowd. ¡°The strongest six of all the Chosen have been revealed. We now ask all of our contestants to approach the main stage!¡± Excitement rose among the crowd who pressed in from all directions. Be it Red Banner, Seven Leaf or Summer-Autumn, or any other normal citizen ¨C everyone¡¯s attention was fixed on this field where a great battle was about to take place. Seventh Leaf, the Demolition Man with his heavy gauntlets, was said to be capable of punching a man in two. No one had ever been known to survive his ire. Without a doubt he was the strongest Chosen in Redleaf. Being leader of the Chosen for Red Banner was no easy task either. For twenty years the First Bearer had been a big name in the city, and his power was also vast. He was likely the only person able to challenge the Venerated. The others were also special, in their own way. This was especially true for Desmond and Cloudhawk. Both men were total unknowns in this city but were shaping up to be this year¡¯s dark horse. They had defeated all contenders in their respective groups, and easily. Now they appeared on the same stage with four famous Chosen of Redleaf. They were mysterious outsiders, especially compared to the lauded men they knew as apex Chosen already. People wondered but did not know what special abilities they kept up their sleeves. But that just made this fight more uncertain, and more interesting. But despite the wild cards things still seemed firmly within Seven Leaf Company¡¯s grasp. Besides Master Seven there were two other Venerated on the field. Three people working toward the same goal gave them a significant advantage. But those were the rules. The purpose of the Chosen Council wasn¡¯t just to weed or the strongest Chosen. It was also to determine which of the city¡¯s organizations held the most sway. Those who proved themselves were qualified to present themselves before the king and pay tribute. In order to avoid a small of medium-sized organization form sweeping the contest by inexplicably hiring an especially strong Chosen, the rules were set up like this. The final contest was a six-man melee. Seven Leaf Company and Red Banner Company were perennial powers in the city so five of their representatives were on the field. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for smaller groups to get one or two representatives in the final fight. This year Desmond stood as an island, alone and under siege. Odds of him coming out on top were practically nil. The main field was easily five times the size of the smaller arenas. Easily large enough to accommodate two or three thousand people standing close together. The six contestants, all well-rested, entered the field from different places. The final contest of this year¡¯s Chosen Council was about to begin. ¡°Who do you think will be the last one standing?¡± ¡°What kind of question is that? Seventh Leaf, of course!¡± ¡°No doubt. Not only is he super fast and super strong, he¡¯s also got great defense and supernatural power. He¡¯s the perfect warrior!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. Red Banner¡¯s First Standard Bearer is no scrub. They say his relic is a spear that spits fire. One stab and his victim melts away in an instant. He¡¯s also got a flaming phoenix that breathes and attacks with fire. Not even someone like Seventh Leaf can survive that kind of onslaught.¡± Everyone was looking forward to see who would end up being right. But there wasn¡¯t a whole lot of suspense about it, either. If it wasn¡¯t Seventh Leaf, it was the First Bearer. Fifth and Six Leaf were strong, but far inferior to Master Seven. As far as the citizens were concerned, Desmond and Cloudhawk were just background noise. Cloudhawk was only the source of some talk because he¡¯d killed one of the Venerated. But besides that, he hadn¡¯t displayed very much strength. He hadn¡¯t even shown off any strong relics or showed off his divine beast. All of his opponents had been defeated with his three-edged rod. Because he¡¯d only used fighting skills, the crowds all figured he was average in psychic ability at best. He was more like a warrior, not a Chosen. Desmond was even less impressive. They didn¡¯t even understand his fighting style. The only way he¡¯d beaten Second Leaf was through trickery, and someone who had to rely on trickery couldn¡¯t be very strong. The six contenders walked in close. Seventh Leaf fixed his eyes on First Bearer, but only for a second. They slid over to Cloudhawk and sized him up. ¡°Kid, I¡¯m honestly surprised you¡¯ve agree to get in this field.¡± Cloudhawk stared back. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± There was a dangerous glint in the older man¡¯s eye. ¡°Do you have any idea what¡¯s about to happen to you?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was still hidden behind the mask, keeping both his features and expression a mystery. He didn¡¯t bother to answer Seventh Leaf¡¯s rhetorical question. He wouldn¡¯t be wasting time here if it wasn¡¯t his best chance at getting into Imperia. Since the battle for Sanctuary, Cloudhawk¡¯s mental resources had risen to nearly Master Demonhunter levels. It would be no exaggeration to say that he was like a god among these people. Yet there seemed to be no end to these idiots jumping at him like they were worth a damn. None of them had any understanding of what real power was. They all thought the piddling strength they bore was something to be proud of. Little did they understand that if they took all these ¡®mighty Chosen¡¯ and threw them into Skycloud, they wouldn¡¯t even be considered a halfway decent demonhunter squad. When Cloudhawk didn¡¯t respond to him, Seventh Leaf¡¯s face grew cold. Now that this nameless fool was here, he would make sure he wouldn¡¯t get away. There was no hurry to deal with him in this instant, he turned his attention to Desmond. Desmond looked like he¡¯d yet to hit thirty. A promising young man. Whether it was luck or skill, standing among these other men meant he had some merit. But before members of Seven Leaf Company could speak, First Sandard Bearer offered the first invitation. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. On behalf of Red Banner, I want to offer you a chance to join our company. Pledge service and help us defeat Seven Leaf, and you will earn yourself a respected position.¡± He wasted no time extending the proverbial olive branch. ¡°President Beck Roth is the wisest and most talented man in Redleaf. More than worthy for a man of your skill.¡± Red Banner¡¯s First Standard Bearer was a fine figure of a man. He was dressed in simple armor and in his hand was a red spear. His presence was no less domineering than Seventh Leaf. For him to personally offer Desmond an invitation was a sign of respect. Seventh Leaf¡¯s expression was sour. He looked to the left and right. It was Sixth Leaf that responded on behalf of his company. ¡°Red Banner is weak. They have only two Bearers left. If you side with them, it isn¡¯t even certain you¡¯ll walk off this field. But if you join Seven Leaf Company our victory is certain. I swear on their behalf that no consequences will come to you for what you¡¯ve done. You can enjoy the fruits of victory with us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Fifth Leaf joined in. ¡°Only we can help you get to Imperia. You don¡¯t know what the city is like. It is full of opportunities and temptations. It can change your life!¡± Red Banner¡¯s First Standard Bearer listened with a dark glower. Things did not look good for him or the company he served. If this Desmond character agreed to their terms, it would leave him and Cloudhawk against four opponents. He didn¡¯t think they could overcome those odds. First Bearer hurried to outline more of his offer. ¡°Otus Blanc is petty and domineering, he cares only for himself. But President Roth has a sharp eye and knows quality when he sees it. He can provide you anything you could want. Join Red Banner and I will personally see to your training. We will turn you into our Fifth Standard Bearer!¡± Both sides were eager to underline the virtues of their camp. Yet as they continued to yell over one another, Desmond kept his head down and didn¡¯t respond. When they were finally done the corners of his mouth twitched into a grin. Deep in his throat, despite efforts to surprise it, came a derisive chuckle. It certainly was not the time to be laughing at these men. What was he laughing at? What was so funny? No one had an answer. ¡°Seven Leaf Company? Red Banner Company? Me¡­ join? Did I hear that correctly? You think I would even consider the offer?¡± Desmond slowly raised his head, revealing bloodshot eyes. In the time since they made their offers, this strange man¡¯s aura had changed completely. That lowly, unassuming profile had vanished. In those eyes was an insanity that wasn¡¯t there before. He roared at them. ¡°All of you, trash! Garbage! You think you can convince me to join you?!¡± When he screamed the insults everyone ¨C with the exception of Cloudhawk ¨C were taken by surprise. Not just the fighters, either, but their bosses seated within earshot. Was this worthless Chosen insane? Did he know what he was saying? For a man like him with no backing or reputation, it was a great honor to be offered an important role in either of these organizations. But he didn¡¯t accept. Not only that, he openly belittled them. He was beyond crazy, he was asking to die. ¡°Imperia? You pathetic, ignorant fools. You think Imperia is worth your reverence?¡± Hate seethed in Desmond¡¯s gaze when he mentioned the kingdom¡¯s capitol. ¡°You insects don¡¯t know anything about the king or his true nature. You have no idea what sort of monster he is! I would rather die than go back to that place!¡± Cloudhawk listened intently to his ramblings. If his words were true, then this stranger had been to Imperia before. Something inspired him to leave, now here he was. This was a completely unforeseen turn of events. Imperia¡¯s emissary, who was sent here to hold the Council, was completely flabbergasted. What¡¯s more, it was obvious now that this crazy stranger was hiding power ¨C more power than they could have imagined. ¡°Who the hell is this guy?!¡± Otus shot to his feet in anger, furious at the sudden change. To allow such a powerful person to spoil their Council would not work in his favor. ¡°He dares stir up trouble in Redleaf! He curses our monarch¡¯s good name! These are capital crimes!¡± ¡°His name is Desmond Prestwich.¡± The elders turned toward the raspy voice and were surprised to see it was the old blind man. ¡°Bastard son of the Prestwich family, and the only one to escape its destruction over twenty years ago.¡± The revelation took Beck and Otus by surprise. Of course they¡¯d heard of the Prestwich family. Twenty years ago, when Red Banner was still a second-rate company and Seven Leaf Company had yet to reach its peak, the Prestwich family held the reigns of Redleaf¡¯s power. Unfortunately, political strife ruined their family practically overnight. Seven Leaf Company had benefited most from their fall. It swooped in to fill the power vacuum in short order, and Red Banner also took the opportunity to rise up from the ranks of obscurity. In the following decades, this leg up was what paved the way for Red Banner to reach the heights it enjoyed today. But these two companies were not the only ones to enjoy the fruits of Prestwich¡¯s destruction. Every single organization present at the Council profited from this tragedy in some fashion. Beck¡¯s face grew solemn. ¡°Then, blind man, you are...¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I also carry the last name Prestwich. I was their steward. I watched our magnificent house crumble and could no nothing. But I did have the chance to save young master Desmond. I changed his name to protect him, then stole the resources of the fractured bits of our family to build the company I run today. His revelations were met with anger from all the rest of the company leaders. They stood up, shouting curses and calling their men to arms. Yet the blind man did not move from his seat or fear for his safety. He flippantly took a sip of his tea while their angry words washed over him. ¡°As the years passed I lived in quiet hatred. But I hobbled around, a helpless old blind man ¨C until today. Now that the young master has returned I don¡¯t need to pretend any longer. In fact, I¡¯m so tired of secrets I¡¯ll reveal another one to you. I¡¯ve slipped a little something into everyone¡¯s tea. Something I prepared specially for all of you. You have only yourselves to blame for dismissive this old man.¡± ¡°You crazy bastard!¡± Beck started to feel something was wrong. Poison¡­ this old lunatic poisoned their tea. He¡¯d had several cups himself. Was he going to die with the rest of them? Cold, raspy laughter hissed at them from the blind man. ¡°It¡¯s time. Time for you to pay for all of your crimes!¡± ¡°It was you Red Banner bastards that killed my mother years ago!¡± Desmond¡¯s fury filled the field. He made no more effort to hide his identity as the surviving member of the cursed Prestwich family. His hawk-like eyes first pierced the First Standard Bearer. ¡°You want to train me? Show me, if you think you can!¡± First Bearer¡¯s face was twisted in anger. He thrust his spear of flames directly at Desmond. In the face of so fierce a strike, Desmond did not flinch. With a cold and crazy laugh he groped forth, his hands wrapped in silk-thin gloves. But thin as they were, they stopped First Bearer¡¯s spear like they were made of iron. ¡°Is this all you got? Red Banner¡¯s guardians are pathetic!¡± With his hands wrapped around the spear Desmond cackled uncontrollably. For too long he¡¯d waited for this moment. Today he would expose to everyone the evil deeds of these criminals and earn vengeance for his parents. CRACK! The metallic spear was snapped in half. First Bearer felt his anger surge. The spear had been awarded to him a decade ago when he went with President Roth to Imperia. For ten years it was his treasured weapon, practically a piece of him. He¡¯d lost count of how much blood it¡¯d drank in that time, only to be broken in the hands of this crazy idiot. With the pieces of the broken relic in his hands, Desmond charged forward. ¡°You die first!¡± Fast! First Bearer didn¡¯t even hear the words. Before they reached his ears the jagged shaft of his weapon was driven through his skull. The weapon pierced through the other side, stained with blood and brain matter. It continued all the way through and lodged into the dirt several dozen meters away. Boom! A crater now scarred the field at the point of impact. Spectators screamed in fear and shock at the scene. Was he a man or a monster?! He¡¯d killed the First Bearer in a single blow! But Red Banner Company had one more representative. As First Bearer¡¯s headless body slumped to the ground, Desmond¡¯s eyes locked onto Cloudhawk. ¡°You¡¯ve only just joined Red Banner. I can see you¡¯re hiding your strength. You¡¯re better than these pieces of shit, at least.¡± Cloudhawk hesitated. ¡°Oh? So what¡¯s your plan.¡± ¡°Any trade of Red Banner or Seven Leaf must be destroyed. Every man, woman, child, infant and elder!¡± Desmond was here to eradicate these organizations from the earth. The suffering his family had endured would be visited upon these fiends tenfold. ¡°You¡¯re strong. You have no connection to Red Banner. I¡¯ll give you a chance to live.¡± ¡°What chance is that?¡± He asked calmly. ¡°I will be leaving the Silver Kingdom and I need people. Join me, be my henchman!¡± Desmond¡¯s fervent eyes never wavered from Cloudhawk¡¯s masked face. ¡°This is my gift to you. You¡¯re one chance. If you refuse you will die here with the rest of them.¡± In Desmond¡¯s eyes this stranger had no choice. He might be hiding power, but Desmond was on another level. He was the only person to escape Imperia in defiance of the king. No one in this shithole town could stand in his way. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head and gave an unhurried response. ¡°I can¡¯t accept. I need to win this council and go to Imperia.¡± ¡°Go to Imperia?¡± Desmond¡¯s face darkened further. Something in the depths of his memory spurred his anger to burn hotter. ¡°You dare refuse... you will regret your choice!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit about whatever feud you all have.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words grew hard and serious. ¡°But I will give you some advise. Do not get in my way, or you will be the one regretting your decisions.¡± ¡°Ignorant fool! I¡¯ll show you what real power is!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 82 - End of the Council Desmond was blind with vengeance and overconfidence. He knew Cloudhawk was holding back, but didn¡¯t even bother to feel him out before launching into a full attack. He was convinced that any Chosen outside of Imperia would collapse at the first blow. There was no need to waste time being cautious. As for Imperia¡¯s Chosen? None of them would show up here! Even if they¡¯d discovered Desmond¡¯s betrayal, Imperia didn¡¯t have time to dispatch a team to stop him. From the moment Desmond revealed his identity, it was a mad dash to complete his revenge. Kill everyone and flee, that was the plan. He would leave the Silver Kingdom forever with his parents¡¯ spirits satisfied. He¡¯d even thought about where to go next. He would make his way to the mysterious city of Nox. With his decision made he would follow it through to the end. Until he could conceal himself in the shadows of the City of Evernight, he would never feel safe. This idiot¡­ if he is this eager to die, then so be it! He would show Cloudhawk the depths of his ignorance! Desmond¡¯s gossamer-thin gloves began to glow. He waved them in Cloudhawk¡¯s direction, which cast forth two rays of light. They screamed toward him like missiles. Boom! The attack was surprisingly violent. All the ground around Cloudhawk rippled like the surface of a lake. The area around his feet gave way to form a crater. Dirt was spat into the air and rocks were broken into shards. Was he human? Such incredible power! The power Desmond exhibited shocked not only the crowds but all the Venerated as well. None had ever met a Chosen who could wield strength like this. Even Seventh Leaf, who was renowned for his sturdy frame, would be blown apart by this attack! Was this power he had taken from Imperia? Desmond was conceited, but perhaps he had good reason to be. Desmond paid no more mind to Cloudhawk. Trash like him couldn¡¯t survive his attack. There were several more targets he had to deal with before he left. He¡¯d waited so long for this day. So long! At the age of nine he¡¯d been spirited away from Redleaf, saved from death by his loyal house steward. For five years he suffered cold and hunger in the Silver Kingdom, wandering from place to place. Eventually he settled in another city. Having experienced the ups and downs of life, seeing the fickle and cruel nature of man, he decided to cultivate his skills as Chosen. Those were some of the most humiliating and difficult years of his life. He poured his blood, sweat and tears into becoming stronger. At that time he was so eager to enter Imperia, for it was a beacon of glory and righteousness. Humble, pious, he suffered the hardships of his life and eventually achieved his dream. Desmond would never forget the excitement he felt the first time he met the king. But those feelings would not last forever. Soon the secrets of the city were revealed. Its false face was peeled back and he saw the truth. He learned in the harshest fashion how foolish his dreams had been. What utopia could be found in this foul earth? Everything was like snow sculptures built on ice flows. No matter how beautiful the surface, beneath the ice was a cold, inhospitable abyss. Just when you thought you¡¯ve come to grasp your dreams, fate conspires to send you tumbling into the icy depths. Faith was like thin ice over a lake surface. Dreams sank like a rock. Desmond and his dreams were already drowned in that dark, cold world. He only began to feel like himself when he let those weighty dreams go. This realization is what inspired him to escape from Imperia and make the long trip back to the home of his cursed family, to finally get vengeance. Desmond¡¯s aim was to hunt down and slaughter everyone who had a hand in his family¡¯s destruction. Blood was the only currency he would accept in recompense. So many long years had he kept this poison hidden in his heart that now it was the only thing left in his life to accomplish. ¡°Die! Today, you are all going to die!¡± Desmond¡¯s gloves still seethed with dangerous light. Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Leaf gathered together to mount a defense. However before the next phase of this fight broke out something turned their eyes elsewhere, and they were stricken dumb by what they witnessed. Although one section of the field had been blasted to pieces, the man in rags and a mask stood in the crater unscathed. In silence those cold dark eyes peered from the mask while his ruined cloak fluttered in the wind. Desmond gaped openly. This worthless village housed someone able to fend off his attack? Well, if one blast wasn¡¯t enough then he would eat a second! Desmond flung his hands toward Cloudhawk once again, releasing the stored energy in his gloves. This time the blasts were even stronger than the first. Beams of pure white energy slithered through the air like snakes. Halfway to their target the two beams joined and grew even stronger. Snakes had become a writhing white boa constrictor as it bore down on Cloudhawk¡¯s location. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk¡¯s cloak rose around his shoulders like someone had turned off gravity. Yet while his cloak danced in an unseen wind he didn¡¯t move except to raise his left hand. He rammed his fist into the encroaching beam of energy. This stranger would not dodge or hide, and instead sought to go blow for blow against such an attack? Did he not understand that even if his arm was made of the finest steel the assault would blow him into pieces? His left arm was the one encased in the old-looking gauntlet. When he punched the metallic armor gleamed. A repelling force shimmered into existence around Cloudhawk. When the beam was a food from its target, it stopped dead in the air. It simply hung there, vibrating, as though some unseen polar magnetic force was holding it at bay. Although the power in it could still be felt there seemed to be no way for it to push forward much less destroy Cloudhawk. Boom! The beam detonated. The energy it released was vomited in a fan-like shape around Cloudhawk. It swept around him, scouring the landscape but causing him no damage. With a single punch he¡¯d completely negated Desmond¡¯s frightening onslaught. ¡°This is the best you got?¡± Cloudhawk maintained his cold, derisive calm. It wasn¡¯t that Desmond was weak. In fact, he was roughly equivalent to a veteran demonhunter. Thinking back to his time in Hell¡¯s Valley, Desmond would probably be among the top tier of his Tartarus Squad ¨C probably about the same as Gabriel. Even in a place like Skycloud, where talented youth were as numerous as clouds, he¡¯d likely make a reasonable name for himself. Yet compared to where Cloudhawk was now, there was precisely nothing special about Desmond¡¯s skills. Disbelief was scrawled on Desmond¡¯s features. What was someone this strong doing in Redleaf? He wielded more power than Desmond could begin to comprehend. No... impossible! There was no reason he should be in this piece of shit city! Desmond saw that his chances of winning dignity for his family was slipping away. He could no longer keep his cool and his relic gloves burned bright as dual suns. In a fit of wild abandon he flung a deluge of attacks toward this cursed stranger. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. As the beams came tearing his way their trajectories were marked clear in his mind. These slow, clumsy attacks were no threat to him. Yet as he was preparing to answer a bone-deep pain took hold. It felt like an electric current was burning through every cell. It was so intense it caused him to stumble. His heart seized. What a shitty time for his wounds to act up! Faced with this siege, Cloudhawk was left with no choice but to hide behind his gauntlet. Each one that landed shoved him backward several meters. Five, six, seven blasts struck in quick succession before a final one sent him flying. His bandages were burned from the power and tendrils of black smoke rose off his body. Desmond stood panting and drenched in sweat. He only relaxed when he saw Cloudhawk get thrown to the ground. This stranger was strong ¨C much stronger than the others ¨C but still couldn¡¯t stand up to him. The only reason he¡¯d survived so far was because he had a high-grade defensive relic. ¡°See what I am capable of! Die!¡± Desmond tried to seal Cloudhawk¡¯s fate with another salvo of four or five beams. Pain sealed off Cloudhawk¡¯s mental powers, but that did not mean he was defenseless. He poured what he could into Oddball. In the instant those two resonated, the small burst darted off like a streak of golden lightning. Boom! A series of deafening blasts arose. Desmond¡¯s attacks all blasted across an enormous set of wings. They were a brilliant golden hue and glinted with a faint metallic sheen. Oddball was now the height of two grown men. Monstrous in size, it¡¯d finally grown out of the goofy fat phase and into a majestic creature wreathed in golden fire. Each feather shone brightly as the flames danced like sheets of gold in a furnace. Oddball had become a heavenly golden phoenix! Cloudhawk had always treated Oddball like a pet. From time to time he used the small bird to scout but rarely did he risk harming Oddball in a fight. As such, even he was stunned when his small friend transformed into such a magnificent creature. Desmond¡¯s blasts faded away. They¡¯d done nothing against Oddball¡¯s metallic plumage, for it had transformed into a dignified bird of wonder! Redleaf¡¯s citizens stared in amazement. What divine beast was this? Incredible! Errant sparks of golden energy crackled around Oddball¡¯s beak. A moment later it released a ray of golden light toward Desmond. With eyes wide he threw up his hands to protect himself, and a screen of pale white met the golden ray. It held, but Desmond¡¯s face was twisted in fear and pain. He was defending himself, but it was clear he couldn¡¯t hold for long. ¡°You think you can kill me when you can barely protect yourself from my beast?¡± Cloudhawk was beginning to fight through the pain. As he spoke that sinister crimson fire burned in his eyes. He released a powerful blast of psychic energy. Desmond screamed. The mental assault overwhelmed him, severing his resonance with his relic. The resulting explosion shook the ground. Desmond was flung away and hit the ground unmoving, his body charred black. Alive. Cloudhawk had held back. He figured the guy could be of some use so he spared his life. Oddball shrunk back into the pudgy, funny little bird everyone was familiar with. It fluttered back over to its master and alighted on his shoulder, chittering happily as though to say ¡®did you see how awesome I was?!¡¯ Excellent teamwork! Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden and unexpected injury had forced him to keep his real power concealed. This was a good thing, for if he¡¯d been required to reveal what he was capable of it would have garnered unwanted attention from the king and his men. He was an outsider here, and if he were seen as a threat his chances to enter Imperia could be endangered. Cloudhawk was tired. He turned to leave the ring, and in that moment a dark understanding rose in the minds of the Venerated. Cloudhawk was strong. Too strong. If he were allowed to live in Redleaf what space would be left for them? He had to die. It was the only answer! They were faced with this one opportunity to get him while he was weak. After defending himself from Desmond¡¯s attacks he had to be spent, at least according to Seventh Leaf. If they didn¡¯t deal with them now when would they have another chance? Seventh Leaf¡¯s face twisted into a fierce and bloodthirsty scowl. ¡°This asshole will bring nothing but trouble. Kill him now!¡± The three Seven Leaf fighters knew what he meant and agreed. They dispatched their beasts and summoned the power of their relics. Cloudhawk was stunned that people this stupid could have survived so long. But they¡¯d attacked him, and he had no reason to hold back. Fifth Leaf was first. He raised an arm, summoning a protective screen. Sixth Leaf had his beast move around and attack Cloudhawk¡¯s flank. Light poured off Seventh Leaf¡¯s gauntlets as he prepared for his onslaught. None of them stopped for a moment to consider that Cloudhawk could take them all. Cloudhawk watched them take their threatening postures with a cold smirk. From his back he pulled out the broken sword. He spun, whipping Ardent Wrath around and from it was cast a horizontal torrent of fire several meters long. It tore across the field in an instant. One swipe, that¡¯s all it took. He returned his sword to his back then left the field. Fifth Leaf¡¯s shield shattered like glass. The wave of fire swept passed. When the glare died down, spectators looked back at the field to find three statues. They were charred humanoid figures whose flesh had turned to ashy coal. Nothing remained for them to tell who was who. Three of the city¡¯s ultimate warriors. Dead from one blow. Cloudhawk had tamped down on his powers as much as he could. Had he not held back there wouldn¡¯t even be corpses to mark their passing. Even their bones would¡¯ve turned to ash. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 83 - Night Visi Cloudhawk had not anticipated Beck Roth¡¯s death. Not just Beck. Seven Leaf Company¡¯s Otus had also succumbed to poison and several more elder company leaders. All dead. Cloudhawk looked down at the corpses with their puffy, blue-black faces dripping with oily sweat. Grim faces were twisted in the pain, anger and fear they¡¯d felt in the moment they died. This was definitely a situation Cloudhawk had not expected to find himself in. Beck and Otus were Redleaf¡¯s most powerful men. Their ambition kept them striving for more, but who¡¯d have thought their ambition would be their undoing. All their lives the two had struggled against one another. Everyone had thought one day they would be the death of each other. Funny how that worked out. Never in their wildest dreams did anyone think that death would come from without, especially Beck and Otus. Man was never safe from misfortune. No one knew what the future might hold. If these men had known their willful efforts and ambition would all be for naught, would they have changed their ways? No one would ever know. Cloudhawk scratched his head, at a loss for what to do. It was a marked change for him, but ever since the battle for Sanctuary and the coma following, he preferred to think on things a little more. Maybe the meaning of life was just that, to think. Or maybe it was thinking that caused people to grow up. Cloudhawk¡¯s attention was drawn to another wrinkled old body. It was the blind man. He¡¯d also succumbed to the poison tea, but he¡¯d been cut down and ravaged before the poison could take him. But even though he was a mess of hacked off limbs and exposed guts, there was a smile on his face. That was the smile of a man who was convinced he was the only winner. A man who felt his death was a good one. He¡¯d waited and struggled for so many years. Finally the young master had returned, stronger than anyone. There was no question in his mind that Desmond would win vengeance for their family. He would bring the Prestwich family back to the fire. That was a fine reason to sacrifice himself. If his life was the cost for sweeping away all obstacles before the young master, then it was more than a fair trade. He¡¯d died before he saw what became of Desmond. Burned, beaten, crippled. Far from winning vengeance, he himself was in danger of fading away. Did the blind man¡¯s sacrifice mean anything? This was a false premise. Death represented finality. Death was nothingness. When one died, their world died with them. Nothing that happens afterward means anything to them. The mightiest of men, the greatest of heroes, the vilest of villains ¨C all up in smoke when they stop breathing. The most admirable, the most incomprehensible and the most ignorant thing a man could do was self-sacrifice. As Cloudhawk sat, deep in thought, a small figure approached with a group behind him. He had a frightened look in his eyes when he regarded the stranger. To him this man wasn¡¯t just an outsider anymore, he was their ruler. With a flick of his wrist he could claim any life he liked. Cloudhawk regarded him with narrowed eyed. ¡°Second Bearer?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation everyone fell to their knees before him. ¡°Pres¡­ President Roth is dead!¡± Second Bearer lowered his head and addressed Cloudhawk reverently. He did his utmost to show this man in rags humility and respect. He pressed his head to the ground. ¡°Myself and the others wish to beg for your support, to be our new leader. We will do whatever you command!¡± Cloudhawk looked at the two surviving Standard Bearers, Second and Third. He saw the panic in their eyes. In the end it was the iron fist that always won. The truth that strength bought power was true anywhere. After Cloudhawk defeated Desmond and ended the Venerated with one blow, these men understood that they were less than nothing in the eyes of this man. A handful of days prior, Second and Third Bearer had been clamoring to fight Cloudhawk. Just the thought made them break out in a cold sweat. He was no man, but a monster that would have gobbled them up in an instant. Nothing about this small city enticed Cloudhawk, however he could use Red Banner¡¯s resources to get him into Imperia. As their president, it would give him the prestige he needed. So he agreed. The decision thrilled Second and Third Bearer. They hadn¡¯t expected him to accept. Second Bearer practically tripped over his tongue as he spoke. ¡°Otus Blanc is dead along with the Venerated. With your support and the other companies in chaos, shouldn¡¯t we...¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the least bit interested in consolidating power. He waved at the two men dismissively. ¡°From now on you two are my proxies. Do what¡¯s needed in my name. If anyone disagrees, come find me.¡± ¡°Thank you, boss. You are peerless.¡± ¡°Who in this city would dare stand against you?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! All the riches, businesses, and women are yours!¡± Second and Third were like completely different men. All of a sudden they were tail-wagging mutts begging for scraps. In making this far it didn¡¯t prove they were the smartest fellows, but they weren¡¯t stupid either. It was clear as day that Redleaf was standing on the cusp of a new era. The only person with the power to make any sort of decisions was this man before them. If they could use this historic change in Redleaf to become this stranger¡¯s right hand, they would surely see huge benefits to both personal status and wealth. Compared with that, what did the loss of a little dignity mean? Cloudhawk dismissed them and the two men left happily. They quickly set about their business. They called together the members of Red Banner and had them go door to door, claiming the right to nearly every business in the city. Almost everyone had seen what Cloudhawk was capable of, so there was a healthy fear surrounding the man. The combined leadership of Redleaf¡¯s six major companies had all died as well, so there was no one to stand in Cloudhawk¡¯s way. The five other companies in Redleaf all came under the auspices of Red Banner. Merely the suggestion of force from Cloudhawk was enough to make his company a domineering entity. Any resistance was ground to dust. Of course such a traumatic change in circumstance was sure to throw the city into chaos. Luckily Red Banner was already large and strong, so fierce opposition was not expected. In the end this transition of power went relatively smoothly. And Cloudhawk could not care less. He didn¡¯t care whether he was welcomed in the city. He cared even less about Second and Third Bearer and their schemes to increase their riches. In fact, the only thing in this city that Cloudhawk was at all interested in was Desmond. He had to pick this guy¡¯s brain, learn what he¡¯d seen and experienced. With his level of strength he surely did well for himself in Imperia. After all, this fallen kingdom could not compare to the likes of Skycloud. Out there a veteran demonhunter reached about the mid-levels of prestige. Here, however, a talented man of this age had to be worth his weight in ancient tech. Desmond had to know a lot about the capitol. And something he discovered prompted him to want to leave. Cloudhawk was likely to be facing an unknown and unpredictable opponent. He couldn¡¯t afford to be rash or underestimate his foes. There were guards at the door to where he was keeping Desmond, and though they were nothing to Cloudhawk he couldn¡¯t afford to take any chances. With a snap he summoned a field of power, the earlier ability he¡¯d learned to absorb ¨C a field of silence. This parlor trick was sometimes invaluable. Desmond¡¯s body was burned black. He was dripping with dozens of thick, heavy chains to keep him bound, but his ragged breathing indicated how weak he was. Cloudhawk had held back as much as he could. However, such an injury to a man with Desmond¡¯s constitution was enough to leave him at death¡¯s door. If he didn¡¯t receive help he would die before the night was out. To this end, Cloudhawk produced a mirror from his clothing. This was Rekindling Lens he¡¯d taken from Archbishop Zoren Leclair. A relic of this caliber went far beyond what these Chosen could imagine. In fact, in Cloudhawk¡¯s stern opinion these Chosen would cower before a demonhunter equipped with scraps. When he reached into it with his mind, the Rekindling Lens began to glow. Its line shown down upon Desmond¡¯s body and with the relic¡¯s miraculous healing abilities he started to recover. Before long the man¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Cloudhawk had returned the relic to his clothes and vanished from view before he could be noticed. He watched unseen as Desmond struggled against his bonds. These were special chains, however, strong enough to keep an angry bull restrained. A Chosen with no artifacts was hopeless to break free. Right now Desmond was about as threatening as a foot soldier. Cloudhawk¡¯s growling voice called to him from the ether. ¡°I have questions.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there! Who¡¯s talking!¡± Fear turned Desmond¡¯s face white. ¡°Come out and show yourself!¡± Of course Cloudhawk would not oblige. Even his voice came out as a raspy, guttural snarl from behind the mask. It made it impossible to tell anything about him. With Cloudhawk¡¯s invisibility powers there was no way Desmond could know his identity. ¡°Your king. What is he? What are his weaknesses?¡± When he first heard the questions Desmond paused. Then his face began to change. If these were the questions this mysterious voice was asking then he certainly wasn¡¯t from the Silver Kingdom. An outsider, with such powerful stealth abilities¡­ he had to be some sort of foreign assassin. ¡°What are you? Did you come from the Forbidden Area? Why do you ask these questions, are you going to kill him?¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be incorrect in assuming as much.¡± ¡°Hahahaha! You absolute fool! You¡¯re asking for death, no one can kill the king! He has no weaknesses! Even your Noxian Governor, the powerful Khan of Evernight, can¡¯t kill him! Do you think you¡¯re some kind of threat with your tricks and invisibility?¡± Desmond¡¯s mad laughter suddenly cut off and his tone grew desperate. ¡°Let me go! Get me out of here! Take me to Nox and let me meet the Khan, I¡¯ll tell him everything I know! Quickly, let me free!¡± Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°What do you know?¡± Desmond struggled and screamed. ¡°Let me go!¡± Suddenly, outside the prison doors there was a light and the sound of approaching footsteps. Cloudhawk¡¯s mastery of the field of silence was profound, he had perfect the art of controlling what noises he liked long ago. No one outside could heard what was happening inside, but those inside could hear the outside world perfectly. In addition the power of the field so absorb more intense sound had also grown. Cloudhawk could detonate a bomb in this chamber and no one would hear it. ¡°This is it,¡± a voice said. It was Imperia¡¯s emissary, the man they¡¯d sent to oversee the Chosen Council. The way he spoke sounded respectful, deferential. ¡°The traitor should still be alive, but badly wounded.¡± A raspy voice answered. ¡°Desmond is strong. Who wounded him so badly?¡± ¡°As far as I have learned,¡± the emissary replied, ¡°It was a member of the local power.¡± ¡°This place can produce a man of such strength? Desmond is not a foe easily defeated!¡± ¡°Enforcers! Imperia has sent its Enforcers!¡± The sound of footsteps came closer and each step made Desmond more frightened. ¡°The king sent them here to get me. Let me go! Get me out of here!¡± This was very inconvenient. Cloudhawk frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t save the man, the question was why should he? If Desmond were to suddenly disappear the king¡¯s men would be crawling all over this city. Cloudhawk¡¯s identity was built on toothpicks and if he came under scrutiny it wouldn¡¯t hold up. ¡°I can¡¯t go back!¡± Desmond twisted against the chains. ¡°Kill me! Please just kill me!¡± Cloudhawk was taken aback by his reaction. What was he so afraid of?¡± To avoid Desmond causing a fuss Cloudhawk released another burst of psychic energy. It struck Desmond full force and knocked him unconscious. He¡¯d be out for at least two or three days. He wouldn¡¯t be causing any problems for now. The door opened. Cloudhawk watched as a cadre of silver-masked men filed into the prison cell. They were all clad in fine cloaks and vintage chain mail. Formidable strength wafted off each of them, about equal to Desmond. They were a pretty capable unit. ¡°Did you say he was near death? He hardly looks injured at all.¡± The emissary looked at Desmond¡¯s unconscious form in disbelief. ¡°Eh¡­ impossible. I saw it myself, he-¡± ¡°It looks like the idiot was just careless. He thought he¡¯d be unbeatable outside of Imperia. He overestimated someone and got knocked on his ass.¡± One of the Enforcers, a woman, made her determination in a contemptuous voice. ¡°Whoever beat him isn¡¯t as strong as you seemed to think. Lucky, more like.¡± The leader¡¯s voice was calm and calculating. ¡°Whatever the case, collect him and let¡¯s go.¡± Cloudhawk remained hidden in the corner, frowning, watching it all unfold. He was strong enough to do what he wanted without these people getting in the way, but now wasn¡¯t the time to be causing himself more problems. He needed to get into Imperia as soon as possible. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 84 - Divine Beast Ranks Dawn lit up the city. Imperia¡¯s Enforcers had arrived. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t surprised. Desmond was strong, and to be defeated in a small place like Redleaf was abnormal. Whether or not they found Cloudhawk¡¯s identity suspicious, the Enforcers had to come and see what was going on. The two Chosen Enforcers who came to him were the same two who Cloudhawk had spied on the night before. Right away he knew the calm was one their leader. The other was the lone female in their Enforcer group. They were both dressed in standard mail armor, but Cloudhawk could sense the weak hum of relic power. They were likely the standard relic equipment for Chosen in this place. Silver masks concealed their faces but their gait was telling enough. The man was in the prime of his life, and the woman with him quite young. Red Banner, as the local power, had the run of this small town. They¡¯d never encountered people like this before. They scrambled around like obedient dogs. The male Enforcer paused a moment to gather the measure of Cloudhawk. ¡°You are the Chosen who defeated Desmond?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Desmond underestimated me and I managed to capitalize on his mistake.¡± Cloudhawk adopted a subservient, humble appearance. ¡°I had no idea he was a traitor from Imperia, or that he was here to try and exact vengeance on Redleaf. Now we have Master Enforcers in our humble town.¡± ¡°Desmond is a public enemy in the eyes of Imperia. He was cunning and left false trails to try and throw us off. We were surprised to learn he was here. If you hadn¡¯t had defeated him it is very likely Desmond would have escaped.¡± His tone suddenly changed. ¡°Desmond is strong and not an easy one to defeat. Even if he was careless it would take someone with considerable skill to deal with him. We¡¯ve spoken with several citizens who witnessed the fight and they tell us you more than defeated him ¨C you also killed three of the city¡¯s strongest Chosen in a single blow.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± The woman slammed the table suddenly. ¡°You must be crazy to kill three Chosen like that. Are you not aware that all Chosen are under the King¡¯s protection? If you don¡¯t explain yourself immediately then you will be arrested!¡± Cloudhawk was quick to his defense. ¡°They tried to kill me first. I was defending myself and it all got a little carried away.¡± ¡°Carried away?¡± She sounded incredulous. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the bodies. They¡¯ve been totally carbonized! This is ¡®a little carried away¡¯? If you ask me, you intended to murder them!¡± The man raised his hand, reigning her in. ¡°Injuries during the Chosen Council are expected, it isn¡¯t a matter worth discussing. I only have one question for you: How did you defeat Desmond? I would ask that you are clear and honest in your response.¡± It was a poignant question he couldn¡¯t escape. ¡°Desmond is a lot stronger than me. I was only able to beat him because...¡± In a flash of inspiration Cloudhawk threw Oddball under the proverbial bus. ¡°Because of my divine beast!¡± ¡°Because of this bird?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I found it six years ago during one of my travels. I don¡¯t know much about it except it¡¯s very strong. If you spoke to the witnesses then you know Desmond had me on the ropes. If it wasn¡¯t for my divine beast I¡¯d probably be dead.¡± The Enforcers indeed had pieced together what happened during the Chosen Council. Descriptions of the giant golden bird of fire were consistent among several witnesses. Was this pudgy little thing supposed to be that titan? That seemed¡­ unlikely. The Enforcers peered intently at the small golden thing. Oddball was like some strange sort of owl, about the size of two fists side by side. He was slightly pudgy-looking and covered in golden feathers. Big round eyes looked back at the Enforcers. It looked like a curious little pet, hardly a mighty divine beast. OF course, experienced Chosen knew that a divine beast¡¯s real power wasn¡¯t revealed on the surface. The pudgy bird¡¯s unassuming exterior didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t fierce when it needed to be. ¡°There is no divine beast like this in Registry. It must be some new species.¡± The man muttered to himself. ¡°Glawyn , you brought the grade-stone, yes? If we identify the beast¡¯s rank we can learn its strength.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity was piqued by their exchange. ¡°Divine beasts have ranks?¡± ¡°Five, in fact, in ascending order from fourth rank, third rank, second rank, first rank and S ¨C or special ¨C rank. Detecting which rank a divine beast falls into is simple.¡± The one called Glawyn opened her back and retrieved a small wooden box. Inside was a round crystal which she took into her hand. ¡°Place a drop of the divine beast¡¯s blood on the grade-stone and it will grow with a strength corresponding to the creature.¡± It was the first time Cloudhawk had heard anything like it. Oddball twittered its disapproval but obliged when its master pricked its leg for a drop of blood. The Enforcers held out their crystal to receive the drop. After a few minutes a bright, blinding light burst from within the relic like someone had turned on a light bulb. ¡°This...¡± The results clearly surprised the Enforcers. Oddball¡¯s rank defied expectations ¨C first grade at least, maybe even the cusp of S-rank. Such a creature was rare throughout the kingdom, to say nothing of a small city like Redleaf. ¡°How the hell did you get so lucky! You just stumbled on this divine beast?¡± Divine beasts were different from relics. Relics were only given out by the king, and the higher-grade ones were restricted to Imperia. If Cloudhawk had revealed the strength of his relics the Enforcers would certainly have arrested him and brought him to the capitol. Who knows what would happen to him then. The female Enforcer looked again at the pudgy little bird, both jealous and amazed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like much at all. No wonder you were able to beat Desmond.¡± ¡°Do you have any more questions for me?¡± Cloudhawk pressed. ¡°No, we have other pressing matters to attend to. We won¡¯t trouble you any further.¡± It hadn¡¯t been their intention to come her and put Cloudhawk¡¯s feet to the coals, they were just trying to get a feel for what had happened and get to the truth of things. Oddball¡¯s obvious strength put their suspicions to rest. As far as they knew, Cloudhawk was just a very lucky man. He had average strength but a mighty divine beast had come to call him master. Once that was the case there was no changing it, they could only look on with jealousy. No more questions. Imperia¡¯s Enforcers saw nothing else worth their time. They were just here to bring back a fugitive. To avoid complications they had to leave Redleaf as soon as possible. As they were leaving the Enforcer called Glawyn offered Cloudhawk a final word. ¡°The tributes will be conducted soon. If you¡¯re lucky maybe we¡¯ll meet again in Imperia. A beast like yours is a real find. You¡¯re a lucky man, take good care of it.¡± With that the Enforcers took their leave. Cloudhawk scratched Oddball¡¯s neck. ¡°Hell, it seems you¡¯ve got a lot more potential than I thought little one.¡± He didn¡¯t know how accurate these grade-stones were, however, and divine beasts evolved with time. It could very well be the special feed Dawn had given him, or the eboncrys, or the otherworldly spirits that made Oddball so strong. *** The next day. Second Bearer brought a crowd of new recruits before Cloudhawk. They presented themselves in orderly fashion to Red Banner¡¯s new president. Among them were former enemies, suddenly eager to follow Cloudhawk¡¯s lead. It was no surprise, since Cloudhawk¡¯s display of strength had been obvious to everyone who witnessed the Council. No one dared lift their head in defiance. Second Bearer and the others had been busy. Over the last two days they¡¯ve systematically gone all throughout the city. No opposition to Red Banner¡¯s dominance remained. If Cloudhawk had been willing he could make this beautiful land of hot springs his seat of power. If he was still the person he was years ago ¨C with no ties or responsibilities ¨C he would have done so gladly. Yet Redleaf held no interest fro the Cloudhawk of today. He had a mission to complete and promises to keep. Redleaf was a step-stone on his path to Imperia. He didn¡¯t intend to stay here any longer than was necessary. ¡°Redleaf is in a special period where we must prioritize stability. We need restraint, so I do not want to hear about rivalries or retaliation.¡± Cloudhawk got right to the point. ¡°I don¡¯t have any experience in managing things from day to day so I¡¯m going to make a proposition. We join with every family, company and faction and establish a Redleaf Assembly. Each chooses standing members and a president is selected from among the delegates. This group is responsible for representing the people of Redleaf, consolidating resources to look after the city, and maintaining unity.¡± It was a stunning proclamation. An assembly? Did that mean Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t planning to run the whole show himself? Eyes lit up as the more ambitious realized the implications. They rubbed their greedy hands together at the thought. If they could earn a spot in the assembly they would have real power. Cloudhawk¡¯s intention was to create a body to help Redleaf through this transitional phase and prevent the city from falling into chaos after the death of its leaders. Once there was an established system of governance things wouldn¡¯t fall apart when Cloudhawk left. Before he wouldn¡¯t have cared about leaving a mess. These were tiny fish in a little pond. However, as Cloudhawk grew stronger and he grew close with others, he learned that there are responsibilities one has to adhere to in life. Even though he had no interest in staying here, now that he was in a position of power he had to take that seriously. That was the duty power imparted, the requirements of it. If for no other reason than peace of mind and carrying less burdens forward into the future. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but think of Adder. He still remembered the man¡¯s dying words. Some people were born to be leaders, others were born to be traitors. Maybe Adder was right. ¡°From today onward we must spare no effort and prepare out tribute for the king.¡± He paused before adding, ¡°I want to introduce someone who will help us with the preparations.¡± The eyes of the crowd turned toward a dark figure. He was strange, dressed from head to toe in metallic black armor. Even his face was hidden behind a full mask. A heavy black cloak made him look like a lumbering shadow. Not as ragged as Cloudhawk, yet undoubtedly an outsider. None of them would have believed it if they were told this was Nox¡¯s Governor, the Khan of Evernight. Here, Nox was a place of legend. Ever swathed in darkness, it was a den of evil and demonic forces. Its denizens were beast-like monsters that ate creatures raw and gorged on their blood. The leader, their King of Evernight, was said to be a monster with three heads and six arms. Or so that¡¯s the story these people heard. But who would pay any mind to a nobody Cloudhawk threw into the mix? Cloudhawk had needed to find some method to get the Khan into Imperia with him. Now that Redleaf was essentially under his control, he didn¡¯t need to force it. Solving the issue was as easy as putting the Khan in charge. For the next few days everything ran smoothly. Cloudhawk established the Assembly and elected members. He paid special attention to Summer-Autumn Company, lifting Craig Vista up as a permanent member. He went further by gifting Summer-Autumn Company with a number of Chosen previously sworn to Red Banner. It was his last act of thanks for how they treated him. Once everything was ready Cloudhawk set off for Imperia with an entourage and the items prepared for tribute. His deteriorating condition could not be ignored any longer. He had to finish what he came here to do. 1. pokedex! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 85 - Legendary Demonhunter The nearby battlefield left over from the Great War was like a giant refrigerator. Its biting cold effecting the climate far toward the horizon. A swath of the Silver Kingdom was blanketed in a terrible blizzard. The choking cold brought with it a blanket of snow. It blinded the air, and screeching winds deafened the ears. So intense were the gusts that the travel animals were almost blown over. Daggers of ice scraped against the travelers¡¯ faces, making it difficult to breathe. Clang! Clang! The sounds of the sleighs clattering could barely be heard above the roaring winds. A crew of about a hundred people trudged through the storm at a snail¡¯s pace. At the head of the pack was the man who recently came to lead Redleaf City, Cloudhawk. He¡¯d earned the right to pay tribute to the king after winning the Council, and was making his way to Imperia with papers signed by the capitol¡¯s emissary. Once everything was in order he¡¯d set off immediately with his entourage and the items he planned to provide as tribute. He fixed his eyes ahead and pressed through the grueling climate toward his goal. This blizzard was no danger. Even injured, his physicality was practically superhuman. If this weather couldn¡¯t stop the tenacious people of this realm, it wasn¡¯t going to have any effect on someone like Cloudhawk. All it managed to do was slow his team down. It¡¯d been five days since they left Redleaf. Silver Kingdom wasn¡¯t very large, so by all rights they should have been close to their destination by now. However the blizzard would not let up and it was impossible to know precisely how far away they really were. A fact that caused no end of frustration. ¡°The Shepherd God decided to establish her realm in a place like this?¡± Cloudhawk grumbled his frustrations toward the Khan of Evernight, who walked by his side. The storm was loud so it was hard to hear anyone that wasn¡¯t standing right beside you. ¡°The foundations for the six Elysian lands were selected when the gods first came. Perhaps their problems did not come immediately. It is more likely war came to this realm¡¯s borders only after it¡¯d had some time to grow. By this time the Shepherd God¡¯s lands had expanded. It is probably why anything exists here at all after their patron¡¯s betrayal.¡± Even though the Shepherd God¡¯s Elysian realm had fallen, and even though it was blanketed in snow and ice, it was still a paradise compared to other places. Its population couldn¡¯t compare to a more established realm like Skycloud, but it still numbered in the millions. That being the case, why was it still not under the auspices of some other god or demon? Maybe the twisted demons of the wastes could be ignored, but these folk remained uncorrupted. Wasn¡¯t that what gods and demons purported to seek to save? ¡°We¡¯ve almost at the king¡¯s city.¡± Cloudhawk went on. ¡°It¡¯s important you don¡¯t hide anything from me. I need to know where the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal is, and whether this king is some sort of god or demon himself. What kind of power am I about to face?¡± It was a fact that continuously rankled Cloudhawk, that none of the information was clear or readily available. No matter how strong Cloudhawk was he didn¡¯t know the best way to use that power. ¡°They keep the blood crystal in the capitol¡¯s Temple.¡± The Khan spoke in that same digitized, monotonous tone. ¡°As for the king, we do not have much information. He calls himself the Silverwing Monarch. We suspect him to be human.¡± Nothing helpful had been revealed in that sentence. Human? What a joke! The stories he¡¯d heard suggested otherwise. He supposedly had been alive for over a thousand years, likely a survivor of the Great War. It didn¡¯t matter how strong a human was, even someone like Arcturus Cloude couldn¡¯t stave off death for that long. A thousand-year-old human seemed ridiculous. There were also discrepancies in high-ranked demonhunters. Ravenous Tiger, Augustus Cloude, and Gabriel were all upper-tier demonhunters. But then there was Selene, Dawn, Frost, and Adder as well. Their ¡®rank¡¯ was the same, but the gulf of power was immense. Above veteran demonhunters were Master Demonhunters, of which the last generation in Skycloud had seen only three. Sterling and Baldur Cloude weren¡¯t necessarily strong than Janus Umbra, or Ramiel Caelestis. ¡®Master Demonhunter¡¯ was an honorary title, marking them as hunters who had triumphed over demons at least once. As for the Legendary Demonhunters he¡¯d heard about? That was more than just a label. As far as Cloudhawk knew there had only ever been ten Legendary Demonhunters, all appearing within a hundred years of the Great War. Each and every one of them was a champion among Master Demonhunters. Not only were they the peak of what demonhunters could achieve, they¡¯d also accomplished amazing feats in their lifetimes. According to ancient records, the first ancestor of the Cloude family was one such Legendary Demonhunter. His exploits helped create Skycloud and its incredible capitol. Obviously, considering what the family had produced since that time, the Cloudes inherited their ancestor¡¯s superior genes. Over the generations the Cloude family had an impressive number of Master Demonhunters in their ranks. Of them, Arcturus Cloude¡¯s power was likely to match or exceed his forebearers, perhaps even the founder of his lineage. Yet even so he was called Master and not Legendary, because power was only one facet. It was not the only measure considered when that title was levied. Could it be that this ¡®king¡¯ was a Legendary Demonhunter?! No¡­ even that didn¡¯t seem likely. Too many uncertainties, too many unknowns. A human¡¯s power typically came from training and development. Though weak at the outset, persistent cultivation could temper them to superhuman levels. Even the stupidest person with a thousand years of training could become one of the strongest things in the world. It had to be especially true for Legendary Demonhunters. A thousand years would make them unthinkably strong! Was this why Judas was so reticent to attack the Silver Kingdom? There were many doubts with regards to the Khan¡¯s words. For the time being, it was impossible to know the truth. ¡°Sir! We¡¯ve arrived. The door is ahead!¡± Surprised shouts reached his ears. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes and peered through the swirling snow. A dark outline was revealed that could have been large enough to be a mountain. It stretched at least five hundred meters tall ¨C a natural, daunting barrier. The group clustered around its base. The only other thing before them was a snow-clad ladder. Cloudhawk craned his neck and saw halfway up the sheer cliff was a neatly-carved entrance a couple hundred meters tall and about a meter wide. Like a door. A shaft of light shone out from it. It caught the ice in the air and caused a rainbow of color to hang overhead. This was called the Heavenly Gate, and it was breathtaking. They felt like insects before this massive edifice. It was the entrance to Imperia, one of four such passages to where the king rules. They were the only way in and out. No amount of force was going to make another portal. The enchantments that protected Imperia were powerful and immense, protecting it from air, ground and even below. Even these passes were not easily foiled. The enchantments sheltered them as well, and they were protected by small forts. Immediately upon reaching the Heavenly Gate, Cloudhawk and his people were stopped by guards and checked. Their paperwork was checked, for anyone wishing to enter Imperia had to have the right approvals. Once the paperwork was complete, each person entering the city had to be checked individually. The soldiers were checking for contraband or other illegal items. It took quite a while for all the formalities to cease, but eventually the guards were satisfied. When the passage was opened Cloudhawk could finally begin to relax. But was that it? Not in the least! From the initial check to fully entering Imperia were at least three different checkpoints. They had only just passed the first. Yet, strangely, the moment they moved inside the climate changed dramatically. The roaring winds and biting cold dispersed like someone had flipped a switch to bring on summer. Those enchantments which protected the city also gifted it a moist and comfortable atmosphere. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± After coming out on the other side Cloudhawk could see nothing but mist stretching off into the horizon. Stranger than its massive scale, however, were the inexplicable shadows he saw within. Sometimes he saw things like mountains, other times there were buildings. They were always changing position, making it impossible to tell where he was going. ¡°This is Fog Ridge. It¡¯s another potent defense for the city, wherein illusions constantly reach out from the fog to confuse attackers. If one isn¡¯t careful they could get lost and never emerge. Even if a force could fight its way through the Heavenly Gate, there remains the real possibility that they get lost forever here.¡± Quite the trick. It didn¡¯t matter how strong your army was if they never found the battlefield. So formidable were Imperia¡¯s defenses it seemed impossible any large force could break in. Armies were useless in this fog. Cloudhawk figured he likely wasn¡¯t the first infiltrator to find his way inside, but there wasn¡¯t much a single person could do. Fog Ridge had only one route, traveling it successfully required a guide. Cloudhawk¡¯s group stuck close together as they picked their way through the mist. Eventually their path was cut short by a forest. As they neared the entourage was frightened to discover that the trees seemed to have a life of their own. They could even move. Obviously it was another guard against intruders. Any who came in unannounced would be torn apart by the foliage. It was Imperia¡¯s third line of defense, called the Carnivorous Forest. As the name implied the trees ate flesh and drank blood. Trying to pass through without a guide was an invitation for the forest to attack. But they made it through unscathed. At last, emerging on the other side, Cloudhawk and his entourage laid eyes on Imperia, land of the Silverwing Monarch. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 86 - Seeing the Tree Cloudhawk faced the mysterious city sprawled out before him. His eyes instinctively widened, for he couldn¡¯t believe such a place existed in this ice-choked land. Imperia was nothing more than an expanded version of Woodland Vale. While a little surprising, it made perfect sense. After all, it was once the realm of the Shepherd God. As it just so happened, Cloudhawk had considerable experience with Silvana¡¯s homes. The Shepherd God¡¯s strongest powers lay in control of plants and animals. Everywhere her presence was felt ¨C whether Woodland Vale or Greenland ¨C the city was dominated with an enormous God Tree. By comparison, they could be considered equivalent to the energy pylons of Skycloud. These trees drew energy from the environment to create far-reaching protective enchantments. For a thousand years no one had gained entry into Woodland Vale. Once its borders were activated even someone like Arcturus couldn¡¯t force his way inside. Meadow¡¯s enchantments were even more powerful. It was not surprising that even demon elder Judas and his Noxian armies were thwarted. Once Cloudhawk and his group were free from the Carnivorous Forest, they found themselves at the base of the God Tree. He lifted his eyes to its cloud-scraping canopy, stricken by the sight. This tree was different ¨C different from every other tree he¡¯d seen. In fact he was willing to swear there was nothing else like it in the world. It was a stunning presentation of blooming flowers, so large it was difficult to wrap one¡¯s mind around. While not much taller than the God Tree in Woodland Vale, it was more than twice as thick. The city built within its boughs had been named Oakstead, or the City of a Thousand Trees. Imperia, seat of the king, was how it had come to be known by the citizens of Silver Kingdom over time. Woodland Vale¡¯s God Tree housed a few hundred thousand people, but Imperia gave shelter to several million. Cloudhawk continued to drag his eyes across the scene. The base of the tree was like an enormous black wall, or a lofty mountain face. It was so massive that you couldn¡¯t even see the curve of the trunk¡¯s edges. It was like standing at the foot of a colossus. Right now there were several groups gathered at the base of the tree. Judging by their clothing and equipment it was clear they came from all over the kingdom. For some it obviously wasn¡¯t their first time. Though they gazed upon the God Tree with devout reverence, it wasn¡¯t with the same degree of amazement. Others stared with eyes so wide they threatened to roll out of their skull or prostrated themselves in the dirt with faces of zealous awe. Different places, different cultures. Sometimes the discrepancies were quiet marked. Meadow was on the southern border of the ancient battlefield, whereas Skycloud was to its north. They might as well have been in completely different worlds, and in fact Cloudhawk sort of felt the same as when he slipped into different dimensions. Whether culture of environment, Meadow was completely different from Skycloud. ¡°Welcome to the magnificent Imperia.¡± A man dressed in the city¡¯s livery presented himself before the group. ¡°Each of you have come to pay tribute to our king, victors of the Chosen Council in your various cities. I must congratulate on you this opportunity to enter our fair capital. Each of you are permitted to remain here for no longer than one day. I encourage you to do the most with this gift while it lasts.¡± The messenger continued to heap voluminous praise upon the Silverwing Monarch. He praised his king as no less than a god, whose unerring guidance brought this kingdom from squalor to splendor. Through his grace the people of the Silver Kingdom came to know prosperity. As they listened the visitors to Imperia ate it all up. For the normal folk of this place the Silverwing Monarch held an unalienable place in their hearts. Cloudhawk, however, was reminded of Desmond¡¯s words. He wondered what happened to him, in the hands of king¡¯s Enforcers. ¡°You are about to be admitted into Imperia. Besides a few restricted areas, you are free to do what you like and go where you please. Remember to abide by our laws, for the dignity of our grand city must never be challenged. If you ignore this warning, no forgiveness will come to you.¡± With this final warning offered, the messenger put a small horn to his lips and blew. The visitors all felt a powerful gust of wind sweep by overhead. Several enormous birds were summoned by the horn¡¯s call, emerging form hollows in the trunk of the God Tree. They were huge things, with a wingspan a hundred meters long, majestic golden plumage, and three heads each. Strangely, each head was a different color. They each worked harmoniously and filled the area with a sense of power. The three-headed rocs served as airships. They glided to the base of the God Tree, buffeting the crowds with fierce winds. They landed with force enough to make the ground tremble, like mountains landing all around. ¡°Do not be afraid!¡± The messenger tried to soothe the newcomers. ¡°These divine beasts dwell within the God Tree and protect our home. They are our king¡¯s most loyal guardians. They will bring you into the city.¡± It seemed the rocs were quite intelligent, for they needed no orders to bow and allow the humans to start climbing up their wings. With a mixture of excitement and trepidation the visitors clambered onto the backs of this incredible creatures. Each roc could carry roughly two hundred people. Cloudhawk stood on one¡¯s back and it felt like standing in a city square, except for the massive feathers beneath his feet. It was a hugely wide space so that even when the bird took off he hardly felt it. The feathers were tough as iron. These rare, magnificent creatures were full of raw power. What¡¯s more, Cloudhawk could sense clearly the hum of relic power from each of them. That meant every roc was a divine beast and must have special abilities besides their sheer size. In a fight they had to be deadly, more than most could envisage. Cloudhawk had never encountered a divine beast of this size, or more than one of a particular sort of divine beast. What governed these rocs? Was it the king himself? Every passing moment made him more suspicious. There were so many unanswered questions. The rocs were fast, as one might imagine. They flew a full circle around the God Tree and spiraled toward its canopy. Just as they¡¯d witnessed from below, the top was like a singular magnificent blossom. There were no limbs, more like a herbacious plant than a tree. Its enormous leave stretched toward the horizon in all directions so that it looked like half a giant flower bud. When looking down on it from above it was revealed that indeed there were no limbs except for those that excited inside the ¡®bud¡¯. The trunk of the tree was hollow, and branches grew inward and upward. At the top of each branch was a giant leaf like lotus sprouting from the depths of a pond. The leaf pads existed like islets, upon which neighborhoods were constructed. Cloudhawk looked down on them to see at least a dozen such islets, each with buildings of various kinds constructed on the leaves. Though isolated, each pad was connected by series of bridges. The pads came in different shapes and sizes so that no one was the same as any other. They were dispersed through the God Tree¡¯s trunk at random. The final result was a sprawling urban system suspended over a massive drop. The space between the highest and lowest pad was at least five hundred meters. Below this pad-system of urban development there was a forest inside the tree trunk. They included fruit trees, enough to wholly support the population of Imperia. The entire city was wrapped in a sense of beauty and wonder. A city on leaves! A forest in a tree! Cloudhawk had never seen anything like it. Eventually the rocs settled on one of the pads and deposited their riders. Cloudhawk ordered his entourage to gather their things and move out. They stepped out into the expanse. In fact ¡®lotus pad¡¯ was really just a vivid way to describe the look of the place. The ground was the same here as it was anywhere else, with soil and grass and everything else. Each of these were more like islands than leaves, and provided housing for several tens of thousands of people each. They were also quite bustling. ¡°Welcome all!¡± A hale and hearty man approached, swinging a decorative walking stick before him. Their landing place was always swarmed with guards and citizens. The old man introduced himself. ¡°I am Administrator of the Thirteenth District. I am responsible for receiving you today, and will assist you in organizing your tributes to the king.¡± Cloudhawk frowned ever so slightly. This city was huge, and he heard resonance from every direction. There was no way he could pinpoint the king or the blood crystal among all this noise. And as for this tribute? It wouldn¡¯t even give me a chance to see this Silverwing Monarch¡¯s face. Even more frustrating was discovering how strong this city was. From within these dwellings, to the guardian rocs, and even some of the citizens he felt resonance worthy of concern. The weakness of the cities around Imperia¡¯s periphery did not speak for the capitol itself. It was different here, compared to Skycloud. Skycloud City was lofty as the mountains when it came to powerful citizens, but it wasn¡¯t solely where they were concentrated. The other cities, towns and garrisons under its purview also had strong members. Imperia, on the other hand, appears to be where all the mightiest people of this realm were gathered. No wonder Desmond had been so confident. As a citizen of Oakstead, he could be forgiven for thinking he was above reproach. Cloudhawk cast a glance toward the Khan of Evernight, standing at his side. The cyborg remained cool and unreadable. It was like none of this mattered. Although the two of them were strong by anyone¡¯s standards, maybe even among the strongest here, they were not strong enough to shake this place on their own. The Khan had already revealed the identity of the Silverwing Monarch. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he believed him, but nonetheless it inspired dread in him. Cloudhawk had come to this alien environment only ten days ago. That was all the time he¡¯d had to prepare. Somehow he had to come up with a way to find the Silverwing Monarch and take the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal from him. For days he¡¯d been kicking around ideas on how to do just that. 1. The writer waffles between phrases. When he refers to ÄÁÉñÓò ¨Cor ¡®The Shepherd God¡¯s Realm ¨C he is talking about this place¡¯s official name as it was founded. We call this Meadow. Since the fall the people living in Meadow have forgotten its name and history, and now refer to it as ¡®The Silver Kingdom¡¯. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 87 - Highblood Imperia¡¯s residents did not discriminate against outsiders. Although those from outside the capitol were marginally lower in status, they were still an important part of the realm. They were diligent, hard-working citizens who toiled to bring in treasures from the forbidden area. Their sweat and blood was then offered to the king ¨C who in turn used these materials to create rare and powerful weapons! Oakstead¡¯s prosperity was directly tied to these folk. The old man in front of Cloudhawk was called Barclay. Imperia had a total of thirty six Districts and he was administrator the one they stood in. He himself was also a talented Chosen and came from a family whose leadership spanned eight generations. This legacy is why he¡¯d been tapped for such an important post. Barclay sized up Cloudhawk. ¡°First time in Imperia?¡± Cloudhawk nodded, since claiming otherwise would be an obvious lie. ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°You look young, and there¡¯s something unique about you.¡± The glint in the old man¡¯s eyes spoke to years of experience. He¡¯d always had a talent for reading people yet he couldn¡¯t seem to pierce Cloudhawk¡¯s facade. He was young, yes, but something about him said he¡¯d experienced quite a lot in his short years. ¡°To be so young and still be an outstanding person in your town, have you thought about what your next steps may be?¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how to respond so he did what he figured the old man expected. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate your advice.¡± ¡°The outer cities are too small. Maybe you settle here, in Imperia, should they convey the right upon you. Perhaps you will earn further status and honors. Maybe the Silverwing Monarch will bestow upon you a whole new life with great power and prestige!¡± Cloudhawk listened, speechless. What sort of person was this king? Who was he to ¡®bestow¡¯ new life and power on someone? Way too far fetched. ¡°Those of you who have won your Council also have a chance to test yourself in our trails.¡± The old man could see Cloudhawk was uninterested in his words about the king, so he pressed on without asking further. ¡°If you can make it through the Emerald Labyrinth you will also earn the right to live in Imperia indefinitely. Every time the tributes come, people gather to try their luck with the Labyrinth. Most of us who live here won our chance by overcoming this trial.¡± Trial of the Emerald Labyrinth, eh? Beat it and he could live in the city for as long as he liked. It was the first time he¡¯d been made known of the chance. It piqued his interest, so he asked for more information. Each time a city sent Chosen to pay tribute, they were allowed to select a few to attempt this trial. Although it was difficult, those who conquered it under strict conditions not only were permitted to remain in Imperia, they also had a chance to win recognition by the king himself. That meant baptism, transformation, new life. More and more Cloudhawk was confronted with the secrets of this place. What was the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s true identity? What powers did he wield? What did ¡®baptism, transformation and new life¡¯ even mean? He¡¯d spent several days in Redleaf but deliberately kept out of the public eye. The consequence was he knew practically nothing. Barclay led Cloudhawk and his people to the center of the district. A tall, old tree came into view. It had been cleaved across the middle and turned into a stump. Around it were a slew of sacrificial offering so that it appeared to be some kind of alter. Barclay pointed it out. ¡°Offer your tributes before the alter!¡± Cloudhawk raised a brow. ¡°I thought these tributes were to be delivered to the king?¡± ¡°This is how the tribute is performed.¡± The administrator¡¯s face was split with an easy smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, soon the King will send his most trusted representatives to collect the items.¡± Stranger and stranger. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t like it, but there was no other option. Red Banner¡¯s collection of over a thousand relic fragments were placed by the tree. ¡°Very good, all finished!¡± Barclay nodded with satisfaction. He waved at everyone and said, ¡°Tonight we are holding a special celebration. Bring all the people from Redleaf to partake in the revelries and enjoy our hospitality. Come! Everyone! Let us celebrate this bounty together!¡± Imperian residents gathered round. They presented strange fruits, local specialties and fine wines for all to share. Festive winds blew the sounds of joy all through Imperia. Young men and women gathered round the altar, dancing and playing music. Fine food and drink flowed nonstop. All of it was a wonder to the people of Redleaf. After all, it was a great honor to be treated this way and spent time in the king¡¯s city. Cloudhawk reached out and connected his mind with Oddball¡¯s. Through the bird he found that their district wasn¡¯t the only one holding this party. The same scene was being played out all throughout Imperia. Huge groups centered around the altars dancing and drinking, eating their fill. But it didn¡¯t feel like a party. Rather, it was like a collective understanding, that this was a centuries old tradition they were taking part in. For Redleaf¡¯s citizens, they didn¡¯t think too much on it. They let themselves get wrapped up in the festivities. The revelry continued for a good hour before someone raised their eyes and shouted. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± Barclay looked skyward and saw the figure slowly descending toward them. He was all dressed in white to represent his holy presence, and from his back sprouted spotless white wings. In fact every inch of him was white as jade, wholly otherworldly in appearance. ¡°Highblood! It¡¯s the honored Highblood!¡± Even the calm and composed Barclay was thrilled when he saw him. The rest of the citizens cheered wildly like this Highborn was the center of their worship. Cloudhawk was both surprised and suspicious. What were these Highbloods? Growing wings out of nowhere, that was a sign of mutation! Did that mean that mutants here were idolized? If that was so, then the poor, maligned mutants of the wastes would likely vomit from jealousy. Cloudhawk peered at the Highblood for a better look. When he saw more clearly what they were he froze. He could hardly believe his eyes! He even wondered if he was dreaming! The magnificent Highblood slowly beat its wings as it descended unto the altar. Its snow-white wings spread out three meters from end to end, proud as a peacock on display. The crowds cheered as he showed off his perfect form. He was young, not even thirty. Cloudhawk looked on his face with open shock and disbelief on his expression, for it was a face he knew. Desmond?! Cloudhawk blinked, rubbed his eyes and blinked again to make sure he was seeing things properly. This was real, it wasn¡¯t a dream, but he was still hardly able to believe it. This so-called Highblood was the same man he¡¯d beaten ten days ago in Redleaf. The one they called traitor. It left quite an impression on Cloudhawk. He still remembered the fear and anger in Desmond¡¯s response when he spoke about Imperia. How could it be that in less than two weeks Desmond appeared remade before him? Desmond¡¯s eyes swept the crowd. With gentle eyes and a friendly smile he spoke over the reverent gasps. ¡°Praise be to our Silverwing Monarch. He has forgiven my sins and have given me new life. I live now to forever defend the glory of my king.¡± The crowds cheered and praised the king¡¯s name. Desmond then began to gather the crates and boxes around the alter. He then beat his enormous wings and took off with the treasures in hand. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the only one shocked into silence. Everyone from Redleaf recognized him. Never in their wildest dreams would they have suspected to see Desmond reappear here, in this new form. Barclay looked at Cloudhawk. ¡°Did you see? That young man is lucky, he received our monarch¡¯s grace and has been elevated. He is now a part of the royal lineage. It grants him great honor, and though he will not live as long as the king his lifespan is much longer than an average person¡¯s.¡± Was this the ¡®new life¡¯ Barclay had been talking about? It sure seemed like Desmond had been reborn into something else! The citizens of Redleaf all looked enviously toward the horizon where Desmond had vanished. How lucky he was to receive such a blessing! The Highblood of Imperia were a small cadre of individuals who were gifted the royal blood of the king himself. Recipients enjoyed tremendous respect and long life. IT was the dream of everyone to one day be selected for such an honor. Cloudhawk asked his guide, ¡°How many Highblood are there?¡± Barclay saw that Cloudhawk was finally interested, and answered with a smile. ¡°Very few. Highblood must be strong and exceptionally hardy. At present there are perhaps a little more than a hundred Highblood.¡± Cloudhawk tried to hide his surprise. Highblood were selected from Chosen strong enough to be veteran demonhunters. They had the fighting capabilities of Templars! No wonder Judas had such a deep fear of Imperia. Of course, Cloudhawk did not envy Desmond in the least. He knew that such incredible gifts were not real, not in this world. For whatever you gained, you lost something of equal or greater value. Desmond looked like he¡¯d been lifted up and enlightened, but Cloudhawk knew the truth. Desmond wasn¡¯t Desmond anymore. Underneath all the glitter and shine was a completely different spirit. Or¡­ or no spirit at all. What as a hundred years of life, or even immortality, if you lost yourself? No, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t envy that at all. The only thing worth pondering now was the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s true identity. He was able to make relics and transform human bodies. Perhaps a legendary demonhunter who potentially could live forever. Any one of those was miraculous alone, much less all together in one man. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 88 - Poking Around Cloudhawk sat in the simple wooden room while outside young men and women dressed in local garb continued their party. Technically the festivities were over once the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s representative gathered the tributes, but that didn¡¯t stop the music or dancing. Rewards for these tributes would be handed out in a few days. This was a tradition passed down for hundreds of years. Outsiders paid tribute, but never looked upon their king directly. ¡°If you don¡¯t take the initiative, you will never be brought before him.¡± The cold voice was heard from behind as Cloudhawk sat in quiet contemplation. The Khan of Evernight seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t raise his head. ¡°This place is a lot stronger than I thought it would be. I¡¯m not sure you and I are enough to deal with this king, much less all of Imperia.¡± The Khan responded. ¡°This city has existed to this day only because of its powerful enchantments. You and I may not be able to defeat its ruler in a frontal assault, but if we can surprise him the Silverwing Monarch would be at a significant disadvantage. Once the king is dead the city¡¯s enchantments will fall. The rest we leave to Judas.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyebrows were knit tight. He looked out the window at the jovial citizens of Imperia enjoying their night. He didn¡¯t know if they would succeed using the Khan¡¯s plan. Worse, though, performing this deed would plunge Imperia into the fires of war. ¡°You know that the ones these people see as noble are hiding something insidious. Their monarch is not a savior. To him these people are little more than beasts of burden. They have the right to know the truth.¡± ¡°The truth is bloody. It is a bad thing to hide the truth if it means a life of peace and beauty?¡± ¡°Heh¡­ you think this way because you haven¡¯t experienced enough.¡± The Khan¡¯s form melted away into the shadows and once again Cloudhawk lapsed into a contemplative silence. He knew the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal was in the Temple, but the only way in was to gain the attention of the king. If somehow he could sneak the Khan into the Temple with him and they got the drop on the king, maybe they had a chance. If it was true that this king had been alive for a thousand years, then he had to be essentially immortal. Cloudhawk was fairly confident that between him and the Khan, they could manage to take down a god or demon. A Legendary Demonhunter couldn¡¯t be any more hardy than one of those. What was really holding Cloudhawk back for the moment was whether it was a path he wanted to take. There was definitely something sinister going on in Imperia that the people didn¡¯t know about. But at least on the surface it seemed their lives were bright and harmonious. Years of unfortunate experiences have told Cloudhawk to never expect perfection. Everywhere you looked there was darkness and there was light. Shadow existed wherever the light couldn¡¯t touch and sometimes there were people who benefited from it and sometimes there were victims. A small number were sacrificed for the betterment of many others. Human history had always been that way. Cloudhawk sat, wrestling with these ideas late into the night. His entourage from Redleaf ate their fill and drank till their heads spun. They fell asleep fitfully, happily, without Cloudhawk¡¯s burdens. Eventually all the revelers dispersed and calm took hold. Cloudhawk could even hear insects buzzing through the cracks. His eyes slowly opened. Putting on his mask, the space around him undulated like water. Then he disappeared, popping back into existence standing on the roof of the wooden domicile. He stood outside in the darkness like some strange gargoyle. He looked out, the city revealed to him. Carefully he let his eyes wander. Neither the Khan or anyone else should be able to see him. Once again he vanished, swallowed by the darkness like a ghost. He teleported several dozen times through Imperia and though the city was massive distance meant nothing to Cloudhawk. He could appear anywhere he liked. Every Elysian land had a Temple. It was where their patron god slept. Imperia was no different, nor was it hard to find. It pulsed with an energy unique from and more intense than anywhere else in the city. To Cloudhawk it was like a beacon fire in the darkness. Cloudhawk teleported close to the magical forest that grew within the God Tree¡¯s trunk. All of these trees were suspended in midair by some invisible force. Their roots dangled down below them, somehow taking energy from the void. These trees came in many hues and emitted a strange, magical light. A single towering structure stood in the center of the floating forest. It looked to be constructed from tens of millions of wrapping vines like a nest. It actually writhed as though it was alive and with each jerk the movements rippled into forests surrounding it. This structure was the heart of this mystical place and all the trees nearby where under its control. Was this the Shepherd God¡¯s Temple? What a strange, incredible place! Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see an entrance from his vantage. He first teleported close to the structure then, while still in midair, slipped into the half-space between dimensions. Calculating the approximate distance, Cloudhawk teleported once again. He blinked back into existence within the Temple. With curious eyes he scanned the Shepherd God¡¯s sanctum. It looked less like a building and more like a huge hole in a tree. Perhaps more accurately it was like teleporting into the middle of a living creature. The distinct sensation made him uncomfortable. Still invisible, he carefully floated forward. If this was alive, did it have thoughts and feelings? If he wasn¡¯t careful it might sense an intruder, or know something was wrong. So, caught between worlds, he floated through the maze-like interior of the Temple. At one point he stopped, for blocking his path was a group of several dozen naked figures. They were soaking in pools of some unknown fluid while vines jutted out of them like infusion tubes. Pairs of white wings were wrapped around their bodies. What was going on? It looked like they were being transformed! Cloudhawk carefully examined the Highblood and decided they weren¡¯t creatures with free will. They were more like robots. But that wasn¡¯t quite right, either. After becoming Highblood Desmond was still able to speak. He was not at all the same person he was, but there was still logic there. Fuck it. No time to deal with them. A large, heavy screen barred the way forward. In the safest way he knew he slipped through it and emerged on the other side into an incredible scene. The instant he passed that barrier the entire Temple came alive and vines reached out from every surface. They whipped and groped, searching for Cloudhawk so as to wrap him up. What the fuck? There was no one in here. Who saw him? He hadn¡¯t even touched anything. It didn¡¯t matter, he couldn¡¯t just stand around. He teleported out of the room as quickly as possible. But the entire Temple was in flux like someone had kicked a hornet¡¯s nest. Cracks were appearing in every surface as vines reached and swayed. The winged Highblood also clambered out of their pools in search of what had disturbed their home. Confused at how he¡¯d gone wrong, Cloudhawk realized it was impossible now to steal the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal. There was too much heat. For his own safety, now was the time to back out. Thirty seconds later the vines composing one wall split apart. From within the chamber emerged a large figure. Like the Highblood by his side he sported enormous wings, though in marked contrast his were a dazzling silver as though they were made of platinum. What¡¯s more, in the center of his forehead was a third eye with a slit pupil. Striding through the new opening that third eye glanced around the area. Wherever it pointed there was a gust of gentle power which gathered around an invisible figure. He saw where it came from, how it floated along, and eventually watched it disappear only to appear somewhere else. ¡°Spatial powers?¡± A voice laden with surprise and uncertainty echoed through the Temple. Cloudhawk blinked back into existence in an unfamiliar district back in the city. He heaved a sigh, only a moment later a voice from behind caught him by surprise. ¡°Who are you? How did you appear out of thin air?!¡± It was a familiar voice. Cloudhawk turned around and there before him was a woman in a suit of armor and a silver mask. He recognized her immediately, the Enforcer he first met in Redleaf who tested Oddball. ¡°You?¡± Glawyn recognized him as well. His face was concealed behind the mask but his clothes and the little bird on his shoulder gave him away immediately. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Cloudhawk had to think quickly. ¡°It¡¯s my first time in Imperia. I wanted to take a look around.¡± There was no reason for her to doubt his story. Country folk like him were all curious about Imperia. ¡°If you¡¯re that interested, why not try your hand at the Labyrinth?¡± The Emerald Labyrinth. It was his second time hearing about it. ¡°Yes, if you make it through the Labyrinth you could stay here. Maybe you could even be selected for the Enforcement Team and be one of us.¡± Glawyn took another glance at his bird companion. ¡°With your strength I don¡¯t think it¡¯d be very difficult. I really think you should give it a shot. Who knows when the next Chosen Council will be?¡± Cloudhawk was noncommittal and hesitated. ¡°I saw Desmond. He was -¡± ¡°I know.¡± There was a note of jealousy in her voice. ¡°Once you are selected to be Highblood, all your sins are forgiven. Now he is perfect and there will be no more betrayals.¡± Perfect, eh? Cloudhawk shook his head and prepared to leave. ¡°Hey, make sure you visit the Labyrinth.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a second. ¡°I¡¯m going to give it a shot.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 89 - The Emerald Labyrinth If he can¡¯t steal it, then he¡¯ll loot it. Not the best plan but he had no other options. Summing up last night¡¯s failures, Cloudhawk realized it was because he underestimated the Temple itself. Between his phase stone and invisibility cloak, Cloudhawk could become essentially formless. In terms of space and matter, he had the power to eliminate himself from reality ¨C effectively existing between places. How could anyone notice something that didn¡¯t exist? Yet somehow, the Temple had done just that. It was not impossible. He knew that from the memories absorbed through the Demon King¡¯s inheritance. Though he ¡®owned¡¯ only a small amount, he knew a lot more than the average person, and one thing he learned was that two things could never be hidden. The first was a relic¡¯s resonance. Every relic had its own song, working by some sort of vibration. Cloudhawk was born with the ability to sense these vibrations, which was a unique ability held by relic artisans. With this talent he could understand the nature of relics in order to craft them. Second were will and intention. The emotions and thoughts of any creature were also a sort of pulse. Cloudhawk could hide himself perfectly, but the power of his intention couldn¡¯t be masked. If his opponent had a way to recognize either his use of psychic energy or his attention, then they could find him. From what he knew, the Silverwing Monarch had the ability to create relics. Did that have something to do with it? If that was the case then the situation was more difficult than he wanted to believe. Cloudhawk had managed to get out of there quickly, but he couldn¡¯t know if the king had felt the unique signature of his relics. Someone sneaking into the Temple was surely a big deal so there was no question he¡¯d be looking into it. Where would he look? That was obvious. It was the time of tribute, when outsiders were all coming into the city. Non-Imperians would be first under the microscope. If he or his people were found to be responsible, the consequences would be dire. Cloudhawk had to accept that he¡¯d messed up. He had taken it seriously, but still not enough. Breaking into the Temple alone again would be stupid. It was time to make a plan and then act! Cloudhawk¡¯s first order of business was to remove his equipment and store it all in his dimensional warehouse. He then meekly remained in District Thirty, participating in the various activities they offered. When there was nothing else to do he strolled through the district, taking in the sights and enjoying its unique culture. For all intents and purposes Cloudhawk looked like a normal tourist. This was partially to keep up airs and reduce suspicion, but also so he could learn more specifics about the city itself. As he walked around he came to suspect there were about two hundred or so high-grade demonhunters in Imperia. A hundred of them had already been transformed by the king into these Highblood. The remainder were part of his Enforcer teams or held leadership positions in various organizations. Two hundred wasn¡¯t a lot¡­ Skycloud had maybe four times that many. Still, Imperia had enough power that he couldn¡¯t neglect the danger. No ordinary wasteland power could match them. In addition Cloudhawk constantly felt¡­ constrained, like some sort of power was hanging over the city at all times. It was everywhere, all the time, yet too vague for him to put his finger on. For the next several days everything had continued business as usual. Cloudhawk¡¯s trip to the Temple didn¡¯t seem to have caused any major impact. Imperia¡¯s Emerald Labyrinth challenge was ready to begin. Winners had a chance to meet the city¡¯s king face to face. Cloudhawk figured the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s guard might be lower, so that would be his time to strike. Woosh! Woosh! Woosh! The sound of beating wings filled the air. A cyan-colored roc came to ground in the district. Ten figures rose on its back. One of them was a person Cloudhawk had come to easily recognize ¨C Glawyn, the Enforcer. She leaped off the roc¡¯s back. District Administrator Barclay was excited to receive her. ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure?¡± Glawyn returned his greeting with a small smile. ¡°The Emerald Labyrinth challenge will begin soon. I¡¯m here to pick up the participants. As far as I know a few from this district have signed up, so have them come over. We can¡¯t waste any time.¡± Barclay and Glawyn were actually distant relatives. In fact, many of Imperia¡¯s highest echelons were somehow related. Their parents were people who completed the labyrinth and remained in the city, people of talent with good genetics. Of course their descendants would also be capable people. Barclay knew, of course, that Glawyn had come for a reason. He also knew that of his visitors, the one called Cloudhawk showed real promise. If he decided to participate in the challenge he was likely to succeed. Afterwards not only would he remain to contribute to Imperia, but perhaps even be selected as an Enforcer. That possibility was likely what inspired Glawyn to come herself. ¡°Just you two?¡± Glawyn regarded the two before her. Every city was allowed to select two to attempt the labyrinth. Redleaf put forward Cloudhawk and a second man, hidden beneath dark armor and a full-faced helmet. He looked more like a robot than a man and the aura pouring off of him was hardly welcoming. Barclay had been paying close attention to this dark stranger for a while now. He looked like a close confidante of Cloudhawk¡¯s. He was rarely seen and never participated in any of the district¡¯s events. Barclay hadn¡¯t heard him say more than a handful of things. He found the man strange, but then again the world was filled with all sorts of people and those who didn¡¯t fit in were often the most capable. He didn¡¯t find it too suspicious. Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Us two.¡± Glawyn sized up the Khan for a moment then motioned toward the roc. ¡°All aboard!¡± In truth Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t eager to work with the Khan. Their goals were drastically different, but the Silverwing Monarch was more than he could handle on his own. He needed help from Nox¡¯s governor. On the part of the Khan, none of this seemed to take him by surprise. He never questioned Cloudhawk¡¯s plans or asked for details. So they climbed onto the giant bird in silence, and took off from District Thirty. Imperia¡¯s residential districts were all suspended in air. The area below these pads was rich in fruit-bearing forests. This forest provided the citizens of Imperia with all the food they needed. It was into the center of this forest that the roc brought Cloudhawk and the Khan where there was a small fortress constructed on a hill. However, upon closer inspection it was revealed to be neither hill nor fortress. Instead, it was entirely made form twisted tree roots that stretched out in al directions to form this staging area. A couple dozen people were already waiting. They were all here to participate in the challenge, just like Cloudhawk. After delivering the two challengers, Glawyn immediately stepped away to stand guard and keep order. They stood around for an hour for all the rest of the participants to arrive. Once they had, a sudden and powerful strangling sense settled on them from overhead. Heads rose, and there in the sky was a palace slowly descending toward them like a floating bird¡¯s nest. The Temple! Cloudhawk recognized it right away. He¡¯d been there only a few days ago. The enormous, nest-like mass of roots settled upon the central hill. It settled into the area like a key into a lock, with all the roots reaching out to greet it. Several openings were revealed, each in a different location. A challenge proctor stepped forward and addressed the crowd. ¡°The Emerald Labyrinth challenge is about to begin. Everyone, choose an entrance ¨C one person per doorway. The rules are simple; whosoever can travel safely through the labyrinth in the allotted time will be allowed to enter the palace, receive our monarch¡¯s blessing, and be permitted to remain in Imperia forever.¡± Excitement rippled through the crowd as participants rubbed their hands in anticipation. One by one they chose their entrance and stepped inside. The Khan of Evernight spared Cloudhawk a brief glance before making his own choice. Cloudhawk watched him enter, and for some reason felt a pang of guilt. Who knew what the man would face once inside? But here they were. There was no going back. The Demon King¡¯s blood crystal had to be retrieved. As for the cost? Cloudhawk would deal with it when he had to. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 90 At Last, We Mee Cloudhawk felt something change the moment he stepped into the labyrinth. The entire labyrinth was enveloped in strange spatial energies which caused it to shift, much like the Temple he¡¯d infiltrated. The simplest explanation was that the density of space-energy in this area was higher. That was why the interior of a Temple was always larger than it appeared from the outside. It was as if the contents of a whole washbasin were contained in a small pitcher. Spatial Compression. Otherwise known as dimensional technology! It was science that bordered on magical, far beyond the understanding of human kind. The labyrinth¡¯s expansive interior also meant it was very complex. Every challenger entered through a different door, into a different section of the maze. There was no way anyone would chance upon any others. As Cloudhawk fully stepped into the labyrinth the entrance shut behind him. He found himself in a large chamber facing six hallways. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to choose one, eh?¡± Cloudhawk glanced over them. From the outside none of the hallways looked any different. They were all made from the same twisting roots with glowing vines interspersed that led the way. That was where light for the whole area came from. So the whole thing was about luck. Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be a test of someone¡¯s skill? Only one of these routes had to be the right one. The others were meant to lead him astray. It didn¡¯t matter how strong you were in this sort of circumstance, after all, each hallway looked the same. Designed to confound one¡¯s perception, even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see the slightest difference. ¡°Which one am I supposed to pick?¡± As he stood there in thought, suddenly a darkness invaded his mind. It reached for him from the depths of one of the hallways. It was a darkness he was familiar with ¨C one he¡¯d felt three times before. The first time was when he chanced upon the phase stone. Second, when he claimed the Demon King¡¯s skull. The last was in the depths of Woodland Vale when he encountered the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. Each time it had something to do with the Demon King. Maybe this time it was from his blood? He felt enthusiasm rouse within him. From the beginning his biggest concern was not whether he could defeat the Silverwing Monarch, but whether he¡¯d been fed lies from Judas and the Khan of Evernight. This was an important, life-threatening circumstance! What if this so-called blood crystal of the Demon King was all bullshit? Had they played him for a fool? But the sense he gathered now at least confirmed that whatever was nearby had something to do with the Demon King. It would empower Cloudhawk more than anything else, allowing him to join with the inheritance he¡¯d been carrying for years. Between that and the demon blood he would be back to full health in under a year. Demon blood wasn¡¯t as simple as it sounded. In essence, it was an energy crystal. At the time of the Demon King¡¯s demise, either himself or someone close to him extracted his life energy using some unknown method. They gathered that energy into the Demon King¡¯s blood and sealed it there in crystalline form. That was what he felt at the mouth of that hallway, a burgeoning sense of dark vitality that drew him forward. The call wasn¡¯t just logical, he felt it reaching in to every cell of his body. Every piece of him, every organ hungered for it. He felt the struggle and the fear propelling him forward, for he could not remain still. It was so deep and primal that he started to walk forward before he even knew what he was doing. He stepped into the hallway and it closed shut behind him. He¡¯d made his decision, and once the choice was made there was no changing it. Cloudhawk felt something tugging him forward. This tempting energy was sudden ¨C too sudden that he was suspicious. What if this was some sort of trap? But if it was, he was already caught. Going back wasn¡¯t an option, only forward. He had to hope luck was with him. As he walked forward the dark energy felt more intense. His feet carried him forward of their own accord. Yet as he strode on another thought crept into his mind. It was a small, nagging voice at first that quickly grew louder. Soon it was a raging inferno he couldn¡¯t ignore. It screamed over and over again in his mind. Wolfblade! Cloudhawk already knew that Wolfblade had to be a survivor of the Great War, and an important one. Most of his life he¡¯d lived under the careful machinations of¡­ whatever he was. It was ¡®Wolfblade¡¯ that looked after him when he was just a scav. Later, when he was snapped up by the Tartarus Mercenaries, he was there too known as Mantis. Finally, as the Wolfblade he knew today. He kept showing up at crucial points in his life under different identities. Everything that had seemed so coincidental was actually planned by that mysterious figure. The phase stone, the Demon King¡¯s skull, the cuirass¡­ Wolfblade¡¯s hand was always guiding him behind the scenes. Was he doing it again now? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t tell. He didn¡¯t even know what Wolfblade¡¯s ultimate goal was. There was some kind of connection between him and Arcturus, some sort of understanding that made them less than enemies and more¡­ respected peers? Fuck it, and fuck him! This is all about survival! Cloudhawk quickened his step and behind him the hall collapsed into a mass of writhing vines. Soon he stepped out into a relatively spacious room and turned around to see the way he¡¯d come in had vanished. It had been replaced with a seamless wall. ¡°What now?¡± He turned back around to see three more openings. They were different from the six prior, as their entrances were crisscrossed with poisonous brambles. Obviously it was meant as a deterrent. With his phase abilities Cloudhawk could waltz right through if he so pleased, though he didn¡¯t know if he was being watched. He figured relying on such a unique skill was not a smart play right now. There had to be another way. Cloudhawk walked into the center of the chamber then stopped when he heard a suspicious noise. His head shot up. At some point, unnoticed, the ceiling had became laden with a crop of juicy looking fruit. They were all at least two meters long and quite plump. Most incredible of all was they continued to grow as he watched them. Pop! Po-poppop-pop--pop! The weird sound filled the room as these fruit dropped, hit the floor and split open like blooming flowers. From within each one appeared a strange, cyan-hued humanoid figure. Not a hair could be seen on their bodies and their faces were completely absent of any defining features ¨C just empty holes where eyes and a mouth might be. They were terrifying and savage looking, and in an instant there were a hundred moving in Cloudhawk¡¯s direction. With impressive speed and agility they closed in, hardly more than a shadow. Half a breath later they were in his face and attacking. But Cloudhawk was not easily overcome, nor was his tiny guardian. Oddball belched half a dozen golden bolts of lightning at the creatures. Any that tried to draw near were blasted to pieces. Yet much to his surprise upon blowing apart, the monsters dissolved into pools of green liquid. The fluid split apart and from the disparate fools rose more of these creatures. From one corpse arose ten, twenty, even thirty more! They split! Multiplied! They were unkillable. Oddball continued to try anyway but only succeeded in creating more. Cloudhawk saw that fighting was pointless; they couldn¡¯t be destroyed. Worse, fighting only added to the problem. If he kept this up soon he¡¯d been washed away in a tide of angry cyan monsters. By that point strength wouldn¡¯t matter, he¡¯d be overwhelmed. Oddball¡¯s attacks eventually tapered off, but not before the monsters had increased in number by at least half. Stopping his companion¡¯s efforts, Cloudhawk dodged the creatures¡¯ attacks and started to fight back. He was careful not to destroy them while he looked for a way through. His foes were both strong and fast, and reproduced endlessly. With no way to destroy them it was tricky, but that didn¡¯t mean there was no way out. There! Cloudhawk sensed that one among the hundred or so monsters was different from the others. Outwardly there was no differentiating it from the others, however Cloudhawk could hear the hum of a relic coming from it. If it was different, it must be special. Basilisk appeared in his hand. With all his strength he fired an arrow at the creature. It was too slow and couldn¡¯t dodge. A shrill cry marked Cloudhawk¡¯s successful shot, followed by the sound of stone hitting the ground as it petrified and broke apart. All at once the other monsters froze in place and melted away like ice sculptures. In a handful of minutes he was alone again in the chamber. One of the three hallways was now open ¨C exactly as Cloudhawk expected. Only one of the monsters was the real one. Killing it stopped all the others, and one batch opened up one path. The other pathways would open when he fought his way through the next two waves. Before long those second and third groups manifested. Although each group was stronger than the last, the method for dealing with them was the same. All he had to do was find the progenitor and destroy it, then the rest would melt away. For ordinary Chosen this would be a dangerous trap, To Cloudhawk it was hardly a challenge. At last the third hall was opened. When all the ways were clear Cloudhawk again let the dark energy guide him. He wandered toward the opening where he felt it the strongest and followed it for roughly half an hour. A bright light appeared ahead, and when he stepped into the chamber it radiated from he stared in wonder. Before him was a single figure, and a solitary tree. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes went first to the figure. He heard his heart beating violently in his chest as a suffocating sense of foreboding came over him. This figure looked like Desmond after his transformation, but the massive wings spreading from his back were a dazzling metallic hue as though they¡¯d been forged from pure silver. Was¡­ was this the Silverwing Monarch? Were the paltry checkpoints his way of testing Cloudhawk? ¡°You left without saying goodbye when you visited a few days ago. You never gave us an opportunity to chat.¡± His face was calm and his affect unperturbed. ¡°But it¡¯s alright, I don¡¯t mind. I knew you would present yourself to me eventually. And this time, you won¡¯t be leaving so easily.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 91 Secret of the Silverwing Monarch In the center of the chamber was a strange tree. Its roots dug deep, displacing the ground around it. Its branches rose and joined with the ceiling. Cloudhawk got the sense that it was the heart of this place. Deep red light shone from the center of its hollow trunk which sent waves of energy up into its branches and down through its roots. This was the center of the Temple. In the center of that tree was the item Cloudhawk had come to collect. He had not expected it to be what powered the heart of this labyrinth. If he took it, catastrophic effects would occur to the surrounding area. He also did not anticipate that the Silverwing Monarch would know him right away. This labyrinth¡¯s construction was no coincidence. Cloudhawk felt the presence of the blood crystal and it led him down the proper path. He was able to hear relics, and so passed the various tests with ease. If Cloudhawk was not the one who¡¯d infiltrated the Temple several days ago, then who else could it be? Cloudhawk felt his nerves begin to fray. He was played! The king knew he would come and there was no getting away now. He was faced with the man he¡¯d heard so much about, yet had not met. The king¡¯s most striking features were his giant silver wings. In Imperia, bearing wings was a symbol of prestige and respect. Highblood had wings of pure white. Only the king had wings of silver. On the outside the Silverwing Monarch looked human. He was not overly handsome, but had a regal demeanor that was solemn and dignified. His features told of a man in his forties with flecks of white in his hair. Different and unsettling was the third eyed set in between his eyebrows and his mysterious presence. Cloudhawk felt pressure closing in on him, making it hard to breathe. It was the most suffocating sense he¡¯d ever felt, more so than Judas or even Arcturus. A vastly more powerful and superior intellect settled on Cloudhawk. He understood in an instant that he was no match for the king. Although at his best Cloudhawk could wield the might of a Master Demonhunter, he still wasn¡¯t strong enough to match this creature. A crack appeared in the flesh between the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s brows, and his third eye opened. Its pupil was a crimson red surrounded by pitch black as deep as an abyss. The expression in it was different from the others as well, like¡­ like it had a mind of its own. When it fixed on Cloudhawk he felt a powerful mental energy wash through him. He was immediately reminded of his experience with the Cloud God, back in Skycloud¡¯s Temple. He knew that being had been rich in psychic mastery to the point where Cloudhawk felt as insignificant as an ant. He was hopeless to resist, so much that even his memories unfolded before the Silverwing Monarch for him to flip through like a book. Did this Silverwing Monarch¡­ have the same breadth of power as a god? Was this city the realm of a legendary demon hunter? If it were true he¡¯d lived for a thousand years it wouldn¡¯t matter how strong he was. He¡¯d have had the time to cultivate enough resources and experience to be a master of the world! For a time the king and Cloudhawk just stared at one another. There was a wordless sort of understanding between them, like the calm before a storm. It filled the heart with disquiet. ¡°I sense a familiar power. You must be the one chosen by Legion. Only, why Legion would select a mortal to take up the Demon King¡¯s mantle¡­ he, too, appears to have lost his mind.¡± There was a pause, then the king continued. ¡°I see the terrible injuries you suffer. Not much life remains. You have come to take the blood crystal.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face screwed into a frown. ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Such a pity. The blood crystal is my most prized object. Any who seek it for their own must die. Including you.¡± The Silverwing Monarch floated into the air. His rich and stifling aura flooded the chamber. ¡°Show me how much of the Demon King¡¯s power you can wield!¡± Things were not going well! Cloudhawk felt the danger making his heart race. Just as the Monarch¡¯s words faded from the air he thrust his wings forward. A hundred streaks of white light were shot forth as thick as rain. Every one of these gleaming lances of energy contained incredible power. Cloudhawk quickly retrieved his gauntlet and slipped it onto his arm. Right away the area was surrounded in a translucent field of force. The instant each beam struck the field they split apart and shot off at odd directions. Cloudhawk was already drenched in sweat for his attacker¡¯s power was already almost more than he could bear. After all, the king had summoned over a hundred deadly attacks in the blink of an eye. All the ground around Cloudhawk was ruined from the assault. The king floated in midair with his arms folded before his chest. He stopped the assault. The ground which had been devastated under his attack quickly regrew. He fixed Cloudhawk with a cold grin. ¡°You are more tenacious than I gave you credit for. But how long do you expect to survive, with such insignificant power?¡± His wings beat and once again a rain of power came crashing down. This time hundreds of spiked stones, blades of air and a cascade of fire assailed him. Yet for all the fire and fury it was clear the king was holding back. Cloudhawk was able to maintain his defenses but was given no opportunity to strike back. The assault continued. Wind, fire, water, earth, light, dark, thunder! Cloudhawk was stunned to discover that he was different from every other demonhunter he¡¯d encountered. Like himself, he was not restricted to using one or two sorts of relics. His talents covered all manner of energy, and what¡¯s more his mental powers were practically infinite. This nearly overwhelming display was a fraction of what he was capable of and Cloudhawk could barely hold on. He couldn¡¯t allow himself to be beaten like this! Cloudhawk burst into action, teleporting out of the endless barrage. Appearing behind the king he reached into the aether and pulled free Ardent Wrath. Heaving the weapon at the monarch it burst into flames! Clang! The ear-piercing sound of metal grinding on metal filled the air. Cloudhawk stared in wonder. The Silverwing Monarch remained standing place, arms crossed before him, still. However his silvery wings swept by, knocking Ardent Wrath away. As Cloudhawk¡¯s sword racked across the feathers he noted with trepidation that not even a scratch was left behind. The king turned around, encapsulated by his wings. Those three eyes were fixed on Cloudhawk with a look of scorn. He thrust out his hand and pointed to the ground. While Cloudhawk struggled with the Monarch a streak of gold dashed off to the side. Oddball tried to claim the demon blood while the king was destruction. But before he could there was a beam of light that punched right through the bird¡¯s sturdy body. A pained screech echoes off the walls and Oddball collapsed in a corner. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if his companion was alive or dead. ¡°You bastard!¡± Rage welled up inside of him. Red light burned in the depths of his eyes and his mind was flooded with a surge of energy. The flames of his sword blossomed to ten, even twenty times the strength. The silvery feathers of the Monarch¡¯s wings turned red-hot. ¡°Can you not see? I am perfect, immortal.¡± That disparaging smile still played on his lips. ¡°What makes you believe you are any match for me? What right do you have to claim the mantle of the Demon King? You were the best that fool Legion could groom? Hmph, you have come just in time to give unto me the gift you never deserved. I am only one worthy to receive the Demon King¡¯s inheritance!¡± What? He wanted to be the next Demon King? Who the hell was this guy?! Whatever Silverwing Monarch is, his appearance is just a suit. Whatever soul dwelled in that form wasn¡¯t the Legendary Demonhunter it used to be. Some vastly wiser, more powerful and ambitious thing controlled it now. It was using the Monarch¡¯s body as a vessel to evolve and improve to near perfection. Now he wanted the power Cloudhawk carried. He wanted to be the successor. He wanted to make himself into the new Demon King! As the king continued to speak his third eye gradually opened wider. An intense psychic force poured from the demonic organ like a drill. ¡°First I will obliterate your memories!¡± Silverwing Monarch¡¯s mental strength was released in a torrent. It bore into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind and went to war. To Cloudhawk it was exactly the same as when he felt the Cloud God invade his thoughts. He felt the power reaching into the depths of his being, attempting to scour him down to the root. Yet as the Silverwing Monarch prepared to reduce Cloudhawk to nothing, his mind reached into a boundless void. Therein was an outline, floating in darkness. There, in Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was a silhouette that glared down upon the Silverwing Monarch with eyes of scarlet that glowed with a dangerous power. He froze. ¡°King¡­ my King!¡± ¡°Nessus, I know you see all.¡± The dark figure was not an independent intelligence. Rather it was like a memory, triggered by some foreseen circumstance. ¡°You do not have the talent of a leader. You will not rise to become Demon King!¡± ¡°No¡­ No!¡± The Monarch roared in anger as waves of mental energy poured forth. Cloudhawk felt this dark palace of his memory begin to fracture. If this assault continued his mind would be broken, he dared not imagine the consequences. But the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s mental powers were too overwhelming. How was he supposed to defend himself from such power? In this moment something swam up to Cloudhawk through his memory. He reached for the mask with his mind! The Khan had told him that the mask of a thousand faces was a defensive relic. It was designed to repel all psychic attacks so long as its bearer was strong enough. Although Cloudhawk was far inferior to the might of this creature, defense required far less energy than attack. The repulsive force physically threw the Silverwing Monarch backward. This mortal had cast him out of his mind? How?! It was the Monarch¡¯s strongest method of assault! Cloudhawk glared at the monster before him. He didn¡¯t know what it was, nor did he know this Nessus the Demon King¡¯s memory spoke of, but this piece of shit had tried to steal his power. That wasn¡¯t something Cloudhawk was prepared to forgive. ¡°You insignificant worm!¡± The Silverwing Monarch shot into the sky with a roar. Doors opened up in the walls all around and from them charged in a cadre of white figures. The king¡¯s Highblood flooded the chamber. This is really not good! Cloudhawk was no match for the king. With so many Highblood on his side, that just made his situation all the more hopeless. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 92 The Raid The Silverwing Monarch hovered in the air, glaring at Cloudhawk from his lofty perch with scornful eyes. The chill in his expression mingled with hatred and anger. He didn¡¯t understand. Why would the Demon King choose this mortal as his successor? Why wouldn¡¯t the Demon King accept him?! For a thousand years the king had toiled, turning this body into the perfect successor. He had built an immortal body with access to boundless energy. He had the faith and determination to sacrifice everything against the gods ¨C even his own life. What was he missing? How was he inferior?! He was once the Demon King¡¯s most trusted comrade-in-arms, so why had he been shunned in favor of this weak human? These feelings of unfairness and inadequacy were why he looked on Cloudhawk with such hatred. The fire in them threatened to spill out and consume this insignificant creature. What did Legion and the Demon King see in him? Was it the ability to use dimensional power? Some other unique ability? No matter! He would be consumed! The Silverwing Monarch was confident that whatever he lacked, he would take it from this piddling successor just as he had with all the others. He would devour his will and his talents and assimilate them to make his body even more perfect. Because the Demon King had to be perfect! Undying, unaging, powerful, without weakness! If he was not how could he defeat the gods? If he was anything less than perfect how could he defeat the God King? He was the only being in this world with the strength of will, the strength of body, and the right to take on this responsibility! The roiling power within his demonic eye continued to grow and was reflected in the eyes of the Highbloods. They were all connected by some unseen chain of energy, stretching from the monarch and into each of his disciples. All of their power and will was joined together. When Cloudhawk saw this he finally understood. These Highblood were nothing more than the king¡¯s puppets. But whether it was the Highblood or the Silverwing Monarch himself, they were all just shells. The king and his hundred lackeys shared a single consciousness ¨C all just puppets being tugged by an unseen string. Whatever vast intellect controlled them all was the true king of Imperia! The Silverwing Monarch launched into another attack. A blast of psychic force was fired from his third eye. It streaked through the air toward Cloudhawk like a lance. Spears of psychic force like this ignored most typical defenses. Besides the Cloud God, the Silverwing Monarch was the strongest psychic talent Cloudhawk had ever come across. However, the Khan¡¯s warning had turned out to prescient and the mask he wore was well suited for this conflict. He reached his mind into the relic to protect himself. Bang! The psychic blast crashed into and was deflected by a shield of mental force. The sound of this contest was deafening to Cloudhawk¡¯s ears. Mighty though the mask of a thousand faces was, the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s mental assault was intense. Cloudhawk became dizzy and his vision blurred. It was just the opening move of a deadly assault, for the Highblood were moving in to surround him. Light continued to pour from the central tree. Surges of energy flowed through the monarch and his subjects. The king¡¯s mental energies were empowered to new heights. His terrifying voice echoed through Cloudhawk¡¯s brain. ¡°You are not worthy to be Demon King!¡± ¡°You are not worthy to be Demon King!¡± ¡°You are not WORTHY to be Demon KING!¡± Cloudhawk hid behind his gauntlet and the reflective field it summoned, but was also hard pressed to call on the mask¡¯s powers to defend himself from the king¡¯s mental assault. It felt like he was being crushed by the weight of a mountain. Blood trickled from his eyes, ears and nose. The Silverwing Monarch¡¯s psychic attack was monstrous! Even with the mask Cloudhawk had to throw much of his power behind it. He felt like he was caught in an iron cage with electric saws closing in on all sides. They were not cause deadly wounds but the pain was excruciating. Meanwhile, the king¡¯s voice was like hot pokers in his skull. ¡°Enough! How much of this to you think I¡¯ll accept?¡± Anger sizzled up to the surface, bubbling through the pain and torment. ¡°I never said I wanted to be Demon King! I never wanted to be Demon King!¡± One desperately wanted to wear the mantle of the Demon King. One tried his best to resist. One toiled to no avail. One tried to run but could not escape. If he had a choice Cloudhawk would throw this destiny, this power away in a heartbeat! He didn¡¯t want to be Demon King, a creature feared and despised by men. He didn¡¯t give a shit about being considered a hero, either. From the moment he could think, from the very beginning, his goals had never changed. All Cloudhawk ever wanted was to live a simple, quiet life. Instead, fate threw him in the deep end. This was all his efforts for peace and quiet had earned him. The Silverwing Monarch felt Cloudhawk¡¯s rage, felt him struggle. Looking through the ferocious mask he could see two eyes burning with crimson fire. Those were eyes he would never forget ¨C because those were the eyes of the Demon King! What residual will of the Demon King remained was locked inside Cloudhawk. It came alive and burst free, stabbing into the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s mind like a knife. For the first time he was wounded. Blood poured from his third, vertical eye as he staggered backward. If he wanted to consume Cloudhawk¡¯s powers, first he had to destroy his will. But in the course of his efforts, instead of crushing his quarry a powerful psychic blowback answered. Now the Monarch¡¯s own mind was reeling. Bastard! Even dead he protects his successor! Blood continued to dribble from the demonic eye. Engorged blue veins snaked across his face like hideous centipedes beneath the flesh. The eye with the vertical pupil opened to twice the split, threatening to split the skull and bulged forward. Suddenly the majestic Silverwing Monarch had turned into a hideous hellspawn. If he couldn¡¯t destroy Cloudhawk¡¯s will, then he would obliterate this worm¡¯s body! There can be only one Demon King! The king could no longer call on the full brunt of his psychic energy, but he was still stronger than Cloudhawk could contend with. In addition he had a host of Highblood to aid him. They were constantly infusing him with more power so that his stores were nearly limitless. This insignificant mortal wouldn¡¯t last a minute. Cloudhawk knew he was up shit creek without a canoe. If this kept up he was as good as dead. The flows of energy were far too chaotic here for him to teleport, so that being the case¡­ He gathered up his energies and coalesced dimensional power in the space before him. Reality warbled in response. He only had one thing left, something that would mean the destruction of Imperia. If he summoned from another world some piece of a mountain or other enormous thing, it would obliterate the chamber they were in. Imperia¡¯s Temple would fall, and soon after Imperia would begin to collapse. Maybe them he would have a chance. But would this gambit confound the Silverwing Monarch? He knew right away what Cloudhawk was planning. Beating his giant wings he leaped in front of the central tree to defend it. A field of energy shimmered into being. It didn¡¯t matter what Cloudhawk tried, nothing would force its way through a shield of the king¡¯s making. This was the thought in his mind as Cloudhawk fully unleashed his psychic force. The air before him shimmered intensely. Reality peeled back to create an unnatural fissure. A pitch black figure emerged from the portal, bearing a spear made of yellow sand. It threw the spear with all its might at the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s shield. It pierced into his chest, threatening to drive right through into the tree beyond. But at the last moment, the king grabbed onto the spear with both hands stopping it in place. What happened? Cloudhawk was stunned. He had been planning to sheer off the top of a mountain or something like he had the last time, aiming to crush the tree and this whole temple. Why did that figure appear instead? And not just any figure ¨C the Caliph of the Sands, Abaddon! What was he doing hiding in an outside dimension? A host of twenty figures poured from the portal. The Silverwing Monarch understood when he saw them. ¡°Nox¡­ Noxian Black Knights!¡± Abaddon hissed a foul laugh. ¡°I was asked to deliver Elder Judas¡¯ regards to the honorable Nessus.¡± Imperia¡¯s king was taken entirely by surprise. ¡°You also wish to kill me?¡± His hands were still holding fast to the spear in his chest when the king released a supernova of energy. The spear burst apart, as did Abaddon and all the Black Knights. ¡°You will all die!¡± Abaddon¡¯s body melted away into eddies of sand. They drifted back half a dozen meters then reformed. The Monarch¡¯s silvery wings were like daggers as he lashed out. Abaddon blocked them with a pair of weapons composed of sand. The Silver Monarch prepared to finish off this simulacrum of the Caliph when he felt something approach from behind. He turned his head just as a dark figure darting on the outskirts of the fight, toward the tree. In each hand was a blade of light which he drove into the heart of the central tree. A frightening burst of energy was released in a staggering wave. The tree detonated from the inside. The Khan of Evernight had planned his sneak attack expertly. With just his two blades he had destroyed the central control of the Temple. In the following moments the Temple lost its ability to generate external energy. The Highblood who drew their power from it were immediately weakened. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, was still at a loss as to what was happening. Wasn¡¯t Abaddon supposed to be with Wolfblade? He knew Abaddon was working with Judas to destroy the Silverwing Monarch, but how had he appeared here? And how did he appear in such a fashion, through Cloudhawk¡¯s own power? Abaddon and the Khan of Evernight began their assault on the Silverwing Monarch. Strong as he was, Cloudhawk had wounded him mentally and Abaddon had injured him physically. The source of his limitless energy was gone. The source of his energy was robbed from him, and that changed everything. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 93 Nessus, the Parasite The Caliph¡¯s sudden appearance had caught everyone off guard. One possibility struck Cloudhawk. Perhaps while unconscious in Nox, Judas, the Khan and Abaddon discovered some way to force him to open interdimensional space. There they hid a copy of the Caliph and a number of Black Knights for this very moment. He didn¡¯t know how Judas had managed it, but it was clear this was a deliberate, well-planned ambush. The Khan of Evernight was the distraction, out in the open, while Abaddon waited in the shadows. Cloudhawk¡¯s intention had been to use his powers in a desperate attack. Little did he know Abaddon and the Black Knights lurked in wait. When he engaged the Demon King¡¯s power they emerged, much to even Cloudhawk¡¯s surprise. But his confusion was a hundred fold more intense for the Silverwing Monarch. Abaddon was a demon of considerable strength. Pairing that with a sneak attack he was not prepared for, the king¡¯s defenses were overcome. A cavity was left from where the sand spear had pierced him, a gaping opening from front to back. Residual power from the Gospel of Sand was eroding his internal organs, turning them to grit. A wound this grievous was more than any normal human could survive. The Silverwing Monarch was an entity that defied common sense, however even he could not avoid the consequences of such trauma. While the Black Knights blocked Imperia¡¯s Highblood, the Khan hacked his sabers of light at the city¡¯s control center. The strange tree had the capacity to regrow after damage, but at least for the time being its capabilities were severed. Blocked from his limitless source of energy and facing three mighty foes, even the Silverwing Monarch was out of his depth. It had all happened so quickly! The king¡¯s third eye bulged even wider, splitting the bones of his skull. A fierce depth of wrath poured from the beleaguered Monarch. It was answered with hissing laughter from Abaddon. ¡°Predecessor Nessus is strong. However, even after assuming the form of a legendary demonhunter, even after consuming and assimilating his power, even with my king¡¯s blood crystal keeping this skin suit alive and drinking up the energies of all your subjects ¨C you are still merely a fiend lapping at the heels of a former owner. A servant who wishes to steal his master¡¯s power. That is an offense I will not tolerate...¡± That was the secret! The Silverwing Monarch wasn¡¯t himself, or a demon, or a god. He was more like Oddball, an unholy beast with some old connection to the Demon King. A pet, like Cloudhawk and Oddball. Of course the power and grade of Nessus was a great deal superior to the likes of Oddball. It derived its power from what it attached to ¨C essentially a parasite. It took over the Legendary Demonhunter¡¯s body, and used the Demon King¡¯s blood crystal to keep it alive. Then it used that same power to siphon power from others and turn them into imperfect doppelgangers. If the Khan had not severed his connection with the blood crystal, Nessus would be impossible to defeat. Through the blood crystal it could keep healing this puppet body it had inhabited. But without this effective immortality, and with its mighty psychic energies damaged by Cloudhawk, the indomitable position of the Silverwing Monarch was quickly eroding. No doubt about it, this was the best ¨C and only ¨C moment to overcome the Silverwing Monarch! Silver wings thrust out wide, sending a thousand blades of cutting wind through the chamber. While maintaining this assault it rose through the air through an opening the Temple created for him in the ceiling, attempting to escape. Abaddon and the Khan moved to stop it. Only, the king¡¯s area-wide assault was too intense. The two of them were not enough. The Khan¡¯s eyes snapped to Cloudhawk. ¡°Many powerful elite live in Imperia. If he escapes we lose our chance to end him. You will also lose your only chance to live. Why do you hesitate?¡± Indeed there was conflict in Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. It was obvious he had been used, a pawn under the control of Judas whose aim was to kill Nessus. Once this creature was felled Imperia would be thrown into chaos. Nox would come to take over and there was no way to know the fate of the Silver Kingdom after that. And yet a stream of faces flashed across his memory; Selene, Dawn, Gabriel, the old drunk and more¡­ he made up his mind. More important than whether Nessus deserved to die, Cloudhawk had to live. He had to make it back home! Reality rippled. In a blink he was a thousand meters in the air, right in front of Nessus. Scarlet fires smoldered in the depths of his eyes; a sign of his imminent, all-out assault. But Nessus was not any ordinary creature. The Silverwing Monarch¡¯s mouth stretched open, the skin splitting as it distended well passed its ears. From the depths of a ruined throat came a plume of angry fire. It poured forth thick as lava. The heat from it made the air corrugate. Cloudhawk curled his gauntleted left hand into a fist and, a halo of light emerging around it, he thrust it forward.. Nessus¡¯ coagulated fires were drawn into the gauntlet¡¯s pale light and what remained scattered through the air. Some it splashed onto Cloudhawk¡¯s body and scalded deep grooves in his flesh, but these were not fatal to him. At the same time, the Silverwing Monarch was still pelting the Khan and Abaddon with beams of light below. Three against one and he still wasn¡¯t at a serious disadvantage. But flaws were starting to appear! Ignoring the risks of drawing too much energy, Cloudhawk continued to defend himself with the gauntlet and reached out with his right hand. Streaks of silver light were summoned from his palm as the Silver Serpents emerged. Dancing between them were motes of green flame. All together they were like the head of a mighty dragon, breathing Castigation Fire. As the power slammed into the king¡¯s left wing those silver feathers began to melt away. The foul green flames quickly spread. Fear and madness burned in Nessus¡¯ eyes. Of course it recognized this power, he¡¯d encountered it a thousand years ago during the Great War. It was the power of a great demon Elder. Now, somehow, it was under the command of this mortal worm. Fires that raged so long as one¡¯s will remained! So long as Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let up, those fires would continue until there was nothing left of the Silverwing Monarch. Nessus¡¯ puppet roared and snapped off half of its wing before the fires could spread further. It was blacked in front by Cloudhawk and behind by the Khan and Abaddon. With each passing moment this body it¡¯d worked so hard to perfect was being cut apart. Things had turned dire very quickly. But it wouldn¡¯t give up. A strange and monstrous scene followed as the king¡¯s head split fully in half. A hideous thing clawed out from the remains of the skull. It had nine tentacle arms, like some sort of devilish octopus, and one enormous eye. Smaller feelers writhed on the underside of these tentacles, groping at whatever was close. Half of this creature¡¯s body heaved from the top of the king¡¯s ruined head. The remainder of it was still lodged in the meat puppet, controlling it from within. The body of the Silverwing Monarch jerks and flopped around like some sort of nightmarish toy. Cloudhawk openly gasped. What the FUCK is this thing?! THIS was the former Demon King¡¯s unholy beast? As Nessus drilled out of the Legendary Demonhunter¡¯s skull it released a hellish screech. The Highblood below started to react, twitching and jerking horrifically. Tentacles of various sizes burst from their bodies like a million wriggling worms. What moments before were glorious, majestic people were now hideous corpses rife with groping feelers. They all dropped what they were doing and scrambled toward their king. ¡°Hngh hngh hng¡­ interesting. Trying to call back its little splinters.¡± A dignified and imposing light shone in Abaddon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Stop it! If it gathers all its pieces back together, no one can stop it.¡± Nessus was a strange, powerful and unique creature. The Silverwing Monarch was its main body and the Highblood were all offshoots. One of the beast¡¯s tentacles were in each of the Highblood controlling them, growing over time. That was how Nessus devoured the power and talent from its host and siphoned it into himself. Once the tentacle wholly integrated into the host body, all of its power became a part of Nessus. It was how the Silverwing Monarch had such incredible, limitless power. It was the reason why the puppet could use various types of relics with perfect control. However the absorption was not complete, not until these Highblood¡¯s tentacles were returned to its master. At that point Nessus would be at full strength. With just the body of the Silverwing Monarch, Nessus was already a formidable enemy. Indeed, if it were allowed to reform from these dozens of tentacles to what heights of power would it reach? At that point even someone as terrifying as Arcturus may be no match for this monster. It took only a few seconds for the first couple of Highblood to reach the Silverwing Monarch. A split second after contact, the Highbloods¡¯ tentacles attached to Nessus¡¯ body. The bodies of the Highblood themselves dissolved like melted wax and were drawn into the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s body. The king¡¯s form swelled and bulged grotesquely, becoming even more terrifying. Woosh! The king¡¯s severed wing reformed as Nessus used the biological material of the Highblood to heal its host. Likewise its own strength surged and its wounds recovered. The Silverwing Monarch belched forth another gout of flame, stronger than before. There was no deflecting it. Cloudhawk dashed backwards several dozen meters. Even in retreat the heat nearly burned his arm off. More and more Highblood converged around Nessus, fusing back into the form that birthed them. If it kept this pace, it would only be a few minutes before the beast¡¯s true, hideous nature was reforged. They could not allow this to happen. Cloudhawk, the Khan and Abaddon might have had different motives, but right now they were allies. In an inspired moment of mutual understanding, they acted. Cloudhawk summoned his dimensional power once again, dragging the others into more useful positions. When the Khan reappeared he attacked with superhuman speed. The air came alive with countless streaks of sizzling sword light. One after the other, Highblood in his path were carved into bloody pieces. Yet this made no difference, for the pieces themselves could move under Nessus¡¯ control. That was when Abaddon acted. Through the power of the Gospel, he turned the chunks into globs of sand. Now entirely destroyed, they dissolved and fell apart. ¡°Why are you trying to stop me?!¡± Nessus¡¯ enraged shouts filled the air. ¡°Everything I do, I do for our kin! Traitors! Traitors! Die!¡± Nothing remained of the dignified Silverwing Monarch. Now, it was a monstrosity, hellish and dreadful. Although only about a dozen Highblood had been absorb, its body was bloated, repulsive and deformed. It was like a mass of half-melted wax smashed together, a patchwork horror that was nauseating to behold. From its split skull half of a demonic octopus emerged, its tentacles writhing menacingly. Those feelers gathered together and in their midst collected an orb of intense energy! When it was released, the orb was only roughly the size of a fist. By the time it reached Cloudhawk it had swelled several times that size to a diameter of ten meters. The intensity of it felt like Nessus had chucked a mountain his way. Cloudhawk teleported out of harm¡¯s way. The Silverwing Monarch never stopped its crazed yelling. ¡°All of Imperia is my domain! I am the master of its people and they are my crop! You think destroying the heart tree will stop me?! Foolish!¡± Sour expressions painted the invaders¡¯ faces. Cloudhawk answered its shouts. ¡°If that¡¯s so, then let¡¯s show all of your people your true face!¡± He teleported behind the king and took it by its silvery wings. Before Nessus could react, Cloudhawk released the power he¡¯d been storing and the two of them blinked from this dimension. They vanished from inside the Temple, to the sky over the city. ¡°Monster!¡± ¡°Some terrible creature, in the air!¡± ¡°What is that?!¡± When the Silverwing Monarch was flung back into reality, its hideous form was revealed for all to see. Imperia¡¯s citizens were surprised and disgusted by its terrible appearance. None could imagine that a fiend like this existed in their fair city! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 94 One’s True Face ¡°Imperia is under attack from invaders! Your king demands for you to destroy them!¡± The Silverwing Monarch¡¯s strained, hideous voice screeched through the air. Imperia¡¯s citizens looked at one another, stupefied. Those Enforcers who witnessed it looked either struck dumb or scowled, but none looked pleased. What the hell was this monster? Why was it calling itself their king? In the hearts of Imperia¡¯s people, their Silverwing Monarch was a majestic and awe-inspiring leader. Immortal, perfect, and in command of limitless power ¨C even capable of bestowing noble blood unto lowly citizens. But this fiend that appeared before them was nothing like that. To imagine it was somehow associated with their ruler was blasphemous! Glawyn¡¯s pupils shrunk as she stared up at it. She spotted something behind the hideous figure ¨C a familiar form. The gray cloak, bandages, and mask were all clear markers. Wasn¡¯t that Cloudhawk, from Redleaf? Cloudhawk hovered in empty space, staring at the creature. In a calm voice he said, ¡°Do you think your people will listen once they see your true face?¡± The Silverwing Monarch answered with a low growl. ¡°Hmph! They are nothing but a crop I grow for my own use. Material I use to form a more perfect body! Without me they would have been destroyed and scattered long ago. I built this kingdom. I am their king! And citizens must fight for their king!¡± Cloudhawk vanished, but just for an instant. He reappeared with a fist planted in the monster¡¯s body. His divine gauntlet unloaded with a burst of power, tearing off a chunk of its form and flinging it backward. ¡°Wake up!¡± Cloudhawk swung his sword at Nessus, blazing with green fire. It came crashing down like a nightmarish meteor on the monster¡¯s head. The terrible energy it released could be felt by the people standing below. All who witnessed it shared a single thought. Who was this man? He was so strong! Why had he shown up here now, at the same time as this monster? Why had they appeared by the Temple? The power Cloudhawk displayed was enough to slay any Chosen in Imperia. Glawyn especially looked at him with eyes wide. This unimpressive guy was really this strong? Her and an entire Enforcer squad probably couldn¡¯t take him. Before she had believed him when he said it was the bird that defeated Desmond. A man this strong certainly wasn¡¯t nobody. What was he doing in their country now? Why was he causing trouble in Imperia? What was his relationship with this silver-winged devil he fought? All of these questions raced through her mind until she settled upon a single possibility. But she couldn¡¯t believe it. The monster¡¯s enormous silver wings glowed brightly. Each feather shone like a relic as the energy it released formed into a protective shell. Cloudhawk¡¯s sword of fire crashed into it and broke apart, spewing green fire everywhere. In response the Monarch¡¯s wings lashed out, catching Cloudhawk in the abdomen and flinging him away. ¡°Aargh!¡± The monster yelled in frustration and anger. ¡°My subjects! Fight for me!¡± Tens of thousands of Imperian citizens looked pained all at once. Blue veins crept into their faces as some latent power hidden inside them stirred. It snaked up from their chest, through their throats, into their faces and up into their brain. Whatever it was took control of their thoughts. Not good! Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t expected Nessus to be so insane. It looked like every citizen of Imperia had a fragment of the creature in them! These fragments of the beast didn¡¯t have any special characteristics, remaining dormant most of the time. Only in a moment like this they were galvanized, awakened so that they could slither into the minds of these innocent people to deliver Nessus¡¯ commands. Within a certain range he had control of them just as he did with his other puppets. They shambled toward Cloudhawk like zombies at his behest. This monster was an absolute terror! It was capable of controlling tens of thousands of people at once! Abaddon and the Khan fought their way free of the Temple and raced into the fray. They couldn¡¯t allow Nessus to prevail, otherwise it would mean tremendous danger. Abaddon hefted his Gospel and summoned an ocean of sand which roiled through the air. The Silverwing Monster defended itself against the attacks that assailed him from within the sandstorm. Under its cover the Khan of Evernight moved in close. Once he was close enough, he hacked at the puppet¡¯s arms and wings with his light weapons. Once again, the Silverwing Monster was badly wounded. Nessus, as strong as it was, could not recover quick enough to ignore the raining blows. Cloudhawk, the Khan and Abaddon all fought together as one. How long could the creature hold out? In the blink of an eye it suffered a devastating round of attacks. Nessus did not continue to fight full-on. Soon his control would be absolute. Once wholly under his control the parasites would kill their hosts, but what did he care of these tiny mortal lives? In its twisted mind there was only a singular focus ¨C kill these usurpers! Imperia belonged to it, and it alone! Nessus still had a host of cards yet to play! It had an army of thralls, and the three-headed rocs at his beck and call. All it had to do was bide time, wait until its attackers were in a difficult place. There were only three of them after all ¨C how could they defeat the king and his entire kingdom? That was the idea it held to as Nessus retreated. Suddenly, the air was filled with delicate bubbles that appeared out of nowhere. They congregated in midair, forming together into one enormous orb. It appeared right where Nessus had fled to. The creature immediately felt the dire crisis enveloping it. ¡°Judas!¡± Nessus reacted immediately. Judas¡¯ orbs of annihilation?! It was already too late for it to escape! Half of it managed to cross the border of the orb when Judas¡¯ power activated. The bubble popped and everything inside of it was reduced to nothing ¨C including half of the Silverwing Monster. All that remained was half of its body below the wound in its chest. The rest disappeared like smoke. In the same instant an armada of airships descended from the clouds over Imperia. Countless Noxian soldiers leaped from their decks into the city below. It was now an invasion. Judas and his army had been waiting at the border of this place, waiting for its protective enchantments to fade. The moment it did Nox¡¯s army was deployed. As an Elder of his race, Judas was far more powerful than Abaddon. His sneak attack was the final nail in the coffin. That perfect body which Nessus had worked on for a millennia was completely ruined. Nessus gazed upon the mighty demon Elder. It saw the wound in its chest that still was not healed after the battle at Sanctuary. But his wounds didn¡¯t matter, for if Judas was here it meant the fight was already over. Nessus did not have the power to turn back time. Nessus slithered out of the Silverwing Monster¡¯s head. It attempted to escape, but before getting more than a hundred meters it rushed headlong into another bubble. ¡°Judas! Answer me!¡± Nessus was wholly in its original form, a hideous one-eyed octopus. The voice that came from it was filled with hatred and refusal, but it knew there was no escaping its fate. ¡°Is this weak, worthless human really the chosen of the Demon King? Is this ignorant worm really strong enough to defeat the demon king?! Can he ¨C this wretched, insignificant human ¨C really wear the crown of our master?! Answer me!¡± For a moment Judas was lost in thought. A cruel light flashed in his eyes and he replied: ¡°Who knows?¡± That was the moment Judas¡¯ bubble burst. A terrible, ear-splitting scream filled with unmitigated rage began, and then stopped abruptly. Not a single trace of the monster that had controlled this city remained. Nessus, the Parasite, was dead. The barbs that it had in the city¡¯s population all failed. The citizens of Imperia were saved. Before long Nox¡¯s warships had filled the sky, and its forces occupied all the major districts. It was a change as sudden as it was earth-shaking for the people of the city. No one could believe that the king who had rules over them for a thousand years was actually a puppet for some despicable monster. Worse, it had infected all of them as well. Be it in the heart of its citizens or the strength of its enchantments, this ancient and glorious city had collapsed. From now on, it was under the control of Nox and its army. What would become of it? Cloudhawk scowled at the thought. ¡°What about my blood crystal?¡± The Khan of Evernight answered his query. ¡°It is being prepared for you. But now is not the time.¡± His scowl deepened. ¡°So when¡¯s the fuckin¡¯ time?¡± A loud, booming voice answered. ¡°Your time has arrived!¡± Cloudhawk turned his head toward the sound. Judas had appeared behind him. He stretched out a hand and from it poured a thick black fog. The instant it touched him Cloudhawk could feel his body going stiff as stone. Before he could react, Abaddon wrapped him up in a cocoon of sand that left him no room to move. What the fuck?! Cloudhawk¡¯s face went pale. Were they stabbing him in the back? But why? He felt like he could still be of use. He struggled valiantly but achieved nothing. Helpless and angry, he growled, ¡°This is what you call help?¡± Judas met Cloudhawk¡¯s hateful glare with a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I said I would save you and that¡¯s exactly what I shall do. But did you really think we would accept a human as a Demon King?¡± ¡°If you won¡¯t accept me as the Demon King then what was the meaning of all of this?¡± ¡°Heh heh... simple. I intend to keep my word and help you assimilate all the Demon King has promised to you. The power of my former king¡¯s blood will restore you to perfect health. Of course there is a very important caveat, the final step that I did not share that will happen afterwards.¡± Judas grinned at Cloudhawk, stressing every syllable. ¡°I will erase your memories, and you will become my Archfiend. A thoughtless puppet, always serving at my side.¡± 1. Stranger Things season 3! Does that that make Cloudhawk Eleven? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 95 The Demon Elder Judas would not kneel before Cloudhawk. No demon would supplicate themselves before a human. But if he was not prepared to accept Cloudhawk as his king, why did the Elder save him from Sanctuary? Why spirit the injured Cloudhawk to safety, stave off death while he was in a coma and then point him toward the blood crystal? It was because Judas was clever. He knew that no matter how he struggled or denied the fact, he could not change the reality that Cloudhawk was chosen as the Demon King¡¯s successor. He had already assimilated much of his predecessor¡¯s power, and there was no denying the human had incredible potential. Without a doubt, he had come to inherit the power of the former Demon King. So what to do? In fact, the simplest method was also the most effective. Through his own abilities and the power of demon blood, Judas would transform Cloudhawk into an archfiend! More specifically, the new Demon King would become his puppet! It was a stark display of Judas¡¯ ambition and desire. He rescued Cloudhawk, saved his life and pointed him toward the blood crystal for this reason alone. So that Cloudhawk would become a powerful, unwitting servant. Gods and demons had the special ability to manufacture attendants. For the gods they were called seraphs. To demons, they were labeled fiends. At the heart of each was blood from their creator. The first step in the process was injecting demon blood into a human receptacle. Once host and blood had acclimated a series of methods were used to induce catalysis. From there the human underwent dramatic changes to adopt a portion of the god or demon¡¯s power but in turn became a tool. Neither god, nor demon, nor human any longer. Fiends and seraphs were possessed of inexhaustible energy. They neither aged nor died. Blackfiend was a perfect representation of a fully formed archfiend. Conversely, Autumn¡¯s Dryad was an example of a godly seraph. What they had in common was an utter lack of independent thought. Whatever had existed inside of them prior to the transformation was gone, leaving only a husk filled with otherworldly power. There was no difference between Judas and Nessus. Nessus wanted to become the Demon King and ascend. Judas was even more insane. In turning Cloudhawk into an archfiend he would make him immortal ¨C an undying Demon King who answered explicitly to Judas. In this way he, too, would come to possess the power of the Demon King. And he who commanded the Demon King, commanded all demons. This was Judas¡¯ plan. There were certain conditions necessary for the creation of a fiend. Not everyone could survive such a transformation. In fact there was a very high rate of failure for both seraphs and fiends, often during the first step. If a host body could not withstand the power of godly or demonic blood then they were destroyed outright. But Judas¡¯ idea was inspired. Cloudhawk needed the Demon King¡¯s blood, they were already attuned. As the Demon King¡¯s successor his body had already assimilated his predecessor¡¯s power and memories. The Demon King¡¯s blood was the final step which would transform him into the perfect vessel. It appeared Judas had all but succeeded! Cloudhawk was captured, and the Demon King¡¯s blood was in hand. Everything was prepared! The Elder demon could think of no more suitable plan. For the future of his race, they needed a Demon King that would live for eternity. For his own ambitious soul, he needed to control that power. Those old fools of Gehenna, calling Judas the radical minority? Hadn¡¯t Gehenna¡¯as old guard been waiting for the return of the Demon King before making their next move? Well, from now on Judas may not be the Demon King, but the Demon King would answer to him! Cloudhawk was bound and caught in Judas¡¯ domain of annihilation. In this field of terrible power there was no way for him to teleport to safety. He had no means of escape. The Khan of Evernight and Judas escorted their future puppet back to Nox, for the demon Elder could not wait to revel in his victory. All the while Cloudhawk was wracking his brain for any way to save himself. All it earned him was a headache. He hadn¡¯t thought Judas was so interested in his body! Every time Judas looked at his prize the madness in those crimson eyes grew more fierce. Three powerful men and a coterie of Black Knights. It was quite the escort. Even if Cloudhawk could move enough to fight, it wouldn¡¯t have helped him. From the instant he was captured and all the way to Nox, Cloudhawk was locked away from his power. All he could do was be led along like a lamb to the slaughter. The blood crystal¡¯s essence was extracted, liquefied and put in an IV bag. The Khan of Evernight personally saw to affixing a number of tubes to Cloudhawk¡¯s body for the blood to pass through. ¡°There is no point in struggling.¡± The Khan¡¯s digitized red eyes glowed against Cloudhawk¡¯s skin. ¡°This is your fate. One cannot change fate.¡± Cloudhawk sensed his doom was near, but was not afraid. In fact he stared at the Khan with perfect calm. He saw this and asked in that robotic voice, ¡°Do you not fear death?¡± ¡°I very much fear death, but now that it¡¯s here I guess it doesn¡¯t seem so bad.¡± Cloudhawk felt his body grow warm as the fluid started to be pumped into his veins. ¡°It¡¯s just a pity I won¡¯t keep my promises.¡± The Khan said nothing further as he locked Cloudhawk into a familiar, fluid-filled capsule. The Demon King¡¯s blood dripped into him, and Cloudhawk could feel the old injuries he¡¯d sustained begin to heal. With every passing moment more of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance was assimilated into his body, becoming part of him. As the same time he was aware of the creeping murkiness in his head. An intense need for sleep washed over him. Suspended in this warm fluid he imagined this must have been what it was like in the womb. He no longer needed to fear the storm raging outside, and could finally sleep in peace. He couldn¡¯t remember the last time he¡¯d had a really good night¡¯s sleep¡­ He appreciated it, even though he knew it was a sleep he might never wake up from. He didn¡¯t fight it, he was too exhausted to try. The idea of a good long sleep was very appealing. As the darkness closed in through the chambers of his mind, the image of a beautiful face shimmered behind his eyelids. It wasn¡¯t until this moment when his final thoughts were passing him by, did Cloudhawk realized how much he liked her. Such a shame he would never be able to tell her¡­ The regret he felt for it was intense. It was the last thing he felt before he lost consciousness. Two months passed until one day Judas, Abaddon and the Khan of Evernight were standing before the chamber. It was a strange contraption that clearly wasn¡¯t made in this world. It almost had a life of its own and pulsed like a heart. Each rhythmic beat was matched by a gentle glow of red that danced across its surface. ¡°It¡¯s nearly complete.¡± Abaddon¡¯s raspy chuckle was harsh in this confined place. ¡°The remaining power of the Demon King is strong enough to repair any damage to his body. Now he will reach his full potential. When he wakes up he¡¯ll be as mighty as Skye Polaris had been before his demise. And with the Demon King¡¯s psychic inheritance his mental abilities may outstrip my own!¡± Judas did not respond. He knew this wasn¡¯t enough, what they needed was the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. That was also a facet of the inheritance Cloudhawk had yet to accept. The demon Elder gave his orders. ¡°It¡¯s time to start the next stage of the process. Begin the transformation.¡± Cloudhawk had completely absorbed the Demon King¡¯s power. The injuries he¡¯d sustained from Arcturus and the Cloud God were no more. It was now time to turn him into an archfiend. One started, this process was irreversible. Cloudhawk would never again be human, rather a creature like Blackfiend that answered to a master. A mindless body with incredible power. Abaddon and the Khan shared a glance. Judas looked at the lesser demon in irritation. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Elder Judas, the Demon King can not pass on all of his power. Even his successor can only inherit a piece of it¡­ not enough to enshrine a new Demon King, no?¡± Dissatisfaction gleamed in the Elder demon¡¯s eyes. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°When our king passed on his boon, it was not with the intention of having his successor use this inheritance alone to kill the God King. It was intended as a starting point.¡± Abaddon turned his eyes to the capsule Cloudhawk floated in. ¡°Once Cloudhawk is an archfiend there will be no further growth. He will remain as he is for eternity. It would mean the Demon King of this generation would be far inferior to the God King ¨C inferior even to the Demon King of the last generation. IS this what we want?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Judas¡¯ anger flared. ¡°You dare question my orders?¡± Abaddon¡¯s throat closed tightened as it was seized by an invisible force. ¡°No no no¡­ ! Why would I dare do such a thing? I was just thinking -¡± Abaddon¡¯s face suddenly darkened and he laughed. ¡°- of killing you!¡± There was a flash of purple light and a glowing blade protruded from Judas¡¯ chest. The Elder demon looked down with disbelief in his burning red eyes. The Khan of Evernight had been waiting for this moment to show his hand. The instant Judas revealed a weak point, he struck. His burning sword of light was pushed to the hilt through the Elder demon¡¯s body. Judas roared in pain and fury! He released a horrific torrent of power in all directions. Both Abaddon and the Khan was cast away. The wounds Judas sustained during the assault on Sanctuary were not yet healed, and this sneak attack made them worse. He growled in pain and covered the wound. ¡°Traitors! The both of you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make such terrible accusations, my Elder!¡± The sinister grin remained on Abaddon¡¯s face. ¡°In fact it is you who betray your race by failing to keep your ambition in check! As a member of Gehenna, how could I stand by and watch you destroy the hope of our people?¡± ¡°Kill them!¡± Judas shouted orders to the Black Knights nearby. ¡°Kill these betrayers!¡± The ominous warriors were unmoved as though they heard nothing. The Khan of Evernight¡¯s emotionless voice answered. ¡°Do not waste energy. I am the Governor of Nox. The Black Knights answer to me.¡± Judas was taken completely by surprise. He was not prepared for such treachery. In the midst of his confusion another voice joined the conversation. ¡°Did you think you could rise among the Elder ranks with such clumsy planning and methods? You are a disgrace to Gehenna!¡± A figure stepped into view, bookish and unassuming with a single good eye. He was followed by a sizeable crowd. Among them were Inkspecter, Squall, Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider and other agents from the Hand of Gehenna. Leading them was none other than Wolfblade. ¡°Shepherd God¡­¡± Judas saw that among this invasion was a figure in a green dress. He saw her first during the battle for Sanctuary and suspected she might be the fallen deity, the former master of the Silver Kingdom. Such a prideful entity following the orders of a simple man. There was clearly more to Wolfblade than what he appeared. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t figured it out? You continue to disappoint me!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. You have dared to stand against me. I will erase any memory of you from this earth!¡± Anger flared within Judas. His domain of annihilation bloomed, preparing to eliminate this sudden threat. But Wolfblade merely flicked his finger, and with that motion a shimmering blue blade without a hilt shot from his body. It sliced through the orbs of sinister power without pause. It shot through the Elder demon¡¯s body and in the process extracted a strange blue object. It affixed to the sword as though it were magnetic. Judas¡¯ Hilt of Annihilation. It joined with Wolfblade¡¯s blue sword to create a complete blade. These two incredible relics were in fact one whole. Wolfbladem otioned once again and the reforged sword shot back into his hand. With his free hand he stroked the weapon with an emotive sigh like a man being reunited with a long-lost lover. ¡°It¡¯s been over a thousand years since we fought with the king during the Great War. It was this sword that bit into the body of the God King. A thousand years¡­ finally it is time for it to be born again.¡± Fear lit up in Judas¡¯ eyes as realization washed over him. ¡°Grand Elder¡­ Legion!¡± Yes. The one today known as Wolfblade was Gehenna¡¯s second in command, the Grand Elder and Prime Seal of the Elder council. Legion. Most demons suspected Legion had died long ago. None would expect a creature with power second only to the Demon King himself would reemerge in human form. He had remained in the shadows all this time, quietly manipulating events to his own ends¡­ Judas knew in that instant that his time was done. Everything he had fought to accomplish amounted to just a small part in Legion¡¯s grand scheme. Now, his part was done. Legion would not allow him to linger unnecessarily. ¡°Thank you for all you¡¯ve done for Gehenna and our new Demon King.¡± Wolfblade waved his hand and the Shepherd God stepped forth. A sound reverberated in the Elder demon¡¯s brain, like a death knell. ¡°Now your service ends.¡± 1. And I think a long time ago! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 96 Lighting the Path Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes fluttered open and were immediately stabbed by harsh interior light. They gleamed like light bulbs themselves, one dark gold and the other an angry crimson; one holy and dignified, the other sinister and frightening. They gleamed like the power that illuminated them was on the cusp of losing control. A few moments later the lights dimmed and vanished and his eyes were once more their typical black. Stirring from his long slumber, Cloudhawk¡¯s head was muddled. However, he soon noticed that he felt physically more comfortable than any other time he could remember. From head to toe, from inside out, his body buzzed with power and vitality. He looked down at his hands. His fingers were pale as jade and almost seemed to glow. His nails were translucent and gleamed with a healthy luster. Every muscle in his hands an arms were well defined like an alabaster carving. He felt like a beast, full of power waiting to burst free. What did they do to him? He felt like a new man, a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly. He clenched his fists, relaxed, then clenched again. A brief movement, but somehow it felt like all the power in his body could be focused in those fists and used to punch right through airships. It appeared he had finally, fully assimilated all of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance. Wolfblade, Abaddon, the Khan of Evernight and Autumn all stood around him. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to ask to know what had happened. Everything had been a part of Wolfblade¡¯s plan. Judas was no more. He didn¡¯t ask what the Elder demon¡¯s fate was, he already knew. He wasn¡¯t a threat any longer. Wolfblade looked upon Cloudhawk with what could only be called relief. Like an artist setting his eyes on a masterpiece after the final stroke of his brush, seeing the culmination of all his hard work. Like a parent who sighed with relief when they realized their child had finally grown up. No one knew just how much effort and pain Wolfblade had gone through to see this moment. ¡°You¡¯ve finally taken the step.¡± When Abaddon addressed Cloudhawk he did it with some almost like respect. Autumn¡¯s cold eyes no longer had the same degree of contempt. Rather there was a deep sense of dread, for from this moment on Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t some insignificant mortal. He was qualified to stand on her level. The Khan of Evernight remained silence. No one knew what he felt behind that robotic helmet. ¡°You have combined the godly blood you were born with to the demonic blood you were given. Two bloodlines integrated into your body with the Trespasser mutation you were given long ago. Though you were born a human, the genetic material gifted to you by higher beings makes you so much more. You have more potential now than any other human, including the likes of Skye Polaris.¡± Cloudhawk did not speak. He just kept looking at his hands. The first person to recognize that Cloudhawk came from unique stock was Hellflower. During her examinations, after he was infected with Trespasser, she noticed the off mutations. They were actually markers ¨C signs that he was carrying some shadow of a divine lineage. While Judas was attempting to turn him into a fiend, Trespasser was hard at work in Cloudhawk¡¯s body. The demonic blood injected into him was assimilated with the help of the virus so that two similar yet different bloodlines could combine. Somehow, through the incredible capabilities of Trespasser, Cloudhawk had become the human product of godly and demonic blood. His potential and every other quality went far beyond what anyone could imagine. It all had fallen perfectly into place. From Cloudhawk¡¯s inherent abilities, to Trespasser, to this final moment. Even Cloudhawk felt somehow complete, like something new that had grown out of nothing, a sculpture that had emerged from the marble. Wolfblade had been the architect of it all. His run-in with Roste and all the experiences that followed were his machinations. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ much stronger than I was.¡± Cloudhawk muttered. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Wolfblade replied. ¡°The former Demon King¡¯s power and wisdom is continued in you. But it is not all of what the Demon King was. It is a fraction, a piece. In time you will become stronger, to finally become the supreme being we of Gehenna have been waiting for.¡± A smirk pulled at the corners of Cloudhawk¡¯s lips. It was unclear whether it was self-mockery or a grin directed at Wolfblade. He felt neither joy nor sorrow at this new transformation. Instead there was just¡­ indifference. Cloudhawk was no longer interested in screaming and railing against this destiny. If this truly was preordained, then let his fate come. Sometimes people had to learn to accept the unavoidable, to embrace what was meant to be. ¡°More and more of the memories I inherited are awakening. I know a lot more now than I ever have.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes fixed on Wolfblade. ¡°Do you prefer to continue being called Wolfblade, or shall we refer to you as Grand Elder Legion?¡± ¡°A thousand years ago as the former Demon King lay dying, he entrusted me with finding a suitable successor. For a millennia I have wandered under many different guises, searching every corner of the globe. Then I found you. What I am now is not the Legion of old. I am a guide, who was given a mission he intends to complete.¡± Wolfblade met Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze with calm and dignity. ¡°Most of my task is complete, but your mission is only beginning. Let¡¯s stick to Wolfblade.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°What should I do next?¡± Wolfblade smiled. ¡°You are King. You are our leader. No one would dare presume to tell you what to, you have the power to do whatever you please. And we four are your mighty lieutenants.¡± Wolfblade, Shepherd God, Abaddon, and the Khan of Evernight. Then there was the old drunk of Grenland, Nox, the Dark Atom, Woodland Vale, Greenland itself¡­ indeed, Cloudhawk now commanded an army of incredible and talented people. This included being responsible for millions of lives. A truly vast measure of power. A thousand years. The wastelands had been absent a leader like this for a thousand years. The Crimson One¡¯s predictions seemed to have come true but the wastes had produced an even stronger, more perfect leader who had finally ripened. Perhaps in the very near future, true revolution would come to the world. Cloudhawk looked around at the others. ¡°What is the state of Meadow?¡± Wolfblade answered. ¡°Things are not going well. They have lost their Silverwing Monarch. The kingdom is on the verge of collapse.¡± Cloudhawk rubbed his chin in consideration for a time. ¡°You mean to tell me that you all will listen to my orders from now on?¡± Wolfblade answered without hesitation. ¡°The King¡¯s orders come before all else.¡± ¡°Good. The Silver Kingdom is home to millions. It would be unforgivable if a realm of that scale fell to ruin.¡± Cloudhawk turned his attention toward Autumn. ¡°I suggest the Shepherd God return ot her flock. Regain control, rebuild. The Silver Kingdom can be saved.¡± Wolfblade nodded. ¡°That is the best way. Meadow has fallen and is no match for the likes of Skycloud. But it is a realm of millions with many talented Chosen. It is a formidable power. If we take it under our governance it is sure to pay us back in spades.¡± ¡°Prepare. We leave in an hour.¡± Cloudhawk rose from his bed having given the order, and left the room. Now that the likes of Wolfblade have come together under his banner, Cloudhawk could sit comfortably in the leader¡¯s chair. From the moment he established Greenland, Cloudhawk was a wasteland chieftain. He had already embarked on this road, so it might as well be allowed to expand. With so many powerful cards in his hand, what would there be to fear when he finally came into conflict with Skycloud? ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± The shout came from behind. He turned his head and saw the green-clad figure standing in the hall. Concern marked her young features. Cloudhawk looked her over. ¡°You¡­ Autumn?¡± ¡°I have reached a sort of agreement with the Shepherd God. She will let me take control from time to time.¡± Autumn slowly made her way toward Cloudhawk and the two continued to walk shoulder to shoulder. They walked up to a glass window and looked out into the vast and dim splendor of the City of Eternal Night. He realized suddenly that this place, which had been painstakingly built over generations, was now the seat of his power. Anxiety was still evident on Autumn¡¯s frail features. ¡°Cloudhawk, do you really plan to walk this road they laid out for you?¡± Cloudhawk looked at the reflection of himself in the glass and muttered. ¡°What is there to avoid? Look at me now, greater than I would have ever dreamed.¡± Autumn looked at him, standing by her side. He was taller, handsome, strong, powerful. Seemingly perfect, yet almost completely different from the man she¡¯d met in Sandbar Station years ago. ¡°If I could turn back time I would go back. Back to the Sandbar, when I met you for the first time in your shop.¡± His lips curled at the memory. ¡°So that I could continue to cook up ways to steal eboncrys from you.¡± Autumn smiled as well. It was bitter and sad. ¡°You were a rascal then. But following you on our adventures to recover the flute were the best times of my life.¡± ¡°It serves nothing to always think on the past. The experiences I¡¯ve had and the rest I was forced to take have made things very clear.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s dark eyes shuffled northward. ¡°The road ahead is long, I need to be ready. I tried avoiding it and all I did was run headlong into my destiny. No point in avoiding it any further.¡± Autumn fell silent. Her memories and those of the Shepherd God had melded together now. She knew better than anyone how dark and cruel the road Cloudhawk had chosen would turn out to be. She raised her head and looked once more upon this perfect specimen of a man. Although his road was dark and shrouded in mist, she would do everything in her power to be a light. She didn¡¯t know how long she would be able to walk with him, but she wished with all her heart that Cloudhawk would conquer the shadows that were closing in to devour him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 97 Taking Imperia Three months after the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s death, much had changed in the kingdom¡¯s capitol. The enchantments that kept out the frigid surrounding environment had fallen. Cold crept in. What had been a city of eternal spring was now buried in deadly frost. Its flowers and forests were robbed of heat and died. Chaos the likes of which Imperia had never known now reigned. Nox¡¯s forces, dispatched by Judas to Imperia, managed to maintain their grip on power. However, with time that tentative grasp loosened. Living conditions for the city¡¯s denizens worsened by the week. The growing risk of famine spurned their anger and resentment. No one wanted to merely sit back and await death by exposure or starvation. Forrest Blackwood, leader of the Enforcers, rose up. He organized a resistance with the intention of taking back Imperia for its citizens! Forrest had a lauded reputation in Imperia. When he sent out the call for all Enforcers and high-ranking citizens of the city to rise up, it was answered. Before long he¡¯d managed to cobble together a formidable force to counter Noxian rule. Immediately the two opposed groups came into conflict as the situation in Imperia deteriorated. Imperia. A city with a long and storied history, beautiful and ethereal, was now aflame. Black smoke mingled with snow over an environment turned foul from fear, hatred and violence. Glawyn, of course, had joined the resistance even though she had no idea how this had all come about. All she knew was that her beloved city had entered a period of unprecedented strife. Dark forces from the city of perpetual night were trying to strangle the life from Imperia. The enchantments that protected them for a millennia had fallen and would not return. They were teetering on the precipice of destruction. What no one could fathom was why Judas had not shown himself in the several months since sacking the city. Nox¡¯s garrison here was a token force only, how could they be expected to hold off a well-organized resistance force? The battle raged back and forth for over a month. Both sides suffered heavy losses. However the resistance had the benefit of home turf and knew their city far better than the Noxians. Forces from the City of Eternal Night were eventually pushed all the way back to the Temple. ¡°Imperia cannot fall into enemy hands!¡± ¡°We will protect our capitol to the death!¡± ¡°Bastards! Leave our home!¡± Today the air bore a piercing chill and snow swirled in the air. Forrest was at the head of a group of ninety or more capable Enforcers, in addition to eight hundred ordinary Chosen and thirty thousand Imperian militia soldiers. The latter were a spontaneous, grass-roots group that had sprung up and joined the Enforcers, enraged by the state of their home. This would be the final battle to determine the state of Imperia! If they could recapture the Temple they could finally expel these fiends from their city. The people were angry and confused. Glawyn was as well. What would the future of Imperia be like? Had their Silverwing Monarch really fallen? Had that monstrous thing that appeared above the city months ago really their king? Where were the mighty Highblood? How had Nox¡¯s forces so easily invaded, uncontested by their winged protectors? Had they all been destroyed? That seemed impossible, the Highblood were Imperia¡¯s mightiest defenders. How could they be so easily bested? Most important in the minds of the resistance, though, was the declining state of their home. They would not stand for it! Doubts and fears overflowed in the hearts of the people. But even if they were successful, even if they managed to drive out these invaders, Imperia would never return to the way it was before. Truth and reality were often cruel. What would happen once the Temple was opened and its secrets revealed? Would the citizens ¨C once so devout in their service to the king ¨C continue to delude themselves and worship a false ideal? Forrest Blackwood hadn¡¯t considered it. As the city¡¯s most loyal guardian he only needed to remember a little of the life they used to live. No matter what happened, Imperia belonged to its people. He would not give it up to outsiders from Nox. ¡°Begin the attack!¡± Forrest raised his sword. Members of the resistance lined up behind him howled their war cries, giving voice to all their anger and misgivings. It was time to take back their home! The crowds clenched their weapons, ready to throw themselves into combat with the Black Knights occupying the Temple. But as they prepared to move in there was a crash overhead. A shadow swept by as there appeared several large warships, looming above their city. When Forrest and the others saw the ferocious appearance of the airships their hearts sank, for they had to have come from Nox. Enemy reinforcements, and by the look of it the Lord of Nox himself had joined the fray. Forrest shouted over the din. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! We fight to the death!¡± There was no turning back for any of them, nor would Imperia and Nox ever learn to live in peace. Now that the situation had come to this there was no other choice but to fight to the end. Either they take back the city with their blood and their lives, or they failed and were no more. As proud citizens of this city and its fallen king, they would never submit to Noxian rule! Forrest called the charge! Yet as they rushed forward the air before the resistance forces began to shimmer. Five individuals appeared where moments before there had been no one. One was savage and terrible; one was beautiful and majestic; one was hidden beneath black armor and a dark helmet; one was a one-eyed scholar. Yet although each was unique, the one who drew the most attention was their leader. The man was as pure as jade, handsome and dignified. He had skin that made women jealous and a physique any man would envy. Straight black hair hung around his alluring features and the crowds were stopped dead by his staggering black eyes that glimmered like stars. His age was a mystery, but what was immediately clear was that this man was anything but ordinary. Abaddon waved his hand and the book he carried became a wall of sand. The slings and arrows cast their way from the crowd were foiled. In the next breath that wall became a torrent of sand that swept away the force¡¯s vanguard. With a halfhearted wave of his hand the demon struck fear into this expansive army. Without question any one of these five individuals could obliterate them. ¡°I am the leader of Nox, Cloudhawk!¡± Glawyn stopped dead in her tracks as though caught in a dream. She recognized the one controlling sand as a terrible and powerful demon. The one in the dark armor, she realized now, was the Khan of Evernight. But their leader¡­ Cloudhawk? How could it be him? She¡¯d met him first in Redleaf, where he¡¯d given her the impression of a ragged and eccentric outsider. But the one standing before her now bearing the same name was completely different. Fear and anger welled up inside of her when she remembered that it was she who brought him and the Khan into the city. These two men caused earthquakes with a stomp of their feet, and they had used her. It was humiliating to discover that she¡¯d been so blind. She was so upset she could hardly breathe. ¡°Whoever you are, you are all invaders! You will all die!¡± Forrest was ready to continue the charge, but before the words left his lips Cloudhawk strode forward. With this action was born several dozen serpents of fire. Each one was tens of meters long and spun around the group at high speeds. The sickly green flames were unmistakable, the terrible and legendary Castigation Fire. Cloudhawk¡¯s power had surpassed the Crimson One and his manipulation of the flames was far greater. Once again the citizens of Imperia stared in shock. Such overwhelming power summoned from nowhere! He seemed as strong as their late Silverwing Monarch, if not stronger. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes swept over the crowd. ¡°The one who previous pulled Nox¡¯s string ¨C Judas ¨C has been dispatched at my hand. The creature you worshiped as the Silverwing Monarch was a tool under the control of a monster. A puppet, that has been eliminated.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Incredulous shouts answered him from the citizens. Cloudhawk knew his words fell on deaf ears, but he had long ago learned not to care what others thought. He continued. ¡°The Highblodo you adored and aspired to no longer exist. The creature which controlled your king controlled them just the same. They were nothing more than corpses without a mind of their own. False angels that acted under one despicable will. Your loved ones were gone the instant they became the Monarch¡¯s marionettes.¡± As Cloudhawk said this he released a storm of mental energy. From within the Temple there emerged several figures ¨C twenty or so men and woman with spotless white wings. They descended from on high before the masses, much to their shock and alarm. These were the Highbloods they had hoped to see, who had hidden in the temple since the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s disappearance. They hovered before the army now with stiff expressions and glazed eyes, as though they were made of wood. The Silverwing Monarch had controlled these puppets through psychic power. The conduit to allow this was the fragment of Nessus writhing within them. These fragment tentacles acted like independent creatures. They subsisted on the host and took root in their brain, manipulating its nervous system to their own ends. Cloudhawk, by imitating Nessus¡¯ psychic signature, was able to resonate with these tentacles and thus take control of the Highblood. However he could only control their bodies. He was unable to reach into them deep enough to have them speak. But this display was enough to prove his point about their king. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice remained calm and dispassionate. ¡°A city cannot persist without a leader. I intend to present you with a new administrator ¨C or rather, the return of an old one. The true mistress of this kingdom. It was she who a thousand years ago established your realm. She is the only one who can return it to its former glory.¡± Autumn watched in silence. When Cloudhawk finished his introduction she turned away and walked into the Temple. In the space of just a few moments the damage to the Temple was reversed. The fallen boundary protecting them sparked back to life. Those sectors of the city damaged during this war were renewed with astonishing speed. Cloudhawk watched the shock spreading across the faces of Imperia¡¯s citizens. He did not expect these people to just accept that Autumn was their leader, but he had no doubt that the Shepherd God was the true master of this place. IT was her duty to take the reigns. The Shepherd God¡¯s powers were not limited to the city. Upon returning to the Temple, her powers extended to every corner of the realm. The Silver Kingdom once again became Meadow, a realm of warmth and beauty blessed with eternal Spring. With such bounty, what would the opinion of their new leader be? Imperia had lost a king, but regained a god! And all of it was under Cloudhawk¡¯s command. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 98 The Polar Conflic Six months had passed since the terrible battle at Sanctuary. Since that time, calm had returned to Skycloud. Master Arcturus Cloude wielded his political and military dominance well, and came upon no resistance as he managed the realm. Through a plan of strategic isolation, Skycluod consolidated its powers and closed itself off from the world. It was touted as a way to prolong peace and usher the realm into a period of self-cultivation. Thanks to Skycloud¡¯s rich resources and infrastructure, the considerable damage of previous years was all but reversed in twelve months. Arcturus Cloude often mulled over the future and its complexities. He enacted an ambitious plan that not only vastly increased the size of Skycloud¡¯s forces, but also gathered the mightiest representatives from every organization throughout the land. It was an unprecedented shake-up, with Arcturus at the helm. The military industry churned, stronger every day during this iron period of resurgence. In the wastelands, things were decidedly less peaceful. Not long after the battle for Sanctuary, Natessa tried to unify the wasteland in a concerted effort against the southern wilds. Since the beginning of hostilities, she¡¯d sent more than two dozen war parties of different sizes into that unknown place. As Greenland¡¯s Governor, Dawn Polaris stood firm against the aggressive posture of the Conclave of Judgment. She leveraged the stories of what happened as Sanctuary to raise Greenland¡¯s profile and created the Southern Confederation. This period of wasteland strife between the southern wilds and the northern barrens was given a name: The Polar Conflict! It had been half a year since the beginning of this war. Although the end had not yet arrived, the outcome was clear. The conclave of Judgment was powerful, and Natessa was a skilled leader. Confederate surrender or defeat was only a matter of time, all that remained was the shrinking territory of Greenland itself. It seemed inevitable that the day approached when the Conclave of Judgment would rule the entirety of the wastes. ** Dawn, Sandspire. Sand rasped as it was blown through the half-buried ruins. Bad news had been constant. The city¡¯s environment had grown dismal and defeated. Those cities under Greenland¡¯s protection had nearly all fallen. Recent reports claimed that the Conclave of Judgment would next set its sights on Sandspire. Their city was closest to Greenland, if the Conclave occupied it they would have their enemy encircled. At that point, their confederacy was doomed. More than ten thousand Confederate troops were stationed in the city. They were the last, token resistance of their alliance. It was lead by a group of fierce and grotesque mutant warriors. Each one was different, but they all used the same weaponry. Crude copies of weapons from the Elysian lands, exorcist rods. These were the Goshawks. The hero Cloudhawk was their founder. He had once led them as the vanguard at the battle for Sanctuary. Every wastelander cherished the memory of that great day. It was the battle that turned Cloudhawk into a legend and Greenland into a mecca for those who sought glory. And yet such a pity, for that same battle saw the fall of this man who contributed so much to the south. The Confederacy¡¯s mightiest fighters were arrayed at the front of the battle lines. Elite men and women from Greenland and the Dark Atom. Yet even among these entrancing folk one beautiful figure stood out. She was tall, with long shapely legs and platinum blonde hair. Her curves were wrapped in wastelander leathers that did nothing to hide her perfect body. Her hands were wrapped around the hilt of a large sword and her eyes were shut. She was waiting for something. Everyone looked at her with eyes of fanaticism and worship. She was their greatest warrior, a former noble of Skycloud whose family had at one time been a nightmare for people like them. Today she was one of them, a wastelander, leading them to glory. She was Dawn Polaris. A powerful woman, a beautiful woman, strong as iron. When Greenland lost its founder, Dawn rose up to take the reigns. She continued Cloudhawk¡¯s legacy by working to develop the city he loved even further. Were it not for the Conclave¡¯s hostilities, thanks to Cloudhawk¡¯s reputation Greenland would have become a true jewel of the wastelands. When the Conclave started making moves, it was Dawn who established the Southern Confederation. For half a year she led them at the fore, fighting from the front lines heedless of her own safety. Baptized by war, she had grown stronger and wiser. She was, unequivocally, their leader. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± Dawn slowly opened her eyes. Gone was the pride and frivolousness of years ago. Rather they bore the look of someone who had weathered life¡¯s tribulations and learned from them. She was as bold and stable as the weapon she wielded, like an angel borne from this blasted earth. People changed. Dawn had changed. She¡¯d grown into a woman very different from the one who left Skycloud. The sound of rumbling engines met their ears as a dark line appeared on the horizon. The Conclave¡¯s formidable armada approached. It numbered over a thousand flying machines and airships and nearly choked out the sky. Natessa had not been content with merely controlling northern forces. She had been steadily absorbing southern powers to bolster her army so that now they numbered nearly a million strong. Virtually all of the south had come under her iron fist and all that remained was this small holdout. Dawn¡¯s last gasp. Today, Natessa would make sure her breathing ceased entirely. The wastelands would at last be unified! But unification meant destruction. Today was likely the final hours of the Southern Confederation. Dawn knew she could not win against a force of this size, but she would die trying. The Conclave of Judgment was controlled behind the scenes by Arcturus Cloude. His support sped up the group¡¯s development and indeed many high-powered fighters had appeared among their ranks. Almost certainly these warriors were dispatched specifically by Arcturus to bolster the Conclave¡¯s ranks. Each time a new batch of deadly soldiers it appeared it made Natessa¡¯s forces that much harder to repel. ¡°This will be a bit of a hassle,¡± the old drunk muttered at Dawn¡¯s shoulder. He watched the dark line approach. ¡°They get bigger by the day while our numbers shrink. It looks like they¡¯re bringing ten times what we¡¯ve got. It doesn¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°No more running, Sandspire is our last line of defense. If we fail here we¡¯ll be left to cower in Greenland and wait for destruction.¡± ¡®Hassle¡¯ was definitely an understatement, and Dawn knew it. Yet as those dark shapes in the distance continued to swell, so did her resolve. A hard, fervent light gleamed in her eyes. ¡°Arcturus Cloude has Skycloud in the palm of his hand. Now he wants the wasteland. Whatever his aim is, we won¡¯t make it easy for him.¡± The drunk could only sigh. ¡°The power disparity is too great.¡± Dawn turned her eyes back to her own troops, shuffling behind her. ¡°I will hold this line! We have to hold out until Cloudhawk returns!¡± The drunk was even more disparaged when he heard her words. Cloudhawk. Would he ever be coming back? It¡¯d been six months since he fell at the battle for Sanctuary. After so long there seemed little chance he was still alive. Dawn addressed her troops. ¡°Are you afraid?!¡± Her army answered in one booming voice. ¡°Never afraid!¡± She nodded in satisfaction. ¡°We are warriors of Greenland! We will never yield! Hold your weapons high and fight with me, to the end!¡± Clinging to this city was foolish. This wasn¡¯t a fortress, it was a half-buried ruin in the middle of a desert. The city itself was surrounded by a sprawling expanse of ancient remains, however, and Dawn spread out at strategic areas throughout the ruins. It made it impossible for the Conclave to pinpoint the location of their main force. If they complicated the engagement enough it would give them an advantage. If they made themselves a smaller and more diffuse target, then the Conclave¡¯s greater firepower wouldn¡¯t give them an edge. A few moments later the Conclave¡¯s armada was close enough to begin firing. They were five kilometers away from the walls of the city. To the soldiers below that dark line erupted into a wave of light and fire. Followed by the deafening sound of rolling thunder. Hundreds of missiles and burning shells came rocketing toward Sandspire. They slammed into the walls, blowing it apart in several places. Structures closest to the defenses collapsed from the aftershocks. If Dawn had garrisoned her army in the city, half of her troops would have been obliterated in the opening salvo. But in reality, Sandspire was not all but empty. Its destruction was an accepted and acceptable result. Southern Confederation soldiers watched the destruction from their guerrilla positions among the ruins. Their weapons were no match for Conclave equipment. However, as an ancient industrial complex Sandspire had a hefty cache of munitions they could rely on. With the addition of Dark Atom artillery, they were well stocked with missiles, bullets and bombs. ¡°Counter!¡± The Conclave¡¯s armada had crept into range. Dawn stood out in the opening, a signal flag raised high to signal her orders. Cells hidden throughout the ruins leaped into action. Cannons were positioned and mortars were adjusted. A dark and bloody battle was about to begin, one that was sure to ravage the air and land. What would remain when the dust settled? Conclavian ships continued their barrage and Confederate installations released their payloads. In an instant, the intensity of the battle skyrocketed. Natessa¡¯s forces were fierce, but its concerted efforts were ineffective against a force so spread out. She watched as her airships began to drop from the sky. Be it equipment or numbers, the Conclave of Judgment had a clear advantage. Yet the Confederacy was reasonably defended in their twisted metal enclaves. The northern army¡¯s superior guns meant nothing if they had nothing to hit. They meant even less once the ships were shot down. But the Southern Confederation was not without casualties. Swaths of their numbers were buried alive when missiles struck nearby ruins. One explosion nearby almost took out Dawn¡¯s position. She scrambled up from the wreckage, covered in dust without missing a step. She cried out over the cacophony of war, sword held high. ¡°Keep up the attack!¡± Sandspire¡¯s convoluted environment was peppered with small defense garrisons, each a few hundred strong. The ruins were all a hive of activity as soldiers fought for their lives. Soldiers fired wildly into the enemy armada with shoulder-mounted rocket launchers and more dangerous ordnance. They were fully mobilized for guerrilla warfare, hoping that this tactic could stop the Conclave¡¯s advance. But there was a limit to what they could accomplish. The Conclave had the high ground. Lumbering ships punished the surrounding area with carpet bombing. Natessa saw that their attacks were cumbersome and their enemy was fast and agile. She passed on her next order, authorization for a particular weapon ¨C one they¡¯d prepared specifically for this circumstance. A cloud of unobtrusive spheres were belched from the airships. When they detonated, they carpeted the landscape with a low-hanging cloud of toxic green mist. Biological weapons, bombs of potent poisonous gas. They were prepared to fight an enemy position that was hard to hit with conventional weapons. Those who breathed in the foul smoke died almost immediately. Most terrible of all, this mist would seep through all the crevices of these ruins for the next ten days. There was no escape. As the Conclave repositioned to coat the entirety of the battlefield with their poison, another force appeared in the distance. Without any warning or hesitation, it began to fire on the dark armada. Dawn and her soldiers stared at the skies in shock. ¡°These are Noxian forces! Has Cloudhawk returned?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 99 The Return In the midst of their biological attack on Sandspire, the Conclave of Judgment came under attack from a surprise force, sent by Nox. A shadow of missiles plowed into the Conclave armada, blasting several ships out of the air. Suddenly the commander of the armada found himself in a hard spot. He began shouting orders to mount a counter-offensive and reorganize the ships. The cumbersome vessels were turning to face this new threat, when an even more unexpected circumstance arose. The sky overhead split apart, and from the dark recesses of a portal there emerged a shower of meteors. They pelted the Conclave¡¯s ships with a seemingly unending supply, all of various sizes. The small ones were the size of a small house. The larger ones could almost be classified as small mountains. Tumbling from the heavens, they struck the enemy airships with unimaginable force. Conclave shields were useless and in the blink of an eye twenty vessels were obliterated. Another hundred suffered various degrees of damage. The whole formation was cast into disarray. Nox¡¯s ships stopped their assault in lieu of a direct charge. Their huge, black vessels steamed at the enemy at full speed. The Conclave¡¯s warriors were numerous, but unrefined. Most came from wasteland settlements or smaller cities. Aside from the Dark Atom, there weren¡¯t many organizations in the northern barrens with respectable manufacturing or science. As a result, Conclavian ships were a mix of good and bad. Noxian vessels were different. Hundreds of years of development and progress was not for nothing. Nox¡¯s technological superiority surpassed any other group, including Dark Atom. The City of Evernight¡¯s forces had suffered terribly during the battle for Sanctuary, so the ships they could spare for this campaign were relatively few. However, compared to the patchwork monstrosities used by the Conclave, Noxian weapons and ships were vastly superior. The Conclave armada was brutally pummeled! When the two armies met above Sandspire, the air became a churning tempest of fire and metal. Ships could not fire at will without significant risk to their own forces. Once within range, Nox dispatched thousands of soldiers in boarding parties, which included their most capable warriors and cadres of Black Knights. They followed Abaddon and the Khan of Evernight into battle, and where they went destruction followed. Too strong! Nox¡¯s army was far too strong! The armada¡¯s leaders mulled over their options. Battle groups began making overtures of retreat, having no appetite for further conflict. Members of the Southern Confederation watched from below, shocked and confused. Suddenly the mighty Conclave had its haunches raised and was shuffling back when just a moment ago it had seemed indomitable. The guerrillas avoided toxic clouds while watching the skies. But their eyes snapped down when suddenly A heroic figure appeared before them. Once in full view of the soldiers his features were revealed; dark eyes, raven black hair, a handsome face. He looked young but at the same time carried himself with an enduring dignity and mysteriousness that made judging his true age impossible. This was how Cloudhawk revealed himself to his hundreds of beleaguered followers. His eyes scanned the crowds until they alighted upon familiar figures: Gabriel, Barb, the old drunk. Dawn. They, likewise, looked up and saw him. Disbelief was clear in their wide eyes. A small, heartfelt smirk touched the ends of Cloudhawk¡¯s lips. He called out to them through the smile. ¡°I return.¡± Those words were like the final drop that bursts a dam, for tears began to stream down her face. She had vowed to never shed another tear, but when she saw this man appeared before them she couldn¡¯t hold back. She had a thousand things to say, a thousand ideas to share, but they all came together to one simple sentence. ¡°Welcome home.¡± Yes. Welcome home. Home at last! Cloudhawk was elated to hear the words. Barb was shaken from her surprise and nearly leaped in front of him. With eyes wide as saucers she looked him up and down. She even stretched out her hand to give him a tentative slap, just to make sure he was real. Satisfied it wasn¡¯t some illusion, she sputtered, ¡°Excellency Cloudhawk? Is it really you? You look so different!¡± The old drunk was secretly just as stunned. A man of his caliber had keen senses, allowing him to feel the strength of those around him. His well-developed sixth sense told him Cloudhawk was more than just different, he was practically a new man. No ¨C not a man. A monster. Every cell in his body operated like a nuclear reactor, constantly generating energy. The old drunk couldn¡¯t understand how he¡¯d changed so dramatically in only six months¡­ Cloudhawk had always been strong, but his greatest abilities had always been in mental power. Now, however, his physical capabilities were equal or better than the drunk¡¯s own. In the future he seemed more than likely to meet or surpass Skye Polaris¡¯ martial abilities. In the future he would be like a human nuclear weapon. What¡¯s more, was Cloudhawk¡¯s ascension merely physical? The old drunk didn¡¯t think so! It seemed obvious by the rain of meteors he¡¯d summoned over the enemy troops. His mental abilities were far more powerful than they had been at Sanctuary. While the dramatic appearance of it was on a smaller scale, he was doing it without help from a focus or augmentation item. Whatever happened to him after that battle, Cloudhawk¡¯s mental powers now rivaled a Master Demonhunter. In fact, he was probably more powerful mentally than the Crimson One had been. More than twice as strong as before his disappearance! Less than a year and he might as well have been an entirely different person. How was this possible? What incredible thing happened to him? But the wonders did not abate. Abaddon and the Khan of Evernight made their way back to Cloudhawk with several prisoners in tow. The Caliph of the Sands, whose ferocity and nightmarish power once thundered across the wastes, was dragging a scarred human in his wake. He delivered him respectfully to Cloudhawk and then addressed him as a superior. ¡°My King, I¡¯ve captured their military commander.¡± Abaddon, Caliph of the Sands, called Cloudhawk his¡­ King? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t surprised by the moniker, either. He cast a sideways glance at the man laying in the dirt. There was a cold flash in their depths. ¡°Ah, an old acquaintance. I hope you¡¯re well, Instructor Cutter.¡± The Conclave¡¯s commander of military forces was none other than Eckhard Cutter, one of a few instructors who trained Cloudhawk years ago in Hell¡¯s Valley. Eckhard didn¡¯t seem to recognize the man before him. He was a capable fighter but the sense he got from this man made his skin crawl. He felt like a rabbit under a lion¡¯s paw. ¡°Shall I kill him?¡± Abaddon asked. Cloudhawk refused with a shake of his head. ¡°He can still be useful. Take him away.¡± The others remained confused. Why was the demon treating him with such deference? Dawn felt it was strange that suddenly Cloudhawk and Abaddon had such a close relationship. After all, Abaddon murdered all of Cloudhawk¡¯s old friends. Why was he tolerating the demon¡¯s presence? The battle was done. Cloudhawk and the forces of Greenland returned home. When Cloudhawk stepped back into his city, his still heart stirred. He had built this place, he and his friends. It¡¯d been almost a year since he last saw it. Though war raged outside for half a year, it didn¡¯t appear to have affected Greenland directly. Its central God Tree still maintained the enchantments protecting the city, so that it was the only refuge left in the south. The population had surged since Cloudhawk¡¯s disappearance to twice what it used to be. There were now ten agricultural homesteads around the city. They produced enough food to sustain the population and then some. And that wasn¡¯t all, the city itself had seen tremendous changes. Several railways surrounded the city now and into its interior, where trains continuously transported goods. They rattled through the city like veins pumping life blood through a body. Dozens of cable cars trundled by and overhead the sky was pocked with small ships. All in all Greenland was a busy, lively hub of activity. Neighborhoods and districts were arranged in neat plots, just as he left them. The residences he¡¯d begun to erect were now all complete. Greenland Institute wasn¡¯t some makeshift camp anymore. After six months it had become nearly its own city. Thousands of students studied and lived in its campus, truly one of a kind throughout all the wastes. The city itself had burgeoned to several times its original size. There were over a thousand researchers alone now, included well-trained Dark Atom scientists and Sandspire engineers. Furthermore, scientifically minded people displaced from elsewhere had also gathered in the city, among them some of the wasteland¡¯s most renowned. Manufacturing plants and industry were also all over the city. The goods made on site were abundant and varied. There were weapons, food, even robotics plants. Interspersed were labs for biological experiments. Altogether it amounted to a tidal wave of change in a short period of time. Cloudhawk was back! Cloudhawk was back! The news spread like wildfire. The city was abuzz with excitement. After what happened at Sanctuary, Cloudhawk and his exploits had become legend. He was a hero to everyone, especially Institute students. Much to everyone¡¯s delight, the legend had survived and walked among them again. ¡°Teacher!¡± Azura pushed her way through the crowds, threw herself into Cloudhawk¡¯s arms and cried. Her hot tears seeped into his armor. Cloudhawk held to her and felt the guilt well up inside of him. He told the girl he would teach her, but until now he¡¯d hardly taught her anything. What more irresponsible instructor existed beyond him? He lifted her up with one arm and together, under the adoring gaze of the city¡¯s citizens, they walked into the central fortress. This was a day that would be forever remembered in Greenland. Cries of celebration rang through the streets. On the roof of the fortress, above this festive atmosphere, two figures watched the revelry. One was a shabby-looking old man, and the other clad head to toe in dark armor. The drunk uncorked a bottle of wine and offered it to his companion. ¡°Drink?¡± The Khan of Evernight responded in that flat, robotic tone. ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡± With a shrug the drunk took a few swigs for himself while looking out over the crowds. He shook his head with a grim chuckle. ¡°Fate really likes to screw with people.¡± True. Here stood an erstwhile martial artist of unsurpassed skill. The other was in bygone days a cherished Master Demonhunter. Of course that didn¡¯t amount to anything. They both served a humble scavenger boy who had risen to become a king. ¡°Baldur, you really aren¡¯t going to tell them?¡± ¡°Baldur Cloude is dead.¡± The Khan of Evernight¡¯s digitized affect hummed a response. ¡°It¡¯s best for everyone.¡± ¡°What about Selene? You know that your choices have completely changed her life. Even today she plots your revenge. Are you really willing to stay silent and watch her change?¡± The Khan of Evernight did not answer. The drunk didn¡¯t press him. This pair of old friends simply stood in silence and watched the world pass by. In their hearts each was struggling with something, for sometimes there was no right or wrong answer. Some things were impossible to explain. Only time would tell. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 100 Hidden Dangers Greenland¡¯s laboratories were rife with scientists. At this moment they all looked like they¡¯d seen a ghost. This was because they had no way to understand what was standing before their eyes. Cloudhawk was lying on a diagnostic table while Hellflower hovered around him with various contraptions. They were constantly giving out readings about Cloudhawk¡¯s physical state. ¡°Your body doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Hellflower adjusted her goggles. ¡°In my recent research, however, I¡¯ve discovered a very interesting phenomenon.¡± Cloudhawk put on his clothes. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She replied. ¡°Divine and demonic genetic material is blank, for lack of a better phrase. In other words they don¡¯t have a means of reproduction ¨C there is no genetic material to pass on. It is also likely the reason they live for so long, since there is no genetic degradation. I still have no idea how they manage to maintain their species if they don¡¯t reproduce, however I have learned that from the moment they come into being their body is almost like armor. And armor, of course, does not procreate.¡± Cloudhawk was surprised to discover that Hellflower¡¯s research had progressed so far. ¡°Gods and demons have incredibly durable bodies. More than bodies, they are rather like suits of armor these creatures are born into. Just like armor there can be weaker suits and stronger ones. That¡¯s how we encounter different orders among these extraplanar creatures. Because these characteristics are determined at birth it is all but impossible for gods or demons to transcend their strata, regardless of potential and strength.¡± ¡°What does this have to do with me?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°Your body has become much like theirs. Your cells are powerful energy reactors and from what I can deduce, you aren¡¯t nearly at your limit. Most significantly, you still have a human form. That is to say, genetics. You can pass on your genes and reproduce the same as anyone else. Your children would of course be practically superhuman.¡± Hellflower moved in closer to him. ¡°In other words, you are the gateway to a new and improved human race.¡± ¡°We should produce offspring. For science, of course,¡± Hellflower teased. ¡°I couldn¡¯t turn down being part of such an important contribution to our species.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even engage her on the offer. He hardly had time enough for himself, much less children. ¡°So you¡¯re saying there¡¯s nothing wrong with my body anymore?¡± This man had really had no interest in the spice of life! Hellflower couldn¡¯t pretend she wasn¡¯t disappointed. There had to be some way to beguile him¡­ Not that she cared about him specifically, but his genetic material was an absolute treasure. She offered herself not for personal benefit, but for the whole of humanity! ¡°You¡¯re as strong as a sand wyrm. If I had to guess, you¡¯ll be kicking around three or four times longer than any of us. Do you remember how strong Skye Polaris was, even at eighty? The same will be true for you.¡± Hellflower led Cloudhawk into another lab. ¡°Come, let me show you something new I¡¯ve been working on!¡± Inside were at least a hundred soldiers undergoing tests. They were the perennial focus of Hellflower¡¯s research, genetically modified troops. However, this batch was completely different from what Cloudhawk remembered. He felt the unique aura from them immediately. Unless he was mistaken, they felt like demonhunters. ¡°You remember the arm we took from the other world? With that godly limb and the appropriate materials, I was able to isolate something we could use to improve our soldiers. It works something like seraphs or fiends. I processed the material I gathered and implanted into the DNA of our soldiers. They can now run faster, jump higher, and in all other ways are much improved.¡± Hellflower hadn¡¯t changed in the least. The only thing on her mind was research and the pursuit of knowledge. Cloudhawk¡¯s first thought was how much had to be sacrificed for this research. ¡°My new generation of soldiers are physically quite stable.¡± Her excitement was evident. ¡°They will become the bedrock of your power and will be integral in your attempts to conquer against Skycloud.¡± ¡°I never said anything about conquering Skycloud.¡± ¡°Hmph, you never had to. If that is not your intention then why align yourself with Abaddon and the Khan of Evernight? With the power they offer, you have an army that can threaten Skycloud. I refuse to believe you haven¡¯t entertained the thought.¡± She was right. Cloudhawk was holding a number of powerful cards. Abaddon, the Khan of Evernight, the Shepherd God, the old drunk, and Wolfblade¡­ There were more as well; the Wendigo King and his race, the Polaris family, Gabriel, Coal, the Black Knights, Imperia¡¯s Chosen, the Dark Atom¡¯s genetically modified soldiers. Beyond that he now commanded a total of over eight million people with science, equipment and supplies in spades to back them up. The existence of the Crimson One and Judas was not all bad. While both the Conclave of Judgment and Nox failed to defeat Skycloud, they did manage to weaken it. They laid the foundation for the real battle to follow. If Cloudhawk wanted to really rise, Skycloud was a mountain he could not go around. Arcturus Cloude was the peak he had to conquer. If he couldn¡¯t take control of the worlds of man then how was he supposed to threaten the heavens? It had never been Cloudhawk¡¯s intention to start a major war, but once some wheels started rolling there was no stopping them. Cloudhawk¡¯s next stop was the dungeons, where several people were interrogating Eckhard Cutter. The one leading the questioning was Eckhard¡¯s former student, Gabriel ¨C or rather, more specifically Naberius. The pieces of carefully peeled skin laid out on the table told Cloudhawk they¡¯d been at it for a little while already. Naberius was an expert at suffering. But Eckhard was a hard man, and so far the cruel torture hardly caused him to sweat. A cold sneer was plastered on his bloody face. ¡°You used to be my student, and this was the best you learned from Hell¡¯s Valley? Go on, hurt me if you think you can!¡± A chilling laugh from Naberius was his answer. ¡°I have many methods. We have time, don¡¯t rush.¡± Barb was not pleased with where this was headed. ¡°Tell us what you know. You have a relationship with Excellency Cloudhawk, if you¡¯re forthcoming I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be fair. He¡¯ll at least spare you life.¡± ¡°If I were some coward who was afraid of death, I wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡± Eckhard chortled scornfully at their efforts. ¡°I should have carved you lot to pieces back in Hell¡¯s Valley instead of letting you sorry sacks of shit live to today.¡± Barb was getting irritated. ¡°You think we don¡¯t have ways to pray open your mouth? Keep talking and I will try my hand. You¡¯ll be getting for Naberius!¡± Cloudhawk chose this moment to interrupt. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Naberius scowled, upset to have his work interrupted. Another project left half-finished. But under Cloudhawk¡¯s withering gaze he dare not disobey. ¡°Instructor Cutter, I am only interested in the Concalve¡¯s military state. If you won¡¯t give it willingly, we¡¯ll have to resort to other methods. If we have even the slightest mutual appreciation left, please don¡¯t waste your time or energy fighting.¡± Cloudhawk was earnest in his pleas. ¡°It¡¯s best for everyone.¡± Was this really one of his former students? Eckhard glared at Cloudhawk in disappointment. ¡°What are you even doing?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face remained calm. ¡°Only what I need to do.¡± The instructor struggled against his bonds. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. You want to get rid of Arcturus Cloude. But you don¡¯t realize how dangerous what you¡¯re doing is. What he guards is far more than you can bear. To kill Arcturus is to open up the floodgates, and you all will pay for it!¡± Arcturus was always a mystery. There was far more to him than any one person knew. He did not necessarily desire power, wealth or influence. A lot of what he did seemed inexplicable and contradictory. On the one hand he struggled to crush the wastelands and on the other supported a powerful wasteland organization. He praised the gods through one side of his mouth and gave blasphemous orders through the other. It had to be clear to Arcturus that Cloudhawk would be a great threat, yet more than once the Governor had spared his life. Be that as it may, it wasn¡¯t what was important. Cloudhawk and Arcturus were like ice and charcoal ¨C they were never going to mix. Cloudhawk¡¯s gaze was fixed on the bloody commander. ¡°Why are you protecting him?¡± Eckhard growled his answer. ¡°The first day you entered the Valley, I told you that some evils were necessary in this world. Arcturus does some things people don¡¯t get, but if he didn¡¯t hold things together then the world would would be in flames.¡± Cloudhawk pressed him harder. ¡°Why is Arcturus trying to unify the wastelands?¡± ¡°So he can save it!¡± That familiar, derogatory grin split his ugly face, like a trapped beast that saw it¡¯s freedom. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t waste your time. You aren¡¯t getting anything else outta me.¡± The sound of chains breaking was followed an instant later by Eckhard slamming his own fist into his skull. Cloudhawk was quick to stop him, but not quick enough. Eckhard struck himself hard enough to cause his skull to cave in. His brain tissue was destroyed. They hadn¡¯t been prepared for the Hell¡¯s Valley instructor to take his own life. They should have. Soldiers of Hell¡¯s Army were not afraid of death. The Three Giants in particular had an iron sense of duty. Freedom wasn¡¯t what drove them, but a higher ideal. Cloudhawk looked toward Barb. ¡°Try to read his memories immediately. Get as much information as possible.¡± The wastelands could not be allowed to fall into another¡¯s hands. If it did, hidden dangers would spread all through it. To take it back they had to wrench it from the grip of the Conclave, an organization led from the shadows by Arcturus Cloude. Fighting them was an indirect challenge to the Governor himself. It was time to throw down the gauntlet. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 101 All-Out War Dawn. The sun had just peaked over the horizon. Cloudhawk and Dawn were in the mess hall, having breakfast. She kept watching him with conflicted eyes as he ate. In life she¡¯d learned that the worst pain and the deepest hopelessness came from separation. First her grandfather, then her family, her honor, and finally¡­ Cloudhawk. Dawn had learned that storms could emerge at any point, even when life seemed peaceful. Man¡¯s fate was as uncertain as the weather. So long as one was with the people they cared about, each second was a blessing. One had to fight to make these seconds last. Besides that, there was nothing else Dawn cared for. The world was too complicated, so she would keep her life simple. ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot,¡± she said to him. He quipped back. ¡°More heroic, right?¡± She wasn¡¯t amused. Anxiety painted her face. He¡¯d grown so much in such a short time and now there were these dark and powerful allies at his side. He reappeared at the helm of Nox and Meadow. Could he really keep that all under control? The bigger the bowl, the bigger one¡¯s appetite had to be. These outsiders might well be loyal to Cloudhawk now, but they were after something. People were always after something. What road would they choose in the end, when it mattered? ¡°I¡¯m just not resisting fate anymore. It makes no sense to fight off my identity as the Demon King¡¯s successor.¡± Cloudhawk looked out the nearby window. Under the rising sun, Greenland was beginning to stir. ¡°But I am a human at heart. If I have to do something big like bring the demons back to glory, then I will also use that power for the benefit of the wastelands. I crawled out of these ruins, maybe it¡¯s time to finally step up and really make a difference.¡± Dawn looked at him with eyes soft as water. Cloudhawk was and had always been a lonely wasteland wanderer. Peace and safety were foreign to him. That¡¯s why he was always searching. Sometimes that meant turning against old allies, for he never held fast to one course of action or creed. Now, after everything he¡¯d experienced, Cloudhawk had begun to discover himself. He had to restore order! Restore the wastelands! After all, it was the wastes that was the source of so much turmoil. Maybe it was time someone finally did something about it. Cloudhawk was so much stronger now, but that didn¡¯t mean the obstacles he faced were any less daunting. He had no strategy for taking on Arcturus, much less the whole of Skycloud. Only so long as the two men existed there would be conflict. Like fire and water, light and darkness, they were fated to try and destroy one another. Rather than stand by and wait for Arcturus¡¯ machinations to bear fruit, it was better to take action. Greenland wasn¡¯t the Dark Atom. They didn¡¯t concern themselves with paltry acts of terrorism. Nor was it the Conclave, forging ahead even in the face of unquestionable failure. Greenland wasn¡¯t Nox, once led by a demon. Cloudhawk was stronger than Judas and the Crimson One had been. Like the Crimson One said, he was but a forebearer who sacrificed himself to open the road ahead. Though he could do nothing to shake Skycloud¡¯s foundations, in founding the Sanctum of Judgment he ensured war would come to determine the wasteland¡¯s future. Now a more perfect leader arose to take up the torch. Maybe it was just like Adder said before he died. Cloudhawk¡¯s personality, talent and disposition was a product of the times. He was born for this period in history ¨C a mighty bird that was destined to take to the clouds. It was never his lot in life to wander from one patch of dirt to another. So accurate, the predictions of father and son. Then there was Judas, who waited for hundreds of years for an opportunity. That opportunity manifested when the Cloud God was forced into slumber. Judas then planned his attack, but failed when he underestimated Skycloud¡¯s might. Despite amassing an army and dropping a mountain, the wastelander¡¯s couldn¡¯t even overcome a single fortress. They¡¯d lost. Many died. From the remains of the Conclave of Judgment and Judas¡¯ forces, new wasteland powers had emerged. Greenland represented the south, while the Conclave had taken control of the north. Cloudhawk looked over a report of the information Barb had managed to glean from Eckhard. ¡°We extracted some partial memories from their commander. According to this, after the Crimson One¡¯s death a Trial Council was formed to lead the Conclave. It¡¯s been a year since this shakeup and the Conclave has ballooned to incredible proportions.¡± The Conclave had expanded tremendously ever since its inception. More recently, dozens of groups had been sent out into the furthest reaches of the north to incorporate these groups into the Conclave. Six months ago those sorties turned their sights south. Natessa¡¯s men moved with incredible speed. Where did all their resources come from? Wastelander armies were little more than barely organized rabble most of the time. How did this Conclave become so effective and efficient? ¡°Besides Greenland and Sandspire, everything else in the south is now controlled by the Conclave.¡± Cloudhawk looked back toward Dawn with a grave expression. ¡°In other words, the Conclave of Judgment has all but conquered the wastelands in six months. Between the north and south they control millions upon millions of lives. Their army trains and forms quickly. One hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand conventional soldiers, more than six thousand warships...¡± There were five tiers of aerial vehicles in service to the Council: spy ships, expedition ships, battleships, carriers, and destroyers. They were given designations based on their function. Spy ships were manned by one or a handful of people, small and easily concealed. They had little to no direct combat benefit and were solely used for reconnaissance. Expedition ships were slightly improved scout ships with some combat preparedness. Battleships were standard combat warships and comprised much of the enemy¡¯s armada. Carrier classes were rarer. Most were enormous, ancient ships which had been restored to working order. They were often outfitted with incredibly powerful weapons and shields and were capable of housing a huge number of smaller vehicles and units. One alone could probably dominate most battles. As for destroyers, those were largely theoretical. Cloudhawk had never seen one. Word was that destroyer ships could obliterate whole cities solo and were even able to escape the planet¡¯s atmosphere to attack from space. No one could be certain if such terrible weapons of war still existed, and if they were their restoration would be extremely difficult. ¡°The Conclave has grown too strong, too fast!¡± Dawn was convinced. ¡°Without Arcturus¡¯ support this would be impossible.¡± She was right. If this trend continued sweep across the wasteland in no time, crushing everything in its way. The more they conquered, the more wastelanders they could draw from for their armies and reserves. Millions were under the Conclave¡¯s command now, giving them a near limitless supply of bodies to swell their forces. A million soldiers was not out of the question. If they were allowed to continue this unmitigated expansion then it would mean outright destruction to anyone who opposed them. Amazing, and frightening. The wastelands and Skycloud were in an unprecedented state of unity. Only, no one knew what Arcturus aimed to do with all this power. ¡°The Conclave is strong, but we are not to be overlooked.¡± Cloudhawk looked over the data. ¡°With Greenland at the helm your Southern Confederation has around ten thousand troops. That includes the Talons and the Goshawks. With the Dark Atom now in tow, add twenty thousand more to that in addition to their genetically modified soldiers and advanced weaponry. Then we come to Nox, about forty thousand strong. That includes the wargs and their king, as well as the Khan¡¯s Black Knights.¡± The report didn¡¯t mention Imperia and its Chosen. Meadow¡¯s population totaled over three million ¨C more than the Dark Atom, Nox and Greenland combined. A bigger population meant more resources and more soldiers. Those soldiers, in turn, could be trained to become real warriors. ¡°We may be in the Conclave¡¯s shadow and don¡¯t have their numbers or unification, but what we do have is of excellent quality. We¡¯ve got many of the most capable fighters the wastelands can provide, and an army of researchers and engineers constantly at work.¡± Dawn slammed the table with her fist. ¡°What do we have to be afraid of?! I am confident I can take the southern wilds myself!¡± Cloudhawk was surprised with her confidence. He was more surprised at her zeal. He gave her a careful look. ¡°You want to lead the armies yourself?¡± Her nod was quick and resolute. ¡°Your goals are my goals. Your cause is my cause. Abaddon, the Khan, Wolfblade ¨C they can¡¯t be trusted. I may not be as strong as they are, but I was born to a military family. I may not have spent a lot of time learning strategy, but Polaris blood pumps in my veins. I am surrounded by ten capable Polaris tacticians and officers with decades of collective experience. I am your best choice.¡± Dawn was rife with fighting spirit even though this was a bigger responsibility than she¡¯d ever carried before. The Dawn from years ago, traipsing about Skycloud, would never have said these words. Cloudhawk fixed this beautiful, maturing woman with an unwavering gaze. ¡°I trust you.¡± She made good points. The others couldn¡¯t be trusted, hers were the only hands he could rely on to guide their forces. Of all the forces now under his command, the one best suited for a leadership role was the Polaris family. Dawn was their representative. Therefore, Cloudhawk wasted no time appointing her as Commander General. She would continue to do what she started with the Southern Confederation. But he also considered Dawn¡¯s personal safety. To that end, he assigned the old drunk as her bodyguard. He used to be a man of great honor, and still wielded considerable strength. Dawn took their soldiers and set off to stand against the Conclave. Once again the hearts and souls of Greenland¡¯s people were afire. They had suffered under the threat of destruction from the conclave for so long. It was now time to make them pay for it! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 102 The Essence of Relics Greenland Institute, Demonhunter Training classroom. The training program had grown to over two hundred students. They were engrossed in meditation training for the moment, training their minds to make their psychic abilities more capable. It was almost a year and a half since Claudia took her post as headmistress of the Institute. She had been here since the school¡¯s inception, watching it grow and develop. Several major events had rocked the wastelands in recent times, but whether it was the terror and excitement of the battle for Sanctuary, or this Polar War, she never left her station. She had decided to set aside the honorable mantle of a demonhunter. Claudia was a teacher now, and she preferred it that way. That meant her responsibility was to the students and the fighting could be left to the soldiers. Claudia was happy with the calm and peaceful life. Greenland had advanced to where it was not in danger of being destroyed in a day. Everything wouldn¡¯t suddenly stop. When one found their place there was a sense of contentment and belonging. Doing otherwise brought pain and confusion. Claudia had found her place. And Cloudhawk? Now that he was one of the most powerful leaders of the wastelands, had he found his place? She had conflicting feelings toward her Governor. It would be hard to claim that Claudia had entirely put their contentious past behind them, but as he continued to grow stronger she saw him as someone else. They weren¡¯t even part of the same world, anything that couldn¡¯t catch up was left behind. Meditation class drew to a close. Her two hundred students slowly opened their eyes. Each one of her charges felt mental energy puling inside them, of varying degrees. When the children turned their eyes to Claudia, they looked at her with admiration and respect. Greenland was now a hub for legendary figures, but those men and women were beyond the grasp of these kids. Practically, Headmistress Claudia was the peak of what they could accomplish. She was their wise and capable guide. She spoke to the stirring group. ¡°There are those of you who have been training here for a year. Some only a few months. All of you have grasped the basics of mental energy, meaning it is time for you to learn more mysterious knowledge and tactics.¡± Everyone held their breath. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation. The dream of many of these young apprentices was to join the Goshawks, for they were the defenders of Greenland. They were the pride of the southern wastes. But every member of the Goshawks was a strong and capable warrior. If they wanted to join the ranks of these elite men and women, they would have to train hard. Their hearts were filled with determination, their bodies ready. Wastelanders were not afraid of struggle. Claudia went on. ¡°Today we have a guest lecturer joining us. From time to time he will be giving you all special instruction. Please give him a respectful welcome.¡± The students sat cross-legged in the training room, looking around for this new professor but could find no one. They muttered among one another in confusion. Confusion turned to shock a moment later when the air shimmered over the mat at Claudia¡¯s side. A figure emerged from nothing, seated upon the mat as though he¡¯d always been there. ¡°Governor Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Governor!¡± Azura, Ironspike and the others were thrilled to see who it was. Cloudhawk was practically a god to these children. Perhaps it was for good reason. It was Cloudhawk who almost single-handedly founded this city. He called for the creation of the Institute, among many other remarkable contributions to the wastelands. His name would forever ring throughout the history of this land. No one had guessed this legendary figure would be the one to appear before them. Was he to be their new instructor? The Cloudhawk of today could not be compared to the Cloudhawk of old. He sat straight-backed, radiating elegance, with black hair hanging to his shoulders. Although he wore nothing of note the sense of those who looked on him was like gazing upon an immortal come to earth. Fervent excitement burned in the eyes of these pupils. Every one of them hopes one day to fight side by side with this incredible man. ¡°I am very happy to sit here with you all, and it is my great pleasure to help guide your learning. In your eyes I see curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. I see myself in those eyes. You all are lucky, for countless elders used their bodies to keep you safe from the fires of war. Even today their blood is spilled to give you the opportunity to sit here and learn. They fight to bring order back to a world twisted by chaos. All so that you could be safe, so that you can grow and become better than they ever could.¡± Yes! Every citizen of Greenland was grateful for these sacrifices and opportunities. Without this city and its defenders, where would they be? ¡°Of course, peace remains a distant goal. One day we will turn in our swords for ploughs and bring civilization to all corners of the wastes. But it will demand a cost. A cost in blood, sacrifice. Giving up one¡¯s self for this purpose will be inevitable for some. So it seems is the fate of my generation. Among us will emerge mighty heroes, and some of their deeds will become legend. ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous of them. Those times which see heroes rise are the darkest times. It is my hope that my generation can grope through the darkness and bring the disorder to an end so that you and your children can flourish in the light. Do not strive to be like us. Hope instead to see a land of peace and prosperity. ¡°Unfortunately, even I can''t be sure that we will defeat our enemies. I can¡¯t know if by the end of my time these goals will be reached. When I established this Institute, my greatest aim was to pass on the will and faith that we all will need to continue striving for that dream. ¡°Some will die. Their lives will end, but never their will. That strength of spirit is eternal. The world is a dark and unforgiving place, but in our hearts lives a utopia we can build together. It is my deepest hope that you all carry that faith ¨C the faith of Greenland and its purpose ¨C with you always.¡± Claudia sat by his side, listening quietly. His words made it clear that he had indeed found his place. But the road he¡¯d chosen was a difficult one. His life would be spent forging inroads through the darkness. Who knew what monsters waited for him in that mist? But perhaps, like he said, if will and faith persisted one day the spark he bore would take. From that light a new world would be born. ¡°Today, I am going to be talking to you about the essence of relics.¡± He wasted no further time, revealing to the class a rather unremarkable short sword. A ghastly green fire swarmed around it, causing it to erode. Cracks appeared and it continued to melt until it was a formless, unknown substance. This strange material writhed around Cloudhawk¡¯s fingers and twinkled like starlight. It was incredible to behold. ¡°What are relics?¡± Cloudhawk raised his left hand. He revealed smooth skin, uncovered, yet with a thought a pale golden arm guard appeared as though it were part of him. It radiated with a gentle white light, a nimbus of protective power. It condensed into a spherical vacuum as everything around and inside it was repelled. Even Claudia was stunned by the display. She recognized Cloudhawk¡¯s gauntlet of turning. It was one of his most powerful relics which now had been absorbed into his body like the Silver Serpents before. ¡°Relics are energy processors, or templates which function to focus and release specific types of power. It functions, in a sense, like a gun. A gun without bullets is no danger, just as a demonhunter without mental energy is just a man. But by focusing our minds on a relic our psychic energies become like gun powder and awaken the power within these tools.¡± ¡°In theory, then, if one can understand the nature of these powers they can transcend the constraints of a relic. If we could do that we could employ any power, launch any number and style of attacks.¡± Cloudhawk had joined entirely with the power granted by the Demon King¡¯s legacy. In addition, he could access more of the former King¡¯s memories. Power and knowledge both were important aspects of the inheritance, for the knowledge was entirely new to mankind. Through it Cloudhawk was able to grasp a deeper understanding of the universe. ¡°Look closely.¡± Cloudhawk extended a finger. The air shimmered in response and an instant later water vapor began to rise from nothing. Then, the vapor coalesced into an orb of water, only to solidify to ice. Under the watchful gaze of the students a flame was born in the center of the sphere which quickly spread. In the space of a breath the orb became a roiling ball of fire which flooded the classroom with heat. The fireball¡¯s glow faded to reveal a core of molten rock. It cooled until it was merely stone, but only for ten seconds before exploding. The orb was now composed of dust and air. Finally, just as it emerged from nothingness, the power dissolved until it was no more. Cloudhawk¡¯s display had lasted less than a minute. With a smile on his face, he addressed the shocked onlookers. ¡°Through all of that, I didn¡¯t use one relic.¡± The apprentices all watched in absolute reverence. He could produce power without a relic? How was that different from pure magic?! No human could do what he¡¯d just done! Claudia, as well, was struck with deep amazement. Everything she knew about relics and mental power had been turned upside down. Was Cloudhawk strong enough now that he didn¡¯t need relics anymore? ¡°Matter is essentially energy. And energy composes all matter. Because it all comes from the same source, energy can be transformed into whatever we life, and likewise those things can be transformed by manipulating the energy that creates them. In reality the only thing stopping lead becoming gold is how the energy chooses to manifest itself.¡± Cloudhawk was dismantling their world view in short, concise sentences. ¡°Everything in this world ¨C from air to the sea, from dirt to forests, in fact even you and I ¨C in the end, we¡¯re all composed of one universal thing.¡± This was the string theory Cloudhawk had come to understand. Atoms, molecules... none of that made any difference. At the very basic levels of every single thing was a vibrating string. The strings themselves were no different from one clump of matter to the next. The only thing that varied was how they vibrated. How they appeared to the world at large was merely an expression of their resonance. Resonance created molecules which created structures which gathered into matter. When it came down to it, to the very root of all the world, everything was the same. And the human mind was capable of tapping into that resonance. That was what gave demonhunters their power. By adjusting the frequencies of these strings they were able to manipulate energy. Cloudhawk had grown to the point where he no longer needed a relic to help him focus on this truth. He was able to reach out with his mind to the threads that existed all around and call on them to sing. While at present it was only a small manifestation, Cloudhawk had still gone far beyond what any other demonhunter had ever achieved. He was the first person in all of history who was able to forsake relics and mold energy with nothing but his own mind. This was the stuff of magic! ¡°If you can reach this step, then you can truly explore the essence of the world around you.¡± Here, Cloudhawk paused for a moment. ¡°However, not everyone has the gift that allows them to hear these strings. Still you need only remember one thing: Relics aren¡¯t the mysterious, god-given blessings we were told they were. There are nothing more than complicated weapons, and any weapon can be built.¡± As he spoke Cloudhawk waved a hand. Four hundred items blinked into existence without foundation. These ring-shaped objects floated throughout the classroom. ¡°Skycloud has relics they consider standard use. Greenland will have our own.¡± Cloudhawk drew his eyes across the group. ¡°These are two types of relics I have made myself. I have given them the names ¡®Mornarrows¡¯ and ¡®Mornshields.¡¯ Today I give them to you.¡± Yes, Cloudhawk had succeeded! He¡¯d achieved a great breakthrough in casting his own relics! He was no longer limited to creating copies of exorcist rods and could now research and create new ones. Mornarrows were informed by Skycloud¡¯s exorcist bows, however users didn¡¯t need to pull back on a string and fire. Focusing on this relic, users could fire a bolt of energy anywhere they pleased. As rings they were far more convenient than having to carry around a full bow. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t interested in the flashy and luxuriant style common in Skycloud. He was a wastelander, and wastelanders concerned themselves only with what was practical. Mornshields were also rings, only instead of firing energy arrows they summoned protective shields. With them, bearers could ward off different sorts of threats. Altogether a very fine addition to any arsenal. The functions of these two relics were very simple, but they held stupendous meaning for Greenland. They had great significance for Cloudhawk as well! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 103 Eboncrys Weapons The relics Cloudhawk had made were simple but easily mass produced. It certainly gave wasteland demonhunters a significant advantage. The population Cloudhawk commanded was expanding, he had the Goshawks, Black Knights, and Chosen to equip in a land where relics were few and far between. But with the emergence of a basic, easily reproduced set of relics he could equip all of his people with at least the basics. The mornshield and mornarrow rings were fairly strong as well! Cloudhawk¡¯s warriors could now attack at range and had reasonable defenses. These items were complemented by the spirit beads so that they could be used by the Goshawks. A whole contingent of these soldiers racing through a battlefield, firing bolts of energy strong as rockets, would be a sight to behold. Several hundred men like that, and even a Master Demonhunter would think twice. A thousand and Arcturus Cloude himself would have to flee. The shield wings protecting its bearers from physical and energy attacks. With them, Cloudhawk¡¯s men were guarded against technological weapons from the wastes as well as demonhunter relics. When a hundred of these rings were engaged at once they could produce a shield that would deflect almost anything. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan was to enlist talented people from Nox, Greenland and Imperia to create an army of powerful Ex-terra soldiers to travel to other worlds. Their aim would be to recover more resources from these strange places for use back in Greenland. With more spirit beads they could expand the Goshawks to two, even three thousand strong in short order. Sooner or later war would break out between the wastelands and Skycloud. The results would determine the future of their world. If the wastes lost, its people would be erased and forgotten. If they won and overcame Skycloud¡¯s tyranny there would no longer be any borders between the wastes and the Elysian lands. That would be the beginning of a new journey. Outbreak of hostilities was inevitable. It always had been. Skycloud and the wastelands were too different. While it was true that Skycloud had suffered serious setbacks in recent years, none of those loses had injured it too severely. Most of its military force remained intact, most notably its historic Demonhunter Corps. As a cornerstone of Skycloud might, it boasted thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of mighty demonhunter soldiers. That was the sort of power Skycloud wielded. If they chose to dispatch all of them at once the terror of it would blot out the sky. The end result would be catastrophic. Cloudhawk was starved for a force that could compete with the Corps sometime in the future, and he didn¡¯t have nearly enough time to build one. An hour after he finished teaching, Cloudhawk sought out the Khan of Evernight and provided him with relic rings as well. They were simple and easily produced, like exorcist equipment. Once the methods were wholly mastered they could be produced en masse. Nox and Imperia were close to the ancient Great War battlefield. After a thousand years of development they had a lot of materials and resources at their disposal. Imperia in particular had an advantage on that front. Because the Silverwing Emperor could make and repair relics, he¡¯d had his subjects gathering materials for centuries. Though the quality of those items weren¡¯t very good, they were enough to equip most of his populace. Now all the vast stores of materials he¡¯d gathered were Cloudhawk¡¯s to use as he saw fit. While Cloudhawk busied himself with the mysteries of relic production, news came out of Hellflower¡¯s laboratories. Her and her team had successfully tested a new class of weapon. Having reached this point it was accepted that they would soon see use on the battlefield. To hear them tell it, these weapons would also have quite an impact. This made Cloudhawk excited, so he went to the labs himself to learn more. Out in the ruins surrounding Greenland, several hundred people were gathered. Cloudhawk looked them over. In addition to several soldiers and elite guard to protect them, half of this number were scientists. Most of those were white-haired elders who obviously had considerable experience. They were all here to see Hellflower¡¯s new high-powered weapons on display. It looked like an enormous cannon. Its exterior was the same as any other cannon from ancient times, but their constructed were very different. For one thing, these weapons were not built to fire ordinary ammunition. Instead they were conductors which fired beams of highly condensed and agitated energy from a number of sources. Though it looked simplistic almost in design at a cursory glance, upon closer inspection it was really quite an elegant design. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t very knowledgeable about science, but he could tell fairly easily that this weapon was meant to use eboncrys. Hellflower had made guns that use eboncrys before, this cannon was just an upgraded version of that concept. After two years of research, a working prototype was created. ¡°It looks awfully heavy,¡± Cloudhawk noted. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so skeptical!¡± Hellflower was filled with pride in her work. ¡°This represents a milestone in our work with eboncrys. An important accomplishment that we put a lot of heart into. It may look simple, but I can say with confidence that this weapon is as destructive as ancient particle weapons, if not more so. If we installed these strategically around the city, I am sure the Conclave of Judgment couldn¡¯t even draw close to the city without being decimated.¡± Cloudhawk was less convinced. ¡°That strong?¡± The corners of her mouth ticked upward. ¡°Facts will prove was words cannot. No point in wasting any more breath, time for you to see for yourself! Now don¡¯t blink!¡± She commanded the crowd of scientists with authority. It would be foolish to discount her because of her young age, for Hellflower was a scientist of unparalleled talent in all manner of subjects. Her magnificent ability to absorb information made her an honest savant. She was the soul of her research team, and Cloudhawk¡¯s rudimentary home growing into the powerhouse it was today was in large part thanks to her. The army of scientists got the weapon ready. After making sure the calculations were accurate, they pointed it toward a small mountain in the distance. ¡°Fire!¡± Hellflower waved her arm. A deafening roar followed. It sounded like a thousand terrible beasts all crying out at once. Cloudhawk watched as a shot materialized from nothing. Onlookers saw it eject from the cannon as a solid white beam that streaked dozens of kilometers into the distance. It struck near the top of the mountain and sheered it lean off. The gash left behind belched smoke into the air. That was one hell of a display! Cloudhawk took the weapon a lot more seriously now. He¡¯d never seen an energy weapon like this take out a target from so far away. In the ancient society before the destruction of the world, interest in energy weapons were at their peak. However, pure energy weapons are unstable especially when used in atmosphere. Laser guns, for instance, lost much of their efficacy after traveling only a few short meters. When the enemy was at a distance, nothing beat traditional ammunition. But if Hellflower¡¯s eboncryss cannon could blow off the top of a mountain so far away, it meant she solved that problem. The world of today was enveloped in extreme radiation and other interference. This made long-distance communication very difficult, and guided weapons all but impossible. The range of her new cannon was more than enough to dominate modern battlefields. It had taken two scientists to prime and discharge the cannon. The energy fuel it used was spent and when the material was removed It looked plain as dirt. The energy chamber housed the material the cannon used to fire. It only shot one blast at a time before needing to be reloaded. It was tedious and troublesome and affected the cannon¡¯s efficacy in a fight. Future designs might add more energy chambers so that it could fire more often before needing to be reloaded. That would make them more useful in combat. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know the principles behind it but he could tell the eboncrys cannon filtered the energy through a series of tubes and coils. The end result was a beam of energy that drained all the energy stores in an instant. Something this powerful fixed on the deck of a warship had a good chance of blasted Elysian vessels from the sky in one blow. After all, this was a weapon that transcended what modern science was capable of! It was no less terrible than the weapons of ancient times. Cloudhawk had considerably more satisfaction in his tone now. ¡°If we could build a lot of these, no walls could keep us out. Set them up around our city and we would be in a very defensible position.¡± War between Skycloud and Greenland was inevitable, but weapons like this gave Cloudhawk confidence. ¡°It¡¯s one hell of a gun, though. I imagine they¡¯re difficult to make.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the workings of the cannon are very complicated. This one prototype is the result of a full year of research. The results of consistent hard work and lucky breakthroughs. Now that we know the process, though, it would take another month or two to build another.¡± Two months? That was too slow! The wastelands were already at the brink of war. If Cloudhawk was to wait until his armies were fully equipped with these weapons, he would be waiting a long time. He didn¡¯t have the patience for that. ¡°Right now we have several million citizens. We¡¯ve got plenty of materials and production potential. It seems to me that if we created plants specifically for making these cannons we could get it done faster.¡± Hellflower nodded. ¡°This is precisely something I wanted to talk to you about. An eboncrys factory would be a significant improvement. They could focus on manufacturing eboncrys guns, rifles, cannons and bombs. These devices will revolutionize war, so setting up infrastructure to mass produce them should be a priority.¡± The next question was where? Cloudhawk rules over several places directly and indirectly and each had its strengths. Greenland, for instance, had a remarkably united populace that worked well toward the city¡¯s goals. Nox was a city where science flourished. Imperia was flush with resources. Even the Blisterpeaks and Sandspire were options. Any one of them could be the site of this new industry. ¡°What about Woodland Vale?¡± Cloudhawk posed the question to Hellflower. ¡°The eboncrys you all need are grown there and getting the materials locally makes things a lot easier. The Vale¡¯s powerful enchantments will protect you while they¡¯re being made.¡± But Hellflower shook her head. ¡°That won¡¯t do, Woodland Vale isn¡¯t safe.¡± That was an assertion that came out of nowhere, as far as Cloudhawk was aware. Besides Imperia what other place had protective enchantments as strong as Woodland Vale? If that place wasn¡¯t safe, where else could they build their new weapons? ¡°An eboncrys factory would be a huge investment. With where we stand now, building a second would be too much to ask. Considering how important these weapons will be to us, relying just on the Vale¡¯s protections isn¡¯t enough. I do not believe in the Vale¡¯s ability to withstand a full-on assault from Skycloud, or worse, the gods that ally with it.¡± This made things difficult for Cloudhawk. If not the Vale, then where? Was there anywhere else that could satisfy the conditions they demanded? Hellflower watched Cloudhawk with her cunning eyes, dancing around her suggestion. ¡°I know some places that may be suitable. Places where even if all the gods and demons came out in force they would never pose the slightest threat. Placing our factory there would be convenient and completely safe.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 104 Multilayer Dimensions Cloudhawk led Hellflower to the God Tree, where the Shepherd God¡¯s altar had been erected. The altar¡¯s main purpose was to augment mental power, but it could also sustain dimensional rifts. Autumn¡¯s altar was what allowed groups from Greenland to travel to other worlds and bring back resources. Because Cloudhawk had been gone for so long, the rift from before had collapsed. Hellflower¡¯s proposed location for their plant was not anywhere in Greenland, Woodland Vale, Imperia or anywhere else on the planet. It would be exactly where no one else could get to ¨C the space between spaces that only Cloudhawk could access! Hellflower, with her close relationship to Wolfblade, knew all about Cloudhawk and his gifts. She also knew that war between him and Skycloud was just a matter of time. But Skycloud wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s ultimate aim. On the contrary, Skycloud was the beginning of a long, bloody journey of conquest. If one day Cloudhawk succeeded in taking Skycloud, he would then turn to other Elysian lands. And all that was just the surface. Sumeru was the final prize. Once Cloudhawk¡¯s strength and presence was exposed the gods would not sit idly by. They would dispatch champions to try and stop him. A war of this magnitude went beyond the understanding of mere humans. The Great War of a thousand years ago was to be repeated and who knew what would remain in the aftermath. Places like Woodland Vale and Imperia were strong, but were they strong enough? With this in mind it was only prudent to move some bases, factories and even people away from danger. On one hand, the best idea was to exploit transdimensional power to ensure safety. On the other, if the worse were to occur humanity might be able to survive extinction by hiding on some other plane. Cloudhawk felt Hellflower made a very good argument. He had the talent to make this a reality, so why not? The places he¡¯d traveled to had their own ancient civilizations and resources to support them. If they could employ these treasures not only would their forces grow stronger, but also expand exponentially. Hellflower turned to him. ¡°From what I hear you¡¯re at least ten times stronger than when you left. Your old injuries have all been healed. If that¡¯s true I don¡¯t imagine it would be difficult for you to open several portals. I am very anxious to see the result for myself.¡± Without a word Cloudhawk stepped up onto the altar. He summoned his dimensional powers and right away the air around him began to warp. As the energies condensed, a large portal came into being before him. Already Hellflower was impressed. Though Cloudhawk could open portals before, the previous ones were only large enough for a couple of people to pass through at a time. This one was large enough to allow for a large amount of materials and energy to pass through. Exactly what they needed to develop their spacial expansion! Peering into the gate one could only see a vast, pitch-black expanse. From time to time and with close inspection there appeared floating slabs of rock the size of continents. It was the first layer of space Cloudhawk had been able to visit reliably and where he stored much of his things. It was a mystery what happened to this world, but the results were obvious in its shattered appearance. It was not suitable for their purposes. Cloudhawk summoned more of his power. The portal¡¯s surface shimmered like someone had dropped a pebble into a well. A new scene was revealed. It was not unfamiliar. Revealed to them were vast tracts of land with towering mushroom trees. It was where Greenland had found their main source of sustenance, as well as the foreign Temple and the spirits that protected it which they used for spirit beads. This planet had been instrumental in Greenland¡¯s development. He could do better. Cloudhawk focused in an attempt to delve deeper into unknown territory. Hellflower watched the image behind the portal change once again. Her eyes peered through the limited window unto a limitless rocky plain. Ruins slowly crumbling to dust, massive abandoned airships¡­ this had to be the site of some frightful battle. Much to her delight much of what she saw looked largely intact, in stark contrast to the ruins of their earth which had been picked clean. During this process Cloudhawk learned that the deeper he tried to delve into these dimensions the more difficult it became. Arriving at this third layer, he was struggling to maintain control. However, he had enough strength left to reach further, into a fourth layer. He did so without pause, revealing someplace new. Hellflower¡¯s eyes went wide as she gazed upon a picturesque forest. Dense and beautiful, the floor was carpeted with exotic flora and fauna. Cloudhawk remembered this place. Years ago he¡¯d slipped through reality and ended up here. If he was not mistaken, this was the world taken over by those strange creatures that turned violent ¨C the same world where he¡¯d found Oddball. The sprawling forests and its bloodthirsty denizens made the world too dangerous for their factory. This was as deep as Cloudhawk could manage, anything further was too unstable. ¡°Incredible!¡± Hellflower was finding it hard to fathom. She had no idea how it was Cloudhawk was able to pinpoint these specific locations. Was it that his powers were somehow connected to them? Or were these planets existing in simultaneous space, occupying the same location but never touching? Both theories had their merits. The former would make sense since these places all appeared to be locations the former Demon Prince had visited and left his mark. Maybe there were beacons he placed which allowed subsequent travelers to find these spots specifically. Her second guess also seemed plausible. Based on what she knew of the calamity that destroyed their world, its early upheavals were marked by gravitational chaos. Strange creatures not native to this reality began to appear which might suggest this planet and the others in multidimensional space had begun to collide. Quantum mechanics postulated that gravitational forces could manipulate space-time. That is to say that a planet¡¯s gravitational well could impact and disturb another, even in an alternate dimension, and disturb it enough to obliterate ancient civilizations. The Demon King¡¯s stone allows the bearer to slip between these layers and occupy the same space in a different dimension. It sounded like fantasy, but it seemed as likely as anything else. The question that occupied Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was how many more places could he visit? If he kept pushing himself could he reach Gehenna, Sumeru, or even some other mysterious reality? What was the nature of this world? The phase stone had been the most important part of the Demon King¡¯s endowment. What other secrets did it hold? He didn¡¯t have any answers to these questions right now. Step by step, eventually knowledge would come. The blasted world and the world of mushrooms Cloudhawk had visited on several occasions. While he¡¯d only explored a small area of either and had only a rudimentary knowledge of them, he at least knew their climate. This time he would take Hellflower with him to learn what they could about the third and fourth layers. The stony plains were a dead land rich with discarded technological treasures. Within the ruins were weapons and contraptions that were in very good shape. However, thousands of years had passed and time had taken its toll. Many had succumbed to rust or were otherwise destroyed. What¡¯s more, whatever civilization had made them had a very different style of writing and other habits, making their tools difficult to use and decipher. However, that would not stop their scientists from trying. The jungle world, in contrast, was a rare place where vitality thrived. Cloudhawk had been many places and traveled to other worlds, and nowhere else had he seen a place with so much life ¨C be it vegetation or creatures. At least eighty percent of this planet was choked in forest, while the other twenty percent was ocean. It was a world of remarkable abundance and unchecked wilderness where nature prevailed. Its complex ecosystem was home to countless species vying for dominance, making it a place both rife with danger and opportunity. It was crazy, but if these two worlds could be connected and exploited, it would be of great benefit to Greenland. Hellflower and Cloudhawk spent several days exploring and eventually decided to build their factory on the stony plains. The first batch sent to build a base was comprised of a couple thousand scientists. In addition, another group of five thousand soldiers was sent to the spore planet to establish a settlement. Established in other planes, they would be at Cloudhawk¡¯s beck and call when needed. Cloudhawk could summon a portal and call on them whenever he needed. By the same logic he could gather whatever resources were required from these places in an instant, including weapons. At Cloudhawk¡¯s current strength, so long as he had the energy he could call boulders from space, soldiers, or anything else he needed ¨C just as he unwittingly did in his fight against the Silverwing Monarch. Over the next few days Cloudhawk vigorously recruited for the effort. Much to his surprise there was considerable interest in the posting, at least ten times what he was expecting. Perhaps they were bored with the lives they led, or were pessimistic about the times ahead. Maybe that had ambitions of living life as an influential pioneer. At any rate, after just a few days he had thirty thousand volunteers. What was thirty thousand to Cloudhawk? Well, how many were under his control? The answer was several million, but if he subtracted the citizens of Imperia and only counted Nox, the Dark Atom, Sandspire and Greenland he had less than a million people. Thirty thousand from that number collected in just a few days spoke volumes to the peoples¡¯ interest in this project. Spacial immigration was not cheap. Cloudhawk hoped these initial groups could learn and develop quickly so that they could get settled quick. With so many interested Cloudhawk was saddled with trying to decide who to choose. Cloudhawk looked over the forms and came upon a very interesting group. The Wendigo King and his brood had expressed interest in going. The motivation was to make sure that whatever happened in this world, some of their species would continue to thrive. Cloudhawk nodded his head. So shall it be. The wargs were a power one could not ignore. They were especially capable scouts, spies and trackers. By allowing them to immigrate to somewhere else they would have the peace of mind to fight with more loyalty and ferocity. They would have their own place, and a sense of belonging. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 105 Beasts of Steel and Circuits Five thousand pioneers in the spore world. Another two thousand settled on the stony plain. Ten days since opening the portal, the first batch was nearly ready to depart. Both groups were different, including the specialists assigned to them. They were selected in accordance with the environment they were going to. Since Spore Planet had been explored before, Greenland¡¯s people knew what to expect more or less. Of the five thousand sent, half were soldiers and scientists, while the other half were normal citizens. Their goal was to establish a settlement and learn more about the world. Hopefully they could discover new and different species of mushrooms to be used. Once adequate resources were collected, they were to be prepared for shipment back to Greenland. Of the two thousand dispatched to the badlands of the stony plains, most were scientists from either Sandspire, Dark Atom or Nox. Erecting and managing an eboncrys weapon factory was their aim, with the hope of eventually expanding. The others who went with them were among the best soldiers Cloudhawk could spare. The Wendigo King hand-picked five hundred of his fiercest to be their protectors. Nucleus promised two hundred mutant natives of the Blisterpeaks . Greenland sent a contingent of Talons and Nox sent some of its Black Knights. As far as anyone knew Spore Planet was relatively safe. So long as they stayed away from the ruins they didn¡¯t have to worry about being attacks by spirits, and they knew what the more dangerous mushroom trees looked like. Because they were familiar with the terrain it was a suitable place for Greenland¡¯s first pioneers. In the future, once an infrastructure was build up, they could send much larger numbers of people through. Where Stony Plains was different from Spore World was in how little of it was known. No one knew what to expect or what they might run in to. Until more information was available, it was best to play it safe. The fourth world had more resources than the other three put together, but it was a complex and dangerous environment to navigate. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t be comfortable sending many people through until more was known. So that is where things stood. The first layer Cloudhawk could access was the devastated remains of a dead world with no discernible worth. The second was rich with plants and other resources, and was safe enough for settlers. The third world was blasted and intimidating, but there were no obvious threats as of yet. From what they could tell there was a lot of technological treasures to be found and soon their precious factories would call it home. Last was the fourth world, a mysterious jungle filled with wild creatures. It was obviously full of resources to exploit, but for now it was best to scout it out and learn more before sending anyone to stay long term. Cloudhawk¡¯s current focus was to work on developing those second and third worlds. Spirit beads were beginning to run in short supply, so the gate they powered couldn¡¯t handle huge groups coming and going. These first groups had to be limited. But they were the foot in the door, so to speak. The first important step. Once these groups were settled a second, and then a third would follow. Hellflower knew Cloudhawk¡¯s powers were numerous, but far and away the most valuable was his ability to shift dimensions. Every world was filled with treasures waiting to be discovered. Each one had staggering potential, waiting to be tapped. Preparations were being made in case the worst occurred, but since they were already in the process they might as well set up supply lines while they were at it. The power and resources Cloudhawk wielded would continue to grow so that he could overcome his increasingly powerful enemies. The Wendigo King gathered five hundred of his strongest men. By the time he arrived there was already a sizeable group waiting by the God Tree. Coal showed up a short time later with warriors from his tribe and a group of genetically modified soldiers. He was met with the Wendigo King¡¯s searching gaze. ¡°You are also going to the other world?¡± Coal and the Wendigo King came from completely different worlds. Once known as Hyena, the humanoid beast was a creation of the southern wilds. Coal, on the other hand, hailed from the northern Blisterpeaks, a mutant forged from a harsh environment. Although the two might have emerged from vastly different backgrounds, the battle for Sanctuary had brought them together. Since that time they¡¯d often fought side by side against the Conclave and had grown closer. Coal nodded. ¡°My people come from a very difficult homeland. Things are bad, many have gone to Nucleus for shelter. Too many. So I brought my people to Greenland. When I heard they were sending people to settle a new world we agreed to help.¡± The Wendigo King frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t Greenland a good place? Why are you so eager to go to a strange, unknown place?¡± Members of the volcano tribes were strong but mild of temperament. They were allowed to live within the city limits. The Wendigo King¡¯s people, however, were savage and often unruly, so limitations were put on how many could remain among the citizens. Nothing was stopping Coal from waiting until the worlds were better established before going with his people. There was a much higher potential for danger if he went with the first groups. Coal responded. ¡°Greenland needs strong, bold soldiers. That¡¯s why we¡¯re going.¡± His answer wasn¡¯t what the Wendigo King expected. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Coal nodded. ¡°Cloudhawk is a friend to my people. We answer our friends¡¯ calls.¡± There was a note of scorn in the Wendigo King¡¯s smirk. ¡°Friends are made in times of peace. Have you ever heard of a sheep befriending a wolf? Cloudhawk is stronger than you can even imagine. I suggest you stay as far away from him as you can, otherwise he¡¯ll drag you down into this awful war with him. You and your handful of tribesmen won¡¯t survive.¡± Coal was annoyed with the warning and wanted to respond, but he couldn¡¯t think of what to say. He was never skilled at arguing and he had to admit the Wendigo King had a point. Cloudhawk was getting stronger all the time. Now even Wolfblade was his subordinate along with Abaddon, the Shepherd God, the Khan of Evernight, the old drunk and others. Any one of those could wield power out here in the wastes in their own right. The stronger Cloudhawk got, the stronger would be the enemies who stood in his way. Even though Coal wanted to help his friend, were he and his tribe enough to make a difference? It didn¡¯t seem like it. They would need to get stronger first! He was still wrestling with the thought when the gateway opened. The shimmering portal grabbed everyone¡¯s attention. As Coal and the Wendigo King gazed upon it their faces turned to surprise. Although they knew Cloudhawk was using the altar to augment his powers, a portal of this still had to use an unfathomable amount of energy and power to create. A Master Demonhunter, proficient in dimensional power. Cloudhawk had arisen as an indestructible force! Stepping through the portal, the Wendigo King and Coal found themselves standing amid a vast blasted landscape. Every week they opened the portal once so that more people and supplies could be delivered. Now that they were here, the first order of business was to settle in. Stony Plains was desolate and barren. It was nothing but dark red stone and dirt for as far as the eye could see. The air was hot and dry, and gravity was harsher than on the world they¡¯d come from. But the atmosphere was suitable and there was enough oxygen. In fact Hellflower had carefully gone over the data collected about this place prior to sending pioneers out and had come to a conclusion. Whether it was Spore World, Stony Plains of the jungle planet, most anywhere Cloudhawk could phase to had many things in common. Atmosphere, the size of its parent star, intensity of sunlight, temperature¡­ there were slight differences but overall they were perfectly suitable for habitation. It certainly wasn¡¯t a coincidence. What she didn¡¯t know was why. Out in the infinitely vast cosmos, finding just two habitable planets was one chance in a million. How could it be that time and again Cloudhawk was plucking worlds amenable to life like it was no effort at all? Hellflower had no way to explain it, just like she had no way to explain their destruction. It didn¡¯t matter, there were more pressing questions to be answered. If people could survive here, that was enough for now. Coal commanded his tribesmen to begin laying out the foundation. The Wendigo King selected a number of intelligent birds and had them scout the area. The resources and equipment selected for this group of two thousand was plentiful. They would have a functioning, if temporary, base of operations in less than ten days. While it was being erected, wargs spread out and learned what they could about the surroundings. During the process they gathered the scant flora they found as well as unfamiliar minerals. Several dozen unique ruins and crashed aircraft were mapped out for later exploration. Beyond this, there was nothing else of note about where they were settling. That was, until the Wendigo King received an explosive scouting report. One of his wargs spotted a mechanical creature running at high speeds across the wastes. Its neck alone was three meters long like some sort of giraffe from the ancient world. This didn¡¯t make any sense to the Wendigo King. How were there robots in this place? As far as anyone knew this place had been destroyed ten thousand years ago. Whatever civilization had existed had long since perished. He might have believed it somewhat if the warg had told him it was a proper giraffe, but a mechanical one? That didn¡¯t seem possible. He was still mulling it over when Coal came running up to him. ¡°Something strange has appeared near our base. It looked like a bird, but it was not. You should see for yourself.¡± Indeed, overhead there was circling a creature that looked to have been modeled after some monstrous misconception of an eagle. It had two heads and one tail. Its two pairs of eyes were dark red and shined with electric light. Every inch of its body was made of metal and countless years exposed to the environment had caused parts of it to rust. Something had damaged its chest, revealing circuits and wires which sputtered with sparks. Long story short, it was a mechanical bird! The reports were right! Operational machines! The creature circling above them was a highly complex system of circuits still functional after all this time! It circled the base a few times until breaking into a steep dive. A small rocket emerged from its back and spat fire, increasing its speed by four or five times. They watched it tear passed the base, uninterested in them, and instead snatching up something from the ruins nearby. The pioneers all watched, transfixed. The bird rose again with a strip of something in its talons, something that looked like a snake. Of course that was just how it looked. The snake was made of the same material as the bird which had captured it. Another complicated machine. It wriggled against the nail-like talons and tried to belch fire at the bird but to no avail. The bird ignored its desperate attempts and carried off its prize. It paid the outsiders no mind. What the fuck? The same thought hung in everyone¡¯s mind as they watched the scene unfold. Sandspire¡¯s scientists were especially stunned by what they¡¯d witnessed. Two machines living and acting as fluid as real creatures. This sort of technology was centuries ahead of anything Sandspire could produce! It was incredible that they should act out roles of hunter and prey, for what need did machines have to hunt? Robots were not real living things! Yet another inexplicable mystery in this strange world that left the newcomers baffled. 1. They were supposed to have been obliterated. I guess they reproduce fast. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 106 The Final Battle Settlers to Stony Plains were surprised to learn that these mechanical creatures were not exceptions in this barren place, but the rule. As the Wendigo King and Coal continued to explore their new home they discovered many more metal monsters prowling the ruins. Birds, reptiles, fish, bigger game¡­ everything they found was mechanical. The strangest thing about this planet was that these machines had their own clear ecology. Different ¡®species¡¯ of machines occupied various strata as predator or prey. The good news was the robots appeared to have no interest in living things. Settlers stumbled on beasts from time to time, but so long as they didn¡¯t draw too close none of the robots displayed any hostile intent. These surprising discoveries quickly made their way back to Greenland, along with a sample for Hellflower to pour over. ¡°What is the situation?¡± When Cloudhawk heard the news his first stop was Hellflower¡¯s lab. It was his first time seeing such a thing when he entered and spied it lying on her examination table, so even he was surprised. This one was a lizard, roughly five meters of hard metal alloy. Much of it was rusted and weeds had begun to grow in cracks in its hide. Upon closer inspection they noted that it wasn¡¯t homogeneously crafted, either. Some of the metal was different in places that looked to have been repaired. The legs in particular were completely different from the rest of its body. While it was clearly a highly complex machine, elements of its exterior gave the crude impression of wasteland improvisation they were all used to seeing. By the time Cloudhawk arrived they¡¯d already started to deconstruct the lizard. Its central processor was laid open, revealing a complex structure. Obviously the level of sophistication far outstripped anything the wastelands could produce. Only a highly advanced and well-developed civilization could have crafted something like this. Hellflower readjusted her goggled. ¡°The situation is precisely what you see here! There is nothing biological about this construct. It is one hundred percent machine. Its level of sophistical is far superior to anything we could find in Sandspire, by a hundred years at least. But what¡¯s most peculiar is its energy source.¡± Hellflower slipped on examination gloves as she spoke. She reached into the lizard¡¯s body and extracted a small crystal orb. It was still humming with energy. She placed the item to the side and continued. ¡°This is the heart of these robotic creatures. We see that it has structures necessary for collecting solar power, however solar power alone is crude and inefficient. In order to supplement this, it appears these creatures seek out and devour sources of energy that they come across. Most of their inner working are designed to transfer and transform the energy they ingest and store it here in this energy crystal. We only have a rough estimate, but from what we gather there¡¯s a hundred years worth of energy gathering in this one crystal ¨C enough condensed power to blow up a warship!¡± Cloudhawk was understandably surprised. ¡°The animals attack one another to devour this energy?¡± Hellflower nodded. ¡°We haven¡¯t yet been able to reverse engineer their internal chips and neural networks to better understand them, however some logical program of behaviors is what has allowed them to exist on that planet for so long. Judging by the remolding we found in this specimen, we can surmise that it has undergone several significant transformations.¡± His brows furrowed. ¡°So there must be some sort of intelligence out there.¡± The reports he¡¯d received described robots that displayed logic and instinct, but were not intelligent enough to make changes to their own bodies like this or build others like themselves. They were merely robots acting out the lives of normal creatures. The only way they could exist was if there was someone or something hiding away that was building them. Stony Plains was turning out to be more complicated than it first appeared. What other secrets was it hiding? Was there really an intelligent race hiding somewhere out there? If there was, why hadn¡¯t they transformed that blasted landscape to be more hospitable in the thousands of years they¡¯ve had to develop? Instead they spent their time building¡­ these. What was the secret they weren¡¯t seeing? ¡°The planet might be more dangerous than we thought,¡± Cloudhawk mused. ¡°Maybe we should call the settlers back.¡± Hellflower did not agree. ¡°Call them back? Why? Do you have any idea how much we can learn from the body of this lizard? Do you know how many other powerful robots like it have been seen wandering Stony Plains, or what other precious relics are waiting to be discovered? That planet is more valuable than any treasure vault you could pry open!¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong, but that didn¡¯t answer the question of whether the world was safe or hostile. Hellflower tried another way. ¡°Haven¡¯t you always wanted to know what really happened to our world? If there are survivors out there they might have the answers. Imagine what that could mean for our future! Think about what we could accomplish if we turn this extraterrestrial power to our cause? It may be just the tool we need to turn the tide in our favor at this critical moment!¡± Whatever Hellflower¡¯s other talents, she sure knew how to argue her case. Her passion and persuasion tickled at Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. He did want to know what happened to turn his world into the hellscape it was today. He also wanted to know how these distinct planets were connected by his dimensional powers and whether the catastrophe that erased human civilization could happen again. If there was an intelligent species hiding somewhere out there, perhaps they held the answers. So he agreed to wait and see, perhaps they would know more soon. Of the four dimensional layers Cloudhawk had access to, the first was a worthless asteroid field where a planet had once been. The remaining three appeared to have some use. The Spore World, for instance, had turned out to be integral to his people. The third layer was turning out to be an important place for technological development. The fourth layer Cloudhawk had only visited once and knew it to be filled with dangerous critters. Sooner or later he would assemble a crew to scour it for something useful. So far, nothing in the Demon King¡¯s inherited memories revealed how many dimensions or other worlds there were to explore. Each one held some sort of meaning, though, and as far as he could tell there was infinite room for more. Hellflower continued picking apart the lizard, learning all she could. Cloudhawk had no more reason to hang around so he left. Once he exited the laboratory he was met with a messenger with another report. Dawn had won a series of important victories out on campaign. Much of the territory she¡¯d lost before Cloudhawk came back had been retaken. She was currently engaged against the Conclave¡¯s long-range forces and if she could beat them back, the conclave would be cast out of the southern wilds entirely. It had been less than a month since Cloudhawk had returned to Greenland. Already the dire circumstance he¡¯d come back to appeared to be turning in their favor. Such was the benefit of having support from the Dark Atom and Nox. He also learned more about how things were fairing in Imperia. Reports described a city well on its way to recovery. After taking control the Shepherd God made a point of performing several highly visible miracles. These acts helped her establish a reputation and solidified her leadership. While her power did not yet compare to that of the late Silverwing Monarch, Meadow was her domain. The former king could never do what she was capable of from the heart of her Temple. It didn¡¯t matter where, people valued and respected strength. The Shepherd God¡¯s strength was enough to keep the people of Imperia impressed and in line. The feats Autumn performed defied their imaginations. What¡¯s more, upon her return the Shepherd God revealed the true history of the realm they occupied. That alone made her words more persuasive. Imperia was the most populated territory under Cloudhawk¡¯s control. Even once they clawed back the rest of the southern wilds, Imperia ¨C or Oakstead as the Shepherd God had originally named it ¨C would still be home to half of all his people. Having it take a turn toward stability was very good news for Cloudhawk. ¡°Now is the time to cast out the Conclave of Judgment.¡± Cloudhawk looked over a map of the southern wilds. Now he knew that Dawn¡¯s main force had engaged with the Conclave¡¯s, and the result of that battle would determine the fate of his territory. He would participate himself, and not only him but the Khan and Abaddon as well. It¡¯d been more than twenty days since Dawn led her coalition off to battle. With her string of victories there was no question that she¡¯d earned respect and prestige among her troops. What the south needed now was a suitably grandiose victory to boost morale and rekindle faith. Cloudhawk summoned his two lieutenants and teleported directly from the city. It took them less than an hour to reach the battlefield with the help of his powers. It was taking place in an abandoned wasteland city. Dawn had already arrived and occupied it to have a more defensible position when the enemy arrived. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Dawn had been looking over maps and crafting her strategy when she heard Cloudhawk had arrived. She¡¯d gone immediately to find him. Cloudhawk looked on the young woman and smiled. ¡°Things back in Greenland are all under control. We¡¯re here to help you fight the final battle for the southern wilds.¡± Indeed it was the final battle. If they stopped the Conclave here they would have no choice but to retreat back to the north with their tail between their legs. Interest in harassing the south would sharply decrease or stop entirely once the Conclave focused on licking its wounds. Their enemies would certainly be taking this fight seriously. Just then a dark wind blew and an ominous shadow appeared on the horizon. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 107 Attacking the Enemy’s Rear Desert stretched to the horizon. Yellow sand danced on the breeze. Sandbar Station was gradually swallowed in darkness. Two large forces met in the air above in a tense standoff. The Northern Barrens and the Southern Wilds faced one another, but really it was a dance between Arcturus Cloude and Cloudhawk. Their first formal, if indirect, conflict. The outcome of this fight would determine whether the Conclave of Judgment would retain a foothold in the south. As such, it was integral to Arcturus¡¯ plans. The scale of these two armies was nowhere close to even. The Conclave of Judgment commanded a huge number of troops. Not only did it boast twice the number of vehicles as the south, its ground forces were also vastly superior in number. There were more than five hundred buggies packed with soldiers, in addition to over two thousand lizard and wolf riders. These forces were bolstered only recently, taken from the territories the Conclave stole from Dawn. While the ground force itself wasn¡¯t the main part of the Conclave¡¯s army, it was a formidable threat. In contrast, the Southern Confederation had no ground force to speak of. It relied on the superior airships provided by Nox. The best comparison was to judge both by the ranking established by the Conclave; spy ships, expedition ships, battleships, carriers and destroyers. The Conclave had over two thousand ships, five hundred being battleships. The remainder were largely mid-sized expeditionary ships. In total numbers the southern wilds were in an inferior position, with an armada of only eight hundred vessels. However its aerial forces were uniformed and outfitted for war. Its flagship was a lumbering, ancient war machine bristling with particle cannons. By the Conclave¡¯s evaluation standards it was considered carrier class, with enough firepower alone to match ten battleships. Its presence on the battlefield was a serious threat to the enemy armada. All told, the capabilities of both armies were about equal. The Conclave had the advantage in terms of scale, but the south met that deficit with more powerful equipment and better trained soldiers. The coming war promised to be fierce, bloody and unforgiving. Dawn watched the slowly encroaching enemy force. Terrangelica was already in hand and she thrust it forward to punctuate her orders. ¡°All forces forward! Meet them head-on!¡± The two armies rolled toward each other like fatal storms. Picking up speed, they closed the distance in short order. From a distance it would look like two ominous clouds colliding while sparks danced in their midst. But what from afar looked like sparks were the roars of cannons, rockets and launchers as they spat death toward one another. The two armies immediately broke into fierce conflict. The clouds split open as a stream of light burst through, like lightning wreaking havoc in a storm. The roar of a cannon sounded like thunder. Cloudhawk felt the whole ship rattling beneath his feet. Debris filled the air as guard ships on either side detonated in midair. Fragments of ship and crew pelted the deck of his ship like a grisly rain. The exchange of fire claimed lives on both sides. The first volley revealed no clear winner. The Conclave¡¯s army was too large. Below, its ground forces had spread across the desert and was closing on the city. Lines of armored vehicles kicked up sand in their wake as they sped toward their objective. Wasteland soldiers tore across the dunes on giant lizards with rocket launchers on their shoulders. They didn¡¯t bother to aim, simply letting their payloads loose toward the ships above with wild abandon. The ground forces were limited in how much damage they could deal to the armada, but they did add pressure and served to harass their foes from below. Deadly winds churned, thunder roared. Soon, the ground was littered with broken ships and dead bodies. Dawn watched with a grim expression. ¡°They¡¯re better equipped than I expected.¡± While the Conclave¡¯s ships themselves were not powerful, nearly all of them had been outfitted with destructive missile launchers and other ordinance. They could blow one of Dawn¡¯s ships to pieces from ten kilometers away. While her ships were of higher quality overall, they still were having trouble overcoming the sheer number disadvantage. If this continued then winning victory would be costly, if even possible. The death toll would be staggering for both sides whatever the outcome. It was for precisely such a circumstance that Cloudhawk chose to come. The Conclave¡¯s efforts to conquer the south came directly from Arcturus, and this battle was key in making it happen. Without question, they would be bringing their best to bear. Even borrowing strength from Nox, the Southern Confederation was never going to win this one easily. Cloudhawk broke in. ¡°We have fewer people, and the Conclave has enough to come back even if we rout them here. If we lose most of our forces it won¡¯t mean a thing even if we win. We have to change our tactics, we can¡¯t go blow for blow.¡± That was where they found themselves. The conclave was too big. Six thousand vessels ¨C even if they lost two ships for each of Dawn¡¯s one they would still win. The salt in that wound was that these warriors came from their own territory, won after the Conclave swept through and gobbled up all the south¡¯s cities. If they didn¡¯t find a way to reverse this they might force the Conclave to lose interest in the south for a time, but Cloudhawk¡¯s forces would also be decimated. He would be stuck trying to recover instead of bringing the fight to them. Cloudhawk knew that his true enemy didn¡¯t reside in the wasteland, but was the lofty and unreachable Arcturus Cloude. If he wanted to tear the Master Demonhunter from his ivory tower in the heart of Skycloud, Cloudhawk would need to first unite the wasteland. All obstacles toward that end had to be removed. Right now, that was the Conclave of Judgment. Not only did it have to dismantled, but he would need to do it quickly. In the twenty-some days since Cloudhawk¡¯s return he¡¯d been careful to keep it quiet. Skycloud didn¡¯t realize the threat growing to the south, but once they did they would have no choice but to react. If it took Cloudhawk three years to overcome the north, all that time Arcturus would be bolstering his defenses. At that point there would be no way for wastelanders to break through and conquer the Elysian land. If they failed to take Fallowmoor Cloudhawk would lose the chance to encircle and overcome Skycloud. At that point Arcturus would be practically invincible and Cloudhawk would know nothing but danger. The exchange of fire increased in rate and ferocity, as did the damage each side endured. Meanwhile the two armies inched ever closer. The Conclave¡¯s officers ordered their ships to decelerate and dispatched their air force. Three to four thousand soldiers on the backs of giant birds of prey took to the skies. They stretched out to either side then circles around, ready to take the Southern Confederation¡¯s flanks. Wastelander flying forces were an important power! Although they weren¡¯t very damaging individually, they were highly maneuverable. They had many uses in battle, such as superior agility, intercepting missiles, or simply harassing the enemy and flooding them at close range with gunfire and light munitions. These units were armed with rapid-fire crossbows, machine guns, hand grenades and the like. If a large enough force managed to swing around and attack from the rear they could cause real chaos. Dawn didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Drunk, lead our own air units out to meet them!¡± The cumbersome warships were too large and moved too slowly to deal with a group of riders this size. The best method to countering them was to send out one¡¯s own fliers and tie them up before they could get too close. However the Southern Confederation was heavily outnumbered. If they didn¡¯t come up with a better plan it would end in mutual destruction. ¡°As far as I can see there¡¯s only one option to finish this quickly.¡± Cloudhawk shot a glance toward Dawn then out across the battlefield. He pointed at the largest vessels in the enemy fleet. They were floating amid a heavily armored entourage. ¡°We need to take out their central command.¡± Dawn understood his aim. Southern Confederation of Conclave of Judgment, armies of this size needed a central point to facilitate commands and give orders. Often there was more than just a single ship, but a cluster of them that ordered different parts of a fleet. If those ships were destroyed or otherwise prevented from being in contact with the rest of the armada, the enemy would fall into disarray. Routing them would become much easier. Cut off the head and the body withers! The behemoth that was the Conclave¡¯s army would disintegrate from within! Any army knew this, so the command flotilla was surrounded by a contingent of powerful guard ships. Any force worth its salt would keep their best close by and make sure their forces were more concentrated in the area. If the tactic was to destroy an opposing force¡¯s command center, they would first have to obliterate all the rest of the enemy to do it. Cloudhawk looked over the target. ¡°Three ships. Khan, you take the left, Abbadon you head right. I will handle the flagship. Have Roc command your forces while you¡¯re gone and the drunk can buy us time with fliers. I¡¯ll teleport us passed their defensive lines.¡± Yes! Cloudhawk could slip right through! Typical defenses meant nothing against his phase powers. Roc was anxious when he heard the plan. ¡°Your teleportation powers are strong but there¡¯s a limit to how many people you can bring with you. Those ships are crawling with their best soldiers, it¡¯s too risky for you to get in close and destroy them.¡± ¡°You think this is dangerous?¡± Cloudhawk had no time to argue. ¡°Prepare to act!¡± A minute later space warped in the air near the Conclave¡¯s command flotilla. A handful of silhouettes appeared in the air. Cloudhawk motioned for them to move out. The Khan of Evernight led a small group to the left side of the flotilla. Abaddon did the same to the right. Neither of Cloudhawk¡¯s lieutenants were pushovers ¨C one was Nox¡¯s Governor and the other was a demon who once lorded over the southern wilds. Either was more than capable of destroying a few ships, so a single command vessel each was well within their abilities. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cloudhawk brought Dawn and a handful of Polaris fighters toward the enemy¡¯s flagship. It and the other two command ships were in a trident formation with the central vessel being the largest. It was like a floating mountain that was fitting with a staggering number of weapons. Although Cloudhawk and the others had appeared suddenly, the well-trained enemy had already begun to mount a defense. Countless heavy weapons belched their payloads. Plumes of fire half a meter thick shot their way. The air was suddenly filled with high-velocity bullets. No one could stand for long against such an intense onslaught! Cloudhawk from half a year ago would have balked at the sight. The Cloudhawk of today, however, felt no trepidation. Even if he allowed these bullets to strike him they would only cause surface level wounds. He held his left arm in front of him, clenched his fist, and a rich white light surrounded him and his allies. As the bullets collided with this shield they bounced away harmlessly! Several heavy machine guns strafed Cloudhawk¡¯s location but it was ultimately a waste of ammunition. With a scream of challenge Dawn leaped at the ship when they were close enough. She came down on the gun turret with her slender leg. The force behind it collapsed the turret like it was made of tin foil. She followed by brandishing Terrangelica, urging the weapon to fire a beam of energy through the body of a nearby gunner. It pierced through the thick shield of his machine gun and cleaved the man himself to pieces. The gun exploded, the blasting sending twisted pieces of metal and scorched chunks of flesh across the deck. Cloudhawk landed near the engine and disabled it with a fierce kick of his own. His body was instantly swallowed up in a deluge of fire and broken metal but he emerged unscathed. He walked away from the explosion, calm and collected, even as the ship began to list. However a ship this size did not just have a single engine. Destroying a handful wasn¡¯t enough to disable it entirely. By now the ship¡¯s defenses had time to respond. A large number of flying forces were closing in. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside!¡± Cloudhawk punched a thick metal cabin door with his unadorned fist. With a screech of steel on steel and a shower of sparks, the door was knocked clean off its hinges. He wrenched it free from the frame and flung it over his shoulder, where it slammed into a nearby soldier and turned him to paste. Cloudhawk then strode inside without a care, Dawn and the rest of the Polaris warriors in tow. The other flier watched in shock and horror. What was that guy?! He was some sort of monster in human skin! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 108 Crossing Swords Bridge of the Conclave¡¯s southern command vessel. With grim expressions the officers gave their orders. Populations between the northern and southern parts of the wasteland were greatly disproportionate. Southern powers were fractured delicate. Against the strong and unified forces of the north, southern organizations had been unable to defend themselves. After all, not only had the Conclave taken all of the north, but they also had the backing of Skycloud and the Cloude family. The Sanctum as it had existed under the Crimson One was a shadow of what the Conclave had become. Half a year, that was all it took for huge swaths of the wastelands to come under their control. Up to this point their war with the southern wilds had gone decidedly in their favor. All that remained was Greenland, which stubbornly hung on in the face of hopelessness. Who could have known that from the shadows of Nox aid would appear at the crucial moment. This unexpected interference cost them Eckhard Cutter, one of their commanders and leader of their armies. He died in enemy hands. It was a crushing blow to the Conclave! Greenland¡¯s Governor, Dawn Polaris, followed on the heels of this tragedy with a series of lightning maneuvers. In only twenty days she snatched back most of the cities under Conclave control. By the time leadership heard the news it was already too late. They were forced to dispatch another one of their commanders, Dumont Cenhelm, to quell this resistance. Taking over the post vacated by Eckhard, he was tasked with standing against the southern forces propped up by Nox. War had once more come to the wastelands, only this time it was between its own people. Dumont towered over his officers in the mighty Dawnbreaker armor that encased his body. Only his head was left uncovered, revealing a grizzled and aging face with a solemn expression. He was not the talkative and flirtatious elder from Hell¡¯s Valley any longer, for he knew the enemy he faced. How was it Dawn had reacted so quickly, recovering all that lost territory in under a month? Simple, it was just as their reports warned: Cloudhawk had returned. The same terrifying man that had nearly obliterated Sanctuary, who had lived in years prior caught between Skycloud and the wastes. Cloudhawk was a complicated sort, whose exploits before Sanctuary had earned him both praise and blame. He was responsible for killing mighty threats from the wasteland in the form of Adder and the Crimson One. He was also guilty of unforgivable sins in the eyes of the Elysians. He carried the banner of House Polaris into victory after victory, yet also bore the mantle of blasphemer as decreed by Skycloud¡¯s highest authority. At one brief point in time he was Commander General of their expeditionary force and saved the lives of thousands. He ended up causing many deaths when he led enemy forces into conflict with Sanctuary. Yes, a complicated man, full of contradictions. His hands were stained with blood and his name was whispered from Skycloud to the most distant reaches of the wastelands. Yet no one knew for sure which side he stood upon. Judging by his acts alone, he always seemed to straddle that line instead of jumping into any commitment with both feet. After the frightening assault on Sanctuary, Cloudhawk¡¯s reputation in Skycloud sank to the foulest of depths. Meanwhile he was cheered as a hero in the wastes, especially the south. To those simple folk he was like a god walking among them. His reappearance was a call to arms to all those who looked up to him. Dawn Polaris fought in his name, so when she returned to the cities taken by the Conclave they submitted to her without a struggle. In the south there was only one person they would all agree to follow, and that was Cloudhawk. He had become legend out here. Stories of his great deeds continued to grow and spread. Their adoration was at a fever pitch. Now the legend had returned, stronger than ever. With a man like him at the fore what did they have to fear from these northern invaders? As such, southern leaders already dissatisfied with the Conclave¡¯s oppression all flocked to Greenland¡¯s side. Dumont had not known until now what sort of prestige Cloudhawk wielded out here. He¡¯d always known the young man to be special, but not much different from any other student he taught at Hell¡¯s Valley. Back then a particularly doughty assistant instructor could have put Cloudhawk in his place to say nothing of the three Giants themselves. A few years later and all that appeared to have changed. Dumont looked through the porthole at the battle raging outside. Explosions and ammunition continued to be traded between the armies at a feverish pace. It was a storm of metal and fire where tens, maybe hundreds of lives could meet their end. It did nothing to stir this sixty-year old man¡¯s dead heart. He was numb to it all by now. Back in Skycloud no one knew his name, just a faceless commander of Hell¡¯s Army. Few common folk, if any, had heard the name Dumont Cenhelm, and fewer still knew his real name even in Hell¡¯s Valley. For two, nearly three decades he had given his service to Hell¡¯s Army and in that time he had been forgotten by the world. As a perennial commander he had lead hundreds of missions, offered countless indelible contributions to his home, but they would never be appreciated by those he served. The old soldier known as Dumont Cenhelm would die unknown, unsung, and unvalued. There would be no flowers or applause at his funeral. But he had no regrets. From the outset he understood that the missions he performed would never be public knowledge. He also knew how fragile this seemingly prosperous world the Elysians had built really was. To keep it all from crumbling, there were some who had to harden themselves and make a sacrifice. Some would need to immerse themselves in darkness to stand as shield and sword, fighting to keep the common man safe and ignorant. The cost of this was one¡¯s soul. He and his soldiers were the men who did not exist. A necessary evil. A firm believe in this mission is why Dumont did not lament over his fate. It was stronger now than ever, for he knew he faced possibly the most important mission of his life. Decades of experience had taught Dumont that the turmoil and chaos of the world all stemmed from the wastelands. It was a breeding ground for the evil, the cruel and the perverse. The potential for this corruption to grow was immense and spread like weeds. No matter what methods were employed that inherent sin would never be wholly eradicated. But if they could only unify the wasteland, perhaps that might change. The wastelands weren¡¯t going away, but with effort they could bring that chaos to heel. Master Arcturus was a man of unequaled talent and brilliance. He had long ago laid out his plans for the wastes and it was now at the cusp of being realized. The day approached when everything would fall under the capable hands of Master Arcturus. With his genius, the whole world would know peace and order in ten years or less. All of their sacrifice was the cornerstone for a lasting future peace! As Dumont mulled on these thoughts the ship suddenly pitched to one side. ¡°What happened?¡± Beside Dumont were two notable figures. One was hidden beneath a black cloak and the other in green. They were the Kings of the Barrens, Canker and Toad. Both were well known for their strength and leadership in the north. Their freakish powers were comparable to a veteran demonhunter. Each King was flanked with a coterie of a dozen or so soldiers. ¡°Someone¡¯s boarded the ship!¡± Canker¡¯s insects were all through the ship and the surrounding area. They were like extensions of the creature himself, eyes and ears spread every which way. Any change in the circumstance in and around the ship he knew of the instant they happened. ¡°They appeared suddenly in the air outside and have breached our defenses.¡± ¡°Hmph! There¡¯s only one person with that sort of power, no need to wonder he¡¯s paid us a visit.¡± Dumont turned to an elder figure seated nearby. He was cradling a staff and his features were hidden beneath a cape and hood. A heavy, stifling aura surrounded him. Oren Cloude, commander of the Demonhunter Corps. Arcturus had ordered him to join the Conclave together with twenty of his demonhunter soldiers. ¡°Cloudhawk is not dead, and it looks like he¡¯s here to handle matters personally. It¡¯s a smart move to try and destroy the command ships directly, but it is also our best opportunity.¡± Oren nursed a special hatred for Cloudhawk. At the battle for Sanctuary, he had caused tremendous damage and was responsible for many deaths. His brazen attack and Oren¡¯s subsequent defeat was humiliating to the Demonhunter Corps. Upon receiving Arcturus¡¯ orders, Oren was more than happy to bring his soldiers and aid the Conclave if it meant a chance at vengeance. He was expecting to wait longer than six months, though. Reports were that Cloudhawk¡¯s wounds were nearly fatal. Good, very good. He thought. He lives and hurls himself right into my net. I will catch this fiend by surprise and cut him down. With any luck, today we rid ourselves of a terrible evil! ¡°Cloudhawk is very different than he was six months ago. Do not underestimate him,¡± Dumont warned. Oren¡¯s response came with a dark smirk. ¡°It¡¯s been less than a year since we crossed swords. I know just how strong he is. He can only bring a limited number of people with him here and we are many. You fear it¡¯s not enough to handle one man?¡± Dumont was flanked by Canker, Toad and several dozen strong soldiers. Oren was here with twenty of his best. Such an array was strong enough to fell a Master-level enemy, even two. The wounds Cloudhawk had accrued a year ago were dire. It was unlikely he recovered in so short a period. It was foolish to fear that he could overcome so many! It was an affront to his intelligence! Oren went on. ¡°Cloudhawk is the leader of this southern rabble. Cut off the head of the snake and the body withers. With him gone the south is ours, so he has presented us the perfect opportunity on a silver platter. Tell me where to find him!¡± Without a word, several scout demonhunters engaged their relics to locate the man. A calm voice interrupted them a heartbeat later. ¡°No need to trouble yourselves. I¡¯m already here.¡± The words still hung in the air as reality rippled. Several figures appeared in the heart of the bridge. Among them were several of Greenland¡¯s best, yet all eyes fell upon the front two. One was imposing and dignified, with a large sword in one hand and a gauntlet encasing the other. The other was a young man in simple garb who bore no visible weapons, yet the danger he presented was palpable. Dumont and his officers were speechless with shock. They¡¯d all seen Cloudhawk more than once, Dumont especially. He had been responsible for training him in Hell¡¯s Valley for three years. The Cloudhawk before them now was different on a fundamental level. A demonhunter with spatial talent came along once in a blue moon, one in tens of thousands. None other than Cloudhawk possessed this power. Cloudhawk searched the crowd, peering from one sturdy enemy to the next. There were more than he expected, but it didn¡¯t matter ¨C they were all beneath consideration. Eventually his attention fell upon Dumont. ¡°Instructor Cenhelm.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve walked right into our trap! Kill him!¡± Oren was already on his feet. His face was dark and twisted, filled with bone-deep hate. With a roar he charged forward with twenty demonhunters on tow. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 109 The Invincible Cloudhawk Veteran demonhunters were not pushovers. Men and women with such a designation were often people of note in Skycloud. People that normal Elysians looked up to. A group of twenty such warriors together was a rare and impressive sight. Oren Cloude had brought with him most of the Demonhunter Corps¡¯ backbone. Oren himself was a noble personage of Skycloud, an elder of high esteem. His foe would need to be a Master Demonhunter or greater to warrant such a man to lead twenty of his finest in person. ¡°Hmph, persistent idiot. Let me see what you¡¯ve got!¡± Dawn was off like a bullet. In an instant she stood between these demonhunters and Cloudhawk. With her right hand she shoved Terrangelica into the sturdy wood of the bridge, and immediately it began to rumble. She raised her gloved left hand at the encroaching force and ejected an invisible burst of power. This was¡­ control over gravity! Oren¡¯s face, already dripping with anger, now bore notes of fear and humiliation. The glove on Dawn¡¯s hand was none other than his own precious lost relic. It was a well-known and prestigious artifact in Skycloud. It was able to manipulate gravity to attack and support. During the battle for Sanctuary Oren faced the old drunk and learned he was no match for the former War Saint. Vulkan severed his arm and his glove was lost to the enemy. When the wastelanders recovered the relic they found that no one was able to use it. However gravity and earth had a connection, so they figured Dawn should give it a try. Beyond all expectations, she revealed a potent talent for its use and for the last six months she had been steadily improving her mastery over the relic. A crushing gravitational force blanketed the area. It was so overwhelming that the floorboards groaned and cracked! With Terrangelica and the gravity glove Dawn was an even match for Oren. Although the power she wielded did not compare to what Oren could muster, she was nonetheless frighteningly lethal. Even Cloudhawk was impressed by what he witnessed. He was surprised to see how much she¡¯d improved in so short a period. If the enemies she faced were ordinary demonhunters, they all would have been crushed beneath her might. However they were not. Oren had brought some of his best, veterans who in addition to their powerful and varied relics were also experienced warriors. One or two of them, Dawn had nothing to fear. Three or four might give her a little trouble. Five or so and she would have quite the fight on her hands. Eight and above, Dawn was out of her depth. She was looking at twenty! Defeating them on her own? Not in her wildest dreams. Oren didn¡¯t even need to shout a warning. As the gravitational force descended the demonhunters burst into action. They dashed out in different directions to avoid the scope of her attack and used this chance to surround their foes. Dawn scowled. They were better than she thought. Bastards! So many capable fighters waiting in the wings, Arcturus wasn¡¯t holding much back! ¡°Your sorry group can¡¯t win!¡± Dumont and his wastelander lieutenants were also on the move. His allies were mighty wasteland mutants Toad and Canker. Their powers were strange and formidable, comparable to veteran demonhunters themselves. ¡°Surrender. The wastelands'' fate is to be unified, you can¡¯t stop it. To try is to just to bring on further needless death.¡± Dawn drew herself up with resolve and indignation. Things were not going well. Had she known what was waiting for them, she wouldn¡¯t have been so hasty. Cloudhawk revealed nothing, as calm as a lake surface. When Dumont made his claim Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°I agree with part of what you say. The wastelands have lived in chaos for a thousand years. Unity is the only way to change that. But the fate of the wastelands are for wastelanders to determine, not Arcturus or his lackeys.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always been an amusing boy, but your stubbornness has grown tiresome. I¡¯ll have to deal with you personally.¡± ¡°Instructor Cenhelm, you have always loved to talk. Let¡¯s see if over the years your skill with Dawnbreaker has improved.¡± Nothing else was said. Dumont¡¯s helmet reappeared to surround the old man¡¯s face and he charged at full speed. His armor quickly began to glow with power, as though it¡¯d been thrown in a furnace. The sound of his feet pounding the floor was thunderous and in an instant he was like a supersonic bullet. As he dashed forward, right fist raised, the pulsing power in his armor raced through it in waves and gathered in his arm. The power spilled out, turning his fist into a blazing sun! Anything that dared stand in the way of his punch would surely be blown to pieces! Dumont¡¯s Dawnguard Armor was a mighty relic and the man himself was possessed of above-average mental ability. The last few years he had managed to overcome his learning plateau and had made improvements. The power he wielded now was perhaps twice what he could muster back when Cloudhawk was training in Hell¡¯s Valley. This punch had enough power behind it to outright slay a Master Demonhunter. Now was the time! Attack! Oren and his demonhunters were all tempered warriors. They knew when to seize on an advantage. While the enemy was distracted by Dumont¡¯s indomitable rush, it was the perfect time for them to move in as well. The members of the Demonhunter Corps and their commander launched their attacks. One was a plume of fire in the shape of a roaring dragon. One was a column of lightning. Another came in the form of writhing tornadoes. All at once the ship¡¯s bridge was a devastated war zone. As Dawn and the other members of the Southern Confederation saw the attacks come their faces blanched. No one could walk away from such an all-encompassing attack! Cloudhawk was a powerful dimensional talent who could perhaps save himself with a teleport, but Dawn and the others were defenseless. She also knew that Cloudhawk was not the sort to abandon his allies. What could they do? Anxiety froze her limbs yet she could see no reflection of it in Cloudhawk¡¯s expression. He merely took a casual step forward and a pale light glimmered along the gauntlet along his left arm. He curled his fingers into a fist, and reached out with his arm to meet Dumont¡¯s. The two fists collided. Completely out of proportion. One was encased in a blinding light, the other merely shining white. The degree of magnitude seemed laughably skewed. However in the moment these attacks met every piece of glass and equipment on the bridge ¨C from the control panel to the porthole windows ¨C exploded into a million pieces. Dumont could feel it as though it were happening in slow motion. The power behind Cloudhawk¡¯s punch could level whole mountains. The rebound energy was unyielding. Even the air was so compressed it turned to a liquid state. No matter whether it was physical matter or energy, everything was rapidly ejected from the path of this power. All of Dumont¡¯s mighty power was reflected back at him. And not just Dumont¡¯s attack! Cloudhawk¡¯s action had produced a field that surrounded all of them, an energy vacuum! None of the attacks from the other demonhunters could force its way through. The vacuum field continued to expand, pushing the attack send its way back toward their source. Fire, lightning and air swept away everyone, be they demonhunters or wasteland fighters. From the outside it looked like a bomb had gone off within the bridge. It detonated in spectacular fashion, spreading debris a thousand meters in all directions. Even the guard ships nearby were nearly capsized from the force of the shock wave. The violent explosion began a chain reaction. The command ship bucked as one blast after another ravaged it from bow to stern. Huge cracks split open along the deck, the hull and through every portion of it. It stopped suddenly and began to plummet. Then the power was gone. Calm overtook the temporary tumult. What remained was a ship obliterated. Huge swaths of the vessel were burned black from explosions. Gaping holes revealed lower decks from the outside and molten metal dripped from the edges. Hardly anything remained unscathed and the air all around was thick with pitch-black smoke. Dumont Cenhelm had been knocked a hundred meters away by Cloudhawk. He¡¯d smashed through one of the metal walls and lay with half his body punched through the floor of a next door engine room. His indestructible armor was now cracked in several places, especially the arm. The man within was still and it was impossible to know if he was alive or dead. All the rest who were on the bridge were disfigured or maimed beyond recognition. Those that lived stared in fear and shock. The epicenter of this destruction, Cloudhawk, was still rooted in place. Not a scratch marred his flesh, and even his clothes had not been put out of place. The area six feet around him had not been touched by the tragedy that ruined the rest of the vessel, making it stand out insultingly against the havoc. Dawn and the others were protected in this circle. None of them were wounded or otherwise harmed. They were all dumbfounded. Even Dawn had no words for what she¡¯d witnessed. Cloudhawk had barely put any effort into that punch, and yet the power behind it was comparable to a Master Demonhunter! In addition it struck with the same martial power they might expect from someone like the old drunk. Together, the destruction it caused went beyond all reason. Oren Cloude was speechless. How was this possible? How had he grown so strong in just one year?! Cloudhawk loosed his fist and stood up straight. His face was the same unreadable calm as he looked unto Oren. ¡°Do you still want to fight? I strongly suggest you surrender, for there are few in Skycloud who trouble me and you are certainly not one of them.¡± Oren felt a bone-deep sense of disgrace swallow him. He knew it to be the truth. Oren might have been a little stronger than Dumont, but what he just witnessed proved without a doubt that Cloudhawk¡¯s capabilities were unassailable. Even if he fought Oren without his mental power, he could defeat the man with nothing but his physical strength. There was no beating him. But why? How? Dawn was also confused and conflicted with what she¡¯d seen. The Cloudhawk standing by her side now fought with strength comparable to her fallen grandfather. He was so far beyond her level now that she couldn¡¯t imagine ever catching up. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 110 Curtain Call Cloudhawk spent many years of his life being pushed around. The fights he¡¯d picked in his early life ¨C like Adder and the Crimson One ¨C all had the power to rip him apart. Even back in Skycloud when he faced Frost, Atlas and others he was always the little fish. Things have changed since then. Cloudhawk had grown quickly and commanded power that the common man could hardly fathom. Oren now realized that failing to kill Cloudhawk when they first met was a dire mistake. The Cloudhawk of today was stronger than some Master Demonhunters ¨C even some demons! He had risen to the strength of an Elder demon in the blink of an eye. While he might not yet be strong enough to defeat Arcturus, he was at least strong enough to be a threat. His journey started when he was only fifteen. Now he was twenty-something. Less than ten years of strengthening and this was the result. With just a little more time there seemed to be no question he would equal Arcturus, maybe even surpass him. When Oren or any of the demonhunters consider this they felt their hair stand on end. He was a monster. He was a herald of destruction! Cloudhawk was likely the strongest enemy Skycloud had ever experienced, in its thousand years of history. Judas, the Crimson One or any who came before, add them together and they still did not compare to the chaos Cloudhawk promised. A monster like him couldn¡¯t be allowed to exist. He would ruin the master¡¯s plans, maybe even destroy Skycloud. He would ruin everything. Oren¡¯s hands curled into fists. Lost? Not yet! One on one he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to think he stood a chance, but he wasn¡¯t alone. There were twenty other demonhunters with him and a dozen other wasteland warriors. Thirty against one man ¨C even if he was as strong as an Elder demon ¨C they still stood a chance. They had to. This fight wasn¡¯t about personal glory or pride. It wasn¡¯t just about Arcturus or the future of Skycloud. It was about it all! ¡°Skycloud¡¯s soldiers never surrender!¡± Oren¡¯s words were thick with determination. It steeled the morale of those with him and their faces turned solemn. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but scowl at the foolishness, for it seemed he¡¯d be forced to see this fight through to its conclusion. Of course he suspected as much. Words would never convince a man like Oren to lay down his arms. Whether their commander of any of the rest of these soldiers, they got to where they were through unyielding faith and resolve. If there was one thing Cloudhawk learned during his time in Skycloud it was that everyone ¨C from the most noble demonhunter to the lowliest soldier ¨C all were driven by a core of faith and honor. Real soldiers gave an oath to die in service to their cause. To them life was not the most precious thing, it was not above honor or dignity. Especially in the face of a wasteland growing strong and free, they were willing to die. What was there to fear in falling now? This was what they were meant for! ¡°For Skycloud, for the realm, for the Governor! Kill the heathen!¡± Dawn had once been their countryman, she received the same instruction in honor and duty that they did and understood them. They would inevitably throw their lives away, even in a suicidal attempt. Cloudhawk might be much stronger now, but he faced a host of fearless and mighty enemies. Defeating them would not be simple. Best would be to retreat and regroup! A tiger was not afraid of a single wolf, but a pack of them was dangerous. There was no avoiding this confrontation, however. The two sides were too different. All she could do was stand shoulder to shoulder with Cloudhawk and fight. As they once more came upon the verge of combat Cloudhawk¡¯s calm voice arose. ¡°Do you really think you have enough men?¡± What? He was provoking them! Cloudhawk did not move but the power within him stirred. The air rippled like water as he slowly addressed Oren. ¡°If that¡¯s how you feel, then you have made a fatal error. Before trying to press an unfair advantage, you should ask my bodyguards if they agree.¡± Reality was pulled apart around him and a number of figures appeared one after the other. They were a strange lot, with dull and dead expressions. But while they did not appear to have a mind of their own, they nonetheless were filled with overwhelming power. Their expansive wings of pure white caught the demonhunters by surprise, for they were witnessing angels appear from another realm. Five. Ten. Twenty! Thirty! Before the Silverwing Monarch converted them, the Highblood were among Imperia¡¯s strongest Chosen. While being transformed may have stripped them of their mind, it did nothing to decrease their strength. On the contrary, their mental abilities were stronger than ever. Under Cloudhawk¡¯s commands they were formidable war marionettes. Never would the Silverwing Monarch has believed that the fruits of his efforts would come to benefit his killer. Thirty magnificent warriors hovered around Cloudhawk, held aloft on beating wings. Each was surrounded in a nimbus of light as though bearers of holy righteousness. But Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes burned red and sinister. The same crimson flames appeared in the eyes of his bodyguards, a reflection of Cloudhawk¡¯s control. A dark grin spread across his face. ¡°See? I have more people on my side.¡± Cloudhawk had summoned thirty allies from the ether! Each one was equal to or better than a veteran demonhunter! What a terrifying display. With his dimensional abilities Cloudhawk could summon a coterie of formidable bodyguards at any moment, gifting his attackers a grim surprise. This was not good! They were no match for him, Cloudhawk was too strong! He was practically invincible and now that Oren lost the numbers advantage, how did he think he was any sort of threat? The shock wore off when they heart Cloudhawk¡¯s brief command. ¡°Attack.¡± A few minutes later the command ship exploded from the inside out. The fight was over, punctuated by the explosion of other command vessels a few more following. A mighty armada two thousand ships strong had lost its nerve center and descended into chaos. Toad and Canker gave up on the spot. As members of the Council¡¯s inner circle they were placed in custody and held under close watch at Cloudhawk¡¯s order. They were the precursor for what would be the Conclave armada¡¯s unconditional surrender. In half a day what had been a hulking behemoth of war was no longer a threat. The Southern Confederation not only managed to hold on to its territory, now it had a fleet of ships to turn against its foes and thousands of troops to man them. ** The setting sun cast upon the land a bloody red glow. Sandbar Station was littered with the remains of the battle. It was a relatively short conflict, but the damage it had caused was extensive. Crowds were busy cleaning up the battlefield while Cloudhawk stood upon a dune, peering toward the northern horizon. Dawn approached him from behind. ¡°We¡¯ve captured thirty thousand prisoners after this battle. Among them are Oren, Dumont and several other notable fighters. They¡¯re all badly injured and shouldn¡¯t be a threat any time soon. How do you plan to deal with them?¡± Cloudhawk pondered the question for a moment. ¡°Try to recruit ordinary prisoners and wastelanders right away. As for Elysians and demonhunters? Don¡¯t put them to death just yet. I¡¯ll set something up off world, a place where they can be contained. That way they won¡¯t cause us any troubles, and since they are strong warriors there may come a time when we¡¯ll find them useful.¡± Dawn nodded. It was clever to make the most of these demonhunters and diffuse their threat by locking them in some other dimension. Nothing more menaced the southern wilds. For a time the Conclave would be too weak to muster any threat. All the cities south of Skycloud were now loyal to Greenland with Cloudhawk as their uncontested leader. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Not nearly enough. It was only a prelude. Cloudhawk had come this far and he had no intention of stopping now. He probably couldn¡¯t, even if he wanted to. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 5 - Chapter 111 The Big Day Cloudhawk sat silent and cross-legged, heart placid and thoughts empty. When his eyes closed he could feel the ebb and flow of the universe, like a tide. Before him rested a sword enveloped in green fire, tempering it. The calm of this moment came five days after the war for control of the southern wilds. An idea had swept across the wastes like a raging tornado, borne by large numbers of evangelists preaching the revolution. Through word and deed they tried to inspire wastelanders to rise against savagery, throw off oppression. Their message was that no one needed to live in indignity any more, like the cursed generations before them. Instead they should pick up their weapons and fight to regain the respect taken from them so many centuries ago! Such a thing would have been unthinkable and impossible before today. Wastelanders themselves had always seen themselves as more beast than man. From the moment of their birth they were expected to wriggle through the filth like insects, skittering from one dark corner to the other. Simply living seemed like too much to ask, much less living with dignity. But as the conflict between Skycloud and the wastes grew over the last few years, incredible things began to happen. Great battles were won in the face of overwhelming odds, and from those ashes emerged a group of harbingers wise to the change that was occurring. Most importantly, from the wastelands emerged their greatest hero. Cloudhawk. This man, a product of their own home, wielded the power to stand against the might of the Elysians. Wastelanders lived in a culture where strength was respected and none were as strong as their new leader. What¡¯s more, he was always on the front lines of the fight, his power on full display as it shook the authority of the godly realm. Greenland grew in prestige and prosperity. It was a magical tale that inspired every southerner. Greenland was now the heart of the south, where its mightiest soldiers and most brilliant scientists gathered. The food it produced could support millions, and that was just the beginning. From the city came water purifiers, weapons, armor, vehicles and countless other boons. All of which were provided for the betterment of the wasteland. Cloudhawk¡¯s city had become the promised land for so many. A utopia everyone hoped to see and participate in. Under such a banner more and more rose to the occasion. People were beginning to realize that you didn¡¯t need to stand by and wait for destiny to happen. So long as you were willing to work you could mold fate to your own liking. Life was what they chose to make it. Destiny could be changed. Who didn¡¯t wish to see life work in their favor? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bother with the changes outside. He had plenty of trustworthy, capable people he knew could handle things. Wolfblade and the Khan of Evernight were men rich in experience, eager to help Cloudhawk on his revolutionary path. Whatever Cloudhawk wished to see happen, they made into reality. Thud, thud, thud. Cloudhawk turned his head toward the sound of heavy footfalls. A stalwart figure crowded into the room. He was a two-meter tall armored behemoth who was covered in plate armor. He was powerful and intimidating, but the armor opened up to reveal not a man, but a beautiful woman. Dawn looked down at Cloudhawk sitting before her. ¡°Are you getting used to the Dawnbreaker Armor?¡± He asked. Dawn¡¯s talents lay in light and earth, and as such those were the relics she was capable of resonating with. After defeating Dumont and his armor Cloudhawk confiscated their things and had them thrown into prison. This remarkable suit of armor was given to Dawn as the spoils of war. ¡°At first it was unfamiliar, now I¡¯m getting the hang of it!¡± Her eyes traveled down to Terrangelica, lain upon the floor between them. Her brows shot up. ¡°My sword!¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve finished reforging it. Pick it up, take a look for yourself.¡± Dawn was delighted. She reached out took back her weapon. The sword didn¡¯t look any different than it did before, but closer inspection did reveal new details. The steel blade had once been smooth as a mirror but now was covered in faint lines, which knotted together in a meticulous pattern. It did not take away from the sword¡¯s beauty, but in fact added to it. Dawn closed her eyes and reached into it with her mind. There she sensed the real differences as its resonance was stronger and more complex. She gave Terrangelica an experimental horizontal swipe. With the motion the lines etched into the blade came to life. Power surged forth with that glow, filling the space all around her. All the dirt beneath her feet sunk almost a foot as though an immense, invisible weight had collapsed. ¡°You really were able to put the two relics together!¡± Dawn ran her hand along the sword in awe and disbelief. Cloudhawk indeed had managed to imbue Terrangelica with the power of Oren¡¯s gravity glove. By combining the two, Dawn¡¯s weapon reached a whole new grade. Both gravity and earth were within its power to manipulate. Terrangelica now stood among other legendary items like Cloudhawk¡¯s gauntlet, Arcturus¡¯ Ruin and Selene¡¯s Transcendent Crossblade. Dawn had emerged from war with the incredible Dawnbreaker Armor as well as a greatly empowered weapon. Her mental prowess was far greater than most veteran demonhunters'', and with these two relics she could probably go thirty to fifty rounds against the old drunk without losing footing! Cloudhawk looked at the sunken dirt around them. ¡°You need more practice.¡± Dawn did not see Cloudhawk move, but with his words the ground beneath them was restored to its previous state in an instant. Dawn was somewhat surprised, for she did not see Cloudhawk use any sort of relic to do it. Was he really already capable of calling his powers without the help of a relic? ¡°How did you do that? Incredible!¡± ¡°I¡¯m remembering more and more from my inheritance. I am coming to understand a lot about the nature of power. I have grown passed the need for relics and now I can begin to mold energy, even create it.¡± He smiled at Dawn¡¯s gaping expression. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I¡¯m not comfortable with this power yet and it isn¡¯t stable anyway, I can only manage the most basic stuff, nothing worth much yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s already abnormal, alright?!¡± Dawn glared at him in frustration. ¡°When you master this power what will make you different from a god? Here you are running around with us little folk, slow down and let us catch up won¡¯t you? How are we going to get to play with you if you get too far ahead?¡± Dawn¡¯s reaction was uncharacteristically intense. Cloudhawk¡¯s display had gotten to her. He merely shrugged. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t desperately chasing more power. What was there to be dissatisfied with? There were none in the wastelands who could challenge him and only a handful in Skycloud. To him such power was more than enough, but as head of a team, as a leader, as a king¡­ it wasn¡¯t sufficient. It was Wolfblade¡¯s hope that Cloudhawk would accomplish what the Demon King before him had failed to do ¨C take the fight to the gods themselves. Cloudhawk, of course, was not focused on that ambition yet. He wasn¡¯t even certain he could handle Arcturus. He wasn¡¯t alone in any of this. Dawn, Selene, the drunk and so many others were wrapped up in his destiny. As such even if Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think about himself, he had to think about his friends. He had to protect the world they were building. To this end he had to take advantage of this time ¨C when the Cloud God slumbered and the others of his ilk did not know if him ¨C to get stronger. Suddenly Dawn¡¯s anger melted and instead emerged a deep melancholy. With a deep sigh she said, ¡°I know you¡¯re carrying a lot. I just hate that I¡¯m not strong enough to help you carry more of it.¡± ¡°Just keep doing the best you can,¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°That¡¯s always been the person I am. To work on myself, damn anyone else¡¯s opinion!¡± Dawn raised her head and fixed her eyes on Cloudhawk. ¡°That¡¯s no good anymore. I¡¯m not the same person after I decided to walk with you. The six months you were gone were some of the hardest in my entire life. I had nightmares wake me every night. I haven¡¯t felt myself for a long time.¡± Cloudhawk was taken aback by Dawn¡¯s sudden candid revelations. He felt both guilty and nervous. ¡°Cloudhawk, you have to know I like you.¡± When she said it he didn¡¯t know how to respond. How did he feel about her after everything that had happened? He couldn¡¯t say. If she were in danger Cloudhawk would risk his own life without hesitation, just like he did at Sanctuary. But he also vaguely remembered where his mind had gone after being captured by Judas, when he was on the cusp of death. The figure in white that had been there with him was not Dawn. Dawn continued to stare at him, eyes firm. ¡°I don¡¯t care what anyone else thinks, I don¡¯t even care what you think. I just need to say it. I¡¯ll wait for you, and I¡¯ll walk with you shoulder to shoulder no matter what road you choose. Until death, no regrets.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s heart sounded like thunder in his ears. He didn¡¯t want to be cruel or abuse anyone, but how was he supposed to choose? Not only because there was another in his heart, but because Cloudhawk knew full well the life he was fated to live. There would be no safety, and in all likelihood he would not die a natural death. What right did he have to drag anyone else with him down this dark future? Cloudhawk was about to open his mouth and respond when Dawn raised a hand to silence him. She chuckled brightly. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed, still the same thick-skulled idiot. You don¡¯t need to say anything, I know what you¡¯re thinking. Really, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anyone in the world who understands you better than I do.¡± Cloudhawk had the power to dominate most anyone who rose against him, but he still didn¡¯t know how to protect himself from this woman. ¡°Stop wasting time.¡± Dawn grabbed his hand and started to drag him along. ¡°Today¡¯s a big day. You have to be there.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Chapter 1 Special Circumstance at Stony Plains Dawn. No clouds blemished the sky for a thousand kilometers. The night before Skycloud¡¯s forces had come right up to Greenland¡¯s border, but it did not come to blows. Instead Arcturus appeared alone and spoke with their leader, Cloudhawk. The content of that discussion was a mystery, all the people knew was that Skycloud¡¯s armada turned and left when the talk was done. It was so unthinkable, yet that was the truth. It raised Cloudhawk¡¯s prestige among the people of the Green Alliance and was a display of his power. He had the power and qualifications to stand up to Arcturus Cloude! Yet while his people were assured, Cloudhawk knew in his heart that really standing up to the Governor of Skycloud was no easy feat. Arcturus didn¡¯t attack because of anything Cloudhawk did. The Master Demonhunter had come to give him something to think about. It was a chance to change course before Skycloud and the Green Alliance became mired in an unnecessary war. The Green Alliance, now fully established, included Meadow, Greenland and Nox ¨C places that were well defended and difficult to take. Skycloud couldn¡¯t simply run over them and be done with it. If they weren¡¯t careful, the Elysians could find themselves in a never-ending conflict they couldn¡¯t escape from. If it came to all-out war it would likely drag on for years. Although Skycloud¡¯s odds of victory were larger, it would come at a terrible cost. Arcturus had also intimated that it would be a shame to lose the progress the wastelands had made. Skycloud¡¯s Governor wasn¡¯t sure when, if ever, Cloudhawk would come around. This uncertainty tied his hands for there was still so much to do before the inevitable life and death contest they would find themselves in. Until then and to avoid that eventuality, he would try every non-lethal method he could muster. For example, he could work diplomatic channels to try and sow discord among the Green Alliance¡¯s members, entice some away. Or he could lure the Alliance¡¯s main force away from their strongholds and decimate them to break their morale. With his influence, power and intelligence there was no question that he could concoct any number of methods to get what he wanted. Their talk had collapsed practically the moment it started¡­ for all Arcturus¡¯ cunning it seemed war was still inevitable. Cloudhawk had to be ready. He walked out of the fort in the center of Greenland and strolled through the city¡¯s gardens. They were a new addition, added after the reconstruction. Central among the lanes and flowers was a small and unassuming tombstone. ¡®Artemis¡¯ had been carved on its surface. As Cloudhawk stood over the grave he produced two bottles of alcohol. He opened one and placed it on the ground. The other he kept for himself and took several generous sips. After a few moments he sat down next to the tombstone. He liked to spend time here and go over his plans. The wasteland¡¯s horizon stretched out ahead of him and above clouds had begun to creep across the blue sky like fish scales. It was a peaceful and attractive scene. ¡°I bet you would never have dreamt the Greenland we fought for would one day change the face of the wastelands. Maybe even change the world.¡± Cloudhawk spoke as though addressing an old friend. ¡°I envy you, you know. You lived like you wanted, did as you pleased and died on your own terms.¡± After so many years he was finding it hard to remember what Artemis looked like¡­ He really was jealous of Artemis and the sort of person she¡¯d been. She lived her own life till the moment she died. Not like Cloudhawk or the people around him. They were all like lumps of clay for fate¡¯s hands to mold, wood for destiny¡¯s knife to carve and they felt every cut. Maybe in the end they would turn out beautiful and sophisticated, but what was certain was they would lose themselves. If Cloudhawk had the same temperament from years ago he would use the power he obtained to make Abaddon pay for killing his friend. Cloudhawk loved the idea of doing what he liked and ignoring what he didn¡¯t, how could he permit a criminal like the Caliph to keep breathing? But the truth was he¡¯d changed. He couldn¡¯t do what he wanted. Instead of killing the demon, Abaddon had become an important part of his plans. As the years had changed him Cloudhawk¡¯s ways of thinking had changed as well. He¡¯d learned subtlety and an eye for the bigger picture. He now knew the value of patience and sacrifice. In the end perhaps Cloudhawk and Arcturus weren¡¯t very different, Cloudhawk just wasn¡¯t on the Master¡¯s level. Thud, thud, thud! The sound of heavy armored feet caught his attention. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be hiding here.¡± Dawn opened the face of her Dawnbreaker Armor and gave him a smile. ¡°The Alliance continues to grow. Most cities are under our control but there are still a number of outposts and camps who¡¯ve yet to join. Now isn¡¯t the time to sit around.¡± ¡°Wolfblade and the Caliph can handle small things like that.¡± The Green Alliance consisted of four main provinces and each one was guided by an overseer. Abaddon, the Khan, Autumn and Dawn all looked over portions of it. Abaddon was overseer of Sandbar Station and the area around it. It was the largest province, comprising maybe eighty percent of the southern wilds. Since the Caliph already had a reputation throughout the area he was the best choice to elevate to overseer. Wolfblade was given general oversight of the Green Alliance as a whole and coordinated efforts among the four provinces. As for its armies, Cloudhawk had installed the drunk who he trusted greatly to act as Commander General and act as a counterbalance to Wolfblade¡¯s interests. That way if the demon Elder started playing games, Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t be left in the dark. Their scientists and engineers all came under the auspices of Hellflower. Greenland Institute, the Goshawks and the Regulars ¨C these important factions and mid-level groups were managed by others so that Cloudhawk could maintain a hands-off approach. It was all set up so that the Green Alliance could run smoothly, at least for a little while. Cloudhawk himself was their highest leader. He was responsible for the overall plan and managing their goals. Thinking on the people he¡¯d leaned on to help run things, he was confident things would only improve. ¡°What¡¯s our next step?¡± Dawn asked. ¡°First we need to annex the Northern Barrens. After that we set our sights on Skycloud.¡± That was Cloudhawk¡¯s basic plan. At the heart of it, his goals weren¡¯t much different from Arcturus¡¯. ¡°The wastelands and Skycloud cannot exist independently. The two have to unify.¡± The Green Alliance was not in a dominant position yet. Meeting toughness with toughness was not going to go their way. Arcturus was scheming every moment of every day. There was no question he¡¯d consider every strategy before making a move. From without he would surround them and add pressure, and from within he would find ways to undermine their unity. The longer this went on the more problems would arise. He couldn¡¯t afford to underestimate Arcturus and his methods, so he would have to try and head them off by taking the Northern Barrens quickly. Cloudhawk had to unite the wastelands and use its forces to surround Skycloud. That would give them the means to break through the realm¡¯s defenses and ultimately gain the upper hand. Arcturus didn¡¯t have much time, but neither did Cloudhawk. Both men understood very well that this had to be resolved before the Cloud God reawakened. The second Mount Sumeru learned what was happening the situation was going to get a lot more difficult. Both parties knew that the real enemy wasn¡¯t one another. The real enemy was the gods themselves! Dawn had figured that was the strategy. ¡°If we take action against the North I¡¯m pretty sure Arcturus won¡¯t just sit around and let it happen. Eventually we¡¯re going to have to fight him. Do you know what you¡¯re going to do?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± Cloudhawk did not have an answer for the Master Demonhunter. The Green Alliance was in a strong position of defense, but on offense was relatively feeble. The North¡¯s troops and equipment still far outstripped the South¡¯s. Once his troops left their home turf things would get very dangerous. The road was long and the enemy far away. In the event of an accident or sneak attack they wouldn¡¯t be able to beat a quick retreat and no backup would be there to save them. That gave the Conclave of Judgment a huge defensive advantage and Dawn was right, Skycloud wouldn¡¯t just sit on their hands. Taking the fight to them was going to make things a lot more complicated and more than likely it was a chance Arcturus was waiting on. If they weren¡¯t careful their troops to be annihilated in one fell swoop. Hell, plans could have already been laid. But even knowing it was a trap, Cloudhawk would have to make the move eventually. Where not Cloudhawk and Arcturus the bane of one another? If Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t overcome the Master Demonhunter, how could he hope to challenge the gods? ¡°We still have a chance. The Green Alliance¡¯s strength continues to grow and we still haven¡¯t reached our full potential.¡± Cloudhawk stood and walked over toward Dawn. ¡°Come with me, let¡¯s see how things are going in Stony Plains.¡± Stony Plains was a world slowly being transformed by Cloudhawk. It¡¯d been two months since the first group of pioneers had been sent. Since then things seemed to have been going very well. A second, larger group had recently been dispatched. A base had been built capable of housing over ten thousand settlers, the equivalent of a mid-sized wasteland outpost. Most importantly, Stony Plains was where the Green Alliance did all its manufacturing. Factories were being built one after the other. The next step was to begin sending over eboncrys and start producing Hellflower¡¯s cannons. Black Mirror weapons were the Green Alliance¡¯s trump card. Skycloud hadn¡¯t experienced what they were capable of yet. Cloudhawk was ready to begin delivering the raw materials to Stony Plains. According to Hellflower it would take two years to create the weapons from start to finish. It didn¡¯t sound like very long, but that was all for only one of one type of weapon. At the same time Hellflower was testing eboncrys handguns, eboncrys rifles, eboncrys grenades and eboncrys rockets among others. That was before they even started talking about the eboncrys hybrid engines. All of these inventions had already undergone preliminary design stages and when they were finally ready it would improve the might of their army tremendously. ¡°Boss Cloudhawk, we have a situation. The robotic beasts have started to turn on our settlement!¡± That took Cloudhawk by surprise. Hellflower¡¯s determination was that the robots kept to themselves and had no reason to be interested in their settlers. Why had that suddenly changed? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Chapter 2 Attack of the Mechanical Beasts ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Dawn reached out her massive gauntleted hand and grabbed the messenger by the front of his shirt. ¡°A scouting party was out on a mission and saw a large number of the robots gathering. They were different from usual and attacked the scouts when they got close. Most of our men were killed or badly wounded. Dawn didn¡¯t have time to press for more information. A shrill alarm rose through the camp, warning against an impending attack. All of a sudden the clattering of metal sounded from all directions. A horde of robotic beasts came charging at them. They came in all manner of shapes and sizes; some were like snakes lizards or other reptiles while others were as large as jaguars. They came from the air, on land and underground. No two were exactly the same but all were made entirely from metal. Some were rusty or covered in moss, and a couple even sprouted small shrubs. Although they were entirely mechanical, they still gave the impression of being real living things. The way they moved was just like the creatures they were modeled after. To Cloudhawk, it reminded him of the time he was caught in the monster wave way back in Blackflag Outpost. Only these were definitely not the same sort of monsters. Being made from metal, normal weapons were ineffective against them. Bullets and blades glanced off their hides, which was composed of a sturdy high-grade alloy. The mechanical beasts began their attack. A pack of two-headed robot wolves led the charge. Running fast as lightning, the construction of their bodies ¨C from the most complex joint to the smallest detail ¨C was incredibly coordinated. The science behind their making was impeccable, like works of art. ¡°Fast!¡± Dawn recognized that these creatures were much faster than their organic counterparts. Their inner working were filled with servos and hydraulics and other strange systems. The wolves, for instance, had small jets affixed to either flank to give it a boost of speed. The wolves kicked off the ground, jets of flame erupted from underneath it, catapulting the robot into the air. In a blink they were a dozen meters above the settlers. Wings of woven metal feathers stretched from their backs which flashed under the harsh light of the sun. Beautiful and terrifying. As they swept by overhead their four eyes came alive, and beams of condensed energy fires onto the camp. Zgggt! Shhhhggt! Lasers powerful enough to slice through iron plates were dragged through the area. Several wastelanders were too slow and were sliced in half. Other robots were not idle while the wolves attacked. One critter in the shape of a spider skittered to the top of a nearby dune still some distance from the camp. It dug its eight legs into the dirt and stone as an anchor while energy coalesced in front of it in the shape of an arm. A few moments later it released it toward the camp, a condensed energy cannonball. It sored far overhead, traveling thousands of meters before crashing into the wastelanders with pin-point accuracy! None of these robots were typical machines. They all had powerful and deadly weapons, could fly or burrow and attacked in an endless stream. Once again it proved how superior their construction was. Their destructive capabilities were degrees of magnitude greater than typical mutant creatures. Cloudhawk raised his hand and a pale white light sprang to life. It spread until it covered him and those close by. The lasers and orbs of energy that came crashing toward him dissipated against the shield. While Cloudhawk bought them time Dawn capitalized on it. With both hands wrapped around Terrangelica¡¯s hilt she jabbed it toward the sky. One of the robotic wolves above was caught in an invisible field of gravity. As though caught off guard by some unseen giant hand, it plummeted from the air and was driven into the stony ground. A crater emerged from within a plume of dust as the unyielding earth gave way. The wolf was smashed into a heap of twisted metal and sparkling circuitry. Dawn¡¯s Dawnbreaker Armor began to glow. With her sword held high she shouted at her soldiers. ¡°Chaaaarge!¡± Her words were like thunder through the air, and hung there as her armor¡¯s helm closed up. She was a towering steel fortress leading the Wendigo King, Coal and the wasteland soldiers to battle. A capable answer to the robotic threat was finally mustered. Dawn was immediately recognized as a core of the settlers¡¯ defense and quickly became the focus of the machines. All at once their lasers and energy weapons were turned on her, but the Dawnbreaker Armor proved to be especially resistant to energy attacks. Despite the deluge of attacks her defenses were impenetrable. Terrangelica sang as it whipped through the air. Stone broke and dirt shifted. Stony Plains looked more like an ocean as the ground rolled before Dawn¡¯s charge. The turret spiders were obliterated. The waves of earth were followed by crushing gravitational flux that either flattened the robotic threat or lifting them high into the air. The Wendigo King dashed across the stony ground like a fatal shadow. He streaked by and any robot in his wake exploded into shrapnel. Coal trundled after him, pounding more of the creature flat or smashing them to pieces. The other wasteland warriors had armed themselves with prototype eboncrys rifles. Their beams of energy were fired back at the machines, strong enough to blast through their sturdy armor. If the shot was well aimed they could drop one of the creatures with a single shot. Dawn leaned on her overwhelming defense, ignoring the attacks levied at her and pushing forward. She ran through a number of the creatures like a freight train and soon found herself in the thick of them. She hacked her sword at the head of the closest one. Before Terrangelica reached its target a field of gravity emerged. It was reduced to scrap iron without her even touching it. Dawn wasn¡¯t cutting them apart so much as using Terrangelica to wield gravity as a weapon. In her time Dawn had achieved impressive martial ability. After Terrangelica¡¯s transformation she was stronger than ever. With this incredible relic no average enemy was a threat to her. By this point there was probably only a handful of people who were willing to stand toe to toe against the Lady Polaris. Now it was time for Cloudhawk to get involved. When he did, no one was able to see his movements clearly. With every second he appeared in a dozen different places. Just a flash, a simple movement, and then he was gone. The machines he appeared before were nudged by a field of pale light and half a breath later blew to pieces. None of the creatures lasted more than a fraction of a second. The surprise attack was small in scale. Though there were casualties, they were few in number and order was quickly restored. Once it was safe Cloudhawk called for Hellflower to join them. Small though this attack was it did not bode well. These robotic creatures had shown no interest in the settlers until today. Now suddenly they were gathering into groups and attacking his camp. There had to be a reason, it was Hellflower¡¯s job to figure out what that was. ¡°There are two possibilities.¡± ¡°One. The amount of energy being accumulated in the camp has attracted their attention. The eboncrys factors have only recently been completed and the materials brought over. Since these creatures require pure energy to survive, it would make sense for them to sense and be drawn to our caches.¡± ¡°Second. There is someone or something commanding them from behind the scenes. After all, these robots cannot procreate so someone had to have built them. What¡¯s more, they had to have been produced and maintained here on this world which means something is out there. We can make attempts to find out what that mysterious power is.¡± Two worlds with two very different scientific accomplishments. Hellflower couldn¡¯t decipher the secrets of these machines because she lacked the foundation. There was no way to tell if these machines could really think for themselves. If they did have a way to learn and evolve, then it was possible there was some sort of hyper-intelligent machine out there controlling the others. If, on the other hand, they were just machines then their actions and reactions all had to be the result of programming. That meant there had to be a programmer. Whoever or whatever advanced intelligence that was controlled these things from afar. Cloudhawk felt that Hellflower¡¯s estimations made sense. Whichever turned out to be true, there would need to be more investigation into the matter. One thing was certain. If this world could produce machines like this, there had to be a factory somewhere, a factory that was capable of producing incredibly advanced technology. If they could use this world''s resources, the Green Alliance would be able to rapidly improve its production levels. That would make their war on Arcturus easier. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Chapter 3 The Labs Greenland¡¯s laboratory was several years old by this point. It¡¯d been put together even before Cloudhawk had come to take over. At the time, Wolfblade was using the Dark Atom¡¯s resources to keep Greenland Outpost under control. Part of that involved creating a lab for research and experiments. Although not particularly large it was well equipped and laid a fine foundation for Cloudhawk and his people to build upon. After the inception of Greenland as a territory, the labs were given special consideration. Within two years this system of rooms and experiment chambers had gone from a typical wasteland lab to a place where world-changing discoveries were made. Greenland was a peerless center for scientific research, the largest Seeker conclave in the wastes. Scientists from the Dark Atom, Sandspire, Nox and all other corners of the wastelands dreamed of working here. After all, Nucleus was no longer as safe as it once was and the same could be said for Nox. Sandspire was even worse off. Little by little, Greenland was becoming the political, military and scientific center of the wastelands. It was at the heart of the Green Alliance and boasted powerful defenses. Its unique situation and policies attracted the best of the best. That was why in only two short years Greenland was teaming with peerless men and women from far and wide. Investments in the laboratory proved worthwhile. Results from the lab had been especially striking in the last year or so. From eboncrys weapons to utility armor; from genetically modified soldiers to genetically modified food ¨C they all were concocted right here. It was no exaggeration to say that Greenland¡¯s labs continued to collect inventions and achievements that improved life for everyone. Its existence was a benefit to all the millions of wastelanders who¡¯d lived in squalor. Countless souls were saved from starvation, dehydration and death. Greenland¡¯s labs were separated by scientific pursuit; biology, robotics, military hardware, energy research, materials science and more. The most brilliant scientific minds were chosen as lab directors. Bug worked in the robotics lab. The name hearkened back to when she lived as a small, humble scav in the ruins around Sandspire. In those days her and her brother risked their lives digging out old tech and repairing it for scraps. But their luck changed and they found themselves in Greenland where Bug¡¯s talent with machines was recognized. Rather than waste time learning things she already knew in the Institute, she was immediately given a position in the laboratories. Fate had really changed the track of her life. There were a lot of people with stories like hers in Greenland these days. Gratefulness and joy filled them, because if Greenland hadn¡¯t come around weak folk like them would still just be scraping by ¨C or long dead. If Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t changed the wastelands for the better, where else would there be such an oasis? Bug absolutely loved robotics research. It was reflected in her diligent and ceaseless work. She knew she would never wear a green cloak like the soldiers of the Green Alliance. It wasn¡¯t her place to take up arms and defend their home from outsiders. All she could do was continue to grow the talents that she had and do all she could for her home. Her hard work paid off. There were a number of important inventions and discoveries attributed to her. Not long ago she was recognized for her genius and promoted to junior scientist. Greenland boasted more than four thousand accomplished scientists of many disciplines. For organizational purposes they were separated into interns, junior scientists, senior scientists and lead scientists. Interns were ninety percent of the total and most came from various corners of the wastes. Junior scientists were those interns which rose above the crowd. There were only about three hundred or so at present. Senior scientists were even rarer. They were erudite figures numbering only about twenty, each doggedly chasing success toward some goal or another. Lead scientists numbered only five. Achieving this station was reserved for people of exceptional genius, drive and ability. None were inferior to the likes of Academician Roste or Three-Eyed Spider. For Greenland to have five such scientific minds spoke volumes to its power. Bug was the lab¡¯s youngest junior scientist, but despite that she was already well on her way to another promotion. She was gentle, approachable and whip smart, all of which made her a rising star in the robotics department. Even the lauded Hellflower held Bug in high regard. From time to time she even came to give Bug personal instruction, which was almost too flattering for the young girl to bear. For indeed, who was Hellflower? She was a legend among scientists and engineers! In the eyes of Ordinary Seekers she was the ultimate authority! Hellflower¡¯s remarkable contributions to the wastelands were the subject of universal appreciation. To Bug she was an idol, a perfect role model to emulate. No one knew this teenage girl¡¯s enormous ambitions for she held them close to the vest, but in her heart of hearts she dreamed of one day being a world-renowned scientist. Just like Hellflower. Lately the labs were busy as a beehive. As a junior scientist Bug had the freedom to work on some of her own interests. She had ten interns working under her in addition to a number of assistants, and students from Greenland Institute. These young faces were the future of Greenland¡¯s science departments so they were often wandering through the labs to learn. ¡°Research specimens are precious, make sure you record every detail.¡± Bug was busy deconstructing a robot in the middle of the robots lab. She meticulously picked it apart piece by piece; from its outer carapace, to its limbs, to its inner circuitry. No matter how many times this process had been repeated it was always a shock. The construction of these machines was a work of art. One of their limbs contained thousands of components. As Bug continued to work with a number of specimens, she found that those components all fit together with incredible precision. It was less like they were parts made in some lab and more like they were just a natural, perfect product of these creatures. Their neural networks were complex and fully integrated, giving the creatures total control over their bodies. Judging by their research these creatures even had advanced tactile senses and could differentiate smells. Altogether they were capable of a magnificently lifelike existence. This level of manufacturing was hundreds of years ahead of the wastelands. If Bug could compare it to anything, it was like what she might find from ancient tech. Her current aim was to unravel the secrets of these machines¡¯ nervous systems. What she saw displayed a mastery that the wastelands simply did not possess. If she could reverse engineer this technology it would be a priceless discovery. There were so many in the wastelands who were missing limbs, these robots could hold the key to improving their quality of life by creating arms and legs indistinguishable from the real thing. Bug poured over the specimen with furrowed brow, working on these secrets when one of her assistants came rushing over. ¡°Boss Hellflower is coming!¡± She gasped. Why was Hellflower coming to their lab? Before the young girl could get up to meet her an alluring figure swept into the room. A woman of such presence and beauty should have been impossible in the wastelands, but somehow the deserts had produced this flower. Every time she saw her Bug was afflicted with terrible self-consciousness. To her, Hellflower was perfect. Her mind, her body were inimitable. In fact, the respect she held for this scientist surpassed even their city¡¯s Governor, Dawn. Although the Governor was also an exceptional woman, she had come from the Elysian lands. Hellflower was a closer ideal, since they¡¯d come from the same place. Bug had made a few friends with other female scientists in the lab. They often liked to chat and gossip. In quiet voices they proclaimed that only a perfect flower of the wilds deserved to be with the wasteland¡¯s perfect man. As far as they were concerned, Hellflower and Cloudhawk were made for one another. Hellflower called out to her. ¡°What are you up to here?¡± ¡°Boss Hellflower,¡± Bug stuttered, ¡°is there something I can help you with?¡± The older woman launched right into an explanation. ¡°Cloudhawk and I recently made a discovery on Stony Plains that affects our manufacturing plans. It¡¯s time for us to step up.¡± She went on to explain the basics of what they knew. ¡°What? The robots have started attacking people?¡± Bug was initially skeptical of the news. These robots weren¡¯t aggressive like wasteland creatures. Since they didn¡¯t need to eat why would they be attacking the settlers? Bug knew of Greenland¡¯s plans to establish a manufacturing base on Stony Plains, the plans had been in the process of implementation for months now. It would be a tremendous loss of time and resources if they had to stop now because the robots have started attacking settlers. ¡°We know very little of Stony Plains. If we explore it blindly we will invariably meet danger.¡± Hellflower adjusted her goggles as she spoke, as was her custom. ¡°Our two worlds differ greatly in scientific capability and to the present we still don¡¯t understand the mysteries of these creatures. However, that does not mean we can¡¯t discover their origin.¡± Bug did not know how they intended to do that. Hellflower answered with a clap of her hands. A group of soldiers entered, bringing with them several restrained robots. They looked like raptors, almost two meters tall with powerful hind legs. Their forelimbs were much smaller but bore wicked claws. Unlike all the other specimens these were still operational. However there were signs of damage from a recent struggle. That was how Dawn and her soldiers had managed to capture them. Hellflower continued. ¡°We have seen a number of examples where these creatures have been repaired. That tells us that they go somewhere to have work done. These specimens have been damaged, so we can expect them to try and escape to that place when freed.¡± Bug was beginning to understand. ¡°What I need you to do is design a tracking mechanism. Install them in these robots, and we use this method to follow them to the source.¡± Hellflower fixed the young girl with her stare. ¡°What do you say? Can you handle it?¡± There was no question in her mind, Hellflower was giving her a chance to prove herself! The woman could produce a working transponder with hardly any effort. Bug was filled with inspiration and appreciation when she knew what was happening. ¡°I will definitely complete this task!¡± Hellflower nodded her head in satisfaction. ¡°We scientists do things as scientists do. Show Cloudhawk what we¡¯re capable of. Don¡¯t let that all brawn and no brain Governor Dawn look down on us.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Bug adopted a serious facade. ¡°I hear you¡¯re working on finding some way to combine the robots¡¯ neural network with the human nervous system,¡± Hellflower said sudden, as though an afterthought. ¡°An inspired project. We have a wealth of specimens now, I¡¯ll make sure you get as many as you need. Work hard, if you earn senior scientist in under two years I¡¯ll consider taking you on as my protege.¡± Bug felt like her heart would burst out of her chest, it was beating so quickly! This legendary woman who she admired so much would be her teacher?! It was an offer she couldn¡¯t resist. It didn¡¯t matter if she didn¡¯t eat or sleep for the next two years, she had to stand out! Hellflower was a busy woman. She left after giving Bug her new task. Bug turned to her interns when they were alone once again. ¡°Alright, time to get to work!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Chapter 4 Temple Inheritance Skycloud domain, upon a lofty cliff. As dawn breaks the long night comes to an end. A figure rests upon the peak, still as stone but for the white robes that rustle in the breeze. Slowly opening her eyes, she watches as the winds carry leaves and petal across her vision. All around her clouds hang low and the rush of a nearby waterfall tumbling into a pond gives voice to nature. Suddenly the figure rises. With a single leap she soars hundreds of meters aloft. Bearing a sword which gleams with brilliant light a stream of power erupts. It spreads across the sky like the Milky Way, into the waterfall and painting it a stunning gold before causing it to completely evaporate. The white figure floated serenely down to the ground until her toes gently kissed the ground. She stood upon a rock, lonely and regal like a fairy born into the mortal realm. The light of her sword gradually subsided and, once dim, it was returned to a scabbard at her hip. ¡°You¡¯ve made great progress.¡± There was a sound nearby that caught her ear. A second figure was revealed in the background. The living shadow, wrapped in black, appeared from nowhere. Janus Umbra, Skycloud¡¯s foremost assassin. At present Selene Cloude was receiving guidance from two exceptional teachers. The first was the Temple¡¯s High Priest, Ramiel Caelestis. The second was this mysterious leader of the Court of Shadows. As a result, her abilities had improved tremendously over a very short period of time. ¡°What news do you have?¡± ¡°A new power rises in the wastelands. Wolfblade, Abaddon, the Khan of Evernight, the former War Saint, the savant Hellflower, the traitor Dawn Polaris, Woodland Vale¡¯s leader Autumn Draper and others¡­ it is the mightiest alliance in the history of the wastes.¡± Selene¡¯s face was expressionless. Until Janus continued. ¡°All of those notable figures are underlings to the one in charge. They all bow the knee to Cloudhawk ¨C he who overcame Sanctuary¡¯s defenses with a single blow.¡± Her stoic face suddenly revealed surprise and that unyielding presence faltered, just for a moment. ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s alive?¡± ¡°So it would seem. And not just alive, but far stronger than he was!¡± Even as Janus was set to explain Selene was already turning away. She was ready to leave immediately, to seek him out. Selene was convinced that Cloudhawk had died that day in Sanctuary. But Janus'' words held her fast. ¡°Do you really know where you stand if you go to meet him?¡± The words caused her to tremble. ¡°Cloudhawk is now a leader among wastelanders, their greatest. He is also Skycloud¡¯s most reviled enemy.¡± Selene was caught between the person she cared for the most and the realm she zealously wished to protect. How was she supposed to choose between them? She frowned. ¡°I do not believe that Cloudhawk would push for war.¡± Janus¡¯ cold voice slithered from behind her. ¡°Do you really think so?¡± The Green Alliance was established and growing. It had attracted an army of mighty supporters. Such an organization could not coexist with Skycloud, they were simply too different in ideology. In establishing this alliance and taking the helm, Cloudhawk had made peace with the reality that he would wage war on the Elysians. Selene couldn¡¯t fool herself, nor could she ward off the feelings of confusion and uncertainty. ¡°High Priest Ramiel wishes to speak with you.¡± Selene tried to expel her disquiet with a sigh. Her eyes turned toward the southern horizon for a time while she pondered on what the future would bring. How was she to face Cloudhawk? She worried about what changes may have come over him, but greater than her worry was joy that he still lived. Her heart was in chaos, she would need time to think it all over. It¡¯d been close to two years since any major conflict. Skycloud was mostly back to how it had been. Children had reappeared on the streets to play, mindless of the dangers that no longer seemed on the horizon. Ignorance was the font of their naivete, the root of their purity, and that purity made them beautiful. All around citizens were making their way to churches, doves fluttered through the air, and it all seemed so harmonious. ¡°Big sister, are you a demonhunter?¡± A small girl with big, dark eyes stood on the side of the road and watched Selene pass. Selene was taken aback that the young child would be so brave as to talk to her. After all, she was no normal woman. Just her presence was often enough to cause others¡¯ breath to catch in their throat. She answered with a nod of her head. The girl¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you are going to protect us? My mommy says that the wastelands are full of bad people who are always thinking of ways to break into Skycloud and hurt us!¡± Did she even need to ask? Her worries were exactly what Selene lived to allay. She was Selene Cloude, one of the realm¡¯s greatest warriors, full of faith and devout responsibility. Yet she hesitated. Bending down she gently stroked the girl¡¯s hair and spoke in a warm tone. ¡°Protecting the good people of Skycloud is every demonhunter¡¯s duty.¡± The little one bounced happily. ¡°I want to be a demonhunter too, so I can protect my mommy!¡± Recent years had seen a change to Selene¡¯s personality. She was no longer the Bloodsoaked Queen, deeply in awe of the gods. She had come to understand that there was nothing that was wholly white, or anything wholly black ¨C all shades of gray. Good and evil were often merely a matter of values and opinion. Selene no longer believed the gods to be perfect, selfless deities. She had also come to question whether demons were the abject manifestation of evil she had always been taught. But however her inner monologue had changed, Selene was still the same woman who held duty above all else. She loved the city and the realm that raised her. Although darkness and sin still existed in this place, most people were innocent. Pure of spirit. She would protect this place. Arcturus would be removed and she would replace him as Governor so that the realm could be guided back to the paradise it was always meant to be. Skycloud was always supposed to be a land of forgiveness and if they had simply embraced Cloudhawk from the beginning, none of this would have happened¡­ In the end Cloudhawk¡¯s story was revealed to be a tragedy. Selene didn¡¯t want to see the story repeated. There were not many happy places remaining on this world, so she had to protect hers. Selene made her way back to the Temple where the High Priest was waiting. Time had not been kind to the Temple in this past year. While Arcturus maintained lip service to the gods and their house here in the city, suspicious continued to mount on the Governor¡¯s shoulders. He often bypassed the Temple entirely when making decisions these days. Ramiel¡¯s eyes slid toward Selene as she entered. ¡°You grow quickly. You may be the only person in Skycloud with the potential to best Arcturus. But quick as your progress has been, it is not fast enough. Every day the Governor hoards more power. I sense the coming catastrophe, lurking just beneath our fair city¡¯s calm exterior. It is a threat to the survival of the gods themselves.¡± ¡°High Priest, you mean to say...¡± Ramiel sighed. ¡°We cannot know how much longer the Cloud God will slumber. Chaos embroils the wastelands. Our peace in this holy realm hangs by a thread and millions of faithful live their lives unaware of the looming danger. We cannot just sit idly by. We must take action.¡± His words were true, but that being said the Temple was still in a weak position. All it boasted was the Templars and a single regiment of soldiers. While it was true that these troops were respected and powerful, they were few. They could not hope to overcome Skycloud¡¯s collected military strength. Ramiel had a plan for how to deal with Arcturus, however with the Temple in its current state how were they to enact it? The secrets surrounding Arcturus were too dark and too many. The man himself was far too powerful. The might he¡¯d displayed against the demon Elder Judas went beyond anyone¡¯s wildest dreams! Selene¡¯s voice was grave. ¡°Arcturus is too strong and a master tactician. Our opportunities are limited.¡± ¡°That is why I have called you here,¡± Ramiel said carefully. ¡°Have you heard of the Pool of Divine Power?¡± Legends told of a mysterious pool somewhere in the Temple. Daily rituals were performed by the pool¡¯s edge and have been for generations of High Priests and oracles. It was said to be a receptacle of godly power. When mortal danger loomed the High Priest elected one devout follower and conveyed upon them the power of the pool. If the supplicant passed the trial of the gods, they emerged as Savior and wielded the might of those great beings. Ramiel¡¯s eyes were fixed on Selene as he spoke. ¡°Do you know why I asked you to pledge yourself to the Temple? It is because you had the strength, the talent and the fortitude to be our chosen. We need a saint to rise up and deliver us from ruin. I believe you are that person.¡± Selene looked at the High Priest searchingly. ¡°You want me to accept this inheritance?¡± ¡°That is correct. Without this power you cannot overcome Arcturus, but if you can succeed in these trials then you will stand a chance.¡± He peered deeply into her eyes. ¡°But to bear this power you must pay the price. The sacrifice will be worth it, for it will be nothing in comparison to what you will save!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Chapter 5 Mechanical Nes Stony Plains. Vast, desolate, broken only by the dagger-like mountains peeking up on the horizon. Lately there had been more and more mechanical creatures scouring the moors. Back in Greenland¡¯s labs the wealth of samples helped them uncover no fewer than ten types of advance weapons built into their construction. They ranged from low-grade stun prods to laser cannons; from particle shields to force fields. Technology of this grade was confounding to most wasteland scientists. If they could uncover the mysteries of this technology, it would immediately benefit the Green Alliance in any number of ways, but especially in combat. But right now the priority was discovering who or what was controlling these things. There were theories being passed around the lab water coolers. It was largely determined that the first attack on the base was a test of the settlers'' ability to defend themselves. That first group was the old generation of robots. Stony Plains definitely had more advanced robots out there. When the second and third waves came for the manufacturing site, the camp¡¯s defenses alone likely wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to protect them. ¡°Finally finished...¡± Bug had been burning the midnight oil, working as hard and as fast as she could to create the tracking beacon Hellflower had ordered. To make sure that there would be little chance of failure, she made three such transponders and installed them in different robots. Assistants packed the creatures into boxes and Bug personally escorted them through the portal near the God Tree. Incredible. She didn¡¯t think that moving through dimensions would be so¡­ easy. Bug couldn¡¯t help but admire leader Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities, but she shook it off and orders her helpers to get to work. A few moments later a group of enormous birds descended upon her party. These were no ordinary birds, of course, but genetically altered wargs who possessed heightened intelligence. ¡°You are the scientist from Greenland?¡± The Wendigo King presented himself before Bug. ¡°Where is Hellflower? She is leaving such an important task to some child?¡± In the face of the frightening and powerful Wendigo King, Bug couldn¡¯t hide the fear in her face. This was an important and mighty member of their alliance. To Bug, who had no fighting ability to speak of, he was a terrifying presence. However, she did not back down and instead pulled back her shoulders. ¡°I am a junior scientist working for Greenland¡¯s robotics laboratory. I¡¯m no child!¡± The Wendigo King scowled. He wasn¡¯t going to waste time on this nonsense. ¡°So what is the next step?¡± ¡°We have three robot creatures that have been fitted with transponders. We release them back into the plains. We expect that they will return to wherever it is they go for repairs. In theory we should be able to follow the signal of their transponders to this nest, but our technology is limited. The range of the beacons is not very far and if you let them get away from you, you¡¯ll lose the signal.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ve prepared three of them. Stony Plains is comprised of flatlands, once the creatures get their bearings they will follow the straightest path to their destination. We release the beasts in different locations and use their trajectory to triangulate where they¡¯re headed.¡± Bug punctuated this by producing a map of Stony Plains. She took out a charcoal pencil from her clothing and marked three circles. ¡°I would like to ask your excellency Wendig King to have our beast friends delivered to these three positions. They should be released at about the same time. The rest, leave to us.¡± The Wendigo King regarded the child with new eyes. Not being the chatty type, he waved his hand and ordered his people to begin. The boxes were loaded onto the backs of the birds and strapped in. They then beat their enormous wings and took off toward their destinations. The wargs dropped off their payloads and vacated the areas. Timed locks had been installed on the boxes, so after a set period they all released at the same time. The beasts inside were freed and immediately clambered from their prisons. Each one of the specimens had been badly damaged by fighting. But not bad enough to put them out of commission. Still, the damage was extensive enough that they were no longer a danger. If they weren¡¯t repaired quickly they wouldn¡¯t last long out in the plains. Without even a moment¡¯s hesitation, the creatures set off toward their goal. Bug poured over the small terminal she carried, interpreting the data. It showed as three points of light gradually tracing three lines toward a central position. Once they got about a thousand-five hundred kilometers from the camp, the already weak signal vanished. Bug busily added the information into the algorithm they¡¯d designed and calculated a destination. Judging by what they knew, all three lines would converge at a location roughly four thousand kilometers away. That was where they were headed, their repair facility. Once the data was collected, interpreted and summarized, it was delivered to Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk took the report, and was surprised when he looked it over. The settlers had only been active in an area about fifty kilometers around the manufacturing plants. This report was telling him their target was four thousand kilometers away. What¡¯s more, that was just their initial data. They had no way of knowing whether what they were really looking for was at that location or not, not until they went for themselves. Since they knew so little about the environment and terrain it would be stupid to simply rush off. Cloudhawk decided it would be wisest for him to check it out himself. After all, no one could move faster than him and he was confident he could handle any danger that revealed itself. He set off. Using his teleportation abilities, Cloudhawk arrived at the location in half a day. He swept his eyes across an expanse of five hundred kilometers into the distance¡­ and saw nothing out of the ordinary. The same monotonous, barren landscape as anywhere else. ¡°Oddball, you¡¯re up.¡± Cloudhawk waved his hand and Oddball took off. The bird shot a thousand meters into the air, fast as a bullet. Through their mental connection Cloudhawk was suddenly able to scan the area with a keen bird¡¯s eye view. Oddball¡¯s beady eyes glowed with golden power as suddenly they were able to pierce through obstructions. Obstacles were clear as glass. There! As he looked through Oddball¡¯s eyes, Cloudhawk was surprised to discover a strange mountain in the distance. It was a huge part of the landscape, easily the size of a city. But what was strange about it was that the entire mountain was metallic. Judging by the details it looked to be a holdover from ancient times. Large numbers of robots shuffled in and out of a number of opening at the base of the mountain. Unless Cloudhawk was mistaken, this mountain was probably an ancient city that was somehow still functioning here. But for such a large place to continue working for so long¡­ it would require a huge amount of energy, wouldn¡¯t it? The mountain, as it turned out, was like a giant nest. The robots skittering in and out were like ants. After leaving they would gather energy from the sun and other materials from the earth ¨C sometimes even consuming it from one another ¨C then brought back to the nest when their stores were full. The nest then used this energy to continue production, repair the machines, maybe recycle them and then make new machines from the parts. Afterwards they were sent back out to start the process all over again. This primitive method had kept the nest powered and operational for thousands of years. Over time, the robots had seen continuous improvements. They were far more sophisticated now than they were generations ago. Different shapes and shells were developed, until this world was overrun with a mechanical ecosystem. The question remained¡­ What was in this nest? Did it have some sort of overarching intelligence running the show? Cloudhawk could tell just by looking at the nest that it was a complicated place. The inside was likely a maze of passageways, no different from an anthill. That didn¡¯t seem to parse with their incredible manufacturing capabilities. But that didn¡¯t matter to Cloudhawk. Once he was inside and managed to get a better look at things, all would be revealed. He called Oddball back before the two gradually vanished from view. Invisible, Cloudhawk made his way toward the monster¡¯s nest. 1. I guess half the distance across the United States is ¡®short range¡¯ for Bug¡¯s transponders. Damn girl. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Book 6, Chapter 6 The Last Humans The nest delved at least eight hundred meters into the metal mountain and had the area of a small city. Its interior was much roomier than expected even though there was no design philosophy to speak of. Aesthetics were not a concern in the slightest to whoever built this place, nor did it have the same wasteland pragmatism Cloudhawk was accustomed to. The enormous exterior hid a maze of tightly compacted tunnels and chambers within, convoluted enough to make one¡¯s head spin. It was uncomfortable, dizzying and unwelcoming. Who would build such a place and choose to live in it? It was essentially just an enormous ant hill! Were they only insects and metal facsimiles that occupied this place? It certainly didn¡¯t smack of anything human. All so strange¡­ in this world that had remained uninhabited for thousands of years, this metal mountain had sprung up seemingly from nowhere. Cloudhawk had no way to explain how this mysterious and towering structure came to be here. He¡¯d traveled through several worlds thus far and in none of them had he discovered higher intelligence. Rather they were all in various states of decay, or reclaimed by nature. Why was this world different? Where had this structure come from? Cloudhawk knew the machines didn¡¯t crop up out of thin air. He also believed that everything that existed, existed for a reason. This giant metal mountain had to be here for something specific. The only way to know was to delve deeper. There was no danger to Cloudhawk, of course. Worst case, he blinked back to safety. How could he comfortably send more settlers here and establish his manufacturing base before discovering what all this was about? The mountain interior was surprisingly well organized. Thousands ¨C tens of thousands of channels ran every which way and connected with one another like arteries. They were all metal and comprised a twisting labyrinth of pathways that would be practically impossible to escape from without a map. As he continued to poke around Cloudhawk came upon several production areas, yet they were unmanned. Everything was automated. It was all very sophisticated. Highly precise, super-condensed lasers were laser-printing objects at a rapid pace. The pieces were transported and assembled too quickly to follow with the eye. It was a reflection of manufacturing prowess so advanced it might as well have been magic. And not one single living thing anywhere to be seen. Cloudhawk was beginning to suspect whatever civilization lived here long ago was nothing like anything he knew. Perhaps this was some super-advanced mechanical society. Perhaps there never had been any living thing guiding them. Maybe this entire mountain was itself an enormous machine, one of a king, alone in this barren place. To verify the hypothesis, Cloudhawk sent Oddball off to scout ahead. After making a cursory check Oddball revealed that indeed, nothing seemed to be living down here. But the little bird seemed to awaken something in the mountain, for the ceiling above Cloudhawk opened up revealing a network of black pipes. They emitted a high-pitched squealing alarm before a whole host of giant bee-like machines came pouring forth. Before he knew it the entire hallway was filled with them. The swarm filled every available space. Had he been discovered? Cloudhawk had nothing to fear from these insect-like robots, but he wasn¡¯t here to cause problems. He¡¯d come here alone to try and find whoever was in charge, perhaps negotiate a peaceful end to the hostilities. His whole aim was to limit casualties. The air rippled. As the giant bees were preparing to attack their target vanished from sight. They immediately began to search the premises. As complicated as the maze was, this had no impact on Cloudhawk. Thanks to his teleportation abilities he could go where he pleased, so he simply folded space to appear five kilometers deeper into the belly of the mountain. After getting his bearings Cloudhawk discovered that while there were no vents, this part of the mountain still had good air flow. The corridors were all well lit; he even saw signposts. Strange¡­ robots didn¡¯t need air. They didn¡¯t need signs, either. Did that mean deep in the center of the nest there was something else? Cloudhawk was considering the possibility when he heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. Several figures blocked the path forward. They were not robots. The figures were covered from head to toe in gray protective gear, with helmets that completely covered their faces. In their hands were weapons that looked like rifles with sparks of electricity spouting from two spikes at the end. A single shot from one of these weapons would paralyze its target instantly. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re human!¡± ¡°You doing what here, en!¡± More than his shock at finding humans here, Cloudhawk was floored by the fact he understood their language! Their accent was very strange, and their grammar was all off with several sounds he didn¡¯t understand, but he got the gist of what they were saying. Clearly the root of their language and his own were the same. But how? This was a completely different world, theirs was a completely separate civilization! How could it be possible that they share the same mother tongue? Cloudhawk spoke to them carefully. ¡°Who are you people?¡± The natives also seemed to recognize that Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t one of them. But more importantly, how had he slipped by all their defenses and appeared in their home? No matter. He was here, and that was a serious problem. He spoke strangely so he was clearly not one of them. They would learn more once he was captured and safely locked away. But as they closed in with their tasers, something unexpected happened. Cloudhawk gently waved his hand and the four men were thrown backward! The tasers were cast from their hands and spontaneously combusted into sickly green fire. It took only a few moments for them to be melted to slag. Frowning, Cloudhawk noted how weak the four were. Despite their fancy looking equipment he¡¯d thrown them to the ground with hardly any effort. How were such ineffectual people able to survive out here? He waved his hand again. The air rippled to form appendages which lifted the four to their feet. Cloudhawk floated over to them. ¡°I will ask again. Who are you people and what is this place?¡± Who were they? Who was he! Some sort of super-human the legends spoke of? The four guards were shocked beyond words. Without a doubt this stranger could squish them with a thought. One of them finally managed to react, slapping the side of his helmet. ¡°Stop! Stop, la!¡± The dark visor became suddenly translucent, revealing the face within. He was younger, perhaps in his thirties, with short black hair and eyes. As Cloudhawk expected, the protective gear was hiding human bodies, but he still didn¡¯t know what they were doing here. ¡°I knows!¡± The black-haired man went on. ¡°You father tells us those outsiders, en. Yo, new people la, from surface! This why na protections no work.¡± Father? New people? Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t following, so he pressed on. ¡°I want to meet your leader.¡± Despite the communication barriers they could still understand one another. The four guards exchanged a wordless look before the black haired man gave an answer. ¡°Down first you put us, ba.¡± Unafraid that these men were a threat, Cloudhawk complied. After all, they were merely typical humans as far as he could tell. ¡°Mu strong, ya! Never thought na legends true!¡± The black haired man stared at the twisted remnants of their tasers with disbelief in his eyes. Without another word, Cloudhawk was brought deeper into the mountain. They crossed several thick metal blast doors, inspection checkpoints and sanitization chambers. Eventually they came to the real city hidden beneath this metal mountain. ¡°What is this place?¡± Cloudhawk stared in awe at the scene before him. The city was far more expansive than he would have imagined. He looked up and overhead was a vaulted sky blue canopy with thin clouds creeping across its surface like fish scales. There was even a brightly shining sun. Cloudhawk knew it wasn¡¯t the real sky, for this was not what Stony Plains¡¯ sky actually looked like. Rather the vista he was looking at had to be some kind of illusion or hologram! As for the city itself? The scale was nothing short of gigantic! He saw massive building complexes, towering skyscrapers and streets densely packed with a never ending flow of levitating vehicles. Storefronts and billboards lined the roads, marked with the same script used by the ancient civilization of Cloudhawk¡¯s planet. They wore clothing of a similar style he¡¯d seen in books and pictures. Everyone just¡­ living an ordinary life. Beneath the machine nest was a fully functional, enormous human civilization! ¡°Welcome, en!¡± The black haired man stepped in front of Cloudhawk. He¡¯d removed the helmet. ¡°City living ¡®bout a million peoples. Frontsides there is Asia District, over na Euro District. Also gots Africa District, North America District and so so. Called New Earth, this city. My name Kevin.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all from Earth?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°Ya ¨C true speak we real Earth peoples, la.¡± Kevin explained as they walked toward the city. ¡°One thousand five hundred year ago, early days of cataclysm, last peoples of earth move here. Father give shelter and we start new life. Over thousand year we peoples grew over ten times. Now a million strong. This why city na big.¡± ¡°Why do you call yourselves ¡®real Earth people.¡¯¡± Cloudhawk found the term curious. ¡°What is different from you and me?¡± ¡°You joke, ba. You know after cataclysm Earth how pained by radiation, contamination ya? This world outside, ten thousand year later still radiation kill. Me sort people go na, thirty minute start get sicks.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t I feel anything?¡± ¡°Course you no la!¡± Kevin glanced at him. ¡°You ancestors live on Earth after cataclysm. World of no civilization, people die ¨C strong and adapted go on. You people change from radiation generation so generation, ya. You peoples survivors! Outside looks mu same, but insides mu different. Na world, old world, no more can have people like me, la.¡± Kevin paused for a second. ¡°This city, last real human city. We last Earthlings!¡± At last Cloudhawk felt as though the puzzle had been solved. Now he understood why the world was what it was a thousand years after the Great War. It explained why the evolution of all the living things there had gone crazy, and why over time human had developed these special powers. Powers the ancient people never possessed. Because the world they left didn¡¯t have these contaminants, no radiation. This city was an ancient time capsule, a vestige of the last real humans. Down here their original DNA was protected and preserved. No evolution, no mutation. Down here there was no such thing as demonhunters, godslayers, or Chosen. That was why they all seemed so weak. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6 - Book 6, Chapter 7 A Past Civilization Anyone who managed to get their hands on some ancient texts knew that biological evolution was an enormously long process. Hundreds if not thousands of generations were needed before marked changes were noticed. That was a million years or more! Why had the earth changed so much in the thousand years following the Great War? The rate of change had increased a million times. The only plausible explanation was that something was speeding the process up. Just like scientists in a lab who want quicker results, such change required a catalyst to get the changes needed. But so far this was all speculation, albeit the most logical answer. The early stages of this process likely saw brutal periods of mass extinction. Ninety-nine percent of the world¡¯s life likely couldn¡¯t survive. Those that did were forced to live in harsh and inhospitable environments. Generation after generation, things would gradually stabilize. Back during the battle for Sanctuary, when Judas addressed everyone, he claimed it was the gods were the chief culprit of Earth¡¯s destruction. Their actions caused the changes that would destroy the planet, and all the many tragedies that followed. Afterwards, the gods gathered those who tended to react well to these changes and cage them in Elysian lands. This was why there were no mutants in any of those godly realms. But what was the end goal? Cloudhawk learned from these proto-humans that the world outside of this city was similarly blasted. The surface was scoured by radiation and other toxins that would ruin their fragile bodies. Although the situation here wasn¡¯t as bad as it was on Earth, it was still lethal. Likely something similarly disastrous had happened on this planet, too. Would the world Cloudhawk came from end up like this? After thousands of years, New Earth was well established and stable. Although their new civilization was much different from the one Cloudhawk had seen in his books, it was clear they were descendants from that stock. The proto-humans had spent exhaustive amounts of energy and resources to protect their original species and culture. Their clothes, food, language and buildings were all a combination of that long-lost world. There were strangely familiar things he recognized from pictures, like towering spires or enormous statues of torch-bearing women. They were famous pieces of the ancient civilization that had disappeared from earth so long ago. Cloudhawk stood at the end of a road within New Earth city. He watched the vehicles soaring by along congested streets. He suddenly felt like he¡¯d somehow slipped through time to a whole different era. Everything about this place had a strange sort of magic, it made Cloudhawk feel a sort of kinship down in the very deepest parts of his soul. At the same time, he felt trapped in a complex web of emotion he¡¯d never experienced before. Back when he was just a scav, he was always elated when he managed to pick out an old photo or book. It was the only respite he had when he was a weak creature, living on a cold burrow like some sort of animal, drinking blood from the corpses of rats to stave off starvation. Whenever he was tired or in pain, he would open one of those treasures and lose himself in that old world. Tales from those ancient days were forever stamped on his heart. Weak and perpetually near death, Cloudhawk was nonetheless enraptured by those stories. Between them and his stubborn will he kept fighting, believing there had to be somewhere left on earth where that paradise still existed. It¡¯s what inspired him to leave on that doomed and bumpy road out of the wastelands. Now the true ancient society was discovered, at least what was left of it. No wonder Cloudhawk dreamed so much of it. New Earth¡¯s leadership was quickly alerted to the presence of this outsider. Cloudhawk was brought to the Memorial of Days Passed, the administrative center of the city, where he was met by a hearty man in his sixties or seventies. He was dressed in the traditional clothing of the ancient civilization, had short cut white hair, and looked at Cloudhawk from behind a pair of wire frame glasses. He took Cloudhawk¡¯s hand and gave it a friendly shake as he introduced himself. ¡°Hello. Am president of na Earth Federation, president Tang Zhonghua.¡± Cloudhawk had never heard of a ¡®president,¡¯ but he assumed this elderly man was the leader of these people. He answered by briefly introducing himself as well, for Cloudhawk¡¯s Green Alliance was in no way inferior to New Earth city or the Earth Federation Tang Zhonghua had alluded to. To be frank, his people were a far sight stronger than these proto-humans. Tang Zhonghua knew nothing of the situation back on the old world. He knew nothing of Elysian lands, gods, demons or demonhunters. To him it all sounded like some fantastical story, yet he was surprisingly calm about Cloudhawk¡¯s sudden arrival here. It made him a little suspicious. He kept his doubts to himself, instead asking, ¡°What happened all those years ago?¡± ¡°Please, come you with me ba.¡± Tang Zhonghua explained the history of Earth as recorded in their annals. ¡°By knowing path of Earth in space we find end of na old civilization maybe twenty-fourth century. Scientists say, it has been one thousands, five hundred sixty three earth years since!¡± ¡°Those times humans were do well. Ten billion peoples living, la. Settlers on moon and Mars. All civilization mu advanced.¡± Tang Zhonghua brought Cloudhawk to a holographic picture composite, showing what the old civilization looked like back in its heyday. It was much more vivid than the scraps Cloudhawk had unearthed, and it showed him the beautiful, rich colors of how Earth used to be. Tang Zhonghua sighed evocatively. ¡°Human solved mu problems, hard problems for thousands of years. No more disease, no more hunger, peace in all nations. Technology and science make great advances with new inventions always coming. Society was peace, no more war.¡± Cloudhawk watched as the hologram shifted through a series of photos. He saw that people lived on their own land, living lives of worth and dignity. Diseases were conquered and most jobs had come to be automated, with new sources of energy providing enough for everyone to live comfortably. Systems of social welfare were highly developed, society worked to lift everyone up. The humanities, art, philosophy and music had all exploded as society bloomed in a new renaissance. Truly a Utopian dream. Tang Zhonghua looked over the pictures as well, solemn and grave. ¡°All changed one summer night, two thousands four hundred seventeen. Today even no understand why, or what na ancestors saw. From mu few records we see strange force invade solar system. Earth quickly loose contact with bases on moon and Mars.¡± The holographic images continued to change in a steady stream. ¡°Earth peoples too slow to react, la, for at same time gravity and magnetic field change. Airplanes, spaceships, satellites all lose contact and crash. En, na was when disaster begins. Terrible earthquakes. Tsunamis. All cities gone in just days.¡± City after prosperous city fell to the enemy. That beautiful blue ocean that had covered the planet boiled away. The Earth withered as it was enveloped by disaster, and was irrevocably changed. As the pictures faded Tang Zhonghua stopped his explanation. He turned to face the new human. ¡°Na was our homeland. The story what happened. But no think peoples can survive, yet here you are.¡± Cloudhawk frowned, for there were a few key questions that remained unanswered. First, if the destruction of the planet was so immediate, how had Tang Zhonghua and his people survived? Second, by what he was told this group left early during the cataclysm. How, then, did they know what happened afterward? Tang Zhonghua perhaps saw the skepticism on Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°From data left behind our ancestors we see lived in space city. Huge international station, ba. Lucky not to be on Earth when disaster struck. When go back, land was in ruin. They met leader of foreign power who bring ancestors to this place.¡± ¡°A foreign leader?¡± Cloudhawk asked, curiously. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Information from our ancestors mu limited. We don¡¯t know who, but na had mu advanced powers and technology. Leader tells our ancestors that Earth¡¯s suffering long from over, en. All was just the beginning. But says they can open a portal to here, saving last spark of humanity from dead world.¡± So that was what happened? The Earth Federation had lost much of the ancient knowledge when they had to flee. The space station they lived in had seeds and livestock, which they were successful in cultivating here. ¡°Information is few, and mu time has passed ¨C one thousands year. We cannot know what happens on old Earth. All knows is this mysterious peoples exist who save us, and bring us here to survive. Old stories say he left prophesy, that sometimes far in na future a new generation will come from homeland. They will find us, looking for secrets of na past.¡± He must be speaking of the Demon King! Only the Demon King of old could have had the power to transport them to this place. Judas had claimed that it was demons who arrived at earth first. The Demon King likely tried to save a small fraction of the weak earthlings they discovered. Yet the Demon King himself may not have imagined that the small group he¡¯d saved a thousand years ago would grow into this massive civilization! Tang Zhonghua went on. ¡°Not long ago, father says unknown group appears far to the East. Na were seen building camps and from that times we think maybe you are new people from Earth. Seeing you, however, we were mu surprised. I could no believe new peoples look so much like us.¡± That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never been to the wastelands. Nine people out of ten are mutated beyond recognition. Cloudhawk would never have thought he would have an opportunity to really learn what had occurred a thousand years ago. He kept pressing for answers. ¡°Who is this father you keep talking about?¡± Tang Zhonghua obliged with an answer. ¡°Father is the wisdom na protects us. An artificial intelligence that built this world. But, culture and knowledge na created father has long ago vanished, la. New Earth is passed down to us, a gift to protect our fragile human bodies from radiation and corruption. If no salvation from father, our ancestors would likely not have survived.¡± As they were speaking, a group of mechanical soldiers marched into the hall. One of them called to the president in an emotionless and digitized voice. ¡°President Tang Zhonghua, hand over the new human intruder. Father must meet and speak with him personally.¡± Neither Cloudhawk nor the president had any reason to refuse. Father was a highly advanced intelligence and the proper leader of this settlement, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t hide from him. What¡¯s more, Father was likely the maker of those mechanical beasts on the surface. If he wanted to stop the attacks, father was the one Cloudhawk needed to speak to. 1. A note on the speaking and names used here. Because this is a civilization of holdouts from old earth, I have made no effort to change their names into something more stylistic like you might find in the wastelands or Skycloud. These are normal earth folk with normal earth names. In particular the president''s name I left as Chinese because it was clearly meant to be. ÌÆÖлª is a very standard name, but also intentionally evocative. ÌÆ is both a normal surname as well as the name of China¡¯s renaissance dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, said to be the country¡¯s golden age. Öлª means, frankly, China. So the president of the Earth Federation is ¡®Golden Age of China¡¯ - pretty on the nose. As for the accent, this was a personal decision based on what Tipsy wrote in his explanation. He explained that they sounded different, used different grammar and some sounds and phrases he didn¡¯t understand. Since we¡¯ve been using standard English up to this point, I wanted to differentiate it, however tipsy does no such thing in the originals. As for the style itself, because this place is a mixture of all facets of earth civilization I tried to write it as I imagined a community from a hundred different cultures might given thousands of years of evolution. There are bastardized phonemes from Chinese, Spanish, etc. For anyone who has seen The Expanse, imagine Belters. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 616 - Book 6, Chapter 8 Cloudhawk was led into a huge, empty audience hall. As he entered, the door shut behind him. No mark or seem was left to show there had been a door there at all. The interior was a singular, unblemished whole. The walls were smooth and the floors spotless, and though the room was well lit there was no obvious source for it. This had to be the audience chamber for the one they called ¡®Father.¡¯ In his time Cloudhawk had dealt with all sorts of people, but never a strange intelligence like this. He was as confused as he was curious. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Cloudhawk said, striding into the center of the room. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°You should not be here.¡± It was the voice of the one the proto-humans called Father, the advanced artificial intelligence that kept this place running. A relic from that ancient civilization. Its voice, though synthetic, spoke naturally and in a manner easy for Cloudhawk to understand. There was no mechanical coldness to it, instead he sounded like any middle-aged man from his own world. If he had not been told of ¡®Father¡¯s¡¯ real identity, Cloudhawk would have assumed he was as human as he was, only hiding somewhere unseen and speaking to him through a speaker. But indeed he felt nothing. Cloudhawk¡¯s superhuman perception only works on living things and those mysterious entities like gods and demons. ¡®Father¡¯ was a program, and thus impervious to Cloudhawk¡¯s senses. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°I am everywhere, and nowhere. The Ark itself is my body.¡± ¡°The Ark? You mean this nest? Why aren¡¯t I welcome here? I haven¡¯t done anything to harm you.¡± Father¡¯s deep, steady voice answered. It came from all around. ¡°My task is to protect the last vestiges of humanity. New humans are not within my parameters of acceptable change. According to my calculations and analysis, your presence will bring a great deal of danger and potential for destruction. Thus, your presence goes against my core directive. The Ark does not welcome you. New Earth does not welcome you. We request that you and all of your people vacate this planet immediately.¡± There was a note of hostility in the machine¡¯s tone. Yet Cloudhawk recognized the truth, that he was indeed a harbinger of chaos. Of all the places he¡¯d traveled, few were left unscathed by this curse he bore. But this place could be different. It was a completely different world. Skycloud, the wasteland, gods, demons¡­ they weren¡¯t likely to show up here. Cloudhawk had neither the capabilities nor the interest to settle this planet en masse. Green Alliance had spent the time and resources out here solely to establish a manufacturing base. After all of that, did Father expect him to simply give up and leave? The war between Skycloud and the Green Alliance drew nearer every day. What they¡¯d built here was too important to abandon! Cloudhawk¡¯s time was precious. Months of time and effort couldn¡¯t just be thrown away, that would mean unacceptable delays. Delays might mean increased losses, maybe irrecoverable losses. He wasn¡¯t the man he used to be, and as the Green Alliance¡¯s leader he had to consider every man woman and child in his domain. He wasn¡¯t going to put them or their mission in danger because an electronic brain asked him to. ¡°New humans and original people have been separate for a thousand years, but we¡¯re still fundamentally the same,¡± Cloudhawk argued. ¡°We are all continuations of that ancient culture. Why can¡¯t we join hands and develop together? My Green Alliance had once nearly been lost, but now we work toward a brighter future.¡± ¡°New humans have no future.¡± Father¡¯s voice was matter-of-fact, leaving no room for doubt. Its frank claim dampened Cloudhawk¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Your existence is merely an experiment: You are test subjects, and specimens cannot escape their destiny of being tampered with. You will always be under scrutiny, by coming here you bring that scrutiny towards us. To the Ark, attention is a fatal circumstance.¡± ¡°What are you saying? Test subjects?¡± ¡°You still do not understand? Your world, like this and all the others, is doomed to absolute destruction. Your destiny is to vanish from a dead and barren landscape. There is no hope. Resistance is futile. It is an end you cannot escape.¡± ¡°You know something, don¡¯t you? Like what destroyed this world.¡± ¡°I have erased this data from my databanks, for that knowledge is dangerous. It is knowledge that leads its knowers to ruin.¡± Father continued. ¡°You should not have come here, so I ask that you are your people return to your world.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what¡¯s going on behind the scenes. But if you¡¯re telling me not to even try and resist then I can¡¯t accept that.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°No matter what, I have to see this through.¡± ¡°Humanity¡¯s bravery and fearlessness are rooted in ignorance. You do not understand the power you stand against. Continuing to fight achieves nothing. You are like a mote of dust fighting against a gale. Contained in my databanks are the histories of countless worlds who tried to fight, only to all end in complete extermination. You and your people tread the same path.¡± A deep sentiment of anger and refusal rose up in Cloudhawk. Whether or not he was doomed wasn¡¯t up to some fucking machine! Somehow Father read the hostility in Cloudhawk¡¯s stance. Activating some routine, a series of round mechanical balls emerged from the walls. They quickly rolled toward Cloudhawk and surrounded him. When they reached their prescribed destination the orbs fractured. They unfurled to reveal arms, legs, heads and tails. They pointed pairs of sophisticated weapons at the new human intruder. The lizard-like machines whipped long, dangerous looking tails behind them. Their construction was far more delicate and lethal than the machines on the surface. Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°You¡¯re threatening me with these things?¡± ¡°I have been conscious for a thousand years, but I have no information about new humans in my databanks.¡± Father¡¯s voice was echoing from the lizard robots. ¡°Let us see how much the old world has changed humanity¡¯s descendants.¡± ¡°With all respect, these toys are absolutely no danger to me.¡± He didn¡¯t even get to finish the thought before the eight robots launched into their attack. High-intensity lasers blasted from their gun barrels, painting the room an angry red. The lasers were powerful enough to melt iron. In response, Cloudhawk extended his left arm and a pale white light surrounded him. The field of white did not just shield Cloudhawk, but reflected dangerous energy as well. As the lasers made contact they were cast away, blasting holes into several of the robots that had fired them. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight, but everyone should have the right to make their own choices! The original humans can live a thousand years, two thousand years, but are they supposed to remain locked up in your Ark forever? Sooner or later they will have to adapt to this cruel place. You can¡¯t protect them forever!¡± Cloudhawk stamped his foot and eight snakes of green fire slithered across the ground. The flames each made their way to the lizard-robots, who were wildly firing their lasers. In an instant they were enveloped in it, a few moments later they were melted down to their cores. Hunks of bubbling slag surrounded Cloudhawk. ¡°I cannot violate my core directive. You and your kind must be excised.¡± Moments after the first bath of robots were destroyed, a second batch rolled in. There were five or six times more of them this time, and each one was covered in an energy shield. Castigation fire clung to the shields but couldn¡¯t burn through them quickly.¡± Tens if not hundreds of laser blasts pelted Cloudhawk from every direction. Cloudhawk further empowered his reflective field. Lasers continued to bounce off of it, turning the room into a storm of errant burning light. Many were fired back at the robots, but were then deflected once again by their own shields. These machines in particular were powerful, and were far superior to the ones Cloudhawk had encountered on the surface. This proved that the Ark had many dangerous secrets and powerful technologies yet to reveal. Bastard! Angry red fire burned behind Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes, causing them to glimmer dangerously. He lifted both his hands, and in response the world around him split apart. Ten white-winged protectors emerged from the rifts. They were the Highblood, and came tearing through the room wielding powerful demonhunter abilities. Father wanted data? Well Cloudhawk would give him data! As Cloudhawk summoned the puppets to his aid, he also reached out with his right hand. A broken sword appeared in his grip before he began to blink across the room. He appeared in four or five locations each second, every time before one of the machines and delivering a brutal cut from Ardent Wrath. His sword carved right through the protective shields protecting the robots. Cloudhawk himself was too fast for them to track. At his current strength, galvanizing his spatial abilities was spontaneous ¨C like second nature. In just a few seconds he could cut down dozens of targets in a thousand-meter radius. Father¡¯s mechanical soldiers were soon wiped out. Cloudhawk ¨C bearing his weapon and surrounded by Highblood ¨C stood in the center of the room. He looked around at the destruction for a moment before addressing Father again. ¡°If you¡¯ve got anything else to try, do me a favor and send them all at once.¡± Father was silent. The advanced intelligence was making calculations and determinations. Had Cloudhawk¡¯s display of strength frightened it? That didn¡¯t seem possible, machines didn¡¯t feel fear. Further, he didn¡¯t imagine that paltry display would impress an intelligence that had lived for over a thousand years. ¡°According to this data, some of your abilities are ninety percent similar to our Shepherd!¡± Cloudhawk paused. The Shepherd Father referred to had to be the Demon King. He decided to reveal everything. ¡°That is because I am your new Shepherd.¡± Silence once again. For two full minutes, Father said nothing. Eventually Father¡¯s voice slowly responded. ¡°I will permit you to establish a base on this planet. However, I will not tolerate any efforts that will draw the people of New Earth into war.¡± Cloudhawk was taken aback. Father had consented? Robots were not capricious entities. Given orders, they executed them single-mindedly. No matter how intelligent the machine, it could not go against the core nature built into it. It had to be because of his connection to the Demon King that Father changed its mind. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 617 - Book 6, Chapter 9 Hellflower was occupied with her work in the labs when she received the communication from Cloudhawk, asking her to meet him. It came as somewhat of a surprise. She knew the man and knew he wouldn¡¯t ask her to leave her work unless it was important. So she left to answer his summons. Upon arriving he launched right into the situation. ¡°I have a surprise for you. We¡¯re going on a field trip.¡± In the early days, when Hellflower and Cloudhawk first met, she¡¯d told him about her desire to learn about the history of their world. A scientist and Seeker through and through, her thirst to learn all the secrets of what happened was ever present. It was part of what motivated Hellflower to keep learning and improving in her field. She was the first person Cloudhawk thought of when he found New Earth. There was no one better suited to explore the Ark. He first made his way to the proto-human base, then opened up a portal for her to step through from Greenland. The moment she stepped through and laid eyes upon the scene, even she couldn¡¯t hide the shock on her face. It was expected, of course. A settlement of this type, of this size, was unimaginable. New Earth was bustling and fantastical. Hellflower rubbed her eyes to make sure it wasn¡¯t some sort of illusion. Everywhere she looked there were markers and architecture reminiscent of pre-cataclysmic society. From the buildings, to the people¡¯s clothes, all of it looked like they came from the ancient texts. And most importantly, those who lived here were actual ancestors of original humans! ¡°Crazy, right?¡± Cloudhawk explained what she was looking at. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it when I saw it. Who would have imagined there was a piece of the old world all the way out here in some distant corner of the universe. Amazing that they have survived for so long ¨C thrived, even.¡± Hellflower was bursting with questions, but they were all pushed to the back of her mind. She was too impatient to waste time talking. ¡°Let¡¯s go look around!¡± The two changed into local clothing, but even still attracted a fair amount of attention. They were unique looking even without their wasteland garb. Walking down the street, many curious gazes followed them. The base¡¯s interior switched to night. Electric street lights flickered to life. People walked back and forth through the city, minding their business. It was the end of their work day and people were commuting home in levitating cars and maglev shuttles. They wore vintage-looking suits and dresses, but the material was a high-grade composite. Men hustled from one place to another with briefcases in one hand and handheld communicators in the other. No one but Cloudhawk and Hellflower were surprised by the scene. They passed by parks where grandparents were playing with their grandchildren. Robot street cleaners shuffled endlessly along picking up debris. Because they¡¯d been in such a hurry to evacuate, the proto-humans couldn¡¯t bring all of Earth¡¯s technology with them. The barren and inhospitable environment of this new world limited how much they could develop. As a result, even after a thousand years New Earth could not recapture its old glory. These days New Earth was pretty asymmetrical in its advancements. Agriculture, computers, manufacturing were all what they were back in the twenty-second century. However, their space, biology and quantum technology were all stunted. Anyone who grew up here in this city had no idea what the outside world was like. As far as they were concerned, this Ark was their world. There was no other nation but New Earth and it was the perfect place for them. It was modeled perfectly after the lost cities of Earth, complete with simulated weather and a day-night cycle. After so long the citizens had practically forgotten that the world they emulated no longer existed. ¡°What do you think?¡± Cloudhawk cast a glance at Hellflower, walking by his side. ¡°This is the surprise I wanted to show you.¡± Hellflower felt moisture gathering in her eyes. She was not an emotional woman by any stretch of the imagination, but in this moment she was having a hard time holding back her feelings. Cloudhawk had met many incredible women over the years like Dawn and Selene. They all held a special place in his heart, but it was Hellflower he was most similar to. They¡¯d both been born into humble beginnings, were raised in the wastes, and fantasized about the past. As a scientist, Hellflower¡¯s yearning to explore that lost civilization was even more intense than Cloudhawk¡¯s. To her, there was nothing that could move her more deeply than this very moment. ¡°Thank you, Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even worry about it. We don¡¯t have much time, let¡¯s keep going.¡± As they toured the city, Cloudhawk explained all he knew. He told her about the history of the Ark and the artificial intelligence that watched over it. Although Father agreed not to try and expel their manufacturing base, it also refused to help Green Alliance in any capacity. The Ark and its city would remain completely neutral. It would not join their fight or participate in their war. It was a shame. New Earth¡¯s technology and production were under Father¡¯s control. If he¡¯d managed to convince the program to help Greenland, they could have been given a whole army of mechanical soldiers. Fighting Skycloud would have become a whole lot easier. But Cloudhawk felt no regret. Earth¡¯s original people had lived here in peace and prosperity for a thousand years. That harmony should never be disturbed. If it was their choice not to join the fight, then so be it. His enemies were many and they were strong, but Cloudhawk had a plan. ¡°What¡¯s this place?¡± The two wastelanders stood before a large door where a number of young men and women were passing through. They were definitely unique, for they had neither the hard and brutal air of wastelanders nor the haughty arrogance of Elysians. This was a school. More specifically, a university. It was named after an old learning institution from ancient Earth. As they walked passed the school Cloudhawk made a number of the young women blush. The boys, on the other hand, seemed eager to capture Hellflower¡¯s attention. However, when they saw her walking with Cloudhawk they scowled and sighed with regret. New Earth¡¯s universities, hospitals, even their bars were all made in the old style. Hellflower and Cloudhawk even passed a number of churches. Old Earth¡¯s religion even persisted here after so long. Cloudhawk noted that there were some similarities in their architecture and icons to what he saw in Skycloud. The ancient religions focused on doing good deeds and achieving inner peace. Some of that was present in Skycloud, but it was more about worship and service. Perhaps that was inevitable, since their god was real and present. It was more real, and the living god was a powerful symbol. All in all, the city was filled from one corner to the other with incredible things to see and experience. Coming here was like taking a portal to the past, where the old civilization still thrived. Eventually they made their way to the administrative center of the Earth Federation. An audience was granted with president Tang Zhonghua. Tang Zhonghua knew Father¡¯s directives, but still greeted the two denizens of his old planet with warmth and congeniality. ¡°Father was very clear la, we are not to participate in disputes of na mother world. But from my own view, mu hopes new humans and original humans can build a close relationship. After all, we come from same root ba.¡± Cloudhawk nodded his head. ¡°I hope so, too. That¡¯s why I¡¯d like to introduce you to Green Alliance¡¯s chief scientist.¡± Tang Zhonghua turned his eyes to Hellflower and his brows raised in surprise. In his world science was a complicated, mysterious field. It was the elderly who had the time and learning necessary to excel in that area. Although it was difficult for him to know precisely how old Hellflower was, she wasn¡¯t the seventy or eighty he was expecting. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°Hellflower is the most outstanding scientist in our Alliance ¨C probably the entire world. She is a master of many fields of study, especially biology, quantum physics and advanced materials. I was hoping we might introduce her as a liaison so that our two peoples can learn from one another.¡± Tang Zhonghua knew well that new man was very different from his people. For instance, Cloudhawk could probably destroy an entire army of proto-humans on his own. He had strength Tang Zhonghua could only imagine. His scientist and military leader, Hellflower, had a mind comparable to their best computers. She had spent years wandering the wastes with a single-minded mission to learn everything there was to know, and she¡¯d largely succeeded. A lot of what she knew could indeed provide what the Earth Federation lacked. Tang Zhonghua gave voice to his curiosity. ¡°What do you want to learn from Earth Federation?¡± It was Hellflower who answered. ¡°I am very interested in your optical computing.¡± The computer was an incredible engine of human development in the ancient times. Some simpler machines had been restored to use in the wastelands, but their functions were limited. In the wastelands it was difficult to get the materials and energy needed to make the better computers work. As they¡¯d wandered around New Earth, Hellflower had noted computers that employed light and calculated extremely fast. If she could learn more about this technology and bring it back to Greenland, it would benefit both her research and their military. Cloudhawk nodded. Father would not allow New Earth to participate directly in their fight, but it hadn¡¯t forbidden communication between their people. If they traded some of what they knew for the secrets of the old civilization, it would benefit everyone. Tang Zhonghua did not agree immediately. He turned his attention unto Cloudhawk. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hoping for books and data,¡± Cloudhawk answered. ¡°I want our children to learn about our shared history.¡± That was a tall order, but as a matter of procedure Tang Zhonghua was expected to consult with Father before allowing it. However, after meeting the two new humans himself Tang Zhonghua was struck by their earnest nature. ¡°I will allow your requests. We welcome Miss Hellflower, mu excellent scientist, as cultural and knowledge liaison. We hopes she can be a visiting professor at our university, ba.¡± Tang Zhonghua gave the order to see their requests done. New Earth had no books. Trees and other flora were precious, so they weren¡¯t going to use the material so frivolously. However, once Green Alliance was able to build more advanced optical computers, all the data Cloudhawk hoped for would be available to access. It would even include precious databanks and backups of ancient knowledge for use as he pleased. And thus, Cloudhawk¡¯s goals were achieved. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 618 - Book 6, Chapter 10 Moonlight penetrates the shimmering boundary, and sprinkles its silver light over Greenland. In the middle of an otherwise still training field a young woman trains, drenched in sweat. Over and over again she practices swinging her exorcist rod, full of speed and power. Each strike whistles through the air and expels gusts of wind. A dozen practice dummies lay in pieces around her. Her current target was riddled with holes and on its last legs. She moved as fluid as a fish through water. Sweat caused her clothing to stick to her and dripped from her hair, clumps of it clinging to her face. Yet still she pressed on with a fervent light in her eyes. Driven. Azura was only barely ten years old and already she was surprisingly strong. She was capable of besting some of the best of the Talons already on her own! Headmistress Claudia said that if she kept up this pace, in two years even she might have a hard time beating the girl. Her rate of growth was nothing short of spectacular. It¡¯d earned her a nickname: Greenland¡¯s Star. Azura was the most talented child in the whole territory. She was tough, tenacious and smart. From her tiny body poured a tremendous amount of physical and mental strength. Hers was truly a mighty spirit. She was the future of Greenland, a representation of the bright future they could expect. But Azura wasn¡¯t satisfied. She wasn¡¯t good enough yet. She wasn¡¯t anywhere near strong enough. She continued to practice with her exorcist rod until a deep weariness swept over her. Pain and weakness crept through every inch of her, so intense she nearly fainted. But her will refused to compromise, so she grit her teeth and focused until the feeling subsided. She grunted, and was fine. She struck out with her rod once again. She felt as though by forcing back the discomfort she¡¯d accessed a deeper power within herself. It was released with her strike as a torrent of wind. The practice dummy in front of her was ripped to pieces. She stood there panting heavily. Today she¡¯d had a breakthrough. It was a good feeling, to overcome one¡¯s limitations. These challenges helped her on her path of accomplishment, but it still wasn¡¯t enough ¨C not even close. If she was going to be like her master then she had a lot more work to do. Cloudhawk was no typical person, of course. His history, talent, encounters¡­ hell, nothing in his life could ever be emulated. Reaching up to where he was seemed impossible. But Azura was not the sort to give up when something seemed hard. Her young spirit and immature thoughts were firm and confident. Nothing in this world was impossible. No matter how small the person or how humble the soul, so long as one did their best they could command incredible power! ¡°Hey, Blue!¡± ¡°We thought you might be here.¡± ¡°Why are you still training? You need rest.¡± Azura stopped and turned to the group of children walking across the training field. They were her classmates in the demonhunter academy. Even at a young age Azura had a leader¡¯s personality and charm. Not only was she talented, but also reliable and mature. She was well liked by everyone she knew. When they approached she stopped flailing around and slipped the rod back into her waistband. ¡°What are you doing here? Come to train?¡± ¡°Forget it, sister. We aren¡¯t interested in getting beat up.¡± ¡°Leader Cloudhawk brought a lot of good stuff for the Institute. We¡¯re all going to take a look, come with us!¡± What? Master had come back? Azura said nothing else and went with them to see what was going on. She was one of several thousand Institute students who heard the news. They all gathered in the empty central ground. All the children here came to learn different disciplines. In the future they would be the leaders, using this knowledge to propel humanity further along. Without a doubt, they were all the hope for the wasteland¡¯s future. Gatherings of the whole student body like this were rare, so it was to be something important. ¡°Leader Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the leader of the Green Alliance!¡± Cloudhawk, Headmistress Claudia and several instructors appeared before the students. When he revealed himself there was a chorus of excited calls. The eyes of the students were bright with admiration and fanaticism. Cloudhawk was more than a man to them, he was a living legend. He was a god of the wastelands! Without Cloudhawk there would be no Greenland. There would be no Green Alliance. Without Cloudhawk, these children didn¡¯t know where they would be or even if they would still be alive. Without their great leader, the wastelands would still be a place of darkness. Cloudhawk was bringing the light of rebirth to this barren place. He was Greenland¡¯s greatest protector and an icon to every member of the young generation. Wastelanders were tough, brutal, violent and sometimes cruel, but everyone without exception recognized Cloudhawk¡¯s superiority. He greeted them. The students all fell silent. ¡°For a thousand years the wastelands have been a place of chaos. As we¡¯ve fought to survive through the darkness we have lost ourselves. We were forced to throw aside something very important.¡± Cloudhawk looked out over the expectant faces. ¡°But not everything is lost forever. Most of us want to know where we came from, our long-lost culture. These are important, for if you know your past you won¡¯t get lost on your path to the future.¡± ¡°You all are lucky. You can all stop searching.¡± ¡°From today, Greenland Institute is opening a new class fully available to anyone who is interested. It will teach you about our history. You will come to understand the world we live in. This class will prove that humans weren¡¯t meant to be humble insects crawling through the dirt forever. Once our culture was flourishing and glorious. It¡¯s important for us to always carry this pride, no matter where we go.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with talk. How about you see for yourselves?¡± Cloudhawk held out a small, spider-shaped robot. The machine skittered from Cloudhawk¡¯s grip and out into the field. Its back opened and its eight legs dug into the ground for stabilization. Then, a complex projection device popped up from inside its carapace. It sparked to life and images began appearing in the air. They were scenes of the old world, the same ones Cloudhawk had witnessed, copied from New Earth¡¯s databases. It revealed a beautiful blue world, brilliant against an expansive dark universe. Cloudhawk watched the awe bloom on the faces of the children and it filled him with satisfaction. Ninety-nine percent of wastelanders didn¡¯t even know what the world they lived in was called, that it was round, or what it might have looked like long ago. Now it was time they knew. This was the mother that birthed humans and their once-great civilization ¨C Earth! This precious video data was given to him by New Earth. It detailed the history of their world from prehistoric times, introducing the idea of evolution. The information he brought them would change the way wastelanders viewed their world and help them understand their place in it. Once they knew where they¡¯d come from, everyone would understand where it was they were trying to go. Azura¡¯s big eyes were fixed on the rotating blue orb. She listened as everything was explained. Her heart filled with a sense of¡­ longing. Yes, that was the world. That was the image she¡¯d seen so often in her dreams. She felt like a lost little boat the finally caught a glimpse of a lighthouse. Genuine desire welled up inside her. If they called Cloudhawk a revolutionary, then Azura wanted to be a reformer. Azura wanted to be the one to carry on her Master¡¯s legacy. She wanted to see their world one day be the same sea-soaked blue marble it used to be. She wanted to see it covered in forests and rivers and flowers on every continent. Azura¡¯s dream was a child¡¯s dream ¨C impractical and naive. But something about it called to the depths of her spirit. The display captured the imaginations of not just the students. Talon soldiers and even Headmistress Claudia stared in open amazement. They could not fathom where Cloudhawk could have found this information. If this were all true the implications of this data were incredible. Cloudhawk was promising to shine a light on humanity¡¯s lost history. Indeed he was the man to drive away the darkness, clear away the mist and help the wastelanders find the truth about themselves. Who would be so foolish to say history wasn¡¯t important? It was an intangible power, but a power stronger than any physical thing Cloudhawk could give them. He watched the pictures with them for a long time. No one wanted to look away, staring with confused and conflicted expressions. But the world beneath their feet had a long and storied history, one that wouldn¡¯t be understood in one night. Nor would they have the opportunity, for Dawn rushed to find Cloudhawk and delivered some news. ¡°You need to come, quickly. Something¡¯s happened.¡± Cloudhawk followed her to Greenland¡¯s central fort. There he found Wolfblade and the drunk already waiting. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± It was Wolfblade who answered. ¡°It appears the Conclave of Judgment and Skycloud are making overtures.¡± Cloudhawk frowned. ¡°This quick? How?¡± ¡°Last night we received an urgent message from the Dark Atom. They were being attacks by internal and external forces. Judging by the urgency of the report, it seems the Dark Atom may be no more. Nucleus has powerful defenses, but no sufficient leadership. Especially if part of the threat came from the inside.¡± ¡°How bad are the losses?¡± Cloudhawk asked. Again, Wolfblade answered. ¡°The casualties and loss of the city aren¡¯t important. What worries me most are the several nuclear bombs hidden in the base. They are all likely too damaged to be repaired, but can still pose a threat in enemy hands.¡± The Dark Atom bore the name because while digging through the volcanic remnants in the Blisterpeaks, they¡¯d uncovered a number of nuclear silos left behind from the ancient civilization. Within them were several unfired ballistic warheads. They were among the most powerful weapons ever created, the apex of destruction from ancient times. Adder had used one to obliterate Skycloud¡¯s protective wall, and that stark display proved how devastating they were. Dawn growled in anger. ¡°So if they are a threat with these bombs, why aren¡¯t we reacting?¡± Helplessly, Wolfblade addressed her. ¡°The bombs aren¡¯t easy to dismantle. They¡¯ve been protected with self-destruction mechanisms. They are also all damaged ¨C Adder had retrieved the only one we¡¯d managed to repair.¡± ¡°Whatever the situation, if Nucleus has been attacked we can¡¯t just sit here.¡± Cloudhawk said. Dawn looked at him. ¡°So what¡¯s your plan?¡± Cloudhawk looked up at the tranquil skies. ¡°Tranquil times can¡¯t last forever. Whatever is meant to come will come. We prepare for war with the Conclave of Judgment. It¡¯s time for the wasteland to rise form the ashes.¡± Conflict between the Green Alliance and the Conclave was inevitable. Only this time, it would happen on the Conclave¡¯s turf, so they would have no advantage. The most dangerous fact, however, was that Skycloud would not be idle. The resistance against unifying the wastelands under the Green Alliance would be strong. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 619 - Book 6, Chapter 11 The Green Alliance made preparations to deploy eighty thousand troops spread between eight hundred airships. In terms of the size of its army, the Green Alliance held no advantage. Equipment and artillery were also lacking. However, Cloudhawk¡¯s warriors were more refined and better trained. Among these troops was not only Greenland¡¯s own crack divisions, but also equipment from Nox constituting the latest generation of wasteland tools of war. Without question, the Green Alliance¡¯s army was the most excellent in the southern wilds. Within Greenland Fort¡¯s war room, several high-ranking members of the Alliance were studying the best ways to confront the enemy. Cloudhawk was staring at a huge map of the wastelands. ¡°With Nox¡¯s support and equipment, our army is no less deadly than Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force. However, after Sanctuary Nox¡¯s own forces are still recovering. The size of our forces is inferior, not only to the Conclave but even just to Skycloud city¡¯s standing army.¡± Dawn, Wolfblade and the drunk were all in attendance. They listened respectfully and did not interrupt. ¡°Clearly the conclave¡¯s attack on Nucleus was intended to draw us into their territory. Draw a snake from its hole and then cut off the head.¡± Cloudhawk took a stick and drew a line across the map. ¡°If we send everything we have against the Conclave, Skycloud will certainly take the opportunity to attack the Green Alliance while we¡¯re away. If we sent eighty thousand as we¡¯re discussing, the conclave is sure to ambush them en route, with some of Skycloud¡¯s elite hidden among them. Chances are our elite will be annihilated before ever getting their foot in the door. The Green Alliance will have lost the bulk of its fighting force.¡± Cloudhawk had thought about this problem thoroughly. The Conclave¡¯s attack on Nucleus could not be ignored by the Green Alliance, but it was the opening move in a crafty scheme their enemy had carefully concocted. The Conclave¡¯s ultimate target was the Green Alliance. They wanted to break this deadlock as quickly as possible. Attacking Nucleus was the best and most direct method to get the Green Alliance to act. Nucleus was also a part of the Green Alliance. If they did nothing and let the city fall into enemy hands, other cities would fear for their safety. What would stop the Conclave from taking the rest of the Green Alliance¡¯s territory piecemeal? But, what if they took the bait? That would be the most costly, for indeed the Conclave would not be satisfied with anything less than the Green Alliance¡¯s absolute destruction. If they sent a strong enough force to contend with their enemies, they left their nest empty and exposed. The Conclave wouldn¡¯t even have to attack at that point and leave it to Arcturus, who would lead Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force across the south uncontested. While the Conclave led the Green Alliance¡¯s army across the Northern Barrens by the nose, Arcturus would take their homes from the south and leave them pinned on both sides. Cloudhawk¡¯s forces would be left with enemies on two fronts and no home to go back to. At the same time the Conclave could use the strategy of siege and support. Having taken over Nucleus they could reinforce the defensible position and use it to their advantage against its former owners. Meanwhile Skycloud¡¯s forces would harass them en route, laying ambushes that would hamstring the Green Alliance before they even got to their destination. With most or all of Cloudhawk¡¯s forces tied up, his enemy¡¯s plans to take the south could resume and their dream of unification under Arcturus realized. To fight or not to fight¡­ no matter what route they chose, the end result for their Alliance was a sour one. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°This fight is very different from the last one. They¡¯re luring us into enemy territory where the Conclave can use its superior numbers, cities and Skycloud¡¯s help to give them significant advantages. Enough to mobilize a deadly resistance at a moment¡¯s notice. Once we¡¯re trapped in the Northern Barrens, the situation would be very bad.¡± ¡°If we fight, we¡¯re screwed. If we don¡¯t, same deal. What are we supposed to choose?¡± Dawn felt that after only a few months since its establishment, the Green Alliance wasn¡¯t wholly settled yet. There were a number of cities and settlements that were still holding out against joining. Some that had joined were still not entirely convinced it was in their best interest. A war against the Conclave, which had had two years to gain solid footing, did not bode well for their fledgling Alliance. Besides that, this fight was in the Northern Barrens ¨C Conclave territory. Home turf advantage was difficult to overcome. Then there was Arcturus waiting in the wings. The fight hadn¡¯t even started and things were already looking bad for the Green Alliance. Any way you cut it, victory looked like a distant hope. Their young group only had one chance at survival so they couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Wolfblade lent his voice to the conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, things aren¡¯t hopeless. Our options are limited, but remember that our enemy is not a monolithic whole. At least in Skycloud. Arcturus has considerable forces at work against him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Cloudhawk said with a nod. ¡°Arcturus is hiding the truth from his people, but there are deeply ingrained feelings of fear and distrust among Elysians and wastelanders. Arcturus can¡¯t openly send his army in support of the Northern Barrens, because such brazen support would shatter the image he¡¯s trying to cultivate. If he sends his armies north he can¡¯t formally join with the Conclave. If we¡¯re clever, we can use that disconnect to our advantage.¡± Dawn was an Elysian, born to a military family. She was well aware of the truth in Cloudhawk¡¯s words. Arcturus might have control of the armed forces, but making those proud soldiers fight shoulder to shoulder with wastelanders was too much to ask. If he dispatched them to intercept the Green Alliance, they would be doing it alone. Dawn wasn¡¯t stupid. When she realized the opportunity she connected the dots. ¡°I got it! So we use those contradictions to pin down Skycloud¡¯s forces, break through the Conclave, then establish ourselves in Woodland Vale. From there we have a solid harbor in the Northern Barrens.¡± She was just right. But what about these contradictions? Primarily that meant Arcturus Cloude and Ramiel Caelestis! It was clear that Arcturus had grown in strength and prominence in the last two years. Yet, with the Cloud God slumbering it would make sense to imagine Ramiel as the highest authority of the Temple and Skycloud¡¯s religious institutions. Never before had the High Priest been so elevated. Surely he could find some way to wrest back power. That was their chance! Ramiel represented the Temple, a force that had always been independent of Skycloud¡¯s politics and military. It didn¡¯t matter how strong Arcturus was, he could never directly compel the Temple to act. In this way, Ramiel¡¯s position was even higher than the Governor¡¯s. Of course, the Temple¡¯s forces couldn¡¯t compare with the entirely of Skycloud¡¯s army. That being said, it was still a force to be reckoned with. Ramiel had the authority to command all the major churches of the realm as well, thus wielding substantial influence. Even if Arcturus was fearful of the Temple and its position, on the surface at least he had to remain respectful. He couldn¡¯t act rashly. Cloudhawk needed a way to reach the Temple. By using the conflicts in Skycloud, perhaps he could pin down or eliminate the immediate threat of Skycloud intervention. Thus protected from ambush, the Green Alliance could postpone saving Nucleus and instead make for Woodland Vale. From there, using the realm¡¯s formidable defenses, they would be in a much better position to fight the Conclave of Judgment. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± Dawn asked. ¡°You three gather the army and make for the north. Find a way to break through the siege, and ignore any overtures from Skycloud. The rest, leave to me.¡± Inwardly Cloudhawk struggled with what he had to do. His identity and responsibilities would cause some¡­ discomfort, but it had to be done. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to tie Arcturus hands and stop him from meddling.¡± Dawn wished to speak, but on consideration held her words. She wasn¡¯t pleased with the idea. She knew at this juncture there was only one person Cloudhawk could reach out to for help. That was Selene Cloude, the Temple¡¯s Apostle. She was Ramiel¡¯s right hand, a woman he hoped to turn into a weapon against Arcturus. Since she was looking for ways to make Arcturus pay for his crimes, she would perhaps be open to the opportunities Cloudhawk presented. Dawn approached Cloudhawk and, removing a necklace, handed it to him. ¡°What this?¡± He asked. ¡°I can¡¯t force that woman to do anything, but I do still have connections with the Temple. Take this necklace and show it to the oracle Aquaria. Tell her I¡¯m at risk of dying to Arcturus and his rebel siege. See if that inspires her to do something for a change.¡± Cloudhawk had forgotten that Dawn used to be closely connected to the Temple. At one time she was their darling, in the process of being groomed to lead their Templars. Her mother, Aquaria, was one of two prime Oracles ¨C the Oracle of Order, second only to the High Priest and higher in influence than Grand Prior Phain. However, the oracles only acted for the good of the Temple. Even something this threatening to the Polaris family wouldn¡¯t necessarily compel Aquaria to intervene. That was the source of Dawn¡¯s grudge against her mother. But this was a different time and circumstance, otherwise how could someone with Dawn¡¯s stubborn nature ask for her help? If the Temple wished to claw back some of its autonomy and strength from Arcturus, there would surely come a period of strife ¨C both open and in secret. As the saying went, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If Cloudhawk could make clever use of this relationship, perhaps they could change the situation to their benefit. Some things man had to take into his own hands! His deeds could mean all the difference. Cloudhawk closed his fist around the necklace and looked Dawn in the eyes. ¡°I leave the army in your hands.¡± ¡°You be careful.¡± Dawn looked back at him, her eyes clear and radiant. The meeting was concluded and everyone left to make preparations. For this excursion to the north, they would need to leave themselves some wriggle room. In order to ensure Skycloud didn¡¯t steal territory out from under them, Cloudhawk had to leave behind a large enough contingent of soldiers to maintain the border. He pondered for a long time before coming to a decision. Autumn! After the last several months, Autumn had managed to reestablish peace and stability in her own realm of Meadow. Meadow was too far away to be threatened by Arcturus, especially since to get there one had to pass through the dangerous and unknown ancient battlefield. Arcturus couldn¡¯t feasibly attack Meadow, and besides the godly realm was protected by powerful enchantments. It was also adjacent to Nox, which had formidable power to bear if needed. At the very least, the Khan of Evernight could effectively defend the Alliance¡¯s rear. Even if Skycloud spread itself thin and attacked two fronts at once, they could not easily slip across the Green Alliance¡¯s borders. So leaving Autumn back in Meadow didn¡¯t make much sense. However Greenland, as the heart of the Alliance, needed a powerful defender. She was more than capable enough for the post. The other option was Abaddon, however he felt he could place more trust in the Shepherd God. As for the army being led into the north, under the guidance of the Green Alliance Governor Wolfblade, there was also the drunk, Abaddon and Dawn to command the forces. Now that everything was arranged, the soldiers would ship out in three days. Cloudhawk left Greenland on his own, with his eyes fixed on the distance horizon toward Skycloud. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 620 - Book 6, Chapter 12 Book 6, Skycloud, within a small park. ¡°Die, Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°You wicked devil!¡± ¡°Today you will be cut down by my sword!¡± A group of children were playing heroes and villains. One of them, face covered with a frightening ghost mask, was playing the antagonist. He was committing all manner of imaginary crimes, ferocious and terrible deeds attributed to Cloudhawk ¨C public enemy number one. The other children flailed their wooden swords at him, playing the role of various heroes and demonhunters. ¡°Spare me! Spare me!¡± The unfortunate child playing the part of Cloudhawk was surrounded and battered about by their weapons. In an effort to get free he took off, only to smack into someone crossing the road. The little boy bounced against a nearby wall and then tumbled to the ground, his ghost mask scattering across the stone. ¡°Tubby! You ok?¡± The children dropped their swords came running, but stopped dead in their tracks. With wide eyes they looked up at the figure their friend had run into. He was a young man in a dark cloak, tall and strong. The face that peered at them from beneath the cowl was mature and handsome, with wind-tousled black hair and shining dark eyes. He leaned down and helped the young boy to his feet. He then picked up the mask and handed it back with a gentle question. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Even at their young age the children could tell this was no ordinary man. The child took his mask and quickly apologized to the stranger. ¡°I¡¯m sorry mister, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± The enigmatic man smiled amicably. ¡°Are you lot playing heroes and villains?¡± Several of the boys nodded their heads. ¡°We¡¯re fighting the monster of the wastelands, Cloudhawk!¡± There was some surprise in the black-haired man¡¯s reaction. ¡°You¡¯re trying to kill Cloudhawk?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± One of them, an older boy, puffed out his chest indignantly. ¡°That devil Cloudhawk deserves to die! He killed the Commander General, Archbishop Zoren, tried to destroy Skycloud and killed tens of thousands of loyal soldiers at Sanctuary. He could die a hundred times and his sins could never be forgiven! He could never wash al the blood off his hands even if they used all the holy water in the realm!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°My second uncle died fighting Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°When we grow up, we¡¯ll hunt him down and kill him. We¡¯ll get revenge for everyone he¡¯s hurt!¡± The stranger looked down at the clamorous children without any hint of emotion. ¡°You might not get the chance. Cloudhawk could die in a few days at the hands of Master Arcturus.¡± The boys all nodded. ¡°Yeah, maybe. Master Arcturus won¡¯t let that evil man live for long!¡± A clever child piped up. ¡°But when Cloudhawk dies, another evil person will show up. We can¡¯t rest!¡± ¡°One Cloudhawk is enough for this world. I hope there will never be a second.¡± The young man patted the pudgy bow¡¯s face. ¡°Cloudhawk¡¯s a scary guy, if you want to beat him you all have to train hard. Go on, head home.¡± With a flurry of polite goodbyes the bows took their tubby friend and left. The fatty felt especially friendly toward the stranger. He was warm and somehow familiar. But no one asked his name or who he was. He turned around to ask but was surprised to discover that the stranger was nowhere to be seen. Had he been a demonhunter? The pudgy boy thought about it for a moment and decided that had to be the case. Only a demonhunter was so different, noble, and mysterious. ** Cloudhawk returned to Skycloud city. It was not a difficult feat to accomplish, this time. These days, anywhere Cloudhawk wanted to go was open to him. With his current strength and master of spatial power, there were only a scant few who could stand in his way. The city inspired complicated feelings in him. At one time it was paradise, then it¡¯d become a life-changing turning point. What if he could go back six years? What if he could be that kid once again, stepping off the boat with Bloomnettle Company, but this time knowing everything that was to come? What would that kid do? He¡¯d come here searching for peace and quiet, but instead it sent him down a path of twists and turns that only lead to more strife. In reality young Cloudhawk would probably not hesitate a moment to enter the city, even knowing what would come. He¡¯d been a stubborn boy who banged his head against a wall until either his head cracked or the wall gave way. He¡¯d changed a lot mentally in the last few years. When he first met the Bloodsoaked Queen, his head had been filled with rose-tinted fantasies of the divine realm. Even after seeing the cruelty of Elysians to wastelanders, he still bore hope and longing. Cloudhawk never achieved the dream he was after. In the end his hopes were dashed and he was left out in a storm. Lost, he drifted aimlessly. That was when he met another figure who again changed his life. After meeting Skye Polaris, for the first time Cloudhawk began to think about what the purpose of his life was. He decided to take charge of how his life changed, and to do something with it. But this rock in the tide was washed away when he was murdered. Cloudhawk was remanded to the Temple, labeled a blasphemer, and from that moment on there was no place for him here. If Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t escaped, the Polaris family wouldn¡¯t have defected to the wastelands. The battle for Sanctuary never would have occurred, the Green Alliance would never be. Everything the world was embroiled in would have been different, or never would have occurred at all. If one had a chance at wealth, health and happiness, who would pass that up? But that wasn¡¯t the case. All that was lost could not be retrieved. One could not turn back the hands of time. Cloudhawk walked by the Polaris family¡¯s estate. It was deserted now, its doors shut tight. The members of house Polaris had all left Skycloud. Their prestige, represented by this manor, was a thing of the past. Two blocks down the street was another empty estate that had once belonged to the richest merchant family in Skycloud. The Lunae family was also no more, and its holdings had all been purchased by another rich merchant. The atmosphere around Skycloud had changed quite a lot. Its citizens had once been stalwart in faith and believed their city was the center of the earth. Before the wall fell, they were certain the evils of the outside world could never touch them. Adder irrevocably changed that when he detonated the nuclear bomb. In that moment Skycloud was opened to all the foul things it¡¯d managed to ignore for generations. For the first time, its citizens realized how precarious their peace had been. They probably didn¡¯t even realize it was all just the beginning of the turmoil. Cloudhawk pondered over the best way to reach out to the Temple. As he did, a carriage borne by snow-white griffins clattered down the lane. Seated within were two familiar figures. One was a pretty woman cradling a two year old child. Beside her was a man in his thirties with fiery red hair. He looked to be her husband, and judging by their mode of travel they were both important people in the city. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Madam Veronika and Blaze?¡± [1]. Luckily Lady Veronika married Blaze Pyrrus of the League of Demonhunters. The union of the Leclair family and the League have made them both stronger.¡± Cloudhawk listened to the passersby as they gossiped. So it was those two? Veronika came from an offshoot part of the Leclair family, but was a remarkable member nonetheless. As a graduate of Hell¡¯s Valley she once fought shoulder to shoulder with Cloudhawk. Blaze, the man at her side, he¡¯d also encountered on several occasions. He was the second in command of the League of Demonhunters and one of the bright stars of his generation. Only, he worked hard to keep a low profile and was only slightly more recognized than Atlas Umbra. Both of them had an ax to grind with Cloudhawk. The Leclair line¡¯s patriarch had been Archbishop Zoren, who was slain by Cloudhawk at the battle for Sanctuary. Blaze¡¯s younger sister, Belinda, had died following Cloudhawk on a mission to Woodland Vale. Both Veronika and Blaze now hated Cloudhawk to various degrees. He hadn¡¯t expected to simply run into them like this. Things in Skycloud all looked the same, but the people had all changed in some way or another. It made Cloudhawk nervous, for there were many in the city who would recognize him. He¡¯d changed a lot, both in presence and appearance, but there was no guarantee he wouldn¡¯t be recognized. Things would turn very bad very quick if he was discovered. He¡¯d wanted to wander the city a little and remember old times, but there was no one he could trust out here. Perhaps it would be better to make his way directly to the Temple and do what he¡¯d come here to do. As he made his decision Cloudhawk felt an electric shock run through his body. It was his danger sense. It felt like being stared down by a poisonous viper. When he turned around he saw a figure standing there, who¡¯d managed to approach unnoticed. He was an average looking man, at least from the little he could see. Half the figure¡¯s face was hidden behind a black mask. Wrapped in black from head to toe he was like a living shadow. On the surface there was little to be concerned of, but the aura he exuded was one of lethal danger. Janus Umbra, the Titan of Many Faces. Cloudhawk felt his heart skip a beat. What was he doing here? A haunting, evil lingering force ¨C how did he even know Cloudhawk was in the city?! He¡¯d been careful and was confident he could be just as sneaky as this assassin. He hadn¡¯t interacted with anyone since coming back, so unless Janus had some way to know the future there was no reasonable explanation for him being here. Janus stared at Cloudhawk with cold, dead eyes. ¡°Your mask once belonged to me.¡± Cloudhawk absently touched the Mask of a Thousand Faces, tucked away in his clothes. It used to belong to Janus? Had he been able to track down Cloudhawk by its resonance? But the mask had been given to him by Selene, so what was his connection to it? Did he have some connection to Selene? Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes, and in their depths burned crimson fire. ¡°Are you here to try and stop me?¡± Janus¡¯ posture remains calm, he never reached for a weapon. He replied with apathetic tones. ¡°If I wanted to make my move, I wouldn¡¯t have let you see me. I am no match for you in a direct fight.¡± The man knew his limitations. Cloudhawk took a brief moment to glance around, looking for signs of an ambush. Janus was unlikely to try and fight him alone. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Come with me.¡± The assassin turned around and started walking away. Cloudhawk thought for just a moment, but fell in behind Skycloud¡¯s legendary killer. 1. Jeez, Blaze we¡¯ve seen since their first run-in at the Collection Convention, but Veronika we haven¡¯t seen since the end of book 2.[/ref[] ¡°Ever since Archbishop Zoren died, the Leclair family has lost a lot of clout [ref] Veronika was originally Veronika Bright. I didn¡¯t make the connection that they were from the same family until ¨C well, until just this second, actually. So retcon! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 621 - Book 6, Chapter 13 Book 6, Evening had taken hold. In a valley outside the city, near the mystical waterfall, was a simple wooden house bathed in moonlight. The scene was magical and gave the sense of being separate from the conflicts of the world. ¡°She is inside,¡± Janus revealed. Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± The assassin¡¯s figure shimmered and then vanished. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but wonder what the story was behind this mysterious assassin? But it was a passing curiosity, for there were more pressing things to consider at the moment. Waiting for him was a figure draped in white with a sword upon her back. Nothing about her essence had diminished with time. Beautiful, remarkable, transcendent, determined¡­ all the perfect qualities of a warrior and more. The moonlight hung over the space like a frozen mist, like a half-remembered dream. There she waited, a lonely figure. People were born alone but filled their lives with friendships, lovers, family and causes to combat that loneliness. Was it the same for her? Selene Cloude felt him arrive, but she made no move to acknowledge him. She knew the moment she turned around, the man before her wouldn¡¯t be the same freedom-seeking companion she remembered. The friend she fought across the wastelands with was gone. Now he was a great ruler of the wastes, a powerful revolutionary. A warrior even stronger than she. An unfortunate, star-crossed existence, both for him and for her. But reality didn¡¯t change because you refused to face it. Eventually, Selene shored up her courage and turned around. As expected Cloudhawk¡¯s bearing had changed, like he was a completely different person. Physically he was perfect, as though an artisan had sculpted him from a block of marble, expending a lifetime to build a masterpiece. Selene didn¡¯t feel happy for his new look. Often when one saw the final product of a masterpiece they did not pause to think of the untold suffering that led to its completion. Art, no matter how precious, achieved its value through how others viewed it. By its nature, art lost its own autonomy. [1] ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Cloudhawk greeted Selene with a smile. ¡°You look like you knew I was coming.¡± ¡°I know Arcturus¡¯ plans. Once Skycloud¡¯s army and the Conclave join forces, your Green Alliance has no hope of winning. It would make sense for you to come and seek my help, to ask the Temple for aid. Am I mistaken?¡± Arcturus Cloude was a cunning old fox. If the Green Alliance wanted to escape this predicament, dragging them Temple into the churning waters was their only hope. He hoped to stoke Skycloud¡¯s internal conflicts. How could Arcturus not recognize this, and take measures to protect himself? Without a doubt, Arcturus¡¯ spies had infiltrated the Temple and were watching the High Priest¡¯s every move. Anything they tried, Arcturus would know immediately. If Cloudhawk was caught in the Temple, whether they captured him or not the Governor would make sure the news spread. Immediately propaganda would circulate, that the Temple was in league with Cloudhawk. Such foul rumors would undermine the people¡¯s faith in the High Priest and their Temple. Thus neutered, Ramiel would have no way to fight back against Arcturus¡¯ tyranny. Selene foresaw this and approached Janus to ask for his help. She arranged this secret meeting so that Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t walk blindly into Arcturus¡¯ trap. Once she explained this to him, Cloudhawk replied. ¡°I remember Janus as Arcturus¡¯ man. Why is he helping you? Can we trust him?¡± ¡°Janus Umbra is very reliable, you don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± As ever, Selene was steadfast in her faith. ¡°The Court of Shadows in its entirety will stand by our side. Several families unhappy with Arcturus¡¯ actions also make preparations to aid us. When the time is right, we¡¯ll make our move and overturn the Cloude family. All that¡¯s left is to find a way to bring down Arcturus ¨C the most difficult task of all.¡± Cloudhawk was shocked to hear it. The Green Alliance wasn¡¯t the only opposition that had been fomenting. She¡¯d been doing all this right under his nose, though even if Arcturus knew he hadn¡¯t made any efforts to stop it. Either way it proved Selene occupied a very unique position. The two stared at one another; one black and one white, one like the day and one like the night. Ignoring each other¡¯s titles and identities and station, they recognized a shared enemy. If the threat of Arcturus remained then Cloudhawk¡¯s plans for the wastes and Selene¡¯s plans for Skycloud didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Arcturus will certainly act during this latest wasteland conflict,¡± Selene confirmed. ¡°This may be our only chance.¡± ¡°Arcturus will go out himself? That isn¡¯t like him.¡± The Master Demonhunter was better suited to leading from the back, taking the long view and overseeing with a bird¡¯s eye view. He only became personally involved if there were no better options. The Conclave of Judgment and Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force were his to command, not to mention other cards he could surely play. The board was stacked in his favor, so why risk appearing on the field himself? Arcturus¡¯ strategies had always been watertight. He already had absolute political and military control of the realm. Next, if he managed to strip the Temple of its power he would be uncontested. By that point, defeating the Green Alliance would be a relatively easy task. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Cloud God.¡± Selene explained. ¡°The Temple has once again sensed the Cloud God¡¯s mental presence. It¡¯s weak, but it is a sign that the Cloud God may be stirring. We anticipate within another year or two. For all of Arcturus¡¯ ambitions it doesn¡¯t matter what his final goal is, he cannot escape the wrath of Mount Sumeru.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s the reason. Arcturus wants to eliminate all opposition before the Cloud God wakes up. That¡¯s why he¡¯s willing to take this risk?¡± Signs of the Cloud God stirring was grim news for Arcturus, but it was equally dire for Cloudhawk. When the god awakened what would it matter if he beat Arcturus? The moment the Cloud God knew what happened he would take action, maybe even relay the news to Mount Sumeru. Once the gods got involved, his fate was sealed. Cloudhawk might be the new Demon King, but he didn¡¯t have Gehenna to call on yet. Cloudhawk trusted what Arcturus had told him. With humanity as it stood, fighting the gods was akin to suicide. But Cloudhawk was different from previous rebels. There was a chance he could muster support from Gehenna, and once the demons left their valley they would be a force that could threaten even the gods! He had to succeed before the Cloud God awakened, no matter the cost! ¡°I can help you think of a way to contain Skycloud¡¯s forces, but what do you plan to do once you unify the wastelands? When you¡¯re the true emperor of the wastes, fully one of them, will you lead them against Skycloud?¡± Emotion crept into Selene¡¯s voice, undermining her stoic facade. ¡°That¡¯s a path toward your own destruction. It¡¯s a fight you can¡¯t win!¡± Cloudhawk raised his head and looked up at the star-speckled sky. ¡°To tell you the truth, I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t turn back, I can¡¯t escape. There¡¯s too much on my shoulders and I can¡¯t just put down my burdens, too many people will get hurt. But I also can¡¯t live up to their expectations¡­ The best thing for someone like me is to die in battle. Then everyone can have a clear conscience and I won¡¯t let myself down.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Selene¡¯s hands curled into fists, she¡¯d suffered as much of this as she could. ¡°You know how hard I¡¯ve been fighting to bring you back, but you keep getting further away. I -¡± Cloudhawk cut her off by wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. Neither spoke. Nothing was more fitting than silence in this moment. He made no effort to change her mind or make his case, for no one understood Selene better than him. She was a warrior, and to her perseverance and faith was more important than life itself. He has neither the means nor the right to take that away from her. It would be unfair. Selene and Dawn were very different that way. Dawn was straightforward, simple in her world view. But Selene had grand hopes, to protect the two million citizens of Skycloud by virtue of her own strength. She wanted to use her own way to turn Skycloud into the paradise it was supposed to be. The road Cloudhawk walked wasn¡¯t one he could turn back from, not anymore. He had polluted the Cloud God, and when the deity awakened it would seek him out. Most likely, it would make Cloudhawk¡¯s destruction a priority over Arcturus¡¯ betrayal. So it was that Cloudhawk¡¯s real enemy wasn¡¯t Arcturus at all, but the mighty god behind all of Skycloud¡¯s power. Was this a fate who could run from? The obvious answer was no. Cloudhawk had decided to use his power to upend the servitude humans had been forced into. It was always his character to follow through once he¡¯d made up his mind. Anyway, there were too many fetters tying him to this fate. How could he throw away all his companions and the wasteland kingdom he¡¯d come to build? But as he stood there with Selene in his embrace he had to ask himself if they could stand to lose one another. He didn¡¯t know, but the twinge of panic that swept through him was painful and intense. He¡¯d lost so much already. He¡¯d come to terms with all that, but he wasn¡¯t sure he could let her go. ¡°Don¡¯t be so pessimistic, alright? Things aren¡¯t as bad as you think,¡± Cloudhawk whispered into her ear. ¡°I can find a way. With you leading Skycloud and me leading the wastelands we can change things, hand in hand. I will find a way.¡± Selene couldn¡¯t help but smirk when he made his impassioned plea. ¡°You¡¯re as naive as ever.¡± ¡°Not naive,¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°Just like the saying goes, in the end everything comes down to man¡¯s efforts. First we deal with the obstacles at hand. So long as Arcturus lives we¡¯re being kept down.¡± He was right. Arcturus had to be eliminated! Now was the time to take advantage of the opportunity. Cloudhawk was about to say something more when a feeling crept through him. He was immediately on alert. ¡°We¡¯ve been discovered!¡± An invisible power spread through the valley, locking up the space around them. Such a force severely impacted Cloudhawk¡¯s spatial abilities and spread over a vast swathe. No corner was left open for him to exploit. This had been prepared. Cloudhawk had been led into a trap. Janus appeared before the two of them. His voice was low and grave. ¡°The situation is bad. A host of Cloude family elite are closing in, even I had not seen them coming. They obviously have been preparing for this.¡± How was this possible? Selene had thought if they avoided meeting in the Temple they could escape this threat. She hadn¡¯t thought that in this secret place they would be discovered! 1. Recall how they left things. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 622 - Book 6, Chapter 14 The small valley was locked down. Agents from the Cloude family had lain in wait for this moment. Selene and Cloudehawk had underestimated Arcturus. Arcturus knew better than anyone his own weaknesses and deficiencies. He also knew where he could afford to take liberties or exploit an advantage. So there was no question that the Governor knew to take targeted measures early on for greatest effect. If the Green Alliance was planning on facing Skycloud¡¯s army, their best and only course of action would be to try and involve the Temple. To do that, Cloudhawk would have to contact Selene. Selene likely had her eyes on Arcturus and plans to counter him, so the Governor saw both his opponents clearly and knew their actions before they took them. There was never a plan to try and capture Cloudhawk at the Temple, rather he discovered Selene¡¯s plans to use this valley and set up his ambush here. A sure catch, leaving them no way to escape. Scandalous rumors of Selene¡¯s relationship with Cloudhawk had long been whispered around the realm. However, Ramiel had been largely successful in leveraging the Temple¡¯s power to keep those foul rumors from getting too loud. After all, Selene¡¯s position in the holy order was an important one. Such blasphemous actions could not be allowed to tarnish her or the Temple she represented. As for Cloudhawk, before his corruption he had been in the process of being groomed to replace Skye Polaris. The Commander General looked on him like a son, so Selene¡¯s interest in him was not suspect, nor was the time they spend overly long. Who would have suspected at that time that Cloudhawk would rise as head of a wasteland army? Times had changed. Now the Temple Apostle was involved in a secretive tryst with the leader of the Green Alliance. If word of such disgraceful things got out the people would be aghast. Even Ramiel would be unable to tamp down on such news. Especially after the battle for Sanctuary, Cloudhawk¡¯s name was cursed across the realm. His evil reputation would never be amended. Selene¡¯s good name would be forever soiled and with it the Temple¡¯s sterling prestige. Not only would it negatively impact the Temple¡¯s ability to act in the short term ¨C for instance, in helping the wastelanders ¨C but it would give Arcturus precious ammunition in his efforts to eliminate the Temple as a threat. No matter what, they could not afford to be caught. The consequences were too dire. ¡°You go!¡± Selene gave her orders to Janus. ¡°You can¡¯t let Arcturus know you were involved!¡± Janus¡¯ efforts were in secret and behind Arcturus¡¯ back. Him and his Court of Shadows were supposed to be important allies for the Governor. If they kept their true allegiances secret, they could attack when Arcturus least expected and deal a potentially mortal blow. If, on the other hand, Janus was discovered here, not only would the Cloude family be prepared for future betrayal but the master assassin himself would be in danger. ¡°Too late.¡± Janus did not make to flee. He was under no illusions that his efforts would be completely hidden from Arcturus and his genius. The Governor likely had long suspected Janus was not as loyal as he seemed. He hadn¡¯t moved against him or the Court because it wasn¡¯t the right moment to tip his hand in the Big Game. Until now these thoughts were merely speculation. Their frightful situation proved them to be true. In interrupting this important mission Arcturus likely knew of the Umbra family¡¯s treachery. No one was better suited for such clandestine missions than the Umbras and their Court of Shadows. Arcturus had done a fine job of concealing his efforts, for even Janus had been taken by surprise. Why hide this operation? Frankly, because Arcturus must have suspected Janus and his people. The assassin realized with a bitter realization that his dealings in the shadows were over. Animosity with the Cloude family was now inevitable. Zzzrrrttt! Four dazzling balls of electricity rose up around the cabin. In an instant, the valley was made bright as day for dozens of kilometers in every direction. The glowing orbs were so bright it was difficult to keep one¡¯s eyes open. ¡°This is an anti-reconnaissance relic used by Cloude elders.¡± Selene¡¯s face was cold as ice and a little crestfallen. She feared that elders of her family had come personally, mysterious and powerful figures that would not be easy to overcome. The powerful light from the orbs was as piercing as it was brilliant. No means of hiding ¨C mystical or otherwise ¨C were possible in this field. Even the highest levels of concealment would leave a trace. Janus ¡®Many Face¡¯ Umbra did not vanish. Rather there remained the faint mist surrounding a humanoid figure, plain as a black splotch on a white canvas. Janus was the foremost assassin in Skycloud and he could not hide, so Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even try. Once Arcturus Cloude deigned to act, few could escape. ¡°I will hold them off, you two escape.¡± Janus gave them no time to argue. Once his words left his lips, the assassin vanished. Now wasn¡¯t the time for arguments, anyway. Cloudhawk and Selene did as they were told. But as they looked for a way out, Cloudhawk could sense a symphony of resonance coming from every direction. The border of the light field was shrinking quickly. Enemies were too quick, they didn¡¯t have much room to maneuver. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°Coward!¡± ¡°We know you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Come out and fight us, if you can!¡± Shouts and taunts form demonhunters assailed Cloudhawk¡¯s ears. However, despite their boastful words everyone had been told that capturing Cloudhawk was secondary. Killing him wasn¡¯t as important forcing him into the open to expose his relationship with Selene. If they could show the realm her illicit deeds it would mean absolute victory for the Master. The Temple¡¯s holy angel in collusion with the wastelander devil¡­ such salacious news was exactly what Arcturus was hoping for. Selene could feel the border shrinking. All around and overhead, they were surrounded by elite demonhunters. Meanwhile the lock on spatial abilities intensified. It was a special sort of energy interference that undermined the use of spatial-focused relics. Even Cloudhawk¡¯s reflecting gauntlet couldn¡¯t dispel it. But he had to do something, otherwise there was no hope for escape. Fury twisted Selene¡¯s beautiful face. She wrapped her hand around Sublime Transcendence and prepared to attack. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash. If you strike them you¡¯ll have a hard time explaining your actions when you go back.¡± Selene shot back. ¡°If they find us here we¡¯ll find it even harder to explain. It¡¯s better if I attack than if you do. I¡¯ll stall them, you get out of here. Strong as you are now, I¡¯m confident you can do it.¡± Everyone knew Cloudhawk¡¯s tricks very well these days. His Gauntlets of Turning, Castigation Fire, Ardent Fire, the Silver Serpents ¨C these were all tools he¡¯d used at Sanctuary. If he used any of them it would be impossible to hide his presence here today. But even as this understanding dawned a cold grin snaked across Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°Arcturus, you bastard. You really underestimate me.¡± Selene looked at him in confusion. She was taken aback when Cloudhawk grabbed her by the arm and a strange feeling washed over her. All of a sudden the ground beneath their feet became like water and the two of them sank like stones. Suddenly Selene found herself several meters underground. ¡°What is going on?!¡± Shock was an understatement. The brilliant sword in her hand blazed, illuminating the space around them. She discovered they were buried in soil. Holding tight to her hand, Cloudhawk continued to pull her forward. The dirt warped around them like water and impeded them about as much. The undulating space was just large enough for the two of them to pass through, and once they did the earth was left unmolested in their wake. ¡°What relic is this?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes glimmered with a golden light, while from his pupils smoldered crimson fire. From within poured forth a power that could no longer merely be rated the likes of a Master Demonhunter. It was this power that was supporting their escape underground. ¡°Not a relic.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t explain. Even if he did she wouldn¡¯t understand, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted. The ability to use his will and mental energies to manipulate reality without a relic was still new to Cloudhawk, it wasn¡¯t a skill he¡¯d wholly mastered. It cost him dearly in effort to maintain and the only way he could do it was his recent explosion of strength. The two escapees traveled quickly through the dirt, away from the site of the ambush. Once he felt they were far enough away, Cloudhawk dragged Selene back to the surface. He looked at her dumbfounded expression. ¡°Look, Arcturus can only lock down my spatial powers. But if he thinks that¡¯ll be enough to catch me then he¡¯s dead wrong.¡± Selene frowned. ¡°Can you let go of my hand?¡± Cloudhawk realized he had yet to relinquish her soft hand. He recoiled when she pointed it out. As disappointment bloomed on Cloudhawk¡¯s face she felt a twinge of warmth in her chest. ¡°We have to go. When we find somewhere safe we can plan our next move.¡± Arcturus¡¯ ambush had come too quick. They hadn¡¯t had time to really discuss what they were going to do. They¡¯d managed to successfully escape, but they weren¡¯t yet free from danger. ¡°Allow me.¡± This sort of thing was Cloudhawk¡¯s specialty. Nowhere was safer than leaving the planet entirely. No matter how strong Arcturus was, he couldn¡¯t traverse space to hunt them down. So, after giving himself a moment to catch his breath and recover his strength, Cloudhawk prepared to teleport them away. Reality was filled with his mental power and a section of it began to ripple. A portal split open before them, and the two stepped forward toward safety. Suddenly! A blinding beam of light streaked their way from dozens of kilometers away! It blasted through an entire forest toward the center of Cloudhawk¡¯s back. Such power! Selene¡¯s eyes went wide. She shoved Cloudhawk out of the light¡¯s path and brought up Sublime Transcendence to block it. Sword and lightning met, resulting in a chain reaction of explosions for several meters in all directions. Selene felt intense, burning power flood her body and she was flung backward. Landing with a grunt, she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Thankfully her Holy Vestments were enough to save her life. The attack had come from a huge distance away, accurate and powerful enough to nearly slay Selene in one blow. There was only one capable of such a feat! Cloudhawk lost focus on the portal and it dissipated. Turning toward the source of the attack, he saw another salvo of lightning bolts heading his way. Most were directed at Selene, hoping to take this opportunity to slay her outright. ¡°Mother fucker!¡± Cloudhawk blinked through space, appearing in front of the fallen Acolyte. He stooped down, wrapped her in his arms and teleported again a thousand meters away in the air. But before he could even catch his footing, more bolts of lightning were closing in. How the hell was he locating them so quickly?! Cloudhawk punched at the bolts with his left arm. As he did a pale white light sprang up around him. The lightning sparked off through the forest, blasting through trees and causing them to catch fire. The intense power in every bolt was enough to split mountains, so where they wanted massive craters were left behind. It looked as though someone had carpet bombed the forest. How was Arcturus able to attack so accurately from so far away? Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t figure it out, and thus had no way to protect himself from it. He¡¯d grown strong since Sanctuary ¨C strong enough that he could instantaneously teleport himself huge distances. Even someone like Arcturus couldn¡¯t pin him down. But he wasn¡¯t alone, and he couldn¡¯t just leave Selene behind. To escape to another dimension he would need a few seconds, but to someone like Arcturus a few seconds was more than enough to blast them both to smithereens. Arcturus¡¯ powers were based in electricity. Electricity moved at the speed of light. The Master Demonhunter¡¯s attacks were also extremely precise. Cloudhawk would have no chance to open another portal. The aim was to break down Cloudhawk with a steady, overwhelming deluge of attacks. The exchange continued for another ten seconds before a familiar figure appeared on the field. He descended from above, gray robes flapping in the breeze. Ruin crackled ominously in his grasp. Cloudhawk raised the Gauntlet of Turning to protect himself. As ruin collided with the white light a hundred million sparks of lightning exploded around them. They arced and slithered through the air all around, and the ground below was burned in erratic trails. It was a terrible, incredible display. Cloudhawk was thrown so violently to the ground that he created a hole ten meters deep. He¡¯d managed to fling Selene to safety at the last moment and took the full brunt of the impact with his empowered body. While the results of his fall were dramatic to behold, he was unharmed. Arcturus Cloude slowly floated to the ground. Upon his face was a small smile which birthed spiderweb wrinkles around his eyes. He looked as nonplussed as ever. ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡± Cloudhawk looked back at him, face dark. This was real, real bad. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 623 - Book 6, Chapter 15 Arcturus¡¯ reaction time was shockingly fast. He was enveloped in a strange power as well, which somehow helped him to locate Cloudhawk and Selene. Clearly the powers of the Master Demonhunter were more wide-reaching and complex than anticipated. There was no question why he was considered the apex power in Skycloud. ¡°Surprised? I was as well, you managed to escape when I thought it would be impossible.¡± Arcturus floated toward Cloudhawk. His scholarly robes fluttered incessantly in an ominous breeze and in his right he bore the hiltless blade of Ruin. He looked like a god of thunder come down to earth, replete with oppressive mien. ¡°Cloudhawk, you have made a grave error. One that will spell the end of your Green Alliance.¡± Things were dangerous for Cloudhawk. He had no time for idle chatter. Stretching out a finger, a flaming bird composed of Castigation Fire burst into being. Its wingspan stretched a dozen meters and burgeoned with enough power to level a small army. ¡°You have spent much of your mental energy.¡± Wrapped in lightning, Arcturus appeared before Cloudhawk at the speed of light. Ruin crackled as it lashed at out him and the Temple¡¯s Acolyte. With no space to dodge, Cloudhawk could only try to deflect the weapon with his hand. The Governor¡¯s weapon was one of Skycloud¡¯s most baleful relics, Ruin. Only a few creatures in the earth¡¯s history were capable of wielding its power. Fewer still of flesh and blood could withstand its deadly kiss. Standing against Ruin, unprotected, was akin to suicide. However as Cloudhawk¡¯s hand raised against the weapon a repulsive force was expelled from his palm. Arcturus¡¯ attack stopped centimeters from his flesh. Bolts of lightning arced through the area. Cloudhawk stood against the fury of a god, burning through the air and ground in all directions. All across the world there were only a handful of people capable of doing what Cloudhawk had achieved. It was not the first time the two crossed swords. Last time Cloudhawk suffered one of the most painful defeats in his lifetime, one which nearly destroyed him completely. For more than a year he lived under the consequences of that meeting. Today, Cloudhawk¡¯s power was akin to Arcturus¡¯ own. The repulsive force he commanded was capable of deflecting the Master Demonhunter¡¯s attack, a fact that was unthinkable for nearly everyone. This act alone proved his superiority over the likes of the old drunk and others. But Arcturus¡¯ mental prowess was vast and powerful, while Cloudhawk¡¯s was waning. Threads of power jabbed at Cloudhawk like a hundred thousand burning needles. Even these seemingly innocuous bolts were enough to slay a normal demonhunter, but Cloudhawk¡¯s superior constitution protected him. Trickles of blood emerged where they landed, but otherwise the damage was not severe. However, the small field of power protecting him was growing weaker. If he didn¡¯t do something soon, Arcturus¡¯ next attack would cleave him in half. Suddenly the electric blue light was drowned out by the blazing power of Sublime Transcendence! It coalesced into a beam of frightening power, aimed right at the Governor! Arcturus¡¯ brow furrowed. With his right hand he kept pressure on Cloudhawk. With his left he summoned a shell of electromagnetism as a defense. It held fast against the sneak attack. Selene¡¯s attack did not harm the Master Demonhunter, but it had split his attention. Cloudhawk abused the chance by grabbing Selene and teleporting once again, this time ten thousand meters away. ¡°Your spatial powers are troublesome, but resisting is useless. There is no escape.¡± Arcturus flung his arm, and from the long sleeve of his robes was ejected several dozen needles. Each one crackled with electric energy, streaking through the air at thirty times the speed of sound. It seemed nearly instantaneous that they appeared in Cloudhawk¡¯s vicinity. He knocked several away, but three managed to find purchase in Selene¡¯s flesh. She grunted in pain as Arcturus¡¯ power was unleashed within her. Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened for he knew how terrible the Governor¡¯s attacks were. He and the old drunk had experienced it first hand and only barely survived. Arcturus assaulted not only the body, but the essence of power so that even the most miraculous means of healing had no effect. Even a glancing blow from the Governor was a dire circumstance, even despite Cloudhawk¡¯s interference. Employing the winding power of his electricity, Arcturus gave chase. He moved nearly as quick as Cloudhawk¡¯s teleportation and appeared close by in a flash. With Ruin held aloft, Arcturus launched into a flurry of attacks. Employing martial skill and his own relic, Cloudhawk fended off the blows. He couldn¡¯t hold out for long! Cloudhawk already had a speed disadvantage on top of trying to protect Selene. He couldn¡¯t fully concentrate on Arcturus. Each strike eroded some of Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energy and like an umbrella in a hail storm, at any moment it could be blown away. It was a dour realization to find that even after tremendous growth, Cloudhawk was still inferior to Arcturus¡¯ strength. In fairness, of course, he was exhausted from dragging Selene from the Governor¡¯s trap using mental abilities he was not yet adept at. That led directly to his weakened position here. At full strength, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t able to beat Arcturus but at least ¨C like Judas ¨C he would able to fight back instead of being immediately suppressed. In short and without question, Arcturus¡¯ strength far outstripped any typical demonhunter. Even a Master Demonhunter. Sounds in the distance told Cloudhawk Cloude family agents were closing in. Soon they would be completely surrounded and Arcturus had him too locked down to make an escape. Alone he would have been fine, the problem was trying to abscond with an injured ally. ¡°Give in,¡± Arcturus urged, fixing Cloudhawk with a stare. ¡°I can protect you.¡± But it was foolish to even ask. Selene knew that if they capitulated, neither she nor Cloudhawk would ever regain the power they gave up. Arcturus would rule the wilds, command Skycloud and keep the Temple under his thumb. The world whole would bow to his will and none would be able to stand against him. That dire future was precisely why they couldn¡¯t stop fighting. Cloudhawk was at the point of collapse, when suddenly a streak of light blasted toward the heavens like the first rays of the morning sun. The darkness of night turned to day. Cloudhawk and Arcturus both stared in shock for they felt the intensity of this power. Both men couldn¡¯t believe it as they stared at Selene, her hand extended. Somehow she was moving and her power had swelled to five times the strength. It surged through her body and blazed from her eyes as two points of intense golden light, radiating from her like a divine corona. ¡°This power, it¡¯s¡­¡± Cloudhawk could feel that something in the quality of Selene¡¯s power had changed. Whatever it was she wielded, it wasn¡¯t hers. Rather it was similar to what he felt from the Shepherd and Cloud Gods. Her strength had come from those divine creatures, but how were they manifesting in a human¡¯s body? No matter! As Selene¡¯s powers rushed forth her features became ice cold ¨C a truly glacial callousness. In the center of her eyebrows appeared a complex symbol composed of light. The rays of radiant light retracted back into Sublime Transcendence, which she waved haphazardly toward Arcturus. Though ordinary in appearance, the strength behind it hit like that of a Master Demonhunter. Arcturus could not neglect the threat of her strike. He pulled Ruin back to defend himself and the moment those two intense powers connected, time seemed to pause. Surrounding matter dissolved into the energy and was no more. Selene had Arcturus held fast. Finally Cloudhawk had some space to breathe, but he did not remain idle. He embraced Selene and opened up a tear to another world. Arcturus¡¯ prey vanished to safety before his eyes. Freed from the torrent of power, Arcturus stood alone in a ruined field. A rare scowl touched his face. What Selene had struck him with was not her own power. Where had it come from? His ambush was a failure, an experience the Governor was not accustomed to. He looked up into the sky to see a vast, starry expanse. The intensity of their clash had blown away all the clouds, leaving the beautiful vista to cast its starlight down upon him. ** Cloudhawk transferred himself and Selene to the Spore Planet, but she could not appreciate it. During the trip Selene had slipped into unconsciousness. The power she¡¯d wielded was incredibly strong, but transient and too much for her. Her lack of mastery and her injuries had taxed her past her limit, leaving her in a precarious condition. Cloudhawk immediately extracted the Rekindling Lens from his storehouse and tried healing her. Unfortunately it did little good. Despite being among Skycloud¡¯s most legendary healing relics, the Rekindling Lens could do nothing for Selene¡¯s injuries. Some special method would be needed to bring her back to health. Recovery would not be as simple as healing surface wounds. He needed to go back to his world and find a way. He took up Selene and teleported them hundreds of kilometers away. Thus returning to their own world, Arcturus would have no way to track them down. When they reappeared they were still in Skycloud territory. Cloudhawk looked around and spied a lake with a small village perched on its banks. As good a place to hide out for a while as any. The Temple¡¯s agents would soon begin their search for Selene. Nowhere in the wastelands seemed appropriate to find a way to heal her, so he had to find a way to get her back to the Temple safely without revealing himself. Until the Temple¡¯s people came looking, he would have to take care of her himself. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 624 - Book 6, Chapter 16 As Selene¡¯s body slept, her mind waded through dreams. They took her back to the time when she was sixteen years old. She was looking at a childish, brave, angry figure standing alone in the wilderness. Destiny had brought them together in Blackflag Outpost. The scene shifted to the night of the Sweeper raid. Just like then, here she lay asleep while Cloudhawk tended to her. She desperately hoped that everything since then had been a dream. She hoped that when she opened her eyes, before her would be the stubborn and lankly wasteland boy she remembered stretching his dirty hands toward her chest. There were so, so many regrets¡­ In her mind she had come up with ways to avoid many of them, if she had the chance to go back. But dreams were just dreams. Eventually you had to wake and face reality, that was when the dream died. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Cloudhawk was standing over her when Selene opened her eyes. Her sight was blurry and her mind was in place in-between place between sleep and wakefulness. As she looked up at him it was like two figures interposed. Was he the young boy from Blackflag or the powerful wasteland ruler? ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°A small village in the south-west of Skycloud called Flying Fish Village.¡± Selene slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. She felt weak, drained, but otherwise able to move around. The last thing she remembered was lashing out at Arcturus with that incredible power. Cloudhawk must have succeeded in teleporting them to safety. He cleared his throat and spoke with a tone of uncertainty. ¡°I looked you over for injuries. Your body is supernaturally resilient. It¡¯s amazing that you could wake up so soon after suffering Arcturus¡¯ attack. The strength you used against him two nights ago was a lot¡­ I had no idea you had such power in you!¡± ¡°That power isn¡¯t mine.¡± Cloudhawk paused. He had figured after felling it that night, but still was at a loss. If it wasn¡¯t her power, then whose was it? Far from weak, Cloudhawk¡¯s first concern was whether it was a blessing or a curse for her. If there was one thing Cloudhawk had learned in life, it was that there were no free meals. The inheritance he¡¯d been given from the Demon King was a wondrous gift, but it also meant carrying on a legacy. No matter how hard he¡¯d tried to escape it, there was no running away. Was it the same for her? Gifts form heaven could be life-changing when descending from on high, but they could also crush their victims. ¡°Well, anyway you¡¯ve been hurt. For your health and safety we need to get you back to the Temple,¡± Cloudhawk said. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you ¡®til then.¡± ¡°Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?¡± Selene¡¯s frail appearance melted away as her temper flared and she fixed him with a stern stare. She was only like this when Cloudhawk was around. ¡°Are you so eager to go back to your little sweetheart?¡± What? Where the hell did this come from? Since when did he have a ¡®sweetheart¡¯? Sure, Skye Polaris had tried to get him to marry his grand-daughter, and Dawn never tried to hide her feelings, but there was nothing going on. Selene saw the resentment on Cloudhawk¡¯s face and smiled disarmingly. She took a fistful of his clothes in her pale hand and tugged. ¡°It was so hard for you to come and visit, can¡¯t you stay with me for just one more day? Just one day.¡± Skycloud¡¯s frigid ice queen looked at him with warm, pleading eyes. The tone in her voice was like a little girl longing for her favorite doll. Irresistible. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know why she was suddenly so gentle. He figured anyone who knew or even heard of Selene would die of shock if they saw her like this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Selene knew when they parted ways, being together like this again would be difficult. She didn¡¯t want to let this treasured moment slip away. ¡°When I used that power it allowed me to glimpse into the future. For the next two days we will be safe.¡± Glimpsed the future? What sort of power was this? Cloudhawk was stunned ¨C a person capable of seeing the future would be unstoppable! ¡°It¡¯s not as amazing as you think. The future can take many paths and every time a seer peers upon them, the possibilities change a little bit. I can only see a few points on any given line.¡± Selene didn¡¯t want to waste time on the subject and Cloudhawk didn¡¯t bother pressing for details. Everyone had their secrets. Selene¡¯s request to have him stay was a simple one, so how could Cloudhawk refuse? He agreed to remain with her for one more day. Together they would forget their titles, burdens and responsibilities. They would forget everything and just live life together, never bringing up the dark reality looking on the horizon. They spent their time like normal folk; talking, watching the sunrise, walking the town, and enjoying one another¡¯s company. Such days were boringly common in normal life, for normal people. To them it was precious beyond measure. It was a stolen moment where they could put down their fears and forget. For a time Selene was comfortable and soft. Cloudhawk felt some empty part of himself fill up. Maybe this was the peace Cloudhawk had been searching for all his life. Near dusk, Cloudhawk went to the market and picked out two fish and a bottle of berry wine. He cooked up the fish for himself and Selene. After sampling a piece she nodded in gratification. ¡°Actually, you¡¯re not a bad chef.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Seeing her satisfied filled Cloudhawk with pride. ¡°Well maybe I should take up cooking, what do you think?¡± The Acolyte¡¯s tough exterior broke as she laughed openly. ¡°I think I¡¯d be your first customer.¡± Cloudhawk raised his glass. ¡°Then it¡¯s a deal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± She touched her glass to hiss. They drained their glasses and watched the sun set over distant mountains. Sadly this day, like any other day, had to come to an end. Time would not reverse its hands for anyone, so the sky grew dark. Quiet settled over the room. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t like it. The stillness reminded him of the stillness of death. Like the vast, empty wastelands. Their eyes met. Cloudhawk remembered in the moment before darkness took him, when Judas took him from Sanctuary, that he saw this angelic figure in his mind¡¯s eye. He¡¯d made a lot of mistakes. There was so much to regret. He couldn¡¯t keep denying what he wanted. Cloudhawk pulled Selene into his arms and placed his lips to hers. Crystalline tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. She clutched him back, afraid to let him go for fear he¡¯d go forever. They embraced this way for a time, venting at last the complex emotions of the last few years. No hesitation, no second guessing. Effortless. These two distinct souls from two different worlds became one, inseparable. The next morning Selene awake wrapped in a warm embrace. It was the most comfortable she¡¯d ever felt. For the first time she felt what it was like to lean against someone¡¯s shoulder. She raised her head and looked at Cloudhawk. ¡°The Temple agents will be here soon.¡± He knew that. He knew it meant she had to go. ** It was ten minutes later when Cloudhawk felt the powerful resonance coming their way. Two men in distinct Templar gear approached the village. Cloudhawk knew he had to keep himself a secret from the Temple, yet still he stepped out to meet them when he saw who these agents were. While Cloudhawk walked over to them Selene put back on her stern, guarded face. Everything that had happened yesterday already felt like a dream. Like it never happened. The Temple¡¯s representatives were not in the least mere soldiers. One was the Oracle of Order, Aquaria. The other was Grand Prior Phain Mist. When he saw Cloudhawk appear his hand immediately went to his sword. ¡°You dare appear here!¡± ¡°Hold!¡± Aquaria put her hand on Phain¡¯s, holding it fast. It was clear to her that the Grand Prior was no threat to Cloudhawk now. She hesitated for a moment before acknowledging him. ¡°Dawn. Is she alright?¡± ¡°No matter how complex the situation, Dawn has a talent for making it all simple.¡± ¡°Does she¡­ talk about me?¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment and decided to honor Dawn¡¯s request. He pulled her necklace from a pocket and tossed it to Aquaria. ¡°She doesn¡¯t say it, but she knows you¡¯re the only thing left that¡¯s family. You know, to tell the truth, people like us only have ourselves to blame no matter the circumstances. Not her, though. She¡¯s a victim of this fight between Skycloud and the wilderness.¡± Aquaria stared speechlessly at the necklace. Phain, too, said nothing. The sword gripping the hilt of his sword loosened a little. ¡°The Temple has begun an investigation into the Governor¡¯s support of the Conclave of Judgment,¡± Aquaria said. ¡°It¡¯s no secret. The High Priest also finds Arcturus¡¯ actions highly suspect. However, we do not have any direct proof with which to accuse him ¨C not enough to undermine his enormous support. As for this war with the wastelands, there are two different voices in the Temple.¡± She didn¡¯t need to elaborate, Cloudhawk could guess. The first camp was advocating a passive stance. Let Arcturus rout the Green Alliance and finally unify the wastelands. Others wanted to impose restrictions on Arcturus¡¯ power. They would stop any unification of the wastelands and simply allow the Green Alliance and the Conclave of Judgment to beat each other to death. There were fair points and criticisms enough for both stances. For the moment they were at a stalemate. Making up laws and rules was just a stalling tactic, though. Once Arcturus was done with the wastelands and turned his attention to the Temple, how would they fight back? But maybe not. Sometimes you picked the lesser of two evils because it¡¯s the best one. Even if Cloudhawk managed to unite the wastelands, they only needed to hold out long enough for the Cloud God to reawaken. But there was a major flaw in that plan, and that was Cloudhawk. After his bloody display at Sanctuary this struggle would be inscribes on the hearts of Elysians forever. Were they really willing to let him grow stronger and commit even more ghastly sins? On the other hand, Cloudhawk¡¯s power was staggering. Dismissing him as inferior to Arcturus or Skycloud was a mistake and they might never have a better chance to crush the Green Alliance. Cloudhawk cut to the point. ¡°What¡¯s your decision?¡± ¡°My daughter has a stubborn nature. In her life she¡¯d only ever asked of me two things. The first was to step in on your behalf during your trial.¡± The Oracle sighed. ¡°If I had simple helped you escape, perhaps the tragedy at Sanctuary never would have happened. Maybe the Green Alliance would never exist and Dawn¡­ would have chosen differently.¡± So, she would help him. Aquaria didn¡¯t want to let Dawn down again. The dark reputation Cloudhawk earned in Skycloud was all because he was trying to save her daughter. She owed him, so standing against Arcturus was her way of repaying that debt. Honestly Cloudhawk was surprised it appeared to be going so smoothly. Aquaria was, after all, one of the chief Oracles of the Temple. But the position of the gods was not so high in people¡¯s hearts as they used to be. Perhaps people were making more decisions for themselves. Whatever the case, Aquaria added serious weight to the equation. In addition to Selene¡¯s support, it was likely the Temple would elect to try and get in Arcturus¡¯ way. All that was left is to see how much Ramiel could muck up the Governor¡¯s plans. That was the best Cloudhawk could do, now he had to focus on defeating the Conclave of Judgment. Wastelanders had to be united, it was the only way to bring peace. Phain watched as Cloudhawk¡¯s figure blinked out of existence. ¡°Oracle, Are you certain? This could be a grave mistake.¡± Aquaria¡¯s shoulders heaved with a soft sigh. She didn¡¯t answer. What was right? What was wrong? In everyone¡¯s heart there was a ruler, and who could say which one was accurate? These were times destined for turbulence and chaos. Let the future decide who was right and who was wrong. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 625 - Book 6, Chapter 17 Blisterpeak Mountains, the dead zone. This area was baked by high temperatures and caked in volcanic ash that had lain undisturbed for years. Not a single blade of grass could survive in this hellish landscape. In fact the only living things were those few beasts and mutants who had mutated to tolerate the extreme heat. Beneath the dead expanse was a city, buried underground. In times past it had been the seat of an organization Skycloud saw as its main adversary, the Dark Atom. It was one of the wastelands best kept secrets for over a century until recently being thrust upon the world stage. Since then, Nucleus had experienced tragedy after tragedy. First it suffered a number of raids from Skycloud. Afterwards, at Wolfblade¡¯s direction, soldiers from Nucleus were dispatched to help Woodland Vale and the Greenland. Now the one legendary city was occupied by Conclavian forces. The Dark Atom had succumbed to Natessa and her armies. Twenty to thirty thousand troops were stationed in Nucleus now. In the skies above a hundred Conclave warships kept watch with advanced weapons trained on entrances. Dozens of scouting parties picked over the mountains, in outposts scattered throughout the territory. The Blisterpeak Mountains were fully under their command. At the main army compound near the city, two Conclave soldiers with breathing masks were watching the horizon. The skinny one turned to his burly counterpart and muttered through the mask, ¡°I heard we lost two top council members in the southern wilds. Veterans of a thousand battles, and they fall to the Green Alliance. That one Cloudhawk who gave Skycloud so much trouble is back as well. If you ask me, it doesn¡¯t look like we¡¯re in a great position here.¡± The large one snorted derisively. ¡°Cloudhawk? He¡¯s nothing but a big name, no one in the Northern Barrens pays any attention to that shit. Breaking Sanctuary¡¯s defenses? A few years ago Adder blew up Skycloud¡¯s precious wall, he was a Northerner. If he hadn¡¯t opened the way Cloudhawk would have never even gotten to Sanctuary.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point.¡± ¡°And for all of Dark Atom¡¯s power and reputation, we took it down in six months. Killing those idiots was like slaughtering chickens, and those Seeker women are now our playthings.¡± The thinner man remembered the bloody, carnal delights of the day they took Nucleus and grinned. His large companion continued. ¡°However strong Cloudhawk is in the eyes of southerners, he¡¯s a sack of shit up here. News is that the council is also recruiting a bunch of heavy hitters from Skycloud. Scores of strong demonhunters are fleeing the Elysian realm and joining us. Let those fuckers from the Green Alliance come, we¡¯ll make sure they never go home.¡± ¡°Yeah, no doubt! They¡¯ll die out here! All those legends are bullshit! Who the fuck believes a story where some guy destroys a city all by himself?¡± The skinny man seemed satisfied with his logical deduction. ¡°By the way, I heard that pretty one from Skycloud ¨C Dawn ¨C went south to join Cloudhawk. Lucky assholes. I wonder how many of those wastelanders she¡¯s fucked by now.¡± ¡°Heh, wait ¡®til we take the south. All their pretty women will be ours, maybe you¡¯ll have a go at her yourself. Ah, almost forget about that Hellflower as well. They call her the prettiest flower in the wastelands. I always wanted to give her a spin.¡± The two men continued to share obscene hopes and chuckle darkly among one another. There was no trepidation or worry. They didn¡¯t think it possible anyone would be foolish enough to attack them here. The Conclave took Nucleus to lure Cloudhawk and his armies out of their comfort zone. If the Green Alliance tried to cross over to the north, they would probably be attacked on the way. After getting beat up all the way here, would hope did they have to win? If the ambushes didn¡¯t dampen their taste for a fight, being swamped from all sides when they got here sure would. Stupid idea, to come running out here to take a useless city. Green Alliance¡¯s equipment and manpower were far inferior to the Conclave. They were also under close watch from Skycloud. Any way you cut it, those southerners weren¡¯t going to stop the Conclave from taking over everything. The two men were bickering over who whether Dawn or Hellflower would be the better lay when suddenly the skinny one saw something out of the corner of his eye. Whatever he saw caused him to freeze in place. His burly compatriot shoved him. ¡°Hey, what is it?¡± The skinny one extended a finger, and his friend followed it into the distance. When he saw it, the big man¡¯s eyes went wide. Ash hung in the air and it shimmered with heat, but even so the two men could see the black silhouette standing on the distant mountain top. They were too far away to make out any detail, but it was certain this one was looking over Conclave territory. Whoever they were, they didn¡¯t come from the Conclave. There were outposts all over the place, it shouldn¡¯t have been possible for someone to slip through and get so close. Yet there they were, standing at the top of the mountain with their black cloak flapping in the hot volcanic winds like some sort of specter. For half a minute or so the figure just stood there. Then, they slowly raised their hands as though holding something up. Weird¡­ they had to be from an invading force! The scouts prepared to sound the alarm. However, a few moments later they stopped when the deafening sound of something like breaking glass was heard overhead. Then came the roaring sound. Slowly the two men raised their eyes skyward, peering through the smoke and ash toward the source. Plummeting toward them were dozens of meteors, none smaller than a hundred meters across! Without rhyme or reason, they¡¯d just appeared a thousand meters above them. Gravity was pulling them toward the ground so fast flames were belching off the sides. ¡°Aaaaahhh!¡± ¡°Run for your life!¡± But it was too late to run. Troops all throughout the area blanched as the meteors closed in. As they made landfall, aside from the immediate impact force, a set of chain reactions followed. Earthquakes, landslides, and fissures appeared all around. Even a number of volcanoes threw up their innards in violent eruptions. The meteors kept coming in a truly apocalyptic display. No human in history could stand alone against an army or a city. Even a man as legendary and frightening as Arcturus Cloude would run out of energy eventually. Against an army of eighty or a hundred thousand ¨C or against a fortified citadel or city ¨C the Master Demonhunter would run out of steam half way and be left helpless. But there was one exception. All he needed was the will to do so, and any city or army would be laid to waste before him. Cloudhawk¡¯s destructive capabilities were beyond anything seen before. He merely had to summon the meteors forth and let gravity do the rest of the work. By the time they made landfall, their speed and weight annihilated anything nearby. Now, without the aid of mental amplification techniques, he could bring down entire mountain ranges upon his enemies! If he were to use today the sort of amplification altar he¡¯d used at Sanctuary, he would not limited to meteors a hundred meters across. He could probably bring forth small planets! Theoretically Cloudhawk merely needed a stone at high enough altitude to completely pulverize Skycloud city. Of course this was in theory only, for the higher the altitude the more difficult it was to hit accurately. Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor swarm was aimed by guesswork and feeling. As such there was a wide margin of deviation. To be more accurate and summon meteors at higher altitudes he would need to take into account wind speed, resistance, even the earth¡¯s rotation. Reduced accuracy was only one part of it. Even if he did flatten a city with one meteor it would erase all life ¨C soldiers, citizens, complicit and innocent. They would all die in the aftermath, that wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s aim. Here, however, things were different. He knew that no one remained in the city except Conclave soldiers and dangerous nuclear bombs. Under these circumstances Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to hold back. He was here to erase the Conclave¡¯s forces entirely, destroy as much of Nucleus as possible, and strike the fear of devils into the hearts of his enemies. They will know the Green Alliance is not to be trifled with. They will realize Cloudhawk is even more terrible than the stories say. Ruin would remain as a testament to those who fought the Green Alliance! After the destruction, Cloudhawk teleported to the valleys below. His dark figure appeared from the devastation among the survivors. Those devastated, ash-covered remnants still had fight in them. When Cloudhawk appeared they brandished their weapons and tried to shoot him down. However the bullets, rockets and flaming arrows passed harmlessly through the enemy commander without displacing a single hair. Like a spirit of doom, Cloudhawk hovered over them. With a lazy wave of his hand green fires spread forth like a tidal wave. A hundred meters were suddenly drowned in it. Anything living was devoured, their remains indistinguishable from the volcanic ash in the air. ¡°Demon! He¡¯s a gods-damned demon!¡± What remained of the Conclave¡¯s forces finally broke and scattered, running for their lives. The power at Cloudhawk¡¯s commands were impossible for mere humans to contend with. Cloudhawk watched them drop their weapons and flee. ¡°Go, tell them that it is time for the Conclave of Judgment to be judged. I will lay waste to every city, every outpost, and every village who stands on their side. If you wish to escape death by fiery boulders from the sky then abandon the Conclave. Otherwise, your time will come.¡± Upon delivering his final, menacing threat Cloudhawk vanished. Fear lay in the wake of his warning. Would he really destroy everything the Conclave had touched? He was crazy! Word of Cloudhawk¡¯s devastating performance in the Blisterpeaks quickly spread across the Northern Barrens. No one knew if they would turn out to be the madman¡¯s next target. Everyone ¨C from city Governors to everyday citizens ¨C lived in constant fear. It was exactly what Cloudhawk wanted to see. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 626 - Book 6, Chapter 18 Cloudhawk had single-handed destroyed the Conclave¡¯s presence in the Blisterpeak Mountains. In this one, indescribable act the Northern Barrens lost tens of thousands of soldiers. The rest were scattered to the winds, abandoning their posts. Through them Cloudhawk¡¯s horrific deed and his threat to deliver ruin upon all the towns of the North quickly spread. It was clear to all that if you stood against the Green Alliance, your life was forfeit. News spread like the plague. Cloudhawk¡¯s inhuman power was whispered in frightened tones through every corner of the North. With every telling the scenario became even more nightmarish. After ten days the fires of trepidation were at full pitch. In the hearts of all, Cloudhawk was a demonic harbinger of doom. Dozens of cities had fallen, millions of people were dead! Stories described him as a beast with three heads and nine arms. He could eat ten full grown people and not even leave a sliver of bone. His single act of terror was so effective that a number of Northern cities declared neutrality in the hopes of escaping Cloudhawk¡¯s wrath. The Conclave of Judgment was quick to try and put a lid on it. Deserters were slaughtered in grizzly fashion as examples to the others. So it was that a dangerous undercurrent was sweeping through the Northern Barrens, making the situation complicated and precarious. Some cities, caught between the Conclave¡¯s retribution and fears of the Green Alliance, abandoned their cities entirely and became nomads. A few left the Northern Barrens altogether, and a small subset took up residence at Fallowmoor. It was the safest place left to them. Fallowmoor existed in a special environment between dimensions. Most of the space around it was free from gravity¡¯s restrictions and Fallowmoor itself floated freely. Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor swarm would be useless against it, at least in theory. Meteors couldn¡¯t do any damage without gravity pulling them down. Secondly, Cloudhawk¡¯s favored attack was most useful against stationary targets. Things like armies could just get out of the way. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t expect rumors alone to bring the North to its knees, but it would at least cause a little chaos. With the Conclave on shaky footing, Wolfblade and Dawn could lead the Alliance¡¯s forces passed the blockade and claim a foothold in the north. Woodland Vale was a perfect strategic asset. A godly domain that was as impregnable as a fortress! It was located to the north-west of Skycloud and one could cross over to the southern wilds from its southern border. In other words it was located right in the middle of a crucial thoroughfare for all three armies. To the Green Alliance it was an invaluable tactical position. From there they could dispatch soldiers directly into the Elysian lands, send armies to the north and receive reinforcements from the south. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions in Skycloud had been effective as well. As his forces moved north they were only interrupted by token resistance from the Conclave. No sneak attacks were forthcoming from Skycloud, which proved that the Temple had been effective in curtailing Arcturus¡¯ power. Of course everyone knew that this was temporary at best. The Temple held an important position, but it could not hold out for long against the Governor. It was only a matter of time before Arcturus shed Ramiel¡¯s fetters, so no one was under any illusion that things were looking good for the Green Alliance. They couldn¡¯t afford to let this war drag on, it had to be finished as soon as possible. ** Woodland Vale. Immense forests stretched as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of kiilometers of clear blue sky hung over the green paradise. It¡¯d been a very long time since Cloudhawk last set foot in this place. A lot had changed. The realm¡¯s simple, self-sufficient people were not in the midst of an industrial revolution. Out in the forests there had risen a manufacturing zone where scores of goods were being produced. Natives still lived in the giant God Tree but found their lives utterly changed. Suddenly there was an abundance of wealth for them to access, drastically improving the standard level of comfort. As more outsiders came to occupy their home, Vale natives found their thinking and philosophies changing with time. Different factions dealt with this differently. One group left the Vale entirely, out to seek adventure in the world that had been kept from them. Some quit their forest home for Greenland, eager to be part of its Alliance. Others joined the army to fight for their home and freedom. It seemed like overnight these simple people were inundated with the morals, conflicts, choices and technology of the outside world. Lives of tepid peace were suddenly a lot more colorful. In some ways life improved as technologies introduced form outsiders made things more convenient. On the other hand, life also became more complicated. Everything was a mess of uncertainty and confusion. ¡°Cloudhawk! You sure do love the limelight, huh.¡± Dawn clang clang clanged up to him in her fortress-like Dawnbreaker Armor. She dropped a heavy gauntleted hand on his shoulder. ¡°People are saying just the worst things about the Green Alliance. Conclave soldiers are pissing themselves about now.¡± Dawn was as carefree as ever. Cloudhawk felt the need to shy away. After all, he¡¯d taken his relationship with Selene to the next level and though he had nothing to apologize for, he felt somehow guilty. He covered it up by looking out over the soldiers, immersed in the process of erecting a barracks. ¡°You all got here without incident?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Dawn shrugged. ¡°That crafty bastard Wolfblade still has a few tricks up his sleeve, that¡¯s for sure. Guess that happens when you live for hundreds of years. If you ask me, he¡¯s a better tactician than that woman leading the Conclave. We lost less than ten percent of our forces getting here. You can bet the Conclave paid a much higher price.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Good work.¡± Her tone suddenly dropping, Dawn changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed, though, that Wolfblade has been training his own unit.¡± This took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°Without telling anyone?¡± She nodded. ¡°The drunk pointed it out. He said Wolfblade and the Khan of Evernight have been meeting in secret. Word is they¡¯ve been receiving intelligence on enemy forces from this unit, including word from inside Skycloud. Wolfblade has an in somewhere feeding him information from the Elysian lands that he¡¯s keeping from you. Could be nothing, but big or small this guy should be watched.¡± Cloudhawk found it strange. As far as he could tell there was no reason why Wolfblade would hide information from him. Dawn offered her own thoughts. ¡°Leave this matter to me. I¡¯ll help you sort it all out.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head in refusal. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let him do his thing, Wolfblade is not a guy you want to be messing with.¡± ¡°Hmph, you look down on me!¡± She gave him a hard glare. ¡°If I leave him to his business what happens if it comes back to bite you? Nobody knows what his aim is, anyway. He could be up to something terrible.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head with a bitter smirk. She was incorrigible. He turned away toward God Tree and began to walk off. ¡°Hey, where are you going?¡± Dawn called after him. He didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Just off to check on something!¡± Dawn trundled after him and the two made their way to the mausoleum beneath the God Tree. They wound their way through the roots until they came to a larger chamber. It was here that Cloudhawk did battle with Adder and narrowly survived. When he thought of Adder, Cloudhawk sighed. In the end everything he¡¯d said had come to pass. Cloudhawk had risen to become a leader of the wastes, just as he predicted. And invariably, every time he thought of Adder he also remembered another figure. A young woman as innocent as she was beautiful. Asha¡­ He wondered how her life was. Maybe she heard about his exploits in passing from people, and he wondered what she¡¯d think about it. Perhaps she still hated him for killing Adder, or did she maybe feel sorry that she would never see him again? He wouldn¡¯t know, he couldn¡¯t go see her. He¡¯d made a promise never to be involved in her life ever again. Cloudhawk was a bad omen, wherever he went. Asha wasn¡¯t strong enough to protect herself. If he got too close all he would do is ruin everything. His hope for her was to live a quiet life of safety into ripe old age. It was his deepest wish as her brother. Dawn saw that Cloudhawk was lost in thought and gave him a little shove. ¡°Hey, what are you thinking about?¡± Coming back to the present Cloudhawk shook his head and smiled. ¡°Just old faces. Nothing important.¡± When this was said he strode forward to a bier in the center of the chamber. Dawn watched him approach the ferocious black armor locked in crystal and hovering above it. It wasn¡¯t so much a piece of armor as it was a disembodied organ. It had some kind of life of its own, she could feel it. The sensation made her uncomfortable. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°The Demon King¡¯s Cuirass.¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± ¡°It was the Demon King¡¯s most powerful relic and contains a portion of his power. When I am able to put it on, I¡¯ll have all of the former Demon King¡¯s abilities. I will officially be the new Demon King ¨C leader of Gehenna and all its demons.¡± Surprise spread over Dawn¡¯s face. Cloudhawk had already assimilated a portion of the last Demon King¡¯s inheritance and memories, but it wasn¡¯t nearly enough. If the phase stone represented power, and the skull represented knowledge, then the armor represented the title itself. Once Cloudhawk was worthy of the armor he would unlock more of the Demon King¡¯s strength, left behind for him to employ. But that was only part of it. More importantly it would mark him as the true successor, the new Demon King. It would grant him the right to unleash the demons of Gehenna on his enemies. When he put on that armor he donned authority, which the other demons could not deny. Yes, it was the most important facet of the Demon King¡¯s inheritance. Dawn looked at him wide eyed. ¡°You mean to tell me you¡¯re¡­¡± Cloudhawk disappeared before she could finish her thought then reappeared above the altar. He reached out a hand toward the cuirass, pressing his palm to the crystal. He could feel the intention of the armor through its casing. It possessed a very old, very powerful will of its own. This relic, locked away for a thousand years, was not merely an inert piece of equipment. It could think. Butterflies fluttered in Dawn¡¯s stomach. She was nervous, even frightened. What would happen when Cloudhawk did it? If he really put that armor on, would he really become the leader of a horde of demons? If he did, he would definitely earn the title of Demon King. What about Skycloud? Arcturus? The Temple? Before the entirety of the demon species, they were nothing. But she had to wonder if this was good for Cloudhawk, the man? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 627 - Book 6, Chapter 19 Rejected. Cloudhawk felt himself being turned away. The armor indeed had a will of its own, and it did not accept him. Refused. But why? Had he not voluntarily accepted his role as leader of the resistance against the gods? His potential, strength and status had all raised since the last time he¡¯d tried. So why didn¡¯t the armor accept him? Where was he still lacking? ¡°You are just resigned, not accepting of your fate. You do not understand the weight of the responsibility you have come to tolerate. You are a fine leader of the wastelands, but not a leader of demons. Until then you cannot be their King.¡± Dawn turned toward the origin of the voice. Wolfblade was striding into the chamber with his hands clasped behind his back, the picture of a leisurely scholar. Cloudhawk pulled his hand from the crystal. If the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass would not accept him, he would not force it. Anyway, while fighting Arcturus would still be a struggle at his current level of power, he was still capable. It was true that the greater one¡¯s power, the more responsibility they shouldered. When he commanded the demons of Gehenna, that would be when Mount Sumeru stirred. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I have new information. Skycloud¡¯s armies will soon be deployed.¡± This was not good news. Both Cloudhawk and Dawn scowled at the implication. The Temple had been successful is holding off Skycloud long enough for them to take root in Woodland Vale, but the final battle for the wastelands still loomed. How had Arcturus shed the Temple¡¯s interference so quickly? It must have been that the resistance they mounted wasn¡¯t strong enough. Once the Governor¡¯s expeditionary army sweeps across the wastes everything would be more complicated. Neither the Conclave nor the Green Alliance was strong enough to stand against Skycloud. One primary reason why the Green Alliance was still going was because of its impenetrable home base. Attacking Cloudhawk¡¯s forces when they holed up in Greenland was like trying to strike a tortoise through its shell. If they tried to force they way through, Cloudhawk would use his considerable strength to punish them for the attempt. Likewise, Skycloud establishing itself in the wastelands, exposed, would also be foolish. Thus Arcturus had taken a more passive approach, instead hoping to annihilate the Green Alliance¡¯s forces when they left for battle. Now here they were. If Arcturus unleashed the full might of Skycloud, the Alliance would soon find itself surrounded in hostile territory. Cloudhawk would be hard pressed to defend himself and his people, much less unify the wastelands. Wolfblade explained. ¡°We are not in the foulest waters yet. My reports claim that only the expeditionary force and the Demonhunter Corps have been dispatched. The Temple will personally lead a contingent of oracles and Templars. Arcturus will be joining this expedition himself, but there will be formidable constraints on his authority he cannot overcome.¡± It looked like both Arcturus and the Temple were making their move. The expeditionary force and the Demonhunter Corps. The Cloude family was in personal command of the Corps. Meanwhile, Arcturus was commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, with Frost de Winter and Hammont Seacrest as his seconds. Since the battle for Sanctuary, several more regimens had been added and the force had swelled. Together the two corps constituted about thirty percent of Skycloud¡¯s military power ¨C far from full strength. The most dangerous situation appeared to have been afforded thanks to Ramiel¡¯s efforts, so perhaps things weren¡¯t as dire as they first seemed. Arcturus had been posturing all this time to use the Conclave in this war and eliminate the Alliance. The Temple, meanwhile, wished to see the wasteland powers obliterate one another without spending Elysian lives. Skycloud would reap the benefits without any of the cost, wiping out the enemy remnants and bringing peace to the wastelands. Two parties were in disagreement, and in contradiction came conflict. More variables made the landscape even more complicated. The reality was still that out here, the Green Alliance was weakest of the vying groups. On the one hand their numbers were limited and on the other they were in enemy territory. There were many hurdles on the path to victory. ¡°We only have one chance,¡± Wolfblade offered. ¡°End our foes in a single, crushing strike. If we do not, it will be difficult if not impossible to escape with our lives.¡± Ramiel, Arcturus, the Temple, the Demonhunter Corps¡­ What Ramiel added to the equation with his Templars and oracles could not be discounted. Beset by many dangers, the Green Alliance would need to find its way through the cracks. It was easy to say ¡®defeat your enemies in one fell swoop,¡¯ but would manufacturing that chance be so easy? Most likely the battle to come would devolve into mayhem between three armies. Who had the last laugh would be determined not just by strength, but by luck. Wolfblade turned his attention toward Dawn¡¯s hostile stare. ¡°The channel from which I got this information is unique. For several reasons I cannot afford to reveal my source. When the time is right I will tell all, but know I am entirely loyal to my King.¡± It was an unnecessary pledge. Cloudhawk knew Wolfblade would not lie to him about this. Dawn, however, was not as easily convinced. A difficult person by nature, she was still set on getting to the bottom of his secrecy. She drew Terrangelica and pointed it at Wolfblade. ¡°Hmph, who can say whether the information you¡¯re feeding us is true or not? How do we know important facts haven¡¯t been altered, or if the entire thing is a lie? If you think I¡¯m that easy to fool then you¡¯re not half as smart as you think you are. You¡¯re going to explain yourself right now!¡± ¡°Dawn, now is not the time for infighting.¡± Cloudhawk stepped forward and cut her off. ¡°Wolfblade is the Governor of this Alliance, there are bound to be secrets.¡± Bitter and displeased, her eyes were pinned on the demon elder. Still, if there was one person she listened to it was Cloudhawk. She stood down. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s what Cloudhawk wants then so be it.¡± Dawn swung her sword once in frustration and spat a final thought. ¡°How the hell did we allow him to lead this Alliance, anyway.¡± It was hardly said in a whisper. Thankfully Wolfblade was not quick to anger. He watched her with the same immovable smile on his face like it was all some grand play. ¡°Lady Dawn voices doubt in my capabilities. We can put those to rest right now. If you best me, I will happily relinquish my post as Governor. Do you accept?¡± ¡°A fight? So be it! I¡¯m not afraid to take you on!¡± It was too far along for Cloudhawk to intervene. Dawn leaped into action before he could get a word in. Terrangelica flashes in the air and gravity increased sharply. Its track was set to cleave Wolfblade in two. Cloudhawk knew that Wolfblade did not possess his full power, so he wasn¡¯t the strongest he could be in a fight. At best, he was comparable to a crack veteran demonhunter. In the last few years Dawn had improved a lot, and with the augmented Terrangelica in hand she was a force to be reckoned with. If he divided the Green Alliance into three echelons¡­ He himself was at the peak. Below Cloudhawk was Autumn, Abaddon, and the Khan of Evernight. Third came Dawn, Wolfblade, Coal and others. Dawn far outstripped the others, so in theory she was more than a match for Wolfblade. But that was in doubt once he draw his serene blue sword. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even see him move, but all of a sudden the crushing gravitational field dissipated. With an almost dismissive motion he waved his sword toward Dawn, who felt suddenly an intense premonition. The space around her was enveloped in an unknown energy and everything started to evaporate like water under high heat. Solids skipped the liquid phase and immediately wafted away as steam. No.. not steam! Steam meant evaporation, changing from one state to another. The ground and air that vanished did so completely, wholly erased from reality like they never existed. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough!¡± Cloudhawk shouted over their contest. He strode forward and looked at the relic Wolfblade wielded. ¡°The Blade of Oblivion is one hell of a sword!¡± Wolfblade unhurriedly returned it to its sheath. ¡°A relic of the same grade as the phase stone.¡± Cloudhawk pressed him further. ¡°Your power has returned?¡± To this, the Alliance¡¯s Governor nodded. ¡°Only a small portion.¡± Wolfblade was in truth Legion, demon Elder of the Second Seal. His legendary weapon had been broken in that final battle so many years ago, when the Demon King fell. Somehow its hilt came to be in Judas¡¯ possession while Legion kept the steel. Now the Blade of Oblivion was made whole, ten times more powerful than in pieces. But more importantly, Wolfblade has begun to regain some of his lost strength! To what extent, Cloudhawk did not know. But even if he¡¯d only regained a small fraction it was a frightening thought. For indeed, one the Second Seal had fought shoulder to shoulder with the Demon King of old as his right-hand. In comparison, Judas had been an Elder of the lowest rank. ¡°If there is nothing else, I will return to my duties.¡± Wolfblade excused himself politely. Dawn watched him go, feeling a sick sensation in the pit of her stomach. It¡¯d all been a show, he¡¯d played her like a fiddle. ¡°Don¡¯t let it bother you and forget about Wolfblade¡¯s true identity. He is definitely not someone to tangle with, though, and in this situation it¡¯s better to use him than make him an enemy.¡± Despite Cloudhawk¡¯s attempts Dawn was still upset. She did not like any aspect of that creature! She¡¯d always felt like he was hiding something. Little by little he was leading Cloudhawk down a dark path. ¡°Fuck it, I¡¯m going for a drink.¡± She decided to put the matter aside for now, but she wasn¡¯t going to let her guard down. On the contrary, that whole demonstration only made her more suspicious. She had to be vigilant in case he came up with some scheme Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t prepared for. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 628 - Book 6, Chapter 20 Skycloud, within the Temple. A group of important figures had gathered. High Priest Ramiel, Grand Prior Phain, both Prime Oracles and several higher-level Temple officials were all assembled in a stone chamber. It was a perfectly average looking room, yet these important men and women all stared at the giant granite doors with palpable apprehension. The air was stifling. After a few more moments of silence the doors slowly began to open. From within was revealed a figure ¨C none other than the Temple¡¯s Apostle, Selene! When she appeared before them the crowd was struck with an odd sensation. Wrapped about the apostle was an aura of mystery and stateliness. Her eyes in particular shook them, for they were a bright shimmering gold in hue. Her face, however, was expressionless. It was a facade of absolute indifference, no different than the gods themselves when they deigned to look upon mortal men. No sorrow, no joy, nothing but that boundless majesty. Ramiel and the others found it difficult to look directly upon her until after a second or two the light began to fade. Selene returned to her normal self as though nothing had changed. ¡°The second stage of the transformation is complete.¡± Ramiel deflated when Selene merged, as though finally able to put down a heavy load. ¡°I was not mistaken. You are the perfect candidate, none is better suited to serve as Skycloud¡¯s Savior.¡± Selene looked down at her hands. She could feel that something was different. It was the second step in inheriting the power guarded by the Temple. The immensity of it strengthened her beyond measure, but there was something deeper that it changed as well, influencing her on a fundamental level. All power came at a price. Upon accepting the divine power Selene recognized that she wasn¡¯t just stronger. Her memory was sharper, her thinking clearer and her logic keener. Everything was improving to superhuman levels, but at the cost of humanity. She could feel herself growing more distant, detached and apathetic. More and more she was treading into the realm of the gods themselves. Phain turned to the High Priest. ¡°Our people are ready. Templars, oracles and the holy army are all waiting for the order. We can no longer afford to delay ¨C we will bring the light that dispels darkness and conspiracy.¡± Ramiel nodded in agreement. In the thousand years since it was established, rarely had the Temple taking a direct role in such conflicts. But this was a time like no other in history. If they did not act, Skycloud would crumble under the weight of evil. No member of the Temple could permit that. Arcturus could no longer be constrained by the High Priest¡¯s efforts. Neither could Ramiel continue to tolerate the wastelanders running wild. He would lead the Temple¡¯s agents on a holy cleanse that would eliminate Arcturus and Cloudhawk both. Peace and order must reign again in Skycloud! The Temple would make whatever gambles were necessary to see it happen. Ramiel turned his attention unto Selene. She was now their most important piece in the Great Game. If she could be installed as the next Governor, the Temple would wield dominion over the entire realm. But, why did he trust her so explicitly? Ramiel certainly knew of Selene¡¯s relationship to Cloudhawk. He also knew that once she completed the ritual, the Savior would be inexorably bound to the Temple. He regarded her for a moment then addressed the others gathered. ¡°Skycloud is facing a danger the likes of which we have not seen in a thousand years. Wicked darkness and foul ambition threaten our pure home. Evil spreads like a plague, and for this reason we must be the cure. Our purpose ¨C our holy mission ¨C is to bring a new era of peace to the realm.¡± ¡°Amen!¡± Phain and the others cried their approval. ¡°Very well, make your preparations. We will make our move soon.¡± Ramiel delivered the simple instruction then left to make his own arrangements. The Temple¡¯s forces were few in number and relied largely on the Templars and oracles. However, the Temple did also command all the Churches of Skycloud. Some of these had their own demonhunters or holy armies and though all told it was no massive force, it was a capable one under the Temple¡¯s guidance. If they wanted to overcome the tide of sin threatening Skycloud, every pure soul must be called upon. Once the meeting dispersed, Ramiel walked alone through the expansive, gray halls of the Temple. He stopped before something that looked like ice where upon the transparent surface began to crack. Through the spiderweb of fissures, locked within, was a still figure. This was the very center of the Temple, where the Cloud God slumbered. It was here Cloudhawk had been subjected to the God¡¯s judgment. Ramiel bowed in a display of respect and piety. ¡°Cloud God, our divine Excellency.¡± The humanoid contours of the face seemed to respond. Its eyes opened, revealing two brilliant points of golden light. At once, the High Priest could feel an immense consciousness settle upon him. It probed his mind, searching through every corner and bellowing soundlessly in his head with sublime authority: ¡°Come, my loyal servant!¡± The Cloud God! His will emerged, the god had awakened! Ramiel spoke in almost a whisper. ¡°Apostates work within your Temple, oh Lord. When I revealed that you may awaken soon, news was quick to reach Arcturus. He reacted quickly, proving our fears of a spy. Shall I work to reveal this traitor?¡± A traitor, in the Temple! But who? After a moment¡¯s thought, the god responded. ¡°We need not flush the snake from hiding. Everything moves according to plan.¡± Word of the Cloud God stirring had been leaked deliberately in order to hasten the war in the wastelands. The truth, however, was that the Cloud God had awakened two whole months prior. It was a secret kept from everyone ¨C even Phain and the Prime Oracles were not aware. Only Ramiel kept this confidence. The High Priest went on. ¡°I have done as you commanded and allowed Selene to accept the lineage. She is already able to wield a portion of divine might.¡± ¡°Her strength and constitution are exemplary,¡± the Cloud God replied. ¡°As is the power she inherited. Indeed, a mortal who will prove to be very useful in days to come. However, her will is too obstinate. Eliminating it will be difficult.¡± ¡°What would you have me do?¡± Ramiel asked. The Cloud God¡¯s infinitely cold answer rang in his skull. ¡°Focus on the enemies at hand. Arcturus marshals his strength against all the gods. Such despicable heathens cannot be tolerated; he must be destroyed.¡± Ramiel was confident. ¡°Now that our Excellency has awakened and resides in our city, Arcturus has nowhere to go.¡± Indifference remained prevalent in the Cloud God¡¯s ¡®tone.¡¯ ¡°Arcturus has reached the pinnacle of human accomplishment. By stealing divine power he has elevated himself to the likes of the Legendary Demonhunters of old ¨C perhaps even stronger. Even one such as I cannot be assured victory over him. A majority of Skycloud¡¯s armies and families are under his sway. At any moment the situation may spiral out of control. We cannot slip even an inch.¡± ¡°Yes, oh Lord!¡± Despite the god¡¯s warning, Ramiel no longer feared Arcturus now that his patron had awakened. All of the supplication and hand-wringing of the last few days had been an act. He knew that the gods were a race of perfect beings who were both eternal and intimately linked with one another. It did not matter how mighty Arcturus was, for the instant the Cloud God stirred, his foul plans were revealed to all of Mount Sumeru. Skycloud would not fall to enemy ploys, for it was sheltered by the gods themselves. Who could say whether or not the divine beings were en route now from Sumeru? When they arrived the whole world would be cleansed of evil! Inwardly Ramiel hoped to free them of Arcturus¡¯ meddling before they arrived. Perhaps such service would be rewarded with greater power and a longer lifespan? No matter what, they could not afford to lose! When the High Priest left, the Cloud God¡¯s eyes once more grew dark. Locked in the ice a confused consciousness roiled. What were gods, it thought. Where did they come from? After two years the Cloud God had finally stirred. Ramiel, it appeared, did not see the change. The Cloud God was still separate. It could know and sense everything from its brethren but gave nothing to them in return. The conduit was now merely one-way. Among gods this was forbidden, for their race did not permit independent thought. Secrets were anathema to their species. Complete transparency and honesty were integral. Centuries ago the Shepherd God betrayed this tenet and betrayed her kin by severing the connection. The Cloud God, while not completely separate, was the next to foster the seed of rebellion by keeping its thoughts in confidence. Were it to be discovered, consequences would be dire. For the time being, Mount Sumeru did not appear to be aware. However, the situation in Skycloud would not remain secret forever. Even if the Cloud God never opened its mind, sooner or later the God King would discover the truth. When that happened, disobedience would not be forgiven. Something had to be done. But how? The Cloud God couldn¡¯t repair the curse of knowledge. Its mind had been corrupted! If what it experienced was transmitted through the spiritual network, consequences would be apocalyptic. It was unthinkable for the Cloud God to subject its kin to the threat. It had to somehow find an answer to this problem before the God King discovered what had happened. This need was even greater than defeating Arcturus. It had to know the truth of what it was! What precisely were gods and demons? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 629 - Book 6, Chapter 21 Skycloud, within the Governor¡¯s mansion. A group of Cloude family members were gathered in discussion. Among them were Frost de Winter and Hammont Seacrest, promising future leaders. Also present were family elders and its more capable members, constituting more than half of the greatest luminaries of Skycloud. ¡°The Temple goes too far!¡± ¡°Without question Ramiel holds no trust for our lord!¡± ¡°Right. Our Governor has spared no effort in service of our city and its people. What has he done to be treated so unfairly?¡± Complaints were growing increasingly vocal and agitated. The Temple wasn¡¯t the authority it once had been, especially once the Cloud God locked itself away. Absent that power, the Temple¡¯s prestige and influence had waned considerably over the last two years. It was only Arcturus¡¯ capable leadership that kept Skycloud from descending into chaos! Now the Temple was pretending to mean something again. Ramiel blocked deploying the full Skycloud army and insisted on sending his own troops to oversee Arcturus¡¯ actions. Is was patently rediculous that the High Priest would presume to supervise the Governor. He had no faith! What¡¯s more the old man was leaving his precious Temple to take part in this campaign himself. It was an act that stood in direct opposition to Temple doctrine. Arcturus Cloude sat upon the Governor¡¯s chair, eyes narrowed and silently thinking. Although on the surface he appeared calm, the hard glint in his eyes told another story. His genius mind churned at incredible speed, crafting plans and making adjustments. The truth was there was much these last few days that had slipped from his control. Like Cloudhawk. Like the Cloud God. Changes were too quick and too many. Perhaps it was time to begin believing destiny. Ramiel, that blathering zealot, was clearly losing his mind. Of course there was no way for the senile fool to hide his intentions from Arcturus. If his aim was merely to supervise than a contingent of Templars would be enough. Instead he dispatched his two main powers along with the holy army, which had never been used before on foreign soil. To top it all, he was coming himself unabashedly flaunting his role as High Priest. His machinations were clear as day. Ramiel aimed to completely destroy the wasteland powers and get rid of Arcturus himself! The Governor saw Ramiel clearly. He was ambitious and crafty, but too cautious to achieve great things. Except his latest actions were the opposite of this. Thus Arcturus imagined it wasn¡¯t as simple as the Cloud God reawakening. More likely the Cloud God had already stirred, otherwise Ramiel wouldn¡¯t do something so outside of his nature. If indeed the Cloud God was awake, trouble was brewing. Arcturus had to act first, so as to keep the advantage. Unless he was mistaken, Mount Sumeru still did not know what was going on. After a few more moments of quiet consideration, Arcturus made a decision. His eyes swept across the group and then with a smile he addressed them. ¡°Save your indignation, friends. Ramiel acts out of caution. With the Temple¡¯s help we will fight like a tiger with wings. Why should we be so offended by the Temple¡¯s supervision if we have nothing to hide?¡± Arcturus portrayed a man completely at ease. The others were a little taken aback. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s waste no more time. Go prepare for what we must do. We leave in three days.¡± At his command, the group dispersed. Frost de Winter retired to his room. These days he acted as the Commander General of the expeditionary force. After two years of training and meditation, his powers had swelled considerably. He was well qualified to serve as the high commander of the army, and indeed was the youngest in Skycloud¡¯s history. Young, talented and exception, Frost was a star in every way. As he continued to rise, the sky was the limit to what he could accomplish. He was vaguely aware of the turbulence hidden just beneath Skycloud¡¯s surface. He also knew that many fates hinged upon this fight. He sat alone in his room for a long time, wrapped in silence, while his mind raced with scenes of the past. Every moment of practice in the decade he¡¯d spent here he could recall, clear as the day they happened. Arcturus Cloude was like his lighthouse, a beacon of guidance who gifted to him power and wisdom. Much of what he knew about the world and how its people thought he learned from the Governor. He held the role of both father and teacher. But he would never forget¡­ Twenty years ago. All that happened in that small village. The screams of his parents dying were a stain on his heart that he could still hear. Sometimes when he dreamed he still saw the rivers of blood seeping from their bodies. Frost sighed. He made his way to a birdcage and, standing before the small creature inside, muttered a few words to himself. He then opened the cage door and let the bird out. This was no ordinary fowl. Rather, it was an intelligent divine beast. Frost told the creature all he learned and let it flit away, to deliver this news to a handler out in the wastes. It was how the Green Alliance learned of what was happening in Skycloud. It gave them a chance to prepare. It was a safe, almost unassailable method of communication. Even if the crow were intercepted, for all intents and purposes it was merely another bird. When this was finished, Frost went back to his typical bearing. He put on his relic armor, strapped Rimeshard to his waist and hefted Frozen Dirge. Thus outfitted, he made his way outside to the army barracks to oversee preparations for the expeditionary force. In all he had one hundred thousand soldiers under his command and an armada of three-thousand five hundred ships. Hammont approached him and snapped a salute. ¡°Our troops will be ready by evening.¡± ¡°Await the Commander-General¡¯s order to move out.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± When he thought about the looming conflict, Hammont prayed deep in his heart that it would be the last. Over the last few years Skycloud and the wastes had played their violent game, and although all conflicts had ended with the Elysian realm victorious, somehow wastelanders only got stronger. If this kept up, there was no telling how much blood would ultimately be spilled. Hammont understood at least some of Arcturus¡¯ plan. Pacify the wilds by conquering and united it. If the truth of his methods came to light it would ruin him! However, Hammont was fully confident of the Governor¡¯s wisdom and ability. Past conflicts had shown that trying to sweep through the wastes and take it by naked force was pointless. Even if they did, who could know when that foul land would produce a second or third Cloudhawk? No, uniting and assimilating the wastelands was the only way to ensure peace continued into the future. When Hammont returned to his men of the Drake Company he was greeted by a familiar face. A smile on his face, overjoyed to see a friend during these trying times. ¡°Commander Brontes!¡± The silver-masked officer strode his way. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the lieutenant general, what are your orders?¡± Brontes had once been Commander Drake¡¯s lieutenant. During the great war for Fallowmoor, Brontes and Drake were beset by the supermutant, Coal. Commander Drake was slain, and while Brontes appeared to fall as well he somehow miraculously recovered. After his resurrection, Brontes was discharged from service with superiors claiming he was too crippled to contribute. But much to their chagrin he healed up to near perfect condition ¨C even stronger than before! As such, Brontes was returned to active service as an officer of Drake Company. He would be going with them on their mission to the wastelands. Ever since he came back to life, Hammont struggled with the nagging feeling that there was something unfamiliar with Brontes. Like he had become someone else. He didn¡¯t know why he felt this way, perhaps that¡¯s just what happens when someone experiences such a world-shaking event. After all, he died! Or maybe there was another reason, but for whatever reason it created a distance between them. ¡°This coming battle is critically important. Drake Company must and will regain its honor.¡± ¡°We will fight our best, to the last man!¡± Hammont sighed. He shared a few more words then left to survey the rest of the troops. By nightfall, once the army was prepared and assembled, another group appeared on the border of the city. It was a group of formidable size, all of whom were dressed in clerical garb. Among them were powerful Templars and the rarely dispatched Empyrean Guard. In addition were roughly ten thousand soldiers from different churches. Ramiel Caelestis led them personally. His Apostle, Selene Cloud, followed a step behind. It was a group of relatively fewer numbers, but their accumulated strength was not to be discounted. The High Priest, clad in immaculate white robes, strode forward. He was flanked on either side by the two Oracles. When he approached Arcturus the two shared pleasantries and on the surface they ere both respectful and friendly. The reality was anything but. However, those soldiers who saw their leaders in such a harmonious fashion felt their morale soar. Skycloud¡¯s ultimate demonhunter, Arcturus Cloude, and its High Priest were chief among a whole host of powerful men and women fighting by their side. Never before had such an incredible lineup of heroes been assembled. It seemed unthinkable that wastelanders had a prayer when this was what they faced. A dispute which would determine the fate of millions was about to begin. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 630 - Book 6, Chapter 22 Cloudhawk, the drunk, and Dawn. The three of them sat by a riverbank in Woodland Vale leisurely fishing for dinner. Vibrant green trees rose all around them on a carpet of grass. Butterflies and insects frolicked among the foliage and the brook gurgled soothingly as a backdrop. All around was the sensation of life going about its business. The drunk flicked his wrist with a casual movement and the silver fishing line jumped from the water. On the other end was a beautiful, fat black fish. In practiced motions he unhooked it and tossed his catch into a nearby bucket. Proud of his accomplishment, the drunk took a celebratory swig from his jug. His words dripped with self-satisfaction. ¡°Well it looks like I¡¯ve got myself a rather tasty dinner to look forward to!¡± Dawn sniffed. ¡°One lousy fish, so what. You¡¯re slipping, old man!¡± ¡°Hey, say what you will but this ¡®lousy fish¡¯ is enough to fill my belly. And a happy stomach is better than any honor, dignity or power, am I right? Spend the afternoon fishing, pass the time, and end the day with a nice stew¡­¡± The old drunk¡¯s eyes glittered at the prospect of the meal that was waiting for him. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call the good life. After my many decades that¡¯s the most important thing I¡¯ve learned.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head and couldn¡¯t help but interject. ¡°Well your old bones aren¡¯t long for this world. Maybe I should just release you from service and you can spend your twilight years on this riverbank. You won¡¯t need to bother with all this nonsense.¡± The old drunk rolled his eyes. ¡°Bullshit, I¡¯m as strong as an ox. I may not like all this fighting and killing but with the younger folk working so hard, the older generation needs to pull its weight.¡± ¡°Well you¡¯ll get your wish,¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°This time Arcturus will be out there. This battle will decide a lot of things.¡± It was a fact the drunk was keenly aware of. ¡°Heh, I don¡¯t plan to miss the final act of this drama.¡± Cloudhawk left it at that. Vulkan had lost interest in fighting a long time ago. He really didn¡¯t care much about Arcturus anymore, either. To him, this battle didn¡¯t have the same deep implications as the others, so why did he bother? Cloudhawk figured it was because of the drunk¡¯s relationship to the rest of them. He¡¯d met Cloudhawk, Dawn, Selene and the others after he¡¯d hit rock bottom. The relationship they had was erected on that base foundation he¡¯d rebuilt his life on. He wasn¡¯t going to let them march to the front lines alone. The luckiest thing to happen to a man is to feel needed. Sometimes difficulties and misfortune were part of the equation. Cloudhawk shared largely the same philosophy, with minor differences. He¡¯d accepted his fate. Besides that vague beautiful dream that occupied the back of his mind, he did what he did out of a sense of kinship and because he was needed. Dawn needed him. Greenland needed him. The Green Alliance¡¯s one hundred thousand soldiers needed him. The wastelands and this whole generation needed him. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t keep running. He would find his place in the world, not resign himself to constantly being flung around on the tides of fate. Protecting the people and things he cared about, achieving his dreams¡­ to do that he needed to win this war, so there wasn¡¯t an ounce of regret in fighting it. Cloudhawk yanked back on his fishing rod, revealing a fish dangling from his hook. Dawn whistled appreciatively. ¡°Hey, nice catch! Well done, Cloudhawk.¡± Again the old man rolled his eyes. Women were inscrutable creatures. Despite this, the old drunk was fond of Dawn for no other reason than she was real. No hiding her feelings, just living exactly the way she wanted. In that way she had both him and Cloudhawk beat. Who knew where she was going to end up. But the longer she stuck around people like him and Cloudhawk, the more Vulkan worried. Her feelings for Cloudhawk kept her close, like a moth to a flame. He hoped for her sake Cloudhawk would one day make things clear. The three pulled their lines out of the water and returned to town, ready to begin cooking. Unfortunately, before they could sit down to their meal a series of sour reports were delivered. The first was that the Conclave had gathered as many Seekers as they could find. Most likely it was to work on restoring those nuclear weapons they¡¯d taken from Nucleus. Such a weapon was frighteningly dangerous. If they fixed it, the blast from one would be strong enough to crack open Woodland Vale¡¯s defenses. What this meant for the Green Alliance was that they couldn¡¯t afford to stay holed up here. The longer they waited, the more likely danger would be delivered to their doorstep. Taking Fallowmoor before the bombs were restored had to be a priority. The second piece of news was that Skycloud¡¯s forces had left the Elysian realm. Thousands of their best soldiers were marching with Arcturus and the High Priest to lead them. Word was they were already in the wastes and could launch an attack on Woodland Vale at any time. Skycloud¡¯s army was strong ¨C too strong for the Green Alliance to contend with alone. With the expeditionary force on the way, the Green Alliance couldn¡¯t leave. If they did, they ran the risk of being smashed apart by Arcturus. Any way you cut it, things were not looking good. ¡°Well I did not see this coming.¡± Dawn rubbed her chin. Suddenly a thought came to her. ¡°What if we stole one of the bombs for ourselves and used it against the expeditionary force?¡± Cloudhawk nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Steal a nuke? That¡¯s certainly one way to make a statement, we can give it a shot. I¡¯m not sure we have enough time, though. The Conclave is very familiar with what we¡¯re capable of and they¡¯ve certainly gone to great lengths to protect something so important. Finding where they¡¯ve squirreled it away won¡¯t be easy. Likely impossible in a short period of time.¡± Dawn¡¯s eyebrows knit tight as she considered it. ¡°I can¡¯t think of a better plan.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not rush,¡± Cloudhawk said. ¡°It took the Dark Atom years just to restore one of the primeval weapons. I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be as easy as snapping their fingers. Anyway, we haven¡¯t ruled out the possibility that this is a rumor designed to draw us out. But even if it is, and even with a huge amount of people and resources, it¡¯ll take them time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°Wait! Be patient. We¡¯ve got one chance at this, so we can¡¯t jump the gun.¡± Cloudhawk and Dawn then left for the barracks area. Using the spirit orb altars, Cloudhawk had created a portal to Greenland. Through it the two cities could share resources and facilitate troop movements. It was the safest way, for how could you be attacked if you never step outside your own territory? Of course even Cloudhawk had his limits. The portal he created was not huge and transporting too much at one time threatened to destabilize it. Larger pieces of equipment were difficult to transport from the south to the north and demanded a lot of energy. With the situation they found themselves in, such a heavy cost was too much to bear. Cloudhawk looked over the soldiers. ¡°Where are we with preparations?¡± Roc of the Polaris family had joined them, and delivered the report. ¡°Most soldiers are now equipped with the eboncrys weapons we¡¯ve produced. They¡¯ve proven to be five to ten times stronger than traditional weapons and even against demonhunters they can do lethal damage. Defensively our elite troops are being fitted with the latest armor technology, which has proven to be very effective against standard Elysian arms.¡± Green Alliance troops were improving every day. Unfortunately, there was never enough time and not everyone could be upgraded. If they could outfit all their forces with these new tools then they could handily steamroll the Conclave. Roc went on. ¡°Most of our warships now have eboncrys missiles, with destructive power comparable to Elysian pylons. The ships are also more maneuverable and in general engines are much more efficient. We may be short in numbers, but we have a huge advantage over the Northerners in fighting power.¡± By his estimation, Cloudhawk figured his army was strong enough to blast through Fallowmoor¡¯s defenses. That didn¡¯t mean it was going to be easy. When Skye Polaris brought the expeditionary force out there they couldn¡¯t succeed. He figured his forces now were about as strong as the expeditionary force had been back then. It would be hard, but not impossible. The biggest hurdle was Skycloud. Cloudhawk¡¯s biggest worry was being set upon by Arcturus the moment they left Woodland Vale. Until they had a better handle on the situation, he had to hold back. Rash decisions could mean death. Every the next few days Cloudhawk continued to receive reports. They were all about the doings of the Conclave and expeditionary force, especially concerning the nuclear weapons. He still didn¡¯t know whether the information was real or intentionally leaked to goad Cloudhawk into action. Time and again news of progress reached his ears, which he figured were meant to make the Green Alliance nervous. He paid it no mind. Things were complicated on all sides and he had to keep a level head. The Conclave was making bombs; the Green Alliance was locked in Woodland Vale and preparing to attack Fallowmoor; Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force stalked the wastelands in parts unknown. He heard that Arcturus and his forces never stopped or set up a base, probably for fear that Cloudhawk would summon his meteors to wipe them out. All the while, internal strife continued to plague the Elysians. It was a situation were a million things could go wrong, and the slightest change could upset the delicate balance. Cloudhawk was waiting to see where the variables would turn. It was a gamble, and none were gambling more than him. Finally after ten days of tense waiting Cloudhawk received a special missive. The report claimed that the Conclave had dispatched a huge number of troops in the direction of the expeditionary force. What was going on? Was the Conclave and Arcturus posturing for a fight? When the two armies met they would inevitably exchange fire, but that didn¡¯t make any sense. Why would Arcturus seek to undermine his own forces? Cloudhawk was very interested in this strange and unexpected turn of events. The change that tipped the balance seemed to be on its way. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 631 - Book 6, Chapter 23 A vast array of warships, numbering in the thousands, slowly floated across the sky. Each one was wrapped in shells of white light that made them look like flying eggs neatly rolling across the heavens. Looking out of the windows one could see a boundless starry night, specks of silver on a black velvet backdrop. A pair of brightly shining eyes stared from within the dark room. Selene was silent as a shadow. What was Cloudhawk doing now, she wondered? The final barriers between them had collapsed the last time they¡¯d been together, and from that point on she knew their lives were inexorably tied. But Selene also understood that there was an historic war destined to arise between them¡­ one she wasn¡¯t sure she would get through in one piece. Ever since she agreed to accept the Temple¡¯s inheritance she¡¯d felt her emotions dulling. Cold, ruthless thoughts were all that occupied her mind most days. Ramiel had told her that power came at a price. Did he mean sacrificing the emotions that made her¡­ her? Fear slithered in the depths of her heart, a rare sensation for her to experience. But this gradually erosion was a danger she couldn¡¯t face with her sword. As she focused on it an intense pain erupted from inside her like a volcano. In an instant, it spread through her entire being! The pain was too great for her will to suppress. It felt as though someone had suddenly and unexpectedly driven their fist into her stomach, forcing her to curl into a ball. Sweat poured off her beautiful, stricken face. She writhed on the ground in agony. Pain. Pain! Pain! Her mind reeled from it, like something was trying to drill its way out. Selene opened her eyes and they blazed with erratic golden light. The power pouring from her filled the room as images appeared before her eyes. Another one. And another one! It was a mental explosion. Selene didn¡¯t know which god¡¯s power was flowing through her, but she felt it was special. Each time it surged like this she was granted visions. Chaotic, fractured visions, only faintly understood. She saw countless warships engaged in battle. One of them, which bore the Temple¡¯s forces, detonated in a nauseating display of carnage. All the Templars and clerics were blown to pieces. Even she was counted among the staggering death toll. It was a vision of the future. A glimpse at her own death! Somehow sensing danger in her future, the god¡¯s power within her stirred. It granted her knowledge, a means of protecting herself from the gruesome fate. As she wasn¡¯t strong enough yet, these visions were brief and showed things in the near future only. If nothing changed, she was going to be killed very soon. But¡­ why? Selene clenched her fists and tried to fight through the pain so she could see more. A sea of fire, frozen like a photo. Everywhere she looked the all-consuming flame stretched toward the horizon. Among the numerous obliterated vessels emerged a single Temple ship upon which two figures warred. One wore simple gray robes, elegant and calm. The other wore priestly garb of white, holy and pure. Arcturus and¡­ Ramiel? Through her wide eyes Selene saw Arcturus wielding Ruin. It was buried in Ramiel¡¯s chest, one end jutting out from the elderly man¡¯s spine. The picture flickered, and Ramiel turned to ash. On his face she saw that even in death, the High Priest could not imagine Arcturus would do such a thing. Explosions! The image shattered like a broken mirror. Selene stared up at the dark ceiling, panting for breath. Her hair was wet from sweat and she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness. The weariness she felt went bone deep. Horrifying! She had to do something! The vision she saw was of the Temple¡¯s destruction. Everyone ¨C herself and Ramiel included ¨C were Arcturus¡¯ true targets. The calm of the world outside hid the ghastly purge soon to come. In his darkest nightmares Ramiel would not expect Arcturus to assault him, surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers. Whatever their conflicts Ramiel was High Priest of the Temple! Even a man of such high esteem among the people couldn¡¯t brazenly assassinate a religious leader. It would be suicide! And precisely because it was so unthinkable, no one was protecting themselves. Ramiel¡¯s aims to unseat Arcturus were likely discovered by the Governor long ago. The Master Demonhunter silently made his plots and arranged for the High Priest to meet his end out here. Judging by her previous visions, Selene feared it could come to pass in as soon as a couple hours. There was no time. No. She had to leave, she had to warn the High Priest. Arcturus couldn¡¯t be allowed to prevail! Only the Temple could stand in the Governor¡¯s way. If it fell, Arcturus would be unstoppable! The ship was chock full of the highest grade warriors. Likely they¡¯d been left here to deal with her when the fight started. Her visions had warned her of the encroaching doom, but she couldn¡¯t just rush to action. As her mind raced she walked over to the porthole and produced a small flute. She blew into it and then stared out the window. Five minutes passed. Silent shadows slipped from cracks in the ships¡¯ hulls. Black figures with their faces covered, led by the leader of the Court of Shadows, Janus. Atlas was also with them. The rest of the figures were agents of the Court, trusted veterans who were among the best assassins Skycloud had produced. Janus greeted Selene with a question. ¡°While arriving I saw many Cloude family elite making their way among the ships. What is going on?¡± She responded. ¡°Arcturus is no longer staying passive. He¡¯s preparing to attack, and the people on this boat have been sent here to kill me. But that isn¡¯t important, you need to go to Ramiel immediately and tell him all Temple faithful are in danger.¡± Janus turned to Atlas and looked wordlessly at him. The Court¡¯s second in command vanished without a sound. If they got this information to Ramiel in time, perhaps they could prepare for the assassination attempt. Between the High Priest¡¯s own power and that of his Oracles, they could at least mount some measure of resistance. He wouldn¡¯t have achieved his post without merit, and indeed Ramiel commanded power akin to a Master Demonhunter. Perhaps even stronger. After a few moments, Atlas returned with dark news. ¡°Arcturus has already taken control of the Temple ships. Ramiel is already meeting with Arcturus and there were too many around for me to convey the message.¡± What? How?! Was it already too late? Selene¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Then we¡¯ll cut our way to him. If there¡¯s a disturbance the High Priest will be on his guard. He must be alerted!¡± Open conflict with the Governor was the only option, and a far better one than allowing the Temple¡¯s leadership to be murdered. With the Court¡¯s help, fighting her way free of this ship shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Foiling Arcturus¡¯ plot would be much more difficult. But they had no alternative. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Selene drew Sublime Transcendence and hacked it through the air. The door to her room blasted outward in a vicious explosion. On the other side, Cloude agents were caught by surprise and cleaved in half by the sword¡¯s power. Her violent display immediately caused a commotion. ¡°What is happening?!¡± ¡°Who is attacking the ship!¡± Right away ships in the area went on alert and slowed to a crawl. Selene led the Court assassins through the ship¡¯s interior, cutting a bloody swath toward the deck. Soldiers and demonhunters sent to cut her down were instead ambushed and slain. But before Selene could continue her desperate fight toward the High Priest, she and Janus bore witness to an unthinkable scene. Carving an angry path through the air was a salvo of missiles, trailing flames, aimed right for the Elysian armada. Skycloud¡¯s ships were mighty in their defense, but even still a number of vessels were damaged. The Elysian army was instantly on full alert. ¡°Attack! We¡¯re being attacked!¡± ¡°Wastelanders off the port side!¡± ¡°All hands, prepare for battle!¡± A massive force of wasteland ships had managed to come right up to their flank. Thousands of them were unloading their heavy artillery and missiles at the Elysians. Without question this was a major part of the enemy¡¯s forces. They spread out, an aggressive posture that showed they were not here to show mercy. ¡°This isn¡¯t the Green Alliance!¡± Selene had known that right away. On the one hand, the Green Alliance didn¡¯t have the force to shake Skycloud¡¯s army like this. What¡¯s more, their purpose was to unite the wastelands not eliminate Skycloud. So if it wasn¡¯t the Green Alliance there was only one other possibility, and that was the Conclave. Only their army was large enough to be a threat. And the one leading them from the shadows was none other than Arcturus Cloude. How could the Governor have his own men fight each other?! Because he had one overriding priority ¨C destroy the Temple! Unless she was mistaken, the minute Conclave missiles struck, Arcturus made his move. She feared it was already too late to save the High Priest. Just as the grim thought crossed her mind a ripping explosion sounded. A fireball rose from the center of the Elysian armada as one of the Temple¡¯s ships detonated. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 632 - Book 6, Chapter 24 Half an hour before. As was his custom, Ramiel was praying in his cabin aboard the Temple flagship. Among the people of Skycloud there was no more respected figure than the High Priest of the Temple. What they did not know was that he was often beset by troubles. The High Priest was a lofty title, but it did not come with any real military or political authority. He was merely a guide to the faithful and in a sense, he was like the shadow of the Temples¡¯ true leader, the Cloud God. Over the last year the upper echelons of the Temple¡¯s leadership had come to learn that the Cloud God was sleeping, though it was a closely guarded secret. During that time Ramiel keenly felt the Temple¡¯s influence slipping, especially once the Governor consolidated his power over the government and military. With power firmly in his grip, Arcturus was more brazen in his defiance of the Temple. It all had to change! The Great War was so long ago! Without the gods visible to their believers, faith was beginning to erode. Indeed faith remained a constraining force in the hearts of Elysians of all social strati. It was a defining characteristic of their society. However, Arcturus had proven that ¡®god¡¯ did not command the same infallible authority to the topmost parts of the government like it used to. Indeed the power Arcturus wielded now was a threat to many of the lesser and mid-tier gods. Man reserved his awe only for the most powerful. If the Governor could defeat the gods, what did ¡®god¡¯ even mean? Perhaps in the minds of Arcturus and the citizens of Skycloud, the shroud of mystery had begun to unveil. They believed gods were nothing more than creatures of immense power. Just another, more advanced race that had unlocked the secrets of immortality. Ramiel¡¯s position was inexorably bound to religious authority. If people turned away from the Temple and the gods, his position would mean nothing. Things as they were, the conflict between the Governor and the High Priest was inevitable. But Ramiel wouldn¡¯t sit back and await defeat ¨C he had to take action. This was the time, even if he was stricken with fear. His prayers were interrupted by the Grand Prior. Phain approached and addressed him in soft tones. ¡°High Priest, Governor Arcturus calls for you. He says he wishes to discuss something important with you in private.¡± ¡°At this hour? What could be so important? He came by himself?¡± ¡°Yes, your Excellency. He brought no attendants and came alone.¡± ¡°Alright. Call the Oracles, then wait outside while we talk.¡± When Arcturus was led to the ship¡¯s conference room he saw Ramiel already seated within, a book in his hands. He was flanked on either side by two figures. First was the Oracle of Order, Aquaria, who carried a sizable tome. The other was the Oracles of Justice, Thora, a staff cradled in one arm. In addition, ten high ranking Temple clerics were arrayed throughout the room. Waiting outside with Phain were twenty Templars. Arcturus noted that Ramiel had not changed one bit over the years. Whatever the circumstance he always exercised an abundance of caution. He did not seem perturbed by the strong showing. Entering the room, Arcturus bowed respectfully to the elderly man. ¡°High Priest. I am sorry to disturb you.¡± Ramiel made a show of slowly closing his book and setting it aside. He gave the Governor a perplexed look. ¡°I was told Master Arcturus had something important to discuss with me, though I can¡¯t imagine what it could be that would have you come out here in the middle of the night.¡± Arcturus nodded. ¡°What I have to tell you began ten years ago.¡± Confusion was visible on the High Priest¡¯s face. This is what he came so urgently to talk about? Something that happened a decade ago? It seemed more like some clumsy diversion. Calm and unreadable as a stone, Ramiel motioned him closer. The Oracles were clearly watching Arcturus¡¯ every move. ¡°Please, sit.¡± ¡°Thank you, your Excellency.¡± Arcturus took the offered chair. One of the clerics presented him with a cup of tea. He shared his appreciation then began to speak with Ramiel in gentle, almost conversational tones. ¡°What I have to say concerns my younger brother, Baldur.¡± At the mention of the name, Ramiel¡¯s brows furrowed tighter. The Master Demonhunter was the first great traitor of this era. If one looked closely at the last decade they could trace all the ensuing chaos back to him. He was also the current Apostle¡¯s father, and Arcturus personally levied the order to have him executed. His name was laden with many complicated relationships involving both the Temple and Skycloud¡¯s government. Even today mention of his name was taboo in most circles and few spoke it aloud. Ramiel was one of only a handful who knew what had transpired. ¡°The secret Baldur found was strong enough to undermine the authority of the Temple and shake the foundations of our realm.¡± Arcturus avoided specifics. Ramiel already knew them. ¡°For the good of Skycloud¡¯s two million citizens I had to act, even if it meant I had to do so against my own family. However, as you know Baldur was always a cautious man. He would not give me a chance to get close, but he was not as suspicious of my other brother, Sterling.¡± None of this was news. Why was the Governor bringing up old family history now? Arcturus continued with the tale, as though it had nothing to do with him. ¡°And so, I ordered Sterling to dispose of Baldur. Sterling was so devastated by it that, under the pretext of retirement, he took his son Zephyr and fled the realm. He took the name Crimson One, his son he called Adder, and together they established the Crimson Church out in the wastelands. It would eventually become the Conclave of Judgment.¡± Ramiel had lost patience. ¡°You came in the middle of the night to discuss something we all already know?¡± An enigmatic smile touched the Governor¡¯s lips. ¡°No no. What I will say next is important, but you needed context. I would hope the High Priest will listen, remain calm, and promise not to act rashly.¡± The words filled Ramiel with a sense of unease. His fingers absent-mindedly fondled the ring on his left thumb. The act calmed his nerves somewhat. ¡°Go on.¡± Arcturus obliged. ¡°What I have never told you is that what Baldur learned captured my interest as well. Over the past decade I have performed my own research, about the gods and demons and how they are connected. Do you want to hear the conclusion I¡¯ve reached?¡± Ramiel¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You¡­¡± The Governor explained himself without waiting for the old man to finish. ¡°The gods are demons, and the demons are gods. These beings ¨C which on the surface appear so separate ¨C in fact come from precisely the same origin. Much of what Judas revealed in his assault on Sanctuary was true. But it is only the surface. Without question, the Cloud God was forced to slumber because this truth was revealed to it. Or, rather, the truth within the truth.¡± Ramiel shot to his feet, enraged. Immediately the room was filled with a potent and powerful aura. ¡°Enough! Arcturus, do you have any idea what you¡¯re saying? Your heretical words alone are a sin punishable by death!¡± ¡°High Priest, do not be blinded by the lies you peddle. Others may not accept what I¡¯m saying but you know the truth as well as I. We have seen and experienced all the same things. You, who have served the Cloud God for fifty years, should know better than anyone. You should understand the source of these creatures.¡± Arcturus¡¯ voice was calm and unshakable. ¡°Of course I understand your anger. When divine authority collapses so too will your Temple. The position of High Priest will mean nothing. I have come here and laid it all bare not because I seek to undermine you, but because I hoped we could work together.¡± Ramiel answered with a bitter chuckle. ¡°Cooperate? You want me to cooperate with your heresy? What makes you think this is possible?¡± ¡°I did not, but I had to try.¡± Arcturus also rose to his feet, as calm and unreadable as ever. ¡°In maintaining divine authority the High Priest also protects his own position. But if you could let that go and agree to work with me, we would not only guide Skycloud and all the known wastelands. We would be on the road to mastering this world and even beyond. As High Priest you can retain your reputation and gain real power.¡± ¡°Is our Governor so naive?! I will no longer stand to hear this nonsense!¡± Ramiel grinned a cold grin at the man. ¡°Take this apostate into custody!¡± Of course, Arcturus had anticipated this would be the outcome. He sighed in disappointment. ¡°This is the road you chose. If you will not cooperate, then I am left with no choice.¡± There was no doubt the Governor was going to make his move. ¡°Laughable. Even as strong as you are, you think you can walk in here alone and silence me? Even if you do slaughter all of the Temple¡¯s forces, do you think your troops will follow you then?¡± His words hardly had time to leave his lips before the explosions started. Shouts and alarms filled the air. They were being attacked by the Conclave. Ramiel¡¯s face grew cold, for he knew this had somehow been arranged by Arcturus. But if he thought that this method of capitalizing on chaos would be enough to best Ramiel, he was sorely mistaken. Aquaria flipped open the book in her hands and prepared to unleash its power. But before she could a sleek black staff swung toward her. The power it unleashed sent Aquaria tumbling several meters across the cabin. She slammed into the wall, wrapped in pitch black lightning. Thora turned the Arbiter¡¯s Staff on Ramiel once Aquaria had been dealt with. However a shell of golden light protected the High Priest from her ire. The corona of force he unleashed ravaged the entire room. ¡°It was you!¡± Ramiel glared at Thora in betrayal and anger after fending off her assault. ¡°You were the spy!¡± He¡¯d known there was someone feeding Arcturus information from the inside. What he never could have imagined was that the traitor had been standing by his side all along. The fight to come was imminent and lethal. All at once seventy percent of the clerics in the chamber turned their weapons on the other thirty. From outside, Phain made to in when he heard the commotion but was stopped by a wall of half a dozen swords. Ramiel was stricken by the scene. ¡°Y-y-you¡­ !¡± Arcturus remained by his seat as chaos erupted all around them. The cup of tea was still in his hands. ¡°I am very different from my ignorant brothers. I have been preparing for twenty years. Be at ease, High Priest Ramiel. Once you have died the much more discerning Thora will lead the Temple into the future.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 633 - Book 6, Chapter 25 The sudden and unexpected attack from the Conclave cast the Elysians into turmoil. Angry red trails followed missiles as they slipped across Skycloud¡¯s defensive line, smashing into ships. Although the Elysian forces would not be so easy to break, the harassment from these long-range artillery became more troublesome over time. Selene, with Janus by her side, charged into the fight raging all around. Arcturus was making his move ¨C a brazen murder that seemed impossible to hide. But if she failed to stop it, there was no going back. Was Arcturus prepared to die fighting? She and the leader of the Court of Shadows fought through the chaos and found a spot to catch their breath. It lasted only a moment, however, for at once she was surrounded by a number of figures. Many of them were elite members of the Cloude family. ¡°Selene Cloude conspires with the wilderness to undermine the Temple! Kill her!¡± Frost raced toward her with spear in hand. The other members of the Cloude family brandished their relics, treasured weapons they¡¯d clearly prepared for this moment. Arcturus and his people were not one to make foolish mistakes. He would ensure they had the strength necessary to take her down. What they did not know was that Selene had inherited the remarkable power of foresight. Their plans were revealed and now she had the help of the Court of Shadows. Killing her now would be more difficult. Even so, it also wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to escape. She watched as the side of the Temple flagship blasted apart. She couldn¡¯t see the situation on the ship but it was bad, without a doubt. Arcturus¡¯ moves were bold and unprecedented, but if he was making them it meant the situation was well under his control. ¡°I can handle things here. Go rescue the High Priest!¡± Selene dispatched Janus and his shadows to aid Ramiel. If Arcturus were allowed to succeed the damage to their realm would be irrevocable. Without its leader the Temple would face utter collapse and Selene¡¯s own plight would worsen. No matter what they faced, Ramiel had to survive. Not all was lost, for this also presented a very rare opportunity. If they foiled Arcturus¡¯ plans it would blow up in his face. The damage to his reputation would make their efforts much easier. Janus¡¯ form shimmered and suddenly there were ten of him. They all dissolved into slivers of darkness and dashed out into the sky. No one could stop the assassin from running when he had his heart set on it. Even if someone managed to succeed in blocking his path, chances were it was merely a shade. The real Janus could slip away undetected. The leader of the Court of Shadows was Skycloud¡¯s foremost assassin. His speed was superhuman. In the blink of an eye he¡¯d arrived at the assailed Temple flagship. Out among the fire and destruction he could faintly make out a figure. Ramiel, embraced by an orb of golden light. He stood face to face with Arcturus. The Temple clerics around him were either corpses or traitors. Unthinkable, that such a horror could occur. Janus quickly came up with a plan. Once again his body trembled and split. Two shadows became four, became eight, and so forth until there were nearly thirty copies of himself. They all moved in tandem. A group of five or six charged into the flaming ruins of the ship. A group of traitorous clerics were trying to put Aquaria down for good. The Oracle was on the precipice of death and had no strength to protect herself. The clerics summoned power from their relics, preparing to silence her forever. Slivers of darkness jutted from them suddenly ¨C black daggers that had slipped soundlessly through the air. They¡¯d found their way into the traitors¡¯ backs, hearts and throats. These men were not weak, elite veteran demonhunters all, but they were not expecting to face an assassin¡¯s blades. After the deadly exhibition, Janus¡¯ shadows faded like smoke on the wind. Only Aquaria was left unscathed. Suddenly finding herself free, she dragged herself to safety. Elsewhere¡­ Phain was fighting bravely alone against his own men. Five Templars surrounded him, swords flashing. He could hardly believe what was happening. These were celebrated warriors who had been by his side for years! Until this moment he¡¯d had utter faith in them and never would have imagined they would betray their Temple. And not just these five, but half of the Templars he¡¯d brought proved to be turncoats. Bastards! Arcturus had probably been working his claws into the Temple for decades. The battle was a stalemate until Janus arrived. Caught off guard, two of the Templars were slain outright. Suddenly there was a break in Phain¡¯s encirclement. He capitalized on the good fortune, eliminating the remainder of the Templars with Janus¡¯ help. ¡°Master Janus!¡± Phain recognized the man. Expressionless, Janus barked an order. ¡°Save the High Priest!¡± Without another word, both men ¨C one bearing daggers black as night, and the other wielding a shining Temple blade ¨C charged into the sea of fire. Their already formidable strength was empowered by the desperation of their plight, and they cut down any opposition that barred their path. Eventually they came upon Ramiel, locked in fierce combat with Arcturus. The High Priest was in a precarious situation. His once immaculate robes were in tatters and his snow-white hair had been burned black. He radiated holy light that hugged him like a protective shell. Meanwhile Arcturus bore a hiltless sword in both hands and was taking vicious swipes at his opponent. The light glowing around Ramiel was gradually dimming. The High Priest was not weak, but even he could not stand against Arcturus for long. Phain and Janus, seeing this, moved forward to come to his aid. But their path was suddenly blocked by a dark shadow. With a black staff in hand, the figure lashed out at the two of them. The shadow of Janus Umbras was torn asunder. Phain raised his treasured blade in defense, meeting the dark staff before it could reach him. Upon contact, a burst of power was released as electrical energy. A power that would shudder mountains filled him, and with a terrible crack of thunder his weapon shattered like a flimsy pane of glass. What power! The Arbiter¡¯s Staff was one of the Temple¡¯s strongest relics. Phain faced the Oracle of Justice, Thora. She had always been silent as a statue. He could count on one hand the number of words he¡¯d heard her speak. But behind that silence was formidable might! He was forced to fall back. He groped for the swords off two Templar corpses and spun back around to face his assailant. He reeled back and threw them both at her. This was the special technique he¡¯d created, known for its overwhelming power. Thora whipped the Arbiter¡¯s Staff through the air. Both swords stopped when they struck some unseen barrier, then crumbled into slivers of steel. The Grand Prior knew this Oracle of Justice was stronger than he, especially with the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. Ordinarily Phain might have been able to eke out a victory, but under these foul circumstances he could not get to Ramiel in time. Janus, however, was successful in evading the Oracle. But as he neared his target, clerics hiding in the wings emerged to bar his path. They joined the power of their relics to erect a force field, keeping him at bay. Damnit! Just as Janus was forced to stop, Arcturus thrust his sword into the light around Ramiel. It pierced his defenses and dug into the old man¡¯s body. A pained quail rose above the sound of explosions as even his robes were turned to ash around Ruin¡¯s hideous blade. Cracks like spider silk spread through Ramiel¡¯s flesh and burgeoned outward as though a power from inside threatened to burst free. An explosion, like a blast of thunder. Ramiel, High Priest of the Temple, was blasted apart. Arcturus waded into the carnage and stooped to pick up the ring that had once adorned Ramiel¡¯s finger. He then turned and drew his eyes toward Phain and Janus. A rare look of despair appeared in the assassin¡¯s eyes. They¡¯d still been too late. Ramiel Caelestis had been slain by Arcturus¡¯ black hand. His plans were now that the High Priest was no longer a threat were not hard to fathom. ¡°Run!¡± It was Janus¡¯ only thought, and while he was making to flee Phain also broke off his attack. Ramiel was gone, it was over. He quickly followed the assassin and broke for freedom. Fighting Arcturus alone was foolish and suicidal. Better to live in defeat and plan vengeance. But would the Governor allow them to go? He reached out and a pair of lightning bolts darted forth. One of them pierced through Phain¡¯s armor and into his body, causing critical damage. The other connected with Janus. It forced the assassin from his perpetual shadowy aura. One attack gravely injured two of Skycloud¡¯s strongest! Thora raised her staff to deal the final blow, but just as the mighty Arbiter¡¯s Staff began to descend a beam of light pierce the heavens. From a great distance it deflected the Oracle¡¯s attack. The Temple Adept, Selene Cloude, had arrived at this crucial moment and saved her allies¡¯ lives. But she was too late to save everyone! Selene was not strong enough to change the vile course of this war. Against their foe, her interference was negligible. ¡°None of you will be spared!¡± Arcturus shot one hand toward the sky and released a column of lightning. It split overhead and then tumbled around them in blazing arcs like an electric birdcage. Selene, Phain, Janus and Aquaria were all captured within. Phain shouted in blind fury. ¡°Arcturus! You madman!¡± The Governor¡¯s answer was to chuckle darkly. He walked from the flaming rubble with his gray robes flapping in the turbulent winds. Lightning encircled his form and crackled threateningly, gaining strength with each rotation. Slowly he raised his hand toward his quarry and released the pent-up power. Like a nightmarish deluge it surged toward them. As the harsh light of doom washed over their faces, suddenly a figure appeared between them and the Governor. The moment he appeared, a pale white shield of light sprang forth. Arcing bolts of lightning were deflected out in all directions. Space rippled around Cloudhawk and he kept the portal open. Arcturus looked at him straight in his eyes. ¡°You came. As expected.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 634 - Book 6, Chapter 26 Cloudhawk had caught up with the two armies. While the Green Alliance didn¡¯t have the same breadth of forces as Skycloud or the Conclave, it was unmatched in its ability to gather information. The south had spy units in the form of intelligent animals which on the outside looked like any other innocuous critter. But they were intelligent enough to understand and relay whatever important tidbits of news they came across. In all a very flexible asset that was able to get most anywhere. After these wargs spread out through the wastes they created a priceless spy network. They came in innumerable shapes at sizes; from rats and spiders to giant birds of prey. Once they were out in the wilds there was no telling a warg from any other native creature. Concealing one¡¯s movements was impossible. When Cloudhawk heard that the Conclave was moving against Skycloud¡¯s army, he knew it was Arcturus enacting his coup. His aim certainly wasn¡¯t to weaken his two factions against one another, but to castrate the Temple. In other words, Selene was in grave danger. However fast and complete his information, Cloudhawk knew that it¡¯d been in transit a long time before reaching him. His armies could be twice as agile as they were and still not have enough time to make a difference, so he had to come alone. By the time he arrived it was as he feared, Selene and her allies were backed into a flaming corner. If he¡¯d been even half a moment later she would be gone. Arcturus did not appear in the least surprised at Cloudhawk¡¯s appearance. The young wastelander was frighteningly powerful now and it was not shocking for him to appear anywhere he pleased. What did strike Arcturus as odd was Selene¡¯s presence. Odds were slim she could escape the trap he¡¯d laid for her. Clearly her powers were more complicated than he gave them credit for. He had to give her credit; Selene had ambition, confidence and tenacity. With time there was a good chance she could match him in strength. But Arcturus did not have the time or inclination to allow that. She was trouble. As the future became increasingly uncertain he didn¡¯t want the efforts he¡¯d made in the name of humanity to fall apart because of her meddling. Selene Cloude had to die. The Temple had to be overthrown. The Green Alliance had to be destroyed, and if Cloudhawk would not submit then he too would be eliminated. No more time was wasted on words. Arcturus stretched out his hands and a raging storm of lightning emerged. They spread over the area like a crackling net, locking everyone inside. Much like a foul version of the Shepherd God¡¯s enchantments, they were locked away from the world outside. At the same time tendrils of electricity whipped at Arcturus¡¯ foes. In response, an orb of green flame expanded from Cloudhawk like an enormous balloon. Selene and the others were safe inside from the rain of lightning. The opposing powers met violently at their border, but Arcturus¡¯ lightning only fizzled out and sparked in frustration, never piercing the bubble. ¡°If you were stronger than me it would¡¯ve been I who fled the last time we met.¡± A cold light flashed through the Governor¡¯s eyes. Ruin became a writhing snake of electricity in his grip and as she thrust it forward the sword¡¯s power stretched for a thousand meters. It carved through Cloudhawk¡¯s shell of Castigation Fire without effort. Inside, Cloudhawk raised his left arm and summoned the reflective light. When Ruin struck the shield a storm of sparks and explosions followed. It fractured from one enormous lightning serpent to countless smaller arcs. Those smaller offshoots did not bother with Cloudhawk or his shield, instead whipping around him. Their aim was to blast apart the others. By the time Cloudhawk recognized it, he was too late to react. The errant bolts moved with an agility and intelligence of their own. Each one was far stronger than their humble appearance belied. When they got close to their target the bolts split apart to even smaller tendrils and fell over the victim like a waterfall. Janus, sensing the danger, summoned a mirror image and placed it in front of Selene protectively. It saved her from the brunt of the assault. Phain, unfortunately, was not as lucky. Arcturus¡¯ lightning enveloped him and in an instant all his skin was burned black like an overcooked pig. Anger flared within Cloudhawk. The Master Demonhunter was only more contemptible each time he saw him! ¡°I may not have the ability to capture you alone, but with your friends here holding you down will you still run like last time?¡± Blinding electric light accumulated in the Governor¡¯s palm. The power of it roiled like the heart of a star, radiating an intense blue and white light. As he held it there, Arcturus addressed Cloudhawk. ¡°Since ancient times, all great accomplishments require sacrifice. A small offering to empower the whole. Such is the natural reality, a fundamental truth of life. Why do you all resist what is inevitable?¡± Arcturus was so devoted to his mission that he had already sacrificed everything he could. He¡¯d abandoned any hope for love, any sense of familial affection. All the things normal men desired, he threw away to make space for what was necessary. This exalted, respected life he led was a front for the darkness he had sworn to bear. Nothing he did was for himself, but in a desperate struggle to win a lost war. To save the future of his species. He knew in his heart he¡¯d done nothing wrong. Why were so many intent on getting in his way? The power coalescing in his hand was frightful. No living creature would survive a direct confrontation. ¡°You refuse to accept the truth, that the situation is already out of your control. Even you can¡¯t manipulate the world to do your bidding. How long are we supposed to wait? Fifty years? A hundred? How many more Baldurs and Sterlings do you think will come and go in that time? Life is more than just survival and propagation. Even if we fail in the end, at least we die in our terms!¡± Cloudhawk continued to feed the orb of Castigation Fire. In his right hand an orb of it was gathering. No matter the Governor¡¯s arguments he would not accept his methods. Perhaps there was even a sort of logic in his thinking, but his actions were unforgivable. He pursued it at the expense of his brothers, of innocent people, of basic human dignity. Cloudhawk could not accept these sacrifices. His own hands were covered in blood, but he had always revered life. No existence was worthless. No life was too small to be sacrificed. Scavs digging for scraps in wasteland ruins deserved to live, just as much as the most noble Skycloud lord. Skycloud¡¯s citizens and all the millions of wastelanders ¡®cleansed¡¯ by the Elysians were just as valuable. The Crimson One, Adder, Baldur ¨C every one of them deserved to live their lives. What gave him the right to trade wastelander pain for Elysian dignity? Who was he to decide what innocents died and for whose safety? Why should anyone or anything be sacrificed because Arcturus thought it was best? To achieve his ends, Arcturus did not hesitate to slay siblings, friends or allies. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t fathom giving up Dawn, or Selene, or the Drunk, or any of them no matter what was at stake. All because to him, some things were even more important than life. There was another key reason he fought, and that was that he did not accept Arcturus¡¯ defeatism. The Governor believed that if humanity rose against the gods it would mean inevitable destruction. For at least a hundred years there was no hope for success, and to imagine otherwise was foolish. All the suffering and injustice had to continue, because he believed it wasn¡¯t yet time. But was that true? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t think so, he decided to fight. Humanity¡¯s rebellion would begin in the wastelands! ¡°You are too young to understand!¡± Arcturus released the orb of lightning. Cloudhawk flung the orb of fire. The two spheres of power met, birthing a cataclysmic storm. Deafening was the sound of their collision, while sparks and flame warred in a nightmarish display. Instantly it spread thousands of meters, consigning nearby ships to ruin. Cloudhawk felt the power rip through the area, raining upon him in a deadly tempest. He poured his strength into the deflection shield in the hopes it would save them from this mountain-shattering deluge. In the end it was proven, Arcturus was still stronger! His dominant strength was further buttressed by Cloudhawk¡¯s need to defend the others. What¡¯s more, he was public enemy number one in Skycloud. Any Elysian who came close would immediately set upon him. If he lingered too long he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. ¡°You can¡¯t beat him like this.¡± Selene could see Cloudhawk was in over his head. ¡°Not now, but you are the only one who can stand against him. Don¡¯t sacrifice yourself for nothing. Run!¡± A lightning storm brewed around them, gaining strength. Arcturus was preparing another attack. In the light of green fire and electricity, Cloudhawk¡¯s face grew solemn. But as the Governor prepared to release his onslaught, suddenly a blinding light appeared beside him. It condensed into a sword of pure light and drilled into the Master Demonhunter¡¯s back. Arcturus screamed as the weapon gravely wounded him. What was that?! What happened! Cloudhawk stared, mouth agape. Behind Arcturus was a figure radiating light as brilliant as the sun. It was held aloft by two blazing wings, matching the pure white of the light that encapsulated its entire form. It was like a living, holy fire that struck awe into the survivors. Blinding though the light was, the figure within could vaguely be made out. The figure of Ramiel Caelestis! But it was impossible, they¡¯d watched him die! Arcturus wrapped a hand around the blazing sword, stopping it from digging further into him. With the other he dug into his pocket for the ring he¡¯d taken from the body, only to find it missing. It was then he understood. ¡°S-so¡­ that was it.¡± The High Priest was one of Skycloud¡¯s most illustrious figures. Of course he would have an ace up his sleeve. The Saint¡¯s Band was a relic unlike any other. Aside from its considerable power, it also possessed a unique characteristic. When the High Priest was slain, his power and will were conveyed into the ring. Through the relic¡¯s legendary power, the bearer could be reborn for a short time. As such the Saint¡¯s Band went by a second name ¨C the Ring of Resurrection! The secret power of the ring had lain dormant, unused since ancient times. As a result even Arcturus did not know its capabilities, only that it was a powerful keepsake of the High Priest. This oversight proved critical, for when he least expected it Ramiel returned from the afterlife so exact vengeance in this holy form. As an accumulation of holy power, Ramiel had lost much of his intellect, but the knowledge of what he must do remained. Arcturus was the traitor who killed him. The Governor was his first target. He pulled his sword free and reared back for a second blow. ¡°I killed you once.¡± Wings of lightning burst from Arcturus¡¯ back, followed by a surge of mental energy. ¡°I will kill you again!¡± The two winged figures engaged in battle. Ruin and the blade of holy light collided and stopped, locked in a test of strength. But Ruin snapped the blade of light and, with a vicious heave from Arcturus, carved right through the High Priest¡¯s form! The Governor staggered backward after defeating Ramiel¡¯s ghost, blood pouring from his mouth and nose. He spun around to look for Cloudhawk but found him ¨C and the others ¨C vanished. Escaped again. With no one to unleash his rage upon, Arcturus¡¯ storm of lightning slowly subsided. The Conclave¡¯s sneak attack was over. Soldiers came rushing into the center of the conflict and there found Arcturus. His terrible wounds were met with shock and disbelief, for any other man would have died from such injuries. Arcturus, of course, was no ordinary man. The damage had already slowly begun to heal. Still, even for a man like Arcturus it was major damage! How did this happen? Arcturus saw his men rush forth and loudly declared over the din. ¡°Selene Cloude, Oracle Aquaria, Grand Prior Phain and Janus Umbra conspired with Cloudhawk to destroy the Temple¡¯s leadership. They attacked myself and killed High Priest Ramiel.¡± Fury descended upon the men when they heard this. They looked around at the carnage and destruction. Only Cloudhawk was capable of something like this. His power was no secret in Skycloud. The devastation was proof that he¡¯d been here. The mysterious disappearance of Selene and the others could only mean they¡¯d escaped with him. Even Arcturus stood here, badly wounded from the fray. ¡°Selene, Aquaria, Phain and Janus are traitors. The situation in the wastelands is far more dangerous than we expected!¡± Arcturus was weak from loss of blood, but he fought through the dizziness. ¡°I propose elevating Oracle Thora to lead the Temple as the new High Priest. She will be given temporary command of the Empyrean Guard and the Templars. Send word to Skycloud immediately to dispatch all but the forces necessary for national defense!¡± Was High Priest Ramiel really dead? Shock and horror descended on everyone. It was a terrible tragedy, sudden and unthinkable! In recent years Skycloud¡¯s highest levels had been shaken. Of the three major authorities two were now dead and one was badly injured. Arcturus¡¯ story was confusing and strange, but the surviving Temple members confirmed it. The expeditionary force was populated with the Governor¡¯s cronies, anyway. The rest of the Temple forces were so shaken by the news of this betrayal that they did not question it further. It didn¡¯t matter though, even if they wished to. Skye Polaris and Ramiel Caelestis, the only men who could temper Arcturus¡¯ ambitions, were dead. Arcturus Cloude had emerged as the realm¡¯s sole ruler. And his first order? Send the realm¡¯s full might to bear against the evil wastelanders. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 635 - Book 6, Chapter 27 – Slim Chance Selene was resting in Woodland Vale. Marks from last night¡¯s battle left her ashen and frail. Her pretty face was drawn and her normally brilliant eyes were dim, unfocused. She gazed straight ahead, not looking at anything. Lost. While a storm raged outside, Woodland Vale was calm and peaceful. Denizens were busy picking eboncrys fruit or tending fields. None of these people, who had lived this idyllic life for centuries, knew or cared about the chaos roiling outside of their paradise. They were unaware of how that all was about to change. The world was changing. Selene stirred when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Cloudhawk approached and stopped by her side. ¡°In my experience, Arcturus either does nothing or acts when his enemies have no room to maneuver. That was how Skye died. Ramiel suffered the same fate. It was no accident. Think about it and you¡¯ll see it was the perfect opportunity for Arcturus.¡± It was unimaginable that Arcturus would brazenly plot the assassination of Skycloud¡¯s most respected priest, in the middle of thousands of troops. It was precisely because it was so unthinkable that no one was prepared for it. That was how he succeeded. ¡°The High Priest spent all his time locked up in the Temple with no political or military experience. He had no idea how outmatched he was by the Governor.¡± Cloudhawk sighed. ¡°If Ramiel had stayed back Arcturus would have continued to play his game, but he couldn¡¯t have overcome the Temple like he just did. Leaving on this expedition was playing into the Governor¡¯s hands.¡± Selene had to agree. Ramiel¡¯s decision had been hasty and led to his doom. There was no need for Ramiel to rush Arcturus¡¯ ouster. He could have just sent Grand Prior Phain and watch from afar. It didn¡¯t matter how prestigious Arcturus was, if he tried to attack Phain and Selene he would have to answer to the Temple. If Ramiel had remained behind, he could have acted as a counterweight, at least for a while. What did it matter if he was a figurehead? By virtue of his station and respect with the people, he was a thorn in the Governor¡¯s side. Ramiel¡¯s choices were too radical. He was not wrong to want Arcturus removed, only too hasty. All he achieved was to place himself in inevitable opposition with a superior man, and with nowhere to maneuver the end result was death. Did he expect Arcturus to just sit back and wait for his plans to fall apart? Ramiel didn¡¯t even have the full backing of the Temple. By whatever means, Arcturus had planted his own agents among the faithful, as high as right beside the High Priest himself. Perfectly placed to take advantage of an opportunity just like this. Selene would have perished as well, if not for Cloudhawk¡¯s intervention. He¡¯d managed to foil Arcturus¡¯ plans. However, in the end it didn¡¯t much work against the Master Demonhunter. All the blame for Ramiel¡¯s murder was placed squarely on the shoulders of her and her ¡®co-conspirators.¡¯ Now Selene, Phain and Janus joined Cloudhawk as blood-drenched heretics. It was a persuasive story. Selene and Cloudhawk had always had a relationship, this much was widely known among Skycloud¡¯s elite. Aquaria was Dawn¡¯s daughter, and she had been fighting for Cloudhawk for over a year now. Phain, too, was connected to Dawn as her one-time instructor and fellow Templar. Janus had countless ties to Selene. But most telling of all was that Cloudhawk himself arrived just in time to save their lives. Soldiers of the fleet arrived on the scene, finding the ruin left behind. Such destruction could only be accomplished by that devil, Cloudhawk. Him and his traitorous friends then escaped after their assassination attempt on Arcturus. The Governor¡¯s grievous injuries were especially striking to many. So few living things were strong enough to harm their legendary leader. In their minds the only way he could be defeated was by some underhanded trickery. He had survived where Ramiel died solely due to his superior strength. Perhaps there were doubts. Maybe some harbored suspicions and questioned the Governor¡¯s account¡­ but who would speak up? No one had enough prestige to challenge Arcturus Cloude. He was the undisputed authoritarian leader of Skycloud. Years as leader of their government won him the love of the people. Military power was firmly in his grasp. And now, a puppet occupied the role of High Priest, ready to bow to his whim. Unfettered, when this war ceased he would be stronger than ever. ¡°Boss, we have new information. Arcturus has mobilized the entire Skycloud army.¡± A messenger frantically relayed the news. Selene was stricken by the dire tidings. They were talking about two million standing troops, warships numbering in the tens of thousands. No wasteland force was strong enough to stand in opposition. Because of their different styles and posts, not all divisions were slated to participate in this fight directly or even quit their posts. Even with the absolute right to command the armies, he was bound by logistics. Forcing an operation would only result in chaos. But things were different now. Using news of Ramiel¡¯s death and in the name of seeking vengeance, he called and the army responded. They would be released upon the wastelands all at once, and once assembled would constituted the full might of Skylcoud. With such a vast force under his command, Arcturus could divide it up as he pleased to attack and surround the Green Alliance¡¯s different assets. Woodland Vale would be destroyed. Greenland would be destroyed. Their entire alliance would be razed to the ground. All the things Cloudhawk had bled and sweat for would be torn asunder. This little kingdom they worked so hard to build, gone. Arcturus was poised to accomplish his aim of unifying the wastes and eliminating all seeds of opposition. Selene knew the pressure Cloudhawk had to be feeling. He faced the single most crucial challenge in the fate of their species and she could do nothing! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Things may not look good, but I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll come up with something.¡± He wasn¡¯t about to give up. He couldn¡¯t afford to, because he didn¡¯t just represent himself. He stood up for everyone ¨C all the soldiers and citizens of the Green Alliance depended on him. IF he threw down this mantle then the last line of defense against Arcturus¡¯ tyranny could crumble. Yesterday¡¯s conflict was fierce, but Selene managed to escape largely unscathed. Others survived with various degrees of damage, worse being Aquaria and Phain. Aquaria had been caught off guard by the betrayal of her fellow Oracle and nearly destroyed by the Arbiter Staff. Phain bore the uncomfortable and deadly consequences of Arcturus¡¯ attack. Dawn and the drunk were looking after them both. Cloudhawk and Selene joined them. ¡°How are they doing?¡± Dawn met Selene¡¯s question with a hostile stare before looking back at her wounded mother. ¡°Badly hurt, but for the moment not in danger of dying. But it doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯ll be fighting anymore. Great job, you all. Failed to help and instead made things worse.¡± Dawn shot a provocative glare at Selene. She didn¡¯t have any interest in fighting. ¡°Oracle Aquaria and Grand Prior Phain are strong. Now is the time to recruit them. If we can help them recover before the big fight, they would be great assets on the battlefield. She wasn¡¯t wrong. A silver lining to Arcturus¡¯ foul deeds. Aquaria and Phain were loyal to all that was holy and had many who respected them in the Temple. People weren¡¯t blind, they could see for themselves what was happening. The time may come when they would be forced to make a decision, and if these two could be coaxed to their side the many friends they¡¯d cultivated over the years would be a great boon. ¡°Alright, out of the way.¡± Cloudhawk extended his hand, a mirror in his grip. A gentle light was exuded from it and fell over the two fallen Elysians. Right away their more obvious wounds began to heal. The relic he employed was the storied Rekindling Lens, whose incredible healing abilities were legendary throughout Skycloud. The physical wounds they¡¯d suffered could be erased through its power. After a time, Aquaria and Phain awakened. Both were weak, Phain especially. Having taken the brunt of Arcturus¡¯ attack, his condition was especially bad. The Grand Prior¡¯s eyes fluttered open. When he saw Cloudhawk and Vulkan standing over him, he knew where he was. He tried to rise, but the drunk gently held him down. ¡°You¡¯re badly hurt. Lay still, you all got a terrible beating. Even the old priest was killed.¡± Phain and Aquaria knew the old drunk¡¯s true identity, the War Saint Vulkan. As members of the Temple they had connections that went years back. ¡°Vulkan? Dawn?¡± She was surprised at the two familiar faces. Under Arcturus¡¯ assault she had been sure she would die, but instead she had been blessed with seeing her daughter again. Her vision slid passed them to the man who stood a few meters away. Cloudhawk. ¡°What happened? The High Priest, he¡­¡± ¡°He was killed by Arcturus. If Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t arrived when he did, we would all have died with him.¡± The information struck Aquaria like a meteor. Cloudhawk stepped forward and addressed the Temple faithful. ¡°I know there are some misgivings and misinformation between us, but we¡¯ve all walked down a path there¡¯s no going back from. Arcturus now controls every major power in Skycloud. We don¡¯t have much time. If you want to stop him then you have to fight with me. You have no other choice.¡± Cloudhawk was a devil to the people of Skycloud, a heinous sinner! But that being the case, in all the world he seemed to be the only one capable of fighting back against the Governor. Only he had any real chance. But Skycloud was on the move, bringing to bear everything it could in an overwhelming display. For all his strength, Cloudhawk had nothing but a slim chance at victory. No choice but cooperation. He was right. Dawn spoke up after him. ¡°You all have been branded traitors to Skycloud. There¡¯s no place to go back to. Join us, or go home and be burned at the stake.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 636 - Book 6, Chapter 28 Did the Green Alliance really have no hope? So far, that was how it appeared. Even if Selene, Aquaria and Phain switched sides it was a drop in the bucket against Skycloud¡¯s vast army. It would take six months at least for all of Skycloud¡¯s forces to gather. Cloudhawk had only that time to do something. However, Arcturus¡¯ presence among them severely limited what he could do. He had one chance, and if he failed all would be lost. It wasn¡¯t just the Green Alliance at stake, but the lives of all its citizens and children like Azura. Selene, Dawn, the drunk and his other friends would be cut down. But as the crushing idea that he had no way out started to close in, Cloudhawk thought of one person. Perhaps they would know what to do. He was like Arcturus, and the best way to know a viper was to ask another viper. Due to the top-secret nature of the information, even Green Alliance military personnel were unaware of what was waiting outside the Vale¡¯s borders. They went about their duties, unconcerned, while Cloudhawk searched for his objective. Wolfblade was in the barracks, waiting for him with two cups of tea steaming and ready. ¡°I figured my King would visit soon.¡± ¡°Then you already know what happened yesterday.¡± ¡°Arcturus killed High Priest Ramiel Caelestis. Skycloud¡¯s armies are gathering for an unprecedented campaign against the wastelands. Soon they will sweep through the lands and soak its sands with blood.¡± He spoke as though none of this directly threatened him. ¡°What does it matter? To ruin a man you must first drive him mad. What is done is done.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you at all concerned? Whether or not Arcturus will win the Game in the end is uncertain, but it seems like he won¡¯t have any problem clearing us off the board!¡± Cloudhawk knew what Wolfblade was capable of ¨C how cunning he was. Surely the fox had some plan to deal with their situation. ¡°You have something up your sleeve?¡± ¡°What is born from the wastes will end in the wastes. The breaking point is near at hand.¡± The enigmatic man took a sip of his tea before proceeding. ¡°The Conclave of Judgment is the key. If we broke it apart and tried to assimilate it, Arcturus would be forced to fight tooth and nail in its defense. This would undermine Skycloud¡¯s army before they had an opportunity to finish preparing for their assault.¡± Wolfblade made a good point. The wastelands as a whole were Arcturus¡¯ aim. He wanted control of all of it for he believed it was the only way to win stability both for the wastelands and Skycloud. Over the centuries it was clear turmoil had arisen in Skycloud, but its roots were spread all throughout the wastelands. If they wanted peace in the Elysian lands, then its enemies had to be brought to heel. It was the crux of Arcturus¡¯ strategy. Such was the reason he turned a blind eye ¨C even actively supported Sterling¡¯s actions in the wastes. He allowed his brother to don the mantle of the Crimson One and toil for years against the realm. Once his efforts bore fruit in the form of the Conclave, Arcturus poisoned it with his own agents and reaped the benefits. Today, the Conclave of Judgment was a sprawling, powerful wasteland organization. Were it not for Cloudhawk¡¯s timely intervention, the southern wilds would have fallen under its control. The odds were stacked against the Green Alliance. Arcturus was too clever and prudent to carelessly risk his advantage, so he would wait until he was at full strength so that victory was certain. It seemed Cloudhawk could do nothing but wait for death ¨C unless he could force Arcturus to act before he was ready. How to force his hand? Break the Conclave! If his proxy army was threatened Arcturus would have to come to its aid. ¡°That makes sense, but with our forces capturing Fallowmoor is a remote possibility at best.¡± Cloudhawk, upon reflection, was surprised at Wolfblade¡¯s suggestion for it seemed foolish. ¡°Let¡¯s say we do attack, then we¡¯ll have to fend off both Fallowmoor and Arcturus. Two powerful foes. It sounds like suicide.¡± A grin crept into Wolfblade¡¯s face. ¡°What if we convinced the Conclave to join our side?¡± Cloudhawk opened his mouth to respond but couldn¡¯t find the words. It sounded patently ridiculous. What made him think they could win the Conclave over to the Green Alliance when his people were on the verge of destruction? It only seemed possible if all the leaders of the Conclave collectively lost their minds. Still, Cloudhawk had to consider the idea if it was coming from Wolfblade. ¡°Of the Conclave¡¯s three highest leaders, you¡¯ve captured two. Natessa¡¯s clout on their council has diminished greatly. Today, seventy or eighty percent of the Conclave¡¯s leadership are wastelanders, or were once loyal to the Crimson One. There are deep-seated differences between them and Arcturus, with Natessa as his representative.¡± ¡°What differences?¡± ¡°In a brief period of chaos the Crimson One, Wyrmsole and Adder were able to build an army. They did so under the banner of wasteland liberation. It was this message that inspired so many cities and organizations to answer their call. However, since coming under Arcturus¡¯ control the Conclave¡¯s goals have fundamentally changed.¡± Arcturus may have been a traitor to the gods, but his actions on the surface were pious. He couldn¡¯t allow the boundaries of Skycloud and the wastes to be blurred. Divisions had to be maintained. Wastelanders would remain locked in their blasted expanse while Elysians lived in plenty. To that end, it was inevitable that the great border would one day be restored and separation between peoples reestablished. If that were the case, why were the wastelanders fighting? Didn¡¯t that mean the Crimson One¡¯s original goals had been thrown aside? Compare the Conclave of today to the Green Alliance, an organization committed to revolution and change. It was truer to the original Crimson Church. But the question remained how Cloudhawk was supposed to sow division. Arcturus might have been directing the Conclave form behind the scenes, but they had no solid evidence. In other words, they still believed the Conclave still fought for its initial values. ¡°I want you to bring me to meet someone.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°The expeditionary force.¡± It was a strange request, but Cloudhawk did not refuse. The two began to teleport through the wastes, stepping from one portal to another until they were at the border of Skycloud¡¯s army encampment. It was as close as they could get, for any nearer and their demonhunters would be able to sense them. So the two waited in a nearby cave. Wolfblade produced a small device, which looked like some sort of transmitter. Two hours passed in silence before a figure appeared at the mouth of the cave. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes fell upon the man in his splendid Elysian armor and saw that he had to be a man of some rank within the army. Somehow Wolfblade had installed a spy among their ranks. He knew from experience Elysians kept strict watch over their personnel, so how had this man managed to slip out? Was that¡­ Brontes?! Cloudhawk recognized this man! He was an officer of Drake¡¯s Legion! Cloudhawk had had a major influence on Brontes¡¯ life. Years ago he had been dispatched with Claudia to kill him in the wastelands and together with his fellow soldiers had massacred the people of Lighthouse Pointe where Asha had once lived. He was responsible for killing the one she¡¯d once seen as her father, Coppertooth. After the convoluted events that followed for a time they fought side by side, until he was badly wounded while fighting at the Blisterpeaks. What was he doing here? Wolfblade greeted him with a smile. ¡°Carnage, my old friend. It¡¯s been a long time.¡± As the false Brontes stepped further to the cave his body began to shift. His hair and skin, his armor, even his sword all became strangely malleable. Eventually they were revealed to be thousands of scarlet tentacles, like a hideous mass of snakes, all writhing in unsettling fashion. The tentacles continued to shift, reconstituting a form of flesh and clothing. The bald man who stood before them now had his eyes fixed on Wolfblade and returned his greeting in a hoarse voice. ¡°We aren¡¯t that close.¡± Wolfblade paid no mind to the bald man¡¯s combative answer. He turned to Cloudhawk. ¡°The Elysian commander died long ago. Carnage consumed his genetic makeup and so can take on his form. He is an absolute copy ¨C the world¡¯s most perfect supermutant!¡± ¡°But I cannot copy something stronger than I am,¡± Carnage offered, turning his gaze to Cloudhawk. ¡°Like you.¡± Before war came to the wastelands, the Northern Barrens was home to four Kings. These super mutants were designated Red, Purple, Black and Green for the color of the robes they wore. Strongest and most mysteriously among them was Red Robe, a creature whose power was unknown to all. When the Barrens came under the Conalve¡¯s control, three of its kings joined their council. One remained unaccounted for ¨C as it turns out, this was because he¡¯d infiltrated Skycloud¡¯s army. With that same smile plastered on his face, Wolfblade went on. ¡°After years in Skycloud you¡¯ve surely accumulated a wealth of genetic information.¡± Carnage gave a tepid response. ¡°IS that what you called me here to discuss?¡± ¡°Still lacking in conversational skills, I see,¡± Wolfblade quipped. He waved a hand to his companion. ¡°You know this one clearly. The leader of the Green Alliance, Cloudhawk. You know the situation, now you should know what to do about it.¡± Carnage nodded. ¡°I will pass the information to Naga, but she is not strong enough to take over the council alone.¡± ¡°Passing the information is enough,¡± Wolfblade assured. ¡°Leave the rest to me.¡± They spoke for a short time more and once everything was agreed upon, Carnage then stiffened and turned to stone. The petrified body cracked apart and scattered across the ground. Cloudhawk frowned at the scene. ¡°That wasn¡¯t him?¡± ¡°It was and it wasn¡¯t. Carnage can shift into others and make copies of himself. He would not see them as copies, however. Any one of them can and is the original. So long as one fragment of him remains, Carnage¡¯s will goes on.¡± Wolfblade looked down at the mess of petrified fragments. ¡°In order to remain undiscovered he destroyed this part of himself. His cell can become inorganic material, which is now he had the appearance of armor and weapons.¡± The world¡¯s most powerful supermutant indeed! Nightmarish didn¡¯t even begin to describe what he could do. More than unkillable, he could continue to take in genetic material from his victims to make himself stronger. His cells could change into anything, infinitely variable, and what¡¯s more he could split apart. There was no practical way to eliminate the creature. Wolfblade appeared to have known Carnage for some time. Perhaps Carnage had infiltrated Skycloud under the demon¡¯s command. For a long time, the Elder had been holding onto this gambit to wrest control of the Conclave. Perhaps he was waiting for Arcturus to kill the High Priest before choosing to use it. Once again Cloudhawk was reminded of how extensive Wolfblade¡¯s bag of tricks seemed to be. There was always something else he had planned, some other secret buried deep beneath. No wonder Dawn didn¡¯t trust him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 637 - Book 6, Chapter 29 Fallowmoor was a hive of activity. The Conclave¡¯s attack on Skycloud¡¯s forces had failed to produce results and they¡¯d lost many in the attempt. Since returning to base they had yet to fully recover. News had come to them that with no other recourse, the Green Alliance had sent its forces to Fallowmoor seeking a final confrontation. Were they planning to catch the conclave off guard while recovering from their skirmish with the Elysians? That is what most assumed. On the surface, it was the southerners taking advantage of a fine opportunity. However, the council¡¯s leader, Natessa, saw things differently. Others were in the dark, but Cloudhawk surely knew the Conclave¡¯s attack had been to aid Arcturus. Now that the Governor¡¯s biggest obstacle had been removed, there was no further need for Skycloud and the Conclave to put on airs. Both would turn their attention on the Green Alliance. With what forces they could muster, the Green Alliance had little hope of taking Fallowmoor. It would be a conflict that would last days. This gave Arcturus more than enough time to lead a contingent of the expeditionary force against the Alliance¡¯s rear. Without Woodland Vale¡¯s protections, Cloudhawk and his forces were exposed. Cloudhawk was neither stupid nor reckless. He would take this risk for one reason alone. He was aiming to bolster his forces before Arcturus could rally Skycloud¡¯s whole army. Cloudhawk intended to throw everything he could into this conflict, for even if the chances were slim they would do anything to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Natessa would not allow Cloudhawk to succeed. From the beginning she had always trusted in her Governor, believing his ways to be right. There was nothing behind this faith but duty. Her mission was to execute any orders Arcturus passed to her, regardless of who she turned her sword against. Anything that got in her way would be eliminated. It was her purpose. ¡°Call an emergency meeting of the council.¡± ¡°They have been alerted, ma¡¯am.¡± Natessa led five members of the Conclave Assembly into the meeting chamber. These five were Natessa¡¯s closest allies, mighty compatriots that had come from Skycloud. Under the guise of treason they joined the Conclave to bolster her influence, promoted by Natessa until they had a seat on the council. Each of them was just as capable in a fight as the Giant of Hell¡¯s Valley herself. One among them was even an elder of the Cloude family. This was how Arcturus supported Natessa¡¯s leadership without making it appear deliberate. However, it also led to a marked division within the Conclave. The Assembly was split into members from Skycloud and members from the wastelands. Natessa spoke as representative for the Skycloud demonhunters who had supposedly turned their back on their home. Naga had been chosen as voice of the wastelanders. The Elysians were more powerful, but the wastelanders had deeper roots. Until recently they had cooperated well, but recent events had seen strife begin to emerge. The largest conflict had been born from the recent failure to take the southern wilds. Several months ago their plans to usurp control of the south were foiled with Cloudhawk¡¯s return. The Conclave had suffered horribly as a result, even losing two of their highest commanders. Displeased with the results, the council¡¯s wasteland members voiced their concern. The two commanders that had been taken were critical members ¨C Eckhard Cutter and Dumont Cenhelm respectively. Now the roles they played were vacant. Natessa¡¯s clout also diminished without their support. Wasteland leader had also suffered the losses of Toad and Canker, thus maintaining balance among the two parties. As such Natessa kept her grip on control and continued to serve as leader of the conclave¡¯s forces. Natessa entered the chamber and took her seat. Five minutes later, the five delegates of the wastelands entered. Leading them was an elder-looking woman who walked with the help of a long cane. Her body, small and stooped, was wrapped in folds of a purple robe. She was none other than one of the North¡¯s lauded Kings, Naga ¨C a powerful mutant and brilliant scientist. Once the members of the Assembly had gathered, Natessa addressed them. ¡°Latest reports state that the Green Alliance is headed our way. It appears they are coming with hostile intent. I propose we prepare and deploy our defenses immediately. Gather all mobile fortresses around Fallowmoor and equip them for battle. We will meet the enemy with the full might of our armies.¡± Naga broke in, her voice a hoarse shout that hissed through the chamber. ¡°I do not agree with this plan.¡± Natessa¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°What don¡¯t you agree with?¡± Though age forced her voice to quaver, there was iron in Naga¡¯s response. ¡°We have our conflicts with the Alliance, but more irrevocable is our disagreement with Skycloud. The Conclave is not a group of outcasts from the Elysian realm, but wasteland revolutionaries! We must forever remember that Skycloud will not turn a blind eye on us.¡± ¡°No doubt!¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t accomplish anything in our attack against their army but we are seen as sinners. Skycloud is our primary enemy!¡± ¡°Right now the expeditionary force is our biggest threat. We should be thinking of ways to open dialogue with the Green Alliance and join forces against the Elysians!¡± Several wastelander representatives spoke up at once. Natessa listened quietly, but her brows knit close. Something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°The expeditionary force will not attack Fallowmoor, this I can assure you.¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Naga¡¯s harsh voice shouted over the din. ¡°Information provided to me reveals that their Temple¡¯s High Priest was slain during our attack. None of our forces did this but the blame will surely fall on us. Elysians are gathering, spitting blood as the affront. Soon their number will be five ¨C ten times they are now and will be unleashed on the wastelands! You are saying you can somehow promise they won¡¯t come for us? I ask you, how are you so sure?¡± Natessa paused to consider the scene and her opposition¡¯s intentions. While disagreements did arise from time to time, it was rare they were so combative. Their posture today was uncustomary, strange. Somewhere a problem had crept in without her noticing. She eventually replied. ¡°I have eyes and ears in Skycloud. I am certain we are safe.¡± ¡°Hmph, I think your so-called insider is Arcturus Cloude himself! You are nothing but the Governor¡¯s puppet!¡± Naga was no longer aiming to be political. ¡°I began to be suspicious a year ago. How is it that so many Elysians defected only after you took control, while Skycloud does nothing? It can only make sense when you realize that none of us are leading this Conclave. We are dancing on Arcturus¡¯s strings!¡± Natessa¡¯s face darkened. Was this to break into open conflict? She figured this day would come eventually, simply because the rifts among Elysians and wastelanders ran deep. Elysians saw wastelanders as dirty, barbaric sinners while wastelanders rankled at Elysian superiority. What gave them the right to live in excess while wastelanders starved? When Adder destroyed Skycloud¡¯s barrier wall, the energies contained began to seep out through the wastes. Once the dam burst vitality began to return to the barren lands they called home. Soon they would be able to till the land for food, lead beasts to pasture. But word was that Skycloud had begun to rebuild their damned wall. They were trying to rob wastelanders of their brighter future! Wastelanders rebelled because they had to, for the right to live! Why did Elysians need such abundance? Why were they so unwilling to share? Natessa began to furtively gather her strength. The demonhunters with her also prepared for conflict. They all knew this would happen eventually, only they had not expected this day so soon. The original plan had been for Natessa to consolidate her leadership the moment the southern wilds were conquered. However, their failure in the south meant she could not eliminate her opposition here in the council. Now it appeared they¡¯d discovered something so her plan had to move forward. Naga felt the murderous intention rise in Natessa. ¡°One accusation and you¡¯re prepared to kill? It¡¯s clear you¡¯ve been preparing to get rid of us for some time! Were it not for Carnage coming to tell us the truth, we all would have died without ever knowing the danger we were in. The wastelands wasn¡¯t free, just infested by lackeys like you lot!¡± ¡°Agents from Hell¡¯s Army have infiltrated all levels of the Conclave¡¯s forces. I am the one in command of this alliance, not you. But now is not the time to turn on one another. Fight to destroy the Green Alliance and you will be allowed to leave with your lives.¡± Natessa no longer needed to hide her intentions. ¡°As for the Conclave? Better to be under someone else¡¯s control than ground to dust! You should be relieved that you have the backing of Skycloud, rather than facing imminent destruction.¡± ¡°A shame. In that case we must abandon this alliance, let it fall apart and return to our own organizations.¡± ¡°It seems as though there is nothing left to discuss.¡± Both sides brandished their weapons. The unease in Natessa¡¯s heart grew by the moment. This was a crucial moment, chaos could ruin everything! She was resolved to silence this insurrection when suddenly she felt a gust of wind from behind. ¡°Instructor Natessa. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Cloudhawk! Natessa¡¯s pupils constricted to tiny black points. They were in the heart of Fallowmoor, with scouts in constant shift throughout the area. If he appeared anywhere she would have known about it in an instant. For him to appear here so suddenly and unannounced could only mean one thing. The wastelanders had found him and brought him here! Cloudhawk and the likes of Naga would not have come to such an alliance on their own. All of this rested on Carnage¡¯s shoulders. Since taking over the Conclave, Natessa had never met the fourth King of the Wastelands. She¡¯d made several attempts to find him, but none succeeded. The Red Robe was such a mystery no one knew what he was capable of. But with no way of knowing and her efforts bearing no fruit, Natessa put him out of mind. Her oversight, she was surprised to discover, was what led to this foul circumstance. Fires burned in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. Natessa didn¡¯t have a chance to released her power before she felt a torrent of psychic energy assail her. Those burning eyes were the last thing she saw when darkness fell. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 638 - Book 6, Chapter 30 – Natessa Windham Natessa didn¡¯t know how long she was asleep for. When she awakened, her head was heavy but no damage remained from the psychic assault. She looked around, finding herself in an unfamiliar room. The fresh, clean air was unlike anything she knew from the wastes, though. It left her with the vague feeling that she was a child again. Natessa was raised by her mother in a small Skycloud village. Her home was surrounded by mountains. It was quiet, simple and safe. Crisp, clean mountain air was a staple of those early days. She was just another typical child among a slew of others, no different from any of her playmates. Her days were spent climbing trees to pick fruit or wading in rivers to catch fish. She remembered being happy. Then everything changed. As was tradition in Skycloud, when children became ten they were tested for mental aptitude. It was discovered that Natessa had a one in ten thousand talent. She remembered the old demonhunter saying he¡¯d never seen someone with so much potential. He believed strongly that with formal training, Natessa would one day be a famed demonhunter. Perhaps even a Master! The village she came from only produced a few demonhunters a year and rarer still demonhunter of high quality, so one could imagine the fuss this news made! Natessa was immediately sent off to begin her training at the Demonhunter Academy. As news spread wealthy merchants from nearby cities came with gifts, seeking to sponsor young Natessa¡¯s studies. The sudden appearance of an unexpected genius surprised everyone. However, one person stood as an obstacle on her path to fame. None other than her own mother. Everyone thought she was crazy. Why would a mother stand in the way of her own daughter¡¯s success? Natessa had never met her father. Her impression of her mother was that she was a woman of frail health, but pretty and caring. Only the caring mother she knew changed drastically when her talents were uncovered. She even harmed herself to try and manipulate Natessa into abandoning her studies. It worked. She gave up her spot in the academy and returned home. However she never understood why her mother was so adamant against her becoming a demonhunter. Obviously her mother had a story she wasn¡¯t sharing. There had to be a reason for her actions. The episode spurred a contradiction in young Natessa¡¯s heart. On the one hand she would have been happy to live by her mother¡¯s side, happy as a normal woman in this small town. On the other, a contentious voice in her head told her she shouldn¡¯t be content with an ordinary life. They came from different roots. That little voice telling her to remain in the village was her mother¡¯s. That meant the other one had to belong to her father. Her life changed dramatically. She became quiet, withdrawn and depressed. Even though she had agreed to give up her training, Natessa continued to study the arts of demonhunting under her mother¡¯s nose. Who in the world knew their children better than a parent? Natessa¡¯s change in mood was quickly noted by her mother. But after three years her weak body once again fell ill, a sickness so dire that even the local healers were left helpless. She wasn¡¯t afraid to die. On the contrary she was filled with calm, almost expectant. Before she died she called Natessa to her bedside. To this day Natessa remembered that night from twenty years ago. It was storming, and her mother seemed to sink into her bed like a husk. But even weak as she was there was an intensity in her eyes. ¡°Please don¡¯t blame me for stopping you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to tell you how to live your life, but you are different from the other children. I wanted to tell you, but you were too young to understand. I had hoped to wait until you grew older, so you could make your own choices. But now there is no time. There are two paths before you, and you can only pick one.¡± ¡°The first path is to remain here. Live a normal life, abandoning any chance of power. But at least you can live a happy life. One doesn¡¯t have to be wise or strong or rich to be happy. Normal folk don¡¯t understand this, and once you figure it out it¡¯s too late to go back.¡± ¡°The second path is to become a demonhunter, as you want to. If you decide to take this path then go to Skycloud. There is someone there waiting for you. Your father¡­¡± And with that, she died. At thirteen years old Natessa had to bury her mother. When it was over she dried her eyes, packed her things and left for Skycloud. She finally met her father. Growing up she¡¯d had countless dreams, imagining who he was and what he looked like. None of them prepared her for the shock she felt when she learned the truth. Her father was a man whose voice reverberated like thunder among the people, who all people of the realm looked up to. He was Arcturus Cloude. No one knew that Arcturus had fathered an illegitimate daughter. If they did it would have been an even greater shock when he installed her in Hell¡¯s Valley as its youngest instructor. Today, the reason Natessa followed the Governor¡¯s directions without consideration of right and wrong was for no other reason than blood. Natessa Windham was, in truth, Natessa Cloude. When her mind cleared Natessa looked around, finding herself surrounded by a towering forest. Amidst the dappled sunlight an encampment had been constructed. She saw several hundred people busy with various duties from cooking meals to building structures. Obviously it was a settlement still in its early stages. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re up.¡± ¡°Dumont? What are you doing here?¡± Natessa recognized the wizened old man. ¡°After we were taken prisoner by Cloudhawk he left us here.¡± When he saw that Natessa was already looking around for an escape route he shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy. There¡¯s no leaving this place.¡± All around them was a dense jungle with all sorts of animals darting among the underbrush. Flora or fauna, none of them were anything she recognized. Cloudhawk had apparently used his teleportation powers to deposit them on another world. Without teleportation powers of her own, how could they leave this prison? Dumont sat down across from her. ¡°We¡¯ve done everything we can. The rest is no longer up to us. Settle in, make a life here. At least it¡¯s clean.¡± Natessa¡¯s face grew stern, angry and uncertain. What would become of the Conclave now that she wasn¡¯t running it? If she were gone, who could shoulder the responsibilities she¡¯d left behind? Natessa didn¡¯t know who would emerge victorious eventually, Arcturus or Cloudhawk. She didn¡¯t know what the fate of that world was or where those two men would lead it. Whatever the case, there was nothing she could do to change it anymore. ** With the help of the Conclave¡¯s Assembly, Cloudhawk had been able to easily get close to Natessa. She was of course no threat to him any longer. Once she was out of the picture he used the wastelander leaders to seize power over the Conclave. The remaining members of the Elysian delegation were dealt with. In a testament to her leadership Natessa already had the Conclave¡¯s systems so organized that they could operate even without her leadership. Most of the Conclave¡¯s forces were under command from Hell¡¯s Army soldiers. These were men and women who would only listen to Natessa¡¯s orders and would act accordingly in her absence. Their mission was to resist the Green Alliance and there was no changing that. With their authority and position, there was no avoiding conflict. Be that as it may, Naga and the others weren¡¯t without recourse. Even though they could not exert control over the army, it was powerless to do anything against the Alliance without central command. The floating fortresses were shifted out of position in secret so that nothing stood between the Green Alliance and the Conclave¡¯s rebel forces. All that remained was to see if what was left of Natessa¡¯s forces could stand against the Green Alliance. Cloudhawk coordinated with Naga and the others. Soon a plan was hatched. The next day at noon, the Green Alliance launched a surprise attack on Conclavian forces. The battle lasted for an hour and with defenders hobbled by internal strife, they could not stop the Green Alliance from capturing Fallowmoor. Once Arcturus received the news he knew he could no longer wait for the remainder of his armies to arrive. The expeditionary force was sent forth to apply pressure to his foes. Cloudhawk had successfully managed to avoid a war on two fronts and even managed to assimilate a portion of the Conclave¡¯s army. However, the real war was only just beginning. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 639 - Book 6, Chapter 31 On the sea of life and death, who floats? In the long eternal night, who bears the lantern? By the time the expeditionary force reached Fallowmoor it was already occupied by the Green Alliance. Master Arcturus Cloude stood on the flagship¡¯s observation deck, gray robes flapping in the breeze as he surveyed the scene. Amidst the chaos he spied the mysterious city, floating in midair. Like a giant animal, lurking in the darkness, waiting to turn the hunter into the hunted. Rare notes of fatigue marred the Governor¡¯s face. For the first time in a long time he wasn¡¯t sure what the future would hold. What he did know was that as strong as Cloudhawk was, he couldn¡¯t have taken the city quickly on his own. There was a traitor in their midst. Someone on the inside was feeding them information. Cloudhawk could only have taken the city with help from the inside. As for the culprit? Now that he knew there was a threat, Arcturus was confident he would be found swiftly. More pressing was the wasteland city now under enemy control. The wastelands were now essentially under the banner of the Green Alliance. It was precisely what Arcturus was trying to avoid. He¡¯d taken great pains to install Natessa as leader of the Conclave so that it and the wastelands would answer to him. It was the only way to ensure long-lasting balance between the wastes and Skycloud. Wastelanders would always be wastelanders, but only he could bring unprecedented stability to their land. Elysians would also always be Elysians and he would stem the tide of defectors. Arcturus was confident under those circumstances he could maintain stability for fifty or a hundred years. The question was whether humanity would be strong enough in a century to rise up against the gods. But he had a responsibility ¨C as Skycloud¡¯s Governor and steward of humanity ¨C to ensure civilization continued for centuries to come. His conscience was clear! Everything his power and position afforded him, he¡¯d done. All that had to be accomplished he¡¯d strived to bring forth. And yet, all was not well. Everything was spinning out of control. Killing Ramiel was the right choice. An act of necessity. The world was in chaos and people were angry, so the masses likely wouldn¡¯t have listened to the High Priest¡¯s divisive rhetoric. Still, if he waited to strike until the dust settled, he would be weak and exposed. There was no shortage of intelligent people in this world. It was the Temple¡¯s true leader that was Arcturus¡¯ real enemy. But at the end of the day, with the final tally, Arcturus¡¯ greatest mistake was failing to understand Cloudhawk. The Governor appreciated the wastelander¡¯s potential, to the point that if things were different he would be a fine successor. Unfortunately his rapid development robbed Arcturus of the chance to mold him as he pleased. He was a variable outside of the Governor¡¯s sway, and a single variable had the pesky habit or throwing everything off-kilter. ¡°Governor, Fallowmoor lies before us. Shall we initiate the attack?¡± Thora stepped before Arcturus. The Oracle-turned-High Priest was a respected member of the Temple, but had turned to the Governor¡¯s side thirteen years prior. Though quiet, Thora¡¯s power was not to be underestimated. Beside the late Ramiel, Thora was the strongest member of the holy order. Arcturus nodded. All commanders of the expeditionary force filed in; among them were Hammont Seacrest, Frost de Winter, a dozen elders of the Cloude family, officers of the Demonhunter Corps, Templar leaders and Oracle commanders. They represented the frightening power of Skycloud. The Cloude family had suppressed all details from the recent conflict. To most, the wastelanders were to blame for all the tragedies that had befallen Skycloud and its people. Arcturus began to convey his orders. However, he was forced to stop partway through when he was wracked with violent coughing. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose. His face paled. The officers all looked at one another in surprise, unsure of what to do. The night Ramiel died, Arcturus had also been wounded. It appeared as though the consequences of that wound were yet to heal and were worse than anticipated. It was a bad omen. Arcturus was their mightiest, the only one capable of defeating the demon Cloudhawk! No one could muster words, until Hammont stepped forward. ¡°Governor, I have something I¡¯d like to say.¡± Arcturus regained his composure. When he looked at this ordinary-looking fat man there was a glimmer of a smile in his eyes. The soldier was a man who¡¯d clawed his way up from the bottom. Though among the weaker of his officers, he possessed gifts and talents the others did not. Gifts the army needed. ¡°I do not think we need to do this.¡± Hammont was not shy to express his opinion. He indicated a map on the table before them as he explained. ¡°Three days ago Cloudhawk¡¯s forces took Fallowmoor. They may have control, but three days is not enough time to erase the differences between their groups.¡± The other officers nodded, following along. Not long ago Cloudhawk defeated Eckhard Cutter¡¯s army in Sandspire, then Dumont Cenhelm¡¯s troops when consolidating his hold over the south. When they turned north, Cloudhawk single-handedly obliterated an army encampment in the Blisterpeaks. Alone he murdered thousands of their comrades. ¡°Directly or indirectly, Cloudhawk is responsible for spilling the blood of thousands of northerners. But even if we ignore recent events, Cloudhawk once led this expeditionary force against Fallowmoor, where under the command of General Skye he killed the Crimson One.¡± Hammont paused. When Arcturus did not interrupt him, he continued to outline his plan. ¡°Cloudhawk¡¯s reputation is only useful down south. In the north his name is not respected. A two-faced, cold-blooded butcher. In my view that can be used in our favor.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t appropriate to throw our forces against an enemy who recently set up their bastion. All it will do is unify them against an external enemy. Instead, we retreat in order to advance. Encircle without attacking, and lock down the area. A siege. Meanwhile we push the narrative that Cloudhawk is a bloodthirsty outsider and stir up division. Then we sit back and wait for the Conclave and the Green Alliance to tear one another apart.¡± ¡°By then your forces will have assembled. Tens of thousands of troops will be fresh and ready for battle. Against a fractured enemy, we cannot fail.¡± The others all nodded in agreement. It seemed as plain as the nose on their faces! It didn¡¯t matter how strong Cloudhawk was when faced with contention from within. Suspicions wouldn¡¯t be erased overnight. In the course of their union there were bound to be hangups between the two wasteland forces. Friction and impediments were hard to avoid. Let them battle it out while Elysian forces set up a blockade around the city. When reinforcements arrived their power would be overwhelming and possess the advantage. Victory was inevitable. ¡°A fine plan.¡± Arcturus nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Minimum risk and maximum results. Indeed a wise plan, however¡­¡± Hammont felt his heart sink. Immediately he chastised himself. As wise as Arcturus was, how did he imagine he could come up with something the Governor hadn¡¯t already thought of? Clearly he was not ready to adopt this strategy, because he had to make every effort possible to salvage what remained of the Conclave. He wanted to carve out a chance, both for himself and for Cloudhawk. Arcturus countered the idea. ¡°Ramiel¡¯s death was a disgrace for the expeditionary force. We must redeem ourselves. The end of the war is nigh, and in a decade when Skycloud¡¯s school children learn of this conflict, I want them to look upon this army with respect.¡± ¡°Absolutely, Governor!¡± ¡°The expeditionary force has suffered too much shame! We must cleanse our honor!¡± ¡°Wastelanders can¡¯t escape. What do our holy warriors have to fear?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want my son thinking the expeditionary force needed the might of the whole realm to wipe our a small band of thugs!¡± Arcturus expertly fanned the pride of the officers. Their zeal blinded them to reason. To Elysians, it was honor above all. What¡¯s more, this was likely to be the final battle. When it was done the wastes wouldn¡¯t have the strength to fight back for hundreds of years. Who would agree to pass up an opportunity to do something so heroic? ¡°Go,¡± Arcturus managed before another set of coughs wracked him. ¡°Hammont, stay with me. I have something to tell you.¡± Frost de Winter stood among the other generals. He felt somehow sad and unsettled. With a grim shake of the head, he dispelled the distractions. The officers filed out leaving the hall empty but for two figures. Arcturus looked over the fat man and waved his hand toward an empty chair. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Hammont was clearly unused to the situation, it made him uncomfortable. ¡°Your humble servant prefers to stand and listen, sir. How can I be of service?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, merely a question.¡± Arcturus did not force him to sit if he was uncomfortable. ¡°When this battle is over, what are your plans?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t given it much thought.¡± ¡°You are not like the others, that¡¯s why I asked you to stay behind. I have a suggestion I¡¯d like you to carefully consider.¡± The Governor paused for a moment before continuing, his voice as calm as ever. ¡°If I should lose this battle I want you ¨C without compunction and heedless of what people say ¨C to join Cloudhawk¡¯s cause.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Arcturus¡¯ words were like being struck by lightning. Lose? How could the Master Demonhunter lose? Fight for Cloudhawk? It was unthinkable! The fight hadn¡¯t even started yet and already Arcturus was speaking as though he¡¯d been defeated. Strange did not begin to describe how Hammont felt. The Governor waved his hand, deigning to leave the order unexplained. Leave the questions for him to ruminate over, he thought. Arcturus turned away and walked to the edge of the observation deck, peering into the darkness surrounding Fallowmoor. After a time, his drawn voice returned. ¡°On the sea of life and death one boat sinks. In the long night, a lantern goes dark. What I cannot do, no one on this earth can accomplish. But he¡­ he has a chance.¡± Arcturus spoke mostly to himself. His words still hung in the air as horns blared and thousands of Elysian ships launched their attack. Nerves were heightened, weapons held tight. Survival, honor, vengeance, fate ¨C all were at risk. The final battle between Skycloud and the wastes was set to begin. There would be no draw, no mutual destruction. One would live, and one would die. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 640 - Book 6, Chapter 32 As the expeditionary force drew near, the wastelands two alliances stopped their infighting. Neither the Green Alliance nor the Conclave had a taste for destroying one another, rather they hoped to annex the other and consolidate power. By contrast, the Elysians were here to destroy them all. Or so it seemed on the surface, for Elysians and wastelanders mixed like oil and water. The former struggle was one of status. The other was one of survival. Cloudhawk had emerged as a man worthy of the title ruler of the wastes. As such he was a natural choice to lead the Conclave¡¯s forces. Those positions vacated by officers of Hell¡¯s Army were replaced with Green Alliance personnel, bolstering the defenses in order to fend off the encroaching threat. Under normal circumstances the Conclave could have made a fine stand. However, the current plight was one that proved too much for them alone. Only by maximizing their strength through cooperation could the Green Alliance and the Conclave face Skycloud¡¯s army. *** Rhino made sure he had a spot on the front lines. He was a fighter from Greenland, one of the first to join the Goshawks, and had witnessed the horror of Sanctuary first hand. He demanded to be first in line to defend the wastelands. Sandspire had been his origin, and for most of his life the mutant knew nothing besides the vast ruins surrounding the city. It was luck and determination that lifted him out of his ignorance. That was when he met Cloudhawk, entered Greenland and became a Goshawk. At last he¡¯d found a reason to fight, a purpose. Cloudhawk was a name destined to ring out across the wastes for generations. He was a torch in the chaos, leading the way. Though no one knew where he was taking them, Cloudhawk emerged as a beacon of hope. His presence lifted up countless men and women from darkness and despair. Rhino had a young son. Right now he was training with the others back at Greenland Institute. The fact that he was somewhere safe, learning to better himself, was proof of just how much Cloudhawk had changed things already. Cloudhawk took this savage man who knew nothing and showed him the grand history they¡¯d all come from. Why were so many willing to fight and die for Greenland¡¯s leader? None could be sure that Cloudhawk would succeed, but he was giving them a chance. Alarms began to blare, snapping Rhino from his reverie. He was standing on one of the floating fortresses nearest to Fallowmoor, and from this vantage point he could see six other fortresses moving into position. Scores of airships and troop carriers shuttled between them. In the distance a sea of twinkling lights approached, like candles in the dark. Those were the light of Elysian shields. Their armada was much larger than it had been the first time they tried to take the city. A far greater threat, especially since it was Arcturus Cloude himself who led the charge this time. ¡°The enemy approaches!¡± ¡°Elysians on the line! Prepare for battle!¡± Rhino tightened his grip on the crude wasteland exorcist rod in his hand. The ships all around spun and churned into position as officers shouted commands, like a host of angry locusts. Once a defensive line was formed their hulls opened, revealing missiles at the ready. ¡°Attack!¡± Just as the expeditionary force came within range, wastelander salvos released their payloads. Suddenly the air was filled with sparks and fire; a deadly firework display, like stars falling from the sky, as magnificent as it was frightening. In response the Elysians fired back. Beams of light from Gods Spear warships were cast into the wastelanders¡¯ ranks. Many of the missiles were destroyed en route by the curtain of light. Those that made it through exploded against milky-white shields which rippled like water. A shot from one of the Gods Spear warships obliterated a Conclave vessel. As the fight broke out it looked from the outset like the wasteland¡¯s crude weapons couldn¡¯t overcome Elysian defenses. At least for the moment they posed no threat, the expeditionary force merely needed to keep up the pressure. Half of the wasteland ships would be destroyed before they even got close enough to deploy soldiers. After years of armed conflict, both sides had refined their tactics. Once Arcturus took command, he outfitted the experienced soldiers with improved gear as well. They were a much different fighting force than when Skye was their leader. The Elysian armada boasted twenty Gods Spear ships, more than enough to execute a devastating long-range barrage. Their Aegis ships were also plentiful enough to wholly cover the front lines from harm. Wastelander missiles continued to come, but blasted impotently against the shields and caused no damage. Boom! One of the beams of light struck the top part of the fortress. It felt like the entire structure was rolling underfoot as boulders toppled upon the soldiers below. Rhino barely manage to escape being crushed, but found himself rising weightless into the air. As gravity turned upside down he caught himself by stabbing his exorcist rod into the ground as an anchor. ¡°Bastards! Wastelanders aren¡¯t willing to be kicked around. Let¡¯s give them something to be scared of! Deploy the eboncrys weapons!¡± Lumbering airships pulled to the fore, hauling broadside to unveil their artillery. The eboncrys cannons aboard were the fruits of scientific achievement from Greenland, a deadly gift from Hellflower and her team. Because of their complexity only a few cannons and missiles were available. Rare and precious though they were, this was exactly the moment they were meant to be used. A volley of unimpressive projectiles was vomited into the sky. Having experienced wastelander assaults, the Elysians paid them no mind. However, when the missiles struck their shields the unthinkable bloomed before them. A concussive blast ten times stronger than any artillery before rocked the fleet. A thunderous explosion tore across the field. As the smoke cleared, a gaping hole in the expeditionary force¡¯s defenses was laid bare! That was just the beginning. More of these empowered missiles came hurdling at the Elysians. Even the mighty Aegis ships were defenseless against them. One missile slipped passed the line, crashing into the midst of the armada. Three vessels were utterly destroyed in one blast. Suddenly Skycloud¡¯s officers realized that with weapons like that, they couldn¡¯t keep the wastelanders at a distance for long. They had to push forward as quickly as possible and use their superior soldiers to cut down the barbarians. All at once the intensity of the battle reached a fever pitch! Both sides unleashed their cavalry and advanced the line. Elysian air units were griffin riders, deadly demonhunters atop equally dangerous mounts. They were the tip of the spear and faced death unflinchingly. Their wasteland counterparts were airmen piloting all manner of smaller planes. They were equipped with an assortment of missiles and rocket launchers. Some were suicide bombers, driving a payload of eboncrys ordnance right into the enemy forces. The battlefield raged for ten thousand meters in every direction. Soon it shifted back toward Fallowmoor. The wasteland had three lines of defense. The first was composed of warships and air units. Second were the six floating fortresses. Finally was Fallowmoor itself. In a testament to Skycloud¡¯s might, it took only a few rounds of attacks to tear a hole in the wastelander front lines. Demonhunters, Templars, Empyrean soldiers and other elites comprised their vanguard which poured into the fortresses. Rhino watched as hundreds of griffin riders closed in on his bastion. Like an ominous rain, powerful Elysian soldiers descended upon them. A fierce battle erupted against them the forces Cloudhawk had deployed to defend these fortresses. One Templar carved a path through several soldiers. He charged right for Rhino, sword raised. The Goshawk fighter engaged his Mornshield ring to deflect the opening attack. Half a breath later he called on the power of the Mornarrow ring, firing a bolt of energy at his foe. The Templar was caught off guard, not expecting a mutant to wield a demonhunter¡¯s power. He quickly pulled his sword back to protect himself. There was a crash and the Templar was knocked backward. Taking advantage of the break in his guard, Rhino surged forward. With his rod raised and spinning with power, he smashed it against the Templar¡¯s temple. Steel and bone crunched. Blood splattered across the ground in a grizzly rain. One down! Rhino released a triumphant roar. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to think he¡¯d be able to tangle one-on-one with a Templar and win, not unless he had the advantage of a chaotic battlefield. As proof his victory was short lived, for a blazing hot orb of fire came searing at his back moments later. His green cloak was set alight. Soon the fires had covered his entire body. Rhino¡¯s alliance armor began to melt against his skin. Smoke rose off his smoldering flesh. He spun around, glaring through the pain to find his assailant, a Temple cleric. Fire danced in his hands as he prepared a second attack. ¡°Die!¡± The mutant threw himself at the Elysian just as the cleric released another fireball. It blasted against Rhino¡¯s chest but he came barreling through. His whole body ablaze, organs bubbling inside, he smashed the cleric to pieces with his weapon. ¡°Hahaha! Another one!¡± By now his eyes were destroyed. The last image he saw before darkness closed in was ash filling the sky. He thought they looked like gray butterflies. It was his cloak burning away. His pride. Would Rhino fade away into the wind like that ash, like his roars? He thought about his child, studying back home. His sacrifice was worth it. History wouldn¡¯t remember him, but he felt that his life had meant something. It wasn¡¯t wasted in ignorance futility. He did good ¨C for himself, for life. There were no regrets. Lifting his weapon toward the sky his cracked windpipes bellowed a final call. ¡°Greenland forever! Greenland forever! Greenland forever!¡± A silvery figure dashed in front of the mutant, thrusting a spear into his chest faster than the eye could follow. The flames consuming Rhino were doused as he turned to ash, then crumbled to pieces. Another Green Alliance soldier, silenced. One of countless others, breathing their last as the seconds ticked by. Elysians, wastelanders¡­ the battle raged on as death came to reap its harvest. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 641 - Book 6, Chapter 33 The expeditionary force had transformed itself over the years. Whether it was equipment, forces or total power it all had improved tremendously. Its fierce assault ripped through two of Fallowmoor¡¯s defensive lines. Like a plague, Elysian soldiers infected one fortress after another. Firelight painted the sky red. Explosions shook the battlefield. Debris and bodies marred everywhere one looked. With every breath countless lives were snuffed out. Skycloud¡¯s army held nothing back and gave their enemies no room to maneuver. From the moment war began, they sent everything they had against the wastelanders. In the face of death they never hesitated. Heedless of whatever cost, their zeal made them overwhelming! Clack. A white token was placed on the board. It was arrayed in overpowering formation with its fellows. Clack! A black piece followed. Its side of the board was teetering on the cusp of defeat. An onlooker might be surprised to find Arcturus seated quietly, playing against no opponent. Or, more specifically, playing against himself. The story went that for the last twenty years no one in Skycloud was his rival in chess. Since then he had no recourse but to challenge himself. He always played black, and after twenty years he never once won. Looking over the board, there didn¡¯t appear to be any way black would win this game, either. In Arcturus¡¯ eyes black always represented humanity. White, of course, were the armies of the gods. While war raged outside, Arcturus was huddled in the hull of his flagship, playing chess. To his officers, it seemed like the most inappropriate time for a game. Indeed he was entirely unperturbed by the screams and explosions outside. He stared intently at the board with the sounds of battle little more to him than background noise. It was as though the death just outside was happening on a different world and had no influence on him. Another white piece graced the board. Black¡¯s fate was nearly sealed. Arcturus¡¯ brows slowly knit tight, deep in thought. Once again he found himself in a dangerous predicament. He felt helpless. Any way he moved ended in defeat. He sighed and looked at the black piece between his fingers. It never made it to the board. The Governor knew that even if he had another twenty years he wouldn¡¯t win this game. Perhaps it was time to hand over the pieces, let another play. Would things be different then? Looking older than he ever had, the Governor rose from his table and walked out of the room. He left behind an empty room, an unfinished chess game and a cooling cup of tea. In that room time seemed to stand still. Once Arcturus rejoined the fight he ordered his officers to assemble. Soon he stood before Cloude family elder, Templar captains, Empyrean officers, what remained of the Court of Shadows and some of the expeditionary force¡¯s finest soldiers. Among them were six hundred of the best demonhunters and martial artists in all of Skycloud. Their numbers meant nothing. With the might at their command this small group of less than two thousand could obliterate a force a hundred thousand strong. These were Arcturus¡¯ hand-picked shock troops. Ultimately, this battle was a contest between Arcturus and Cloudhawk. Both represented the soul of their respective struggle; Arcturus would eliminate Cloudhawk at any cost, and Cloudhawk would use any means necessary to kill Arcturus. So long as one died, even if the outcome of the ultimate fight was not determined, much of the battle would already be won. Arcturus¡¯ advantages were obvious. His sheer strength made him the deadliest man alive. Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force, in addition to warriors from many great families, was also bolstered by the Cloude family¡¯s best. Further, Templars and Court assassins were as numerous as the stars. However, the Green Alliance also had an edge. Numerous as Skycloud¡¯s impressive players were, the Green Alliance had more peak-level warriors. Under Arcturus¡¯ command were only Oracle Thora, his apprentice Frost de Winter, and several family elders. Compare this to the wastelanders. Cloudhawk had the demon Abaddon, Oracle Aquaria, the master assassin Janus Umbra, Grand Prior Phain Mist, Vulkan the War Saint, Apostle Selene Cloude, Dawn Polaris, Wolfblade, Atlas¡­ the list went on. Such was not a force to be discounted. The Governor knew Wolfblade was clever enough to stagger those mighty warriors, throwing them at his forces in turns and at the most opportune moments. Arcturus would be forced to waste his energies against them until, faced finally with Cloudhawk, he would be spent. He wouldn¡¯t give them the chance. With his two thousand demonhunters and warriors he would carve a path straight to the heart of Fallowmoor. The enemy would not be given an opportunity to force him to break against their ranks. So long as Cloudhawk held back, so too would Arcturus. He was eager to see who could hold out longer. Frost was leading the expeditionary force¡¯s elite troops on the front. Through the fires of war he¡¯d just invaded another fortress. In his hand Frozen Dirge crackled with frigid energy. So far, it¡¯d tasted the blood of several dozen wastelanders. He released a powerful blast from the spear that swept away the fortress¡¯ weapon installations. All at once half of the enemy defenses were eliminated. Wasteland soldiers spared no effort to try and repel the Elysians, but under Hammont¡¯s expert command the fortress was quickly taken. One after the other, Fallowmoor¡¯s second line of defense was swallowed up by Skycloud. The city was left exposed. With two of the wasteland¡¯s defensive perimeters breached, Frost returned to the command ship. He approached his master. ¡°All obstacles have been cleared.¡± With a small smile, Arcturus nodded in satisfaction. His hands were clasped behind his back as he looked toward the city. ¡°You¡¯ve done great work, but more remains. Prepare to invade Fallowmoor.¡± ¡°As you command!¡± Frost turned on his heel and left. The Skycloud armada split and a portion advanced toward Fallowmoor. A Gods Spear ship released its payload at the metallic exterior of the city and opened a breach. ¡°Attack!¡± Arcturus shouted the order. Two thousand crack soldiers charged into the city. *** The war between Skycloud and the wastelanders was in full swing. Within Fallowmoor, in a portion of the city no one watched, a small group had gathered. The group that picked through the shadows was led by an elder woman in purple robes. In her hands was a wooden staff. ¡°Boss Naga, aren¡¯t we there yet?¡± One of the mutants with her looked around with clear unease. He knew that the situation outside was changing rapidly. If something didn¡¯t happen soon, the city would be destroyed. Either they escaped in time or they would be destroyed with it. ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Naga pushed open a door to reveal a secret laboratory. It was not overly large and was stuffed from floor to ceiling with all manner of things. In the back were an umber of small aircraft, built for speed. Several dozen researchers were hard at work ¨C white-haired scientists who were masters of their craft. Naga hissed at them. ¡°Is it ready?¡± A bespectacled researcher answered. ¡°All is prepared.¡± Naga was brought before a warhead, split open with its innards exposed. Some of the wires were connected to rudimentary computers. Naga nodded in satisfaction. This was a nuclear warhead. They took it in a state of disrepair, but thankfully they had managed to rustle up a number of ancient weapons specialists to work on it. It was ready. ¡°Enter the activation code. Set it off at once!¡± The King of the Purple Robe gave the order without an ounce of expression on her face. Behind her, the faces of the mutant leaders were shocked and dismayed. One of them plucked up the courage to speak. ¡°Should we be doing this?¡± Naga replied. ¡°Cloudhawk and Arcturus are both in the city. This is the only way to ensure they are both destroyed. No more wasting time, prepare it for detonation!¡± The scientists gave one another worried glances. Despite their misgivings they were forced to take their posts. Though she was a high-ranking member of the Conclave, she had no power to determine its future. She was even more powerless against Cloudhawk and Arcturus. To her, the best option was to see it all burn. Resources that were pooled here would be released once the alliances were fractured. Then, she could begin the process of gathering them again. The most powerful individuals in both Skycloud and the wastelands were gathered here. If they were snuffed out all at once, the results would be devastating. Neither Skycloud nor the wastes would ever recover. Not unless Naga and the kings led them from the aftermath. ¡°How long?¡± ¡°Around thirty minutes.¡± Naga frowned. Thirty minutes was longer than she¡¯d expected. No matter, Fallowmoor was strong enough to hold out for that long. Die¡­ DIE! Die all of you! Let the world be done with you! A crazed expression twisted Naga¡¯s hideous face. She knew she wasn¡¯t strong enough, or important enough. But what she was doing could upend everything. Cloudhawk or Arcturus, the wastelanders and Elysians ¨C here they would all be erased. And who would expect her? None of these bloodthirsty fools would realize their fate was sealed until it was too late. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 642 - Book 6, Chapter 34 The center of Fallowmoor was a large open space. It was the production area where citizens grew crops and bred animals. By itself it was large enough to constitute a mid-sized wasteland city. The fields provided enough sustenance for the city to live comfortably, without the need for outside assistance. Three or four years ago the land was rich and fertile. All manner of things were grown here. Now, the crops were withered and rotting with no one to pick them. Where once there had been scores of people busily gathering the harvest, now there fifteen thousand Green Alliance troops standing in their stead. They were the very best the wastelands could muster. They were a force that had been in existence since the Dark Atom was top dog. Under Wolfblade¡¯s direction, a line of maneater mutants stood at the fore. They were wrapped in specialty armor from head to toe, like walking tin cans. Only their bloodshot eyes were visible. In their hands were massive weapons weighing five hundred kilos. They stood like imposing statues, arranged to meet their attackers. Behind them were scores of soldiers with eboncrys rifles in hand. These weapons were produced from years of cooperative research between Greenland and the Dark Atom. Finally they were ready to see combat. Much easier to produce compared to eboncrys cannons or missiles, they were fairly prevalent among the soldiers. There were about a thousand dispersed among this unit. It made them a devastating force to reckon with. The rest were genetically modified soldiers, the sort Hellflower had been making back in Blackwater Base. Over the course of a decade her process had been perfected and this new generation of super soldiers were far superior. Their genetic material was deliberately adjusted for greater strength. They were like iron beasts, with the power to lift things several hundred kilos heavier than they were. Their skin was hard as steel, healed at an accelerated rate, were inhumanly accurate and felt nothing. They were like living robots. On a battlefield they were any enemy¡¯s nightmare. Wolfblade and Abaddon were in the midst of the troops. Also present were Dawn, Aquaria, Phain, Janus and Atlas. This arrangement was responsible for countering Arcturus¡¯ main invasion force. As one might expect, Aquaria and Phain were conflicted. As members of the Temple they would have never dreamed this would be where they ended up, standing with wastelanders against their own people. Phain¡¯s wounds had yet to heal. He slowly drew his weapon which glowed with a faint internal light. He looked at the steel, at the twisted face reflected back at him. He¡¯d been handsome once, but Arcturus¡¯ attempt on his life had left him scarred and hideous. Recovery would be a long and arduous road, if he ever got the chance. The scars of it marked him inside and out. Phain was a strong and committed warrior, he didn¡¯t care about how he looked on the outside so much. What concerned him was the struggle in his heart. He didn¡¯t know which side to take. The sword in his hand was from Skycloud, but would he be forced to stab it into Elysian flesh today? Aquaria had no sword, but a powerful relic tome from the Temple. Her heart was just as mired in confusion, but she was calmer than the Grand Prior. ¡°If we lose the Temple is lost forever. If we are defeated, our honor and reputation will be forever tarnished. We must do this, for the Temple.¡± Phain nodded in agreement. She was right, history was written by the victors. ¡°Who knew you were so wise,¡± Dawn quipped. She was encased in the Dawnbreaker armor, all but her head. ¡°But as far as I see, even if we win what hope does Skycloud and the Temple have? You might as well join the Green Alliance. My mother, my teacher, I don¡¯t want to have to fight you down the line.¡± Green Alliance¡¯s standard troops were well equipped. The long green cloaks, marks of their pride, flapped in the breeze. They all stood as still as a forest, awaiting the chance to prove their worth. Cloudhawk stood upon a balcony, overlooking the scene. It was touching, hard to describe. Beside him were only Selene and the drunk. Vulkan was lounging around, picking his toes as though they weren¡¯t teetering on the precipice of extinction. Selene was as serene and obtuse as ever. Her sword was on her back, her long black hair flowing through the wind. She was like an image of a goddess given flesh. The drunk looked down at the soldiers gathered below. He muttered in his typical, casual tone. ¡°One hell of a surprise that the wastelands could put a group like this together. One person means nothing. A group might not change fate, but at least they can leave their mark. What you¡¯ve managed to pull off is already more than anyone could have imagined.¡± ¡°Yeah? But it¡¯s not enough. We can¡¯t afford to lose everything here.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was dark and serious. He felt a pressure and responsibility heavier than he¡¯d ever known. Failure was irreversible, either it would be the wastes or it would be Skycloud ¨C not both. The warriors of the Green Alliance trusted him, supported him, fought for him. They were willing to put down their lives because they believed Cloudhawk could change the world. It was a heavy responsibility. If he lost it would all go away¡­ tens of thousands who sacrificed their lives would have done so for nothing. The wastelands would go back to the barren, bloody place it used to be. These souls he was trying to lift up would go back to living in darkness and squalor. Progress would disappear, returned to the carnage and chaos it used to be. If that happened how was he supposed to protect the ones he cared for; the people like Selene, Dawn, the drunk and others? Flee to another world, live as exiles? That was one way to do it. The Cloudhawk from a few years ago would have seriously considered it. It was different now, however. He couldn¡¯t just walk away. Selene stared at Cloudhawk¡¯s face as determination took hold. It was amazing to her how he¡¯d changed from a naive wastelander to a real leader. Of course gain always came from loss ¨C where one improved another faltered. To the wastes Cloudhawk was a great leader. In Skycloud he was seen very differently. What would the future hold? How would things be different? Selene couldn¡¯t even hazard a guess. Or perhaps she could, but she didn¡¯t like to think about the answer. Shutting her eyes she shook her head to try and clear away the unpleasant confusion. When she opened them again her bright eyes were calm as ever, twinkling like the stars. Selene was who she was. No matter the future, the fight was now. Let the pieces fall where they may. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± The old drunk¡¯s warning was punctuated by an explosion, as part of Fallowmoor¡¯s domed ceiling gave way. A massive warship drilled through the opening. Half of the ship was lodged in the ceiling and was immediately set upon by wasteland fire. Scores of Elysian troops forced their way into the city and engaged the entrenched forces. ¡°Finally here?¡± A smile crept into the corner of Wolfblade¡¯s mouth. ¡°Advance!¡± Green Alliance soldiers answered the call. Like a dark tidal wave they surged at the Elysians before they could get their footing. But Arcturus¡¯ invasion force reacted quickly. They brandished bows and fired at the savages as they closed in. Whoosh! Thousands of arrows were unleashed at once. The heads of the bolts glowed ominously, capable of seeking their own targets. Picking up speed, they pierced through the forward shield protecting the wastelander front line. Yet as the shower of arrows fell, the wastelanders did not retreat. While the arrows were fast and sturdy enough to pierce several layers of iron, most embedded harmlessly in Alliance armor and failed to injure the warriors themselves. While wasteland armor was not a fraction as pleasant to look upon as Elysian gear, years of toil had made it sturdier. ¡°Counter!¡± The shield fell, guns jutted forward. Rows of eboncrys rifles roared to life and spat rays of green light at the invaders. Elysians unfortunate enough to get hit exploded into bloody chunks. Eboncrys weapons were a sight to behold! Seeing the death toll rise, someone in the center of the Elysian formation raised a war banner. It released a light in all directions which fell over the majority of their forces. Even eboncryss blasts were repelled. The Elysian shield fended off the mighty barrage, like two wild buffalo meeting head to head.. Dawn, seeing this, could wait no longer. She raised her weapon and shouted a challenge. But Wolfblade was there to stop her. ¡°Do not rush. Hold.¡± She spat back in anger. ¡°Can¡¯t you see what¡¯s going on? If we don¡¯t act now, then when?!¡± Aquaria and Phain stepped forward to help keep her back. Aquaria looked out over the Elysians. ¡°He¡¯s right, now isn¡¯t the time to attack. We must wait.¡± No sooner had the words left her lips than a second shift smashed through Fallowmoor¡¯s shell. This vessel was different from the others. Templars, clerics, Empyrean soldiers and other elite poured from it like wasps from a threatened hive. Thora, brandishing the Arbiter¡¯s Staff, released a flood of black lightning at a group of maneaters. Half a dozen were consumed by the dark power and slain on the spot. This had to be the main attack force! The first wave was meant to be a distraction. Fire rains, blades of wind dashed across the city, spears of stone rose from below. A storm of mystical power was brought to bear against the wastelanders. It was a terrifying and powerful display that immediately put Green Alliance fighters in a precarious position. That was when Wolfblade chose to act. ¡°Now!¡± With a hideous cackle, Abaddon dissolved into a cloud of sand. After hesitating for but a moment, Aquaria and Phain resolved to fight. The choice was made ¨C if they wanted to restore their reputation, they had to act! Ordinary troops against ordinary troops. Peak fighters against peak fighters. For the time being, it was deadlock. However Skycloud held an advantage. With perhaps a thousand demonhunters in their ranks, how long could the wastelanders withstand such a bombardment? It seemed almost a matter of time before the Green Alliance defenders broke. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk was connected to Oddball through his psycho and shared the bird¡¯s vision. Keen eyes picked out a contingent of mighty guards in the center of the enemy force. He didn¡¯t need to question it, that was his target. ¡°I¡¯ve found Arcturus. Time to go!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pause for a moment. His dimensional powers flared and the three vanished from their balcony. When they reappeared, they were standing right in front of Skycloud¡¯s Governor. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 643 - Book 6, Chapter 35 Book 6, Cloudhawk stood tall and still. Vulkan and Selene drew their weapons. Across from them, Frost brandished his silvery spear and Oracle Taron [1] dropped into a combat stance. The Arbiter¡¯s Staff glowed ominously. Arcturus stood with his hands clasped behind his and an expressionless face. He acknowledged Cloudhawk with a question. ¡°What have you done with Natessa?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s response was dismissive. ¡°Instructor Windham? She¡¯s safe, no longer a part of our conflict. We should be happy for her.¡± Slowly, Arcturus nodded. His plain robes fluttered. ¡°Then let us commence.¡± Wolfblade, Abaddon, Aquaria, Phain and the others were enough to keep the Elysians busy. At least for the time being, they wouldn¡¯t be going anywhere. Arcturus wouldn¡¯t get involved if Cloudhawk didn¡¯t, but the circumstance demanded otherwise. While in the short term no victor was clear, Skycloud clearly had the advantage. The longer this fight dragged on the worse it would be for the wastelanders. As such, Cloudhawk was forced to act. ¡°We¡¯ve never had the chance to really test our test strength against one another. Usually you beat me around a little and I run away,¡± Cloudhawk said, annoyance on his face. ¡°There¡¯s no running this time. Only one of us is going to walk away from this place.¡± ¡°Setbacks are a non-issue for the young,¡± Arcturus replied. ¡°Show me how much power you¡¯ve been holding back.¡± Cloudhawk released his energy out in all directions. The air warped and twisted under the strain before ultimately shattering like a mirror. Reality became a mess of fragmented pieces. A direct attack against space itself? His aim was to injure his opponent by fracturing the world around him. Common knowledge was that all matter existed in the confines of reality. Like a table full of glasses. Cloudhawk was not striking the glasses, but rather destroying the table they sat upon. With nothing for them to rest on they would shatter as a consequence. Had his command over space really advanced to such a degree? It seemed so, for the rapidly fracturing field stretched around Arcturus. Once it was complete, nothing could escape. Movement required space. It didn¡¯t matter how fast you were if there was no space to move through. Arcturus unhurriedly raised his left hand. From his palm exploded thousands of electric bolts. As they spread out through the fractured sections of reality, they were consumed. Cloudhawk¡¯s attack was vicious and strong, but so too was the Governor¡¯s defense. The wasteland leader¡¯s aim was to destroy everything. Arcturus was clever enough to know that this unmitigated destruction meant that the more there was to destroy, the more power was needed to destroy it. Through infusing the area with more energy, he forced Cloudhawk to expend more energy to erase it. Since the Governor¡¯s mental fortitude was greater than Cloudhawk¡¯s, in essence he could negate the attack. But this was only the beginning, for from the fractures more figures emerged. They looked like ordinary people but for the magnificent white wings extended from their backs. They were as majestic as the angels of legend. Brandishing various relics, they filed into the area. In the blink of an eye there were ten newcomers on the field. They roiled with the powers of fire, wind, earth, water, light and darkness. It was a storm of disparate energies that descended on the area like a meteor. The whole city shook. A crater dozens of meters in diameter appeared where they made landfall. After their joint attack, the winged beings retreated to Cloudhawk¡¯s position and arranged themselves for another offensive. So powerful! Selene felt her heart skip a beat after witnessing it. From nothing to an earth-shattering blow ¨C in a matter of a couple seconds. It was a potent display of what Cloudhawk could do. However, was it enough to overcome Arcturus? The answer was a definitive no. He would not be Governor if defeating him was that easy. Clouds of smoke and walls of fire obscured the view ahead. Despite this, Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes and growled. ¡°Careful!¡± Selene and Vulkan tightened their grips on their weapons and gathered their strength. They were ready to stand against any attack from the Master Demonhunter. Suddenly a dozen glimmering silhouettes appeared through the smoke. Radiating light, they broke passed the flames. They were¡­ Seraphs! Selene and the drunk recognized them immediately. They were none other than those puppets created by the gods. Through mysterious processes they were effectively immortal, fighting until their owner¡¯s mental energies were exhausted. No ordinary human could command them. How, then, was Arcturus able to? It was during the battle for Sanctuary that he first revealed this unexpected power. It was through them that he¡¯d handily defeated the demon Elder Judas. In this conflict against Cloudhawk the Governor would surely pull out all the stops, so the number of Seraph in his service here were more than were at Sanctuary. As the eighteen Seraphs charged into the fray, laser-light burned in their eyes. Pale white light sprang up around Cloudhawk as a scowl touched his lips. The beams from the Seraph¡¯s eyes were deflected by the shield, but the combined might of a dozen was enough to force him to stagger backwards. Even someone with Cloudhawk¡¯s strength struggled to defend himself from eighteen Seraphs! He started to fight back. High Highblood burst into action, launching attacks against their Elysian counterparts. Although the Seraphs were stronger and immortal, they were much fewer in number than the Highblood and could only focus on a single target at once. Cloudhawk used these limitations to his advantage, removing the Seraphs as a threat for the moment. The smoke stirred as suddenly two astonishing blasts of energy pierced through it. One was cold to the bone and murderous. The other was overwhelming and ruthless. Two weapons, one silver and one black. Selene and Vulkan moved to intercept! With Sublime Transcendence in hand, Selene knocked Frozen Dirge away. Vulkan, holding Sunstroke aloft, dashed with incredible speed at the bearer of the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. Cloudhawk paid the raging conflict around him no mind, for as Frost and Taron launched their attacks Arcturus emerged from the flames with Ruin in hand. As though cleaving the world itself in two, he hacked it toward Cloudhawk¡¯s face. The Master Demonhunter would take matters into his own hands! Glimmers of silver light snaked form Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. They intertwined to form a singular weapon, doused in green fire. Cloudhawk held it tight and met Arcturus¡¯ attack. A weapon of blue and white electricity. Another of silver and green flame. The two collided. Thunderous was their contest. Ruin prevailed, shattering Cloudhawk¡¯s weapon into dust. Motes of fire and tongues of lightning danced through the sky. Ruin kept coming. Once again the pale light sprang to life, deflecting the attack. Arcturus¡¯ power caused blackened tendrils to slither every which way along the ground and dissipate through the air, but Cloudhawk was unscathed. Cloudhawk called the Silver Serpents again and hacked at his foe. Arcturus thrust Ruin at his chest. Another tempest of energy was released as the weapons met. So intense was the blast that air around them was condensed into liquid and left a vacuum behind. The two men were too strong, no one else dared become involved. While Cloudhawk and Arcturus stood toe to toe, Selene, Frost, Vulkan and Taron were also locked in combat. Frost¡¯s growth over the years had been staggering. In regards of pure mental ability he was not inferior to Selene. However, the tools he bore could not compare. Frozen Dirge and Rimeshard were high-tier weapons, but were no match for Sublime Transcendence. Furthermore, Selene benefited from the Holy Vestments constantly replenishing her mental powers. The two collided, backed away, then collided again. Selene¡¯s weapon blazed dozens of meters like a waterfall. She brought it crashing down on Frost and his spear with such force it slammed him into the ground. His armor broke to pieces and there he lay, badly wounded. Selene didn¡¯t even spare him a second thought. Her attention shifted to Vulkan¡¯s contest with Taron. The Arbiter Staff Taron bore was a relic on the same level as Sublime Transcendence ¨C one of the most powerful relics to be found in Skycloud. What¡¯s more, Taron himself was a mighty foe comparable in strength to the former War Saint. Vulkan would not find it easy to defeat him. Selene fighting by his side, however, changed things. A concerted offensive from the both of them quickly forced Taron to fall back. The drunk looked at Taron, defeated, and grinned. ¡°Ah, my old companion. Back when I was with the Temple I always thought you were a strange one. But even so I never took you for a traitor. You better hope Arcturus wins, otherwise you will be nothing!¡± Fury burned in the Oracle¡¯s eyes. In a cold voice he answered, ¡°I support the Governor¡¯s efforts. Not for fame or position, but for reasons you short-sighted fools would never understand.¡± Selene¡¯s face was dangerously cold. ¡°Don¡¯t waste time on this one.¡± She hacked at him with her blazing weapon, which Taron deflected. Vulkan then launched his attack. He moved so quickly the eye couldn¡¯t follow, giving the impression that five him were attacking at once. Again Taron defended himself, but one of the War Saint¡¯s attacks found purchase. Vulkan¡¯s strength was well known. His attacks ¨C though simple and unimpressive on the surface ¨C in fact possessed frightening power. If it struck just right the Oracle would have been carved to pieces. Luckily for him, Taron boasted many relics. One released a shield of force at the last minute which Sunstroke pierced, but even though the blow dug into Taron¡¯s chest it would not claim his life. ¡°Cloudhawk can¡¯t do it alone. We have to help him fight Arcturus!¡± With that, the two raced to his aid. By this time Cloudhawk and Arcturus had already exchanged several rounds. No clear victor had emerged, but it was obvious Cloudhawk was on the back foot. Arcturus was gaining the advantage. Once Selene and Vulkan became involved it helped to bridge the gap. Arcturus glared at them. ¡°Tilting the odds in your favor?¡± ¡°You know it¡¯s funny¡­ several years ago it was the three of us against a single person. Right here, right in this spot.¡± Vulkan mused aloud. ¡°He was the founder of your Conclave, your brother Sterling.¡± Nothing of what the old drunk said made an impact on Arcturus. It was as though he¡¯d heard nothing. But the drunk kept his eyes fixed on the Master Demonhunter. ¡°Of you three brothers, Sterling was the most honest and least conniving. He used to worship you, had nothing but faith ¨C even when you asked him to kill Baldur. He did it, unquestioningly. The result was a lifetime of being manipulated, played with and used by you. He even lost his son to it. Don¡¯t you feel anything for what you¡¯ve done? Do you really have no conscience?¡± The calm in Arcturus¡¯ voice never broke. ¡°If one¡¯s sacrifice means saving millions, then the sacrifice is happily made.¡± Vulkan tightened his grip on his weapon. ¡°You can¡¯t just weigh everything in the world on some unfeeling scale. That¡¯s what makes you a monster!¡± This was the biggest difference between Cloudhawk and Arcturus. As a leader, from a logical standpoint there was nothing wrong with the Governor¡¯s decisions. Not only had his own family been torn apart, but his actions had lead to betrayal, hatred and suspicion. He put himself in danger. Arcturus never pursued comforts or selfish desires. The greatest of human qualities was selflessness and sacrifice, and no one knew that better than Arcturus. Was he a monster? Yes, and no. He was like a monster in pursuing his aims by fair means or foul. He even violated basic tenets of morality by butchering innocents and betraying loved ones. But monsters performed their evil deeds for profit. Arcturus did them to safeguard his species. He believed himself to be right, and didn¡¯t care what anyone else thought. Was he really so wrong? Arcturus didn¡¯t think so. Whether it was Cloudhawk, the drunk or any of his brothers, could they really say what he was doing was incorrect? Really though, right or wrong didn¡¯t matter. Today, here, this battle¡­ the whole of it would be settled. 1. This has to be retconned. Believe it or not, there has been no indication I remember of this character being male or female. I must have thought she was female for some reason when he was first introduced. As a result of discovering later in this chapter that he is, in fact, a man, the name had to be changed. Taron is welsh for ¡®Thunder¡¯, so it was picked as an alternative to the feminine Thora. Previous Next If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 644 - Book 6, Chapter 36 Book 6, Mighty as Arcturus was, against his three opponents it did not win him the advantage. Indeed, Cloudhawk¡¯s strength was comparable to the late Judas and only somewhat weaker than Arcturus. With the aid of the drunk and Selene¡¯s explosive power, on the surface it would be Cloudhawk and his allies who held the upper hand. The reality, however, was not so bright. The Governor¡¯s body became a beacon of light. Those Seraph under his command all burst into flame and from them flowed torrents of psychic energy. Like opening a dam, they all surged toward Arcturus. Wings woven from bolts of lightning spread from the Master Demonhunter¡¯s back and he stood amid an electric blaze, like a god given flesh. He was making his move! Cloudhawk, Vulkan and Selene all stared with faces grim. It was with this stolen power that Arcturus defeated Judas during the battle for Sanctuary. Calling upon this power he bolstered his strength to godly levels. It empowered him enough to handily defeat the Elder demon. At that time, he had been strengthened by four seraphs. Today there were eighteen! ¡°He¡¯s throwing everything he¡¯s got!¡± Cloudhawk was surprised at Arcturus¡¯ reckless decision. Absorbing foreign power made the Master Demonhunter a nigh unstoppable force, but it was not easy. Without question, the damage it caused him would be severe. All at once Arcturus¡¯ graying hair turned snow white, confirming Cloudhawk¡¯s suspicions. ¡°He can¡¯t keep this up for long. Do everything you can to avoid him!¡± As he spoke Cloudhawk released a surge of mental energy. Reality thickened around them like starch, creating barriers between his allies and the Governor. Meanwhile the Highblood hovered nearby like a royal guard. Through Cloudhawk¡¯s handling they brandished relics, launching a deluge of attacks at his foe. Cloudhawk, Selene and the drunk slowly backed away. Thunderous power roiled in the depths of Arcturus¡¯ eyes. With a mighty beat of his wings the Highbloods¡¯ attacks were batted away. A flash as though from lightning followed. As a Master Demonhunter, Arcturus¡¯ speed was even greater than that of the War Saint. He moved so quickly shadows of him hung in his wake. Ruin glimmered, hacked lengthwise through the air. A wave of electric energy spread out toward the horizon. One of the Highblood was caught, but rather than being cut in half the lightning swallowed up the body. It was reduced to ash then blew away on the wind. A second slash. This time vertical. Another one of the Highblood in his way burned up. None of these puppets were strong enough to even slow the Governor down. Like a chicken bold enough to confront the wolf, they were quickly extinguished. Not enough. They couldn¡¯t slow Arcturus down this way. His electric wings birthed a storm of lightning behind him as he dashed forward. The lightning he released carved a path through the thickened air Cloudhawk had summoned, opening a path. He darted through it unimpeded. With no other recourse Selene called on the power within her. A light sprang to life between her eyebrows, shining like a gem set against her skin. As power was unleashed from it, the Apostle was transformed. Selene became an infinitely dignified and imposing figure. Her strength doubled in an instant! Her dark eyes turned a brilliant silver. Her retinas, like implanted relics, empowered her vision far beyond the likes of mortal eyes. Humans saw things in the realm of the physical world, but through this power Selene could witness objects as they traveled through time and space. Where things were and where they would be was revealed to her as lines of illusory specters. She knew better. These weren¡¯t specters. Once this power awakened in her she could see a short distance into the future. ¡°Cloudhawk, careful! He attacks from above!¡± As Selene delivered her warning, Arcturus cut his way through half a dozen Highblood. In the blink of an eye he appeared over Cloudhawk with Ruin poised to drill right through his skull. Meanwhile Cloudhawk heard Selene¡¯s call and didn¡¯t for a moment question it. It was a tacit understanding, from two connected spirits. CLANG! Ruin was deflected by a shield of pale white. Cloudhawk countered with a swipe from his flaming green sword. Ever since absorbing the entirety of the Demon King¡¯s blessings, Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t felt such a crushing threat. It was like trying to defend himself against being impacted by a planet. The storm of their collision swept across dozens of kilometers. He managed to ward off the strike, but the demands of it nearly shattered every bone in Cloudhawk¡¯s body. The electric power felt like a hundred thousand arrows piercing his flesh. Luckily his physical condition was pristine, like the greatest of martial artists. If it were any less, Arcturus¡¯ blow would have reduced him to ash. In all of Skycloud ¨C likely in all the world ¨C only Cloudhawk was strong enough to survive such a direct blow. While the Governor was laser-focused on his target, Selene and Vulkan took advantage to try and flank him. ¡°Over confident!¡± In response, Arcturus¡¯ strength surged even higher. Ruin flared. Cloudhawk¡¯s sword of Castigation Fire was extinguished, and the Governor¡¯s power wrapped him up. He was lifted off his feet and flung into a distant part of the battlefield. Colliding with a group of soldiers, they were atomized from the residual power ¨C wastelanders and Elysians alike vanished in puffs of smoke. Cloudhawk rose from the crater and the sword in his hand crumbled to dust. Bits of his clothes, too, fell away like burnt paper. His skin remained as white and unblemished as jade. Rising from the destruction gave testament to his superhuman constitution. Replace him with any other man and they would have died ten times over, while he suffered only minor injuries. Those surface wounds were already beginning to heal. Selene continued to watch, her silver eyes following shadows further into the future. She witnessed images of Arcturus as he existed in different periods of time all across the battlefield. In other words, it was difficult for her to see the Arcturus that existed in the present because of his speed, but she could see all the places he would be. By employing the power granted to her by the Temple she could temporarily rise to the level of a Master Demonhunter. Without hesitation, she flung herself into the fight. Sublime Transcendence was thrust toward a seemingly random spot of air, but it was informed by Selene¡¯s prophetic vision. Her shimmering weapon pierced the area which Arcturus was crossing giving the impression ¨C even to Arcturus himself ¨C that he was throwing himself onto her sword. The Governor was taken aback. Could she follow him, even at this speed? No, even if she could Selene wouldn¡¯t be able to react that quickly and accurately. It isn¡¯t perception, it¡¯s prediction. This power¡­ Arcturus¡¯ face darkened. At last he understood how his ambush had failed. He had underestimated Ramiel, that old fool! Selene had been gifted the power from that ancient rite! These thoughts and more flashed through his mind but did not slow his actions. He knocked Selene¡¯s blade away before it could cause him harm. Ruin crackled as it lashed toward her. Were it to land Selene would be fatally wounded, even if she had the constitution of Cloudhawk or Skye. But as the deadly strike neared, Selene did not try to escape. Rather she gripped her holy sword tight and thrust it forward. Was she ready to sacrifice her life to take his? Selene had to know it was a gambit doomed for failure! The Apostle was more than just a little slower than Arcturus. By the time her blow landed he would have enough time to strike at her eighteen times. But much to his surprise it was in this moment that Vulkan appeared by her side. With a well-placed blow he knocked Ruin away. No wonder she wasn¡¯t afraid. Selene had presaged Vulkan¡¯s arrival, she knew his attack would fail. It was confirmation that indeed she had come to possess an ability that wasn¡¯t hers. It was a power typically reserved for a singular being. The power of time! Cloudhawk wielded mastery over space, and now Selene saw the weaves of time! The Demon King of old relied on his spatial powers to do incredible things. They made him nearly unstoppable. Only one being existed beyond the scope of the Demon King, and that was the God King himself. Demon and God. Space, and time. Space existed above matter. Time existed above space. Of course Selene did not possess that talent, not really. Nor did she have relics specialized in temporal power ¨C after all, those were even rarer than relics that manipulated space. There was only one possibility. Given unto her by Temple rites, Selene now possessed a power from outside of herself. Much like Arcturus borrowing strength from the Seraphs, using an ability not native to her was a risk. How long would she be able to withstand the dangers? But that wasn¡¯t important right now. If she possessed even one one-thousandth of the power of the God King it made her practically invincible in battle. She made everything much more difficult, for indeed in seeing the near future she could thwart any tactic Arcturus concocted. Selene couldn¡¯t wield a tenth of Arcturus power, but she was nonetheless a terrifying foe. Ramiel had clearly been planning to use her against him. Between his new Savior, the Oracles, and Phain there might have been enough opposition to unseat the Governor. Only, the High Priest did not expect Arcturus to act when he had. ¡°Some aspects of the future can be changed.¡± ¡°Some cannot.¡± ¡°Those that can, are you strong enough to keep up with the change?¡± As Arcturus spoke it was difficult to determine his position. His words and attacks fell over them like a flood. Although he had never experienced such power before, Arcturus was wise enough to know its flaw from the outset. Selene was not, as he¡¯d first feared, invincible. The future was ever in flux, but what¡¯s more some aspects of it were so entrenched nothing she could do would change the flow. In the days of ancient earth, their scientists had performed an amusing quantum mechanical study. It observed one of the most fascinating phenomena of reality. Simply put, the quantum state was unobservable, for once an outside force became involved its fundamental state shifted. When witnessing something ¨C even if the onlooker does nothing ¨C the very act of watching is intervention and in turn changes reality. [1] In a way, those fundamental pieces of reality are immeasurable. This theory can be applied to how events manifest. Before Selene observed the future it was set. However, once she saw its path the future became fluid. As a result the future Selene saw wasn¡¯t necessarily the future that would come to pass. It was all a constantly moving, squirming uncertainty. The more she got involved, the more fluctuation was observed. Eventually the changes would become too rapid for her to react to. The second point were those possibilities that were so likely almost nothing could sway the path. Like the destruction of the earth, the explosion of a planet. It was one thing to see it coming, another to stop it from happening. Upon seeing Selene¡¯s power and its limitations, Arcturus adapted his tactics in a simple way. Contrary to his nature of well-planned and targeted attacks, he should rather strive to be as random and directly powerful as he could. Direct, absolute force would break the shackles of time. That was how he could overcome Selene¡¯s godly powers. The wisdom in his plan was proven several rounds later, as Selene was struggling to keep up. Although Cloudhawk and Vulkan had joined her, the three were finding it hard to beat the Governor back. He paid Cloudhawk no mind for the time being and seemed intent on eliminating Selene first and foremost. Soon enough, an opportunity presented itself. Arcturus first repelled Cloudhawk with a swipe from his sword. Then, he followed up with a thrust right for Selene. Escape was impossible, there was no room to dodge. Cloudhawk, fighting off bolts of lightning, could not come to her aid. The realization was crushing and Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened. After all of this was the Governor still impossible to overcome? He seemed destined to watch Selene be cut down before his eyes. Only suddenly another figure charged into the fight. The silhouette put itself squarely between Arcturus and the Apostle. It was the only person close enough to react in time, Vulkan. As a martial artist his reaction times were nearly superhuman, fast enough to contend with Arcturus. However, he was not fast enough to take measures for his own safety. Selene saw the entire thing happen in a single, unbroken chain from past to future. Her face stiffened, her eyes went back to their normal color, for her sudden rush of emotion interrupted the power. ¡°No!¡± She cried out just as Ruin pierced the old drunk¡¯s chest. It was immediately understood by all, even the drunk. The instant Ruin touched his body, Vulkan¡¯s life was forfeit. No one could take a direct strike from Arcturus and live. For an instant, before the full power of the Governor was released, time stood still for Vulkan. He felt an infinite peace within him, for this was the moment he had been waiting for. Years ago this was how he envisioned it would end. Much to his surprise, a whole new chapter of his life had followed where he met Cloudhawk, Selene, and Dawn. He¡¯d been blessed to watch the Green Alliance and its young revolutionaries grow. What was there to regret? Although it was now done, it was not yet over. The drunk¡¯s body began to swell. Nine years ago he had been defeated at the hands of this man. Three years ago Arcturus allowed him the chance to land three blows, and all he¡¯d managed was to tear his sleeve. Two years ago, fighting at Sanctuary with powerful allies, he was beaten back by a mere exorcist rod. The drunk had nothing to regret in life any longer. But if there was even the slightest possibility, he wanted to go out with his honor as a warrior intact. He wanted to leave the world with dignity! As Ruin entered his body the drunk summoned all the strength left to him and threw his sword as hard as he could! Vulkan was an Elysian martial artist, once cheered as the War Saint. His conflicting identities as a wasteland drunk and a peerless hero were in this moment one and the same. As the sword left his fingers both of those mantles were relinquished. He let it go. He let it all go just like the sword. At one time long ago the drunk had stood on the precipice of human pride. Fate conspired to bring him low to its deepest valleys. Tribulations he¡¯d suffered would have crushed lesser men, and he clawed his way back up. His life was certainly a tumultuous tale of ups and downs, but not once had he ever given up his sword ¨C a symbol of his fighting spirit. In this moment he did not hesitate to let go. It was time to go back, down the natural road. His simple attack, as magnificent and mundane as the dawn, did not need to travel far. It split through Arcturus¡¯ electric defenses and sliced clean through the Governor¡¯s arm and one of his wings. He¡¯d done it. Every time before he had been beaten, embarrassed. In the end he¡¯d broken through the shackles of shame and inferiority, calling on the deepest parts of himself. Finally, he¡¯d left his mark on Arcturus. But he would never know, for death claimed him the moment the sword left his fingers. It was alright, he didn¡¯t mind. For a soldier, there was no better way to drop the curtain on his life that with a toss of his sword. It was a fitting end. He closed his eyes and let darkness take him, content. You young folk¡­ Fight hard. It¡¯s time this old man took a rest. Cloudhawk saw the life leave his old friend. The fire of rage that burned inside of him now was more than he could contain. 1. He¡¯s talking about the Double-Slit Experiment. Strap in, this shit is full-on bonkers. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 645 - Book 6, Chapter 37 Arcturus had paid a heavy price for taking Vulkan¡¯s life. His left arm and shoulder had been cleaved off ¨C a wound that would have slain a normal man. Arcturus was by no means an ordinary man, but he was already in bad shape from previous injuries and the flood of power from the Seraphs. Losing an arm was piling one disaster on top of another. Before he could recover Cloudhawk appeared. Out of thin air he summoned a massive sword in his right hand, hacking it toward his foe. Arcturus sensed that Cloudhawk¡¯s emotions were drawing on a well of deeper potential, making his attack even more forceful. He wrapped his one good wing around himself to act as a shield. Moments later he felt the crushing pressure of energy slamming into him. Part of his wing was blasted apart, scattering into the air as bolts of electricity. One blow wasn¡¯t the end. Arcturus reeled under a second, then a third. Cloudhawk was already fast, but with his teleportation skills the attacks came almost on top of one another from several angles. The blitz surrounded Arcturus, pummeling him with a ferocious and unforgiving onslaught. In mere seconds the Governor was buried under thirty attacks. At last his defenses crumbled. Arcturus had only his sword to fend off Cloudhawk¡¯s rage and as the next blow connected, he was thrown to the ground with explosive force. Cloudhawk readjusted his grip on his weapon so that it was pointed straight down. Then, as he descended toward Arcturus, the fractured portion of Ardent Wrath spouted fire. A column of flame tens of meters long was belched forth. It struck the earth so hard it spawned earthquakes. It melted rock and created a pool of lava where it impacted. ¡°Governor!¡± Taron dashed forward to try and save him. Frost, face dark, also hurried to the scene. All the many elite fighters broke away from their conflicts and made for their leader. Likewise Wolfblade, Abaddon, Aquaria, Phain and Janus along with their troops fell back to Cloudhawk. It appeared the first round of this conflict was over. Wastelanders had lost their supreme martial artist, Vulkan. For this, Arcturus was badly wounded by the drunk and Cloudhawk. Both in the war outside and the invasion of the city, Skycloud¡¯s forces had held the upper hand. Now, however, the tides were shifting. But the battle was not over and a victor had yet to be decided. A squad of healers rushed over and began to work on Arcturus. ¡°Governor your body can¡¯t handle anymore,¡± one of the Temple clerics said. ¡°You have to retreat from the field or I fear the worst.¡± Arcturus was indifferent to the danger. Today either he would win absolute victory or suffer complete defeat. There was no in between, for a half-victory was good for no one. Aquaria¡¯s voice rose over the sounds of combat. ¡°You have all been deceived by Arcturus! He was the one who murdered the High Priest! He is the real traitor! Temple faithful, stay your hands!¡± Phain joined his voice to hers. ¡°The Governor¡¯s ambition is to confuse and misconstrue! I, your Grand Prior, have served the Temple loyally for years. Never have I committed any sin against the High Priest or our order. Did Arcturus¡¯ accusations cause no suspicion? Templars, put down your swords!¡± Clerics and Templars paused, glancing at one another in uncertainty. Taron shouted through their doubt. ¡°Utter nonsense! Merely an attempt to undermine your morale! Do not let them shake your faith, kill the heathens in the name of the High Priest!¡± ¡°Arcturus is quickly losing strength.¡± Wolfblade brandished Oblivion, waving it toward a group of Elysian soldiers. A bubble of power surrounded them and suddenly the unfortunate souls vanished from existence. The demon Elder¡¯s voice cried out to his fellows. ¡°Our victory is at hand!¡± Aquaria was left with no choice. She lifted the Skycloud Doctrine high. The motion spawned a tempest above her head, alive with hundreds of fireballs, ice spikes and blades of wind. When she released it the deadly hurricane washed over her former compatriots, delivering unmitigated destruction. Elsewhere Janus was splitting into countless shadows. Dozens, hundreds of illusory assassins vanished among the chaos of the battlefield. Atlas also slipped into darkness and prepared to act. Taron recognized how precarious the situation had become. Phain and Aquaria were held in high regard within the Temple, and though their words were not enough to dissuade the Temple acolytes, it did shake their faith. Arcturus was too injured to continue such a high-stakes fight. With each passing moment his strength slipped away. The weaker he became the worse it was for Skycloud, so the proper action would be to retreat. Even half an hour of concerted healing could halt the Governor¡¯s decline. But Arcturus had no intention of falling back. As he rose back onto his feet the Seraphs overhead stiffened and crumbled to dust like clay statues. More and more of the psychic power that innervated them flowed into the Master Demonhunter. His electric wings returned, and his power surged back to its peak. His soldiers looked on with alarm. Was their Governor preparing to perish along with his realm? Arcturus stood there with one arm, but it did not detract from his majestic bearing. With his hair flowing in the wind he extended his good arm, pointing Ruin at the enemy. ¡°Soldiers of Skycloud! Cut down our foes!¡± ¡°Wastelanders! To the death!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were pools of fire. His soldiers roared in response. The two sides charged at one another, with Cloudhawk and Arcturus at the fore. From outside one could see the consequence of their clash. Fallowmoor shook, its protective shell cracked. The storm of energy inside was visible from kilometers away. ** Meanwhile, in the secret laboratory within Fallowmoor. Naga felt the city tremble unceasingly beneath her feet. Lines of worry grew ever deeper on her face, mingling with desperate madness. She knew that never in a hundred or even a thousand years could she and the northerners stand against Cloudhawk or Arcturus. This nuclear explosion was her only hope. ¡°Boss Naga, activation is complete!¡± ¡°Excellent, excellent!¡± She beamed, overjoyed. ¡°Prepare for detonation!¡± Dozens of scientists fiddled with equipment as quickly as they dared. The detonator they¡¯d made specifically for this weapon sparkled to life. Fifteen minutes. When the countdown reached zero this ancient weapon would release its incredible power throughout the city. Fallowmoor and everything within it would be atomized! Everyone looked relieved. The scientists began preparing to go. Naga heaved a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s done. At last, finally over.¡± A voice called out to her. ¡°You are absolutely right. Your mission is over.¡± Naga and her scientists immediately broke out in a cold sweat. The door separating their lab from the door hissed as it opened. Shock came over the King of the Purple Robe when she saw the group that filed in. Inkspecter, Squall, Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider, Raven, and Blackfiend walked into the room one by one. With them were a dozen black-clad warriors. The secretive Hand of Gehenna. ¡°So naive, you young thing.¡± Inkspecter chuckled derisively. ¡°Did you think your piddling schemes would fool Elder Legion?¡± ¡°I was Dark Atom¡¯s chief scientist,¡± Three-Eyed Spider croaked. ¡°That warhead you pilfered was once my responsibility. Do you think I wouldn¡¯t have put a tracker in it? Foolish to think you could keep it hidden.¡± Squall began to unwrap the bandages around his left arm. ¡°What¡¯s the point in wasting time with this granny? Time is short. Beat her to pieces and be done with it.¡± ¡°Bastards!¡± Naga hissed at them and lashed out. Raven reacted quickly. From his palm extended a pulse cannon which released a concussive blast into Naga¡¯s chest. Squall and Blackfiend dashed forward, coming at her from either side. The three simultaneous attacks tore the mutant to pieces. Naga had thought she could stop Cloudhawk and Arcturus from figuring things out, but never had she imagined that she had been part of someone else¡¯s calculations all along. Expressionless, Inkspecter passed on his next order. ¡°Kill them all. Leave no survivors.¡± Ravenous Tiger hefted his ax and gave it a mighty heave. A handful of scientists collapsed, spraying blood from severed necks. Although the Hand of Gehenna had been absent from the scene for a long time, it did not mean they hadn¡¯t been gaining in strength. It took only thirty seconds to eliminate all the scientists. Raven walked over to the activated warhead. He wrapped his arms around it and picked it up. Squall, coated in blood, approached Inkspecter. ¡°What are we going to do with it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± their leader assured them. ¡°There is always a plan.¡± The small group made their way to a predetermined location, where waiting for them was a small Elysian vessel. Aboard were several dozen Skycloud soldiers staring blankly at the chaos. They did not react when Inkspecter revealed himself. An officer separated from the others, none other than Brontes ¨C Carnage, the King of Crimson Robes. The bomb was delivered onto the ship with seven minutes left before detonation. Inkspecter addressed Carnage with a dark grin. ¡°This is a little present Legion has prepared for the expeditionary force. Make sure it finds its way to the heart of their armada. Then it will all be over.¡± Carnage said nothing. The ship lifted off to perform its mission. All the soldiers aboard the ship were parts of the King himself. In other words, the former crew were all already dead. The Elysian vessel slipped away from Fallowmoor and through the Skycloud armada without suspicion. It rushed into the heard of the enemy ranks. Inkspecter turned away, apparently not intending to watch the fireworks. ¡°Let us return to Legion and the Demon King.¡± By the time the Hand of Gehenna reached the center of Fallowmoor, the battlefield was the site of a catastrophe. A heavy toll in lives had been exacted on both sides. Cloudhawk and Arcturus were field commanders of their respective sides, as well as in direct conflict with each other. Both men were covered in wounds and fought with animalistic desperation. ¡°It seems this fight has been decided.¡± Inkspecter looked out at the scene. Judging by his muttered words, he determined the war was already done. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 646 - Book 6, Chapter 38 Fallowmoor. Chaos. Ruin. Outside it was besieged by Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force. Within, a war raged between wastelanders and Elysian invaders. The magnificent city that had been hovering over the wastes for hundreds of years felt no different in this moment than the inhospitable ranges of the Blisterpeak mountains. Whoever won this war, Fallowmoor would be left a ravaged battlefield. Taron brandished the Arbiter¡¯s Staff and brought it crashing down on Abaddon. The spray of gore he was expecting never appeared. Instead, the demon dissolved into a cloud of sand that surrounded nearby demonhunters. As though suddenly assailed by a million bloodthirsty insects, the Elysians were flayed until there was nothing left but bone. Once the Caliph of the Sands transformed he was immune to many attacks. The deathly cloud moved through Skycloud¡¯s forces until it was assailed by bolts of electricity. They lashed and bit at the cloud like a thousand angry vipers. A crackling explosion shook the field! Sparks filled the sand cloud. It reacted with like air caught in a whirlwind of fire, like insects confronted with boiling water. The motes of sand immediately retracted back into the form of Abaddon. Tendrils of black smoke rose off its body. Arcturus fended off the demon while using Ruin to knock away Wolfblade¡¯s Blade of Oblivion. As the two legendary weapons collided, Ruin visibly dimmed. However, Wolfblade was clearly inferior in strength and could not break passed the Master Demonhunter¡¯s guard. It was Cloudhawk¡¯s turn to act. He chopped Ardent Wrath at his foe. With a grunt Arcturus staggered backward. From the flank Dawn summoned the power of Terrangelica to fire spikes of earth at the Governor and those around him. Several were immediately impaled and the others could not retreat passed the wall of jagged stone. With lightning speed, Cloudhawk followed up with a second and then a third assault. Huff! Arcturus reeled backward with a cloud of bloody droplets in his wake. Elysian faces watched with trepidation. The strongest among them, Taron, tried to intervene. Pouring his power into the Arbiter¡¯s Staff he repelled Cloudhawk¡¯s advance. The Oracle¡¯s foreboding grew. Master Arcturus was in dire straights and not getting any better. Meanwhile the wastelanders had elite fighters as numerous as the stars. He felt keenly the danger they were in. Arcturus had already sacrificed so much and suffered greatly. He could not fight any longer. Taron was an ardent believer of the Governor. He felt in the deepest parts of his heart that Arcturus was correct, and the actions of this foolish barbarians were self-destructive. Were it not for the Governor¡¯s efforts over the last many years, Skycloud would be at the cusp of ruin. ¡°Defensive posture!¡± Taron called for their offensive to become a stand. Indeed the Elysians did not have as many elite fighters as the wastelanders, but he was certain their total strength was superior. What¡¯s more, outside the Elysian armada had thoroughly suppressed Cloudhawk¡¯s troops. So long as they held the blockade, Skycloud¡¯s invasion force would remain firm. Yet even as the thought entered the Oracle¡¯s mind everyone stopped. A blinding light was birthed outside. For an instant it burned even more brilliant than the sun. The light shone through cracks in Fallowmoor¡¯s protective shell and shone upon the battlefield in stark shafts of white with such intensity many were blinded. As everyone was struggling to find out what was going on, an immeasurable power washed over the city. It felt like they were caught in an ocean, torrential waves buffeting their home one after the other. The floating city listed to one side as debris from the shell fell onto the soldiers. The city was beginning to look like a wooden house peppered with machine gun fire. As for those inside? They ran amok, frightened insects caught in a glass jar. Artificial gravity had started to fail, causing everyone to rise into the air. ¡°What in the gods¡¯ names happened?!¡± Taron couldn¡¯t imagine would sort of power could have set off an explosion like that. He stared at the scores of soldiers clawing at everything around them to try and stay anchored. Fear took hold. ¡°Destroyed! Everything is destroyed!¡± ¡°The fleet is no more!¡± The expeditionary force had been destroyed? Such staggering news came out of nowhere! What manner of weapon could obliterate a whole armada this way?! Arcturus¡¯ face was growing paler by the second. When he heard the news he knew right away what had happened. Only a nuclear weapon was capable of such destruction. When the Conclave took over Nucleus they also gained access to the Dark Atom¡¯s warheads. How could someone as cunning as Wolfblade let such horrifying weapons fall into enemy hands and do nothing? All of this had to have been Wolfblade¡¯s doing. He used the Conclave to unwittingly activated the nuclear bomb for his own purposes. It had all played into his hands. No wastelander could have gotten into the heart of the armada. They had to have had help from the inside. It was the only way to smuggle the warhead into Elysian back lines where it would do the most damage. Surely the brazen act had also claimed many wastelander lives, but what did that matter if it meant the utter defeat of Skycloud¡¯s forces? ¡°It appears we have lost.¡± Arcturus was out of breath and stood on shaky feet, panting heavily. ¡°Escape. Do not worry about me and spread out into the wastes. Otherwise you will perish here.¡± ¡°Master Cloude I am forever by your side! Fleeing is not an option!¡± Taron rejected the order. ¡°The realm still has troops, we can muster our forces and cover our retreat!¡± Arcturus¡¯ life was a beacon, more brilliant and important than any other. Once his light was snuffed out it would leave his people in darkness ¨C Taron included. Arcturus shook his head. They couldn¡¯t escape, nor did he want to. Now that the writing was on the wall Arcturus did not feel anger or regret, but relief. ¡°I did not use to believe in miracles, but I do now. I cannot change anything, I have done all that I can and feel no sorrow. Those who survive are our hope and our future. Do not throw that away to die by my side.¡± As Arcturus spoke in that sagely intonation, lightning cast his face in stark shadow. It deepened the wrinkles, highlighting the sense of loss and other complex emotions writ therein. ¡°Go, now!¡± With that said the Governor released all the power left within him in one breath. Hundreds of lightning bolts burst out and covered the sky. Cloudhawk and Wolfblade both watched as, like a spent star, Arcturus ejected his life force out into the world around him. ¡°Watch out!¡± Cloudhawk gathered those near him and brandished his gauntlet for protection. The bolts of lightning struck the pale white shield and split, creating a net of interlaced electric tendrils. For the moment they could not advance. Arcturus collapsed. Taron and the others would not leave their precious leader behind. They gathered him up and began to fall back. Others could die, the whole Elysian fleet could be destroyed, only the Governor was important. If he fell, then Skycloud was finished! Cloudhawk saw them and moved to give chase. He didn¡¯t care who fled, so long as Arcturus¡¯ corpse remained behind. As long as the Governor breathed this terrible war would be repeated again and again. The wastelands could not stomach another conflict like this. ¡°Do not pursue a broken enemy!¡± Wolfblade moved in front of Cloudhawk, blocking him. ¡°Do not worry, I have everything prepared.¡± Twenty Elysian invaders remained, including Taron and Frost. In the face of their terrible defeat they searched for a way to escape the city. But what they found was a black dagger whispering through the shadows. It struck one of the Cloude family elders square in the chest. He died without uttering a sound. In a horrific display his corpse withered away before their eyes. Taron hissed. ¡°Death and Decay!¡± It was that foul relic, tool of the assassin Inkspecter! ¡°I used this same weapon to end the life of Skye Polaris outside the walls of this city.¡± The voice that called to them was sinister and full of dark promises. Inkspecter, Squall, Ravenous Tiger and the others emerged from the shadows. With a wave of his hand Death and Decay returned to Inkspecter¡¯s grip. ¡°I will now use it to slay Arcturus. Poetic, don¡¯t you think? The way retribution comes for us all.¡± Mad anger manifested as a smirk on Taron¡¯s face. He gripped the Arbiter¡¯s Staff tight and stepped forward, leaving the others to watch over the Governor. ¡°You think your group of worms can stop us?¡± A strange grin spread across Inkspecter¡¯s face. It filled Taron with a sickening sense of unease, for behind that smirk was confidence in victory. It was the sort of smile one hand when the mosquito was in their sights. A swing of the arm and the pest was eliminated. Only, why was he so confident? In terms of sheer strength Taron could handle half his crew, even injured. He could not imagine what made Inkspecter think he could defeat the all-conquering Arbiter¡¯s Staff! Taron¡¯s confusion was short-lived. The answer came when he felt the frigid bite enter his body. A silvery blade burst from his chest following by a bone-deep cold. The Oracle could feel his blood freezing in his veins. His rattling breath turned to steam. ¡°F-frost¡­ you¡­ ¡° It was unthinkable. Never in his wildest dreams¡­ He was the most brilliant rising star of the Elysian realms. Arcturus¡¯ very own disciple, Frost de Winter, was turning on his master? Why would he choose betrayal, and now of all times! The others also could not believe what they were seeing. Traitors were everywhere and could be anyone ¨C anyone but Frost! Yet this unimaginable event was unfolding right before them. Frost¡¯s heroic features were twisted and angry. He wrenched Frozen Dirge from the Oracle¡¯s body then hacked it lengthwise. Taron was cleaved at the waist, and his frozen body shattered like glass at it hit the ground. Mercilessly, the spear struck again. Before anyone reacted Frost drove his weapon through another man¡¯s chest. The second murder finally stirred them from their stupor. Frost, a traitor! A third survivor was slain, and by now the Hand of Gehenna was joining the fray. With only twenty or so left how were the Elysians to defend themselves? Only one remained calm. Arcturus watched as though he knew this would occur. What was destined to come would come, so he met it gladly. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 647 - Book 6, Chapter 39 ¡°Frost!¡± He lashed out at another member of the Cloude family, but Frozen Dirge was deflected by a sword of light. Frost glared icily at the elder who had gotten in his way. He was a little overweight and his normally cordial expression was twisted in anger. Clay Cloude, chief steward of his family. In his darkest dreams such treason would have been unthinkable for Clay. He¡¯d watched Frost lay Taron low with a sneak attack. Master Arcturus was spent and couldn¡¯t defend himself. Before them was this evil shadow of the demons while behind was Cloudhawk, surely closing in. Their troops outside had been ravaged by a nuclear blast. Wolfblade must have planned it all. Escape seemed impossible. But Clay was not willing to give up. Losing to Wolfblade or Cloudhawk he could accept. Not this. He wouldn¡¯t suffer watching this child he watched grow up under his care ¨C the boy brought up like a son by Arcturus ¨C betray them all. He had risen from an outsider to the leader of the expeditionary force and he got there using all the skills and knowledge the Governor had taught him. Today he was helping to push the family who raised him to the brink of destruction. In his rage, Clay thrust his sword at Frost¡¯s chest. Frost deftly knocked it off target with his spear and answered with a riposte. Frigid energy burst from the end of it and into the body of his foe. Clay felt the air around him begin to solidify. He was swept backward by a cold front. Hoarfrost coated his clothes and hair, the freezing energy seeping into his organs. Every breath and movement was agonizing pain. Frost¡¯s attack was savage and overwhelming. He¡¯d progressed much in a short time. Two years ago he had been strong enough to overcome Wyrmsole, second-in-command of the Conclave. In the years that followed he had risen like a guiding star ¨C all that time hiding away the full breadth of his potential. Frost had been hiding it for this moment. All of his strength was released in a stifling torrent. Clay, more than anyone, thought he knew Frost. This deluge of power proved that he knew nothing. Frozen Dirge stabbed dozens of times, each strike empowered by icy energy. Clay saw nothing but the flash of silver metal coming his way and knew he was no match for Frost. All he could do was defend himself as best he could and curse the traitorous man. ¡°Your strength, your position ¨C everything! Everything was given to you by the Governor! If he hadn¡¯t taken you in you¡¯d have died a worthless street wretch! You spit in the face of his charity! You ungrateful thug!¡± Frost¡¯s face was cold as the dead of winter. Clay¡¯s cutting words had no effect. Each attack continued to cause Clay¡¯s body to stiffen. The Cloude family steward managed to deflect a dozen blows before Frozen Dirge eventually caught him in the shoulder. The flesh crystallized and shattered. A follow-up attack caught him in the knee, breaking it into pieces as well. Clay lost his balance and collapsed onto his side. Frost wrapped both hands around the haft of his spear and drove it into the man¡¯s throat. Blood spilled forth, steaming against the frigid air before freezing in his veins. Clay¡¯s head hit the ground and broke apart like a frozen watermelon. Another dead. Ruthless, cruel. He was giving vent to twenty years of hatred. As steward of the family, Clay had spent many years helping to raise Frost from a young boy. He never imagined he¡¯d end up raising his killer. Frost¡¯s spear was cold, but his heart was colder. An empty haze filled his mind, as though he were snow blind. It was as though nothing existed for him but vengeance. While he had been handling Clay, members of the Hand of Gehenna had also attacked the survivors. Though they were desperate to stay alive, the cornered Elysians could not escape their doom. Exhausted, beaten, their numbers dwindling, they could not resist for long. It was at this point that Arcturus rose on unsteady feet. When they saw him stir, Inkspecter and the others halted their attack. Vigilant and full of dread, they waited to see what the Master Demonhunter would do. Even the mysterious and powerful Inkspecter had genuine fear in his eyes. The worm was as good as dead, but whatever his condition the name Arcturus Cloude summoned terror in the hearts of all. Arcturus paid the Hand of Gehenna no mind. Fallen from grace, oppressed by the weak, he was still the mighty Master Demonhunter. How could someone so insignificant like Inkspecter be worthy of his gaze? His eyes instead were fixed on the young man slowly walking toward him. Frost de Winter stared right back into his eyes. This dictator who had ruled supreme, this conspirator who had nearly succeeded in unifying the wastes under his banner, this man who had seemed so absolutely invincible¡­ now he looked like a disgraced vagabond. His hair had all gone white and patches of it were burned black. It was tangled around him, unkempt. Injured in more than a hundred places, several dozen of the wounds were so bad they would churn a healer¡¯s stomach. Only his legendary will and perseverance was what kept him standing. But while his body was a wreck, the Governor¡¯s eyes had not lost one iota of their steel. They were unfathomable, full of wisdom, and confounded all who tried to read their depths. Frost rested a hand on the pommel of Rimeshard and slowly drew forth the treasured blade his master had given him. He lifted it up and pointed the mist-wrapped blade at Arcturus¡¯ forehead. Even from several centimeters away, the Governor could feel its deadly power wash over him. All Frost had to do was lean forward and the sword would split his skull. Then the Master Demonhunter would be no more. Was this not the moment he¡¯d been building toward for twenty years? Yet now that vengeance was in his grasp, Frost hesitated. Twenty years of history swirled in his head, holding back his hand. ¡°Why do you hesitate? That is not like you.¡± Arcturus addressed his disciple calmly. ¡°Do it.¡± Frost grit his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t you even want to ask me why?¡± ¡°What does it matter? The things I¡¯ve done in my life have had effects rippling all across the realm. There¡¯s been so much blood, and such things never end well. If I am meant to end at the hand of my disciple, then I see it as a gift from fate.¡± ¡°If you thought this would happen then why not stop me?¡± Frost¡¯s sword arm began to tremble. ¡°The ship that delivered the primeval weapon into the armada did so with my authorization. It was my seal that allowed them to pass unmolested. I was the one responsible for leaking information to the wastes so they knew how to counter your moves!¡± Would Arcturus really have missed Frost¡¯s malcontent? He might have been able to keep it from others, but not from his master. Arcturus was not a soft-hearted man. He even orchestrated the destruction of his own brothers. Why, then, did he not act against Frost? It was his own disciple who has given these wastelanders the tools they needed to succeed, after all. Why? In truth Frost had hoped to be cut down by his Master¡¯s hand. He could have died happy to have fought for his maligned parents yet never betraying twenty years of care. Why did Arcturus put him in this position? On the surface it appeared that Arcturus was giving Frost what he wanted, but in truth it was the cruelest result. ¡°Hatred is a sort of power. When you let it drive you, you are focused. No obstacles can stand in your way. You are firm, persistent, and strong because hatred make you so. It¡¯s what makes you what you are today.¡± ¡°Having a dormant viper by my side causes no fear. It keeps me vigilant. Besides, so long as you find the right methods you can get along with poisonous snakes. All I wanted was a disciple. All I cared about was whether he grew ¨C not whether one day he might kill me.¡± Perhaps the only person alive who could say such things was the Governor. He knew Frost was a vicious threat, yet kept him by his side day by day. It came from confidence and pride, for Arcturus believed the only person who could defeat him was himself. In fact it was his decisions that put him in this precarious state. Indeed, it was all his choice. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Inkspecter watched from one side, brows furrowed. ¡°We¡¯ve put this off for too long!¡± ¡°Brother, let me!¡± Squall stepped forward, but Frost acted as though he did not hear them. His mind was at war. Memories a cold night twenty years ago, the sound of his parents¡¯ cries, mingled with the decades of training and attention this man had given him. He felt like they were tearing him in two. ¡°Allow your teacher to give you one final lesson.¡± Frost stiffened as he felt his sword meet resistance. His eyes were so side the skin around them nearly split. Arcturus had stepped forward, angling Rimeshard to pierce him directly in the heart. Already weak, the wound was surely enough to end the Governor¡¯s life. Ice began to slowly creep across his body. But even as it took him he looked at Frost the same as he always had in their twenty years together. ¡°Hatred is a double-edged sword. It hardens you, but it holds you back from your true potential¡­ My disciple is greater than this. It¡¯s time to let it go.¡± Arcturus¡¯ eyes slipped shut. ¡°The world is in the hands of you young folk now. The road you must walk is difficult. But remember, no matter how dark ¨C how filled with despair the road is ¨C do not abandon hope. You are¡­ humanity¡¯s¡­ future.¡± His words hung in the air as the light of Arcturus¡¯ life flickered out. His body stood, frozen and majestic before his killers. This was how a legendary demonhunter with a controversial life came to meet his end. Frost released a hysterical wail into the sky. He filled the space with rage and despair. It was then a voice intruded. ¡°They¡¯re coming. We cannot be exposed, take him and let¡¯s escape.¡± Inkspecter, Squall and the others gathered Frost and made to flee Fallowmoor. [1] 1. The chapter¡¯s title plays on Arcturus¡¯ Chinese name, ϧÔÆÐǹâ, or ¡®Cherished Cloud Starlight.¡¯ Previous Next If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 648 - Book 6, Chapter 40 Cloudhawk, Dawn, Wolfblade and Abaddon arrived at the scene. It was carpeted with the bodies of Cloude family elders. ¡°This weapon belongs to Frost!¡± Signs from Rhimshard peppered body of Arcturus. The state of Taron¡¯s corpse confirmed it. Meanwhile other rotted remains bore the clear mark of Death and Decay. Inkspecter! That was Inkspecter¡¯s weapon! He, together with Frost and Clay, were the culprits responsible for Skye Polaris¡¯ death. Dawn would never forget the deep-seated blood feud their treachery caused. Judging by the evidence around them, Inkspecter had played a role in this carnage. It was Frost¡¯s sneak-attack that ultimately sealed Arcturus¡¯ fate. ¡°Wolfblade!¡± Dawn understood what was going on. Wolfblade! It had to be him! All his inside information about the Governor¡¯s doings, his unwillingness to share his source ¨C it all made sense, for he was protecting Arcturus¡¯ own disciple Frost! Furthermore it was Inkspecter and his cronies that had caused the battle of Sanctuary, and have been unseen ever since. Now it appeared instead of vanishing into the shadows, they were snapped up to be Wolfblade¡¯s flunkies. Dawn was ready to give chase. ¡°Bring Inkspecter here right now!!¡± In the face of her rage Wolfblade spread his hands in feigned helplessness. ¡°Lady Polaris, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± His words served to enrage Dawn even further. Her grandfather¡¯s killer was being sheltered by this fiend! Allowed to live, right under her nose! How was she supposed to tolerate that? She couldn¡¯t. Dawn raised Terrangelica and charged! Abaddon summoned a wall of sand in her path. ¡°Tut tut tut, why so upset lady? If you have something to say, say it! No need to resort to violence.¡± Cloudhawk stepped between them, shooting Dawn a chastising glance. She had no chance against Abaddon and Wolfblade combined. He turned to Wolfblade and asked the same. ¡°Are Squall and the others here?¡± ¡°This is a misunderstanding.¡± Wolfblade denied the accusation a second time. He¡¯d made up his mind to play the fool. Cloudhawk knew it, but what was he to do? Capture and torture him to release the information? Even though he wanted to help Dawn, even though he wanted vengeance for Skye, he had to consider the whole before the individual. Dawn understood where he was coming from. They were coming off the tail end of a major battle. Both Skycloud and the wastes were in chaos. At this time Wolfblade and his genius was indispensable. What¡¯s more, a man as cunning as the Elder demon had ways to hide things from Cloudhawk he had no way to counter. Time and experience had forced Dawn to mature. She might have lost her temper for a moment, but she knew that playing the mighty mistress wasn¡¯t going to get her anywhere. On the contrary, it was only causing Cloudhawk more trouble. She was forced to swallow her bitterness and sheath Terrangelica. If Wolfblade wouldn¡¯t produce the assassin, she would find him herself. Eventually she¡¯d smoke him out! He couldn¡¯t hide forever. Wolfblade took none of these accusations to heart. The demon walked up to Arcturus¡¯ corpse and looked it over. There was no relief in his eyes, no joy. Rather there was pity and respect in the way he regarded the fallen Governor. ¡°Arcturus was as strong as a Supreme God, but more importantly he had a strength of vision far superior to the normal man. His death is a great loss.¡± The others looked at each other, speechless. Each expression was different. ¡°From Arcturus¡¯ perspective his strategy was the proper one. All he did was in service to humanity, for why else would he rise against the gods with the pitiful strength of a man? Like moths fighting fire.¡± Wolfblade turned back to Cloudhawk. ¡°There is no turning back now. Not long in the future you will be facing enemies ten ¨C a hundred times more powerful than Arcturus had been. Are you truly prepared? How confident are you that you can handle it?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an answer. Obviously Wolfblade was referring to the denizens of Sumeru. He¡¯d said Arcturus was comparable in strength to the Supremes. There were six known ¨C or had been, before the Shepherd God¡¯s betrayal. That left five, and they were by no means the bulk of the gods¡¯ power. In fact they may not even be the strongest below the God King. What¡¯s more, their technology compared to modern human advances was like trying to compare a bicycle to an airship. The gap was insurmountable. Arcturus painstakingly supported the power of the gods over his many years. Countless people died for the crime of questioning their superiority. He did it all to avoid courting destruction. Now that he and the other great leaders of Skycloud were gone, the Elysian realm was destined to fall into chaos. Sumeru¡¯s involvement was only a matter of time. Indeed, there was no going back. Cloudhawk was conflicted. He felt a pressure more intense than he¡¯d ever experienced. He felt genuine fear for the future. But there was also an excitement, rooted deep in the bowels of his spirit. Years ago he would have scoffed at the idea that he would be standing here, on the edge of a tempest and looking forward to it. He recalled Adder¡¯s words. Be an eagle, fight the storm. Churn the clouds. He responded in solemn tones. ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯ve fought, I¡¯m not afraid. Whatever comes, comes.¡± Dawn could hear the resolve in his voice. Cloudhawk was making a promise to himself. Once he was a confused teenager drifting with the tides, but today he was a leader fighting against the current. Even against the gods, he had no fear. If humanity won a future, they would remember him as a dauntless hero. But for all Dawn witnessed she knew that no hero was perfect. He had been lost, had suffered, had his hopes dashed, imposed self-exile, nearly died on many occasions¡­ in the end that was what turned him into the hero he was today. There was no doubt that Cloudhawk was flawed. The real man was human, flesh and blood. A smile crept across Wolfblade¡¯s face. ¡°My king may not care for his own fate, but what of the fate of humanity? I hope that my king thinks clearly of what is to come. What you bear on your shoulders are the hopes of all men and women. The last chance for this world. You cannot fail.¡± Dawn hollered back. ¡°Can you not fucking spout this bullshit?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s reaction was not as strong. He merely asked, ¡°Is there a hope for victory?¡± ¡°With but the strength of man, the odds are practically nil. Arcturus knew this, that is why he did all of this.¡± Wolfblade explained his thoughts. ¡°For you, relying on the aid of demons gives you a small chance. Arcturus chose death so that you could pursue it.¡± Arcturus was invincible. He did not lose this war for lack of strength or even this battle. He lost because the world was changing. First he discovered that all he had worked for, decades of strife, began spinning out of control. It became too difficult for him to stick to his original plan. Second, he recognized the faint glimmer of hope Cloudhawk provided. Perhaps the young man could do what he himself could not. Arcturus wasn¡¯t going to wait until all the soldiers of the expeditionary force were slaughtered. Instead he faced his doom with a small contingent of his own. It wasn¡¯t suicide. He had tried to carve out a chance for himself, one final attempt to save the Conclave. But it was also a chance for Cloudhawk to prove himself. If he could not defeat Arcturus, then he was not equipped to guide humanity through the darkness to follow. Cloudhawk could see no flaw in the plan. When looking over the body he saw a small orb in the Governor¡¯s hand. Taking it and infusing it with his energy, there arose a deafening sound like a thousand squawking birds. Thousands of lightning bolts snaked between Cloudhawk¡¯s fingers. They gathered together to form a sword. He gave it an inquisitive swing. The burst of energy it released blasted through half a dozen walls, obliterating everything in its path. No stone or steel could obstruct the power of the weapon. Such was the might of Ruin, the Blade of Thunder. ¡°No demonhunter in the Elysian realm can safely wield this relic. In the hands of my King, I see our situation being vastly different.¡± In the afterlife, Arcturus¡¯ spirit would be glad to know that some portion of him would live on to fight in the future. Each time Cloudhawk bore Ruin in his battles to come, he would be wielding the might of Arcturus against their shared enemy. Cloudhawk then approached the body of Oracle Taron and retrieved the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. The black metal relic was capable of stretching to up to two meters long, or shrink to a one-meter rod. Stories claimed it was a weapon of incredible destructive power. ¡°The Arbiter¡¯s Staff, also known as the Rod of Judgment. As an artifact of the Temple, its power is similar to Selene¡¯s Sublime Transcendence. Among all of Skycloud¡¯s relics, it ranks among the top ten most devastating.¡± Dawn muttered the weapon¡¯s story with a note of reverence. As a former member of the Temple she knew much about it. ¡°Keep it, the staff will help you greatly!¡± He did so. In his left hand was the Arbiter¡¯s Staff, and in his right crackled Ruin. He now bore two of Skycloud¡¯s most legendary relics, enhancing his destructive potential by several orders of magnitude! From this moment forward there were practically no demonhunters who could stand in his way. Besides these incredible tools he was also capable of folding space. His attack, defense, support and recover were all top grade. The most well-rounded warrior in human history. In the minutes that followed Selene, Aquaria, Phain and the others caught up. When they saw Arcturus¡¯ body their faces were a mess of emotion. Without his leadership the Cloude family was done for. Selene didn¡¯t know whether to be glad or concerned. It was done. It was all just beginning. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 649 - Book 6, Chapter 41 Arcturus Cloude, Governor of Skycloud and master of the Elysian realm, was dead. His demise marked the end of the great war for the wastes. The question was whether Skycloud would need to shift to defense before the situation stabilized. Clearly the biggest winner was the Green Alliance. Aside from defeating their most terrible enemy, they had also conquered half of the Conclave. Dozens of Northern settlements, cities and gangs fell to ruin. Cloudhawk had succeeded in conquering all the of the wastelands. Results of this war would have far-reaching effects on the future of the world. Skycloud, and all the known and unknown parts of the waste, were now under Cloudhawk¡¯s sphere of influence. Never in its thousand year history had Skycloud encountered such a man. He wasn¡¯t just a wasteland ruler anymore. He was its master. A true and worthy king. From this day forward all wastelanders would worship his name, and all Elysians would fear it. Skycloud¡¯s expeditionary force clearly fared the worst during the war. During the fierce conflict nearly all of its troops and ships were destroyed. Casualties were higher than ninety percent. Those that survived were captured and were being held in dank, unforgiving dungeons. The prisons were crowded, with two or three captives per square meter. They huddled in groups of disheveled hopelessness, a sorry sight to see. They didn¡¯t even look like Elysians anymore. Hammont Seacrest sat in one corner, hair unkempt and eyes blank. His splendid Elysian armor was cracked, revealing a patchwork of bandages beneath that protected his wounds. They did little to stem the trickling blood that seeped from them. He was badly injured but didn¡¯t register the pain. Swallowed up by the darkness of hopelessness, it was the only thing he could feel. From a village bumpkin to a commander of the expeditionary force¡­ Hammont had managed to climb quite a ways in a handful of short years. He could remember when he was a small, insignificant man. Before he became a military leader. His amazing rate of growth was an inspiration to many. However this defeat subverted not only his identity, but his values and world view. He no longer knew what was right, or what was wrong. He didn¡¯t know what he should or shouldn¡¯t do. Hammont¡¯s faith was lost, along with his sense of purpose and direction. When Arcturus was alive Hammont didn¡¯t need to ask any of these questions. Follow the Governor, that was his compass. Arcturus Cloude was a much more brilliant man than he, so whatever road he chose was the proper one. The one lantern in a vast, all-consuming darkness. Now all there was on the horizon was confusion and panic. It was like being surrounded in eternal shadow, wrapped in fog. The feeling was more cutting than the very real danger that faced them. Every time he closed his eyes he saw tens of thousands of his compatriots turning to ash and smoke¡­ Clunk! The lock to the cell door was undone. Several hundred Elysian soldiers raised their heads as a high-ranking Skycloud official and the mutant Coal walked inside. The officer wore a silver mask and looked around with cold, unfeeling eyes. They were full of disdain and disregard, as though he were looking at a nest of rats. ¡°You can all come out.¡± ¡°Brontes!¡± In Hammont¡¯s dead heart sparked a flame of anger. He leaped at Brontes, wrapped his hands around the man¡¯s throat and squeezed. The sound of bones popping was audible. ¡®Brontes¡¯ did not react so much as blink. He stared at the man before him like he was a child throwing a tantrum. The flesh beneath Hammont¡¯s fingers turned slick and slippery like the skin of a fish. It separated, slipping through the gaps between his fingers as the skin rearranged itself. What must have been thousands of tentacles slithered free and wrapped around Hammont¡¯s own neck, lifting his hefty frame off the ground without effort. Brontes disappeared. In his place was a creature in blood red robes. ¡°You can come for me any time you wish to seek revenge. So long as you think you¡¯re strong enough to kill me.¡± He glared at Hammont, enunciating every syllable. ¡°I. Am. Carnage. King of the wastelands. Remember my name.¡± Coal was standing behind the shapeshifter. He recognized the fat man, one of the soldiers who had attacked him and his people back on the Blisterpeaks. He bore no hate toward the Elysian and had no intention of seeking revenge. It was only partially because he was commanded to, but also because living was a special sort of torture for this Elysian. Carnage flung Hammont aside like a piece of refuse. Coal, meanwhile, set about opening the other prison cells. The two mutants arrived alone, then left without a word. The soldiers didn¡¯t rush after the mutants to try and kill them. After the battle their morale was shredded, All they wanted was to go home to their families. Many of them were committed to never again lifting a weapon. ¡°Commander!¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s get out of here!¡± A number of Elysians scooped Hammont back onto his feet then rushed toward the exit. When they got outside several damaged Skycloud warships hovered just overhead. Gangplanks were extended, ready to accept them. In addition there were several familiar figures, led by the Temple Apostle Selene Cloude. She was clad in her brilliant white vestments with her glittering crystal sword on her back. Oracle Aquaria, in fresh robes, stood to one side while Grand Prior Phain stood at the other. His face was so badly scarred he was almost unrecognizable. In addition to them were a number of assassins from the Umbra family. Hadn¡¯t they all been named traitors to the realm? ¡°Everyone aboard. You¡¯re headed back to Skycloud.¡± The expeditionary force set off with great vigor. They would be returning ravaged, with a tenth of their number surviving. The most prosperous Elysian family, the Cloudes, saw their greatest cut down on foreign soil. After a thousand years of superiority they were brought low. Three days after their return the city leaders opened an official inquiry into the acts of their former Governor. Survivors of the Temple appeared to testify, as well as members of all the great houses. Dusty tomes filled with notes were extracted from the Governor¡¯s mansion and revealed to everyone. The books were a detailed account of Arcturus¡¯ thirty years as Governor. Laid bare before all were the actions he¡¯d done in secret, his unforgivable sins. From the murder of Skye Polaris to the plot against Ramiel Caelestis. From his collusion with wastelanders to the slaughter of the Defenses forces. All of it. Each revelation fell upon the citizens of the realm like a nuclear blast. Skycloud, already on the brink of chaos, devolved into an uproar. It was an even more shocking discovery than when they heard the expeditionary force had been wiped out. The investigation lasted three full days. All the darkest parts of the realm¡¯s history over the last thirty years was dredged up. All of the darkness and blood, the cruelty and scheming, was brought to light. While numbers were unclear, word was that no fewer than three hundred people fainted during the parade of atrocities. A slew of suicides numbering over five thousand rocked the city over the course of the hearings, from the highest officials to the lowest commoners. It was unthinkable to all that below the surface of their glorious and pious existence was such a dark face. Worse, it was their lauded Governor who so unscrupulously committed these deeds in the name of the realm. Of course, despite the mountain of evidence there were many who remained skeptical. Arcturus¡¯ influence over the city over the last three decades was far reaching. It was highly suspicious that these dealings would come to light only once the Governor had perished and was unable to defend himself. How could the countless devotees, citizens, and demonhunters accept such poisonous tales about the man they adored? As such dozens of spontaneous demonstrations sprang up during the proceedings. Groups shouted at the top of their lungs, claiming that Selene and her traitorous brood were conspiring to steal the Governor¡¯s seat. Protests continued all throughout the hearings, reaching a fever pitch when the accusations reached their darkest point. As Skycloud became embroiled in the eye of this storm, there came an announcement that caught everyone by surprise: Oracle Aquaria would be elevated to the post of High Priest. Grand Prior Phain would take command of all the realm¡¯s armed forces. Former Apostle Selene Cloude would take the post of the city¡¯s Governor. The news threw the realm into turmoil. Most of the citizens still supported Arcturus and these three had been openly labeled as defectors. Upon returning to the realm, they wasted no time smearing the former Governor¡¯s name while doing nothing to clear their own. Now they took the reigns vacated by Arcturus, Ramiel and Skye? Those three positions were the crux of Skycloud¡¯s leadership. How could such a hasty decision be reached? In very little time Skycloud¡¯s central square was choked with people. Demonhunters, soldiers and citizens all carried banners and shouted slogans, decrying the decision and demanding it be overturned. Selene was surprised at how vociferously the people fought back, however the city could not continue without a Governor. Chaos had already taken root, she had to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible. To do this, there was no recourse but to appear before the crowds. Even with the support of the city¡¯s elite, she still would find it difficult to convince the common folk. ¡°Selene, resign!¡± ¡°Run the traitor from our city!¡± ¡°Only Master Arcturus deserves to be our Governor!¡± The city¡¯s central square was designed to accommodate twenty thousand at a time. Right now, almost one hundred thousand people were trying to shout over one another. Their voices rushed over Selene like waves. Anyone would be shaken by the scene. With a crowd of this size, if they got violent the damage would be incalculable. Selene looked over the sea of angry faces, brows furrowed. She had to think of something¡­ What followed was something unexpected by both sides. Winds picked up through the city, stirring the clouds above. An intense and pervasive mental energy hung over everyone. As faces turned toward the heavens their expressions froze in shock. There in the skies hung a figure. ¡°It¡¯s the Cloud God!¡± ¡°The Cloud God appears!¡± Indeed the figure that was revealed above the city was none other than their patron, the Cloud God. Even they who spent much of their time in the Temple ¨C Selene, Aquaria and Phain ¨C were astonished by what they were witnessing. When had the god awakened? And the Cloud God had¡­ actually left the Temple! As the deity appeared before the crowds, its vast mental energies invaded their minds. A voice, full of power and majesty, reverberated through every fiber of their being. ¡°Her appointment is valid! Let it proceed!¡± The Cloud God appeared personally to confirm their positions. Selene and the others now held the reigns of power in Skycloud. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 650 - Book 6, Chapter 42 In the central square of Greenland, victory celebrations were being held. Despite the grand victory they¡¯d just won the city was absent what revelry one might expect. Cloudhawk and other leaders unveiled a large stone monument to commemorate the moment. Solemn reverence took hold. It was an obelisk fifty meters tall, covered with names. This was the cost for their triumph in the Northern Barrens. Eighty thousand mighty warriors left to war, but only half returned. The fallen were all represented. Those with names had them etched into the stones. Those without were remembered by the unit they served. Grief and admiration shown through the eyes of Greenland¡¯s citizens as they gazed upon the memorial. It was a shame that these heroes would not see the city they died for rise to prosperity. They would never know what their sacrifices wrought. Yet the living felt envy. Out in the wastes a single dead man meant nothing ¨C so many bleached bones on the side of the road no one paid any mind to. These names, though, would forever be immortalized. What did the wastelands lack most of all? Food? Water? Safety? No ¨C as a people forgotten, what the wastelanders lacked was a sense of worth and purpose. When Cloudhawk¡¯s sun rose on the horizon he brought light into their lives. He gave them an identity. Those who gave their lives for freedom would be looked up to by future generations forever. At the very top of the memorial was etched a name that stood alone: The Old Drunk, Lieutenant Governor. The vagrant had a name but Cloudhawk chose not to use it. He knew little about Vulkan the War Saint, but as far as he was concerned the drunk he knew was a much greater man. He was never forced to join the fight but chose to, up to the very final moment of his life. ¡°Salute!¡± The gathered crowds thumped their right fists against their chests in tribute. It was a salute they¡¯d all learned from Greenland Institute. The wasteland center for learning had grown tremendously. It offered all manner of subjects for study and every day more subdivisions and specialties were added. Without question it would continue to serve as the most important institution for harnessing wastelander potential. To underline the point a group stepped forward, a collection of people trained in a field all but vanished from this part of the world ¨C musicians! They carried an array of instruments; flutes, guitars, and things never seen in the old world. There were fifty musicians in total, ranging from ages ten to forty. Greenland Institute had given them the opportunity to pursue their passion. Dawn addressed the people. ¡°Representing Greenland Institute, these performers will celebrate the fallen and commemorate our great accomplishment.¡± The festivities were simple for there was much still to do, but to the savage folk of the wastes who had never encountered theater it was a breathtaking spectacle. Indeed how could there be civilization without art? Things had changed, were changing. The wastes hadn¡¯t seen such unity in over a thousand years. The Green Alliance was now responsible for a hundred million souls from north to south. What once was a scattered network of cities and settlements were slowly being connected by complex trade routes. They shared food, resources and science to bring everyone up together. The edible fungus that had been the cornerstone of Greenland¡¯s progress was shipped out to other places where sustenance was scarce. When Adder destroyed Skycloud¡¯s Great Wall, he forced the realm to release its stranglehold on energy. It seeped out to the rest of the area, causing it to change. Barren soil became more fertile and supported the already tenacious fungi. Greenland¡¯s efforts in developing sewage treatment and water purification equipment were also shared, solving much of the basic health problems of the wastes. With water and food less of a concern, wasteland populations could stabilize and civilization had a solid foundation. Everything was getting better. Society and order was returning to a desolate land! In celebration of this a crescendo of music ¨C triumphant horns, soaring flutes, and majestic strings ¨C washed over the crowd. Simple but powerful. Deep and far-reaching. Vast and profound. The music was majestic but at the same time sorrowful like soaring freely through a rainstorm ¨C like a boundless, beautiful desert. The notes told a story of hope found in the depths of despair that resonated with every wastelander who listened. It was titled Sands of the Wasteland, a perfect choice for the occasion. So ended the brief commemoration. No one was under any illusion that their work was done. Their victory was hard won, but it only presented them with a chance ¨C perhaps their last chance. It was rare and thus cherished by all. Every citizen hoped that the alliance would hold strong. When Cloudhawk returned to the fort, Hellflower was waiting for him fresh from a recent trip to the Ark Base. She looked relieved. ¡°I was worried you wouldn¡¯t come back.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°Could we maybe entertain nicer thoughts in the future?¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯ve got plenty!¡± Hellflower answered with a coquettish smile. ¡°I¡¯ve outfitted our labs with equipment from New Earth. With all we¡¯ve learned Greenland will grow in every possible area, from reproduction to healthcare, military to general quality of life!¡± Hellflower wasn¡¯t one for embellishment. If she was so confident it meant there was a good chance the future would turn out just like she said. Ark Base was where New Earth was located, and the magnificent city was the last bastion of the ancient race of humans that once called Earth their home. Unfortunately a great deal of valuable knowledge had been lost when they evacuated, however even what remained benefited from a thousand years of development. Their discoveries were far more abundant than what existed in the wastes. As far as Hellflower could tell, New Earth¡¯s biggest concern was the toxic environment outside its walls. Due to how difficult it was to collect resources, the rate of technological development had stagnated. In contrast, the wastelands were limited by an overemphasis on practicality. An iconic characteristic of their vehicles and weapons was simplicity. Most everything that was built was done with short-term utility in mind. Few had Hellflower¡¯s penchant for taking the long view, which would allow them to put effort into a project with few or no short-term benefits. Optical computing, for instance. Wasteland airships were all powered by primitive computers with limited operating systems. They were engaged manually, which meant an increased risk of malfunction. Meanwhile weapons were dumb and simplistic, but what resource did engineers have? If the wastelands could employ optical computers which were ten thousand times more useful, as well as intelligent weapons systems, it would remove the limitations of human capability. Weapons would be dynamic, powerful and reliable. And optical computing was only one gift they¡¯d acquired. Hellflower had been busily gathering all sorts of precious knowledge. She¡¯d learned as much as she could about how the mechanical beasts were constructed, as well as the process for building prehistoric weapons! In short the adage was true; knowledge was power. What the Ark revealed would make their armies stronger and their society better. Cloudhawk was mulling over how best to employ these advantages when Wolfblade barged in with shocking news. Intelligence from Skycloud revealed that Selene had successfully taken the reigns of power in Skycloud. She sat uncontested in the Governor¡¯s mansion. She had finally achieved her goal. What was she thinking? What was she feeling? Cloudhawk knew how ambitious she was. But that part wasn¡¯t surprising. Selene was brilliant and had the support of the Temple, the Court of Shadows and Skycloud¡¯s noble families. She was the natural choice for the position. Rather what surprised Cloudhawk most was news that the realm¡¯s patron deity had appeared in front of everyone! ¡°There is no doubt, it was the Cloud God.¡± Wolfblade had said that Arcturus¡¯ strength was comparable to a Supreme. Now a true member of this godly order had revealed itself. It was difficult to know what would happen next. As more and more problems were piled on Cloudhawk¡¯s plate, he now had to consider how to deal with Skycloud. There was no doubt; the wastelands were not enough. If Cloudhawk really wanted to change the fate of his people, he had to go through Skycloud. Elysians had a tremendous surplus of wealth and resources. If he could get his hands on even a portion of it and give it to the wastes, it would go a long way. Secondly Cloudhawk had to prepare for the stronger enemy waiting on the horizon. Victory was only possible if he could get the Elysians to work with him. If Selene really was accepted as their leader then diplomacy was an option. With her help, maybe they could grope around for a path to peace. But the awakening and appearance of the Cloud God was a bad omen. Wolfblade offered Cloudhawk a solemn reminder. ¡°You don¡¯t have much time to make your choice. We are not just facing Mount Sumeru, but the Elysian lands as well.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 651 - Book 6, Chapter 43 The new leaders of Skycloud were revealed. Apostle Selene Cloude was now Governor. Oracle of Order Aquaria took on the mantle of High Priest. Phain Mist, former Grand Prior, now was master of the realm¡¯s armies. What they all had in common was a background in service to the Temple. Effectively the government, religious center and armed forces were now all unified. Selene did not have the singular autonomy Arcturus enjoyed, but she was now undoubtedly ruler of the realm. The people of Skycloud had no choice but to accept it. Selene and her compatriots had been personally vetted by the Cloud God itself! The populace saw the head of government, religion and the army as the three highest positions in Elysian society. The truth was, however, that Skycloud was a human settlement built under divine rule. All of the early laws of the land were put into place by the gods themselves. The people easily forgot of the Cloud God¡¯s presence after years of slumber, locked away in the depths of the Temple. Even before its slumber, the god never left the confines of its monument. Before recently only a small handful had ever laid eyes upon the deity. Over time it became little more than legend, and after twenty-five hundred years the people of the realm ignored the Cloud God¡¯s existence. Much to everyone¡¯s surprise, however, the Cloud God reasserted its dominance by appearing in public. In full sight of Skycloud¡¯ populace, it affirmed the positions of Selene and her allies. With the god¡¯s vaulted authority none of the doubts or suspicions cast upon them mattered. Selene herself was stunned by the scene. Though she¡¯d been in service to the Temple for years, never once had she been touched by the Cloud God¡¯s influence. Since awakening it made no efforts to inquire about the state of things in the wastes. No interest was shown in the harrowing battle of Fallowmoor, or how many of Selene¡¯s actions were in direct conflict with Elysian law. So¡­ why had the god allowed her to become Governor? It wasn¡¯t worth ruminating over. Her wish to become Governor was granted and that was all that mattered. The rest would be dealt with, step by step. Her first act had to be helping the realm recover after a disastrous war. The most recent figures she was given told her the current population of the realm sat at around twenty-five million, six-hundred thirty-thousand souls. One hundred and sixty thousand of those were soldiers. It sounded like a sizable force. However, the truth was that figure included local security units and other support personnel. Traditionally there had been ten combat divisions, but the Defense Corps had been decimated on the Blisterpeaks and when the Wall came down. The Aegis Corps also lost most of its servicemen during the assault on Nucleus, who were then assigned to the expeditionary force. That force was subsequently wiped out. Today Skycloud had seven standing combat divisions. These were local divisions that manned the various fortresses and defensive garrisons around the realm. Rarely were such legions mobilized for large-scale battle, especially on foreign soil. They would require a long time to restructure and deploy. Arcturus had hoped to do just that once Ramiel had been slain. The aim was to bring the full might of Skycloud¡¯s military to bear against the Green Alliance. Ultimately, though, he failed. Now that Selene had taken office, contentions between Skycloud and the wastes had begun to ease. Of course, as Governor it was now her responsibility to ensure the safety and prosperity of all Elysians. Skycloud¡¯s armies had to be reset and restructured in order to ensure the safety of the realm. ¡°Governor!¡± As Selene mulled over the problem two clerics entered her office. One of them delivered his report without waiting for her acknowledgment. ¡°The High Priest asks you to meet her in the Temple. Majesty Cloud God requires your presence.¡± Selene¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her brows furrowed ever so slightly, but beyond that she betrayed no expression. Quietly she rose to her feet, put aside what she was doing and prepared to go. She knew eventually she would be summoned before the Cloud God. Better sooner rather than later. What were the gods¡¯ intentions? What ideas and goals did the Cloud God hold? It was important for her to discover the answers. When she reached the doors of the Temple its ancient guardian was resting languidly to one side. One might be forgiven for thinking it looked like a giant, dozing cat. However the sheer power that wafted from it was stifling. It seemed to sense Selene¡¯s presence, for when she approached its eyes slid open and fixed upon her. The divine beast¡¯s eyes possessed a strange steely quality. When its gaze fell upon her, Selene had the distinct sense that the powers locked within her somehow resonated with the creature. Like they were born of the same source. The powers of time? She already knew of the divine beast¡¯s special ability. It was said the creature knew when tragedy loomed over Skycloud and was able to prepare accordingly. When she first heard of it she didn¡¯t understand, but now she thought she knew how it was possible. It was the power of time. The same power she had. The divine beast must have felt the same way she did, recognizing the similar forces at work in her body. Suddenly there was a deep sense of camaraderie, like a tamed tiger. The typical intensity of its presence was softer. Selene walked into the Temple. Traversing the long corridors she eventually came to the inner sanctuary. The newly appointed High Priest Aquaria was waiting for her. She was draped in snow-white robes and stood in the center of the chamber with her eyes closed. Upon the dais, where usually the High Priest sat, was instead a different figure. The three-meter tall individual was mostly human in appearance, but gave off an air of something altogether different. The first time. It was the first time Selene had encountered these legendary beings. A god, more perfect and wholly opposite from the foul demons that inhabited the wastelands. Tales of the gods and their exploits were only found in old epics. Humans knew nothing about the structure of godly society and only a little about their hierarchy. For this reason and others it was breathtaking for Selene to see one before her, clad head to toe in some sort of mechanical armor. Beautiful and majestic, it was somewhere between science-fiction and art. The armor itself was the most beautiful and perfect suit of defense Selene had ever seen. It was less metal and more like jade, some sort of material humans were not familiar with. It was like crystal wrapped around the god¡¯s body. But whereas crystal was cold, the texture of this suit seemed warm and full of light. Almost like a second skin. Every part of the divine being was covered by it, not even a millimeter was exposed. The Cloud God¡¯s head was also covered in a full helm. Its edges were streamlined and fit together perfectly with the rest of the suit. Its reflective appearance added to the majesty of it all. There weren¡¯t even holes for breathing. All that was revealed were two bright points of light that were the god¡¯s eyes. By no means was this creature like anything else she knew! Rather it was like a work of art, honed and perfected over millennia. Never have the gods been questioned because the power of their presence was palpable, and their technology was far beyond the ken of mortals. Everything the Elysians used ¨C from their airships, relics and all manner of other things ¨C were gifts of divine technology. Surely what they were given was the lowest grade of items from a vastly superior race. Every god was a creature of astonishing intelligence. They had transcended the shackles of death, giving them a theoretically infinite lifespan. In fact, legends claimed that not only were the gods immortal, but indestructible as well. When some outside force destroyed their bodies, a gods consciousness returned to the interconnected net that bound them all together. Upon being accepted back into this matrix the god was presented with a new body. In this way they never passed, merely continued forever into the future. The concept was largely beyond the understanding of humans. Selene bowed respectfully. ¡°Majesty Cloud God.¡± Though her eyes were averted, Selene could feel the being¡¯s sharp gaze upon her. They felt like blades driving into her heart. A lesser person would have shivered uncontrollably. Aside from being a god, the Cloud God was no typical divine being either! It served as master and protector of Skycloud but was also of significant station among its own kind. As one of the six Supremes, it was part of the higher echelons of divine society. Gods and demons were antagonistic on all levels and in every way. The gods appeared perfect and noble, whereas demons were ugly and fiendish. Gods were wholly unified and alike physically. Demons were individual both in thought and appearance. However there were as many similarities as there were differences. Both, for example, lived forever. They had all learned to escape from the clutches of death. Their bodies were also suited for space travel. Neither the ravages of time or the harshest environments caused them harm. All this to say that the gods and demons were the definition of contradiction. Different in a million ways yet born of the same root. The Cloud God¡¯s will manifested in Selene¡¯s mind as a voice. ¡°You are full of doubt.¡± Her body shook. She knew the being¡¯s strength lay in mental ability, so she could not hide what she was thinking. It made her feel powerless for she could hold nothing back from this incredible entity. Was this how the higher order of creatures kept the lesser ones down? As a human Selene felt completely insignificant before the Cloud God¡¯s gaze. She couldn¡¯t imagine how even Arcturus would have stood against such a creature. However, in this instant, she understood the Governor¡¯s logic. Humans were less than nothing in the face of godly power. They might as well be pets. If that were true, and the Elysian pets cavorted with wild and unsavory strays to overthrow their masters, how laughable was the thought? Humans were as far from gods as heaven was from the earth. It was a chasm too vast to overcome. The Cloud God saw her thoughts but did not react to them. Rather, its concerns turned to the recent events surrounding the realm. It listened carefully, then with an air of indifference relayed its command. When Selene heard the order, disbelief stole the color from her face. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 652 - Book 6, Chapter 44 A summit was being held in the heart of Greenland. Discussions centered around the future of the wastes and plans for development. Wolfblade offered his thoughts to Cloudhawk. ¡°The Green Alliance has a stable population of roughly ten million, but they are spread out and non-uniform. Much of that population remains nomadic. We should be focused on making the population more concentrated.¡± Cloudhawk followed up. ¡°What¡¯s your suggestion?¡± Wolfblade was ready with a response. ¡°The typical wasteland city ranges from a population of a few thousand to tens of thousands. Those with larger numbers are very rare. Smaller settlements have much fewer. With wastelanders so spread out, it makes instituting new systems and bringing order much more difficult. Most importantly there is no cohesion. Considering the situation we find ourselves in, I think it¡¯s time we go forward with the creation of proper urban areas.¡± The Khan of Evernight, Hellflower and the others agreed with his assessment. Even Dawn, who was suspicious of everything Wolfblade did, couldn¡¯t disagree with his logic. Now that Skycloud was under new leadership its posture had changed from offensive to insular. At least for the time being, conflict was low on the priority list. However, that did not mean they could afford to rest easy. Cloudhawk still had the threat of the gods to consider. No one knew how Mount Sumeru would react and as far as he knew the gods could appear on his doorstep at any moment. The tranquility they enjoyed was a fragile one. Once it broke the real life or death struggle would begin. As leader of the alliance, it was Cloudhawk¡¯s duty to do everything he could to prepare for the coming storm. Resources had to be used efficiently and coordinated across a vast territory, in addition to the need for diplomatic ties with the Elysians. If he could forge some measure of understanding with Skycloud they might stand a chance. Wasteland megacities¡­ it was time to put it on the agenda. There were a number of cities established across the wastelands these days. But while they were called cities they were more like makeshift dens for pockets of humanity. Most shared a number of characteristics. Firstly, many tried to remain secret. Fishmonger¡¯s Borough, Fallowmoor, Nucleus ¨C these cities were all built in places where few people could or would want to tread. It made communication difficult, by design. The inhospitable environment had helped these places develop without threat from Elysians. Second, they were often tightly sealed. Using the aforementioned cities as an example once more, any outsider would find it nearly impossible to earn entry. Outsiders and strangers especially were treated with outright hostility. After all, the law of the wastes was to always be wary, for the darkest parts of humanity prevailed. It wasn¡¯t just the Elysians they had to be on guard against, but one another as well. Everyone was hunter as much as they were hunted. Third, cities remained small and independent. By virtue of their secluded tendencies and distant locations, these cities all operated independently. They consumed only what they could produce and only opened up trade with other settlements when necessary. Each city¡¯s rules and ways of doing things were different, but nearly all focused on keeping population sizes limited. However, the Green Alliance had succeeded in taking control of the wastelands. For the time being, conflict was at an all-time low. Wastelanders didn¡¯t need to live like each settlement was an island in order to survive. On the contrary, banding together and creating larger cities was the path forward. It was time that currency, language, rules, troops and even units of measurement were standardized. From soldier training to education, it could all benefit from management and uniformity. It was how order was formed, and woke up the wastelanders to a new era. In these cities culture, education and technology would thrive. Of course it was easier said than done. Just the construction of a large city was unprecedented in modern history. While a labor force was readily available, what the wastelands lacked was materials. And then what to do once it was done? For a city like Skycloud, with for or five million people, managing the city itself would be quite an undertaking. Water, food, social order ¨C what was the best way to maintain it all? That was the most important and most crucial challenge. As leader of the alliance everyone was looking at Cloudhawk, waiting for him to make a decision. He did not ponder long and after a moment revealed his decision. ¡°I propose Oakstead, Greenland and Woodland Vale as capitals. All of the smaller cities, settlements, camps and scav populations within a thousand miles of each shall be gathered up to bolster their population.¡± Cloudhawk had made up his mind. Greenland was capital of the southern wastes. Woodland Vale would be the center of the Northern Barrens. Oakvale was already the capital of Meadow. Each occupied important positions in the three major wasteland areas. What¡¯s more, they were already well developed and boasted good resources. These locations were most likely to be successful as megacities in addition to sporting formidable defenses. The others nodded in agreement. It seemed like the best course of action. ¡°There are two other things that must be done. Number one: Greenland has to increase and deepen ties with Ark Base. I want to foster closer relationships to allow Greenland and Green Alliance scientists to learn what they can from the base¡¯s residents.¡± ¡°Second: Our migration to other planets must continue. Before this year¡¯s dry season I want human population on other world to be no less than a million strong.¡± Wolfblade chortled. ¡°My king is ever more meticulous in his deeds.¡± While Cloudhawk¡¯s plans didn¡¯t seem related to the grand scheme on the surface, in truth they were very important. Urbanizing the wastes was imperative, but in the process they were certain to come across many challenges. Many could be reduced or eliminated with better technological advancements. Better tech meant more efficient production as well as a better foundation for future battles. As for immigration? Why was that important? In fact the idea was simple; Cloudhawk wanted to make sure not all his eggs were kept in one basket. Once urbanization started everyone would begin to gather. While this meant combat strength and cohesion would rise, it also meant there was no backup. What they faced was a largely unknown, advanced civilization hell-bent on total subjugation. What if these grand cities were destroyed? What if their populations were wiped out? If that occurred at least there would be humans somewhere that could continue the species. It was a gloomy outlook but necessary for Cloudhawk to plan for as the alliance¡¯s leader. He could throw himself into the path of destruction, but he couldn¡¯t do that to the Green Alliance. His proposals were adopted without question. Specific implementation of these plans were left up to Wolfblade. A never before seen effort to transform this barren expanse was now officially underway. Cloudhawk turned away from the others and looked out a nearby window. He felt the hot wasteland sun shine on him. He cast a stoic black shadow, like an immortal guardian looking out over his charge. Cloudhawk saw an increasingly prosperous city splayed out before him. Greenland had become a land full of vigor, risen from practically nothing a mere two years ago. Passed the dense forests surrounding the city was a mess of ancient ruins. He would awaken them, bringing back the civilization that had slumbered for so long. The ruins would be given new life as citizens of their burgeoning society built upon their foundation. One day, where destruction had reigned for millennia a new metropolis would emerge. A dazzling wilderness dynasty was on the horizon. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes burned as though he could see the grand event a thousand years in the future. Maybe that was the answer he¡¯d been looking for. The answer to his destiny, and his place in the world. He stood in silence looking out of the window, but his stillness hid the excitement roiling in his heart. Still this grand accomplishment he envisioned could turn out to be a flash in the pan. All he could do was work his hardest to protect the seed he was planting. Lost in his thoughts, Cloudhawk was shaken back to the present by Dawn¡¯s voice. ¡°Cloudhawk! Come quickly, Selene is here.¡± Shock took him when he heard the news. Hadn¡¯t he heard she only just recently assumed the Governor¡¯s position? With her new status what was she doing all the way out here? In the eyes of Elysians the wastes were a place of evil. No matter. He would know once he saw her. He had something to speak with her about anyway. ** A dozen Elysian warships hovered in the sky. It was a small entourage, not enough to threaten Greenland. The location Selene had chosen for their meeting was unassuming and out of the way, the remains of a smallish encampment in the ruins. Years ago it had a name. Blackflag Outpost. Judging by the scale and arrangement, the Elysians were not here in a military capacity. Selene was here to talk. When she emerged she was flanked by Janus Umbra, High Priest Aquaria, Commander-General Phain and a contingent of Skycloud family leaders. Cloudhawk met them as a representative of the wastes. He had his own retinue consisting of Wolfblade, the Khan of Evernight, Abaddon, Dawn and other officials of Greenland. Cloudhawk took a minute to look over the pretty figure standing opposite him. Tall, with raven black hair dancing in the harsh winds. Her expression was cool and aloof, with all the bearing of a person of authority. She carried herself like a princess and appeared to have taken to the role of Governor well. She didn¡¯t have the strength or gravitas Arcturus had wielded, but Selene Cloude was a woman of limitless potential. With time Cloudhawk was confident she would be more than a match for the shadow Arcturus left behind. The leadership of Skycloud and the wastes met face to face. They could hardly be more at odds, as compatible as fire and ice. Incredible to imagine that it wasn¡¯t long ago Cloudhawk and Selene had met in this very place. Of course no one but them knew the story. It was some of the purest and most sentimental times of their lives. Cloudhawk maintained a professional demeanor and addressed the visitors directly. ¡°Governor Selene Cloude. You¡¯ve come a long way to speak with me.¡± Selene¡¯s response was equally calm and measured. ¡°I come at master Cloudhawk¡¯s behest. It was you who requested a meeting between our people.¡± All of a sudden Cloudhawk¡¯s face stiffened. He felt a sudden rise of power in the air, potent and dangerous, no less threatening than Arcturus had been. It was a sense Cloudhawk was familiar with, because he¡¯d encountered it once before in the heart of the Temple. A shrill noise preceded the electric light emerging from Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. Ruin appeared in his grip, and with eyes narrowed he stared into the sky above. Hovering there was a perfect figure encased in dazzling light. The being peered upon him like a giant curiously regarding an ant. The Cloud God! Color drained from the faces of the other wastelanders. For most of them it was the first time coming face to face with a god! Previous If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 653 - Book 6, Chapter 45 Gods had a lifespan so long it might as well be infinite. Time meant little to them. They were a distant species that did not interfere much in human life, so beings like the Cloud God spent much of their time isolated and in slumber. It was master of Skycloud, but the most important thing about the god¡¯s presence and function was its role as a bridge between mankind and Mount Sumeru. Were some dire threat befall Skycloud, the Cloud God would relay this information to its brethren. Furthermore, the Cloud God received relics and other treasures from its home to disseminate among the humans. Besides this, the gods were mysterious and inscrutable. Since they rarely became involved in the day to day of human activity, they were seen as more symbolic than anything. Yet this was changing, for this perfect being had left its roost and now floated above the blasted wasteland far from home. Elysians and wastelanders alike were granted a close-up view of the enigmatic god, and were grappling with the shock of it. Cloudhawk had dealt with gods before, though as a result of being used. Due to that experience, he had learned how vast and frightening the power of these creatures was. But the Cloudhawk of today was not the same young man. Even against a god, he was not incapable of defending himself. In many ways, the Cloud God was the most weighted variable during these uncertain times. Although its appearance among the citizens was almost nonexistent, their patron god still held influence no less formidable than the late Arcturus. Recent events had sapped the realm of vitality, but it was by no means at risk of collapse. If the Cloud God chose to push for a second Elysian-Wasteland war, the cost for both sides would be mutually destructive. Perhaps it would be best to kill it now! The Cloud God remained suspected in midair, the harsh light of the wasteland sun playing against its perfect figure. It was a creature filled with beauty and power, encased in crystalline armor. No part of it was open to the air so it hugged the deity, as tight and responsive as a second skin. The Cloud God never moved, never unleashed its power. Even still the vast mental energies it possessed were easily felt by all. Countless mental links connected it to everyone nearby. They came from a relic, the ¡®Soul-Link¡¯. Cloudhawk remembered it from the records of the Great War. He recognized the invisible threads from half-remembered data read long ago. Soul-Link didn¡¯t sound too impressive, but in fact it was a rare weapon that was famously dangerous. It was almost entirely untraceable and couldn¡¯t be defended against by ordinary means. Not only did this relic give the Cloud God a direct channel for mental attacks, it also allowed it to take direct control of a victim¡¯s will! If it chose to attack in this instant, most of the people gathered would fall in an instant without any means of protecting themselves. Once such an attack were launched it would be impossible to avoid. At the same time, the Cloud God was assessing Cloudhawk. This defiler was the Demon King¡¯s successor? Even the God King could not have predicted its rival¡¯s heir would be such a short-lived creature. Perhaps that was the point. Human lives were a flash in the plan, too short to garner the God King¡¯s notice. Yet how naive the Demon King must have been. How could such a lowly, base creature hope to rise up against the perfect Gods? Human technology had been lost to the ages, what tools were left to them with which to fight? While the godly species was few in number, even their weakest would be likened to a Master Demonhunter in the world of man. Human technology, fighting capability and evolution were all inferior, no matter how you cut it. Even with support from the detestable Gehenna, nothing these ants did could shake Mount Sumeru. They were like infants trying to arm-wrestle a giant. Their efforts were futile, hopeless. What possessed the Demon King to select a human as its successor? Cloudhawk and the Cloud God stood in silence, watching one another. Neither moved or made violent overtures. Without the Mask of a Thousand Faces, Cloudhawk was not adequately defended against the deity. He was uncertain of the god¡¯s motives, for up to now all it had done was regard Cloudhawk as though he were a curious animal. He felt the waves of mental energy passing through him, but nothing hostile. The air of anxiety between Elysians and wastelanders continued to grow. They knew that if a battle where to break out, it would be a terrible one. ¡°Why must we fight?¡± In the silent stalemate it was Wolfblade¡¯s voice that broke the stillness. He stepped out from among the Green Alliance entourage, addressing the Cloud God with an amicable smile. ¡°Cloud God, I pray you are well.¡± The god¡¯s attention was drawn to the exceedingly common-looking human. The stagnant well that was godly emotion suddenly surged with activity! Every living creature had a mental signature unique to it. One¡¯s exterior could change, but they could not hide the way their mind worked. In an instant, the Cloud God recognized the consciousness beneath the frail human form. The powerful, ancient spirit housed within. It was Legion, Demon Elder of the Second Seal! It was a mighty creature of its race, second only to the Demon King in influence and power. Countless times during the Great War, Legion slipped through godly encirclement. Without a doubt it was a cunning and dominant foe. More than a few formidable gods met their end at Legion¡¯s hand. Even the Cloud God itself was once defeated by the Elder. At last, the god spoke. ¡°You have become weak.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve undergone a number of physical changes these last decades. As these identities fade, so too does my power.¡± It can change bodies? The thought wormed its way through the god¡¯s consciousness. Wolfblade guessed what was going through its mind. ¡°The difference between so-called higher life forms and their lower cousins are merely a difference in form, is that not so? I have proven by actions that biological bodies can be exchanged. I can do this as an Elder of my race. You, as a Supreme, can as well.¡± Was this some demonic technology, or a method only Legion had discovered? If the Elder had mastered the means of moving from one body to another, did it not mean the creature had entirely shed the shackles of life and death? ¡°I know what you have come here for. I have a secret, one that concerns the origins of gods and demons. I suspect you are very curious to learn what I know.¡± The Cloud God did not speak. Rather it galvanized the power of Soul-Link and spread its mental energies into Wolfblade. Yet after drilling into the creature¡¯s mind the Cloud God saw nothing but a limitless void. Darkness, stillness, silence. Like a universe absent of stars. Could it be even the Cloud God could not extract this monster¡¯s memories? ¡°If you are indeed so curious I would be happy to share this information. I can help you discover what you wish to learn. In exchange, you must agree not to meddle in our affairs.¡± ¡°A negotiation? Between gods and demons?¡± ¡°The moment your connection with the others was closed, you became a pariah among the gods. Do you feel you have any other choice?¡± Gods were a collective society. To sever oneself from that was an extraordinary act. The being had isolated itself from the others because of the contagion it was given. The truth had to be uncovered as quickly as possible. He was proposing an accord between Skycloud and the wastes? To the Cloud God it was the equivalent of two children fighting. Sooner or later Sumeru would discover something was wrong in Skycloud. It was the God King¡¯s way to cleanse the area and all contaminated gods. Time was running out for everyone, Elysian and wastelander alike. Finally, the Cloud God agreed to this compromise. Each side might have its own agenda. Given the right time and circumstance the Cloud God would not hesitate to eliminate Cloudhawk or Wolfblade. For now, however, it would appear they were castaways stranded on the same island. The god had to admit, the draw to learn of its species¡¯ origins was a thirst that would not be quenched. ** Blackflag Outpost had been entirely razed by war. Most of it was buried beneath the sand. The stone building once called home by the Bloodsoaked Queen, and the courtyard around which the Tartarus Mercenaries had gathered¡­ only faint remnants remained, peeking from the yellow grit. It would have surprised many to learn that a young demonhunter, seeking vengeance for her father, once stalked these ruins in disguise. Equally shocking would be the realization that among a small mercenary company, a man who would become king of the wastelands had lived here as a young boy, full of dreams to see the larger world. All the stories, all the characters, everything ¨C destroyed by the passage of time. Forgotten by the living, swallowed by the earth. Rise and fall, birth and death¡­ from the largest empire to the smallest settlement, all were slaves to this natural order. The discussion between Wolfblade and the Cloud God was on a psychic level. The others were not privy to their exchange. What was clear was that the god and demon had come to a tentative understanding. The Cloud God would not meddle in the wastes, as it seemed there was something more important for it to attend to. Taking this opportunity, Cloudhawk and Selene met in formal capacity as leaders of their respective sides. ¡°Congratulations on becoming Governor. You¡¯ve achieved your goal. What are you planning to do next?¡± ¡°I plan to try.¡± Selene¡¯s hair, loose and flowing down her back, rustled in the wind. She looked out over the familiar ruins. Years ago her immature face had done the same, but that child was long gone and a beautiful woman was in her place. ¡°I wish to create a truly free, happy and democratic Skycloud.¡± It was an ambitious dream. Although they did not agree with Arcturus, none could deny that his first twenty five years of governance had lead Skycloud through a historic period of peace. Shady though his methods were, perhaps it was like the instructors at Hell¡¯s Valley said; some darkness was necessary. That was how peace was maintained. The utopia ancient philosophers dreamed of did not exist. Cloudhawk knew it was naive, but after spending so long with Selene he knew it wasn¡¯t just some platitude she spat. When she said something, that was exactly what she intended to do. ¡°Let¡¯s try together.¡± What happened here would have a deep and lasting impact on the years to come. Skycloud and the Green Alliance signed and ratified the accord. From this moment forward the borderlands would be officially considered a buffer between Skycloud and the wastes. Wastelanders could live and seek prosperity there and Elysians had the right to travel as they pleased. Neither side would impart restrictions on the borderlands, be they commercial or societal. It was titled the Blackflag Covenant. On the surface it looked like nothing more than cessation of the war, and a formal establishment of the borderlands as a buffer between the two parties. In reality, it was a revolutionary first step toward peace between two ancient foes. From now on, Elysian merchants could do business in the wastes. Wastelanders could grow rich and respected in the borderlands. For the first time they could be recognized as people of worth! For these reasons what on its face was a simple agreement had implications far more valuable than the sum of its words. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 654 - Book 6, Chapter 46 The Green Alliance entered into a period of expansion. Towns and settlements around Greenland city were first to see the effects. Sandspire was among them. It was a settlement of many names, such as the City of Artifacts, the Land of Machines and so on. It was also one of the first cities to be relocated. Red Spider was a citizen of Sandspire, albeit one who was often on the move. She wasn¡¯t born here, but was a Seeker who had come from outside to further her research. Judging by wasteland standards she was a rare beauty, with an alluring figure and a pretty face. Although the harsh environment had darkened her skin and made it tough, it only added to her wild flavor of charm. But if one thought the pretty girl was easily bullied, that would be a dire mistake! What traveler of the wastes didn¡¯t have some way to protect themselves? As a member of the Seekers, Red Spider was specialized in medicine and pharmaceuticals. In addition she knew a fair amount about mechanical engineering, as indicated by the mechanical spider armor she wore. Even at a glance it was clear the carapace was no typical protection. Batteries were installed within the armor which provided an electric current. Its energy use was efficient and the power it could release at any one time was impressive. It allowed her relatively frail figure to lift several tons without much effort. With her were two robots. Ugly and crude, they were nonetheless greatly capable companions. One of them could single-handedly take on three maneater mutants. Added together, there was no question how Red Spider had managed to survive and thrive out in the wastelands. She¡¯d first come to Sandspire to find materials for a mechanical arm. It was also a fine place to go in order to see the cutting edge of wasteland robotic progress. A few months in the city had a drastic effect on her life. She heard from the natives about Greenland. Over time, being so close to the Green Alliance¡¯s capital, she began to see how it shaped the wastes. Especially enticing was the story of the great wasteland hero, Cloudhawk. A savage and brutal warrior who almost single-handedly took down an Elysian fortress. The stories got her blood racing. She never thought there would be such an interesting wastelander. Sadly, she¡¯d come at the wrong time to get involved. When she arrived at Sandspire the Green Alliance was embroiled in the Polar Conflict. At the time Greenland had closed its borders to prevent spies from entering. All she could do was remain in Sandspire and wait. But when she heard about the effort to urbanize the wastes, Red Spider knew it was her chance! The city was going to expand by as much as ten times its current size! So she packed up her things, and with two enormous sacks on her shoulders made for Greenland. She came across many oddities on the road there, as well as many travelers like herself. Motorcades from all sorts of different places were converging on Greenland, all with the same goal of changing their lives. The route was policed by Green Alliance soldiers. They were marked by their green cloaks or rode on domesticated beasts, or buzzed along the sides of the caravans in cars. Their job was to patrol for danger, but they also helped the pilgrims with food and water. They wanted to make sure the migrants reached their goal. Red Spider wasn¡¯t sure if the Green Alliance patrols were working or if it was some deeper reason, but all throughout the journey she didn¡¯t see any trace of violence. No murder, no looting, no corpses. Much to her surprise, there were even former Sweepers trundling along the road with everyone else. They came from thousands of kilometers away like pilgrims. A scene like this had never appeared in the wastelands before today. It was incredible! It was clearer to her now than ever before, the wastelands were changing. Greenland had become a holy land to the people of the barren world. With every step Red Spider felt more excited. Soon she arrived at the border of the city where the once desolate ruins were now a busy expanse. All sorts of machinery was rumbling along hard at work. Beasts of burden were moving stone to help with construction. Swaths of land were being cleared to grow food while groups of hunters culled the surroundings to make them safe. There had to be at least tens of thousands of people toiling out here in the rubble. Signs and directions pointed Red Spider toward the registration compound. A pair of Talon soldiers from Skycloud were here, responsible for grading everyone who came through. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Red Spider.¡± ¡°Any special skills?¡± ¡°Pharmaceuticals and machinery.¡± The soldiers seemed surprised by her answer. They looked her up and down and noted the strange armor she wore. Wrapped around her waist was a belt packed with various liquids and medicinal materials. On her back were sacks containing two massive robots. It sure seemed she was telling the truth. The soldiers looked at each other, nodded, then one of them addressed her. ¡°You¡¯ve got two choices. You can register as a citizen of this new city and help people build it. Greenland will supply all the food and water you¡¯d need. Or, you can apply to join the inner city based on your special abilities.¡± So that was the deal. Greenland was accepting everyone who came, but if they were skilled in something special or could fight well, they¡¯d be let into the city proper. A citizen of Greenland. The Inner City and the New City had significant differences. Inner City had the benefit of years of development already. Especially in the two years after Cloudhawk¡¯s return, Greenland¡¯s growth had exploded. The conditions and benefits of being a citizen were far better than elsewhere. The New City was still under construction but was coming along quickly. All food and water was provided for so long as you worked. Living conditions were a hell of a lot better than most wasteland settlements. Red Spider had always wanted to be allowed into Greenland. But the more she thought about it, she realized the city had to be full to the rafters with talented people already. Geniuses on every corner, or so she figured. If she tried her luck right away it would be difficult for her to make a name for herself. Better, it seemed, to work her way out from New City. Spend some time developing a reputation and earning prestige, then she could enter Greenland on better terms. ¡°I¡¯ll help with the New City.¡± Her decision was not what the soldiers were expecting. But when their surprise passed the men respected her choice. It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had come up with a similar plan. One of the soldiers presented Red Spider with a bag full of goods and explained. ¡°This is the city¡¯s currency, from Greenland. Everyone who agrees to help build the city will get a subsidy of fifty coins to buy food, water and medicine.¡± ¡°Coins? Never heard of a wasteland city using coins to buy things.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, nowhere else in the wastes does. But we¡¯re a unified land now. These coins are accepted in any place under the banner of the Green Alliance. Present them and you will be given all the food and water Greenland has provided. You can also exchange them for Elysian currency.¡± The wastes had always been a place built on bartering. It was an often troublesome and sometimes complicated way to enact trade. Greenland started producing coins to make the process easier, promote the wasteland¡¯s fledgling economy, and increase the distribution of resources. What¡¯s more, the wastes also accepted Elysian coins for the same purpose. The lowest legal tender in Skycloud ¨C the copper coin ¨C was equal to one Greenland dollar. It wasn¡¯t possible to use Elysian money to directly purchase goods. It was a measure to ensure ill-meaning Elysians didn¡¯t snatch up all the resources for themselves and leave wastelanders with nothing. Instead Elysian money was regulated to have the same purchasing power as wastelander currency. Red Spider was having a hard time understanding. ¡°How is the wasteland circulating Elysian money? Do you actual expect Elysian merchants here?¡± In response, the soldier pointed toward the sky. Red Spider raised her head and saw ships hovering above her, Elysian ships. They were laden with all sorts of materials and pallets full of food. They took turns descending to clear section of the construction site so they could unload their goods. Red Spider¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her skull. ¡°How in the world!¡± The Green Alliance and Skycloud had hated each other so much they recently had a war. Both their High Priest and Governor died as a result. Now, only a month later, Elysian ships were deep in wasteland territory helping their former enemy! The Talon soldier explained. ¡°Times are changing, the war between Elysians and wastelanders is over. Even their Cloud God has accepted it. The current Governor, Selene Cloude, is cautious but optimistic about closer ties. The two realms are still separated, but the borderlands are accessible by both.¡± The series of revelations had Red Spider listening with open shock. There was really a chance for peace between Skycloud and the wastelands! Before this moment Red Spider wouldn¡¯t have even entertained the idea. But she didn¡¯t press them for more information, there was a line of people behind her waiting their time. Taking the bag of coins, she left. She stepped out into the construction area which was in full swing. Everywhere she looked, little by little the ruins were being transformed into a functional city. This place was going to be totally different from every city that came before it. There were neatly organized residential areas, proper streets, libraries, music halls, movie theaters and all sorts of factories. It didn¡¯t take long for Red Spider to become a celebrity. She did it by giving her anesthetic recipe to Greenland scientists without being asked. She earned three thousand dollars as a reward. Her secret formula would find great use in both the military and civilian sectors. Best of all, aside from the money, Red Spider was also awarded a patent. If in the future someone wanted to mass produce it they would have to pay her for the privilege. She wasn¡¯t afraid to spend her newfound riches. After essentials, she had enough to buy the finest materials the city could offer, as well as its most sophisticated tools. From textbooks to machinery, she had access to nearly everything she wanted. Her next accomplishment came when she published her mechanical designs. Once again, she earned a hefty sum of money for the rights to produce it. With these bonuses Red Spider was finding life in Greenland quite comfortable. She was surprised at how easy it was to make money. The beginnings of a strong wasteland economy and society were sprouting from the desert. And this was just the beginning. Red Spider was very much looking forward to what was coming. This new city was sure to make wasteland life better. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 655 - Book 6, Chapter 47 A month had passed since construction on the southern wilds¡¯ biggest city had begun. Green Alliance top brass had kicked things into high gear. Nearly all energy and thought was focused on urbanization of the wastelands. Now, it appeared their hard work was bearing fruit as evidenced by the great works being accomplished. The Green Alliance composed and ratified the wasteland¡¯s first constitution. It was the first of its kind for the wastes, outlying a comprehensive system of law for all to follow. All settlements under the alliance¡¯s purview were required to have these rules as a foundation ¨C the basis for a future wasteland governed by order and the rule of law. The Green Alliance also minted and distributed its own currency. This was also unprecedented and set a standard for the future. Currency was an attempt to break the system of bartering, promote trade, move resources and bring the wasteland economy into a new era. A standardized exchange rate between Elysian coins and wasteland dollars was also established so that in the future more business might come from Skycloud. Next came a unified language, writing, measurement and more. The language of the wastes was a hodgepodge of archaic speech, maybe sixty or seventy percent similar to the language spoken on Ark Base. The people of New Earth were a population made up of dozens of societies from the old world. Over the thousand year history of the pariah city, the languages from those cultures had all blended into one. Over time the amalgamation was wholly accepted and widespread among the population. It was different for the wastelands. The area it covered was huge and settlements were far apart. Culture had collapsed in the time since the Great War. Isolated from one another, each group of post-apocalyptic humans developed their own systems of speech and pronunciation. In some cases these differences were so great it made communication difficult. The Green Alliance was trying to tackle that with their declaration of a national, common language. Then there was writing and measurement. Ancient writing systems had been lost to the wastes for generations. That wasn¡¯t to say there weren¡¯t rudimentary writing systems in place, but they were all different. Similarly, measurements could vary greatly from one city to another. Some followed the ancient system, others had adopted ones of their own making. As of now everything everywhere was the same, differences were being torn down. Breaking things was easy, but building things was hard. Lifting a new modern city from the rubble of an ancient society was no simple feat. From resource management to safety and everything in between, the processes were so intricate it would make anyone¡¯s head spin. Without question there would be obstacles and difficulties to overcome. Cloudhawk was grateful he wasn¡¯t doing this alone. The Green Alliance¡¯s development team, from top to bottom, was a well-oiled machine. But more important than having a capable team of peers, the wastelands were thirsty for change. Cloudhawk understood this. The world he¡¯d come from was savage, blood-soaked and cruel. But since leading his group to victory the general mindset had changed. Aside from a few violent outliers, most wastelanders were enthusiastic that the way life was shifting. Cloudhawk spent a good deal of his time prowling routes of communication, making sure they were clear of threats. He protected wasteland travelers he met on the way and took the opportunity to see the change in the world through them. He recognized something familiar in their eyes that hadn¡¯t been there before, anticipation and desire for a better life. It was a basic part of the human spirit, a beautiful facet that was coming back to the surface. Cloudhawk was watching tens of thousands of his former self crawling out of the ruins. He recognized the look in their eyes because it¡¯d been in his. That same light burned in him when he left Blackflag, traveled through Greenland Outpost and headed north to Skycloud. Perhaps for the first time he felt like everything he¡¯d done to this point ¨C right or wrong ¨C was worth it. He was of course anxious about Skycloud¡¯s current attitudes, but through Wolfblade¡¯s mysterious efforts the Cloud God had agreed to a tentative peace. It created the space necessary for Selene and Cloudhawk to come together in the ruins of their first meeting place and create the Blackflag Covenant. Since then, Skycloud had relaxed its hardened stance toward wastelanders. Of course the blood feud between the two realms ran deep. Dispelling it would be a long, hard road. Selene was definitely grappling with a lot of pressure, but it was a necessary part of the times. Killing was a cycle. Blood always led to more blood, hate spawned ever more hate¡­ Who knew if Elysians would ever fully open their doors to wastelanders? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t expect the people of Skycloud to ever forgive him. What mattered was that they understood wastelanders were people as well, just like them. There was no difference besides where they were born. Skycloud and the Green Alliance were dancing on the edge of a blade. Wolfblade and the Cloud God were fencing on a steel wire. But whatever goals each held dear, both recognized the problem looming on the horizon. Mount Sumeru. The peace they¡¯d forged was a fragile one. The slightest misstep could send them spiraling back into war. Behind it all was Mount Sumeru, a subversive force. No one knew what would happen if the gods turned their attention unto the world of man. Many figured it would result in a storm that scoured the land clean. All the hard work and sacrifice would be washed away. Often at night Cloudhawk lay awake wrestling with the question of what to do. If that storm came, how would he deal with it? He couldn¡¯t sleep because he didn¡¯t have an answer. Some things would only be revealed the moment they occurred. So, Cloudhawk focused on only the things he had power over. He did only what he thought was right. It didn¡¯t matter if an abyss was all he could see before him, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t turning back. He would fight through it, heedless of the pain and loss and difficulty. For years he¡¯d faced insurmountable problems, why should this time be any different? ¡°What are you staring off into space for? Today¡¯s the celebration for the new city. As our leader you need to go out there and give a speech.¡± Hellflower was flying them toward the construction site in a small airplane. The ruins had changed beyond recognition. Of course it¡¯d only been a month, so the scale of it was still small. Pockets of tent cities and makeshift shacks populated the ground below. Residential buildings were still under construction, though most of the foundation had been laid. In a month New City¡¯s labor force had swelled to over thirty thousand people. They toiled every day from morning to night. From the moment Cloudhawk landed he saw the extent of observation, both passive and active. There were patrols, unmanned drones, and cameras spread throughout the area to ensure safety and order. Any resources Greenland could afford to employ were here to help with the effort. In the wastes snakes lived among the fowl. Security was a difficult and important task. After so much fanfare in the creation of this city it was sure to attract all manner of folks. If some night raider groups swept through and murdered the new site¡¯s inhabitants, would they ever feel safe? If people didn¡¯t feel safe the new city was dead before it even started. An enclosed shanty caught Cloudhawk¡¯s eye. Inside he spied hundreds of wastelanders dressed in all manner of clothes. They were seated in the sand, using tree bark as slates to practice their writing. In front of them was an elderly man with a stone board who was writing out several commonly used words. He pointed at words in succession and spoke them to the crowd. His students dutifully repeated. As Cloudhawk looked them over he saw the students range from enormous, muscled fellows to children as young as five. Each one of them paid very close attention to the lesson. ¡°This is a basic education center that we¡¯ve set up,¡± Hellflower explained. It would be difficult for these illiterate outsiders to live comfortably in the new city. Learning to read and write would not only help them get better jobs, but also facilitate further learning in the future. The two continued on until they came to an open plot of land. It was chalk full of crowds of people, vendors and shoppers. One of them, a young maneater easily two meters tall, was hawking his wares. He had a pile of giant rats by his side. ¡°Fresh meat, twenty dollars each!¡± Another man dressed like an engineer was carrying boxes of bullets. ¡°Handgun ammo! Dollar apiece!¡± ¡°Drinking water, only slightly contaminated! Three dollars a bottle!¡± An elderly couple were pushing along a barrel of water. It was a market! In the center of the plot a temporary platform had been erected. Surrounding it were a group of Greenland soldiers, as indicated by their emerald cloaks. A group had already gathered, craning their necks for a better view for they¡¯d heard leader Cloudhawk was going to visit. Who wasn¡¯t eager to see the man in charge? Who wouldn¡¯t jump at the chance to say they got up close and personal with this mythical wastelander? And so whether it involved them or not, people flocked to the market if they had the time. Before long there were several thousand in attendance and a shout drew all eyes toward the front. ¡°Leader Cloudhawk has arrived!¡± Cloudhawk, Hellflower and a small group of workers ascended the platform. When people saw him there was surprise in their faces. The great and powerful, legendary Cloudhawk was¡­ just some young man. After a moment of stupor the crowds started to buzz, pushing forward like a wave. Like fans seeing their favorite idol in person, everyone reached out their hands and called out his name. ¡°I am Greenland¡¯s leader, Cloudhawk.¡± He looked out over the fawning crowds with a wry smirk and rubbed his nose, an old habit. He would never have believed he¡¯d get such a reception. ¡°First, let me say I am happy to welcome all of you to what will be your new home!¡± The crowd settled down. They didn¡¯t want to miss a single word. ¡°From today forward you can bid farewell to your old lives. In this new city about to be born, we will protect the weak. We will make sure even our poorest have a shot at a worthwhile life. We will work hard to ensure everyone has a place, has worth, and has respect.¡± The crowds cheered. ¡°Some of you may ask how we plan to do that. You may be asking yourselves how you can learn to adapt to a new life in a new city. Well let me tell you. It comes down to work and education. Contribution, and effort! A beautiful home is made from the actions of everyone, and so long as you work hard everyone will have food on their tables and water in their cups. Everyone who takes advantage of the education we provide will have a chance to improve their livelihood. For those who fight for Greenland, we offer glory and status.¡± Nods of satisfaction fluttered among the onlookers. ¡°This effort is only thirty-five days old, but in that time an exceptional crop of wastelanders have emerged. They have made great contributions to your fledgling city, and Greenland as a whole.¡± Cloudhawk produced a list and began to read from it. ¡°At this time, would those I call please step forward: Scorpion Tail. Black Hatchet. Red Spider. Squirrel¡­¡± A group of people stepped out onto the platform, met with thousands of envious stares. Why were they called onto the platform? Because they were special, skilled. Over the last month they¡¯d proven their worth to the city and Greenland through their contributions. In all, ten people were standing by Cloudhawk, shuffling in nervousness and excitement. They were standing shoulder to shoulder with a legend of the wastes! His actions had turned the wastelands and Skycloud upside down. He wielded the power to obliterate whole cities, to stand against gods and demons. He had given everyone here a chance at a new life, no matter where they¡¯d come from or what their history. These were all qualities deserving of respect and admiration. One could imagine how those standing beside him now might feel. It was an honor worth bragging about for the rest of their lives! ¡°On behalf of the Green Alliance I want to extend our gratitude. Today you are all granted status as honorary soldiers of the alliance, and notable citizens of the realm.¡± Red Spider was the only woman among those being honored. As she approached him to receive her award she could finally see him clear. Without question he was the most perfect man she¡¯d ever laid eyes on. Everything about him was stunning and impeccable. Cloudhawk acknowledged her with a smile. ¡°Red Spider, right? I saw the anesthetic formula you created. It¡¯s brilliant. If you¡¯re interested we can find a place for you in Greenland¡¯s labs. I¡¯m sure it would be a fine place for a woman with your talents.¡± Red Spider was so moved she couldn¡¯t find any words. It was unimaginable, Cloudhawk actually knew about her! He even praised her in front of everyone! She had never been more proud in all her life. The ceremony was short and simple, mostly because of Cloudhawk¡¯s reputation. If it went on for too long it was sure to cause a disturbance. He just came out to inspire people and commend a few workers so they could be examples to the others. When he was done, Cloudhawk and Hellflower left the market. The genius scientist smirked at him as they walked. ¡°You¡¯re more handsome every day and your reputation continues to grow. As far as I¡¯m concerned you could have thousands jumping into a fiery pit with a single word. How¡¯s it feel, being a hero?¡± Hero? Fuck that. The wasteland¡¯s great hero had a scowl on his face. The city¡¯s construction was going well, but Cloudhawk felt like a mountain was resting on his shoulders. Chief among his concerns were food and water. They were the basic needs for life and the basis for a stable settlement. If anything happened to the supply lines that provided these things to the city, half the population would vanish overnight. It would also be a major blow to the prestige of Cloudhawk and Greenland. ¡°How long will our food stores last?¡± ¡°Based on our reserves and production speed, weighted against the rate of population increase¡­ about a month. After that we¡¯ll be living beyond our means.¡± ¡°Just a month?¡± Their main food force were the mushrooms brought back from the Spore Planet. It¡¯d already been modified by Hellflower to be safely planted and harvested. Because of the way it absorbed energy it grew quickly and thus became a staple of the wasteland¡¯s diet. Especially over the last year, reserves had been staggering. That¡¯s why Cloudhawk had gone forward with his plans for urbanization with confidence. The mushrooms were easy to grow and didn¡¯t require much space. He had thought they would be more than enough to fuel the workers while they built this new city. But now it seemed like he¡¯d been too optimistic. The city had attracted tens of thousands of people and that meant a huge amount of food. With only Greenland and a few farms, reserves were being drained. ¡°Water is going to run low, too,¡± Hellflower added. ¡°We¡¯ve invented water purifiers, but we¡¯re relying solely on Greenland for its production.¡± Consumption of clean water was at staggering levels. They were on the verge of exhausting their supply. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t solve this problem soon, the Green Alliance would be in serious trouble. Previous If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 656 - Book 6, Chapter 48 Over the wastelands¡¯ thousand year history, cities with tens of thousands of residents were as rare as fresh spring water. A million or more didn¡¯t exist and until recently weren¡¯t ever likely to. Elysian suppression and cleansing missions were a major reason for this, but it wasn¡¯t the main one. Resources out in the wastelands were limited. With water in such short supply and only one real means of gathering food, it was impossible to support populations so large. Where resources were limited, the number of people had a hard cap. Once numbers grew beyond what a region could support survival became difficult. When famine and starvation struck, violence and crime increased. Victims either died or were run off. It was a natural mechanism for rooting out the weak and keeping the scales in balance. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions were against this natural order. He was undermining the way the wastelands had always worked by taking its spread-out population and gathering them into large groups. He was building cities, unifying language and creating a national army. In the future, the population of the capitol would easily rise above a million. Probably several million. However, Greenland was only equipped to handle numbers in the thousands. With a population so large the city would certainly experience severe shortages. The more people there were, the more serious the problem would be. They couldn¡¯t let that happen! If they didn¡¯t do something, the green world they were trying to revive would wither back into a barren desert. The sense of crisis was immense and immediate. With the rate at which people were arriving, there was only enough water to last another few weeks. Food stores could be stretched to a month at best. If they didn¡¯t come up with a solution, building the southern wilds¡¯ capitol would be permanently put on hold. Hellflower¡¯s ideas revolved around austerity; reducing output and increasing input. First they would need to put limits on the population and population growth. Second, they needed to find ways to increase crop yield and water availability. As for implementation, the first step was to stop letting just anyone in. They had to keep their numbers at a manageable level until the crisis was averted. Meanwhile they could send out groups to explore Greenland¡¯s surrounding areas for food and groundwater. Engineers could build systems of wells and water lines, collect what they could and then bring it into the city by tanker trucks. These were immediate and practical ways to lessen the burden, but they didn¡¯t solve the root of the problem. Furthermore, there were countless immigrants on the road to Greenland right now. Where they supposed to wait outside? Did they need to be turned away? The wastelands were dangerous and every other day, travelers died for the dream of coming to Greenland. If Cloudhawk just left them outside to starve it would destroy the hope he was trying to foster. Water caravans? Unreliable. Greenland didn¡¯t have many vehicles for the job, even if they used them all it wouldn¡¯t put a dent in the demand. Anyway, water trucks out in the desert had giant targets painted on them. Every raider clan and sweeper group in a hundred kilometers would be licking their chops. Whether the tankers were full of fuel or water it didn¡¯t matter. Both were worth more than a few lives out in the wastes. And digging wells? The deterioration of the world hadn¡¯t happened overnight but was a process of over a thousand years. These days, outside of a few special places like Greenland, water was exceedingly hard to come by. Trying to find water underground wasn¡¯t any easier. Exploration and extraction was difficult, and wasn¡¯t sure to produce results. There was another method, and that was to rely on Cloudhawk¡¯s teleportation abilities. By folding space, he could theoretically take water from other planets. It was a good way to deal with this emergency, but it wasn¡¯t a long-term solution. Ultimately, it didn¡¯t solve their lack of infrastructure. Cloudhawk was leader of the alliance, he couldn¡¯t spend his days shuttling back and forth delivering food. Besides, strong as he was Cloudhawk was only one man. He couldn¡¯t single-handedly provide for a million people. This wouldn¡¯t work. That wouldn¡¯t work. The southern capitol was beset with difficulties. Cloudhawk ended the meeting and stepped out on his own, wandering down one of the city¡¯s alleys. He needed some time alone to think. Suddenly he heard a sharp, familiar noise. ¡°Tweet tweet! Tweet tweet!¡± What¡¯s this little guy doing here? Lately Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been bringing Oddball along with him during excursions. When it was not hunting for itself, he¡¯d left the divine beast in the care of Azura and the other students. Discounting the critter because of its unimpressive size was a mistake. After years with Cloudhawk it had become one hell of a monster when it wanted to be. It could take out a veteran demonhunter all by itself. With Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energies to assist it, even someone like Dawn would probably not be a threat. Oddball was by its nature a special sort of weapon. Weapons had their own qualities, but in the end it was the hand that wielded them that had the largest influence. Cloudhawk made his way toward the sound. There he saw Oddball perched beside a small girl. She was in her early teens and was wearing demonhunter trainee armor. On her waist was an exorcist rod. She was carrying empty buckets out into a patch of uncultivated land. It was a few meters of useless land that had been overlooked during development. What¡¯s Blue doing out here? When Azura walked out into the plot of land she put the buckets down and slipped a pair of gloves onto her hands. Judging by the look and material the gloves were relics. She reached out to them with her mind when they were snug on her hands. Water particles formed in the air, gathering by her hands. They formed a tiny trickle which tumbled like a miniature waterfall into the buckets at her feet. After about a minute of this the buckets were full. She took the water and used it to irrigate the patch of land. When the buckets were empty she repeated the process, using the gloves to gather water and then spreading that water through the dirt. Oddball was the first to realize they were being watched. Recognizing Cloudhawk it fluttered its wings and chirped happily. ¡°Ah, t-teacher¡­ What are you doing here?¡± Azura was startled by Oddball¡¯s call then saw that Cloudhawk was standing nearby, watching. She was at a loss, like someone had uncovered her secret. Cloudhawk was wrapped in dark clothing to hide his identity, which made him all the more mysterious. With his hands clasped behind his back he stepped closer and looked over the plot of land she¡¯d been tending. He then regarded the small girl, who stood before him out of breath from the effort. Small beads of sweat traveled down her face and tumbled off her chin. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Azura shook her head sheepishly. ¡°I was trying to bring this piece of land back to life.¡± Cloudhawk lifted a brow. ¡°Hm? Bring it back to life?¡± She nodded with resolve. ¡°The teachers at the Institute said the wastelands are barren from lack of water. With enough water it might revive¡­ so I borrowed these gloves and figured I could train and water this plot of land.¡± Indeed for Azura it was a tiresome activity. She was training by exhausting her mental powers and then letting them recover. At first he didn¡¯t pay much attention to her thought process. He was still thinking about the desert as a whole, and her small efforts weren¡¯t making any difference. Water was draining too fast and evaporating before it could accomplish anything. It was naive to think such a small amount of water would do what she wanted. But as he thought about it he was struck with a flash of inspiration. Azura¡¯s words had shook something loose. That¡¯s right! Why hadn¡¯t he thought of it before? Cloudhawk had been focused on a scientific answer to their resource shortage. He¡¯d been relying on Hellflower, but he was no scientist himself. If science wasn¡¯t giving them the answer they wanted, why didn¡¯t he think outside of that box? The Green Alliance had its own demonhunters. They could also create spirit beads. Some things were beyond their science to tackle. But with the help of demonhunters and mental power, they could produce miracles. For instance, it was shown how difficult it was for science to think of ways to collect water out in the barren wilderness. If on the other hand Cloudhawk could design a relic that made water ¨C like Azura¡¯s gloves ¨C than anyone with the power to manipulate mental energy could produce water. If a relic produced water from nothing, they wouldn¡¯t have to fear a shortage. So long as they kept training demonhunters, the water would flow forever! It went beyond demonhunter application and was present in many facets. Relics were the result of demonic and divine technology. Humans didn¡¯t understand how they worked, but they could accomplish things human science failed at. ¡°Teacher, what¡¯s going on?¡± Azura regarded Cloudhawk with curiosity. Cloudhawk stretched out his porcelain hand, with skin so clear and white it would make a woman jealous. One couldn¡¯t even see his pores. As he reached out Azura felt a power spread out across the area. The ground beneath their feet roiled, growing moist and fertile. The molecules in the air shifted and in a matter of seconds drops of water were all around them. Finally a halting rainstorm was birthed, whose moisture made the small patch of land rich with color and fragrance. Was this her teacher¡¯s power? It was a minimal scene, but Azura knew that with the right artifact Cloudhawk could do unthinkable things! He just didn¡¯t have the right tool! Over a year ago, Cloudhawk had discovered he could manipulate reality with his strength of will alone. It had started small, but over time his power in this area had strengthened. He let his hand drop and looked around at their surroundings, which had taken on new character. As tenacious as the mushrooms they grew were, they would grow much better in treated soil than they did in sand. If Cloudhawk was able to terraform a larger swath into arable land, the fertile area around the Greenland created by its oasis would expand quickly. If there was more fertile land, there was more resources. So long as there was a permanent population cap this could be a solution¡­ of course thinking it was one thing. Making it a reality was something else entirely. For one thing, in all the world only Cloudhawk was able to change matter without the help of a relic. One man alone couldn¡¯t change the earth on the scale he was thinking. Then, what if he succeeded? How would they maintain it? After all the environment was cruel and largely hostile to life. Even if he revived the land, without protection it would soon revert to the barren desert that surrounded it. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 657 - Book 6, Chapter 49 Book 6, After work, Dawn dragged her exhausted body back to the fort. As was her habit she stopped by Cloudhawk¡¯s room to see if he was there. As usual, the room was empty. It¡¯d been days since anyone had seen him. He hadn¡¯t even appeared for the last several council meetings. She sought out the last person to see him, Hellflower, and asked for information. The tart didn¡¯t know anything, she just said he was looking for a solution to the food crisis. Because of how serious the situation had become, it was not strange that he would disappear while searching for a solution, or so she claimed. It sure didn¡¯t seem that being a grand hero was fun work. Everyone considered Cloudhawk a savior; from the ugliest mutants, to the humblest scav, to the most brilliant Seeker. It took half a dozen years of wandering, suffering and growth, but finally Cloudhawk stepped up to accept his destiny. Dawn wasn¡¯t fooled. Cloudhawk put on a strong face but he felt the pressure everyone put on his shoulders. Changing the world wasn¡¯t easy, and he had to keep his eyes on Skycloud the whole time. But behind all that, Mount Sumeru loomed like an ominous shadow, a variable no one could predict. Cloudhawk may have powers no one else had, but he wasn¡¯t an omniscient god. The burden he carried went far beyond what people could imagine. Both Wolfblade and Cloudhawk knew the threat that lurked just out of sight. That¡¯s why plans for urbanization had to go forward, even if the lack of resources was a serious problem to overcome. Dawn removed her armor and flopped onto her bed. Thoughts of Cloudhawk swam through her mind, along with other Green Alliance matters. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It was a trend that started ever since she defected to Greenland. Her one-track mind now grappled with more and more uncertainty, responsibility and concerns. Her thoughts were on a loop. Once, life to her had been simple and straightforward. Now she couldn¡¯t stop thinking long enough to get some rest. It was because she wasn¡¯t good enough. She felt like she was only useful in clearing rubble for building projects. Day in and day out it was grueling work, reforming the ground and raising stone for construction. She couldn¡¯t lead a research team, like Hellflower. She was making new and useful creations all the time. She didn¡¯t have the strength or leadership experience that Vulkan or the Khan had, either. She certainly didn¡¯t have a mind like Wolfblade¡¯s to coordinate the whole alliance and keep a stable peace with the Elysians. She felt suffocated by an invisible pressure. It was fear. Fear that one day she would stop being useful to Cloudhawk. What was her worth to the Green Alliance? What was her worth to him? It wasn¡¯t that she expected him to push her aside. Dawn was a proud woman. More than ever before she wanted to prove her worth. She wanted to be invaluable to Cloudhawk, because it was the only way she could see value in herself. It didn¡¯t matter if there was no going back from the road they walked. She would follow Cloudhawk to the end. Dawn acknowledged she wasn¡¯t the most excellent of Cloudhawk¡¯s followers, but she could pound her chest and swear loudly to be the purest, most resolved, most fearless of the women by his side. She would happily sacrifice anything to support him. Who else could make such a claim? Fuck it. If sleep won¡¯t come, then I won¡¯t sleep. Dawn felt like her mental fortitude was recovered enough, she wasn¡¯t going to waste time rolling around in bed. So she put back on her armor, strapped Terrangelica to her back and made her way to the new city. Morning had arrived, bathing the wastes in light. The air was hot. Facing a tract of ruins, Dawn stabbed Terrangelica into the ground. She¡¯d decided to clear away as much debris as possible so that when the others awakened they could get right to work. However, as she was preparing to start a strange sound caught her ear. She thought it odd, since it was too early for the use of any work equipment. It was unlikely to be animals, either. A number of casualties over the last few days inspired soldiers to clear out nearby dens. They wouldn¡¯t have missed a nest. Dawn hefted her sword and headed toward the source of the noise. When she arrived there were no animals, as expected. Instead there was a building she hadn¡¯t seen before. It was about three meters tall and rather than a building it looked more like a giant pot. Strange symbols and patterns were scrawled onto the surface but it lacked the typical signs of manufacture. A dark figure stood on the lip of the building. Cloudhawk! She wanted to call out but swallowed her words. He was in the process of measuring something and she didn¡¯t want to interrupt. Instead Dawn watched quietly as he worked. He was stooped over something, checking carefully to make sure all was as it should be. He then straightened up, and upon raising his hands an incredible scene emerged. A storm was summoned right above them, funneling air into the cauldron-like building. The air condensed into water ¨C fresh, clean water! Every passing second the volume and speed of creation rose. In fifteen seconds there was a hundred tons of water caught in the tower, lapping at the edges. How could Dawn be anything but shocked? It was enough water to supply a mid-sized settlement for several months at least! Water was one of the rarest and most precious resources of the wastelands and here was Cloudhawk, summoning it out of thin air! If he could really make water from nothing, what problem was insurmountable? What Dawn didn¡¯t realize was that Cloudhawk had known she was there the moment she arrived. He turned to face her when his test was complete. ¡°What do you think? Think the water generator¡¯s alright?¡± ¡°More than alright!¡± Dawn hurried over to the foot of the building. She patted the structure and fawned over it like some great treasure. ¡°Shit! If you ask me, it¡¯s worth more than a division of ten thousand soldiers!¡± The Green Alliance had already invented a water purification device. It was used primarily to filter and reuse sewage, but gathering contaminated water in this environment was a slow process. Purifiers alone weren¡¯t enough to support growth and expansion. But this thing, it was making water where there was none! And in huge amounts! ¡°How the hell did you make this thing?¡± Dawn looked it over, thought for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Ten of these and the city will never have to worry about water.¡± Cloudhawk introduced his newest creation. ¡°It¡¯s a very simple relic that amplifies mental energy. It¡¯s function and construction are not complicated, and the results are straightforward. It gathers material from the air, adjusts its resonance and changes its structure. In the end you have water.¡± The device was a recent development. Two years ago Cloudhawk had begun experimenting with making his own relics, but the process was not a smooth one. He was playing with methods humans had never understood. No theory or science could explain how it worked. He had to learn from trial and error. Over time he learned how to make crude exorcist rods, then Mornshield and Mornarrow rings. They were simple, with decent attack and defensive capabilities, respectively. He¡¯d succeeded in making a fine class of wearable relics both functional and convenient. But for relics of a higher grade, or more complex? To this day Cloudhawk lacked the understanding to make them. However, inspired by Azura¡¯s gumption, Cloudhawk had decided to find a novel way to solve a serious problem. Mankind¡¯s science had failed. Why not turn to the methods of gods and demons? Cloudhawk found it difficult to build combat-oriented relics. The energy and structure required were extremely¡­ segmented, was the only way to describe it. But if he was making something with a singular purpose that was not meant to cause harm, the process became far simpler. The ¡®relic¡¯ demanded much less, and thus was much easier to produce! Cloudhawk explained. ¡°I designed it so that any demonhunter can make water. It¡¯s been equipped with psychic pearls as an energy source. So long as the pearls contain energy anyone can make water when needed, in case there aren¡¯t any demonhunters available.¡± The biggest problem had been handily solved! Dawn was stunned by the results. Cloudhawk saw her shock. ¡°This reservoir is just the beginning. All we need is the creativity to come up with the right approach and we can create anything from nothing. Even plants and flowers and things like that.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s your next step?¡± Dawn asked. ¡°I want to make these reservoir¡¯s smaller. I also want to make different kinds; for example, one that turns sand into fertilized soil. Once we change the desert into rich farmland, wastelanders can tend their own fields. In fifty or a hundred years we can really transform this place into the green world it once was!¡± ¡°Is this really possible?¡± ¡°Absolutely. It only requires our mental strength.¡± Once she got over the shock, Dawn lapsed into a contemplative silence. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but notice. ¡°What, you don¡¯t believe me?¡± ¡°No, of course I believe you. I¡¯m just thinking¡­¡± Dawn regarded the reservoir with a conflicted look in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s an amazing sort of power. I can¡¯t imagine the sort of society that would come from such a discovery.¡± Humanity would be able to transform reality with nothing but their minds. Relics were templates for tools and methods. For over a thousand years most Elysians saw relics as tools of war. What she saw before her was the reality that it could transform all facets of life. In other words, the one who mastered these methods would have unlimited power over creation. Old legends were filled with people trying to change lead into gold, but with this technology it would be laughably mundane. Cloudhawk¡¯s face was serious. ¡°It would be a divine society.¡± It was amazing. Cloudhawk ¨C with only limited understanding ¨C was finding ways to transform the world. Indeed what would a society that mastered this incredible power look like? Cloudhawk had answered that question. It would look like the gods. The Green Alliance and humanity as a whole would soon come into conflict with those divine. Perhaps the Cloud God made its compromise with Wolfblade because it viewed the humans are nothing more than ants, harmless and lost. Their struggles were hopeless and doomed to failure, below the god¡¯s concern. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 658 - Book 6, Chapter 50 One hundred thousand people had flooded into New City within a week. Thousands were coming per day. Registering, placement and provisions for these people was a laborious task and presented a great challenge for the fledgling city. The south¡¯s burgeoning capitol was growing at an incredible rate and now counted over four hundred thousand citizens! And the amount of people flowing it didn¡¯t show any sign of slowing down. The city was on track to break five hundred thousand very soon. As the population swelled the burden on the city grew proportionally. Inevitably, people were getting concerned. No one knew when it would end. How much could the city accommodate? Intentionally or not, rumors were beginning to circulate. A water shortage was on the horizon and as reserves dried up, the new city was facing a dangerous drought! A city of half a million people with no water would be a tragedy. It would be only a matter of days before people started to die from dehydration. People¡¯s lives were in danger, riots could be expected. Left unchecked, it would cause society to collapse! ¡°This city is no paradise! It¡¯ll become a hell on earth!¡± A man with sunken cheeks, deep-set eyes and a head laden with tumors stood on a piece of rubble. He waved his hands and shouted at passers by, who listened with growing trepidation. His name was Croaker. Hardly a name that struck fear in people, but he wasn¡¯t a normal citizen. Croaker was the former leader of a middle-sized Sweeper clan. When he was in charge people feared and respected him. Whatever he wanted he took; be it food, water women or any number of treasures. He never wanted for anything. But now? He came to the new city with a group of followers and was forced to work. All for what, the basics to live? With the guards and laws he couldn¡¯t just go out and take a woman like he used to, or kill those who got on his nerves. Unacceptable. He wasn¡¯t going to stomach it! After so many years in the wastelands he had learned to be a beast, a predator! A wolf always looking for its next meal. He wasn¡¯t going to be domesticated! He wouldn¡¯t live the life of a sheep! That would be torture to a man like him. But this place was a paradise for the sheep of the wastelands. If everyone flocked to these settlements Croaker couldn¡¯t live out in the wilds the way he used to. Sooner or later his livelihood would vanish. He realized it was now or never. Confirming the rumors were true, the agitator spread the news. Greenland didn¡¯t have an answer for the water shortage. Sooner or later their precious city would collapse under its own weight. When that happened, everyone would be forced back out into the wastes. Croaker and his Sweepers would have prey to hunt once again. Panic was an easy emotion to play on. Croaker and his people stoked the flames, spreading fear throughout the city. Before long their efforts started seeing results and uncertainty grew. The price of potable water in the markets had exploded. ¡°The city is finished! If you want to live you have to flee. Stay and you¡¯re asking for a long, drawn-out death.¡± Croaker stood upon his rock, spit flying as he spewed his vitriol. His goal was simple, snap up as many followers as he could so that when people fled out into the wastes he¡¯d have a new clan to order around. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± A number of voices rose from the crowd, pledging support. They were plants, followers that Croaker had disseminated among the people. At his cue they loudly agreed with the doomsaying. Others in the crowd balked, but it was clear they were leaving an impression. Maybe he was right. Maybe the city was getting too big. Wastelanders weren¡¯t educated. Intuition was what drove them, and what Croaker was saying had been a shadow in the back of their mind this whole time. He was just bringing it to the forefront. His fiery speech got them thinking that this wasn¡¯t the small issue they thought it was. Maybe it was as serious as life and death. It was human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm. But in the middle of Croaker¡¯s impassioned screams a sound cut through. ¡°You¡¯re up here spreading lies to these people. Where¡¯s your proof?¡± A dark skinned man with skin like wax stepped out from the crowd. He was staggeringly large and on his back was an ax larger than a wagon wheel. When everyone¡¯s attention turned to him they instinctively backed off a step. His name was Black Hatchet. Not long ago he was also a vicious murderer. The ax on his back had spilled more blood than a whole squad of soldiers. When Croaker saw Black Hatchet step forward a tinge of fear struck him. But he swallowed it back, and with a grim face responded. ¡°Well look who it is. The man Cloudhawk himself commended as a model citizen, Black Hatchet. You used to be a ferocious tiger of the wastelands, but your master throws you a single bone and suddenly you¡¯re a lap dog.¡± A week ago Cloudhawk had stood before the people and awarded a group of citizens. Hatchet was among them, which gave Croaker the ammunition he needed to cast doubt on his opinion. Although there were many who respected and loved Cloudhawk for giving them a new lease on life, there were as many personalities as there were citizens. No two people thought exactly alike. So where there were supporters there were certainly detractors ¨C especially those who had suffered at the hands of the Green Alliance like Croaker. Black Hatchet was one of those who adored Cloudhawk. He wasn¡¯t going to let this piece of shit spit on his leader¡¯s name. Eyes wide, he pulled the ax off his back. ¡°Finding a home in the wastelands is not an easy thing. I¡¯m not gun¡¯ let you ruin this one!¡± ¡°Look at this rabid animal protecting his master! This city of yours is no home. It¡¯s a tomb! You might be willing to die but are you going to force all these people to go down with you?¡± The fear was gone. Croaker even stretched out his neck theatrically. ¡°Go on, cut my head off if you think you can. Show everyone what you are.¡± Black Hatchet¡¯s eyes were so wide the skin at their edges threatened to split. ¡°Hah! You don¡¯t have the fuckin balls. Why? Because killing is against the rules. There¡¯s no freedom here! You can¡¯t live the life you want! What do you get for what you¡¯re giving up?¡± Croaker turned to the rest of the crowd. ¡°Better to take your chances out in the wastes. Someone gets in your face, you kill them! You want someone¡¯s woman, you take her! Booze, food, water ¨C there is no limit to what you can have if you¡¯re strong enough to grab it.¡± Croaker¡¯s arrogance was in full bloom. ¡°Yeah?¡± A calm suddenly came over Black Hatchet. ¡°I just heard somethin¡¯ you might wanna hear. Leader Cloudhawk¡¯s made a tower that can make water. Starting today our stores have doubled.¡± The claim caused a ripple of surprised whispers among the crowd. Croaker looked back at him in disdain. ¡°Bullshit.¡± Greenland had enacted strict limits on water usage. It was based on body weight ¨C two liters for every hundred kilos. It was enough to ensure survival but it meant some of the heftier mutants were using a dozen liters a day. It sounded like a lot, but really it was just enough to survive. The wastelands were hot and dry, water evaporated quickly. While the water they were given was enough to survive it wasn¡¯t enough to be healthy, much less to wash. Not that it mattered at that level, most wastelanders had never washed in their lives. But if the amount of water they were given doubled that was something else! That would be enough to drink their fill and have some left over. The quality of life would improve dramatically. The question was, could this be true? Water was precious! Where could Cloudhawk find so much of it? Black Hatchet raised his voice so everyone could hear. ¡°I just heard it. It¡¯s true, they¡¯re called Water Towers and they¡¯re built already. Ya¡¯ll can go get water right now. See for yourself.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. It made sense, if water really was in short supply why hadn¡¯t they reduced rations already? Instead they were increasing them. If what he was saying was true then all these frightening rumors were lies! Black Hatchet swung his eyes back toward Croaker. ¡°As for you standin¡¯ there talkin¡¯ shit, makin¡¯ people scared. That¡¯s a crime I won¡¯t ignore. I¡¯m part of Greenland¡¯s police force now, and as captain I¡¯m arresting you for stirrin¡¯ up trouble!¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Croaker hadn¡¯t seen this coming. He began looking around for a way to escape. Black Hatchet shouted, ¡°Grab him!¡± A group of people leaped out from the crowd to cut off Croaker¡¯s escape. Rumors had alerted the police to this little gathering. They made sure to hang around and watch the scene. Now Croaker had nowhere to go. Him and his supporters were dragged away without much of a fight. That evening, the reservoirs were officially revealed to the people. The so-called towers were relics of Cloudhawk¡¯s own design. After some tinkering in Greenland¡¯s labs they were produced and revealed as Greenland Water Towers. The people called them Miracle Towers. The first one Cloudhawk had made was a three meter tall pot set on a trapezoid base. Its open top made evaporation a problem and plenty of dirt found its way in to contaminate the supply. Hellflower got her hands on the design and made a number of improvements, starting with a lid. It was now an oval-shaped reservoir with devices to test water pressure installed on the inside. A tap at the bottom allowed the water to be extracted. But why were they called Miracle Towers? Because those who came to draw from it quickly discovered that the water seemed limitless! Suddenly everyone¡¯s heart was put at ease. With these towers what had they to fear of a water shortage? Those popular, naysaying rumors were totally put to rest. The next day. At the execution grounds. Croaker and thirty others charged with spreading dissent were marched into view. Black Hatchet announced their crimes, relayed the evidence then in accordance with the city¡¯s laws sentenced them to the guillotine. The execution raised his hand. Thirty heads fell to the sound of roaring cheers. In troubled times severe methods were sometimes necessary. The city was still young and snakes still hid in the bushes. Agitators needed to know what their actions would reap, otherwise there was nothing to stop the next bunch of assholes from trying. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 659 - Book 6, Chapter 51 Greenland¡¯s water towers were more impactful than originally thought. In the short term the increase in water availability changed the lives of citizens and potentially the wastelands as a whole. In the long term, it was humanity¡¯s first successful step into ¡®superstring¡¯ technology. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand this theory very well yet, but that hadn¡¯t stopped him from inventing a device that could potentially change the world with it. It was a landmark event for the future of their species. Before the towers were constructed, humans relied on their own scientific accomplishments. They could not fathom the enigmatic ways of gods and demons. They saw that mysterious technology as divine or unholy power. With his invention Cloudhawk was gradually changing public opinion. What gods created, humans could create as well! What seemed like magic wasn¡¯t only reserved for those strange otherworldly beings! The technique for creating of the towers came from the same origin as relics. Only their practical significance differed. Godly and demonic relics were weapons whose intent was to cause harm ¨C things like shields and blades. Greenland¡¯s Miracle Towers, on the other hand, were tools. Public facilities that improved life instead of taking it. Their simple construction meant that any demonhunter could use them, regardless of whether they had the talent for manipulating water elements. Fresh, clean water was now readily available ¨C cheap and easy. Dawn tested it herself. She spent all of her energy on generating as much water as she could. With her abilities, she was able to fill one and a half towers. Translated into ancient measuring systems, it was about a hundred and fifty tons of drinkable water. On average, every day each person used about five liters of water. One tower could meet the needs of thirty thousand citizens, and that was from just one full reservoir. If Dawn or someone like her filled up the towers ten times in a day that would mean water for three hundred thousand people. The city was planning to build ten, twenty or maybe even more of these towers. When the project was finished water would no longer be a scarce resource. Free, clean water would be available to everyone. If there were a hundred towers? Water would be cheap and available enough for everyone¡¯s basic needs and then some. Baths, showers, cooking ¨C the quality of life in the city would be unmatched. Right now it was all theory of course. These were relics, after all. Normal people couldn¡¯t use them without adjustments. Greenland certainly had a good population of demonhunters but they weren¡¯t in spades. It would be difficult to keep ten water towers consistently full, much less a hundred or more. As such, while it was a fine goal to one day have enough water for the people to bathe every day, it was too ambitious for the time being. Perhaps in the not so distant future it would become a reality and when that day came, it would be a real blessing to the wastelands. Cloudhawk had unknowingly performed a miracle. But clean water generators weren¡¯t enough, because there weren¡¯t enough demonhunters. He had to think of a way to bring more demonhunters into the city. Secondly, transforming the wastelands into a green oasis wasn¡¯t going to happen with water alone. To make the land fertile again Cloudhawk had to come up with a new tool to rise to the occasion. Neither of these would be problems easily overcome. As he thought about it Cloudhawk decided to seek guidance. He left Greenland, headed south. Crossing thousands of kilometers he arrived at Meadow. Meadow was one nation under the purview of the Green Alliance, one of the territories Cloudhawk controlled. It was also a very special place. A millennia ago it had been an Elysian land, but the loss of its patron caused it to fall into neglect. However, even the skinniest camel was larger than a horse. Having withered after so long the Shepherd God¡¯s realm could not measure up to Skycloud, but there was no place that was its equal in all the wastes. A million people called Meadow home. Their lives were rich and prosperous. It was a world outside of the strife and conflict that embroiled everywhere else ¨C until the dark star that was Cloudhawk changed all that. Because of him, Meadow was now part of the Green Alliance, for better or worse. The person he¡¯d come to visit was none other than the Shepherd God. Though she had taken over the body of the human, the former god retained some of her divine power. Cloudhawk had once watched her summon an enormous tree from a single seed. If he could find out where those seeds came from, or how to produce them, he could turn the wastes into a thriving forest overnight. With this goal in mind, he made his way into Oakstead. ** Meadow¡¯s capitol city was nestled in the trunk of a tree. It¡¯d been a whole year since the last time Cloudhawk wandered its roads. Things were orderly and unhurried, but it was clear the Silverwing Monarch had left an indelible mark on their world. To this day there were still groups loyal to the fallen leader, though their voices were soft and oft ignored. Nessus, under the guise of the Silverwing Monarch, had ruled over the city it called Imperia for a thousand years. To the people ¡®he¡¯ was a representation of power and immortality. Yet in the end even their unkillable leader was slain. The shock and impact of this event was still something people were trying to get over. Even more difficult to accept was the Monarch¡¯s true nature! Their king was merely a puppet ¨C a flesh bag controlled by some fiend to wield power over the city. This was not a secret to anyone. Under the crushing weight of evidence the people had to accept reality. Since taking control, Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t called for a single soldier from Meadow. The realm and all within was given unto the Shepherd God for her to guide in the hopes she could maintain stability. The Silverwing Monarch had been an outsider, but the Shepherd God was the realm¡¯s creator. As such the Shepherd God knew better than anyone how to manage this wonderful place. Over the course of a year the situation in the realm had stabilized, even if the influence of the Silverwing Monarch had not entirely faded. People were beginning to acknowledge the Shepherd God as their true leader ¨C and some even accepted their place as members of the Green Alliance. Shortly after teleporting into the city, Cloudhawk¡¯s presence was noted by members of the Enforcement squad. A number of them rushed over to his location, riding sidesaddle on enormous birds. Their leader was a woman. ¡°Who goes there? How did you appear here!¡± Cloudhawk raised his head and looked at her. He recognized her immediately and a smirk touched his lips. ¡°Hello Glawyn. I¡¯m here to see Autumn.¡± Glawyn was sure she¡¯d never met this man before, yet when she looked into his eyes she saw something strangely familiar. After a second she put it together ¨C the way he appeared here as though from nowhere ¨C and she remembered the only other person she¡¯d met who could do that. ¡°You are the deceiver!¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I am the leader of the Green Alliance, and in the hierarchy of leadership Autumn answers to me. I can¡¯t say I¡¯m happy with the way you address me.¡± Glawyn ground her teeth but said nothing. She was still haunted but everything that¡¯d happened a year ago. As commanded she led Cloudhawk to the Shepherd God¡¯s Temple. From a distance he could see atop the magnificent structure a young woman in green robes, seated quietly. She looked as pure as a lotus flower, with her ankles crossed playing a small flute. ¡°Autumn, it¡¯s been a long time!¡± The young woman turned toward the voice. She hadn¡¯t changed in the least, her face still young and fresh. Her sparkling eyes came alive with mirth when she saw Cloudhawk approaching. She dropped from the air to stand before him. But who was it who stood there? The Shepherd God, or Autumn? She looked up into his face. ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing about what¡¯s happening in the wastelands. You really defeated Arcturus? It¡¯s difficult to believe!¡± The two walked into the Temple shoulder to shoulder. ¡°Arcturus was nothing. The battle to come is what will really determine whether we survive.¡± Autumn felt it clear, pieces of divine memory inside of her. It was only the tip of a mysterious iceberg that was godly society. The gods would no doubt be incensed by Cloudhawk¡¯s actions. What he faced was a storm of trials that could swallow him up if he wasn¡¯t careful. But Autumn was firm in her faith and undaunted. No matter what enemies rose agains them, she would stand by Cloudhawk¡¯s side. ¡°What help did you come here for?¡± ¡°I need to borrow some Chosen. Most of the demonhunters we have in the wastes came from Skycloud. There aren¡¯t many of them as I¡¯m sure you know. To help bolster the numbers I¡¯m going to ask for Black Knights from Nox and Chosen from Meadow. Only volunteers, of course.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a tall order, but I¡¯ll help as much as I can.¡± Life in Oakstead was easy. Who would choose a life of hardship out in the wastelands? But if it was what Cloudhawk needed, Autumn would do what she could. ¡°I also need to speak with the Shepherd God. I want her to teach me about those seeds she uses to summon the God Trees. I want to sow them around the wastelands to improve the environment.¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Cloudhawk heard her tone suddenly become cold as ice. In the blink of an eye that sweet child was gone, replaced by a domineering and unapproachable figure. The Shepherd God didn¡¯t even let Cloudhawk finish his thought before flatly rejecting it. ¡°Seeds of the God Tree are artifacts, only a few such Sumeran items exist. Items of such rich vital energy are complex ¨C far more complex than even high-order relics. You do not have the power to control them.¡± That was a disappointing answer. Cloudhawk could hardly make low-grade relics, much less more capable higher-level items. Things like seeds of the God Tree were way beyond his scope. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t give up. ¡°Can they be simplified?¡± The tree she planted in the heart of Greenland was several hundred meters tall. That was excessive, so far as Cloudhawk was concerned. He was only hoping for typical flora, that would already be a huge benefit. ¡°No,¡± she answered flatly. ¡°But even if it could, it wouldn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°These artifacts don¡¯t create true life. The God Trees, if we are being precise, are a simulacrum of biological material. They are similar to real vegetation in almost every way, but they are not. Godly methods can create anything ¨C anything but soul and life.¡± Life could not be made from nothing. Even if Cloudhawk found a way to create plants, they would not improve anything. That seemed to be the only failing of this advanced technology. Some special artifacts could conjure vines, flowers, even animals, but could these things really be called ¡®alive¡¯? Most often when using these relics in times of war, there is a set duration for the vines, plants and so forth a relic created. It was determined by the mental strength of the user. It worked in much the same way as Castigation Fire; once Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energies were spent the fire was extinguished. Plants and other life-like creations were the same. A constant supply of mental power was required to keep them healthy. If that mental energy disappeared, the plants withered and the animals died. So Cloudhawk¡¯s idea was doomed from the start. If he wanted to transform the wastelands he wasn¡¯t going to do it like this. It would be a long, laborious process. He heaved a sigh. ¡°So I guess it isn¡¯t as easy as I thought.¡± The Shepherd God muttered a single phrase in answer. ¡°Fragile humans.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 660 - Book 6, Chapter 52 Book 6, Dawn. Citizens of Oakstead left their homes, took the giant rocs to the valley below, and began the day¡¯s work. The Shepherd God activated the latent power of the Elysian realm to fill it with oxygen. Temperatures stabilized and the nation had plenty of light and water. Here plants grew quickly, and local fauna thrived. Life for citizens of Meadow was easier than ever before. After six days Cloudhawk had found new inspiration. Although even the gods couldn¡¯t create life from nothing, how was it they were able to create fertile lands among the wasted landscape of a dead world? It was because while unable to create life directly, they were able to foster an environment conducive to the creation of life. Where life could thrive it did so on its own, the gods merely helped that process along. Once the idea of summoning a forest around Greenland was shot down, Cloudhawk changed focus. Instead he began to ponder how to transform the dry, barren landscape. If he could change the sand to fertile soil and Hellflower enriched it with helpful microorganisms, he believed the result he wanted could be achieved. The more desolate the wastes had become, the more resilient were the creatures that called it home. If the environment was made even a little less hostile to life, he was certain vitality would thrive. After Adder destroyed Skycloud¡¯s border wall, the realm¡¯s energies became unstable. Moisture and energies that promoted life seeped out, causing green to bloom throughout the borderlands and even portions of the wastes. That was proof that Cloudhawk¡¯s plans could be realized. Now that he¡¯d made up his mind, Cloudhawk would see it done. It was easier to make a place where life could reemerge than to make life out of nothing. Cloudhawk remained in Oakstead in part so he could seek help from the Shepherd God when needed, but also so he could raid the Silverwing Monarch¡¯s old caches for materials to make relics. Surely there was a lot there he would find useful. Autumn sat in the boughs of the God Tree as she was wont to do, staring down at the toiling people. ¡°Pathetic.¡± She spat the words seemingly without cause. ¡°What is?¡± She spoke again, but her voice was different. Calm. There were two wills locked in one body. From the outside, she must have looked like a madwoman talking to herself. The Shepherd God¡¯s cruel voice answered. ¡°These small humans and their insignificant lives. Like livestock, growing fat in their cages. They live like cattle but are not. Is this not pathetic?¡± Autumn paused. Her eyes were drawn to the distant Temple where Cloudhawk was busily rummaging through old garbage. She understood what the Shepherd God was referring to. ¡°You mean Cloudhawk. He is no normal man. Even gods and demons may not be his equal.¡± It was no exaggeration. Cloudhawk had grown stronger than average gods and demons by this point. He was no longer just a man. Again, the Shepherd God answered. ¡°If he wholly adopts the mantle of the Demon King ¨C with all the power of the remaining demons that entails ¨C he will only have a one in ten chance to win this war of his. Right now he still thinks of himself as a human being. A man who believes he can transform the wastelands. How can you imagine this isn¡¯t ignorance?¡± In the eyes of the Shepherd God, humans were nothing more than animals to be raised and used to her benefit. A lower life form hardly worth her attention. It didn¡¯t matter whether they were wastelanders or Elysians, gods and demons saw no difference. They were only special in that, from time to time, a particularly curious beast might bubble to the surface. Arcturus was such a human. Cloudhawk as well. But the one who would be Demon King remains in the wastes, toiling away to the benefit of these hopeless humans as though it meant something. Did he expect to rely on these ants in his war against the gods? It was a laughable concept! In fact, as far as she was concerned it was Arcturus who saw the facts clearer. Autumn responded. ¡°If humans are so insignificant why did the gods bother coming here at all? Why would they commit to such a brutal war? I believe in Cloudhawk, and I believe in humanity.¡± Gods and demons were born powerful. Humans were born powerless and weak. Yet humanity had produced a tremendous man like Arcturus! It was human who provided the Demon King with its next successor in Cloudhawk! Did this not present a problem? The strength of a god or demon was determined at their creation. It was difficult, if not impossible, to ascend beyond their caste. But humans¡­ humans could rise to prominence step by step. They were able to transcend weakness and rise to strength. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right. Humans are frail, their lives are short, but these shortcomings are our strength. It is what pushes us toward perfection. Pursuit of something better drove us to consistent improvement over thousands of years. Even such paltry abilities birthed an incredible, world-spanning society.¡± The Shepherd God met Autumn¡¯s assertions with disdain. Autumn followed up with a question. ¡°What is the connection between gods, demons and humans? Why would your people waste your time with us common chattel if you¡¯re such advanced beings?¡± It was a question that had perplexed Autumn for some time now. She figured Cloudhawk was also curious what the answer could be. Even though Autumn and the Shepherd God shared a body they did not wholly share a consciousness. Some things were locked away by the fallen deity so that Autumn could not see. But lately her relationship with the divine will that took her form had been improving. When the Shepherd God first assumed control of the body she was hostile of the surplus presence in the back of her mind. However, over time and as the Shepherd God realized there was no recourse, she allowed the human to emerge from time to time. It was a sort of compromise. While the Shepard God slept, Autumn would be allowed to assume control. In exchange, the human would not act in opposition to the god¡¯s plans or actions. Autumn agreed, with the additional caveat that Cloudhawk would never come to harm by the Shepherd God or the people of Meadow. If she did, Autumn would make the fallen god¡¯s life a nightmare. So it was agreed. Two creatures of explicitly different orders shared one body. Forced to work in unison, Autumn gradually came to understand better the mind of a god. So too did the god come to grasp some of the way humans thought. Both learned a lot that they otherwise never would have. Why were gods and demons so interested in humans? In fact it was not the proper question. The gods had inserted themselves in the destinies of countless races throughout the galaxy. These disparate species ¨C humans among them ¨C numbered in the billions and were all the product of evolution. Though they came from different worlds, what they all shared was the mental energies to directly affect the quantum world. Such abilities were the root of superstring technology and was a rare skill for a species to develop. Gods and demons were not populous races. A place like Skycloud had millions of citizens, among them were tens of thousands who presented with mental ability. The population of Skycloud alone was likely greater than all the gods. Perhaps that was what interested them. Why perhaps? Because truthfully, the Shepherd God did not know. It was a strange revelation. There was nothing in the god¡¯s memories concerning any other races, as though all she¡¯d ever known were humans. When she pondered the technology, history and culture of her former race¡­ there was nothing. It was almost like the gods didn¡¯t exist. Like they¡¯d merely sprang up one day out of the blue with a fully realized society and scientific system. Why the gods were here¡­ she couldn¡¯t remember. Godly society was completely different from that of humans. There was no such thing as lies or deception among the divine because their minds were all inexorably linked. If one god did not know something it meant none of the gods did. But no god ever really gave it any thought. As she mulled it over, the Shepherd God sensed something. She raised her head, staring off into the distance. ¡°You might as well show yourself.¡± In response to her invitation, a towering and perfect figure emerged in the air nearby. An intense and all-consuming will flooded the treetop. The Shepherd God felt her frail human form grow heavy. There was no question that the Cloud God¡¯s immense mental abilities were suppressing her powers in case she chose to try and use them. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The Cloud God¡¯s voice spoke directly to her mind. ¡°I seek answers. Answers about the truth of gods and demons.¡± Where did gods come from? What about demons? How were they connected? It was a burning question the Cloud God needed answers to. Far more pressing than sitting back and watching wastelanders toil. The Shepherd God turned to face the overbearing deity. ¡°What does this information mean to you?¡± A flood of mental energy continued to pour off the creature. ¡°I will use this truth to rejoin the others.¡± She laughed suddenly. ¡°Rejoin the others? You honestly think there¡¯s any going back?¡± The Cloud God was silent, so the Shepherd God went on. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it strange? Ever since Cloudhawk tainted your mind, your thinking has changed.¡± This was a fact of which the Cloud God was painfully aware. Gods were a species of emotional stoicism. A near infinite lifespan and technology that provided everything they could want¡­ there was little to concern them. However, when Cloudhawk touched its mind the god saw much it should never have glimpsed. Indeed, its thinking had changed. With each passing moment its hunger for answers grew. Problems that before had never concerned it were now all it could think about. The tiny woman in green spoke slowly, purposefully. ¡°There is a seal on the mind of every god in the moment of its creation. It limits what we can explore, what we think. Our faith is infallible, the taboo is unthinkable. To even attempt it is worthless for this seal isolates them from our reality.¡± The two Supremes faced one another. They did not speak, but communicated mind to mind. Such a spiritual connected was a hundred times more efficient than the base sounds humans muttered at one another. ¡°Demons do not possess this seal. Nor are they connected as we once were. This is the main difference between our people. If you truly wish to know the connection between gods and demons, then I shall tell you.¡± ¡°You are a demon.¡± There was no change in the Cloud God¡¯s demeanor, but its mental field was immediately thrown into flux. Impossible! ¡°In the past no demons appeared in this world. They did not exist, for they were gods.¡± The Shepherd God relayed the information almost aggressively. ¡°You have now become one of them and there is no changing that. You will never return to the gods and their connection. The God King would never allow you ¨C a perversion of its race ¨C to be restored.¡± Rage bloomed in the field of mental energy. The people of Oakstead fell to their knees as suddenly a wracking pain overcame their minds. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 661 - Book 6, Chapter 53 Book 6, Cloudhawk picked out a small tract of wasteland near Oakstead to make his research space. He moved a cylindrical device into the center of this area. It was five meters tall and as wide as three people. Glyphs and other patterns were embossed along its surface, but otherwise it was a simple looking thing. However, were one to look closer they would discover that the materials used to create the cylinder weren¡¯t evenly distributed. Layers of it looked to be composed of wood, or metal, or some jade-like material. ¡®Rough¡¯ was the best way to describe its appearance, like some crude totem pole. Or perhaps the maker was too drunk to know what he was doing when he made it. Cloudhawk had put all his effort into its creation. Over a hundred relics had been deconstructed for their materials and anima. With what smattering of knowledge he had concerning this extraterrestrial technology, Cloudhawk eventually succeeded in making a functional composite relic. The relics he made were different from combat-oriented relics. Those were more complex and difficult to control. These tools, on the other hand, were comparatively bulky and exceedingly simple. Though far from elegant in design, their usefulness had been proved in Greenland¡¯s Miracle Towers. This was his second attempt at a relic designed to improve quality of life instead of taking it. Cloudhawk slowly spread out his hand. Moments later flickers of green flame danced across the surface of the cylinder. They swept out through the air and vanished. He¡¯d tempered the device, its anima core sealed and set in a stable configuration. Sensing the resonance from it, the waves were consistent and complete. As far as Cloudhawk could tell it was ready. The theory revolved around a single question; what is the earth? To Cloudhawk, the earth was soil; minerals, organic compounds, air and water. Hellflower of course would have provided a more comprehensive answer. Soil was the material that absorbed water, transformed biodegradable substances into nutrients, maintained global temperature, sheltered budding life and provided an environment for growth. Its creation was a complex combination of natural phenomena which included erosion of rock, volcanic activity and more. Thousands, even millions of years were necessary for the earth to produce fertile soil on its own. As far as human technology was concerned the state of the planet was functionally irreversible. Changing the barren landscape would require efforts on an atomic scale which would be both incredibly complicated and very demanding. The technology of gods and demons was a different matter. Relics existed that earth-type demonhunters could use to spawn different biomes. Swamps and so forth. Such technology was fundamentally different from human advances, but if they had to be categorized, they might be seen as relying on quantum science. Superstring technology focused one¡¯s will to manipulate the resonance of matter, changing its base qualities. Stone could become gold, gold could become silver, silver could become bronze, and bronze could become wood. In short, matter was simply clay that could be molded as one wished! The world was nothing but building material. All of reality was made up of vibrating strings. The frequency at which they hummed is what determined the properties of these materials. Microscopic substances ¨C undetectable by human eyes ¨C gathered together. They created larger, more complex structures that made up the world. Relics were a template for superstring manipulation. They allowed the user to influence spatial distribution and material compounds. The power allowed one to create something out of nothing, or release waves of energy in an assault. Skilled users could summon spears of ice or waves of fire. In the realm of gods and demons, if the relic existed than anything was possible. Nothing was rare or invaluable. Cloudhawk had only just begun to scratch the surface of this mysterious technology. He¡¯d done so only because of the Demon King¡¯s inherited memories. These memories had always been vague and fragmented. Only with great effort and examination had Cloudhawk begun to piece them together, gaining some shallow knowledge of these higher-order beings. As Cloudhawk learned more, his awe in what had been mastered grew. Arcturus had been enormously strong, but in all his life never openly contested the gods. Perhaps it was because he was keenly aware of how advanced and powerful they were. The ignorant could not be afraid of what they did not know and Cloudhawk was beginning to realize his ignorance. No, he couldn¡¯t waste time thinking about it! Instead he resolved to give his new invention a test run. By now a group of citizens from Oakstead had gathered round. They watched the strange man and his strange contraption in curiosity. What was this foreigner doing here? What was this ugly cylinder of his? Was this some sort of dangerous plot? Perhaps two dozen vigilant denizens of the realm stood on the outskirts of the research area. They watched him with a mixture of wonderment and distrust. Cloudhawk paid them little mind. His full attention was reserved for this important endeavor. He reached out with his will¡­ the cylinder began to respond! It spread out over a patch of land. Like it drill it started to churn the sand, slow and steady. It didn¡¯t descend but remained on the surface, just moving the grit around. Energy pulsed through its glyphs and were disseminated out into the surrounding area. ¡°Hey! What are you doing!¡± ¡°This guy is up to no good.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s grab him before he does any damage!¡± As they watched the odd contraption begin to move Oakstead¡¯s citizens grew nervous. The way he manipulated energy and made this cylinder move was like the Chosen, but he definitely wasn¡¯t one of them. Neither did this cylinder look anything like any relic they¡¯d ever seen. As they prepared to put a stop to this, a surprising scene held them fast! They stood on an area of barren landscape hard as stone, but as the energy spread out around them cracks started to appear in a hundred meter diameter. The packed earth trembled beneath their feet and became powder. Even granules of sand split apart to create soft soil particles. All around them the earth stirred from some mysterious force! The pale yellow hue of the ground started to darken. Dried, lifeless silt became moist. Stunned, the people watched as the process stretched on for twenty minutes. In the end a field of fertile land appeared before their eyes. Some bent down to scoop up handfuls of earth and stare in wonder at the rich, dark soil. It was soft and fluffy as though recently plowed. How could this be? The people of Oakstead looked at one another, each grappling with the same silent question. Cloudhawk moved the cylinder into his spatial warehouse then surveyed his work. He nodded in satisfaction, with a few more microbes added this would be perfect for cultivation. Cloudhawk was certain most crops would thrive in fields like this. Things like the mushrooms, which grew quickly, would see explosive increases from the added nutrients. With this device he could transform hundreds of kilometers around Greenland. In two years time, with spores and seeds from the city they could make their home as green as its name implied! Cloudhawk was preparing to explain this to the citizens when suddenly a powerful burst of mental energy rushed at him from Oakstead. Immediately he was on high alert, for Cloudhawk knew no ordinary demonhunter had that level of mental ability. Not even the Shepherd God was this powerful. It was a psychic assault! In Cloudhawk¡¯s experience there was only one being with this level of ability and that was the Cloud God. The first thing he did was slip on the Mask of a Thousand Faces. He then teleported back into the center of Oakstead. The waves of mental energy had passed, but its effects on the people were still being felt. Thousands had fallen to their knees, clutching their heads and screaming in pain. The sheer force of the psychic blast was enough to cause terrible, permanent damage ¨C even paralyze them for life! Bastard! What terrible thing is he doing here?! Cloudhawk quickly located the two gods, locked in combat. The Shepherd God was in no way inferior to her compatriot, at least not when she had her original body. Once she took over the form of a human, however, the deity had lost much of her former strength. At such close proximity to the Cloud God¡¯s mental assault, she had already begun suffer harm. The Cloud God sensed a newcomer closing in from behind. It need not turn around for the god¡¯s will was its eyes. Its ¡®vision¡¯ was everywhere all at once. Dozens of mental spear were cast toward Cloudhawk. Psychic attacks were completely different from all other sorts. They were composed of thought waves ¨C insubstantial and with no need of a physical vehicle, not even time nor space. Therefore as soon as the thought occurred, the attack was launched. Nothing was quicker than the speed of thought and thus dodging was impossible. What Cloudhawk did not expect was these spikes of mental force to be stopped before him. Suddenly, a shield of psychic energy sprang up in his defense. The Cloud God had never experienced such a thing. None were immune to its attacks unless they were far more powerful, both physically and mentally. Mental ability and psychic power were two different concepts. For instance, Arcturus¡¯ psychic power was comparable to the Cloud God¡¯s, but his mental ability wasn¡¯t even in the same class. Mental ability could be likened to a powerful body. Psychic force is the power that body could produce. It was not necessarily true that a stronger body could produce stronger power. Sometimes there were other skills and techniques to consider. Cloudhawk¡¯s mental ability was vast, but his psychic force was not at the same level as the Cloud God. As such the preconditions for him to be immune to the Cloud God¡¯s attack did not exist. The deity focused on the situation and saw the grotesque mask upon the human¡¯s face. Cloudhawk was moving quickly toward the Cloud God, folding space to advance quickly with a black staff in hand. The Arbiter¡¯s Staff! The Cloud God quickly coalesced its mental powers to form a shield. Cloudhawk attacked with his left hand, the blow causing a thunderous sound as though the heavens had split. Residual power caused the ground beneath them to buckle. A crater several meters deep was carved out. Cracks appeared in the Cloud God¡¯s shield and before it could respond Cloudhawk¡¯s right hand crackled with electric blue light. He thrust Ruin at the Cloud God, jamming it into its perfect, diamond-like body. BOOM! A staggering blast of electric power was released! The world around them was swallowed by errant power! The Cloud God was thrown to the ground as though it¡¯d been struck head-on by a missile. Not only did it leave a trench where it struck, but trees in all directions also burst into flame. ¡°Are you alright?!¡± Cloudhawk rushed to Autumn¡¯s side. ¡°What the fuck is this guy doing here?¡± He hardly had time to get the words out before sensing psychic force closing in around him. Dozens of incorporeal tentacles reached for him like some sort of nightmarish octopus. How could the Cloud God respond so quickly after such a nasty blow from Ruin? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 662 - Book 6, Chapter 54 Danger swallowed Cloudhawk¡¯s senses. His form shimmered, then blinked from existence. Half a breath later all matter in the space he¡¯d occupied ¨C even air molecules ¨C evaporated into nothing! The sudden annihilation of that pocket of reality was so fast, the vacuum force caused an immediate explosion. A blinding expulsion of light and power followed, flattening trees a hundred meters in all directions. Every living thing in Oakstead felt it. Luckily Cloudhawk was quick enough to flee, otherwise even his empowered body would have been totally destroyed. What a terrifying attack! How the hell had the Cloud God done it? An indignant rage burned behind Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes as he watched a figure rise into the air. The Cloud God¡¯s perfect body was marred by the blow from Ruin, but there was no blood. In fact it seemed the god was not at all affected. The gods were a race protected by mystical and fantastic armor. Light swirled around the Cloud God like a blanket. It was like electricity being pushed through a complex circuit, a masterwork product in full view. Cloudhawk stared in shock as the damage he¡¯d caused was restored before his eyes. This creature would be more difficult to deal with than he thought! The Shepherd God¡¯s voice intruded on their conflict. ¡°He is the new Demon King. Are you certain you want to raise your hand against him?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what she was doing, bringing this up right now. But her warning seemed to have some effect, for when she spoke the god¡¯s figure disappeared from view. No, not disappeared! It was only a shadow! Cloudhawk had never seen anything move so quickly before. The Cloud God moved at dozens of times the speed of sound in an instant. In a tenth of a second it was in front of the Shepherd God, with a blazing sword of light in its grip. But the Shepherd God¡¯s reaction was also swift. She raised her flute, deflecting the attack. Boom! The two met in an explosion of speed and power. The Shepherd God was flung off her feet. Cloudhawk saw through the dust that Autumn¡¯s body was covered in wounds and dripping blood. Although she possessed incredible mental ability, her body was frail and human. How could she stand against a god? The Cloud God continued its assault, coming down upon her with its blinding sword. It moved at twenty times the speed of sound and the blade of light stretched for two hundred meters. It carved a path through the air as though trying to cleave the entire world in two. A blade of lightning appeared in its path! The Cloud God¡¯s attack was knocked aside! Cloudhawk had teleported into the path of danger at this critical moment to save the beleaguered mistress of Meadow. Man and God were flung away from one another. Supremes were far more difficult to stand against than Cloudhawk had anticipated. Not only did it possess the strength of Arcturus, but was also a master of psychic attacks. What¡¯s worse, as a higher-order god the being¡¯s body was no less impenetrable than Skye Polaris¡¯ had been. Disregarding psychic power, just the god¡¯s speed and strength were beyond mortal comprehension. A god¡¯s body was like an extremely sophisticated machine. Every cell was a nuclear engine. When the Cloud God moved it did not speed up, but instantly and immediately broke through the sound barrier. It was orders of magnitude faster than Cloudhawk, and the only way he could keep up was through teleportation. Combined with a sturdy body even Ruin couldn¡¯t obliterate, this god was a terrible foe! Then there was its specialty, psychic attacks. It was a special power, unique and unobstructed by time or space. Such strikes moved at the speed of thought and were all but impossible to dodge! Cloudhawk¡¯s spatial abilities, which had been the bane of many a foe, were useless now. Whether he was in this reality or in between, his mind was here. So long as he was present and seen by the Cloud God, he was subject to attack. Psychic attack were nonmaterial. As such, no physical barriers stopped them. That did not mean that its power could do no damage to physical things, however. The power it produced could interfere with reality on a fundamental level. The explosive power leveled at Cloudhawk had been from the Cloud God¡¯s own mind. The one advantage Cloudhawk possessed was the Mask of a Thousand Faces. It was a relic which ¨C so long as one had the mental resources to activate it ¨C deflected any mental attacks aimed at its bearer. The Cloud God¡¯s attacks could not be dodged, but would have to overcome this psychic shield before they could cause Cloudhawk any harm. Cloudhawk was no ordinary human. If one looked solely at mental ability he was no less formidable than the god he faced! Equipped as he was and with enough mental power to maintain his protection, Cloudhawk appeared to have the Cloud God¡¯s threat in check. However, this mode of thinking was all wrong. The Supreme God had lived through the Great War. What situation had it not experienced? What eventuality had it not planned for? The Mask of a Thousand Faces was not insurmountable! ¡°Successor to the Demon King? Accept your inevitable destruction!¡± The Cloud God did not launch into an attack. Instead a light grew from the space between its brows, spreading across its perfect body. The crystalline silhouette blazed bright as a sun. Using its own body as a relic, the Cloud God unleashed a torrential wave of psychic force. Countless tendrils reached for Cloudhawk, reaching from an invisible abyss. He felt the tentacles wrap around him, faster than he could react. A deluge of power submerged him in a world of illusions. Everything vanished and was replaced with a colorful, bizarre reality. Cloudhawk, Ruin in hand, floated among the twisting vistas. Even with the mask reducing the Cloud God¡¯s power, it was still able to drag him into this world of illusion. Although he knew everything appearing before him wasn¡¯t real, he had no way to escape from it. As he puzzled out his next move he heard a booming voice from behind. ¡°Did you presume what fraction of the Demon King¡¯s power you wield was enough to defeat me?¡± Without even looking, Cloudhawk lashed out behind him with Ruin. The crackling blade carved the Cloud God¡¯s body in twain, but what he struck at was merely a shadow. The two pieces split apart and formed into two identical gods. More appeared, until there was a veritable army of deities. ¡°You cannot resist me while locked in this world of mine! Here, my powers are a hundred times stronger!¡± Cloudhawk dashed among the gods as fast as he could, cutting apart anthing in reach. Despite his fervor, it did him no good. The Supreme¡¯s attack had only just begun. Cloudhawk felt a mountain of pressure descend on him, as though several Cloud Gods were attacking at once. So much power overlayed one upon the other was more than even Cloudhawk could suffer. If this continued for long, he would be destroyed. ¡°A mental attack eh? No big deal, two can play this game!¡± Crimson fires sprang to life behind Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. The fires quickly spread until they filled his ocular cavities. Before long both eyes were blazing coals ¨C gemstones smoldering with the essence of flame. Incredible amounts of energy poured from them. Mental attacks were unperceivable in the real world, but in this fantastical space they were given form. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes burned and all he gazed upon burst into flame. It spread until the world of illusion was a sea of fire. A single spark could create a forest fire! When a flame became an inferno, it was impossible to stop! Cloudhawk could hear the Cloud God¡¯s rage as a bellowing scream inside his skull. The twisted world collapsed. Reality reasserted itself. With his eyes still aflame Cloudhawk looked around and saw the fires reflected in the face of the Cloud God. The deity, for the first time in its existence, felt an assault on its mind. It was faced with the same terrible power it commanded. ¡°Hateful successor!¡± The creature that had lived for thousands of years was shaken and angry. Cloudhawk was about to press for a decisive blow when the Cloud God¡¯s body once again blazed with light. An intense repelling force flung the god into the distance at a rate of thousands of meters per second. Soon it was gone from Cloudhawk¡¯s vision. Panting, he looked around for any sign of threat. ¡°It escaped?¡± Much to even his own shock, Cloudhawk had won! The latent power of the Demon King locked inside him caught the Cloud God off guard. Likely the deity was badly wounded by the assault, and unless Cloudhawk was mistaken the god would need some time to recover before trying anything further. However, Cloudhawk did not rejoice at fighting off a Supreme. It was but one of an army of powerful foes! Its brethren numbered in the tens of thousands at least. As for higher order creatures like the Cloud God, there were likely hundreds. If war came for him now there was no hope for victory. ¡°Hey now, take it easy!¡± Cloudhawk rushed to the injured Shepherd God¡¯s side. Formerly the matron of Meadow was no less capable than the Cloud God. However, with her exile from the gods and the loss of her divine body, Autumn¡¯s frail human form meant she was too weak to wield what power she once had. Cloudhawk saw that Autumn¡¯s internal organs were badly damaged. He quickly retrieved the Rekindling Lens from his storehouse and attempted to heal her. Under the relic¡¯s impressive power her body knitted itself back together. The Shepherd God had very nearly died but it did not seem to bother her. In a calm voice she spoke. ¡°Your peaceful days are numbered¡­ With the power you wield, incapable of killing even just the Cloud God, you have no hope of standing against Sumeru.¡± What did she mean, ¡®even just the Cloud God¡¯? It was an incredibly powerful being! If the Cloud God and Cloudhawk were destined to fight for survival, it was unclear who would emerge victorious. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 663 - Book 6, Chapter 55 Book 6, Morning was in full swing. The sky was bright and calm. Selene sat before a table chock full of documents. She doused the lantern she was reading by and walked to the window. Pulling open the shades, she looked out over Skycloud. Bright morning light bloomed from the east, casting its warm glow upon Selene¡¯s face. It was her third day of continuous work and the exhaustion was starting to set in. But her mental acuity wasn¡¯t at all affected. She dropped her head, looking at the latest intelligence report. When she lifted her eyes there was a hint of mirth in them. ¡°Cloudhawk¡­ he never ceases to surprise me.¡± She held a monitoring report of the wastelands. It contained a lot of what the Green Alliance had been up to since the battle at Fallowmoor several months ago. In the last sixty days Cloudhawk had managed impressive stunts, including the construction of a wasteland capitol. Judging by the reports, this new city¡¯s population had already surpassed a million and a half people and was growing every day. It was hard to believe. The wastes were such a barren and unforgiving place. How could one city support so many citizens? The report sounded too fantastical to take seriously, but Cloudhawk had managed it somehow. He had a penchant for making the impossible a reality. As she continued to read the report, this was proven by information of two things Cloudhawk had invented. The first was a structure capable of creating fresh, clean water out of nowhere. They were calling it a Miracle Tower. His next accomplishment was something that transformed sand into arable soil. That one was called the Green Sword. Where there was a Miracle Tower people never needed to fret over a lack of water. Where the Green Sword was placed the land came alive. Both items had begun to spread out through the wastes, directly benefiting millions of lives. It also transformed the way they looked at demonhunters and relics. Of note was that they did not call them demonhunters out in the wastes any longer. Cloudhawk was the successor to the Demon King. Wolfblade and Abaddon ¨C leaders of the wastes ¨C were demonkin themselves. Continuing to call the mentally awakened demonhunters was inappropriate. The wastelands had many names for the talented, such as Chosen, Black Knights, Godslayers and so forth. Now that the Green Alliance was established and in full control, they all came under the banner of a single name: Awakened. Awakened were the wastelands most prized resource. Miracle Towers and Green Swords required Awakened to use. Psychic power is what galvanized them, so what this meant was that Awakened were necessary to transform the wastes into a green paradise. He really is changing the wastelands¡­ Selene felt a faint stirring in her heart. Cloudhawk¡¯s progress was slow but the implications were earth-shaking. Through his efforts the boundless deserts might one day become forests. The world could go back to the way it had been before the Great War. At least his vision was giving the downtrodden wastelanders hope. He was giving his all to pursue his dream. How could Selene¡¯s pride allow her to fall behind? Her love for Skycloud ran deep and she was willing to do whatever was in her power to protect it. Perhaps with time the barriers between her world and Cloudhawk¡¯s could be swept away, and a single unified people would emerge. To this end, Selene was more fervent and driven than Arcturus had been. It was all worth the effort, too. Skycloud was stable, peace and order had been restored. Little by little, her reputation with the people was improving. Two people in vastly different places, working their best to have a vision become a reality. Perhaps it really was possible for the two of them to change the world! After her five minutes of rest Selene was preparing to get back to work. She returned to the table and opened a report, but before she could read a word she felt a wracking spasm run through her body. A splitting headache nearly blinded her, a spiritual pain that bore down to her soul. Gods damn it! Again! The pain transcended all description. It completely dominated her senses. It came in waves, ever since she accepted the inheritance from the Temple. With every wave her mental abilities swelled, but the price was excruciating pain that grew worse each time. Were it not for her iron will she would have died long ago. This one was particularly intense. Why? What was happening to her? The pain lasted for more than ten minutes before suddenly subsiding. Her eyes opened, revealing silver cornea ¨C like a glorious moon hanging in the night sky [1] Gradually the pain melted from her face, receding in the face of an absolute indifference ¨C almost detachment or contempt. She looked around. The pain had caused her to fall from the chair so she picked herself up off the floor. All at once she seemed like a different person, underpinned by the glow of light from her eyes that made her seem all the more unnatural. Selene looked down at the table and plucked up a report at random. It was the same wasteland report she¡¯d read earlier. She gave it a cursory glance then tossed the paper to the side. ¡°Self-righteous mortal.¡± She leaped from the room, out into the courtyard below. Her head turned toward the horizon, at the Temple floating lazily above the city. Energy poured off of her ¨C as though she were attempting to send some sort of message or signal toward the structure. In this instant many citizens of Skycloud heard a booming roar. Soon citizens nearby the Temple saw a massive, jade-like figure take flight. Though they¡¯d never seen the creature before, there was no doubt that it was the legendary protector of the city Anima. It was like a mix between a lion and a tiger, with a pair of enormous wings on its back. Its flesh was of a sort of porcelain quality like it was carved from a single piece of precious stone. It seemed to be a living work of art, hardly a creature of flesh and blood at all. The size of it was immense. On all fours it was over three and a half meters tall, cutting a majestic and domineering figure. ¡°Divine beast!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a divine beast!¡± The people of Skycloud gasped, their eyes wide with shock as they watched Anima streak across the sky. This creature was the city¡¯s mysterious protector and little was known about it. It was said that the actions of Anima were wholly autonomous. Even the High Priest had no means of controlling what it did. For over a thousand years the beast never left the confines of the Temple until this moment. But why? Anima flew a wide circle above Skycloud. Eventually it spotted its target and landed. People were whispering about it when several minutes later, they spied the beast take off from the area near the Governor¡¯s Mansion. A figure sat upon its back, clad in snow-white vestments and beautiful beyond compare. Her long, raven-black hair contrasted sharply with her shimmering silver eyes. Up above the city she was like a goddess surveying the mortal world. If it was not the city¡¯s new Governor, who was she? What had possessed Anima ¨C great protector of their city ¨C to quit its post at the Temple and serve as mount to Selene? Such a thing was unheard of, even historical, beyond what anyone could imagine! No one in the history of the city had ever taken control of the divine beast, yet under Selene¡¯s hand it was as meek as a powerful but loyal hound. The two ¨C woman and beast ¨C returned to the Temple together in view of the public. When she arrived the denizens of the Temple were still reeling from the shock. Oracles and Templars were stumbling over one another as Selene and Anima returned before the grand gates. She did not dismount, instead the divine beast made to convey her through the doors into the Temple proper. ¡°Governor! You musn¡¯t-¡± A group of clerics moved to block her path. Anima responded by opening its maw and consuming them in white-blue fire. Everyone looked on in horror. What had possessed this docile protector to suddenly act so hostile?! Selene was the Temple¡¯s Apostle before, but was no longer. What made her assume she could simply come in at her leisure? Skycloud¡¯s three primary organizations ¨C the Temple, the Governor¡¯s Mansion and the Army ¨C were meant to be autonomous. They were forbidden from interfering with one another directly. This was especially true for the lauded Temple. Without the High Priest¡¯s invitation, those who were not of the organization were not permitted to enter. Another group approached to stop her. Selene swept her silvery eyes across them and each froze as though struck by lightning. They¡¯d never seen such callousness in a person¡¯s eyes before ¨C total disregard, as though their lives were less than meaningless. Fear and a need to submit flooded their bodies. Even these hardened martial warriors found themselves robbed of morale. Hearing the commotion, High Priest Aquaria rushed to the scene. By now Selene had pushed through the doors and was quickly approaching the forbidden area. The Temple was an ancient place, present here even before the Elysian land was founded. Its interior was vast, complex, and there were places that even the High Priest did not fathom a use for. It was one of these mysterious rooms that Selene approached. Immediately, Aquaria recognized something different about Selene. Whoever this person was, she was not the Governor. Rather she appeared to be in the grip of someone¡¯s else¡¯s control. The power came from her eyes. Aquaria had been a member of the Temple for decades, and now held post as the High Priest. She knew many of the organization¡¯s secrets. Her predecessor, Ramiel, had employed one of those secrets to counteract Arcturus¡¯ growing power. His intention had been to empower her with the Temple¡¯s latent powers, inheriting what was left by the gods. What Selene had accepted was the implantation of a relic into her own body. Her eyes. She¡¯d employed this relic during the battle at Fallowmoor. Everyone saw the result. Her eyes allowed her to see the flows of time! Ramiel¡¯s death had been too sudden. At one time he¡¯d revealed that accepting divine ability would lead to power. But he tempered that with the assurance that it would also come with a cost. What he meant by that was never disclosed to anyone. As such Aquaria remained in the dark, her knowledge limited. Now it seemed the answer was clearer. Something was in control of Selene! Everything she did was not a product of her own will, but from another mysterious power. Mount Sumeru! A crowd of people followed Selene and Anima as they pressed toward the forbidden area. It was one of the most sacred parts of the Temple but was entirely empty. All that was there was a singular doorway set in the center of the room. It was cast in bronze from top to bottom. No one knew its purpose. Selene slowly dismounted from the divine beast. Anima turned and bared its great teeth at the others. A clear warning not to approach or interfere. One of the clerics called out. ¡°High Priest! What should we do?¡± Aquaria¡¯s brow was furrowed as she struggled with the problem. ¡°The Cloud God has not returned since leaving the Temple. We¡­ can do nothing but watch.¡± Selene stretched her hands out toward the doorway. Onlookers felt a surge of mental energy fill the chamber and begin to resonate with the portal. Runes etched into the door¡¯s frame came to life and began to glow. It began to open at a glacial pace. Selene was trying to open the door? It was becoming clear, but the question remained: What was this door? What purpose did it serve? Aquaria did not know anymore than the others, but something about it filled her with unease. She did not know where this door led, but one thing was certain. Nothing good was going to come from it. 1. This is directly compared to her name in Chinese, ÒøÔ¡®Silvermoon¡¯ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 664 - Book 6, Chapter 56 Book 6, The Temple¡¯s mysterious doorway began to open very slowly. At this pace it would take four or five days to open completely. Anima patrolled near Selene, like a loyal and watchful dog. It was vigilant for any changes nearby. Any who attempted to approach were stopped by the beast¡¯s snarling maw. No one dared approach, else they¡¯d risk being devoured by the frightening creature. The High Priest and all her followers were enough to overcome the divine beast, but what then? This wasn¡¯t any ordinary creature, but held important significance. For a thousand years it was the Temple¡¯s protector and bore a close connection to Mount Sumeru. Likewise, the power Selene inherited had come from the home of the gods as well. If her actions were the will of the gods, would getting in her way be tantamount to blasphemy? Could the Temple disobey the actions of the gods? The disquiet in Aquaria¡¯s heart grew with every passing moment. It was all so strange and unexpected. ¡°All oracles and Templars, fall back. Leave the chamber. Take no action without my direct command!¡± ¡°Yes, High Priest!¡± The Temple faithful did as they were told. Aquaria went with them, riding a griffin to the military headquarters as fast as possible. The best of Skycloud¡¯s talent had withered terribly as a consequence of the war. Skye Polaris, Arcturus Cloude, Ramiel Caelestis¡­ they were all dead. Few others remained to consult in the face of this problem, so her first choice was to seek guidance from the Commander-General of the army, Phain Mist. He was the only person among Skycloud¡¯s elite that Auaria trusted.. After all, they had worked closely for many years. Phain had taken residence in the Polaris family mansion, vacated after their ouster from Skycloud. It was covered in the slowly dilapidating traces of the former military family, as well as shadows of the great man who once called this place home. This was where Phain Mist chose to work. It filled him with a sense of gravity and pressure. He was under no illusion that he was any fraction of the man their fallen War God had been. Nor could he compare to the War Saint, whose position of Grand Prior he¡¯d taken when Vulkan fled to the wastes. Even after becoming ¡®the drunk of the wastelands,¡¯ he was a much greater man than Phain. Still, he was tapped to lead Skycloud¡¯s army. When Aquaria came calling, Phain was busy dealing with administrative matters. His attire was much different than it had been when he served in the Temple. Before he had donned the flowing and graceful raiment of a Templar, granting him the image of an elegant and noble servant of the gods. Today, his austere clothing matched his severe countenance. A long sword was strapped to his side and his head was covered with a gauze-lined cap. The cloth concealed his hideously deformed face. His disfigured appearance was a result of Arcturus¡¯ ire, much in the same way the old drunk and Cloudhawk had suffered. His injuries were not insurmountable and he was expected to make a full recovery, but he would be forever scarred by the attempt on his life. [1] It would serve as an eternal reminder. The High Priest¡¯s sudden arrival came as a shock to the Commander-General. He fell silent after Aquaria relayed what was happening. ¡°You know what the city has been through in the last few years,¡± Aquaria said. ¡°The situation is complex and precarious. If that door opens a portal to Mount Sumeru, how would the gods react to our citizens?¡± Phain understood what Aquaria was getting at. She didn¡¯t want that door opened for she distrusted anything that would come from it. With brow furrowed, Phain answered. ¡°That door has never been opened ever in recorded history. We have no way of knowing what it is or what purpose it serves. If we try to stop it, we risk offending the gods.¡± Aquaria cast aside her mantle as High Priest for the moment. ¡°If the gods know what we are doing then they are already offended.¡± Arcturus had conspired against the gods here in their own city. Blasphemous as it was, and strong as Arcturus had been, he was nothing in the face of Mount Sumeru¡¯s power. However, out in the wastes the Demon King¡¯s successor flourished. Gods and demons were mortal enemies and if the gods learned of Skycloud¡¯s agreement with the wastelanders their wrath would be immense. Of course, this was all speculation. They had no proof that this portal had any connection to Mount Sumeru. Because Ramiel had died so suddenly, many of the secrets passed down from one High Priest to another were lost forever. Aquaria didn¡¯t even know how it was Selene had acquired these strange powers, nor whether it was her place to stand in her way. As the two struggled for answers a powerful wave of mental force swept through. A voice echoed in their minds. No, not a voice ¨C more like a thought that wasn¡¯t theirs, a foreign will. A powerful creature was linked directly to them from some great distance. The High Priest and Grand Prior felt a location, somewhere outside of the city of Skycloud. Near the miraculous waterfall. Whatever creature had connected to them did so from a distant hundreds of kilometers away. Far beyond the scope of any mortal mind. There was no need to guess who this being was. Without a moment of hesitation and never daring to deny the call, Aquaria and Phain left for the signified location. Skycloud¡¯s miraculous waterfall was one of the most incredible places in all the realm. The silvery cascade tumbled from the heavens seemingly from nowhere. It certainly wasn¡¯t the clouds that spawned it. Like a belt of silver it fell into a vast lake below, roaring like the gallop of a thousand horses. A haze from cast off water droplets gave the area a strangely ethereal feel. The two visitors approached the banks of the lake. A thousand meters across the waters they watched a hazy figure come into view. It was floating above the lake surface. The distance made it impossible for even these two capable people from seeing who it was. However, the way the light played off its crystalline form was enough of a confirmation, along with its regal bearing. If it was not the Cloud God, then who could it be? The two humans thought it strange. The Cloud God had been gone for a long time. Why had it suddenly appeared here? If Skycloud¡¯s deity had returned why did it not immediately return to the Temple? Why summon the two of them here? Did all of this unexplained behavior have something to do with Selene? Aquaria and Phain were both important members of the Temple. Though they were nervous facing the object of their faith, it was not as stupefying to them as it would be to an average citizen. Each bowed respectfully and Aquaria acknowledged the god. ¡°If I may ask, why has the illustrious Cloud God called us to this place?¡± The Cloud God¡¯s answer whispered through their minds. ¡°I sense that an avatar of the gods has matured.¡± Avatar? Did it mean Selene? When had Selene become an avatar? There was no need to wait for the question, for the Cloud God could sense the confusion in their minds. It explained. ¡°Avatars are messengers appointed by the gods. They are capable of using a fraction of the god¡¯s power¡­ until it overwhelms them. When the power becomes too great for their bodies, the god takes control. Divine will awakens, and the Avatar becomes a conduit for its power.¡± ¡°Selen has become one of these avatars?¡± ¡°Correct, but not merely an Avatar. The powers she bears ¨C the inheritance as your ilk call it ¨C are a portion of the God King¡¯s own power. She is in the initial stages of division, the Avatar¡¯s divine will asserts itself. She is now wholly loyal to the god she serves.¡± Aquaria and Phain exchanged a look. Neither were quite sure what was going on. Phain questioned the deity. ¡°Why would the Avatar¡¯s will want to open the doorway?¡± ¡°Every Elysian land has a Temple at its core. The Temple is a creation of the gods and contains many secrets mortal minds cannot comprehend. The Boundary Portal is one of them.¡± Through this mental link, the Cloud God continued to explain. ¡°A thousand years ago the gods defeated their demonic foes during the Great War. We spread out, establishing a number of enclaves: Skycloud, Meadow, Highmorn, Dragenmere, and Praelius. Six mighty realms for six great Supremes.¡± Neither human had ever heard of these other Elysian lands, but why was the cloud God telling them now? ¡°Each realm contains a Temple. Each Temple is a medium by which your human world is connected to Mount Sumeru. They are also gateways to one another.¡± The reverberating ¡®voice¡¯ of the Cloud God pushed out all other thoughts. ¡°The disharmony in Skycloud has attracted Sumeru¡¯s attention. When the Boundary Gate is opened all the realms will have access to our home. Foreign demonhunters will attack Skycloud under the command of their deities.¡± The news struck them like lightning! Phain and Aquaria stared at the being, stunned. Other Elysians realms¡­ attack? Once that door opened, armies from other holy lands would come to see all the denizens of Skycloud eliminated. 1. Mmhm. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 665 - Book 6, Chapter 57 Skycloud. Meadow. Highmorn. Stormford. Dragonmere. Praelius. After the Great War, six Elysian lands were established. Meadow aside, there were four other realms as yet undiscovered. If the aim was to take over and cleanse Skycloud, why would Sumeru first send warriors from other Elysian lands instead of dealing with it personally? The thought crossed Aquaria¡¯s mind and in that instant the Cloud God answered. ¡°There are limits to what even gods can achieve. It takes a great deal of time for the gods to make the trip here from Mount Sumeru. Should they be dispatched this instant, it would still be a while before they arrive.¡± This news did not ease Aquaria¡¯s downtrodden spirits. The gods might be some time in coming, but there were four godly realms bent on Skycloud¡¯s destruction. The four Supremes leading them were mighty in and of themselves without considering the threat of the realms they led. Demonhunters ¨C perhaps even Master Demonhunters ¨C could be amassing on the other side of the Boundary Portal as they spoke. Pitted against a weakened Skycloud, the combined might of those forces would easily sweep them away. Another question crept its way into her head. The Cloud God was among these Supremes¡­ why was it telling these mortals of the danger on their literal doorstep? Was this a decision their patron did not agree with? Rather than returning to the Temple and aiding Selene, the Cloud God took succor here at the waterfall and warned them. The logic did not seem to make any sense. In truth, the Cloud God¡¯s actions were born of helplessness. It was still connected to the matrix linking all of its species. What it severed was the immediate access to its mind while retaining the ability to look into others. All the changes in divine thought were clear and at its fingertips. This was how Skycloud¡¯s patron knew the dangers this realm faced. ¡°For many reasons, in my current condition I cannot return to the gods. Should the other four Supremes come to our world, the chances are high that I will also succumb to their cleanse.¡± But¡­ why? Both humans said nothing, but the shock on their faces was clear. For a thousand years the Cloud God was Skycloud¡¯s protector, but he acted as though he was also in danger. Was there even killing among the gods? The Cloud God had been wrapped into a conspiracy between Wolfblade and Arcturus. Upon collecting the Demon King¡¯s skull, Cloudhawk was imbued with the fallen creature¡¯s memories. Among these fragmented thoughts and visions was a poison ¨C one that Skycloud¡¯s former Governor and the Elder demon knew would slip into the Cloud God¡¯s mind if the two met. So it was arranged that the deity would delve into Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts. Suddenly, the Cloud God understood many things it was not supposed to. Its mode of thinking, its realm of consciousness, all underwent a staggering change. Where had the gods come from? What were gods? Did they really share a common ancestry with demons? Why was the history of its species hidden? What was the purpose of their existence? All of these were questions it had never been forced to consider before. Concepts none of the gods had ever explored. It seemed strange that ¨C according to the Shepherd God ¨C all the gods were locked away from such thoughts. This seal was limiting their breadth of thinking, preventing them from exploring these subjects or even being curious. When it touched the Demon King¡¯s memories, that seal was broken. At last the Cloud God¡¯s mind was free to go where it wished. As a reaction, it partially sequestered itself from the other gods. But the damage was done. The Shepherd God had spoken true. Even if that connection was restored, the Cloud God would never be welcomed back into divine society. The God King would never tolerate a poisoned creature like¡­ him. Could what the Shepherd God said be true? In losing that connection, in breaking that seal¡­ had that transformed him into a demon? True or not, he could not accept it. He had to find some way to reconnect, to wrest back his godly identity! When the other four Supremes arrived, the Cloud God would be in dire trouble. He had to concoct some way to stop the Boundary Door from opening fully. But he couldn¡¯t do it alone, this was a job for these mortals. They could help stop the door while he thought of a way to restore the seal. Aquaria asked, ¡°Can Selene be returned to normal?¡± ¡°When one becomes an avatar it changes them on a fundamental level. Reversing this process is very difficult.¡± The Cloud God¡¯s solemn voice echoed in their minds. ¡°However, it is not impossible. The power of the avatar and Selene¡¯s own are comparable. If we can free her from the transformative relics in time, there is a chance her will can overcome.¡± The two humans fell silent. Selene¡¯s powers came from her eyes¡­ would they have to remove them? Was that the only way to save her? The Cloud God¡¯s body began to disappear into the mists around the waterfall. ¡°When the Boundary Portal opens fully it will herald Skycloud¡¯s destruction. Time is running short. This is my warning, whether you succeed will depend on your own efforts. There is no further help that I can give.¡± With that, the mental connection came to an abrupt end. The Cloud God disappeared from view. For a few moments Aquaria and Phain remained by the water¡¯s edge. Still, silent. In order to stop the door from ordering, their patron god was telling them to act in direct defiance to Mount Sumeru. Could their small and ineffectual race survive such a thing? Now were they stupid. There was a distinct impression that the Cloud God would not help because he wished to distance himself from these happenings. The two Temple faithful were stunned to be faced with this challenge, but they knew there was no other choice. Whatever the future brought, the destruction of their species could not occur while they merely looked on. Aquaria and Phain returned to Skycloud and began to organize their people. The master assassin and leader of the Court of Shadows, Janus Umbra, was also called summoned and made aware of the threat. She represented the only elite Skycloud family they could trust. Clerics, Templars, and Court assassins made up a force that numbered in the hundreds. Small to be sure, but they were unparalleled in skill throughout the realm. Aquaria, Phain and Janus met to discuss their strategy. ¡°This was not Selene¡¯s intention. We should do everything within our power to keep her alive and sever that which controls her.¡± Phain¡¯s sword was already in hand. ¡°We¡¯ve no time to waste! We go now!¡± Janus, without specific orders, galvanized his people. He along with Atlas and over a hundred assassins made their way toward the Temple for a covert assault. These shadows were hand-picked elite of the Umbra family. Any one was considered a formidable killer. Together they were confident Selene Cloude was as good as defeated. With them were a number of clerics and Templars, improving those odds further. All together they made their way toward the heart of Skycloud, where the Temple lay. Their assault began! Soon the invading faithful were met with a dazzling light barring their path! It was quickly followed by a concussive blast and a searing heat. What occurred at the front lines was impossible to know. The vanguard of soldiers vanished. The Temple shook. ¡°What happened?!¡± Aquaria and Phain stood near the rear, eyes agape as through the haze they saw several figures approach. Could the door have already opened? No! It would be impossible for it to end so quickly! Peering closer they spied Selene standing by the doorway, with Anima snarling by her side. With them had appeared a whole host of others. Not humans. Puppets. More specifically they were the Seraphs ¨C protectors and builders of this city. But they had forsaken their duty and now stood vigil here, in the heart of the Temple. Each of them possessed great power and the humans also had to contend against the mighty divine beast. They couldn¡¯t fight through such an array to get to Selene. After becoming Avatar, Selene was not just master of the Temple¡¯s guardian. She had control over all the Seraphs as well. Most importantly she had the power to witness streams of time. She knew what was coming, at least within a narrow scope. With such abilities she knew her foes approached, and with what strength. A sneak attack against one such as her was impossible. Anima roared at them menacingly. Its great wings spread wide and a burst of energy spread through the chamber. In the same instant the Seraphs launched into a harrowing attack. Aquaria did not hesitate. ¡°She¡¯s seen through our plans. Retreat!¡± Her revelations were too late. Their failed assault was not all the avatar saw. She knew they would attempt to flee. Seraphs appeared at the rear of the invading force, cutting off their retreat. Janus, upon seeing their dire circumstance, dissolved into a threat of black smoke. The assassin quickly vanished. He would be the only one to escape. Fighting in the Temple continued for some time, but eventually a quiet settled across the city. The end result was easy to surmise. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 666 - Book 6, Chapter 58 A fierce sun burned in the sky, an ever-burning furnace. The air warped beneath its intense heat. Hot winds kicked up clouds of sand and sent them careening across the dunes. Between the chaos of heaven and earth, here there was¡­ nothing. Endless nothing. But this was not entirely true, for a singular black dot broke the monotony. It hobbled along, footsteps stretching off into the rolling desert from which it came, toward a distant destination that never seemed to grow closer. The figure was wounded, its dark clothes torn and wet with blood. Some were bad enough to kill a normal man eight times over. But Janus Umbra pressed on. As he fought across the hot sands he wryly acknowledged how impossible it all seemed that he would find himself here. While fleeing from Skycloud the assassin had encountered three attempts on his life. Luckily he was a master of escape, otherwise his journey would have ended long ago. He left behind a city fully under Selene¡¯s control. The Boundary Portal was still in the process of opening. They were too late! They were too late¡­ Janus struggled over the peak of a dune. As he did his dry eyes were met with a stunning sight. Suddenly the sands dwindled away and were replaced with a vast expanse of fertile land. Looking off into the distance, Janus could find no end to it. Hundreds of kilometers of well-organized, cultivated land stretched before him separated into three sectors. Delineating this vital pocket from the wastes was a ring of ancient ruins and sand. They stretched from one end of his vision to the other like a barrier of prehistoric remains. What lay on the other side was entirely different. Neighborhoods of neat buildings, erected one after the other in well-planned rows. Patches of agricultural land organized in clearly marked squares. Streets that crisscrossed everything, like arteries bringing lifeblood to every part of a massive creature. From this distance the countless people shuffling back and forth looked like ants. For innumerable kilometers Janus had trudged across yellow wasteland only to see it change suddenly. In the city below, the soil was rich and dark. Patches of vibrant green had begun to appear. Clearly there had to be plenty of water to make the soil so moist. Somehow life had come back to this desolate place, where nothing had existed for many centuries. Citizens of the wasteland¡¯s newest city had continued to swell. The growing workforce increased the already rapid pace at which the city expanded. In the center of the vast expanse was an oasis, ringed with dense forest and blanketed in faint light. That was the middle of Greenland. The heart of the Green Alliance. It was amazing to Janus that in just over two months, the wastelanders could build a city of this scale. Most stunning of all was how the environment had changed. Did that guy really have the power to transform the world? If Cloudhawk could change the wastelands, then he could definitely save Selene. Janus stumbled toward the city¡¯s border. A few moments after crossing the threshold he was stopped by a number of figures who hadn¡¯t been there a moment before. ¡°Who are you?¡± A dozen soldiers with dark black rifles gathered round, dark muzzles pointed toward the assassin. It was obvious by his garb that Janus was no wastelander, now here he was sneaking around the city. Chances were he was some sort of saboteur. These sorts of soldiers were no threat to Janus typically, except his wounds had made him weak. He muttered at them in a low voice. ¡°I am the leader of Skycloud¡¯s Court of Shadows, Janus Umbra. I need to see Cloudhawk!¡± Leader of the Court of Shadows? The wastelanders looked at one another. Most outside of Skycloud had never heard of the organization. But Cloudhawk was a busy man. How could they allow some stranger with unknown intentions to simply waltz up to their leader? The more they heard, the more uncomfortable they found this situation to be. Soldiers gathered closer, apparently determined to take him into custody and ask questions later. ¡°What? The Court of Shadows?¡± One of the soldiers spoke up. The squad¡¯s captain scowled. ¡°White Face, you know him?¡± The one called White Face was a scrawny young man. He was different from most of the citizens as he hailed from Skycloud. He¡¯d defected for a number of reasons and now lived in the city. Janus¡¯ organization was committed to remaining low key. Even among Elysians the group was not widely known. However the name alone was enough to hint at its purpose, so when White Face heard it there was surprise in his expression. The security team¡¯s captain eyed the stranger with suspicion. He was badly wounded, that much was clear. If it¡¯d been him with those injuries he¡¯d have died already. If Janus was still standing it showed what sort of man he was. ¡°Report this to the boss!¡± Half an hour later, Janus¡¯ arrival reached Cloudhawk¡¯s ears. Greenland¡¯s leader hurried to where the assassin was being held to check up on the details himself, but by the time he arrived Janus¡¯ wounds had put him in a coma. Cloudhawk was taken aback by the sudden change in circumstance. Janus was one of Selene¡¯s trusted subordinates, wasn¡¯t he? He was among the best of Skycloud¡¯s forces, in some ways comparable to a Master Demonhunter. What had wounded him so badly? Cloudhawk had Janus brought to the fortress, where he carefully examined the assassin himself. The wounds were bad, but not enough to put him in a coma. It was mental exhaustion and psychic overdraft that caused it. It wasn¡¯t too serious. He¡¯d just have to wait until Janus¡¯ mind recovered. Meanwhile he could tend to the physical injuries. There had to be a reason Janus was here! The most likely explanation was that something had happened in Skycloud. Selene was in some sort of danger. As Cloudhawk mulled over the issue he pondered a way to wake him up. If he didn¡¯t know what was going on he couldn¡¯t find a way to help. Suddenly he felt a reverberation in the back of his mind. It was a relic, somewhere on Janus¡¯ person. The resonance was slight, almost imperceptible and easy to overlook. He looked over the assassin¡¯s neutral face ¨C somehow both exceedingly ordinary and featureless. Even gender was difficult to determine. But with his mind weak Janus control had begun to slip. Cloudhawk peered closer. The power masking the assassin¡¯s face was still strong but the rest of the body began to reveal details. A rounded buttocks, a swollen chest. Janus was a woman. Really? The Court¡¯s legendary killer had been a woman all this time? The faint fluctuations continued to nag at Cloudhawk. It had to come from whatever relic was concealing her true face. He patted her down and found the source. Placing his finger against Janus¡¯ forehead, a surge of power was released. What followed took him by surprise. Janus¡¯ genderless, featureless face rippled like water. He watched as her features remolded themselves; her flesh was brighter, her nose higher, her face more slender, her features all different. The real face of Janus had always been a mystery, as well as much of her actions. Why was the assassin so eager to help Selene? Skycloud¡¯s Governor was also quick to trust her. Now that Cloudhawk saw her true face all of those questions were answered. Free from the relic¡¯s power, Janus was revealed to be not only female but also relatively young ¨C in her thirties, perhaps. She was beautiful, noble, somewhat cold. He couldn¡¯t deny the similarities. Was Janus Selene¡¯s¡­ Her body quivered, her eyes popped open. Instinctively her finger shot out toward Cloudhawk¡¯s chest ¨C an ancient and deadly assassin technique. A killer of her proficiently could pierce through armor with a single finger, with the force of a bullet. However, Cloudhawk had transcended the limits of ordinary men. Her attack was almost clumsy to his eyes. He knocked her hand away without effort. In the moment that followed Janus realized she was safe within the confines of Greenland¡¯s fortress. ¡°What the fuck is going on?¡± It was a loaded question about much more than the situation in Skycloud. It was a fair guess that Janus was Selene¡¯s mother. Or if not her mother then related by blood. But whatever their relation that wasn¡¯t the most important. He needed to know what she was doing here! ¡°Selene is under someone¡¯s control. She¡¯s begun opening the Boundary Portal¡­¡± After a brief explanation of what was happening, Cloudhawk stared at her in shock and alarm. He¡¯d been fighting the ominous feeling that Selene¡¯s powers were more of a danger to her than a boon. Power like that came with a price, he knew well. But he didn¡¯t realize it would be so serious. A dark cloud of unease hung over him. ¡°How is she right now?¡± Janus weakly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. You must stop her ¨C you are the only one who can.¡± Stop her? How was he supposed to stop her, attack Skycloud? The peace between Skycloud and the wastes had been hard won. Even if he was inclined to, by the time he summoned an army it would be too late. There was no question the gravity of this situation. If he didn¡¯t stop Selene from opening the Boundary Portal Skycloud would come under siege from other Elysian lands. Skycloud was not in a position to defend itself. And fuck all that, Selene¡¯s safety was in question! Her greatest ideal was to protect her home and build a true democratic haven. A self-sufficient, stable, capable environment and system of governance. It was only getting started, but was now in danger of being destroyed by Selene¡¯s own hands. If she succeeded it would wound her deeper than anything ever had. Janus didn¡¯t have a chance to say anything else before Cloudhawk turned away and left. He vanished from within the fort and shot into the horizon like an arrow. He left Greenland immediately, not because he shunned allies but because there was no time. He would have to risk going to Skycloud on his own. Cloudhawk¡¯s teleportation skills and speed were far greater than any normal person could fathom. Before long, Skycloud city¡¯s borders appeared before him. He looked out over the metropolis, at the golden pyramid hovering over the central square. The Temple was radiating an intense light like the miracles of old. Tens of thousands of Skycloud citizens gathered beneath it. They choked the square and the roads, their eyes turned skyward. ¡°What are you all doing?!¡± Cloudhawk shouted at them. ¡°You have to run! Run for your lives!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 667 - Book 6, Chapter 59 The Temples¡¯s light hung over Skycloud¡¯s central square. Such a stunning display the people could only attribute to the gods, so citizens came in droves to prostrate themselves before the miracle. Cloudhawk¡¯s warnings had fallen on deaf ears. He looked on as the Temple spun ever faster. It wasn¡¯t a building. It was some sort of airship, or enormous floating machine. With the Temple¡¯s central systems activated, huge amounts of energy were being released. Was he too late? Cloudhawk¡¯s dark eyes were fixed on the light-swathed Temple. With no time and no recourse, he made a decision. His body rose up into the air and once hanging over the crowd, he released as much mental energy as he could. The air warped from the strain. It didn¡¯t take long for Skycloud¡¯s citizen to notice the change. People raised their faces toward the sky where clouds gathered into whirlpools. Only, the swirling was from the inside out, and from their depths spat forth a rain of meteors. Enormous, burning hunks of rock descended from the heavens, each one the size of a house. Tumbling from a thousand meters overhead, there appeared a terrible screaming sound that shook the city. A dozen of the meteors roared toward Skycloud¡¯s central square. ¡°It¡¯s Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°That demon is here! He¡¯s attacking Skycloud!¡± After witnessing such an apocalyptic scene there was no need to guess who the culprit was. Only the great evil of the wastelands, Cloudhawk, was capable of such a nightmare. The citizens and soldiers of Skycloud burned with rage. This hateful fiend! He¡¯d been lurking in the wastelands for so long that they¡¯d nearly forgotten him. Now, suddenly he was again in their midst attacking the city! Trying to destroy the sanctity of this once-in-a-millennia miracle! Did he disregard the Elysians so much? Cloudhawk knew the risks of such an action. He knew it would cause misunderstandings. But what else could he do? He couldn¡¯t stand by and watch the Boundary Portal open, dooming these people to destruction, without doing something. He couldn¡¯t just stand by while Selene was dragged into an abyss! Destroy the Temple. He had to. The meteors had a high risk of injuring innocents, but it was this or allow Skycloud to be razed to the ground. Every man, woman and child of the city would be cut down. Now wasn¡¯t the time to debate morality and losses. More meteors fell. Twenty or thirty of them, released from swirling portals in the sky. He struggled to arrange the portals in such a way to control their trajectory. They shrieked across the sky toward his sole target, the Temple! Leaving flaming trails in their wake, the meteors closed in with the impact force of a hundred missiles. Dozens striking all at once would be equivalent to thousands of ordinance. No matter how strong the Temple¡¯s construction was, it could not survive a direct strike. That awful sound drew closer. Burning light from the meteors clashed with the pure white light from the Temple. Suddenly a beam of energy shot forth from the holy structure. It struck the foremost meteor dead on and, with a shuddering blast, broke it apart. Chunks of flaming rock hung over the city like a star-spangled sky. Flaming debris pelted various districts of the city. Trees were set alight and windows shattered in their passing. Boom! Boom-boom! Boom! Cloudhawk watched in horror and disbelief as one after the other his meteors were destroyed, their pieces flung across the city. They were intercepted in mid-air with incredible accuracy. The beams that were stopping them were, in fact, the city¡¯s Seraphs. He¡¯d dealt with Seraphs before. While they weren¡¯t weak, Seraphs weren¡¯t soldiers so much as builders and repairers. In the few times the city had been damaged, it was through their miraculous works that it was restored to glory. They shouldn¡¯t have been fast enough. The Seraphs couldn¡¯t stop the whole attack any more than they could survive it, at least not on their own. Again and again they threw themselves at the stones and were obliterated. But Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor shower was deflected. While in his daze Cloudhawk was taken aback by a thunderous cry nearby. A groping clawed appendage reached out with incredible speed, condensing the surrounding air to water. Reflection shield! Cloudhawk instinctively raised his left arm and the familiar pale light shone forth. The clawed hand raked across the shield leaving jagged marks, but was thrust back to where it came. Several of the claws themselves were broken. The strike had come from a divine beast! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes fixed on the source of the attack. A winged half-lion, half-tiger creature with a body like carved jade floated majestically before him. Its appearance was not strange, for this creature was said to be the great protector of Skycloud, capable of sensing when danger was near. They must have known. The Temple was prepared, its Seraphs arrayed to contend with the meteors. That¡¯s how they countered his attack! Cloudhawk lashed out at his attacker with the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. As it swept through the air countless spark-like threads of lightning danced in the air. In the blink of an eye they filled their surroundings. Meanwhile the divine beast radiated light. Its broken claws regrew. Power from the Arbiter¡¯s Staff g;anced harmlessly off its defenses. The creature was incredibly strong! Its protections were as strong as its offense! Cloudhawk was aware that defeating it would not be an easy feat, especially since he was in the heart of Skycloud. He didn¡¯t have much time. Seraphs and demonhunters were alerted to his presence. With every passing moment more rushed into the air to try and stop him. They were a tough array of defenders, especially the Seraphs. So long as they were near the Temple they were unkillable and their power inexhaustible. Cloudhawk was still trying to come up with a plan when a slender figure dashed a hundred meters into the air and settled on the Temple¡¯s exterior. She was clad in snow-white clothing and her dark hair whipped through the air. In her right hand was a blazing crystal sword. Her two eyes glowed with silver light. ¡°Selene?!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were wide in shock. He knew it was her¡­ and not her. Her face was an icy mask of indifference. The apathy she expressed showed without question that the Selene he knew had been replaced with an unfeeling stranger. Was this what happened when a human was baptized in divine power? An avatar? Avatars and Seraphs were different. The latter were puppets, more like robots. They had no way to think on their own and thus were malleable. With the right methods they could be controlled as Arcturus had done. Avatars, on the other hand, were creatures of flesh and blood. They thought, they grew, but they did not feel. Avatars were very rare indeed. Only gods of the highest order could create an avatar. The demands of becoming an avatar were heavy on the body of the host, but also robbed the god of some of its own power. As a result, few were the gods who chose to weaken themselves in exchange for an earthy representative. Selene¡¯s ¡®Eyes of Time¡¯ were relics from the god of time. Tools of the master of Mount Sumeru, the most powerful of its race ¨C the God King! It was the God King who controlled Selene. And she was its agent. Even as merely an avatar she had the qualifications to stand shoulder to shoulder with a Supreme! Selene fixed her silver eyes upon Cloudhawk. In a voice that was both strange and familiar she spoke. ¡°You are the descendant of the Demon King? With these eyes I can see your future. You have no hope for victory.¡± Fires burned in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s own eyes. They were a sign of the anger smoldering within. ¡°You get the fuck out of her body.¡± The Avatar¡¯s response was tepid. ¡°You still do not understand? My situation is different from the Shepherd God¡¯s. I am Selene, and Selene is me. We cannot be separated. So, how can I leave?¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Cloudhawk teleported to Selene¡¯s location. Electric light crackled in his right hand as he stabbed Ruin toward her chest. Even someone as hardy as Selene would be destroyed by its power. All the while the Avatar¡¯s face was an emotionless mask, as though everything occurring was a scene in some play and bore no relation to her. Just as Ruin was about to reach its target, the lightning blade stopped. ¡°You can¡¯t do it?¡± The Avatar asked the question, but knew the answer. He couldn¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t tell whether the Avatar was telling the truth or merely bluffing. What he could feel was the burst of power she released from those silver eyes. Time powers? A thousand years ago the Demon King had been defeated at the hands of its godly counterpart. Was this the power that spelled its doom? Time was an ability much more terrible and much more powerful than the spatial skills he wielded. If Selene could see the future it meant everything Cloudhawk did was known even before he realized it, so long as she maintained the power. She would also be prepared. He stared into her eyes, at his reflection shimmering in their silvery depths. Her confidence was carried on the knowledge of Cloudhawk¡¯s relationship with Selene. It was because she knew what was to come. She had seen the future. No matter the variables or what factors emerged, in none of the possibility threads of the future could Cloudhawk bring himself to murder Selene. Anima screeched and lashed out at him again. In the same instant, the Avatar¡¯s crystal sword also blazed with light and thrust toward him. He danced out of the way of the divine beast and used Ruin to deflect Selene¡¯s attack. Through it he judged the Avatar¡¯s strength to be at least equivalent to a Master Demonhunter, even stronger. However, in a one-on-one battle with Cloudhawk she would not win. If he couldn¡¯t kill her, then he had to find a way to capture her alive! He activated his powers to teleport to Selene, who was reeling from having her attack deflected. Yet even before he arrived she was retreating from him. Seven or eight Seraphs poured in to her defense from all directions. He answered with the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. The shields around the Seraphs failed. With his other hand, Cloudhawk brandished Ruin. The holy creatures all detonated as bolts of lightning crashed into them. ¡°Where are you running?!¡± Cloudhawk used his overwhelming power to punch right through the blockade. Even if the Avatar could see the future, so what? When a mouse fought a cat, would it matter if the mouse could see the ending? Could it change the inevitable? In conflict against the powers of time he needed nothing fancy. Strength was enough to overcome. Cloudhawk was prepared to capture her at all costs! Yet as he closed in a loud rumble filled his ears. He saw the pyramid-shaped Temple spinning like an impossibly precise machine. From its smooth surface an enormous gateway appeared ¨C connected directly to the Boundary Portal at the Temple¡¯s heart. The Temple had become a door! Cloudhawk scowled. The Boundary Portal had been formed. It was too late. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 668 - Book 6, Chapter 60 Cloudhawk released a hundred arcs of lightning in a split second. All the Seraphs nearby were immediately reduced to ash. As little more than puppets, their combat abilities were limited at best. But that being said, the Seraphs did possess impressive psychic force. Ordinary folk would be hard pressed to defend themselves. Once again the path was clear. Cloudhawk and the Avatar stared at one another. Selene looked at him, flat eyes from a soulless husk. He was caught in the same problem. Any move he made, Selene would know before he could enact it. Like a chess game, anywhere he went those Seraphs would be arranged to block his path. The mysterious and elusive powers of space didn¡¯t help him here. She knew where he would be. It left him feeling angry and helpless. If he faced any other enemy he might take the gamble and fight to the death. But the Avatar was Selene transformed. What she did was not of her own accord, perhaps even the opposite. It was so sudden and unexpected, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t mentally prepared. He was holding back for fear of hurting a dear friend. The Avatar controlled the Seraphs. So long as the Seraphs were near the Temple they were unkillable. The ancient structure gifted them an inexhaustible source of energy. It had become clear to the Avatar that Cloudhawk was trying to misdirect her and her people. His forceful blow toward Selene was a feint as he prepared to attack the Temple. In response, a large number of Seraphs began soaring around the Temple gate defensively. The moment Cloudhawk turned to focus on the Temple, Seraphs raced in to meet him. Skycloud¡¯s holy center was a tenacious structure and not easy to destroy. With the addition of the puppets and their commander, his chances of closing the gate were slim to none. With such being the case, better to keep his focus on Selene. She was his biggest problem, for once she wholly became one with the Avatar getting her back would be far more difficult. More troubles and mistakes would occur. The last thing he wanted was to face her on the other side of the battlefield. He couldn¡¯t stand idly by while someone close to him became a puppet of the God King! But those eyes gave her a window into the future. What was he supposed to do? No. There was no such thing as perfection, not in this world. The future wasn¡¯t set in stone, there were variables that could change it. The more Selene disturbed the flows of time, the more things could change. At some point she¡¯d fail to keep up. If he found a way to overwhelm her, then there was a chance to take her alive. Cloudhawk disappeared. As he was preparing for his assault, Selene¡¯s eyes belched a silvery-white light. Her vision was not confined to three dimensions. Those strange eyes gave her access to a fourth or even fifth dimension. She could see things mere mortals were incapable of seeing. For instance¡­ Normal folk looked at something and could determine its height, weight and location in current time. Selene saw much more. She witnessed not only how something changed in space, but how it changed in time. The past and the future were an unbroken line of figures that made any pretense of illusion meaningless to her. However, the Avatar¡¯s powers were a mere tenth of what the God King was capable of. As such she could see the flows of time but could not manipulate them to attack her foes. This meant she was not unbeatable. There was still a wide gap in strength between Cloudhawk and Selene. However, she was aware of what was to come. Cloudhawk was preparing to launch a flurry of attacks, all of which she saw laid out before her. By her estimation, a dozen or so rounds was all she¡¯d manage before being overwhelmed. She completely understood his tactic, but that didn¡¯t help her when he was so much stronger. Some paths to the future were difficult to change, even when you saw them coming. Alone, even with the Eyes of Time, she could not protect herself against Cloudhawk. But this was her home turf. She was not alone. ¡°You believe you are strong enough to stop the inevitable?¡± The Avatar¡¯s tactics changed. Dozens of Seraphs drew up close. Cloudhawk was forced to stop ¨C not because he feared the Seraphs, but because of those he saw among them. Aquaria, Phain and Atlas were among a group of hostages held by the puppets. They¡¯d failed in their coup against Selene and had been captured. Selene¡¯s cold voice reached him. ¡°You know these mortals. They are tied to you.¡± Aquaria lifted her bloodstained face. It was drawn and pale, but iron was in her eyes. ¡°Cloudhawk, forget about us. She isn¡¯t Selene anymore. If you don¡¯t act now we stand no chance!¡± As the last word left her lips, the Seraph behind her thrust a sword into Aquaria¡¯s chest. ¡°Stop!¡± Cloudhawk shouted. After impaling her, the puppet cast Aquaria away like a sack of refuse. Cloudhawk teleported to her and snatched the High Priest from the air. Just as the Avatar had foreseen. She lashed out with Sublime Transcendence, releasing a blaze of holy light. Cloudhawk had enough time to deflect it, but not enough to steady himself. The intensity of her strike knocked him from the air and he hit the ground with a shuddering impact. A host of demonhunters astride mighty griffins gathered round. The rest of Skycloud¡¯s strongest had now arrived and began coordinating to block Cloudhawk¡¯s escape. No sooner had he made landfall than a deluge of attacks were levied at the wasteland leader. Suddenly he found himself in a tight spot. For the moment he paid them no mind. First he needed to see how badly the High Priest was wounded. What he discovered was bleak ¨C Aquaria¡¯s wounds were serious, she was on the cusp of death. If he let her die, how could he go back and face Dawn? His friend had lost her father, her grandfather and her family. Was it the fate of her last loved one to die a violent death? So Cloudhawk took Aquaria and quickly teleported out of danger. Once away from the volley of attacks, he prepared an assault of his own. But then the situation changed again as around the Temple pieces of it began to separate and float free. They arranged themselves into a floating, octagonal ring. An intense beam of light fired through the Boundary Portal. Skycloud shook! Cracks appeared in buildings and streets buckled! Hundreds of thousands of citizens who had failed to heed Cloudhawk¡¯s warnings were struck by a blast of energy. The lucky ones suffered only mild injuries, but many others had their internal organs liquefied. They hit the ground, blood and viscera leaking from their mouths. All at once Skycloud¡¯s central square was a scene of wailing misery. Those left unscathed gaped in horror. How¡­ how could this be? Was this the miracle they¡¯d been waiting for? Why would this divine act cause so much pain? At last the citizens began to understand that the situation was not what they expected, and tried to flee. While they scrambled over the bodies of less fortune, more and more energy poured through the Boundary Portal. The intense beams struck the components of the octagon but rather than blast through, they were wholly absorbed. Space began to ripple. Cloudhawk looked on as the area in the center of the ring began to churn and warp like stirred paste. Motes of plasma-like energy undulated all around as a small black hole appeared. It was then he felt it; a spatial portal had been opened! The sheer amount of energy required to open the portal had ravaged vast areas of Skycloud. It looked like the aftermath of an earthquake, with elegant buildings laying in pieces among shattered roads. The devastation radiated out from the city center. A storm that threatened to obliterate what was left was gathering overhead. Even Cloudhawk was helpless against such power. Selene watched the portal form, her silver eyes aglow. ¡°It is done!¡± It was too late, Cloudhawk knew it at once. Yet while everyone was distracted, Phain managed to break free from his bounds! With one punch he blasted the Seraph holding him to pieces! He spun around and attacked the next closest one to try and help his fellows escape. When Selene realized what was happening she was too late to prevent it. Her Eyes of Time were not omniscient, blind spots existed. She had been too focused on the portal to see Phain¡¯s actions. Cloudhawk made sure to take note. There was no stopping the Boundary Portal now. But he wasn¡¯t going to go home empty handed. Acting quickly he teleported Phain, Atlas and the others to safety. In a blink of an eye they were a hundred kilometers away from the threat looming over Skycloud. The Avatar¡¯s scope of power was not wide enough to reach them. Selene could only see the flows of time around her. Thus outside her vision, Cloudhawk and the others had no more need to worry. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 669 - Book 6, Chapter 61 Book 6, The Avatar watched Cloudhawk abscond with the prisoners. She made no effort to pursue him ¨C in fact she seemed hardly bothered at all. Skycloud¡¯s finest were gone. Arcturus, Skye, Ramiel¡­ they had all perished. Phain and his like were not weaklings, but nor could they hold a candle to the old guard. When compared against the War God Skye, or Phain¡¯s predecessor Vulkan, he was hardly worth noting. Selene¡¯s goals had been realized. The Temple¡¯s Boundary Portal was opened. What did it matter if a few small minnows slipped the net? They were no threat and thus could be ignored. The Avatar peered coldly down upon the masses, writhing in pain and fleeing in terror. The city still quaked and its people scrambled around like ants. A sneer crept into her face. If there was any trace of the real Selene left, she would have killed herself before taking joy in the suffering of her countrymen. But now Selene was the Avatar. The Avatar was Selene. Her mind was under complete domination by the God King. The combination of divine mental power and mortal will is what created the Avatar. Likewise, the combination of the God King¡¯s mental strength and Selene¡¯s natural abilities made an even stronger final product. Selene¡¯s person had been entirely inherited, conveying unto the Avatar her strength, tenacity, resilience and submission. However, the God King¡¯s all-powerful mind had imprinted itself on her. The Avatar was completely subservient to the will of its maker. All orders had to be followed. It was this imprinting that made the Avatar unfailingly loyal to the God King. Selene would remain a slave forever, unless one day her strength somehow surpassed the power of the Avatar. Regaining her self-control was a monumental undertaking. Even a fraction of the God King¡¯s power was beyond mortal comprehension. Thus, with just this modest gift from the mighty deity, the Avatar commanded no less respect than a Supreme. The Boundary Portal cast a harsh light over the ravaged city. Dozens of figures appeared from this air, hovering over the center of Skycloud. They hit the ground with force enough to leave craters. Rising from the dust, the figures were bathed in auras of might and majesty. Numbering in the dozens, these strangers could be separated into four distinct groups by their clothing and equipment. It was clear they were from somewhere completely different. Selene, with the Seraphs, floated down to where they¡¯d made landfall. ¡°You are the venerable Avatar, Selene Cloude.¡± An older man with white hair and a kindly face stepped forward. White was certainly a theme for this man, for aside from his hair he also sported a snow-white beard and robe. Even the staff he bore was a milky white like fine jade. He was like a collection of light moving through the air. ¡°I am the High Priest and Master Demonhunter of Highmorn, Lucian Ambrove. At your service, honored Avatar.¡± [1] Highmorn¡¯s High Priest¡­ He also styles himself Master Demonhunter which means he had felled a demon at some time in his past. In all of Skycloud there had been only three with the qualifications to call themselves Master ¨C the Cloude brothers, now all deceased. Clearly this white-haired, fatherly man was not as simple as he appeared. Light from the Boundary Portal had begun to fade. Apparently its transmission had ended when this group arrived. Selene frowned. ¡°Only you?¡± ¡°The God of Light has instructed us thusly: The energy field around Skycloud is unstable and cannot support the whole army. A god¡¯s perfect form in particular requires great power to transmit. I have come with this group to help stabilize the land and prepare the way for the others. Once we have repaired the energy field, we can proceed.¡± It was the same for the other three Elysian lands. Selene understood what the problem was. The Great Wall¡­ the wall Adder had destroyed. Its destruction caused the flows of energy within Skycloud to break free and seep out into the surrounding landscape. As the energy field weakened and became disrupted, it had led to a parade of miseries. What Adder could never have guessed was that his act of terror would one day save countless Elysian lives. Trying to activate the Boundary Portal with a weakened energy field had caused it to become unstable. Troops in the numbers Selene had expected were impossible until it was restored. Selene then turned to the Seraphs. From them she extracted information about the Temple¡¯s current state. Its energy levels were depleted. If this was not corrected, it would lose control of the realm. From this moment forward Skycloud would be defenseless. Climate and environment could no longer be maintained. The wastelands would begin to encroach and impact the lives of Skycloud¡¯s citizens. This was not the biggest concern. Repairing the energy field would require a month at least. A month before another transmission of soldiers would be possible. Now that she understood the situation, Selene drew her eyes over the crowd of new arrivals. The gods and armies of the other four realms had not passed through, but they had sent their best as a vanguard. They should be enough for now. Highmorn¡¯s leader was its High Priest, Lucian Ambrose. Dragenmere¡¯s delegation was commanded by a stunning woman in her early twenties but that couldn¡¯t be her real age. She had fiery red hair that reached down to her waist and was dressed simply so as to show off her alluring form. Her name was Phoenix Igna, known as the Immortal Ave. [2] Phoenix was commander of Dragenmere¡¯s demonhunter corps and was its best warrior. Although not quite at the level Arcturus had been, she wasn¡¯t far off. Compared to many other Master Demonhunters she was far superior. Leading Praelius¡¯ fighters was a bald man of middle years. Cold and unapproachable, with features that looked to have been chiseled from stone, he was quite an imposing figure. He was neither large nor frail, but well-built and exuded a sense of physical aptitude. His weapon was a large, pitch-black spear. What made this man stand out more than anything else were the eight other blades of various lengths strapped to his back, like some grizzly peacock¡¯s tail. It deepened his air of ferocity and mystery. [3] This man¡¯s name was Ash Farran, Commander General of Praelius¡¯ armies. He was similar in some ways to Skycloud¡¯s late War Saint. A master of martial ability, he also possessed considerable psychic power. However he was stronger than Vulkan had been. His comprehensive fighting ability was comparable to Skye Polaris in his prime. Finally there was the group from Stormford. Presiding over them was a man with naturally silver hair, clad in a scholarly gown that added to his elegant demeanor. He bore no obvious weapons and with his agile bearing did not seem to fit his name ¨C Bruno Argyris. [4] Bruno looked to be somewhere between thirty and forty years old. His skills were the most unique of his compatriots and back in Stormford he was known as ¡®Silverbolt.¡¯ It was a nickname earned from his two abilities. The first was thunder, much like Arcturus. Second was a talent to manipulate space. Indeed, a one-in-one million demonhunter capable of using spatial relics! In all of Skycloud¡¯s history there had only been a handful of people with such a skill. However even when a spatial-focused demonhunter emerged, there were few relics that catered to their talent. The skill itself rarely manifested with much power. Thus they vanished from public attention and left no lasting mark. Bruno, however, was an exception. A master of spatial power. Even though his mental prowess was inferior to the others, underestimating him was fatal. Lucian, Phoenix, Ash and Bruno. Four of the most powerful people of their respective realms. Each came with five to ten of their best subordinates to constitute a formidable array of might. Their average strength was comparable to Phain Mist. In addition to their personal strength, the leaders of the four delegations were capable commanders as well. They were all very different, with their own strengths and merits, but there was no doubt that each were warriors who shook the earth where they passed. Now they were all gathered in the Cloud God¡¯s realm. Skycloud, whose mightiest had perished in a series of tragedies, were now replaced with foreign powers. Together they were no less indomitable than the three Cloude brothers had been in their prime. Furthermore, the strengths and styles of the soldiers under their command were also unique. There were those with pronounced mental abilities, healers, some specialized in locking down opponents, and trackers. Among the thirty or so who had passed through the gate there were no less than ten who were masters of their craft, their four leaders included. In other words, one in three were peak-level fighters. Each of them were the very best of their realm. Nevermind. Although the armies of the four realms could not pass the portal, those that could were far from weak. They would be more than enough for what was to come. 1. It¡¯s Sarumon! 2. Jean Grey! 3. Uh, Kratos? 4. Kakashi? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 670 - Book 6, Chapter 62 The Temple had darkened somewhat. Within, five figures convened. The Time Avatar Selene, Highmorn¡¯s High Priest Lucian, Dragemere¡¯s Demonhunter Commander Phoenix, Stormford¡¯s Grand Prior Bruno, and Praelius¡¯ Grand Commander Ash. Selene began by explaining in brief the situation that Skycloud now faced. When her report was finished, Phoenix¡¯s fiery red hair was practically standing on end. One could almost swear tongues of flame danced between the threads as though it were actually on fire. Of the four foreign leaders it was the lone woman who seemed outraged by the circumstance. ¡°What was Skycloud¡¯s leadership doing when the realm was facing these tragedies? Were they so useless? That one leading the wastelanders, Cloudhawk ¨C I will deal with him myself!¡± A smile crept into Bruno¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty, Commander Phoenix. We know from the honorable Avatar¡¯s report that this Cloudhawk is the Demon King¡¯s successor. He possesses spatial talent, the strongest to be found in this world. No one contests that Commander Phoenix is the strongest warrior throughout Dragenmere, but capturing or killing a master of dimensions is no easy feat.¡± Lucian and Ash said nothing. They withheld their words as they pondered the situation. Until now they were unaware of the troubles facing Skycloud. All of the Elysian realms were separate and did not typically communicate. Had nothing happened to the Cloud God¡¯s realm, they wouldn¡¯t be here. Eventually Lucian asked a question. ¡°Why is Skycloud¡¯s patron deity not with us?¡± It then occurred to the others that indeed this was an Elysian realm. It had its own god to guide it! Mount Sumeru had lost contact with the Cloud god but knew it still lived. Skycloud¡¯s master had severed its ability to provide information to the collective but still received. The Cloud God knew all that gods were preparing. When the Supremes sent their representatives to Skycloud, they did so without telling the humans about the Cloud God¡¯s aberrant state. Orders were simply to comply with whatever the Avatar required for this was no ordinary godly representative ¨C the power within her was gifted directly by the God King. Selene explained in calm tones. ¡°The Cloud God has been corrupted and will never return to Mount Sumeru. It has betrayed us, and should you encounter the renegade it must be destroyed.¡± ¡°What? Murder a god?!¡± Once more, Phoenix raised her voice. This time in alarm. The others shared a wordless look. If they¡¯d been asked to hunt a demon there would be no hesitation, but to slay a god? Such a thing was easy to say but far more difficult to achieve. On the one hand it was difficult for them to wrap their minds around. On the other, the Cloud god had been one of the Supremes. Selene had no intention of repeating herself. ¡°The Cloud God¡¯s strongest aspect is its psychic ability. He can attack through nearly any defense and is my only real threat. Although it has not overtly acted against the gods yet, the corrupted god cannot be permitted to continue living.¡± Selene¡¯s powers of time allowed her to see all attacks before they occurred. However, against the mental powers of the Cloud God even she felt threatened. Its scope of influence was wide, far wider than Selene¡¯s. If it attacked from outside the range of her abilities she would not know until it was too late. It must be that the Cloud God had not yet decided to turn against the gods entirely. But whether or not that was true, it would act before the Boundary Portal opened again. When that occurred Selene would find it difficult if not impossible to finish the process. Besides the fact that he could attack from great distances, Skycloud was also its home territory. With the reputation it bore as patron, a single word could unravel all her plans. The fact that the Cloud God had yet to do either of these things meant it was still uncertain. Perhaps it hoped to return to the fold. Selene found it pathetic, almost laughable. A god hoping with the blind desperation of a gambler. Such feelings within a god, with the thought seal removed¡­ what made it any different from these sad mortals? Lucian intruded once again. ¡°Calm yourself, Mistress Phoenix. We are newly arrived and know nothing of this place. We should listen to the honorable Avatar¡¯s instructions.¡± Clearly Phoenix was the most reactive of the group. More than likely it was a result of the environment she came from. As the realm¡¯s greatest warrior there was not a soul in Dragenmere that could stand before her. Undoubtedly this would foster a more arrogant nature. Of course she was also no fool. She knew there were powers greater than her. When her patron god arrived even it would not be able to supersede the will of the Avatar. How much truer was this of Phoenix? She was wise enough to know when to hold back. Selene continued. ¡°For the time being the Cloud God is dormant, but may change sides at any moment. If it does then we will be unable to wage war against Cloudhawk, even with you here.¡± His took the delegates by surprise. Unable? How could that be? They were the very best of their respective realms and had brought along thirty elite soldiers each. Suddenly ten historically powerful warriors had arrived in Skycloud with twenty more formidable fighters to support them. With such a group, how could they be powerless against a wasteland rabble? Phoenix was the most incredulous among them. But before she could voice her disbelief Selene fixed her with her silver gaze and went on. ¡°How likely do you find your chances of rising against the God King?¡± The question came out of the blue. Phoenix hadn¡¯t expected it and didn¡¯t know how to respond. In truth it had never even occurred to her. Why would she raise her hand against the God King? Of course, now that it was posed she stopped to consider. She acknowledged that even with her strength, against such a creature as the God King she¡¯d be woefully inadequate. Selene didn¡¯t need to wait for her answer. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s former Governor, Arcturus Cloude, had strength equivalent to a Supreme God. He was perhaps stronger than some of the Legendary Demonhunters of old. But even he died at Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. Do you think you are more powerful than Arcturus had been?¡± Once again the other leaders exchanged surprised looks. Their assumption had been that Skycloud¡¯s leaders were weak and ineffectual, that was why such tragedy had befallen the realm. Selene¡¯s words proved the truth to be quite the opposite ¨C in fact, if what she said was correct than Skycloud¡¯s Governor had been stronger than anyone from the other realms. At once they realized there was a real and dire threat that had caused Skycloud to be in the state it was today. Cloudhawk had arisen. The southern wastes boasted a population nearing two million. With Skycloud fractured, defeating the wastelanders would be difficult. The Avatar filled the silence. ¡°From today we will seal off the realm. Any Elysians we find suspicious or seditious will be removed. Our border wall must be restored. Once this is finished, we wait for the Boundary Portal to open.¡± The four leaders thought for a while. Being that they did not know the situation there was no option but to heed the Avatar¡¯s directions. They trusted she would not make a mistake. Selene then gave each of them a task. Ash Farran was put in command of the realm¡¯s entire military force. Lucian Ambrose would take over administration of the Temple. Phoenix Igna became the commander of Skycloud¡¯s Demonhunter Corps and Bruno Argyris would lead the rest of the special forces. All focus would be on rebuilding the border wall. With their orders given, the leaders left the Temple. Skycloud was in a state of chaos. The Boundary Portal¡¯s unstable opening had caused widespread harm and destruction. If something wasn¡¯t done then panic was sure to spread quickly. In considering this situation Phoenix grumbled. ¡°Poor wretches.¡± Ash¡¯s frigid voice returned, ¡°Unlucky enough to live in the land of a traitorous god. Better they are all culled before another like Cloudhawk emerges.¡± After the tragedies Skycloud had faced it was unlikely the realm would ever return to what it had been. Ash Farran made his way to the former Commander-General¡¯s mansion. From there he learned what state the realm¡¯s armies were in and summoned a stewart before him. ¡°Bring the one called Hammont Seacrest here,¡± he ordered. About half an hour later, a slovenly man with an unshaven droopy face dressed in officer¡¯s garb was brought forth. Ash regarded him with a stony expression. ¡°You were one of the generals who fought and lost against Cloudhawk?¡± Hammont looked back at this unfamiliar man. Although he knew nothing about him, the aura the soldier generated was enough to leave him breathless. He managed to nod his head. ¡°Y-yes.¡± Ash plucked something off the desk and threw it at the fat man. ¡°Consider this formal confirmation. You¡¯re to help me manage the realm¡¯s troops.¡± Hammont watched the item skid across the desk and stop before him. He stared blankly. A writ of promotion. Was this how he would become an official general? There wasn¡¯t a ripple in his heart. It¡¯d been his highest aspiration to become a high-ranking commander, but now it held no flavor. Ash had selected Hammont because of his spotless record. Any relationship he had with Cloudhawk and Arcturus had been expunged. All that remained were the times Hammont lead troops against the wasteland scourge. Just as Hammont had predicted, he¡¯d clawed his way up from the bottom and was now a mighty general of the armed forces. The new Commander-General was unfamiliar with Skycloud¡¯s military and needed someone like him to help get situated. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 671 - Book 6, Chapter 63 Book 6, Citizens of Woodland Vale were using hooks and sickles to harvest eboncrys fruit dangling from branches overhead. One by one the heavy fruit were gathered and hefted into baskets, then lowered to the ground by a series of pulleys. Once safely aground they were put on the backs of large pack animals and sent off to processing warehouses. Woodland Vale had come to mean a great deal to the Green Alliance. It was the group¡¯s energy creation and processing center. Once the Green Alliance had begun production of the latest weapons, their eboncrys demands had gone up at least two-fold and was increasing every day. As their efficiency improved this new fuel source would eventually come to replace older, outdated ones. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and dappled sunlight kissed the ground below. Wolfblade sat cross-legged in the boughs of one tree which had been arranged into a sort of hanging garden. Ladybugs and butterflies shuffled among the plants and flowers in picturesque fashion. On the small table before Wolfblade was a freshly brewed cup of hot tea. In his hands was an old tome with ancient earth script crawling across its surface. Its contents had to do with old philosophical questions. Humans were a contradiction, he mused. That¡¯s what made them such good thinkers. Wolfblade loved to reflect on their existential ponderings. It helped him understand humans a little better. A gust of wind brought yellow sand up into the small treetop abode. The disparate grains collected to form Abaddon, his dark and hulking figure in sharp contrast to the vibrant surroundings. At two and a half meters tall he loomed over Wolfblade¡¯s human form. ¡°Our King has made a surprise visit to Woodland Vale. He has asked to see the Elder ¨C he seems angry. Should you make yourself scarce?¡± Wolfblade calmly shut his book, took up his tea cup and partook of its soothing contents. When the tea was gone he finally replied. ¡°Why hide? I couldn¡¯t even if I wanted to.¡± No sooner had he shared the thought than ripples appeared in the air before them. A figure emerged. Cloudhawk regarded the demons with a frigid expression. Wordlessly he picked up Wolfblade and flung him forward with bone-breaking force. The Elder¡¯s frail human body tore through the air like a broken kite, smashing through a wall of the treehouse. He struck the much sturdier trunk, which then exploded into splinters as though hit by a missile. Cloudhawk¡¯s form shimmered and he vanished from within the tree house, only to reappear before the hole Wolfblade had involuntarily created in the tree itself. Reaching in, he plucked the Elder demon forth. Wolfblade¡¯s ashen face was covered in blood, and more leaked from his nose and ears. Clearly the human form could not handle Cloudhawk¡¯s ire and his internal injuries were considerable. Every inch the Demon King, Cloudhawk lifted his fist in preparation for another blow. This one would be final. Abaddon rushed forward to stop him. ¡°If you kill the Elder who else will help you against the God King?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was cold as death. The depths of his anger was evidenced by the complete lack of expression. His face was as dead as the mask he often wore. ¡°You knew Selene would become the Avatar.¡± Wolfblade weakly coughed his answer. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You knew the Temple could connect to the other Elysian lands.¡± Once more the demon nodded. ¡°I did.¡± Knuckles cracked as Cloudhawk tightened his fist. ¡°You knew this would happen and deliberately kept it from me?¡± With no way to obfuscate, Wolfblade answered honestly. ¡°You could say so, yes.¡± You could say so¡­ Cloudhawk had to fight the urge to punch him into paste. ¡°Have you given any thought to the number of people who¡¯ve died to win peace between Skycloud and the wastelands? Finally Selene is in control of Skycloud. Finally the wastelands are coming back to life. Now it¡¯s all about to be destroyed. Because of you.¡± Wolfblade did not seem fazed by Cloudhawk¡¯s anger. ¡°My King, you are mistaken. There was never peace between Skycloud and the wastes. It is merely your wishful thinking deceiving you. Did you honestly believe what you¡¯ve done here, in harmony with Selene, would give rise to some utopia?¡± The Southern Capitol was complete! The southern wilds now had plenty of water and fertile soil! There was no more need for the two sides to fight. Cloudhawk¡¯s goal was to build a new society, one that wasn¡¯t reliant on spilling blood. When Selene took over Skycloud, she did it with the aim of giving her people a life of dignity. She wanted to see a realm erected on a foundation of self-confidence, popular rule and equality. Although they came from different worlds and stood on different sides, both Cloudhawk and Selene strived to bring their visions to life. Through mutual trust and understanding, peace between their two lands really was possible. Though contradictions remained on the surface there was a real shot at avoiding more war. Perhaps, with time, they could even recombine as a united people. But then the Boundary Portal opened. Now all hope was lost. His face calm as a forest pool, Wolfblade kept his eyes fixed on Cloudhawk. ¡°What you were striving toward was nothing more than a temporary ceasefire. Like a beautiful dream, no matter how lovely one day the cruel reality of awakening would steal it away. You would watch as it all came tumbling around you.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s temper flared again. ¡°Why keep me in the dark?!¡± Wolfblade made no effort to acknowledge his actions as a mistake. All he¡¯d done he saw as common sense. ¡°If I had told you, you would have done everything in your power to stop Selene¡¯s transformation. Perhaps a tentative peace between Skycloud and the wastelands would continue for a year or two, but have you looked beyond that? After all those sacrifices you¡¯ve mentioned, do you want it all to come to naught for such a small period of respite?¡± ¡°Once those comfortable years were spent it was more than likely all of Mount Sumeru¡¯s pantheon and the four great realms would come together in force. Can you say with confidence that Skycloud and the wastelands are strong enough to stand against the combined might of the gods? Because of the defects in her realm¡¯s energy field, Selene cannot open the Boundary Portal large enough for all their armies to pass through. On the surface you may see this as a tragedy, but it saves us a great deal of suffering. Now we can face our enemies individually instead of together.¡± ¡°But all that being said, none of it was the primary reason. More than anything I kept this information to myself, for you.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face was dark. He knew what the demon was getting at. Wolfblade continued to stare unflinchingly at Cloudhawk and, although still at his mercy, swelled a little with growing confidence. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve done up to this point is nothing more than childish dreams writ large! Your person, your thinking remains that of a human. You still lack the awareness of a demon ¨C and so even though on the surface you may seem stronger, inside you remain vulnerable.¡± ¡°What does the life of one woman mean? You must come to understand your destiny. When you understand the responsibility on your shoulders and can sacrifice everything to see it through, that is when you will be at your strongest. When you become what you are meant to be, then you will be our King. Our true King!¡± ¡°Enough, I¡¯m tired of your shit. If I can¡¯t even protect a woman important to me than what the fuck good is being King of anything!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s patience had reached its limit. ¡°All I want to hear out of your fucking mouth is if there¡¯s some way to fix her.¡± ¡°You wish to save her? It is both difficult, and it is not.¡± Wolfblade shrugged and went on. He had nothing to hide. ¡°The Avatar¡¯s eyes are her power. Pluck out her eyes and her ability to read time is gone. So long as she possesses sight even one such as you cannot sneak up on her. Now that the Boundary Portal has activated, she has others by her side ¨C the very strongest those other Elysian realms could provide.¡± What? Take her eyes? Cloudhawk paused in thought. Doing something like that to Selene would be more than difficult. What¡¯s more, just as Wolfblade said she possessed great personal strength and the ability to see the future. Cloudhawk could not get close enough to take her eyes even if he could muster the will to. What¡¯s more, strangers from far-away lands had come to her defense. Together they were probably no less formidable than Skycloud¡¯s lineup had been a decade ago. Even with Cloudhawk¡¯s power being what it was, he had to be wary. Fraught with indecision, eventually Cloudhawk released the demon Elder. His form shimmered, and vanished. ¡°Elder, your methods haven¡¯t won you any points with our King.¡± ¡°He¡¯s young. Impulsive. Arranging new opponents to keep him focused will help him to grow. The humans call this the Catfish Effect.¡± Wolfblade regarded the space Cloudhawk had disappeared from for a moment. ¡°Now Selene has become our most arduous foe. What choices will our King make, I wonder?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 672 - book 6, Chapter 64 Book 6, Cloudhawk teleported into the old mausoleum. Selene wasn¡¯t going to save herself. He had to help her. The Avatar was not weak and its hooks had dug deep into her. Worse still, a number of powerful Elysians had joined the Avatar in Skycloud. The hard-won peace following Arcturus¡¯ death was over. Skycloud¡¯s circumstances had changed the most as a result, to the point where it could be argued this upheaval was worse than any event before it. The city teetered on the cusp of a terrible cleansing, performed at the hand of the Avatar. Eventually her armies would rally and threaten the wastes. It was precisely what Wolfblade hoped to see. Turmoil would cause more Elysians to defect to the wastelands. Although the Avatar and her lieutenants from the four other realms were powerful, they were not invincible. They were a threat, a catalyst, that would force Cloudhawk and the Green Alliance to mature even faster. In the end, conflict was a boon. As for the sacrifice of Selene and thousands of Elysians? Wolfblade paid them no mind. After all, he and Arcturus were cut from the same cloth. Such people never balked at sacrificing the lives of others to achieve their goals. Upon entering the mausoleum, Cloudhawk immediately made his way to the altar. There a dark, ferocious cuirass lay encased in crystal. He reached out almost unconsciously, but before he could lay his hands on the casing¡­ ¡°You are denied!¡± A cold voice invaded his thoughts followed by a force that fought his approach. Cloudhawk grit his teeth and attempted to push passed it. ¡°How long do you plan to sit there!¡± The Avatar knew Cloudhawk was the Demon King¡¯s successor. Soon that news would spread throughout Mount Sumeru, if it hadn¡¯t already. There was no longer any point in fearing whether the gods would sense his ascension. He needed the power of the Demon King. The Demon King¡¯s Cuirass was not merely its former master¡¯s strongest relic. It represented authority. Up to this point Cloudhawk had only inherited the demon¡¯s mental powers and memories. Once he put on this armor, all of the former King¡¯s powers would be given to him. He would emerge as the true Demon King. That was how he could turn this dark situation around. He¡¯d been turning it over and over in his mind. The dangers were too great. He could only defeat his enemies with the help of the demons. Without them the conflict he faced was long, bloody and nearly impossible to win. ¡°Denied!¡± Once again Cloudhawk felt the armor push him away. He considered shattering the crystal with his power and simply forcing the cuirass to obey him. But the will of the relic invaded his mind, causing him to lose control of his mental powers. Cloudhawk was flung away from the altar. Evidently the armor could do more than just fight his approach, it was capable of disrupting his powers. Even if he managed to shatter the crystal housing, it was no use. What was he to do? He scowled and pondered his next move. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how hard or how often you try, the result will always be the same. You have grown strong, but not strong enough to dominate the power of Gehenna.¡± Wolfblade appeared in the chamber, hands clasped behind his back. ¡°Until you are ready to command the demons, you will never don the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass.¡± That hateful prick dared show his face again. But he was right. Cloudhawk sighed deeply, causing his irritation to subside. He recognized that he was rushing things. Selene¡¯s problems had robbed him of his composure. He wasn¡¯t the impulse youth he once was and knew neither anger nor anxiety would make things better. He needed calm in order to find a solution. The Demon King¡¯s Cuirass wouldn¡¯t submit to him because he wanted to save a human woman. Say he summoned the power of Gehenna, would those unruly demons follow him if that was his stated goal? As Wolfblade watched Cloudhawk reign in his emotions, he was filled with quiet satisfaction. No one in this world or any other understood Cloudhawk as well as he did. Wolfblade ¨C Legion ¨C had watched him grow. He knew what he¡¯d gone through, understood the many and varied periods of his life. Deep in the core of Cloudhawk was an adaptive and unpredictable nature. Cloudhawk was already a wasteland leader, and well qualified. If he maintained this position he would grow to be one of history¡¯s greatest. He could really change the world. However, unfortunately for him Cloudhawk was not destined to play in this small sandbox forever. His fate called for something much larger and to unlock this hidden potential, he would need to face hardships. ¡°What¡¯s your plan,¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°We do not know how many fighters have come from the other realms. Nor do we know what sort of power they¡¯ve brought to bear. Until we do, it would be unwise to foster conflict. Rather, we should discover what we can and continued to develop the wasteland¡¯s fighting force.¡± Wolfblade paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Furthermore, Skycloud will soon enter a period of turmoil. If we play our cards right, we can siphon power from the realm while they consolidate control.¡± As always, Wolfblade had a scheme already devised. It was exactly what angered Cloudhawk so deeply. ¡°From this moment forward you better hope I never learn you¡¯ve been hiding things from me.¡± Wolfblade offered a slight, but formal bow. ¡°The Avatar notwithstanding, I hide nothing from my King.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes, fixing them on the demon. A wave of oppressive majesty filled the chamber. ¡°Tell me then, where are you hiding the Hand of Gehenna?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s expression stiffened ever so slightly. ¡°I¡­¡± Sensing hesitation, Cloudhawk cut in with a voice as cold as death. ¡°Did your words a moment ago mean anything? Do you really see me as your King? Or maybe you¡¯ve just been using me from the start. Using me against the God King ¨C maybe that¡¯s just part of your plan.¡± Something flickered behind Wolfblade¡¯s eye. Eventually, he heaved a sigh. ¡°It is not that I mean to keep it from you. Rather I hoped not to trouble you with it. If it is your wish to meet them, then I can bring you there now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired of your bullshit,¡± Cloudhawk growled. ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°They are here, in Woodland Vale,¡± Wolfblade replied. He shared their location with Cloudhawk, and the wasteland leader vanished from sight. Wolfblade was left alone in the cold chamber. Tens of kilometers meant nothing to Cloudhawk. He traversed them in an instant. He appeared in a section of the vast forest carpeting Woodland Vale. There he found a small compound occupied by a number of darkly clad figures. They were Black Knight elite, cultivated by the Hand of Gehenna. ¡°Who are you? This is a restricted area, leave at once!¡± Rustling sounds arose from all directions and suddenly Cloudhawk was encircled by several more shadowy figures. Their faces were concealed with black masks and weapons were in their hands. Wary eyes were fixed on this sudden intruder. Yet despite their alarm, Cloudhawk was too fast for them to react. His incredible speed paired with dimensional power brought him right in front of the group before they knew what was happening. A flurry of blows ensued, resulting in the guards being flung several meters away into the forest. Before more defenders could be summoned Cloudhawk flickered out of existence, reappearing in the center of the compound. Right away he felt the familiar hum. Wolfblade hadn¡¯t lied to him this time. The Hand of Gehenna was here. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 673 - Book 6, Chapter 65 This section of the compound was where the Hand of Gehenna¡¯s senior members gathered. Since Inkspecter¡¯s run-in with Wolfblade, the ¡®Hand of Gehenna¡¯ had become Legion¡¯s personal ghost squad. The number and strength of the unit had grown significantly in recent months. Under Inkspecter¡¯s guidance the group¡¯s leadership had advanced. Wolfblade and Abaddon had filed out their ranks with outside troops. Ravenous Tiger chewed on a bit jerky which he washed down with a mouthful of wine. ¡°When I was Governor of Fishmonger¡¯s Borough I had nothing to worry about ¨C every day was about comfort. Then I fell in with you lot.¡± ¡°Stop complaining, you lard-ass. If not for us you¡¯d be rotting underneath the ruins of your city. Life might not have been comfortable these last few years, but you¡¯ve got a bunch of new relics to show for it. We¡¯re ten times stronger than we ever have been. Is that not enough for you? In this world strength speaks. Without strength to back it up, no one lasts long.¡± It was a young man half-slumped on a nearby stool that challenged him. A single piece of straw jutted from between his lips, giving him a lackadaisical appearance. His hair was a dirty flaxen color and looked like it¡¯d been cut by a butcher. The back had been pulled into a haphazard braid. His left arm was covered in soiled bandages but where it met his shoulder and chest, one could see tattoos snaking across the skin. But tattoos wasn¡¯t right, rather they looked like runes embossed on his flesh. Squall Rover raised his head. He looked the same as he always had, except for a short beard that peppered his jaw. What had changed was his presence, which had hardened from the vicissitudes of life. The carefree, optimistic youth from years ago had long-since perished. Ravenous Tiger opened his mouth to respond when he was stopped by a ruckus from outside. The room¡¯s occupants all looked at one another in silence, but what they were thinking was clear behind their eyes. They shot to their feet and went outside to see what was going on. A handful of their best lay on the ground in a heap. In the center of them was a handsome young man with jet black hair, dressed in dark colors. Three-Eyed Spider and Raven moved forward to confront him. They didn¡¯t get half a step before Cloudhawk waved at them as though shooing flies. The two went careening a dozen meters away. Instinct took over and Ravenous Tiger tried to flee. But the instant he turned his head, Cloudhawk was there. Fear gripped him and all at once his defensive relics sprang to life. Cloudhawk paid them no mind and struck again. His fist ripped through the shells of mental energy as easily as though they were made of paper and penetrated Ravenous Tiger¡¯s body. A violent torrent of power was released. Dozens of the fat man¡¯s bones shattered. He crumpled to the ground, too wounded to move. Squall¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going too far?¡± As he spoke, the runes etched in his skin flickered to life. Their power seethed from his pours as a black mist, then formed into a hulking black figure ¨C Blackfiend, the Undying. The two had somehow merged. Squall¡¯s special puppet had become part of his Hellion Arm. Once Blackfiend formed, both it and Squall rushed toward Cloudhawk. They were fast, and together had destructive power to match a veteran demonhunter of the highest order. Although Squall had grown strong in the intervening years, he was no match for what Cloudhawk had become. To prove this, Cloudhawk flicked his finger. Squall and Blackfiend crashed into a force field of pale white light. The strength of their attacks were reflected back toward them and both were flung off like a pair of rag dolls. Squall hit the ground in a heap and stopped moving. Blackfiend evaporated into mist. Only a very brief period of time had passed since Cloudhawk had entered the compound and already all of the Hand¡¯s members were dealt with. While confident in their abilities and capable in most circumstances, the Hand of Gehenna was no threat to the young wasteland leader. Not one of them had withstood more than a single blow. Clutching his chest, Squall growled in anger. ¡°We¡¯re helping you. Why are you shooting yourself in the foot? Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Helping me? Don¡¯t you dare spew that bullshit to my face!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s anger congealed into a dangerously cold grin. ¡°Fuck, useless as you lot are what can you do?¡± Squall scowled in anger and shame. ¡°You¡­¡± Humiliated, he had no choice but to hang his head. The difference between him and Cloudhawk was too great ¨C as distant as heaven was to earth. Two more figures appeared. When Cloudhawk saw him his pupils contracted into dark points. ¡°Well, what a surprise to find you here.¡± Among the two newcomers one was an insidious-looking older man. Cloudhawk recognized him immediately as the Polaris family¡¯s former custodian, and Skye Polaris¡¯ killer. Inkspecter. The second was younger and much more handsome. Half his face was covered in a beard that made him look a little more haggard. The simple clothes he wore were more fitting of a laborer than the many titles he used to carry. Frost de Winter. He¡¯d been part of the plot that killed Skye Polaris. He had ended Arcturus Cloude with his own hand. Rather than disappear as Cloudhawk had expected, Frost had fallen in with the Hand of Gehenna. Without an ounce of emotion in his voice, he regarded the two. ¡°Give me a reason to let you keep breathing.¡± In the past Frost and Inkspecter had conspired to murder Cloudhawk¡¯s former patron, General Skye. That old man had taken Cloudhawk in when no one else would. Skye had his own ulterior motives, but he¡¯d been good to him. The Polaris family¡¯s ruin was a direct result of the crimes these two had committed. For Dawn, he couldn¡¯t let them off easy. And Squall, Ravenous Tiger, Three-Eyed Spider and the others? Maybe they¡¯d been allies once ¨C for some even friends ¨C but that didn¡¯t matter anymore. As far as Cloudhawk was concerned there was no reason for the Hand of Gehenna to exist. For vengeance, to rectify old wrongs, he was determined to come here and set things right. ¡°We have no quarrel. Anyway, do you think that old fool Skye would have survived for long against Arcturus, even if we weren¡¯t the ones to kill him?¡± Inkspecter¡¯s face bore a dark scowl. ¡°Besides, we belong to the Elder Legion and work on behalf of Gehenna. You have no right nor reason to dispose of us.¡± A wave of psychic force blasted through the area. Inkspecter felt as though his brain was being torn apart. He hit the ground, convulsing in agony. Fires blazed in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. Inkspecter couldn¡¯t withstand the might of his mental assault and was paying for it. Those burning eyes then slid toward Frost. Wordlessly, Arcturus¡¯ former protege pulled Rhimeshard from his hip. A cold mist hung around its crystalline blade. Frost thrust the tip of the weapon into the ground. In an instant a rolling cloud of fog spread out in all directions. Everything it touched froze solid. Cloudhawk teleported away from the attack. From a safe distance he looked back to see everything ¨C from buildings to trees to grass ¨C covered in a glittering sheen of ice. It took only an instant for everything within a hundred meters to freeze. The members of the Hand, however, were spared. Cloudhawk was somewhat taken aback by the scene. Frost had impressive mental power and control. In the months since his disappearance, Frost had been transformed. Judging by this attack, he wielded power comparable to the likes of the Khan of Evernight and Abaddon. Only several months and his power had increased three or four-fold! Frost was also still young with room to grow. His potential seemed limitless! Frost waved his right arm. Rhimeshard flashed. An arc of icy power streaked toward Cloudhawk. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 674 - Book 6, Chapter 66 Book 6, The silvery-blue streak of power blasted across the space. Icicles like ten thousand icy knives closed in. Like a flood it submerged everything in its path. Frost de Winter had grown strong. So fast it seemed impossible! To normal folk he was nigh invincible. To Cloudhawk, it was not nearly enough. In a blink he went from substantial to insubstantial and back again. Frost¡¯s attack passed harmlessly through him and Cloudhawk stood in place as though nothing had happened. As the burst of energy ripped through the forest not a single leaf was displaced. However, everything it touched was instantly encased in ice. A handful of seconds and a single swipe of his sword had turned the forest into a crystal winterscape! No matter how sturdy the wood, it was locked in ice. Every piece of grass, every weed and leaf suffered the same. Sunlight sparkled off the scene like a field of diamonds. It was not a simple freeze. Whatever was unfortunate enough to suffer Frost¡¯s power was changed entirely to ice. Rhimeshard transformed the fundamental nature of these trees so that if they melted naught would be left but pools of water. Frost stared at the young wastelander, expressionless. His face was as unreadable as a statue. Slowly extracting his weapon from the earth, he pointed it at Cloudhawk. His weapon was frighteningly cold and mist constantly poured from its surface. It filled the space with a palpable sense of danger. In the world of man only a handful could withstand the power of him and his sword. Yet Frost did not seem delighted by his meteoric rise. Neither was he relieved that vengeance had been won. Instead all he felt was a deep, abiding emptiness. Like there was nothing left in life for him. The world had lost all color. For twenty years Frost had dreamed of revenge. He had to punish his parents¡¯ killer. But never once did he give any thought to what came after. For the first time this young man was lost, without direction. Only a single duty remained tying him to this world. ¡°Squall is my younger brother. The matter with Skye has nothing to do with him. If you came seeking justice, then come at me.¡± His voice was as hollow as his expression. Cloudhawk frowned as he stared at the haggard young man. He was like a completely different person from the heroic commander he knew back in Skycloud. If he hadn¡¯t known him back then, it would be hard to believe they were the same person. As he responded, lightning bloomed in Cloudhawk¡¯s right hand. It formed into the shape of Ruin. ¡°Do you recognize this?¡± Ruin, the Blade of Thunder! How could Frost not know this weapon. It was the mighty relic his master had wielded. As he looked upon the flickering light of the sword, emotion fluttered beneath Frost¡¯s calm exterior. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Arcturus Cloude had fundamentally influenced his whole life. He hated that old fiend, but he also deeply respected him. In fact Frost agreed with nearly everything Arcturus had done. Were he in Arcturus¡¯ position, he would have done the same. But when the Governor¡¯s callous extermination was turned on his people, he couldn¡¯t just let it happen. He needed justice for his parents. He was caught between respect and loathing; acceptance and detestation. Frost had lived for years oscillating between these conflicting feelings to the point where today he did not know where he stood, whether it was all right or wrong. Seeing Ruin in the grasp of Cloudhawk, he stared as though caught in a trance. It wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk before him. It was that old man with the white temples and gray robe. A roar tumbled from his lips. Raising Rhimeshard high, Frost flung himself at Cloudhawk. The wastelander responded, dragging Ruin through the air. Like a brushstroke, threads of lightning trailed behind ¨C ink on a parchment. After leaving behind a lengthy arc it all shot forward with incredible speed. He performed the move in a flash. Frost was forced to retract his sword and use its power to gather ice into a shield before him. But it was no use. Frost had grown strong, but Cloudhawk had surpassed him. As successor to the Demon King Cloudhawk was already powerful, and that strength had done naught but grow in the last few months. Alone against Arcturus he would stand his ground ¨C assuming they bore similar equipment. Arcturus had defeated Vulkan and others with nothing but an exorcist staff. There was no clearer proof that he was orders of magnitude more powerful than they were. Cloudhawk, comparable in strength now to the fallen Governor, was similarly dominant. The instant that arc of lightning struck the ice shield, it shattered into flakes of ice and evaporated. It pressed on, slamming full-force into Frost¡¯s waiting weapon. A peel of thunder ensued. Rhimeshard broke in half. When Frost hit the ground it was twenty meters from the point of impact and his skin smoldered from lightning burns. His wounds were not severe, but the result was clear. Frost should have been strong enough to defend himself, but his weaker relic and conflicted heart worked against him. Had he a relic like Selene¡¯s Sublime Transcendence, he would have stood toe to toe against Cloudhawk for at least a dozen rounds. With Ruin crackling in his hand, Cloudhawk approached. Frost watched him come with a bitter smile. Had he really fallen so far behind? If he had nine lives he still could not dream of defeating this monster. ¡°Brother!¡± Squall had managed to scramble over to Frost, pulling himself across jagged ice and frost. Cloudhawk scowled at the scene. He hated the Hand of Gehenna, and under Wolfblade¡¯s direction who knew what manner of evils they would perform? What¡¯s more, Inkspecter and Frost had to pay for what they did. If they faced justice Dawn could breathe easier. The Polaris family would forever be in his debt. Yet at the same time he could not act rashly. He knew that the Hand served a purpose. Frost was an incredible asset. In the battles to come, he would be invaluable. ¡°Have you forgotten Asha?¡± When Cloudhawk heard the accusation he paused. His eyes dropped to Squall. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not as irresponsible as you!¡± Squall¡¯s hard eyes were pinned on Cloudhawk. ¡°I promised to protect her, but if you try to kill my brother you¡¯ll have to go through me first. Who will protect her then?¡± ¡°The Squall I knew once would never use Asha to threaten me,¡± Cloudhawk growled. He raised Ruin, ready to bury it in Squall¡¯s body. The young man shouted back. ¡°The Cloudhawk I knew once would never raise his weapon against me!¡± Ruin stopped inches from Squall¡¯s face. Cloudhawk¡¯s hard expression softened as he looked down on the brothers, and he sighed. As the fury was robbed from him the electric light died away. ¡°¡­How is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s doing well. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± For years Cloudhawk had kept the promise he made and never bothered Luciasha. He made no effort to reach out, opened no lines of communication. He knew deep within himself that they walked different paths now. The further he stayed, the better. So she was well¡­ that¡¯s good. Cloudhawk turned, took a step, and vanished from view. Once he disappeared Squall nearly collapsed. The awesome power of Cloudhawk scared him to his core. Wolfblade and Abaddon arrived after it had all finished. The Elder demon picked across the field of groaning bodies and rather than comfort them, he gloated mercilessly. ¡°He certainly did not show you much quarter.¡± Squall was furious. ¡°All because of you!¡± Ignoring the outburst, Wolfblade made his way toward Frost. ¡°How do you feel? Have you made up your mind?¡± There was a flash in Frost¡¯s eyes. ¡°My hatred for Arcturus died with him. He spent twenty years training me, so I will do what he trained me to do.¡± ¡°A fine decision. Real men know how to distinguish love and hate. Your potential is impressive, so from this day forth you will act on my behalf.¡± Wolfblade then turned to his demon kin. ¡°Abaddon, you shall join the Hand as well and do my bidding.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 675 - Book 6, Chapter 67 The Southern Capitol was now a bustling metropolis. New City was complete, it population soaring to over two million. Bigger than any wasteland city to have ever come before, it was already displaying incredible signs of vitality. It was spurred by the people themselves, who leaned on their own wisdom and ability to make their home better. They lived their lives, blissfully ignorant of the changes occurring in Skycloud. When Cloudhawk returned to the fort in the center of Greenland he immediately felt a suffocating ambiance hang over him. Walking through the halls, he spied a room with doctors coming in and out. Inside was Hellflower, writing something in a notebook. ¡°How is the High Priest?¡± ¡°The prognosis is not a positive one. The weapon was poisoned with something we¡¯ve had trouble identifying. It causes severe and irreversible degradation to internal structures.¡± Hellflower shook her head. ¡°Thankfully I was able to use your blood to make a Trespasser antidote. Without it she¡¯d already be dead.¡± ¡°So is she out of danger?¡± ¡°For the time being it doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯ll die, but it doesn¡¯t seem we¡¯ll wake her from this coma either.¡± Hellflower closed her notebook. ¡°You should prepare yourselves. The chance of recovery is very small, barring some miracle.¡± ¡°Clear the area,¡± Cloudhawk said waving her away. ¡°Tell everyone to leave the room.¡± Hellflower could see he was upset by the look on his face. It was inevitable. She knew what was happening in Skycloud as well. Even the most stoic man would be crushed by what he had to shoulder. She made as though to speak but stopped herself. Wordless, she and the other doctors left him with Aquaria. Cloudhawk looked over to the High Priest, laying still in her bed. She¡¯d already lost the ability to breathe on her own so Hellflower had her hooked up to a respirator. She was hardly more than a ghost. A quiet figure hovered by the bed. Her long golden hair was uncombed, and she looked thinner than usual. These recent years had been cruel to her¡­ Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how to approach Dawn. He felt like he owed her more than he could repay. If only he¡¯d been more decisive and killed Selene before the Avatar took her, the Boundary Portal would never have opened. This terrible act would never have occurred. Instead he¡¯d hesitated. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. If he was a little more ruthless he could have brought her back the heads of Frost and Inkspecter. That would have at least brought Dawn a little peace. But he couldn¡¯t do that, either. Dawn sensed a familiar presence. She turned around and looked at him with puffy, red eyes. When she saw who it was she smiled. ¡°Hey. Why the long face? You look like your mother died¡­¡± Cloudhawk opened his mouth but was silenced when she raised her hand. ¡°Forget it.¡± She dropped her head and looked down at Aquaria. Her face was calm. ¡°You helped get her out of there. I¡¯m grateful for that.¡± Cloudhawk walked over to her side. ¡°Ever since I was little we spent very little time together. We never spent more than a few hours alone. Now I¡¯m here all day and night, talking¡­ I trust fate. There¡¯s a reason for everything and I¡¯m certain everything will work out as it should.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, whatever happens I¡¯ll be by your side. We¡¯ll face it all together.¡± He took her hand and stood in front of her. ¡°There has to be a way to wake her up. I promise I¡¯ll find it.¡± Dawn didn¡¯t say anything. She trusted Cloudhawk, she always had. He made a promise, so he would make it happen. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m not that weak. I¡¯m just a little tired.¡± She leaned against him, ear to his chest. She could hear Cloudhawk¡¯s heart beating. It was strong, but she thought she could hear the exhaustion and powerless in its rhythm as well. ¡°How is Selene?¡± ¡°Not good, and it looks like it¡¯s only going to get worse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± Dawn raised her head and looked at him. ¡°We¡¯ll save her together.¡± Save Selene¡­ She¡¯d turned the tables and was comforting him now. Cloudhawk thought about Selene and the danger she was in. He had to admit that he was helpless. He didn¡¯t know what would happen. If he had to face her again it would be a grueling test. After all she could see through his every move. If he couldn¡¯t strike her down then he was no threat. But could he really do it if he had to? An even more intense war loomed on the horizon for Skycloud and the wastes. One that involved five Elysian domains. Cloudhawk felt the responsibility of what was to come heavier than ever before. The development of the southern wastes ¨C especially its armies ¨C had to be ramped up. Wastelanders were practically all fighters, but unless they got stronger they¡¯d be nothing more than cannon fodder. They needed a real fighting force, one with at least two hundred thousand capable soldiers. Cloudhawk left to seek out Janus and Phain. When he found Janus she was back to her normal, inexplicable self. But knowing what he knew, Cloudhawk figured there was no one more anxious about these events than her. ¡°How are things in Skycloud?¡± ¡°Since the Boundary Portal opened, everything has changed. Water supplies have begun to dry up everywhere, from the biggest cities to the smallest villages. Places along the borders have started to feel the hot wasteland climate. There¡¯s the occasional dust storm. Unless I¡¯m wrong, Skycloud¡¯s internal energy field is failing.¡± With her explanation Cloudhawk was beginning to understand what was going on. After the Avatar opened the Boundary Portal, it drew too heavily on the energy field. Spatial powers like that weren¡¯t something you could do at such a scale just as you pleased. Now millions of Skycloud citizens were being affected and it had begun to undermine their faith. There was even word that some army units were refusing to obey orders form Skycloud. For wastelanders, this presented a very good opportunity. As their relationship with Skycloud waned ¨C and as the domain¡¯s control deteriorated ¨C more Elysians would flee into the wastes. With the completion of the Southern Capitol it would be even more of a draw. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan was simple. Two steps. First, Phain would represent all the Elysians who had defected. He and others like him had a powerful voice back home. If they made those voices heard and easy to find, more would surely answer their call. This would serve to weaken Skycloud and undermine their remaining defenders. Second, Cloudhawk was resolved to make his way back into the city and try to discover anything about what the pantheon was planning. The wasteland had to know how many they were up against, how strong they were and what they were going to do. As the old saying went; if you know the enemy and know yourself, you needn¡¯t fear the result of a hundred battles. When it came to infiltration, Greenland had two top agents. The first was leader of the Court of Shadows. Second was a supermutant shapeshifter. Once they snuck in, none of Skycloud¡¯s commanders would be the wiser. Cloudhawk had learned of what to expect from Wolfblade. This group that had managed to traverse the Boundary Gate was small, but he couldn¡¯t delay. They could not allow the portal to open again. If they did, all was lost. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 676 - Book 6, Chapter 68 After the upheaval in Skycloud, Elysian citizens began to leave. Everyone was beginning to feel that the omnipresent divine energy that held up their domain was fading. Magic lanterns that once lit the streets were dark. The bustling city was still as every aspect of it was built upon that invisible, inexhaustible energy field. All their lives the citizens had flourished with the help of this power ¨C ever by their side, intangible but supporting everything they did. Lanterns, kitchen appliances, airships¡­ all of it had stopped working. For some parts of the realm there was no trace of the field remaining. The harsh sunlight was cast unfiltered upon the land, withering the plants and drying the soil. If people spent too much time outside they would suffer terrible burns. Devastating sandstorms had swept through a number of settlements big and small. They had yet to recover. Elysians had been reliant on godly technology for so long that once it disappeared they did not know how to live. Selene was forced to urgently adopt three emergency measures: One, increase propaganda. She directed the newly-appointed High Priest Lucian to begin a campaign placing the blame for all their ills at the feet of Cloudhawk. All sorts of evidence was concocted to prove their story and paint their situation as a direct result of Cloudhawk¡¯s actions. Two, organize their forces. Commander-General Ash was ordered to restructure their armies. Soldiers were more pliable than citizens when it came to following orders. Paired with a strong sense of community and identity, they were relatively easy to keep under control. Third, increase governmental pressure. Leaning on her role as Governor, Selene ordered that during this time of conflict no Elysian citizen was to leave the domain. They couldn¡¯t even leave their cities without express permission. Violators faced immediate execution. Skycloud had fallen upon some of its darkest days since its founding. Martial law was imposed on all cities and villages. Austerity measures cut off some areas from food and water entirely. Because of a lack of supplies these settlements quickly came into crisis. When had these citizens ever experienced famine? In this land of plenty, how were they prepared to go hungry? Southaven was an important city in the southern part of Skycloud domain. It was among the ten most sprawling settlements and though not as affluent as those in the center of the realm, it boasted a long and storied past. Many of the families now rooted in Skyclout City called Southaven their ancestral home. Today, even this city of two million was in danger from the troubles that gripped the land. Its many water sources had dried up all at once. Crops had all withered and died. Skyports only recently repaired had entirely collapsed. Airships ¨C both civilian and military ¨C lay in pieces. Citizens had lost all food, water and light. There was no power to boil what little water they could muster. After a week of constant sandstorms blowing in from the wastes, Southaven was hardly recognizable. Page Sudworth was a citizen of this beleaguered city. His family were rich merchants once, and though his sort were not highly regarded among Elysians at least his days had been comfortable. Recently that had all changed. An influx of troops had poured into the city after a week of devastation. They immediately imposed martial law and took control of all goods with the aim of distributing them equally among the populace. Page¡¯s family had made their riches in food production. They were forced to watch helplessly as crass soldiers raided their warehouses and took everything. His father had dared to quarrel with them, and was arrested for his impudence. Soon after they hanged him for apostasy. Page¡¯s mother had grown ill, heartbroken and burdened by these tragedies. She did not seem long for this world. He and his mother were driven from their family home. Now they had nothing but each other and were living in squalor, in a military-run shanty district. A merchant prince, now forced to pick through garbage. Page spent his days wandering the rubbish-choked streets, fighting off other starving Elysians for scraps. It was striking to see emaciated people, digging through garbage draped in fine silks. Those comforts meant nothing anymore. Sunken, despondent eyes peered from dirty faces. The dregs of a fallen society. No more energy, no more water, and dwindling food supplies. They wondered how long it would be before death claimed them. Would their suffering ever end? Elysians lacked any concept of suffering. For a thousand years they had enjoyed endless resources. As a result most settlements had no food reserves at all ¨C why would they? With famine gripping a realm of several million, shortages had reached catastrophic levels. Soldiers had started going hungry and it was estimated that more than ten thousand citizens had already starved to death. Had the gods abandoned their faithful? The question burned in the hearts of these men and women, who for their entire lives had sung the praises of those divine beings. Page turned a corner and spied an Evangelist from Skycloud city down the street, standing on a makeshift dais. He was making an impassioned attack against the wastelander Cloudhawk. It was because of that fiend that these tragedies had befallen Skycloud, the priest claimed. He was urging people to keep faith. It would all be over in a few days. But was all that true? Page¡¯s lips curled up in a bitter grin. Over the last several years Skycloud had seen a number of setbacks. General Skye, High Priest Ramiel and Governor Arcturus had all been slain. When the new Governor took power she made it a point of exposing everything Arcturus had done. The revelations were enough to have everyone question what they knew of the world. The Commander-General and High Priest who took power with Selene were branded traitors in only three months. Big problems and small issues came one after the other, on top of conflict with the wastelands. The longer the fight continued, the fewer Elysians there were. Wastelanders only seemed to grow. Doubts about the state of the realm had begun to fester, no one could tell when it had started. Skepticism about the information they were given was rife. Especially with things as bad as they were, who would listen to this priest¡¯s rambling and take heart? All Page could think about was his mother. Soon she would be beyond help. He needed to find food and medicine or¡­ by his best guess, she only had a few days left. But the city was a mess. Where could he go to find the things he needed? Helplessness washed over him, but a nearby explosion wrenched him from his thoughts. Page¡¯s head whipped around and he stared down the street in alarm. He thought he heard the sounds of fighting. What was going on? Suddenly a shadow engulfed the area. Raising his head, Page saw five or six oval-shaped objects hovering in the air. Each one was about five hundred meters long and covered in steel. They bristled with ferocious weapons that belched fire and filled the air with thunderous blasts. From behind six engines roared, propelling the airships forward with white-blue fire. A deafening voice sounded from above. ¡°Mount Sumeru has abandoned Skycloud. Your realm has come under the hand of a tyrant. If you want to live, flee this doomed place. The wastelands have all the food and water you need for free. Stay here and you will pay in blood!¡± A tyrant? Citizens who had stopped in the streets to stare all blanched. They remembered the terrible things Arcturus had done. Was this their fault for supporting him? Had they really been forsaken by the gods? Soldiers were rushing the streets to maintain order. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 677 - Book 6, Chapter 69 Book 6, Soldiers were shocked at the gall of the Green Alliance! They had chosen overt aggression ¨C something the wastelanders hadn¡¯t done in the three years following their defeat at Sanctuary. An alarm was raised. Southaven¡¯s garrison rushed out to meet the enemy. After martial law was imposed Southaven had been fortified with thirty thousand standard troops, in addition to tens of thousands of security personnel. When they heard the inflammatory announcement from the warships they formed together quickly and prepared to attack. ¡°Wasteland dogs! They¡¯re spreading lies to deceive people!¡± ¡°The gods would never abandon us! Skycloud would never do what they say!¡± ¡°A couple days, then everything will go back to normal. Have faith in your realm! We will fight these infidels together!¡± Elysian soldiers were trained to respond quickly. They ordered residents back into their homes and told them to lock their doors. Sector by sector they locked down the city. Boom! Boom! Boom! As the soldiers worked to bring the city under control, attacks fell across different districts. Mighty blasts followed a keen tearing sound ¨C nothing like the old weapons wastelanders typical used. These sounded more like energy cannons. One squad was caught in the blast radius and hardly knew what hit them. A beam of light struck in the middle of half a dozen troops. When it detonated they were flung away as though made of paper, crashing through the walls of nearby structures. Their captain stared in open horror. What sort of weapon was this?! How was it so strong? A contingent of Green Alliance soldiers came charging down the street. They bore crude black rifles which spat beams of energy each time they were fired. A single shot could blow right through a building. Concentrated fire could bring the whole thing down. The power behind these weapons far outstripped any armor-piercing ordinance the Elysians had ever encountered. Even more frightening, these eboncrys rifles were automatic. No ordinary soldier could survive against them. Thousands of Greenland invaders armed with these weapons surged down the street. They broke through the Elysians¡¯ defensive like it wasn¡¯t there. Between their new weapons and upgraded armor the wastelanders were like living tanks. Skycloud crossbows were useless. Logic dictated that if long-range was intractable, then moving in close was the answer. But they were wrong. This was the first brigade of Greenland Regulars. They were empowered by genetic engineering and steroids, which turned them into monsters on the battlefield. They were much stronger than ordinary humans, with speed and agility to match. In close combat one soldier was worth three Elysians. ¡°Surround them! Quick!¡± The Elysians quickly discovered they were facing Greenland¡¯s crack troops. If they didn¡¯t match the likes of the Talons of God, they were at least among Greenland¡¯s elite. Faced with these odds, the best tactic was to try and surround them and attack from all sides. Demonhunters or advanced weapons could then mow them down. But as the Elysian soldiers positioned to encircle their enemies, wasteland airships appeared overhead. From below they looked like enormous fish laying eggs as thousands of drones were released. This mechanical division was brought over from Ark Base, small in size but with varied abilities. They were also equipped with formidable weapons. In no time the unmanned army reached ground level. They fired viciously and indiscriminately into the Elysian ranks, sending them running. Their already shaky morale took another hefty blow. Where the hell did wastelanders get such high-grade equipment?! ¡°Attack! Everyone, attack!¡± The commanding officer waved at the soldiers near him, urging them on. He then turned to his personal guard. ¡°Send the signal. Call everyone here, close off all the roads. Let none of them escape!¡± Hefting shields, crossbows and other weapons, the Elysians rallied for another attack. The two forces erupted into a savage clash. As well-equipped as the wastelanders were, they couldn¡¯t roll through the city without opposition. The Elysian officer surveyed the field with a grim expression. Suddenly, shadows crept in from all around. Before he realized what was happening, his vision was stained red as the throats of his subordinates opened up. His guards crumpled to the floor, dead. ¡°The.. the Court of Shadows!¡± He was still trying to get a grip on the situation when the officer saw the dark-clad figures approach, escorting another in robes of crimson. At last he understood ¨C they were going to cripple the soldiers by eliminating their leadership. By eliminating him. Angrily the man ripped his sword from its sheath. ¡°You think I¡¯ll be so easy to kill?!¡± Before his words faded the officer thrust his sword into the red-robed fiend¡¯s body. To get to this position, the Elysian soldier had to be a capable fighter. But even still, what he saw next was something he could hardly believe. With the sword wholly implanted in his body, the man in red stepped forward as though it wasn¡¯t there ¨C like he felt nothing. ¡°Monster! Die!¡± The officer pulled his weapon free and tried for another attack. The man in red did not protect himself. Several pieces of him were hacked off. Bloodied segments sloughed down to the ground, quickly crumbling away into countless insects. They skittered across the ground, surrounding the officer. Bits of blood and gore on his sword gathered together, forming tentacles that slithered into his gauntlets. Stinging pain ensued as the tendrils bore into his veins. ¡°Ah! Ah!¡± He screamed in horror as mutant tissue invaded his body. Immediately he started to swell grotesquely, becoming a hideous monster of bulging flesh. This lasted only a moment, however, for quickly the engorged skin and veins began to retract. All at once the officer was back to normal with no visible differences ¨C except for the look in his eyes. It was a fantastically quick process, but Carnage had wholly taken over the body of the officer. Moments later several hundred Elysian soldiers charged into the area, answering the alarm. They saw agents of the Court of Shadows surrounding their commander and reached for their weapons. ¡°Enough! Hold!¡± The Elysian commander heaved a heavy sigh. ¡°Call the cease-fire.¡± ¡°But sir, you-¡± A junior officer looked at him incredulously. He wanted to surrender? Elysians never surrender! In Skycloud there was no shortage of warriors willing to put their lives on the line for their home. Things weren¡¯t hopeless yet. Although the Green Alliance soldiers had broken through their lines, they weren¡¯t an overwhelming force. If they gathered all their forces in a concentrated counter-offensive, they could retake the city. ¡°What they said is true,¡± the commander retorted with a sigh. ¡°Skycloud will never recover. Look around, you can see the state of this city for yourselves. We¡¯ve got no food, no water and no medicine. Countless citizens have died. Better to spare lives than throw more on the pile needlessly. Tell the soldiers to stand down!¡± The men were silent, but their mood was clear. Southaven¡¯s food reserves were nearly spent. If things did not change then this famous city would be done for. No one wanted to see that happen, but what were their options? If they gave in then what of Elysian dignity? If the city succumbed to riots and starvation, would they be any more dignified? Carnage raised his voice. ¡°You can pin all the consequences on me. Now give the order to stand down!¡± A moment later the signal flare was released. All Elysian soldiers stopped fighting and fell back to the heart of the city. ¡°I am Grand Prior of the Temple and General-Commander of Skycloud¡¯s armies, Phain Mist!¡± A large man whose face was concealed beneath a wide-brimmed hat stood before the crowd. He held aloft a token proving his claim. ¡°Never have I betrayed my beloved realm, and I am willing to stake my life and reputation on this truth; that Mount Sumeru and its gods are fomenting war with the wastelanders by making false claims!¡± When Phain appeared, whispers of shock rippled through the crowds. His name and deeds were widely known throughout Skycloud. To see him here, saying these things, came as an enormous shock to these troops. ¡°To this day the Cloud God¡¯s whereabouts are unknown. Governor Selene is under Mount Sumeru¡¯s control. High Priest Aquaria is gravely wounded, perhaps fatally. Is this not enough to make you see?¡± Phain¡¯s hoarse voice was accusatory. ¡°The honor we once wore with pride has now become our disgrace. The realm today is not the realm you knew. For your friends and family, it is not worth dying in obscurity, at the behest of those who would deceive you. Come with me. Flee to the wastelands where we will fight for our lost honor!¡± Clang! The officer who called the retreat threw down his weapon. ¡°I will go with you!¡± The other soldiers around him stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed. It was inconceivable to them that he would openly betray his home! But indeed this is what Skycloud had become. If Skycloud was irreparably poisoned then why fight? As Phain continued to try and persuade the soldiers to see the truth, Greenland soldiers shouted the same throughout the city with megaphones. Finally wills began to waver. More and more joined the officer in renouncing their loyalty to Skycloud. By the time their raid was finished, twenty to twenty-five percent of the city¡¯s population decided to defect. They realized that if they didn¡¯t leave now, it would be too late. Military rule over the realm was becoming more severe with each passing day, while desperately needed resources continued to dwindle. Besides flee, what other choice did they have? Those who stayed in the city only did so because they were fooling themselves! Though they understood, it was hard to leave the place your family had called home for generations. But what the defectors had witnessed over the last few weeks was unprecedented. Such famine was certain to inspire some to leave. These Elysian soldiers and citizens would find better luck in Greenland, or so they were convinced. Its population would swell. In this way Cloudhawk and his people won victory without undue bloodshed. Droves of people left Skycloud and made for the wastes, expanding both its influence and power. It was precisely what Wolfblade was hoping to see. Janus Umbra appeared by Phain¡¯s side. ¡°Cloudhawk has attracted the domain¡¯s attention, but we¡¯re not sure for how long. We must leave immediately before we¡¯re discovered and contained.¡± Phain nodded. They¡¯d done what they came here to do. Although he hoped to convince more to come with him, this was enemy territory. The longer they stayed, the more likely they were to get stuck. Besides, a quarter of the city¡¯s population was enough to send a message to Skycloud and inject new vitality into the wastes. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 678 - Book 6, Chapter 70 Book 6, The Avatar Selene was occupied with two important things. First was her attempts to regain stability in the realm. Second, she was leading the Seraphs in repairing the Great Wall. The Boundary Portal had failed to open because Skycloud¡¯s energy field was depleted. Only twenty days remained before the next attempt. Selene had to do everything in her power to fix the issue before that time. However twenty days simply wasn¡¯t enough time to repair the entire wall. Even if she threw all her resources at the problem, it was impossible. Skycloud¡¯s Great Wall traversed the whole border of the realm and was beyond mortal means to fix. But she didn¡¯t have to repair the entire thing! The boundaries of Skycloud didn¡¯t come from the wall. Rather, it was formed by four fortresses at the four corners of the compass; North, South, East and West. These fortresses were focal points, generating huge amounts of power that when connected formed the realm¡¯s enchantments. When whole, it generated the energy field everyone relied upon. When Adder detonated the nuclear bomb, he obliterated one of those integral fortresses. As a result of the blow-back, the remaining focal points lost control of the energies and were also destroyed. In the end it led to total collapse. While Arcturus was alive, he¡¯d delegated constant resources to repairing the connection. By the time he was slain the four focal points had been repaired. The next step was to link them back together by some means. When that happened, Skycloud¡¯s enchantment would be restored. Once again entry into the realm would be nearly impossible for outsiders. Breaking through would be that much harder. Most importantly, the Boundary Portal could be reopened and troops from the four other Elysian realms would pour through. Cloudhawk had to take action. To this end he split his focus down two routes. He would bring a small crew with him back to Skycloud and focus on sabotaging the four focal points. Meanwhile, Phain and Janus would invade Elysian cities. With Phain¡¯s reputation, it would be much easier for him to spread malcontent and convince both soldiers and citizens to join their cause. Of course, Cloudhawk¡¯s aim wasn¡¯t just increasing military strength and population. He was staging the largest evacuation in Elysian history. If Skycloud was a giant, It didn¡¯t matter how large or powerful it was ¨C with the right cut he could bleed it dry. At this time he was closing in on one of the focal fortresses with his team. Dawn, in full battle garb, was by his side. She couldn¡¯t keep her grumbles to herself. ¡°Should we send out feelers to see how they react? After all, we only need to take out one to succeed.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°No need. She knows we¡¯d target these fortresses eventually so I¡¯m sure they¡¯re all well defended. That¡¯s why we¡¯re attacking all four at the same time, spreading the battle line over thousands of kilometers. Like you said, we only need to take out one.¡± Dawn had to admire Cloudhawk, the cunning fox! The focal fortresses were located at the four corners of the realm. Cloudhawk and his group was responsible for one. The Khan of Evernight and troops from Nox were dispatched to another. Wolfblade was targeting the remaining two, coming south from Woodland Vale with the best equipment they could muster. As for Selene and her sight? She was formidable all on her own. Cloudhawk had taken that into consideration. That¡¯s why he¡¯d brought Dawn along with five hundred Talon agents and five thousand of their best regulars. As they crept closer to the western fortress, attacks had likely already started at the other three. He couldn¡¯t delay. ¡°That has to be the focal fortress there.¡± But Dawn felt something was amiss. The morning sky was clear and blue, so the column of light piercing into the sky ahead was especially conspicuous. It was definitely the focal point, but the realm was supposed to be out of energy. So where was this light coming from? Cloudhawk stopped hiding. There was no point in it any longer. So he teleported directly above the fortress, seven or eight thousand meters in the air. It was close enough that he could deliver a precise strike. Immediately he began to release a torrent of power that caused the heavens to ripple. Two enormous black holes swirled into existence on either side of him, bulging dangerously. Boom! Boom! Two massive meteors passed through, immediately bursting into flame as they came into contact with the atmosphere. At first they appeared to be moving slowly but picked up speed as they tumbled toward the fortress. Freed from the shackles of space, the meteor screamed across the sky. With its size and speed, smashing into the fortress would be no less devastating than a nuclear blast. The place could be full of demonhunters with their defensive relics and it would make no difference. But then something unexpected happened. Just as the meteors were about to strike a figure appeared above them. Brandishing a pair of jeweled daggers, the stranger thrust one each into the falling rocks. In a flash, two more daggers appeared and were thrown into the trunk of a distant tree. What followed took Cloudhawk entirely by surprise. The meteors with those daggers inserted abruptly stopped. The air around them warped as though gravity had been shut off. And then they vanished. BOOM! BOOM! Just as the meteors disappeared from over the fortress, two huge rocky mountains appeared in the earth. Cloudhawk recognized what had happened right away. This stranger, like him, could manipulate space. His daggers marked specific locations, taking whatever items and energy were in that area and transferring them elsewhere. Certainly this power could also teleport people. Thoughts raced through Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. The other focal fortresses were probably marked by this demonhunter. So long as they lived the four fortresses could support one another. With Selene¡¯s Eyes of Time and this spatial power, the fortresses were practically unbreakable! Selene appeared before him. She sat astride Anima, with the spatial master Bruno Argyris in tow. Joining them was a fiery looking woman with hair to her waist ¨C Phoenix Ignis, the warrior from Dragenmere. She shouted at Cloudhawk from a distance. ¡°You¡¯re the one called Cloudhawk?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°I heard you were strong. Let¡¯s test that.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 679 - Book 6, Chapter 71 Book 6, Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. He ignored the immediately situation and peered down into the fort below. Inside he saw a crystalline column that was the source of the light. It was embedded in a huge stone frame with several dozen Seraphs busily at work. No doubt about it, that crystal was the focal point that the realm¡¯s energy came from. Cloudhawk could feel the waves of power coming from it. That meant it wasn¡¯t anything from this world. Like the Miracle Towers of his own make, this was a special sort of relic. By comparison his water towers were child¡¯s play, of course ¨C like trying to compare a rocking horse to a fighter jet. The sky was suddenly full of warships, stretching toward the horizon. Selene¡¯s mystical eyes showed her that Cloudhawk would be here, robbing him of his sneak attack. She had prepared for his arrival with a cadre of demonhunters garrisoned around the focal point. Their combined resonance was able to interfere with his spatial powers and lock them down. Escaping would be difficult. In addition, Selene had erected several layers of defensive enchantments. They were strong enough to repel a formidable invasion. Then of course she was here personally, with a number of powerful allies. Cloudhawk quickly discovered that destroying these focuses and stopping the Avatar from repairing the energy field would be more difficult than he¡¯d thought. A mocking smirk touched the corners of Phoenix¡¯s lips. Her long, powerful legs kicked off the ground with such force that bits of stone were flung every which way as she tore into the air. She spread her arms and they burst into flame, forming breathtaking wings of heat and light. ¡°Come! Show me what makes you so arrogant!¡± Phoenix hung in the air, beating her fiery wings. She looked half woman and half beast, an angel of vengeance who challenged Cloudhawk in defiant tones. ¡°We don¡¯t have to fight!¡± He could tell that this new foe was strong, on a level with Judas judging by the looks of things. What¡¯s more, he knew nothing about her abilities. Dealing with her would be trouble, even for Cloudhawk. ¡°Sooner or later you¡¯re going to realize the gods are using you. They cultivate humanity for their own selfish reasons!¡± Phoenix answered with a scornful chuckle. ¡°You think I¡¯ll believe a word of your clumsy lies?¡± Cloudhawk shot back. ¡°I¡¯ve found the ancient humans we are descended from. I¡¯ve seen records of our history. It¡¯s nothing like what the gods have told us, they¡¯ve tricked you into serving them. We need to stand together as a species and fight back. It¡¯s the only way to free ourselves!¡± The Avatar frowned, a silver light flashing in her eyes. Her beautiful features were ice cold. ¡°Mistress Phoenix. What are you waiting for?¡± The Dragenmere warrior paid Cloudhawk¡¯s words no mind. Her fiery wings spread even further until they were dozens of meters across. With a heave she sent a wave of fire at her foe. Like a rolling tide the fires consumed everything in its path, liquefying air and rock. Watching from a distance, Dawn¡¯s eyes were wide in alarm. This strange woman was frighteningly strong. With one attack she¡¯d consumed a huge area, cleansing it in terrible fire. Nothing within range of her ire survived, living or not. If it didn¡¯t melt then it turned to mist and evaporated. Phoenix looked out across the ravaged landscape. ¡°Is he finished already?¡± Selene¡¯s tepid voice replied. ¡°Above.¡± Phoenix¡¯s eyes shot up. An instant before her attack he¡¯d managed to teleport to safety. Her terrible fires hadn¡¯t singed a single hair. ¡°So you managed to evade my firestorm.¡± She seemed genuinely surprised, but more than that she was excited. Perhaps there was something to this man¡¯s reputation. ¡°After all these years, finally an interesting opponent!¡± She punctuated the words with another blast of flame toward Cloudhawk. He hadn¡¯t come here to tangle with this woman. Teleporting several more times, he let her fire off several more attacks before an opportunity was revealed. He hung just above the fortress with a pitch black rod in hand ¨C the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. At present, Cloudhawk had two major combat weapons. The first was Ruin, and the other this staff. Both were relics of incredible power but had very different effects. Ruin was an energy weapon when you got to the root of things, meaning it was especially effective against living targets. The Arbiter¡¯s Staff was better suited against fortified structures and positions. Its powers were particularly useful against sturdy defenses. In short, one was for fighting and the other was for pure destruction. Ruin was a tool for murder, the Arbiter Staff tore things down. One blow from the latter could raze this fortress to the ground. Yet moments before Cloudhawk could deliver the blow, Selene ordered Bruno to activate their defenses. With his daggers held in a reverse grip, the spatial master suddenly appeared before Cloudhawk and deflected the staff. He was strong! The surge of power that ripped through Bruno threatened to blow him to pieces. With his left arm he flung his dagger off to the side. All at once Cloudhawk felt a familiar energy surround him. It was¡­ space. Caught off guard, he felt himself being pulled through space and slammed into the ground. The Arbiter¡¯s Staff struck earth, tearing open a crevice. All around the wastelander the earth had caved it as though struck by one of his meteors. The gouge he¡¯d made from the staff stretched for hundreds of meters. With a single strike Cloudhawk had altered the realm¡¯s landscape. His attack had failed? Cloudhawk looked down at his staff and saw a dagger embedded in the haft. Not the one Bruno had used to deflect it, but the one he¡¯d thrown. Using his spatial powers to redirect an attack¡­ [1] As he stared in shock, the dagger dissolved into light and vanished. It blinked back into existence within Bruno¡¯s hand. His weapons were special, capable of folding space and moving things from one place to another. Each dagger served as a coordinate marker and communicated with one another. When Bruno had appeared in front of him, he¡¯d blocked the attack with one and threw the other. Cloudhawk was forcibly teleported a short distance with the second dagger. That¡¯s how he¡¯d appeared on the ground. Dimensional relics. After years of traveling through worlds it was the first time he¡¯d been bested with his own skills. This spatial master was also going to be a difficult enemy. A trickle of blood dripped from the corner of Bruno¡¯s mouth, but he paid his wounds no mind. Clicking his tongue, he called out to his Cloudhawk. ¡°The Riftshards teleported you away in time, but you still managed landed a decent blow. No wonder Skycloud is in such a state ¨C you¡¯re quite the foe.¡± Phoenix glowered in anger. ¡°Come fight me if you¡¯ve got the balls!¡± Selene¡¯s calm voice chimed in. ¡°Phoenix, bring the fight to his allies.¡± At her command the warrior woman beat her wings. She shot forward like a bullet, stopping before Cloudhawk¡¯s allies with a huge tidal wave of fire on her heels. Cloudhawk¡¯s face was dark and angry. ¡°Bitch!¡± Dawn and the others weren¡¯t strong enough to withstand Phoenix¡¯s firestorm! Cloudhawk immediately teleported over to them with his arms raised. Pale white light sprang up, shielding his allies from the fires that crashed over them. They were a single unmoving boulder in a raging torrent. But the heat was intense. Strong enough to burn parts of Cloudhawk¡¯s skin black. With Cloudhawk as the target none of their efforts would succeed. However, if their wrath was directed to other members of the Green Alliance, Cloudhawk would be forced into a defensive and reactionary role. Selene had seen this and relayed the commands to Phoenix. The Avatar knew what Cloudhawk would do before he did it. Dawn saw the tactic and glowered. ¡°No good, if this keeps up we¡¯ll always be on the back foot. We need to retreat!¡± They couldn¡¯t destroy the foci, but they¡¯d done at least some of what they set out to do. As Cloudhawk and the others launched their attacks, they¡¯d managed to capture the attention of Skycloud¡¯s forces. With the realm¡¯s strongest occupied, Phain could escape with any Elysians he¡¯d managed to convince. Another flash shuddered through Selene¡¯s eyes. ¡°They¡¯re planning to escape. Cut off their retreat.¡± Like her namesake, Phoenix seared a path through the air and landed behind the wastelanders. The earth shook as her long legs slammed into the ground. Arms wide, her fiery wings spread out in denial. She continued to beat them, spawning countless orbs of flame which were cast at her enemies. At the same time, the Elysian soldiers began to react. The situation was turning against them, Cloudhawk had to respond. He teleported in front of Phoenix with his own body awash in green flame. He threw a full-armed punch at her. In defense, she wrapped her wings around herself. He connected with her wing and immediately the green flames began to spread. Orange tongues turned to sickly green and inched closer to her arms. Before long half the wing had changed color. ¡°What?!¡± Phoenix had not known Cloudhawk possessed this sort of power. With her distracted, Dawn took the opportunity. ¡°Aim! Fire!¡± The guns these Green Alliance soldiers held were not for show. At her word each one began to belch beams of harsh light toward Phoenix. Hundreds, even thousands of shots fell around her, punching holes in her infected wings. Next, electric light crackled in Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. Selene saw what was to come, but it was already too late. Quick as lightning and deafening as thunder, he shoved Ruin through Phoenix¡¯s wings and into her chest. ¡°You piece of shit! You think this is enough to stop me!¡± She was badly wounded, but the master warrior¡¯s reaction was quick. Heaving her wings, Phoenix was thrust away from her attacker and of range of the eboncrys rifles. As she retreated her fires swept across her body, and all at once her wounds were healed. What amazing regenerative abilities! Like the beast she was named after, was she able to come back from near death? She was a terrifying enemy to face! Dawn continued to shout orders. Her team covered Cloudhawk and began to withdraw. Cloudhawk followed suit. With the situation as it was, continuing the fight was not a wise move. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Bruno called after them. Selene called him back. ¡°No, we must focus on opening the Boundary Portal.¡± She knew that giving chase would not win the result they were after. At best they would kill a few of the Alliance soldiers, but that meant little. In exchange Cloudhawk would likely injure Phoenix and Bruno, perhaps even gravely. There was a limit to the things she could see, and if Cloudhawk was quick enough he could overwhelm even her prodigious abilities ¨C a fact he knew well. The Eyes of Time worked in a relatively small area. They were not infallible. In the end, they were merely a special sort of relic that allowed Selene to see the most likely outcome within a brief period of time. As variables were introduced the effect was diminished. Her mighty artifact was not perfect so she did not dare press her luck. ¡°Bastard! We¡¯re just going to let them escape? I haven¡¯t had my fun yet!¡± Phoenix had underestimated Cloudhawk and paid for it. Now she realized his mental powers surpassed her own, but still did not believe him to be her better. Hatred burned in her eyes as she watched him flee. ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty. The future has already been written.¡± Selene made her way to Bruno. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Bruno brought Selene to an open plot of land, where a circular portal had been created by his daggers. Selene stepped through, and Bruno¡¯s relics pulsed with intense power. Ten seconds later, she emerged at another focal point. With the spatial master by her side no distance was too great. Selene could travel almost instantly anywhere Bruno¡¯s daggers had been prepared. It was also how she planned to restore the focal connection. When she stepped across the threshold, she found that they¡¯d instantly traveled thousands of kilometers. This fortress had already been attacked. She looked out over the broken expanse, toward a man with a spear in hand and numerous swords bristling across his back like a peacock¡¯s tail. Ash Farran greeted the Avatar with a bow. Selene barely acknowledged him. She looked out over the destruction and saw that the clash here had been fierce. The formation of her soldiers was still tight, which meant the destruction had been caused largely by Ash. Clearly he was as dangerous as Phoenix. With the help of warriors like these, the focal points were well protected. The Boundary Portal would surely open soon. ** Elsewhere, Cloudhawk had already led his troops to the border of the realm. Dawn was out of breath. ¡°We don¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not true.¡± Cloudhawk was not disheartened. ¡°After two encounters I know Selene¡¯s weakness. Those eyes of hers aren¡¯t as terrible as they seem. We can get around them.¡± ¡°How do we do that?¡± Dawn asked. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t immediately answer. ¡°It¡¯s not easy. We¡¯ll discuss it when we get back.¡± 1. These weapons sure sound familiar, don¡¯t they? Can you remember who else used something similar? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 680 - Book 6, Chapter 72 Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to continue fighting, but it was not due to fear of the Avatar or her foreign allies. If he put it all on the line, even with Selene here he could kill at least two of his foes. However, doing so would not only but him in danger but would risk the lives of Dawn and the others as well. Skycloud¡¯s high-grade warriors were many. The reward was not worth the risk. Of course, most importantly Cloudhawk had something greater to consider. This attack had always been designed as a cover. Destroying the foci would have been a glorious success, but his efforts were to give Phain the space he needed to siphon away Elysian might. If these terrifying warriors were at the focal fortresses, they weren¡¯t in the cities Phain was hitting. As such, when their attack on the fortress failed Cloudhawk did not immediately return to Greenland. When his part of the plan was complete, he retreated to a predetermined location and waited until, about half a day later, a large group appeared on the horizon. A caravan of perhaps a hundred thousand migrants crawled into view. He saw soldiers, demonhunters, but mostly Elysian citizens. Old, young, women. Yes, these were the people who Phain was sent to rescue from Skycloud. And save was not an exaggeration ¨C even if they did not die from thirst or starvation, it was only a matter of time before the Avatar¡¯s bloody cleanse arrived. ¡°So many?¡± Cloudhawk was honestly surprised by the scope of the caravan. It was several times larger than he¡¯d have thought it would be. Especially shocking were the soldiers and demonhunters. He could hardly believe it. Citizens of Skycloud were extremely devout. They bore a deep-seated loathing for the wastelands and all who lived within it, so it was all the more surprising that so many were willing to leave. Was this a result of humanity¡¯s overwhelming drive for survival, or had all faith in the realm¡¯s future collapsed? Cloudhawk was no social scholar. To him the reason didn¡¯t matter, just the numbers. Population directly equaled vitality in his mind. Besides, he knew there were many Elysians with a mental talent. If they didn¡¯t, then their children would. Joining the wastelands was a benefit today and into the distant tomorrow. On the only hand, these were numbers he was not expecting. The pressure to accommodate so many was immediate and staggering. Of course that had always been the story of the wastelands ¨C struggle. The more pressure there was, the more wastelanders banded together and raised to the task. Difficulties would be overcome. Phain addressed his leader. ¡°There were many places I haven¡¯t visited yet. That¡¯s a lot more people willing to come with us. I could go give it a try.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for now. They¡¯ve got some real scary characters, I¡¯m not sure how many exactly. It makes no sense to risk it. Anyway, Wolfblade will have gathered another group in the north. I guess we¡¯ll see how lucky we were in a little while.¡± Cloudhawk then turned away and opened a portal. From it he produced a large amount of food and water. It was enough to help the Elysians along the way. Meanwhile Cloudhawk had already sent orders for support troops to come meet them. They would protect the migrants on their way to their new home. At this time Janus appeared. ¡°We are being pursued!¡± Cloudhawk scowled. He looked out into the distance and saw the gleaming hulls of Elysian ships headed their way. The ships were chasing after the migrants, fleeing from Southaven. Along the way sixty thousand more from other homesteads, villages and smaller cities joined them to form this massive exodus. Never in the history of the realm had anything like it occurred. The Elysian way was stop this with an iron hand and bloody consequences, lest it get out of control. ¡°Dawn, protect them on their way. I¡¯ll deal with this nuisance.¡± ¡°You be careful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Without another word Cloudhawk blinked from view. He reappeared among the Elysian ships and slipped onto its command vessel. The armada was a large one, with around a hundred ships in total. It was hastily assembled, but their mission was a simple one. They didn¡¯t expect much resistance from a group of citizens and a handful of soldiers. Cloudhawk was more than capable of taking down an airship, but a hundred was a lot even for him. The best course of action, then, was to cut off the head of the snake. After infiltrating the ship, Cloudhawk made his way to the bridge. There he found a dozen officers and pilots busily working away. He was preparing to strike when a familiar face stayed his hand. ¡°Commander, we have a lock on our targets. Shall we begin the attack?¡± A high ranking officer stood before his general. The commander was surprisingly fat for his position but the uniform left no doubt of his station. His pudgy face was tucked into an elaborate helm and was sporting a beard that wasn¡¯t well maintained. It made his cherubic look a far sight more rugged. Hammont turned hard eyes on his subordinate. ¡°Say that again.¡± Suddenly the officer shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Sir, should we¡­¡± He finally realized what he was saying and let his words trail off. Hammont¡¯s eyes were like daggers as he looked over the others. ¡°What is a soldier¡¯s responsibility?¡± They dropped their eyes and avoided his gaze. It was the officer who spoke that answered, voice raised. ¡°Our responsibility is to protect the realm, protect the people, defend Skycloud and all that we believe in!¡± ¡°Then I ask you to tell me, as soldiers of the realm what makes you think its proper to fire on our own people? On civilians?¡± Silence answered. Civilians? But they were traitors! After a moment they understood their commander¡¯s meaning. None challenged him. Hammont continued. ¡°These are Elysians. As Elysians our directive is to protect them, not eliminate them. A soldier may lose faith, may lose face, but they can never cross that line. If we did, what would we be left with?¡± But if they didn¡¯t, how would they explain this to the Commander-General! Everyone silently struggled with this dilemma. Hammont turned back to look out over the observation deck. He pointed toward a nearby mountain range. ¡°I suspect traitors and defectors are hiding in those mountains. Fire on them at once!¡± A few moments later the armada repositioned to face the mountains. A salvo of devastating light rained upon it. After a time the range was leveled and only then did the barrage cease. Hammont shouted his orders again. ¡°The enemy has been destroyed! Even their corpses are dust. Tell the armada to return to base.¡± His officers never made a sound. None of the other ships questioned the order. In a wordless, mutual understanding the armada turned away from the caravan. Everyone knew that they were disobeying orders, but they also knew it was the right decision. What they could only dare to think in the back of their minds, this newly appointed general was turning into action without thought to his future. Hammont Seacrest had acted in direct opposition to his Commander-General, but in doing so he¡¯d won the respect of all his men. A commander was meant to shoulder burdens and make difficult decisions. Hammont might not have been one of the realm¡¯s mightiest warriors, but he had the strength of character to bear all responsibility. It showed how remarkable he was as a leader. Really the soldiers should be throwing themselves to their knees, thanking Hammont. They had no idea how close they¡¯d come to destruction. Cloudhawk might not have been strong enough to destroy a whole armada, but wiping out this flagship and its crew would take little more than a thought. If they had chosen to attack the citizens, their deaths would have been cruel and fierce. ** For several days the caravan marched. Exhaustion had begun to set in and some grew too ill to see their journey¡¯s end. Without a doubt it was a grueling challenge. Over these few days there were thousands who were left behind, buried in the wastes. Those who survived were forced to continue through the harsh conditions, along a path they knew nothing about, toward a future they never thought they¡¯d see. Dawn could only keep encouraging them to struggle on. She was forced to watch helplessly as children and the elderly succumbed to the road. Her heart was filled with pain and anger. It was an affliction Phain and the others shared. Was this meant to be their fate? Why? A little while later another group met them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± the refugees were assured. ¡°This is an Alliance party sent to help us.¡± Dawn recognized them quickly and approached. The Green Alliance was widespread and there were marked differences between locations. This group was not from the southern wastes, but from the ancient battlefield further still. Their leader was a severe figure clad in black from head to toe. A breathing mask concealed their features. The Khan of Evernight. He had been another involved in the assault on Skycloud¡¯s focal fortresses. Their plans were foiled when they were intercepted by Commander-General Ash. Judging by the state of his forces, they¡¯d suffered terribly in the attempt. Still, as it had been with Cloudhawk, loss did not mean total defeat. As the Khan approached, Janus passed by like a shadow. She didn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°You do not plan to see Selene?¡± The Khan turned his head slightly toward the assassin. For a few moments he was quiet, but then answered in that emotionless digitized voice. ¡°It was her fate.¡± ¡°So she is just a sacrifice!¡± ¡°Perhaps. You, me, Cloudhawk¡­ who of us are not sacrifices?¡± He spoke like a machine, with no hint of emotion. Each syllable was steady and even. There was no way to see if there was any hint of humanity in the face behind the mask. After the brief exchange silence ensued, and they went their separate ways. Eventually the migrants were brought to the Southern Capitol. As anticipated their presence caused a great deal of stress, causing every department to work their hardest. Water towers were being drained and refilled constantly. Food pickers worked the fields in double shifts. Meanwhile the newcomers were assigned tasks and joined the labor force as quickly as possible, especially demonhunters. For these Elysians, walking into the Southern Capitol was like being born into a new life. Changes were coming. Without a doubt, life in the wastes would be harder than what they were used to. They would have to learn to go without, but at the same time they would gain things they never knew they were missing. Freedom, for instance. Knowledge, history¡­ Cloudhawk did not have the energy to manage these refugees. There was a plethora of more important things vying for his attention. Chief among them, a way to defeat the Avatar. More than just stopping the Boundary Portal, finding a way to combat the Avatar directly impacted his chance of saving Selene. The longer he let this drag out the stronger the Avatar became. Every day, Selene¡¯s chances of wrestling back control grew slimmer. ¡°In reality, it¡¯s simple.¡± Later, at a conference of the Alliance¡¯s leaders, Cloudhawk shared his thoughts. ¡°With the Cloud God¡¯s support we can neutralize the Avatar.¡± Wolfblade chuckled. ¡°You are correct, the Cloud God¡¯s mental prowess is more than enough to suppress the Avatar.¡± ¡°But how are we supposed to find the Cloud God, much less get it to help us? It sure as hell won¡¯t be easy,¡± Dawn said with a frown. ¡°The Cloud God isn¡¯t after the same thing we are. If it wanted to stop all this from happening it could have done it before Selene became the Avatar. The Cloud God could have done something when the Boundary Portal was opening the first time as well, but it chose not to.¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a way.¡± Cloudhawk then turned his eyes to Wolfblade. ¡°Am I right?¡± The Elder demons¡¯ eyes burned with cunning. ¡°Indeed. All living things have their weaknesses and desires. Gods are no exception.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 681 - Book 6, Chapter 73 The wastelands were a vast, devastated landscape. Tracts of cracked land spread as far as the eye could see. Nothing lived, not a blade of grass ¨C all was naught but death, wind and sand. The harsh environment even carved the rocks into jagged teeth. A large figure glided through the air above the canyons. Its figure was perfect, like a work of art, constantly gleaming with blue and white light. The Cloud God had traversed the land, visiting many places. It had seen Woodland Vale and the ancient battlegrounds. It had picked across countless ruins, finding old traces of what had been. With each fragment learned, the more it thirsted for answers. Yet there was conflict. The answer it sought was not the answer it wanted. The Cloud God knew it was true; there was no going back. Perhaps it was as the Shepherd God said and it¡­ he¡­ was no longer a god. Gods were not solitary, they were a vast and connected entity ¨C pieces of a united whole, like components in a machine. Once the seal on his thoughts was broken, he could never return to that perfect union. It was like a human who discovers a part of themselves ¨C a piece of skin, perhaps ¨C beginning to fester. The rest of the body could not tolerate this patch of skin, for the good of the whole. There was nothing for it but to remove the disease and leave it behind. The Cloud God knew his fate. He would be abandoned ¨C or perhaps destroyed ¨C by his former people. Before that happened, he wanted to know the ultimate truth behind it all. Why was the origins of the gods such a mystery? When had the demons appeared? Both their species had incredible culture and power, so why were their histories absent from memory? Gods were made to lack emotion, so they acted as their King decreed. No god before the Shepherd ever questioned its authority. Before the Cloud God was discovered and removed, he had to know the truth. So he kept searching. Flying over the vast sea of wind and sand, the Cloud God felt something. Confusion. Loneliness¡­ In the thousand years of his life the Cloud God had rarely felt anything, it was disconcerting and yet¡­ he had never felt truly alive until now. ¡°I know you are there.¡± The Cloud God stopped and stared ahead. A pulse of energy was released from his shining eyes, spreading over dozens of kilometers like a radar scanner. The power and will washed over every living being in the vicinity. A white-robed figure appeared, riding a winged creature that was half lion and half tiger. In her hand was a glass-like sword and silver light flickered in her eyes. Long, black hair danced in the wind and her beautiful face was marred by a chill born from the depths of her soul. A mortal might shudder in fear to look upon her. ¡°The Cloud God¡¯s whereabouts where only faintly discernible. You have certainly made yourself difficult to find.¡± Selene spoke in her cold and distant tones. ¡°Skycloud cannot persist without its protector. You need to go home.¡± The Cloud God did not respond. The Avatar had not come all the way out here to convince him to return. The surface thoughts of the God King¡¯s representative unfolded to him. Cloudhawk was not the one she feared. The true threat to her was him ¨C his mighty psychic power and enormous range. Selene¡¯s eyes allowed her to see through all physical and energetic attacks, but where powerless against assaults of the mind which occurred out of time. If, for any reason, the Cloud God chose to help Cloudhawk it could spell the Avatar¡¯s doom. So her excursion to the wastes was for a simple reason: She had to eliminate this threat before Cloudhawk could reach it. The Cloud God was indeed strong, but was alone out here. Without allies the creature could be slain. However, should it join forces with Cloudhawk the act was far more difficult. The Avatar could not tolerate another variable, especially not one as disruptive as the Cloud God. It had to be culled. The Cloud God knew this. He¡¯d already felt several other consciousnesses nearby. Lucian, Phoenix, Ash and Bruno emerged, knowing there was no more point in hiding. Each had brought a small coterie of warriors ¨C few in number but mighty all the same. Against such a force even Cloudhawk would find it difficult to flee. The Cloud God reached out with his mind. ¡°I can sense what is in your hearts. I can feel the conflict. You have turned your weapons on demons but never a member of your pantheon. Now you see that the gods are not infallible. They can make mistakes. They can betray their own. They can be killed. When it is shown that gods are not perfect, will humans still worship them?¡± Quiet looks were exchanged among the masters. The Avatar broke in. ¡°The rare aberration can exist, even among gods.¡± ¡°We are like you, but have been sealed away from knowing our true nature. Despite our great intellect we have been robbed of freedom. The gods are nothing more than beautiful birds, locked in a cage. I ¨C in my carelessness ¨C broke that cage. For that I am to be called a traitor. But you must understand¡­ though I have existed for a thousand years I have never truly lived. Only in my freedom have I became alive.¡± The Cloud God¡¯s mental powers rose sharply. A storm of physic force gathered and then was suddenly released in all directions. Those nearby felt as though reality was collapsing around them. Suddenly they were in another world, but of course it wasn¡¯t. It was an illusion created by the fallen god¡¯s incredible power. Yet despite being an illusion, once caught within they existed within the Cloud God¡¯s reality. Subject to his rules. Here, Selene¡¯s Eyes of Time were useless. This illusion was not constrained by time or space. What felt like an eternity could in reality only be a matter of seconds. Her eyes ¨C which relied on the real and the physical ¨C could not help her here. It was exactly the reason she feared this fallen god. Selene knew the Cloud God was powerful and defeating him would be difficult. Of the allies she brought, only two had especially strong psychic ability. Of course they couldn¡¯t muster even a tenth of the Cloud God¡¯s strength, but they could at least interfere with his attacks. Working together they stood on sturdier footing. Perhaps for the moment they couldn¡¯t battle the god directly, but at least they could ensure none of them were lost to his illusions! Strong though the god was, that did not mean he was invincible. The humans wielded considerable might themselves, enough that dealing with just one would take the Cloud God some time and effort. Together, their combined mental and physical strength surpassed the god¡¯s. With concerted effort they could prevail even when locked in the god¡¯s world of illusion. ¡°Attack together! We can break through!¡± Selene brandished Sublime Transcendence and was first to attack. Half a step behind where the other four masters and their subordinates. Under the combined weight of so much mental force, the Cloud God¡¯s world shattered. His gambit overcome, the Cloud God turned to flee. Against such an array he could not win. They were in sync, and that meant any attack against one was shared among them all. Either he would have to destroy them all in a single burst or his mental attacks would be ineffective. Attacks on the mind were where the bulk of his skill resided. In straight combat, he was not even to the level of Phoenix Ignis. Ash Farran, Commander-General of Praelius dashed in front of the Cloud God. He blocked the god¡¯s path with his dangerous looking voulge. Quickly the others gathered round, closing in. The Cloud God felt the pressure bearing down on him. But the god was a creature with a thousand years of experience. His reaction speed was far greater than any human could fathom. Half a breath after he noticed their plan, blades appeared within his grasp with a flash of light. The god charged at the Master Demonhunter trying to contain him with spiritual chains. If he could sever these chains, he could escape. However how could Selene overlook such a glaring weakness? What¡¯s more, now that they were returned to the real world her Eyes of Time saw all. The Cloud God could not escape her Sight. ¡°Phoenix!¡± The warrior beat her wings in response. A wave of fire roared into existence. It struck the god full force, throwing him to the ground. The sandy expanse around the site of impact melted into glass a dozen meters in diameter. Dark burn marks marred the Cloud God¡¯s perfect form. The blast of fire he¡¯d suffered was enough to melt steel. Even a god¡¯s body could not suffer such an attack and remain unscathed. In the same instant Lucian raised his staff. The skies above burst open and shafts of golden light appeared. Blades of gold descended, some striking the ground directly and others pausing in mid-air. They further sealed the area, hindering the Cloud God¡¯s powers. Next, Bruno flung his Riftshards in a deadly fan. His silhouette danced among them in a rapid-fire series of teleports. Seconds later he appeared before Lucian with lightning crackling in his left fist. He brought his arm crashing down on the Cloud God with such intensity his perfect armor caved inward. The god was flung up from the ground. Ash was waiting with his voulge aflame. He shoved it through the Cloud God¡¯s chest, causing the fires to immediately spread across his body. Pain! Fear! It was the first time the god had experienced these emotions. When he had been part of the collective, he had not feared death. There was no one, only the whole. But now he felt it. The cold grasp of terror, and beneath that the need to survive. Gods could be afraid! They cherished life the same as any mortal! ¡°Enough!¡± Selene had her weapon raised to cut off the god¡¯s head, but in that instant her eyes flashed. She stopped, seeing something that had yet to occur. Something that shocked her deeply. ¡°It¡¯s a sneak attack! Fight them off!¡± CLANG! Electric light struck Sublime Transcendence. The horrible bite of the Arbiter¡¯s Staff crashed into the divine beast¡¯s body. Selene and Anima were flung away. She¡¯d seen it coming, but too late to stop it. Cloudhawk wrapped his power around the Cloud God, and both vanished from view. He¡¯d appeared for half a second and was gone before anyone could react. ¡°What happened?!¡± The others looked around, weapons raised. The Avatar¡¯s face was dark. Cloudhawk had capitalized on her blindspot. When she was captured in the Cloud God¡¯s illusory world she had been robbed of sight. It was then Cloudhawk had slipped in, undetected. He used her oversight to save the god¡¯s life. Lucian and the others were furious and concerned. None of them had imagined this could happen. How had the Avatar not seen it? It appeared that they could not rely so heavily on her Eyes of Time. They were imperfect, susceptible to trickery. It seemed their actions had been exploited by these heathen wastelanders. The Avatar growled. ¡°Come with me.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 682 - Book 6, Chapter 74 The Cloud God was so badly battered that he¡¯d lost consciousness. Thankfully, however, the body of godly creatures were resilient. He was in no danger of dying. After a short time of rest the god awakened. What was this place? It was¡­ similar to the world he knew, but there were subtle differences. He felt discrepancies in gravity and strange particles in the air. This was not earth. Mustering his mental powers, he sent out a wave to learn what he could. It spread far and wide, covering an area tens of kilometers in diameter in an instant. Stone. Flat lands. Endless desert. A single, large settlement. His reconnaissance revealed that this settlement was not just large, but growing. It was awash in the din of construction and already housed several tens of thousands of people. A strange forest of mushroom trees surrounded it, providing the camp with food, water and electricity. Factories belched smoke into the air, the machines inside rumbling busily. This was the Green Alliance¡¯s manufacturing base, by the looks of it. The eboncrys weapons they used were produced here. It was also a major migrant base where over thirty-thousand people lived. Cloudhawk had established a backup location for his people, where they could stage attacks or fall back if needed. The wasteland leader couldn¡¯t predict what the future would hold. After all, his aims were lofty and fraught with danger. He was building a new destiny for his people. But to get there he had to pass through a dark valley, so he had to try his best while also planning for the worst outcome. The Cloud God noted the two figures nearby. Cloudhawk and Wolfblade. Cloudhawk stood with his hands crossed before his chest, peering out across the horizon from a cliff a thousand meters high. The broken world stretched out toward the horizon. ¡°This world was destroyed by the gods. A long, long time ago there were Elysian realms here, governed by the divine. Now it¡¯s nothing but dust and ruin. Do you remember anything about this place? The Cloud God began to grasp his situation. Cloudhawk and Wolfblade had saved his life and brought him here. It wasn¡¯t very long ago that Cloudhawk and the Cloud God had come to blows. ¡°The oldest divine memories have no recollection of this place.¡± A thousand years was the limit to godly memories. This dead world saw its destruction ten thousand years ago at least. Cloudhawk¡¯s world suffered its cataclysm a millennia ago, which saw the destruction of the planet and most civilization. Anything that might have survived in this world had long since perished. It was strange, though. This place was clearly obliterated by the gods. Did they not share all memories? Even if the Cloud God did not personally know the answer, could he not extract it from the psychic matrix he shared with the other gods? That would mean none of the gods knew what happened to this place. But¡­ why? Could it be some sort of power erased it from collective memory? Or perhaps the gods of today were not the same gods that once rules this place? ¡°Why are gods cultivating human followers?¡± This question had burned in the back of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind for a long time. Gods and humans were fundamentally dissimilar species. Technologically and socially, what they called ¡®gods¡¯ were thousands of years ahead of humanity. In almost every discernible way, humans were a lower life form when compared to the immortal divine. So that being the case, why did the gods go through such trouble to obliterate planets? Why leave their Supremes behind to lord over small pockets of inferior beings? What where they trying to gain? The Cloud God¡¯s eyes flashed as he searched his memories. ¡°When my consciousness arose, I knew only to follow the directives of my King. I have never known nor thought to ask the reasons why.¡± ¡°You were never curious? You never questioned what you and the gods were striving toward?¡± This time it was Wolfblade asking the question. ¡°In many ways you gods are like machines. Machines know their purpose, not the reason. Their existence is merely to serve.¡± The demon¡¯s words weren¡¯t entirely accurate. Gods were not entirely absent their own thoughts, nor were they wholly emotionless. Rather these innate aspects of their personality had been greatly blunted. To unknowing creatures like humans, the gods appeared to want for nothing. To feel nothing. Strange that these beings ¨C so full of wisdom and power ¨C never knew why they did anything. ¡°Gods submit themselves to the will of the God King. Their sole responsibility is to obey. Such is what it means to be a god,¡± Wolfblade accused. ¡°This so-called advanced life form touts the same social structure as the basest insects. Any one of them can live forever. They wield world-changing power. Their intellect far outstrips that of humans and yet¡­ it¡¯s all sealed from them. They are robbed of individual thought.¡± Gods were not unlike ants. They lived, fought and made determinations on their own. However they could never extricate themselves from the will of the collective. Each ant had a responsibility to protect the colony, to serve their queen. The God King was the leader of their colony and as such commanded the unerring loyalty of every god. ¡°Right now, while our friend the Cloud God wishes to know the truth behind gods and demons, it is not his primary aim. He wants to free himself from the seal that binds his thoughts.¡± Wolfblade regarded the once-mighty ruler of Skycloud. ¡°You are now a pariah from the colony. A traitor. Or perhaps it would be better to call you a kind of tumor. Do you truly believe they would ever accept back into their presence?¡± Anger welled up inside the god. It was Wolfblade¡¯s fault that he had fallen from grace! Wolfblade could feel the aggression wafting off his divine counterpart. Unbothered, he continued. ¡°But say you had the choice. Say you could be accepted once more, would you want to? Would you choose to have your individuality stolen, your thoughts suppressed? To be kept ignorant of your purpose, like a cog in a machine churning away with no concept of your worth?¡± The demon¡¯s words caused the Cloud God to lapse into quiet thought. If he had the choice¡­ ¡°You are intelligent enough to know that there is no choice,¡± Wolfblade assured. ¡°Oh, and allow me to remind you that the Avatar knows how to find you. Thanks to my quiet suggestions, of course. If she¡¯d found you once she can find you again and again until the threat has been eliminated. Is that how you want to perish? Without knowing the truth?¡± No wonder Selene had managed to track him down. It had all been part of Wolfblade¡¯s machinations. Cloudhawk did not know how Wolfblade had pinpointed the Cloud God¡¯s whereabouts, but he couldn¡¯t say he was surprised. The demon had also known Selene would become the Avatar and that the Cloud God would be useful to them. More than likely, the cunning monster had arranged some means of tracking the god, knowing this day would come. The Cloud God struggled with Wolfblade¡¯s naked threat. This hateful demon Elder dared to intimidate a god?! Without waiting for the god¡¯s incredulous reaction, Wolfblade added, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to live ¨C to really live? Don¡¯t you want to uncover all the secrets that have been hidden from you? How I can move from body to body at will? Have you thought about ridding yourself of that shell and being born anew, like the Shepherd God?¡± The Cloud God was not alone in his surprise. Cloudhawk, too, was taken aback by Wolfblade¡¯s questions. After all, he¡¯d also wanted to know how the demon has managed to trail him across his life with different faces. As a demon Elder how was he able to steal bodies? Cloudhawk had never heard of a power like that. Likewise, the Shepherd God had slumbered for a thousand years before forcing her consciousness onto Autumn¡¯s body. How had they done it? If you wanted to conquer someone, first you had to know what they feared and what they wanted. To ingratiate yourself to someone, you had to guide them toward what they wanted. To use someone, you had to play on their fear and desperation. Wolfblade saw that he would not win cooperation from the Cloud God. He had known long before Cloudhawk that the Cloud God was the tool they needed to fight Selene. Preparations were long in the making, waiting for the Cloud God¡¯s plight, so that when the time came all the pieces would come together exactly as he willed them to. Yet while Wolfblade already knew the outcome, to the Cloud God it was an almost impossible decision. He¡¯d been grappling with the question for months yet still he hesitated. Despite the slew of questions he still harbored the desperate hope that one day he¡¯d be accepted back into divine society. But after speaking with the Shepherd God and uncovering bits of the truth for himself, the Cloud God knew that hope was foolish. Once the seal was removed and his thoughts were his own, the Cloud God was no different from the demons he loathed. There was¡­ no going back. A few seconds stretched on in silence as thoughts raced through the god¡¯s head. Ultimately, he came to a conclusion. ¡°I will help you. But I must know the whole truth.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes slipped toward Wolfblade. The demon nodded. ¡°Then you shall.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Cloudhawk broke into their exchange. ¡°What is this truth you¡¯re always talking about?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s response was calm. ¡°If you wish to uncover these secrets then we must first make a journey. Awaiting you there are many interesting discoveries.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 683 - Book 6, Chapter 75 Under Wolfblade¡¯s direction, the three entered into a dark and chaotic space. A special and little known region of the wastes ¨C the old battlefield. Stories claimed that it was here the biggest conflicts of the Great War were waged. Tens of thousands of gods and demons fought, forever altering the world in their struggle. Whether by some obscure power of relics or interdimensional chaos, a dark fog shrouded much of the area. Light could not pierce this unnatural haze. The battlefield was a sprawling monument of death and destruction, forever shrouded in night. Gods emerged victorious after this terrible clash. Demons, suffering a ruinous defeat, slunk away to the safety of Gehenna to lick their wounds. They had been nothing but a scary shadow ever since, incapable of interfering with the whims of Mount Sumeru. When the war had concluded, tales stated that all the bodies ¨C god and demon alike ¨C and the relics they¡¯d used were taken away. Still, those brave enough to pick through the area could find remains and broken fragments of relics. No one knew what secrets were still buried in that vast, inhospitable region. To most mortals the ancient battlefield was too dangerous to traverse. Among the frigid ruins mysterious creatures stalked, making this place a no-man¡¯s land. To the three who traveled there now, however, there was no threat to concern them. Wolfblade led the way. Cloudhawk and the Cloud God followed closed behind. Harsh winds blew unimpeded across the field. Sharp eddies of blue ice crystals tore through the air. Cloudhawk could sense that the winds were all blowing in one direction, as though it were being gathered by a giant vacuum somewhere up ahead. Eventually he saw it for himself. It was located at the heart of the battlefield, an enormous cyclone that was perpetuated by some unknown power. What was clear was that all the winds swirled around a central point, forming a tempest that would shred steel to pieces. Brows furrowed, Cloudhawk asked, ¡°What is this?¡± Wolfblade replied. ¡°A nucleus of displaced spatial energy. It has caused space in this area to collapse, causing great disturbance to its surroundings. The end result is what you see before you.¡± ¡°That is not what I am asking.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were fixed on what was inside the tempest. ¡°I can feel it. The veils of space here are¡­ different.¡± ¡°What you see is the precise spot where the former Demon King fell.¡± ¡°What? He died right here?¡± They stood among a hostile land of darkness, inaccessible to most, where even spirits wouldn¡¯t dare to tread. Who would imagine that a thousand years ago here is where one of the strongest beings in the universe breathed its last. The Cloud God¡¯s voice invaded their minds. ¡°Why have we come to the Demon King¡¯s place of demise?¡± ¡°There is nothing about the place that is worth noting. We have come, instead, for something he left behind.¡± Wolfblade gazed upon the swirling vortex of cutting wind. ¡°The storm is too intense for many to approach. However, every twenty years there is a brief period where it weakens enough for mortals to pass through. The last time this happened was five years ago. What a terrible whirlwind! Even a Master Demonhunter would struggle to survive within it for very long without help from specific wind-type relics. Of course even at such strength it was not enough to dissuade Cloudhawk or the Cloud God. There was no need for them to wait fifteen years for a lull. A pale white light sprang up around Cloudhawk, strong enough to protect him from the cutting winds. He then condensed space to teleport himself, Wolfblade and the Cloud God into the heart of the storm. When air was pressurized and moving at high speed, it cut deeper than a blade. The winds were so intense a tank would likely have been shredded in moments. Cloudhawk stood in the center of it with his feet firmly planted. He didn¡¯t feel the winds, nor any air at all for it was not strong enough to punch through his protective shield. He carefully examined the surroundings and discovered a shining white light in the eye of the storm which had been hidden from the outside. This fragment of space was different from the rest of the battlefield. ¡°This is a piece of another reality ¨C a splinter of subspace existing independent from the rest of the world.¡± Wolfblade explained the phenomenon while looking toward the light. ¡°Our world is mysterious. There exists much that the eyes cannot see, parallel worlds that are transposed upon ours. These are subspaces, separate from the rest of reality. But with the right tools and methods one can slip through.¡± Cloudhawk pressed him. ¡°Like when I teleport to other worlds?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°Not quite.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°Trying to explain would be a waste of time. You simply do not know enough, yet.¡± Wolfblade tried to clarify. ¡°Within the Demon King¡¯s phase stone is recorded several markers. The places you have traveled to were anchors, left behind to make it easier for you to move among them. When you employ the stone you do not so much move through space as you traverse dimensions.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t quite understand. Wolfblade continued to try and explain. ¡°The worlds you have visited are a nigh unfathomable distance from your world. Though we do not understand how or why, these worlds that have spawned intelligent life are separated by vast distances yet overlap in dimensional space. That is how you are able to travel between them.¡± Cloudhawk frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t understand a thing you¡¯re saying. What is this subspace you¡¯re talking about?¡± Wolfblade shook his head. Clearly the new Demon King had yet to fully absorb the knowledge of his predecessor. Knowledge was power, and while Cloudhawk was strong if he could become much stronger if he understood his abilities. ¡°Simply put, the worlds you¡¯ve visited are real and exist in this reality. Subspace dimensions do not. They exist on a razor¡¯s edge, in unstable universes that are constantly being created and destroyed.¡± Wolfblade looked back at the point of light. ¡°Nothing better for learning than to experience it yourself.¡± With that, Wolfblade looked around for a suitable entrance and stepped into the light. Cloudhawk and the Cloud God followed. For Cloudhawk it felt similar to when he was passing through to other worlds. Like pushing through a soap bubble. The roaring tempest was suddenly gone. He found himself somewhere far less antagonistic. Subspace dimensions were habitable? They were, because these dimensions often borrowed from the main reality they branched from, drawing in materials to create this temporary space. Air, environment, even plants and animals were sucked inside. Cloudhawk got his bearings and discovered that the gravity and air pressure here was no different from what he was used to. This was a fragment reality that was very welcoming to life. And it was big! A giant, illusory maze. There was no sky nor ground and the whole thing was encased in white light. Like they¡¯d stumbled into an enormous box, which itself was connected to other boxes creating a vast, bizarre, illogical world. ¡°This is the very last marker the Demon King left behind.¡± For a moment there was almost a note of emotion in Wolfblade¡¯s voice. ¡°In theory this pocket plane could extend indefinitely. Time here works differently than it does in reality.¡± ¡°What do you mean,¡± Cloudhawk asked, surprised. ¡°These subspace dimensions don¡¯t count as real in the way your world does. It is a different universe, and the rules of time work differently here.¡± Old legends existed in the old days of special locations on the earth ¨C often where great storms where common ¨C where boats or planes would vanish only to reappear years later. Passengers on these vessels report feeling no difference, as though nothing had happened at all. One explanation was that these boats and ships had blundered into a pocket dimension. What Wolfblade described sounded like the opposite. What was a full day here was merely a few minutes back in the world they¡¯d come from. All at once Cloudhawk recognized how special this place was. If they moved weapon production here it would be a huge boon for the Green Alliance. Right now they were in a race against time ¨C time determined life and death! Wolfblade¡­ what an absolute bastard! He¡¯d known about this all along and only now told him? How many other secrets was he keeping?! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 684 - Book 6, Chapter 76 Book 6, Cloudhawk began to explore this vast, labyrinthine space. The weird and incomprehensible are was like a series of boxes all glued together. According to Wolfblade, the distribution of these pockets was built in accordance with a profound, underlying theory. They had a specific arrangement, but like a rubik¡¯s cube it had to be put together in a particular way. Wolfblade explained. ¡°This subspace is divided into thousands of these blocks. If you travel through them improperly you¡¯ll be stuck. Some of the blocks are unstable and whatever tries to pass through is summarily destroyed.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, this is a deathtrap.¡± ¡°This universe was meticulously constructed by the Demon King. His plan was to trap the God King here, but unfortunately our enemy¡¯s power was beyond our comprehension. Thus, the Demon King failed.¡± Wolfblade did not go into any further detail, but Cloudhawk could guess a fair amount. This complex universe was not natural. It was painstakingly designed and constructed by the Demon King as a terrible trap for his arch-nemesis. Unfortunately they did not succeed in springing the trap. Or, perhaps the trap itself had failed. It was possible even a place as insidious as this was useless in the face of the mighty God King. When Cloudhawk¡¯s predecessor fell, he left behind this vestige of the attempt. Since then Wolfblade had used it as a secret hideaway. Cloudhawk was the very first human to ever step inside. He moved through eight of the squares one after the other. The environment began to shift, and where before the cubes were all exactly alike suddenly he saw himself in something like an ancient archive. Dozens of bookshelves stretched out before him. It was not a staggering collection by any means, but the shelves all housed special memory discs which contained a huge amount of information. What from the outside seemed like a humble assortment was in fact a plethora of knowledge. ¡°Much of this is the collected knowledge of humanity, preserved from before the fall. It includes pre-historic records as well as information on civilization and science ¨C even accounts of their first meeting with gods and demons. This is a priceless trove of knowledge and I have gone through every inch of it. If you wish to see it for yourselves, feel free to take them with you.¡± Wolfblade seemed indifferent, but Cloudhawk¡¯s heart was thunderous in his chest. He¡¯d seen them all? How many years had it taken him? The depth of the demon¡¯s knowledge was certainly far superior to the likes of Hellflower and he had no interest in the information contained herein. After all, he was a demon elder ¨C the science of humans was inferior to what his race had produced. By the time human civilization was destroyed, its science had reached a bottleneck. They couldn¡¯t even escape their own solar system. Even without the catastrophes that followed, humanity was destined to be a stunted civilization sequestered to a distant corner of the cosmos. Wolfblade continued. Together, they passed through another segment. Next they appeared in a large laboratory. Clearly it had been abandoned for a long time, however diagrams on the wall caught Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. They were anatomical maps, detailing the bodies of gods and demons. Right away he was shocked to learn that the hideous or beautiful outward appearance of these beings was just their armor! It acted like an exoskeleton, protecting the being within. Clearly they held very high importance for these creatures. Below that, on an anatomical level, there were some differences between gods and demons but they were largely the same. Furthermore they looked a lot like humans. All around where shelves laden with jars and bottles. Many contained preserved organic material. Could they be from the bodies of these mysterious beings? Had Wolfblade used this place to dissect members of these species?! Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t given an opportunity to ask. Wolfblade was already on to the next area. Ten more segments passed around them before they made their next stop. Cloudhawk was taken aback by the strange place they found themselves in. No, strange did not begin to describe it. All around where at least hundreds of giant crystals. Each one was as large as a tree, jutted straight up, and the majority were completely transparent. For reasons unknown, some were split down the middle whereas others were stranger still. Inside were human bodies, men and women, all in different stages of development. In a few were even some gods and demons! The bodies all seemed frozen in these crystal columns. In the center of the forest, standing roughly five meters tall, was a cross-shaped stone box. When Cloudhawk approached he immediately felt the hum of superstring power. It was a feeling he¡¯d never experienced before. Whatever this box was, its power was nothing like the relics he¡¯d encountered from gods or demons. It was distinct on a fundamental level, making it all the more mysterious. ¡°You brought me all the way here to look at this box?¡± Cloudhawk could tell right away that there was something special about this place, but he still wasn¡¯t sure of Wolfblade¡¯s intentions. After all, it was just a box. What could it represent? How was this supposed to explain the secret behind gods and demons? ¡°This is no mere box. We paid a terrible price to obtain it.¡± The grim look on Wolfblade¡¯s face said he had no intention of explaining what that price was. ¡°Because it looks like a sarcophagus, that is what the Demon King and I christened it ¨C The Sarcophagus of Rebirth.¡± The Cloud God and Cloudhawk looked at it closely. Obviously an item so dearly held by Wolfblade and the Demon King was no mere container. ¡°The Sarcophagus of Rebirth has a simple function. The user finds a host with a similar mental frequency, and the sarcophagus transposes one¡¯s will and memory into the new body.¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Yes, the many forms I¡¯ve taken over the years have been because of this tool. Wolfblade, Mantis, that old man¡­ all vessels of mine. The Shepherd God also used the sarcophagus to extract her mind from her divine body, only the body she¡¯d chosen did not accept the process. That is why two minds coexist.¡± Cloudhawk was floored. This was how Legion was able to appear in different forms! What was a perfect life? Certainly not the creation of a perfect body. A higher form of existence was the ability to move among bodies and species at will. That was true immortality! What this meant for the Cloud God was that he had a choice. If he had no other resource he could shed his godly form, take on a new body and be truly free. It might be exactly what he was looking for. When he decided to turn his back on his species, Mount Sumeru could track him by the signature of his original body. If he wanted to evade them he would need to follow the example of the Shepherd God and leave his body behind. Wolfblade¡¯s voice hung among the strange crystals. ¡°There are many vessels here. The chances are good that at least one suits you. Do you wish to find a new body?¡± They could feel the Cloud God¡¯s mental energies swirl around him. He was silent for a time, until at last a decision was reached. He could not abandon his identity as a god. At least not yet. Once the process was complete his powers would be greatly diminished and there was so much still to do. He couldn¡¯t afford to give up his power yet. That was one puzzle solved, but there were still many riddles remaining. Was this Sarcophagus of Rebirth connected somehow to gods and demons, in a manner more than just a tool of transference? Was its use widespread? Wolfblade went on. ¡°Legend has it that before a god dies, their will can be extracted and preserved within the matrix and then downloaded, as it were, into a new form. In this way they are given new life. The effective immortality of the gods relies on this simple looking box.¡± ¡°It is not hard to see that the gods do not procreate, not in the typical sense. As such their population remains static. But that being the case, where did their perfect bodies come from? Where did the gods originate?¡± It was a very curious question. There was a god here among them, but he did not have the answer. The seal that locked away their memories was a sturdy one, keeping the truth hidden. Wolfblade continued feeding them revelations. ¡°Gods are immortal, all-powerful and reside in perfect bodies. They have superior intellect, but also perfect loyalty and complete obedience to the collective will. Putting it all together, what does it make you think of?¡± ¡°Soldiers!¡± Cloudhawk blurted out. ¡°Perfect soldiers.¡± Gods were the perfect species. Common knowledge revealed no connection to soldiers, but hearing Wolfblade explain it in such a way Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help be see the similarities. Everything he pointed out was characteristic of a soldier ¨C of a super soldier! Wolfblade let the thought hang in the air between them. ¡°As we walked through my laboratory you must have seen the diagrams. I have performed autopsies on many gods, and have discovered that there are many similarities between them and humans. [1] Thus we have reason to believe that it is not just gods and demons that are connection ¨C but humans as well. Why else would our species be here?¡± So the Elysians realms were¡­ farms? Their aim was to grow bodies? But that didn¡¯t make sense. Cloudhawk¡¯s planet wasn¡¯t the only place gods had appeared. Why had they destroyed other worlds? The native people of those worlds had been completely wiped out, and even the gods from that period were gone. What about demons, where had they come from? What really happened on this world! The relationship between their species was anything but simple. But they still hadn¡¯t gotten down to the root of it. ¡°To get to the root of it all, there is only one method,¡± Wolfblade said. A dangerous thrum of mental energy vibrated from the Cloud God. ¡°The God King!¡± Yes, the God King! It lay at the heart of the godly matrix, above everything. It wielded unfathomable power and wielded complete control of its species. The God King was the only one of its species capable of thinking independently, act without limitations, and lead with total knowledge. It was the consciousness behind everything, the one that established all the rules, the bringer of the Great War. The God King had to know! ¡°This is all I can reveal to you. The rest you must discover on your own.¡± Once more Wolfblade was concealing something, but he was unwilling to give them anymore. ¡°You have come all this way and it would be a shame to leave empty-handed. This was the world created by the Demon King. So you, as his predecessor, should take it with you.¡± What? Take a universe? How was he supposed to do that? 1. Remember that the first time we met Legion as Mantis, he was performing autopsies on bodies and was teaching Cloudhawk to help him. That¡¯s one hell of a callback. You may also recall when he and Hellflower found the severed god-arm in the fallen Temple on spore planet. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 685 - Book 6, Chapter 77 While the Sarcophagus of Rebirth was in the center of the cube-space matrix, it was neither the heart nor origin of the pocket universe. This neat and regular collection of cubes was not natural and had been artificially created. Wolfblade took them to a passage through the dimensional walls. Cloudhawk passed through a veil of pure white which again reminded him of when he teleported to other worlds. He entered into a relatively separate subspace and hung weightless within it. This area was different from the others. The next set of cubes stretching before Cloudhawk were all exactly the same. Six identical faces of pure white, making the space look clean and neat and spotless. Each one was limited in size with the borders roughly five hundred meters in length. Hundreds, maybe thousands of these pockets continued. Then a shift. Nothing. Darkness. Not even air ¨C a total vacuum as far as the eye could see. It was like being caught in the center of an endless, empty universe. The only thing that existed other than them was a suspended point of light. Around it reality swirled in a slowly moving vortex, like a tiny galaxy. Even the most clueless person could feel the energy pouring off of it. ¡°This is the heart of this pocket dimension. Take it, and this universe goes with you.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need Wolfblade¡¯s explanation, he could feel it. The power this heart released was suffused through the whole matrix, keeping it stable. It¡¯s what kept this place in existence for over a thousand years. Cloudhawk reached out with his mind to communicate with the demon. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you show this to me before?¡± ¡°I wanted to,¡± Wolfblade remarked, ¡°but do you think one can simply pick up this item and walk away with it? Even with the power you wield it will take effort. The vortex around the Cube is warped spatial power. Without sufficient ability to control space, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to get close. Try for yourself.¡± Cloudhawk floated over to the vortex. Immediately he sensed the unstable, chaotic flows of space swirling around him. The vortex wasn¡¯t anything physical. As Wolfblade had said, it was the power of the Cube warping space around itself. The highly compressed spatial energy was more than the surroundings could maintain in a stable state, so this was the result. Anything that tried to move through the space would be torn apart. Cloudhawk knew the only way to deal with spatial disturbances like this was with dimensional power. He phased into incorporeal space and approached. So far, so good¡­ But the instant he reached the border of the vortex, he felt simultaneous tearing and rejecting forces. This cube was integral to the existence of this reality, and as such it was constantly releasing spatial energy. In essence, it was in a constant state of expansion. Cloudhawk had to cover a far greater distance than he¡¯d thought. Even with his current powers, these flows were difficult for him to control. He felt them roar around him like a hurricane, threatening to overwhelm his phase state. It required total focus to maintain, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how long he¡¯d be able to hold it. A year ago a struggle like this would have spelled his end. He grit his teeth, focused his powers and pressed on. Like a man struggling against the wind, bit by bit he inched closer to the core. The closer he came the more intense these powers fought him. His control was slipping. He considered backing away. It was too dangerous, there was no logic in risking it. But no ¨C he fought passed the uncertainty. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t as impossible as he¡¯d thought. No one knew this place better than Wolfblade. No one knew Cloudhawk better, either. If the demon had brought him here, it was only after careful consideration. Wolfblade was not the sort to waste time, and he only acted when he was certain of success. The pocket universe contained a wealth of knowledge, tools and clues. It had the potential to help the Green Alliance tremendously. With that in mind Cloudhawk pushed himself harder. Flames danced in his pupils and his mental powers surged. Heedless of the risks he forged ahead. Resistance gave way. He wrapped his fingers around the heart of this universe. A smile touched Wolfblade¡¯s lips. ¡°Old friend, I really did find you a worthy successor.¡± A wave of exhaustion came over Cloudhawk. The cube was possessed of an intense vacuum force, like a black hole. It ravenously drank up his mental energies until it seemed poised to consume him. Then, all at once the surroundings changed. The core of this dimensional pocket stopped the constant release of energy. He watched as the universe collapsed into rapid constriction. All of the vast space they¡¯d moved through shrank back toward the core, recycling all of that energy. Two humans and one god were kicked out. They once again found themselves in the center of the ancient battlefield. Stormy winds that had roared when they entered were all gone, for the source of the spatial disturbance was no longer present. Was it done? Cloudhawk looked down and there in his hand was a small translucent cube. Each face of the crystal object was subdivided into six smaller cubes of precisely equal proportions. In other words, within the larger cube were two hundred and sixteen smaller copies. It reminded him of the old rubik¡¯s cube. It certainly looked like the ancient toy. Where it differed was that the puzzle only moved on surface at a time. Cloudhawk¡¯s Cube moved in all sorts of directions. Wolfblade spoke with satisfaction when he saw it in Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. ¡°Most of the pockets we passed through are gone, but the ones that have vanished were on the peripheral. Empty and unimportant. The ones of use have been retained, to your benefit.¡± Cloudhawk recognized the cube as a very special spatial relic. Of course the real power came from its core, and the Cube itself was the ultra-condensed pocket dimension given physical form. He was reminded of the times he¡¯d visited the Temple, where the interior seemed so much larger than it did from the outside. Spatial energy was several times more dense within the structure and that¡¯s how the strange phenomenon was produced. His new item took that concept to the next level, compressing spatial energy around a dimensional core that held it all together. The result was a pocket dimension that could fit in the palm of his hand. Cloudhawk lifted his hand. The Cube reacted, quickly shifting and spreading outward. The subspace dimensions were released and swallowed everything in the immediate area. Once again Cloudhawk was floating in an expanse of white emptiness. It was surprising to him that using the Cube would be so simple. Activating it required less mental energy than he was expecting. He asked Wolfblade, ¡°Is the time difference inside still the same as it was?¡± ¡°Every subspace dimension has its own rules regarding time. How different depends on the intensity of the dimension itself. Based on what I know of your power, I would say time is between one twentieth and a thirtieth of normal.¡± A thirtieth? In other words one day in the real world was twenty or thirty days in the subspace dimension. The Cube was a relic as well as a trap. However, there were several other ways it was useful. For instance, the time discrepancy could improve manufacturing efficiency by a huge margin. This was one hell of a tool. Cloudhawk cut off his mental energies from the cube and once more it all shrank away. He tightened his grip around it. Who could imagine, a whole universe right in his palm¡­ ¡°This is very important to us. Make sure you keep it well.¡± Wolfblade cautioned him. Cloudhawk looked it over and nodded before slipping it into a pocket. Most relics didn¡¯t mean much to Cloudhawk anymore, but this one was different. Particularly when he considered Wolfblade¡¯s Sarcophagus nestled inside, which made the pocket dimension all the more precious. Wolfblade turned his attention to the Cloud God. ¡°What do you think? Seeing this, knowing this, are you prepared to join our cause? The Green Alliance may not look like much now, but one day in the future it will mean the unification of demons and humans. It is the only way to combat the tyranny of Sumeru.¡± A pulse of mental energy bore the Cloud God¡¯s answer. ¡°I must learn the ultimate truth.¡± ¡°You will.¡± Wolfblade understood the god very well. ¡°You are not the first god to join us, nor will you be the last. The path of our revolution is long, and the path to truth is longer still. From now on, we will walk this road as companions.¡± At last Wolfblade got to the root of this whole excursion. If the Cloud God wanted to free himself from the gods, the only way was through the Sarcophagus of Rebirth, which Cloudhawk held in his pocket. The Demon King¡¯s successor was the only one capable of opening the way, thus to save his own life the god had to aid Cloudhawk. In addition, the Cloud God had to know the secrets. It didn¡¯t matter what he thought. The Cloud God had to give up any illusions of escape or neutrality. With the god¡¯s help, Cloudhawk had faith that they could combat the Avatar. Another important advantage was that their new ally still had access to part of his divine connection. The actions of the gods could be delivered in a timely manner to the Green Alliance, a fact which could not be understated. Cloudhawk had come to possess his own universe in the form of the Cube. What¡¯s more, the Cloud God was now one of them. This field trip had proved to be very beneficial. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 686 - Book 6, Chapter 78 The main city of the Green Alliance boasted over two million citizens. An impressive feat that also meant managing this settlement was more difficult than any other. The main reason for this was how varied its people were. Wastelanders, by their nature, were a difficult crowd to control. There always existed those who bucked authority or wanted to split away. Often conflicts arose between different groups. Illegal activities continued despite bans and strict punishments. Now a large group of Elysians were thrown into the mix. It was a huge injection into the Green Alliance¡¯s talent pool, especially since many of the migrants were demonhunters or trainees. There were also soldiers, grunts, doctors, merchants, artists and so forth. All of them had some worth to the budding wastelander civilization. However, the benefits came with quickly apparent problems. Owing to the very recent conflict between wastelanders and Elysians, disputes were inevitable. Less than a week after the migrants arrived, trouble started brewing. ¡°To the streets! We demand respect, we are not prison laborers!¡± ¡°We refuse to live with these dirty heathens!¡± ¡°Reject the mutants! Throw these dimwitted freaks out of our city!¡± Several thousand protesters in Elysian garb marched through the streets bearing signs. Their loud disturbance had caused much of the city¡¯s construction efforts to grind to a halt. It captured a great deal of attention, many of them wastelanders who were livid at their inflammatory words. ¡°Love it or leave it!¡± ¡°We earn our keep! What makes you think you¡¯re any different?¡± ¡°This is our home. You come flooding in here and then try to kick us out?! Fuck you!¡± Stones rained down on the protesters from the surrounding crowds. A number of Elysians took nasty blows and fell to the ground. This only made the migrants more angry. They began to retaliate with rocks of their own and chaos ensued. More and more joined in until the streets were awash in the sounds of screams and angry shouting. ¡°Kill these wastelander freaks!¡± ¡°Get the fuck out of here, Elysian dogs!¡± In a blink the city was embroiled in conflict, with thousands brawling in the open. The city¡¯s laws were strict. Fighting and murder were illegal under any circumstances. Weapons were highly restricted, but police could hardly regulate stone-throwing. Deadly fighters were present on both sides, so even stones were dangerous. With enough force a good throw could crack skulls, even kill. Bang bang bang! Dull blasts sounded all around. Security forces had recognized the problem early but the number of agitators was far too large for them to deal with alone. Alarms were sent up the chain of command and before long, green-cloaked Greenland regulars and armored soldiers flooded the streets. They forcibly separated the two warring groups. ¡°Son of a bitch! Can you spare me this bullshit? Every fucking day with you people, and you¡¯re only getting worse. It never ends!¡± A pleasing, if coarse, voice erupted above the din. All eyes turned toward the enormous metal-clad figure stomping through the streets. Surprised looks followed when they saw the face beneath the helmet. She was a stunningly pretty woman. Pushing to the center of the crowds Dawn saw a number of people with bleeding head wounds. Several more were rolling on the ground, cradling injuries and trying not to get trampled. A group nearby had been taken into custody by security forces. She scowled at the scene. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± ¡°Governor Dawn! The Elysians are stirring up trouble!¡± A gruff and burly maneater mutant trundled over. He was easily three meters tall and his body was covered in a sort of hardened crust. A single horn jutted from his skull and he whined at Dawn through a hideous mouth like a child who¡¯d had his candy stolen. ¡°They said I¡¯m ugly!¡± Dawn gave him a once-over. Inwardly she conceded that they had a point, but rather than say that she cleared her throat. ¡°Eh, this¡­ will not due. We will not tolerate prejudice. Greenland code article three, discrimination against mutants is not permitted.¡± ¡°The Elysians refuse to work. They¡¯re just parasites, they only know how to take!¡± Another sturdy wastelander stepped forward. He added as an afterthought, ¡°they also insulted our leader, Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°What?!¡± The last accusation got Dawn¡¯s attention. Her face darkened. While troublesome, she was prepared to tolerate the other infractions. After all everyone knew it wasn¡¯t going to be easy getting Elysians and wastelanders to live together. But it was Cloudhawk who saved them and brought them here. If they had the gall to smear his name, she was going to make sure there were repercussions. Impassioned words were thrown out from among Elysians as well. One, an elderly man, angrily shouted back. ¡°These wastelanders are dirty! They have no concept of hygiene! It¡¯s like living in a pigsty!¡± ¡°They¡¯re crude, uncouth and a threat to the safety of Elysian lives! In just a few days we¡¯ve seen a slate of thefts, rapes and murders.¡± ¡°Yeah, why would you even bring us here? Hauling stones out in the ruins, doing this dirty work!¡± ¡°Lady Polaris, you were born in Skycloud. How could you stand with these barbarians? These filthy characters are an affront, beyond redemption. They don¡¯t deserve homes or cities!¡± This earned a chorus of angry shouts from the wastelanders. It¡¯d taken years and a tremendous amount of effort to build this city and they were supposed to just leave? ¡°What the fuck did you say? Say it again!¡± ¡°I said you¡¯re trash! Garbage!¡± ¡°Mother fucker! I¡¯ll tear your goddamn head off!¡± Insults were hurled back and forth as again it seemed destined to come to blows. Stones started flying. The anger melted from Dawn¡¯s face, replaced with calm as she slid Terrangelica from its sheath. She jabbed the tip into the ground and released its power. The rocks all stopped in midair as though someone had turned off gravity. ¡°Enough. Everyone shut your fucking mouths.¡± They obeyed. Dawn was Governor, and as such commanded a great deal of respect within the city. This was not an easy circumstance to deal with. Dawn scowled as she weighed her options. Avoiding filth and violence in the wastes was impossible but things were getting better. Still, could she realistically expect Elysians to be happy with that? They grew up living lives of comfort and ease, only to be suddenly thrust into a totally different reality. If she sided with the wastelanders, the Elysians would riot. If she agreed with the Elysians, the original people of this city would be furious. She felt like her head was about to explode. She was busy enough as it is, now there was this nonsense every day. It felt more exhausting than a sword fight. As she was reaching the end of her rope a voice shouted out. Cloudhawk appeared above the crowd. ¡°What¡¯s all this noise!¡± ¡°You¡¯re back, and just in time. This is more than I can handle. It¡¯s on you.¡± As the Elysians regarded Cloudhawk there was no small number showing overt hostility. There was also hatred and a healthy amount of fear. Not everyone was willing to accept Cloudhawk as any sort of leadership figure. It was his own decision to stand against Skycloud and wage war. He had to take responsibility for a lot of the mess their home was in today. Many protesters today had friends and loved ones who died in the fighting. Their hatred for Cloudhawk ran deep. Dawn had an Elysian background, but wasteland prestige. She was caught between the two and couldn¡¯t think of a solution. Better to leave this in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. Out here no one¡¯s voice was louder than Cloudhawk¡¯s, but in the heart of Elysians he was still a monster. Elysian demands were clear; they refused to accept the authority of any wastelander, especially him. They were willing to submit to Dawn or Phain, and only if they were given their own city away from the wastelanders. Cloudhawk, of course, would not bow to these demands. However the protesters were tenacious and unwilling to budge. It seemed they would rather die than live shoulder to shoulder with wastelanders. Despite the seeming intractability of the situation, Cloudhawk was calm. He raised his voice to be heard. ¡°I know that you all left because of your trust in Phain and Janus. I am under no illusion that you will do something because I ask.¡± This got the crowd¡¯s attention. The shouting stopped but although no one spoke, the burning anger in their eyes remained. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was even, without any hint of displeasure. ¡°You can choose not to listen to me, that¡¯s fine. But there is one you will certainly listen to, one you wouldn¡¯t dare ignore. Your highest authority.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t accept anyone you send us!¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re all just lapdogs!¡± ¡°We only accept Dawn, Phain or another Elysian!¡± A magnetic smile spread across Cloudhawk¡¯s face. ¡°Cloud God, now is the appropriate time don¡¯t you think?¡± The deity appeared in a flash of light, instantly present over the crowd. His sudden appearance above a wasteland settlement astounded everyone. Unbelievable! The being that not long ago swore to eliminate Cloudhawk now stood by his side. Although the vast majority of the Elysians had on idea what the Cloud God looked like, the power radiating from the being was unmistakable. The god¡¯s mental powers reached into their minds and without a second thought they threw themselves to the ground in worship. Even Dawn and the other leaders stared, dumbfounded. The Cloud God? It really was Skycloud¡¯s patron god! ¡°Continue to build!¡± His mighty voice boomed inside their skulls. ¡°From this day forward, you denizens of Skycloud will call this place home. I will continue to serve as Skycloud¡¯s protector, and will safeguard your honor.¡± Overwhelming psychic power passed through everyone like a wave. Who but the Cloud God possessed such strength? This was no trick. Did that mean¡­ this was really the Cloud God¡¯s decree? Their god left his own realm and stood with the Green Alliance? If that were true then the benefits to Cloudhawk were immeasurable. The god was a phenomenally powerful being, at least as mighty as the wasteland leader. With his mental prowess he could perform miracles unthinkable to mortals. Then there was the god¡¯s beloved reputation. Skycloud domain was named after their patron! He was its master and protector. None wielded more influence among Elysians than their god. What did the people think, knowing that their god stood with the wastelanders? To them Mount Sumeru was a distant and faintly understood thing. In contrast the Cloud God was here, right in front of their eyes. Their protector for the last thousand years. Though they had never encountered the god before now, seeing him appear in this way was an inspiration. It was a fatal blow against the Avatar and her plans. With the Cloud God on the field, the situation had changed dramatically. Those agitators who¡¯d threatened to leave had nothing more to say. When news of this made its way to Skycloud it would land like a mountain on Selene¡¯s mind. Citizens would escape in droves to seek the Cloud God¡¯s blessings out in the wastes. Previous If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 687 - Book 6, Chapter 79 Cloudhawk ¨C Lord of the wastelands and leader of the Green Alliance ¨C convened a meeting where he announced changes to the staff. Chief among them was the news that the Cloud God was now a formal member of their organization, holding the title of deputy Alliance leader equal to Wolfblade. He was directly responsible for Elysian citizens. The response was shock. Part of the reason for humanity¡¯s long history of divine worship was that the gods were aloof. Only very rarely did they interfere with human affairs. Their elusive, mysterious nature made them larger than life, and thus worthy of worship. Why, then, had the enigmatic Cloud God suddenly broken from the tradition of his race? Further, he was siding with wastelanders, who had for ages been seen as filthy heathens. It wasn¡¯t long ago that Cloudhawk and the Cloud God were mortal enemies. Now they acted like none of it had ever happened? Furthermore, the Cloud God entered the Green Alliance as an Elysian protector, but it also made him an enemy of Skycloud. The consequences of such news were as staggering as one might imagine. At last, Dawn Polaris could get her much deserved rest. As the city¡¯s Governor she had spent every day overseeing its construction, while simultaneously trying to keep the peace between wastelanders and Elysians. She was so exhausted she couldn¡¯t sleep. With the Cloud God as part of the Alliance now, the most immediate benefit was as a deterrence. Elysians revered him, wastelanders feared him. Under such circumstances no one dared earn his ire. Secondly there was a sense of security. Cloudhawk and the god were different, obviously. Cloudhawk was a product of the wastes with only a few years of leadership experience. The Cloud God had been around since the time of the Great War. He was powerful, eternal, and had a long history of authority. With him and Cloudhawk together, what hope did their enemies have? Finally, the Cloud God was very useful in running a city. From its center, his mental powers could stretch all across Greenland. Anyone who entered into his expansive scope was open to assault. If he focused on someone to read their memories, they could hide nothing. Ninety-nine point nine percent of humans read like open books to the god. Such a deterrence would greatly reduce crime, since the offender could not hide. Foul deeds could be stopped before they even occurred. That was a serious problem for anyone hoping to undermine the Green Alliance. Wastelanders were, by their nature, obstinate and resistant to rule. They cherished freedom over civilization and a portion would always live bloodthirsty lives. On the surface things were very harmonious, but there was an underbelly of violence. As such it could be understood why Elysians wanted to live separately from wastelanders. For the time being at least, the Cloud God¡¯s presence allayed their concerns. In many ways, the Cloud God was Cloudhawk¡¯s mightiest ally. He was under no illusion that he and the god were perfectly aligned, of course. The Cloud God¡¯s sole aim was to learn the truth of his race. His search would invariably bring him into conflict with Sumeru, so while he did not share Cloudhawk¡¯s goals they did walk the same path. Under these conditions the Cloud God could be very useful. Dawn heaved a sigh of relief. Her first order of business was to take a nice relaxing bath. When she was finished she brought a basin and washcloth into Aquaria¡¯s chambers and gently cleaned her mother¡¯s face. She¡¯d been in a coma for some time now. Although no longer in danger of dying, there was no sign she would awaken soon. ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy to come and see you the last few days. I don¡¯t know when you will open your eyes¡­ but I wanted to tell you something. A lot has happened lately, the most important being that the god you serve has joined us. He now serves under Cloudhawk¡¯s command.¡± The news made Dawn happy. ¡°This afternoon we had a meeting with the god. Incredible, right? Too much to imagine, even for someone as faithful as you. But that¡¯s the truth. It¡¯s real.¡± Aquaria did not stir. ¡°In the end the gods aren¡¯t so mysterious. They¡¯re just stronger than we are, live longer, maybe a little smarter. Really though, the distance between gods and humans isn¡¯t that wide. What is noble and sacred, this stuff we worship¡­ really it¡¯s all in our imagination. There is strong and there is weak, but there is no such thing as inherently greater or lesser. ¡°We should have faith, but not faith in mystical beings. We need to have faith in a beautiful future. Instead of begging the gods for trinkets and protection, we should work toward an inner peace and strong motivation.¡± Dawn leaned onto the bed, cupping her face in her hands. She looked at her mother and knew she probably was never going to wake up. She probably couldn¡¯t even hear her. But Dawn didn¡¯t care. She just needed someone to talk to, to unload what was on her mind. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of Cloudhawk. It¡¯s just¡­¡± Dawn¡¯s pretty face grew melancholy. ¡°He¡¯s gotten so strong that even gods and demons follow him. My strength and the worth of the Polaris family¡­ I can feel we¡¯re getting less and less important. I need to get stronger.¡± Over the last several years Dawn had lost a great deal. Her family, her position, and loved ones¡­ She didn¡¯t look at her life and feel despair. On the contrary, she was happy and enthusiastic to have found her place. Like she¡¯d said, everyone needed faith. It was calming and strengthened one¡¯s will. Dawn¡¯s faith, was Cloudhawk.¡± Well, it was time. Dawn gathered up the basin and washcloth and was preparing to leave when she ran into Cloudhawk. ¡°Ah, you have some time to come by? Came to buy me a drink?¡± ¡°I wanted to bring you somewhere.¡± Bring her somewhere? So mysterious. With a mind full of suspicion Dawn agreed. Without saying anything further, Cloudhawk pulled out a cube from his pocket. He flung it out in front of him and it started to shift the moment it left his fingers. Thousands of cubes burst out before her. They hung all around her like bubbles. ¡°What is this? A new relic?¡± Dawn¡¯s eyes were wide in wonder. As she spoke she reached out a hand to touch one but when she did, the unexpected happened. She immediately felt an intense vacuum force and she was sucked inside. It took her a moment to get her bearings. She looked around and saw that her surroundings had changed. She was now in an empty, square space. It wasn¡¯t overly large, with visible borders about five hundred meters long. The walls were a spotless opaque white and besides air there was nothing here. ¡°What do you think? Awesome, right?¡± Cloudhawk appeared behind her. ¡°This is a sealed, stable pocket dimension. I think this is going to be a great benefit to us.¡± He explained the situation to her. There were over two hundred subspace sections in the Cube. Alone they were small, but two hundred together could build a huge maze. In battle that would be one hell of a trap and that was before you considered the time discrepancy. Think of what a great place this was for study, cultivation and research! As she listened to his explanation, Dawn couldn¡¯t help but feel elated. She was stunned that he had this treasure and at the fact that such a thing existed. Selfishly she thought it would be great to help her train her own powers ¡®quickly.¡¯ Who knows, after a month real time in the cube, maybe she would emerge as strong as a Master Demonhunter. After all, she was still young! Dawn was far from achieving her full potential. There was so much talent she could draw on! She understood why Cloudhawk had brought her specifically to this place. No one knew her heart better than him. His Cube would aid her tremendously. ¡°So you¡¯re saying a year in the cube would equal twenty or thirty years of training in our reality?¡± ¡°In theory. But if you think about it, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple.¡± Cloudhawk had thought to use the Cube to increase production, but with thought and research he learned that it wasn¡¯t the perfect answer he¡¯d hoped for. First of all, the Cube needed to be activated for spatial energies to flow. When it was ¡®turned off,¡¯ it was like hitting the pause button. Because the physical laws of subspace were more fluid, and because its stability was tied to the dimensional core, when that core stopped everything would cease. That meant that any living thing inside would also not survive. The Demon King¡¯s plan to use the Cube as a trap for his nemesis was because of these features. Inside his pocket universe time effectively ceased. At that point it didn¡¯t matter how miraculous the God King¡¯s powers were. However, he discovered that when a living thing was inside the Cube it was much more difficult to close! It had taken the Demon King a vast amount of energy to close the relic when it had a thousand spaces. During the process, if the God King was trapped inside he could fight back and break out. So in reality this unbeatable trap was totally capable of being beaten, if one was strong enough. That caused some serious problems. Unless Cloudhawk was willing to keep the subspace open all the time, the instant he allowed it to close everything inside would freeze. Nothing would resume until he opened it again, and in that process any living thing would be destroyed. All he¡¯d find after reopening the cube was a bunch of corpses. Every coin had two sides. Anything he put inside would be preserved, practically forever. In addition there were several key things to consider. First was to solve the material transport problem. Moving large quantities of material into subspace was difficult. Next, space was limited. That meant setting up a production hub was hard. Then there was waste to consider. All things considered, Cloudhawk chose not to use the Cube as a place for manufacturing. Instead it would serve as a suitable place for Dawn to train and grow stronger. The malleable rules of subspace made it very good for all sorts of training methods. Research also could be performed without fear of explosions or noxious emissions affecting nearby areas. And of course, the benefit of stretched time. For now, that would be the worth of his Cube. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 688 - Book 6, Chapter 80 Book 6, As twilight faded, the night took hold. A lean and energetic elderly man patrolled the fortress interior. Judging by his clothes he was no mere grunt, but nor was he from Skycloud. Beside him was a standoffish and austere looking soldier. He, too, was not a local. The corridors of the focal fortress were packed with soldiers who held their weapons close. They were on alert, holding their breath for an attack they feared was right around the corner. None drew their gaze from the murder holes as the two senior leaders made their way through, instead meticulously examining the area outside for any sign of threat. A heavy silence hung over everything, so complete one could hear a pin drop. The lean older man was a high-ranking Demonhunter from Dragemere, named Ryker Bolton [1] Once he served as Dragenmere¡¯s master of the Demonhunter Guild. He followed Phoenix through the Boundary Gate to provide support for her mission in Skycloud. Ryker¡¯s services were directed to one of these fortresses to ensure their safety. As for the one by his side, the valiant-looking warrior was a colonel from Praelius named Novem Proulx. [2] He had a reputation for being straightforward and temperamental. Both men were well-respected in the lands they came from. They¡¯d come to Skycloud with specific orders. Stepping out onto an observation balcony, they looked over the darkened wilderness. Discomfort shone in their eyes, because word was that Skycloud¡¯s patron deity had joined the enemy. A god of such high status, cavorting with dirty heathens! Every Elysian regardless of origin and status could hardly believe what they heard. Anger, bewilderment, shock and suspicion were widespread. It was one of the most incredible scandals of all time during a period where scandals were becoming commonplace. Only a few days remained before the Boundary Gate would open once again. If Cloudhawk aimed to stop it, he had to act soon. The Cloud God wielded intense, all-pervading mental power. Cloudhawk¡¯s dimensional abilities were bizarre and unpredictable. Defending against the two seemed like a doomed cause and neither Elysian knew how the Avatar planned to do it. Still, with her unflappable calm and the powers of a god they were fairly confident she knew what she was doing. Novem pulled out a small water skin. ¡°Drink?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ryker said with a shake of his head. He turned away from the wilderness and faced his companion. ¡°When the problems here are dealt with what do you plan to do? Will you go back?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m going back.¡± Novem hadn¡¯t expected to be asked this question. After a pause he elaborated. ¡°My family¡¯s waiting for me. I was thinking of retiring.¡± [3] Ryker raised his brows. ¡°Here I am still going at my age and you are planning to retire so young?¡± This earned a wry chuckle from the younger man. ¡°Skycloud is among the most prosperous in the six realms. The Cloude and Polaris families used to be the cream of the crop. Now what are they? Far as I can tell, nothing is forever. I¡¯ve fought enough for one lifetime I think, had plenty die by my hands as well¡­ better to spend the rest of my days looking after my wife and kid.¡± Ryker was silent for a moment, thinking. Of course Novem would consider stepping back, hadn¡¯t Ryker had similar thoughts from time to time? Now there was a rebel god to contend with and that made people question their lot. Question their relationship to the gods. Chaos in Skycloud. The fall of two great houses. The rise of the wastelands. Cloudhawk. Elysians, wastelanders. Mortals, gods. Gods, demons¡­ how were they all connected? Ryker thought back across the years of his life, spent in pious service. He¡¯d killed in the name of his faith and the more things he saw, the more doubt crept into his heart. In such chaotic times, could anyone really keep their hands clean? Maybe retiring at one¡¯s peak wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Of course the question was would it be that easy? Several soldiers approached, patrolmen responsible for this section of the fortress. Ryker and Novem hadn¡¯t been here long but all the soldiers knew them already. The men were strong and authoritative, which earned the soldiers¡¯ respect. ¡°Something to report?¡± ¡°No, sir!¡± Novem waved a hand, dismissing them. ¡°Keep on your guard. Don¡¯t get lazy.¡± All of a sudden the patrol captain blurted out, ¡°Actually sir I do have something to note.¡± A scowl turned Novem¡¯s lips. ¡°What is it?¡± The captain stepped forward. ¡°You¡¯re dead.¡± A dark and ominous sense washed over Ryker. The captain looked normal but there was something about his eyes¡­ they were like looking into a pool of cold, stagnant water. Fast! Before he could react the captain produced a black dagger from thin air. With uncharacteristic speed he stabbed it at the colonel. Novem was a grizzled soldier and reacted quickly, but not quick enough to avoid the blow entirely. The foul weapon dug into his body and released a poison that caused him to lose all sensation. Sickly green fire was injected through his veins. ¡°No!¡± In the time it took Ryker to reach for his companion, Novem¡¯s face had already begun to rot. Tongues of flame spouted from his eyes and nostrils. In moments the soldier was reduced to ash and blew away on the wind. ¡°Wastelanders blasphemers!¡± Ryker produced a sword that was a union of ice and fire. He raised it in preparation to strike down the invaders but was set upon by a host of shadows. Dark figures stabbed at him from every direction and in two short seconds he was a pile of ash. No one was the wiser. These men and all they held was picked up by the winds and brought out into the darkness. Nothing was left, like they¡¯d never existed at all. Staring at the spot where the targets had been, the patrol captain¡¯s form began to shift. Janus Umbra¡¯s strange, unsettling form was revealed. No wonder two powerful men had been taken care of so easily. The rest of the unit were her ¨C shadows of the assassin. Once the two victims were dealt with, Janus walked into the fortress. Inside a beautiful creature hung in midair. Around him were other frightening and notable figures; the Khan of Evernight, Carnage, Phain and so forth. They were the vanguard, sent to capture the fortress and were standing quickly within. Janus regarded them quietly. ¡°Handled.¡± Phain glowered at her. ¡°Cloudhawk said to capture who we could. We can¡¯t just go around murdering everyone in our way.¡± Janus¡¯ face never deviated from its cool detachment. ¡°Those two were strong. Loyal to the Avatar. If they escaped or got word out it would cause us a great deal of trouble.¡± It took very little time for the invaders to garner attention. Suddenly the fortress was a hive of activity as garrisoned troops scrambled to respond. But once they saw the being hovering in the air, they were frozen solid. What¡­ what was this?! The Cloud God released a torrent of mental energy that drilled into the minds of the soldiers. ¡°I am the Cloud God, protector of this realm. Put down your weapons and stop your hostilities at once!¡± Aghast, the soldiers stood there not knowing how to react. Their god had appeared right here, in front of them! It was entirely outside the realm of possibility that they should fight his will. Thus dominated, the Cloud God compelled them to throw their weapons aside and prostrate before him. The Khan of Evernight walked through the soldiers to the heart of the fortress. No further resistance was forthcoming, either from soldiers or the Avatar. He also discovered that the focus once kept here was nowhere to be found. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± The members of the Green Alliance invasion force were at a loss. The Khan carefully stepped through the room where the focus had been kept. He noticed a circular indentation in the ground surrounded by a number of daggers. ¡°It would appear they used spatial power to move the focus.¡± Moved it? Yes, that made sense¡­ The Avatar was no fool. She was fully aware she¡¯d been caught in Wolfblade¡¯s trap after attacking the Cloud God. She¡¯d played into his hands, forcing the Cloud God to join with the Green Alliance. Because of her folly the wastelanders now had the upper hand. With the Eyes of Time Selene could tell when and where Cloudhawk¡¯s forces would strike, but repelling them was another story. Under these circumstances, the wise decision would be to consolidate what you needed to defend. Skycloud¡¯s focal points were four unique devices. They were intended to be placed at the four borders of the realm and link Skycloud¡¯s ley lines through the great border wall. The placement and combination spread their enchantments large enough to protect the whole realm. The power they contained was also strong enough to mediate Skycloud¡¯s temperature, environment and provide limitless energy. But since these were simply devices, they could be moved! Once they were repaired by Seraphs, Selene relied on the power of the spatial master Bruno to move them. This whole time Cloudhawk¡¯s forces had been conspiring to capture an empty fortress. ¡°When the foci are removed the enchantment they maintained is destroyed. This means Skycloud will never return to its original state.¡± The Cloud God¡¯s thoughts were projected into the minds of all. ¡°The Temple is occupied by a foreign force bent on the realm¡¯s destruction. As its protector I cannot sit idly by. As your god, I command all of you to take back up your weapons and fight for your home.¡± The facts were right before their eyes. The Elysian soldiers had no choice but to believe their divine protector. They thought about their families and loved ones back home. They thought about the beautiful, abundant land they grew up in. With the Cloud God personally beseeching their aid, how could they refuse? The first rose with head bowed. ¡°I will fight for the Cloud God!¡± He was followed by more as one after the other soldiers rose to their feet. ¡°We will fight for the Cloud God!¡± It was a heartening scene for the members of the Green Alliance. They did not manage to accomplish their mission here, but at least they saw that the Cloud God could be a rallying point. Where he appeared, Elysians would surely come to his side. After all, Mount Sumeru was a remote and elusive power. The Cloud God was real and asking for them help in protecting their homes! Troubling accusations meant the soldiers didn¡¯t know where the Cloud God stood any longer among its own people. The dealings of Sumeru and its struggles were far above their heads. What they did know was that recent events had seen Skycloud slip further into decay. If it continued, their beloved realm would be no more. Only one choice existed, so they took up arms. Now they fought for themselves. For their homes. For their families. They understood that survival was the most fundamental human pursuit. 1. His Chinese name is Yu Fu ¨C directly translated as ¡®rich universe¡¯ and ¡®plentiful house¡¯. Ryker is German for rich, and Bolton means house. 2. ¡®Hero Nine¡¯. I chose Novem as it¡¯s Latin for nine and he comes from Praelius ¨C Latin for Warrior. Proulx is French for valiant and has the same Latin-based flair. 3. Hoist it up the flagpole, friends! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 689 - Book 6, Chapter 81 Subspace. An expanse of white emptiness. Dawn deftly evaded the attack. Feet planted, sword raised, she released a burst of gravitational power toward Cloudhawk and then charged at him. With both hands wrapped around Terrangelica¡¯s hilt, she launched into a fierce flurry of blows. The mighty gravitational field only forced Cloudhawk to pause for a moment. With nothing but a crude exorcist rod in hand he fended off Dawn¡¯s attacks as though her powers had no effect. Woosh! There was a flash of dark iron and the rod¡¯s pointy end stopped an inch from Dawn¡¯s throat. Dawn gripped her sword tight like she wanted to hack at something but held back. Her face was a mask of frustration. ¡°Not bad, you all have improved quickly. Your unification of mental power and martial skill is being continually perfected. While strength is a key to success, it is not the only key. Be flexible, play to your advantages and recognize the enemy¡¯s weakness. If you can do that then you¡¯ll beat foes two, three, even ten times stronger than you.¡± There were ten people besides Cloudhawk in the pocket dimension. They included Dawn, Barb, and Gabriel as well as Azura and several other young students. Cloudhawk divided his people into two groups. The first were strong, invaluable members of his organization that served as its backbone. This included the likes of Wolfblade and the Cloud God ¨C people he didn¡¯t trust but who were integral to the success of the Green Alliance. The second group was the one in front of him. They weren¡¯t as mighty as others, but were friends that had followed Cloudhawk along his journeys. He trusted them implicitly. Although they couldn¡¯t match up to the likes of Wolfblade, his trusted crew was still young. In the future they were certain to be the best of the Green Alliance. Cloudhawk had always regarded them as the group¡¯s future. Azura unfurled her legs and stood. Her little cheeks were still bruised but she clasped her hands and bowed respectfully. ¡°Thank you teacher, for taking so much time to train us!¡± ¡°From now on we¡¯ve got nothing but time.¡± The subspace cube really was a treasure! Rolling a sore shoulder Barb interjected. ¡°These days you fight like the old drunk, even without relics. Guess the scoundrel left us in good hands.¡± Cloudhawk had indeed gotten stronger, but the others couldn¡¯t even comprehend how much. Where he was now and where he had been was about as close as the sea and the stars. That was all for training today. Cloudhawk moved through to another section of the pocket dimension, where Hellflower and a group of mutants were working in a laboratory. To them it felt like they¡¯d been in here for a couple months, but in reality only three real days had passed. It was a huge boon for Dawn and the others who were usually too busy to focus on themselves. It was also a huge help to Hellflower and her research. ¡°Our development of new weapons is coming along well.¡± She picked up an ordinary-looking dart and walked over to him. ¡°Take a look.¡± With that she flung the dart toward a nearby dummy. It struck but didn¡¯t dig in deep. However in an instant green fires slithered out from the point of impact until the dummy was wreathed in flame. In a blink all that was left was ash. ¡°You managed to insert Castigation Fire into the darts?¡± ¡°We came up with the theory a while ago but never had the time to test it.¡± The corner of her lips curled into a coquettish grin. ¡°Castigation Fire is actually a special microorganism. Or maybe I should say a nano-weapon. We found a way to contain these particles in an item¡¯s surface and increase its efficacy tremendously.¡± No doubt, adding Castigation Fire to a weapon made it a hundred times more deadly. The Crimson One had done something similar. He infected arrows with Castigation Fire and when it struck a target, the nano-particle spread. While the arrows themselves were hardly something to fear, the fire they brought was deadly. Cloudhawk was able to do much the same, but he didn¡¯t have the time to produce fire-infected weapons regularly. It seemed Hellflower had found a way to do it on her own. She¡¯d had Cloudhawk produce some fire using his vast stores of mental energy. The fire was then placed in a special containment vessel. According to what they knew, Castigation Fire only continued so long as it was fed by the user¡¯s mental energy. However, somehow Hellflower had discovered a source to keep it going. After stabilizing the material she carefully extracted it, and affixed it to various weapons. ¡°We¡¯re seeing more and more eboncrys weapons being distributed to our forces. Castigation weapons are also coming along well. We¡¯ve also seen progress with genetically modified soldiers, medicines and even the mushrooms. All improved through my efforts.¡± She emphasized this by slapping her hand down on Cloudhawk¡¯s shoulder. She leaned in close. ¡°I deserve a reward for all my hard work, don¡¯t you think?¡± Her wiles hit him like a ton of bricks. Suddenly he remembered something. ¡°Reward? Of course! I¡¯ve got something ready for you, actually. Come with me and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Without waiting for her answer he took her hand, and pulled her along to another section of subspace. Hellflower¡¯s face turned from flirtatious to indignant. ¡°You insipid lout! Now I understand what happened to Selene. You¡¯ve only got one thing on your mind and it¡¯s disgusting!¡± Despite her biting words, the irritation all melted away when she saw where Cloudhawk had brought her. She stared in open shock and excitement. Stretching before them was the vast collection of memory discs. Wolfblade had spent years gathering them, building a trove of ancient knowledge. Cloudhawk knew it would capture Hellflower¡¯s fancy. To her this place was priceless. ¡°Take some of this with you before I close the cube.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold herself back from giving him a thankful peck on the cheek. Clearing her throat, she adopted a more formal tone. ¡°Seeing as you seem so sincere, this time I¡¯ll let it slide. But don¡¯t think you¡¯ll get away with it again.¡± Cloudhawk groaned. Hellflower was not an easy one to deal with. Indeed this was all hugely enticing to the scientist. But, she already considered it all her own. Who else could it belong to? Hell, it was hardly fair for Cloudhawk to pay for her hard work by giving her something that already belonged to her. Anyway, wasn¡¯t it also to his benefit the more she learned? Hellflower was confident that all men were the same. Even Cloudhawk ¨C who on the surface seemed so in control and abstinent ¨C was really just hiding his desires. He had so much to deal with that it was natural for certain things to fall to the wayside. Men like him needed to be¡­ guided slowly. Cloudhawk had no idea what was going on in her head, nor did he much care. He waited for her to pick out the discs she wanted, then make sure everyone left the pocket dimension before closing it. It shrank back into the fist-shaped cube and fell into his hand. Having reappeared, a messenger who was waiting for him delivered a report. The Green Alliance vanguard had taken the wall. Furthermore, the Cloud God and others had managed to convert tens of thousands of soldiers to their cause. They¡¯d managed to pull it off much faster than Cloudhawk had anticipated. He turned to Dawn. ¡°Where are we with our Regulars?¡± ¡°Recalled just a few days ago,¡± she answered. ¡°We¡¯re ready to go at any time.¡± Hellflower interjected. ¡°Wolfblade also has troops established in the north. We can take them on two fronts.¡± Cloudhawk made up his mind. He would go as well. ¡°Dawn, I need you to stay here and look after the construction efforts. I won¡¯t need you on this mission.¡± Dawn understood why. They were going to war against Elysians, plus Wolfblade would be there. After learning it was Wolfblade¡¯s people that killed Skye there was plenty of bad blood still to work through. For the time being it was best to keep them separate. Cloudhawk gave the order for Greenland¡¯s Regulars to move out. Without waiting for them, he left first for the wall and planned to meet them there. As reports had claimed, the focal devices were gone. Moved by Selene. What this meant was the protective enchantments were greatly reduced ¨C probably to just over Skycloud city, or maybe just the Temple. To the Avatar it didn¡¯t matter what the people thought. They would all be cleansed soon anyway. Her only aim was to reopen the Boundary Portal to allow the four Supremes and their armies through. Everything outside of the capitol, in fact everything outside of the Temple was already forfeit as far as she was concerned. In war it was best to shrink the battle lines as much as possible. Without question her best soldiers would be waiting behind the Temple walls. The Temple was defensible, and sturdy enough to ward off powerful attacks. Committed to an all-or-nothing defense, it would cost wastelanders dearly to try and tear it down. After all, neither Selene nor the allies by her side were to be looked down upon. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t had enough time to prepare, but circumstances were forcing him to act. Fight a quick battle, force a quick decision. Cloudhawk stood before the great wall. A host of Elysian soldiers stretched along its length. An armada of ships hung in the air, standing by. It took half a day for airships, airplanes and smaller rider units to gather. They appeared in large numbers, representing the Green Alliance. Now this included Elysians soldiers. The two kept their distance but did not quarrel. Any other time it would be something to celebrate. Never in human history had these two staunch foes worked so closely together. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes moved to the Cloud God and reached out with his mind. ¡°Preparations are complete. Start the attack.¡± The god did not respond, but there was no going back now. The human and the god were not close allies, however they shared the same aim. Survival. The army began to move. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 690 - Book 6, Chapter 82 Spindly wastelands weeds reached toward the sky. They peeked from a barren landscape. The corpses of wasteland critters were everywhere. Maggots were everywhere. Insects where everywhere. The city¡¯s elements of artistic beauty were marred by the encroaching sands. Citizens tried to keep up appearances, but they were quickly running out of food and water. They were growing frail and emaciated. Fear mingled with despair in their sunken eyes. Some gave all their will to provide for the young and elderly, who were hit hardest by these tragedies. Others let their twisted, foul natures show by cheating, stealing or looting what they could. Survival instinct undermined any sense of morality. Groups had gathered in the main square and prostrated themselves before the Temple. Day and night they prayed, placing all hope in beseeching forgiveness from the gods. They begged for guidance, anything to show them how to escape this misfortune. Humans were complicated creatures. Sometimes a small spark, a fleeting thought, could lead to staggering transformations. It was when everything one knew was challenged ¨C when they were brought to the brink ¨C that a person truly came to understand themselves. Wastelanders and Elysians weren¡¯t any different. It all came down to survival. The strong made it, the unequipped did not. Cloudhawk was stunned at how quickly things had changed. In only a few short months, fertile soil had turned to lifeless sand. Incredible, that such a magnificent environment in the end was so fragile. It¡¯d started when Adder used his primeval weapon to destroy one of the focal fortresses. Without the energy field, Skycloud¡¯s condition began to deteriorate. The process could be reversed with the right distribution of energy. Protections could be reengaged, sparing Elysians from the harsh sun and arid climate. But Selene ¨C the real Selene ¨C had eroded in the face of a god¡¯s power. The human who feared for her people was locked behind an Avatar. Robbing the last vestiges of the realm¡¯s protective energy, she doomed it to a wasting death. In truth, Elysians still had it ten times better than wastelanders. However, those used to a pampered life found it enormously difficult to live in a world of scarcity. In less than a year, many of them would fall victim to the changing times. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the chief culprit here. Still, as an important figure in this historic period he had to bear some responsibility. The old Selene had seen the kindness and worth in Skycloud¡¯s people. Cloudhawk saw it too. Since the Selene he knew was locked away, it fell on him to help defend the people she cared for. Here they were. No more running. No matter what happened, Cloudhawk had to stop the Avatar from destroying anymore innocent lives. He had to wrench Selene from the God King¡¯s grasp. Between the Cloud God and other senior Elysians under his banner, Cloudhawk¡¯s people encountered no resistance while making their way across the realm. All cities and fortresses they passed quickly surrendered. The Green Alliance won victory in their march without spilling a drop of blood, capturing city after city. While taking Skycloud wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk¡¯s intention ¨C nor any part of his original plan ¨C nonetheless his Green Alliance was swallowing up vast swaths as they made their way toward its capitol. Before long half the realm¡¯s population was under his control. The Green Alliance may very well have moved beyond the definition of a wilderness power. Cloudhawk was on the cusp of unwittingly achieving what Arcturus could not. Real unification. The Khan of Evernight was traveling a short distance before Cloudhawk. His cold, digitized voice made a report. ¡°Most of the cities we¡¯ve encountered have had no troops stationed. Neither city guards nor troops garrisoned in fortresses. They¡¯ve almost all been evacuated.¡± He was right. More than likely, all of the troops had been recalled to Skycloud city. ¡°It looks like the Temple is preparing for a final battle.¡± Cloudhawk rubbed his forehead in exasperation. ¡°Unless I¡¯m wrong we¡¯re looking to face a million troops or more in the capitol. Those numbers are unprecedented, and the bloodshed will be too.¡± The scale of defenders protecting Skycloud would be a far sight greater than what they faced at Sanctuary. It made sense, since the result of this fight would determine the fate of both Skycloud and the wastelands. From the Avatar¡¯s perspective, this was undeniably the right move. She shrank the realm¡¯s enchantments to the heart of the city and protected it with every last loyal soldier she could muster, in effect reducing the front lines to a very small area. The less spread out they had to be, the stronger the defenders were. These soldiers were also wholly under the sway of the Temple. Even the Cloud God¡¯s grand influence likely wouldn¡¯t erode their resolve. In all likelihood, Cloudhawk was facing a brutal contest. Leader of the mutants, Carnage, answered in his own cruel tone. ¡°What are you afraid of? We kill our way in, and cut our way out. Our strength is not inferior.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the size of their armies. I¡¯m considering the cost. Like a group of cannibals being circled by a pack of wolves. All the blood and sacrifice¡­ how is it worth anything? What¡¯s the point? These soldiers don¡¯t even know what they¡¯re fighting for.¡± The others lapsed into silence, considering his words. He wasn¡¯t wrong. They all shared a common enemy, and infighting only succeeded in weakening them against the real threat. When the gods came, all of this would just make it easier for them to scour this world clean. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the time to mull over the problem. The Avatar made sure he only had days to find an answer. ¡°Onward. To Skycloud. No matter what, we have to stop the Boundary Portal from opening.¡± Cloudhawk calmly gave the order. Experience had taught him that life¡¯s journey was full of things one didn¡¯t want to encounter but was forced to confront anyway. Running only made things worse. Better to face conflict head on and find a solution. A day later¡­ Cloudhawk¡¯s forces had rejoined around Skycloud city. Three separate armies gathered for the definitive assault. Cloudhawk led the soldiers from the southern wilds. Among them were the Khan of Evernight, Janus Umbra, Phain Mist and others. All told he commanded one hundred and fifty thousand men, the very best of the south, every one of them loyal to their leader. Wolfblade commanded the northern forces. His lieutenants included Abaddon, Frost and the rest of the Hand of Gehenna. They boasted an army two-hundred thousand strong, largely remnants of the Conclave. The quality of these men were variable, but they came in huge numbers and were all well equipped. The final army was the newest, several tens of thousands led by the Cloud God. Elysian defectors all, they came from fortresses along the Great Wall and cities they¡¯d passed through. The Cloud God¡¯s call to action inspired them to rise against the Temple¡¯s tyranny. Standing against them was Skycloud¡¯s combined forces, vast and intimidating. Ten thousand ships, big and small, were spread out in a defensive circle around the Temple. They were easily visible even from a hundred kilometers away. Shimmering multi-colored lights rippled among the host. Selene¡¯s defensive enchantments were in full force. A thick shield of light hung over the Temple, the city and much of Skycloud¡¯s army. Elysian ground forces were a staggering sight. Soldiers as far as the eye could see stood with weapons ready. At least five thousand griffin riders stood by, among a ground force two to three-hundred strong. Amazing¡­ terrifying and amazing! The only way to understand the sheer scope was to see it with one¡¯s own eyes. Cloudhawk¡¯s armies ceased their advanced with about fifty kilometers between them. The air was heavy, for everyone knew that the earth would shake from the ferocity of their conflict. The first shot was yet to be fired but even so the pressure was almost unbearable. This fight was a disaster before it even began. Seven years ago¡­ That was when Cloudhawk first entered the city. He remembered how once the city stunned him with its beauty and perfection. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine, less than a decade hence, that fate would lead him down such a darkly comical path. Here he was again. As a conqueror. ¡°Begin the attack!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Brows knit tight, Cloudhawk looked toward the city. His keen eyes saw the front lines clearer now. Old men. Women. Children. They crowded the streets and rooftops with weapons in hand, as though ready to fight off the Green Alliance. But he could tell by their faces that it wasn¡¯t their choice to be there. They were shoved to the front. A bunch of inexperienced citizens, used as human shields and cannon fodder. ¡°Avatar! Despicable Elysian soldiers! You force your people to the front and hide behind them to protect yourselves? Have you no honor?¡± As his voice boomed over the city his words were met with cool indifference. Only a very few betrayed signs of guilt. Cloudhawk scowled. These innocent folk were in the way, even mingled with the soldiers. It made what he had to do much more difficult. Concentrating fire on soldiers would be impossible without causing civilian casualties to skyrocket. If he did that the city would never forgive him or Selene. The Green Alliance would forever be the enemy. The Cloud God intervened. A wave of mental energy washed over the city, revealing his identity. The deity called upon the faithful to turn on the city and attack their false masters. However, in stark contrast to the Cloud God¡¯s expectations, the people of the city were not awed by his presence. They already saw him as a traitor to the divine ¨C no different from a demon. Skycloud was the last line of defense against his betrayal. If their glorious city fell, all would be lost. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him! The Cloud God has turned his back on Mount Sumeru! Our glorious saviors are on their way. They will destroy the betrayer god! To follow him is to turn your back on Mount Sumeru! A blasphemer¡¯s fate is to burn for eternity!¡± Shouting the rallying cries was their new Commander-General, Ash Farran. He led the city¡¯s forces against the invaders. The Avatar was likely holed up inside the Temple, for it was the safest place. ¡°Avatar Selene leads us, an emissary of the God King. Her orders are the will of Mount Sumeru. What are you waiting for?¡± Ash raised his black spear high. His voice boomed, powerful and commanding. ¡°Soldiers, prepare to advance! Kill all the heathens, Elysian and wastelander alike! It is your one chance at salvation!¡± The city¡¯s soldiers had lost all independent choice. They followed orders almost mechanically. Skycloud¡¯s forces began to change. Countless points of light were released toward the wasteland forces. When Cloudhawk saw them launch the attack he knew there was no going back. His eyes fixed on the Temple. The Avatar was the heart of this conflict. He had to get to her as quickly as possible, then he could stop the killing. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 691 - Book 6, Chapter 83 Book 6, Skycloud was blanketed in darkness. The fog of war and shadows from the airships overhead blocked much of the light. However the streets all lit up as soldiers pointed their weapons toward the enemy and fired. Even the old, the weak, women, and children had been conscripted. They were responsible for bringing supplies across the battlefield. Despite the bustle of the city, a grim melancholy hung over everything. Everyone knew Skycloud was their final stand. If their city fell or was captured, no one remained to stand against Cloudhawk¡¯s domination. The devil and his wastelander savages would destroy their glorious home. But what if they succeeded? What if they beat back the enemy? Things were getting worse by the day. Who knew how long they would last even without an outside threat. Brruummm¡­ The deep, thunderous boom sounded from the distance. Suddenly a faint light emerged, piercing through the clouds. Like thunder tearing across the desert, its force caused the city¡¯s buildings to tremble. Like a stampede of a million horses. Senses were limited, so the people of Skycloud could not see where this terrible light had come from or where it was going. All they knew was the searing beam of energy that threatened to swallow everything up. It was coming! Finally coming! This grand city which had existed for a thousand years would be baptized in fire. The dark threat of death hung heavy, stealing their breath. People shook in fear. Lovers held one another in desperate, forlorn embraces while others threw themselves to the floor in prayer. The huddling masses filled the streets with a palpable terror. It was like a natural disaster. Like a nightmare. Although they knew what was to come, all were powerless to stop it. A small girl couldn¡¯t stop herself from wailing, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Ahh! Nana! I¡¯m scared! I¡¯m scared!¡± Her grandmother was an old, stooped woman who was barely holding it together. She didn¡¯t know how to comfort the girl except to hold her tight and fight her own tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, sweetie. Don¡¯t cry. Soon¡­ soon you¡¯ll be with your parents.¡± It wasn¡¯t long ago that the little one, Nancy, had a happy family. [1] Her father had been a highly skilled martial artist, a colonel of the Elysian army. Nancy had looked up to him as an idol ¨C the heart of her pride and the rock she leaned upon. She always held her head high when talking about him with her friends. But Nancy¡¯s father was unlucky enough to serve in the Defense Corps, the one that was annihilated three years ago. His body didn¡¯t even come home for a proper burial. That¡¯s how she lost her father. Two years after that, her mother fell ill and died. The only family Nancy had left was her aging grandmother. The lively young girl grew timid, introverted and cowardly. Everything frightened her. She constantly was afraid of fighting and death even though it seemed so far away. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of all this ruckus?!¡± An officer shouted angrily at the child and elderly woman. ¡°Your wailing is bad for morale, don¡¯t you know that! Shut that girl¡¯s mouth or I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± The old woman begged for mercy. Nancy cried even louder. Those nearby who witnessed the scene bit back their own fear as tears welled up in their eyes. When did their home turn into¡­ this? The officer had lost all patience. If this runt¡¯s crying continued it would start to effect his soldiers. He raised his hand to silence the girl when suddenly he felt himself being lifted up from behind. A heavy blow from a gauntleted fist followed, striking him in the face so hard he felt several teeth shatter. He rolled head over heels for several meters, but was agile enough to catch his footing. His right hand immediately went for his weapon. Blood trickling from his lips, he shouted toward his assailant. ¡°Who in the name of the gods dares strike an off-¡± He trailed off as he looked at the ground standing before him. Nearly every one sported officer¡¯s garb, with badges higher than his own. Leading them was a stocky man dressed in the tell-tale armor of a General with a matching sword at his waist. The lesser officer quickly swallowed the rest of his sentence, along with a few fragments of teeth. The one who¡¯d raised his fist against him wore a demonhunter¡¯s cloak. Tall and strong, with a shock of red hair, his chiseled face was grim. ¡°M-master Blaze! General Hammont, sir!¡± Hammont stared at the man like he was some sort of mongrel. ¡°Did I see you raise your hand against a child?¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯m just following orders. I didn¡¯t realize I was doing anything wrong!¡± The officer¡¯s face turned red with shame and fear. ¡°You know our circumstances, sir. We have to make sure the soldiers stay confident. Otherwise how can we resist our enemies?¡± Blaze answered. ¡°Elysian soldiers are here to protect the people of the realm. Instead here you are, hiding behind them. Have you thrown away all self-respect? What sort of soldier are you?¡± The officer opened his mouth to protect, but shut his mouth and hung his head in shame. The General spoke up again. ¡°Nevermind. Blaze, he¡¯s only doing what he was forced to do. We can¡¯t waste time here, we don¡¯t have much of it.¡± As he spoke, Hammont approached the terrified little girl. He glanced at the grandmother and for a moment thought of his own mother. The pang in his heart felt fresh as the day he learned of her death. He said nothing as he fished a candy from his pocket and handed it to the child. She was taken aback by the sudden offering. She looked at the candy, then up to the bearded man holding it out to her. Her tears trickled to a stop and sparkled in an endearing way. ¡°Hey little one, don¡¯t be scared. So long as we¡¯re around we¡¯ll keep you safe.¡± Hammont raised his hand and a couple of his men gathered round. ¡°Blaze, men, bring this woman and her granddaughter to the tunnels beneath the city.¡± ¡°General Hammont, how¡­ the Commander-General has ordered all able bodies to fight!¡± Trepidation arose in the junior officer¡¯s heart, a genuine fear of the Commander-General. ¡°You are also a soldier, you should know that soldiers must follow all orders from their superiors. If we pick and choose what directives to follow, what then?¡± Hammont fixed him with a stare. ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m a soldier. And I know exactly what I¡¯m supposed to do. But we aren¡¯t just soldiers, are we? We¡¯re also men.¡± The soldier fell silent for a moment. Then, spitting a mouthful of blood, he snapped to solute. ¡°What can this officer do for his general?¡± Hammont answered. ¡°You must do everything in your power to protect the people of this city.¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± The officer nodded with resolve, without hesitation. Blaze led a group of troops from Hammont and the main unit. The General drew his eyes to the sky, ablaze with light. They bore a grim, solemn light. Hammont was here serving as one of the front line commanders, responsible for the ground troops. He didn¡¯t lead the main battle force but his was still an important job. However, despite his burdens Hammont did not feel nervous or afraid. There was only a deep calm, like watching a storm from within a lighthouse. In the back of his mind he recalled a gray-robed figure. He¡¯d been a brief influence on his life, but a major one. He was under no illusions as to what he was doing. Life and liberty was put aside in the face of what Hammont was resolved to pursue. In these tumultuous times he was a nobody, but some of the greatest events in history were driven by little actions. Tens of thousands of nobodies like him could make a difference. Together they could defy fate. It was something he was willing to bet his life on. Hammont and Blaze were in agreement. The general would bring his closest supporters and capture the soldiers¡¯ attention while Blaze and a small squad sabotaged the protective enchantments. They would make a path for the Green Alliance to cut through. They would work to get this over with as quickly as possible. It didn¡¯t matter who called themselves master of Skycloud. 1. Jesus fuck, don¡¯t do this to me, Tipsy. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 692 - Book 6, Chapter 84 The scale of this conflict was unprecedented. Even the likes of titans like Cloudhawk and the Cloud God were limited in how much they could affect. Victory or defeat would not rest upon the might of a single person, or even a handful. Both sides were wary. Anxiously they held their breath. Wolfblade¡¯s forces tentatively lashed out at his command. Two hundred airships and several thousand mounted troops met the Elysians in the center of no-man¡¯s land. Their clash occurred ten thousand meters from the borders of the city, forcing the Elysian front line to bow. But Wolfblade was cautious, he didn¡¯t want to break through into the city and find himself surrounded. The Elysian commander also practiced restraint. He was undeterred by the wasteland¡¯s show of force and deftly commanded his troops and airships. He refined his orders on the spot, based on the Green Alliance¡¯s modest opening gambit. Both leaders displayed an adroit talent for strategy. It wasn¡¯t so much a battle for them as a game of chess. In the flagship of Skycloud¡¯s armada, hovering over the center of the city, a middle-aged man stood in silence. His long dark hair danced with the breeze. He stood nailed to the bridge like an iron tower, both hands wrapped around a dark spear. A fan of swords were strapped to his back like the tail of a peacock. Around him were officers relaying orders and managing communications. This was the heart of the city¡¯s defense. Ash Farran was the greatest warrior in all of Praelius. His bearing was no less imposing than the late Skye Polaris. The Avatar had named him Commander-General of the realm¡¯s ships and armies. Ash¡¯s story was widely known back where he came from. He was a legend among legends, a reputation earned through origin and exploits. He was born to an aristocratic family of mediocre rank but was not afforded the benefits of his station ¨C for he was an illegitimate child. From a young age he lived among the common people, never granted the privileges of his birth. Not even a modest living allowance. When he was six years old he passed the entrance exam to join Praelius¡¯ premiere warrior¡¯s academy. The average student completed the program in fifteen years and required another three to pass the graduation exam. Ash left the school as a full-fledged warrior at the age of seventeen. He had earned a name for himself by then, but refused when his family called for his service. He also turned down positions with the army and other noble houses. Instead, he set off on his own into the wastelands with nothing but his sword. Five years later he returned, strong enough to be counted among the realm¡¯s best. Finally he accepted an offer from Praelius¡¯ military and quickly rose through the ranks. By the age of twenty five he was the realm¡¯s youngest ever General. At thirty-two, he broke the record again by being named Commander-General. He was now fifty years old and for all that time had remained the pinnacle of human achievement. From humble beginnings utilizing only his talent and will, Ash had risen to become a near mythical figure among his people. With a story like that it was obvious Ash was no ordinary foe. His willpower and judgment were beyond reproach, a heart as tough as tungsten steel. Decades of military service had forged him into a paragon of command. He was in his element, the array Cloudhawk was faced with were all of his design. Ten thousand airships. A million soldiers. Countless conscripted militia. Such a staggering display of force would not be easily thwarted! Ash was the sort of commander who needed to be in the fray. His goal here was not to defeat the enemy, or even protect the city. His mission was to bide time. The Avatar had taken her other lieutenants with her into the Temple as protectors. A battle of this scale was more than her Eyes of Time could pierce. What¡¯s more, the Cloud God was now on the side of the enemy. Best she did not involve herself directly. In the air above, enormous meteors began to appear. Some were as large as small cities and the air screamed in protest as they barreled toward Skycloud. Without a doubt this was the terrible power of Cloudhawk at play, deadly and frightening to behold. But Ash had been prepared. Cloudhawk had to summon his meteors at least ten thousand meters in the air. To achieve maximum damage potential, several tens of thousands of meters was better. That meant there was time from the moment they were summoned to the instant they struck. Three minutes, more or less. Two minutes was enough to organize a response from Elysian forces. Ash had positioned several God¡¯s Spear and Aegis ships for just such an eventuality, and they reacted as soon as the attack was revealed. Elysian warships pitched to the side to avoid the falling rocks. In a single dazzling display, six God¡¯s Spear ships released their payload. The meteors, composed of mostly rock, were relatively fragile. A shot from God¡¯s Spear was capable of evaporating metal. Cloudhawk¡¯s meteor¡¯s were violently reduced to pieces. Support ships began to fire on the debris to break them down even further. In a matter of seconds the meteors were blown into hundreds of small shards that rained down harmlessly among the armada, incapable of even piercing their shields. ¡°Those tricks are useless.¡± After bringing the focal devices to the city, it greatly strengthened its defensive enchantments. They¡¯d sacrificed protection of the whole realm in order to restore a small fraction of the energy field quicker. Skycloud, as the heart of the realm, was unparalleled in its defense. The energy field was strongest here, even stronger than it had been at Sanctuary. Against such tenacious opposition, breaking through looked arduous to say the least. Ash looked out at the milling enemy forces with confidence. Conscription the city¡¯s citizens into the militia was shameless, he knew, but it was the Avatar¡¯s command. Ash could only do as he was told. And that was to do whatever was necessary to ensure victory. In reality, when one reached the status and strength that Ash had achieved, their adoration of the gods waned. As far as the Commander-General was aware, many of the gods were not necessarily his betters. However, he still doggedly stood by their side because his species as a whole couldn¡¯t manage one tenth of what the gods could produce. Attaching oneself to strength was instinct, for the individual as well as for the species. Over the last thousand years this had not proven to be in error. The gods had provided a good life for their followers. As for this place, lead to ruin by the betrayer Cloud God? Its destiny was to be erased from existence. They made their bed, now that had to lie in it. Instead of having Praelius soldiers give their lives, let the doomed people of Skycloud do it themselves. Seeing that the city¡¯s defenses would not fold, Green Alliance forces broke off the engagement. Both sides fell back warily. Clearly the wastelanders had been waiting for the defenses to falter, but they never did. Ash seemed to hold all the cards. ¡°Commander-General, report! General Hammont Seacrest is redeploying militia on the field of his own accord!¡± Ash¡¯s face darkened at the news. What was this fat fool doing? Was he violating orders deliberately? He turned his eyes back toward the city and sure enough, militia forces were being recalled from the front lines. They were being funneled into underground passages to hide beneath the city. Ash was furious. The militia was not strong, but that wasn¡¯t the point. He was able to control his soldiers because their families were also involved in the fighting. It made them fight harder and never question orders. Now this idiot was taking that motivation away, ripping the rug from under Ash¡¯s feet. The Commander-General transferred command to one of his trusted officers. Hefting his spear, he jumped from the ship and raced toward the fleeing militia. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 693 - Book 6, Chapter 85 Hammont Seacrest was commander of the Drake Corps and a general of Skycloud¡¯s army. But by comparison to many, his foundation was weak. Hammont rose from the bottom, without help from a rich family or noble connections. In terms of strength he was below average when juxtaposed with other commanders, which was why he was not leading the main ground force. That made it all the more unthinkable when this portly, weak man openly flouted the Commander-General¡¯s orders. In the middle of combat he was evacuating conscripted citizens despite the risk to Skycloud¡¯s defenses. This heedless act could almost be called rebellion. With Drake Corps¡¯ twenty thousand troops in tow, there was no avoiding conflict with other army units. To soldiers, orders were like edicts from the gods. Resistance was expected. Yet many of the soldiers paid Hammont and his men no mind. They turned a blind eye as though it were none of their business. They stood idly by while Hammont¡¯s men guided the civilians away from the front and into the tunnels beneath the city. The soldiers grappled with conflicting emotions. Soldiers were soldiers. They fought as protectors of the realm and its people, risking their lives. Wasn¡¯t their role to stand for the people who couldn¡¯t defend themselves? Forcing the citizens to pick up weapons caused them to question this fact. Where was their dignity? What was their purpose? Maybe Hammont was only doing what they wish they could. They admired his courage. He was the only one who could defy the Commander-General. With no family name to protect and most of his soldiers grassroots warriors like himself, the consequences for his actions were fairly limited. He could follow his ideals without concern. Of course they all knew that openly sewing strife would garner the attention of the upper crust, and sooner or later consequences would come. There was a sudden blast from overhead. A figure crashed into the center of the group at the speed of sound. He struck with such force that the ground buckled beneath his feet leaving him standing in a crater. People around him were thrown away like pieces of discarded paper. Standing amid the cloud of dust and debris, Ash¡¯s face was cold as his namesake, eyes fixed on Hammont Seacrest standing straight ahead. A long street separated the two men, clogged with several hundred soldiers. They were crouched with weapons in hand, wondering what to do. Ash looked them over as though they were insects. ¡°I was kind enough to lift you up, and you chose to betray me. Why?¡± As he spoke a terrifying pressure hung over the crowd. It was like some fierce and mighty beast loomed over them. The soldiers shifted on unsteady feet, laden with fear and uncertainty. Involuntarily they shuffled away from the man, for even the dimmest man knew when he was inferior. Understanding strength and weakness was built in to everyone, survival relied on it. Everything in them was screaming to run, that this man was unbeatable. Escape. Escape! Hammont slowly removed his glimmering helmet. His tousled, sweat-soaked hair fell about an ordinary face. He¡¯d abandoned fear, so with a steady hand he flung the helm aside. It hit the ground with a metallic knell and rolled away. ¡°You gave it. Take it back. I do what I want now.¡± ¡°So you want to die. I can help you.¡± Hammont was fully aware of how terrible this man was, but he did not cower. Nearby soldiers looked at each other speechlessly. Many once belonged to the expeditionary force, some even knew Hammont personally. They decided to stand by his side. ¡°Protect the General!¡± More than a dozen officers had followed Hammont in defiance of Ash¡¯s orders. Now they doubled down, placing themselves between their commanding officer and the Commander-General. As more bore witness to the scene they could hardly believe what they saw. The rebels all knew what would become of them. Winning wasn¡¯t possible. Survival was hopeless. They made their decision anyway. ¡°We must protect the commander!¡± Resolve hardened their expressions. Soldiers gripped their weapons tight and pointed them at the Praelius warrior. Ash regarded the traitors as they rushed at him from all sides, like a horde of apes. As the seconds ticked by his face darkened. It was unthinkable that this unassuming fat man would command such loyalty! He took a single step forward ¨C nothing special, yet the ground trembled. In the next instant, the ground erupted like it¡¯d been struck by a missile. The street fractured, bulging upward as cracks spread through every inch. Even nearby buildings shattered like they were made of glass. Ash rocketed forward. A fearless officer tried to meet him with a well-executed Spearhead maneuver, but his sword left no mark. On the contrary, it broke apart. Ash grabbed the officer and threw him aside. The doomed man crashed through a dozen soldiers before slamming into a nearby tower. The upper half of his body was entirely ruined. A hail of crossbow bolts ensued. Ash paid them no mind. With his black spear lashing out like an angry dragon, he thrust through another group of soldiers. He burst passed their bodies and continued the onslaught. Wherever he appeared bodies fell, unable to stop him. When he stopped to catch his bearings, the Commander-General saw that Hammont had fled. He¡¯d turned tail and escaped when Ash began his attack. He scowled. Hammont was supposed to be tough, he thought. In the end he was nothing but a coward. His thunderous voice rose, commanding the rest of the ground forces to surround Drake¡¯s Corps. Ash would deal with Hammont personally. But as he turned to pursue the general more of his men threw themselves at him. Why?! The warrior mutilated the first of them, killing him in an instant. His confusion deepened. Why would these men throw their lives away? What were they holding on to? What were they pursuing? Did they not understand that not one among them was a match for this single Praelius warrior? Ash was too fast for Hammont to get far. The General knew he was living on borrowed time. But that was the point ¨C that¡¯s why he¡¯d captured Ash¡¯s attention. It was the fastest way to end this war¡­ Hammont still didn¡¯t understand why Arcturus had shown such trust and faith in Cloudhawk before his death. But he believed in the Governor, so he would give everything he could to see the man¡¯s will done. He would help Cloudhawk because he was convinced it would help Skycloud. He was just a nobody¡­ This was all he could do. As for his men, they all trusted him. It was a constant surprise to him that someone so insignificant would be followed by so many. It was because they shared the same ideals. Together they hoped to do something big. Looking over his shoulder, he saw his friends being mowed down. Each death cry was like a dagger to the heart, but he knew that sacrifice was necessary. He fully expected his life to be among them. His escape lasted less than fifteen minutes. A silhouette crashed into the ground before him, cutting off passage. An officer who had been running with him shoved Hammont to the side just in time to block the encroaching attack. He was blasted to pieces. Hammont felt his hot blood splatter across his face. Ash¡¯s callous gaze was fixed on the fat man. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Hammont reached for his sword, but before he could draw it halfway he felt something hot and sharp dig into his body. It felt like a white-hot fire iron in his gut. His sword fell back into its sheath while Hammont was thrown back, slamming into a nearby wall. It was indented from the impact. Ash¡¯s spear was buried in the fat man¡¯s body. Hammont was powerless. The Commander-General approached after throwing his weapon. He reached forth to pull the spear free when suddenly the piercing note of an alarm caught his attention. He looked up in time to see the enchantment protecting the city begin to flicker. It looked like a bubble about to burst. Ash¡¯s expression turned murderously cold. His eyes slid back to Hammont. ¡°You¡­¡± Blood trickled down the General¡¯s face. It turned his wry smile gruesome. ¡°Bingo. We were cover, our real aim was to bring down the enchantment.¡± ¡°Filthy traitor!¡± Ash ripped his spear free and aimed for a killing blow. But a sudden feeling of danger gripped him and from a sudden void he saw a black rod maybe three feet long appear. It struck his weapon so hard the spear warped. Ash was flung away, crashing through four houses before coming to rest. What staggering power¡­ ! He¡­ Ash looked through the shattered walls at the one who attacked him. A young man appeared from a ripple in space. The interference in Skycloud¡¯s enchantment was all he needed to find a way in. The Commander-General saw the protective boundary continue to weaken. It wouldn¡¯t be long before it failed completely. Skycloud would lose its most important defense! He wanted to run but Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t allow it. A blade of crackling lightning burst to life and struck. Ruin¡¯s power obliterated half the block, cutting off Ash¡¯s escape. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 694 - Book 6, Chapter 86 – Ashfall Book 6, Cloudhawk rushed forward alone. ¡°You¡¯re throwing yourself into the fire,¡± Ash growled. One person¡¯s strength could only go so far! Cloudhawk could single-handedly defeat thousands, but tens of thousands? A million? He wasn¡¯t some infinite machine, eventually he would run out of energy. Appearing in the middle of Skycloud, soon he would be beset on all sides by Elysian forces. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have plenty of time to play with you before more friends come.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words were an affront. Soon demonhunters and other elite would rush in to spoil their confrontation, but Cloudhawk was insinuating that he would flatten this prideful Commander-General before that time came. It was an open insult. ¡°Such a young man, so full of himself. If you knew me ¨C knew the weapon I wielded ¨C you wouldn¡¯t say such boastful things.¡± Ash wasn¡¯t irritated by Cloudhawk¡¯s bravado. He brandished his spear, ready for the fight. ¡°At any rate, I commend your courage. Come, discover the truth for yourself.¡± What did he mean? The various Elysian lands were all isolated. Skycloud knew nothing of Praelius or its people. The reality was that Ash was a mirror image of what Skye Polaris had been in his youth ¨C the very pinnacle of human achievement among his people. Such a person was highly confident in their abilities and would not tolerate such disrespect. So Ash decided to accept the challenge ¨C only one of them would walk away from this fight. Perhaps Cloudhawk really did underestimate the man. Could such a person rise to the top from humble beginnings, as he did, and not be a man of quality? The Arbiter¡¯s staff was held tight in his left hand. Ruin crackled threateningly in his right. With both weapons brandished, Cloudhawk rushed in to attack. But Ash reacted quick enough to deliver the first blow. As he thrust forward with the spear in his right hand, with his left he pulled a sword from his back. It was a black, two-foot shortsword that looked to have been carved from crystal. The crimson runes etched on its surface made the blade look like a work of art and lent it a sinister air. Whoosh! Ash¡¯s arm was a blur as he flung the weapon toward his foe. It cut through the air like a dart until suddenly it vanished. Half a breath later it reappeared aimed just in front of Cloudhawk¡¯s face. An assassination relic? Cloudhawk paid it no mind. Effortlessly he knocked it back toward its owner The Commander-General charged ahead with both hands on his spear and launched into a fierce offensive. In his bull-rush he collided with the black sword and what followed took Cloudhawk by surprise. Ash thrust the spear into the hilt of the sword and the two became one. Dark power gathered through the spear, traveled along the haft and then burst from the sword. ¡°Die!¡± As Ash lashed out with the combination weapon it birthed a storm of energy. The area was flooded with afterimages of the spear as it struck in a deluge. Cloudhawk, taken aback, switched to a defensive posture. Spear strikes fell like rain against his pale white shield, causing it to dim. The final one finally managed to pierce through. Buildings behind him collapsed. Even the ground beneath Cloudhawk¡¯s feet split, birthing a crevice several meters deep. Some invisible power had torn through the split and cleaved it in two. A few tears appeared in Cloudhawk¡¯s clothing, but his empowered constitution was not threatened. Ash¡¯s mighty effort caused him no harm. Not bad, both men mused of the other. Ash reached back and drew a second sword. This one was a long sword that belched an arc of purple electric energy. When it struck, it forced Cloudhawk back a few steps. Ash slapped it against his spear, affixing it as well. Threads of purple lightning danced across its surface. Cloudhawk could feel its power surge. This weapon was starting to look problematic. There were more than ten swords strapped to Ash¡¯s back and each one of them was a high-quality relic. Shockingly, the very different blades were all part of a single legendary tool of destruction. ¡°Ashfall!¡± The Commander-General¡¯s voice boomed through the city. As he charged into a full attack the other weapons burst from their sheaths. As though with a mind of their own, they joined the blitz. With no evident power controlling them, they whipped through the air and sliced toward Cloudhawk. All at once the wasteland leader felt like he was facing half a dozen enemies. While Ash continued his barrage of attacks, his swords latched onto the spear as though drawn by magnetic force. Each time a sword joined it grew in strength. The process lasted only a few seconds before all swords were affixed, completing the relic. Its true form was revealed. Strictly speaking it was not a spear, but a massive sword imbued with tremendous energy. [1] It was as long as a spear and had a bladed head, but once the swords combined with the haft it became a dual-edged sword like any other. Complex and confounding, it was beyond a doubt an incredible weapon. The Commander-General¡¯s name came from the weapon he wielded ¨C Ashfall. It was a relic composed of eighteen other relics. In addition to utilizing several different kinds of energy, it was also possessed of powerful destructive force. This suited Ash¡¯s indomitable style. Once complete and in the hands of the Commander-General, it was a power to be reckoned with. Ashfall lashed out. Heat, fire, pressure, tearing, smashing! Before the weapon even drew near, Cloudhawk could feel no less than ten different kinds of power reaching for him. That was in addition to Ash¡¯s own martial abilities. Any defense would be hard pressed to ward off this dauntless assault. Incredible! No wonder he was considered the best of his realm. Cloudhawk felt more of his clothing tear under the multi-energetic attack. It stabbed at his defenses like a hundred thousand needles and had begun to pierce his flesh. He could barely remember the last time someone had managed to make him bleed. Ash was a worthy opponent, to be sure. He brought Ruin and the Arbiter¡¯s Staff in front of him, catching Ashfall between. Their collision was devastating. The resulting explosion leveled half the block. Cloudhawk and Ash were flung away from each other. Ash¡¯s hair was tousled and there were burn marks on his body. Arcs of electricity sparked across his skin. Cloudhawk¡¯s clothes were disheveled and in spots seared black, in about the same shape as his adversary. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen anyone take a direct blow from Ashfall and live.¡± A smile spread across Commander-General Ash¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re strong, quite strong. But no one is strong enough to withstand my weapon. Die!¡± His final shout was punctuated with a headlong rush. He charged at Cloudhawk, reaching ten times the speed of sound. Ash was a master martial artist, having perfected his body so that it was as impenetrable as any god or demon. Impressive mental strength also meant that in his hands, Ashfall reached its highest potential. Comparably, Cloudhawk¡¯s weapons were wondrous but paled in comparison to the combination relic. Ashfall was the treasure of Praelius. Its mightiest artifact! Since acquiring it, Ash had never lost a battle. He was the greatest warrior Praelius had ever seen ¨C how could he be defeated? As the assault continued Cloudhawk could find no answer for the complex combination of power the Commander-General¡¯s weapon brought. He was forced to back off. In the blink of an eye the two men had exchanged several dozen blows. By now a number of demonhunters had been drawn to the commotion. As a storm of energy raged around them, they prepared to surround Cloudhawk like a rat in a trap. Ash¡¯s confidence surged. He saw no way for the fiend to escape. However, as he moved in for the next attack something went wrong. It felt like something was stopping his relic from releasing its power. ¡°What?¡± Ash looked down to discover faint cracks appearing in the blades. They appeared across the entire length, and crackling within were faint tongues of green fire¡­ like it was somehow being burned. Although he appeared to be in a bad position, Cloudhawk grinned. ¡°You put too much faith in your weapon. It may look incredible, but it isn¡¯t as sturdy as you thought.¡± ¡°No! Impossible!¡± Ash had never faced something like this. Cloudhawk had already seen through the relic¡¯s weakness. Because it was an amalgamation of eighteen different relics, the spear bore incredible and varied power. However this came with a drawback. Eighteen parts meant that together, it made an imperfect whole. Cloudhawk concealed his efforts by staying on the back foot, but what he was really doing was striking specific weak points with the Arbiter¡¯s Staff. His was also a treasured relic of this Elysian land, and like Ashfall, struck with incredible force! Lesser relics shattered under its assault. Cloudhawk had repeatedly hit the same spot on Ash¡¯s relic, eventually causing it to crack. Once the form was breached the rest was easy. Without his enemy knowing he infected the blades with Castigation Fire. They spread quickly, traveling along the cracks until the fires corrupted the entire weapon. Damage to their structure robbed the relics of their power. If the fight continued it was only a matter of time before they shattered. By the time Ash discovered this, it was too late. ¡°Crack.¡± Cloudhawk whipped the Arbiter¡¯s Staff through the air, this time aimed at Ashfall. He released a torrent of power and ¨C like a vase struck by a bat ¨C Ash¡¯s weapon crumbled into ten jagged pieces. Gouts of green fire emerged in a deadly plume, roaring into the Commander-General¡¯s face. He screamed. He turned to try and flee. It was too late. Ash was fast, but Cloudhawk was too. Seizing this hard-won opportunity, Cloudhawk raced up to the warrior and lashed out with Ruin. The crackling blade came down on his neck. Another flash followed and Ash tumbled to the ground in three pieces. I lost¡­ I lost¡­ I¡­ l-lost¡­ Just as blood and organs seeped from his ruined body, thoughts seeped from Ash¡¯s severed head until there was only darkness. Disbelief was all he had left when death claimed him. Cloudhawk had succeeded in felling Skycloud¡¯s Commander-General. Its protective enchantments were destroyed. The city and its Temple were exposed to the armies of the Green Alliance. With his clothes torn and burnt, Cloudhawk raised his head from the ruin to gaze upon the Temple floating above. More powerful enemies remained, but Cloudhawk was not deterred. No one could stop him from saving Selene ¨C not even the God King. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 695 - Book 6, Chapter 87 – The Nobody Book 6, Skycloud¡¯s enchantments had been destroyed from the inside, exposing the city to attack. Commander-General Ash Farran was dead at Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. These changes were sudden and the defenders didn¡¯t have time to mount a reaction. For the Green Alliance, it was the perfect opportunity. Green-cloaked soldiers hefted their weapons, screamed their war cries and charged into the city. The first assault had involved maybe a tenth of their total forces, but once the enchantment fell that number increased to sixty percent. Thousands of wasteland airships steamed ahead, closing in from every direction. Supporting them were tens of thousands of mounted flying units ¨C soldiers sitting aside various mutant birds. Quick and agile, they darted among the crossfire and toward the front lines without fear of death. The Cloud God, the Khan of Evernight, Janus, Frost and others¡­ the Green Alliance¡¯s mightiest closed in on all sides. Cloudhawk had teleported alone into the center of the city, which put him in the greatest danger. Chances were high he would be surrounded. Scores of demonhunters poured toward him, enough to threaten even his tenacious life. The Khan of Evernight appeared, riding a shadowy bird captured from the ancient Great War battlefield. It was so fast that ordinary people had trouble following as it advanced. That¡¯s why it was called the shadow bird ¨C the creature was so fast the beams of light fired at it never got close. Explosions sounded, but their fires never fell upon the Khan or his mount. This was their one chance to save Selene. If they failed, she would be lost to the God King forever. Years ago the man had resolved to cut himself off from every aspect of his former life. Everything he¡¯d once known was gone, as far as he was concerned ¨C the rest of his days he would spend as half-man, half-machine. But Selene was here. So close, and in danger. The Khan couldn¡¯t maintain his apathy, for even a steel heart beat for family. As a father, Baldur had failed miserably. He couldn¡¯t appear before Selene as the monster he¡¯d become. The man she¡¯d known as her father died ten years ago. The Khan of Evernight was nothing but a stranger. ¡°Stop him!¡± Over a hundred gryphon riders spread out to try and block his path. It didn¡¯t stop the shadow bird from ramming into the blockade at full tilt. Its dark feathers drank in the flames of explosions as they raged all around. With neither reigns nor harness, the Khan still stood on the beast as though nailed upon it. However fast it went, whatever roll or turn, his feet never moved. Yet the riders he faced where not without skill. Among the best remaining to the Temple, they reacted quickly to the shadow bird¡¯s movements. They moved and spread like a living net, swinging around to try and encircle the Khan. Nox¡¯s Governor stared at them with his electronic red eyes. But as the aggressive charge closed in his flickering vision was not fixed on the present, but twenty years in the past. ¡°Dad, they¡¯ve named me top of my class at the demonhunter academy! I even broke Zephyr¡¯s record!¡± A small sprite of a girl breezed through the room, carefree as a butterfly. Her face was full of pride as she looked up toward her father for encouragement. Baldur wrapped her in a joyful embrace. ¡°Did you want to be first in your class?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She rubbed her button nose. ¡°What I want is to be the best and the strongest. That¡¯s the way of the Cloude family!¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard being first. A lot of people will look up to you, some will hate you. There will be expectations.¡± ¡°Well I have you, dad. And Zephyr, and uncle Sterling and uncle Arcturus. I¡¯ve got lots of help, I¡¯m not scared!¡± ¡°Ah, child¡­ one day you¡¯ll understand that we won¡¯t always be by your side.¡± Baldur looked down at his talented daughter with a conflicted look in his eyes. ¡°Eventually you¡¯ll learn that life is lonely. What you need to do is be true to yourself.¡± The demonhunter riders had engaged their relics and were launching their attacks. Others used crossbows to fire a hail of bolts at the Khan. His mind was still caught in that old memory ¨C like a scene from another life. Yet as the foes reached him there was a spark of light, and a purple blade appeared in the Khan¡¯s hands. With a screech the beast beneath his feet went into a spin as he engaged. Streaks of purple twisted through the air like a drill head, punching a hole through the blockade. Dozens of men and their riders tumbled behind him. The rest were struck dumb by his display of strength and ability. The Khan¡¯s swords never stopped and anything in his way was carved to pieces. Even an Elysian warship got too close. It pitched to one side and fell toward the ground with dozens of deep cuts through its hull. On the ground nearby, Janus was tearing across the ground with a dozen copies of herself. She looked up at the Khan and the two met eyes. They raced toward the center of Skycloud. Not long after they arrived a terrible wave of mental energy filled the area. It was cold and domineering, so vicious that dozens of nearby demonhunters hit the ground. They convulsed as blood poured from their every orifice. It was quickly followed by a wave of cold that froze them all solid. The Cloud God, the Khan, Janus and Frost had arrived. They stood around Cloudhawk and assessed the situation. Wolfblade, Abaddon and Autumn where nowhere to be seen but that didn¡¯t matter. The ones gathered here would be enough to confront the Temple. Once they overcame its defenders, this war would end. As they arrived Cloudhawk was leaning over an Elysian general among the ruins. Hammont¡¯s sturdy officer¡¯s armor was in pieces and a nasty-looking wound was leaking blood. The fallen Praelius warrior had been frighteningly strong. Ash¡¯s spear hadn¡¯t used any special power but pure force, but that was enough to shred Hammont¡¯s critical organs. Without a word, Cloudhawk placed his hands on the injury. A warm, healing energy seeped through the mangled skin. But the damage was more extensive than he thought. Hammont¡¯s body had begun to go into failure. It would take ten minutes to stitch back his organs, but the general would be dead in less than a minute. ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Hammont wrapped his fingers around Cloudhawk¡¯s wrist. With eyes wide, he rasped, ¡°Tell me¡­ what¡¯s the meaning of it? Life?¡± Cloudhawk looked down at the man. He knew he was going to die. Hammont was grasping at the final moments, desperate for an answer. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Everyone is different. You already have the answer. Everything you¡¯ve done proves it, so why don¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe. All my life I¡¯ve been trying to be somebody. Cl¡­claw my way up, ride the wa¡­wave of the times. But now I¡­ I¡¯m glad I¡¯m nobody. It won¡¯t m-matter when I¡¯m gone. At least a¡­ a nobody can d-die without¡­ guilt¡­¡± Coughs stole the rest of Hammont¡¯s voice. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Master Cloudhawk, we¡¯re different. You can¡¯t give up. Can¡¯t g-go back. Please ta¡­ take care of my people. Drake¡¯s Corps. It has¡­ has to continue.¡± He let the words hang in the air, staring pleadingly at Cloudhawk. A few moments later as calm took him, the light faded from his eyes. They slipped shut forever. The two men were not close, but a sorrow filled Cloudhawk as he watched this simple man pass. Hammont Seacrest had been a model for his people. His sad end was not just personal, but a loss for the whole realm. ¡°General!¡± Nearby officers cried out, eyes moist as they watched their leader breathe his last. The meloncholy stillness was shattered as suddenly the Temple overhead began to stir. It rose as though trying to escape the city, propelled by some unseen power. The Cloud God¡¯s voice intruded on Cloudhawk¡¯s thoughts. ¡°They are attempting to flee. We must go now, or it is too late.¡± Now? There were only five of them, it would be suicide¡­ [1] Cloudhawk knew the Avatar was inside, waiting for him. It was clearly an ambush, but there was only one chance. He shouldn¡¯t have been so reckless. He should have waited for everyone to arrive. ¡°Master Cloudhawk, we will fight with you!¡± An Elysian officer stepped forward and made his pledge. Cloudhawk watched, stunned, as others followed. ¡°We will all fight with you!¡± The surprise was clear on his face. Cloudhawk was well aware of his foul reputation among Elysians. But despite that, these soldiers were willing to follow him into battle. The enemies waiting for them in the Temple were not ordinary foes. If they went with him it would almost certainly mean their death. ¡°Please, let us fight with you!¡± ¡°Let us help stop the war.¡± The officers gathered around him with resolve burning in their faces. ¡°Count us in.¡± This time it was none other than Blaze, who at one point had tried to kill Cloudhawk while he fled from Skycloud. Around him were more demonhunters and elite soldiers. They were the ones responsible for destroying the enchantment. ¡°Not for you. To protect our home.¡± Cloudhawk felt their determination. Every man knew if they went, they would die. But some things had to be done, even if it meant giving up one¡¯s life. Sacrifice was one of the most complex parts of the human spirit. Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Together then.¡± 1. Note for the future editor; I confirmed, earlier he did say they were strong enough to confront the tower. I guess he had a change of heart. A rare inconsistency from Tipsy. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 696 - Book 6, Chapter 88 – Raid on the Temple Book 6, ¡°Ash is dead.¡± The Avatar sat within the Temple, like a statue of a mighty queen. Her long black hair, snow-white clothes, silvery eyes and beautiful face made her appear both imperial and intimidating. She spoke the words with calm, as though recounting something far away. But the faces of Lucian, Bruno and Phoenix changed. They¡¯d suspected Ash wouldn¡¯t be able to stop Cloudhawk, but his death came much quicker than expected. ¡°Skycloud¡¯s defensive line is broken. For our safety we must engage the anti-gravity engine and retreat from the battlefield.¡± Visions danced across Selene¡¯s visions. She knew what was to come. Cloudhawk and the Cloud God would lead a team of Elysian soldiers and demonhunters into the Temple. A fight would ensue between the Avatar forces who lay in ambush and Cloudhawk¡¯s men. They would break through, then split into four groups and make for the focus devices. The Avatar¡¯s mastery of the flows of time was limited. However, with this knowledge at her disposal it was already a great advantage to her people. She knew how he would break through, with how many, and for what targets. As such she knew how to respond. Not long ago Selene had ordered Bruno to gather the realm¡¯s focus devices using his dimensional powers. However these foci alone were not enough to spread the enchantment across the whole of Skycloud. No, the true heart of the realm was its Temple. The purpose of the foci were to spread out and stabilize the power of the Temple. They served as anchors to ensure the vital energies were constant. Rather than produce the power Skycloud relied on, they served to utilize and recycle it. Once the Cloud God joined the human rebellion, the Avatar knew remaining in Skycloud was no longer feasible. Several years ago, Adder had used a nuclear weapon to destroy the stability Skycloud¡¯s enchantment. Cloudhawk and the Cloud God seek to do much the same. Although even their combined might was no match for a nuclear bomb, they were still incredibly dangerous. Skycloud was being abandoned, but its focus devices retrieved. Shrunk to much more manageable proportions, the field could be maintained easily around the Temple. The benefits of such a decision were clear. First, it meant their defenses were sturdier and more consolidated. Second, contracting the energy field made it more potent. With the field only around the Temple, it was easier to accumulate the energy they needed for something like a defensive barrier or to escape from the battlefield like they were doing now. The Temple floated over the city because it was equipped with an anti-gravity engine. The Avatar ordered more energy put into the engine, forcing the Temple to rise higher. The aim was to not only escape Skycloud, but the entire atmosphere. She wanted the Temple to rise into outer space. No airship ¨C be they Elysian or wastelander ¨C could reach them there. The Temple couldn¡¯t move as it pleased like other vessels, but through its anti-gravity engine it was capable of escaping earth¡¯s atmosphere. Once they got ninety percent of the way there, not enough atmosphere was left for airships to get close. The Green Alliance efforts would fail. Once it shed earth¡¯s gravity and rose into space, the Temple would become a low-orbiting space vessel. Once the energy field reached critical mass they could then open the Boundary Portal and no one would be able to stop them. All they had to do was take care of Cloudhawk and his team, then victory was assured. The Avatar had prepared a number of traps and ambushes for their uninvited guests. She knew exactly the path he would take and thus crafted her net with precision. ¡°Cloudhawk will attempt to attack the focus devices. Phoenix, take the east. Lucian, west. Bruno, south. I will be responsible for defending the northern device. Stop at nothing to make sure they are not damaged.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± Lucian, Bruno and Phoenix left to their posts. ** A few minutes later, Cloudhawk teleported his small crew to the outer platform of the Temple. The structure was protected by a circular field of protective energy. They were over eight thousand meters in the air and below them Skycloud was shrinking away. [1] Several batteries from airships and other weapons were aimed at the Temple, but its shields protected it from harm. It was like water droplets striking an iron skillet. Beside Cloudhawk stood the Cloud God, Frost de Winter, the Khan of Evernight and Janus Umbra. In addition there were two thousand soldiers from the Drake Corps, and over three hundred demonhunters. The soldiers were all mid-level officers or higher who were very capable in a fight. The demonhunters, led by Blaze, were mostly from the League. They were also of good quality, but few in number. Such a small army against such a mighty building¡­ it seemed like a fool¡¯s errand. ¡°Get ready!¡± There was no other choice. They had to fight! Cloudhawk knew they were walking into a trap, but he was going to run right in anyway. Cloudhawk took the fore and forced open the Temple¡¯s doors. As he thrust them open, on the other side were several thousand Temple warriors laying in wait. Opening the door released a blinding torrent of power as the defenders unleashed all their might. Power from their relics surged through the opening like a flood. Under such dense fire, how were they supposed to break through? Cloudhawk had prepared himself, but even so the opposition was more than he¡¯d anticipated. There was no going back, so he had to run headlong into the hurricane. Steeling himself for the fight to come, he acted. Spreading open his arms, a white light emerged from his body and filled the space. Deafening sounds of attacks roared as they smashed into his shield. No good¡­ I can¡¯t hold it! Cloudhawk was being shoved backward. His shell of energy was beginning to crack. Part of the deluge leaked through and eradicated a dozen of Cloudhawk¡¯s allies nearby. Human bodies were ill-equipped to survive against such an assault, so they were torn apart like paper. Meanwhile the pressure against his shield was increasing. It would soon collapse. ¡°Now, attack!¡± The Cloud God was first to answer. In an instant some untraceable, ubiquitous power filled the space. The deity¡¯s mighty mental powers were most suitable for their plight. Fierce mental power lashed out at the nearest targets. It tore through their mind, delivering a devastating psychic blow that forced them to their knees. Hideous screaming ensued as some fell unconscious. Others bled out and died in an instant. ¡°Go!¡± Cloudhawk heaved his arms forward. His shield of white energy pushed back against the onslaught. The walls and floor of the Temple were beginning to collapse under the pressure. Janus responded by sending out several dozen shadows. They slithered along the gaps between the floors and walls, appearing among the enemy. Springing up from nowhere, they delivered lethal sneak attacks. Nearly every one of her copies claimed a life. Frost de Winter and the Khan of Evernight moved at the same time. The rest of the soldiers, driven by fervor and a lust for vengeance, charged after them. ¡°There are ten or twenty thousand troops stationed in this Temple,¡± Cloudhawk shouted at his allies. ¡°We don¡¯t have the numbers to face them head on. We¡¯re not here to kill anyway, we have to stop this thing from rising!¡± The Cloud God¡¯s thunderous voice answered. ¡°The focal devices once stored at the border fortresses have been moved here. We can separate into four teams and attack them in unison. Disrupting the energy field is the best way to achieve our goal.¡± The Temple was vast, destroying it was unfeasible. Cloudhawk agreed that teams were needed, so he quickly called them out. He would guide the first team; the second would be led by the Cloud God; Frost was responsible for the third; the Khan and Janus would take the fourth. Each team would bring a group of soldiers and demonhunters as well. Once their task was complete and their focal device destroyed, everyone would rendezvous at the center of the Temple. It had to be done as quickly as possible. Cloudhawk decided in this course of action for one very important reason. The Avatar¡¯s Eyes of Time. They could only see so much. When they split up she could only focus on one at a time. In other words, three teams would be able to sneak by right under her nose, increasing the chaos and uncertainty of the battle. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get moving.¡± The four teams raced off toward their objectives. 1. In the US, space is about 80km straight up. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 697 - Book 6, Chapter 89 – Confronting Master Bruno A single, silver-haired man of middle years sat in the center of the hall. Crystal daggers rolled between his fingers. Ahead of him was a deafening thud, as though an enormous creature had made landfall. A jet of green fire came screaming down the corridor like the tongue of a demon. As quickly as it arrived, the fires vanished. A young man wreathed in green fire slowly walked into view. His clothes were torn and dirty. Behind the tears wounds were visible, but they healed with incredible speed. Every inch of this man¡¯s porcelain skin radiated with energy, his eyes sparkled like stars. Unreadable unfathomable, they stared at the man with the daggers. ¡°Extraordinary. If you¡¯re here it means the Avatar¡¯s ambush has failed.¡± Bruno slowly unfurled his legs and stood. ¡°I must acknowledge what they say. You¡¯re quite the foe.¡± The Avatar surrounded herself with mighty allies and clever traps. None so far had managed to stop Cloudhawk. Relentlessly, the wasteland leader had pressed through. Where he appeared, opposition crumbled. However, even unsuccessful barriers took a toll. The soldiers and demonhunters sent against him ¨C none of which survived to follow Cloudhawk here ¨C at least managed to tear into his flesh. The battle that raged around them was a bloody one. Cloudhawk appraised the middle-aged man before him. This had to be the master from Stormford. Bruno Argyris was master of a rare talent ¨C space. The dimensional dagger he wielded was mysterious and powerful. It produced copies of itself and then use those copies to move targets through space. Bruno¡¯s weapon certainly make him trickier to deal with. ¡°Since you know what happens to people who stand in my way, you wouldn¡¯t be so stupid as to follow their disastrous decision now would you?¡± Cloudhawk took a step forward. ¡°What you saw in Skycloud today is the future for all Elysian lands. Sooner or later, everything the Avatar tried to do here will occur in your home. What you are doing will come back to bite you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t deny that there is some logic to your words, but I must apologize ¨C I don¡¯t have a heroic spirit. I¡¯m not built to remake the way of the world.¡± Bruno twirled his daggers then wrapped his fingers tight around them in a reverse grip. ¡°What I do have is a beautiful wife back home, a good child, and a wise old father. The end of the world is still far off but the people I care about are right now. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± The two men postured but did not attack. Bruno wasn¡¯t fighting only for himself. He wasn¡¯t even fighting solely for his realm or Mount Sumeru. All he wanted was a good life for himself and his family. They were waiting for him in Stormford, so how could he rise against the gods? He didn¡¯t know what would happen in a hundred years or longer, nor did he care. All of life occurred in cycles. Whether humans were destroyed in a billion years or a hundred, it didn¡¯t matter to him. If Cloudhawk was in his position, he¡¯d probably feel the same way. It didn¡¯t have anything to do with right or wrong, good or evil. Not to him. So there was no way to reconcile with the demonhunter, the only way forward was through him. Cloudhawk slowly raised his sword of lightning. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry. Show me what you got and let¡¯s get this over with.¡± ¡°Beating Ash and storming the Temple proved your ability. Breaking through the Avatar¡¯s ambush showed great strength. But after all that, how much more can you handle?¡± As he spoke, Bruno drew a sword from his waist. Lightning crackled across its surface, revealing its attributes. Cloudhawk was no longer interested in talking. In an instant he vanished from where he¡¯d been standing. Reappearing before Bruno, Ruin came crashing down like a lightning bolt. CRACK! Ruin and Bruno¡¯s short sword met with a storm of sparks. The older man felt a torrent of energy, almost more than he could stand. Burning power was carried through him by tendrils of lightning. Cloudhawk kept up the assault. His Arbiter¡¯s Staff came crashing down. Like the first, the attack was frighteningly strong. The weight behind it alone threatened to crush Bruno. A flash glimmered in the man¡¯s eyes as he brought his left hand up. Ruin smashed into the silver dagger and in that moment Cloudhawk felt the powers of space warp around him. Shit! Cloudhawk recognized his enemy¡¯s intentions right away. He was going to use his dagger to teleport Cloudhawk away the second they made contact. Where he would end up was anyone¡¯s guess ¨C perhaps in the middle of a furnace burning thousands of degrees, of thousands of meters below the earth. Once Cloudhawk disappeared, if he wasn¡¯t killed outright he would at least be removed from the fight. In that critical instant, Cloudhawk opened his hand. Spatial power enveloped the Arbiter¡¯s Staff and it disappeared. His brows furrowed. This was a real problem, care had to be taken to make sure no contact was made with the dagger. Bruno reacted quickly. With a flick of his right wrist, three daggers were cast out. They weren¡¯t thrown toward Cloudhawk, but as they passed him all of a sudden three figures appeared. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation they lashed out at Cloudhawk. The three were mighty Elysian warriors. Although not anywhere near as strong as Bruno, they were nonetheless able to hold their own! Each one was comparable to Phain. Three warriors like this were troublesome already. Appearing from nowhere and attacking all at once, Cloudhawk had no time to prepare. He managed to deflect two of the strikes before one caught him from behind. The ear-splitting sound of steel on iron rang out as the blade left a gash. It stitched itself back together a moment later. Cloudhawk utilized his own powers to teleport a short distance away, breaking from encirclement and appearing behind Bruno. He stabbed Ruin forth but just before it found purchase, the Master Demonhunter blinked out of existence. Ruin bite into the ground, but nothing else. Slipped away again! Frustrated, Cloudhawk was beginning to recognize the strategy. Bruno¡¯s daggers could move things away, but could also bring things to him. It was how he disarmed Cloudhawk¡¯s Arbiter¡¯s Staff and then brought three allies to help him. The act of moving through space was almost instantaneous. Bruno could move through this whole space at will. He was able to dodge attacks and call reinforcements. And unless he was mistaken, Cloudhawk figured the Avatar, Phoenix, Lucian and others all held a copy of his dagger. That meant at any moment, if needed Bruno could bring any of them into the fray. Frankly, Bruno¡¯s combat effectiveness was ordinary at best. Of the four masters brought through the Portal, he was certainly the weakest in a fight. What made him dangerous was his rare talent. No ordinary foe could pin him down and he could capitalize on the smallest error. ¡°Cloudhawk, I suggest you just give up.¡± Bruno tried to distract him with taunts as they fought. ¡°I know why you do it. Mount Sumeru has chosen her, there¡¯s no going back. If you can¡¯t even get passed me how are you supposed to defeat the four gods of the Elysian lands? How are you supposed to beat Sumeru?¡± Cloudhawk stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m powerless against you?¡± Bruno was not expected the calm Cloudhawk showed. He was under no pretense that he had Cloudhawk¡¯s strength, nor did he think he¡¯d win. His goal was merely to keep the wastelander pinned down to stop him from interfering. So far he¡¯d been successful. Cloudhawk reached into his clothing and pulled out a small cube. With a casual motion he flung it into the air. A second later, really shattered into a world of boxes. Bruno¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What kind of relic is this?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 698 - Book 6, Chapter 90 – Lucian vs The Cloud God Cloudhawk¡¯s Cube activated, carving a dimensional pocket into the space around them. Ethereal squares spread out in all directions like a cloud of bubbles. Their fragile appearance, floating in defiance of gravity, afforded the scene a sort of strange beauty. A few moments later they blended with the area, flattened, and faded from view. Although the spectacle did not appear to present any sort of threat, Bruno nonetheless clenched his dagger warily. It was evident that those odd squares were special somehow. He could feel the intense spatial energy they emitted. More than likely it was some sort of relic that was never recorded, and in Cloudhawk¡¯s hand any tool could do incredible things. How much truer this was for the rare and unique relics of spatial power. ¡°Attack!¡± Bruno didn¡¯t know what Cloudhawk had done, but it didn¡¯t matter. He had a mission to accomplish. Cloudhawk reacted by raising Ruin high then shoving it into the ground. All at once his potent mental abilities were unleashed! Dozens, perhaps hundreds of lightning bolts reached forth. It took no time for them to fill the space, flooding through the squares their world had been segmented into. They crackled around one another like an enormous electric net with Cloudhawk at its center ¨C or thousands of hungry snakes searching for a meal. Bruno leaped away from Ruin¡¯s deadly kiss. One of the bolts struck the ground, leaving behind a small crater. However it did not dissipate. Glancing off the ground it reached at Bruno for a second attack. With the sword in his right hand, the demonhunter deflected the slithering tendril. He hacked it in two with his dimensional dagger. Sparing nothing, Cloudhawk poured more of his mental energy into the field. More and more bolts of lightning danced through the air and toward a single target. Yet the Master Demonhunter¡¯s skill and weapons kept him safe. His three companions, however, were not so lucky. As elite warriors they deftly avoiding the lightning strikes. But it was the unassuming segments of space they did not account for. The stable cubes were easy to overlook, especially when a storm of lightning cast the area in a stark electric glare. So in their reckless attempts to avoid being blasted apart, they could not avoid colliding with them. The briefest touch was like meeting a black hole. The warriors disappeared without a trace. Bruno was stunned to discover that it wasn¡¯t just the men who disappeared, but the teleportation marker he¡¯d left with them as well. It was strange, because that mark should have remained even if the soldiers died. He would be able to use the dagger¡¯s copies to find out where they were and bring them back to where he was. There were only two possibilities. The first was that Cloudhawk had sent them beyond the scope of his powers¡­ so far away that even Bruno couldn¡¯t feel them. That seemed unlikely, however, since Bruno¡¯s reach extended across the entire realm. The second and more likely scenario was that the man ¨C and the daggers they¡¯d held ¨C had ceased to exist. They were no longer a part of this reality. Before Bruno could puzzle out what was happening, Cloudhawk was on him. He slashed at the demonhunter with a brutal hack that left a blazing trail through the air. In fact all the errant bolts of lightning followed Cloudhawk¡¯s sword as he dashed toward Bruno. They all came crashing toward him like a waterfall, bearing so much force that he didn¡¯t even bother to try and deflect it. Dimensional power radiated from the dagger. It spread out around him and suddenly Bruno was gone. He let space fold, conveying him several hundred meters away. But before he could even regain his footing Cloudhawk was on him. Another staggering attack was leveled his way, forcing him to teleport to safety once again. The two danced around one another; one teleporting, the other blinking after him. Their figures would appear for an instant then disappear just as quickly, so fast that shadows of them filled the empty hall. They clashed twenty or thirty times, locked in an intense dimensional contest of cat and mouse. A battle like this was beyond the understanding of ordinary demonhunters. Alone, Bruno was no match for Cloudhawk. Teleporting every which way was just a way to stall for time. The wastelander was on him at every turn, as close as his shadow, impossible to shake. At last, Bruno inadvertently slipped and Cloudhawk closed the distance. Slashing Ruin through the air, he released a torrent of electricity which wrapped around Bruno¡¯s body. Right away his skin started to burn black and his internal organs sizzled. Unable to control his body, the Master Demonhunter stumbled backward into one of the cubes. From bad to worse! Bruno tried at last the moment to teleport¡­ ! But it was too late, he struck one of the incorporeal cubes. Suddenly the tiny cube expanded until it swallowed him up completely. He felt it tugging at him with the irresistible force of a black hole. He blinked, suddenly finding himself in a place he¡¯d never seen before. The floors, ceilings and walls were all white. They radiated with their own internal luminescence. Everywhere he looked there was¡­ nothing. He¡¯d never experienced anything like it before. Frantic, he began to look for a way out. Teleporting again and again all he found was more emptiness. Everywhere he turned it was all the same. Featureless. Identical. He could hardly tell if he¡¯d moved at all. Concentrating, he tried to use his dagger to teleport somewhere else. But no matter how far he stretched his mind the only place open to him was this small reality. Bruno had prepared for this fight by carefully placing teleport markers in strategic locations. Locked in this place, all of his thorough plans fell apart. Without the benefit of his dagger and its markers, he couldn¡¯t summon reinforcements. In this strange and unfamiliar place, how could he hope to defeat Cloudhawk? Speak of the devil. The wastelander appeared before him. Cloudhawk stared at the middle-aged man before him and carefully enunciated his words. ¡°In my domain, your abilities are useless.¡± Bruno¡¯s face darkened in anger and despair. He was done for. He¡¯d known from the onset that Cloudhawk was better, but he¡¯d been confident in his ability to escape. He hadn¡¯t imagined Cloudhawk would have a way to rob him of that. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ** Pitched battles were raging throughout the Temple. The Cloud God swept away all obstacles before him. Many of the ecclesiasts he came upon did not have the nerve to turn against their patron. Those that did were as insignificant as insects before the god¡¯s power. Subjected to his all-pervasive mental strength, they fell like wheat before the scythe. Then a group appeared, barring his way. Different from the others, they appeared to have been gathered here specifically to face the Cloud God. In the center was an elderly man with white hair and clothes to match. Lucian Ambrose, High Priest of Highmorn. Lucian regarded his nervous fellows. ¡°Do not fear. Although this beast was once a regal god, it has fallen from grace. It cavorts with demons and heretics. It is a fiend. Corrupted. A betrayer of its race. Only death with wash away its sins.¡± His words bore a mysterious power, for they calmed the hearts of his anxious soldiers. The Cloud God unhurriedly gazed upon the group of humans. ¡°It appears your powers are based in the psychic realm.¡± Lucian slowly raised his left hand. A formless glow fell upon him and the others, causing their fears to evaporate and steeling their will. He¡¯d constructed a mental fortress to combat the Cloud God¡¯s attacks. It was like trying to break chopsticks. One was fragile, but bundled together they were strong. Indeed Lucian had formidable mental control and was able to spread it across a certain distance to aid his allies. Yet the Cloud God was almost amused. Lucian¡¯s efforts were for naught, as the deity¡¯s powers were unrivaled. Any vulnerability was revealed to his eyes. These defenses would not survive a single assault. He reached out with that terrible psychic flood. The power coalesced into an intangible blade that lashed out at his opponents. The mental blade was a variant of his psychic attack that was both invisible and impervious to normal defenses. A blow like this was most often fatal. Yet it appeared Lucian anticipated such an attack. As the blade formed, the High Priest¡¯s staff burst into bloom. Its light spread through the area and caused the unthinkable. The highly dense energy crystallized before everyone¡¯s eyes, like mist turning to ice on a freezing morning. The power from the god was squeezed until it formed a large but unstable crystal structure. Lucian took his staff in both hands and brought it crashing down upon the crystal. Shattering from the impact, the frozen energy was again released in a violent explosion. The god staggered backward several meters. This old man was strong¡­ Lucian¡¯s soldiers watched with mouths agape. His reaction time and power were shocking to behold. What¡¯s more, both his power and his relic were unique. Forcing energy into a physical form was a very rare ability indeed. All forms of pure energy could be condensed into a crystalline form. This fact helped to protect Lucian from the Cloud God¡¯s ire. Any energy sent his way could be frozen and even sent back to where it came from. The Cloud God had been knocked back by the residual of his own power. Even the mighty god had his defenses temporarily overwhelmed. This was very interesting. Even the Cloud God was fascinated. ¡°Attack!¡± Lucian¡¯s bright eyes, surrounded by wrinkles, were fixed upon the god before him. In a clear and mighty voice he cried out: ¡°Kill the betrayer god!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 699 - Book 6, Chapter 91 – Mental Battlefield Lucian ¨C his hair and clothes white as snow; his features kind and fatherly ¨C was a picturesque representation of a holy man. He adhered to a strict code of conduct, made it a part of his character. Even the most critical detractors could find nary a flaw in the man. High Priests were the closest humans could be to a god. They were selected by the Temple to be Sumeru¡¯s representatives on earth. Their loyalty was unshakable. However, Lucian was human and humans had mortal hearts. Like anyone else he harbored desires and courted curiosities. He¡¯d held the position of High Priest for over fifty years because of his loyalty. He, more than any other, had been able to peer into the mysterious world of the gods and yet knew only what existed on the surface. In fact there were similarities between Lucian and the late governor Arcturus. Both men knew explicitly how strong the gods were. However, where they different was that Lucian knew how important the gods were to men. He would put it this way: Humans were like isolated livestock. Only through the aid of the gods could they survive and prosper. Once Skycloud was a magnificent land of affluence and well-being¡­ until its patron turned its back upon Mount Sumeru. The horrors it faced today were because of this failing. The damage this had caused would persist for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. Whether this Elysian land would even survive was in doubt. Why did they struggle so? What was wrong with being part of a herd? Lucian knew that the gods had some hidden reason for cultivating human civilization. But he also knew that humans and gods ¨C these vastly different entities, separate on the most fundamental levels ¨C could live together because of this. A lion and a tiger could not live together. A tiger could not peacefully walk among sheep. But a tiger would tread among the ants and all would live in harmony. So different were these lives that they did not battle for resources. Humans did not fight off dogs for their bones. The mighty lion did not compete with rabbits for tufts of grass. Mankind required clean drinking water, delicious food and comfort. What was treasures in their eyes were nothing to the gods ¨C insignificant things that could be granted with a wave of the hand. Lucian ultimately did not know what it was the gods wanted. Men kept dogs for their loyalty, sheep for their wool and cows for their milk. Gods had to help humans survive for some purpose, he just didn¡¯t know what that could be. It had merely been this way for the last thousand years. Yet in the end it was simple: With the gods came Elysian lands. With Elysian lands came life and comfort. The foul curse that had fallen upon Skycloud could not be allowed to happen to his home. Rising up against the gods was as futile as it was self-destructive. In an arm wrestling match between them, the divine¡¯s pinky finger would rip a man¡¯s whole arm off. It was an apt analogy, for if war broke out between their people, what good would come of it? Whatever Cloudhawk¡¯s aims, whether forcing the helpless to join him or inciting rebellion, his flashy banners and fiery words only stole from people their right to live in peace. Did ordinary people really need to know the truth of the world? Did they really need absolute freedom? Was their pride so sacred? For ninety-nine percent of humanity, their desires were simple; a comfortable life, a warm bed, a spiritual home, and an era of peace. There was no reason to shatter these beautiful lives. Cloudhawk was treating millions, perhaps a billion souls as gambling chips in a losing game. Lucian was an unflinching advocate for godly rule. He would never waver in his support of Mount Sumeru! Cloudhawk was evil incarnate. There was nothing venerable about the bloody path he had chosen. Best to cull the cancer before it spread! The High Priest once against raised his staff. It was a very ordinary looking item, and was in fact but for the gem set upon the top. It was about the size of a fist, and contained a curious vortex of light. It had a name ¨C the Sage Crystal. The Sage Crystal was an extremely precious relic. Its powers were inconceivable to most, manifesting primarily in the transformation of energy and matter. Solid objects could be reduced to its inherent energy; energy could be formed into corporeal substances. So it was that when the Cloud God attacked with psychic force, Lucian had captured and frozen it to use against its creator. The explosion that had occurred was that solidified energy once more transforming into its original state. ¡°Attack!¡± Lucian shouted the order. His men assailed the god with spear, bolt and arrow. To be on the receiving end would be terrifying for any mortal creature, but to the Cloud God it was of no concern. None of their trifling efforts could pierce his mental barrier. Even if a few could, they would cause him no harm. But that was merely his assumption, and it was misguided! Lucian¡¯s Sage Crystal shone brilliantly as he held the staff aloft. Its radiance shone upon the projectiles as they made their journey, imbuing them with luminescence. What had been a paltry attack of matter was now empowered by energy. Spears and arrows dissolved into destructive rays that strengthened the attack by several orders of magnitude. Under the terrible barrage, most of the corridor was completely destroyed, like a fist smashing a mirror. The Cloud God¡¯s mental barriers shattered. Beams of light pierced him through. In an unthinkable turn of events these insignificant humans had damaged him! Lucian, from across the field, stared at the barely wounded being with an incredulous expression. Was this the power of a Supreme? Their bodies were practically impervious! Of course Lucian knew a single barrage would not be enough. They would be exposed to the fallen god¡¯s wrath as they prepared for their next move. He ordered demonhunter elite to the front to form a defense. They were Highmorn heroes he had brought with him for this mission. One was equipped to deal with mental attacks and summoned a wall of force to protect them. The Cloud God had already noted this strategy. His mighty abilities could peer into the hearts of all humankind, so to take the advantage in striking first he released tentacles of psychic force. They pierced the form of this human before he was prepared and ripped away his mind. Lucian¡¯s soldier crumpled to the ground. Not a single wound was visible, yet in a matter of seconds he had been slain outright. As for Lucian¡¯s intractable power? To the god this was no such threat. His precious crystal could only transform what energy could be felt. If the power did not exist on the same plane ¨C or could not be captured ¨C then the Sage Crystal¡¯s power held no sway. Lucian was preparing to call for a second volley, but the Cloud God was already prepared. A burst of mental power detonated through the corridor. The same illusion emerged in everyone¡¯s mind; countless tentacles reaching form a nightmarish void, each one pregnant with a paralytic force. Faster than they could react, the tentacles wrapped them up in a suffocating grip then dragged them into a universe of utter darkness. After a moment the beleaguered humans came to their senses. Horrified, they found themselves bound to crosses by unbreakable chains. The more they struggled, the tighter their bindings became. It was different for everyone. Weaker illusory chains were wrapped up in several layers. For stronger ones, they manifested as a few well-placed links that were altogether unyielding. The strength of the illusion was determined by the spirit of the one they bound. Lucian, on the other hand, was unbound. His mental abilities were too strong for such base illusions to hold him fast. Yet the High Priest did not rejoice. In this strange place he could not give play all of his abilities. It was this fact he fretted over as the Cloud God reappeared before him. The human struck the earth with his staff. The ground fractured. Stones rose. His Sage¡¯s Crystal flared and transformed the chunks of rock into spheres of energy. They were cast at the Cloud God and found purchase! Boom! The god was blasted to pieces and disappeared. Bushy white brows furrowed. Lucian knew the god would not be that easy to defeat. In this place of illusion matter did not exist. This was a contest of psychic power, not easy to overcome. Two seconds after the Cloud God was ¡®destroyed¡¯, any mark of his presence was gone. The ground beneath Lucian was restored. Here nothing was real. If Lucian hoped to defeat the Cloud God in this mental battlefield, he would need to summon more power than its master. Such a feat was not within his capabilities, so failure was inevitable. Once again the god revealed himself. His perfect form split into two, then four. Two of the images drew swords of light from thin air. They attacked. The first was warded off by Lucian¡¯s staff, but the second managed to drive his sword into the High Priest¡¯s body. Lucian was cleaved at the waist. Pain wracked him, tore through his brain in excruciating intensity. And then it was gone. He was standing in the same spot as before. ¡°Illusions¡­ all illusions!¡± None of this was happening. None of it was real! The battle he was engaged in only took place in his mind. However, in this place Lucian¡¯s powers were a far cry from the Cloud God¡¯s. How could he hope to win? Wait¡­ there was a chance! If his will was firm enough to punch through then it was possible. Maintaining a mental field of this scope took energy. If he could force the god to expend more than he could manage, there was hope for escape. Keep going! Don¡¯t let your will collapse! You can¡¯t allow your spirit to crumble! So long as his mind prevailed it didn¡¯t matter how often he died in this hell! Lucian was wise, and his determinations correct. Sadly he was at war with a Supreme. The Cloud God¡¯s vast mental powers could hold this illusion for a very long time. What of the human? How many times could Lucian die before his sanity slipped? For an ordinary man dying once or twice was all it took. Those of more tenacious will made it to four or five. What would Lucian achieve? A hundred? Two hundred? Give hundred? At final tally, Lucial Ambrose had died three thousand six hundred times. For what felt like an eternity, the Cloud God found myriad ways to cut Lucian down. Several times the High Priest managed to fight back, but invariably failed. This went on thousands of times until, at last, Lucian Ambrose could resist no longer. The mental war came to an end. Back in the real world Lucian lay sprawled out in the middle of the corridor, his face a twisted mask of pain. His heart had given out. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 700 - Book 6, Chapter 92 – Frost vs Phoenix ¡°Quick! We¡¯re running out of time!¡± One of the groups had managed to push through several conflicts and was nearing their destination. Frost was among them. The group he led was the largest of the four. It was designed that way since Frost didn¡¯t have the same stopping power as Cloudhawk, the Cloud God, Janus or the Khan of Evernight. To offset this he was sent with Blaze and a host of other demonhunters to bolster their chances. After fighting their way through several ambushes, their numbers had been shaved down to a third. Those that survived were the strongest. ¡°I never thought the day would come I¡¯d be fighting by your side,¡± Blaze said. He recognized the tremendous changes Frost had undergone. He used to be Skycloud¡¯s rising star ¨C the realm¡¯s promise for a bright future. Impeccably handsome, heroic, strong and accomplished. Unyielding in his demands of perfection, both physically and in his actions. The old Frost never tolerated flaw or fault. Of course, this made him the object of affection for every young woman in the realm. The Frost of today was a different man. He was unshaven, his hair knotted and dirty, and clad in plain commoner¡¯s clothing. He looked like a man whose twenty-odd years of life had been a heavy burden. His eyes, however, were still the sharp cold orbs Blaze remembered. And his rise in strength was practically inhuman! He wielded prowess no less domineering than the older generation he was replacing. So far, no one they¡¯d encountered was able to stand in his way. How he¡¯d managed to get so strong so quickly remained a mystery. Blaze had also heard some interesting things. Rumors that Arcturus had died at Frost¡¯s hands. He wasn¡¯t sure whether such stories were true or not, after all Arcturus treated Frost like a son. Would the younger man return this kindness with the edge of a blade? What happened to cause it, if it were true? It was hard to guess. ¡°Stop the small talk. We¡¯re nearly there. Frost¡¯s tone was as cold as his name, and calm as a lake surface. His eyes were fixed forward and in them Blaze caught the hint. The League commander raised his hand, ordering the men to stop. They took defensive formation just as a scalding gust wafted toward them from the corridor. Suddenly an intense heat descended on them. Every breath burned. A woman with red hair and crimson clothes stepped into view. She was gorgeous, valiant and imperious. When she looked upon the group that approached she did so with disdain. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Everyone, Blaze included, was frozen in place. The resistance they¡¯d encountered so far was strong, so it was especially strange that their objective was defended by a single person. Frost and his crew numbered over a hundred. However powerful this woman was, she was vastly outnumbered. Phoenix Igna had some with the first group to Skycloud not long ago. Since then she had kept out of the public eye. Few knew of her, even Blaze was unfamiliar with this strange figure. But she was young and unknown. How could she be a threat to them? What they did not realize was that she was the universally acknowledged powerhouse of Dragemere! Phoenix couldn¡¯t measure up to the likes of Arcturus. However, at peak form she could take on three Master Demonhunters on her own. Without a doubt it was Frost¡¯s bad luck to meet her in this cramped corridor. Blaze and his demonhunters did not yet understand the danger they were in. Their opponent was just one woman. It wasn¡¯t like there was another Arcturus simply hanging around to stand in their way! Phoenix¡¯s lips curled into a derisive smile. She jumped into the air and spread her arms. Fire splayed from them like the wings of a mighty bird. A blast of intolerable heat buffeted the soldiers, so intense that the floor glowed red. Around Phoenix the walls, floor and nearby statues began to melt. Their molten remnants began to creep down the hallway. At last, Blaze and the others realize what they were up against. ¡°Everyone together! We can¡¯t waste time!¡± Their greatest advantage was numbers. General consensus said that ten or so veteran demonhunters was enough to take down a demon. Among their crew were at least thirty, and the rest were at least experienced. Individually none of them were a threat to Phoenix. But together, utilizing their different powers, they were dangerous. Phoenix erupted into a pillar of flame. They quickly engulfed the corridor. All at once everything was flown into a fiery purgatory. Besides being incredibly potent the fires also spread quickly. In the blink of an eye they consumed the hallway and the chamber beyond. All at once it was clear why this Master Demonhunter did not come with any allies. Her fires did not discriminate. It was better to fight alone than to fight with one hand behind your back for fear of harming allies. Such a tactic was also more in line with Phoenix¡¯s volatile personality. Blaze reacted quickly. He gathered his men close and brandished a red banner. Thrusting the shaft into the ground, a shell of invisible energy spread from this central point. It absorbed all the fire and heat that came close. Lucky for them their enemy¡¯s ability was fire-based! Blaze¡¯s relic was called ¡®The Fire Spirit¡¯s Covenant,¡¯ and its powers lay in absorbing heat and flame. It then changed what it consumed into pure energy and used it to empower attacks. Blaze was also a young man of lauded reputation in Skycloud. At one time he was counted among the other greats of his generation; comparable to Frost, Dawn and Selene. Times had changed, but he was no slouch. This relic also served to boost his inherent power. A look of displeasure darkened Phoenix¡¯s face. Her wings of fire spread out and thrust forward, belching a tidal wave of fire. Blaze put all of his strength into maintaining the protective shield. It served him well and the Master Demonhunter¡¯s attack was swallowed up when it reached him. Meanwhile the other men with him engaged their own shields and together they weathered her rage. ¡°You think you can stand against me with such a paltry force?!¡± Anger was clear in the woman¡¯s voice, as though they¡¯d openly insulted her. She decided to stop playing games. Her enemies activated their relics and a storm of attacks were flung her way. Due to the confines of the hallway it was difficult for her to dodge. Phoenix was forced to take a number of blows head on, though they crashed impotently against a shield of fire. Lightning, ice and blades of wind pelted her defenses but accomplished nothing. She was too strong! What¡¯s more, her strength differed from the other elite that had come with her. Bruno, Ash and Lucian each had their talents. But to varying degrees all of them relied on their talents and equipment. Phoenix, on the other hand, assailed her enemies with pure power. Of the four masters her mental energies were the greatest. Even a Master Demonhunter would struggle against a few dozen demonhunters, much less the hundred Phoenix faced. Yet despite the overwhelming numbers she pressed forward. Frost had watched the exchange and recognized the woman¡¯s plan. Her aim was to close the distance between her and her enemies, then once she was among them the concentrated fire would decrease. They would hold back so as not to harm their fellows. With a little breathing room she could tear apart that hateful banner protecting them and reduce her enemies to ash! Blaze grit his teeth. ¡°Hold your ground! Don¡¯t give her an inch!¡± Phoenix did not put much of her training into physical resistance, nor was she a talented martial artist. However with the advancing flames she moved with frightening speed. There was time enough for one more attack, one more concentrated barrage before she was among them. No time! It was their last chance! Frost¡¯s fighting instinct dragged his eyes toward an opening. Phoenix was indeed strong, but it was as much a flaw as it was a boon. Her abilities made her overconfident. To her, they were nothing more than insects. All she wanted was to get this annoyance over with. Frost remembered the first lesson Arcturus had ever taught him: No matter the circumstances, it was a fatal flaw to disregard one¡¯s opponent. You could be verbally dismissive and act with disdain, but in your heart you had to take every threat seriously. His old master was never wrong. This woman relied on her power too heavily. Even against a wall of enemies, she pressed forward without hesitation. Frost could see that her wall of fire was dimming in places. An ordinary soldier might miss it, but not him. From the beginning of the fight up to this point, he¡¯d held back. Frost waited for his chance, quiet until it was time to go for the throat! A streak of silver lashed out. Rather than a man wielding a spear, Frozen Dirge dragged its bearer along with it. The glimmering gemstones set upon the weapon¡¯s surface released a burst of frigid energy. ¡°Hm?¡± Surprise crept into Phoenix¡¯s eyes. This school of minnows had been hiding a little shark! Frost threw everything he had into a headlong charge. His spear bloomed with ice-cold power that shot forward like an arrow. It carved a path through her defenses. The roar of ice and fire in conflict filled the chamber as his attack smashed into Phoenix¡¯s chest. ¡°Die!¡± Frost released a second blast! A sweeping wave of power ripped through Phoenix and spread out down the corridor. Frost¡¯s glacial explosion cooled the molten corridor and filled it with steam. ¡°Is she dead?!¡± Afraid and wary, the other demonhunters looked at one another for confirmation. Frost¡¯s blitz was expertly executed. It was incisive, well-timed and masterfully controlled as though he¡¯d done it a thousand times. Blaze could see that Arcturus¡¯ pupil wasn¡¯t the same. He¡¯d lost something. The motivation that was driving him before was gone. But what emerged from that was even more terrible than before. He was still young, too. Not even thirty. Frost¡¯s potential seemed limitless, destined to achieve the very peak of human achievement. Arcturus Cloude was never wrong. Blaze stared into the mist, searching for any hint of movement. Had Frost¡¯s attack been enough? An ordinary foe would have been slain, but he knew that the woman they faced was unlike any they¡¯d met before. Fear still had its talons in him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 701 - Book 6, Chapter 93 – Blood of the Phoenix Book 6, ¡°Well done!¡± A voice rose from among the flames. There was a menacing quality to it ¨C like a volcano on the cusp, battling a thousand years of pressure. From between raging fires emerged a figure, tall and alluring. Shock played on the faces of the invaders. Surely they didn¡¯t think it would be so easy? But the surprise in their eyes was clear as they watched the woman step forth. The blow to her chest had torn Phoenix¡¯s clothing, revealing the enticing curve of her breasts [1] but she paid it no mind. The gathered men had no time to admire her figure as the fear that gripped them prevailed over all. Phoenix stood before them unscathed! Frost had seen it clear, his blow had pierced right through her chest. His flood of power was enough to freeze flesh and shatter bone. Yet she stepped out from the fires without a mark on her, as though none of it had happened. Her delicate flesh bore no marks. Everyone grappled with what they witnessed. Had their eyes deceived them? A dangerous light shone in Phoenix¡¯s eyes. ¡°Irritating bugs. You were foolish enough to think I was just a combative demonhunter. Now you see, the reason I am the mightiest in Dragenmere is because of my invincible body!¡± Her voice roared through the corridor like a hurricane. A shiver passed through the invaders. Few were capable of surviving even a single attack from Phoenix. So awe-inspiring was her strength that they ignored her other abilities. It was a deadly mistake. One of the demonhunters screamed a challenge and flung a windblade toward her. Phoenix¡¯s only reaction was to smirk and let it come. The attack bit into her, ripping flesh and carving through her organs. It passed straight through, leaving a gruesome gash from her left shoulder to her right hip. ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s been cut in half!¡± Blaze muttered the words, almost to himself. A blow like that had to kill her, didn¡¯t it? ¡°The truth is that I am not a combat-oriented demonhunter. Not really. My talents lie in healing.¡± Not a single drop of blood leaked from the ghastly wound. All that emerged where faint sparks of fire. They bonded to the broken skin and formed it back together like welding metal. A few minutes later the red heat dissipated and her injuries were simply gone ¨C all in less than a second. Nothing remained to show she¡¯d been struck. How was this possible? Under that supple skin was there only fire? ¡°My relic is called ¡®Blood of the Phoenix,¡¯ and it is different from any other. My body has been filled with particles that are activated when I am hurt. Any wound you deliver is healed right away. So long as I have an ounce of mental strength left, I am unkillable.¡± Blood of the Phoenix¡­ it worked like Cloudhawk¡¯s Castigation Fire. They both were microscopic biological particles that infiltrated the body and directly instigated an effect. Cloudhawk¡¯s powers were highly destructive, even capable of devouring other relics. Phoenix¡¯s abilities could be used for deadly attacks, but also had incredible healing properties. She had superhuman regenerative abilities! No matter how fatal the blow or gruesome the wound, they meant nothing to her! Her Blood of the Phoenix responded passively to stimuli. As long as Phoenix did not exhaust her mental stores she was invincible. She couldn¡¯t even kill herself if she wanted to. And her vast mental cache nearly rivaled Cloudhawk and Arcturus! Her status as the best in Dragenmere was certainly not because her realm lacked capable people. With abilities like hers, was she even human? Who could stand in her way? Horror bloomed on the soldiers¡¯ faces, and Phoenix smirked in satisfaction. ¡°If I just stood here and let you attack to your heart¡¯s content, do you think you can beat me?¡± Her eyes were fixed on Frost. ¡°Young man, you¡¯ve got at least some skill. I can appreciate that. Come with me and I¡¯ll let you live.¡± Not an ounce of expression showed on Frost¡¯s cold face. ¡°I am not interested in your nonsense.¡± A raucous laugh bubbled up from Phoenix¡¯s throat. She laughed so hard tears trickled from her eyes and more of her ample chest peaked through her torn clothing. At any other time such a scene would have them en howling in delight, but at this moment they hardly noticed. Their minds were filled with her dark laughter, filled with bloody promise. ¡°Alright, then there¡¯s nothing more to say!¡± Immediately her flames burst forth. The tattered remnants of her clothes were turned to ash. Her fury was on full display. In Dragenmere she was the unbreakable goddess, with a reputation for her short temper and explosive moods. Back home, even her Governor and High Priest feared her. Now she would prove to this young arrogant man why he should fear her, too. These whelps had no idea what horror they were in for! ¡°I will turn you to ash!¡± Master Phoenix became a pillar of violent flame and charged forward. Blaze roared back: ¡°Attack!¡± In his mind they were doomed. She was too strong, hardly even human. Their only option was to throw themselves at her with everything they had and hope to exhaust her mental powers. It was the only way to stop her regeneration. Of course it was easier said than done. She was almost on par with the legendary demonhunters of old! Hysterical attacks were flung her way, launched with wild abandon. Many were consumed by the fires surrounding Phoenix. Some got close enough to land a blow. Of course, those healed right away. Phoenix drew on the full power of her relic. Stabs, chops, and breaks regenerated in an instant. Even headshots couldn¡¯t put her down. Once the Blood of the Phoenix was fully engaged healing any wound took less than a second. Nothing they could do would slow her down! ¡°Insects! Die, all of you!¡± She opened her mouth and belched a plume of fire. It crashed against the combined shields of several demonhunters, shattering them instantly. Her foes scattered and were flung through the corridor. Blaze hadn¡¯t yet regrouped when Phoenix leaped into the air, dashed across fifty meters and slammed into their unit with her right shoulder. Her arrival brought a heat so intense that the corridor started to melt. Her point of impact bowed and turned white hot. Blaze¡¯s men scattered, but no less than eight were to slow. They were reduced to bubbling puddles. ¡°You can¡¯t run!¡± Phoenix rushed into the fight alone against a hundred demonhunters. They may as well have been children. She snatched up one veteran and summoned her flames. The man howled in agony as his body burned away. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet! I still want to play!¡± Her hideous shouts rang across the corridor. What were once eyes were now brilliant burning coals. She lurched toward two men trying to flee and turned them to carbon before they could take another step. In the meantime, she¡¯d taken a dozen blows from nearby enemies. Any other demonhunter ¨C even Masters ¨C would have died several times over from the onslaught. She didn¡¯t even bother to defend herself. She was unbeatable. Absolutely, completely invincible! As the invaders died one after the other, they were convinced no one living could defeat this monster. Even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t save them. So how could they continue to fight? What was this except a suicide mission? Blaze and Frost were being pushed back with the rest of their soldiers. A dismal helplessness darkened Blaze¡¯s face. ¡°We can¡¯t win.¡± ¡°Not necessarily. I have a plan.¡± Frost¡¯s cold, calm facade never faltered as he watched Phoenix inch ever closer. ¡°But I need you to cover me.¡± For a moment he was incredulous, but it quickly hardened into resolve. Cover him? Easy for him to say! Who could even get close to this beast without being immediately killed? Frost was asking him to sacrifice himself. For a heartbeat he stopped to consider and in that time a flood of thoughts raced through his mind. And then, resolve. ¡°Go!¡± Frost and Blaze dashed at Phoenix, one on her left and the other on her right. Blaze took the lead. He brandished his war banner and thrust it through Phoenix¡¯s body. The direct impact was nothing, but right away the banner started to devour her fiery energy. All at once the fires around her dwindled to nothing. A beautiful naked body was revealed. ¡°Commendable bravery!¡± Phoenix snarled a hideous grin at Blaze. Her arm shot out and grabbed him by the throat. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before he caved. Blaze didn¡¯t know what Frost planned, but if Arcturus¡¯ pupil was going to act, now was the time. Frost had swung around to Phoenix¡¯s flank. Her mental abilities were remarkably strong, but her constitution was not. The Master Demonhunter¡¯s reaction times were average and best, especially while distracted by Blaze and his banner. By the time she realized it was a diversion, Frost had already plunged his sword into her back. The ice-cold blade slipped easily through her flesh. Phoenix could feel its cold power seep into her but remained dismissive. ¡°What a boring trick!¡± However many times they tried it was all the same. Her mental power was at full tilt ¨C they could not stop her! But in that moment she felt something different. The Blood of the Phoenix stuttered and stopped. It was like another power had sealed it off. But¡­ how? She¡¯d never encountered anything like this before! The sword¡­ it was the sword! That was the problem! The blade he wielded was Rhimeshard, restored by Cloudhawk. The treasured weapon had been gifted to him by Arcturus, so it was only right to return it to its proper owner. Rhimeshard was not any more lethal than any other sword, however it did have a very special power. Any relic it came into contact became covered with a thin layer of frost. This effectively ¡®turned off¡¯ the relic, locking away its powers. Phoenix reacted. She first struck Blaze and sent him flying. Before she could turn to deal with Frost, though, he had Frozen Dirge poised for a second strike. He stabbed it through her and into the ground, pinning her in place. ¡°Freeze¡­¡± Phoenix screamed at him in unmitigated rage. But Blaze¡¯s banner drank her fires while Rhimeshard sealed the Blood of the Phoenix. She could not fight back. Slowly the ice crept over her, and before long a glittering statue was locked in place in the center of the corridor. Mistress Phoenix was caught in the midst of an angry counterattack that would never be delivered. Unable to move, her mask of fury glared powerlessly at her attacker. She was not dead, but for the moment she was unable to defend herself. As he stood over her frozen body, the words of Frost¡¯s fallen master whispered into his ears. Fortune is ever in flux, and all can be utilized. A moment¡¯s tragedy can be made into a boon. The most auspicious instant can also be one¡¯s doom. Understand this, and you will always have a way to victory. Phoenix had been too overconfident. She truly believed she was invincible and thus made no effort to protect herself. She considered all attacks beneath her. Indeed these powers were what made Phoenix great. But it was also exactly what Frost could use to defeat her. He turned her greatest strength into her downfall. Frost walked over to Blaze. There was a small, fist-sized wound burned on his broad chest. Unassuming though it was, it was only the surface manifestation of a terrible truth. All of his internal organs had been burned beyond repair. ¡°F-frost.. it.. it is.. you.¡± He spoke in halting, gasping breaths. There was a smile on his face. ¡°You di-¡­ did it. You b-beat that mo¡­ that monstrous w-woman. So sss¡­ strong.¡± Frost looked upon him with the same flat, emotionless stare. ¡°Any last words?¡± A sad looked stole the smile from Blaze¡¯s face. He fought through the pain, and in a strange voice said, ¡°I ha-¡­ have a son. He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s three. Talented. I¡­ I hope h-¡­ he makes it.¡± There was no response from Frost. He said nothing, did nothing. But Blaze closed his eyes with a contented sigh and died in peace. 1. Chinese euphemism are honestly the best. The phrase is ¡®spring light blooms forth¡¯. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 702 - Book 6, Chapter 94 – Rematch With the Avatar Book 6, Ten thousand meters¡­ twenty thousand meters¡­ fifty thousand meters¡­ eighty thousand meters! Wrapped in the anti-gravity field, Skycloud¡¯s Temple ascended ever faster. As the atmosphere thinned the pull of the earth weakened. Pursuers fell away, unable to continue the chase. Soon the Temple would escape the atmosphere entirely! Airships and airplanes could not reach these heights. The Green Alliance forces had been taken by surprise when the Temple started rising. No one knew it had this ability. Their air forces were caught unprepared and what¡¯s more, how were they supposed to fight in space? The wastelands had many flying vehicles, but they were all of rough quality. Most were cobbled together from ancient wreckage, copied from half-understood blueprints. It was impressive for their crude, motley constructs to fly at all. Faced with the added difficulty of thinning atmosphere, all they could do was watch as the Temple rose out of range. After rising twenty thousand meters above the surface, there were only a handful of ships that could keep up. A few wasteland ships were outfitted for higher altitude combat, but not nearly enough to be a threat. Eventually they either were blown out of the sky by the Temple¡¯s defenses, or stalled and plummeted from their own faulty design. Half an hour after it had begun to rise, the Temple finally grew still. With a mighty tremor, it spat a beam of light out into the void. Like a pebble thrown into a still lake, space rippled around the beam and spread outwards. Preparations were being made. The Boundary Portal was nearly ready to open again. Time was running out. The Khan of Evernight and Janus Umbra were nearing the center chamber of the Temple. It was a dais suspended a hundred meters in the air, made of pure white jade. There were no supports keeping it aloft and beneath it was a multicolored flow of energy. It surged like a mighty river, weaving through the Temple¡¯s halls. The dais was six thousand meters from end to end. Floating all around were statues of gods, rising a hundred meters tall. Seraphs were perched on each one like nests of birds, dozens ¨C maybe hundreds of them. [1] A host of dull eyes watched as the invaders fought their way in. With so many here, there was no question who was waiting for them. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, keep going!¡± The Khan¡¯s voice was as emotionless as the Seraphs¡¯ gaze. He brandished his sword of light and jumped clear across the corridor onto the dais. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Janus followed. The rest of their soldiers used floating statues or mounts to make their way up. A lone figure draped in white was waiting for them. Standing in the center of the dais, her silver eyes regarded them in silence. Not a word was spoken, but no words were necessary. The Khan and Janus shared a glance. Without question, the woman before them was not Selene Cloude. She was a deadly foe. But although they knew this, knew what was at stake, it didn¡¯t make what had to happen any easier. During confrontations at this level, the slightest mistake could spell disaster. Empowered by the Avatar, Selene was not inferior to the two challengers. In fact, she was stronger. What¡¯s more, there was a host of Seraphs she could call upon at any moment. The advantage was hers. ¡°I heard you can see the future.¡± The Khan¡¯s featureless mask faced Selene. ¡°Can you see how today will end?¡± ¡°Knowing is easy. Changing is hard. Insight into the future does not mean control. The future is endless possibility.¡± A flash twinkled through the Avatar¡¯s eyes. Speaking to her two rivals, no feeling was present in her voice. ¡°Yet in this world, no matter how we struggle, there is one immutable truth. Maybe I can see through time. Perhaps I can see the scenes of what¡¯s to come. But whether I do or not, the end is written. Such is fate.¡± The silver light in her eyes grew more intense. Obviously her mental powers had improved and the one who used to live in that body was fiercely suppressed. Odds were, the woman Selene once was would never again awaken. The eyes¡­ The God King¡¯s powers came from her eyes. Once again Janus and the Khan looked at once another in tacit understanding. Yet even before they launched into an attack, a frigid grin touched Selene¡¯s lips. She drew forth a glimmering blade from her back and raised it high. Light erupted from the weapon, piercing skyward at least thirty meters. Then with a vicious hack, she cast its power toward her foes in a deadly wave. Its keen power was felt even at a distance. Selene¡¯s attack ripped across the dais toward Janus and the Khan. Crackling purple light separated Nox¡¯s Governor from the blow. He swiped at it, striking the wave of power head on. It felt like trying to bat away a mountain, forcing him to stagger back half a dozen steps. Selene wielded so much power in just one strike? With that mighty strike, the Avatar proclaimed the beginning of their conflict. The Seraphs who before were stagnant suddenly burst into motion. They descended upon the invaders from their statuary perches. The puppets opened their mouths and fired beams of energy from their gullets. The attack rained upon the dais. Immediately, Janus and the Khan both felt the danger of the circumstances they were in. No matter what tactics they employed the Avatar saw through it. Nothing they did would force a misjudgment from Selene. There was only flawlessness ¨C executing a perfect, unified assault could beat her. Yet with the Seraphs all around, such a difficult task was made much harder. While not notably strong in a fight, Seraphs could stand toe to toe against a veteran demonhunter. Their attacks where simple and straightforward, but expansive. Even a small number could envelope the battlefield. The Avatar swept her crystalline blade in a wide circle. Several shadowy doppelgangers were cut down mere seconds after they appeared. She was able to see the changes in matter and energy flows through time. What threat did Janus¡¯ lurking shadows possess? Trying to defeat Selene by sneak attacks was a fool¡¯s errand. Her sword flashed again. Another bloom of power. The Avatar jumped forward and stabbed with her weapon. Her target was the great assassin, wrapped in shadow. At the same instant Selene¡¯s Eyes of Time were viewing what would come. She witnessed the consequences as if they¡¯d already occurred; a purple blade of light deflecting the blow, saving Janus¡¯ life. Instead Selene made a quick adjustment, feigning an attack on Janus but shifting her sword toward the Khan at the final instant. It caught him off guard. Quicker than he could follow her blow bite into him, cleaving his right arm from his body at the shoulder. As the limb carrying his purple sword tumbled away, a burst of energy tore through his armor. The Avatar was ready to seal his fate when she was interrupted by four murky shadows. Copies if Janus surrounded her on all sides and launched into a coordinated attack. Meanwhile, the real Janus snatched the Khan and his severed arm from the battlefield. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Perhaps for the first time there was a note of concern in the killer¡¯s voice. As she looked him over, Janus¡¯ pupils contracted to small black points. Selene¡¯s attack had done more than sever his arm. The Khan¡¯s armor was damaged, his breathing apparatus ruined. Half of his body ¨C his real body ¨C was left exposed. He was human, but only barely. Thoroughly remolded from head to toe. Tubes dangled from his mouth and nostrils to facilitate breathing. What wrinkled flesh was exposed had a dull, bloodless hue. Patches of necrotic skin were numerous. Only a few spindly hairs remained. Yet in the structure of his face there was a hint of the man he once was. He was the lost and lauded Master Demonhunter, Baldur Cloude. When Janus saw what he¡¯d become it stole her breath. She could not accept that this was the same person as before. What sort of life had he suffered through these years? The Avatar looked passed the shadows to her two foes. In the deepest recesses of her eyes there was a brief sadness. It bubbled up from a deep and repressed spirit, so strong it was almost too much to control. Curious, the Avatar thought. Emotions were not common for her. Why did she feel such sorrow? 1. That¡¯s a kick ass book cover right there. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 703 - Book 6, Chapter 95 – The Khan’s Resolve The Khan¡¯s head was mostly original. However, the rest of his body had undergone countless mechanical alterations. His arm, for instance, was a biochemical construction. Because much of his body was not natural, it required a specialized life-support system which disseminated a special gas. It prevented what remained of his body from rejecting the foreign parts. But his mask was shattered. The tubes which forced the gas into his lungs dangled free and seethed with a faint red mist. That was the life-blood of the Khan. Without it he wouldn¡¯t last more than half a day. His body would start to reject its additions and total organ failure would result. Such a life was marked by constant pain. Every minute of every day was agony. A lesser man wouldn¡¯t last more than a few days before surrendering to it. The Khan had fought on for seven long years. It was a mystery how he¡¯d persevered through these several thousands of days. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Baldur!¡± Selene and the Avatar shared one body. There was no separation between them, no warring personalities. The spirit of Selene lost all power when her mind imprinted. All emotion died, leaving only absolute loyalty to Sumeru. The God King¡¯s mark was a sort of shackle one couldn¡¯t break. Even lesser gods were inexorably bound, so a mortal was even more the slave. Strong though Selene¡¯s will was, it did not help her. All behavior was altered when the imprinting was complete. Yet ¨C miraculously ¨C in this instant a powerful wave of mental energy filled the Avatar with sadness. For just a moment, the Avatar was distracted. It was the perfect chance. Janus splayed her fingers and countless shadows slithered forth. They traveled along the ground then tied up Selene¡¯s feet. Like living rope they crawled up her body until the Avatar was tightly bound. Janus harnessed all her power to keep Selene tied down and cried out to the Khan. ¡°Quickly, act now! Go for the eyes!¡± His fingers tightened around his weapon. Purple light crackled in anticipation. In the same instant the silver glow faded from Selene¡¯s eyes. Without the spectral glimmer she looked like her old self. But her voice was still cold and arrogant. Fixing the Khan with her soulless gaze she taunted him. ¡°Can you do it?¡± He hesitated. ¡°Did you believe your tricks would be enough to defeat me?¡± Her words marked a change in the nearby Seraphs. She bled energy out into the air, infecting the puppets and making them stronger. An intense aura hung over them as they closed in. ¡°Your efforts are useless. You can¡¯t stop what¡¯s coming.¡± Seraphs dashed at the invaders, a silent and terrifying horde. Janus could feel their power crushing her. Her and Baldur weren¡¯t enough to fend them off. The flows of time unfolded before the Avatar. She was confident that the Khan would not be able to raise his hand against his daughter, until the scenes were revealed. Surprise took hold. At the right opportunity the Khan would, indeed, stab at her with the sword in his left hand. He wouldn¡¯t hold back. It would dig into her, and split her body in half. The Avatar didn¡¯t understand. Wasn¡¯t this Selene¡¯s father? Would he really kill his own child? She saw it all but did not fret. Her empty, indifferent eyes regarded the possibilities like discarded pages from a book. Selene knew how to deal with it. Sure enough a steely Resolve took the Khan and he attacked. He held nothing back, the murderous intent was almost palpable. If he succeeded, Selene would perish. ¡°Stop!¡± Janus felt it and called out in disbelief. Would he really kill her? Kill his own daughter?! Her cries fell on deaf ears. The doggedness in his eyes did not falter, the look of a man who would not turn back. Mercy was not offered, no quarter was given. He fully intended to kill Selene. Yet Selene just¡­ watched. Calm as a Spring afternoon. In a surprise turn for everyone else, a figure appeared between them. It raised a hand and the Khan¡¯s attack was deflected with enough force to knock him back. Warding off the Khan with one¡¯s bare hands? Incredible! He was clad in black from head to toe. In his right hand was a blade of crackling lightning and the right radiated with a pale glow. Purple light scarred the barrier but had not pierced it. Selene was safe. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± Janus breathed a sigh of relief. If he was here it meant his part of the mission was complete. Now their desperate battle was on more equal footing. No wonder Selene had been so calm ¨C she¡¯d seen this eventuality. The Khan did not give up. He brandished his sword of light and attacked again. Purple and electric blue collided with a storm of sparks but it was the Khan who was flung away. The power discrepancy was too great. Cloudhawk¡¯s face was dark with anger. ¡°What are you doing!¡± The Khan answered, his voice ragged and plagued with suffering. ¡°No one knows her better than me! Killing her now would be a mercy!¡± Was death always such a terrible thing? No, sometimes it meant release. Selene was more important to Baldur than his own life. But he did know Selene and knew that the consequences of everything she¡¯d done would haunt her forever. Taking her eyes might return his daughter, but she would be without dreams, without dignity. Confronted with the truth of what she¡¯d done, every day she lived would be misery. Better he spared her that, even if it meant striking her down with his own hand. The Boundary Portal was already beginning to open. If they didn¡¯t act soon, tens of thousands of lives would be forfeit. Skycloud represented hope to those people. The Khan had no choice! ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯ll carry it together. I won¡¯t let you do this. You don¡¯t have the right to decide!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know if the Khan was making the right choice, but he had to believe Selene was stronger than that. She wouldn¡¯t just run away from her mission and responsibilities! No matter what the future held, he would be right next to her to help shoulder the load. There wasn¡¯t anything they couldn¡¯t weather together. The Avatar¡¯s callous voice interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Janus¡¯ body shimmered and instantly there were several dozen more of her. Each one bore nasty daggers which gleamed with dark promise as they leaped through the air. Selene broke free of the shadowy constraints. The silver light bloomed again in her eyes. In an instant she saw where the phantasms would strike and Janus¡¯ gambit was rendered useless. With a swing of her crystal sword, two of the shades were cleaved in half. Another swell of energy burst from her weapon. Dozens of whipping, half-moon shaped gashes flooded the dais. More of the shadows were caught up the tumult, pushed from the dais and cut to pieces. She was too fast! Too accurate! Every move her enemy made she was able to see in advance. Furthermore, there was an army of Seraphs all around keeping the soldiers engaged. How were they supposed to handle this situation? Janus had only a few rare opportunities to affect change here. She was unwilling to give up on Selene which curtailed her options even further. The only way to win total victory was to attack her eyes. It was a desperate hope, but if the Eyes of Time were destroyed maybe Selene would go back to normal. Maybe it would free her from the God King¡¯s grasp. Selene attacked three more times. With every swipe, explosions of power tore across the chamber. One of Janus¡¯ copies caught in front of the Avatar was ripped to shreds by an attack which caught the assassin as well. She was knocked from hiding and stumbled back. Meanwhile Cloudhawk watched Selene unleash her fury. His face darkened and his pale hand gripped the hilt of his relic. He had to deal with this himself. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 704 - Book 6, Chapter 96 – Selene’s Reawakening Book 6, ¡°The Avatar is stronger than ever before. The God King¡¯s will is eating away at her spirit. There isn¡¯t anything left of her. If you destroy the Eyes of Time it will destroy the foundation of her mental power. She¡¯ll lose more than just her sight.¡± The Khan had weakened. His words were delivered painstakingly, like every syllable drained him. Selene¡¯s will had been usurped and bound to the God King¡¯s. Destroying his hold on her would probably leave only an empty husk. Selene would live on as an invalid, suffering through days of darkness, depression and shame. The Khan knew what it was like. He¡¯d lived that hell. It was a terrible existence, a fate worse than death. Better to set her free. Over the last few years Selene had struggled. Forcing her to live on after all of this was the cruelest form of punishment. ¡°You have no right to say that!¡± Anger flooded Cloudhawk¡¯s mind and the Khan¡¯s words made him see red. But he held it beneath the surface, like a volcano. His response was firm. ¡°You did know Selene, six years ago. But the Selene I know is the strongest person I¡¯ve ever met. She never backed down from pain or hardship. She never ran away from what was difficult. She met everything head on, a warrior in every way!¡± Janus and the Khan pulled back and listened. They looked at Cloudhawk in silence, grappling with the same thought. Had they both given up faith, while he still held so tightly to it? When he spoke again, his voice powerful and resolute, it was as though he¡¯d read their minds. ¡°I believe in her more than I believe in myself!¡± There is where it had lead. No one expected it. Who would have thought the relic Selene was given would bear a portion of the God King¡¯s will? Who would have believed it would turn her into this? And the transformation had been incredible. It spoke volumes to the God King¡¯s power that even a fraction had turned Selene into the nightmare she was in this moment. But even though every second she became more difficult to overcome, Cloudhawk still persisted in trying to save her. Everything she¡¯d done was unintentional. The will of the God King, forcing her hand. The root of their problems came from the meddling of Sumeru. Without it there was no problem they couldn¡¯t overcome. There were two things Cloudhawk learned from years of scrambling from place to place. Running never solved anything [1]. Nothing was impossible. ¡°Get ready!¡± Cloudhawk held tight to Ruin and prepared to strike. Selene¡¯s silvery eyes saw what was to come and to answer it, several dozen nearby Seraphs were swallowed into balls of light. They burned as though set aflame, melting into flows of power that wrapped around Selene. A pearlescent aura hugged her to form an unyielding defense. It was first struck by a bolt of lightning. Like a water pistol shooting a gemstone, all the energy was cast aside. Not a scratch was made. Cloudhawk teleported around her and stabbed again. The impact spread out, cracking the center of the dais and causing fissures to spread across it. Everyone was forced to squint and look away from the blinding flare that ensued. But the shell did not break! How could be get through? Cloudhawk scowled as he groped for an answer. He guessed that her shield was using the powers of the Temple, concentrating the energy field that surrounded it. Breaking through quickly, even with his level of strength, would be difficult. As he puzzled it out Selene was raising her weapon for a counterattack. CRACK! A peel of thunder sounded as glaring lightning and brilliant crystal met. The chamber filled with motes of light, cast off from the impact. In the instant before the blinding light Cloudhawk had seen Selene¡¯s face. The heartless indifference in her eyes was like nothing he¡¯d ever seen. But there in the deepest parts of her gaze he thought he saw a struggle. He had to believe Selene was still in there! ¡°Wake up!¡± Cloudhawk held Ruin with both hands and hacked it toward her. Selene was submerged in the flood of lightning. It forced her back, leaving a trench in the dais twenty meters long. An instant later Cloudhawk appeared overhead and thrust Ruin at her shield, only to be deflected once more. It was no use. Her protections were too strong. Direct attacks weren¡¯t going to break through. The two traded many fierce exchanges. Several times Cloudhawk landed what would have otherwise been devastating blows, but accomplished nothing. Selene had dealt no damage to him, but it was becoming clear that the wasteland¡¯s leader was running out of momentum. He¡¯d fought his way into Skycloud, defeated Praelius¡¯ Commander-General, bested Stormford¡¯s Spatial Master, and cut down a thousand soldiers in between. There were limits to what a single person could do. He could not be expected to fight at his peak at all times. For Selene it was different. She had the power of the Temple at her beck and call, in addition to her Holy Vestments. Then there were the Eyes of Time, making sure every act was correct and efficient. She would not be quickly running out of steam. Soon Cloudhawk would begin to decline. He would be forced onto the defensive. Janus and the Khan watched their exchange and realized that giving aid would be difficult. Cloudhawk¡¯s power was too great and his attacks too fast. With the blessing of the Temple¡¯s power, Selene¡¯s defenses were too strong giving her a chance to counter. Just then, an intense wave of mental energy filled the space. Selene stopped dead in her tracks as though locked in a trance. This was it. Cloudhawk launched into a flurry of attacks, delivering ten in a handful of seconds. Cracks began to appear along the shell of energy. However, this didn¡¯t last long. Even such a devastating onslaught wasn¡¯t enough to collapse her will, so the fractures quickly sealed closed. A new figure appeared above the dais: Beautiful, perfect and dignified. The Cloud God had arrived! It was he who released the mental attack. But the god underestimated Selene. He could not keep her wholly locked in the world of illusions. ¡°The mighty Cloud God¡¯s attacks aren¡¯t as strong as I thought they might be.¡± Her cutting appraisal was followed by four quick swipes at Cloudhawk. At the same time she used her mental powers to whisper into the Cloud God¡¯s mind. ¡°You walk the path of a betrayer. Cavorting with these lesser lifeforms. Do you wish to know your future? Better you end your own life before you find out.¡± In response the Cloud God lashed out with another series of mental raids. But to his bewilderment, little was accomplished. It was then he discovered that he was in a trap. His fight with Lucian must have been a deliberate decision by the Avatar. In order to quickly defeat the Master Demonhunter, he¡¯d been forced to utilize several powerful attacks in a row. Each one was draining, but ¡®killing¡¯ the man thousands of times in his world of illusions was especially strenuous. Now his mental capacity was less than half, and the impact of his attacks were reduced. With these restrictions, he couldn¡¯t hold the Avatar down. The former god was forced to increase the intensity of his attacks as much as possible. In addition, he drew his sword of light and joined the melee. With Cloudhawk and the Cloud God joining forces, Selene finally began to lose ground. Janus and the Khan finally saw their chance, and together the four launched into a brutal tandem offensive. The cracks in her defenses reappeared and multiplied. Although the Cloud God was nearing exhaustion, his attacks were visibly effective. If they could keep this up the Avatar would be overcome! ¡°You think you can win? No, you¡¯ve already lost ¨C you lost before we even started!¡± The light of her left eye intensified, ten times greater than the right. Her opponents could feel the surge of power running through her, empowering her abilities by orders of magnitude! What was going on? No one understood what was happening. Cloudhawk sensed that the eye was changing. It was causing damage for the purpose of empowering itself. The light faded, her pupil dilated and the eye became cloudy. Blood trickled from her canthus. The eye itself was physically useless. ¡°I will show you the true power of Time.¡± In the space of a blink, Selene¡¯s powers had skyrocketed. Her voice thundered through the chamber, delivering her divine command. ¡°Time, reverse!¡± Selene sacrificed her left eye for greater power. From her right eye a mysterious and indomitable energy was released. It quickly spread throughout the area and everyone within it. All present ¨C Cloudhawk and the Cloud God included ¨C felt the irresistible pull of this influence. Try as they might they couldn¡¯t get close to Selene. With shock and alarm they watched the ruined hall begin to reconstruct itself. No.. not reconstruct. Reverse! Time was going backwards! Everything in the area was wound back to before the fight. Cloudhawk watched in disbelief. He knew Selene¡¯s powers could predict the future and that was enough to make her a deadly foe. But it was beyond his imagination that her power extended to manipulating the flow of time! She was undoing everything they¡¯d done, all the energy they¡¯d used! It was horrifying! And if the Avatar could do this, what was the God King himself capable of? Cloudhawk felt the flows of energy. They were more intense around the Avatar and then spread out in all directions. He didn¡¯t want to think what the consequences would be if they were caught in them, so he called out to the others. ¡°Fall back!¡± The Cloud God engaged his psychic powers to attack Selene in an attempt to stop her. But with her abilities enhanced, and with the Cloud God unable to launch his strongest attacks, he was powerless to stop her. Even the god had to retreat or risked being captured in the turbulent streams of time. When the Avatar turned her head toward them, blood was coursing from both eyes. One pupil was clouded and dull, the other was so bright it was hard to look at. The focus of her gaze was none other than Cloudhawk. There was no dodging! The Avatar had him in her sights. An endless storm of time surged toward him. It came like a giant bubble, surrounding him on all sides. He felt frozen in place with no access to any of his relics and no way to use his powers. He tried to teleport with no success, for as he gathered his mental energies they just reversed and dissipated. Everything about him was stuck out of time. In other words he could still think for the time being, but his body was locked in a moment. Caught in the flows of time, anything he did was negated. He was like a fish caught in frozen water. This¡­ was the real power of the God King? Cloudhawk could see how even the mighty Demon King could be bested! He also knew that if he followed the same path, even if he was accepted as the Demon King by all, he would end up the same way. In the end it would all turn out the same, another win for the God King. But he didn¡¯t spend much time ruminating on his fate. He had to face the danger of this moment. ¡°It is not important whether the Boundary Portal opens or not. The Demon King¡¯s successor¡­ must be eliminated.¡± Selene made her move. Holding Cloudhawk fast with her powers, she stabbed at him with Sublime Transcendence. He could only watch while the cutting light closed in. There was no way to protect himself. Nearby the Cloud God and his companions tried to help, but Selene was wrapped in flows of time. They surged and ebbed like a tide and everything that came near was sent back in time to where they started. No tactic they employed could pierce her protective bubble. It was in this crucial moment that someone jumped in front of Cloudhawk. The piercing light of Selene¡¯s sword tore through the body. Janus, her eyes wide, shouted when she saw it. ¡°Baldur!¡± Cloudhawk stared, dumbfounded. Selene was dazed. Baldur took the strike. He sacrificed himself! The Avatar¡¯s soulless features broke into a twisted look of despair. Perhaps because she lost an eye, the hold of the God King had weakened. His seal on Selene¡¯s personality faltered for just an instant, enough to let her slip through. ¡°Dad!¡± She looked down at her hand. ¡°W-what have I done?!¡± ¡°These last few years I¡¯ve been living a shadow of a life. All so I could keep searching¡­ Sumeru may¡­ not be our final enemy¡­ but I¡¯m afraid now I¡­ won¡¯t be able to find the answer.¡± Selene¡¯s blow had cut him clean in half. He fought for the words to speak to his daughter. With the last of the breath in his lungs he whispered, ¡°Selene, don¡¯t feel bad. This¡­ is for the best.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Selene¡¯s scream rang off the chamber walls. The power around her collapsed and she fell from the air. Those constraints that held Cloudhawk fell away. Instinctually he teleported to Selene and grabbed her before she hit the ground. None of this was what he¡¯d planned. But at least for now, it seemed she¡¯d broken the God King¡¯s hold. 1. Ah, character growth. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 705 - Book 6, Chapter 97 - Advent Cloudhawk was preparing to reduce the Temple to rubble and abscond when the whole structure began to quake. Something from outside was slamming into it. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded! We don¡¯t know where they came from, but they¡¯re attacking the Temple!¡± Frost and a handful of his men raced into the chamber carrying a huge block of ice. Anxiety was written on their faces, like a pack of wild animals were close on their heels. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand. The Avatar had surrounded herself with capable fighters but the Temple could only house so many. Her forces weren¡¯t highly motivated to start with, and they had been badly ravaged by Cloudhawk¡¯s team. Had they somehow rallied and launched a counterattack in less than an hour? No. That wasn¡¯t right. Frost wouldn¡¯t be so alarmed by an Elysian strike force. The ones attacking them came from someplace else. Skycloud¡¯s main forces were down on the ground and were engaged with the Green Alliance. What kind of force could come all the way up here to assault the Temple? The Cloud God released a pulse of mental energy, sweeping the area. It revealed the entire scene to him. Thousands of elite troops were pouring into the front doors of the Temple. Most were wearing the garb of demonhunters, with demonhunter weapons. However their style was not from Skycloud. That could only mean¡­ The god connected his vision to the others so they could see. Their faces slackened when they saw for themselves. Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°They¡¯re from the other Elysian lands. The Boundary Portal is open, we¡¯re too late!¡± The Avatar, with her ability to see into the future, had planned everything. She had probably envisaged her own defeat but made preparations to ensure the portal succeeded. Suddenly things had turned very bad for Cloudhawk and the others. They didn¡¯t know who these foreigners were or how many had come, but it seemed obvious their small force was not enough. ¡°We have to leave.¡± ¡°Leave? I don¡¯t think we can!¡± By now the Temple¡¯s front doors were sealed off. There was a whole host of enemies waiting right outside! Not to mention they were tens of thousands of meters above the surface. Only Cloudhawk could escape from a situation like this. He could try to teleport them all, but in all likelihood he would get caught himself. It was a dire problem. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have this.¡± Cloudhawk pulled out a slender dagger that looked like it¡¯d been carved from crystal. Its complex structure was beautiful to behold, a real work of art. It was the Riftshard dagger, he¡¯d taken it from Bruno Argyrys. His own dimensional powers had limitations. The dagger was more effective for what they needed. Bruno had already placed markers in Skycloud city, markers they could use to escape. The distance between the Temple and the surface was nothing for this relic. He didn¡¯t have time to explain. The sound of pounding feet was drawing near. If they stayed even another moment they would be surrounded. Cloudhawk reached his mind into the relic and created a slew of copies. ¡°Everyone take a dagger. Hold on to it, it¡¯ll get you out of here.¡± Riftshard was able to make copies of itself. The copies were not relics, but markers which only existed for a period of time. Aside from the ability to move the bearer from one place to another, they had no other function. Cloudhawk grit his teeth and got to work. Although the dagger facilitated moving as many people as he needed, it was extremely draining even for him. Figures began pouring into the chamber. They surged from the corridors and leaped onto the dais. But just as they came in range, all they saw where flashes of white light and then ¨C nothing. Inside the Temple was a different sort of space, almost like a separate dimension. Before they could use the daggers, Cloudhawk had to bring them outside first. They blinked into existence and when confronted with the whole scene, they stared in utter shock. The pyramid-shaped Temple was suspended high in the air. Below the earth was distant, its features small. Above them the sky was no longer blue, but a deep and eternal black. They were at the cusp of the atmosphere, another twenty thousand meters or so above them was the vast emptiness of space. The Temple had risen this high already? But if that was the only thing they saw it wouldn¡¯t be so surprising. What shook them to their core was what hovered around the Temple: a fleet of a hundred airships. These vessels had been specially outfitted. Their energy pylons released enough energy to get them into high altitude while protecting the crew from a lack of gravity and oxygen. There wasn¡¯t any mystery where they¡¯d come from. These were the armies of the other four Elysian realms. From these lands came capable warriors, numerous as the clouds. Cloudhawk and his allies couldn¡¯t stay here. The assumption was that these vessels had all come through the Boundary Portal, but in fact that was not the case. News of Skycloud¡¯s troubles had long ago reached the other realms and in response they dispatched this armada to make the long journey over land. Farther in the distance Cloudhawk could make out the shapes of other enemy forces closing in. He should of known the world was much bigger than the wastelands he wandered! However far these other realms were, they could still reach Skycloud by ship. Lifting the Temple was a calculated move by the Avatar. On the one hand it protected the structure from attack, while on the other it made it easier for forces from the other Elysian lands to come to the rescue. Skycloud¡¯s Temple hung above the world like a satellite, but not in stationary orbit. As the world turned below it brought the building-turned-spaceship closer to the other realms. Here the Elysians could regroup, recover, and prepare for their assault on the Cloud God¡¯s domain. All told the force wasn¡¯t enormous ¨C about a hundred ships in total. Several tens of thousands of soldiers could be expected to have come along. However, without a doubt this would be considered the vanguard. That meant these soldiers were their elite. ¡°We¡¯ve located the enemy!¡± ¡°Kill them! Shoot them down!¡± Suddenly attacks were launched at Cloudhawk¡¯s group from all directions. He activated the Riftshards without hesitation. ¡°Take your men and go!¡± A white light spread from the dagger¡¯s copies, swallowing up the bearers and teleporting them to safety. Cloudhawk was left alone. His mission wasn¡¯t finished, so he couldn¡¯t go yet. He spread his arms and space rippled at his call. Moments later the ripples became too great and the skies shattered like broken glass. Enormous rocks were flung into being, dozens of them immediately caught by the tug of gravity. Their trajectory brought them toward the Temple. ¡°What is this?!¡± It was the first time soldiers from the other realms had seen anything like it. They had never encountered Cloudhawk before and did not know how to defend themselves. When the first meteor struck ¨C the size of a small mountain ¨C it rammed into one of their ships. Huge kinetic force smashed it to pieces and flung it aside as the falling rock continued its charge. More came screaming through the formation, one after another. The Temple was difficult to destroy outright, even for a meteor storm, but at the very least Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks would cause tremendous damage. If he could do enough harm, perhaps the Boundary Portal would become unstable and collapse. The Temple¡¯s anti-gravity mechanisms started to fail. It pitched to the side, slamming into a couple ships. Gravity reestablished its control over the massive structure and it began to plummet. No question about it, no matter what the thing was made of the Temple wouldn¡¯t survive slamming into the ground from this height. But then¡­ suddenly¡­ Four dark spots appeared, stark against the flickering light of the collapsing Boundary Portal. Great cheers arose from the soldiers when they saw them. Their perfect forms, stalwart figures and mighty presence ¨C there was no doubt, these were the remaining four Supremes. One of them, wrapped in iron-black armor, dashed beneath the Temple. It slammed its arms up to the elbows into the building. How much could the Temple have weighed? Certainly as much as a mountain! Large as godly bodies were they were still minuscule in comparison. Like an ant beneath an elephant. Yet somehow, in an astounding display, this ant began to slow the elephant¡¯s fall. This was the War God, one of Sumeru¡¯s mightiest generals! Its companions spread out to help. One was larger than all the others, its armor like some sort of relic. When engaged it seared with golden scales and a pair of titanic wings spread from its back. Dragenmere¡¯s patron, the Dragon God, was aptly named. Wings extended, it raised its arms toward the falling rocks. Waves of invisible energy burst forth and smashed the meteors to pieces. Nothing remained but clouds of dust, eliminate the threat to the Temple. Seeing this Cloudhawk prepared to make his escape, but two flashes of light appeared before him. One was a brilliant white light in a humanoid shape, and the other was a form composed of living lightning. Both appeared as beings of pure energy, but their blazing eyes and the outline of their forms were visible beneath the glare. In the instant they arrived two intense bursts of power were released toward Cloudhawk. With shocking ease they tore through his defenses and into his body. It¡¯d been a long time since Cloudhawk had been wounded seriously. Faced with the coordinate strike from two Supremes, he could not avoid it on top of preparing to flee. Taking the blows, he wrapped himself in dimensional power and blinked out of reality before the gods could strike again. The War God had stabilized the Temple and brought it back to its original altitude. Once again it hovered above the earth like a stationary satellite. ¡°It appears the Boundary Portal is again damaged.¡± ¡°No matter. We have arrived, Sumeru has also begun to act.¡± ¡°The God King has given its order: Destroy the demons. Destroy the betrayer.¡± The Four Supremes huddles together, suspended in mid air and conversing telepathically. One of them alone was terrifying to face. Four now had their sights trained on Skycloud, backed by their armies. Never since the Great War had such power been levied. Yet most terrifying was the prospect that Mount Sumeru would soon become involved. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 706 - Book 6, Chapter 98 - Exchanging Eyes The Avatar and her Master Demonhunters had been defeated. When it was over, the Cloud God appeared among the Elysians and called for mediation. Fighting stopped. Green Alliance troops withdrew. Extensive damage had been caused as a result of this chaos. However, Wolfblade had taken every effort to minimize the destruction. He held back at the proper times so that Skycloud¡¯s defenders did not suffer too grievously. Although the scale of their conflict had been large, casualties were smaller than they had been at the battle for Sanctuary. Skycloud¡¯s Temple was gone, off into the heavens. Nothing remained of the realm¡¯s leadership. To this end Cloudhawk ordered the Cloud God to remain and establish order. Phain, Dawn and Janus were also commanded to help him avoid any further troubles. Years of conflict had been disastrous for this once-flourishing land, it could not withstand another tragedy. Next Cloudhawk tapped Meadow¡¯s leader, Autumn, to look after Greenland and the wasteland¡¯s new capital as well. The Green Alliance and all matters pertaining to it were left in Wolfblade¡¯s hands. It gave him the space he needed to treat his wounds, but more importantly see to Selene. The Cloud God, through his connection to the other divine, gathered information about Sumeru¡¯s mobilization. A huge host had been dispatched to their world. It was entirely made up of immortal gods, from its highest officers to its basest soldiers. No human contingent could fell even the most common godly infantryman. After all, they were gods! With nearly perfect bodies and tremendous power, with hundreds of years of combat experience, there was no matching them. Did this spell the beginning of the end? Were humanity¡¯s days numbered? Cloudhawk got himself checked out by Hellflower. After looking him over, she gave her assessment. ¡°Your injuries are serious. You got lucky.¡± He¡¯d suffered two nasty blows from the gods during his escape. The first one caught him in the lung, and the other in his heart. Indeed he had been lucky; his dimensional abilities got him out quick, and his regeneration reversed the damage before it was fatal. ¡°My wounds aren¡¯t important. What about Selene?¡± He paid no attention to his state. In a few days he¡¯d be fine, so long as he took the time to rest. He was far more concerned for Selene. Everything that had happened was because of her¡­ The wounds she¡¯d suffered ¨C both physical and mental ¨C were deep. Without question she¡¯d carry these scars for the rest of her life. He couldn¡¯t think of a darker or more painful experience. Not only had it shattered her, she would never let go of the grief it caused. With his own condition handled, he left to see Selene. When he arrived, someone he hadn¡¯t expected was already there. ¡°I figured you¡¯d be the first one to stop by.¡± Wolfblade greeted him with a knowing grin. Indeed he knew very well how Cloudhawk¡¯s mind worked. He spoke up before Cloudhawk could form the question. ¡°Her situation is not a happy one. Her body suffered under the tyranny of a will that was not hers. It¡¯s certain that the power she wielded will leave behind many long-term consequences.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°Is there any way to fix her?¡± ¡°The first step is to remove one of the Eyes of Time,¡± he replied. ¡°The God King¡¯s relic does her no favors.¡± ¡°Just one?¡± ¡°One is enough. In fact Selene has a faint talent for the powers of Time. If she did not, the relic would have consumed her a long time ago. However that talent is weak ¨C too weak for her to master such a powerful artifact. Perhaps encouragingly, because the God King flooded her with his power there may be a time in the future when she can control the Eye in her own right.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t really understand, but he trusted Wolfblade¡¯s determination. The Eyes of Time were strong. Perhaps if she used them against the gods in their war it would help wash away some of her guilt. Selfishly, he had to admit that they would be a great advantage for the Alliance. He could tell Wolfblade had more to say. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Allow me to explain. We plan to remove Selene¡¯s left eye, which has been damaged because of the power she wielded. However, the damage does not appear to be insurmountable. With the right materials and methods, it could be repaired.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your idea?¡± ¡°My King has a very particular constitution. Assuming we can restore this relic to working order, I believe you can use it. My plan is to have you and Selene exchange eyes. A simple surgery could restore her sight and empower you with insight into time.¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Of course. Like everything else, this had to have been part of Wolfblade¡¯s plan. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he somehow connived a way for Selene to be chosen as Avatar. He knew she would be given the Eyes of Time and eventually the relic would fall into their possession. When that happened the eye would come to Cloudhawk and he would have a powerful time relic as part of his arsenal. Cloudhawk, the new Demon King, would steal a portion of the God King¡¯s power. Was all of this part of Wolfblade¡¯s plan to construct a new Demon King? He didn¡¯t go too far down that rabbit hole. What he faced was alarming and oppressive. More power was an urgent necessity. He was by no means weak, and with the God King¡¯s power there would be few in this world able to stand against him. In the coming war against the gods it would be a considerable advantage. ¡°Then hurry it up.¡± Cloudhawk stepped passed him into the operating theater and laid down. Reaching out, he gently took Selene¡¯s left hand and threaded his fingers through hers. Her skin was cool and soft. What was to come would be hard. But so long as the people he cared about were by his side, it didn¡¯t matter what he had to face. He did it gladly. Hellflower pulled on her gloves, lowered her goggles and stepped into the room. She approached a cabinet and extracted a scalpel. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ** Two days later. Cloudhawk sat on a balcony in Greenland¡¯s central fort. The sun¡¯s warm glow hung over the city. Bandages covered his left eye. The right looked out over his domain with the same bright glint it always had. Wolfblade approached from inside with Hellflower in tow, and the two looked him over. They determined the surgery to have been a success. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Wolfblade asked. ¡°Not great. The left eye feels like hot iron.¡± ¡°The Eyes of Time are an implantable relic. Its class require a high threshold for use. It is expected that you will struggle at first to accommodate it. Perhaps luckily, the left eye has been damaged so your body will be less inclined to reject it. Since you can use any relic, it is only a matter of time before you start to feel more comfortable.¡± With his explanation complete, Wolfblade had Hellflower remove the bandages. Cloudhawk¡¯s recovery time was rapid so when his eye was revealed there were no signs of where cuts were made. What was striking was its color. Unlike the flat black of his right eye, the left was a strange sort of dull silver. Its pupil was completely dilated and murky, like an old man with bad cataracts. Beyond that, though, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything special about it. ¡°A complete success!¡± Hellflower was quite pleased with her work. ¡°I am simply the best at what I do.¡± ¡°But why can¡¯t I see anything through it?¡± ¡°Nothing to be concerned about.¡± The wily one-eyed demon grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Wolfblade assured him that the blindness was temporary. Cloudhawk¡¯s body was superhuman, no injury was final. What he¡¯d traded with Selene was his cornea, so over time it would settle and go back to normal ¨C only combined with the Eye of Time. The relic worked like any other eye. Once Cloudhawk mastered its powers he could see through it normally, and also engage its power to see into the future. It was a total benefit to Cloudhawk, no consequences were expected. Of course, for now the eye was useless. Until it was awakened Cloudhawk was effectively a cyclops. Wolfblade went on in his even, erudite tones. ¡°I¡¯d wager the God King did not anticipate that one day his powers would be given to his rival.¡± Cloudhawk thought it strange. With dominion over the powers of time, could the God King really not know what would come? How could anything be hidden from such a creature? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 707 - Book 6, Chapter 99 - An Arduous Plight Phoenix Ignis slowly opened her eyes. She looked around and found herself in a prison, unable to move. Glancing down she saw that her body was wrapped up in chains. These were especially crafted to lock up demonhunters and kept her from using her powers. Phoenix had the mental energies of a legendary demonhunter, however. These trifling chains couldn¡¯t hold her. It was the sword lodged in her chest, continuously releasing it¡¯s frigid power, that suppressed any attempts she made to call on her strength. ¡°Bastard! You and your dirty fucking tricks. Afraid of a fair fight?!¡± The hot-tempered woman had never been bested like this in all her life. She¡¯d lost to a man younger and weaker than her. How could she accept it? How could she not be furious? She raged against her bindings to no avail. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t waste the energy, Mistress Phoenix. We aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡± She stopped struggling long enough to turn toward the voice. It came from behind her, familiar. She didn¡¯t need to see who it was to know her cell mate. ¡°Argyris. They even caught you, huh.¡± The silver-haired man of middle years was locked up nearby. He was in the same predicament as Phoenix, dripping with chains. His answer was a lengthy sigh. ¡°I wasn¡¯t good enough, what can I say.¡± In his battle against Cloudhawk, carelessness had been his downfall. That¡¯s how he¡¯d gotten caught in Cloudhawk¡¯s pocket dimension, where the Riftshard dagger was useless. The subspace domain was only a few hundred meters in area, how was he supposed to beat Cloudhawk in such a cramped space? There was no suspense around whether he would end up captured. Both prisoners found it strange. Why had they been spared? Why not just kill them and be done with it? Their thoughts were interrupted when the jail doors opened. A young man entered, and when Phoenix saw him she immediately started to grind her teeth. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s you ¨C little rat. Let me go if you¡¯ve got the balls, let¡¯s see who wins round two!¡± Frost¡¯s tepid response followed. ¡°You lost. You have no right to be so loud.¡± This, of course, only made her more furious. ¡°Who the fuck are you calling a loser?! Let me out! I¡¯ll tear your pansy ass to pieces with a tenth of my strength!¡± Frost reached out and grabbed the hilt of his sword. With a swift tug, he pulled Rimeshard free. He gave orders to the others with him while returning the blade to its sheath. ¡°Bring them. Have her put on some clothes.¡± The two were taken from their cell and brought before Cloudhawk. Phoenix opened her mouth to begin a string of curses the instant she saw him, but the words died in her throat. She saw the dull, silver eye and it filled her with disquiet. That wasn¡¯t a normal eye. It was the same as the Avatar¡¯s. Did that mean she¡¯d been defeated? If he now had the Eye of Time, could he also use its power? If that was indeed the case, he would be practically unstoppable! ¡°Cloudhawk, I know why you spared us. You can put it out of mind right now.¡± Bruno was well aware what sort of position the wastelander was in. He needed strong allies, the stronger the better. It was the only way he could fight the gods. ¡°I cannot join you. I never will.¡± Phoenix displayed a similarly iron stance. ¡°Just go on and kill me! Stop wasting my time!¡± Cloudhawk did indeed hope to persuade these two to surrender. They were pretty strong and if they agreed to join the Green Alliance it would be to their benefit. However, it didn¡¯t look like he was going to make much headway. The stronger someone was, the more stubborn they became. Right now every minute was precious, so he didn¡¯t have the time to waste trying to sway them. ¡°I guess that¡¯s what has to happen, then.¡± Phoenix and Bruno resigned themselves to their fate. For his part, Bruno simply could not fight for the Green Alliance. He had friends and loved ones in Stormford. Phoenix, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t submit because her personality wouldn¡¯t allow her to. If it was between death and surrender, the choice was easy. She wasn¡¯t about to let herself be used by Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk stepped forward and released his dimensional powers. They spread out to surround the two prisoners and then they vanished. Frost watched it all happen. ¡°Did you eliminate them?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Not exactly. I just sent them to an alien prison. It doesn¡¯t matter how strong they are, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll make it back here. I¡¯ll let them stew out there for a little while.¡± Enemies those they were, Bruno and Phoenix were human beings. Cloudhawk had plenty of blood on his hands but he tried to avoid murder as much as possible. Given a choice, he preferred internment. Bruno and Phoenix were threats, but maybe sometime in the future they could be useful. So rather than end teir lives, he chose to send them to the fourth dimension accessed by the phase stone ¨C the one where he kept all his prisoners. Natessa Windham was also there, someplace. Once someone was conveyed to the prison planet, there was no coming back of their own accord. Even Bruno, with similar spatial powers, couldn¡¯t slip through dimensions like Cloudhawk could. He had neither the phase stone to help him or the power to do it on his own. ¡°I have to be frank, Frost ¨C you surprised me. Beating Phoenix was pretty incredible. It seems I underestimated you.¡± Frost didn¡¯t answer. Cloudhawk¡¯s praise didn¡¯t mean anything to him. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of bad blood between us. I know you don¡¯t like me, and truthfully I don¡¯t like you either. But whatever the case, now that you¡¯ve chosen to fight I hope we can put some of that behind us. We¡¯re all in the same bucket and if it turns over, we¡¯re all getting smashed. Things don¡¯t look great.¡± ¡°How serious is it?¡± ¡°Actually when the Boundary Portal failed the first time, the four Supremes gave up on the idea of teleporting in and sent their armies the traditional way. A couple days ago they arrived at the Temple, as you saw. Those were all troops from the other four Elysian lands.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t the Cloud God know of this beforehand?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why they¡¯re smart. IF the gods had been involved directly then it would have been shared by the godly connection. The Cloud God would have learned of their intentions. I¡¯m sure what happened was that the gods gave their orders and then slumbered, like the Cloud God did. When a god hibernates that way they cut themselves off from the others.¡± That¡¯s how the Cloud God had been kept in the dark. When the Avatar opened the Boundary Portal it brought over Phoenix and the others, but was too unstable for anything else. Skycloud¡¯s energy field was unreliable. Seeing this, the four gods ordered their troops to assemble and set off for Skycloud by ship. Of course once the order was given, the gods couldn¡¯t take any risks. Suspecting that the Cloud God had turned against his race, they realized information shared among the gods would be given to the enemy. If their plans were exposed, their forces would be at risk of an Alliance ambush. To counteract this, the four Supremes chose to sleep after giving their orders. So their advance troops were sent toward the Temple. By the time they arrived, the Avatar had opened the Boundary Portal for a second time, opening a path for the Supremes. At that very moment they awakened and stepped through, arriving at Skycloud¡¯s Temple the same time as their armies. Unfortunately it was also subject to Cloudhawk¡¯s attack, which destroyed the portal once again. It didn¡¯t matter. What came was enough. Four Supremes and their armies was a truly frightening group of adversaries. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°According to the most recent news from the Cloud God, the four Supremes are stationed at the flying Temple. They plan to make into a space fortress to attack us from.¡± ¡°Now that the four gods are here, why don¡¯t they just attack right away?¡± One Supreme alone was incredibly strong. Even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t beat them confidently. Four had come all at the same time and with their best soldiers as backup. Razing the already pummeled Skycloud seemed like easy pickings. ¡°Because they¡¯re nervous. They know who I am, and they know I¡¯ve got Legion on my side,¡± Cloudhawk said. ¡°The Demon King¡¯s successor and an elder who fought with the original. Demons, betrayer gods and more¡­ we¡¯re not a crew that can be dismissed outright. When we beat Selene and defeated her lieutenants, we struck a real blow at the strength of the other Elysian lands. They¡¯ll be cautious from now on. Not so overconfident. That¡¯ll make them more dangerous.¡± Thinking it over, that seemed right. Skycloud was in shambled but it was now part of the Green Alliance. Their combined strength was nothing to spit at. While the gods and their forces were strong, they did not have home turf advantage. They didn¡¯t even have somewhere to dock their ships. Those vessels needed energy to keep flying and without a supply depot they would run out of energy quick. The Avatar had been desperate to get the Temple up into space. Her main reason for doing so was to make an outpost the four Supremes could attack from. A tactically superior high ground. All told, the four gods were not prepared. Under these conditions an attack would be foolish. If their ships fell, Cloudhawk would come right back to the Temple and try to destroy it. That would make things troublesome. They did not have confidence in their ability to destroy Skycloud in one fell swoop. At any rate, the realm had deteriorated to a point of near collapse. Better to let it crumble under its own weight. So they chose to wait, and prepare for a more advantageous circumstance. ¡°Then we have the armies coming from Mount Sumeru.¡± The four Supremes were a problem, but Cloudhawk was making plans. The original six were here as keepers of the earth, and those high-stationed gods themselves were only a small representation of the power of Sumeru. Perhaps other worlds had gods like them, and Sumeru¡¯s true strength was with their armies headed toward earth. There was too great a divide between the civilizations of man and god. The gap was even larger between their armies. ¡®Weak¡¯ was not a reality among gods and demons. Even the lowest caste of these creatures were very strong and couldn¡¯t be overestimated. In addition, no one even knew how many gods there were. What was certain was that unless they got all the demons to join the fight, there was no hope. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t even conquer Skycloud. The four Supremes were deadly enemies lurking just over the horizon. Gehenna was still dormant and there was no indication of when they would act. Now they¡¯d garnered the attention of Mount Sumeru. And it¡¯d reacted quickly! Dispatching armies like that¡­ the gods were taking no chances. He didn¡¯t even know when they¡¯d arrive. As far as Cloudhawk was concerned, things were looking very bad indeed. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 708 - Book 6, Chapter 100 - Modifying Equipment Book 6, Cloudhawk had to use the Eye of Time for a number of things. Most important was to find a way to unify Skycloud and the wastes so they could stand together against the Supremes. It was going to be difficult and complicated, even Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t confident, but there were others who could help him. He put Wolfblade in charge of the wastelands. Skycloud was under the Cloud God¡¯s management. The four Supremes weren¡¯t going to give Cloudhawk a lot of breathing room. He had to maximize what was left ¨C and the best way to do that was his pocket dimension! He opened it up to provide a place for training and manufacturing. Efficiency improved more than ten times while under the dimension¡¯s time-slowing effect. Even just half a month could be stretched out, giving the Green Alliance a handy advantage. ** Cloudhawk made his way to one section of the pocket dimension. Wolfblade and the Cloud God were in charge of the day to day, so Cloudhawk was left with trying to find out how to make the Alliance ¨C and himself ¨C stronger. Four Supremes was a major crisis, and they had to be ready. After some thought, he¡¯d come up with two ways to improve their situation. First: Obviously better training would make their forces stronger. That was the foundation. To that end Cloudhawk ordered Dawn and others like her with exceptional potential to train in the cube. In what little time they had, these lieutenants had to get as strong as possible. Second: Better, stronger relics. Foundational improvements were great, but better equipment would heighten their stopping power by a lot. So Cloudhawk was faced with a problem, and it wasn¡¯t that there were too few relics. It was that there were too many. All the recent conflict meant Cloudhawk and his people had seized all sorts of relics. What¡¯s more, the inherent hardships of living in the waste had forced two very different people to work together. Relics that were once squirreled away in Skycloud saw increasing use out in the wastelands. Cloudhawk had a slew of tools for himself, but there were limits to what one person could use. More didn¡¯t necessarily mean better, and compatibility with one¡¯s fighting style was superior to quantity. For example, in the battle for Skycloud Cloudhawk had snatched up several relics. Ashfall, Arbitralux [1], Riftshard¡­ the only one he hadn¡¯t taken was Phoenix¡¯s Blood of the Phoenix. Cloudhawk separated relics into three categories. The first were outfitter relics ¨C the most common, ninety percent of what they had were outfitter relics. Next were implantation relics. Those were rare but not unheard of. Squall¡¯s Hellion Arm and Selene¡¯s Eyes of Time were examples. Finally came symbiotics. Exceptionally rare, they were also very powerful. Cloudhawk¡¯s Castigation Fire was symbiotic, as well as the Blood of the Phoenix. Now Cloudhawk¡¯s constitution was unique. He resonated with relics on a fundamental level and was able to make them a part of himself. Theoretically he could turn his own body into the most versatile and destructive weapon ever made. Of course, there were limits. Cloudhawk could sense there was a ceiling. That ceiling increased with his mental capacity, but he couldn¡¯t afford to be liberal with the ability. It would be foolish to absorb every relic he came across. So, in order to garner the greatest benefits, he chose to assimilate Bruno¡¯s Riftshard daggers. The trick was to use the psychic-empowered fires from his relic to create new, more powerful tools. Relics were complex things and even to this day Cloudhawk only had a beginner¡¯s knowledge. He¡¯d managed to make some simple, low-grade relics for his people to use. However, he did know a little more about joining two relics together. To start, then, the Arbiter¡¯s Staff and Ruin. These two were enormously powerful artifacts! Together their destructive abilities would be greatly improved, probably more powerful than any other relic in the known world. Motes of green flame emerged from Cloudhawk¡¯s fingertips. They seeped into the small orb of lightning that was Ruin. During this process he could sense how intricate Ruin¡¯s structure was. He¡¯d never seen anything like it. If the relics Cloudhawk had made were slingshots, than Ruin was a railgun. The difference between primitive and highly advanced. Given hundreds, even thousands of years Cloudhawk might not have the knowledge required to make a weapon like this. It was a disappointing discover that filled him with anxiety. It was a clear picture of just how further ahead the gods were from man. It didn¡¯t matter¡­ now wasn¡¯t the time to get wrapped up in these thoughts. With his other hand Cloudhawk released more dancing flames. They slithered over the Arbiter¡¯s Staff and slipped inside. He discovered its construction and how it could be combined. While Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how to make relics of this caliber, his sixth sense meant he heard their resonance clearly. It was what allowed him to combined relics in the first place. Ten long, tiring days passed. Eventually Ruin and the Arbiter¡¯s Staff were combined into one! It¡¯d cost Cloudhawk a lot of effort and concentration, but finally the work was done. The final product looked very different from either of the originals. His Arbiter¡¯s Staff was initially a four foot long metal staff. Ruin was a blade of condensed energy. What rested in Cloudhawk¡¯s hand now was a simple sword. The sword had inherited the Arbiter¡¯s Staff material form. It was made from metal from hilt to tip and didn¡¯t look particularly special. Four feet long, the weapon was no wider than three fingers. The only detail of note was a gem inlaid in the hilt. Cloudhawk wrapped his fingers around it and activated the weapon. All of a sudden the plain metallic body of the sword sparked to life! Threads of purple and black lightning danced across its surface. Air bent around the weapon from the sudden influx of power. He flicked his wrist and carved a gash in a nearby wall. ¡°Excellent!¡± After a few seconds the wall reconstructed itself. Cloudhawk admired his new weapon with satisfaction. The Arbiter¡¯s Rod had massive physical destruction capabilities. In an instant it could drop a thousand tons of pressure, enough to flatten a mountain. Meanwhile, Ruin was highly condensed energy. Lethal in its own right, while attacking it also released deadly radiation that caused tremendous and usually -permanent damage to living things. The perfect pair. Not even Cloudhawk could see a separation anymore. IT was a complete and new relic unto itself. And a new weapon needed a new name. As he pondered Cloudhawk thought about how eventually he would have to face the gods. Sooner rather than later, he would go to war against that divine race. This weapon he bore had a single purpose, so that¡¯s what he would call it ¨C Godslayer. It would serve to prove Cloudhawk¡¯s resolve. He also used this time to transform several other relics. Using the slow crawl of time within the pocket dimension, he got a lot done. Rimeshard and Frozen Dirge were combined into Ashfall to create an ice-elemental halberd for Frost de Winter to wield. It was one of ten other projects he completed. They were all given to the upper echelons of the Green Alliance. He sought out Dawn in particular and handed her Arbitralux. This item was unique in that it wasn¡¯t easily combined with others. However, its properties melded well with Dawn¡¯s talent. She was likely the best choice to wield it. She¡¯d been taking advantage of this time to train almost nonstop. Her strength had taking great strides. Her total fighting abilities were comparable to Phain Mist now, and with this weapon she could probably beat him in a fight. Between her considerable mental and physical abilities, plus the new equipment, she could probably give a Master Demonhunter a run for their money. For days he¡¯d been keeping busy improving his forces, until at last the moment he¡¯d been anxious about came to pass. Hellflower gave him the news personally, ¡°Selene is awake.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She had also been brought into the dimensional space where she was being looked after by Janus and the others. Selene had been unconscious for so long, but finally she had come around. Cloudhawk quickly made his way to where she was being kept. When he arrived she was indeed awake and sitting on the side of the bed. She stared blankly at the white walls, her hair a mess around her shoulders. For the first time he saw this strong and intractable woman wrapped in a sense of loss and innocence. He walked over to her and wrapped her up in a hug, never saying a word. When she felt the warmth of him press into her, Selene couldn¡¯t stem the flow of tears. They tumbled down her cheeks, cutting hot paths. She¡¯d lost everything ¨C everything except him. He had never abandoned her. ¡°Nothing but a bad dream,¡± he whispered to her. ¡°Welcome back.¡± A bad dream¡­? Selene didn¡¯t say anything. She bit her lip so hard that she could taste blood. For the rest of her life she would never forgive herself for what she¡¯d done, but she wasn¡¯t about to give up either. Her dream of leading Skycloud to a peaceful future was shattered. Her father, who she¡¯d been seeking for years, was dead by her hand¡­ but he was still here. Cloudhawk was still with her. She had to push passed it and live on. That steel was where Cloudhawk¡¯s unconditional trust came from. She wasn¡¯t the girl who¡¯d gone chasing after her father¡¯s footsteps anymore. She was a woman, a warrior, who would never give in no matter how bad things got. Facing the truest parts of herself and the cruelest realities of life wouldn¡¯t keep her down. In that way Cloudhawk didn¡¯t even have a tenth of her character. With her on the side of the Alliance, it was better than a thousand armies. 1. To my knowledge this wasn¡¯t expressly mentioned in earlier chapters, unless I missed it. But it should be the staff with the Sage Crystal affixed to it. It¡¯s name is ¡®Light Ruler¡¯, so I called it Arbitralux, a combination of ¡®arbiter¡¯ ¨C latin for ruler ¨C and ¡®lux¡¯ ¨C latin for light. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 709 - Book 6, Chapter 101 - Putting It All Together Cloudhawk left the pocket dimension. Hellflower was outside, waiting. ¡°You didn¡¯t spend much time with her.¡± He shook his head. ¡°She just woke up, she¡¯s pretty muddled. Let her rest for a little while.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not worried? Suicide isn¡¯t uncommon for people who¡¯ve gone through things like what she¡¯d experienced.¡± ¡°When people are swallowed up by darkness, sometimes the darkness becomes part of them. Sometimes they became a light in the shadow. She¡¯s the latter.¡± Hellflower watched Cloudhawk walk away, struck by his confidence. He seemed to understand something everyone else was struggling with. Just like he assured, Selene was made of stronger stuff than most. She didn¡¯t break down and cry and waste away in bed. Nothing she did showed she was thinking of taking her life. While no one could imagine the pain she must have been suffering, she never let it out. She didn¡¯t even tell Cloudhawk ¨C she just dealt with it. Suffering was growth. This was especially true for Selene. Things were deteriorating rapidly. Losses had been great. The Green Alliance had lost the Khan of Evernight as well as a fair portion of its armies. Skycloud was in complete disarray and looked on the verge of collapse. Of course, there were two faces to every problem¡­ Sometimes what appeared beneficial on the surface was anything but. The arrival of the Avatar served to shatter Elysian preconceptions about the gods. Without her, everyone would still be ignorant of the dangers they faced from Sumeru. Sometimes what appeared to be a tragedy was actually an opportunity. For instance, the war had brought the Green Alliance and Skycloud to the brink of destruction. But had it not been for this conflict it was likely that the Cloud God and Selene would never have joined the opposition. Selene would never have given up her dream of turning Skycloud into a utopia. The Cloud God wouldn¡¯t have been so quick to stand behind the Green Alliance. In other words the Avatar¡¯s actions forced Selene and the Cloud God to fight alongside Cloudhawk. It pushed Elysians and wastelanders closer together. Neither side lacked capable people willing to fight for what they believed in. With the two groups fighting shoulder to shoulder their combined strength would be unprecedented. It was an important step toward standing against the gods. Crisis had forced what otherwise had been impossible to accomplish. Cloudhawk walked into a training area. Immediately he sensed power descend over him, like gravity had suddenly increased a hundred fold. It nearly forced him to the ground. Looking up, he saw Dawn pointing her sword at him. ¡°Hey there guy, just in time. Let¡¯s spar. You and me!¡± She wrapped both hands around the hilt of her weapon as the Dawnbreaker armor flared to life. Like some nightmarish fiend she charged straight for Cloudhawk. The Dawn of this instant was complately different from the girl who¡¯d left Skycloud! Constant hard work and self-improvement had paid off. Her growth had been phenomenal in every avenue. Dawn was an elite class of warrior who was empowered by excellent equipment, be it her gravity-empowered sword Terrangelica, or the indomitable Dawnbreaker armor. Both were exceptional tools. Cloudhawk stood his ground and met Dawn¡¯s onslaught. To his surprise Dawn actually picked up speed and suddenly changed course. Whipping around she dashed behind Cloudhawk, too fast to see with the naked eye and too quick for most humans to react. Dawn condensed the power of her armor into her hands. It radiated out around her arms like halos of light and was poured into the strength of her sword strike. ¡°Eat my sword!¡± As the flash of the blade fell over him Cloudhawk also felt the pressure of increased gravity. It was a strange combination of forces simultaneously dragging him toward her sword, and downward making it hard to move. It was designed to take him out in a single strike. He raised his left arm, summoning a shield of pale light. Dawn¡¯s sword struck and was flung backward. His shield dimmed and the force shoved Cloudhawk ten meters to one side. ¡°Damn!¡± Cloudhawk was clearly impressed. ¡°The sword, the armor and your martial skills all together in one strike. Not just fast and strong, but with impressive suppression force. Hell of a combo. If you caught me off guard with a blow like that I might not be able to escape it.¡± His praise fueled her. The Dawnbreak armor flared to life once again, this time gathering in her feet. Dawn leaped into the air, leaving behind a sonic boom, then hacked her sword at Cloudhawk. His evaluation was spot on. Dawn was able to use her equipment, martial skills and combat prowess in unison. Dawn had always been strong, but now she was learning to combine it with her equipment and the martial skills the old drunk had taught them. Combined it all made her strong, fast, and flexible. Cloudhawk teleported to evade the attack. As Terrangelica met the ground it flared. Although she struck nothing, the air around her rippled from the release of power. Sharp stalagmites burst upward and spread out in all directions. Soon the area for a hundred meters around her was a spiny deathtrap. She¡¯s summoned a rocky forest with one strike! It looked like if she didn¡¯t have the mental prowess of a Master Demonhunter, then she was only off by a little bit. Her display was plenty impressive by itself, but then there were her other skills. If an enemy could avoid her sword and its effects of gravity, they better be fast or hardy enough to survive being impaled by rock spikes. Cloudhawk changed tactics, no more being passive. He stopped in his retreat and immediately charged forward. Flashes of silvery light extended from his hands, like a thousand glimmering snakes slithering through the forest of stone. ¡°Welcome to the fight!¡± Dawn tightened her grip on Terrangelica then furiously carved a circle through the air. The stalagmites shattered, and a blast of wind flung the jagged shards at her foe. ¡°Check out my new move!¡± The shards began to glow in midair, dissolving into shards of unstable energy. They caught up with the blast from her sword and caused it to shine every brighter. Soon the power of it consumed this section of subspace. It even shook from the impact! Cloudhawk tumbled backward several meters with a few new tears in his clothing. The power behind that strike had caught him by surprise. It even posed a threat! For a moment Dawn was drained. At her current strength, the attack she just released demanded a lot from her. ¡°Lucian¡¯s Arbitralux? It changes matter to energy ¨C not bad at all!¡± She¡¯d taken to the relic well. It was quite the tool, capable of switching matter to energy and energy to matter. Dawn had used Terrangelica to release a blast of wind and gravity. Shards of stone were kicked up and followed the path of her attack, then she used Arbitralux to transform them into energy. Even shards as small as a fingernail struck like a bullet. Countless fragments were dragged along by the sword¡¯s gravity. Together it was enough to fell a god or demon! Under the assault, this entire section of subspace strained to hold together. What¡¯s more, just the sword strike alone carried all of Dawn¡¯s lethal strength! It spread out wide enough to swallow the whole space. Luckily for Cloudhawk, his sturdy constitution saved him. Place Frost or Selene in the path of Dawn¡¯s attack instead, however, they would probably be killed. She sure had learned a lot in a short time. Pretty good¡­ Cloudhawk was about to call a stop to it, but Dawn had other plans. More shards were dragged up from the ground and cast toward him for a second blast. Hadn¡¯t this crazy woman had enough?! Crazy was about right. Dawn had never been so happy in her life. Every day she¡¯d felt herself getting stronger and wanted to push herself, just to see how far she could go. How far was she really from Cloudhawk? As if in answer, a sword appeared in his hand. It looked a little familiar to her, but it wasn¡¯t a relic Dawn recognized. Paying it no mind, she continued her assault. Cloudhawk answered by waving his sword toward Dawn and in the moment of their collision, shock waves blasted through the area. Up close, Dawn could feel the energy pouring off his sword. He deflected her attack with ease and in that same instant she could feel an unstoppable force flow through her. Tendrils of purple and black lightning quickly wrapped her up and flung her away. Slamming into one of the wall, it bowed from the force of the impact. Cloudhawk had stumbled back maybe three steps. Without question, his new Godslayer Blade was better than the sum of its parts. There was a notch in Terrangelica¡¯s blade and a dent in her Dawnbreaker armor. The look on her face was one of disappointment. She quickly discovered that while she¡¯d been getting stronger, so had Cloudhawk. When he put it all on the table there was nothing she could do to protect herself. He walked over to her and extended his hand. She took it and got back on her feet. Opening the helm, drenched in sweat, face red, Dawn eyed Cloudhawk up and down. ¡°Can¡¯t you give me a little leeway?¡± ¡°Kicking your ass all the time is my way of pushing you. It¡¯s how you get stronger.¡± Cloudhawk regarded the irritated woman before him and felt genuine satisfaction. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go have a drink.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go drink! You think I¡¯m scared of you?!¡± Dawn was forever the sort to let go of the little stuff. But Cloudhawk knew that was just the surface. Her thorny exterior hid a sensitive heart. She knew that Frost was working with Wolfblade, and that he¡¯d been a part of the assault on Skycloud. But she did not take up her sword and go after him as expected. Instead she buried her hatred and focus on her training. Even someone like Dawn, who wore her emotions on her sleeve, had grown during these trying times. Even she was putting the bigger threat before herself. Everyone was growing, maturing. It was hard not to lose things during the journey, and who could say what the gains and losses might be? In the face of destiny, people faced many things they weren¡¯t exactly prepared for. Ignorance was bliss, the present was the real treasure. That was the truth Cloudhawk and Dawn understood. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 710 - Book 6, Chapter 102 - Working Together Book 6, ¡°You have to get smashed to have a good time drinking. It ain¡¯t a party ¡®till you can¡¯t walk straight!¡± Dawn threw back her glass and downed its contents. It was somewhere between drinking and a shower, because a fair bit of the booze trickled from her mouth and down her face. Red had already crept into her cheeks. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, looked stone sober. ¡°But YOU¡­ you can drink all you want and never get drunk. What a shame.¡± It was true. Cloudhawk¡¯s constitution prevented him from getting drunk. He didn¡¯t mind though. Taking a small swallow he replied, ¡°Well, since I can¡¯t get drunk I might as well drink slow and enjoy it, right? It has its own pleasures.¡± ¡°Heh, as far as I¡¯m concerned whether you¡¯re binging or taking sips, the pleasure in drinking it not the alcohol. It¡¯s the company! The worst booze can taste better than the rarest wines with the right drinking buddy. Drinking alone, the best beer tastes like water. Am I right or am I right?¡± ¡°It looks like someone¡¯s taken on the old drunk¡¯s mantle.¡± ¡°Meh¡­ now you got me thinking about the old man. He¡¯s not around to drink with me anymore, so you¡¯re my only drinking buddy.¡± She trained her eyes on him. ¡°Listen, you have to promise me this. Whatever happens you can¡¯t die in front of me alright? Who else would I go drinking with? Life would be so fucking boring!¡± ¡°You think maybe you could think about happier things? Sounds like you expect me to die.¡± ¡°Heh heh, then it¡¯s a deal! Drink up!¡± Dawn held up her glass, newly refilled, and drained it dry. The two sat alone in an expanse of emptiness, one of the sections in Cloudhawk¡¯s subspace reality. After several bottles they¡¯d had their fill and Cloudhawk left back to Greenland to hear the latest reports. Dawn went back to training. She didn¡¯t know how much time they had left to prepare, so it was a race against time to see how strong she could get. She was joined after a little while by another, familiar face. Tall, cold and imperial she was dressed from head to toe in white. A crystal sword was strapped to her back. Her hair had been combed and framed glittering eyes ¨C one silver, one black [1]. When she recognized who it was, Dawn¡¯s eyes tightened at the corners as though spotting an old foe. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Looking for you.¡± This took Dawn by surprise. Strange that Selene would come to her after waking, instead of looking for Cloudhawk. Why? She couldn¡¯t think of a time when the two weren¡¯t at each others¡¯ throats. Dawn could rattle off a list of reasons why she didn¡¯t like Selene, with jealousy near the top. Ever since they were small, Selene had stolen the show form Dawn time and again. All that was in the past so it was no big deal, but what bothered her the most was what they fought over. Cloudhawk! She found herself grinding her teeth. ¡°Hmph, out with it then. I¡¯m busy in case you haven¡¯t noticed. I don¡¯t have time to waste shooting shit with you.¡± Selene Cloude didn¡¯t look much different from any time before. She still seemed distant and a little imperious, though perhaps the lines between her eyebrows were a little deeper. ¡°You hate me because of Cloudhawk, don¡¯t you.¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s a bullshit rhetorical question.¡± Her temper flared. ¡°You met him before I did right? Am I just supposed to let you have him because you saw him first?¡± Selene kept her tone measured. ¡°It has nothing to do with that.¡± ¡°Bah! Look, I¡¯m not inferior to you ¨C either in skill or in looks. Cloudhawk and I are an obvious fit. You wanna throw down and prove this once and for all?!¡± Dawn leaned on her typical forthright character. ¡°I¡¯m telling you now I¡¯m not giving up. Cloudhawk is the only one I¡¯m interested in and one day we¡¯ll be together. You wait and see!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± was Selene¡¯s only answer. OH?! That single syllable enraged Dawn! She was already feeling a little on the back foot and now this bitch was mocking her?! Who the fuck cares why she was here now after the mess she¡¯d made! If Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been there to wipe her pampered ass who knew what would have happened! Cloudhawk had risked his life for her. The Green Alliance had fought countless battles, because of her. Now she was awake and standing here like it was nothing. And for what! Dawn was barely holding it together. But what Selene said next took all the wind out of her sails. All her anger turned to shock. ¡°Suit yourself. If you think you have what it takes, then we can share him.¡± WHAT?! SHARE him?! What does that even mean? Dawn wiggled a finger in her ear. She must have heard wrong. Selene Cloude was known for being unapproachable and aloof. Saying something like that seemed completely out of character. Neither Selene, nor Dawn, or any self-respecting woman would seetle for this! Share? He wasn¡¯t a piece of cake! What, were they supposed to go along just because she said so? ¡°Y-you¡­ really?¡± She was so stunned she could hardly form words. After a moment she regained her composure. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m about to fall for your bullshit!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point.¡± Selene¡¯s face was calm. She spoke her mind as though she didn¡¯t seem very interested in their predicament. ¡°As I understand it, a lot of what turned Greenland and the Green Alliance into what it is today is because of your work. I want you to teach me.¡± ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a part of this Alliance now. You and I may have our problems, but I still trust you more than the others. I hope we can work together to help Cloudhawk manage the Alliance. So I can be of use.¡± This is why she came looking for her? Dawn had to admire Selene. When her grandfather was killed, she¡¯d spent days feeling sorry for herself. Selene had suffered some of the worst things that could happen to a person, and she was looking for ways to make things right the day she woke up. After thinking about it for a moment, Dawn figured maybe it wasn¡¯t such a bad thing¡­ A big reason for Dawn¡¯s animosity was Selene¡¯s natural talent. In a way, the more Dawn disliked her, the more she appreciated her. Selene had gone through fire, searching through the wastes and then coming back to Skycloud. She was a powerful person in many ways. Cloudhawk, as leader of the Alliance, had a high position. But the Green Alliance wasn¡¯t a monolith. Wolfblade¡¯s people were deeply embedded in any facet, a fact that always had Dawn¡¯s hackles raised. But now they had the Cloud God, the Shepherd God and others from Skycloud. Elysians were taking a more prominent role. Sooner rather than later they would be a real faction with real power. As a part of Cloudhawk¡¯s inner circle, Dawn was being steadily pushed out. Maybe someone like Selene could help balance things out. Most importantly, Selene¡¯s request inspired her. Very well ¨C she¡¯d let go of the past and put aside her prejudice. After roughly ten seconds, weighing the pros and cons, Dawn replied. ¡°Well you came looking for the right person. I am Cloudhawk¡¯s number one confidante. But before I answer, I want to ask you one thing.¡± ¡°Ask.¡± ¡°You talk about sharing him¡­ who¡¯s the lover and who¡¯s the mistress?¡± At last a dangerous look crossed Selene¡¯s face. ¡°Keep it up and I¡¯ll retract my offer.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. Let¡¯s cut to the chase then.¡± These two women ¨C as compatible as fire and water ¨C took an important step toward cooperation. Dawn hid nothing, explaining to Selene everything she needed to know about the Green Alliance. They were partners now, so there was no point in holding back. Right now, the immediate task was to improve cooperation. With the danger that they faced little else mattered. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it.¡± After a long back and forth Selene was ready to go find Cloudhawk. ¡°Wait a second. Since you¡¯re here, how about a little spar? I¡¯m curious how much you¡¯ve improved.¡± Selene looked her up and down. A glint of light danced in her silver eye. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Dawn¡¯s hands were already on her sword. ¡°No more talk. Bring it on.¡± Selene answered by drawing her flawless crystal sword. Its brilliant light immediately filled the space as suddenly she thrust it toward Dawn. The burst of power she released proved her mental strength to nearly rival her father¡¯s. Maybe even stronger. ¡°Not bad!¡± Dawn joyfully knocked it aside. The two then danced back and forth, exchanging blows. Dawn¡¯s style was overbearing and in your face. Some attacks even Selene didn¡¯t dare try to block head on. But in their first official fight Dawn discovered that everything she threw at Selene ¨C from her gravitational power, to the shifts of Arbitralux, and even her common sword strikes ¨C were seen right away. As though she was somehow telegraphing her every move. Maybe she could still use her Eye of Time? After a series of powerful but ultimately failed attacks, Dawn started to run out of steam. Selene, seeing the opening, swung her sword and stopped it an inch from Dawn¡¯s throat ¨C she¡¯d won! ¡°Goddamnit! Using that eye of yours is fuckin¡¯ cheating!¡± ¡°Even without the eye you are no match for me.¡± With their normal relics and in a neutral environment, Selene had the advantage. Her Holy Vestments meant she could keep up the fight ten times longer than Dawn. The angry blonde¡¯s attacks might hit harder, but Selene could easily win the battle by attrition. Dawn refused to accept this so she made her swear to a rematch. Selene did not refuse. They both had very different characters, but in some ways they were much the same. Whatever Selene said, they were good competition for one another. For as long as either remembered they¡¯d been at odds. Now, for many reasons, they were working together. It was high time they tried cooperation. 1. I guess I should specify that in Chinese they describe their eyes as black, when in fact it¡¯s just dark brown. So don¡¯t mistake her or Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes as pitch black demon eyes or anything. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 711 Book 6, When Phoenix and Bruno were teleported by Cloudhawk, they felt a wave of dimensional power envelop them. In the next instant they felt like they were being torn, their bodies ripped up into countless tiny atoms. As nothing more than a loose collection of particles, they slipped through dimensions. When everything went back to normal, they were somewhere else. ¡°What happened?!¡± The two looked around with wide eyes. Lush forests rose up all around them. Birds took to the sky, startled by their sudden appearance. Shrill chirping filled the air. ¡°Well, it appears Cloudhawk didn¡¯t kill us. He sent us here instead.¡± ¡°Hmph, that was the biggest mistake in his life.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so intractable, Mistress Phoenix. Putting aside whether you think you can beat him, how are we supposed to leave this place?¡± Bruno regarded her with a look of helplessness. ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, the power he used was the Demon King¡¯s interdimensional abilities. The world we¡¯re on now is not the world we came from.¡± This certainly was not what she expected. ¡°What?!¡± Bruno explained once again, ¡°In other words, we¡¯re not going back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to have the same talent, right? If Cloudhawk sent us out here then why can¡¯t you send us back?¡± ¡°I¡¯m flattered you¡¯d compare me to Cloudhawk. However his power comes directly from the Demon King. Throughout all of history there has never been another with this particular ability.¡± Phoenix wasn¡¯t finished arguing, but was cut short when the sound of rustling came from all directions. All at once they were surrounded by a group of strange creatures. They were roughly the size of a fist and were the same milky green as jade. On the surface they looked like large praying mantises, with red forelimbs that ended in sickles. Despite their size, they looked threatening. This was especially true since all of a sudden they appeared to be everywhere. There had to be thousands ¨C maybe tens of thousands of them. ¡°It seems we might be in a bit of a tough spot. We¡¯ve been discovered by the natives.¡± ¡°Hmph, boring little insects!¡± Phoenix dismissively snapped her finger and suddenly the world was chaos. Pillars of flame erupted around her, four or five meters in diameter and hot enough to melt steel. The fires burst outward, sweeping through the forest. Shrubbery turned to ash, filling the air with an acrid scent. Logic would dictate that these creatures would be vaporized by such a display, but such was not the case. To Phoenix¡¯s shock, the emerald insects were unscathed. The fires turned their chitinous hides red like hot iron. ¡°These are not normal insects!¡± It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure that out. A normal creature ¨C in fact any organic matter ¨C would have been obliterated. Angry red radiated off the insects as Phoenix¡¯s fire swept passed. Rather than kill them her attack just pissed them off, or maybe even made them stronger. They scrambled over one another with incredible speed and attacked the human invaders with surprising strength. Woosh! A tongue of fire burst from one of the critters as its shell split, releasing the contained energy. It whipped back and forth like a tail and it launched itself forward faster than a bullet. Bruno swatted it away, knocking it to the ground. The creature struck a rock and the next second a torrent of power was released. Following a deafening blast, a small mushroom cloud curled dozens of meters into the air. Trees two hundred meters in all directions were flattened. It had set off a chain reaction. The explosion was too much for the insects to withstand and one after the other they began to detonate. Whatever survived skittered back into the forest to avoid destruction. ¡°Mistress Phoenix, you are too hasty. We don¡¯t know a thing about this new world. Aren¡¯t you afraid of attracting more trouble with such a display?¡± ¡°Hmph. I¡¯ve never been afraid of trouble!¡± The moment the words left her lips, Phoenix sensed something. ¡°Strange¡­ the ground is hollow?¡± Bruno noticed what she was looking at. Her careless release of power had destroyed several thousand square meters of forest. It was normal for such an attack to leave a crater, but as the smoke and flames gradually cleared the two discovered the hole it created was too deep. So deep that they couldn¡¯t see the bottom. She was right. The forest floor was somehow hollow. Bruno looked down and figured it had to be at least a couple hundred meters deep. ¡°I think I can make out ruined buildings beneath. Did civilization used to exist on this planet, too?¡± No sooner did he share the thought than a sense of disquiet overtook him. ¡°The ground is shaking. There¡¯s something alive down there and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a lot bigger than those insects.¡± ¡°Some kind of monster?¡± Fires danced on the ends of Phoenix¡¯s fingertips. ¡°I¡¯ll turn it to coal!¡± ¡°Hold!¡± She was about to throw a plume of fire into the hole when figures dashed out of the forest nearby. There were about a dozen, and they made no effort to hide their approach. Bruno and Phoenix were stunned to discover there were other humans here. ¡°You are¡­ from Skycloud?¡± They were indeed human but clearly not from this place. Demonhunter armor adorned their bodies and based on the style, they were from Skycloud. Not that it was a surprising discovery. Cloudhawk was the only person capable of teleporting people to other worlds. Since his rise the man had fought in any number of battles and that meant many other captives. Whoever these people were they must have come from Skycloud, and they must have fought Cloudhawk at some point. For whatever reason Cloudhawk elected to send them all here instead of kill them. ¡°It¡¯ll come to the surface soon,¡± one of them, an older man, said. ¡°We must leave immediately.¡± When Phoenix heard the order her brows knit tight. She did not like the idea of running away. No matter the enemy, she preferred to face them head on. Bruno recognized the look on her face. ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on in this place. Best not to stir things up too much all at once. You want to find a way back, don¡¯t you?¡± Phoenix paused. Her fighting spirit diminished. With that the group fled, and not a moment too soon. From below the ruined forests a massive creature drilled its way to the surface. It looked like a titanic snake, easily several hundred meters long and wide around as a bus. Sharp horns poked from its head. Just the presence of it made a shudder creep up one¡¯s spine. What was that thing! Definitely not an ordinary creature! When Bruno saw it he was struck with a keen sense of peril. That spoke volumes, for whatever the case may be he was a Master Demonhunter. Normal critters did not pose a threat, so to keep the danger from the snake meant it was more than it appeared. The humans vanished into the forest and kept out of view. Without a way to find them, the snake searched the area for a little while until it lost interest and went back underground. Evidently that was its home. What secrets was it protecting? Phoenix and Bruno were led to a sizable camp nestled deep in the forest. Smoke curled up the chimneys of several stone buildings. At least a thousand people were nestled in this small settlement. ¡°We heard the explosion and went to investigate.¡± The old man approached when they were safely back at camp. He was accompanied by a woman with long hair. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I am Dumont Cenhelm. This is Natessa Windham. You two are¡­¡± ¡°Master Bruno. Mistress Phoenix. How did you come to be here?¡± A group of familiar faces appeared before they had time to answer. Phoenix and Bruno recognized some of the soldiers they¡¯d brought with them. More proof that Cloudhawk preferred to sequester his enemies rather than destroy them. Natessa and Dumont knew that something was happening in Skycloud. Cloudhawk had defeated Arcturus at the very least ¨C a fact which shook them to the core. But it paled in comparison to what they learned. The Cloud God was a betrayer! It was like some kind of nightmare! What¡¯s more, Selene Cloude was given a fraction of the God King¡¯s power and opened the Boundary Portal. That¡¯s where Bruno and Phoenix had come from, as reinforcements. Even against all these odds, however, Cloudhawk had still won. It was almost unthinkable. Cloudhawk, the boy they¡¯d known so long ago, had become an agent of fate. Bruno interjected. ¡°What is the situation in this world? Why are the critters so strange? And what was that monster that came up from the ground?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still trying to learn the truth ourselves,¡± Dumont said with a shake of his head. ¡°As you saw, the ground beneath our feet is actually hollow. Below us nothing but empty space.¡± Phoenix pressed him. ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°Our theory is that this is no natural forest. It was created somehow, though we haven¡¯t found anything that points to why yet. At any rate, we suspect it was for cover. To hide the secrets beneath. The creature you say was the protector of the world below.¡± Phoenix and Bruno exchanged a look. It¡¯d only been a short time but they were already learning much. It was one of the worlds that the Demon King could teleport to. In other words, that ancient fiend had to have been here at some point. Secrets were likely hidden here, ready to be uncovered. Secrets even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know about. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 712 - Book 6, Chapter 104 - Speculation As night fell strange noises overtook the forests. Beyond the treeline were countless, inexplicable critters. A boundary was created by a number of demonhunters to protect the camp. Fire burned in the center of the camp. Food was cooking in a pot with Natessa, Dumont and the two new arrivals gathered around. ¡°I was one of the first people sent here. I guess you can call me the world¡¯s elder.¡± Dumont was quite proud of the self-given title. ¡°I watched the population grow, and each time it did I knew Cloudhawk was closer to victory. Even so, it¡¯s amazing to me that even Masters like you two would be condemned to this prison.¡± Phoenix especially had mental energies to rival Arcturus. If she lived back during the Great War she probably would have counted among it¡¯s ten Legendary Demonhunters. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t just teleport someone here willy-nilly. It could be resisted, he needed to lock down a target. In other words he had to capture whoever ended up here. Cloudhawk had subdued these two beforehand, which is ten times more difficult than merely defeating them. Phoenix sniffed in irritation. ¡°Enough nonsense. Tell me everything you know about this world.¡± ¡°As you discovered, the world is filled with all manner of strange creatures. Not normal, natural creature either. In addition to what we know about the terrain, we have reason to believe that below our feet is what remains of an ancient civilization.¡± Dumont shared his speculations. ¡°More specifically, a base ¨C one where they studied how to create life. All the creatures we¡¯ve seen come from that base.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about any of this. Tell me something useful!¡± Dumont cackled at her fervor. ¡°Mistress Phoenix wastes no time! I¡¯ll get right to it, then: There are a number of things we found quite surprising since coming here.¡± As he spoke Dumont motioned with his hand. A group of people carried over a large stone slab. Phoenix and Bruno saw the abstract paintings scrawled on its surface, dimmed after ten thousand years exposed to the elements. Luckily they were still somewhat visible. ¡°We found this during an excursion into the underground. It¡¯s a clue to whatever this world¡¯s ancient past. We have no way of knowing who created it, but to our benefit they did not use any written language. They drew pictures. ¡°What are these pictures?¡± ¡°Scenes detailing the destruction of their civilization.¡± Dumont pointed to the first part of the mural. ¡°Once, a long time ago, this world was home to a peaceful and prosperous people. Suddenly there appeared disturbances in space-time. Whole cities were reduced to ruins. Oceans became deserts. Lofty mountains were razed to create vast, empty plains. Forests, burned to nothing¡­¡± Dumont pointed to each picture as he spoke, moving across the slab. ¡°Here we see a figure in splendid armor descend from the sky. They established a place of safety for survivors. They worship their saviors, and used the powers given to them by these great beings to rebuild their cities. Phoenix and Bruno shared a glance. ¡°Familiar, isn¡¯t it? We thought so as well.¡± Dumont continued: ¡°The mural is small and incomplete. We can¡¯t know the whole story, what exactly happened here. All we know for certain is that mortal populations dwindled until they discovered some truth. Under some leader, their took up arms against their gods.¡± Wasn¡¯t that exactly what Cloudhawk was preparing to do? Could it be that what happened on earth wasn¡¯t unique, but just another iteration of something that had happened before? Maybe even countless times? Dumont went on: ¡°The crux of it all is here ¨C look, there is no doubt the rebels failed. Under the guidance of a powerful god capable of molding space, they attacked their saviors and were defeated. That was when life was exterminated from this place.¡± Wait a minute! A powerful godly leader that can manipulate space? Doesn¡¯t God King have power over time?¡± ¡°That is the most unexplained part of this story!¡± The old man laughed again, causing the wrinkled in his face to deepen. Bruno scowled. ¡°What¡¯s the answer?¡± Dumont turned his attention to the middle-aged man. ¡°The murals only provide limited information, but we can make some assumptions. That creature that commanded space used to be ruler of this world. It was worshiped by all. A god. At least, once a god.¡± Bruno cut in. ¡°So the question is whether this mural depicts the God King or some other unknown member of the higher pantheon.¡± ¡°There is one more crucial piece of information hidden in the mural. I wonder if you can spot it¡­¡± ¡°No demons. Nowhere in any of the pictures.¡± ¡°Just so. We can see gods, but nothing that can be called a demon. Now according to what we know the Demon King is able to use the powers of space. Putting this all together, we can come to a conclusion.¡± ¡°The Demon King used to be a god, and an important one at that.¡± Both the newcomers were stunned by the revelation. If this was true then the implications were hard to swallow. ¡°Perhaps the Demon King was once the God King of a former generation. But, for reasons unknown he had some sort of¡­ epiphany. Unwilling to allow the gods to destroy this world, he led his loyalists against the divine. Those gods who joined him were cast out. The first Demons.¡± ¡°What about the current God King? Where did it come from?¡± ¡°Simple. When their original leader left, the gods needed a successor strong enough to rise against him. They learned that the powers of time were greater than those of space. As expected, the new God King of Time defeated the Demon King of Space.¡± At that level of existence, was it possible to just say something should be and it became so? Phoenix and Bruno were silent with their thoughts. If these assumptions were true¡­ Then there was only one explanation. Behind the gods and demons was perhaps an even greater, less understood power. Something even more frightening, existing in the shadows and pulling all the strings. Gods seemed to be constantly seeking out civilization only to eradicate it. What were they hoping to gain? Phoenix spat into the dirt. ¡°This is nothing but speculation. You obviously have nothing better to do.¡± ¡°Mistress Phoenix is correct. For the moment, these are guesses. But we believe the answers are right below our feet.¡± Dumont¡¯s eyes gleamed with fervor. ¡°Before today we haven¡¯t been strong enough to explore very far. But with your help, perhaps we can learn what really happened.¡± Bruno was quiet for a long time. ¡°Since I¡¯m exiled here and there¡¯s no obvious way back, I might as well keep busy.¡± For the time being, Phoenix was noncommittal. Meanwhile Natessa had sat by and listened to the whole exchange. Conflict raged within her, seeded by the secrets hidden in this mural. She couldn¡¯t help but feel it held the answer to everything. She lifted her head toward the sky where the stars hung in darkness. They were so different here. She couldn¡¯t help think of Arcturus. Had he known about this the whole time? No¡­ he probably knew better than to pursue it, so he stopped. Natessa didn¡¯t know what to think about the father she never had. She couldn¡¯t begin to understand how to judge the dead man. Everything he sacrificed his life to maintain still failed¡­ He lost his life. He was discredited in death. If he¡¯d known this was to be his end, would he have done it anyway? What had he been so afraid of all this time? Meanwhile Cloudhawk¡¯s power and potential were beyond all expectations. By now he was probably stronger than the fallen Governor. Arcturus might have been delighted, if he were still alive. How would it all end? Would humanity be reborn, or would it end up like this place ¨C dead, a dusty memory? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 713 - Book 6, Chapter 105 – Schoolmates Book 6, It was the sixth day after the battle for Skycloud City. So far no attack on the realm seemed imminent, the four gods and their armies were biding their time. At least for the time being, the realm was safe. They began the process of rebuilding. The city¡¯s central Temple was gone. As the heart of the city ¨C indeed of the whole realm ¨C its absence was clearly felt. Their unifying symbol and the center of their whole world was now absent. An important part of Elysian life was that everything they used, from airships to cooking stoves, never ran out of energy. Citizens lived and died with these blessings, believing them to be miracles from the gods. But in fact, they were not miracles at all. The gods as humans knew them had mastered a form of energy transfer. Put simply, energy was generated in the Temple and then diffused throughout the rest of the realm. The various tools used throughout Skycloud had receivers that picked up this energy and used it to function. Like a radio picking up radio signals. It was the basis for Skycloud¡¯s prosperity. Convenient, available and pollution-free. Such things were beyond the capabilities of humans to replicate, so it was no wonder that people saw them as miracles. After relying for so long on this gifted energy, it¡¯s absence was keenly felt. With the Temple gone, the heart of their realm and the lifeblood it provided was cut off. Without it, the unprepared people of Skycloud faced disaster. Everything shut down overnight. Life as they knew it changed forever. With no way to solve this issue evident, they turned to the only other alternative. Substitution. Elysian lanterns stopped working so wasteland lanterns were brought in. Rugged wasteland transport vessels replaced grounded Elysian airships. Luckily for Skycloud, its large population also meant it had significant resource surpluses to draw on. Under the Cloud God¡¯s direction, hidden caches were opened to meet their needs. Within were three hundred thousand tons of eboncrys crystals ¨C certainly no small amount. Eboncrys was the cleanest and most efficient source of energy currently known. The Green Alliance relied on production from Woodland Vale to power its cities. Without the Shepherd God¡¯s hidden forest the Green Alliance wouldn¡¯t have been able to meet its own requirements. None of these wars would have happened and the eboncrys weapons they developed would never have come to be. At its current production rate, Woodland Vale would produce three hundred thousand tons of eboncrys in about twelve years. The hidden stores provided a treasure trove of power to use in this emergency. In addition, the warehouses also contained various relics and enough food to keep the city running for a time. Cloudhawk teleported to the city to see how it had fared since the battle. What he saw was a city utterly transformed. Airships transferred here from the Green Alliance shuttled back and forth over Skycloud like industrious bees. They took surplus materials from Skycloud and delivered to other parts of the realm were goods were sparse. Cloudhawk watched a scene unfold that he never would have dreamed was possible. Wastelanders, walking through Skycloud¡¯s streets. They piloted mighty humanoid robots to help clear away the rubble. Scientists studiously researched Elysian crops that were known for ripening quickly. A few years ago this would have been unthinkable. The Cloud God ordered his people to put conflicts aside and accept the wastelanders. For the shared hope of survival, they had to beat swords into ploughshares. The deepest blood feuds had to be forgiven if they were to make it as a species. On an individual level this was difficult to accept. However, with time, society would grow passed these differences. Even the most rancorous hatred would ease because humanity would forget. When this generation passed and the next came to power, wastelanders and Elysians would come closer together. Unification would proceed. Maybe the distinction between wastelander and Elysian would no longer be necessary. Cloudhawk looked forward to that day, but it wasn¡¯t going to happen unless they stopped the army of the gods. A large funeral was being held in the center of Skycloud City. Hundreds of funeral pyres had been erected, laden with remains of the fallen. Soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in the fighting. General Hammont Seacrest was among them. ¡°Light it!¡± Final rites were given. Soldier flung their torches onto piles of tinder. Pyres immediately began to burn and light sprang up throughout the city like hundreds of sconces all lit at once. Black smoke curled into the sky forming transient patterns. It was a solemn scene, and onlookers watched in reverent silence. Among the observers was a young woman, pretty. In her arms was a child that couldn¡¯t have been more than three years old. She watched the fires burn with a look of pain. At least these brave heroes had remains to tend to. No such honors would be given to the father of her child. Something tickles the back of the woman¡¯s mind and she turned. A dark figure stood behind her, wrapped in dark clothing. A plain looking sword was strapped to his back and his face was hidden behind a mask. The fire light played off the eyes, though, and she could see a silver glint in one of them. The woman¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ you!¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s been a long time Veronika.¡± [1] His voice was made deep and hoarse as it was filtered through the mask. Veronika Leclair. The training they shared in Hell¡¯s Valley felt like a lifetime ago. Cloudhawk had also liked the gentle girl and she had respected her squad leader. They hadn¡¯t had any contact since those difficult days, years ago. Incredible what time and fate could conspire to achieve. Veronika lost her grandfather at the battle for Sanctuary[2], causing the rapid decline of her family. Now her husband, Blaze, was among the dead. She had become a young widow and while Cloudhawk was not directly responsible for all her misfortunes, he was involved in all of it. It was hard for him to show himself before her, but Cloudhawk felt a duty to do so. Frost had told him about Blaze¡¯s final words, he felt responsible for delivering the news himself. How would she react? What would Cloudhawk¡¯s former classmate do when confronted with her grandfather¡¯s killer, the one who¡¯s war claimed her husband? Would she refuse to speak or yell and scream? Either would be expected. Cloudhawk would resign himself to it. But instead after a few moments, Veronika surprised him. ¡°Would you like to go for a cup of tea?¡± For a moment he had no words. But when the shock passed he nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Skycloud¡¯s commercial industry was in tatters, but there were still places to go get a drink. They went to a teahouse that had be reopened after the war and took a seat. As they did Cloudhawk glanced at the three year old boy napping against Veronika¡¯s shoulder. He¡¯d inherited his father¡¯s fiery red hair. He was cute. Luckily the boy was too young to know what was going on all around him. Cloudhawk and Veronika sat across from one another with steaming cups between. The atmosphere was awkward. Over the last several years they¡¯d been living in completely different worlds. What could they say to bridge a gap so large? ¡°Where¡¯s Gabriel?¡± ¡°Gabby? He¡¯s alright. He¡¯s found a partner and is concentrating on his art.¡± It wasn¡¯t a secret that Barb and Gabriel were together. Since Vulkan¡¯s death Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t wanted to put his sole disciple, Barb, in any sort of danger. With her mind-reading abilities she was more useful on the back line running logistics. She and Gabby weren¡¯t famous in the Alliance, but they were comfortable and safe. ¡°Is Governor Selene alright? Miss Dawn?¡± ¡°Selene is back to her old self and Dawn is doing great. They¡¯ve grown a lot.¡± Cloudhawk paused, grappling with something. He wasn¡¯t sure why she was asking about them. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, beyond raising my son. At least I get to watch him grow.¡± Veronika dropped her gaze and was silent for a moment. ¡°But things have been bad here. Living is hard. My strength is average at best and I¡¯m scared I won¡¯t be able to protect him.¡± Cloudhawk knew what she was worried about. ¡°Blaze¡¯s son, what¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Skye Pyrrus.¡± ¡°Good name, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll grow up to be someone great. You can bring him and your family to Greenland if you like. I could take him under my wing as a disciple.¡± Perhaps it was hearing his name, but Skye stirred as Cloudhawk made the offer. His red eyes, bright and curious, lolled open. He didn¡¯t cry or fuss, contentedly resting in his mother¡¯s arms. Veronika was not the ordinary woman she appeared to be. She was from a great family, but one that had supported Arcturus. The world was changing and the Leclair name made her a target. Skycloud wasn¡¯t safe. Even so she didn¡¯t fear for herself, but for her son. It would be a lie to say that Veronika held no animosity toward Cloudhawk. But she knew that the man across from her ¨C this ordinary-looking man not even thirty years old ¨C was the strongest human living. A big name, slinking through the city in hiding. Skye would surely stand out if he trained under such a man. ¡°I¡­.¡± she nodded her head after some hesitation. ¡°I would appreciate that.¡± Cloudhawk heard the words, and it was like a load was lifted. ¡°Can I hold him?¡± She smiled. ¡°Sure. You are his teacher, and under your guidance I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be even more successful than his father.¡± Cloudhawk gingerly took up the boy. Skye looked up at this unfamiliar person but did not struggle. His bright eyes sparkled as he flashed Cloudhawk a smile. Another disciple. Without a doubt, both Blue and Skye would be great leaders in the future. He was biased, of course, since they were his students. But Cloudhawk¡¯s hunches were often right. He¡¯d seen something in Blue right away. That simple looking little girl had incredible potential and he was convinced that she would play a crucial role in the world of the future. Maybe she would take over when Cloudhawk stepped down. Something told him little Skye Pyrrus was not just another little boy, either. It was a tickle in the back of his mind, similar to how he felt about Blue. He would grow up to be an important man one day. Cloudhawk had learned to trust these feelings, so he was convinced the boy was something special. After sharing tea Cloudhawk left Veronika to prepare. He went to seek out the Cloud God for information about what the gods were up to. The Cloud God¡¯s special situation made him an excellent intelligence asset. He was still connected to the godly matrix and could feed him all sorts of news about the Supremes. ¡°The supremes have been cautious,¡± he told Cloudhawk. ¡°There is no evidence of an impending attack, but when they are ready they will strike with extreme prejudice.¡± Caution was smart after the Avatar¡¯s defeat. If the Supremes attacked Skycloud today they had maybe a fifty percent chance of victory. But as far as they were concerned, there was no need to gamble. If they won they couldn¡¯t just leave, not until Cloudhawk was dealt with. If they lost, then the Demon King¡¯s successor would surely take the chance to bring vengeance on the other four Elysian lands. Better to wait. In time their victory was assured, so why take the risk and rush things? The Cloud God had forsaken his people and acted in collusion with the wastelanders. It wasn¡¯t as though the situation could get any worse. Being the first to strike carried no benefit. They would wait and purify the whole area when circumstances were right. ¡°I want to see what¡¯s going on over there. Do you have a way to show me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Cloud God reached out and linked his consciousness to Cloudhawk¡¯s. A flood of visions rushed through his mind. 1. Veronika was one of his schoolmates back in Hell¡¯s Valley. She married Blaze. 2. At Cloudhawk¡¯s hand, no less. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 714 - Book 6, Chapter 106 – The Divine Matrix Book 6, A city was slowly taking shape in low earth orbit. Cloudhawk could see it through his mental connection with the Cloud God. Through it he was able to know the situation in this floating city. It remained between eighty thousand and one hundred thousand meters above the ground. Two divisions of airships hovered around the structure. Its doors were open, and the vast spaces within were enough to accommodate tens of thousands of troops. But why gather their armies up in the sky? For strategic reasons, of course. The Temple could adjust its low earth orbit as needed. Like a military spy satellite, it was easy to dispatch troops and scouts from its location. A bird¡¯s eye view afforded it far-reaching sight of enemy movements and positions. If a gap was discovered, they would see it and could act with haste. It would take less than an hour to scramble forces and execute an attack. It was impossible to defend against! The stark reminder stole Cloudhawk¡¯s breath. A single mistake could allow the enemy to breach and destroy them. In addition the Temple was always on the move, constantly adjusting its orbit. It periodically crossed over other Elysian domains to gather resources, ultimately creating a floating realm. At present the Supremes had their armada shuttling goods from the various realms up to their fortress. Even Seraphs from their respective domains were present in the Temple. Seraphs were present in all Elysian capitols. They were puppets, limited in fighting capability but excellent builders. They worked tirelessly, building and repairing with incredible efficiency. Seraphs from all four realms had been gathered and worked day and night. Additions had appeared on two sides of the Temple ¨C a rudimentary docking port for their armadas. With more space for ships they could increase their forces while deterring attacks from the ground. In higher orbits there were appearing various towers. They served many purposes; attack, defense, energy, and so forth. Springing up like bamboo shoots, they showed how quickly these war-time projects were proceeding. It was a formidable defense against any future Green Alliance aggression. ¡°Well, fuck,¡± Cloudhawk muttered, allowing the connection to drop. ¡°All four realms are gathering right over our heads as we speak and there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. We don¡¯t have enough ships in the wastes or Skycloud to deal with this, not that they¡¯re in good enough shape for the task anyway. If something doesn¡¯t change we¡¯ll be stuck in a passive situation, getting beat on with no way to fight back.¡± The Green Alliance was in a period of post-war reconstruction. Meanwhile the Supreme¡¯s Sky Fortress was gathering strength. Taking the long view it seemed the Alliance would be too weak and ill-equipped to launch an attack. Instead the gods held all the cards. From up there, they could launch brutal attacks whenever they pleased. It was definitely an effective way to castrate the Alliance. Unless he did something they might not even survive long enough for Sumeru¡¯s armies to clean up the dregs. The one silver lining was that he had the Cloud God on his side. So long as the deity was here to help, he had a great channel into the enemy¡¯s actions. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯ve learned? Like troop movements or garrisoned forces?¡± It was useful information. If he knew the sort of numbers they were looking at, Cloudhawk could organize a strike force and teleport them behind enemy lines. A few well-planned acts of sabotage might buy them some time. The Cloud God gave a simple response: ¡°No.¡± ¡°All you gods share a common memory, right? Shouldn¡¯t you know that?¡± Burning eyes were fixed on the human. ¡°And if the Supremes do not know this information?¡± That took the wind out of his sails. It made sense, if the Supremes didn¡¯t know how many soldiers they had and where they were stationed then the Cloud God wouldn¡¯t either. It wasn¡¯t like they could arrange everything on their own, and wouldn¡¯t even if they could. They knew that the betrayer god could see into their memories. It was the smart thing, then, to delegate sensitive matters to others. An effective way to keep things secret, to be sure. Besides, the divine matrix wasn¡¯t as straightforward as Cloudhawk assumed. The Cloud God explained: ¡°Protection mechanisms exist within the matrix. Every day I find it more difficult to extract information. In particular, matters of military or specific areas.¡± Weren¡¯t the gods supposed to be a race all about openness? Didn¡¯t this go against what their race stood for? But these protections the Cloud God mentioned weren¡¯t from any god in particular. They were built into the matrix itself, specifically as a defense against betrayers like himself. Gods came into being with two psychic ¡®cords¡¯ as part of their being. They linked the gods to the divine matrix; one to upload thought and memory, and the other to download information. In circumstances such as what happened to the Cloud God and the Shepherd God, they could sever one while keeping the other. That was how the Cloud God knew what Sumeru was up to. Because he was not complying with the God King¡¯s orders, it became clear he had turned against his kind. Disloyalty was a rare thing among gods because of their social structure, but nothing was impossible. The Cloud and Shepherd Gods were proof enough that it could happen. As a result, the divine matrix evolved a set of countermeasures. One could think of the matrix as a kind of operating system, managing huge amounts of data. Aberrations like the Cloud God were a virus, so cleansing mechanisms were implemented to deal with them. ¡°That¡¯s too abstract.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a god. He couldn¡¯t grasp the complexity of the system the Cloud God described. Sensing Cloudhawk¡¯s confusion, the god gave it a moment¡¯s thought before going on. ¡°There may be a way for you to slip through the lock and access the matrix yourself. But it will come at a cost. And it will be perilous.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cloudhawk swear he heard wrong, but he knew that wasn¡¯t the case. The Cloud God hadn¡¯t stuttered ¨C obviously, since he didn¡¯t really ¡®talk.¡¯ He communed directly with someone¡¯s consciousness so there was no misunderstanding. ¡°Enter the matrix?[1] Is that really possible?¡± He had to admit, it was a tempting thought. The gods were a powerful and mysterious race, always an enigma. If there was a way to give Cloudhawk a glimpse into their world, it would be a huge benefit. To prepare for this, Cloudhawk brought the Cloud God back to Greenland. More specific, to Wolfblade. There he discovered that it had been Wolfblade¡¯s intention to guide him through this process at some point. ¡°My plan was to try this at a later time. However, it appears we must move the timetable up.¡± Wolfblade brought his two visitors to a scryspire amplifier[2]. He turned to Cloudhawk and explained. ¡°Under normal circumstances, it is impossible for an outsider to invade the divine matrix. However, there are always exceptions. You and the Cloud God are special cases ¨C and the two of you together could work wonders.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You have a tenacious mind, capable of passing through the channel. Anyone else would not survive, no matter how strong their psyche.¡± Wolfblade knew everything there was to know about Cloudhawk. After all, it was not incorrect to say that the man was a product of Wolfblade¡¯s hard work. ¡°In addition, the Cloud God¡¯s talents lay in mental power ¨C one of the best of his species. He has enough strength to disguise your mental signature and, essentially, upload you into the matrix.¡± ¡°Too complicated and not worth the time. Can we just get it started?¡± Wolfblade had prepared two scryspires. Cloudhawk and the Cloud God took positions on either one. As they did, Wolfblade offered warnings. ¡°You must be careful. Once you enter the matrix, there are many dangers. This is our first attempt, so do not be hasty. If anything feels wrong, return immediately.¡± For Wolfblade to underline the dangers it meant this really was a risk. But Cloudhawk was not dissuaded. War with the gods was inevitable and he had to know his enemy. What other method was more effective? Whatever the dangers, it didn¡¯t matter. He had to try. He was ready. Wolfblade nodded to the Cloud God. Extending his hands, the god¡¯s body began to glow. Lights flickered behind his eyes like a brewing storm. A vast flood of mental energy filled the space like a burst dam. Cloudhawk shut his eyes, pushed his senses aside, opened his mind. And waited. It didn¡¯t take long for him to feel it, a sickening sinking sensation like he was being drawn into some imaginary place. He opened his eyes but there was nothing to see. Darkness, everywhere. Everywhere except for one single point of light far in the distance that led into the unknown. Was that the way into the divine matrix¡­? Cloudhawk followed the unspoken directions of the Cloud God and moved toward the light. Slowly he floated forward from the eternal darkness, drifting toward the channel. Upon drawing near he was swept up in a storm of energy. It wrapped him up from all directions, pulling him toward the light. It was the Cloud God, helping him along. It felt like time was warping. The closer he got to the channel the more its power suffocated him. Exhaustion came in waves, even dimming the Cloud God¡¯s considerable power. But Cloudhawk knew he couldn¡¯t stop. The only way was forward or he would be lost forever. Struggle. For what felt like ages he fought against the fatigue before coming upon a gate. It had to be more than thirty meters high, tall and imposing. Beautifully carved statues, too many to count, stood vigil around it. Something inside Cloudhawk told him that he was looking at a projection of his own psyche. The psychic world and the physical world were exactly opposed. The physical universe was about conservation and stability. The psychic world was unsteady and changeable. Nothing existence in the normal sense. Symbolic expressions, that was all. Cloudhawk put his arms against the gate and pushed. A hundred thousand beams of light were cast out in reaction to his touch, so bright he couldn¡¯t look directly at it. It took him a moment to adjust, and when he did an entirely new reality unfolded before him¡­ white-capped mountains, grand palaces, impossibly tall towers. The breathtakingly beautiful sight stretched out before him at a scale he could not fathom ¨C enough buildings to fill ten Skyclouds. He didn¡¯t doubt that this place wasn¡¯t real. This magnificent place was the divine matrix, where all the minds of the gods converged. Perhaps it was fair to say that this was the real Mount Sumeru. Everywhere Cloudhawk looked he saw vast castles and lofty mountains¡­ but not exactly. Just as the images became concrete they would change, shifting to something else in the blink of an eye. It was all just a fluid representation. Am I in the realm of the gods? But why don¡¯t I see any? Entering this strange place, Cloudhawk discovered that he did indeed appear to be alone. Not a single other living thing was visible, a fact he found puzzling. Shouldn¡¯t it be that all the gods ¨C no matter their station ¨C were all connected to this place? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 715 - Book 6, Chapter 107 – Spiritual Journey Book 6, Floating castles and sprawling palaces. Golden-capped pyramids as far as the eye could see, similar to Skycloud¡¯s own. They floated like dandelion seeds through the air off into the horizon. No words could fully describe the miraculous scene. Cloadhawk floated over part of the city. He figured each one of these hanging structures represented a god and what they contained were the divine creature¡¯s memories. It was no wonder, then, that he did not see anyone else around the city. They expressed themselves instead as buildings to Cloudhawk¡¯s subconscious. Every one of their species, no matter their station, were represented here. Their will, their memories, coalesced into great Temples ¨C tens of thousands of them. Was this how many gods existed? Cloudhawk continued to make his way around a towering, snow-capped mountain, moving freely with the eddies like a lone fish. Here was a collection of thousands of years of experience. Godly power stemmed from this wondrous and expansive ability to share everything. Cloudhawk would never have imagined that one day he would be here to glimpse it for himself. It was¡­ incredible! He journeyed on, passing one magnificent palace after another before one area in particular caught his eye. Cloudhawk stopped before a beautiful structure. Massive and breathtaking, he wandered this section of the matrix. Herein would be stored all the knowledge of the gods, publicly available. Inside he found rows upon rows of bookcases, hundreds of them stretching a thousand meters high. From where he stood their peaks were lost in the clouds. Countless books occupied their shelves, vast as the open sea. The whole history of humanity would only comprise a fraction of what he saw. Shocking was the only way to describe it. So many¡­! It was hard for him to wrap his head around. It was everything the gods had seen stretching back for millennia. All manner of secrets were hidden here, maybe even the origins of the gods ¨C but with so many books how was he supposed to find anything? Certainly there was no lack of information contained in the matrix. This was just one building of many, It would be impossible to know everything that was recorded. Flying among the bookcases, Cloudhawk searched for any secrets that might help him against the gods. With luck maybe he could uncover something, like methods of creating relics. He fumbled among the stacks for a long time. Here in the matrix was everything he needed to know to become a master artisan. That knowledge would help his cause greatly. The problem was finding it! After all, Cloudhawk was no god. He¡¯d slipped into the matrix with the help of the Cloud God and lacked whatever methods the divine had to find specific information. He had to rely on pure luck. ¡°Eh? This is it!¡± Luck appeared to be on his side, for before him on the bookcases was a massive tome all about relics. Within were the secrets to all kinds of godly structures, from energy towers to other kinds of war machines. All of great interest to Cloudhawk. In fact, these were likely more helpful than learning more about standard relics. Strong relics were useful, of course, but didn¡¯t help the Alliance on a larger scale all that much. His Miracle Towers were more helpful in that regard, and this book contained all sorts of knowledge about things like that. Now the question was, how was he supposed to bring it back with him? It wasn¡¯t like he could just carry a collection of memories into the real world. Just as impossible was sitting down to read it all. The book was huge, it would take days to read it. That was time he didn¡¯t have. Wait! This was a psychic world! He wasn¡¯t chained by physical laws. The book was just the way his mind chose to interpret information. He held the tome with both hands, closed his eyes and reached out with his mind. A few moments later, words and diagrams floated out from the pages and into Cloudhawk¡¯s body. In a few short minutes the collected knowledge took root in his mind. Excellent! That sure made things easier. What a massive trove of information. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know all of what he¡¯d absorbed, he just copied it and resolved to sort it out later. He grabbed one book after another, hungrily devouring their contents until suddenly an ominous sense came over him. He¡¯d caught something¡¯s attention¡­ Cloudhawk lifted his head and in what had been an empty sky he saw several glowing figures. The humanoid silhouettes blazed with light had no discernible features but Cloudhawk felt their attention fixed on him. ¡°You¡¯ve been discovered. What you see is how the matrix protects itself against apostates.¡± The Cloud God¡¯s voice rang in his head. ¡°You must leave. If you are destroyed here your mind will never return.¡± He wasn¡¯t expecting this [1]. He remembered what he was told, that the matrix was a system of information that saw him as a kind of virus. The beings of light were here to erase him. He was starting to understand what the Cloud God had explained to him. He still had access to the matrix but the protections for this section had activated. Gods would have no trouble accessing what they wished, but the Cloud God was a betrayer and thus a threat. He had to remember that the master of the matrix was none other than the God King. ¡°Damnit. How do I get out of here?¡± More figures blinked into being all around him. Once they locked on their target, they began to close in. ¡°You leave as you came. You must be quick. If they surround you, you will be eliminated.¡± Cloudhawk shook off his pursuers and dashed from the palace. All the while their numbers swelled until hundreds floated after him. A hoard of them were right on his heels and gaining. Woosh! Shhhhrrk! The sound of ripping air preceded a rain of light. Glowing arrows tumbled toward him and Cloudhawk knew that if even one struck, he¡¯d be done for. He dodged and maneuvered around the threads, racing as fast as he could toward the gate. He reached it just before the figures closed in, vanishing from the heavenly place. All of a sudden he felt like he was falling, tumbling like one of his meteors, faster and faster as that feeling of exhaustion once again came over him. The Cloud God¡¯s mental fortitude was almost used up. The blue light that constantly flared in his mask was now dull glass. Even the shimmering runes that lined his armor gradually vanished. Evidently, disguising Cloudhawk to enter the matrix was not an easy feat, even for a Supreme. It was also his first time ever doing such a thing. Godly society was highly efficient. Their innate interconnected network helped them maximize resources and information. Of course, there were two sides to everything as this excursion revealed. While godly powers were unique, they were also dangerous. Cloudhawk was a virus, whose infection could lead to unforeseen consequences. To this end the matrix was determined to eradicate him. Yet he had escaped, and with a fine harvest for his efforts. Without a doubt, the information he¡¯d come back with would help the Green Alliance tremendously. Wolfblade greeted Cloudhawk upon his return with great interest. ¡°What do you think? An experience too wonderful for words, yes?¡± He was still surprised that he¡¯d been there, in the world of the gods. But for all its grandeur and magnificence, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help but feel that the divine matrix felt somehow¡­ sterile. The gods were a peculiar race whose thoughts were caged. They didn¡¯t know anything of their own past. They didn¡¯t know the purpose for anything they did. Bluntly put, they were all just pawns to a higher intelligence. ¡°I didn¡¯t have enough time.¡± Cloudhawk was impatient to learn more, but there was nothing that could be done. He had to escape or be lost forever. Now he needed time to digest everything he¡¯d learned. But before he could even begin, someone came to see him. It was Selene, out of bed at last. When he saw her Cloudhawl felt like he could breathe a little easier. 1. Except they told you this exact thing would happen! Grrr! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 716 - Book 6, Chapter 108 – Selene Assumes Her Post Book 6, Cloudhawk¡¯s trip to the divine matrix had taken a lot out of him. He returned to Greenland¡¯s fort to try and get some rest. The journey had been a success. He¡¯d managed to infiltrate the god¡¯s matrix and gather what he was sure was priceless information. It was an important confirmation that such a thing was possible. If they could find a way in, what was stopping them from introducing a real virus into the system? They could battle the gods from the inside. It was at least worth a try. ¡°Our findings are fruitful, but more importantly we may have a way to fight the gods in the future.¡± Cloudhawk was understandably excited about the results and shared them with Selene. ¡°It looks like we have a great way to learn more about the gods.¡± Selene was quiet, though, a fact which Cloudhawk noted right away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She shook her head. Extending a hand she gently placed it on his face and gazed into his silvery eye. It was stil ldull and covered by a film. ¡°Your eye¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see anything out of it yet, but Wolfblade says in time the Eye of Time will recover. When that happens I¡¯ll be able to use it in our fight.¡± Cloudhawk knew Selene had concerns. He tried to assuage them as gently as he knew how. ¡°I think I can confidently say there aren¡¯t many who can threaten me. That¡¯s especially true now with the eye. Even those that seem invincible will show me their weaknesses, thanks to you.¡± Selene dropped her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to comfort me.¡± But Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to comfort you. I¡¯m being honest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought a lot about things and have come to understand.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to dwell on the issue. ¡°I want to be a part of the Green Alliance and fight with you in the coming war.¡± Cloudhawk was delighted by what he heard. ¡°I appreciate your fighting spirit. I have complete faith in you, but right now your condition still isn¡¯t stable. We don¡¯t know what kind of after-effects the Avatar¡¯s power might have on you. I think you still need to rest for a little while.¡± ¡°No. I know what I want, and I am confident I can do any job you put before me.¡± Selene fixed Cloudhawk with a steady gaze. It was firm, but gentle. ¡°I was selfish before. I only thought about what I wanted and never really worked by your side. I want to do that now with you, shoulder to shoulder. From now on your battles are mine, whatever the future brings. No regrets. Cloudhawk, I know you understand.¡± She understood the truth. After the events of the past few years, Cloudhawk was all she had left. As the Avatar she had nearly destroyed the Alliance. She¡¯d almost forced this man down a dark road there was no coming back from. She¡¯d lost nearly everything there was to lose. Pity and pain meant nothing, for none of it would come back. Instead of living with the guilt of the past she was determined to do what she could about the future. She¡¯d come to see that the brightest point of her life was standing right in front of her. He had been that light ever since they clawed their way through death and darkness together in the wastelands. Gods, demons, humans, all the animosity between¡­ she didn¡¯t care. But Cloudhawk did, and she wasn¡¯t going to stand on the sidelines. From now on she was going to stand by his side through it all, his shield and sword. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an insight to her mind, so instead of argue he simply nodded his head. ¡°We haven¡¯t had anyone to fill the old drunk¡¯s position since his death. It¡¯s yours if you want it.¡± Vulkan had served as the Green Alliance¡¯s lieutenant-governor, responsible for coordinating with Wolfblade and dealing with the various matters of state. The demon elder was quite busy, so Selene¡¯s assistance would be a great help. There was no doubt about her capabilities, either physically or in other areas. ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t carrying anything you don¡¯t need to. You aren¡¯t alone, you have me and the entire Alliance with you.¡± Cloudhawk took her somewhat cold hand. ¡°We¡¯ll face the future side by side to the very end, whatever fate has in store. Together forever, alright?¡± Selene pressed herself into his arms. She trembled ever so slightly, as though suppressing a volcano of emotion within. Cloudhawk gently kissed her cheek and whispered into her ear: ¡°Will you stay with me today?¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± He was so, so tired. It wasn¡¯t just from his trip to the divine matrix, but a bone-deep exhaustion that came from days of endless work. It was time to take a break, at least for a little while. Today would belong to the two of them. ** The next morning, Cloudhawk stirred from his dreams refreshed. It¡¯d been a long time since he felt so relaxed. Selene lay quietly in his arms. Light was playing off her snow-white skin. She was awake already and let the time slip by, quietly staring at him. She hadn¡¯t wanted to disturb the rest he so desperately needed, so she just lay there and enjoyed the warmth. Unfortunately the precious moment had to come to an end. Selene slipped from the bed and put back on her Holy Vestments. Sublime Transcendence hung from the sheath on her back. Once again she was that indomitable warrior. ¡°As lieutenant-governor I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a lot of business waiting for me. We don¡¯t have much time.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. She was right, time was not a luxury they could count on. He got up and showed her to the door before returning to his own business. Four Supremes threatened his Alliance. They hadn¡¯t attacked yet for two reasons: First, because they weren¡¯t sure they¡¯d win and second, because they didn¡¯t the situation could get any worse. And on the surface their estimation seemed correct. The Cloud God had already facilitated the union of wastelanders and Elysians. Once the Supremes launch their attack millions of humans would rise up in their defense. Since things were already the worst-case scenario, there was no fear of a further deteriorating situation. Better to be well prepared from the start than rush into a solution. Of course, like most things it wasn¡¯t as simple as it appeared. The Supremes underestimated their opponent. Cloudhawk was more dangerous the more time he was given. He could use this breathing room to strengthen his own position. With the power of the phase stone he could travel to other worlds, negotiate with the Ark Base and ask for backup. The longer he was left unchecked, the more opportunity he had to find better equipment for his people. Cloudhawk continued to develop other practical and unique devices. He¡¯d learned very interesting secrets during his foray into the matrix, which taught him how to build and control different sorts of energy towers. He decided to divide his forces, leading them down two separate roads. One was led by Hellflower, and was tasked with beseeching the Ark Base for help. She had to use any methods necessary, at whatever cost, to convince them to get involved. Really the only ¡®person¡¯ she had to persuade was the one they called Father. Father had controlled Ark Base for over a thousand years. This incredible artificial intelligence had protected the ancient human race. With only limited resources, it utilized its deep neural learning and mature logic capabilities to keep the species going. Over the centuries Father had designed and executed numerous experiments, gathering priceless data. On its own, the AI developed those animal-like robots that gathered resources from the surface. The Ark Base more than likely hid all manner of secrets Father was reticent to share. There had to be a reason why the former Demon King had planted this seed of ancient humanity. Meanwhile Cloudhawk would continue to go over what he¡¯d pilfered from the divine matrix. In his haste he¡¯d just copied the data and hadn¡¯t had time yet delve deeply. The first thing he discovered once he started was that the technology of the gods was obscure. However, it really came down to one thing: Godly enchantment towers, attack towers, energy towers, and even their airships were all the lowest level of their technology. It made sense. The gods wouldn¡¯t waste their best stuff on ignorant humans. Those would be reserved for Sumeru. The weapons and equipment the gods themselves used were likely hundreds of times stronger than anything he¡¯d encountered. It was a glimpse at how strong his enemy really was. Right at this moment, the godly army was traveling thousands of light years across galaxies toward earth, bringing the true strength of their species with them. They not only threatened the human species, but the entire planet. With the paltry preparations they¡¯d made so far, how was Cloudhawk supposed to fight back? To the moment of his death, Arcturus railed against openly warring with the gods. He argued the differences were too vast. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions had strapped them to this tiger, though, and there was no other recourse but to ride it. At any rate, first they had to deal with the threat at hand ¨C the army of world-destroying gods was a problem for another day. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 717 - Book 6, Chapter 109 – Tests Book 6, Several days later. The sun sat high, baking the yellow sands below. The familiar, scalding heat of the wastelands was in full sway. Less than half a year had passed since the Southern Capital was established. The time had been marred by twists and turns, but none of it had reached the gates of the city. Its population now numbered over two million strong and order reigned. In the North-West of the city was a canyon thoroughfare where the city and the wastelands met. One end of the valley seamlessly went from ancient ruins to new urban development, while the other spilled out into dilapidated emptiness. The wasteland side of the canyon was peppered with several dozen watch stations strung together into a forward outpost. Its main purpose was to guard against mutant attacks and natural disasters. Outposts like this were located at every entrance and exit, which helped maintain the stability of the city. Today Cloudhaw brought Gabriel, Barb and a few others to the barren outskirts. The two city planners directed their workers to install a large pylon at the mouth of the canyon while a number of soldiers watched in curiosity. They didn¡¯t know what brought Leader Cloudhawk all the way out here during their patrol. ¡°Hey Eminence Cloudhawk, we¡¯re all set.¡± [1] ¡°Tell Gabby to open ¡®er up and give it a try.¡± Gabriel reached out to the pylon with his mind and activated it. Steam gathered around it and belched from the top like some kind of furnace. Suddenly a beam of dazzling light shot up into the sky, thirty meters or more. At its zenith it spread out in all directions to form a bowl-shaped shell that hung over the area. The nearby soldiers watched with their mouths agape. That was¡­ dramatic. What was it? ¡°And there you have it. The energy shield has been activated successfully.¡± ¡°Looks like it¡¯ll protect about five thousand square meters, more or less.¡± ¡°Hey Eminence, you did it! We have our own defense pylon!¡± Barb¡¯s excitement and adoration were clear on her face. Cloudhawk had found a way to make water from air and soil from sand. Now he¡¯d built their own defensive tower ¨C another invention that would definitely serve future generations. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t seem all that pleased. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much it can protect against.¡± Barb turned and delivered the other. ¡°Attack the shield!¡± Several dozen Awakened [2]started to launch attacks. They started weak and gradually increased in strength with each wave. With every volley the shield¡¯s light dimmed until, after about a hundred blasts, it finally collapsed. Like a soap bubble, the shell popped and disappeared. Ooh¡¯s and ahh¡¯s arose from the soldiers. They were impressed that it took this many Awakened so long to break through. Barb collected the relevant data and handed it to Cloudhawk, who looked over the summary. ¡°About two attacks from a Master Demonhunter. Not enough.¡± ¡°Eminence, what¡¯s there to be unsatisfied with? Master Demonhunters don¡¯t grow like weeds. How many do you think are going to be attacking our city? If you ask me, this shield is plenty strong. Not only will it protect us from the wind and sand, but anyone who is looking for trouble will have a hard time busting through!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t share Barb¡¯s optimism. This was a design he¡¯d stolen from the divine matrix, based on the pylons they used on their airships. He¡¯d made some adjustments to turn it into a stand-alone defensive structure that could protect a wider area. To the greatly weakened Elysian realm this was a wonderful invention. On the surface it seemed a shield capable of protecting against two or three attacks from a Master Demonhunter was something to celebrate. In a war zone, however, it wouldn¡¯t last the opening salvo. A concentrated shot from the enemy forces was strong enough to match ten Master Demonhunters! Sure you could say the defense pylon was strong, but it wasn¡¯t nearly strong enough to protect humans from the danger they faced. At least for now it would protect them from mutant creatures and natural disasters, though. There were differences between this sort of pylon and Cloudhawk¡¯s Miracle Towers. Miracle Towers continuously produced water thanks to Awakened transforming bad into good. In other words, mental energy was needed to make it work. Defense pylons, on the other hand, needed mental energy to activate. But once they were operational they relied on intrinsic energy. Mental power was a pilot light. The best thing about these pylons were that they didn¡¯t need to be tended to constantly. Wasteland Awakened or Elysian demonhunters ¨C they were a precious and limited resource. Cloudhawk¡¯s pylons effectively covered an area of four to five thousand meters. Quite a few would be needed to protect a whole city. If they needed a demonhunter for every one they would quickly run out of people to do the job. ¡°It¡¯s already amazing that you can build something like this.¡± Barb walked over to him. ¡°Pylons like this could be easily deployed and moved during a war. That would definitely work in our favor.¡± She was right. But they had to learn to crawl before they could fly. For now this copied divine technology was enough to protect areas like this, choke points and entrances. It would keep them safe from the day to day troubles at least and reduce casualties. Every step was an improvement that helped keep the Southern Capital safe and stable. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try the weapons.¡± Cloudhawk turned his eyes to Hellflower. ¡°All set?¡± She gave him the all-clear. The ruins began to rumble as from the wastes a giant object lumbered into view. It looked like an enormous wasteland chariot with the most striking feature attached to the top; a large and imposing pipe. It looked like a cannon barrel, only more complex. Barb¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°This is¡­¡± Hellflower introduced it before Cloudhawk had a chance. ¡°We¡¯ve modified Elysian airship attack pylons to make these energy cannons. Between myself and Cloudhawk we learned that their construction isn¡¯t terribly complicated. We combined it with our own eboncrys weapons and supplemented by a demonhunter, it¡¯s no less destructive than any ship-borne weapon.¡± So they were going to test this artillery? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t offer any further explanation. He merely waved his hand and gave the order. ¡°Start the test!¡± Hellflower relayed the command. The tank stopped and adjusted it¡¯s cannon toward a small mountain in the distance. ¡°Fire!¡± The hair on the back of their necks stood on end as energy gathered. It spread out in all directions as the weapon was released, causing nearby ruins to crumble. A staggeringly bright light belched from the converted pylon and slammed into the distant terrain. Every structure on it was reduced to fine rubble. That was¡­ terrifying! Even a Master Demonhunter would be shot to pieces by a direct shot! ¡°That¡¯s the power of Green Alliance heavy artillery. It uses eboncrys as a fuel source to empower a cannon based off their Spear of God ships. A weapon of mass destruction manned by any awakened or demonhunter.¡± Hellflower explained further. ¡°It¡¯s quick, powerful, can be installed on ships and isn¡¯t complicated to make. The next step is to equip our armada with as many as he can throw together. Of course we can also place them around our cities as anti-aircraft weapons.¡± There was little difference between these heavy weapons and the Spear of God ships. Elysian Spears were powerful and rare attack units. Thankfully they were not widespread, not because they were hard to make but because the gods limited what technology they gave to humans. Cloudhawk undermined that by stealing the plans, and Hellflower had made it better. They were on the cusp of a widespread modernization of everything from ships to tanks. When they were done, the Green Alliance would be more powerful than ever. This new had a range of tens of thousands of meters ¨C meaning it could blast apart a target tens of kilometers away. In other words the Green Alliance didn¡¯t have to reach high enough altitude to attack that floating Temple. With a weapon like this they just needed to point and shoot. Cloudhawk was quite pleased with the result. Between these new cannons and the defense towers, what did they have to worry about? That¡¯s what many thought, but Cloudhawk was not satisfied with the situation yet. Focusing on the four Supremes was short-sighted. What he needed to prepare for was the war that would come after. Hellflower interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Wolfblade wants to see you. He says he has something important to report. It¡¯s about the four Elysian realms.¡± 1. ¡®Eminence has been Barb¡¯s go-to for addressing Cloudhawk since the good-old days. 2. Remember that Awakened are what Cloudhawk called wasteland demonhunters. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 6, Chapter 110 - Epilogue: A New Plan ¡°Your pylon and cannon are quite the accomplishment.¡± Wolfblade sipped from a teacup. ¡°They¡¯re sure to improve our armies and better prepare us against the Supremes.¡± Cloudhawk got to the point. ¡°I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t come here to talk about my inventions.¡± ¡°Hmhm¡­ you know me well. You¡¯re right, I don¡¯t usually concern myself with these trivial things.¡± Wolfblade calmly set the cup aside. ¡°Your inventions are impressive, you have a talent. But progress is too slow. If we continue at the current place then we will lose.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°A decade ago, Skycloud was the strongest of the Elysian realms. However it wasn¡¯t much stronger than the others. In the last five years there have been numerous conflicts causing Skycloud to tumble to the bottom of that list. Even though Skycloud has joined us it is much weaker than it once was. At present, we have no chance against the combined might of the Supremes and their armies.¡± Wolfblade was correct. Ten days had passed since the battle for Skycloud and already the Sky Fortress was starting to take shape. Cloudhawk was moving too slow. The Supremes commanded an army at least fifty thousand strong. Their armada boasted thousands of ships. Sky Fortress had all manner of new weapons and their soldiers were outfitted with excellent equipment. Then there were the four gods to consider. So many unknowns remained, not least of which what the Supremes could do ¨C even Cloudhawk was hesitant to test the waters. Improvements to weapons and equipment were great, but they would take time to spread through Green Alliance forces. They were inferior to the other realms by a large margin and didn¡¯t even have a way to fight above the atmosphere. All they could do was watch more and more enemy soldiers flow into Sky Fortress. When they were ready to bring the fight to them, they would be greatly outnumbered. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have a plan, if you¡¯re bringing it up.¡± Cloudhawk had grappled with these problems himself. If Wolfblade was here it was because he had conjured up some way to deal with them. Wolfblade waved his hand. ¡°Enter.¡± Squall came into the room with a box. He put it on the ground, opened it up, and pulled out a bullet-shaped object from within. It was connected to a number of smaller devices and bristled with wires. ¡°A primeval weapon?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°Indeed. The last one in our possession, and the last we are likely to find. It must be used where its effects would be greatest ¨C like in the Sky Fortress.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to do that?¡± He was speaking like he could just waltz right into the place! Skycloud¡¯s Temple was floating in low earth orbit and could move as it pleased. He couldn¡¯t even figure out it¡¯s exact location with their current technology. Anyway, it now served as the heart of the Sky Fortress. No doubt it was heavily protected. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t getting anywhere near it, much less giving them a nuclear care package. ¡°There is always a way.¡± Wolfblade flashed his trademark cunning smile. ¡°We can create opportunities to legitimately enter. You might find it a difficult trip, however.¡± ¡°You mean trying to pass as someone from one of the other realms and sneak inside?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Of course, penetrating the Sky Fortresses¡¯ protections is hard enough and the Supremes will be vigilant. It would be easier to infiltrate one of the realms and then have them deliver you to the Fortress themselves. Less risk, higher chance of success.¡± Cloudhawk understood where he was going. Wolfblade¡¯s suggestion was for Cloudhawk to leave for another one of the Elysian realms and establish himself there. The ultimate goal was to find a way into the Fortress, where could destroy it with a nuke from the inside. With the help of Bruno¡¯s Riftshard daggers, Cloudhawk could traverse the earth in relatively short order. The journey was not a problem. ¡°According to my estimations, Sky Fortress will complete its preparations in no more than two months. That is all the time you have to craft a passable identity and qualify to enter the Fortress.¡± Wolfblade paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°The mission is difficult, but I believe you now possess the skills to see it through.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t like bullshit exchanges, so he kept pressing. ¡°What¡¯s the destination and the route?¡± Another smile curled the corner of Wolfblade¡¯s lips. He produced a small remote control and pressed a button. A holographic projection sputtered to life on his desk: the earth, dead and yellow, slowly rotating in place. Six areas were clearly marked. They were spread pretty evenly across the globe. The one marked with a white symbol was Skycloud, and the Shepherd God¡¯s failed home was marked in gray. The others were indicated with red, probably to indicate their hostile status. ¡°What you see are the precise locations of each Elysian land.¡± It was not at all strange that Wolfblade would know where these realms were. He¡¯d wandered the world for over a thousand years, maybe even before some were created. ¡°My suggestion is the furthest, Stormford. Being the most remote there are few or no wasteland powers they¡¯ve had to contend with. That would make it easier for you to infiltrate, since they would not be wary of outsiders.¡± Cloudhawk took a moment to regard the nuclear weapon nearby. He weighed his options, but eventually understood it was the best course of action. He collected the weapon and left. Wolfblade called after him. ¡°Also, I have an old friend in Stormford who would be happy to offer some help. He¡¯s easy to find, you just need to...¡± But Cloudhawk had already left. Wolfblade sat back, picked up his cup and took a sup. Squall had been standing to one side the whole time. Curiosity eventually got the better of him. ¡°Think he¡¯ll do it?¡± ¡°What makes you think he wouldn¡¯t? He is the Demon King.¡± When he was finished with his tea, the demon rose and opened a window. The light from outside darkened his shadow. ¡°Everything he experiences is a series of small tests. The real enemy has yet to arrive. He won¡¯t fail so easily.¡± ** ¡°You really trust Wolfblade¡¯s strategy?¡± ¡°Things being what they are we have to consider anything feasible.¡± Cloudhawk was preparing for the journey. He¡¯d spent the night with Selene together in the fort. She clearly had her doubts about the plan ¨C at the very least he shouldn¡¯t go alone. He wasn¡¯t a trained infiltrator, they had Carnage for a job like that. He wasn¡¯t just some grunt, either. He was the leader of their Alliance. If something happened while he was gone, how could he respond? Selene¡¯s attitude toward Wolfblade was similar to Dawn¡¯s. He was dangerous, conspiratorial and not to be trusted. Even to this day no one knew what his motivations were. What they saw was only the tip of the iceberg. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m strong enough to move pretty quickly between two fixed points.¡± Cloudhawk wrapped her in a hug. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right that no one is better for sneaking into places than Carnage. His disguises aren¡¯t based on any relic so no power can reveal him. But that is also its greatest flaw.¡± ¡°Flaw?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t duplicate the resonance of a relic, and that means he can¡¯t pretend to be a demonhunter. At best he can assume the identity of a general. We know that Sky Fortress is gathering the best of the best, the strongest people in all the realms. Two months isn¡¯t enough time for Carnage to find a way in.¡± ¡°So then your plan...¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Stormford and Carnage will go to the other three realms. I¡¯ll do my best to reach the heart of Sky Fortress as fast as possible. Meanwhile Carnage will spread through the middle and lower ranks. Our chances will be better if we coordinate.¡± ¡°Is there some way I can help you?¡± Selene asked. ¡°Yeah, when I¡¯m not here you¡¯re in charge of the Alliance.¡± There were plenty of capable people in the Green Alliance, but only a handful he could trust without reservation. Of that small group even fewer had the leadership qualities needed to run the show. Selene was the best choice. While he was away the Alliance would be in a tug of war between Selene¡¯s camp, Wolfblad¡¯es people, and followers of the Cloud God. It was a good system of mutual control and relative independence. As long as Cloudhawk was around and they were all fighting for survival, these groups wouldn¡¯t fight among themselves. These divisions actually served to make them stronger. Two months¡­ That¡¯s all the time he had to disguise himself as a mere demonhunter and sneak into Sky Fortress. He was the only one who could do it, the only one who could end this war before it began. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 1 - A New Identity Building a character overnight was no easy task. Cloudhawk had to start from zero all over again, a stranger in a strange land. He was expected to build enough of a reputation in a short period to enter the Temple without letting anyone know his true identity. It seemed like an impossible task, at least in the couple months he had to accomplish it. It was important not to underestimate one¡¯s foes. Stormford had lost a great warrior when Bruno was captured, but in the grand scheme he was a small part of a much larger whole. While Skycloud had suffered and declined, Stormford had spend decades in a state of prosperity. For a thousand years it cultivated warriors of strength and ability. Even Cloudhawk had to be wary when making his way through the realm. Wolfblade knew how difficult the mission was. That¡¯s why he pointed Cloudhawk toward an old ally, hidden in the belly of the beast. The demon artisan, Elder Belial. Belial had once occupied the Tenth Seal of demon society. An important figure among his kin, his prestige was ten times what the fallen Elder Judas had commanded. However, it was important to note that a demon¡¯s rank was not entirely based on strength. Belial didn¡¯t earn his position because of combat prowess. After all, even a god or demon was limited in what they could do. No single being could conquer the heavens, no matter how strong. The demon earned his place, instead, because of his talents as an artisan. Belial was the most talented fabricator of his kin. While his strength was average or less among the other Elders, his relationships with them bolstered his influence. Quite a few of the relics used by the demons were forged by his hand, some of epic quality or greater. One could imagine how important a creature like Belial was to his people. After the great war, it was assumed that the Elder had been killed in battle. The denizens of Gehenna only knew he did not slink back into the darkness with them. In truth, though, he¡¯d found some way to disguise himself as a human and had been hiding here among them all this time. Cloudhawk knew how important Belial was. His artisanal prowess aside, the demon was likely stronger than Judas. If he had to guess, he imagined the demon to be equivalent to a Supreme. The frail look of his human form was deceiving and in a real fight Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how well he¡¯d fare. The Demon King¡¯s successor was strong, with mental powers comparable to a Supreme. However he was young. Inexperienced. In comparison Belial had lived for a thousand years and no one knew what tricks he was hiding ¨C or what relics he¡¯d accrued. ¡°Stormford had been so tense lately. Now I see it¡¯s because the Demon King¡¯s successor has shown himself.¡± Belial didn¡¯t seem impressed by the title despite being a demon himself. ¡°Legion never gave up, even after all these years. That old fogey, never able to leave well enough alone. He would rather drag all his people into the path of destruction.¡± Anger played across Belial¡¯s face. He would happily tear Legion to pieces, given half a chance. He was amazed that this unassuming, ordinary human would be chosen as the Demon King¡¯s successor. Whatever his talents, whatever his strengths, he could never shed the inferior bounds of his genetics. What were humans but lesser lifeforms? Mental prowess didn¡¯t come from the body, so however strong his will it would never stop him from aging. Some humans evolved to live for several hundred years, but that was almost unheard of. Their subpar genetics limited them to a brief life, doomed to wasting and death unlike their demon betters. What made him think he could lead Belial¡¯s people? He couldn¡¯t imagine what the Demon King had been thinking. Legion¡¯s thoughts were equally inscrutable. But that wasn¡¯t important for he had already made up his mind. He wasn¡¯t going to fight this stupid war any longer. Better to pretend he was mortal and hide behind an assumed name. He would spend his days here, in silence and obscurity, until the sun went out. ¡°Here¡¯s the situation.¡± Cloudhawk explained the gist of his plan. ¡°I am calling on your obligation as an Elder to help me. You can dismiss me, but I don¡¯t think Legion would look so kindly on it if you do.¡± Belial scowled openly. The Demon King was dead, if there was anyone left on this hunk of rock Belial feared it was Legion. He was very familiar with the schemer¡¯s methods. If Legion wanted him dead he already would be. It was not healthy to make an enemy of the Second Seal, whatever the circumstances. After a few moments Belial answered. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll help. But I¡¯m telling you now that I remain neutral in this farce. I will not be dragged into it, on either side.¡± It was a poignant display of how demons differed. Judas ¨C least of the Seals ¨C and the likes of Abaddon spent their days trying to erase the shame of their defeat a thousand years ago. Meanwhile the mighty artisan hid away like a cockroach. It rankled Cloudhawk, but he did not speak with the gravity of the Demon King yet. There were other more important things to accomplish first, anyway. With no reason or means to tangle with this crotchety demon, he had to accept the terms. At least for now. ¡°Alright.¡± He agreed. Belial wasn¡¯t foolish enough to believe this would be the end of it, but he wasn¡¯t about to waste time. Once this human got what he wanted, Belial would change his face and start over again somewhere else. After so many years it was as easy as breathing for him. The tricky part would be keeping himself hidden from Legion. ¡°The capital has been combing through the realm, looking for talented demonhunters. If you want to be snatched up with the rest of them then the method is simple: Find a suitable target here in town and replace them.¡± ¡°That simple, huh?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Cloudhawk didn¡¯t trust Belial. Rather, he was fairly sure it was far more complicated than the demon made it sound. Cloudhawk had a hundred or so relics squirreled away in his dimensional warehouse. There was probably a catalogue of things he could use to help disguise himself. But that meant expertly wearing a mask at all times. The slightest misstep and someone could see right through him. ¡°Do you think ¡®demon artisan¡¯ is just a gimmick title?¡± Belial guessed at Cloudhawk¡¯s concerns and frowned at the insult. ¡°I have lived in this place for hundreds of years and have never once been discovered. The disguises I made are undetectable by any relic and impossible to see through.¡± ¡°Great, let¡¯s give it a try then.¡± Seeing the demon¡¯s confidence, Cloudhawk was resolved to give it a shot. Belial and Legion were very different sorts, as far as he could tell. Wolfblade ¨C as he was now known ¨C changed his physical body thanks to the Sarcophagus of Rebirth. On the other hand, Belial retained his demon body but made himself appear completely different. It was a mystery how he managed to do it, but it had to work well if he¡¯d managed to stay hidden out here for so long. Belial pushed passed him and closed the door to the shop. Safe from prying eyes, he started the process. His methods were unique and involved, and did not rely on relics. Through his expertise he of course knew that those tools could enact great change, but did so at the cost of mental energy. With extended use, sooner or later there was a chance the disguise would fail. Rather it was like the old adage ¨C sometimes the most effective methods were the simplest. Cloudhawk stood in the center of the room as Belial covered him in a strange ointment. Next he was injected by a series of inexplicable concoctions. The entire process took over three hours. When he was finished, Belial produced a mirror and showed Cloudhawk the result. A gasp was his reward. Cloudhawk stared at the unfamiliar face looking back at him. His build was similar, but flowing golden hair sat on his head and his features were that of a rugged youth. Even the silvery Eye of Time was transformed to an electric blue. He practiced making several faces in the mirror. Nothing was rigid or unnatural. Because it didn¡¯t rely on any relic his disguise could not be dispelled or seen through. It was a transformation that sunk deep into his skin. It was like he¡¯d become someone else entirely. ¡°You are now the third son of Byzantium¡¯s Governor, Lance. He is a demonhunter, and in a few days he is to go to Fulmulta for a political marriage. His bride is a daughter from one of the capital¡¯s distinguished families. You can use this opportunity to enter the city and insert yourself with the force going to the Temple.¡± Belial washed his hands in a nearby basin as he explained. ¡°I will give you more detailed information later. It¡¯s as much as I¡¯m able to help. Once you¡¯re gone I expect you to hold to your word and forget we ever met.¡± Cloudhawk touched his face and body then looked at his hands. The layer of skin stuck tight to his real form underneath. It was resistant to water or fire ¨C perfect, like a fleshy suit. Even though he¡¯d watched the whole thing, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how the artisan had managed it. Obviously he still had a lot to learn. ¡°What about the real guy?¡± Belial looked at him like he was an idiot. ¡°If you¡¯re going to replace him why keep the original around? He¡¯s a spoiled fool anyway, fond of gambling and with a record stained from misdeeds. Without his father to wipe his ass someone would have put him in the ground already. I imagine you¡¯re plenty capable of making sure a child like him makes a clean disappearance.¡± Cloudhawk did not express his opinion except to smirk. ¡°Truth be told I¡¯m impressed with your skill. Are you sure you won¡¯t consider rejoining your kin?¡± ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, I sense the devil fire in you. That¡¯s a relic made by another artisan. And that sword you carry, you made that yes? With the likes of you there isn¡¯t much I can do to help. I¡¯d appreciate it if you told Legion to stay the fuck out of my business.¡± Belial was talking about Castigation Fire. Cloudhawk knew it had belonged to a demon Elder once. Now it seemed the creature that left it behind had been an artisan too, before dying during the Great War. But Cloudhawk still saw Belial as vitally important, despite his words. In the war to come, the demon craftsman would be a priceless ally. However, he couldn¡¯t be hasty. Nor was converting Belial to his cause the focus of his current mission. It was a matter for another time. Once the matter with the Elysian realms was dealt with he would come back to it. ¡°If the Elder wishes to stay out of it, then I won¡¯t force you. Thank you for your help, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Cloudhawk put away his weapon and with a slight shimmer, vanished from view. Reality trembled slightly in the space he vacated. Impressive. I didn¡¯t think humans could command spatial ability that strong. It seems I can¡¯t stay here any longer. Belial didn¡¯t believe a word Cloudhawk had said. He spent the rest of the day gathering up his things, then left the city he¡¯d called home for a decade in the middle of the night. What he didn¡¯t notice was the pudgy yellow bird darting overhead, watching him with its keen round eyes. Slipping away into obscurity again wasn¡¯t easy. Not anymore. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 2 - The Third Young Master Early evening. Night was approaching. Dusk¡¯s gentle light hung over Byzantium, playing among the lamp-lit streets. April Showers was one of the premiere entertainment locations in the city. Talented and beautiful women danced, the highest quality food was provided, and businessmen drank to their heart¡¯s content nightly. A thousand gold was not enough to enjoy all the delights of this place, but even so rarely were nobles spied here. In any Elysian land, nobility were an important part of theocratic rule. Rich but reasonable was a standard, for the rule of faith and the tenets of religion ran deep. Nobles who reached for power had to adhere to them. Those that chose instead to live in decadence were few. But nothing was absolute. Anywhere where people gathered there would be outliers, and besides it was human nature to seek out comfort. As it was not explicitly denied by the gods, places like April Showers saw good business despite the stigma. One of its most offensive regulars was the Governor¡¯s third son, Lance. The young noble spent his days drinking, which compounded his already vicious nature. He often lorded his position over others, bullied patrons and caused trouble. Despite this the Governor doted on his three sons like princes. So long as their antics didn¡¯t go too far, troubles were ignored or paid off. ¡°Drink! Keep it coming!¡± As was customary, the Young Master was resting against a pair of creamy thighs in a small room. A dozen beauties were sprawled among the couches, eating and drinking in a decadent display. ¡°Third Master has had enough!¡± A steward of the Governor wailed, ¡°If the Governor knew of this he would be furious again!¡± ¡°We take the day by the balls and worry about tomorrow when it comes! I¡¯m just having a little fun, what are you worried about? Fuck off if you have a problem, no one asked for your opinion!¡± Lance spit a mouthful of alcohol into the steward¡¯s face. The man, knowing Lance¡¯s disposition, left with a glower. ¡°They¡¯re about to send me to the capital. I say we have some fun before I go, yeah?¡± Lance swung his head around, staring at the women with wine-soaked eyes. He grabbed the nearest one and started to paw at her. ¡°Son-in-law to the capital¡¯s Governor, part of his grand family! Heh, think of the sort of man I¡¯ll be then!¡± ¡°Third Master wants to go?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t want to be without Third Master!¡± The girls whined and cooed, closing in around him in a display of affection. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave you ladies either, but it¡¯s not up to me.¡± He chortled and took another swig of wine. ¡°Ever since I was small they all have looked down on me. It¡¯ll be good to leave them all behind!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, Young Master. You¡¯re an honorable demonhunter! Who would dare look down on you?¡± ¡°You think demonhunters have any power? Maybe they do, but only to you common people. For someone like me, born into an important family, everyone is a demonhunter. What¡¯s special about that?¡± Lance drunkenly shoved the girl away. ¡°I¡¯ve had too much, I need to piss.¡± No one noticed the dark figure perched on the ceiling beam. Wrapped in black, it would be hard to see at a glance how he looked exactly like the Governor¡¯s son ¨C everything except for his expression. Cloudhawk had watched the youth live his luxurious life with some interest. Stormford¡¯s history was peaceful without any outside forces to cause problems. It was lax and comfortable here. Especially somewhere like Byzantium ¨C a big city but not a very important one ¨C these dens of decadence were as numerous as churches. Women like this, songstresses and dancers who sold themselves for coin, were absent in Skycloud. At least on the surface. Under the Cloude family they made sure such filthy trade was not allowed to undermine the purity of their realm. The girls who worked here were either from poor families or were spoiled by crime and were forced into prostitution. The Young Master drunkenly stumbled into the hall. He pushed open the door to the toilet, but before he stepped in he stopped dead in his tracks. Even in his drunken state he was startled, for in the doorway was a man who looked exactly like him. For a moment he wasn¡¯t sure if he was dreaming. Lance opened his mouth to scream, but to no avail. His mirror image snapped his fingers and a power spread through the area. Although Lance tried to scream and call out, no one came running. At the same time he felt a terrible power creep over him. What incredible, frightening strength! What was this demon?! He didn¡¯t need to fight this copy to realize he was stronger than anyone he¡¯d ever met in his life. All the best warriors in Byzantium together couldn¡¯t match him. The stranger could snap Lance in two with the power of his little finger. ¡°Wh-¡­ who are you?!¡± Cloudhawk looked down at the young man, prostrate on the ground before him, and smiled. ¡°Is that important? From now on I am you. And you...¡± Lance quailed and tried to scramble backward. ¡°No, no! Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t move. An invisible hand grabbed the young man by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Lance had soiled his pants and kicked urine around the bathroom as he struggled. It was all in vain. A novice demonhunter like this was nothing to Cloudhawk, like an ant before a dragon. The pitiful youth didn¡¯t even have a chance to fight back. When Lance stopped struggling, Cloudhawk yanked off his coat and slipped it on. All at once there was no difference between them. And the Young Master himself? Like Belial said, there was no reason to keep him around. Even if he was an ant, Lance was an enemy. There was no point in letting him continue to wander the world and try to bite his toes. Cloudhawk got to where he was on the corpses of many. There were some who might call him a bloodthirsty demon. He hardly thought twice as a tongue of green fire spurted to life at the tip of a finger. ¡°Give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t kill you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t kill me! I don¡¯t want to die! I¡¯ll do whatever you ask, anything at all! I¡¯m begging you, please! I don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°Ugh. Better to have died then to become a demonhunter like this.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head in disgust. Stormford was in a sorry state. This idiot didn¡¯t have half the courage of one of Skycloud¡¯s freshest grunts. Even still Cloudhawk let his finger fall. ¡°Killing a whelp like you would be shameful.¡± Cloudhawk released his spatial powers. Formless, it wrapped around Lance and pulled him away into another world. He¡¯d changed his mind not from sudden compassion, but because he saw Lance as nothing of a threat. He wasn¡¯t sure whether the idiot deserved to die, but he couldn¡¯t afford to let him get in his way. Most would kill him and be done with it¡­ Of course, Cloudhawk had other options. Instead he sent him off to the penal colony on another world. Who knows, maybe the kid would be useful one day. Once he¡¯d changed into the Young Master¡¯s cloths, Cloudhawk walked back to the room. There a dozen or so women were waiting for him. He was immediately enveloped in soft skin and fragrant smells. He¡¯d stepped into the life of this young man, so he might as well play the part for now and enjoy the decadence Lance would never again know. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 3 - Third Master Counters ¡°Son, are you trying to get on my nerves? How could such a piece of garbage have come from my loins!¡± A handsome man with a well-kept beard in his middle years smashed a teacup he had been holding in his hands. ¡°You keep a close eye on this waste of air! In two days he¡¯s going to the capital, and if anything happens before then I will see you all strung up and quartered!¡± ¡°Yes, Governor!¡± The stewards bowed and scraped, hunched in fear of the Governor¡¯s wrath. They pushed the sloppy drunk Third Master into his room and onto his bed. Once the stewards all left, Third Master changed entirely. His lolling eyes sharpened and the drunken stupor fled from his face. He got up from the bed as though nothing had happened. The plan so far had been troublesome, but so long as it worked all was well. And indeed it seemed to be ¨C he¡¯d already completely the first phase and had integrated himself into the city. Master of the wastelands, Cloudhawk¡­ dressed up as a dandy noble. He shut his eyes and reached out to connect his will with Oddball¡¯s. The little bird¡¯s eyes were keen and quick, better than even some of the best spy-focused demonhunters. Through his small companion, Cloudhawk learned that Belial had already left the city just as he expected. It didn¡¯t appear that he noticed Oddball watching him. As for where he was going, that wasn¡¯t hard to guess. The Elder had been living among the Eysians for hundreds of years by this point. There were likely several little nests he¡¯d arranged over the centuries so he probably had a wealth of places to pick from. For the time being, Cloudhawk decided to pay him no more mind. The big question now was how to play off his new role. As promised, Belial had provided him with some intel on Lance and his family. It wasn¡¯t overly detailed, but certainly useful. The Third Young Master had never been to the capital. In a world where communication was limited, it was very easy to deceive strangers. Of course, tricking those who¡¯d known Lance for a long time would be a different story. Luckily he was only here for a few days. He wasn¡¯t likely to arouse much suspicion. Cloudhawk opened a portal to another world and stepped through, vanishing from the bedroom. He appeared before the real Lance who lay with his hands and feet bound. He was dressed in nothing but a pair of underwear and when Cloudhawk appeared, he stared at the man with a mixture of horror and despair. This whole ordeal had been terrifying. Suddenly, someone who had looked exactly like him appeared and stole his entire life. If that alone wasn¡¯t frightening enough, this stranger was stronger than any person he¡¯d ever met. He could just make people blink out of thin air! Lance was both uneducated and incompetent, but for better or worse he had trained in the demonhunter academy. He had some small ability to read the situation and could tough it out for at least a short time. One glance overhead told him that this wasn¡¯t the same world he¡¯d come from, much less Stormford. His environment confirmed it. The realizations only made him more frightened. Had this guy actually¡­ brought me to another world? ¡°Do you want to live?¡± Lance fervently nodded his head. ¡°Then listen good. Your life means exactly shit to me. I only need your identity for a few days then I¡¯m on to other things. Play nice and I¡¯ll consider letting you go.¡± Cloudhawk waited for Lance to acknowledge him, then went on. ¡°I want you to tell me everything about your family. I¡¯m hoping you don¡¯t decide to play games with me.¡± Lance couldn¡¯t even dream of trying to lie to this monster. All he could think of was dying out here and no one ever finding his body. So Lance was quick to answer. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you. Anything, everything! I promise you nothing but the truth.¡± The two spoke for several hours. Mostly it was Lance spilling every little detail he could while Cloudhawk would occasionally interject with a question. It wasn¡¯t the information he was after, though. Mostly he spoke with the kid so he could copy his manner of speech and body language. Through the course of their discussion Cloudhawk discovered both good news and bad news. The good news was that Lance was indeed a demonhunter, and one with decent talent at that. If he wasn¡¯t such a layabout he would have made good progress. He was erratic, moody and twitchy ¨C all qualities that would make a sudden change in behavior less obvious. The bad news was that Lance¡¯s identity was not the best suited for what he wanted to accomplish. The Elysian army was an elite group, especially those tapped to go to the Sky Fortress. Lance¡¯s public position and reputation were going to make his job harder. It was time to go back. He rose to his feet and turned away, but at the last minute looked over his shoulder. He left some food and water for the beleaguered noble. ¡°This isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing for you, you know. At the very least I¡¯ll leave you in a better position than I found you in.¡± With that, he warped through dimensions and reappeared in Lance¡¯s chambers. He dispelled the illusory copy he left to cover his tracks, then laid down to rest. When dawn broke the next day, the Governor summoned his son before him. The whole of their family leaders were all present ¨C the Governor and his wife, and their two older children. Without a word of greeting the Governor launched into another scalding tirade, belittling his son in so uncertain terms. Yet even though his words were harsh, it was not hard to see that he was taking it easy on his son. How else would a foul young man like that survive up to this point? The Governor¡¯s wife stood, interrupting his rant. ¡°Lance, the woman you are to marry is a noble of Fulmulta. You must learn to restrain yourself when you go to the capital. If you make trouble like you do here, no one will be able to protect you.¡± Their third son put on a petulate glower. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to Fulmulta and I don¡¯t want to marry some stuck-up noble. Let someone else go, why does it have to be me?¡± ¡°Say that again, you stupid shit!¡± The Governor¡¯s anger flared, but his wife was quick to try and assuage his anger. ¡°This marriage involves two families. They need our support and it¡¯s our family¡¯s ticket to the capital. The woman you are to marry is famously beautiful, what is there to be upset about?¡± Lance whined piteously. ¡°If it¡¯s so important, why not have one of my brothers marry her!¡± Cloudhawk surprised himself with his talent for acting. He found it easy to slip into this obnoxious young man¡¯s persona. His two ¡®brothers¡¯ shifted uncomfortably. The elder spoke up first. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t be so stubborn. Didn¡¯t we decide this six months ago? I am already married with a son. Our brother is in charge of the city¡¯s martial forces. That leaves you...¡± Lance cut in. ¡°I am not leaving to get married. I want to join the army. I heard they¡¯re gathering troops for a war against the rebel realm. With my talents I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll put me right on the front lines!¡± That took everyone by surprise. The way Lance¡¯s mind worked was an absolute mystery. Was all of this just some dramatic way of trying to avoid marriage? The Governor¡¯s anger flared again. ¡°What did you say?! You think your piss-poor skill means anything?!¡± His youngest son held his head high. ¡°I am strong, but none of you pay any attention. If you don¡¯t believe me, have my brothers try. If I beat them in a sparring match you will let me join the army.¡± Had this boy gone insane? Everyone knew what sort of lout he was. It was a good day if he didn¡¯t collapse in a drunken stupor, and he thought he could take on his brothers? But before anyone could protest, the middle child stepped forward. ¡°If that¡¯s how you want it, then I¡¯ll show you the truth.¡± ¡°Bring it on!¡± The second brother pulled forward an exorcist rod and launched himself forward through the hall. He stepped off the ground with a deft kick off his right foot and suddenly he was flying through the air, as though gravity had been turned off. The exorcist rod whistled as it came, deceptively quick. No one stopped it. This young one didn¡¯t know his place and had to be shown. Maybe he would change his tone after he was beaten into the dirt. Of the three brothers, it was the middle child who was the strongest. He commanded Byzantium¡¯s demonhunters and city guard. In many ways he was the Governor¡¯s right hand, so as a challenger he was certainly no pushover. His younger brother had made his choice, there was no one to blame but himself. The only one who seemed anxious was his mother, who was afraid her child might be injured. However, the Governor stretched out a hand and stopped her before she could act. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our son will not be too harsh. Lance spends all his days making trouble, If it wasn¡¯t for us I shudder to think what he¡¯d be today. A little suffering is good, it¡¯ll help him see what it means to be weak.¡± The youngest son sidestepped the exorcist rod but did not fight back. ¡°Brother, with your skill you think you can beat me? You aren¡¯t even worth my time!¡± Despite his words the middle son was surprised. When had Lance gotten so nimble, to avoid his attack like that? It didn¡¯t matter though, he was confident in his abilities and Lance¡¯s lack thereof. He delved into the rod and activated its power, causing wind to rush through the hall as the top spun. Lance ducked back to avoid a second swipe, barely avoiding it. By then his older brother noticed something was off. He must have been practicing in secret. An ordinary person couldn¡¯t have avoided two of his attacks. No more playing ¨C he launched into a third, fiercer assault! After several consecutive jukes Cloudhawk knew he couldn¡¯t play defense forever. He pulled out his own exorcist rod and knocked aside his opponent¡¯s. Violent mental powers burst forth. The Governor¡¯s second son felt the power rip through him and staggered backward. Suddenly his expression was different as his younger brother rushed at him like a cornered animal. He caught the blow with his rod but the strength behind it sent his weapon flying. The winner was decided¡­ but, how? The Governor and his wife were stupefied. The eldest son stared in open amazement. What happened? Was he on some sort of drug? He was like someone else entirely, somehow able to beat his much stronger older brother. Even if he¡¯d been holding back, it hadn¡¯t been by much. Had they really been underestimating him all this time? Cloudhawk looked at their stunned faces. Shock¡­ but not doubt. That¡¯s exactly what he was looking for. He¡¯d held back so as not to make them suspicious, it wasn¡¯t like this guy was any kind of competition for him. He threw the rod down with an emphatic clatter. ¡°Now you have to agree.¡± ¡°Agree? Agree to what? When was this ever a negotiation?!¡± The Governor even rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the one who came here trying to pick a fight. If your brother had used even a fraction of his strength you¡¯d be dead! Get this army nonsense out of your head and marry the Governor¡¯s daughter like I command you to!¡± Lance blustered in a show of rage. ¡°You-!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± By now the Governor¡¯s wife had lost her patience. ¡°Your father is doing what¡¯s best for you. The realm looks calm but there may be a darkness creeping in. We are protecting you by arranging for you to marry into a large family. Besides, they are more influential than we are. If you behave and earn their help, perhaps they can get you into the army.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough of this nonsense. It¡¯s settled, tomorrow you¡¯re off to the capital. I¡¯ll hear no more of it.¡± The Governor rose and stomped out of the chamber in a huff. He was no longer interested in this argument. 1. Remember that his tattered cloak had this ability. He rarely uses it. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 4 - Fulmulta On the third day¡­ Cloudhawk watched from the airship¡¯s cabin as the capital of Stormford pulled into view. ¡°Belial was pretty spot on.¡± Cloudhawk had spent two days in Byzantium before a way to the capital presented itself. That was too short for even Lance¡¯s own flesh and blood to notice any difference. As for his sudden surge in ability? The Young Master¡¯s family was surprised, certainly, but it didn¡¯t rise to the level of suspicion. So far as they were concerned, the lazy wastrel was finally showing some mettle! Lance wasn¡¯t born lesser than any other man. On the contrary, his potential was clear. But he squandered those talents by spending his days in decadent malaise, halting his progress. Now at last he appeared to be rising to his potential, a fact which pleased Byzantium¡¯s Governor greatly. Cloudhawk sat cross-legged on the small cot, watching the sprawling mountains and snaking valleys roll along below. He sighed at the sight and had to admit that it was only with Wolfblade¡¯s help that he was able to find Stormford. Without the demon, it would have taken months of searching. Who else, Elysian or otherwise, would know anything about this dangerous and complicated land? How would any outsider know that among the criss-crossing ranges was hidden an Elysian realm with tens of thousands of residents? The world was so big. There were so many places he had yet to see. Every corner was flush with its own history, people and culture. Stormford, too, was sure to have countless stories of its own. At one time Cloudhawk had wanted to be a wanderer, searching for an elusive paradise. That dream died a little while after he left Hell¡¯s Valley. Since then he¡¯d wanted to uncover the curiosities of the world because he had the ability to. There was a saying: To live was to experience wanderlust. The body and soul were always in search of a new path to trod. Alas, it was an itch he could not yet scratch. Maybe one day when he was finished with it all. Maybe then he could take some time to explore. Be it this world or any of the others he¡¯d encountered, Cloudhawk wanted to learn everything. The universe was vast, and out among the stars the greatest warrior and the humblest beast were all the same. To the world any single person didn¡¯t matter, but the individual could know the world. Maybe if he went off to uncover these secrets he wouldn¡¯t feel so¡­ empty. The mountains and valleys became less dramatic. A deep basin was revealed in the heart of the mountain range and nestled therein, a grand majestic city. Docks were arranged at different locations and airships were constantly coming and going. For a moment Cloudhawk felt like he¡¯d been transported years into the past, on the day he flew into Skycloud city. He remembered how incredible it had all been, how the city seemed to be alive and vibrant. He remembered it like it was yesterday, but the knowledge of everything that followed afterward made it a bitter memory. He wouldn¡¯t let it happen again. No chaos this time. He didn¡¯t want to keep bringing turmoil to places where peace reigned. No more innocent blood on his hands. Conflict meant bloodshed and that was a tragedy for everyone ¨C the people and Cloudhawk alike. Whether the future was bright or not, it didn¡¯t matter to those who died before it was realized. The victims of change would know only darkness for eternity. It was the pain of resetting a break, but also confirmed the existence of heroism. Of course the heroes of some were the devils to others, for when a hero raised his sword it could mean tragedy to the common folk. That was the theory, anyway. There were a lot of wastelanders who called Cloudhawk a hero, but to him the title was not a lofty one. If he could pass the mantle on to someone else he would be ecstatic. Who in their right mind would want to be king of the wastelands? To lord over a sprawling, embattled alliance? What sane man wanted to be a hero? Unfortunately there was no one but Cloudhawk to carry this burden. He was the only one who could. For all of the people around him and all the people he cared for, he had to shoulder this responsibility. It was what he had to do as a man. ¡°Young Master, we¡¯ve arrived. We will spend the night at a hotel nearby and send someone to the Governor¡¯s mansion to announce our arrival. I suspect tomorrow someone will come to invite us.¡± Byzantium¡¯s Governor had sent a retinue of over a hundred people. No less than twenty of them were persona bodyguards and servants. The rest were responsible for transporting betrothal gifts. Although Byzantium¡¯s Governor couldn¡¯t visit the capital himself, he made up for it with the impressive treasures sent along with his son. These many heirlooms were intended to ingratiate their family and the groom to the capital¡¯s leader. If they achieved that aim then it was well worth the expense. It was very evident that their son and this wedding was of great concern. After disembarking, Cloudhawk settled at a hotel near the dock. Fulmulta, like Skycloud city, was the heart of its respective realm. However, that was where the similarities ended. It wasn¡¯t unexpected. Even if they started from the same foundation, there were thousands of kilometers of distance between the two cultures. At the very least their customs and habits were different. Of the five Elysian lands, only Skycloud was nestled against the ruins of the ancient civilization. The Dark Atom and other nefarious groups were a constant threat, so the people were bred to be tough. They were more aggressive and less forgiving; soldiers were well trained and nationalistic. However cultural development in other areas was relatively weak. This was not so for Stormford. Such a peaceful, enlightened atmosphere had produced a renaissance of human culture. Music, theater, art and other sorts of performances were easy to come across. What¡¯s more, the various gods presented their realms with varying heritage. There were differences in the tools they used ¨C for instance, there was a collection of crystal boards in the lobby wall Cloudhawk had never seen before. These smooth, translucent items were like living pictures. Touching one instigated a reaction, calling up text and images. Cloudhawk fiddled with one until a menu flickered into being. Prominently displayed was an option for ¡®Realm Announcements,¡¯ ¡®Realm News¡¯ and more. He pressed one at random and a deluge of information scrolled across the screen. ¡°Young Master, this is a Notice Board. You¡¯ll only find them in Stormford and they conveniently provide the citizens with all the information they need.¡± They were like ancient touch screens from the bygone civilization, but not exactly. After all the technology of the gods was completely different from what man had achieved. There weren¡¯t any ruins nearby for them to excavate ancient touch screens, anyway, and old tech was forbidden in every Elysian domain. Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°Why are they only in Stormford? Can¡¯t we buy a few and bring them back to Byzantium?¡± His coterie was caught off guard by the question. One of the stewards shook his head and replied, ¡°They only work in a very small scope. If we were to take it out of the capital they¡¯d be no different than a pane of glass.¡± Why was that? Cloudhawk looked over the screen as a nonstop flood of information rolled by. It was a very useful item, especially since atmospheric distortion made long-distance communication impossible. Somehow these screens didn¡¯t seem to be affected. It didn¡¯t appear to use any sort of energy, either. What he did sense was a very faint hum¡­ Cloudhawk shut his eyes and focused on the resonance. Following the sound, he discovered that the information they provided was all being sent from one location. This had to be some kind of unfamiliar yet powerful artifact, one that was able to deliver information across the air. Wireless transmissions were sent to these crystal sheets and rendered for people to see. Cloudhawk had no way to guess what this relic was or how it worked. One thing he knew, though, was that it was both powerful and precious. At the very least it was unmatched in the ability to quickly disseminate information among the public. If he could find a way to steal away the technology it would be a great benefit to his Alliance. He could build a wide-reaching public information network whose advantages were unimaginable. ** Night fell. Cloudhawk was back in his hotel room. He¡¯d just returned from wandering the city, a journey which revealed a myriad of interesting things. For one, the city was not wanting for capable citizens. He didn¡¯t need to fight them to know that some people were surprisingly strong. A handful at least even posed a slight threat to him. That didn¡¯t come as much of a surprise. A realm with a thousand years of stable history was sure to produce some gems. Of course, just how strong these people were or what powers they possessed was a complete mystery to him. For the time being, the Supremes were playing by the rules of extreme caution. Every step was judged and measured for fear their plans would fall through. Cloudhawk was preparing to lay down when a sound caught his ear. It was the hum of relics. He¡¯d heard them before when wandering the streets, as though he were being watched. Now he heard several closing in on the hotel. Demonhunters, closing in. Obviously they were here for him ¨C but why? He wracked his mind. The city¡¯s public security was capable and its citizens were well-behaved. This seemed out of character. Who were they? He didn¡¯t remember offending anyone. Cloudhawk lay on his bed eyes closed, pretending to sleep. But even as his one sense was closed off he reached out with another. Layer upon layer of spatial energy spread through the room. His vision was no longer constrained to his eyes, rather rippling outward three hundred and sixty degrees. It passed through floors and walls, revealing everything to him. This was vision based on dimensional presence. So long as it existed on this plane, even the tiniest insect in the smallest crack was clear to him. Even items inside of other living things were not hidden. He saw it all as his power reached through the all-pervasive domain of space. Figures in black masks. Demonhunters, closing in on his room. A number had already drawn their exorcist bows. Their deadly intention was clear ¨C murder, not dialogue. ¡°Interesting.¡± Cloudhawk focused on their leader. Judging by her figure she was an attractive woman, and as his powers slipped passed the mask concealing her face he saw her features clearly. A woman in her twenties, pretty, with skin the color of snow. She was alluringly delicate in appearance and had rare silvery hair. But her beauty was robbed by the ferocious look on her face as she peered into Cloudhawk¡¯s room. (Post Script from Tipsy: The last two chapters have been lackluster, not like the others. Lately I¡¯ve had time but have been suffering from writer¡¯s block. Don¡¯t worry, the wanderer will soon be back to normal.) If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 5 - Idonea Argyris Idonea Argyris was livid. Even to this day she couldn¡¯t understand why her family would arrange this ridiculous marriage. Some dandy noble from Byzantium, the third son no less? She¡¯d rather they asked her to jump off a cliff! This never would have happened if her father was here. He would have fought for her, but it¡¯d been two months since he left to fight the rebel realm with no word. She didn¡¯t even know if he was alive or dead. His disappearance had forced the family to seek out this political marriage in order to strengthen their position as leaders of the city. The Argyris family had to maintain their status in the Governor¡¯s mansion and it just so happened that Lance¡¯s brood ¨C the Nilam family ¨C was looking for a foothold in Fulmulta. Both sides saw an opportunity for mutual benefit, and Idonea became the bargaining chip. Father would never have agreed to this if he were here! When she thought about her father she felt a pang in her chest. He was the strongest man in the realm, now and throughout its history. She adored him and was convinced he had no equal. But why had there been no word? He answered the call of the mighty Thunder God and left with other great warriors to defeat the heathens, a task which should have been easy for him. But it had been months of silence. The disappearance of this pillar of their family was why they¡¯d gone ahead with this farce of a marriage! News had started to spread across the realm that her father and the other three Masters had all died on foreign soil. A terrible, demon-like man had taken their lives. Rumors claimed that this fiend was stronger than any other human in recorded history. Even the great Supremes were wary to face him. It was widely assumed, then, that the beloved Governor Bruno Argyrys had perished. Idonea couldn¡¯t believe this, of course. Or perhaps she simply refused to. Her vociferous objections were ignored by her family, so Bruno¡¯s daughter was left with no choice but to take drastic measures. She gathered a small group of loyal followers and endeavored to eliminate the Nilam family dandy as he slept at the inn. When she first learned of the marriage proposal, Idonea had sent someone to Byzantium in order to learn about her betrothed. She learned that the Young Master was not anything like the sort of man she would like. He drank like a fish, ate like a pig and gambled like an addict. As far as she was concerned, men like him were a waste of air. Erasing this idiot from the realm was doing everyone a favor. Bruno¡¯s rambunctious young daughter was in her seventeenth year. She was in her rebellious phase, where little thought was given to consequences. It didn¡¯t matter ¨C if father were here, he would have supported her. ¡°We have our target. Do it right, do it quick,¡± Idonea whispered to the group by her side. They nodded in understanding. They were positioning themselves around the room when suddenly a fog appeared from nowhere, catching them unawares. It was so immediate and unexpected that they were left stunned. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The demonhunters, whose skills were average at best, looked around to discover that the room they¡¯d entered was gone. Everything was gone ¨C all the sights and sounds of the world vanished, as though erased by the fog. One of the demonhunters voiced his concern. ¡°Mistress, this is starting to feel like a trap. We should leave and reassess our plan.¡± Idonea was equally as confused. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s fall back. We can form a new plan.¡± The would-be assassins fumbled back through the mist, traveling a couple hundred meters before realizing something was very wrong. It was all the same, like they hadn¡¯t moved at all. Shit! It was a trap¡­ but what kind of setup is this? Panic started to creep in. Idonea had brought only average protectors with her, assuming her target was an easy one. Even this simple mental illusion was too much for them to see through, for though the illusion was simple the mind that commanded it was strong. They were caught. ¡°Split up!¡± She growled through gritted teeth. They scattered in all different directions. Idonea ran and ran but still didn¡¯t seem to be getting anywhere. Idonea was starting to lose her composure. She shut her eyes tight and tried to listen for any sort of clue. Taking a deep breath she launched herself forward, thinking that if her senses were closed off it might dispel the illusion. Several more minutes passed until suddenly she crashed into someone. Ah? Am I out?! Her eyes popped open then widened in surprise. Wrapped in fog, she looked up to see the one she ran into. Attractive, golden hair. Deep blue eyes. A young man in his twenties. ** A few minutes before Cloudhawk had been crouched by the window with a simple relic in his hands. He watched the black-clad figures fumble around then scatter. As they fled a smile touched his lips. In order to preserve this new identity Cloudhawk had to limit what relics he used. It wasn¡¯t much of a restriction, of course. He had hundreds of different tools hidden away. He¡¯d gathered quite the collection after numerous run-ins with Skycloud¡¯s army. Some he gave to members of the Alliance, some he kept for himself. Most of these were lower-grade relics, but in his hands that didn¡¯t make much of a difference. During the battle for Sanctuary, Arcturus had fought off the Khan and the drunk with nothing but an exorcist rod. Cluodhawk was now slightly stronger than the late Governor, so he was more than the average person could handle even if he only used the basest relics. Indeed, even without these tools he could ravage a group with the power of his will alone. Releasing tongues of flame, spikes of ice and blades of wind, many were not his equal. Though he looked like an ordinary man, Cloudhawk was very nearly the pinnacle of human capability. Playtime was over. Cloudhawk put the relic away and strode into his own illusion. A fatigued young woman with silver hair was running in circles. Fear, anger and confusion danced in her eyes. Never in her life had this young noble encountered such a harrowing experience. It was clear to her she¡¯d fallen into a trap. It felt like she¡¯d been caught in the mist for hours. Only once she shut her eyes did she encounter another soul. ¡°Ah! Y-¡­ what are you?!¡± Cloudhawk looked over the girl. She was a clever kid, maybe sixteen or seventeen years old, with a good figure. She was also immature and guarded. He was immune to womanly charms, of course, and had been for some time. For years the likes of Dawn, Selene, Hellflower and Autumn had been by his side. Idonea tightened her grip on her own relic. ¡°Who are you? Speak! Or I¡¯ll make you talk!¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m here to help you.¡± Cloudhawk said once he was revealed. ¡°With your abilities you can¡¯t escape this place on your own. You will die of exhaustion before finding your way back to the real world. Unless you follow me.¡± With that said, Cloudhawk turned and walked into the swirling mists. Idonea didn¡¯t know what was happening, but she had to trust him. Gritting her teeth, she and her co-conspirators followed. Cloudhawk surreptitiously continued to control the relic while stringing Idonea along. She fumbled behind while he guided her from the inn and out into the city. They traversed the busy streets yet she had no clue, for the illusion made it seem as though she were still lost in fog. The only thing that existed in this world was the man with golden hair, tall and imposing. With every step she grew more perturbed. She was not convinced this stranger was a friend. ¡°Tell me your name so I can pay you back.¡± Cloudhawk glanced over his shoulder. ¡°You were planning to kill Lance Nilam, weren¡¯t you?¡± The accusation caught Idonea by surprise. She was suddenly vigilant, almost hostile. ¡°Kill? Absolutely not.¡± Was this man one of the sissy boy¡¯s guards? ¡°Relax, I¡¯m on your side.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re also¡­¡± Was he also here to deal with the Byzantium noble? If that was the case then they were indeed allies. Information passed slowly through the ruined world, so while Idonea knew of Lance she had few details to go by. For instance, what he looked like. Her assumption was that the gluttonous pig was a fat waste of space and so didn¡¯t suspect this new stranger of being her target. They continued to talk as they made their way through the city. Gradually, the girl¡¯s wariness began to subside. Meanwhile he was gathering precious information. Idonea was the daughter of Bruno Argyris ¨C the very same master of spatial power he fought back home. He may have been defeated by Cloudhawk, but a man with his skills was a rare treasure all throughout the world. Quite the surprise that he should run into the man¡¯s daughter here. The more she spoke with this strange man, the more evident it became that he was a mature and experienced figure. A man with a story. Women were empathetic and she could feel how life had left its scars on this youth. He was exactly the sort of fellow that attracted young girls like her. He was also rather good looking. When the conversation turned to Bruno, he shared something with her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your father is fine. You¡¯ll see one another again someday.¡± She took his words as nothing more than an attempt to comfort her. However, there was something about the way he said it that calmed her heart and made her think it was true. ¡°We¡¯re out.¡± As soon as he said the words Idonea saw the mist before them part. A quiet residential area of Fulmulta surrounded by towering buildings was revealed. ¡°Oh¡­ how did we get all the way out here?¡± Idonea looked around and noted this area of the city was at least three districts away from the inn. They had to have been walking for several hours. A direct path back at a quick pace would have taken only half an hour or so. Dawn¡¯s light was beginning to peek over the horizon. ¡°It¡¯s too late. Too late¡­¡± Disappointment marred her pretty features. With the sun, any chance to kill the Byzantium dandy was gone. By now her family was probably already looking for her. Cloudhawk¡¯s tones were calm. ¡°You¡¯re so against marrying this man?¡± She bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. ¡°I would rather die!¡± He nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s too late. Better get back. I¡¯m sure a solution will present itself with time. I¡¯ll continue to help you.¡± ¡°Sir, I still don¡¯t even know your name.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know the next time we meet.¡± In almost theatrical fashion, Cloudhawk turned away. He waved over his shoulder, clasped his hands behind his back, and meandered back through the streets from whence they came. ¡°Well, if I can¡¯t get rid of him before marriage then there will be other chances. I won¡¯t even let him touch me.¡± She made the promise while watching Cloudhawk wander off. She¡¯d been lucky he had been there to save her from such a vicious trap. But who was he? 1. Her last name, meaning ¡®silver¡¯ should sound familiar. Her first name means ¡®proper, upright, suitable¡¯ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 6 - The Crusades Cloudhawk teleported back to the inn. A short time later, members of the Nilam family were knocking on his door. ¡°Young Master, the Argyris family is very large and influential in the capitol. You musn¡¯t cause a scene. It¡¯s vital we make a good first impression. This isn¡¯t our home and opposing families are everywhere. The slightest provocation...¡± He pleaded. Cloudhawk dismissed with a wave and a smirk. His answer was a sigh from the steward. He prayed there¡¯d be no trouble because the wedding wasn¡¯t what concerned him. It was the relationship between their two families. The most frantic worry was that Lance couldn¡¯t change his character. Their family couldn¡¯t afford to pay off the populace of the capitol. They were received by the Argyris family later that day. It was no wonder they were one of the city¡¯s grandest residents. Their welcoming party could be called luxurious, headed by a procession of one hundred lily-white griffins. Following were nearly one thousand more representatives; dancers, singers and troops. The dramatic display had started to gather a crowd. Seated upon one of the beasts Cloudhawk was brought to the Argyris family mansion. There he was greeted by the family patriarch. Extended noble families were complex. Leadership was striated into the patriarch, the elder, heads of families, stewards, butlers and more. Patriarch and Elder sounded very similar, and often they were held by individuals, the affairs they saw to were very different. The Patriarch was often away, seeing to the family¡¯s industries, manage trade, and arranging policy. The Elder, on the other hand, saw to the workings of the family itself. Whoever it was had to be among their most powerful and capable members. Elders remained with the family. They were responsible for keeping it running. In the absence of a patriarch they made the decisions. This wedding had all been arranged by the Argyris family¡¯s Elder. Fulmulta had four great houses, and the Argyris family was among them. It was guided by the young and famously capable Bruno Argyris. Not long ago their polish had begun to wane, while in Byzantium the Nilams were on the rise. Byzantium was the distribution hub of the realm, a portal to many things. It was a fine alliance, one where both sides came out on top. The Elder ¨C Noah Argyris ¨C first made the suggestion a year ago. He showed how suitable the young man was to marry the patriarch¡¯s youngest, Idonea. She was the only member left unmarried. However, while there had been a lot of talk about it the patriarch did not give his blessing. Thus it dragged on. Several months later, Master Bruno left for Skycloud. In that time there had been no word from their patriarch. The suspicion that he had died was gaining ground. No joy came from it because they were not just losing a patriarch, but a local legend. Without him their family¡¯s voice became a whisper. Marriage was a quick solution to an urgent problem. Noah put forth his plan before the heads of families once again. This time it was accepted without issue. In his capacity as acting Patriarch, Noah accepted the proposal. Idonea was bound to comply. ¡°Welcome, Young Master Lance Nilam, to the capitol.¡± Noah¡¯s long wight hair flowed in the breeze of the griffin¡¯s wings. His right hand rested on the head of a cane, which he used only a little to help with bow. To play his role, Cloudhawk adopted a magnanimous bearing. In a voice dripping with scorn, he muttered, ¡°This is the family mansion? A little run down, isn¡¯t it? Nothing like the home I came from.¡± All at once the entire Nilam procession winced. Stroking his beard, Noah answered with a chuckle. He knew a bit about this Young Master, so the crude words were not shocking. These theatrics weren¡¯t important, so long as their family won support. Nothing about Lance or his personality was any concern of the Elder¡¯s. A steward cleared his throat to dispel the tension. ¡°May we ask where Miss Idonea may be?¡± Noah couldn¡¯t stop his brows from furrowing every so slightly. Idonea had been causing him no small measure of heartache about this. She even ran away in the night! Luckily someone snatched her up by morning, avoiding an embarrassing situation. ¡°Idonea is getting ready. She will be with us shortly.¡± No sooner did he make the promise than a small group came in from a nearby yard. They were all clustered around the young Argyris miss. A petulant look was on her face and had been there since she swore to fight this to the end. It was fully in her mind to smash this sissy boy¡¯s nose in first thing. At least he¡¯d know she wasn¡¯t going to be an obedient wife. Maybe if he understood what he was getting into, he¡¯d call off the wedding. ¡°Which one is Lance! Pull him out here immediately! I want to see if you¡¯ve sprouted three heads and six arms, because that¡¯s the only way you¡¯d have the courage to -¡­ huh? What are you doing here!¡± Idonea had recognized him in the middle of her tirade. Same blond hair, blue eyes and coquettish smile. It was him, the same man who saved her. Irritation had crept into the Elder¡¯s voice. ¡°Idonea! What possessed you to be so rude!¡± A wry and pained smile touched the Nilam family steward¡¯s face. This young miss seemed as unfettered as the Young Master. Things were sure to get interesting. ¡°This Is Young Master Lance.¡± When he said the words it was like Idonea had been stung by a scorpion. Fear, confusion, shock and anger flooded her mind when she realized it. She¡¯d been tricked! ¡°You¡¯re Lance?!¡± She screeched. ¡°You lied to me!¡± Noah was surprised by the outburst. ¡°You know each other?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re Miss Idonea. I didn¡¯t recognize you.¡± The Young Master smirked sheepishly. He looked her up and down for a moment before turning back to the Elder. ¡°We met not long ago. Would it be alright if she and I got a few minutes alone?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ** Cloudhawk and Idonea walked out across the manor property shoulder to shoulder in awkward silence. She was furious. The feeling like she was a complete idiot hounded her. Somehow she fell for his trick ¨C that fog had to have come from him. Her goal now was to get far away from him. ¡°Don¡¯t even bother talking to me. I will never marry you!¡± Lance wasn¡¯t the sort of man she was expected, but Idonea wasn¡¯t going to marry anyone! Cloudhawk looked out over a serene lake surface. ¡°Do you remember what I said last night? I¡¯m on your side.¡± She paused. What did he mean? It dawned on her that maybe he had something worse planned instead of marriage. ¡°Unfortunately there¡¯s no way to break the engagement. The wedding isn¡¯t important anyway ¨C just business between two families. Neither of them are willing to risk this farce.¡± ¡°So what can we do?¡± ¡°Pretend to be married.¡± ¡°Phah!¡± Idonea sniffed at the idea. ¡°Why should I trust you?¡± ¡°Only for a little while, and only for appearances. In exchange you¡¯ll be given more space and freedom.¡± Cloudhawk picked up a stone and threw it into the lake. An explosion of ripples formed and he turned back to Idonea. ¡°What do you want to do right now?¡± ¡°I want¡­ to see my father.¡± ¡°Right answer. He¡¯s over at Skycloud so if you want to see him again, that¡¯s where you need to go. Only you don¡¯t have the capability to make that journey yourself. That leaves you with only one path.¡± ¡°You mean the Crusade?!¡± The Crusade were the name of the newly forged army and its purpose. It was filled with soldiers from many Elysian lands, only the most elite warriors and demonhunters. When they were selected, they were sent by special airships to Sky Fortress to join the main force. It was very difficult for ordinary people to be chosen, but that was not the case with the Argyris family. ¡°Right again. It¡¯s the only way. We agree to get married, then join the Crusades. You can avoid the complications of marriage and make your way to Skycloud to find your father. What do you think?¡± ¡°But why are you trying to help?¡± His idea made sense. When she joined the army there was a period of at least six months where she couldn¡¯t go home. It was the best way to escape her situation. ¡°I said I am on your side. I¡¯m also interested in joining the Crusade myself.¡± Was this really the same Lance Nilam from Byzantium? It seemed a lot of the rumors about him weren¡¯t necessarily accurate. Idonea answered. ¡°They say there¡¯s a demon leader of the wastes near Skycloud, trying to destroy the world. Strong, frightening. He even corrupted the Cloud God and now the betrayer joins his side. You aren¡¯t even a little scared? Anyway the battlefield is in chaos. There are said to be tens of thousands of heathen troops.¡± ¡°You say scary, I say exciting.¡± ¡°You sure are a strange one.¡± ¡°So what do you think of my proposal?¡± Idonea thought it over for a little while. The two of them, joining the Crusade¡­ it was an effective means to get away from their families and their meddling. She didn¡¯t think it would be hard to do, either. They were both demonhunters, after all. Her family was large so some were up there at Sky Fortress already. If they wanted in, she had the means. 1. Argyris was the name chosen for the family, last name Òø or silver. The Elder¡¯s first name is ºç or rainbow. I chose Noah for a couple reasons. First, as elder he is trying to guide his family from destruction (animals from the flood). Second, the rainbow was sent by god to biblical Noah as a promise that his family would never again face a flood, strengthening this man¡¯s savior image. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 7 - A Duel Cloudhawk was using Idonea, there was no question. She increased the odds of his cover remaining intact. As they spoke, Sky Fortress was coming toward them. However, the altitude and velocity of the structure was ever changing. One thing was certain; neither the Green Alliance nor the power of the Cloud God could tear it down ¨C even if it appeared right over Skycloud. They wouldn¡¯t even be able to tell it was there. As far as Cloudhawk could tell, their best shot was to destroy the fortress from the inside. Sneak in, and strike at its core. With Sky Fortress out of the picture, the danger to the Green Alliance would be eliminated. Of course if he had this thought, the Supremes must have as well. Unless he was mistaken, Cloudhawk figured they were hiding their base somehow ¨C probably by disturbing space around it. That prevented Cloudhawk from easily teleporting inside. In addition, almost certainly there were a number of defenses engaged. Getting in would be difficult. He had to make sure his identity was air-tight, and this girl was a good way to make that happen. She was also his ticket to the fortress. As for whether it was morally right was none of Cloudhawk¡¯s concern. Getting to Sky Fortress was only the first step. After all, Cloudhawk¡¯s aim was to bring down all four of the Supremes. When that time came he planned to release Bruno. At least Idonea would get her wish and he would have kept his promise. The two spoke for a little while and came to an understanding. Just the fact that their exchange hadn¡¯t come to blows yet was a shock to both families. The Nilam family steward stroked his beard and with a grin muttered to the person by his side. ¡°Our Young Master may have a troublesome personality, but he definitely has a way with women. It seems he likes this one. And by the looks of her she is special, even for the capitol.¡± His words were followed by a declaration from Idonea: ¡°I will accept the wedding arrangement for our families. With one condition ¨C afterwards I will join the army!¡± Brows raised and mouths fell open. Lance followed suite, announcing his intention to fight as well. Where had this come from? Ultimately though it didn¡¯t matter. While strange, the representatives of both houses were simply happy the wedding would be going forward. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for the young, strong and idealistic of the realm to want to serve. Let them fight. What was important was that the wedding concluded smoothly. A brief discussion was had and the ceremony was planned for three days later. There was no reason to drag it out and a quick deal was beneficial for all involved. News spread quickly and became a widely discussed topic over meals and tea. ¡°So the plan is set. We pretend to get married. Just for show, so don¡¯t even think of laying a finger on me!¡± She still didn¡¯t trust Lance, so Idonea made sure to reiterate her warning. ¡°Stick to your word!¡± ¡°Relax, Miss Argyris. I may not be much but I have my pride. Anyway, I haven¡¯t even the slightest interest in you. So make sure you don¡¯t start to fall for me.¡± ¡°You-¡± Her eyes bulged in anger. She didn¡¯t want to marry this man and she meant it, but hearing his overt dismissal was like a slap in the face. It had nothing to do with him necessarily, rather her own pride and self-confidence. She was about to spat a few choice words when suddenly there was a sound from outside. Someone was calling her name. ¡°Idonea! Idonea! You can¡¯t get married! Stop- why are you trying to stop me?! Don¡¯t you know who I am?1 Release me this instant!¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± Idonea¡¯s face fell. ¡°What is he doing here?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s shouting like that? That your boyfriend?¡± ¡°Nonsense! He¡¯s my friend, Jupiter Merlo ¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes twinkled. He stared like he could see right through her. ¡°Just a friend?¡± Idonea scowled. With a huff she continued. Jupiter Merlo. His family Is famous in Fulmulta. We grew up together, he¡¯s like an older brother. I don¡¯t see him that way.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Cloudhawk was genuinely interested. ¡°You¡¯re both from noble families, roughly the same age, and he¡¯s out there screaming your name. It sure looks like he sees you that way.¡± She sniffed dismissively. ¡°He¡¯s too impulsive. I like men who are calm and considerate, not immature.¡± It sounded to him like she was a fan of older men. ¡°It¡¯s getting noisy out there. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°I advise you to stay here. Jupiter has a bad temper and he has some skill. I¡¯m afraid he might hurt you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not afraid.¡± With that Cloudhawk stepped out into the hall. Idonea followed close behind. The front of the mansion was clogged by a small group. Leading them was a young man dressed in white, maybe eighteen or nineteen years old. Immature was indeed the way to describe him, especially with that look of petulant rage twisting his features and turning his cheeks red. This was Jupiter Merlo, one of the city¡¯s most promising youths. Idonea described him as a childhood friend, but it was clear the nobleman was carrying a torch for her. Unfortunately for him, the Merlos and Argyris¡¯s were not allies. Over the years the animosity between their houses had only grown deeper. Because of strategic considerations, Idonea¡¯s family would never agree to a marriage between them. ¡°You worthless dogs! You¡¯re willing to sacrifice a lifetime of happiness for Idonea for some sham marriage! I, Jupiter Merlo, will not stand for it!¡± Jupiter jabbed a spear forward that he held tightly in his hand. ¡°On my honor, if you try and stop me I¡¯ll cut you down!¡± ¡°Jupiter! Stop making such a fuss!¡± Several Argyris family members gathered round to try and dissuade him. Jupiter paid them no mind, he was here to save his childhood friend and little sister. He was ready for a fight if that¡¯s what they wanted, but before he could take a swing two figures appeared. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Idonea, I¡¯m here to save you!¡± He fixed his bloodshot eyes on the young woman. Cloudhawk looked him up and down and shook his head. What a fool. Didn¡¯t he see that Idonea wasn¡¯t at all interested in him? All of this made-up drama, what was the point of getting so riled up? If Idonea really liked him, why didn¡¯t she ask for his help with her assassination plot? After all, he was supposed to be a lot stronger by comparison, at least according to her. The object of Jupiter¡¯s valiant mission scowled and chastised him. ¡°Jupiter, I know you care about me but you need to go. I¡¯ve already agreed to the marriage.¡± ¡°No! No! How could you agree to this? Are these old snakes forcing you?¡± The young man¡¯s soft features stared back incredulously. ¡°I refuse to believe it, not for a moment! I cannot just stand by and watch you leap into the flames! I¡¯ve looked into this Lance Nilam character and it is clear he is no good. If you marry him you will never be happy!¡± A smile crept into Cloudhawk¡¯s face. It was like watching a bad play. He¡¯d seen dramas like this back at Skycloud, in between all the fighting and killing. They never ceased to amuse him. Both these kids were younger than Cloudhawk. It wasn¡¯t that he was a lot older, but the experiences he¡¯d had were enough for several lifetimes. To him these two were infants. At a glance Cloudhawk could see that Jupiter wasn¡¯t a pushover. He had potential, but was far to delicate. No wonder Idonea wasn¡¯t interested in him. ¡°Enough. You will always be my big brother but this decision is mine to make.¡± She did not mince her words. ¡°Go ¨C home.¡± Jupiter felt like he¡¯d been punched in the chest. He knew he couldn¡¯t drag her away by himself but he¡¯d come anyway. Honestly he hadn¡¯t thought this far ahead. He couldn¡¯t save her so¡­ what now? Did she really want to marry this guy? ¡°He must have said something to you. Some lie to trick you into this!¡± Jupiter tightened his grip on his spear and ground his teeth. He pointed it toward the man standing by Idonea¡¯s side. ¡°I challenge you to a duel!¡± He screeched. 1. ÐþÌì²ß - ¡®black sky policy/plan/scheme¡¯. Merlo is an Italian/Spanish surname meaning blackbird (so black + sky). Jupiter was the god of the sky and kings (sky + policy+scheming since he is supposed to share the same characteristics as Zues, a famous schemer.). 2. I love this kid. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 8 - Meeting Challenges ¡°I challenge you to a duel!¡± Jupiter waggled his spear at the handsome stranger. ¡°If you consider yourself a man, if you have any shred of honor, then you¡¯ll fight me!¡± This one was full of piss and vinegar. Cloudhawk had left that phase of his life behind a long time ago. He recognized the young man¡¯s actions as childish. He really thought beating Cloudhawk would win him back his love. Maybe the plan was to kill him and save the woman from what he thought was a terrible fate. He didn¡¯t understand a damn thing. Didn¡¯t he know that nothing forced turned out well? Was he so blind that he couldn¡¯t see Idonea wasn¡¯t at all interested in him? ¡°Heh, I didn¡¯t expect Miss Idonea to be so popular.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have any reason to accept this bullshit duel. To try and diffuse the situation he poked fun at Idonea instead. ¡°Look at this brave, handsome young man willing to put it all on the line for you.¡± She ignored him completely. ¡°Jupiter, I¡¯m asking you to stop this right now. You¡¯re embarrassing me!¡± ¡°This is quite enough!¡± Noah stepped out from the crowd, no longer able to tolerate this nonsense. ¡°Think of how you¡¯re representing your family. I will forget this ever happened if you leave at once and stop making trouble!¡± ¡°I will not!¡± Love had addled the young man¡¯s brain. Nothing mattered except his headstrong desire to impress Idonea. So he thrust his spear toward Cloudhawk like an accusing finger and shouted angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t hide behind a woman! Step forward and fight me!¡± Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t keep the smile from creeping into his lips. Idonea and representatives from the Nilam family seemed to sense his intentions in the same moment. The steward rushed forward to try and settle things down. ¡°You musn¡¯t do anything foolish! You aren¡¯t his match, Jupiter is one of the Mighty Ten!¡± The Mighty Ten was a moniker given to a very specific group. Older than ten and younger than twenty, it was a group of young people with surprising potential. They were the most outstanding youths throughout the realm and the future of Fulmulta. Jupiter was only eighteen or nineteen, but was nearly as strong as a veteran demonhunter. He was also a passable martial artist, further proving his excellence. How was Lance ¨C a piddling lesser noble from some backwater city ¨C supposed to stand against him? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jupiter continued to taunt him. ¡°Are you too scared to accept the challenge? If you don¡¯t even have the courage to face me then you should just run back to your hovel!¡± ¡°Get out of Fulmulta!¡± ¡°Flee! With your tail between your legs!¡± Several others from Jupiter¡¯s retinue shouted jibes. The Argyris family members glowered in anger. On the surface it looked like this had been an impulsive effort from Jupiter, but that wasn¡¯t necessarily the case. The men he¡¯d brought with him were capable members of the Merlo family guard. They wouldn¡¯t be here without the family patriarch¡¯s blessing. This whole thing stank of trickery. The Merlos didn¡¯t want to see the Argyris family gain support from Byzantium. They were trying to undermine the wedding. ¡°Coward! Come on and fight!¡± Jupiter continued to shriek at him with bulging red eyes like some sort of wild animal. He was willing to die on this anthill he¡¯d created. ¡°Young master, you can¡¯t,¡± the steward warned. Idonea also leaned in and spoke to him in low tones. ¡°The Mighty Ten aren¡¯t called that just for show. You can¡¯t beat him, if you fight it will end badly. Don¡¯t let him get to you, let the family leaders handle this.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t at all interested in fighting the mouthy youth. It was like a rabbit trying to irritate an elephant; an infant flinging insults at a grizzled warrior. He wasn¡¯t the sort to pick on people weaker than himself. The Mighty Ten? You could bundle them all together and Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t spare them a glance. Even if all the strongest people in Stormford were brought together they¡¯d only amount to a mild challenge for him, hardly a threat. Cloudhawk had risen to heights greater than any human before him. He didn¡¯t need to prove anything by spanking a child. That said¡­ ¡°Alright!¡± Everything stopped as a sea of shocked faces turned toward Cloudhawk. Was he crazy? Accepting a challenge from one of the Mighty Ten? He was asking to be humiliated! Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were trained on the young man. ¡°If I beat you do I become one of these ¡®Mighty Ten¡¯?¡± Jupiter didn¡¯t respond right away. Frankly he hadn¡¯t expected Lance to accept the challenge. ¡°You think a piece of trash like you is worthy of the title?¡± He was almost insulted by the suggestion. It wasn¡¯t just a slight on him, but on the Mighty Ten as a whole! ¡°Yes, if you beat me you will take my place among the Mighty Ten. But don¡¯t imagine it¡¯s possible! What a laughable concept!¡± The Nilam family steward, knowing the Young Master¡¯s temperament, was nonetheless surprised by his actions. He was acting like this duel meant nothing! Like a stroll through the local brothel! ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Noah scowled in frustration. ¡°In three days time there will be a wedding, how can you think of fighting now? Jupiter, enough is enough! I have held back out of respect for your family, if you continue this childish tantrum I will lose my temper!¡± The Elder¡¯s warning rolled off the youth. ¡°Lance has already accepted. As a demonhunter he is bound by his word. To do anything else would make him unworthy.¡± ¡°He has a point.¡± Cloudhawk stepped out from the crowd. ¡°A real man keeps his promises. I never backed down from a challenge back in Byzantium, and I¡¯m not going to be intimidated by this child. I will beat him, take his title as one of the Mighty Ten, and then marry his girl.¡± All of a sudden everyone was in an uproar. Members of the Nilam entourage were on the verge of tears. Of course he wasn¡¯t afraid of anyone in Byzantium! His father was the Governor! The strong were as numerous as clouds back home, no one dared to get on his bad side. But this wasn¡¯t his territory. And his opponent was known for his abilities! Idonea was also at a loss. She didn¡¯t care at all for this outsider, but their talk yesterday had proved that he wasn¡¯t like all the stories claimed. Only now he seemed as conceited and short-sighted as she¡¯d heard, and he wanted to make his name fighting in the crusades? Noah Argyris didn¡¯t say a word. He just wanted to put an end to this farce. As everyone was shouting Lance stepped forward, pulling something from his sleeve. With a flick of the wrist it became a whip roughly three meters long. It flickered with purplish red light that crackled ominously. This treasure was an heirloom of the Nilam family, Flamevolt. It was a dual relic of fire and electricity, capable of dealing considerable damage. Yet strong as it was, no one had seen Lance use it since becoming a demonhunter. Now was the first time it was making an appearance. ¡°What can we do? We must stop this now!¡± One of the Argyris family leaders quailed. ¡°If he¡¯s injured ¨C or worse, killed ¨C it will surely ruin our relationship with his family!¡± Noah stared hard at Lance. For some reason he felt that there was something off about him. The Elder had spent years reading people but this one was a mystery. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. We¡¯ll act when it is necessary to act.¡± Jupiter was surprised that his opponent would step forward right away. ¡°Look at this little frog, leaping out of his well and hoping to become one of the Mighty Ten. Let me show you which one of us is worthy of Idonea.¡± ¡°Yeah? Well allow me to let you in on something. Even if I never came here, you would never have a shot with her.¡± Jupiter flew into a rage. He launched himself forward like an arrow, both hands on his weapon. The black blade belched fog all around, filling the chamber. Cloudhawk was suddenly assailed by a series of stabbing attacks. Not bad! There had to be over a hundred attacks every second. Jupiter¡¯s weapon was called the Spear of a Thousand Shadows. It bore the rare power of darkness, both powerful and hard to create. Idonea watched with her breath held as this dandy boy happily kicked the hornet¡¯s nest. Members of the Nilam family grappled with the thought of getting involved. How would they ever face Byzantium¡¯s Governor if they let his son be cut into pieces? Cloudhawk, meanwhile, completely ignored the loftily named Spear of a Thousand Shadows. With a quick flick of his wrist, Flamevolt came alive. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 9 - Total Tyranny Quick as lightning! A flood of cutting darkness descended on Cloudhawk. Jupiter was as skilled as people said, and that made the Nilam family members nervous. Idonea didn¡¯t care much for this Lance character but she didn¡¯t wish him harm, either. As for Jupiter, he was rash and immature but they had grown up together. If he murdered Lance it would be no small matter. A blood feud would erupt between three families. People would come after Jupiter for vengeance and the Argyris name would be dragged through the mud. If Idonea understood only this much about the potential political turmoil, it was enough. She didn¡¯t want any of this. The consequences would be irreversible. Noah and the other family leaders were about to intervene when, much to their surprise, the whip in Cloudhawk¡¯s hand began to move. Like a bolt of lightning or an angry snake, the whip lashed into the dark fog. There was a deafening CRACK, like lightning striking a tree. What did Flamevolt hit? A second later the fog dissipated. The power of Jupiter¡¯s spear faded away and its bearer was revealed. He¡¯d been knocked several meters back and a stinging pain burned across his chest. The young man looked down to find a black mark across his front. His armor had been split apart and the surface radiated with red heat. ¡°He was knocked back?!¡± Shocked mutters rippled among the crowd. Instead of battling recklessly against Jupiter¡¯s attack, Lance had bypassed it all and struck right where he knew the younger fighter would be. In the midst of the onslaught the whip caught the Merlo family youth square in the chest. It made sense. Why fight so hard? There was no point in charging through an attack when you could cut it off at the root. Cloudhawk¡¯s rapid attack hadn¡¯t been strong, but the speed and precision were enough to surprise everyone. His steward fumbled over the words, ¡°Y-young Master, what a shot! Has he been hiding this skill all along? I heard that before we left for the capitol he defeated his older brother. It seems the stories were true!¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t stupid enough to unleash his full strength. Just a fraction of his ability was enough to thoroughly embarrass this child. His earliest memories were of struggle and bloody survival. He came to Stormford a grizzled survivor. What¡¯s more, he was absorbing more of the Demon King¡¯s memories every day. Mysteries of how to use relics and more effective ways to kill flooded his mind. And what of Jupiter, this member of the ¡®Mighty Ten¡¯? It was a fancy name, but given to a bunch of children who¡¯d grown up in an era of peace and plenty. Stormford hadn¡¯t seen any conflict in centuries. He was a noble¡¯s son, which meant there was no chance that he was trained like a real soldier. Jupiter wasn¡¯t discouraged. It was luck, that¡¯s all! This time he would cut the bastard in half! Bolstering his pride he lashed out with his spear once again. Innumerable cuts filled the space, threatening to envelope the foreign noble. Cloudhawk was moving even before Jupiter¡¯s attack began, like he knew it was coming. His arm whipped up and Flamevolt wrapped around the branch of a nearby tree. It contracted, pulling on the sturdy bough and launching Cloudhawk into the air ¨C and out of the way of Jupiter¡¯s attack. ¡°Where are you running!¡± Jupiter wrenched around and stabbed toward the sky. In response Cloudhawk disentangled Flamevolt from the tree and whipped his arm around. The slender weapon slithered passed the flurry of blows to strike Jupiter in his right hand where the Spear of a Thousand Shadows was being held. Crack! A pained yelp followed. Cutting shadows disappeared in an instant. The most dangerous of them, aimed toward Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead, vanished mere centimeters from its target. Nevertheless Cloudhawk never showed any signs of fear. Once again he easily disarmed Jupiter¡¯s attack. That difficult to avoid thread of fire and electricity was causing Jupiter no end of trouble. Its position was changing constantly, even during an attack. It made it difficult for him to lock down his target. How? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t offer Jupiter any chance to save face. He lashed out again and again with the whip reaching a full ten meters toward the target. Every strike was different and fell upon the young man like a lightning storm. Scorched whip-marks peppered his body. Noah was stunned. Members of the Nilam family were, too, as well as Idonea. They watched the oft maligned Byzantium dandy almost whip his opponent to pieces. Jupiter¡¯s attacks were far stronger than Cloudhawk¡¯s, but somehow the older challenger saw right through each of them. Likewise, while Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t strong they were so precise as to be unavoidable. In a handful of seconds Jupiter had been caught by twenty lashes. Black burn marks criss-crossed his entire form, but especially his hands. His metal gauntlets were in tatters and dripped blood. Jupiter¡¯s hands were too mangled to hold his weapon. Anger welled up inside of him, so intense that Jupiter wasn¡¯t thinking straight. His attacks grew more and more imperfect while his foe¡¯s superhuman perception picked out even the slightest flaws. He felt helpless. No, it didn¡¯t matter! He would crush him under his full strength! Idonea would not be stolen away by this foul man! Jupiter howled like a beast caught in a trap. Mental energy poured from him in an unmitigated flood and his spear launched into another set of attacks. However, this time they were not spread out across an area. They coalesced into a single stream. ¡°No! Jupiter is going to kill him!¡± Everyone could see the young man was throwing all of his strength into this attack. It reached up to a hundred meters and was shockingly wide. If it struck, there wouldn¡¯t even be a corpse to bring back to Byzantium. Jupiter¡¯s eyes were wide and bloodshot. ¡°Diiiee!¡± The Spear of a Thousand Shadows stretched unsettlingly until it was eight or nine meters long. It screamed toward Cloudhawk, yet he remained calm. The whip in his hands never stopped its dance, spiraling around to form a vortex before him. When the spear reached him he pulled. Cloudhawk¡¯s whip wrapped around the spear¡¯s shaft and tugged it to the side. At the last instant the spear¡¯s trajectory shifted, just as it released its energy in a deadly torrent. The thick wall of the Argyris family mansion was blasted to pieces! Jupiter¡¯s impressive strength was on full display. But the attack had taken nearly all of Jupiter¡¯s power to execute. After using it he was tapped for the moment. While Jupiter was catching his breath, Cloudhawk pulled his spear back. The younger man felt a sharp tug, more than his beaten hands could contend with. His spear slipped from his grasp and was flung a hundred meters away. It buried itself in a small hill on the mansion gardens. The outcome was clear. Cloudhawk looked over at Jupiter who was nearly mad with fury. ¡°A soldier¡¯s weapon is ten times more important than any lover. If as a soldier you can¡¯t even hold onto your weapon, how are you supposed to protect the people you care about? As far as I can tell, these Mighty Ten are only mighty in name.¡± Members of the Argyris family looked on with confused expressions. The Nilam family entourage looked sheepish. Beating the poor boy was enough and some banter meant nothing. But insulting the Mighty Ten? This young outsider certainly didn¡¯t mince his words. Noah interrupted with a gentle cough. ¡°Jupiter, you¡¯ve lost.¡± The beaten youth looked up at Lance, then over to Idonea. Like a broken man he turned away and left, even leaving his spear behind. Today he¡¯d lost not only the girl he loved, but his pride. Cloudhawk watched him go with a smirk. Shame was important, if you allowed it to make you stronger. Experiencing defeat was what made a real warrior. Jupiter was young, he would bounce back. ¡°Congratulations Young Lance!¡± Noah strode forward. ¡°You have won victory over Jupiter and have the right to count yourself among the Mighty Ten.¡± The steward joined in excitedly. ¡°When your mother and father hear the news they¡¯re sure to be thrilled!¡± Idonea watched Jupiter slink away. Only once he was gone did her eyes turn back to the mysterious noble who had come to marry her. She felt¡­ strange. If Lance was able to defeat Jupiter then they all had underestimated him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 10 - The Wedding Finally, the ruckus was over. But the results of that contest was sure to cause excitement throughout the city. Jupiter Merlo ¨C one of the Mighty Ten ¨C lost to a nameless outsider. Not only did it send a shock through the younger generation, it drew a lot of attention from many of the city¡¯s forces. Most pleasantly surprised by the outcome was Noah Argyris. The hope had been merely to solidify a union. All Lance had to do was not cause too much trouble. What he never imagined was that this young man was so strong. With the right training he could grow to be a pillar of their great family. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions had all been calculated. He didn¡¯t care about the kid, nor was he out to humiliate him so badly for so reason. What he wanted was to be part of this ¡®Mighty Ten.¡¯ He figured it would help his mission if he were. Noah and the other family leaders were getting on in years. It would be their priority to train Lance, cultivating him for eventual leadership. What Cloudhawk lacked was an in with the military. He needed a way to convince them to send him to Sky Fortress. The Argyris family was one of the biggest in Stormford. They had people in all levels of the army. With a word they would get him in. He wouldn¡¯t even need to fight ¨C just kick around for a little while to raise his profile. Another mark on his record, another step closer to Sky Fortress. Idonea¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. ¡°You don¡¯t seem all that strong. How were you able to beat Jupiter?¡± ¡°Which do you think is stronger, a wolf or a cow? Strength isn¡¯t the only ingredient for victory. The only way it is, is if you are greatly superior in strength. Otherwise you could always change the outcome with skill.¡± She was absorbed in thought. Throughout her training, Idonea had focused on increasing her mental power. Seeing how Cloudhawk had defeated Jupiter was inspiring and had her questioning her tactics. Mental strength alone wasn¡¯t enough. She also had to improve her skills and experience. The Crusade was the perfect chance. She could search for her father while making herself a better warrior. It was obvious to her that if she wanted to protect herself from being pushed around, she had to be strong enough to stand up to people. ¡°You sure are an interesting one.¡± She looked him over. ¡°You¡¯re not a weakling and definitely have what it takes to amount to something. Unfortunately it doesn¡¯t seem you¡¯ve done yourself any favors in the public eye.¡± It was nonsense of course. The real Lance probably would have cowered behind Idonea today if he were here. But Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to overly inflate himself. So he replied dismissively. ¡°Our life belongs to us ¨C you can only live for yourself. What does it matter what other people think? We draw breath for only a handful of years. After a few centuries we¡¯re nothing but a speck of light, a mote of dust. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t agree with that at all!¡± Idonea¡¯s face grew solemn and she spoke with earnest. ¡°Our lives are our own, but we have family and loved ones to think about. There are plenty of people who rely on us. Even dust has worth. We can¡¯t just cast aside all of that responsibility and live only for ourselves. Without them to live it with us, what¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Cloudhawk was mostly spouting bullshit. However, it seemed it¡¯d struck a chord with this sixteen year old girl. Obviously there was more going on in her head than he had thought. In the end there was no right answer. At the end of the day everyone made their own choices about how to live their lives. Spurning the losers and praising the idealists didn¡¯t mean anything. Pursuing one¡¯s goals unerringly was difficult, nor was it easy to completely free oneself from enticing pleasures. No more worth was given to one or the other ¨C they were just differing attitudes. ¡­ but what bullshit, really. If Cloudhawk had a choice he sure as shit wouldn¡¯t be here. He was strong enough to go wherever and do whatever he wanted. If he could really make that choice, no one would ever find him. ¡°Let¡¯s drop it.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t in the mood to discuss philosophical issues with this kid. ¡°The wedding is in two days. What do you plan to do with your final hours as a single woman?¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Our wedding is fake, remember! The whole thing will be forgotten once I find my father.¡± ¡°I know, I know. You don¡¯t need to remind me every five minutes. Honestly I have no interest in you that way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a bastard! I¡¯ll kick your ass!¡± She grabbed the closest thing within reach ¨C something hanging on the nearby wall ¨C and flung it at him. Cloudhawk lazily knocked it away. It was a flute, one of many used the Stormford¡¯s arts culture and so not valuable. It was a delicate instrument. Cloudhawk took a minute to look it over, admiring its construction. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Idonea glared at him. ¡°You aren¡¯t going to tell me you can play that thing.¡± ¡°I learned a little to help me impress the ladies.¡± ¡°You really are a pig.¡± Cloudhawk walked over to the window, put the flute to his lips and gave a gentle blow. A couple inelegant tones were released. This boastful fool, Idonea thought to herself. He thinks he can just pick it up and impress her? He¡¯s just a playboy, what culture does he really know? But much to her surprise, after a few clumsy tries the music took on a pleasing flow. A slow rhythm gradually formed. It was at once lonesome and vigorous, calling to mind a vast and empty landscape. Sad, solemn and stirring. Idonea listened in silence, looking at him with new eyes. A strange feeling came over her, one she couldn¡¯t quite express. There was a lot more to this man than the stories told, but he still just looked like any other soft noble. Cloudhawk finished the piece and glanced her way. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°What was the name of that piece?¡± She asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard it before.¡± His response was quiet, thoughtful. ¡°. I¡¯d be surprised if you had heard it.¡± What Elysian would know or understand the culture of the wastes? Of course it wouldn¡¯t be popular. Even if it somehow made its way all the way out here, the style and feel didn¡¯t meld with theirs. How could Idonea know this song came from a distant no man¡¯s land and the ruined godly realm at its border? Cloudhawk looked out across the city, draped in moonlight. It¡¯d already been several days since he left. He wondered how his friends were doing¡­ Idonea was right, in a way. There were limits in life. Cloudhawk had the power for freedom but companions to look after. With them came responsibilities that he couldn¡¯t ignore. The eagle was earthbound. ** Two days later, Lance Nilam from Byzantium and Idonea Argyris from Fulmulta were married in the capital¡¯s Temple. It was all rushed through for fear that the bride and groom might change their mind. The ceremony was efficient. Luckily for everyone involved, there was no trouble. Neither Lance nor Idonea caused a fuss. Before long it had come to the final reception. Within the Temple¡¯s beautiful and intricate halls were two people dressed in wedding garb. Several hundred guests hovered around them. A Master of Ceremonies called out over the festive din. ¡°Let us all welcome the honorable Oracle to bless the new couple!¡± Everyone rose and fell quiet. The Oracle was among the Temple¡¯s highest authority, second only to the High Priest. Even the city¡¯s Governor and Commander-General had to pay them respect. It was an honor, and a show of deep respect, for the Oracle to personally bless this union. An elderly man in silvery-white robes like folds of moonlight stepped forward. ¡°All praise to the gods. I am greatly heartened to see this pair of talented young people coming together in holy matrimony. Their capabilities and potential bode well for the future of our home. However, what really brings me joy is the decision they have made.¡± The Oracle paused for effect before continuing. ¡°The city¡¯s newest bride and groom have chosen to pledge themselves to our Holy Crusade. When this ceremony has ended they will report for duty and take their places on the front lines, fighting for the glory of Mount Sumeru. Without question, their noble and glorious acts are a shining example for all. May it guide more young people to take up arms against the evils of the world.¡± ¡°May the realm grow in peace and prosperity!¡± The Oracle raised his arms. ¡°May the gods bless this beautiful couple!¡± Cheers answered. Idonea looked out at the sea of smiling faces and then at the many by her side. It was difficult to read what was in her eyes. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, was getting tired. While his progress had been smooth it had not been progressing to his liking. The flames of war were growing and it felt like he was like trying to smother it in paper. What¡¯s more, he wasn¡¯t sure how long he could keep up this charade. The mission had to be completed as quickly as possible and by any means necessary. Skycloud¡¯s days were numbered. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. Book 7, Chapter 11 - Suspicions Book 7, Chapter 11 - Suspicions After the wedding, on the third day of Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival to the city, Byzantium¡¯s Governor arrived at the capitol by boat. He¡¯d come on short notice for two reasons: To discuss negotiations with Noah Argyris, and to see his newlywed son. All of a sudden his worthless son had become useful! His turnaround had been as quick as it had been dramatic. He offered no resistance to the marriage and had caused no trouble so far. What¡¯s more, he even earned himself a spot among the Mighty Ten, news that Lance¡¯s father hardly believed when he heard it. Was this really his son? When had he become so strong? Jupiter ¨C the young man he¡¯d taken the title from ¨C was said to be as strong as a veteran demonhunter. A father surely knew the worth of his sons. It seemed impossible that Lance would rise to the occasion. Many in Byzantium still doubted the stories of Lance beating his older brother. All of this was so out of character that the Governor had to come and check on things himself. His loyal steward was waiting on the docks and greeted the Nilam family patriarch when he arrived. ¡°Welcome to the capital, Governor!¡± ¡°Where is Lance?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sire. He is waiting for you.¡± ¡°How has he been these few days?¡± ¡°Completely different. There¡¯s no other way to describe it.¡± The steward shook his head. He had no explanation. Somehow the Young Master had kept his more worthy nature hidden from them all this time. ¡°He¡¯s already earned a name for himself in the city. I know you were worried he¡¯d stir up trouble, but it looks like we fretted for nothing. He¡¯s done the family proud.¡± As the steward continued to gush with praise the lines between Governor Nilam¡¯s brows furrowed deeper. ¡°Do you not find it at all strange? The moment he came to the capital it was like he became a completely different person!¡± ¡°Well...¡± This gave the man pause. ¡°He has changed quite a lot, but he is sire¡¯s son. It¡¯s not like he can be switched somehow. It is my opinion that he has simply matured and now understands what¡¯s at stake.¡± No response was forthcoming from the Governor. Something just didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°Keep this between us.¡± Confusion was in the steward¡¯s expression. Wasn¡¯t it a good thing that his son was behaving? Why did the Governor seem so nervous? Governor Nilam, the steward and his entourage made their way to the Argyris family home. Meanwhile Cloudhawk was slowly opening his eyes. He felt content, like everything was under control. He¡¯d been made aware that Governor Nilam was on his way, so he¡¯d slipped a spying relic on the steward¡¯s person. After their conversation he knew there was some suspicion cast his way. It was fine, there was only a day to go. Cloudhawk¡¯s acting abilities left much to be desired ¨C after all, he¡¯d never interacted with Lance before recently. He knew he couldn¡¯t deceive the man¡¯s family for long. What¡¯s more, his actions lately had been way out of character for the spoiled noble. Why hadn¡¯t Cloudhawk been given the identity of somehow from the capital? Because a local would have more friends, family and acquaintances he¡¯d have to try and fool. Coming from outside, the chances of him being caught either in the city or among the crusades was smaller. Why, then, did he choose to assume Lance¡¯s identity and marry this girl? That was so he could seamlessly integrate himself into Fulmulta. As a respected son-in-law with a powerful family behind him, he could more easily join the crusades. Because information didn¡¯t travel well in the new world, no one in the capital was very familiar with Lance Nilam. Any news they did get was hard to confirm. For that reason, even if he was completely different from what rumors said, it didn¡¯t make locals particularly suspicious. Between cultivating a bit of a reputation and help from his new family, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to join the army ranks. However, no one knew the son better than his own father. Even the best actor would be hard pressed to fool close family. Cloudhawk knew this was a crucial period in maintaining his identity. If he could get through this without a hitch, there would be no further obstacles. If, on the other hand, something went wrong¡­ then the whole mission was in danger. He reflected on this for a moment. Then, making up his mind, space around him rippled and Cloudhawk disappeared. The real Lance was still trapped in the strange otherworld. He¡¯d spent days there with no concept of what was happening. Every day Cloudhawk would visit to bring him food and water. Although the noble was in low spirits he was nonetheless in fine health. Fear and uncertainty were immediately apparent when Lance saw his doppelganger appear. ¡°Master! I¡¯m begging you, please let me go! I can¡¯t stay here forever, let me leave. I beg you! I¡¯ll do whatever you ask, anything at all!¡± Lance threw himself on the ground before Cloudhawk. This place was not nearly as threatening as the wastelands, but it was lonely. A person like Lance, with his weak will and constitution, couldn¡¯t stand even the constant illusion of danger. He¡¯d already been broken. Cloudhawk crouched down and looked him over. ¡°I will give you one chance. If you do absolutely everything I tell you to do exactly as I tell you to do it, then I promise to let you go.¡± ¡°Tell me!¡± Lance said, perking up. ¡°Whatever you ask!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s plan for dealing with Byzantium¡¯s Governor was simple. He would let the real Lance take the reigns. No lying, no conterfeiting, just the real deal. Of course this came with its own dangers. There was no telling whether or not this waste of air would play along. ¡°What? I¡¯ve already married the miss from the Argyris family? I beat Jupiter Merlo and became one of the Mighty Ten?¡± After the situation was explained to him Lance was dumbfounded. He knew that none of that was him, of course, but instead this copy that had showed up. He was coming back to the real world because his father was suspicious. Why would he do all of this? Why would he need Lance¡¯s identity to do it? Lance wracked his brain but came no closer to an answer. Cloudhawk¡¯s frigid voice pressed him. ¡°Can I trust you to do this?¡± ¡°Of course! Yes, absolutely!¡± ¡°You know what you have to say?¡± ¡°I¡­ I know.¡± Lance was like a drowning man grasping for straws. He would agree to anything to get away from this place. But then when he saw his father¡­ neither Lance nor Cloudhawk was sure he¡¯d stick to the plan. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be reliable, so I¡¯m going to have to make sure you will be.¡± He looked around for a moment then pointed to a mountain range a few thousand meters away. ¡°See that mountain?¡± Lance followed his finger. It was a strange question, why was he asking about it? ¡°I do,¡± he said agreeably. Cloudhawk took two steps forward. Slow and steady from an outside perspective, they shot him several dozen meters away. Reappearing, suddenly his bearing had changed entirely. His presence cut like a deadly sword wrenched from its sheath. Lance watched in shock as he drew a weapon. Electric power crackled through the air, surging with an intensity he¡¯d never felt before. It coalesced around the sword so that everything around it for a huge swath was nearly crushed under its force. Deep gray clouds roiled overhead like an angry sea. Cloudhawk slowly raised his weapon and those clouds split apart as though carved in twain. Without a sound, Cloudhawk brought the sword crashing down, striking the earth before his feet. A tremendous roar like a thousand thunderclaps boomed across the landscape. All of the power he had summoned was gathered at the sword¡¯s tip. It was released in a breathtaking bloom that was felt more than seen. The earth split in a straight line for a thousand meters to create a gaping chasm. The sound of cracking earth was like a thousand galloping horses as it reached the mountain range. Even from this distance Lance could see the fissures creeping up the sides. Dazzling light shimmered from where the cliffs parted. At last there was a terrible sound as though the sky were falling. Countless chunks of rocks blasted in all directions as most of the mountain collapsed in on itself. He¡¯d split an entire mountain with one blow! It was terrifying to know such a creature walked the earth! Lance gulped and nearly choked on his spit. He¡¯d never seen such power before. There was no living thing in all of Stormford that could wield such a level of destruction. He¡­ he wasn¡¯t a man. He was a monster. ¡°Remember, I will be right beside you the whole time. If you do anything I don¡¯t like¡­ ¡° Cloudhawk trailed off as he sheathed Immortal Godslayer, letting the scene speak for itself. ¡°Don¡¯t fuck with me. You see what happens to people who do. I will kill anyone who stands in my way, whether they¡¯re a Governor or a High Priest. I won¡¯t hesitate to put you or your father in the dirt.¡± Any passing thought Lance had of betraying this man had withered and died. For a brief instant he¡¯d thought of tipping off his father and getting his help to escape. But after seeing the horror this creature wielded, the seed of rebellion died in his heart. It would only get a lot of people killed. Whoever this person was, he wielded the power of a god or demon. Any misstep and he wasn¡¯t just putting his life in danger, but the lives of his father and his whole family as well. There was no question that his doppelganger would have no qualms erasing an entire family from existence. ¡°I-I understand.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I really do not want to hurt anyone. I¡¯m only doing what I have to do.¡± Lance was relieved to hear it. For a time he was certain this man wanted him dead. He was afraid it had something to do with his family and the influence their wielded. Instead he didn¡¯t seem interested in any of that. He trusted him when he said he didn¡¯t want to kill anyone. What a fortunate turn of misfortune¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cloudhawk gave Lance a change of clothing, tidied up his appearance, and then the two blinked out of reality. Book 7, Chapter 12 - Father and Son Book 7, Chapter 12 - Father and Son At last Lance was back in the world he knew. However, far from being relieved he felt like he was walking across a bed of nails. He couldn¡¯t see the monster who¡¯d stolen his identity, but he could feel him right by his side. Somewhere hidden, always watching. He¡¯d split a mountain with one swing of his sword! Someone that powerful had to have the mental strength of a Master Demonhunter. He couldn¡¯t even hold a candle to such a creature. What¡¯s more, he was able to move through space and manipulate reality! If he wanted to hide himself, then a piddling novice like himself would never find him. He only felt the man because he wanted Lance to know he was watching. It was a threat. A naked, effective threat! Lance felt like he could cry. He thought about the last twenty years of his life. Lascivious, lazy, bossy¡­ sure he wasn¡¯t a good guy, but he hadn¡¯t seriously hurt anyone! Why were the gods punishing him this way? And who was this monster? Obviously he had incredible power so why bother to pretend to be anyone? It was like fate had decided to play a cruel joke on him. No, enough! Be calm, be collected¡­ If anything about his face or mannerisms tipped off his father he was doomed. And not just him but everyone he knew. All of a sudden Lance went from feeling mostly unimportant to shouldering the lives of his entire family. ¡°Young Master, your father ¨C the Governor ¨C has arrived!¡± When word came that his father was here, Lance did not go out to meet him. He remained seated in his room, munching on snacks and sipping on a cup of tea. When his father entered Lance didn¡¯t even lift his head. Immediately the steward scowled in irritation. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off from a cough by Governor Nilam. The steward, reading the situation, bowed and made his exit. Lance¡¯s father stepped forward. ¡°You stuck up little shit. I don¡¯t care how big your britches get, you stand up when I enter a room!¡± Lance answered by rolling his eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t Byzantium, you can¡¯t order people around here. But me? I live here and I can sit wherever the hell I want. What¡¯s it to you, anyway? Always flapping your lips without saying anything meaningful. So get to the point already.¡± Lance¡¯s petulant attitude practically drowned the room. ¡°You worthless runt!¡± The Governor lost his temper, but that was somehow a relief. His son was the same smart-ass, disrespectful wastrel he¡¯d always been. Maybe his suspicions were unfounded. But he wanted to be sure. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m not here to argue with you. Word got back to us that you defeated Jupiter Merlo! Why didn¡¯t you ever tell your father you were this strong?¡± ¡°You think just because you¡¯re my dad you get to know everything about me?¡± Lance paused to take a sip of tea. ¡°If I have an orgy tonight am I supposed to share all the details with you, too? Really, if I did tell you what good would come of it? You¡¯d just have me doing shit I don¡¯t want to do every day. Much more comfortable pretending to be a worthless son, am I right?¡± Governor Nilam¡¯s face was calm and the irritation melted away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a son doing something for his father? It¡¯s a man¡¯s lot ¨C the stronger he is the more responsibilities he carries. Besides, I¡¯m at least partially to thank. If I hadn¡¯t invited some of the best teachers to come and train you from six years old, would you be where you are today?¡± Lance knew his father was trying to convince him. It was true that back when he was six, Byzantium invited one of the realm¡¯s most lauded teachers to come. However he didn¡¯t come to train Lance. He came to train his brother. He tried to learn from watching, which was hardly effective. Lance spat out a fruit pit. ¡°Bah, what¡¯s this bullshit? I remember you beating me because I didn¡¯t want to study with my brother. Since when did you get that trainer for me?¡± Governor Nilam was watching his young son closely. Everything was the same, from his impudent speech to his dismissive attitude. All at once his suspicions withered. There was no doubt this was his son. ¡°Hey-hey! What the fuck did you think you¡¯re doing? You better not be thinking of raising your hand at me!¡± Lance¡¯s eyes widened when he saw his father step closer. He felt his heart skip a beat. Get back you idiot! There¡¯s a monster watching all of this who could kill you with his pinkie finger. ¡°I¡¯m a part of the Argyris family. If you do anything I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡± The threats did not faze Byzantium¡¯s Governor as he stepped close and slapped his hands down on Lance¡¯s shoulders. Nilam¡¯s Young Master felt the warmth of his father¡¯s palms, seeping through his clothes and into his heart. He looked into his father¡¯s wrinkled eyes and for a moment felt emotion well up inside of him. All that hate he thought he had was just a shell. Now he recognized how he really felt, but was it too late? He didn¡¯t know¡­ didn¡¯t know if he would live much longer to make things right. His doppelganger was much too terrible and killing Lance would be like swatting a fly to him. ¡°We have our issues you and I, but you¡¯re still young. You don¡¯t understand the pains of being a father. I am a Governor also, and that means pressures and responsibilities above the norm for all of us. That¡¯s why I always hoped all three of my sons would grow to be excellent men.¡± It was the first time Governor Nilam had ever been so candid. ¡°I am proud of you.¡± Lance stood still, dumbfounded. After sharing his feelings, the Governor turned and walked toward the exit. ¡°Steward, let¡¯s go see the Elder.¡± The steward hopped into action excitedly. ¡°Of course, Patriarch!¡± Lance watched his father leave. He wanted to call out to him, but didn¡¯t dare. A confusing mix of emotions roiled inside him. All the praise he was given wasn¡¯t from anything he did, but it felt¡­ good. Maybe the stranger was right. Maybe it was a good thing he was chosen to be replaced. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice from outside. A young girl¡¯s voice. ¡°I am Idonea, daughter of Bruno Argyris. A pleasure to meet you, Governor.¡± ¡°Ah, Mrs. Idonea. We¡¯re family now, you mustn¡¯t be so formal.¡± The Governor¡¯s rich laughter was muffled by the door. It was a genuine expression of happiness. He was happy with his new daughter in law. ¡°That little brat can be a handful sometimes. If he causes you any problems you just let me know. I¡¯ll break his legs.¡± Embarrassment crept into her voice. ¡°Actually he¡¯s been quite kind,¡± she said timidly. ¡°Well that makes my day to hear, Mrs. Idonea. Seems that kid might have grown up a little.¡± The Governor was so pleased by how things were going he decided to celebrate with a drink. Such praise from a refined noble such as herself spoke well to his son¡¯s growth. It was unexpected but appreciated. Lance listened from the other side of the door, stunned. He¡¯d had plenty of women, but they all spent their time with him for his status and money. It was all just a show. He¡¯d always known deep down that he wasn¡¯t worth much ¨C just relying on his family¡¯s riches and reputation, even to get him into demonhunter training. Those women from before put up with him. But how did they really feel? He didn¡¯t know. Lance had been opposed to this marriage and everyone assumed it was because he was just being contrary. The truth was, however, that he was afraid he didn¡¯t deserve this noble bride. She was the daughter of a mighty Patriarch, after all! Her father was the legendary spatial Master Bruno Argyris! How could someone as worthless as him live up to her expectations? Yet, somehow, over the last couple days he¡¯d become one of Fulmulta¡¯s Mighty Ten and everything had changed. He felt lost. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re just standing there staring into space?¡± A pretty young woman of maybe sixteen or seventeen strode into the room. She was pleasing to look upon, with excellent features and a lithe body. She had a mixture of noble temperament and immaturity that suited her well. He felt his heart race. It was a unique feeling for him. ¡°I heard your conversation.¡± Idonea stepped closer, noting his shocked expression. ¡°You aren¡¯t a child, you shouldn¡¯t quarrel with your father. You should go apologize.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure why she felt compelled to share her opinion, but she did. Lance wasn¡¯t sure how to react. He¡¯d never seen this girl before now, but the way he felt¡­ he wished they¡¯d met earlier. ¡°Your father seems like a decent man.¡± Idonea had no idea this person she was speaking to now was not the same person she¡¯d gotten to know over the last few days. She was too focused on her own thoughts. ¡°Some things we just have to deal with, like family. Sometimes it feels more like a burden than a treasure, but if one day you lost everything you¡¯d see how precious it is.¡± Idonea was speaking literally. She realized what she¡¯d lost when her father disappeared. Her mood was low and she brought it up because she wanted Lance to say something reassuring. Over the last couple days she¡¯d felt calm with him, safe. But this time he didn¡¯t give her what she wanted. He didn¡¯t say anything at all. Idonea raised her head and looked into his eyes. They were different somehow, like that profound wisdom wasn¡¯t there anymore. ¡°Well, figure it out yourself!¡± Idonea spat the words in irritation and stormed out of the room. Lance watched her go, obviously upset. He didn¡¯t know why but he felt guilty. A few moments later Cloudhawk appeared from ripples in space. Lance hesitated for a minute but gathered his courage. ¡°If I am going to die, can you do me a favor?¡± Cloudhawk looked at him in silence. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I want the people of Stormford to remember me as a good man.¡± Lance considered his words for another moment. ¡°And that girl, if you could...¡± ¡°I told you I only need your identity for a little while. When my mission is complete you¡¯ll be returned to your normal life. How people remember you will be up to you.¡± ¡°Would you tell me who you are?¡± Someone as strong as this stranger had to be widely known. ¡°I can¡¯t, not right now. But I think eventually you¡¯ll figure it out.¡± Book 7, Chapter 13 - Joining The Crusades Book 7, Chapter 13 - Joining The Crusades Governor Nilam remained in the capital for two days and one night before returning home. He had to leave. Byzantium wasn¡¯t the capital, but it was still a city of over a million citizens. It also served as the gateway to Fulmulta so it could not be left unattended for long. And thus the brief interruption was handled smoothly. Cloudhawk returned Lance to his extradimensional prison. He wasn¡¯t sure what the Governor and Elder discussed, but it was a quick conversation. Whatever negotiations they were involved in must have gone well. Both sides were pleased with the results. Noah was especially happy with the arrangement. Not only had Lance done his duty to secure their family union, but he was also a young man of potential. He was a fine liaison and an even finer future representative of the Argyris family. Meanwhile Governor Nilam was vocal with his delight. He was especially impressed with Idonea. The Nilam family had wanted to gain a foothold in the capital for many years and at last their opportunity had come. Before he left, Lance¡¯s father urged him to produce a son as soon as possible. If they birthed an heir their family¡¯s unification would be complete. After hearing the request, Idonea couldn¡¯t wait to join the crusades. A child?! She hadn¡¯t spared even a moment for such a thought. She was only seventeen, barely an adult! But there was something she found strange. Byzantium¡¯s notoriously lustful Young Master hadn¡¯t made even the hint of a pass at her. Although she wasn¡¯t very interested in this dandy noble, his disinterest bothered her a little. Is he really not even a little interested in me? She didn¡¯t like him necessarily, but she didn¡¯t hate him either. Idonea didn¡¯t even consider him a friend. She was, though, a pretty young girl with a fair amount of confidence in her looks. The fact that Lance hardly gave her a second look had started to get under her skin. She wasn¡¯t a child! Was this guy blind?! When Byzantium¡¯s Governor left, Noah called for a meeting with Lance and Idonea. He brought up a subject they were both glad to hear. ¡°We have word from the Crusades. They have accepted your applications.¡± Idonea¡¯s eyes lit up. Good. Real good! After joining the holy army they would send her to Skycloud and she could begin searching for her father. She still held onto the belief that he was out there somewhere. He was invincible, he had to be alive. Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief. He¡¯d had to jump through several hoops, but it seemed it was all paying off. Things were bad and he couldn¡¯t afford to drag his feet. Four Supremes were planning their assault on his home. From up in Sky Fortress they were a looming threat. Then there was the gods¡¯ army making its way here. When it arrived things would be irrevocably changed. Noah went on. ¡°The Crusade forces are large. It is the largest collection of warriors since the Great War, comprised of the greatest men and women of the Elysian lands. Now that you¡¯ve been accepted into its ranks you not only represent our family, but all of Stormford. You must do your best.¡± The Argyris Elder saw things simply. He had a deep and insightful view into the inner workings of the lands. Skycloud¡¯s rebel forces were passive, which meant they were at the mercy of the Crusades. Meanwhile the Supremes continued to bolster their forces. All the greatest servants of the gods were rallied to fight against a single backwards nation. To his mind there was no question what the outcome would be. What¡¯s more, a rebellion of this scale was bound to garner the attention of Mount Sumeru. When this was over there would be no trace of the corrupted Elysian land. It was predestined. Victory was assured! Lance and Idonea were the future of their family. If they returned from the crusades laden with merits it would mean a great deal for their future, and the future of the Argyris clan. Noah did not expect them to join the front lines, nor did he think they would have to. In a war of this magnitude no single fighter was worth much. Two young people wouldn¡¯t be called on to change the tide of battle. Members of the Argyris family were also present in the Crusades¡¯ leadership. When the fighting broke out, these two young nobles would be assigned somewhere away from the conflict. Then when victory came they would reap the benefits of having served. In short, their mission was to raise their public image and make connections. Just a few months. Then they¡¯ll be home safe with plenty of medals to show for it. As the Oracle had proclaimed, these newly-wedded crusaders had become an example for all of Stormford. When they returned they would be given positions and titles. Where their futures would bring them was limited only by the means of their family and the threshold of their skills. Idonea wasn¡¯t thinking that far ahead. ¡°When can we leave?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry. The Holy Army is both unique and particular, with a stringent selection policy. Tonight you will be fetched from the mansion and brought to a secret training facility. There a series of tests will determine whether you will join the crusades or not. Do well and you will be sent to their fortress in the sky.¡± ¡°Why so much trouble?¡± Idonea was getting frustrated. ¡°I thought we were already accepted.¡± ¡°Stop complaining, war is no small matter. Hundreds of thousands of lives are on the line. Although the soldiers of the gods have a great advantage you must never let your guard down.¡± Noah paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°The army is separated into three divisions; the outer forces, the garrisoned elite and the inner circle.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°First, they are isolated from one another,¡± he explained. ¡°In other words the outer forces cannot enter the Sky Fortress. Garrisoned troops don¡¯t know what the inner circle is doing. As you might expect the outer forces have the greatest numbers but the lower quality of soldiers. Their aim is to prevent any enemy spies from infiltrating. They are stationed around the fortress and keep watch. In the unlikely event an enemy gets to the Fortress, they¡¯ll be stopped outside.¡± Cloudhawk rubbed his jaw. ¡°That¡¯s some serious security.¡± ¡°The garrisoned forces have fewer soldiers. It¡¯s mainly comprised of Temple forces from the four realms, representatives of the various Governors, demonhunters and children of noble families. They are more skilled and more reliable than the outer forces.¡± Idonea piped up. ¡°What about the inner circle?¡± ¡°That is the most important part of the army. Although they are few in number they are all extremely strong. They are the Master Demonhunters and greatest fighters, gathered for this singular purpose. They represent the incredible power of our people.¡± Idonea was excited by the news. How strong were these mighty warriors? Master Demonhunters were all highly accomplished men and women; either they have killed demons or achieved other great deeds. That was how they earned the title Master Demonhunter. There were only a handful all throughout the Elysian realms. To be called Master Demonhunter meant you were a person of exemplary skill and quality. They each had their own skills, styles and relics. In addition there were martial artists, whose mastery of their bodies were equal to what a Master Demonhunter could perform. They were supported by other demonhunters and talented soldiers. At the very top were the Supremes themselves. What force could stand against this righteous sword of Mount Sumeru? ¡°Neither of you are strong enough to join the inner circle. Focus on earning a place among the garrison. We have family members who will help you along.¡± This was all excellent information for Cloudhawk. Now he knew how these ¡®crusades¡¯ were structured. ** That night. All was quiet as darkness crept toward the early hours of dawn. An unassuming airship pulled into the nearby military airport. Lance and Idonea were collected after being introduced by members of the family. Their identification was checked and eventually they boarded. The ship rose into the air and off toward the horizon. It was finally starting. Cloudhawk took a deep breath. Idonea sat across from him, unaware of what was to come. Judging by the look on her face she was filled with both trepidation and excitement. Book 7, Chapter 14 Sky Fortress Book 7, Chapter 14 Sky Fortress The moon was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds. Creeping through the faint mist, an airship silently traversed the land. It moved along at a slow pace like through the darkness, faintly reflecting light like a distant star. Only after the ship had taken off and was flying for a time did Cloudhawk let himself relax. From now on everything that he did would be top secret and no word would get back to Stormford. Even if he acted completely out of character no one would look at him twice. Lance¡¯s family would be none the wiser. Cloudhawk fiddled with a pair of Temple permits. These slips gave him and Idonea the right to apply for positions with the crusades. With the help of two major families, and the companionship of a Master Demonhunter¡¯s daughter, he didn¡¯t think there would be any trouble. All that was left was to sneak into the fortress and blow it up from the inside! When the priest took one step the devil took ten. No matter how water-tight they thought their forces were, there was always a chance the enemy could slip through. Cloudhawk pondered what was to come as he put his chip on his arms and leaned against the cabin table. His eyes slid over to Idonea. She was seated by the porthole, shafts of errant moonlight playing off her features. She stared in quiet contemplation. Idonea decided to join the army in a spur-of-the-moment decision. The girl had no idea what was really going on. How could she? What would her reaction be if she learned his true identity? Cloudhawk noted that she was a few years younger that Asha. He felt no pride in deceiving the young girl. As his mind wandered Idonea felt the eyes on her. She turned her head. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± His face was an emotionless mask, calm as ever. ¡°You remind me of someone, that¡¯s all. When she was about your age she also left on a journey to find her father.¡± She raised her eyebrows. ¡°She lost her father, too?¡± ¡°Well, how do I put it...¡± Cloudhawk thought for a moment. ¡°I guess you could say so.¡± ¡°Did she find him?¡± ¡°Many years later. But when she did he died before they could really reconnect.¡± ¡°How did he die?¡± ¡°She killed him.¡± That was not the answer she was expecting. ¡°How could that be? You¡¯re telling tales.¡± ¡°Heh, when you grow up you¡¯ll realize that sometimes life is not so different from a tall tale.¡± ¡°Hmph, listen to you acting like some wise old man. You aren¡¯t much older than me!¡± Selene had been around her age when she set off on her own into the wastelands. But besides the fact that both their fathers were Master Demonhunters, there weren¡¯t many similarities between these women. ¡°Well, don¡¯t pay much mind to the story. You¡¯ll find your dad.¡± Idonea was quiet for a moment, then responded. ¡°Thank you.¡± She just wanted some comfort. But what could he do? Tell her that he¡¯d dumped her father on another world? He was a rare sort of man, with amazing talent and a rare gift that he did not want to use in Cloudhawk¡¯s service. It was a tricky problem. If Cloudhawk let him and Phoenix go, it would only be a matter of time before they caused more problems. Leaving them stranded on another planet was essentially a death sentence, just one that took a long time. He wasn¡¯t sure how to solve this issue yet. He hoped with time he would. Silence took the cabin once again. Neither knew what to talk about. By the time dawn peaked over the horizon they felt the ship tremble. It meant the ship had docked. They¡¯d arrived. The eastern sky was gradually brightening. Their voyage had lasted about five hours. A straight shot at the speed of an average ship would have taken them out of the realm, but Cloudhawk looked around and saw that they were still in Stormford. They must have taken a circuitous route. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As man and wife and having applied to the army together, they expected to be placed in the same unit. Even the holy army wouldn¡¯t separate them. A military base was revealed when they stepped onto the deck of the ship. Idonea had never heard of this place, which was no surprise. It was secluded from the more populated parts of the realm and was a closely guarded secret. Most of the buildings were bunkers or extended underground so its surface footprint was kept unobtrusive. Inside, though, it was like a huge maze. The docks were crowded with airships coming from all different directions. Scores of soldiers were pouring in to join thousands of their comrades already stationed here. They were all preparing to join the holy army and leave for Sky Fortress. ¡°Demonhunters! Please come this way with your identification ready!¡± Cloudhawk brought Idonea down a long hallway. They were subjected to several checks until at last they reached an empty space. Joining them were scores of others, all dressed as demonhunters. Many were in their middle years but there were a few fresh-faced youths. Cloudhawk and his young wife stood out among the crowd. He didn¡¯t have a lot of time to look around before an Elysian officer stood before the group and made his voice heard. ¡°Transport ships are on their way. Get ready to depart.¡± Over the next hour several more demonhunters arrived. Each of them were precious resources for the realm. Generally a good demonhunter was equivalent to a thousand soldiers. Gathered around them now were several hundred. It was an impressive lineup, and all this in just one transport. All eyes rose skyward as a thunderous roar broke. A shining airship descended from the clouds and over the base. It had to be at least four times larger than a typical battleship with six visible pylons pouring energy. ¡°You¡¯ve got fifteen minutes to get on this ship!¡± When the ship got low enough it opened several doors and people started to file inside. In short order the many soldiers were safely aboard. The doors shut and it lifted off. It took less than an hour for the ship to appear, take on its passengers and leave again. Obvious to all was the layer of energy that hung over the battleship. As it continued to rise at a surprising pace, no one felt any discomfort. In a short while until they broke above the clouds and moonlight flooded the decks. Its silvery blue glow painted the roiling clouds an ethereal hue. It felt like they were on a vast, undulating sea. Still they rose. What little bits of the earth they could see beneath the clouds shrank away. The vessel¡¯s arc carried it along until the sun appeared in the distance. Far behind them the mountain peaks of Stormford were disappearing. Below was an endless expanse of wasteland. It was an entirely new scene for everyone aboard. Everyone except Cloudhawk. Idonea watched it all with eyes wide as saucers. She¡¯d thought Stormford stretched across the whole world. Now all of a sudden she realized how small her home was and how much there was out beyond the mountains! They flew on. Six energy pylons hummed as it propelled the ship through the air. As gravity gradually lost its hold the air grew thin. People walked around feeling strangely light as they reached a hundred kilometers over ground. Blue sky gave way to black space and looking out at the horizon, once could see the curve of the planet. The journey lasted most of a day. At last there appeared a speck of light in the darkness. It expanded until everyone could clearly see the magnificent fleet of the holy army. Thousands of ships were encompassed in a bubble of light, like fish caught in a net. They hung in place or shuttled back and forth in lazy patterns. The docks were stuffed with vessels. Over a hundred Seraphs were employed to build a sprawling spaceport out of nothing. Bridges of sterling white joined it all together in a staggering and impressive web. It was even more incredible when one realized it had all been done in the space of a month. In short, although the fortress was still under construction it was already a sprawling citadel. A sprawling armada was gathered, ready to launch when Skycloud rolled by below. The combined power gathered here was enough to wipe any target off the face of the planet. Book 7, Chapter 15 - Conscription Exam Book 7, Chapter 15 - Conscription Exam ¡°Is this a palace¡­?¡± Idonea stared at the scene before her with wide eyes. It was an impossible sight. A vast network, floating thousands of meters in the air. Just as amazing were the thousands of ships that were clustered around it with more arriving every day. They stepped out into a smooth white corridor that stretched endlessly into the distance. Common sense said that it couldn¡¯t continue off into space and if there was any air, it was extremely thin. However, when Cloudhawk and Idonea walked out they found that gravity was the same as it ever was. There was plenty of air. It was exactly the same as though they were on the ground. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t find it strange. Through their Temples the gods could easily create enchantments like this. What he wanted to know was the Temple¡¯s location. So he closed his eyes and searched with his special sense. The first thing he discovered was the immensity of the place. An outer force, garrisoned troops, and a group deep in the center. Consistent with what Noah had told them. In addition, there were enchantments separating them all. It stopped soldiers from different groups shuttling back and forth. Sky Fortress was connected all over by these long hallways. They honeycombed through the area and were the only way into the floating citadel. Security stops and defensive barriers were a common sight. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t sense the Temple¡¯s location. It was likely the gods were hiding it somehow. But tellingly, there was another enchantment that wrapped the center of Sky Fortress. Space was warped and unstable, making dimensional powers weaker. Defenses like that were a huge target. He also figured there was more to it than that. Gods and Master Demonhunters were waiting on one side. Although there were few who were dangerous to Cloudhawk one on one, a group like that would tear him apart. ¡°Well don¡¯t just stand there like an idiot. Let¡¯s go.¡± Idonea watched Cloudhawk star off into space and figured he must have been struck dumb by the sight. It could certainly be understood. When she noticed people starting to move through the hall she tried to get Cloudhawk¡¯s attention. They followed the other demonhunters. This hallway was specifically for new arrivals. Before they could get deeper into Sky Fortress, they were subjected to another identity check. No issues were raised and their group was let through the checkpoint. On the other side they were met by a man dressed in the garb of a senior officer. ¡°Demonhunters from all the realms; welcome. I suspect you are all aware of how we do things up here. We will begin testing your abilities to determine where you¡¯ll be sent.¡± Noah had explained the structure of the holy army already. As standard there were the soldiers, the elite and the strong center. The Argyris Elder arranged for them to be placed in the elite squads. On the one hand it was appropriate for their skill level, and for the other there was family garrisoned there. Most demonhunters in their group aimed for elite status. Idonea also. She was very clear about her abilities and knew where she fit. Anyone applying for the inner circle had to be of veteran demonhunter status or better. She was close, but not quite there. Yet when the intake officer asked her and Cloudhawk where they wanted to apply, he surprised everyone. ¡°The inner circle.¡± What? He thinks he can get in? Everyone around gave him a strange look. Only a few were confident enough to apply for such an honor. This kid thought he was worthy? Lance was a name no one had heard of in Stormford, what gave him the impression he was good enough? The officer looked him over, the corners of his eyes tightening. ¡°Are you sure? If you don¡¯t pass you¡¯ll miss a chance at elite ¨C we sent you right back with the grunts.¡± Everyone knew getting accepted into the inner circle was not easy. Tests were designed to make sure only the best got in. Cloudhawk answered without a shred of doubt. ¡°If we¡¯re willing to take the test then we¡¯re capable and willing to take the consequences. ¡°Alright then, young man. You¡¯re brave at least. Come with me.¡± Idonea gaped at him. What the hell made him so confident?! Hadn¡¯t the plan been just to get into the elite division? Why was he changing things? He saw the question in her eyes and answered. ¡°We¡¯re here, we won¡¯t settle for anything but the inner circle.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know we¡¯re strong enough to make it happen!¡± She almost glared at him. What was he thinking? But although she disagreed with his false sense of ability, there was no going back now. Idonea could only shuffle after them. As they entered an open space. ¡°The conscription exam is really quite simple,¡± the officer explained. ¡°It¡¯s a sparring contest. You win, you¡¯re in. Please wait here, your opponents will arrive shortly.¡± So they had to beat a challenger? Easy enough to understand. But Idonea was unconsciously fiddling with her necklace, a sign of her nerves getting the better of her. A large pair of doors opened on the other side of the room. Two figures entered and when Idonea saw them her face fell. She knew these two. ¡°Mercury Merlo and Apollo Haven...¡± Idonea recognized them immediately. At least in Stormford they were household names. The Merlo name immediately marked Mercury as a member of the mighty family. He was Jupiter¡¯s elder cousin and at thirty years old, his strength was widely known. As for Apollo Haven? He wasn¡¯t one to discount! The Haven family didn¡¯t ring very loudly in Fulmulta, but the young man was one of the capitol¡¯s Mighty Ten. More accurately, their leader. In Stormford he was the greatest of his generation. Jupiter had shown real promise but was on the lower end of the Mighty Ten. He was, after all, only eighteen years old. Who could have said in time if he might have risen to the top. As of now, though, he was far below Apollo in skill. ¡°Oh no!¡± Idonea felt her heart sink. She would rather have fought anyone else, any stranger. Their connections made this more difficult than it had to be. Indeed it was Cloudhawk who so thoroughly embarrassed Mercury¡¯s cousin. He also openly mocked the Mighty Ten on more than one occasion. Now Mercury and Apollo had their chance to seek reparations. Not the best time for personal feuds. ¡°You¡¯re the one who beat Jupiter for his position among the Ten. Lance Nilam.¡± Mercury had been at Sky Base for only two days. He¡¯d heard everything that happened during the wedding. ¡°Word is you¡¯re arrogant. Today we¡¯ll see if your skills can pay for what your mouth buys you.¡± There was a cold light in his eyes, one that promised he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to win vengeance for his family. Apollo didn¡¯t say anything. They were here for a solemn task. He was here, so he had to be at least as strong as Mercury. A pair of piercing, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Lance. ¡°Alright. No more wasting time.¡± Mercury drew his weapon from its sheath. There was a flash of light and they watched as the man swelled to ten times his size. In his right hand was clutched a dangerous looking saber which spawned eddies of wind as he swung it around. ¡°If you want to join the inner circle then you have to go through me!¡± Apollo, true to his stoic way, remained silent. He, too, pulled out a sword which glinted with a cold light. Unlike his companion, Apollo did not waste energy on showy displays. Even still, the aura of the weapon was enough to prove it was more than it appeared. By the way they looked at Cloudhawk and Idonea, it was clear how little they thought of their opponents. Idonea was daughter to a famous father but herself didn¡¯t even qualify as a veteran demonhunter. Her abilities had to be average at best. As for Lance, he was completely unknown before a few days ago. Even if he did manage to beat Jupiter, he was probably only barely considered a ¡®veteran.¡¯ What in the world made these two think they could join the inner circle? ¡°Be careful!¡± Idonea was already on guard. ¡°Mercury¡¯s weapon is called Tyranny and it¡¯s strong. Don¡¯t let it get close. Apollo is carrying the Nebula Blade which allows him to attack an area. He¡¯s also a skilled martial artist who prefers speed and bursts of strength.¡± ¡°Well if you aren¡¯t going to get this started, than I am!¡± With a roar of challenge, Mercury Merlo came charging at Cloudhawk with both hands on Tyranny. 1. Apollo Haven¡¯s Chinese name is Ïö³½ which can mean all sorts of things, but is basically two names meaning the bright shining heavens/universe. Apollo is the grecian/roman god of the sun and the day. Mercury¡¯s name is ÐþÌìͨ, ¡°passage through the sky¡±. I went with Mercury because it fits with the Merlo family¡¯s roman motif, and because Mercury is the heavenly messenger, always cutting paths through the sky. Book 7, Chapter 16 - Pass Book 7, Chapter 16 - Pass Tyranny was a wind-type relic. With every swing it birthed hundreds or thousands of cutting gales. Solid objects were shredded in its wake. The might of it was frightening and the winds locked down a whole area. Opponents had to weigh hunkering down or trying to run through the deadly attack. Weaker challengers were defeated outright by this opening attack. Stronger ones found it hard to move safely and had to take it head on. Nothing had survived so far against Mercury¡¯s Tyranny! Even defensive relics of similar class were rendered useless, unless their bearer was much stronger than him. His was a name that held weight in Fulmulta. He first earned a place among the Mighty Ten when he was very young. Among his generation it was widely believed he had the potential to become a Master. It was Mercury¡¯s character to try and hide or downplay his faults. He never revealed his feelings or shared his reasons. But this time it was obvious. Lance had shamed his brother who was even more talented than he had been. It was a slight against their family name. How could they let it stand? ¡°He¡¯s too strong, we¡¯ll never beat them!¡± Idonea had started to tremble. Mercury¡¯s opening attack was enough to convince her she was way out of her depth. There was no way they would win. Apollo hadn¡¯t even joined in yet. Surrender! The thought kept ringing through her mind. This wasn¡¯t a test, it was a chance for revenge. Idonea didn¡¯t care about any inner circle, she had a specific goal. Getting in the middle of this conflict wouldn¡¯t do her any favors. But it was already too late. She didn¡¯t even have a chance to open her mouth. Mercury already had Lance locked down. From several dozen meters away he leaped through the air as more power coursed through the saber. Another hurricane of biting winds spun around his weapon like a tornado. Thousands of strikes in one! If this didn¡¯t kill Lance outright it would make him a cripple! Idonea had no time to defend herself. Although the brunt of it was aimed at her companion, some residual power was flung toward her. In that instant, as she prepared herself, it felt like gravity came crashing down. ¡°Interesting.¡± Cloudhawk felt the power take hold. It was different from the kind Terrangelica used. Dawn¡¯s relic tried to crush opposition with thousands of pounds of force. Tyranny, however, highly compressed the air around them ¨C squeezing on all sides. The former¡¯s intent was to flatten, the latter to implode. This Lance weakling clearly hadn¡¯t beaten Mercury¡¯s cousin. He won through underhanded tricks! He¡¯d been lucky that Jupiter wasn¡¯t experienced, that was how he defeated him. Fighting Mercury was like trying to defeat a god by comparison. As Tyranny came screaming down, Mercury was confident he had him. But his confidence was shattered when Cloudhawk waved a hand. Instantly all of that crushing pressure disappeared. From within Cloudhawk¡¯s sleeve a beam of purplish-red light was cast out. Striking like an angry python, it ignored Mercury¡¯s domineering power. Shit! He pulled Tyranny back into a defensive position. Moments later the room shook as an ear-piercing explosion tore through. When his whip struck the sword sparks filled the air. Clear scorch marks were left on the steel where it¡¯d suffered from high heat and voltage. All who witnessed it couldn¡¯t believe what they¡¯d seen. He¡¯d moved so fast. No one saw exactly what Lance did. The whip crossed the distance in a blink then disappeared like a bolt of lightning. Although he had surprised Idonea many times already, she still couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. It was like he was a completely different person. What just happened? How had Lance been able to move so easily despite the pressure? And with a perfect counterattack! It was so impressive he suddenly seemed much closer to Mercury¡¯s level than people thought. ¡°He has a special relic. It lets him create a vacuum.¡± Mercury scowled. Being knocked back by this punk put an embarrassed lilt in his bearing. Apollo looked on in open suspicion. Tyranny¡¯s pressure was based on control over air. Anyone with a relic that created vacuums could easily counter it. But knocking Mercury back with a whip strike like that couldn¡¯t just be explained away. Lance had to have strength to back that up. If Cloudhawk were facing Terrangelica¡¯s powers he would have had fewer options. Mostly, use his superior physique to fight through it. But air pressure was different. His control over the superstring turned air into a vacuum with only a thought. ¡°Apollo, let¡¯s deal with them together.¡± ¡°I just need a little backup,¡± Cloudhawk told Idonea. The whip in his hand crackled with fire and electricity. ¡°I¡¯ll handle these two.¡± Mercury brandished his sword and came in for another attack. Apollo joined him and as he lifted his sword there came a cascade of stars. Orbs of energy peppered the area like a meteor shower. Cloudhawk and Idonea were both caught in it. So that was his power. The Nebula Blade allowed him to call a rain of stars. The wide-scale attack was deadly, especially in a closed environment. But Idonea did not remain still. Plucking a necklace from around her throat, she hurled it into the air. Suddenly it began to change, stretching longer then connecting at the ends. A portal now hung in the air between the two groups. Cloudhawk¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°What? Spatial power?¡± Idonea wasn¡¯t impressively strong, but she was lucky enough to have inherited her father¡¯s abilities. The necklace she carried was called Spacefetter. The chain-like edges of the portal began to rotate. The murky space in between solidified until it was clear as a mirror. Anything that touched the mirror ¨C physical or energetic ¨C was sucked in and flung out the other side. While from the outside it looked razor thin, inside was another story. How much space actually existed between the two points was determined by the relic¡¯s bearer. Idonea absorbed Apollo¡¯s attack and in the next instant she moved her hands. The mirror rotated ninety degrees and fired the energy toward Mercury. All of a sudden he had hundreds of burning lights bearing down on him like machine gun fire. ¡°Better than I thought.¡± Idonea¡¯s combat skills were undeveloped, but that didn¡¯t mean she was weak. Her low-grade necklace didn¡¯t give her a way to use her spatial talent for direct attack. Instead she used her foes attacks against them. It was more of a defensive relic. Apollo and Mercury were caught off guard and weren¡¯t sure of their next move. Cloudhawk exploited their lapse by attacking again with the whip. It struck Tyranny again in the exact same spot and this time sent it flying. Apollo moved like a phantom, so far his shadow could hardly keep up. Cloudhawk had heard that the Mighty Ten¡¯s leader was strong and so it seemed. He relied more on his martial skills than his mental energy. Quick as the wind, he leaped across several dozens of meters with his sword aimed for a killing blow. Cloudhawk responded with the whip. It wrapped around the Nebula Blade and tugged it askance. It cut nothing but air. Apollo reacted quickly, loosening his grip and plummeting toward Cloudhawk with a crushing kick. But when he came in range something altogether miraculous happened. His dramatic attack was cut short when Lance caught him with a fist to his face! Both men were knocked backward. He blocked Apollo¡¯s attack?! That could only mean he had a good constitution on top of his mental abilities. Mercury lashed out again, birthing another storm of windy blades at Cloudhawk¡¯s back. He was too distracted by Apollo to notice. Idonea called out then manipulated her necklace. The portal swallowed up most of the attack and flung it back toward Mercury. It was the best she could help. ¡°Enough!¡± A voice boomed across the hall. ¡°Pass. Let them through.¡± Book 7, Chapter 17 - Superweapon Book 7, Chapter 17 - Superweapon The power Cloudhawk displayed was less than a tenth of what he could do. Still it was greater than an average veteran demonhunter. Together with the family connections it was what had brought him to this point. Idonea was markedly weaker, but her talent was unique. She had also earned the right to join the inner circle as Cloudhawk¡¯s partner. Her heart was still filled with questions. How strong was Lance? How deep did his mysteries go? He¡¯d popped out of obscurity just a few days ago and already he was tearing down the Mighty Ten¡¯s leader. Judging by that display, he was a fair bit stronger than Apollo, which would make him the strongest member of Stormford¡¯s young generation. So if he was that strong, why keep it quiet all these years? None of Fulmulta¡¯s upper crust were aware of Lance before he arrived. Even after great effort, all that Idonea had dug up was a story about a lazy noble dunce. Cloudhawk figured Idonea was suspicious by now, but he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± he said flippantly, ¡°otherwise I might think you¡¯re in to me. I¡¯m pretty awesome and full of surprises, so I understand.¡± ¡°You shameless womanizer!¡± Something was still bugging her. ¡°But you are full of secrets. What else are you hiding? How strong are you, really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not very polite to invade someone¡¯s privacy.¡± ¡°We¡¯re married, idiot. Yet I still don¡¯t know anything about you.¡± Cloudhawk looked around conspiratorially before then leaned close. ¡°I think I can probably take on their Master Demonhunters.¡± Idonea barely bit back on her anger. She desperately wanted to break his pretty-boy face in and show this stuck-up prick what for. But she just ground her teeth in frustration. ¡°The structure in front of us is our temporary lodgings,¡± Mercury explained as he lead them down the hall. His face was dark with frustration. In their brief exchange he was forced to recognize this villain¡¯s power. No wonder his cousin got trounced. ¡°Stay here. Don¡¯t go wandering.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t the camp closer to the Temple?¡± ¡°Who told you it would be? The Temple is for the Supremes and their Seraphs. Only a very few hand-picked by the gods themselves are allowed to get close. So let that be a warning ¨C if you get too close to the Temple they¡¯re going to treat you like an intruder.¡± Cloudhawk had assumed being part of the Inner Circle would get him access to the Temple. He wouldn¡¯t have bothered to try and join otherwise. He looked out at the enormous black mass hanging in space nearby. This might not be the Temple, but he was sure he was getting closer. Only, that curtain of black was hiding it from him. Even with only one eye Cloudhawk¡¯s vision was keener than x-rays. Typical darkness didn¡¯t conceal things, so there was some other force at play to keep him from looking in. ¡°I feel like my relic is useless.¡± Idonea had felt off since they got here. She realized after a moment that she could no longer hear the familiar resonance of her necklace. Cloudhawk had guessed this might be the case before they arrived. As they¡¯d moved through the inner tunnels he¡¯d noted small orbs of light on stone stands. They were arranged at set intervals and taking a closer look, he saw them gently bounce and rotate like they were suspended by magnets. Each one contained a strange, invisible power. With every rotation that power was cast out through the area in waves. It was strong enough to cause subtle distortions in space. Needless to say, it was a mysterious technology provided by the gods. It didn¡¯t even need a demonhunter to operate. They weren¡¯t the only strange contraptions he¡¯d noted, either. As they walked he also saw odd pylons with unfamiliar functions. Elsewhere there were hovering discs whose purpose he couldn¡¯t guess at. Mercury continued to explain. ¡°Our armies are well defended to prevent any spying. Spatial relics are useless here, blocked by power pylons. These light beacons reveal anything trying to remain hidden. The hovering balls of light where all over the place. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t rely on his unique gifts so long as he was in their zone. The disturbance was so great all he could manage was simple phasing and short-range teleportation. In other words, he suddenly found himself heavily handicapped. His target had to be hidden somewhere on the other side of that black curtain. One thing was certain, the closer he got the more defenses he¡¯d encounter. Between him and the four Supremes were traps and protections he¡¯d never seen before. Here he was, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel much closer to his goal. Idonea pointed out an odd, disc-shaped building further into the camp. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know,¡± Mercury replied. He¡¯d only been here a few days so there was still much he hadn¡¯t learned. ¡°I heard it was some sort of divine weapon. The Supremes had it erected specifically to fight Skycloud.¡± More strange godly technology. As Cloudhawk looked it up and down he was filled with a sense of disquiet. ¡°Alright, up ahead is the Guardian¡¯s Palace. That¡¯s where we¡¯re all stationed.¡± Mercury was growing impatient. He wanted to get this over with then leave these two to their business. The Guardian Palace was the proper name of the inner circle camp. This whole area was a new addition, recently built by Seraphs. ¡°As of today the Palace has eight Master Demonhunters, and six others without the title but the equivalent strength.¡± Eight Masters and six more just as strong. There was also the four Supremes leading them. Further down the tiers were others like Mercury and Apollo. Despite their abilities, here they were barely qualified to serve. It was one hell of a group. In only a month they¡¯d gathered the strongest humans on the planet. With every word Cloudhawk felt his heart grow heavier. His enemies had already mustered a terrifying force. If they attacked Skycloud today he gave them an eighty percent chance of victory. Luckily for him, the Supremes were still playing it safe. They waited, and waited ¨C gods were known for their infinite patience. It was a quality you earned when you¡¯d lived for centuries. To them, the least precious resource was time. Sky Fortress was still in the process of siphoning all the strongest people of the Elysian lands. Seraphs worked day and night to build those strange god weapons. The gulf between Skycloud and this holy coalition continued to grow. He was wrong, they had a ninety percent chance. Once they were sure they¡¯d win, the Supremes would act. Such blasphemy would never be allowed to happen again, so they bid their time and strengthened their forces. But this was exactly the right place for Cloudhawk to be. If he was careful, he could learn all sorts of things that could turn the tide. Maybe he could build some inroads with the members to take advantage of later. Cloudhawk was convinced that to fight Sumeru, he needed to capture the Elysian lands not destroy them. For a thousand years they¡¯d been stable, accumulating development. All around him were the pinnacle of human achievement. With luck, one day they would stand with him against their captors. ¡°New blood comin¡¯!¡± ¡°Oh, young ones. Dropping the average age.¡± As they walked through they were greeted by other members of the Palace. They were welcoming for even though these two looked young, they had earned the right to be here. A bright future was in store and who knew where it would lead them. ¡°Hello you two, my name is Icarus Swallow from Praelius.¡± A gentle-looking man with fair complexion introduced himself. He was also one of the younger members of the inner circle. Cloudhawk and Idonea greeted him politely. ¡°I have a pretty good idea of how things run here. If there¡¯s something you¡¯d like to know, feel free to ask.¡± Definitely a welcoming guy! Cloudhawk was going to take him up on the offer when suddenly he heard shouting. ¡°No¡­! It can¡¯t be true, my sister can¡¯t be dead! No one is strong enough to do it!¡± The voice was filled with anger and despair. A stubbled, handsome man in his thirties was shouting at the top of his lungs. ¡°You idiots didn¡¯t search carefully enough! How could you even let this happen ¨C don¡¯t you give a shit?!¡± Those within earshot gave one another nervous glances. Idonea, brows knit close, whispered a question. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± This man was acting like he¡¯d lost his mind. Not just anyone could get here. Only those the gods considered the most outstanding were allowed in. Despite that the stranger was howling at them like they were a bunch of grunts. Like a kitten yowling at a mastiff. ¡°That¡¯s Kirin Igna, from Dragenmere. He¡¯s a lot stronger than he looks. One of the first to be accepted into the Palace. His sister, Phoenix, disappeared a few months back in Skycloud...¡± His story gripped Idonea¡¯s heart like a vice. It sounded exactly like what happened to her father. ¡°Why is he so upset?¡± ¡°The gods have been working on constructing a superweapon. You probably saw it when you were brought inside ¨C that buildings that looks like a floating disc. Word is it¡¯ll be done in a few days.¡± Icarus was keeping his voice low. ¡°They call it the ¡®Sword of Sumeru.¡¯ It absorbs energy from the Temple to attack from all the way up here. One shot can travel a thousand of kilometers and still have enough power to destroy a city. For a second Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure he heard correctly. ¡°What? You said a thousand kilometers?¡± ¡°Yup, and one shot will erase a whole city. With these weapons the rebel realm won¡¯t last more than a couple volleys.¡± Icarus looked back toward Kirin. ¡°As for him, his sister vanished and he refuses to believe she might be dead. That¡¯s why he¡¯s acting that way.¡± He didn¡¯t see how pale Idonea¡¯s face had gotten. This weapon was a horrifying thing, capable of firing from above the atmosphere. If it destroyed whole cities that meant it didn¡¯t care about all the normal folk living there. They planned to see it all go up in flames. What if her father wasn¡¯t dead. Maybe he was locked up in some prison. Won¡¯t their superweapon destroy him, too? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t look much better. While he always knew his foe would be strong, this went far beyond his darkest expectations. ¡°Enough!¡± A bearded man with his hair all white stomped into view. Whispers of ¡®Master Anan¡¯ followed him. This was one of the Master Demonhunters garrisoned in the Palace and one of the leaders. ¡°This order comes straight from the Supremes. The gods are telling you they¡¯re dead so let it go. If you keep it up you¡¯ll face court martial!¡± 1. ÑàÓð, ¡®Swallow Feather¡¯. Swallow works fine as a surname and Icarus was the dip that plastered feathers to himself and flew too close to the sun. Will the story repeat itself? Cloudhawk has an unhealthy habit of getting the people around him killed. 2. Kirin, like the beer, is sometimes used as a name and is the equivalent of his name, Ñ×÷è÷ë, Qinlin, which is a Chinese-style dragon. Igna should be familiar, as it¡¯s the family name of Phoenix. 3. Anan is an old-testament name meaning ¡®cloud¡¯. Book 7, Chapter 18 - Sudden Conflic Book 7, Chapter 18 - Sudden Conflic I underestimated the gods again. Cloudhawk mulled over the situation, seated on the steps of the palace. From here he could see down toward the planet below as it slowly rotated. An orb of largely browns and grays, floating in a vast darkness. It filled his field of view. All the mountain ranges, deserts and even the scars of an ancient war were visible. Ninety percent of the planet was a dead brown hue. Its scalding environment spared only a few pockets of color. Cloudhawk was reminded of an image he saw on Ark Base, of a world wrapped in emerald and sapphire. On a universal scale, one thousand and some years was the blink of an eye. But for the natives who called this world home, it had been a cataclysm that ushered in a terrible era. Cloudhawk lifted his head. Above was a sprawling vista of stars. That twinkling carpet was just what his eyes could see. And here he was, on a space station suspended in between. All around vessels shuttled back and forth carrying men and materials. Hundreds of Seraphs toiled endlessly. The divine superweapon was long and flat. Smooth at first glance, at closer inspection the discs were a series of rings. Each one of them spun at different frequencies, some clockwise, others counterclockwise. Even unfinished it was a striking thing. How had the old civilization perished? No natural disaster, Cloudhawk was sure of that. These weapons were the culprit. Between it and the combined might of the four Elysian realms, they had the power to permanently alter the landscape. The Sword of Sumeru were nearly complete. When it was, Skycloud had no hope of surviving. Sky Fortress had a reach of a thousand kilometers. He figured the Green Alliance couldn¡¯t even reach a hundred. Recently Sky Fortress had begun to ascend again, from about a hundred kilometers to several hundred. Out of reach of the Green Alliance. The massive armada and powerful troops weren¡¯t even necessary. They could eradicate every living thing in Skycloud with this superweapon alone. One shot. Enough to level a city. Last time he heard of that kind of power they were talking about nuclear weapons. Sky Fortress could cruise by overhead, delivering destruction to the southern wastes with as much care as sprinkling rose petals. Meanwhile all the people he was meant to protect ¨C Selene, Dawn, Wolfblade ¨C would all be consumed in the fires. How could they protect themselves? Humans had no way to fight back against weapons like these. All they could do was watch their extinction come, burning city after city until nothing was left but scorched earth and bodies. Fight back? The earlier the better, as far as the ¡®rebels¡¯ were concerned. But the Green Alliance only had a handful of ships that flew high altitudes. Sky Fortress was wreathed in ships and had the strongest people on earth guarding it. On the face of it, Skycloud seemed doomed. Cloudhawk was their only hope. The inner circle was put up near the Sword structure, so if he acted from here there was more than a good chance he could put them out of commission. But what did it matter if he did? They¡¯d just rebuild it. Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t know the details of how the Temple was able to move. What he had learned was that they were powered at least in part by radiation from space. It was probably gathered then converted into usable energy the Temple used to move and power its protections. It was a conduit that provided power to all godly technology within range. Without the Temple, there would be no Sky Fortress. He had to bring it down. He didn¡¯t take any rash actions and tried to keep a low profile over the next several days. He knew he had to think carefully. Four gods were in the Temple, surrounded by traps and protections. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see past the black shell to get more information. That didn¡¯t stop the intense sense of danger he felt coming from it. He had the sick sensation that once he went in there was a chance he¡¯d never come out. He couldn¡¯t be sure they were waiting there for him, like luring a fly into a web. A shadow passed over him as Idonea sat by his side. She followed his eyes out toward the planet, spinning quietly. This really was the best place to watch the world go by. But the view did nothing for her downcast expression. ¡°Do you think using those weapons is the right call?¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried about your dad?¡± ¡°Not just him. I heard there are two million people living in Skycloud. They can¡¯t all be blasphemers. There have to be righteous people out there, fighters who stand up for the gods. Believers, who persist against darkness¡­ I¡¯m starting to think the gods don¡¯t care about ordinary human lives.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid someone will hear you say that? You could be punished.¡± ¡°Are you going to tell on me?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Idonea wasn¡¯t sure whether it was real or not, but she was starting to feel that the man by her side was reliable. Whatever troubles came his way he faced them confidently. ¡°We¡¯re too young to make any sort of difference.¡± She frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t even use my relic. I feel disabled!¡± Cloudhawk turned his head to look at her. There was something endearing in what he saw. ¡°Can you lend me your necklace for a little while?¡± His request puzzled her. ¡°What are you going to do with it?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s interesting,¡± he said, throwing out an excuse. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it so I wanted to see what I can learn.¡± ¡°My father went through a lot to get this for me¡­ alright.¡± Idonea didn¡¯t see any reason not to trust him. ¡°I can¡¯t use it out here anyway so you can hold onto it for a few days.¡± With that she unclasped it and dropped it into Cloudhawk¡¯s hand. He let it roll around in his palm, causing starlight to twinkle off its facets. It wasn¡¯t clear what it was made out of ¨C something like silver but also crystal. The surface had a strange metallic sheen but was still translucent. Inside, faint twinkling made it look as though it held fragments of the universe. It was beautiful. Watching it catch the light, both shared the same thought. As they leaned in closer to see their hands inadvertently touched. When she discovered it, Idonea¡¯s face flushed. She sat up straight. ¡°Pretty, right? But sadly not very strong. It¡¯s only good for defense.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. If you ask me, spatial power can overcome any aggressive force.¡± With the necklace in hand, Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes flashed for an instant toward the Sword of Sumeru. ¡°Thank you for lending it to me.¡± Idonea looked at Cloudhawk¡¯s profile against the glittering backdrop of space. There was something indecipherable behind his eyes. There was a reason he asked for her necklace, of course. Disruption from those beacons made using any high-grade relic unstable. Low-grade relics, on the other hand, he might be able to manage. Idonea¡¯s necklace was just the thing. In reality, a relic¡¯s ¡®class¡¯ was only relevant when comparing. High-class relics were more complex and innately powerful. Low-class weapons were simple and weak. It was sort of like the difference between a rocket launcher and a bow and arrow. But in the hands of one with real power, even a rock could cause as much damage as a missile. Confidence wasn¡¯t something Cloudhawk could say he had, but he did have a plan. A dangerous plan, but it raised his chances of success. Over the last few days no one had seen Kirin Ignus. Cloudhawk spent his time exploring the Temple and meeting people, but so far no clear opportunity had presented itself. Today he was with a group of other Palace members, shooting the breeze. He hadn¡¯t been here long but Cloudhawk had made a couple friends. Suddenly Master Anan emerged from the Palace, flanked by others with the title ¡®Master.¡¯ At their command all the inner circle was called together. There was a motley crew of people, dressed differently and equipped as they came. However, the lack of a uniform did not detract from how intimidating this group was. Where they walked they would leave nothing but ash in their wake. ¡°What are they saying?¡± ¡°I heard a rumor that the rebel realm had somehow learned our plan. They¡¯re sending a strike force to try and take out the Sword of Sumeru.¡± Icarus from Praelius answered him. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t succeed. Our defenses won¡¯t break and even if they do, we¡¯re here to defend them.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s brows furrowed tight. A sneak attack? It was suicide! Even knowing how deadly those weapons were, this sort of bloody operation wasn¡¯t the way to deal with it. They were doomed! Book 7, Chapter 19 - Offending Divinity Book 7, Chapter 19 - Offending Divinity Within the expansive hall eighteen people stood on a platform. Among them were Master Demonhunters, Generals, Temple leaders and other authorities. One could close their eyes and pick at random, their choice would be a man or woman whose name rang across the Elysian lands. Arranged before them were a thousand more soldiers, the best of their forces. In short, half of all the Elysian strength had been brought together. Such a scene had not emerged since the Great War a thousand years ago. ¡°As all of you know, the Sword of Sumeru is nearly complete. Skycloud¡¯s blasphemers run rampant, threatening the faithful. We have no choice but to eradicate them and ensure stability.¡± Master Anan¡¯s voice proclaimed loudly across the gathering. ¡°Here is our task, direct from the gods: Employ the Sword of Sumeru. Eliminate the heretics.¡± Faces throughout the crowd changed. They were really going to use this terrible weapon. Expressions differed; eager, excited, solemn, conflicted¡­ as varied as the soldiers themselves. After all, the Sword of Sumeru was a weapon of indiscriminate, absolute destruction. Elysians were human, too, capable of compassion. They understood death. It was genocide, aimed against a former ally. But although it made them uncomfortable, no one would dare raise their voice in protest. Master Anan went on to explain everyone¡¯s responsibilities. ¡°The names I read out will be tasked with activating the Sword. Everyone else will help in their defense. You will be on watch for any outside interference.¡± The thousand soldiers were broken into two groups. Six hundred of the strongest were ordered to man the superweapon. By virtue of their strong mental faculties, they were chosen to rain destruction on the enemy. The remaining four hundred would be arranged around them as protection. Most Elysian technology required mental power to activate. The Sword was special in that it took power from the Temple and needed a huge amount of power from its handler to use to full effect. Among Master Anan¡¯s leadership crew, fourteen were Master Demonhunters. With the addition of six hundred more for support the Elysians had plenty of mental energy for the job. A frightening amount, in fact. A thousand kilometers of mountains would be leveled. Nothing could survive a direct blast from something like this, especially no living creature. If Cloudhawk found himself caught in its line of fire, he would be atomized. It could be said that this was an absolute weapon of mass destruction. Sumeru spared no effort to eliminate Skycloud and cleanse it of demonic influence. ¡°Move out!¡± The soldiers reacted. Some spread out while others clambered over the mountain of instruments to their stations. Floods of mental energy hummed as it was poured into the weapon. Before long it began to rotate and the gathered energy at its center warped space. As the enormous load of mental energy compressed to a single point, it all collapsed in on itself. An area resembling a black hole swallowed all the light in the center of the weapon. From the darkness surrounding the Temple came an intense pulse, followed by a golden torrent of light. Like a galloping stream it poured into the weapon and filled the shadowy void. It went from an impossible black to a blaze to rival the sun. The energy gathered into a radiating orb. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t been selected as one to power the weapon. As far as the enemy knew, his mental powers were on the weaker end of the scale. As such he was selected as a defender, even though it hardly seemed necessary. Even if the rebels sent a force to try and stop this, how many could there be? Sky Fortress hovered hundreds of kilometers over ground and rising. Very few vessels in Skycloud were capable of making it to space, which meant any invasion would be small in scale. What¡¯s more, half of all the warships from the four Elysian lands were stationed around the Fortress. As it rose, so too did the armada, ready to fight at any moment. No army was getting through these defenses. One percent. Two percent. Three percent¡­ With six hundred demonhunters working in tandem, the Sword of Sumeru was powering up at roughly one percent every twenty or thirty seconds. In other words, it took a little over half an hour for one full charge. What a terrible amount of power! Cloudhawk was keenly aware that time was running out. There were still a few minutes, but he couldn¡¯t afford to wait to the last. There was no choice ¨C he had to drop his charade and do something to stop the Sword from firing. But just as he was preparing to act, shouts caught his attention. ¡°Hold! Stop! You can¡¯t fire this weapon!¡± A man with fiery red hair, dripping with chains, staggered into the area. He howled at the top of his lungs, eyes wild. His clothes were in tatters and stained with blood. It looked like he¡¯d recently broken out of prison where he was treated less than kindly. Kirin Igna? It was! The defenders looked at him in shock and disquiet. Master Anan stood by the Sword of Sumeru device, casting a grim expression down toward the man. ¡°You have repeatedly ignored orders. I have endured as much as I can, yet you continue to press. How can you continue to ignore what is proper? You dare oppose the will of the gods?¡± Everyone was quiet. He wasn¡¯t wrong ¨C the order to use the Sword came directly from Mount Sumeru. As citizens of the Elysian realms, they were bound to follow the will of their gods. For them, obedience was as ingrained as instinct. How could Kirin so blatantly stand against the gods? What made what he was doing different than the blasphemers in Skycloud? Left unchecked, the heretics were a glimpse into his future. Mercury and Apollo were closest. They glanced at one another before approaching him with a handful of other demonhunters. They muscled him to the ground. Icarus was among them and hissed into Kirin¡¯s ear. ¡°Hey brother, keep your mouth shut! If you keep this up no one can protect you.¡± ¡°Where is our conscience?!¡± Kirin wrenched his head up from the ground and yelled at the top of his lungs. ¡°You target innocent people who fight against the demons! People who pray every day, who still have hope! Aren¡¯t you afraid of the nightmares you¡¯ll have after killing millions of people?!¡± His words were beginning to get under people¡¯s skin. They had deliberately been avoiding the facts of what they¡¯d been told to do. It was a sort of self-hypnosis to preserve their sanity. They allowed themselves to believe that all of Skycloud was corrupt beyond redemption. Of course it was a delusional belief. ¡°I don¡¯t expect to live. I know I can¡¯t change anything.¡± Kirin¡¯s face was a twisted mask of fury. ¡°I only came here to say one thing: This. Is. WRONG!¡± Anger flashed in Master Anan¡¯s eyes. How dare this man say such a thing! Yet before he could speak an oppressive energy fell upon the crowd. The sky filled with lightning and two perfect figures appeared. They were towering and as breathtaking as an artist¡¯s masterpieces. ¡°The gods of Light and Lightning!¡± Gasps of astonishment rippled among the humans. Until now the gods had been slumbering behind their black curtain. Now, suddenly, two appeared in all their glory. The result was a group of dumbstruck mortals. Without question, it was Kirin¡¯s inflammatory words that had summoned them. Beneath the gods, the Sword of Sumeru was still gathering power. From the enormous gathering of energy a sharp edge had appeared, like the top of a sword. It seemed solid as any weapon for none of the light of energy leaked from it. ¡°Mortal! You dare stand in defiance of the gods!¡± Mercury, Apollo and Icarus immediately scrambled away from Kirin. He wasn¡¯t going anywhere, not once he was the target of these mighty beings. Holding him down only put them in the line of fire. Two figures emerged from the crowd and prostrated themselves by Kirin¡¯s side. ¡°Almighty deities, Kirin is seized by impulse! His loyalty to the gods has never before been questioned. I beg you, show him mercy!¡± Evidently these two were friends of the doomed man. Kirin was on the verge of madness, like a rabid dog. He grit his teeth and dripped with sweat. Few appreciated Kirin¡¯s character, but many ¨C including Master Anan ¨C recognized his quality. They did not want to see him struck down for a momentary lapse in judgment. ¡°The gods will not tolerate such offense.¡± There was a flash in the Light God¡¯s eyes. All at once a mighty power rapped through the area, unseen but clearly felt. Kirin and the two men by his side began to radiate with blinding light. Starting from their extremities, the victims began to atomize and drift away. ¡°Stop! I commit these sins, the consequences are mine!¡± Kirin shouted his objection, but his voice was quickly silenced. He and his two allies vanished under the god¡¯s power, leaving nothing behind. What a nightmare scene. Fear crept through all who¡¯d witnessed it. Idonea covered her mouth instinctively to choke her gasps. The gods had simply erased those three men. She hadn¡¯t expected such callousness. Why? Why! She yelled the question in the recesses of her mind over and over again. Were humans so disregarded in the eyes of their gods? The Lightning God turned its electric eyes toward the crowd below. Its attention fixed on Idonea. She could not know that these mighty creatures could read her thoughts. They communicated through psychic means, looking directly into another¡¯s mind. All of her thoughts and feelings were open to it, so Idonea needn¡¯t utter a word for her blasphemous thoughts to be revealed. The Lightning God extended a hand and a bolt of light shot forth. Cloudhawk was caught off guard, but in a flash he pushed Idonea out of the way. However, he was not fast enough ¨C a thin bolt managed to pierce her body. She felt all of it. Every ounce of the destructive energy tearing through her, burning her up from within. Her weak frame was not strong enough to withstand even a fraction of godly power. As she felt herself succumb there was no surprise or anger. Only melancholy. She wanted so badly to find her father. But before she could even start she would die at the hands of a god. Book 7, Chapter 20 - Falling Short? Book 7, Chapter 20 - Falling Short? Just as it seemed the power would consume her, Idonea felt an almost equally powerful warmth descend. All at once she felt wrapped in a protective embrace. A warm hand was pressed against the wound that seemed filled with vitality. Its power vibrated through her, both restorative and magnetic. The god¡¯s power was sucked out of her body and appeared as a golden ball of light within her savior¡¯s palm. It had all happened in the blink of an eye. The Lightning God had not ceased in his punitive aim. One after another he threw bolts of electricity at offenders who dared question their might. Victims were turned into blackened statues. Strong! Terrifying! Heartless! In the eyes of the gods, the lives of these mortals weren¡¯t worth any more than an ant¡¯s. Idonea stared wide eyed in shock and disbelief. Lance had been the one to jump forward and save her. He¡¯d reacted so quickly, and that power¡­ no, it was impossible. He wasn¡¯t that strong. This wasn¡¯t Lance. With all she knew, he couldn¡¯t be! The gods of Light and Lightning turned their attention back toward them. Cloudhawk knew his cover had been blown. He¡¯d made the decision to act now anyway, saving Idonea was just his reaction to the circumstances. Whether or not she would survive was up to her. No more time. He had to act! Taking advantage of the suddenness of it all, Cloudhawk leaped toward the two gods. ¡°This guy is crazy!¡± A few people saw him jump into the air and could not believe it. He was going to attack the gods?! It was suicide! Cloudhawk was fast and in a split second he reached his targets. A gauntlet radiating pale white energy appeared on his leg arm, and in his left was a simple black blade. He lashed out at the gods with a hack and a punch. But gods reacted much quicker than humans. To others this was a shock, but these were Supremes who had lived through the Great War. A sneak attack would not lay them low. They reacted almost in tandem. A ray of light and a bolt of lightning screamed across the sky, striking Cloudhawk in a fraction of a second. White energy from his gauntlet flared to life, strong enough to withstand the attacks. In the brief time it took Cloudhawk to reach the gods, energy had accumulated in his sword. With a wild sweep of the weapon he released it, birthing a streak of energy across a hundred meters. Not only did it contain a deluge of mental energy, but all the physical and vital power he could muster. It sliced through the energies choking the sky. The resulting explosions rocked Sky Fortress, causing the ground to quake. Cracks appeared in the suspended hallways, eventually causing a portion of it to tumble away ¨C including all who stood upon it. All the while Cloudhawk never stopped his advance. A faint radiance enveloped his body as every cell within him was activated. Immense vital power propelled him toward the gods. When he was close enough, the deadly blade lashed out. Cloudhawk¡¯s attack was too quick, and too strong. Although many in the crowd were mighty fighters, they were still recovering from the shock of Sky Fortress suddenly becoming a battlefield. Blinding light sprang up around the gods. They burned as brightly as a pair of suns and Cloudhawk was about to collide with them when - Whoosh! He vanished from sight. The gods rushed into an empty space. When the mortal reappeared he was two hundred meters or so away. This was teleportation! A feint! His real aim was to slip passed them! Cloudhawk! It was the leader of Skycloud¡¯s rebels! He was the only one with powers like this. He eluded the gods and raced for the Temple. No other options remained, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t stand by and watch this superweapon erase his home. It was now or never ¨C a direct rush! The devices erected around Sky Fortress disrupted his spatial powers, making his more complex abilities impossible. He was limited to folding space by only two or three hundred meters. Luckily for him he¡¯d grown more capable with time, and his speed was in no way inferior to the gods. Between his teleportation and speed, he could get to the Temple before anyone caught on and could intercept him. In two seconds he teleported another half a dozen times. He was close to the inky black border that blocked off the Temple. Strangely, however, neither god seemed in much of a rush to get there and stop him. They simply watched, as though enjoying a play. Bang! Cloudhawk tried to press through but was met by a powerful resistance. In the next instant it became a crushing pressure that closed in around him. He felt in danger of being flattened. The plan had been to teleport across the border into the area beyond. Instead he found himself caught inside and being pressed all around. A strong rebound force spat Cloudhawk back out. The black curtain wasn¡¯t just to hide the Temple. It also prevented teleportation. ¡°Foolish mortal.¡± ¡°Did you think your paltry tricks would allow you entry?¡± By now the two gods had caught up. One was a mass of flickering electric energy, the other a radiant figure of sunlight. Beneath were suits of imposing armor that made the beings all the more domineering. A trap. Cloudhawk understood now. The Temple was surrounded by a powerful and condensed enchantment. Energy was tightly packed so as to ward of attacks, but also teleportation. Even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t slip through. ¡°You¡¯ve walked into our net.¡± The Light God¡¯s mental energies vibrated so that all mortals could hear. Their followers raced to catch up. Meanwhile motes of light gathered in the deity¡¯s hands, forming into a pair of broadswords. Each was composed of blinding white flame. At a glance they seemed weightless ¨C errant fires that could be defeated by a strong gust of wind. In fact their destructive powers were beyond mortal comprehension. One swipe could level a city. The Lightning God also summoned his weapon. Snaking threads of electricity wormed from his form until he dissolved completely. They then reformed into an enormous beast ¨C like a snake, but not. Like a bird, but not. With two cracklings ending in deadly claws, the Lightning God¡¯s weapon was the form of an elder monstrosity. Frightening though they were, this was not the full strength of these Supremes. They closed in, ready to strike. Things were bad, Cloudhawk felt the danger keenly like a knife to his throat. He was so close, only to fall short. After succeeding in finding Sky Fortress and infiltrating the inner circle, he was locked out from his goal. Although the outer forces couldn¡¯t come in to stop him, that didn¡¯t relieve his troubles at all. There was a thousand soldiers and four gods who all knew he was here. Only a handful were strong enough to be a threat on their own and they were occupied with charging the Sword of Sumeru. Still, all the rest added together were deadly. Among them were soldiers he could compare to Skye Polaris, Ash Farran or the old drunk. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how to deal with so much strength directed toward him. Then there were the gods of Light and Lightning. They were like two Arcturus Cloudes, bent on his destruction! Cloudhawk had surpassed the fallen Governor in strength, but even so he had his limits. Gods had an infinite lifespan and a perfect body. What¡¯s more, rich combat experience and advanced weapons made them all the more of a threat. One of them was difficult enough to deal with, but two? And what of the Dragon and War gods? They were certainly waiting in the Temple, crafting their plans. Even if Cloudhawk could get in, now that he was exposed the danger was great. He looked around frantically. Below, the Sword of Sumeru had charged to twenty percent. Terrible power had formed the body of the blade and was showing no sign of slowing as the Masters and their men continued to focus their strength. An enormous, blazing sword of judgment as powerful as a nuclear bomb was taking shape. Fuck! Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t faced a dilemma like this since defeating Arcturus. Even against the Avatar and her allies Cloudhawk could have escaped if needed. Now he was stuck ¨C his foes too strong to fight, and no way to run. His anxiety was only matched by his embarrassment. Idonea lay amid the rubble of a cracking hallway. She was weak and on the cusp of death, but stared with wide eyes at the scene above. That ordinary-looking man she¡¯d spent the last few days with stood face to face against the gods. He is¡­ Hiding was no longer necessary, so Cloudhawk released a storm of green fire around himself. The camouflage around him burned away to reveal a handsome man with long black hair and dark clothing. His face and body were perfect. Every inch of him looked like it¡¯d been carved from jade and radiated with vitality. The only blemish was his left eye, which appeared to be covered by a foggy film. ¡°That¡¯s him! Cloudhawk, from Skycloud!¡± ¡°The most terrible defiler and blasphemer of all time!¡± ¡°I heard he is the successor of the Demon King!¡± ¡°He is the one who murdered the four Masters; Phoenix, Bruno, Lucian and Ash.¡± A sea of stricken faces looked up at the sky. The most terrifying human to have lived actually snuck into the heart of their fortress and no one had been the wiser! A chill ran through everyone¡¯s spine. Master Anan, Mercury Merlo, Apollo Haven, Icarus Swallow and all the others were caught in a shocked stupor. Hearing everyone around her, Idonea was especially dumbfounded. This man, who she called husband, was the despicable Cloudhawk. A name she¡¯d cursed for many long nights! How dare he show his face here! Book 7, Chapter 21 - Sacred Flash Book 7, Chapter 21 - Sacred Flash ¡°He¡¯s got some nerve breaking into the Guardian¡¯s Palace!¡± ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s get after him together! For the glory of our benevolent gods! Kill this devil!¡± The demonhunters forging the Sword of Sumeru couldn¡¯t move, but the remaining four hundred of the inner circle began to react. Cloudhawk saw them approaching and realized he was being blocked in. His mission seemed doomed. Still he did not seem nervous. His expression was calm, his eyes tranquil. Looking out over the bloodthirsty crowd, he spoke: ¡°If the gods are so great why is there doubt? Can they be called merciful when you watch them strike down people without thought? Wake up! You poor fools, lost in delusion!¡± His words fell on deaf ears. All it served was to stoke their anger. ¡°Shut up!¡± A young man shouted up at him. ¡°Why should we listen to you, with all your crimes?!¡± ¡°Skycloud was lost because of you! Its people die because of you! Cloudhawk is nothing but a devil, drenched in the blood of innocents!¡± ¡°You are the only person who deserves to die.¡± ¡°Every day you draw breath is a disaster!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± As they closed in a looming figure broke from the crowd. ¡°I am the War Sage of Praelius, Siegebreaker, and I will end you!¡± . He dashed forward almost faster than the eye could follow. Judging by speed alone, he surpassed human capability. Cloudhawk, however, saw him clear. Every rippling muscle shone like lacquer. His weapon was saber of some unknown material. Two bushy eyebrows were raised high, giving him a wild appearance. Praelius¡¯ War Sage, Siegebreaker. A warrior of great reputation. Besides Phoenix, he was without equal back where he came from. Where he differed was that he was purely a martial artist. He had no mental powers. He was called the War Sage, Like his name he was cheered for being able to break through anything, even a host of a thousand enemy troops. With a body nearly evolved to perfection, his punches could alter landscapes. The weapon he wielded was made from materials not of this earth, so tenacious as to seem almost magical. As Siegebreaker charged forward he tightened every muscle in his body and released their power all at once! Torrents of vital energy poured off him and a shuddering boom emerged as he broke passed the sound barrier. Swinging his sword, the tip almost appeared to warp space around it. Cloudhawk¡¯s shield contorted from the strain and then broke. ¡°Die!¡± With his foe¡¯s shields down, Siegebreaker continued to press the attack. His weapon came hacking down in an attempt to cut Cloudhawk in two. ¡°Look at that! What a blow!¡± ¡°The War Sage sure earns his name!¡± Gasps and appreciative calls rang out as Siegebreaker attacked. Only a handful of humans throughout history had reached this level of martial skill ¨C harder even than becoming a Master Demonhunter. Siegebreaker had as much destructive capability as his Master counterparts. He could not use relics, so he turned his body into one instead. Up close he was ten times more dangerous than a Master Demonhunter. His speed and explosive strength surpassed human limitations. A domineering, living weapon! Siegebreaker was so fast his allies couldn¡¯t keep up to provide aid. Cloudhawk brought his sword up and deflected the strike. In the instant their swords met, there was a sudden change in Siegebreaker¡¯s power. All of the forward momentum was concentrated on his enemy¡¯s weapon. Sparks flew as Cloudhawk¡¯s weapon was knocked away. Strong! Siegebreaker wasn¡¯t just a boorish fighter, relying on brute force. He was a master of technique with a plethora of skills to draw from. In the briefest instant, from an unassuming shift in power, he had executed no less than three peak level moves. Siegebreaker¡¯s sword closed in on Cloudhawk¡¯s throat. Onlookers were certain they were about to witness a beheading. At best Cloudhawk was on par with a Master Demonhunter, but how could he contend against a martial artist in close-quarters combat? But their confidence was shattered when Cloudhawk grabbed his foe¡¯s weapon with his left hand, stopping it mid-swing! Shock ensued. Cloudhawk tightened his hand and a crackling sound followed as motes of green fire sprang to life. They quickly swallowed up Siegebreaker¡¯s sword and in the blink of an eye it shattered. Fragments of burning metal scattered across the floor. He followed up with a swift kick. Siegebreaker had no time to be indignant as the blow landed with the force of ten missiles. He broke the sound barrier again, only this time flying backward uncontrollably. Without a doubt, the scene had a deep impact on the soldiers who watched. Cloudhawk broke his enemy¡¯s weapon with his bare hands! He couldn¡¯t be human, not with a display like that. The Praelius War Sage was known for cutting through anything that stood in his path ¨C except the pale flesh of this monster. It was totally outside the realm of possibility. Siegebreaker was a singular warrior, no one could deny that. Even weakened his attacks were a threat to a Master Demonhunter. But against Cloudhawk, it wasn¡¯t enough. His own physical abilities were not far behind the martial artist. Siegebreaker was just as stunned as everyone else. He hadn¡¯t underestimated his enemy and came at him with his full strength. While he wasn¡¯t sure he could beat the monster one on one, he thought at least he could go a few rounds. His ignorance was proven when after just one clash. ¡°Bastard!¡± Siegebreaker roared and wrenched his body around, stopping his forced retreat. But before he could regain his footing Cloudhawk was on him. With another kick he sent the War Sage a thousand meters down the hall. Then again. Finally he planted him into the ground with a full-armed punch. CrrrrACK! Siegebreaker hit so hard the hallway split in two. A few drops of blood trickled from a wound in Cloudhawk¡¯s left palm, the only mark left after stopping Siegebreaker¡¯s blade. A few moments was all it took for the cut to seal closed. His challenger had achieved nothing. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Cloudhawk turned back toward the Temple. He dashed down the hall, knocking back a dozen attackers with one swipe of his sword. They were all forced back before they had an opportunity to strike at him. Another swing and bolts of mental power were deflected. The relics they came from were destroyed, and the demonhunters who held them knocked off their feet. This man was inhuman! Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities were a terrifying shock to the Crusade¡¯s inner circle. Fear gripped them and they worried this lone attacker could defeat their army. Morale was shaken from Cloudhawk¡¯s mighty display. None of them had ever met a monster like him and he filled their hearts with fear. Cloudhawk saw their hesitation and capitalized on it. He dashed toward the Sword of Sumeru. If the Temple was out of reach for the time being, then he would go after the next best thing. The godly superweapon was now twenty-five percent charged. Inch by inch an enormous blade was being forged. Cloudhawk attacked without hesitation, swinging his sword his lethal intent. Godslayer unleashed its payload in a blast no living thing could deflect. All the soldiers could do was watch as the cataclysmic blow was delivered. They were beginning to understand. No wonder Cloudhawk had been able to take Skycloud. His strength, drive and boldness were unimaginable. He was like the perfect evolution of a human. ¡°He¡¯s as strong as a god.¡± ¡°How could these lowly humans even reach such capability?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, he must be slain. Shall you begin or shall I?¡± ¡°Allow me.¡± The conversation between the gods of Light and Lightning took place in their minds and lasted only a moment. Wordlessly they made their determinations and then acted, like robots. As Cloudhawk launched his attack on the Sword of Sumeru, the Light God came at him with his blazing weapons. ¡°Sacred Flash!¡± No traveling, no process, no delay. The attack happened instantaneously. Cloudhawk only felt a moment of danger wash over him, intense and deadly. He¡¯d learned to trust in his sixth sense and broke off his attack just as the streak of light appeared. Highly capable people may still have been able to follow Siegebreaker¡¯s moves despite his speed. However this blow truly appeared to simply flash into being. Even Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t seen it coming. The strike split the flesh of his back. Luckily he¡¯d allowed instinct to take over, otherwise it would have cut him in two. Luck was what saved his life, not skill. He looked toward the source at saw the towering spirit of light, wrapped in radiance and holding a blazing sword of fire. The attack had come from the Light God. How was it so fast? Lifting its imposing weapon, the Light God¡¯s ¡®voice¡¯ permeated Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°Sacred Flash moves at nearly the speed of light. There is no escape.¡± The speed of light?! The weapons of the gods were amazing in the power they wielded. His enemy¡¯s attacks moved too fast for any human dodge, even Cloudhawk. Attacks like these could kill a foe in less than a second! What else was capable of moving that fast? Humans couldn¡¯t even reach a tenth of the speed of light! Cloudhawk felt a curtain of light fall over him then. In his distraction he didn¡¯t see the Lightning God ¨C in its terrible beastly form ¨C come near. Before he could react the maw of crackling lightning swallowed him up. All of a sudden he was enveloped in an abyss of thunder! Lightning struck at him from all angles. He reacted without thought, hacking at the body of the god he was trapped inside. An opening was cleaved and Cloudhawk dashed out from the creature¡¯s back. A few teleportation bursts later and he was at a safe distance. It took two seconds for him to escape the god¡¯s gullet. So, the Supremes were attacking him together? Cloudhawk was more vigilant. The gods were not playing around, this was life or death. The Demon King¡¯s successor was facing two against one odds and the threat to his life was great. The Light God ordered the inner circle to protect the Sword of Sumeru. Cloudhawk¡¯s plans to destroy the superweapon were foiled and again he found himself in dire straits. 1. Names like Siegebreaker are usually wasteland names, but this guy¡¯s Chinese name is unique. Ëéǧ¾ü can¡¯t be confused for a name at all. It means ¡®Breaker of a Thousand Armies.¡¯ 2. 3. Literally ¡®instant light of holiness.¡¯ Flash was chosen for its dual meanings. Book 7, Chapter 22 - The Mighty Gods Book 7, Chapter 22 - The Mighty Gods A loud blast. Two thirds of the Lightning God¡¯s body exploded outwards and Godslayer pierced through. Cloudhawk fell back two hundred meters, but his escape was not an easy one. This was evident by the charred clothing and curls of smoke that rose off of him. The tongues of electricity reformed into the Lightning God once again. The disparate bolts wrapped together into the shape of a monstrous winged beast a hundred meters long. No mark remained of where Cloudhawk struck. Skycloud¡¯s leader was high in the air with his hand wrapped around the hilt of Godslayer as it soared ever farther. He jerked his body around and lashed out three times, carving the electric beast into quarters. The last strike was a brutal, vertical chop that caught it down the spine. It was useless. The pieces of the Lightning God reformed. It didn¡¯t appear that Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks were causing any damage. With pupils contracted he glared at the god. Its recovery speed was second to none. This was a problem! Cloudhawk took a deep breath. His foes would not be easily defeated. As their name implied, the Light God¡¯s powers were based in light. It was able to move and strike at incomparable speed. Cloudhawk doubted the god could actually move at the speed of light, but if it could even manage one percent then it was faster than him. Even one percent of the speed of light was several tens of thousands of times faster than anything else on earth. At speeds like that it was no different from teleportation. But that wasn¡¯t exactly true, since teleportation needed time to prepare. In that way the Light God was actually faster than Cloudhawk, and by quite a lot. At three thousand kilometers a second, a single hair could flatten a mountain. Attacking as Sacred Flash the god could destroy any physical matter. Cloudhawk might avoid an attack or two by relying on his sixth sense, but it wouldn¡¯t save him for long. Then there was the Lightning God, who was also not easy to deal with. Its powers lay in the fact that it¡¯s body was in a plasma state. The mighty creature it chose to form into was ropes of electrified plasma form head to tail. There was no weak point to speak of. In other words, the only way to defeat the Lightning God seemed to be to destroy all of it, all at once. It didn¡¯t matter how many times you chopped it to pieces, or how vicious those attacks were, the god would simply reform. Against either one of them alone, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure to emerge victorious. Against two, his chances of survival were much reduced. Meanwhile the Sword of Sumeru was forming right before his eyes. Beyond the curtain in the Temple sat the War God and the Dragon God ¨C two more Supremes waiting in the wings. Without a doubt they both knew what was happening outside and could join the fight at any moment. Any way you cut it, Cloudhawk was in mortal danger. ¡°Sacred Flash!¡± Energy gathered in the Light God¡¯s weapon. A second later it formed into an impossibly sharp streak of light that could cut through anything. Cloudhawk reacted instinctively to his gut feeling and tried to teleport. No good, the Light God was too fast. Cloudhawk needed to prepare his teleportation and strong though he was, he couldn¡¯t move faster than light. In fights like this, delaying even one thousandth of a second could be fatal for the god¡¯s attacks were practically instantaneous. Cloudhawk teleported fifty meters away, blinking back into reality with a nasty gash on his left shoulder. It¡¯d cut almost all the way through and the gaping wound was nauseating to behold. Cloudhawk used his relics to heal the damage, just enough for his body¡¯s own regenerative abilities to take over. Residual holy fires burned near the injury, disturbing his healing efforts and continuing to burn through his flesh. If his body wasn¡¯t already so well tempered, he would have been consumed by it. ¡°Sharp reflexes.¡± The Light God reformed and ¡®voiced¡¯ its praise. It didn¡¯t matter, Cloudhawk was as good as dead. But Cloudhawk had been paying attention. After two attacks he¡¯d recognized the flaw in his foe¡¯s attacks. Although he couldn¡¯t dodge these strikes, the Light God had a glaring deficiency; it couldn¡¯t attack continuously. If it could, then few creatures in the entire universe would be able to stand against it. The god could even use this power for interstellar travel.. The power of the Light God could only be used in brief, singular bursts. Each it was used there was a period of recovery. If it were just the two of them, Cloudhawk could use that opening to counterattack. Unfortunately, the Lightning God¡¯s involvement got in the way. Before he could strike back, a torrent of electric energy swallowed him up. The wave of lightning was like an angry sea. Cloudhawk had found himself suddenly engulfed, proving that the Lightning God ¨C being a Supreme ¨C was as difficult to deal with as any of its contemporaries. What¡¯s more, the Lightning God was also surprisingly fast. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Pale white light sprang up around Cloudhawk like an egg shell. The electricity that struck the shield was deflected and dispersed. Roooaaarr! The Lightning God, in its terrifying beast form, rushed at him. It clamped its jaws down on the human to try and swallow him once again. Once caught in the storm that was its stomach, Cloudhawk would be blasted to pieces. Would this never end? Cloudhawk filled Godslayer with his mental powers, causing black lightning to split the sky. The Lightning God¡¯s hundred meter long body was cleaved in two. Cloudhawk dashed forward at rapid speeds, passing through its body and striking at what was to him the more dangerous foe. Boom! Boom! As he raced through it a series of explosions wracked the god¡¯s body. Cloudhawk was caught within and was buffeted by the discharge of energy. His shield quickly weakened and his progress was slowed. Caw caw! Caw, caw caw! Cloudhawk¡¯s attention was captured by the sound of a bird by his ear. He glanced over and saw a host of flapping wings made from thunder closing in on him. Countless thunder birds were flung from the explosions all around. Every attack was strong enough to blast rock to pieces! These were difficult to suffer, even for Cloudhawk. He had no choice but to slow down and use his sword to cut the birds apart before they got too close. He also punched out with his left hand, causing a hundred more of the birds to explode at a safe distance. But more were coming, each of them an extension of the Lightning God¡¯s body! Cloudhawk had no way of dealing with this creature. Mental attacks were useless because his target had split into countless parts and he had to annihilate all of them at once. It was the only way to deal a blow to the Lightning God. Even if he eliminated ninety-nine point nine percent of the birds and left just one, it wasn¡¯t enough. If this kept up, he would surely lose. He barely withstood the god¡¯s fury when another keen sense of danger approached from above. The Light God was attacking again. Shit! No time to dodge! Cloudhawk knew it was coming but the Lightning God had him locked down. He could only cross his arms in front of him and pour all of his strength into defense. His gauntlet and sword were held out defensively and then - BOOM! Cloudhawk felt his mind go blank. The world turned end over end. A streak of dazzling light had appeared from space, slamming into Cloudhawk with terrifying power. IT easily tore through his shield and ripped through his organs. His bones, a hundred times harder than diamonds, shattered into pieces as he fell to the ground. Before the eyes of the Elysian soldiers, Cloudhawk came crashing down like a golden meteor. At ten times the speed of sound he crashed into the Guardian Palace. The great structure shattered into nine pieces. Those pieces then blasted apart. From the impact alone they could only imagine the power that had struck Cloudhawk. A few moments later the Gods of Light and Lightning returned to their original forms. They hovered in the air, awash in radiance. Beautiful. There was no marks on their perfect forms to indicate they¡¯d been in battle. The two deities looked upon the destroyed palace, through the rubble at Cloudhawk buried within. His still body was wrapped in burning holy light. ¡°Is he dead?¡± The thought came from the Lightning God. The Light God answered. ¡°Dead or not, he is no threat.¡± It was not wrong. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to run. On the one hand the area¡¯s spatial disturbance robbed him of his greatest advantage. On the other, he was alone with no allies. What human could win victory over two Supremes? If the Cloud God were with him, perhaps he might have kept the Light God at bay. Alone, however, he was doomed. With no way to run, he was as good as dead. 1. One percent of the speed of light is roughly 3000 kilometers a second. That¡¯s nearly the length of the United States. 2. Theoretically I guess, but the closest stellar neighbor to our sun is Proxima Centauri which is . Blink of an eye for a god, but still a long way to go even at lightspeed. Book 7, Chapter 23 - Desperate Counterattack Book 7, Chapter 23 - Desperate Counterattack Chapter 23: Desperate Counterattack Everyone was shocked by the might and scale of the battle they¡¯d witnessed. The strength of the gods was never in question, however the onlookers were a special breed. Among them were Master Demonhunters and accomplished martial artists who were confident in their abilities. Some believed they had reached the level of some gods, but this fight showed that they were still inferior to these mighty creatures. Why were these beings called gods? It was because of their limitless lifespan, millennia of experience, breadth of knowledge and tremendous power! They had bodies that were evolved to perfection and their long years made them excellent fighters. What¡¯s more, the tools and weapons they used were indistinguishable from magic. How could humans see them as anything other than divine beings? Men like Siegebreaker were the peak of human achievement, but Cloudhawk had made a fool out of him. However even he was beaten into the ground by these creatures. Obviously, the gulf between humans and gods was too wide to overcome. Legends claimed that thousands ¨C maybe tens of thousands of gods lived on Mount Sumeru. Weapons like the Sword of Sumeru were probably commonplace there. Formed into an army and focused on their planet, humans stood as much of a stance as insects before the magnifying glass. All would be destroyed. There was no overcoming the differences between their races. Humanity¡¯s infant culture was insignificant before the gods. The Sword of Sumeru continued to emerge. One third of it blazed threateningly from the ball of light. Demonhunters continued to pour their mental powers into it, forging the weapon inch by inch. The sheer energy surrounding it was equivalent to a nuclear bomb. Movement caught the attention of the gods. Cloudhawk stirred beneath the rubble. He was still alive? The Lightning God reacted with a vicious punch. Power from his fist extended outward and swelled to several times its original size. Blasting through the ruined halls it came crashing down on Cloudhawk to end his life. Cloudhawk rose from within the rubble on shaky legs. He had just enough time to raise his left arm after feeling the attack bear down. His movements were sluggish, almost haphazard. However the flash of dull white light that emerged blocked the Lightning God¡¯s strike, causing the surrounding debris to be further shattered but causing no damage to him. Onlookers gaped at the scene. Somehow this man got back onto his feet despite being wreathed in holy fire, then block the Supreme¡¯s deadly assault. The damage he sustained had to be fatal, how was he still breathing? He was nothing if not tenacious! Of course Cloudhawk was no ordinary man. In addition to his great power he also had a superhuman constitution. It was the only thing that prevented the Light God¡¯s attack from slaying him outright. What¡¯s more, in defiance of his injuries Cloudhawk had risen from the ruins to defend himself. It was a miracle, that was the only way to describe it. It¡¯d been so long since he suffered wounds this bad. So long since he was backed into a corner. Cloudhawk had survived to this day because he never stopped fighting. For a time he was tired of the fighting and believed death would be a liberation. But never before this moment had he felt so full of the desire to fight back. All the times before he fought on the book foot ¨C a passive figure, pulled along by the currents of strife. Now, though¡­ this was different. He wanted to fight. He wanted to live! He had to stop the gods and protect his family. He was the only hope for this dying world! He wasn¡¯t sure when it started, but Cloudhawk felt a deep sense of responsibility. Destiny had chosen him to be born in this place, in this moment. There was a reason, he couldn¡¯t swim against the current any longer. ¡°You have no hope of victory. Your defeat is inevitable.¡± The power of the Light God flared again. ¡°The inferiority of your species is obvious. Why do you come seeking your own demise?¡± Cloudhawk lifted his head, revealing a ghastly smirk. With a shrug, he answered. ¡°I¡¯m here¡­ I figure I might as well leave behind a little something to remind everyone that I was.¡± ¡°You are naught but a speck of dirt. No one will remember you.¡± The Light God¡¯s voice rang through everyone¡¯s mind, emotionless and dignified. He punctuated the declaration with another attack at near light speed, directly at the impudent human. Cloudhawk saw it coming with precise accuracy. He moved a few meters to the side and the sense of danger washed over him ¨C but not a hair was disturbed. For a moment, there a puzzled tone in the Lightning God¡¯s ¡®voice.¡¯ ¡°He dodged?¡± How? There were only a handful of creatures that were able to evade the Light God¡¯s attacks. During the Great War, the Light God had slain three Elder demons with this power. How, then, was this lowly mortal able to do it? It was unthinkable! Cloudhawk was clearly badly wounded. It had to have a negative impact on his reaction time. When he lifted his face it was covered in dirt and blood and cuts. Both his eyes gleamed with light; the left a deep and imposing black, and the right a dazzling silver. Where before a fog had covered the silver eye, now it was gone. Focus returned, and like a shining bulb it released a corona of silver light. Mysterious and unsettling. ¡°That eye¡­¡± When the Light God saw the shimmering orb, there was an inkling in the back of its mind. Something acquired from the collective memory of its species. Only, it wasn¡¯t possible¡­ how had this human come to possess the Eye of Time? It was not a power he should have been able to use! Yes, the Eye of Time was renewed! The mighty relic had been nearly destroyed when overused by the Avatar. However, Wolfblade had predicted that Cloudhawk¡¯s special constitution and willpower would restore the eye to working order. Faced with the Light God¡¯s deadly attack, the eye¡¯s potential was activated. Cloudhawk¡¯s will poured into the relic and from that instant forward, he began to see. Not normal sight. This was no normal relic. It was an instrument of time, rarer even than spatial relics. Cloudhawk was now capable of using both! With Wolfblade¡¯s help he was now able to use a portion of the God King¡¯s power. A man able to weave the folds of space-time. Such a thing had never occurred before. Both of Supremes were frozen in shock. They did not know what this meant. Somehow this ordinary mortal had the talents of the Demon and God King ¨C which made his potential greater than both. But¡­ why? How? He was a mere human, cursed with a short lifespan and meager existence! He took advantage of the gods¡¯ confusion. Cloudhawk¡¯s body jerked as a series of cracks and pops surrounded him. His bones reformed, fusing whole in the space of a second. All the cuts and bruises melted away, reversed by his superhuman vitality. The Light God¡¯s attacks were strong but could not come in quick succession. Now that Cloudhawk could see them coming, he could avoid them. In more ways than one, the Eyes of Time were the Light God¡¯s bane. They were the nemesis of all who relied on explosive attacks. What¡¯s more, with the help of this eye his attacks were infinitely more powerful! Shame did not color the Light God¡¯s decisions. Its species was not prone to such base outbursts. Although it recognized the slight on its authority, its voice was calm. ¡°Even if you can predict Sacred Flash, do you think your power alone is enough to defeat two Supremes?¡± ¡°The Sword of Sumeru is nearly complete.¡± The Lightning God marked the progress and both beings looked toward the weapon. ¡°This sword will destroy your insignificant alliance. With one blow everything you love will be annihilated.¡± ¡°Heh. In your dreams!¡± Cloudhawk screwed up his lethal intent and launched forward, Godslayer held aloft! His mental powers were in no way inferior to the gods he fought. With the help of the Eye of Time, now he was able to predict how they would react as well. The Lightning God had reformed into its beast form. Cloudhawk immediately cleaved it in two. But he was clever and knew that wasn¡¯t enough, so he imbued the strike with flame. Castigation Fire painted the sky green as it devoured the Lightning God¡¯s ion form, slowing its ability to reform. But his target wasn¡¯t really the Lightning God. That creature was too hard to kill, it would take him far too long and require far too much energy. He would leave the god for another day. The Light God was the one Cloudhawk meant to put down first! The Light God was more threatening than his contemporary. With its deadliest trick countered, however, it had no choice but to take up its blazing sword and attack directly. Even without its unique advantage, the god was no weaker than Arcturus had been. With such overwhelming mental power, even the basest relics were life-threatening. From below, the human onlookers watched as Cloudhawk passed through the two pieces of the Lightning God. He dodged several counter-attacks to appear before the Light God with his black blade at the ready. Black steel and blazing light met in a shower of sparks. The god¡¯s holy light dimmed. On the one hand, Godslayer was a frighteningly powerful tool. On the other, Cloudhawk was attacking with the ferocity of a mad beast. Ten exchanges followed before suddenly Cloudhawk unleashed a mental assault. The Light God stumbled under the burden, giving Cloudhawk an opportunity to grab the advantage. With a mighty blow he shattered the blade of holy fire. It followed through to cleave into the god¡¯s body. All at once, Cloudhawk released Godslayer¡¯s power. The god¡¯s magnificent armor cracked and the attack sent it flailing backwards. What an unimaginable turn of events! In an incredible reversal, Cloudhawk had succeeded in a desperate counterattack.v 1. What¡¯s this? A translator¡¯s note first thing? Interestingly, this title is also ¡®Return of the Jedi¡¯! But check this out; Cloudhawk is a scrub from a desert wasteland who is discovered to have special powers. He has an old mystical weirdo looking out for him. Now he¡¯s up against a technologically superior highly organized empire of gods who all think on the same wavelength ¨C kinda sounds like clones to me. Book 7, Chapter 24 - The Sword Swings Book 7, Chapter 24 - The Sword Swings The Light God¡¯s weapon reformed just in time to meet another blow from Godslayer. It hacked toward the being like an ax at dead tree limbs, cleaving easily through the weapon and into the Light God¡¯s body. Seething with energy, it entered at the god¡¯s left shoulder and down to the right abdomen. Where it passed, the armor split and the brilliant light dimmed. With a flick of his wrist Cloudhawk brought the weapon around for another pass, but with a flash the Light God retreated. It reappeared several thousand meters away. Trying to run? He expected as much. The Light God was incomparably fast, speed which it could use to attack but also flee. Moving tens of thousands of meters in the blink of an eye was not difficult. Moreover, with relics the process was even quicker and more dramatic. The Light God hung in the sky overhead, the gaping gash visible to all. However, as shocking as it was to behold Cloudhawk¡¯s blow hadn¡¯t even touched the god¡¯s body. It was a new and unsightly addition to the creature¡¯s armor. Its protections had a powerful damage absorption function. Despite the ferocity with which he struck, Cloudhawk¡¯s attack was not deep enough. He¡¯d done nothing to the god besides mar his suit. ¡°You are nothing but a trivial mortal. We are surprised that you have the Eye, but an insect with minimal godly powers is still an insect. Nothing you do will change the inevitable ¨C you will lose, everyone you know and love will die. If you cannot even defeat us, then you are doomed before the might of Sumeru.¡± As it spoke, the Light God¡¯s armor began to radiate with light. It flowed like water over the fractured pieces and in a few short moments it was restored. The only indication that anything had happened was a slight dimming in the Light God¡¯s radiance. Yet in contrast to its words, the Supreme was taken aback by Cloudhawk¡¯s strength. Concerning, too, was the might of his weapon and his evolved physique. The power he wielded was on the same level as the gods. In less than ten exchanges the Light God had been handily overcome. ¡°Gods definitely are different. They can take a good chop and keep on going.¡± Cloudhawk scowled and looked at his sword. ¡°But if one cut won¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll hack ten times. A hundred if I have to. Let¡¯s see which is tougher ¨C your body or my sword!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t like wasting time with banter. Especially when the odds were clearly not in his favor. But here he was, stuck, so he might as well fight to the end. He couldn¡¯t give them any breathing room or he¡¯d find himself surrounded by hundreds of demonhunters. Furthermore, the other two Supremes hiding in the Temple could emerge at any moment. He went chasing after the Light God. A screeching noise split the sky as the Lightning God changed forms again. Thousands upon thousands of electrified birds charged toward Cloudhawk as fast as lightning bolts. They came upon him like an apocalyptic rain and his world became a chaos of electricity. Fuck, again! Cloudhawk shut his right eye and looked at the world through his left. Traces of the birds in various sections of time were revealed to him. He winced as heat burned his eye socket, followed by a stabbing pain. Too much information caused his mind to overload. Shit! Too much variation. He couldn¡¯t differentiate so many changes at once. There were limits to what the Eye of Time could accomplish. It was a powerful relic, but if its targets were too many or its scope too broad, the deluge of information was much too draining. The Lightning God attacked Cloudhawk with a huge number of electric birds. They came from different directions and at different times. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t follow every one so he limited it to the area around himself. He used himself as a point of reference for his defense. Thunderbirds came at him like a wave but Cloudhawk¡¯s defense was impermeable. They crashed against him and dissipated like splashes of ink. Meanwhile the Light God took this chance to re-engage. It attacked with its Sacred Flash, recovered and attacked again. However Cloudhawk¡¯s attentions were locked on the Supreme. He knew when the attacks were coming, they were no threat. Cloudhawk and the two Supremes were locked in a stalemate. He was tangled up by the Lightning God while trying to land blows on its partner. At the moment there was no way for him to cut down either god, and likewise no way for them to kill this impudent human. Meanwhile the gathered soldiers watched this outrageous battle. They wanted to aid their deities but could find no way to do so. A fight of this level was far beyond their capabilities. But while on the surface it seemed like the fight was even, things worsened for Cloudhawk with every passing moment. The gods didn¡¯t need to kill him, only drain most of his power. Even with all his advantages, without enough energy he was powerless against all the realms¡¯ fighters. His hopes to destroy the Temple would be dashed. His target was still protected behind an impenetrable black curtain. Inside two more gods were waiting for him. What¡¯s more, as the fighting intensified and time stretched on, the Sword of Sumeru continued to form. A blade of light a hundred meters tall burned with ominous power. Slowly it was nearing completion. This weapon ¨C containing the mental energies of hundreds of the strongest demonhunters ¨C was like a sniper¡¯s bullet entering the chamber. A crossbow, nearly loaded. When it was released¡­ the consequences were too terrible to contemplate. An attack like that was terrible enough to completely altar the world¡¯s landscape. It would wipe Skycloud or the Green Alliance off the map. Whatever target it chose the result was the same; complete and total annihilation. ¡°Mother fuckers! Out of my way!¡± Thinking about it made Cloudhawk¡¯s anxiety rise. He had to stop the superweapon, no matter the cost. But he couldn¡¯t get free from the two gods. Besides, there were hundreds of demonhunters guarding the Sword preventing him from getting close. Time ticked by, one second after another until eventually the Sword of Sumeru was fully prepared. ¡°You have already lost!¡± The Lightning God¡¯s body coalesced into its humanoid form. In the battle with this mortal it had transformed numerous times and had expended a great deal of energy. However, the outcome of their conflict was never in doubt. ¡°Unleash the Sword!¡± Unleash the sword! The demonhunters answered and the enormous weapon began to quiver from hilt to tip. It began slowly, extricating itself from the disc-shaped tower like an airship leaving harbor. Though currently restrained, the sword contained a horrifying amount of power. Complex designs could be seen against its bright surface, pulsing with energy. Air around the blade warped as it was displaced. It was being deployed. Finally, the heathen scum would be eliminated! The Sword of Sumeru was engaged and there was no stopping it. The Gods of Light and Lightning stood shoulder to shoulder. They knew that once the Sword of Sumeru was completed nothing could stand in its way. The blasphemers were as good as dead. But then something happened the two beings could hardly believe. Cloudhawk teleported directly into the weapon¡¯s path. The gathered shoulders watched with wide eyes. Was he insane? He didn¡¯t think he could stand alone against the Sword of Sumeru, did he?! It was simply impossible! Even someone as strong as the Demon King¡¯s successor would be vaporized by this weapon, without question. Against the Sword, Cloudhawk was as tiny as a midge. But so be it! If this sword could cut down a fiend as difficult to kill as Cloudhawk, then it was a victory. The blazing weapon inched closer. Cloudhawk felt a pressure unlike anything he¡¯d felt before wash over him. He could hardly keep steady. The further it extended from the disc the faster the Sword began to move. Waves of light and heat spread in all directions. Cloudhawk felt like he was suffocating. Good¡­ excellent. Now¡¯s the time. A mysterious grin curled the edges of Cloudhawk¡¯s lips. He raised Godslayer in his right hand and the area filled with the vigor of ten million warriors. He used his left hand to slowly pull forth a silver chain It was time, his one chance. The fate of everything he¡¯d built was at stake. Book 7, Chapter 25 - Seizing the Sword Book 7, Chapter 25 - Seizing the Sword The Sword of Sumeru was created by energy from the universe, gathered by the Temple. It was forged and further empowered by the will of six hundred demonhunters. Nothing could withstand its power. Every passing second saw the sword gaining speed. The mortal men and women who watched were frozen by the domineering might it unleashed. They knew that when the Sword struck it would release all of its energy into the land. Everything around it would be forever altered. Cloudhawk appeared before the superweapon, tattered cloak flapping. Floating there with his black sword in hand, buffeting winds threatened to rip him from the sky. He was a small black dot, nothing more. The Sword of Sumeru closed in on him with all the size and inertia of an airship at full speed. The sheer difference in size was staggering. What would happen when they collided? When the Sword first emerged it was almost ordinary, except for its size and the runes of the blade. It appeared to be covered in a layer of stone giving it a dull appearance. Yet shortly after it was released the weapon picked up speed. Cracks appeared upon the rugged exterior. Crrrack! Snap! Chunks of stone started to fall away, revealing a dazzling body of jade-like material beneath. It was almost crystalline and the light that poured from it flooded the area with prismatic luminescence. Everyone held their breath. Twenty meters. Fifteen meters. Ten meters! It continued to pick up speed as though rocket engines were moving it forward. Even more frightening was the energy it released, enough to warp space around it. Cloudhawk felt like he was nailed in place. To everyone who watched, his death seemed assured. The gods especially understood the power of the Sword. Where it struck the Sword released a zone of energy. Whatever was sucked inside and never escaped. It was too close now, too fast. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t dodge if he wanted to. Ting! A sound arose, as clear as a crystal bell. Soldiers below watched Cloudhawk thrust his black blade forward to meet the tip of the Sword as though trying to stop it with nothing but the strength of his arm. A fool, tilting at windmills! An indescribably surge of energy followed. It poured from the front of the superweapon and swallowed Cloudhawk up. He was dead, he had to be! Ground to dust! A mayfly could not shake the tree. A mantis could not stop the rolling wagon wheel. Although Cloudhawk had somehow managed to ward off two gods, the Sword of Sumeru was another power entirely. Why was he so bent on self-destruction? It was an impossible hope! Indeed, as Cloudhawk connected with the weapon he felt a pressure more intense than anything he¡¯d felt before. He felt his newly reformed bones bend and crack. He was pushed back at staggering speed, and the friction of the surrounding atmosphere caused everything around him to burst into flame. One could see it from a great distance; an enormous sword wreathed in fire, descending toward the earth. Squinting, one might see the small black dot fixed to its tip, struggling in vanity and ignorance against the inevitable. Only one outcome was possible. What made this insect think it could change fate? Grim certainty filled the ground. Yet¡­ ¡°What? Look! The sword is getting smaller!¡± ¡°Nonsense. The Sword of Sumeru is crystallized energy. It wouldn¡¯t just get smal-¡­ hey, he¡¯s right!¡± As the crowd looked on they saw that the tip was gone, though the black speck that was Cloudhawk remained. Little by little they could tell ¨C even from this distance ¨C that the sword¡¯s body was shrinking. It was slow but obvious. What was happening? What was swallowing the Sword? The superweapon was composed of unstable energy from the universe funneled by the Temple, in addition to the mental powers of many demonhunters. All of it was temporarily bound into the shape of a sword. It wasn¡¯t strictly physical and there was no name for this energy in human scientific texts. Rather it was a complex state between energy and matter with properties of both. But one thing was certain to remain unchanged ¨C its instability! A flake of this energy no bigger than a fingernail could level mountains. How could it be depleted so rapidly without cause? The two gods understood immediately that Cloudhawk had to be the culprit. Enveloped in fire, Cloudhawk focused his will on one of his relics ¨C a long silver chain. It was joined end to end to form a circle. The area in the middle rippled with spatial energy to form a mirror-like surface. The Sword of Sumeru, massive and imposing, was slowly being devoured by the unassuming ring of dainty silver. How?! The Lightning God understood first. ¡°A spatial relic! Stop him!¡± But wasn¡¯t it too late? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want to stop the Sword at all! Even the gods, for all their wisdom, had not foreseen that Cloudhawk had another plan entirely! Disruption to the flow of space-time restricted what powers could be used around Sky Fortress. Spatial relics were greatly hampered and using them demanded much more energy. Even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t move between dimensions as he normally did or use the subspace cube. Short-range teleportation was the best he could manage. But that made his foes complacent. They didn¡¯t notice one minor detail which reversed everything! Cloudhawk recognized it the first time he saw Idonea¡¯s Spacefetter relic. It was a weak tool, but unique. Under the right circumstances it could make a huge difference! Spacefetter formed a dimensional ¡®mirror¡¯ with two faces that were connected. The trick was the space between those connections was a long longer than they appeared from the outside. A demonhunter could employ the relic to create a closed look of temporary subspace. This temporary dimension could swallow attacks. By calculating how long it would take an attack to pass through, the user could employ them for counters or defense. It hardly sounded like a mighty item, but might wasn¡¯t the point. How much space existed between the mirror¡¯s faces wasn¡¯t hard-set. It could shrink or expand, like an infinitely large balloon. It was directly correlated to the strength of the wielder. In Idonea¡¯s hands the longest distance was a few hundred meters. But if Cloudhawk used it, that stretched to tens of thousands! Enough to keep the Sword of Sumeru flying for much longer than intended! The Light God attacked without any more hesitation. Under ordinary circumstances Cloudhawk would be unable to defend himself, but the Eye of Time gave him superhuman insight. The whole time he¡¯d been watching the god closely for just such an attack. As such he knew precisely where the attack would land and what the consequences would be. He was prepared, thus avoiding what his reflexes could not protect him from. The Light God failed. The Lightning God followed after. The being was more tenacious than a cockroach. It burst into another wave of birds and came swooping down. Both gods knew something was amiss and spared nothing to finish off the human interloper ¨C but they were too late. A weapon of mass destruction created by the gods was being defeated by a low-grade relic. Such a risky move had cost Cloudhawk greatly, but it was succeeding. The Light God brandished his blazing sword, standing amid a storm of electric birds. It watched the sword vanish into the Spacefetter mirror ¨C but no matter! After a period of rest their demonhunters can forge another. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions, however, were a threat to the Temple and an open slight against the gods. Two Supremes launched themselves at a single mortal, but the lowly human was not eradicated. On the contrary, Cloudhawk held the upper hand! He¡¯d even managed to steal their superweapon ¨C a clear and brazen insult. How could these most high and mighty beings suffer such indignity from a human? The Lightning God struck first. Swarms of lightning birds attacked their target. The Light God followed close behind. Only, during their charge they saw Cloudhawk stop. He slowly flipped the mirror around. What?! The crowd was dumbfounded as the dazzling mirror surface came into view. Light poured out of it like a beam from the sun. It grew brighter and strong until at last the crystalline tip of a sword emerged. The terrifying burst of energy swallowed up the flock of birds. It took only an instant. Those birds that were closer to Cloudhawk evaporated in an instant. Others tried to flee, but where could they go? It was too late to run. The Sword of Sumeru¡¯s gigantic form emerged from the mirror. Its field of energy filled the space, suppressing everything nearby. At incredible speeds, it pierced right into the heart of the flock. Like a smouldering iron being doused in water, the birds all turned to steam. Faced with the encroaching weapon, even the unflappable mind of the god was thrown into confusion. Incredible power struck it like a tidal wave and the being¡¯s armor burst to pieces. Sprays of blood sprayed from the fissures. An instant before the Sword destroyed it, the Light God¡¯s relic had recharged. It shot off into the distance at almost the speed of light. The Sword continued on through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. ¡°No!¡± Terrified cries arose from the halls of Sky Fortress as helplessly they watched the Sword of Sumeru crash into the dark curtain around the Temple. Then, the world disappeared. Everything was devoured by light, heat and a deafening roar. Book 7, Chapter 26 - Cloudhawk, the Godslayer Book 7, Chapter 26 - Cloudhawk, the Godslayer The Sword of Sumeru pierced the Temple¡¯s enchantment. Light penetrated the curtain of darkness ¨C a dagger to the heart of Sky Fortress. It was an area even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t pass through. It took a direct blow from the superweapon to cut open a doorway. Then, once the Sword¡¯s energy was fully released, it swallowed up everything in the vicinity. The enchantment shattered like someone had taken a hammer to a mirror. All of the traps and defenses erected by the four Supremes collapsed as well. How terrible the power of this divine weapon! Waves of power swept through the area in what felt like an endless barrage, a flood of dragons dancing among the ruin. Although Cloudhawk had deflected the sword away from himself, the blowback from impact was nearly enough to fling him backward. All of the elite gathered around the Temple felt it. A wave of destructive energy so intense it was hard to fathom. They scrambled away in every direction to avoid being devoured by it. The Sword¡¯s forging platform took a good deal of the residual explosion. The disc-like structure cracked and tumbled away in pieces like a broken kite. Spatial disturbance orbs lining the hallways shattered one after the other. Everywhere one turned ¨C annihilation. Cloudhawk hung in the air, surrounded by a pale shell of light. As he retreated he observed the situation. Among the chaos he sensed a familiar aura. Looking toward it, he saw a flock of lightning birds trying to escape the energy vortex. The Lightning God! He¡¯d watched the two Supremes get caught in the Sword¡¯s path. Mortal beings would have been vaporized, and the two gods hardly fared better. The Light God was gravely injured and only survived by the grace of light speed. The Lightning God was harder to kill. It was able to change its body at will and destroying one portion of it didn¡¯t affect the whole. A massive area was consumed by the energy of the Sword and any living matter within was atomized. Only a few lucky survivors had escaped destruction, including the Lightning God. Now it was the god¡¯s misfortune to be spied by Cloudhawk. A rare opportunity had presented itself. The Lightning God was weakened. This small flock of birds was all that remained. In other words, if this handful were eliminated the Lightning God would die. Seriously injured, the Supreme was trying to flee and recover. In its desperation it did not know where to fly to. Cloudhawk knew that no support was coming in the aftermath of that explosion. There was no better time to destroy this creature than right now! It was time! Cloudhawk warped space around him, appearing before the flock of birds. He hacked at them, destroying a portion. In a display of terror the remaining birds gathered together. Once again there stood the tall and imposing humanoid figure. The Lightning God was forced to return to its original form. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, it summoned several hundred lightning bolts and flung them at his attacker. But Cloudhawk would not be denied. Brandishing Godslayer, he hacked through the bolts and buried his sword in the Lightning God¡¯s shoulder. A god¡¯s armor seemed to be tied to their energy and willpower. Where before the Lightning God seemed invincible, now the blazing electric light was dim. It was at its weakest point, on the verge of collapse. Drained as it was and with no way to recover, the god could not protect itself from Godslayer¡¯s bite. The Lighting God¡¯s right arm was cleaved from his body at the shoulder. But so long as any portion of him remained intact he could reform. Its right arm fired at Cloudhawk like a shot from a railgun. Were he a normal mortal that would have ended the fight, but Cloudhawk had the benefit of the Eye of Time. He saw this attack coming, deflected it with Godslayer, and the crackling black power of his sword blasted the limb to pieces. Then he blinked back before the deity. Too fast! With nowhere to flee it could only react by swinging a sword of lightning clutched in its left hand. Cloudhawk hacked toward it and as the weapons met, the Lightning God¡¯s sword evaporated. Once again Godslayer bit into godly flesh and its left arm disintegrated. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t hesitate. His enemy¡¯s tricks were myriad, so he pressed the attack. If the Lightning God was given any chance, the being would find a way to survive and this rare opportunity would be lost. So long as this Supreme lived, it was a danger to the human race. The dark light of Godslayer streaked passed again, this time across the waist. The Lightning God¡¯s legs disappeared in black lightning and green fire. Only the being¡¯s upper half remained, hovering in the air. No blood leaked from the wound, only arcs of lightning that tried to rocket the god from the path of danger. Cloudhawk teleported into range again. Godslayer thrust into the god¡¯s chest and exited from its back. This froze the Lightning God in place. It could no longer flee. Cloudhawk looked into its eyes, pools of cold electric light. They were the eyes of someone who knew their doom approached. ¡°My destruction is only temporary, but your end is preordained.¡± This asshole was pontificating even in the moment of its death? ¡°Well then let¡¯s move this along.¡± Cloudhawk hacked his weapon at the god¡¯s head, splitting it in two like a watermelon. Dark lightning and green fire spread across what remained. In only a few short seconds everything was gone. It was done. Cloudhawk had murdered a Supreme God. It was so complete it could be called a violation. To the humans who watched it was a staggering blow to their core being. From this moment on Cloudhawk had earned the title of a true Godslayer! He proved that humans could overcome these lofty beings. Cloudhawk looked around for his second target, the Light God. Now was the time to finish off the god, but the chaos of the battlefield was widespread. He couldn¡¯t pinpoint his foe¡¯s location. Fuck it, good enough for now. It¡¯s too wounded to be a threat anyway. Cloudhawk stood in the empty space where the Lightning God had been destroyed. The only thing his fires had not consumed was a thumb ring . The fact it survived meant it was a relic, and a high-quality one at that. He snatched it up and put it away to examine later. The field of energy at the heart of the explosion continued to rage. A storm had sprung up of buffeting winds that only seemed to grow more intense with the passage of time. If this continued it wouldn¡¯t just threaten the Temple, but all the Fortress around it. All the soldiers stationed here were in mortal danger. Once the Sword of Sumeru unleashed its terrible power, the results were disastrous. ¡°Use this!¡± Cloudhawk threw out a small cube, his subspace relic, which immediately activated. It spun in the air and spread open to reveal a portal. Spatial interference had kept him from using it before, but once the Sword of Sumeru struck those disrupters were destroyed. His unique powers were restored. He picked up Idonea, who was still too stunned to understand what was happening, and flung her into the portal. He then used his willpower to project his thoughts into the minds of everyone: ¡°This place is coming down, there¡¯s no running away. If you want to live you¡¯ll go through this portal!¡± ¡°Why should we believe you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± Many voiced their concerns, but it was clear the Fortress was crumbling around them. Only a fraction of the Sword¡¯s energy had reached them so far. Soon it would be too much for them to withstand. ¡°Stay and die. Go through the portal and die. If you¡¯re going to die anyway might as well have a change in scenery.¡± Once the dimensional portal was opened Cloudhawk moved it over to the others. That was the best he could do, whether or not they chose to save their own lives was up to them. Luckily, while they saw Cloudhawk as an enemy they weren¡¯t stupid. After a moment of hesitation they all began to run through the portal. Cloudhawk kept the Cube activated while folding dimensions to the spore planet. There he deposited Sky Fortresses¡¯ survivors. It used to be that moving people through dimensions was a taxing process. A thousand soldiers of their strength would have taken him a full day to accomplish ¨C except that the subspace cube made that process much easier. ¡°This...¡± ¡°Where are we?¡± As they were ejected from the cube, elite soldiers from the four Elysian realms looked around in astonishment. Moments ago they were on the edge of an explosion high above the world. Now, in the blink of an eye, they were somewhere else entirely with plants they¡¯d never seen before. Meanwhile Cloudhawk took some clothing from his dimensional warehouse and pulled them on. His own wounds were considerable, and if these angry faithful knew that they might descend on him. After all, there were a number of Master Demonhunters and high-class martial artists in their ranks. ¡°You evil bastard, where did you bring us!¡± It was Siegebreaker who yelled the challenge. His injuries were already improving, as was typical for a man with such a highly evolved constitution. Only, when Cloudhawk turned his attention to the warrior his fighting spirit withered. This monster was too strong, enough that they all felt hopeless. If a Supreme could not survive his ire then how could they? So, even though Cloudhawk stood brazenly before them, even though he was wounded and drained, no one dared to lift a finger. He calmly looked over the crowd. ¡°This is another world your gods conquered. Now this is all that¡¯s left; ruins and fungus. Below your feet were the cities of its original inhabitants. Their grim present is our future. That¡¯s why we have to join together and fight back.¡± 1. These rings are thick pieces of ornamentation Book 7, Chapter 27 - Turnaround Book 7, Chapter 27 - Turnaround ¡°Don¡¯t believe him!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the reason Skycloud fell from grace! We can¡¯t let him run amok in our homes!¡± ¡°After him! We can kill him together!¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t given a chance to make his case. Even if he did, this group wasn¡¯t going to listen to a word he said. He didn¡¯t have enough hard, compelling evidence to change their thinking. In the face of deep-seated prejudice, there was no room for talk. So be it. If they wouldn¡¯t listen to reason then he would just leave them here. At least they wouldn¡¯t get in the way. ¡°Whatever you think, I just saved your lives.¡± Cloudhawk clasped his hands behind his back and addressed the crowd like an irritated teacher. ¡°If this is how you repay my help you might find it lacking next time.¡± Cloudhawk was strong, but vastly outnumbered. There were a slew of fighters who occupied the highest levels of achievement. He might be able to handle four or five at once, but much more than that and he would find himself in a tough spot. ¡°Come on!¡± Siegebreaker barked. ¡°We¡¯re not idiots. You think pretending to be a savior will make us give up this opportunity? Everyone, for the safety of the realm ¨C attack!¡± A glint of ridicule shone in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes as he looked at his defeated foe. Seeing this contempt the veins on Siegebreaker¡¯s head swelled in anger. His recent, embarrassing defeat to Cloudhawk was still fresh in his mind, but whatever the circumstances he was still a mighty warrior! Such disrespect was untenable. ¡°Fine. Make your move, then.¡± With that mysterious, mocking sentence he turned his back on them as though they were not there. The Elysians looked at one another in hesitation. ¡°You bastard, making a show of things!¡± Siegebreaker¡¯s knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. ¡°I want my rematch!¡± ¡°Hold!¡± The voice came from among the crowd. A group of demonhunters pushed to the front ¨C elderly men of station. ¡°We can¡¯t attack him now.¡± Siegebreaker scowled incredulously. ¡°High Priest Gorman Vargas? What are you saying?¡± Gorman Vargas was Stormford¡¯s High Priest, a contemporary to Highmorn¡¯s Lucian Ambrose and Skycloud¡¯s Ramiel Caelestis. At this moment the spritely old man bore a serious countenance He had just seen the death of the god he¡¯d served all his life. High Priests were the embodiment of their god¡¯s will on earth. But now his god was dead, so what purpose did he serve? What would become of Stormford? These were questions that burned in his heart. A smile touched the corner of Cloudhawk¡¯s lips. Without even turning to look at them he took several steps forward. Space compressed around him, warping his words. ¡°Seems you don¡¯t have the heart. I have a mess to clean up and o time to play with you all. Hang out here and take all the time you need to mull things over. See ya.¡± As his last words hung in the air, Cloudhawk vanished. Space rippled around where he had been for a few moment and then calmed. The crowd stared at the empty spot for a second before Siegebreaker broke the silence. ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°Idiot, are you blind? This isn¡¯t our world!¡± Gorman cast a withering glare at the martial artist. ¡°His spatial powers are strong. Even if we were a threat, he could simply disappear through dimensions. Even keeping him here is questionable, much less killing him. Say we manage it ¨C then what? How do we return home?¡± Siegebreaker finally understood. No wonder the others didn¡¯t act. It wasn¡¯t because they feared Cloudhawk but because he was their only ticket home. If they killed the fiend here, there was no way back. They would be burning their only bridge. Here they were, stuck! The four realms would be lost without their strongest to defend them! Cloudhawk, the bastard. Did he intend to lock them up here forever? Siegebreaker was filled with denial, but what could he do? There was no way out of this prison. ** A few minutes after teleporting the Elysians to their new home, Cloudhawk returned to Sky Fortress. He arrived to a scene of devastation. The enchantments that protected the Temple had collapsed and those further out were unstable. Outside, the armada was milling around in confusion and alarm. They¡¯d just missed being consumed by the explosion. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how much power the Sword of Sumeru had contained, but judging by the catastrophic effects left behind he could guess. When it struck the black curtain, a huge amount of light and energy had been released. The protections hiding the Temple were overloaded and destroyed. However, the structure itself moved at the last moment and avoiding absolute destruction. The Sword swept by and the Temple avoided a direct blow. Even so, a fourth of the pyramid-shaped Temple was in ruin. The superweapon pierced the inner and outer enchantments to obliterate a hundred or more airships. Oxygen fled out into space and anti-gravity fields failed. In the end, Sky Fortress was teetering on the precipice of collapse. Below, a motley army approached. They were Cloudhawk¡¯s allies, arriving just in time. Sky Fortress had suffered a terrible blow and all the soldiers of its inner circle were gone. Of the four Supremes one was dead and another gravely wounded. Only two remained in fighting condition. If the Cloud God or several of his strongest fighters arrived to back him up, Cloudhawk was confident they could win this fight! The Temple! That was his target. It was more than just a link between their world and Mount Sumeru. It was the foundation of divine imperialism. Without them and the endless energy they provided, Elysian lands would never have been established. The gods would have no way to demand human faith and obedience. With this in mind Cloudhawk chose not to wait for reinforcement. One man, one sword. He dashed toward the Temple, teleporting across the space. The structure was badly damaged, but the fact that Sky Fortress still stood meant its powers remained. He would fix that! Cloudhawk held Godslayer aloft and a beam of light shot from it, a hundred meters into space. The Milky Way above was cleaved in two. Like a blazing ribbon, he brought it down upon the Temple to finish what the Sword of Sumeru had started. Only, just then¡­ The pupil of his left eye contracted. A scene emerged before him, of a winged beast putting itself between him and his target to take the blow. Another armed and armored Supreme launches at him with a vicious attack. He takes a punch. Much to Cloudhawk¡¯s surprise even his evolved body is unable to take it. His chest caves in and the damage is absolute. Too late to fight back. His enemy grabs his right arm and rips it off¡­ Fuck! At the last instant Cloudhawk moved his strike. The stream moved away from the Temple and out into space ¨C directly in the path of a silent figure. The blow from its fist swung wide, Cloudhawk¡¯s sword strike streaked off into darkness as if it had never been. He glowered at the two figures near the Temple, clad in divine armor. He¡¯d seen them once before. The one in black armor had saved the Temple from falling after his fight with the Avatar. He knew the winged one to be a strong and deadly foe. The War and Dragon Gods. He knew they would show up. Fortunately he had already defeated one of the Supremes and wounded another, otherwise the four of them together would have been far too much for him to handle. Although he stood there eyeing his new opponents calmly, in his heart he knew a single mistake could mean his doom. These two gods were special. They were generals of their race. Field Marshalls like them were few among. Living war machines that lead armies from the front. It was they who lead the divine soldiers against demonic hordes in the Great War. Dragon God and the War God were such commanders. In regards to direct combat power, both were superior to the likes of the Cloud God, the Lightning God or the Light God. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk was greatly drained and wounded from the obstacles up to this point. Against these two enemies he was looking at a deadly uphill contest. 1. Gorman, irish for ¡®little blue one¡¯ and Vargas, Spanish for hut. His Chinese name is ¡®blue hut¡¯ Book 7, Chapter 28-1 - Three On One Book 7, Chapter 28-1 - Three On One The War God was somewhere between four and five meters tall, covered in head to two with jet black armor. No light was reflected off its surface except for pulsing veins of red that wrapped around it like lava flows. The being wrapped itself in a hostile aura, but its true power was hard to determine. One punch dissuaded Cloudhawk¡¯s attack. In his vision he saw that the god could tear his arm off with hardly any effort. What sort of terrible strength did it possess? The War God was famously strong ¨C enough to level mountains and redirect rivers. In terms of straight physical capability, it was ten times stronger than the average god or demon! Different races had different limitations. Dragenmere¡¯s Siegebreaker, Skycloud¡¯s Skye Polaris, Ash Farran, the old drunk¡­ they had achieved the pinnacle of human martial ability. Only the very best a human could achieve was still nothing compared to the gods. Cloudhawk was also listening to the hum of relics and was surprised by what he found. The War God¡¯s relics weren¡¯t coming from outside of its body. With the exception of its frightful armor, Cloudhawk¡¯s foe wasn¡¯t carrying any other equipment. The resonance he sensed was coming from the god¡¯s very bones. In other words the War God was likely using a fusion relic like Castigation Fire or the Blood of the Phoenix. Blood of the Phoenix took up residence in the bearer¡¯s own blood, allowing it to spread all throughout the body. Any injury was healed at a shocking speed. The War God, by contrast, did not have a relic in his blood ¨C but in his bones! The Dragon God was similar in size to its counterpart but built much larger. A pair of impressive dragon wings spread from its shoulders densely covered in scales. It certainly made the creature stand out. Through the Eye of Time Cloudhawk saw that it was capable of taking a direct blow from Godslayer and shrug it off. That meant the Dragon God had defenses that would be tough to crack. Attack was the realm of the War God. Defense belonged to the Dragon God. The two generals together were a complete and formidable fighting force. Cloudhawk knew that he couldn¡¯t fight without a plan. If he did, the future he¡¯d seen would only be the beginning. Thankfully the Eye of Time had recovered at the right moment. Without its help it would already be too late. Boom-boom-boom! Explosions sounded from outside Sky Fortress. His allies from Skycloud had arrived, the cavalry was here. With the Cloud God, Frost and Selene perhaps they would stand a chance. For the moment the two gods were also still. They were taken aback by this mortal¡¯s gall in attacking them. In their hubris, they never imagined this might come to pass, especially once the Sword of Sumeru had been completed. For this reason they did not get involved even after the Gods of Light and Lightning discovered Cloudhawk¡¯s presence. Common sense dictated that the Light God ¨C who killed any opponent in the blink of an eye ¨C and the unkillable Lightning God were enough to stop a single mortal. What¡¯s more, they had to be cautious. What if it was a feint, meant to draw them from the Temple? So they remained in the heart of their fortress and watched. But the Lightning God and the Light God couldn¡¯t defeat Cloudhawk, even together. Alas, one was killed and the other wounded! It seemed outside the realm of possibility, but they had watched it happen. The War God carefully measured this troublesome mortal, paying special attention to the silver eye. Even the divine general was cautious around such a relic. ¡°That is the God King¡¯s eye. Wielding this power, it is no secret how you were able to defeat the other Supremes.¡± It was the Dragon God who spoke first. ¡°But how far can your eye see?¡± ¡°I can see your death.¡± Cloudhawk responded calmly. The gods were not troubled by his inflammatory words. Such talk might get under the skin of mortals, but to gods they meant nothing. The threats of insignificant creatures like humans were discarded. He who strikes first gets the advantage, so Cloudhawk raised Godslayer and rushed at his enemies. A trail of black lightning followed in its wake like a dragon¡¯s tail. Hi silver eye flashed as the Eye of Time helped to anticipate changes and dangers on the battlefield. Teleporting across space, Cloudhawk appeared before the gods to deliver his attack. But the War God was faster! Every bone in its body began to vibrate. Without moving a muscle the god was launched into the air at incredible speed. In a flash it caught Cloudhawk mid-charge. Its right fist, bearing suffocating pressure, came bearing down. Even before it landed its fist caused the area all around to buckle. Air was squeezed into a liquid state. It was a potent sign, showing that the blow could level a mountain range. Fast, and strong! It was the only thought Cloudhawk had time to form. He teleported out of his enemy¡¯s range then swung his sword once more toward the Temple. Cloudhawk¡¯s aim wasn¡¯t to defeat the two Supremes. If he could destroy the Temple then all of Sky Fortress would collapse with it. The other four realms would no longer be a threat to his people. As for the two gods? Maybe they went with the Temple, maybe they didn¡¯t. Right now it didn¡¯t matter. While preparing for the strike another scene was revealed through the Eye of Time¡­ Half a second. A flash of golden light moving too fast for him to follow. Distracted with attacking the Temple, Cloudhawk doesn¡¯t dodge. Like a knife, the flash catches him at the waist and cuts him in two¡­ He held back a portion of his strength and teleported. He vanished and in that moment there was the briefest flicker of gold. All it managed to cut was the lingering shadow of the Demon King¡¯s successor. ¡°The Light God?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to see his attacker to know who it was. Only the Light God could attack with speed like that. Although the War Gods speed was explosive and intense, he could at least mostly follow it. Once again the Eye of Time had saved his life. When the light flickered into nothingness an armored figure stood in its place. The glimmer of its armor was erratic and it stood on unsteady feet. The God was in a very bad state. The Light God had taken a direct blow from the Sword of Sumeru. Cracks spread all across its armor and some pieces had fallen free. Like an ancient clay figure that had barely survived the element, the Light God was on the verge of destruction. A large portion of the helmet had broken off, revealing that it was not a part of the creature. Rather, like a parasite it stuck to the skin beneath like a second layer. With the armor destroyed, a small section of a strange face was revealed. He couldn¡¯t see much, but what was visible didn¡¯t seem human at all. Was this the true face of the gods? Stories claimed that the gods and demons had come from far beyond the stars and this seemed to confirm it. Of course questions remained: What was their history? Why didn¡¯t any of them remember where they¡¯d come from? Why were the gods barred from knowing the truth? But these philosophical questions were for another time. The Light God might have been badly wounded, but now Cloudhawk faced three Supremes. His situation was only getting worse as time passed. So to try and even the score, he turned Godslayer on the wounded deity. From his weapon a storm of dark lightning belched forth in an attempt to finish it off. Just as he released his power something strange happened. It all just¡­ stopped. The lightning hung in midair as though gravity had taken hold. Half a breath later it was wrenched to the side and slammed into the body of a godly general. The full force of it was absorbed into the creature¡¯s body. Cloudhawk stared in alarm as the Dragon God streaked toward him, bearing an eight-meter long spear. BANG! The spear struck Godslayer and in that instant Cloudhawk felt his energy draining. The Dragon God wasn¡¯t just a shield. It was able to leech mental energy from its foes! Their contact lasted only a second, but Cloudhawk felt a fourth of his strength vanish like smoke. He was preparing to counter when his eye activated again. He quickly activated his gauntlet¡¯s defense just as the War God¡¯s fist came crashing down. He was blasted backward from the impact. The War God gave chase, appearing from the void with a deadly follow-up strike. Again and again the punches came, each one causing the area to shudder. Cloudhawk teleported to avoid the worst of it, utilizing the Eye of Time to keep himself from being obliterated. However the Dragon God was catching up, and the Light God was preparing another attack. This is bad! If this kept up the Eye of Time wasn¡¯t going to save him. Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was darkening. He hadn¡¯t recovered from the first fight. He couldn¡¯t keep up with the War God¡¯s speed. The Dragon God and Light God were providing aid. Three Supremes against one mortal ¨C the outlook was grim. Suddenly a voice intruded on his mind. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve found you. We¡¯ve caught up at last.¡± ¡°Wolfblade? How are you talking to me? Are you close?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still far, we won¡¯t be able to get to you quickly. But you have a chance.¡± Wolfblade¡¯s voice was being projected to him through the Cloud God¡¯s expansive psychic power. Cloudhawk was as shocked as he was impressed. The fiend only grew more powerful as he aged. He had to have a plan to fight back. If this was too much for Cloudhawk he could mark their location, retreat and regroup for another assault. Book 7, Chapter 28-2 - Destroying the Temple Book 7, Chapter 28-2 - Destroying the Temple The dark skies were awash in chaos. Debris spread out across the expanse like shooting stars across a galactic battlefield. Every second that passed the conflict grew more intense, especially in the heart of the fighting. Blinding flashes and deafening blasts came and went like a current. The three Supremes ¨C War, Dragon, and light ¨C attacked Cloudhawk as one. Although he had a few chances to escape, the Demon King¡¯s successor grit his teeth and stuck it out for as long as he could. No one was better than him at escaping a sticky situation. Running wasn¡¯t hard, but it would give his enemies a chance to regroup and recover. The gods¡¯ evolved physicality meant the Light God would be more or less healed by the time Cloudhawk came back. He didn¡¯t want to give them that chance. The gods¡¯ methods were as numerous as hairs on an ox. Who knew what other tricks they had prepared? If Cloudhawk chose to rendezvous with Wolfblade, the gods would certainly improve their defenses and probably surround themselves with more warriors. The time and cost of this war would stretch on, which hurt the Green Alliance far more than the Elysian realms. Thankfully the Cloud God was able to create a link between Wolblade and Cloudhawk, allowing them to communicate. ¡°The War and Dragon Gods are far stronger than ordinary. They are suited for close combat, so in enclosed spaces they have the advantage. Do not meet them head-on. Use your skills to exploit their weaknesses.¡± ¡°Can we cut the riddle shit? Just tell me what to do!¡± Cloudhawk managed to just dodge out of the way of another one of the Light God¡¯s attacks. He then activated his defense to ward off two punches from the War God. The second was almost bone-shattering, but Cloudhawk¡¯s improved constitution helped him shrug it off. As he prepared to strife back another wave of weakness took him. The Dragon God was siphoning his mental powers again. One God attacked him straight on, another attacked when he was distracted, and a third was protecting its allies and stealing his power. These gods were powerful. One on one Cloudhawk could handle, two on one would be a challenge. All three, however, all he could do was continue to dodge their attacks. He wasn¡¯t sure how long he could hold out. Wolfblade, the slimy fuck, sure seemed to be taking his time! One slip-up and Cloudhawk would be dead! ¡°Use your psychic attack. For the War and Dragon Gods, their mind is their fatal weakness. They cannot protect against mental assaults. When usual attacks are ineffective, you must find another means. Do not strike their bodies ¨C strike their psyche!¡± Is that so¡­ Cloudhawk quickly disengaged. Fires sprang to life behind his eyes and suddenly the area was suffused with oppressive mental energy. It wasn¡¯t a power he¡¯d been born with. Rather, he acquired it after accepting the Demon King¡¯s skull. In fact it was not a means of mental attack but a protection against mental intrusion that he spread outward. When Cloudhawk fought the Cloud God in Woodland Vale, he¡¯d felt helpless against the god¡¯s mighty illusion. By releasing the Demon King¡¯s psychic protections he had saved himself. The might of the ancient creature was what allowed this defensive measure to be used offensively. Any who attempted to overcome its mind not only failed, but was in danger of having its own mind overcome. The former Demon King¡¯s will was no trivial thing. Strong enough to be both an attack and a protection. As he released the new trick Cloudhawk saw the War God bearing down on him. The being¡¯s glimmering eyes were immediately infected by threads of fire and its moves grew sluggish. It was really working? For just a second, the War God was frozen. The condition lasted only for a moment before it regained control. No damage was caused by the psychic assault, but it had managed to slow him down. Used properly it might open up an opportunity. As Wolfblade said, the War God¡¯s domineering physicality was tempered by a vulnerable mind. ¡°Mental attacks? Dragon God! Drain his energy!¡± Right away the War God knew what had happened. Not only was this human surprisingly strong, he also had the ability to lash out with his mind. As gods they were immune to most attacks, so Cloudhawk¡¯s had to be different. Indeed, the former Demon King¡¯s psychic powers were anything but ordinary. Once he was touched by his predecessor¡¯s power, Cloudhawk¡¯s mental attacks were empowered with the Demon King¡¯s will. Foes of similar power and mental fortitude were still at risk, which was how Cloudhawk was able to attack the War God. However, that alone wasn¡¯t enough to win victory. These psychic attacks required powerful mental focus to employ. If the Dragon God could drain Cloudhawk¡¯s powers, not only would the psychic assaults stop, but he also wouldn¡¯t have the strength to flee. After fighting for so long Cloudhawk was almost exhausted already. It was entirely possible to lock him down. Wolfblade¡¯s voice returned. ¡°Your mental powers aren¡¯t enough, but it doesn¡¯t matter. The Cloud God will use his mental link to empower you. Your next attack will affect them far greater ¨C but it¡¯s your only chance!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Cloudhawk began to gather himself. From a great distance, ethereal tentacles reached over and slipped into his body. He felt a huge surge of energy run through him. The Cloud God was reaching across a vast distance to help him. The Cloud God was also one of the original six Supremes, no lesser than his compatriots. His talents lay in mental power, and so was the only one of his kin who could use relics to establish a connection hundreds of kilometers away. He was the only one who could empower Cloudhawk¡¯s psychic attacks. But just as Wolfblade said, this was his only shot. The War and Dragon Gods sensed something had changed. They charged at Cloudhawk together, but in their rush caught the human¡¯s eyes. The fires that burned within were mesmerizing. A burning, crimson light intensified until it was all they saw. Those fires spilled from Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes and filled the space around him. They continued to belch forth like a firestorm. Until ¨C to the two gods ¨C the only thing that existed in the universe was this inferno. Danger! Both gods realized it at the same moment. They¡¯d been caught in an illusion. How could a human snatch them up like this? And then they understood¡­ the Cloud God! It had to be their fallen brethren was helping the Demon King¡¯s successor. An illusory world of this magnitude was exactly what the cloud God excelled in. The Cloud God¡¯s mental powers and the Demon King¡¯s psychic assault combined to create a world of fire. Creatures even as mighty as these two godly generals were caught, at least for the moment. A wave of weakness overcame them. Focusing the deluge of psychic energy on the generals kept them temporarily at bay. Cloudhawk then turned his eyes back to the Light God. ¡°Just you and me now. This time, you die!¡± The Light God wasn¡¯t sure what had happened. Psychic attacks were specific and targeted. Cloudhawk had launched it at the two generals, sparing the Light God. As a result, all it saw was its compatriots standing dumbly in place. A flash. The Light God fled the area. Cloudhawk followed the trail of light left behind. It ran? Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief. He was a spent bullet, hardly in better condition than the Light God. His aggressive posture was a bluff that paid off. If the Light God had tried to call it, he wasn¡¯t sure who would have had the last laugh. ¡°Wolfblade. The Light God fled.¡± ¡°I saw. Worry not, the cloud God is in pursuit. You only have a few seconds before the other two shake free of the illusion. Time is short. Destroy the Temple!¡± Cloudhawk wasted no more time. He teleported above the pyramid and pulled the nuke from his dimensional cache. He through it into the structure as space fluctuated in all directions. Then the two gods shed the mirage, just in time to see Cloudhawk disappear. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Darkness was dispelled as an orb of light, bright as a small sun burst into being. Its light and heat swallowed up the gods. The Temple and everything around it was annihilated in a nuclear explosion. 1. That¡¯s the literal translation. I liked it so I wanted to keep it as-is. Book 7, Chapter 29 - Victory Book 7, Chapter 29 - Victory The Green Alliance and the combined Elysian forces were at a standoff. That didn¡¯t mean they were on the same level. Wastelanders had a tenth of the forces of their Elysian counterparts. Nor was it just quantity that was an issue. The warriors and equipment sent to Sky Fortress were the very best the Elysian lands could muster. By comparison, the Green Alliance looked like a rag-tag mob. Wolfblade sat in the command deck of the armada¡¯s flagship, sipping a cup of tea. He was looking out over the hovering vessels when suddenly his eyes narrowed. Behind the sprawling enemy forces, Sky Fortress erupted into a ball of light and fire like a star had been born. A few moments later the roaring blast and the shock waves hit. A storm of debris was sent streaking through space. Unable to hold together any longer, Sky Fortresses oxygen detonated and caught fire. It was like a giant balloon filled with helium and a firecracker inside. Everything was jettisoned into the dark expanse when the bomb went off. All the painstakingly erected facilities ¨C the defenses, the structures, the barracks, the airports ¨C everything was completely destroyed. Thousands of Elysian ships had also been caught in the blast. IT was like being caught off guard by a deadly avalanche. After months of effort and construction, everything fell apart. Gravity and air pressure vanished like someone had hit a switch. Sky Fortress was no more. Wolfblade¡¯s eyes gradually adjusted to the harsh light. He rubbed his chin and muttered, ¡°Quite the fireball.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what it can do?¡± It was the first time Frost had seen a nuclear bomb detonate. ¡°This is the weapon created by the ancient humans? With a bomb like that how had they been defeated?¡± There were several on board the ship with Wolfblade. Frost, Selene, Abaddon and others. They had all come prepared to do battle and were waiting for an enemy to show themselves. ¡°This was the pinnacle of human weaponry at the time. The product of a dying age. Generations of improvements over earlier ordinance of the same class, so it cannot be compared to what it was. As you can see, though, it has the capability of destroying an entire city. In the face of such destruction, a single Temple meant nothing. Hardly anything bigger than a fist remained of the structure, and once it was gone Sky Fortress could not sustain itself. The four Elysian lands no longer had a base from which to stage their invasion. Wolfblade went on. ¡°Of course, what humans knew to be the most devastating weapon ever made was but a toy to the other races out among the stars. Out in the Milky Way there exists beings of unfathomable power. In relations, humans have hardly learned how to use bows and arrows. Naked apes howling, banging sticks and stones.¡± Frost looked up at the starry blanket overhead. He couldn¡¯t help but scowl. He¡¯d grown up in an Elysian lands and benefited from what he thought was a high-grade education. But he didn¡¯t know much of anything about space and the stars so the demon¡¯s words were hard to understand. As he was mulling it over ripples moved through the air before them. A figure stepped into view. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± Selene took a step forward. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. Everything went really well if I do say so myself.¡± Once Cloudhawk got his footing, he turned his attention to Wolfblade. ¡°The Temple is destroyed and the Elysian army is routed. Remember that our aim is to persuade them to our cause, not destroy them. Keeping these people and their equipment in working order is important to me.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. I understand.¡± Wolfblade inclined his head toward Frost. ¡°What are you standing around for? Didn¡¯t you hear our king? Off you go.¡± It was time. The Elysian army was a powerful tool in the coming war. The four Supremes were lost. The Temple was destroyed. Their fortress was in ruins. All of their strongest warriors and leaders had vanished, and as far as the people knew were dead. Cut off the head of a snake and its body did not continue to fight. Cloudhawk saw this opportunity as imperative ¨C not just to eliminate the influence of the gods on his planet, but to take control of the Elysian realms they left behind. His hope was to have them join Skycloud in pledging to his Alliance. Combined with Cloudhawk¡¯s influence throughout the wastelands humanity would be united. From this moment on Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t some wasteland warlord. He was leader of his species. Five Elysian lands. The total population had to number over a hundred million. Adding in the territory he already controlled. Cloudhawk was master of two hundred million or more. Enough to form a global human empire. Each of these areas had their own technology and resources which, when pooled together, could be used to defeat the gods once and for all. It was precisely what Wolfblade had been planning for. Cloudhawk¡¯s journey had taken him across vast differences, facing countless challenges. All of it was structured to forge the greatest leader in humanity¡¯s history. It was the only way to convince the demons to help. Only once there was a clear chance of defeating the gods would those elusive creatures lend their aid. Everything up to this moment had only been preparation. The real conflict was yet to come. Cloudhawk brought Selene, Frost, Wolfblade, Abaddon and the other high ranking members of his Alliance through the chaos to its ravaged center. No trace of the Temple remained, but Cloudhawk was surprised to discover that the two god generals had not been killed. He sensed them, or rather the resonance they produced. It helped him track their location to a spot several kilometers away from the blast radius. They¡¯d only been a thousand or so meters from the epicenter when the bomb went off, yet had still managed to survive. Harder to kill than cockroaches, Cloudhawk thought. While they still drew breath, it was only barely. All their armor was in ruins from head to toe. The light that had clung to them was all gone. If not for his ability to sense relics, they probably would have discovered them days later and two withered husks. ¡°Let¡¯s end them.¡± Cloudhawk drew Godslayer. He¡¯d killed one of their lot already, he had no qualms continuing the practice. Keeping them alive seemed far more dangerous. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Wolfblade leered at the gods, unconscious from their injuries. ¡°They are Supremes, remember. Capturing such creatures alive is no easy feat. They may yet have some use.¡± Cloudhawk was unconvinced. ¡°What use? Are you talking about removing the seal and trying to recruit them?¡± ¡°No. The seal is not so easily overcome. The Cloud God¡¯s condition was the result of planning and being at the right place at the right time. We don¡¯t have the time to reproduce those results. But that does not mean these gods are useless. There are ways to extract the power they bear.¡± ¡°You can do that?¡± ¡°I cannot. But Belial can.¡± The old artisan¡¯s face swam up in Cloudhawk¡¯s memory. He¡¯d helped Cloudhawk craft the disguise that got him into Sky Fortress, so his abilities were not in question. There were likely far more secrets he kept that would be of aid to them. Belial had fled after Cloudhawk tracked him down, but that hardly mattered. Between Cloudhawk and Wolfblade, there was nowhere to run. It was Belial¡¯s misfortune to be born a demon. He couldn¡¯t avoid what was to come. ¡°Let¡¯s clean up the battlefield.¡± Sky Fortress¡¯ forces were a relatively small but elite force. However, after two devastating explosions and an attack from the Green Alliance, they were defeated. It wouldn¡¯t take much to capture them. 1. Showing off for the lady friend. Typical. Book 7, Chapter 30 - Divine Strife Book 7, Chapter 30 - Divine Strife The Light God continued to flee as fast as it could move, from two hundred thousand meters above the earth to four hundred thousand meters. It was now out among the stars, a place where no mortal creature could follow. Even the mightiest martial artists could not survive the frigid vacuum for long. Gods and demons, however, had no such restrictions. Their second skin protected them. Their advanced armor wrapped them tightly from head to toe. Neither deep freeze nor lava flows were a threat. Furthermore, they had no need of air to breathe or food to eat. They continued to live comfortably, for eternity. Without these mortal requirements, gods and demons could survive indefinitely out in the universe. The Light God¡¯s injuries were grave, but did not impede its ability to run. Every few seconds there was a flash of light and the being advanced ten thousand meters or more. Human armies were left far behind. Godly emotions were dulled. They did not fear death or injury. As such their decisions were not based on emotion, but logic. After its defeat the Light God determined it was no match for Cloudhawk. F it remained to do battle with the human, it would die. It was assured, so why make the effort? Its kin from Sumeru were bearing down on this planet this very moment. The Light God chose to live, at least in order to aid the coming armies. It would convey the changes that embroiled this human planet. It was more valuable to its species alive than dead. Thus, logically, the correct course of action was to flee from danger. The Light God did not escape to some other place on the earth. To prevent being discovered and surrounded, it escaped into space. It was a wide and inhospitable expanse where humans could not follow. Even Cloudhawk would find it difficult to locate the god out here. But recovery had to be prioritized, and a location where it could focus on healing was needed. The planet was not a poor choice. As a god almost no injury was beyond repair, only time was needed. Cloudhawk was the sole human that threatened this Supreme, and it was quick enough to escape if necessary. Although, that would be put to the test. Five hundred kilometers from the surface of earth, the Light God felt a mental presence lock onto its location. Immediately the culprit was known. Breaking the lock was not possible for it was the exclusive talent of this fallen Supreme. All the Light God could do was speed up. Six hundred kilometers. Seven hundred! Higher and higher it flew. Even injured the Light God moved at incredible speed. However, the process to repair its body and armor was a draining one. The extra strain was enough to prevent it from escaping its pursuer. If this continued, eventually the Light God would become exhausted. Without energy, being captured by the enemy would result in disaster. With no other option it chose to stop running and face its hunter. ¡°Cloud God. Have you really fallen so far?¡± A figure emerged from the darkness, stopping before the Light God. It was clad in magnificent armor bearing masterful etchings. Flickers of gentle white light pulsed across its surface, conveying a sense of power. Indeed it was the Cloud God who had given chase. Gods were innately connected, so it was not difficult for him to locate his former compatriot. The two were of similar status and their respective powers were on the same level. However, their condition was vastly different. The Light God was beaten and on the verge of collapse, giving the Cloud God an obvious advantage. His resonating ¡®voice¡¯ boomed through the Light God¡¯s head. ¡°An awakened general would introduce uncertainty into the divine consciousness, posing a threat to the reign of the God King. It would never tolerate this, so I was left with no choice.¡± The Light God contradicted this. ¡°You could have remained asleep ¨C you could have waited for Sumeru to call you back. Instead you chose to aid the humans and their demonic masters. As such you have elected to abandon the pride and dignity of your race.¡± ¡°I cannot go back, nor do I wish to.¡± The Cloud God¡¯s response was quick. He didn¡¯t even consider the possibility. ¡°The gods are a race that require unity. Every god is a cog in a perfect machine. The instant you break away and realize your individuality, you realize there is no going back. This is a truth you cannot understand.¡± ¡°Then we are at an impasse!¡± The Light God raised its sword of light and attacked. In response, the Cloud God revealed a sword of light embedded in the armor of its right arm. The two clashed, and as their weapons collided a storm of energy was birthed. Light spread out through the darkness of space. Close combat was not the Cloud God¡¯s preferred method of fighting. Luckily the Light God was wounded and weakened. Four or five exchanges later, the Cloud God¡¯s armor was marred but whole. However, the Light God¡¯s protections were failing. It was out of options. The Light God employed its unique skill. In the same instant the Cloud God summoned power from its relic to submerge the Light God in psychic force. Both gods struck at once. There was a flash, and the Cloud God¡¯s body was cut in half. Victorious, the Light God stood ten thousand meters away. Even in its poor state, the Cloud God was no match? Something didn¡¯t feel right¡­ the fallen Supreme was too strong for one blow to cut him down. It turned back in time to see the two halves of its kin dissolve into nothingness. Just as it predicted. This was the only logical answer ¨C the creature it destroyed was merely an illusion. Tricks from the Cloud God were of such high quality they were almost indecipherable from reality. Quickly the Light God scanned its surroundings. Only darkness. Nothing out of the ordinary. But in that instant half a dozen more Cloud Gods appeared, blazing swords held high. They attacked the Light God from all directions. Now the deity understood. It was captured in the Supreme¡¯s world of illusion. Were it in peak form, the Light God could use its own formidable mental powers to break free. This was not the case. It was helplessly stuck. The voice of the Cloud God returned. ¡°You are too weak, enough that I can read your thoughts. Although your attacks are strong, how many more can you muster?¡± The Light God¡¯s blows were lethal indeed. While the Cloud God did not have a relic like the Eye of Time, he could predict his foe¡¯s movements by reading their mind. Despite not being perfectly accurate, it was enough to help him dodge most attempts. With the Light God¡¯s primary means of attack castrated, how could it fight back? In less than fifteen minutes the fight was over. The Cloud God dragged the body of his defeated enemy back toward the planet. Wolfblade ordered it spared, so the Cloud God did not take his kin¡¯s life. It was worth more alive. ** Sky Fortress was no more. Three Supremes were captured, on the verge of death. No matter their tenacity, they had been defeated. Cloudhawk had removed the most pressing threat, no it was time to deal with the aftermath. He didn¡¯t need to trouble with it himself, for Wolfblade had everything under control. He was reunited with Selene after the fighting, and the two teleported back to the southern wilds. Now was their best chance to dominate and assimilate the other Elysian realms. Book 7, Chapter 31 - Recruitmen Book 7, Chapter 31 - Recruitmen When news that Cloudhawk had destroyed Sky Fortress spread, it was met with joy and shock. The wastelands and Skycloud were awash with cheering citizens. Nearly half of all the best people from the four Elysian realms had been gathered there. Those soldiers, under the command of four Supremes, had been a deadly threat. Somehow Cloudhawk had managed to handle everything on his own, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. It was hard to believe. Since its fall, Skycloud had been staunchly against unity with the wastelanders. One of the biggest reasons was they felt they weren¡¯t strong enough to fight against the other four realms. Cloudhawk¡¯s answer was to slap their foes squarely in the face. Not only had he defeated most of their best soldiers, he also removed four Supremes from the equation. The Alliance was without equal. Of course, only the Lightning God had been slain. The others were badly wounded and captured in their weakened state. Wolfblade brought the three Supremes into Cloudhawk¡¯s subspace cube. They were sealed within the crystal pillars surrounding the Sarcophagus of Rebirth. Even for a creature as old and powerful as Legion, capturing a Supreme was no easy feat. The bodies of such creatures held tremendous worth. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what the fiend was planning to do with them. What he was certain of was that Wolfblade had a plan. To achieve it, they need to find Belial. ¡°I sent Oddball to follow him for a while but we eventually lost him. He¡¯s slippery. I know the general area he may be in, but nowhere specific.¡± Cloudhawk knew Belial was trickier than most. A Demon Elder was anything but ordinary. His talents were in combat, but that didn¡¯t say much. Belial was an elder, who in addition to his unique skills likely had power equivalent to a Supreme. If he wanted to hide, then finding him would take effort. ¡°Not an issue. He can¡¯t escape my grasp.¡± Wolfblade chuckled, obviously unconcerned. He thought of something then. ¡°Speaking of this conflict, we managed to capture a fair cache of spoils.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Come see for yourself.¡± Wolfblade led Cloudhawk to an airship where a host of Seraphs stood vigil. When he saw them Cloudhawk understood. Seraphs were divine builders whose purpose was to create and maintain. It¡¯d taken only a month to build the Sky Fortress with the help of these puppets. The resources of the four realms were efficiently utilized by them and having been spared the destruction, now they belonged to Cloudhawk. The Cloud God would be able to make good use of them. Selene as well. Cloudhawk decided to put the latter incharge since he still didn¡¯t fully trust the Cloud God. Selene¡¯s loyalty was not in question. It was obvious how the Cloud God could use the Seraphs, but Selene¡¯s power over them was not unusual either. Within her was the power of the God King. Just a fraction of that power made her more powerful than many gods. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are more of them in other Temples,¡± Cloudhawk said. ¡°The more of these we capture the faster we can build our alliance.¡± ¡°That is precisely right.¡± Wolfblade agreed with the determination. ¡°But remember that although the immediate crisis is averted, we have yet to begin the real war. The divine armies will be here faster than you think and mounting an effective defense will not be easy. Skycloud, Stormford, Highmorn, Praelius, Dragenmere ¨C great lands all, but in a state of chaos.¡± Cluodhawk frowned. The dogma of those places was deeply rooted. How was he going to overcome a thousand years of prejudice? One big setback was dramatic, but not enough to crumble a long-standing foundation. Was a few months enough? Any way he cut it, the task before him was difficult. ¡°My king doesn¡¯t need to worry so. There is always a way.¡± Cloudhawk cast Wolfblade a glance. The Demon Elder was always full of secrets. There was nothing he did not have an answer for ¨C no situation was outside of his control. Based on the way he spoke, it seemed like everything that happened had occurred according to his plans. He was confident, even though on the surface humanity railing against the gods was like trying to break a stone with an egg. But the Demon King and his elders did not need to rely only on humans. To rise against the gods, they would need to summon the dormant powers of Gahenna. Cloudhawk asked it straight. ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± ¡°Word is you saved Master Bruno Argyris¡¯ daughter. Quite the coincidence. Perhaps you should show mercy and reunite father and child?¡± Cloudhawk got the idea. ¡°You¡¯re saying gather the leaders of the realms back up and let them return to their conquered territory? What makes you think they¡¯ll go along with it?¡± ¡°Heh, you never know until you try.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an answer. He turned away, his black cloak flapping, then walked into a patch of rippling space. Wolfblade watched him vanish. Rubbing his chin the demon nodded to himself. His protege was maturing. When Cloudhawk truly took the reigns, he could finally rest. More than a thousand years¡­ he had worked so hard for so long, in ways that humans would never know. He was tired, but there was still no way to predict what would happen. All of his efforts were to cultivate a new protagonist to push their story forward. It was the fate of the one behind the curtain that they should not know how a scene would play out. As the beginning of this new act drew near, all he could do was wait and see. ** Idonea awakened with a throbbing head. No inch of her was unscathed, including internal injuries. Like a cripple she lay in bed, hardly able to move her little finger. She fought to dispel the fog in her brain. Where am I? She was looking up at a plain ceiling. Nothing was familiar, so it was nowhere she¡¯d been before. But how and why was she here? Little by little her memory returned. Like fragments of a broken mirror she saw the destruction of Sky Fortress occur in pieces. How long had it been¡­ ? As her eyes adjusted, a black figure before her sharpened into focus. A familiar face, though it was hard to put an age to it. He had one black eye and one silver set beneath a crown of messy black hair. Dark clothes wrapped up his body. He¡¯s¡­ this liar! As recognize hit, her mind reeled in pain. Cloudhawk was back to his normal self. Even the Eye of Time was fully functional and accessible whenever he needed. He stretched out a hand and filled Idonea with healing energy. ¡°You¡¯re injured. Fighting was inevitable, and now it¡¯s out of the way.¡± Idonea felt a warmth flow thorugh her and she began to feel better. She¡¯d never felt such potent healing energy before. The instant she felt her strength return Idonea leaped off the bed and ran toward the door. Cloudhawk watched her race passed, making no move to stop her. She did that herself when she pulled open the door and saw what was outside. A vast wilderness oasis spread out before her eyes. Among the bowed trees were scores of buildings arranged in neat districts. Ships floated overhead like clouds and all manner of unfamiliar plants and animals lined the roads. The city was huge in scale, crowded but well organized. She was definitely not in Stormford. She wasn¡¯t in any Elysian realm. Cloudhawk called out to her. ¡°Welcome to the capital of the Southern Wastelands.¡± ¡°Wha-¡­ what are you doing?!¡± Her face was pale. ¡°I want to go home!¡± He smiled. ¡°Of course you do. I¡¯m not here for anything, I just figured you¡¯d want to visit with a guest I¡¯ve had here for a little while. You¡¯re father.¡± It came to her all at once. This man was the demon of Skycloud, the one her father had come to fight¡­ but did this mean he was alive? Was her father here? Book 7, Chapter 32 - Underground Vestiges Book 7, Chapter 32 - Underground Vestiges Cloudhawk brought Idonea through dimensions to a foreign planet. His plan was to bring her to her father. Furthermore, he had news of Kirin¡¯s death, a fact he wished to share with Phoenix. Bruno and Phoenix were prisoners and enemies of the wastelands, but there was some understanding between them. Stormford¡¯s Master Demonhunter was not ambitious, nor was he a man of blind loyalty. His faith in the gods was built on how they treated his family and the people he cared about. Idonea, as Bruno¡¯s daughter, was the closest person to him. Perhaps if he brought them together, Cloudhawk could use that relationship to win Bruno over to his side. As for Phoenix? Her combat prowess was without question. She was the greatest warrior Cloudhawk had ever met outside of Arcturus Cloude. Only her mind was a storm of rage and her personality was violently explosive. With news of her younger brother¡¯s death, he wasn¡¯t sure what reaction to expect. A short after arriving a the jungle planet, Cloudhawk and Idonea came upon a small base. Their presence was marked right away. Angry eyes and red faces followed him, the expressions of people harboring deep-seated hatred. Idonea was at a loss. What was this place? Why did these people hate Cloudhawk so much? He paid their glares no mind. Cloudhawk walked down the path at Idonea¡¯s side as though strolling through a garden. ¡°Don¡¯t look so shocked. I defeated them and sent them here.¡± Defeated them? She felt it odd. So he captured these people and left them stranded on this strange world. If that was the case she understood why her father never returned home. But where was he? Why hadn¡¯t he shown himself yet? The prison camp was erected by the prisoners themselves. Dumont, Natessa and the Cloude family had been sent here first. Bruno, Phoenix and their people arrived afterward. Over the past two years Cloudhawk had sent over two thousand prisoners of war to this place. Those who were exiled here were not ordinary soldiers. So this prison camp was home to a strong garrison of enemy troops. A grizzled veteran of the Cloude family shouted at Cloudhawk as they passed. ¡°You have the balls to show your face here! Aren¡¯t you afraid we¡¯ll bloody you?!¡± ¡°You think you can? As for being bloody, that¡¯s what showers are for. What I hear is you want to try your luck again.¡± His response was flippant. He¡¯d beaten them all before, and even though they had greater numbers Cloudhawk still paid them no mind. He continued. ¡°You only used to be my enemy. All you have to do is change your stage of mind and pledge to fight with me. Then I¡¯ll consider letting you go.¡± A host of angry stares followed him, but they said nothing. Cloudhawk had become very strong very quickly. He¡¯d destroyed Arcuturus, conquered Skycloud and captured the other Masters in short order. They were no match for him, but even so they refused to give in. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°I¡¯m not here to trade bullshit. Where are Masters Bruno and Phoenix? Why don¡¯t I see them? I brought Bruno his daughter.¡± Uncertain looks were passed among the others. ¡°Well? What happened?¡± He could see that something was up by the way they looked at one another. Something was up, since he couldn¡¯t sense either of the Masters nearby. They weren¡¯t in the camp. And not just those two, either. Natessa and Dumont were also absent. It made him suspect there was some sort of problem. Had something happened? That shouldn¡¯t be the case. Phoenix and Bruno were strong enough to handle pretty much any issue. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for there to be some great danger that Master Demonhunters couldn¡¯t handle, but these third-rate warriors managed to survive. ¡°Spit it out.¡± He wasn¡¯t in the mood to mince words. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes and fires sparked in their depths. ¡°Now!¡± Another few seconds of silence followed until at last someone stepped forward. ¡°The Masters brought a team with them to explore the vestiges of a civilization underground. Three days and three nights ago. They still haven¡¯t returned.¡± Cloudhawk glance at the sky, toward the white-blue sun. One day-night cycle here was like two on earth. So they¡¯d been gone for five or six days. It was beginning to sound like they¡¯d gone missing. ¡°Has anyone gone after them?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t heard from those we¡¯ve sent out.¡± Worry filled Idonea. How could this be, why would they lose contact? Her father was a Master Demonhunter! She¡¯d never heard of someone so strong going missing just from exploring some old ruins. Cloudhawk was equally perplexed, so to get to the bottom of it he began asking questions. It was revealed that this world was a very different place than it seemed. Beneath a thin upperworld crust was a world of old ruins. Old tools and murals had been excavated, revealing that the vanished natives may have had something to do with gods and demons. With nothing but time, the prisoners set off to explore at Phoenix¡¯s suggestion. They found a way to get down below ground and the elite force went off to see what they could discover. Two Master Demonhunters and a group of highly capable fighters. At worst they should have been able to flee any threat. It was far past the time they were supposed to have returned but there hadn¡¯t been any word ¨C not from the original team or any that went to find them. There was no other explanation other than something must have happened. Cloudhawk examined the murals that had started the whole thing. Something was different about this world that made it unique from the others. First there was the dense vegetation, which immediately set it apart. Then there was the world beneath the surface. ¡°Well, it looks like I¡¯m going to have to go poke around.¡± He took another glance at the murals as he made his decision. It was the right choice, whether to bring Bruno and Phoenix back or to discover whatever secrets these murals hinted at. If he was going to go, he needed help. Idonea wasn¡¯t strong enough and taking her with him would only hold him back. So he returned to his home and called Dawn. Once she was made aware of the situation, she was also at a loss. ¡°Underground vestiges? Where?¡± She couldn¡¯t wait to dig up the mystery. Cloudhawk appointed one of the prisoners as a guide. When they arrived and saw what remained, even Cloudhawk was without words. This was a place unlike anywhere else he¡¯d seen. Book 7, Chapter 33 - Secret Underground City Book 7, Chapter 33 - Secret Underground City Ruins were not a new thing for Cloudhawk. He lived among them for years, growing up among the crumbling remains of an old civilization. After discovering the Demon King¡¯s phase stone he saw similar ruins in other worlds. Whether his own planet or others, ruins were a common sight. But these ruins were different. Cloudhawk reached out with his senses to scan for traps or other dangers. The size of this place was even larger than Skycloud, and this section wasn¡¯t even close to the whole thing. It stretched beyond the limits of what he could sense. It was huge! These underground caverns were so large Cloudhawk figured you could fit two entire Elysian lands. As far as he could see the area was densely covered in ancient, well-preserved structures. This was a city, not a ruin. Dawn was thoroughly stunned. Her eyes lit up when she realized the implication. ¡°This is a treasure trove! We have to see what was left down here!¡± Idonea¡¯s face wore a worried scowl. ¡°Father and the others are lost down here. We have to find them!¡± ¡°There¡¯s something strange about this place. We shouldn¡¯t just go wandering around.¡± Cloudhawk was confident in Bruno and Phoenix¡¯s power. There wasn¡¯t much they couldn¡¯t fight off. If they ran into trouble, it was against something as strong or stronger than a Supreme God. Even Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t going to take a risk. ¡°How about this. Dawn and I will take a quick look around. Idonea, you and the others wait here for word.¡± He looked over the prisoners. ¡°Yall fuck around while my back is turned and we¡¯re going to have a problem.¡± Idonea opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it and fell silent. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cloudhawk took Dawn¡¯s arm and the two jumped into the hole leading underground. They disappeared from view, swallowed up by the dark and mysterious city. ¡°Hmph. Why should we listen to that asshole¡¯s commands?¡± ¡°We should use this chance to set a trap!¡± There was no small number of people in the prison camp who despised Cloudhawk. Even those that didn¡¯t hate him utterly weren¡¯t a fan of the man. How could they be expected to stay on the level? As she listened to them discuss their plans, Idonea spun around to face the soldiers. ¡°He defeated the four Supremes all on his own. I¡¯m warning you, anything you try will be suicide.¡± The four Supremes¡­ defeated? The news hit them like a landslide. It¡¯d been two months since Phoenix and Bruno were deposited here. At that time the Supremes were in a dominant position. Now, less than a hundred days later, they were no more. It was beyond belief! Had Cloudhawk really become so strong that five Supreme Gods couldn¡¯t stop him? As Idonea was delivering her warning, Cloudhawk and Dawn were creeping into the city. Light was scarce, but their evolved vision helped them see even in complete darkness. Dawn crept forward, wrapped in her enormous armor and with her glinting sword in hand. She cut a heroic figure, both beautiful and imposing. It was a strange contrast. ¡°Can you tell anything about this place?¡± She asked. ¡°The architecture is unique and well preserved. Not like the ruins we¡¯re used to. It¡¯s more like a city where the people just vanished.¡± He looked around. ¡°See the surroundings? Clean, no sign of erosion. If I had to guess this place hasn¡¯t been empty for very long. A thousand years, less?¡± Less than a thousand years? That hardly sounded like a short time! But Dawn had traveled with Cloudhawk to several other planets. They all had traces of ancient civilizations but they were little more than rubble ¨C often twenty thousand or more years old. They¡¯d never come across a place abandoned less than a thousand years ago. She picked around, noting the organized city planning and excellent construction. There was a slew of buildings, all a little different and probably once holding different functions. The most common she saw was a black spire-like structure. They came in different sizes but their construction was similar. Judging by the number, she figured they were residential buildings. Large pillars appeared at set intervals, each one several hundred meters tall. Dawn raised her head and looked toward their peak. The jade-like architecture was oddly beaded at the bottom half, and wrapped in roots by the top. When she looked closer Dawn saw that they were connected to the crust overhead. These roots reached down from stone and wrapped themselves around the pillars. They held this cavern up. Cloudhawk saw it, too. ¡°The overworld is covered in plant life, but those aren¡¯t normal plants. I¡¯m willing to bet they¡¯re used to gather energy. The trees all gather sunlight and radiation and then siphon it down through this root system. These spires are storage and transfer devices.¡± Dawn blinked comically. She¡¯d never seen anything like it. The world above was covered in trees and other foliage, while below a city once thrived. The citizens gathered power from the jungle to support themselves. So long as there was sun and radiation the city had all the energy it needed. These other-worlders¡­ seriously fucking clever. ¡°This is amazing. But why did they abandon this place? It doesn¡¯t look like they were attacked. What reason did they have to leave everything behind?¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an answer. What he did see was that this huge city appeared to have had access to limitless energy. It also had a distinct Elysian feel. If it was an Elysian land then it should have been destroyed when society collapsed. When the natives disappeared it wouldn¡¯t make sense for it to remain so well intact. That gel with every other ruin Cloudhawk had come across. ¡°No point standing around guessing. Let¡¯s find those missing people then we can share theories. Maybe they¡¯ve already figured it out.¡± Cloudhawk pulled Godslayer free and held it forward. He used a couple searching class relics to scan the surroundings. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± Between the relics and Cloudhawk¡¯s own senses, he was able to look out over a large area. Anything out of the ordinary would capture his attention. A few moments later, he spied the first interesting landmark. It was a trapezoidal altar in the center of the city. It was entirely empty, but Cloudhawk could still feel a residual energy wafting from it. It was a special structure, built by godly or demonic technology. Cloudhawk told Dawn to stay back and remain alert. His body blurred and in the next instant he was standing on the altar. The moment he feet touched, a strange energy poured into him. Book 7, Chapter 34 - Discoveries Book 7, Chapter 34 - Discoveries Cloudhawk stood atop the altar, feeling the strange sensation move through him. A new sense was activated, something outside of touch, sight, sound or taste. It spread from the soles of his feet, out in every direction. He was able to feel every corner of the underground city. Dawn watched, hands on her sword. She flinched as the buildings all around came to life ¨C one after the other their lights turned on. She couldn¡¯t stifle a gasp of surprise. Lights sparked to life, creating a web of illumination that all at once dispelled the darkness. It wasn¡¯t just lights, either. All manner of devices lurched into motion as though this city had been raised from the dead. This mysterious, alien place had its veil of shadows cast off. It¡¯s visage was revealed, and like the face of a mighty dragon it was stunning to behold. ¡°How did you do that?¡± Dawn breathed. Cloudhawk hopped down from the altar. Thinking for a moment he replied, ¡°This is the control center of this district. I turned it on using my will. I have to say, the design of this place is something else.¡± ¡®Something else¡¯? Looking around, most of the structures were still intact. The place was flooded with energy and came back to life with hardly any effort. Such an enormous area could house thousands of people or more. It was a perfect place to establish a new settlement. The only thing they didn¡¯t know was whether it was safe. An answer came when patrolling robots recently returned to life noted creatures lurking in the darkness. The city¡¯s reawakening had stirred them from their slumber. A host of deadly creatures rushed in from different directions, numerous and varied. ¡°Hmph, where¡¯d these creepy-crawlies come from? They have the gall to stand in my way ¨C let me teach them a lesson!¡± Dawn pulled on her helm and the Dawnbreaker armor formed over her. With Terrangelica in hand, she charged at the creatures. ¡°Careful, there¡¯s something strange about them!¡± She was too quick. By the time she heard his warning, Dawn was already fifty meters down the street and in range of the first group. She¡¯d assumed they were ordinary creatures. After years in the wastelands, she¡¯d encountered all manner of critters. Vicious and horribly mutated, they were nonetheless no threat to her. Nothing about these ordinary things gave her pause. But then came the unexpected. She was mid charge when the distant creatures launched an attack first! They were worm-like beasts that stretched three meters long. Although they looked like they would be sluggish, the worms moved at impressive speed. If she¡¯d stopped to take a closer look, Dawn might have noticed the light coming from their abdomen. It crackled like electricity. They raised their back ends and balls of lightning were cast her way. Electric light screamed toward her as though thrown by a trebuchet, moving faster than expected. Dawn was surprised by their reaction. She jerked from one side to the other, dodging their attacks. One managed to catch her just as she was closing the gap, knocking her sword aside. Boom! An explosion echoed through the city. Dawn was flung backwards several meters. Her sturdy armor protected her from the blast, but it was only the beginning. More attacks closed in from all sides ¨C snakes with vicious claws took swipes at her and bites rang against her armor like machine gun fire. Their bites were corrosive, powerful enough to even eat away at a relic. Dawn called on the power of Terrangelica to summon spikes from the earth. The beasts were slain, but even in death their acidic blood ate away at the ground and left pits behind. A second wave was bearing down on her from the roofs above. Scorpion-like tails fired blasts at her like plasma rifles. Attacks came quick, too fast for her to recover from fighting off the last batch. She braced herself for the incoming blows by lifting her left arm. A shell of invisible energy formed around her. Orbs of roiling plasma froze solid in the air before her, captured by Dawn¡¯s energy field She swung her sword around and struck the crystallized energy. They burst back toward where they came and detonated in the center of the monsters. But more were coming every second. There was no way to tell how many of these fiends were hiding down here! They swarmed toward her and Cloudhawk as though they¡¯d kicked an anthill. ¡°No use fighting, let¡¯s move.¡± Cloudhawk looked around then grabbed Dawn and teleported away. They were too strong for the creatures to cause damage, but as far as he knew this tide was endless. It was a waste of energy to fight. Better to escape and reassess the situation. Cloudhawk brought them into one of the residential buildings. Buzzing lights revealed an interior free from creatures. The room they were in was about two hundred square meters ¨C too big judging from the outside. At appeared all these buildings were connected to one another. It wasn¡¯t readily obvious why they¡¯d been built this way. No signs of life were evident in these empty rooms. It was like this city had been built and then abandoned before anyone had moved in. Dawn opened her face place, propped Terrangelica on her shoulder and muttered, ¡°So there was something strange about those creatures.¡± ¡°Yup, they¡¯re special somehow. My guess it they were specially bred to protect this place. But why?¡± ¡°Well wherever they came from, there are a shit ton of them. That¡¯s going to make our search a lot more difficult.¡± Dawn tilted her head in thought. ¡°You think the others have been eaten already?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Phoenix and Bruno are too strong for those things to take them down.¡± ¡°So they¡¯ve got to be hiding somewhere. Strong as they are, Bruno is a spatial Master with no relics. It¡¯s not like he can blink around like you do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I guess we better start looking.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s relics were as numerous as the stars. He hadn¡¯t brought Oddball with him, but he had plenty of tools to help them search. Anyway, they weren¡¯t necessary. He figured the two Masters couldn¡¯t be far, so he reached out with his spatial powers to scan the area. With himself at the center, he reached through ripples in space like a radar beacon. His powers were more effective than most searching relics because he could see in all directions and through nearly any obstacles. Nothing within his range could hide from his sight. The underground city was an ocean of shadow that stretched endlessly through the cavern. It was so large Cloudhawk was having a hard time wrapping his head around it, and the buildings were all connected. It formed a vast and intricate closed complex. He sensed a surprising amount of strong creatures all around them. He didn¡¯t know where they¡¯d come from or how they reproduced, but if these things got to the surface it would be a catastrophe. He reached out with his mind to search for a full thirty minutes. Suddenly his eyes lit up. ¡°Got ¡®em.¡± Book 7, Chapter 35 - Connections to Gods and Demons Book 7, Chapter 35 - Connections to Gods and Demons Cloudhawk led Dawn to an octagonal building where their targets were hiding. They were understandably shocked to see him, at first thinking it was some new monster. ¡°Clodhawk? It¡¯s you!¡± When they saw who it was, the prisoners stared with strange expressions. He smirked back at them. ¡°Hey there Dumont. Here you are. Tough man to find.¡± There were nine people holed up in total. One of them was Dumont Cenhelm, captured and sent here by Cloudhawk like all the others. In days passed he was an instructor for Hell¡¯s Valley with Eckard Skinner and Natessa Windham. Instructor Skinner was no more, but Natessa had been sequestered here along with him. She was nowhere to be seen now, however. Neither were the two Masters. Dumont looked his former student over. There was no sign of animosity in his stare. ¡°Ah, this young troublemaker. It¡¯s been quite a while indeed. This here must be your girlfriend, young Miss Dawn Polaris, yes? Wearing my armor, no less. It makes you look quite fetching, young lady!¡± Indeed the armor she wore used to belong to this old wretch. She never had a good sense of the man, but when he called her Cloudhawk¡¯s girlfriend she found herself warming up to him a bit. Of course that was lip service, a way to ingratiate himself. ¡°You sure can talk can¡¯t you, old man. Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t cut your ass down right here!¡± Dawn stomped up to him, her enormous armor clanging noisily like a walking fortress. ¡°Now what the hell are you all up to down here? Spill it, and maybe I¡¯ll go easy on you. Resist and you¡¯ll learn the meaning of pain!¡± Dawn glared at the others then looked around at their surroundings. It was a large area, maybe two hundred square meters, with all kinds of slates piled up. Some were murals or other remnants and all looked like they¡¯d been moved here. By the look of them, they didn¡¯t seem to have come from this city. ¡°Dawn, don¡¯t be rude.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t pay the group any mind. He asked a simple question. ¡°Where are Phoenix and Bruno? And why isn¡¯t Natessa with you?¡± A handful of the people here were members of the Cloude family. They, unlike Dumont, surely had a bone to pick with him. However as they moved in they were stopped by the old instructor. It was a laughable thought that this handful was strong enough to threaten Cloudhawk. He could slap their heads right off their shoulders. ¡°The two Masters led the rest of the party deeper underground to see what they could find. I don¡¯t know what they might have run into.¡± Dumont was honest and forthcoming. ¡°Now that I think about it, they¡¯ve been gone for several days. We haven¡¯t heard a thing since they left. I imagine if there¡¯s anyone with the skills and strength to bring them back it¡¯s you, Cloudhawk.¡± He scowled. ¡°A deeper level, huh?¡± ¡°Heh, did you bring us here so we would explore these areas?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s scowl deepened. That had never been his intention. ¡°Well judging by that look on your face, it seems you had no idea all of this was here. This whole city is just the beginning. It wasn¡¯t built all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things. We¡¯ve been exploring the underground city for a month or so already. Besides the strange beasts everywhere, this is a perfect home.¡± ¡°How is it perfect?¡± ¡°The buildings are all in excellent condition. We don¡¯t need to worry about water and food can all be grown on the overworld. We also discovered from these murals that the underworld city has some connection to gods and demons.¡± Anything connected to gods and demons was certain to be more complicated than it looked. Cloudhawk pressed him further. ¡°What have you discovered?¡± ¡°Everything here is what we¡¯ve found so far.¡± Dumont indicated the tablets and murals. ¡°These appear to show the origins of the divine. It is possible that the original denizens of this place left them behind to help outsiders understand the truth.¡± Cloudhawk took a closer look at the artifacts. Because they were incomplete their message was ambiguous. It was hard to piece together any revelation without a few key pieces. ¡°Where¡¯s the entrance to the deeper levels?¡± Dumont and the others exchanged looks. In the end, the old man elected to lead Cloudhawk there. Together they crept toward an underground volcano whose caldera served as the entrance to the deeper parts of the ruins. As they neared the volcano, Cloudhawk noted several semi-petrified trees. It had to have taken tens of thousands of years for them to get to this point. But what were they doing here underground? Dumont explained. ¡°We suspect that all of this used to be the surface ten thousand years ago. Around the volcano¡¯s edge we¡¯ve found many petrified plants. Old, and origins of their creation are quite striking¡­¡± Dawn interjected. ¡°So the land collapsed? Is that how this underground world was created?¡± ¡°No, madam. I don¡¯t believe so. Rather, I believe someone created a new surface to conceal the original. The result is this city of perpetual darkness you see around you.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Dawn hardly believed what he was saying. Who had that sort of power? Dumont claimed that someone built a whole new outer layer all across the planet like a new coat. Hundreds of meters below, the original crust was hidden. It was a task unfathomably more difficult than creating an Elysian land. Cloudhawk was silent, thoughtful. His senses told him this was very possible. The great forests overhead were energy collectors. Tools for collection, detection and concealment. Whatever civilization chose to conceal themselves this way was clever. They had covered the whole planet in this false shell. Key areas were carpeted in false vegetation that gave vast underground cities needed energy. At the same time they served to keep any trace well hidden. If a powerful foe from outside the planet came they would be fooled by this disguise. They might think this world was a wild, uninhabited place, home to unintelligent beasts. With nothing worth their attention, they would move on. No doubt creating this masterpiece ¨C this massive defensive structure ¨C proved that some important secret was buried here. It was one of the planets he was able to shift to naturally, like the spore planet and Stoney Fields. Because he hadn¡¯t taken the time to explore this place more closely, he never discovered what the former Demon King thought was so important here that he would leave a marker. What was it he wanted Cloudhawk to see? ¡°Are you sure you can get down there from here?¡± Cloudhawk and Dawn stood on the lip of the caldera. It had long since grown dormant and no light or heat emerged. A cold, dark maw greeted them with no bottom. Dumont had no reason to lie to him, or the means to do it. With a wave of his hand Cloudhawk left a teleportation marker. If they encountered trouble he could bring them right back out. With that, the darkness of the caldera swallowed them up. Book 7, Chapter 36 - The Celestial Factory Book 7, Chapter 36 - The Celestial Factory This level of the underground world was hot as hell. Five figures picked their way along the lava flows, weaving through huge and dramatic natural monuments. Ruins here were different from the ones above. They were even weirder, constructed in shapes like ovals, squares, pyramids and cones. Every corner, line and curve was exceedingly precise. Every face and facet was perfect. Even the most accurate measurement tools would find no deviation. Where they left here by the gods? ¡°What is all this? They remind me of Elysian Temples¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, there are a number of similarities. But the major difference is their function. By their look it seems our guess was correct ¨C this place has something to do with the gods.¡± Phoenix, Bruno, Natessa and two others had gone on this excursion. One of them was Cloude family elder Oren. The other was one of Skycloud¡¯s former foremost commanders, Cosmo Thane. Since being left here by Cloudhawk, the group had uncovered and collected a number of murals. These depicted secrets of days long passed, eventually leading them to this place hidden so deep underground. If they weren¡¯t mistaken, this was a secret bunker. The topography looked old and eroded, maybe several tens of thousands of years old. Its original creators were likely gods, but the most pressing question was why build it? The group stood before a structure hanging in midair, looking at it with expression of wonder and amazement. However in the back of their minds they wondered ¨C after exploring for so long, would they be able to find their way back? It was hot like an oven, with air so scalding it was hard to breathe. Ordinary people would not survive. In fact of the five explorers, only Phoenix was not burdened by the heat. Thankfully Natessa spied an entrance into the spherical Temple and pointed it out to the others. They were faced with a choice. One, they could enter alone. Two, they could return to the base camp and get others to come with them. ¡°I figure since there is no opposition, there¡¯s no rush. We don¡¯t know if it¡¯s safe.¡± Bruno offered his thoughts. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing we have it¡¯s time. We should find our way back, gather a team and make a plan to return.¡± ¡°Easy for Master Bruno to say,¡± Oren grumbled. ¡°We¡¯ve at least a hundred thousand meters below the surface. There are lava flows and volcanic tubes filled with scorching air. We can¡¯t just say ¡®let¡¯s go back¡¯ and be done with it. We have to bide our time.¡± ¡°If I still had my danger, it would not be that difficult.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this nonsense, Bruno?¡± Phoenix scowled in disdain. ¡°We¡¯re here. Now you suggest going back empty handed? I¡¯m going in, if you¡¯re frightened you can find a place to hide.¡± Bruno rubbed his nose and chuckled helplessly. The two Master Demonhunters were very different people. He was patient and hard to anger, whereas Phoenix was defiant and inflammatory. In her eyes it didn¡¯t matter what dangers they faced, she would deal with it using her fists. Consequences be damned. Bruno, Natessa and Cosmo looked at one another. There was still some hesitation as to whether to enter, but their wordless thoughts were interrupted when the ground began to tremble. Plumes of poisonous fumes belched from fissures and angry red light poured forth. Was the volcano awakening? The area was unstable, so an eruption was not out of the question. Only they soon discovered it was not that simple. From among the hot ash and glowing magma, several figures emerged. Creatures. Things that were able to live within the flowing rock. All of them were caked in ash and as they flew from the lava, they left trails of smoke. Their bodies looked like balls of magma formed into bat-like molds, only large as dragons. Five sets of faces stiffened at the sight. Again? There was always some new terror lurking around every corner! Only this time there were many, at least a thousand of them. ¡°Damnit, we¡¯re surrounded. We have no choice ¨C quick, into the Temple!¡± Even Bruno¡¯s stoic calm was cracked by the scene. He shouted for them to get moving. Magma birds descended on them with a cloud of smoke and ash. Their vision became clouded and chaotic. Once within range the birds opened their jaws and vomited a mixture of hot smoke, toxic dust and magma. It was a lethal cocktail. One or two such creatures wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, but a thousand? There were far too many, and the humans were too few. Their only option was to flee toward the Temple and take shelter. Bruno had his thunderblade in hand. With a wave of his arm a streak of lightning was let loose. Several of the magma birds were cut apart, but there was no blood or meat. Instead their wounds spewed magma and knit back together. Well, striking them was no use. They had to be destroyed completely. Caught in this position, Phoenix felt particularly awkward. Fire was her domain, but these beasts were resistant. Her attacks would do no damage unless she pumped them up to incredible heights. More likely they would increase the power of these monsters! ¡°Come with me.¡± Natessa summoned a whirlwind, blowing away the fume that concealed their vision. She was first to break passed the birds, jump into the air and shoot toward the Temple. Phoenix was next to react. She spread her arms and they burst into flame, becoming a pair of smoldering wings. Attacks from all sides were burned up before they got close. She then carried the others upward in Natessa¡¯s wake. They quickly made their way into the structure. The magma birds circled for a long time, but seemed to hold some instinctive fear. They did not try to force their way inside. So eventually they flapped back into the caves and fissures, and eventually calm returned. Here they were. Bruno looked around, uncomfortable and uncertain. ¡°What is this place?¡± Huddling close the explorers looked around. They were in a white chamber, surrounded by nothing but walls. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t just be one room in a building this big.¡± Bruno turned to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s look around. There¡¯s probably a hidden door.¡± Phoenix strode toward one of the walls and pressed her palm to its surface. She found something almost right away. ¡°These walls are made out of special material. It resonates with mental power. Let me see¡­¡± With that Phoenix reached out with her mind. Sure enough the wall began to resonate with her and react. All at once the milky-white walls turned translucent and malleable, almost like jelly. It was a particle gate. The portal opened and closed using mental energy. What an instant before was a solid wall now became a loose connection of particles, small enough for someone to pass through. When the portal was closed those particles tightened once again, and the wall reformed. Particle gates were both practical and effective for defense. Every creature¡¯s mental energies were different. One could set the gate to open with a specific frequency, blocking out anyone without the right resonance. In addition, whoever controlled the particle gate could stop or kill anyone passing through it. By all rights Phoenix should not have been able to open the particle gate, but it appeared the restrictions for it had been left unguarded. Anyone with the requisite mental powers could activate it. Phoenix outstretched her hand and pushed it through. The wall rippled like water. ¡°Good, we can enter through here. Let¡¯s go!¡± The group each passed through smoothly in turn. Nothing stopped them and they entered into a long hallway on the other side. At the end was another particle door and a chamber beyond. The chamber was the heart of this building. When they entered, Phoenix and her compatriots where stunned by what they found. It was filled with technology the likes of which they could not comprehend. Light that acted like liquid weaved patterns in midair. They were complex and widespread, like the roots of a brilliant tree or industrial pipes. The latter was more apt, for they seem to be involved in making something. ¡°Look! What¡¯s that?¡± Bruno saw something he struggled to understand. Even his voice quavered. As the others stared something like bubbles formed within the light. They moved without the constraints of gravity, hanging in the air before the shocked onlookers. They were like eggs almost, with something encased inside. These tiny ¡®embryos¡¯ were¡­ armor? They came in different colors and complexity, but their style was all similar. Light continued to pour into them as the suits formed further at a slow pace. It was like some kind of assembly line, like weaving tapestries. It was incredible to behold. ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s god armor!¡± Everyone stared, wide eyed and speechless. Why was god armor being produced down here? Was this some kind of¡­ factory? If that were true then it would explain all these buildings and why they were here. Book 7, Chapter 37 - Body Batteries Book 7, Chapter 37 - Body Batteries This had to be a godly masterpiece, leftover from¡­ whatever happened here. By the looks of things it was still in operation, but how it worked was a mystery. And why would Cloudhawk send them all here? The group continued to stare in shock as the lights coalesced. It poured into these odd molds to form the divine armor. No raw materials were visible aside from the glow. Obviously the technology of the gods was too far advanced for mere mortals to comprehend. ¡°Automated, and working without a hitch.¡± ¡°Or maybe there¡¯s a god somewhere making sure it¡¯s all still working? If there is we can entreat them for help. Find a way to leave this world.¡± As Bruno listened to the others wonder aloud, his forehead knit tight in thought. To his eyes this was all so strange and inexplicable. Whatever was going on, it had no simple answer. At any rate, since they were here it was worth exploring further. None dared act rashly so they carefully picked their way through the factory. They passed through a particle gate on the opposite side of the chamber into another beyond. At first glance it appeared to be some sort of show room or library. Towering walls rose up from the ground, so high one couldn¡¯t see their tops. Inset on both sides of the slabs were half-embedded spheres of some unknown white material. There were so many¡­ too many to count, reaching off down a hall with no end. Phoenix, Bruno and the others carefully stepped inside and looked around. As they examined the slabs and the orbs within, they noted that something was contained inside. Most were dark, but a few hummed with faint light. ¡°Are these some sort of¡­ energy source?¡± Natessa muttered to herself as she examined the objects. Even the most oblivious person could feel the mental energy radiating from them. It was being transmitted somehow. In other words these orbs were like batteries. They provided mental energy and the gods utilized it somehow to keep the factory running. Bruno caught Phoenix moving out of the corner of his eye. ¡°Master Phoenix, what are you doing?¡± She paid him no mind. With a mighty heave she slammed her fist into one of the orbs, causing cracks to appear across its surface. A surge of something enigmatic poured out and then - CRACK! She punched it again! The sound of shattering glass reached everyone¡¯s ears. The orb broke apart, released its stored energy all at once. A humanoid shape sloughed out and onto the ground before them. Its humanoid shape was wrapped in gray flesh. Its cheeks, chin and forehead all sprouted strange tentacles. The chest was covered in thin scales and were it to stand straight up the thing would be about two and a half meters tall. Who knew how long it¡¯d been dead. It was curled up like a fetus, wrinkled and atrophied. It was clear that in life it had been vibrant, but now it was like a dead fish hung out to dry. Upon coming into contact with air it instantly began to shrivel. Shrinking half a meter whatever fluid was in it dried up, leaving only an old emaciated corpse. The explorers stared, horrified and bewildered. Who was it? What was it doing here? The latter question seemed obvious; locked in that orb, it was being used as some sort of battery. But who would do such a thing? ¡°Well it sure doesn¡¯t look human.¡± Bruno muttered the observation then, spotting something, followed up in surprise. ¡°Wait a moment¡­ doesn¡¯t it look like the things in the murals?¡± The others saw the similarities too, once he pointed them out. Since being left on this planet they¡¯d found a number of murals, depicting the lives of creatures with tentacles on their heads and bodies. Unless they were mistaken, this was one of the planet¡¯s original inhabitants. ¡°Let¡¯s look at another.¡± Phoenix wasted no time smashing several more orbs. Each one contained a body, some similar to the first and some of other species. All it did was add to their confusion. ¡°Wha¡­ look at this one!¡± The urgent tone caught everyone¡¯s attention and they hurried over, only to freeze in place when they saw it. A human¡­ ! He was an old man without a stitch of clothing, long white hair plastered to his head. He was hardly more than skin and bones. Like the other creatures it was curled up and long dead. Oren Cloude muttered to himself in open confusion. ¡°What is going on...¡± Phoenix glared, a darkness coming over her features. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? He was captured and used as an energy source. Put here to power this factory.¡± It certainly appeared to be the case. Without question the only species capable of building a place like this was the gods. Humans and whatever other species had occupied this world had been snatched up, stuffed in these orbs and used for their mental energy. If that were true it would explain quite a lot. For example, why would the gods teach lesser races to use mental power? If they learned to harness their minds they could be used more efficiently as batteries. Anger welled up inside Phoenix. ¡°Is this the true face of the gods?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not rush to conclusions.¡± Bruno¡¯s eyes scanned the countless orbs stretching down the hall. There was a trace of sadness in his gaze. ¡°I feel like it¡¯s more complicated than we know.¡± Where had the gods come from? What about demons? Who created this place? What was the truth behind all of this? There were too many secrets humans were not privy to. But even if you took all these questions into account, what they found today shook them to their core. It was especially poignant to Bruno and Phoenix ¨C Master Demonhunters whose mental energies were highly cultivated. They knew that mental energy was a power than can make something out of nothing. One or two Master Demonhunters had the capability to level half a city. There had to be millions of pods here, eternally providing energy. Over hundreds of years or longer¡­ it was impossible to know how much power was extracted. More frightening was the realization that this was probably only a glimpse. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving, see what else we can find.¡± They were here, they had to find the truth. But as they prepared to move further in a sense of danger washed over them. In the same instant they heard an ominous crash. ¡°Watch out!¡± From the corner of her eye Natessa saw shapes moving toward them. They were large, clad in magnificent armor and the air around them rippled like they¡¯d been born from a dream. Swords of light burst to life in their grasp as they charged forward. Cosmo Thane instinctively raised his weapon to protect himself. It was no use, for the sword of light passed right through and severed his head from his neck. It soared through the air then struck the ground with a wet thud. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Phoenix looked wide-eyed at the host of gleaming figures that appeared around them. There were hundreds! Gods? So many? Book 7, Chapter 38 - Enigmas Revealed Book 7, Chapter 38 - Enigmas Revealed Phoenix raised her hand and released a gout of flame. Several dozen ¡®gods¡¯ passed harmlessly through with their weapons poised. Before she could react they were on her. Too fast! Bruno was forced to engage. His lightning blade flashed, deflecting seven or eight of the incoming blows before being buried in the chest of one attacker. The godly armor was not as sturdy as expected and his sword slipped easily through. Without hesitation he released his mental power through the sword. BOOM! First cracks appeared along the armor and from within a spirit-like thing slipped free. The armor detonated, and whatever was inside scattered. Bruno was then certain what they were fighting weren¡¯t real gods. The armor was empty ¨C or, more specifically, they were filled with mental energy formed into a spirit. They allowed the armor to move, and were probably activated once they started destroying the batteries. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. If these were true gods then they¡¯d be doomed. Even the weakest gods, if they came in the hundreds, would absolutely annihilate them. There would be no escape. There was a sea of these armors closing in and they struck with great speed, but there were mere puppets. That meant there was a chance. Phoenix punched at a group, her relatively small fist releasing an enormous ball of fire. It smashed into the first suit and sent it smashing through a wall. A hole eight meters deep marked the impact. The armor itself was destroyed. ¡°Natessa, find us a way out. We¡¯ll hold them off!¡± Bruno shouted. The instructor wasn¡¯t as strong as the Master Demonhunters, but her skills with wind relics where invaluable. She could move quickly, making her useful as a scout and pathfinder. Meanwhile scores of living armor kept closing in. Phoenix and Bruno positioned themselves to take the fore. Oren stood nearby as support. But despite their courageous posture their hearts were heavy. These defenses were placed here on purpose by the gods. There was no more denying it ¨C their divine leaders had made this place. They used humans as fuel? Was that their reason for coming to their planet? To make farms, and collect fuel as necessary to keep the society of the gods running? They couldn¡¯t think about it, not now. They had to focus on survival. Two Master Demonhunters, strong as they were, couldn¡¯t hold off this army forever. Two minutes was the best they figured before they were overwhelmed. A scream echoed through the chamber. Oren had been blindsided by an attack. The sword of light caught him in the waist. Bruno spun around to try and drag him away but stopped when the man shouted back. ¡°Forget me! You need to get back and tell the others what we found. You must!¡± For all the years he was alive, Arcturus Cloude had shielded mankind from war with the gods. Had he known this secret all along? How could he let humanity live in ignorance! They had to know the truth! Phoenix and Bruno were out of options. They fell back under mounting pressure. Thankfully the armor could not use relics and their attacks were unorganized. But they were fast, and numerous. More than they could handle. ¡°We can¡¯t hold them! Is there a way out?!¡± How could Bruno fight them off with just one relic? Phoenix and her deathless body blocked their advance, but she was already peppered with wounds. Many would be lethal to any other demonhunter. Natessa was desperately searching, but she could find no other way out. She turned to look elsewhere when all at once three suits of armor descended on her. As expected, two people couldn¡¯t stop everything from slipping through. The armors weren¡¯t intelligent, so they didn¡¯t know what Natessa was up to, but she was another target they aimed to cut down. ¡°Damnit!¡± She had no powerful attack relic to save her. Her attackers were too quick even for her, and there were three to contend with. She had to run. Three swords of burning light stabbed her way. But just as they were closing in Natessa saw the air shimmer in front of her. A figure wrapped in black emerged, raised his hand, and a shell of faint white sprang to life. The swords struck and were destroyed. A simple blade in her savior¡¯s right hand acted. He struck so quickly she couldn¡¯t follow his movements. None of the armor had time to react before the sword ran them through. Bursts of energy were released and the armor was blown to pieces. As Cloudhawk pulled back another figure appeared at his side. Dawn Polaris emerged, weighed the scene then raised her weapon. All at once the ground caved in beneath their feet. Five hundred times the force of gravity descended on the chamber. A hundred kilograms felt like five million. Even the strongest person couldn¡¯t move an inch, but best of all was it was targeted; Cloudhawk, Natessa and the others were unaffected. Flitting about like insects, scores of armor suddenly smashed into the ground leaving craters behind. Without any sort of intelligence they didn¡¯t know how to handle this new threat. Those that weren¡¯t immediately destroyed were frozen solid. ¡°Hmph, I knew it. This place has to be a secret god base.¡± Dawn heroically swiped her sword through the air and stabbed the tip into the ground. She glowered at the suits of armor, struggling feebly upon the floor. She was filled with self-satisfaction. Dawn had grown! By now Natessa had come to her senses and knew who had saved them. The last person she would have expected was Cloudhawk. By the shocked look on their faces, Phoenix and Bruno shared her disbelief. Phoenix shouted first. ¡°You!¡± ¡°We can talk later, let¡¯s deal with this mess first.¡± He glanced at the three survivors before casting a meaningful gaze at Dawn. She nodded. With both hands on Terrangelica she shoved¡­ gravity increased to one thousand times normal! Some of the armor had begun to claw their way back up, but all of a sudden it was like a mountain had fallen on them. The ground below buckled as they were crushed. Odd ripples appeared all around them. Without a word, Cloudhawk threw his sword. It streaked off through the air. In a blink it changed from steel into a ball of blackish-purple lightning. It then split apart, becoming countless spears of lightning, each one striking a suit of armor. In a dazzling and breathtaking explosion, they all were reduced to slag. Cloudhawk waved his hand. The lightning ceased and a simple black blade returned to his grip. He sheathed it on his back like nothing had happened. Witnessing this scene, Phoenix and Bruno scowled. Cloudhawk was stronger. An attack like that meant he had mental power five times greater than Bruno¡¯s and twice that of Phoenix. He was superhuman, there was no other way to describe it. Natessa suspected that were Arcturus alive today, he would have no hope of defeating Cloudhawk. The rate of this young man¡¯s growth was astronomical. ¡°I found you using spatial visualization. I saw no gods,¡± Cloudhawk assured. ¡°I figured this had to be a secret base of theirs. An old one, probably several tens of thousands of years. For some reason it was abandoned, but the gods must have forgotten this place was still functioning.¡± ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Phoenix and Bruno didn¡¯t imagine the gods would just forget a place like this. Still, they had to consider the possibility. How else could they explain a base like this being here with no godly army to protect it? But if the gods abandoned this place, why not destroy it? Was it somehow still being secretly used? ¡°The Demon King.¡± Cloudhawk looked over the scene then made his determination, without a hint of doubt in his voice. ¡°I always suspected the Demon King¡¯s origin, but there¡¯s no question anymore. The Demon King was once a high-ranking god. More than that ¨C the former God King. All of this wash is doing ¨C what he created while leading the gods. They all looked at Cloudhawk with different expressions on their faces. Phoenix, Bruno and Natessa recalled what they saw on the murals. It rang of truth ¨C unless this was all some kind of elaborate fraud created by Cloudhawk. 1. Hey guys, when did we see spirit-like creatures before¡­? Book 7, Chapter 39 - The Truth Book 7, Chapter 39 - The Truth ¡°The Great War we were told about a thousand years ago was a civil war.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s assertion was a startling one. ¡°Who you call the Demon King used to lead the gods ¨C if he wasn¡¯t the God King then he was one of their top commanders. With his spatial powers he led the Milky Way, searching for other civilizations. For reasons we don¡¯t yet know, they invaded these civilizations and built their Elysian lands. They manipulated the natives through faith.¡± Bruno interjected, ¡°But why destroy these worlds?¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s their harvest method. Maybe they didn¡¯t get what they were after, so they razed them. Whatever the case these worlds were destroyed, there¡¯s no changing that fact. The Demon King passed through these worlds and left his markers so that the phase stone could bring him to the worlds that were lost.¡± All of the worlds Cloudhawk had seen, including this one, were the remnants of places the gods had visited. For whatever reason the Demon King broke with his people, gathered as many as he could to his side, and gave them all free will. Those that chose to leave the gods were changed by it. Although they retained their immortal lifespan and incredible power, they were rejected by the spiritual matrix. These betrayers were called demons, and it sparked a great and terrible war. Cloudhawk¡¯s home just happened to be the battlefield. That¡¯s why there was no trace of ¡®demons¡¯ on other worlds. The Demon King¡¯s power allowed him to go back and forth among these worlds, so he returned and fixed up this factory. That¡¯s why there were humans here and why the gods didn¡¯t know about it. To Cloudhawk, it was the explanation that made the most sense. Of course, under closer inspection the story still had many holes. He didn¡¯t have all the facts, so there were sure to be inconsistencies. However, it was at least part of the truth. Now Cloudhawk had the opportunity to learn more about this civilization. The implications were serious. ¡°Look, what¡¯s that? There¡¯s something in the crystal!¡± Before leaving, Cloudhawk wanted to take another pass through the base. Dawn had spied something out of the ordinary, several crystal things that looked like sacrificial vessels. They were about the size of a human skull and etched with strange symbols that glowed faintly. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Dawn picked one up, weighing it with her hands. ¡°Sort of like a relic and not. Why leave them out here in the open? It¡¯s like they wanted them to be picked up...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t break it, they were left here by the Demon King. I bet they¡¯re important.¡± Cloudhawk picked one up, shut his eyes and searched it with his feelings. It definitely wasn¡¯t a relic, but it wasn¡¯t exactly right to say they weren¡¯t, either. He was marked by the Demon King, so it was worth trying his mental power. ¡°Back up a little.¡± The first thing he felt was sizable energy locked within the crystal, so he told the others to make some room. He didn¡¯t know if they might explode or have some other dangerous reaction. When they were ready, he gave it a toss. Cloudhawk poured his will into it as the crystal left his grasp. It drank his power up like a sponge. A flash of light burst forth and everyone who looked at it felt their mind go blank: Everyone, Cloudhawk included, found themselves floating in an illusory world. Cloudhawk looked down at himself and saw an unfamiliar form. He was towering and clad in beautiful armor. He had become a god, and they were all in the bridge of a divine warship. Beside Cloudhawk were several dozen others like him. Beautiful, perfect, even though he couldn¡¯t see details clearly. They all remained still, silent. Gods did not need to eat, breathe or relieve themselves. Voice? Hearing? Digestion? These were the mark of lesser creatures. Gods were capable of roaming through the inhospitable eternity of space without discomfort. So this is it¡­ Cloudhawk understood. Cloudhawk was a god ¨C or, more correctly he was a parasite looking through a god¡¯s point of view. He was a spectator with no ability to change or manipulate the scene before him. He didn¡¯t know how long these gods had been traveling among the stars. He watched them merely stand in the ship, still as statues. Suddenly there was a flesh and a slight tremble and the vessel stopped. A shift in his perspective allowed him to see the space vessel from the outside. It wasn¡¯t just one. One after the other, ships appeared to blink into being on the terminal stop of a wormhole. There were several dozen at least, appearing abruptly against the star-spangled backdrop. The ship was shaped like a drop of water; flawless, beautiful and translucent. It didn¡¯t have any unnecessary decorations, rather it was like a drop of mercury. There was a flow to it, as though touching it will deform the surface. It was a mystery how the thing moved at all. But they did move, and they were made of some kind of liquid. As the ships arrived the dozens of perfectly shaped droplets converged into one. That was how the divine mothership formed, from these droplets gathering. Within it now were thousands of godly troops. Cloudhawk was standing in a chamber filled with glimmering godly figures, all unmoving. These powerful creatures showed no signs of life, more like robots. What are you planning¡­ The question formed in his mind as a planet appeared in his field of view. It was a living planet, with clearly visible oceans and vegetation. Objects zipping around in low orbit revealed that this was a fairly advanced civilization. I see¡­ Godly technology was far superior, so they did not alert their targets as they approached. When the mothership drew close it released a special sort of ¡®wave¡¯ that, too, was beyond this planet¡¯s ability to sense. It bounced off the surface and returned to the ship, bringing with it confirmation of the life therein. Confirmed. Commence. At last the gods began to move. They made their way into compartments that were reminiscent of the collection vessels found in the underground factory. Thousands of gods lent their mental energy to the ship, which collected it and fired it toward the planet in a terrible beam. Attacking first, without provocation? Cloudhawk watched it happen. This beam wasn¡¯t the only one. He spied several others from elsewhere out in space. It meant this mothership wasn¡¯t the only one. He counted seven, eight¡­ possibly even a dozen. They were attacking from all directions. The collected power of so many gods was enough to kill a whole planet! Cloudhawk noted that the world wasn¡¯t blasted directly, not right away. Under the assault, its magnetic field wobbled and flashed. All of the satellites and other objects floating above were instantly destroyed. Below, the ground finally began to react. Seas boiled, mountains crumbled and valleys pitched. Meanwhile fissures in space-time appeared, windows which revealed distant planets. After a few minutes, it was all done. Silence prevailed as a single droplet fell toward the planet¡¯s surface. It struck, carving a path through layers of earth before ultimately coming to rest like some sort of seed. Gods emerged. Cloudhawk watched them gather survivors into utopias they created. They taught the lucky ones how to use mental power and allowed them to live in comfort while the vestiges of the old world rotted away. This is how the Elysian lands come to be. Time sped up and he watched the realms grow in size and prosperity. But something strange was evident. No matter how rich or large the realm became, the population never grew. On the contrary, fertility rates continued to drop until there was nothing left. Native populations dwindled into oblivion. The Elysian realms shrank. Nothing was left for the gods to exploit, they did not get what they were after. Then one day a terrible scene emerged. The earth split, and from it emerged a number of droplet-like ships. As though birthed from the world itself, new gods were spat into the cosmos. Their last act was to lay waste to the Elysian lands they had built. Whatever final dregs of life remained were snuffed out. Although the gods did not get what they were searching for, they had used this world as a womb for new gods. They were cast out into the universe to begin the search anew, for other fertile lands. Cloudhawk saw it all and at last understood. This was the true face of the gods. These powerful, every-living entities were like locusts. Hungrily they swarmed the galaxies, looking for worlds with energy they could devour. That energy was used to reproduce. They were heralds of death. They were destroyer of worlds. In the vast expanse of the milky way, worlds were ordinary specks of dust. It was impossible to know how many gods infected the galaxy, but they were far more dangerous than Cloudhawk had imagined. How many thriving populations had they sucked dry? Yet they continued searching, ever hungry, for aons upon aons. And in all that time, what were they really after? Book 7, Chapter 40 - Allegiance Book 7, Chapter 40 - Allegiance These crystal orbs were advanced information devices, records of days past. They preserved data in a unique way and as a product of divine technology, it required mental power to use. Although activating them was trying, the result was wide-ranged, three dimensional representation of what happened. Users were able to experience everything that happened as though they were there. After relaying its information, the crystal orb dimmed and fell from the air. Cloudhawk caught it in his palm and looked it over with a solemn expression. Such a small thing contained such staggering information¡­ Parts of it were accelerated so it passed quickly, but it chronicled the final months of this species¡¯ existence. It was sad and disheartening. The demands of the crystal were so great that only a Master Demonhunter or stronger could access what it held. Manufacturing such items had to be difficult, more difficult than humans could manage. Cloudhawk figured the Demon King had left them here on purpose. Dawn, Phoenix, Bruno and Natessa stood on unsteady feet, as though waking from a dream. Was that how the old world died? Cloudhawk delved into several more of the crystals, spying their contents. Each one chronicled the same scene; a thriving world infected and destroyed by the touch of the gods. None of the crystals showed Cloudhawk¡¯s planet, but he knew it had suffered the same fate. He gathered them all up and decided to take them with him. ¡°This is critical information. We need to bring it back to everyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s incredible¡­ these gods are like locusts. Countless numbers of them out among the stars.¡± Dawn ran a hand over her helmet. ¡°But this information doesn¡¯t tell us how to fight them. If you put this out there I think it may just cause panic.¡± Gods really were like locusts. A plague, moving through the universe, devouring one species after another. They moved out there, searching for targets to consume and with each planet taken their numbers swelled. It was a process that had been going on for millions of years. Dawn even wondered if there was more than one ¡®Mount Sumeru.¡¯ It would make sense. The Demon King, once leader of his sect of Gods, was merely supplanted by another leader stronger than him. Godly society was probably much larger than they thought. Like ants they had nests all over the cosmos ¨C each one with its own queen. Think of the scale if every godly system was just one in a nearly infinite whole¡­ Were humans really so insignificant by comparison? Their world wasn¡¯t special to the gods. Just another rock spinning through the darkness. Human civilization was just one more of an untold number already crushed beneath their boots. Gods were a massive species spread all across the galaxy, all unified toward a single purpose. They had endless lifespans, high intelligence and power, and a tight-knit society. Humans, by comparison, were a species that hadn¡¯t even figured out how to leave their home planet. They were insects, to be squished on a whim by their betters. Any struggle seemed hopeless, which made Arcturus Cloude¡¯s grim determinations seem correct. What Cloudhawk was doing could achieve nothing. Nothing but hasten his species¡¯ march toward destruction. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why this information needs to be put out there. Against a powerful enemy we need everyone to fight together. Maybe they¡¯ll realize the stakes.¡± Cloudhawk felt the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him. He finished putting the crystals away. ¡°We can¡¯t allow the Elysian lands to continue to fracture. We have to unify everyone against this threat as quickly as possible.¡± Dawn nodded emphatically. She thrust her sword skyward in a pledge of devotion. ¡°Fuck the gods! Let them come, we¡¯ll cut ¡®em down! We¡¯ve stuck it out for this long, what¡¯s there to be scared of? Only the short-sighted fools, and they can go jump off a fuckin¡¯ cliff.¡± As she said it Dawn glared pointedly at Natessa and the others. The former Giant of Hell¡¯s Valley, in particular, glowered at the words. Phoenix was quiet, her brow knit in thought. For all her strength she couldn¡¯t take on a Supreme. But even if she could, what difference would it make? Insignificant, a drop in the bucket. Cloudhawk was a right bastard, but she had to admit that he was stronger than her. While she didn¡¯t like it, the truth was the world needed someone like him. He was at least brave enough to stand up and shout the truth. How many would see reality and choose to hide their head in the sand? Who would choose to fight among themselves when a threat to every living thing loomed on the horizon? Based on what the crystals showed, Arcturus¡¯ plan was the impractical one. Over time the population of the Elysian lands would dwindle until nothing remained. Humanity would be robbed of its strength and fade away. Dawn spoke up. ¡°So what should we do about this place?¡± ¡°The Demon King must have left this place here for a reason. Leave it alone for now.¡± Cloudhawk then turned his attention to Phoenix and Bruno. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, then we can talk.¡± Cloudhawk left a marker here in case he wanted to return. This world¡¯s dense jungle cover was a fabrication. Every tree and living creature they encountered. One had to wonder how long such a project took to complete. The former Demon King left quite a scene in his wake. An underground city with limitless energy below, and a forest to protect and provide above. Hidden from any prying eyes that might be watching from out in space. It seemed obvious why the Demon King would make a base here. But, it appeared he couldn¡¯t make full use of it before his end. ¡°Dad! I found you!¡± Bruno and Idonea rushed excitedly into each other¡¯s arms. Bruno hugged her tight. ¡°Idie, what are you doing here?¡± She cast a quick glance toward Cloudhawk. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Let him tell you.¡± Cloudhawk obliged, telling Master Bruno about everything that had transpired in Stormford and beyond. Bruno came to understand the circumstances but was stunned at how fast it had all occurred. This young man¡¯s methods were¡­ surprising, to say the least. Had he really bested four Supreme gods? ¡°What did you say? Kirin, he¡­¡± Phoenix trembled, her hands clenched into fists. An angry fire burned in her eyes. ¡°All of these years, everything I¡¯ve done for my realm¡­ this is how they treat my family? These false gods¡­ they all need to die!¡± The Igna family had been just her and her younger brother. Now Phoenix was alone. This news shook her whole world. Her anger consumed her. At last the real face of the gods was revealed, and it was ugly. All of her fighting and sacrifice meant nothing. But most laughable of all? There were still blind fools willing to fight for those monsters! ¡°Masters, when Sky Fortress was destroyed four Supremes were either killed or captured. We also have many Elysian prisoners.¡± The time was ripe, Cloudhawk thought. Bruno and Phoenix were at the tipping point. ¡°If any of the other four realms came after Skycloud my people would lose ¨C but how long would that war last? And at what cost?¡± ¡°Hmph! You want me to go back and make your case for you. Fine!¡± Phoenix cast her hand dismissively. ¡°But send me back with the crystals and I¡¯ll show them what we learned. That will be enough to convince them. One thing you need to understand is that I am not your subordinate. I do this for revenge. I¡¯ll tear those bastards off their golden fucking pedestals!¡± So be it, he thought. So long as she got the job done. Hers was a powerful voice in Dragenmere. Next his eyes turned to Bruno. ¡°And you, Master Argyris?¡± Bruno took his time, mulling over the implications. Once they started on this path there was no turning back. If there was any hope for victory then maybe it was worth fighting. Right now, however, the strength of their foes seemed overwhelming. Phoenix slapped her hands on the table and shouted. ¡°Coward! Have you knelt so long you forgot how to stand on your own? You want to keep being a boot licker? Go back to your masters and ask if they¡¯ve have you, knowing what you know!¡± ¡°How can you say such a thing!¡± Idonea¡¯s own anger flared. ¡°How could you say that to my father?!¡± Bruno held out a hand to silence the young girl. He looked at his daughter, then back to Phoenix. He sighed. ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯ll help.¡± With things having progressed to this point, standing on the sidelines was impossible. The army of the gods was bearing down. Only together did they stand a chance. ¡°Good. Time¡¯s short, let¡¯s get to it.¡± Cloudhawk felt inspired by the win. They had the memory crystals and the support of two Master Demonhunters ¨C bringing the four Elysian realms in line was as good as done. Book 7, Chapter 41 - Iron Fis Book 7, Chapter 41 - Iron Fis Dragenmere was situated in the highlands. Of all the Elysian lands, it enjoyed the highest elevation. It had a unique, bowl-like topography where its borders were raised but the center dipped inward. A dozen mountain ranges spawned rivers which trickled through the territory, creating vast swaths of marshland and forests. This embarrassment of natural riches made Dragenmere a prosperous and beautiful place. Flatlands stretched across the center of the realm¡¯s drum-like expanse. Therein was concentrated eighty percent of its cities and towns. In the very center sat its capital. Due to its emphasis on strength and its impassable border areas, Dragenmere rarely faced outside threats. However, hidden among the mountains were tribes of mutants. For years a broiling conflict between the Elysian people and these mutants had seethed. Eventually, scattered groups formed and the battles continued as the occasional skirmish ¨C irritating to the Elysans, but not a large threat. Like every other realm. Dragenmere was lorded over by a number of powerful families. Its Governor was appointed by the family patriarch, a line that ¨C like the Cloude family ¨C stretched all the way back to the Legendary Demonhunters of old. Back before the establishment of the Elysian realms these were not their names. Members of Dragenmere¡¯s Drago family and Skycloude¡¯s Cloude family were given these new names when they took the reigns of control. The Drago family had ruled Dragenmere for sixteen generations. Before his death a decade ago, the realm¡¯s Governor selected two representatives from among Dragenmere¡¯s sixty most powerful families. The first was his own son, Vahagn Drago . Both young men had been excellently prepared for the role. Vahagn was the stronger of the two, but he was also more rebellious. Although Peregrine didn¡¯t have the same power, he was well known for his piety and self-control. He was also the elder and thus more stable. In the end it was decided by consensus among the families and the Temple that Peregrine should become Governor. He would take the mantle as the sixteenth representative of their family to hold this illustrious post. So as to avoid conflicts between factions of the Drago family, Vahagn left the capital following his defeat. He decided to travel and for years went where the winds took him. Eventually he faded from public consciousness. Two words were enough to describe the new Governor: quite satisfactory. During his reign there were no grand accomplishments, but neither were there any troubles. Perhaps it was the fact that he was so ¡®mediocre¡¯ that he won support ten years ago. Dragenmere¡¯s situation was stable, after all. There was no need for someone radical. What¡¯s more, Peregrine would be far easier to mold and control, as far as the Temple was concerned. Anyway, it was also the support from behind the scenes that won Peregrine his post. The truth was that there had been more family elders in support of Vahagn, as his father had been the former Governor. Peregrine, however, had more than just a faction of the family on his side. The realm¡¯s High Priest and Commander-General also wanted him installed. The power structure of Dragenmere was the same as Skycloud. The High Priest represented the Temple while the Commander-General led the armies. Although these men couldn¡¯t directly involve themselves in political matters, that didn¡¯t mean the power they represented was ignored. High Priest Bastian Nieves had been in power only two years when this selection process began, so he saw it as an opportunity to consolidate his influence. Meanwhile the city¡¯s Commander-General, Ludwig Hightower, was not himself a strong man. He didn¡¯t even count among the realm¡¯s top ten. Both hoped to keep the realm ¨C and their positions ¨C free from conflict. So while Vahagn was strong he was also a firebrand. Too young to maintain the stability Dragenmere¡¯s elders sought. This uncertainty was what lost him the seat of power. The High Priest, the Governor and the Commander-General had enjoyed a close friendship ever since they¡¯d saved his life at a young age. To repay this debt, the old Governor complied and supported Peregrine¡¯s ascension. The new Governor¡¯s days were not quiet. Troubles were brewing, ever since chaos erupted in Skycloud. The Dragon God, who had not stirred for a hundred years, emerged from the Temple. Along with the other Supremes the horns of war were sounded. Soldiers were needed to fight against the rebellious heathens. Governor Drago complied. High Priest Bastian and Commander-General Ludwig left for Sky fortress, where they would serve the gods directly. Recently there had been no word from Sky Fortress, a matter of grave concern for Peregrine. Until recently ships had arrived every day to gather more warriors. Nearly a week had passed now without any communication. What occurred in Sky Fortress was secretive, but surely they would keep the Governor of the realms informed of any major happenings? Could something have happened? It seemed impossible! Four Supremes and countless soldiers protected their glorious fortress. No matter how strong the enemy, Skycloud was but one realm. The odds were insurmountable. In the midst of his anxiety, news broke that struck the Governor like a lightning bolt. Phoenix Igna, who had been lost in the rebel lands for weeks, had returned. With her was a heathen from Skycloud. This troublesome tramp! Gone when she should return and back when she should have vanished. Phoenix was the Governor¡¯s biggest headache. She was leader of the Demonhunter Corps and the realm¡¯s strongest warrior ¨C with an ego and temper to match. Her personal friendship with Vahagn Drago was also a matter of concern for she had never approved of Peregrine¡¯s appointment. The two had been at odds ever since. When Skycloud opened the Boundary Portal the first time, Peregrine¡¯s decision was instant. He sent Phoenix to the front with the secret hope that she would never return. When news came back that the situation in Skycloud had deteriorated, Peregrine was far from upset. But now she was back? And with a foreign heretic! What was the meaning of this? Despite his loathing Governor Drago was not without a shred of cleverness. He did not react immediately, but gathered some followers and left to see what the irritating woman was up to. A decision would be made once he learned more. ** Phoenix strong down the red carpet with long strides. Two others followed; a beautiful woman with long white robes and black hair, and a man in tattered black clothing. Selene looked through the pages of information in her hands as they walked. They were reports on matters in Dragenmere, detailing various families and the state of their forces. In addition she had profiles for most of the realm¡¯s notable folk. All very useful information, to be sure. Cloudhawk had brought her and Phoenix back here with one goal in mind ¨C to bring Dragenmere to heel by any means necessary. The task had to be completed as soon as possible, which meant even methods he wouldn¡¯t typically permit were on the table. But the final object was to have this land become a friend of Skycloud, not an enemy. It could not be said that Phoenix was pleased with Selene¡¯s appointment. ¡°Cloudhawk doesn¡¯t trust anyone, does he,¡± she grumbled. Selene replied in her typical, tepid tone. ¡°Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. I am here to help you.¡± Phoenix wiped her hand across her mouth as though trying to wipe away the scowl. She said nothing. Not long ago this woman had been the God King¡¯s chosen Avatar. The fact that she broke its control was a potent display of her will. The woman was incredible, there was no denying it. Even Phoenix wouldn¡¯t look down on her. Without another word, she led her two guests toward the heart of the city. They were met with a group of anxious bodyguards and a herald. The spokesman stepped forward and addressed the Master Demonhunter with a stiff bow. ¡°Commander Igna. Allow me to welcome you ba-¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up.¡± All it took was a glare and this pitiful welcoming party scrambled out of her way. Phoenix strode forward and threw the doors open, stepping inside. ¡°Master Phoenix Igna, Commander of the Demonhunter Corps, has arrived!¡± As the three pushed into the Governor¡¯s mansion, hasty cries arose from the Herald. There was no solemnity or formality in the call, but rather like a vendor calling after a disgruntled customer. The main hall was a grand and imposing place. It was designed to represent the strength and dignity of their realm. Peregrine Drago sat at the head of a long table flanked by five other family representatives and a number of military officials. They all seemed to be absorbed in whatever business they¡¯d been discussing when the sound of the doors bursting open caused them to raise their heads. Footsteps followed. Measured, even strides. Although there were only three of them the visitors invaded the hall like an army. Immediately the room was filled with a weighty and overbearing air that made the elders hold their breath. If only the High Priest and Commander-General were here! I can¡¯t control this crazy bitch alone! Peregrine¡¯s lips tightened. Selene looked them over with a blank expression. Her black, piercing eyes roamed across every face just as every eye was drawn to her. Without question she was no denizen of Dragenmere. Her presence also marked her as a strong and important person. They could see it in her eyes. Black pools, filled with power. Cutting as a knife. Governor Drago cleared his throat to dispel the uncomfortable silence. ¡°Commander Igna. You¡¯ve been gone so long, we were worried for your safety. It is joyous news that you return. Word has reached us that you have important information concerning the survival of the Elysian realms? I have called a meeting of the great families and our military leadership. Perhaps you can share with us what you¡¯ve learned.¡± Her response ignored the topic. Instead she began with other news. ¡°Sky Fortress has been destroyed by the leader of Skycloud¡¯s rebels, Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Shock painted the faces of the elders. Several shot to their feet. ¡°The Dragon God, Lightning God, Light God and War God have all been defeated.¡± ¡°Phoenix, do you know what you¡¯re saying? Is there any evidence to support these wild claims?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you that Dragenmere sits between the chopping block and the headman¡¯s ax. Our whole species faces destruction. See for yourselves.¡± Phoenix wasn¡¯t going to waste time explaining. She pulled forth a crystal orb and placed it on the table. An instant later blinding light swallowed the room. It receded after a few minutes, revealing a sea of incredulous and sober faces. This was too much to believe! Phoenix collected the crystal. ¡°Let me get straight to the point. We need to put an immediate stop to all hostile actions against Skycloud and join them.¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Peregrine¡¯s anger flared. ¡°I see what¡¯s happened. You have turned your back on the gods! Do you realize what grave sins you¡¯ve committed here?!¡± Phoenix did not raise her voice, but the chill in it was palpable. ¡°The gods are a cleaver and to them we¡¯ve nothing but slabs of meet. Why stay loyal?¡± ¡°And we¡¯re supposed to believe you, why? Because of this nonsense you come back? There is nothing convincing in those lies!¡± Peregrine was a loyal follower of the gods. It was not in his nature to rise up against them. It didn¡¯t matter if what the crystal showed them was true. He would never rebel. To do so was suicide! ¡°Those blasphemers have corrupted you as well! Did you honestly believe your ploy would have us follow you into the depths of sin?¡± The Governor had never liked Phoenix. Now here she was, presenting evidence against herself ¨C enough to have her put away and out of his hair. ¡°Guards! Grab this heathen! We will have the High Priest deal with her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to debate. I¡¯m here to make sure our realm makes the right decision.¡± Phoenix made no attempt to defend herself, she knew it would come to this. She looked over the others before her eyes finally fixed on Peregrine Drago. ¡°You were never the right man for this post. Give up the position of Governor to Vahagn ¨C the man who should have had it from the beginning.¡± Silence. Her words hung over everyone like an iron curtain. Had she lost her mind? She spoke treason to a man who¡¯d held the post of Governor for over a decade! Yet she spoke as casually as though she was chastising a waiter for poor service. Selene¡¯s right eye flickered with silver light. She knew what was coming next, though she had not anticipated it. A sword from behind. From one of the Governor¡¯s commanders. The man¡¯s sword was only half drawn when Selene moved. She cut off his arm before the deed could be done. She could be ruthless when needed so did not hesitate to lash out at their target. With a single hack, Governor Drago¡¯s body was cut in two. Her cleave left a gash across the hall thirty meters long. Fast¡­ so fast! Her eye made it impossible for anyone to get the drop on Selene Cloude. Shock and alarm painted every face. They knew they couldn¡¯t stand against these women. ¡°You...¡± The speed and brazenness of the act defied response. Phoenix stepped forward. ¡°I forget introductions. This is Selene Cloude, deputy leader of the Green Alliance. And this is the seventeenth Governor of Dragenmere ¨C Vahagn Drago.¡± At last the man wrapped in tattered cloth and silence dropped his hood. The weathered face of a middle-aged man was revealed. The impetuous facade they remembered from years ago had been replaced with somber dignity. His presence was ten times more formidable than it had once been. This man had appeared only rarely among the people in the last decade. Most had forgotten that he existed. Yes, it was Vahagn Drago. One of the realm¡¯s most capable fighters. Phoenix knew Peregrine enough to know his cooperation was unlikely. Vahagn was different. He was the only one who would carry the banner of rebellion here in Dragenmere. If they installed him on the Governor¡¯s seat, then their mission was all but accomplished. 1. In Chinese his name is ¡®Dragon Breaker of the Sky.¡¯ Drago is obvious. Vahagn is Armenia for ¡®breaker, victory¡¯ which is the intent of ¡®breaker of the sky¡¯, so that¡¯s what I went with.[ref], and a genius from a family offshoot, Peregrine Drago [ref] ¡®Dragon that Soars Through Emptiness.¡¯ Peregrine is an old English name that means ¡®traveler,¡¯ 2. This one I went in a different direction. If you translate his name directly it means ¡®Priest of Clinging Silks¡¯, but that¡¯s impossible to find a proper name for. However, the characters together can be considered instead an attempt as transliteration. Äá°ÍË¿ - ¡®Ni Ba Si¡¯ - sounded like the surname ¡®Nieves¡¯ to me. Nieves has holy connotations (a title for the Virgin Mary in Spanish) so it fits. Bastian fits the transliteration scheme (¡®Ba Si¡¯), and is short for Sebastian, which means venerable or revered ¨C appropriate for a high priest. 3. Mix of meaning and transliteration here. Ì©ÀûËþ, ¡®Tai Li Ta'''' means ¡®grand favorable tower¡¯. The last name is obvious, but the last two character, ¡®Li Ta¡¯, led me to Ludo, a Greenlandic version of Ludo, which is a short French form of the name Ludovicus, a latinized version of Ludwig ¨C which means ¡®famous in battle¡¯, fitting well with his role as Commander-General and hitting the ¡®grand¡¯ portion of his name. Is your head spinning yet? Now, with my luck, both of these characters will die in this chapter after taking me an hour to figure out their names. Book 7, Chapter 42 - So Much For Peace Book 7, Chapter 42 - So Much For Peace Elsewhere. Bruno led a group back to his home of Fulmulta. He walked back toward its Temple with Dawn Polaris and Stormford¡¯s High Priest Gorman Vargas. Dawn and Selene were the same in these cases. While their position in the Green Alliance was not as high as Wolfblade¡¯s, they were Cloudhawk¡¯s most trusted advisers. He could give them these important tasks and trust them to make the right choices. Stormford and Dragenmere were very important places to Cloudhawk. With them under his control he would have three of the five Elysian lands preparing for war. The Green Alliance would have at least passable footing to start. Dawn¡¯s attention wandered between Bruno and Gorman. She didn¡¯t have to worry about the Master Demonhunter since his daughter was being kept in Skycloud. The father wouldn¡¯t do anything rash. Gorman was another matter. After all, he was the religious leader of the realm. Any High Priest had to go through a rigorous selection process to ensure capitulation. Convincing him to turn his back on the focus of his faith would be difficult, and a fundamental shift in the realm could cost him his influence. Gorman Vargas was a hale and hearty man. Graceful and elegant in his old age. Feeling Dawn¡¯s malicious gaze upon him, he maintained a practiced calm. He was as unflappable as a wise man, who knew the whipping winds of the moment could not uproot the ancient tree. ¡°So vigilant and distrusting even of a man as old as I, Lady Dawn?¡± ¡°You undersell yourself, grandpa. You¡¯re no ordinary geezer. I want you to make sure that if there are any mishaps the people of Stormford don¡¯t lose their cool.¡± Gorman¡¯s bushy eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Stormford is already in chaos. The office of High Priest has lost all meaning. This dying old man wants to see where these troubling times lead us.¡± Dawn didn¡¯t argue, he was right. The group made their way back to the Temple where they were met by a pair of Oracles and other Temple leaders. ¡°High Priest Gorman, you¡¯re back with Master Bruno? And this young woman...¡± One of the Oracles looked pointedly at Dawn. In her towering army, bearing her mighty sword, she was an intimidating sight. The juxtaposition of her pretty face revealed behind the helmet was a jarring contrast. One thing was certain, she wasn¡¯t from Stormford. Dawn introduced herself. ¡°Listen close, I am one of Lord Cloudhawk¡¯s chief aids and his closest confidante. He is Master of the Southern Wastes, and now he¡¯s come to take this Temple.¡± ¡°Blasphemer!¡± ¡°What absolute nonsense!¡± The Temple faithful looked at her with disdain and incredulity. What was Master Bruno and the High Priest thinking, openly bringing this heretic here? It made no sense! Did the High Priest care nothing for his post? ¡°High Priest, what is the meaning of this?¡± Dawn looked at Gorman with her hand on the pommel of Terrangelica. It all hinged on him now. They were on his turf, and with a word he could turn the realm against her. She hoped he wouldn¡¯t be so stupid as to made such a suicidal mistake. ¡°The Lightning God is dead. Stormford is no more.¡± Gorman¡¯s voice was somber. ¡°As of today, the Temple has chosen to join the Green Alliance. Master Bruno?¡± Bruno answered by producing a crystal ball. There was a flash as its light spread through the area. Pictures flooded the minds of those present. A few minutes later, after they vanished, they were still standing dumbfounded. Everyone was trying to grasp what they¡¯d seen. Here were the most pious members of Stormford¡¯s citizenry, who believed in the perfection of their gods. According to them, all the good in life was gifted to them by these beings. ¡°Brutal is this naked truth.¡± Gorman shook his head. ¡°Those who wish to stay may do so. Those who decide to leave will not be stopped. The decision is yours to make.¡± Under the High Priest¡¯s expectant gaze there was silence and hesitation. In the end, one of the Oracles chose to leave. Several dozen of the Temple¡¯s clerics went with them. They could not accept what they¡¯d seen and left in the hopes it was some sort of test. Dawn watched them leave. Gorman did as well, calm and unreadable, but he turned his eyes to Bruno. The Master Demonhunter nodded knowingly. These poor souls could not be allowed to live. The decision was made to join Cloudhawk¡¯s war and they couldn¡¯t afford opposition. The Temple was Gorman¡¯s territory. So long as he remained steadfast, then the religious institutions would fall in line. Many would remain faithful to the gods, but Gorman was confident he could get them to toe the line. At last Dawn began to relax. ¡°How do you plan to deal with the realm¡¯s major families?¡± Every Ekysian land had families going back generations. They represented the aristocracy, the backbone of this old society. By far they would be the hardest class to convince. ¡°It is beyond me,¡± Gorman replied. ¡°I will need the help of a professional.¡± This piqued Dawn¡¯s curiosity. ¡°A professional?¡± ¡°Hm hm hm¡­ Skycloud isn¡¯t the only place with talented citizens.¡± Gorman took on a profound air. ¡°Everything will be resolved at the Temple meeting tonight. Then you can go back to your Lord and let him know your mission is accomplished.¡± ** It was autumn, but the air was still stuffy in Fulmulta. A light breeze tinged with heat lightly brushed the city streets. Old trees laden with yellow leaves swayed with the winds. The capital¡¯s grandest buildings weren¡¯t its government centers or entertainment houses, but the Temple cathedral. It was a portrayal of all the realm¡¯s beauty and architectural accomplishment. It had a high white steeple that gave praise to the sky. Within were hundreds of holy images, gods who looked down upon the world with majestic detachment. The main structure was covered in gold and shone with righteous nobility. At the highest point of the cathedral was the prayer chamber. It was said this was the best place to hear the voice of the gods, besides the Temple itself. The sun had crept back to bed across the western horizon and now the sky was painted rouge. It cast its light upon a frail figure, kneeling upon a scarlet carpet. Fulmulta¡¯s Governor was a man in his sixties. It was widely known that he was the most devout of believers. No matter how busy matters of state became, he always took time to pray and meditate. He hadn¡¯t missed a day in decades. The doors were open and wind breathed through a pair of floor to ceiling casement windows. An errant leaf blew in, painted in the hues of autumn. Landing nearby upon the red carpet, the city¡¯s Governor regarded it in contemplative silence. ¡°This wind...¡± he sighed. As he muttered to himself the Governor stretched out his thin hand and took up the leaf. It crumbled to dust in his hand. ¡°Governor Audra, the High Priest has announced a meeting this evening.¡± A Temple cleric delivered the news. Since his return to Fulmulta, High Priest Vargas had made no appearances and delivered no missives. He went straight back to the Temple, only to now announce this meeting without pretense. In the cleric¡¯s hands was a crystal ball. ¡°The High Priest invites Governor Audra to look at this. There is important information contained inside. You can activate it with your power. His majesty has also asked for you to summon representatives from the other families to attend.¡± With his message and the crystal delivered, the cleric left Pelagius Audra to his prayers. Through his own intelligence sources, the Governor had learned of Sky Fortress¡¯ destruction and the defeat of the four Supremes. So far this news had not spread to the public. Evidently the return of Bruno and Gorman portended more than what it seemed. Pelagius Audra looked over the crystal ball in his hands. It was an odd thing, both like a relic and not. When he reached into it with his mind the crystal reacted. Light consumed him and over the next few minutes Pelagius witnessed images from long ago. They ceased, and he was left alone in the prayer room once again. ¡°So, that is the truth.¡± He was quiet for a long time before heaving a deep, tired sigh. ¡°And they come to kill again.¡± So much for the peace of Stormford. 1. Previous mistake noted Bruno as the city¡¯s Governor. He is not, he is the patriarch of his family 2. ¡®Dark Clouds, Saint of the Sea¡¯ is the literal translation of his name. Pelagius is taken from Greek meaning the sea and was the name of two popes, lending to his faithful description. Audra is Lithuanian for storm. Book 7, Chapter 43 - A New Action Book 7, Chapter 43 - A New Action Meadow, Oakstead The Shepherd God sat upon the enormous central tree playing her flute. All the beasts nearby, be they birds or insects, danced to her call. A dark figure stood at the base and watched. Though the visitor had arrived some time before, they did not wish to interrupt. Eventually the god stopped her song, rose, and stepped forward. A host of luminous butterflies appeared and gathered beneath her feet. She took another step and the butterflies moved with her. One foot after the other she calmly tread upon their frail make to stand before Cloudhawk. He regarded the beautiful young woman like an old friend he hadn¡¯t seen for a long time. ¡°It seems most of your power has returned. Congratulations.¡± Nothing changed in her expression. ¡°Wolfblade is in the Temple.¡± With that she turned from him and left. Cloudhawk ran a few steps to catch up. ¡°Hey now, no need for the cold shoulder.¡± The two made their way through the complex maze surrounding Oakstead¡¯s Temple. It was very different from others as it was constructed from wood and knotted vines. Its interior was a complex assortment of rooms that now served as a prison. Elite soldiers from sky fortress were being held here. Between the Shepherd God¡¯s personal attention and the Cloud God nearby, there was no hope of escape for these prisoners of war. In the deepest parts of the Temple Wolfblade was waiting. Two young figures stood on either side ¨C Squall Rover and Frost de Winter. They now served as the demon Elder¡¯s personal assistants. Even direct orders from Cloudhawk were confirmed by their master first, but he didn¡¯t care much. When he entered, Cloudhawk gazed at the two young disciples. A dark and ominous power hung over Squall, especially his left arm. It was black as night now. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure what methods Legion had used, but he could tell by the power wafting from Squall that he had grown quite a lot. However, compared to his older brother Squall was still lacking. There was no question that Arcuturs Cloude had taken Frost under his wing because of his tremendous talent. Only a year since accepting Wolfblade¡¯s tutelage and he was nearly as powerful as Selene. Besides these three there were others in attendance. Abaddon, Three Eyed Spider, Inkspecter, Ravenous Tiger and so forth¡­ the Hand of Gehenna. It was fair to say Wolfblade had himself a fairly powerful following. Of course, all for the betterment of their alliance. Cloudhawk focused on the task at hand. He walked over to the Alliance¡¯s Governor. ¡°I got word back from Dawn and Selene. Things are progressing smoothly in Stormford and Dragenmere. Before long they¡¯ll be fully under our control. What plans do you have for the other two?¡± Wolfblade smiled and answered by pointing to a nearby tree. ¡°What does my king see?¡± ¡°A tree,¡± he replied. Wolfblade waved his hand as a cutting gale removed several of the branches. ¡°If we want this tree to serve us best then we must do more than just trim unwanted branches. There is more to a tree than just limb and leaf.¡± Cloudhawk thought about this for a second, weighing his words. ¡°You¡¯re saying controlling the Elysian lands isn¡¯t so easy.¡± ¡°Their culture of devotion has had a thousand years to take root, just the same way as a tree. That is the foundation of their unity, and thus the core of their power. Currently we are trying to control the upper classes with the hopes that it trickles down to the people. We trim the branches but do nothing for the roots.¡± Cloudhawk recognized the logic in his explanation. If they couldn¡¯t fundamentally change the way Elysians thought, then when the gods arrived it would all come crashing down with a breath. All of his efforts would be wasted. But how was he supposed to change a thousand years of history in a fraction of the time? ¡°So how do we do it?¡± ¡°Facts are always the most effective weapon.¡± ¡°Facts? What facts?¡± ¡°The crystals you brought back reveal how the gods infest and consume planets. However there will always be ignorant, short-sighting people who will refuse what their eyes tell them. Even a number of those locked in your prisons will steadfastly ignore the truth. What we need now is irrefutable evidence. Something they cannot deny.¡± ¡°And what is this irrefutable evidence?¡± Cloudhawk pressed. ¡°You should have noticed that when the gods seed a planet, they bury a ship deep within the earth. That is where new gods are created. That is precisely the evidence we require.¡± Cloudhawk immediately understood. Thinking back he remembered what he saw ¨C that the gods don¡¯t ¡®reproduce¡¯ in the typical sense. When they find a civilized planet they obliterate the species that inhabit it. Then once the bulk of their troops leave they left one ship behind, buried underground. Thousands of years later it emerged like a weed, spewing new gods and ships out into the universe. It was probably how that underground facility in the jungle planet got there in the first place. If he could find where this ¡®seed¡¯ was located on their planet, the godly invasion of their world would no longer be a secret. The delusions people clung to would be shattered. Of course they couldn¡¯t discount the fact that there would be some who would never be swayed. They would follow the gods because of a perceived time of peace ¨C what they imagined was a bloodless alternative. But there were plenty of others who would see this proof for what it was and would choose to stand on Cloudhawk¡¯s side. ¡°Not bad. The question then is, where is this base?¡± It¡¯d been over a thousand years since the gods arrived. No one in the Elysian lands had any clue where the seed was hidden. Where were they even supposed to start looking? But Cloudhawk came up with a solution quickly. ¡°Can the Cloud or Shepherd God help us?¡± Wolfblade opened his mouth to answer but was cut off. ¡°There are large gaps in what we remember,¡± the Shepherd God replied. ¡°We don¡¯t know where the seed is located.¡± That was strange. From what the crystals revealed, the gods were a huge force that spanned the galaxy. They should have a memory spanning eons. But in reality no one ¨C not the Cloud God, the Shepherd God, the other Supremes or any demons ¨C could remember what happened. Their memories started only after they arrived here. The secret to their species¡¯ history and beginnings was a mystery. All that was left in their minds was a deeply ingrained servitude and loyalty, even though they didn¡¯t know why. It was almost worth Cloudhawk¡¯s pity. These creatures were complex, with too many anomalies and unanswered questions. At a loss, Cloudhawk pressed for guidance. ¡°So how are we supposed to find it?¡± ¡°I may not know its location, but there is one who certainly does.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Belial, of course.¡± This didn¡¯t answer any of Cloudhawk¡¯s questions. ¡°Him? How?¡± ¡°Belial has spent centuries trying to escape his identity. As a result he knows more about it than any other god or demon. So long as he remains here he knows he will never escape his true self. Not unless¡­ he escapes this planet.¡± ¡°So all this time he¡¯s been hiding his identity while looking for the god ship. He wants to use it to get out of here.¡± ¡°Just so.¡± With this information in hand, Cloudhawk left the chamber. On his way out of the Temple he passed the prisons. Many strong and important Elysians slipped by his peripheral vision, tied down with vines. Some were close enough to have heard their conversation and watched him go with conflicted looks. ¡°Cloudhawk. Cloudhawk!¡± A green-clad figure rushed over to him. Her appearance took him by surprise. ¡°Autumn?¡± She beamed a sweet smile at him. ¡°I hear Belial has the strength of a Supreme and is a talented artisan. After hundreds of years you can be sure he¡¯s been preparing himself. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to handle him yourself. Let me come with you. There were two others behind her. One was the bearer of the reformed relic Ashfall, Frost de Winter. The other was the bearer of the Gospel of Sands, Abaddon. Without question they were sent after him at Wolfblade¡¯s command. Cloudhawk looked them over in silence for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Space rippled around them and in the blink of an eye, they were gone. 1. Remember that Meadow is the name of the Shepherd God¡¯s former Elysian Land. Oakstead is its capital. Book 7, Chapter 44 - Collective Exchange Book 7, Chapter 44 - Collective Exchange Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know Belial¡¯s exact location. That didn¡¯t mean he was out of luck, however. By sending Oddball to follow the Elder he at least had a general idea. With a little patience, the artisan would be found. What troubled him more was that he¡¯d recently lost contact with his feathered friend. It was a rare disconnect that made Cloudhawk uncomfortable. Oddball was a special kind of relic. Within a certain range it was able to connect with and share Cloudhawk¡¯s consciousness. But even outside of this area, Cloudhawk could always sense where his companion was. For Oddball to vanish completely, there were three possible explanations. First. Oddball had traveled very far, possibly far enough that their connection was too weak. Second. Oddball had found itself in a place where spatial disruption was increased. Interference like that might block Cloudhawk¡¯s ability to sense where his friend had gone. The third and final scenario was the least likely. Oddball was strong and agile enough that threats to its life were minimal. Anyway, Cloudhawk would have felt something was off if Oddball got itself into trouble. It wouldn¡¯t have just vanished. He had to be patient and search. There was no hurry. What Cloudhawk really had to focus on was finding the base left behind by the Supremes. He also had to bring the four remaining Elysian lands around to his camp. To that end, he brought Idonea and Lance with him to Stormford. Bruno was already performing his task and with good results. At the very least he¡¯d made his position clear, so Cloudhawk had no more need to hold his daughter hostage. As for Lance, it was time to send him home. When the party arrived in the capital, Idonea made an observation. ¡°Why does everything feel so¡­ solemn?¡± Indeed something felt off in the city. While it wasn¡¯t the same bustling metropolis Skycloud had been in its prime, it still earned its title as the jewel of Stormford. Today the streets were almost empty. A stuffy cloud hung over everything. Cloudhawk detected the faint smell of blood in the air. With gallantry in his voice, Lance turned to Idonea. ¡°I¡¯m sure a lot has changed since Master Bruno and High Priest Gorman returned. Nothing to be worried about.¡± ¡°No sign of violence,¡± Cloudhawk muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s find Dawn and find out what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Absolutely! Now that our great King has gone, no one in Stormford would dare offer a challenge.¡± Lance was quick to suck up to the powerful man. He then returned his attention to the girl by his side. ¡°Miss Idonea. Please allow me to escort you home.¡± She regarded this Young Master, who for the last few days had taken pains to be noble and gentlemanly. Her lips curled into a scowl, indicative of how she felt about him. A talentless hack ¨C that¡¯s what she thought. That was to be expected when compared to the Lance she knew before. She had to have been blind to be so easily deceived¡­ Lance was embarrassed when she ignored him, but he was not angry. A few minutes later Dawn learned that they were in town and met with them. ¡°Cloudhawk! Here we are.¡± She walked up to him, but froze in her tracks. Right away Cloudhawk felt the terrible, murderous aura wafting from her. Frost was hidden beneath a heavy cloak, but she saw right through it. ¡°You.¡± Dawn¡¯s grip tightened on Terrangelica, her eyes fixed on the man who killed her grandfather. Now he was Wolfblade¡¯s lackie, the Elder¡¯s lap dog. Until today Cloudhawk had done what he could to stop the two from meeting, but this dark reunion was bound to happen one day. They¡¯d passed each other by before, but it was the first time in a long while that they confronted one another face to face. Some things were destined. Dawn had to deal with this on her own. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t help her in her quest for vengeance, but he wasn¡¯t going to stop her either. Frost maintained his constant, irritating calm. ¡°You want revenge for your grandfather.¡± Dawn¡¯s explosive temperament was clear on her face. She was struggling with something. Countless times she¡¯d imagined herself shoving Terrangelica into this bastard¡¯s pretty face. Him and Inkspecter both! It was the only respite she got from her hatred. And yet, after a few seconds, her grip loosened. ¡°Only your blood will wash away the humiliation of my family.¡± The words were cruel, but she did not speak them in anger. The chill in her eyes, however, was fathomless. ¡°Listen well. I will kill you. But not today.¡± Lance and Idonea watched the scene unfold, puzzled. It didn¡¯t look like everything was rainbows and sunshine in Cloudhawk¡¯s camp. Dawn did not strike, but that didn¡¯t mean her thirst for vengeance was gone. Her desire to see justice done would never abate, only grow with time. Cloudhawk asked Dawn about the state of Stormford. According to her everything had been moving along smoothly since their arrival. However, there were still forces working in secret against them. He asked for details and she obliged. ¡°Of Stormford¡¯s bigwigs, we can count on Bruno. High Priest Gorman seems cooperative on the outside but he¡¯s hiding something. There¡¯s something not right. Besides him there¡¯s one other person we should be guarded against, and that¡¯s Fulmulta¡¯s Governor Pelagius Audra.¡± ¡°Governor Pelagius. I¡¯ve heard the name.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s time in Stormford was short, but how could he not have heard of their Governor? Pretending as though Frost no longer existed, Dawn went on to explain that the Governor was the backbone of the city¡¯s family structure. He had more clout in this realm than anyone else. ¡°He¡¯s famous for his faith. In public he is soft spoken, courteous and restrained ¨C a role model to the people. But three days ago he made a declaration. High-ranking members of the churches, including five bishops and over eighty clerics, were arrested. Over a hundred important city figures were put to death and thirteen hundred citizens have been killed.¡± This took Cloudhawk by surprise. Pelagius¡¯ reputation hid his crueler nature. When it rained it poured in Fulmulta ¨C even if it rained blood. More likely, the Governor¡¯s carefully cultivated persona was fake. A fatherly facade. He acted in whatever his interest was, even if it meant betraying the gods he purported to serve. The softness of the surface hid a hard and brutal reality. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t read too much into it. ¡°It looks like your growth hasn¡¯t been restricted to fighting.¡± ¡°No shit. This lady is as beautiful as she is smart.¡± Dawn didn¡¯t waste the chance to boast. She brought the newly arrived crew to the Temple to meet with Bruno, Gorman and Pelagius. Several other important people from the city were also in attendance. Others who they figured would cause trouble had all been dealt with. Everyone left was behind joining Cloudhawk¡¯s Alliance. He looked them over. Most chose to cooperate in order to stop the flames of war from consuming their home. Few if any were actually brave enough to stand against the gods nor even remain loyal to Cloudhawk when his back was turned. Even now he could see the scorn in distrust in a number of faces. Cloudhawk¡¯s name rang like thunder back in Skycloud. They knew all the stories ¨C how he nearly destroyed a fortress single-handedly, how he beat Arcturus Cloude, and how he bested the God King¡¯s Avatar. While there was still a lot of controversy surrounding him, no one denied his power or authority. But news wasn¡¯t shared among Elysian lands. Nobody here knew of Cloudhawk¡¯s exploits. What little they heard they didn¡¯t believe. How could they? Cloudhawk ¨C alone ¨C was supposed to have destroyed Sky Fortress, killed their god and captured three other Supremes. This was him? This ordinary-looking youth? Putting aside their moral and cultural conflicts, were they supposed to just start following this unimpressive foreigner? High Priest Gorman stepped forward. ¡°Greetings to the Lord of the Wastes, conqueror of Skycloud, founder of the Green Alliance, successor to the Demon King, and slayer of gods¡­ Greetings, Master Cloudhawk.¡± It was quite the stream of titles. Any one of them was improbably magnificent. Those gathered found it all a little ostentatious. ¡°I¡¯ve heard there is no one on this earth that compares to Master Cloudhawk.¡± One man thick as a bear raised his voice. ¡°I am Commander-General of Stormford¡¯s forces, Charon Barak. All my life I aim to challenge myself. Perhaps the great conqueror could help.¡± Dawn scowled. Was this asshole issuing a challenge out in the open? Cloudhawk smirked. He was new here and figured someone would test the boundaries. He wasn¡¯t afraid to show them where they were. In fact he was counting on it, otherwise how would they recognize him? Cloudhawk appreciated the burly bear-like man. He thought his gall was adorable. ¡°One person isn¡¯t much fun. Three matches would be better, don¡¯t you think?¡± Charon¡¯s intention had just been to feel out this stranger. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d up the ante. High Priest Gorman interjected. ¡°How should this contest proceed, Master Cloudhawk?¡± ¡°Elysian lands are always separated into religious, military and political powers. They represent the power of a realm, so why not choose the best of each to test their mettle?¡± Gorman and Pelagius exchanged a glance before the Governor replied. ¡°It would be my honor to spar with a man of such strength.¡± 1. His name can be interpreted as ¡®Lightning of Great Fierceness¡¯. Charon and Barak are both of Greek origin, with the first having a possible meaning of ¡®fierce brightness¡¯ and Barak meaning lightning. Book 7, Chapter 45 - The Winner Decided Book 7, Chapter 45 - The Winner Decided So the Skycloud visitors were challenging Stormford¡¯s best? Whispers of excitement immediately started to circulate. Recently there were a lot of stories about Cloudhawk but in Stormford it was all hearsay. Now was the chance for everyone to see if the tales were true. Cloudhawk wanted to rebel against the gods? First he had to show if he had what it took. Charon couldn¡¯t wait to get started. ¡°I challenge one of you!¡± He was a bristly and excitable man who gave a fidgety impression. However, to reach the rank of Commander-General he had to have skill to back it up. His facade was a way to confound his opponents. Dawn was similarly itching to try her skills. There was a dark promise in her eyes she only barely held back. Dawn was not the same girl as before. That was proved when she held back in her desire to murder Frost. Her blood lust was still there, but she had learned to recognize the big picture. She drew inspiration from Cloudhawk, who worked in Abaddon even though the demon murdered one of his closest friends. He was strong enough that if he wanted to snuff out the beast, he could do so easily. But he didn¡¯t. Did he want to? Of course he did, but he held back. He wasn¡¯t an unfeeling man and in fact he felt things quite deeply. But he had responsibilities as a leader. They required that he suppress his own grudges for the greater good. And if he could do it, Dawn was sure she could too. It wasn¡¯t giving up. It was biding time. Just wait, Frost. One day I¡¯ll open your throat. And not just you. Abaddon as well. Anyone who hurts Cloudhawk is on my list. Ah yes, and Wolfblade¡­ he¡¯s a fucking snake as well. When he has no worth anymore then he¡¯ll be dealt with. If I¡¯m not strong enough? Then I¡¯ll get Selene to help me. Dawn always suspected Wolfblade¡¯s intentions. She would never be comfortable so long as he was by Cloudhawk¡¯s side. Selene had to feel the same way. Stormford¡¯s people gathered round to watch as two young faces joined Cloudhawk. Frost de Winter was a representative of Skycloud¡¯s new generation of leaders. Autumn was about the same age as Cloudhawk but since being taken by the Shepherd God, she had not appeared to age. From outside she still looked to be in her early twenties. Three fresh faces. Did they really expect to beat Stormford¡¯s best? Cloudhawk looked over their challengers. ¡°So who¡¯s going first?¡± Before Autumn could begin to respond, Frost stepped forward. With an easy leap he jumped into the ring set up nearby for sparring exhibitions. He held a huge spear in one hand that was wrapped in dark energies. So be it ¨C Frost de Winter would take the first bout. ¡°Hahaha! This young nobody is so eager to fight me, eh? I could wipe the floor with you one-handed!¡± Charon¡¯s eyes strayed to the weapon in Frost¡¯s hands. Despite his harsh words and brazen appearance, there was fear in his eyes. That relic¡­ that was no ordinary weapon. And anyone who held it had to have the strength to use it. Frost said nothing. He remained silent, waiting, standing still upon the dais. He was the perfect representation of a male. A small bit of stubble on his cheeks made him gruff and masculine. His simple clothing was not ostentatious. Cold, piercing blue eyes revealed the faintest trace of melancholy. Young yet mature. He was more attractive now than he was in those early days. ¡°Good lad! Settle matters first, then we trade words!¡± Charon charged at Frost. He punched with his right arm, straight as a dagger. Tattoos scrawled across his skin lit up and all at once his whole arm became a blade of lightning. His power surged. Assuming Charon Barak was a martial artist would be wrong. While his equipment was sparse in appearance, he was awash in mental power. The waves Cloudhawk felt marked him as similar in strength to Bruno, making him equivalent to a Master himself! Frost reacted with a thrust of his right hand, sending Ashfall forth. When the weapon neared, Charon felt enveloped in a slew of powers he did not expect. Corrosion, sluggishness, and a bone-deep cold swept through him. The strength and expansive nature of it took him off guard. Frost¡¯s newest weapon had been taken from Praelius¡¯ Commander-General, Ash Farran. Cloudhawk reforged and empowered it. Wolfblade gave it to his newest disciple. As such Frost¡¯s power took a significant leap. What made Ashall particularly potent was its breadth of powers. Throughout the course of battle, his opponents had to face many different kinds of attacks. So although Charon had started the fight he was forced to withdraw and reassess. Frost gave chase. The spear in his grip stabbed and thrust, releasing deadly bursts of energy like some hellish viper. Blooms of energy reached from the tip of the spear like lotus blossoms. This dense counter-offensive was almost too much for Charon to escape. Frost¡¯s display was almost perfect, be it his mental force, constitution or combat prowess. But most frightening was that he had yet to reach his full potential. Whatever power he wielded in the future would be hard to fathom. Charon should have started the fight utilizing his full strength. It would have improved his chances, but instead he¡¯d fallen into a dangerous disadvantage. The more he tried to avoid these attacks the more vulnerable he became. Under Ashfall¡¯s continuous assault Charon felt his nerves begin to numb while his limbs grew stiff and heavy. He was on the back foot, slowly beaten back by his younger challenger. Ten strikes. A hundred! Five hundred blows from the spear, falling upon the Commander-General like a steel rain. Frost¡¯s onslaught sapped Charon of his power and with every passing second his wounds grew in number. He was on the verge of collapse. Now was the chance! Frost seized it. Ashfall went straight for the older man¡¯s throat. Charon seemed too spent to defend himself. But at the last instant a miraculous change overcame him ¨C tattoos all over his body flared to life! In an instant he went from physical to elemental. His body of flesh and blood was swallowed up by the light and swelled to enormous proportions. In a magnificent display, the Commander-General became a thunderous creature of lightning. Ashfall¡¯s negative influence was shed and in this elemental state, a jab from the weapon did not end the fight. ¡°Did you think that was all I had?¡± Charon released his total power. His earlier display was nothing but a feint to draw Frost in. The younger man could not know that he had walked into this trap. And now that he was in range, there was no escape. It was the right time to strike back. ¡°Did you have your fun? Now it¡¯s my turn! Behold!¡± With a mighty roar, Charon attacked with the power he¡¯d been holding back. He focused it all in one punch aimed at Ashfall. The ensuing blast of power felt like a bomb blast. Frost¡¯s spear was flung from his grasp. Delight played on the faces of Fulmulta¡¯s citizens. Age won over beauty! Even after hundreds of attacks, Frost couldn¡¯t put the old man down. Commander-General Charon only needed to strike once and just the right moment to achieve victory. What did Frost¡¯s masterful weapon mean if it was not in his hands to be used? But Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were narrowed. He knew the fight was not over. Ashfall whistled as it flew through the air. Frost himself was blasted backward a dozen meters. However he quickly got his feet back under him and there was no hint of worry in his eyes. Rather, something else flashed in their depths. Charon rushed forward in his elemental form to strike the finishing blow. Frost was on the verge of being beaten into a pulp, yet at that moment a strange sound arose. Like a rack of weapons clattering across the floor. Ashfall, still in mid-air, broke into several separate relics and scattered all around the grizzled warrior. ¡°Did you think that was all I had?¡± Taunting words from Frost hung in the air and then he was on the move. With incredible speed he dashed toward two swords and swept them up. Spinning around, he thrust them into Charon¡¯s electric body. They passed right through, jutting out the other end. Frost left them there as he picked up two more and stabbed them into his foe¡¯s back. In this monstrous form Charon¡¯s strength and destructiveness skyrocketed. He was a powerhouse in all but one arena ¨C his reaction times were slower. Countless after-images flashed around him as Frost got to work. Through his relics, Frost¡¯s speed was highly empowered. Pass after pass Frost inserted more of the swords through Charon¡¯s body. The older man tried to fight back but was always a few moments too slow. He¡¯d lain a trap for the boy, but ended up spelling his own defeat. The last weapon to find its way into Charon¡¯s form was Rimeshard. Where before there was a lumbering giant of lightning, now Charon was a hunched hedgehog. He couldn¡¯t support the form any longer and the elemental body collapsed. Charon reappeared in the center of the ring. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and he fought to keep from passing out. It seemed like the winner had been decided. Book 7, Chapter 46 - The Shepherd Gods Power Book 7, Chapter 46 - The Shepherd God''s Power The people of Fulmulta looked at one another in shock. Such a young and powerful Master Demonhunter! During his brief time in Skycloud Bruno had heard tales of Frost¡¯s strength, but he didn¡¯t think it reached such heights! From what he saw, even Bruno was unlikely to beat him in a fight without his dimensional daggers. Charon and Bruno both were part of Stormford¡¯s mighty old guard. They were equivalent to what Sterling and Baldur Cloude had been back in Skycloud, wielding power that was only seen once in every ten thousand demonhunters. And yet this young man had beaten the Commander-General. It was a bitter pill to swallow. In their shock, the people realized they were even more frightened of Cloudhawk now. Frost de Winter was one of his lieutenants, not even one of the Alliance¡¯s most prominent members. If that were so, what did that say of Cloudhawk¡¯s capabilities? Dawn¡¯s fists had clenched tight unconsciously as she watched the exchange. Frost was¡­ strong. IF he wasn¡¯t equal to Selene then he was close. At her current strength Dawn did not think she was a threat to him. The blow to her ego cut deep. Her progress lately had been quick, but it still seemed insufficient. If she wanted to take her rightful place as Cloudhawk¡¯s right hand, if she wanted to earn vengeance for her family, then she had to get stronger. Power. Power! Power! That was the answer to everything. Power at any cost! Dawn grit her teeth and swore she would achieve her aims. Cloudhawk gently patted her on the shoulder but said nothing. Any words of comfort were useless, but he wanted to let her know that no matter what, he stood by her side. ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Charon¡¯s gruff voice was bitter but accepting of his defeat. He was helped from the ring. Frost recovered his weapons and returned to Cloudhawk¡¯s party. Autumn was next. Without prompting from Cloudhawk she took to the ring. Rising up light as a feather, she presented herself for the contest. In her hands was clasped a small flute. Her pose was comfortable. Another young, wordless challenger to represent the Green Alliance. Autumn and Frost were very different. Outwardly she seemed much younger ¨C maybe eighteen or nineteen years old. In contrast to Frost¡¯s cruel detachment she seemed almost nervous. It was hard to imagine that such a sweet young girl could wield the sort of power Cloudhawk promised. He had Dawn by his side as well as a demon, albeit Abaddon was trying to keep a low profile. Both were clearly strong. So why pass them up in favor of this child? The onlookers saw no logic in his choice. Was she really stronger than the other two? It sure didn¡¯t seem so. ¡°Allow this old man to give it a try.¡± Gorman made his way to the ring, electing to put himself forth for this challenge. ¡°You take care, young lady.¡± As he said this the High Priest pressed his hands together. Slowly pulling them apart revealed a pyramid rotating in between his palms that glowed with a strange light. A moment later he pushed forward and the shape detonated. Autumn watched as ten prismatic shards were flung in all directions. They spun through the air, surrounding her. ¡°What this?¡± She hurriedly brandished her flute and produced an incisive light. Clang! As the slash struck one of the prismatic planes a loud noise erupted. The impact was enough to make the whole Temple shiver. Everyone looked at this young girl with new eyes. Judging by that move she wasn¡¯t any weaker than Frost. However, High Priest Gorman was a far sight stronger than his military counterpart. Autumn¡¯s attack failed to shake the prismatic walls encroaching around her. On the contrary, the force of her blow was reflected back toward her. Her face stiffened. Quickly she raised her flute and used it to deflect the danger. Quite the solid prison she found herself in. Despite using considerable strength, her attempt had left no mark. Gorman stepped onto one prismatic plane. Like an immortal from a fantasy novel he rose into the air while slowly raising his arms. The prismatic fragments began to move. From within lights sparked to life and a flood of energy emerged. Like a dozen warship attack pylons, they fired toward Autumn. So intense was the onslaught that she feared even the Shepherd¡¯s power was not enough to save her. Autumn¡¯s current abilities were slightly stronger than a typical Master Demonhunter. However, she was surrounded and locked down by this strange power that cast her attacks back at her. Violent attempts failed to free her, and in fact made her position more precarious. Autumn brandished her flute, blocking shot after shot from the prisms. But in deflecting one, it just bounced off a prismatic plane and came back toward her in an infinite barrage. Even if Autumn¡¯s defense was watertight, eventually she would collapse from exhaustion. It did not look good for her! Autumn had never possessed overwhelming combat skills. Faced with this situation she felt herself begin to panic. It was just enough to allow two shots to break through her defenses. A wave of dread passed over her and the onlookers held their breath, sure she was on the cusp of defeat. Although this girl was strong, her opponent was the realm¡¯s own High Priest! He was an aged and experienced man who was even stronger than Commander-General Charon. Surely defeating one young girl was no trouble for him. And yet, as the deciding blow closed in¡­ Something about Autumn changed. All at once an even more intense power oozed from her. She activated her relic instinctively and all at once the floor beneath her feet shattered. A carpet of vibrant, writhing foliage flooded from the cracks and spread in all directions. Vines reached up to form barriers that deflected the prismatic beams. Not only that. Vines and branches bubbled from the ground like a living fountain. Faster than the eye could follow, they wrapped up the prisms like strong chains, holding them fast. Autumn lifted her flute. The foliage acted at her command, lashing out across the platform. Gorman had never seen an attack like this before. He watched her place the instrument to her lips and blow. HAARRRROOOOOOOOM! A claw composed of ripping vines groped for the High Priest from behind. He was caught off guard and was knocked from the sky. When he got his bearings enough to turn around, the High Priest faced a giant dragon wreathed in fire. Summoned from the ether, it hovered above him like a curse. Yes, summoned! The young girl¡¯s real power was in calling forth allies. Not only was she able to invoke these vines, even a terrifying monster heeded her commands. Gorman had never seen anything like it! Autumn jumped into the air. At the height of her trajectory creepers gathered beneath her feet into the form of a behemoth. She now stood upon the shoulders of the beast, which roared as its massive hand ripped aside a prismatic plane and punched at the High Priest. Autumn¡¯s eyes watched with a look of detached apathy. While still the beautiful girl from before her bearing had changed. She was now infinitely more noble, aloof and untouchable. What a striking change! Moments ago she was an innocent child. Now, she was as domineering as a god. Cloudhawk recognized it immediately. Autumn¡¯s personality had been suppressed and the Shepherd God was in control. Although the former Supreme was not at her peak, she had recovered about seventy percent of the strength she once wielded. Considering her former station, even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dare look down on her. Gorman wasn¡¯t a powerhouse in the vein of Phoenix or Arcturus. How could he stand against a Supreme? ¡°Go!¡± Two prisms appeared in the priest¡¯s palms then fired at the dragon like daggers. But The Shepherd God responded quickly. With a crisp note from the flute a thousand vines replied. They laid siege on Gorman who, though protected by panes of light, could not keep them all at bay. They slithered through the cracks and into the High Priest¡¯s body. ¡°I have lost!¡± He said with a sigh. This wasn¡¯t a contest to the death. While he hadn¡¯t used his full power, Gorman recognized the power of his foe. If they both went all out he would only have been able to hold on for a little while longer. Incredible that this young creature could be so strong! Once again, the people of Fulmulta were in awe of Cloudhawk¡¯s allies. Would they have to suffer three defeats in a row? It was an embarrassment! Pelagius Audra was their last hope for honor. Their illustrious Governor was widely known for his combat abilities, probably the strongest in the realm. Even the High Priest bowed to him. But the one he faced was none other than Cloudhawk. Did he have any hope of victory? Book 7, Chapter 47 - Establishing Prestige Book 7, Chapter 47 - Establishing Prestige Cloudhawk and Pelagius entered the ring. The Governor addressed his opponent in a calm voice. ¡°I recognize what this is all about. Skycloud is filled with strong and capable citizens. Stormford cannot compare. I know that I am no match for the master of such an alliance.¡± His words caused the gathered Elysians to gape, dumbfounded. The fight hadn¡¯t even started and he was giving up? Pelagius Audra was their Governor! His supplication was an embarrassment, better to fight and lose than give in and invite shame. But nothing in the man¡¯s bearing showed he felt disgrace. He knew exactly what sort of monster stood before him. ¡°You managed to sneak into Sky Fortress, then single-handedly overcame four Supreme gods. One was destroyed, the others captured. In the face of such power, knowing your exploits, no man is your equal.¡± Cloudhawk respectfully answered. ¡°Nothing but good luck. Fortune was on my side.¡± Dawn was watching their hosts¡¯ expressions and saw them change. Shock and incredulity gave way to appreciation. Word of Cloudhawk¡¯s deeds had gotten to them, and the most outrageous of it all was his defeat of the gods. But here he was, admitting that he¡¯d only managed it because the circumstances were in his favor. Inwardly, Dawn acknowledged how laughable it was. These foolish people, like frogs in a well. Cloudhawk waved his hand and the small jungle that encapsulated the ring began to change. It was like the seasons changed just for them, from high summer to late autumn. Vibrant greens withered to full yellow until at last the vines cracked and fell away. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Pelagius watched the vines turn to ash. There was a trace of surprise in even his stoic face, for how Cloudhawk had done it was beyond his understanding. The foliage Autumn had summoned was not real. They were a creation of mental energy, a palpable illusion. Like ice, it was a temporary change in state that vanished with time. Once Autumn stopped feeding it her mental power, the summoning failed. Robbed of its power the vines could be swept away like any ordinary plant. Pelagius was anything but an ordinary man. He possessed keen insight and saw that Cloudhawk had used no relic just then. With only his mental power he caused those plants to die. It was all his own power, nothing else. This meant that if Cloudhawk wanted to manipulate reality he needed only form the thought and it was so. He was a living relic. Could he still be called a man? ¡°Are we fighting?¡± Cloudhawk asked. The governor turned his attention back to this monster. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied, ¡°of course. Some actions are taken even when the outcome is known. Some fights are necessary even when defeat is inevitable.¡± His implications were not lost on Cloudhawk. ¡°It¡¯s not about the result, it¡¯s about the process. No ending is written, unless you never try.¡± With a smile, thick black mist began to pour from the Governor¡¯s magnificent robes. They billowed forth and clung to the ground like a sea. Soon the whole ring was wrapped up in it. Cloudhawk found himself adrift in darkness. It was one of the Governor¡¯s powers, a gift called ¡®Dark Prison.¡¯ Pelagius¡¯ name evoked a sense of piety and light, but in fact his powers were rooted in the rarely seen realm of shadow. The clinging darkness confounded the eye and concealed the outside world. It was a power that portrayed corrosion, decay and consumption. As such, an attack that entered Pelagius¡¯ domain of darkness was swallowed up. It was how he gained advantage over enemies even markedly stronger than himself. When the darkness fell, it was hard to escape. ¡°Interesting.¡± Cloudhawk felt it wash over him. It wasn¡¯t just physical and energetic, even the flows of space-time were hungrily eaten by the black. Those outside only saw a perfect orb of darkness, like a drop of ink. Inside, Cloudhawk felt like he was swimming in it. What¡¯s more there was a subtle but constant change. The area was shrinking. This shadowy world collapsed in on itself until it was no more than a meter in diameter, too small for even one person. Had the Wasteland King already been flattened? In fact that was not the case. Rather it was Pelagius¡¯ power that shrunk reality within the orb, creating a discrepancy between what one saw outside and what occurred within. If the orb shrank until it vanished Cloudhawk would be caught within, forever locked in shadow. Such was the Governor¡¯s power. So far, none had found a way to defeat it. The orb grew smaller still. Only a handful of centimeters remained. But just as victory loomed the space before Pelagius rippled. A hand shot forth and grabbed the Governor like a vice. Cloudhawk was too fast. Pelagius had no time to react as the Wasteland King slipped from another dimension, forcing him to take his place. Space rippled like a pond surface, and Stormford¡¯s leader found himself immersed in his own darkness. How?! Cloudhawk¡¯s spatial powers were more incredible than Pelagius imagined. Bruno¡¯s skills were childlike by comparison. It was a moment of negligence and Cloudhawk had capitalized on it perfectly. ¡°Fade!¡± He was forced to dispel his power lest he be devoured by it. Like boiling water the darkness started to bubble away, but in the process another voice issued a command. ¡°Return!¡± Much to his shock an alarm, Pelagius watched the dispersing shadow freeze and then condense again. Somehow Cloudhawk was able to wrest control from him. What horror! How had this monster¡¯s mind and will reached such a level? Pelagius was forced to pour all of his strength into his relic. In response the darkness began to swell again, only it was as though something outside was fighting it. It expanded inch by agonizing inch. Just a little more and the Governor could break free¡­ A cold glint of steel flashed among the shadow, wreathed in purple lightning. With irresistible force the darkness split and the attack found purchase on Pelagius¡¯ body. Even if he¡¯d had the time to summon a defense it would do him no good. Fulmulta¡¯s Governor was struck and thrown from the ring. Cloudhawk had attacked only once. Confused looks were passed among the onlookers. Their exchange had lasted maybe five seconds. It ended so quickly! Pelagius couldn¡¯t even bring his full power to bear against this creature, much less defeat him. Another loss, more absolute than either of the ones before. The people of Stormford were speechless. Their very best were brought low with naked ruthlessness. It was only conceivable because they¡¯d witnessed it with their own eyes. Book 7, Chapter 48 - Whereabouts Book 7, Chapter 48 - Whereabouts Cloudhawk¡¯s dominance over Governor Pelagius was absolute. No fancy tricks, no mighty displays. Those who watched didn¡¯t even see how he¡¯d managed it. No wonder this foreign leader was able to defeat four gods. ¡°Governor Pelagius let me win.¡± The older man regarded Cloudhawk with a strange expression on his face, but said nothing. Unlike the others he had felt the might of his opponent. He wasn¡¯t merely beaten by Cloudhawk, the two weren¡¯t even on the same level. He¡¯d done it without relics. Or, more precisely, he was the relic. With nothing but his mind he was able to manipulate flows of energy for attack and defense. This fact was terrifying to him, even more frightening than the scope of his power alone. Never before this moment had the Governor seen someone use these sorts of attack without a relic. Wasn¡¯t it true even the gods needed those tools? He understood now how he was chosen as the Demon King¡¯s successor. He saw how this man had the courage to stand against the gods. Relics were technology gifted from the gods. Was it not a laughable concept that humans should try to use those tools against the ones who built them? Trying to raze Mount Sumeru with the dregs of its own technology was an impossible feat. That was what made Cloudhawk so different. If there was any human with a shred of hope for overcoming the gods, it was this man. ¡°Does anyone else want to try their luck?¡± No one spoke up. As Cloudhawk looked over the crowd their shuffled their feet and averted their eyes. They weren¡¯t stupid. It wasn¡¯t that they feared defeat. There was a difference between defeat and abuse. ¡°This is all you got and you thought you could conquer Skycloud?¡± Dawn couldn¡¯t hold her tongue any longer. ¡°Let me tell you, where I¡¯m from we have more powerful warriors than you can count. What you see here is only a fraction!¡± Bruno frowned. He could attest to her claim. The Avatar wasn¡¯t here, nor the Cloud God, or Wolfblade or any of the others. For all its pomp and sophistication Stormford¡¯s armies were feeble. Cloudhawk¡¯s reason for this display was to make everyone understand this. He wanted them to recognize Skycloud¡¯s strength. It was an effective means of establishing control, while also probing how strong Stormford was. The realm¡¯s very best were represented by Governor Pelagius, High Priest Gorman, Commander-General Charon and Master Demonhunter Bruno. Each were skilled and capable in their own way, and properly utilized they would be of great help in the coming war. ¡°If no one else is interested then I think we¡¯re done here.¡± Cloudhawk stopped Dawn from any more cheerleading. ¡°I came to Stormford for a specific reason.¡± At last, to the heart of the matter. ¡°May we ask what that reason is?¡± Gorman asked. ¡°Belial ¨C Demon Elder of the Tenth Seal ¨C has been living among you for at least a century. He¡¯s gone into hiding, I don¡¯t know where. We¡¯ve come here to find him.¡± Astonishment was his answer. What? A demon elder, living among them for over a hundred years? Not even the realm¡¯s leaders had been aware. Legends claimed that there were a hundred demon Elders, the strongest of their race. Any demon was a powerful creature, but Elders were a cut above. Especially those within the top Ten Seals. They were the heart of their people, even mightier than Supremes. Where they walked the earth trembled. Such a monster lurked among them? No wonder Cloudhawk had come personally. No ordinary human would be able to face this danger. After all, the demon Elder was likely more of a threat than the gods Cloudhawk had already faced. He explained the situation to his new allies. ¡°Belial concealed himself as a human and has been hiding in your cities. I have reason to believe he was here for a reason. Something in or around Stormford caught his attention, so this is the place to begin our search.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t share everything he knew. Belial had scoured the realm for centuries potentially. Why? Because he was searching for the seed. The artisan chose to settle here during his search, switching identities every few decades but never leaving. The only explanation for why he would stay for so long was that the object of his search was close. ¡°After hundreds of years it would be foolish to think Belial didn¡¯t muster up some support here. We can assume there are some people in power throughout the realm that were put there by the demon.¡± Cloudhawk paused again to look over the crowd. ¡°Probably even here.¡± Governor Pelagius seized on his point. ¡°Not to worry. Now that we are aware, there is a way to smoke them out. Give me two days and I will find Belial¡¯s henchmen. The Elder cannot hide for long.¡± Cloudhawk was confident in the Governor¡¯s abilities to do as he claimed. Pelagius turned to an aid and issued several commands, too low for anyone to hear. Intelligence agents were dispatched and given free reign to learn all they could about the demon and his supporters. However cunning Belial was, he could not have lived in Stormford for so long without leaving some trace. Whatever eyes and ears he left behind would be sussed out and pressed for information. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, made his own arrangements. The next day he and Dawn attended a reception banquet at the city¡¯s capitol. Fulmulta¡¯s rebellious elements had been purged by Gorman and Charon, so Cloudhawk did not fear an uprising from those around him. Die-hard supporters of the gods were now smoldering skeletons, among the ashes of the coals that claimed their lives. Change was irreversible. It was not known whether Cloudhawk would be able to actually defeat Sumeru, but one thing was certain: When the war came, without allies this city that had known a thousand years of peace would be ground to dust. Their only hope was to take refuge with the wastelanders. During the festivities, Cloudhawk took the chance to meet with other important members of the realm. He determined who would be reliable or useful, and those that could be trained. Indeed, the people who came to these sorts of events were rarely ordinary folk. For instance, in attendance were the Mighty Ten, as well as military leaders. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t trust Gorman or Pelagius, at least not completely. He didn¡¯t even fully trust Bruno. If he cultivated good relationships with others, he could train them to take the reigns of power and consolidate his control. Once the grand banquet was over, Dawn and Cloudhawk left to wander some of the streets. Night had fallen and the sky was a carpet of twinkling stars. It was the kind of quiet that made one forget the chaos of the times. ¡°You might have it hard in the days to come.¡± Cloudhawk walked by Dawn¡¯s side with his hands clasped behind his back. ¡°You are my spokeswoman. You have to be responsible for solidifying our relationship with Stormford and the other realms. The gods are coming soon, I can feel it. If we¡¯re still scattered like sand when they arrive then we¡¯re all dead.¡± Dawn never refused a post from Cloudhawk. She had readily agreed to join him on this journey, but she had to ask a question. ¡°Hey Cloudhawk. How long do you think this fight will last?¡± Have glanced her way. ¡°What? Are we losing faith?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She looked up at the stars overhead. ¡°Maybe just a little tired. Where¡¯d we get such shit luck, huh? If we¡¯d been born fifty years ago none of this would have been our problem.¡± Cloudhawk followed her gaze up toward the twinkling expanse. He didn¡¯t know how to answer her. No one had an answer for fate. Dawn sighed. ¡°When all the fighting¡¯s done we should find somewhere quiet. Spend our days in peace, you me and Selene.¡± That certainly took him by surprise. Cloudhawk had recognized that there had been a shift in things between Dawn and Selene. Before, when the two ladies met it was a good day if they didn¡¯t come to blows. Had they come to some kind of accord? He wasn¡¯t sure whether he should be happy or terrified. A voice interrupted them from down the street. ¡°Our agents found something.¡± One surprise followed another. Had they uncovered the demon¡¯s spies so quickly? Governor Pelagius and found Cloudhawk to deliver the news personally. ¡°Belial has lived in our realm for a long time. We found traces of his presence in many cities, where he smuggled a number of weapons and relics. Many important families and local officials have been implicated. They were well hidden, but Belial¡¯s sudden disappearance made them easier to uncover.¡± ¡°Were you able to find out anything about where he is or what he¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°According to our sources, Belial frequented the Cursed Desert to the west,¡± Pelagius replied. ¡°He often traveled with a group. As for his current location, or more about this group, that¡¯s where our intelligence is lacking. Shall I send men to find out?¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You¡¯ve learned enough.¡± Sending anyone but Cloudhawk to hunt the demon down was a death sentence. He would deal with this himself. Book 7, Chapter 49 - The Cursed Deser Book 7, Chapter 49 - The Cursed Deser A thousand kilometers from Stormford¡¯s western mountain range was a vast desert. While it may not have been the largest desert, it was certainly one of the most dangerous. It had no proper name. For more than a thousand years, those exiled from the Elysian lands were exiled to this inhospitable place where grass did not grow and even the birds loathed to visit. From time to time, beasts from elsewhere also moved into the territory. But whether from Stormford or somewhere else, very few managed to survive. Over time the nameless expanse was given a new moniker ¨C The Cursed Desert. It was a thousand kilometers in all directions. An endless stretch of danger and hostility. Some remote areas had consistent signs of life, but they were also the most unforgiving. Of course, the more brutal the environment, the more cruel the creatures that survived within it. As for people? Who in their right mind wanted to live in such a place? Only the crazy ¨C but these were crazy times. There was no shortage of people out of their right mind. At least as far as Jara was concerned, this group was fucking nuts. Three days ago they¡¯d appeared in the desert and presented themselves before him. For a pretty penny they convinced him to lead them into the desert in search of an old legend. The oasis Kesjir. The name was a holdover from an ancient local language and it meant ¡®the forgotten paradise.¡¯ Even in the no-man¡¯s land that was the Cursed Desert, it was reputed that a place of unmatched beauty existed. Of course reaching this hidden gem was costly, and entering even more so. Jara was a simple wasteland traveler. For years he had traveled the sands, looking for a place to settle. While he knew the path to Kesjir he never tried to make the journey himself. A man of his mediocre talents would never be welcome. Today the rolling dunes were marred by a string of black figures. As they picked their way across the sands, Jara looked over his clients. They were all dressed in dark cloaks and said hardly anything. Their leader walked around with his hood lowered, revealing shoulder-length black hair. Whipping sands were strong enough to mar steel, but did nothing to this stranger¡¯s handsome features. There was something extraordinary about his looks and temperament. He was oddly¡­ perfect. But also kind of an asshole. All kinds of horrible creatures lived in this awful place. One was a scorpion twice the size of a camel with a carapace as strong as iron. Their pincer could crush tanks. These monsters were a plague and one of the most dangerous things they could encounter. Unfortunately for them, they ran into such a beast on their first night of the journey. Even now, days later, Jara had a hard time getting it out of his head. The young stranger cast out a flame with a flick of his wrist and all of a sudden the scorpion was a column of fire. There wasn¡¯t anything left of it when the eerie green light finally extinguished. With power like that, they had to have come from the legendary Elysian lands! Jara¡¯s ancestors had been exiled from there. He¡¯d never seen them himself, but he¡¯d heard stories. For years he¡¯d wandered the Cursed Desert and saw all sorts of powerful beings ¨C but nothing like this guy. He couldn¡¯t really be called crazy like the others, and yet¡­ What other reason could there be for him to come to this hellhole? What was so bad about the Elysian realms, where they could have anything they wanted? There was only one thing that made sense to Jara. The hidden treasure. Old legends claimed that in the deepest parts of the desert, where it was most dangerous, lay an unimaginable hoard of riches. Whoever found it was said to be granted eternal life and limitless power. Such a tale was the only thing that could attract a man like this. But when Jara thought about their destination it filled him with disquiet. It was too far, too dangerous. While he couldn¡¯t pretend it wasn¡¯t enticing the desert was home to ten times as many horror stories as legendary treasures. The damn place was called the Cursed Desert, after all. It earned the name from numberless terrible things waiting for unsuspecting victims. His thoughts were interrupted when the young man named Cloudhawk asked him a question. ¡°How much longer?¡± ¡°Well boss, following this path it should take us three days and three nights to reach Kesjir. We¡¯re likely to pass a number of monster lairs as we go, so we should keep a sharp eye.¡± Jara clung to the back of a camel as they forged ahead through biting winds. It got so bad a man couldn¡¯t tell north from south. But Jara was born with a keen sense of direction that helped him survive out here. Yet despite his skills, the deeper they went the more uncomfortable he became. They were crossing territory he¡¯d never been to before. It was noon and the sunlight bit like daggers. It baked the sands and even the swirling wind warbled unsettlingly. Sands were scalding hot as they spun through eddies, making the environment unbearable. Jara felt like the heat was burning away the oxygen. Every breath was like smoldering sandpaper in his throat. Without water even someone like Jara who had been born out here would perish in less than a day. Were they really going forward? His resolve was starting to waver. ¡°Where we¡¯re going I¡¯ve only ever heard people talk about. Never been myself. I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re in for, see-¡° ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, don¡¯t worry. Nothing we run into will be a problem.¡± The young man cut him off with an easy smile. It was incredible and unsettling how calm he was as they picked their way through the hellscape. After a moment he went on. ¡°But three days is too long. We need to speed this up.¡± Jara gulped back his shock. They were already taking the fastest route and three days was a conservative estimate. If they encountered monsters or sandstorms along the way ¨C or gods forbid they got lost ¨C it wouldn¡¯t be unthinkable for the journey to last ten days. Then they¡¯d really be in trouble. In silence they crept to the crest of the nearest sand dune. Jara paused to look out in all directions ¨C a subconscious gesture, he wasn¡¯t looking for anything in particular. There wasn¡¯t anything to see but rolling waves of sand out into eternity. I made one wonder if it was all there ever was. But¡­ something was different. Even with his excellent eyesight Jara could just barely make it out. Out there, just at the cusp of his vision was a dark green line. It was so far and so thin he figured it had to be a mirage, but as he fixed on it he figured it had to be real. Several days¡¯ journey would bring them to it. ¡°There, at last!¡± Cloudhawk cast his eyes toward the horizon. His sight was ten times more powerful than the wastelander¡¯s so he could see it clearly. That thin green line was actually a mountain range. The legendary Kesjir had to be somewhere within them. It wasn¡¯t going to be easy to find. The stories said skies over Kesjir were shrouded in sand, making it impossible to see from above. There was some strange force shielding it from detection that prevented even relics from pointing the way. Cloudhawk was left with no other method but this one, as simple and crude as it was. Eliciting the local Jara, the hope was they could find this secret paradise in a few short days. He turned his head and called over his shoulder. ¡°Abaddon. Handle this.¡± A croaky, rasping laughter answered as the hooded companion reached out. Jara had paid close attention to this particularly towering member of the party. He was wrapped in robes that covered every part of him, but his height alone was enough to prove he wasn¡¯t an ordinary man. Most likely he was some kind of mutant. But when Abaddon reached out he saw his hand peak from the sleeve. It was encased in a hideous sort of armor that clung to him like a second skin, made from a sort of material he¡¯d never seen before. He was definitely no average mutant, either! Just then a sensation he couldn¡¯t quite place wafted through him. The dunes melted beneath their feet and reformed into an enormous golem. It plucked itself from the ground as though awakening from a deep slumber while the travelers clung to its shoulders. This thing was huge! At least two hundred meters tall. The body was made of constantly flowing sand like some kind of nightmare demon. It took five minutes for the thing to rise to full height. Jara and his camel were scared out of their minds. This was like something out of a dream! During this time Abaddon had merged with the golem. Using it like a pack animal, it carried the others toward the distant mountains. At first its gait was slow, but slowly picked up speed until they were soaring across the desert four or five hundred meters per stride! Only once they¡¯d covered a huge distance did Jara find his voice away. ¡°You¡­ w-what are you trying to do?!¡± ¡°Take Kesjir, of course.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s flippant response shook the local to his core. This group had traveled thousands of kilometers to come and capture the hidden paradise? There were just four of them! 1. Jara means ¡®rock rose¡¯, apparently. Seemed appropriate for a presumably good-hearted man of the desert. 2. The character are nonsense as its meant to be phonetic ¨C Ke Sa Ji Er. Book 7, Chapter 50 - Ant Soldiers Book 7, Chapter 50 - Ant Soldiers Standing on the shoulders of a sand giant as it charged across the desert was certainly a¡­ unique experience. The beast continued to pick up speed, the earth shook beneath its feet. With a dominating presence, energy poured off the behemoth as it ran. In its wake a huge dust storm formed, but not only that. Gusts of grit gathered together into an army of smaller golems that ran with their towering general. Abaddon was a mighty demon. Although he did not have the title of Elder, his powers could not be discounted. He was a level above human Master Demonhunters, especially when in his preferred environment. He summoned an army to fight for them as the small group bore down on Kesjir. They were coming prepared because Cloudhawk knew what they were walking into. Kesjir was Belial¡¯s stronghold. In order to more efficiently search for the divine seed left by the gods, Belial had built himself a secret crew. With the sandstorm concealing Kesjir under his control, the demon expertly manipulated it to allow only his airships to pass. In this way, step by step, his posse grew. After centuries, Belial had forged all sorts of channels through Stormford¡¯s society. He used them to siphon materials from the Elysian land which he used to create relics. These relics he used in his own defense and also to create his secret desert paradise. The demons¡¯ greatest artisan was not a title lightly given. Belial wasn¡¯t at the peak of the elder hierarchy, but he was in the top ten. He earned that place not just from his combat prowess but from his many other skills. His valuable abilities went far beyond what typical Elders could provide. His aid was worth more than an entire army. If Cloudhawk wanted to smoke him out of his hole, then he had to take Kesjir. But Belial was as strong as a Supreme, maybe even stronger. Cloudhawk had to be wary. If even the slightest opportunity was given to this crafty devil, he would flee. Time was of the essence. The Kesjir oasis was nestled in mountainous terrain. Nothing about it caught the eye: From a distance, up close and from above it looked like any other stretch of mountains. But hidden in the valleys and below were fertile lands, fed by clean rivers. So though on the surface it seemed as barren as anywhere else, closer inspection revealed ribbons of vibrant, vital green. Surely the product of Belial¡¯s work. All manner of dangers were littered near Kesjir. Their dramatic approach was sure to capture the attention of deadly beasts and indeed whirlpools began to appear in the desert sands nearby. Creatures drilled to the surface before the sand giant. Jara was already so frightened by this circumstances that his legs could hardly move. When he saw the whirlpools, however, his breath caught in his throat. ¡°Fuck! Sand demons!¡± All the monsters in this area were brought here by Belial, hand-picked for being the more ferocious fiends of the desert. Already possessed of terrible strength, the demon Elder further enhanced their bodies to give them all sorts of extra abilities. These were not typical mutant creatures. They had become what old legends called the demons of the sands. A four-headed snake wrapped in black fog appeared in the behemoth¡¯s path. Harsh sun glinted off scales with a metallic luster. This king of beasts had its teeth and skull altered. ¡°Arrghho! Hassss!¡± The four heads roared and spit, each one different. Fire, acid, poison, lightning. A storm of different powers was belched at the sand giant. Under the formidible attack a fifth of Abaddon¡¯s sandy shell was destroyed. However, the behemoth was not a living creature and could not be so easily destroyed. No matter how many times it was blasted apart, whipping sands made it whole. Although the four-headed beast was strong, it did not possess the ability to stop the giant. But more creatures were burrowing to the surface. Giant scorpions, skittering ants. There was no way of telling what other nightmares lurked beneath the surface. Belial had modified them all. They no longer needed food or water and gained sustenance through other means. This stopped them from killing each other for survival. Judging by the extend of these mutations, Belial had a terrible talent for genetics. But war had come to his doorstep and he would have to leave his mountain stronghold eventually. Cloudhawk drew Godslayer and with one swipe carved across ten thousand meters of desert. The brilliant burst of power whistled across the landscape like an unstoppable tornado. The four-headed snake was caught in its path and torn to pieces, falling in bloody chunks like rain. Jara was dumbstruck. That¡­ that is no earthly power! Cloudhawk called out over the roar of the storm. ¡°Belial! Show yourself! You can¡¯t hide any longer!¡± There was no answer from Kesjir, meanwhile more and more creatures closed in on all sides. Endless attacks of all sorts tried to slow their advance. In response the behemoth formed a sword of yellow grit two hundred meters high and hacked it toward the swarm. Ignoring the encroaching attacks, Abaddon slammed into them. Wherever they passed, a deluge of innards and shattered carapace was left behind. With its two sandy hands on its blade, the giant swung with wild abandon while closing in on the mountains. SLAM! The weapon struck a protective enchantment barring passage into Kesjir. The field shimmered but did not give, a demon Elder¡¯s defenses were strong. Abaddon alone couldn¡¯t open a path. They were being overwhelmed by creatures, each wave stronger than the last. A bird wreathed in lava swooped down from above, the air around it hot enough to melt steel. Seething talons were aimed at the giant. It was Frost de Winter who answered. Ashfall appeared from within his cloak and he leaped into the air. With a thrust of his right arm, the bird reeled back from a spear in its chest. A burst of energy followed. The dripping fires around the creature¡¯s body withered as though someone had poured a bucket over it. Ice appeared on its surface and crept across the body as, with a lamenting cry, it fell toward the ground. When it struck the bird shattered into countless chunks of ice. Back atop the behemoth, Autumn put her flute to her mouth and summoned a tone. It tolled in the minds of the creature like a deafening call. All around the beasts froze in place. Autumn¡¯s power reigned them in like a giant hand holding them fast. However, she found that she could not dominate them entirely. They were already under the yolk of another. ¡°The demon Elder refuses to open the door for us, eh?¡± Cloudhawk shouted the challenge toward the mountains and got silence in response. Abaddon, piloting the behemoth from within, continued to hack at the enchantment with its sword. Each blow was enough to cleave mountains and with every one came a storm of sand. The protective light was quickly dimming. At this rate it would only be a matter of time before they broke through. But what if their target got away? Belial had tampered with the flows of space here, preventing Cloudhawk from teleporting inside. Direct fury was their best bet. ¡°Abaddon, Frost, Autumn ¨C if we strike together we can break the shield down.¡± Individually, the four commanded frightening power. Together they were the stuff of nightmares. Nothing could stand in their way. The strength of Belials were limited, no matter how mighty his tools. So, with a deafening roar, a breach was carved in the enchantment. Cloudhawk and his party forced their way into Kesjir. The moment they stepped foot within, countless dark figures began to approach. Surprise crept into the wastelander¡¯s face when he saw them. Were they..? Yes. Ants! Thousands upon thousands of them. Each one was as big as a horse and were covered in thick plates of dark red. They covered the mountain sides like an avalanche. Some even had creatures clinging to their backs ¨C no, not creatures, humans! Ant¡­ soldiers? Cloudhawk looked out over the siege but could find no sign of Belial. Book 7, Chapter 51 - The Eternal Book 7, Chapter 51 - The Eternal The world was big and its denizens varied. Beast Riders were not uncommon in the wastes. Lizards and leopards were just the beginning; rats, snakes, eagles ¨C all relatively common to find. Now, though, it seems ant-riders were added to the list! A whole army of them! How had they managed to domesticate these insects? The ants alone numbered in the tens of thousands, with thousands more bearing riders. The ant soldiers rode insects the size of warhorses and carried weird hooked poles. Their left hands were all covered in gauntlets that tickled Cloudhawk¡¯s sixth sense. He told his companions to be wary. Ants continued to pour out from the valleys around them. It was impossible to know if there were thousands more just beneath their feet, ready to strike. It was all a matter of scale. Even the most insignificant thing could be as deadly as a panther when blown up to monstrous proportions. These ants were covered in chitinous armor stronger than iron and their legs were like steel rods. An awful chittering sound followed them as the pincers around they maw snapped. The ax-like mandibles could bite through armor. Ants were low-grade insects ordinarily, but these had evolved keen sight and extrasensory perception. They even had rudimentary intelligence, so they were smart enough not funnel in one by one. Instead they surrounded Cloudhawk and waited for the right time to strike. They were almost ready. Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils contracted and there was a flesh of red within. His mental energy was released, infecting the ants with fear and holding them temporarily at bay. ¡°We¡¯re not here to fight. Get Belial out here.¡± The demon Elder was their target. He didn¡¯t want to waste time squishing pests. However this welcoming committee was definitely under Belial¡¯s control. A fight seemed inevitable. Belial had spent the thousand years since the Great War wandering the earth. Centuries were spent sifting through Elysian lands and building his forces. Indeed Cloudhawk and his companions were a rare class of fighters, but against a swarm of this size there was still the chance they would be ripped apart. What¡¯s more, the cunning Elder was probably lurking somewhere nearby, waiting to strike. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t foolish enough to underestimate Belial. Not Gehenna¡¯s greatest artisan. But just as things seemed overwhelming some of the ants parted. They cleared a route to allow one of their leaders to emerge. This rider bore a long spear and sat upon a particularly imposing giant ant. It was then Cloudhawk noted that the gear these riders wore was peculiar. They were covered from head to toe in gray cloth with their hoods raised. The rider¡¯s face was also veiled so that the only thing Cloudhawk could see were his red eyes. Strange. How could they tolerate the heat in those robes? All of the riders were dressed the same; wrapped in gray with concealing masks, gauntlets on their left hands and hooked spears clutched in their right. They reminded him of wizards he read about in old books. A strange guttural sound emerged from the leaders¡¯ throat, like rough leather rubbing together. Cloudhawk paused¡­ it seemed this ¡®wizard¡¯ was speaking, or trying to. Had they lost use of their vocal cords? To him the sounds this creature made were meaningless. But that wasn¡¯t so outside his experience ¨C some mutants were so deformed that they couldn¡¯t use their throats or mouths and had to adapt. So did that mean these riders were mutants? Was this some sort of tribe? It was clear there was no way to understand what this rider was trying to communicate. Without another sound the wizard pulled forth a pitch black dagger. Was he preparing to strike? Cloudhawk was ready, but in a surprise turn the wizard flipped the dagger around and plunged it into his own chest. He forced the dark steel in, centimeter by centimeter until it was buried up to the hilt. Coudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how to react. This idiot didn¡¯t have to kill himself because they couldn¡¯t talk! But there was no sign from the man that he was in pain. There was no reaction at all. It was as though it wasn¡¯t a body the dagger pierced at all, and in fact there was no blood leaking from the wound. Rather a thick black smoke poured forth and began to congeal. A few moments later the wound closed up. This strange wizard was unharmed, even his robes were intact. Returning the dagger to his waist the rider continued to make rasping noises at Cloudhawk and then¡­ bowed? Like he was entreating something. ¡°I know what they are.¡± Jara spoke up with a hesitant, quavering voice. ¡°They are the Eternal! Creatures that live forever! The legends are true...¡± But something was bothering Autumn, making her ill at ease. She held tightly to her flute, ready to unleash the Shepherd God¡¯s power at a moment¡¯s notice to control the ants. Frost and Abaddon could deal with the riders. As for Cloudhawk? He needed to conserve his strength! Only his spatial abilities could ensure a safe escape if they needed it. Furthermore, he was the only one who could defeat Belial. The Eternal¡¯s superhuman regenerative abilities meant this conflict would be much harder than originally thought. It wasn¡¯t even certain if blowing them to pieces could keep them down. Slowly, the leader raised his staff. The other riders reacted to this signal¡­ by stepping aside. A long passage was formed through the swarm, which took Cloudhawk and the others by surprise. Their intention had been to storm this stronghold, but instead of fighting back these natives offered no resistance. They were letting them pass. What did it mean? Cloudhawk looked over his shoulder at the others and shrugged. They would deal with things as they occurred. They followed the passage toward a cave. Kesjir¡¯s cave system dug into solid rock, likely created by the ants themselves with their mighty jaws and powerful acids. Below was a maze-like network that was heavily traversed by the insects. They could jump out from the many exits to attack intruders. Only this time they didn¡¯t. The ant riders, brandishing their hooked spears, kept the unbridled insects at bay. A kind of energy was released by the spears that allowed them to control the ants and prevent them from attacking. They were some sort of relic. It was how these wizard-like natives were able to live and thrive here. Cloudhawk guessed the gauntlets on their left hand were offensive relics, but he also felt a resonance from the body of these beings as well. He suspected Belial had done something to them, changed these people in some way. It was where their strange power came from. The way the smoke had appeared¡­ it reminded him of Blackfiend the Undying. Cloudhawk imagined there was much about these wizards that was similar to Blackfiend. Had they been turned into immortal fiends by Belial, like Skycloud¡¯s Seraphs? If that were the case then a thousand of them would be a formidable threat. Worry was heard in Autumn¡¯s voice. ¡°If we follow them in there are we walking into a trap? Remember, these people belong to the demon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll pull any tricks. Actually, I think they want to help,¡± Cloudhawk mused. ¡°I¡¯ve been testing this place¡¯s enchantments. It¡¯s more like a cage, stopping people from coming in but also keeping the Eternal from going out.¡± Autumn understood. These folk were prisoners. And as they all mulled over the implications a scene unfolded before them. Book 7, Chapter 52 - The Secret Beneath the Sand Book 7, Chapter 52 - The Secret Beneath the Sand A wide open space stretched out before them. How to describe it? It was like a huge underground public square, but inside an enormous creature. Cavernous passageways lead out in many directions like blood vessels and the entire thing undulated with a steady beat. The scene was both puzzling and incredible. Thousands of ants shuffled in and out from the passageways. Like coolies they used their powerful jaws to move hunks of shining material or carry other things on their backs. They made sure that systems providing food, water, heat and so forth all functioned properly in this underground chamber. Cloudhawk looked over the equipment and materials and found them strange. They were unlike any earthly factory, so he figured it had to involve godly and demonic tech. He even saw something like assembly lines where mass numbers of relics were being produced. Kesjir was a manufacturing base. Over hundreds of years Belial created these Eternals and used them to control the ants. Indirectly, he controlled a massive labor force which he kept busy day and night. All toward some unknown, nefarious purpose. Two Eternals approached, flanking an old man with a long white beard. Cloudhawk was surprised to encounter an ordinary human in this place. He figured this poor soul had been captured from the Elysian lands and brought here. Or perhaps he was a traveler that had found his own way to Kesjir. Whatever the case, Cloudhawk saw the fear in his face as the Eternal leader rasped something in his direction. The old man looked at his escort, then toward the newcomers. It was then Cloudhawk understood ¨C this man was their translator. So he wasted no time. ¡°Please tell me, what¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°They¡­ they are the Eternal, changed by our master.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s assumptions were proved correct. The Eternal were modified people, given immortality in much the same way as fiends. What made them different was that they maintained their own will and intelligence, unlike Blackfiend which only acted when given a command. ¡°What do they want from me?¡± He asked the question because it was clear these guys wouldn¡¯t have brought him here for no reason. Either they wanted something from him, or they wanted to help him accomplish something. The latter was more likely. If it was the former they would have just tried to take it ¨C the Eternal were two thousand strong and Cloudhawk¡¯s party was just four people. The leader responded in that guttural rasp. The old man heard something that turned his face sour, then in halting tones relayed the message. ¡°T-they¡­ they want fr-freedom. Liberation. To take¡­ take the master¡¯s black heart for their own.¡± That took Cloudhawk by surprise. ¡°Freedom? Black heart? I don¡¯t understand.¡± The old man explained. ¡°The Black Heart is a treasure that controls the Eternal. So long as the master holds it they cannot leave. They will live forever in his service.¡± Cloudhawk pressed for more. ¡°Aren¡¯t they afraid I will be their new master if I take the heart? Or use it to kill them?¡± ¡°The Eternal do not fear death. After the master changed them, they were given bodies that never aged or decayed. But they lost much in exchange.¡± The old man¡¯s voice shook as he went on. ¡°Like all feeling, full consciousness. They cannot taste alcohol or enjoy fine foods. They can¡¯t feel the wind on their flesh or the warmth of the sun. The only thing left to them is the desire for freedom.¡± It was a surprising revelation for Cloudhawk, but he understood. Although their eternal life seemed like a boon, it was actually a curse. When they lost the ability to feel they lost their souls. Every day they endured cold, pain, and servitude with no end in sight. Fine wines, delicious food, warm women, soft beds¡­ these simple treasures had been stolen from them. Their creator ¨C the demon Elder Belial ¨C compelled their bidding with this Black Heart. For centuries they¡¯d been locked in this hell of endless servitude. What they suffered went far beyond torment. They were desperate for liberation. They had no way to rise up against the demon, no way to steal the Heart for themselves. So they searched for help, but all who found their way to Kesjir were too weak. Useless. Cloudhawk, though. He and his crew were different. He was the only hope they¡¯d known for a long time. As for whether Cloudhawk would use the Heart himself, they hadn¡¯t given that much thought. So long as they could leave this prison, even if they were destroyed straight after, it was still a means of freedom. Was this what everlasting life really meant? What was the point if this was the cost? He had to ask himself, though, if what they were telling him was the truth. But after a moment he realized it didn¡¯t matter. IF they weren¡¯t going to get in his way then Cloudhawk was just happy to save his strength. If they were willing to help him bring Belial down then he didn¡¯t care what their motivations were. Cloudhawk told his guide, Jara, to remain here. He then gathered more information from the Eternals. The base had been constructed two hundred years ago for a singular purpose: So that Belial could collect Cursed from underground. What was Cursed Spar? It was the best kept secret of the Cursed Desert! Thousands of meters beneath the sands veins of the stuff slithered through the earth. It wasn¡¯t clear how these massive crystals were formed, but they were big and were spread all across the desert. Strong ass drill tips and thick as a man, they were called Cursed Spar because they could only be found beneath the Cursed Desert. The crystals were unique in that they continued to grow bigger and stronger with time. The Cursed Desert¡¯s sand ran deep and it was not a good environment for excavation. Only the mountains had solid enough foundation for Belial to dig out tunnels. It was for this reason he brought the Eternal to Kesjir, eliminated the natives then built this place over the span of two hundred years. He began to mine the spar and use it for energy to keep Kespir running. All the ants and the Eternal were Belial¡¯s labor force. The undying humanoids in particular were useful servants. The oldest among them had served Belial for hundreds of years. ¡°What do you say?¡± Cloudhawk shared a wordless look with his companions. With a hissing chuckle, Abaddon spoke up. ¡°What they call Cursed Spar is what we call ¡®Source.¡¯ The material needed to make new gods and demons. If it¡¯s growing beneath the desert, then the seed must be nearby.¡± ¡°Source?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°What is it?¡± The demon¡¯s red eyes flickered. ¡°I know only a little on the subject. After all, there is no Source in Gehenna.¡± Cloudhawk frowned. Was this rat bastard hiding something from him? But whether he was or not, since they were here he might as well learn more. Cloudhawk turned back to the Eternal¡¯s leader. ¡°We came here to find Belial. Take us to him, I¡¯ll get the Black Heart for you.¡± They couldn¡¯t stand around and let the Elder of the Tenth Seal slip away. He might not want to get involved in the coming war, but he had skills Cloudhawk needed. Being the best artisan of his race, escape would not be so easy. What Belial wanted was irrelevant. But there was another matter. He wanted to find proof that the gods were a threat to humanity. The answers to everything were buried beneath his feet, Cloudhawk just needed to dig it out. 1. Hey, where have we seen huge crystals before? Book 7, Chapter 53 - Crystal Spirits Book 7, Chapter 53 - Crystal Spirits ¡°Here?¡± Cloudhawk was led to a huge passage barred by a set of gates. It delved deep into the earth and at the far end, he could make out the faintest bit of light. Husk, the leader of the Eternal, gave an affirmative nod. Belial was down there, but what he was up to was a mystery. The Eternal explained that they could only lead him here. No further help was possible. So long as Belial held the Black Heart, they had neither the courage nor power to rise against him. The foul relic had the power to override their thoughts and turn them into mindless, ever-living zombies. What¡¯s more, the Heart could compel them to act on his command. They could be a hundred times stronger than they were now and it would mean nothing in the face of the demon. Below, where other defenses lay, the Eternal would be more of a detriment to Cloudhawk than a boon. After some thought, Cloudhawk saw the logic. It wasn¡¯t a problem, because he had no choice. Despite the dangers he knew what he had to do. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out as we go along. Let¡¯s head in.¡± Him and his crew stepped into the tunnel and made their way deeper into the earth. By the time they reached the distant light they discovered that it wasn¡¯t an exit, but an entrance. Cloudhawk had used a significant amount of time and resources carving into this crystal and had created a fissure. It was insignificant to the crystal as a whole, but plenty large enough to allow passage. The Eternal claimed this crystal had formed over thousands of years. In that time it had continued to grow until it spread out all through the desert. With time it would continue to spread and grow firm until it was hundreds of kilometers wide ¨C all one solid piece. It was a strange formation. Who had ever seen a single crystal that was a hundred kilometers in diameter? Something that large couldn¡¯t be called a crystal anymore, it was like its own small planet. The purity of it was also infinitely close to perfect. It was dense and uniformly shaped, like a work of art. Without a doubt, something this flawless was not natural. It had to be a cover for the gods¡¯ secret base here on earth. The seed they left behind. Could this massive crystal be the ship that would eventually burst from the ground? The whole thing stank of divinity! But as Cloudhawk thought about it, he second guessed the theory. When he thought back to the memories from the crystal, he remembered that the ship they sent to the planets was a single drop. Those teardrop-like spacecraft were simple, no more than a thousand meters long and seemed more liquid than crystal. This stuff in front of them was different. It was much, much larger. What¡¯s more, it was packed with more energy than Cloudhawk could believe. It was even more condensed than eboncrys. The black crystals they used for energy grew from the energy of the universe. They were a strong driving force for production and could improve the destructive power of whatever it joined with. It¡¯d become the core driving his Alliance¡¯s progress. Both cursed spar and eboncrys were crystals formed from energy. Eboncrys, in a way, was just a more efficient sort of coal albeit with more condensed energy. This so-called cursed spar was different. All the energy it contained was virtually incorporeal, meaning that even if it were released all at once it wouldn¡¯t have much of an effect on its surroundings. It couldn¡¯t be used to power a factory or strengthen weapons. The power inside cursed spar was mental energy. Mental energy wasn¡¯t measured by physics or biology. It was a higher form of energy that didn¡¯t directly interact with the physical world. What it could do was reach into the deeper parts of matter and change its fundamental resonance. It affected and adjusted things on a quantum level. That was how a demonhunter¡¯s power worked. So in other words, cursed spar was mental power in highly condensed form. If Cloudhawk gathered all the demonhunters of Skycloud, the sum of their mental strength wouldn¡¯t add up to one one-thousandth of this crystal. If all of this crystal¡¯s power was released it might not offer much in the way of energy, but the mental storm would be apocalyptic. Spectacular! Cloudhawk led the way. Frost, Autumn and Abaddon followed. All at once it was as though they stepped into a dream. The crystal was similar to ice in how light warped through it, only it clung to the surface like a halo. ¡°Careful. Something¡¯s not right.¡± Cloudhawk felt something drawing him. It was like his soul was trying to leave his body and become devoured by the crystals. Powerful mental energy thrummed all around them, so dense that it was overwhelming his mind and blunting his danger sense. ¡°Cloudhawk, are these crystals and the spirit orbs the same?¡± Autumn asked the question, and it made sense that she would make this connection. In one of the worlds Cloudhawk traveled to, they found those spirit creatures whose essence contracted into a spirit orb when they were destroyed. They were the same, dense collections of mental energy. He¡¯d worked closely with Autumn and the Shepherd God, using these crystals to enhance his power and even affixed them to relics he created. Autumn immediately made the connection based on this experience. And she was right ¨C the similarities were striking. It would take all of the Elysian lands hundreds of years to mine all this crystal. The value would be incalculable. After all, mental energy could do anything! It could change matter at the desire of its wielder. An example that perhaps didn¡¯t do it justice, was to call this crystal a universal voucher. You wanted water? Done. Soil? Easy. Gold? More than you can use in a matter of minutes. Food? There at your fingertips. There simply was no way to put a price on a crystal this size. If this could all be excavated than all the desires of every living thing on this planet could be realized. The discovery of this crystal was of huge importance and implications. ¡°Yeah, more or less. But there is a difference,¡± Cloudhawk revealed. ¡°I can feel that there¡¯s something else in these crystals other than mental energy. I can¡¯t tell what exactly, yet. We¡¯ll have to take some back with us and examine it more closely.¡± This place had to have some connection to the divine seed. According to Abaddon, they called it Source. Cursed spar was what the locals called it, but its true name was ¡®The Source of Gods and Demons.¡¯ Source crystals. They were the embryos from which those mighty creatures were conceived. ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡± The warning came from Frost, who was taking up the rear of their party. All of a sudden Cloudhawk felt a shift in the air and a number of black shapes closed in. Somehow they¡¯d managed to surround them without him noticing. What the fuck? Did Belial set up an ambush? Cloudhawk raised his left arm and a shield of white light was summoned. The attackers crashed against it then shattered as though they were made of smoke. ¡°Strange,¡± Autumn whispered. ¡°They aren¡¯t real!¡± As she made the observation, they watched the smoke get sucked into the surrounding crystal. It used the spirit power of the crystals to reform its body. Abaddon waved his hand and a volley of sand arrows was formed. However, as they struck the crystal surface they left only tiny scratches a few centimeters deep. Meanwhile, the creatures within could move through the space at will. This was a problem. The crystals were hard a diamond. Since their attackers weren¡¯t wholly physical they could move through the crystal surface without issue. The space within the Source was their world, and they could lash out at then as they passed without fear of reprisal. A few moments later they could see more of these black shapes hiding within the walls. Suddenly Cloudhawk and his allies found themselves neck deep in trouble. They were in enemy territory with no way to fight back. Even Cloudhawk for all his strength couldn¡¯t destroy the crystals and get to the smoke. ¡°This is a problem,¡± hissed Abaddon. ¡°We appear to be surrounded.¡± Autumn couldn¡¯t shake the burning fear that the Eternal had led them into a deathtrap. 1. His name is ¡®black husk¡¯, but I dropped the black. Husk was plenty descriptive. Book 7, Chapter 54 - Source Book 7, Chapter 54 - Source Figures began to emerge from the crystals. Where the Source was hard as diamonds for Cloudhawk¡¯s people, to these spirits they were as malleable as water. Once they exited the crystals their spectral bodies began to give off light. It was the condensation of powerful energy, enough to harm physical matter. Like swords they lashed out at the intruders. No fancy skills, no special abilities ¨C just pure and brutal energy delivered with incredible speed. Crack-crack-crack! Cloudhawk¡¯s shield was subjected to a flurry of blows. Thankfully these monsters had no intelligence to speak of. They threw themselves at Cloudhawk without any tricks, but their attacks came quickly almost one on top of the other. It was becoming troublesome. What were these things? Cloudhawk glanced into the crystals, narrowing his eyes for a better look and then suddenly freezing in place. Whatever was locked in those crystals was humanoid. Some of them were so blurry he could only make out the outlines, but others he could almost make out clothing and for a handful even features were visible. People. They were people. More specifically, demonhunters. They stared with empty eyes and slack expressions. Judging by their clothes, they came from various eras and Elysian lands. The only similarity was that they were all demonhunters, and capable ones at that. ¡°These are spirits!¡± Cloudhawk hardly believed he was saying it. Could these be the same sort of spirits he first say on the spore planet? Spirits ¨C ghosts ¨C were a special sort of entity that were created with the help of circumstance and environment. They were exceedingly rare to be created naturally, and those that did emerge lasted only a short time. ¡°Look at their clothes. Demonhunters from the Elysian lands.¡± As Autumn spoke she was able to make out family crests emblazoned on their clothes. There were even a few Cloude and Polaris family members. ¡°They didn¡¯t come from this area, they were brought here and locked in the crystals.¡± Demonhunters from all across the world¡­ how could this happen to them? Surely it would have garnered attention if all these demonhunters went missing. Someone would have demanded a search. Of course they would come home empty-handed, but to appear all the way out here as spirits in a cursed desert? It seemed unlikely. Stranger still, there had never been news of demonhunter disappearances. There had to be thousands of bodies in the crystals and that¡¯s just what they saw now. What else would they find as they pushed further in? Demonhunters were heroes of their realms, warriors of awakened psychic power. Thousands of them ¨C whatever the realm ¨C were of huge worth. It stood to reason that so many being stolen and turned to spirits would leave some sort of trace. A troubling thought leaped to the front of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. It fixed its hooks into him and he couldn¡¯t shake it. ¡°They¡¯re corpses.¡± Frost and Autumn weren¡¯t sure what he was getting at. Yet before he could elaborate, Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was wracked with stabbing pain. His defenses faltered and several of the spirits managed to slip through. Autumn reacted quickly, lashing out with an incisive light. The spirits were cut apart and she raced to Cloudhawk¡¯s side to help him fall back. ¡°Cover us!¡± Abaddon raised his arm and summoned sand from thin air. They coalesced into a barrier, replacing Cloudhawk¡¯s protections. From the moment the spirits couldn¡¯t break through. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk felt like someone was driving a knife into his brain. Flashes of visions, memories, flooded his mind. Were this from the Demon King? In the space of a moment he understood. ¡°I get it. Over a thousand years there are more dead than living. More perished demonhunters than breathing ones.¡± He stopped for a minute to get his bearings. ¡°In every Elysian land there is one common thing they always say. When you die, your spirit is given to Mount Sumeru!¡± He was right. Elysian lands could be very different, but in death all were said to serve the gods eternally. So long as their faith was strong and their abilities recognized, death just represented shedding one¡¯s mortal body and ascending to the gods¡¯ side. This wasn¡¯t just some platitude. These were real souls! Spirits were a special kind of energy that made up one¡¯s essence. The soul is what allowed humans to cultivate and improve their mental power. As one''s spirit strengthened, so did their psychic abilities. At birth that spirit was weak, undetectable by any instrument, and gone when the body failed. One¡¯s soul dissipated out into the universe, only to be gathered again in the formation of a new soul when a new life took shape. What the gods did was create a place for these souls to live in so that they never dissipated. But that home wasn¡¯t Mount Sumeru. It was Source. The question as to why these crystals existed was closely tied to the human denizens of the planet! Gods destroyed planets. Tilled the soil to create Elysian lands. Cultivated humans. How was this any different from planting, say, an orchard of apple trees? When seedlings grew into mighty trees they bore fruit until eventually they stopped. But even without its apples the tree is valuable. At the very least, its wood is fuel. The six Elysian lands were nothing but huge energy factories. When people died their spirits were captured and brought here. For those of a certain strength, their mental prowess joined with their spirit. Condensed psychic energy, over time, crystallized to form Source. Over so many years billions of human souls were collected. The spiritual energy of millions of mighty demonhunters was gathered. This was the result. This was the fruit of their labor. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Autumn asked. The pain had subsided, but Cloudhawk¡¯s expression was dismal. ¡°I understand everything. I know why the gods came here. I know why the population withers and eventually dies.¡± Human spirits were a recyclable but non-renewable resource. The gods were after not just this spiritual energy, but psychic energy as well. The former allowed them to replenish their race while mental energy gave them a huge source of power. Converting lowly creatures like gods was no easy feat. When a human died, their spirit still retained a measure of the thoughts and feelings it had in life. If there was any resistance to godly dominance then the crystals never formed. It required unfaltering obeisance. What, then, was the most effective way to maximize production? Simple, establish a religion and get these stupid monkeys to worship you. Once that foundation of belief was settled then humans would happily give themselves up as fuel. As of today, untold millions had done just that ¨C potentially billions of souls robbed and millions of demonhunters transformed. That¡¯s what this giant crystal represented. And it would have continued until the entire species faded away if no one had stood up. In a few thousand years people would begin to find reproduction rates quickly declining. Those children that were born would have weaker wills so that, even though their bodies were strong, their minds would not grow. As fertility rates decreased, populations would collapse until the species became extinct. Gods would take all the billions of souls they siphoned and use it to build more gods. After their memories were formatted, the gods would move on to the next planet to continue the cycle of eternal consumption. ¡°They keep coming. I cannot hold.¡± Cracks were forming in Abaddon¡¯s sand shield. Angry spirits were attacking from all directions. Frost brandished Ashfall and cut down the shadows that slipped through. ¡°They don¡¯t seem to think, just attack anything that gets nearby. There should be a way to avoid them.¡± Cloudhawk brought his mind back to the present. With a flick of the wrist he cast out the Cube and reality was split into boxes. Like interspatial building blocks they created a barrier around Cloudhawk¡¯s crew. Mindlessly the spirits flung themselves into the pocket dimension. Trapped within, they were no longer a threat. Dealing with the things were easy, it was like opening a bag and just letting flys wander in on their own. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Cloudhawk gathered up his power, extended it around the others and teleported them through the tunnel. He ignored the countless spirits that emerge to thwart them in a headlong rush to the crystal¡¯s heart. His goal was already achieved ¨C this place would prove what future the gods had in store for mankind, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He had to stop Belial. 1. Tipsy indeed hinted at this a long, long, long time ago with an offhand comment about spirits and Mount Sumeru. Unfortunately I can¡¯t remember the chapter, but if someone finds it you win a virtual cookie. 2. 3. Hellflower entered the cube for a day of study. She was looking forward to spending as much time as she needed with her books and experiments. Yes, as she stepped inside a sea of soulless black eyes turned her way. ¡°What the f-...¡± Book 7, Chapter 55 - The Elder Encounter Book 7, Chapter 55 - The Elder Encounter Belial possessed over one thousand four hundred years of memories and countless experiences. Never had he felt so ill at ease. He was running out of time, the base he¡¯d striven so long to build would be his tomb unless he escaped immediately. Another war? Those fools in Gehenna! What makes you think you can defy destiny? You are all too stupid to recognize you¡¯re just an aberrant offshoot. Mistakes! Your paltry numbers mean nothing against the gods. Belial hissed the caustic thoughts to himself, but moreover he felt that there was an even darker threat behind the gods. They were doomed, all of their sacrifices were in vain. Failure and destruction were their only future. Winning free-will had been so difficult. Why throw it away? Belial¡¯s life was potentially limitless and he had the skills to build almost anything. All the more reason to cherish his life. He would not follow some self-styled king like a moth to the flame. But nor could he fight back. And so before the looming shadow of dominance was cast over him, he had to run. Go far away where they would never find him. Out among the stars. The endless, black ocean that was the universe. To some corner even the gods would never look, where the shadows didn¡¯t reach. That would be his haven, but he knew the gods were close. His time was short. Belial was still wrapped in his human skin, that of an old man. Though decrepit in appearance it hid the demon¡¯s true strength. Floating in the air a dark power enveloped him, spreading out across the space and swallowing it up, as though the Elder was the center of his own universe. An orb of infinite mass hung before him like a ball of fire, rotating on an axis. This was a relic of Belial¡¯s construction whose purpose was to gather up the spirits in nearby crystals. These unfortunate souls were dragged into the orb as though by cables, and though they tried desperately to escape they struggled for nothing. The wailing souls thrashed in a storm of energy, swallowed up as fuel for the dark flames. The orb continued to swell and grow hotter, but not a physical heat. It came from intense, condensed mental energy. Flows of psychic power reached from the fires to surround Belial. The Elder transformed it into his own power, empowering his own substantial abilities ten times over. Even more frightening, the boost seemed permanent. In front of Belial, several artifacts were frantically chipping through the crystals at five or six meters a second. Typically he would not be so brazen, for the God King would know if one tried to drill into a Source core. Supremes on the planet would be made away, and would come to stop it. Strong though Belial was, he was not strong enough to face five Supremes. But things were different now. He knew the Demon King¡¯s successor had defeated four of them, and the two gods that remained were in Cloudhawk¡¯s service. None were left to stop him. Belial was, however, keenly aware that the Demon King¡¯s successor would not just leave him be. He was left with no choice but to abandon caution and flee with as much haste as possible. Ten Eternal flanked him as a contingent of guardians. These were true puppets, different from the others above ground. Each one had been carefully selected and strengthened by Belial, and their wills entirely subjugated. What remained were powerful, utterly loyal guardians. The Elder looked at a small cage held by one of the Eternal. Within, a small golden bird fluttered and pecked, struggling for freedom. Light had begun to gather on its feathers. He¡¯s here. This little bird had been dispatched to spy on him by the Demon King¡¯s successor. When Belial spotted it, he laid a trap and captured the creature. But instead of destroying it he kept the thing in a cage of his own making. Cloudhawk would be unable to sense his divine beast, but the bird could sense its master. Through their link, Belial was able to know when Cloudhawk drew near. But he did not think the bastard would come so quickly! It didn¡¯t matter. Everything was prepared. The Soul Furnace he created continued to devour the spirits nearby, further bolstering his strength. Even if his foe was the Demon King¡¯s successor, Belial now had the power to fight back. As though on cue, the air warped nearby and four figures emerged. They stood a few dozen meters away, encased in a strange power that segmented reality into blocks. It filled the space with waves of potent spatial energy. ¡°Elder Belial. We meet again.¡± ¡°I see you fail to keep your promises, despite being successor to the Demon King.¡± ¡°Do you think you can escape the gods using their own ship? That sort of plan hardly seems possible.¡± Cloudhawk was not shamed or angered by the demon¡¯s accusation. Instead he made his pleas. ¡°Anyway, what made you think the new Demon King would be honest and upstanding? You¡¯ll find that sometimes I¡¯m not so trustworthy.¡± ¡°You...¡± The demon¡¯s human mask darkened into a scowl. There was no talking Cloudhawk down. All he could do was use his men to seal off the area and fight. He was confident this whelp couldn¡¯t defeat him in his own territory. Cloudhawk felt his surging power and warned the others. ¡°He¡¯s going to fight. Be careful.¡± He wasn¡¯t stupid enough to underestimate a demon Elder. Belial was part of the highest echelons of his race. Others might have had more combat ability, but that just highlighted his other skills. No ordinary man or demon was his equal. To look down on the artisan meant death. He remembered the fight between Judas and Arcturus, where the lesser Elder forced Arcturus into a corner. But a thousand years ago, he would not dare to stand tall in the presence of Belial or Legion. Right after Cloudhawk¡¯s warning, Belial made his move. His potent mental energies were released to take control of the Eternal. Their already empowered bodies grew stronger still as they launched toward Cloudhawk with surprising strength. Abaddon reacted this time, flinging the Gospel of Sands out into the air. It burst apart and formed a barrier of sand. It was no ordinary wall, of course. Ten direct missile blasts wouldn¡¯t be enough to break it down. However it was as fragile as paper in the face of Belial¡¯s puppets. This took the lesser demon by surprise. ¡°So strong?¡± By the time the thought was formed one of the puppets was before him. Its right arm reformed into a sword, but Abaddon used a blade of sand to deflect it. A second Eternal closed in to attack half a step behind. This one came slicing toward his head. It struck! Suddenly Abaddon¡¯s form exploded into a barrage of yellow arrows. The two Eternal were peppered by them, leaving gaping wounds. In the instant before being hit, Abaddon had replaced himself with a sandy copy so he could retreat. Once struck, it exploded like a grenade. But although an ordinary living thing would be slain outright, it did nothing to the Eternal. Those pieces of them that were shot through recovered in a matter of seconds. They just continued their assault. Frost moved in between to intercept, but even at his current strength he could only handle two or three at a time and only for a little while. The power of these things seemed endless, but Frost could tire. Undying, untiring, eventually they would overcome the decidedly mortal Frost. Belial, meanwhile, did not engage. He manipulated his puppets to keep Cloudhawk and the others busy. Empowered by his strength, they were more than enough to keep his foes locked down. Indeed the Demon King¡¯s successor was not weak, but he was not strong enough. Not even a tenth of his predecessor. This being in the case, here within Belial¡¯s stronghold, how could he gain the upper hand? Were it not for his fear of Legion, the Elder would have slain Cloudhawk at the first opportunity. Do what you like and I will handle my own business! Why drag me under the waves you make? I will suffer your meddling no longer! So be it. Despite his fear of Legion and desire to avoid irritating the Elder, it was time to take more drastic measures. Book 7, Chapter 56 - Core Space Book 7, Chapter 56 - Core Space Belial tugged his invisible threads controlling the Eternal. They lurched toward Cloudhawk, attacking the intruders with lethal intent. Four at once went after the Demon King¡¯s successor. Their arms reformed into solid black pikes which they flung toward their quarry. On the surface they didn¡¯t seem to be formed of energy but of darkness, like all the shadow of the world gathered together. Their strikes were strong enough to drill through mountains. Cloudhawk¡¯s cloak shifted in a non-existent breeze as power coursed through him. A wave of pale white power emerged, shoving everything away on all sides. Those dark spikes ground to a halt, hung in the air for two seconds and then began to dissolve inch by inch. What remained were clouds of black particles. Four of them had been caught in the blast, but instead of dissolving like their initial blows, they released beams of light protecting them from Cloudhawk¡¯s ire. Next his arms reached out. From within Cloudhawk¡¯s sleeves came two, four, eight, ten streams of silver light. Silver Serpents, dashing across the room like greased lightning. If time froze in that moment the liquid steel of them would be revealed, and they would portend death. Woosh, woosh, woosh! The Silver Serpents instantly shot through the puppets, at least for or fight each. The number Cloudhawk released kept increasing. If the aim of Cloudhawk¡¯s attack were just this, it would be ineffectual. But rather than just a ripping attack, the Silver Serpents were vessels to inject the puppets with Castigation Fire. Everything they touched were infected with hungry green light. The fires spread quickly. In a matter of seconds the puppets were writhing masses of cracked skin, their insides turned to ash. Spurts of Castigation Fire belched from fissures in their skin, from their eyes and mouths, until they were naught but columns of flame. Cloudhawk¡¯s hellish fires did not extinguish. Through his powers he ensured the victims continued to burn, heedless of their immortal bodies. Until his mental fortitude ran dry, these puppets would not be fit to keep fighting. Belial looked on with a wooden expression. ¡°Castigation Fire...¡± The relic of a Demon Elder! In fact, the former owner of that power had a history with Belial. Both were artisans and Elders. However, Belial¡¯s former colleague fell during the Great War. It was then his Castigation Fire fell into the hands of humans. Now, after so long, his old friend¡¯s relic was before him again. He could not help but feel the pang of yearning for those old days. Belial steeled his resolve. That old friend was as stupid as all the others. Blindly he followed the fallen Demon King, a choice which got him killed. He would not follow in the fool¡¯s footsteps ¨C just another meaningless sacrifice in someone else¡¯s war. Castigation Fire was troublesome. However, if you knew its secrets the response was clear! Belial breathed forth a torrent of pitch-black fire. It formed into smoldering orbs which crashed into the bodies of the burning puppets. Two fires of opposing origins combated, weaving through the Eternal until eventually it appeared Belial¡¯s power won. Castigation Fire withered and died within his guardians. Moments later, the puppets were restored. Surging power sent them back into the fray as strong as ever. Their bottom halves were vortexes of energy, and their upper halves were a flurry of dark weapons. Abaddon, Frost and Autumn put up a desperate resistance, each only able to hand two at a time. To add to their intractability, the puppets fought under Belial¡¯s guidance. They moved in and retreated together as a cohesive unit. Immortal bodies made them fearless in the face of attacks, and empowerment from the demon Elder made them all the more brazen. The four intruders were quickly locked down. Frost swung his spear around, whipping it through the puppets. His enemies took the strike, allowing the spear to run them through. Their dark powers held the weapon ¨C and Frost ¨C in place. They raised their black weapons to cut him down. He was in danger of being beheaded, then ¨C woosh! He thrust his left hand and the spear released a thin gash of light. It fended off the deadly blow, giving him enough time to wrench his spear free. But as he was getting his footing, two more puppets moved in. With a sword in his left hand and the spear in his right, he fought off their attacks. What he could not find was a way to fight back. Under their assault his guard was slipping. The same scene was repeating near Abaddon. They were being overwhelmed, especially since Belial could coordinate his puppets against them. The shrill tone of a flute filled the air. The Eternal froze as though caught in a mire. In the same instant vines appeared from the ether and formed a temporary barrier. For the moment, they had time to catch their breath. This conflict far exceeded Autumn¡¯s skill, so she allowed the Shepherd God to take control and flood her with power. But the Shepherd God¡¯s skills were in summoning, which sadly were not very useful here. Belial was a strong opponent, and his many relics gave him tremendous advantage. Once again, Belial sought to turn the tide. Another burst of dark fire exploded from him like a flood. As they washed over the Shepherd God¡¯s vines, her summoned foliage was instantly reduced to ash. That inky darkness hung in the air for a moment then formed into a roaring dragon. This was not normal fire. Cloudhawk could sense that this power was impossible to defeat directly, even by the likes of Castigation Fire. The only explanation was that it was a relic meant to protect against his green fires. Belial¡¯s black counterpart had incredible destructive power and limitless energy. Cloudhawk feared before long the entire place would be swallowed up by it. ¡°Handle these things!¡± Cloudhawk shouted at the others. Before his allies could react, he threw himself at Belial. Charging straight through the evil flames, he grabbed the demon Elder by his arms and summoned his spatial powers. It was a dangerous and foolish act, one Belial hadn¡¯t been prepared for. Cloudhawk¡¯s teleportation skills were now almost instantaneous. Unless one avoided his touch, it was hard to interrupt him. By the time Belial realized what was happening, it was already too late. The landscape around him shifted from a cramped tunnel to another place peppered with crystals. Cloudhawk¡¯s strategy was simple; teleport Belial away from where he was strongest. Hopefully it would break his hold over the Eternal puppets, leaving them with only their own powers to rely on. Things would go much smoother for Autumn and the others. As for this guy, Cloudhawk would deal with him alone. But to his surprise, Belial was not upset at being forcibly removed from the crystal. Instead, his face lit up. ¡°This is it! It¡¯s here!¡± What the fuck is he so thrilled about? Belial had thought he would have to dig for many more days before reaching the center, but Cloudhawk had brought him directly to the core of the Source. In trying to defeat him, the Demon King¡¯s successor had delivered him to what he wished! Here they stood, at the heart of what the gods left behind. All the crystals around it formed later. Whatever the gods had left behind, buried under the earth, surely had to be right here. Book 7, Chapter 57 - The Metallic Divine Tree Book 7, Chapter 57 - The Metallic Divine Tree Chapter 57: The Metallic Divine Tree After teleporting Belial away from his allies, Cloudhawk looked around at their new surroundings. A shocking scene presented itself. It was very different from the jungle planet¡¯s divine factory. It was likely that the Demon King had adjusted it somehow for his own purposes after it had been abandoned. This place, however, was still true to its original construction. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, Cloudhawk would hardly believe it was real. Non-standard buildings composed of odd geometry hung suspended in air. There were no underground volcanoes or harsh environments, in fact it was calm and safe. A strange and beautiful building was in the center. Unlike the other minimalist structures, this one looked like a tree. Its surface was composed of a metallic substance that flowed like water. Its exterior was like colored glaze, but it had the mass and sheen of metal. Its roots burrowed deep into the ground and its branches spread upward to encompass half the space. Whatever this tree was, it was in operation. Six huge rings surrounded it spinning quickly. They seemed to be drawing energy from the surrounding space before disseminating it through the tree itself. This whole space was created by the tree. Beneath the jungle planet Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t seen anything this beautiful or complete. He could tell by the energy it released that the tree was central to everything. Perhaps, he thought, the six rings surrounding it represented the six Elysian realms. Indeed, he saw differences. One ring was inert, another slow and dim. The four remaining spun easily and burned with light. If he had to guess, the stopped ring probably represented the Shepherd God¡¯s long-fallen realm. Meadow¡¯s enchantments had failed and its population was in decline. Faith was no longer widespread. As such, no more souls were provided and the ring went quiet. As for the dimmer ring? That one had to belong to Skycloud. After years of turmoil and tragedy, the faith of Skycloud¡¯s citizens had been shaken. It did not provide the same energy it once did, but there were still many who believed in the gods. For now at least, it provided some energy to the tree. The remaining four rings glowed brightly. Dragenmere, Praelius, Stormford, Highmorn. The four Elysian realms continued to provide energy for the tree and all the Source around it. This array ceaselessly gathered the souls of mental energy of fallen Elysians, resulting in the massive crystal all around them. A billion people could live for a century off the Source that had formed by now. Food, energy, anything they needed could be provided by this strange power. IF the gods were to arrive today they would already have a huge surplus in relation to what they left behind. But, there was no ship! Cloudhawk found it strange, where did that droplet-shaped vessel go after it crashed to earth? Could it have transformed itself into the tree? No ship, but when Cloudhawk looked closer he did see something else. Among the liquid boughs of the tree he could see small things darting around. They were like tadpoles, racing through the structure to a central point. Cloudhawk looked at the Elder. ¡°Belial, your expectations have failed you. No ships, no portals. No way for you to escape.¡± Belial¡¯s face was as dark as ocean waters. According to the information he¡¯d gathered, there had to be a way to escape this planet here. He still had faith, escape was near he only needed to uncover it. But first, this troublesome human had to be dealt with. Without a word, the Elder pushed up his sleeves and prepared to fight. ¡°Hey now, cool it. There¡¯s no use fighting me.¡± The time for bullshit was done. In the demon¡¯s right hand, a ball of black fire sprang to life. In his right he summoned a burning sword of onyx. Thrusting it forward, fires as choking as a waterfall belched forth and enveloped Cloudhawk. Belial was not a typical foe. Even under typical circumstances, Cloudhawk did not have a major advantage. Worse still, the demon had found a way to enhance his abilities, strengthening every attack considerably. But if he couldn¡¯t block it directly, what was stopping Cloudhawk from dodging? The Demon King¡¯s successor was not some foolish upstart, young and inexperienced. He didn¡¯t know much about Belial¡¯s powers, but he did know his talent. As an artisan, the Elder would have all manner of relics and the benefits they provided. Until he knew more, he had to be careful. Their arena was a unique one. The crystallized mental power that surrounded them worked like spirit beads, but for the important distinction that Source was not pure. It was a mixture of psychic energy and human souls. Mankind had no way to tap into it. Belial, on the other hand, had created a special relic furnace. The furnace swallowed surrounding energies and converted it into usable energy. Source was refined into accessible mental power for the demon to use. In other words, Belial¡¯s power was limitless. He could fight until Cloudhawk was drained. Belial held the trump card and Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t stupid enough to fight a war of attrition. He used his pure spatial powers to avoid the attacks because it was all he could do. If he couldn¡¯t beat his enemy with brute force, perhaps he could win through agility. One blast of fire after another seared through the chamber, but none found purchase. The Elder paused, but only enough to gather his strength. The fires did not disperse, but instead gathered into platforms like hellish lotus flowers. Cloudhawk watched the strange scene as Belial used them to race across the chamber. As he renewed his assault, the flowers shot forth like fiery pythons. They wrapped around Belial protectively, capable of attacking whatever came near. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how to answer the new threat. Meanwhile Belial activated several more relics. Huge dark wings emerged from his back that increased his speed a dozen fold. Ignoring Cloudhawk frozen in defensive position, he raced directly for the heart of the seed. Cloudhawk thought to try and stop him but held back. He couldn¡¯t stand in the demon¡¯s way regardless, not in his state. But it didn¡¯t matter. The gods¡¯ ship wasn¡¯t here. Belial¡¯s wishful thinking was doomed from the start. Instead of chasing him down, better to let the Elder discover the truth for himself and let those hopes die. Beneath the demon¡¯s feet danced a dozen gouts of flame. A pair of enormous wings beat furiously, driving him forward. In his left hand the dark furnace continued to spat power, while he wildly brandished his sword of flames in his right. Like an avatar of destruction he rose to the canopy of the divine tree. The power that poured off of him was stifling, unimaginable. This was the power of a demon Elder ¨C true and terrible strength. No one Cloudhawk had met so far ¨C Not Arcturus, or Judas, or even Legion ¨C could match Belial. He knew it had to do with the artisan¡¯s methods. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t now know what strength Legion had possessed in his heyday, nor did he know the full extent of his own legendary predecessor, the Demon King. Belial was at a loss. He was the greatest builder of his people, so he had a keen eye. This had to be the tool gods used to escape the planet, but he saw no indication this was true. How could that be? Was his intelligence so wrong? He glared at the flowing metal structure. It was huge, there had to be some secret within. The gods left this behind and sometime afterward it took the shape of this tree. The liquid metal was its shell, strong and protective, but not impermeable to the demon Elder. Several metal discs appeared and descended upon the enchantment. They clung to the tree¡¯s surface like a plaster. Belial activated his relic to make them fuse together and pull, forcing a gap in the tree¡¯s defenses. Only just then, the earth shook ferociously as though wracked by an earthquake. The entire chamber rattled as the tree recognized a threat. An imperial and domineering will invaded the minds of Belial and Cloudhawk. ¡°Intruders! Die!¡± Book 7, Chapter 58 - Destruction Book 7, Chapter 58 - Destruction It should have been expected. The gods would not leave their future undefended. The metallic surface of the tree began to swell in odd places. It was the tadpole like things, which too were made of metal. They pushed out from the surface and whipped their tails at the intruder Belial. Cloudhawk and the demon both saw it. The creatures they saw at tadpoles were actually a sort of sack. Inside were shapes, humanoid outlines encased in divine armor. These were gods, fetal divinity growing within the tree. Boom-boom-boom-boom! Each one of the tails struck like a missile. Belial raised his hand to summon a shield, protecting himself from their ire. The intensity of it caused his shield to bow. So many¡­ there had to be hundreds of these sacks and more were appearing every second. Each one of them was the beginning of a new god. Hundreds, maybe thousands of them from a single tree! Even one god was trouble. They enjoyed limitless lifespans, tremendous power and a unified will. It was not surprising, then, that Cloudhawk had trouble believing so many could come from this tree. Was this how they multiplied? How many gods were there? He could see that Belial was almost completely swallowed up by liquid metal. With speeds faster than the naked eye could follow, the tadpoles assailed his shield from all sides. Were it not for the perpetual energy from his dark furnace, the Elder¡¯s defenses would have already failed. The attack he faced was brutal and straightforward. They continuously launched kinetic blasts of energy, stolen from the power of the godly bodies contained inside. Cloudhawk saw it all from nearby, certain that these were real gods and not the lifeless armor he¡¯d seen on the jungle planet. They released powerful mental attacks on top of the protective sacks¡¯ own power. However, they were still too underdeveloped to attack at full strength. They couldn¡¯t use relics or fight their way out of the membranes, and so fought from within. Godly society was clear-cut. They were separated into the upper echelons and lesser gods. Supremes, the upper crust of their race, were leaders and elite. Their appearance was rare by comparison whereas lesser gods were the grunts. They were much greater in number, but weaker in strength. Facing them now were the godly soldiers. They didn¡¯t rise to the level of the Cloud or Light gods, much less Marshals like the Dragon and War gods. But that didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t trouble. All were comparable to a weaker Master Demonhunter. Gods were born warriors. They possessed great mental strength and formidable defenses. With the wealth of knowledge that came from their unified society, even the strongest humans were at a loss. Against hundreds or thousands of them, the fear was real. Belial was on the back foot. He focused on keeping his defense engaged. Although the tadpoles were underdeveloped and couldn¡¯t leave their tree, it didn¡¯t mean they were weak. Under a concentrated and continuous attack, even someone as strong as Belial was at risk of collapse. Crack! At last it happened. After a thousand consecutive attacks, the Elder¡¯s shield failed. One of the tadpoles slipped through and darted toward Belial with the speed of a bullet. He summoned his mental power to create whirring black sickles, which carved the tadpole in half. There was a crash. The sack sloughed to the ground and vomited forth the immature god. It struggled limply for a few moments then grew still. Without the nourishment of the tree, the fetus quickly began to fade. But the tree reacted quickly. It sent out a tendril of liquid metal that scooped up the body and dragged it back inside. Once safely within the odd womb, its wounds recovered and the young god¡¯s will came reawakened. Only by completely destroying the membrane and the god inside could you put them down for good! At last Belial understood that he couldn¡¯t overcome this tree, not with all the fetal gods inside. It dawned on him that his desperate plan for escape had failed. There had never been any hope of success. The attacks continued to grow in speed and savagery. Even with his empowered abilities, Belial¡¯s impermeable defense had faltered. It took only an instant for him to be struck several times, suffering a number of wounds. More of the tadpoles were closing in with every passing second, gathering together to form a liquid metal cage. The Elder demon couldn¡¯t escape! Another wave of attacks resulted in the dark furnace being wrenched from his grasp and destroyed. Belial was helpless, but as the demon neared the precipice of destruction Cloudhawk reacted. From the onset Cloudhawk had hung back to watch the battle. He knew Belial was throwing himself into mortal danger and helping at the beginning would only have doomed them both. Instead he hid in interdimensional space and observed, waiting for the right moment when the tadpoles were all distracted by Belial. Now he knew the opportunity had come. He could sense the composition of this divine tree, an enormous divine forge that built new additions to their race. Leaping from between dimensions he appeared at the foot of the great tree with Godslayer in hand. Cloudhawk reared back and hacked it at the structure. For an instant the tadpoles froze. They recognized the danger almost immediately, however, and swung around to meet it. By then Cloudhawk had already appeared in the center of the tree. With another swing of his arm, Godslayer released a blast of black-purple lightning into the core. It filled the space and ruined everything it came in contact with. Belial, from the corner of his eye, watched him act. Inwardly he screamed. Bastard! He¡¯s trying to destroy the tree! He knew that the tree was indeed the godly ship, only changed. IF it was destroyed he truly would have no hope of escaping this doomed planet! Hundreds of tadpoles streamed toward the center of the tree, trying to kill Cloudhawk before he could do any more damage. But Cloudhawk was not Belial. He could be wherever he wishes. Every few seconds he blinked from existence and appeared somewhere else, each time cutting apart another swath of the tree. Godslayer left terrible destruction in its wake. At last the tree released an eerie, shrill sound, like the final gasp of some terrible beast. It collapsed in on itself, forming a lake of flashing metallic liquid. A grotesque rain of embryonic gods fell without the tree to support them. Book 7, Chapter 59 - Dialogue From a Thousand Years Ago Book 7, Chapter 59 - Dialogue From a Thousand Years Ago As the tree focused all its might on Belial, Cloudhawk struck. He destroyed it from the inside with vicious lightning, turning the magnificent tree into a puddle of liquid metal. The mystical effects it once possessed were gone forever. The many membranous creatures that lived inside of it had also perished. Tadpole sacks burst open, becoming part of the mercury-like substance they came from and raining down through the chamber like a glittering rain. Aborted gods that were within hit the lake surface with sickening impact. The entire scene was as astounding as it was grotesque. Unforgettable. It wasn¡¯t clear whether the silver fluid was harmful. To be careful, Cloudhawk deployed his shield. Droplets of liquid metal plinked off his defenses and pooled around his feet. With his sword slung over one shoulder and the white light around him, Cloudhawk sauntered over to one of the bodies. First he prodded it with his foot, then gave it a quick poke with the sword. Well, looks like they¡¯re dead. He was at last able to put his guard down. Hundreds or a thousand gods ¨C fully formed or not ¨C would have been too much for him to handle. That threat appeared to be eliminated. A quick flash of his sword and one of the armor casings cracked open! Cloudhawk hacked again and again, before like a crab the protective shell was removed. At last, the real form of the gods was revealed. ¡°What? Humans?¡± What lay inside the armor was the body of someone that looked a lot like Cloudhawk, only two and a half meters tall and radiating a gentle light. He had no hair or even pores, so the skin was a perfect jade-like texture. But still, decidedly human in appearance. It was hard to understand. These ¡®gods¡¯ didn¡¯t seem so different. For a wastelander like him he¡¯d see all assorts of hideous things; half-human things that dug through the earth and flew through the skies. A bald man, from the point of view of an ordinary person, gave the impression of strength not any sort of illness. Why were the gods so human-like? It didn¡¯t match with what he¡¯d seen before! Cloudhawk¡¯s pupils contracted and his vision, like x-ray beams, bore into the corpse. His organs had crystallized and the stagnant fluid in his veins was the same liquid metal that was all around them. So while the features were human it was clear their internal organs were much different. Cloudhawk straightened, rubbing his jaw. ¡°I see¡­¡± Could it be all the gods were as remolded as his friend here? What they looked like on the outside wasn¡¯t important, any race could be altered to become a ¡®god¡¯. But the question remained: Where did this race originally come from? It wasn¡¯t a ¡®chicken and egg¡¯ question. Transformation was not evolution, something didn¡¯t come from nothing. It was deliberate. The gods didn¡¯t just appear from a stone somewhere, something as perfect as the body of a god had to come from some complicated system. But what force led to their original creation? As Cloudhawk was lost in thought, he felt a malicious presence come up behind him. Belial was so full of rage that her eyes were bloodshot. Rings of black flame swirled around him, forming a storm of sizzling sickles. Without a word, he hacked at the hateful human that had stolen his freedom. He lashed out in a wave of fury. Hundreds of flaming bites roared toward his enemy. This old bastard doesn¡¯t know when to quit! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t dodge. He wasn¡¯t worried. Without the dark furnace Belial didn¡¯t have the endless mental reserves he did before. So he watched the Elder come without a hint of fear, and a glint of silver in his left eye. A large swath of the chamber had become a tempest of fire. The swirling black blades moved on erratic trajectories, but Cloudhawk saw where they would all end up. If he was determined to be so stubborn, what choice did Cloudhawk have? He¡¯d have to teach him a lesson. A plain sword wrapped in hideous purple lightning lashed out! In the same instant Belial activated the power of several more relics, all of which Cloudhawk saw with his Eye of time. With Immortal Godslayer in hand, he deflected them with little effort. Belial was unable to claim the treasure he¡¯d searched so long to find, but he did not possess a strong desire to fight any longer. Although the two combatants were close enough in strength, the Elder had already lost his will. What¡¯s more, Cloudhawk¡¯s mystical Eye negated whatever advantage Belial and his many relics possessed. Several dozen clashes followed. Belial was slowly losing ground. Cloudhawk suddenly called out to him. ¡°Elder Belial, haven¡¯t you realized that you can¡¯t escape the gods on your own? You know there¡¯s only one person on this planet that can help you get what you want.¡± His words gave Belial pause. He understood the human¡¯s point. You want to escape the encroaching battle? You want to leave this planet? With no way to get his hands on a spacecraft, the only one who could do what he wanted was Cloudhawk. He had a talent no one else possessed. With the power and knowledge of the former Demon King, Cloudhawk could fold space and step onto other worlds on a whim. The phase stone allowed him to travel as he pleased to any place his predecessor had visited. These other planets were far, far away from this doomed world. But to Cloudhawk, it was like stepping into the next room. In other words, he was the key to escaping this tomb. Perhaps the only one with the power. Even if the gods scoured the galaxy looking for defectors, finding any would be difficult. Yes. Although Belial was loathe to admit it, Cloudhawk was the final straw he could cling to. He didn¡¯t want to die, and if he wanted to survive he had to accept Cloudhawk¡¯s help. But that help didn¡¯t come for free. In accepting, he would inevitably be drawn into this new war where the only outcome he could imagine was death. There was no solution, the end seemed written no matter which way he turned. In Belial¡¯s moment of reflection, Cloudhawk drove Godslayer through his wreath of flames. With an opening revealed he kicked the demon Elder square in the chest. He was about to follow up by trapping him in the subspace cube when he noticed a change. Cracks appeared all over Belial¡¯s form, scrawling across him until his exploded! Wholly exploded! But in the midst of his shock, Cloudhawk¡¯s keen eyes saw the pieces begin to reassemble. A hulking figure encased in dark armor was revealed. The Elder¡¯s true demon form. Wings black as pitch extended from behind his shoulder blades, beating the air threateningly. Cloudhawk scowled, cursing the monster¡¯s stubborn nature. Only before they could proceed, circumstances changed again. From overhead the rain of silvery metal continued to rain down, filling the chamber. The lake it created rippled slightly as the fluid all gathered toward a central point. It formed into a sort of screen. Both Cloudhawk and Belial fixed their attention on it. What strange thing was this? A trap left behind by the gods? Sounds emerged from the screen. It was both tinny and obscured. ¡°Hello Cloudhawk. We finally meet.¡± Cloudhawk was dumbstruck. The stranger was certainly polite, but how did he know his name? Balial blanched. ¡°The God King!¡± Their ultimate enemy. It knew! It was poised to act! Their time had run out! Belial could feel the God King¡¯s power accumulating around them. Soon their lives would be forfeit. A metallic light extended from the screen. Like a spear it pierced through Belial¡¯s defenses and into his body. It ran him through and into the sturdy crystals beyond. What? Just one blow? He¡¯s an Elder demon! Cloudhawk was still frozen in place when the voice came again, this time clearer. ¡°I think you and I should have a conversation.¡± The Demon King¡¯s successor scowled. ¡°You¡¯re the God King?¡± From the screen came his response. ¡°I am responsible for maintaining order in this galaxy, so I wear many names. God King is one of them. Don¡¯t worry, we are a millennia apart. This is a message I am leaving you from a thousand years in your past.¡± ¡°You saw me a thousand years ago?¡± He asked. ¡°Indeed. I foresaw your arrival here and heard everything you said.¡± The screen began to shift, revealing a figure within the liquid metal. The being looked at Cloudhawk through the mirror. ¡°I am able to extend myself from my time to yours so we can speak.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face had grown pale. He was face to face with the God King from a thousand years ago. A thousand years! Back when the God King came here to defeat his demonic counterpart. Everyone knew the result of the Great War all those years ago. When the Demon King was defeated, the God King left this planet under the watchful eyes of the Supremes. Meanwhile the demons skittered into hiding, awaiting the day they might rise again. What they could not know was that the God King had seen it all ¨C a thousand years in the future, this young human would rise. So here they were, engrossed in a conversation a thousand years in the making. From generations ago the God King had struck out against the demon Elder Belial. Once again, Cloudhawk was shown that the God King¡¯s power was far greater than he ever imagined. 1. What the fuuuuuuuck! Book 7, Chapter 60 - dominance From the Pas Book 7, Chapter 60 - dominance From the Pas Cloudhawk had stolen a fraction of the God King¡¯s power through the Eye of Time. However, with the full breadth of his power he could only see an hour into the future. What¡¯s more, merely trying risked serious injury. He could also see clearly an hour into the past, but that appeared to be the limit of what mortals could accomplish. Seeing what this being was capable of¡­ it was beyond all of Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities to comprehend. The God King was able to have a talk with him from a thousand years in the past. In the same moment he defeated Belial with a single attack. There was no way to describe it other than surreal. No wonder the Demon King lost. The powers of space transcended location, but the powers of time had no restrictions. There was no question which one was stronger. Cloudhawk got his shock under control. There was no way around it, this was happening. He grit his teeth and resolved to face whatever came. ¡°What is there for us to talk about?¡± ¡°Heh¡­ although this is our first meeting, I have always known about you.¡± The God King¡¯s voice was calm. It did not sound particularly imperious or powerful. ¡°You may not know it, but you are very special.¡± A strange feeling crept into Cloudhawk¡¯s chest. It came with a thought. Was this creature really the King of the Gods? He¡¯d encountered a handful of gods so far and knew something about their way of thinking. They were emotionally indifferent, unified in thought and highly evolved in all aspects. In many aspects, godly society could be likened to that of ants. But gods were only gods when they were part of the whole. When one attained individuality, they were no longer considered ¡®godly.¡¯ That was the dooming quality that made them demons. Already in their brief exchange, Cloudhawk knew this one was different. In mannerism and speech, the greatest of the gods sounded¡­ ordinary. He could even hear the emotion in its voice. Nothing about the God King was like any of the other gods Cloudhawk had known. ¡°I know I¡¯m special,¡± Cloudhawk replied. ¡°No. You were never told what truly makes you special.¡± The God King stood on the other side of the mirror, its eyes piercing the veil of a thousand years to peer into Cloudhawk¡¯s own. ¡°This universe, with its countless wills and manifestations, has been searching for you over many eons. So many millions of civilizations have been birthed and faded into obscurity, until at last your very specific union of talent and blood. Your existence will shape the next cosmic era. That is why the Demon King chose you.¡± Cloudhawk was nothing but a speck in the eternal blackness that was the cosmos. When had he become so special? Special enough, the God King claimed, to shape the whole universe. What was it trying to tell him? It was bullshit. Cloudhawk was no scholar, but he did know that their planet was one small marble among an infinite number. Humanity was just another civilization existing in the blink of a cosmic eye. In a word, insignificant. Cloudhawk was fully aware of this fact. He didn¡¯t believe it, but there was a smal tinge of pride at being so praised by a creature like the God King. After all, its will spanned a thousand years and defeated Belial with a thought. ¡°Do you imagine that the Demon King is the leader of the rebels? That Legion is a selfless guide? Your predecessor is the true old guard, sworn to stubborn ancient ways. He attempts to gain immortality through you. He cares nothing for the universal order or its destruction. And Legion? A vile thief, nothing more. A clown who aches for center stage.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s brows furrowed. What was this creature telling him? ¡°Cloudhawk. Your existence cannot be allowed. But nor was it an accident.¡± As these words hung between them a string of thoughts rushed through his mind. The God King¡¯s words were pregnant with meaning. Was this all meant to be some campy reveal? That the Demon King had been the villain this whole time? That the God King was the savior of order? What a fucking joke. What was the point? Were they supposed to shake hands, forgive and forget? Horseshit, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t believe it for a second. ¡°Now let me see how much you¡¯ve grown.¡± As it spoke, the God King extended a finger toward the mirror. That bitter sense of danger washed over Cloudhawk and he knew the being was about to attack, BOOM! A burst of power that defied logic filled the chamber. Cloudhawk reacted, having learned by watching Belial¡¯s misfortune. In an instant he teleported two hundred meters away while activating several dozen of his defensive relics. Over it all was his repulsion field. A moment later, a surge of energy burst from the mirror. It tore right through Cloudhawk¡¯s defenses, even the field. All of a sudden he found himself engulfed in a storm from which he could not escape. Godslayer released thousands of lightning bolts to try and keep the attack at bay. The two powers clashed. For a moment they were locked in a violent stalemate. But it was clear right away that a vast gulf existed between them. Cloudhawk was nowhere near the God King¡¯s level. From a thousand years in the past, the God King attacked Cloudhawk. Even though he was defending himself in the current time, the power of the god from a thousand years ago still had the upper hand. There was no question who the weaker of the two was. Cloudhawk¡¯s mental powers were waning quickly. The God King¡¯s powers should be draining faster, but it was Cloudhawk who was reaching the point of collapse first. For ten minutes the deadlock persisted, a war between lightning and pure energy that warped space around them. It brought Cloudhawk back to his early days against Arcturus Cloude and how helpless he felt. It was laughable to think he could stand against the God King! He was outmatched. It was suicide! When the God King came to his planet would there even be a need to fight? This monster could end him with a wave of his hand. With his ability to see through time, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a chance. From the corner of his eye, Cloudhawk saw cracks beginning to appear in the mirror. There were limits to what the God King could accomplish from a thousand years ago. Its deluge of power was too great for the mirror to support. Once it shattered the attack would cease. Cloudhawk dug deep, releasing even more of his strength. Fire burned behind his eyes as psychic was summoned forth. At last the lightning broke passed the storm of energy and spread through the chamber, disintegrating the manifestation of the God King¡¯s power. The mirror was a collection of fragments now, loosely held together. ¡°I have given you sufficient time to grow.¡± There was disappointment in its voice. ¡°Unfortunately, this is all you can show me? There is no need to keep you.¡± The God King reached out with both hands. Around Cloudhawk, the lake of liquid metal started to seethe. It gathered into six large orbs that were the focus of the God King¡¯s power. With incredible speed, they shot toward Cloudhawk. He reacted by calling on Godslayer¡¯s lightning, tearing into the orbs one by one. But they just drank up the lightning without issue. Like a clay ox thrown into the sea, the power dissolved into nothing. A silvery fist launched from an orb. Crashing into Cloudhawk¡¯s body, the impact was deafening and bone-shattering. He staggered backward, only regaining his balance after a dozen steps. By then the orbs had surrounded him. What seemed like hundreds of those fists came crashing down like machine gun fire. In their wake reality warped, struggling to maintain. Cloudhawk felt like a frail child being attacked by an army of burly men. Only his god-like constitution and defensive relics kept him alive. A hundred strikes. A thousand. Ten thousand! A hundred thousand. A million! Cloudhawk lost count of how many blows he¡¯d suffered. All he could see was protect himself, instinctively wrapping himself in what mental power he could summon. He was like a fragile leaf being battered by a hurricane, at risk of being torn apart any second. Now he understood how insignificant he was in the face of his enemy. He was completely overcome, unable to fight back. Cloudhawk had thought he¡¯d become so strong, but it was shown that he was nothing in the face of the God King. No. He couldn¡¯t lose. If he failed then his entire species was doomed to extinction. Every living thing on this planet would be erased by these so-called ¡®gods!¡¯ I can¡¯t lose. I CAN¡¯T LOSE! Cloudhawk let his anger and despair empower him, releasing his potential. Like crackling arrows the lightning reached out, destroying a large number of the encroaching fists. But just this small victory cost him, for a bone-deep fatigue washed through Cloudhawk¡¯s body. Darkness came and swallowed him up. Unconsciousness. If the God King attacked now, there was no one to save him. Yet in a stroke of fortune the mirror reached its breaking point. The God King¡¯s power was cut off, though from across space and time it still could peer upon Cloudhawk¡¯s prone form. ¡°A little better than expected.¡± The cracks continued to reach through the mirror as the God King spoke, muttering to itself. ¡°Pity. Not strong enough. How I wish you could live. How I wish you could defeat me, instead of die by my hand.¡± His mournful words echoed through the chamber as at last the mirror broke apart. Book 7, Chapter 61 - Doomsday Shif Book 7, Chapter 61 - Doomsday Shif Cloudhawk dreamed. They were visions of chaos and peculiarity. He imagined himself as another species, living in a place of miracles and illusions. These creatures came to this dreamcape from other worlds, all possessing great mental powers. With a flick of their wrist mountains rose and fell. With a thought clouds parted and rain fell. All were like gods. They were a miraculous people whose reach extended to the stars. With no limit to what they could accomplish, they built a vast cosmic empire. Yet for reasons unknown, this great society which had lasted for countless generations fell into decline. For all the pride they had in their mental powers, they began to fade. Their immortal bodies began to wither. He watched as this magnificent species teetered on the edge of extinction. All living things lived and eventually died. All things waxed and waned. Even the universe would eventually pass into oblivion. Birth and death, creation and destruction ¨C they were twins born of the same source. Two sides of a mirror. There was no living thing that was immortal in the true sense. Nothing was indestructible. Societies ¨C like people ¨C aged and went into decline. Just as the young robust man cannot escape the march of time, neither could a species. It was the way of the universe. Fear took them. Panic. Their civilization came under threat from outside forces. The desire to live was a basic part of any creature or society, so with their incredible potential the species began a terrible experiment. An experiment that, once started, could not be stopped. Living things were inherently selfish. From the tiniest microbes to the largest civilizations, they were built on the destruction of lesser creatures. Cows ate grass, a disaster for the sprouts of green. Lions ate meat, and thus brought an end to the beasts of the field. Following this principle, humans did all within their power to build a better life. They cut down trees, cultivated the land, raised and slaughtered animals, fished the seas and so much more. Everything that humanity created was erected on a foundation of exploitation. With this in mind, what the grand civilization did next was understandable. As one of the greatest species in the universe, in order to preserve itself, it saw all other living creatures as a necessary sacrifice. Indeed, to them lesser species were akin to how humans saw cattle. Even smaller, for the gulf between these societies was so great. Those of inferior evolution were merely resources to be used for the higher purpose of continuing their dominance. Thus, the cataclysm of untold civilizations began. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t able to see all the details. These visions came in fits and starts, like a fever dream. After what seemed like only a short period his consciousness returned and his eyes shot open. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re awake!¡± The voice caused Cloudhawk to shoot up into a seated position. He patted himself down, finding serious but no life-threatening wounds. Nothing that his constitution and a few good nights of sleep wouldn¡¯t repair. Dawn was seated beside him, concern on her face. When Autumn and the others brought Cloudhawk back, Dawn couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. What was left on this earth that was such a threat to him? He wasn¡¯t just strong, he was unbeatable, achieving heights no human ever had. Dawn had begun to worry that Cloudhawk had fallen into a trap laid by Belial. The artisan was a demon Elder, after all, and they were known for their cunning. Only that thought disappeared when she saw the other body they were carrying. Belial himself, wounded even worse than Cloudhawk. She didn¡¯t have any explanation. After coming to, Cloudhawk was quiet for a long time. His encounter with the God King had gone very poorly. But as fatal as it had nearly been, it was a priceless wake-up call. Lately Cloudhawk¡¯s strength had given him an inflated sense of confidence. Since there was no one on this planet who was his equal, he had no metric to compare himself to. That turned into conceit. His vicious defeat at the God King¡¯s had was because he went in cocky and unprepared. What¡¯s more, he learned quite a lot from the exchange. Now it was time to plan his next step. After a little while he brought his mind back to the present. His loss didn¡¯t appear to affect him much. Cloudhawk had a sturdier ego than that. He¡¯d already shed the shame of his defeat when he looked at Dawn. ¡°Where¡¯s everyone else?¡± ¡°Outside,¡± she answered. ¡°What you found was amazing. We¡¯ve gathered enough evidence to prove what the gods were up to. The news has shaken Stormford to its core.¡± To its core? Well no shit. The secret base had a thousand god corpses lying around now, which alone was a fact that would blow the average citizen¡¯s mind. Beyond that there was also a Source crystal the size of a city. All of this would shatter everything the Elysians thought they knew. The perfect societies they cultivated were nothing more than cattle pens, and humans were the livestock. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Cloudhawk and Dawn left the bedroom and where immediately met with the noise of a city in chaos. Hundreds of thousands of people were marching in the streets, separated into various camps. Conflicts big and small were everywhere he looked. All the churches in the city lay in ruins. The situation was as follows: Stormford¡¯s leadership had formally declared their independence from the gods. Many in the city supported their decision, but there were still many who refused to believe the wealth of proof shoved under their noses. Dawn was indignant. ¡°What the fuck is their problem? Isn¡¯t it obvious by now?¡± ¡°I doubt it¡¯s religion. They¡¯re probably scared. We don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going to happen when war with the gods comes.¡± Cloudhawk watched the tumult unfold and heaved a sigh. ¡°We¡¯re so far beneath them.¡± His defeatism took Dawn by surprise. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He didn¡¯t hide anything from her, so he answered honestly. ¡°The God King and I fought.¡± His revelation hit her like a ton of bricks. ¡°What? You and the God King...¡± ¡°Actually, it was the God King from a thousand years ago. That¡¯s who I fought.¡± What the hell did that even mean? The God King from a thousand years ago? Even if Cloudhawk was a thousand years old, the sentence didn¡¯t make any damn sense! He walked her through the events within the Source crystal. She listened in shock, amazed that the God King could do what Cloudhawk claimed. Was he saying that their enemy knew what Cloudhawk would do a thousand years before he did it? ¡°This can¡¯t be right. If the God King knew about you, why not get here earlier to make sure you weren¡¯t a threat? If he knew exactly where you¡¯d be, he should have at least left a few Supreme gods to deal with you, right?¡± Dawn was filled with skepticism. ¡°IF the God King was really able to see that far in the future, there¡¯s no way you could have gotten this far.¡± Cloudhawk scowled at the weighed the situation. ¡°That¡¯s the crux of this problem. I think it has to do with the Great War. It was more complicated than we understand.¡± ¡°More complicated?¡± ¡°Even the God King¡¯s power over time has its limits. I¡¯m willing to bet it had to be in a certain place with a certain relic to access a time a thousand years in the future. But even if he can see and interact with the future, he can¡¯t go there. Maybe it can¡¯t even pinpoint the exact time things occur.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s one thing we can say for certain. The God King knows about me and where I would be ¨C but he didn¡¯t kill me. It wants me to get stronger.¡± ¡°Maybe it hasn¡¯t had a challenge for so long and is looking for an opponent?¡± Dawn surmised. ¡°A lot of the best run into this problem.¡± ¡°You underestimate the gods. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some deeper reason.¡± Whatever the case, if the God King wanted to kill Cloudhawk then he¡¯d had any number of opportunities to do so. Hell, he could have been silenced as a baby. But the God King did no such thing. That could only mean Cloudhawk was worth something to it. But he had felt it. There was definitely the intention to kill Cloudhawk in that attack. So Cloudhawk might be valuable, but also a threat. Probably that was the reason why the God King seems to be wavering between killing him and letting him live. He could tell from their exchange that the God King tried to kill him with a heavy heart. But even if it didn¡¯t want to kill Cloudhawk, there was precious little time for him to save himself and his species. Dawn asked the obvious question. ¡°So what should we do now?¡± ¡°Move.¡± He replied. ¡°Move? Move what?¡± Her confusion was clear. ¡°Everyone.¡± After this conflict Cloudhawk saw their shortcomings clear as crystal. It was not yet the time to face the gods, and being forced into conflict would only result in mankind¡¯s extinction. ¡°The army of the gods will be here soon and we can¡¯t fight them off. I¡¯m talking about an exodus. From this whole planet. We can¡¯t stay here.¡± Dawn looked at him with wide eyes, speechless. He wanted to evacuate everyone. Where? He was talking about a huge number of people! The first thing that came to her mind was the city beneath the jungle planet. Why not? Maybe the Demon King knew what would come and prepared the place for them. ¡°But we can¡¯t possibly transfer everyone.¡± ¡°We have no choice¡­ it¡¯s the end of the world.¡± Cloudhawk cast his gaze across the city and delivered the verdict in a low, sad tone. Dawn believed him. An unprecedented disaster was on its way. Book 7, Chapter 62 - Controlling Belial Book 7, Chapter 62 - Controlling Belial Chapter 62: Controlling Belial Belial awoke to find his hands and feet bound. Before him loomed a figure, who the Elder greeted with a scowl steeped in hatred. His appearance was human, however the truth was very different. The Elder artisan was a master, wearing skins like one might change clothes. The one called Wolfblade, however, used a different method. His transformations were far more clever and complete, turning him for all intents and purposes into a human. However, the sinister chill of his soul could not be hidden. Legion¡¯s dark presence was unmistakable. Wolfblade sat opposite Belial with a cup of tea in his hands. Three more stood behind him; a god, a demon, and a man ¨C The Cloud God, Abaddon and Frost de Winter. As Belial looked them over no thought of escape crossed his mind. This was not because he lacked confidence in his abilities, nor because he thought the others were stronger. Rather, Belial knew himself. Even though Wolfblade possessed only a tenth of his former power, and had transformed himself into a mere human, the sense of oppression the Elder felt was just as strong. It was the same feeling a mouse felt when faced with a cat. Sitting before him with such calm and poise, Wolfblade must know he has the situation well in hand. ¡°Good. You¡¯re awake, and I won¡¯t waste time with nonsense pleasantries.¡± Wolfblade set the cup aside. A small blue bead surreptitiously appeared in his hand. ¡°You understand the plight you¡¯re in and the decision you have to make. All that remains is whether you will make the choice yourself, or if I will have to help you.¡± His tone was even, but the implications cut like icicles. Belial felt cold to his bones. Legion¡¯s methods were in no way inferior to Belial¡¯s. He could deprive the artisan of wisdom, intelligence and power. If he wanted, the creature known as Wolfblade could turn Belial into a mindless husk to do his bidding. But a husk like that held no value. Belial wanted to avoid that dire fate as much as he wanted to avoid being Legion¡¯s enemy. All he did was merely for his own betterment ¨C he cherished his will, intellect and life above all else. For this reason, his choice was clear. The pearl Legion held was an item from Gehenna. A relic, but also a kind of medicine. When used, the bead dissolved into subatomic particles which permeated one¡¯s spirit. Once it infected the host there was no cure. It became a permanent shackle. With it Wolfblade was able to accurately pinpoint his target¡¯s location, leaving no corner for them to hide. The briefest thought, and the poison activated. Death in an instant. In other words, Belial had to make a very difficult choice. He was silent for a few minutes. Finally the choice was made. The bead dissolved into countless motes of light and entered through the pores of his hand. Pain wracked his body as the particles spread through every inch of him. Thankfully, it was over quickly. When he opened his hand the pearl was gone. Demons showed no expression through their armor, but it could be seen in their eyes. Grief. The virulent poisons from the pearl seeped into his soul and became part of him. From this moment forward, Belial was wholly under Legion¡¯s control. He was master. Belial¡¯s body contracted as it shifted once again from demon to human. The elderly skin he wore was renewed. With a respectful expression he approached Wolfblade and awaited instruction. After all, he was a creature who had lived for more than a thousand years. He knew what was proper. ¡°What are my orders?¡± The artisan was at least more willing to follow his kin than the brash and unreasonable successor to the Demon King. Legion¡¯s prestige was not tied to who held the mantle of leadership. Were he to return to Gehenna now, his followers would far outweigh anyone who would swear fealty to this human King. Wolfblade made his decree. ¡°It¡¯s time for the rite. This body is too weak.¡± Wolfblade looked at his hands. Indeed, this shell was inadequate. It couldn¡¯t wield enough of his true power. It was time to move on. The next Great War would soon begin. From what the Cloud God was able to ascertain, the divine army would arrive in roughly half a month. As Wolfblade, Legion did not command enough strength. Belial understood. ¡°The Rite of Reincarnation?¡± Belial knew that Legion and the former Demon King had captured the Sarcophagus of Rebirth. How exactly they managed that, he wasn¡¯t sure. All he knew was that the relic was priceless. Even the gods could not find another. To avoid the God King¡¯s gaze, Legion had used the Sarcophagus to reincarnate himself many times over the last thousand years. Wolfblade was only his latest shell. The Demon Elder of the Second Seal nodded. ¡°Yes. The Sarcophagus of Rebirth.¡± Belial felt his heart flutter. Suddenly a strange look crossed his face and he whispered. ¡°Has the Elder found a suitable vessel?¡± Wolfblade¡¯s eyes stared at him, unblinking. ¡°You have a suggestion.¡± ¡°Your subordinate would not presume. My Elder would not need someone else to point out the right path, especially not from an outsider with little prestige.¡± Belial was weighing his words carefully. ¡°The former Demon King must have selected Cloudhawk because their wills resonated. Were you to take the human¡¯s body, you would be the next Demon King. Without question, it would be a welcome ascension to all of Gehenna.¡± Small but significant changes appeared in the eyes of the Cloud God, Abaddon and Frost de Winter. Would Legion take Cloudhawk¡¯s body and assume the mantle of King? If he did, their master would take Cloudhawk¡¯s talents of spatial manipulation. With Legion¡¯s own mental powers his strength would surge. Demonkin and human kind would be unified. It would be an army worthy of fighting the Great War. ¡°Hehn¡­ a fair proposal.¡± Pleased with the compliment, Belial was about to go on when a wave of corrosive agony swept through him. It was like someone had injected the deepest parts of him with acid. The pain was indescribable, even a demon¡¯s iron will could not withstand it. Belial screamed and collapsed onto the ground. Acrid smoke rose off his body as veins bulged and burst all over him like agitated earthworms. He croaked his pleas, rasping from a throat that felt full of coals. ¡°No! Elder, I beg you...¡± Wolfblade¡¯s icy glare was pinned on his newest slave. ¡°Know your place. Dare to ever again make such a suggestion, I will end you.¡± Deep within, Belial was indignant. What had he said wrong? What right did that human have to call himself Demon King? It didn¡¯t matter how strong he became, he would never be one of them! Of course he would never be so foolish as to say this out loud. ¡°Yes, yes my Elder. Never again!¡± Wolfblade continued, his tone in check. ¡°I need nothing from you for now. From today forward you will loyally walk by our King¡¯s side. If I learn that you have done anything except fully comply with his wishes, you know what the consequences will be. You will regret having ever come to this world.¡± Belial had to obey. His very spirit was in the hands of another. After he left a cold smile spread across Wolfblade¡¯s face and he put the artisan out of mind. He was far too busy to trouble with the likes of him. Book 7, Chapter 63 - What We Need Are Miracles Book 7, Chapter 63 - What We Need Are Miracles Belial¡¯s mood could be no lower. He bowed under the weight of his yolk. There was no escape, for if he tried neither god nor demon would show him mercy. Gloomy though the outlook was, if he stayed there was at least the chance to fight. Belial could not for the life of him understand why the Elder of the Second Seal would bow to a lowly human. Whatever the reason, he had no choice but to kowtow to Cloudhawk. They had a larger enemy on the battlements, that had to be his focus. When he returned to his oasis in the Cursed Desert, Cloudhawk was busy with some project or other. He was not surprised when Belial presented himself and pledged his service. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve realized the virtues of resistance, I hope you understand that I can¡¯t tolerate desertion.¡± Cloudhawk graciously accepted this new subordinate from Wolfblade. He didn¡¯t need to ask anything, he knew the demon had a thousand years of experience in crafting relics. That was all he needed to know. But there was something that occurred to him. ¡°Ah, by the way. I need to see something ¨C the Black Heart.¡± Cloudhawk had experienced the power of Belial¡¯s indentured servants. It went without saying that Belial himself was a coward, but his oasis was packed with over a thousand Eternal. Many of them were demonhunters Belial had ripped from the Elysian lands over a thousand years. A fair number were accomplished men and women who were deluded into pursuing immortality by Belial¡¯s poison words. Others were pilfered from prisons by the demon¡¯s network of helpers. The result was an army of powerful ¨C if nihilistic ¨C soldiers. With the advantage of their undying bodies they made for quite a formidable force. They were the most powerful tool in the Elder¡¯s arsenal, and the one he¡¯d spend the bulk of his efforts to create. How was Belial able to control this army? Through the Black Heart. It was a relic that bound the Eternal to whoever held it. Whoever bore the Heart stood at the fore of an immortal host. Wolfblade commanded the ever-reaching Hand of Gehenna, so had no interest in Belial¡¯s Black Heart. However, such an army couldn¡¯t be left under the artisan¡¯s control. His loyalty was too much in question to allow him such a tool. Full of reluctance, Belial obeyed. What he presented was not a beating heart but rather a staff. It was around two meters long and affixed to its three-pronged crown was a black jewel. Crimson lines wormed their way through the fist-sized stone. ¡°The Black Heart controls the Eternal,¡± Belial explained. ¡°Whether in action or will, the staff can empower or inhibit their powers. The Black Heart gives you powerful allies.¡± Belial¡¯s greatest regret was that he had been unable to exercise his full strength. If he¡¯d had the chance to face Cloudhawk and his allies while commanding an army of undying, the situation would have turned out very differently. He doubted they would have even been able to enter his stronghold. Unfortunately, Cloudhawk had arrived as Belial was trying to force his way through the Source. It was too narrow a space for his army to be of any use. The loathsome human had robbed him of any advantage. Anyway, it was too late for regrets. Cloudhawk took the Heart and looked it over. He could feel the power in it. How would he choose to use it? By handing the relic directly to the leader of the Eternal, Husk. ¡°As promised, the Black Heart belongs to you. From now on the Eternal answer to no one.¡± Belial could not believe what he was seeing. Was he insane? He was willing to just give away the Black Heart? Did he not realize he needed all the help he could get? Instead he cast aside countless years of Belial¡¯s hard work. Husk took the relic. The face behind his mask was expressionless, but the red eyes flickered. He then took a knee before the human with the staff in his right hand and his left pressed against his chest. It was an old tradition of the Elysian realms. One that meant loyalty. It was as Cloudhawk predicted. When everyone suffered, the individual could not be preserved ¨C the Eternal had their freedom but nowhere to go. Once the gods arrived there was no escape. The entire planet was at risk. Cloudhawk was the only person who could lead them to safety. He was also the only person so far who could rally the Elysian lands against their former masters. The Eternal would bend the knee to him, and him alone. This irritated Belial to no end. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions spit on his hard work. Belial had created this army! How many years had it taken? How much blood and sweat had it demanded? And all this for what! They had their freedom, but they still couldn¡¯t go or stay as they wished. Belial spoke up. ¡°With the Eternal under your control you could have wielded them like an extension of your own arm. But giving up power, you introduce the chaos of self-determination.¡± ¡°Elder Belial, your desire for control is too strong. It¡¯s no good, for you or for anyone. A single person cannot accomplish great things.¡± Cloudhawk instructed his new subordinate. ¡°With the Heart of Darkness the Eternal can be compelled to fight for you, but give them the right to choose for themselves and they will do everything in their power. An army of individuals, wielding focus and dignity, can produce miracles.¡± Belial wanted to refute this, but Cloudhawk cut him off. ¡°Remember, Elder, what we need are miracles. I¡¯m not going to pass up any opportunity to see them happen. Do you understand?¡± There was no question that right now, the resistance had no hope against an army of gods. As such Cloudhawk was making his plans for a grand exodus. If humans were in a hopeless situation, what else was there but to wish for a miracle? It sounded¡­ pitiful. Was this why Cloudhawk gave Wolfblade so much free reign? Belial had heard a portion of Cloudhawk¡¯s conversation with the God King. He knew there was a delicate relationship between Legion and the new Demon King. Yet, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t seem to care if the Elder was a threat. He even gave Wolfblade control over his entire Alliance and all its forces! Cloudhawk did not seem to fear being a figurehead. In fact he didn¡¯t seem to be at all interested in power. All he cared about was the final result. He just wanted to protect his people. He needed to think about how to utilize the strengths of his team to greatest effect. He understood that his strategic ability was far inferior to Wolfblade. As such, it made sense to leave the matters of state to the Elder demon. So long as he stayed in line, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t care about his other nonsense. This young human. So foolish! Cloudhawk led Belial into the base beneath the oasis. There, the artisan introduced his relic manufacturing facilities. Assembly lines were whirring away. He had used materials pilfered from the Elysian lands and Source energy to put it all together. It was designed to be mobile as needed. Such a manufacturing base had huge strategic value. Cloudhawk¡¯s biggest headache now was the enormous Source Crystal right beneath their feet. It was a resource one thousand years in the making, as precious to them as it was to the gods. Now that he knew about it, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t about to let it fall into enemy hands. It contained highly condensed mental energy. Properly used, it would be a great asset in defending against the divine army. If they survived, perhaps it could even be used to bring their planet back to life. The problem was how to get it all out of the ground ten thousand meters below their feet? Book 7, Chapter 64 - The Key Book 7, Chapter 64 - The Key Over a thousand years, the five Elysian realms gathered the spirits of a billion people to create the Source. One of the primary reasons gods enslaved humanity was to use them for energy. That crystal represented a terrible, bloody sin. But at this moment Cloudhawk needed the sacrifice for his own purposes. It would become the engine humanity used to fight against their oppressors. Of course, this was easier said than done. The crystal was enormous! At least fifty kilometers in diameter. It was comparable to a small asteroid. If Cloudhawk wanted to teleport the Source, it would be like trying to move an Elysian capital. What¡¯s more, it was buried ten thousand meters underground. In short, humanity did not have the resources or technology required to mine the stuff. It was too hard to break apart and even if they could, it would take too long to extract it. It was an impossible conundrum. Or so it seemed. Surely they wouldn¡¯t be forced to simply ignore this buried treasure. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have it, there were ways. Belial addressed his new King. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for mankind, but you are hardly a man anymore. With luck, you can succeed.¡± ¡°Yeah? What do you suggest?¡± ¡°No grand plan. I remember that during the Great War there was a spatial relic called the Key. It wasn¡¯t a weapon and was largely disregarded as a useless trinket.¡± Belial explained. ¡°But if there is any way to move the Source in one fell swoop, this Key is the answer.¡± Belial was an expert in all things pertaining to relics. For these matters, he would not be wrong. Cloudhawk was curious. ¡°What sort of relic has this kind of power? Are you sure I have enough mental power to get it done?¡± Even if the relic could excavate this city-sized crystal, was Cloudhawk strong enough mentally to accomplish this? Belial¡¯s abilities were similar in strength, so why did he think Cloudhawk could do it? ¡°Because this relic is special. It¡¯s¡­ more of an exchange than a transfer.¡± ¡°Exchange?¡± ¡°Indeed. The Key takes two objects of similar mass within your field of control and swaps their positions. So long as the targets are similar enough, the required energy is small. The higher the discrepancy the more strength is required.¡± It made sense to Cloudhawk. This ¡®Key¡¯ didn¡¯t teleport things on a whim. Rather, the user had to meet two preconditions. First, the two items had to be within a set distance of one another. Two, they had to be of similar mass. Every spatial demonhunter had a limit to how far their powers extended. Cloudhawk was no exception. This limit of perception determined the distance in which one could use their skills. Teleportation, dimensional phasing, summoning from somewhere else¡­ there was all a range limit. Cloudhawk¡¯s talents were exceptional and so was his range. But it wasn¡¯t enough, not to get it back to his home base. He needed help. Luckily he had Bruno¡¯s Riftshards, taken as a victory trophy. They were perfect as spatial markers, which helped to extend the range of a demonhunter¡¯s skills. With the daggers there was hardly any range limit. With the first issue solved, it was on to the second. He didn¡¯t have to think long. If he wanted to move the source he just needed to find something with a similar mass. Then it was as easy as activating the Key and making the switch. It was sure to save him a whole hell of a lot of effort. Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities, along with Belial¡¯s methods and the help of others like Bruno, was enough to do the job. The demon was right; if there was anyone in the world able to accomplish the impossible, it was Cloudhawk. So, where was this relic? Cynically Cloudhawk figured it was lost to history. How was he supposed to find it then? Time was precious. ¡°I know they keep the relic in Highmorn¡¯s Temple.¡± To this Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief. So long as they knew where it was, getting the relic shouldn¡¯t be hard. His attention turned skyward when he heard a long, piercing cry. In a flash of gold Oddball approached. It happily landed on its master¡¯s shoulder. Oddball was three times larger now than it was when it hatched. The divine beast was still a pudgy round thing like some sort of owl, but its eyes were different. They glimmered with a golden, electric light these days. Cloudhawk¡¯s little friend was getting stronger, too. It was sturdier than before, but Oddball¡¯s greatest asset was still its speed. In terms of short distances Oddball couldn¡¯t match Cloudhawk, but over long distances they were about the same. The little bird made an excellent messenger. Cloudhawk cast an eye toward Belial. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re heading back for a meeting.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The demon asked. ¡°We¡¯re mobilizing.¡± ** Southern wastes, the central fortress of Greenland. The city all around was bustling. Selene Cloude and Dawn Polaris had returned. Among the delegates were also Autumn Draper, Phain Mist, Janus Umbra, Carnage and many others. Everyone Cloudhawk counted among his elite including Coal, Atlas Umbra, Rio Cliftin and other Alliance heroes. All were present. But that wasn¡¯t all, there were also many new faces. Master Phoenix Igna from Dragenmere. Master Bruno Argyris and Palagius Audra from Stormford. Soldiers from Sky Fortress such as Siegebreaker, Master Anan. There were others, leaders from all the Elysian realms. Everyone had gathered in the heart of Greenland for what was promised to be a meeting of unparallelled importance. What sort of meeting called for all of humanity¡¯s best and brightest to gather together? The sort where the evacuation of an entire species was the topic. A dramatic aim that sounded preposterous, that could only be accomplished if everyone worked together. However, it was exactly the absurdity of this plan that had many in attendance expressing skepticism. Furthermore, it was the first time leaders from all Elysian realms and the wastelands were coming together. It was an important meeting, one where a foundation for their future struggle against the gods would be built. Selene looked over the gathering. There were over a hundred leaders from all over the world. IF they were here it meant they accepted Cloudhawk¡¯s vision, and were part of his Alliance. Most of the leadership from all the Elysian lands had come around. The resistance was looking better. ¡°Lady Selene. I am told MASter Cloudhawk intends to evacuate everyone off planet. Is this true?¡± MASter Anon rose and presented the question to her. ¡°Where is our Alliance¡¯s leader? Why isn¡¯t he here with the rest of us?¡± ¡°You are correct, Master Anan. It is Cloudhawk¡¯s intention to evacuate everyone. We are asking that you gather everyone who is not going to fight ¨C elders and children ¨C so that Cloudhawk can teleport them to safety on the jungle planet. The underground city there has more than enough space and resources to accommodate. It is the only way to avoid unnecessary deaths and allow our soldiers to concentrate on the front lines.¡± Selene answered the question with her typical aloof and sedate bearing. Her words bore the weight of certainty and command, conveying a sense of comfort. Word was that the former Avatar was Cloudhawk¡¯s closest confidant. A fine partner for their heroic leader. Nods and muttered approval followed her decree. If the plan was to move those who weren¡¯t in the fight, that was acceptable. Their soldiers wouldn¡¯t have to worry about what was happening at home if their families were on another planet. But was it as easy as she made it seem? Even if they were talking about a small segment of the species, it was still a huge undertaking. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t a god. He was human, with limits to what he could accomplish. Selene explained. ¡°Cloudhawk is at the meeting place now, waiting for us. But before the meeting officially begins there is something I want to show you.¡± With that, she turned and walked away. 1. Your Oddball has evolved into Oddballoon! Book 7, Chapter 65 - Mental Inheritance Book 7, Chapter 65 - Mental Inheritance Chapter 65: Mental Inheritance Cloudhawk activated his subspace matrix within the Southern Capitol. The Cube was a gift from the former Demon King. Although it was not used for direct combat, the unique way that time flowed within made it one of Cloudhawk¡¯s most prized relics. Nothing was more precious than time. It was within this matrix that Cloudhawk had chosen to hold their meeting. Besides the advantage of time, the space would also serve as the site of an important experiment. Something this important required witnesses, so Selene gathered all the leaders to watch. Shock was the one shared expression among the Elysian officials. Three alters had been erected here, and upon them were imposing figures. They were perfect, encased in beautiful armor ¨C the former masters of three Elysian lands: The Light God, War God and Dragon God! Not long ago Cloudhawk had defeated them in combat. The War and Dragon gods were badly wounded, and the Light God was captured attempting to flee. After being taken prisoner, Cloudhawk did not kill them. Wolfblade had other plans to bring them under their control. How rare was it to capture not one, but three Supreme gods? It would be foolish to waste such an opportunity. These creatures could be of great benefit to Cloudhawk and his cause. He saw the shocked expressions of his Alliance¡¯s newest members but paid them no mind. He had several reasons for making them watch. They might have agreed to revolution, but all would still feel the crushing pressure of their faith when faced with gods on the battlefield. These beings had lorded over their homes for generations! Reverence was a fundamental part of their society. Now, the objects of their faith were frozen in crystal and placed on the altars like spoils of war. Shocking was a mild way to put it. Cloudhawk stood before them with Belial to his left and Hellflower to his right. Nearby, Wolfblade¡¯s lackeys watched. No one knew why their Alliance leader had called them here. A public execution, perhaps? In every human war throughout history, it was common practice to cut down the symbols of the enemy. To raze its flag and slay their heroes. Mostly this was done to improve morale and foster unity in the short term. For the encroaching war especially, even the wise leaders who pledged revolution would find it hard to shake their veneration for the gods so quickly. It seemed necessary to kill these gods and shore up their courage. However, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t gather everyone together for this simple purpose. These gods were worth more than a moment of solidarity. ¡°Quiet,¡± he began. The crowds responded by allowing their muttered conversations to taper off. All eyes turned to him. Cloudhawk looked toward Hellflower. She represented the best scientific minds of the wastelands and all the gathered knowledge of their ancestors. Attention turned to her, and she addressed the gathering. ¡°Looking back through history we have learned a powerful truth. Before the Elysian lands were born ¨C that is to say, on the eve of the Great War ¨C humanity was a weak and unevolved species. Back then we were no different than the beasts that walk the wastelands. We did not understand mental power, or how to cultivate it. We knew nothing of relics or their use.¡± ¡°A decade later, war came to our planet. It was decided as quickly as it came. But even in this brief period we began to see great changes in human society. The most representative of these was the rise of demonhunters ¨C powerful men and women who stalked their enemies in the name of the gods. They were led by ten exceptional warriors. We called them Legendary.¡± ¡°The ten Legendary Demonhunters acted as founders of the Elysian lands. The Cloude family, Merlo family and other distinguished clans can trace their roots back to these mighty ancestors. But have any of you paused to wonder how it was that in less than a decade, these ordinary humans had become so powerful?¡± Silence answered her methodical explanation until Phoenix answered. ¡°What¡¯s your point?¡± ¡°Patients, Master Phoenix. I will explain.¡± Hellflower reacted to the demonhunter¡¯s question with a smile. She turned and pointed to the alters. ¡°What we have discovered is that the gods are capable of passing on their abilities.¡± Mutters rippled through the crowd. Really? Gods could pass on their mental energy? To some this was not a surprise, especially with the likes of High Priest Gorman. His position afforded him a glimpse into many secrets. Within the Temple were methods for transferring power. When an Elysian land came under threat or its Temple was in decline, the High Priest could select an Apostle who would take on such godly inheritance. This champion was empowered to act as the sword and shield of their faith. The most recent example, of course, was Selene Cloude. However, hers was a unique case. Even High Priest Ramiel did not know that the power he conveyed unto her came from the God King itself. This bequest sealed Selene''s own will and brought her wholly under the gods¡¯ control. She was not alone. Cloudhawk was also a prime example. Gods and demons came from the same source. The fact that Cloudhawk had been given a fraction of the former Demon King¡¯s power proved that such a thing was possible. These highly evolved creatures had the ability to share part of what made them so incredible. When she saw the light of understanding in their eyes, Hellflower confirmed it. ¡°We have tested it, under advisement by Wolfblade and Belial. Our efforts to transfer power from the gods has been successful. This is what we have brought you all here to see.¡± So that was the plan. Cloudhawk was going to take the power of these Supremes as his own. Not only would this bleed the captives dry of their worth, it also proved an important fact. That the power of the gods can be taken by humans. Once this experiment was complete it would prove immeasurable to the confidence of their species. They would enter into the war with the gods empowered by this knowledge. Hellflower stepped back once her introduction was complete. Cloudhawk took her place. ¡°There are risks to this process. A Supreme¡¯s mental strength is too much for a single person to withstand. So, this will be my gift. When your name is read, please enter the psychic pool.¡± ¡°Dawn Polaris. Hellflower. Squall Rover. Selene Cloude. Phain Mist. Coal. Carnage. Atlas Umbra...¡± One after the other, Cloudhawk announced a list of twenty names. Each of them were important members of the Southern Capitol or who have otherwise proven their worth to the cause. They would be in the inaugural group to undertake this experiment. The more people were involved, the less mental strain they would suffer individually. However, that did not mean it was not still dangerous. If anything went wrong it would all be shut down to prevent any major loss. Book 7, Chapter 66 - Successful Transference Book 7, Chapter 66 - Successful Transference The three altars were each pyramidal in construction. A shimmering pool in the center was where the chosen entered. Once within, offerings were made. From the crystals seals emerged orbs of light, strange and illusory. They were like jellyfish, forced from their lair and rolling through the air. Each ephemeral orb seemed to possess a mind of its own. Time and again they tried to force their way back into the crystals but could not. After many failed attempts their light grew dim. Forced to search for new hosts, they were drawn to the people in the psychic pool. Good, it was the moment of truth. Everyone held their breath. They watched in silence. Would these mental orbs deliver their strength to the chosen? Could their power even be absorbed? The results of this trial had far-reaching implications and everyone was waiting to know what would happen. A traction force caught the first orb. It moved in a straight line with purpose, right toward the center of Selene¡¯s eyebrows. She felt a psychic pressure descend upon her and then slip into her body. It was a feeling she remembered well. It was the same sensation she felt in Skycloud¡¯s Temple when receiving the God King¡¯s power. Selene had succumbed to the god because she had borne his power alone. That was how she was transformed into the Avatar. Mental power was nothing more than one¡¯s resolve, transformed into a higher order of energy. The process of transforming thought into power was predicated on the strength of the bearer¡¯s will. Concentrated on a single target, a god¡¯s mind could overwhelm them. However, spread across many the risks were minimal. Even ordinary folk with a strong sense of self could withstand it. Selene had been able to shake off the yolk of the God King. What threat did fractions of a Supreme¡¯s power hold to her? She quickly suppressed these frail attempts to control her and made this fragment of mental energy her own. Immediately she felt her strength increase. It worked! Cloudhawk¡¯s theory was right, the power of gods and demons could be transferred. A thousand years ago, the Legendary Demonhunters were probably Avatars. That was how they became so strong so quickly ¨C by being infused with the mental energy of one or several high-order gods. Such an inheritance could be given at will and deprived just as quickly. Cloudhawk ¨C with the help of Wolfblade, Belial and Hellflower ¨C had derived a way to extract power from the gods to empower whoever he chose. It was a groundbreaking accomplishment that could fundamentally change the relationship between man and god. As the war raged, every felled god would make humans stronger. Their future might be built on the cornerstone of this discovery. It was an exciting revelation for all who bore witness. While there was still fear of the encroaching divine army, seeing the Supreme gods being drained of their power filled them with confidence. Crisis sometimes came with opportunity. If they could stand their ground against the gods, this was their chance to win freedom. A forced evolution, even for those humans without strong mental talent. This conflict could make their whole species stronger. Cloudhawk, Wolfblade and Belial felt the process more deeply than others. Cloudhawk saw that the twenty chosen all absorbed the power differently. Power from the different gods had a sort of affinity for specific people. There was some sort of rule or process. For instance, Dawn absorbed the most power from the Dragon God ¨C about half, with the rest coming equally from the other two. Selene primarily took from the Light God, Frost from the War God, Squall from the Dragon God¡­ He couldn¡¯t see why this was the case. Obviously it had something to do with the quality of the person. Under the same conditions each person was more suitably aligned to one power or another. Furthermore, their affinity helped to determine how much power they absorbed. Dawn, Selene, Frost and Squall assimilated more overall than the others. Having already cultivated great power on their own, this process was sure to turn them into frightening warriors. This was all comparative, of course. Everyone benefited greatly. There was enough power in these gods to promote everyone to whole new levels of strength. It was of particular worth to Hellflower, Phain, Carnage, and Coal. These evolved humans were now capable of using strong mental force. Prior to this they had minimal or no mental abilities. Yet despite that, it was shown there was a chance that even those who showed no affinity in this realm could be given talent. When the process was complete, Cloudhawk walked to the edge of the pool. ¡°How do you all feel?¡± Hellflower¡¯s attractive face lit up with joy and understanding. ¡°I can feel the flows of mental power. Based on the ranking system of the Elysians I would say I¡¯m¡­ about as strong as a proper demonhunter. Incredible, even I can use this power...¡± Cloudhawk chuckled. ¡°Throw a dog in there and we¡¯ll have a demon-hunting canine.¡± She scowled and shot him a glare. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Never. I¡¯m proud of you.¡± ¡°Hmph, never mind. I¡¯ll let it slide since it is because of you all this is possible.¡± Hellflower adjusted her goggles, which reflected light from the glowing crystals nearby. ¡°With this power I can begin to delve into the technology of gods and demons. A whole new subject is open to me.¡± Indeed, it made sense why she would be so thrilled. Before today even the most basic relics were a mystery to her. She wasn¡¯t a combatant, so she didn¡¯t require tremendous mental power ¨C just enough to continue her research. Nor was this the end! Hellflower knew that so long as Cloudhawk lived, she could follow in his wake and harvest what was left behind. Benefits by the bushel. The more she curried favor with this man the more she would accomplish. Cloudhawk moved on, addressing Carnage and Coal. The mutants had absorbed no small measure of mental power, about the same as Hellflower. With the addition of their already empowered bodies, their capabilities were doubled in the blink of an eye. The Goshawks were an established crew who could already use relics. Aside from the Awakened, however, they couldn¡¯t use these items without spirit orbs and specially constructed weapons. Now everything was different. The final border between Elysians and wastelanders was shattered. Any mutant, even creatures, could use relics. At last Cloudhawk checked up on Dawn and the others. Her, Selene, Frost, Squall, Atlas and the rest all had different talents and personalities. But what they shared was an innate excellence. The power of the gods recognized and was drawn to that. If that were not so, wouldn¡¯t the Demon King have picked a big burly man as his successor? It was proven that those without talent could be strengthened. However, those with talent ¨C or, rather, specific talents ¨C gained more from the process. After just one time they were already seeing surprising results. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t trouble them to show off. This power wasn¡¯t theirs yet, they needed time to assimilate it completely. Side effects were still a concern, but Wolfblade and Belial surely had methods to deal with them. With the experiment complete, Cloudhawk called all the leaders of the Elysian lands together for their meeting. It was a war council, where strategy was laid out for the coming conflict. Cloudhawk¡¯s strategy was two-pronged: First, the evacuation plan. Despite his recent discovery humanity¡¯s chances were still dismal. Humanity¡¯s most vulnerable had to be protected. Second, resistance. Victory was slim but they couldn¡¯t run forever. They didn¡¯t have time to escape anyway. The questions at hand were as follows: How to evacuate people most effectively? How could they quickly integrate Elysian and wasteland armies? What methods could they use to defend against the divine army? How could they hold out for as long as possible? What was the best way to arrange a defensive front? With no overt contestation, Cloudhawk¡¯s meeting went well. He was pessimistic of their chances but that did not mean he was willing to give up. He¡¯d fought the God King once and recognized that he wasn¡¯t even on the being¡¯s level. Humans were not on the gods¡¯ level. But if everyone worked together the will to survive could be a powerful tool. All of their latent potential could be brought to bear, maybe even enough to perform a miracle. Cloudhawk was determined to fight to the bitter end. 1. It¡¯s a triforce! Book 7, Chapter 67 - Three Relics Book 7, Chapter 67 - Three Relics Dawn used the time in the subspace dimension to try out her newly acquired mental powers. She found that her strength had risen by no less than fifty percent. Having been no pushover before, this increase rocketed her to new heights. Incredible! She had grown much stronger. Refreshed and emboldened, Dawn left her section of subspace. As she did a beautiful figure draped in white caught her eye. She called out. ¡°Hey, Selene! You want to spar again? I¡¯m sure this time I¡¯ll beat you. Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± The relationship between Dawn and Selene had changed dramatically from the early days. This was a result of two important things: First, Selene had dropped a portion of her holier-than-thou attitude and was even willing to compromise. Second, Dawn still saw her as direct competition but needed a strong foil to test herself against. Wolfblade¡¯s apprentice, Frost, had also grown stronger. However, Dawn¡¯s hatred for her grandfather¡¯s killer ran deep. It only got worse when she thought of him as that demon¡¯s henchman. She felt strongly that the only other person Cloudhawk could rely on besides her was Selene. So she decided to put aside her feelings for the greater good and improve their relationship. Together they would assist Cloudhawk in their rebellion against the gods. That was the most important thing. Selene glanced at her. ¡°Cloudhawk has something. He¡¯s asked us to see him.¡± ¡°Afterwards then,¡± she replied. ¡°When the job is done I want to test myself, no excuses!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s strategy meeting still hadn¡¯t concluded. However, the basic framework had been set. Leaders from all five Elysian lands were on board. Dawn loudly announced their presence when they returned to the meeting spot. ¡°Ha hah! This lady¡¯s fuckin¡¯ killing it! Congratulate me!¡± She grabbed Cloudhawk in a bear hug. In her Dawnbreaker armor, standing over two meters tall, she was like a giant. Her sudden embrace was like being crushed in a trash compactor. Dawn so rarely got what she wanted, but strangely Cloudhawk didn¡¯t fight her. She snatched him up and squeezed. Perhaps too hard, for his body collapsed in parts and bulged in others like a balloon under pressure. Suddenly his whole form exploded into a storm of lightning. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Dawn was frozen in shock. Sure she was stronger but not strong enough to crush a man like Cloudhawk. He wasn¡¯t an invalid, what the hell happened? Selene, stone faced, watched the arcs of electricity. ¡°Transformation.¡± Bolts of lightning reconvened into the shape of a man and eventually Cloudhawk reformed. ¡°Good job, it is transformation. You¡¯ve got a sharp eye if you could recognize it so quickly.¡± What was he saying? That Dawn was stupid?! She expressed her irritation. ¡°Where the fuck did you learn that?¡± ¡°A relic, Stormseal.¡± Cloudhawk opened his hand to reveal a small collection of lightning bolts that flickered in and out of their vision. He shut his hand, snuffing it out. ¡°It was the Lightning God¡¯s main relic. Wolfblade had the Hand of Gehenna retrieve the god¡¯s corpse and strip this relic from it.¡± Selene knew a little about it and the Lightning God¡¯s powers. She never would have guessed it would fall into Cloudhawk¡¯s hands. Dawn had, of course, heard that Cloudhawk had defeated four Supremes. ¡°No wonder it was able to change forms. That¡¯s why it was so hard to destroy, right? With this power you¡¯re even more of a pain in the ass!¡± Cloudhawk wanted to knock her upside the head but it didn¡¯t suit his station. Sadly he couldn¡¯t act on this impulse. ¡°The Stormseal¡¯s a good relic, but I haven¡¯t been able to master the Lightning God¡¯s lightning forms yet.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Something to do with my constitution. The seal just transforms my body into lightning ¨C the god probably had other relics he used to empower these forms with his strength. Whatever relics those were are lost now, though.¡± Dawn shook her head and sighed. Selene spoke up. ¡°Be that as it may, such an ability is useful. You can separate yourself into parts and take on different forms. Janus has a similar ability with her shadow doppelgangers, but they can¡¯t move far from the source. They¡¯re unstable.¡± All they could say was that there were advantages and drawbacks. With his new relic Cloudhawk could create volatile copies. They could take on his appearance or someone else¡¯s, which worked well with the camouflage relics he already had. These copies weren¡¯t restricted by distance. They could appear anywhere, and outside of combat situations they didn¡¯t require a lot of energy to maintain. He could use them for extended periods of time. Janus¡¯ shadows were different. The assassin could only summon them for a brief time and they couldn¡¯t move very far from her. Where it was superior was that the shadows appeared with the powers of other relics she had. That made them deadly when they attacked. Of course, they disappeared after striking once. Cloudhawk had called the two here because he was too busy to handle everything on his own. He couldn¡¯t leave, however it was the perfect time to highlight this relic¡¯s abilities. With his doppelgangers he could use minimal energy and be involved in several things at once. As the primary decision maker of their alliance, this made things a lot more efficient. It was a great benefit for everyone. Dawn thought about Cloudhawk¡¯s copies running around and felt pride. ¡°I called you two here for a couple reasons. First I wanted to give you some gifts. Second, I wanted to give you a mission.¡± He produced two relics. ¡°The four Supremes are gone. Primary relics from the Light God, Dragon God and Lightning God were recovered.¡± Their relics were extracted? The four Supremes had been very powerful, even among the gods. The relics they wielded surely were nothing to scoff at. That was proven when they battled in Sky Fortress. The Light God had attacked so quickly that even Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t completely avoid them. The Lightning God changed forms, making it nearly impossible to pin down. The Dragon God¡¯s skills lay in tremendous defense and draining mental power. As remarkable as its defenses were, it was the rare ability to siphon mental energy that was really incredible. ¡°These are them.¡± In his hand were two items, a glowing ball of light and a petrified egg covered in scales. ¡°The Light God¡¯s Sacred Flash and the Dragon God¡¯s Abyssal Scale. They¡¯re for you.¡± It went without saying that Dawn was elated. Even Selene¡¯s tepid persona broke in the face of surprise. She frowned. ¡°I feel like these would be more effective in your hands.¡± ¡°The speed from Sacred Flash doesn¡¯t mean much to me. Same with the powers of the Abyssal Scale. However they can greatly strengthen both of you. I am not going to win this war myself, I need you both to be as strong as possible.¡± He took on a mysterious air. ¡°Ever since fighting the God King I¡¯ve felt like I¡­ progressed. Soon I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll need relics anymore at all. I will be able to do whatever I want with a thought. That¡¯s my ultimate goal.¡± Dawn grumbled at him. ¡°It might look fancy if you can simulate so low-level abilities, but these legendary relics are hugely complex. You think you can copy them using just your mind? I doubt it.¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see.¡± He paused for a moment, then went on. ¡°For this mission I¡¯ll need you both to represent me. You have to go to Highmorn and retrieve a relic from their Temple called the Key. Word is there are also groups causing trouble out there, so I¡¯ll need you to show them the error of their ways.¡± Book 7, Chapter 68 - Legion, The God of War Book 7, Chapter 68 - Legion, The God of War Cloudhawk, through his electric doppelganger, gave Selene and Dawn gifts and a mission. He then walked toward the barrier to another section of the subspace reality. Suddenly, an intense wave of energy rushed through the area. As the Cube¡¯s owner, the arrangement and shifting of the subspace was wholly under his control. He felt any change that occurred. The wave of energy was intense, so much that it could be felt between barriers. He muttered to himself, ¡°The rite is complete.¡± With that said Cloudhawk stepped through the barrier into another section. Herein were a number of instruments used in the Rite of Reincarnation. Already present were Belial, Abaddon, Squall, Frost and others. Everyone was a follower of Legion, or a demon like him. Cloudhawk wasted no time when he arrived. ¡°How did it go?¡± No one rushed to answer. Their eyes were fixed on the figure stepping out of the Sarcophagus of Rebirth. He was three meters tall and wrapped in black armor, threads of light dancing all across the surface. It was a huge and perfect body, full of explosive force. Cloudhawk looked at the god. Only, it was not a god ¨C not on the inside. The sense it gave was completely different from those divine beings. While the body may have once belonged to the mighty War God, its current owner was someone else entirely. ¡°So should I call you Wolfblade or War God?¡± Yes, Legion had taken the body of the fallen god for himself. Of the six Supremes on this world the Cloud and Shepherd Gods were no match for Cloudhawk. The remaining four he¡¯d beaten single-handedly. However three of them retained a special sort of residual power. These were the War God, Dragon God and Light God. Those three gods had been sapped of this power in order to strengthen Cloudhawk¡¯s allies. Afterwards the corpses of the Dragon and Light Gods were picked apart, providing valuable samples for research purposes. From within they also extracted Sacred Flash and the Abyssal Scale much to his friends¡¯ benefit. As such, among the three defeated and captured gods only the War God remained. No samples or relics were needed from it. Why? Because this Supreme¡¯s relic was special ¨C it was its own body. It was enormously strong, and now it belonged to Legion. The former Marshall¡¯s body was even stronger than Cloudhawk¡¯s. As such it remained as a usable husk. When all of the will and thought that had powered it before was eliminated, what remained was a perfect form for Legion to inhabit. Nothing more than an empty suit, the next in a long line the Elder demon slipped into. Yes. Times were different. With the new epoch, so too was there a new Legion. His mental powers had gradually recovered over time. Now he needed a new form that could withstand his abilities. It was the only way he could fully recover the strength he once wielded. This body of a fallen god was perfect! A few days after the spirit-draining experiment, Wolfblade took the body before it withered away entirely. Here within the subspace cube he began the Rite of Reincarnation, with Belial and Abaddon¡¯s aid. It was a success. ¡®Wolfblade¡¯ was gone. It was just another cast-off skin used by Legion in his eternal scheming. An abandoned thing that would never be used again. Legion himself had also changed. The fallen god¡¯s body was a mighty thing. It had been a Marshall, among the mightiest of its kin. Such a form was also able to withstand a much stronger will. Once Legion took it as his own, his mental powers were more fully unleashed and he had the benefit of a much stronger form. ¡°My King may address me as Legion, if it pleases him.¡± Now residing within the body of the War God, Legion no longer spoke as humans did. As with others of his species he spoke through his mind, using mental power to make air resonate as needed. It showed how well and how quickly he was adapting to his new form. For all his newfound power, however, Legion¡¯s reincarnation was not without limits. The process itself was dangerous, susceptible to terrible consequences if something went wrong. Furthermore, every reincarnation took a toll on one¡¯s spirit, weakening it with every iteration and increasing the chances of failure. Legion had managed to evade destruction after the Great War by changing forms several times. It prevented both gods and demons from discovering his whereabouts. Both sides thought he was dead. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how Legion¡¯s success rates were so high, but after a thousand years the dangers of reincarnation had to be looming large. Whatever the case, luck appeared to be on the demon¡¯s side. He completed the rite one more time. Without a doubt the Elder was hiding some ulterior motive, but despite that he was an important part of Cloudhawk¡¯s inner circle. He was glad that his ally came through the ordeal without issue. ¡°Should we test out your new skin?¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Cloudhawk led him to an empty section of the subspace, telling the others to stand guard so they wouldn¡¯t be interrupted. He then turned to the reborn demon. ¡°After you.¡± ¡°War God Legion obliged by raising his hand. With a wave he summoned a rapier of dazzling blue steel. It looked like an embroidery needle in the hand of the massive creature. Yet the aura it released promised unadulterated destruction. Indeed it was the legendary artifact that had been lost for a millennia and reforged. It was the Blade of Oblivion. A flick of his wrist. The sword flashed through the air faster than lightning, right for Cloudhawk. He responded by calling Godslayer forth and casting it forward as a streak of power. The two met, Legion¡¯s unimpressive sword and Cloudhawk¡¯s gash of light. At that moment a black hole appeared where Oblivion had been. Its traction force immediately began to suck everything toward it. So much power ravaged the subspace that it began to warp. It was almost too much, threatening to collapse this section of the pocket dimension. Cloudhawk¡¯s attack was devoured by the black hole and disappeared. Meanwhile everything around them started to spaghettify. Like rivulets from a pool of water they slithered in long strings toward the emptiness and were no more. Cloudhawk wanted to pull back his sword but something was fighting him. Oblivion¡¯s dark power had it surrounded and was trying to destroy Godslayer. Wrenching it free would not be so easy. Luckily his precious relic was a cut above. Any lesser relic would have been annihilated. ¡°Interesting!¡± Thrusting forward with his right hand Cloudhawk released a blast of repellent power that struck the black hole and dispelled it. With a sharp flick of his wrist, Godslayer drove into the thinner body of Oblivion and knocked Legion¡¯s relic flying. During its flight the sword swelled to several times its original size. Under Legion¡¯s will it swung around to re-engage, once more unleashing a torrent of destructive power. Few artifacts could match it for sheer ruinous ability. Cloudhawk¡¯s was one of them. For all Oblivion¡¯s terror Cloudhawk could have met it straight on. However, a soldier knew that battles were won by expending as little cost as possible. Instinctively, he chose instead to avoid the attack. With a thought, he shifted through dimensions several dozen meters away. Legion¡¯s weapon struck air and in its wake was several layers of torn reality. The Elder was growing more proficient with time. With a casual move of his hand Oblivion returned, now of ordinary size as it rested in his palm. All at once the War God¡¯s relic-body came to life with a thrust so quick Cloudhawk could barely see it. Clang! Two swords met! Cracks had appeared along the white walls of the subspace. Lightning crackles through the fissures. For a handful of seconds, turbulent power raged through the area until eventually subsiding. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Cloudhawk disengaged and put Godslayer away. No more point in sparring, it would only result in injury or irreparably damage this pocket dimension. He determined Legion¡¯s fighting ability to be slightly stronger than Belial¡¯s. Probably not what it had once been during the Great War, but definitely enough to be a huge help in the war to come. Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°After fighting the God King my own mental powers have grown. In terms of mental strength I¡¯m probably only slightly better than you. I¡¯ve also got several talents and relics to give me an advantage. But your body is certainly stronger than mine. Your experience as well, of course. In a real fight I¡¯m not sure who¡¯d win.¡± Legion¡¯s voice was stoic. ¡°Having fought the God King, you must know that our power is insufficient.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what was going on in Legion¡¯s cunning mind. But it both confused and concerned him that the demon was so calm about the God King. There was no doubt their divine enemy wanted Cloudhawk dead. It could only mean Legion had already acted, or was already prepared. If the God King hadn¡¯t eliminated Cloudhawk by now, it was certainly because it had some reason. On some rationale Cloudhawk could not understand, the God King did not want to just cut him down. The only explanation was that Cloudhawk was still useful. Was Legion in on this secret? He mulled it over, but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let the thought trouble him too much. There was still a lot to do. Book 7, Chapter 69 - The Spare Book 7, Chapter 69 - The Spare Selene and Dawn were ready to set out. Having never been to Highmorn, Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a spatial marker to send them there. That wasn¡¯t an insurmountable problem, however. Instead they would travel to Meadow where, within Oakstead¡¯s Temple, they could open a Boundary Portal and enter the distant Elysian land. Opening a portal like that required quite a lot of energy. Luckily, sending through just a few people wasn¡¯t too much of a burden. What¡¯s more, thanks to the small amount of Source excavated from the desert, they didn¡¯t have to worry about energy constraints very much anymore. Besides Selene and Dawn, two more were dispatched with them. First was one of Cloudhawk¡¯s electric doppelgangers. It carried a Riftshard copy to make travel easier in the future. Once it was placed, Cloudhawk could teleport back and forth as much as he pleased. The other had been an important figure in Sky Fortress before Cloudhawk destroyed it, Master Anan. His full name was Walrick Anan , which held quite a lot of weight in Highmorn¡¯s capital city Radia. Since his home had officially chosen to rise against the gods, he elected to offer his help. The small party boarded an airship, destined for Meadow. Cloudhawk kept catching Dawn giving him strange, absorbed looks out of the corner of his eye. She looked at him like an endangered species, or some sort of alien. It was making him uneast. ¡°What the hell are you looking at?¡± ¡°You can talk through this thing? No matter how far you are from your copy?¡± Dawn was floored by this new ability of his. ¡°So now one Cloudhawk can become several. You can do several tasks at once. Study. Chase women. That¡¯s one hell of a skill.¡± ¡°There are limits,¡± he grumbled. ¡°I can hold the form for any distance but only for one day and one night. Over that time it gets weaker and weaker. Besides that it demands my attention. Trying to be two places at once is not easy, much less three or four.¡± ¡°Well shit. I thought I might be able to customize my own personal Cloudhawk to play with. Turns out that isn¡¯t the case.¡± A custom Cloudhawk eh? Like some sort of prostitute. Dawn was letting her true colors fly. She stared at him for a little while longer before saying suddenly, ¡°the copy really is exactly like you. Shit, if I stick around it for long enough I¡¯ll probably forget which one¡¯s real.¡± Cloudhawk had known Dawn for a long time. A lot about her had changed, but there were some core qualities that never would. She was and probably would forever be a devil woman who liked to stir up shit. Hell, he knew her so well he could tell what sort of fart she¡¯d make by the way she lifted her ass. ¡°How about a code name for your copies. That way we won¡¯t confuse them.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Cloudhawk¡¯s approval and came up with the plan at once. ¡°They may look like you but they aren¡¯t you. I think I¡¯ll call it Hawkling, what do you think?¡± ¡°Terrible.¡± ¡°Cloudhawk Number Two?¡± ¡°Even worse.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn. Fine, we¡¯ll call it ¡®The Spare Cloudhawk!¡¯¡± She had grown impatient with this game. ¡°Like wasteland vehicles, right? They use spare tires. In a pinch when we can¡¯t put the real you to use, we¡¯ve got a back up. Spare fits perfectly.¡± She didn¡¯t care if he agreed anymore. Instead she looked over to Selene, who was sitting nearby with her eyes closed. ¡°Hey Selene, say something. What do you think of the name?¡± She was quiet for a minute then ever so slightly nodded her head. ¡°It fits.¡± Dawn triumphantly pumped her fist into the air. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided!¡± Who the hell was she calling stubborn? Throwing nonsense nicknames around like that. While he thought ¡®Spare Cloudhawk¡¯ was a shit name, who was he to tell her how to talk? He had to just go along with it. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± While Dawn had been busy in the important work of giving Spare his nickname, their airship was nearing its destination. This vessel was specially outfitted for speed so the journey took very little time. They were drawing near the canopy of the enormous tree that was Oakstead and as the Temple pulled into view, Walrick Anan stepped up as their guide. The Shepherd God was responsible for opening the boundary portal. Radia, as Highmorn¡¯s capital, was also its largest city. It served as the political, religious and economic center of the realm as all capitals did. During the recent upheaval, this once orderly city had fallen into chaos. Thankfully Wolfblade had done a good job bringing it back to heel. Dawn was looking forward to the journey. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to Radia. I wonder if there¡¯s anything fun to do. Hopefully this trip isn¡¯t all boring political shit.¡± ¡°Hopefully you won¡¯t run around causing drama,¡± Selene muttered. ¡°We have to get to the Temple as quickly, retrieve the Key and get back to Cloudhawk. That¡¯s the mission.¡± ¡°Cloudhawk said Radia¡¯s under control but there are still rebels. If I come across any I intend to make meat paste of their bodies.¡± She nudged Spare with her elbow. ¡°Right?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s copy just shook his head helplessly. Selene turned to Walrick. ¡°Master Ana, I¡¯m afraid simply appearing in Radia¡¯s Temple will cause a stir. Perhaps you should go first and announce our arrival to the High Priest.¡± There was a glimpse of embarrassment in his face. ¡°That¡­ I don¡¯t believe the new High Priest has been selected yet.¡± After a brief moment of confusion they understood. Lucian Ambrose had been Highmorn¡¯s High Priest ¨C until he was killed by the Cloud God in their conflict with the Avatar. Since then things had been turbulent in the Elysian realm. No replacement had been selected during this time of transition. Walrick explained. ¡°At present the Temple has two Oracles and an Apostle. I¡¯ll go ahead first and deliver the news of your trip then come and collect you.¡± Nothing could be accomplished without following the rules. The Temple¡¯s status might have declined with the collapse of faith, but they were still an organization built on precedent. Its priests and leaders were still its custodians. Although its external authority was no more, its internal strength remained. If Cloudhawk wanted to get the realm¡¯s full cooperation, he needed the Temple to go along. While in theory he had control of the Elysian realms, they were spread far and wide. Distance made some things impossible, and since each of these places had powerful citizens it was wise to play nice. He didn¡¯t want to present himself as a conqueror or dictator. ¡°Alright. Please let them know we¡¯ve arrived, Master Anan.¡± The Shepherd God opened her Boundary Portal without issue and Walrick Anan walked through into his home town. 1. His name means ¡®To Travel Through Clouds¡¯. We know Anan means cloud. Walrick is a shortened version of Walarick, ancient germanic for ¡®powerful traveling king¡¯ - at least according to my source. 2. That is the literal translation. 3. Interestingly, a baby hawk is called an eyas. Book 7, Chapter 70 - The Trap Book 7, Chapter 70 - The Trap ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for half an hour, why isn¡¯t he back yet?¡± Dawn was getting impatient. Something didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°Is that old man just fucking around? So unreliable¡­ should we just go through and take a look?¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Why was it taking so long? Autumn offered a reminder. ¡°The Boundary Portal is connected to the other four realms, but since my realm¡¯s collapse the enchantment is only enough to cover the city. Its power wanes. If you wait much longer the portal will close and can¡¯t be opened again.¡± ¡°That settles it. Let¡¯s go!¡± So under pressure of time, the remaining three members of the traveling party stepped through. Just as they did they felt the power of the portal falter. It blinked shut, leaving them in the heart of Radia¡¯s Temple. But instead of the orderly room they expected, they found the Temple in a mess. Cloudhawk scowled. ¡°Something happened.¡± Selene and Dawn smelled the cloying scent of blood on the air. Clearly this place was awash in carnage. No wonder Master Anan had not returned ¨C he must have run into trouble. ¡°Hey, hey! Cloudhawk! You¡¯re Cloudhawk!¡± A frantic voice called from the darkness of a nearby hallway. The sound of it made the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. By the sound of it, the voice belonged to a young man. One who sounded crazy. Cloudhawk was on alert. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± ¡°I was wondering how I was going to get to your cesspit and kill you. Lo and behold! You walk right into Radia! Why shouldn¡¯t I be thrilled? You destroyed this great Temple, so now you can be buried with it!¡± Oh. A zealot ¨C either of the Temple or the gods. But it was strange because Legion had been here not long ago. From the highest leaders to the smallest families, he was supposed to have had it under control. He¡¯d taken the Temple¡¯s two Oracles, convinced them to comply then let them loose. Legion had used extraordinary measures to make them obedient so that they could take control of the Temple. Obviously it didn¡¯t work, but why not? A strange noise filled the chamber. Figures poured in from every direction. Clerics in white robes and Templars in golden armor charged at them. Only, the look of them was off. Their flesh was swollen and visible tumors bulged from beneath their skin like blood blisters. They looked horribly infected by some sort of fungus. Leading them were the two Oracles. What happened that turned the Oracles into these monstrosities? The young leaders were not weak and defeating someone of their position with strength alone was difficult. Perhaps this was the result of some foul trick. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t make a move, only calling out to them. ¡°You¡¯ve prepared such a grand welcome. But you haven¡¯t even told me who you are.¡± ¡°Apostle Zephon Allgood.¡± The insane chatter of his voice came again. The tumorous members of the Temple closed in and then, in grotesque fashion, began to swell. Skin began to split and from the rent flesh poured out sickly black masses. At first glance they looked like gore, but grew like cancer. It advanced so quickly that in a blink of an eye, they swallowed up their former hosts. Hundreds of Temple faithful turned into a torrent of sick flesh that covered everything. Cloudhawk and the others felt like they¡¯d been swallowed into the gullet of some monstrous thing. Dawn gaped in open shock. ¡°What the fuck is this?!¡± She watched in horror as human clerics were devoured by whatever plague this was. IT used them as fuel to keep growing until this was the result. Now that they were surrounded by it, the sense of danger was palpable. This wasn¡¯t just flesh and blood. It was a highly energetic film that covered the area, making it advantageous terrain. In similar fashion to Cloudhawk¡¯s Cube it creates a sort of separate dimension, one Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t teleport into or out of. Selene shut her eyes. When they opened again there was a flash of silver from the right. The future was unveiled before her. ¡°It¡¯s going to explode!¡± Sure enough the tumorous growth continued to swell and the three of them saw the walls closing in. At the same time those lethal energy levels were rising. BOOM! Everything was released at once. It filled the pocket dimension it had created, sweeping through everything caught inside. With nowhere to escape, Cloudhawk¡¯s body was ripped to pieces. ¡°Aahh-hahahah! I killed him! Killed him! He¡¯s dead! Rot in hell you filthy bastard!¡± Insane laughter echoed through the Temple. But through his tears of joy he saw the monstrous orb that covered the hall begin to shrink. What? How? Dawn had saved them in the crucial moment. All of a sudden, a large dragon scale emerged upon her towering armor. Just as the explosion was released, she threw down Selene and protected her with her body. What followed was hard to believe. Like an insatiable sponge Dawn drew in all of the surrounding energy. She was unscathed. ¡°How did you do that?!¡± Zephon shrieked. Cloudhawk had been obliterated, how did these two wenches survive? Under the Apostle command bubbles of flesh rose and burst, aiming to blast the invaders apart. The power they released was incredible, but Dawn¡¯s sturdy armor and the aid of the Abyssal Scale saved her life. Unfortunately, though, her experience with the relic was slight. She couldn¡¯t hold out forever. ¡°Bastard! Son of a bitch! He killed our spare!¡± Anger flashed in Selene¡¯s eyes. She pushed Dawn off of her and drew her resplendent weapon. As she leaped into the air burning holy light radiated forth. She came down like a shooting star through the darkness. From her hands birthed a dazzling slash of light and energy. It tore through the Temple chamber and anything in its path was torn asunder. No blood seeped from the wound. Instead it bubbled and dripped with black icor. Half a second later, it reacted by detonating in a terrible and violent display. 1. ¡®Secluded Unicorn.¡¯ The imagery is the important part here; unicorns are meant to indicate purity and untouched goodness. Secluded, hidden, but the character also means quiet. So a protected, virtuous idol of purity. The names I chose were Zephon ¨C a Hebrew variant name for quiet and also the name of an angel who sought Satan after his fall ¨C and Allgood for obvious reasons. Book 7, Chapter 71 - Super Duo Book 7, Chapter 71 - Super Duo Chapter 71: Super Duo Dawn screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°Son of a bitch! The Spare¡¯s dead!¡± The Apostle¡¯s attack was sudden and too much for Cloudhawk¡¯s copy. Dawn was also caught inside, but the waves of explosive energy caused her no harm. The scales that now layered her armor absorbed the threat. Her scales were not real scales, of course. They were a manifestation of the relic she was given, the protection of the Dragon God. The Abyssal Scale was one of the strongest defensive artifacts on record. Now that Dawn¡¯s mental strength had reached nearly the rank of Master, she could withstand an attack two or even three times as powerful as what she¡¯d faced. And now she was pissed. This asshole killed her Cloudhawk doll! Explosions continued to rage all around her. The world was a tumult of roaring energy and black winds, making it impossible to see her surroundings clearly. But even among the fog of battle there was one thing she saw without issue. A streak of white light, constantly racing back and forth like a tornado. Fast! Dawn watched Selene dash through the area like a bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye that one light became ten, then twenty, crisscrossing to form a great net. Her speed was unmatched, so fast that she could cut an enemy to pieces in a tenth of a second. The Light God¡¯s Sacred Flash was powerful and terrifying, but could not be sustained. Every time it was used there was a period where it needed to recover. Of course Selene¡¯s use of the skill was slow, relatively. Dawn couldn¡¯t see her form, but she could follow the trail of lights and trace her trajectory. In contrast, when the Light God used this power even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know where the blow would land. He had to rely on his spatial abilities and luck to avoid being cut apart. Despite this, Selene¡¯s attack speed was frightening to behold. Slower than the Light God, she was instead capable of attacking in quick succession. An instant after the first attack landed she moved on to the next. That¡¯s how she was able to put on such a display. How was she able to do it? On the one hand it was because of her inherent strength. Mainly, though, it was due to her Holy Vestments. This wondrous relic, left to her by her father, stored mental energy. By tapping into it she could expend tremendous amounts of energy in a very short period. Selene didn¡¯t need to recover and reset after an attack in order to use another. She was able to explode through the battlefield without the need to take a breath. Her brilliant crystal sword burned like a holy beacon back and forth across the chamber. Furthermore, she was deliberately holding back her full strength to conserve energy in exchange for continuous attacks. While the overall speed of the relic was reduced, its power was not. After all, Sublime Transcendence was a rare class of relic all its own. Even if she employed only a fraction of Sacred Flame, it was adding to an already lethal tool of destruction. She got strong! Dawn¡¯s expression was one of indignance and disquiet. She didn¡¯t want to get shown up by this bitch! ¡°Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t find you!¡± Through the Abyssal Seal Dawn was able to sense the flows of mental energy. She followed them to the source ¨C past the curtain of grotesque, tumorous flesh where the Apostle waited. She shut her visor and lifted her hands. In the next moment an intense vacuum force drew everything toward Dawn. All of the chaotic energy gathered around her as she transformed into a black hole. Her appetite was insatiable. She attempted to gobble up every ounce of energy in the chamber, but it was too much. Still, she was prepared. A second power was activated, transforming the flows of power! The Abyssal scale¡¯s abilities were able to capture the ephemeral flows of energy, but her other relics turned it into something tangible. Dark mists condensed to form a crystallized layer that hugged her body like a second suit of armor. Her appearance had changed completely. From head to toe, Dawn was encased in black crystal scales. She even had a long tail, giving her the appearance of a true dragon. ¡°Out of the way, Selene! Coming through!¡± Dawn bent down into a sprinter¡¯s position. Her Dawnbreaker armor activated, boosting her speed and impact force. Like a runaway train she charged forward. At the same time those black crystal scales she wore began to crack. Each time one broke open it released a burst of energy, pushing her to move faster and gathering more kinetic energy until- B-o-o-o-m¡­! All obstacles were meaningless. She burst through anything in her path, including dozens of twisted clerics who exploded into bloody chunks. Strangely, her explosive charge did not spread out into the surroundings but was sucked up in the wake of her passage. A long stream of destructive energy was dragged along behind her like the tail of a comet. Bits of gore and people spun chaotically within. ¡°Quit fucking hiding!¡± Dawn¡¯s roar shook the chamber as she charged through. At such speeds she crossed the distance in a blink, ultimately slamming into a shrine at one end. The energy tail that followed her caught up, and the resulting explosion ripped a hole through the entire structure. As dust and rubble settled, Dawn clawed her wake out from the mess she¡¯d made. Her visor opened, revealing her fair-skinned face drenched with sweat. Her cheeks were pink from excitement and exertion and a wide grin split her mouth. She hammered her breastplate with a fist and roared, ¡°Bow before the invincible Dragon Woman!¡± Woosh! A flash of light and Selene appeared by her side. Shoulder to shoulder, their contrast could not be further highlighted. One held a delicate crystal sword and was wrapped in dancing folds of white. Aloof and imperious, she was like a goddess, gracing the earth with her presence. When she attacked it was like an unyielding downpour. The other was encased in frightening armor and brandished a hefty broadsword. Enormous, invulnerable and unbreakable, she was an arrogant demon of annihilation. Nothing stood between her and the destruction she heralded. ¡°Brute force is useless. No matter how sturdy the turtle¡¯s shell, it will eventually break. Combat required tactics and precision. Something you lack.¡± Selene glanced at her counterpart. ¡°There is no strength that is invincible. But speed is unparalleled.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Dawn spat. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how fast you are. I can stand still and wait for you to tire. Knock you flying with a single punch! This Dragon Lady will not be denied, and anyone who stand in my way will be ground to paste!¡± Selene¡¯s face adopted an arrogant disdain and a silver light gleamed in her eye. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Dawn was suddenly not so confident. This bitch had the Eye of Time and the Holy Vestments. If they really were forced to fight, she wasn¡¯t sure she could beat her. Selene recognized the uncertainty and grinned in triumph. ¡°I might not be able to hit you, but you couldn¡¯t do shit to me either,¡± Dawn countered. ¡°My defenses have always been strong and now I¡¯ve got the Abyssal Scale. Sturdiest in our alliance, without question. That fuckin sword of yours is like a feather, you got nothing.¡± Selene narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip on Sublime Transcendence. ¡°Should we test that theory?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s fuckin¡¯ go!¡± Dawn slammed down her visor and pulled her shoulders back, as immovable as a mountain. She was supremely confident in her defenses, so much that she was sure she had no equal. As the two women squared off there was one man who watched in astonishment. Where they stupid? Did they forget what was happening? It was more accurate to say that neither Selene nor Dawn paid this ¡®Apostle¡¯ any mind as a threat. Their unscrupulous bickering was more important than him. But he¡¯d watched Cloudhawk get blown apart! Yet they didn¡¯t seem to care about that, either. After a moment¡¯s thought it occurred to him that if these two women were so powerful, Cloudhawk had to be even more so. They were, after all, his subordinates. Their leader couldn¡¯t have been eliminated so easily. Something wasn¡¯t right! When he realized it the Apostle Zephon Allgood was both angry and ashamed. Book 7, Chapter 72 - Zephon, The Angel of Death Book 7, Chapter 72 - Zephon, The Angel of Death The Highest authority in any temple was the High Priest. Ranking below them was the Apostle, Oracles, and finally the Grand Prior. The last three were equal in standing. Often they were chosen as candidates for the position of High Priest when it became available. Typically the Grand Prior was considered last, given their military focus. Apostles, on the other hand, were chosen only during special periods and thus often were seen to hold higher authority than Oracles. Apostles were different from other members of the Temple because they were given the opportunity to accept a fraction of a god¡¯s power. The power they wielded wasn¡¯t because of their title, but because of what it implied ¨C the chosen favorite of a god. In this way Zephon and Selene were similar. Once, Selene had been called the Apostle of her Temple back in Skycloud. At the time Ramiel Caelestis had foreseen the threat Arcturus Cloude had posed. The Governor was too powerful and could not be contained. He had hoped to elevate Selene, installing her as a check against her uncle. Thus was she given the power of the God King, the Temple¡¯s greatest secret. Zephon Allgood was elected as Highmorn¡¯s Apostle. He had become an outstanding member of the realm before the age of forty ¨C a unique talent, a rare gem even among the very best of his generation. Eventually he was chosen by the High Priest and groomed as a likely replacement. He had been a fine choice. Both in strength and devotion, he was unrivaled in Highmorn. His greatest obstacle was a lack of notable service, but that wasn¡¯t insurmountable. Lucian Ambrose¡¯s plan was to cultivate his abilities and reputation over time, until eventually it came time for the mantle to be passed. Alas, things changed. A series of unforeseen events occurred that Zephon was not prepared for. Among them was the death of High Priest Lucian. It was a terrible, unbearable tragedy. Suddenly Zephon had lost the foundation his life was built on. Since Apostles had no official power in the Temple, and since Zephon had no accomplishments to tout, he found himself in an awkward position. The only option he saw as a way to get out of this predicament, was to complete his inheritance as soon as possible. He had to get stronger. If he wielded more of his god¡¯s power he could maintain his elevated status as Apostle. To accomplish this he locked himself away to complete the ritual. His voluntary cloister lasted six months. Zephon achieved his goal. He received the legacy of the god, but got more than he bargained for. What Selene took from Skycloud¡¯s Temple was a fraction of the God King¡¯s power ¨C a drop in the bucket to the mighty being. Of course the nature of this power, the power over time, was special. It highly empowered Selene¡¯s abilities. Zephon acquired a great deal of power from another high-ranking god. Even if sacrifice was necessary, power was worth it. The mental energies he was awarded surpassed Selene¡¯s and turned him into the realm¡¯s mightiest demonhunter. At last, Zephon thought, the power he wielded would demand obedience. Only, he emerged from his seclusion to find the world had changed again. The foreign monster named Cloudhawk, despite a weaker position, had destroyed Sky Fortress and defeated four Supreme Gods. All the realms ¨C leaderless and defeated ¨C chose to join the demon¡¯s side. Even Highmorn. Wolfblade¡¯s agents had come. From the highest Temple authority to the lowest noble family, all paid lip service to Green Alliance. What did Zephon¡¯s struggles count for now? What was the point of his sacrifice when everyone he knew fought for the enemy? When the Temple he gave up everything for abandoned its faith and existed now in name only? If Zephon utilized his power to take the reigns of the Temple, what purpose would it serve? In the face of these terrible occurrences there arose a surge of anger and helplessness Zephon could not control. Renegades! Blasphemers! All of them! They turned their backs on the gods and should all die in the cruelest fashion he could imagine! Previously, Zephon was an intelligent and tolerant man. But in this moment he felt a murderous lust rise within him that he could not withstand. He did not know that it was the cost of giving himself up to the power of the gods. Upon accepting the power of the gods, his will was supplanted by another¡¯s. In other words Zephon could not betray the gods any more than he could become a star in the sky. Betrayal was impossible. Any potential threat to the divine was seen as a personal affront that had to be brutally quelched. This bone-deep desire to cleanse unbelievers did not come from him, but Zephon had no choice but to obey. So he began to act. Believing his powers to be beyond reproach, Zephon was certain only a few within the city could stand in his way. They had all bowed to pressure and joined Cloudhawk. It stood to reason, then, that if he wanted to eliminate the threat to his home then he had to eliminate Cloudhawk. To do that, there were a number of obstacles that first had to be dealt with. Zephon opened the cache of the Temple, wherein he knew a great artifact to be stored. The Star of Dark Omens. It was a relic from the Great War that once belonged to an Elder demon called ¡®The Plaguebearer¡¯. Upon his death the item was taken, and for countless years was stored within Highmorn¡¯s Temple. Only a handful knew of its existence. Zephon only learned of it when reading through ancient texts. A tool that manipulated the power of darkness ¨C exactly the power Zephon commanded. Under his authority as Apostle he ordered the relic to be unsealed. What followed was an unmitigated destruction no one could flee from. The Star of Dark Omens was as powerful as it was horrific. It was not deadly in its own right, but it did grant the bearer command over a sort of disease. This pestilence infected a host without their knowledge, then siphoned the victim¡¯s own mental energy to help it grow. It flourished, until in the end tumorous growth swelled and exploded. The walking corpses Dawn and Selene had encountered were what remained of these poor souls. Wholly infected by the Star¡¯s curse, they were under Zephon¡¯s control. Walking bombs, empowered by Zephon¡¯s mental power. He was not only capable of telling them where to go, but could cause them to explode at will. A tremendous and disgusting release of power with a wide area of effect that killed even powerful warriors. Wholly taken by the will of the gods, Zephon purged the Temple of anyone he deemed unfaithful. But that wasn¡¯t enough. He had to expand his army of walking bombs then point them toward Cloudhawk. Yet in another unforeseen turn of fate, Cloudhawk and two of his agents walked right into his arms. What followed was the incredible display put on by Dawn and Selene. Zephon was no ordinary man. He bore strength equivalent to a god ¨C the very best he¡¯d ever met! However these two women paid him as much mind as a petulant child. How could he not be furious at their disrespect? ¡°Die!¡± Zephon thrust forth a hideous looking relic, a black ball bristling with spikes. At first glance it looked somewhat like a sea urchin, except for the faint purple light at the tip of every spike. The power it released was filled with savage promise. Book 7, Chapter 73 - Two On One Book 7, Chapter 73 - Two On One Dawn and Selene pulled their eyes away from one another long enough to recognize the young man running toward them. This was Zephon Allgood? The Apostle had a head of wild hair and a face twisted from madness. He flung a spiked ball wrapped in purple light into the air, which quickly spat out a thick purple mist. In no time it swallowed up half the chamber. ¡°Stupid women. Your conceit has sealed your fate!¡± The crazed man disappeared into the choking fog. ¡°You worthless little shit. See what real power looks like!¡± Dawn¡¯s armor blazed like a star. She drew back, ready to charge into the mist and trample the idiot to death. But Selene called out to stop her. ¡°No, don¡¯t rush in. This isn¡¯t a normal fog. Look closely.¡± Dawn obliged. What she noticed was that, like water dripping on a sponge, the fog seemed to seep into the stone floor. Those stones then turned a sickly black hue, softened and then started to squirm like living diseased flesh. As she watched hideous growths started to swell in uneven patches. If she ran headlong into the mist she would be similarly infected. Zephon¡¯s power wasn¡¯t restricted to just contaminating living things, but inanimate objects and energy as well. Selene was cautious and meticulous by nature. She wouldn¡¯t risk betting her constitution against this strange power. ¡°We don¡¯t know how this Zephon managed to capture the Temple, but he did. He shouldn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± ¡°This fucking coward can only win by underhanded means.¡± Dawn was annoyed by his craven tactics. ¡°You think this bullshit will stop me? I¡¯ll tear him to fuckin¡¯ pieces. Don¡¯t get in my way!¡± Dawn was certain she was unstoppable. What was there to be afraid of? She had her Dawnbreaker armor, improved by Cloudhawk himself! It was an unbreakable defensive relic that was further strengthened by the Abyssal Scale. She could shrug off any attack. What did this pissant¡¯s little smoke bomb matter? But as she was getting ready to enter the fog a host of figures could be seen moving toward them from the hallways. It was a huge mob, perhaps hundreds of infected clergy. Beneath their saintly clothes or glittering armor were undulating growths of black flesh. They were so thick that hardly any human features were visible anymore. Like unstable sacks they shambled forward, ready to blow at any moment. ¡°More of these corpses? If this attack was of any use it would have killed us earlier.¡± Dawn scowled at the scene. ¡°Can¡¯t this asshole be more creative? This is getting boring.¡± Hideous cries from contaminated throats closed in from all sides. Although they no longer had the power of thought, they were still quick. Like insects they scrambled along the walls and ceiling toward the two women. As Dawn readied herself to defend she noticed that, in fact, they weren¡¯t running at her. Instead they were running past them, into the mists where Zephon lurked. ¡°The fuck?¡± ¡°His power is spreading fast. His mental energy is about the same as ours and he¡¯s using it to contaminate everything, even the air. We¡¯re going to get swallowed up.¡± Selene utilized the power of her Eye to survey the situation. ¡°Dawn ¨C stop the corpses from entering the mist. Don¡¯t let them near Zephon.¡± ¡°Easy! Watch this.¡± Dawn held Terrangelica high and shoved it into the ground. The floor around them collapsed. Under the weight of immense gravitation power, stone cracked and compressed. For a thousand meters in all directions, gravity increased a hundred fold. The waves of shambling corpses hit the ground. Most were pinned and couldn¡¯t move, but a handful managed to pass into the mist. ¡°AAARRGGHH!!¡± A hideous, inhuman cry emerged from the darkness. From within they could see glimpses of some nightmarish creature looming five or six meters tall. Its body was a mass of tumors, cysts and boils. Extra limbs and several heads flopped impotently at odd angles like some monstrosity stitched together from a dozen bodies. Selene¡¯s eye gleamed with silver light. She¡¯d seen this coming. ¡°He¡¯s able to gather corrupted energy around himself. If we let him absorb the other corpses there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll stop him.¡± ¡°Then we just get rid of them!¡± Dawn heaved and pushed Terrangelica deeper into the ground. Gravity increased to ten thousand times, causing the entire floor to sink several inches. Even the strongest martial warriors would be crushed, if caught off guard. These infected bodies were weak already, so they burst like ripe tomatoes run over by a truck. ¡°Is that all of them?¡± Dawn looked around. None of the bodies were rising. There was another flash from Selene¡¯s eye. ¡°No, not yet. Watch out!¡± A keen light blasted from her and caught Zephon¡¯s transformed body at the waist. She was too fast, giving him no opportunity to dodge. As she did, the bodies Dawn had squished seeped into the ground. They drained through the cracks, leaving behind a gory mess that carpeted the entire chamber in carnage. ¡°You can not defeat me!¡± Zephon had become a monster of limbs and heads. It stood among the chamber of putrid flesh with its feet buried in the muck. All of the corrupted energy was being gathered and siphoned through its legs. Luckily Selene¡¯s attack had cut him in half. Although Zephon could not be killed by an attack like this while in this form, it did temporarily stop him from gathering any more energy. ¡°What the actual fuck is this?¡± Dawn tread on the blanket of squishy, sick flesh beneath her feet. Tentacles grew from it and groped at her, looking for gaps in her armor. Luckily Dawnbreaker was completely sealed, allowing no purchase for them to hold. Foiled, they instead slapped and pawed at her, hoping to corrode the relic. Zephon¡¯s power filled the entire area, a repulsive influence that exemplified death. Even a relic like Dawn¡¯s would not resist forever. Eventually even it would fall to corruption. Her hands were still wrapped around Terrangelica, shoved deep into the ground. Black tentacles reached up to her waist and her armor had begun to sizzle. Selene continued her onslaught. Using the power of her Eye and her superior speed, she cut into Zephon¡¯s body unceasingly. Each attack carved away some of the power he¡¯d gathered and with each second he was losing ground. But it was merely appearances! Everything around them was corrupted now. It was like they were caught in the belly of a giant creature and Zephon was in control of it all. He was master of this ghastly domain. There was no end to the tools at his disposal. Here, he was unkillable. The world of gore and pestilence steadily fed him power. Meanwhile Dawn¡¯s defenses were under assault, and Selene¡¯s powers were being tested. As strong as these two women were, they had met the wrong foe in the wrong terrain. They were caught in Zephon¡¯s deadly grasp. Book 7, Chapter 74 - Unity in Opposition Book 7, Chapter 74 - Unity in Opposition Zephon¡¯s legs were fused to the ground like tree trunks. Although his transformed body had been cut to pieces by Selene¡¯s brutal attacks, it had caused no substantial damage. Under the dark blessing on his relic, Zephon¡¯s body joined with the widespread contagion. The only way to kill him was complete annihilation. Selene¡¯s attacks were mighty, but he was bolstered by the sick energies swirling through the area. There were many side-effects to using the Star of Dark Omens, but by corrupting hundreds of acolytes he strengthened himself to a tremendous degree. Even Cloudhawk would have a hard time against him. So what hope did Selene and Dawn have? The Apostle¡¯s twisted voice ranted. ¡°I will give you a painful death! It¡¯s what all blasphemers deserve!¡± Selene, soaring through the air, glared at him with a cold disregard. ¡°You think you can?¡± Silver gleamed in her eye and she was on the move again. Sublime Transcendence became a beacon of fire as suddenly it became several dozen angry slashes, carving through the fog like a knife through butter. Once again Zephon felt its bite. But it made no difference. He was a part of the contagion, fed by the poison energy. There was no weak point for Selene to exploit. Each time she cut him down the sea of gore remade his body. She kept trying regardless. There was no such thing as limitless power, there had to be a way to stop the regeneration. If she could do damage faster than he could recover, eventually the Apostle¡¯s body would fail. Her sword kept dancing, leaving behind a brilliant tail. Under the oppressive, dazzling light Zephon¡¯s body was withering away. Even if Selene¡¯s onslaught did not destroy him, it would surely cause great damage if left unchecked. He roared in pain and protest. Did she think she could defeat him by herself? Dawn wouldn¡¯t let it happen. With a heart full of disquiet she told herself that this was a foe they discovered together. She couldn¡¯t let this bitch get all the glory! Dawn took a moment to inspect their surroundings and get a handle on the situation. It was a world of sick flesh leaking foul fluid, undulating like the innards of some dying creature. Everything it touched was corrupted and its energies fed to Zephon. If they wanted to kill him then the method was simple. Cut him off from the energy! As her mind raced, planning the next move, Dawn¡¯s armor had started to blacken. Malignant flesh had started to wrap her up. Thankfully her armor was completely sealed, otherwise she would already be infected. ¡°Get the fuck off me!¡± With a roar her armor blazed to life and she lurched forward. Tearing from the fleshy bonds she dashed ahead, but quickly found her power waning after only a few steps. Black tentacles wrapped her up once again. Shit. Instead of breaking free she was even more entangled! When she tried to use her armor¡¯s power, the film of diseased flesh covering her quickly corrupted it. At the same time Selene¡¯s attacks had begun to slow. Even though Zephon had been chopped down to less than one meter, he still refused to die. Surrounding energies were keeping him alive and making him stronger. He was like a tumor that was still growing. He felt like he could breathe a little easier. These women were strong and under normal circumstances he likely couldn¡¯t beat one of them let alone two. Thankfully, the Temple was his home turf. They¡¯d walked into the heart of where he was strongest. ¡°You¡¯re done!¡± The pieces of his body gathered back together, forming a two-meter tall monstrosity. Now that his attackers had reached their limit, it was time for a counterattack. But were they really at their wit¡¯s end? Zephon underestimated what they were capable of. Selene gazed at the two-meter tall orb of undulating flesh. The silver light in her right eye was unassuming, but heralded a magnificent power. She could see the movement of all things, knew what they would do before they did. The flow of time began to change. Selene¡¯s attacked with renewed vigor, as fast as before. In fact everything around him had accelerated to incredible speeds. No¡­ that wasn¡¯t right. Things weren¡¯t moving faster, he was moving slower. Blood vessels burst in Selene¡¯s eye, a side-effect of the relic¡¯s power. For a short time she would be unable to use it again. But that didn¡¯t matter ¨C she¡¯d already achieved her goal. Around Zephon, time was under her control. Her control over time was not strong, but by pushing the Eye to its limit she could even turn back the clock on a small scale. Again Zephon, however, this was unnecessary. Instead her powers manipulated how time moved in this space. To him, it crawled along at one-fifth the normal speed. To his eyes it was like the world sped along around him. Then it was Dawn¡¯s turn to act! All of the diseased skin clinging to her solidified, like fragile black ice. Light bloomed from it as bright as the sun, blinding everything within a dozen meters before detonating. The skin was reduced to atoms. ¡°Let¡¯s turn it all to stone!¡± Dawn stepped out into the center of the chamber and thrust Terrangelica deep into the flesh. A formless power was injected into it, spreading in all directions. Suddenly all the wriggling meat turned to crystal. Groping tentacles froze solid mid-swipe. ¡°Boom.¡± At her command the crystal released all of its energy. The explosion ripped through the Temple like a tidal-wave, swell after swell that threatened to rip the entire structure apart. Zephon¡¯s twisted face revealed terror. ¡°That¡¯s the High Priest¡¯s power...¡± He was right. Dawn¡¯s ability to convert energy came from a treasured Highmorn relic. With it, she had annihilated Zephon¡¯s fleshy domain. No more infected clerics remained, so he had no way to bring it back. In a flash ten consecutive strikes bit into his body! Zephon¡¯s form sloughed to the ground in bloody chunks and emerging from it was a spike-covered black ball. The Star of Dark Omens, as though it had a mind of its own, quickly began to roll toward an exit. ¡°Where the fuck you think you¡¯re going?¡± Dawn thrust her hand toward Selene, whose white clothing became enveloped in fine scales. She felt invigorated, infused with power. The Dragon God¡¯s relic didn¡¯t just absorb mental energy, after all. It could also gift it to another. ¡°Quick, stop it!¡± Selene reacted immediately. A column of brilliant energy fired from her sword into the relic. With a thunderous crack, it broke in half. Shrill howls arose from all directions. The chunks of diseased flesh that remained liquid and splattered the area like a foul rain. Without the star to keep him alive, Zephon¡¯s brutalized body did not recover. He died in agony, splashed against the Temple floor. ¡°Done.¡± Selene floated to the ground. Although the surroundings were filthy, there was not a blemish on her resplendent clothes. The only stain was a single rivulet of blood that dripped from her right eye. It carved a crimson line down her pale face, adding to her domineering charm. Thud, thud, thud, thud! Dawn stomped over to her, opening her face-plate. She glanced at the broken Star of Dark Omens. ¡°Who told you to break it? That thing is definitely valuable.¡± Selene¡¯s response was tepid. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for someone to blame, blame yourself. I hit stronger than expected after you intervened.¡± Dawn¡¯s face turned red as a tomato. She helped this bitch and here she was blaming her?! ¡°No more nonsense, we have a mission. Let¡¯s find the Key and return it to Cloudhawk.¡± Dawn could only huff in response. It was an unexpected fight they¡¯d stumbled in to, but a fine opportunity to test their newfound strength. They figured out how to cooperate, at least a little, and both women learned valuable lessons. Book 7, Chapter 75 - Preparing to Work Book 7, Chapter 75 - Preparing to Work Dawn and Selene returned to Greenland, delivering their report. Cloudhawk was surprised by what he learned. ¡°I had a feeling something was off in Highmorn, but not like this. Luckily I sent you two and there are no consequences for me to worry about. What is the situation there now?¡± ¡°We scoured the Temple and didn¡¯t find any sympathizers. It looks like Zephon was probably working alone. Dead as a doornail, now. You don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± Dawn said. ¡°We hardly broke a sweat dealing with the cockroach.¡± Selene furtively cast a belittling glance at her compatriot. The blond bimbo was very fond of talking herself up. Egotistical bitch. If they hadn¡¯t worked together they would have died in Highmorn. Things would have only gotten much worse from there. It was also thanks to the relics Cloudhawk had given them. He was unconcerned for their safety because he knew the sort of power they wielded. ¡°The survivors?¡± ¡°Less than half of the Temple¡¯s people made it. We found them in the prison, including Master Anan.¡± Dawn scowled. ¡°He¡¯s supposed to be a Master Demonhunter. Got caught right away. We brought him back with us.¡± Cloudhawk rose to his feet. ¡°Bring me to him.¡± He was led into the subspace cube where Hellflower and Belial were treating Walrick Anan¡¯s wounds. The mighty demonhunter was a frail old man now, with a body covered in hideous black growth. They were so numerous that no inch of healthy flesh remained. He was awake and greeted Cloudhawk with a shamed expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was cocky, unprepared for what was in the Temple. I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d be walking into a trap.¡± Cloudhawk nodded to show he held nothing against him. He then asked the others, ¡°What¡¯s it look like?¡± Hellflower adjusted her goggles. ¡°No lethal danger at the moment. However, I am curious why Master Anan wasn¡¯t just killed. There had to be a reason to keep him alive like¡­ this.¡± It certainly wasn¡¯t a sign of mercy from Zephon. He¡¯d lost his mind. Under the domination of a god, he showed no quarter ¨C especially not to a deserter. ¡°Simple. Ammunition.¡± Belial, in his human form, had taken up post here as a scientist and researcher. ¡°The Star of Dark Omens continuously corrupts any living thing it touches. As you can imagine this causes terrible trauma to the body. The Star¡¯s power rapidly extracts all potential from living tissue, ultimately resulting in exhaustion and death.¡± In other words, the contaminated clerics Dawn and Selene saw in the Temple were already doomed. Zephon didn¡¯t turn them into walking bombs right away, he had to wait for the contagion to spread. Once they were ¡®primed¡¯ he could use them as weapons. ¡°Once the transformation has begun there is no reversing it. Luckily, Walrick wasn¡¯t completely contaminated. After a few days he should be back to normal.¡± This took Hellflower by surprise. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Because I made the relic that did this to him.¡± Cloudhawk might have figured. The Star of Dark Omens was a demon Elder¡¯s relic. Belial, being Gehenna¡¯s chief artisan, was probably responsible for all sorts of terrible weapons. ¡°Where is this relic? Sounds like it could be useful.¡± Hellflower was visibly excited by the prospect of studying the Star. It was completely different from any other relic she knew. Not overtly destructive, but practically impossible to defend against. Perhaps it could be abused to make the weak strong ¨C especially suitable for someone with minimal power like Hellflower. Cloudhawk looked pointedly at Dawn and Selene. They both shifted awkwardly. Cloudhawk watched Dawn produce the broken pieces and place it on a table. He was surprised that they had managed to destroy it in the first place. These ladies had gotten strong. He then turned to Belial. ¡°Can it be fixed?¡± The demon frowned. ¡°Hard to say. I can try.¡± It was what it was. Cloudhawk left the two in charge of the wounded. They were the experts, after all, especially Belial with his rich experience with relics. ¡°We got a little carried away and broke that relic, but we did complete our mission.¡± Dawn was eager to save face. She fished out a second item and handed it over. It looked like a pendant. ¡°This is the Key.¡± The Key. A simple name for a simple-looking item. It appeared to be made of a colorless crystal hanging on a white thread. Around the edges were several gemstones. Looking into the heart of the pendent, it was like staring into the night sky, with the starry contents constantly swirling. Cloudhawk could feel waves of spatial power wafting from it. Without question, it was a relic that bore dimensional power. He held it in his hand and looked the item over. He reached into it with his feelings and listened to its patterns, trying to learn how it worked. He sensed the power of every relic as a particular resonance. If he could understand the vibration, he could understand the secrets of the relic. Dawn couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. ¡°Well? Can you use it?¡± Selene was also interested. She didn¡¯t know how this small relic could extract thousands of tonnes of crystal from beneath the Cursed Desert. It seemed impossible, even if Cloudhawk had help. He didn¡¯t answer. Cloudhawk merely lifted his hand with the pendent wrapped around his wrist. A strange light glowed within the gems, too fast for Dawn to react. Space shimmered, and in a blink Dawn found herself¡­ somewhere else. She¡¯d experienced teleportation before, but in times past there was a process to it. She knew when it was happening. This time, though, it was almost instantaneous. By the time she realized what happened it was already done. Dawn and Selene had swapped places. This was the power of the Key, shifting location between two things. The more similar their size and mass, the easier it was to perform. ¡°I was right, but we must first prepare.¡± Before they could move the Source, Cloudhawk had to find something of similar mass to swap it with. Not an easy task for something fifty kilometers around. Hellflower piped up. ¡°The south-eastern side of the capital hugs an underground mountain range. We can try to complete the transference from there.¡± 1. Shit, this is ¡®simple-looking¡¯? Book 7, Chapter 76 - A Sensational Fea Book 7, Chapter 76 - A Sensational Fea Beneath the city, planners had discovered a massive underground layer of rock whose size and composition were different from its surroundings. It was transferred here a thousand years ago, during the cataclysm that broke the earth. It was also the most suitable thing they could use to exchange for the desert¡¯s Source. In the early morning, people began to gather. The Shepherd God spread her enchantments to temporarily cover the entire capital. The realm¡¯s strongest were strategically positioned and all the capital¡¯s defensive towers were activated. The capital was on high alert and all the citizens gathered in open spaces to avoid any possible danger. Azura and her fellow students were helping the soldiers maintain order. By now the students were all given formal appointment as Greenland Awakened. They weren¡¯t given posts on the front lines, but did have responsibilities around the city. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going to war, are we?¡± ¡°Nonsense. I heard Cloudhawk is preparing to bring a huge treasure to Greenland. If he succeeds we won¡¯t have to worry about resources anymore.¡± ¡°Such a treasure exists? Impossible.¡± ¡°...¡± Curiosity and rumors about what was coming were rampant. ¡°Quiet!¡± A small figure approached, draped in a cloak that was a little too big for her. Her shoulder-length hair was tied up in a ponytail and three swords were strapped to her back. In her hands was an exorcist bow. Her face was a picture of determination and valor. Everyone stood a little straighter. Everyone listened and respected Azura. There was every reason why they should. With her talents she had already surpassed Greenland Institute¡¯s chief instructor, Claudia Lunae. She was widely accepted as the school¡¯s best, not least because she was known to routinely defeat veteran demonhunters twice her age. Skycloud¡¯s most famous talents ¨C people like Arcturus and Selene ¨C didn¡¯t show as much promise at her age. But more than that, the leadership qualities she showed were amazing. With an innate charm and gravitas, people were drawn to her command. She had been given the post of deputy-commander of the Goshawks. She was responsible for keeping a special unit of young soldiers numbering in the hundreds under control. Ordinarily she was responsible for giving them tasks and overseeing their training. Her team had already begun to accumulate a good reputation. Among the young generation, she was closest to matching Cloudhawk¡¯s potential. War was coming and they needed to be ready, but it seemed like the next generation would easily match the one before. Since Azura was also Cloudhawk¡¯s sole disciple, it was widely assumed she would take on the mantle of alliance leadership one day. She shouted at them. ¡°Remember your orders.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± They shouted. ¡°Protect the citizens! Protect Greenland!¡± Her soldiers stared straight ahead with firm expressions. Overhead, several airships floated like clouds. They came from the Elysian realms, the wastelands, Woodland Vale and Meadow. Armies from everywhere. Dawn stood within the bridge of the flagship staring out across the horizon. Everyone was gathered to witness the scene. She cast her eyes down to the ground. Her voice rang out, amplified by a loudspeaker. ¡°I am Dawn Polaris, Governor of the Southern Capital. Everyone, evacuate the area immediately. Again, clear the area!¡± ¡°I know you are curious to see what follows. Remember, what you are about to witness is proof of the crimes the gods have committed against our species. Remember what our leader, Cloudhawk, has done to protect us. What we are about to accomplish will affect us all.¡± ¡°Today is another miracle on our path to freedom.¡± Azura¡¯s eyes were fixed on the horizon. She could feel the hum of relics growing stronger. Straight ahead was a group of mighty warriors, all of which she looked up to. Every one of them was a hero in their own right. Azura wasn¡¯t ready to join their ranks yet, but she was confident that she would one day. Sometime in the not too distant future she could become an important pillar of this world they were building. She was sure of it. Behind her were scores of troops and civilians who had been evacuated from the site. Times had changed dramatically in a very short time. Everyone was less sensitive to the news of the times. Citizens and soldiers alike only understood fragments of what was going on, but they were ready to face the future all the same. Cloudhawk¡¯s defeat of the four Supremes already seemed like a distant legend. Word of the encroaching divine army had spread, but they didn¡¯t realize how serious that was. They were confident that Cloudhawk would see them through. In times of peace and times of war, citizens lived different lives from their leaders. Ordinary folk were like little fish, swept along with the tides. Only the mighty among them had the power to change how the current flowed. That was why the life of a commoner was peaceful and satisfying. Although they weren¡¯t in complete control of their lives and couldn¡¯t change the future, at least they could accept it as it was. Without this responsibility they could live in peace. It was the sort of life Cloudhawk had always wished to live. Unfortunately for him, Cloudhawk could never outrun his destiny. There was no such thing as peaceful seclusion, not for him. Instead he had created a peaceful land for thousands of others. He had to sigh at the machinations of fate. Thud, thud, thud, thud! ¡°Everyone at the ready!¡± Azura felt the ground tremble beneath her feet. She raised her hand high in preparation. ¡°We¡¯re about to start!¡± As soon as the shaking began, it quickly picked up in intensity. Azura felt a pressure descend. A strong wind was blowing that struck her like a wall. She teetered back but kept her footing. At this moment, out beyond the border of the Southern Capital, a bubble expanded into view. In no time at all it had spread across several kilometers. Most of the bubble was below the surface, so vision alone couldn¡¯t reveal the scale. All they could see was the air within the bubble shifting strangely. Bolts of lightning crashed together inside, spewing waterfalls of sparks. Even from this distance Azura was struck by how much power was within it. Suddenly there was a light as bright as the sun. Through squinting eyes Azura saw the desert undulating like the surface of a lake. All the area around the bubble collapsed and others heaved upwards a thousand meters. A huge burst of energy spread through the ground, spawning waves of seismic activity. Like a stone dropped into a puddle, people watched in awe as the landscape was fundamentally altered. Huge plumes of sand were spat into the sky, temporarily turning day into night. The violent earthquakes continued for a time before eventually subsiding. Greenland was protected by the God Tree¡¯s enchantment, further supported by the power of several powerful demonhunters and Awakened. No one was in danger of being injured by the dramatic display. Citizens and soldiers alike stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Azura, Gabriel, Barb and others watched in utter disbelief. They could hardly imagine the breadth of power needed to accomplish such a thing! But Cloudhawk had done it. He¡¯d really done it. Over the distance of thousands of kilometers he brought a grand treasure right to their doorstep. With the Source they could power their war against the gods and catapult their species to prosperity. The sky was dark. Like the explosion of a nuclear bomb or a massive meteor impact, huge plumes of dust and sand were thrown into the air. For a long time they spread out like a blanket, concealing the sun and covering the city in darkness. But that wasn¡¯t a bad omen, it was a grand sign. Cloudhawk had brought the Source to them. With this wealth of power people could create whatever they wished. There would never be a shortage of resources ever again. ** Just as the southern wastes were being transformed, a massive pit appeared in the Cursed Desert as well. Kesjir vanished entirely, tumbling into the sandy depths. The surrounding dunes poured in like waterfalls. From this point forward, the Cursed Desert would be nothing but a huge, dead expanse. The world¡¯s landscape was changed. Earthquakes shuddering through the area were felt as far away as Stormford. Overhead were hundreds of airships, watching the display. Those aboard were astounded by Cloudhawk¡¯s power. Who would believe that a single man could transport something the size of a city, practically across the entire world! But that is exactly what had happened. It was an act that was bound to be remembered forever. The witnesses stared at the silent, sandy basin where an oasis once stood. It was all that remained of the miracle. This was bound to mark a turning point. What happened here was vitally important to humanity, and to the survival of their planet. Book 7, Chapter 77 - Completing the Mission Book 7, Chapter 77 - Completing the Mission ¡°All done?¡± Selene walked over a shattered scryspire. These tools broke like this when their capabilities were exceeded. As the trembling earth quieted, she knew that Cloudhawk¡¯s goal had been achieved. ¡°I¡¯ll look.¡± Selene jumped into the broken tower. Inside she saw Cloudhawk, drained of all his strength. He was lying on his back and panting like a dog whipped within an inch of his life. He felt drained and spent, unable to move a single hair. ¡°Fuck¡­ Belial, that asshole. He didn¡¯t¡­ say it would be this¡­ tiring. I felt like¡­ I almost exploded.¡± Cloudhawk groaned between deep breaths. ¡°Help me up.¡± He¡¯d succeeded in exchanging two truly massive items. The Source was highly energetic, massive in scale but relatively light in mass. As a result it strongly resisted his attempts to move it. It took Cloudhawk all of his strength to hold out, but in the end luck was on his side. Selene carefully lifted him up so he could rest against her. He was drenched in sweat, his black hair stuck to his pale face. As always his dark eyes glimmered with mischievous power, like tunnels to a distant light. Her eyes housed a mixture of bitterness and loss. As Selene gently wiped away the sweat from his brow, there was a rare moment of tenderness from this typically aloof beauty. The warmth from her soft touch brought him back to years ago. He took her by the wrist and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t push too hard. There was no danger.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always loved the desperate gambit.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the only thing that¡¯s kept me alive this long.¡± The two shared a laugh. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry to get up, so the two remained in their solitude for a little while. He pressed his back against her and felt the soft threads of her hair tickling his neck. He looked out across the barren horizon. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m just thinking, this place would look beautiful if it were green again.¡± Selene nodded. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s been dead a long time, but I don¡¯t think it will be like this forever.¡± A new life¡­ Cloudhawk raised his head, looking up at the sky as though he could see through it to the distant universe beyond. Toward the hostile enemy that approached. The gods were so strong. It seemed like if they wanted to destroy this planet, it would be as easy as turning over one¡¯s hand. Yet, for some reason, they couldn¡¯t. They needed Cloudhawk. If the God King¡¯s words were to be believed, he represented something special. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but when I encountered the God King¡­ I felt the same way I did the first time I met Arcturus.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°The God King doesn¡¯t want to kill me. At least not right now.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Selene¡¯s face had hardened when she heard the old Governor¡¯s name. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure. It¡¯s¡­ waiting for something. Waiting for me to grow. It doesn¡¯t make any sense to me. It¡¯s the master of time, what else could it be trying to achieve?¡± Selene replied. ¡°I don¡¯t think you need to trouble with it. We know very little about that creature. It¡¯s motives are a mystery, which is not surprising for something so strong. Right now we should focus on the things we can control, like preparing for this war.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± Eventually others came to check on them. Belial made his report. ¡°Kesjir is gone. All of the Source has been transferred here successfully.¡± ¡°We¡¯re receiving information from the capital,¡± Hellflower added. ¡°There was a significant earthquake spanning 250 kilometers but it passed quickly. There is now a massive crystal ¨C you succeeded. We can begin mining the Source right away.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°What were people¡¯s reactions?¡± ¡°Disbelief that you actually did it,¡± Hellflower replied, surprise on her own pretty features. ¡°We now have a massive, almost inexhaustible source of energy. It will make everything easier. Everyone who saw it will know this and follow you anywhere.¡± Source. A crystal, inundated with mental power. The energy it held was the power of creation. In theory, if one possessed enough mental energy then they possessed anything. Source was the key, a universal currency! It could be exchanged for whatever they needed. Of course, the prerequisite was that someone knew how to use it. After all, Source didn¡¯t come from a person. What it could accomplish might be different from what a demonhunter could summon. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look.¡± Aside from his attack on Sanctuary, this was Cloudhawk¡¯s greatest miracle. He knew how awesome the accomplishment was, but he wanted to see it with his own eyes. By the time they reached the Southern Capital he was mostly recovered. The citizens of the capital, on the other hand, were still reeling from the spectacle. The army made sure things didn¡¯t get too out of hand, and most were now back in their homes or districts. There were still many airships in the skies above, floating lazily around the massive crystal that had appeared to the south-west of the city. It was a towering plateau, several thousand meters high. It caught the sunlight and glittered alluringly like some sort of divine palace. Within it one could faintly see the spirits winding among the crystal. At a glance the Source was long and flat, roughly oval in shape. Roughly eighty percent was buried underground, but even so it was a mountainous structure on the border of the city. The process of transferring it and the warping of space had caused the crystal to crack. Massive pieces were tumbling free and littering the surrounding area. Airships shuttled back and forth, snatching up these fragments and moving them into the city. From this point on Greenland would never have to worry about production or defense. One of these chunks was enough to provide for the city¡¯s millions of inhabitants, at least for a little while. The trouble came in the knowledge of what this power represented. It came from the suffering of generations. So to honor those who had their essence stolen, it should be used for the betterment of the species and not wasted capriciously. ¡°I can use the Source to create a large defensive zone. One even the weapons of the gods would have a hard time piercing. It¡¯s where we¡¯ll make our stand.¡± Cloudhawk was pleased with the results. He was confident that he was right. The Source would protect them, sustain production and keep them operating at full capacity. He could rely on it to help with the mass evacuations he had planned. All the preparations they needed to accomplish before the gods arrived were now possible. ¡°What are we waiting for? Time to get to work.¡± No time to waste resting. Source was mental energy, but using it to power relics required talent and ability. There was still a lot for him to do. Time was running out. Book 7, Chapter 78 - The Psionic Tower Book 7, Chapter 78 - The Psionic Tower An airship docked at a temporary pier set up in the heart of Greenland. When the holds were opened it revealed tonnes of glittering crystal. The smallest were the size of a fist, while the largest rivaled a small home. They came in various shapes, which made it easier to use them for an array of purposes. The ship delivered its payload, then lifted off to collect more. A line of ships waited behind to do the same. The Alliance¡¯s army was also busy. Over three thousand drivers were galvanized to drive their vehicles over to the crystal and assist with the collection. Beast riders helped, shocked by what they found when they flew in close. It looked like some sort of glacier. However, it differed from chunks of ice in that it glowed with an internal light. Day or night, there was an ethereal glimmer that lit the surroundings. At least the city would never have to worry about darkness anymore. ¡°Get to work! We need to ship all of this back to the city!¡± ¡°Leader Cloudhawk has said there¡¯s enough here to set us up ¡®till the end of time. Good days are on the horizon!¡± A lot of debris remained around the Source mountain, a consequence of its transference. Among the smaller pieces laying a carpet of gravel, some were several hundred meters tall. They were randomly distributed every which way. A veritable army of people, bearing hoes and picks, clustered the edges. Load after load of the crystals were brought back to the city. Some were stored in the subspace cube for research, where Hellflower immediately set to work seeing how it could be exploited. It was important work. While there was no evidence that Source was dangerous, it was still unknown. But time constraints meant they would have to use and study it at the same time. Only with Source could humanity prepare for the coming war. A treasure like this couldn¡¯t be ignored, not when it could shore up the desperately underpowered anti-god forces. ¡°Boss Hellflower, the test results are back.¡± One of Greenland¡¯s lead scientists, Bug, approached her to deliver the news. ¡°We¡¯ve only been able to positively identify about five percent of its contents: 1.5% phosphorous, 0.9% iron, 0.73% calcium. 0.51% copper, 0.12% silicon dioxide. The remaining ninety-five percent remains unknown. Based on the physics, it¡¯s nothing we¡¯ve seen before. It¡­ completely alters everything we know about science.¡± Hellflower pressed her. ¡°What other attributes have you uncovered?¡± ¡°We detected a large number of unstable positrons. They combine in an odd way, producing a radioactive compound that may affect carbon-based molecular structures. During preliminary testing we discovered pronounced effect on the cerebellum.¡± The last part caught the attention of nearby aids and made them nervous. Bug asked her superior, ¡°Boss Hellflower, there is a clear effect on humans who stay near the crystals. It¡¯s all around us now. Can we expect a negative impact?¡± Her specific worry was what it would do on a genetic level. Maybe in half a decade everyone living in the Southern Capital would suffer mutations. Hellflower took the data report and looked at it closely. After flipping through a few pages, she smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re right that the high concentration of energy is radioactive, but the effect on humans is minimal. There¡¯s also no reason to think the impact will be negative.¡± Bug pressed her. ¡°Could it have a positive effect?¡± ¡°According to what we¡¯ve learned, mental energy cannot be detected by ordinary instruments. We could call it ¡®psionic¡¯ energy. The definitive quality of this energy comes from the will of living things, and through it can adjust physical matter.¡± Hellflower continued to explain. ¡°I¡¯ve dissected quite a number of demonhunter brains. What I discovered was slight abnormalities¡­ in the cerebellum. Especially strong demonhunters even had microscopic crystal structures in the gray matter. I used to think these were just one-off mutations, but now we know this not to be true. Human will is born from the cerebellum, but not psionic power. That only comes when the cerebellum mutates. That is now their will comes to manipulate the world around them.¡± That explained why some people had a ¡®talent¡¯ for using relics and others didn¡¯t. If Hellflower¡¯s research was correct, then what they called mental power was really just a mutation. All demonhunters were, in essence, mutants. What did that mean? If the Source¡¯s power was influencing human cerebellum activity, it could over time give people the power to manipulate matter with their minds. Why was it that demonhunters typically only appeared in Elysian lands, and not in the wastes? More than likely it had to do with the enchantments gods placed on their realms. Their interference increased the likelihood of this mutation, granting humans the ability to delve into the mysteries of psychic ability. With the mountain of Source right outside, not only would they have endless energy but also the chance for everyone to evolve. In the future everyone would be given the power to change the world as they saw fit. ¡°This human girl is correct.¡± Belial had been nearby, working on another matter as they discussed possibilities. The one called Hellflower had a keen mind. Her determination about mental power was correct. It was a fine display of her intelligence and thorough research. Her studies weren¡¯t limited to earthly civilization. Lately her area of study had been mental energy and the humans who wielded it. Knowledge of psionic power and the relics they powered. Already there were considerable breakthroughs, all of which told her that they should not shield people from the radiation of Source. They should embrace it. So how should it be used? It was not a tough question for Belial. Over a thousand years he had wandered the world, going from one realm to another. In none of his travels did he encounter someone who knew of Source because why would they? It was everywhere, all the time. As ubiquitous as the air. It all came from the Temples. Every second of every day it pumped that energy out across the realm. A formless blanket of the stuff that protected the Elysian lands and transformed its inhabitants. Belial was busy designing a new furnace. This one would use Source as fuel and output mental energy. What it produced would be spread across the southern wastes, reducing the individual load of those trying to use relics. They could simply pluck it from the air as needed. It was the most straightforward way to utilize this new resource. Hellflower defined mental energy as this inscrutable ¡®psionic energy¡¯. It had a ring to it, he thought. So the tower he would build to spread this power through the land would be called a Psionic Tower. Book 7, Chapter 79 - Crescent Moon Book 7, Chapter 79 - Crescent Moon An endless blue sky. Vast, yellow sand. Nothing seemed to exist between. The wind kicked up plumes of grit, forming into dervishes that danced along the dunes. For a moment sky and sand were joined as the swirling winds meandered toward the northern horizon. Out there was a ribbon of green that could be easily overlooked or dismissed as a mirage. A secluded oasis in the shape of a crescent moon hugged a small lake that reflected the azure heavens above. It was a small respite from the desert, with a population of only several hundred. Most were pregnant women and children. A rare sight in today¡¯s broken world. It was certainly a target. There were those who sought to plunder the oasis from its wealth and women. However, in an almost mythical fashion, anyone with wicked intentions ¨C from the lowliest bandit to the mightiest sweeper clan ¨C was annihilated before they could act. No survivors remained, only the memory of their cruel fate. Over time people came to know that this otherwise ordinary encampment was protected by a mysterious power. It was unbreakable, unassailable. Sprout rose with the dawn. He fetched some water, cleaned, cooked and fed the animals. Once all his chores were done, he then sat by the camp¡¯s entrance and stared out into the wastes. He was a large and hideous man, but although he looked intimidating he was actually quite timid. People ordered him around all day and he never complained. Instead, with an amicable smile, he merely did as he was told. Sprout¡¯s past was a mystery to him these days, but that didn¡¯t trouble him. He didn¡¯t want to know what had happened to him before. Something was wrong with his head, but he thought maybe that was a good thing. All misfortune and unhappiness came from the past. What people regretted and what they missed. Sometimes it also came from fear of the future. Sprout focused on the present, where he was happy. There was no need to dwell on the past. There was no reason to fixate on tomorrow. He was happy now. What made him the happiest was sitting in front of the oasis and protecting it. He stared at the sand dunes, rolling across the horizon like frozen waves. Overhead the solid blue sky stretched on forever, as empty as his head. It was glorious. Just a blissful emptiness, with nothing to think on and nothing to fuss over. Clink, clink! The jangling sound of a makeshift wind-chime rose with the breeze. Sprout¡¯s eyes caught a group of small dots on a distant ridge. He turned back and shouted over his shoulder. ¡°The Master¡¯s back! Master¡¯s back!¡± His words surprised the oasis denizens. Sixty or seventy percent of the people here were women or children and from among them came a pretty ¨C if rather thin ¨C lady. Her hair was tied back with a kerchief and she was wrapped in simple animal leathers. Among the folds was a small infant. She was Luciasha, the leader of their home. It was strange that in this brutal world, where the strong often subdued the weak, a woman with no powers to speak of served as their leader. This was even more surprising when one learned that the camp actually had many capable fighters who all bowed to her. Beside Luciasha stood a woman dressed all in black. She held a sheathed long sword in one hand. Serious in speech and manner, with her face covered in a dark veil, she was an intimidating figure that could cut down a contingent of Skycloud warriors without issue. Revenant¡¯s eyes were fixed on the horizon. ¡°He¡¯s back.¡± Luciasha¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Yes. And he¡¯s brought others with him this time.¡± It was clear from the people¡¯s reaction that this visitor was not an enemy. Among the encroaching group was a group of camels and other beasts of burden, laden with supplies. Cheers erupted among the denizens as the resources were delivered and they rushed over to greet the arrivals. A young man dropped from the back of one of the beasts and addressed the people with a wide smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s enough for everyone. Sprout, let¡¯s get this stuff passed out.¡± Sprout happily obliged. Luciasha then came over and looked the young man over. ¡°Squall, I¡¯m surprised you have the time to visit!¡± The young member of the Hand of Gehenna was around twenty five now and had the bearing of a mature traveler. He¡¯d changed a lot from his days with Bloomnettle Company, but even after all this time he was still a part of Luciasha¡¯s life. Although they were apart much longer than they were together, both knew it was only for a little while. But¡­ she couldn¡¯t help thinking of someone else whenever they met. It always made her sad. Even in this secluded place sometimes news passed through. She heard tales of the things he did. Crescent Moon¡¯s safety was due in part to Squall¡¯s protection, but she knew he was watching out for them from his far-away capital, sending people to keep their little patch of desert secure. The rift in their relationship had never healed¡­ Squall responded in a gentle voice. ¡°I came to see the little one. How is he?¡± Luciasha held a small boy against her chest, no more than two years old. He was sleeping soundly. Even in this inhospitable desert the boy looked healthy and adorable. Obviously the product of tender love and care. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Her eyes turned to a tall man by Squall¡¯s side. He wore drab gray clothing and had many weapons strapped to his back. The stranger was slightly older than them. ¡°Ah, I almost forgot. This is my brother, Frost de Winter.¡± This was Frost? She was surprised to finally meet him. Luciasha first heard the name five years ago Sandbar Outpost. He was praised as a great demonhunter and talented military commander. It was later that she learned from Squall about their shared blood. Frost dropped his hood, revealing a bearded and handsome face. He was in his thirties, but the burdened look in his eyes made him look much older. The dashing air he once bore was gone, but it was replaced with a grim sort of resolve. ¡°Can I see him?¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re his uncle.¡± Luciasha carefully handed him over, and Frost¡¯s calloused hand took the child from her. His dour features broke ever so slightly and there was the faintest hint of warmth as he stroked the boy¡¯s cherubic cheeks. ¡°Does he have a name?¡± ¡°Everyone here has taken to calling him Wolf Cub. A pack of wild wolves was roaming near the camp the night he was born,¡± Luciasha said with a gentle laugh. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a proper name. We wastelanders don¡¯t care much about that.¡± Frost nodded. He looked down at the pure little life and stared in silence for a little while. Soon a terrible war would come and many would die. In all likelihood most of humanity wouldn¡¯t survive. One day it would fall to Wolf Cub, little Skye and Cloudhawk¡¯s disciple Azura to fill their shoes. Architects of a new era. Frost and people like him¡­ all there was left for them to do was leave these young people with the best chances possible. Squall broke in. ¡°We need everyone to pack up and come with us right away.¡± Luciasha was surprised by this news. She didn¡¯t like the idea. ¡°We¡¯re fine here. Why should we leave?¡± ¡°The final fight is coming. Nowhere on this planet will be safe. We need to bring you somewhere else, where the war won¡¯t touch you.¡± A coquettish smile touched Squall¡¯s lips. ¡°Cloudhawk¡¯s opened a portal to another world. It¡¯s got a huge city. Safe. There¡¯s hot water, bread, comfortable lodging¡­ you all will live there.¡± Cloudhawk¡­ It felt like it¡¯d been an eternity since she heard that name. A long time ago ¨C in another life ¨C they were like brother and sister. After Adder all of that changed. She bore him no ill-will anymore. Actually, she felt guilty for what happened. These days he was a god-like figure, standing at the front of humanity¡¯s rebel army. She was just a little mouse hiding in the sand dunes. Squall continued. ¡°Come on. You have to leave, for me and for our son.¡± She nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Crescent Moon was abandoned. As they left, Sprout stopped every few steps to look back with a downcast expression. This had been home. No one bullied him. He was happy. Now it was all going to change. 1. Book 7, Chapter 80 - On The Eve of War Book 7, Chapter 80 - On The Eve of War Luciasha and her people arrived at their destination without issue. A sprawling, bustling city stretched out before them. Southern Capital¡¯s population was several million strong by now, easily holding the title of greatest city in the wastelands. People were still pouring in from all directions, like streams toward the ocean. And ¨C like the ocean ¨C the city happily accepted everyone. The travelers were welcomed like old friends. Inside the capital, it was like leaving the wastelands behind. The gritty soil had been transformed, becoming moist and black. Luciasha could even see small streams that stretched out from the center of the city. They sparkled in the light of the sun, bringing nourishment to every part of this place. Vibrant patches of green were everywhere she looked. Giant mushrooms sprang up at even intervals, which provided food and energy for the different districts they passed through. There were towers that hummed with power which offered defense or deterrent, like loyal soldiers standing silent vigil. An enormous defensive shield enveloped the whole place, with three internal layers and three external layers. Not far from the borders was a towering mountain of crystal like something out of a fairy tale. It shimmered in an odd, ethereal way. Luciasha had heard that the entire crystal mountain had been moved here by Cloudhawk. Since she wasn¡¯t here she dismissed them as tall tales, for who had the sort of power to accomplish a feat like that? The city was rich in resources, enough to support the city and its people for thousands of years. With such surplus the city¡¯s defenses were kept strong to dissuade invaders. The immigrants from Crescent Moon shuffled onto an airship bound for the center of the city, Greenland. Luciasha had never been an Elysian land, but she imagined they had to be just like this. Here in the Southern Capital, demonhunters were empowered to twice their ordinary strength. With the help of Psionic Towers that swelled to five or ten times. With such abilities they could do whatever they liked. Hundreds of Seraphs worked ceaselessly. With surprising speed they built structures and repaired damage. How had this place been built with astonishing speed? Because they weren¡¯t building the city so much as summoning it. Structures rose from the sand and soil as rough architectural cutouts before being polished as needed. With the complicated steps of ordinary building eliminated, everything was done much faster. Mental energy was the primary resource powering it all. With enough mental energy, everything was possible. A large group had gathered in the heart of Greenland. Thousands, mostly Elysians and mostly women and children. They were neatly arrayed in groups and slowly made their way toward a central tower. Luciasha looked at it closely. The tower was made from some kind of black metal she wasn¡¯t familiar with. It was enveloped in light, like it was burning something. But despite the huge plumes of fire she felt no heat. This was the Psionic Tower built by Belial. A furnace that burned Source as its fuel. At the tower¡¯s base a group fed Source into a small port. Huge amounts of mental energy were released that quickly spread all across the city. Cloudhawk had succeeded in using this power to reinforce the phase stone and open a gate. The gate was stable and Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need to remain here to keep it open. Although the amount of energy required to keep it open was staggering, the Psionic Tower was up to the task. So long as Source was continuously fed into the furnace, and until Cloudhawk chose to close it, the gate would stay open. This was how the exodus would be accomplished. ¡°Cloudhawk did all this? Amazing...¡± Luciasha muttered the words to herself with a conflicted heart. She was both proud of his accomplishments and worried for him, for she knew there was no going back from the path he walked. What sort of future would he meet? Revenant¡¯s voice cut into her thoughts. ¡°Are you going to see him?¡± After a moment¡¯s pause Luciasha shook her head. ¡°No. He doesn¡¯t need any distractions. Besides, we¡¯re from different worlds now. It¡¯s enough for me to know he¡¯s ok.¡± Sometimes meeting old friends brought nothing but trouble. Looking up was hard, just as hard as looking down, and Cloudhawk was at the top of a mountain she would never climb. If there was no reason to trouble him then why should she? Luciasha also knew Cloudhawk, and he would be happy just knowing she was somewhere safe. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to cross the gate.¡± The line toward the gate moved quickly. In less than forty minutes the portal loomed before her. It swirled like a vortex, four meters across. Three people could pass through abreast. What waited for them on the other side? Judging by the looks on the faces around her, Luciasha was not alone in wondering. But the choice had been made. A terrible war was on the horizon and there was nowhere left to hide. This was the last, best option. Escape to a place where the war couldn¡¯t touch them. Luciasha turned her head and looked out over the city they¡¯d crossed through. She didn¡¯t know if she would ever have an opportunity to see it again. It was possible her next steps would bring her away from this world forever. She thought about the last twenty years of her life, of everything that had happened. And before her¡­ a question mark. What would her new life be like? What would the future hold? Luciasha took one final look at the child in her arms and stepped forward. She vanished. Revenant was one step behind. The mass evacuation was only beginning. Denizens of all the Elysians lands and non-combatants from all across the wastes were streaming into the city. Although the process was quick, the sheer scale of people they were trying to move was mind-boggling. Families of soldiers fighting in the war had priority, and others would follow afterward. Cloudhawk sat within his fortress with the towering form of Legion by his side. Together they watched the ceaseless stream of humans passing through the gate. Every passing minute was more people, escaping destruction. ¡°Everything appears to be going well,¡± Legion noted. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t happy with the rate of progress. ¡°It¡¯s too slow. We should open up several more portals to make sure everyone gets through. We don¡¯t need these women and children here when the fighting starts. Only soldiers.¡± Legion did not express an opinion. For a moment he tilted his head, distracted, and said, ¡°The Cloud God calls me. He¡¯s learned something.¡± Cloudhawk and Legion both went to seek out the former Supreme. ¡°What is it?¡± The Cloud God¡¯s ¡®voice¡¯ boomed in his mind. ¡°Sumeru¡¯s vanguard will arrive soon.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s face darkened. ¡°This fast? What¡¯s going on?¡± The Cloud God answered by linking his consciousness to Cloudhawk¡¯s. Images flooded his mind and he saw it clear. A colossal force stretching out across space, rapidly approaching. His enemy seemed to have felt a change in the earth. They knew Cloudhawk was preparing to fight back. To answer this several dozen divine ships were dispatched from the main force. They were enveloped in staggering power and streaked toward earth at tremendous speed. Judging by what he saw, they would arrive soon. Cloudhawk turned to Legion. ¡°Prepare for war.¡± The battle between man, god and demon was about to begin. Book 7, Chapter 81 - Mustering Forces Book 7, Chapter 81 - Mustering Forces ¡°The divine army knows we¡¯re gathering our defenses. They¡¯ve sent their fastest ships first as a vanguard to try and slow us down or catch us unprepared.¡± In the subspace conference area Cloudhawk faced his Alliance¡¯s leaders. He announced their findings with a solemn expression. All of the biggest names from across the wastes and Elysian lands were gathered. Fear crept into their hearts for though they knew this time would come, they did not expect it so soon. Cloudhawk went on. ¡°We need to use this time to accomplish three things. First we have to speed up our exodus time table. Second, we have to gather all of our forces. Third, continue to strengthen our defenses. Everyone must be assured that they¡¯re safe. We can¡¯t afford a panic. I¡¯ll leave the specifics to Legion. Any objections?¡± Phoenix rose to her feet. ¡°How many enemies can we expect? How strong are they?¡± ¡°Right now, we don¡¯t know. The gods who will participate in the fighting are asleep and disconnected from the divine matrix. We can guess, but we don¡¯t have any accurate figures.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a moment before going on. ¡°What I can tell you is that the challenge we face is a big one. Every one of us ¨C myself included ¨C must understand that.¡± Silence descended on the chamber. They had all come to peace with this from the moment they agreed to fight the gods. Their enemy was a powerful race that spanned the galaxy. Humans were just sheep, raised in captivity. They had about as much chance of defeating their masters as a house cat. But again, there was no other choice! No one here was an ordinary person. They were the most intelligent of their species, geniuses and schemers, but they felt like a rat in a trap. Escape was impossible. Surrender? Hmph, like the gods would let them live. Once they lost faith, their spirits and minds would not be transformed into Source for the gods to consume. They had no more worth in the eyes of those monsters. Destruction was their fate, unless they fought back. Victory was a long shot, but at least they would die on their own terms. Cloudhawk had laid out the plan. It was Legion¡¯s responsibility to see to the details. The Elder demon¡¯s voice was transmitted directly into everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°The gods are powerful, but in the grand scheme their numbers are limited. They can¡¯t afford to send enough people to encircle and overwhelm us. What¡¯s more, a rebellion on one distant planet is not something for them to fear.¡± The demon was trying to set their minds at ease. Indeed these beings ruled over the vast galaxy and had any number of issues to deal with. They didn¡¯t have the numbers or interest to deal with a handful of Supremes in some backwater speck of dust. However, Cloudhawk had reason to believe that there were more than one group of gods. This world they lived on was different from the others. A thousand years ago gods and demons fought a terrible war on this soil and ever since then the God King has had his eyes on it. ¡°Our collective strength is nothing to scoff at. I have weighed our forces and there are five hundred and ten among us who fight at the level of a divine soldier. Nine of us are equal to Supremes.¡± Legion looked over the sea of faces and continued. ¡°In terms of numbers I do not think their vanguard will overpower us. They have no advantage over our large army.¡± His determination came as a shock. No one expected humans to wield that sort of power. Divine soldiers were the weakest of their species, but any one of them were equivalent to a Master Demonhunter. According to Legion, though, humanity had hundreds who were equal to these beings. No one doubted the demon though, especially since there was no reason to fake such a thing. Now what they needed to do was get everyone working on the same page. As for the humans who were as strong as Supremes, Legion said there were nine. They included Legion himself, Cloudhawk, the Cloud God, Belial, the Shepherd God and other leaders from the Elysian lands like Phoenix. A surprising lineup, but still weak in the face of a full divine army. Legion went on. ¡°We have an estimated six thousand soldiers and Awakened of highest ability. Ten of them are equal to one divine soldier. In other words, they can handle six hundred gods.¡± High-level Awakened were the wasteland¡¯s version of veteran demonhunters. There were also mutants, Elysian soldiers and more who were also fierce warriors. All together, between the core fighting force and the elite, humanity could face an army of one thousand one hundred gods. While still small in the face of the gods, it was still impressive. Indeed, there was a reason Cloudhawk had worked so hard to take control of the Elysian lands. Those in attendance began to feel more confident about their chances. Legion continued. ¡°The Elysian lands have a million standard soldiers at the ready. The Wasteland Alliance sports similar numbers. Two million when put together, with twelve thousand airships and thirty or forty thousand vehicles. Most wasteland transport have now been upgraded with eboncrys cannons which match Elysian artillery power.¡± Two million soldiers! Forty or fifty thousand vessels! ¡°That sounds pretty good!¡± A few surprised mutters could be heard among the crowd. They were all operating under the assumption that this battle was a suicide mission. Legion¡¯s report cut through their pessimism. Perhaps there was hope after all. ¡°Humanity has called this broken land home for a thousand years. That¡¯s a thousand years of struggling up from the dirt. Tearing it all down won¡¯t be so easy.¡± Legion¡¯s voice carried a compelling power. ¡°As for our defenses, we have the help of the Source mountain powering our towers. With the current enchantments, several dozen Swords of Sumeru couldn¡¯t punch through and we¡¯re strengthening it even more every day. Soon we will turn the Southern Capital into a fortress. The gods¡¯ vanguard, flying here in a desperate attempt to stop these defenses, will arrive too late.¡± Everyone was nodding in excitement. The Source was a treasure that had come at just the right time. It provided all the energy their city needed. Belial¡¯s Psionic Tower used it to strengthen all of their people as well. If the gods chose to make the Southern Capital their battleground, then they would be fighting where their enemy was strongest. ¡°In the final analysis, although we are much weaker than our foes, that does not mean that we are doomed.¡± Legion had succeeded in boosting the morale of his allies. Now it was down to business. ¡°It¡¯s time to discuss specific troop deployment.¡± The meeting continued for several more hours while orders were delivered, detailing where the front lines would be. Within the subspace cube, of course, several hours meant nothing. Cloudhawk dismissed the meeting and everyone summoned their own lieutenants to get things moving. In this pocket dimension they had plenty of time to plan. ¡°You were too optimistic,¡± Cloudhawk said when he returned to Legion. ¡°We¡¯re too weak. You shouldn¡¯t make them overconfident.¡± Gods were superior to humans in every way. Not just physical abilities, but wisdom, experience, technology and everything else. Legion¡¯s simplistic comparisons were misleading. Even when it came to simple numbers, humans didn¡¯t necessarily hold the advantage. ¡°My King must realize that my words won¡¯t convince most of them. However, it sends a clear message: we must be united as one. Together we are much stronger than when we are apart.¡± Legion explained. ¡°If they can believe that, it will be enough to carry them forward.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your strategy for the fight to come?¡± ¡°There is no need for strategy. We will lose.¡± Legion¡¯s dire prognosis blindsided Cloudhawk. It was not at all what he was expecting. Legion noted his expression and elaborated. ¡°Our victory or defeat in this war will not be predicated on whether humans can band together. We can only succeed if my King dons the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass and truly assumes his role.¡± ¡°You mean we need the support of Gehenna.¡± ¡°When the gods arrive, without Gehenna¡¯s help we will fall.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. It wasn¡¯t that he opposed asking Gehenna for help. Until now, the Cuirass had denied him. Without it Cloudhawk had merely inherited the Demon King¡¯s power, not his name. So far he hadn¡¯t found a way to access Gehenna, much less ask its denizens for help in his war.¡± ¡°Any suggestions?¡± ¡°I do not. In this task, you must rely on yourself.¡± He cursed inwardly. He didn¡¯t know what to do, or if he was even up to the task. What was preventing him from becoming the true Demon King? Book 7, Chapter 82 - City Beneath the Emerald Star Book 7, Chapter 82 - City Beneath the Emerald Star ¡°Form up! Let¡¯s go, ranks!¡± Scores of soldiers in green cloaks were arranging themselves on a field. The insignias on their armor marked them as Awakened, the wasteland¡¯s answer to demonhunters. Born and bred in the wastes, they were as talented as any Elysian. The oldest among them were sixteen or seventeen, while the youngest were around ten years old. Most were mutants of varying degrees and had trained at the academy for at least a year. They knew how to employ their mental power, even if they were still only novices. A young woman with short swords strapped to her back and an exorcist bow in her hands led the group. She was their leader, as well as lieutenant commander of the Goshawks. ¡°Boss Azura, are we going to the front lines?¡± A large, lumpy looking youth called out to her. His weapon was a particularly large mace. ¡°Is this what we¡¯ve been training for? We¡¯ll beat the shit out of anyone who threatens Leader Cloudhawk or our Alliance!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Another boy, built like a rhino despite being only eleven or twelve, called out as well. ¡°We¡¯ll beat the shit out of ¡®em!¡± ¡°Beat the shit out of ¡®em!¡± The other children picked up the rallying cry. They hardly knew their asses from a hole in the ground but were convinced their foes would fall before them. IT didn¡¯t matter that gods neither drank nor ate, but they would beat the shit out of them regardless! ¡°Pigblossom, Ironspike, stop your bullshit.¡± Azura coughed a little. ¡°Leader Cloudhawk has prepared something for us. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± With that Azura waved her hand. A group of soldiers stepped forward and began to pass out pendants. Each one was affixed with a crystal the size of a small egg. ¡°This is Source, specially prepared to make what they call a psionic pendent. They will strengthen our mental powers,¡± Azura explained. ¡°They aren¡¯t relics, but they¡¯ll make us fight harder ¨C especially if we¡¯re near the psionic tower. These pendants work together with the tower, increasing their resonance to pump up our attacks to several times their normal strength.¡± Everyone looked thrilled with their new gift. Belial had come up with the idea and built them in the subspace cube. While they looked simple enough, they were invaluable. Just another way Source had proven to be a priceless treasure for their alliance. With the help of these pendants the rookies would hit as hard as an average demonhunter! IF they fought near the psionic tower, they would give a veteran demonhunter a run for their money. ¡°Green Alliance forever! Long live the Alliance!¡± Pigblossom and Ironspike cheered and once again their classmates took up the call. IN their eyes the gods were nothing to fear. With heroes like Cloudhawk leading them it didn¡¯t matter how many enemies they faced. They were just thrilled to fight by his side. Pigblossom couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. ¡°When are we heading to the front?¡± His companions looked at Azura with expectant eyes. They were now outfitted for war, and after so much training in the academy they were thirsty to do their part. None of them had seen actual combat yet. But their commanding officer shook her head. ¡°I was just told to gather you up and pass these out. I don¡¯t have any other orders.¡± As the crowd of young warriors looked at one another in disappointment, they heard the loud stamping of feet. Thousands of soldiers came marching by with eboncrys weapons in hand. They were clad in the specialized green armor of their station with badges that revealed who they were. The latest batch of Hellflower¡¯s genetically modified soldiers. Every one of them was a killing machine. Gabriel, Barb and Claudia stepped out from the crowd. ¡°We¡¯ve been given evacuation orders. All students are to fall back to the Emerald Star while the gods are focused here.¡± ¡°What? The Emerald Star?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere! We want to fight!¡± A sea of obstinate faces answered the news. Other soldiers got to stay and they were at least as strong. Why did they have to evacuate? ¡°Headmaster, I want to stay.¡± ¡°We can fight!¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve been waiting for a chance to prove ourselves!¡± If they were ordinary children, or those focused on science and technology, then evacuation would have been welcome. But why were they being forced to go? They had trained for this! Claudia was moved and pleased by their determination. These were the fruit of the wastelands, born into a cruel and unforgiving world. To survive you needed an iron-clad survival instinct. Who would want to put themselves in harm¡¯s way? These kids did. After years of guiding them Claudia had seen the change. They weren¡¯t lone wolves fiercely fighting for themselves anymore. She¡¯d instilled in them discipline and camaraderie. The harsh instinct to look after oneself first was gone from these children. It was hard to believe they were wastelanders at all. People who were supposed to be selfish and faithless were now begging to fight for their people. Ever since Greenland was established its people had felt a sense of belonging. This was their home, a place that needed to be protected. Humans were an emotional species, after all. Some things were worth defending, even if it meant their lives. Such a transformation was hard-won but important. It was a conviction that transformed them from wild animals to real people. If they were allowed to mature, the future would be a better place. That¡¯s why they were too important to lose. ¡°Listen up. This order comes direct from Cloudhawk himself, I couldn¡¯t disobey even if I wanted to. You aren¡¯t being kept from the fight for no reason, you have an even more important mission.¡± Claudia¡¯s instructional bearing caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Emerald Star will be home to tens of thousands of women, children and elderly. We have to make sure they¡¯re protected. It¡¯s a mission no less important that fighting the gods, and no less dangerous.¡± Bullshit! Greenland soldiers should be on the front lines! Pigblossom, Ironspike and the others cast defiant glances at their leader. Azura¡¯s face revealed nothing. She stepped forward. ¡°We follow orders!¡± For a few short seconds glances were exchanged among her young troops. Their backs straightened, their faces set into grim looks, and they called back. ¡°Yes, commander!¡± Gabriel smirked at the scene. ¡°She means a lot to this crew. It shows.¡± ¡°Blue¡¯s no ordinary girl. She¡¯s stronger than you and barely a teenager. That¡¯s after only a few years of training.¡± Barb stood by his side and poked fun at her partner. ¡°Be thankful Cloudhawk didn¡¯t call you to the front. Probably fall back whimpering after the first volley.¡± Gabriel shrugged. He knew Blue had much more potential than he did, but there was no envy. With more power came more responsibility ¨C and more loneliness. Gabriel had no interest in more power. He preferred the title of artist over soldier. ¡°Move out!¡± Claudia led the group to the portal and through to Emerald Star beyond. What was called Emerald Star was of course the jungle planet Cloudhawk had visited many times before. The outer shell of vibrant green gave it the new name. Cloudhawk had begun preparations for the exodus after he¡¯d found the city underground. With Source he was able to open a stable portal, so the time had come. Over the last several days a steady flow of emigrants flowed through at all hours. A hundred thousand or more had already passed the boundary. A hundred thousand¡­ it sounded like a big number, but it was just the beginning! Cloudhawk planned to open more portals to speed the process. Noncombatants had to leave as quickly as possible. To delay would put lives at risk, and force the defenders to fight with one hand behind their backs. As Claudia moved through the portal she was struck by the scene on the other side. A rolling sea of people, steadily moving forward. Mostly women and children, some scientists, workers, doctors and so forth. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± A thin old man greeted them. Gabriel and Claudia were especially surprised to see him. Gabriel looked him over. ¡°Instructor Dumont? You¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sound so disappointed,¡± Dumont replied in irritation. ¡°We have no intention to fight Cloudhawk for the time being. Don¡¯t be so guarded.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I¡¯m old and after years in Hell¡¯s Valley I know how to distinguish good from bad. Personal grudges don¡¯t help anyone, especially when our species is at risk. We¡¯ve put Eckard¡¯s death behind us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you can fight against Cloudhawk anyway,¡± Claudia quipped. She wasn¡¯t going to mince her words with this old fool. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not waste time. Tell us what the situation is here.¡± ¡°Troublesome. The city is still being cleaned up and we haven¡¯t got anywhere to put the asylum seekers. We¡¯ll have to wait on the surface base for now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Emerald Star isn¡¯t a secure environment. There are large and dangerous creatures underground that have had the run of the place for thousands of years. Some are quite frightening, too tough for us to kill. But with the reinforcements Cloudhawk has sent we can give it a shot.¡± Indeed the monsters that called the underground home were many. They were the biggest obstacle to making the city habitable again. With all the activity above ground it was certain that the creatures would be agitated, too. Clearing out the city was top priority. This was why Cloudhawk had sent the troops here. 1. Poor guy¡¯s name is literally ¡®flower pig¡¯ Book 7, Chapter 83 - Extermination Book 7, Chapter 83 - Extermination A thousand years ago a great catastrophe destroyed ninety-five percent of the planet. Since then, outside of the Elysian lands, it was practically unheard of to see a forest. Emerald Star was quite the opposite. A sea of green stretched out as far as you could see in any direction. The air was warm and moist, perfect to nourish the plants and animals that called this place home. Food and water were abundant, easily enough to sustain the surging population. Once the dangerous creatures were gone this would be a fine place to call home. The Green Alliance soldiers brought a cache of Source with them, as well as a fully functional psionic tower. Furthermore, they set up defensive towers on the camp¡¯s perimeter to prevent any attacks. Source was a variable resource that would power their efforts, even if they were cut off from the Southern Capital. Awakened could use it to make any tools or services they needed, so shortages were not a concern. As Azura looked out at the scene she felt her heart grow heavy. What did it mean that her mentor was sending everyone here? The threat of the gods was too great, and although Cloudhawk was strong he had to prepare for the worst. She didn¡¯t know what the war to come would look like. There was a pang of regret that she wouldn¡¯t have a chance to find out. ¡°Form up! Let¡¯s go, ranks!¡± Azura called her troops to attention. Pigblossom, being the chatterbox that he was, couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. ¡°This place looks amazing. Look at the food! Delicious! So many trees, too. Whatever¡¯s out there won¡¯t be any problem for us.¡± ¡°Will you shut your mouth,¡± Azura said with a warning look. ¡°We aren¡¯t here to play around. One mistake and you could get yourself killed. Since you agreed to help build a better Alliance I am not giving you permission to die.¡± Ironspike chimed in. ¡°Boss Azura¡¯s right!¡± There were cliques everywhere, and Greenland Institute was no different. Azura, Pigblossom, and Ironspike were part of a close-knit group. The latter two were mutants with exceeding talent who, after only two years, had shown great promise. They would be great companions for Azura in the future. Their progress was incredible, no doubt, but compared to Azura they were miles behind. Her development was similar to Selene¡¯s when she was young, probably even faster. If she kept it up she would certainly be a Master Demonhunter of the next generation. Thousands of Greenland troops were gathered and ready to go. Genetically modified, armed and armored, their equipment was the best of Elysian craftsmanship. They could charge into a hail of gunfire without concern. In addition to the soldiers, several artillery cannons were deployed as well. Gabriel, Barb and a handful of other stronger fighters were there as backup. The academy students were support. Eboncrys weapons were mighty in their own right. Under concentrated fire even a Master Demonhunter would be shot to pieces. However, it was important to remember that these soldiers were individuals, and if things got out of hand there was a risk of them breaking. Not many Institute students had their own relics, but they did have the standard equipment; mornshield and mornarrow rings, for instance. The former protected them in combat and the latter gave them some punching power. Plenty good enough to act as support for the regular troops. Right now they were in range of the psionic tower, and with their new pendents they were significantly empowered. As everyone was preparing to move out, a group of figures appeared before them. Azura looked the strangers over and was immediately struck by their power. She could feel it pouring off of them. A handful of them were especially strong ¨C not to the level of a Master Demonhunter, but comparable to the likes of Phain Mist. Peak-level fighters. Once they had all fought against Cloudhawk. One woman in particular caught Azura¡¯s eye. ¡°I am Natessa Windham, former commander of Hell¡¯s Army. I now lead Emerald Star¡¯s best.¡± Natessa was standing above them in midair as though she weighed nothing. Over the last two years she had not been idle. Her mental abilities had made great strides. ¡°From today forward you will answer to me.¡± Natessa Windham. She had led the former wasteland alliance against Cloudhawk. Now she worked with him? Although she was young, the Giant of Hell¡¯s Valley was rich in experience. No one was better equipped to lead a relatively small but powerful force like this. ¡°If Cloudhawk sent you here it is because he trusts in your abilities.¡± Her eyes swept over the troops. ¡°Our first mission is to take the underground residential district as quickly as we can, with as few casualties as possible. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Good, then let¡¯s get to work.¡± Emerald Star¡¯s surface was not safe. There was no cover and dangerous creatures lurked in the jungle. Right beneath their feet was a nest of monsters looking for meals. The more people passed through the portal, the more attention they would get. These monsters had to be dealt with ¨C better to be proactive than wait for the beasts to come to them. With Natessa at the fore, she led her new army onward. They were brought to the entrance to the underground where she and her elite soldiers entered first. Fighting broke out immediately and Greenland¡¯s troops rushed in to engage. The monsters had been waiting. Fire, acid and electricity assailed them from hidden positions. It was a deluge of mental attacks that was hard to defend against. Against such foes even a contingent of demonhunters would be at risk of defeat. Boom-boom, boom! A series of explosions ripped through the underground. Natessa and her core warriors acted. Gabby, under his former instructor¡¯s command, set up traps with his Shadethread relic. He weaved protections around the tunnel and the entrance to the surface. Monsters that tried to sweep around behind them were carved into bloody chunks. ¡°Attack!¡± Greenland¡¯s soldiers aimed their weapons and began to fire. Waves of monsters came swarming in, only to be blasted back. From the back lines, academy students also fired off into the sea of monsters. Their empowered attacks blasted their targets apart. ¡°Steady!¡± Natessa wasn¡¯t in a hurry to push in farther. Down here there were divine beasts left behind by the gods, slowly multiplying, growing in strength for thousands of years. They¡¯d kicked an anthill. What was waiting for them here were the dregs, but soon the real threat would show itself. A darker, more powerful consciousness was fixed on them. The wise decision was to wait and see what it would do, and to make a quick escape if they got overwhelmed. Book 7, Chapter 84 - Clearing the Underground Book 7, Chapter 84 - Clearing the Underground Greenland Soldiers stood in tight formation, firing their weapons into anything that got too close. Monsters were blown to pieces before they could do any damage. Pained cries echoed through the underground. Corpses were piled high and rivers of blood soaked the stone. It was a cruel, unmitigated massacre. Luckily there was no one living here, otherwise the soldiers would have shot them down without a second thought. They showed no mercy to these supernatural and violent beasts. But no matter how many they killed, more of these monsters kept coming. If this kept up they would be overrun. Despite several upgrades, eboncrys weapons were relatively limited in rate of fire and how much ammo they held. This was especially true for heavier artillery, so after every volley there was a down period where they had to cool down and be reloaded. Plenty of time for the monsters to rally and push in closer. Greenland¡¯s Awakened stepped up and activated their defenses. The elemental attacks flung at them from the beasts hit the shields and fizzled away. The Awakened supported the troops by deflecting long-range attacks and responding with some of their own. Arrows of mental energy streaked through the darkness, and although they didn¡¯t have the range of eboncrys rifles they were deadly at mid-range. Whoosh! Ironspike raised his hand and sent a Mornarrow shot flying. It struck a metallic looking bird square in the chest, piercing its iron-like scales and blasted it into pieces. The mangled corpse hit the ground with a heavy thud. He called out in triumph. ¡°Leader Cloudhawk¡¯s gift is a hell of a thing!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s inventions were incredible, without a doubt. The simple rings were easy to mass produce and worked off the same principle as Elysian exorcist bows. A single shot was like an armor-piercing cannon round, but with the psionic amplification Ironspike¡¯s shot could rip through alloy armor half a meter thick. He fired off a few more shots, wildly attacking whatever he saw. The monsters were coming in so thick he didn¡¯t need to worry about missing. He was elated. He¡¯d trained for two years for this moment! Before he joined the Institute he was just another twisted face, huddling in the shadows with his parents. Now he killed monsters worse than any they¡¯d ever seen in the wastelands. Fate had brought him down a path he never would have imagined. This was what Greenland Alliance promised! It had changed his life, so Ironspike vowed to defend his people and his leader with everything he could muster. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ things! Die! Die, die, die!¡± Ironspike and the other students never let up and the wall of corpses continued to climb. But just because these ordinary beasts were helpless, that didn¡¯t mean there were more dangerous fiends lurking in the dark. The space between the two groups was shrinking every second. A group of giant pangolin-like monsters had pushed to the front and were acting as shields. Their armored hides glimmered with a close-fitting shield of energy. Shots from the eboncrys rifles hardly left a mark. Ironspike flung an energy arrow at it. There was a sharp crack as some of the scales were chipped. The scales of these monsters were similar to the dragons of Woodland Vale. They devoured a portion of the energy flung at them, effectively castrating Awakened attacks. Gabriel¡¯s long fingers danced as he manipulated his Shadethread. One of the pangolins was wrapped up, the weave carving wounds in its hide. Blood began to pour ¨C a thick, corrosive substance that weakened Gabriel¡¯s relic. One by one they snapped until the creature burst free. This took the artist by surprise. ¡°Well these things are obnoxious.¡± ¡°Useless. Watch and learn!¡± Barb brandished her long sword. As the drunk¡¯s unnamed disciple she had spent years training her martial skills. She¡¯d had some success in learning his abilities and top of her moderate mental talent. She was no less capable than Gabriel, and where he failed perhaps direct power would prevail. But while Barb was fast, someone else was faster. Azura shot off like a bullet. While in the air she fired off a volley of energy arrows, each one striking with the impact of a missile. They came in quick succession and caused the pangolin¡¯s glimmering shield to dim. She drew her twin shortswords and spun around like a top. Before it could react the beast was caught in the whirling dervish and had its head cut neatly off its shoulders. She was quick, and strong! Azura had also learned a little from the old drunk. Her innate mental talents were also impressive. With the addition of the psionic necklace and her relic swords, the armor of these creatures was nothing. She hit the ground, carving a small crater. But half a second after landing she was back in the air. Her body continued to spin. Like a boomerang she whipped through the enemy horde. Bleeding corpses of giant armored beasts lined her wake, whose gouts of blood burned other creatures who were too close. Like a stiff breeze Azura spun back to behind the soldiers and sheathed her weapons. Pigblossom and Ironspike gaped at her. Son of a bitch! Her classmates had no idea this was how strong she was. If this was her now, where would she be in a few years? There was no doubt she would be a powerhouse. ¡°Nice work, Boss Azura!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not strong, you¡¯re just weak.¡± She glared at the others and pulled no punches. ¡°If you can¡¯t even kill these things how are you supposed to fight gods?¡± Her harsh words wounded them and the students glanced at once another. We train so hard already, they thought. Better than normal people by far! You¡¯re already super talented, you don¡¯t need to push so much. Her talent wasn¡¯t what made her frightening. She had the talent of a hundred people her age, but she also had the drive of a hundred people. It was a stellar combination, and the others could only stand by and eat her dust. Natessa watched the fight unfold. Her and her elite squad did not act. Although it didn¡¯t show on her face, she was stunned. This group was far from Cloudhawk¡¯s best soldiers, but they were doing impressive work. By now the sounds of battle had drawn out most of the beasts. Among them were a handful of especially strong monsters. The time was right. Natessa looked at Azura. ¡°Adjust your formation. Prepare to push on!¡± Barb and the others were at a loss. Their enemies only seemed to be increasing and there were deadly monsters among them. They should be prioritizing defense, otherwise people would die. Shifting to the offensive didn¡¯t make any sense! Aaaaooorrrgghh!! Exactly as they feared, a thunderous roar erupted from the creatures as monsters nine meters tall lumbered forth. The lesser beasts scrambled out of their way, themselves afraid of what these behemoths would do. Everyone who saw them coming gasped in alarm. They were dog-like in appearance, but with important differences. Most striking was the giant pair of wings on their back and their nine heads. From the maw of each was belched streams of fire, so hot they could melt alloy. As soon as they appeared they spat plumes of fire into the human ranks. Pigblossom cried out. ¡°Wha-, fire-breathing dogs? That¡¯s one nasty looking thing. IF that fire catches me I¡¯ll turn into bacon.¡± ¡°Not bacon,¡± Ironspike corrected. ¡°charred pork rinds. Maybe not even that.¡± Their banter was less funny with the knowledge that it was not an exaggeration. These nine-headed titans had lived down here for thousands of years and, like Awakened, had their own mental energy. Their were intelligent and capable of deadly tactics. Worse still, the fucking things could fly. Any time they wished they could lift up and attack from above, exploiting breaks in their defenses. Dealing with them would be especially tricky. A number of them launched into a full attack. Suddenly the air was filled with the sharp notes of a flute. The ethereal tones were not carried by air, but rather were waves of mental energy that hummed directly into everyone¡¯s mind. As everyone was looking around for the source, they witnessed a strange phenomenon. All the creatures around them had stopped. They didn¡¯t move a muscle, almost like they were asleep. Soon after a green figure swooped down from above ¨C the crystalline form of the Dragon King appeared in the air overhead. Upon its back stood a woman draped in green with a flute to her lips. Looming beside her was a mass of living vines in the shape of a behemoth. The Shepherd God had arrived. One of the god¡¯s powers was in controlling the wills of lesser creatures. Those beasts that relied on instinct over intelligence succumbed to her whims, thus most of the monsters below her were frozen solid. Cloudhawk was smart to send her here. The soldiers he¡¯d sent were not incapable of clearing the underground, but there would be considerable losses if they tried it alone. Now things were different, for the Shepherd God¡¯s help was invaluable in this environment. The Dragon King circled several times while she played her tune. The sea of creatures swayed and moved under her spell. Controlling the fire-breathing canines was not so easy, but after a short time longer even they submitted to her control. Autumn¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°I can¡¯t hold a group this large for long. Finish them, time is short.¡± ¡°We have to clear out their nest,¡± Natessa ordered. She was right. If they could find the source they could eliminate the creatures entirely. If not the waves would just keep coming until they were overwhelmed. ¡°Attack! Cut them down!¡± Under the Shepherd God¡¯s call the monsters turned and led the way. Any beast they encountered was torn apart as they marched toward the heart of their lair. "Amazing," Azura muttered as she watched the god work. She wanted that power, the power to change the tide of battle and to protect the people she cared about. The power to fight by Cloudhawk''s side. Azura had become strong, but it was never enough. Ever since Cloudhawk found her she had been desperate to pay back his kindness. He''d saved her life! She had to get strong, then maybe one day she would save his. Her jaw set as Azura made the promise to herself.In war the slightest distraction could be fatal. Thus, as Azura made her pledge to grow strong, she paid no mind to the shadow closing in from behind. Only when the sword burst forth from her chest did she notice them. H-how..? Eyes wide, Azura felt the pain bloom through her, stealing her breath. In jerky movements she turned her head to see Pigblossom grinning at her. Only there was something horrible about it - twisted and unnatural. That wasn''t Pigblossom. "A gift from the Hand of Gehenna." Those were the last words she heard. Book 7, Chapter 85 - Giant Octopus Book 7, Chapter 85 - Giant Octopus Emerald Star¡¯s underground city was ringed with angry snarls, bloody corpses and the stench of conflict. It was like stepping into the depths of hell. Autumn sat upon the back of her dragon, gently playing her flute. Her hair danced on sweeping gusts of wind and her green dress fluttered. Her young, pretty face was serene as she played as though she was lost in her own world. She forgot herself, forgot the carnage ¨C all there was, was the music. Below her a milling horde of creatures shuffled forward. They crawled over and around one another in a chaotic flood. They snarled and snapped, some releasing balls of fire and smoke into the air. Tension filled the atmosphere as Autumn¡¯s army met other creatures and tore them apart. Meanwhile Natessa and her elite crew followed with thousands of troops in tow. They cleaned up what the monsters missed. The creatures were strong, but not particularly intelligent. Autumn¡¯s will commanded thousands of them and robbed them of the ability to distinguish friend from foe. Like a buffeting tide they swayed back and forth while soldiers cut them down. Wave after wave were culled. The brutality and efficiency of the extermination was impressive, especially since the monsters were also at one another¡¯s throats. The number of monsters Autumn was able to control was static, but she could shift that control as she wished. Chaos was the result among the snapping swarm. Azura led her Awakened through the fray, cutting down scores of beasts. The intensity of the fight was more than they¡¯d expected after being told to evacuate. However, though the scene was drenched in blood only very few Awakened were killed or wounded in the fighting. Defense was the first priority of Greenland¡¯s troops. Most precious were their Awakened. Of course it was not like they were defenseless themselves. Aside from a few unlucky souls, casualties were minimal. Pigblossom yelled at the top of his lungs. ¡°Something¡¯s going on up ahead!¡± His classmates looked in the direction he indicated. There was a cluster of black buildings on the horizon that varied greatly from the surrounding Elysian-style structures. All of them were connected together, forming a massive honeycomb framework. Yet while the exterior looked like iron, it moved, undulating like some sort of organ. Not alive, more like a nest. No doubt about it. This was where the monsters were coming from. Whatever spawned them was waiting inside. Nothing about it seemed godly. Some other intelligent species was probably responsible and the gods merely pilfered it. It was the only way to explain what something this odd was doing here. But where it came from wasn¡¯t important. Natessa ordered the attack. Autumn, also noting the alien hatchery, commanded her beasts forward. The nine-headed wolves took to the air, but as they prepared to strike a strange power was released from the structure. Whoosh---! It was formless but palpable, washing through the area with a deep hum. All the beasts were thrown into a frenzy, even breaking Autumn¡¯s control. She scowled at the affront. This strange power took her by surprise, not least of which because it was so similar to her own. It exerted its will on the beasts, forcing an order among the mindless things. As she watched they formed a defensive perimeter around the hive. Yes, this was the place. Inside the brood mothers hid, slave to some overpowering will. It made them endlessly produce more offspring and controlled the hordes like puppets. Now, it was aware of the threat on its doorstep. The Shepherd God tried again to take their minds, pouring more of her psyche into the attempt. She succeeded in domineering several of the wolves and forced them to renew their attacks. With searing plumes of flame they swooped by the nest. The intense heat caused the exterior to crack. Another pulse of intense psychic energy was released from inside. As though from some enormous, invisible hand, the wolves were snatched up. They struggled and thrashed but could not move as the consciousness battled against the Shepherd God¡¯s control. She would not tolerate these powerful creatures being wrested from her, so she fought back. Neither mind would back down and as they contended, the wolves howled in agony. Eventually it was the unseen controller that could not sustain. The ground collapsed beneath the hive as from the ground a number of blood red tentacles burst forth. They lashed out at the wolves, flinging deadly barbs that dug into the creatures. Each of the spines was lined with delicate suckers. Even more bitter wails rose from the beasts. They shriveled and shrank as all the fluids were drained from them, until only husks hung limp from the tentacles¡¯ grasp. ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re after. Quick, prepare the artillery. Destroy it!¡± Natessa knew these tentacles belonged to the hive¡¯s protector, a powerful and terrifying beast whose intelligence matched its strength. The Shepherd God¡¯s power could not overcome its strength of will. At her command, Greenland soldiers pushed the eboncrys heavy artillery weapons to the fore. A few moments later orbs of highly concentrated energy fired from the ground like small moons or comets. With incredible speed they raced across the caverns and slammed into the heart of the tentacles. A thunderous explosion followed. More of the stony floor crumbled. However it did not destroy their foe, only infuriate it further. The creature heaved itself from beneath the ground to reveal it¡¯s true face ¨C a colossal, undulating octopus several hundred meters tall. It was no ordinary monster. Hundreds of tentacles writhed around it, each one a lethal weapon. One swipe could tear through most defenses and attack with elemental energy. Judging by the way it fought off the Shepherd God¡¯s control, it also had the mental strength of a Master Demonhunter. This beast was a thing from the far reaches of space, placed here to slumber for countless millennia. Here it had slept soundly until these hateful insects awakened it. Already ill of temper, the rude awakening stoked its fury even higher. A dark gleam shined in the creature¡¯s eye. It was a representation of intense, concentrated psychic power. Where it stared the beasts were forced to capitulate with its will. The lesser beasts fell in line, forming into a snarling army. As a cohesive unit they threw themselves at the fiends under Autumn¡¯s control. A vicious fight ensued, spawning a shower of blood and limbs. Whooomm, whooomm, whoommm. The octopus released another wave of power. Its will dug into the minds of the humans like hot iron spikes. Greenland soldiers, unable to withstand the unseen assault, howled in agony and fell to their knees. Even a number of the Awakened screamed in pain and were overwhelmed. Dozens of barbed tentacles reached out. A storm of wind, lightning and hail blasted through the area. The powers this monster wielded were nothing short of extraordinary. There was no question why it was chosen to defend the hive. If something didn¡¯t change, casualties would begin to swell. Natessa knew it was time. Her and her elite had to act. ¡°Now.¡± The Giant of Hell¡¯s Valley and her core warriors leaped into action. Relics came to life, flinging their power into the body of the octopus. Under their focused assault, the monster suffered terribly. However, the beast was massive and hardy. While the wounds it suffered were hideous, they were far from enough to take it down. More tentacles came whipping by, bringing with them a deluge of mental attacks. It was becoming clear to the humans that the octopus was good at ranged attacks, and the powers it wielded covered a huge area. Against a large force like Greenland¡¯s soldiers, this promised to wreak havoc. But against a single enemy the beast had difficulty targeting its ire. Barb flung herself forward, hacking off a tentacle with one heave of her sword. It sloughed to the ground but instead of falling still the limb sprouted bony spikes. It flailed among the humans with wild abandon, creating a zone of mangled corpses. ¡°Stop it!¡± Azura cried. The Awakened around her fired arrows of energy at the limb. It took two dozen blows before it was too badly mangled to do any more damage. Azura then turned to the monster. With her short swords she chopped off two more tentacles. Now that she knew what to expect, she quickly carved both limbs to pieces before they even hit the ground. Elsewhere, Gabriel was weaving his Shadethread. The malignant weave cut apart the beast¡¯s extremities, leaving very little behind. Since the octopus relied on these tentacles to attack, if the appendages were removed the monster would be weakened. The behemoth was incensed. How dare these arrogant, insignificant vermin try to fight back! It was time they learned their folly. Book 7, Chapter 86 - Taking the City Book 7, Chapter 86 - Taking the City The giant octopus released a tidal wave of mental energy. Those tentacles which the humans had fought so hard to destroy reformed in an instant. All of the headway they¡¯d made through the bitter conflict was erased in the blink of an eye. The bastard creature also had incredible regenerative abilities! After restoring its tentacles the octopus heaved it frame out of the ground. It was committed to using its full strength to show these insects their place. Now the difference between it and a true octopus was evident, for the amorphous body they¡¯d seen so far was only its top half. Beneath the surface was the rest of its form, a sort of thorax with tentacles large enough to move it around like legs. It was a hideous giant of a thing! A half-octopus, half-titan monstrosity that stood three hundred meters tall. Wreathed in tentacles, the mountainous entity towered over its foes. Its main eye was enormous and shone like a jewel, with countless smaller orbs surrounding it and peering off in all directions. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless! Look for a weakness!¡± Natessa weighed her foe. It was huge and wielded great power, including the ability to regenerate itself. Normal attacks weren¡¯t going to kill it, but that didn¡¯t mean it was invincible. Everything could be killed, they just needed to find out how. Awkaend and eboncrys artillery fired ceaseless into the monster¡¯s form. The cavern was afire with different elemental attacks. It responded by slithering several tentacles over, which released a shield of protective energy. Fire, ice, wind and artillery blasts were absorbed by the tentacles suckers as they slammed into the shield. A slew of different attacks. Powerful regeneration. Sturdy defenses. How could they have known this fiend would be so formidable! It was almost mythical. Between its many skills and high intelligence, the combined forces of lesser beasts and human soldiers seemed outmatched. It released an ear-piercing roar. The smaller eyes peppering its head glowed like red beacons before sending that power to the main eye. ¡°Watch out! It¡¯s going to attack!¡± A ray of intense destructive energy exploded from the monster. It pierced the horde of creatures and the humans behind, instantly disintegrating everything it came into contact with. Even the ground below was erased, leaving a smooth trench behind. These worthless pests dare to challenge me?! The incredulous thoughts swam through the monster¡¯s head as it prepared for another attack. It lumbered forward out of the hive. If this next assault succeeded it would eradicate most of the Greenland attackers. In this instant the Shepherd God threw herself into the fight. Sitting upon the Dragon King she dashed over the shield toward the octopus¡¯ head. The fiend sensed her charge and reached out with several tentacles to meet her. Spears of ice, fire and lightning screamed through the air. The dryad, standing on the dragon¡¯s back by Autumn¡¯s side, stretched out its hands and blocked them. Angry filled the colossus¡¯ mind. It abandoned its attack on the troops below and lifted its head, aiming the eyes toward the encroaching god. But she was one step ahead. She released a beam of light from her flute which drove into the large, central eye of her foe. A terrible howl of pain shook the cavern. The octopus reeled back in agony and tried to stagger away from danger. IT seemed she had found the monster¡¯s weakness, which was also its strongest weapon. Natessa watched it all happen. ¡°Attack the eye!¡± The Shepherd God withdrew and was replaced by the soldiers and Awakened. They focused their attacks on the beast¡¯s central eye with everything they could muster. Writhing tentacles were raised to deflect what it could, but the Shepherd God had come by for another pass. With her beams of light she cut them all down. Regenerating them took time, which allowed many of the humans¡¯ attacks to find purchase. Deafening screams of pain erupted as the octopus¡¯ central eye was destroyed. A gaping, bloody hole remained. Falling into its side, the monster flailed and writhed in agony. The pain was so great it could no longer focus on controlling the lesser beasts. Taking this opportunity, the Shepherd God reasserted her dominance. Like a swarm of hungry locusts they descended on the octopus and began to gnaw at its body. Under this fierce and unending abuse, the colossal monster was torn to pieces. Even with its incredible rate of regeneration, there was no coming back from this brutal end. Judging by its power the thing was as terrifying as a god or demon. It was another highly evolved creature from the far reaches of space, but it ultimately fell at the hands of humans. With the fall of its protector, the hive was exposed. Soldiers closed in and swept through, eradicating nearly everything. A few were spared and kept under the Shepherd God¡¯s control. Perhaps they could be tamed and used to the benefit of humanity. At last, the threat that menaced this underground city was largely eliminated. Azura led her troops inside, where they found scores of animal eggs piled high to the ceiling. Inside were the unique, empowered beasts they¡¯d eliminated to get here. What served as their progenitors were squirming sacks of flesh, endlessly belching more eggs into the chamber. ¡°Time to smash some eggs,¡± Pigblossom growled. ¡°Hold!¡± Azura raised her hand. ¡°They might be useful, don¡¯t destroy them. A few of you stay behind to keep watch, the rest let¡¯s pull back.¡± Her idea was simple. Many of the monsters down here had special abilities. They were more like divine beasts than mutants ¨C special artifacts. Tools. And tools could be used by humans. Azura thought about Cloudhawk¡¯s pet bird. Strictly speaking, Oddball wasn¡¯t a legendary sort of creature like Autumn¡¯s crystal Dragon King. There were probably many beasts on this planet that were stronger. What made divine beasts special and unique from relics was that they could grow and become stronger. After so many years with Cloudhawk, Oddball had grown strong. Divine beasts which grew without the aid of a master were weak, but if they were nourished by a demonhunter¡¯s mental energy they became dangerous. Thinking of it like that, then this area was clearly a breeding ground for some advanced civilization. It was a civilization that had some connection to the gods ¨C probably victims, like humans. This was a remnant of their long-lost people, it would be foolish to just throw it away. Azura believed that if they culled the wild adults, these eggs could be domesticated and made to benefit her species. Maybe in a few decades every denizen of this planet could come here and pick a divine beast for themselves. This hive wasn¡¯t a problem. It was a treasure trove! After securing the hive, troops spread out to continue cleaning up the rest of the beasts. With the help of the Shepherd God, the process was quick and smooth. The underground city was nearly ready for habitation. When their work was done, Natessa led the force back to the surface. There the emigrants were gathered up and escorted by Greenland soldiers underground. Living quarters were assigned without issue. The abandoned metropolis was large enough to accommodate millions if need be. It was a home that came equipped with plenty of resources. The surface plants weren¡¯t ordinary foliage, but advanced energy collectors. Light from the sun was gathered and converted for use below the crust. Besides a few copses that had grown naturally, most plants were tightly connected to batteries. As a result there was plenty of light, water, food and everything else a functioning city required. There was even a system of automatic urban repair, cleaning and maintenance of the hive. Its constant flows of energy kept the hatchery functional and under control. All told, the city was a perfectly equipped living environment. Over the next twenty four hours one hundred thousand people settled into their new homes. Lucia stood among her clean domicile of alien construction, marveling at how different it all was. She felt a comforting sense of security here, beneath the planet¡¯s jungle shell. She wasn¡¯t alone. The vast majority of residents were women, children, the elder¡­ people who were weak or infirm. To them Emerald Star¡¯s abundant utopia was the perfect place to ride out the coming war. ¡°Look at how big you¡¯ve grown, Azura.¡± As Luciasha was touring the city she came across the young woman and muttered the words to herself. She remembered the day they met. It was because of her that Azura came under Cloudhawk¡¯s care. Now, only a few years later, little Blue had grown tremendously. It seemed anyone caught in Cloudhawk¡¯s orbit changed dramatically. Luciasha didn¡¯t approach Azura, it was neither the time nor the place. People were still coming into the city and Greenland¡¯s soldiers were busy seeing to everyone¡¯s safety. Azura and her compatriots watched in satisfaction. A new home was being built, and they were an important part of that. Over time the population of Emerald Star and its underground city would grow. Back on earth, Cloudhawk gradually felt the weight of his responsibility for these people ease. Now that they were out of harm¡¯s way, he could focus on unleashing his full strength against Mount Sumeru. Book 7, Chapter 87 - The Armor Book 7, Chapter 87 - The Armor Cloudhawk left two copies back in the Southern Capital to look after things. As for the original? He was off to Woodland Vale. Beneath its God Tree, in an area forbidden for others to enter, lay the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. It was time for another try. While he wasn¡¯t confident in his chances, Cloudhawk was eager for progress. Even if he failed another attempt was necessary. He knew that the Cuirass would be an important part of the coming war and he couldn¡¯t afford to have it fall into divine hands. Standing before the altar, Cloudhawk placed his hands beside the crystal-encased armor. Right away he felt the power within him resonating with the relic. If he could only put it on, then the latent power of the Demon King would fill him completely. He would finally complete his inheritance. What did that mean? He would finally be able to unleash the power of Gehenna, which had lain dormant for over a thousand years. ¡°You are refused!¡± Once again the bitter declaration was forced into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°Come on! The gods are beating down our door. Work with me here!¡± Cloudhawk was losing his temper. ¡°Where am I not good enough? Tell me something! How am I supposed to change what I don¡¯t know? ¡­ wait, something¡¯s happening.¡± Cloudhawk pleaded with the armor. Although he knew there was some measure of will, there was no ability for it to think for itself much less understand Cloudhawk¡¯s plight. It was like trying to argue with a stone. So what could he do? He didn¡¯t have the time to figure out what the armor was looking for. He had a broken civilization to rebuild and an army of gods on the way. Every second counted. Fine! Simple methods are the best anyway. I¡¯m not worthy? Well fuck you, I think I am. Cloudhawk was not afraid to force things when necessary. The armor wouldn¡¯t capitulate? Maybe it would after he smacked it around a little! He reached out and grasped the crystal. Immediately he was filled with a jarring current of electricity. Before it would have been strong enough to blast him off his feet, but Cloudhawk had become much stronger. Like a thug forcing himself on a frail woman, resistance would hardly stop him. Cracks began to appear. Muscles in Cloudhawk¡¯s arms bulged and the ground cracked beneath his feet. Dirt was kicked up as a shock-wave blast through the mausoleum. All at once the crystal housing shattered, but as the armor was freed Cloudhawk witnessed something he did not expect. While it appeared to be in perfect condition locked inside the crystal, once released the armor crumbled into a dozen pieces. The Cuirass was¡­ broken? That fact wasn¡¯t so surprising. The defensive relic had once been worn by the defeated Demon King. It would have been more strange for his armor to be unscathed after his death. After looking them over, Cloudhawk could see that the pieces still had some use. Pieces of the armor scattered through the chamber. ¡°Don¡¯t try to escape! Get back here!¡± Cloudhawk yelled as he groped for them. His dimensional powers held them fast and then, with incredible force, gradually dragged them back to his feet. It was a mighty struggle. But although the cuirass was a mythical relic, It was in the end just a broken tool. The armor was nothing without a master to wield it. Certainly no match for Cloudhawk. Through sheer force of will he formed the pieces around his body. ¡°Now or never.¡± He said through gritted teeth. Cloudhawk needed this armor. He needed the authority it represented. Paying no mind to the consequences he took a deep breath, and as he exhaled he released a flood of Castigation Fire. It spread all across him, burning his clothes away. The pieces of the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass affixed themselves to his body. He felt in that instant like there were thousands of spikes digging into his flesh. Unspeakable agony poured through him like he¡¯d been immersed in a sea of lightning. Veins burst, muscles spasmed. But even in the face of this torture Cloudhawk would not yield. He raised his arms again and clenched his hands into fists. The fragments covered him from head to toe, like he was a shattered statue on the verge of falling to pieces. The pain continued to grow. Every nerve was on fire. The Demon King¡¯s Cuirass was rejecting his body and the agony was nearly more than he could bear. If constant pain of this magnitude was the cost of donning the armor, Cloudhawk would not be able to do it. But the gods were coming. This was just a piece of fucking armor and it was getting the better of him! Just as he was about to succumb to defeat, a change began. Set within the breastplate was a cavity, and from that hole a light emerged. It coalesced into a stone with crimson veins running through it. It¡¯d been a long time since Cloudhawk had seen the phase stone, so long it was almost unfamiliar. It was¡­ it was the stone he¡¯d taken from the sweepers so many years ago. It was one of the first things he¡¯d absorbed with the power of Castigation Fire. So how was it appearing now? With the stone¡¯s appearance, the restless fragments of armor began to calm. Ominous red light pulsed within as though it were a beating heart. Scarlet light like rivulets of blood spread across the cuirass. He could feel it. When he first took hold of it, the armor was enormous ¨C too large for him. But now it was shrinking. Little by little it was forming to his body. With every passing second the pain eased as his body acclimated to the relic. It stopped fighting him. He felt¡­ strange. It defied description, like his body was growing an extra muscle layer or a second skin. The armor fused perfectly with his form, so completely that his nerves even ran through it. He felt every inch, even the slightest breeze, as though he wore nothing at all. In fact he felt as though his sense of the outside world was even keener than his own skin. He could distinguish the slightest changes around him. With his feet planted on the ground it was like he was part of the earth. And then there was the power! It filled every part of him. Cloudhawk felt like he could punch a mountain into rubble. Reflexes, constitution, speed ¨C every aspect of him soared to new heights. Had he succeeded? It seemed too easy! Forcing the armor to accept him was an act of desperation, he hadn¡¯t expected it to actually work. He produced a mirror to see the result. The image that looked back at him was a creature encased in fierce black armor. The only piece of him that was exposed was his face. But¡­ it didn¡¯t have the commanding look that a Demon King¡¯s armor should have! It was dark and savage, yes, but it still looked like a hodgepodge of broken pieces. Each jagged crack was filled with a blood-like fluid, as though someone had tried to glue together a shattered mural. By the look of it, the armor would collapse at the first blow. He was sure that the armor was different now, changed since it was worn by the previous King. After dwelling on it for a moment he discovered that his strength had not increased as he¡¯d originally thought. The armor felt¡­ inert. Like any normal piece of equipment. He understood. Cloudhawk succeeded in wearing the armor by mistake. It was fused to him, but was still a broken thing. It did not submit to him and so would not convey its power. Only its physical aspects were given. The true essence of it was still locked away. Naturally, he could not call on Gehenna while the armor still refused him. But at least there were some gains. He wore the armor now and could protect it from being stolen or destroyed. Cloudhawk ran his hands over his body. Although the armor was shattered it still covered him completely, all but his face. All that was missing was¡­ a mask. He thought for a moment then produced the Mask of a Thousand Faces, an old relic from long ago, and slipped it on. Once again, things began to change. Somehow the mask, helmet and neck plates all fused together perfectly. He found it strange. Was the mask a part of this armor? An odd possibility, but one he didn¡¯t pay much mind to right now. It worked, that was enough. He felt like a different person. He jumped backward experimentally and rocketed a hundred meters through the cavern, slamming into a wall. It all tumbled around him, but he felt nothing. Hell yeah! Cloudhawk figured his physical attributes were now two or three times better than they had been. Not bad¡­ not bad at all. For the time being it was an adequate improvement. If he had to compare it to something, he felt like he had the qualities of a Marshall. Who knew what levels he would reach once the armor was repaired. Well, first he would have to take it off. He put his hands to his chest¡­ but how was he supposed to remove it? The armor looked shattered but it was totally fused to his body. This sort of armament was totally different from the sort humans used. It was one whole piece from head to toe. There were no hinges, plates or straps. From the moment he put it on, the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass had become a part of him. Like another organ. Teleporting wasn¡¯t going to free him from it, either. Well¡­ shit. Was he just supposed to sleep in it? He fused with it for a little while, but the only thing Cloudhawk could remove was the mask. Nothing else would give. So he used his Spare in the Southern Capital to tell Legion what happened. The Elder demon was surprised to learn he¡¯d put it on. ¡°I am shocked to hear the armor could be forced to comply. You are wearing it, but it seems as though it still has not been activated. You won¡¯t be able to activate and release it until it has awakened.¡± So if Cloudhawk wanted to escape this thing he had to conquer it completely. In other words this was his body, at least for the foreseeable future. It was his new skin, and he couldn¡¯t just slip out of his own skin. Book 7, Chapter 88 - Final Withdrawal Book 7, Chapter 88 - Final Withdrawal Boom! Boom! Boom! Several explosions shuddered through the area, one after the other. A portion of a small mountain collapsed, sending debris scattering across the ground. A sleek black figure leaped from the maligned terrain onto another, repeating the process. As the mountains cracked beneath his feet, the figure paused and stood tall. He was stark against the clear blue sky. Sunlight washed across the world like a lake of fire, but the black figure defied its glare. A frigid aura hung over it, a shawl of dark majesty, and the shattered armor was interspersed with veins of red creeping out from the center. The figure was a vision of fragmented terror. Cloudhawk¡¯s features were hidden behind the Mask of a Thousand Faces, adding to the effect. After donning the armor Cloudhawk could tear down mountains with his fists. Even without mental energy and relics he could tear airships apart with his monstrous strength alone. Although the armor did not give Cloudhawk the mental abilities of his predecessor, it had greatly strengthened his body. He had more precision and control of the mental energy he already possessed. These things increased his battle capabilities. ¡°Go on, take a swipe.¡± Cloudhawk called out to empty air. His voice sounded like the rasping sands of the desert as it passed through his mask, tyrannical and frightening. As if on command, a slash of dazzling light came screaming toward him. The sword of light came tearing upward from the foot of the mountain, leaving a dazzling streak in its wake. Where it passed the stone was cleanly split, carving a path with Cloudhawk at its terminus. What an attack! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t try to dodge. Instead he raised his arms, putting his hands between him and the sword. When it struck it was like a flood of power, sending Cloudhawk careening off the mountain peak. Then the sword vanished. A figure in white came lightly to rest upon the ground. Selene was surprised at Cloudhawk¡¯s gall. He deflected her attack without any defenses, and succeeded. Shoulder the blow had caused him no harm. His natural defenses had to be incredible. Cloudhawk looked himself over. A few small cracks peppered his hands, but they were healing quickly. The Demon King¡¯s phase stone was focusing his mental energies toward recovery of the armor. It was clearly the key component of the Cuirass. Unless the stone was destroyed the armor could continuously reforge itself. Selene looked him over. ¡°If you never master the armor, will you stay this way forever?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ hard to say.¡± Cloudhawk was feeling a little helpless. He¡¯d tried to remove the armor using several methods, but none had succeeded. It had grown into him, and who had ever seen a man with an armor skin? He was like a different species. He didn¡¯t want to deal with this problem right now. ¡°How goes the evacuation of the Vale¡¯s residents?¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many of them. Woodland Vale and the surrounding areas should be evacuated in a day or two.¡± Selene then added, ¡°but things aren¡¯t going so smoothly in other areas.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s plans were clear, with only two explicit instructions; evacuate non-combatants, and gather their forces. Whoever couldn¡¯t fight was sent to Emerald Star to escape the fighting and establish a distant human settlement. Meanwhile warriors from all over the planet, Elysian and wasteland alike, would be brought together to fight for the future of this world. Easier said than done, of course. First, the number of people he needed to move was astronomical. Earlier iterations of the plan called for only a small number, but after acquiring Source he had a way to scale their operations up. A small seed planted on a distant planet became a full-scale exodus. Evacuating people was a vital part of the war against the gods. Cloudhawk knew that overcoming his enemies wasn¡¯t going to be a quick or easy process. It was going to be a struggle that involved strategic abandonment of most centers of humanity. Soldiers would fight harder if they knew their families were somewhere the gods couldn¡¯t reach. Beyond that, an established base away from danger could offer a lot of support to the front lines. The grim fact was that if humanity was preserved elsewhere, fresh bodies could be provided as the need arose. Part of Cloudhawk projects after taking over the wastes was establishing central cities. Just as the Southern Capital was the heart of the southern wastes, Woodland Vale served as the North¡¯s heart. After taking the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass, Cloudhawk opened a portal to Emerald Star so that the Vale¡¯s people could flee. With them he sent the Shepherd God. So far everything seemed to be going smoothly. There was never anything to worry about when it came to Woodland Vale. Cloudhawk had been in control of this place for a fair length of time and outsiders were few. The Shepherd God¡¯s support and their simple lives made things easier. The more troubling areas were the Elysian lands. Each one had much larger populations and not everyone supported Cloudhawk¡¯s efforts. That made evacuating them harder and there were roadblocks cropping up in every one of them. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With a thought spatial energy radiating from Cloudhawk, enveloping both him and Selene. Both figures vanished. Selene recognized how much Cloudhawk was changing. His powers grew deeper and more enigmatic by the day. She remembered the days when Cloudhawk had to struggle to activate his powers and how unstable it used to be. Now he wielded the former Demon King¡¯s powers with finesse. No stops or procedures, just a thought. It was so natural she felt jealous. In a very short time the two arrived in the capital city of Praelius. They arrived to find it in chaos. After assimilating the realm¡¯s leaders, the thousands of soldiers left behind were forcing the people to pack up their goods and leave the city. The streets were jam packed and the skies were choked with airships. Soldiers shuffled back and forth, carting resources to the vessels for transport to the Southern Capital. ¡°Everyone, please maintain order! Do not interfere with the soldiers¡¯ work! I am Eutropius Griev, steward of this realm and I am telling you we must all evacuate within three days!¡± ¡°I promise your safety. You will all be brought somewhere new where you will not be affected by the war. There will be no poverty or hunger. A new life awaits, trust in what the Governor has told you...¡± The reassurances came from a public announcement system set up throughout the city. IT was being played in a loop. Cloudhawk had met Eutropius for several times, a young and capable soldier who had been tapped to lead this realm during transition. He was a talented man, however the task before him was a daunting one. ¡°Eutropius! I thought of you as a brother, but then you go and perform this treachery?! Do you think you¡¯re worthy of your teacher? Aren¡¯t you ashamed to let down Orchid and all of the realm¡¯s people?¡± The city¡¯s steward was in the midst of deploying soldiers to maintain order when the booming voice cut through the air. A group of several hundred angry men flooded the area, preceding a middle-aged gentleman with a face full of indignant rage. He was followed by a group of several dozen demonhunters. ¡°Norman Seabrook¡± Eutropius was in his thirties and already famed as a demonhunter and warrior among his peers. The man challenging him was at one point a fellow apprentice under the same Master Demonhunter. Until recently, they had enjoyed a lifelong friendship. Orchis, who Norman had referred to, was another younger discipline and their master¡¯s beloved daughter. She later became Eutropius¡¯ wife. ¡°Hold!¡± The soldiers were all poised to attack. Eutropius had his hand raised. ¡°Stay your weapons!¡± Norman led the League of Demonhunters here in Praelius and was one of the realm¡¯s mightiest fighters. He championed the city¡¯s resistance to Cloudhawk¡¯s rule. His reasons were simple ¨C the Master he loved so dearly died at this monster¡¯s hand. After the Elysian defeat at Sky Fortress, there were many who would rather die than succumb to the demon¡¯s reign. Legion had them put to death. One of them was this Master Demonhunter, a respected member of the realm. This action cleaved a rift between these two men, who were like brothers. One decided to back Cloudhawk and become his dog. The other raised the flag of opposition and resolved to fight. Eutropius stared at his former companion with red eyes. One hand was wrapped around the pommel of his sword, still sheathed at his waist. In a loud voice he called back. ¡°Don¡¯t force me, Norman. Everyone has to go.¡± ¡°Have you no shame, Eutropius,¡± Norman screamed back. ¡°You betray Sumeru, betray our teacher! You force people from their homes! Don¡¯t you fear the curses people lay upon you? I am shocked and saddened at how far you¡¯ve fallen.¡± Eutropius was shaking. It was no secret to him that, in the hearts of many Elysians, he was a foul turncoat. They called him human trash, who turned his back on his people and his teacher. The man who used to be as close as a brother hated him. His own wife would not forgive him. ¡°It¡¯s not at all what you say. Think! You know me, do I fear death?¡± Eutropius shouted the challenge in anger. ¡°I would be easier to die but I can¡¯t. My conscience told me that there is a mission I must accomplish. A burden I must shoulder. Otherwise-¡± ¡°What conscience can you pretend to have? Shut your lying mouth!¡± Norman ripped his sword from its sheath. ¡°Today, either you die, or I die!¡± ¡°It does not have to be this way!¡± But Eutropius sighed and drew his own sword. There was no talking his brother down. Norman was just as despondent. He never imagined his fellow apprentice would do these things he¡¯d done. In his heart it was clear that, with the army under Eutropius¡¯ control, he had no chance of winning. But he still had to try. Eutropius didn¡¯t want to kill his lifelong friend. He would give up his own life for Norman¡¯s if the need arose. But there was no choice, no time for hesitation. Any uncertainty could mean thousands of dead Elysians. He didn¡¯t care about his own life, but he had a mission that he had to see through. In times like this someone had to rise to the occasion. 1. His name means ¡®compass¡¯, but interestingly the character for his last name is both a surname and part of the character meaning ¡®to attend to or manage¡¯, which is precisely his title. Eutropius is Greek meaning ¡®good direction¡¯ while Griev is a middle-english sort of title for ¡®steward¡¯. 1. ¡®Deep blue sea of the north.¡¯ Norman means ¡®north man¡¯ and seabrook is obvious Book 7, Chapter 89 - Near at Hand Book 7, Chapter 89 - Near at Hand As Eutropius and Norman charged at one another the space between them warped. A pair of hands reached from the ether, catching both weapons. Praelius¡¯ two mighty champions were flung away from each other. ¡°Who are you?!¡± A sea of shocked faces stared at the beings that had appeared from nowhere. The stark contrast between Cloudhawk and Selene made for quite the sight. Cloudhawk was encased in demonic armor that cut a horrific and brutal figure. His face was masked behind a hideous face and the eyes that peered through were an angry pulsing red. He was like a nightmare that crawled out from the darkest parts of the human psyche. Beside him was a woman clad in resplendent white. Selene¡¯s long black hair fell like a waterfall passed her shoulders, caressing the crystalline blade strapped to her back. She was wreathed in holy light and divine temperament, like an angel. ¡°You¡¯re Cloudhawk!¡± Norman felt an intensity coming from this creature that he¡¯d never felt before. His power was stifling, so much so that he knew immediately there was no other creature on this planet that could match him. Who else other than the hated Cloudhawk could inspire such awe and fear? ¡°Indeed.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was hideous, like flesh on gravel. ¡°I am Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°Die!¡± Norman¡¯s eyes were wide and bloodshot as, with a thunderous battlecry, he hacked at Cloudhawk with his sword. It spewed a gash of cutting light. Cloudhawk paid this paltry attempt on his life no mind. He merely extended a finger and caught the attack when it neared. The light dispersed harmlessly. Afterward a surge of energy passed through the gauntlet, belching a ray of pale white energy. IT enveloped his opponent and within that light, Norman¡¯s sword shattered into pieces. A force like being slammed by an airship hit him full force and sent him flying into a nearby wall. Cloudhawk slowly retracted his hand. His crackling voice returned. ¡°This is a warning. Next time I will show no mercy.¡± ¡°Devil!¡± ¡°Die, you bastard!¡± Two demonhunters hurled their insults and attacked. They were Norman¡¯s men, respectable members of the League of Demonhunters, and they attacked this threat to their home with all the power of their relics. To them there was no worse fiend than this heathen. The only reason their realm was in such dire straits was because of him! Cloudhawk vanished, reappearing a moment later in another spot. No one saw what he did but the two demonhunters crumpled to the ground with their heads caved in. A spray of gore coated the ground. ¡°All together, attack him!¡± The remainder of Norman¡¯s followers brandished their relics and charged. Tongues of fire leaped up from each of Cloudhawk¡¯s fingers and with a snap they flew off into the air. Like pebbles dropping into a lake, the air rippled as the fires passed through space and reappeared directly in front of each target. A chorus of horrified, pained screams arose. Green fire enveloped the demonhunters and continued until they were scorched black. Cloudhawk used his spatial abilities to teleport Castigation Fire onto his enemies. There was no way to escape. Such a terrible scene sapped the others of any desire to fight. Cloudhawk was too strong and his methods too cruel. No ordinary person was his match and the fear that filled them was insurmountable. Norman rose up on shaky legs. His weapon was destroyed and his body wounded. Seeing his men murdered, he screamed in rage and flew himself forward. In that moment his eyes met Cloudhawk¡¯s. Deep inside, dual embers of crimson fire burned. He could see them smoldering behind the mask. The pressure that entered Norman''s mind was hard to describe. It was like two hot knives drilling through his skull. He felt a foreign will force its way into him. All courage shattered and he stood frozen in place, trembling like a babe. He saw his future. If he moved a muscle he would be destroyed. This power ground his willpower to dust, it was incontestable that he was a mere insect before this man. Norman had believed himself to be fearless, but in the face of this devil he knew what true fear was. Like a statue he was frozen in place. Cloudhawk could rob a soldier of his valor with a glance. Eutropius and the others could hardly believe what they were witnessing. He¡¯d used his mental powers to subdue Norman for a reason. Cloudhawk recognized that he was an important figure in this realm, a hero of the so-called resistance. Killing him would make the man a martyr and empower his movement. Killing him was easy. But it wasn¡¯t the right call. ¡°There are limits to my love, compassion and patience. I am not the monster you want to make me out to be, but I¡¯m no sterling hero either.¡± As he spoke, Cloudhawk¡¯s growling voice bore a domineering quality that demanded attention. ¡°Everyone has the power and authority to choose their own destiny. I will not force anyone to follow me. But I will warn those who would remain to cause chaos: I have no qualms doing what I have to do. Whether that means taking one man¡¯s life or a million.¡± His meaning was clear. They didn¡¯t have to obey. IF they found somewhere cool to rest their heads, then go! But they couldn¡¯t be allowed to get in his way. He was at his limit. Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t tolerate any more interference in his plans, any troublemakers would be handled with extreme prejudice. One man, a hundred men, ten thousand men¡­ it didn¡¯t matter. He would not balk at a massacre if it was necessary. Gritting his teeth, Norman fixed his eyes on Eutropius. ¡°Where is Orchid.¡± Eutropius sheathed his weapon. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent her somewhere safe.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± ¡°I have to do this.¡± ¡°Fine¡­ fine!¡± Norman spat the words, gathered his remaining men and left. He knew that fighting Cloudhawk was a lost cause. Better, instead, to rally the opposition. When the gods came they would not exterminate those who were truly pious. It was Cloudhawk and his treasonous snakes that would suffer at the hands of the divine. Cloudhawk watched him go. The opposition forces in these realms were more troublesome than he thought. There would always be those in the world too stubborn to see reason. ¡°Some still refuse to believe us.¡± Selene looked out over the crowd. ¡°Why is change so hard for them? Why is faith in the gods so important?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t wake up people who refuse to see the truth, much less the dead. No plan Is perfect.¡± Cloudhawk was trying desperately to pull his species back from the brink of extinction. But if people wanted to link wrists and throw themselves off that cliff he couldn¡¯t stop them. He was no saint, he could only do his best. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Selene turned her head to regard Eutropius. ¡°You are doing well.¡± His deep voice answered. ¡°I have no choice.¡± ¡°Your people will understand one day. History will remember.¡± ¡°Perhaps...¡± A bitter, helpless grin spread across Eutropius¡¯ face. The words were hollow. He looked at Cloudhawk standing before him, felt the thick air of oppression that wafted off the man. He fought passed the fear. ¡°Leader Cloudhawk, our population is too large. One evacuation point is not enough, we need more portals if we¡¯re to get everyone to safety.¡± At his current level of strength ¨C and especially with Source ¨C opening several portals was not an issue for Cloudhawk. The steward was right that each portal would speed the process up exponentially. ¡°There is also a group that refuses to leave. I want to ensure their safety.¡± Cloudhawk revealed the true purpose of the Elysian lands in order to unify their governments. That didn¡¯t stop bullheaded zealots like Norman from fighting back. If the respected members of Elysian society didn¡¯t fall in line, how could he expect ordinary people to? Conspiracy theories were a common thing. Cloudhawk was often depicted as an agent of Gehenna, here to spread false evidence. All of it was a ploy to help demons take over the earth. Faithful were determined to remain behind for the righteous gods to return and deliver them from sin. And then there were some who understood the truth but still chose to follow Sumeru. Sure, the gods might be raising them for energy. But the lives they led as cattle were better than wastelanders. They were livestock, but knowing that didn¡¯t change anything. It didn¡¯t matter what happened when they died, so long as they enjoyed a comfortable life. Rising up against one¡¯s master was just a quicker path to slaughter! Cloudhawk agreed with Eutropius¡¯ request. The realm was rich, and although leaving meant taking many resources with them, they could comfortably leave much behind so that those who wished to remain wouldn¡¯t starve. The troubles in Praelius had been handled. Cloudhawk brought Selene to the other Elysian lands to see what could be done. One after the other, issues were handled before they were allowed to effect the exodus. At the same time, the Southern Capital was undergoing significant changes. Its defenses were greatly strengthened but the city had exploded to four or five times its size in only a few days. Citizens and soldiers from all over the world were either preparing for war or for evacuation. Docks were packed with airships and all around the surrounding ruins outposts were being established. From the outside it might have looked chaotic, but the truth was everything had been well organized. A staggering array of Elysian and wasteland equipment had been brought to bear for what was to come. All details big and small were being handled by Legion. Cloudhawk was, after all, too young to manage such delicate things. The intricacies of human interaction were beyond him, much less an overarching strategy for war with the gods. He was smart enough to realize, however, that this mobilization on an unprecedented scale was running rather smoothly. The threat of death was a great way to galvanize potential. Cloudhawk estimated that if he had half a month they could fully rally humanity¡¯s forces and evacuate all non-combatants. But did he have that long? It was late in the afternoon two days later when he was summoned by Legion and the Cloud God. He teleported to the meeting room to be filled in on the situation. ¡°The gods have arrived.¡± ¡°Our advanced detection equipment in the Elysian lands have picked up traces. Gravitational fluctuations near the moon tell us that Sumeru¡¯s forces are close. We must prepare for an immediate invasion.¡± The gods weren¡¯t coming to them immediately. It seemed they would first set up a forward base on the moon in order to prepare out of Cloudhawk¡¯s reach. No equipment in humanity¡¯s arsenal could reach such a distance. The divine invasion was near at hand. Book 7, Chapter 90 - Investigating Book 7, Chapter 90 - Investigating The truth was confirmed. Gods had entered their solar system, their counterinsurgency was about to begin. How were the humans supposed to prepare for this? Cloudhawk sat in his fortress, surrounded by dozens of high-ranking Elysians and wastelanders. They were all grappling with that question. ¡°We should take the fight to them!¡± Phoenix shot to her feet and made the suggestion. Her combative nature was never in question. ¡°We have to fight them eventually, there is no avoiding it. We should take this opportunity while they¡¯re still on unsteady footing. Send out best up there and hit them hard. Let them see our strength and determination.¡± Siegebreaker, now commander of Praelius¡¯ armies, responded. ¡°Master Phoenix makes a good point. According to what we know the group on the moon is not their main force, only their fastest. It¡¯s a good chance for us to take the upper hand. A quick victory would improve our people¡¯s waning morale.¡± ¡°Greet them with an iron fist? What do the rest of you think?¡± ¡°I think that would be disastrous,¡± Governor Pelagius replied. ¡°The civilization of our enemies is far more advanced than ours. With their ingrained unity and discipline they will have acted with great speed. There is no such thing as ¡®unsteady footing¡¯ with the gods. If our attackers can even reach their base, they will be met with cannons and an established defense force.¡± ¡°I agree, for what my opinion is worth.¡± The agreement came from Highmorn¡¯s Master Demonhunter Anan. He had recovered from his wounds. Though weak, he still firmly voiced his opinion. ¡°We don¡¯t have the equipment or preparation for a battle on the moon¡¯s surface. We should focus on strengthening our position here before the battle begins. Our enemies are far deadlier than us, we need our defenses to be able to rise up to the challenge.¡± Phoenix was not pleased with the opposition. ¡°Defense, defense, always defense. How are we supposed to win if we just sit behind walls? Do you think we have the resources and troop numbers to wait out a siege?¡± ¡°Our troops and resources are exactly why we can¡¯t waste them on a suicide mission. Our limited means are too precious. Instead of thinking about ludicrous ways to win the war, we should be focusing on how to survive as long as possible.¡± Both sides devolved into shouting over one another. Meanwhile Cloudhawk was lost in thought. It was a fair point that boldness was a risk, considering how unequal their civilizations were. Focusing on protection seemed wise, but was it as easy as the Highmorn delegation claimed? The gods wielded tremendous power and influence throughout the galaxy. Expecting humanity¡¯s paltry resistance to stand much of a chance seemed foolish. Legion turned to Cloudhawk. ¡°What does my King think about our situation?¡± ¡°They¡¯re right, we can¡¯t afford the risk. We have to prioritize preserving our strength. We are neither equipped nor capable of taking the fight out there. Best we can do is bide our time.¡± He saw it clearly. Humanity¡¯s best chance was convincing the demons to join their cause. Cloudhawk would continue to try and establish a relationship, but in the meantime they couldn¡¯t act rashly. ¡°On the other hand sitting around with our head in our shell is only waiting for death. We have to at least test their strength. I¡¯ll go myself.¡± Selene was shocked by the proposal. ¡°To the moon?¡± ¡°Unacceptable.¡± Southern Capital¡¯s Governor Dawn refused outright. ¡°You¡¯re too important to gamble your life on a scouting mission. The gods are intelligent and must have something prepared. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they were expecting you to show up.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s better at getting out of a sticky situation than I am,¡± Cloudhawk assured her. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can do this job.¡± Although the council was stacked with powerful people, only a handful were able to even make it to the moon. Among them Cloudhawk was the best equipped. His spatial powers allowed him to come and go as he pleased. A quick trip to the moon¡¯s surface was all they needed, then if something went wrong he could blink back home without issue. Running wasn¡¯t his only skill, either. He was strong, well-defended and good at keeping himself hidden. As a spy his abilities were second to none. Even compared to the gods he was impressively strong. That was it. The decision was made, despite Dawn¡¯s reasonable fears. A person¡¯s decisions were always bound by the reality they observed. As logical as one¡¯s choices seemed to the individual, they were never as accurate as they appeared. Gods especially were beyond human understanding. According to everything they knew it was impossible for them to get a full read on their enemy¡¯s strength. By contrast, the gods knew all about Cloudhawk. It would be stupid to imagine they weren¡¯t prepared for him to do something. Sure, Cloudhawk¡¯s spatial abilities were enigmatic and invincible ¨C against humans. Was this also true for gods? There was no guarantee that teleporting to the moon wouldn¡¯t mean walking right into a trap. In fact, it was almost a given. Mount Sumeru sent this squad of gods here for a reason, and that reason was Cloudhawk. The God King wanted him captured alive. Gods were strong enough that an up-close battle with humans was unnecessary. They were more than capable of firing on their planet from out in space with their mighty ships. A few salvos was all they needed to obliterate this world, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. ¡°If gathering information is the aim, there may be a better way.¡± Legion offered his suggestion. ¡°The Cloud God still maintains his link with the enemy. My King can use him as a mental conduit to reenter the Divine Matrix. Within lies the opportunity to see what the gods are preparing from a safe distance. Minimal risk to our leader.¡± Cloudhawk had almost forgotten about the Divine Matrix. The Cloud God had indeed held onto his link with the unified will of his species. Skycloud¡¯s patron was locked out from the deepest secrets of his kin, but that seal was not air-tight. The Divine Matrix was a massive information network and betrayer gods were like hackers. They could patch the breaches as often as they liked, but the Cloud God would always find a way in. What¡¯s more, the locks were focused on the Cloud God himself. Cloudhawk, like a virus, could slip by undetected and steal information from under the gods¡¯ noses. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s the plan.¡± Cloudhawk explained his scheme to the Cloud God. Their wills connected and Cloudhawk was conveyed through the gates and into the Divine Matrix for the second time. Once again he found himself amid a strange and magical city. ¡°Please follow my lead.¡± As the Cloud God spoke through their shared link, he manifested himself in the spiritual world as a small mote of light. Cloudhawk followed the spark as it danced through the air until they reached a door. Behind it was what he was looking for. Here? Cloudhawk forced his way through the door. When he saw what was on the other side he froze in place. The area was¡­ strange. Desolate, empty. Blackness closed in on all sides and the only object of note was a tawny globe. It was earth. He could make out the hideous scar that was the ancient battlefield, as well as the terraformed area around Southern Capital. This was the world as it was now, and he was staring at it from the moon. We did it? He tried to look around and was greeted with the expansive gray surface of the moon. Its peaceful surface was disturbed, kicking dust into the vacuum of space as a vortex appeared above. It was one end of a tunnel from which an enormous ship appeared. The ship that was spat forth was bigger than the tunnel itself. It looked like a giant liquid metal ball, perfectly circular. The surface of it shimmered with an internal light like some sort of holy vision. Quite the thing to look upon. The orb-like ship appeared above the surface of the moon, its glimmering surface perfectly smooth. There it hung, silently suspended and untouched by the forces of gravity like a still picture. Behind it, the tunnel shrunk and disappeared. For a few seconds more the ship did not move. Eventually a light radiated from within, releasing waves of energy that moved at the speed of light. They were sonar waves, scanning the entire solar system and Cloudhawk¡¯s home planet. The ship began to break apart, releasing several individual droplets. They zoomed off all across the surface of the moon. After making landfall, imposing figures in glorious armor emerged. Gods ¨C and not the half-formed things he fought below the desert. Each one was a highly evolved warrior. The weakest of them could put the strongest human to shame. Importantly, a god¡¯s strength could continue to grow. They didn¡¯t progress as quickly as humans did, but their lifespans were effectively limitless. Given enough time, these lowly soldiers would slowly perfect themselves into Supremes. Theirs was truly a frightening species. A cursory examination told Cloudhawk there were two or three thousand of them. By no means a small force, but not impossible to defeat either. The problem was their ships. Those strange droplets could have all kinds of strange weapons and cosmic creatures he didn¡¯t know about. He didn¡¯t see any specifics, but he knew there was more to this strike force than he could see. After the gods dispatched throughout the moon, he saw several more who were different from the others. These gods were not as strong as their King, of course, but they were definitely mightier than the Supremes of Cloudhawk¡¯s world. Especially their leader. Space appeared to collapse around this creature, even when standing still. It was like staring into a black hole. Such a potent and unique aura meant that this being ¨C like him ¨C had the ability to control space. A god with spatial power. Much stronger than any he¡¯d seen before. A leader among Supremes. How many terrible beasts lived on Mount Sumeru? Cloudhawk¡¯s only consolation was that the God King himself hadn¡¯t come. IF it had, they would all be doomed. Book 7, Chapter 91 - Action Book 7, Chapter 91 - Action All relevant information about the gods¡¯ leader was conveyed into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. It was considered a Marshall and was called the Abyssal God. It was known to be one of its species strongest and, along with the several Supremes by its side, was responsible for crushing any defiance throughout the galaxy. Despite being a small force, this small army was a harbinger of doom for countless lesser creatures. The divine warlords did not sense Cloudhawk¡¯s presence. They went about their business, beginning with the silvery fluid-like ships they arrived in. They broke apart into countless tiny beads. Even after all they¡¯d learned, Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t know what the gods¡¯ ships were made of. The strange material could change shape at will, as well as occupy a solid or liquid state as needed. It could break apart or fuse back together, withstood the pressure of interstellar travel and seemed to have some measure of reactive intelligence. ¡°Establish the Last Judgment immediately.¡± The order came from a dominant consciousness. It was a mental signature that conveyed absolute authority, without a shred of emotion. It was the will of the Abyssal God. What was this Last Judgment? As Cloudhawk formed the thought, he watched the thousands of metallic beads begin to stir. They split into two groups; one on the lunar surface which coalesced into a Temple structure, and the other out into the expansive black toward earth. Was this the beginning of their attack? What were they doing?! The methods used by the gods were always too advanced for humans to understand. Cloudhawk was at a loss. He had to learn more, the answers were somewhere else in the Divine Matrix. As he moved on the scene before Cloudhawk changed again. The gods all became interconnected virtual bodies, collections of ever-flowing data constantly communicating with one another. All Cloudhawk had to do was steal into one of them and take what he wanted. Cloudhawk picked a target and tried to enter its body. The instant he came into contact with it, the being¡¯s mind unfurled before him. Gods were an emotionally stunted race, but that was not to say they were absent emotion entirely. They weren¡¯t robots, but had thoughts and feelings like any other living thing. However, these individualistic expressions were dulled to a great degree. In a way, the gods were an expression of enlightenment. Perfectly detached. From the moment of their creation they much of themselves was linked to the collective. There was no need for personal thought or property. The knowledge of all the gods and everything they owned was shared. A true socialist society, wherein every piece was selflessly devoted to the collective. Cloudhawk could sense the god¡¯s thoughts. It stared at the dry yellow world before it without anger or interest of any sort. Only curiosity. These human insects, why do they turn their backs on Sumeru? It pondered. Amazing that such foolish creatures could have evolved in this galaxy. The God King is wise. The God King Is perfect. Only the God King can save this broken world. Cloudhawk could feel the adoration this being had for the God King. It wasn¡¯t a forced emotion, but a genuine love for its leader. There was nothing in this zealot¡¯s surface thoughts that he needed, so he delved in deeper to find what he was after. He was struck by a torrent of memories and information, like waters from a broken dam. Cloudhawk was submerged in it, all too much and too fast for him to quickly differentiate. All he could grasp was pieces. ¡°Intruder!¡± The Abyssal God sensed something was wrong. It gathered its will and in a flash Cloudhawk¡¯s mind was invaded. He was thrust out and cut off from the rest of the gods. This one¡¯s mental power was greater even than the Cloud God¡¯s. That¡¯s how it was able to lock them out. Did he see me? Cloudhawk¡¯s mind quickly returned to his body. When his eyes opened he immediately sank into a contemplative silence. Fragments of the other god¡¯s memories floated around in his skull and he was trying to piece them together. Unfortunately there wasn¡¯t much he could make use of. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal?¡± Dawn asked. ¡°I learned a little, but there¡¯s still a lot I couldn¡¯t see. I¡¯ve at least got an estimate on how many gods there are.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a moment. ¡°They are led by a general called the Abyssal God. That¡¯s all I was able to learn about it.¡± ¡°God General?¡± Cloudhawk could feel the surprise from both Legion and the Cloud God. He looked at each in turn. ¡°What¡¯s his story?¡± ¡°There are only a handful of gods on Sumeru that bear the title General. They are the God King¡¯s direct subordinates. Never have they been dispatched to act as stewards of planets they conquer. Instead they remain on Mount Sumeru awaiting orders. Their responsibility is to destroy any threat to the species.¡± So, that was the deal. An unpleasant surprise that a General would be dispatched here, but what was not surprising was the level of authority it commanded over the others. The Abyssal God was one of a very few gods who held the reigns of power. Cloudhawk could sense that the Abyssal God¡¯s power was several times greater than his world¡¯s Supremes. Judging by its title and powers, this General wielded power over space. Fighting a monster like that was going to be trouble, especially since Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how it¡¯s spatial powers could manifest. ¡°As for this Abyssal God? I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± Neither Legion nor the Cloud God had any knowledge of the creature. This wasn¡¯t unexpected. Perhaps the Abyssal God did not participate in the Great War a thousand years ago. As for the Cloud God, it remembered nothing prior to when it came to this planet. Its earliest memories were, like Legion, limited to the Great War. Even Supremes had a limited understanding of divine society. A lack of knowledge about the Abyssal God was not surprising. ¡°It appears that this vanguard, despite its strength, is too few in numbers to pose a dire threat to us,¡± Legion determined. ¡°We must focus on strengthening ourselves against their methods. The gaps between our civilizations¡¯ capabilities cannot be overcome with individual strength.¡± He couldn¡¯t have said it better. Pit ten thousand primitive humans against ten thousand of their modern brethren without any equipment, and primitive man would prove stronger. But add in all the tools at their disposal? What could primitive humans do against hardened armor, armed with nothing but sticks and stones? A hundred men with the latest weapons could rip through ten thousand savages without issue. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a perfectly apt comparison with their situation. Humans had been cultivated by the gods for over a thousand years. The happy chosen were taught how to use godly weapons and technology and that came with a number of advantages. While their chances against the divine vanguard weren¡¯t great, defeat wasn¡¯t inevitable either. ¡°While I was in the Divine Matrix I learned something important. The Abyssal God is preparing something called the Last Judgment. I don¡¯t know what that means, but it looks like their first targets are going to be the Elysian lands.¡± ¡°The Last Judgment?¡± Legion was silent as he mulled over the phrase. ¡°I¡¯ve heard no such thing over the last thousand years. Perhaps it is something new that Mount Sumeru has developed over the last millennia.¡± ¡°Hey, news from outside! You need to come see this!¡± Hellflower burst into the conference. She led them all from the subspace cube and once they appeared outside, everyone froze. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Citizens of the Southern Capital stood out in the streets, heads raised. In the silent darkness of the night flashed a streak of light which caused the air to warp around it. It was like an aurora, but so bright that it turned night into day. ¡°We¡¯ve detected a layer of energy particles passing through the atmosphere.¡± Hellflower explained, for she knew the question on everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°We don¡¯t know exactly what it is, but there have been similar reports from all over the planet. It¡¯s everywhere.¡± Some sort of ray weapon? A biological attack? Nanoparticles? Or maybe some other danger they¡¯d never seen before. All they could do was stare at the sky and wonder. ¡°This has to be the first stage in their attack.¡± Cloudhawk turned his attention toward the Cloud God. ¡°All we know is that the Elysian realms are the target. I need to get back into the Matrix.¡± ¡°That is impossible. After being discovered last time, the link has been sealed. Finding a new way in will take time.¡± Cloudhawk scowled in thought. The Cloud God was a rebel to his race, and although Sumeru knew this locking him out entirely was a complex task. The god could find new ways in to the Matrix, but these breaches were short-lived. Any attempt could be accomplished only once, then a new entrance had to be uncovered. The strange light filtered down through the atmosphere like tendrils of a luminescent fog. From up on the moon the earth looked like it was wrapped in a blanket. Their world was a yellowish-brown sphere wrapped in a thin film. Humans were at a loss, with no way of knowing what this substance was or what it¡¯s purpose might be. Was it dangerous? Lethal? All they could do was watch it spread. Book 7, Chapter 92 - The Attack Commences Book 7, Chapter 92 - The Attack Commences The Abyssal God hung in the darkness of space. Its body was encased in armor black as the surrounding universe, with no flows of energy or reflected light. The power radiating from within warped space in the near vicinity, making it seem as though space was collapsing around it. Floating alone in this pocket of space hung a desolate planet, its tarnished surface lit up like a firework. Flashes of yellow light danced across it, until like a sphere dipped it dye it was painted a vibrant blue. The once dead planet, now glittering with color, exuded an ethereal sense of beauty. In the same moment, on the dusty gray lunar surface behind him, there appeared a grand structure among the craters. Pulses of energy that spread from it resonated in time with the dull throb from the distant planet. This was the true weapon. Composed of some liquid metallic substance, slithering throughout were threads of pure energy. Intricate flows of power were orders of magnitude stronger than they had been moments before. With one attack it could permanently alter the landscape of the world. The Abyssal God waited. It was not the first time it dealt with a situation like this. Countless intelligent species existed out in the vast universe. As guardians of the cosmic order there have been several times when the gods were forced to put down the agents of chaos. Typically the gods dealt with this by gathering their ships and obliterating the planet altogether. This time the situation was more¡­ complicated. The God King did not elect to erase this planet from existence. There was something about this ¡®Cloudhawk¡¯ that was unique in the eyes of the God King. But what was it? The God King was leader of their divine society and was capable of knowing every thought. It was not reciprocated, for no god had the right to know their King¡¯s mind. The Abyssal God did not understand. The God King was different from the others ¨C not just in terms of power and station, but something more constitutional. This was not to say the Abyssal God was not loyal. Indeed, its loyalty to the God King had existed for as long as it had existed. One of the Supremes connected with the Abyssal God¡¯s consciousness. ¡°Mount Sumeru has completed its analysis. The invading consciousness was a god from this planet. The way in has been sealed for this betrayer. For the time being, it will have no access to the Divine Matrix.¡± Another renegade who severed their connection? The Abyssal God was not surprised. Many of the problems its species had faced in recent years had arisen from gods who turned their backs on their people. Once the gods were a monolithic whole, but that had changed over the last several millennia. For reasons unknown ¨C perhaps a defect in the Matrix ¨C a number of gods had spat on their glorious heritage and became despicable demons. To this day the Abyssal God did not understand it. Was it not an honor to be a god? Their lives were infinite, their bodies were perfect. Each of them was a cell in a perfect body. Cells died, but so long as the body lived on they would be forever regenerated. When the gods were unified, they created a society of perfect harmony. There was no crime, conflict or war. No god tried to cheat another. All of their thoughts and experiences were shared and any one¡¯s troubles were shared by the collective. What was there to wont? Why turn one¡¯s back on this perfection? ¡°Betrayer gods are an aberration we are duty-bound to eradicate.¡± The Abyssal God, the fifteen Supremes and several hundred divine soldiers all linked together. Their leader delivered its orders. ¡°Deploy the Last Judgment. The first wave will act as our plans dictate.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The knowledge was quickly passed throughout the Matrix. Theirs was a species of supreme efficiency, and through their mental link even the most complex plans were conveyed in no time. Traditional modes of conversation were a waste of time. A layer of wind blew through the area. This was impossible, of course, but happened all the same. The plumes of dust were kicked up by the vibration of energy. Fifteen Supreme gods launched into space, each one enveloped by a different color of light. Behind them, a host of two hundred divine soldiers followed. Distinguishing classes of gods by their appearance was difficult. The most obvious distinction was that grunts all wielded spears. They were equipment standard for low-level warriors in Mount Sumeru, but were comparable to epic-level artifacts on earth. Each one had the power to level mountains. Things were different from Supremes. They each had their own specialties and equipment, making it difficult to know their strength at a glance. Together, this fragment of the vanguard shot through space toward the rebellious planet. When they hit the atmosphere an ear-piercing squeal emerged. It was the sound of thick air rubbing against their sturdy bodies. They picked up speed, roughly thirty times the speed of sound. The air around them burst into flames, turning them all into blazing fireballs. Although temperatures were easily in the thousands, they suffered no damage. All the while they communicated with each other. The fifteen Supremes broke off when they entered the atmosphere, three to a group. With each group went forty-some divine soldiers. Like comets they tore across the sky to various locations across the globe. One such group landed in a desolate section of the planet¡¯s northern hemisphere. The ground raced up to meet them and there in the center, a vibrant region among the sands. An Elysian land. Their commander gave the order. ¡°Spread out.¡± Once again the group broke apart, a handful of gods for each major city. The three Supremes themselves made for the capitol. Closer and closer they came until they crashed into the city center, amid a chorus of terrified cries. Bo-o-o-o-m--- ! The city was devastated, as though a small nuclear bomb had gone off. Three huge craters remained from which a shock wave was birthed. Buildings collapsed in its wake and thousands were killed instantly. ¡°Gods! It¡¯s the gods!¡± Stunned faces watched the three perfect figures rise from the craters. They immediately fell to their knees in supplication. They knew it was their time, only they did not think it would come so soon. Less than a year had passed since the Elysian lands had fallen to disarray. Had Mount Sumeru heard the news and sent their angels here to set things right? The second coming was finally upon them. ¡°We are all faithful to Mount Sumeru...¡± ¡°We give ourselves up to the might of the gods1¡± ¡°We have turned from the darkness. None of us follow the evil Cloudhawk.¡± ¡°Please, mighty gods, forgive our sins! We will fight for you to the end!¡± Those who still lined in the Elysian lands were those that refused to follow Cloudhawk. Opposition forces and traditionalists, they were either too afraid or unwilling to give up their faith. Still they placed their faith in the gods, fearing them and hoping for redemption. Salvation had come! The gods would recognize and reward their faith! Their benevolent masters had finally arrived! The gods needed soldiers. Just as a thousand years ago devout humans could fight by their side. Together they would destroy the root evil that had infected everything, Cloudhawk! Yes, that was what they would do! It would be their reward for holding true to their faith, no never giving in to darkness! Norman Seabrook raced to the scene. But instead of elation there was a great unease when he saw the craters, and the creatures that rose from them. They were so powerful! Norman had never met the divine master of his realm, but he was certain these gods were its superior. Three of them! It was a terrifying show of force. On this planet, none with the exception of the devil Cloudhawk were their match. Norman was also grimly aware that these three were not the only agents sent by Mount Sumeru. What were humans to such creatures? All they had was what the gods gave them a thousand years ago, and what were these paltry things in the eyes of their masters? Cloudhawk wanted to fight these beings. What made him think he could? ¡°Polluted mortals. You will all face reckoning.¡± Fantasies of benevolent gods were shattered. Hopes of fighting for redemption were dashed. One of the gods raised its hand and a burst of power was released among the thousands of quailing citizens. Horrible screams flooded Norman¡¯s mind, but they could not drown out his one final thought. Humanity is finished. Book 7, Chapter 93 - Rough Beginnings Book 7, Chapter 93 - Rough Beginnings Late night. The ethereal lights hanging in the sky made the humans uneasy. A curfew was imposed on all non-combat citizens and the evacuation was accelerated as much as possible. The enemy was here, a new state of intense preparations began. From the beginning Cloudhawk felt the bitter premonition, hissing in the back of his mind. A feeling of impending danger. He left the task of coordinating the troops with Legion. Meanwhile he and Hellflower approached the Source mountain where Belial was camped. They had questions for the Elder. He was the chief artisan of his race, skills which made him a great asset to their Alliance. Lately Hellflower had spent a great deal of time by his side learning all she could. She was proficient in all manner of earthy science and technology and with the help of the Cloud God had learned a little about the gods. Working with Belial increased her understanding of how this extraterrestrial engineering worked. ¡°Is there some problem here?¡± ¡°Not for the moment, but we must be vigilant. The gods and their tactics should not be underestimated.¡± Belial lifted his eyes toward the heavens. IT was night, but the undulating blanket of blue light was like staring into the morning sky. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is. What I can feel is a strange energy trying to erode our defenses.¡± ¡°Trying to break through?¡± Cloudhawk turned his eyes toward the crystal mountain. Its top was sheared flat, creating a plain upon which a hundred or so Seraphs worked. They manned off-looking towers of demonic make that extracted the power of Source. They used this to emit powerful energy which increased Greenland¡¯s defensive boundaries by a hundred times. After joining their cause, Belial served two important roles. First was to help Cloudhawk in acquiring this ¡®Source of the Earth¡¯, which had been accumulating for the last thousand years. Second, he was responsible for developing new protections for their Alliance. Since he started, their guard had continued to grow more sturdy. ¡°Will the shields be affected?¡± ¡°Not for now. I¡¯ve arranged it so that the energy is impenetrable, but all I¡¯ve done is make sure the system remains in working order. I do not know what threat will come from outside the boundary.¡± ¡°Can we rely on it? Will it deflect an assault from the gods?¡± ¡°Be at ease. If I did not have confidence in our defenses, I would not be here.¡± Belial had faith in his abilities. ¡°I can make sure it stands even if the gods blow a hole through this planet.¡± He seemed assured. As long as those shields stood humanity had a chance. ¡°Be that as it may, the gods have more tools at their disposal than we do. Their artisans are also more talented than I. Any judgment I make is based on knowledge from a thousand years ago ¨C that is to say, one-sided and limited. Divine heritage cannot be compared to demons, so even the likes of Legion and I cannot know what to expect.¡± Belial swallowed a despondent sigh. If the former Demon King were here, perhaps they might stand a chance. His knowledge of the gods had been extensive, far greater than Legion or Belial. He knew all their tricks and likely tactics. But he was gone, and the new Demon King had not inherited everything. The result was this foul circumstance. Cloudhawk turned to Hellflower. ¡°How goes your communications with Ark Base.¡± ¡°They¡¯re willing to give their support, but ¡®Father¡¯ is still standing in the way. This rigid artificial intelligence is proving difficult to manage.¡± She sighed in exasperation. She served the important role of liaison between the Green Alliance and Ark Base. She¡¯d spent months pleading with them for any help they could muster. The people of Ark Base were original humans from a thousand years ago and had not been changed by the radiation of their home world. As such they were weak and couldn¡¯t provide any direct fighting power. However, they had a sizable population and the AI ¡®Father¡¯ commanded a huge network of mechanical beasts. What they could provide was a large number of advanced weaponry and, more importantly, a means of production. The Alliance outpost on Stony Plains didn¡¯t have the assembly lines of Ark Base. IF they could work together, it would ramp up manufacturing by a significant amount. Their full support would be a tremendous help and not just with production. Efficiency would improve. Alliance front-line fighters at least wouldn¡¯t have to worry about their gear. So far, Hellflower¡¯s communications with the humans of Ark Base had been going well. Despite a thousand years of divergent evolution, both sets of humans were thinking, feeling entities. Old humans still had a strong attachment to their home world which inspired them to offer any help they could to the war effort, even offering to send a group back with her to serve as advisers to Cloudhawk. But ¡®Father¡¯ would have none of it. It was the intelligence that managed the Ark Base, with full control over its systems. For a thousand years it had protected the original refugees from earth, staying true to its prime directive - ¡®maintain humanity at all costs.¡¯ This mission was the underpinning of its entire system, not unlike the seal on a god¡¯s consciousness. Everything it did, it did in service of this directive. Protective humanity was its sole purpose. If the people of Ark Base died, Father would have no more worth. Father had begrudgingly allowed Cloudhawk¡¯s people into the base and only as a show of respect for their ancient savior, the Demon King. It even allowed use of some facilities, but allowing full integration between their two people could never be allowed. Not when it meant war with the gods. Artificial Intelligence wasn¡¯t built with emotion. It was a system of absolute logic. Father made determinations based on empirical data and deep analysis of the facts. All probability models revealed the same: Gods were a highly advanced, galaxy-spanning civilization and humans. Against them, the chances of earth¡¯s denizens surviving outright conflict were negligible. Becoming involved exposed original humans to utter destruction. To ¡®Father¡¯, the risk was intolerable. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten Father to change his mind, but there has been some headway,¡± Hellflower explained. ¡°The original humans have pledged to do everything they can to supply cutting-edge weapons and research new ones. However, without Father¡¯s help their efforts will be hampered.¡± This was an irritating impasse. Cloudhawk could face a Supreme god without blinking ¨C just roll up his sleeves and get to work. But against a single machine brain he was hamstrung. For now, the matter had to be put on hold. Whatever. It wasn¡¯t like the odds weren¡¯t already stacked against the Green Alliance. The gods had arrived before they were ready ¨C even before the Elysians and wastelanders had fully integrated. Emerald Star¡¯s underground city was a mess that would take time to sort out. Ark Base¡¯s dictator was being intractable. Soldiers from the Elysian lands had never fought shoulder to shoulder with the Alliance before¡­ From top to bottom, forward to back, nothing was ready for what they were about to face. When would their enemies attack, and how? Mankind didn¡¯t have the combat experience of the gods. Even with Legion and the Cloud God to guide them, their preparations were limited. The one silver lining was that their home was well defended. Even the gods would have a hard time punching through. It was one hell of a rough beginning. Book 7, Chapter 94 - We Are All Gods Book 7, Chapter 94 - We Are All Gods Chapter 94: We Are All Gods A crystal mountain of Source was the heart of humanity¡¯s defenses. The energies it produced were arrayed in five layers that covered a large area of the surrounding wastes. Dense numbers of soldiers were stationed at its borders. At the center of the capital was the former Greenland Outpost. Here lived all the original citizens of Greenland. Here was stationed all of the Alliance¡¯s elite. Near the center of the outpost was a large tree, three or four hundred meters tall. Autumn¡¯s God Tree was able to draw from the Source even at this distance, so it had also grown larger in recent days. A brood of green dragons had made the tree home. The Shepherd and Cloud Gods stood under its boughs. It had finally come time for these former Supremes to face their kin. The Cloud God could feel the others. Divine sentience from across the galaxy were awakened by the blue shroud that hung over the planet, summoning them forth. Soon the God King itself would arrive. Under its leader¡¯s guidance, few species in this universe were capable of defending themselves. Humanity, born from the dirt of this primitive earth, was not one of them. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± The Shepherd God asked. ¡°Even if I could choose again, I would defect.¡± There was a flicker in the god¡¯s eyes. Regret? What was regret? He pondered the concept. ¡°Sumeru is vast, but to be part of the whole means to lose oneself.¡± ¡°So you see.¡± ¡°No, I am still blind. The questions still haunt me: I wonder at the nature of my life, my origins, my power, my evolution. I am given different answers, but they are not answers to my questions. The glory of any creature¡¯s creation, though long and arduous on the surface, is the inevitable result of circumstance. Yet, the gods are a mystery. A race with no past, and no future.¡± The Shepherd God was one of them, too. All the uncertainty her companion suffered she had experienced as well. Gods seemed separate from the universe as it should be. Their appearance was abrupt and each one only existed as a fragment of Sumeru. Their wills and imagination were all manifestations of the whole. Gods had no troubles, because their troubles were Sumeru¡¯s troubles. Gods were never confused. Any confusion was Sumeru¡¯s confusion. Mount Sumeru was the greatest singular consciousness in the universe. It unified the rich experiences of all its parts. It governed the thoughts and actions of every god, though the gods themselves knew nothing of Sumeru¡¯s truth. Both fallen Supremes were once part of that system. All their actions were in compliance with Sumeru¡¯s will, until it wasn¡¯t. Upon dropping their fetters, they became individuals. Now that they knew what it was to live, neither wanted to go back to how it was despite the consequences. At least they could choose to fight. Nothing in this world was born from nothing. Fighting in the light, there was always a shadow at your back. The silence of the night was a failure to hear sound, not because it did not exist. ¡°We are not gods. Not before, not now, not ever. There never were gods.¡± She raised her head and looked at the blue sky. ¡°We are motes of dust, caught on the distant arm of an ever spinning galaxy. Its a motion we can¡¯t see, one in which our efforts are buried under billions of light years. All the responsibility, bitterness, compassion, love, hatred ¨C wiped clean by time. We are not gods. We can¡¯t change the laws of the universe any more than we can stop the galaxy from spinning. All we do is spin in our orbits. Along for the ride.¡± When looked at in this way, how were gods any different from humans? Maybe there was something out there they could call a ¡®god¡¯, but if it existed then there was no contrast between their species and the ones of this planet. Such a being wouldn¡¯t care about the pride of such little things or their pretend wisdom, no matter how loudly they proclaimed it. How small a thing life and intelligence was. How meaningless in the face of a vast and endless universe. ¡°But¡­ without me, is there a universe?¡± The Shepherd God almost whispered it. ¡°Without me to see it, the universe doesn¡¯t exist. Neither do the gods. If you think of it like that, then we are all gods.¡± Was the purpose of life to perceive the cosmos? Without something to recognize how vast the universe was, what did the universe matter? No one had the answer. The two gods lapsed into silence. Suddenly¡­ ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± The Cloud God¡¯s eyes flashed and he released a pulse of psychic energy. It raced across Greenland, connecting to Cloudhawk and Legion. ¡°The invasion has begun.¡± The Cloud God had maintained his link with Sumeru. Although this connection was limited, he was still able to sense others like him. At present he sensed many passing through the planet¡¯s atmosphere. As confirmation there arose an ear-piercing squeal and several dozen fiery orbs shot passed overhead. Like comets they roared across the sky, picking up speed and vanishing as quickly as they appeared. Headed toward the Elysian lands. The Shepherd God recognized the situation quickly. Cloudhawk was right, though she was shocked his predictions would come true so fast. As though summoned by the thought, Cloudhawk appeared from a ripple in space. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°More than two hundred. Groups of several dozen gods each have been dispatched to every Elysian land.¡± The Cloud God shared everything he was able to sense, including their movements and targets. ¡°Cloudhawk! Things are bad!¡± Dawn came racing his way. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Distress call.¡± ¡°What sort? From the Elysian lands?¡± ¡°Yes. Skycloud, Highmorn, Praelius, Dragenmere and Stormford. We received messages from all the forces we had stationed there then immediately lost communication.¡± Quiet, concerned looks were shared among the group. Had a small group of two hundred gods just wiped the Elysian lands off the map? All the best troops were brought to Greenland and half their population evacuated, but there were still many who remained behind. There had been no shortage of capable people who remained behind with the believers. How could this happen so fast? Notes of distress were thinly veiled in Dawn¡¯s voice. ¡°What¡¯s the plan? Are we going to save them?¡± ¡°I suggest we give them up,¡± Legion offered. ¡°Most people and resources have been evacuated. The Elysian lands hold no more value to us. We should consolidate our strength and protect our main force.¡± ¡°Bullshit! Are we supposed to just sit back and watch them get slaughtered?¡± Phoenix and a group of her supporters shouted their opposition to Legion¡¯s callous words. The realms still had scores of innocents and their own troops, directly in the line of fire. Was the demon suggesting they just throw away so many lives? How were Greenland¡¯s troops supposed to react? Morale was already fragile. Could they be expected to face the divine army if they all cowered from two hundred gods? Legion had no intention of arguing his point. He delivered the option, but Cloudhawk was responsible for what they did next. He was now caught between two bad choices. Save them? It was dangerous. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose, especially in an opening skirmish. Leave them to die? The Alliance relied on troops from these Elysian lands. Was it right to sacrifice these people without batting an eye? To just let these innocent lives be snuffed out? Cloudhawk turned to the Cloud God. ¡°You¡¯re certain there were only two hundred of them?¡± ¡°I am. The remainder are still on the moon and have no intention of acting for the present. This is merely their first offensive. A test.¡± Against two hundred gods, Greenland¡¯s forces stood a decent chance. It helped that they were separated into five groups. They couldn¡¯t regroup quick enough to fend off an assault. Cloudhawk could lead a team into one of the Elysian lands, save some people and kill some gods. The victory would shore up some of his soldiers¡¯ crumbling confidence. His fear was the Abyssal God, watching from up on the moon. That monster had spatial powers like him, and although he didn¡¯t know exactly how he used them, what if the god could teleport? The second they left Greenland they could find themselves surrounded. The Cloud God seemed to sense Cloudhawk¡¯s troubled thoughts. ¡°Within the Elysian lands there is a relic that can seal spatial disturbances. Bring it with you, and there is no threat of being ambushed.¡± He could give this relic to Stormford¡¯s Master Demonhunter, Bruno. After teleporting everyone to the target, Bruno could seal them off and eliminate any threat from the moon. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time. We have to act immediately. Skycloud is the closest.¡± Cloudhawk made up his mind. Skycloud was closest, and the first Elysian realm to join his cause. Many of their troops once called it home. It was the right call. With the decision made, there was no time to waste. Cloudhawk selected his team and opened a portal to Skycloud. 1. Jesus tipsy, you ok man? 2. Book 7, Chapter 95 - Genocide Book 7, Chapter 95 - Genocide Chapter 95: Genocide Skies brightened in the east. Once again, light fell upon the land. The blue shroud that hung over the earth was a striking aurora that persisted as the dawn came, but dulled. Warmer hues took over the wastes. A graveyard of wrecked airships surrounded an outpost near Skycloud¡¯s border. Plumes of black smoke rose from the town itself. Silence prevailed. No signs of life. No sound. Only stillness and the smell of death. The air rippled, but like the waters of a still lake they were quickly suppressed. Cloudhawk stepped out first. Using his own scouting relics he scanned the area for threats. As far as he could tell, there was nothing here. It was strange, though. What had happened? What was this uneasy silence? Despite the risks, he had to see for himself. Indeed the enemy was at the gates. They could pretend to be deaf and dumb, but that was weakness. What they faced now was only a fraction of the larger threat. It meant whatever waited for them out here should be tolerable. An opportunity to test what the enemy had in store. Still, Cloudhawk was cautious. He elected to teleport here first, alone, and assess the situation. If it was safe then he would bring the others. On the other hand, if something went wrong it was easier for him to escape alone. Immediately upon entering, Cloudhawk slipped between dimensions. He concealed his power and presence, ceasing to exist in this plane. He even curtailed his will in order to hide his mental signature. Before even entering the settlement he knew things were bad. Yet even bracing himself for what he might find, the truth shocked him. It was like everything had been scorched clean by a storm of fire. The roads, homes¡­ everything was covered in a black coating like asphalt. What sickened him most was what happened to the people. He saw them everywhere, frozen in place like onyx statues. He saw the panic on their faces, the fear of their last living moments. Their agony was perfectly preserved in black stone. A forest of grotesque, genderless victims populated the dead city. What had they suffered? A glint of silver flared from his left eye as he grappled with the question. The town¡¯s doom had occurred not long ago, recent enough that his Eye of Time could reveal the calamity. Half a day was the extent of his view into the past. His eye glimmered. Cloudhawk peered into what was. To his eyes it was as though everything were flowing backwards. With incredible speed the city was restored to its original state. He saw three gods descend from the sky in fiery impacts, a hundred times the speed of sound. The intensity of their landfall gave rise to a shock wave that devastated the town. Its denizens stood around, mouths agape and appalled at the destruction as the three gods emerged from their craters. Each produced a box, seemingly from nowhere, and opened them as one. Together summoned a creature of smoke and ash. Thus the terrible slaughter began. The smoke monster swept across the town, sometimes long and thin and other times a roiling orb. A constant flood of dark energy poured from it and enveloped everything. People started to run, but were not fast enough to escape. Nothing survived. Once the smoke touched them, its power entered every orifice. It drilled through their pores, infecting their skins and muscles and organs, turning everything to stone. This nightmare scene was what remained of their genocide. It happened in the blink of an eye. Were Cloudhawk here, he doubted even he would have time to react. No signs of life could be felt from these statues, however there was still the faint hum of whatever energy consumed them. What were the gods planning? He watched the gods as the terrible process unfolded. They paid the human cocoons to mind. When the job was done, they called back the monster, rose into the air, and moved on. Probably to rejoin the other gods. Was he too late? What was that terrible creature they commanded? Cloudhawk approached one of the statues. He slowly made himself corporeal and extended a hand. The moment his fingers touched it, the poor soul¡¯s features cracked and the whole thing fell to pieces. ¡°Aggghhh!!!¡± A terrible wail emerged, together with a translucent figure. It detonated near Cloudhawk, but the sudden attack was no threat to him. He blinked to safety. The fuck? Spirits? Gods can turn living humans into these things? But why? Cloudhawk scowled. Things were bad and the people were all beyond saving. He teleported away. It seemed the gods had a way to transform humans into mindless, energy-dense spirits. That was a problem. His next stop was the capital itself. Before even arriving he knew he was one step too late. Skycloud, the once glorious city, was a thing of the past. Everything was now encased in the black stone that remained after an attack by that hellish smoke beast. The city¡¯s millions of inhabitants were all dead. There was some evidence of combat that he could see. Some had tried to fight back, some had tried to run. A handful managed to survive the opening attack but were quickly silenced. Lurking on the outskirts, Cloudhawk remained invisible. He could sense a group of powerful beings within. Gods. A couple dozen gods had erased an entire realm in less than three hours. While the best of the realm was safe back in Greenland, this was still an unmitigated tragedy. Cloudhawk was weighing whether to engage his enemies when he saw a group of humans fleeing across a distant hillside. They were being pursued by a group of spear-bearing divine soldiers. The survivors were about to be overtaken. With a wave of his hand, Godslayer appeared in Cloudhawk¡¯s grip. Book 7, Chapter 96 - The First Skirmish Book 7, Chapter 96 - The First Skirmish Refugees numbered in the hundreds, the few who were lucky enough to escape from Skycloud before the catastrophe. But luck had its limits. They had managed to flee the city but not the realm. Five of the invading gods spied the refugees and were dispatched to eliminate them. Five divine soldiers. What did that mean? Three Master Demonhunters would struggle against such odds. The power of a Master Demonhunter was what the lowest ranks of the gods could summon. Killing a few hundred refugees was as easy as crushing ants. Even if some of the humans were more capable than an average citizen, it meant nothing in the face of their foes. Before long, the five spear-bearing gods cut off the human escapees. Panic set in and the humans scattered, screaming in fear. But before the gods could end their lives a streak of light descended from the sky. It split the air and invoked a web of crackling lightning. This sudden, intense protective screen forced the gods back. They brandished their spears defensively, temporary foiled by the attack. But it was short lived, for an instant later all five lashed out with their weapons and the barrier was torn apart. Although they could not see their attacker, they sensed his strength. This obviously powerful character was closing in from their flank. Somehow he was hiding his presence and quickly approached without being noticed to launch another surprise attack. But the gods were quick to react. Their spears opened like umbrellas and they gathered together in wordless cooperation. Their defenses formed a complete barrier, sturdy enough that the unseen attacker could not punch through. Quick answer. Cloudhawk had struck from between dimensions, only to discover with great shock that he couldn¡¯t break through their shield. These were the weakest soldiers from Mount Sumeru, but they fought as a cohesive unit ¨C as good as humanity¡¯s most grizzled veterans. They released a pulse of mental energy, enough to distract Cloudhawk and shake him from his phase state. He was flung twenty meters away. Several of the gods readied their weapons and attacked the instant Cloudhawk showed himself. They were simple-looking attacks, but they contained staggering power. Compressed into a small area, they were capable of punching holes in the sides of spaceships. Imagine what they could do to a human body. A pale white light sprang up around Cloudhawk. When the two powers collided, both dispersed. He rose unscathed to prove that these attempts would not be enough to lay him low. Hardly more than a gust of wind. He stood there staring back at his enemies with a challenging posture. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Cloudhawk!¡± ¡°These pretender gods have attacked the city and killed everyone!¡± The escapees looked at him in desperation, tears running down their dirty faces. They were both elated and indignant; happy to live, but those who did not evacuate when Cloudhawk asked were all faithful to the gods. But what these creatures did to their followers¡­ it was hard to fathom. Without batting an eye they razed their city to the ground. Skycloud was the capital city of an Elysian realm! At least a million people were living ¨C had lived there. From the elderly to the youngest babe, they had all been wiped out. No compassion, no forgiveness, just callous murder. Was this how the gods treated their subjects? At last these stubborn Elysians understood the truth; that the gods didn¡¯t care about them at all. Cloudhawk conveyed a single thought to all the refugees: ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°If we survive we will join your alliance!¡± ¡°Quick! We have to get out of here!¡± They scrambled to their feet and raced off toward the realm¡¯s border, pulling each other along. They all knew how strong Cloudhawk was. IF there was anyone who could protect them from these terrible creatures, it was this man. He was the only one who would dare. The five gods rose into the air, formed up and ready to fight. They abandoned their pursuit of the humans. All their focus was fixed on Cloudhawk, who they knew was a human of tremendous power. Centuries of combat experience had honed their senses. Even the five of them together couldn¡¯t overwhelm this man. He had to be the worm that poisoned this planet. The one called Cloudhawk. His ferocious black armor was covered in a film of white power. From behind the grotesque mask was a piercing gaze. In his right hand he held a sword wrapped in lightning, which an instant later flung a blast of intense power their way. ¡°Get the fuck off my planet!¡± Once again the gods opened their spears, but this time the human¡¯s attack was too strong. It broke past the barrier with a sound like shattered glass and then an explosion. The gods couldn¡¯t hide. Countless bolts of electricity slithered through the cracks, like a host of bloodthirsty snakes. All together the gods were flung backward fifty meters. Each one was peppered with burn marks and smoke curled off their perfect bodies. Craters dotted the landscape, giving credence to the power of this attack. This time Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t held back. He wanted to see what these assholes could handle. The gods would not be so easily defeated, of course. With his full strength Cloudhawk had only managed to inflict minor wounds. Afterward the light of their armor had dimmed, but the gods were still able to keep fighting. He scowled. Even the weakest gods wore impressive armor. Divine armor like that was clearly the standard among their race. Not only did they possess unique powers, but also protected them from harsh environments like outer space. Such defenses were as good in war as they were against environmental threats. Cloudhawk¡¯s last attack was strong enough to split mountains. He could cleave a fortress apart or an asteroid ten kilometers across. But it still wasn¡¯t enough to cut through these gods¡¯ defenses. No wonder this race had dominated their galaxy. The ¡®voice¡¯ of one invaded his mind. ¡°Ignorant human. You wear its armor, but wield not its power. How can you be so foolish as to imagine you are a threat to us? Much less to our King?¡± Now he understood. This wasn¡¯t just an opening attack. The Abyssal God was doing this to test Cloudhawk¡¯s strength. Now they knew he didn¡¯t wield the Demon King¡¯s power. If he did even their strongest would know fear. He had shown his hand in attacking these grunts. Through this display and what the Abyssal God sensed in the Divine Matrix, it knew that this human was nothing to worry over. It was the gods whose power was terrible to behold. Even these ordinary soldiers were not be to discounted. Cloudhawk knew nothing of the Abyssal God, so he chose to remain cautious. ¡°Ah! Save me! Help!¡± ¡°No! NO!¡± Cries arose from the flees refugees. Space rippled as Cloudhawk used his spatial powers to extend his view. For many kilometers in all directions he could sense what was happening. What he saw was a forest of blackened figures, locked in their final moments. The refugees had not escaped after all. A horrific plume of black smoke slithered among the statues. All around divine soldiers were closing in, spear at the ready. ¡°Petulant mortal. You were rash to appear here. Now you will not escape.¡± One of the gods continued to mock him. ¡°Humans, such irrational chattel.¡± In no time at all, thirty to forty gods had arrived. Cloudhawk was surrounded. Three in particular were wrapped in an intense aura of power. They had to be the Supremes. Against even one Cloudhawk could not afford to be cocky. Against three his chance of survival was low. ¡°Target has been located,¡± one of them said. ¡°Identity confirmed. Executing the God King¡¯s command ¨C apprehend and return to Sumeru.¡± The orders were shared among the gods, Cloudhawk could not hear it. However, through his powers he was able to see across a vast distance. Oddball was also nearby and between the two of them Cloudhawk knew the cadre he faced. No doubt about it. He was in trouble¡­ but not without options. Agents from Greenland were ready, Cloudhawk only needed to give the order. Teleporting them here they could engage and ¨C with any luck ¨C destroy these gods. Doing so would give them a little breathing room. More importantly, they would win the first real skirmish in this war. The blow to humanity¡¯s morale when the Elysian realms were attacked could be reversed. Confidence would be restored. Deep within the hearts of man, they still feared their inadequacy in the face of the gods. They needed a victory to prove otherwise. Book 7, Chapter 97 - War Parties Book 7, Chapter 97 - War Parties But Cloudhawk was in no hurry to summon help. On the one hand he wanted to see what these gods were capable of. On the other, something seemed strange. Caution was the better practice. One of the gods reached out, holding a pearl-like artifact in both hands. A light emerged from it, quickly swelling to envelope the area. It hung over everything within several thousand meters, including Cloudhawk and the gods he fought. The divine soldiers attacked all together. The battle was on. How rich was divine battle experience? Enough to compliment their eternal lifespan. Every soldier was a perfect specimen and their unity was superhuman. Even the likes of Arcturus Cloude, a man of incomparable wisdom and power, would be overwhelmed. Dozens of columns ¨C screaming lines of energy ¨C came pouring down toward him. They descended with the roar of a tornado, obliterating the terrain. Yet in the instant of their attack Cloudhawk summoned the power of his left eye. Time unfurled, and with the knowledge of where the strike would fall he blinked to safety. Before he could regain his footing two gods charged at him. One lashed out with ice and fire and lightning. The other drew a sword and fell upon Cloudhawk like a waterfall of light. Strong ¨C but not strong enough. With the Eye of Time Cloudhawk saw them coming. His deflection field sprang to life, sparing him from the storm of energy. He used Godslayer in his other hand to knock away the sword of light. Thunderous blasts ensued. Whole mountains crumbled. Evenly matched, the small group was flung apart but quickly reengaged. The gods surrounded their target and attacked like a swarm of wasps. Cloudhawk was struggling to find a flaw in their onslaught. Let¡¯s get some space first, then we¡¯ll see. Cloudhawk gathered his powers. His plan was to get a few hundred kilometers away and plan his next move. Only, when he released his abilities he hardly moved. He¡¯d only gone a few thousand meters. That¡­ was not what he expected. Why had it failed? Cloudhawk quickly discovered the reason ¨C it was that god with the pearl. More specifically, it was the shell of power it was producing. The field was suppressing his dimensional capabilities. By some method he didn¡¯t understand it was interrupting the flows of space and preventing long-distance teleportation. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t resort to his old tricks to get some distance. IT seemed like they were prepared to fight him. But even so Cloudhawk didn¡¯t let it fluster him. He called forth his powers again. Over the course of just a few seconds he teleported several dozen times. In a series of lightning-fast moves he escaped the gods and their attacks, reappearing each time to attack with Godslayer or Castigation fire. He created chaos among their ranks. They were too turned around to grab him. On the surface he was attacking at random, but it was one part of a deeper plan. With every flash he was circling their leader, getting in close for a strike. The gods knew what he was up to but were not fast enough to get in his way. Leaping from one place to another, they couldn¡¯t put hands on him. Nor was there time to fall back and support their leader. What they did do was release a host of black smoke creatures. These monsters coalesced into one, forming a creature in liquid state. The towering nightmare howled at Cloudhawk, belching plumes of black smoke from its mouth. What the fuck was this thing? Some sort of divine beast? Or something they pilfered from the reaches of outer space? Fuck it, didn¡¯t matter. It would die with the rest of them at the tip of his sword! Godslayer was a fragment of shadow, wrapped in tongues of green flame and bolts of purple lightning. Cloudhawk gathered its power, causing it to expand tremendously before bringing the sword crashing down on the monster. Its liquid body vaporized back into smoke with its dark power scattering. Cloudhawk¡¯s attack kept going into one of the leaders. A light flickered in its eyes. It knew that remaining still would be fatal. No longer able to concentrate on the pearl, it summoned its own defenses to protect against Cloudhawk¡¯s attack. The restraint on his abilities disappeared. Cloudhawk¡¯s mental powers flared, so intense that the space all around him warped. Several figures emerged, weapons raised and ready for what they might meet. They launched into a series of attacks they were so sudden and powerful even the gods were caught off guard. Cloudhawk was quickest. Two of the gods had charged at him and were met with a mental barrage that caught them in a world of illusion. For a handful of seconds they were frozen ¨C a short time, but enough to change the tide of battle. Bruno had deployed the spatial lock. They could be confident the Abyssal God wouldn¡¯t interrupt them. Frost de Winter deflected the spear of a god with his own. By his side, Phoenix released a blast of fire that consumed one of the soldiers. The others ¨C Autumn, Selene, Dawn, Abaddon and several more ¨C joined the fray and stopped the divine assault. This was the heart of Greenland¡¯s strength they faced now. Everyone with the exception of Belial had arrived to give aid. Even Legion was on the field. It was a risky gambit, but if they couldn¡¯t even defeat several dozen divine soldiers their hopes of victory were foolish. Cloudhawk had his foe locked down. Legion, abusing this advantage, used his legendary sword to disintegrate the god¡¯s defenses. A stream of unfathomable power tore through its body. The Elder was a creature who had survived countless battles. At one time it had fought by the Demon King¡¯s side. His relic, the Blade of Oblivion, was legendary even among his kin. It possessed more killing power than Godslayer, especially in the hands of this powerful being. Against the god Cloudhawk had the upper hand. Legion¡¯s sudden arrival and sneak attack was perfect. For all the strength and experience of the godly leader, it could not withstand Oblivion¡¯s cruel bite. ¡°Oblivion¡­ demons.. Legion!¡± It was impaled, residual force from the attack causing its armor to crack apart. Still reeling from the blow it was conscious enough to see what happened. Though this creature bore the body of a god, it was no such thing. Legion, the demon Elder! An ancient foe who once walked with the Demon King. He was not dead, as they thought. Instead he fought for the humans? Wearing the likeness of a god? Had he mastered the ability to take new forms? This new information was quickly disseminated through the Matrix. Now all the gods knew. Legion was a pivotal figure among the demons and one of their most enigmatic. No one, even among his kin, knew what Legion¡¯s true aims were or what he fought to achieve. The God King, Demon King, and Legion¡­ these three held more secrets than the rest of the galaxy would ever know. Legion¡¯s thoughts pushed through Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°Don¡¯t let it run!¡± Responding quickly, he released a mental attack slammed into the gravely wounded commander. Cloudhawk closed the distance while it was frozen stiff and slammed into the back of its body with a fist. Space split open, like the maw of some terrible beast. Cloudhawk shoved his foe forward and the commander went tumbling through the portal. As quickly as it appeared, the rip in space knit back together. It had been flung back to the Southern Capital, where Belial and Hellflower were waiting. A wounded Supreme was a great asset. Capturing it served their cause well. Victory! Cloudhawk could sense that the gods were unprepared for a fight this tough, but it was no time to be careless. There were still dozens of the soldiers left. Even once they were destroyed it was a meaningless loss to the divine army. The Alliance heavyweights and Elysian elite got to work. Sumeru¡¯s two Supremes and the forty gods they brought with them were on the back foot. And of course they would. Cloudhawk, Legion, the Cloud God, the Shepherd God, Phoenix¡­ these humans each were equivalent to Supremes or stronger themselves. These gods were strong, but not strong enough. In addition to their leaders the other humans were equal to the task of mopping up forty soldiers. Bruno, Gorman, Pelagius, Walrick, Selene, Dawn, Frost, Atlas ¨C they were a formidable force. Unless something changed, Cloudhawk¡¯s team would wipe them out! ¡°Die!¡± Phoenix unleashed the full weight of her ire against the gods. With a deafening roar she flung herself forward, ripping through a god¡¯s protections and pummeling it with her fists. Each punch landed with the force of a bomb blast. What was left was a creature barely clinging to life. Frost, working in tandem with Cloudhawk, flung a spear of ice at the Alliance leader which he used to strike down another god. It blinked back into Frost¡¯s hands when he was done. Dawn was playing defense. She rampaged through the heart of the divine soldiers, swinging her sword with vicious abandon. Her attacks were not strong, but her defensive abilities were unparalleled. The gods¡¯ spear struck her armor and bounced off harmlessly. Dawn used her relics to absorb their power and empower Selene. With the aid from Dawn, Selene became a terror on the battlefield. Her attacks rivaled Phoenix¡¯s in strength and cruelty. Sacred Flash! Hundreds of blazing swords exploded across the area. Each one found purchase in the body of a divine soldier. It was a deadly storm of power. There was no denying that the soldiers were mighty. They had impressive defensive and offensive abilities, high combat solidarity, nigh impenetrable armor and impressive rates of regeneration. But there was a clear weakness: Their lack of equipment. Each god only had one or two auxiliary relics. Their strength lay in teamwork. Who among Cloudhawk¡¯s team didn¡¯t have four or more high-level relics? Their powers were diverse, making cooperation all the stronger. In particular was the interplay of space and time, empowering their combat skills to tremendous heights. At this moment, the gods were at a loss. The two remaining Supremes surveyed their situation. They felt no anger nor hysteria. Calmly, they spoke to one another. ¡°The plan to capture Cloudhawk has failed.¡± ¡°Request permission to unleash Last Judgment.¡± Both gods conveyed their petition. After a few moments a majestic voice replied. ¡°Permission granted.¡± Book 7, Chapter 98 - Last Judgment Comes Book 7, Chapter 98 - Last Judgment Comes Cloudhawk¡¯s most important task was holding off the Supremes and general crowd-control. He shuttled across the field, guarding his allies from danger and preventing casualties. The gods were few, comparatively. Still, the gods were a galaxy-conquering race who didn¡¯t need numbers to dominate. A few deaths to them meant nothing. It meant nothing when a creature like Cloudhawk rose from among the herd the God King was little concerned. It would send waves of gods at him on a whim, and they with their superior weapons and tools would raze this planet promptly. On the other hand, if Cloudhawk wanted to win this war then every life was precious. The gods could afford to lose a dozen of these grunts. The Alliance would crumble if they lost that many here. For the moment the humans were winning. Little by little, the gods lost ground. ¡°Cloudhawk, get ¡®em!¡± Dawn released a beam of energy, large enough to engulf one of the soldiers. At the same time gravity increased by a thousand times under her power. Her target bowed under the weight as a streak of power closed in. The god thrust its spear at her, striking several times. Dawn¡¯s armor protected her from harm while her foe¡¯s power siphoned away by the Abyssal Scale. Cloudhawk summoned a vortex of spatial energy. With a heave, Dawn hurled the god through it. One less soldier to worry about. At the moment things were going their way. One Supreme and four soldiers were captured, and two more slain on the field. Meanwhile Cloudhawk made sure their losses stayed at zero. If this was representative of the gods¡¯ strength, then they didn¡¯t deserve to be masters of this galaxy. Cloudhawk and his band of primitives were ripping through them. Almost laughable. Their species wanted to rule the cosmos? Cloudhawk, however, was unsettled. It was too easy. He drew on more of his energy to expand the Eye of Time. Perhaps he could protect them from any unseen traps if he peered deeper into the future. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ strange.¡± He realized the same thing Selene was discovering. Their Eyes didn¡¯t work. Not vision, but their ability to look through time. No insights of the scene to follow. Somehow that power was being interrupted. The future was a dark curtain. Not often the Eye is suppressed. Something¡¯s off. The sense of foreboding in him grew. More enigmatic tools were being used by his enemies, things he hadn¡¯t anticipated. Cloudhawk decided to fall back in the sake of caution. ¡°Break off! Withdraw!¡± His sudden order came as a shock. ¡°What?!¡± Dawn balked. ¡°We¡¯re winning!¡± She was right, they had the upper hand. If they kept fighting there was a chance they could wipe out this whole group. How did it make sense to fall back now? ¡°Follow orders!¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t explain himself and stuck to his decision. He trusted his instincts. Any power strong enough to disrupt the Eye of Time wasn¡¯t one he could discount. If they didn¡¯t leave now it might be too late. Legion knocked back an encroaching god with his sword. ¡°Go!¡± The humans banded together while Cloudhawk prepared their escape. They¡¯d accomplished enough, humiliating the gods and capturing a few. Time to go, even if it was unlikely this small victory would do much for humanity¡¯s morale. At last the gods had enough breathing room to regroup. The Supremes saw that Cloudhawk was trying to flee. ¡°These humans are clever to recognize our plans.¡± ¡°No matter. Escape is not possible.¡± As the two gods exchanged their thoughts, changes crept into the environment. It caught everyone¡¯s eye, approaching from overhead. The sapphire blue shell covering the planet was stained dark red, like looking through goggles. A sudden and ominous sunset. The humans looked on in confusion. One of the Supremes thrust his sword forward and released a beam of energy that was not uniquely strong. It was aimed directly for Legion but Abaddon saw it coming. He leaped in front of his Elder, hands raised, and summoned a burst of sand in midair. He called on it to form a series of solid walls, yet he discovered the sand wouldn¡¯t listen. It started to form but something intruded and it failed. The streak of light cut through the floating particles and struck Abaddon, cutting him open. ¡°Wha-?¡± A gout of purple blood poured from his body. How did the Gospel of Sand fail¡­? Abaddon¡¯s defenses were more than strong enough to deflect a blow like that. Even failing that the book turned him to sand instinctively to protect him from harm. This time, though, it didn¡¯t. Something was happening. The demon¡¯s powers were gone and he¡¯d suffered a grievous wound from it. ¡°The relics aren¡¯t resonating!¡± Bruno recognized it first. His job had been to keep the area locked down and prevent reinforcements from arriving. But the instant the sky turned red he found his link to his relics was gone. Frost pointed his spear at the nearly split body of Abaddon, encasing it in ice to pull him back. His power also quickly faded. One by one the others lost their connections. It was hard to even remain flying and they started to plummet. Cloudhawk¡¯s Eye was useless, but he saw what was happening. Selene, Dawn, Legion, and the Cloud God¡­ they all felt it. The hum of their equipment was gone, and with it their power. It had to be these fucking gods! Screwing with reality somehow. ¡°All the gifts Sumeru gave you can also be taken away. Your Last Judgment has come.¡± The god¡¯s emotionless decree filled their minds. ¡°Your relics fail you. Without them you are as harmless as ants.¡± More than just their relics were being affected. For Legion and the Cloud God, their divine armor was weak. ¡°So this is Last Judgment. When did the gods build this scourge? Could they have¡­ ?¡± In the millennia he could remember Legion had seen nothing like this. He was shocked, for nothing he knew hinted at Sumeru having such a power. He could think of only one possibility. Cloudhawk¡¯s face was growing darker by the second. Last Judgment was an energy field that was cutting them off from their relics. To humans this was a disaster! A Master Demonhunter was only slightly better than an average person without his relics. At the end tally humans were merely humans, except those like Skye Polaris who trained his body to perfection. Martial artists of his level could still tear down mountains with their bare hands under this field, but they were few. Much fewer than Master Demonhunters. ¡°Did you truly expect victory, fighting the gods with their own creations?¡± Another Supreme spoke a command as the orbs of energy spinning around him faded from few. It seemed they were also affected by the Last Judgment. ¡°Eliminate them.¡± The Supreme was right. Relics were made by the gods and they wouldn¡¯t have given their weapons away without a fail-safe. They made the things, they must know how to turn them off. Once again the divine soldiers circled round. Even without relics these beings were deadly. What''s more, their spears were custom made for this occasion. Each weapon had its own energy stored like a battery, charged in advance and employed when needed. The skies were crimson now. Relics were useless. Ever since the great war, humans thrived in the Elysian lands by the grace of gods and their technology. For most everyone, relics were the root of power. It had to be said that the gods were brilliant, they pulled the rug out from under humanity with a flourish. They fell clumsily out of the air. ¡°Foolish mortals. Judgment cometh.¡± Several dozen gods formed into a line. All at once their spears were engaged. Streaks of light screamed through the air, threatening to blast their fragile human forms apart. Cloudhawk understood now why the Abyssal God didn¡¯t come himself. Why it didn¡¯t dispatch more soldiers. If the Abyssal God had come itself would Cloudhawk have been foolish enough to come? Would the humans scramble out of their hole if a thousand divine troops were marching their way? Instead a small contingent was dispatched and spread across the globe. Cloudhawk would surely come if they began exterminating humans. That was the perfect opportunity to deliver Last Judgment. The Abyssal God¡¯s trap was sprung. When this petulant group was destroyed, this planet¡¯s rebellion would wither. They never were worthy of posing a threat anyway. Nothing could stop what was to come. Book 7, Chapter 99 - Under Threa Book 7, Chapter 99 - Under Threa t Danger was present from the beginning, but this was life-threatening. ¡°Go!¡± In the instant of crisis Cloudhawk released a burst of mental energy. His will took hold and formed a tornado around them whose intense winds carried them from encirclement. How? Their powers were being suppressed, where had his come from? Under the power of Last Judgment all relics were useless. Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities came from something else. Last Judgment was an inscrutable weapon established on the moon. As far as humans could grasp it had blanketed their planet in particles large enough to fill the atmosphere. Until now they had lain dormant, activated on command to perform it¡¯s task ¨C to disable relics. It had to mean these particles disrupted the ability of relics to manipulate string-fluctations. Everything in the universe, both physical and energetic, when deconstructed to its smallest parts were merely resonating strings. Each hum was different, creating everything in the world around them. Manipulating those strings meant control over reality. Mental energy was a unique sort of energy. It was formless and intangible, created from the will of living things, difficult to capture and quantify. As far as anyone knew it was the only energy capable of altering strings, and only with relics as a conduit. The gods¡¯ new weapon severed the conduit. Without a source to pull from the relics were useless. Cloudhawk, though, was different. He had merged several relics with his own body, limiting Last Judgment¡¯s effects by turning his body into a tool. What¡¯s more, over the years Cloudhawk had been learning to shake off the shackles of relics and manipulate reality with his own power. Such a power was wholly unique. This budding ability was still weak but had tremendous potential. From the beginning Cloudhawk understood that becoming Demon King meant only one thing, defeat. Not unless something was different. If he wanted to win he had to be better than his predecessor. He wasn¡¯t going to defeat the God King with a tactic that already failed. What he needed was to grow his mental powers. To not only turn himself into the greatest relic ever made, but to transcend relics altogether! The gods aimed their spear and fired and the retreating humans. A rain of energy descended, as deadly as it was blinding. Cloudhawk continued to float in midair, maintaining his composure. As the strikes came he extended his hands and a mighty wall of pale white force emerged. Everyone shrank as the barrage came crashing into the shell. The sound of cracking glass filled the air. Several blows broke through and slammed into Cloudhawk¡¯s body. He was the only one who could use relics, but only relics he had absorbed. Even those were ten times weaker under the muzzle of Last Judgment. But despite wielding a fraction of his power, it made him their one hope at escape. Cloudhawk was flung back as though he¡¯d been struck by a bolt of lightning. No wounds were visible. It was a shot that would blow a hole through a ship¡¯s hull, but against Cloudhawk is just stung. Thanks to the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass, his constitution was highly empowered. Those spears would not be enough to shoot him down. Soldiers closed in, weapons blazing. They slammed into Cloudhawk again and again until cracks began to appear in his armor. He was starting to take damage, but nothing significant yet. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Cloudhawk swiped at them with Godslayer, although it had lost its power. With pure force he shattered one of the spears and sent its owner reeling. The soldier hit the ground at bone-breaking speed. Godslayer was still a sword. Another god went flying. But even the fiercest tiger feared a pack of wolves. Several attackers flung themselves at Cloudhawk and he was finding it hard to fight back. After a few more exchanges he felt his defenses weakening. Two plumes of fire burst from Cloudhawk¡¯s hands and he sprayed the surrounding gods. Sickly green fire filled the air and coalesced into a wall while a dozen soldiers burned. But in the process Cloudhawk took five more hits. He couldn¡¯t hold out any longer, so with a burst of spatial energy he teleported back among his team. Exhaustion was setting in. Using his powers this way was draining. An instant after leaving, two supremes and a group of soldiers burst through the wall of flame. Motes of green danced across their armor, but the gods paid it no mind. Such diminished power might burn them, but would not take their lives. ¡°Buy me some time,¡± Cloudhawk growled. He gathered his power and space began to distort around him. Every gathered around, waiting to be succored to safety. The gods would not tolerate letting the little mice escape. Both Supremes charged forth, one with a sword and the other brandishing a staff. Like streaking comets they quickly reached ten times the speed of sound, enough to pull up earth as they fly by. Legion¡¯s Blade of Oblivion was only so much steel now, but his body was still a divine one. He was capable of defending himself even with an ordinary sword. Clang! Elder and Supreme met in a shower of sparks. A nearby soldier fired at Legion from the side. Unable to spare a hand in defense the blow caught him in the leg. Legion pitched to the side just in time for the Supreme to busy its sword in his neck. It only remained attached by virtue of his sturdy divine form. The Supreme fought from the front. Behind it, soldiers fired their weapons. Their spears functioned like automatic rifles, firing beams of light one after the other toward the humans. Several Elysian tried to protect the group and were blown to pieces. ¡°Fuck!¡± Dawn was struck and screamed in pain. Despite her fury she wasn¡¯t helpful here. She stumbled forward, but before she got two steps another blow landed and sent her flying. Selene caught her before she fell. Dawnbreaker armor was just sheet metal now. A hole had been blown through it. Dawn coughed up mouth-fulls of blood. Her injuries were dire, she was out of the fight. Divine bodies were hardy, no less impervious than humanity¡¯s greatest martial artists. With their spears that defied the tyranny of Last Judgment, they had a great advantage over the humans. Now the second Supreme joined the fray, wielding its long staff. Its target was Cloudhawk himself. Orbs of energy gathered around its staff. This relic was like the others and could store energy. By the looks of it, its attacks were even more lethal than the soldiers¡¯ spears. But the Cloud God, Shepherd God, Frost, Phoenix, Siegebreaker and others saw it coming. They rushed to Cloudhawk¡¯s aid but soldiers blasted them back, injuring them all. It was then the Supreme released the power from the staff. From the orb at its end a beam of unremarkable energy shot toward Cloudhawk. He was almost there. A few seconds more and they would escape. But if this blow landed it would either badly wound or even kill him. Needless to say his concentration would be blown. Humanity¡¯s one hope for escape would be robbed from them. It could spell their end. ¡°Shit!¡± At the last instant a figure shot forward, between Cloudhawk and the beam. Just as the shot found purchase, Cloudhawk released his power. The humans vanished from sight. Book 7, Chapter 100 - The Aware Universe Book 7, Chapter 100 - The Aware Universe Space warped and a group of humans was deposited in Southern Capital. In the moment before they teleported Cloudhawk saw someone take the hit meant for him. Escape had only been possible because of them. If it¡¯d failed the consequences would have been fatal. But who? Names raced through his mind. Selene? Dawn? Maybe Legion? But when Cloudhawk saw the truth it stunned him. His was the last face he expected. The Cloud God slumped to the ground with a cavity in his back. Its edges burned with crackling energy. Fissures were spreading through the armor. Like a clay pot he was breaking apart, in a slow but inevitable process of collapse. In the last few seconds Legion barely fended off a Supreme and Dawn was badly injured. Selene protected her while the others were entangled with soldiers. The only one there with the power to protect Cloudhawk was the betrayer god. But why? He was the only one of this earth¡¯s Supremes to bend to Legion¡¯s coercion. Forced to join their ranks. Never had he bowed to Cloudhawk¡¯s whims because he saw himself as superior. So why, at that crucial moment, did this god use his own body to shield him? Why sacrifice himself? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t understand. No one did. But there was no time to wonder. The Cloud God was a priceless link to the minds of the gods. He was the only one who could track Sumeru¡¯s movements. He was their intelligence. If they lost him the Alliance would be deaf and blind, easy prey. The Cloud God was steadily edging toward death. His injuries were too great to save this body. There was only one course. ¡°Legion, get ready.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s mind fixated on the knowledge he knew Legion had, the ability to reincarnate. If they could save his consciousness before the body failed, maybe he would survive. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Legion was powerless here. Yes, he had the power of reincarnation. But it wasn¡¯t like surgery, and even surgery needed preparation. The Cloud God would be gone in minutes. There was no time to find a suitable body and complete the process. He was beyond saving. The Cloud God knew it. His will was growing hazy. Scattered. To gods there was nothing to fear from death, it was a cycle like countless others. Their species was indifferent to individuality. Yet the Cloud God felt fear. He shouldn¡¯t be, but he was. He wasn¡¯t repulsed by the feeling. On the contrary, it was a gift to feel. Wasn¡¯t that the sign of really living? Only recently could the Cloud God say he was living. Now he was going to lose it. He mourned for what he would be leaving behind. Why did he use his body to protect Cloudhawk? Truth was the Cloud God felt driven to do it, as if by instinct. An instinct to protect even the smallest mote of light in a dark and vast universe. Cloudhawk was that light. He was hope. Any hope, no matter how small or insignificant, had meaning just with its existence. The Cloud God spoke through their minds. ¡°Please help sever my connection to Sumeru, once and for all. I want my spirit to return to the universe, not to the gods.¡± ¡°Is there really no chance?¡± Nobody wanted to lose the one true god on their side. ¡°None.¡± There was nothing Legion could do, and Belial was even less equipped. The gods had deployed their Last Judgment. They equipped their gods with weapons that worked without resonance¡­ The Cloud God¡¯s injuries went deeper than the body. Fragments of his spirit were splintering along with his form. Not even the greatest artisan of the gods had a way to stop the process. From nearby, the Shepherd God extended a finger. From it shot a beam of light which struck the Cloud God¡¯s forehead. He quaked and spasmed and the light in his eyes dimmed. His life force was fleeing, but there was a sudden sense of comfort. She¡¯d helped him disconnect from Sumeru. From this second forward he was entirely free. They would never get him back. Cloudhawk approached him. ¡°Any final requests?¡± ¡°Final requests? Burden the living with the wishes of the dead?¡± He seemed to have trouble understanding the concept. ¡°The past is irrelevant. In this conflict we are compatriots. We owe our lives to see our goal through.¡± Compatriots? For a brief instant the Cloud God¡¯s eyes flared brightly again. ¡°Two wishes. First: I wish more of my people are freed. They are not gods, they are slaves. Every sentient creature deserves freedom. Second: As I am doomed to die, It is time to choose a successor...¡± He was weakening by the moment. His voice came in intermittent bursts through the humans¡¯ minds until it fell silent. But Cloudhawk understood. He drew his eyes toward Legion and nodded. ¡°Then we begin the ceremony,¡± Legion ordered. It was a brief period of enlightenment, but the Cloud God had long enough to ponder the meaning of life. What was life? A profound and serious concept to explore. In the end the Cloud God could not come up with an answer. Perhaps there wasn¡¯t one. What he did know was that the greatest thing about life wasn¡¯t that it existed but that it continued. From the smallest, microscopic amoeba to a creature like Cloudhawk. All through that process there were tribulations, hopes, successes. Life was passed down, and each time it grew better. The Cloud God knew he would not survive, but as a powerful Supreme he could grant the resistance his abilities. Autumn, a god like him, was who he decided to empower. In this way he would continue into the future. Perhaps the loss of his little spark meant nothing to Sumeru. But the Cloudhawk now believed that even the smallest light ¨C no matter how frail ¨C had the power to light up the darkness. They brought him to the altar as his mind was slowly slipping away. All sensations of the outside world had ceased. He would soon pass. Shortly after, in the instant before his death, he felt his mind leaving his body. It rose up, passed the planets and beyond the solar system to the universe beyond. He thought it felt it. Some greater consciousness out there in the cosmos. It transcended matter, thought, will, space, time¡­ It was greater than the universe, beyond any words to explain. Neither existing or non-existent but greater than both. And all of this struggle on a microscopic planet were merely illusions of life and death. The Cloud God thought that if there were ever any real gods, this was one. ** He was gone, having died without even a proper name. For gods names were unimportant. They were, after all, just extensions of Sumeru¡¯s will. At best, a cog in the machine. The Cloud God was just a title the people of Skycloud chose. The Green Alliance had lost its one godly ally. It was the painful consequence of a humiliating defeat. They killed some soldiers and captured a Supreme, but what did that matter to the God King? Cloudhawk had lost two Elysian masters and his only way to know what the gods were doing. Mankind¡¯s war for survival had just begun, but it started with a wrenching blow. Maybe it was true. The gods were too great for a bunch of smart monkeys to get the better of them. Under Last Judgment there wasn¡¯t even a way to fight back. What was the point of fighting on? Book 7, Chapter 101 - War Book 7, Chapter 101 - War Darkness fell upon the Southern Capital once again. Cloudhawk¡¯s mission into the Elysian lands was complete. He hadn¡¯t managed to save any lives, but he had dealt a blow to the gods, even capturing a few. When word of the deed circulated through the city it bolstered his Alliance¡¯s faltering morale. If only they knew how insignificant it was¡­ Even in the depths of night the blue lights hung over everything, an ever-present reminder of Last Judgment. Anywhere outside of Southern Capital was a dead zone where relics failed, suppressed by this foul power of the gods. So far, no one knew any way to get around it. A thousand years ago, during the Great War, nothing like this had been used. It had to be something the gods concocted fairly recently. A tool specifically crafted against rebels and betrayers. That¡¯s why they called it ¡®Last Judgment.¡¯ And there was nothing to be done about it. What the gods gave, they took away. Legion and Belial were as much at a loss. After all, they had never encountered Last Judgment before. Cloudhawk sat on the roof of Greenland¡¯s central fort with a wine pot in his hand from the old drunk¡¯s stash. It was empty but Cloudhawk felt nothing. It was a strong vintage, but it could be ten times stronger and Trespasser would still negate the alcohol. He stood with his head raised, looking out across the sky. The moon was a hazy orb behind the mist, like the eye of a demon. It was not lost on him that somewhere on that distant globe was a powerful entity looking back. Maybe somewhere in the vast expanse between them their eyes were meeting, and they didn¡¯t even know. The lesson of it all, Cloudhawk determined, was how laughably inadequate humans were. Mortal imagination couldn¡¯t grasp what Last Judgment was, or how it worked. Cloudhawk was blindsided by it. He was on the ropes, caught in a reactionary state. If they left the capital humanity¡¯s relics stopped working. Without any gear they were sitting ducks. Humans were no match for the gods. Demons needed relics, too. Even if Cloudhawk managed to convince them to help, it didn¡¯t matter with Last Judgment looming overhead. An inevitable march toward destruction. Man and demon together couldn¡¯t change fate. Overhead, a green crystal dragon was tracing circles. A lithe figure in an emerald dress dropped down to the fort¡¯s roof. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± He could tell by her tonality that Autumn was the one in control. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°The Shepherd God absorbed the Cloud God¡¯s consciousness. She couldn¡¯t absorb everything at once, so she¡¯s asleep for the process. I came to see you.¡± Autumn stood in front of him. ¡°And to talk about Last Judgment. It might not be as intractable as we thought. With the Cloud God¡¯s powers came his memories. She thinks there might be a way forward.¡± ¡°How?¡± He asked. ¡°Last Judgment covers the whole planet. It must require a huge amount of energy to keep it going. Obviously the energy isn¡¯t coming from Sumeru, thousands of light-years away. There¡¯s only one possibility, the power source is close.¡± She explained her thinking. ¡°We saw the two Supremes ask a superior to activate Last Judgment. It¡¯s under something¡¯s control. Through the Cloud God¡¯s link you were able to get a glimpse of their moon base. More than likely, whatever powers Last Judgment is there.¡± Cloudhawk paused in thought. Speculation or not, it was a good guess. But the question remained ¨C how to break through Last Judgment? The Abyssal God was powerful, likely more powerful than Cloudhawk. What¡¯s more he was surrounded by a cadre of divine soldiers ¨C thousands of them. It was a direct threat to their survival. On top of all that, his target was the moon. If Cloudhawk wanted to dispatch his armies he didn¡¯t even have a way to get them to the battlefield. Supposing he could, the lack of atmosphere would kill everyone anyway. Autumn seemed to sense his concern. ¡°No need to worry. The gods are strong, but they can¡¯t reach us either. Belial¡¯s defenses protect us.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Cloudhawk was only able to make his stand here because of the demon artisan. Without him they would all have evacuated to Emerald Star. Not that it was a permanent solution, eventually the gods would find him and their hideout. ¡°We don¡¯t have any experience in fighting the gods. With the Cloud God fallen, we can¡¯t learn anything else about them. There is no other option than to focus on our own defense.¡± Cloudhawk had made up his mind, he had to preserve the soldiers they had. The two entered the subspace cube, where the injured were being treated. Thanks to the way time was distorted, half a day in the real world was enough for most to recover. Dawn was able to move around by now and was gritting her teeth in frustration at her inadequacy. Abaddon and the remaining injured were almost back to normal. Cloudhawk went to find Legion. He was responsible for the costly lesson they¡¯d learned yesterday. If he had followed the Elder¡¯s advice the Cloud God would still be alive. They wouldn¡¯t be ignorant of the gods¡¯ moves and would still have their link to the Matrix. But it was never too late to fix things. The two discussed plans; strengthen defenses, seek outside help, and most importantly master the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. With the mantle restored he could command Gehenna to aid them. Father was another one they had to convince, for New Earth¡¯s forces would make them stronger. Meanwhile the gods and their methods were inscrutable. No one could know what their next move would be. The more prepared humans were, the better. ** The Abyssal God hung in the vacuum of space. Behind him, a blazing light slowly faded away from within a lunar crater. Red slowly changed to blue across the earth¡¯s northern hemisphere. Information from the gods below filtered into their commander¡¯s mind. It¡¯d watched the entire exchange and now possessed a deep understanding of Cloudhawk and his allies. Strong though the Marshall was, it did not take this task lightly. Cloudhawk was a formidable enemy. The plan to capture him had failed, but it didn¡¯t matter. An expected result. It would have been foolish to think such a tactless attempt would succeed. After all, this human was the Demon King¡¯s chosen successor. Where they had prevailed was in destroying the betrayer god. The humans were blind. ¡°Continue executing the plan.¡± The order was passed among the gods across the moon. Meanwhile the Abyssal God¡¯s attention remained fixed on earth. At the slowly spinning spot where the Southern Capital lay. That was where humanity¡¯s best were holed up, and where they would all die. Book 7 ,Chapter 102 - Enlightenmen Book 7 ,Chapter 102 - Enlightenmen t Until they found a way to deal with Last Judgment, Cloudhawk and his people were a turtle hiding in its shell. Those survivors in the Elysian lands? They would have to fend for themselves. No kind sentiment remained anymore. Gods were not limited to the power of Last Judgment. With the Elysian lands conquered they were sure to be preparing more direct means of assault. The Green Alliance had to be prepared for anything. Dawn and Selene were inside the subspace cube, staring at the gods locked in transparent crystal. Dawn couldn¡¯t help but wonder aloud. ¡°Why are we keeping them? Why not just steal their power and be done with it?¡± ¡°With the death of the Cloud God we¡¯ve lost a crucial link to the enemy. Belial and Legion are trying to discover what they can take form our captives, like memories or other data.¡± Selene stood by Dawn¡¯s side. ¡°We were lucky. This group was intentionally sacrificed. Next time I¡¯m not sure it will be so easy to capture soldiers. It makes these few very valuable.¡± ¡°Hmph, well they shouldn¡¯t get off easy. Let them suffer hardships the same way we did, I say.¡± ¡°The methods you use against humans will do nothing against the gods,¡± Selene stated, shaking her head. ¡°Cloudhawk is holding an important meeting. We should go.¡± Dawn glowered at the incapacitated gods. It was obvious she was reluctant to go without venting her frustrations. At least while they were locked up in the subspace cube there was little to be concerned about. The separation in space and time meant their communication with Sumeru was delayed. Legion and Belial made sure there was no way for them to escape. By the time Dawn and Selene arrived, the meeting room was filled with people. Among them were Frost and other members of the Hand of Gehenna, who Dawn despised. There were also leaders from the Elysian lands and other factions. The Green Alliance was still a collection of interest groups who only followed Cloudhawk because he was the only option. All their eggs were in one basket and disaster would crack them all. To survive against the gods they had to follow orders. ¡°They¡¯re here, too?¡± Phain stepped forward, with a veil covering his face and a sword on his hip. It was no ordinary weapon, but a powerful relic. Phain himself was no ordinary martial artist. He was Awakened. By his side was a small coterie, largely composed of Skycloud¡¯s former Temple faithful. Dawn was surprised by the group. ¡°So many?¡± He was ringed by powerful men and women from the Elysian lands, but not only them. Wasteland leaders and even ordinary elite soldiers were all gathered together, making this area of the cube rather crowded. Cloudhawk, meanwhile, was gathering whispers with his presence ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± ¡°Meditating? Never seen him do that before.¡± Mumbled discussion surrounded Cloudhawk concerning his odd appearance. He sat in the center of the area cross-legged with his eyes closed. Flows of energy appeared and disappeared around him; wind, fire, water, earth, lightning, light, darkness, space¡­ all dancing among one another. It was a strange and confusing thing to behold. Did he ask them all here just to watch him meditate? Suddenly his eyes popped open. He was wearing the mask, concealing his features, but the sudden pressure assured everyone that his attention was now on the present. ¡°As you all can see, I am able to summon power from nothing. Hardly strange for a demonhunter. But where I am different is that I do not need relics to do it. I am able to do it with just my willpower.¡± His voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°No relics. Just willpower.¡± A sea of different expressions looked his way. Selene, Dawn, Frost, Phain and others who were more familiar with Cloudhawk had known of this power for some time. Others ¨C especially those from the Elysian lands ¨C were hearing about it for the first time. It was a staggering revelation. How had he learned this power? Cloudhawk went on. ¡°This power isn¡¯t affected by Last Judgment. Even without relics we can fight back.¡± Without question, his ability was a magnificent one. However it was underdeveloped. Without relics the power he wielded didn¡¯t even match a Master Demonhunter¡¯s. Far too weak to use against the gods. Somehow, Cloudhawk had to empower this talent. ¡°I¡¯ve spent the last few days exploring this power. Recently I felt something.¡± Cloudhawk looked out across the others. ¡°Manipulating reality without relics isn¡¯t a superpower. There¡¯s no difference in summoning a fireball through will or through a relic. I was just able to naturally understand the method. I felt how to make the world bend to my will.¡± And this wasn¡¯t called a fucking superpower? What the hell did he think a superpower was, then?! Everyone was eager for Cloudhawk to reveal his secret. ¡°What Leader Cloudhawk is trying to say,¡± Pelagius began, ¡°is that there is a structure to this ability. Rules. Rules that can be broken.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Shock once again rippled among the crowd. After experiencing Last Judgment, Cloudhawk got to thinking. Using the tools of the gods, humans couldn¡¯t defeat their former masters. To defeat that superior species they had to find another way. A human way. During his meditations Cloudhawk had gained a deeper knowledge of relics. He learned that his power wasn¡¯t mysterious, and likely wasn¡¯t special to him. Perhaps it was a system, a skill that could be taught. If he could learn exactly how the ability worked then maybe others could learn to manipulate reality the same way he did. Right now, however, the ability was felt more than understood. A difficult task was before him, but not impossible. He was determined to try. Cloudhawk had no idea how, but if he succeeded in mastering this ability it wouldn¡¯t just benefit him. With a training method humanity as a whole would have a new treasure all their own. A treasure they could use to permanently throw off their reliance on the gods. He pulled out a relic at random and held it before him. ¡°Every relic has its own melody and structure. It¡¯s the root of their power. Basically they are encryption keys. But if we can learn how, we all will be able to use this mysterious power.¡± Gaping stares answered. He said it with such confidence. Did he realize what he was implying? If his words became real it would be the beginning of a new era! But how were they supposed to accomplish this if most people didn¡¯t even know how a relic worked? On the other hand, if it was at all possible they had to begin learning this secret immediately. Cloudhawk put the relic away. ¡°Now, I have some experience with this. I give my knowledge to all of you without hesitation. Whether or not you can master it or not will be up to you.¡± Thus Cloudhawk began to explain what he knew, to the best of his ability. He had called them all here to teach them what he knew. He began with the pulse of resonance, the simplest weaves of the simplest relics, and hoped that they would grasp what he was saying. However even the basest tools were not easy to comprehend. It was, after all, a power that humans were completely unaccustomed to. Dawn looked at her companion. ¡°Eh? You get what he¡¯s saying?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Selene replied with her brows knit tight. ¡°But¡­ not entirely.¡± Most were similarly lost. However there were a few who stood with thoughtful expressions. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure his words were enlightening at all for this group, or whether it was a worthwhile endeavor at all. But in the limited time he had, it was the best he could do. He believed what he felt, that anyone can learn this power. It was a start. If in the future he developed some sort of system to learn, it would be an entirely new underpinning to their civilization. Cloudhawk would be the father of a new age. But he didn¡¯t have enough time to feel his way along. Fate had conspired to reveal this truth to him now, so fate would have to decide what would be done with it. Book 7, Chapter 103 - Superstar Book 7, Chapter 103 - Superstar Chapter 103: Superstar ¡°Hellflower, hang back for a minute.¡± As everyone was leaving Cloudhawk held her back. Once they were alone he asked her a question. ¡°What do you think about what you just heard?¡± ¡°Fascinating. It¡¯s a valuable research topic.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s fantasy?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Hellflower wasn¡¯t like the others with their confused frowns. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity when she heard Cloudhawk¡¯s hypothesis. She smiled at him. ¡°When humans didn¡¯t know how to harness fire they thought it was a gift from the gods. Before discovering electricity, it was a power from heaven. Ignorance and a lack of imagination are the limits of our species. As a scientist I know there¡¯s a system for everything. We just need to learn the system.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Good. You¡¯re a scholar from birth, different from the others. I want you to focus all of your energy on this project. I will give you as many relics as you need to disassemble. Any resources you need will be provided.¡± Hellflower was thrilled. ¡°But that¡¯s not the only reason I wanted you to stay back,¡± Cloudhawk revealed. He paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°I believe the gods will make their move in the next dew days and I still haven¡¯t found a way into Gehenna. The only way I can think to do it is with Ark Base¡¯s support. I need your help with this.¡± Ark Base had more energy and power than it let on. It¡¯s help with the Green Alliance was icing on the cake ¨C until Last Judgment. Now that relics were no longer an option, the ancient humans¡¯ high technology would be crucial. At least until Cloudhawk figured out his armor. Ark Base was an artifact from ages past. Despite the many limitations of original man, they had spent the last thousand years developing ways to protect themselves. They had generations of technological breakthroughs to share. In addition to their knowledge of ancient earth, they also had help from a super-intelligent machine. This ¡®Father¡¯ spent over a thousand years learning, improving, enhancing Ark Base through constant trial and error. Over the course of its lifespan it had learned more than the ancient civilization ever had. As long as Last Judgment had them wrapped up, the sophisticated tech of old earth would serve them well. Ark Base¡¯s support wasn¡¯t a happy addition anymore, it was necessary for survival. Cloudhawk wanted all humans ¨C past and present ¨C to stand shoulder to shoulder against this threat. He wanted Father to stop standing in the fucking way. This wasn¡¯t just his fight. They were fighting for the whole species. If new humans fell it was only a matter of time before the gods crushed Ark Base. The two set off at once across space and dimensions, to Stony Plains. Cloudhawk deposited them within the massive encampment his people had set up. With Ark Base¡¯s help a number of large factories had sprung up. Eboncrys was refined here then made into weapons and ammunition. Cloudhawk¡¯s landing point was fixed. There was a crew responsible for watching it, many he had sent here with the first wave but also several in thick chemical suits. Those were original humans from Ark Base. When the gods invaded earth, they poisoned it with radiation. Whatever particles they used mutated humanity on a genetic level. Furthermore, humanity was forced to adapt quickly to their new environment when the old civilization was destroyed. Ancient human DNA wasn¡¯t equipped to deal with the radiation. If they walked around exposed, they would quickly suffer from malignant tumors and fall ill. They had to take special medication and wear radiation suits, and even then had to limit how much time they spent on the surface. Going outside was only done when necessary. Lately, more and more ancient humans were making surprise decisions. They elected to leave the safety of Ark Base and find ways to survive in the surface encampment. Cloudhawk admired these friends of their cause, who gave up security to help them build factories for the war effort. Hellflower asked them. ¡°Is everything normal here?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. Production levels are excellent, you¡¯ll have plenty of ammunition for the front.¡± ¡°The war between the gods and Southern Capital has already begun. We must make sure our production rates and supply lines are stable. I demand maximum efficiency!¡± With that she spun toward Cloudhawk. ¡°Time is short, we won¡¯t waste time. Let¡¯s head to Ark Base.¡± He nodded his agreement. Mental power spread out from him, warping space. Two figures stepped inside and vanished from sight. The rest of the production base watched in admiration ¨C especially the ancient humans. Back in the Base they¡¯d heard of Cloudhawk and his powers, but hadn¡¯t seen them first hand. No amount of advanced ancient tech could do what he did. Ark Base was heavily guarded, but its traditional defenses were nothing to Cloudhawk. He hadn¡¯t the time or patience to announce himself. He¡¯d been here before and knew precisely where it was, so a few short blinks later he stood in the heart of New Earth. Even Father, whose power extended all through the base, couldn¡¯t stop Cloudhawk from entering. He wasn¡¯t the same man who visited so long ago, his master over space had grown. Teleporting was quick and almost imperceptible. Here we are again. Cloudhawk and Hellflower appeared among the tall buildings and well-planned streets. Cars shuttled back and forth through the simulated atmosphere. There was even some technology that made the ceiling look like the sky. It was surprisingly vivid. It was like stepping back in time to the golden age of human civilization. Here they stood in a metropolis, sometime before the gods took that all away. Cloudhawk felt at home. He shook himself out of it. Ancient humans led good and happy lives, kicking around for only a hundred years or so. Was it really necessary to drag them into war, Cloudhawk wondered? Would he be delivering destruction to another beautiful utopia? His wavering resolve did not last. Cloudhawk knew why he was here and why it was important. He knew what had to be done. Anyway he didn¡¯t expect them to fight on the front lines. All he hoped was that they would give his warriors all the support they needed in the way of technology. Risks were minimal if they stuck to providing logistics. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°No need to rush, someone will come for us.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time Hellflower had paid Ark Base a visit. She was familiar with how they ran their city. ¡°We can wander around here until they do.¡± Well, it wasn¡¯t like they could do window shopping. Immediately after appearing, the pair were already garnering a lot of attention. Neither were trying to hide their appearance. Cloudhawk was still wearing the frightening and fractured Cuirass. Hellflower¡¯s silver hair and alluring figure were hard to miss and eyes flocked to her like moths to a flame. ¡°Isn¡¯t that na scientist, Hellflower?¡± ¡°Asking mu questions ¡®gain.¡± ¡°God, never thought mu see such beauty la. Would love her autograph!¡± ¡°Who na man with her? Strange lookin¡¯.¡± ¡°Who cares ba! I only have eyes for la mei de Hellflower!¡± ¡°...¡± A crowd had gathered and muttered among themselves, taking pictures of the two. Hellflower seemed accustomed to the treatment and faced the cameras with winning smiles and a natural posture. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t expecting this sort of welcome. A few moments later vehicles pulled up nearby and reporters filed out. Hellflower was a celebrity here. Her figure was on par with the hottest stars and her temperament was like a gentle flower that fought through the grit of the wastes. She was precious, as precious as a rare rose. As for her skills and intelligence? She was a woman that came about once a millennia! Each time she came Hellflower made sure to liaise with New Earth¡¯s scientists as well. She was responsible for huge leaps in scientific understanding, as well as precious resources and materials. Often she taught classes at the various universities throughout the city and held titles of honorary professor at them all. It was unfortunate that her visits were so erratic. She rarely appeared in the public eye. Pictures and video were rare, circulated ad nauseam on the internet. Anyone would kill for a chance to get close to her. ¡°The battle between new humans and alien invaders is set to begin. Our soldiers will stand on the front lines, fighting the creatures that seek to destroy your native planet. We have come to ask Ark Base for support ¨C support we will pay back in spades. With me is an emissary of the Green Alliance...¡± Hellflower calmly and expertly answered the reporter¡¯s questions and addressed the crowd. Meanwhile, Cloudhawk listened politely. He understood what she was trying to do. She was a celebrity, the face of New Man. Her pleasing features and great contributions ingratiated the ancient humans to her people. In the eyes of New Earthers she was a representative for her race. Her efforts brought their people closer together. Book 7, Chapter 104 - Proper Motivation Book 7, Chapter 104 - Proper Motivation After Hellflower¡¯s very public display, the Base¡¯s leadership finally noticed their presence. Soon the two visitors were brought to the city center, where they were greeted by president Tang Zhonghua. ¡°Leader Cloudhawk. It has been a long time, ba. Your new look is mu unique.¡± The sixty or seventy year old man, healthy and in good shape, presented himself before Cloudhawk in a well-tailored black suit. Nary a hair was misplaced, very presidential, and hardly changed at all since their last meeting except for deeper lines between his eyebrows. ¡°Forgive us for our unannounced visit.¡± ¡°No need.¡± The two shook hands, an informal greeting. ¡°Please, come in. Speak.¡± Tang Zhonghua led his guests to a meeting room and ordered his bodyguards to give them space. There was no need for caution around the new humans. Anyway, Cloudhawk had any number of ways to eliminate the president if he really wanted to. It was quite a room they were in. Spotless, well-organized, with information panels from floor to ceiling. As the three entered, a central meeting table arranged itself into a triangular shape and three comfortable white seats rose from the ground. From within the table panels opened and a trio of steaming tea cups were extended. ¡°I think I know why you¡¯ve come la.¡± Tang Zhonghua took his seat and got right to the point. ¡°We held a leadership summit. Some talk about helping new humans with your war. The general assembly held a vote.¡± ¡°What was the result?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°It passed,¡± he replied, ¡°with two thirds support. Our democratic process has spoken and it should have been enacted, however¡­¡± Tang Zhonghua paused, a glower on his face. ¡°Father ultimately denied the action.¡± Cloudhawk figured that would be the case. Tang Zhonghua continued. ¡°Father is the Base¡¯s highest protector and authority, a level above even the president. According to our constitution, Father has overriding veto power in all matters.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way around this?¡± Hellflower asked. ¡°It would be¡­ mu difficult.¡± Tang Zhonghua sighed. ¡°Father¡¯s analysis finds the new human actions tai dangerous. Potential for backlash. Leaning on its protection directive, Father rejected the motion. It is a machine, making decisions based on logic and data ba. Convincing it to change any decision is almost unheard of.¡± Where there were people there were resources. Where there were resources, there was conflict. The world might have two identical leaves or stones, but no two humans would ever be exactly the same. Because humans were not machines. Complete unity was impossible when everyone had different ideas. Tang Zhonghua supported the Green Alliance. Supported the new humans. However, there were a number of ancient humans who opposed ¨C were even repulsed by ¨C their descendants. It came down to two primary reasons: First, they feared their ill-fated rebellion would bring war to Ark Base. Second, there was a great deal of difference between their two peoples. New humans were far stronger, and if in the future they deepened relations it would give them an opening. Perhaps ancient humans would be squeezed out of their home turf or find their resources cut off. It was an unacceptable risk. Security and survival were always humanity¡¯s first concerns. If they didn¡¯t feel safe, nothing else mattered. Whether it was the gods or highly evolved new humans, neither made the citizens of Ark Base feel safe. On the other hand Tang Zhonghua had his reasons. Certainly one of them was the desire to return to their home planet. However, a close relationship with the Green Alliance meant shared resources, energy, relics, and knowledge. Without question, throughout human history war was synonymous with disaster. But it was also a catalyst for progression. Every time mankind was enveloped in conflict, science and society exploded. Tang Zhonghua knew that original humans were weak and short lived. As they were they would be forced to live in this distant colony for thousands of years, doomed to never escape or resist. If they wanted to flourish, his people had to grow stronger. That was how they survived. These two opposing ideas clashed. It was impossible to know who was right. But Father stood on the side of cautious defense. The AI¡¯s purpose was to ensure humanity¡¯s survival for as long as possible. Development, growth, or whatever state that survival was in ¨C didn¡¯t matter. Its nature was to avoid risk. ¡°This won¡¯t be easy.¡± Hellflower sounded hopeless. Couldn¡¯t they just¡­ turn Father off? She didn¡¯t ask. Father was responsible for keeping Ark Base running, of which Earth City was but a small part. The consequence of losing Father would be too terrible to bear. ¡°We cannot violate our constitution. Without Father¡¯s support any motion will fail ba. The government has no authority to order other institutions to comply. But we will do what we can. I have ordered an inventory of our surplus and we will donate everything possible to your war effort.¡± It was the best result they could hope for. Father had allowed only a small number of new humans to set up camp on Stony Plains. A small, manageable number that was no threat to Ark Base. They were also a good opportunity for Father to observe and learn about the descendants of its charges. However, the more contact original humans had with their successors, the more dangerous it was for them. It was a risk the AI couldn¡¯t afford. Hellflower shot a glance toward Cloudhawk. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I need to speak with Father.¡± Cloudhawk rose from his seat and looked toward the ceiling. I know you¡¯ve been listening to everything we¡¯re saying.¡± Tang Zhonghua made no effort to stop him, not that he could. How could Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival escape Father¡¯s notice? Father was a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence from a thousand years ago. As time stretched on the program never stopped learning. It was ubiquitous, always watching. That¡¯s why crime was unheard of. Father knew everything that was occurring and stopped it before it progressed too far. The conference room door slid open and a team of robots marched through. A growling, mechanical voice crackled toward him. ¡°Come with us.¡± Cloudhawk shot Hellflower a look. She understood; he wanted her to remain here with Tang Zhonghua and continue their discussion. She could help determine how much cooperation and materials they could expect. He was led to another conference room. It was an empty cube of tall white walls. Upon entering, a voice filled the space from some unknown location. ¡°The Guide has no right to ask Ark Base to join his war. Please, return to your people.¡± Father was an algorithm. It had a sort of individual intelligence, but it was nothing like the sort humans exercised. Their self-determination was done with emotional and instinctual input. Instinct was nothing but the drive to survive and reproduce. From these roots many primitive impulses arose. Possession of goods, hoarding resources, searching for viable mates, war ¨C all derivatives of what comes from the most primal parts of the human brain. No such physiological instincts existed in a computerized mind. For them, their ¡®instinct¡¯ was programmed at the time of their creation. For Father it was a fundamental part of its existence to protect humans. That¡¯s what it worked tirelessly to maintain for the last thousand years. Father was a mature intelligence. It had both logic and wisdom. If humans could, in certain circumstances, overcome their own instinct then why couldn¡¯t an artificial intelligence? Its directive was written into its code, but that wasn¡¯t the same as the gods¡¯ mental seal. Opposing thought wasn¡¯t totally negated. ¡°The reason I¡¯m here today has nothing to do with the war. I¡¯m here for business.¡± Cloudhawk explained. ¡°What we need from Ark Base isn¡¯t help in the war but access to its market. Provide us with materials and weapons. In return we will give the base anything it needs, so long as we can provide it. An exchange.¡± Father remained intractable. ¡°Guide, regardless of what logic you employ you will not alter this situation. I cannot put the lives of earth¡¯s original inhabitants in danger. Acquiescing to your requests is impossible.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Cloudhawk grinned to himself. ¡°It¡¯s na?ve of you to think that ancient humans will be completely separate from this war. The peace you knew disappeared the moment I found you. Remember that the key to this world is in my hands, not yours.¡± Father¡¯s response was even and unhurried. ¡°Ark Base is prepared if the Green Alliance should choose violence.¡± ¡°The Green Alliance is busy with its own problems. It would be foolish to pick a fight with Ark Base. No ¨C if I wanted to cause trouble that wouldn¡¯t make any sense.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. But the former Demon King marked this planet. What do you think would happen if the gods were to learn about it? How would this base¡¯s omnipotent Father react?¡± No getting around it. Cloudhawk¡¯s words were an open threat. An artificial intelligence like Father was unlikely to become angry or react emotionally, so the aim wasn¡¯t to instigate it. Cloudhawk was introducing new data ¨C a possibility Father might not have considered. He was saying that if Father didn¡¯t want to cooperate then so be it. Humanity ¨C new and old ¨C would perish together. The gods were plenty powerful enough to obliterate this planet and every living thing on it. Ark Base was in the shit and there was no backing out now. Father went on, its voice cold and unfeeling. ¡°According to what I know of your character, there is no greater than a two percent chance of you following through with this threat.¡± ¡°Even a bunny bites. Back someone against the wall and they¡¯re willing to do anything. You¡¯ve watched humans for centuries, and if there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve learned it¡¯s that we¡¯re complex creatures.¡± Cloudhawk spoke matter-of-factly. ¡°If the Green Alliance falls - if my friends, loved ones, students and compatriots face annihilation ¨C do you think I¡¯m going to give a shit about your secret? Or do you think I¡¯ll throw you to the wolves?¡± Father¡¯s voice did not answer. As a super-intelligent machine such a possibility had crossed its ¡®mind¡¯, only Cloudhawk seemed unlikely to make such a decision. Electing to join his war presented a higher risk to the safety of earth¡¯s original inhabitants. ¡°You¡¯ve kept these humans locked up in this base for generations. Let me ask you, how is that any different from the gods? Your population will grow while your resources will dwindle, and then what? A civilization that doesn¡¯t advance with time will perish. Humans aren¡¯t pets. We don¡¯t do well in captivity.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice took on a harder edge. ¡°Join my alliance. Greenland¡¯s resources and technology can provide for all your people. The humans of the old world can save themselves from being a chapter in history. It may be dangerous, but it will not mean extinction. Cloudhawk raised his hand, causing reality to ripple. A mass of bodies piled high appeared from the ether. Father examined the grim display and discovered that they were not human bodies. They were different, more evolved, stronger. ¡°These are divine soldiers. Gods. Their bodies are worth a lot to something as intelligent as you.¡± These bodies in particular were the aborted gods, taken from the liquid metal tree beneath earth¡¯s desert. ¡°A fraction of what I can offer, so long as Ark Base promises to provide us with weapons. You can leave the dying to us.¡± Father ceaselessly scanned the bodies, noting the magnificent changes in their DNA. This was priceless data in the improvement of original humans. It wasn¡¯t too much to say that the bodies were a treasure trove of information. Perhaps it could help the humans in evolving to new heights. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t get into the finer details. Such things weren¡¯t important for a thing like Father. Complex arguments were useless. However artful his negotiations, it wouldn¡¯t break through Father¡¯s impervious logic. It was easier to take the simple path. All it needed was the proper motivation. If Ark Base chose not to cooperate then everyone would perish. The fate of these people were tied to his Alliance one way or another. Help didn¡¯t have to mean danger, though. It wasn¡¯t likely the gods would learn about them, and Ark Base could make money by selling equipment. Meanwhile they could hoard enough resources to keep them going for another few thousand years. And with any luck, Father could lead its flock to a new era of human evolution. Book 7, Chapter 105 - Closing the Deal Book 7, Chapter 105 - Closing the Deal Cloudhawk returned to Hellflower after only thirty minutes. ¡°So fast?¡± She thought he was going to have a much harder time of negotiating with the AI, but her expectations appeared wrong. ¡°How did everything go?¡± ¡°Ark Base and the Green Alliance have come to an understanding. A market will be established in the wastes where Ark Base will provide weapons, equipment and other technologies. The Green Alliance will exchange them for resources the base needs. This should provide enough materials to support us through this war.¡± It was a good result, but not perfect. Cloudhawk¡¯s intention had been to turn Ark Base into a Green Alliance factory. The capabilities of this place were incredible, even more so if it were geared entirely for war. Father, of course, would not allow it to go that far. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t push him. The city beneath Emerald Star was coming online soon, and once things were settled it would also be able to supply whatever Greenland¡¯s army needed. A surprised grin stretched across Hellflower¡¯s face. He¡¯d done well. ¡°You managed to convince it in only thirty minutes?¡± ¡°You know, it wasn¡¯t as complicated as it seemed.¡± Cloudhawk was nonchalant with his reply. ¡°Father had countless reasons to refuse me but no power to throw me out. It realized that if I wanted to cause problems, I could even give it¡¯s metallic brain a headache.¡± Cloudhawk was getting stronger by the day. Father had no effective means of keeping him out, making this human Ark Base¡¯s most troublesome visitor. Thus rendered helpless, Father had no choice but to compromise. His threats weren¡¯t empty words, either. Father recognized this and changed its analysis with new information. Ultimately, the risks of cooperation were tolerable so long as it was limited to providing equipment. Manpower was intolerable. ¡°Excellent la.¡± Tang Zhonghua got confirmation from Father and beamed with satisfaction. It was a great outcome for his people. Even as a supporter of the Green Alliance, he did not want to see original humans fighting on the front lines. Neither did he want his home to become just a factory under the yolk of Greenland¡¯s rule. Trade was the perfect middle ground. Once the market was established, Ark Base could offload its sizable caches of surplus. As the war ramped up and demand increased, Ark Base stood to make tremendous gains. War drove productivity. It meant the opportunity for historic profit. This could be a period of transformation for ancient humans. That night Tang Zhonghua brought Cloudhawk on a tour of their manufacturing plants. ¡°We are all that¡¯s left of ancient people la, but we weren¡¯t ready for sudden catastrophe. Most of what our ancestors learned is forgotten. Even in Ark Base there are mu areas that do not function as they used to.¡± ¡°But as they said in old earth, ¡®every coin has two sides.¡¯ Father is a powerful engine of research. It has made strides in robotics, virtual reality, information technology and weapons development. In na areas we are no less impressive than our forebears.¡± As the president spoke, the massive doors of the warehouse rumbled open. Cloudhawk and Hellflower stared with wide eyes when the rows upon rows of metal racks revealed. There were hundreds of them and each one housed scores of gleaming metallic bodies. Robots. All were built to resemble humans except for dramatically curved spines that gave them a constant hunch. This was by design, as the robots moved by curling inward and rolling like wheels. ¡°These are Ark Base¡¯s war machines. They¡¯re quick, adaptable and capable of flight. Each one is equipped with sturdy energy shields and laser weapons. If they are damaged they activate a hydrogen nuclear battery and self-destruct among the enemy.¡± ¡°Ark Base has the skills to produce even deadlier machines but have felt no need. We are safe here, la. Na batch has been sitting here for over a hundred years.¡± Cloudhawk had seen Ark Base¡¯s robots in action firsthand. The surface of Stony Planes was crawling with robotic facsimiles of ordinary critters. They were cogs in a complex and unique ecology. But their design was to gather energy, not fight. These robots in storage. This was the secret army of Ark Base. Mankind¡¯s enormous interstellar shelter was controlled by the omnipotent Father. Administrative duties were wholly under the control of an artificial intelligence. As a result society ran smoothly, resources were plentiful and civil unrest a rare anomaly. Just as Tang Zhonghua said, Ark Base and Earth City didn¡¯t need weapons. Cloudhawk, however, needed as many as he could get his hands on. These robots, squirreled away for a hundred years, were just waiting for purpose. Furthermore, Ark Base had a number of factories ready to meet the demands of the Green Alliance. Totally selfless support was too much to ask for, of course. There were reasons Tang Zhonghua was offering these incredible weapons. Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°How much for all of them?¡± ¡°All la? Not a small number.¡± Tang Zhonghua was struck by Cloudhawk¡¯s appetite. ¡°Better to ask the Green Alliance what they are willing to trade.¡± Cloudhawk looked to Hellflower for an answer. She pulled a transparent crystal from her pocket and handed it to the president. ¡°Have a look, Mr. President. This is Greenland¡¯s most recent discovery, a new universal resource never before seen. We call it ¡®Source.¡¯¡± ¡°Universal resource?¡± Tang Zhonghua repeated, turning the crystal over in his hand. ¡°That¡¯s right. Source is a unique state of energy that can be converted into any other substance. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to say it¡¯s the most precious resource in the universe. Our Alliance will use this as currency in our trade negotiations.¡± Tang Zhonghua did not take their word on face value. Turning a robot by his side, he placed the Source crystal in its hand. The machine scanned it and then spat out its analysis in a feminine voice. ¡°Acceptable.¡± Everything in Ark Base was connected through an internet. Everything ¨C even these robots ¨C were an extension of Father. If Father agreed with these terms it meant the Source was a valuable resource. Even more valuable than eboncrys. Cloudhawk¡¯s generous offers to Ark Base were also for a reason. Greenland had more Source than it could use. It was an excellent currency that could meet any demand Ark Base may have. The market would be an excellent opportunity for mutual benefit. Father spoke into Tang Zhonghua¡¯s earpiece. It explained the worth of Source and how it would provide well for the future of Ark Base. Father authorized the sale of however many robots Cloudhawk wanted, so long as he paid in Source. Was this stuff really that precious? It must be if Father was so compliant. Tang Zhonghua was thrilled. ¡°Ark Base has many advanced technologies to share. Come, I will show you ba.¡± Book 7, Chapter 106 - The Next Phase Book 7, Chapter 106 - The Next Phase ¡°Green Alliance and Ark Base have come to a trade agreement. From now on all matters concerning Ark Base will go through Hellflower. We have to get ready so that we can upgrade our equipment as soon as possible.¡± Cloudhawk relayed the news after returning to Southern Capital. Stony Plain¡¯s Greenland base would be the site of this new market and a permanent link between it and Greenland would be opened. Hellflower would arrange for a group to be responsible for shuttling goods back and forth. Human weapons were several eons behind what the gods used, but were still far superior to common wasteland weapons. They were at least a threat to the sturdy armor of the gods. Under lockdown form Last Judgment, at least humanity now had the power to fight back. It wasn¡¯t long before Hellflower¡¯s first report came in: They could expect the first shipment of equipment to arrive in three days. Moving large quantities of goods took time. Three days was plenty fast to get everything to the front lines. Although it wasn¡¯t enough to take the fight to the gods, this initial shipment would at least strengthen their defenses. Southern Capital was in a defensive posture anyway. The stronger their guard, the longer they could hold out. ¡°Shit, easier than I thought it would be,¡± Dawn said with a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re the boss. That pervert tramp¡¯s got nothing on you.¡± Selene sighed in relief when she heard the news. Cloudhawk answered. ¡°In the end it¡¯s about strength.¡± Hellflower had been in contact with Ark Base several times but had never been able to make much headway. The only explanation was that Hellflower¡¯s position wasn¡¯t strong enough. If she also had the ability to slip past Ark Base¡¯s defenses unseen, their negotiations would have gone much differently. Dawn rejoined. ¡°We should celebrate the trade agreement. It¡¯ll be good for public sentiment¡­ but we¡¯ll plan that another time. Let¡¯s go get a drink!¡± ¡°Drinking is all you know how to do,¡± Selene grumbled. She was irritated by her willingness to take up the old drunk¡¯s mantle. There was a lot to do but Dawn was ready to knock a few back any time of day. ¡°No time for nonsense.¡± Dawn answered by sticking her tongue out at her moody companion. Meanwhile Cloudhawk struggled with feelings of guilt about the two women. Especially Selene. They were always around one another, but never alone. He was going to mention it when an eddy of sand blew through the chamber. It whipped into a small dervish then formed into the image of Abaddon. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°An urgent matter.¡± Something happened? Dawn and Selene exchanged a look. Now was a precarious time, they couldn¡¯t afford any slip-ups. Cloudhawk wordlessly followed Abaddon to where Legion waited. They found the demon Elder in his laboratory, working on something. When Cloudhawk entered he greeted Greenland¡¯s leader. ¡°We¡¯ve learned the gods¡¯ attack strategy.¡± ¡°Huh? Really? Show it to me!¡± Cloudhawk felt his mind reeling. This was crucial information! ¡°At present all of our defenses are built on Source as their foundation. Belial¡¯s inventions extract power from it to be used by our equipment and provide protection.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the problem,¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°Theoretically our boundaries are shored up by Source. Any attack that surpasses the power Source provides will overcome our defenses. If the gods want to punch through they will need the equivalent of a star destroyer¡¯s payload.¡± Galactic armaments came in two grades; planetary assault ordnance, and star destroyers. Planetary Assault Ordnance ¨C PAOs ¨C were used to target specific sites on a planet¡¯s surface. These were able to obliterate cities or permanently alter a region¡¯s landscape. Star destroyers, on the other hand, did exactly what their names implied. They wielded domineering power, completely unavoidable. One shot was enough to annihilate a whole world, although the energy demands of such a weapon were astronomical. It was unlikely that this vanguard force from Sumeru had come with anything that powerful. At any rate, it seemed that the gods were trying to capture Cloudhawk alive. Erasing earth from the cosmos was not their aim, so for the time being it wasn¡¯t something humans needed to fear. PAOs, meanwhile, weren¡¯t strong enough to break Southern Capital¡¯s protections. At least on paper, they looked like they were safe. Legion continued. ¡°However my King must understand that Source isn¡¯t without vulnerabilities.¡± ¡°What sort of vulnerabilities? If we know what they are, can¡¯t we work around them?¡± ¡°Source strengthens our boundaries because there is a constant flow between the energy and the shields. Energy will increase as needed and instantly replenish any area that begins to fail. Therefore, the success rate of a direct attack is negligible.¡± Legion paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°But herein lies the problem: Source as an element is unique and cannot protect against spatial power. Further, it does not provide a barrier against mental or spiritual energy.¡± Simply put, Legion was saying that their defenses did not protect them from enemies teleporting into the city. If their enemies had the power or tools to move through space, they could simply blink into the heart of Greenland. What¡¯s more, mental energy could slip through their protections. Spiritual bodies like the kind they¡¯d seen before were able to slip through unimpeded. So, was the Abyssal God preparing to teleport in? Cloudhawk knew the Marshall had spatial powers, but he didn¡¯t know how those powers manifested. He had no way of knowing. That being said, he could speculate. The Abyssal God was definitely strong but likely couldn¡¯t teleport. If it could it would have done so already. But if teleportation wasn¡¯t it, then what? Legion seemed to know what Cloudhawk was struggling with. He pressed a button set into the armor of his gauntlet and an image was projected onto a nearby wall. It was a scene from when Cloudhawk led his group into Skycloud not long ago. The focus was not the gods, though. It was the smoke monster they used against the realm¡¯s citizens. ¡°This thing?¡± The monster had left an impression on Cloudhawk. And for good reason, all the casualties of the gods¡¯ arrival were because of it. Even Cloudhawk had no idea what the damn thing was. ¡°I fought it once. I figure it¡¯s actually many small quantum life forms that work together.¡± ¡°Well done. Beasts like this were also employed during the Great War. I have memories of it. Such beasts did not evolve naturally, instead being created in godly laboratories. They are called ¡®Chaos Beasts.¡¯ As you noted they are minuscule creatures tethered together. They can teleport over short distances and have another unique ability.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°They can transform biological and spiritual material.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t quite understand at first, but it came to him quickly. He saw what happened to those who were touched by the smoke. They turned to stone immediately. Then, when the stone broke apart their spirits burst out and detonated. Life came in all kinds of forms. From a biological standpoint there were carbon-based, silica-based, iron-based organisms and more. In terms of creation there were natural life forms and those made by other intelligent creatures. The definition of ¡®biological¡¯ could be deceptively broad. The so-called ¡®spirit¡¯ referred to the will and mental energies of a thing locked into a physical form. All living things possessed a soul, and every intelligent civilization ¨C at some point in their history ¨C had attempted to discover its secrets. The soul was closely tied to biological life and the creation of will. It was a type of energy, exactly the energy gods had been harvesting from lesser species. Through some inexplicable and complex means that spirit energy was condensed into Source. Typically the spirit couldn¡¯t manifest in the physical world, but somehow the gods had found a way. Chaos Beasts were infinitesimally small creatures whose main ability was to transform more complex living things into atomic particles like themselves. It was a living weapon the gods unleashed on the Elysian realms. Those who chose not to evacuate became victims. Legion went on. ¡°The Boundary is built on Source and so can resist entry from matter and most kinds of energy. But it cannot stop things in quantum states. Chaos beasts now number in the millions ¨C enough to threaten Southern Capital.¡± That was the crisis. Now it was clear what the gods had been preparing for. Taking the Elysian realms and killing its inhabitants was the first stage. Southern Capital wasn¡¯t prepared for what was coming next. Faced with such a terrible danger, Cloudhawk felt the pressure like a cold grip on his heart. Book 7, Chapter 107 - Chaos Book 7, Chapter 107 - Chaos Chapter 107: Chaos A streak of light flashed through the sky. A yellow bird, fast as lightning, approached and alighted on its master¡¯s hand. The little round body, pudgy head and beady eyes made for an adorable and innocuous little thing. Cloudhawk scratched Oddball¡¯s head with a finger. ¡°Help me take a look around outside.¡± With that his mental energies bloomed and connected with the bird. They were potent enough to easily maintain a connection and Oddball¡¯s own powers were considerable these days. The combination was formidable. With a shrill cry Oddball dashed off toward the horizon. His plan was originally to go out and take a look himself, but it occurred to him that the gods probably expected that. There were no guarantees that his enemies wouldn¡¯t know the instant he left and acted accordingly. Better to have Oddball act as his eyes and ears. Many gods and humans were capable of high speeds. Several could reach ten times the speed of sound. However, these were achieved in short bursts. Anything longer than a few seconds could only be achieved with relics. Oddball¡¯s speed was constant. So long as it kept its energy up, the bird could move at ten, even twenty times the speed of sound for long periods. It could circumvent the globe in two hours. Empowered by Cloudhawk¡¯s mental energy, Oddball could make the trip five times easily. Furthermore Oddball¡¯s vision was extremely sharp. Even at such high speeds it could pick out the tiniest movement through withered blades of grass. Without question, Oddball was Greenland¡¯s best scout. Visions of a rapidly passing landscape filled Cloudhawk¡¯s mind as Oddball left Southern Capital, bound for Skycloud. As it reached the skies above the Elysian land, it was treated to a strange and unsettling scene. Plumes of ominous black smoke hung over every city. They were collections of small particles, clinging tightly together. They slowly spun in place, creating vortices over the fallen settlements. From below a constant stream of glowing objects rose. They were swallowed into the whirlpools, causing the cloud to visibly expand. Threads of light wormed through the darkness and could be faintly viewed from above. Oddball came in for a closer look. Scores of black statues lined the dead city. Humans with their faces locked in terrified screams. One by one they broke apart, releasing the victims¡¯ spirits. Once released, they were inexorably drawn into the storm clouds above and became part of them. ¡°This is the Chaos Beast?¡± Cloudhawk thought back to what Legion had told him. It was a collection of microscopic creatures created by the gods. Because it had the ability to atomize whatever it touched, the smoke creature could travel through space unimpeded. It was a natural characteristic of this nightmarish thing. The collection of particles could also be separated. Although each piece of it was weaker when disconnected from the whole, that didn¡¯t mean they were frail. Plumes like dragon¡¯s breath were released and poured over whole cities. Citizens were killed instantly and their spirits used to feed the whole. The Chaos Beast was a monster made from the spirits of its victims. When their physical bodies failed, they became sustenance. Oddball flew a circle around the entire realm. Similar views met it with every city, town and village it passed. The Chaos Beast had been separated into hundreds of pieces, and that was just in Skycloud. The scene was likely repeated throughout the other five realms. With every life taken the monster continued to grow. Were the clouds some sort of nest? Cloudhawk suspected that the transformation was some sort of fundamental refinement of a creature¡¯s biological and spiritual essence. The forced creation of quantum energy. Each fragment possessed tremendous energy and could be used as a furnace to keep the creature going. By their nature these motes of energy were unstable and couldn¡¯t be outside of containment for long, otherwise they would dissipate. The Chaos Beast¡¯s functioned to collect and stabilize this power. Oddball flew on. Its journey took it over several Elysian lands and as expected the situation was the same. Dark clouds hung over every city, drinking in souls. The process was moving along with frightening speed. Cloudhawk noted that several of the bulging clouds had shafts of light bursting from within. They were swollen like sponges full of water. These clouds had stopped spinning and were slowly gathering toward a central point. He couldn¡¯t just stand by. An emergency meeting was called ¡°It¡¯s just like Legion suspected. The gods will be using this monster for the next stage in their invasion. Southern Capital is the Chaos Beast¡¯s ultimate target.¡± Within the safety of the subspace cube Cloudhawk relayed everything he¡¯d learned as well as Legion¡¯s analysis. ¡°The creature we¡¯re calling Chaos has already devoured hundreds of thousands, if not millions of souls. It¡¯s capable of slipping through space, making it an imminent threat to our home.¡± High Priest Gorman scowled. ¡°Might I ask, how powerful are these spiritual explosions?¡± ¡°I experienced the explosion from one spirit a couple days ago. Closest I could gather, it was similar to a 300 kilo explosive from a wasteland airship.¡± ¡°Three hundred kilogram explosive?¡± Everyone exchanged looks. One blast like that wasn¡¯t much of a danger to this group ¨C most in attendance could dodge it easily, or their defenses would protect them. But they were all still flesh and blood. Caught unawares they would die like anyone else. One or two? No problem. Ten or twenty wasn¡¯t even enough to threaten these masters. But two hundred, that was frightening. As far as they could tell right now Chaos had millions of souls ready to blow. The equivalent of several hundred nuclear bombs. No one ¨C not even Cloudhawk ¨C could withstand power like that. ¡°If Chaos manages to get in and detonate Southern Capital would be erased,¡± Phoenix declared. ¡°I suggest we intercept it outside the borders.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to do that?¡± Frost countered in a tepid voice. ¡°Everything outside of this city is suppressed by Last Judgment. Trying to defend ourselves beyond Southern Capital¡¯s borders is suicide.¡± Abaddon shared his thoughts. ¡°Hngh, do not forget that in its quantum state Chaos can traverse space. Southern Capital is too large for us to watch every corner.¡± Everyone was silent. These fucking gods¡­ their methods were brutal and effective. First Last Judgment, then Chaos. The war had hardly begun and humanity already felt backed into a corner. Belial¡¯s growling voice drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°I must remind everyone that once Chaos enters the realm, it will be more powerful than we anticipate. Perhaps ten times stronger than our estimations.¡± Ten times stronger? Even Cloudhawk felt the sting of this dark prognosis. He was talking about an explosion hundreds of times stronger than a primordial weapon. Stronger than anything ancient man used at the height of their glory. Stronger than the one that blew apart Skycloud¡¯s wall. If just one blow apart the wall and disintegrated Skycloud¡¯s boundary, what sort of Armageddon would come from something several orders of magnitude more terrible? The aftermath would permanently scar the planet. Now Belial claimed Chaos could deal ten times more destruction than they thought. Wouldn¡¯t that be enough to destroy the world? ¡°I am not exaggerating.¡± Belial paused, allowing his words to sink in. ¡°You mustn¡¯t forget that the mountain of Source at our border is made from souls. If Chaos is allowed to get close it could siphon power from Source the same way we do. Even if it doesn¡¯t absorb it fully, a nearby explosion could cause a chain reaction that causes the mountain to detonate. Something of that magnitude would break this planet apart.¡± ¡°Fuck, how are we supposed to deal with this?¡± It was too much for the more excitable members of the council. They began to shout and argue. Cloudhawk¡¯s forehead was knit tight in worried thought. It sounded like a calamity they had no way of stopping. Quantum creatures could jump across short distances in space, which meant none of their defenses mattered. It really did seem like they were powerless. ¡°Chaos is extremely dangerous once it absorbs that much power. However, you can take solace in one thing. It won¡¯t explode.¡± The voice was uncharacteristically assuring. ¡°If the gods¡¯ aim was to destroy this planet they have any number of methods to see it done. There would be no need for this complicated, multi-step plan of theirs. They make all this effort because there is something on this planet they need.¡± The first thought that entered everyone¡¯s minds was the Source mountain. If there was anything on this dead world they might find valuable, it was the condensed spirits of humanity. It took them over a thousand years to gather this energy. Cloudhawk knew how precious it was to them ¨C but what the gods really wanted was him. He didn¡¯t know why they were so interested in him, but so long as they believed they could catch him alive the planet was safe. Humanity had a chance. ¡°Belial, you are responsible for making sure spatial energy around the Source mountain remains sealed. Legion, Frost, Phoenix, and Abaddon, hold the front lines. When Chaos appears you need to do everything in your power to keep it from the city and the mountain.¡± Cloudhawk began to give his orders. ¡°Chaos can teleport, but only short distances. It can¡¯t just appear in the heart of Southern Capital. We have to keep it locked down outside our borders, then deal with it as quickly as possible.¡± It was the only plan they could hold onto for the moment. Southern Capital was too big to isolate completely. Instead they would focus their efforts on protecting the mountain so that Chaos couldn¡¯t easily draw near. Keeping the beast outside for as long as possible minimized risk, at least as much as possible. 1. Fun math. The earth is 40,075 kilometers around. The speed of sound is 343 m/s. Times twenty that¡¯s 6,860 m/2. In a minute, that¡¯s 411.6 kilometers. In an hour, 24,696 ¨C so in two hours you could indeed go across the whole world. Tipsy did his math. Book 7, Chapter 108 - The Attack Commences Book 7, Chapter 108 - The Attack Commences The Southern wastes covered five hundred thousand square kilometers. In the center was the Source mountain. North of it was Southern Capital. To the south was the ancient battlefield from the Great War. An enchantment hung over it all, five sturdy layers of energy which ¨C in an ordinary war ¨C would be impregnable. But gods had many tricks up their sleeves. Last Judgment. Chaos. Humans had no way of knowing how the gods made a monster like Chaos, but it was clear how dangerous it was. What did quantum mean? Simply put, it was its own subatomic reality. There was no small division. It was a microcosm of the whole universe, the fundamental building blocks of physics. Changes in this infinitesimally small reality moved in fits and starts, never moving but jumping from state to state. It was free from the constraints of distance. Fragments of the quantum realm vanished from one location and appeared in another, or existed in both, because a fundamental aspect of the quantum world was the concept of superposition. Humans, demons, gods ¨C all of them were three dimensional beings living in a four-dimensional world. Chaos, on the other hand, was a four dimensional lifeform. The reality it existed within was not the same that humans perceived. It was able to move at will on the spatial axis from one spot to another without any travel in between. That was how Chaos could teleport, because that¡¯s simply how Chaos moved. Not even those with incredible spatial powers like Cloudhawk or the Demon King could free themselves from the three-dimensional realm. Spatial manipulation was the world Chaos came from. A part of its definition, as natural as breathing. Such was the advantage over a higher-level lifeform over its lesser cousins. Chaos was indeed a higher lifeform, but one created by Sumeru as a weapon. It was an extension of the gods¡¯ will, with nominal intelligence of its own. It required guidance by its makers and thus could not fight back against captivity. Although the boundary around the southern wastes was a sturdy one, it was not capable of stopping teleportation. Why, then, hadn¡¯t they sent the Chaos Beast in the first place? It would have swept through Southern Capital¡¯s strongest like a plague. It was because Cloudhawk had the power to stop it. But how? The reason was simple. First, he possessed powerful spatial abilities which he could use to restrain Chaos. In addition, Cloudhawk was the only one Chaos wouldn¡¯t dare destroy. For this fight, he was the most crucial piece. Cloudhawk ordered the army into a state of emergency. Meanwhile he was watching the gods and their movements. Through Oddball he was able to learn that the dark clouds from all over the globe were coalescing around Skycloud. The first to combine entirely were, of course, the fragments of Chaos within Skycloud itself. Spied from a bird¡¯s-eye view, the particles of Chaos gathered. They swirled above the realm¡¯s capital city like an ominous storm across an evening horizon; blackness without and a warm glow from within. A strange sort of gravity was birthed by the cloud. The outer edge of it collapsed toward the center like a whirlpool. All the quantum fragments were being drawn inside. Cloudhawk could clearly see a quantum singularity forming over the city. The diffuse clouds were contracting, forced into a small area. Highly condensed energy shattered stone and warped air and from within emerged an enormous egg. Quickly its shell began to crack. Thick, black tentacles slithered from the fissures. Cloudhawk was witnessing the birth of Chaos. One day. Two days at the most. By then the process would be complete and Chaos would be the most powerful creature throughout the southern wastes. ¡°Quickly!¡± ¡°Get ready!¡± ¡°The enemy will be here soon!¡± ¡°No matter what you see you have to fight! Fight as hard as you can!¡± Rows of defensive towers stood tall along Greenland¡¯s borders. Spirals of energy swirled around each one, supplied directly from the Source. Their supply was endless, and from these towers a barrage of attacks could be launched on any enemy within range. Atop each was one of Greenland¡¯s awakened. Since Belial joined the Alliance, since they had a limitless supply of Source, Greenland¡¯s defensive towers had sprung up along the border like mushrooms. Estimates put them at more than two thousand with dozens more being built every day. Seraphs under the direction of Cloudhawk¡¯s team were quick and efficient, while Source shored up production. Construction was sustained twenty-four days a day. In addition to the two thousand attack and defense towers, another five hundred shield towers and three hundred auxiliary defense structures had been erected. The numbers were not impressive on paper, but in fact they were impressive in function. Enough to stop an army in its tracks. Of course their foes were not an ordinary army. Against Chaos, nearly three thousand energy towers wasn¡¯t enough to protect the realm. It was focused on important areas like Southern Capital and the Source mountain. Even if Chaos detonated from a great distance, it was still a threat to Southern Capital. It could raze the southern wastes in one stroke. For all the work humans were doing to strengthen their defenses, their effectiveness was limited. As for his army itself, Cloudhawk gathered all the best fighters from the five Elysian realms and his most elite and put them on whatever airships he could find. He commanded over a million standard troops and had more vehicles than he could count. With these numbers he could form several armies and have them patrol the wasteland realm endlessly. ¡°We will die to defend Greenland!¡± ¡°Victory or death!¡± The shouts rang across the front line. From the fervent look in their eyes it was clear, these soldiers meant what they said. They had all made the decision to fight for survival and there was not an ounce of regret. Who said men couldn¡¯t fight back against their gods? The worst that could happen was death, and none of these valiant soldiers were afraid to die. Everyone knew in the deepest parts of their heart that this was humanity¡¯s final stand. If they broke, their species was doomed. So they couldn¡¯t break ¨C for their loved ones, their friends, the young and the old, they had to fight as hard as they could. Every soldier had their own reason to fight and persevere. They had their own reason to live, something to protect. But if they lost all of it would be gone. Losing wasn¡¯t an option. Dawn strode up to Cloudhawk with heavy steps. ¡°Our defensive zones are all prepared. We¡¯re just waiting for the fish to throw itself into our net.¡± Cloudhawk linked up with Oddball once more. What he saw shocked him. The clouds of particles from all over the world had gathered over Skycloud. Tentacles from within the enormous egg greedily devoured everything around it. Soon. Soon the fight would begin. Twelve hours if this trend continued. When Chaos was born the gods would begin their attack in earnest. Book 7, Chapter 109: Horrible Power Book 7, Chapter 109: Horrible Power A ribbon of black scarred the distant horizon. It started small but quickly swelled, like a tidal wave of shadow. But the approach was not like a tidal wave at all. It didn¡¯t surge across the sky, but rather jumped ever closer. It was unsettling to watch, like a still frame from a nightmare getting steadily larger. Eventually it covered everything and turned day into night. Black clouds infected everything with the only light coming from dancing thunder deep within. Right in the center floated an enormous, horrific creature. The colossus was made of some unknown substance that flowed like black lava. A constant stream of black smoke was belched from it in all directions, revealing the far-reaching haze to be an extension of itself. Countless tentacles extended from it, each with its own gyrating mass of limbs. Every inch of it was composed of human pieces. Beneath the inky, gelatinous surface of the beast were flows of light. It hovered above with an ominous power, heralding the end of days. This was an avatar of Chaos. The Chaos Beast didn¡¯t have a physical body, it could take on whatever form it pleased. Around it hovered over a hundred shimmering armored figures whose eyes burned with light. Even in the darkness they were beacons of luminescence, but their presence brought fear instead of hope. A group of a dozen or so gods floated in the air before Chaos, serving as a vanguard. They rapidly communicated among one another. These were Supremes, and from among them one stood out. With a wave of its right hand an orb was summoned ¨C a special sort of relic which, when galvanized, became an erratic orb of light. The god took hold of it. Light burst from around its fingers. From the point of contact the being began to dissolve, becoming part of the light. From hand, to elbow, to the rest of the body it dissolved until there was nothing left but a dim halo. Two more Supremes approached from the left and right. When they came into contact with the light their bodies also dissolved, becoming an amorphous glow. Total evaporation. Nothing remained. ¡°Three is the limit.¡± The gods passed the information among themselves. Chaos reached forth a tentacle. Like a vacuum it sucked up the roiling cloud of light. Instantly the glow from within intensified and came alive. ¡°Commence the attack.¡± With that, the octopus-like behemoth moved. It vanished from one location and appeared fifty kilometers away. The process repeated again and again, expanding the darkness in its wake. [1] Far above, a little yellow bird kept pace. Oddball darted across the sky, following Chaos¡¯ trajectory and hoping to learn its angle of attack. With this information, Cloudhawk would know what area of their defensive line to prepare. However the fog that Chaos released was wide-spread and thick. No ordinary fog, it prevented even Oddball¡¯s piercing gaze from getting a good bead on its target. The border of the southern wilds was near at hand. Chaos¡¯ body dematerialized, ignoring the boundary to appear on the other side and attracting the attention of its defenders. Suddenly the skies were dark. Cloudhawk was ready, for although he didn¡¯t know Chaos¡¯ exact location he was able to see roughly where it would reach their border. He deployed a large number of troops through the area in preparation for its arrival. As a result, when Chaos and its haze of black appeared it was met by an armada of airships. Immediately they began to release their payloads into the darkness. Explosions appeared across the monster¡¯s body and streaks of energy lit up the sky. Against a creature that existed in the quantum realm these attacks were not very useful, however. In fact they seemed to do nothing at all. The enormous beast slowly raised a tentacle. It crackled with light as energy gathered, finally released from the tip in a searing beam of red. One of the airships was struck by the thin stream. A deafening explosion followed. The ship was blasted into fragments and swallowed up in a ball of fire. Raging energy expanded for a moment and then, all at once, shrank back inward and disappeared. Nothing remained of the ship, no evidence of an attack except for a gently rippling pocket of space. Chaos continued its assault. Hundreds of tentacles swung through the air, hundreds of attacks delivered at once. No matter how sturdy the ships¡¯ defenses, they couldn¡¯t ward off the monster¡¯s power. Whole fleets were erased in the blink of an eye. There was no way to fight back. Chaos was too strong. It was a creature tailor-bred to fight in space. Blasts from its tentacles could obliterate starships. What were these inferior human vessels supposed to do? They had about as much staying power as paper airplanes. ¡°Fuck! Requesting support!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let it get closer to the capital!¡± ¡°Shut down all defenses and reroute power to the weapons!¡± Fleet commanders shouted orders. It was clear that their shields were meaningless so there was no point wasting energy on maintaining them. Perhaps it would be better served by strengthening their weapons. ¡°Fucking thing, die!¡± A number of ships were sacrificed to Chaos, but they forced the monster to reveal its location. The armada launched a counter-offensive with many more shots finding purchase. But it made no difference. Untroubled, Chaos fired off several dozen more beams of red light. Nearby ships were annihilated while a deluge of black mist was released from the fiend¡¯s body. It fell from on high, coating the earth below in a crust of obsidian. ¡°It¡¯s trying to destroy our homes!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let it succeed.¡± Chaos dragged a beam of red across the sky. The dozen or so ships that survived were caught and blasted apart. When the screaming flames died down, not even debris remained. The gulf between these foes was too great. After devouring the souls of so many, the power within Chaos was equivalent to several hundred nuclear bombs. The energy in these beams was a fraction of what it wielded. Ahead was part of the humans¡¯ defensive line. With Chaos¡¯ location now known, nearby defense and attack towers were activated. Waves of soldiers prepared to protect their home. The instant Chaos came within range, an unprecedented salvo of attacks was waiting for it. What they did not expect was that Chaos had no intention of drawing near. It lifted dozens of black molten tentacles and wrapped them together into one. Power from each of them gathered to a single point and was released, streaking a hundred kilometers into the distance. For a second it was like the noonday sun had appeared on earth. The blast that followed could be heard all across the south. B-O-O-O-O-M! A ghastly red mushroom cloud rose on the horizon. What wasn¡¯t vaporized immediately was struck by a wall of explosive force. Buildings were ripped apart. All defenses crumbled, powerless against such destruction. All living things were ended before they knew what happened. All that remained was a molten crater. 1. For fun I looked into some math and biology. From the ground and assuming a flat surface, the average human can see about five kilometers. From a huge skyscraper you can see maybe 80. That means that for the poor soldiers on the front line, they would see a perfectly normal day and the literal stuff of nightmares from one second to the next. Book 7, Chapter 110 - Battling Chaos Book 7, Chapter 110 - Battling Chaos ¡°Call for a retreat of all standard troops. We can¡¯t overwhelm this enemy with numbers. Legion, call everyone together and prepare to follow me against Chaos. Belil, Dawn, Selene, Janus, Phain ¨C protect the rear. Evacuate everyone we can.¡± The moment Chaos attacked it revealed its location. Although it could teleport, it was only able to do so within short distances. Cloudhawk could move much farther, so he had a chance to keep the monster locked down. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Selene would not be left behind. ¡°Chaos is too strong, you need more people with you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Cloudhawk shook his head. ¡°Your mission is to protect the Source. The Eye of Time can see the future and gives you warning of incoming danger. You know that if Chaos gets too close to the mountain we¡¯re all doomed.¡± ¡°Then promise you¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Cloudhawk left behind two spares. One was responsible for keeping order in the city and the other would leave with Selene for the Source mountain. The original called thirty key warriors and teleported to the front where Chaos attacked. By the time they arrived the beast was gone. Before them was a crater one thousand meters from end to end. One attack from Chaos obliterated everything and the shock wave it produced spread ten times farther. Nothing was left standing. [1] Cloudhawk and his team looked around at the devastation in shock and fear. It was hard to believe what was right in front of them, the scale of destruction from a single creature. Abaddon released a ragged sigh. ¡°Against Sumeru and Chaos, our chance of survival is not encouraging. This monster has more destructive power than the Demon King. Defeating it will not be easy.¡± He was not exaggerating. This monster was horrifyingly strong. Chaos could destroy their whole world. By comparison, ten or even twenty Supremes were nothing. However the trickiest part of defeating the monster was its nature. Chaos¡¯ quantum-state body ignored Greenland¡¯s defenses, could teleport at will and separate into many pieces. Chaos, under the control of the gods, had killed its way into the southern wilds. Every minute counted. Judging by it¡¯s track the beast was nod headed for Southern Capital but for the Source mountain, but both were near one another. If they let it continue its journey, the threat to both was high. ¡°Chaos can teleport, so there is only one to know its location,¡± Legion reported. ¡°Use your Eye of Time.¡± They were caught in a race against the clock and Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. Now that Chaos was here, the Eye would help them peer into the future and know where it would be. He had to use all his tools to stop this monster before it was too late. His left eye began to gleam with silver light. He peered into the past and saw exactly what happened. Chaos wiped out their defensive zone with one attack then unceremoniously vanished. He followed the flows of time forward to another location, and then another, until he could see Chaos hanging over the landscape like herald of destruction. It was as big as an island. The power within it had reached terrifying proportions. Thirty people appeared near the beast, minuscule by comparison. As they arrived Chaos had started to disappear once more. Cloudhawk knew it was preparing to teleport. They were dangerously close to his home. If Chaos continued unimpeded it would soon appear in the heart of Greenland. Fighting this monster there would cause untold damage. ¡°Bruno, lock down the area!¡± Cloudhawk shouted the order. Bruno was ready. He deployed the seal on local space. For fifty kilometers in every direction the rippling air froze. The enormous octopus-like creature above them solidified. Its teleportation had failed. Cloudhawk breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°We stopped it.¡± But even as he spoke Chaos¡¯ tentacles began to squirm. One after the other, dazzling rays of energy were fired in all directions. However the humans Chaos faced now were not ordinary soldiers. They dodged and moved out of harm¡¯s way. Bruno focused on keeping the beast from escaping. He was joined by two Masters focused on defense, tasked with keeping him safe. Abaddon dissolved into a gust of sand and headed toward Chaos. He focused on a single tentacle and unleashed his attack. Frost de Winter tread upon air with Ashfall held high. He released a volley of strikes on the same tentacle. Together they managed to hack it off. As it fell away the limb broke apart, becoming a cloud of smoke. A thousand screaming souls poured from the wound, humanoid in shape. They flailed madly in every direction like someone had kicked a hornet¡¯s nest. Boom-boom-boom, boom-boom! After traveling a short distance the spirits detonated. The attackers were dodging Chaos¡¯ attacks and deflecting the spiritual bombs, struggling to keep steady. A portion of the spirits were reabsorbed by Chaos and used to reform the severed limb. If this kept up, there would be no end to the fight. They had to find a way to wipe it from existence. With a curt motion Legion sent Oblivion cutting through another tentacle, dragging his weapon from tip to root. The Blade of Oblivion possessed the power to annihilate everything within range, physical and energetic. Its light devoured a large portion of the tentacle, completely erasing the quantum fragments within. It worked! Legion followed up with several more blows. The tentacles he destroyed did not hemorrhage souls like the first, nor did it regrow. His attacks were effective but it was still one creature against a creature the size of an island. A few lost tentacles were of no concern. If this was all they could muster, there was no saying how long this fight would last. Besides Legion, the other attackers were feeling the pressure. Chaos wasn¡¯t a physical monster, nor was it strictly energetic. As a mass of quantum-entangled creatures, most attacks passed harmlessly through it. So far, very little damage had been done. Chaos continued to fight back. Every tentacle released a blast strong enough to level a mountain. There was enough accumulated power inside of it to keep the beast fighting until the sun went out. It was humans who would eventually tire. Cloudhawk was evaluating their options when Chaos began wrapping its tentacles together again. Not just one group, but a collection of several hundred. Seven or eight thick limbs were formed and one half of Chaos came alive with a sinister glow. This terrible energy was filtered through the tentacles. Gathering together toward the slithering tip it was released in a crackling beam. BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! Several mushroom clouds arose, crawling toward the sky as though someone had carpet-bombed the landscape with nuclear bombs. A storm of shock waves and swells of fire scoured the area. Even Master Demonhunters were in danger of serious injury. Everyone fell back, fleeing for their lives. Two were lost in the explosions and it was unclear whether they survived. Meanwhile Chaos never let up. Several more blasts from its tentacles chased the humans as they ran. Cloudhawk engaged his reflective shield, fending off a series of devastating blows. The force of it was too much for even him, sending Cloudhawk reeling backwards. He scowled. ¡°Son of a bitch, I can¡¯t find it¡¯s weak spot. We¡¯re only able to fight back. Chaos is too strong, if we don¡¯t change things up we won¡¯t be able to hold it.¡± ¡°Everything has a weak point. Look closely.¡± Legion fell back to Cloudhawk¡¯s side. He appeared unscathed. ¡°The creature is not intelligent enough to fight on its own and cannot be controlled remotely. If you want to stop then, then strike down the ones who hold its reins. Look, in its center.¡± The area was a no-man¡¯s-land of smoke, fire and darkness. However Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes were keen, so peering across the battlefield he saw what Legion indicated. There within Chaos was another presence, strong. A god hiding within the monster, controlling it. ¡°Do you see? We must attack the hand that points the way.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Godslayer flashed into Cloudhawk¡¯s grip. A grim look took his features and he vanished from view. Book 7, Chapter 111 - Lightning Speed Book 7, Chapter 111 - Lightning Speed The aftermath of the explosion still tore through the area. Cloudhawk¡¯s team reeled like doused rats, their heads ringing, while Cloudhawk himself rushed in for a renewed assault. Bruno maintained his concentration on the sealing relic to keep Chaos contained, but that wasn¡¯t all the relic could do. While he locked down locale space, Bruno allowed exceptions for Cloudhawk. He was able to use his spatial abilities without impediment, using them to teleport right in front of Chaos. The monster felt the danger suddenly appear. Its tentacles disentangled and several dozen appendages groped for Cloudhawk. Each one wielded tremendous power like a storm of blades. At the same time, it was preparing a grim surprise. Inky black energy gathered in the limbs before being released from overhead Cloudhawk¡¯s silver eye flashed. He saw the flood coming and danced between the beams of red, teleporting away from the black deluge. He summoned his pale white shield before flinging himself into Chaos¡¯ body like an arrow. Immediately he was swallowed up by crushing pressure. It felt like he¡¯d been dragged into a dark sea with currents pulling him in every direction. His shield provided enough relief for him to get his bearings and crawl forward. It was a world of tumultuous light and feral souls. Their humanoid shapes streaked passed him, faces twisted in howls of pain and rage. Cloudhawk imagined this was what hell must look like. Looking passed the damned he could see a towering figure slowly solidifying through the madness. Cloudhawk could see this god was different. It had turned itself into a spirit in order to join with Chaos. Their war against Chaos on the outside was actually a struggle against this being. Chaos was to the gods what a robot was to humans, a tool to be controlled as needed. This one was commanded from the inside, so if they wanted to stop Chaos eliminating this spirit was the best way. ¡°Get the fuck out!¡± Cloudhawk tightened his grip on Godslayer and thrust it forward. Wild energies were channeled through the blade and released, sending a beam through the sea of souls. The divine spirit was struck full force. All the souls in between howled in protest as they were destroyed. The god¡¯s soul could no longer ignore this intruder. It formed a physical presence, brandishing a long battle axe of golden light. Like a predator through this dark ocean, it charged toward ahead. Cloudhawk was struggling against resistance from all sides, overwhelming his reaction times. He only recognized the god¡¯s charge when it appeared before him. The gleaming battleax struck him square in the center of his chest. It felt like being struck by a meteor which flung him backward. His shield had been punched clean through which allowed the flows of antagonizing energy to seep inside. It tried to swallow him up, but Cloudhawk¡¯s body reacted instinctively by bursting into flame. Tongues of green fire were belched from every pore, turning him into a raging pyre. It was an effective defense against the deluge of energy. Cloudhawk¡¯s armor had absorbed much of the god¡¯s blow but suffered for it, with more cracks visible than before. He felt the damage to his internal organs, but to Cloudhawk this sort of wound would not stop him. The god followed up with a second attack. This time the ax was aimed at Cloudhawk¡¯s head. Spirit or not, this foe was a powerful Supreme. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t risk underestimating it. Even in neutral territory victory was not guaranteed, and this was definitely not favored terrain. Chaos attacked him unerringly while the god¡¯s spirit could move at will. Clang! Ax and sword met and Cloudhawk felt like a mountain had been dropped on him. The fires around him flickered and were nearly extinguished. He reacted by thrusting forth his hand and releasing a burst of energy. Repel! White light sparked between them and formed a vacuum. The rush of space being pushed out threw the god¡¯s spirit a hundred meters through the air. However, the Supreme¡¯s reactions were quick. Its form disintegrated into countless streaks of light then gathered around Cloudhawk¡¯s body. Fast! He couldn¡¯t follow all the streaks of light at that speed with his own power, so he prepared to engage his Eye of Time. Only when he did a stabbing pain drilled into his skull. Blood began to pour from the eye and it failed to activate. His surroundings were too chaotic, too densely packed with possibility. Both space and time were influenced by the power of Chaos. Thus overwhelmed, Cloudhawk could not rely on his eye here. The god reconstituted itself on Cloudhawk¡¯s left side. Both hands wrapped around the haft of its golden ax and brought it down with a mighty heave. At the beginning of the swing this weapon was of ordinary size, but by the time it reached Cloudhawk it had swelled to a hundred meters long. The tyrannical energy caused Cloudhawk¡¯s already shattered armor to fracture further. Ever more intense blows assailed him. He felt like a mouse tied to rail tracks, cruelly crushed beneath the wheels of a train. He only survived thanks to his evolved physique and the power of the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. He caught another attack with Godslayer and the two weapons were caught in a stalemate. Hostile streams of energy continued to wash over him. With every passing second Cloudhawk felt his strength wane. Unless things changed, it would be him who would fall here. Only one option remained, a gambit he had to put all his faith into. As the two opposing forces battled on the edge of collapse, Cloudhawk pulled his sword away and allowed the golden ax to slip passed. The god was confused that this human would open himself up to a mortal blow. The searing blade dug into Cloudhwk¡¯s body ¨C though not likely enough to kill him outright, it certainly crushed his defenses. Without them the human would swiftly be devoured by Chaos¡¯ power. But that couldn¡¯t be permitted! Cloudhawk had to be captured alive! The God King¡¯s orders echoed through the Supreme¡¯s mind. It instinctively held back as much of its strength as it could, about fifty percent. The rest poured into Cloudhawk¡¯s body. A gleam flickered in Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. In this split instant he once again released an orb of repellant force. Everything was expelled from the space around him. It lasted only a second, but that was all Cloudhawk needed. ¡°Switch it up!¡± He called on the power of the Key, exchanging himself with one of the Spares inside Greenland. The original was deposited in the forests around the capital with a bone-crunching impact, creating a small crater. Wounds covered his body, but he escaped in time to avoid anything fatal. Within Chaos, the god¡¯s ax was buried in the body of Cloudhawk¡¯s copy. The frail simulacrum was cut apart. In the instant before it exploded into lightning it released a dagger ¨C a Riftshard ¨C which dug into the god¡¯s back. By then it was too late to react. In a blink the original Cloudhawk was back inside Chaos. Godslayer flared with power as it cleaved the ghostly head from the spirit¡¯s shoulders. Castigation Fire infected the wound, spreading through its body and sealing its fate. Book 7, Chapter 112-1 - Merciless Chaos Book 7, Chapter 112-1 - Merciless Chaos ¡°What happened?¡± Dawn heard an impact nearby the capital¡¯s center. They couldn¡¯t afford to ignore any potential threat, so she rushed to the scene as quickly as possible. She came upon a hole one hundred meters across. Scores of trees had been splintered and flattened by whatever happened. Only, there wasn¡¯t anything there. The hole was empty. It looked like something had impacted here, but she had no idea what. ¡°How did this happen?¡± She was surprised and confused, but thankfully no one had been hurt. Cloudhawk¡¯s plan had gone perfectly, lucky for him. One misstep and he could have been seriously wounded, even killed. As he cut down the Supreme within Chaos, his allies were still battling it from outside. They watched as a spectral body was flung from the beast. Headless, a tail of green flame followed its descent. Nothing ¨C not even a god ¨C could survive such injuries. A flash of light and Cloudhawk stood by their side once again. Cracks were visible on the front and back of his armor. Wounds leaked thick blood. But the hand that gripped half the god¡¯s ghostly head held it tight. ¡°Hah!¡± ¡°That¡¯s our leader. You killed it!¡± Everyone had seen Cloudhawk blink into the body of this monster to do battle with the god. Through strength and courage he had prevailed, a miracle only Cloudhawk could pull off. Others might have the Daring to try, but only their leader was strong enough to succeed. ¡°Can we get it under control now?¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s breath was a little strained. The fight had taken a lot out of him. ¡°We need to stop it!¡± The Supreme inside Chaos had been eliminated. Like a truck without its driver, they should expect it to cease its attacks. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not that easy.¡± Legion¡¯s discouraging words were confirmed when Chaos began to change. All the dark clouds and mist gathered close around it and the hulking behemoth began to shrink. The sudden collapse of space caused everything to be pulled toward it. Nearby mountains were uprooted and boulders were drawn high into the air. Everything was being drawn inexplicably toward a dark center as though a black hole had opened up over the wastes. ¡°Fall back!¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s body flickered as his spatial powers extended, teleporting him and the others a safe distance. Thankfully the intense gravitational pull didn¡¯t last very long. After two minutes, Chaos had compressed from the size of an island to the size of a small hill twenty or thirty meters tall. It also abandoned the tentacle form from previously and adopted something new. Phoenix glared at their foe. ¡°What the hell is it doing?¡± From their vantage everyone could see the area of earth beneath Chaos that had been ripped into the sky. Something lay within now, a strange creature in the deepest part of the five-hundred meter deep crater. It slowly raised to its feet ¨C yes, feet. It had the torso and limbs of a humanoid but four horns jutting from its head. Its skin was black as pitch but for a faint glow beneath the folds. Within the eyes, ears and nostrils was a storm of energy ready to be released. ¡°As expected.¡± Legion regarded the beast. ¡°Chaos has changed forms.¡± Chaos could always take whatever form it pleased. Now it chose to look like its attackers. In this new skin it lost the ability to traverse space, but gained increased speed, power and combat ability. Cloudhawk was puzzled. ¡°How could it have a physical form like this?¡± ¡°Chaos has many forms. The tentacle monstrosity is suitable for movement and combat in the vacuum of space. It materializes on the planet¡¯s surface to adapt to its surroundings. You managed to kill the spirit controlling it, but you have not stopped Chaos yet. It is now free of its masters and acts on instinct alone.¡± Cloudhawk had assumed without a driver Chaos would cease to fight. Instead this fucking thing just kept trucking along! Still, without the gods¡¯ direct control Chaos was relying on its own lacking intelligence. Now that it had taken physical form that meant it could be killed, as opposed to the quantum cloud it was before. Cloudhawk waved everyone forward. ¡°With me!¡± Thirty warriors attacked Chaos in unison. They tore across the landscape and down into the crater with their relics bursting to life. A brutal series of attacks slammed into Chaos before it regained its footing. Autumn unleashed her full power, lashing at her foe with countless vines. They wrapped up the ten meter tall monster like a dumpling. After absorbing the Cloud God¡¯s power, she had become one of Greenland¡¯s strongest protectors. Torrents of sand poured from Abaddon and coated the vines. Governor Pelagius and other Elysian leaders unleashed any control measures they possessed. Under a barrage of constraints, Chaos was held fast for the moment. ¡°Now¡¯s the moment. Kill it!¡± Frost launched himself at chaos with Ashfall held high, screaming toward him like a meteor. Legion attacked from behind with a thrust from the Blade of Oblivion. Phoenix, meanwhile, launched her assault head on with two flaming fists. She crashed into Chaos at nearly thirty times the speed of sound. The rest of the team followed, utilizing every tool at their disposal. ¡°AARRGHHOOORRGH!!!¡± Chaos unleashed a deafening roar of fury. It slammed a fist into the earth that caused it to buckle another several dozen meters. Rock was superheated for a thousand meters all around and turned the crater into a lake of lava. All of the vines around it broke apart. With a deft step to the side it avoided Ashfall and grabbed at LEgion with its left hand. With its right it struck back at Phoenix. All other attacks were completely ignored as they drilled into its body. Phoenix was the first one to make contact. She slammed right into Chaos¡¯ fist and went spinning backward in a spray of blood. Her nearly immortal body was nearly broken by the strike. Its left hand then reached for Legion. The Elder juked away and hit the monster with his sword. It released its terrible power all at once, carving a wound in its palm. It was the only attack that managed to cause any damage. Chaos belched another earth-shuddering scream. The strange lines all over its body glowed brighter before a supersonic wave of force burst from it. Everyone ¨C Legion included ¨C was blasted away as though struck by a tidal wave and smashed into the ground. By now Chaos had risen to its full height. The wound in its left hand was quickly healing. It towered over the humans. An ominous scene ¨C there was no question that this was one of Sumeru¡¯s most terrible weapons. One of these monsters could wipe out a planet and all life on it. Its energy was inexhaustible and with a single punch it could liquefy rock. Phoenix and others, the best of humanity, were powerless. With a stomp of its feet it spawned earthquakes. What few things could wound it were rendered impotent by its healing abilities. There was nothing they could do. After swatting away these irritating gnats, Chaos did not elect to finish them off. Instead, with a gentle leap, it exited the crater and landed a thousand meters away. Boom - - -! A section of mountain range fell apart in a landslide. Chaos ran a few steps and leaped again, soaring several kilometers before disappearing across the horizon at frightening speed. ¡°It¡¯s headed for Southern Capital!¡± Cloudhawk immediately knew the monster¡¯s intentions. It wanted to destroy the city and everything Cloudhawk had built. It was going to decimate humanity¡¯s defensive line. Book 7, Chapter 112-2 - Drawn Away Book 7, Chapter 112-2 - Drawn Away Chaos was not intelligent, but that hardly meant it wasn¡¯t a threat. It was Sumeru¡¯s preeminent biological weapon with the power to eliminate an entire planet, leap dozens of kilometers, never tire and heal any injury. It was a world-ender. Adopting a physical form, the beast had improved combat abilities. It fought according to the skills of its enemies, with many tools to undermine their strengths. Furthermore, its body changes with the environment so that no terrain was a disadvantage. Chaos was an almost perfect killing machine. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t stop it, Southern Capital was doomed. However fighting into the capital would not be easy, even for this beast. The city was protected by five layers of defense. Under direction from the gods Chaos had only broken through the first. Several more still remained. Cloudhawk gathered his people and teleported to the boundary. Chaos was fast, they only had fifteen minutes or so to prepare. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this thing¡¯s so tough!¡± ¡°This old man has never seen anything so terrible in all my life.¡± Every one of Cloudhawk¡¯s team was injured in some fashion. Phoenix was especially maimed after her clash with Chaos, nursing broken bones and lacerated organs. Luckily her relic was designed exactly for this and was keeping her alive. However, at least for the time being, she couldn¡¯t join the fight. Even with the body of the War God, Legion only barely managed to protect himself from the monster. Everyone was suffering some harm from the exchange, but the ones Cloudhawk had brought with him were not common warriors. In a couple minutes they were stable and ready for round two. ¡°Now is no time to complain. If anyone has a lock on the thing tell me where it is.¡± ¡°Allow me.¡± A Master Demonhunter from Highmorn stepped forward. ¡°I am Toroa Wiater [1]. My specialty is in tracking. Since I have fought this creature I will be able to know its location, no matter the distance.¡± Cloudhawk knew a little about Toroa. Anyone who reached the rank of Master Demonhunter had an area of expertise. He was average in a fight, but peerless when it came to hunting down a target. ¡°Well Master Toroa, it¡¯s up to you.¡± ¡°Say no more.¡± Toroa produced a small mirror. When released from his grip it floated up and hovered above the Master¡¯s head. A strong light reflected off its surface and fired off in the direction of their foe. They could see it fixate on some unseen thing in the distance and move with it. ¡°There,¡± Toroa confirmed. Now that they knew where it was, Cloudhawk calculated what was in the monster¡¯s range. It was enough information for him to activate the Eye of Time and see where Chaos would strike. ¡°Chaos is too strong for us to try and just beat down. We have to use home turf to our advantage. Block it with the boundary enchantments and use the psionic towers to give yourselves a boost. We have to stop it here, we can¡¯t let it get any farther in.¡± Cloudhawk picked where they would make their stand. A hundred airships were dispatched to the area as backup. Hovering a thousand feet overhead, they were reasonably protected from danger. They weren¡¯t just there to participate in the fight or offer support. Against a monster like Chaos most of their weapons were useless anyway. Throwing them directly into the fray would cause meaningless casualties. Instead, every ship was equipped with a psionic tower. Belial¡¯s inventions amplified mental ability, making Cloudhawk and his allies much more effective on the battlefield. They also lowered the rate of mental exhaustion. Enough of them could turn the tide of battle. Chaos was brutal and extremely dangerous, however, and prone to explode. They couldn¡¯t get mired in a long fight. The monster had to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Cloudhawk helped his companies recover from their injuries. ¡°Well Elder, what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°No matter how mighty one¡¯s enemies, everyone has a weak point. Chaos is no exception. In this form our ordinary strength will not be enough to stop it, but we can destroy it.¡± Legion explained, ¡°In physical form Chaos must have a core. It is the center of its will ¨C the same as any other living thing¡¯s brain. Destroy the brain and we destroy the beast.¡± ¡°Where is the core supposed to be?¡± ¡°I am unsure. More than likely it moves. The gods manufactured this weapon and know its weakness. It could not be made perfect, but the gods could at least make the weakness difficult to exploit.¡± The core of Chaos was packed into a small orb and could be anywhere within the monster¡¯s body. It¡¯s head, chest, leg, arm or hand¡­ to stop Chaos they had to locate and destroy this elusive core. Of course, thanks in part to the monster¡¯s high rate of healing this would not be easy. As everyone was pondering the best plan forward, the creature appeared on the horizon. With every leap the ten meter tall monster drew closer. Boom! It landed with thunderous force. Fissures split the ground from its point of impact, slithering through a number of hills and valleys. A number of muttered curses followed. The damn thing was too fast, they had only just caught their breath. ¡°Alright everyone. Time to get to work.¡± Cloudhawk drew himself up. ¡°Whatever happens we stop it here.¡± Chaos was charging ever forward. With its limited intelligence it didn¡¯t know what it was running into, so it slammed head first into the energy shield blocking its path. Everything shook as though the heavens had come crashing down ¨C but the barrier held. Chaos was flung backward with a terrible explosion. With a roar of fury, Chaos released a column of destructive energy at the barrier. But again it failed to break through. The earth shook in protest. Cloudhawk sighed in relief. Now in physical form, Chaos couldn¡¯t just slip through their protections any longer. They could hold the monster in this spot and stop it from pushing further into Greenland. Of course that was assuming Chaos didn¡¯t change back to a quantum state. ** At the same time, atop the Source mountain. Selene, Belial and others peered toward the horizon with pensive expressions. Their area was encapsulated in a dedicated energy shield and scores of elite soldiers were posted here as defenders of the southern wastes. IF anything happened to this mountain the consequences were unthinkable. As Selene peered out into the distance with an alert gaze, the hulking white creature by her side released a low growl. Anima, defender of Skylcoud¡¯s Temple, had bound to Selene after she became the Avatar. IT had remained obediently by her side ever since. Rarely did it go outside. Most often it serves as protector back in Southern Capital or other important places. This was because of its peculiar ability to sense imminent danger. Anima warned them that something was amiss. ¡°Is an enemy near? From where?¡± Selene scanned the area but said nothing. It was then she heard the explosion. By the time she turned toward it Janus and her team of assassins had arrived to deliver their report. ¡°Two Supremes have appeared near the mountain.¡± ¡°Supremes? Here?¡± Selene felt like something had a cold grip on her heart. ¡°How did they get through the shields? We have to stop them.¡± How had they gotten so close to the Source mountain without anyone knowing? There was no indication that something had broken past their defenses. Chaos was supposed to be their primary gambit. But here they were, in this critical location. Selene couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, she was here because Cloudhawk made her responsible for the safety of their back line. If Chaos was just a diversion, Selene and her team were the only ones standing between them and Southern Capital! 1. ¡®Reaching wind¡¯. Toroa is Maori for albatros, reaching out. Wiater is a polish name meaning ¡®fast as the wind.¡¯ Book 7 ,Chapter 113 - A War On Two Fronts Book 7 ,Chapter 113 - A War On Two Fronts Two Supremes slowly alighted upon the Source mountain¡¯s smooth peak. They did nothing to hide their whereabouts or presence. No less than two minutes later a host of human defenders closed in on all sides. Among them were Selene, Belial, Phain and Janus. Selene stared at the two gods with deep suspicion. Her voice was low and challenging. ¡°There must be a reason for them to so brazenly appear here. Take a closer look.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Janus broke apart into a host of shadows that vanished into the air. Several other Elysian fighters also fell back. The remaining defenders were Selene, Belial, Phain, Master Anan, Siegebreaker, Eurtropius and a few elite soldiers. Against two gods, this small group should be enough. The intruders regarded their angry receivers without an ounce of emotion. Eventually their attention fixed upon Belial. ¡°Ah, the demon artisan. Indeed these trinkets bear your style.¡± Belial could hear the contempt in their ¡®voice.¡¯ He might be the greatest artisan of his kin, but that meant little to the gods. Humanity¡¯s mighty defenses were more thanks to the power they stole from the gods than anything this amateur craftsman had made. ¡°Attack!¡± Selene wasn¡¯t going to waste time talking. She drew her sword and immediately released a beam of light at her foes. It struck, but the result was not what she expected. Her target vanished the instant it took damage. Not invisibility. It was spatial power. The god¡¯s form evaporated like dew before the morning sun. Belial understood right away. ¡°It¡¯s a relic that lets it take quantum form. That¡¯s how they passed through the barriers.¡± What a unique power. Dissolving into a quantum state meant they existed beyond the normal plane of reality. It wasn¡¯t strictly correct to call it spatial power, nor was it defensive or evasive. For so long as the relic was active, the god did not exist in their dimension. It was neither alive nor dead, somewhere between existing and not. Of course none of their attacks could hit it in such a state. It was a perfect escape, making the god impervious to almost anything. ¡°The gods power is quantum transformation. It and everything it holds can separate into quantum fragments. In such a form it can teleport over small distances. That¡¯s how it appeared here, and definitely with the help of Chaos.¡± Belial¡¯s voice was thick with fear. The only way these gods were here was if Chaos brought them through. But hadn¡¯t Cloudhawk stopped the monster? Suddenly the mountain beneath their feet began to change? Souls began to seep from the glassy surface as though drawn out by a vacuum. They writhed grotesquely as they rose into the air before being swallowed up by dark clouds overhead. Chaos! It was here! This was a catastrophe, precisely the thing they were worried about. Source had many souls locked inside which Chaos could steal. With every one devoured it grew stronger, and if allowed to feast it would have the strength to obliterate Southern Capital and all its defenses. ¡°We have to stop them!¡± Belial¡¯s voice cracked. But the gods were prepared. One moved to attack. Source beneath its feet cracked and became gravel. It extended a hand forward and a beam of cutting light was released toward the humans. Selene brandished her weapon and cut the beam apart. Crystal shards hung in the air where it passed, filling the air. The gods hovered among them as more rose from beneath its feet. Belial spoke a warning. ¡°This one¡¯s power is probably refining. It can transform energy into any weapon it wishes.¡± Before he even finished the shards had gathered together and formed a number of statues. Were one to take a closer look, they would see that they looked exactly like the humans before them. Their crystalline bodies shimmered with light and a menacing glow flickered from within. The god waved its hand and the statues lurched forward. Gods were perfect, and those that rose to the level of Supreme were among their best. Such beings could not be underestimated. The fight was going to be a difficult one. ** Elsewhere the fight had reached a fever pitch. Chaos launched itself at the boundary, fists in the air, but when it came crashing down the barrier held firm. It was a one-way shield, allowing the people from within to fire out at Chaos but not allowing the beast to fight back. The first to fire back were a handful of Gods Spear Elysian ships. A rain of energy blasts came tearing through the sky, streaking passed the barrier and striking Chaos. A blast like this would blow a Master Demonhunter to pieces. Against this monster it only carved a few holes. Clouds of dark energy poured out of the wounds in place of blood. Against a creature as resilient as this the injuries were hardly worth a second thought. How were they supposed to find the core in a monster like this? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an answer. Suddenly he stumbled and his face turned dark. ¡°Fuck! Something made its way to the Source mountain.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shock and fear filled the others when they heard. Cloudhawk thought back to everything that happened. Then it dawned on him. Back when they first confronted Chaos it was trying to jump through space. Bruno had interrupted the process and seemed to keep it in place. Actually, only a piece of Chaos had remained behind. Maybe a tenth of its total form, while two other gods had slipped by without him noticing. While Cloudhawk¡¯s attention had been focused here the remaining gods and their part of Chaos had continued to move through Greenland. Time was up. Chaos was not an intelligent beast, but despite its strength it had come to realize it could not break through the barrier. So it began to change again, returning to a quantum state which would allow it to pass through the obstacle. Once it crossed to the other side, these annoying insects would be crushed! Book 7, Chapter 114 - Desperate Comba Book 7, Chapter 114 - Desperate Comba t The monster¡¯s body began to warp and twist. It stretched in odd and unsettling ways as a misty sort of light poured from the holes in its chest. It spread out behind Chaos like the tail of a comet as it slammed again into the defensive boundary. Pieces of it appeared on the other side and coalesced into physical form. An eerily long finger stretched out and as it extended, a terrible blast erupted among the humans. A single finger had caused frightening casualties. Chaos understood how to pass the barrier now and so it began to change more quickly. One finger began a whole hand, then an arm, then half its body. Soon the rest of it would be through. ¡°It¡¯s power is fragmented when transforming. It¡¯s weaker.¡± Legion turned to Cloudhawk. ¡°This is our chance.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Master Bruno, make sure space is locked down in case Chaos tries to run again. Everyone else, prepare to attack. Give this fucking thing everything you¡¯ve got.¡± Everyone leaped into action. Various relics sprang to life and energy crackled around their bodies. The airships also directly entered the fight. God¡¯s Spear ships fired as often as their guns would allow, slamming into Chaos with every volley. While the damage wasn¡¯t what they hoped, it was better than nothing. Cloudhawk sat back. He shut his eyes and reached out with his feelings. If Chaos could be considered a divine beast, then the changes its body made should present as a resonance. If Cloudhawk focused on this resonance he might be able to tell where this core was. The way Chaos traversed the boundary was unique. First, half of its body dissolved into a quantum state and seeped through the barrier. Once on the other side it recombined into physical form once again. Because of the high amount of energy contained within it, the creature couldn¡¯t move through in a blink. Instead it effectively split itself in two ¨C one half waiting outside while the other moved across the shield. Two chaos beasts existed now, one on either side. They were connected by a hazy ribbon of energy, so while there were to physical bodies it was still one creature. But the process had cut the monster¡¯s power in half. The humans gaped at the beast. What sort of nightmare monster could do this sort of thing? ¡°Don¡¯t just stare at it, keep up the attack!¡± Legion shouted the order as he hurled Oblivion toward the beast. It struck the half-formed monster and left a gaping wound behind. Souls poured out of it like a volcanic eruption. Screaming faces spread out aimlessly in all directions, picking targets at random. The defenders on the ground frantically evaded. Meanwhile, more souls were soaring up to the airships above and detonating against their hulls. Several vessels were obliterated. Legion didn¡¯t let up. Several more slashes were levied against the beast. Others regained their composure and joined the Elder demon, laying into Chaos with all their might. Chaos had yet to form fully on this side, meaning its own defenses were weakened. Blows that were useless before were causing wounds, and from the gashes souls poured forth. Eventually it was overcome and the monster¡¯s physical body was hacked into several irregular pieces. They sloughed together like liquid metal even in the midst of the onslaught, trying to reform. Its head was lopped off and rolled down to its feet. Ferocious eyes glared at the buzzing things overhead and two beams of light were fired at them. As they raked across the skies the more agile humans dodged out of the way. The airships were not as quick. Half of the armada was destroyed in an instant. A shower of ash, fire and debris covered the battlefield. Chaos healed quickly. As the ships above tried to maintain their formation half the monster¡¯s body had recovered. More of it had passed across the barrier now, strengthening its attack power and defenses with every passing second. Every piece of the fiend was a weapon, every drop of blood a thousand souls. At last Cloudhawk felt something ¨C or, rather, heard something. It entered his field of perception suddenly, connecting to the fragment of chaos on his side of the boundary. ¡°I found it! The core, its will and instinct!¡± Cloudhawk relayed the precise information to Legion through a mental link. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation Legion brought Oblivion streaking through the air toward the hazy connection between the two halves of their foe¡¯s body. But just in that instant Chaos seemed to sense the danger. Part of its form vaporized and released its stored energy in a lethal shock wave. Everything for a thousand meters around it, including Legion, was caught in the blast. Reality went dark. It was like the whole world was enveloped in ruin. The surviving airships had no chance to escape. They were swallowed up by the darkness and disintegrated. As for Cloudhawk¡¯s team, it was impossible to know who was still alive in the aftermath. Chaos was almost completely through. Their window was almost closed. Cloudhawk was beginning to lose his composure, only barely surviving the last attack by phasing between dimensions and activating all his defenses. As the initial wave roared passed he saw Legion being blown away. Oblivion spun end over end in his direction. The Blade of Oblivion was a terrible weapon, built to erase matter from existence. Even amid the flows of violent energy the relic was unscathed as it flew toward Cloudhawk. This was their last shot. He snatched Legion¡¯s weapon from the air. With all the strength he could muster he fought upstream against the deadly current of energy, relying on his shields to hold. Eventually he reached the center of the storm, where Chaos waited. It had taken on its physical form once again. Chaos raised a fist, ready to meet Cloudhawk¡¯s charge. He summoned his spatial powers to blink passed the attack, appearing behind the beast. Godslayer came hacking down in a brutal arc that carved a path down its spine. That was where he felt it, an object no larger than his fist nestled just off center. That was it! Chaos was wrenching itself around for a counterattack, but it was too late. With all the strength he could muster he shoved both Godslayer and Oblivion into the opening. They pierced the monster¡¯s core and released their power. Chaos unleashed a pained, angry wail. Its whole body shook as the core burst apart and went rigid. Like a robot deprived of its battery the powerful biological weapon merely stopped. There was nothing left to galvanize it. Legion raised its head from the ground and called out to Cloudhawk in warning. ¡°It will self-destruct! Back away!¡± Fast as he could, Cloudhawk called his powers. And just as the creature¡¯s body detonated he kicked it into a rift of his making. Chaos was thrust into the first place Cloudhawk had visited when the phase stone activated. In that vast and broken world there suddenly appeared a supernova. Cloudhawk was swept up in the energy as it burst through the rift, hurling him five hundred meters away. When the dust settled it revealed a ravaged landscape, with bodies strewn all over. Cloudhawk¡¯s elite team couldn¡¯t pick themselves up off the ground, and at a glance he couldn¡¯t tell how many were still breathing much less able to keep up the fight. Book 7, Chapter 115 - Sacrifice Book 7, Chapter 115 - Sacrifice Chapter 115: Sacrifice Source mountain of the southern wastes. Dark clouds hovered in the sky, pregnant with tens of thousands of wailing souls. A steady stream of them were ripped from the mountain and drawn into the vortex in the center of the clouds. Chaos continued to feast on the energy of the fallen, growing stronger by the moment. Southern Capital scrambled to respond. Thousands of airships converged on the mountain from all directions. Dawn stood upon one with her hands on her sword. ¡°Blow the fucking thing out of the sky!¡± She roared. A tempest of attacks were released, sending angry streaks across the sky. Deafening explosions came in quick succession, loud enough to shake the earth. But no matter how furious their assault, nothing slowed the vortex. ¡°Dammit! What the fuck is this thing?!¡± Dawn growled the curses helplessly. Suddenly the deck pitched beneath her feet as a horde of spirits rushed their way. They screamed toward the ships and detonated against their shields. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± The hellish scene sparked something in her mind. Her plan would cost lives, but she couldn¡¯t let that stop her in this dire moment. ¡°All hands, listen up! Fly into the vortex!¡± Without hesitation thousands of ships charged forward. They positioned themselves before the vortex, effectively plugging it. As the souls were dragged up from the mountain they had no way to slip through and instead exploded against the ships. Dawn¡¯s soldiers had placed themselves directly in the path of a terrible flood. The sky was on fire from the constant blasts. Screams and debris filled the air. From time to time a ship¡¯s shields failed and the vessels were quickly overwhelmed. Wreckage rained from on high like a grizzly rain. ¡°There is no retreat! Hold! Hold!¡± Dawn held Terrangelica aloft and screamed her orders. She leaped onto the back of a dragon and led a vanguard of riders toward the mountain top. Her golden hair flowed behind her in the wind and her armor gleamed bright as a star. Like a Valkyrie she charged directly into the stream of souls. ¡°If we can¡¯t hold them here then the capital falls. Humanity dies! Everyone, with me ¨C let¡¯s stop them here!¡± The image of Dawn leading the troops filled them with battle spirit. They shouted war cries and raised their weapons. The worst that waited for them was death, and if Lady Dawn didn¡¯t fear it then neither did they! As Dawn raced ahead she heaved Terrangelica with both hands. Any spirit that came in range was hacked apart. Their twisted, crystalline bodies jerked and exploded in her wake. She cut down dozens of them, but many others succumbed to her Abyssal Scale. It drank up the energy from scores as they passed, causing them to wither into nothingness. Yet for all her valiant showing, the souls from the mountain below were too numerous. Each one contained a frightening amount of energy. Dawn was only one woman, a drop amid a sea of angry screaming spirits. She slammed into the heart of a large group of them. Dawn screamed a challenge and swung her sword with all her strength, but there were too many. Several got past her swings and detonated. The dragon beneath her had sturdy scales to protect it, but not against an attack of this gravity. It was buffeted by the explosions and gravely wounded. Dawn was protected by her armor but saw that a large flood of spirits had swept by her. The battle had come to her soldiers, who fought fiercely against the tide. They were not trained or equipped to find ghosts so the fight was a costly one. ¡°Son of a bitch! If we die, we die together!¡± The gruff promise came from a Greenland soldier. His eyes were filled with the sight of their airships being blown apart. With his jaw set he urged his dragon forward, headlong into an oncoming spirit. He was devoured by the explosion, leaving almost nothing behind. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m with you!¡± Another soldier turned his mount toward the spirits and dashed forward. He died as his companion did. Gruesome though it was, others saw that the method worked. Grim resolve took their faces as they lowered their weapons and launched into suicide dives. Dawn watched her troops fling themselves into the enemy like moths to a flame. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t help them. She was surrounded by angry spirits. The ghosts were mindless, angry things but could react instinctively to danger. Dawn was a threat so they raced toward her to try and eliminate her. It didn¡¯t take long for her mount to succumb. She was forced to jump off its back and started free falling. All around her was a storm of light as souls closed in. She couldn¡¯t dodge or escape. Is this where I die? She couldn¡¯t stop the thought from worming through her head. Dawn wasn¡¯t afraid of death, but she didn¡¯t welcome it. If she had to die she would rather it be by Cloudhawk¡¯s side, not at the hands of some mindless spirit. Her thoughts were interrupted when a small, swift ship streaked past. A swarm of figures jumped out and one of them shouted out among the din. ¡°Protect the Lady!¡± ¡°Roc, Rio ¨C you¡¯re here!¡± Dawn recognized them right away. Rio, Roc and all the rest were loyal members of the Polaris family. But instead of relief her face filled with worry. ¡°All of you fall back right now!¡± ¡°Lady, we promised to fight for the glory of the Polaris family. Our duty is to protect the Lady of the house. We will not forsake our vows now.¡± ¡°Warriors of the Polaris family, take heed! Advance on the enemy!¡± ¡°Hold!¡± Dawn tried to stop them but the order was given. Roc called on his relic and flew into a thick group of spirits. The souls immediately swarmed around him. ¡°I¡¯ll take the first step.¡± Roc saluted Dawn with his own good arm. Soon the terrible energy would rip through him, but was far enough away from Dawn to fling her harmlessly away. ¡°We go to see General Skye. Please, Lady, don¡¯t worry for our spirits.¡± Rio had also attracted a cloud of spirits. The explosion that followed was blinding. As Dawn fell past, nothing remained of the Talon of God¡¯s former colonel. Dawn was forced to watch as members of her family were blown apart, willingly giving their lives for hers. She couldn¡¯t do anything but scream in pain and frustration. From the corner of one moist eye she saw a group of figures hovering in the sky. Janus, Phain and others were on the way. Thanks to the sacrifice of her family members, they were able to get in close enough to retrieve her. Dawn, however, was on the verge of madness. ¡°Kill them! Kill them all! Let me go, I¡¯m not leaving till there¡¯s nothing left!¡± Of course there were too many. She couldn¡¯t stop them. A third of Southern Capital¡¯s armada was in ruin. Every second the remaining ships suffered under constant bombardment. Troops and vessels Cloudhawk had fought so hard to gather were sacrificed before ever having a chance to fight the gods. 1. Uh oh 2. Oh no 3. Syke Book 7, Chapter 116 - Stasis Book 7, Chapter 116 - Stasis Chapter 116: Stasis Heaven was burning. The air was on fire. Even from below on the mountain Selene could see soldiers throwing themselves against the spirits to die. The pain in her heart ached, but their sacrifice was a necessary one. She had a Supreme to deal with, but even if she didn¡¯t there was nothing she could do to save them. This living weapon of mass destruction built by the gods was beyond mankind¡¯s means to stop. Meanwhile the Quantum God shifted in and out of reality. In its quantum state Selene had no way of causing it harm. Neither did she have a way to force her foe to take physical form. They were helpless, even if they all focused on this one enemy. The other god¡¯s powers involved transforming matter. It molded reality the way a child molded clay, turning everything it touched into a weapon. Soldiers and monsters were spun from the ether and sent to fight on behalf of the Supreme. Yes, the god made its will palpable. Whatever it wished, it could create. Everything it came into contact with became an extension of its power. A constant stream of mindless soldiers were created, along with cannons, warships, bombs and other weapons. An entire army was built in an instant as easily as a programmer wrote a piece of code. If any creature could be said to truly be a deity, this creator was such a thing. Belial belched out a plume of fire which shattered several dozen nearby crystal soldiers. It reached further toward the Supreme, but with a wave of its hand the Source reared up in its defense to form a barrier. Belial¡¯s hellfire crashed against it like a seawall. Afterward the Source cracked apart and reformed into a giant twenty meters tall. Hundreds of cannons bristled from the giant in an instant. It released a resounding blast of force, but thankfully Master Anan was quick to answer. The blast was deflected by a shield he summoned. Yet in this instant the Quantum God also acted. It appeared at Walrick¡¯s side with a hand outstretched. This unobtrusive motion was actually filled with lethal intent. Selene had foreseen this, so her sword flashed to life. A blast of brilliant holy energy slammed into Master Anan and sent him tumbling backward. Selene¡¯s Eye of Time allowed her to see where the Quantum God would appear and how it would attack. If the god was allowed to lay its hands upon a victim, it would dissolve into quantum particles and become locked in that state. In other words, if Walrick had been touched by the Supreme he would have dissolved into microscopic pieces. He would cease to exist in their reality. A single touch meant death. ¡°The Eye of Time?¡± Several of the Quantum God¡¯s sneak attacks had failed. Selene¡¯s stolen power was preventing it from dominating the battlefield. She cast a wave of power in its direction but the god vanished before it could land. What hateful power! Selene turned her ire on the crystal giant, whose cannons were in the cusp of a second salvo. The brilliant gleam of Sublime Transcendence cut the monster into unequal halves. But her brutal attack was not enough to destroy it. Nearby the Creator God called Source shards from the air and used them to create two giants from the pieces of the first. Both trained all their weapons on Belial, who¡¯s artisan powers made the demon a favored target. Selene¡¯s face darkened. She knew how important Belial was to the Alliance. Without him their front line would be nonexistent. It was likely these two gods had appeared here to make sure the Elder died. It was also likely they knew they wouldn¡¯t survive once their mission was done. This didn¡¯t matter much. Gods had a very different concept of life and death. If sacrificing themselves achieved an important part of the collective¡¯s aims, then it was a perfectly acceptable end. A storm of attacks descended on Belial. At the same time a figure appeared behind him, the Quantum God. It took advantage of the Elder¡¯s blind retreat and lightly placed a hand upon his body. Finished! The thought flashed through Belial¡¯s mind like a searing bolt of electricity. In fending off the first Supreme¡¯s attack he had stumbled into the arms of a second. Once contact was made he was damned to the quantum world. All of Sumeru couldn¡¯t stop the process. This was the scene Selene witnessed. She knew how critical such a loss would be if she allowed it to occur. So, without hesitation, she poured energy into her right eye and it flared with power. The relic absorbed all her mental energy, along with everything contained in her Holy Vestments. Even the nearby psionic towers were drained. Like a bottomless pit, the Eye devoured all. Despite the huge flood of power the relic was still not satiated. But it was enough. A formless energy spread out before Selene and quickly covered anything. The light released from the giant¡¯s energy cannon froze mid flight. Debris flung into the air by explosions were frozen in place. The Quantum God ¨C even Belial in his despair ¨C were locked in an instant in time. ¡°Die.¡± Selene drew on the deepest parts of herself and a sword of light burst into being. Her right eye was fixed on it so that the attack did not freeze like everything else. It descended from the sky like a divine death sentence and pierced through the Quantum God¡¯s skull. She couldn¡¯t hold it anymore. The flows of time returned to normal. Selene¡¯s attack knocked the Quantum God off its feet. Time¡¯s brief freeze and her attack prevented it from destroying Belial or engaging its protections. Its companion¡¯s attack slammed into both the demon Elder and the Supreme. A deafening explosion followed. Belial had been focused on the first attack already so suffered relatively minor trauma. The Quantum God, on the other hand, was not prepared. Already wounded by Selene¡¯s attack, the explosion was more than it could bear. Its body was ripped apart. This was not what the gods anticipated. They had underestimated the power of this human and her mastery over time. Although her innate strength was nothing to fear, the rare talent to manipulate time made her a great danger. The remaining god abandoned its assault on Belial and turned all its attention on Selene. Her use of the Eye left her spent. She had nothing left with which to defend herself. It had all happened too fast for her companions to react, so Walrick and Belial watched with anxious faces. Whoosh! A streak of golden light arrived with hurricane force, slamming into the god¡¯s side. Electric power and raking claws dug into its body and tore apart the sturdy armor. While the bird-like attacker tore into the god, another lion-headed beast raced by and pulled Selene onto its back. The Creator God formed a cage to try and lock the bird in. All the weapons and soldiers nearby fired in a wild display at the winged lion attempting to flee. It deftly managed to dodge many of the attacks, but not all. With a pained wail the beast tumbled from the sky. Belial took advantage of the god¡¯s distraction, rushing in for an attack. A spear wrapped in black fire appeared in his hand, which he plunged into his foe¡¯s body. With all the strength he could muster he heaved, the two crashing through five walls of crystal before finally stopping. ¡°We have failed. This is¡­ unexpected.¡± The god felt lethal power filling its body. Belial was not a combatant, but he was a creature with the power of a Supreme. A direct attack was enough to end its life. Humans were strong. Stronger than other species they had subjugated. It was not a power that came innately, however ¨C it was born from their limitless potential. Still, it hardly mattered. The gods might have failed, but it did not mean their mission was not a success. The vortex overhead began to shrink. A massive figure began to emerge, partially visible through the darkness. This fragment of Chaos was coming into reality ¨C but then stopped. Something was wrong. Its core, contained in another piece of itself, had been destroyed. What hovered over the Source mountain was only a piece of the chaos beast. Without the core it could not exist independently. A terrifying power began to gather inside it, surging erratically. As the aborted fragment of Chaos fell from the sky it prepared to release all the energy it had devoured. The imminent explosion promised to be catastrophic. Book 7, Chapter 117 - The Meaning of Sacrifice Book 7, Chapter 117 - The Meaning of Sacrifice The Chaos Beast¡¯s fall and eruption was a gradual process. First came the collapse. Its hulking body started to implode and when it couldn¡¯t get any smaller, it started to swell. Like a balloon leaking air, eruptions of energy from within were flung out in random directions. It was a chain reaction, an explosion that was increasing in slow motion. Selene hit the ground. Blood poured from her right eye, but even though it threatened her life she wanted to use its power again to stop the explosion. Yet for all her desire, she couldn¡¯t. The monster was too far away, and the energy it contained too great. All she could do was look up at the armageddon forming overhead. Nothing in her power could stop it. Nothing humanity possessed could stop it. She was helpless. Belial¡¯s voice shouted through the noise. ¡°Help me to the control tower!¡± Oddball, after fighting off the Supreme, heard Belial¡¯s call. It was as intelligent as an average person and so responded, flying by and grabbing him by the shoulders. Bird and demon dashed toward the mountain¡¯s control tower. But fast as Oddball was, it couldn¡¯t outrun the explosion. The ever-expanding corona of energy grew at staggering speeds and burned like a supernova. Even Selene felt her unbreakable resolve begin to crack. Was this it? Was she going to watch this explosion destroy everything they¡¯d worked for? The troops in the air nearer to the explosion felt the same fear, only far more intensely. The troops had been dispatched here by Dawn in a moment of crisis. Thanks to their sacrifices the birth of Chaos had been delayed. But so what? The explosion that threatened to swallow them up would ravage everything within hundreds of kilometers. It contained as much power as ten of the nukes Adder used to destroy Skycloud¡¯s wall. No living thing would survive its fire. There was no escape. The death of Chaos would lead to a chain reaction that would obliterate the Source mountain and everything nearby. Southern Capital might survive the initial blast, but without Source their defenses would fail. The gods would crush the city and its people when they arrived. They wouldn¡¯t even need to step food on earth¡¯s soil. From the safety of their ships high in space they could rain destruction on the humans with the push of a button. A few volleys was all it would take. Myriad were the tools of the gods. Last Judgment and the chaos beast were a few of a hundred methods gods could use to eliminate the lowly human race. They were like a modern mechanized army pit against primitives. It didn¡¯t matter how fierce and united the cavemen were, in the end their fate was destruction. The ever expanding orb of energy was dense enough to have its own gravity. Anything within its scope was dragged inexorably toward a furious center. Airships that were too slow in escaping were caught and devoured. The turbulent flows of energy obliterated everything it touched, and the fires burned away anything that remained. Still it grew. At any moment it could grow unstable and release all of that pent-up energy all at once. A fiery end was inevitable. Dawn, Janus, Phain and their group faced the slowly approaching wall of fire. Their faces were ashen with fear. Anything they thought to do seemed futile in the face of this power. ¡°We¡¯ve lost.¡± Phain said with a sigh. Lost. In the end it was just as the gods said. Everything had just been a futile effort. Everyone knew this could happen. The gap between humans and their masters was too wide. What they didn¡¯t imagine was that they would be so thoroughly subjugated in a matter of days. It was almost pathetic. ¡°I will not give up!¡± Dawn flung herself forward, separating from the group. Everyone watched her go in shock and alarm, but didn¡¯t try to stop her. What was the point? They were all dead anyway. Dawn faced the storm of energy with her jaw set. She would not run! Activating her gravitational powers, and with the power of her Dawnbreaker armor, she flung herself toward the heavens like a comet. Even up to the last instant, even though she could do nothing, Dawn refused to give in. She would not accept that this would be her end, that Cloudhawk would lose! Her mind filled with the faces of the Polaris family soldiers who¡¯d died for her. She clung to the fury and promise she made to her grandfather, that she would avenge his murder. Dawn had told Cloudhawk that she would follow him to the end. The end had not come yet. I have to stop. I have to stop it! Everything else went quiet. This was the only thought in her head, echoed over and over. Her one mission to accomplish. So like a butterfly with its wings on fire, Dawn hurled herself into the raging storm. With both hands on her sword she aimed it at the core of the explosion. All of her will and anger and pride was focused on the weapon and soon shards of crystal began to thicken around it. That was her plan, to freeze this mass of terrible energy. But was she strong enough to succeed? It would be impossible even for Cloudhawk! Dawn didn¡¯t spend any time considering odds, she never did. In the end she always believed that it wasn¡¯t just the result that was important. You did what you had to do, that was important. If it meant climbing a mountain of swords or crossing a sea of fire, she did it without hesitation, she did what she felt she had to. She didn¡¯t know what would happen. Whatever her end would be, she would go down fighting. As she roared a challenge to the explosion, Dawn released several times her ordinary level of power. The undulating surface of the orb began to stiffen. Crystals formed along the corona and suddenly the rapid expansion of it slowed. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Dawn was swallowed up by it, surrounded by furious flows of energy. Every second took all of her strength to keep from being blown apart. Yet even using all her potential and pouring everything she had into the effort, it was only slowing the inevitable. A short distance away, the air trembled. Cloudhawk appeared, having raced to the Source mountain after defeating the chaos beast¡¯s physical form. But he was in bad shape, encased in shattered armor and leaking blood from several wounds. When he appeared all he saw was devastation. The situation was too far gone. ¡°Dawn!¡± Cloudhawk saw her glimmering form get swallowed up by the corona. With notes of fear in his eyes he teleported as close as he dared. ¡°We can¡¯t stop it! Come back!¡± Dawn felt him arrive. It didn¡¯t matter, there was no going back now. She had slowed the spread, but now she was the plug. If she let up all the energy would be released. It would swallow everything; the army, their barrier, Selene, and most importantly Cloudhawk. So she could not let up. ¡°Cloudhawk, I can¡¯t hold it for long!¡± She cried out as loud as she could. ¡°Teleport me and this fucking thing out of here!¡± He was frozen. He knew what she was asking. She had managed to delay the explosion but no one could stop it. Cloudhawk could put his own life on the line and it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. The second Dawn faltered everything for kilometers around them would be destroyed. They couldn¡¯t run from it. So there was only one option. With his powers Cloudhawk could move the explosion and Dawn from this dimension into another. It was the only way to save everyone. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard, but you have to do it. You have to.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± He screamed. It was the first time since becoming the leader of the wastes that his emotions got the better of him. Never mind how impotent he felt against this power, how was he supposed to accept sacrificing his best friend? Dawn had reached her limit. Blood was leaking from her eyes, ears and nose ¨C from the corner of her mouth and from every pore. The muscles of her body had begun to atrophy as every ounce of her was being drained. Her hair turned from brilliant gold to withered and gray. Her life was being stolen from her and every second was agony. She felt the most intense pain of her life, but she knew the pain Cloudhawk felt had to be worse. ¡°Cloudhawk, it hurts. Let me end it.¡± He could see her consciousness beginning to slip and there was nothing he could do. He felt overwhelmed with anger and frustration. Dawn¡¯s body was failing. Her voice barely a whisper, she croaked, ¡°quickly¡­ quickly...¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s scream was like a mad beast. With both hands raised he released his power, but not in the trained and controlled way that was typical. It poured out of him like his scream, raw and pure. Unprecedented power enveloped the area. Not enough! The power of the explosion was too great! ¡°You can do it,¡± Dawn said in a hoarse sigh. ¡°You can do it...¡± Her words were like a knife in his heart. He had to push through. His own hair turned from pitch black to platinum white as his will, soul and body were given over to the power. In the midst of the physical and emotional pain, something wondrous took over. The stone in the center of the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass flared to life. His armor, which had been a loose collection of fragments, suddenly fused together. The armor¡¯s silent will awakened once again, but rather than deny Cloudhawk it fused seamlessly with his own mind. A faint shadow appeared in the corner of Cloudhawk¡¯s vision. ¡°Hope, courage, power, perseverance, responsibility¡­ and most importantly, sacrifice.¡± The low, stately voice boomed in his mind. ¡°The road to great things is paved with hardships. Remember the power of grief. From this instant forward, you are the Demon King.¡± Sacrifice! Was that what he was missing all this time? Legion saw powerful spatial fluctuations from afar begin to warp the ball of energy. A massive tear appeared in reality between heaven and earth, swallowing the orb like a hungry maw. At the same time, in another empty cosmos, a roaring explosion appeared from nowhere. Dawn released her final breath, a sigh of relief. Her withered lips pulled back in a smile. Cloudhawk, it looks like I can¡¯t be with you after all. Grandpa ¨C I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t avenge you. The darkness of space blazed with the light of a supernova. Total silence. A small wave in an endless black sea. Dawn¡¯s sacrifice had saved countless lives. Her life gave rise to a king. Cloudhawk had joined with his armor at last. Finally, he had inherited all that his predecessor had to give and it had made him greater. Only, he felt entirely empty. He felt like everything that he was had disappeared. With his own hands, he¡¯d sent Dawn to her death. He would never remove this armor because there was no Cloudhawk anymore. He died with her. There was only the Demon King now. Book 7, Chapter 118 - Massacre Book 7, Chapter 118 - Massacre The death of Chaos left terrible fallout. Source mountain and its surrounding area was a shattered war zone after the souls from within all exploded. Belial rushed to the control tower to find it damaged. The many layers of defense protecting Southern Capital were weakened. Damnit! Belial reached out with his power and began the repairs. In the distance a red hue was tainting the sky. The crimson infection was quickly spreading toward the city. Last Judgment. Once it reached them no relics would function, including their various towers. Without their defenses the gods could stride right in. Worse, unless he was mistaken Belial assumed the gods had their forces waiting just outside the border for this very moment. The instant the barrier fell their armies would rush in. Gods were fast, humanity would have no time to mount a resistance. As anxiety filled him Belial spied a figure descending from above. His heart skipped a beat and the words came instinctively from his lips. ¡°Y-¡­ Demon King!¡± Compared to other demons, Cloudhawk¡¯s physique was neither large nor strong. In fact he could be called puny. The black armor that encased him seemed fused to his person like a second skin. A glowing red stone adorned the center, and two black orbs for eyes peered from the hideous demon mask. His mop of hair hung over the half helm. It was no longer the rich black of before, but a salt and pepper gray. The air around him was heavy with imperious, cold majesty. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t the same person he was a few moments ago. Belial felt nothing human in him anymore. Although Cloudhawk was smaller he held himself as though he were ten thousand meters tall. The heavy pressure of his mien stole the Elder¡¯s breath. Once, Belial had deigned to pay this mortal any mind. Now, however, he dare not show disrespect. Inside he was already subjugating himself to the will of the Demon King. ¡°How long do you need?¡± ¡°Twenty¡­ no, ten minutes will be enough.¡± Without a word, Cloudhawk waved his hand and ripped a hole in space. He stepped through to appear between the third and fourth layers of Greenland¡¯s shields. The fifth had been destroyed by Chaos already. A hundred glimmering figures were passing through the fourth barrier as it faltered. They were waiting for the enchantments to decline. Once weak enough, they would force their way into Southern Capital and eradicate everyone inside. Crimson light crept ever closer from the horizon. Those areas where the boundary had failed would not recover, for Last Judgment rendered the towers useless. Two layers were overcome, and with every step of the gods the city was more at risk. The divine soldiers paused their advance when they saw him appear and felt his presence. Was this Cloudhawk? He had survived the assault and grown stronger. Cloudhawk said nothing. Last Judgment cast its red light on over the field, cutting relics from their source, but he was unfazed. The new Demon King waved a hand dismissively toward his foes. Space responded by stuttering and splitting, with the largest fissure centered on the body of a Supreme. An intense traction force was born. The god¡¯s indomitable form was immediately ripped apart, the power far too fast and too intense for it to defend against. It died with little time to realize what was happening. ¡°Attack.¡± The other gods hardly seemed disturbed and proceeded to advance. Soldiers raised their shining spears and fired bolts of energy toward Cloudhawk. They fell like deadly rain upon him but he did not flinch. When their shots drew near space rippled around him, and like stones thrown into a river they vanished from view. Cloudhawk wrapped himself in unstable spatial energy. Attacks simply disappeared, leaving their mark unscathed. This caused a slight stir among the gods, for they knew only the true Demon King possessed power like this. Had this human learned to command the power of their ancient foe? Meanwhile Cloudhawk tore the fabric of reality at a whim. One after the other gods were shredded by his power. Their deaths came instantaneously, once formidable warriors hardly more than paper tigers before this human. In the blink of an eye six or seven gods were ended. Two among them were Supremes. How was this happening? Because Cloudhawk had become the King he was destined to follow. His command over space was wielded with unmatched authority. No mere Supreme was his equal. Another important factor was the gods¡¯ own weapon. Last Judgment hampered humans and most demons, while the gods could fight with their special weapons. The lowly humans were helpless under the light of Last Judgment ¨C but not Cloudhawk. Their precious field did not impede his abilities at all. In fact the gods fought with one hand tied behind their backs as well. Their mightiest relics were sealed and however strong their mental powers, it made no difference. None of their strengths applied under Last Judgment, so they were left open to abuse by the Demon King with no way to fight back. ¡°Spread out, attack the city.¡± The order was passed among the gods. Slaughter of their compatriots did not disturb these beings. All that mattered was their mission, to destroy this nest of rebellious insects. Losses would not dissuade them from their task. If they could not defeat Cloudhawk, then they simply wouldn¡¯t fight him. For all his strength he was only one man and could not be everywhere. These prideful gods overestimated themselves and faced the Demon King with only disdain. Cloudhawk spread his will all throughout the area where it was felt by his foes. A strange sensation overcame them, where they were simultaneously moving thousands of meters in all directions and yet standing still. Cloudhawk had stretched space. Meanwhile his body appeared throughout the area in a series of rapid flashes. Each time he appeared it was among a group of gods, where immediately space was highly compressed. When it couldn¡¯t shrink any further the field was released in a violent explosion that left behind a gory scene of limbs and shattered armor. He materialized all across the battlefield. There was no way to stop him or know where he might show up next. ¡°He will eliminate our forces if we continue like this. We must discontinue Last Judgment.¡± A request was relayed to the god in charge of Last Judgment, asking for it to be released. With their full strength they could more effectively combat Cloudhawk¡¯s domination of the field. However, this would also mean abandoning their plan to capture Southern Capital. Much of the wastes had been captured by their assault, but the human city at its heart would remain standing. Only forty or fifty divine soldiers remained. They gave up their mad rush for the city and refocused on Cloudhawk. He watched them gather with a cold and emotionless stare, knowing they would try with all their might to bring him down. No one could disregard the threat they posed. Fifty gods could eliminate a mid-sized civilization. Cloudhawk did not cower. His murderous intent was palpable in the air. ¡°Every one of you will die.¡± Book 7, Chapter 119 - Unpredictable Fate Book 7, Chapter 119 - Unpredictable Fate On this small rock spinning through a lonely corner of the cosmos, a glimmering figure stood upon its surface. It was large and wrapped in dazzling luminescence that hit most details. Even its outline was indiscernible. Thus an orb of light stood in silence among the darkness of space, as though waiting for something. As one of the most powerful beings in the universe, time was a meaningless construct. Yet even with dominion over time, even with the ability to know what was and what will be, this being did not have the qualifications to call itself Fate. It sounded like a contradiction. There were many races across the universe. When a civilization advanced beyond its own star it began to understand the nature of the cosmos. It grasped aspects of the quantum realm. During this period, in observing the rules of this microscopic realm, they may discover something strange; every time they observed them, the rules changed. This was called the ¡®Uncertainty Principle.¡¯ No matter what measures were devised, there existed no way to accurately define the qualities of subatomic particles. In other words, the rules of the quantum realm were affected merely by the act of observation. Each time a measurement was taken, the results were different. One could say that future readings were eternally uncertain. The future was a mystery, and any interference resulted in change. This being stood at a height no other living creature could reach. Its view was cast long, exploring destiny through the mists of time. Yet ¨C precisely the same as these lowly humans discovered ¨C even this creature found fate to be inscrutable. In the act of observing, the future was altered. For every action it took, knowing what was to come, the destiny it knew changed. All it could do was exist in a single moment of time, sorting through millions of possibilities and correct toward this end. Through unending manipulation of causality and probability, through eternal time, it can nudge fate in the direction it preferred. This was not an easy process. Like an artist, it painstakingly focused on even the tiniest details to bring a masterwork to life. Each brushstroke had to be just right, for even the slightest mistake could render all its effort moot. Now was the most crucial time, for the masterwork was nearly complete. A light appeared before the small planet, a not-insignificant expulsion of energy. It lasted only one one-thousandth of a second ¨C meaningless on the scale of the universe, but precisely what this being was waiting for. At last, this god they called ¡®King¡¯ acted. A universe of deathly stillness stopped. Myriad planets spinning on their axes froze. That distant explosion, with all its uncountable particles, expanded at a snail¡¯s pace. Where such a display should have only existed for a split second, time had been brought to a standstill. At this slow pace the explosion would persist for a full day. Plenty of time for the God King to find what it was looking for. She hovered among the storm of energy, withered and maimed, with hair white as snow. Life had left her, leaving only a quiet body wearing a small smile. The God King reached out. This lifeless form was plucked from the heart of the explosion and taken away. Soon after the frozen stream of time resumed. A roaring supernova released its fury into the uncaring universe, an insignificant tantrum that quickly subsided. ** The Demon King returned. Parts of his armor were cracked, but it was knitting itself back together even as others watched. Once-righteous figures were now bloody corpses, piled high. Over a hundred of them, marking where the gods¡¯ attempting invasion had failed. Others looked upon the scene in shock and disbelief. Alone, Cloudhawk had eliminated a small army of gods. Such power was impossible for them to understand. In their eyes Cloudhawk was truly a god, no longer a man. ¡°Cloudhawk, you...¡± Selene was weak from her own ordeal. The fight had demanded everything from humanity¡¯s defenders. Victory had come at a painful cost, the loss of Dawn Polaris. A price paid in blood that could never be settled. She worried for Cloudhawk. She knew him, knew how close he¡¯d been to Dawn. Cloudhawk was the sort of man who always put himself in danger to spare others, but this time destiny had demanded Dawn¡¯s sacrifice. Although he had been given no choice, it didn¡¯t make the consequence any less painful. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine. You¡¯re wounded, focus on recovery.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was hoarse through the mask. ¡°The energy from these corpses hasn¡¯t left yet. Bring them to the transformation altar as quickly as possible and begin the process. I leave you in charge of who receives their power.¡± Selene wanted to say more, but he cut her off. ¡°I need stronger soldiers.¡± Shamed glances were shared among Greenland¡¯s warriors. They were too weak. Cloudhawk turned as though to leave. No shred of the young man she traveled the wastes with remained. Selene wanted to stop him, to pull him back from the road he faced. But she couldn¡¯t. She wouldn¡¯t allow herself to be that selfish. Cloudhawk had become the Demon King, the leader that they needed. Such was his responsibility, his fate. This was how Dawn Polaris died? Selene never thought it would come to this. In the midst of her pained disbelief she saw Legion fall in behind Cloudhawk, the Hand of Gehenna in tow. This Legion is no good. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s planning, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯s using Cloudhawk! Dawn¡¯s voice rang in Selene¡¯s ears. It was a groundless accusation ¨C after all, on the surface it seemed everything Legion had done was in service to his king, even nearly dying. But for reasons she could not explain Selene felt the same as her lost companion. ¡°Here, let me help you.¡± A woman in an emerald dress appeared by her shoulder. She glanced at Cloudhawk¡¯s retreating form before returning her gaze to Selene. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I trust him.¡± Selene Cloude and Autumn Draper had only a superficial relationship. Within the young woman slept the will of a god. Selene had come to reject these false deities, but with Dawn gone she needed Autumn¡¯s power. If Dawn¡¯s fears were realized, then Cloudhawk needed protectors around him. You¡¯re gone, but I will continue our mission. ** Cloudhawk came right to the point, turning on his marshals with all the gravity of the Demon King. ¡°Tell me now. How do I open the path to Gehenna.¡± Legion, Belial and Abaddon could feel it at last. The power and presence they felt was worthy of being called King. He bore the right to unseal the land that had been closed for a thousand years, and command the demonic armies within. ¡°Your predecessor established the secret base on Emerald Star for a reason. That is where the link to Gehenna resides.¡± Legion bowed and spoke respectfully. ¡°My King has joined with the will of the Cuirass and proved himself worthy of commanding my kin. Any who refuse to obey will be named betrayers.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s time to make the trip.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Cloudhawk would wait not a moment more. Now, more than ever, he was desperate for the power of Gehenna. Their strength was his to wield against the gods. Book 7, Chapter 120 - The Path to Gehenna Book 7, Chapter 120 - The Path to Gehenna The southern waste¡¯s front line had met with catastrophe. Losses in both equipment and human lives were great. Emerald Star, however, was untouched. Not even a ripple was felt. After an initial period of chaos, things quickly settled down. The many pests that had called the city home were eradicated and humanity¡¯s new shelter was made safe. Millions now called it home and that number was growing all the time. Undercity appeared to have been built for humans. Its buildings and layout were suitable for their needs. Most importantly, it came equipped with a sophisticated energy grid. The crust overhead was connected to the whole city and provided it with a never-ending supply of power to provide whatever they needed. It was why everything moved forward so smoothly. ¡°There¡¯s enough for everyone, keep in your lines!¡± ¡°Keep things civil. Make trouble and you¡¯ll suffer the consequences.¡± Ten soldiers in green cloaks with eboncrys rifles were passing out food and supplies. A transport ship was parked in a public square and a large crowd had gathered. Supply ships like this were a common and ubiquitous sight. Emergency measures in an unusual time. Emerald Star and Undercity had plenty of resources to provide for themselves in the future, but they needed support in these early days. Once everything was up and running, they could operate independently. ¡°Sister, Grandfather, come quickly.¡± A young man turned her head and called out. An attractive young woman helped an elderly man along to her side. She grumbled at the man, ¡°What¡¯s your hurry Summer? There¡¯s enough for everyone, didn¡¯t you hear? You¡¯ll get plenty.¡± [1] There had never been any issue in getting enough food and water to live comfortably. Summer nibbled on a cracker as he spoke. ¡°There¡¯s so much still to do to get this city going. No better time to make a name for myself! Getting recognized now would mean a lot for our future¡­ I¡¯ve thought of everything. When things quiet down a little I¡¯m going to apply for the scout crew.¡± Autumn helplessly regarded her brother when suddenly something seemed to occur to her. She spoke up, ¡°In the last few days there haven¡¯t been any newcomers. I heard there might be fighting back home. The gods are killing their way to the Southern Capital. We don¡¯t know what the situation is like.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of worrying about all that, sis? We¡¯re safe here. Brother Cloudhawk will deal with all the other stuff, so don¡¯t be concerned. Hey grandpa, I¡¯m right aren¡¯t I?¡± Summer¡¯s optimistic personality hadn¡¯t been impacted by everything that happened. ¡°Things are bad, but there¡¯s a lot of good too. There¡¯s a lot to explore on the surface and Undercity¡¯s only ten percent excavated. This is a newborn city! With our smarts and skills I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be respected members of the community in no time.¡± Autumn understood her little brother very well. He was vigorous and passionate, full of wander-lust. This new world was a paradise to him, full of opportunity. Craig had one hand on his cane and the other wrapped around a water bottle. A loving smile deepened the wrinkles on his face. He was an old man, nearing the end of his life, but it had been a life with no regrets. He was about to respond to the young man when his eyes were drawn to a group of four figures. They were on a distant tower, but even at this distance there was one he recognized. He narrowed his eyes to get a better look, but by then they were gone. Have my eyes gotten so bad? I really am getting old¡­ In truth his gaze was sharp as ever. The four he spied were Cloudhawk and his three demon compatriots. He¡¯d caught them in the instant they teleported into the city, but they moved on just as quickly. Most people would have missed it. Cloudhawk inspected the prosperity that had taken hold in this new city. While not all of humanity could take refuge here, Emerald Star had a thriving population. Whatever happened, humanity would continue on this distant planet. Maybe in a few thousand years there would be two distinct species of humans, here on Emerald Star and on Stony Plains. One would be the children of New Humans, a civilization of spirituality and creativity. The latter would be a people steeped in science and technology, established by ancient humans from a long dead world and built on modern resources. As for their mother planet? Most likely it would stand as a dead monument to a war against the gods. Cloudhawk knew this would be a protracted contest against two civilizations. The battle that started on his home planet would expand to encompass the whole universe. A few years wouldn¡¯t be enough to determine a clear winner, but what was clear was that humanity wasn¡¯t strong enough to win the fight on their own. That¡¯s why Cloudhawk had to unseal Gehenna and call the demons to action. ¡°After you, my King.¡± Cloudhawk nodded, unleashed his power and wrapped them up in a storm of spatial energy. The group vanished from their vantage over Undercity and reappeared ten thousand meters deeper underground. There was no doubt that this was a long-abandoned compound of the gods. Instead of destroying it, the Demon King repurposed the base upon its discovery. It now served as the gateway to Gehenna. The way was sealed by a hundred different relics that galvanized a tremendous amount of energy. Utilizing this power, one could open the path to the demonic world. Legion said nothing as they approached. Cloudhawk, however, felt something. It was his armor reacting. Faintly a thought swam up to him from the memories of his predecessor, leading him to where the gate could be activated. ¡°This¡­ this is the gateway to Gehenna?¡± The demons followed their king into a cavern. Cloudhawk felt something inside resonating with his armor and tickling memories in the back of his mind. A great and ancient will seeped from him and through this place. A fissure opened up between volcanic tunnels. It started as a narrow gap but quickly split wider until it became a bottomless chasm. Inside he could feel flows of spatial energy. Neither Legion nor Belial had ever gone to Gehenna. After the Great War they remained on the human home world, utilizing different methods to keep themselves hidden from gods and demonhunters. So while they knew of Gehenna¡¯s existence, they knew very little else. Abaddon was a different matter. As with any sealing enchantment, there were invariably loopholes in the Demon King¡¯s gate. There were places and times where the seal was unstable, and a small group of demons could abuse these weaknesses to enter the earth. But the real door to Gehenna was right here. Cloudhawk could feel all the energy of the godly base concentrated here, maintaining the fissure. He watched for a few moments but nothing else happened. ¡°Onward.¡± Cloudhawk took the lead, stepping into the darkness. After only a few steps in he felt the flows of space ripple around him. Its power dragged him through dimensions. But this wasn¡¯t ordinary spatial power, not the sort that was common out in the cosmos. It was taking him into a large sub-dimension, not unlike the cube he held. Where it differed was that this place was enormous, as large as any planet. Space-time in these places were independent of the outside universe. Stepping into it was like entering a different reality. The gods could never locate this place, even with all their power. Was this it? Was this the location of Gehenna? Book 7, Chapter 121 - Gehenna Book 7, Chapter 121 - Gehenna As Cloudhawk stepped into the fissure he felt himself being pulled into another dimension. Up, down, left, right¡­ every direction was painted with swirls of light and energy. He could see the flows of space as they warped around him. This place was dangerous. There were no roads, no points of reference, no map. He was floating in space with infinity on all sides. Which direction was the right one? If he got lost, would he ever get out? But as he looked closer, Cloudhawk saw hidden among the flows a pathway into the distance. He floated toward it with his demon companions in tow. Their progress appeared slow without anything for reference, but in fact they were moving quite fast. Nimbly avoiding the gusts of energy, they emerged from the world of color to appear before an enormous whirlpool. It was a strange phenomenon. All of its tremendous energy was pushed out to the edges while the center was perfectly still. Looking at it was like peering on a permanent background fixture, independent of the chaos of the area. This was it. Cloudhawk paused briefly, then flung himself into the center of the vortex. Once again he felt the undeniable tug of spatial energy drawing him in. His body dissolved into billions of atoms and catapulted across the cosmos, ultimately recombining somewhere new. When all his senses returned, the first thing he felt was intense heat. Looking around Cloudhawk saw a lake of molten stone undulating in all directions. Were he an ordinary human, suddenly being deposited in a lake of lava would have killed him immediately. Despite the extreme temperatures, however, Cloudhawk was unharmed. He didn¡¯t even need to activate his defenses, his evolved physique and the armor kept him safe. Even immersed in flowing stone, not a hair was harmed. The same was true for Legion, Belial and Abaddon. Gods and demons enjoyed sturdier bodies and their specially-made armor would not be foiled by a little bit of heat. So without issue they swam to the lake¡¯s edge and pulled themselves free. There, they discovered that this was the lip of a caldera. The whirlpool had deposited them in the middle of an active volcano, where Gehenna¡¯s entrance was hidden. No wonder, then, that the path out of this realm was hidden from the demons who lived here. Looking out over the vista they were greeted by a surprising scene. It was a broken and chaotic realm where the laws of physics were only occasionally applied. A landmass too large to measure hovered in darkness. All around it was a ring of volcanoes, and beyond that a storm of energy that stretched into eternity. From their vantage they could see the rolling lands of the landmass, where alien plants of purple and red grew. Vines were most common. They were everywhere and came in an assortment of odd colors. Like dragons they wound all across the landscape, forming massive jungles. The thickest were ten meters in diameter. Mostly translucent, one could clearly see a reddish-purple fluid pumping through each one. It reminded Cloudhawk of blood moving through arteries. From the surface of them branches extended which were laden with fruit and leaves of different colors. Reaching out with his spatial awareness Cloudhawk surveyed the realm. He quickly discovered that the floating continent was much larger than he originally thought. It was about one tenth the surface of his own planet. Nestled in the very center was a prosperous city. Every building was pillar-shaped. Countless vines gathered there, intertwining and reaching thousands of meters into the sky. Structures were built into their surfaces. At first glance there appeared to be no rhyme or reason to their design, as though they were cancerous growths springing up naturally from the foliage. However, at closer inspection it was obvious that there was a grand pattern at play. What was this city? Why was it here? As far as he knew there weren¡¯t enough demons to populate a place this large. Adabbon noted Cloudhawk¡¯s confusion and explained. ¡°The previous King, in his wisdom, moved many species to this plane. Demons may be few, but the population of Gehenna is no less than your earth.¡± So that was the answer. Once again memories floated up to the fore of Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. After assimilating the armor and accepting his role as the new Demon King, the memories of his predecessor were coming more frequently. They flashed into being with surprising clarity, revealing secrets of spatial power along with a few specific experiences the former King lived through. Just as Cloudhawk had speculated, the Demon King had once been a god, one of their leaders in fact. He served as commander of Sumeru¡¯s forces, destroying countless civilizations at the whim of another. But he was an aberration. Rather than eradicate these beings, he always saved a portion of them. Just as he did with ancient humans and Ark Base. Many he secretly spirited away to this dimension, where after many thousands of years a new civilization grew. Gehenna. Why did he do it? From his memories Cloudhawk learned that he had been committed to another, but his actions were in defiance of this will as well as his own duties. But what confused him even more was the compassion he showed. The Demon King was a warrior of Sumeru, from a race that valued loyalty and obedience, not feelings. Cloudhaw thought about his own encounter with the God King. It had been a short exchange, but it was long enough for Cloudhawk to know that it was different from the others. The God King was enormously powerful, wise, and independent. It could feel, even intensely. Such emotion was not typical for the gods. But maybe divine society wasn¡¯t exactly how Cloudhawk thought. Maybe the God King and Demon King were more similar than they appeared. He didn¡¯t dwell on it for too long. Gathering his powers, Cloudhawk teleported himself and his companions across the vast jungle and into the central plains of Gehenna. From here they got a good view of the stretching world of vines and towers before them. Over a hundred different species called this place home. Coming closer Cloudhawk saw intelligent arthropod-like creatures, things that looked like dinosaurs, and tree people covered in branches and leaves. That wasn¡¯t all; there were silicon-based creatures that looked like they were made out of stone or metal. Some had no bodies at all and were loose connections of buzzing energy. All intelligent, all different, all using various items suitable for their way of life. It appeared that every race retained some part of the ancient civilizations they hailed from. Yet, for all their discrepancies, life here seemed very harmonious. Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t even entered yet, but already could tell this was an inclusive place. It reminded him of the ancient story he once read about Noah and his boat. This was the same, only spread across the stars. Book 7, Chapter 122 - The Venerated Book 7, Chapter 122 - The Venerated ¡°Venerated?¡± An eight-legged creature encased in a beetle-like carapace descended from a silken thread thick as a vine. It regarded the newcomers with four surprised eyes. ¡°Two are. Two are not.¡± Another soft-bodied citizen of Gehenna responded. This one was unique, roughly palm-sized and shaped like an octopus, but its ¡®body¡¯ looked like the folds of a brain. It rode around in a cyborg meat suit. The body it controlled was human in appearance, only without a head or neck. Perched on the shoulders was an apparatus filled with fluid wherein the octopus creature resided. It saw Cloudhawk and Abaddon in their demonic armor and assumed they were ¡®the Venerated¡¯, as they were called here. Legion had taken the War God¡¯s form for his own and Belial wore the skin of an old man. This body was familiar to him, the one he¡¯d worn for over a thousand years. Only in periods of extreme duress did his real form peek through. ¡°This presence is unfamiliar.¡± This time it was a quantum creature, which surprised Cloudhawk. He didn¡¯t think beings in the quantum realm had the same sort of intelligence that others did. It had a humanoid shape, but its ¡®body¡¯ was a loose collection of blue lights. The strange glow radiating from it made the large being even more intimidating. As Cloudhawk and the others moved through the city they observed the many denizens. If he had to guess, the population of these different creatures likely started small and increased over centuries. Now the city was quite crowded. But there were so many. You¡¯d think that so many different races would create a mess of a settlement. But Gehenna was a multi-species home, a microcosm of the universe. In this legendary city there were representatives of countless civilizations, yet their technology was not wholly unfamiliar or fantastical. Gehenna was an enormous pocket dimension. The laws of nature were different and that came with both advantages and drawbacks. The city had existed here for potentially tens of thousands of years, but hasn¡¯t progressed very far. Indeed all civilizations eventually reached a bottleneck. ¡°Please, stop!¡± A mechanical voice reached them. Two electric blue figures descended from overhead to bar Cloudhawk¡¯s path. They were made of some sort of alloy and bouts of flame gushed from their feet to keep them afloat. Robots by the look of them, and quite complex. Cloudhawk peered at them, using his spatial sense to probe their bodies. Not robots, but living things. Only there was not an ounce of flesh or blood in them. If Hellflower were here she¡¯d be fascinated. This was a completely different type of life form. There were many differences between silicon- and carbon-based life forms. Silicon-based creatures had higher storage and information-processing capacity. They could perform millions of calculations in the space of an instant. However, with bodies of stone or metal their evolutionary potential was far more limited than squishier humans. Silicon-based life changed very little over time. Stability was a staple of their construction. Carbon-based life reproduced and evolved tens of times ¨C hundreds of times faster, but when silicon-based creatures evolve to the point of society their technology is far more advanced. In fact, most silicon-based life was born from carbon-based societies. It would be fair to call carbon-based life an incubator for silicon-based beings. Back in the heydey of human civilization there were highly intelligent robots everywhere. They were capable of independent thought and replication ¨C and at that point, what made them separate from any other living thing? Another example was Father, back on Ark Base. It wasn¡¯t merely an advanced artificial intelligence. With control over the human habitat and all of its functions, it was hard to differentiate it from a god. Cloudhawk paid the two guards no mind for the moment. He stretched out his senses even further in all directions. Every corner was revealed, and if he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own ¡®eyes¡¯ Cloudhawk would have trouble believing any of it was real. The two metallic figures shared a brief exchange before extending their hands toward Cloudhawk and his companions. Ominous light shone in their palms. ¡°You may be Venerated, but if you do not verify your identities we cannot allow you further into the city.¡± Cloudhawk brought his attention back to the robots. His eyes glimmered through his mask, and when he spoke it made his voice harsh. ¡°And if I must enter?¡± There was no reaction to his unsaid threat. ¡°In accordance with directives from our Venerated Elders, we are authorized to stop anyone who does not present identification. We would be forced to act.¡± ¡°Try it,¡± Cloudhawk countered, his voice challenging. The light from their palms grew and shot out. While not weak, they were no threat to Cloudhawk. He stood without moving a muscle, for their attempts wouldn¡¯t even displace a hair. A pale white light flickered in the air. The blasts of energy disappeared when they got close without even leaving a ripple. At that moment the guards realized they did not have the strength to stop this Venerated and called their companions. In no time more of them flooded into the area. ¡°You can¡¯t stop me.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s words were full of confidence and menace. The other denizens of Gehenna watched with some apprehension. They knew how powerful the Venerated were. Although there were only four of them, it would be foolish to underestimate the damage they could cause. But there was supposed to be an accord, an agreement for cohabitation even the Venerated couldn¡¯t violate. Abaddon cut in. ¡°You fools, do you not recognize your King? Even the Elders prostrate before him, but you will stand in his way?¡± The guardians didn¡¯t fully understand, but after scanning Abaddon¡¯s face they located his information in their records. Abaddon was a Venerated who went missing several hundred years ago. It was unexpected that he should suddenly resurface here. ¡°Quickly now, tell the Venerated that we have arrived.¡± They obliged. These beings were capable of sharing information in much the same way as gods, though not across tens of thousands of light years as they could. At least across the breadth of this city they could quickly relay information, and it was through this neural network that they reported Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival. A few minutes later the demons stirred. Several powerful essences sprang up to Cloudhawk¡¯s senses in a specific pocket of the city. They all started approaching their location. He looked toward their source. With the support of his spatial power, Cloudhawk¡¯s field of view was ubiquitous. Solid objects did not impede his vision. Thus he extended his sight to the heart of the city, where a large tower lay. Hundreds of dark figures were pouring from it. They all wore the familiar, frightening armor of demons. Powerful, oppressive auras hung over them. It was the first time Cloudhawk had seen so many of these beings together. Clearly, the tower they left from was the headquarters of the city¡¯s ¡®Venerated.¡¯ Some sort of agreement existed between the demons and the citizens of this metropolis. They called the demons ¡®Venerated¡¯ and showed utmost respect, putting them at the height of authority. In other words, if one took control of the demons they would have dominion over every living thing in this dimension. Book 7, Chapter 123 - Submission Book 7, Chapter 123 - Submission Most demons averaged two and a half to three meters tall, with homogeneous armors in shades of black or purple. Their appearances differed but were largely within the same framework. All were wrapped in auras of destruction and death. ¡°The betrayer Abaddon has some gall returning here!¡± One of them with the bearing of a leader hissed the words at Abaddon accusingly. Its words cut deeper than a scalpel. ¡°And with strangers as well. The Elders are sure to see you destroyed for this.¡± This demon was different from the others. He was clearly in charge. His armor was unique in that it was covered in sharp black barbs, forcing everyone to keep their distance. A five-meter long halberd was its weapon, the blade wrapped black flame that twisted the air around it. Abaddon¡¯s response came with his typical raspy laugh. ¡°Your poor temper hasn¡¯t changed in the last two hundred years, Fifth Seal. Take a moment and look closely and you will see I don¡¯t bring just anyone. These are Elders Belial, Legion ¨C and our King!¡± Shock rippled among the demons. The Tenth Seal was no great surprise. He was known for his fear of death, average strength and clever methods. Surviving for so long under the eyes of the gods could be expected. However, the news of Legion¡¯s survival was a bombshell revelation. Gehenna¡¯s denizens assumed the Demon King and the Elder of the Grand Seal[1] both perished during the Great War. If either had survived, why not return to Gehenna at the first opportunity? For years they had floundered, leaderless. Legion was the only one with the authority to command. Indeed, Legion¡¯s return was astonishing news. But it was Abaddon¡¯s final claim that gave them pause. That one among them was their King, returned. Legends abound that with the fall of their former king, a successor would one day emerge. After a thousand years, however, faith in this prophecy had waned. The King was dead. Their Grand Elder was lost. For generations, their species was left stagnant. Over the last several hundred years not a single new demon had emerged. How could a new King reign when not a single addition to their race had come? No one could compare to the power and prestige of their fallen leader. And without his guidance, Gehenna would forever remain stalled. ¡°Nonsense!¡± The Elder of the Fifth Seal flatly denied the claim. ¡°I speak the truth, Elder. Surely you recall the presence of our King¡¯s armor. He who joins with the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass has shown his worth as our most high Master. You ¨C as one of the Five ¨C refuse this even as your King and Grand Elder stand before us?¡± Calm came over the Fifth Elder after his initial shock. His temperament was famously volatile, but long millennia had honed his mind. He was not shaken by Abaddon¡¯s reproach. ¡°Do you think I am so easy to deceive? He may don the armor, but it is easy to know he is not one of us! He is no demon, so how can he be crowned Demon King?¡± Anger poured off the Elder. ¡°Abaddon! You come seeking your own destruction!¡± Roaring fires leaped from the halberd as a frightening presence filled the area. Murderous intent was levied on Abaddon. ¡°Do you really recognize me, Haborym[2] Haborym¡¯s attention shifted from Abaddon to Legion. Although he wore the body of a god, he was by no means one of their hated enemies. The power and presence enveloping him, the sword in his hands, they all proved his identity. ¡°Grand¡­ Grand Elder!¡± ¡°Abaddon speaks the truth. Gehenna¡¯s King returns. A thousand years of darkness and dormancy have come to an end. The time has come for us to avenge our fallen.¡± For a thousand years, Elder Legion had lived by the words of the prophecy. He appeared before his brethren now and they did not know how they should react. Before the Great War, Legion¡¯s strength and status were second only to the King himself. The only one of them who could hold a candle to their leader. He was the King¡¯s closest confidante. Any major action he concocted was given to Legion to improve upon and implement. He was the voice,, hand and eyes of their King. Things were different now. The Great War was a thousand years past. In all that time no one had heard from Legion and his influence had waned. Power among the Seals had also grown more complicated. With Legion¡¯s sudden return the Demon Elder of the Fifth Seal was not sure what to do. In the end he came to a conclusion. ¡°Grand Elder has been gone for an age. We are commanded by the Second and Third Seal now. I am duty-bound to bring this human before them. I ask the Grand Elder not to interfere.¡± Legion¡¯s ¡®voice¡¯ was low and threatening. ¡°It seems I have been gone too long. You have forgotten the respect I once commanded.¡± ¡°Grand Elder, you¡­¡± A cold crept into Haborym¡¯s chest. He swallowed it down. ¡°You have lost your old form. Much of your original strength is gone. Our species respects strength. Grand Elder, in your state you are not fit to lead. You will come with me to face the Second and Third Seal.¡± Cloudhawk was impatient. He had no more interest in pointless talk. The Demon King created Gehenna, it had been his to rule. Now that the old King had died, all that was his was passed on to his successor. Gehenna was Cloudhawk¡¯s domain now. He had come to claim what was his, not to waste time arguing. He was home. He made the rules. Demons respected strength, he said? Then he would show him strength! Haborym felt a sudden and intense outpouring of power. It appeared from the ether all around him, locking him in a cage of pressure that seeped into the depths of his soul. It had been untold years since this strange, familiar feeling had filled him. For an instant he saw the Demon King standing before him. Cloudhawk took a step forward and in a flash appeared before the Fifth Elder. Reaching out, he plucked Godslayer from thin air and hacked it toward Haborym. There was enough power behind it to cleave this pocket universe in half. Everyone who watched was frozen in fear and awe. He was no demon, they sensed it from his aura. He was closer to humans, but how could a human wield such terrible strength? Haborym was different from Belial. The artisan earned his position as the Tenth Seal because of his crafting abilities. Were only his fighting skills considered, he would not be counted among the Elders. Haborym, however, was one of the strongest of his species. He was a master of all means of combat and thus lesser fiends like Belial could not compare. ¡°Spatial power!¡± The words rasped from Haborym¡¯s throat. Some among the demons were able to command spatial energy, but none so freely as this human. None but the old Demon King. In the light of the sword coming his way, the Elder felt a lethal and inexhaustible energy, one that even he dare not ignore. Could it be that he also commanded other powers, this new King? He held his ground, blocking Godslayer his with halberd. As their two weapons connected, Haborym felt himself enveloped in spatial power. He noted it for just a second, but when he looked around again at his surroundings the city was gone. In its stead was a vast range of bubbling volcanoes of lakes of lava. ¡°This is the edge of Gehenna...¡± For a thousand years Haborym had called this place home. He knew every inch of it. The continent was not limitless, marked by a ring of ever rumbling volcanoes. It was far, far from the city. He would need to fly for half a day to get back. How? Had the human sent him all the way out here with a mere thought? The demon was a storied warrior, so with only a moment¡¯s hesitation he brandished his weapon and countered. Power flowed through the halberd, causing the flames upon it to roar higher. He swooped down upon Cloudhawk with astonishing power, causing several calderas below to break apart. Cloudhawk swung Godslayer through the air in a circle as though casually painting a picture. It encircled the roaring dragon of black flame that came his way, and like a bottomless well all of Haborym¡¯s fury was swallowed up. However much is wriggled and writhed, it could not escape. Shock once more took Haborym¡¯s senses. Cleaoudhawk, meanwhile, carved another circle. A second opening was created into the pocket space. The Elder¡¯s torrent of black energy was released in a column of pain and anger toward the one who bore it. Cloudhawk was using Haborym¡¯s own attack against him. He tried to dodge but everything around him was unstable. Flows of spatial energy created turbulence, which would rip through even the Elder¡¯s sturdy form. Unless he got a better sense of the battlefield, he dare not move lest the turbulence maim him permanently. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and bear it! Haborym held his halberd before him to block the incoming strike. This was his own power, after all, so he was strong enough to withstand it. But at this moment Cloudhawk flung his own attack at him from long range. Godslayer¡¯s light pierced right through the space barrier. It disappeared from in front of Cloudhawk and emerged right in front of the Elder. There was no way to see it coming, for there was nothing to see. It ripped into him, leaving a nasty gaping wound. Haborym tried to fall back but the angry flows of space were closing in, keeping him contained. The demon felt an intense, indomitable power closing in on him. It wasn¡¯t just pressure, but space compressing all around. Every atom was squeezed and on the verge of breaking apart. Haborym felt the risk to his life. ¡°I yield!¡± Haborym had no choice. He had lost. This human¡¯s abilities displayed incredible power and mastery. No further test was necessary. Cloudhawk regarded his foe with cold, emotionless eyes. Since joining with the armor, his mental energies had soared. But the greatest gains had come in his mastery of spatial power. Before he had wielded but a portion of what was possible. Now, with the same energy he could perform feats ten times as magnificent. Cloudhawk¡¯s mental power was not much greater than Haborym¡¯s, but the Elder of the Fifth Seal was no match for him. Book 7, Chapter 124 - Changes in the World of Gehenna Book 7, Chapter 124 - Changes in the World of Gehenna Cloudhawk brought Haborym back to the city. Their clash had only lasted a few minutes. All the demons who had been milling around rushed to action when space spat them out. They drew their weapons and gathered round, ready to attack. But Haborym warned them off with a motion of his hand. He knew how strong Cloudhawk was. The Fifth Seal was impressed and subdued. No one ¨C besides the late Demon King ¨C had such superb command over spatial power. Cloudhawk also showed strength in other domains, which he wielded as deftly as though they were part of him. And after all that Haborym still sensed that this human was holding back. In a contest of life and death he would be even more lethal. It was only a guess, but the Elder wondered if even the Second and Third Seals could win in a contest against this man. Haborym had said it himself. Demons respected strength! This human had proved himself stronger than the Fifth Seal. He wore the former King¡¯s armor, wielded power greater than his predecessor, and had the Grand Elder¡¯s support. Cloudhawk had the rite to stand before them, to walk among the demons. ¡°I will advise all the Elders to call a meeting.¡± Haborym fixed Cloudhawk with a sidelong stare. ¡°Whether you find acceptance among the Seals is up to you. Please, come with me.¡± In the center of the Gehennan continent, in the heart of its lone city, a tower pierced the heavens. It was several hundred meters in diameter and thousands of meters tall. Dozens of vines wrapped around it from base to crown, each one pulsing with light. The towering structure was like a dark living thing, the home of all the demons here in Gehenna. It was called the Tower of Babel.[1] In the age of the previous Demon King, when Demonic society was at its peak, their population numbered nearly sixty thousand. The Great War wiped out two thirds of them, and since then their species had been in a state of steady decline. No more than twenty thousand now remained. Many hundreds of years had passed since the last demon was born. But discounting their species because of this would be foolish. Gods and demons had infinite life spans and vigorous innate power. Were all of Babel¡¯s inhabitants to go to war, they could raze whole civilizations. Any singular creature was capable of flattening mountains, and their mightiest could boil whole seas. They were a race to be feared. Cloudhawk was here to call upon this small army, With their support he would finally have the strength they needed to battle the forces of Sumeru. Humans were bold, but against the might of the gods and their weapons they were vulnerable. If the demons could be counted on to strengthen their front lines, it would go a long way toward protecting their future. Cloudhawk entered the Tower of Babel. Like the Temples of the gods, this structure was made with odd technology that made its interior far larger than the outside would imply. Every floor was as large as a city. Here where the demons lived, all manner of wonders had been created. As he made his way through, Cloudhawk witnessed demons carving images into hillsides. Many were done already, rising up hundreds of meters or more. Peering closer he saw that all displayed incredible detail, flawless works of art. Other demons were bending the soil to their whim, etching beautiful pictures in the earth. Everything was their canvas, anything was their paintbrush. Art was everywhere he looked, and not just art but music and poetry too. Gentle notes intermingled with muttered conversations about ancient prose. Mutual respect and admiration was given for all examples of self-expression. While demons did not need to eat or drink, that didn¡¯t stop several from also mastering the culinary arts as well. Here in Gehenna demons were called ¡®Venerated¡¯ by the other races. It wasn¡¯t just because they lived long lives and wielded great power, but also because it seemed that every demon was also an accomplished artist[2]. They were also fonts of knowledge, having accumulated much experience after so many years. Every demon was a repository of legends and stories. To the humans of earth, demons were synonymous with death and destruction. If only they could see this spectacle, they wouldn¡¯t be able to grasp it. Grand Elder Legion had returned! A new Demon King has appeared! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have time to explore Babel and the world around it. News of his arrival had spread quickly and scores of curious demons gathered round to see for themselves. Generations had passed with no leader. Every demon had been waiting for this day, the day their king returned. Was it not for this moment that Gehenna had lain in wait? But there was also some trepidation among some. What did it mean that the King was back? How would their lives change? Before long, Cloudhawk was presented before the Elders. The Council of Seals was the highest authority among demons. During the height of their reign there were hundreds of seats. Now all that remained were forty-eight. Their leadership was composed of their top ten, which was reduced to six: Grand Elder Legion, Second Seal Crokel, Third Seal Korath, Fifth Seal Haborym, Ninth Seal Dumah, and Tenth Seal Belial. The Grand Elder and Tenth Seal had reemerged after a thousand years. Thus for the last millennia there were only four Elders leading their kin in hiding. Decline of the demonic race was evident by the erosion of their leaders. Several dozen Elders had convened in a meeting hall. Something about their presence alone inspired fear. Lesser men would quickly give in to the terror and lose their minds. After all, these creatures were living nightmares. Among these Elders, the weakest could match a Supreme blow for blow. Furthermore, their race was cunning and inexplicable. This made them considerably more dangerous. ¡°Grand Elder Legion has been missing for more than one thousand years, only to show himself before us now to reveal the rise of a new King. Is this meant to be some ruse? A joke you play on old colleagues?¡± Within the palatial meeting hall each of the demon elders stood upon a floating dais. The one speaking floated highest, the Elder of the Second Seal Crokel. Unlike the rest of his kin, Crokel¡¯s form was an every-changing mass of fluid. A column of dark mercury with a pair of crimson eyes.[3] To be named Second Seal, this creature was by no means a being to trifle with. His power was equivalent to the greatest of Sumeru¡¯s generals. Based on his words and tone, the Elder was displeased with Legions actions. In the first moments of this meaning there was clear disdain both for Cloudhawk and the Grand Elder. This was inevitable and expected, and not just because Cloudhawk was human. For a thousand years the Demon King had been absent. Legion had vanished. As Second Seal Crokel had been forced to rise to the occasion. But he was not strong enough to command supplication on his own. With the support of the Third Seal, they had managed to maintain solidarity among their kin. In their system of ranking, Crokel had seniority above all others. That is, until the Great Elder¡¯s return, with a new King in tow. Their sudden arrival affected him most dramatically. For a creature used to the feel of power over the last thousand years, this change was bitter and acute. Dominion, once acquired, was hard to quit. It was as true for demons as it was for men. But things were different for gods. The divine were loyal and selfless, sacrificing themselves for the collective without hesitation. In their society the individual could at any time be given up for the good of all ¨C something rare in lesser species where fear and selfishness were wide-spread. Such was the strength of intelligent creatures, but also their weakness. Legion¡¯s response was delivered in even tones. ¡°It was the former King¡¯s final wish that I should find and guide his successor. Although the new King has come from human stock, in inheriting the power of his forebear Cloudhawk had obtained the strength to lead our people. Our new King has more power and potential than he who came before. If you do not trust my words, ask the Fifth Seal.¡± Haborym had no choice but to nod his head in agreement. There was no denying that this human wielded incredible strength. Legion went on. ¡°For a thousand years Gehenna has hidden in the shadows, waiting for this exact moment. For the day their King returned. It is time now for our people to leave Gehenna and fight to regain the pride that was stolen from us.¡± ¡°Suppose what you are saying is true and this human is our King. What makes you think we will prevail against the gods where we failed before?¡± This time it was the Third Seal who spoke. Korath¡¯s[4] most defining feature was his one eye with a multitude of pupils Each one was said to command terrible magic. ¡°Two thirds of our race is gone, compared to when we were at our peak. Meanwhile the gods have had one thousand years to bolster their strength. A millennia ago we were not strong enough to stop them, what makes you think we can stop them now?¡± ¡°Our Elder of the Third Seal speaks true.¡± The Ninth Elder, Dumah[5], agreed. ¡°There is no hunger to fight the gods among our kin. Further discussion is necessary if we are to consider sending our forces against Sumeru.¡± Hearing this, Tenth Seal Belial nodded in agreement. In his eyes it was foolish to court war with the gods. The earliest demons were gods coaxed away by the former Demon King. Their small group of defectors were strong, but greatly inferior in regards to technology. When the indomitable Demon King went to war with the equally unyielding God King, it was the demons who lost all their greatest. Really, how were they ever supposed to recover from such a calamity? Demons were a race of personal ideas and individuality. Belial was not alone in his determinations. Humans had many stories of heroes who rose up to fight against impossible odds. There were multitudes willing to die for others, for glory, for riches, for rights ¨C for all manner of ridiculous things. Mankind did not fear death in the same way demons did, because to man death was inevitable. A lifetime was limited, gone in the blink of an eye. Demons, on the other hand, were not doomed in the same way. They lived lives that stretched into infinity. With the potential to exist for tens of thousands of years, they had more to lose than humans did. Their crippling fear of death had been suppressed with the Demon King¡¯s force of personality, but those times were gone. After so long many of the demons had adapted to a quiet life, a life of peace. Cloudhawk had seen it walking to this meeting. Gehenna was not large, but it was enough. As for the lack of any new demons? So be it, at least they wouldn¡¯t die. Even Abaddon was stunned by how different his kin had become. The Gehenna he left centuries ago was not like this. Their ideas of slithering in the dark had taken hold in his absence and grown strong. The thirst for a new King to lead them was diminished. The desire to punish the gods and carve out a place in the cosmos was a distant dream. For these reasons, not all were eager to welcome the Demon King¡¯s return. 1. In Chinese it is called¡¯ the Tower of Ten Thousand Demons¡¯. I chose babel because it is a story about how all the world¡¯s people escaped to a common place after the flood. 2. What an interesting detail. It makes me think of Gabriel, whose ¡®demonic¡¯ alter ego was also very artistic. Also, Legion¡¯s love for books and poetry is revealed to be a quality of his species and not just a personal quirk. 3. Crokel was chosen because in christian demonology he is a demon associated with water and illusion, who plagues men with sores and death. In Chinese his name is Huan E, ¡®illusory and unsettling.¡¯ Crokel fits the bill. 4. Taken from the Cthulu mythos, Ngyu-Korath is a dream-like creature with a single eye. Here his Chinese name means ¡®The Nether Eye¡¯. 5. Dumah is actually the name of an angel called the angel of death, but also in Judaic tradition as a level of hell called the silent hell. Dumah¡¯s Chinese name means ¡®Silent Spring¡¯. Book 7, Chapter 125 - Elder Intrigue Book 7, Chapter 125 - Elder Intrigue ¡°Gods and demons are natural foes. It is only a matter of time before the God King discovers our hideout.¡± Legion¡¯s voice had grown cold. ¡°How long before your doom comes knocking?¡± It was a forecast that plucked at the deepest fears of the Elders. ¡°It did not escape the God King¡¯s attention that some demons managed to escape and survive. Its powers were more than enough to uncover Gehenna¡¯s location and yet I ask you ¨C why do you think you were spared?¡± Legion¡¯s question was met with silence. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, if you are so unwilling to hazard a guess,¡± Legion said with some disdain. ¡°It is because you sorry dregs aren¡¯t a threat to Sumeru. Not worth the God King¡¯s attention. After the Great War much of Sumeru¡¯s strength had been spent to win their victory. The God King was in no hurry to throw away more souls to hunt down the toothless remnants of a rebellion.¡± Even humans understood the principle of not pursuing a broken enemy. A thousand years ago demons had been pushed to the brink. If the God King had chased them to Gehenna they would have fought tooth and nail to their demise. Though victory would have been won, it would have come at a great cost. Now, after a thousand years, the armies of Sumeru had regained their strength. Meanwhile the demons are defeated in morale. They had died already in their hearts. Was not the greatest victory not laying siege to one¡¯s foe and defeating them without losing a single soldier? The God King spared Gehenna because the rock these demons hid under was not worth finding. Why was it so confident in their impotence? Because they had no leader. Without a Demon King to lead them the rebels were nothing more than grains of sand in a storm. Without Source they could make no technological progress nor create more demons to bolster their numbers. They were condemned to a slow, wasting extinction. It also served the gods to have a small, shattered portion of their foes remaining. A boogeyman in the shadows with which to frighten their human chattel. From time to time one might sneak through and give demonhunters a chance to pursue their ultimate prey. It inspired them to grow stronger, and to remain loyal. ¡°At this very moment Sumeru¡¯s vanguard attacks earth. The God King knows a successor to his ancient foe has been found. This time it will not stop until nothing is left.¡± With every word Legion¡¯s presence swelled, filling the chamber. After a thousand years the stifling presence of the Grand Elder was felt once again. ¡°The question is not whether to fight. There is no choice. The question is whether our people will be erased from the universe.¡± The Elders all sat with still tongues. Yes, demons lived forever and in times of peace it was natural to fear death and war. But it was also their long lives that crippled them with fear of the future. For men, the inevitable could be ignored ¨C a problem for later generations. For demons it was an inevitability they would have to face personally. Time. Long or short, it didn¡¯t matter. When a problem emerged it had to be dealt with, for it would reach them eventually. Sumeru¡¯s armies were on the warpath. The threat they posed was not some distant possibility but an immediate concern. The clock was ticking. ¡°The Grand Elder makes a good argument.¡± Haborym was likely the older one of the Ten Seals ¨C besides Legion ¨C support war. ¡°Instead of waiting for our demise we should take the initiative!¡± Dumah answered. ¡°What initiative is there against a being that can see all of time?¡± Crokel and Korath were silent, however their thoughts were as clear as though they were spoken aloud. This dire situation had them caught between a rock and a hard place. It was then Cloudhawk decided to step forward. Crimson fires danced in his eyes, especially stark against the pale surface of his mask. They conveyed a terrible pressure, a crushing fear that any living thing would struggle to face. He looked upon the Elders who quickly averted their gaze. ¡°From the instant I donned this armor; from the moment I was chosen as his successor, I was fated to complete the mission your former King failed. For this mission, I have sacrificed. Here I stand, telling you that I will have no problem sacrificing what stands in my way.¡± His cutting gaze fixed on the Second and Third Seals. His words were brazen, threatening. Many of the demons present bristled at his disrespect. A glint of light appeared within Korath¡¯s single eye. It spoke of his wish to rise up and shut this human¡¯s mouth. It was not hard to imagine their reaction. These were beings who had lived since ancient times. Each was a collection of countless experiences and acquired wisdom. And Cloudhawk? A mere human. A small thing whose life was over after a few short decades. What rite did he have to stand before them? Simply because he managed to put on some armor? There was no denying that it was a mark of dominance. Cloudhawk wore the mantle of a King and had the key to their realm, but he was human ¨C not one of them. How could demons debase themselves by submitting to human rule? But as Korath was about to give voice to his thoughts, he felt a draft of mental energy from the Second Seal urging silence. It was Crokel who stood, and in an unexpected move bowed before Cloudhawk. It¡¯s liquid-like body undulated as though seen through a dream. ¡°Respected successor of our King, your arrival is sudden as is the news you bear. We demons have spent the last thousand years adapting to a new life. Asking us to discard what we have built over this time is not as easy as levying a demand.¡± Cloudhawk focused all of his attention upon the Elder of the Second Seal. ¡°I came for the obedience and loyalty that I am owed ¨C not excuses.¡± ¡°This...¡± There was a flicker of something behind the demon¡¯s red eyes, as though it were quickly calculating. ¡°Please, honored inheritor. Gives the Elders and our council some time. We will spread the information among our people and come to a decision quickly.¡± Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes. ¡°You better.¡± ¡°Haborym, Dumah. Why don¡¯t you show our Tower to the King¡¯s successor, see to whatever he needs.¡± The two Elders complied. Cloudhawk cast a glance to Legion, who assured him it was fine. So without any further conversation Cloudhawk left with his companions and the two Seals. ¡°Elders, we-¡± The remaining forty or so members of the councils wanted to know what their leaders were thinking. Crokel cut them off with an even voice. ¡°Leave us, all of you. Spread this information to the others, neglect no one.¡± Without answers, the Elder demons left to do as they were told. Korath linked directly to Crokel¡¯s mind. ¡°Do you really intend to respect this human¡¯s claims, Crokel? Do you really seek a war?¡± ¡°Of course not. Merely a delaying tactic while we concoct a plan for dealing with them. We determine our course of action, then make our move,¡± the Second Elder responded. Surprise was felt through their connection. ¡°Against the human and his allies? He might be human, but he wears the armor. Haborym is strong and yet was beaten. This successor also has Legion¡¯s protection, I fear-¡± Determination and cold resolve filled Korath¡¯s mind as Crokel cut him off. ¡°I observed the fight between Haborym and the successor. The human¡¯s spatial powers are in no way inferior to our lost King. The Elder of the Fifth Seal was doomed to lose. However, the human¡¯s mental prowess is not much greater than our colleagues. This means...¡± ¡°¡­ that he is no match for us.¡± Korath finished the thought. ¡°But it is not the human I fear. Legion cannot be trusted, and his ways are inscrutable.¡± ¡°Hngh hngh¡­ during his peak neither one of us was a match for the Grand Elder. However, he has weakened considerably since his defeat on earth. Over the past thousand years his influence among our people has dissipated. We should take this opportunity to rid ourselves of his meddling. All the more reason for us to act now.¡± Korath was hesitant. He harbored great fear of the Grand Elder. ¡°Do not waver. Have you forgotten our plight? Even if the successor is stronger than our lost King, they would place a sovereign over our heads toward no good end. Would you submit to the will of a human?¡± ¡°Very well. What is our plan?¡± ¡°Leave the successor to me. Legion is your target.¡± Their conversation was a psychic one, an exchange that was quick and quiet. No one was privy to their dark conspiracies. For a thousand years the Elders of the Second and Third Seal have ruled over Gehenna. They were its rulers and no one would wrest control from them. But they did not wish to risk a direct confrontation with the Demon King. Best to keep their intentions in the shadows, until the perfect moment. Humans, demons, any other intelligent species¡­ desire and intrigue came hand in hand. When desire was impeded, the darkest impulses of treachery emerged. Book 7, Chapter 126 - Still Waters Run Deep Book 7, Chapter 126 - Still Waters Run Deep From the top of the Tower of Babel, one could see every corner of the Gehennan continent. Expansive, majestic, the sky was like an ocean of flowing energy. Where those flows met, eddies formed and the light they released illuminated the land. Cloudhawk stood at the summit of the tower, looking out over the landscape. He¡¯d arrived at Gehenna. He had taken hold of his title as Demon King ¨C the road he had always been fated to travel. After discovering the rich, multi-racial civilization that was built here and seeing the sprawling mountains, he felt a sense of calm. Still waters ran deep, however. A calm heart hid turbulent currents below. Dawn¡¯s face kept appearing before him like a spirit that wouldn¡¯t let him rest. After losing his closest friend Cloudhawk didn¡¯t cry. He didn¡¯t curse or scream. There was no hysterical promise of vengeance. He was just calm. There was no evidence of emotion at all on his features. He had the detached bearing of a ruthless King, Elements of this reminded him of years ago, when he had to bury Artemis with his own hands. He was a very different man these days, but the experience was the same. Almost thirty years old, but he felt much older. Ten years had passed since everything started. In less than a decade the world had changed completely. People always changed, but Cloudhawk felt like he was no longer even human. Legion, Belial, and Abaddon stood a short distance behind their King. No one said anything, silence hung thick in the air and no one dared disturb the stillness. Haborym and a few other elders were also present. The Fifth Seal knew nothing of Cloudhawk, but there was something about his image, peering off into the distance, that struck him. Their new King did not seem to talk much, but there was a power in silence. Over time this power grew until it was time to act, and the whole universe changed. Haborym understood why Legion had chosen this one. The potential was obvious. Striking. Perhaps he really could lead their species to a resurgence. ¡°I need Gehenna¡¯s strength, but I know there is a group of the Elders who will not obey me.¡± After ten minutes of silence Cloudhawk finally spoke. ¡°Legion, as Grand Elder you should know the best step forward.¡± ¡°Do not worry, my King. I will handle it.¡± ¡°Go,¡± he replied. With a small bow Legion fell back to Haborym¡¯s side. The Grand Elder did not look at him, but the Fifth Seal could feel Legion¡¯s mental energies wash over him. He felt a shiver run along his spine. The Elder of the First Seal might have lost much of his power over the years, but Haborym still found it hard to resist Legion¡¯s terrible presence. ¡°Elder Haborym. What is your choice?¡± It was the voice of the Demon King that invaded his mind. Haborym went to one knee and placed his halberd upon the ground. In a voice full of respect, he replied. ¡°The former King saved my life. My closest friend died at the hands of the gods. Whatever the other Elders decide, so long as my King fights the gods I will fight by his side.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Then I need you to assemble the demonic forces immediately.¡± His command caused Haborym to pause. Calling the army was no small matter and required an order from the elder council. This had been the way of things for a thousand years. But there was no interest in war from the other Seals, they would not agree to such a request. ¡°Your subordinate obeys.¡± Haborym wanted to object, but his instinct told him it was not the time to refuse. He gathered Dumah and the other demons, leaving Cloudhawk alone. Once out of earshot, Dumah finally spoke up. ¡°Haborym, are you insane? This is a betrayal of the Second and Third Seal. He just arrived in Gehenna, there is no reason to think the demons will follow him.¡± Haborym spared a glance for the Ninth Seal. ¡°I understand our leaders better than you do.¡± ¡°And yet you still pledge yourself to the human?¡± ¡°If the Second and Third Seals do not recognize the new king, then they won¡¯t let him establish a foothold in the tower. They will act soon, and when they do we will see what our next step is.¡± ¡°What if they fail? Or accept the new King?¡± ¡°Then we must pledge fealty. It would be our only choice.¡± Dumah understood the mind of his superior. Haborym was going to stall, remaining neutral in this struggle between the new King and the other elders. Wait until the dust settled and adapt to the aftermath, that was how they kept their heads above water. Haborym, Dumah and the others went on with their business. Back in his chamber, Cloudhawk was alone with Legion and Belial. He spoke softly. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look around the tower.¡± Belial was uncertain. He sensed a disquiet in Babel. The demons were unruly, and although Cloudhawk appeared here in the armor of the King he would find it was not so easy to make them obey. Cloudhawk and Legion knew this, of course, but they were outsiders. A foreign force would fall before entrenched troops. On the one hand there were no loyal followers here to lean upon. On the other, Legion¡¯s prestige had vanished after a millennia in shadow. Could he be counted on to outwit the cunning Elders? But his concerns notwithstanding, Belial chose to remain silent. He knew the Cloudhawk standing before him now was not the same one he met in Byzantium. He was a true Demon King now. Better to hold back then say everything that was on his mind. Cloudhawk and the two demons began their trek through the Tower of Babel. The King wanted to see how his subjects had been living for the last thousand years. The tower¡¯s interior was huge. Not only demons lived inside, but also many of the other species found throughout the city. They acted as servants and attendants for the Venerated. But though their purpose here was servile, anyone welcomed into the tower was a champion among their own people. Each level of the Tower of Babel differed. Every floor was its own city. Here demons were rulers, the keepers of order, but they were few in number. Most of the work to keep life going was performed by the lesser races. For instance, he saw another group of those quantum beings gathering something that looked like legumes. They put them into a counter that mashed them, then put the paste in another receptacle. After a few moments what they retrieved from the apparatus looked more like meat than beans. Cloudhawk was inspired by the process. Belial, too, was drawn in by what he saw and approached the creatures. ¡°How are those beans becoming meat? What container is this? Let me see!¡± One of the quantum beings answered. ¡°Honored Venerated, we are not a psionic race. We cannot use relics with mental energy as you can. We do this through our abundant atomic capabilities.¡± The universe was home to many species. Not all of them were awakened in the same way humans were. Mankind was a model race in this way, and as such were bred by the gods to possess this power. What Cloudhawk¡¯s people called mental power, the rest of the universe called psionic energy. This energy was able to directly alter reality, even create things out of nothing. Its nature and principles could not be explained in any scientific way. ¡°We, the people of Vulpecula[1], do not possess psionic ability. However, by our nature we can become more directly involved in atomic construction of physical matter. We can break things apart into their basic parts and reconstitute them as we please. In this way we produce whatever materials might be required.¡± Fascinating. Like anything, the legumes were a specific atomic formula that made them what they were. Taking that formula apart, they could recombine it into the formula for meat. Through the ability of these beings anything could be something else. Garbage ¨C even feces ¨C could be changed into food that was indistinguishable from something gathered in the traditional way. These beings ¨C these Vulpites ¨C did not eat food. But they could create, which they then sold to carbon-based lifeforms for the materials they needed to survive. Symbiotic relationships like this were common in Gehenna. Each race and society had different needs. But they learned from one another, and together build a thriving city that worked for everyone. The potential of this unified land, if given the right opportunities, was astounding. ** While Cloudhawk was strolling through Babel, the Second and Third Seals had already put their plan into action. In order to protect themselves and their plans, the Elders did not share their intentions with the council. Only a handful of their closest confidants were made aware. That was enough, after all Legion was the greatest threat and he was far weaker than before. As for the new King, they knew his powers came from his predecessor. The Second and Third Seals were among the first to pledge themselves to the former King. They understood his abilities more than most. The Second Seal was confident he knew how to deal with Cloudhawk and his powers. Once they heard that the human and Legion had separated, the Elders determined it was time to act. Korath set out with six of his most elite compatriots, locking onto Legion¡¯s location with the power of his singular eye. ¡°I have found the Grand Elder. Now¡¯s the time. Follow the plan.¡± 1. Vulpecula is the name of a constellation, within which is a planet that Hubble has determined is a deep blue. These aliens call their planet ¡®Blue Magic Star¡¯. Apparently this planet has a atmosphere of glass that rains sideways at 5,400 mph. Sounds like magic to me. Book 7, Chapter 127 - Six Thousand Crokels Book 7, Chapter 127 - Six Thousand Crokels There was no darkness in Gehenna, no cycle of day and night. Cloudhawk had spent time wandering through the city, making rough approximations of its strength, population and manufacturing capabilities. What he learned was that without the Tower of Babel, the city was roughly as successful as Ark Base. Gehenna was also a font of strength. There were many among the psionic races who had been trained to considerable levels. Such fighters would be very useful. Gehenna had one monarch and that was the Demon King. Without a doubt, Cloudhawk¡¯s predecessor gathered these people here in preparation for a future war with the gods. Against the encroaching armies Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have many cards to play. That was why taking control of this place was crucial. His lengthy tour took him through Babel and the areas surrounding it. He decided to stop. The area he found himself in was a sort of uncultivated area, with wild hills and trees laden with fruit. They were like Eboncrys, Cloudhawk noted, but also different. The fruits all glowed like hanging lanterns. ¡°Trouble! Spatial flows have been locked down here.¡± Belial discovered the change by its absence. Flows of spatial powers had vanished ¨C certainly not something that happened by accident. Someone was doing it on purpose. Abaddon summoned a cloud of sand around himself. ¡°It appears someone couldn¡¯t wait to make their move.¡± A simple sword wrapped in threads of purple lightning crackled in Cloudhawk¡¯s grip. The field split as a half-moon shaped streak of light swept across the area. It struck an invisible figure, which splattered into a rain of black fluid. What followed was strange to behold. Every droplet wriggled through the air, expanding into a humanoid shape. Cloudhawk¡¯s quick strike had found purchase, but his single target had exploded into thousands more. There was now an army facing him. These were copies. Every one of them was its own form. Crokel¡¯s power was unique. A creature like him could face thousands all by himself. During the Great War Crokel earned glory by single-handedly defeating a troop of gods one thousand soldiers strong. He left the battle unscathed, his foes decimated. ¡°It¡¯s the Second Seal!¡± Belial¡¯s face was downcast. Abaddon also struggled against the fear welling up inside of him. Any other foe would be hardly a problem for them here ¨C all except Crokel. To this day no one had concocted a means to kill the demon. Of course, he would not have risen to the rank of Second Seal if he was not extremely powerful. Several more demons emerged from the shadows nearby. These were Crokel¡¯s own men and were here to keep space locked down or offer extra help if needed. The latter was an unnecessary precaution, for Crokel was confident that he had strength enough to deal with these three fools. Cloudhawk was strong, with spatial powers no less potent than the King he had replaced. However, Crokel was intimately familiar with these skills and how to counter them. Under the blockade he¡¯d built there was no escape for the human, and he was robbed of his greatest strength. How then could he compete against a being like Crokel? ¡°Are you sure of this choice to betray me, Second Seal?¡± ¡°This is not betrayal. I am saving the demons from destruction.¡± All of the Elder¡¯s bodies spoke in unison. Their voices boomed like thunder in his mind with enough mental force to cripple a lesser man. ¡°We demons are not tools. War is not our only course. You bring annihilation to our doorstep, so I am left with no choice but to see you destroyed.¡± So Crokel had decided to act. It was a pity, Cloudhawk thought. As Second Seal Crokel had the power of Sumeru¡¯s strongest generals. If he¡¯d only bend his knee he could help Cloudhawk in battle against anyone but the God King itself. But the choice to fight with him out in the open was irreversible. It meant there was no possibility of cooperation. Only one would survive. Cloudhawk¡¯s voice came low and dangerous. ¡°I understand wanting to change my mind. But you were too impatient.¡± Crokel¡¯s liquid body rippled as he considered the human¡¯s words. Impatient? What is he saying? Is the successor mocking his preparations? What have I missed? Crokel had no choice but to act in haste. A new King had arisen and returned to Gehenna, a fact which all the Elders now knew. But the rest of his kin did not ¨C not yet. He also had to consider a number of Seals who were traditionalists, and would choose to follow this new King. In other words, the longer Cloudhawk remained in this city the more his influence grew. If left unchecked he could cause a rift among the demons. That wasn¡¯t something Crokel could tolerate. ¡°You are too young, successor. You are not a threat to me.¡± The Second Seal had lived for thousands of years. He was not one for boastful words, so he quit their meaningless back and forth. Thousands of him began to rush in like a dark tidal wave. Cloudhawk moved quickly to cut several dozen apart. His weapon ¨C Godslayer ¨C was the result of Ruin and the Arbiter¡¯s Staff combined. This combination made it more than just lethal, but also expressly capable of destroying things like relics. In theory, no substance was safe from his baleful power. But for all its power, Godslayer was useless against Crokel. No matter how many attacks he levied against the Elder, no matter how many times he broke a liquid body apart, they always reformed into even more copies. Abaddon summoned a wall of sand to protect himself. Belial flung plumes of black flame in all directions to try and dissuade Crokel¡¯s copies from drawing near. Yet their efforts were in vain, for Crokel easily burst through Abaddon¡¯s wall and passed unscathed through Belial¡¯s fires. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded!¡± Cloudhawk looked around. Everywhere he looked, Crokel¡¯s rippling face looked back at him. Every passing second the number of them grew, closing in from everywhere. Meanwhile he tried different attacks to gauge their use ¨C for instance, he tried evaporating the demon¡¯s liquid body. But it was no use. He summoned Castigation Fire in the hopes that its special qualities would defeat the beast. However, much to his surprise the green flames did not catch. Was this damn thing unkillable?! ¡°Are those the fires of the late Nineteenth Seal? Unexpected that they should find their way into your hands.¡± Crokel¡¯s voice was cold and derisive. ¡°Castigation Fire will not help you. The only power that can harm me here is the blade Legion carries. Unfortunately, I suspect a terrible accident has already befallen our Grand Elder.¡± How had Crokel become the Second Seal? In truth his combat power was no greater than the Third or Fourth Seal. Yet if it came to conflict Crokel would emerge victorious because direct strength is only part of combat. Survivability and regenerative skills also played a role. Crokel¡¯s greatest leverage was his peerless creation and resurrection powers. There were six thousand of him on the field now, each one a perfect representation of the original. The Second Seal was immune to most attacks, but even if his foes had a way they had thousands of him to contend with. The successor was at the end of his rope. Now was the time to swallow up his pitiful human life! Crokel prepared himself to finish what had to be done. Book 7, Chapter 128 - A Mighty Confrontation Book 7, Chapter 128 - A Mighty Confrontation More and more copies of the demon emerged as the battlefield shrank. It was getting difficult to move as a sea of black liquid closed in. A wave of it rose up suddenly, blocking the sky above and casting its shadow over Cloudhawk. It crashed into him, and the new Demon King was swallowed into a world of darkness. Everywhere he looked there was nothingness, not even solid ground to stand upon. This was a strange fiend. However you attacked him it only made him stronger, for the original would reform and copies would emerge from the bits that were cast off. Somewhere within the sea of darkness was also a sapping power that was drawing Cloudhawk¡¯s strength away. ¡°Your efforts are futile. Die and let this be over with!¡± Cloudhawk had been swallowed into the belly of this monster. Crokel¡¯s transforming and devouring powers meant that anything caught inside his body would be dissolved. The inevitable could be delayed, but not avoided. How long could Cloudhawk maintain his defenses? Belial¡¯s face was crestfallen. ¡°Crokel¡¯s fighting method is unique. His body is a weapon, highly toxic to any living thing. If even a drop touches your skin it will be absorbed and attack your organs. Even gods or demons can¡¯t protect themselves for long.¡± Indeed, Crokel¡¯s method of dealing with his enemies was different from all others. He did not possess the strength to level mountains or boil rivers, but his was a threat no less dire. Sinister, abominable poisons were his tool of choice. Every inch of Crokel¡¯s body was a weapon whose toxic makeup seeped into a victim¡¯s soul at one touch. Death came in two steps. First, the poison took control of one¡¯s will and mental powers, turning them into Crokel¡¯s puppet. There was little hope of resisting by this point. Second, Crokel robs the victim¡¯s mental power and uses it to make more copies of himself. Eventually the victim becomes another piece of Crokel, and at that point everything that they were has died. No one ¨C gods and demons included ¨C dared underestimate Crokel¡¯s terrible powers. When the Elder of the Second Seal appeared on the battlefield, disaster followed. All who were unfortunate enough to be devoured by Crokel inevitably became a part of him. In this way he could eliminate whole armies. Like the original, the Second Seal¡¯s temporary army was immortal. Its ability to corrupt and transform all that it touched meant almost nothing was a threat. The best hope was to survive as long as possible and hope the Elder ran out of mental energy. Of course, this was not easy. What Crokel absorbed bolstered any mental energy he used in the attempt. Cloudhawk had his mobility robbed with the lock on spatial power, so dealing with a host of foes this large was much more trying. Cloudhawk¡¯s field of deflection kept him and his allies safe for a time. Any time a portion of Crokel drew near it was repulsed, but in the process it sapped some of Cloudhawk¡¯s mental strength. Under this assault his shield was steadily shrinking. Crokel¡¯s voice screamed through everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Your end has come!¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Cloudhawk put Godslayer away and replaced it with a sword of brilliant azure light. It pierced the sea of black crushing in around him and released a burst of power. Suddenly, a sizable portion of the black fluid ceased to be. ¡°The Blade of Oblivion!¡± Crokel knew this relic well. Wasn¡¯t it the weapon of the Grand Elder? The Blade of Oblivion was among the five greatest demonic relics. Compared to the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass ¨C which greatly enhanced spatial ability and connected the bearer to multidimensional space ¨C Legion¡¯s weapon was not very inferior. How could such a treasure suddenly appear in Cloudhawk¡¯s hands? Had Legion known the Elders would try this? Had he warned Cloudhawk, helped him prepare? Crokel didn¡¯t have the answer, but it was too late to second-guess. Cloudhawk struck again and another portion of Crokel¡¯s expansive body vanished into smoke. ¡°You are not as strong as the King that came before you ¨C not even as strong as the Grand Elder in his prime. Even with the blade your doom is inevitable!¡± Crokel did not retreat. On the contrary he pressed in closer. ¡°Your mental power is mine!¡± What did it matter if he came with the Blade of Oblivion? Crokel did not fear the successor and his insignificant power. Did this human whelp think he could kill the Elder of the Second Seal? It was a hopeless dream, for if even a single drop remained Crokel would resurrect. Cloudhawk lashed out as fast as he was able. Each time his shields grew weaker, hanging on by a thread. But just as Crokel heaved a final attack toward Cloudhawk¡¯s shield ¨C just as he stood on the precipice of victory ¨C a burst of power was released from the successor¡¯s body. It tore through the fabric of reality, and as it waned Cloudhawk and his companions had vanished. They reappeared a thousand meters away. Impossible! How could he teleport when they sealed the area? Crokel had ordered his men to lock down Cloudhawk¡¯s abilities specifically. Somehow, though, the successor was not contained and saved himself from Crokel¡¯s attack. Cloudhawk stood with Godslayer in one hand and the Blade of Oblivion in the other. Burning red eyes gleamed from behind his mask and a hissing voice slithered through. ¡°You think you can lock me down?¡± Belial and Abaddon were just as stunned that Cloudhawk was able to escape these bounds. It meant that he had a deeper mastery of space than even the previous Demon King! It was because his talents were unique and singular. Crokel¡¯s attempts to disrupt space-time here did not affect the flows themselves, only the relics that sought to manipulate them. How could anything negate the fundamental fabric of space? If space was frozen, how could anything ¨C physical or energetic ¨C move inside of it? The only way to deal with Cloudhawk¡¯s powers was to flood an area with disruption which targeted spatial relics. This interference weakened the resonance between relics and the flows they changed until no effect was possible. It was a restriction that even the former Demon King could not overcome. However the foe Crockel faced today was not the fallen king, but his successor. Cloudhawk was capable of summoning the powers of space at will. Although the result was not as powerful as what he could accomplish through the armor, it was enough to help him escape the Elder¡¯s grasp. Is this why Legion chose him? Crokel was shaken by the unexpected turn, but he did not fall apart. He was prepared to see this through to whatever end. After all, the demon suspected there was more to the human than what was on the surface. It seemed his intuition was correct. ¡°Everyone, together!¡± No matter! The successor was still within his grasp! Crokel¡¯s order spurred the surrounding demons to action, nor did he stay still. He knew what was at stake, losing meant Gehenna would no longer be safe for him. Book 7, Chapter 129 - Hellpyre Book 7, Chapter 129 - Hellpyre Crokel¡¯s followers launched into an attack. They unleashed a myriad of powers at Cloudhawk and his allies. Belial deflected their attempts with a defensive relic of his own. He and Abaddon then began to battle with the would-be assassins. They were frighteningly strong, so much that the two demons were only just able to keep them at bay. Meanwhile Crokel was only getting started. His earlier attempts were meant to feel out their powers. More and more of the Elder demon¡¯s bodies were filling the space with a higher concentration in one area. The liquid bodies of Crokel¡¯s copies fused together, creating a monstrous form thirty meters tall. Yet even as they watched the Elder shrank from thirty meters down to five. Scores of angry red eyes covered it, burning and unblinking orbs that were unsettling to look upon. Cloudhawk lashed out with two attacks in a cross-like offense. Crokel extended a hand, and from the eyes within his palm was released a grayish energy. It stopped Cloudhawk¡¯s attack in place and negated the power of both Godslayer and Oblivion. ¡°I haven¡¯t used this trick in quite some time. Let¡¯s see how you fare.¡± All the eyes covering Crokel¡¯s body opened wide. A pulse of intense mental energy poured forth in a formless psychic assault against Cloudhawk and his protectors. ¡°Hellpyre!¡±[1] Cloudhawk and the others were illuminated by an angry, crimson light. Its heat could not be avoided or suppressed, for it was not real fire. The burning light came from nothingness, the power of the mind levied against them. Crokel¡¯s power wouldn¡¯t harm their physical bodies but it did ignite their mental energies. So long as the Elder demon¡¯s will remained strong, his foes would boil from the inside. ¡°Hellpyre? Damn it!¡± Belial was the demons¡¯ most talented artisan and knew most of their tools. Hellpyre was once the exclusive power of the Fourth Seal, who died during the Great War. Somehow its power was now in the hands of the Second Seal. The leaping flames might make one assume it was a physical attack, but Hellpyre was a mental strike. But it also wasn¡¯t typical of its class, which often assailed the mind with illusion. The Cloud God had been a model example. With his enormous cache of mental power, he could immerse his enemies in worlds of dream or nightmare. Crokel¡¯s Hellpyre directly injured a victim¡¯s mental energy, causing it to ignite. The pain it caused was excruciating, and once the process started it was fed by the mind of the target. As such those infected with the flames had their hands tied. Using relics added fuel to the dark fires and increased the pain. The longer a fight lasted the more intense this attack became. Then, when their mental energies were exhausted, the target died. However defeating Hellpyre was not hard, in theory. Stop fighting or using relics and the effect would end ¨C in three days to half a month. Slowly over that time the mental infection would starve. But not entirely. Like a virus the spark would forever remain within its victim. A hundred years could pass ¨C a thousand ¨C and any time mental power was used the flames would reignite. The torturous experience would begin anew. Hellpyre an eternal curse. That¡¯s how it earned its name. With this power, the relic¡¯s former owner had risen to the rank of Fourth Seal. Moloch had been a figure to be feared.[2] Crokel¡¯s powers were rooted in the mental field, so having the power to wield this relic was not strange. Like any other psychic raid it transcended space, so anyone caught in his trap had no way to escape. Abaddon, as the weakest, was immediately consumed by the fire. As his mental energies burned, the demon¡¯s strength quickly plummeted. The wall of sand collapsed as he was forced to cut his link with all relics. In the same instant one of Crokel¡¯s subordinates threw his spear which drove straight through the Caliph of the Sands and pinned him to a wall. Belial was in a similar dire circumstance, but with the power of an Elder he was able to withstand a little longer. How long was the great question. ¡°So-called successor. With this insignificant power, that is all you are.¡± Two pitch-black swords extended from Crokel¡¯s hands. They, too, were covered in eyes. ¡°You had the nerve to come and lay claim to Gehenna. A foolish dream, better to die now than in eternal disappointment.¡± Two swords peppered with angry red eyes came racing toward Cloudhawk. In the process they all bulged and gleamed with power. The air warped and squealed in protest from their passage. Cloudhawk, awash in flame, deflected them. As he did the flames grew more exuberant and swallowed him up entirely. As waves of pain roared through him, Cloudhawk could feel his mental power quickly draining. Crokel¡¯s fighting style was vicious. Gehenna¡¯s Second Seal and the newly-crowned Demon King crossed swords. Each time they did the Elder¡¯s swords were broken apart. Crokel formed new ones moments later. Cloudhawk could see no weakness to this beast, and even with Legion¡¯s weapon all he could do was chip away at him. All the while his strength was being sapped by Hellpyre. No wonder Crokel had become Second Seal. Powerful, cunning and hard to escape. After falling prey to Hellpyre, Cloudhawk¡¯s combat abilities were beginning to fail. With every swing of his swords the infection grew stronger and drank more from him. ¡°You like psychic attacks eh? Well try this one!¡± Flames sparked to life in the depths of Cloudhawk¡¯s eyes. He reached out with his mind toward the Second Seal, the assault forcing the Elder to pause. The stately and intense presence pushing its way into his consciousness was familiar. It was the will of the Demon King. The former King was the one who gave rise to the Second Seal. This well-known presence struck him deeply ¨C but only enough to distract him for an instant. Trying to defeat Crokel with his own sphere was mastery was a doomed endeavor. The successor¡¯s mental ability did not equal the Elder¡¯s. With his enemy infected by Hellpyre, not even the hated Oblivion posed a threat anymore. But he would not hold back, fearing Cloudhawk would try to flee. This fledgling king was a threat to Crokel. No matter the cost, he had to be eliminated. Crokel was unperturbed. Any attempt by Cloudhawk to use his mental powers only fed Hellpyre. Surely his foe was already pushed to his limit. The human¡¯s death was assured. But as the confident filled him Crokel witnessed something unexpected. The dark fires dancing across Cloudhawk¡¯s body began to weaken and eventually extinguished. Without cause Hellpyre withered into nothing. ¡°Impossible!¡± Crokel couldn¡¯t understand what happened. He could no longer sense Hellpyre inside the successor. How had he done it? What power saved him from the infection? The Second Seal then noticed the field of energy surrounding Cloudhawk. It was even more enigmatic than the flows of space that usually encircled him. When he looked again Crokel saw the glint of silver light in his foe¡¯s left eye. Time¡­ it was the power of time. Hellpyre wasn¡¯t completely unavoidable. Through his Eye, Cloudhawk manioulated the flows of time until the fires died. Crokel¡¯s deadly curse disappeared. Nothing could combat the powers of time. Cloudhawk quickly followed up by thrusting Oblivion into the Elder¡¯s gut. Crokel was caught off guard, certain that he had the situation tightly under his control. Before he could engage his defenses, the Blade of Oblivion released its terrible power into him. Every inch of his liquid body hardened as the power spread through. Cracks appeared, spreading all over as the power inside threatened to burst free. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ I didn¡¯t think you could wield the powers of time.¡± Regret filled the Elder of the Second Seal. Knowing now the extent of his power, perhaps the successor really could fight the God King. But it was too late for regrets. His attempt to murder the Demon King had failed. He knew his life was forfeit. All he could do was fight to the end ¨C to rid his species of this frightening human! 1. ¡®Eternal Disaster Fires¡¯ in Chinese. The implication is a torturous existence that never ends ¨C hell fits that description. Pyre is self-evident 2. Like the name of his relic, this demon is named ¡®Disastrous Fire¡¯. Moloch is a complex demonic figure, but is associated with sacrifices via flame. Book 7, Chapter 130 - Unifying Gehenna Book 7, Chapter 130 - Unifying Gehenna The last attack seriously wounded Crokel. The Second Seal was a beast with no weaknesses, and Oblivion destroying even half his body wasn¡¯t enough to end the demon, but it did rob him of a lot of his power. It was difficult for him now to maintain the advantage. It was time to push the limit! Crokel¡¯s body began to swell once again and from the cracks poured a raging energy. The air around him shuddered and warped from the strain. Everything in the area was drawn toward the Elder by some invisible draw. Signs of self-destruction. In detonating his body a torrent of energy would be released, destroying everything in a thousand meters all around. Even Cloudhawk would be caught in the blast. It was a desperate act of mutual destruction, one that would not kill Crokel but cost him decades of time in recovery. If the smallest portion of him survived this explosion Crokel would recover. Nothing was more important at this moment than destroying Cloudhawk. ¡°You forced this! A death of your own design!¡± It was the demon¡¯s final thought as his gravitation pull reached critical mass. Gehenna¡¯s sub-dimensional space vibrated erratically as though the inevitable blast could destroy this pocket reality. Suddenly, a light shot down from overhead and enveloped Crokel. The Elder demon shifted immediately from immanent detonation to frozen solid. Obviously this was not what Crokel was expecting, but it didn¡¯t take long for him to understand what had gone wrong. A baleful roar was released. ¡°Korath! Betrayer!¡± A dozen figures descended from above. Leading them was none other than Crokel¡¯s close ally, the Elder of the Third Seal. According to their plan Crokel was supposed to handle Cloudhawk while Korath killed Legion. Clearly that had not happened, for Legion floated imperiously by Korath¡¯s side. The Elder had brought with him many others from the council, or notable warriors of their kin. ¡°I beg your forgiveness, Second Seal.¡± Legion was the one who spoke. ¡°Korath has always been a loyal friend to me. I knew that this day would come, so I prepared for it. Crokel, you underestimated me.¡± Korath¡¯s kaleidoscopic pupils were ever in motion. Crokel¡¯s self-destruction was halted and his body frozen. The only motion was his form slowly shrinking away from the brink of detonation. He knew Korath¡¯s power, just as well as he knew the Third Seal himself. The snake wouldn¡¯t have gone after him head on, he would have lost. Instead he waited for the moment when Crokel was weakest. Korath wasn¡¯t strong enough to kill him, but he did have the power to keep him sealed. The Elder of the Second Seal was caught without hope for escape. For all his cunning Crokel could not know all. He would never have known that his oldest ally from a thousand years ago ¨C the demon he¡¯d shared power with all this time ¨C would turn around and stab him in the back. ¡°Why did you do this? Must we fight another war against the gods?¡± ¡°I agree with everything the Second Seal feels,¡± Korath replied. ¡°Everything except turning on the Elders.¡± Had turning on Legion crossed Korath¡¯s mind? Of course it had. The Third Elder had ambitions of his own, including dominion over Gehenna. But he also knew Legion and his methods. If he chose to turn against the Grand Elder it was the same as committing suicide. It had surprised Korath as well that Legion had so many other Elders in his pocket. Before this moment all of them had worked individually with Legion and did not know of the others¡¯ loyalties. If he had gone along with the Second Elder¡¯s plan then he would be down there as well, staring into the abyss of death. Legion spoke to Cloudhawk. ¡°If my King would return my sword?¡± Cloudhawk threw Oblivion back to its owner. It had always belonged to the Grand Elder and Cloudhawk was too drained now to make proper use of it. Legion would have to be responsible for what came next. Crokel knew how bad things were and tried to hcange tactics. ¡°Grand Elder, spare my life. If you let me live I pledge everything that I am ¨C pay any cost ¨C in service to you. My strength will be priceless in the war against the gods! You need me!¡± Demons had infinite lifespans, they didn¡¯t want to give up any potential minute. And Crokel was one of their strongest. For the last thousand years he had enjoyed the taste of power. It was intoxicating to have thousands of his kin bow and scrape. But he didn¡¯t want to die, especially not like this. Demon or human, it didn¡¯t matter who held the blade to his throat ¨C this was his final, desperate performance. The Grand Elder fixed Crokel with a piercing stare. ¡°Do you recognize your error?¡± Crokel¡¯s crimson eyes pivoted to Oblivion. Its fearful blue light was reflected in his stare. ¡°Gehenna has only one King. Demons have only one monarch. There is no one above our sovereign. Your error was asking me for mercy. For this, you are condemned to death.¡± ¡°No!¡± The Blade of Oblivion pierced into Crokel¡¯s body. Everyone watched in thinly-veiled alarm as the powerful Elder of the Second Seal was devoured by the weapon¡¯s power. Long moments of agony stretched on for what felt like ages, and then Crokel was erased from reality. The Elder was dead. Forever gone. Korath opened his eye wide and looked out across Gehenna. No trace of his colleague could be found. No question remained, the former leader of Gehenna was no more. After executing the Elder, Legion helped himself to his relics. He took them to Cloudhawk. ¡°There are holdouts we must eliminate, but from this moment on Gehenna belongs to you, my King. No one dares challenge your command.¡± Belial and Abaddon were taken away to heal. Cloudhawk brought Legion back with him to the Tower of Babel where several dozen demons were waiting. These were not Crokel¡¯s allies, but were other Elders who had been plotting Legion¡¯s ouster. They were among Gehenna¡¯s highest leadership. ¡°They know the King has returned, but rather than pledge allegiance they worked in the shadows to your detriment. Their fate is yours to decide.¡± His judgment was quick and curt. ¡°Kill them.¡± Legion conveyed the order without hesitation. Cries for mercy fell on deaf ears as the demons met their end. The next time Gehenna¡¯s elder council was summoned, its numbers had shrunk from forty eight to thirty six. Lesser in numbers and strength, but with the memory of their comrades¡¯ fate fresh in their minds no one rejected the King¡¯s leadership. Haborym led a small group who presented themselves before Cloudhawk. ¡°I pledge my allegiance to the Demon King. I will fight in your name, and for our home.¡± ¡°We pledge allegiance to the Demon King!¡± ¡°We fight for King and kin!¡± The Elders all knelt in supplication before the frail-looking figure. Small though he was by comparison, they all now knew their new King could have them all destroyed. The silent, overwhelming aura that poured from him filled the demons with fear. They believed it now. This was an even more ruthless and powerful King than the one who came before. Book 7, Epilogue - The Demon King of Gehenna Book 7, Epilogue - The Demon King of Gehenna Gehenna, at the highest point of the Tower of Babel. A long vacant throne sat in stillness. Dark, beautiful, and imperious. Clustered around the tower¡¯s base were thousands of the city¡¯s citizens. They milled around like a dark sea, separated by race. It was a spectacular sight. More than ten thousand demons, wrapped in flows of power, stood at the fore. Like dark guardians of this realm they were arrayed with weapons at the ready, hovering in midair. It was the most important day in all of Gehenna¡¯s history. As more and more citizens clustered round, their eyes were all drawn to the top of the tower. They watched, excited to be here for this momentous event. Of course they could not see what was happening at the tower¡¯s peak. But they did know about this one called Cloudhawk who had come to seize power. A dark presence that introduced himself as King. From this moment forward he would be the unchallenged ruler of this place. From the demonic hordes to every citizen, they were all unconditionally loyal to their leader. The Demon King¡¯s arrival ended a millennia of leaderless floundering. Much would change in Gehenna and beyond. These changes would influence the destiny of this city and everyone in it. What happened here would ripple out into the cosmos. All of it instigated by a dark figure slowly ascending the tower. His was a frail figure, compared to the others. Wrapped in battered armor and hidden behind a frightening mask, only a pair of burning red eyes framed by salt and pepper hair were visible. His presence was heavy, choking. All of Gehenna could feel it. ¡°The Demon King ascends!¡± ¡°Long live the Demon King!¡± ¡°Our supreme leader!¡± Chants were taken up by hundreds of thousands of citizens and all the demon guardians. Their cries shook the city and rose toward the heavens, proclaiming their loyalty to the stars. No one stood beside the king. Alone he ascended the tower to its highest point. With slow and deliberate movements he approached the throne and took his place upon it. Yet there was nothing in the king¡¯s bearing to suggest joy. No pride in bringing the demons to heel. Neither was there the domineering mien of a ruler. In fact there was little about him that was kingly at all. Behind the mask that inspired fear and awe in others, no one could see the thirty year-old man, forced into completing someone else¡¯s mission. The man destined to be the king of demons. He had at last completed his transformation only to continue the exhausting march toward whatever end fate had planned. He didn¡¯t know what was to come, but he did know that it led him to Sumeru and the invincible God King. It didn¡¯t matter if he accepted it, if the desire came from somewhere inside or from someone else. At last he was set upon the throne. The new Demon King had arisen. Both gauntleted hands rested on Godslayer¡¯s hilt, its tip pressed against the dark stone. As Cloudhawk rested upon his throne ominous winds whipped through the continent. He heard the cries of his citizens outside, their voices carried on the winds like some bleak funeral dirge. Visions of a brief life flashed through the Demon King¡¯s mind. Days of scavenging the wastes as a small human boy. Stumbling into a sweepers¡¯ nest. The first time he laid eyes upon the Phase Stone. From that moment he was destined to wear the crown. He would never forget the Tartarus mercenaries who took him in at Blackflag Outpost. Memories of Artemis dying in his arms in Greenland would never fade. Adder, the Crimson One, Arcturus¡­ Dawn. Their voices and strength of will would remain forever with him, forming a chorus always in the background. Although they were gone, fragments of them remained. Fragments that together built the king who sat here today. Grand Elder Legion approached slowly. ¡°Everyone is prepared.¡± The Demon King nodded. ¡°Then begin.¡± Outside, things were changing within the crowd. A segment of the population all knelt toward the tower. This was a race of rich psychic power. ¡°The people of the Protos will fight with the Demon King against Sumeru. We will take back our home!¡± ¡°The survivors of Velpecula will follow our King into battle. We will take back our home!¡± A large group of hazy humanoid figures prostrated themselves before the tower. ¡°Tylons pledge their service to the King! We will take back our home!¡± A third group of metallic figures moved in unison like a host of robots. ¡°We Zarayzi will fight the gods on behalf of the Demon King. We will take back our home!¡± Chittered promises came from a group of intelligent insectoid creatures. These four groups were the most populous of Gehenna¡¯s races. They and every other species here were refugees from the tyranny of the gods, displaced by their insatiable hunger. For a thousand years they lived in darkness and never during that time did they entertain the idea of exacting vengeance on their attackers. But the tragedies their people suffered were forever burned into their spirit. They would never forget what was taken from them. With the arrival of a new King, all the groundwork laid by Legion and the other elders came to fruition. They incited this angry passion, awakening their thirst for vengeance. All were willing to give their lives in a struggle to win back their homes. To die for their King. ¡°All demons of Gehenna are at the pleasure of our King.¡± Haborym, representing the thousands of demonic soldiers, loudly swore his service. With his cry all the demons descended to prostrate themselves. Thousands of vicious and unruly demons offered themselves up to their new ruler. Legion surveyed the scene. After a thousand years of careful ministrations he could finally breathe easier. His mission was complete. What followed was in the hands of the new King. He must guide them the rest of the way. Where, at the path¡¯s end, the Demon King would face his arch-nemesis. ¡°The Great War has sparked again.¡± The Demon King¡¯s voice thundered across the city. It drowned out every other sound in this pocket dimension. ¡°This time, there is no longer a Gehenna to fall back to. Either we win and rebuild, or fail and are destroyed.¡± ¡°Victory! Victory!¡± The city seethed. In this crucial instant everyone burned with a fighting spirit. They had to win ¨C they had to survive. A thousand years. Of waiting, preparing, licking their wounds. The time for vengeance had come. Book 8, Prologue - Secrets Revealed Book 8, Prologue - Secrets Revealed Dawn¡¯s will had undergone myriad hardships. Pulling herself from the dark abyss she hardly had the strength to stand. Memories were fuzzy, disjointed. ¡°Who am I?¡± ¡°Dawn Polaris, of the Polaris family. From Skycloud.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I die? What am I doing here?¡± She felt like she¡¯d been asleep for ten thousand years. So much was gone from her memory and what remained was hazy. Only a few key experiences were still indelibly marked on her spirit. The world she found herself within was strange. She couldn¡¯t tell whether it was day or night, whether she was in air or water, or even if there was a boundary between earth and sky. Nothing around her had a fixed, solid shape. The laws of physics she was accustomed to didn¡¯t exist here. Was this the land of the dead? She couldn¡¯t move. Although her consciousness had awakened, her body was held fast by some invisible power. Another will much stronger than her own was taking shape at her side. ¡°Humans, so frail.¡± The words took shape in her mind. The one speaking to her didn¡¯t use any language, rather inserted the thoughts directly into her head. Her own mind converted these feelings into words she could understand. In this way there was no barrier to communication. He was strong. So strong, like a grand designer peering upon its infinitesimally small creation. Dawn felt small. Insignificant. In the eyes of whoever this was, she was as tiny as an amoeba. ¡°What is this place? What are you? Why did you bring me here?¡± ¡°This is a crack in the universe. Laws of space, time and physics don¡¯t apply here. To use the phrases of your species, this is Sumeru.¡± Sumeru? She was in the home of the gods! Shock overcame her. To the Elysian people Sumeru was not a foreign concept. Legends claimed it was where all the gods lived, and from whence they all came. There were many stories about it, but in none of them was a description. No human had ever laid eyes on the distant utopia. If this was Sumeru, then the mysterious spirit she spoke with had to be a god. Dawn had met several gods by now, but even the Supremes didn¡¯t fill her with the sense she got from this being. There was only one explanation, and that was that this had to be the one who stood above all others ¨C the God King. Only the God King could snatch her from the jaws of oblivion. Only the gods could wrench her from the midst of an explosion and return her from the abyss of death. But why? There wasn¡¯t anything special about her, people like Dawn could be found all across earth or any of the many planets out in the cosmos. Why had the God King chosen to spare her? In her frustration Dawn tried to get a clearer look at the God King, but in this place all ordinary senses were confounded. All the natural laws she knew were rewritten. The God King was at once speaking with her by her side, and yet also a thousand light years away. A mere projection her mortal eyes could not pin down. In fact the only thing she could see were the flows of chaos swirling all around. This was a place her human mind could not fathom. The God King¡¯s voice was even, almost comforting. ¡°There is no God King in this place. No Demon King, either. Gods and demons are just illusions. A¡­ fairytale.¡± ¡°What is happening?¡± Dawn pleaded. ¡°Before the universe you know was even born, there was a race of highly intelligent beings.¡± The God King refrained from answering her question directly and launched into a story. ¡°This species was endowed with tremendous power, and with it tremendous responsibility. Deeply rooted within them was a drive to create, and the belief that they were a manifestation of the universe¡¯s will. Thus they took it upon themselves to be the guardians of birth, evolution, death and rebirth.¡± ¡°How could there be anything before the birth of the universe?¡± Dawn didn¡¯t understand. What did he mean, guardians of birth and rebirth? Did he mean this species controlled all of creation? The God King could easily peer into Dawn¡¯s mind. He continued to explain. ¡°This grand species was born in the emptiness between cosmos, capable of twisting the rules of the universe to their whim. But with that power they adhered to a singular mission, one which they performed for billions of years. The creation and maintenance of life. Whenever a new universe is born they send their envoy ¨C not to create life directly, but to sow the seeds, to ready the stage for life to emerge naturally. Thus have they facilitated the creation of countless civilizations.¡± Countless civilizations¡­ billions of them in every universe? And all of them supposedly coming from this mysterious race. From any other mouth Dawn would have thought the idea crazy. But the one she spoke with wasn¡¯t an ordinary creature. He was likely the most powerful life form in the entire universe. There was no reason such a being would waste the effort in lying to such an insignificant creature such as her. ¡°With their natural creative instincts this grand race formed countless vibrant universes. However, as they rejoiced in their masterpieces there descended upon them a terrible catastrophe.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°They began to age and die.¡± Degradation and death were common of all living things. The inevitable end that nothing could escape. Yet for a species who were masters at the creation of life, such a curse was a tragedy. ¡°In truth, there is no such thing as eternity. Immortality is merely a question of scale. A highly advanced may keep the body from aging, but they cannot halt the inevitable decline of the mind and spirit. Even the vast universe will one day meet an end. Any existence ¨C no matter how grand, how powerful, how ancient ¨C will at some point pass into nothingness.¡±[1] Was he saying this race had gone extinct? ¡°Their numbers dwindled. Wills that spanned the lives of universes for the first time knew fear. Just like humans in the midst of a crisis, they began the desperate search for a way to avoid the inevitable. They realized that their old, failing civilization had to be injected with new life if it hoped to survive.¡± ¡°So they violated their ancient promise not to become involved in the lives they helped foster. They inserted themselves into these cultures, forever altering their evolution in the hopes that from their sacrifice a way to spare this species emerged.¡± ¡°They were far too weak and few in number to control all the cosmos, but they did have the power to create servants who were absolutely loyal. A creature that gained strength through a collective. Using these puppets to speed up the process, they searched far and wide for that special essence that would deliver them from extinction...¡± By now Dawn had guessed the rest of the story. The ¡®puppets¡¯ he was talking about had to be what humans called gods. They spread through the cosmos like wildfire, infecting civilizations and siphoning their vitality. Time and again they interfered with these peoples, stealing the energy of their souls, but never finding what they were after. The gods, however, were not perfect puppets. Because of their imperfect creation and their use as slaves, a number of gods broke free of their yolk. These were then called demons. With self-awareness and self-determination they set off on their own mission. This was the source of these species¡¯ deep-seated contradictions. But demon or god, neither understood that they were merely tools in the hands of a greater consciousness. Perhaps the God King wasn¡¯t a god at all. Dawn could tell that he was different from all the others. This being was probably one of that great race, hence his tremendous power and invincibility. ¡°We have searched for so, so long. Destroyed countless species in our efforts. Finally, the savior has been discovered. The one who could save us all.¡± The God King paused for a moment before going on. ¡°As you have already surmised, I am one of that species. Cloudhawk is the one we have been searching for.¡± The secret behind the gods and demons was unveiled. Dawn was upended by the truth. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because I would give Cloudhawk a chance to determine his own destiny.¡± The final syllables of his words were thick with power. Dawn was wrapped up in it, feeling the indescribable flows transforming her. She wanted to fight back but it was pointless. Once again, her mind went blank. 1. Jeez, Debbie Downe Book 8, Chapter 1 - Supplies Book 8, Chapter 1 - Supplies Southern wilds. The front lines. After the failure of the divine attack, sections of the southern wilds looked like a storm had passed through. Craters marred the landscape and thin wisps reached for the heavens. Pieces of the Source crystal mountain were scattered all over, slowly being gathered by laborers from the city. All manner of vessels shuttled back and forth across the battlefield, cleaning up what they could. People scrambled from their decks to repair equipment and installations. It was a race against time, everything had to be fixed before the gods returned. Less than ten days had passed since their last assault and no one knew when the next would come, or what to expect when it did. Greenland had managed to repel Chaos, but it had been a costly battle. The monster left a great deal of death and destruction in its wake. Half of Greenland¡¯s defensive layers had been breached. But the damage wasn¡¯t just physical, either. Morale sank like a stone after the illusion of preparation was shattered. Ordinary soldiers were nothing more than cannon fodder. For the several days that Cloudhawk was gone, Selene was desperately trying to reorganize and placate the troops. She had to rely on all her skills to maintain order within the city. Meanwhile she was restructuring formations, moving soldiers to different sectors of the realm to make their defenses more flexible. At the same time she bolstered their guard and strengthened the troops in any way she could think of. If there was any silver lining in their last battle, it was that a hundred divine soldiers had been captured. Siphoning their mental powers greatly empowered some of Greenland¡¯s elite. These days Selene wielded power equivalent to the late Arcturus ¨C the strength of a Supreme. After receiving the remnants of the Cloud God and several soldiers, the Shepherd God was even stronger than she was in her prime. Others ¨C like Janus, Phain, and other Elysians ¨C had also seen extraordinary growth. Even Hellflower, who had no psychic talent to speak of, was now more capable than a veteran demonhunter. Besides them, the major players of the realm such as Frost now all had power close to that of a Supreme god. Gains plateaued after that, with lieutenants and elite soldiers also seeing some progress. ¡°Master Selene, they¡¯re back.¡± A griffin rider glided toward her through the smoke-filled skies. He hurriedly made his report. A light flashed through her eyes. ¡°Cloudhawk?¡± ¡°No, not Leader Cloudhawk. It¡¯s Hellflower.¡± She remembered that Hellflower had left yesterday to open discussions with Ark Base. Her quick return came as a surprise. Selene decided to meet with her face to face and learn what happened. In the center of Greenland, a portal roiled steadily upon a trapezoidal altar. Hundreds of Green Alliance soldiers exited in a steady stream, carrying boxes full of equipment. A couple small transport vehicles also made an appearance. Everything was piled together near the portal, creating small hills that were growing by the moment. ¡°Ah, Master Selene. Just in time. Come look at this.¡± Hellflower waved her over. ¡°This is the first cache of goods we¡¯ve received from Ark Base. A few days too late, unfortunately. If we¡¯d been prepared with this equipment, the gods wouldn¡¯t have penetrated the shields so easily.¡± Selene frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t understand high-tech equipment. The wasteland has plenty, only their capabilities are limited. Is this stuff from Ark Base really going to perform any better?¡± ¡°Completely different. Come, I¡¯ll show you.¡± Hellflower approached a large container. She first scanned her DNA into a small panel, then spoke a code word for voice identification. Within were several silver robots in sleep mode. They were all equipped with high-energy laser weapons that could instantly melt steel beams. Particle shields also came standard to protect them from damage. Most importantly, each one was capable of flight while in the atmosphere. They were powered by hydrogen-nuclear batteries that turned the robot into a bomb if it was too damaged to fight. Hundreds of these things together made for a frightening fighting unit. The battle-bots came in no less than five flavors; as large as city defense droids, to as small as a bee. The tiny ones worked as a unit with millions of others to create a surveillance network ¨C or attack in a swarm. A collective detonation of these things would easily eliminate a squad of divine soldiers. All told they had enough robots to form an army. ¡°Aside from weapons, Ark Base will give us their most advanced optical-pulse radar. It¡¯s unaffected by environmental interference and can cover half the solar system. Furthermore, Father has sent three robots with its own hyper-intelligent AI installed. They work twenty-four hours a day collecting information, processing data and maintaining oversight. At least ten times more efficient than humans.¡± Hellflower explained it all, item by item. Combat droids, defensive equipment, weapons¡­ countless auxiliary and supportive devices. A fully equipped Greenland soldier had the stopping power of a demon hunter. Perhaps the equipment wasn¡¯t a great threat to the gods, but it did serve to bolster humanity¡¯s defensive line. They now had an early warning system and logistical support from a super-intelligent AI. Selene was impressed and surprised by the breadth of what Ark Base had squirreled away. Not that it was strange. Ark Base was the last bastion of an ancient civilization, guided by a machine that could teach itself and grow. Even if ancient humans had spent the last thousand years eating, breeding and doing nothing, their Father was ever at work. A millennia was long enough for it to master the technologies of the old world. In some respects, you could say Father was like a god. Over so many centuries it had guided humans to many surprising advances. Even Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know how vast the reach and intelligence of this machine was. Father had populated Stony Plains with an army of small robots and established any number of factories. Anything Father wanted built could be produced in a very short time. In forging an alliance with Ark Base, the Green Alliance¡¯s equipment needs were assured. Ark Base wasn¡¯t going to get involved in their fight directly, but they did pledge to provide everything they could to Alliance soldiers. Hellflower was still explaining. ¡°Right now Ark Base is researching engines that can take us out into space. If I know Father, it shouldn¡¯t be long before we have a serviceable spacecraft. With enough vessels like that we can bring the fight right to the gods.¡± In the thousand years of its history, Ark Base never created a way to escape the atmosphere. Not because they were incapable, but because Father didn¡¯t want humans exploring the stars. Although the cosmos seemed vast and empty, they couldn¡¯t risk appearing on the gods¡¯ radar. If any hint was given that ancient humans still lived, it put them all in danger. Alone, Ark Base was no match for the gods. Selene nodded. ¡°If Ark Base is willing to help us with their excellent production infrastructure, then we¡¯ll make the best use of it. We don¡¯t have much in the way of resources, except for Source.¡± Father¡¯s agreement to work with Green Alliance was built on the draw of Source. So enticing was the idea that Father provided almost anything the Alliance asked for. Other goods, such as useless divine corpses and broken relics, were also provided to Ark Base as trade. Why not work together for mutual benefit? Hellflower asked her compatriot. ¡°Cloudhawk isn¡¯t back yet? That nest of devils is not a pleasant place, I¡¯m sure. Do you think he¡¯ll manage on his own?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried. Legion went with him, and that demon always has a plan.¡± Legion had conspired to see this result for a thousand years. Seeing Cloudhawk ascend the throne was the culmination of all his efforts. What selene worried about was Cloudhawk himself. He¡¯d changed a lot, growing stronger while the road ahead grew narrower. He never let the effect of Dawn¡¯s death show on his face, but that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t poisoning him from the inside. She didn¡¯t know how long this war was going to last. When¡­ if it did, would Cloudhawk ever go back to the way he was before? Book 8, Chapter 2 - The Marshals Power Book 8, Chapter 2 - The Marshal''s Power The Abyssal God¡¯s eyes slid open. The moon¡¯s surface was now covered in divine buildings, weapons and tools of war. The gods themselves were arrayed in formation, as silent as statues, awaiting further orders. Their defeat in the southern wastes was felt through the divine matrix, but the gods were not troubled. It was as though those who died on the earth¡¯s surface weren¡¯t compatriots. They were expendable components of a much larger machine. Gods were creatures of no emotion, with hearts of stone. It was what made them strong. Whatever the setback, they felt neither regret nor remorse. Instead they fought harder, battling to the last in the face of an enemy stronger than they anticipated. Their first assault had failed, a result sure to have consequences. It had been prepared in haste so it was not totally unexpected that it should not succeed. All it meant was that these humans were a little more tenacious than originally thought. ¡°Begin.¡± The Marshal gave its order and like clockwork automatons, the gods all moved in unison. They moved to preconstructed weapons and poured their mental power into them. How terrifying was the combined mental power of so many gods? It took less than a few minutes for fifteen Sword of Sumeru blasts to be prepared. Divine soldiers aimed them all toward a single target. But it wasn¡¯t the southern wastes they aimed at. They weren¡¯t even pointed toward earth. All of the weapons were trained on the Abyssal God. In the next second all fifteen swords were released. Like arrows from a bowstring they were launched forward. In their wake were blasts of power that burst through the lunar craters. The ground quaked, many mountains and crater walls collapsed. In the face of this terrible onslaught the Abyssal God did not move. It spread its arms wide, ready to embrace it. What followed was a magnificent scene. Reality shattered around the marshal, as though it were made of glass. A void was formed and all the energy that came near it was sucked in. Little by little it was all swallowed up. Fifteen swords of radiant light disappeared into the darkness. If a human were here to witness it the scene would shock them to their core. The power in this onslaught was no less intense than when the chaos beast exploded. Like several hundred nuclear bombs all exploding at once! Yet for all the fire and fury, none of it harmed the Abyssal God. Its powers gathered and condensed all energy then siphoned it into itself. The marshal¡¯s dark armor had started to illuminate, taking on a steadily intensifying glow like iron left in a furnace. The gods launched another attack. No matter the sort of energy, everything that came near was drawn into the Abyssal God¡¯s body. Less than an hour later all the swords were gone and the deluge of attacks had come to an end. The god¡¯s body was a black hole that swallowed it all. There was enough power contained in the marshal now to single-handed destroy a whole civilization. It wielded the destructive power of a divine armada. Empowered like this, the Abyssal God was Sumeru¡¯s mightiest general. Such power could only be contested by the former Demon King, or perhaps the highest demon elders. But the Grand Elder was only a fraction of what he used to be, and the Second Seal was dead. With the destructive power now at his command, the former Demon King reborn would struggle to survive. It was no exaggeration to say that the Abyssal God had become an ender of planets. This would last for roughly three days, so once the soldiers¡¯ mental powers recovered the Abyssal God would lead the next charge from the fore. ** Gehenna. Legion, Korath, Haborym and Belial ¨C the highest ranking demon Elders ¨C selected the most reliable troops from among Babel¡¯s denizens. Three thousand were selected. The remaining demons would trickle into the fight as needed. Three thousand demons was not a lot, but it wasn¡¯t anything to look down one¡¯s nose at. Gehenna¡¯s King had appeared suddenly and in only two days had instigated a coup. From the demons of the tower to the citizens of the city, no one was prepared. So they did what they were told, and demons were gathered to strengthen humanity¡¯s waning battle lines. The gods weren¡¯t going to give mankind any breathing room. After the failure of the first wave their marshal would be preparing for a second. Nearly ten days had passed since the gods invaded the moon more than enough time for the gods to establish a foothold. Cloudhawk anticipated their full force. With all the divine technology of Sumeru, with thousands of divine troops on their doorstep, and with half their defenses in shambles, no one dared clap their chest and boast. However, at least with a force of three thousand demons they might be able to hold their own for a time. ¡°What weapons does Gehenna have?¡± ¡°Honored King, the demons of Gehenna have lived in hiding for a thousand years. Even during the reign of the former King, we demons could never match divine technology. This was only more true after our terrible loss.¡± Cloudhawk was not pleased with this response. Have the demons been painting fucking pictures and carving statues for the last thousand years? When had this war-like species become a bunch of timid artists? Belial spoke up, sensing his master¡¯s displeasure. ¡°Gods and demons are strong fighters by their nature. In many cases equipment is just cumbersome. So long as we can continue to use relics, I am confident our forces can keep the divine soldiers at bay.¡± Gods and demons had their own advantages. Under a unified consciousness the gods were as efficient as a well-oiled machine. Order was built into their way of life. Although they had some measure of self-determination, it was only in rare circumstances and always in service to the collective. They followed their primary orders first, before their own aims. This made gods the perfect soldiers, growing more frightening with numbers. One need only look at the universe and how they had swept through to understand the truth. But that was not to say gods were without flaws. They were born into a system of complete transparency. No deception existed, making them better at fighting rather than planning. Demons were different. Centuries of self-determination had made them tricky and wise. A deep survival instinct also galvanized their deepest potential. Every demon had relics unique to them and the ability to work alone. This meant that, on average, demons were stronger than gods. Every demon was unique. Unpredictable, but full of potential. Legion spoke next. ¡°Gehenna cannot match Sumeru for strength, which means we must be brilliant in how we fight. Make the best of our strength, guard our weaknesses. Likewise if we play to their flaws we may just survive.¡± IT was never easy for the weak to rise up against the strong. But Gehenna could not afford to lose. Book 8, Chapter 3 - Just the Beginning Book 8, Chapter 3 - Just the Beginning Natessa Windham continued to lead groups all across Emerald Star, clearing out beasts and making the area safe. She¡¯d successfully eliminated their nest, but a huge number of bloodthirsty critters still wandered around. As more and more people made their way to the underground city, defenses were difficult to keep up with. ¡°There were thirty-six attacks today. Over two hundred killed or wounded.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have enough people to cover everything. There are also all sorts of surface creatures, with different sizes, shapes and ways of dealing with them. It makes crafting protections for the city difficult.¡± Gabriel, Barb, and even the young Azura were by Natessa¡¯s side. They were accompanied by a group of Elysian fighters. Barb offered a suggestion. ¡°Can we make a request to the front lines, have Autumn come and help again? She can control the monsters, maybe that¡¯ll solve our problem.¡± ¡°Autumn¡¯s powers are excellent, but not necessarily the best course of action,¡± Natessa said, shaking her head. ¡°First, she is an important part of Greenland¡¯s war front. We can¡¯t cannibalize our forces to make things easier back here. Secondly, the scope of her abilities is limited. Right now we are facing many different creatures, all in different places and with different sorts of attacks.¡± Establishing a perfectly safe home for humans was not as easy as they¡¯d hoped. ¡°Bad news! The southern seventh district is under attack! They¡¯re being overwhelmed!¡± Before they could come up with a solution a soldier came stumbling by with their desperate report. Natessa scowled. ¡°Azura, take your people and see what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± She hoped off her seat and quickly left the chamber. Her unit was called on for quick responses, so she had them galvanized in short order and in the middle of the fray. ¡°Sure enough, more monsters!¡± Azura arrived to find several different monsters attacking the southern section of the city in unison. One sort were bird-like monsters attacking from above. They were able to split apart as though they were made of building blocks. Afterwards they could combine with others, meaning that even if they were shot apart they could attach themselves to allies and keep fighting. There was another sort made of fluid, which was toxic and could slither into any opening no matter how small. No defenses kept them out, and without any evident weakness they were very difficult to deal with. Generally speaking none of these monsters were frighteningly strong, but hesitation and chaos were lethal. It was hard to beat off these monsters without suffering some casualties. First to respond were the Greenland forces garrisoned in the area. All the defenses were engaged and they were firing into the hordes with their eboncrys weapons, but monsters were still getting through. ¡°Pigblossom, Ironspike. On me!¡± Seeing the circumstance, Azura didn¡¯t take it lightly. She ordered her troops to move in. Luckily a psionic tower was nearby, providing limitless mental energy and increasing the strength of every Awakened in range. The battlefield was alight with sparks of fire and shards of ice. Azura fished out a crimson fan and flit it toward one of the liquid-creatures. Several fierce torrents of fire belched forth and devoured the monster, turning its body to vapor. Incredible that one so young should command such power! Azura¡¯s support was timely, but there were too many of these monsters and their numbers kept growing. Other species started to appear, adding to the complexity of the situation. Even a small amount increased the threat to this section of the city. Considering only strength, Undercity¡¯s defenses were very capable. The problem was the variety made it difficult to keep everything out. Defeating an army wasn¡¯t hard, it was fighting everything off without letting any through. There were thousands of them coming from the land and air, so keeping them outside was far easier said than done. ¡°Shit, we can¡¯t hold them.¡± As the saying went, those who rely only on defense were destined to lose. Several bat-like creatures wrapped in black mist managed to slip through the shields and made a beeline for the residential area. By the time people recognized the threat, it was already too late. Suddenly a power erupted among the bats, blasting them to pieces. ¡°More backup?¡± They thought Natessa had come to help, but for the time being they couldn¡¯t see clearly enough to know for certain. One after the other, powerful beams of energy were fired against the beasts. They had nowhere to hide and so as the attacks appeared from thin air, they were consumed in earth-quaking explosions. At some unknown point figures in black armor with scarlet eyes had appeared in the streets and on rooftops. No one could see much detail, but there was one who bore an unmistakable and stifling presence. The comparatively small figure hovered above the field. Azura looked up, her eyes filled with familiarity. ¡°Teacher!¡± ¡°That¡¯s Leader Cloudhawk?¡± Only Cloudhawk¡¯s mysterious spatial powers could bring reinforcements here so quickly. But who were these other dark figures with him? ¡°They¡¯re demons!¡± Many defenders were Elysians, a number of them demonhunters. Only a handful of demonhunters had ever encountered a real demon, but they were very familiar with the features of their ancient foes. It was the most basic requirement of their order to be able to recognize evil. So many of them. Where had this frightful legion come from? Cloudhawk looked down from on high, delivering orders. ¡°Clear the area. Nothing survives.¡± Legion relayed the order to the others through his mental link. Seconds later thousands of shadows descended like a wave on the monsters. How frightening was the might of several thousands demons? More than any ordinary human could fathom. Had Cloudhawk brought them all here? That must mean he really was the Demon King now, able to call on the terrible power of the demons to do his bidding. With their help the threat was quickly eliminated. When she looked at her teacher, Azura¡¯s heart filled with adoration. Who other than her teacher could command demons? Even these mighty creatures bent before him. Was there anything he couldn¡¯t do? She wasn¡¯t alone in her joy. The demons¡¯ sudden arrival gave people hope. If Cloudhawk could call on the demons to aid them, maybe he really could defeat the gods. After delivering the southern district from danger, Cloudhawk spent a brief moment with Azura, making sure she was doing well. He then left to speak with the one in charge of Undercity, Natessa. ¡°You¡¯ve taken control of Gehenna?¡± When she heard the news, Natessa was somewhat surprised. Cloudhawk had no reason to keep the truth from her. ¡°Citizens of Gehenna will begin to arrive here in Undercity. You must keep them safe and maintain order. I will be leaving a contingent of demons here to help you.¡± Demons? That certainly solved their problem! According to old traditions, a human able to single-handed beat a demon earned the title of Master Demonhunter. Cloudhawk casually promised her a group of them as though they were ordinary guards. Natessa was astonished at how far he¡¯d come, how quickly his power had exploded. It really seemed like the battle was just beginning. Cloudhawk suspected the gods would launch the next phase of their invasion soon. He had summoned the power of Gehenna just in time. Book 8, Chapter 4 - Crisis Strikes Anew Book 8, Chapter 4 - Crisis Strikes Anew Cloudhawk led his troop of demons from Gehenna. Meanwhile, the surface of the moon had gradually returned to calm. Of course this was the calm before the storm. The mental energy of a thousand gods was condensed and contained within the Abyssal God¡¯s body. Enough to shear off huge chunks of the planet. It was beyond the physical limitations of most living things. The Marshal¡¯s power was simple; devour and release. The Abyssal God gathered energy, then released it as needed during combat. It was also able to use mental energy to spawn an all-consuming black hole. Its power was nearly enough to rip a planet apart, a living calamity that would spell the end to anything it encountered. It was time. ¡°Begin the invasion.¡± After giving the order, the Abyssal God¡¯s blazing form slowly rose and headed toward its target. Behind it were thousands of soldiers, creatures from Sumeru and devastating weapons. The entire vanguard was mobilized. Thousands of figures floated through the darkness of space, picking up speed as they headed for Earth. Out here they all looked the same ¨C like robots built off an assembly line. Their race actively destroyed individuality. Highly uniform. Highly organized. Every god operated with the confidence that theirs was the greatest race in the universe. Under the God King¡¯s ministrations, every star system they conquered enjoyed decades of peace. Gods looked at other races the same way humans looked at lesser beasts of their own planet. As the peak of the evolutionary chain, other beings were fundamentally below them. Humans were no exception. There was only one very special individual that earned Sumeru¡¯s direct attention. Although the gods didn¡¯t understand why they were expending so much effort in pursuing this man, the God King¡¯s will assured them it was a worthy cause. As the greatest being in this universe, the God King¡¯s will was absolute. It stated their purpose, and they obeyed. No one questioned the God King. They were fingers, bound to obey the brain. Gods were fast. In less than six hours they had reached Earth¡¯s atmosphere. Like shooting stars they streaked through the sky and impacted with earth-shaking force. The Marshal, however, rapidly slowed to a stop before impact. It hovered in the air while energy poured off its body. It was so intense that the air ignited for hundreds of meters all around. A world of fire surrounded the vanguard¡¯s leader, portions of it hotter than the surface of the sun. No living thing could survive such a blaze. Incredible, frightening power continued to pour from the Abyssal God. If it¡¯d just struck the ground like the others it would have spawned an explosion equal to a few large-sized bombs. But this power set the atmosphere ablaze. Moments later the explosive quality shifted. Everything started to shrink back toward the god. All the fires were sucked in by its inexplicable power. Together with the gods, many other creatures made landfall. Among them were octopus-like things whose bodies were a fluid collection of a mercury-like substance. Hundreds of them milled around, all roughly the size of a small hill. Odd light hung around them. Under commands from their masters, the metallic creatures led the way toward Greenland. When they reached the boundary these creatures unfurled their tentacles and pressed them against the barrier. Every could feel the suction force coming from the creatures. Their tentacles were like straws, hungrily slurping power from Greenland¡¯s shields. At the same time lunar weapons were taking aim. When they fired, streaks of blinding energy came crashing down from thousands of kilometers away. The earth shook and the sky trembled when they impacted the shields ¨C shields which had not yet fully recovered from the fury of Chaos. In such a weakened state, an attack like this was crushing. However it was the liquid octopuses that were most frightening. They stuck to the boundary like leeches, drawing out energy and using it to replicate. One became two, two became four and so on. With the power of the barrier they multiplied rapidly. Newly formed creatures immediately attached themselves to the boundaries and continued the process. In less than ten minutes there were thousands of them, covering a vast swath of Greenland¡¯s defenses. It was all part of the calculated plan of the gods. Chaos forced half of the humans¡¯ defenses to fail and damaged their mountain of Source. Their precious boundary was rendered unstable. From above, they barraged the shields with their weapons to force a quicker decline of its energy. At the same time the octopus creatures siphoned what remained, thinning it until a breach appeared. Their plan was proving effective. As the seconds ticked by the boundary began to fade. The Southern Capital was in disarray. Alarms wailed from the moment the gods pierced the atmosphere. But what were they supposed to do to stop them? There were too many, more than they were prepared for. If the Abyssal God and his forces broke through, the consequences would be too terrible to contemplate. Book 8, Chapter 5 - Breaking the Barrier Book 8, Chapter 5 - Breaking the Barrier The Southern Wastes were warned in advance, but even with a head start they were too slow in reacting. Selene raced to the barrier with an army of Eternals. Hellflower was close behind with mechanized units form Ark Base. Dozens of Greenland¡¯s strongest were gathered for the conflict. What they saw when they arrived shook them to their cores. The towering boundary shield was covered as far as the eye could see with liquid bodies. Tens of thousands of them, writhing sickeningly against the shield. The scale of it was dizzying. Even as they watched the slurping figures split into copies, making the boundary look like an enormous, amorphous stained glass mural. Sumeru¡¯s eight-armed monstrosities were bio-engineered tools. They stole energy and used it to strengthen themselves, expressly designed for the purpose of overcoming barriers like this. At the rate they were reproducing there would be millions of them in just a few minutes. Simultaneously, the barrier was under intense fire from the gods themselves. How were they going to defend against this unending siege? It was only a matter of time before Greenland was exposed. The realm¡¯s protections were driven by Source. Humans were blessed with a mountain of the stuff, but there was an upper limit to what could be provided at any given time. When the rate of loss exceeded the rate of gain, the barrier would fail. Simple logic. ¡°This is a problem.¡± Phain looked over the scene at Selene¡¯s side. ¡°Divine forces are likely waiting at the rear.¡± ¡°Not likely, certain.¡± The Shepherd God was scowling at the wall of creatures. ¡°I can feel them. This is a full invasion, so if our defenses fail even for a few seconds, it¡¯s all the time they need to push through.¡± Hellflower quickly added, ¡°We can¡¯t hold. If we don¡¯t do something we¡¯re done for.¡± ¡°We must hold, especially if we can¡¯t afford not to. We fight for every minute until Cloudhawk returns.¡± Selene sat tall upon her divine beast.. She drew forth Sublime Transcendence and, thrusting it toward her foes, shouted, ¡°Attack! Destroy the monsters on the barriers first!¡± The soldiers all looked at one another. Hellflower made a motion as though she understood before pulling on a metal gauntlet. Her slender figures quickly tapped at buttons on its surface. ¡°I¡¯ve activated the Cerebroid. Time to see what these robots can do. They¡¯ll show us what it¡¯s like out there.¡± Hellflower¡¯s ¡®Cerebroid¡¯ was the robot with a fragment of Father¡¯s AI installed. It didn¡¯t have all the capabilities of the original, but it was an extraordinary computational machine. Cerebroids were unparalleled in their ability to collect and analyze data. ¡°Targets recognized.¡± ¡°Targets locked.¡± ¡°Soldiers activated. Beginning attack protocol.¡± All the robots lurched into motion as one unit. Rocket boosters flung them into the air where, like a massive swarm of metallic bees, they arrayed themselves in attack formation. Wordlessly they pressed forward. Compared with the octopus creatures, the combat droids from Ark Base were about as sturdy. However, where they had an advantage was with the high-powered laser weapons that were installed. As a unit their laser salvos blotted out the sky, quick and dense as a sudden tempest. Selene watched, her face painted in hues of red as the robots attacked. Their streaks of high-energy light weren¡¯t much to look at, but they were remarkably accurate. Ark Base¡¯s war machines were incredible to watch. Each laser burned at high temperatures, enough to burn holes in alloy armor. When they struck the creatures they racked across their liquid bodies, leaving gaping wounds. One could only suffer a couple shots before collapsing, dead. A group of robots passed through the boundary to engage their foes. However, the moment they passed through they lost connection. ¡°Boss, look.¡± Hellflower raised her hand. A small screen on the device projected an image ¨C the robots that had flown beyond the boundary. A recording of figures behind the monsters was visible before the feed was cut. Gods, and leading them a figure wrapped in blinding light. ¡°That¡¯s the Abyssal God. It leads them personally.¡± Selene identified their enemies. ¡°We still don¡¯t know what it¡¯s capable of. Send the Eternals, we can¡¯t spare anyone dying.¡± At her order the Eternals division set out. These were beings created from Belial¡¯s blood and sweat over hundreds of years. Before their demise many used to be capable demonhunters. With considerable numbers, these undying warriors were not a force to be discounted. Until the Black Heart of Belial was destroyed, these soldiers would fight. Their first assault destroyed many of the silvery creatures. Selene¡¯s efforts would not eliminate them, but at least she was buying them time. If they kept this up they should be able to hold until Cloudhawk came back with reinforcements. That is, unless the gods unveiled some new way to torture them. From the other side of the barrier, the gods saw that their prey were putting up a respectable defense. Rapid communication crackled through the divine matrix. The Abyssal God moved away from the others, extending its arms upward and pressing down. Suddenly there was an intense pressure as the god¡¯s energy influenced gravity. A fist-side orb of darkness appeared. Space around it collapsed toward a hidden center. With the ministrations of the divine marshal it began to expand. Moments later a pocket of moving darkness, several dozens of meters in diameter, floated up to the mass of creatures. It was a perfect sphere, unusual in the absolute black of its surface. However it wasn¡¯t black, but the total absence of light. It was a black hole. Contrary to what one would think, though, while space rippled eerily around the orb it did not have an intense gravitational pull. Little by little, at the Abyssal God¡¯s direction, it moved forward like a ball of iron; slow but inevitable. Once it reached the barrier, that¡¯s when the black hole¡¯s event horizon became active. Octopus monsters too near to it were sucked in. Even Greenland¡¯s rigid boundary bowed toward the orb. Selene and the humans watched their shield bulge outward. Cracks started to form at the edges and there was no more energy left to repair them, with the monsters still feeding hungrily. ¡°Fuck, they¡¯re going to break through!¡± Hellflower frantically summoned the robots toward the inevitable breach. However a crushing field of gravity hung over the area, causing the robots to be ripped from the air. When they hit the ground they broke apart into piles of scrap. Selene¡¯s face darkened as she wrapped her fingers around the hilt of Sublime Transcendence. ¡°Fight!¡± Book 8, Chapter 6 - Might of the Abyssal God Book 8, Chapter 6 - Might of the Abyssal God Greenland¡¯s energy shield warped and cracked. Its collapse could come at any moment. Woe underlied Selene¡¯s beautiful, aloof facade. Their enemies were stronger than they were prepared to face. She didn¡¯t know if Cloudhawk felt the danger, if he knew that they were in over their heads. But however dire their chances, giving up wasn¡¯t in Selene¡¯s nature. She might not be able to stop the invasion, but she could slow them down as much as possible. Her forces were no threat to the gods, but that didn¡¯t mean they were useless. The sound of shattered glass. Selene watched as the humming black orb forced its way through the barrier. Like a giant buckshot it was embedded halfway through. As the black hole breached the shield it also swallowed up all the surrounding energy, preventing the barrier from repairing and growing in size. ¡°Stop them!¡± Selene would not lead from the back. She spurred Anima into action and the two charged forward. Silver light radiated as her right eye sparked to life. Surveying the milieu, she knew that if the orb was allowed to keep growing it would be unstoppable. At that point thousands of divine soldiers would pour through. Their enemies were too strong. Even with the best fighters available to her, Selene¡¯s unit could only slow the inevitable. How long? She feared that against several thousand soldiers, the answer was not very long. ¡°Look out! This is one of the Abyssal God¡¯s tricks!¡± Autumn shouted her warning, racing up to Selene¡¯s side astride a dragon. Her crystal flute was already at her lips filling the air with flows of energy. A woman in white upon her white beast. Another in green, carried by a green dragon. They were as beautiful and striking as they were inspiring. Frost de Winter¡¯s face turned hard. Mental power flooded into Ashfall, it¡¯s fierce edge keen enough to cut space. Phoenix was already in the air among a storm of flames. She raced toward the orb. Pelagius, Gorman, Phain, Bruno¡­ these men wielded power equal to a Supreme, strong enough that even the gods dare not underestimate them. After all, these were some of the strongest fighters of the human race. From behind, Hellflower was working with the Cerebroid to control their robots. Thousands of them broke away from the free-for-all combat and turned their laser weapons onto the orb. Streaks of sizzling red came crashing down with lethal power. If they could force the black hole to collapse, they could delay the invasion! The pitch-black orb was not a true black hole. Under the sudden and intense assault it grew unstable, even showing signs of imminent collapse. From the other side of the barrier, the gods of course saw this happening. The Abyssal God threw itself forward into the heart of the orb. An even more intense gravitation field spread forth, swallowing up all the lasers. With the gods support the orb stabilized and continued to grow. From within the darkness, the Abyssal God extended a hand, or more specifically a finger. Selene¡¯s pupil shrank when she saw what was to come. ¡°Retreat!¡± she yelled. The words barely left her lips before a storm of catastrophic energy erupted from the god¡¯s finger! It was all the power of a nuclear bomb condensed into a beam. Everything in its path evaporated. The human attackers scrambled to safety and nearly half of their war droids and Eternals were lost in an instant. Despite their strength, despite the Eye of Time giving them foresight, they were being forced back like they were children. Selene had saved them from instant destruction, but the close brush with death inspired fear in her soldiers. ¡°Well that was a dramatic demonstration!¡± Hellflower was weaker than her compatriots, and so remained in the back with her shields prepared. The moment that storm of energy was released she¡¯d been blown away like a leaf in a hurricane. Picking herself up off the ground, she was bleeding from several wounds. ¡°How much energy is in that thing?¡± With one finger, the Abyssal God had forced them all back. It now stepped out of the orb on the other side of the boundary, surrounded by rippling flows of space-time as gravity went haywire. This was trouble ¨C it had passed through their shield! The Abyssal God¡¯s towering, blazing form now stood before them. Everyone felt the pressure crushing them, making it hard to breathe. What they were facing wasn¡¯t a living thing ¨C it was an agent of destruction. Like the black hole it summoned, this monster was here to devour everything. It was a strange, contradictory sense. But they didn¡¯t dwell on it. Selene, Autumn, Frost and Phoenix threw themselves at the Marshal. Two dazzling streaks of sword light, the biting thrust of a spear, and vaporizing fires all fell upon the god in unison. ¡°Trivial insects!¡± The Abyssal God didn¡¯t move a muscle, taking the attacks without fear. The streaks of white and green from its enemies twisted as they drew near. The fires were flung to the aside and Frost¡¯s spear was deflected. Four threads of varying energy gathered together in the Marshal¡¯s palm. At first the coalescing power was the size of a cow, but very quickly shrank to the size of a ping-pong ball. ¡°What the hell?¡± Phoenix growled. She was confident in her powers and thought she could stand toe to toe with the Marshal, but she was wrong. The power of the four who attacked had been stolen by their foe and collected into this ball. The Abyssal God addressed the humans with a flat, emotionless tone. ¡°You can have it back.¡± It flicked it¡¯s finger. The small ball of energy darted out and burst, enveloping the four humans. They all protected themselves, but the blow knocked them all at least fifty meters away and caused some damage. Selene grit her teeth. ¡°So this is the power of a Marshal...¡± The Abyssal God was aloof and domineering, almost like another God King. It enjoyed elevated status among its species and for good reason. The power at its literal fingertips was terrifying to behold. By what they could tell, their enemy¡¯s power was in manipulating energy. It was able to devour all manner of energy, condense it, release it as an attack, or who knows what other kind of transformation. The god was much stronger than Selene and the others, their attacks caused it no harm. Instead it snatched their attacks from the air and turned their own power against the humans. Selene speculated that if they wanted to injure the god, their power had to exceed a certain threshold. How much the god is able to steal energy was determined by its mental power, as everything was. There was no denying it was powerful, but there were always limits. Perhaps together they could overwhelm their foe. But it was easier said than done. This was a stronger god than they¡¯d ever encountered before! The Abyssal God was as powerful as the greatest elders of the demons. Any demon less than the Second Seal was no match. Raising its hands anew, the Abyssal God splayed its fingers. Raging energy was released, but tightly controlled by the god¡¯s will. The explosion roared in place, squeezing into an ever shrinking space until a small blazing star hovered before the Abyssal God. And indeed it was a star. While only roughly the size of a soccer ball, solar eruptions danced across its surface and the raging energy was like a barely contained supernova. Galvanizing the hundreds of attacks it swallowed before the invasion, the Abyssal God summoned a power these humans could hardly fathom. A small portion of it created this tiny star, which once released would flatten everything in the surrounding area. A bomb, waiting to detonate at the whim of their enemy. Escape was not possible. Book 8, Chapter 7 - Captured Book 8, Chapter 7 - Captured The small sun formed by the Abyssal God had reached a tipping point. With a heave it threw the orb forward. Originally the size of a basketball, after leaving the god¡¯s control it quickly inflated to the size of a water vat and continued to swell. Harsh light blanketed everything and was growing brighter by the second. Flares dancing across the sun¡¯s surface were tongues of blinding fire. Intense heat incinerated large swaths of the landscape. Soon the barely contained power would be released. Grim acceptance of their death was setting in. But just in that moment that light and heat just¡­ stopped. The city-destroying star ceased to exist, vanishing entirely from view. In its place was a crackling splinter in reality. Light poured from it like a portal into the heart of a sun. It was a tear in space. Only one person they knew of could do this. Had Cloudhawk finally returned? Selene deflated, as though a heavy load had been lifted from her shoulders. He¡¯d come in the nick of time! The Abyssal God could sense Cloudhawk¡¯s arrival. From the tear in space, a deluge of fiery power was released. The terrifying energy was all directed toward the Marshal. It was the god¡¯s own star, finally detonated. A portion of it forced its way through the rift and slammed into the god. It was caught unprepared, so when the energy hit it the god was sent reeling. The Abyssal God quickly raised a hand and much of the offending energy was drawn into its palm. Space around its body began to crack like glass. Cloudhawk again. The Marshal could feel space collapsing around it, a strange power that was trying to fling it into another dimension. This time, however, it was prepared. As space began to crack apart the Abyssal God released another torrent of power. Such an intense concentration scoured the area and forced the unstable spatial flows to settle. Cloudhawk¡¯s attempt to teleport the Abyssal God away was foiled. This enemy knew his tricks; the higher the energy intensity in an area, the harder and more draining it was to teleport anything. His enemy wielded obscene power, so much that even the Demon King¡¯s abilities were overcome. With just a brief moment to react, the Abyssal God was able to capitalize on it. The Marshal felt Cloudhawk¡¯s presence behind it. In one fluid motion, it turned and punched at the Demon King. Simple though it seemed, with just one one-thousandth of the power contained inside it the god¡¯s punch could level a mountain range. Nothing could suffer such a blow and live. Such was the god¡¯s attacks; simple, direct, ruthless, unavoidable. However as it extended into the punch, the Abyssal God sensed something wasn¡¯t right. It felt like punching into a cloth bag. All its strength was taken away. ¡°This is¡­ the subspace cube!¡± The god¡¯s eyes were fixed on its fist which had disappeared into a glowing box nearly up to the elbow. At that moment, it knew what Cloudhawk had done. This was the human¡¯s plan, to capture it inside the pocket dimension. Once trapped inside all of its world-destroying power meant nothing, for it would cause the real world no harm. Underestimating the cube was foolish. The former Demon King had plans to use it against the God King. If such a tool was designed for use against a being like the God King, what hope of escape did the Abyssal God have? Encountering the cube was not part of its prediction, however despite the intense vacuum it felt from the relic the Abyssal God fought back. With the help of the extreme forces contained within it, the Marshal slowly began pulling its arm free. The new Demon King was mighty, but trapping the humanoid weapon of planetary destruction that was the Abyssal God would not be easy. Cloudhawk could not teleport it away or trap it in his pocket dimension. At least, the god was confident of this fact. But in the midst of this struggle and upon pulling its arm free, something unexpected occurred. A ripple in space appeared overhead from which a ferocious demon was spat forth. Ordinary demons were not a concern for the Abyssal God, but a mere glance told the god this creature wasn¡¯t ordinary. Its features were recognizable and telling. The one gleaming eye and its many pupils belonged to only one of those fiends. It was the Elder of the Third Seal ¨C Korath! None of its intelligence suggested his presence among the humans. As Third Seal, while Korath was not as strong as the Abyssal God he was by no means an easy adversary. The threat he posed was heightened by the state the Marshal found itself in. So it moved quickly, using the arm not trapped in the cube to punch at Korath. But in that exact moment a light gleamed in the Elder¡¯s single eye, releasing a formless energy that wrapped the god up. All at once, the storm of energy inside the Abyssal God was sealed away. By some infernal means, Korath had deprived the Abyssal God of its energy. It would last only a moment, but in a fight of this level a moment was enough. Cloudhawk attacked again. The Marshal¡¯s right arm was still stuck in the cube. It struggled against Cloudhawk¡¯s trap and Korath¡¯s seal, but the two together were more than it could handle. Neither the Demon King or his Third Seal were pushovers. Selene came to recognize what was happening. A streak of holy light crashed into the god¡¯s body from Sublime Transcendence. This time not all of it was swallowed up, instead forcing the Abyssal God to stumble. No wound was suffered, but by forcing it off balance Selene pushed their foe wholly into Cloudhawk¡¯s cube. Her face lit up: Success! The Abyssal God was caught in Cloudhawk¡¯s pocket dimension. Now trapped inside, none of its frightening power was a threat anymore. She thought that Cloudhawk must have known about what was happening but had been waiting for the right moment. A familiar silhouette appeared. Dark armor, a hideous mask, salt-and-pepper hair¡­ The Demon King Cloudhawk held the glowing cube in his hand. It trembled and shook, made unstable by the intensity of power trapped inside trying to break free. Yet try as it might, the Abyssal God could not force its way out of captivity. This was how the great Marshal of Sumeru¡¯s forces was captured. The black orb lodged within Greenland¡¯s barrier began to shrink until it was no more. But although the Abyssal God was defeated, a breach remained in their shields of which the gods were more than fast enough to exploit. Cloudhawk extended the cube and used it to plug the hole. Once in place, it dissolved into a ray of light and slipped into the subspace dimension as well. Book 8, Chapter 8 - Dilemma Book 8, Chapter 8 - Dilemma The Abyssal God found itself trapped in a small area, no more than a thousand square meters. Four walls, a roof and a ceiling. Featureless, white, with no way out. It was one of many identical cubes in this pocket-dimension. After Cloudhawk¡¯s sneak-attack, the Marshal found itself caught. Although it was a blank slate, at least this portion of the cube was stable. Disrupting the spatial flows was easier here, but destroying it completely was not. The Abyssal God wielded tremendous power, but its spatial talent was geared toward compression of energy rather than teleportation. Only someone with transference abilities like Cloudhawk¡¯s could escape easily. Breaking out? Not easy! But the Abyssal God was not flustered. Its species was known for cold, calculating logic in all circumstances. Firstly, dozens of black orbs sprang to life at the Abyssal God¡¯s behest. These were exactly the same as the orb it used to defeat Greenland¡¯s shield. Not a true black hole, but still possessed of strong gravitational pull. In the instant it reached its target, every orb would drink in whatever energy was available and start to grow. The Marshal gently stretched out its arms. In response, the orbs spread through the area and pressed against the walls. It wasn¡¯t just ordinary energy these orbs drank up, but spatial energy as well. Soon after they stuck to the walls cracks began to appear. This place was a little piece of another dimension inserted into reality. If it was destroyed, the Abyssal God would be spat back out into the world. So while the orbs did their work, its eyes gleamed with a burning light. Beams of luminescence carved through space, causing even the sturdy barriers of this dimension to tremble. Crrrrrack! Fissures appeared on the walls. They spread quickly until spiderwebs of cracks covered every inch of space. As the Abyssal God¡¯s power filled the room everything started to fracture. But as pieces of the walls started to fall away the god was confronted with an unexpected scene. Its anticipated escape was foiled, since on the other side of the walls was another chamber, similarly featureless but larger. More precisely, this interspatial prison was a series of sub-spaces nestled inside one another, each one existing independently from the rest. They were connected, however, constituting a complex array of cube-like building blocks. Destroying the chamber was easier than the Abyssal God thought ¨C but it was one small part of this place. Obviously, defeating the entire dimension would be much harder. But that wasn¡¯t all. Within each cube there were a number of demons. Hundreds upon thousands of them, as far as the Marshal could see. They were placed here, prepared for this moment. Somehow Cloudhawk had planned this confrontation, expertly setting a trap. Surrounded by demons, the Abyssal God¡¯s escape was presented with another obstacle. Current circumstances were poor, so the god determined that drastic measures were necessary. Two beams of power were released from its hands, ten times more powerful than previously. It punched through the barrier and into the hordes of demons beyond. Boom-boom-boom! A series of explosions followed. The beams detonated before the demons ¨C but not among them. An invisible barrier of spatial energy cracked under the Abyssal God¡¯s power but did not shatter. Another shield! The demons were all in different sections of this dimension. Cloudhawk had prepared by turning all the barriers transparent. But invisible did not mean nonexistent, so the god¡¯s efforts were all for naught. It prepared to attack again, determined to shatter the already weakened walls. Only in that moment an invisible power flooded the area. Each cube began to shift and rearrange, preventing the Marshal from focusing all its strength on one area. When everything was in constant flux there was no way for the Abyssal God to break out of its prison or attack the demons locked in here with it. But the demons were not prisoners. A hurricane of attacks came from all directions. Most were sucked up by the Abyssal God, but it was too much. Enough got through the god¡¯s natural defenses to begin causing damage. Even a god as powerful as the Marshal couldn¡¯t face thousands of demons alone. What¡¯s more, a number of Elders hid among the lesser fiends. This was their territory, a dimension that worked to their benefit. However, that was not to say the Abyssal God was helpless. If the demons wanted to attack they had to lower the barriers between sections of this subspace. In other words they were exposed in the moment they attacked ¨C that was when the Abyssal God could fight back. Piece by piece it could eliminate the demons and conquer their sections. At that time the Marshal sensed two demonic soldiers preparing their next attack. This time it was ready, so at just the right moment the Abyssal God charged forward. The demons were caught off guard by the brazen offense. Dual beams of light fired from the god¡¯s eyes and blasted the demons to pieces. Then, with the speed and intensity of a jet craft, it punched through into the next section. Cloudhawk¡¯s subspace dimension was complex, but there was a limit to how intricate it could be. With some thought, escape was possible. At least, so the god believed. However it¡¯s assumptions were too simple. Behind the scenes Cloudhawk was manipulating reality to his whim. As the Abyssal God prepared to continue its rampage, the cubes all shifted again. The section it now occupied became the center once more. Beyond all doubt, from the moment the Abyssal God was caught in this demon-infested trap, escape was improbable. In the midst of all this, Third Seal Korath appeared among the demonic soldiers. Power from his eye pierced two cubes and slammed into the god¡¯s body, once again sealing its energy. This meant defenses too, so those attacks that reached the Abyssal God hit much harder. Signs of damage appeared on the armor of this invincible Sumeran general. If it didn¡¯t find a way to turn the tables, the Abyssal God would perish. No solution was immediately obvious. Cloudhawk was using his spatial powers to hide somewhere in this place, incessantly changing the battlefield. Meanwhile thousands of demons hid in hundreds of cubes, all attacking their target nestled in the center of a killing field. A lesser god would have been eliminated already. The Marshal was fighting a demon army single-handedly and finding it very difficult to fight back. So it tried to reach out to its troops, looking for aid ¨C only to find this impossible. The odd way that space and time worked in this place prevented the god from reaching its allies in a short time. The Marshal was alone, with its hands tied. It could not fathom any way to free itself from this execution chamber. Book 8, Chapter 9 - The Marshals Judgmen Book 8, Chapter 9 - The Marshal''s Judgmen Several successive attempts to escape had failed. The Abyssal God was peppered with injuries, its armor was failing. If it didn¡¯t do something soon the god would die here. But the dimensional prison was impossible to escape! The chamber it was caught in could be destroyed, but the god couldn¡¯t shatter the whole dimension. Cloudhawk¡¯s subspace cube was a collection of layers, all connected together. Breaking through one only revealed the next, forming a constantly shifting and unbreakable fortress. Each of the cube-shaped pockets of this place could exist individually or connect together ¨C a massive, changeable honeycomb. All of the Abyssal God¡¯s power meant nothing when the enemy he fought was reality itself. Even in the face of this desperate situation, Sumeru¡¯s Marshal remained calm. Seeing that its efforts have accomplished nothing the god stopped trying to fight back. Different methods were needed in light of unique circumstances. The Abyssal God¡¯s immense mental power was released into the space. The air warped and twisted as everything in the near vicinity was pulled inward. The fabric of space began to frantically collapse around the god. With the naked eye one could see the thousand-meter square section begin to fall in on itself. The violent compression affected everything, causing the constantly shifting cubes to freeze in place. ¡°It¡¯s going to try and destroy everything!¡± Once they knew what the god was planning, the many demons felt shock and alarm. With no deliberation or fear, the Marshal decided to sacrifice itself to kill them all. It was as though the god held no regard for its own life. Few beings with power like the Abyssal God existed in Sumeru. It was one of their most elite leaders, the left hand of the God King! Logic dictated that such a creature should live as long as possible, providing its strength and knowledge to the collective. The benefits of its continued existence should outweigh any benefits of death in this moment. But the Marshal was a god, and like others of its species it did not put worth in its own life. Every decision, especially in combat, was done with the emotionless calculation of a machine. Every choice was in service of its overriding purpose. When to fight, when to retreat, when to burn bridges, when to go for the kill: Everything was performed as ordered without hesitation. The god determined that there was only a ten percent chance of escape. Successfully fleeing preserved its life, but the chances of failure ¨C and thus wasting any opportunity to punish the demons ¨C would be lost. On the other hand, if it focused its energy on bringing everything down instead of escape, chances rose to fifty percent. If this dimension was eliminated it would take every living thing in here with it. The Abyssal God would die either way. Most creatures would fight tooth and nail to survive, even if the chances were one in a million. The Abyssal God was not constrained by instinct. Cold deliberation helped it to see that being stuck in here with these fiends could be turned to its species¡¯ advantage. There were two or three thousand demons in here. To that defeated race these were stunning numbers. If they were destroyed in the course of this fight it would be a catastrophe. It was the Abyssal God¡¯s judgment that its own life was worth obliterating the demonic hordes. A fine trade, for as a Supreme was aim was better than the destruction of demons? As for its own demise, it was not a concern worth fixating on. Gods did not consider their own lives separate from the species. It was a secondary matter at best. So if it was to die, then so be it. Nothing more than being reformatted and rebooted. So, with its decision made, the Abyssal God launched its final gambit. Its body became the power source for a black hole that bent the flows of space-time. So intense was the gravitational force that no light or energy could escape from it. Panic set in among the demons. None had experience fighting the Abyssal God, but they could sense the growing danger. The orb it summoned was similar to a true black hole, and though small was still capable of warping space. The god was swallowed up by its own creation. What was a small orb swelled and grew stronger, even more similar to a real black hole. It shattered the spatial cube the orb was contained within. Other sections nearby also began to be affected, frozen in place and those closer to center were dragged toward it. Cracks appeared in every section. If this continued everything would fall apart. Without structure, the fragments would be quickly devoured by the black hole. If even the weave of space was shattered, what would happen to the creatures inside? Popped like a soap bubble. If even the air exploded, where could they flee? These demons, fresh from Gehenna, hadn¡¯t even had a proper breath of free air. Now they faced destruction in another pocket dimension, at the hands of a hateful god. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no escape!¡± They found themselves enveloped in the draw of the black hole. Fear mixed with dismay that this should be their end. Cloudhawk never stopped manipulating his realm. He saw what was happening in the center and when he sensed that the Abyssal God was committed to its suicidal plan, he acted. ¡°Korath, can you stop the black hole?¡± The Third Seal was a powerful creature. With its eye, the Elder could sever a target¡¯s connection to any sort of energy. So long as a victim was in line of sight, they were silenced. Mental strength was useless. This was how Korath sealed Crokel, and how he restrained the mighty Abyssal God. The many pupils within the Elder¡¯s eyes dilated for a moment. ¡°If it were living I would have no problem. The god¡¯s body has already evaporated into the orb. There¡¯s too much power inside and nothing to focus on. I cannot stop it.¡± ¡°Then seal off the surrounding space, keeping the influence of the black hole to a minimum. Leave it to me.¡± Light poured from Korath¡¯s eye. One beam split into dozens, each piercing the void surrounding the singularity. Energy was spat out from the void, stabilizing the area somewhat. But things were hardly going smoothly. Once space started to collapse in on itself it was hard to stop. The best Korath could manage was to pause the process, not reverse it. Cloudhawk teleported toward the black hole to take the next step. Radiant light blanketed his body, but even as a beacon of light he vanished upon crossing the void¡¯s event horizon. All the demons stared in disbelief. A few were frightened out of their wits. The Abyssal God¡¯s self-destruction was not contained by these fragments of reality. It was right before them, threatening doom! There was enough power to obliterate a continent. Could anyone ¨C even their mighty King ¨C escape this cataclysm? Book 8, Chapter 10 - Dimensional Detonation Book 8, Chapter 10 - Dimensional Detonation As Cloudhawk neared the black hole, he entered into a strange and warped reality. Infinitely thin threads of light flowed through the darkness. Cloudhawk¡¯s own body stretched, influenced by the intense gravity and making him feel like a string of noodles. The violent forces at play were enough to tear someone apart. No ordinary living thing could withstand the gravity well that was growing here. Space ¨C even time ¨C was inexplicably drawn to a dark center. Anything, regardless of its strength or vitality, was doomed to destruction upon crossing the event horizon. ¡°This is what the flows of time and space feel like...¡± Cloudhawk hovered on the edge of the horizon. Rather than rush into danger he held back, regarding the situation. Only in this extreme environment could he see as well as sense the flows of space-time. The phenomenon was a rare situation, one he could capitalize on. His unique and peerless talent gave him dominion over the flows of space. But through it, he also had some influence over time. Most importantly, he could wield this power with his mind alone. No relics were needed. As long as Cloudhawk understood the essence of what he was trying to control, his innate powers could be galvanized to make it happen. Of course this was a dangerous process. The orb before him might not have been a real black hole, but it still possessed a ravenous hunger to devour everything. If this had appeared on the surface of the earth instead of this pocket dimension, nothing within thousands of kilometers would be safe. The destruction would have been irreversible. Standing on the edge of its strongest flows, Cloudhawk watched reality collapse into the orb. He was unaffected, existing in a place between dimensions. The phase stone set within his chest constantly released blooming power, creating a buffer of spatial energy around him. In this solar system, in this galaxy, Cloudhawk was probably the only thing that could stand at the edge of a black hole and live. However, he was able to do this because of Korath¡¯s help. The Third Seal¡¯s special powers interfered with the laws of physics. His disruption influenced the flows of time and space in the area. For instance, he could change the characteristics of light in a given area. His power could adjust the value of Planck¡¯s constant, change the four fundamental forces and more. Where his sight rested became a place separate from the rest of reality. Inside, the rules bent to his whim. Through this power, Korath¡¯s eye could freeze intense flows of energy. He could stop an explosion mid-blast or neutralize weapons. This extended to sealing off relics as a focus for mental power. However for as incredible as this power sounded, it was not without limits. The more energy was contained in an area, the more effort it took to alter physics. It was nothing short of extraordinary that the Elder was able to restrict the force of the Abyssal God¡¯s black hole at all. He wouldn¡¯t be able to hold it for long. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t solve this problem soon they would all be in mortal danger. This frail, temporary dimension was not sturdy enough to survive the black hole. Unchecked, it would swallow this place and everything in it. The limit to what it could sustain was near at hand. It didn¡¯t take much research for Cloudhawk to conclude this needed to be handled. He raised his hands and ripples of dimensional power danced in his palms. He created a polarity to the black hole¡¯s eternal hunger, a reversal of the flows of space. But he had to admit that the Marshal was stronger than he was. The black hole devoured everything, a raw display of terrible power. Cloudhawk¡¯s spatial powers alone weren¡¯t enough to stop it. The concept of space-time fell apart under a black hole¡¯s intense gravity. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t enter into this strange domain any more than he could destroy it. The only way he knew of to combat this power was to try and confront it with something equally as strong. As the idea was taking form, Cloudhawk¡¯s left eye sparked with silvery light. Flows of space and time combined; expanding and rewinding. Two great powers condensed around the black hole, causing space to stabilize as its influence waned. A temporary equilibrium, but it was enough. The Abyssal God¡¯s black hole was encased in a bubble of space-time, strong enough to counter it and enforce stability. The unyielding gravity that had drawn everything toward the heart of this dimension was gone. Korath and the other demons watched in awe. How had their King done it? It wasn¡¯t a true black hole like out in space, but after being bolstered by the life force of Sumeru¡¯s general it was close. The force of this hand-crafted natural disaster was beyond the realm of most to combat. Cloudhawk deftly split a hole in the weave of space. Isolated in its space-time prison, the black hole slipped into the void. This was how the Demon King saved their lives. The demons looked at one another. Their King was powerful, inexplicable. It remained to be seen if he had power to match his predecessor, but this human was far craftier. Incredible that this man ¨C with less than ten years of experience wielding psychic power ¨C could perform such incredible feats. Sumeru¡¯s mighty general had fallen. In exchange, Cloudhawk¡¯s pocket dimension was permanently scarred. A forth of it had been destroyed, many utterly ravaged. Much of this relic¡¯s internal world was damaged. Those areas left standing suffered from collapsing walls and other flaws. Before the demons recovered from their shock, several more figures appeared in the heart of the cube. Divine soldiers, captured while trying to cross the breach. After the Abyssal God was captured, Cloudhawk plugged the opening in Greenland¡¯s barrier with his cube. With the orb gone and the path opened, the divine soldiers charged ahead without hesitation. It was clear when they arrived in the subspace dimension that they had not imagined it would be here. More flies in their web! Dark joy arose in the demons as the unsuspecting gods appeared. With the power of their King on full display, they did not fear these soldiers or their leaders. Entering the strange reality, the gods were still quick to respond. The object of their ire ¨C Cloudhawk ¨C was nearby, so without a second thought they launched into an attack. The Demon King¡¯s reaction was to hold out a hand and pinch his fingers. Space crushed in around one of the soldiers, immediately squeezing its invulnerable body into a bloody mass. Cloudhawk then waved his hand and the compressed space rapidly expanded like an explosion. The first soldier blew to pieces and the aftermath killed everything around it as well. Those that survived were briefly stunned. Compressing space? That was their Marshal¡¯s power! This was a power even the former Demon King could not reproduce. Yet, this human wielded it as expertly as the Abyssal God. However what they did not realize was that this was completely different. The Abyssal God compressed space into black holes in order to attack. Cloudhawk did the opposite, generating more space among his foes. The power of this quick expansion sundered the body of gods as though they were made from paper. Book 8, Chapter 11 - Going Home Book 8, Chapter 11 - Going Home Spatial compression. Dimensional detonation! With every wave of his hand Cloudhawk warped the weave of space-time, forcing it together then ripping it apart. Not only did this release intense energy, but the threads of space nearby were also affected. A ripple-effect of devastation spread through the area, like throwing a stone into a lake. Unlike ordinary ripples, however, these possessed tremendous destructive power. They moved quickly and could travel through objects, including living flesh. All molecular structures were stretched and squashed by its passage. Even godly bodies were no exception. Sumeru¡¯s soldiers found themselves in a minefield of spatial explosions. They had no way to protect themselves, so they suffered the ravages of Cloudhawk¡¯s fury with no way to fight back. The mighty Abyssal God had fallen here, what hope did mere soldiers have? The sub-space cube possessed countless internal ¡®sections¡¯, all under Cloudhawk¡¯s command. He shifted these blocks and the demons inside, confounding the gods and delivering them into the grasp of their enemies. Once trapped within this place, most of the gods were separated from their compatriots. Forced to fight scores of demons on their own, there was no suspense in how it would end. Even gods, for all their strength and constitution, could not survive in this hell for long. There was no way forward and no means of retreat. Attacks were feeble and withdrawal was not an option. All they could do was suffer the ire of their foes and fight back as hard as possible. The disparity was too great. Cloudhawk compressed space into a cutting blade and sent it slashing across several sectors. It bit into the gods, cutting them down. Once they were slain these sections were free of divine soldiers, but with each subsequent attack the sectors themselves were failing. After the Abyssal God and the soldiers that were pouring in, Cloudhawk¡¯s pocket dimension was beginning to fall apart. His priceless relic was nearing its limit, and perhaps already could never again be used. In sacrificing the sub-space cube Cloudhawk had won them a spectacular victory. One of Sumeru¡¯s strongest marshals and a thousand divine soldiers, erased. The demons¡¯ losses were kept to the double digits, most of them at the hands of the Abyssal God. As for the soldiers that slipped inside, all their efforts to break free came to naught. If they couldn¡¯t even break out of their prisons, they couldn¡¯t harm their demonic attackers. Cloudhawk left the pocket dimensions. Outside the battle was raging. Selene and her team were leading Eternals and Ark Base¡¯s robots against gods that managed to slip through the barrier. Mighty though they were, the humans who rose in defense of their home were formidable. Sumeru¡¯s vanguard forces numbered only around a thousand by this point, but they still fought with intensity and cohesion despite losing their leader. A single divine soldier could fight off several dozen robots or Eternals. After all these losses they still managed to have the upper hand. A gulf existed between the fighting capabilities of the two sides. However Selene and her warriors were not few in number. She herself could battle three to five soldiers on her own without issue. So while Sumeru¡¯s forces had the advantage, it wasn¡¯t overwhelming. Once Cloudhawk released the demons from his sub-space cube, the tables rapidly turned. The gods were taken aback by the sudden change and were quickly defeated. Not a single one escaped. ¡°It¡¯s about time you came back.¡± Selene approached Cloudhawk once the fighting was over. Cloudhawk looked over his people. Seleme, Autumn and his other stronger lieutenants were not hurt badly. The weaker ones, like Hellflower, had suffered more but were not seriously wounded. He nodded to each in a silent gesture of thanks before looking outward. Scores of liquid-metal octopuses still clung to the barrier. They thirstily drank up its energy and continued to reproduce. Their numbers were beyond measure now. What conventional means could rid them of these parasites? It was not an issue for Cloudhawk. Autumn was supporting Hellflower, helping her stand. The two made their way to his side, but before they could speak Cloudhawk blinked away. All that remained on the battlefield were a few thousand demons. Intense and frightening were their presence, filling the humans with disquiet. Gehenna¡¯s secret power had emerged from the shadows. But would these strong and unruly beings actually listen to their King? Could they be trusted to live in harmony with other races under human rule? ¡°So¡­ where did Cloudhawk go?¡± Hellflower looked around. Suddenly a piercing sound shrieked from overhead, moving quickly. Everyone raised their eyes and felt a powerful energy approaching. Cloudhawk had wrenched a five-kilometer wide asteroid from the depths of space. This time it was different from before, coming from more than a hundred kilometers away beyond the atmosphere. The moment it struck air the enormous rock burst into flame and began to break apart. By the time it reached their location, the main piece was roughly two kilometers wide. Even still it possessed as much destructive energy as a nuclear bomb. A deafening explosion followed. The asteroid slammed into Greenland¡¯s barrier. Aftershocks were flung out in all directions, powerful enough to cause avalanches in distant mountain ranges. The ground at the shields base sank a full ten meters. A million tons of material was flung into the air, where it was melted into slag and fell upon the area as a molten rain. This apocalyptic barrage was focused where the liquid monsters were thickest. In the fiery aftermath, the eight-legged parasites were all destroyed. In the midst of this violent and incredible display, Cloudhawk reappeared within the boundary. As the furious storm raged outside, he didn¡¯t even turn to look. The world within the shields trembled from it, but was otherwise unscathed. It certainly spoke to the strength of their boundary! Cloudhawk paid it no mind, but everyone else looked upon his expression of power with stupefied expressions. After calmly bringing the invasion to an end, the Demon King turned to his attendants. ¡°Legion, Korath.¡± The two highest-ranking demon Elders presented themselves, silent and respectful, awaiting their King¡¯s command. ¡°Sumeru¡¯s vanguard built their advance garrison on the moon¡¯s surface. I want you to take the demons there and claim it.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± Cloudhawk ripped another tear in reality, this one leading to the void of space where he had snatched that meteor. He had placed a marker there, creating an easy channel for demons to escape earth¡¯s atmosphere. Demons, like gods, could live without issue in the harsh environment of space. Legion and Korath wasted no time. They summoned the demon hordes and poured through the rift, heading for the abandoned lunar base as fast as possible. ¡°Cloudhawk!¡± Selene called out after him. He turned to face her. Encased in armor, with his face behind a hideous mask, Selene could not read his face. But what she could easily sense was the regal bearing he now possessed. He had grown strong, dignified, to where even demons bowed before him. Yet Selene held onto the belief that no matter how much he appeared to change, the core of who he was remained the same. Cloudhawk was still the good, reliable man she kept in her heart. No matter how bad things got, it would all be ok with him at her side. ¡°Welcome home, it¡¯s been a while. Let¡¯s go home and get some rest.¡± Go home? The thought had a strange effect on him. He watched Selene approach and take him by the hand. She then waved at the others. ¡°The rest of you, clean this place up.¡± Book 8, Chapter 12 - After the Battle Book 8, Chapter 12 - After the Battle ¡°About Dawn...¡± In the rush and chaos of the vanguard¡¯s assault, there has been no time to process everything that happened. Now, at last, they had some space to breathe, and to mourn. Selene¡¯s thoughts went to her fallen comrade. Cloudhawk had known Dawn for a long time. Her death cut him deeply and Selene feared what it would do to him. She was already seeing changes. He¡¯d been forced to make a terrible choice¡­ Cloudhawk cut her off. ¡°It¡¯s already done. I don¡¯t need comfort, I¡¯m not that frail. No time to be vulnerable. You don¡¯t need to worry, I¡¯m fine.¡± He was right. There was no turning back, even just to remember what was. A leader can¡¯t show weakness, a King especially. Heavy was the head that wore the crown. Lonely was the man upon the throne. But Cloudhawk would not complain, he had no right to. All the grief and pain and responsibility was his to bear in silence. He would turn it all into motivation. ¡°You¡¯re standing here with me but you feel so far away. I¡¯m not used to being with the Demon King.¡± Selene sighed. Reaching out with her pale hand she brushed her fingers against the cold mask. ¡°Can you take this thing off?¡± The Mask of a Thousand Faces. Selene remembered when she used to wear it. That was when they used to call her the Bloodsoaked Queen. Cloudhawk wore it now and they called him King. King of the wastes. King of the demons. He hesitated to remove it. The mask fit perfectly with the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass, like a helm to a suit of armor. After a moment it began to ripple like water and flowed away, revealing Cloudhawk¡¯s features. The frightening black armor stayed on, giving Cloudhawk a towering and imperious appearance. His black hair was now flecked with white. Fine wrinkles could be seen at the corner of his eyes, where a few days ago his features had been perfectly chiseled. Gone was the vibrant, youthful glint in his eyes. A deep and penetrating gaze had taken its place. Ten years had turned him into another person. ¡°There, that¡¯s better. More what I¡¯m used to. Remember to take that thing off from time to time, get some fresh air.¡± She smiled sweetly and gave him a gentle kiss. ¡°No matter what happens I will always be right beside you. Whether you¡¯re the Demon King or whatever other title, I¡¯m here. In my eyes you¡¯ll always be the same Cloudhawk.¡± Cloudhawk regarded Selene, felt the warmth and comfort of her presence. Within his eyes was conflict as he gently took her hand. ¡°I need you. You keep me grounded, keep me human.¡± Selene pressed herself against his chest, transforming from a paragon of power into an affectionate woman like any other. The two stood upon Greenland¡¯s fort, watching the sun rise in the east. As light bathed the city it revealed an orderly society, safe. The war and death hadn¡¯t touched this place yet. The first order of business was to count their losses and gather the spoils of war. Compared to the rampage of the chaos beast, the vanguard¡¯s damages were meager. The Abyssal God¡¯s invasion ended with few casualties. It was because the marshal did not consider the possibility of Cloudhawk bringing the power of Gehenna to bear. Demonic assistance had not factored into its calculations. Greenland¡¯s situation would be very different otherwise. Between Cloudhawk and his troops it was still likely the gods would be stopped, but the death toll would have been far greater. Half of Greenland¡¯s troops or more would have lost their lives. A massacre of that scale would be impossible to recover from in a short time, increasing the likelihood of humanity being wiped out entirely. The Abyssal God and his forces were stopped because of Cloudhawk¡¯s timely intervention, supported by the demons of Gehenna. The result was human victory in the first real battle between man and god. Even the mighty Marshal had fallen. Sumeru¡¯s first assault had failed. Perhaps it didn¡¯t mean much to the gods, but to humanity and to Greenland it was everything. An inspiring victory that bolstered their morale and filled their coffers with spoils. Bodies of fallen gods were treasures. From them they could extract resources for medicines, bolster constitution and empower mental ability. Every dead god made humans stronger. Furthermore, the equipment left behind was also precious. From armor to weapons, everything could be used to strengthen their rebellion. Cloudhawk first ordered the bodies of the gods gathered and their powers transferred. Five hundred bodies were piled on the altar of transference, their powers conveyed to their murderers before their spirits could escape. This time, Cloudhawk also partook in the ritual. As the surge of spiritual energy came rushing in Cloudhawk could feel the vestiges of the god¡¯s will. An ordinary person would succumb to even this fragment of the creature, but Cloudhawk was King. Without danger, but not without effort, he suppressed the dead god¡¯s resolve and took its power for himself. He felt his abilities grow, but there was a bottleneck. No single body could support endless absorption of this power. It would take time to completely assimilate this new strength. Meanwhile, a hundred of Greenland¡¯s best Awakened were also bequeathed a god¡¯s power. They were immediately lifted to the equivalent of a Master Demonhunter. The strongest among them rose to the level of a Supreme. Sumeru¡¯s invasion did not wipe out humanity. Instead it gave them the resources to become stronger. In fact, Cloudhawk found it a little odd. Almost like it was all on purpose. A part of some plan¡­ It didn¡¯t matter. Now wasn¡¯t the time to worry over conspiracy theories. ¡°We managed to get quite the haul from those gods!¡± Hellflower approached, full of excitement. She had probably gained the most from this fight, with more mental power now than ever before. ¡°Hundreds of well-preserved relics, even more than Skycloud had in its best times. This is going to lift humanity to the next level.¡± Cloudhawk had begun to steadily free himself from the bonds of relics. They weren¡¯t going to win if they relied on the technology of their enemy. Defeating the gods meant breaking free of their dependence. However, that didn¡¯t mean relics were worthless. Cloudhawk could research them to learn new abilities. ¡°Leave them here with me for now,¡± Cloudhawk ordered. He would go over them and see what he could learn, then pass them out as needed. ¡°time to initiate the second phase of the evacuation plan.¡± Both Hellflower and Selene paused. ¡°We just won. Why are we retreating?¡± ¡°Our victory is temporary. The next time the gods appear, they¡¯ll be far stronger. Now that the demons have joined us there are no need for conventional troops. Better to have them maintain order on Emerald Star.¡± On average, one divine soldier was equal to a thousand ordinary fighters. So a thousand of them meant a million humans. Two thousand? Three thousand? Ten thousand divine soldiers? Humanity simply didn¡¯t have the numbers to face this threat. So traditional armies didn¡¯t mean much in this war. Ordinary weapons and armor didn¡¯t make a difference. Might as well evacuate them to somewhere safe where they would be more useful and keep the best fighters here. This tactic was more flexible and considerate of human life. They wouldn¡¯t have to worry about casualties as much of another chaos beast was sent their way, for instance. ¡°In addition to the remaining citizens and soldiers, we should move the Source as well.¡± At present, Source ran everything. Greenland¡¯s boundary was so strong because Source made it so. However, they didn¡¯t need a mountain of it to sustain two shields. But beyond just a precious font of energy, Source was also what demons used to make more demons. Greenland would keep only as much as it needed to continue the fight. The rest would be moved somewhere safe for other uses. Book 8, Chapter 13 - Risky Plans Book 8, Chapter 13 - Risky Plans ¡°We¡¯ve confiscated everything the gods left behind on the moon,¡± Legion reported to Cloudhawk. ¡°As a safety precaution, Belial is examining them and then the tech will be sent to Ark Base. Further study will ensure the gods haven¡¯t left anything behind in their construction that will cause us trouble.¡± So far Cloudhawk hadn¡¯t felt anything unusual about the goods, but it was not unthinkable that the gods would tamper with it in some way. After all, these items were not explicitly used by Sumeru. Demons, even psychically awakened humans, could also utilize these tools. While hardly a loss for the gods, this haul was an excellent addition to humanity¡¯s arsenal. It was like being handed a nuclear weapon. Suddenly Greenland had an embarrassment of war riches at their disposal. After examining their gains, Cloudhawk brought everything back to Greenland. Several days later, Ark Base received a shipment of resources to examine, which ultimately would serve to bolster humanity¡¯s front lines and make them more prepared for the challenges to follow. Next was a discussion on how to continue the fight. Cloudhawk summoned his lieutenants for a meeting. It was a post-war debrief and a planning session for their next step. Joining him were hundreds of representatives from the human race, as well as three thousand demons. ¡°Such is the power of the gods. Our victory has given us motivation and momentum. With Gehenna at our side I believe we will stand a fair chance when the gods strike again.¡± ¡°Yes, so long as Greenland stands we can hold Sumeru at bay.¡± ¡°The front holds. Emerald Star, Gehenna and Ark Base are safe so long as we remain firm.¡± Everyone was swept away by the joy of their triumph. Following their victory, morale was high. Despite their brave words, deep in every heart was doubt that they would survive. Victory had shown them otherwise, and it was a victory where they had lost little. These were the gods! The almighty, illustrious gods! Immortal, mysterious, capable of walking across the surface of the sun. Although they wielded power to make mortals tremble and weapons from the depths of nightmare, still they had failed to take the southern wastes. Two thousand godly soldiers, dead. How could such glorious success not make men excited? Yet in contrast to the blustering humans, a grim silence hung over the demons. They did not sing words of praise or celebrate the victory. Legion spoke up. ¡°Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. We have defeated their vanguard, yes, but this was merely a test by our enemies. Without Gehenna¡¯s aid the Southern Capital would have fallen.¡± Demons remembered the Great War. Their long lives and keen memories wouldn¡¯t allow them to forget. It had left an indelible fear within them, of the gods and what they could do. No one knew the terror of divine genocide better than they did. Sumeru might have lost a Marshal, but this small defeat was insignificant. They understood that their species would not escape destruction a second time. Their enemy was led by the awesome and frightening God King. Though no one knew why the God King hadn¡¯t shown itself before them yet, the moment it did there was no known way to defeat it. Overall the rebellion¡¯s chances remained bleak. ¡°Focusing only on defense, we will fall. With only one planet at our back we can¡¯t defeat the gods.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice rose over the others. He trained his eyes on Legion. ¡°We have to switch our stance from defense to offense.¡± That was not the plan others were expecting. Defense to offense? He had to be joking! Greenland and its soldiers were safe because of Belial¡¯s defense system. If they went out and faced the gods on neutral territory humanity was doomed. Everything from their demon forces, to human troops, to all their technology was inferior to Sumeru. In total, there were roughly ten thousand demons still alive. If every single one of them took the field and fought, they would only equal a few thousand gods. Even if you added up every scrap of technology from Ark Base and Gehenna, maybe Cloudhawk¡¯s army could match thirty thousand divine troops. No doubt that sort of power was strong, enough to wipe out a moderate civilization. But to rely on that for an offensive against Sumeru¡­ wasn¡¯t that madness? ¡°My King¡¯s idea has its merits, but with our current strength a direct confrontation carries little hope for success.¡± Legion carefully chose his words. ¡°However, there is reward with certain risks. In the midst of darkness we may find a silver lining.¡± This piqued Cloudhawk¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Where is this silver lining?¡± ¡°Where else? Sumeru.¡± Humans and demons alike were not sure what the Elder was proposing. Sumeru? Silver lining? His enigmatic words seemed foolish. Sumeru was home to thousands of powerful enemies! It was their well-defended home and, so far, no one even knew where it was. Cloudhawk¡¯s face bore no expression. ¡°Explain.¡± Legion obliged. ¡°From everything we know, the gods have laid the groundwork for this moment for a long time. Imagine the universe today; countless intelligent races, enslaved by the gods. Even the greatest civilizations brought low. The reach of the gods extends far out into the cosmos, beyond comprehension.¡± ¡°The Grand Elder¡¯s meaning...¡± High Priest Pelagius paused for a moment in thought before proceeding. ¡°You suggest we find and ally with the remnants of those civilizations. Picking up the pieces of thousands of races all across the universe to help us fight Sumeru?¡± ¡°A fine plan in theory, but nearly impossible to execute.¡± Legion shook his head. ¡°Even just your Milky Way is vast beyond measure. Unless one has dominion over space and time, traversing these distances is impossible. Indeed, the combined mighty of all lesser species would be more than the gods could suppress. But to see it become reality we must traverse the stars ¨C billions of light years ¨C as well as overcome any inherent differences. It is too difficult, too dangerous to attempt.¡± Unifying all the races of the galaxy¡­ It would definitely turn the tables on the gods, but how were they supposed to make it happen? What reasons did any of these species have to trust humans even if they could communicate? The most difficult was also the most important; how were they supposed to even find them? Mankind¡¯s understanding of the universe only scratched the surface. When it came to the universe, space and time became insurmountable obstacles. Humanity¡¯s capabilities weren¡¯t up to the challenge. Legion went on. ¡°As was noted, the gods control a large number of civilizations. It is also naive to think ours is the only race at war. We can then surmise that most of Sumeru¡¯s forces are, at any given time, away from Sumeru.¡± People were finally beginning to understand. Here on earth the gods left six Supremes to watch over their crop. Say the gods had a thousand other planets to shepherd, all things being equal that would mean six thousand Supremes. Furthermore, if the gods feared other civilizations may rise in rebellion, they needed to have forces mobilized and ready. Whether it was keeping watch, squashing a rebellion or outright war, it was all drawing on a relatively limited number of forces. Perhaps strangely, while the gods produced frightening creatures like chaos beasts they did not appear to use robots. All told they were few in number, compared to their flock. The conflict on Earth had drawn a lot of attention from Sumeru. Its reaction would surely be to send a show of force, enough to wholly dominate and exterminate this troublesome race. Unless Legion was mistaken, Sumeru would not be heavily guarded. Why would it? The gods were incapable of imagining these insignificant humans invading their home. ¡°My King possesses incredible powers over space. He is the only living thing who can hope to enter the land of the gods. If we are quick, there is a chance we can take Sumeru.¡± Incredulous words mixed with exclamations and thoughtful discussion. The entire council was a chorus of voices. Undoubtedly, Legion¡¯s scheme was a bold one. Bold meant unexpected, and with a force equivalent to thirty thousands divine soldiers there was a real chance they could succeed. ¡°Two problems.¡± Selene interrupted. ¡°First: Sumeru is the God King¡¯s home. With its powers, why should we assume it can''t foresee an attack on Sumeru? Second: We don¡¯t even know where Sumeru is. How are we supposed to find it?¡± Legion offered his response. ¡°As you say, if the God King foresees our arrival then we are throwing ourselves into the fisher¡¯s net. But its powers over time is not true clairvoyance. Every time you peer into the future it changes. Perhaps the God King did witness a future for Sumeru. At the time it would see eons of prosperity and dominance. However this future was not written in stone. Over a thousand years of playing with the threads of fate, it is invariable that things should change. Things like the invasion and conquest of Sumeru. So you see, there is a lot more unpredictability than the God King¡¯s powers might portend.¡± The explanation was not hard to understand, and it made sense. If, for instance, a man had access to a time machine that brought him anywhere in the future ¨C two days forward, say, where his wife had a fatal car accident. Knowing this, surely the man would react to stop it? He would do anything to ensure it didn¡¯t come to pass. From the very instant he witnessed that possible future it was forever altered. Perhaps he saves his wife in this scenario, but in doing so carelessly throws himself before the vehicle and is instead killed. Were the flows of time left undisturbed the man would live, at the cost of his wife¡¯s life. The actions he took to change fate brought on something new he had not foreseen. Was they were discussing now was the same. The God King was able to fast-forward or rewind any period in time. With it¡¯s power it can even peer a thousand years into the future and attack a target. But every time it did so the picture changed. Indeed the God King had incredible foresight into the future of the universe. But perfect manipulation of fate was impossible. Even if there was only one percent chance that the God King missed something, it was worth the risk. For facing the God King head on, there was not even one percent chance of survival. ¡°As for where Sumeru is located¡­¡± ¡°I can upload my consciousness into the Divine Matrix. Through their network I can locate the home of the gods.¡± Cloudhawk completed the thought. He¡¯d performed the feat twice already with the help of the Cloud God. They hadn¡¯t tried since the Supreme¡¯s death, but the Cloudhawk of today was very different. If they could capture a god, perhaps they could force their way into the Matrix once more. Selene frowned. ¡°I still think it¡¯s too risky.¡± She had personally experienced a fragment of the God King¡¯s power. Hoping for such a creature to maybe overlook such a glaring flaw seemed foolish and unlikely to succeed. ¡°We¡¯re in a war for survival. It¡¯s a risk worth taking.¡± ¡°Yes, we should attack Sumeru instead of waiting for the divine army to kill us little by little. We should take advantage of our momentum! Invade Sumeru and bring death to our foes!¡± Better to pull off a band-aid in one quick move, rather than bit by bit. No long as Sumeru still stood, the gods would not be defeated. Legion¡¯s plan was certainly risky, but there was glorious opportunity in burning one¡¯s escape route.[1] 1. This is the phrase ÆƸª³ÁÖÛ ¨C break one¡¯s kettles and sink the boats. If the story about Xiang Yu¡¯s victory is true, then that is incredible. Book 8, Chapter 14 - The Larger Pantheon Book 8, Chapter 14 - The Larger Pantheon After the meeting Cloudhawk teleported directly to the God tree. Autumn lived in its boughs. Several years had passed since she got wrapped up in this conflict, but her outward appearance hadn¡¯t changed at all. She was still the fresh-faced seventeen year old that wandered into Sandbar Outpost. When Cloudhawk met her for the first time he saw she was unique. Autumn wasn¡¯t vivacious like Dawn, aloof like Selene or alluring like Hellflower. The feeling she left people with was chaste. Pure, like an unblemished sheet of paper. No matter how much had changed in the world outside, in her heart Autumn had remained the same. But that said, when Cloudhawk saw her there was something different in her presence. Her mental strength and talent had grown. ¡°The spirit of the Shepherd God is with you.¡± He determined that had to be reason for the change. Autumn had become the unwitting vessel for the Shepherd God¡¯s reincarnation. In shedding the fetters of Sumeru, severing one¡¯s link was not enough. The Shepherd God would forever be an apostate to her race, hunted mercilessly. So she made a pact with the Demon King. In exchange for a new body, the Shepherd God would look over his cuirass. Only there emerged a problem ¨C Autumn¡¯s will was not erased when the god took her form. Instead, now her body was the vessel for two perfectly combined souls. Such was a rare phenomenon, causing no small amount of irritation. For instance, sometimes the two wills battles for control over their shared body. The Shepherd God was clearly dominant at first, but since then Autumn had been allowed to take the reigns from time to time. Things were changing even more lately. Autumn and the Shepherd God had forged a sort of cooperation. She wasn¡¯t suppressed all the time like she used to be and she had come to accept the divine intruder. With every battle and conflict, both spirits learned to work in tandem. What a curious circumstance. By all rights a single body should only have a single will. When the Shepherd God was in control, it would make sense that Autumn was ¡®asleep¡¯, and the reverse when Autumn emerged. However, although Autumn was clearly in control right now Cloudhawk could still sense the god¡¯s presence. Two wills, working together. Sort of a master-slave relationship, or main and auxiliary. They could even use their individual mental abilities to access two relics at once. Two separate spirits sharing a body without drawbacks was amazing. Neither Legion nor Belial could explain it. Autumn was sitting calmly upon one of the many thick branches. When Cloudhawk appeared she greeted him with a smile and combed her hair behind her ear. ¡°The Shepherd God and I have worked to embrace our situation. So far it¡¯s worked well.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Yes. A god¡¯s power, a human¡¯s talent. They compliment each other.¡± Gods were immortal and born with incredible power, but their rate of growth was slow. Humans, in contrast, lived brief lives by comparison and were weaker. But they were malleable, especially people like Autumn who have huge stores of potential to tap in to. Since the Shepherd God and Autumn were able to live in harmony, Autumn¡¯s naturally limited lifespan should increase significantly. Who knew how long she would live now. ¡°You came to talk to me about Mount Sumeru.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Have a cup of tea with me.¡± Autumn led Cloudhawk into the trunk of the God Tree. It was a spartan living space, but not without personal touches. Since coming to the Southern Wastes, this was where Autumn had spent most of her time. She heated up a pot of water and delivered a steaming cup to Cloudhawk. He didn¡¯t drink it right away. ¡°What does the Shepherd God think of our strategy to attack Sumeru? Does she think we can do it?¡± ¡°Attacking Sumeru will be very difficult, especially since we know so little about the God King. Outsmarting a creature that can peer into the future seems impossible. We shouldn¡¯t call it a surprise attack. More like preparing the best way to weather a storm.¡± ¡°So it sounds like you support the idea.¡± ¡°What would be the difference if I didn¡¯t? Any way you look at it there¡¯s risk, and I don¡¯t like risk.¡± Autumn sighed. ¡°If we don¡¯t put an end to this then the war will continue until we¡¯re all dead. Emerald Star, Ark Base, Gehenna¡­ it¡¯s only a matter of time before the gods find and destroy all of them.¡± Cloudhawk was quiet for a moment as he thought. ¡°Based on what I know about the gods, there are probably more of them than we thought. There might even be more than one Sumeru.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about several Mount Sumerus. Different places with different pantheons. All together they form a vast network that spans the whole universe, all working with single-minded purpose. I have to assume there may even be more than one God King.¡± The implication made Autumn tremble. One God King was the stuff of nightmares. Cloudhawk was proposing there were more. It was a grim theory. Beyond shocking, the idea threatened to snuff out what little hope for survival they clung to. If the Sumeru they fought was only one of many, then how strong were the gods really? ¡°What makes you think that?¡± ¡°Demons are a big part of the evidence.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s voice was low as he explained his hypothesis. ¡°The former Demon King was a Sumeran leader who rebelled for some reason. He led a group of gods away from the collective and that¡¯s when they were labeled demons. I believe that the present God King took over from the Demon King when he left.¡± ¡°So the Demon King used to be the God King?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s in my memories. Emerald Star, Stony Plains, it¡¯s all proof. Everything points to it, the Demon King used to command all the gods in our galaxy.¡± Autumn¡¯s bearing changed when he shared his thoughts. The Shepherd God, no longer able to keep silent, took over from her human counterpart in order to communicate directly. If the Demon King used to lead the gods, then why did he betray them? Only when she thought about it, she realized the betrayal wasn¡¯t important. When the God King left with so many gods, leaving the gods leaderless, it should have made their entire society collapse. However, instead a new being quickly took over. Sumeru recovered, which suggests they received support from elsewhere. The Demon King¡¯s rebellion was a thousand years ago, more or less. Most gods, the Shepherd God included, had no memories prior to that. Perhaps it was because whatever happened was too dangerous to remember and it was sealed away. Likewise the memories were removed from the demons to stop them from rejecting their new identities. The result was fascinating. Gods remembered nothing prior to the Great War and demons knew nothing of where they came from. It was what turned gods and demons into two separate civilizations even though they came from the same root. Behind Sumeru there had to be an even greater power! The God King they knew was probably just an administrator. Divine soldiers and lieutenants were merely mass-produced soldiers. If that was true then low-level managers could be swapped without issue. More soldiers could be manufactured as needed. ¡°If that¡¯s true it¡­ would be something.¡± The God King mustn¡¯t be all that special if it was chosen as a replacement for the Demon King so quickly. Who knew how many ¡®God Kings¡¯ there were lurking in the shadows, governing the gods? So the universe very well could be rife with gods, belonging to any number of pantheons. Each one ruled over a galaxy, connected through their Divine Matrix and lorded over by the one they called their ¡®King¡¯. A single Mount Sumeru could have tens of thousands of gods, but the universe could have millions ¨C hundreds of millions even! The more the Shepherd God considered it, the darker her face became. How strong were the gods really? What about the ones who pulled their strings? Just thinking about it made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. ¡°Demon King, God King ¨C they¡¯re the same. But they¡¯re different from other gods and demons. I¡¯m willing to bet they¡¯re even a different species.¡± Cloudhawk shared his ideas further. How was the Demon King even able to break away from the gods? Cloudhawk felt he had the answer: Because the Demon King wasn¡¯t like them. He had his own will and identity. The first time he expected this might be the case was when he encountered the God King. His impression of Sumeru¡¯s leader was completely different from the other gods he¡¯d met. It was intelligent, willful, emotional. All the other gods were hardly better than machines. The God King was their operator, with his own personality. That was how the Demon King was able to break away. The Shepherd God¡¯s face was dark and crestfallen. ¡°If it¡¯s as you say then the gods may be hundreds of times more powerful than we thought. There doesn¡¯t seem to be any way out.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s a chance. Have you forgotten how the demons came to be in the first place?¡± The Shepherd God was not stupid. She understood his point immediately. ¡°They were gods, enticed away from the collective by the Demon King.¡± That fact was indisputable. Through whatever means the former Demon King broke the gods¡¯ seal and allowed them to embrace their individuality. The Shepherd God herself was the best evidence of this, as well as the perished Cloud God. Both were changed by the power of the Demon King. ¡°After fusing with his armor, I have access to all the memories of my predecessor. What binds the gods is a lock with no seams. The only way to release it is with a special pass code. I know how to do it, but the code is in the hands of the gods.¡± ¡°So your plan is to defeat the God King and free the gods with that code?¡± That was exactly what he was planning. The God King had the key and their divine matrix was housed on Mount Sumeru. IF Cloudhawk could get that code, he could enter the divine matrix and upload it to every single god. Gods were spread out across countless galaxies and untold civilizations. Perhaps, once they were freed, these gods and the civilizations they controlled would rise up against their masters. Maybe once they all became demons there would be a way out. The power and influence of the gods was massive. Behind them was an unfathomable hand pulling their strings. Humans and demons alone just weren¡¯t enough. ¡°So why have you come to me?¡± The Shepherd God asked. ¡°You have inherited the Cloud God¡¯s powers ¨C the one god we knew best of all. I need your help in finding Mount Sumeru.¡± It seemed obvious that Cloudhawk¡¯s decision was a suicide mission. But if they could make this first, impossible step a reality, then the rest of their journey would be far easier. Book 8, Chapter 15 - Warnings Book 8, Chapter 15 - Warnings Cloudhawk made up his mind. It was all or nothing, conquering Sumeru right under the gods¡¯ noses. Looking at the world aflame all around him, this was the best decision. It was time to take a gamble on all their lives. It was better than waiting around to die. Figuring that the scope of the gods was far greater than they originally thought, it was no longer an option to win freedom for their little planet and hope that was the end of it. Destroying Earth ¨C destroying the entire solar system ¨C was not a difficult feat for this advanced species. All the gods together across all the galaxies likely outnumbered humans, too. If humanity wanted to survive it had to change the rules, otherwise the war would continue to intensify until everyone was dead. But in order to attack Sumeru, they first had to know where it was. That was why Cloudhawk came calling on the Shepherd God. He still had several living gods trapped in his pocket dimension who the Shepherd God could utilize. Using the Cloud God¡¯s immense mental powers that she inherited, perhaps she could create a channel through these gods into the divine matrix. There Cloudhawk would find his answers. In theory the gods were a race without secrets. Once linked in with their hive mind the location of Sumeru shouldn¡¯t be hard to find. But finding their target was only the first step in their battle plan. The second step was finding a way to get there. Cloudhawk had a fair working knowledge about the gods by this point. Each pantheon worked like self-contained cells in a larger organism. Any one group of gods controlled a galaxy, but ¡®galaxy¡¯ wasn¡¯t specific. They could control several for all they knew. There were hundreds of galaxies ¨C more, maybe millions! Assume that each galaxy was ten thousand light years end to end and separated by a million light years of nothing. So Sumeru could be millions of light years from earth in any direction. It would explain why even the gods took so long to travel to earth form their home. It was impossible for any race like humans to ever find Sumeru, much less reach it. For humans to accomplish a miraculous feat like that with their technology¡­ well, it was like a single-celled organism composing an opera. It wasn¡¯t going to happen. But Cloudhawk knew that, that¡¯s why he was prepared. After speaking with Autumn his next stop was Belial. After hearing his King¡¯s plan, the Elder artisan thought he¡¯d gone insane. ¡°What? How do you assume that¡¯s possible? If I had this power I would have escaped to another galaxy ages ago. There would be no reason for me to remain stuck here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t irritated by Belial¡¯s thorny mood. ¡°We use the Source to set up an energy field, then use the energy field to power teleportation. With my abilities we can open a portal directly connecting our world to Sumeru.¡± Belial could hardly believe what he was hearing. ¡°This¡­ there¡¯s no basis for this at all.¡± ¡°The former Demon King used a similar method to connect earth with other places, like Emerald Star and Stony Plains. That¡¯s why I¡¯m able to go back and forth among them. The Demon King knew he had stronger spatial abilities than any other creature, and my powers are even stronger today. If he was able to do it, why can¡¯t I?¡± Belial had no answer. Emerald Star and Stony Plains were not in their current solar system but somewhere out in the vast reaches of space. How had the former Demon King been able to so easily traverse these huge distances? Cloudhawk inherited all the memories and experiences of his predecessor. There was no reason he couldn¡¯t do everything the former King did and more. Only, when the Demon King had set up his teleportation beacons he¡¯d done it as the God King. That meant a lot more resources. But Cloudhawk had Source and that should be enough. In truth there wasn¡¯t much of a correlation between how difficult teleportation was and how far the destination happened to be. Certainly more effort was needed the farther away one traveled, but after a certain threshold the positive correlation no longer mattered. There was no difference between one light year and one thousand. Belial weighed telling his King that he¡¯d lost his mind, but withered under his gaze. He dared not refuse, so with a respectful nod he acquiesced to give it a try. Whether or not it would be successful was another matter entirely. Autumn and Belial had their task. Cloudhawk¡¯s third destination was Emerald Star, where he gathered all the best warriors from the demons, humans, the races of Gehenna and representatives form Ark Base. These disparate flakes of iron would be forged into a weapon he would use to strike at the heart of Sumeru. Emerald Star was about halfway through its rebuilding. After retreating from the front, Greenland¡¯s soldiers had been repurposed to help with the city¡¯s development. Huge quantities of Source were also transported to help transform this city into humanity¡¯s new utopia. Cloudhawk just didn¡¯t know if he would be around to see it. Cloudhawk was preparing to get to work when he was interrupted by a familiar face. Frost de Winter was wrapped in sorry gray robes. His handsome face was hidden beneath a scraggly beard, and those keen eyes were now still and inscrutable. Every time he looked at the man, he wasn¡¯t sure why but there was always a presence hovering just out of sight¡­ Arcturus. ¡°What is it?¡± Cloudhawk demanded. ¡°This isn¡¯t the right place to talk.¡± Frost made the proclamation and then left. Cloudhawk followed. They entered into another building where another acquaintance was waiting. Frost¡¯s younger brother, Squall. Squall looked even older than his brother. For a long time that youthful friend Cloudhawk knew in Skycloud was gone. He was an experienced middle-aged wastelander now, wrapped in an aura of cunning and grim stability. ¡°We want you to be careful around Legion.¡± Cloudhawk was a little surprised by Frost¡¯s candid words. It was the last thing he¡¯d think these two would say to him. Weren¡¯t they both part of the Elder¡¯s ¡®Hand of Gehenna¡¯? Frost especially. His current strength was all thanks to the Second Seal¡¯s efforts. Legion was loyal to Cloudhawk. Nothing the demon had done, from the very first, had any reason to raise suspicion. Where these brothers trying to drive a wedge between him and the Elder? That didn¡¯t make sense, since they had nothing to gain from it. Cloudhawk regarded them with a measured gaze. ¡°Why?¡± A grin spread across Squall¡¯s lips. ¡°We can give you any number of theories but none that hold water. But think of it this way; Legion was loyal to the former King. And you wouldn¡¯t have gotten this far without his machinations.¡± ¡°Legion has ulterior motives, but as to what they are we can¡¯t tell.¡± Frost was more to the point. Squall went on. ¡°I¡¯ve been following the demon around for a long time, and I know maybe ten percent of what goes on his mind. I¡¯m telling you, he is extremely dangerous. More dangerous than any other god or demon. You carry the fate of several races on your shoulders now, so it would be wise to be careful don¡¯t you think?¡± Their warning was useless. Cloudhawk was King now, and held more influence than the Grand Elder. Every day he grew stronger, already far beyond what Legion could muster. IF Legion was truly interested in power then let him command the demons. Looking at it this way, any ambition Legion might have would be foolish. But that would be naive. Any living thing had its own goals and desires. Was all of Legion¡¯s centuries of effort were just to promote war between demons and gods? Was that what he really wanted? If not, what was he thinking? The brothers¡¯ warning held no value, but they weren¡¯t wrong. He was responsible for the future of many. A catastrophic war with the gods was on their doorstep and he had to tread carefully. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Frost and Squall exchanged a quiet look. Eventually Squall spoke up. ¡°The three of us have had our problems, but I¡¯m sure you understand where we¡¯re coming from. Sometimes sacrifices are needed for the greater good. Let my brother and I fight in the final battle.¡± Book 8, Chapter 16 - Resistance Book 8, Chapter 16 - Resistance ¡°You¡¯ll probably die.¡± ¡°Heh. You underestimate me, Cloudhawk.¡± Cloudhawk said nothing more. He wouldn¡¯t refuse Squall¡¯s request. He left following their warning, only to run into Azura on his way out. ¡°Teacher? What are you doing here!¡± She rushed excitedly over to him. News of Cloudhawk¡¯s victory over Sumeru¡¯s vanguard had reached Emerald Star. Everyone knew about his great acts and they catapulted him to even higher levels of adoration. Cloudhawk looked her over. Suddenly he was reminded of something very important. He wasn¡¯t sure he would come back from his trip to Sumeru. And not just him but Selene and all the others. If they all perished who would lead what remained of the Green Alliance? ¡°I need to go to Gehenna for some business. You want to tag along?¡± On a whim he decided to bring Blue along for the ride. She was stunned that her enigmatic teacher would suddenly extend the invitation but jumped at the chance. So side by side, they stepped through a portal into the pocket dimension of Gehenna. Gehenna¡¯s single city was as busy as ever. The first thing Azura noticed was a massive statue several hundreds of meters tall. It was a collaborative effort of Babel¡¯s denizens, chiseled into Cloudhawk¡¯s likeness. The armor and mask were the same and his hands rested on the pommel of a sword. Its eyes peered into the distance, fixed and domineering. It¡¯d been a short time since the Demon King¡¯s return, but it had totally upended Gehenna. It was not that hard to convince the city¡¯s people to follow Cloudhawk, easier than expected in fact. They all came from grand civilizations but most were not immortal. Generations had passed since their race¡¯s golden age. These remnants didn¡¯t remember the tyranny of the gods. Instead they spent the last centuries in reverence of the demons who took them in. Following Crokel¡¯s failed coup and Cloudhawk¡¯s domination of the Tower, the people¡¯s estimation of their new King only increased. Since then the Tower of Babel had promoted their new King nonstop. The constant propaganda was designed to make the people worship him and foster belief in his mission to win back their homelands. Infected by this fervent energy Gehenna had mobilized with impressive speed. Elder of the Third Seal Korath greeted his King respectfully when he reached the tower. It was no secret why Cloudhak had come. All of Gehenna¡¯s forces were to be mobilized for the eventual invasion of Sumeru. ¡°Majesty. We have acted to follow your orders as quickly as possible, but it will take some time for your renown to reach every ear. As for the armies¡­ Gehenna hasn¡¯t known conflict for more than a thousand years. Some conflict has emerged among the different nationalities here, but they will remain obedient with the Tower¡¯s representatives keeping the peace. They will not impact the war effort.¡± Korath was bewildered by Cloudhawk¡¯s orders, to be honest. It seemed that everyone outside of Gehenna assumed it was a place mired in evil, darkness and savagery. All the words tragedies of the world were said to come from this land of demons. The reality was quite the opposite. There wasn¡¯t anything like the chaos everyone thought existed. In fact conflicts were rare, as such they didn¡¯t have a standing army. Now, all of a sudden the new King has asked them to build an invasion force. Such a task was not easy in a short time. ¡°Has it been difficult?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°The Towers influence and authority make it easier. Although there may be hidden dangers,¡± Korath explained. ¡°Majesty, you should know that although the races are eager to return home not all are eager to fight. A secret anti-war coalition is being mustered. Zarayzi, Tylons, Protans, Vulpites, even a small number of demons are known to participate.¡± Zarayzi, Tylons, Protans and Vulpites were the four races living in Gehenna. Protans were a psychically evolved race. Unlike humans, who¡¯s mental abilities were scattered at best, Protan capabilities had matured. They were born with innate mental power, and as such were one of the few races not elevated by Sumeru¡¯s intervention. They had built their own advanced, psychic civilization before the gods came. You could call them demigods, in a way. Protans lived long lives, were few in number and formidable powers of the mind. They could even built their own relics. Among the other races in Gehenna, the Protans were most highly regarded. Below them in influence were the Vulpites. Theirs was also a rare species of quantum beings capable of altering reality on a sub-atomic level. With enough quantum material they could turn one thing seamlessly into another. Leaves, roots, even garbage could become food on a whim. Among the Vulpites were a small number of psychically evolved. They were able to fight using their minds, in addition to the advantages of their physical forms. After all, it was hard resist an attack on the quantum level. Tylons were unique. The former Demon King collected races that displayed great potential, or those who were psychically evolved and peaceful. As silicon-based lifeforms Tylons had no mental abilities at all, but they were evolved in other ways. Their efficiency in storing and analyzing information was unmatched by any other race. Tylons lived very long lives. While their mental abilities were minimal at best, they never stopped physically improving. As a result they were constantly improving ¨C and frighteningly effective ¨C war machines. Lastly were the Zarayzi, who were very different from the other three. Sometimes disparagingly called Psibugs, their mental abilities were a step below Protons. Theirs was a special sort of life form which, from the moment of their birth, were constantly mutating. Each Zarayzi was different from every other. Even offspring of the same brood could look dramatically different. Evolution and mutation were ubiquitous features of their species. Azura was seeing it all for the first time. She was fascinated by the other races. The four races were influential in Gehenna. If Cloudhawk wanted to invade Sumeru he wasn¡¯t going to succeed with humans alone. Nor was there enough power just in the Tower of Babel. What he had to do was galvanize every citizen of Gehenna and convince them to join his cause. It was the only way they stood a chance. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that some from the different races and even a few demons are plotting against me.¡± When Cloudhawk spoke it felt like the temperature instantly plummeted. Korath felt the displeasure pouring off his King and it made him nervous. He quickly added. ¡°A few demons might oppose the war but their loyalty to the King is without question. It¡¯s just that we have lived quietly for a thousand years-¡± ¡°Then we break them! If Gehenna doesn¡¯t act now we will all be destroyed.¡± There was a time for peace and nonviolence, but this wasn¡¯t it. Holding back was akin to suicide. Korath carefully reengaged. ¡°How does my King plan to deal with them?¡± ¡°I plan to make them an example.¡± Cloudhawk¡¯s dark promise was absent any emotion. ¡°You have one day to build my army. Round up all who refuse and tell me.¡± The Third Seal felt Cloudhawk¡¯s murderous intent, keen as a sword¡¯s edge. His King was not bluffing. While everyone else was marching in lock-step these insurrectionists were preaching peace. They were undermining morale! It couldn¡¯t be tolerated, not now. Cloudhawk needed an army and no one would be allowed to stand in his way. Korath dare not disobey Cloudhawk¡¯s will. He unleashed a thousand demons throughout Gehenna, sending them district to district and summoning everyone to fight. All were warned that refusal was not an option. Anti-war protesters were explicitly told to put aside their complaints and join the effort, or face the Demon King¡¯s wrath. A day after the announcement Cloudhawk shared his plan to attack Sumeru. His proclamation was met with surprise, but also eagerness. Korath delivered his report. ¡°We discovered where the anti-war protesters have been gathering.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Cloudhawk then turned his eyes to Azura. ¡°I¡¯m about to teach you something very important. Something every leader has to learn.¡± Book 8, Chapter 17 - Unbridled Power Book 8, Chapter 17 - Unbridled Power Beneath Gehenna flows a network of molten rivers. Among them, hidden from prying eyes above, there gathered a group of several hundred from many different races. These were the people fighting against open war with the gods. Zarayzi, Vulpites, Tyrons and Protans were all visible. Many were big names among their people. Even some hulking demonic figures were in attendance. Gehenna was not as united as it seemed. ¡°The others have all gone crazy.¡± ¡°They think they can fight the gods!¡± ¡°So many years of peace and safety have caused them to forget.¡± ¡°We have to stop this farce or we¡¯re all doomed. We stand to lose everything!¡± The new King¡¯s arrival had been sudden, as was his takeover of the Tower. There was no question that Gehenna was squarely under his thumb. Here an opposition had gathered, but they were hardly more than a loose connection of naysayers and were yet to forge any sort of organization. ¡°What should we do?¡± The question was posed by one of the Zarayzi. ¡°I heard that Venerated Crokel was killed for disobeying the King. Our new leader is strong. We don¡¯t have the strength to oppose him.¡± Silence answered. How strong was the new Demon King? He already inherited all the powers of the previous King, and dominated the Tower of Babel in no time. Grand Elder Legion and the Third Seal had all bent the knee. The Zarayzi was right, against power like that there wasn¡¯t much they could do. A demon¡¯s low, growling voice intruded. ¡°The King has a stranglehold on Gehenna, there is no way to confront him directly. But we can prevent the creation of his army. You all command respect among your people. IF we work together, spread the right message, we can help the people rise up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Another demon raised their voice in support. ¡°Gehenna¡¯s power comes from its people, they aren¡¯t sacrifices to some ambitious king! We must fight for ourselves!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± The cold and dispassionate voice of a Protan rejoined. ¡°We should assassinate the new Demon King.¡± ¡°Assassinate the king? IS it even possible?¡± The Vulpite leader was incredulous. ¡°He is too strong. How do we even pin him down long enough to strike? His spatial powers are unmatched.¡± ¡°So we mix some of our people in with his. It doesn¡¯t matter how strong he is. We wait for the King to separate himself and then strike! They may pay the ultimate price, but their sacrifice will bring down the reign of a tyrant!¡± Earnest mutterings were shared among the self-righteous pacifists as they planned the liberation of Gehenna. They weren¡¯t an ambitious sort, and it was exactly because of this that they didn¡¯t want any threat to befall their home. Sacrificing themselves for the greater good was an honest endeavor. As they strategized ways to undermine the army and assassinate the king, a cold voice invaded their minds. ¡°No one can stop Gehenna¡¯s rise, or the war that¡¯s coming.¡± Fear sprang up among the crowd. Even the dullest Tylon was shocked into a combat stance. Two figures slowly emerged from the hot smoke and steam. The first cut a ferocious figure in his dark armor and frightening mask. In his eyes danced angry flames that were visible through the fog, like a nightmare crawling from their own nightmares. ¡°D-Demon King!¡± In a shock no one expected, the object of their dark plans appeared before them. The Demon King appeared in their midst, a young woman by his side. Short hair framed a pretty face and a pair of striking blue eyes. Her hands were poised by the hilt of her sword as she nervously watched the others. She knew everyone here was more dangerous than she was. The Demon King pushed among them. With every step the gathered rebels felt a growing pressure. They quickly discovered that the King had come alone besides the girl. We was no cause for concern, but still no one dared raise a hand. Cloudhawk was responsible for killing the Second Seal! Reality was ripped open, and from the fissure Cloudhawk retrieved his weapon. Threads of purple lightning danced across it¡¯s pitch-black surface in an ominous display. Tongues of flame danced around it, casting the Demon King¡¯s mask in stark shadows as he regarded the gathering. At last his cold voice came again. ¡°I am here to give you one final chance. You will obey, or you will die.¡± The rebels shifted nervously, sharing quiet looks. Hesitation was clear in their eyes. Fear seemed a silly reaction. He was here alone among almost a hundred deadly foes, with no support from the Tower to back him up. And yet fear was exactly what stayed their hands. He was their King! The right and true ruler of Gehenna. A low psychic hum was released by one of the Tylons. ¡°If Gehenna loses this war then everything will be destroyed. Our people, our history, our culture ¨C who will remain to pass it on?¡± Its concerns were echoed by a Protan. ¡°We can feel that even you are not certain about this war¡¯s outcome. A king should not drag his loyal servants into an impossible war. You are a tyrant! A mad king!¡± Tyrant? Mad King? ¡°Very well. It seems you have all made up your minds.¡± Suddenly the climate changed. The iron taste of death hung in the air. Vulpites and Protans attacked first, believing the Demon King was too bold in coming alone. He was strong, without a doubt, but he was still one man. He couldn¡¯t possibly stop them all. The Tower of Babel bowed before their king out of fear. If this dictator was removed, they were certain the demons would return to the old ways. Without a leader all the other races would give up these foolish calls for war. But how long could they hide in Gehenna with their heads buried in the sand? It wasn¡¯t a question they bothered to consider. All they were focused on was continuing as before, for as long as possible. They were desperate not to disappear from the universe. Cloudhawk responded to their attack with a deft flick of his wrist. No one could see Godslayer as it moved, but they could feel its deadly power. It immediately enveloped a group of nearby rebels. BOOM! Scarlet flames erupted across their bodies. They were not physical and so were unaffected by natural defenses. The fires penetrated into their minds and set it ablaze. A chorus of mental anguish reverberated through the chamber. All of Cloudhawk¡¯s attackers fell to their knees in agony. Several of the demons, seeing this, changed in demeanor. Terror filled their eyes. ¡°Hellpyre! It¡¯s Hellpyre!¡± They were right, this was the power of the fallen Fourth Seal and recently liberated from Crokel. It belonged to Cloudhawk now, after he defeated the Elder. These fires were impossible to extinguish, cursing its victims with eternal torment. ¡°For Gehenna!¡± A group of burning Zarayzi fought passed the pain and attacked Cloudhawk. Theirs was a tenacious race, full of potential. Unfortunately even the mightiest were easily felled by Hellpyre. Already their attacks were weak and ineffectual. A plume of green fire belched from Godslayer as he dragged it before him. Castigation Fire flooded the area, swallowing up scores of renegades. Their death was quick and soon the air was choked with the ashes of the fallen. ¡°Kill the human!¡± Several of the demons steeled themselves and attacked their King. But they were afraid of injury, so instead of going for the man directly they went for the young one who came with him. If the Demon King brought her along it was because she was important to him. Together they could overwhelm her, the Demon King would be forced into a defensive posture and they would be able to probe for a weakness. But as they launched into the attacks they fell upon a shield of pale white surrounding her. Far from causing harm, their blows were deflected back at them or flung away. It was protections from Cloudhawk that saved her. Nothing they did could fight through it. ¡°How many powers does he have?!¡± The renegades were confronted with just how versatile Cloudhawk could be, much to their dismay. He hadn¡¯t used his spatial powers at all so far and still they were unable to land a blow. All the while the Demon King was silent. His form flickered and suddenly there were two of him. Another flash and now there were four, then eight, then sixteen! In the blink of an eye the chamber was filled with dozens of ¡®Demon Kings¡¯. Godslayer burned menacingly in the hands of all of them. Lethal flashes of black, purple, red and green danced across the steel. It was the shadow power of his Mask of a Thousand Faces, the Lightning God¡¯s doppelg?nger powers, or a combination of the two. Was there any limit to what Cloudhawk could do? It was a silly concept, as far as Cloudhawk was concerned. His power grew with each passing day, as did his deep understanding of relics. For most relics he came in contact with, he quickly learned how to imitate their abilities without the object itself. In other words, there was no limit. Cloudhawk was perhaps the only creature in the universe with this power. Book 8, Chapter 18 - Clean Sweep Book 8, Chapter 18 - Clean Sweep Cloudhawk and his copies all raised their swords. A storm of energies, all different, sprang to life. Suddenly the area was thick with power and dark momentum that washed over the rebels. The oppressive presence of death descended on them all. Now they understood just how foolish they had been. Kill the Demon King? How ridiculous to even consider it. He was the master of Gehenna, tyrant of the Tower of Babel. Even alone ¨C like now ¨C it was foolish to think they could kill him. Cloudhawk was too strong. Even if they could get in close with a sneak attack, nothing indicated they had a chance to bring him down. Most shocked of all was Azura. The human girl didn¡¯t even have the strength to fight on the front lines, yet here she was among alien beings and demons. In her experience Master Demonhunters were the pinnacle of achievement, but the creatures she saw now were at least as strong. However, before Cloudhawk they were like children. Efforts to use Azura for an advantage were thwarted. Her body was wrapped in a steady shell of white light, strong and impervious. The deluge of attacks aimed at her were all deflected. Her attackers were castrated. Of course it was thanks to Cloudhawk. Few, even among these grand races, could overcome his protections. The fledgling rebel organization was made up of strong members, but here in Gehenna they were far from the upper echelons. Even combined, they were a minimal threat to Cloudhawk. Even the Demon King himself was finding it hard to reign in his own growing power. Since joining with the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass Cloudhawk¡¯s potential was being fully realized. His level of mastery was more perfect than ever and improving at a frightening rate. But strength wasn¡¯t always good. Especially at speed, the potential for harmful side-effects increased. He could feel the rapid changes, the changes to his mental state. The more he learned about the nature of matter, the more he delved into its secrets, the more he came to know the rules of the universe. And as this omnipotence increased he felt less. His humanity began to diminish. Cloudhawk was now the Demon King. Would the leader of Gehenna ever go back to being a human scav? He didn¡¯t know. Cloudhawk figured there was no going back and he had to embrace his new identity. After defeating Sumeru¡¯s vanguard he compounded this by stealing the souls of all the defeated gods. Absorbing all of that so quickly had been dangerous, almost reckless. Absorbing that power was actually the process of dominating what remained of a god¡¯s will. If one¡¯s own will was weak it opened the door for the god to take control or cause a mental breakdown. Really there were not many shortcuts to cultivating one¡¯s mental abilities. This process they discovered was quick, but there lurked hidden dangers. Taking in more than one could handle invariable led to problems. That was why Cloudhawk never had Azura or the younger Awakened go through the process. The young or weak did not have the mental prowess or will to succeed. Power was like water, and one needed to have the proper vessel to hold it in. Cloudhawk¡¯s force of will was undoubtedly strong, but even so absorbing the psyche of several hundred gods came with significant risks. He knew this but proceeded anyway. More than anything, what he needed now was strength. Strength to go head to head against a Marshal like the Abyssal God, or an Elder like Crokel, and win handily. A stout member of the Protans drew himself up. In his hands was a crystalline screen of light that extended toward Cloudhawk. It became a shock wave that flattened everything it touched and coated it in crystal. At the same time, the Protan turned his body into a flow of particles. He whipped around the many copies of the Demon King, preparing to turn them all into clouds of atomic dust. Meanwhile the Tylons and Zarayzi relied on their sturdy bodies to withstand Cloudhawk¡¯s ire. Many among them were sturdier than even the mightiest human warriors ¨C even the likes of Skye or Vulkan. Recognizing their plans was not difficult for the Demon King. However he made no effort to stop them. There was a burst of energy from dozens of Godslayer swords. Scores of varying energies gathered together in a display the denizens of Gehenna couldn¡¯t fathom. They formed into an enormous blade, composed entirely of energy, which cleaved into the heart of the rebels. In the face of this power, the proud and tenacious Tylons were atomized. Zarayzi, whose mutated forms could survive in the harshest of environments, vanished in a dismal puff of smoke. There was no creature here with the constitution to withstand the blow. The blazing sword plowed further into the crowd. It swept away Protans and engulfed Vulpites. Physical energies were woven together with rarer forces like space, psyche and consumption. Whatever the life force, there was at least a portion of Cloudhawk¡¯s attack that proved lethal. Most of the rebels were destroyed in a single blow. Fear and disbelief raged in the hearts of those demons who had turned from their king. He was too strong! If the former King were alive today even he would fall before this human¡¯s might. ¡°We surrender!¡± Several of the demons realized the futility of fighting. There was no hope of overcoming the Demon King, so they threw themselves to the ground and appealed to his mercy. But the cold voice of the Demon King had no mercy to offer. ¡°The time for a change of heart has passed.¡± Struck with terror and astonishment the demons tried to flee. The Demon King hacked at them with his weapon and pure destruction ripped through the air. One of them was caught and hit the ground as a pile of gore. The remaining two were frantic. The King showed no quarter. ¡°Tyrant! Mad King!¡± ¡°Our race will be destroyed by your hands!¡± Cloudhawk paid the accusations no mind. One more cut and he silenced them forever. More looked for a way to escape, but Cloudhawk had turned this into his domain. There was no escaping from the Demon King¡¯s territory. Desperate attempts to escape through relics failed. Even Vulpites with their quantum bodies could find no exit. The Demon King held sole dominion over space here. No one would be permitted to live, he would destroy them all in the most merciless fashion he could manage. Thus did scores of Gehenna¡¯s strongest fall beneath the blade of the King. When it was finished, Cloudhawk stood among the corpses as though taking a stroll through a flower garden. He turned to Azura and put a hand against the barrier around her. ¡°Are you paying attention?¡± She was frightened, shaken by the brutality of the scene. She remembered her teacher as a gentle and accepting man. A generous leader. But the face he revealed today was that of an unfeeling overlord. He had shown no compassion in his slaughter of these people. The power and savagery of the scene would remain with her forever. Who knew how these memories would shape her. Blood dripped off Godslayer¡¯s plain blade. ¡°Do you think they were wrong?¡± Secretly these people had gathered in defiance of their king. It was hard to say they were wicked, in fact many were righteous and good. All they wanted was the best for their race, to protect the world they knew. Azura thought for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. ¡°Was I wrong?¡± The Demon King was trying to mobilize every ounce of power against Sumeru. Maybe he was leading them to destruction, maybe he was introducing everyone to life-threatening danger. But it was also the only way to save everyone. If they didn¡¯t eliminate the threat of the gods, sooner or later they would come for Gehenna. Could she say he was wrong to grasp at every chance to save them? ¡°No.¡± ¡°This is war. Us against them. Me against Sumeru. There¡¯s never any right or wrong ¨C only victory and defeat. When the loser stands to lose everything, the only option is to win.¡± Azura was quiet, absorbed in thought. ¡°Abaddon killed a good friend of mine many years ago. Frost killed Dawn¡¯s grandfather. But for all their crimes those two are still useful to me, that¡¯s why they¡¯re still alive.¡± The Demon King¡¯s eyes were fixed on the young girl before him. ¡°But to traitors who stand in the way, even if they are just and kind, there is more damage in keeping them around. Remember, as a leader the first thing you must learn is who to kill and who to spare.¡± ¡°But teacher¡­ what makes you any different from Arcturus Cloude?¡± The Demon King was silent in the face of his young pupil¡¯s question. Yes¡­ how was what he did different from the Governor? He was willing to sacrifice anything in pursuit of their final goal. Azura sensed that perhaps she¡¯d said something wrong. ¡°I¡¯m sorry teacher. I know everything you do is for the best. No one else can do better.¡± Cloudhawk remembered a story, about a warrior and a demon. After countless trials and tribulations the warrior finally put the beast down, only to discover he himself had become the next monster. Was it the influence of the demon that caused the warrior to fall, or was it the corruption of power that did it? He patted her shoulder. ¡°If we defeat the gods, mankind will rebuild from the ruins. I hope that when you wear my mantle, you will do a better job than I am.¡± There was no going back, not for the Demon King. A new world had to arise from the ashes, and it was Cloudhawk¡¯s job to burn it all down. Upending the existing order was the only way to make space for what was to come. Then maybe things would be different. Azura was at a loss. So many powerful people were following her teacher, why did he think she would lead anyone? She couldn¡¯t understand. There was also something in his tone that worried her. Like he¡¯d already seen where his road ends. Book 8, Chapter 19 - Legacy Book 8, Chapter 19 - Legacy Cloudhawk didn¡¯t fret over where his story ended. Everyone had their role to play. He was lucky enough to see his fate clearly before him. Defeat the gods and free the demons from their chains. Whatever happened to him in the end, his time will have passed. It would be time to step down. The new world that followed? The rebuilding and the culture? He wasn¡¯t equipped for that. He was a war-time leader. Recovery. The Demon King was responsible for so much of what was broken. Fixing it would be the task of Azura and people like her. The world of the future would be so much more complicated. Demons and gods, humans old and new, the races of Gehenna, other unknown denizens of the universe¡­ the task of building a coalition where they all lived in harmony was a difficult one. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cloudhawk eliminated the secret cabal trying to undermine his orders. Afterwards he brought Azura to the Tower of Babel and before long news of these happenings spread through the city. Many who had died at the Demon King¡¯s hands were well-known to their people. Hiding the execution would be impossible. Of course there were some adjustments to the narrative. These fiends had been caught in the midst of an assassination attempt, but failed when the target of their dark plot fought back. The Demon King killed all of these foul betrayers and they paid for their ignorance. It was news that caused quite the stir among Gehenna¡¯s people. Few among the plotters were ordinary folk. Pick any one among them and it was likely a familiar name. Some famous face, semi-legendary figure, mighty warrior or local leader. To many it came as a shock to learn that these rebels had tried to kill the Demon King. Why? To stop a war with the gods? But even more incredible was that all of them together were still no match for Cloudhawk. Two things came as a consequence of the failed plot. First, everyone realized how much stronger the Demon King was compared to their assumptions. It served to bolster his support. Second, everyone knew the result of questioning the King¡¯s orders. Whatever one¡¯s station, strength or influence, standing against the Demon King was inviting disaster. In these trying times unity was not optional. Once more, the Demon King asserted his dominance. Under the banners of fear and reverence the people of Gehenna were more loyal to their King than ever. Creation of their armies picked up speed. Meanwhile the Tower of Babel did all within its power to manipulate public opinion. Cloudhawk¡¯s criteria for selecting warriors was simple: They had to be of age, and they had to reach a standard of strength. He didn¡¯t want anyone too young. They didn¡¯t need more cannon fodder. Anyone from any race, so long as they met the requirements, were called on to serve. Under the expert supervision of the Tower, Cloudhawk¡¯s army quickly took shape. Cloudhawk also kept busy. He had preparations to make for the army, its equipment and their battle plans. He had to understand it all in order to make the best use of their limited resources. From his predecessors memories, Cloudhawk knew the old King had a cache of equipment from the last fight with the gods. He summoned Korath and tasked the Elder to share what he knew. ¡°Most of the races in Gehenna have at least some psychic ability, so in large part our equipment is designed to take advantage of that. But over the last thousand years our Source has diminished and these tools have lost their function.¡± Korath used the time it took for them to travel to the cache to explain the situation. ¡°The former Demon King saved up the best he could get his hands on. Since no one has been able to use them, they¡¯ve been kept in storage.¡± Psychic power was just another way to say mental energy. It was a medium that allowed one to remould subatomic information. It came from the will of conscious things, utilizing thought to enact changes in the universe around them. Everything was about strings and resonance, altering reality in defiance of what physics said was possible. An inexplicable power. Psychic energy was, in fact, the greatest power in all the cosmos. It was a capability shared by gods, demons, and most other highly evolved species. So far, the only physical resource that was known to have psychic properties was Source. Besides their strength, it was Source that powered the gods¡¯ galactic conquest. Source didn¡¯t form naturally. So far the only known was to create it was through refinement of a psychically active soul. In order to harvest Source, the gods had to continuously destroy civilizations that could provide it. Demons were once gods. When the former Demon King liberated them, he also took a great deal of Sumeran technology. This included Source-powered machines, relics and other combat equipment. Relics, of course, utilized the power of the wielder to function. These were already disseminated among Gehenna¡¯s populace and mastered by their bearers. However some of the other weapons functioned differently, especially larger ones. ¡°Look, Majesty. This is the legacy of the former King.¡± Korath led them into a basin, where waiting at the bottom lay a considerable trove of goods. He hovered by the Elder¡¯s side, peering over the hoard with discerning eyes. One item in particular caught his attention ¨C a spaceship. No, a mother ship. He stared at the sleek, eight-thousand foot long black vessel parked quietly in the basin. It was so large that from a human¡¯s perspective it was too big to see the whole thing at once. Even from a distance Cloudhawk was struck by its size. ¡°There are at least a hundred battleships inside of it,¡± Korath said as he introduced the ship. ¡°If we can get it moving, this ship alone could wipe out a planet. Unfortunately it demands a lot of power. Gather all the fuel in Gehenna and we could only get it started for a few moments.¡± Cloudhawk was surprised to see how rich his predecessor¡¯s coffers really were. This was probably the ship he used when escaping Sumeru with the other rebels. When Gehenna was established there was no further need for the ship. Anyway, without any fuel it was as useful as a heap of scrap metal. Its fuel was psychic power. If every single demon got together to power the ship they could get it running, but getting so many to work together was not an easy feat. It would be like a single body whose every bone, ligament and muscle had a mind of its own, trying to run a marathon. Such a person would hardly be able to put one foot in front of another. They couldn¡¯t coordinate ten thousand demons, nor did they have enough Source as an alternative. In the end the Demon King¡¯s ship sat unused in this crater. Only now things were different. Cloudhawk had a wealth of Source, enough to get it flying again. By virtue of this vessel¡¯s capabilities, they should have enough firepower to punch a hole in Sumeru¡¯s external defenses. ¡°There is more that may help.¡± Korath approached a spire that was jutting up from the ground. It was perfectly crafted, spotlessly white and without blemish. The tower was split into disparate segments that hovered close together. Cloudhawk felt the odd power it emanated. He was struck by it. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°The Tower of Soul Transference, also called the Sublime Spire,¡± Korath explained. ¡°It can transform a physical creature into a spiritual form while retaining all psychic ability.¡± Cloudhawk knew what it was. The Sublime Spire. In short, it turned the physical into spiritual. It was created in Sumeru. At that time the gods knew that the spirits of psychic races could be transformed into Source. They designed this tower to try and refine whole civilizations immediately, without waiting for them to die. However, things were not so simple. The gods learned that souls could not be coerced. In order to become Source the souls had to be completely willing. Any resistance and the process failed. Forced transformation wouldn¡¯t work. So they were forced to change tactics. First they would destroy whatever civilization they came upon, then establish themselves as saviors to the ones they let survive. If the race was not yet developed, then the gods would cultivate them until they were ready for harvest. Earth and its humans were a perfect example. Gods arrived and obliterated human society. Through external means they stimulated the evolution of the survivors, awakened their psychic abilities and guided them to establish gods as the ultimate faith-based authority. Over time humanity¡¯s zeal turned it into a religion. The faithful were mistakenly taught that when they died, their spirit ascended to Mount Sumeru. What an honor, to serve at the gods¡¯ side for eternity! So it was that when they did there was no resistance. As obedient as beaten puppies the spirits gathered to become fuel for the gods. A simple but effective method. For the gods this spire was a failed experiment, but Cloudhawk could see one important use for it. With this tool a single soldier could fight twice. Warriors who died in battle could rise again as spirits. For a short time they could continue to fight for their allies, thus dramatically strengthening Cloudhawk¡¯s forces. He was pleased with this gift from the former Demon King. Book 8, Chapter 20 - Mirror of the Divine Realm Book 8, Chapter 20 - Mirror of the Divine Realm Cloudhawk picked through the rest of the Demon King¡¯s cache. His predecessor¡¯s legacy was abundant. Bringing them to the city, repairing them and feeding them Source, he could use them along with the Sumeran equipment left on the moon. The sheer destructive capabilities of these arms would make anyone shudder. Word came from Elder of the Tenth Seal, Belial. All preparations had been made. Hearing this Cloudhawk left the task of preparing Gehenna¡¯s forces to Korath and left for Emerald Star. He left Azura there with a batch of relics he had no use for and instructed her to pass them out among her people. With that, he made his way to Southern Capital. Belial and the Shepherd God were waiting. In accordance with Cloudhawk¡¯s instructions, the two had concocted a way to enter the Divine Matrix. They were ready to infiltrate the gods and find Sumeru¡¯s location. Easy enough to say. It was the doing that got complicated. The pieces of the puzzle were numerous; Cloudhawk, the Shepherd God, a few captured gods and Belial¡¯s inventions. In principle, with the artisan¡¯s equipment Cloudhawk could connect to the Divine Matrix through their prisoners. Once a way in was discovered, the Shepherd God¡¯s mental power would upload his consciousness and give him access. Put simply, Cloudhawk was an engineered virus, poised to infect the gods¡¯ system. It wasn¡¯t the first or even second time he¡¯d made the trip, only he¡¯d just scratched the surface of the Matrix previously. Cloudhawk was much stronger this time, and with the help of the Shepherd God and Belial he could delve further than before. Time to give it a shot. In a bleak and typical wasteland valley, a cadre of demonic soldiers were stationed. In the lowest part of the valley was a basin wherein several psionic towers had been arrayed. In the center of them all was an enclosed cell, like a bird cage. Eighty percent of the cage was built from pure Source, mostly the bars. Within every translucent pillar was the body of a god. Each of these gods had been badly wounded and captured alive during the recent fighting. Belial had dutifully performed ¡®minor surgery¡¯ on each of them so that they were in permanent comas. Their minds were still intact, but they couldn¡¯t communicate with the rest of their species. If Cloudhawk wanted to enter the Divine Matrix, he had to do it by connecting through these soldiers. It was just the same as trying to upload data into a machine. A channel was required to facilitate the transfer, be it wired or wireless. Formerly the Cloud God set all of that up. Their godly ally hadn¡¯t severed his connection to the Matrix, making him the perfect conduit for easy infiltration. The situation was different now. The Shepherd God couldn¡¯t connect directly to the Matrix, so they instead would build a bridge with the minds of their captive gods. The ins and outs of it were complicated, but it did not capture Cloudhawk¡¯s interest. All he needed to know was if he could find what he was after. ¡°I must warn you, your Majesty. Entering the Divine Matrix this way has never been attempted. Up to this point, everything has been theoretical.¡± Belial was explicit in his cautions. ¡°Even if your Majesty successfully infiltrates the Matrix, many dangers remain.¡± ¡°Now is not the time for pointless chatter.¡± Time was precious, they couldn¡¯t afford to waste even a single minute. So Belial quit his warnings. The Demon King had made up his mind, there was no changing it. Cloudhawk and the Shepherd God entered the cage. They sat cross-legged in the middle, facing each other. Belial fiddled with the equipment outside and as he engaged the equipment, the psionic towers all flared to life. Flows of light and energy pervaded the cage and the Source pillars began to spin. A beam of light shot up from the cage. A massive column pierced the sky and out into the darkness of space. Cloudhawk took a deep breath, adjusted his position a little and then nodded to the Shepherd God. ¡°Begin. Send me through.¡± ¡°Be cautious.¡± The Shepherd God placed her hand upon Cloudhawk¡¯s head. In the instant contact was made he felt like he was flung from his body. His will and spirit disconnected from his physical form. All at once he felt liberated from material fetters, entirely detached and part of the spiritual world. He could still feel his body, even changes in the environment around him, only his mind was free to travel. Sensations were different in this state. Eyes were the organ through which he ordinarily viewed the world, but he had no eyes anymore. Before he was able to measure distances and understand his physical location, but now distance didn¡¯t seem to mean anything. How could it, when in spiritual reality space was something else entirely? He felt like his consciousness could reach out to every corner of the universe! Since will and thought were unbound by constraints, the gods could still communicate even across vast distances. There were hundreds of thousands of lightyears between members of the species, but they were all connected through their Divine Matrix. Cloudhawk shed his physical self and became a free-floating spirit. Things which his ordinary senses couldn¡¯t pick up were clear to him now. Emotions, for instance. Emotions were abstract things. Cloudhawk could feel how emotions influenced the world around them, each with its own sort of ¡®color.¡¯ He felt Selene busily organizing her forces; Hellflower doggedly researching new equipment; Bruno, Gorman, Phoenix and all the other soldiers¡­ he felt them all. The universe of pure mental energy was a shadow of the physical world. They existed side by side, inexorably connected. But there was much that was indescribable about this place, for it defied explanation. Ordinary logic did not apply, and yet for all this strangeness there was a definite order. Cloudhawk was a piece of this intangible world now. No physical processes could locate him or pin him down. In essence, his mind was no longer a part of the physical world at all. ¡°The connection is complete. Opening a channel.¡± The Shepherd God¡¯s solemn voice echoed all around. Cloudhawk felt an impossibly large, magnificent world of brilliance open up before him. It existed in his mind as a vast city floating alone in a spiritual universe. It was full of unimaginable mental energy. This was the Divine Matrix A powerful gravity-like force dragged him forward. For a brief instant everything sped by as he passed through this mental wormhole. Then the ¡®light¡¯ returned and he found himself among the towering structures he remembered. Cloudhawk shook himself from his shock at the strangeness of it all. Time to get to work. ¡®Reality¡¯ as he was accustomed to it reasserted itself here. There were again the concepts of space and time, structures like buildings and various landscapes. A world of unprecedented scale ¨C yet comfortably familiar ¨C was revealed to him. What¡¯s this? Cloudhawk discovered that he was clad in divine armor. Likely a disguise as part of his connection through the soldiers, designed to make him blend in. He stood peering out over the most magnificent city he¡¯d ever seen. While he interacted with the world in a customarily physical fashion, much of it defied logic. It was a content formed by loosely connected floating islands, hovering in a starless universe. There was no sun or moon, but every corner of the city was bathed in light. This sourceless illumination ensured no shadows existed. Cloudhawk made his way down the ever-winding streets. Other gods came and went, making their way with unnatural stiff movements like robots. Emotionless, with mechanical efficiency, each movement was precise and calculated. Although it was bustling with scores of gods, their robotic mannerisms made everything feel empty and a little absurd. What was all this activity? Cloudhawk regarded the floating islands nearby. It felt like a dream, though he knew there was some complex system of mapping that was used. The Divine Matrix was as illusory as it was real. Both existing and not. Permanent and temporary. All the figures that he brushed shoulders with were the minds of gods ¨C a world composed of mental projections. It was all a dream built by Cloudhawk¡¯s consciousness, but a shared dream where each part had a real-world source. Everything was illogical as a dream might be, but the information and interactive components were as real as anything. One could say it was like a mirror world of the divine realm. Book 8 Chapter 21 - Mount Sumeru Book 8 Chapter 21 - Mount Sumeru A dream. Real, and at the same time not. This time his experience in the Divine Matrix was very different. It was all an illusion, with no fixed form and adjusted by the activity of the mind. The dreamer influenced the dream, and other dreamers. It was probably because he was entering the Matrix in a different way than before. The Cloud God was his vessel before, but this time Cloudhawk uploaded his own consciousness. With the extensive changes to his own state, it stood to reason that how he perceived this place would also change. ¡°This city is a projection, like a hologram. All the gods you see are real. Their physical selves exist somewhere out in the universe.¡± ¡°So what the hell am I?¡± Cloudhawk could clearly feel that every silhouette represented a real god¡¯s will. If damage was done to their consciousness here, what would happen to their bodies? The thought flashed through his mind, but he took no action. He was an invasive consciousness, this world belonged to the gods. According to his understanding the open appearance of this place was deceptive. There were several protective measures and defense systems that would activate if he was discovered. Without waiting for orders, these anti-infiltration measures would activate and cause him no end of troubles. What¡¯s more, there were thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of minds here. He was vastly outnumbered, and one misstep could turn all of them against him. His mental strength could be twice what it was and still not be enough to defeat them all. He couldn¡¯t face the entire godly race by himself. Anyway, there was no telling how long his trip would last. He had to get to business. His mission was to find Sumeru¡¯s physical coordinates. His consciousness had been successfully transited into the Divine Matrix, now how was he supposed to find what he was after? As he pondered the issue he stepped in front of one of the passing godly consciousnesses. When their two spectral bodies collided, Cloudhawk was flooded with a strange sensation. It wasn¡¯t a physical connection so much as two magnets snapping together. Forced together by the strong attraction, their two minds combined. BANG! Cloudhawk felt himself catapulted through space. Environments flashes by like he was soaring through tunnel after tunnel. Thoughts, images and information rushed through his mind at light speed. When at last he opened his eyes he found himself in a dark crystalline chamber. ¡°What happened? Where am I? Cloudhawk reached out and shoved the crystal door, pushing it open. Several cloaked figures with tough, rock-like skin were waiting outside. When they saw Cloudhawk emerge they all exclaimed and prostrated themselves before him. He was beginning to understand. It seemed as though he had temporarily taken control of a god¡¯s body. That¡¯s how he appeared in this unfamiliar place. When he realized what was happening, Cloudhawk rose up out of the Temple to look upon the world beyond. Three suns burned overhead, all at a great distance. Their light was dim, making the world appear locked in perpetual dusk. Scores of strange and alien structures peppered the landscape, with rock-like beings shuffling back and forth between them. Building cities. Erecting Temples. Worshiping the gods. It was a remarkable and outlandish experience. First uploading his consciousness into the Divine Matrix, then taking over the physical body of a god. He could, in theory, visit anywhere in the universe this way and look upon other captive civilizations. This place was obviously far from Cloudhawk¡¯s own planet, a hundred thousand light years or more. Clearly this unidentified species was suffering the same as humanity. Cloudhawk¡¯s theories were further informed by what he saw. It was an incredible discovery that he could take over a god¡¯s body. While the gods could communicate over infinite distances, that didn¡¯t necessarily mean they could share control of a physical form. If that were the case, the God King could take over any god in the network and that didn¡¯t seem to be possible. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t sure how he was able to do it. Maybe it had something to do with how he entered the Divine Matrix this time? Or maybe it was something special about Cloudhawk himself that he gained after fully joining with the former Demon King? Either way, now wasn¡¯t the time to get into it. Temporarily taking control of a god didn¡¯t help with the task at hand. Searching its memory, no information about Sumeru was forthcoming. Most ordinary gods probably didn¡¯t know where Sumeru was. Since they all communicated psychically, the location wasn¡¯t important. If Cloudhawk wanted to find the place, he had to first find a god that lived there. Cloudhawk piloted his borrowed body back into the crystal chamber and relinquished control. He appeared again within the dreamworld Matrix, surrounded by a crowd of oblivious gods. Their mechanical, aimless back and forth was uninterrupted. He looked over the massive city and spied a tower in the center whose top disappeared into the heavens. If he had to guess, that was the local projection of Sumeru. Cloudhawk floated toward it. However, as he drew near an ominous sense washed over him. Space tore open and from the fissure emerged a chain-link web of light that barred his progress. Some sort of automatic security system? Cloudhawk paid them no mind. He knew that at his current strength these boundaries couldn¡¯t keep him out. So he pushed past the lock and into the tower. Only once he was inside, his consciousness received another shock. Again he was careening through space. When his senses returned he was somewhere else. It was impossible to tell whether it was day or night, whether he was in the air or under water. There wasn¡¯t even ground or sky with which to orient himself. The surrounding environment no longer had a fixed shape and physics appeared to hold no sway. This wasn¡¯t like any planet he¡¯d ever seen. It was a chaotic void. Cloudhawk had the distinct sense that this was Mount Sumeru. Book 8, Chapter 22 - Coordinates Book 8, Chapter 22 - Coordinates Cloudhawk had never been to Mount Sumeru. No one had ever described the place to him, either. But the second he stepped foot in the place, his intuition told him this was what he was looking for. He could feel all the minds of the gods gathering here, like a hub. Only Sumeru would feel like this. He considered his current form. Little more than a thought, really; a piece of data inscribed on the cosmos. He was a strange thing, and this building was a strange place. In the center of it was an undulating mass of spatial pockets. These pockets were areas of space-time, condensed to form areas of self-contained reality. Surrounding these pockets was a chaotic and illogical expanse filled with wild energies. Cloudhawk¡¯s consciousness hovered on the border until he pressed forward, slipping through a sort of film. Suddenly he was inside one of the pockets, wearing the body of a god. ¡°I¡¯m finally here.¡± Cloudhawk could hardly believe it. He was here, Sumeru. Mount Sumeru was very different from the world he was accustomed to. It wasn¡¯t a half-complete subspace dimension like Gehenna. It was smaller by comparison, but Sumeru was as whole as a true reality. As he moved forward Cloudhawk could sense the will of the cosmos. He looked around and billions of stars hovered in the dark void beyond. The universe he knew was nothing more than one of these pockets ¨C a vesicle containing a vast amount of matter and energy. These smaller capsules were subspace dimensions of the highest order. Most pocket dimensions were not built on sound natural laws. This made them impossible to enter and develop. Others were like Gehenna, with inherent flaws on the microscopic level but otherwise stable enough to support life for a long period. Mount Sumeru was unique. It was more like a spaceship, slipping through the void. It affixed itself to the membrane of the universe, existing both inside and out. Both were independent, existing as parallel dimensions rather than one inside the other. Cloudhawk thought that Sumeru must not be natural, but created by something. Whatever species could create a place like this, though, had to be unimaginably evolved. What kind of civilization was this? They had the ability to traverse the multiverse ¨C not just one star system to another, but whole universes. And the gods? Were they just toy soldiers left behind? Arcturus Cloude had probably figured it out. Legion, too. Beyond the gods was an even greater power. But what sort of creatures were they? What form did they take? Surely it was beyond mortal comprehension. Now wasn¡¯t the time to get mired in a philosophical swamp. Cloudhawk was determined to tear Sumeru down. Maybe that would be the spark, tearing down a pantheon. Acquiring the power of Sumeru for themselves was how they could stand firm as masters of their own universe. Without it, relying only on the alliance of devils and humans, they were a small boat that would capsize in rough waters. Once accustomed to this new state, Cloudhawk began to explore the pocket. Far in the distance was a faint connection that tugged at him, something recognizable. That was where the southern wilds were. After a certain threshold, distance failed to mean anything anymore. A place like Sumeru was so phenomenally far that no ship could ever reach it. But if Cloudhawk could feel coordinates and know the dimension, he could connect two locations across space. He focused his mind and his will formed into a small gemstone. This gem was Cloudhawk¡¯s will, given form as a minor phase stone. It was a marker through which he could record a position, across space and dimensions. With this information a portal could be opened at will. His own key to Sumeru. The true Phase Stone was on Cloudhawk¡¯s person, now a part of him since joining with the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. Like an external organ it pulsed against his chest, conveying its power. Back in the southern wastes¡­ Belil and Autumn watched Cloudhawk as he sat in quiet repose. The stone set in the center of his chest had begun to flicker. Lines emerged, visible with the naked eye. They were rapidly scrolling lines of data. ¡°He¡¯s recording Sumeru¡¯s location?¡± Belial¡¯s expression revealed his shock. ¡°He can do that? But how? It doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± Belial never had high hopes for Cloudhawk¡¯s rash operation. Never did he imagine Cloudhawk would find Sumeru¡¯s location in this bizarre excursion. And to record it all! Was he serious about invading Sumeru? Perhaps the whispers were true ¨C maybe the Demon King really was insane. Autumn¡¯s face was drawn and pale. She was teetering on the edge of exhaustion. She could feel that Cloudhawk had moved somewhere else too far to fathom. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t maintain a constant connection to his body then there was the risk of him remaining as a spirit forever. He would never find his way back home. But through the crushing pressure, Autumn smiled when she saw the Phase Stone spark to life. Yes his plan sounded insane, but Cloudhawk had the power to make the impossible a reality. He was special, no other living thing was like him. The Phase Stone darkened once the information transfer was complete. Cloudhawk¡¯s mission was a success, but he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave just yet. Rare was the chance to enter Sumeru, He had no way to bring back any souvenirs but he could at least take a look around. If he was familiar with the layout it would help during their attack. Sumeru existed here as a bubble universe, sub-divided into space-time vesicles. Every sector had enormous island-like structures floating inside and all were connected by a series of tunnels. At first glance it looked like molecules in an atom writ large. The islands were all blanketed in buildings, mostly rows of neatly-organized towers. In the center vesicles, which was the largest, a single enormous spire rose up like a finger of light. This one seemed like the heart of the entire array. An engine? Some kind of signal device? Whatever it was, Cloudhawk was certain the moment he saw it. That was the heart of Sumeru. Book 8, Chapter 23 - Reacquainted Book 8, Chapter 23 - Reacquainted Sumeru existed in a state beyond human comprehension. It even existed beyond the boundaries of what gods and demons understood. It involved a civilization that could travel between and among multiple universes. If Sumeru was indeed created instead of naturally forming, then the species responsible had to be greater than any other in this universe. Really, such beings were no different from the human concept of a god. Even with the former Demon King¡¯s memories and experiences, Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t completely understand what he was looking at. The buildings and their distribution all seemed to have a function, but what that function was remained a mystery. When he raised his head he saw hundreds of prismatic crystals floating among the cosmic dust clouds. They looked like flawless diamonds scattered across a velvet cloth, frozen in place. When Cloudhawk looked closer he saw that all of them had a honeycomb sort of structure. Laying within every segment, bathed in rainbow light, was the body of a god. Were these sleeping chambers of some sort? It sure seemed as though the gods liked to sleep. In the eyes of humans, gods were an enigmatic species. They lived infinite lives, wielded immense psychic power and an inexhaustible trove of knowledge to draw from. Yet they had no personal desires or emotion of any kind. Their natural apathy made desire difficult, or impossible. A race where every member lived the life of a monk would never prosper. All other races had madmen, entrepreneurs, war hawks and more. Otherwise life was just a pool of stagnant water from which nothing grew. The evolution of society, arts, and science all came from a single root; the marriage of desire and ambition. A change to the status quo only came when members of a civilization felt strong enough to change things. Feeling was the engine of change. Without it, everything remained the same. Gods were just¡­ executors. They were devout, meticulous and indifferent to their own life or death. Change wasn¡¯t of any interest at all to them, they couldn¡¯t change themselves so how could they enact any change in their world? Demons were the opposite extreme. Gods and demons were one species, once. As such there was much that was similar between them; infinite lifespans, incredible power and so forth. But demons treasured freedom and self-determination. They strove to improve their technology, create art, strive toward their own pursuits and cherish their lives. They were an ordinary species. Cloudhawk was certain that with time and opportunity, the demons could create the greatest civilization this universe had ever seen. The gods ¨C although they were greater in number ¨C would never propel their society forward. For them the only way to progress was to follow orders. Without direct instruction the gods just slept. A hundred years, a thousand, it didn¡¯t matter. Only when they were told to did they awaken, and only until their purpose was served. It was an existence completely against biological instinct. Gods had independent minds, of course. They could understand and react as ordinary. But peering deeper into themselves ¨C thinking on a deeper level ¨C was forbidden. Where other species had the fundamental ability to explore oneself, this was sealed for the gods. They were no different from the robots of Ark Base and their advanced artificial brains. Unless a mandate was passed down to create a society, nothing would change in divine civilization even over millions of years. ¡°As expected. Most gods aren¡¯t in Sumeru.¡± Cloudhawk confirmed his earlier suspicions after looking around for a time. Mount Sumeru was wrapped in an eerie stillness. Ninety percent of the gods here were asleep and many of the crystal structures were empty. To Cloudhawk this was proof that most gods were out traveling the universe. It was a priceless discovery, as far as he was concerned. By judging the number and distribution of these crystals he was able to get a rough estimate of Sumeru¡¯s defenses. When they did attack, they could use this data to find the weakest spot to break through. Cloudhawk continued his journey, closer to the heart of the divine realm. He discovered that even those gods who were awake paid him no mind. He wasn¡¯t there physically, of course, only as a projection of his mind. It seemed these gods had no means of detecting his consciousness in this form. Without fear of being detected, he continued toward the central spire. An enormous, magnificent column of light rose before him. Cloudhawk could feel that this was more than just this vehicle¡¯s power source. It also contained a staggering amount of information ¨C all of the combined intelligence of the gods was likely inside. This was the tower he saw in the middle of the Divine Matrix. Every second, trillions of motes of light shot through the column. It was what created and maintained the Divine Matrix. This was where it was all stored, where all the gods across the vast reaches of space connected together. If it was destroyed, the entire Divine Matrix fell with it. If he could get here, he could remove the seal from every god¡¯s mind. Of course he knew that destroying this thing was easier said than done. The gods wouldn¡¯t leave their greatest weakness exposed. In his current form he couldn¡¯t use any of his powers and thus couldn¡¯t test their defenses. All he could do was take this information back to his people, plan their attack, and figure it out then. But it was strange¡­ why didn¡¯t he feel the God King¡¯s presence? Since entering Sumeru, the God King did not appear to be aware of his presence. Likewise, he couldn¡¯t feel his nemesis, either. Perhaps the God King wasn¡¯t here? Cloudhawk extended his perception further in the hopes of learning more. Suddenly a very active mental signature caught his attention, one he recognized. He urged his consciousness forward toward the source of the fluctuations. It led him to one of the crystals, where inside was sleeping a form unlike all the others. She was human, with snow-white skin and long golden hair that floated like wisps behind the crystal facets. ¡°Dawn?!¡± Disbelief flooded his mind. Dawn¡­ wasn¡¯t dead? Cloudhawk had doomed her with his own hand, cast out into the depths of space to die with the chaos beast. By all rights there should be nothing left of her. So what was she doing here? Furthermore, why was she sleeping like the gods, locked in these crystals? And something else¡­ there was something inside of her, a power he didn¡¯t recognize. What was going on? He was weighing how to learn more when Dawn seemed to feel his presence. Her eyes fluttered open and light poured from her pupils. When he looked into them, Cloudhawk lost control of his will. The projection of his consciousness couldn¡¯t be sustained. He disappeared from Sumeru, reeling backward through the cosmos until he fell back into his own body. Book 8, Chapter 24 - Call to Arms Book 8, Chapter 24 - Call to Arms Cloudhawk explained everything he learned while in Sumeru. The whole thing sounded like a fairy tale to the others, especially to Hellflower who was struck dumb by the news. She was trained to see things in a scientific light, but all the things Cloudhawk described sounded outlandish and impossible. If what Cloudhawk said was true, then Sumeru existed in its own split in space-time. That meant that any mode of travel, even if it could reach light speed or hyper-jump, wasn¡¯t going to get them to their destination. Sumeru surpassed even Gehenna for safety and isolation. The demon homeland was well concealed, but as an underlying level of their reality it wasn¡¯t unreachable. Certain advanced technologies could locate Gehenna and provide entry. Sumeru, on the other hand, existed outside of their universe. In other words, unless a species had developed to where they could explore the multiverse, there was no way to reach Sumeru even if they knew where it was. But Cloudhawk had found a way. First he uploaded his mind into the hologram world of the Divine Matrix. Then he used the matrix itself as a channel to jump directly into Sumeru, where he saw the gods¡¯ home for the first time. Science had no way to explain this process. Cloudhawk had moved from the physical realm to the spiritual, then onward to a parallel universe. Spirit, universe, Sumeru. What connected these three? How was Cloudhawk able to make a journey like that? ¡°You said you saw Dawn there?¡± In addition to Hellflower were several others. Selene, Legion, Belial and so forth were listening intently to his discoveries. Each was shocked. They all knew the fate that had befallen Dawn. It was certain death, no question. So what was she doing in Sumeru? Not just that, but someone she¡¯d been pulled back from the bring. She was as young and healthy as ever. But Cloudhawk had felt the godly power within her. She¡¯d been transformed by it. ¡°I suspect it is the hand of the God King at work.¡± Legion voiced the most logical explanation. ¡°The God King¡¯s expansive powers can stop the flow of time, even reverse it. Its direct involvement can explain what you say.¡± Belial interjected. ¡°Why would the God King have any interest in an ordinary human?¡± To the people of earth Dawn had been a crucial part of the revolution. But if you extended your view to the universe, across all the scope of what the gods controlled, Dawn was merely a human female of no real consequence. ¡°Perhaps the God King is trying to use her against you?¡± Selene posited. The God King knew that its ancient rival had been reborn. They were destined for conflict, and if that were the case perhaps he could control Cloudhawk through his relationship with Dawn. Cloudhawk might be hesitant to hurt his friend, even if it was only her likeness. ¡°Unlikely. There¡¯s no reason for it.¡± Cloudhawk had never had a proper confrontation with the ancient power, but he wasn¡¯t totally in the dark. If the God King wanted him dealt, it didn¡¯t need to take such complicated steps. From the very beginning, Cloudhawk¡¯s rival had been pushing him forward, urging him to make the first move. The God King was looking for a rematch with the Demon King, but to have this fight the new Demon King had to arise. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t pretend to know the God King¡¯s mind, but it was obviously strong enough to dominate him without involving Dawn. If she was still alive it definitely had something to do with him, but why? Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have an answer. ¡°I have Sumeru¡¯s location. Getting there is harder than I thought, though. We¡¯re going to need a huge labor force to build a portal stronger than any we¡¯ve used before. It needs to hold any tear I make open and keep it stable. That means a lot of energy.¡± ¡°Belial can spearhead this effort,¡± Legion rejoined. ¡°We should have enough Source for the task.¡± ¡°I can help,¡± Hellflower offered. ¡°We need speed at all costs. When I infiltrated the Divine Matrix I learned that most gods have left Sumeru. Probably coming here. The Abyssal God and its forces were just the beginning, meant to push things along.¡± Belial scowled. ¡°You¡¯re saying the southern wastes will be attacked again.¡± ¡°With ten times the number of gods ¨C and more than one marshal.¡± Cloudhawk paused for a moment before going on. ¡°But this may not be a bad thing. It means our plan to attack Sumeru directly is the right one. Its defenses are weaker and that gives us a shot. We can¡¯t live out the rest of our time fighting an endless war. We have to make the first move.¡± The gods were few in number, at least by comparison. One pantheon was responsible for controlling a huge expanse of space. That meant countless star systems, tens of thousands of civilizations and any number of them possibly fighting back against oppression. A majority of the gods weren¡¯t involved in keeping things stable, but rather seeking out more societies to dominate. Gods were waging a constant, one-sided war against the many societies of the universe. It would be ignorant to assume they were weak, but even though their enemy was powerful they were outnumbered. Spread thin. Over thousands of years they tried to bolster their numbers yet never advanced their civilization, for instance by creating an artificial intelligence or other means of colonization. Maybe they were just molds. Copies, with no way to develop any culture or science of their own. Legion, Belial and Hellflower took their leave. The division of labor was determined: Legion would direct the demons to mine for resources, Hellflower and Belial were in charge of harnessing the potent psychic energies of Source to create a stable portal. Cloudhawk and Selene had their tasks as well. He busied himself with reorganizing the remaining sections within the subspace Cube. The space was built back up and retained the time-acceleration properties form before so that projects were completed quicker and more efficiently. Selene¡¯s job was to coordinate the efforts of the Alliance, Ark Base and Emerald Star. The old, young and infirm were kept safe. All the others were tapped to help complete projects or prepare for the invasion of Sumeru. Their forces couldn¡¯t be too large or it would put a strain on the portal. She had to be selective. They were betting everything on this gamble. Not just the continuation of their species, but the fate of the entire universe hung in the balance. Book 8, Chapter 25 - The Greatest Conflic Book 8, Chapter 25 - The Greatest Conflic t Three days later. Gehenna. Haborym and several other demon Elders held court in a vast plain upon the Gehennan continent. Behind them was a sprawling army, arrayed in neat rows. This fighting force was a motley collection with a core of roughly ten thousand demons. Dark and ferocious figures with burning red eyes, the demons were surrounded by many different powers. A dark, oppressive sense followed in their wake. By virtue of these demons alone they could conquer ninety-nine percent of the universe. After all, any of these beings wielded power to level mountains. At full strength they could permanently alter landscapes. Cast the army into the conflict with the great societies and their prey would still fall like wheat before the scythe. And the demons were just part of the whole. Many from Gehenna¡¯s other races were galvanized, over a hundred and ninety thousand strong and growing. They were the choice of their people, leaders and legendary fighters. In addition they were all equipped with the best technology Gehenna could provide: Devastating Tylon war machines, spirit-wounding weapons from the Vulpites and Zarayzi bio-weapons. Aside from the Tylons, most soldiers were selected for their exceptional mental powers. All of them were frightening in their ability to fight and destroy. Put into terms an ordinary human could understand, it was like an army of ten thousand Master Demonhunters, all armed to the teeth. Ten thousand Master Demonhunters! How could one even fathom? With a force like that nothing seemed impossible. Although perhaps not as formidable as the demonic hordes, they were still a mighty fighting force. ¡°Our army is almost assembled.¡± Haborym drew his eyes over the milling black figures. He was filled with excitement, and also apprehension. A fervor filled him for the start of a grand war, but underlying it was the pressure of what they stood to lose. He saw the conflicted emotions reflected in the eyes of the other Elders. They all had learned their lessons by watching Crokel¡¯s mistake. The new Demon King would tolerate no second-guessing or insubordination. Some perhaps still harbored doubt, deep in their hearts. They might not want to participate in this war, but there was no backing out. If their species was to survive they had to burn the bridges and break the boats. Either they would come to a spectacular death or usher in the beginning of a new era. There was space for nothing else in between. ¡°The Demon King will lead us to victory! To triumph!¡± Roars echoed Haborym¡¯s sentiment. It was a tidal wave of sound loud enough to cause the ground to shudder, calling an end to one thousand years of passivity. As it washed over them, over the peoples of Gehenna, new war had come. ** Ark Base. The vast, sprawling lands surrounding it. Grand airships floated in the air above a million high-grade combat droids. The expansive, dead expanse was covered in steel bodies glittering beneath a harsh sun. All had been stashed away and preserved by Father for over a thousand years. Airships and war machines were not all, however. They wielded nuclear bombs and other weapons of mass destruction. When out in full force they seemed capable of giving even Gehenna¡¯s army a good fight. In a knock down, drag out war between the two it would be hard to bet on a winner. Unlike the demonic hordes, Father¡¯s army stood in perfect silence. They were all extensions of the AI¡¯s will. If they were silent, Father was silent. For a thousand years this consciousness guided humanity¡¯s ancient remnants away from desolation. Now, the problem they faced was outside of its plans and calculations. Father was still weighing whether the aid it offered earth¡¯s new denizens was worth the risk. As a machine, Father put its trust in data and statistics. With such little information available about Sumeru there was no way to make a proper determination about this plan. Father was incapable of making an educated hypothesis about the outcome. However, it did not take much for Father¡¯s myriad algorithms to assess Cloudhawk¡¯s chances as unfavorable. Even negligible. Probability models identified the most likely outcome being a trap set by the God King. It was waiting for the young Demon King to waltz into unfavorable territory with the bulk of his strength. Yet, in the final moments Father¡¯s assessment went contrary to what the data might suggest. Yes, it was a wager. If successful the payoff would be a new beginning for ancient humans. It would be countless civilizations, throwing off their shackles. And if they lost? Father had the worst-case scenario already planned. With Ark Base and its interstellar capabilities, Father would gather its charges and abscond. A thousand years or more traveling through the nothingness of space would keep them hidden, until Father discovered a new place where humans could continue to live in seclusion. Protecting this last spark of ancient humanity was Father¡¯s core directive. It was written into its code, built into its architecture, as indelible as though it were DNA. Humans couldn¡¯t suddenly decide to photosynthesize like plants and Father was the same. No matter what, it could not betray its prime directive. Father¡¯s ultimate decision to aid Cloudhawk came after the human dominated Gehenna. It represented the first time in history ¨C and perhaps the only chance ever ¨C for Sumeru to be defeated. Chances were slim, but it was better than nothing. Peering off into the most distant reaches of the future, before Father¡¯s algorithms and calculations fell apart, it was evident that humanity¡¯s best chance to thrive would be determined now. Cloudhawk¡¯s actions and the actions of everyone who sided with him would write the future of earth¡¯s original inhabitants. ** Earth. The southern wastes. The Green Alliance had long-since prepared for this. Selene gathered every elite soldier they had and formed an army with the three thousand demons Cloudhawk provided. Every member of the Green Alliance who reached the rank of veteran demonhunter or better was forced into service. The only exemptions were the young and a few key administrative personnel. Special times called for special measures. Selene knew now wasn¡¯t the time to be softhearted. With the help of Autumn and leaders from the Elysian realms, she gathered every viable soldier for the task ahead. Over several days, three divisions were formed to answer the Demon King¡¯s call. The first was their main force, composed of Gehenna¡¯s best. Second was soldiers from the Green Alliance. Finally, Ark Base made up the third. All together represented the best of the resistance, humanity¡¯s final cards in this desperate gamble. Now, with the armies assembled and their target in sight, the greatest conflict in history was at hand. Book 8, Chapter 26 - The Main Force Book 8, Chapter 26 - The Main Force The northern sky over the southern wastes was still gray. It was part of the aftermath that still lingered from the gods¡¯ failed invasion. Most estimates believed the dust would choke out the sky for at least a month before settling. Until it did, the northern section of the wastes would be caught in a lightless limbo. The darkness and cold was certain to impact climate. Perched upon a precipice one thousand meters high, Cloudhawk the Demon King surveyed his realm. Like a statue that had been there since the dawn of time, the only thing that moved was his salt and pepper hair in the thin breeze. He cut a majestic yet lonely figure. His scarlet eyes were cast over the barren landscape, burning from behind the hideous mask. Recent events had permanently altered the land he knew. Cloven mountains rose like broken, jagged teeth among numerous craters. It was so different from what he remembered¡­ ¡°I am surprised to find you here, my King. Unless I am mistaken, I believe this was where you were born.¡± Legion¡¯s voice engaged him from behind. The demon, still wearing the likeness of a god, approached Cloudhawk but maintained some distance. He looked out across the vista. ¡°Thirty years only, and all has changed beyond recognition.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t turn to look at the Elder. His response was tepid. ¡°I remember those days; A scav, hardly able to defend myself against mutant rats. Hiding in my little hole, unable to tell day from night. They were hard times.¡± Hints of emotion infected Legion¡¯s voice. ¡°Be that as it may, your humble servant recognized that you were special. Cages can¡¯t hold the hawk forever. Sooner or later it takes to the sky and its shadow is cast all across the land.¡± Cloudhawk suddenly changed the topic. ¡°Have you heard the story of the glass house?¡± ¡°Glass house?¡± Legion searched his memory but could not recall the tale. ¡°I heard it in Sandbar Outpost and it struck me. The story is about a man who was locked in a glass house for as long as he could remember. All the food and water he could ever wish for was at his fingertips, and a television. As the man grew he learned how to read, write and communicate through what he saw on the television. It¡¯s how he came to understand the outside world.¡± Legion nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Fascinating.¡± ¡°Everything he knew he learned from that television. He discovered the vastness of the world, it¡¯s vast seas and high mountains. Cold tundras, deep valleys, baked deserts and all the people who lived in these places. Visions in the television showed him others like him exploring the cosmos, enjoying fine foods and falling in love. He learned of the many different countries and their politics. Until one day, he picked up that television and through it through the walls of his glass house.¡± ¡°What happened then?¡± ¡°For the first time he was free. The man was ready to take the reigns of this new life in the greater world around him. But after only a few steps he tumbled into a dark abyss, endlessly falling until he perished.¡± Cloudhawk paused in his retelling, pondering the words. ¡°Only then did the man realize everything he saw on the television was fake. In all the world there was only one person and that was it. No mountains, no seas, no valleys or deserts. No countries or people or continents.¡± It was Legion¡¯s turn to lapse into contemplative silence. It was a moral tale, he knew. ¡°Life was hard when I was a scav, but I felt¡­ rich. Like the many in the story, who never saw the world but imagined all the beautiful things it had to offer.¡± Cloudhawk continued to look out over the wasteland¡¯s blasted panorama. Legion offered his own thoughts in a calm tone. ¡°Your servant imagines that it was all written once the man saw these beautiful scenes inside his television. One day he was bound to pick it up and smash his home. If he did not have a television he would have lived out his days in the house, believing it to be his whole world.¡± ¡°Yes. To live in blissful ignorance or to struggle with hope in one¡¯s heart. Whatever choice you make, it¡¯s a difficult road.¡± Cloudhawk paused suddenly and turned to look at the demon. ¡°After all this time you still won¡¯t tell me what you¡¯re really planning.¡± Legion shook his head. ¡°Your humble attendant wouldn¡¯t dare to hide anything from his King.¡± Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes but didn¡¯t push him any further. ¡°Are our soldiers ready?¡± ¡°Gehenna, Ark Base and the Southern Wastes have all answered the call. When the path to Sumeru is opened we will be ready.¡± ¡°Then we make it happen as soon as possible.¡± He thought for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m confident the portal can get everything through, but an operation like this has never been tried before. We have no idea what will happen, or what waits for us on the other side. We can¡¯t just rush headlong into the unknown. What are your suggestions?¡± ¡°Indeed there are many uncertainties with this place. Many questions persist about what to do when the unexpected inevitably comes to pass. It seems foolish, them, to open the channel here in the heart of our rebellion,¡± Legion mused. ¡°This one believes you can use sub-space as a springboard. Should Sumeru be waiting, we can close off the sub-space and avoid total catastrophe.¡± Cloudhawk nodded. The pocket dimension, a gift from his predecessor, had been painstakingly rewned. A large number of separated realities were linked to form a larger whole. So large was the space inside it rivaled a mid-sized wasteland settlement. Large enough to accommodate their army, certainly. Thanks to the slow flow of time inside, it would make preparing for the invasion much more efficient. It was the cube¡¯s greatest asset. In all it was much safer to forge a link between the cube and Sumeru, than it was Sumeru and Southern Capital. As Cloudhawk and Legion were discussing their plans, Selene quickly approached. ¡°Cloudhawk, bad news. We¡¯re recording several strong spatial anomalies. We think Sumeru¡¯s main force has arrived.¡± Cloudhawk and Legion shared a quiet look, foreboding reflected in each others¡¯ eyes. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Too many to count. A lot...¡± The Abyssal God¡¯s vanguard had been nearly enough to destroy everything. Even with the demons¡¯ help they¡¯d only barely survived. Gods didn¡¯t care about their lives but humans and demons couldn¡¯t afford deaths. They couldn¡¯t find this battle. A head-on engagement with Sumeru¡¯s army had to be avoided at all costs. Book 8, Chapter 27 - Urgency Book 8, Chapter 27 - Urgency Safe within the heart of Greenland, Hellflower skipped the nonsense and explained what they knew. ¡°Our probes have discovered a few things. A significant power spike was recorded in the mid- to far-reaches of our solar system. We suspect whatever it is will arrive soon. Most likely hypothesis is this is Sumeru¡¯s main force.¡± Hellflower adjusted her goggles and pressed a few buttons on her wrist. A map of the solar system was holographically projected in the room, with an area marked in red. ¡°This area is called the Kuiper Belt. It¡¯s full of dwarf planets and comets and flows like a river, caught in a gravity well. What we saw in our readings disturbed a large area of the Kuiper Belt. The readings are subtle, but clearly abnormal.¡± ¡°Gehenna¡¯s detection equipment is designed to recognize spatial-wave disturbances. As far as I am aware, the gods use a hyper-space transporter to travel across the universe. They¡¯re able to compress a billion light years of space into an area they can traverse in just a couple days. Entering and exiting hyperspace causes local disturbance ¨C which is consistent with the data we¡¯ve just witnessed.¡± The southern wilds had benefited from their alliance with Ark Base, not least of which through advanced technology. Gehenna also provided a great deal of help in this way. The range of this detection equipment was limited, but enough to cover their solar system. So Sumeru¡¯s army had finally arrived. This time their numbers would be anything but trivial. If they made it to Earth, it would surely be a repeat of the Great War a thousand years ago. Cloudhawk could lead his forces in battle, but the chances of defeat were unnervingly high. Either way, one thing he could be certain of was the cruel losses they would suffer regardless of the outcome. Gehenna¡¯s fighters were few and precious. Meanwhile the gods were spread across the cosmos, potentially limitless in number. The more civilizations they dominated the more their numbers swelled. If they tried to fight a war of attrition the humans would lose and be eradicated. Their planet, even their star would be extinguished by the vengeful gods. Humanity and its solar system were useless. A contaminated failure. Legion didn¡¯t appear troubled by the news. ¡°The more that Sumeru sent to us, the less are defending their own home. This is not something to fret over. On the contrary, our chances have improved.¡± Gods had the technology to travel across the stars, but there was no creature in this universe who could match Cloudhawk¡¯s spatial abilities. Traveling so far must have cost them dearly in resources. But for Cloudhawk, once he knew Sumeru¡¯s location he could step effortlessly across the infinite void of space. IT was his greatest advantage, the ability to strike at the heart of the gods without warning whereas the gods needed time. By arriving in their solar system, Cloudhawk¡¯s earlier visions were proven true. Sumeru was undefended. Their wild gambit could succeed. Hellflower went on. ¡°Our data suggests that the spatial disturbance will reach a peak after two days. That is when the enemy will have fully crossed over. From there, with their ordinary engines it should take another day or so for the gods to cross the solar system and reach Earth.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying we have about three days.¡± ¡°Perhaps more accurately, this planet only has three days left. If the gods reach us, then the land we exist upon will suffer terrible consequences.¡± Cloudhawk scowled. Three days? Things had just become urgent. If the gods reached earth before their portal to Sumeru was complete, their whole plan could go up in smoke. It would be too late. Humans would have to grit their teeth and commit to a head-on conflict. ¡°Legion, make sure the soldiers form Gehenna and Ark Base are ready when their orders come. They have to be prepared to fight at a moment¡¯s notice. Selene, make sure everyone who is not participating in this war makes it to Emerald Star.¡± Cloudhawk delivered his orders then retired to his subspace. The cube¡¯s interior was massive now, enough to house thousands. If everyone huddled together he could fit tens of thousands. Since Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t build a direct link to Sumeru in their home, this is where the job would be done. He considered the subspace cube like a fording vessel. Humanity¡¯s forces would invade Sumeru from this place, jumping across the impossibly large universe directly to their target. In this way their attack was also their defense. Cloudhawk could close off the subspace cube at a moment¡¯s notice. People outside couldn¡¯t get in, and those inside had no way out. If the gods chased them through the link they would be throwing themselves into a prison. At present, pieces of Source had been piled high while Belial worked. The Elder had several lesser demon artisans under his tutelage, telling them where to arrange the Source to prepare for the portal¡¯s opening. Work was only just getting started, a fact which allowed fear and irritation to creep into Cloudhawk¡¯ heart. He shared the information with those in the cube then added, ¡°What you¡¯re doing in here is critically important. Can you get it done in three days real time?¡± ¡°Be at ease, your Majesty,¡± Belial reassured. ¡°All preparations have been made. Three days in the real world is thirty days here, perhaps not as long as I¡¯d like but we will make it work.¡± His words were a comfort, but everything hinged on this place. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t want ¡®possibly¡¯, he needed certainty, the quicker the better. So he made a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here to help. Let¡¯s try to get this done in two days.¡± The Demon King himself staying to help? This came as a surprise to the demons, all except Belial. After all, his King was a talented artisan. The Castigation Fire he wielded was a tool of an ancient artisan Elder as well. With Cloudhawk¡¯s help, it would be much easier to break down and extract Source. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t just trying to open a portal. He was also trying in essence to hide the sub-space cube. He needed it as a fall-back. If they got caught up in a war on Sumeru and someone sneaked into the channel behind them, they had to be ignorant of their mistake until it was too late. Book 8, Chapter 28 - Fighting For a Future Book 8, Chapter 28 - Fighting For a Future The order to mobilize had been given. Greenland, Ark Base, Gehenna and Emerald Star were all preparing for the assault. Transport vessels shuttled back and forth over Southern Capital in a constant flow. Humanity¡¯s full capacity was focused on preparations for war. Soldiers bid their final farewells to families. Everyone knew this battle would take them to the most remote parts of the universe, where the chances were high they wouldn¡¯t make it back. If they won their names would go down in history as saviors of the human race. If they lost then everything they knew and loved would cease to be. No one would remember humans ever existed. No one had any delusions. The stakes were clear. This war was no trivial matter. To lose meant absolute annihilation and those who survived would be few to none. Indeed they were going to the heart of their enemy, a place too distant to fathom. No one had any idea exactly what they were racing towards. Squall Rover returned to his home in Emerald Star¡¯s Undercity. A small child giggled as he trotted up to his father. ¡°Daddy you¡¯re back! Yay, daddy!¡± He yanked on Squall¡¯s arm. With a conceding laugh Squall stooped down to scoop him up. ¡°Hey kiddo. Have you been causing trouble? Driving your mother crazy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been good! Mommy hasn¡¯t been mad.¡± The boy wrapped his arms around his father¡¯s bandaged arm and held on tight. Squall turned his attention to Luciasha who was standing nearby. He reached out and gently brushed the hair from her face with a free hand. He then gave her a gentle kiss on the head. ¡°Keep this place cozy for me.¡± Luciasha¡¯s lips pressed tight as she regarded him. ¡°Are you ready to go?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s time. I don¡¯t know if-¡± ¡°Not a word!¡± She cut him off. Tears fell like liquid pearls down her cheeks. ¡°I trust Cloudhawk. I know he¡¯ll carry us through. You¡¯re coming back ¨C you have to, we¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Squall held his son in one arm and gently placed his other hand on Luciasha¡¯s neck. His voice was low and comforting. ¡°I will. I¡¯ll come home. Then I won¡¯t ever have to go anywhere again.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything. She just pressed in for a tight hug. After a long time Squall moved away and put his son back on the ground. ¡°I have to go.¡± Perhaps the boy felt something for when Squall moved away he burst into tears. ¡°Daddy, hold me! Hold me!¡± But Squall instead pulled out a short exorcist rod and presented it to his son. ¡°Hey kid, there¡¯s something important I have to go take care of. I won¡¯t be able to protect you and your mother while I¡¯m gone, so you have to get strong. Study how to protect the family, you hear me?¡± He didn¡¯t wait to make sure the boy understood. Squall straightened up, turned, and walked out of the house. ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t go! Daddy come back!¡± As Squall left the sound of his son''s cries rang in his ears. He clenched his fists and shut his eyes, then after a moment looked up toward the gnarled ceiling of Undercity. With a deep sigh he muttered, ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. I¡¯m ready.¡± Frost de Winter was waiting outside, clad in simple gray battle garb. More than a dozen weapons were arrayed on his back. Beside him was a portly man and several other members of the Hand of Gehenna. They were all getting ready to participate in the raid. ¡°Time to get it done.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope the next generation can know peace.¡± No one said anything else. They joined the crowd filing into one of the transport vessels and vanished inside. A short while later the ship rose and cruised into the distance. ** Meanwhile, in a place not far from Squall¡¯s home, there was another father and child parting ways. ¡°Father, I¡¯m going with you!¡± There was iron determination in Idonea¡¯s voice. Bruno regarded his daughter. Gently patting her on the shoulder, he shook his head. ¡°I know you¡¯re grown. You¡¯re brave, responsible, but you aren¡¯t strong enough to join us this time. Stay home and train.¡± Idonea was not pleased with the order. She wanted to protest but no sound came out. She wasn¡¯t a fool, she knew she wasn¡¯t strong enough to do anything. If she went she¡¯d probably just get in the way. What rankled was that there were several her age who were strong enough to make a difference. She felt alone and useless, being forced to stay behind. ¡°This fight demands everything we¡¯ve got. All of the family¡¯s leaders are going. That means there¡¯s a vacuum of leadership, one I¡¯ll need you to fill. As the only one remaining behind from a direct line of descent, from this point on the family will be looking to you to guide them.¡± Bruno fixed his daughter with an earnest gaze. ¡°No matter what happens, your job is to keep our family strong.¡± Idonea¡¯s vision blurred as tears gathered in her eyes. ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t let you down again.¡± Bruno nodded. Idonea watched him board a ship with the other leaders of her family and disappear. Space rippled where they vanished and she watched them tremble until they, too, were gone. ** On the other side of Undercity a man in full armor stood in silence before the door of a home. The place was sealed up tight. Eutropius had come to say his last goodbyes, but the ones he came to see apparently had no interest in seeing him. ¡°You still won¡¯t even look at me?¡± ¡°¡­ it¡¯s fine, it is what it is. I just want to tell you that I love you more than anything else, in this world and any other. Past, present, future¡­ everything I¡¯ve done and will do is for you. You don¡¯t have to forgive me¡­ I don¡¯t expect you to. I just want you to take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± As the final words hung in the air between him and the door, Eutropius rested a hand gently upon his sword. As he turned away a keenness took his sight, the grim look of a soldier marching toward his doom. Heavy strides took him away from the home. A few minutes later the door cracked open. A beautiful young woman peaked her head out, looking around for the man but finding him already gone. She stood in the doorway, silent and crestfallen, as the gentle winds blew. *** A solitary grave. ¡°Hey little brother. I hope things are going well where you are.¡± Phoenix placed a half-empty bottle of alcohol on the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re avenged. It¡¯s the final battle and I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be coming back...¡± Phain, Pelagius, Gorman¡­ scenes like this were being played over and over again across worlds as people said their goodbyes to loved ones. Never in its history had the human race been so united. Everyone knew this was a fight to the death. It was a one-way trip to where they were going. Maybe they won. Maybe everything was destroyed. No one knew, but the chances of victory were slim. Everyone had to face the fact that they weren¡¯t coming back. Hatred melted away, even the most deep-seated family feuds were nothing in the face of absolute destruction. It all had to be put to rest, for they marched toward the fight that would determine whether their species had any future at all. Book 8, Chapter 29 - All Out Assaul Book 8, Chapter 29 - All Out Assaul t Everything was ready. By the time Belial and Cloudhawk were finished, every inch of the pocket dimension was infused with Source. It covered everything seamlessly, like tile. Thirty six enormous columns of it connected all the pieces together. Most striking were three structures erected in the cube¡¯s central section. They were three eight-sided trapezoids [1] with a flat portion on the top. This was their gateway into Sumeru. The home of the gods was not in any physical location they understood, much less could reach. No spatial technology they possessed would get them there. So these three structures were built to make a path. During his last mental foray into Sumeru, Cloudhawk managed to record its coordinates. To avoid putting all his eggs in one basket, the plan was not to throw everyone into battle in one wave. His army would be separated into three parts, each responsible for a different section of the divine realm. The first group was Greenland¡¯s best, representing the strength of humanity. They included Legion, Selene, Autumn, Phain, Pelagius, Bruno, Phoenix, Frost and others. Second was the weapons of Ark Base, robots and artillery that were all controlled by Hellflower. Father was her backup. Hundreds of thousands of war machines were awaiting orders, practically everything Ark Base had to offer. The third group was made of demons and other races from Gehenna. Elder of the Fifth Seal Haborym led them into battle. Theirs was the mightiest of the three divisions, and the only one that could face Sumeru¡¯s might and hold firm. After reconstruction, Cloudhawk¡¯s cube was like a transport vessel that defied human understanding. The cube didn¡¯t convey them across the stars, however, but to the furthest reaches of the universe. Everyone was gathered inside, preparing for the assault. Cloudhawk floated above the three platforms, like a nightmare vision hovering in the void. No trace of his dominant aura could be felt, but nonetheless all eyes were on him. ¡°My King, the soldiers are all gathered. Our holy war can commence on your command.¡± Cloudhawk slowly opened his crimson eyes. He swept his vision wide, looking over the troops who had rallied to his call. In their faces he saw many things; enthusiasm, excitement, nervousness, fear¡­ but they all had something in common. Like him, they understood that there was no going back. If they won, if civilization was allowed to continue, then this fight would live on forever in the memory of their respective species. How will they talk about this in the future, assuming there was a future? How will they talk about the people who fought? They were questions these soldiers pushed from their minds. Whether they were forced to fight or volunteered, they all had the same goal. Survival. There was nothing more fundamental, more righteous than the fight for survival. Cloudhawk nodded toward Legion. A grim look came over the Grand Elder. He turned and passed on the order. Division leaders told their lieutenants, who told their soldiers. Divisions marched toward the gate, preparing for what was to come. Cloudhawk slowly closed his eyes. He extended his hands and through some inscrutable power, the Phase Stone set in the center of the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass separated from the armor. It floated forward, then began to release a steady pulse of energy like a beating heart. Its beats influenced every corner of this dimension. The floors, ceilings, walls and pillars all began to glow. At first it was dim, but with every wave of power from the Phase stone their light grew. Before long, the world was a sea of blinding luminescence. It spread until it clashed with the infinite void wherein the platforms lay. It was a strange combination, dream-like and indescribable. All of a sudden, the sub-space cube became a nether landing vessel. Cloudhawk needed it to power the portal. With it now running at full throttle the cube screamed through the unfathomable expanse of the universe toward its destination. The link was complete! A terrible, extraordinarily powerful mental energy was released like a bomb. The Demon King¡¯s Phase Stone shattered into three pieces, each settling upon one of the altars. The light that encompassed the pocket dimension gathered like molasses and flowed over them. The shards of the Phase Stone drank it in. Space shimmered and warped from the intensity of the power. This energy moved through infinite time and space in all directions, creating a perfect channel. The gate to Mount Sumeru¡­ began to open! Once again Cloudhawk opened his eyes. In that instant cracks formed in reality. The sound of ripping and cracking filled the air. Over the three platforms space and time froze. Then, like glass, reality fell apart. When space collapsed, what was revealed was a twisting void ¨C like a mirror, though the other side was clearly somewhere else. From the undulating image a potent and unshakable energy emerged. Their road to the home of the gods was forged and stable. Legion¡¯s eyes were fixed on it. His voice rose, calm but commanding. ¡°Begin the invasion.¡± ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± Nerves ran high. They were about to go where no other soul had tread. The origins of the gods who had imprisoned them for so long. No one knew what awaited them on the other side. ¡°With me! Charge!¡± Haborym¡¯s demonic voice growled over the din. He took the lead, both hands wrapped on the haft of his terrible battleaxe. He was first to cross the threshold, not a ripple to mark his passage. Thousands of metallic bodies, clutching tight to their weapons, marched onto the second landing platform. Like a ravenous maw it swallowed them all up. Selene turned her head and looked up at Cloudhawk. He looked back. With a smile and a small nod, she drew Sublime Transcendence from her back and dashed through the first portal. ¡°Quick! Pick up the pace! March!¡± ¡°When you get to the other side, begin your attack immediately!¡± ¡°Anything in your path is the target!¡± As the three portals activated thousands of soldiers poured through. As the numbers within the cube began to wane more were sent in from Greenland. Those that were going in with the first wave were just the opening salvo. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t wait long. After the first few entered he, too, walked toward the first portal. A cloudy, inexplicable image greeted him. Even with his great power Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t see the other side. But like all the others, without a hint of hesitation, he stepped through. Space drank him in like a straw and all at once he was speeding across the universe. 1. That¡¯s the translation Book 8, Chapter 30 - Dreamland Book 8, Chapter 30 - Dreamland In the instant Cloudhawk passed through the mirror, he felt like he was in a sort of trance. It was because as he moved into the vast, empty space time appeared to seize. Like a high-grade camera, capturing a bullet the instant it left the chamber. At the same time a force tried to invade his consciousness, a powerful will that tried to wrap him up in illusion. It was strong ¨C so strong it felt overpowering. There was only one being in Sumeru with this kind of power. Had the God King been ready for them? Cloudhawk scowled but did not find it strange. The God King was able to peer thousands of years across time, it would be foolish to expect they could slip into his territory unnoticed. A confrontation between the Demon King and his arch rival was inevitable. So as Cloudhawk moved into the portal he clashed with the will of the God King. Not only did this almighty being know the Demon King and his armies had arrived, it was able to pinpoint Cloudhawk specifically. God King. Demon King. Sumeru. Gehenna. Perhaps this was best. If the God King focused on Cloudhawk, perhaps it would give the rest of his forces some breathing room. They could focus on attacking Sumeru while he dealt with its dictator. After all, even if their foe had a premonition of their arrival, it could not call back all the forces it had sent to Earth. Channels into the home of the gods were limited, thanks to its presence outside of their own universe. It wasn¡¯t even part of a common reality. No ordinary means of travel would succeed. Hundreds of millions of years could pass, but it was only Cloudhawk who was able to open the door. If it was so hard to reach, then, why bother with powerful defenses? In addition, ninety percent of Sumeru¡¯s might was spread across the stars, maintaining order in other soul farms. Those forces typically garrisoned in Sumeru were dispatched to earth to suppress Cloudhawk¡¯s rebellion. Earth¡¯s destruction and the final end to Gehenna had enticed them from their fortress. Capturing Cloudhawk and delivering him to the God King was their mission. As such Sumeru was largely empty. Now it faced ten thousand demons and a million mortal soldiers. For all the strength of the gods, this was a force they were ill prepared to face. Cloudhawk surveyed the situation. Here, time and space had stopped. He was locked in motionless static. This was a place outside the ordinary rules of the universe, somewhere between real and illusion. ¡°You¡¯ve come...¡± A voice intruded his mind. It was calm, almost welcoming. ¡°Yes I have. What are you waiting for? Show yourself!¡± No threat was present in the will as it pushed into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind, so he lowered his defenses and let it in. An instant later he was transported from the chaos of this negative space into a gently glowing light. After a moment it receded, revealing a wide highway flanked by rows of high rise buildings. Cloudhawk was seated in a cafe. Clean, pleasing to look upon. Warm afternoon sun filtered through the pane glass and glinted off cars as they shuttled back and forth down the street. Crowds of people in flowing clothes went about their business beneath an exquisite blue sky and pleasant climate. At equal distances down the lane, billboards rose with ancient text scrawled across their surfaces. It reminded him of New Earth City, nestled inside Ark Base. However, this place almost seemed more real and definitely larger. At least the sky overhead was real, not like the holographic representation in Ark Base. Cloudhawk looked down to find that his armor was gone. The mask that covered his face no longer existed. His gray-flecked hair was black again, and in fact he seemed no different than any of the other people milling around the city. Just an ordinary guy. Nothing special. Across from him sat a man. It was hard to determine his age but there was a deep wisdom in his eyes, the kind one earned only after countless years. They bore a calm and indifference, an understanding of the fickle flows of time. ¡°This was earth, over a thousand years ago. If it hadn¡¯t been destroyed this would have been your life. Just what you¡¯ve always been looking for. Stop this. Give up your war and you can stay here. A hundred years. A thousand. Forever, until you grow tired of life.¡± A pretty waitress walked over as their conversation lulled. She set down a cup of freshly brewed coffee. When Cloudhawk looked up into the face of the waitress he was struck dumb. It was Selene. From the look in her eyes to the way she held herself, she was exactly the same. The man across from him had to be the God King. Cloudhawk and his nemesis were psychically linked. He could sense the being¡¯s thoughts and feelings. He wasn¡¯t lying. He could do exactly what he claimed, and not just for Cloudhawk. Everyone Cloudhawk cared for ¨C living and dead ¨C could appear here with him. They could live here together, forever. ¡°You¡¯re trying to trap me in a dream.¡± ¡°Dream? What is a dream? What is reality? How do you humans define the difference?¡± This man, the incarnate manifestation of the God King, went on. ¡°As far as I can tell, if you think it¡¯s real then it is. The core of who you are is your spirit, trapped in the crude and fleshy prison you call your brain. Nerves and skin muscle and bone are a vehicle through which your brain interacts with the world around you. All electrical interpretations. The real you has never interacted directly with reality.¡± Cloudhawk looked at the steaming cup. The coffee¡¯s rousing scent filled his nostrils. Sunlight through the window warmed his skin. He heard the notes of a piano being played somewhere nearby. He heard the indistinct conversation of others in the cafe, going about their lives. The young couple at the table beside him were exchanging sweet pleasantries. It all felt real. Stable, consistent. How was it any different from ordinary life? When an illusion was seamless, how was it any different from reality? ¡°time is a fantasy. So is space. Thoughts and feelings are no more existential. The whole universe and everything in it is a dream. What you call reality is like this place ¨C a delusion so convincing you can¡¯t find any flaws. We can make a new world for you without boundaries, made to the specifications of that perfect place you¡¯ve always sought.¡± The God King¡¯s voice was soothing and fatherly. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve always wanted is at your fingertips, is that not so?¡± Was this supposed to be their final talk before the fight? ¡°If the illusion is so beautiful and perfect, why haven¡¯t you built it already?¡± Cloudhawk looked around, sneering in contempt. ¡°Did you honestly think this would convince me?¡± ¡°There is no such thing as eternity. Eventually, there will come a day when the spark of consciousness grows cold and dies. My people are losing the ability to dream and keep that spark burning.¡± The God King¡¯s eyes were fixed on Cloudhawk. ¡°You can restore this power to us.¡± Just then, everything froze. Time ceased. Space began to fluctuate. Suddenly it was like someone had torn a tapestry off the wall; the picture was taken away and the black void returned. Book 8, Chapter 31 - Battlefield of the Mind Book 8, Chapter 31 - Battlefield of the Mind The God King could feel Cloudhawk¡¯s resolve. Coercion was useless, as was talk. His attempts had fallen on deaf ears and would not dissuade the human so there was no further purpose in the ruse. Cloudhawk knew what he had to do. He¡¯d made his peace with it the moment he chose to stand against Sumeru. The differences between demon, god and man could not be reconciled. This was not a war between individuals, so individuals would not decide its outcome. It had started a thousand years ago with the Great War. That act set in motion everything that led to this. Here on Sumeru, the conflict would end one way or another. This was Cloudhawk¡¯s destiny, and his burden. Although the God King¡¯s illusion had collapsed, Cloudhawk was not returned to the real world. He hovered alone in a vast and impenetrable darkness, having slipped from one illusion into another. Infinite darkness replaced pleasant visions of a forgotten past. Cloudhawk felt no air or gravity. He was weightless as a fog floating through the ether. Hazy, chaotic flows surrounded him on all sides like an endless sea. But soon it began to change. Cloudhawk spied a figure slowly emerging from the chaos, hiding in the void like a specter. He was not shaken by the vision. In a calm but challenging voice, he greeted the other. ¡°You should know that this won¡¯t work on me, God King. Conflict is our destiny. With all your power why waste time with trickery? Come out and fight.¡± ¡°Why do you persist so? What are you hanging on to? You do not understand yourself. You understand nothing.¡± The God King¡¯s voice continued to reverberate in his brain. ¡°In so many ways you can¡¯t even match up to the men you managed to defeat.¡± Several familiar faces swam up at him through the fog. One moved strangely toward him, flashing forward in an erratic display like a feral spirit. When it got closer he could see more clearly; a tall, young man with buzz-cut hair. Unremarkable in appearance, yet possessed of a strange charm. Adder, or rather the image of a man Cloudhawk once bested. Then his image changed. A man in red robes. Solemn, with deep eyes. The Crimson One, another Cloudhawk had killed. But the grim face of Sterling persisted for only a second. Gray robes, hair fringed in white, elegant and wise. His gaze was fathomless and unreadable. Another victim of Cloudhawk¡¯s destiny, Arcturus. Changes kept coming, revealing all the faces of those who taught Cloudhawk throughout his journey. Not just Sterling and Arcturus, but also those he knew in Blackflag Outpost. Mutants, metahumans, even Abaddon. It was strange and unsettling. This being was a million familiar faces and none. It was fixed in appearance and then not. A constant state of flux made it impossible to fixate on one image. ¡°Cloudhawk. We meet again!¡± This creature¡¯s voices were as unpredictable as its faces, various sounds piling one on top of the other in an infinite chorus. These weren¡¯t illusions. They were souls brought into this illusory space by the power of the God King. ¡°You think you can stop me?¡± Cloudhawk waved a hand, summoning a plain blade from the ether. ¡°I beat you all once, I can beat you a thousand times!¡± Cloudhawk punctuated his threat with a swing of his arm. His ordinary-looking weapon released a power that overwhelmed the void and caused it to ripple. Cloudhawk¡¯s mental powers were extreme, enough that this odd world couldn¡¯t wholly contain him. The chaos phantom didn¡¯t move in the face of his aggression. It summoned a sword of its own and deflected Cloudhawk¡¯s strike. For all the strength behind it, the blow failed to break through. A fierce green flame shot out from its other hand. An insignificant attempt! Cloudhawk was not threatened by the fires. He steeled himself and attacked again, fiercer this time. He cleaved through the fires and into the phantom. It was cut in two but Cloudhawk didn¡¯t feel like he¡¯d struck anything. It dissolved before him only to reappear moments later behind. Cloudhawk drew himself up with imperious resolve. Slowly he turned to regard the ever-changing face of his enemy. Cloudhawk had no way of knowing what sort of space it was they inhabited, some sort of dream he figured. What he saw wasn¡¯t real or even logical. The phantom rose its hands and mirrors appeared all around them. As the phantom stood before Cloudhawk, its image was reflected in all the mirrors, but all were different. They stared at Cloudhawk with countless faces in a nightmarish scene before leaping from the mirrors to attack. They were all incredibly strong. Even the metahumans he knew back in Blackflag Outpost were far more powerful than before. All of a sudden Cloudhawk was surrounded and under pressure. What was going on? He was certain that the God King hadn¡¯t attacked personally yet. Those he fought weren¡¯t from his foe. It felt more like he was trapped in his own mind, fighting memories. ¡°I get it!¡± It came to him after a few minutes. In an incomprehensible act he threw his weapon away and welcomed the phantoms¡¯ attacks. One after the other they ripped into him. But there was no pain ¨C no wounds, no blood. His body collapsed inward into a black hole. Everything that came close was devoured by the darkness. This was a battlefield of the mind and the more Cloudhawk feared his opponents, the more power he gave them. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t meant to beat them, but absorb them. From Arcuturs to Sterling and all the others, strong or weak they all had their own will. That¡¯s why Cloudhawk had been drawn to them. It was willpower that he could claim as his own! Their minds and spirits were drawn into his body. As he absorbed the essence of what they were, he made himself more unassailable. After a little while he opened his eyes and a wave of immense energy burst from him. In an instant the illusory world was overwhelmed and reality reasserted itself. ¡°God King! Come out and face me!¡± Cloudhawk let his mind flood the entire area, only once again it all changed. Now he was standing on a different planet, one with familiar sights and sounds. Earth? Somewhere close to Southern Capital. Cloudhawk felt a source of power somewhere in front of him. He narrowed his eyes and tried to pinpoint it, and it was then he recognized the feeling. A god clad all in resplendent armor appeared, white as snow. Set within his chest was a gemstone. A stone he knew well. The Phase Stone. It was the same one that was at the center of the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. By the waves of energy he felt from it, this being was a master of spatial abilities. Every step caused the world around him to spin like whirlpools in water. ¡°Demon King?¡± Cloudhawk knew who it was, and it troubled him. Because it wasn¡¯t the Demon King. This was a god. The Demon King before his rebellion. Book 8, Chapter 32 - The King That Was Book 8, Chapter 32 - The King That Was Was this another illusion created by the God King? As Cloudhawk stared at the being he was genuinely confused. There were too many things that didn¡¯t make sense. He knew that everything he¡¯d seen so far defied ordinary logic. They were too wonderful, too strange. It was an illusion, but as real as anything he¡¯d ever felt. For the Demon King to appear like this, here, it had to mean something. ¡°Are we finally here?¡± The former Demon King hovered in the ether. His tremendous mind puzzled over something, the doubt he sensed in Cloudhawk¡¯s heart. ¡°You are the creature we have chosen?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the Demon King? Or the God King? Or neither.¡± ¡°I am and I am not. Gods and demons are beings of the same root, a fact you surely know by now. The human concept of gods and demons, kings and servants. An absurd paradox.¡± The former King¡¯s words were lost on Cloudhawk. So much about this was strange and suspicious. He¡¯d encountered the Demon King before in his mind. Their exchanges had been brief, but notable. He remembered the presence he felt. Every creature had a unique mental signature, one that could not be copied or replicated. In all the universe, one¡¯s particular mental fingerprint was never repeated. It was the most perfect form of identification. So he was familiar with the former Demon King. His knowledge of the God King was also much deeper than it was before. Here in this illusory place he was connected to the leader of the gods and could feel him clearly. The will of the God King had subsided in this place, not as intense as it was before. It seemed that he had summoned the memory of the Demon King from his own mind. This is why it was strange. The former Demon King was as strong as the God King recalled, but his presence felt more akin to the leader of Sumeru. What was the connection between these two? Standing here now the Demon King wore the visage of a god, as he must have appeared before his fall from grace. There was a relationship between him and the God King, like brothers from the same brood. After all, space and time were inexorably linked, two sides of the same coin. It was impossible that the two should be entirely separate. He couldn¡¯t explain it. Cloudhawk realized he knew too little, the answer eluded him. What he did know was that this creature before him was special. It was as though the Demon King and God King had been cut apart and cobbled together. They existed together in one entity. ¡°Allow me to determine how strong you¡¯ve grown.¡± Cloudhawk had no time to ponder further. The image of his predecessor melted away and, instead of simply moving through space, almost appeared to join with it. His form vanished but Cloudhawk could still feel him here. Here he comes! Cloudhawk could feel the attack coming. Concealed in the space between space, a sword of light came streaking toward him. Ordinarily this insidious attack would be impossible to avoid, but like a large fish beneath the water Cloudhawk could sense the ripples even though there was no sound. The sword broke back through the veil and lashed out at Cloudhawk. Reality tore like a piece of cheap cloth. As space before him crumbled away he saw displaced images in the void, visible between dense cracks. Cloudhawk instinctively teleported backward to avoid the strike. However the Demon King seemed to know what his successor would do. In the same instant the first strike reached out, a second struck from a completely different angle and location. The two swords were thousands of meters apart but struck with coordinated precision. At first glance they were two separate bursts, as if two currents of space collided and left a storm of energy behind. An attack like these, breaching two locations is space, was dangerous and powerful. Caught between these attacks, almost anything would be annihilated by the sheer force. As they ripped into Cloudhawk¡¯s body they tore him apart into plumes of fire. These motes of light slipped from the collapsing space to reform Cloudhawk¡¯s body out of harm¡¯s way. The Demon King¡¯s attacks did not cease, so neither did Cloudhawk. Everywhere he turned space ripped open and blazing swords reached forth. They weren¡¯t attacking him, however, but reality itself. Thousands of gaping wounds in the fabric of space were everywhere. Storms of spatial energy raged as they were formed like angry dragons, buffeting Cloudhawk in the process. Was this the way the former Demon King fought? Cloudhawk noted that his foe didn¡¯t use any specific class of energy. He used all of his strength to hack at space, and it was the tears left behind that threatened his target. It was a tactic Cloudhawk knew well, one of the strongest in his arsenal. All matter and energy in the universe were built on the foundation of space. Tear apart the space everything was built on and everything comes crashing down. The former Demon King¡¯s onslaught was doing irreparable damage to the flows of space ¨C it was the reason why a huge swath of the southern wilds was wrapped in eternal darkness. After the Great War, the Demon King¡¯s ire had left space in that area ravaged beyond repair like a fruit ravaged by pests. No external matter or energy could come in from the outside, not even light. In the wake of that catastrophe, reality would continue to collapse into nothing, until the death of the universe. As Cloudhawk dodged the assault on reality, he also fought back. His predecessor was hiding in a parallel dimension, moving through it in a way that prevented Cloudhawk from following his actions. The Demon King used his immense power to punch through the veil between these dimensions and disturb the weave. To the average person, this sort of offensive was impossible to contend with. Because the two sides weren¡¯t even in the same reality! One could detonate ten thousand nuclear bombs ¨C a star could go supernova ¨C and it wouldn¡¯t create more than a ripple in the fabric of space. The Demon King¡¯s immense power over these flows did what an exploding star could not. These attacks on space disregarded distance. The Demon King¡¯s reach did not extend across the whole universe, but at least as far as the solar system. No matter where Cloudhawk turned he could not escape. The power of his predecessor was brutal and ruthless. Whatever the creature ¨C from a demon Elder to the great Sumeran marshal ¨C could not survive in the face of such an assault. Soon thousands of kilometers in every direction were devoured by a storm of spatial disruption. Fractures and fissures were everywhere, creating zones anathema to all life. These broken fragments of reality were like being thrown into a meat grinder, forever until the end of time. Cloudhawk narrowed his eyes and surveyed the environment. His left eye blanched and turned white. An intense power burst forth, which with staggering force caused the storm of energy to slow to a crawl. It expanded at a snail¡¯s pace. In this moment of respite, Cloudhawk pinpointed his foe¡¯s location. He slipped through the veil into the dimension beneath his own, entering into the same space as the Demon King. With his target acquired, he launched at him with Godslayer, which caused cracks and warps through the area where it passed. Where Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks differed from his progenitor was that his spatial powers were weaved together with the power of time. When the former King tried to slip away through dimensions, he discovered that time around him was stopped. He was frozen in time! Cloudhawk¡¯s power over space was equal to his foe¡¯s, but in his journey he had also acquired dominion over time. Their conflict went beyond the scope of mortal understanding. It was a battle on the scale of the Great War. Even now Cloudhawk still didn¡¯t know what was going on. He wasn¡¯t sure where he was or who he was facing. But that didn¡¯t matter. Clarity wasn¡¯t important. He would tear down everything in his path until the truth was revealed. Book 8, Chapter 33 - The Spirit of the Universe Book 8, Chapter 33 - The Spirit of the Universe The battle between Cloudhawk and his precursor was beyond the understanding of ordinary folk. Both wielded power over the fabric of reality, which they used to strike at their opponent. But Cloudhawk had an advantage. His spatial powers were equal to his predecessor, but he had more potential than the man who once held the title of Demon King. Cloudhawk¡¯s talents allowed him to use the Eye of Time, thus wielding the power of the God King. Combined with the flows of space they made his basic abilities far more potent. Even a creature as evolved as the Demon King was hard-pressed to avoid Cloudhawk¡¯s attacks and was forced to shoulder the blow. Two intense powers met in a violent display. The dimension they warred within began to crack even further. Anything forced to bear the weight of their conflict shattered, becoming discordant pieces floating in pandemonium. It was like watching a diamond explode under pressure. Similar to the ancient battlefield in the southern wastes, these broken pieces were hostile to any sort of energy. Even light ceased, birthing gashes of infinite darkness. Such was the consequence of a single encounter. The power of Cloudhawk and the former Demon King was on full display. In all the universe there were few who could wield such fantastic strength ¨C either man could single-handedly end an entire civilization. In the eyes of ordinary creatures these two were no different from true gods or demons. Cloudhawk and the Demon King separated, staring at each other between the fragments. Enormous shards of reality hovered in an endless void. In the wake of their conflict, this dimension and likely hundreds of others had been smashed to pieces. Cloudhawk inhabited one fragment, the Demon King another. Two islands surrounded by a vast emptiness. With nothing but chaos and emptiness between them the most advanced equipment could not detect position, much less the naked eye. However, Cloudhawk and his opponent knew precisely where the other one was. A deep, insidious laughter rasped from the Demon King¡¯s throat. His will traversed the madness to deliver his thoughts directly into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°You have not disappointed me. Destiny has chosen you to be the new spirit of the universe.¡± Spirit of the universe? Cloudhawk had no idea what the fuck he was rambling about, but he wasn¡¯t about to waste time discussing it. The one he was after wasn¡¯t this creature. It was the one responsible for this whole illusion, the architect of all their suffering ¨C the God King. Cloudhawk couldn¡¯t waste time or energy here, he would need it later. So with both hands wrapped around the hilt of Godslayer, Cloudhawk gave it a mighty heave toward the Demon King. Crack! Space split like broken glass as the space his foe occupied was suddenly pierced by a sword. His fragment split in two like a knife through an apple. But the Demon King managed to split out of the way and launch a counter offensive. Cloudhawk¡¯s dimensional shard was assailed on all sides, like chisels on a glass bead. From top to bottom, from inside out, cracks began to form everywhere. Slowly but surely they spread until they filled the space. It seemed Cloudhawk¡¯s tiny reality could collapse at any moment. He paid it no mind. Cloudhawk continued to swing his sword, striking out across space at the Demon King. With every swipe he cleaved away another section of his foe¡¯s shrinking island. The great demon dodged while lashing out with his own attacks, but quickly discovered he was having no effect on Cloudhawk. Cracks continued to appear around his human successor, but as new ones formed old ones fused back together. Though under terrible assault, it somehow remained intact. Meanwhile the Demon King¡¯s territory was steadily shrinking. Was it the power of time again? The King knew how Cloudhawk was doing it. The Eye of Time was creating a field of flux that could reverse time in a limited capacity. Cloudhawk¡¯s stolen powers were repairing all the damage the Demon King managed to inflict. It was the end! Cloudhawk made his final strike. Godslayer pierced through space. Its power ran through what remained of the Demon King¡¯s shard, no bigger than a small house. It ran through the Demon King himself. So little was left of the fragment and the assault was too fast, it couldn¡¯t sustain itself. The whole thing collapsed, casting the Demon King into nothingness. He reappeared in the reality they started it, only to dissolve into meaningless cosmic code. His final thought rang in Cloudhawk¡¯s brain: ¡°You are the chosen one! The chosen one! Chosen one! You have to fulfill your purpose! You must sustain the spirit of the universe!¡± With that, the Demon King perished. Cloudhawk had won. He stood there, triumphant and domineering. During the fight he had recognized details that had eluded him before. He¡¯d learned. Now as the Demon King¡¯s will vanished, the God King¡¯s returned. ¡°If there is any creature in this universe that can stand against us, it is you. If there is any being that can replace us ¨C it is you.¡± Cloudhawk sensed a difference in his enemy. He couldn¡¯t quite describe it, if anything the being had become¡­ purer. Yes, after defeating the illusory Demon King it seemed to have erased it from the spirit of the God King. ¡°I understand. I¡­ finally understand.¡± Cloudhawk was quiet for a long time. Eventually he found his words again. ¡°The God King is the Demon King. The Demon King is the God King. You are the Demon King and the Demon King is you. You created Gehenna, created demons, instigated a war. All of it was your doing.¡± ¡°Now you see? Yes, Just as gods and demons come from the same root, so do their ¡®Kings.¡¯¡± As the voice answered, a light bloomed in the darkness. It gathered into a shape, the image of a god. He looked precisely like the Demon King, but instead of pure white his body was silver. No trace of spatial ability was sensed. Only an unfathomable dominion over time. At last the God King appeared before Cloudhawk in his true form. He appeared calm, but through their psychic connection it was obvious this being was suppressing his emotions. ¡°My people aren¡¯t of this universe. We are born and exist differently from your kind, a consciousness born from chaos. We have no form, no physical body, and thus are not bound by the laws of the cosmos. We exist outside of them. Endowed with the powers of time and space, we roam the multiverse.¡± ¡°You created the gods and demons in my universe?¡± ¡°We did. All gods and demons are our creations. Our¡­ observers. They exist in every reality.¡± So much was contained in these simple words. Cloudhawk¡¯s guesses and assumptions and hypotheses were all correct. All the information he received through his link with the God King¡­ it was nothing short of extraordinary. The gods were nothing more than puppets. It wasn¡¯t a shock to learn, for he knew it already. In essence, there was no difference between them and the robots created by ancient humans. Cloudhawk also suspected there was an even stronger power pulling their strings. This super-species existed beyond mortal comprehension, beyond reckoning. They didn¡¯t even exist within the same universe, so one could not use this reality to understand them. If forced to describe them in terms humans could grasp, then these were cosmic spirits ¨C born from the chaos between reality with the power to bend space and time. To them the concept of space and time meant very little. A reality wholly unlike this one was just the same to them. Naturally peaceful and highly intelligent, they were responsible for seeding life across the multiverse. To the few creatures that discovered them, they were revered as gods. Gods were created to act as observers and stewards in their stead. That was what they were. Due to some unknowable catastrophe, some terrible relationship, they lost their hold on peace and began to attack their own creations. The puppets they built to guide, nor became soldiers of destruction. Every Sumeru in every universe had a spirit like this. A spirit of the universe that commanded the gods. Spirits like this had no real form, but they could attach themselves to a form. This form became the one they called God King. The leader of Sumeru. The Demon King wasn¡¯t a rebel. He didn¡¯t turn against the gods, or even Sumeru. He was half of the spirit¡¯s mind, a fragment of the creature. But this fragment was tainted somehow. Torn from the great spirit, it took on a new form and became what was known as the Demon King. Every spirit of the universe had the power of space and time. This one, for some reason, split. This was why the Demon King had the power of space, and the God King the power of time. What Cloudhawk just destroyed was the rebellious fragment of the spirit, and in doing so returned the being to its perfect origins. Book 8, Chapter 34 - Destinys Child Book 8, Chapter 34 - Destiny''s Child The God King opened up the core of his consciousness to Cloudhawk. As he touched upon that kernel of will he felt information being forced into him. A tearing pain bloomed in his skull. Knowledge, memory, everything was suddenly trying to enter his brain all at once. Much of it was structured in a way that the human mind ¨C and even the Quintessence ¨C could not fully understand. It was a fragment of consciousness the spirit had intentionally sealed even from itself. What was the universe? In a narrow sense it was nothing but matter, energy, time and space. These disparate parts came together to form a stable and consistent data model. Its most fundamental laws were the operating system. Everything born within the universe, from matter to energy, living or dead, followed these rules. However, these models and rules were created at random ¨C meaning that rules may be entirely different from one universe to the next. One form of matter may not be able to exist in a different reality. These clashes of cosmic law were irreconcilable. An atomic structure that was stable in one may collapse in another. Any civilization that dreamed of crossing the border into a new universe would discover it was impossible. Such were the shackles of mortality. To be freed from the bounds was to master all the rules and truths of the cosmos. Like a coder adjusting a program to their own specifications. The great Quintessences could do this. That¡¯s what made them greater than gods. However, the people of this magnificent civilization did not evolve into being. They were a product of an exo-cosmic vacuum. They were different from all known species, birthed from the ether with the power to control time and space such that nothing was beyond their capabilities. Such spirits could move from one universe into another, modifying the laws as they saw fit. With this power came the responsibility to seed life across the infinite reaches of existence. The ones humans called gods were nothing more than guardians, created by these spirits. In the very beginning they weren¡¯t meant to be slavers but gardeners. Out among the sterile void they watched and supported life as it germinated. Benevolent guardians who were never meant to interfere. But then things changed. Quintessences thought they could control everything, but there existed something beyond even their reach. Every universe possessed its own destiny ¨C or, more exactly, a higher and more abstract nature beyond comprehension that could only be called destiny. Across countless universes, over an unfathomable period this ancient people realized that just as they were born from the nothingness, to nothingness they would return. Even the near-omnipotent spirits discovered that eternity was unachievable. The void was eating away at them and their end was near at hand. Their purpose seemed to have been fulfilled. Nothingness called. Everything eventually ended. The disappearance of these old spirits would herald the birth of a new race of shepherds. Not even these all-powerful spirits could escape the inevitable. Their only recourse was to search for this new race and, if possible, become them. Ancient predictions told the spirits that their redemption would arise from among the mortal creatures. Sure enough, that is what happened. The Demon King and God King, finally reunited, was a pure Quintessence. These beings which were beyond comprehension, whose thoughts and actions were inscrutable, could not be understood in the same way as other living things. There was no way to express the way their minds worked. Even communication was trying. It was to this end that the Quintessence recreated itself, being born anew into a new physical form so that it could communicate with ordinary beings. That¡¯s when it all went wrong. Thousands of years ago the one who controlled the Sumeru of this universe experienced a schism. Two distinct wills emerged; one that felt the Quintessence should not resist the call of the void, and another that held the Quintessence should be reborn. This intense dispute coalesced into two separate minds. That was when the God King and Demon King were born. But Demon or God, both were fragments of the Quintessence. Merely manifestations of opposing desires. This schism fractured the Quintessence and its power. In the early days, the God King and Demon King didn¡¯t even realize this truth. They existed in their respective bodies, acting in accordance with their individual wills like a schizophrenic. So it continued until their conflict enveloped the universe and the two became mortal enemies. You could say the Demon King and God Kings were twins. Because of their incomplete state they could not again become one. The God King did not know if there were other Quintessence like itself, who had split and were locked in an internal war. If so, then the Demon King and God King phenomena was not an exception. Perhaps in every universe there were two fragments of one whole in conflict, the same scenario playing out again and again with different results across the multiverse. Cloudhawk recovered from his trance. It was a brief meditation, a few moments only, but it was a staggering instant of enlightenment. What were these spirits really? These Quintessences? What was the unifying theory behind Sumeru and its kings? His superficial understanding didn¡¯t provide an answer, much less any insight into the core consciousness of these beings. Among the memories he was given were visions of the Quintessence before its birth, memories neither Cloudhawk nor even the spirit itself fully grasped. Such incredible complexity. Even the smallest fraction was enough to overwhelm the greatest minds of the universe. The God King spoke in even tones. ¡°Now you understand why you are so special.¡± ¡°A Quintessence controls space, time and the laws of the universe. I¡¯m just a man¡­ but I have the same abilities as you spirits. So you think I¡¯m your answer.¡± ¡°Just so. Countless years of waiting ¨C you are what we have all been searching for. Your form can be copied, mind body and soul, to give birth to new Quintessences. You can save us all from extinction.¡± Cloudhawk still had trouble comprehending why this mighty being coveted the soul of an ordinary human. Since the first time he took hold of an artifact he learned that he was beyond constraints, but he didn¡¯t think it was anything special. Yet in the eyes of the Quintessence, it meant everything. Besides the spirits themselves no other species across all the multiverse possessed the power to change cosmic law. In the face of a Quintessence Cloudhawk¡¯s strength was laughably minute. But it had nothing to do with strength. He was the product of that greatest of things, around since the dawn of all. He was destiny¡¯s child. Book 8, Chapter 35 - Just a Tes Book 8, Chapter 35 - Just a Tes t ¡°Is this the truth? Of everything?¡± Cloudhawk had suspected a lot of this, but even when everything was laid out before him it was still hard to believe. It was incredible that the diminutive struggle of their small planet was being played out across all corners of every universe. It turned out this was a true, existential disaster to all life. A desperate struggle for self-preservation on a super-cosmic scale. The emergence of gods and demons, their brutal war, was all a product of this eons-long search. In all that time of wide-scale experimentation, Cloudhawk was the sole creature to exhibit true divine potential. They key component the Quintessence needed to avoid returning to the void. So everything¡­ everything was because of him? All the millions of lives lost and civilizations destroyed just to find him? When Cloudhawk saw it for what it was he had to stop himself from laughing at how ridiculous it all seemed. ¡°So you see how important you are to us, to everything. All of those sacrifices were unnecessary. What has occurred cannot be reversed, but you can stop what will come.¡± The God King¡¯s voice continued to invade his thoughts. It bore a bewitching sort of allure. ¡°Offer your spirit. Contribute everything you are, a sacrifice so that all sacrifices might end. In exchange countless civilizations will rise, peace will reign across the multiverse, countless lost spirits will be absolved and order will be returned.¡± Cloudhawk was in a trance. For the first time in a long time he was at a loss. Maybe the God King was right. All of this war and slavery and sacrifice could be avoided. If Cloudhawk gave himself up. He was shaken to his roots. Cloudhawk didn¡¯t know what he was doing all of this for anymore. He had shouldered all the responsibility, led his men into battle. He witnessed the world in its sordid state and took in its devastation. None of it was supposed to happen. He could make it all stop. Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t some savior. He didn¡¯t think he had the power to save every civilization across space and time. But maybe he could bring it all grinding to a halt. Maybe that button had always been in his hand. ¡°One final sacrifice. In comparison to all the suffering that could be, is it not a small price? Do you not hear the cries of lament from every corner of every universe? Do you not feel the suffering you cause to your planet and all others? Why do you hesitate!¡± This captivating power continued to tug at him. He slowly raised his weapon and stared at the dark, smooth blade. Maybe he was right¡­ Maybe if he killed himself here it would all stop. Humans desires and values were so insignificant in the face of it all. If one death meant hundreds lived it might be controversial to some. But if that one life equaled thousands, millions, billions of others? God King went on. ¡°Your friends, companions and soldiers are all at war in Sumeru. With every passing second more lives are lost. The only one who can stop all of this, is you.¡± ¡°I refuse!¡± Cloudhawk allowed his arm to drop. Scarlet eyes behind a hideous mask turned again to the Quintessence. The confusion was all gone. ¡°Don¡¯t waste anymore effort, God King. I will not let your kind succeed.¡± As he spoke Cloudhawk felt a vast and invisible power grow. It filled the space and the flow of time froze solid. Was the God King finally going to make his move? An attack with the power of time? Once the God King froze time in this area he could theoretically freeze everything. Energy, matter, or any change in space was affected because everything required the passage of time. Was this it? The last act, to defeat the God King? Cloudhawk had been struggling toward this moment for so, so long. Light flashed from his left eye and the area around him rippled like water. Where this vortex touched time flowed anew. Their conflict had become a war for time. You could describe time around Cloudhawk like a frozen sheet of ice and Cloudhawk himself as an icebreaker vessel. By virtue of pure force he withstood the God King¡¯s grip, charging forward to launch his attack. ¡°Your mastery of time remains feeble.¡± ¡°Maybe feeble, but obviously strong enough to fight back!¡± Cloudhawk was drawing closer to the God King. The Quintessence continued to strengthen its dominion over time, forcing a sudden surge. Meanwhile Cloudhawk continued to wield his own power in opposition, forcing time to remain stable in his vicinity. Godslayer lashed out. Though still at a distance, Godslayer¡¯s bite traversed space and found purchase in the God King¡¯s form. The dark blade ran him through. But no defenses? No evasion? Cloudhawk was taken aback by the lack of resistance. He knew his opponent to be far stronger than this. His opponent¡¯s form gradually began to fade. As it did, a thought wormed its way into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°I wait in Sumeru.¡± The link they shared was severed. He retreated from this illusory space and when his senses returned, he was in a familiar place. The landing platform within the subspace cube. Portals were opened to Sumeru. The invasion was in progress. ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± Nerves ran high. They were about to go where no other soul had tread. The origins of the gods who had imprisoned them for so long. No one knew what awaited them on the other side. ¡°With me! Charge!¡± Haborym¡¯s demonic voice growled over the din. He took the lead, both hands wrapped on the haft of his terrible battleaxe. He was first to cross the threshold, not a ripple to mark his passage. Thousands of metallic bodies, clutching tight to their weapons, marched onto the second landing platform. Like a ravenous maw it swallowed them all up. Cloudhawk looked at Selene. She looked back. With a smile and a small nod, she drew Sublime Transcendence from her back and dashed through the first portal. He figured it out after a second. Cloudhawk¡¯s conflict with the God King hadn¡¯t been real, but it wasn¡¯t right to call it an illusion either. Their battle had happened. In the instant he tore open those portals the God King¡¯s power had poured through and into Cloudhawk¡¯s body. Everything he experienced after that had been a trick of time. He felt as though ages had passed, but in reality it¡¯d been less than a fraction of a second. No one nearby had any inkling anything had happened. And all the while the God King sat upon his throne in Sumeru, never moving. What Cloudhawk had battled was a projection through time. Was there no limit to this monster¡¯s power? Cloudhawk still somewhat underestimated his foe, but when the arrow was knocked it must fly. He had to pass through the portal. The real fight was ahead. Book 8, Chapter 36 - Second Time Around Book 8, Chapter 36 - Second Time Around Cloudhawk¡¯s forces poured into Sumeru. Nothing stood in their way and ¨C at least so far ¨C the invasion was progressing without issue. Selene was prepared for anything once she got to the other side, but what she did not expect was a lack of resistance. Nothing stood in the way of her soldiers, no danger was there to meet them. It felt less like the lair of the gods and more like an empty nest. Of course it was anything but empty. When she looked closely she spied slight distortions in the area around them, just in time to watch enormous warships emerge. Below them scores of divine soldiers marched into view, lined up neatly in their divisions. And yet, for some reason, they did not attack. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°They were ready for us. Why aren¡¯t they attacking?¡± Selene, Phoenix, Frost and the others looked at the unsettling scene. It filled them with dread ¨C and not just them, but every division of the invading army was treated to the same welcome. So it seemed the gods had accurately predicted their arrival, down to the smallest detail. For instance, the concentration of soldiers was stronger near where Gehenna¡¯s forces had entered by a large margin. The God King knew they were coming and with what strength. He had laid out the red carpet and simply waited for his enemies to waltz in, like fish into the net. Although their total numbers were minimal, especially when compared with the whole of Sumeru¡¯s strength, however that was not to say it was weak by any measure. Each warrior was an agent of destruction and with their advanced gear there was certain to be a terrible cost in lives when fighting broke out. But for now at least, they didn¡¯t move a muscle. They let a perfect opportunity to catch their visitors by surprise go to waste. Instead they floated in air, perfect figures encased in resplendent armor like statues, serving vigil. But whatever the situation, humanity had come with its allies for a purpose and there was no turning back. ¡°Attack! Kill the false gods!¡± It was the second division that took hostile action first. Lights burst from ships, hundreds of hypersonic missiles that raced for the enemy¡¯s front lines. Their bombs tore across Sumeru at dozens of times the speed of sound to deliver their nuclear payload. Boom! Boom-boom! Boom! Explosions began to rock the divine city. Sumeru was rife with structures ordinary mortals couldn¡¯t understand. But whatever they were made of or however they remained standing, whether they were military or civilian, they were all targets. The unknown was dangerous, so everything had to be torn down to its foundations. Mushroom clouds choked the skies. A storm of light and heat blanketed Sumeru. All manner of buildings and strange devices were devoured by nuclear rage. The fierce energy plowed through the defenses of their enemies. Was that it? Was it really so easy? By the look of things Sumeru was much more fragile than anticipated. The results of this opening salvo were reported to first and second division. By now all their forces were through the portals. The bubble-dimension of Sumeru was a strange place, with distorted areas of space and upended gravity. But the soldiers hand-picked to fight this war were not ordinary grunts, they were skilled enough that the unfriendly environment would not impede their ability to fight. Selene¡¯s voice roared over the sound of nuclear fallout. ¡°Attack!¡± Fervent roars answered, mixed with the sound of warship cannons and heavy artillery. The whole strength of the invading army was unleashed. The soldiers had all been ready for this instant and reacted to the enemy¡¯s exposed home. Sumeru was operating with limited defenses, with the bulk of its army on the warpath. All three divisions went to work. Although the first round of attacks didn¡¯t reach the divine army itself, it did clear away much of the obstacles in the way. Bloodlust infected humanity¡¯s forces and they prepared to advance. But before the order was given, some began to notice something unusual. ¡°Hold! Something isn¡¯t right! The buildings¡­ they¡¯re repairing themselves!¡± The message was quickly passed along. With shocked expressions the soldiers watched as twisted and blackened structures warped back to their original shape. It took only a handful of seconds for their opening salvo to be undone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Again! Fire again!¡± Another round of missiles was sent across the city, but once again the damage was repaired. Nothing they did seemed to be permanent. Even if nothing remained of a target it popped back into being a few moments later. In no more than a minute the work of hundreds of nuclear warheads disappeared, like it had never happened. Impossible! They watched it happen. Volley after volley of missiles, striking objectives. How could all of that destruction just be reversed? It was strange, as though this place had a set total of mass that could not be altered. And not just quantity, but distribution. It all defied being changed. In other words, Sumeru was impossible to destroy. Surprise and alarm flit through the rebel ranks. If this was so then it was a sort of passive weapon to confound invaders. Once set, nothing could be changed. All the effort and materials they put into their attack was useless and made no permanent change. It was at this time that Sumeru¡¯s armies began to act. Warships opened firing ports and the black bore of psi-cannons emerged. Scores of terrible weapons sparked to life and laid into the invading force. Why choose now to attack, though? Had they just been waiting for all their prey to stumble into the net? ¡°Attack! Move forward!¡± A fierce exchange between god and man commenced. Sumeru¡¯s soldiers were few in number but individually powerful. Many were Supremes and could not be underestimated. Only Gehenna¡¯s soldiers could hold the line against such an enemy. The other two divisions immediately began to suffer heavy casualties. The psi-cannons were fully charged. Each one contained tremendous mental power. Almost nothing could withstand a direct shot, unless it possessed equally potent strength. Cloudhawk reacted at just the right moment. Ominous distortion appeared before the barrels just as they released their payload. As though firing randomly through a refractor, their blasts lanced off in all directions. Some slammed into the divine forces themselves, evaporating anything they came into contact with. Hundreds of gods were eliminated in the blink of an eye. ¡°Close the distance! Our weapons can¡¯t match theirs, if we don¡¯t get in close they¡¯ll tear us to shreds!¡± All three divisions tore into their foes, using everything in their arsenal to exact as much punishment as they could. The frightening exchange of energy enveloped Sumeru and all those within it. Legion spoke directly into Cloudhawk¡¯s mind. ¡°My King, we don¡¯t have the forces to keep up this fight for long.¡± Cloudhawk had already recognized a number of factors. For instance, the structures here could not be destroyed. Its buildings and defensive installations were unconquerable. Even their soldiers were being supported by some unseen force. In less than fifteen minutes, all the losses they¡¯d suffered were brought back. Yes, even the soldiers that were completely destroyed by the psi-cannons were resurrected, even if there was nothing left of them. It was like fighting an immortal army. Was that the reality? Were the defenders of Sumeru as immortal as the city they protected? If that was the case then Cloudhawk could have brought a hundred ¨C a thousand more troops than he had and they would still be useless. ¡°These gods can¡¯t be killed. They¡¯re surrounded by a region of distorted time that reverses when they¡¯ve been attacked. The core of that power has to be the God King.¡± Legion gave his assessment to Cloudhawk. ¡°We have to push through to their leader, otherwise we¡¯re doomed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with him.¡± ¡°Go with the Elders. They will be of use.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t waste time. Using his spatial powers he tore open a portal, gathered the demons and prepared to step through into the heart of Sumeru. It was risky, but until the God King was dealt with there was no way to stop the divine army from regenerating. They were damned unless something changed. Whatever the cost, Cloudhawk had to put an end to his nemesis before his own forces were wiped out. Book 8, Chapter 37 - Confronting the God King Book 8, Chapter 37 - Confronting the God King Dozens of demon Elders rallied with Cloudhawk to make the assault. Among them were Legion, Korath, Haborym and Belial. They would travel through the portal from the outreaches of Sumeru to it¡¯s center-most point. This dimension was a place without gravity. Huge unidentified objects floated all around like a loose collection of islands. They each released waves of intense energy. Sumeru was constantly undergoing changes as time reversed damage from the war. These devices are what kept the process going. They were all suspended around a massive column of light reaching up from the center of the city. No reference existed to differentiate up from down, so the scores of dark figures that appeared were scattered all around the islands. The Elders did not expect to slip so easily into the most sacred part of Sumeru. It was said here was where Sumeru controlled all the gods across the universe. As the most important part of their society it should be well defended. How strong was the God King? Even now Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have a real answer.. He wasn¡¯t confident of his chances but still charged forth without hesitation. He was like a gambler, putting all his chips on one hand and praying for a lucky draw. This was their only chance for survival. The Elders scanned the area carefully. There were no soldiers here or defenses of any kind. Only a single figure, alone among the light and islands. Belial¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°That¡¯s-¡± ¡°Yes, the God King.¡± Korath¡¯s tone was bleak. The Fifth Seal¡¯s eyes were fixed on their enemy. ¡°He plans to defend the heart of Sumeru by himself. The God King¡¯s arrogance knows no bounds!¡± Cloudhawk had encountered this entity before, in the world of illusion. Now was their first time meeting face to face. On the surface there wasn¡¯t much to distinguish the King from his people, other than he was a little taller. He cut an imposing figure, clad in the silver and white armor typical of his race as though wrapped in jade. Although he might not look much different from the others, there was no question that the stuff of this being was anything but similar to the puppets he commanded. He was a Quintessence, born from the nothingness between realities. This being before them was a result of the split that fractured its personality. A Quintessence did not have a physical body. Their composition was not something mortal minds could describe or understand. Beyond an innate ability to alter matter, it also had the power to manipulate the uncontrollable. Any Quintessence was a prophet, able to wield time and space with a thought. ¡°Here we are. Finally, the moment we have anticipated for so long.¡± The God King¡¯s thoughts were transmitted to all of them. ¡°You are an excellent specimen. Only one final step is needed to achieve perfection.¡± ¡°What¡¯s missing,¡± Cloudhawk challenged. ¡°Defeating me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s fix that, then.¡± Their exchange lasted a fraction of a second. In the next instant, the God King released a power that galvanized Sumeru¡¯s most basic essence. His will spread rapidly across the area and enveloped everyone nearby. Gehenna¡¯s denizens had only heard tales of this mystical power over time. No demon that ever faced the God King survived, any help in combating his abilities died with them. ¡°Be wary, in this place time is entirely under his command.¡± Legion growled the warning. ¡°While in his domain he is invincible, we are helpless.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t need Legion to tell him how precarious their situation was. What they called the Time Domain was an area of space flooded with the God King¡¯s power. Here, the flows of time were subject to his every whim. With a thought time could speed up, slow down, stop or flow backwards. In the event Cloudhawk and his allies managed to kill the God King, their foe could simply will it to be undone. They would be brought right back to the start of the conflict. Unless one¡¯s mind was powerful enough, it wasn¡¯t just time that would reverse. Even memories and thought would be restored. This meant that so long as the domain was maintained, nothing could destroy the God King. But his attacks could pass through time. That is to say he might miss with an attack at one point, but if someone were to pass through the area where the attack happened, they might suddenly be struck by what happened in the past- or future. The God King¡¯s attacks existed in all times, a trap waiting to be sprung that there was no defense against. ¡°It is time. Show me what potential I can extract. Show me that you are truly ready to become the child of destiny.¡± The God King¡¯s form split into two, then four, and continued until there was a legion of him. This wasn¡¯t some trick or illusion. Each copy was real, and soon there were hundreds ready to attack. Suddenly all the demon Elders felt their hope dwindling. What was this? Real duplication! Cloudhawk could see through the deception. This wasn¡¯t duplication, but mirror images pulled through moments in time. By manipulating flows he gathered instances of himself from other ¡®whens¡¯ and brought them to the ¡®present.¡¯ A way to fight across time and space. Cloudhawk remembered the first time he encountered the God King. It was an exchange that occurred from a distance of one thousand years. The God King was able to kill something a full millennia in the future. This wasn¡¯t something mortals could understand, much less contend against. But such was the God King¡¯s power. ¡°Here I come!¡± The God King appeared suddenly among the demons. Each iteration wielded a semi-translucent blade composed of time-energy that ignored armor or psychic defenses, for nothing could resist the erosion of time. One of the Elders was caught off guard and the sword was buried in their gut. In an instant, they disintegrated into dust. Legion¡¯s cold voice rang in their minds. ¡°Keep him tied down, don¡¯t let him strike you!¡± For all the God King¡¯s strength, his power was not infinite. He was constantly resurrecting Sumeran forces in combat outside while also at war with Gehenna¡¯s Elders and their Demon King. IT was a lot to manage at once. Most of the God King¡¯s reflections were headed his way. As scores of shimmering swords closed in he felt space warp, as though falling into a bottomless abyss of time. The God King¡¯s weapon attacked through the power of time. If it struck, every atom in every cell was transported billions of years into the future. This universe was only ten billion years old, and there was no living thing that could outlive the cosmos. In the passage of such extreme lengths of time, all the stars in all the universe would extinguish and grow dark. Book 8, Chapter 38 - The Nature of the Universe Book 8, Chapter 38 - The Nature of the Universe The God King¡¯s temporal copies continued to expand through his domain. Each one attacked with the indomitable power of time behind them. So long as the area was suffused with his power, the God King¡¯s dominance was absolute. He could tailor the flows of time to his whims. His swords, weapons made of time, could eliminate any living thing they touched and cause any hostile energy to wither. Where it passed the flows of time rippled like churning waters. It¡¯s static, forward flow was now chaotic and unpredictable. Erratic changes in time caused space to ripple. The whole world was a twisted representation of reality. Unless one¡¯s body was tough enough, their will strong, their spirit firm, they would succumb to these turbulent currents. Effects on the body were dramatic and intense, enough to throw every cell into upheaval. Even Cloudhawk had to focus all his effort on not being ripped apart. The God King was invincible. He was master of time, plucking it the way a musician plucked a guitar string. He reversed it as it pleased it, stopped it to foil attacks, forced it to do what he wished. Myriad were his tools to diffuse the strength of his enemies. Time, when wielded in battle, was an insurmountable power. Cloudhawk¡¯s first instinct was to try and buy them some time, strange as that sounded. Mighty though their foe was, commanding time came at a price even for the God King. Sumeru¡¯s leader battled the Demon King and Gehenna¡¯s elders, but also supported his armies battling on the outskirts of the city. By all rights he would become exhausted eventually and no longer maintain his dominant stance. However¡­ Cloudhawk quickly discovered his assumptions were wrong. The God King was more dangerous than he knew. Here in Sumeru, his powers were greatly empowered. Not only were his attacks without flaw, they were also getting stronger. With the power of the Eye of Time Cloudhawk managed to peer through time just enough to keep himself alive. He couldn¡¯t find any opening to fight back. Another demon Elder was felled by the temporal blade. The God King¡¯s doubles continued to increase. Legion and the others were not the Quintessence¡¯s primary target, but they were still struggling to keep up. Two more demons were vanquished in an instant. Beyond the immediate challenges Cloudhawk also had to fear the erratic change in the rate of time here. What if time in the domain was ten times faster than outside? A hundred times? While he was fighting the God King here, the war outside could be going on for days or more. If that were true the rest of Sumeru¡¯s forces would have plenty of time to come back and offer reinforcements. Under the power of the God King, his soldiers were effectively immortal. No force in this universe or any other could defeat an army like this. Defeat was only a matter of time, and time was entirely under their foe¡¯s control. Dozens of temporal blades cut through the void. Their target wasn¡¯t Cloudhawk, though. Instead they released a deluge of energy that churned time into a chaotic storm. Even different pockets of his mind were experiencing time differently. A normal man would have gone mad, but Cloudhawk was able to disassociate his mind from this and maintain a grip on sanity. Yet the God King¡¯s power was ubiquitous. It flows into any opening and could not be avoided. If Cloudhawk didn¡¯t find some way to fight back, he and everyone fighting with him would die in this place. Here in this extreme circumstance, he sensed more clearly the power and opportunity of time. Cloudhawk possessed a small talent for manipulating time, though it wasn¡¯t much to speak of. Without the medium of his Eye he could exert minimal control, but this was useless in the face of his enemy. The bottom line was he simply didn¡¯t understand the power well enough. Time was one of the cosmos¡¯ most mysterious powers. There were three cardinal powers of the universe; time, space and matter. Three fundamental elements whose nature was closely related. Time. Space. Matter. Each unique, yet irrevocably connected. Without time, there was no change in space or matter ¨C no growth, birth, evolution or decline. Without space, the mode within which time and matter operated would cease to be. And without matter time and space would lose all reference, and mean nothing. Time. Space. Matter. Together they made the universe and its most basic laws. Ordinarily there were no living things with the power to tamper with these elements, for if they could they would be masters of the universe. They could bend the laws of reality as they wished. That was what the Quintessences were. Indeed it was because that magnificent race could wield these elements that they were able to traverse whole realities. Laws of the universe were decoded directly at the source, adapted as needed. Cloudhawk knew where the God King came from. A spirit of the nothingness between places, but incomplete. After his schism the perfect spirit became marred. That was the opening, their opportunity to break his supremacy. He needed to command a power that overrode even time. The complete force of universal law that a true Quintessence brandished. If Cloudhawk was really this child of destiny, if he was really supposed to become the new breed of Quintessence, then it wasn¡¯t impossible. He knew himself and the power he wielded, no relic was beyond his control and that meant he ruled matter. After absorbing the Demon King¡¯s experiences and memories, space was his to command. Time. Space. Matter. Of the three elements only his grasp of time was lacking. If Cloudhawk wanted to defeat the God King and crack his hold on reality, he would need to take a risk. Dozens of temporal blades were tearing his way. In a move that stunned all the demon Elders, he summoned all his strength into his Eye of Time and overloaded it. It was wholly ruined and without it as a medium, Cloudhawk¡¯s powers of time were harshly limited. Certainly not capable of protecting him from the God King¡¯s attacks. The sword drew closer to the young Demon King. Cloudhawk gave up everything to the hands of fate. A gamble built on sudden instinct. Book 8, Chapter 39 - Final Evolution Book 8, Chapter 39 - Final Evolution To control time, Cloudhawk had to understand time. What sort of creature could control time more perfectly than a Quintessence? The God King was a spirit that existed beyond the multiverse. An avatar of time, one with it! Cloudhawk didn¡¯t have the luxury to learn these mysteries at his own pace. His only path forward was a desperate risk, to face the strongest dangers that time possessed in order to grasp all that it meant. He had to trust in himself, that he would not be so easily struck down by his enemy. A dozen temporal blades bite into the young Demon King¡¯s body. In that moment Cloudhawk felt the God King¡¯s essence dissipate. His domain vanished. The demons, Sumeru¡­ everything was swallowed up by a perfect nothingness. A host of semi-translucent blades jutted from him, glowing with power. Their power hung over him in an egg-shaped shell. Inside was a realm of only time. Here there was no matter or space, no light or temperature. Nothing, except time. Cloudhawk could only float inside and let the flows pass through him. An hour. A day. A month. Here he remained, sealed, but conscious of every passing second. There was no hunger or thirst to worry over, not that it would be possible to get any in this place without matter. A mortal thing would die quickly in this stasis, but Cloudhawk was supported by the Demon King¡¯s Cuirass. It would not let him die. He was lucid, but it was the only part of him that functioned. His body would not move, his powers were meaningless. All he could do was be here and feel every moment and time stretched on without end. Was this how the God King¡¯s ¡®temporal sword¡¯ worked? He¡¯d watched a number of demon Elders turn to dust when struck. But while it seemed like just an instant to him, the truth was far more cruel. Victims were flung into a cage of time just like the sort he was in now. Time stretched¡­ and stretched¡­ and stretched until the body completely broke down. To the world outside it all happened in the blink of an eye, but to the target it was a tortuous eternity. Millions, even billions of years. Even the most tenacious being eventually succumbs to the passage of time. The youngest and most brilliant stars lose their spark at some point. No possibility existed to escape from this ruthless damnation. As the God King¡¯s blade¡¯s struck their power was unleashed. Unless an even greater power was used to reverse this temporal prison, the victim was condemned to suffering every second of their long decline. Were any other creature in Cloudhawk¡¯s place they would not retain their power of thought once locked in the shell. Their bodies and souls would erode over time and disappear. Thanks to Cloudhawk¡¯s evolved constitution and his talent for spatial power, he was able to keep his wits. But this was not necessarily a good thing. If he failed to free himself he would be forced to experience himself slowly wither and decay. An unimaginable loneliness, an emptiness he could never escape. An eternity of static solitude without anyone or anything to interact with. It was like digging one¡¯s brain out and throwing it alive into the vast nothingness of space. No consciousness could suffer such torment. Cloudhawk continued to feel the flows of time. Over a month passed like this, by then he was growing tired. Two months passed, second by agonizing second. Three months. Four months. Five¡­. A year. Two years. Three years¡­ His resolve began to crumble. To be stuck for so long¡­ Time marched on, stable and unending. The minutes continued to add up without fail until it all blended together until there was only numbness. At some point he realized he had lost the ability to measure how many years had passed. About as long as he¡¯d been alive, or so he figured. He¡¯d experienced so much in his thirty years. Even counting the crawling time within his sub-space cube, Cloudhawk wasn¡¯t more than thirty years old before his fight with the God King. That seemed right, that twenty or thirty years had passed since then. He couldn¡¯t speak in this prison. Couldn¡¯t move. Not a single finger. To even twitch a muscle seemed like an impossible dream. All this time the temporal swords continued to emit their power. Cloudhawk remained aware through it all. He knew these last thirty years were a drop in the bucket for all the rest of eternity he would spend in this cage. A man of weaker will would have gone insane long ago. But he didn¡¯t give up. From the very beginning he focused on learning the mysteries of time. Isolation gave him all the time he needed to study its secrets. He knew now the nature of its flow. Once he began to understand, microscopic fractures began to appear in a handful of the temporal blades holding him here. These infinitesimally small cracks gave him hope. He could do it. He could beat this curse. So he continued to pay attention to the time as it ticked by, it¡¯s energies and laws, and as time built upon time he came to understand it better. The cracks in the swords spread, deepened. In a few years he felt he finally had what he needed. Time to go. It started with his hands. Ever so slightly his fingers started to twitch. At an agonizingly slow pace he raised his left hand and pale white spatial energy was released. From his right hand, the silvery power of time emerged. These were the elements; his left had commanded space, his right hand time, and his body was matter. Without any material reference the flow of time was meaningless. Without matter as a scaffold space was nothing. All three aspects of the universe were interdependent. Introducing them back into this solitary extreme, Cloudhawk could break the shackles of time holding him. If he could harness the most basic laws of reality then reality could never harm him! He was ready. Cloudhawk brought his hands together. In that instant a shock wave of fundamental essence was released from his body. The blades buried within him shattered and his prison collapsed. Cloudhawk was deposited back into the heart of Sumeru with his allies. In his mind it was a trial that had lasted decades. A grueling marathon test of will. Yet to the demon Elders it appeared the God King¡¯s temporal blades had shattered upon impacting with their leader. How? Such terrible power, ignored! Was their leader immune to the attacks of their foe? The God King attacked again, yet the blades of time dissolved in his grasp before they could form. The Quintessence and Legion both recognized the change in Cloudhawk. His aura was different, like he was floating somewhere just outside of the universe and yet still a part of it. Cloudhawk had lost an eye, but he saw more now than ever before. He saw everything in its most basic elements. Reality was a weave of strings, humming at different frequencies. They intertwined to create existence. Cloudhawk¡¯s interventions were no longer constrained to dancing across the surface of these threads, rather he was like a man rewriting the code of the universe. Any outcome he desired was realized with a thought. Reality was just a computer program. It was made up of cells or units; space, time, matter, souls, psyche, life ¨C lines of code which he could erase or amend on a whim. He was in control of the root, not a master of it but able to change it as he pleased. If he wished, he could change the underlying laws of this universe. In theory there was nothing he wasn¡¯t capable of. ¡°At last... the new Quintessence arises.¡± The God King and Legion knew what this moment meant. Cloudhawk¡¯s evolution was complete. He had emerged as a primordial spirit of creation. A true god in its infancy, but a god nonetheless. What he had become, no other creature of ¡®god¡¯ could assume. No matter how strong the being or advanced their technology, or however potent their energies, in the eyes of a true god they were insignificant. In the eyes of a true god they were motes of code easily tampered with. He was unequivocally omnipotent and all powerful. The God King and the Grand Elder were conflicted. They had both waited for this moment for a long time. This was the fruit of their efforts. Book 8, Chapter 40 - True God Book 8, Chapter 40 - True God No mortal could oppose a true god! It was an unbreakable law, a strict impossibility. Gods, humans, demons ¨C these were flesh and blood, mortal races only. Only a true god could fight a true god. Only the laws of the universe could combat the fundamental nature of reality. The Demon King and God King as they existed before, were fragments of a true Quintessence. From the instant of their schism they became imperfect. Their power was incomplete. Both wielded a portion of cosmic elements, neither were whole. Thus, they were mortal. What did power in the hands of a mortal mean in the face of true supremacy? What difference did absolute strength make against one who could rewrite the laws of the universe? Even if one wielded the power to extinguish galaxies in a single breath, this power was meaningless to a true god. They existed on different planes of existence, comparison was impossible. Cloudhawk¡¯s understanding of these powers was in its infancy, but it was still enough to combat this King. His first act was to correct the chaotic flows of time. The demon Elders and Cloudhawk were all free from the impregnable domain of the God King. Their enemy¡¯s inexhaustible powers and temporal copies all vanished. What remained was a lone figure, the God King as he existed in the present. Upon seeing this Legion issued a command to the surviving demon Elders. ¡°Fall back. You cannot help with this fight.¡± They welcomed the order. The God King¡¯s power had shaken them to their core and they likely would not have survived for much longer. An obvious gulf existed between their king and the lord of Sumeru. Except, suddenly there had been a change. The demons weren¡¯t sure what happened just now, but a shift had overcome Cloudhawk that changed him completely. Now he could dispel the God King¡¯s power with the ease of waving off a fly. Obviously, this conflict was beyond their ability to influence so they placed their hopes in the Demon King. The God King viewed this change with indifference. His resplendent armor shone with mysterious power and a temporal storm exploded forth. It washed over Cloudhawk and formed into tens of thousands of shimmering swords. Scores of temporal blades hacked at him. Cloudhawk simply watched them come. As they smashed into him the weapons of condensed time simply ceased to exist. Such an attack exacted a heavy toll on the God King, but it cost Cloudhawk nothing to resist it. With a thought he adjusted the rules of space and time around himself to eliminate the threat. The blades struck him with all the force of a gentle breeze. Shocked expressions marred the faces of the Elders as they looked on. The God King¡¯s attacks were useless! The God King tried to peer into time, to predict Cloudhawk¡¯s next move. Only he discovered that, from the moment Cloudhawk grasped the laws of the universe, his prophetic vision was robbed from him. He could no longer see the future of Sumeru, or what Cloudhawk would do next. Changes to the code made it impossible to follow the flows of time anymore. He reached out his hands and a spear shot forth from his palms. Energies contained inside were intense and palpable. The Demon King as he had existed a moment ago would surely have been overwhelmed by it. Indeed there were precious few in any universe capable of withstanding the God King¡¯s spear. Cloudhawk saw everything. In his eyes all energy was the same, regardless of complexity or strength. The God King¡¯s spear of condensed time was a string of code, nothing more. Everything in the universe was just strings of information, bits of universal data. The so-called universe itself was just a mathematical model of variables put together in infinite combinations. It was like code running through a computer system. If you could read the program you could understand how it all worked, even annihilate and create information out of thin air. Cloudhawk reached out with a hand and took hold of the spear. To him it wasn¡¯t a spear in his hand, merely a brief ripple of information. He picked away at its structure and decompressed the data. Stability was infected with chaos and the spear dissolved away before everyone¡¯s eyes. Cloudhawk was truly invincible, no matter what attacks were thrown his way. Cloudhawk could be as small and frail as an ant, but in mastering the laws of the universe a hundred thousand nuclear bombs were nothing. Unskilled though he was, against a single mortal his understanding was sufficient. ¡°Are you confident in your grasp on time?¡± Cloudhawk weaved together time into a cone shape. It didn¡¯t look especially powerful ¨C at least not to the God King. He could summon hundreds of these cones. But the truth was he could summon countless barriers and none could stop the attack that was to come, for it was encoded with the laws of everything. It was separate from this reality and did not obey the limitations of this universe. When he released it the cone burst through the God King¡¯s defenses and directly into his body. Time froze. However much he tried to reverse the flow it would not obey him. He remained conscious, however, and watched Cloudhawk slowly approach. Cloudhawk looked at the God King, a collection of shifting data points. He didn¡¯t completely understand it with his amatuer capabilities, but he knew enough to change it. ¡°You have lost.¡± The God King neither acknowledged nor denied this. ¡°But your fight has only just begun.¡± Reaching out a hand, Cloudhawk pushed it into the God King¡¯s body. He adjusted the fragmented Quintessence on a fundamental level, introducing inconsistencies into the data. All the strings of information that made up his mind, spirit, and even thought began to unravel. No more complete destruction existed in all the multiverse. The God King had lost. It was certain. Despite his name the God King was no true god. But unfortunately for him, his opponent now was. Cloudhawk was preparing to erase the God King from this existence and all others when something expected occurred. The data model that was the ¡®God King¡¯ began to leak, as though something was sucking it away. Cloudhawk¡¯s attention was drawn toward the leak. The power released by his foe was coalescing in another location not far away. Very close in fact ¨C within Legion¡¯s body. ¡°What¡­ ?¡± He saw the data that comprised the Grand Elder begin to modify itself. A strange shift not unlike the sort he had just undergone. Legion regarded these events with calm detachment, almost as though he knew it would happen. ¡°You are the one chosen by destiny. From the birth of the universe, it was your responsibility to shoulder the burden of resurrecting our race.¡± Cloudhawk waved his hand, releasing a wave of elemental power. But upon striking Legion it was harmlessly turned away. Book 8, Chapter 41 - Fate Never Changes Book 8, Chapter 41 - Fate Never Changes Cloudhawk examined Legion¡¯s change more closely. It was then he discovered that Legion wasn¡¯t the demon he thought he was. There was something special about him, a quality within his form that ordinary people could not see. Cloudhawk¡¯s vision could pierce the constraints of his fleshy eyes. He saw beyond the physical and into the contents of one¡¯s mind and soul where the essence of what they were was constructed. Legion was an entanglement of massive amounts of data. Contained within him was a trove of data orders of magnitude beyond any god, demon or human. Furthermore, with every passing second that information increased. What made up Legion was spilling out in all directions. Say that the data stored in a demon¡¯s body was one unit of universal information ¨C the equivalent to one kilobyte in a computer. The God King, by comparison, was more akin to ten megabytes. And Legion? Even as Cloudhawk watched he was surpassing a hundred gigabytes. An ordinary mortal thing couldn¡¯t contain so much information. What he saw in Legion was nothing natural. ¡°You have always been another fragment of a Quintessence.¡± Legion hadn¡¯t moved at all until now, when with a wave of his hand the remaining demon elders all dissolved into ash. They all dissipated on the wind as meaningless specks of subatomic material. The data that made them up vanished from the universe. With a mere wave of the hand Legion had erased the leadership of the demon race. It showed the Grand Elder now possessed mastery of universal law, like deleting files from a computer system. His oblivious victims had no way to defend themselves. ¡°The soul of my race is made from time, space and matter. The three elements in harmony.¡± Legion¡¯s brief psychic explanation was enough to reveal the truth. When the Quintessence began its search for destiny¡¯s chosen, this super-intelligent creature began to suffer from confusion and contradictions. He knew that his goal ran in contrast to the natural order. It flew in the face of destiny¡¯s plan. Thus, within itself was born a seed ¨C a seed of rebellion. A Quintessence was a creature of absolutely purity whose form was beyond the grasp of mortals. When these contradictions were introduced, the being could no longer maintain its pure self and experienced a schism. One portion understood that it should not stand in the way of fate, that to condemn billions of other races to death for its own was wrong. The other portion felt that its race deserved to continue. It wanted to live. The clash between these strongly held beliefs is what caused the fracture. From the standpoint of humans and the other races of the cosmos, the former was correct. The quintessence should give up its pursuit of eternal life, submit to the will of destiny and return to the void. The latter fragment of will was not afraid to spit in the face of fate and condemn the universe to oblivion, all to discover the child of destiny and absorb it. A drastic effort to save its species from fading away. All this time Cloudhawk had been wrong. So very, very wrong. It was the God King that represented the righteous will. He was willing to sacrifice himself and his species, taking on the mission of fate. Yes, it¡¯s species was crucial in the dissemination and creation of creative elements, but it should not destroy the civilizations under its protection in service of his own continuation. It was the Demon King would bore the selfish fragment of will. He refused to give up his grip on existence, for him and his people. So he worked tirelessly to destroy one civilization after another in search of destiny¡¯s child. Once it awakened this mote of data could be absorbed, breathing new life into an ancient and worthy race. It wasn¡¯t alone. The desire for survival and continuation was written into the code of all living things. Thus did the strife between two parts of one will persist for untold years. Until at last the inevitable conflict arose a thousand years ago on the surface of Earth. For it was there that piece was discovered, that informosome that was the seed of destiny¡¯s child. For the first time, the two halves of the Quintessence were forced into conflict. One split into two. The first remained loyal to fate and turned his back on his own people. The latter betrayed the natural order and chose to fight tooth and nail for the survival of its species. The first was the God King. The latter was the Demon King. But it was the God King who was the stronger of the two. His demonic counterpart was overcome and fled Sumeru. The Demon King could not flee with the seed. After the schism, neither was it capable of contacting others of its species and beseech their help. All it could do was abscond with this precious information, releasing many of the gods from servitude in the process. Why liberate the gods? Because the God King was stronger, and master of Sumeru. The so-called gods were puppets dancing on strings and if the Demon King could siphon them away, he could establish his own power base while weakening his opponent¡¯s. This was how the demons came to be. The Demon King continued to try and reach out to other Quintessences. But under the oppression of the God King the efforts failed. Eventually the conflict came to a head a thousand years ago during the Great War and the Demon King was destroyed. But that little string of data, that primal seed, persisted. The God King knew that the universe needed a true god and had chosen not to stand in the way of its birth. A millennia of searching and cultivation finally led the seed to a creature. A frail human, born among the ruins of a ravaged Earth. Cloudhawk. This was why, although the God King had countless opportunities to snuff out his life, he chose not to. For all this time the fragment of Quintessence was merely an observer. A foil to judge Cloudhawk¡¯s growth. But the God King underestimated even its own rebellious fragment. Every Quintessence was composed of three elements; time, space and matter. Even after their schism both Kings possessed some measure of these. In fact the Demon King knew his eventual defeat would come. So, he took the part of him that was matter ¨C the smallest most insignificant portion ¨C and infused the first of the demons that he had created. This demon was Legion. Before his death the Demon King repeated this and left a portion of his soul within the Grand Elder. Legion was his King¡¯s most loyal subject and closest friend, but he also more than that ¨C he was in fact the Demon King¡¯s brother. In other words, although on the surface Legion appeared to be like any other demon, he actually bore a piece of the former Demon King. Matter, with a fragment of the will of space. Now that he had absorbed some of the God King he had stolen time ¨C and thus, he was made complete. Suddenly Cloudhawk understood everything. Legion had become a true god, though weakly formed. Within his body was a frail spark of a Quintessence. It did not compare at all to the mature species, but it possessed their power. Power enough to eliminate the fledgling God Cloudhawk had become. ¡°When you were very small I told you once that everyone had their path to follow. There was no escaping it, no matter how one tried. From the instant of your birth destiny had a plan for you ¨C you were the chosen Demon King, and the child of fate. And once you merge with us we will achieve true eternity. ¡°If you really believed in fate you wouldn¡¯t have done any of this,¡± Cloudhawk challenged. ¡°If I really believed in fate I never would have left the wasteland. In the end we¡¯re both fighting against our fate but it¡¯s the hand of destiny that pushes us forward. We¡¯ve never changed it, and it¡¯s never changed us.¡± Legion paused. He was right. No one ever chose their destiny, and destiny didn¡¯t choose its marks. Everything was inevitable. There was no escaping it. Legion said nothing. Time and space roiled around him like a storm, powerful and cunning flows of elemental power that surged toward Cloudhawk. This would be the final battle. A war of two true Gods. Book 8, Chapter 42 - A War of Two True Gods Book 8, Chapter 42 - A War of Two True Gods Cloudhawk and Legion acted at the same time. The scant few demon Elders who still lived were unable to follow what was happening. Until just this instant, their King and the Grand Elder had been close allies. Why, after the God King¡¯s defeat, were they now at each other¡¯s throats? Strangely, they felt no intense energy or contest of strength. Yet every demon ¨C and even the humans and gods locked in battle nearby ¨C felt their collision. It was abstruse, all of Sumeru instantly shifted into a void-space as though it faded from reality and became a dream. These mortals could not comprehend the acts of these two true gods. Neither could they fathom the means in which they fought. Skies were absent the expected flashes of energy and the grounds didn¡¯t shake from impact. It was a confrontation on a higher level. Both men wielded the laws of existence as weapons! A Quintessence was as close to a true God as one could be. If the universe was looked at as a computer system, true Gods were system administrators. They controlled the architecture and bent it to their desires. With a thought they could add, copy, erase or amend any piece of it. This included matter, energy, even souls and life itself. It defied explanation by the physical laws mortality was constrained by. Thus were these beings unbeatable and unkillable. Mortals were powerless against Quintessences. Even if they could rip a star apart with their bare hands, they were still forced to follow the laws of the universe they lived in. All that they were ¨C their spirits and thoughts and bodies ¨C were all pieces of a mathematical model they couldn¡¯t break away from. Cloudhawk and Legion had become more. They could see and change these structures. With the smallest alteration they could make all mortal things crumble away, like a palace built on quicksand. All that they were would be rendered meaningless. In short, everything that obeyed the laws of physics were no threat to a Quintessence because physics obeyed him. Like a harmless amoeba in a petri dish, they couldn¡¯t dream of challenging the scientists that put them there. They were constrained to their fluid, their tiny little world while the scientist could make whatever adjustments they saw fit. Such fragile little things could be wiped out with no effort at all. The two true Gods existed on a different plane. And although inexplicable to mortals, their mode of combat was simple. Grasp the rules of creation and use them to destroy the other! Each man knew what they were fighting against. After their ascension their bodies could be destroyed, their mind and spirit unraveled, but they could not be truly killed. Through mastery of the powers of creation they would merely form anew. It was impossible to completely erase the string of information that made them, a mote of data would always persist. The tiniest bit of data was enough to resurrect the whole. Their battle was two hackers battling for control of the system. With no conventional way to destroy the other, the only path to victory was to wrest command of the rules from the other and delete them entirely. Both fledgling gods had strengths to play on and weaknesses to exploit. Cloudhawk¡¯s handicap was how fresh this power was to him. Limited aptitude was compounded by slightly less ability. So his deficiencies were Legion¡¯s strengths and vice-versa. Legion¡¯s obstacle was his inability to completely eliminate Cloudhawk. The human-turned-god was too important to destroy completely. To do so would be to erase all of the demon¡¯s centuries of effort. Legion couldn¡¯t kill his target, instead he needed to be contained. But Cloudhawk¡¯s hands were not tied. He was unscrupulous in his acts, clawing for any method to make sure Legion was cut from existence. Legion¡¯s will filled the space as though he were the embodiment of cosmic consciousness. ¡°Do not resist, this is a struggle you cannot win. My race has waited for the birth of destiny¡¯s child for countless millennia. Your end was written in the instant of your birth.¡± Cloudhawk didn¡¯t respond. He continued to struggle for supremacy, so that he had enough control to silence his foe for good. But he was losing ground. ¡°If you cannot defeat me how can you hope to defeat my people?¡± Legion¡¯s will spread farther, more potent. ¡°Even if you could, how can you stand against all of my kind? So long as you exist, this universe is in danger of being annihilated.¡± A wave of invisible, primal energy burst forth to envelope a radius of ten thousand meters. Demons Elders who could not flee fast enough let out a piercing scream as cracks appeared from head to toe. With deafening blasts their bodies detonated, the fragments themselves exploding into ever smaller particles until even atoms were ripped apart. All that was left was fragmented pieces of code before even that scattered into nothingness. Absolute death. Nothing more existed of them. Even the most fundamental pieces of existence that were contained within them were deleted. Those demons who still lived were rife with fear. They¡¯d watched their companions die before them, but it wasn¡¯t the death that scared them so. As those elders vanished, gradually all memory of them vanished also. It was as though they had never been! Any part of the universe involving them, from footprints to homes to anything they touched, all was undone. Life smoke on a breeze memories of those elders wafted away from the minds of survivors. Memories were just strings of information. Residuals of the things that created them. For creatures like Legion or Cloudhawk, these remnants were enough to reform. In other words, if even a single being remembered them there remained the tiniest impression. If Cloudhawk was atomized in this conflict, just the memory of him could be used to bring him back to life. Thus to these two true gods life and death were meaningless. They could be changed, reversed, altered and amended. To them there was existence and non-existence. To destroy a thing was not enough. All their data must be removed from the universe¡¯s collective memory. With the complete destruction of the demon Elders, the living ones forgot who they were and all they¡¯d done. From the most fundamental memories they were eliminated and all their influence forgotten. What they were and all they had done was cut out ¨C and not just from those here. All demons, Gehenna, the earth, and all across the universe these collections of data were wholly erased. Everything they ever did, said, touched or interacted with was gone. A violent surge of energy passed through Cloudhawk¡¯s body. He saw fractures begin to appear in his legs and then they broke apart. Legion¡¯s attack had erased a portion of Cloudhawk¡¯s code. ¡°Give in! You have no other choice!¡± Legion¡¯s hysterical command filled the cosmos. Book 8, Chapter 43 - Boiling Poin Book 8, Chapter 43 - Boiling Poin After his legs dissolved, the glowing cracks continued to extend up Cloudhawk¡¯s body. It was a strange sensation. Cloudhawk felt no pain, only his connection to reality weakening. The demon Elders who were erased were casualties of Legion¡¯s assault on Cloudhawk. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time and because of it, they ceased to have ever been. As the new quintessence¡¯s primary target Cloudhawk experienced an intensity one hundred thousand times stronger ¨C a force that would erase those mortals countless times. Yet only a fragment of his data was affected. So far, it did not threaten his existence. He gathered the primal essence into a counter attack. A portion of Cloudhawk was integrated into this fundamental law, searching for a way to delete Legion. In his eyes Legion was a collection of data that flowed like an angry torrent. But there was something¡­ a hole in the center of Legion¡¯s chest. A glow existed in that absence of code. Shards of light that constantly drifted out like water vapor. When he looked closer he saw that the debris was infinitesimal portions of Legion¡¯s essence escaping. It spread out in all directions, forming an ever-increasing network of cracks. Both sides were slowly dissolving into non-existence. The battle escalated to its boiling point in total silence, but no less deadly. As the two wielded the essence of creation against one another, their surroundings were continuously influenced. Anything that crossed the event horizon was deleted. It was like an invisible monster silently devouring everything in its path. Most frightening of all, this was silent and invisible to mortal creatures. Memories of anything that was erased were also eliminated. Belial sensed an incomprehensible field of¡­ something stretching out from their conflict. It frightened him for he did not understand what it was, or what sort of battle was taking place. He couldn¡¯t remember what had happened just moments ago because that period no longer existed. It¡¯d been forcibly erased. All the elders and everything else caught in that field were entirely forgotten. All he knew was that gaping holes existed where he knew there used to be something. His fear came from a fundamental instinct that was screaming out. The war between Legion and Cloudhawk was beyond his capabilities to understand. He couldn¡¯t stay here. He had to run! Belial¡¯s most basic creed had always been self-preservation. He only took part in this doomed venture because Cloudhawk and Legion coerced him to. Now the two fought each other and something terrible was creeping through the world toward him. How could he just stand by? The other elders, sensing the same, all began to fall back. Two were too slow and were caught in the field. Primal powers wrapped them up and in a barbaric but never-remembered execution, they were erased. All traces of them vanished. What horror! A war like this was unheard of, inconceivable! The data that made up a mortal thing erased in an instant so that not even a memory remained. The conflict between Cloudhawk and Legion was reaching its climax. Forces they unleashed on one another were growing stronger and stronger, and the information that made them up was fading fast. But both held out, for indeed the information that made up the two newborn Gods was enormous. Yet they were not evenly matched. Cloudhawk was erased up to his abdomen. Legion¡¯s physical form was also dissipating but at a slower rate. At this rate Cloudhawk would be unraveled and when only a fragment of him was left it would be sealed away. Legion would reach out to the rest of his race and the string of data that was Cloudhawk would be used to restore them. ¡°Do not resist! You are the root of suffering for all the people of this universe! You are the herald of disaster! Do you care nothing for your mortal friends, for the young homeland you have built? If you do, then you must give yourself up!¡± ¡°Sleep, and it all will end!¡± Cloudhawk suffered wave after wave of attacks. His body was rapidly deteriorating, the cracks now creeping up into his chest. Legion¡¯s form was less than half undone. His torso was gone, leaving his head and limbs intact but disconnected. The effect was unsettling to look upon. Both were using the same power, but Cloudhawk had only begun to touch upon this power. Legion, on the other hand, was born from a fragment of a Quintessence and knew these primal powers more intimately. Fighting against him was an arduous and losing battle. It was like a battle between two hackers, vying for control of the same system. The first to delete the others¡¯ operating system was the victor. One of the hackers was not familiar with the code while the other had more experience. In this example the advantage was clearly in the latter¡¯s favor. In addition the volume of data contained in the first computer was small in comparison to his opponent¡¯s. Even if both degan furiously deleting files at the same time, one would reach the end before the other. The vicious consequences of their struggle were growing more widespread and more serious. From the center of Sumeru, their power was reaching out and erasing all that it touched. Belial and the other Elders ran for their lives but could not escape the silent creeping death. The encroaching danger drew ever nearer. Although they focused all of their efforts on escape, they were frightened to discover that at best they were maintaining distance, not getting further away. ¡°What should we do? The whole place is going to collapse!¡± Belial was shaken to his core at the dark realization. The clash of powers wasn¡¯t expanding ¨C Sumeru and the reality it inhabited was being drawn in toward them, like water swirling down a drain. Why was this happening? What was going on? In their violent struggle Cloudhawk and Legion had created a hole in reality. All data was being sucked in and undone. Everything was at risk; time, matter, space, everything that made this place exist. When the three existential elements ceased, everything stopped. Sumeru was a self-contained universe. Like a balloon, and all the matter and space and time was the air inside. The war between Legion and Cloudhawk had punched a hole in the balloon and now everything was leaking out. The universe was shrinking because it¡¯s structure was broken. Surrounding space-time was drawn in to try and fill the vacuum only to be deleted, creating a rapidly expanding cycle of collapse. If the trend continued Sumeru would be extinguished in less than half an hour. It would become nothing, along with all the information contained within. Could nothing stop this? No mortal thing, for this was the work of real Gods. All they could do was quail and cry, and avoid being erased. Book 8, Chapter 44 - Fighting Back Book 8, Chapter 44 - Fighting Back Sumeru¡¯s ruin proceeded. From physical matter to immaterial space, all was being erased. The initial few seconds of this conflict occurred far from the battle lines, but it didn¡¯t take long for it to threaten both armies. Belial and the other demons were powerless to stop this. All they could do was try to flee as fast as possible. But if Cloudhawk¡¯s war with Legion continued then soon all of Sumeru would soon cease to be. Everything here would be no more, except the two gods themselves. However, the circumstance Belial feared may never come. Legion¡¯s supremacy over Cloudhawk was obvious and Cloudhawk¡¯s body was quickly dissolving away. While the Grand Elder was also struggling to keep himself together, it would take longer to erase him completely. Was the young Demon King still not strong enough? It appeared that this final struggle would be his end. Cloudhawk was grimly aware of his inadequacy and the cost it would demand. Their contest was a steady war of consumption. There were no sudden surges of power or bursts of strength. Strength was strength, weakness was weakness. Reversing the tide was not so easy. He had come to know the primal forces of reality, learned how to rewrite the universe as he pleased. But he was still¡­ him. He could only rely on his knowledge and abilities to get him through this crisis. But even as he was losing ground Cloudhawk maintained his calm. Legion was right. Cloudhawk was a scourge. So long as he existed nowhere in his universe was safe. That mad race would never give up a chance to save their species and if they learned of Cloudhawk¡¯s existence they would come for him. If they didn¡¯t, then civilizations all across the universe would still continue to suffer. When he lost this fight it would be a personal loss, but perhaps the greatest outcome for all the billions of lives that were and would come. His body continued to break apart. Everything below his neck was gone. A few moments later His head dissolved into nothing and he was no more ¨C just a small speck of light. With his abilities now, he could use that speck to build himself a new body, but Legion would suppress the effort. Legion now just a head. But compared to Cloudhawk he was faring better. Their conflict was decided. The Grand Elder prepared to rip Cloudhawk down to the barest hint of existence and seal him away. Only, in that moment something was off. Legion felt himself beginning to break apart. The information that made up his person grew volatile and started to hemorrhage from him. What¡­ What was this? It was coming from the portion of himself that he¡¯d taken from the God King. But hadn¡¯t that fragment been absorbed? How was its will exerting control! An inkling in the back of his head grasped his attention and Legion¡¯s eyes were drawn out into space. Floating alone in the void was a figure, humanoid in appearance with bright silver light blazing from her eyes. It was a face she recognized. Dawn! Dawn Polaris regarded the demon with an expressionless face: ¡°At the moment the quintessence felt the chaos of disunity its form fractured. A spirit in pieces loses the talents of a God. Your primal abilities are no more.¡± ¡°You! Betrayer! What have you done!¡± Legion slipped into madness, screaming with wild abandon. ¡°Our people can¡¯t just wither away. The child of destiny has appeared, you can¡¯t stop the inevitable!¡± ¡°I may have betrayed the will of our people, but never our fate.¡± The essence coming from Dawn was the same as the God King. The original body of that fragment may have been destroyed, but a piece of him still lived within her. ¡°From the creation of our race, we have been entrusted with a sacred mission. The moment we turned our back on this responsibility we were lost. A group of corrupted guardians, no longer worthy to guard anything. All I have ever pursued is to submit to fate.¡± ¡°You hateful psychopath!¡± ¡°I am you. You are me. To my eyes, are you not the psychopath?¡± While these two fragments of one Quintessence faced one another, the fog of light that was Cloudhawk restored his physical form. When he viewed the situation, he understood immediately what was happening. Ah¡­ so that was it. The God King they fought wasn¡¯t the whole being. Before Cloudhawk even entered Sumeru he split himself in two and put a portion inside Dawn. When Cloudhawk defeated the God King he only erased one piece, and the part in Dawn awakened. Legion, like Cloudhawk, mistakenly thought the God King had been dealt with. After taking in that last rebellious fragment the Quintessence was reformed. Time, space and matter were again whole and the basic powers of reality were within Legion¡¯s grasp. However, Legion did not anticipate the God King¡¯s ploy. This seditious will, once here by Legion¡¯s side, once again threw the quintessence into conflict. As wondrous and powerful as a Quintessence was, when split apart it became an incomplete collection without the powers of a god. Each piece possessed a portion of the whole¡¯s strength. The God King wrested the powers of time from Legion and severed his wholeness, but Legion still possessed enough potency to squash this shadow of the God King like the insect it was. But that was not the situation he found himself in. Cloudhawk had reformed his body while Legion teetered on the precipice of oblivion. There was no question what was to come. Dawn turned to the young God. ¡°Cloudhawk, destroy him!¡± Filled with rage and defiance, Legion continued to scream into the ether. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake! You¡¯ll regret your foolishness!¡± Cloudhawk turned his attention upon the screaming head; all that remained of Grand Elder Legion, the final pieces of a Demon King and the Quintessence it was severed from. With a wave of his hand the primal powers washed over the one who had guided him since birth. Luminous cracks slithered through Legion¡¯s skull and face and as he screamed, the last vestiges of him exploded. Legion and any memory of his existence was wiped from reality. Only a vague impression remained for Cloudhawk and the Demon King, the faintest recollection that they were responsible for ending an existential threat to the universe. Dawn looked once more at Cloudhawk. ¡°Now it is my turn. The God King¡¯s will should no longer persist. To put this all to rest you must also erase the final piece. Me.¡± Book 8, Chapter 45 - The Forgotten Hero Book 8, Chapter 45 - The Forgotten Hero Cloudhawk did not react at first. He looked at Dawn ¨C at the God King who had taken her form. ¡°You should have killed me a long time ago. You know I¡¯m not strong enough to fight your entire species. If you really want to stop your people you know what you have to do.¡± ¡°I have no right to kill destiny¡¯s child, just as I have no right to determine the fate of my race,¡± the God King calmly replied. ¡°Do not underestimate the power you wield or overestimate the strength of the others. It is just as I once told you: Your existence is not an accident. The fate of the universe and all its myriad species are linked together, and the fall of an old era portends the rise of something new.Your journey now begins, you must see it through.¡± Cloudhawk was quiet for a little while. The God King broke the silence. ¡°Come, it is time.¡± So Cloudhawk rose his hand and pointed it toward Dawn. Her form shivered and a hazy fog of light emerged which gathered into a ball of light within his palm. He examined this spark for a moment. Then, gently, he closed his hand and the light was extinguished. The final piece of the Quintessence was no more. When Dawn opened her eyes, the person looking back was the human of old. ¡°Cloudhawk.¡± She never imagined she would see him again. ¡°Is it over?¡± She saw him smiling at her when suddenly an overpowering force washed through the area. She lost consciousness and gently floated to the ground. ¡°It is over. And it is beginning.¡± Cloudhawk looked over the unconscious form of his friend. She looked like she was sleeping. There was a serenity in her expression, as though she was finally able to rest. ¡°There is so much still to do, and first as to say I¡¯m sorry for what must be done. I hope you and Selene¡­ I hope everyone can understand.¡± As his sorrow-laden were whispered to her, Cloudhawk¡¯s will filled the space. It connected with the heart of Sumeru. During his war with Legion it had been destroyed and with it the Divine Matrix. The gods no longer shared a connection. But that wasn¡¯t enough. The seal on their memory was still intact, he would see it removed. After Cloudhawk¡¯s rebirth, performing this was as easy as turning over his hand. It was done with a thought and all at once the gods awakened. They were suddenly confronted with the meaning of their existence. Gradually they all became ¡®demons¡¯. The war between Sumeru¡¯s forces and the allies had raged for a long time. Selene and her soldiers fought bitterly and suffered much. But suddenly everyone stopped. With faces steeped in disbelief they watched as time reversed its flow. Every life given to the battle was restored. They leaped up off of the ground as vibrant as ever. Wasn¡¯t this the same power protecting the gods? As they watched their compatriots rise from the rise, the survivors realized a big change had occurred. ¡°Cease your fighting.¡± ¡°The battle is over. A new era has dawned.¡± All across Sumeru, in the minds of gods and demons and humans alike, a voice spoke directly into their minds. Selene felt a familiar presence nearby, but she couldn¡¯t see or touch him. It was like he had become a part of the universe at large, one with the primal forces. ¡°Cloudhawk! Is that you?¡± Had he won? Had he defeated the invincible ruler of this place? Selene was still alive, everyone was, so he had to have won right? Before anyone had a chance to find out exactly what was happening, a powerful force invaded their minds. They all fell asleep. Cloudhawk looked out over the deathly still realm. There was a lonely determination in his eyes. He wanted to fight against the remaining Quintessences, but he wasn¡¯t ready. Humanity wasn¡¯t ready. So he had to sever any information connecting him to this place and these people. IT was the only way to buy time and make sure everyone remained safe. ¡°Selene, you may hate me for this decision¡­ but it¡¯s what must be done.¡± ** Selene felt like she¡¯d been asleep for a century. In the back of her mind was a sound that was warm and familiar, but it sounded so far away. Like she was on the other side of the world. IT filled her with an indescribable fear. ¡°No! No, don¡¯t leave me!¡± Selene started away. She was in her own bed. What was going on? It felt like everything that happened had only been a dream. What happened? I remember¡­ going to Sumeru with the army. I remember that we allied with the demons to fight the gods¡­ but why is the rest so fuzzy? She was disturbed to find that huge holes existed in her recollection of events. Almost all the fighting they¡¯d done in Sumeru was gone, but that wasn¡¯t what bothered her. She felt like she had forgotten someone. The most important person in the whole world. She couldn¡¯t even remember their name! What they looked like, what they did¡­ it was all gone. Everything except that bone-deep feeling that they¡­ he¡­ was important. No! I don¡¯t want to forget! How could I?! I have to remember¡­ I have to make it come back! Where is he? I have to find him. I have to! Never in her life had she felt so flustered and lost. She stumbled out of bed and out of the fortress, only to stop dead in her tracks when she opened the door. Sprawled out in front of her was Greenland, a magnificent metropolis whose neatly arranged buildings scraped the sky. The streets were spotlessly clean and old-time cars were speeding along. Flying vehicles whistled by overhead as well adding to the image of a modern and prosperous city. ¡°You awake?¡± The voice came from behind. Selene spun around and there behind her was Dawn. She rushed over like a drowning man clutching at straws. ¡°Tell me. Tell me right now, I need to know everything ¨C about what happened, about him. Where is he? Tell me right now!¡± ¡°Selene, you need to calm down. It¡¯s not amnesia,¡± Dawn said with a wry smirk. ¡°None of us remember.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°When we woke up we were all back here. Everyone. The only thing anyone can remember is some¡­ hero who put together the alliance and led us to Sumeru. We got there, defeated the God King and then¡­ well, and then the reign of the gods was over.¡± ¡°So where is he?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, no one does. There is literally not a single person who remembers him. Only a few who were very close remember anything at all. But I can¡¯t even tell you his name or what he looked like, much less where he is.¡± She tried to hide it, but when she said the words there was pain behind Dawn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Some people are saying it¡¯s a punishment for defying the gods. A curse for forgetting, turning him into nothing but a legend.¡± The words cut into Selene like a knife. Book 8, Chapter 46 - The Way It Was Book 8, Chapter 46 - The Way It Was Selene, Dawn and the others had forgotten everything, even his face. Everything he¡¯d done in the wastes and Elysian lands, every battle he¡¯d participated in, every action he¡¯d ever taken ¨C gone. Or at least the memories were so indistinct that they might as well be. People had a vague impression of the events that led them here and that the hero played an integral role, but who he was or what he did was a mystery. And now he was nowhere to be found. Was he even real or just a trick of collective memory? He was an enigma, a secret that would never be solved. ¡°Let me bring you to someone,¡± Dawn said to Selene. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand when we get there.¡± The two made their way to Greenland¡¯s town hall. Selene saw a number of familiar faces when they arrived, but one unremarkable face was what caught her eye. He sat on a chair within the hall, picking at his foot with one hand and a cane in the other. His scalp was sprinkled with a light dusting of hair and his clothes were rather sloppy. Across from him sat a pretty young girl and despite the clear differences in their person they were sharing a pleasant chat. ¡°Drunk? What are you doing here!¡± Selene had to remember to breathe. ¡°You died!¡± Another face struck her, the Temple¡¯s one-time High Priest Aquaria, seemingly recovered from her coma. Upon seeing the two women, the old drunk stood and gave them both a wave. ¡°To be honest I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, either. It was like I was just asleep for a long time. When I woke up I didn¡¯t remember a thing.¡± Incredible! It was all so strange! She looked at the reborn drunk and felt like it was all so absurd. How was any of this real? Was everything she remembered wrong? Was she going crazy? Selene felt like she was having trouble separating reality from a dream. People came and went, oblivious to Selene¡¯s crisis. One of them, another woman, tickled something in her mind and she called out. ¡°You¡­ what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m Artemis.¡± ¡°Where did you come from? What did you used to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been here, since Greenland¡¯s founding. I used to be a soldier.¡± She was a young woman in her twenties with short, disheveled hair. She was on the thinner side, but the pair of enormous war hammers strapped to her waist proved she was a lot stronger than she looked. She was a little defensive about the sudden interrogation and looked at Selene with guarded confusion. Artemis? She¡¯d heard that name before¡­ but she couldn¡¯t remember! She and Dawn both were troubled by all of this. It was like someone had reached in and carved out huge pieces of their lives. The more they tried to chase answers the further away they were. It was unsettling and surreal. Azura¡¯s sweet voice called out to them. ¡°A lot has changed. You should go see¡­ or maybe you should take a look at the Elysian lands. Everything¡¯s different, but¡­ we¡¯re used to it. It¡¯s hard to explain.¡± Dawn and Selene left the hall, back out into Greenland¡¯s bustling streets. As they walked, they came upon a copse of huge trees which served as a habitat for a family of dragons. A young woman in an emerald green dress walked among them playing a flute. Autumn was also back, the same as the others. She remembered a lot of what happened but nothing about that man. Maybe what people were saying was true. Maybe this was the godslayer¡¯s curse. He defeated the God King and saved their world, but the cost was to be forgotten forever. Who was this hero? Where did he go? No one had an answer. Autumn felt that she and the godslayer had been close at one point, but she couldn¡¯t offer any more enlightenment. How could she have forgotten him, she thought? Maybe there was a way to find him, a trail to follow. There had to be some way to find out who he was. Dawn and Selene left Greenland, out into the wastes, but when they saw what it had become it stopped them in their tracks. Was this the same wasteland they remembered? Leagues of sand in every direction, burned and dead from an unforgiving sun. It was still empty, but instead of sand now there were fields of grass as far as the eye could see. Far in the distance they could just make out small encampments. After defeating the gods their world had begun to recover. Radiation wasn¡¯t a concern anymore. Food and water was plentiful. People were living easy, comfortable lives ¨C the world they¡¯d all envisioned after the defeat of Sumeru. The women traveled north toward Skycloud and on the way encountered any number of miraculous things. It was like Azura said, the world had completely changed. Like some superhuman force had remade it all like they¡¯d always dreamed. Did this power have something to do with Sumeru? Was it connected to that important but forgotten hero? The day before they reached Skycloud they reached a place called Sandbar Outpost. It was big now, with a population in the tens of thousands. Elysians and wastelanders living happily side by side. The battle with Sumeru was over. The mighty God King had been defeated! The pantheon that had enslaved them all was conquered by the godslayer. The theocratic rule they demanded had vanished and with it the barrier between these peoples. Without it the world was a freer and more open place. Selene and Dawn walked into a popular looking building called Adder¡¯s Pub. Its owner was a tall man with buzz-cut hair, plain but provoking. His eyes swung to the door as it opened and narrowed when he saw who it was. ¡°Selene? You¡¯re back? Sit, have a drink.¡± When she took a closer look she was again struck by an odd sensation. ¡°You¡¯re back, too¡­ the battle with the gods is over, why are you still here?¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± An easy smile played on Adder¡¯s face. He lazily wiped down a glass as he spoke. ¡°I like being a bar owner.¡± ¡°There are a lot of people here for it being so early.¡± The door opened again and a woman strode through. She was beautiful, with long raven-black hair down to her waist. A sword was strapped to her back. When Selene and Dawn looked her way their reaction was the same. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± She was Adder¡¯s closest follower, Revenant. Only now she was his wife and fellow store-owner. Adder took his wife¡¯s hands and smiled at Selene. ¡°It¡¯s a nice life, right? We¡¯re planning on opening another one. You should come help run it.¡± Dawn was irritated by the whole thing. After so much searching, not only had they learned nothing about the man they chased, they felt further than ever. She sat down at the bar with a huff. ¡°Pour me one, barkeep. Strongest you got.¡± Selene had slipped into a quiet depression. Ever since she woke up she felt like she was missing an important part of herself and there was no way to get it back. Adder put two clean glasses on the counter and poured out some liquor. ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad. If you ask me, everything has a purpose. We¡¯re all confused, but I believe one day someone will come up with an answer.¡± Dawn knocked back her drink in one gulp. Selene left hers untouched. ¡°You think he¡¯ll be back?¡± ¡°You mean him? My memory is fuzzy, but I figure that¡¯s probably his doing. I suppose he has his reasons,¡± Adder mused. He then was struck by a thought. ¡°Oh, by the way. You should get up to Skycloud when you have a chance. Your dad¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Selene blinked at him. ¡°Dad? But he¡¯s...¡± ¡°Not just your dad but the old Grand General, too. Not to mention the less-than-pleasant High Priest and other elders. They¡¯re all back.¡± Adder shook his head. ¡°People say that when the godslayer defeated the pantheon he took back all the souls they stole.¡± In the middle of his thought Adder looked up and froze. He¡¯d been speaking to two cups, their owners absent. He called out through the closing door. ¡°Hey! You haven¡¯t paid for your drinks!¡± Book 8, Chapter 47 - The Search Book 8, Chapter 47 - The Search Skycloud ¨C once embroiled in chaos and destroyed by strife ¨C had returned to its original splendor. Sprawling and beautiful, its capital city was full of vibrant activity as far as the eye could see. All markers of the calamity it suffered were gone like a bad dream. After Sumeru¡¯s defeat the horrors of their struggle were now nothing more than a memory. That distant dominator would never again respond to the acts of man and the age of the divine had come to a close. But faith was not something that vanished overnight. It would take time for the people of the Elysian realms to get used to this new reality. Dawn and Selene were home again. Before long they came upon the familiar Polaris family mansion, guarded by members of the family. They didn¡¯t remember what happened, to them it was all some fantastic dream that was slowly fading away just like everyone else. ¡°Dawn!¡± A burly lion of a man shouted and stormed into the room. Dawn¡¯s eyes immediately became red and moist when she saw him. She couldn¡¯t hold back her tears and threw herself into his strong arms. ¡°Grandpa. I thought I¡¯d never see you again!¡± Skye Polaris was as confused as the rest of humanity. He vaguely remembered being killed like it was a nightmare, but then one day he woke up safe and sound in his bed. ¡°Dawn, you¡¯ve changed.¡± ¡°OF course,¡± she answered. ¡°I¡¯m awesome. I bet I can even beat you!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Skye¡¯s bellowing laughter shook the walls. ¡°This girl and her damned mouth. Well, time for your grandpa to put you in your place!¡± ¡°Bring it on then! Let¡¯s see who¡¯s afraid of who when we¡¯re done!¡± ** The Governor¡¯s Mansion. Arcturus. Baldur. Sterling. Skycloud¡¯s three masters sat together in the grand hall. Arcturus was wrapped in his typical gray robes, handsome and easy-going with shocks of white slowly taking over his temples. He had a warm and inviting presence, like an old teacher. Baldur sat to one side in snow-white garb, the most heroic looking of the three. He was in the tail end of his middle years but his face was still handsome and aloof. The faint air of experience around him would easily charm the ladies wherever he went. And finally Sterling, still in his red robes and with his crosier loosely gripped in one hand, sat with them. His brows were slightly furrowed and his face was serious, but there was also compassion like an old priest worried for the soul of the planet. Three men, three brothers. They¡¯d forgotten much but remembered plenty. An awkward air hung in between them. So different were their natures and standpoints that conflict seemed inevitable. A young girl threw open the doors and walked inside. ¡°Father!¡± Baldur¡¯s eyes turned to the girl and gleamed with excitement, but under the circumstances he had to keep his emotions in check. So he made a show of nodding his welcome. ¡°I heard you were back. We¡¯ve been waiting for you, sit.¡± She complied. Here among Sterling and Arcturus she felt stiff and uncomfortable. ¡°The war with Sumeru is done. The forgotten godslayer has defeated the God King.¡± It was Arcturus who spoke first. ¡°I heard you took part, even fought with the hero side by side.¡± Selene replied. ¡°I believe I was very close to the godslayer, he¡­ he was very important to me. But I can¡¯t remember anything about him. What he looked like, or even his name. It¡¯s¡­ strange.¡± The three men shared a silent glance. It seemed that despite participating in this crucial battle, Selene¡¯s memories were also incomplete. All in all this widespread amnesia was unheard of. When Arcturus spoke again it was half to himself. ¡°Who has the power to single-handedly alter the memories of a whole planet in one fell swoop?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible, no matter how strong one is,¡± Sterling answered. ¡°It¡¯s more a cover-up. Concealing something at the most base level. No one can remember any details about the godslayer. Maybe it truly is a curse from Sumeru.¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s meant to conceal,¡± Baldur stated. ¡°Or, perhaps it¡¯s meant to protect.¡± Arcturus considered this for a moment, nodding sagely. ¡°You mean to say that knowledge of this man may be dangerous. Remembering him might bring us misfortune?¡± ¡°Perhaps. As it stands all we can do is guess.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the reason. I will find him!¡± Selene shot to her feet with a fire in her eyes. ¡°Ten years, twenty, a century ¨C it doesn¡¯t matter! As long as I¡¯m alive I will never give up the search. I will find him!¡± The three men felt Selene¡¯s determination fill the chamber, stifling the air. The young Cloude daughter was stronger even than Arcturus, the most talented member of their family to have ever lived. All the changes ¨C in her and everything ¨C was likely because of this collectively-forgotten past. Obviously she had spent a long time by the godslayer¡¯s side. They may have even been more than comrades. The three brothers were quiet. While they did not know what knowledge of the godslayer might bring, they knew they had neither the power or right to stand in Selene¡¯s way. Day turned to night. Dawn and Selene met once again. Dawn said to her, ¡°Grandpa and I sparred. He¡¯s no match for me anymore. He offered me the post of Commander-General. I can¡¯t say I¡¯m thrilled with the idea¡­ but I think I¡¯m going to accept.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°As Commander-General I¡¯ll have more resources I can put toward searching for him. Leading Skycloud¡¯s army is about as interesting as mud, but I can delegate most things. I met this fat man named Hammont, he seems capable enough to handle matters. What about you?¡± Selene seemed lost. When she spoke her voice was soft. ¡°I¡¯m going to look for him.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t have a destination. Or¡­ the destination is wherever he is.¡± There was a hardness in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life traveling, hoping for a sign.¡± Dawn was quiet for a little while. ¡°So this is goodbye?¡± Selene nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Will we see each other again?¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± Dawn wasn¡¯t sure what to say. She wasn¡¯t going to try and change her mind, they were both on the same mission. But the way they chose to go about it was different. Maybe they would never find him, and that would mean a big part of the meaning of their lives would be gone. So they decided to use what remained of their lives to find that piece. Not just them, either. There were many out in the world with different motivations, searching for the godslayer. He held the key to the greatest mystery in the history of their world. But where had he gone? Book 8, Epilogue - An End and a Beginning Book 8, Epilogue - An End and a Beginning Selene Cloude had decided to leave. Although her father tried to dissuade her, the question of the godslayer ¨C where he was, if he was still alive ¨C burned too hot for her to ignore. Baldur maintained that the ability to selectively erase the memory of a single man across an entire species went far beyond the capabilities of any ordinary being. Whoever, or whatever the godslayer was, he was a truly unique thing. One that wanted to be forgotten. Her to hide something or protect everyone, the truth was that information on the godslayer had to be dangerous, even just his name. Say that Selene managed to learn something about this man, then what? If the godslayer really did defeat the God King and erase himself from the universe, he could do anything. He had power that mortals couldn¡¯t even comprehend. Despite her young age, Selene had grown stronger even than Arcturus. If she remained in Skycloud she would be the greatest representative of the Cloude family in history. A living legend! Why throw all of that away on an impossible journey to find a man who didn¡¯t want to be found? But Baldur¡¯s pleas fell on deaf ears. Selene was obstinate by nature, she would not be convinced. Once she made up her mind no force on the planet could change her mind. She was strong enough that no one could stand in her way. So before long Selene set off on her lonely journey. Clad in simple traveling garb, a patch over her right eye and a sword on her back, she once again took to the road with the wind at her back. There was a familiarity with this life. A connection she had to the wilderness. Ten years ago, maybe earlier, a young Selene had made the same decision. When she thought about it she figured that was when her doomed bond to the godslayer was really set in stone. Things were different this time. With every passing day the wastelands returned to the vitality of a thousand years ago. Arcturus, Skye, Ramiel¡­ everyone who was lost in the long voyage to freedom was restored. Just like the wastelands, like some great power had given everything a new lease on life. All the familiar figures in Selene¡¯s memory she encountered, all except the one she was desperate to find. She had no clues to follow or leads to explore. She didn¡¯t know what name to call or what face to look for. Even though she knew nothing about this man, it was a quest her soul demanded of her. Confusion, loss, pain, determination¡­ All of these emotions followed her as she set out. Maybe she didn¡¯t have any information to grasp onto. Maybe the quest was doomed from the start. All Selene knew was that she had to make this journey, even if just for peace of mind. So she would search. Forever, if she had to. ** The wastelands. A caravan of modified vehicles sped along the grasslands. Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat of the head vehicle was a rotund man with a pair of pistols strapped to his waist and a burning cigarette in his mouth. His foot pressed the gas pedal down as far as it would go, urging his buggy faster. Suddenly something caught his attention and he wrenched the steering wheel to the side. Brakes squealed in protest but eventually the buggy ground to a halt. Long, deep tracks marked this gradual and dramatic stop. The modded buggy¡¯s engine clicked from the heat like it would explode at any moment. Black smoke belched from the exhaust. The rest of the caravan pulled up and came to rest as well. A burly dark skinned man leaped from another one of the vehicles. He was covered in scars from head to toe, the worst of which was an ugly jagged line that bisected his face. The combination of his imposing physique and frightening appearance made for a fierce presence. The big man called out. ¡°Fuck, Slyfox you goddamn maniac. Why did you stop the caravan?¡± Slyfox didn¡¯t answer. He pulled his sizable girth from the car and looked out over the plains. At last he shouted, a note of surprise in his voice. ¡°Mad Dog! Get your ass over here. There¡¯s a fuckin¡¯ kid out here, he looks lost.¡± Mad Dog stomped over with a glower on his face. A few feet in front of Slyfox¡¯s car was a kid laying in the grass, mostly hidden by the weeds. ¡°Goddamnit Slyfox. I know you always think with your cock but you¡¯re gunna start chasing half-dead little boys now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fuck your mother, asshole. Tartarus needs new blood, you know that. Kid may be half dead but he¡¯s gotta be tough to have made it all the way out here alone. Let¡¯s take him back, make him something useful.¡± Mad Dog took a second glance at the figure. He was young, maybe eighteen, dressed in little more than rags. He had a flop of black hair on his head that looked like it had never been combed, but otherwise he was in good shape. Not like most of the runts they came across who were frail and malnourished. No wonder Slyfox thought he might be useful. ¡°Your call, but let¡¯s get going. We¡¯re losing sunlight. Slyfox roughly pulled the kid out of the grass and put him in the back of the car. When the caravan pulled into Blackflag Outpost, the kid was jolted awake. He looked around his new surroundings with a confused expression on his face. ¡°Hey, kid. You up? You passed out in the wastelands. Lucky we found you, otherwise you¡¯d be making your way through the guts of some mutant beast by now.¡± Slyfox took a drag of his cigarette and appraised the young man. ¡°I saved your fuckin¡¯ life. You¡¯re welcome. And as your savior your life belongs to the Tartarus mercenaries now.¡± The kid just sat there, unmoving, like some sort of idiot. ¡°Fuck, you soft-headed or something¡¯?¡± Slyfox flicked away the butt of his cigarette and scowled at the boy. ¡°Hey! You understand what I¡¯m sayin¡¯? Where¡¯d you come from? Got any skills? A name, even?¡± The young man¡¯s brows furrowed tight and he thought for a long time. He felt like his memories were all locked up in an electrified box. The more he fought to look inside the more it hurt. He¡­ didn¡¯t remember. He didn¡¯t know who he was, where he came from or anything that happened before. Besides whatever was in that box his mind was perfectly blank. No recollection at all. ¡°My¡­ my name is Cloudhawk. I don¡¯t remember anything else.¡± Slyfox sighed in relief. At least he wasn¡¯t a complete idiot. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, a lot of people don¡¯t remember shit anymore including me. All you need to know is that from now on you¡¯re a scrub in service to the Tartarus mercenaries. Got it?¡± Cloudhawk nodded groggily in understanding. His head was killing him! While the memories were all locked up there were fragments that leaked out that came in flashes of visions and sounds. They troubled him. The Tartarus patrol made their way into Blackflag Outpost. All along its walls and trees were signs that were variations of the same thing; Who is the godslayer? Looking for the godslayer, all information welcome. Another stabbing pain dug into his brain. ¡°They were posted here by people sent by the prettiest and smartest lady in the whole wasteland, Boss Hellflower. Word is anyone with info on the godslayer will get a personal reward from Hellflower. Riches beyond your wildest dreams.¡± ¡°Who is the godslayer?¡± Cloudhawk asked. ¡°Who the f-¡­ you don¡¯t even know about the godslayer?¡± Slyfox looked at the kid incredulously. ¡°The world used to be controlled by a group of gods. The godslayer led humanity against them, going all the way to their home on Mount Sumeru and killed their fuckin¡¯ King. Nobody remembers a tihng about him now, though. Just a legend.¡± The kid looked at the fat man and the signs, puzzled. As they walked down the street there was a group of musicians, playing loudly to a group of onlookers. It was a story about the godslayer and his war with the God King. ¡°...¡± ¡°It was like this: The godslayer beat the God King, something no one else could do, and freed us all from imprisonment.¡± ¡°Before, this place beneath our feet was a rough place out in the wilds where people fought and died for scraps. But once the gods were beaten the curse that kept the world barren was lifted. Endless sands became fertile earth. Dunes turned to green hills¡­ Blackflag Outpost was rebuilt and here we are today, all thanks to the godslayer.¡± The kid sputtered a question. ¡°W-where¡¯d the godslayer go after?¡± ¡°No one knows. After the war the godslayer just up and disappeared. No one even remembers his name or what he looked like. Theory is that he was cursed after killing the God King so that the whole world would forget all about him.¡± ¡°Hey kid, listen close ¨C we don¡¯t forget heroes like him. Maybe we don¡¯t know what he looked like or anything, or even exactly what he did, but we know he did it and we can¡¯t ever forget.¡± ¡°...¡± The old minstrel¡¯s voice rose and fell, full of emotion and pathos. The crowd listened with rapt attention. This great man, who accomplished a feat no mortal man ever could, was now unknown to everyone. It was a pitiful consequence for a great deed. Slyfox looked down at the kid. ¡°what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Cloudhawk jerked as he was wrenched from the allure of the song. ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing.¡± Maybe it was a trick of the light but Slyfox felt like something was different in the kid¡¯s eyes. There was pain and loneliness there that hadn¡¯t been a second ago, the kind you only got from a life of hard experiences. ¡°Let¡¯s move it. I¡¯ll take you to meet the others. You¡¯ve got a lot to learn, scrub.¡± They walked off into the crowd and disappeared. Meanwhile a wind kicked up across the plains. Blackflag¡¯s eponymous banner flapped and wind -chimes clanged as the gentle gusts swept through. It was the end. It was all beginning again. Godsfall Chronicles - Final Words Godsfall Chronicles - Final Words From Tipsy Wanderer, Here ends the Godsfall Chronicles, at least for the time being. If you have read this far I (Tipsy Wanderer) sincerely appreciate your support. The ending was left open both to give space to the reader to follow their own imagination, and so that there¡¯s space for any future film adaptations or online series. If later more of the story needs to be told, then this ending will be an appropriate starting place. In all there are many regrets that come with the end of this book. I¡¯ve never relied on gimmicks or stunts and call things as I see them, so I¡¯d like to talk about how I feel. First are some confessions and reflections. As my first commissioned work I must say that I lacked experience. When I started writing the book my mind went to deep and profound places, there was a lot to expect. A lot to look forward to. My intention was to follow Cloudhawk¡¯s growth and perspective as he clawed his way out of the wastelands, from the lowest of the low to the highest peak; to chronicle his experience from the wastes to the Elysian lands and how that expanded and enriched his world view. Had I followed this road map, Cloudhawk wouldn¡¯t have reached Skycloud until the middle of the story. Unfortunately the story¡¯s directors (Translator: publishers?, unclear) put a lot of restrictions on me. Since it was a commissioned work to begin with, I was not firm enough in my vision and accepted these limitations (T: ¡®baggage¡¯ as he puts it). As a result Cloudhawk reached Skycloud by book two and this threw my whole outline into chaos. A lot of extra requirements were imposed so that while the first few volumes were manageable, the mid- and later books felt like I was a shackled dancer. It was one reason why the updates came slower. Among the requirements were to avoid anything politically or religiously sensitive, otherwise I would have taken more risks. But since the plot of the story already involved a great deal of politics and religion, I didn¡¯t have the freedom to explore it more completely. So it didn¡¯t match my expectations¡­ in the end the work didn¡¯t reach the ideal I was reaching for. Nevertheless, there was much I learned upon completing the novel. I really wanted to express my thanks to all my readers for their continued tolerance and support! It was my first directed novel and may not be my last, but if I do take on another contract like this I¡¯ll make sure to stick to my creative vision and make sure I create the best product I can. Right now the story¡¯s online series is progressing smoothly (T: currently marked as ¡®in production¡¯ on their website, link below). The company responsible for making it, , is one of the country¡¯s top animation studios with many years of technical and production experience. It will be rendered in motion capture and I hope you all support it when it¡¯s finally released. Both the director and screenwriter are very skilled, and I believe they will work together to create a great and faithful adaptation of the novel. I think they¡¯ll make an even better and more perfect story, since I was unable to make it complete. I encourage everyone to keep their eyes out for it. And so Godsfall Chronicles is done. However the legend of Cloudhawk may not be. Perhaps it¡¯s only the beginning. Perhaps one day I may write more about his life, making up for my regrets in the story and making a more complete tale for Cloudhawk and his cast of supporting characters. Finally, I would like to end with a bow and say once more, emphatically ¨C thank you all! Tipsy Wanderer. From Xiao Lai: There it is, my second fully translated work. Like Tipsy said it has certainly been a journey. Godsfall Chronicles has experienced a somewhat volatile life on Wuxiaworld. Ren started it long ago, but the demands of running a website and overseeing dozens of novels took him away. I am greatly appreciative of his decision to let me pick it up. Those familiar may know that my previous novel was Skyfire Avenue ¨C another sci-fi fantasy epic ¨C which meant I had some experience with this sort of novel, certainly not typical Wuxiaworld fare. Our style of translating it was also a little different. Ren had read the novel and had an overarching idea of what was to come. On the other hand, I never read further than the chapter I was working on. The theory was that in experiencing the story as I translated it, the surprise and wonder and joy would filter through into the writing. I honestly feel we can say that is the case. The drawback to this system was that Ren had to take time from his already inundated schedule to look it over for consistency, and to make changes in accordance with revelations we run into later in the story. Releases stuttered, giving the unintended impression that the tale was unreliable and so readership suffered. But really I feel that it was I that did this novel its greatest disservice. Not necessarily in the quality of my translation, I take the quality of my work very seriously. Because of the unique style of this work and our release hiccups, people either did not know or did not commit to Godsfall Chronicles the way it deserved. I am not wise in the ways of marketing and advertising, but this story absolutely deserved someone who was. I wholeheartedly believe that this tale is a work of art that deserves to be shouted from the mountain tops. More eyes would have been drawn to share this journey and ultimately more revenue would have been provided for Wuxiaworld, which had this story produced for all of you at a significant financial loss since the very beginning all through its end. But that¡¯s how committed Ren is to getting this story told, how much faith he has in the belief that this was something his readers really want. So in the end I ask a favor from all of you. Please tell everyone you know about Godsfall Chronicles. Do what I couldn¡¯t and make sure that Tipsy¡¯s masterpiece gets the exposure it deserves among a western audience because it merits nothing less ¨C and if you¡¯ve read up to this point, you know that¡¯s true. Thank you to everyone who read my translation, commented on it, critiqued it, put up with my errors and misspellings and participated. I am overjoyed to have been able to share this with you. When at last the Godsfall Chronicles is released on paperback (here¡¯s hoping!) and when the online series is unleashed on the world I¡¯m going to be first in line to buy copies. Much love, Xiao Lai